See disclaimer, Chapter 1.
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She woke early. The silence in the Townhouse was startling. Even her bedroom at her parent's house hadn't been this quiet and she revelled in it for a moment before getting up. She'd not ever been the type of person to lay in bed for any length of time, instead, she surveyed her cases that she hadn't unpacked and decided just to do it. She spent the time checking out the closet and the shelves. She unpacked everything she could and stored what she knew she wouldn't need. She'd retrieve some of the couture from The Closet on a day to day basis but for now, she made her bed, laid out her outfit and went for a shower.
There were sinfully soft towels laid out and she luxuriated in the insanely hot water and the phenomenal water pressure that no doubt every single person in New York would actually murder someone for. By the time she got out, she could hear people moving about upstairs. She tied her hair up in a messy bun and went down to the kitchen for a coffee.
"Morning!"
"Hey Cara," she smiled. "Good morning."
"I see I have to fight you for the leftovers?" she chuckled.
"Well, I definitely don't want it all to go to waste, but if you can spare me a portion?"
"It's fine," she chuckled. "I'll make sure there's extra if you want?"
"Only if it doesn't make a difference to your day," Andy smiled. "It's totally fine."
"Coffee?"
"Yes," Andy groaned, wanting to hug her. "This is a mean-looking machine!"
"It is," Cara laughed. "When they had it put in I had to do a training course with a rep to get it working."
Andy laughed and watched closely as Cara went through the steps.
"ANDY!"
"Oof," Andy groaned as Cassidy hugged her tightly. "Hey kiddo, what's going on?"
"Nuthink," Cassidy shrugged. "When can we go running?"
"Well, not this week," she said gently, ruffling the girl's hair. "Maybe next week okay? This week's nearly over and it'll give me time to get used to you ruffians and settle in. Cool?"
"Totally cool," Cassidy grinned. "Hey, Cara."
"Yeah yeah, thanks for remembering me," Cara laughed, poking Cassidy and making her giggle. "Where your sister?"
"Drawing," Cassidy shrugged. "Want me to get her?"
"Only if she's not down in twenty minutes," Cara instructed.
Andy was quite happy watching from the sidelines. She had her arm around Cassidy and it seemed to be all the girl needed. Cara presented Andy with a cup of coffee, showing her where the additives were, but Andy just dropped a little milk in it and groaned when she tasted it.
"Oh. My. God! Does your mother get pygmy elves to pick these beans by the light of the stars while Saturn's eleventh moon is in Pluto's left quadrant?"
"Seventh moon Andréa, not the eleventh," Miranda smirked from the doorway as Cassidy giggled. "I find those quite sour, I'm glad you like them."
"This is the best coffee I've ever had. I can't believe you drink the swill they serve you at Starbucks."
"Well perhaps I'll get one of these put in my office and you can make me coffee instead of getting it."
Andy stared at her.
"That would actually be much more practical, but I shall leave those big decisions to you."
Miranda smirked and thanked Cara for her own coffee, winking as she poured a little organic vanilla coconut and almond milk creamer in.
"Only in the mornings," she smirked.
"I tell you, it's like being behind the curtain in Oz."
"Are you Dorothy, Andréa?"
"I feel very like Toto right now actually," Andy quipped, making Cara laugh.
"Right, Cassidy, breakfast."
"I'm gonna have cereal I think."
"Andy?"
"Oh, I'm good, thank you."
"You are eating," Miranda said gently, but firmly. "I think omelettes."
"Fine," Andy said with a smile. "Thank you, Cara."
"Geez, you sure told Mom, Andy," Cassidy laughed.
"Listen, you little hooligan, when's your next match?"
"Sunday, wanna come?"
"Yes," Andy smiled. "What time?"
"Two I think. I'll check today. Are you coming too, Mom?"
Andy realised she may have overstepped and she looked up to find Miranda watching her with a barely concealed smirk.
"Yes darling, I will be there. Is your father coming as well?"
"Pfft," Cassidy snorted. "No, he and Melanie are in the Bahamas."
