A/N: Well, well, well. What have we here?! A new update she says? Nay it can't be, they say... she's disappeared, she's vanished...she's gone.

Not so gentle and patient readers. Not gone, suddenly navigating the adult world with new adult eyes and that, my dears, is a little overwhelming at times. The rub is, I have approximately 10 days of holiday left and I'm going to use this time wisely.

My life, as you all know, took an unexpectedly wonderful turn last year and this last year has been about visiting my new little family in America...and that's quite expensive. The name of the game is now MOVING there...which obviously is also quite expensive. So bear with me. I promised you all when I first started writing on here: I will never just disappeared unfinished. I will finish it, you just might need to bear with me in the meantime. So here is another chapter of 'More than Just Baggage' that I hope you can enjoy :D

-0-

Nearly a month after the gala and their eventful weekend, Andy was settling into her new position as features writer and life was travelling at a pace that sometimes spun all their heads.

The renovations had been mostly pain free and now Andy had a brand new office she couldn't wait to fill with her old things and some new things along with her 'stuff' that was arriving from storage in a number of days. Her landlord had been rather haughty about the whole thing, until Miranda showed up at her building and laid down the law.

He was pretty forgiving after that.

All of them loved the new den/library. It had become their favourite hangout and though, in a way, they had lost space in both rooms, it seemed more open somehow. Andy's books had been integrated into the general population and Miranda had splurged on some sinfully comfortable armchairs that reclined. Andy was sure that it was simply so that she and Nicholas could lay back on them - something that Miranda had admitted to her that she loved to see.

The children were settling in and that meant, was that the tantrums that had only started to appear infrequently started to appear more frequently. The week had been long and Andy was exhausted, and tired, and upset that she'd missed dinner with Miranda and the children.

"Hey," Andy grunted, finally climbing into bed without undressing. "Sorry I missed dinner."

"Nonsense," Miranda said, looking over the top of her glasses. "You had work to do, and you very rarely miss dinner. The children understood."

"I said goodnight to the girls, kissed the others," Andy sighed, smiling into her pillow as she heard Miranda put down The Book and rolled on top of her slightly, holding her close. "Did they have a good day?"

"They did," Miranda said quietly, her hand stroking Andy's head. "They love you," she said redundantly.

"And I love them," she rolled over, shuffling higher against the bedhead and making sure to keep Miranda close. "Like I love you."

"Mm," Miranda kissed her, humming her reply. "As I love you also."

"I missed you today," Andy said with a sigh. "It was weird. I was walking down a road, minding my own business after my interview and bam, I missed you."

"I miss you every time I look up and see the new girl sitting in your seat."

"Anna is perfectly capable Miranda."

"That fact that her name is that makes me hate her," Andy laughed.

"You admire Anna, you just hate her magazine."

"Well," Miranda smirked, but kissed Andy again before she could comment.

"I've been thinking," Andy said, resting her head back.

"Oh?" Miranda quipped playfully. "Did that hurt?"

Andy scoffed but soldiered on.

"With five kids now, I wondered what you thought about getting a bigger car? We can't drive in limos all the time, especially with three of them in car seats. What happens if we want to go somewhere together?"

"A minivan?" Miranda's face was priceless and Andy couldn't help but laugh.

"No, no God no, I would never make you drive around in a minivan. But what about a SUV, or a 4 by 4?"

Andy waited as she watched Miranda mulling it over.

"Another Mercedes perhaps?"

"If they do one that big, those high-end companies don't really cater for big families." Andy chuckled.

"Well, we'll call someone, make it happen."

"Well, I thought maybe," she paused, suddenly feeling very foolish and childlike.

"What is it you wanted Andréa?" Miranda asked kindly, rubbing Andy's cheek with her thumb.

"I wondered if you would go car shopping with me on the weekend? The twins are at their Dad's and Cara said she'd come over Saturday afternoon if we needed. We can't do it next week because you have that thing -"

"Thing?"

"You know what I mean, but I was also thinking that maybe the kids, now that they're more settled and we're talking to Dalton, might want to get into some sport."

"Sport?" Miranda balked.

"I played sports!" Andy huffed. "The girls and I were talking about soccer the other day. They asked me to 'work on you' so they could try out this semester. They're old enough to be on the junior team now."

