A/N: I must be nuts. But also England is through the next round in the World Cup after the dirtiest, filthiest game from the Columbians you've ever seen. But we won! On penalties no less. So I'm as high as a kite and wondering what the heck I'm going to do with my life until their next game on Saturday. So here. Have some more of this while I calm my mind and get back to my "real job" of writing my book.

See disclaimer CH 1, I'm sick of writing it.

-0-

Andy paced in the hall while she waited for the secretary to bring Olivia to the front desk. They'd send her to school, even though she had an appointment at 11. And now, Andy needed to pick her up in time for Roy to get them to Runway and then to Dr Swari's office. As usual, it was Andy that was running around chasing her tail, not that she minded. She'd asked Anton for the morning, and he'd told her off for asking.

Apparently, she needed to consider herself a free-lance with a desk. She would, from now on. It would certainly help her deal with life a little better.

"Mama!"

"Hey Munchin!" Andy said, hugging Livvy as she careened into her. "Ready?"

"Yeah, Ms Ashwin told me I won't need my bag?"

"No baby, we're going to come back."

"M'kay," she said happily, slipping her hand into Andy's and swinging them back and forth while Andy signed her out.

"Hey Roy," Livvy said as they approached the car.

"Hello little Miss!" he said happily. "Let's get you and your Mama to Miranda, then it's off to the doctors?"

"Yep. Dr," she turned to Andy as she strapped her in. "Where we going Mama?"

"Dr Swari," Andy said gently.

"Yeah. And we going to get my hand sorted."

"That's great Liv!" Roy said happily, winking at Andy. "Are you still doing your rehab?"

"Wha's rehab?"

"Your exercises honey."

"Oh! Yeah Cassy helps me. I love Cassy, you know."

"I know you do," Roy replied with a smile. "She's pretty great isn't she."

"Yeah."

"Mama, I'm hungry," Livvy said quietly as the slowed in front of Runway.

"We'll get something afterwards okay?" Andy said gently, her eyes transfixed on the doors to Elias Clarke. "Just in case."

"M'kay," Liv sighed. "Where's M'anda."

At that point, Andy spotted her, stalking across the lobby and to the doors. It still, after all these months, took her breath away. Security opened the doors for her, and she passed through them without even a pause. Sunglasses on, footsteps sure and true. She was magnificent.

"I got it Roy," she muttered before he could get out.

"Yes ma'am," he said, but she wasn't listening.

She got out, staring at her woman as she beelined for the car, grinning a little as Miranda got closer.

"Shit you're sexy," Andy whispered as Miranda pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Mm," Miranda smirked. "Thank you my darling."

"No Miranda," Andy whispered. "Thank you."

"Come along Andréa."

"Yes Miranda."

Olivia talked quietly to Miranda, who hummed absently as they travelled to the Dr's. Olivia got quieter and quieter.

"You alright munchkin?"

"Yeah," she said quietly.

"You nervous?"

"Yeah."

"You're going to be just fine," Miranda said gently, without looking up from her phone. "There is nothing to worry about."

"What if it hurts?" Liv said quietly.

"I will hold your hand," Miranda said gently. "There is nothing to fear."

"M'kay," Olivia whispered.

By the time they were seen, Olivia was holding tightly onto Miranda's hand. Andy smiled as Miranda stroked her thumb over Olivia's.

"Olivia Walker?"

Andy got up first, waiting patiently as Miranda helped Olivia from her chair. They walked in silence, following the nurse to a room, where they were seated.

"This is all a bit quiet isn't it," Andy said quietly, poking Olivia in the belly. "We need Sam to sing us a song."

Olivia laughed and leaned against Miranda, stroking her arm.

"Do you sing M'anda?"

"I try not to darling," Miranda said quietly.

"Miranda sings beautifully," Andy pretended to whisper. "She sang to Nicky when he first came home. Remember when he was really upset?"

"Oh yeah!"

"Hmm," Miranda said, smirking at Andy. "Thank you Andréa."

"You're welcome Miranda!"

"Good morning," Dr Swari said as she walked in. "How are we all today?"

"We're fine thank you," Andy said with a smile. "I'm Andy Sachs, this is Miranda Priestly, and this," she said, running her hand over Olivia's head. "Is Olivia."

"Well hello there Olivia," Dr Swari said with a kind smile. "How are you?"

