I woke the next morning with Miranda wrapped around me. As I inhaled I mentally smacked myself. Good one Andy, how am I gonna explain this to the girls.

I extracted myself carefully, lifting Miranda's arm and slowly sliding out from our intertwined legs. I heard her let out a whimper in her sleep. Making quick work of my jeans and shirt I grabbed the jacket that was on the chair,opening the door with care to make sure it didn't squeak.

Holding my breath I headed for the stairs. I knew where in the floor the boards would creak and made strategic moves to avoid any chance at being caught. I was to the foyer passing the kitchen and headed to the door when I heard a sleepy voice.

"Daddy?" I turned to see my little girl looking at me with a box of Captain Crunch in her hand.

"Hey Bobbsey" Damn it, me and Cassidy were always early risers. I should have accounted for this.

"Why are you leaving so early? Did you and mom have a sleepover?" Goddamn it, never grow up.

"You know mom and I just had some stuff we needed to talk about…...Do you need help with your breakfast?" She shook her head, but I was not about to let her climb up on the counter to get the bowls. Cassidy may be 7, but she still ate like she was 5.

So I dropped my jacket on the island and got out Cassidy's favorite Jungle Book bowl and filled it with Captain Crunch and almond milk.

We walked over to the living room, I Turned on Looney Tunes, and she was glued. Spoon almost missing her mouth as Cassidy forgot to blink. Kissing her beautiful red hair I made my way back to the kitchen, grabbing my jacket, and closed the door before locking it with my key.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Have you ever been so glad it was Saturday?" Nigel said as he looked over at me. I had a cream cheese bagel with everything.

"Do you smell onion?" I glared at him and he winked. It was Saturday, but there was no rest for the wicked. Miranda Priestly on Monday was the closest thing to the devil that= Runway had ever seen.

"There is a photo shoot on Tuesday." Emily said as people came in and out of the room. I loved my office, but sometimes I wished there was a lock on the door.

"I don't seem to get where you are going with this?" Looking up from my reel of film that I had brought out of my dark room.

"My point is I think-" Nigel looked over at the women that were lollygagging. Emily quickly realized what he meant and turned.

"DON'T YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE YOU NEED TO BE!" Emily said in a very British condescending accent. The women scurried out of the room closing the door behind them.

"My point is, it's been a year. I think it's time you told us why you two got divorced." I hated this question.

"Nigel, Nigel, Nigel, I do believe you have breathed in just a little too much product if you believe that I'm about to tell you about Miranda and my relationship." Looking back down at the photos hopping he would drop it.

"Oh please don't act like you haven't done it before!" Emily swished back her bangs.

"I was very drunk….you know what Rum does to me." I took the photos and started to walk away from the odd two people that seemed to keep Runway afloat.

"ANDY-" I closed the door to the black room and put the chair against the handle for good measure.

I stayed like that. Mixing chemicals and working with different paper to see if I could get the desired effect.

It wasn't until I heard a knock at the door that I realized how much time had gone by. Putting a photo up on the string I went for the doorknob.

"Nigel if this is- Miranda" Sure enough la Priestly herself was outside the door in Prada on a Saturday.

"You were expecting a bald man I could tell" She said cooly.

"Well a dragon will do all the same." I realized what I said. It was cold and heartless, but I didn't care. I had to remember we were divorced.

"Right." She looked down at the book taking out a piece of paper, turning on her heels.

"Oh, and the next time you decide to tell our daughter that we needed to discuss something, maybe you should actually stay til morning...instead of walking out like a coward-" I opened my mouth to interrupt her but she put up a finger and shook her head "No no that wasn't a question." Turning back around Miss Priestley headed for the door.

"Is that all ?" Leaning on my hip I held the piece of paper with two fingers.

She stopped and turned.

"Excuse me?"

"I said-"

"I heard you."

A beat, she was thinking.

"Get on the floor." I resumed the position and looked down at the floor.

"Did you like that? I waited and figured it wasn't rhetorical.

"What Mistress?" I kept my eyes down.

She slapped me hard across the face. It stung and my jaw and I tried not to let out a moan.

"Are you questioning me slut?" I felt a little bit of blood trickle down my lip.

"No mistress." Why was I playing along? Probably the same reason that I fell asleep next to her.

"You will address me with respect. Are we clear?"

"Yes." I gritted through my teeth. Being a sub was not always easy.

"Yes what?" She grabbed my chin and tilted it up so I'd meet her eyes.

"Yes Mistress." She let go of my chin, but not before brushing her finger across my lip to collect the blood. She brought the bloody finger to her mouth and sucked off the red liquid.

"You may get up and get back to work when I leave."

With that she got up and walked out of the office. The door closed and I got up.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

" Can I see it in red please…..no not a blood red but a happy red….no no that is maroon." Nigel was on the phone when I got into his office. He had a pen clicking up and down. I set the polaroids down on the table. The bald man swiveled his chair around and looked up at me.

" Yeahh….Gordon let me call you back." Hanging up the phone I grabbed the courage that I had left.

"Miranda wanted children and so we tried again for a few years….When I...she threw herself into work because she thought she couldn't have children anymore. Neither of us ever tested to see which one was…..well. I'm pretty sure it's my fault. I had to leave Nigel. She wants more kids and I can't…"

"six...do you know?" I stared at my knuckles.

"I don't know if I'm steril, no..But I assume...I mean she had twins for fuck sake. It's my fault."

"You don't know th-"

"She deserves better Nigel. She deserves someone who can give her what she wants. That isn't me anymore"

It was quite for a little bit.

"So now you know." I started for the door.

"Why tell me, why now?"

"Because someone needed to know. Who better than the man who was their to anniciate the fucking wedding."

With that I left to go back to working for the woman I'd never have.