Title: A Chance of Happiness (Pt.9)
By: Cath
Rating: M
Fandom: Devil Wears Prada
Pairing: Miranda/Andy
Disclaimer: Don't own them, just hoping to bring them closer. Anything you recognise from the movie or extra's is not mine!
A.N.: Thank you to all those who have commented, I really appreciate it!
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Andy looked frantically around her apartment for the other shoe. After hours of agonising she had finally decided on her clothing for her date with Miranda and now the second shoe was missing. With thirty seconds to go before she had to leave she found it sitting on her bed.
Running out the door she grabbed her car keys with the rest of her belongings. Without a backward glance she was heading over to her car. Ten minutes later she pulled up in front of Miranda's townhouse. Knocking on the door she was convinced there would be some reason Miranda would cancel their date. An emergency at Runway, some excuse regarding the girls or worst of all an unexplained dismissal.
She was pulled out of her downward spiral when Cassidy pulled the door open. Allowing Andy access, Cassidy screeched 'MOM ANDY'S HERE!' up the stairs. It produced no response from upstairs but Caroline did come running from the kitchen to see her. Andy was engrossed in conversation with the girls when the hairs on the back of her neck rose. Looking up she saw a vision walking down the stairs.
Frozen in place Andy's mind was completely blank. The vision in front of her completely took her breath away. As Miranda descended the stairs Andy started seeing stars. It was only when Caroline hit her in the arm Andy gasped and her breathing restarted. Walking across to the three of them Miranda stopped just in front of Andy and smiled. It was then Andy realised she was still staring with her moth hanging open.
'Well girls we will be going out now. Sandra is in the games room. I will check on you when I am home.' Turning to Andy she said 'Shall we?' It was only then Andy remembered the orchid she held behind her back.
'A flower of love for a rare and delicate beauty.' Andy knew it was corny and she risked sounding like an idiot, but the blush and shy smile that blossomed on Miranda's face was worth everything. Andy gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before Miranda turned claiming she was going to put the flower somewhere safe.
Caroline and Cassidy were smirking at the two of them but seemed very pleased. They asked Andy what they were doing for the evening and Andy whispered her plans to them placing a finger over her lips indicating they should say nothing to their Mom. When Miranda returned Andy led them outside.
'My lady' Miranda appeared surprised when Andy guided her to the car. Having settled in Andy pulled the car into the traffic. The silence in the car seemed a little awkward at first so Andy started talking about her car. It was a source of happiness for her. She had saved for years to be able to afford it. Miranda asked interested questions and then told Andy about the first car she owned. The conversation flowed from there.
Soon Andy pulled into the car park of a restaurant near Riverside Park. Miranda turned to Andy with a question on her face.
'Trust me' Andy requested in response to Miranda's dubious expression. With a nod of her head Miranda made a decision and exited the door Andy held open for her. Andy brought them to the rear door. Miranda raised her eyebrow but Andy led on. Taking stairs up to the roof Andy led Miranda over to a table set for two. Andy held a seat out for Miranda, who sat gracefully, before joining her on the other side of the table.
In a few short minutes a waiter arrived at their table giving them water and menus before leaving them in peace. Miranda raised an eyebrow in question at Andy. With a smile Andy explained that a friend of hers worked in the restaurant. When Andy realised she need to arrange a date she had scrambled for a romantic location that would afford them a desired level of privacy. Remembering a rooftop party she had attended there she made a couple of phone calls. She knew the owner for a couple of years and was confident she would not use Miranda's presence to bolster the image of the restaurant.
Having ordered their meal they resumed an easy conversation until it arrived. Andy thoroughly enjoyed observing Miranda by candlelight and the soft music in the background created the intimate atmosphere she had hoped for. With the return of the waiter Andy sat anxiously waiting for Miranda's verdict on the food relaxing into her seat when she gave the slightest nod.
Over dinner Andy asked how Miranda's first day in her new job went. She smiled and enjoyed her meal as Miranda explained in great detail the level of incompetence she was faced with. The glint in her eyes indicated how excited she was about her new job though.
As they sat over coffee Andy leaned across the table to take Miranda's hand in hers. A silence fell over them as they looked out over the park towards the river beyond.
'You look enchanting tonight Miranda.' Andy said before leaning over to kiss her ever so softly on the side of her mouth. Miranda pulled back suddenly seeming uncomfortable. The silence returned without the ease of earlier. Andy sat back contemplating their evening.
'I'm ready to leave now.' Andy was so lost in thought she nearly missed Miranda's declaration.
'Are you alright Miranda?' Andy wondered at the sudden change in atmosphere.
