A/N: Nothing to see here, except for my beta, who is clearly awesome.
Two more FanFiction chapters to go before NaNoWriMo. Wish me luck cos this is Day 2 and the word-o-meter still says ZERO.
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The afternoon saw all five children crashing in the cosy den. Caroline and Cassidy lay curled up on a bed of cushions reading their books while Andy and Miranda sat quietly, sipping on hot coffee.
"I believe they are all exhausted," Miranda said quietly, glancing over at the twins, who were slowly losing the battle with sleep.
"A good day out then," Andy smiled, tapping her mug against Miranda's.
"Indeed," Miranda smiled, lifting her legs up and curling them under herself.
Andy grinned as Miranda leaned into her and she rearranged her arm slightly so Miranda was leaning against her chest, curled up under her arm.
"I was in love with each of them," Miranda said suddenly. "In my own way at least. I loved Stuart and Alec, even Steven though he was more of a calculated decision. A mutual one I thought, until he started to become possessive and clingy."
"Sorry," Andy said quietly. "I shouldn't pry."
She tried to pull away, but Miranda placed her mug down and practically sat in her lap.
"I am not someone whose relationship history is worth following, unless you are Rupert Murdoch. I read somewhere that should we wish to be in a committed relationship with each other, we should be both open and honest. You, for example have given me quite an insight into your past and you should not feel as though you cannot ask me about my own. I have already shared with you more than I have ever shared with anyone else. And I can assure you, I am as human as any other Andréa. I have a great many faults, a great many shortcomings and I fear that one day they will drive you from my side."
"I told you," Andy said gently, pressing a kiss to Miranda's head. "I'm not leaving you. I know you; I just need to work on remembering you are just Miranda here, and not Miranda Priestly, my boss."
"An apt explanation," Miranda said, her hand slipping under Andy's top to rub the somewhat-defined abs slowly.
"You're not playing very fairly," Andy whispered, retaliating by stroking Miranda's side slowly. "Not just because I know the children are here, but because I know we're not ready yet."
"You should know I don't play fair Andréa."
"I should, shouldn't I?" Andy grinned, digging her fingers into Miranda's ribs.
The most adorable squeal came from Miranda's mouth, making Andy laugh as well.
"I have just learnt something extremely valuable about you," Andy said, ignoring the glare to kiss her gently.
"God I love being here with you," Miranda muttered, obviously realising too late that she'd said it out loud. She blushed darkly and concentrated on her coffee.
"Don't hide that from me," Andy whispered. "Don't hide anything from me."
"I will endeavour to always -"
Whatever else Miranda was going to say was interrupted by an almighty scream coming from the sofa. Andy leapt up, being careful not to throw Miranda onto the floor as she did, and raced over to Nicholas, who was still screaming his little lungs out and kicking his legs, trying to get away from something.
"Shh, Nicholas, you're safe, it's okay," Andy muttered, recalling her own nightmares from her childhood.
"Mommy, I want Mommy! I don't want to go in there, don't make me go in the dark!"
"We won't put you in the dark sweetheart," Andy whispered over and over, trying to break through the terrifying sobs that were coming from his body. "It's alright sweetie, you're okay."
Miranda accepted both Samuel and Olivia on her knee as the girls also joined her, hugging them all as Nicholas sobbed.
It wasn't long until Samuel, who was still so tired from his epic morning and an interrupted nap, started crying as well. Miranda held him tightly, rocking him as Andy copied her movements with Nicholas, who had stopped sobbing at least, but not shaking. Olivia succumbed next and before long, Miranda and Andy were looking at each other helplessly as all three children wept.
"Mom? What do we do?" Caroline asked, looking as if she was about to succumb as well.
"It's alright Bobbseys," Miranda assured them. "They're not hurt, just upset."
Caroline ran out of the room and reappeared barely ten minutes later, standing by the doorway. Andy vaguely heard the front door open and she looked to Miranda for any clues as to who it was.
"Miranda, shall I -"
"Cara! Thank God."
Andy smiled, even as a tear rolled down her own cheek as Cara appeared in the room, clearly summoned to their aid by a quick thinking Caroline. At Miranda's behest, she offered Olivia her knee and sat with her, running her fingers through her hair. Andy winked at Caroline as she continued to rock gently, watching Cara soothe Olivia as both boys continued to sob.
Olivia stopped first, leaning tiredly against Cara's shoulder and looking sadly at Nicholas.
"How about you and the girls come with me and we'll make everyone grilled cheese and tomato soup?" Cara suggested.
"Uhuh," she hiccupped, sliding off the nanny's knee and walking over to where Andy had Nick.
