A/N: Good morning. My deepest apologies to all of you for making you wait so long. Truthfully I've been enjoying life and all it's awesomeness. Plus I got a second job and Uni is kicking ass, but generally I've been spending time video-chatting with my girl. Can't beat that really. Thank you all who reviewed and asked really nicely if you could have another chapter. I apologise for not getting back to you as you did so, but know that I was reading all of them and when I wasn't gazing lovingly into my darling's eyes via video feed, I was trying to remember to post a chapter!
Hopefully you can all forgive me. I have not abandoned anything, I have many more chapter to go in this tale, it just might take me a bit longer than I'd originally intended. Look out for lots of posts in June!
As always, my beta is the consummate professional and I adore her. I'm so lucky to have her!
-0-
Friday/Sat - Benefit
Their Friday had ended quietly, serenely with the two women lounging on their bed talking quietly until they fell asleep without even trying. Andy woke up cold and reached beside her to find Miranda. For a woman that held the moniker of Ice Queen, she was like a hot brick in bed. It helped Andy sleep more deeply than she'd ever done before. Or maybe it was holding someone and being held in return, but that didn't matter right now. The other side of the bed was empty and cold, meaning that Miranda hadn't been in there for quite a while.
She blinked as she looked around. There was no light under the bathroom door, so she was not in there. There was the soft light coming from the dimmed staircase but that was on every night, in case the kids got up. She got out of bed, grumbling a little as her bare legs tingled in the cool night air. She grabbed the only robe in the room; Miranda's grey one that was at least two sizes too small if the sleeves were any indication. Pulling it around her she went in search, not having to venture far when she saw a flash of white hair standing at the door of the boys' room.
"Miranda?"
"Shh," Miranda whispered, beckoning her closer. "He's talking."
Like a new parent, Andy rushed to her side, gripping her cool arm as they stood listening.
"Where are you Mummy? I don't want to be in the dark again... Why do I have to be in the dark? No Mummy, I don't want to! I want to stay with M'anda and Andy, they nice. M'anda gives good hugs Mummy."
"Oh my God!" Andy squeaked, grabbing Miranda's arm.
"He's been talking for an hour or so," Miranda whispered. "The same sorts of things. He has a beautiful temperament. He is, however, petrified of the dark."
"Mummy? Mummy where'd you go? Mummy! Mummy don't leave me!"
Nick started thrashing around and Miranda shrugged off Andy's arms and went to sit with him, pulling him into her arms and waking him gently.
"Hello sweetheart, you're alright. It's okay."
"M'anda," he muttered, wrapping his arms around Miranda's neck and hanging on while he cried quietly.
"Come on little love," she said, trying to stand but falling back with the added weight. Andy's heart exploded with love and moved forward to help her, pulling her up and holding them both for a moment before Miranda cupped her cheek and kissed her gently. "Will you check on the others?"
"Meet you in the middle in a minute," Andy whispered, squeezing her hand and turning to kiss Sam while Miranda went to settle Nick in their bed.
Olivia was fast asleep and so was Cassidy, but Caroline was stirring when Andy popped her head in.
"Andy?" she muttered sleepily.
"Hey kiddo, you okay?" Andy whispered, sitting beside her and smoothing her hair back.
"Yeah, weird dream," she sighed, still half asleep. "You're not having a baby are you?"
Andy balked, choking a little at the random question, but quickly soothed Caroline's worried brow.
"No sweetie, no babies for me right now."
"Mom would like that," she muttered, rolling into Andy's body. "Twins, like us. They'd be super cute too." Andy smiled, completely bemused as Caroline fell back to sleep. Chuckling, she tucked the girl back in and returned upstairs.
"Are you alright?" Miranda asked, looking worried as Andy slipped under the covers.
"Yeah, Caroline had a weird dream, asked me if I was pregnant."
Miranda sat up, almost disturbing Nick in the process.
"You're not, are you?"
"No, don't be silly. As if I've slept with anyone but you for -" Andy grimaced, "well, actually a hell of a long time. Not since Paris."
"But me," Miranda smirked, reaching over and tracing Andy's face with her finger.
"You'd better believe it," Andy said, kissing her palm and snuggling closer to Nick. "Let's get some sleep. The kids loved today, I bet they'll play hard tomorrow."
Miranda hummed, but didn't say anything, also scooting closer and managing to wrap both Nick and Andy up in her arms.
"Goodnight darlings," she said, making Andy smile as she fell asleep.
-0-
"Mm, thanks," Andy hummed appreciatively as Miranda passed her a second cup of coffee for the day.
"You are welcome," Miranda smiled, brushing her hand across Andy's shoulder.
