Title: Beyond Eight Years

By Goodbyecoffee

Fandom: Devil Wears Prada

Pairing: Andy/Miranda .. and Elizabeth (to which in my head is played by Dana Delany. Why? Just because.) Do not be fooled. Don't let your blood pressure rise too much. I ship Mirandy. Keep that in mind.

Rating: T … M on later parts. Will inform you ahead of time when it's about to go M.

Disclaimer: I do not own DWP, nor Andy or Miranda, or Elizabeth. If there's one that I wish I own, most definitely, I'll keep Miranda. I do not make money off of this. This is purely a product of my bizarre and wild, and mostly bizarre, imagination. I haven't had the chance to read all of the fictions written about Mirandy, but I am hoping my idea hasn't been tackled before. If there's one that's been written that's similar with this one, please do let me know. I'll see what I can do to shift my story elsewhere, to give it a new direction or something. Having said that, I sure hope no one would claim there's already a story like this. Yikes.

A/N: I know some of you might have read my other story using Roy's POV. Please accept my apologies. My laptop crashed together with all of my files. I have finished that story but it's all gone now. I cried like baby but it didn't help at all in recovering any of my saved files. I blame Meryl Streep's movies and the viruses they have accumulated in my little, unsuspecting laptop. I will try to re-write the story as I hate unfinished stories myself, but please do give me time. I can't write two stories at a time as I do have life outside of our little cozy world here, plus am too wrapped up in this current one. I can't stop writing about this story right now. I hope you'll find that a good thing!

This story is beta-virgin, so all mistakes are mine. Oh, and English isn't my native tongue, am just playing it all by ears. Hopefully, grammars and all won't make you cringed (so much).

Suggestions, comments and constructive criticism (especially the latter) are STRONGLY REQUESTED.

Please do not archive.

Life has been kind. This was Andy's thoughts as she was walking along the streets of New York. She got the job she's always wanted, she's up for a promotion, and there are rumors going around that she's going to get some prestigious award. Yes, it's only a rumor at the moment, but the thought alone was enough to make her giddy. Life has been kind. Whatever did she do to deserve such happiness, she still has to figure out. Beside her beloved job, she's got something that no one can buy-Miranda's love. Indeed, after a couple of months of 'wooing', she won the devil over. To say that Andy was ecstatic would be the understatement of the year. Everything was just going right at the moment. Sky seemed bluer these days, indeed.

So, Andy was walking along the avenue when fate decided she has had enough of good luck. Time to up the ante. Will she get out of this alive?

She was about to cross the street and was waiting for the traffic light's signal when she saw her. Her hair was unmistakable. Strawberry blonde. Dark-rimmed eye glasses. Little *soft* mouth. Soft? Of all the things she could've remembered, why the softness of the woman's mouth? She didn't mean to stare, but she did, so as the usual instinctual vibe, the woman caught and returned her gaze. Andy heard warning bells in her head. The woman smiled and Andy almost fainted.

What in the freaking hell was she doing in New York? Particularly this side of New York? What the hell. What the hell. What the hell. What the fuck?!

Elizabeth.

What the hell are you doing here?

She felt like this was some bad, and really, not a funny joke. Or maybe the cosmic force suddenly hates her or something. Why else would the universe let her path cross with Elizabeth again? Of all people… why her? Her mind immediately leaped to her conversation a couple of nights ago with Miranda.

"Have you been in a relationship with a woman before?" Miranda asked casually as they were lounging on her couch in the study. Andy's left arm was wrapped around her shoulder as her right hand was tracing non-sense patterns on Miranda's knee.

"Maybe.." Andy answered lightly. The question really was a filler over the comfortable silence that hung over them. As luck, or maybe karma, would have it, Miranda did not like Andrea's answer. There's something about her lover's tone that suddenly unnerved her. Maybe because the answer she's been expecting was negative and a flat out 'No'.

Miranda shifted to face Andy directly as she shrugged the other woman's arm.

"Andrea.." her tone was soft but was tinged with warning.

"What? Does it matter?"

"Yes. Very much so.."It didn't suppose to matter had Andy's answer was what Miranda was wanting to hear.

"Why?" Andy asked, grinning teasingly. She's fond of driving Miranda nuts. For some odd reason, she found it extremely hot when Miranda's irritated. More so when Miranda's angry. (This has nothing to do with the ever hot make-up sex that happens afterward. No sir. Not at all.) But not so angry that at one point, she almost made Miranda cry with her relentless teasing. She felt awful yet she couldn't help feeling a little smug. She's got that power over Miranda, and Miranda got the same, maybe even more power over Andy. But back to the point, the make-up sex almost didn't happen. Bad move, and she has learned her lesson.

"Just.. It does." she pursed her lips then. Andy grinned.

"I love you."

"Answer my question, Andrea." still pursing her lips, she hated it when Andrea's being playful while she's opening a serious discussion. Other times, the three words would have worked their magic and will have her lips quirk for a smile. But not today. She's determined to find out something. As to why, she doesn't know herself. Later, she'd realize she shouldn't have persisted to learn more about this.

Andy sighed and realized it's not one of those days when she could get away with her witty one-liners and I love you's.

She shifted her body and casually draped her left arm on the back of the couch and looked directly on Miranda's eyes.

For a moment she almost forgot what they were talking about as she got lost in Miranda's stare. God, why's Miranda so beautiful?

"Yes."

A second or two passed before Miranda replied, "Hmm.. How many? How long did it last?"

