Disclaimer: See part 1.
A/N - Heads up, people. Some violence implied and briefly described. Just in case it triggers something, OK?
A/N 2: It is amazing what a response I got for finally getting my act together and working on finishing this story. I am so happy about that! Thanks again! ?
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After Paris
By Gun Brooke
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Part 21
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Andy glanced up from the couch in the den as she heard voices, at least two or three, from the foyer. Apparently, Miranda had come home bringing the guests she had teased the girls about. Andy had an idea who it might be, but had kept the girls in suspense, which had made the twins assist the housekeeper by emptying and refilling the dishwasher. Walking out into the foyer, Andy heard the elephant patrol hammer down the stair and spotted Miranda grimacing at the sound the twins always made.
"Ellen, this is my girlfriend, Andrea Sachs. She will insist on your calling her Andy." Miranda cast a stern glance at the twins who stood gaping on the stairs. "And these two are my daughters. Cassidy on the left, Caroline on the right."
Ellen DeGeneres smile and extended her hand to Andy first. "Hello, Andy. It's so great to meet you. I'm in awe of your courage." Ellen motioned to her left where a well-known blond stood smiling. "This is my wife, Portia. Behind her is our producer Gwen and cameraman Bruno."
Andy shook everyone's hand and then returned her focus to Miranda while their guests greeted the twins. "How are you doing? I hate to say it, but you look a little tired."
"I am, but seeing you makes me perk right up, darling." Miranda stepped closer and kissed Andy on the cheek. It made Andy happy that it was so far from the cordial air-kisses Miranda bestowed upon just about everyone else, except her girls. When she kissed Andy, she lingered, pressed her lips against Andy's skin, and inhaled deeply with a faint hum.
"So, we're doing this tonight?" Andy cupped Miranda's cheek.
"Yes, unless you have had second thoughts. We only do it if you are comfortable with it." Miranda tilted her head.
"I am. I mean, I suppose neither of us are truly comfortable having to do this…this damage control, but since it's the best course of action, I think Ellen is perfect for it." Andy pulled up her left shoulder in a half-shrug.
"And you can be sure the interview will be done with integrity," Ellen said, clearly having heard what Andy said. "You and Miranda will have last say about what goes on air."
"Good to know," Andy said, relaxing further.
"Why don't we have our dinner first and then set up in the living room?" Miranda motioned for the others to follow her to the dining room.
"Are we being interviewed too?" Cassidy asked hopefully.
"No, Bobbsey. Not this time around." Miranda caressed Cassidy's red hair and tucked it behind her ear.
"Aw."
"I'm glad." Caroline shuddered visibly. "I wouldn't want to do it anyway."
"You don't want to be on Ellen?" Cassidy sounded baffled. "I think it's unfair that we don't get to say what we think." She glowered at her mother, but with no real anger behind it.
"If you are ever in California, I would love to give you tickets to the show," Ellen interjected. "If that is all right with your mother."
"Oh, cool! That's all right mom, isn't it?" Cassidy literally bounced where she stood. Even Carline looked eager now.
"Of course. Once everything calms down, girls, we'll make a family trip of it."
Placated now, the twins followed their guests into the dining room where they all had a vegan meal. Ellen and Portia made sure to engage them all into the conversation and slowly Andy began to breathe easier. Then, with no forewarning, Andy saw her father's apoplectic face, red with fury, for her inner eye. She clutched her fork tightly and almost pushed it straight through the plate.
"Andrea?" Miranda stopped talking and snapped her head around to look at her. "What's wrong?"
Caroline stood and walked over to Andy's side of the table, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Yes, what's wrong?"
"God, I'm sorry," Andy gushed. "I didn't mean to startle anyone."
"You're all pale," Cassidy said.
"I am? Oh. Excuse me." Andy stood and hurried toward the guest bathroom. Inside, she ran cool water, splashing it on her wrists and her neck. Richard would be furious. Beyond furious. He would be livid and he would make her mother's life a living hell.
"Darling?" Miranda said through the door. "Please let me in?"
"I'm okay." Andy heard how her voice broke. "I just need a—"
"Please, Andrea."
Sighing, and angry at herself for worrying Miranda, Andy unlocked the door. Miranda stepped into the small space and pulled Andy into a firm embrace.
"I have you, darling." Miranda rocked her gently. "What was it that spooked you just now?"
"My father," Andy said, trembling.
"Richard? Why?"
"He's going to see, or be made aware of, the interview tomorrow. He's going to loathe it, and me, even more than before. Mom's going to get the brunt of his anger. He has never actually hit her, or as far as I know at least, but who knows." Wiping at errant teardrops, Andy clung to Miranda with her other hand.
