Miranda flicked through a magazine during take-off. Andrea hadn't spoken much since she received her nanny's text. She ignored the dragging sensation that pulled at stomach every time she remembered Andrea's cynical expression. On the return trip, Miranda elected to sit in the back of the plane with her, allowing the children and Cara to occupy the captain's chairs. Andrea's fingers flexed on the armrest between them. Miranda casually placed her hand over Andrea's. She kept her eyes on the magazine resting over her crossed thighs and measured her breathing.

The tight grip Andrea maintained on the armrest eased. Her fingers raised between Miranda's, not quite entwining. Mindful of keeping the play of their fingers soothing, she flipped a page and kept her eyes lowered.

"The last time my father visited me was after Fen was born."

Although she didn't know what was on the page, Miranda acted as if she had a vague interest in it. She didn't want to spook or corner Andrea. It was best to allow her to reveal her thoughts in her own time.

"Perhaps your mother finally persuaded him to visit again, darling."

From the corner of her eye, she watched Andrea's chin lower, how she pulled on a tiny thread from the hem of her distressed denim shorts. Miranda set aside the magazine.

"What do you think this is about?"

Andrea turned her hand then threaded their fingers together. "They're going to confront me about the gay thing."

Uncrossing her legs, Miranda let go of Andrea's hand and flipped the armrest out of the way. Not quite despondent, Andrea nevertheless refused to meet her gaze.

"Are you...worried? Ashamed?"

Andrea's head snapped up, a fierce light in her brown eyes. "If it comes down to a choice between you or them, you better best believe Fen and I are choosing you and the girls."

Miranda leaned over and placed her lips on the corner of Andrea's mouth, and murmured, "I do."

"She could have also brought Dad along to sway me about the divorce, my job...any number of things she doesn't approve of. But I think it's the gay thing."

"So, what's the plan?"

In the middle of unclicking the seatbelt, Andrea paused then parted the straps as she shook her head.

"I'll figure something out."

Miranda took hold of Andrea's chin and coolly said, "We will figure something out, darling."

"This isn't your fight, Miranda. If I need help, I'll..."

"Andrea." Miranda pursed her lips.

"They don't know about you yet." Andrea lightly rubbed the side of Miranda's thigh. "But they will the second you walk in the door with me."

"I'll have Cara make arrangements with Roy to pick up Fen and the girls and take them to the townhouse, then you and I will face your parents."

"They don't know about you."

"You don't know that, Andrea. Calm down for a second and just listen to me." Miranda held Andrea's hand. "If it is 'the gay thing', would they assume I was your girlfriend?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then, a compromise, my love. I want Fen to stay at the townhouse because she doesn't need to be around if the discussions deteriorate." Miranda waited for a sign of acceptance from Andrea. "Do they know we went away together?"

"I didn't tell them but I don't know if Demetria volunteered anything."

While it was obvious she was thinking, Andrea massaged Miranda's hand like a stress ball, working from the palm outward with methodical purpose. Holding back an appreciative sound, Miranda felt the tension start to dissipate.

"If it's a regular visit, they'll want to see Fen." Andrea glanced at her. "But I'm pretty sure it's not. So, keep Fen and I'll get her when it's over."

"Agreed."

Andrea leaned back in the seat, letting go of Miranda's hand. "My parents are going to jump to conclusions regardless. I might be able stonewall most of it."

Fisting her hand in her lap, Miranda stared across the narrow aisle and focused on cream colored chaise longue.

"I don't want you to go through this alone." she growled.

Andrea moved closer and gently cupped Miranda's cheek. "I won't be."

"Fine, but...I can be by your side in minutes, Andrea."

Lightly rubbing her thumb over Miranda's cheekbone, she whispered, "I know."

XxXxXxXxXxXx

Miranda paced. Watered down scotch in hand, she took four strides there then four strides back. Shoeless, her toes sank into the plush carpet in her bedroom as she passed the window that overlooked the street. She'd been pacing for an hour with no word from Andrea. Staring balefully at the silent phone on the nightstand didn't stop her from checking it. She loathed having to take a back seat for this confrontation.

