A/N: Well here's the next chappie. I feel really inspired with this story. A big thank you to everyone that has reviewed, favourited, and subscribed to this story! I never expected such enthusiasm for this plot bunny. A huge thank you to my beta and fiancee, Yami Alchemist. How she puts up with me I'll never know.
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 please and don't sue me. I have no money.
"Andrea," floated the soft voice floated out of the office. It had been two months since the Runway team had returned from Paris and things had returned to a relatively normal routine. Miranda wasn't breathing fire down everyone's necks like she had in the weeks preceding Paris and was quite impressed with how the next issue was coming together. There was a tentative friendship blooming between the two first assistants, Andy having been promoted after the return from Paris.
Andy walked around her desk at the sound of her name and gave a small smile at how things had changed. Miranda seemed almost human at times not the distant Ice Queen she was most of the time. It worried her though that her boss seemed to read her like a book and knew something was affecting the new first assistant. It was mostly Emily that did all of the errand running now and Andrea was in charge of making phone calls and managing appointments. The Starbucks runs and delivery of the Book were still Andy's responsibility. Tossing away her worrisome thoughts Andrea entered the editor's office, notepad and pen in hand. "Yes, Miranda," she asked, her ever attentive smile on her face.
Without lifting her head from her work the editor began to spin off instructions. "I need you to remind Nigel about the meeting tomorrow at one, call Donatella and say yes to lunch on Thursday, cancel my meeting with Irv Friday afternoon, then call Emily and have her pick up some samples of skirts from Calvin Klein. Also, I need to see the proofs from last week's shoot and I need that white cardigan from Alfred Sung's new collection." Looking up Miranda watched Andrea scribble down all her instructions and she had to keep her eyes from wandering up and down her assistant's body. Her mouth went dry as she realized just how gorgeous the girl looked in the loose, flowing James Holt creation. Had it really been two months since she figured out just how much she needed the girl in front of her. Miranda's heart ached for the love she knew would never be returned.
"Is there anything else I can do for you," Andy asked with the smile once more on her face after the look of concentration had vanished. She just caught an odd look in the editor's eyes before it was quickly extinguished as Miranda's eyes lifted to her own. With a hand wave and a "That's all" Andrea was dismissed and headed back to her desk with her eyes on the list she had written.
A cry of pain and the sound of shoes slipping on the floor startled Miranda from her work. As she looked up intent on giving a firm tongue lashing to the culprits her heart jumped into her throat. Both Andrea and Nigel were on the ground, papers scattered around them, and Andrea's arm was curled over her stomach, almost protectively. Rising from her seat and rushing around the desk she watched as Nigel got up and reached his hand for Andrea to take. He pulled her up off the ground just as Miranda reached them. With a yelp of pain the younger woman took the weight off her left leg and fell against Miranda, the other woman's arms wrapping around her for support. "You're hurt," Miranda observed helping her assistant to hobble the few steps to the desk to perch on the edge. "Let me see it."
"Miranda, I'm fine," Andy gave a weak protest. A sharp glance stilled her tongue as Miranda slipped off her 4 inch heel and lightly ran her fingers over the girl's ankle. Forgetting to breathe for a moment Andrea relished the feeling of Miranda's fingers on her skin. The touch was so light and innocent but to her it felt like heaven on earth. Nigel's hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality and she realized that Miranda's eyes were glued to her dress stretched across a slightly swollen belly. Her mouth suddenly going dry Andrea reached across her front and turned away from Miranda's piercing blue eyed stare. "I'll get back to work then. I'm sure my ankle is fine. It's just sore from Nigel kicking it accidently." This got Miranda's attention and the look of shock she had been wearing on her face was blanked out as she stood and returned to her office without another word.
"Book's ready," said the new boy from the Art Department handing it over to Andy's waiting hands. She took it wordlessly and gave him a nod. After he had left she gave a small sigh and slipped back into the 4 inch Manolo Blahnik red heels under her desk. Miranda had left the office at six o'clock without a word and Emily had left shortly thereafter, promising to take Andy to dinner that Friday with Nigel. Texting Roy to say she'd be right down Andrea left the desk and headed for the elevator, gleaning from her phone that it was quarter after ten and she would have to be exceptionally quiet in the house tonight since Caroline and Cassidy would be asleep.
