It was quiet in the offices of Runway when she arrived, everyone had gone home for the night and she had already delivered the book to Miranda's home so she knew that she had time. Andrea was exhausted, she had gotten home after dropping off the book to be hit with a nightmare situation. Literally. She had been in the apartment for mere seconds when he started on his usual rant at her which tended to be that she was spending too much time at work and paying more attention to Miranda than him, he was even jealous of their daughter.

Their three-year-old daughter; Madeline spent a lot of her time at a local nursery whilst her mother was working, despite the fact that Nate worked very few hours in the day. Andrea would drop her off on her way to work and then collect her each night, often having to wait until after she had delivered the book. The woman hated having to leave her there for so many hours a day but she had no choice because she needed the money in order for them to continue living and also because Nate was gradually syphoning off her wages through his alcohol consumption and spending habits.

Andrea had walked in the door that night with a very tired Madeline in her arms, speaking softly to her before Nate began to yell at the woman angrily. It was then that he had struck her across the face and knocked her to the ground as she struggled to keep a secure hold on their daughter.

The little girl began to cry in fear as she clung to her mother and it wa then that Andrea knew that she had to leave. So she ran. She ran with her daughter to the one place that she knew that she would be safe. She ran to Runway. She had briefly considered running to Miranda's house but she was unsure as to how the woman would react to her assistant randomly turning up on her doorstep so late at night with her daughter.

Madeline looked up at her mother when they arrived in Miranda's office, "Where are we Mommy?", she asked tiredly as she rubbed her eyes. She was still a little scared from what had happened at the apartment with her 'father'.

"This is where Mommy works Maddy", she said calmly to her daughter, "It's safe here and we can sleep here for tonight, okay?".

"Okay", she answered simply, trusting her mother as she climbed up onto the sofa, "Is this your office?".

Andrea shook her head, "No, this is Miranda's office", she said softly with a smile.

"Why are we in Miranda's office instead of yours?", Madeline asked with a slightly tilted head.

"Because my desk is outside there, we walked past it on the way in", Andrea explained, and because I feel safer when I feel closer to Miranda, she thought to herself.

Madeline curled up on the sofa, "Mommy? Can I have a blanket, please?", she asked quietly.

Andrea smiled, "I don't think we have a blanket here but I do have something that will do just the job", she said softly, "Wait here for one moment and I'll be right back".

"Okay", Madeline replied.

"Don't go anywhere, okay?", Andrea said as she cupped the girl's cheek.

Madeline nodded, "I won't move off of the sofa".

It was eleven o'clock at night, Caroline and Cassidy were both with their father for the night so the house was quiet, too quiet. Miranda sighed heavily as she put on her coat, she had forgotten a set of notes at the office but also she decided that rather than to call Andrea to fetch them for her, she would go herself because she wanted to get out of the house for a while rather than to sit in silence with only the book as company.

"Good girl", she whispered before pressing a kiss to Madeline's head knowing that she would be safe there and that she was literally just going down the hallway to grab the poncho that she had seen and knew where it was in the closet. She knew that she wasn't going far from Miranda's office and she also did not want to pull her daughter around the Runway floor too much in case it was called into question by security as she knew that there was a guard change due soon.

Andrea left Miranda's office and made her way down the hallway once she had closed the door slightly to the office.

When she arrived the offices were silent but as she walked closer to her office she noticed that there was a soft light coming from beneath the partially closed door. Miranda frowned slightly as she moved forward and she paused momentarily before pushing open the door slowly.

Her eyebrows shot up as she was met with the sight of a small girl sitting on her sofa, she had dark curly hair that were in bunches and she wore a pair of jeans along with a long sleeved top and a warm jacket that covered it. She had a small blue butterfly clip in her hair and a pair of black shoes on her feet.

"Hello", she said softly to the child as she approached cautiously, wondering if her mind was playing tricks on her.

