When the airplane landed, the sky was clear and Miranda could see the stars. She smiled when she realized how much she had missed home.

As the saying goes there is no place like home.

She left the arriving area after she had retrieved her suitcase and went to the front of the airport, where she hailed a cab and when the driver asked the address, she remembered that she forgot to tell the housekeeper that she was coming. Her parents had bought the house when she was eleven, after her father had won in lottery. They hadn't had much, always struggling to keep their daughter in school. Miranda was a very good student because she knew her parents worked hard, she understood this meant they wanted a better life for her than what they had. Then when her father brought home the news, she didn't change; she kept her grades up and didn't let it go to her head. They left the small house that they lived in and moved in to a townhouse in the center of London.

Her cellphone rang which woke her up from her thoughts. A smile spread instantly across her face when she saw the name on the screen.

"Hello, Andrea."

"Hey! How was your flight?"

"It went well, thank you. How are you?"

There was a pause. Miranda heard the other woman sighing. "I'm… missing you. I didn't know it would be like this."

Miranda frowned and carefully asked. "What do you mean 'like this'?"

"I mean… well, I used to miss Nate near me when he travelled. But usually this would be when I was in bed, y'know?"

"No, I don't". Miranda spat back.

"Oh God, you're pissed!" Andrea chuckled. "Miranda, what I wanted to say is that from the moment you left my side I was missing you. Your smell, your voice, and the way you look at me, the sensation of your skin, even when you tuck my bangs behind my ears!"

Miranda was speechless.

"Hm, well."

"It isn't only physical; I just don't know how to explain. Sorry if I said something wrong."

Miranda smiled. "No darling, you didn't say anything wrong. I was just surprised."

"Me too. Where are you?"

"I'm heading to my house. I forgot to tell you and forgot to call the housekeeper as well. I inherited my parents' house, which is where I'll stay."

"Oh, good. At least you won't be in a dangerous place."

"Yes, yes. And how the girls are doing? Are they behaving themselves?"

Andrea laughed. "Yes, they are doing their homework with Jake and Jonathan is doing the dinner. Sorry, I'm not very good in the kitchen."

"Is he staying?"

"No, he has to go back to the restaurant. I guess he didn't want the children poisoned by me."

"He is such a drama queen. Darling, I will call to the house number as soon as I get settled at the townhouse. Then I can talk with Caroline and Cassidy."

"Ok, baby. Talk to you soon."

Miranda, again, unamused by the 'baby', "yes. Goodbye, darling."

Miranda stared at the scene outside the cab, not taking in anything, just thinking about what her Andrea said to her. She is missing me already. Perhaps it won't take so long for her to love me back. No long at all.


The chef arrived at the townhouse and she was greeted by her parents' housekeeper. Antonella was Italian and had lived in this house longer than Miranda. Antonella's mother was the housekeeper when Miranda was younger and Antonella opted to staying here. When Miranda still lived here, she and Antonella used to go to the port, to see the Navy's ships leaving.

Antonella was there for her too when her heart was broke in little pieces.

"Hello, Miranda!" Said the woman, a little short than Miranda, with vivid brown eyes, her grey hair in a bun.

"Antonella!" They hugged. "You're looking really well."

"Oh, thanks. You don't look so bad yourself." She picked up the suitcase from Miranda. "Come in! I didn't know you were in town."

"Actually, I came from the airport. I just forgot to warn you, I apologize."

Antonella waved. "Don't worry. Mí mamma was always keeping everything clean, just in case. I guess she left her habit of organization in my sanguigna."

"Organizzazione, Miranda! Your room is just the opposite!" Miranda mocked, remembering how many times the woman had claimed about little Miranda's mess in her bedroom.

Both women laughed. "Yes." Then sadness hit Antonella's eyes. "Even when she was in bed, she kept saying that I should clean up the house, because you're coming."

"I'm sorry for your lost. Maria was a mother to me, too."

