A/N: You all owe jazwriter such a big socially distanced hug for making me do this lol She is so gentle and polite in her "I'm still waiting" comments that I just can't help it. To that end here we are. I have the next one nearly done and then I'm really envisioning there are going to be less than ten chapters left. Enjoy!

-0-

Andy's bad mood hadn't lasted more than a few days and both of them played it off as if it had never happened. Despite Andy being unable to shake it initially, Miranda had given her the time and space to work through whatever it was. In fact, Miranda even grinned sardonically when Andy had entered the office a few days later smiling happily.

"Thank God you're back," Miranda groaned. "I was beginning to think I was going to have to do something pedestrian."

"What?" Andy chuckled, fighting the blush on her cheeks. "What are you talking about?"

"You haven't smiled in days. I had this awful thought that I'd have to take you to that museum you wanted to go to," she smirked.

"What museum?"

"The glass one."

Andy blinked.

"How did you -"

"Cassidy told me," Miranda chuckled. "And because I was so afraid that I'd have to take you," she grinned, looking a little like a shark. "I procured you tickets."

"To the -"

"Yes," she chuckled as Andy gaped at her. "Don't ever say I don't do anything for you."

Andy took a step back and stared.

"I would never -"

"It's just a saying, Andréa, just a saying."

"Will you come with me?"

"Me?" Miranda said, apparently surprised at the request. "I can. It is not my favourite medium, but I can."

"Please?"

"You'd best put it on my schedule," she smirked. "And get me Patrick, call ahead to the animal people and get an update on the zebras and then call the florist and make sure they have what they need for the shoot tomorrow."

"You know I've done all that, don't you."

"Well," Miranda said, her hand going to her hip. "Do something else then."

"Yes, Miranda," Andy laughed.

And just like that, it had passed without comment. They'd settled back into the routine of Miranda doing her job and Andy reading her mind and it was copacetic. She'd spoken to Sarah two more times. Apparently, there was some actual Board work to be done so Irv had more than enough on his plate, but they'd chuckled quietly in her office when Andy had visited about nothing and everything. She'd hadn't mentioned seeing what she'd seen the last time she was there but after speaking with her for a while, Andy decided she wanted to do something nice for the two women who would essentially make her life, and Miranda's, a whole lot easier.

"I want to do something for Ann and Sarah," Andy muttered in the car on the way home that night.

"Oh?" Miranda blinked, looking up from her phone. "I was under the impression that -"

"Yeah, I dunno what that was," she frowned. "Maybe I was just PMSing."

"Andréa," Miranda snorted.

"Well it wasn't normal, was it?"

"I shall submit no comment about it," Miranda muttered, going back to her phone. Andy watched as she tried valiantly not to smirk.

"You're hopeless."

"I am," Miranda demurred. "What do you have in mind?"

"I dunno -"

"Can you please -" Miranda started. The long-suffering sigh that followed made Andy giggle.

"I'll try," Andy agreed apologetically. "At this stage, I do not know what to get them. Ann obviously has money -"

"They're married, Andréa. They have money."

"Semantics," Andy nudged her with her shoulder.

"No," Miranda said, looking particularly troubled. "What's Ann's is Sarah's. We spoke a lot on this subject, Ann and I. Sarah has been her PA for years. Since the beginning. They fell in love. Sarah stays for the love of what she does, not because of the meagre pittance that Elias Clarke pays her."

"That's kinda sweet."

"Hmm," Miranda said quietly.

"Anyway," Andy shook her head. "What about a nice little wardrobe or something for the baby."

"That's boring," Miranda chuckled. "We can do better."

"We?"

"Yes," Miranda snorted. "We."

"Well, what do you suggest?"

"I loath shopping, Andréa, but I happen to know there is a delightful little boutique not far from your glass museum. We should go there beforehand and then take in the collection."

"Okay," Andy smiled. "Great!"

