Ok peeps here we go...a little later than normal again and i apologise. I meant to sit down and write some more today but yet haven't had a chance..i thought i should get out a little and relish in the sunshine :).

I finally got a beta...YAY celebrates so big thanks to ellipsisoveruse for doing this for me...she is very thourough lol this poor little chappie has been put through the works..its like a makeover :D. so i hope you guys like it!! Welcome to the rollercoaster people!! my beta told me she liked the fact i wasn't predictable...lets hope you guys like me for it to and i won't be murdered by the end of this...although i hold out little hope lol.

-baracades herself into her flat-

hope you guys enjoy...i'll try and write the rest as soon as...i have 3 chaps left i've written so far...so i better get a move on!!

oh gods...i think my flat mates are at it again...-bangs head on the table why- me?

i'm going to put my earphones in lol...and read some Mirandy smut and maybe try to write through the wracket...although the acoustics really aren't helpful for getting me in ma groove shudders.

hugs and cupcakes and all that jazz

Scarlett xxx

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What a Difference A Day Makes

Andy's day began the same way as any other: she woke up early, carefully selected an outfit - spending a little longer on it than usual, wanting to look especially good today, of all days - then hurried in to work. She couldn't wait to see Miranda. The editor had postponed her punishment, everyday demands consuming her time, darting off after the flight. She'd had to return home to the twins, and Andy understood that, but she was eager to see her again, even if it was only within a work situation.

Andy caught the subway in as usual, eyes buried within her book, unaware of curious glances she was getting from the surrounding crowd. She still had her headphones in as she walked into the foyer of Elias-Clarke, so she didn't notice the unusual silence that followed her, the low level of chatter petering out as she passed by. She did notice the eyes on her, though, her step slowing as she took in everyone's expressions, even people from other Elias Clarke publications eyeing her with unveiled surprise.

As she entered the lift, Andy checked her outfit, but couldn't see anything out of place that would cause her to be getting such strange looks. Disconcerted, she tried to forget it, focusing her thoughts on seeing Miranda but she couldn't ignore the hammered of her heart, mind unable to shake off the suspicion something was going on. The lift ascended incredibly slowly, as though prolonging the tension on purpose..

The lift finally opened, and Andy entered the halls of Runway with trepidation, half-expecting the whispers that broke out as she passed, hissing harshly around her. She tried to maintain a calm expression, struggling to decipher the mixed emotions she was greeted with: surprise, anger, respect, jealousy. Suddenly an awful thought crossed Andy's mind - had someone found out about them? It'd all be over if someone had - Miranda would crucify her, even though they both knew well that it had been mutual. Andy couldn't help the bile bubbling up in her throat, fearful, they couldn't know, the secret had only been theirs for a few days, it was impossible to think anyone else could have found out in that space of time. .

Andy swallowed with growing apprehension. She wanted to run - between the whispers and the looks she was getting, she felt like a cornered animal. She took a deep breath as she walked nervously through the double doors, relieved that Emily wasn't in yet, sinking low behind her desk, wanting to hide away from all the piercing gazes of her colleagues.

She had barely been at her desk for five minutes when the doors swung open, her Miranda thundering through them, not sparing Andy a single glance, fury oozing from every pore. Ice flooded through Andy's veins, everything summing up to a single confirmation within her mind, even if her heart refused to accept it.

'Andrea,' Miranda called from within the inner office, her voice deadly quiet. Andy winced as though it had been yelled. Andy recognised the summons as the order it was, and with a heavy heart she rose and walked into Miranda's office, everything moving in slow motion.

Miranda glared at her, eyes narrowing at her approach. The older woman's arm flew out, bringing the newspaper in her hand crashing down upon the desk with a resounding crack. This was the first time Andy had ever seen Miranda outwardly angry, and she jumped, unnerved by the red hot rage she could see in Miranda's expression, her barriers down for once. Andy glanced down, eyes widening at the large picture in the centre of the page. She gasped, lips parting, shock ebbing its way through her. Her fingers trembled as she reached out, twisting the paper so she could see it more clearly, even though she was well aware of what it was. The two of them, together, the evening it all started, Miranda's lips on her own, pinned up against the edge of the pool.

Andy's eyes slid shut in defeat, the evidence damning. Neither she nor Miranda could talk their way out of this.

'Your acting skills are impressive, Andrea.'

Andy's head snapped up, astounded at the implicit accusation. 'Miranda, I-'

'Stop looking at it like you haven't seen it before. Don't tell me you weren't expecting this.'

Andy shook her head, unwilling to believe what she was hearing. Her lips parted to defend herself, knowing she needed to make Miranda see sense, but she was silenced by a wave of the editor's hand.

'Don't try to talk you way out of this, of all the things. You set me up.' Miranda's hands clenched into fists, seemingly involuntarily, and Andy froze, realising how upset Miranda must be to be unable to control herself. 'Do you hate me that much, Andrea? '

Andy's mouth flapped uselessly, trying to catch up with Miranda's train of thought. She stepped toward Miranda, trying to figure out how she could make her understand, but Miranda reacted as if she'd been slapped - the jolting reaction triggered by Andy's slight movement towards her, body jumping back only increasing the distance between them, not wishing to be touched.

