A/N: this is based on the prompt that crazybecat submitted to randommirandyfics on tumblr, like, a lifetime ago: an AU wherein Andy is a purveyor of adults goods and Miranda is trying to save her marriage. i've probably taken a few liberties with the original prompt but i'm not particularly bothered by that. it's also turning out to be a little longer than expected. oh well.

Andrea Sachs didn't own a sex shop.

Okay, fine.

Yes, it was technically a sex shop, in the sense that, yes, she did technically sell sex toys, but she'd always believed that an establishment of a calibre as the one she operated was deserving of a much better title.

In much the same way, at parties, Andrea Sachs introduced herself as a therapist, which, while only technically true, was certainly truer than anything else. She did, indeed, do the work of a therapist, it was just that she helped her clients in one very particular aspect of their lives, and she helped them with that aspect only.

She kept the shop in three parts: a beige waiting room in front (replete with a faux-fern and a landscape painting in blues and greens), a private consultation room to the side, a private-private consultation room behind a hidden panel (no such thing as "too much privacy"), and inventory in the back.

It was all a part of the "sex-shop-that's-not-a-sex-shop" image.

Andrea Sachs was the best at what she did. In the age of online shopping it was how she turned a profit.

She was a professional.

A professional, goddammit.

"…What can I do for you?"

"It's–" The elegant woman opened her mouth to speak before seeming to think better of it and closing it again. She frowned, clenching and unclenching her fist.

Not five minutes ago she'd swept through the glass doors with all the force of a hurricane and made a beeline for the consultation room, leaving Andy stammering in her wake. By the time she'd managed to persuade her to stop pacing and take a seat, she appeared to realise just exactly where she was, and that realisation had taken the wind clear out of her sails.

Andy smiled into her eyes, trying to disarm her. This kind of establishment obviously wasn't her cup of tea. "It's okay. I don't bite."

The woman swallowed reflexively before blurting out "It's my marriage."

"There now, that wasn't so hard." Andy tilted her head to the side, trying to get a read on her. "Are you able to tell me what exactly the issue is?"

"I have… I experience difficulty in…" Her eyes closed tight, and a red tinge crawled up her cheekbones, her next words a whisper. "…reaching orgasm," she took a shuddering breath, obviously pained, "Pretending has become tiresome and so, according to my husband, have I."

Andy's heart clenched in sympathy – the poor woman was not merely feeling embarrassed. She was feeling humiliated.

"Sweetie," Blue eyes blazed fire at the endearment, but Andy was not deterred. "There's no need to be ashamed. Not here. This isn't a place for judgement. I mean, really. You're not the first woman to have experienced this kind of problem and you'll not be the last, but let me tell you that it's by no means because of a deficiency on your part. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Her words seemed to placate the woman's nervous energy, but her gaze continued to skewer her, her eyes hard with scepticism.

"You really believe that."

"Absolutely."

A/N: this is my first mirandy fic and i'm praying that everyone is as much in-character as possible, so please let me know how i'm doing :)