A/N: The downside to writing non-drama drama is that sometimes it can be excruciating to write. So, this is not my best work, but it is adding to the story, so I've left it alone. I'm so busy right now, I don't have time to sit down and figure out what I want from this whole Paris excursion, so give me some ideas. I've been to Paris, I've done the tourist thing, but honestly, not my fave city. I spent a week in the museums, which I thought was amazing, but ... there is more to do in Paris, I'm sure. They might go to the Eiffel Tower, but only cos Andy might want to. Miranda would go to humour Andy's romantic side, but she finds a nice candlelit dinner much more romantic. I think Andy will probably go to a show or two eventually, but I have to figure out who can take the kids if they do. Or whether the kids go with them... wouldn't that be a spectacle... Not sure how I'm going to get Sam's day in here. Maybe Miranda can tell her about it later.
Anyway. As always. Thank you for sticking with it, and for the resurgence of reviews lately. They are read and MUCH appreciated.
NEW PLAN: I'm doing research cos I was in the wrong effing arrondissement.
I wasn't going to leave this here, but this way you can see the cluster that is my mind lol
Fixed it. Nobody panic.
See disclaimer chapter 1
-0-
Andy murmured as her pillow moved under her.
"Andréa?"
She whined, her eyes burning as she blinked.
"Darling, I have to get up."
"No," Andy moaned. "They'll wait for you. You're Miranda Priestly."
Miranda laughed and Andy felt her lips on her forehead.
"Be that as it may, I have a lot to do today, and I want to finish early enough to spend some time with the children."
"Urgh," Andy groaned, finally cracking open her eyes and looking at Miranda. "I suppose that's okay then."
"Thank you my darling," Miranda smirked.
"Coffee?"
"Would be divine love," Miranda muttered, kissing Andy's crown and slipping into the bathroom.
Andy rolled out of bed, yawning so widely her jaw cracked. She slipped on a robe and tiptoed through the living room to check on the little kids, and kiss Cassidy and Caroline's hair before slipping back into their bedroom. She rang down for some coffee and breakfast to be sent up for Le Grande Dame. She heard the shower and grinned mischievously.
Knowing that it would be a while before room service arrived, even for Miranda, Andy slipped off her robe and joined her lover in the shower.
-0-
"Mama?"
Andy was just kissing Miranda goodbye at the door when the little voice startled them.
"M'anda, you going?"
"Yes, my darling. I have to work now, but I am hoping that I can be home tonight so we can have dinner together."
"Can I goes wiv you?" Sam asked, sucking his thumb.
"Come 'ere you," Andy said, scooping him up and perching him on her hip. "You know M'anda has to work."
"Actually darling," Miranda said, smiling at them both. "Perhaps he can. This morning, I have a breakfast meeting, little love, but later," she kissed his nose gently. "Perhaps you could to the shows with me?"
"See the pretty dresses?"
"Yes my darling, would you like that?"
"Yes please!"
"Good. Andréa, darling, can you get him ready for ten o'clock?"
"Sure," Andy said, jostling him a little. "Won't the girls be upset?"
"No," Miranda smiled. "They got bored with that after their first showing. Sam would like to see I think."
"Sure," Andy smiled. "We'll all figure out what to do with ourselves until you're done okay?"
"That sounds lovely," Minerva smiled cupping Sam's cheek. "Now, I really do have to go."
She kissed Sam gently and then kissed Andy just a little more passionately.
"Take advantage of breakfast."
"We will, he'll be fuelled up and ready to go. We'll find something to do without him for a while, but let me know if you want us to pick him up earlier, we can."
"I think we'll be alright," Minerva smiled. "Now, goodbye my loves. I'll keep in touch."
Sam snuggled on Andy's shoulder as she closed the door.
"You hungry little monkey?" she asked quietly.
"No."
"Just want some snuggle time?" she asked, chuckling.
"Yeah," he sighed.
She carried him back to their room, sighing deeply as she caught Miranda's signature perfume still lingering in the air. She flicked on the TV and sat against the bedhead, waiting for the others to wake up.
-0-
"Mama? Can we have pizza?"