'No, Andrea, you've got your story. Now I've got the pick up the pieces of the mess you've made of my life. How could I have been so stupid?' her eyes flew to the heavens, a breath of disbelief. 'I thought I'd already made the biggest mistake of my life, for once I've been proven wrong. I thought…' she laughed, humourless and empty, 'I thought that you'd be different, Andrea, but despite all your morals and everything else you seem to guide yourself by, you're the same as all of them, if not worse. Manipulative; doing anything regardless of the consequences, willing to sell yourself for a single story. Did you even set aside a thought for my children?' Miranda paused, trying to compose herself, and Andy caught the glint of tears in her eyes.

Miranda strolled by her, eyes no longer on her. 'Congratulations, Andrea, you're a true journalist at heart. You should be proud,' Miranda sneered, façade back in place, glaring at Andy. 'Now get out. Clear out your desk when I'm out of the office. I do not want to set eyes on you ever again. That's all.' The older woman went to walk out of the office, her stride determined.

But Andy acted instinctively, refusing to let Miranda leave under the false impression that this was somehow her doing. How could she even think such a thing? Anger fuelled her actions, hand flying out, fingers curling around Miranda's wrist, tugging her back. Miranda's cry of surprise must have alerted the masses, but she knew no one would risk coming to investigate. This was between her and Miranda, and anyone who'd seen the newspaper (in other words everyone) would know their lives would be at stake if they interrupted this conversation.

'No, Miranda, that's not all.' Andy's foot flung out, kicking the door shut, effectively blocking off the world and any ears trying to listen in.

'Andrea, I think you've lost leave of your senses. Let go of me. Now. .' Miranda said sharply. Andy ignored her, choosing to clamp her hand over Miranda's mouth, stemming any other comments or complaints.

'No, Miranda, you've had your say, now you're going to listen for a change. If you think I could have possibly done this, then you don't know me at all. I can't even hide my own emotions - and you think I was acting? Every word, every laugh, every touch, you think I did it just to lure you in? Every piece of information another dollar on my paycheck?' Andy's voice cracked slightly, as she shook her head to the side. 'You think I'd stick by your side for this long, putting up with all your tantrums and demands just to sell you out? That's ridiculous, Miranda, and if you cast your mind back for a moment, you made the first move. You came over, you touched me. You could have left me alone, or said something scathing as always. But you didn't. I've wanted this for longer than even I realised. You can't deny that you wanted it too. If it was just a story I would have left it all alone after I'd had you once. If I'm right, everything they have there is based upon the evening within the pool, nothing that went on between us afterwards, it's all speculation. Right?' Miranda's eyes gave her away, for once, her emotions obvious, unable to hide them from Andy's searching gaze. Andy, having watched Miranda so closely for so long, able to read every subtle sign. 'Why do you think that would be, if I were the one who gave them all the information? If this was, as you claimed, all about money to me, Miranda, I would have sold every inch of you out; and yet not one word of anything you said to me, or what we shared after that evening is in the article.'

Andy wasn't prepared for Miranda's reaction: the woman's teeth clamping down on her hand, the edges sinking into her palm. 'Miranda!' she exclaimed, 'son of a – '

'You're probably just saving it for a later date,' Miranda replied, free to speak again. 'Get them hooked and then leak out new little bits of information.'

'No, stop! How could you think I'd do such a thing to you, Miranda? I lo-' Andy stopped, not wishing to let such an admission fall from her lips, it was true, something she'd realised the night it all began, but right now she knew the editor wouldn't welcome it. She sighed voicing her final conclusion, 'In all honesty, I think you're using this all as an excuse, you let me get too close and now you're running away again. Cowardice doesn't suit you, Miranda,' Andy said, casting her eyes down, the editor's lips narrowing with distaste. She knew she should leave, walk away, having risked everything with her outburst, but with a final surge of boldness, Andy leant in, lips pressing against Miranda's, pouring everything into the kiss, desperately trying to make Miranda understand. The editor's hands came up between them, and Andy braced herself for rejection, to be pushed away. But Miranda's hands curled desperately in the collar of Andy's jacket, tugging her closer, her emotions overriding everything, overly confused. She still wanted Andy, that much was obvious, a lusty little moan falling from the older woman's lips, muffled by the kiss. Andy pulled back, stepping away, anger and hurt still flooding through her. 'If you think everything within that was a lie then….' She shook her head, 'Just think about it, Miranda.'

With that she flung the office doors open, walking away, head held high, ignoring the eyes on her, holding herself together until the metal lift doors closed behind her. Then, finally, she broke, heart aching as she slid down the wall, burying her head in her hands, finally succumbing to the silent sobs wracking her frame, tears of defeat running down her cheeks.

TBC

--SS--

don't hurt me... there will be a happy ending as always!! please review...makes me smile!! xx SS xx