Andy stared at her. She's trying to weigh if she should tell Miranda the truth or if she could get away with a lie. The latter was a no go, obviously. Miranda can read her like a book. Especially when she's hiding something or not telling the complete truth. She wouldn't call it lying, when it comes to Miranda. She'd say she was only trying to tell her version of truth. Something that would not further irritate Miranda when she's already upset in not a sexy way.

She decided to just get on with it. What the hell. She's madly in love with Miranda. No chance in hell she'll cross path with Elizabeth anyway. She's moved on. Yes. Definitely. Totally moved on.

"One.." she swallowed and tried to act cool about it before she continued. "Eight years.." she added nonchalantly then smiled. She hoped it looked genuine. She hate talking about it. It was a super long, super exhausting, and quite a painful story. She'd rather not, really.

Miranda looked shocked to say the least. She stared at Andy and then stared, and then stared some more. When Andy felt uncomfortable enough and was about to say something stupid, Miranda found her voice and tilted her head back as she shook it softly. Her brow furrowed as she opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Wow. Eight years. She shouldn't worry, really, except it's eight fucking years. Longer than two of her marriages combined. She tried to imagine what Andrea must be like back then and she couldn't help but wince.

Eight years. What happened? This eight years woman better be dead. Miranda couldn't help but thought.

"I'm sorry, did you say eight years?" Miranda finally asked after what felt like a year.

Andy reached for Miranda's right hand and scooted closer.

"You are freaking out."

Miranda frowned some more but said nothing. "Yes, eight years. No big deal." Andy said as she tried to hide her unease with a grin. Right.

Miranda looked at her like she's grown a second head. She was freaking out indeed but it's all in her head at the moment. She couldn't seem to speak up and let her voice be heard.

Eight years. No big deal. Ha! Not a big deal at all. Two years shy of a decade. Fucking decade.

"Eight years and no big deal? My, eight years is longer than both of my marriages combined." She said through gritted teeth.

"Miranda, it's over. We parted ways amicably.." Partly true. Elizabeth was amicable, she was not. "It didn't work out between us. So we decided to give it a rest." Not true at all. Elizabeth decided. She on the other hand was still willing to try.

She was young then. She thought Elizabeth was her soul mate. Everybody makes mistakes. So what. Andy counted this as one of her biggest. Not the whole relationship though. They had their great moments. And then Andy had her worst. She cried for days and begged. Begged and shouted outside Elizabeth's apartment, and then begged some more. Pathetic. She was pathetic. And she has moved on. Obviously.

Miranda was silent. She's looking at Andy trying to see if the latter was telling the truth. Much to her dismay, she did not like what she saw.

"Of course you did. Or else you wouldn't be here right now with me." She tried to smile at Andrea, then looked past her head and glanced at the wall clock. She decided to drop this one for now. "It's late, darling. You better get going." Miranda said with tone of finality in her voice. She stood abruptly and tried to walk past Andy to the door. Andrea was quick though and managed to grab Miranda's wrist. She used Miranda as her leverage when she stood up. She likes it best when Miranda's at home and not wearing heels. She's towering over Miranda and she felt powerful, even just for a bit.

She sighed and hugged Miranda as she kissed the older woman's temple. Miranda stiffened as she was caught off guard by the movement. She wasn't particularly happy with how their conversation went. She hated herself for it. Of all the things to ask. Why she couldn't just let the topic go was beyond her. Andy then kissed her cheek, then her lips. She brushed Miranda's left cheek with the back of her right hand,

"Hey.. please don't let this freak you out. I am here now. Everything happens for a reason, right? You said so yourself the other day.." She was looking at Miranda's blue pools and trying her best to reassure her lover. God, she can't lose this. She can't lose Miranda. "I love you..very much. Please don't ever forget that." Then Andy kissed her again, firmer this time. Miranda must've been moved by Andy's words as she responded kindly to Andrea's kiss. She cannot lose Andrea. She uttered a prayer that this eight years woman better be dead.. or.

Stop it Miranda. Let it go. The woman only had Andrea for eight years. Hopefully, you'll have her for the rest of your life... And yes, that's the key word there, 'hopefully'. You can't lose hope now, Miranda. Get a grip.

They kissed and when it became too intense and the need for air was too much, Miranda stepped back. She was getting turned on when she's supposed to not be in the mood after tonight's big revelation. She tried to smile at Andy while she wiped with her thumb the traces of pink lipstick on Andy's supple lips.

"I love you too. Now, you better go before I change my mind. I know you have an early start tomorrow."

Andy smiled and feeling relieved. She sneaked another kiss on Miranda's lips before she turned and leave. Miranda decided not to walk Andrea by the door. She's got things to process in her head. The task of walking Andrea and then climbing down and up the stairs was quite too much for her at the moment. Her knees felt weak. If it's because of the kiss or due to that eight years thing, she couldn't really tell.

Her mind screeched back to the present as she got pushed by the person behind her. Time to walk. People were now crossing the busy street. For a moment, she forgot about Elizabeth, but then as she was walking to cross the busy street of New York, while her mind was focused on this simple task of moving her feet, Elizabeth touched her arm, "Andy.." she was smiling again. Andy's gazed traveled Elizabeth's boots then up to her smiling brown eyes. The latter was being her old self, wearing short boots and jeans, and shirt and a scarf around her neck. Her neck. Andy's next favorite part of her. Stop it! Stop it right there Andrea Sachs! But Elizabeth was smiling at her and Andy's breath hitched and she couldn't help but cringed.

I'm so dead.

TBC.