Disclaimer: I totally own nothing but the mistakes.

This chapter contains fluff and cheese! Not Emily cheese, dorky cheese. But I think it's about time these two talked.

As always, thank you Elliewrites for your input and encouragement.

Chapter 7

Miranda was standing in her kitchen retrieving ingredients out of the refrigerator and cupboards to make cranberry-oatmeal cookies. It was approximately 2:58 and she had left work early wanting to be there to greet Caroline and Cassidy for when they arrived home. It was unprecedented for Miranda to have left Runway so early for a non-work related issue, but no one would dare question her and it wasn't as if she had never put in any over-time. It was not unusual however for her to be baking. Since returning from Paris and the divorce debacle from Stephen, she had made a conscience effort to spend more time at home with her daughters. Both girls had shown an interest in cooking around Mother's Day which now Miranda knew she owed to Andrea, and thus at least once a week they would spend quality time in the kitchen together learning a new recipe, mastering old ones, or inventing culinary creations.

So Andrea had been the one to suggest the girls make me pancakes that day. I had simply assumed that they had called one of their friends, but then again Andrea has really become like a friend to them. They look up to her more than she knows, and that's why I need to talk to them. If things weren't to work out between us... it wouldn't be like when Stephen left because he was never truly vested in them like Andrea is. Well... like I said, no putting the cart before the horse, I will just speak vaguely and gather their opinions.

At 3pm on the dot, Caroline and Cassidy came bounding through the door talking excitedly about the time they had just spent at Marie's house. When they rounded the corner they caught a glimpse of their mom in the kitchen. They had expected Edith, the part-time housekeeper/nanny, to be there but were happily surprised to see their mom instead.

"Hey Mom!" the girls said in unison. Caroline always the more suspicious of the two regarded her mom carefully, "Wow, you're home early. So who died or what's wrong?"

Cassidy elbowed her sister and went over to hug Miranda who was at the counter setting up everyone's cooking station. She too had been initially concerned but was more of a free spirit so she had hoped her mom had come home early for no particular reason and just because it was sunny outside or something.

"Well Bobbseys," Miranda greeted them in their signature nick name, "I did not get to see you two last night and you are both leaving in the next few hours to spend the weekend with your father, so I wanted to come home and spend a few minutes with you both. Now wash up, because we are making cookies. And because you're going to your father's we are making them with real sugar. Extra sugar."

Hugs and kisses were exchanged, hands were washed, and all three Priestly's were elbow deep in cookie dough. The girls spoke of their time over at Marie's and fifteen minutes in, Miranda was convinced that Cassidy really did have googly eyes for Jaccob. However, it offered the perfect segue into bringing up the idea of her liking someone.

"Bobbseys, I have somewhat of a question for you." Miranda said trying to keep the statement light. Her girls were extremely intuitive and if she wasn't careful the tables would turn and it would be them doing all of the questioning.

"What's up mom?" Caroline asked.

"Well..." and thus began a light conversation between a mother and her three daughters as Patricia was laying on the kitchen floor in the hopes that maybe just maybe, Cassidy would accidentally drop a bit of cookie dough.

Once again Andrea found herself in the foyer delivering the dry cleaning and book. Andy tried to look everywhere except the stairwell where she had spilled her secrets. As per usual, Patricia came down the stairs awaiting her nightly attention from Andy.

"Hey Patricia. I only have this treat in my pocket because you are unable to speak. I hope you realize that?" Andy said smiling at the dog while leaning down to give her the biscuit.

"Andrea."

Memories of last night came flooding back and Andy swore the townhome's air conditioning had just quit working as she heard Miranda calling for her from the study.

"Yes, Miranda?" Andy cursed herself for her quivering voice.

"Bring the book in here, please."

That was like the fifth please of the day. Ok, what in the...

"Andrea?"

Oh right, "Coming, I'm coming." My cheeks are not red. My cheeks are not red.

"Shut the door Andrea, and then please have a seat."

Andy was completely stunned. She had all sorts of fantasies that involved "Shut the door Andrea" but she didn't think that was what Miranda had in mind with her instructions.

After Andy had closed the door, she sat in a chair opposite of Miranda's desk. Miranda had stood and walked over by the window that overlooked the street below. She crossed her arms, almost protecting herself, before speaking "Lately I seem to be talking to everyone but you. I talk to myself. I most certainly spoke to Charleston... I called Emily in the middle of the night. I left work early today to speak with Caroline and Cassidy, and I even made a confession to my dog." At that she turned slightly to look directly at Andrea. Andy's eyes went wide and she looked as though she was ready to bolt right out of her chair. "Please, do not run. Just... please do not run away... again." The plea in Miranda's voice clenched around Andy's heart, cementing her in place.

"I won't... I won't run Miranda." Andy promised looking directly into the abyss of Miranda's somewhat hesitant eyes. Whatever Miranda had to say to her, she would listen.

Miranda rested on the window sill and breathed aloud a sigh of relief before continuing, "When I accepted Charleston's dinner invitation yesterday I had every intention of staying throughout the meal. You see, I have always... well when it has come to men... there was a certain criteria. I would look at the prospect and think what could I gain from this? Love, passion... those where never factors. And Charleston was no different. He is on the Board and he has connections... but do you know what Andrea?"

Andy had no idea where Miranda was going with this, but she had a made a promise so she sat completely still, enthralled at the woman in front of her. She was afraid to voice an answer so she simply nodded her head in the negative.

