A/N: As Jaely pointed out, my timeline is a tad squiffy and I should have mentioned that. I don't recall when the film was set (honestly think I've watched it once) but yes. As Miranda mentioned in CH1 - the twins are nearly 16 and it's March 2020. Just roll with it. It doesn't matter, the twins don't make too big an impact and honestly, I care very little for timelines lol
See disclaimer, Ch1
-0-
The air was just beginning to cool as she left the building. Downtown Manhattan looked very very different with very few people about. She had noticed before she left for work this morning that quite a few of her neighbours had already departed for their holiday houses, but Miranda was content at home. She would have their groceries delivered and her work would keep her occupied while school would keep the twins as busy. If only they could keep safe while they were all waiting for the end of it, they would be fine.
"Good evening Miranda," Roy's muffled voice reached her ears as he opened the door for her.
"Hello, Roy. Straight home."
"Yes, Ma'am."
As they drove through the streets, she realised she had accommodated everyone else and had failed to take into account her life-long sidekick and driver.
"Roy," she groaned, drawing his attention from the road. "Why did you not say anything," she groaned as she realised.
"I," he winced under his mask. "You're you?"
"Quite," she sighed. "Rest assured that whether you are driving me or not, your salary will remain."
"Miranda, that's -"
"For the time being, it will remain. Depending on how long this goes on, we may have to have another conversation about it, but for now, it remains."
"I," he rubbed his face, then groaned and as they stopped at the light, lathered his hands in sanitizer. "Sorry. My wife got laid off. Which is fine; she's been taking care of the kids and their schooling, but I -"
"I take care of my people, Roy," she said, more kindly than she'd probably spoken to him in her life.
"I know you do, Miranda," he muttered, glancing at her before setting off as the light turned. "I know. But it's going to hurt us all and it would be much better to make sure you come out of this able to keep going than to have us all break apart in the middle."
"We will get through it. My job has not changed in this regard, only the way in which I perform it. You are my personal driver. You will be taken care of."
"Well," he cleared his throat. "Thank you."
"I am sorry for not making that clear when the decisions were made. I told Cara weeks ago, only because she had to leave for her mother's."
He nodded and they drove the rest of the way in silence. As they pulled up to The Townhouse, her thoughts calmed but then she realised that someone would have to collect Andréa and her son.
"Roy," she said quietly. "I have in mind I will have one more job for you to do before I let you go. As ever, I will compensate you over your time but you have the right of refusal."
"I'm in," he nodded. "What do you need."
"Do you remember Andréa?"
"Andy? Of course."
"It is possible I will need you to go and pick her up and bring her to the Townhouse. She will have a baby with her. And perhaps most of her things."
He grinned and turned in his seat, his eye twinkling. The man had carried Cassidy to the car when she was released from the NICU, for heaven's sake, so she tamped down on the little bit of ire that it ignited.
"I always knew there was something going on."
"Going on," she rolled her eyes. "Roy. There was nothing going on."
"But she was special," he said, not asking. "Had to be blind to miss it."
"Well," Miranda sighed, feeling safe in the car, despite the situation. "Yes, she was. You don't mind? I do not know when she will be ready?"
"Not at all," Roy smiled. "I'll deliver them, safe and sound, as soon as you say the word. And help her with her things, of course."
"I'll text you the address. Take care, Roy."
"I will. You too. Keep those babies," he chuckled. "All of them, safe."
"Goodnight."
"'Night, Miranda."
She got out of the car and gathered her belongings while he brought the groceries to the step, waving from a respectful distance to the girls before running back to his car and pulling around the block. He would wait while she decontaminated herself and her things, and made the most difficult phone call she'd made in quite a while.
-0-
By the time she'd disinfected the groceries and put them away, showered, changed and disinfected all of her things, she was exhausted. Though she did not often partake, she looked forward to the small glass of wine she'd promised herself before making her call. She was very much aware that Roy was waiting on her, but he could wait a little longer. She always compensated him accordingly.
"Hey, Mom."
"Hello Bobbsey," she smiled, finally taking Caroline in her arms and holding tight. "It is good to see you finally."
"Are you okay Mom?" Cassidy asked from the doorway.
"I am," she smiled, offering a hug to her as well. "I am going to pour myself half a glass of wine but I would like to ask you something before I do the final things before I can stop for tonight."
"Can I pour?" Cassidy asked.
"You may," Miranda smiled. "The one in the door."
