"Bobbsies, mommy has something she needs to tell you," Miranda began.

"Ha! I told you, Cass."

From where she stood to the side of the desk, Andy couldn't see the laptop screen. However, she could see Miranda's face and if the paling of her skin was any indication what Miranda was seeing was proving highly upsetting. Caroline's tone told Andy that her expression wasn't as accepting as Miranda had hoped.

"Care, you should let Mom finish. That might not be what she's talking about at all." Cassidy at least seemed more inclined to listen, though she still sounded reserved.

"Darlings, I take it you've been surfing the blogs again. You know I prefer that you don't read the things they say. There is very seldom any truth to their stories."

"So you didn't get married in Las Vegas?" Caroline asked.

The color came back into Miranda's face in a rush. "I did get married, yes. But it didn't come about in the way they're saying."

"So which part isn't true? That you married some gold digger half your age, or that you were so drunk they had to carry you into the chapel. Or maybe it's the stuff about you making a fool of yourself with a bunch of Elvis impersonators."

Andy was ready to throttle the owner of that snide tone. No one talked to her Miranda like that in Andy's hearing, not even her daughters. She stepped around beside Miranda and laid an arm around her shoulders. "Now look, you weren't there so you might want to wait for the truth before passing judgment on your mom. You both know me. I could care less about Miranda's money. She's an amazing woman and anyone would be lucky to be married to her. I'd think as her daughters you'd know that better than anyone."

"Andy!" Cassidy squealed. "We didn't know it was you! None of the stories had your name in it and the only pictures showed you from the back. You're seriously married to Mom?"

Andy laughed in relief. There was at least one Priestly twin on her side. "Yes, Cass, I'm seriously married to your mother. We'd planned to tell you two before word got out, but the gossip blogs beat us to it. We're going to hold a press conference in about an hour, so we wanted to clear things up with you first."

"Did Mom really do karaoke with a bunch of Elvises?" Cassidy asked.

"Miranda sang with one Elvis. In fact, that's how she proposed," Andy told her with a grin. She sat on the arm of the chair Miranda was using and leaned against her wife lightly. "We'll tell you all about it later. I'm going to go get changed and let you talk to your mom. See you guys soon."

Andy vacated the room as quickly as possible to give Miranda maximum time with the girls to reassure them however she saw fit. There was still the call to her parents to make and Andy doubted it would go as smoothly. In fact, she was expecting it to resemble a medieval battle skirmish, all blood and gore.

Hurrying into the bedroom, Andy was glad to see Serena waiting for her. The way her hands were shaking Andy doubted she'd be able to do her own makeup without the finished product resembling a circus clown. "Wow, am I glad to see you," Andy greeted Serena.

"I thought you might need some help. Miranda has chosen her outfit." She gestured toward the gold brocade jacket and black pencil skirt that hung on the door to the tiny closet. "She said you would choose your own. I believe she wished you to select something you would be comfortable with."

"Somehow I don't think she'd be thrilled with the jeans and t-shirt that would be my first choice," Andy laughed.

Serena smiled pleasantly. "I believe she would accept it, if that is what you needed to be able to act yourself before the press. But I think you can do better. Of the clothes you brought for work what makes you feel most confident?"

"Serena, you read the blogs, right? What are they saying? I mean, I kinda know why they think I married Miranda, but what reason are they giving for her marrying me?" Andy asked in a nonsequitor.

"Andy, you are young and beautiful. What do you think they are saying? They do not know you or Miranda. The nasty things they think do not matter." Serena waved the idea away. "It is what you know that matters."

And what do I know? Less than the bloggers it feels like. Andy sighed and began to look through her clothing choices. So they think Miranda married me for the sex, huh? Okay, then I'll just show them what a damn good deal she got. With an emphatic nod, Andy pulled an ivory Armani suit from its covering. "This, I think, with the sheer ruffled blouse."

Serena's laugh could be heard outside the plane Andy was sure. "You are going to rub their noses in it, as Emily would say," she teased.

