A/N: I'm supposed to be writing my novella so I can give it away to all of you wonderful people in return for signing up to my author newsletter. But instead, I'm writing this, because the World Cup is on and you can't write Viking mythological fiction while you're watching a football match (even when the Danes are playing). You just can't. I'm not even sure you can write DWP fanfiction either, but I'm giving it a go.
NB: In my world, private schools have strict uniform policies and so in this fic Dalton has a uniform.
Holy moly, what a chapter! That turned out quite a bit longer than I'd imagined, so I hope you all enjoy it and it doesn't drag. Honestly, I've not even looked through it, so if there's anything glaring, point it out.
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-
"Mama?"
Andy cracked open her eyes, wondering what was going on as Olivia poked her in the arm for the second time that night.
"Livvy, what's wrong?" she mumbled, cracking open her eye.
"Is it time yet?"
Andy groaned.
"No baby, it's -" she looked over at the offensively bright alarm clock on her nightstand. "It's only an hour after you last asked," Andy sighed.
"Olivia?" Miranda said gently, with one of the sleep that Andy had. "Slide into bed with Mama. We will wake you when it is time to get up."
"Promise?" Olivia said, looking longingly at Andy.
"Promise," Andy smiled, lifting the covers and scooting back a little, further moulding herself to the front of Miranda.
Miranda hummed in delight and pressed a much against Andy as she could, while wrapping her arms around the two of them. Andy sighed, but frowned when she realised she probably wasn't going to sleep for a little while.
She could hear Miranda already snoring softly. Chuffing, she liked to call it. Like a tiger did, and that so fit her beautiful woman. It wasn't often that she couldn't sleep, but if she had interrupted sleep, like she had tonight, it got more and more difficult to get back to it.
She sighed and rolled a little, Livvy following her and laying over her, gripping Miranda's pyjama's. It made Andy smile that someone, especially a small someone could find such comfort in her.
She was always maudlin when she couldn't sleep. Going back over all of the decisions she'd made in her entire life, and letting them fester under her skin. It was something she had always done, since been ripped from her life and dropped back into the orphanage with only the clothes on her back.
Those years had been dark, though not as they could have been. She'd heard, and seen much worse situations, but it still hurt. And now, here she was, wrapped up with the most beautiful woman on the planet, with children filling up the house. She had no right to feel maudlin anymore. Her life was perfect.
And then there had been the car. The car that they had so lovingly designed and fitted out, only to be given to her, like it was hers. She didn't want it to be hers, she wanted something that was theirs. She'd tried to explain it to Miranda, later, when they'd curled up in bed on the evening of her birthday, but they'd been distracted by each other's bodies.
But now, in the quiet of the Townhouse, she could hear all those thoughts come to the forefront. She took a deep breath.
Once she'd started at Northwestern and the stress had really put her on edge, the counsellor had taught her a technique that sometimes worked. Instead of obsessing over the small things, switch it up, and look at the bigger picture. At the things she was most grateful about.
That was easier nowadays. She was grateful for Miranda. For the woman being alive, but mostly for the woman being hers. She was grateful that all 5 kids were healthy and relatively happy. She was grateful that Nicky looked to be settling in better at home, and while she hoped he'd eventually have the courage to speak, she was grateful that he could communicate at all. She was grateful for Caroline's bravery. The whole family had attended the soccer match, and the car had been a godsend. It had fit them fairly comfortably, and with the touch of a button, she seats all slid forward, giving them a brilliant seating area to watch the game in the park at Dalton. It had been like exploring a magical cave of wonder finding what all the buttons and panels had behind them.
Nicky's eyes had been as wide as saucers as things slid out of the walls, and three different TV's dropped down from the ceiling. Paw Patrol was quickly taking over their lives.
Andy found herself smiling.
"That's better," Miranda whispered, nosing the back of her ear. Andy jumped, but chuckled as Miranda smoothed her hand over her hip. "You seemed lost for a while."
"I was," Andy whispered, stroking Livvy's hair back. "I was struggling with a few things, but-" she blushed. "I was a bit uncomfortable with everything, I've been trying to work through it."
"You should have told me," Miranda said gently, though Andy could hear a beat of chastisement in it.
"I didn't want to bother you with it. It's my issue, and after what you said that morning of my birthday, you were right," she chuckled as Miranda grinned. "As usual."