The child smiled brightly up at her, "Hello", she said softly, "I'm Maddy". "Mommy said that she'll be back with a blanket soon and that I have to stay on the sofa until she gets back", the little one explained without being prompted to, "Are you supposed to be in here?", she questioned.

Miranda looked slightly confused at the question but she did not have a chance to respond before the little girl continued to talk.

"This is Miranda's office", she stated, "Did you know that? Mommy says it's safe here and so we can sleep here for tonight".

"Well that's a good thing that I'm Miranda then, isn't it?", the Editor-in-Chief questioned with a raise of her eyebrow.

The girl's jaw dropped, "You're Miranda?", she asked before grinning, "Mommy talks about you a lot".

"She does now?", Miranda questioned before she sat beside the child on the sofa, "So, Maddy? Is that short for something?".

Maddy nodded, "Madeline", she replied with a smile, "But Mommy calls me Maddy… unless I'm really naughty".

"Well, I shall call you Madeline but I assure you that it is not because you have been naughty", Miranda said with a soft smile, "Do you often sleep in my office?".

Madeline shook her head, "No", she said softly, "This is the first time. I've never been here before". "Daddy was angry when we got home…", the little girl said rather quietly, "He…"

Miranda looked very concerned, "He what dear?", she asked.

"He was yelling at Mommy and then he…", the little girl started to cry, "He hit her and knocked her over when she was holding me".

The woman did not hesitate to put her arms out to the child in order to offer her comfort.

Madeline did not waste any time in launching herself into Miranda's lap before snuggling up to her and clutching a section of her designer silk blouse in her tiny hand.

She wanted to ask what her mother's name was but she had a feeling that she already knew, the little girl's dark brown eyes and huge mega-watt smile gave it away.

The three-year-old little girl sobbed against Miranda's blouse and making it rather wet as well as a little wrinkled as she clutched at it.

"Here I have the….", Andrea stopped in the doorway to her boss' office when she saw her boss sat on the sofa with her crying daughter in her arms, "...blanket".

"I believe that is a poncho Andrea", Miranda stated, "Even you should know that. Surely".

Andrea nodded and moved closer to the sofa, "Hey Maddy", she said quietly, "What's wrong?".

Madeline was starting to calm down but had not loosened her grip on Miranda's shirt, "She was upset about what took place when you got home tonight", she explained as she looked up at the dark-haired woman in front of her.

Andrea was unsure as to what to say, "I… I'm sorry Miranda", she said as she bit her lip, "I didn't know that you'd be back at work tonight, we'll leave so that you can…".

"No", Miranda said simply, "Madeline has informed me that you were both planning on sleeping in my office tonight which you will not be doing".

"But Miranda", Madeline said through tired tears, "I don't want to go home, please can I sleep here?".

"No, Madeline", the woman said simply, "You may not sleep here, it is simply not suitable for you so you will be coming back with me to the townhouse and you shall stay there instead".

"Miranda, I…", Andrea began to object.

"Really?", the little girl asked, suddenly with a smile on her face despite the tear tracks that were covering her cheeks.

Miranda nodded, "Really", she said with a smile in return, "You can both come and stay with me for however long you need to".

Andrea bit her lip, "It's okay Miranda we can just….".

"Andrea", she said in a warning tone, "You will be staying with me and that is final".

"But why?", she questioned as she watched Miranda stand up with Madeline in her arms.

Miranda shifted Madeline so that the young child was securely on her hip, "Because I simply will not allow you both to sleep here, it is not an appropriate place to be sleeping Andrea. Not for you or for Madeline".

"But we could just go to a motel", Andrea said softly, offering Miranda a way out of the offer.

"You will do no such thing", Miranda stated firmly, "You will stay with me at the townhouse where I know you're safe".

"Thank you Miranda", the dark-haired assistant said softly.

Miranda offered a small smile and a nod as she held the little one close to her, "Come", she said as she snatched a file from her own desk before walking out of the office.