Miranda took a deep breath and held it, counting off the seconds until she gradually exhaled. The small release of stress helped. She picked up the phone and went downstairs to be with the children. Derby's low voice greeted her when she turned down the hallway leading to the kitchen.

"Hello, Miranda." He said, scratching his salt-and-pepper goatee.

He had the most beautiful smile, arriving like the sunrise.

"Hello, Derby. Cara mentioned you'll be playing at Blue Note next month. I tried to get tickets but it sold out. I did manage to get some for Smalls in August though."

"Well, we've got a new trumpeter, you know."

"What happened to Sundro?"

Derby clasped his hands in front of him. "He had to go back to Cambodia and take care of his father."

"I'm sorry to hear his father's unwell. I still get tingles remembering when he covered Miles Davis' 'So What'. Sundro's improvisation was so marvelous!"

"It's an honor to share the stage with him, no doubt. Just goes to show you how good music can bring people together, even from as far as Cambodia."

Miranda joined in his quiet laughter.

Miles rubbed his shaved head.

"Quite the change you embraced." she commented, pointing with her chin toward his head. "Cara said you've been growing your hair since you were accepted at Berklee. Do you mind if I ask you why you cut it all off?"

Derby laughed, blushing a little. "Headaches and upkeep are no joke. Besides, I wanted a change. It makes me feel...lighter? I mean, not so much physically." He shrugged then slid his hands in his pockets.

"Well, you're a handsome man either way, Derby."

"Stop hittin' on my man, Priestly." Cara mock-snarled behind him.

Miranda rolled her eyes. On the brink of uttering a smart-ass comment, her attention was diverted by the alert on her phone.

need u, don't bring Fen

"I have to go." Miranda announced and went to the closet by the front door. "The girls..."

"I'm on it." Cara interrupted, doing something with her phone. "Selah's available. Derby, stay with the girls and I'll go get her."

Miranda was in her coat and out the door when Roy pulled up. She yanked open the back door and slid in.

The thirty-odd minute drive afforded her more than enough time to slow her heartrate and to become Le Priestly. Beyond a bit of moral support, her presence wasn't required. A woman like Andrea, poised to take control of Runway, was strong, intelligent, resilient, and strategical. Able to adapt on the fly, see and exploit advantages, Andrea didn't need her. But, she did want Miranda, chose her above all others and that meant everything.

"I may need you later." she said as they pulled up alongside the curb.

Roy exited the vehicle then opened her door. "I'll be twenty-minutes away."

"Well, you've earned double-time plus a bonus."

He shuffled a little which drew Miranda's attention. Pausing, she looked at his face as he shut the door.

"That's not necessary." he stated, shoulders back and eyes forward.

She took a step away then said over her shoulder, "It is to me."

Buzzed up without a word, Miranda walked to the elevator bay with admirable indifference and pressed the button for Andrea's floor. Two other people occupied the car with her but she paid little heed to them beyond a cursory once-over. The inanity of their conversation, however, filled the compact space. Miranda clenched her jaw, eyes trained on the electronic display of floor numbers. She stepped between the two women and walked out, hearing a mumbled "Bitch."

Pleased she looked 'the part', Miranda walked down the small corridor on the left then knocked on the last door on the left.

"Thank you for coming." Andrea breathed, stepping aside. "FYI, I sent Demetria to the townhouse. We'll be staying the night."

Miranda nodded, not showing her surprise or delight in Andrea's decision.

"Well, the gang's all here." Nate said, tipping his glass toward Miranda.

Already acquainted with Andrea's estranged husband, she turned her attention to the deliberate way Andrea undid the buttons on her trench. When their eyes met, Miranda's eyebrows rose and Andrea winked, fingertips brushing along Miranda's stomach before sliding it off of her and hanging it on the coat rack.

"I'm Richard and this is my wife, Vivian."

Andrea's father was tall and thin with an outrageous amount of thick hair on his head. He carried a preoccupied air like someone in need of a wall. Not many people would engage him, she thought as she nodded then turned toward Andrea's mother.