"You have had a very different life to the one I have been blessed with," Miranda said gently, stroking Andy's face. "I too have been thinking about what I said on your birthday. I feel I overreacted."
"You didn't," Andy said, with a smile. "It's what I needed to hear."
"Well," Miranda murmured.
"It's okay. My college counsellor taught me how to do this thing. Basically, you list all the things that you're grateful for."
"That is a good idea," Miranda said, snuggling closer and sighing into Andy's neck. "We have plenty to be grateful for."
"That was my conclusion too," Andy sighed.
They fell silent for a while, listening to the quiet breathing from Olivia.
"Do you think we're doing the right thing?"
"With what?" Andy asked.
"Sending them to school?"
"Yes," Andy smiled. "They needed some time to recovered. Then they need normal. School is normal, and we already know that Dalton will take care of them. I," she frowned. "I don't know what they're going to do with Nicky."
"They have an excellent program," Miranda said, with an almost haughty air. "He will get by until he is ready. They offered him speech therapy, but I declined. He can talk -"
"He just chooses not to."
"After what they have been through, I don't blame him," Miranda mused.
Andy glanced over at the alarm clock and yawned, finally feeling at ease enough to try and close her eyes.
"Wanna get some sleep boss?" she asked cheekily.
"With you? Always," Miranda whispered.
Sighing they pulled Olivia in close and closed their eyes.
-0-
"CASSIDY!"
"I'm coming! I can't find my other shoe!"
"Cass, come on!"
"Stop," Cassidy said, throwing clothes and magazines and cushions across her bedroom. "I'm trying."
"Why didn't you do this yesterday?" Andy asked. "You knew this would be a difficult morning!"
"I know!" Cassidy whined. "I tried, I -"
"You were watching YouTube," Caroline snarked from behind Andy's elbow.
"Caroline, downstairs," Andy ordered, already hearing Miranda moving into the hall. "Cass, where did you last see it?"
"Andy, I swear, it was right here."
"Cassidy."
Andy sighed and pinched her nose. The morning had not gone brilliantly, though, if they could find Cassidy's shoe in the next two minutes it would be mostly back on track.
"Mama, I really tried."
"No baby, you really didn't. We've talked about this before, and I won't talk about it again. If you cannot find your shoe, put on a pair of others and face the consequences, okay? There's nothing I can say to you that will make you learn that in our family, now that it's as big as it is, you gotta be more organised. So, I'll leave it to school okay? But we're leaving in," she glanced at her watch. "Well, actually, now. So throw a pair on and hope for the best."
"Please."
"Cass, I don't know what to tell you. I cannot magic your shoe into existence."
She nodded, toeing off her one shoe and slipping on her trainers.
"Will you get a detention or something?"
"Maybe," Cassidy said sullenly.
"Well, it's a tough lesson, but one that has to be learnt okay."
"Whatever."
They joined Miranda and all of the kids in the hallway, which was much too small with so many bodies in it.
"Gracious, are we ready?"
"Yes, we can go," Andy said, patting Nicky's cheek. "Ready sweet boy?" He nodded, pulling at his neck. The tie was a bit of a new experience for him, but he was absolutely darling in it. "Good job."
"Cassidy, no screens for the next three days. At that point, if you can show that you can be more organised than you have been this morning, I shall consider lifting the ban."
"What!"
Andy winced at Cassidy's shriek.
"Do not," Miranda said, dangerously. "This is not your morning. We can discuss it further tonight, for now, that is your punishment."
"Fine," Cassidy snapped. "Can we go?"
A horn outside beeped just at the right time and Andy squeezed past Miranda, patting her hip, and opened the door. Roy was parked on the kerb in their new-ish car. He waved good morning as he got out to help.
"Hey, ready?" he asked, jogging up the steps. "There's traffic, we need to get going. Hey small ones!"
"WOY!"
Samuel was past Miranda and into Roy's arms before they could blink. Happily, the man caught him in a big bear hug and swung him around.
"Hey little man, what's cracking?"
"Nuffink."
"That's the way. I think you're staying here with Cara aren't you?"
"Aw, really?"
"Yep," Andy said, prizing Sam from Roy's arms. "But you're going to have so much fun, you won't miss us at all."
"Promise?" he said.
"I promise," Andy grinned. "Give M'anda a kiss, k?"
