A/N: Inspired by Chilly_flame's new story, I'm writing like a mad person. If you haven't checked it out yet, do so. Cos there aren't many that are better than Chilly and you're going to love it. Think it can be found on AO3 only. Thank you to everyone who reviewed or left kudos. Special shoutout to agentbreezy. I had the great pleasure of reading all the reviews they left as they were reading it the other week and they had me in stitches. Much love to all.
For disclaimer, see Chapter 1
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The week ended sedately. Andy had Miranda in the car and home to the girls by 5:30 and she arrived on the door at 9 pm, after a few after-work drinks with the Runway crew, to the most delicious smell she'd ever smelt.
"ANDY!"
"Cassidy, must you roar like a banshee? You are a lady, ladies generally do not raise their voice above a whisper."
"I'm not a lady Mom," Cassidy shrugged, waiting as Andy took off her coat and put down the bags.
"You could be if you wanted to be," Andy chuckled, smiling as Cassidy wrapped her arms around her middle. "Hiya kid."
"Mom made her super-famous all-you-can-eat stew. Are you hungry?"
"Your Mom did?" Andy said, looking up at Miranda.
"Uhuh," Cassidy grinned. "And there's like an ocean of it waiting for you"
"Well let me get my goggles, cos you know I'm going in!"
"You two are bizarrely similar and it is truly frightening," Miranda quipped as Andy pushed Cassidy ahead of her and into the kitchen.
"It's why we get on so well," Andy grinned, tapping Cassidy's nose. "We're definitely an endangered species though. I think we probably need protecting."
"Yeah Mom, we need a charity set up to make sure we don't go extinct."
"My dears," Miranda said, kissing Cassidy on the hair. Andy was directed into a chair with a nod. "I doubt the two of you could ever go extinct and the moment I feel like you might, I will absolutely set up that charity."
"Hey Andy, do you reckon we can get those really sad looking soft-toys of us made?"
"Ha!" Andy laughed as Miranda placed a bowl of stew down in front of her with a bashful smile.
"Bon appetit."
"Thank you," Andy smiled. "You didn't have to."
"I wanted to," Miranda smiled back.
"You do that a lot now, you know," Cassidy said, making Andy wince a little.
"What?"
"Smile. You never smiled before, when Stephen was around. You smile more now."
"I have more to smile about," Miranda said, kissing Cassidy's forehead, seeing as she was kneeling on the chair. "And please for the last time, stop growing! I will not be outgrown by my own daughter."
"She'll be in basketball before you know it," Andy smiled, taking a bite. "Ohhhhhh," she groaned. "Miranda! This is amazing!"
"See! I told ya!"
"Your annunciation has also gone to the dogs I see," Miranda quipped, letting Cassidy hang on her shoulders. Andy was charmed to watch them interact. "And yes, it is rather isn't it."
"Did you slow roast this meat? Is this," she stared at her bowl, then back up at Miranda. "I could search high and low for stew in the world and never find one as good as this! You need to teach me. Like, yesterday. This is delicious. Thank you."
"You are welcome," Miranda nodded. "It just takes a little effort. But there's plenty and it freezes well."
Andy grinned. She was already looking forward to eating it again and again.
"Have you eaten?"
"I had a small bowl earlier."
"Have more," Andy said, pointing to the table with her spoon. "It's criminal to enjoy this on my own. Join me? Please?"
"Fine," Miranda said. It surprised Andy a little that she gave in so easily. She'd been prepared to fight a bit harder if necessary.
"You too Cass, grab a bowl."
"Caro is at her friend's," she explained when no one else joined them. Her little nose crinkled when she turned it up. "She's not real nice, I'm not exactly sure why Caroline is friends with them."
Andy considered this for a moment and looked at Miranda for permission. The woman shrugged, chewing thoughtfully.
"I think sometimes the wish to fit in overrides common sense," Andy said gently. "That's not to say that Caro is dense or is making the wrong decision. I'm explaining it to you in the simplest form I can. Do you see the difference?"
"I think so?"
"I don't have a whole lot of experience with people in your Mom's tax bracket, but I know that every school, no matter public or private, there's always a clique that thinks they're better than everyone else. And sometimes, some of them are okay. And sometimes you have to be friendly with them to make sure you stay on their good side. Does that make sense?"
"Yah," Cassidy said thoughtfully. "They're pretty mean though."
"Caroline -"
"Oh," Cassidy said quickly. "Not Caro, Mom. But the girl, Sadie, can be a bit of a," she winced. "Bitch."
"Cassidy," Miranda said, though there was no real malice in it.
"I know," she said, leaning against her mother. "I just want to convey that she really is not a nice person."
They ate quietly for a while before Cassidy scraped her plate.
"Geez, I thought I was doing well," Andy grinned, taking the last spoonful of her own.
"I only had a little bit," Cassidy smiled. "Gotta be ready for training tomorrow."
"Do you train at school?"
"Nah, there's a gym close by. We usually run laps on their track. One of the dads runs it so we get to train on the weights and stuff as well."
"Nice," Andy smiled. "Oh, hey is Caroline coming back tonight?"
