"Iselle! You're here." Andy pulled back from her kiss.

It had been years, since she'd once held a Glock to the brunette's head as Andy said only two words to her.

"Kill me." Grasping the gun to the middle of her forehead. Holding it there.

Iselle almost did.

Iselle.

Miranda didn't like her.

Andrea was giving her a smile, after receiving her kiss.

A smile that was different, her mouth forged the gentlest slowest smile at her.

Miranda had never received one of those smiles like that towards her.

Ever.

For that and many reasons in fact, Iselle had earned Miranda's full discord while not saying one word except 'Hello' to her, and taking her hand in hers with graciousness, of course she gave a fake smile back in greeting to her, the newcomer.

It was not because she was beautiful. She was, very beautiful. Enticingly so. With her glossy black hair and exotic manner and accent.

It was not because she kept touching Andrea as they talked with an intimacy that made Miranda prickle as she sat here.

It was mainly because Andrea couldn't keep her eyes off her and she wouldn't keep her hand off Andrea's bicep.

Trying to be indifferent.

Blue eyes took her in, seeing her grasping no that was a stroke, given to Andrea's arm almost sensually again, Miranda tried not to show, how it bothered her.

A lot.

She was not jealous. Andrea wasn't even hers to become jealous over.

She'd just lost Stephen, only a few days ago.

All they had together was their history at Runway, their tension when Andrea was being always so impossible to her and also Andrea sharing that stupid song about soup.

Andrea didn't listen to her. Never. Miranda was convinced Andrea would get herself killed, grasping the chair arm. She couldn't even think about that.

If Andrea was killed.

She saw it happen a few times, it was like twins vying inside Andrea, one thirsting for revenge when saying Raul's name like she was a thousand miles away from her, and she sought ever so gently to bring her back to her.

Miranda knew Andrea lost so much because of Raul, she'd seen the pictures of Andy's family, a few time's Andrea's look was disquieting to her, then she saw the semblance she loved come backthe Andrea she knew with warm eyes on hers.

Then there was the Andrea, who'd told her how she had a big problem with her wearing her shirts.

Perhaps Andrea could loan them to her.

Since she was all over her, and Andrea was making no motion to prevent it.

Iselle could have been mistaken for any sophisticated wealthy coiffed Manhattanite, she was dressed stylishly and with an elegant ease and was older, perhaps around her age but few knew including Miranda that she was instead more feared then Escobar, powerful and truthfully far wealthier as the head of her cartel.

Giving her arm another squeeze and resting it to Andy's side which made Miranda's face tense up. Andrea had stiches, Sameen had sewn. Why wouldn't she stop touching her?

She didn't own Andrea. She was not a possession.

"You don't look so dangerous to me." Referring to Andy being on the news lately. Her mouth twitching up, studying Andy in front of her. "It has been so long."

"How did you find me, Isse?" Andy asked, knowing this really bothered John.

John had to go see about a number with Mr. Finch.

"I have many ants. Andy. Ants that know when to share what concerns me. And you, Andy always concern me."

Miranda frowned. This lady who kept caressing Andy had apparently an ant farm and wore this season's Valentino.

Which she wore sexily, didn't she know Valentino was always to be worn with class.

"Has it truly been years since you woke up to me?" Iselle said with her large eyes sparkling but she still almost saw the frail young Andy she'd wanted once to keep.

She relied on her men and her ants, many ants, most were loyal and some afraid enough to inform for her. "There is something also, I thought you'd be interested to see."

One of her men, Luiz held her Dior purse out to her. Holding it out by her manicured hand.

Andy took it.

Scanning over the print out.

It was a flyer posted of a lost cat. Andy read the phone number and a reward, it was a cipher, a message meant just to her in it.

She'd work on it.

"Raul is waging a war with me. He has been trespassing on my supply frequently. I will not allow him to do this any longer. I have sent him a message."

Iselle had sent Raul, a bag, in it was a mess of viscera and blood. His lieutenant's.

"He thinks of me as just a woman. I do not tolerate, such disrespect. Now enough of small inconveniences to my business. I want to help you, remember what I promised you. I am here for you, to help you Andy."