Madeline appeared to be rather comfortable in Miranda's arms.

"Oh and leave the poncho there", Miranda called back, "You won't need it".

"Would you like me to carry her instead Miranda?", Andrea offered once she had caught up to them at the elevator.

Miranda shook her head, "No", she answered, "She appears to be quite content where she is", failing to comment about the fact that she rather liked to have the weight of a child in her arms again.

Once the elevator arrived at the Runway floor they both stepped inside and Andrea hit the button to take them to the lobby. "Thank you Miranda", she said softly, "You really don't have to do this you know?".

The Editor-in-Chief shook her head, "I do Andrea", she admitted quietly, "I do have to". "I need to know that you're safe", she continued before pressing a kiss to the top of the now sleeping child in her arms, "I need to know that you're both safe". "I knew that something was wrong but I never…", she paused as she struggled with the idea, "...I never considered that this would be what was wrong otherwise I would have offered for you to stay with me much sooner, you know that, don't you Andrea?".

Andrea nodded, slightly nervously.

"I will do everything I can to protect you both, Andrea", Miranda said softly as the elevator doors opened up and she stepped out into the lobby.

The security staff kept their heads down as Miranda walked through the lobby and out to the front of the building where Roy was waiting for her with the town car, they did not comment on the fact that, for some reason, a reason unknown to them, she was carrying what appeared to be a sleeping child.

If Roy was surprised at the sight of Miranda carrying what he knew was Andrea's child then he hid it very well, instead of commenting on it he simply greeted them and opened the door for them both.

Miranda shifted the little one in her arms in order to get into the car but did not let her go or put her down, instead she simply cradled her closer once she was securely seated in the car. Roy only closed the door once he knew that both Miranda and Madeline were seated comfortably.

Andrea walked around to the other side of the car and got in before closing the door.

"Home Roy", Miranda commanded as she sat holding the child in her arms with Andrea beside her.

The younger woman looked a little nervous as she sat fiddling with her hands.

"Stop Andrea", Miranda demanded as she glanced sideways at her assistant, "There is no reason for you to be nervous. Not anymore". "When we get home then I will put Madeline in one of the guest rooms so that she can sleep and then you and I will need to talk", she said softly, "It isn't anything bad, I promise. I simply have some… questions".

Andrea nodded, "Of course", she agreed quietly.

Miranda reached out and took hold of one of Andrea's hands in order to stop the nervous fiddling and in order to attempt to calm the woman.

Andrea stared at their joined hands, suddenly feeling much calmer despite everything that had happened that night and how exhausted she felt.

It was twenty minutes before they arrived at the townhouse and Roy was opening Miranda's door in order for the woman to get out of the car, he offered to help her but the assistance was quickly brushed off.

Andrea thanked Roy before he left and she walked up ahead of Miranda in order to open the door to the house with the key that she had for delivering the book in the evenings.

When they entered the house it was silent, not a single person was there, and straight away Miranda went up the stairs whilst still carrying Madeline.

Andrea closed the door behind them and locked up before following her boss up the stairs to the guest room.

Miranda nudged the covers back with one hand before she carefully placed the three-year-old child on the bed then, as she placed the covers over the little girl, she pressed a soft kiss to her temple, "Goodnight Madeline", she whispered softly to her.

Madeline mumbled in her sleep at the move but did not awake at all, despite the alteration in her sleeping arrangements.

Andrea watched with a smile on her face as her heart felt like it would explode with love for both her daughter and her boss; the woman that she had fallen in love with. She fell in love with Miranda without even noticing it herself, she knew that she found the older woman attractive because that aspect was rather obvious even from the moment that they had met but love had come later and the realisation of that was even later.

It was not until Nate accused her of being in love with Miranda and even of having an affair with the woman that she realised that she was, in fact, in love with the beautiful white-haired woman. She did, however, not want to have an 'affair' with her because she wanted so much more than that and she knew in her heart that Miranda deserved so much more than that. She deserved the world but Andrea knew that she could not provide her with that, no matter how much she wished that she could.