"M'kay," he sighed. "Bye Woy."
"See-ya kid. Ready Miranda?"
"I believe we are," Miranda said with a sigh.
Roy stepped forward and took two rather heavy school bags from the doorstep, and jogged to put them in the trunk.
"Come on Cass," Caroline sighed, shrugging when Cassidy just walked past her.
"It'll be alright love," Andy said quietly as Caroline walked out of the door.
"You don't have to stick with her all day," Caroline said, just as quietly, rolling her eyes.
"It's going well," Andy said exasperatedly as she turned back to look at Miranda.
"It will get better," she said placatingly, ushering Livvy out of the door and to Roy's side.
"Come on little," Andy said, taking Nicky's hand. "Let's go."
"Bye Mama!" Sam yelled, waving. "Bye Nicky."
Nicky waved as they finally got out of the door, leaving Miranda to take stock and kiss Sam one more time.
"I'm sitting up front," Cassidy huffed, slamming the door behind her.
"I think you've got a wild one," Roy whispered to Andy as he helped Olivia into the car.
"Lost shoes, no screens. Uniform infringement at school."
"Ouch," Roy said, looking sympathetic. "Want me to talk to her?"
"Only if you dare," Andy grinned, breaking away from him as Miranda joined them. "You ready?"
"Yes. We're ready. Off we go."
"Yey!" Livvy called, from the back row.
"Alright then," Andy said. "After you my love."
Andy watched Miranda into the car and shut the door behind her, running around the back to get in the other side. As she strapped herself in, she glanced over at Miranda and was once again so very thankful for her life. She wasn't sure what she'd done to deserve it, but she wasn't let it go anytime soon.
-0-
Andy had been to The Dalton School many times before, both as Miranda's assistant, and then as Miranda's partner, and therefore carer to the Twins. But it felt different this time. It was more real somehow.
She wondered what that meant about how she felt about the twins. No, that was wrong. She loved the twin, with all of her heart, just as she did the other children, but perhaps. Perhaps the three youngest felt like theirs.
"Alright, this is Elizabeth Catterin. Elizabeth, this is Olivia Walker, Miranda Priestly's daughter."
"Miranda! It's lovely to see you again."
"And you Elizabeth."
The confused looks that the Admissions woman and Andy were giving them prompted Elizabeth to speak up.
"I was Cassidy's 2nd-grade teacher."
"But not Caroline's?" Andy asked, glancing at Miranda.
"I believe Cassidy's best friend forever, as it were, was moved into my class and she said that seeing as she saw Caroline every day at home, that she should definitely be with her best friend."
Andy chuckled but nodded.
"Hear that Liv?" Andy said, crouching down before her. "Mrs -"
"Miss," the woman interjected.
"Sorry," Andy said. "Miss Catterin is your new teacher, and she was Cassidy's teacher too!"
"Cool," Olivia said quietly.
There had been a remarkable change in the little girl once they'd been let out of the car in the school grounds. Andy had felt Miranda's anxiety ramp up as Olivia had clung tightly to the Bill Blass pants she was wearing as the walked up the steps to the school. Nicky had no such problems. He'd almost straightened when they arrived. They'd taken him to class first, riding the wave of excitement he was obviously feeling and left him playing with a few boys and girls that were earlier than the rest. They were assured that they would get an update on him when they broke for lunch.
But Olivia, for all her excitement during the night, seemed to have flagged.
"I don't wanna."
It was the most whiney Andy had ever heard her be.
"Hey," she said gently. "Remember how excited you were last night! This is going to be amazing. Caroline and Cassidy will be around, and Nicky is just down the hall. And if there are any problems, Miss Catterin will take care of you, okay?"
"M'anda, do I have to stay?" she asked, her bottom lip poking out a little. "My hand hurts."
Andy sighed and watched a bevvy of emotions flit across Miranda's face. In a move Andy had seen perhaps only once or twice, Miranda, dressed for work, crouched down beside Andy, leaning heavily on her to stop from falling.
"Does your hand really hurt? Do we need to take you back to Dr Swari?"
"No," Livvy said pathetically. "I'm just scared."
"I promise you," Miranda said, touching the little girl's chin affectionately. "There is absolutely nothing to be scared of. Miss Catterin remains one of Cassidy's favourite teachers."
