Miranda shifted uncomfortably in the stainless steel chair buy cheap, wear cheap...or sit as the case may be. She groaned in frustration and misery before sliding forward to rest her head in her hands, with her elbows rested on the bends of her Donna Karen black trousers. The empty corridor seemed to span forever, on one side were a row of the stainless steel torture devices, the other a line of white doors with little numbers on them, and a slider that indicated whether they were in use or not. Door number 6 opened and a short, fat man with a bald spot right on top of his head emerged.

"Ms-" Miranda stood up "Priestly" and grabbed her handbag before following the Martin Mull look alike. The door closed behind her as the curtain in front opened, and showed a somber looking Andrea sitting on the gurney, legs swung over the side, dangling her shoe half off. She was a picture of a child, contemplating the telling off that was about to occur. None came, Miranda was nodding and listening to the doctor's instructions of how to keep the wounds clean and what cream to use for less scarring, plastic surgeons that could help. With a quick comment about being careful when shaving your legs, he left. Miranda placed the prescription into her handbag, turned to go through the curtain she had originally proceeded through, opened the number 6 door, and left. Andrea got off the gurney, put her shoe on properly and followed.

Silence reigned until they were half way home.

"Damn what an idiot"]Andrea looked up at Miranda's comment.

#"Hmm?" she asked

Miranda turned from the road to her companion "he really thought you had cut yourself shaving?!"

"Andrea laughed "It's all I could think of"

Miranda began to laugh also "I thought that was a bald spot on his head, clearly not, its a solar panel to help charge the stupid machine"

The two women laughed, after a few seconds Andrea noticed her wife's tears turn to sobs. Miranda was bent so far she was no longer able to see the road. The brunette grabbed the wheel and used the handbrake to bring the car to a stop at the side of the road. She sat in silence unsure of whether to to comfort her wife or not. She fiddled with her bandages.

"Do you have any-" Miranda choked on a sob, she wiped her tears, looked in the mirror in a half attempt to fix her make up and rested her head on the wheel. She continued to cry. "Have you any idea what it is like to get a phone call like that? To be told your wife is in A&E because she collapsed, and her wrists are torn to shreds? Do you?" Miranda looked at her wife "What if it had been me Andrea? Hmm? WHat if it had been me who collapsed, and you got the call saying id try to kill myself? Just leave you and the girls behind, selfish-"

"I didn't try to kill myself" jumped in Andrea

"-bitch! You would leave me alone without you -"

"I didn't try to kill myself"

"- so you dont have to get up and face the world-"

Andrea took a hold of the editors hands and brought them to her chest. "Miranda. I did not try to kill myself, I made a mistake, Im sorry"

Miranda removed her hands from Andrea's grasp and placed the on either of the younger woman's cheeks. HEr thumbs brushed the stray tears that had fallen from the chocolate eyes. "Whether you meant to or not, you could have." She moved to stroke her thumb down the young writers cheek. "Your mistake could have cost me one of the things I hold most dear in life. I can' do this Andrea, I am at my wits end." The white haired woman turned herself to the road again. She crossed her arms and lent her head in the crook as she sighed. After a minute she began to speak. "I'm too old for this, too old for wondering if youre dead or alive, if you're cutting r have been, if your eating, if you're looking after yourself. It is impossible to love someone who doesn't love themselves. Its just asking for heartache. I think - I think-"

"No! Dont say it!"

She turned to her wife, placing her left hand on the brunette's shoulder, the other one one her knee.

"Andrea, Andrea, please darling -"

"No!" Andrea sobbed, "No! You promised me, on our wedding day, you said in sickness and in health, till death do us part - thats what you said"

Miranda began to cry again. "I know my love, I know, but if we don't end it now, one of us will end up dead, and i cant risk losing you, and my girls need me."

"I need you"

"You need an enabler."

"I love you"

Miranda kissed her beautiful wife on the lips.

"God knows I love you, I love you so much"

"Then why are you leaving me again?"

"You left me a long time ago my love" Miranda held Andrea to her chest and began to stroke her hair.

"I want to come back again"

"I want you to also"

"Help me find my way?"

"I can't do that darling, but I can leave the light on, and hope you find the right path"

Andrea began to shake with loud sobs "Please, please don't leave me please"

Mirandas body also shook, she bent her head to press a kiss to the top of her darling wife's head.

"Im so tired sweetheart, i cant do anymore, I cant."

"You dont have to" Andrea moved away from the older womans chest and using her hands raised herself to be eye level with her. "This time I'll do it, this time. I promise"

"Andrea-" sighed Miranda.

"I promise"

"You promise a lot of things. And its okay, I understand. Its not your fault, you just aren't in a good place right now."

"Miranda-"

"No Andrea"

"Give me your wedding ring" Miranda looked at the younger woman in shock, breathlessly she asked "Andrea?" She hadn't thought the younger woman would make her give back the ring. She chewed her lip, closed her eyes and nodded. SHe then took off her ring, the simple gold band which had remained in the same place for five years was hard to move, at first it didn't budge. But gradually it came. She curled her fingers around it, pausing for a moment to allow her memories to surround her, opened her eyes and gave her ring to her wife. "give me your hand" Puzzled and with a questioning look Miranda handed Andrea her left hand "You other one. It was awkward but miranda managed to give andrea her hand. On the wedding finger of the right hand andrea placed her favourite ring. In answer to Mirandas puzzled looks she spoke

"I, Andrea take you, Miranda, to be my wife my constant friend, my faithful partner and my guiding light home. In the presence of us, our love and hope, I offer you my solemn vow to follow the glow of light you offer, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live. You are my home and I will find my way back to you."

Miranda smiled at the subtle changes in the vows.

"You will not be rid of me that easily" smirked Andrea.

Miranda smiled back, hugged her and kissed her. And kissed her. And kissed her.

She drew back finally with a serious look on her face. "THe last chance Andrea, seriously know more" she pointed her finger at the young brunette. Andrea took her wifes hand and kissed each of the fingers.

"Yes Miranda, I swear there will be no need for more chances, no need at all."

"Let's go home" "Yes, let's" Miranda kissed Andrea once more, before turning to the wheel. She put her clutch to the floor, entered first gear, took of the handbrake and pressed on the accelerator, and away they were.