"Think so, why?"
"She and I have a breakfast date."
"What!"
Andy chuckled as Cassidy looked at her like she'd been betrayed.
"Hey, cool your jets! I'm teaching her how to make pancakes. Don't panic."
"I wanna learn too!"
"Really?" Andy said, arching an eyebrow.
"Well, no," Cassidy whined. Miranda laughed as she rinsed three bowls. "But you're my buddy."
"I can be Caro's too kiddo. Your Mom does alright doesn't she?"
Andy realised at the last second that it may have been a bad example. Miranda herself had said that she hadn't always been there for the girls and Andy crossed her fingers and toes that Cassidy - still working on the social cues - would not hurt the woman, even unintentionally.
"True," Cassidy nodded, grinning at her mother. "Hey! Does this mean I get Mom all to myself tonight?"
"I -"
Andy knew what Miranda was going to say. The book was particularly raw tonight, with two new shoots, but as Cassidy seemed to deflate before her eyes, Miranda rescued herself at the last moment.
"Yes Cassidy, I am all yours," the girl beamed. "What do you propose?"
"Before you say anything, I'm going to bed. It's been a big week and I'm beat. You guys have fun though, k?"
She played up the tiredness just a little and caught the grateful look in Miranda's eyes as she ruffled Cassidy's hair.
"Night mini-me," Andy chuckled.
"Night Andy," Cassidy said hugging Andy tightly and holding on while she was hugged back.
And smiled over the girl's head and Miranda took them both back to the Gala at the beginning of Andy's tenure by mouthing a thank you where Cassidy couldn't see. Andy winked, squeezing the woman's hand in a farewell and left them to it. She wasn't remotely tired but she had seen the opportunity for Cassidy to get some time in with her Mom. She knew they wouldn't have minded had she stayed but she felt the need to retreat.
On the way to her room, she stopped by the library, picking a book she'd been meaning to read for ages. She decided that she'd take a bath, and have a night of relaxation and pampering before the weekend.
She glanced at her phone, her face a picture of surprise as a message popped up on-screen.
"Yo!" she said, putting Doug on speaker while she tied up her hair. "Long time no speak!"
"Yeah, that's my bad," Doug sighed. "You mad?"
"Dougie, when have I ever been mad at you?"
"When I stole your My Little Pony pencil in third grade."
"Have you stolen my pencil again Dougie?" Andy smiled indulgently.
"No," he said with a groan. "But I've been a shitty friend."
"I haven't exactly been stellar either," she muttered, turning off the water and dropping onto her bed. "The whole Nate thing wasn't a huge highlight of my life."
"You were busy. I should have seen that and stuck up for you but I was so busy getting my ass kicked by corporate America that I couldn't see my fucking hand in front of my face."
"Don't worry about it," she shrugged again. "Honestly, things couldn't have turned out better."
"How so?"
"God, where to start."
She told him about Paris, the terrible parts, and then the better bits. She explained about Cassidy in passing and then about her new role. The pay rise, the trouble with Irv and finally, the living arrangements.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Doug yelled, making her yank her head away from the speaker. "You're living with Miranda Priestly!"
"Just for a little while. She said she had the room and insisted. Nate didn't pay the rent he owed but also didn't bother telling me. I had to pay it to avoid it going on my record and Miranda provided an out for me. It was that or Ohio, really."
"Holy shit Andy!"
"It's not a big deal," she muttered.
"Andy, it's huge. This is huge. Miranda Priestly!" Andy didn't say anything and Doug hesitated.
"Look, I can't explain it," Andy muttered. "We've changed. She relies on me now that it's just me. And she," Andy sighed. "Also changed. Like when I told her she didn't bat an eye, she just jumped into helping me. She went to my apartment, Dougie."
"That's special, Andy," Doug whispered.
"I know," Andy grinned. "But I'm loving being here, they're a cute family. And Miranda has a guy that is looking for an apartment for me so it's not forever. Just for a while."
"Alright," he said gently. "I think I understand. It sounds great, you're really lucky."
"I am, I know."
"Alright, I gotta go, um. Call me, we can go for drinks or whatever."
She said goodbye and hung up the phone and decided to carry on with her bath anyway. After a short while (the water pressure here was truly excellent) she relaxed into it with a sigh.
Doug's tone of voice at the end of the phone call bothered her. Something about it wasn't right and she hoped she hadn't weirded him out. It definitely meant he couldn't hang out at her place anymore, but once she got her place, it would be easier.
She thought about that. And then forced herself to stop. She'd been at Miranda's less than a week. It felt good and it felt nice to be around them but it was only temporary and she had to remember that. Tomorrow she was gonna make pancakes with Caroline and then on Sunday go to Cassidy's game but, she argued with herself, she probably would have done those things anyway.
It was the moments between those moments that she'd come to love, even in the four or five days. The little family moments that were so sweet. The relaxed moments she got to see with Miranda.
She wasn't sure why she was so introspective but it was throwing off the good week she'd had so she pushed away her thoughts and opened her book, wishing she'd thought to buy a bottle of wine on the way home.