"Don't cry Nicky, we're going to be okay," she whispered, wrapping her arms around Andy and Nick for a moment before taking Cara's hand and following her and the girls down to the kitchen.
"I think he's gone again," Miranda said after a time, peering down at Sam.
The rocking was hypnotic and Andy had lost track of time quite a while ago. The twins had not reappeared from their tasks downstairs, so it couldn't have been as long as it seemed, but Andy was still wrung out.
"I might go and put him to bed," Miranda muttered, rearranging Samuel in her arms and kicking her heels off.
Andy smiled at the scene despite herself and Miranda returned it.
"I may live my whole life in heels, but it will be a cold day in hell before they are the reason I drop him, or worse still, take a tumble down the stairs with him."
"It's adorable, and I'm just teasing again," Andy said quietly, reaching out to brush Miranda's hip as she went by.
"I know," Miranda whispered before leaving the room.
Andy sighed, leaning her head against Nick's and continued to rock him until he finally lifted his head from her chest.
"Hey munchkin. How are you feeling?"
He didn't say a word, much to Andy's disappointment, but shook his head and wrapped his arms around Andy's shoulders.
"It's going to be okay baby," Andy said quietly, kissing his forehead. "I promise you that Miranda, Cara, Caroline, Cassidy, Olivia and I are all going to take care of you, okay?"
She got a nod, and figured it was the best they were going to do. Hearing the girls coming up the stairs, Andy gave him one last hug and walked downstairs with him, meeting Miranda on the landing before joining their new family for some well-earned comfort food.
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"Liv? Where are you Princess?" Andy called, having not seen the little girl since lunch.
"Here Andy," she called, coming out of Caroline's bedroom with bright green nails and two outrageously high pigtails in her hair.
"My my," Andy chuckled. "Fashion icon Caroline strikes again."
"Hey!" Caroline called, racing down the stairs to join them. "Cass is just finishing her homework for tomorrow; she always does it last minute."
"Okay." Andy turned to Olivia. "Miranda's waiting in the living room princess, she wanted to know what you want us to bring from your house tomorrow, before everything gets packed up."
"Yuhuh, but Andy what do you think of my nails? Do you like them?"
"They're pretty something," Andy chuckled.
"Ah, Olivia darling, there you are. Come and sit, can you make me a list of the things you would like here tomorrow? And then help me with a list for Nicholas and Samuel?"
"Okay M'anda," Olivia smiled, plonking herself down on the floor and picking up a yellow crayon.
"Make sure that yellow isn't too hard to read Princess," Andy said, winking at the little girl. "You wouldn't want me to bring home a boat, instead of your coat would you?" Olivia giggled, and Miranda indulged the bad joke with an affectionate eye roll.
"So, I believe that we should talk about how tomorrow will work Andréa," Miranda said, looking down at her planner.
Andy was impressed, and only a little put out. The hours that she, Emily, and then Melody had put into keeping a planner up to date for Miranda were clearly not as well spent as she had once assumed.
"Don't pout," Miranda said with a smirk, "this is my personal planner. I usually consult it before Monday each week to ensure I have not missed anything. It has the girl's commitments and such on it. I imagine it is going to be rather well used from now on. I can get you a copy; it's the same program that you use at work."
"I wasn't really pouting," Andy tried, blushing under the raised eyebrow she got for her trouble. "Alright, I was. If I could get a copy, that would be great. So, what have we got?"
"The girls start school at 07:30, Roy picks them up at a quarter to. He takes them, then comes back for me. It gives me a little time to ensure I am ready for my day and eat breakfast after they are gone. Tomorrow will be no different. The girls know exactly when to be ready and are usually self-sufficient. I have not had to wake them for quite a while."
"Don't you interact with them in the mornings?" Andy asked, genuinely interested, remembering how often her Mom or Dad had hung out with them before school when they could.
"I am usually otherwise occupied," Miranda sniffed.
Andy cringed, having stumbled onto shaky ground but she nodded and let it go. She knew that there would be things that were different between them now they were together, and this was just the first discovery of many. Sam brought her a wooden block to hold for him while he got the others and she smiled as Nick continued playing, in his own little world.
"I have instructed Cara to be here by seven to ensure that we are both able to get ready for our day while she supervises the rest of the children. We will then both go to Elias Clark to work through the morning until I receive word from my lawyer. Then, Roy will go with you to Alec's residence where you will collect up the things you have to and ensure that the removalists know who they are working for."
The difference between the Miranda she had spent the weekend with and the newly returned boss was incredible. Andy wasn't sure what to make of it as she watched Miranda's business face make a reappearance.
"And then I'll come home, here I mean?"
