A/N: It's been a minute and a half hasn't it! Life has a nasty habit of getting in my way! And, because apparently, I have no sense of self control, this chapter is a gazillion words long. Enjoy!
See disclaimer Ch 1
-0-
Miranda had been stewing for two days after her discussion with Caroline. Andy had made herself, and the other kids, scarce and since then Miranda had barely uttered more than a few words together.
It came to a head that night, two days later, when Sam suddenly burst into tears.
"Tham make you sad," he wailed, his lip trembling, snot pouring down his face and his heartbreaking. "M'anda sad cos of Tham."
"Oh darling," Miranda said exasperatedly. "Come here."
Andy watched as Caroline's eyes widened and she went a funny grey colour. Andy reached over and took her hand under the table. She was pretty sure that Miranda wasn't about to out her to the kids, but Andy also wasn't all that sure whether Caroline had even told Cassidy yet. Miranda smiled kindly at Caroline while she soothed Sam's tears.
"I am only feeling a little out of sorts darling," Miranda muttered. "I am more than alright. And you have not upset me at all. None of you have."
She looked straight at Caroline who took a shaky breath. If Cassidy had noticed something was different, the twins weren't talking about it. Andy sighed and accepted a cuddly Nick on her knee as well.
"Well, how about a movie and some popcorn?" she asked, looking at Miranda. "Perhaps M'anda can bring The Book and look it over while she sits with us."
"Can you M'anda?" Sam asked quietly.
"Of course little one. Let's finish our dinner and then we'll move upstairs."
"Yey," Livvy said happily, picking up her spoon again. Her hand was healing well and it would be soon that she would have to begin rehab soon. They had a Dr's appointment in a number of days to check her progress and find a start date. Andy was looking forward to the little girl getting her hand back. She and perhaps Nick would start school in three weeks and Andy was looking forward to the settling that she expected to take place once they were there. Sam could get some one-on-one time with Cara and start progressing a little faster, and Olivia and Nick could get some socialisation in.
The twins had another week of school before the two weeks holiday. The rush to get through the end of the term was exhausting them all. There was a shoot coming up that was stressing Miranda, and on top of the revelation from Caroline that was clearly giving her pause, Andy knew they needed some downtime.
-0-
"You knew," Miranda said finally as Andy tumbled into bed that night. "You knew and you didn't tell me."
"She told me about 1 piece of toast before you. And she asked me not to tell you; that she wanted to tell you."
"You could have warned me."
Andy flicked off the light and rolled over to look at Miranda looking imperiously down at the book. Her glasses were perched low on her nose and she was glaring at the pages.
"I couldn't have. What would you have had me tell you?"
"Anything."
"Miranda -"
"Are you not afraid?"
That pulled Andy up short. The change of pace threw her and she really looked at Miranda now.
"You are," Andy said quietly.
"You are so young," Miranda shook her head and threw the book.
"Hey!" Andy said, sitting up. "Don't dismiss me like that."
To be fair, Miranda looked slightly apologetic as she threw down her glasses in disgust.
"I did not mean to," Miranda said quietly. Andy figured it was as close to an apology as she'd get. "I just meant that you were not even alive during the troubles in the 60s and 70s. So many people," Miranda swallowed. "Treated so -"
"We are in very different times Miranda," Andy mollified gently. "Caroline is arguably in the best position and the best time to be safe in who she is."
"But -"
"I know," Andy smiled gently.
"I worry about them far more than I would ever admit."
"You can always admit it to me Miranda," Andy whispered.
"Hence our conversation," Miranda finally smiled at Andy, snuggling closer.
Andy wrapped her arms around Miranda's body and pulled her even closer.
"I love you, ya know," Andy whispered into Miranda's hair.
"As I love you my darling."
-0-
"Good afternoon ladies."
Andy and Livvy both greeted the new doctor and even Miranda nodded a greeting. He rolled up on his stool in front of Olivia, who was pressing herself into Andy's side.
