A/N: "What's this?" you say. "An update? Why, that hasn't happened in so long, I was afraid this poor story was abandoned."

"Well, fear not noble citizens. For I have returned."

"Oh, Assassin."

Stop now Em, that's enough.

Okay.

Hi! I'm back, obviously. Of sound mind and body... they tell me. Anyway. Here's an update! Who knew we'd get one of those so quickly *ahem*. If you're really lucky, you might even get a second one later today. We shall see.

This has NOT been beta-ed. I've done my best with it, but let's face it, I'm not good with tense and occasionally the odd grammatical whoopsy gets past me. Mea Culpa!

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.

-0-

By the time twilight had settled over New York City, Olivia had woken up once, but not completely. Not much progress had made much beyond that, but while Andy was hopeful, Miranda was less so. Dr Smart had assured her four times that there was nothing underlying, and that some children responded differently to anesthetic. It hadn't helped much. He explained that while he was almost positive Olivia would be right as rain by the morning, but that she had to remain overnight so that she could be monitored. It had been a blow to their plans and Andy had chewed her thumbnail to the quick trying to decide what to do.

"You should go home, you need it," Andy tried for the third time.

"I do," Miranda agreed. "But Nicholas will no doubt prefer you to be by his side when he is tucked into bed, or he will do nothing but cry."

"You could stop him."

"Yes, but I do not have the energy, nor the patience to do so," Miranda sighed, tangling her fingers with Andy's. "Honestly Andréa, they will provide a cot for me to sleep on, and I shall try to at least get a few hours. She will be asleep most of the night providing the pain is not too much."

Andy finally conceded defeat and wrapped her arms around Miranda's waist.

"Fine," Andy sighed, nuzzling Miranda's neck with her nose. "But then tomorrow you're spending the day resting, in bed. Cara and I can take the kids out or whatever."

"Darling, what about your work?"

"I emailed. I have some holiday time and I'm going to take it. I'm up to date with all of my assignments from last week. If," she paused. "If you wanted you could bring home my assignments? Or I'll just go in the day after tomorrow and get what I need."

"Oh," Miranda said, her eyes widening. "Of course, I shall do that."

"I'll get Roy to bring you back a bag. The bathroom here isn't too bad, you should be able to shower so that you feel a bit better," Andy ran her hand through her hair. "I should have thought of that before, I'm sorry."

"Don't," Miranda sighed, leaning into Andy's arms. "I'm just glad you're here."

"Not how we'd planned our week going," Andy chuckled morosely.

"No," Miranda muttered, smoothing a frown from Olivia's forehead.

"It can only get better," Andy shrugged. "Are you sure?"

"Have you ever known me to say something I don't mean?"

"Well no, but I thought I'd try one final time."

Miranda hummed and turned up her face so she could kiss Andy. Taking the moment as it came, Andy deepened the kiss and wrapped her up tighter in her arms.

"I love you, Miranda," Andy said as they pulled apart.

"As I love you, my Andréa."

After kissing Olivia, taking care not to wake her while she was sleeping, Andy slipped out of the room, meeting Roy in the hallway.

"Ready to go, boss?"

"I'm not your boss," Andy laughed but linked arms with him. "But yeah, I'm ready to go see the other babies."

"I'm going to go and pick up the bag Nigel put together for Miranda, I'll bring it back here, then I'm going to park up in case you need me overnight."

"Oh, no I promise, it'll be okay. Miranda's staying and Cara will have to go home for a while anyway. Truly. Go home, rest. It'll be another big day tomorrow." He looked conflicted for a moment before she squeezed his arm. "Really."

"Alright," he nodded.

He led her to the parking lot where the town car was parked. Thankfully, nobody seemed to have noticed, and there was no press outside the hospital, further reinforcing what Dr Smart had assured her. The hospital staff was the model of discretion.

Walking up the steps to the townhouse was like the weight of the world had plonked itself down on Andy's shoulders. The strain of the day had finally caught up with her and she paused with her key in the door, suddenly caught by how different her life had suddenly become.

"MAMA!"

The door swung away from her and a very precocious Sam was screaming at the top of his lungs.

She glanced up the street but couldn't see anyone, not wanting the press to intrude on their lives any more than they would anyway, she picked him up and slipped inside, locking the door and putting on the lock, preventing him from opening the door to anyone else.

"What have I told you about the door?" she asked gently, but sternly.

"I'm here Andy, I saw you," Cara called, sitting on the bottom step of the stairs. She had her arm around Cassidy, who was looking no less forlorn than she did that morning.

"Oh sweetie."

"We're okay," Cara assured her. "It comes and goes I think. Everyone's been fed and watered," she tickled Cassidy's ribs a little. "And Nicky and Sam are ready for bed."

"I is not," Sam growled.

"I beg your pardon," Andy said, her eyebrows shooting up.

"I's ready for cuggles!"

Cara laughed under her breath and got up, pulling Cassidy with her.

"Nicky and Caroline are upstairs. She found a box of lego that they had stashed away somewhere. He's enjoying the one on one time I think."