Her Nars red lips spread into a perfect smile as she stroked Andy again.

Clasping her arm which she noticed Andy's friend with white hair stared at.

By her translucent blue eyes on hers, Iselle could see immediately she did not like her doing this to Andy, with an almost defiance, making her arm loop through Andy's giving Miranda a dazzling smile to her.

Miranda stood up, she went to help Paz with the tray of drinks and not watch them, Andy all over her. She was hurt, her face constricted as Andy barely notice her leave.

Her brown eyes only on her.

Cassidy followed but first gave Andy a look, trying to show her she'd just hurt Mom.

Again.

The first time, was saying about Stephen leaving her.

Stephen was a great big jerk and Andy was being a bigger one to her Mom. Caroline joined her twin, she hoped Andy went away forever.

Her focus was on Iselle here. In Rafael and Paz's home. Andy could tell how Rafael was tolerating it, by not saying one word to Iselle other than a stiff "Hello."

He excused himself, he had his laundromat business to run.

Andy knew Raf didn't like it. Not one bit, she returned Iselle's smile.

"Iselle can you tell me anything about Arturo. Raul's little brother. These women he likes…tell me about them, what sort are they?"

She did not need her ants for this information.

"His taste varies. None are alike."

Iselle looked puzzled but described his types more as Andy listened intently, seated near her engrossed with what Iselle shared, a plan forming in her mind.

Andy out of the corner of her eye, saw Miranda leave, watching her figure go through the door, not missing Cassidy's scrunched up disgusted face directed at her.

Great. Two Priestly's were mad at her. No make that three Priestly females, Caroline shot her a look of the same foul smell under her pert nose.

She'd fix it later.

She pondered over Iselle's words to her as a crystal pitcher of Aromática de Frutas was poured for them.

Luiz took the glass from Paz that was offered to refresh his lady.

Taking a sip, she waited for a few minutes. It was fine. Wiping it clean he poured another for his employer.

Iselle had many enemies.

"Gracias. Wait, Paz how is your sister in Popayan? Is she still working as a nurse, always evening shifts in the intensive wing?"

Iselle knew everything about them. She made it her business to know.

Dario gave her a hard cold look at her, he was not afraid of her, then back to his mother.

Her cautious eyes told him, not to cross Dona Ortiz-Dominguez.

Paz answered her questions politely. "Dario go help your father with that dryer he needs to fix."

Dona Ortiz-Dominguez was only allowed in this house by Paz because she'd once saved Andy's life.

She knew what this lady in expensive clothes and jewellery was. Worse than Raul.

She scared her.

And what worried Paz more, she'd found Andy. Somehow. Iselle was not someone who you wanted to find you easily. Enemy or friend.

Paz didn't like it. Not at all. If her network could find Andy here. Would Raul's.

Catching Paz's weary expression as she sat with Andy near her, Iselle reached out, placing her hand into Paz's, her eyes sincere. "Paz, I mean no harm to your house. I promise."

Paz accepted this gesture.

Taking another sip of the fruit drink. "This is very good. Luiz relax. Loosen your tie. Try some of more of this. For me."

Luiz obeyed her.

Root was here to protect Andy and Miranda with John saving a number, she mouthed to only Sameen, that this visitor was the head of the rival cartel to Raul's, how was she even in the country?

The DEA and The State Department would be very interested in how exactly Iselle Ortiz-Dominguez was standing here on US Soil.

In Bushwick.

Sameen knew only one sure thing, that they were all armed and about to have dinner that looked amazing by Paz as she filled her plate up, which Root scolded that Sameen ate too much cholesterol.

"So we'll work it off tonight." Her eyes holding Root's teasingly.

Taking two of what looked mouthwatering delicious to her. She'd jog first thing tomorrow.

After waking up to Root against her.

Toasting Andrea with her eyes glinting like polished kernels of mahogany. "To Raul's removal."

Clinking her glass, leaning closer into Andy's face, nuzzling it. "Spoken huskily in low Spanish. " So tell me, how long you will make this Miranda wait to be kissed by you. M'ija."