"It was her time. Thanks, anyway." She smiled at Miranda and patted her in her shoulder. Well, do I need to show your room?"

"No, thanks. I know the way."

"We haven't changed anything. Well, just the bed sheets."

Miranda smiled, before heading to the stairs. "Thanks, Antonella."

"You're welcome, my friend."

When Miranda entered the room, the first thing she saw was the panel with some photos that was still there like Antonella had said. She avoided looking at them because she knew every single photo that was hanging on the wall. She felt her heart pounding and the pain came back all over again.

She sat in bed, staring at the window, at the stars.

"You know, they say that if you start to count the stars, they'll multiply themselves just so you couldn't count them all."

"'They' who? This is a story for children."

"I know. There is another one: if you count the stars pointing to them, your finger will fall from your hand. You'll be without a finger."

"This is ridiculous."

"I know. But I have another story."

"Oh God, you just can't control yourself, can you?"

"Not with you by my side."

"Sweet-talker."

"Ok, they say when you fall in love with a woman with blue eyes, you can be drowned in her blue eyes."

Silence.

"I know this is true."

Miranda sat on the grass she was lay on. Turning her back to her companion, she asked. "How is that?"

"I don't know. I just feel that I could lose myself in your eyes. But I don't see how this could be a bad thing. Your eyes are the most beautiful thing that I have ever laid eyes on." Arms found their way to Miranda's waist. "Hey, look at me."

Miranda turned to her companion and stared right at the green eyes that were looking into hers. She smiled. "You know, there is a story that a woman with green eyes can make you very happy."

"Yes, I know. That's why you are with me!" Her companion laughed.

"I love you very much, Green Eyes."

"And I you, Blue Eyes." They giggled; then kissed.

Miranda woke up from her remembrances; she wasn't even aware that she had fallen asleep. She stared at the ceiling and sighed. Closing her eyes, the image of a brunette came back.

A brunette with green eyes.


Sometime later, Miranda woke up when her cellphone went off. Andrea.

"Hello?"

"Um, Miranda, the girls want to talk with you before going sleep."

Miranda slapped her forehead. "Oh, I fell asleep. Sorry I didn't call. Where are they?"

"They are right here. Hold on."

She heard the phone changing from Andrea's hands. "Hello, mom!"

"Hello darlings, how are you?"

"We are fine." Cassidy said.

"We just wanted to tell you goodnight." Caroline completed.

"Goodnight as well, my babies."

The girls giggled. "Oh, we know who your baby is!" Then, she heard the phone changing to Andrea's hand again and the door slamming shut.

"Oh Miranda, I swear I didn't tell them anything, please don't be mad at me!"

Miranda laughed. "Oh darling, calm down. If they really know who my baby is and reacted this way, I am certainly not mad."

"So, I'm your baby?"

Miranda smiled, because she knew Andrea couldn't see her and kept her voice cool. "Don't be ridiculous, Andrea."

"I know you are smiling." Miranda stopped smiling right after. "Oh, don't worry. I can't picture you calling me 'baby' anyway. And I prefer 'darling' or just Andrea."

"Not 'Andy'?"

"Oh, no. Definitely not. I like the way you say my name."

"Just the way I say it?" Miranda smiled, staring again at the window.

"Well," she heard Andrea coughing, "I would really love to hear you vocalizing it in another situations…"

"What sort of situations… would that be, darling?" She purred, her voice a merely whisper.

"Um… I thought about many situations."

She was really enjoying pushing Andrea's buttons; she could just picture the journalist fidgeting. "Can you give me an example?" But luck was on Andrea's side because she heard Jacob calling her.

"Give me a second, Jake. Baby, I really need to get going. We will talk tomorrow?"

This time, Miranda laughed. "Of course. Don't think you've escaped. Tomorrow you will tell me what I asked. Goodnight, darling." Then she hung up.


On the other side of the Atlantic, Andy was staring at her cellphone when Jacob called her again.

"Mooooooom, Mr Priestly is leaving."

"Okay, okay, I'm coming!"