"Ah," Miranda said, looking at Andy with a look Andy couldn't quite decipher. "Pity."
"You can say you're pleased," Cassidy muttered around a mouthful of Lucky Charms. "These are awful by the way. I'm glad he won't be there too."
"Cassidy, far be it from insinuating anything around you," Miranda said gently, cupping her daughter's cheek. "Also, I did try to tell you, but I'm glad you have worked it out on your own."
"I guess that means there'll be more for me then," Andy quipped, snagging a bowl from the dishwasher and making herself some.
"You are a bizarre human being Andy Sachs," Cassidy said as she took a spoonful. "I can't believe you're as skinny as you are. Cara's cooking you an omelette!"
"And I will eat it," she grinned. "It's down to stress that I'm thin right now," Andy chuckled. "I wouldn't try it, there are many side effects. But once we start running, I'll be less stressed, I shouldn't wonder."
"Cass, if you're done, you need to get dressed and get your sister please," Cara said as she plated up Miranda's omelette.
Andy grinned, eating the last few bites of her small bowl of Lucky Charms and putting Cassidy's bowl in the dishwasher.
"Thank you," Miranda said gently as she turned back, grinning as Cara offered her a plate.
Andy thanked Cara and sat beside Miranda looking at her for a moment.
"For what?"
Miranda chewed for a moment, allowing Andy to groan at how good Cara's cooking was.
"Being," Miranda considered "I do not mean this to be offensive, but normal."
Andy smiled nudging Miranda gently.
"That's like thanking you for being fabulous, you know."
"You know what I mean," Miranda said, blushing a little. "Cassidy needs that. I fear for Caroline sometimes because she gets so caught up in her friends, who are all from families like her own. On the other hand, Cassidy is always left out because she is so real and they do not know how to take that. I'm not sure how that happened," she mused. "But thank you for being a good example for her."
"You're welcome," Andy shrugged, not knowing how to respond and took another bite. "They're both good kids," Andy said eventually. "They have the best of everything but they're not very spoilt and they're not monsters," she grinned as Cara gave her a look as she left the kitchen. "Ya did good Mama."
"I think Cara probably deserves as much praise as I do," Miranda mused. "But thank you."
"Cara might wrangle the horde, but you are the one they look to," Andy said gently. "You're their Mommy and you taught them their values. Cos I know you. You'd want to make sure of that."
Miranda smiled properly and finished her omelette, sitting back with her coffee.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You have a Board Meeting next Wednesday. Cass will be at training. What do you think about me hanging out with Caroline for a while? I vaguely remember seeing a comic shop down near Bryant Park. I could check it out and take her there if you like?"
"You're in danger of becoming indispensable, Andréa Sachs," Miranda whispered as Caroline stomped down the stairs. "If she would like to, I would be very appreciative."
"No worries," Andy grinned.
"Hey," Caroline mumbled.
"What up Chuck?"
"Why are you so happy?"
"Cos your Mama has great coffee and Cara made me a delicious omelette."
"Aw! No fair."
"Here," Andy said, standing and vacating her seat beside Miranda. "Let me get a clean knife and you can have the rest of mine. Unless you're squicked out. I promise I don't have cooties."
"Andréa!"
"No, Andy, I -"
"Do you want some?" Andy asked, smiling at Caroline as she nodded shyly. "Come on then, sit here, by your Mom. Cut that bit off," she trimmed the bits she'd touched, sliding it onto a smaller plate. "I also had a small bowl of Lucky Charms," Andy explained. "If I hadn't, I'd totally eat it all and not feel bad at all."
"Thanks, Andy," Caroline whispered.
"You're totally fine kiddo," Andy whispered by her ear. "Keep Saturday morning free okay? We're gonna make the awesome-est pancakes you've ever had."
"'kay," she nodded.
Andy winked at Miranda and ran up the stairs, pulling her hair out as she went. She would need to get ready quickly, but she wasn't upset with how the morning had gone. Caroline, she'd realised suddenly, was like Miranda. And Miranda, she could handle.