-0-

Friday rolled around and Andy was looking forward to their outing. With the girls going to their Dad's more, she and Miranda often ended up just working later on those days. They'd eat something light before leaving the office and then wake up and do it all again the next night. Tonight, however, Andy was bouncing on her toes as the end of the day drew nearer.

"For goodness sake," Miranda sighed, throwing her glasses on the desk with a huff. "Fine, lock up for the evening."

Andy grinned and did as she was told, waiting for Miranda at her desk and using her excitement to scroll through her emails.

"Put that away," Miranda scolded gently. "We do not need to be answering work emails on the weekend."

"Say the most work-a-holic work-a-holic I've ever met," Andy snorted, finishing the last one. "But," she smiled, slipping it into her purse. "I'll put it away anyway."

"Good," Miranda smiled. "Off we go to this place then."

"Can I take you to dinner first?"

"I don't know, can you?"

"Ooh," Andy winced. "I hate that. May I?"

"You may," Miranda smirked. "Where to?"

"Um," Andy considered it. "I don't really know."

"Good, there's a restaurant about two blocks from where we're going."

"You'd planned it all out, haven't you."

"Somebody must, Andréa," Miranda sighed as she walked away.

"Hey!"

-0-

Dinner had been wonderful, and they'd had enough time to stop at the very up-market boutique close to the venue and peruse something for Ann and Sarah. In the end, Miranda had decided that while it was boring, they would procure a wardrobe with some fun and useful pieces from some of their friends, but they also bought the couple some practical gifts that Miranda insisted that they would need.

"I did not have one of these until the twins were about three months old and I honestly did not know how I coped without it."

Andy had shrugged and they'd indicated which items they'd like and the cashier had procured them all from the back and wrapped them neatly.

"Oh," Andy grinned. "Wait," she grinned, picking up a chocolate brown teddy bear and showing it to Miranda. "Can we -"

"Yes," Miranda chuckled, good-naturedly. "Alright." They stood quietly while the cashier rang them up. "Shall I pay for this and you pay for dinner?" Miranda asked, smirking as Andy glimpsed the total.

"Yep," Andy nodded.

Even though she knew the credit card would take a hit, she still smiled in thanks as she took the bags from the woman across the counter. Miranda had been doing that a little more, lately, negotiating to pay the bigger expense of an evening. When they were out. Andy still didn't have many expenses, and she was saving large chunks of cash after Sadiq had scored her a great deal on a very low-interest loan. She still wasn't sure how he'd done it, but her student loans were gone, her savings were fat and healthy, she had a low repayment every month that was astronomically low compared to her student repayments. She had already decided to bring up paying Miranda rent when she got the next paycheck through.

"Are you alright?" Miranda asked quietly, once they'd stowed the purchases in the trunk of the car. Roy had been told to go and hide out somewhere, and that they'd walk to the restaurant - it was warm enough.

"I'm fine," Andy smiled, linking her arm with Miranda. "I was just thinking about how lucky I am, with you as my best friend."

"Best friends?" Miranda chuckled. "Is that what this is?"

"Yeah," Andy smiled, though she noted that Miranda's smile didn't quite go all the way to her eyes. "Unless you're not -"

"No," Miranda chuckled, taking Andy's hand before she could withdraw it. "Andréa, you are undoubtedly my very best friend. I've never had a friend quite like you."

"Me neither," Andy smiled, spying the restaurant. "So when we go in here, just order soup and salad or something, alright?"

Miranda laughed properly this time and Andy opened the door for her, thinking nothing of the way she escorted Miranda inside and gave their names for the reservation.

Dinner was lovely and though she'd been joking with Miranda when they'd arrived when she'd gone to pay the bill, she'd taken a leaf out of Miranda's book and not even looked.

"You're getting better at that," Miranda smiled, draining her wine.

"I have had a good teacher."