"What if Sam's naughty?" Olivia whispered, breaking Andy's heart.
They didn't often have this issue anymore, but occasionally, when Olivia was feeling insecure, it always came back to the idea that they would be sent away, or sent back.
"Liv?" Andy asked, waiting for Olivia to meet her eyes. "What do families do?"
"Stick together," Olivia replied immediately.
"And what do families look like?"
"Like love," Olivia said, the corners of her lips turning up a bit.
"And what are we?"
"Family," Olivia sighed, almost drooping as the tension left her body.
"So you think you can try this out? This our family school. This is where all our family goes. This is where Sam will go next year."
"Cassy's just up there?" Olivia said, glancing out of the open door and into the corridor.
"Just up there," Miss Catterin assured her. "IF you want, I can have Caroline and Cassidy come down at lunch to say hi? Although they won't be able to stay, they have their own lunch to go to."
"Yes," Olivia nodded eagerly.
Miranda cleared her throat.
"Sorry," Livvy said quickly. "Yes please."
"Alright," Andy said, opening her arms. "Have the best day baby. It's going to be so much fun."
"You'll be here to pick me up?"
"We both will," Miranda said, shocking Andy a little. "Emily will make sure of it."
"M'kay," she grinned, throwing herself into Miranda's arms. "I love you guys," she whispered.
"We love you munchkin. See you later."
Olivia waved once and took Miss Catterin's hand, as she lead her over to a table where two boys and another girl were sitting. They watched from outside the room as the teacher introduced Olivia and the boys poured over the hand brace she was still wearing. A stern word from the teacher made them back off a bit, but Olivia stood firm and explained in great detail what had happened. Andy chuckled.
"She gets that from you," Andy said, nodding to the straight back and stuck out chin.
"Hmm," Miranda said, her own lips turning up at the corner.
"She gets that from you too," Andy said, touching the outside of Miranda's hand with her own in subtle question.
"This school has an excellent LGBT support program Andréa," Miranda said, sliding their hands together. "And what better way to encourage it."
"Excellent."
-0-
"Andy Sachs."
"Miranda for you."
Andy rolled her eyes at the assistant's clipped tone. By now, surely the woman knew who they were to each other.
"Hey," she said, discarding the annoyance with the assistant, before reconsidering. "She's a bit short," she offered conversationally.
"Is she?" Miranda said, obliviously.
"Anyway. You okay?"
"Of course, I was just wondering if you'd heard anything?"
"It's only 10," Andy smiled into the phone. "Lunch isn't for another couple of hours."
"I know. And no news is good news I suppose."
"I think so."
"What do you want for dinner?"
"Did Veronic not turn up?"
"What?"
"Etro. Did she not turn up?"
"No, I sent her outside while I spoke to you," Miranda said, sounding confused.
"Oh," Andy said, a little tickled, but also a tad concerned with how out of sorts Miranda sounded. "Hey. I promise that if someone calls me, I'll come over and have them call me back okay?"
"I suppose," Miranda said, feigning disinterest.
"I promise."
"Fine. I cannot concentrate. I need to know they're okay."
"I know. But we have to trust this. They need this, and so do we. With them at school, we'll have a bit more of a routine, maybe we can start going out?"
"Hence my question before?"
"Before what?"
"Are you deliberately being obtuse?" Miranda asked waspishly.
"What? No. I was in the middle of my article when you rang at 10 am asking what I wanted for dinner!"
There was a suffering sigh on the other end and the line went quiet.
"Andréa I would like to go out for dinner tonight. All of us."
"Can we go out Friday? I don't think they'll be up for dinner tonight. New routines are exhausting."
"I would like to go out for dinner on Friday too, but I was hoping it would just be the two of us."
"Oh!"
The thought warmed Andy's heart a little. And other places.
"Am I to assume you are free Friday?"
"I," Andy glanced at her calendar. "Am."
"Excellent. Well breakfast on the weekend then," Miranda said. "Be a darling and put it on the calendar will you?"
"Planning my own date now?" Andy asked, smiling into the phone.
"Cheeky."
Miranda hung up without another word and without letting Andy answer back. It left Andy smiling and struggling to get back into her article.
-0-
"Andy Sachs."
It was as if everybody was conspiring to interrupt her today. It was past 1230 and Andy had had no less than four phone calls from Miranda personally, two from the new assistant, two from prospective article leads and one, finally, from the school.