"You want my daughters to play soccer!" Miranda said, sitting up. For a moment Andy thought she was joking until she saw the serious frown developing in her forehead.

"Whoa, just relax," Andy said, sitting up with her and holding her hand. "The girls expressed an interest and I am conveying it to you. They would like to play sports. There's nothing wrong with sport Miranda, it keeps them fit and healthy, gives them an outlet, teaches them teamwork and responsibility. Plus, if they're good it'll help them with colleges."

"Andréa stop talking."

Andy bit her lip and really looked at her partner. Miranda looked broken and Andy immediately regretted dumping all of this on her now.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Forget about the car and the sport okay? Come to bed and we'll sleep on it and later, maybe, we'll see how you feel."

"They're growing up," Miranda whispered, gripping Andy's hand as she tried to move away. "They're so grown up already."

"Miranda," Andy sighed.

"You're right," she chuckled morosely. "You're always right." She looked up and Andy was caught in her stare, smiling gently as Miranda cupped her cheek. "My girls are growing up and I had missed that. I was too busy when they were little and I've missed so much."

"You know you want Emily to take over eventually," Andy said carefully. "How about you reduce your hours on the weekends, give Em that responsibility, have her cover for you and spend some time with the kids and me. They're not so grown up they don't still enjoy the company of their Mom. And, when you're ready for sports talk, they'd love to talk to you about it. And maybe watch some games."

"A soccer mom?" Miranda looked as disgusted by that thought as she had when the sport was mentioned.

"Well yeah, they'd love it, and I suspect you would too. I can see you now, storming the pitch and telling the referee off when they miss a call."

"Oh god, I would," Miranda groaned. "They'd hate me."

"They'd be embarrassed, but they wouldn't hate you. Just let them find their way. There's still three little kids that have a whole heap of growing to do and I know that they need you as much as you need them."

"I don't need anyone," she sniffed.

"Oh you don't huh," Andy grinned, getting up. "I might sleep in the study then."

"Don't you dare!"

Miranda was up and standing in front of Andy before she knew what was happening. Andy giggled and wrapped her arms around Miranda's torso tucking the woman into her neck.

"I need you," Miranda whispered, pressing kisses up her neck. "I'll always need you."

"And you'll always have me," Andy grinned. "Now let's go to bed. We'll sleep in tomorrow morning and then I'll do some research into cars."

"Alright," Miranda agreed, getting back into bed and grinning wickedly, watching as Andy pulled off her clothes. "By all means, move at a glacial pace, you know how it thrills me."

Andy grinned cheekily and stripped for her woman even slower, only stopping when she was stood before Miranda in her matching underwear. The tension between them was intense, and Andy found herself losing her breath a little. The want broadcasting from Miranda's eyes made her falter, but she smiled demurely, backing out of the room and into the bathroom before she did something. They hadn't spoken of moving forward and making love for a while and both of them were too caught up with life to even think of it - but Andy knew they were close. Miranda was getting more and more comfortable with Andy being around her, especially seeing her body partially clothed and Andy was feeling more and more like her equal at home. Soon; Andy grinned, it would definitely be soon.

-0-

She'd been serious when she'd suggested the children play sports and as such they needed a car that they could all fit in. When Andy woke up extremely early the next morning - despite her exhaustion, she slipped out of bed and made her way to Miranda's study, booting up the computer and logging in.

By the time Miranda stumbled into the study looking for her Andy had printed out a great many features lists on cars she thought Miranda would deign to drive.

"What are you doing? I thought we were sleeping in?" Miranda mumbled, flicking on the light.

"I woke up," Andy said, blinking in the harsh light. "Just wanted to get a start on all this."

"Andréa. The cars will still be there when the rest of the world wakes up. Please, come back to bed."

Andy reluctantly stood, stretching her back out and letting Miranda take her hand and draw her back to bed.

"Don't tell me," Miranda muttered against Andy's neck. "I don't want to know yet. I don't want to know until we officially get up and that will not happen until I say so."

Andy smiled, settling back down. Miranda's scent engulfed her. Her soft, warm body pushed up against her and the soft mewling breaths that Miranda took helped Andy fall asleep in no time at all.

