18.
Sam felt agitated as the big corporate jet made its final turn lining up at the end of the seven thousand foot runway. She knew her unease had nothing to do with the jets' upcoming battle with gravity. No, she was not fond of flying, but having a firm understanding of the fundamental physics as well as the statistics surrounding the relative safety of air travel were enough for her.
Her anxiety tonight was acutely focused on events unfolding more than four thousand miles east. She hated it, but there was very little she could do to influence events beyond what she'd already done. Worse still, she'd yet to hear anything from either Mia or Allie since sending her frantic warning, hours ago.
She ignored the desire to recheck her phone, knowing she would have felt it vibrate with an incoming call or message.
Instead, she did the math in her head one more time.
A plane leaves New Jersey going 500 knots with a 35-knot tailwind headed to the Genovian capital 4228 nautical miles away. If Genovia is 6 hours ahead of your time zone, what time will you land?
Sam blew out a breath of frustration as her math told her the same thing it had the three previous times she'd done this little exercise. The best case would have them landing in Genovia six minutes before two in the afternoon local time.
"Fuck," she cursed quietly resenting the vagaries of time and space.
Needing a distraction, she pulled out her laptop, smiling with satisfaction as the machine booted in less than two seconds. After it automatically connected to the jet's wifi, she logged into her personal cloud server and accessed the files under the directory labeled "The Priestly Affair."
She searched through her file indexing system until she found every file associated with Miranda's first husband and his corporation. With that done, she bundled the data into a 7z encrypted and compressed file format. She posted the file to Andy's cloud storage account then opened her secure mail account.
She composed a message to Andy from her Athena account, letting her that the deed was done. At the bottom of the email, she included six emojis that, in certain circles, were understood to mean being fingered to orgasm. It was a crude but useful code letting Andy know to use the date and time of their first time having sex to unlock the file.
The code worked because only she and Andy knew that the MIT Clock Tower had struck midnight at the exact moment that Andy had sent her over for the time.
With that done, she thought about trying to get some rest. Just after the plane reached cruising altitude, Miranda and Emily had disappeared into the rear bedroom, presumably with the same idea in mind.
Sam laid her head back on the comfortable couch, but after ten minutes, she knew that sleep was not likely to come. She briefly considered her usual method of getting to sleep. It certainly would have been the first time she'd orgasmed on this plane both alone or with Andy, but Mia was so close she wanted the real thing,
With her decision made, she turned her mind to reciting as many digits of Pi that she could recall.
She was approaching the ten-thousandth digit when her attention was drawn to the buzzing her phone. She quickly reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Her brow furrowed as an unknown number came up on her screen. Usually, Sam only answered numbers that were stored in her contacts, but something told her to take a chance, so she hit accept.
"Hello, Samantha," came Mia's smooth, cultured voice.
"Are you OK?" Sam asked, unable to hide her concern.
"There was an incident, but thanks to your timely warning, Allie was able to keep me perfectly safe."
Sam thought there was more to the story than Mia was letting on, but knowing Mia was unharmed was more than enough for now.
"I'm glad you're safe," Sam said, feeling some of the tension leave her body for the first time in what felt like days. She knew that she would not be able to truly relax until she was in Mia's arms, where she belonged.
"Who's phone is this," Sam asked, remembering the gravity of their situation.
"Don't worry; I borrowed it from one of the maids. We are at," Mia began, but Sam cut her off.
"Mia, don't. We can't be sure no one else is listening."
Mia was quiet for a moment before saying, "We are in the place where I first kissed you. Meet me there as soon as you can."
"I will, baby, I promise," Sam said.
The line was quiet for a moment as both women tried not to say all of the things they wanted to say.
"I've missed you," Sam said, breaking the silence.
"Oh, My Samantha, you have no idea," Mia replied, her silky tone returning.
Sam felt a shiver go down her spine at Mia's use of her full name. She tried not to let her mind drift to the last time the Queen had spoken her name like that.
She failed as memories of her hands tied to bedposts with Hermes scarves caused her to close her eyes and bite her lip to keep from moaning into the phone.
"Are you thinking about the hotel in Marce, because I am," Mia said silkily.