She watched as Miranda sat regally on her favourite chair in the media room, immediately allowing Olivia into the tiniest gap beside her, wrapping an arm around her as the little girl showed Miranda her latest picture. For that moment nothing else in the world mattered to Miranda, except Olivia and that picture. It always amazed Andy at the depth of the woman she was slowly getting to know. Miranda's gaze found her suddenly and Andy became quite flustered, caught out in her perusal of the woman. She smiled, then shrugged and went back to her laptop where she was double and triple checking the details for the benefit that night.
"Andréa?"
"Yes Miranda?" Andy said automatically, pen poised in her hand, ready to work.
"Put that down," she said affectionately, joining her on the sofa. "I never got to speak to you properly about a number of things yesterday."
"What things?" Andy asked quickly, worried that she was once again going to be sent away.
"Photographs for one, and the conversation we postponed yesterday about money."
Andy sighed in relief and Miranda squeezed her hand.
"Sorry, it's just me I guess. I expect everyone to throw me out at a moment's notice."
"I am not everyone," Miranda muttered, kissing Andy's hand.
"No, guess not," Andy said shakily.
"What is bothering you?"
"That I'm not good enough for you," Andy said without editing herself.
"Oh Andréa," Miranda said, her voice so sad it hurt Andy that she had made it so. "You will always be better than I am! I will forever be trying to prove to you how much I love you, and you won't ever have to do that, because I can see it in your eyes, everytime I look at you." Andy blushed under the scrutiny, but Miranda drew her attention back up to her face."You are too good for me, and I don't ever want you to forget that, because I certainly won't."
"I've ruined your talk again," Andy said, uncomfortable with the attention. Thankfully Miranda acknowledged it and moved on, standing to get something from her purse.
"These appeared in Monday's Post."
"'Devil calls reinforcements as brood multiplies!' What rubbish, why is that even newsworthy?" Andy raged, skimming over the column. "At least they know who I am. That would be awkward if they thought I was the new nanny, then when we're ready to," she paused, "come out I guess, you won't be a cliché."
"For some reason, people find me newsworthy, and therefore by extension, my life. I am only grateful that they did not concentrate on the children. And as far as clichés go darling, I believe it will be enough that I have fallen for my much younger, gorgeous personal assistant," Miranda chuckled. "They have not, thankfully, worked out who the children are, but they will Andréa and that will be a ridiculous storm in a tea cup."
"But, they've lost -" Andy dropped their voice when she realised they weren't alone. "They can't do that, surely?"
"They will," Miranda said sadly. "And we must be prepared for that when it happens. I am going to start making enquiries into Olivia starting school at Dalton. And perhaps Nicholas, if he thinks he can. They have an award winning preschool and they have an excellent record of keeping most of the press away from the children."
"Good," Andy nodded. "It'll do them good to get back into a routine, and make some friends."
"I hope so," she sniffed. "You must also be prepared; tabloid reporters will say the most horrible things to get a rise out of you, but you must ignore them Andréa."
"I will do my best," Andy sighed honestly. "Did you try and talk to Nick this morning?"
"I had no luck, you?"
"The same," Andy sighed. "I just want him to start talking, you know? Just to say 'Andy can I have a PB&J?'"
"Well, he would ask for something as pedestrian as that," Miranda smirked, letting Andy hit her thigh gently for the dig.
"What do the others say?" Andy said, looking over at the little pile of newspaper cuttings.
"Much of the same. My long-suffering assistant, dragged to the park for a spot of child-minding."
"I can't say I'm suffering," Andy said, sliding her hand along Miranda's stomach.
"Okay guys, gross."
"Oh, Cassidy, sorry I -"
"Andréa, sit down. Cassidy, please watch your tone when speaking to us, or you may find yourself grounded for a time."
Cassidy gulped and dropped her head.
"Yes Mom, sorry Mom." She glanced at Andy. "Sorry Andy."
"What is it you wanted to say to us?" Miranda asked, pulling Andy back into her body.
"Um, I was just wondering if we could go to the park again? I know it's been raining, but it's stopped now and I'm kind of sick of staying indoors and so is Sam."
"Andréa and I have an engagement to go to tonight, so we do not have the time to go to the park Bobbsey," Miranda said, sighing when she saw the disappointment in Cassidy's face. "We do, however, have time for a walk, perhaps to the market that sells the frozen yoghurt you liked so much."
"Whoa, really?" Cassidy said, her face breaking into a smile.
"Indeed, I think Andréa ought to know where it is if she ever wishes to bribe you."
Cassidy sprinted away, leaving Andy chuckling into Miranda's shoulder.
"I suppose I'll find their boots then," Andy offered, getting up.
"We should finish going through their things as well," Miranda sighed, also getting up with a groan. "I'm never having a day off again. I'm exhausted."