Cassidy got the wine, Caroline got a glass and Miranda was left twiddling her thumbs, or thereabouts, while her girls brought her the drink. She sat down and let them snuggle under her arms for a moment before she took a sip.
"I have two things," she started.
"Oh, Dad?" Caroline asked. "He already called. He shouted at Cass so we hung up."
"I'm sorry, sweethearts," she said. And she was. She wished, not for the first time, that she'd chosen someone less of a capricious asshole to procreate with.
"It's okay. It's not your fault he's a moron."
"Cassidy," Miranda chastised gently. "He is still your father."
"He's going to die of this thing if he's not careful. And he'll cry and complain about Libtard conspiracy theories when it's all his own fault that he's too stupid to read an article."
She rolled her eyes but chose not to rebuke their opinions. The fact that she shared them would go unsaid.
"What's the second thing?"
"Um," she took another fortifying swallow. "Do either of you remember my previous assistant?"
"Emily?"
"No," Miranda sighed. "Andréa."
"Oh, Andy? Yeah! We -" Caroline swallowed the rest of her words and Miranda looked at her sideways.
"We what?"
"May have kept in touch?" Cassidy whispered. "I know it's probably not what you wanted, but she was really nice and she stuck with us. She asks us how we are and how you are and stuff. And," she winced. "She cared, you know?"
Miranda let the slip go and looked at her daughters like she had never seen them before.
"You have kept in touch with Andréa, this whole time, and not told me?"
"We knew she hurt you," Caroline whispered. "And we really liked her. She was kind to us when she didn't have to. We -"
"Caro!"
"What?" Miranda asked.
"We are the ones that sent her up the stairs," Cassidy groaned. "Right at the beginning. We were brats and we have apologised since."
"I had no idea."
"She's not been in touch for a while though. We were honestly beginning to get worried."
"According to Uncle Nigel, she's had a baby and the baby has not been very well. Like you both, he was born early and due to the pandemic, she has lost her job."
"You're bringing her here, aren't you Mom? We can't leave her out there. If one of them gets sick, she could -"
"I am going to try, Bobbsey," Miranda soothed. "I am going to try."
"Mom," Cassidy asked, looking worried. "Did you," she swallowed. "Are you -"
Miranda looked at her for a long while before taking pity on her.
"Am I -"
"Into her? I guess?"
Miranda swallowed and tried not to blush as her baby aired her most inner thoughts.
"I," she sighed. "Am unsure of my complete feelings but -"
"There was something different about her, wasn't there?"
"There was," Miranda agreed. "But," she said gently, but firmly. "Andréa may not share these feelings. And she has just had a baby and has lost her job so that is not the reason I am inviting her here. I am simply doing something kind for someone that -"
"You love."
She tried to stop herself from smiling, but she couldn't.
"Do you two have any homework?"
"Yeah," Caroline grinned. "We're going."
"Love you," Cassidy whispered, kneeling up on the seat and wrapping her arms around her tightly. "I don't think she doesn't like you. She always tells us to make sure someone's taking care of you. That means she cares, right?"
"I don't know, sweetheart," Miranda sighed, resting her forehead on her child. "Perhaps."
"Well, we love you," Caroline echoed. "And we support you with whatever."
"I love you," Miranda said, kissing her hair. "Both of you."
"Say hi to Andy for us," Caroline called as they ran up the stairs.
-0-
It rang twice before it was picked up. As it should be, Miranda thought with a smile.
"Miranda? Is everything okay?"
"Andréa," she said softly. "We are fine on my end. It is rather you that I am concerned about." Andréa was well versed in how she worked. It would not surprise her to get straight to the point.
"I -" A noise made her pause. "Shit. Hang on Miranda."
"Take your time."
She meant it too. She carried her wine up the stairs and took out her AirPods, fixing them in her ears while she waited. She sat languidly on the chaise in her office and sipped her wine.
"Sorry, Miranda. Sorry."
"Don't be," Miranda said genuinely. "Do you want me to call you back?"
"No," Andy sighed. "It probably won't get better."
"I remember well," Miranda chuckled.
"You -" Another pause. "You know. Miranda, why are you calling?"
"I had a chat with Nigel today."
"He had no right to do that."
"Andréa," she said gently. "He wasn't gossiping. I asked."
"Why?"
"Because something reminded me of you and despite my best efforts, I," she sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Did not do as I promised myself I would do?"
"And what is that?"
"Keep track of you."
