Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine...

Andy closed her eyes tightly as she hung up the phone. She was not looking forward to delivering this message. They had only been back from Paris for four days and the press had already caught wind of Miranda's legal separation in preparation for her divorce. Dalton had just called to inform Miranda that the twins needed to be picked up due to the amount of reporters that were at the school disrupting the students.

She caught Emily smirking evilly at the obvious look of dread on her face. She simply rolled her eyes, biting back all the nasty retorts on the tip of her tongue. It had been like this since their return from Paris and her obvious promotion to first assistant.

Andy sighed as she resigned herself to the fact that she was going to have to interrupt Miranda's meeting with Nigel, Paul and Lucia. She mentally adapted Emily's mantra of, "I love my job. I love my job. I love my job," as she pushed through the doors. Miranda didn't even bother to look up, but Nigel sent her a questioning look.

She walked directly to Miranda and turned slightly; pitching her voice low so as only Miranda could hear her. "I just received a call from Dalton. Evidently the story of your separation broke, and there are already reporters waiting on the girls."

Miranda looked up sharply, and Andy repositioned her body so that any expression would be hidden from the room. Miranda squeezed the bridge of her nose tightly. "Ride with Roy to pick them up and carry them home," she said for only Andrea's ears.


Miranda was feeling an unfamiliar emotion as she entered the townhouse later that afternoon: worry. And it wasn't for her children. She rarely worried for their well-being, knowing that if anything happened to them, she would know within a moment's notice. She had recently worried over their emotional well-being knowing that the situation they had just experienced would be coming soon. But that wasn't it.

No, she was worried for Andrea. The girl hadn't returned after retrieving the girls, and she had no idea where she would be.

She had in fact been somewhat worried for Andrea for some time now. It had started as a fleeting emotion when Andrea had informed her of the possible pregnancy, and had only grown after the night of seeing Andrea in pain and physically ill. But after her appointment on Monday, Miranda had been feeling it more often. She was as efficient as ever, but Miranda could tell Andrea was also anxious and distracted. She had also caught Andrea pausing for several seconds clutching her stomach in pain the past three days.

Miranda had also found herself wondering frequently as to what Andrea's idea might be in regards to her health if she weren't pregnant. Her reaction to Miranda's questioning had stuck out, only causing Miranda to be that much more curious.

With these thoughts running through her head, she was almost into the sitting room before she heard the voices. "Nothing's wrong," she heard Andrea saying. "I'm just tired. As fun as Paris was, it was exhausting. And we haven't really stopped running since we returned, trying to get everything down about the shows."

"Well, maybe if Mom wasn't such a b…" Miranda cringed at Caroline's tone.

"You want to choose your words about your Mother carefully Caroline Elizabeth," Andy interrupted sternly.

Miranda was surprised to say the least to hear Andrea confronting her child, but she was completely shocked when she heard Caroline backpedaling quickly.

"Such a brilliant businesswoman who demanded people do their jobs," she said giving a bright smile hoping her near slip would be overlooked.

"Good cover," Andy smirked.

"How did you get her to let you stay anyways?" Cassidy asked.

A sheepish look crossed Andy's face. "She didn't actually. Umm. I just kind of stayed."

Both the girls laughed. "I wonder what she'll make you do to make up for that one," Caroline asked.

"Oh, I don't know. How was the Harry Potter book? Maybe I'll have to personally beg the author for another book in the series for you brats." She gave them a pointed look. "You can bring it upstairs. Emily does it all the time," she mimicked.

So that's why the silly girl came upstairs that night, Miranda thought. She suppressed an eye roll at her girl's antics, knowing she should punish them, but also knowing she just didn't have the heart.

"It was awesome!" Cassidy exclaimed. "You can borrow mine if you like. They are really amazing books."

"Yeah, why don't you run get it for me real quick?" Andy said with false enthusiasm. "I can use it to beat you two heathens with."

The girls again began laughing loudly when Andrea dove for them, wrapping a child under each arm. Once she had them effectively pinned, she began tickling them. With the laughter and squeals growing in volume, Miranda thought this was the perfect time to interrupt. She cleared her throat as she fully entered the room and the three wrestling figures on the floor froze.

"Mom," Cassidy squealed as she squirmed out of Andrea's hold and dashed to Miranda. She tried to fight back the sharp pain of regret when she noticed Caroline's surprised face as she stole a quick look at the clock before joining her sister.

"Hello girls," she said placing a kiss atop both their heads. "Why don't you both run into the kitchen and see what we can fix for diner?" she smiled down at them. "I gave Margaret the night off thinking it would be fun for the three of us to spend an evening together."