'Of course.' Miranda said raising from her seat before hastily making her way toward the car. Andy quickly indicated to the waiter she was leaving, having already paid for the meal, before following on Miranda's heals. When she made her way down Miranda was waiting impatiently at the car door. Andy quickly moved to hold the door open then ran around to the driver's side.
'Miranda please is there something I've done?'
'Of course not, stop being so petulant. I am merely ready to return home.'
'Petulant!'
'Andrea please.' There was a tone of anguish in Miranda's voice that Andy couldn't help but respond to.
'No problem.' Andy decided not to push it. The journey back to Miranda's townhouse was made in silence. Miranda seemed to be fascinated with the passing city while Andy concentrated on the road, occasionally glancing at Miranda.
When Andy pulled in front of Miranda's home, Miranda opened the door and jumped out almost before Andy had stopped the car. Leaping out of the car, having parked, Andy ran after Miranda.
'Miranda! Please.' Miranda paused at the door but did not look back at her. 'Miranda, please explain what is happening?'
Leaving the door ajar Miranda made her way into the house. Passing a lounge area Miranda indicated Andy should go in there then disappeared up the stairs. Pausing as she passed through the hallway Andy heard Miranda open and close a couple of doors, assuming they were Cassidy's and Caroline's bedrooms, Andy made her way into the indicated room.
Looking around she thought how surreal the situation still seemed to her. Here she was, for the first time in Miranda's home since she was an assistant. Now she was married to Miranda. She no longer tip toed to the table in the hallways to place the Book and to the closet to hang the dry cleaning. A moment of nostalgia passed over her before she pulled herself back to the present situation. Would she be living her in a couple of weeks as they planned? She fervently hoped so.
Walking over to the window Andy looked out at the quiet street waiting for Miranda. Hearing a noise behind her she turned to see Miranda standing in the doorway with two glasses of wine. Smiling she waited for Miranda to take the lead in what happened next. But after endless moments Andy decided she couldn't stand the tension any longer.
'How were the girls. All tucked up asleep?'
'Yes' Miranda made her way over to a chair to one side of the window, after handing Andy a glass of wine.
Andy decided to take the other chair and resumed her perusal of the street. After endless moments Miranda stirred.
'I fully intended to find this evening a thorough disappointment.' Miranda looked to Andy with a challenge in her eyes 'Since we returned from Las Vegas to 'reality' I had convinced myself the weekend was an illusion. ' Andy sat silently afraid of preventing Miranda from saying what she obviously needed to say.
'While I missed you lying beside me last night, I was certain it was the absence of the fantasy of you that I missed, not the reality of you.' A long silence followed this statement. It was almost like Miranda was trying to put her feelings into words. Sipping her wine Andy followed two cars as they made their way down the street.
'Then tonight you were a vision waiting for me as I descended the stairs ... Surrounded by my children ... it seemed so natural ... so right. I love orchids. My favourite flower. Thank you.' Andy smiled to Miranda, pleased beyond measure she had picked the perfect flower.
'Yet still there was a chance you were basking in the glow that is my children. So with my expectation of being disappointed by the rest of the evening intact I prepared myself for the worst.' Miranda looked over at Andy appearing to be becoming angry. Before Andy could consciously interpret the look, Miranda was on her feet standing over her.
'Damn you!' She spat. 'I am too old for the rules to start changing now!' Andy was afraid to move. Of course she had seen Miranda angry before, after all she was angry most of the time Andy worked for her. Andy even knew what that felt like directed at her. Yet this was different. It was almost like all those moments of everyone cowering at a photo shoot, trembling in a meeting or running crying from Miranda's office were merely a slight irritation.
The woman standing over Andy now was furious beyond measure. Andy could feel the emotion coming off her in waves. Even if Andy had presence of mind she still would not have known how to handle the situation. As it was she sat there paralysed with terror.
'How DARE you! ... Who exactly do you think you are? ... What right do you ... a whimpering! ... Mediocre! ... EX-assistant have? ... Someone who RAN ... no SCURRIED away with their tail between their legs ... because the real ... grown-up world was too scary ... too unsavoury for your genteel sensibilities ... you with your fictitious perception of the world ... a childish pretend reality where there is a happy ever after ... the real world is vulgar ... you do what you have to do to SURVIVE ' Miranda stopped leaning over Andy instead pacing in front of her occasionally halting to emphasise a particular point.
As the initial shock wore off Andy she could do nothing but maintain her statue like presence. She feared that even the slightest movement would result in catastrophe.