"I most certainly am." Andy joined in the laugh.

"I will make sure the podium is set up far from any wind. One strong puff and you will have no secrets."

Andy sighed and slumped on the bed. "I don't feel like I have any now."

Serena sat beside her and offered a hug. "You have many secrets left. Only you know why you married Miranda. Only you and she know what is between you. Those are things you do not have to share with the world. Let them see that you are happy as Miranda's wife. That is all they need to know."

"But it won't be all they ask. They're going to want to know all the private, personal details. It's nobody's business which of us is on top, or whether Miranda likes toys," Andy wailed.

"They should know that I am always on top," Miranda broke into the conversation. "And we've only been married a day. The need for toys has not yet arisen. We are still too enamored of each other for such explorations."

"Miranda!" Andy gasped. Then she broke into uncontrollable giggles. "You'd tell them that too, wouldn't you?"

"Of course," Miranda agreed with a shrug. "Serena, as delightful as it is to share a bed with Andréa, I would prefer you not do so."

Andy laughed as Serena practically leapt away from her. "Don't scare her, Miranda. She was being nice to me. I could use some nice right now."

"Serena, I was toying with you," Miranda assured her. "Why don't you go calm Emily? I'll assist my wife with dressing."

"Yes, Miranda." Serena blushed and slipped quickly from the room.

"You just had to mention toys again," Andy chuckled. "She isn't going to be able to look at you for a month without blushing."

"Well, when she stops, I will have to arrange an appropriate gift to ensure she continues for several more months." Miranda smirked at the thought.

"You're evil, Priestly," Andy laughed.

"Are you only now realizing that, Andréa? I've been remiss, if you are."

"Oh, I've known it for a while. It's part of your appeal."

Miranda's expression turned serious. "Is it? Are you sure? I can be quite unpleasant, I know that. Nor do I think I can change that about myself. I am who I am. I don't know how long any of this will take to resolve. The time may not always pass pleasantly."

Andy smiled and rose to take Miranda's hand, clasping it in both of hers. "I know who you are, Miranda. I've seen you at your worst, remember? Both at work and in Paris. If it gets too much, I'll tell you. We'll figure this out between us. Just promise me we'll do so as equals. This is my life too and I need to have a say."

Miranda looked down at their clasped hands, the hint of a smile gracing her lips. "I don't know that I have ever approached any relationship as equals. It will be a unique experience for me."

"If Stephen was any example, none of them were your equal, Miranda," Andy said with a snort of derision.

"And I suppose you are?" Miranda asked her, looking ridiculously pleased at the assessment.

"No, I'm not. But the difference is I know and accept that. I won't be looking to drag you down to make myself more. I respect who you are and what you've accomplished. I only ask that you extend me the same courtesy," Andy requested.

Miranda frowned for a moment. "I realize I do not always show it, but I do respect you, Andréa. You have many fine qualities. It simply has not been appropriate for me to acknowledge that as your employer."

"Then aren't we lucky I don't work for you anymore," Andy quipped. "Now you can just heap the praise on me without worrying about pesky employee relations."

"I'm not sure I would know how to 'heap praise,' as you so eloquently put it," Miranda said smirking. "However, I do believe I can make admiring comments on the rare occasion. You shouldn't expect miracles."

"Miranda, I woke up this morning married to you. A miracle should be a small accomplishment after that."

A faint blush rose slowly form Miranda's chest to suffuse her face. "I—well, yes, perhaps you're right. It seems I already accomplished one miraculous feat. You said 'I do' to the Dragon Lady. That must be an event without precedent. Now we really should dress. Emily is waiting to put through the call to your parents."

"You might want to wait on that until after the press conference," Andy cautioned. "It might not be pretty and I can promise it won't be short."

"You know your parents best, Andréa. I'll accede to your opinion in this instance," Miranda agreed.

Andy stepped back and dropped to the bed, suddenly feeling as if she'd fall if she didn't sit down immediately. "Wow, that never happened before." A wide grin split her face. "And you weren't sure you could do equal. I'm so proud of you, Miranda."