"Well you were up in the night listening to the sweetest noise around."
They both looked at Nick. He was sitting playing with some blocks until he felt their eyes on him. Slowly he turned around and dropped the block.
"It's okay little prince," Andy said affectionately. "We were just thinking how amazing you are."
Nick looked like he thought they were tricking him, before he smiled widely and went back to playing. Miranda and Andy went their separate ways, one to find the children's boots and the other to change into clothes that were deemed suitable for a public outing.
-0-
"Look M'anda!" Sam squealed. "Puddles!"
Andy winced as the cold water splashed up her legs, seeping through her jeans.
"Alright monkey," Andy said, trying to distract him. "How about we catch up to the others, we don't want to miss out on frozen yoghurt!"
They raced each other down the street, huffing and panting comically when they finally reached the others. Sam crashed into Miranda's legs, nearly knocking her flying if Cassidy hadn't caught her, while Andy flung her arms around Caroline to slow herself down.
"You're crazy," Caroline said with a smile, letting Andy's arms stay wrapped around her as they walked.
"Yes," Andy agreed, "yes I am."
Olivia and Caroline giggled walking in a line with Andy, while Miranda was listening intently to Sam as he squeezed in between Miranda and Cassidy, holding his new big sister's hand.
"Do you get nervous when you go to balls and stuff?" Caroline asked, out of the blue.
"Sometimes,"Andy shrugged. 'I used to, before I learnt to read your Mom so well. I used to have nightmares the evening before a big gala, I'd be terrified of forgetting the name of the Mayor, or the CEO of our biggest benefactor. It was intense."
"So, not anymore?"
"Nah," Andy grinned. "I know your Mom pretty well now, and the people we see at the benefits are people I know as well." Andy leaned closer. "I know for a fact that Miranda doesn't need her assistants to tell her who all the people are that she meets, only the odd one or two. I think she likes to challenge her assistants, so that they know who the people are that they have to work with over the year or two they're employed."
"Oh," Caroline said, looking at Miranda's back. Andy could tell from the tilt of her head that Miranda was listening to both Sam and their conversation. She smiled at the thought that Miranda knew she was onto her and wished she could kiss her. "That's actually pretty cool," Caroline said quietly, interrupting Andy's dreams.
"I know she's your Mom and kids aren't supposed to think of their Moms as cool, but personally I think your Mom's the coolest."
Andy was gratified to see the tiniest bit of added sway in Miranda's walk and she went back to walking behind her boss, best friend and lover, enjoying every minute of it.
-0-
The doorbell went at half past four that afternoon and Andy opened the door to find Serena standing there with a smile.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, letting her in all the same.
"I'm here to do your makeup, aren't I?"
"Are you?"
"She is," Miranda said, joining them in the hallway. "Good afternoon Serena, I trust I am not interrupting your own preparation time?"
"No," she replied. "We were just having a late lunch. I apologise for my tardiness though, I wanted to make sure that I stayed with Em until she had eaten a sufficient amount."
Miranda hummed and led Serena upstairs to their room, pointing her to a dresser next to where their dresses were both hanging, ready for later.
"I trust she is listening to the advice she was given?"
"She is," Serena sighed. "But even with your words and my love, it is a powerful affliction to have hold of her."
Miranda nodded and left Andy with Serena when Olivia's voice called out. The kids were busy in their rooms, having quiet playtime before an early dinner so they could wave Miranda and her goodbye.
"Is she alright?" Andy asked, settling in front of the dresser while Serena started on her make up.
"She will be," Serena shrugged. "She knows she needs to eat more, it's just a case of letting her body catch up with her mind."
"High protein smoothies may help," Miranda said as she returned. She stood watching Serena work. "Perhaps a touch heavier on the eyes."
Serena stopped what she was doing and cast a glance over Andy's face. Andy tried to let her, but the uncomfortable feeling was a little intense.
"Yes, I see."
Apparently satisfied, Miranda retreated into the bathroom, coming out three minutes later in a robe. Andy had no idea if Serena was a usual guest in Miranda's home before an event, but she seemed relaxed and extremely capable.
"Holy crap!" Andy said when she saw herself in the mirror. "I look awesome."
"Indeed you do," Miranda smirked, sitting before the mirror and letting Serena work her magic.
"Do you usually do Miranda's makeup?" Andy asked, watching as Serena added a dab here, or a flick of a brush there, highlighting Miranda's natural features.
"Most times," Serena smiled. "But we're usually in the suite above the venue."
"That's weird that I never knew that," Andy bit her lip.
"You're going to ruin your lipstick."
"Sorry," Andy squeaked, the worry lingering.
"It is not commonly known, even to my assistants," Miranda said as Serena finished and concentrated on packing up her things. "The only reason Serena is here, not there, is because I plan on walking the carpet tonight."