Olivia had a moment where she squeezed Miranda's hand and looked up at Miranda. Miranda nodded once, and Olivia sighed.

"I'm okay," Olivia said.

"Olivia," Miranda said gently. "Use your manners please."

"I'm okay thank you," Olivia said in a hurry.

Dr Swari smiled at Andy, and rolled forward on her chair.

"Now," she said. "I have it here in my letter that you cut your hand a while ago, is that right?"

"Yeah." Olivia said. "I was helping Cassy cook."

"Her big sister," Andy said helpfully. "They were trying to cook breakfast for us."

"That's really helpful," Dr Swari said, taking Olivia's hand gently in her own. "And I hear Dr Sanders looked after it for you while it was healing?"

"Is he the doctor with the suckers?" Olivia whispered to Andy.

"He has the best candy," Dr Swari said. "I always make sure to ask for one when I go and see him."

"I got a grape one last time. But the time before that, I got a raspberry one, cos Cassy's favourite is raspberry."

Ady could tell Miranda was a little uncomfortable with the way that Olivia was speaking, but she didn't comment. If anything she twitched a little, meaning that she thought Dr Swari was taking too long.

Andy reached around Olivia and touched the back of Miranda's arm, squeezing a little in comfort. The tension eased, but only a little.

"Right," Dr Swari said finally. "Let's have a look and see what's going on okay?"

Olivia dutifully stuck out her hand and let Dr Swari take off the bandages.

"That looks great Olivia!" she exclaimed when she saw it. "I think you've been taking great care of this."

"I did my exercises too!"

"Fantastic. Can you show them to me?"

Andy couldn't help but smile proudly as Olivia curled her hand into a ball, then straightened it out again, then touched her fingers to her thumb, one after another. She winced a little as her index finger touched, but she beamed happily, first at Andy, then at Miranda, who smiled back, finally taking off her sunglasses.

"Well done," Miranda said quietly.

"Can you tell me," Dr Swari asked. "Does it hurt when you curl up your hand like this?"

"No, only when I do this finger and thins finger," Olivia said, sticking them both up. "Hey it's like peace!"

Andy but her tongue to stop herself from laughing at Olivia's non-stop prattle. She was amazed that Miranda had lasted as long as she had. It was very impressive.

"Okay," she looked up. "Moms, when was this last x-ray taken?"

Andy's eye twitched at the term, but she opened her mouth to answer.

"It was taken at our last appointment two weeks ago," Miranda said instead. "The physician said that the progress looked good?"

There was a touch of steel in it, and Andy watched Dr Swari take a deep breath and nod.

"There is good progress. The exercises have really helped too, Olivia," the Dr said before turning back to Miranda. "But the fact that it still hurts a little when she moves means that something isn't quite working for her. That either means that something is healing wrong or," she said, holding up her hand as Miranda opened her mouth. "Or her body is ready to be beyond this stage and is ready to start being used again. Sometimes the worst pain comes from our body to tell us that it's ready to start being used properly again. The difficult part for me is," she tweaked Olivia's nose. "Making sure I know which is which."

"Of course," Miranda said, looking suitably impressed with her.

Andy wondered how many doctors had stood up to her like that, but was content to watch this one, seeing as Miranda seemed to have it in hand.

-0-

"M'anda? Can we have Ol' Macdonalds?"

"McDonald's?" Miranda said as they set off towards Runway. "I," she winced. "Yes, if you must. Though perhaps once I have been safely dropped off at Runway."

"'Kay," Olivia said happily.

Andy ran her hand over Olivia's hair, watching as she wiggled her fingers like she'd been told to. Dr Swari had decided that it was very unlikely, after perusing the x-rays, that the wound was healing badly and had declared it time to start using her hand again. She also pronounced it as not being as bad as she thought it would be after reading the report, and was pleased with the progress. Andy watched about a hundred pounds of tension ease from Miranda's shoulders.

From now on, there would be no more brace, and only a larger Band-Aid over the cut to keep it protected. It was hoped that with all the freedom it gave her, Olivia would be back to using it properly in no time.

"Will you send Melody for some marbles?" Andy asked, brushing back the lock of hair over Miranda's eye.

"I will," Minrada said, turning to look. "Hello Andréa."

"Hi," Andy said kindly. "You were worried."

"I was," Miranda took a deep breath. "Concerned."