"Miss Sachs? It's Mary Hughes from Dalton, I was requested to give you a call after lunch to let you know how the two little ones were doing?"
"Yes!" Andy said, standing hurriedly. She knew Miranda had a one o'clock and if she hurried, she'd make it just before then. "Can you hold for a moment while I join Miranda?"
"Of course," the woman said cordially.
Andy hit the hold button and raced out of the office. By the time she managed to avoid the three clackers, Jocelyn and a frazzled looking Nigel, Andy had lost three minutes.
"You can't go in there."
Andy whirled around and looked at the new assistant with such a glare that the woman sat back down. Standing in front of the closed door, Andy took a deep breath and knocked. She entered, peeking her head around the door.
"Sorry to interrupt but that phone call you were waiting on has just come through," Andy said, with a smile.
"Ah," Miranda said, looking around the table at Derek Lam's people. "If you'll excuse me a moment."
"Hiya Andy, good to see you," one of them said in passing as they left.
Andy nodded hello and once they were out, reconnected the call again.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Miranda? Miss Sachs?" they answered accordingly and Mary Hughes continued. "I'm pleased to say that both of them are doing fine. Elizabeth Catterin had Cassidy and Caroline join Olivia for a while over their lunchtime, and Nicholas, by all reports has been in his element. Both are happy, and doing just fine."
"Thank you, Mary, for that update. It is greatly appreciated."
"You're welcome. Have a lovely afternoon."
"You too," Andy said, hanging up and slumping back on one of Miranda's chairs.
"Phew," Andy said. "All that for a two-minute conversation that we knew already."
"I admit to being," she paused, doing that thing with her glasses that Andy loved. "Relieved."
"Really?" Andy said, staring at her mouth. "I might need some convincing."
"Andréa," Miranda growled.
"Fine!" she said with a grin. "Think you will be able to concentrate better now?"
Miranda blustered for about 30 seconds before she finally conceded with a smirk.
"Yes, most likely."
"Good, cos we have to be out of here by 2 if we want to pick them up and get them home before you need to be back here by 4."
"Yes, yes," Miranda said, waving her away, before grabbing her hand as she turned to go. "Wait."
Andy turned around and felt Miranda's lips against her own. She sighed, and touched the sides of Miranda's neck, where she knew she wouldn't damage the makeup, or leave a mark.
"I love you," Miranda said quietly.
"As I love you," Andy whispered.
Her heart melted any time Miranda uttered those words and she knew exactly how lucky she was to have the love of such a woman.
"Come and pick me up?" Miranda asked as Andy really did leave this time.
"See you then," Andy said in reply, smiling at a few of Derek's people before making her way back to the writer's room.
"Andy, you got a minute?"
A frisson of fear went through her as Anton called her into his office. They had been friendly enough after their discussion, what felt like a hundred years ago, but he was still her boss. And solely in charge of her continued employment here.
"Relax," he laughed as he pointed to the chair opposite him. "Nothing bad."
"Phew," she said with an uneasy laugh.
"Just wanted to check how you're doing with the workload and whether you've got room to add another?"
"Yes, of course," Andy said, feeling the excitement winning over fear.
"You sure? If you've got too much on your plate, this will save. It's for the October edition, so there's time to catch up with something else later?"
"No, it's okay, I want it."
"Alright, I was hoping you'd say that. This is what Camile started," Anton said, passing her a file. "She's been moved onto this month's."
"Of course, no worries."
Andy opened the file and checked out what the project was. It would be tough, it required a lot of man-hours, but she already had an outline in her head by the time she nodded her goodbyes to Anton and returned to her desk.
"Lunch?" Nigel said an hour later.
"I -" Andy looked at the time and grimaced. "I've got 20 minutes until I'm supposed to 'collect' Miranda and get the kids."
"Oh, of course, Olivia and Nicholas' first day at school. Any trouble?" he asked, leaning against her desk.
"A little," Andy shrugged. "But nothing that wasn't associated with 1st-day nerves. Miranda's been more anxious than I have."
"No," he said, grinning when she looked up.
"I'm done here anyway," she groaned. "Sure, let's have lunch."
She sent a message to Miranda to let her know as they wandered towards the elevator. Nigel had just pushed the button when Andy grabbed Nigel's arm, looking at him with wide eyes.