"Yes," Sam said, knowing Mia could hear her desire in just that one single word.
"Good, because I have plans for you that will make France seem positively pedestrian."
The line fell silent, and Sam could tell that someone else had entered the room.
When she came back, Mia was all business, "I will have your flight met. I look forward to a productive exchange of ideas.
And other things," Mia said that last part just above a whisper.
After the call ended, Sam made her way to the cockpit to inform the pilot of their change in destination.
He assured her that they had the range and that with the current wind speed, the extra distance would only add half an hour to their flight time.
When she returned to her seat, Sam was surprised to see Miranda sitting next to her abandoned place.
"Couldn't sleep either," Sam said, walking over to the wet bar and making them both a drink.
"No," Miranda said, but did not elaborate.
"Macallan OK," Sam asked after pouring herself two fingers of the stout Irish whiskey.
"Rocks, please," Miranda agreed.
She poured the same amount into a crystal tumbler then walked both drinks over to her friend's new wife. Sam knew that while the couple had not officially stood before the Justice of the Peace, that Andy would soon rectify that condition.
"Thank you," Miranda said, taking the offered glass.
Sam took her seat on the plush couch, sitting rather close to the older woman. Sam had a feeling that Miranda wanted to talk and that she'd prefer their conversations remain private.
Sam took a long pull from her glass, deciding it was prudent to let the former editor make the first move.
"Do you resent my relationship with Andy?" Miranda asked.
Sam smiled at the other woman knowing that this wasn't really the topic that was keeping Miranda up tonight.
"I accepted after our engagement ended that eventually, we would both find love again.
I will admit that it helps that I found someone first," Sam admitted.
"Queen Amelia.
"Tell me about her?" Miranda asked.
Sam could not help her smile as she organized her thoughts.
"She's the kindest person that I've ever met, but not in a sappy way.
Don't get me wrong; she can be sappy.
It's more like when you are in need; she doesn't always give you the help you want, but she gives you the kind of help you really need.
I've seen how she gives her time, visiting sick children, then spending time with their families, lifting their spirits in the process. For most, that would be enough, but Mia visits with the doctors and the hospital administrators to ensure they have everything they need to make those kids well again.
I wish our leaders would show event a hint of that kind of compassion.
She listens to people and really hears what they have to say. I know some politicians can fake it, but she gets invested. She's always trying to figure out a way to make things better for her people.
"The people come first," she's always saying.
I'm in awe of how she makes people feel just by being in her presence. The way they light up; It makes their whole day."
Miranda smiled, thinking she could see that effect in real-time written all over Sam's face.
"When we're together, I feel whole," Sam said wistfully.
Miranda nodded, having just recently discovered that sensation herself.
Andy made her feel like...
"Like yourself," Miranda realized.
Even with the birth of her girls and Emily's return, there was still had something missing.
Something vital.
Then Andy arrived in her life at the moment Miranda most needed her.
She couldn't help but think that was not a condense.
Things were not perfect yet, she still needed to get the twins back, but because of Andy for the first time in years, she had hope.
It pleased Miranda to hear Sam talk about the woman that had so clearly captured her heart. It wasn't just about easing any lingering guilt she felt about displacing the young woman from Andy's heart; she genuinely cared for the irreverent hacker who was fast becoming a close friend.
"Miranda Priestly did not make friends, but apparently, Miranda Sachs was a friend magnet," She thought, smiling to herself.
"'What?" Sam asked, seeing Miranda's reaction.
After a brief mental debate, she decided that trust had to go both ways.
"I was just thinking that it was nice to have friends again."
Sam returned her smile before saying, "the feeling is mutual."
They both fell quiet for a moment as each woman took a healthy sip of the twelve-year-old scotch whiskey.
The conversation flowed between the new friends as the first two fingers of the amber liquid were replaced by two more.
Feeling quite mellow, Miranda finally got around the question she really wanted to ask.
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
Sam raised an eyebrow, considering the older woman for a long moment before saying, "Shoot."
"When you and Andy were together was she," Miranda began, but quickly ran out of steam, unsure how to complete that sentence.