"It's alright sweetheart," he smiled kindly. "I'll be really gentle."
Andy smiled down at Livvy and put her arm around her as Livvy bravely stuck out her hand for the doctor to inspect. He worked quietly and quickly, evidently having been warned of Miranda and how she expected things to happen.
"Oh that's looking good," he muttered, smiling at Andy. "The edges are nice and clean."
Andy peered down at the hand and was delighted to see the nice pink edges of fresh skin growing over the wound.
"I'd say that's probably okay to start some gentle movements," he said gently. "I think her file said she's got an appoint with Dr Swari?"
"That's right," Andy said. She'd made the appointment herself.
"Annie is great. She'll get everything back on track in no time at all. It's my job to start the process off and her job to refine it."
"Okay."
"I've got a flyer with the range of movements I'd like you to begin doing with her. Every day if you can - it will only help this one's hand get better faster."
Andy liked him, he was kind and gentle and wasn't too cutesy like some paediatric doctors. Miranda was standing behind them watching quietly.
"At this stage do you foresee there being any issues with her future use?" Miranda asked quietly.
"I couldn't tell you in the definitive, I apologise. Dr Swari will have a much better idea of that after a week of gentle movements and their first session together."
"Acceptable," Miranda nodded and fell silent again.
"Okay. I think it's best if we leave off a lot of the bandages and allow it to dry out more," he looked at Andy. "As it dries further it will begin to itch. It's imperative she not scratch it. It will increase the likelihood of the scar being wider or taking longer to heal."
Andy nodded and smiled at Olivia.
"You hear that love? No scratching."
"Yes Mama."
Andy kissed her hair and waited for the Doctor to leave the room before turning to Miranda.
"You alright?" she asked quietly.
"I am," Miranda said. "I am glad I came with you."
"Me too," Olivia said, holding out her hand to Miranda.
Miranda walked over to her and kissed the hand offered to her. Miranda allowed Olivia to hand onto her while the nurse came in and redressed the room.
"Alright, now we've got that sorted, here's the paperwork for Dr Swari, and the sheet of exercises that Olivia needs to do. Call back if you need any further information or with any other problem.
"Of course," Andy said, shaking his hand. "Thank you."
"Take care Miss Olivia," he said kindly. "If Mama agrees, perhaps you'd like a sucker?"
"I think that will be alright, won't it?"
"Yes."
Olivia got to choose her sucker and they walked out of the surgery turning their eyes against a few camera flashes. The press had backed off a touch as they soon realised how truly boring Miranda and Andy's life was, but there was always an odd one waiting to catch them unawares.
"How come they do that?" Olivia asked, peering through the tinted windows.
"They believe Mama's life is exciting enough to report on," Miranda said, catching Andy's eye and grinning just a little.
"You're so silly," Andy laughed.
"She is silly," Olivia said, sighing as she leant against Miranda's side with a sigh. "But she loves us."
"Of that," Miranda said, leaning down to kiss Olivia's hair. "You can be assured."
Life was not normal, but it was certainly getting there.
-0-
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"
Andy blinked as her ears were assaulted by volume.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"
She realised she wasn't dreaming and she groaned as someone bounced on her ribs.
"Samuel, be gentle darling."
"Oh!"
It was her birthday! She'd completely forgotten. She'd not received her father's card yet, but that was not unusual. Mail wasn't a constant out on the rigs but she didn't really talk to anybody else anymore, so she hadn't got any cards in the mail to signify the big day.
As she opened her eyes and found all 5 kids kneeling on the bed, Caroline holding a tray with coffee and croissants and Cassidy holding a cupcake with a solitary candle in it, she felt tears come to her eyes. This was a birthday she'd dreamt about when she was a child. Filled with love, and candles and presents.
"Oh, this wasn't necessary," she said, biting back the extreme excitement at having this small thing.