-0-

"Ow," someone said, rocking the bed and making a ruckus.

Andy groaned, rolling into Miranda and pressing her face into Miranda's ample chest to try and drown out the sound.

"Samuel, please try and be a little quieter," Miranda's voice rumbled in her chest.

"Nicky won't let me go," he wailed. "LET GO."

"Please boys, stop," Andy said, rolling over and spying Nicholas holding the back of Sam's pyjama shirt so he couldn't get onto the bed. "It's alright Little Prince. He can come up here."

Nick let Sam go and bit his lip as Andy continued to look at him.

"Well?" she asked, holding out her hand. "Are you going to come and cuddle me."

He grinned and hopped up onto the bed, sinking into Andy's arms with an enormous sigh.

"You're my little protector aren't you," Andy muttered, kissing his hair. "Love you sweetheart."

While she was cuddling, Andy heard Miranda echoing the same sentiment to Samuel next to them. They had discussed telling the children that they loved them a few weeks ago. Miranda had been reading another self-help book - something Andy would have never believed had she not seen it herself - but it had told her that adopted children did not always do well when presented with declarations of great affection. Andy had shot her down immediately and they'd had a small but intense argument about it. Eventually though, much to Andy's surprise, Miranda had backed down and asked Andy to explain her reasoning. She'd told Miranda about how unloved she often felt before she'd met her, about how she'd never believed anyone that had told her that they loved her, until Miranda. And that she never, ever wanted any of their children to feel that way, no matter who their parents where, and who they had been raised by. Something had happened that day, and Andy had not seen Miranda with another self-help book since, something Andy was secretly thankful for. As she'd told Miranda - they could muddle through it themselves.

"Andréa? Are you alright?"

Andy blinked, finding three sets of eyes on her and she smiled, kissing Sam's nose when he leaned within reach of her.

"Fine," she smiled. "Just thinking of how much I love you all. You," She kissed Nick's forehead. "You," she kissed Sam's. "And you," she kissed Miranda's lips, letting them linger for a moment before Sam declared they were 'eww' and that she was getting girls germs.

"Can't get girl germs," Andy countered, snatching him from Miranda's arms and kissing him over and over. The sound of his giggles were like music to her ears and it wasn't long before Olivia shuffled in with a dark look on her face.

"Hello Olivia," Miranda said, holding out her arms.

"'m sleepy," she mumbled snuggling into Miranda's body and closing her eyes.

"Well, I thought we would have a nice morning together. I shall cook you all some breakfast and then Cara's going to come over and play with you for a few hours while Andréa and I go out, but we shall be back before you know it and then we will all have a nice evening."

"Can we watch Frozen?" Olivia piped up, sleep forgotten.

"I'm sure we can," Miranda winced. "But there will be time to decide that. Now, who wants waffles?"

"ME!" Sam squealed.

Andy laughed as he practically vibrated with the excitement. Miranda didn't often make breakfast, but when she did - she excelled, as she did with most things. Andy had learnt a lot about the woman behind the editor since moving in, and not for the first time, she pondered on how stupid her ex-husbands must have been to let go of such an amazing, accomplished woman.

The children ran out of the room, following Miranda's orders to dress and brush their teeth. It wasn't until Miranda's hand wound it's way around Andy's waist that she realised she was daydreaming.

"Sorry," she smiled.

"What were you thinking?" Miranda asked, tracing Andy's face with her hand as if she was the most delicate of flowers.

"Actually how utterly stupid your ex husbands must have been to let you go."

Miranda just looked at her, her face unreadable and for a moment, Andy wondered if she'd said the wrong thing.

She needn't have worried. Miranda's face broke out into a smile that rivalled Andy's best.

"That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," Miranda said quietly. "But I cannot blame them all completely. I was as much to blame just as often as they were."

"Well, this time we're onto a winner."

Miranda chuckled and spent the next few minutes kissing Andy to let her know she felt the same. When they heard the children coming closer, Miranda slipped out of bed and went through her morning ritual. Andy relaxed back on the bed, hands behind her head, wondering at her good fortune.