The girls high-fived each other as they ran out of the room. Caroline stopped short at the door and turned. "Can Andy stay too Mom?"

"Of course Sweetheart," Miranda said. "Unless of course she already has plans."

Caroline turned to look at Andy with a hopeful look on her face. "Sure kiddo," Andy grinned. "No salmon," she called out as Caroline turned to join Cassidy in the kitchen. She quickly got up from the floor with a hesitant look on her face. "Sorry about not coming back in or calling. The girls asked for me to stay with them and it slipped my mind to check in with you."

Miranda raised her hand to brush away the apology. She was pleased to know that the girls had been with someone they were comfortable with since she had been unable to see them sooner. "No salmon?" she questioned. "A dietary restriction due to pregnancy?"

Andy shook her head. "I haven't heard back from them yet, but I'm pretty sure salmon is one type of seafood that you can eat while pregnant. Either way, no, I'm allergic to salmon."

"Ahh," Miranda said wondering just what was taking so long to get Andrea's tests results in. "So, no prior engagements for the evening?" she asked afraid the girls may return and over hear the conversations of Andrea's possible pregnancy.

"No," Andy said. "I uhh, I do need to make a quick phone call though."

Miranda nodded her head and turned to the doorway. "We'll be in the kitchen," she said over her shoulder.

Upon entering the kitchen, she was immediately drawn into refereeing an argument between Cassidy and Caroline as to what they would be fixing for dinner. They finally decided on grilled chicken and broccoli, cheese and rice, a dish both girls enjoyed and one Miranda happened to know was a childhood favorite of Andrea's. They promptly went about laying out all of the ingredients when Miranda noticed Andrea's phone call was taking longer than she had expected. "Wash your hands girls. I'll be back in a moment and we'll get started," she said as she made her way to check on Andrea.

"No, I'm not working," Andy was saying somewhat exasperatedly as Miranda walked into the room. "I promise Danny. I accidently doubled booked with you and a friend. I don't get to see them much, so I'm going out with them tonight." Miranda found herself amused at the girl's ability to lie smoothly, while appearing to be reluctant in doing so as she paced back and forth and ran a hand through her hair. "Look, I'll see you next week, okay? It'll even be my treat since I'm cancelling."

Andy released a sigh as she hung up the phone, and had to hold back a scream at the sound of Miranda's voice. "I thought you said you didn't have plans for tonight Andrea?"

Miranda fought back the thought that the girl really was adorable when she blushed. "Well, I did, but it worked out perfect because I was looking for a reason to cancel anyways," Andy said. She continued at Miranda's questioning gaze. "I have a long-standing dinner date with my brother at least once a week. I didn't want to go because he's the typical older brother and picks up on literally anything that could be wrong, and I'm not ready to talk about it until I know exactly what it is."

Throughout the preparation and eating of dinner, Miranda was mainly a silent participant. She enjoyed watching Andrea interact with her children, and it appeared as if the three enjoyed their interactions as well. As they cooked, Miranda couldn't hold back her laughter as the girls began a subdued version of a food fight. The laughter was rewarded by three bright smiles that had her rethinking the fact that she always had to be the hard-nosed woman she was at work. Once the flying food became more erratic than subdued, Miranda put a quick stop to it, but other than that she simply enjoyed watching.

Over dinner, Andrea and the twins carried the conversation. Andrea questioned them about school, and asked over grades and tests that Miranda was saddened to realize she hadn't even known about. The girls began questioning Andrea of her childhood: What she was like? What had it been like to have a brother? If she had played sports? They wanted to know everything.

Andrea indulged the girls, and answered all of their questions, but Miranda could see her beginning to grow tired. She informed the girls it was bedtime and walked Andrea to the sitting room to retrieve her things.

"You are very good with them," she said conversationally.

Andy grew weary at the tone. She knew that she would have to explain just how she and the twins had grown to like each other, and wasn't sure as to how Miranda would react. "They sneak down and talk to me when I bring the book sometimes," she said. A glance at Miranda left her fidgeting because she wasn't able to tell what she was thinking. "We just talk a little bit then I send them to bed." Another glance had her breaking down completely. "Okay! I bring them candy and snacks as bribes so they don't try and trick me and have me lose my job!"

She was utterly shocked to hear Miranda chuckle. "Heathens indeed," she said with a smile. "They are my children." She then grew serious. "I'm glad. They seem to genuinely like you, which isn't an easy feat I might add. Thank you for staying with them."

"Of course. They're not so bad once you get to know them," Andy said as she put on her coat at the door. "I'll be back later with the book, I guess. See you tomorrow Miranda," she added softly as she leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss before leaving just as quickly.