A/N: So, for those of you that weren't aware, Johanna-002's birthday was in December. Happy belated to Jo! … okay … yeah … I may be a little late with this birthday gift (as well as the other story and the post office and … we're just gonna stop right there). Anyways Happy Birthday friend! I hope you enjoy : )

XOXOXO

Red was stirring the soup she had simmering when Nicky came in. The younger woman was too quiet, and a quiet Nicky, without tears, usually meant trouble. She waited silently for Nicky to open up about whatever drama she had gotten herself into. Letting Nicky ramble was always easier than dragging it out through questions.

Nicky moved to Red's side and lay her head against her shoulder. "Smells good," she said, with little inflection. It would be obvious to anyone who knew her that Nicky was sulking.

Without any thought, Red reached her hand up to Nicky's cheek and pulled her close enough to kiss her temple. It was an automatic response on her part. When she had become such a sentimental fool, she had no idea.

"Alex took my mascara," Nicky huffed. She turned to face Red, eyes turned down in submission. She hoped that maybe her humbleness might appease Red's ego. She had recently realized that pouting didn't work nearly as well as she thought. Red did what she wanted to when she wanted to. When she gave into Nicky's pleas, it was because she chose to.

"Is that why I can see your eyes, my little raccoon? Nothing there to clump up those pretty lashes of yours." Red laughed, amused at her own joke. She dipped a spoon into the soup and began to blow on it to cool. The last thing she had expected was playground antics and childish pranks - she should have expected it, but she hadn't.

Nicky crossed her arms. "I like it clumpy," she huffed. It was bad enough that Alex had taken her makeup, but now Red wasn't being any help, and she was insulting her.

It had only been a week since Alex had been the one with the stolen makeup. Red had predicted this whole incident at the time, knowing exactly how things would play out for her girl. She had no intention to get involved in their drama. They were both adults - mostly.

"Taste this," Red said, holding the spoon up in front of Nicky's mouth and cupping her hand beneath her chin. Business as usual, that was her MO.

Rolling her eyes, Nicky opened her mouth and let Red feed her. She glared at Red over the spoon but did as she was told. Swallowing hard, she hesitated. She took a moment to enjoy Red's squirming anticipation, before commenting. "It's good, but needs more pepper."

Squinting her eyes, Red took a taste herself. She wanted to be sure that it actually did need a bit more spice and that Nicky wasn't just being a brat because Red wasn't offering sympathy.

Nicky crossed her arms again and let out an angry huff of air. "Ma," she groaned. She reached for Red's hands with both of hers and tried to drag her away. "Listen to me," she pleaded.

Red patted her cheek, possibly a little rougher than if it had truly been an affectionate or sympathetic gesture. "I'm listening, but if you want dinner you have to let me cook." She grabbed the pepper and added more with a heavy hand. Stirring the it in, she waited for Nicky to continue.

Giving up on her plea for undivided attention, Nicky sat down on the floor near her mother's feet. She pulled her knees up towards her chest and rested her arms on them. "She took my mascara," she repeated, hoping the words would have some new impact on the older woman this time around.

Red nodded. "You did take her eyeliner," she reminded, trying to keep her voice flat and unamused. The last thing a whiny Nicky needed was attention.

Rising to her feet, Nicky moved to stand in between Red and her soup. She looked at the older woman with pleading eyes. "I gave it back!" Red's lack of empathy made her feel cranky and frustrated.

Yes, she had taken Alex's eyeliner, but Red was supposed to be on her side. A little sympathy would hardly kill her. She had hoped Red would feel bad enough for her that she'd help her come up with a plan of revenge. At the very least she could stop patronizing her and stop enjoying Nicky's struggle so much.

"Nicky," Red said, putting heavy hands on her shoulders. "You only gave it back when you knew you were getting your own. You weren't being nice or apologetic." She squeezed the tops of Nicky's arms and slid her back out of the way.

Hand on her hip, Nicky shifted her weight to one foot. "That's not the point," she said, running a frustrated hand through her hair.