-0-

"This has been a most disappointing afternoon," Miranda sighed, getting back into the town car with Andy. She wasn't wrong. Every high end dealership they'd been to so far hadn't got a model big enough for their needs, or had one that was ugly. Andy had thought for sure they would have found one by now, but all the dealers had succeeded in doing was annoying Miranda and ignoring Andy.

"I guess this is a bust," Andy sighed, resting her head against the seats. "We should probably forget about it and just call someone as you suggested."

"What? You would give up so easily?" Miranda gasped. "What on earth has happened to you since you've started working as a writer. You've lost your spark."

Andy shrugged, feeling disheartened.

"How about we, how do you young people say it, switch things up a bit," Miranda said with a grin. "Roy? What do you know about cars?"

Andy watched as Roy straightened his tie and glanced in the rear view mirror.

"Uh, cars ma'am?"

"Don't ma'am me Roy, you've been driving me nearly longer than Andréa has been alive. We need a car that will suit our needs. In fact, find somewhere where we can all have coffee, somewhere quiet."

Roy glanced in the mirror and Andy smiled.

"Hey we're near 9th Avenue right?"

"Sure?" Roy said, sounding dubious.

"Can we go to 132? There's a great place I want to take Miranda."

Roy nodded and swung around at his earliest convenience, after a short while, they pulled up outside a small shop that had Miranda pursing her lips.

"Ah ah ah," Andy grinned. "No judging before you've been inside."

"Andréa, you should know by now not to mess with my coffee."

"Seriously, just trust me," Andy batted her eyelids. "Please."

Miranda never agreed, but she did tut and roll her eyes. Andy pulled her gently from the car, checking the street before she actually got out. Being photographed at the park was very different from escorting Miranda into a little known place like a secret speakeasy bar.

"Andréa, I am waiting for the big finale -"

"Welcome to Stone Street Coffee Compan -" the attendant swallowed when she looked up and saw Miranda. "Whoa. Um, right this way ma'am." she said immediately.

The woman lead Miranda and Andy through a door and into a dimly lit room full of plush chairs and a long bar.

"Well," Miranda said, cracking just a hint of a smile. "I am not unimpressed."

Andy laughed and sat on a seat big enough to accommodate both of them, patting the seat beside them.

"If you can show our friend in when he comes back, you can't miss him; big guy, dark suit."

"Um, yeah, right," the girl nodded, disappearing before they could order. She came back three minutes later, rather pink with a notepad and pen. "Sorry, would you like to order something?"

"We'd like coffee's please," Andy said, soothing Miranda with a hand on her thigh. "A caramel latte for me and a no foam, super hot latte for Miranda. Our guest will order when he arrives. And we would also like your discretion."

"Of course, that goes without saying," the girl nodded, waiting a beat before disappearing.

"People are ridiculous," Miranda hissed.

"I know, and I love you for staying with me. Just go with it," Andy whispered.

"I am Miranda Priestly. I do not just go with it," she huffed.

"I know," Andy grinned, pressing a quick kiss against Miranda's cheek. "The coffee is worth it, I promise."

"I will hold you to that, and we can come back here in the evening. I'm interested to know what the bar is like," Miranda muttered, getting out her phone. "I am sending a message to Cara, to check on the children, you are far too immature to bother with right now."

"You can punish me later," Andy whispered darkly in her ear.

"You are rather cheeky aren't you," Miranda grinned, still looking at her phone.

"I try my hardest."

The door opened and Roy walked in, looking suitably impressed.

"This place is amazing," he grinned. "Thanks so much for this."

"Roy, you look like you know things about cars," Miranda said immediately. "Tell me what you know."

"What is it you're looking for?" Roy asked, glancing at Andy.

"A car big enough for all of us. Seven seats, leg room. The children's seats must fit."

"We need eight," Andy said.

"No we do not, there is only seven of us."

"Well, there's Roy," Andy nodded towards Roy with a smile. They paused as the waitress brought their coffees then left them alone again. "In case he needs to take us all somewhere, but we actually need eight spaces because we have eight family members Miranda."

Miranda gaped at Andy and glanced down at her abdomen. Andy blushed and grabbed Miranda by the lapel of her coat, apologising to Roy before dragging Miranda to the bathroom.

"You think I'm pregnant?" she said, rounding on her and glaring in anger.