"Thank you so much, Cara, I'm so sorry today didn't work out."

"Oh, don't worry," she said, waving it off like dropping everything on her morning off was nothing. "It's not unusual that one of us gets some time off and something happens. Will you be alright from here? Do you want me to fix you a plate?"

"No, thank you. Please don't trouble yourself. We'll get these little monkeys to bed and then I'll grab something light."

"If you're sure," Cara smiled, kissing Cassidy's forehead. "I'll be back tomorrow morning at 8."

"Thanks," Cassidy managed, before moving under Andy's free arm.

"No worries kiddo," she said gently. "Tell Andy, she'll tell you what I told you."

"Okay," Cassidy nodded but didn't elaborate.

They waved goodbye to Cara. Andy was so pleased that the woman hadn't baulked when they had added to her number of charges. Miranda had informed her that Cara was probably the best-paid nanny in New York, but that she was worth every cent that Miranda had insisted on her taking. Andy was beginning to see why Miranda had never let her go.

"Come on munchkins," Andy said gently, squeezing Cassidy a little. "Let's go see the others and get ready for bed."

"I want to sleep wiv' yous."

Andy sighed. Honestly, she and Miranda had discussed this very issue that Andy was sure she would have to face. Two of their family was missing and it had left a big hole where they would usually be. She peeked in on Nicky and Caroline, not wanting to disturb them, but the distraction was complete when Nicky saw she was home. He got up, scattering the tower they had made and ran to her, slamming into her legs and hanging on tight, his thumb in his mouth.

"Hey baby," she said, running her hand through his hair. She sighed as Caroline's tired eyes reached hers. "Come on," she grinned. "Sleepover in our bed."

"Sweet!" Caroline grinned, getting up and joining the group hug.

It took the three of them; Andy, Caroline and a still subdued Cassidy a long time to get the boys settled. They read and read and read until finally, Andy told them that it was time to close their eyes. She kissed them both on the head and let them snuggle up together in their California King.

"Sleep tight my little babies," she whispered, slipping her hand into Cassidy's and drawing the girls out of the room with her.

"Midnight snack at," she glanced at the clock and laughed. "Seven?"

"Absolutely."

They wandered down to the kitchen and Andy made some Nutella toast for them to snack on. She sliced them into fingers and put some fruit on top, joining the girls on the breakfast bar.

"So," she said, looking at Cassidy. "You know it's not your fault, don't you."

She was correct in thinking that she was going to hit the nail on the head. It was inevitable that Cassidy, who had been with Olivia at the time of the accident, would feel responsible for the whole thing and Andy was going to nip it in the bud.

"I wish I could have been home to tell you this earlier, but your Mom needed me. But I am telling you, that both I and your mom know it wasn't your fault, and we don't blame you, and Livvy is very much looking forward to cooking with you again."

She burst into tears and slid off her stool to be wrapped up in Andy's arms. Andy could tell she'd been stewing on it all day and even as Caroline rolled her eyes, the spitting image of her mother, she too got up and hugged Cassidy.

"I told you they wouldn't blame you. It wasn't your fault you dummy."

"Caro," Andy shook her head. "But the message is the same. Let it go, sweetie. I look forward to many more breakfasts cooked by you and Liv. Although, just know that we're hiding the knives and any other sharp implement that might hurt one of you guys okay?"

"Okay," Cassidy hiccupped.

"Alright. I don't know about you two, but I'm beat. Do you wanna stay with me tonight?"

"Can we?" Caroline asked in a voice that was much smaller than Andy was used to.

Caroline was the leader of the two. The voice. And it shocked her that Caroline, indeed both of them, felt that they wouldn't be welcome.

"I said it was a sleepover night didn't I?" Andy asked, tipping their chins so they'd meet her eyes. "That means all our kids."

She'd been right about that worry too it seemed. She had mentioned it in passing the other night to Miranda, about making sure that the girls didn't feel like they were being replaced, even if the worries were unfounded. She pulled them both in and kissed their hair.

"Go wash up and meet me in bed. It's possible I might have to move the boys, so I'll just run the dishwasher and I'll be up in a mo."

"We love you, Andy."

She looked at them and kissed their hair again.

"I love the both of you, so very much."

-0-

Andy was awake long before she wanted to be. The night had not been idyllic. The twins were well versed in sleeping in bed with Miranda, but the boys had no such training. About an hour after she closed her eyes, she awoke with a foot in her face, and after dealing with that, she woke at least three times with feet in her back and poking her kidneys. By the time Cara arrived to cook breakfast for them, Andy was on her third cup of coffee.

"Oh you look like you had a good night," she chuckled, turning the newspaper the right way while Andy was trying to read it. "I think Miranda probably slept better than you."

"God I hope so," she groaned, rubbing her face. "I really do, because I'm going to need a holiday after last night."

"Are you going straight there?"

"I thought I'd wait until the boys were up, then go and swap with Miranda. No doubt she'll want to head to the office for a while."

"That sounds great. I'll get started on breakfast and do a load of washing."