"Well," Miranda said, smiling down as Sam turned around to hug her. "We thought it was. Happy Birthday my darling."
"Thank you," she said, matching Miranda's eyes and trying to convey exactly how she felt about it.
"We brought you breakfast in bed," Olivia explained. "Cassy and I made the cakes with M'anda."
"You did" Andy squealed. "Is there enough for everyone?"
"There is," Miranda said, looking uncomfortable. "Although I had planned that perhaps avoiding us all eating in our bed."
"Oh Miranda," Andy laughed. "Come and share this with me?" she poked out her bottom lip and made her eyes look sad. "Please?"
"Fine," Miranda rolled her eyes. "Samuel, go and keep my spot warm, Nicholas, move slowly so you don't knock into Caroline and Olivia perhaps if you help me with the rest?"
Andy watched as they all moved to Miranda's orders. She loved watching them hang on every word that Miranda uttered. It was magical. Nick cuddled up on her lap, knowing that if he didn't get there first, Olivia or even Sam might usurp his favourite spot. She settled herself back against the headboard and sighed as he leant back on her chest and reached up to play with her hair. It was probably getting a bit long, but Miranda liked it long and Nick loved tangling his fingers in the ends and hanging on.
"Can you take this Andy?" Caroline asked, trying to figure out how to get off the bed, without spilling everything.
"Sure sweetie," she said, reaching for the tray. "Nicky keep really still for Mama, okay?" He didn't say anything but he stilled as she arranged their breakfast on their knee. "Don't touch love, it'll really burn you."
Cassidy had valiantly hung onto the cupcake but Andy saw that the candle was beginning to drip.
"You all left before Mama blew out her candle!" Cassidy called, sounded as exasperated as Miranda could at times.
"Oh sorry Cassy!" Livvy yelled as she ran back in the room, even though Andy could hear Miranda calling her back from the hallway.
"Liv! Calm down love. Cass, blow out the candle for me and we'll light it again in a minute, it'll be alright. Liv, sweetie, I think you left Miranda outside."
"Doh!"
Little Oliva ran back to Miranda before making her way carefully, heaving a bag that was almost as big as she was.
"Miranda!"
"Darling, they're not all from me," Miranda shrugged. "Some are from people who know me and wish to convey to you how beautiful you are."
"Geez Mom, that's pretty romantic," Caroline snorted.
"I can be romantic," Miranda shot back, waiting until Caroline looked at her before poking her tongue out at the girl.
"Yeah right," Caroline laughed, settling in on the end of the bed in a more comfortable position. "This is fun."
"Yeah!" Sam called, doing his best to help Olivia lift the bag onto the bed.
"Lordy," Andy chuckled, leaning out of the bed to help her.
"Can Andy blow out her candle now?"
"Yes," Miranda said, leaning over with a surprisingly normal Bic lighter.
Andy smiled as she remembered the conversation she'd had with Miranda the first time she'd used something so pedestrian. Namely. Another Bic lighter.
There's no point lighting birthday candles once a year with a thousand dollar Caran d'Ache Andréa.
She'd looked it up later and baulked at the price tag. Miranda had only smirked when Andy had cornered her and asked her if she had one. She'd been looking for it ever since but had so far, come up empty.
"Now," Miranda said gently, drawing her from her thoughts. "Shall we sing?"
"I'd," she looked at the kid's face. "I'd prefer you didn't, but I'm okay if I get outvoted."
"How about just the last bit?" Cassidy said, smiling.
"Sure," Andy said, feeling more and more out of her depth at the love being shown to her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"
Andy grinned and blew out her cupcake, taking care not to spill any wax on the bed. There was being at ease in the Townhouse, and then there was spilling things in the bed.
"Open mine Mama!"
Sam jumped from the bed and rummaged in the bag for his gift.
"Here!"