She left Miranda's room and went to the living room. Jonathan was sitting on the couch with the girls, kissing their foreheads, giving his goodbye.

"Goodnight, daddy." The twins said in unison.

"Goodnight, darlings. I'll pick you up tomorrow, at school."

"Okay. See you tomorrow." Turning to Andy, they added. "Goodnight, Andy."

"'Night, kids."

The girls ran to their room with Jake at their ankles.

"He didn't even say 'good night'!"

Jonathan shrugged. "Kids."

"Well, you have two. You know more about it."

"I guess not. I am present in their lives, but sometimes I ask myself if I'm doing everything I can for them."

"You mean being a father and a husband?" Andy asked carefully, trying to avoid the jealously that had born in her chest. It surprised her a bit because she wasn't that possessive with Nate. Another reason why she and Nate were not meant to be together.

"No, Andy." He chuckled. "Just to be with them. But, let me tell you something." Andy just nodded. "I still love Miranda."

Andy went cold. "Well, she is very-"

He shook his head. "No, not in that way. She is more like my best friend, do you understand? I loved her very much and when she threw my things out of our apartment, I tried to hate her. But she was just protecting our daughters from something really stupid that I did and in the end I ended up hurting my two girls. I really hate myself sometimes for letting her go that easy, but now I know I made the right choice. I have seen the way she looks at you."

Andy, still processing the information, whispered. "Um, she told me something like that."

"She wouldn't do anything and I just encouraged her. The way she looks at you; I had seen this caring way only towards the girls. Miranda has been struggling with trying to reassure you about your husband and telling you how much she wants you to make it work, when really she has feelings for you, because Andy, she loves you. Just the way you are." He finished with a soft smile.

Andy swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. If she voiced anything right now, she would burst into tears.

"And as her only friend, apart from you of course, it is my duty to ask you, what are your intentions?"

Eyeing Jonathan, Andy could see that he, even joking, was talking very seriously. She couldn't help but imagine why he thought about cheating on Miranda, even though he didn't. This man cared so much about her and Andy knew he would tell if she was making it up.

"I'm very grateful of all those things you said. But I still don't know what I'm feeling. I just have this want to be near her, to hold her. To ask how was her day, if she ate, talk about everything and anything. See her smile; you know how beautiful is she when she is smiling?"

Jonathan shook his head positively this time. He couldn't believe his ears, because it was just the opposite of what people thinks about Miranda. "You know, you two are just so cute."

Andy rolled her eyes. "You told us this morning." Sighing, she continued. "I don't know yet what this feeling is."

The manager patted his newly friend on her shoulder. "It is love, Andy. Perhaps it's too early to voice it to her, because as you said, you aren't sure yet. But I know you both will be very happy together."

"Thanks, Jonathan. You are very cute yourself."

Jonathan laughed. "Miranda would have rolled her eyes and said 'Don't be ridiculous, Ahn-drey-ah'."

Andy tsked. "Nobody can say my name the way she says it, ever." Then she blushed, remembering her phone call with Miranda. She just hoped that Jonathan hadn't been paying attention, but she had no such luck.

"I see this," he pointed to her cheeks. "Just be careful with the kids at home." He winked and she blushed hard.

"No, no. We didn't do anything last night."

He glared at her.

"Oh, okay, we… um… kissed. And that was it."

"I was teasing you, Andy. I know that. Miranda tells me everything; you should know that by now." He went to the door.

Andy's eyes widened. "What?"

He laughed. "Oh my God, you are just too easy to tease. Have a good night, Andy. See you later." Then he shut the door.

Andy stared at the door, wondering if it was "Teasing Andy Day."


In the morning, Miranda woke up early, not sure what time was. She'd had nightmares, about a long time ago when she'd lost someone very important to her. She took a shower, put some make-up on and picked up a dress. It was low cut and the bodice hugged her breasts and her hips were more accentuated. She put three inches heels and then descended down the stairs.