"You really are a lifesaver Cara, do you know that?"

Cara didn't say anything, but Andy was gratified to see her smile. She rubbed her face one more time and made a face when she realised her coffee was cold.

"Time to move I think," she muttered to herself, heading back up to take a shower. She texted Miranda beforehand to get an update and enjoyed the 9 jets pressuring her skin from all directions. The concept of marrying for money had never crossed her mind, but it didn't come without its perks.

She heard her phone go off and she stepped out, wrapping her hair and her body in the sinfully fluffy towels. She shook her head at herself. How funny life was that she would end up in the position she was in.

Dr. says he will release her after breakfast at approximately 9:30 am. Will you be joining us?

Andy chuckled at the message and sent off a reply that was much less formal. The day had started and she heard Sam calling for her. She pulled on a robe and tucked the phone into her pocket and joined her little family on the bed.

"Hey little Monkey," she grinned, accepting the sloppy kiss on her cheek.

"We see M'anda today?"

"We do indeed. And Livvy is coming home very soon, but you need to be gentle with her Sam, she's got a very sore hand."

"She get an owie?" Andy smiled and scruffed his hair.

"Yeah baby, she got an owie."

She was in the middle of running her hands through Nicky's hair to wake him up when her phone started ringing.

She didn't think too much of it and picked up on the fourth ring.

"H'lo?" she was too busy paying attention to Nick than whoever it was on the phone.

"Miss Sachs, I'm calling to confirm your relationship with Miranda Priestly?"

She dropped the phone, looking down at it like it had bitten her. Nicholas was blinking up at her and he passed her the phone back, and she took it carefully, ending the call and trying to smile at him.

"Andy?!"

Caroline ran into the room with wild eyes.

"I know," Andy said quietly, biting her lip. "Turn the TV off okay? Please. I'm about to ring your Mom. Can you get Cass to come and help Nick and Sam to get down for breakfast?"

"Yep."

She was off like a shot, well versed in how to deal with the fallout that was no doubt about to hit like a storm. She blinked again as Nick got down and shuffled into the bathroom, and she stared at the home screen on her phone before it started ringing again.

"What the bloody hell is going on?"

Emily's voice calmed her somewhat and she remembered that she was not without skills.

"God Em, I don't know what the hell is going on. They rang my phone for fuck's sake, how did they even get my number?" she scrubbed her face and realised that it was inevitable really, they were lucky, as Miranda had said, that they'd got away with it for this long.

"What's the line?" Emily asked.

"What's the line always?"

"I'm on it," Emily said quietly and she paused and Andy wondered if she was going to hang up. "How's Olivia?" Andy smiled.

"She's coming home this morning, thank you. Miranda was going to come in later I think, I'll let you know when she's on her way."

"Lifesaver," Emily said without thinking and it must have shocked her sufficiently that she put down the phone without another word. Andy chuckled and rang her love.

"Andréa, they're not releasing her until Maxwell has been to see her, and he insisted that she would be first at 9:30."

"No, I know," she sighed. "The papers got us, I don't know how but they did."

"I -" there was a pause and Andy knew Miranda was as shocked as she had been. "Oh, well, we shall deal with it as well as we do anything else."

"I'm so glad you got some sleep," Andy chuckled.

"You didn't."

"I have bruised kidneys I think," Andy said morosely and waited for Miranda to talk to Olivia before she continued.

"We will face this head-on. We are not in the wrong, everything's in order. You are my lover, my partner. You will be the big news, and for that, I can only apologise a hundred times. The children too, tell the girls to turn the TVs off and not to bring in the newspapers."

"I did," Andy sighed. "I guess this is it then?"

"Yes my darling, it is."

"Well, okay then. HR knows?"

"They do," and she could hear Miranda smile. "We have nothing to worry about my darling. If they ask you something you think deserves an answer, then you answer them, if they ask you something that you think goes over the line, you tell me and I will deal with it. We are not powerless Andréa. We have friends in high places."

"I remember," Andy chuckled and smiled as Nick appeared at the door and clambered onto her knee. "I'm going to get the kids settled then I'll come over. Oh," she bit her lip, trying not to worry in front of Nicholas. "Should I?"

"My darling? The press will come and go, we cannot and shall not stop living. We will continue on as nothing has changed, clear?"

"Yes Miranda."

"That's my Andréa," Miranda said quietly and Andy's heart squelched happily at the love in her tone.

"You're going in later?"

"I must," Miranda said, a touch apologetic.

"Please don't think like that. I was just gauging the day. You have to work, and you should never, ever feel guilty for that you know."

"Thank you my darling. Now come over and get us, we'd both like to go home."

"Yes Miranda."

"I will see you soon my darling," Miranda said quietly, hanging up as she said it, leaving Andy with a soppy grin on her face.

"I love her," she told Nicky unnecessarily.

He sighed dramatically and leaned back on her chest. Picking him up, she settled on what she could do this morning. Make sure the kids were okay, then go and pick Miranda and Olivia up from the hospital. Everything would be okay.

Probably up to the point when she had to open the front door.