"That's exactly the point," Red said, chuckling. She wiped her hands off on a dishcloth and walked over to the center island and began to clean up. "Now go away."

As she moved throughout the room, she kept finding herself bumping into Nicky. She was following her around like a damn shadow. Every time she turned around, Nicky was underfoot. "I told you I wasn't going to help you when she got revenge, and I'm telling you the same thing now."

"Yeah, but-"

Red stopped and turned around to face her. She walked up to Nicky and cupped her face. "I love you, but you're in my way, and I have dinner to finish."

Rolling her eyes, Nicky continued following her around. "We're having soup. What the hell else are you making? We suddenly get in enough vegetables for a salad? Or are you making some fancy dessert that isn't fruit cocktail?"

Shaking her head in amusement, Red let Nicky rant. Nicky was right, there really wasn't much left to do for dinner, but she wasn't about to give the younger woman the satisfaction of being right. As long as she kept moving, Nicky wouldn't notice that she wasn't actually doing anything.

"You're mean," Nicky all but whined. She grabbed Red's sleeve and tugged until she looked at her. "Please?"

"Aww, poor baby," Red chuckled as she playfully grabbed Nicky's chin. "I'm terrible; I know. Now go away," she urged, trying to shuffle Nicky along. When that didn't work, she turned on her heels and headed towards her office. Maybe she could lock the gate…

Nicky glared at Red's retreating form. "You're gonna miss me…"

"Not if you never leave honey," Red said, sitting down at her desk. She knew Nicky was on her heels, but she had no intentions of budging. She'd raised three boys and married a Russian. This attempt at manipulation didn't affect her.

"...when I'm dead," Nicky added. She put her hands on her mother's shoulders and leaned in. Close to her ear, she continued her plight. "I heard that once… Vause killed a man."

Trying hard not to laugh, Red bit her lip and picked up a pen. She stared intently at the pages in front of her but wasn't focusing on anything other than how amused she was by the younger woman. Even with the severity of Alex's past still looming over them all, she couldn't help but delight in Nicky's playfulness. "You're Russian now - you can handle yourself."

Nicky wasn't sure if she wanted to swoon over Red's words or strangle her. She loved when Red claimed her as her own. It was almost, almost, enough to distract her. "Russian by proxy!" she corrected. "Ma…" she pleaded, drawing back and pacing the small space.

"I raised you better than this," Red said, looking over her shoulder. "Stop whining." Maybe that wasn't entirely true, but it felt nice to say it. It felt right. Nicky was hers, and as often as she could, Red made sure that she reinforced that notion. Nicky. Was. Hers.

Nicky looked at her in disbelief. "You didn't raise me at all," she pointed out, voice rising in pitch. She threw her hands up in the air in wild frustration. She looked exactly like the irrational child that she sounded.

"Eh, that's debatable," Red said, tilting her head from side to side. "You're still growing." The teasing only garnered her an angry scowl. Nicky was acutely aware that Red was teasing her.

Shaking her head in frustration, Nicky was near her breaking point. "Stop it," she urged. Instead of annoyance, her voice took on a softer quality. Alex stole her makeup and Red was making fun of her. It was turning out to be a great day. "Help me."

Not having any of it, Red turned back to her papers. "You have three older brothers - ask them for help," she suggested, finding great enjoyment in this new game she'd discovered. Not only did she get to spoil Nicky's plans, but she got to mother her in a way that they had both missed out on. So what if it was pure nonsense, it warmed Red's heart and filled her with gentle affection for the girl.

"We're in prison!" Nicky exclaimed. "...and I've never even met them." She walked over and leaned against the desk, right next to Red. "Why do you hate me?" she asked, unconsciously popping out her bottom lip.

Red grabbed Nicky's hand in both of her own. "I don't hate you." She looked up at Nicky with a genuine look of adoration. The sweet emotions were quickly washed away with mischievous amusement. "I just want you to go away."

Cutting her eyes at Red, Nicky realized that she had lost this battle. However, there was still a war to be waged on one very annoying Alex Vause. She was on her own, but as Red pointed out she was Russian now - she'd figure something out.