'Of all the offensive! Impertinent! Contemptible! Abhorrent ! tricks to play on me ... You ... You revolting ... repulsive ... despicable human being ... HOW DARE YOU! ... HOW ... DARE ... YOU ... I won't ...hear me! ... I WILL NOT be taken in by your nefarious plot to undermine me ... to ridicule and abuse me ... WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? ... YOU! A maleficent miscreant ... who set you up to this? ... WHO? ... you are definitely not intelligent to think this up yourself.'
Andy was shocked. Where was Miranda coming from and more importantly where was she going with this. This was definitely not how she thought this night would end.
'Know this! When I find out who is involved I will RUIN them ... They will be DESTROYED ... They will forever rue the day they thought they could make a fool of me ... Me ... Miranda Priestly ... I will NOT be taken in by your devious wiles ... When I find out who set you up to do this I will devastate their entire family ... I will bring down their entire world ... Everything they know and love will be reduced to rubble.'
Oddly Miranda seemed to be calming down at the idea of wreaking havoc on someone. As she paced for the next five minutes describing in great detail every despicable action she could take to wreck revenge on the unsuspecting person and their family.
Andy's reaction was taking a very different path. Initially she had been terrified, first of Miranda and then of engaging the wrath spewed forward by Miranda. However as Miranda calmed down Andy thought about everything she had said. She had never been as insulted in her entire life. She was shocked. How could Miranda ever think, never mind say, the things she had?
After everything that happened over the weekend, the discussions they'd had. How could Miranda think these things of her? Then a horrible thought passed through Andy's head, it was only a weekend. Of course she had worked for Miranda but as she had so delicately pointed out, she had left under less than auspicious circumstances.
Andy was brought back to the present by a sudden silence and stillness which entered the entire room. Andy looked across at Miranda.
'Damn you!' She sighed. 'Damn you ... I'm too old for the rules to start changing now.' Looking completely lost Miranda seemed to deflate onto the couch. 'It was supposed to be a disaster. It was supposed to have left the wonder of the weekend firmly in the past.' Miranda seemed bewildered. 'Who are you?'
Andy was frantically trying to keep up but felt as if she was missing a huge piece of the picture. The rollercoaster of emotions was leaving her unsettled, with the last question taking her completely by surprise.
'Andy' fell out of her mouth before she had any opportunity to censor her words. The croak in her voice reminded her that she had been silent for the last half hour. Miranda looked up at her looking startled. She obviously hadn't been expecting a response.
'Do you understand?' Andy was very sure of the answer to this question and shook her head vigorously.
'Let's just say that you, the whole weekend, was supposed to be have been too good to be true. Yet instead you turn up on time, with my favourite flower and drive me to a romantic meal. In a location you know I can relax in. Then you have the audacity to listen, obviously interested in my life, my work. Then to top it all off we enjoy one of the most comfortable silences I have ever had with another person before you tell me I'm enchanting like you believe me and give me a devastatingly sweet kiss.'
Andy was even more confused now.
'So you were ... angry ... that our first date was enjoyable? A success?' Miranda nodded her head seeming pleased that Andy was understanding. However Andy was even more confused than ever. 'So you insulted me, threatened untold numbers of people and frankly terrified me because you had a nice time?'
Miranda nodded saying 'Yes well ... sorry about that.' Wow! Andy thought. Miranda never apologised.
Andy was exhausted so decided to let it go for now. Figuring she would probably have further opportunity to explore it when she had opportunity to have thought about it. Moving over she sat beside Miranda on the couch. After several awkward moments they leaned into each other.
Placing her arms around Miranda Andy settled back and closed her eyes. Just as she started thinking about how she was going to make her way home she heard a whispered 'Stay. Please.'
'Of course. I'd be delighted to, I hope you don't think me too presumptuous but I packed a bag. I have it in the car.' Andy asked bashfully.
'Not at all. As long as you don't think me too presumptuous for having gathered a number of items for your comfort. They are in my bedroom.' Miranda responded with a smirk.
Shaking her head Andy smiled. This was going to be a very interesting relationship. She looked forward to every moment of it.
'So would you like to go on another date on Sunday?' Andy asked.
'Sunday? That is quite a time away.' Miranda asked with a quirked eyebrow.
'Yes I was thinking that you may want us to spend some time with Caroline and Cassidy until then.' Andy said with a cheeky grin.
'Indeed, that is quite acceptable.' Miranda agreed with a nod.
'To bed then?' Ten minutes later they were both ready for bed. Andy moved over to Miranda and placed a kiss on her cheek while placing her arms around her.
'Sweet dreams. I love you.' Andy whispered to a sleepy Miranda. Soon after both women were breathing evenly curled in each other's arms.
TBC