Despite Miranda's protests that glass was not her favourite medium, Andy watched her as much as she watched the glass-blowing demonstrations. She was drawn, particularly, to the fascinating shapes and hues of the more extravagant pieces. Andy, however, loved all of it. She adored the way you can make something so beautiful from something as pedestrian as sand. As they stopped at the complimentary bar and Miranda bullied the bartender into making them some proper drinks, she said as much to Andy. Andy realised that as much as she'd been watching Miranda, it turned out Miranda was watching her too.

"It fascinates me," Andy shrugged, sipping her G&T. It wasn't her favourite, but it was a very good one, despite the protestations of the barman. "The way heat and newspaper and breath can form," she gestured to one of the pieces that reminded her a little of an upside-down octopus. "That."

"Well don't tell Caroline we were here, otherwise I will have to deck out the basement with a glass-blowing studio for the two of you."

Andy laughed and nearly spilt her drink as someone bumped into her.

"Oof," she grumbled

"Andréa!"

"I'm alright," she shrugged. "No harm."

"He was -"

"Really," she smiled, capturing Miranda's hands where she was holding Andy's forearm. "I'm alright."

"Well," Miranda muttered. "Good."

"Would you like to go and watch a demonstration?"

"Yes," Miranda said, swallowing the last of her scotch. "Lead the way."

"I'll do you one better," Andy grinned, offering her arm.

Miranda rolled her eyes with a smile, whatever emptiness she'd had earlier had disappeared and Andy was glad of it. Her blue eyes sparkled in the light of the fires and they sat enraptured as they watched a piece take shape through fire and sweat and constant chatter.

"You see," Miranda said, leaning in a little so Andy could hear her. "The amount of talking alone would drive me up the wall."

Andy grinned and nudged her gently with her shoulder. A hush came over the few people that were watching and one of the glassblowers not involved explained that this part was the most dangerous in any piece. Where they would transfer the piece from one punty to the other.

Andy didn't realise but she was holding Miranda's hand tightly as the glassblowers worked in silence and as it rolled over and over and one of them tapped on the punty it fell away and Andy closed her eyes.

"Open your eyes, look," Miranda whispered.

It had made it and Andy heaved a great sigh of relief.

"It is amazing what happens when we put our faith in something, isn't it," Miranda mused as a few of the other audience members clapped in relief.

"Sometimes things are out of our control though," Andy breathed, letting go of Miranda's hand quickly. "I mean, if that had fallen -"

"Then the glassblower would have simply tried again, Andréa."

"But -"

"Come," Miranda said gently. "Let us take one more walk around and then you should take me home before I turn into a pumpkin. I have brunch with Donatella tomorrow."

"Oh," Andy blushed. "I forgot."

"I know," Miranda said easily. "It is of no concern. I am enjoying myself."

"You are?"

"I am."

Mollified, Andy took her arm again and they wandered around again, stopping to look at their favourite pieces. While they were picking up their coats, Andy nipped to the bathroom and came back in time to see Miranda shaking hands with a well-dressed man by the door, before she turned to catch Andy's eye.

"Shall we?"

"Who was that?"

"Oh, some sycophant," Miranda muttered. "We were doing so well."

She wasn't sure how she made it home, she was so tired on her feet, but she did and she fell into bed and into a deep sleep that she didn't wake up from until well in the morning.

-0-

The next week, on a Wednesday, Nigel appeared before her.

"Six!"

"Nigel," Andy said warily. "How are you?"

"Apologetic. I have been a bear and I apologise."

Andy stared at him for a long time and then remembered that between all this he was dealing with the break-up of a relationship that had lasted much longer than Nate and she had. She sighed.

"It's alright. I'm glad you're back though."

"Me too," he grinned. "Any chance of drinks tonight?"

"Tonight? Sure," Andy shrugged. Miranda had a dinner meeting with some investors and the twins were, once again, at their Dad's. "Any particular time? I won't be home until six? Or we could ride together? I'm catching a cab?"

"Sure," he smiled. "I best see her majesty, but I'll see you later, Doll."