The wave of hostility washing over Miranda usually wasn't released until she opened her mouth, but, she supposed, Andrea's mother had cause to dislike her despite the silence between them.

"Hello." Vivian said, keeping her hands at her sides.

Andrea growled something then gently appropriated Miranda's elbow, steering her to a woman of medium build, large brown eyes, and a slightly protruding stomach.

"I'm Lily." she said, holding out her hand in such an awkward way, Miranda almost felt sorry for her.

A nudge from Andrea and she lightly shook the ex-best friend's hand.

"We're here to discuss..."

"I don't understand why she's here, Andy." Vivi interjected. "This is a family matter."

"And she's my family, mother." Andrea snapped. "I'm not going to remind you of that again."

Richard pulled out a chair from the dining room table and gestured to his wife. Nate turned his back on the room, a tinkle of ice hitting glass the telltale indication of his mood which lowered him further in Miranda's estimation. Andrea showed her to the seat at the head of the table then she sat down at Miranda's right.

"Where's my daughter?" Nate asked, his narrow gaze on Miranda as he sat next to Vivian.

From the opposite end of the table, Vivian leveled a hard look at Miranda. The battlelines were clearly marked. Unsurprised she and Andrea lacked allies at the table, she nevertheless didn't feel outnumbered. Richard was merely punching his timecard in without actually going to work. On his way to a drunken scene, Nate seemed evenly split between self-pity and bitterness. Vivian wanted a fight but when their eyes met across the table, she looked away.

"You know where she is." Andrea said then casually leaned back in her chair, placing her palm on Miranda's upper knee.

"Must you..."

"If you don't like it, mother, feel free to leave."

Vivian's upper lip curled. "You're an adult but Fen's..."

"Darling, would you mind?" Miranda asked Andrea, leaning toward her and smiling.

Andrea swallowed, eyes round, but managed a jerky nod.

"I'm not listening to this shit." Nate sneered then knocked back his drink.

Lily reached over and grabbed his hand but he pushed her off, stood up and started making his way toward the front of the table. Miranda stood, placing herself in front of Andrea.

"Do you remember the NDA you and Andrea signed? There's a clause in it about opinions and slander pertaining to my personal life. If you say one word about Andrea and I..." Miranda sighed, brandishing her most nastiest smile. "...my lawyers will bury you in litigation."

Lily gasped, the distress on her face nearly tangible. "Nate, please."

"Well, that certainly doesn't apply to me or my husband." Vivi exclaimed, crossing her arms.

Nate's voice rose in strident anger above everyone else's. "You can't take my daughter from me!"

While chaos ensued, Miranda sought Andrea out and took her hand.

"Look at me." she whispered. "It's going to be alright."

Large tears hung in Andrea's eyes. Nodding, she trembled then looked around.

Lily cried, Richard stood by the window, while Vivian tried to persuade Nate she was on his side.

Closing it out, she gazed into Andrea's eyes. "You're holding up wonderfully, my love. Trust me?"

A flicker of a smile crossed Andrea's face. "You have all of it."

Miranda pivoted then sidestepped the table, coming to a stop next to Richard.

"They're rather loud, aren't they?" she ventured, arms crossed over her chest, looking out the view.

"Yes although Vivi isn't as loud as she used to be." He pointed toward the building across the avenue. "I like the architecture over there."

"A bit more modern than I prefer." she said.

"Nate hasn't changed since the first day she brought him home. All bluster. I was surprised when he finished culinary school."

"Not like Andrea."

"No, indeed." He turned away from the window and stared at her. "Andrea knows her own mind Always has. I don't understand you two but...I don't have to, do I?"

"No."

Richard nodded then went back to the window. "I would wish you luck with the man-child but he's the one that needs it."

It was the oddest conversation she ever had, leaving her perplexed. Upon first approaching him, Miranda thought to see where he stood as his family unraveled. Hearing Andrea's firm voice, she glanced over as Andrea tried to maneuver Nate closer to Lily who hadn't stopped crying.