"Pizza?" Andy chuckled. "In Paris?"
She swung her joined hand in Olivia's and tickled her ribs. "Princess, if that is what you would like, then that is what we shall have. But let's wait and we'll have it for dinner, okay? I think some nice sandwiches would be better for now."
Making sure Caroline and Cassidy were within reaching distance, she picked out a table at the closest deli and helped Livvy into a chair. She turned and helped Nick as well, before winking at the girls.
"What do you want to eat loves? Cass, you want to translate?"
"Sure," she shrugged.
"Caro, you got Liv?"
"Yep, we're good Andy."
"Excellent, come on Nicky, let's find you something to eat."
The sandwiches were just what they needed, and Andy sat back in her chair sipping her coffee while the kids played eye-spy. Eventually, Nick got bored and clambered up on her knee, sighing as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Anyone up for the museum? Or are we all tired enough to want to go back to the hotel and hang out for a while?"
"Let's go to the museum," Cassidy said, her eye lighting up.
"Liv? Any objections?"
"Nope."
"Nicky?" she asked, leaning round to look at his face. "Wanna go to the museum?"
He nodded and when she glanced at Caroline, she already had a map pulled up on her phone.
"The Louvre it is," Andy grinned.
They ambled down winding streets, following Caroline's directions until they arrived on the River Seine.
"Hey, cool!" Caroline said, pointing to a guy who was doing portraits. "Can I get one Mama?"
"At some point, I'm sure you can, but I don't want to wait around for you to be drawn today. We're here for a whole week, we can come by again. Maybe just you and me if we get the chance?"
"Cool," Caroline grinned. She glanced down at her phone. "That's the river right?"
"Mhmm," Andy said, knowing where they were going, but content to let Caroline do the directing. "So, that's Notre Dame?"
She pointed down river and Andy smiled, turning her around and nodding to the giant cathedral that she'd missed.
"Ah," Caroline said, tilting her head and looking at the map. "Oh, I see, I'm backwards. Then," she frowned. "It's like a gazillion miles that way."
"Not quite that far," Andy grinned. "But a little ways, yeah. We can walk, it's a long walk but we're not in a rush, or we can hop on the bus. What do you think? We can even take the bus around the sights for a while before getting off at the Louvre, what does everyone want?"
"I'd like to take the bus," Caroline muttered, getting out her camera and taking a few pictures as they stood.
"Liv? Cass?"
Cassidy bent down and whispered in Olivia's ear, and Andy smirked.
"Bus please!" Olivia yelled, grinning at Cassidy.
She looked around for the nearest stop and ushered them over to it, bringing up the tickets she'd already purchased on her phone, ready for when they hopped on.
-0-
The bus had been a huge success. As soon as they'd seen it coming around the corner, the kids had yelled with excitement, and they'd gone the sights two times on the open top bus.
After walking through only a tiny part of the Louvre, she noticed the two little ones sagging, and called it a day, reminding the older girls they'd bought week-long tickets, so they would come back again and again if they needed to.
And now, Andy was laying on the sofa, her head perched on a cushion while the others lay on the floor in a fort of pillows they'd had brought up to the room.
She'd arrived back after her shower to see what possibly could have been all the pillows in the hotel surrounding her children and she had just rolled her eyes and joined them. Who didn't love a pillow fort.
Nick hadn't stayed with the girls long, preferring to take a nap on Andy's belly, and she'd read and stroked his hair while he dozed. She'd asked more than once if they wanted to do something different, but they were exhausted. Andy frowned as she thought about how tired Sam must be.
She nudged Cassidy's foot with her book and nodded towards her phone, sending a quick text off to Miranda she lay back again, smiling at how brilliant her life had become.
The lock on the door beeped and Andy was surprised to see Miranda carrying Sam into the room with a serene smile on her face.
"Hello loves," she said quietly, kissing the twins, then Olivia. "I see your boy has succumbed to the same fate as mine."
"You can leave him here if you like?" Andy nodded to the sofa.
"I'll put him in our room, that way we won't disturb him while we talk."
"In that case, I'll join you with Nick."