"Don't panic," was all she said, before turning to see Miranda stalking down the hall.
"Miranda," Nigel said, looking between them.
"I can't possibly do any more work and Andréa said you were going to lunch. I wonder if I might tag along, as it were."
There was a beat of silence before Andy pinched Nigel's arm and he squeaked before agreeing.
"Of course, we're," he winced. "We were going to go to the Deli on the corner a block over?"
"Then, by all means, proceed."
The elevator arrived, and Nigel, even though he had known Miranda for much longer than Andy, hung back, squeaking again when Andy pulled him in with her.
"Do relax Nigel," Miranda sighed, pinching her nose. "I won't embarrass you."
Andy broke the tension by laughing as Nigel spluttered and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"See, she's really quite funny when she's not being bossy."
They wandered down to the Deli and ordered a few things to share. Miranda had her eye on a bowl of soup that went by, so Andy made sure to order two of them. She saw a tiny smirk appear as the food was put on the counter. It seemed that in this Deli, they couldn't care less who Miranda Priestly was.
"So," Nigel said awkwardly as Miranda hummed around the plastic spoon she was eating soup off. "How's everything?"
"Everything is -" Andy paused as Miranda squeezed her thigh gently.
"Life is wonderful Nigel. Just," Miranda gave a rare smile. "I did not expect this, what we have."
"That's," Nigel glanced at Andy. "That's really great."
"It is," Miranda said. "Taking in those children has been," she shook her head. "More than I could have imagined."
"How are they coping?"
"They're doing really well," Andy said, pushing the soup closer to Miranda to make sure she ate. "Sam is so precocious and Nick is kind and gentle. Olivia's still the wildcard. One minute, she's sitting reading a book with Caroline and the next, planning an all-out sock war with Cassidy and commanding the troops like it's nobody's business but her own," Andy smirked at Miranda. "I can't imagine where she picked that up from."
"And you Andy," he swallowed. "If you don't mind me asking?"
"Of course she doesn't mind," Miranda said quietly. "You are our friend Nigel. One that I have sorely missed while I have been navigating this new thing."
"Well," he said, shining his glasses on his cravat. "You as well."
"I'm loving it. I love being a," she paused. "Mother, I guess. They call me Mama anyway. Even the girls sometimes. And I love being Miranda's. That's pretty amazing too."
"I can't imagine, but I am happy for you, for both, all of you. It seems as if you've found it," he said, looking at Miranda.
She paused, looking at him in such a way that Andy was suddenly wary.
"I think I may have," she said, to him and him alone. "I very well may have."
"Then I applaud you," he said happily.
"And you?" she asked.
Andy could have been feeling left out at this point, but she decided that this was something that the two of them needed to do. She wasn't sure what it was, but it seemed important. Miranda squeezed her thigh again gently, and it was all the reassurance she needed to keep eating her lunch.
"I had a few opportunities, but they never worked out."
"Would you take some advice off an old woman Nigel?" Miranda asked, ignoring Andy's snort.
"I'll take advice from you," he said, smirking at Andy.
"Don't hesitate. I did, and it was nearly disastrous. And be brave. I've never met anyone as brave as Andréa and without that, I might not have anything at all."
Andy only now had an inkling of what was going on, and she preened under the compliment. It wasn't often she got to talk or be talked about in a social setting with people she loved and trusted. In fact, this small, quiet and rather short lunch would be the first time they'd socialised with anyone but the kids. It made Andy remember that once upon a time, she had dinner parties and drinking parties and Bachelor night parties. Okay, they were Doug and Lily's idea, but she had friends, that were at ease with her inside her own home.
She wondered if she could have that again.
"Why don't you come round for dinner next week?" she heard herself say, almost baulking at Nigel's wide eyes. She glanced at Miranda and couldn't find any warning in her face, so forged on. "I miss having people over and talking. We don't often talk to people our own age," she chuckled.
This made Miranda chuckle too, and it was only after a beat that Andy realised what was so funny.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," she said, poking Miranda's arm with her finger.
"I know darling, but it is funny."
"Fine. But please. Come over?" Andy asked, turning her puppy dog eyes on to Nigel.
"How do you stop her from asking for the world with those eyes," he said to Miranda, pulling on the neck of his shirt.
"I don't, and that's how you know it's real," she said, in all seriousness. "She wouldn't ask for the world. That's when you know, my friend."