Miranda tightened her grip on her glass of water at them. So, they were lovers, she was right and aware of the way they were towards each other and she heard her name said, pressing her lips together in a thin line.

They were talking about her.

Iselle Ortiz-Dominguez obviously had no manners. And Andrea had no taste except in big black haired flirts.

She wasn't watching this any longer. Or she'd lose Paz's delicious dinner.

Excusing herself gracefully, the girls needed to be in bed right now, even if they were held hostage.

Her Bobbseys needed normalcy.

Caroline and Cassidy shared a look, to bed at seven thirty. Okay.

Knowing Mom was really upset and it was all Andy's fault. Way to go Andy. Both followed her upstairs.

Miranda slid her glasses off, she couldn't get into this book at all. Placing it down with a huff.

She'd take a bath to relax. Try to not think about them.

She should be at her beach house right now, just relaxing, knowing if she had been there she would've been playing in the sand and waves with Cassidy and Caroline, trying not to think about work.

They were going to teach her paddle boarding.

Nigel was told to look after anything arising with Runway and she promised him solemnly, to try to just be only in mindset of vacation, yes she should be doing lots of fun enjoyable holiday things, not here seeing Andrea with her Miss Dona Ortiz-Dominguez the bimbo who was constantly touching her.

Taking off her Michael Kors shift. She was going to soak and from now on wash all thoughts of Andrea out of her snowy head.

Andrea was an adult. A grown woman who made her own decisions. Her own choices.

Like one bad choice being transfixed with that Iselle.

A soft rapt made her go over to her door as she'd grabbed a towel as she opened it to her.

"Hi. You left before dessert." Andy thrust the plate of small slice of cake under her nose.

She declined. All she wanted was for Andrea to go away.

Placing the plate down on the dresser, stepping in. Titling her head at her, "Miranda is something wrong, are you okay tonight?"

Andy clearly wasn't getting the waves of body language to just leave her alone. Avoiding Andrea's eyes. They were her undoing.

"Jesus Christ. What the hell? He did that!"

Her fingers reached out and stroked along Miranda's pale skin which made her breathing go still at Andrea's palm skimming her chest.

Covering herself with her arms. "They're bruises. I'm fine." She without meaning to do so, looked up at Andy.

"Do they hurt?"

"I said I'm fine."

"You're sure your fine?" Andy's eyes, confronted at last, surprised her.

They were soft and wide with a look Miranda swallowed again at.

"Iselle is staying the night."

"Oh. Where will she sleep?"

Andy bit her swollen lower lip, Miranda was sure, it could be a piece of Andrea anybody like maybe herself once, pre Iselle could almost fall in love with touching. Would it be silky, warm, and moist?

"In my room."

Miranda gave an elongated icy smile. Of course she was.

Andy dropped her hand from Miranda instantly. "No. I'm not going to be in it."

That slightly pouty lower lip was now lifting and giving her what could only be called, Andy's you-cannot-resist-me smile.

She'd encountered at the Benefit.

"Iselle likes you. She's great."

She was…Miranda face turned and was away from her. She likes her. How lovely, Andrea's slut liked her. Well she hated her.

"I was hoping…if I can, will you let me…can I sleep with you tonight." Miranda's head whipped back. Absolutely not.

"No." Why didn't Andrea go share with her? Since they were so close tonight. Tuck her in.

"It's just for one night." Andy prevailed, "I can't share with Dario or Ciro."

Miranda inclined her head, almost refusing her.

"Please Miranda?" Andy stepped close. "So you know, I'm great in bed."

Miranda quirked a brow at her words.

"I mean I don't snore. I like flowery sheets and my legs won't make a hostile takeover of your bed."

"Fine, you may sleep on the right side." Miranda conceded. Cursing herself and her weakness for brown eyes.

Andy smiled her gratitude, she was slipping off her shoes and about to undress, starting with her jeans as she went to unbutton, only stopping at Miranda gazing at her.

"Sorry I can go undress in the bathroom."

"Andrea. I see models naked numerous times on shoots and fittings. Continue."