Rolling her eyes, Miranda huffed. "Really, Andréa." Reaching for her belt, she began to unfasten it.

Andy couldn't hold back a squeak as she realized Miranda intended to disrobe in front of her.

"We woke in the same bed this morning, naked. Surely you are not going to suffer from shyness now," Miranda said.

"But we didn't wake up at the same time," Andy pointed out.

"True," Miranda agreed. "I woke up first." Her smirk was pure evil.

"You looked!" Andy accused her.

"Indeed, I did. Just as I looked when you fell off the couch after our nap. You have nothing to be shy about, Andréa. I can assure you of that," Miranda finished smugly.

Staring open-mouthed at Miranda, Andy wasn't sure how to respond. Miranda had not only seen her naked twice, but evidently, liked what she saw. Andy couldn't stop the grin that curled her lips at the thought. "Then I guess turnabout is fair play," she teased.

"I hate to disillusion you, Darling, but I will not be stripping to the buff. I merely need to change my clothing. You, however, cannot wear a bra with that blouse. So it seems I will once again get a free show," Miranda shot back.

Andy laughed as she realized Miranda was right. Everything she had, had been put on display this morning as she sprawled on the carpet in Miranda's suite. There was little point in hanging on to false modesty now. Standing, she reached for the buttons of her blouse and began to change. She tried to ignore the fact that Miranda was slowly revealing yards of creamy skin, but Andy found herself stopping to stare more than once. She just couldn't seem to help herself, nor could she control her body's reactions to the sight. Miranda was easily the sexiest, more attractive person Andy had ever met. And I'm married to her. Lot of good it does me.

Feeling much more subdued suddenly, Andy unfastened her bra and dropped it to the bed. Standing in just her panties, she glanced at herself in the full-length mirror on the wall opposite. She sometimes thought her breasts were too big, though she'd never had a lover complain before. Still, there were far more attractive women in Miranda's world. How could she ever hope to gain Miranda's attention that way, assuming Miranda even thought in those terms?

"You're quite beautiful, Darling."

Andy started as Miranda's face appeared over her shoulder in the reflection. Arms slid around her waist as a chin came to rest on her shoulder. Andy tried not to think of the warmth of Miranda pressed to her back or the hands clasped against her stomach. "You confuse me," she confessed.

"Do I?" Miranda smiled, meeting Andy's gaze in the mirror. "I simply think that if we are to convince the world that this marriage is both real and desired, we should become more comfortable with each other. Spouses touch, Andréa. Happy spouses touch frequently and intimately."

Andy nodded. The pleasure of feeling Miranda's touch warred with the knowledge that it was only for show. Andy could see the glimmer of tears in her own eyes, could feel the burn of them beneath her eyelids. She tried a tremulous smile. It wouldn't do to have Miranda suspect that her touch meant more than it should. "The happy couple," she whispered, wishing with all her heart that it was so. She'd give anything if the sight of her body caused the same effect in Miranda that Andy had been feeling only moments ago looking at Miranda's.

"Yes," Miranda murmured. "We need to get dressed and show everyone just that." She moved away to continue dressing.

With a sigh, Andy reached for her blouse and slipped it on. The sheer material showed every inch of the skin it covered. Her modesty was saved by the attachment of ruffles over her breasts. It perfectly matched the ivory drape waist skinny pants and fitted jacket. Andy smiled ruefully at her image as she stepped into cream Jimmy Choo pumps. The effect was almost bridal, though with a definite hint of sin. She wondered for a moment if that was subconsciously why she'd chosen it.

"You look exquisite," Miranda commented. "My bride will stun them all."

Andy smiled at the compliment. "I think mine is pretty stunning too, but then you're always gorgeous, Miranda."

Miranda gave a regal nod and smiled, accepting the approbation. "Shall we?" she asked, offering her arm.

"My makeup."

"You're perfection, Darling. Let's not gild the lily."

Smiling, Andy took Miranda's arm and they headed out to face the world together. At least, for now.