The other's, well used to Sam's rambunctiousness, waited for him to do his thing before they even spoke. Andy chuckled as he clumsily clambered back up to the bed and squeezed between the two woman, passing over his present.
"I picked it."
"You did?"
"Yep." He smiled proudly. "M'anda helped me wiv the monies."
"Whatever it is, I'm going to love it," she said, kissing his head.
She slid her finger under the end of the paper, pulling at it. It was a testament to the nature of their new lives that these gifts were - mostly - not professionally wrapped. It seemed as though each child had wrapped their own gifts, and Andy was touched.
"I puts two on, so you didn't cheat."
Any chuckled as she pulled one set of paper on, only to find another. Miranda made a noise in her throat, but Andy was charmed.
Eventually, she pulled off the final layer of paper, to reveal a small book. On closer inspection, Andy decided that it had to have been hand-made. The cover out of metal, and leather, the pages seemed to be made of pulp.
"IT'S ELEPHANT POOP!" he giggled.
"It's what?"
"He insisted," Miranda said, biting back a smile. "As soon as he heard Cassidy say the words, that is what he wanted to get you."
"The paper, it's made from poop."
"No. Way!"
"Yes way Mama!" Sam giggled. "Do you likes it?"
"I love it! It's almost too pretty to use."
"No, you gotsta," Sam said with a frown. "What did M'anda said? Taking notes wiv?"
"Then, I'll do just that," Andy said, pulling him into her arms and kissing him soundly. "Thank you, sweet boy."
"Me next?" Olivia asked, looking between them.
"Yes, you can go next sweetheart."
She clambered over Caroline, and reached into the bag, giggling as Caroline gripped her legs to stop her tumbling onto the floor.
"Honestly," Miranda muttered, but Andy's kiss soothed her worries.
"Here!"
Olivia present was passed over and Andy opened it a little quicker this time, with only one piece of wrapping paper to contend with. She was charmed by what she saw inside.
"Oh Livvy!"
It was a pair of gold earrings, with small leaves clustered on medium hoops. They were beautiful, and on closer inspection, seemingly handmade.
"M'anda knew someone who could make things," Olivia said happily, "I drew what I wanted and she made it!"
"Livvy, they're perfect," Andy said, pulling her onto her knee. "Will you help me put them on?"
"Yeah," Olivia said, kneeling on Andy's thighs and hanging onto one, while Andy put the other in.
"Are they straight?"
"Yeah," Livvy smiled. "They're really pretty."
"Perfect," Miranda said with a smile.
"Hey Liv, when it's my birthday, make sure you do something like this for me, okay?" Cassidy laughed.
"M'kay Cassie."
"Ours next," the twins said. Caroline hopped out and passed over a heavy, flat box. Andy glanced at the girls, and then to Miranda, who arched an eyebrow as if to challenge the words about to leave Andy's mouth.
"Girls," she said, almost pained by the guess at what was in the box.
"Just open it Mama," Cassidy said. "It's not like we can't afford it."
"Oh," Andy said, all the air rushing from her lungs at once. "You did."
A top of the line laptop stared at her like it was expecting her to give it away. It was a massively big deal for her, but the expectant look on the girls' faces were enough to make her swallow her pride.
"They made sure to okay it with me," Miranda said quietly. "I said that if that is what they thought you would want, then they should get it for you."
"I'm," Andy wasn't quite sure what to do. "I'm blown away girls. This is a big deal."
"I promise Andy. We went halves in it. We don't really buy stuff. We get most of what we have on our birthdays and Christmas."
"Girls, I really am thankful," she said, kissing Cassidy and squeezing Caroline's hand "This is," she shook her head. "This is more than I ever could have imagined!"
"Wait til you see what Mom got you," Caroline giggled.
"Caroline," Miranda warned quietly.
Andy glared at her, but she did her best to look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Instead of calling her on it, Andy let it go graciously.
"I can't wait to play on it," Andy said finally, cupping Caroline's chin. "Nicholas, would you like to give Mama her present?"