When Miranda stepped back from the bed, Andrea stepped forward and whispered a 'goodnight' to her daughter and an 'I love you' before she too pressed a kiss to her child's head and she found herself smiling as she pressed a kiss beside the slight lipstick mark that Miranda had left on the little girl's forehead.

"Would you like a drink Andrea?", Miranda asked quietly as they stepped out of the bedroom and pulled the door to without closing it.

Andrea nodded, she knew that Miranda wanted to ask her some questions about what was going on and she did not blame her for wanting to, however, that did not make her any less nervous about the concept, "Please", she said softly.

Miranda led the way towards the kitchen in order to get the drinks, "Will wine be acceptable?", she questioned as she looked in the woman's direction.

The woman again nodded in agreement, "Yes, that's fine", she said softly.

Once Miranda had poured the drinks she passed one of the glasses to Andrea, "I think we'll talk in the living room", she told her before starting to make her way up the stairs to the room that she had decided on.

Andrea simply followed her up to the room without argument, attempting to resist the temptation to watch Miranda from behind as she walked up the stairs and failing not to.

Miranda smirked slightly as she walked up the stairs as she purposely put a slight emphasis on the way that she was ascending the staircase, although, truth be told, it was something that she had found herself doing an increasing amount whenever she was walking up any staircase ahead of her dark-haired assistant. She found herself rather enjoying the attention that the woman lavished upon her despite Andrea's attempts to be discreet or at least something that Andrea thought was discreet.

Andrea sat down on the sofa when her boss indicated her to and she sat at one end as she took a sip of the red wine that Miranda had poured for her.

The older woman smiled softly as she sat down at the other end of the sofa although not far enough that she was up against the arm of the sofa, "Andrea", she said calmly, "I have heard what happened tonight from Madeline but I would like to hear it from you".

The dark-haired woman bit her lip slightly in a nervous gesture before she began to speak, "After I dropped off the book I collected Maddy from the nursery", she said before pausing, "Then I took her back to the apartment".

Miranda mentally noted the fact that Andrea failed to call the apartment her 'home'.

"When we got back Nate was already drunk", she explained, "He was angry that I had taken so long to get back and so he was shouting then…".

"He pushed you", Miranda completed the sentence after a moment of silence where she knew that Andrea was having difficulty in explaining what had happened.

Andrea nodded, "I was holding Maddy when he pushed me so I fell with her", she continued, "I struggled to keep hold of her and I was so worried that he was going to hurt her so as soon as his back was turned, I ran out of the apartment".

"Why my office?", Miranda questioned.

"It was the best place that I could think of", she said softly, "It's where I feel safe".

"Why does it make you feel safe there?", the Editor-in-Chief asked her.

Andrea paused, her silence showing her nervousness in concern with such a question.

"Andrea?", Miranda prompted carefully.

"Because I feel closer to you", Andrea admitted, "I thought it would feel safer than anywhere else and also Nate wouldn't be able to get in there, not with the 24/7 security and so many cameras". "I just wanted to be somewhere safe, somewhere where Maddy would be safe and warm", she continued.

"Then why not here?", Miranda asked with curiosity.

The younger woman sighed slightly and fiddled with her hands in a nervous gesture yet again, "I wasn't sure you'd want me to", she revealed, "I wasn't sure how you'd react to me just turning up on your doorstep with Maddy".

"I would have done what I did just now", Miranda said softly as she reached out and took hold of Andrea's hand, "Although I probably would have given Madeline a hot chocolate before putting her in the guest room". "Please, never assume again", the woman continued, "Please do not assume that I would not want you or Madeline here, promise me?".

"Yes, Miranda", Andrea replied automatically despite finding the concept a little surreal.

Miranda smiled, "Now, I would like to know why feeling closer to me makes you feel so much safer".