"I heard that," Miranda called. Nigel chuckled as he went into the office and shut the door.

Andy sat back at her desk and considered her crazy, crazy life for a while before she shook herself and carried on with her work. If she wanted to be out of the office before six, she'd have to hustle.

The next time she looked up, Miranda was smirking at her from in front of her desk.

"You do so concentrate."

"You move like a ninja," Andy protested.

"Mhmm, help me with my coat?"

"Of course," Andy smiled, getting up. She slid Miranda's coat up onto her small frame and smoothed the collar down at her nape. She wasn't sure why they still did this, but she liked it enough to never question it. It felt good to do something small for Miranda that she seemed to like. She certainly wasn't against it.

"Now," Miranda said gently. "I will see you in the morning. Ann and Sarah should get their gifts by tomorrow so I anticipate a walk-in meeting at some point, but otherwise, Andréa, the evening is your own."

"Awesome. Have a great dinner."

"Hmm. I have no doubt it will be boring and perfunctory. But I will endeavour to do my best. You," she said gently. "Should remember that tomorrow is Thursday and to not drink quite so much as Nigel."

"I won't," Andy laughed. "Plus, I'm pretty sure being with you has upped my tolerance."

"Not that much," Miranda said affectionately. "Have a good night."

"Thanks, see-ya tomorrow."

Miranda stopped at the door as she almost bumped into Nigel. Andy had already started locking up, so couldn't hear what was being said over the paper shredder, but she did notice Nigel's hand on Miranda's arm and the soft squeeze he gave her. Thinking nothing of it, she finished what she was doing and grinned as he planted two bottles of wine on her desk.

"I came prepared."

"I'm so glad I ordered plenty of pizza already."

"San Matteo's?"

"Of course," she chuckled. "Would I order anything else?"

"Oh, Andy, I could kiss you."

"Maybe later, come on."

Their evening passed unremarkably, even after their tense relationship of late. They talked and talked about Sebastian and how Nigel didn't need a man-child hanging off his coat-tails anyway and about Irv. Andy gave him every detail, in chronological order and his eyes bugged out when she got to the part about Ann Shankley.

"Rubbing shoulders with the big-wigs, huh!"

"It seems like it, but she's super relaxed." She laughed. "Kinda the opposite of Miranda."

There was a tension that fell over the room and Andy frowned.

"What?"

"What?"

"Nige -" He didn't speak, but she could tell, even with the wine, that there was something he wanted to say. "What?"

"I hadn't understood," he said gently. "When you first told me. What you guys were doing."

"What are we doing?"

"The way you guys have gelled, I mean," he said with a shrug. "It's nice. You are my friend, Andy, but she has been my friend for much, much longer. It's lovely to see her find someone she can finally relax with. I've never seen her like she was when I was here for dinner."

"Is that why you stopped talking to me?" Andy asked. The wine was making her tongue a little less careful.

"Yes, in part," he sighed. "Honestly, I was a little jealous. I have never had that with her. And I was hurting from Sebastian. I didn't know where to put all of that, so I didn't. Was I an asshole?"

"No," Andy grinned, patting his hand. "I just missed you. I get lonely, ya know. Chained to that desk."

"You'd never get lonely ten feet from the Queen, Ahndrayah," he exaggerated, making them both giggle. "One day, you'll figure it out."

"Figure what out," she chuckled. "I'm set for life, I'm going to be her PA forever."

"Hmm," he chuckled into his wine.

She was about to ask what he meant when there was a knock at the door.

"Is that her?"

"No," she chuckled. "She's still at dinner and the girls are away. I've no idea who that is."

"Do you have a bat?"

"What?"

"A bat, I mean, I can stand there -"

"Nige," Andy chuckled. "There's security in the building, you know."

"Oh," he grumbled. "Right."

She pulled open the door and a tired-looking UPS guy was holding out a clipboard. She signed it after checking it was for her and shrugged when he left without saying a word.

"What is it?"

"I don't know," she muttered, looking at the label. "God, it's heavy."