Andy fumbled with the jean's buttons.

Miranda sighed. "Andrea. It's obvious you don't want to be here with me."

"I don't." Andy went still. "Why wouldn't I want to be here with you?"

Miranda waspishly said it. "Because..."

Andy looked at her really confused. "Because?" Now out of her faded jeans, she folded them.

"Because. Oh just because…" her mouth was dry at Andy's bare legs. "Will you just not be like that…will you just get in the bed?" Miranda grabbed her make-up bag, and nightie, gathering them to herself.

She was still having a soak.

Andrea in her bed or not.

Practically rushing into the bathroom. In Andy's opinion it was a tromp flounce Indy 500 on barefoot in a fluffy towel.

She took a very long time in there.

She ran a bath.

A rap on the door made her stop brushing back her white hair.

"Yes."

"Miranda."

"What is it?" Miranda hissed at the door.

"I like it when you're jealous."

She was not jealous, opening the door right to Andy who leaned against the doorframe, over her with height with her tee shirt riding up.

"I'm not jealous. No what I am, is trying to have a bath. Night Andrea."

Shutting her door. Wonderful with Andrea less than two feet away, now she could enjoy her bath now.

Andy sunk down into the bed, Miranda was so jealous, Andy saw it on her face all through dinner. She didn't need to be, it wasn't like that with Iselle, not at all, yes they shared a bond, this bond Andy had with Iselle that she wasn't about to share with Miranda.

Iselle saved her from herself.

Twice.

"Mom." Cassidy peered around the open door.

"Oh. You."

"Hi Cassi." Andy greeted the redhead. "Hey. You okay?"

"You hurt Mom." Cassidy accused, giving her a small savage smile that Andy felt could rival Miranda's cerulean dressing down.

"Mom helped you, when you were hurt, you needed blood. She gave hers to you. And do you know she faints at blood. Even a little bit. Car cut her finger and Mom just dropped."

Blinking at Cassidy's words. She gave her blood to me. Miranda hadn't said anything. Andy motioned for Cassidy to sit down with her on the edge of the bed.

"Cassidy, I didn't know that."

"Yeah. Mom didn't want you to know. She really worries about you, that you'll go and do something incredibly stupid." Cassidy shrugged. "Again."

Andy leaned close to Cassidy.

"You're Mom cares about me?"

"Yeah. She does. She likes you. Except when she came home from Paris. She said she wanted to nuke your job prospects and blacken your balls."

"Blackball you mean." Andy corrected.

"You hurt her worst then Paris."

Andy swallowed the throb in her throat. She had?

Cassidy croaked her finger to come closer, which Andy did for her. Her face to Cassi's eye level. "Andy wake up, your attention was all over that lady's."

Andy agreed.

"Iselle's an old friend." Andy tried.

"Andy! Mom gave you her blood and she gets queasy at that. You should see her when we once had to get shots. Mom's a wimp. And a bowl of mush. She likes you."

She did.

Andy took this in. My God. Could she . . . could she actually be starting to . . .to feel something for her? Like was good.

"I don't know how to make your Mom forgive me. Any suggestions?"

Cassidy doled out advice. "I'd fix it, by offering Mom a months' worth of Skittles or Roy but you don't have anything great like that to give to Mom. Because you're on the FBI's Most Wanted and on WNY News hourly. Caroline saw you have a reward on you. Your worth a lot."

Andy knew that.

"Mom's always got jewellery from him. Stephen, he'd give that to her constantly. When he yelled." Cassidy studied Andy intently.

"Listen, I promise you, I will never hurt your Mom again. I swear."

Peering at her studiously with a serious Priestly expression.

'Stephen did, he hurt Mom too many times. Don't ever do that. Understand. You should get her a gift . . . like some flowers but not freesia. Dad sends her that always. No. Andy! Take her out on a date but I guess since you'd be arrested, don't do that."

Andy grinned. Picturing FBI swoop down on her buying chocolates and two dozen guilty flowers.

Smoothing back the girl's bright red hair, resting her hand on her neck.

"I'll figure out something to give her."

"Make sure that is something awesome!"