Miranda walked over to where Andrea was sitting and stood in front of her with her back leaning slightly against the desk. She dropped her hands to her side and reached behind her gripping it to steady herself. Looking down into Andrea's face she continued, "You would have showed up at 8:30. You put my table by the window. You know my dinner order. You know my daughters' names are Caroline and Cassidy, and...you, only you are allowed to give me dirt." she finished with just the barest of smiles.

Andrea had a slight puzzlement on her face before remembering the flower pods she had given her. As the light dawned in Andy's eyes, Miranda resumed, "Last night I was privy to your conversation with Patricia." At hearing this Andy dropped her head, but Miranda placed her hand under Andy's chin lifting it back up. Without taking her hand away, Miranda began speaking, "You weren't the only one confessing to Patricia last night." Andy's eyes went wide at hearing Miranda's admission. "You see, only minutes before you entered, I too had been sitting on those very same steps pouring my heart out to her, telling her how unbelievably broken I felt when I saw you walking away from me in Paris... how much I had wished it had been you seated across from me during that date. How no one has ever held my heart like you do... how... how much I am completely in love with you." Miranda finished softly.

Complete shock filtered through Andy's mind as she re-played those last words over and over. "In love with you. In love with you. Wait, in love with me?" Andy realized that she was speaking out loud when Miranda dropped her hand and whispered "Yes, darling. Is that so hard to believe?" Miranda wasn't angry, but she was worried that maybe she had not built enough trust with Andrea for her to believe in her. She had tried to communicate all day as effectively as possible considering they were at work, that she truly did care for Andrea. Just the simple act of having the Miranda Priestly buy someone else coffee was enough to ensure a full spread on Page 6. Surely the importance of that gesture had resonated somewhat in the recesses of Andrea's mind? Or maybe not? Maybe it was too soon? Maybe she had rushed this? But when she had learned of Andrea's feelings, it was like clinging to the proverbial life raft in a storm. She would not let it go. She was tired of drowning and ready to breathe. But right now she felt as though her air had been cut off and she was struggling with what to do, what to say.

Luckily Andy had regained her senses, "Yes, I mean no. I mean..." she could see the torment in Miranda's eyes and it was crushing her. Why couldn't she get her words together? Andy was having such difficulty with her response. Standing this close to the woman she loved had thrown her communicative skills to a complete halt. Andy had heard words from Miranda that only before now had been in the context of dreams. She knew that this may be her only opportunity to formulate a response that would take away the uncertainty radiating from Miranda.

Andy finally stood up and placed her hand on Miranda's arm wanting to steady herself but to also have a tactility that this was indeed really happening. "Christmas, it's like, you're like Christmas." Andy said as though it made all of the sense in the world with her eyes bright and smiling like a fool.

Miranda lifted her eyebrow before saying "Andrea, I'm going to ignore the fact that I was raised Jewish, but please do explain." It came out harsher than she intended, but she felt so out of control in this moment which had unnerved her.

Andrea shook her head a little recognizing the trace of fear in Miranda's voice, but still grinning she continued, "Miranda. Christmas comes at one of the coldest times of the year. There's snow" at this Andy touched Miranda's hair lightly with her fingertips. "There's ice," and then Andy's hand moved so that she could trail her finger at the corner of Miranda's eye. She was leaning against the desk, not knowing where this analogy was headed, but enjoying the feel of Andrea's light caress on her face. "There are lights," and Andy's thumb brushed the outside of Miranda's lips causing her to smile slightly. "But most of all," and Andy placed her hand over Miranda's heart, "at Christmas there is hope." At the sound of Miranda's sharp intake of breath, Andy leaned in closer not removing her hand. Miranda reached up with her own hand and placed it over Andrea's.

Relieved that she had not screwed this up with her cheesy but sincere lines, Andy continued "Miranda, you are Christmas. I could only hope that you would ever feel something for me, and now that you say... that you...that you love me... well that means You are my Christmas."

There were limitless mixed metaphors that could be delved into. Miranda was the Ice Queen, someone who had a cold exterior but in reality thrived internally on hope. She could be frigid, yet warm up a room with the light of her smile. But the one analogy Andy was currently caught up in was seeing Miranda as the most perfect gift she could ever hope to receive.

Miranda placed her free arm around Andrea's waist and tugged her closer. Their bodies were practically flush as Miranda tilted her head to meet Andrea's lips for the first time. The kiss was tentative at first, neither one rushing this much anticipated moment. Their hands were joined upon Miranda's chest and their fingers intertwined tightly as their lips met again in a second, firmer kiss. Miranda's tongue traced Andrea's lower lip, effectively pushing it into her mouth. Their hands dropped and fingers that had been itching to feel the regal white strands found purchase while Miranda's arms lowered to rest at the base of Andrea's back. Andrea eagerly allowed Miranda's tongue further entrance into her mouth and reciprocated in kind by swirling her own tongue in tandem. Miranda's tongue was known for being one of the world's most deadly weapons, and Andrea would gladly allow it to slay her continuously. When the need for air became too great, Miranda had pulled back but Andrea caught Miranda's bottom lip between her teeth and tugged at it gently before releasing it. Flushed cheeks and small grins were forming on both of their faces as their eyes took on a hooded state.

"So Christmas uh?" Miranda asked with a bit of a smirk on her face,

"Well, um yes. It's perfect for you. You are perfect." It was all Andy could even do to speak and now she was suddenly worried that her words weren't as clever as she had imagined despite the smudged lipstick both of the women were sporting.

Miranda smiled wickedly at Andrea and lowering her voice suggestively she said, "I believe then, you have a gift to unwrap."