"No, no, I don't really," Miranda said, her tone placating Andy just a little. "It was a reaction. I merely do not understand why you insist there are eight of us."

"Patricia!" Andy said, waving her arms, perhaps a little dramatically. "Do you seriously think I would be sleeping around behind your back?"

Miranda blushed, even in the low light and squeezed Andy's hand.

"No," Miranda assured me. "No, I don't think you were, I don't think you would ever. And you're right," she snorted. "You're absolutely right, Patricia will need space when we travel."

Suitably cowed, Miranda apologised once again with a gentle kiss on Andy's lips. Andy stared at her for a moment before kissing her hard.

"Try not to forget you're the love of my life, alright?"

"I shall endeavour to do my best," Miranda grinned.

They walked back to the table, and sat down as if nothing had happened. Andy grinned at Roy, who just shook his head and started their conversation once again.

"Um, right. Well, I guess you want luggage room as well as enough seating for everyone."

"They girls have expressed an interest in soccer," Miranda griped.

"My girls play soccer," Roy said with a grin. "Only in the park; it's a community league, but they love it."

Andy noticed Miranda looked a little surprised at the information. She wondered if this was the most Roy had spoken in his entire tenure.

"How many kids do you have?" Andy said.

"Four," he grinned. "We have an Lincoln Navigator, I guess we know already that Mercedes and BMW aren't going to help. What about a top of the line midrange car.

"I do not want anything pedestrian."

"Miranda," Andy said chastising the woman for her rudeness.

"Andréa, if we have the money, we might as well use it," she said, sipping her latte. "This coffee is not terrible by the way, which is lucky because I'm becoming less and less impressed with the both of you."

"What if you had it customised?"

Andy felt Miranda go very still and it occurred to Andy how silly they'd been.

"Why didn't we think about that?" Andy said, leaning against Miranda. "That would solve all our problems."

"We'd still need a car big enough to do so though," Miranda said. "Tell me about this Navigator you own."

"Well, I'm not being funny, but it's probably too large for either of you. What you probably want to look at maybe a Jeep, or a Lexus."

"Isn't a Lexus just a more expensive Toyota?" Andy grinned and Roy chuckled, nodding his agreement.

"Well, we can certainly take a look at them, but we must now rethink our end game. We need a car that will suit the modification process."

"I know a guy," Roy started, wincing when Miranda frowned. "My buddy; we served together."

"Can he be trusted?" Miranda asked, ignoring Andy's warning squeeze on her thigh again.

"I trust him with my life." Roy said simply, a hint of a growl in his voice.

"Good," Miranda smirked. "I know that you would not steer us wrong. It is not just Andréa and I that will be riding in this car. It will be everything that we hold dear."

"I understand. He won't let you down Miranda."

They traversed the miles of car yards once more, searching for the ever elusive car to fit their needs. They searched at Nissan and Jeep. Miranda liked the look of the new Jeep Discovery, but Andy quickly showed her how impractical the third row of seat was. The lack of room in the trunk was also a factor.

"I'd like one that's good for the environment too," Andy said absently when they were back in the car. "I think we should set an example. Protect the environment for our children."

"Our children," Miranda smiled, pulling Andy across the seat and into her arms.

"Ours," Andy gloated. "All of them."

"That makes it sound like you want more of them. Do you not think we have enough?"

"For now," Andy grinned, pecking Miranda's cheek and letting that information sink in.

"You're a tease," Miranda shook her head. "Roy?"

"Yes Miranda?"

"Take us to the Toyota yards please, if I am right in thinking that Lexus is overpriced?"

"You are," Roy grinned. "It'll take us maybe half an hour," Roy said. "I'll let you know when we're close."

Roy raised the privacy screen without Miranda commenting, leaving the two women secluded together in silence.

"My employees seem to have forgotten who I am," Miranda griped.

"Nah," Andy grinned, sliding closer. "They've seen the woman behind the mask. And they are as taken with her as I am. They would do anything for you, for the woman. They fear the editor, but they love you."

"As much as you do?" Miranda teased lightly.

"No," Andy said, cupping her chin. "Nobody can love you as much as I can. Now, he said he'd let us know when we're close. Wanna make out?"