"So are we friends still?"

"Yeah. But don't talk about Stephen leaving Mom again to Mom. Car still hates you though, but she's so like Mom, she holds onto grudges for forever, I'm Mom's more carefree side. You'll keep us safe right Andy?"

Yes she'd protect them with all her heart. "Always."

"Do you miss your family Andy? Sorry, I saw their picture. Paz was showing Mom."

Andy's throat closed. A throb in her throat as she rasped out. "Everyday. Kiddo."

Seeing as belief and trust came into Cassidy's face, she locked her arms around Andy's neck, careful of her stitches.

"You should tell Mom."

"Tell your Mom what?" Andy asked her.

Cassidy gave a beautiful smile to Andy with similar blue eyes. "That you love her."

She did love her. "I will." Andy confessed out. "Soon."

"Do it soon. Coz, Mom's dating now, before you took us hostage. Mr. Clarke took her out to dinner. And out to a Broadway show. He gave her big flowers." Andy missed Cassidy's sly expression.

Andy stiffened. Miranda was dating Elias Clark.

Elias Clark the billionaire of publishing.

Andy reasoned this with herself silently, Miranda didn't want Elias Clarke or any average guy like him. She wanted her!

"Andy?" Cassidy called. "What're you doing?"

"I'll tell you what I'm not doing, Cassi, I'm not letting her date Elias Clark. He gets her. No." Muttering out about, "Moving in on what is hers."

Andy suggested. "Cassidy, do you like cake?"

Cassidy nodded. "Yeah. Mom doesn't like us to eat our entire body weight in sugar though."

Typical Miranda taking a hard line with sweets and fun. "Why don't you go ask Paz to get you and Car a few slices. It's really good."

Cassidy went to the door.

Andy thought she heard a chuckle but she ignored it. She wasn't sure what she was feeling right now, she didn't have time to analyze it. She was too stirred up to think. She just knew she had to tell her …tell her…something. Like "Miranda, here's your conditioner, I love you."

She surged through the door, bursting into the bathroom, she forgot everything.

Everything.

Because Miranda was sitting in the tub, leaning up against it, head tilted up, eyes closed. The water was only up to her waist, and she was completely naked, and utterly …utterly …

"Beautiful," Andy whispered.

Her eyes slowly blinked open and then they went very wide. "Andrea, get out!"

She stayed right where she was, Andy shook her head from side to side.

"I couldn't walk out of here if I tried."

Miranda's arms were crossed over her breasts now, head lowered, and cheeks hot. Water ran in gentle rivulets down her naked skin. "Attempt to try."

Andy moved closer to the tub, when Miranda didn't scream bloody murder, as she half expected her to, Andy knelt down beside it. Seeing Miranda was blushing all over. Only just looking at her. Andy's gaze was probing and deep. She glared at Andy.

She looked right back at her.

"You're dating Elias Clarke?"

Miranda blinked. "Yes." Twice she had. Looking confused.

"You're not dating Elias anymore. Because I say so. No flowers. No Broadway. No dinners."

What. Miranda's backs of her fingers skimmed over her own taut nipples, what on earth, did Elias Clarke have to do with Andrea barging in here as she was bathing.

Very gently, Andy moved close and swept her damp forelock away and off her face, smoothing it back.

Miranda stared. Andrea was not going to tell her who she could dine with.

Standing up on wet legs. Letting her hands fall away from her breasts, as Andy's eyes never left her.

"I will date whomever I want Andrea. I had a very nice dinner with Eli, a few days before you decided to come back into my life! He's wonderful." Her habitual flashing dragon lady anger, colored her pale face and twisted the edges of her mouth.

She called him Eli.

"So did Eli kiss you and stay the night?" Miranda stepped out of the tub, her eyes flashing, her white hair sleekly slicked back.

"Did he?"

"If he kissed me or slept with me that has nothing to do with you. Andrea."

Nothing to do with her. Really?

Elias Clarke was arrogant and pompous and not worth Miranda, but she did have a history of choosing the wrong men, Andy mused savagely.

"So Eli, was he being trotted around town as the next Mr. Priestly."