Sam laughed before saying, "You want to know if Andy was the top in our relationship."
Miranda nodded then took another long pull deciding she apparently wasn't drunk enough to have this conversation after all.
"Yes," Sam said with no hint of embarrassment.
"Before I met Andy, I was always the more aggressive partner. I was cocky and brash, and I was a complete fraud.
My parents died when I was pretty young, so you might say I had a distinct fear of abandonment."
Miranda reached her hand out and covered the younger woman's hand hearing the genuine pain in Sam's voice.
"Andy took one look at me and saw through all of my bullshit. She taught me that there was strength in allowing yourself vulnerable.
After she made me drop all my false bravado, she saw me. The me that was underneath, and she loved the woman she saw there.
I rediscovered who I truly was, thanks to Andy."
Miranda was silent for a long moment, overwhelmed by both the strength and wisdom in the young woman sitting before her.
Sam freed one of her hands to wipe tears from her eyes, but she held onto Miranda's hand with the other.
"What bothers you more, that you were submissive to Andy, or how much you enjoyed it.?" Sam asked.
Miranda felt her cheeks warm, thinking of how she'd felt when Andy had lifted her off the sofa; how the younger woman had preceded to fuck her like no one had ever done.
She took another drink of the Macallan in a failed attempt to cover her growing blush.
"Or is it because it doesn't fit with your Devil in Prada persona?"
Miranda laughed bitterly at the old moniker before saying, "I was never that woman.
The business world only has a few ways to categorize powerful women, and none of them are flattering.
I will admit that your description of your relationships before Andy had a familiar ring.
I saw my prior relationships as a form of psychological warfare and when they inevitably ended,
I always managed to extricate myself with little real damage done.
This time I have no defenses, and it frankly scares the hell out of me."
Sam gave Miranda a soft smile before saying, "With Andy, there is no defense.
She took one look at a nineteen-year wanna-be badass, and she saw the scared little girl underneath. She never once used that knowledge against me. She made me see the real strength that I had inside.
"But it ended," Miranda hated to point out.
"That's how Andy and Mia are a lot alike.
Andy did what was best for both of us, even if it wasn't what I wanted at the time. She chose the hard thing because she knew it was the right thing."
Miranda took the words in and knew it had the ring of truth. Andy would always do the right thing, even when it caused temporary harm.
"So, is Mia like Andy in other ways?" Miranda asked, voice full of cheek.
"Oh, no, I'm not nearly drunk enough to have that conversation," Sam said with a laugh.
The two talked for a while longer as Sam told Miranda all she needed to know about Genovia and, especially, the beautiful coastal town of Arendale.
"I think I could sleep know," Miranda finally said after seeing the time.
As both women stood, Sam pulled Miranda into a warm hug. The former Miranda Priestly stiffened, but only for a moment. She relaxed into her friend's grasp, feeling like a close friendship had just been carved in stone.
"Thank you," Miranda whispered into Sam's ear.
"Anytime," Sam replied before placing a gentle kiss on Miranda's cheek.
As she walked to the bedroom at the rear of the plane, she felt a new lightness with each step. She slipped through the door and found Emily in the bed, still asleep.
She slipped off her shoes then climbed under the covers. Her eldest daughter rolled over and threw an arm around her waist. Miranda smiled, thinking how strange their journey was in getting to here. She closed her eyes and joined her eldest daughter in sleep.
Miranda woke to daylight streaming into the Gulfstream's cabin. From experience, she knew it could be difficult to judge time on transcontinental flights, but her internal clock was telling her that she's slept just under six hours.
She looked down and smiled at the redheaded woman currently snuggled against her chest.
"How odd," she thought, wondering why she'd never caught on to the similarities between Emily and the twins.
The head on her chest popped up, and the look of surprise on Emily's face was almost comical. Before she could apologize, Miranda pulled her head back down to her chest, saying, "I never had much chance to do this with you, so indulge me."
She felt Emily relax as she ran a hand through her red locks.
"Luckily for you, your Grandfather did not go grey into his seventies." Miranda pointed out.
Emily tilted her head, looking up at Miranda.
