Again thanks to liz (gecko17) for the beta work. As per the usual disclaimer, none of this belongs to me etc
Chapter 8
A light drizzle had settled over the city, the over cast sky adding to the greyness of the concrete jungle. It seemed to fit the mood as Andrea stood upon Brooklyn Bridge, Doug silently standing by her side with a comforting hand upon her shoulder. His presence was enough; she didn't need words of comfort or a lecture about falling for a human. There was nothing that could be said to make her feel better, all had been revealed to Miranda and she had been sent away despite her efforts to explain things. Her best option now was to try and stay away, simply forget. If only it was easy for her to do so…
The editor of Runway herself had given up on trying to do any work and instead turned her chair away from prying assistants to gaze out at the world below. She needed a distraction, anything to stop the feeling of numbness she felt. Coming to work, terrorizing her employees seemed the obvious choice, however it left her empty and did little to fill the void in her mind. After Andrea had left the previous night, she stumbled upstairs into her room but found that sleep eluded her. She lay there, examining everything thing that had been revealed to her hours before and found herself unable to deny it or find any real explanation. What she also knew was that she didn't need to explain how she felt about the girl.
She let out a sigh as she watched the night creep over the city and decided a late night in the office would be preferable to going home to the emptiness of the townhouse. Turning her chair around, she called her assistants. She busied herself for a few minutes, finalising her schedule for the next week before stating she would wait for the book and dismissing them for the evening. Work managed to keep her occupied for a couple hours but once it was done she had nothing but Andrea on her mind. She wished they could talk, she wished she had given Andrea the chance to fully explain things so she could understand. Instead she was left with that deep feeling of loneliness and wondering how she would ever be able to figure everything out.
Moving towards the couch in her office, she pulled out the blanket she had stored away and laid herself down. As tiredness began to overcome her she felt a shift in the room around her.
"Andrea? Are you here? I want to see you. Let me see you." She couldn't see anyone but it certainly felt like there was someone there with her.
"Just stay. Just stay until I fall asleep." Within minutes she found her eyes closing and herself drifting into slumber.
Miranda had been right in thinking there was someone there. Andrea, unable to stay away had been near bye quietly observing the woman as she battled with her thoughts. While not wanting to reveal herself she had relented to the editor's request to stay until she fell asleep. She simply knelt beside the woman and in the arms of the Angel, Miranda had at last found some comfort.
The first rays of a new day were beginning to cast shadows across the office and Miranda, upon awakening, couldn't help but smile a little. It seemed for the first time in weeks she had been able to sleep solidly through the night despite it being on the couch. It was still early and glancing at the clock she had time to freshen herself up in her private bathroom before the Runway staff began to appear. Moreover she could surprise Emily by being at her desk, ready and waiting for the day to begin.
The morning passed quickly and the editor felt confident that the next issue would, as usual, be finished and ready to print before the deadline. She took a look at the latest spread and nodded her approval to those in the room.
"This will be acceptable, make sure all the edits are done by tomorrow afternoon and everything is sent ready for print. That's all."
The Runway staff, who had gathered around were quick to disperse from the office, glad that the editor had been in a relative calm mood in comparison to previous days. Nigel on the other hand had chosen to remain seated in front of her and waited until the door was shut before he finally spoke up.
"Miranda what happened after you and Andrea left the other night?"
Miranda had been expecting his questions and was amused it had taken him so long to approach her.
"I don't see how any of it is your concern Nigel?"
She remained indifferent, eyes focused on the layouts in front of her.
"It is my business Miranda, you're my dearest friend and I happen to be quite fond of Six too."
She let out a sigh, she had managed to escape from her thoughts of the woman for a while and now they were back with full force.
"We discussed a few things or should I say I found out some things."
She leaned back in her chair, her attention no longer on the layouts but her friend instead.
"Nigel I don't want to want her, but I do and I don't understand a God who would let us meet, if there's no way we could ever be together."
A look of surprise crossed his face
"She never told you, did she?"
"Told me what Nigel?"
"Maybe you should ask her."
Miranda was now curious and was not about to allow Nigel to get away without telling her what was on his mind. She stood, placing her arms on the desk and leant towards her friend, an authoritative tone in place
"I am asking you Nigel and I suggest you answer me."
"Andy knows no fear, no pain, no hunger; she hears music in the sunrise. But she'd give it all up, she loves you that much."
"I don't understand?"
Nigel didn't immediately respond. He knew Andrea should be the one talking to his friend but then he also knew he wouldn't be allowed out of this office until he had told her everything he knew. Miranda was known for her strong will and would easily remain patient until he revealed the truth.
"She can fall, she can give up her existence as she knows it, she can give up eternity and become... one of us."
Miranda was suddenly feeling unsteady on her feet and needed so sit back down.
"How do you know this?"
Here was something Nigel had never thought he would tell his best friend, in all the years he had known her he had not thought once he would ever have to.
"Because I did it Miranda."
For one of the very few times in her life the editor found herself speechless, in part because of what Nigel had revealed and in part because she saw a glimmer of hope, the possibility of a life with the woman she had fallen in love with.
"Nigel I need some time to process all of this and would appreciate it you left me be. Tell Emily to hold all my calls and not to let anyone in until I say so."
"Of course Miranda."
He was just about to close the door on his way out when he heard his name."
"Nigel, nothing has changed. You are still my dearest friend."
He smiled gently at her.
"Thank you Miranda."
She didn't know how long she had sat at her desk silently contemplating all that she had been told. Emily had tried to come in once but she was immediately sent away and after that she didn't attempt again.
Andrea…There was nothing else she could think about. The woman had somehow turned her world even more upside down than it was before following the divorce. She had walked in and broken down the barriers that she had attempted to rebuild.
The question now was what was she going to do about it?
Ok guys so I have a question for you all. If you have seen the film City of Angels that this is based upon you may know it is not exactly what I call a happy ending. I myself am still unsure where to go with it so tell me what you think. Should Mirandy have a happy ever after or not?