Miranda was livid. She did not trot anyone she dated around the city. "I can have sushi and sex with any date I want to."

No she couldn't, sex and sushi was meant to be with her. Andy decided this to herself. Her dark brows coming together.

"Where do you get off? Telling me who I can see. You've ruined everything for me, first Paris, and now my first trip for ages with the girls." Miranda snarled, still not aware she hadn't covered herself up.

"I'm so sorry, I took you Miranda. Ruined you're what, first vacation in ten years."

"Five." Miranda made a low scornful sound. "Why did you even come to me?"

Andy stepped into her face. "Because I needed you."

Needed her.

"Oh. You needed me? Yes, that's right, you needed my money that I saw you were stealing from my daughters. Two eleven year olds. What mugging a senior at an ATM too much for you Andrea, you already committed murder that day."

Andy clenched her teeth. She killed that guy because it was kill or be killed.

She had to.

"Miranda. Your girls offered it to me. I never asked them for it. Not once. I would've paid it all back." Andy meant that, if WITSEC had relocated her, she would've mailed it back as soon as she could.

Seeing Miranda naked, was furious with her. "I had to see you one last time before I thought I was going into WITSEC."

Miranda shook her head. Her eyes burned and were only wet from the bath. "You had to see me? You being there, got Stephen killed, then that man…that animal came into my home and he almost …

Andy placed her palms on her bare back. "It's okay." Smoothing her face, Miranda clung to her.

"I'm really sorry I got you involved in this. I really am." Comforting her.

Stroking her back, taking from the rack, spreading the soft cotton out between her hands, Andy began drawing a towel around her. "I'm not sorry, I killed him, he was attacking you and I couldn't let that happen. Not to you."

Andy had been helpless and weak once but not in protecting Miranda a few nights ago.

Rubbing Miranda's bare damp back as the towel slipped lower. "I'm also not sorry for this…

"Not sorry for what?" Miranda whispered out, running her fingers along Andy's cotton clad shoulder.

"I'm not sorry that I'm in love with you."

Miranda heard it.

She just didn't know what to say back.

All Andy got back was silence to being in love with her. Miranda had gone very still in her arms. "You heard me, right? Please say something back. Miranda?"

Assuring to her in a soft tone as she pressed a few quick little kisses to Andy's shoulder blade. "I heard you say it. You, love me. Just give me a little time to process this. Please can you do that for me, Andrea?"

"Only if you say please Andy."

"What?" Miranda drew back a little but Andy held her.

"Say please Andy." Andy prompted. "I know it's new to you, Priestly, the please part."

Giving in to saying that boyish nickname, only this once. Miranda bit out with an almost small smile forming. "Please Andy." Making it low and seductive.

The towel fell to the floor as Andy's hand brushed her lower back.

Clasping her, that made her aware of this, blue eyes went wide.

Starting to realize she was head to toe naked and in Andrea's arms and she'd just said she loved her.

"I need to get dressed." Andy let her go.

Miranda put on her nightie almost shyly as she got into her—their bed tonight, Andrea saw her naked tonight, twice.

Miranda was still blushing all over at that.

It was true. She had heard it. Andrea had just told her she was in love with her. "Are you joining me?" Miranda indicated to get in.

Pulling back the covers and sheets, slipping in with her. Miranda heard Andy sigh and then felt her sink into bed beside her.

"When?"

"When what?" Andy leaned up on her elbow.

"When did you fall in love with me?"

"The first week, l think." Andy laid back her head to the pillows. "I'd never met anyone like you, Miranda. I liked you."

"But I was arbritraely mean to you." Miranda said, her body was trembling at this. Andrea was in love with her. "Most days."

"Yeah. Yes you were. Everyday."

Breathing out a low. "I'm sorry for that. For being like that always to you."

"I'll make you a bet. If I'm right, you kiss me. All of your meanness to me is forgiven. Expunged. I'll never think of you being mean to me again. You can be from now on horrible and intolerable to me if you like Miranda. It won't bother me." Andy declared.

Miranda leaned up on her elbow, her eyes sought Andy's in the dark. "A bet, if you win, you want me to kiss you?"