"I never spoke to either of my parents after your father's death, but I did read the letters my mother sent, and I may have posted a few letters of my own after the twins were born.
I blamed them for losing you, but part of me wonders if things would have been different if I had just been a little stronger."
"I suppose things worked out as you found your way into my life after all," Miranda said.
"When I started at Runway, I certainly could not have pictured a day where you would have your arms wrapped around me.
Well, maybe around my neck." Emily concluded with a snort.
"It took me a long time to realize just how funny you are," Miranda said in between her own laughter.
"I was far too scared to crack jokes around you for a long time," Emily pointed out.
"What changed?" Miranda wanted to know.
"Seeing you with the twins. I got to see a different side of you, and it changed the way I thought about you. I finally saw you as a woman and not the legend that I revered.
After that, It was easier to be myself around you."
Miranda thought about that for a moment before saying, "I think that is when I started to like you."
Emily's laughter filled Miranda's ears, making the older woman smile.
"It certainly did not feel that way," Emily said, getting her amusement under some control.
"Of course, I couldn't let the rest of the staff know that I played favorites."
"Of course not," Emily agreed with a smirk.
Deciding to take advantage of her mother's sudden desire to cuddle, Emily lay her head back down.
She listened as her mother's heart rate slowed to the point Emily was fairly certain she'd fallen back to sleep.
She was therefore surprised when Miranda spoke, "I should have taken your offer to help after the custody hearing.
I'm sure I caused you an extraordinary amount of worry."
Emily held back her snort this time, sensing the earnestness in both Miranda's words and tone.
"I do worry about you, Mom," Emily said.
Miranda squeezed Emily tightly, hearing those words from her daughter's mouth for the first time meant so much more to her than she could ever say.
When the pilot announced that they would be landing in just over an hour, both mother and daughter reluctantly got out of bed.
They took turns showering and dressing in the luxurious bathroom before going back into the main cabin.
They were greeted by an ebullient Sam, a spread of breakfast pastries, and a carafe of good coffee that smelled divine.
"Sleep well?" Miranda asked Sam.
"I got a few hours after our chat," Sam responded with a grin.
When Miranda grinned back, Emily asked, "What did I miss?"
Both women chuckled but did not directly answer Emily's question causing the ad exec to narrow her eyes in consternation.
Sam laughed before saying, "I'm not sure you'd be up for a discussion about your mother's sex life."
Emily wrinkled her nose, then said, 'I would have to agree with that statement."
Miranda and Sam's laugher was only interrupted by the pilot announcing that they would be landing momentarily.
The landing was smooth as the corporate jet touched down onto Genovian soil.
As the plane maneuvered into an enormous hangar, Miranda watched Sam positively vibrate with nervous energy. The young woman was out of her seat, moving towards the air door before the plane came to a complete stop.
Miranda smiled as she watched Sam bounce on the balls of her feet as she waited for the door to open.
Miranda, with Emily on her heels, walked to the door just as Sam took off down the stairs.
If Miranda wasn't watching, she's not sure she would have believed it when, Sam tough as nails Dean, ran down the stairs and threw herself into the arms of the Queen of Genovia.
For her part, Queen Mia received Sam happily swinging her around before planting a toe-curling kiss on Sam's lips.
"Oh, My," Miranda said, finally getting a good look at Queen Mia's familiar face.
"Oh, My," Emily said at the same moment, but for an entirely different reason as she caught sight of a striking woman in a rather stylish military uniform.
AN: I am so glad to have finally reunited Sam and Mia. It won't be long until all of our ladies are back together, but Andy has some things to do in America first. I'd envisioned this conversation between Sam and Andy months ago, and I think it came off as good as I envisioned in my mind. Recently I've taken to recording my thoughts about this story because most of my thoughts occur when I'm not near a computer.
I've done that with the first half of chapter 19, so wish me luck that it turns out as good as I hope. The part at the end with Miranda and Emily was going be reasonably short, but the conversation just kept going in my head, so I hope you like it.
This chapter took three or four attempts to get it where it ended up, so let me know what you think about it.
I'm on a roll now, and I'm hoping that recording my chapter ideas will keep things going.