Andrea hesitated in answering the question, appearing a little more nervous than she had done before, "I'm not sure…".

"I think you do, Andrea", Miranda said gently as she squeezed her hand in a reassuring manner.

"It's not that I don't know why", Andrea admitted, "It's just that I'm not sure I should say".

"Why not?", Miranda questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"It might change things", Andrea said quietly.

Miranda nodded in recognition of that, "Maybe things changing wouldn't be a bad thing?".

Andrea looked up in slight confusion.

"Please, tell me?", Miranda asked again.

The younger woman bit her lip ever so slightly before she confessed, "Because I love you", she did not look up at her when she confessed it but instead looked down at their joined hands with baited breath.

Miranda moved her hand in order to cup Andrea's cheek gently and maneuver the woman's face in order for her to look at her in the eyes, "I'm glad that's the reason", she said softly, "Because I love you too, Andrea".

Andrea found herself smiling brightly at her.

"Now do you see why I was so adamant that you stay here? Why I felt such a strong need to protect you?", Miranda questioned, "I will always want to protect you and Madeline which is why I must insist that you stay here and not… there". "You may, of course have a guest room each if you would rather stay in one of those rather than…", Miranda paused before whispering with slight nervousness, "Me…".

"Do you honestly think…", Andrea began before pausing in order to look at Miranda properly and to look into her beautiful blue eyes, "...that give the choice...I would choose to be anywhere other than beside you?".

"Oh, Andrea", Miranda whispered, relieved at the idea.

Andrea smiled, "I will always choose to be with you Miranda", she revealed, "No matter where or when".

Miranda smiled brightly before leaning in to press a soft but brief kiss to Andrea's lips before pulling back to look at her, "My Andrea", she whispered lovingly.

Instead of responding verbally, Andrea opted to tug the other woman closer to her and re-initiate the kiss, but this time in a much more passionate manner.

"I love you", Miranda said with a voice filled with love as she cupped the younger woman's cheeks after they had pulled apart for air.

Andrea smiled, her smile even brighter than it was normally, "I love you too Miranda".

"I think we ought to go to bed", Miranda said softly, "It has been a very long day".

The dark-haired assistant smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Just to sleep", the Editor-in-Chief said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

Andrea smirked, "And there I was thinking it would be so much fun tonight", she joked.

"Another night", Miranda replied as she stood up from the sofa with Andrea, she wrapped her arms around the other woman's waist and pressed a kiss on her lips, "I promise you".

She nodded with a smile as she let Miranda lead her up the next flight of stairs to Miranda's bedroom which was opposite the one that they had put Madeline in.

Miranda could not resist checking on the child and stepped into the room quietly in order to take a look at the little one, she had not known previously that Andrea had a child but that would be a conversation for another day.

Both women climbed into the bed after checking on Madeline and after preparing themselves for bed, which included Miranda giving Andrea some unworn pajamas before they lay entwined in eachothers' arms in the quiet home.

If I had known that she had a daughter maybe I could have made… adjustments to the schedule, Miranda thought to herself, Well, I shall have to make adjustments now, maybe I could have the book delivered electronically so that Andrea doesn't have to wait around the office for it? She snuggled up against Andrea a little more, if anyone to mention the snuggling she would, of course, deny it with passion, Paris is in two weeks time and I need Andrea to come… which means that I need to book a ticket for Madeline too. Maybe the twins would like to come with us to Paris rather than to stay with their father for the duration, although I would need someone to watch them whilst we attend the events. Cara has already been given the time off so maybe Jocelyn would like to come. She did watch the girls at that event that I had to take them to with me and that shoot that they came to, and she did want to come to Paris so maybe she could come and watch the girls? Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll book four extra tickets and we can have some time with the children in Paris between shows. She planned and decided before she eventually fell asleep safely embraced within Andrea's arms where she remained all night until a rather energetic three-year-old along with a very fluffy dog managed to find them and decided to both climb up onto the bed with them.