"Ah."
Inside Andy was screaming. She wasn't ready to be followed by paparazzi. She wasn't ready for her face to be plastered over the gossip magazines. She wasn't ready for the hurtful things people would say about her, and about Miranda. And the more the press looked, the bigger the story would get.
"Easy," Miranda said, her hands warm on Andy's shoulders. "Tonight is not that night. You will be there as my assistant, a position you've held for long enough for them to recognise you as such. The game will not be afoot until they realise you've been promoted and we are still being seen together."
"Yeah, yes. Sorry," Andy said, rubbing her hands together to stop them shaking. "Just got a bit ahead of myself." She looked around. "Where's Serena?"
"She was really only here to do our makeup, she has gone back to get ready for the gala herself."
"Oh," Andy nodded. "Right."
"Andréa," Miranda said gently, sitting beside her on the bed. Andy felt her chin wobble and Miranda's arms wrapped around her tightly. "Don't cry, I can't guarantee that mascara won't run and I don't really want to have to call Serena back here."
"No, no you're right. I just," she sighed. "Just had a moment."
"I love you Andréa."
Andy chuckled, blinking desperately and trying to focus on something to stop the tears from appearing.
"You're just as likely to make me cry by saying that," Andy laughed, resting her head against Miranda's. "It's an honour to be loved by you."
"Nonsense," Miranda huffed. "You've never been loved by you."
"Stop!" Andy laughed, finally getting herself under control. "People's heads would spin if they knew how utterly beautiful and kind and gentle you are."
"See that they don't then," Miranda warned, pressing a very chaste kiss on Andy's lips. "Will you help me with my gown?"
"I," Andy swallowed hard. "Yeah," she grunted.
Miranda smirked and crooked her finger, backing into the closet where their gowns were hanging.
They had never progressed as far as to undress before each other, even in the dark. Previously they had only changed out of each other's eyeline, albeit with the doors open occasionally so their conversations could continue.
"This is intense," Andy said, her hands shaking again.
"You do not have to help me Andréa," Miranda said almost awkwardly. "I am not forcing you."
"No, no I know that," Andy sighed. "I'm just a little overwhelmed. You're a beautiful woman."
"I am an old woman darling," Miranda whispered. "I have had twins, I breastfed them, I try very hard to prevent gravity from making it worse, but I -" she sighed. "My body is not perfect."
"Oh Miranda," Andy said, her hands resting on the woman's hips. "You are beautiful. Truly beautiful and I know I will never compare to you. I am just overwhelmed."
"You don't understand darling. I," Miranda huffed and threw off her robe suddenly, standing before Andy in nothing but her matching lingerie. "You see, I have, I have -"
Andy frowned, looking at what she knew to be a perfect specimen of woman before her. Miranda waved her hands over her hips, stomach and thighs but Andy failed to see what the problem was. Miranda was gorgeous and she could do nothing but stare.
"Andrea," Miranda whispered, suddenly breaking Andy's vision.
"Sorry, sorry," Andy smiled, seeing Miranda's uneasiness. "I just, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." Andy interrupted whatever Miranda was going to say by stepping forward and cupping her face. "Remember me telling you that I worked really hard for my own opinions?"
Miranda nodded mutely, as Andy ran her hands from Miranda's bare hips to run around the bottom of Miranda's bra. Miranda took a deep breath, shaking as Andy continued mapping Miranda's oh-so-soft skin.
"I have never seen anything as beautiful," Andy whispered, her fingers dancing over the areas that Miranda had identified. Her hand smoothed over the barest paunch of her stomach, paying particular attention to the long healed scar that had borne her the twins.
"This gave you two beautiful children," Andy stepped closer, her hand running down Miranda's hip. "These carry you so regally through your life." Miranda blinked hard, so Andy let the intensity go. "I love you. Every part of you, every day."
She caught Miranda's escaping tear with her little finger, managing to prevent any major damage to the perfectly applied makeup.
"I love you, so desperately Andréa," Miranda whispered, resting her head against Andy's.
"As I love you."
The moment dragged on, not uncomfortably, but prolonged in their silence. Finally Andy stood up, smoothed back Miranda's beautiful hair and smiled.
"Let's get you dressed," Andy said simply, drawing Miranda forward and standing her up in front of the mirrors.
Carefully and reverently Andy drew the gown up over Miranda's body, zipping it up and nudging Miranda's neck with her nose, in lieu of a kiss.
"My turn," Miranda smirked, finally back on her equilibrium. "Then we will walk out of that door and we will dazzle them Andréa. You and I together. Showing them just how little they know, all the while laughing at their expense."
Andy smiled, dropping her own robe and trying not to melt into a puddle.