Unlocking the front door of the townhouse Andrea waved to Roy as he drove off. She'd be taking the subway home from here like she did every other night. When Roy had gone she stepped through the door only to have her pushed roughly inside. She was propelled across the foyer and into the wall next to the closet. She was quickly spun around to face her attacker and had to fight back the urge to vomit at the smell of stale alcohol on the man's breath. "You certainly took your sweet time getting here," spoke a familiar voice. "I've been waiting for almost an hour."
Andy froze as she recognized the voice. "Nate, what are you doing here," she asked angrily trying to push him away. Her voice was low as to not disturb the rest of the household. If Miranda found someone else in her house she wouldn't hesitate to fire Andrea with no questions asked. "You know what; I don't care why you're here. You need to leave. Now!" She shoved him back away from her and he stumbled back a couple paces.
"Why," Nate slurred. "So you can go upstairs and sleep with your witch of a boss?" He grabbed onto Andy's wrist and yanked her away from where she had dropped the dry cleaning and the Book. "You're supposed to be my girlfriend. It isn't her kid you're carrying, it's mine! Why in the hell didn't you tell me you were pregnant, Andy!"
"Because I didn't find out until after you decided we had nothing in common in more," Andrea hissed, the pain of her wrist causing tears to shine in her brown eyes. "And who told you I was pregnant? Hardly anybody knows."
Pushing Andy roughly away from him Nate smirked as she toppled over in her heels and wound up on the floor, cradling her barely there bump. "Lily told me after she got Doug drunk enough to worm it out of him. Even then she said it was hard to get him to say anything about you. I always thought it was weird that he liked you better than me or Lily. Now I guess we know why," he said with a sneer. At Andy's pleads for him to lower his voice Nate grew agitated and he shouted, "What does she have that I don't? Money? Power? That baby needs its father, not some fire breathing dragon!" With that said he stumbled to the front door, kicking the Book towards Andrea as he went, and headed out into the night, slamming the door behind him with enough force to rattle the paintings on the wall.
Andrea let out a sob as she cradled both her belly and her bruised wrist. Trust Nate to ruin everything with his jealousy and possessiveness. Though what he was jealous about Andy wasn't quite sure. Miranda was her boss and even if she really wanted to she couldn't date her boss. It would ruin the cordial relationship they already had. As sobs wracked the girl's body she reached for the Book that Nate had kicked. She was so getting fired because of him. Before she could lay a hand on it her hand was arrested in its movement by a different slim hand and gently retracted back towards Andy. A reassuring presence appeared at her shoulder and Andrea looked up into gentle azure eyes. "How badly are you hurt," Miranda's soft voice caressed Andy's frazzled nerves.
Turning away from those eyes Andy answered in a whisper, "Just my wrist really. My ankle is still a little sore but it'll go away." She turned her gaze to her aching wrist. An ugly bruise was beginning to form and she winced slightly. "The bruising should eventually fade too." Not daring to look at her boss Andrea asked, "How much did you hear?"
"Everything," came Miranda's truthful answer. "I had been coming down to get the Book but when I saw what was happening I just froze. I'm sorry I didn't do anything to help you." She wrapped a strong arm around Andy's waist. She was firm but gentle as she helped Andrea to her feet. "Come. You look like you could use a strong cup of tea."
Her mouth hanging open a little Andrea allowed the editor to lead her into the kitchen. Since when did Miranda apologize for anything? It didn't make sense. And if she had heard everything…. Andy's eyes went wide and her mouth snapped closed. 'Oh crap,' she thought. She watched as Miranda busied herself making tea, something so domestic that Andy had never imagined the editor doing it. "Miranda," she said, "I can…"
"You don't owe me an explanation, Andrea," Miranda said cutting her assistant off. Setting down two cups of herbal tea on the table the older woman directed Andrea into a chair and took the one across from it. "What I don't understand is why you felt like you needed to keep your pregnancy hidden from me. I wouldn't fire you for becoming something I became over ten years ago."
The conversation came to an end and the two women sipped their tea in a companionable silence. A shiver ran through Andrea's body after they had been sitting for about half an hour and Miranda got up from her chair and cleared away their mugs. "Come," she said putting a hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's rather cool downstairs. Come into the lounge upstairs and I'll let you explain yourself if you feel the need to."
Andy followed after the silver haired woman but found herself hesitating at the foot of the stairs remembering her last journey up those steps. Miranda paused halfway up and turned to look at her assistant. Her lips quirked upwards in a smile and Andrea found her confidence to follow her boss the rest of the way up the stairs.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed that. Next chapter will be the same night and the next morning. And don't worry. I have plans for Nate. *insert evil laugh here* Keep the reviews coming!
Till we meet again,
Dragon