"You -"
"I also had an interesting chat with my girls."
"Ah," Andréa said quickly. "Miranda I -"
"Thank you, Andréa," she said, cutting the woman off. "For standing by them, despite your, our, circumstances.
"Wait, what?"
"I'm not angry. I'm not even mildly upset. I am glad that they have had the benefit of your intelligence and your fairness and kindness these past few years."
"I don't know what to say to that."
"Nothing is needed," Miranda soothed. "Except this," she amended immediately. "Nigel told me of your circumstances. I would like to ask you something. And I need you to consider it properly before you give me an answer."
"Oookay?" Andréa said carefully.
"The Townhouse is large, it has several empty rooms. Room enough for you and your new bundle of joy. There is even a spare office that you may utilise. And the rent is," she smirked to herself. "Well, even in these conditions, it is criminal that it could be so low."
"Whoa whoa whoa," Andréa said sternly. "What are you asking?"
"Come and live here."
There was absolute silence on the other end of the phone and Miranda had been in enough business negotiations to wait it out.
"You want -"
"I have the room, the capability and the inclination, Andréa."
"You are Miranda Priestly."
"I am. And while that has not changed, Andréa, I found that I was never much like her with you," she said, not meaning to, but finding no lie in it either. "When it mattered."
"I," Andréa fell silent again. "How much do you know?"
"Enough to know that I'm offering you a lifeline in a time when it seems you have none. I have been where you are, Andréa. And, in the interest of baring all, as it were, we are isolating completely. Today was the last day of physical work, although if you wish we can avoid each other for two weeks? I saw a sum total of two people within six feet of me. Rebecca and Nigel."
"Who the hell is Rebecca?" Andréa asked.
"Oh," Miranda chuckled. "My assistant."
Andréa snorted and Miranda smiled in response.
"May I clarify something?"
"You may."
"You want me to bring myself and my four-month-old son to The Townhouse, to stay, somewhat indefinitely while we ride out this horrendous pandemic. What about Runway? What about the girls?"
"I do. Work will continue as normal. I have my own office, the girls do their schooling in the dining room. They have expressed nothing but excitement that you may be arriving very soon."
"I'm -"
"We've been over this," Miranda reminded her gently.
"Yes. Sorry, I -"
The baby chose that moment to cry and Andréa groaned on the line.
"Andréa? Roy is likely already outside the building. I will text you his number and you may coordinate with him as to how you wish to accommodate what you need. Rest assured that if there is something you need, however, we will find a way to get it."
"You realise this is nuts, don't you?" Andréa said loudly. Miranda imagined her stepping away and picking up a tiny baby barely big enough to fill the space her long arms would make.
"I realise it is unorthodox," she said calmly. "But we live in unorthodox times."
There was a groan.
"Fine. You realise I'm only agreeing to this because I know it's you. And, I'm desperate and -" another pause. "I trust you."
"Andréa?" Miranda called, knowing that she was now busy already making plans on how to get everything she needed to remove from the apartment into the car. "I am glad to hear it. Roy is being paid for his time. Please utilise his help for whatever you need."
"I, hang on, Miranda."
As it was, this was the longest phone call she'd probably had in twenty years, but Miranda did hang on and after a moment, Andréa's voice filled her ears again.
"I have to move all my stuff out."
"Oh," Miranda sighed, rubbing her head. "Of course. Do you have a date planned?"
"No," Andréa muttered. "He gave me the notice today. If I can't pay in eight days, I'm out."
"That is enough time to plan," Miranda soothed. "Come with whatever you can now and we will make arrangements to have things either stored or collected in a day or two."
"Thank you," Andréa whispered. "Truly. I'm not sure you realise how -"
"You are welcome. Get Roy to help. I will see you soon. Do you have any dietary requirements? I was thinking of making salmon."
"No," she groaned. "That sounds amazing actually."
"Good. That's -"
Miranda stopped herself. She did not want to say that to Andréa. She said that to her underlings. To the people on her payroll. She did not say that to people that mattered to her and despite her not quite knowing - or rather, not quite wanting to think those thoughts - Andrea did matter.
"I will see you soon," she said instead.
"Okay," Andréa whispered. "Sure."
They hung up and Miranda groaned to herself and stood. She hadn't really intended to make salmon but she simultaneously realised that Andréa probably wasn't eating all that well either. Nodding to herself and putting on a podcast she'd been meaning to catch up on, she made her way to the kitchen.