"And now?"

"I feel much less so," Miranda smiled. "But I am ready to go back to work. It will be a long day. Will you be alright with them again?"

"Let's make a deal okay?" Andy said, in lieu of answering. "Let's not ask each other whether we'll be alright with them, and instead promise each other that if we won't be, we'll tell."

"I like that," Miranda said. "It doesn't feel like I'm abandoning them every night."

"You're not. You have to work, and your work is more intense than mine. It's a total and logical division of labour. Like you said. You earn the big bucks, which come with the long hours. I earn the small, but am fairly flexible," she chuckled, taking Miranda's hand. "Anton told me off for asking for this morning off. He practically threw me out of the office and told me that I'm basically a freelancer with a desk."

"You are not to repeat this," Miranda said, looking stern. "But I like him. He is going to go far. Not much flair for writing, but he could run an editorial magazine, or some such. I imagine he will realise it soon."

"You'll be out a department head," Andy said, looking concerned.

"Not for long. And it's nothing to worry about. You could apply if you wished, but it is a lot more work. You could," Miranda said quietly. "Apply anywhere you want to."

"I don't want to," Andy said quietly. "I," she bit her lip. "I admit for a while I did look. When I was having those few issues back at the beginning. I looked and decided that I didn't want to be away from Runway. Not because I didn't necessarily want to spread my wings, but because life is wonderful at Runway. I get to be near you, I get to write, I get to learn. And I get the understanding that perhaps other workplaces wouldn't give me. I don't want to start at the bottom of the totem pole again."

"I admit that while I would be fine with you working anywhere at all, that was my thought also."

"Miranda, we're coming up on Runway," Roy said quietly.

"Thank you Roy. I believe Andréa and Olivia will be heading to McDonald's afterwards. Feel free to get something, if you haven't had lunch. I will need you this afternoon, probably for a long while."

"That's no problem Miranda," he said, tipping his hat and glancing at Andy. "And I'd love to, thank you."

Olivia gave Miranda a careful but heartfelt kiss on the lips before she left, giggling as Miranda wiped the barely there trace of lipstick, before giving Andy a proper kiss.

"I love you," Andy called as Miranda was helped out of the car by Roy.

Andy was surprised as Miranda bent back down again, looking Andy in the eye.

"I love you."

Andy wore a smile for a long time after that.

-0-

"Hey Mom?" Andy looked up, but didn't stop packing the bag that they were taking to Caroline's soccer match. "Can I stay here, instead of going to the game?"

This made Andy stop as she looked between Cassidy and her mother. Miranda had a very strange look on her face as she inspected her eldest child.

"Why?" she asked carefully, her eyes fixed on Cassidy's.

"I," Cassidy sighed and frowned, looking back down the hallway to where Caroline was trying to teach Nicky how to tie his shoes. "This is her thing. I'm not really interested."

There was a big pause and Miranda turned, looking at Andy with an odd look in her eyes.

"I was home alone by the time I was 12," Andy said carefully. "Cass is more mature than I was. But," she said, turning to Cassidy. "We haven't ever talked about it, or considered it, and we're not really set up to figure it out now." Miranda had a look of relief in her eyes as Andy continued. "Cass, how about you come with us this time. We were going to go out for brunch afterwards anyway. But, now that we know that this is what you want, we'll talk about it okay?"

"I guess," Cassidy said, looking disappointed.

"We are not saying no," Miranda said gently. "I understand and recognise what you're saying but we were already going to surprise everyone with brunch because of how well everyone had done this week so," she cupped Cassidy's cheek. "We will talk about it, I promise."

"Alright. That's fair, I guess."

"Thanks Cass. Next time you want something like this, make sure you ask us before we're trying to walk out the door, okay? With this many people to figure out, we need a bit of advanced warning."

"Yeah, sorry. I kinda didn't know I didn't want to go until now."

"Bring your headphones if you like. You don't have to cheer your sister in, although," Andy looked at her carefully. "It is the nice thing to do."

"Yeah, I know," she said with a sigh. "Thanks."

She left and Miranda turned to look at Andy with a wild expression.

"Something has happened," Miranda mumbled, her arms crossed and her toe tapping. "I don't know if they've had a fight or -?"