Nicky nodded with a small smiled and he hopped off the bed to get his gift, passing her a precisely wrapped present. It was the most amazing leather cuff she'd ever seen. It was intricately punched and riveted and exactly her style.
"Nicky, this is amazing!" she said. "Did M'anda help you pick it out?"
"Nicholas saw one in a magazine," Miranda explained. "I tracked down the craftsman and we had one made."
"Not your magazine?" Andy asked, genuinely interested.
"No," Miranda pursed her lips, surprising Andy. "Not my magazine."
"Oh. My. God," Andy said, her mouth hanging open. "Where did he find a copy of that?"
"What?" Livvy asked.
"Yeah, I don't get it?" Cassidy said.
"Anna's," Andy said. "Nicky saw it in Vogue."
Miranda's eyes were as hard and cold as steel, but her lips were twitching between pursed and smirking. The silence held for a while longer before Caroline cracked first. Snorting, she was unable to hang onto her laughter any more.
Cassidy, Caroline and Andy laughed until there were tears running down their cheeks, and the little ones smiled along with them, even though the did not really understand the gravity of what Miranda had done.
"You," Andy said, cupping Miranda's cheek. "Are something else lady."
"Nicholas wanted to get you that specific thing," Miranda said, her nose in the air. "So that is what we did."
"You guys," she looked at all of the kids together. "You don't know how much this means to me. Thank you."
"We asked Mom if we could have the day off, but not even she's taking the day off, so we're going to go to school. But," Cassidy poked Nicky in the belly. "She said we could go somewhere fun on the weekend."
"I thought this weekend was your first game?" Andy said, confused.
"It is," Caroline said quietly. "But if you want to go out, we can do that instead."
"What?" Andy said, wrapping her arm around Miranda to cup Caroline's face. "You're kidding me. There are two days in a weekend. I wanna watch you play."
"Well, okay," Caroline shrugged, though she looked pleased. "If you want to."
"Well, that ties in part with what else I have to give Andréa," Miranda said quietly. She reaching into her bedside cabinet and pulled out a box. She passed it to Andréa and sat quietly, as she had done for most of the morning.
"Is this something silly?" Andy said quietly.
"No," Miranda said. "I would not get you something," she pursed her lips. "Silly."
"You're right," Andy chuckled, kissing her cheek.
Andy opened the box and looked confused. Inside was a key fob for a car.
"You didn't get me a car?" Andy said, looking horrified.
"No," Miranda said, with a chuckled. "But we now have a car that we all fit in."
"Oh my god!" Andy said, suddenly, grasping the keys. "I didn't think it would be back this soon!"
"Roy's friend worked day and night apparently," Miranda said, waving her hand. "It's ready to be picked up today."
"That is awesome!" Andy smiled. "But," she looked down at the keys. "It's not just mine, right? I mean. I don't want you to give me a car."
"Well," Miranda said, looking a little caught out. "I had planned on doing so," she waved her hand again. "It is not a problem Andréa. We can afford more than one car."
"But I can't -"
"Andréa -"
"We're going to get dressed. Can we maybe have breakfast together before we go?"
"Of course darling," Miranda said, kissing Caroline's forehead. "Go on now, we'll meet you in the kitchen. "Cassidy darling, Caroline, could you take your brothers and sister with you."
"Sure Mom," Cassidy said, rolling off the bed and letting Sam clamber up on her back with a grunt. He wasn't heavy, but the girls had inherited Miranda's slight frame. "Come on munchkins!"
Miranda sat still until the door closed behind them, then turned to Andy, studying her in that way that made Andy feel really small.