Looking at the bedroom ceiling with a smirk. "Yes."

"If I'm right, what do I get?" Miranda countered.

"Name it. I'll give you whatever you want. Anything." Andy promised her earnestly, feeling Miranda's hand brushed her leg. Thinking on this. Andrea would give her anything she wanted.

"I want you to sleep with me."

Andy's mouth went dry as she said calmly. "Deal. You win, we have sex."

"No. We make love. Andrea." Miranda corrected her. "You also will tell me what happened, with Raul. What he did to you and your family."

Andy went still. Miranda would know then. Would she look at her the same? Half of her almost flatly refused. Miranda wouldn't want her near her when she finally was told. " If you win, I'll make love to you. Anywhere, anyplace you want."

"In a bed I was envisioning."

Quirking her lips up to Miranda's shape near her, feeling for her, her hand sought and grasped her waist. 'Yes. I'll tell you everything about that day. Miranda I swear. You're going to lose to me."

"I will win."

Miranda was still a little bit mad still at Andrea flirting with Iselle all night, she was being taken down a notch and losing to her.

Andy only smiled in the darkness at her lady so sure of herself.

Still holding Miranda's waist under her warm hand, laying together. "What did I get you, which was not on the list you phoned me with on that weekend you caught Emily's flu?"

Miranda wracked her mind, recalling this time. Emily's flu she got. Stephen was away on a business trip, it was just a few weeks after the staircase fight. Andrea, she was still testing, by pushing her around.

Once she'd almost called HR herself, to have her transferred to Nigel or to Lucia. Finding her new assistant was too observant, it was all too unnerving.

That weekend sick, Cassidy and Caroline were at their father's and Maddie's.

"Andrea, that was so long ago for me." Miranda tried.

"It was something you liked it. You smiled at me about it." Andy hinted, Miranda felt her settle even closer to her.

She liked it. Smiled at her over it. What was it? Searching her memory. What was it that Andrea had got for her?

Not the two OJ cartons, not the Dayquil, not the eucalyptus vapor, she tried to place what it could be.

"Was it those oranges with the smiley faces drawn?" Andy shook her head.

"Not those."

"Gingerale pack." Miranda answered, Andrea's fingers twitched against her nape.

"Miranda, you've now lost twice."

She didn't like to lose. Still Miranda had no clue what it was. "Fine. I give up. Tell me then?"

"Miranda. Don't you remember?" Andy made her out in the darkness. Her face fell. She didn't remember, did she?

"I only went to three stores to put it together for you." Andy sounded put out. "You still owe me for the gingerale, I treated you to. It was my Get Well Basket. I left for you with The Book."

Andy knew it was lame. But Miranda sounded so horribly miserable and sick that morning calling her on a Saturday morning at 6am. Needing her.

The basket.

Instantly Miranda recalled it. The basket, it was so like Andrea, it was sweet and silly with pastel tissue paper, revealing in it, a few boxes of herbal lemon tea bags, two DVDs of classic films she did end up watching in bed and a few bags of cough drops and chocolate. Stephen never did anything like it for her.

He was supposed to, as her husband not her second assistant. Knowing then and now, Stephen didn't do things like that.

He'd have just avoided her, been unsympathetic with her sneezing and sick in bed. Taken the guest room for her sick days to get through on her own.

"I win your kiss." Andy leaned her face close to hers. "Are you going to kiss me now, or later?"

"Right now," Miranda said this. "Turn on the lights."

Miranda wanted to do it with lights on. Andy did so. Flipping them on. Waiting for it. Anytime Miranda was ready to kiss her, she sure was ready.

Expectant of a real kiss, she leaned closer, ready to slide her hand to the back of Miranda' head and thread her fingers in her white hair

Miranda held her still for her kiss.

Biting her lip, Miranda placed Andy's hand against her ivory cheek, making Andy cup her face, feeling now her long fingers grazing her soft skin, brushing her lashes.

Staring into her brown eyes.