"No, Andréa, you'll get back to work. There will no doubt be a messy line up of meetings from Friday that will need to be rearranged."
"Miranda, I'm not sure that will work. The kids aren't ready for us both to be gone all day, I mean; they've only just got here."
"Andréa I want no more said on the matter, this is the way it is going to go. I cannot be expected to function on a Monday without two assistants."
Andy sat for a long moment just staring at Miranda, wondering how far to push her to see that she was making a mistake. The twitch in Miranda's left eye told her to let it go and work on it later.
"Right, so that is how it's going to go," Andy said as happily as she could, already making contingency plans for tomorrow when one of them will no doubt be summoned back to the townhouse to deal with three crying children. "I might go and make some last minute phone calls."
"Andréa?" Miranda called, still scrolling through her planner. "Should you perhaps tell someone you are living here with us if this is to become a permanent arrangement?"
The question threw her a little, until she realised it was Miranda covering her bases and trying to be helpful.
"I'm due to ring my Dad in two weeks, my biological father I mean - he works on an oil rig but my adoptive parents are happy to let me get on with life," Andy shrugged. "I'm not really moved in yet you know?"
"Well, that should be something you should see to as well. That's all."
Andy stared at the back of Miranda's head, wondering if the woman had even noticed she'd dismissed her like that. She shook her head, realising that Miranda had gone into work mode, and she wondered if she'd come out of it before next weekend.
"Hey Andy, have you seen Mom?" Caroline asked, coming from the kitchen.
"I have, why were you in there?"
Caroline grinned mischievously and offered Andy a cupcake from the day before.
"Sneaky," Andy nodded, rather impressed. "I like it."
"Thanks, is Mom in the sitting room?'
"She is, but I believe she is in work mode," Andy shrugged. "Can I help?"
"You're really good at this you know," Caroline said, avoiding the question.
"What?"
"This whole parenting thing. I like it," Caroline grinned. "I have a paper due tomorrow and usually if I catch Mom early enough I can get her to check it. I guess, could you maybe do it?"
"Sure sweetheart, what about Cassidy?"
"Nah, she's pretty good at this sort of thing, I just don't read it properly. I know what I've written and I don't wanna go back and reread it."
"Don't let your Mom hear you say 'wanna' Caroline," Andy chuckled. "But sure, I'll be up in a minute. First I have to get my phone and make a few calls about tomorrow."
"Okay, but like soon, yeah?"
"Your mother would be so mad if she heard you speaking like that."
"I only speak like that when I'm with you Andy! Duh, I don't have a death wish."
Caroline scampered up the stairs and Andy just shook her head, going to retrieve her phone from her bedside table where it had mostly sat untouched for the majority of the weekend. There was a couple of missed calls from Nigel and one from Emily, but she didn't ring back. Andy figured the only person she wanted to speak to was the woman she was slowly becoming an item with, so anyone else could wait.
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After calls to the moving company, Miranda's lawyers and Melody were completed and contingency plans made and enacted, Andy went to find Caroline and her paper. She leaned her head around the door to find no one in her bedroom, so she nipped across the hall to Cassidy's room, rapping on the frame with her knuckles.
"Hey kids," she said with a smile.
"Hi," Cassidy waved, still bent over her computer. Caroline waved languidly from her bed, reading a copy of Rolling Stone.
"Does your mother know you have that?" Andy asked, looking pointedly. "If you have to read it, try not to do it in front of me, I'd prefer plausible deniability."
"Um, yeah okay," Caroline said, glancing at Cassidy and slipping it under the pillow she was leaning on.
"I'm not trying to be a wicked step-mom or whatever, I just -" she shrugged. "I know how growing up in a tense household can be and I don't want this to be like that. I'm not going to change for you guys. I am who I am, but I also want to support your Mom, so that means from time to time I might ground you or whatever if you're stinkers. Of course that's not necessarily what I want to be doing. I want to respect you and I'd like you to respect me. If I'm getting too into it, you can tell me, nicely, and I'll do better the next time. Having said that, if I do punish you, then you wear it, and later, when we've all calmed down, we can discuss it."
"It's just a magazine Andy," Cassidy said, biting her lip.
"I know Cass and that's not really what I'm talking about, although in my opinion it's a bit old for you and I think if your Mom found out she'd agree. I guess I just want you guys to know I'm not here to take over from your Mom, but I am here, so..." She shrugged. "I just feel like if we talk about it now, we all know where we are. Mutual respect, okay?"
"Sure," Caroline nodded.
"Totally," Cassidy said, getting up and hugging Andy's middle. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Andy said, hoping that the conversation would not be forgotten the very first time she tried to discipline either of them. "Now Caroline, let's take a look at this paper."