"I can't be with someone like that." Lily sobbed, holding onto Andrea's wrist. "I can't raise my baby in that type of atmosphere."

"Lily, come on, babe, let's get outta here." Nate demanded, standing behind her and glaring at Andrea.

Miranda took a deep breath then decided to take matters into her own hands.

She stepped between Nate and Andrea and brought his focus upon her. Andrea murmured something to Lily and the woman stood. Andrea drew her away but Nate tried to follow, the belligerent set of his jaw a warning.

He looked her up then down and back up. The mop of curly black hair looked too young on his mature face.

"You and I should talk." she stated, keeping her eyes locked with his.

"Fen is his child." Vivian hissed.

Miranda's eyebrows rose. "Your attempt at derailing our conversation with your inflammatory stupidity is very shortsighted, Vivian." With a tilt of her head, she indicated Nate, saying, "It may fool him and perhaps that's your goal. Regardless, I would like to sit down and talk about your concerns and our plans in a mature manner. "

Nate glowered but yanked back a chair then plopped down on it. Every bit the spoiled child, he crossed his arms and stretched out his legs. Vivian stiffly took the chair across from him.

"Andrea?"

After a few awkward pats to Lily's shoulder, Andrea straightened and looked over her shoulder toward Miranda. Her smile didn't show her pearly whites, nonetheless, it possessed a deeply abiding love. She took a seat next to her mother as Miranda situated herself at the head of the table.

"My mother invited Nate in an attempt to get me to 'see reason'." When Vivian opened her mouth, Andrea cut her down with a look. "You don't get to talk yet, mother."

Vivi's face flushed red but her mouth was ringed with white.

"I need a drink." Nate muttered but didn't get up.

"If that's true, Nate, then get out. We have to have this conversation and if it's too hard for you, then I will gladly raise my child without you." Andrea coolly instructed, eying him dispassionately.

Something came into view to her left. Miranda's gaze landed on Vivian's clenched fist. Slowly she raised her eyes and looked into dark brown. For a second, she felt a peculiar uncertainty percolate underneath her ribs. Andrea's eyes were so like her mother's it was a little unsettling to have her mother's hatred spewing out of them.

No longer slouching, Nate seemed to at least outwardly get a hold of himself. Reminded of Stephen, how he wielded a decanter in one hand and a glass of ice in the other, Miranda pushed the image aside and concentrated on the present.

Expelling a long breath, Nate rubbed his jaw then said, "No, I can handle this."

"You came here and ambushed me in my own home." Andrea said, skewering her mother then estranged husband with a hard look. "I can't even...that's just so wrong. I love her." Andrea pointed at Miranda. "I don't care how you feel about it. We don't have anything to discuss. What is the whole point of this?"

"I don't want my only grandchild to be raised by two women. It was bad enough you took Fen away with your...with..." Vivi glanced at Miranda. "...her."

Lily whimpered. Miranda felt a pang of sympathy but realized Lily's dealings with the Sachs' went only as far as Fen's custody and the divorce. She felt slightly less sympathetic.

"Get out." Andrea's hand trembled slightly as she pointed toward the door but her voice was steady.

"Vivi, let's be on our way." Richard abruptly spoke as he walked toward the closet and started pulling their coats from hangers. "This is a private matter."

Shaking, Vivian stood up and placed her palms on the table. Miranda glanced at Andrea and noticed the rigidity of her facial muscles, how a fat tear clung to the outer corner of her eye. Never tempted to hit someone as much as she was at that moment, Miranda glared at Vivian Sachs and thought of ways to demolish the woman.

"I don't know what this-this woman has done to you." Vivi speared Miranda with a scathing look. "But all your money isn't going to keep me from my grandchild."

"Don't do this to Andrea." Miranda cleared her throat, appalled she was on the brink of begging. "She's your daughter and she loves you."

"Vivi, let's go." Richard ordered, holding out her coat. As his wife slipped it on and started to button up, Richard peered at Andrea from beneath bushy brows then went to her. "I'll be in touch."