Andy saw her lashes made her eyes seem all the more translucently blue and lovely. She touched her smooth skin, brushing her silky cheekbone as her lithe digits tipped the edge of her lashes with the insides of her fingers.

Miranda simply turns her white head into her hand and kisses the inside of her palm. Andy let out a low groan.

"There, I kissed you." Giving back her hand.

"You call that a kiss, Miranda?"

Andy asked her.

"Yes."

Stunned, she leaned back against the pillows of the bed they were in. Her eyes crinkled as she began just laughing, it rumbled through her.

Being just kissed by Miranda couldn't even be a normal run of the mill kiss.

No. Miranda had to kiss her inside palm and make Andy's body feel like she was on drugs.

Laughing more at that thought.

"Shh, you'll wake Cassi and Car." Miranda lightly touched Andy's shoulder to make her be quiet. When that made her laugh even louder, Miranda took it up and lightly whacks her side with the paperback bestseller thriller she was starting to read and hoping to finish at the beach house.

Now she was living it.

The book struck her.

Her bad side.

"Ow." Seeing Andy wince.

"Did I hurt you?"

"Yes," Andy said through gritted teeth.

"Good."

Stopping at seeing red bloom through the white cotton, blue eyes went wide. Miranda sucks in her breath. "Oh my God! I didn't mean to hurt you, Andy. Really I didn't."

Andy lifted it, blood was seeping through the wound lightly, a thin streak. Miranda with a NY Times bestseller has a pretty good whack on her.

Andy shook her head. "It's okay."

"It's not okay. You're bleeding to death."

Looking down at the small crimson streak on her bandage. "I'll live nurse Mira."

"Don't call me Mira. I should go get Sameen." Andy shook her head, not a good idea, Sameen and Root were not wanting to be disturbed tonight.

"No, don't."

Seeing it. Blood. Miranda looked even whiter then she usually is. Swallowing as she paled even more so. Andy noticed this.

"Miranda don't faint. It's just a little blood." Andy tried to calm her down.

"I've never fainted in my entire life." Her eyes rolling back.

She had now, Andy never knew Miranda Priestly had tear ducts until the night of her attack and now fainted after kissing Andy's hand from losing a bet to her and then seeing her blood.

Nothing with Miranda Priestly ever was simple, like even being in bed with her.

Andy saw she was stirring. Touching her face gently, blue eyes blinked opened slowly to her.

"Hi." Andy's face was over her. "You passed out." Andy shared, her bleeding had stopped. She'd get another top to throw on.

"I've never passed out in my life Andrea."

"You have now, honey." Andy slid her hand to the back of her head and threaded her lithe fingers in her white hair. "I think we should try this sleeping together wish you wanted."

"But I lost. What about Iselle?"

"Yes you did lose." Enjoying saying it as Miranda glared, Andy gave a full smile back. "As for Iselle, I don't invite old friends I haven't seen in years into bed with me. Even if she's hot."

"So you think, Iselle is hot?" Miranda's lips thinned at hearing that. "More than me?"

Andy stared at Miranda beneath her, her lips parted. "No. No one is sexier to me, than you are Miranda. Not ever." She pressed her mouth to hers. Discovering her mouth was soft, gentle, coaxing. Miranda relaxed her lips apart, and let Andy trace them with her tongue, let her kiss her deeply, thoroughly, tasting her.

Lifting her hem up her thigh, pressed tight to her body.

Moving her mouth over hers in the tender touch of Andy's, she pulled back. Licking her lips.

"I have to tell you about the day Raul killed my family." Andy ran her own fingers through her dark hair. "When you hear this, you're not going to want to be anywhere near me. Miranda."


Author Note: Thank you Wolfette2, your pretty pleases got to me. I'm thrilled you love this so much. Thank you also to Ilena Petrova for your big and very much appreciated push to start to write again.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed this, especially thanks to Fantasy In My Mind for being hooked, thanks to Scout4it, I am very glad you like the originality of this. Thank you SS-Swan Queen so you know more chapters will be following I swear in a few days but it will be more visceral next.

Sorry I haven't been updating my Mirandy's, the reason My Mum's been very ill since last August she's been in hospital.