"Huh," he said, scratching his chin. "I see what you mean."
"So will you join us? I could invite my friend Doug over if you like? He's only been to dinner once before and that was when Miranda was at a benefit. He hung out with the kids and me."
"I, of course I will," he said, nodding at the both of them. "Pick a night. I'll be there. I'll bring wine."
"Brilliant," Andy said, glancing at Miranda. "What do you think boss," she thought about it. "Wednesday? Caroline has soccer, but the rest of them are home. I can always nip out and get her?"
"Yes, I think so. We have the shoot Monday Tuesday, and I have a meeting with Jacob Thursday."
Andy had been out of the loop for long enough that she wasn't even concerned about who Jacob was and why he was important. What she did do was make a mental note to have some early dinner sent over to them on Thursday.
Andy jumped out of her thoughts when her phone beeped and she remembered they had places to be.
"Damn, sorry Nige, we have to pick up the kids."
"No, that's fine," he said, waving happily. "Go, be free."
"Good. I'll be back after they're settled," Miranda said to him. "Bring the layouts if you want."
Andy's face matched Nigel's as Miranda stood. She'd just offered, rather than ordered. And that was really something.
"Of course," he said, flashing Andy a look that said that she had better answer her phone later.
She grinned and kissed his cheek as she called Roy to pick them up from the corner.
"You're cute, you know that?" Andy said as they relaxed in the back seat of the car.
"I am not," Miranda bristled. "But he is my friend, and I have been remiss in cultivating that friendship. Thank you for inviting him to dinner."
"I hoped you'd be okay with it. I realised as we were sitting there, I don't really socialise with anyone but you guys, which is fine, but," she shrugged. "It's sometimes nice to see people, you know?"
"I do," Miranda said kindly, reaching over and taking her hand. "I see a great deal more people than you do, so I do not feel like that, but I do understand. I have thought this before, but it appears I was also remiss in telling you - the Townhouse is your home too. Invite whoever you want into it."
"I would always let you know first," Andy said, placating the little slip of fear in Miranda's eyes. "And it would only be people I trust with my life. Lily, for instance, is not on that list at the moment, but Doug is, and Em and Serena, although it might be better to go out with them, rather than invite them home."
Miranda waved her hand.
"Invite them, they'll need to get used to it at some point. I only hope they can stop dancing around each other long enough to pay attention to you!"
Andy chuckled and peered out of the window as they slowed.
"Wow. Pick up time is hectic," Andy said, glancing at Miranda. "I guess it's time to face them."
"Them Andréa?" Miranda said, her nose turned up just slightly in the safety of the car.
"The great unwashed?"
Miranda laughed before she could stop it, which made Andy laugh too. These moments were her greatest achievements. The times she made Miranda laugh, or smile, or really anything that she didn't normally do. She lived for them.
Andy got out of the car first and made her way around just as Roy was opening the door, holding out her hand to help Miranda down the step.
"People are going to think I'm your mother if you keep helping me out of that car," Miranda said quietly.
"No they won't," Andy said, entwining their hands. "Not when I look at you like this, they won't."
Miranda hummed in agreement, and stalked forward, making sure to move fast enough make it clear that she would not be stopping to talk to anybody, but slow enough that Andy could keep in time. It was divine.
"I sometimes miss being your assistant," Andy sighed as they made their way down the corridor to Nicky's classroom.
"Why on earth would you say that?" Miranda asked, looking sideways at her.
"Oh," Andy said, dropping Miranda's hand and assuming the "Miranda's Assistant Distance". "Cos I was always just a little behind you," she caught up and took Miranda's hand back. "And your behind is lovely."
"Andréa."
Andy grinned triumphantly. It wasn't quite a chastisement, but rather an embarrassed protest. She stayed quiet as they reached the classroom, finding Nick playing with some blocks on the floor while his teacher, Mr Nick Travers, cleaned the board.
"Ah, Miranda, Miss Sachs. Lovely to see you."
Nick looked up, his face breaking into a smile as he got up and ran towards them. Andy had her arms outstretched to catch him as he threw himself into them.
"Oof," Andy grunted. "Hey kid.'
She kissed his hair and gave him a big squeeze, before leaning over and letting Miranda paint a perfect pair of lipstick lips on his cheek, chuckling as she wiped it away.