Andrea's chest heaved, the watery sound in her constricted nostrils a prelude to tears she didn't let go. She plucked a tissue from the nearby box. Nate's attention followed the Sachs' departure while Miranda watched him then Andrea's parents. It was a bit shocking to watch Vivian fall in line so completely with a mere word or two uttered in her husband's calm voice. Miranda looked at Andrea but she didn't seem unduly concerned about the way her parents interacted.

Andrea blew her nose and sat down. "I know you got the custody agreement and the visitation proposal, Nate. Have you looked it over?"

"H-h-e hasn't even o-o-pened it." Lily answered, pressing a tissue to her eyes.

Miranda forced herself to remain seated, to control the emotional response pounding to get out. Certainly she and Andrea were going to fall apart later but Miranda knew the anger lodged in her stomach was metastasizing. She didn't need anyone's blessings nor permission to share her life with Andrea and Fen. If she lost Runway, then so be it, but she didn't want to be the reason why Andrea lost her family, custody of her child, or her career.

Nate raked his fingers through his unruly hair. "Look, I can't afford a lawyer right now. You're gonna raise my child with a woman. She's mine, Andrea, not hers!"

"I swear to god, Nate. You're in no position to make any demands."

"Look, I'm not stupid, okay? I know I can't take care of Fen full time right now." He looked pleadingly at Andrea. "But you gotta admit, you hookin' up with the Devil over here is fucking insane."

Miranda sat more comfortably in her seat and tried not to gloat.

"You better use her name, Nate." Andrea tapped her nails on the tabletop, staring her husband down.

The soft deadliness of Andrea's voice and how her dark eyes held Nate's with singular purpose had a very seductive influence upon Miranda's anger. She tamped down on her body's reaction, somewhat alarmed by it, not sure how to deal with the tendril of wickedness.

Although he rolled his eyes, Nate possessed enough acumen to mutter Miranda's name with the proper inflection.

"The papers I had my lawyer draw up are fair, Nate. Until you get your...other situation under control then we can renegotiate. Look, I don't know what my mother said to you to make you guys come out here. I can only guess she hoped you would use my relationship with Miranda against me to get custody." Andrea took a deep breath. "You slept with my best friend for almost a year. You got her pregnant. My child is going to be around that. You think I'm not concerned? Because I fucking am, Nate. But, Fen needs her father, so, I'm trying to do the right thing here."

Nate's expression didn't bode well. Flushed face, white knuckles and a slightly heaving chest told the story but Miranda watched him reel it in which was rather surprising.

"Nate." Lily murmured, the plea in her voice soft but audible. She rose from her chair and slowly made her way toward him, not looking at anyone else. Placing her palm on her extended belly, she threaded the fingers of her other hand through his curly locks. "Please."

He bowed his head, shoulders slumping. "Sure, whatever."

"Do you have the papers?" Andrea asked.

Lily pushed back Nate's hair then took his hand and placed it on her baby bump. "They're in my purse."

After a few minutes of Nate scanning the custody agreement, he signed all the color tabbed places and initialed others.

"I'm not seeking alimony or child support, Nate, like I told you before. Right now, Fen's schedule is full during the week but I've agreed to one weekend a month to start. I'll fly with her to Baltimore on Friday afternoon then back on Sunday late morning."

Nate suddenly looked up from the tri-folded documents. Tears glistened on his long eyelashes. His adam's apple bobbed a few times as he stared at her.

Lily rubbed his back. His arm went around her thick waist then he stood.

Andrea's blank expression and the way she held herself as if fully at ease impressed Miranda but she knew the woman beneath it all. She fought down the urge to protect Andrea, or, worse still, take over. In privacy, away from prying eyes, she planned to help piece Andrea back together.

Nate rubbed his face. "Our flight leaves tomorrow. Can I see Fen?"

Miranda gritted her teeth.

"I'm sorry but it's past her bedtime and she has a long day tomorrow." Andrea responded, her facial muscles softening. "We can start visitation at the end of this month."

There was a hard twist to Nate's mouth as he said, "It's not like I have a choice."