"Yeah," Andy nodded slowly. "Or, she just wants to do her own thing? She's gone from half of a twin pair, that had the best of everything, to the eldest of 5 in a really short period of time. And yes, clearly she's struggling with something," Andy muttered. "That would explain the problems getting ready, and at school," she shrugged. "But it'll be fine. We'll figure it out, okay?"

"Okay," Miranda sighed.

"Mom, we need to go, I'm going to be late."

"Yes, sorry Caroline, we're coming."

Andy bundled the rest of the snacks into the cooler and placed it on the floor while she took a head count.

"Where's Sam?"

"I here Mama," Sam said, hopping down the last step. "I fordot Bop."

"Ah, good. Can't leave home without him." Andy sighed. "Where's your coat? It might be chilly."

"Caro's dot it."

"Great. Everyone ready?"

"Where's Nicky?"

Andy rolled her eyes and gave the cooler to Cassidy.

"Girls, help your Mom get the two in the car and I'll be there asap."

Andy ran up the stairs and into the boys room. Except there was nobody there. She checked Olivia's room, the girl's rooms, even their room and finding nobody there, her heart started beating a little faster.

"Nicholas, where are you sweetheart?"

There was no reply of course, but Andy's heart was really thumping now.

"Nicky?"

She ran down the stairs and checked out the living room, the library and even her study. She'd found him in there one day playing with a few of her knick knacks. Not that she minded. In fact, at this point, she'd be happy to see him playing with her memorabilia.

"NICK?!

She waited, straining to hear a noise before she heard it.

"Mama."

She'd heard that voice before, not often, and usually not when he was awake, but it was definitely him, and it was definitely downstairs.

"Andréa?" Miranda said as she stalked back in through the door.

"Shh," Andy said. "Nicky, one more time baby."

"Mama."

Andy spun, looking at Miranda as she looked beside her at the coat closet.

"Oh," Andy said, rushing forward. She opened up the infamous closet by the door and dropped to her knees. "I'm so sorry baby," she said, pulling him into her arms and holding him tightly.

Miranda held them both, before helping Andy off the floor, still holding him in her arms.

"Why didn't you bang on the door baby?" Andy said.

Nick pointed, and Andy looked, not seeing anything, until Nick wriggled down from her arms and went back inside the closet and pointed at the wall. There, much to Miranda's surprise, was a wall full of glow in the dark stickers.

"You weren't scared because they were glowing?" Andy said, watching as he nodded.

"I'm glad you weren't scared," Miranda mumbled. "Your big sisters have only narrowly avoided a punishment."

"Thank you for calling out to me," Andy said gently. "That was really really helpful."

"MOM!"

Miranda rolled her eyes and held out her hand for Nick to take, leading him down to the car, while Andy locked up. She made a mental note to book someone in to add a handle on the inside lower down in case anything like this happened again. She dreaded to think what would have happened if Olivia had been trapped in there. Although Olivia would have screamed down the house, she supposed.

As she ran towards the car, she noted that Miranda was sitting in the back with Caroline and Cassidy was once again in the front. She made no mention of it, but made another mental note to check why Miranda had agreed.

"Alright. Everyone ready?"

"Please," Caroline wined.

"Calm down Caro," Andy said, looking in the mirror. "We're fine. You'll still be early."

"Yeah but -"

She stopped and Andy glanced at Miranda, putting her hand on top of Caroline's and looking at her carefully. Caroline bit her lip and nodded, staying quiet while Andy pulled out into traffic.

They made it to the park well in time for the warm-ups and Andy and Miranda got the kids unpacked and sorted. Sam was content to run around with another little brother under the watchful eye of Miranda, and Nick and Olivia opened the watermelon and the goldfish, munching on them happily.

"So," Andy said, getting back in the front seat and turning to Cassidy. "Spill little."

"I'm fine," Cassidy said, not looking up from her book.

"Uhuh. And I'm Imelda Marcos," Andy said happily. "Did you have a fight with Caroline?"

"No," Cassidy said, looking up just a little too quickly. "Why would you think that?"

"Because right now Caroline's getting a ton of attention and you're really not," Andy said, seeing through the whole thing. She'd figured it out on the way to the game, and it looked like Miranda had also, wishing Caroline a good game as she ran off, but turning to press a kiss to Cassidy's hair before going with Sam.

"I'm not a bitch," Cassidy said, though she sounded very unsure. "I'm not."