It took a bit of doing, but eventually, Andy was able to scoop their biggest boy up and carried him to the bedroom as well, tucking him in alongside his brother.
"You're home early," Andy mused as they closed the door softly behind them.
"I left Emily in my stead," Miranda grinned. "She was quite put out, but I think she will rise to the occasion. Sam needed to be here, and I couldn't carry him any longer."
"You could have called."
"I wasn't sure what you were doing."
"I'm sorry," Andy chuckled. "I didn't want to disturb you!"
Miranda laughed and wrapped Andy up in her arms. Andy sighed. This was her happy place. Secure in Miranda's arms, where she knew she was loved, and safe, and sound.
"Can I have a hug please M'anda?"
Andy pulled away to see Olivia looking up at them expectantly.
"Oh my darling girl," Miranda said, scooping her up with a groan. "You never need to ask. My loves, I have 45 minutes until my next show. Come and tell me about your morning."
Andy rang down for some fresh coffee and a plate of hors-d'oeuvres. They arrived not fifteen minutes later, and she passed them to Miranda with a small smile.
"What did I ever do without you my darling,"
Andy didn't like to ponder that statement while they were in Paris, so she just smiled and joined most of her little family on the sofa while Cassidy, Caroline and Olivia played tag with the story of their morning. Before long, she noticed Miranda checking her watch and knew it was time.
"I think it's time for Miranda to go now little loves," she smiled sadly as Olivia's face fell.
"Don't be like that little one," Miranda said gently, cupping her cheek. "I will be home before you know it, and then we shall go for dinner somewhere magical. Perhaps Mama could even be persuaded to take us out for ice cream."
"Can we Mama?" Olivia asked, perking up.
"I suppose that could be arranged," Andy smiled, rubbing Miranda's shoulder. "Everyone give kisses, and we'll let you get back to your work."
"I hate to leave you all like this," she muttered as the made their way to the door.
"I knew what this week would be like, and I and the children came here anyway. We decided that even if we were in the hotel room for a week, we'd be okay with that because we'd see you every night and every morning."
"I don't know what I did to deserve you darling," Miranda said, resting her forehead against Andy's. "But I am so very grateful that you are in my life."
"I'm pretty happy too," Andy smirked, kissing her gently so that she wouldn't have to re-apply her makeup.
"I'll text when we're on our way back. Perhaps we could go for a walk down to the gardens. I'll need some time before dinner to let go of my day. And the boys will need to burn off some energy."
"That's a great idea," Andy smiled. "Have fun."
"Paris is always fun," Miranda smirked. "But, it is infinitely better with you here."
"You're so mushy Mom," Caroline called from the sofa.
"The squishiest dragon around," Cassidy nodded sagely.
"And don't you forget it," Andy called, kissing Miranda gently. "Liv wants pizza for dinner. Know anywhere? I'll ring and book."
"Don't. I know just the place, and we won't need a booking."
"Mmm," Andy grinned. "Secretive, I like that." Miranda phone beeped and Andy chuckled. "Go, before they report you missing."
"Word of warning. The end of Fashion Week parties will begin soon. I will attend of course, but wondered if you wanted to attend a few with me?"
"I'd," Andy sighed. "I would love to," she bit her lip and looked up through her lashes. "Though I have nothing to wear." Miranda's eyes flashed as she glanced down at Andy's body.
"Do you have a preference or will you put yourself to my mercy?"
"I am always at your mercy Miranda."
"I'm leaving," Miranda quipped, kissing Andy once more. "Cheeky.
"Love you," Andy laughed as she shut the door.
"It's pretty great, you know," Cass said as Andy flopped back down on the sofa.
"What is darling?" Andy asked, tipping her head back and looking at their eldest.
"How chill you make Mom," Caroline muttered. "Like, it takes her three weeks to go back to normal after fashion week usually, and she's like, already normal."
"I don't think I'm the only one doing that darlings," Andy smiled. "But I am glad that I can help her."
"That was what was different about her!" Cassidy said, whacking Caroline on the thigh.
Caroline looked at her twin and then her eyes got big.
"We're idiots."
"Caroline!"