"Was everything alright?" Miranda said, turning towards the teacher.
"Absolutely," Mr Travers said. "Nick had a great day, made a few new friends and did really well in his maths and spelling. We're going to have to figure out what to do about the reading, but it's early days yet. You might find there'll be a few tears tonight or tomorrow as it all catches up with him. He's had a big day."
"I bet you have," Andy said, shifting him onto her hip. "Did you have fun?"
He nodded and buried his face in Andy's neck with a sigh.
"His favourite place in the world," Miranda explained, though Andy knew she didn't have to. The school knew well enough who she was and what she was like. But she did it for Nick and that was beautiful.
"I'll see you tomorrow Nick," Mr Travers said, waving as Nick waved back.
Miranda slid his lunchbox into the schoolbag and slid it onto her arm.
"Want me to take that?"
"No," Miranda said. "You have enough to carry. I had two of them once, remember," she chuckled as they made their way to Olivia's room.
"M'anda!"
"Oof, hello Olivia," Miranda said, kneeling carefully and accepting a hug. "Have you had a good day?"
"It was sooo good. We did some reading and writing and I can do milti, no. Malted. No -"
"Multiplication?" Andy supplied helpfully.
"Yes! That! And Cassy came and ate lunch with me," she leaned closer. "Even though she wasn't supposed to, Miss Catterin let her, cos she said Cassy's her favourite. Am I your favourite M'anda?"
The pace was exhausting, and Andy laughed and Miranda merely nodded while she let all the words catch up to her. Olivia seemed nonplussed by the non-answer, but she ran around the classroom, saying goodbye to the few people that hadn't left yet and thanking her teacher for the best day ever.
"She'll crash soon," Elizabeth said with a knowing smile. "I'd recommend an early dinner and bedtime I think."
"Oh yea," Andy said, hitching Nicky back onto her hip. "You ready Princess?"
Livvy raced to get her back and stuffed her lunchbox into it haphazardly, slinging it on her back and knocking over a chair in the process.
"Alright, steady now," Andy said, running her hand over her head.
"Hey Ma," Carolie said, coming in the door and wrapping an arm around Andy. "Hey Nicky."
Nick waved and Andy dropped a kiss to Caroline's head, a little pleased at the salutation.
"Where's Cassy?" Olivia asked, hanging onto Miranda's hand, but peering around her at the same time.
"She went to the car. She's had kinda a rough day."
"Oh?"
"Detention for her shoes and she forget her theatre homework too."
"Did she?" Miranda said dangerously.
"Come on kids," Andy said, interrupting Miranda before she could start plotting Cassidy's demise. "Hometime. Dinnertime. I bet Sam's aching to see us all."
"Oh," Miranda said suddenly.
"I spoke with Cara earlier. I'm sorry, I should have said. He's had a great day. Spent a good time glueing blue pasta on a card or something? He said it would look good in your office."
"Oh boy," Caroline giggled, looking up at her mother.
"Hmm," Miranda said, glancing at Andy's confused look. "James saw a painting of Caroline's in my office and did an entire collection in that colour. I was less than amused."
"Oh boy," Andy chuckled, making Olvia laugh.
They made it to the car, where Cassidy was once again in the front seat and seemed to be deep in discussion with Roy. He glanced over as they arrived and Andy waved him off. God knows Cass needed someone to talk to that wasn't one of them, so it may as well be Roy.
"Come on munchkins," Andy said. "Caro, can you strap them in?"
Andy waited for Miranda to hop in and she closed the door behind her. She walked around the front of the car and opened the front car door instead of her own.
"Hey, just wanted to say hi, and that we love you," Andy said, kissing Cassidy's cheek loudly.
Before she could reply, Andy shut the door and clambered in herself, leaning forward and squeezing Cassidy's shoulder. If she was lucky, she'd head Miranda off before she laid into Cassidy to see what was going on. Something was happening, by all accounts, she was a little forgetful, but it was a bit unusual. Hopefully, they could get it all sorted out, so they could get it under control and back to normal.
Either way, they were in for a long night. Two tired littles, one that had been on his own with Cara all day and a twin that was grumpy and obviously having issues. Thank God Caroline seemed to be okay. If Miranda was headed back to work, she'd need all the help she could get.
"Alright Roy," Andy said quietly. "Let's go home."