"I see. Why don't we just do the interview, then call Virginia and give her a heads-up about it. That way she can decide whether to stay in Cincinnati or join us here. She knows Richard better than anybody." Miranda made it sound like this was a fate worse than death. "She'll be the best at judging his reaction."
That made sense. Of course it did. Feeling foolish now, Andy kept hiding against Miranda's cream white neck. How long would it be before she got used to being this close to the woman she had loved for so long? Or the mere fact that she could touch and hold—and make love to —this wondrous woman? Still, Andy was stunned at the privilege.
"Let's go back and finish our meal and then tape the interview. Once that's done, you'll feel better."
Andy nodded and stole another kiss before they returned to the dinner table. Smiling broadly for the girls' sake, Andy did her best to follow the conversation. She wasn't sure she was fooling anyone, but she was grateful nobody commented on it.
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Miranda sat next to Andrea, their hands just close enough to barely touch. She knew they would look good together on the couch with Monet's "Water lily pond and bridge" behind them. Gwen, the producer, had fussed over the fact that they had no makeup artist on hand, until Ellen gently pointed out that Miranda Priestly knew more about makeup and fashion than anyone else. Now, Bruno was all set behind the camera and the soundboard and gave Gwen and Ellen the thumbs up.
Ellen sat in an armchair in a ninety-degree angle from Andy and Miranda and now smiled into the camera with ease. "Hello there. A very special person called me up yesterday and asked if I would come to New York to do an interview. There are very few people I drop everything and put my schedule on hold for and this woman is one of them. I'm in Miranda Priestly's home on the Upper East side on Manhattan—and I'm sure you know that Miranda is the legendary editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine." Ellen turned to Miranda. "Thank you for having Portia, my crew, and me here at your house." Turning back to the camera, Ellen continued, "Next to Miranda here in her living room, you will also hear from Andy Sachs, the journalist that saved several children on a school yard from a man with a knife a few weeks ago. Andy, you used to be Miranda's secretary some time ago, right?"
Andrea smiled, but Miranda could feel her trembling. "I was, for seventh months."
"And you two stayed in touch after you quit?" Ellen's kind eyes shifted between Miranda and Andrea.
"No, we didn't actually. I hadn't talked to Miranda until that day in the schoolyard." Andrea blinked. "I had no idea everything was being broadcast nationwide and I certainly was not expecting Miranda to merely show up and be so supportive. Not only Miranda, by the way, but also several others I worked with at Runway. I can never thank them enough. They are so sweet to me. Especially since I suffer from some PTSD."
"Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome," Ellen translated for the future viewers. "According to the press, and they sure have hunted you ladies down, you're still living here in Miranda's home."
"Yes, that's true," Miranda said, her voice firm. "Since we reconnected, Andrea has been staying with me and my children. She has a home with us for as long as she wants to."
"Am I reading too much into that, Miranda, since that sounds very generous and I believe I've heard you're a very private person." Ellen smiled gently.
"Depends on what you mean by reading too much into it." Miranda made sure Ellen knew she wouldn't make it too easy on the talk-show host.
"Another rumor is that you and Andy are more than friends. In fact, some already infamous photos are circulating the blogosphere, even making their way into mainstream newspapers."
Miranda glanced at Andrea and took her hand, knowing full well it was fully visible. Andrea's hand was cold, but she squeezed Miranda's back. "When I found Andrea on that schoolyard, risking her lives for the children she saved and getting injured in the process, I knew what had been missing from my life for a long time."
Even Andrea seemed to hold her breath at that, her eyes wide as she gazed at Miranda.
"I had missed Andrea more than what is usual when it comes to a subordinate—and, for me, a woman at that. Once I was sure Andrea was going to survive, I couldn't let her go without exploring what I hoped was mutual feelings." Miranda raised Andrea's hand to her lips and kissed the back of it tenderly. "As luck would have it, Andrea harbored feelings for me as well."
Ellen looked like she could barely breathe. She turned to Andrea. "And you, Andy? When did you know that you had feelings for Miranda?"
"Already when I left her in Paris during Fashion Week." Andrea ran the back of her curled fingers along Miranda's jawline. "Back then, Miranda was married and I thought it was hopeless and tried to write it off as a mere crush on an amazing boss. I figured I had gotten over her, mostly, when that madman struck. Once I realized Miranda had no intentions to let me fend for myself, my heart just burst open and all the old feelings came to the surface—and then some."
Miranda's heart beat so fast now, she had to cling to Andrea's hand not to gasp for air. "The reason we thought it would be good to give you this interview is because we trust you, Ellen. Your integrity and humane onlook on life is well-known. The false rumors have hit us hard the last few days and made life harder for my children."