"I never said you were sweetheart," Andy said, reaching out and taking her hand. "You have to talk to us sweetheart, otherwise we won't know. There's a lot going on in our lives, and I know that might not seem fair that you have to be the one to point it out to us, but you're old enough to know that telling us is really important."

"I know," cassidy said. "I don't know how to say it though."

She blushed up to her hairline, piquing Andy's interest as to what was really at the bottom of this conversation.

"Cass, do you know how much I love you?"

"Yeah," she shrugged. "I guess."

"No, don't guess. Do you know?"

"Yeah," Cassidy said quietly.

"Nothing you can say can make us hate you."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing," Andy confirmed, touching her cheek gently.

There was a frisson of fear running down Andy's back now at the thought of what was to come. She really didn't know how she would handle something like I'm pregnant, or I'm taking Ritalin, or -

"I'm not gay."

"I'm sorry?" Andy said, blinking as her brain tried to catch up.

"I'm not gay," Cassidy said sadly.

There was dead silence in the car as Andy's brain struggled to come up with an appropriate response. It failed.

"Sweetie, I," Andy shook her head. "That's okay," she laughed in relief. "That's more than okay. That's just as normal as being gay is. There's really no difference."

"I know," Cassidy said, just a little of her mother coming through in her tone. "But Caroline gets all these special things cos she is. And I just can't even pretend to be. I don't like girls."

"You don't have to like anyone right now honey," Andy said, biting back another bout of laughing. "To be honest, I'm relieved. I had all the visions of you saying something much more difficult to deal with."

"I'm not an idiot," Cassidy said, clearly thinking andy was.

"Hey," Andy said, realising she was losing control of the situation. "Watch your tone okay? Now. Caroline isn't playing soccer in the park because she's gay."

"They why would you let her?" Cassidy said. "I've been asking to do Taekwondo for years and Mom won't even entertain the idea."

"You have?"

"Since I was 8."

"Oh honey," Andy said, rubbing her forehead. "Caroline isn't allowed to play soccer because she's gay. She's allowed to play because she asked us to, and I helped your Mom see that it wasn't a big deal. Now that I know that is what you want, I can show her it isn't a big deal either."

"But," Cassidy looked astounded. "You just made Mom agree?"

"No," Andy said, shaking her head. "When have you ever heard of anyone making your mother do anything she didn't want to."

"Never," Cassidy said. "Which is why it didn't make sense."

"I gave her the pros and the cons. I explained to her that I used to play soccer in Junior High and that it really helped me learn a few things that were useful in life. She doesn't not want you to do anything," Andy explained. "She just doesn't want to see you get hurt. And to be honest, Taekwondo is a big sell. It's way more dangerous than soccer."

"No," Cassidy said, sitting up and leaning forward. "It's really not. It's all about defence. It's like," she thought about it for a moment and as Andy watched on, it was as if Cassidy had been electrocuted. Her eyes were wide and bright and she was smiling as she spoke. "It's like the saying, don't start the fight, but make sure you can end it. It's like that, only you end it fairly and without hurting anyone. It's about peace."

"This means a lot to you," Andy said redundantly.

"Since I was 8."

"Right," Andy conceded. "And this is the big thing you're struggling with. You're not," she waved her hand airily. "I dunno, taking Ritalin or anything."

"Geez Ma, what the hell."

"Cassidy!"

They both went very still as Miranda rounded the open car door and glared at Cassidy even as she was holding Sam.

"It's okay. That was deserved," Andy said quickly, taking Cassidy's hand. "It's okay."

"Well," Miranda said, looking hard at Cassidy. "Remember that no matter how much you are dealing with, the people that love you are the ones that will be there for you no matter what. It would be best to start remembering that."

"Yes Mom."

"Come and sit with us while we watch," Miranda said, making Andy think that she'd heard far more than she'd let on.

"Alright," Cassidy said, glancing at Andy.

She waved her on and waited for Miranda to come around to her side of the car.

"You heard everything?" Andy said.

"I heard enough," Miranda said quietly. "I should have noticed."

"We both should have," Andy said quietly. "Let's watch the game and worry about it later okay?"

"Deal," Miranda said, taking Andy's hand and helping her from the car. She kissed the back of it as they walked and Andy sighed in peace.

Life wasn't remotely close to perfect, but it perfectly imperfect.