"I have money," Miranda said, waving off the protest that was about to issue from Andy's mouth. "I know that you feel like you haven't, and that, even now it makes you feel uncomfortable, but I need to impart on you something of great importance," she fixed Andy with a stare that would make anyone else run screaming from the room. "Get over it. If you wish to continue to be a part of this family, something I sincerely hope that you do, you need to get over whatever this stubborn prideful streak you have and start functioning like an adult. If it is your wish that we be equals in every single thing, then I suggest you work out how much of a," she paused, looking for the word. "Dealbreaker that is, because I can guarantee you, I'll be long dead before you make as much as I do. And that is the inescapable truth."
Andy was speechless. It had been so long since she had been party to full force Priestly, and it shocked her how much it still got to her. She scrubbed at her eyes angrily.
"Knowing that you probably had never had a 'family' birthday party, the children and I thought it would be well received." Miranda sounded angry now. "If you could at least put your tantrum away long enough to join the children in the kitchen, you can do what you like afterwards."
As Miranda stalked away, something inside Andy snapped.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked, though she wasn't sure how her voice hadn't wobbled.
"What the he-," Miranda took a deep breath. "I understand the awkwardness of being in a situation for the first time, and I can, intellectually, of course, understand feeling out of your depth. But I have money Andréa. I have a lot of it, and if you cannot come to terms with that, you cannot come to terms with being with me. By rejecting every cent you have on offer to you, you wear cheap clothes and you use cheap pens and you use, frankly, appalling shoes, you are spitting on what we have to offer. I don't really understand what it is you want from me? I give to charity, I don't spend frivolously, my children," she huffed. "Our children are well taken care of and I -"
Andy was shocked at the sudden stop and knelt up on the bed.
"All of my husbands punished me for earning more than they did," Miranda whispered. "For feeling like they were being 'kept'." She spat the word in a way that made Andy flinch. "They wanted me to be Mrs Whatever, and they did not want to be a new Mr Priestly."
"I'm not punishing you," Andy said, though it sounded pathetic, even to her ears.
"No?" Miranda said her eyebrow arching. "Well, it certainly feels like it."
"That was not my intention," Andy said, her voice getting stronger with every second. "I don't," she grappled with her feeling. "I don't want to be kept. I want to earn my living."
"Are you not?" Miranda asked, cutting her off. "Are you using our money," she glared. "And it is our money, to get surgery, or to buy expensive things that are both frivolous and ridiculous?"
"No!"
"No!" Miranda repeated back to her. "But you are likewise not spending it on anything else either! Andréa, I need you to get over this. In order for us to be equals you have to stop putting me above you."
Apparently finished with the conversation, Miranda stalked into the bathroom, leaving Andy feeling bereft on the bed. She fell back against the pillows with a sigh and looked around at the presents and cupcake crumbs on the bed.
Picking up the crumbs and folding the pretty paper, she realised that Miranda was right. The twins were richer than she was, and it had rankled her. She realised, so belatedly, that feeling like that had hurt the twins, who had obviously put a lot of time and effort into picking out their present - whether it cost upwards of two grand or not. Each present had been perfectly picked for her, for Andy. And all she had been thinking about was how much Miranda had spent on her.
It came to her in brilliant clarity.
Nodding to herself, and glancing at the time, she realised she might just be able to fix the mess that she'd made.
She ran into the bathroom, slipping inside the door while Miranda was in the shower. Shucking her pyjamas, she yanked open the door and stepped inside. She gathered Miranda into her arms and kissed her deeply. The water was almost too hot, but she closed her eyes and enjoyed toying with Miranda's tongue, instead of wincing at the heat.
"I'm sorry," she whispered against her lips. "I can't guarantee it won't happen again, but I will try to be more aware of it. And," she smiled. "Well, I promise to try."
"Andréa, you either do, or you do not. Trying achieves nothing."
"You did not just quote Yoda while we are naked in the shower?"
"I could neither confirm or deny," Miranda said, though her lips twitched.
Andy pressed her lips against Miranda's once more and they kissed leisurely until Andy felt her stomach rumble.
"I'll wash your back if you wash mine?" she smirked.
"Deal."