So Miranda and Andrea seem to be taking their sweet time to get together and who am i to rush them? we're getting there though. Promise!
"Miranda."
"Yes, we've established that, now are you going to let me in or am I expected to stand out in the hall all night?" Miranda asked with a smirk,
"No of course, come in," Andrea smiled, almost falling in her haste to move out of the older woman's way, forgetting her injured leg, the jolt of pain nearly brought her to her knees and put tears in her eyes,
"Andrea?" Miranda placed her bags on the table beside the door and moved to the brunettes side,
"I'm ok," Andrea forced a deep breath and straightened up so she was face to face with the other woman, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I realised I was a little, unsympathetic, on the phone and thought we could still have dinner. Smith & Wolensky will be delivering shortly."
"Oh Miranda," Andrea sighed, tears pooling in her eyes, she needed to get a grip. "I'm sorry, I'm being a really awful hostess, but I really need to sit back down."
"Of course, you haven't grown out of your clumsiness then."
"Not even a little bit, though this is the worst accident I've had in a while," Andrea chuckled as she made her way slowly back to the sofa, she couldn't believe that Miranda Priestly was in her apartment and she looked like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards,
"Really Andrea, if you didn't want to have dinner with me all you had to do was say."
"Miranda please." Andrea sighed, dropping herself onto the sofa, "I thought we had established that I was disappointed to have to cancel tonight."
"I apologise," Miranda turned back to her bags and pulled out a bottle of wine, she was unaccustomed to feeling so disappointed to have plans cancelled on her and it was making her fall back on the ice queen persona, "I brought wine."
"Oh let me get some glasses." Andrea tried to push herself up only to be halted by a piercing blue gaze,
"Leg, elevated." Miranda said, flicking her wrist in Andrea's direction, "Direct me to the glasses."
"Cabinet above the coffee machine." Andrea allowed herself to settle into the cushions, she felt completely off balance with Miranda in her space and running so hot and cold, though she could probably blame the pain killers all she really wanted was someone to give her a hug and present her with a pint of chocolate chip ice cream, she could only hope that Miranda's company and some expensive food could have the same effect,
"Corkscrew Andrea?" Miranda was looking at her expectantly, leant against the bench which separated the kitchen from the living area,
"Oh, erm, the drawer by your hip," she smiled, only now taking in what Miranda was wearing, while she was still much better dressed than Andrea was it was clear that she was wearing her own version of casual, even her hair and makeup was more relaxed than usual and the overall effect was beautiful.
"What did the doctor say about your leg?" Miranda asked as she approached with their glasses, Andrea looked like a truly pathetic creature and if she had not still been battling the 'dragon' side of her personality she may have hugged her. As it was she handed her her glass of wine and took the chair across from her. She was pleasantly surprised by the apartment she found herself in, it was small and cosy without feeling claustrophobic, everything in it reflected the brunettes personality and the books, Miranda could only hope that one day she would get the chance to explore the brunettes bookcases which were dotted around the room, haphazardly stacked and full to bursting.
"I've torn a ligament in my knee and damaged the cartilage. I've got to keep off it for a few days, good job I don't wear the stilettos to work anymore"
"It astound me that you never broke your neck during your time at Runway, what is it Nigel used to say. Oh yes, Bambi on ice." Miranda chuckled, "What will you do about work?"
"I can write the articles I have in progress from here, if anything else comes in they will have to find cover. Anyway I'm hardly in any state to be running around chasing leads." Andrea said taking a welcome mouthful of wine, "Where are the girls tonight?"
"It's their weekend with their father. Roy dropped them off when we left you yesterday." Miranda pushed herself to her feet when there was a knock on the door, "That will be the food." Andrea watched the editor pay the delivery boy, no doubt with a healthy tip, before accepting the bags, it felt strange yet comforting that Miranda had taken charge in her space
"Can you get to the table or would you rather stay where you are?" Miranda asked returning to the kitchen and beginning to unpack the bags. She hadn't been sure what the younger woman tended to eat so along with her usual steak she had ordered small portions of most of the menu for Andrea to choose from.
"No, I'll come over," Andrea grinned, pushing herself up and making her way slowly towards the other woman who seemed to be unpacking a bottomless pit of food, "Am I expecting more guests that I don't know about?"
"I wasn't sure what you would prefer so I ordered a little of everything," Miranda said, turning to retrieve plates to hide the blush on her cheeks, anyone else would have just had to eat what she was eating and make do, but as in many other ways, Andrea was different.
"Anything in particular you would recommend?" everything looked so amazing and, as she pulled herself into a stool at the breakfast bar, she realised how hungry she was,
"Usually I just have a steak," Miranda said, moving the piece of meat onto her plate and taking her own seat, "But the girls are particularly fond of the Macaroni Cheese."
Finding that as good a place to start as any Andrea pulled the dish towards herself and heaped a healthy portion onto her plate. Miranda took a bite of her steak and watched as the younger woman took her first bite, her stomach flipped when Andrea moaned her pleasure,
"Oh my god." She hummed, "Miranda this is amazing, you should try some,
"Oh I hardly think so," Miranda's resolve softened the minute Andrea pouted,
"Oh go on Miranda." Oh she really had it bad if all it took to persuade her was fluttering eyelashes, "For me?" Andrea tentatively held out a loaded fork for the older woman and waited until, with a resigned huff, she closed her lips around the fork that was offered. Miranda made a point of maintaining eye contact with the brunette as she dragged her lips over the cold metal and relished in the blush that painted Andrea's cheeks.
"Hm, it's passable." She said as she swallowed, "I'm not surprised that that you find it so appealing." They ate in silence for a little longer, each grateful for the company.
"How long have you lived here?" Miranda asked when she had eaten half of her steak and pushed away the rest, Andrea, who had eaten almost all of the macaroni dish and a mouthful from most of the rest, was still going,
"Miranda Priestly, are you trying to make small talk with me?"
"Andrea do not mock me when I am trying to get to know you. I will leave and I won't come back." Miranda said icily, Andrea made her feel like she was permanently on the back foot,
"No, I'm sorry," Andrea soothed, at least having the decency to look chastised, "I'm just, I'm not used to this side of you who cares to know anything about me."
"And I am trying to change that, your cooperation would make it much easier,"
"Of course," Andrea allowed gently, "Could we perhaps move somewhere more comfortable?" rather than answer Miranda moved to Andrea's side and held out her arm,
"Here, let me help you." Andrea used the arm that was offered to steady her as she slid down from the stool, only to almost fall over when Miranda wrapped the same arm around her waist. "You really ought to get some lounge wear that doesn't look like it's about to fall off you."
"Hey these are comfortable," Andrea pouted as Miranda lowered her down into her chair, "We can't all afford to wear Chanel to bed."
"Oh Andrea," Miranda demurred, "I don't wear Chanel to bed, I wear La Perla." Andrea nearly choked on air and Miranda simply smirked as she lowered herself into her seat, at least that answered that question, Andrea was interested.