While doing this, she closed her eyes and some more memories filled her thoughts.

"Mom?"

Nothing.

"I guess she isn't home. Perhaps she left to the market. Come on, let's go upstairs."

"Of course, I can't wait to be alone with you."

Miranda smiled. "What are you waiting for, then?"

Both running, holding hands, going upstairs, giggling. Miranda was nearly dragging her companion towards her bedroom, but she didn't hear any complaints.

They entered the room and Miranda was pushed against the door and kissed forcefully. She moaned into the kiss, but put her hands on her chest, trying to pull away.

"Stop it, stop!"

"Why?" The question was nearly a moan.

"I am… not sure… yet."

"Oh… Okay." She was left alone at the door.

"Hey, shh." Miranda's hands circled around a thin waist, which they already knew so well. "I know it has to be with you, what I am not sure if it is the right time, while my mom is at the market. I want to do it slow. We have time, okay?"

"Okay, I understand you. Come on, lay with me."

"Just hold me, would you?"

"Yeah, I will hold you as long as you want me to."

Two young bodies held each other tightly and soon fall asleep.

"Good morning, Miranda."

"Um. Good morning, Antonella." She said, politely.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Well, it is a very long time since we spoke last, but I still know when you are lying. What's wrong?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean lie to you. It is nothing." The chef waved.

Antonella shook her head. "Of course, I should have known. The photos. They are still there."

Miranda sighed, closing her eyes. "Yes. But it was a long time ago. I can't even fathom why it still affects me so much."

The housekeeper just chuckled. Miranda was still denying her feelings, even to her. "Not 'it'. Her."

Miranda's jaw clenched, she squeezed her eyes shut. "I can't talk about her."

"Sophie. She had a name." Antonella approached her old friend. "Everybody here knew how much you both meant to each other. Stop lying to yourself!"

Miranda went to the kitchen and poured some coffee. "Can you call a cab? I need to go to Le Cordon Bleu."

Antonella smiled to her. "Oh dear God, you were accepted!"

"Not yet." Miranda smirked. "My ex-husband sent my portfolio and I got a chance to do the exams, which I'll do today."

"Even in this, she is still present in your life."

The chef stared out to nowhere, her mind travelling back to her past. "Sophie loved food, like me. But she had something else. She would look at you, smile and then she would say something like 'You smell like pasta with white sauce, fried chicken and garlic bread'." Miranda laughed. Sophie had said it to her mother when she came to dinner with them, officially. Ms. Marianne Rhys, Miranda's mother, felt insulted, but Sophie just went to the kitchen, made the said dish and offered to Marianne. Of course, the case became a story and Sophie won Miranda's parents by stomach.

"I thought that you would abandon cooking after what happened…"

"Just the contrary. She kept me going. Every time I came to my kitchen, I'd think about her."

"She would be very happy to know that you are going to apply at Le Cordon Bleu."

"Yes, she would." Miranda thought about a brunette, but this one was waiting for her at her apartment. "She is." Her voice was softer than before.

Antonella caught the change in Miranda's eyes. "There is someone else."

"Yes."

"How is she?"

Miranda turned to the Italian woman. "How did you know isn't a 'he'?"

"Well, you said 'she is'. Then your eyes. They are brighter than they were when you talked about Sophie. It's quite similar when you were with Sophie, but it is not the same."

"When I was with Sophie, most times, she cooked something for me. It was about time for me to cook for someone." Then she left the kitchen.

Antonella smiled. She saw when Miranda and Sophie fell in love with each other. She saw everything happen. But this in her friend's eyes was stronger than before. It was much more than love. This, whatever was happening to Miranda, was for life.


Hello! I know, something new here. Well, we know something about Andy's past. Now, we will know something about Miranda's. And have some Jealous Andy, hehehe... Yep, Nate isn't happening right now, but he will come back. For now, let's just appreciate Miranda kicking some asses in the cooking school! Reviews are very important, I need to know what you're thinking about it, maybe get some ideas.

'Till next week!