Andrea slid closer to Miranda and put her free arm around her shoulders. "If it was just about the two of us, we couldn't care less, but this is, as Miranda says, about the kids, about Runway Magazine and Elias-Clarke, which employs thousands of people. I also admit that I hope for a career that's not based on clandestine and illegally obtained photos."
"I hear you," Ellen said. "Miranda, you sent me a URL for a blog where said photos were posted with complete disdain for your right to privacy."
"Yes. I can share with you, and with Andrea, that this blog has now been taken down. I know that the photos are still out there, that is the nature of the internet, but at least the woman posting them originally won't make any money off people clicking on her blog."
Ellen nodded and looked pleased. "That's what happens when you try to take advantage of Miranda Priestly—not to mention Andy Sachs, The Mirror's brightest new star."
Andrea blushed, but Miranda could have kissed Ellen for the compliment.
"Portia," Ellen said, turning to her wife that was standing behind the camera with Gwen. "Why don't you join us?"
Portia looked a little taken aback, but sat down on the armrest of Ellen's armchair. "I must say I have yet to come across a couple with your charisma." She smiled and put a hand on Ellen's shoulder. "Even if I hadn't already been privy to some of tonight's information, I would have known you to were meant for each other. Is that how you feel?"
A bold question, Miranda thought. If it had backfired, it could have sunk the interview completely.
"Pretty much," Andrea said, beating Miranda to it. "I know it's early days yet, but in a way it isn't. I have known Miranda for quite a while, all things considered."
"And I had promised myself that being single was a great option when my divorce was finalized. I'm rarely wrong, but when I am…" Miranda shrugged. "I can't imagine my life with Andrea in it."
"So amazing." Ellen patted Portia's hand. "I can safely say I know the feeling. "Another matter that seem to fascinate people is the obvious age difference between you. Are you bothered by that at all?"
"I'd be totally selfish if I didn't find it a bit worrisome," Miranda answered. I'm almost twice Andrea's age, but when you think how her life was almost cut short…I just couldn't bring myself to waste what time we have."
"And I don't care about age one bit," Andrea said quickly. "I can understand where Miranda's coming from, but from my selfish point of view, I'm with the woman I worship and we have this new chance together as a family. I'd be a fool and very ungrateful if I didn't make the most of it."
Ellen and Portia asked a few more questions, the conversation less intense and more humorous as the evening went on. Once the producer ended it, Miranda didn't feel as if she'd been interviewed, but instead had an enjoyable time with new friends. As they were off the record, she turned to Ellen and Portia, looking sternly.
"Now, don't forget about the cover shoot with Portia next month." It was hilarious to watch Portia's knowing look when she regarded her wife.
"What shoot?" Portia's eyes narrowed.
"Um. A cover shoot for Runway. You and me. Great huh?" Ellen smiled crookedly.
Portia seemed less than impressed, but then she started laughing. "Actually, it sounds really great. I look forward to it."
Andrea joined in with her trademark cackle of a laugh that Miranda found so irresistible. "The look on Ellen's face," she snorted. "Priceless."
"Hm. I bet." Ellen crinkled her nose at Portia. "I'll get even with you later."
"And I'll get even with you." Andrea tickled the palm of Miranda's left hand.
Miranda felt her earlobes burn. Ah. Promises, promises.
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Marissa Geller paced back and forth in her living room, holding her cell phone so tight, she might just crack the screen. "Listen to me. My blog is gone! Just gone. The URL. Everything. I paid good money for my blog to be hosted in your web hotel."
"I apologize, ma'am." A female voice kept talking to Marissa in the calming way that drove her crazy. "All I can see from my end is that we received a cease and desist letter and the founder of this company must have acted on it immediately, because it is completely wiped off our server. The only other note I can find is that you will be contacted within twenty-four hours with follow-up documents."
"What does that even mean? Follow-up documents?" Marissa snarled. "I want my blog bag up and not within some twenty-four hours. Now. If not, I'll transfer it to WordPress or any similar blog hosts."
"I wouldn't recommend that, Ms. Geller. Once a cease and desist is in effect, you can get into a world of legal trouble if you upload the same material again. Exponentially."
"Fuck!" Marissa yelled and slammed down the receiver. There was no doubt who was behind this cease and desist order. Marissa had never been this furious before. She could actually taste iron in her mouth—it was almost to a degree where her rampaging emotions frightened herself. This was Andy Fucking Sachs's fault. Throwing her cell phone on the couch, she watched in dismay how it merely bounced and landed unscathed on the carpet.
Heading back to her laptop, Marissa pulled up an empty document and began typing. Andy would suffer if it was the last thing she did.
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Continued in part 22