Hour 8
"My darling Andréa, I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep you by my side. You, me, three kids and a dog."
She knew with her whole self that she meant every word. She couldn't live without this, not now that she knew how it felt to be this close to Andréa. This was going to be her future; Andréa, Charlotte and the twins. She could hardly believe that in the time it took to cross an ocean her world had been forever changed, and for the better.
Their faces were still hovering close, as if scared to move too far away from each other and break this new bond. Andréa leaned forward, situating herself cheek to cheek with the editor. The warmth of her skin drove Miranda to distraction and she was catapulted forward into images of her young love beneath her, surrounded by white sheets; writhing and arching, pressing delicate skin together in a heated meeting. Hot breath against her ear brought her back to the present as Andréa whispered.
"This feels like a dream."
Andréa pulled back and Miranda found herself drowning in amber eyes filled with fear. Studying Andréa's face, those gorgeous features that had only existed in her mind for five impossibly long years, she saw the strength fading and Andréa letting her see her vulnerability. The brunette was terrified and it reassured Miranda that, like her, Andréa was planning on this being her forever.
"My beautiful Andréa, I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"If I had known that this could be my life, I never would have left you."
Miranda was left stunned as Andréa brought her head to the editor's shoulder and returned to nuzzling her neck.
"Andréa…"
"It was just too hard Miranda," Andréa mumbled softly into her neck, "to be so close to you, to feel how I felt about you and know that you would never see me as anything more than your assistant. I wasn't strong enough."
The weight of those words brought Miranda to lower her head to rest on chocolate tresses. She sighed as regret filled her. If only she had discovered her feelings sooner, if only Andréa had told her how she felt, if only she hadn't left; maybe things might have been different, they might not have lost so much time. However, Miranda knew herself well enough to be sure that if she hadn't lost Andréa so abruptly, she may never have admitted how she felt.
"Perhaps, it was for the best. If I were philosophical in the slightest I might suggest that our paths had to separate when they did because we weren't ready. Losing you taught me I can't live without you."
A slow, warm kiss to her collar bone sent a pleasant tingle across Miranda's chest.
"Miranda I…I won't walk away again."
"Promise?"
Full lips danced across her ear as Andréa whispered her answer.
"I promise, my love, to never again willingly leave your side. My heart couldn't bear it."
Those addictive lips parted to allow nibbling teeth to take their place as nimble fingers began dancing patterns across her abdomen. The editor melted as a wave of heat swept through her body. She had known it would be like this with Andréa; tender and passionate, tinted with a sense of desperation.
"Andréa."
It was a reverent whisper, almost too soft to be heard, but it was acknowledged by a sensual and breathy laugh and teasing fingers drifting dangerously close to Miranda's chest.
"Darling," Miranda purred, "as much as it pains me, might I suggest continuing this when we are better located?"
Both fingers and teeth stilled. Andréa situated herself in Miranda's eye line whilst forming a pout.
"Must you be so sensible?" Letting her eyes drift from Miranda to her sleeping daughter, Andréa sighed and continued in a less petulant manner. "You're right, of course."
"Of course."
Andréa smirked at the smug woman before returning her gaze to Charlotte.
"She likes you."
"So it would seem." Her eyes followed to look at the small blonde who had already taken up residence in her heart. "And the feeling is entirely mutual."
The girl in question began to stir from her sleep and blearily peered at the two women. Andréa moved to collect Charlotte and bring her back to her earlier position on her knee just as the captain announced their descent. Miranda turned her body into Andréa's, keeping close as they both focused their attention on the slowly waking girl.
"Did you sleep well Princess?"
Miranda warmed as she watched Charlotte nod whilst trying to suppress another yawn.
"I was dreaming about the park. Can we go soon Mommy?"
"Of course, baby."
Unable to help herself Miranda reached over to the little girl, with the hand that wasn't currently entwining its fingers with Andréa's, and squeezed her knee lightly.
"What would you think about meeting me and my girls at the park this week; perhaps for a picnic?"
Charlotte's eyes were positively pleading as they stared up at her mother. Miranda noted that two sets of those whisky coloured orbs were going to be trouble as they both settled on her.
"That would be lovely."
"Excuse me ladies."
The three females turned to look at the intruding air hostess who had managed to creep up on them unnoticed. Her confidence faltered under the scrutiny.
"W-we are coming in to land."
Miranda raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow.
"So, I'm going to have to ask you to take your original seats."
Andréa's glare sharpened.
"Please?"
The brunette cocked her head. "No."
"That's all."
As the flight attendant slowly backed away, Miranda and Andréa began buckling themselves and Charlotte in where they sat with smirks playing at their lips, and it occurred to them both that although they couldn't know what lay ahead of them, it was sure to be very interesting.