"I can't possibly help you. I've just had my nails done."

"Thanks, Nigel," Andy laughed as she picked up the box with a groan. It was really heavy and had Fragile stickers all over it. She wondered what she'd ordered while she'd been half asleep.

"God, I hope this isn't a sex toy."

"NIGEL!"

"What," he laughed. "A girl has needs."

"No more wine for you, I'm cutting you off."

"Fine. Here," he muttered, plucking a paring knife from the knife block and handing it to her. "Crack'er open!"

She did as she was told and lost her breath as she saw what was poking out from beneath the copious amounts of rolled-up paper and packing peanuts.

"Oh. My. God," she whispered, her fingers delicately tracing one of the tendrils that seemed to be reaching to the sky. "I -"

"What is it?"

"It's a piece of glass, art," she muttered, pulling a wad of paper out. As she dismantled the packing, she blinked as it was revealed. It was her favourite from their night out. And she couldn't believe that Miranda had noticed that it had been her favourite, and then purchased it for her.

"She -"

"What?"

"She bought it for me."

There was a heavy silence, but Andy paid it no mind. Her brain was whirling from seeing the piece so close up that she had tears in her eyes.

"Right," Nigel muttered. "I'm leaving before this wine gets me into trouble. Thanks for having me, doll. See you tomorrow."

Andy broke out of her trance and looked over at him, taking in his tired eyes.

"I'll persuade her not to look for you before ten."

"You do that," he smirked, giggling to himself for a reason Andy didn't have the brain-power to understand. "I love ya kid."

"I love you Nige," she smiled, hugging him tightly. "Don't be a stranger."

"Look, when all that Irv business blows over, we're - all of us - going out and getting drunk, alright?"

"I'll let you tell her that," Andy grinned. "Night."

"Night," he winked, waving to her as he got in the elevator.

She knew there'd be a taxi waiting for him downstairs, so she shut the door and went back to the dining table where her most prized possession awaited her. Without even looking, she hit the speed dial on her phone and only had to wait for 2 rings before it was answered.

"You -"

"Happy Birthday."

Andy frowned.

"It's not my birthday. That was last month."

"I didn't get you anything."

"You are a liar, you got me that DVD."

"Andréa. I'm just a woman with two children, a large dog and an even larger bank account. Happy Birthday."

Andy swallowed and tried not to cry.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You are welcome. Did I -"

"You know you did," Andy chuckled, letting the tears fall. "I've never had a nicer gift. Not even the pony party my Mom threw me when I was six. When I wanted to be a unicorn?"

"I remember," Miranda said gently, hearing the levity for what it was - a distraction so that Andy could try and get herself under control.

"I -"

"I know," Miranda said and Andy could hear the smile in her voice. "Now, if it were me, I would put it in the window where it will pick up the light."

"I don't know how to -"

"You do, Andréa," Miranda said softly. "Every day."

"Well," Andy sniffed. "I'm going to go and put it by the window where it will catch the light."

"Good," Miranda breathed. "Then get some sleep. Drinking with Nigel until midnight is never good for one's morning routine."

"You would know?"

"Oh I know," Miranda chuckled.

"We should do it again," Andy mumbled, the wine and tiredness creeping up on her.

"Andréa?" Miranda said, with a hint of order in her voice.

"Yes, Miranda?"

"Leave the piece where it is and go and get some sleep."

"But -"

"I want you to appreciate it in the morning when you have all your faculties firing."

"Always looking out for me," she muttered.

"Always," Miranda mumbled. "Now go to bed."

"Yes, Miranda."

She shuffled into her bedroom and managed to pull most of her clothes off before falling into bed. She fiddled for a while before she managed to find her phone again and was amazed that Miranda was still there even at such an hour.

"You waited."

"I will always wait for you, Andréa," came the soft reply.

Andy smiled and pulled a pillow into her chest.

"Night, Miranda."

"Goodnight, darling."