"Sorry Ma, I just meant," she glanced at Liv. "Yeah, sorry. But, we could never work it out what it was about you that was different from Emily and all the others. You care. About Mom. You always did. It was like, you weren't there for the job, you were there for her!"
"Well, yeah," Andy shrugged. "She's a force of nature isn't she."
"Yeah, but so many others were there to get ahead. How come you never wanted to get ahead?"
Andy smiled and rolled over, looking at the twins and Olivia, who clearly didn't know what they were talking about, but was interested anyway.
"Did I ever tell you about the day I first met your Mom?"
"No!" Caroline said, grinned. "What did you do?"
"Hey!" Andy scoffed. "How do you know I did something?"
"Cos it's you Ma," Cass giggled. "And we know you."
Andy smiled as Liv scooted off the sofa and clambered onto Andy's knee.
"I dressed atrociously."
"Cerulean sweater," the twins chorused, glancing at each other.
"Yes," Andy rolled her eyes. "That one. And then I," she blushed. "I honestly didn't know how to spell Gabbana. And then there was a belt incident."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought two belts were the same," Andy bit her lip. "And I still maintain that they were, and actually, I bet Miranda doesn't even remember them, but I snorted when someone said how different they were and your Mom tore strips off me. And Uncle Nig made me realise that I was acting like I was above fashion, and the industry. And it made me realise that I was kinda being a bit of a," she cleared her throat, glancing down at Olivia. "Dummy. And he taught me that the industry is actually a big deal. And," she shrugged. "I realised then, that I was wrong to think about the industry as though it was beneath me. But I still wasn't super interested in it, so I focussed on Miranda. And," she shrugged. "I guess even then thought she was pretty special."
"Urgh," Caroline said, leaning against Cass. "You've got like the perfect love story. How are we ever going to better that."
Andy laughed and pulled both girls closer so she could hug them, taking care not to squash Liv.
"Your love stories will be epic, and I can't wait to see them," she kissed Caroline's hair. "But there's no rush to grow up okay? Plenty of time to go slow."
The girls smiled and someone huffed behind them.
Sam was frowning at them from the doorway to the bedroom.
"Where's M'anda?"
"She had to go back to the show little love," Andy said, kissing Liv and getting up to get him. "But we'll see her again later."
"She left me."
"You fell asleep kiddo," Andy smiled kindly. "She thought it would be better for you to wake up here and be all ready to go get pizza later."
"Pizza?" he asked shrewdly.
"Yes," Andy smiled. "Pizza."
"When's M'anda getting back? I want pizza now!"
"Grumpy little thing aren't you," Andy chuckled, scooping him up and tickling him gently. "Come on. Pizza for dinner. Are you hungry? I have some yoghurt and apples and crackers. Will that please the little monster in your belly that's making you growl?"
"Yes." Sam huffed, crossing his arms. "Mr Val'ntino said I was very clever."
"You are," Andy reminded him gently.
"And I need to help M'anda sort out the whole fashion world."
"Good. You can do that once you eat some lunch and watch some cartoons, how about that."
"Fine."
Caroline giggled as he snuggled up to her side, chewing happily on his crackers.
Andy stepped out of the room the check on Nick, who was laying away in the bed, watching a pattern of sunlight on the ceiling.
"Hey little prince," she said gently, not wanting to disturb him. "Were you going to come out here and say hi?"
He shrugged but opened his arms for her. She got onto the bed beside him and pulled him into her arms.
"You okay? Hungry?"
He shook his head, and Andy frowned, wondering if he was just thinking or whether something was wrong.
"Can I get you something? Are you okay?"
He smiled, patting her cheek and snuggled into her chest, sighing happily when she squeezed her arms around his little body. There were so many things that she didn't know about Nick and so many things she worried about, but for now, they'd be still and when Miranda got home, they'd find some pizza to feed the masses. Maybe Nigel, Em and Serena could join them.
She sent off a quick text to Miranda and smiled at the emoji that was returned. It was the only one Miranda used. The eye-roll emoji. But it made Andy smile and she had a good idea that it was the only reason Miranda continued to use it. Dropping her phone back on the bed, she turned her attention back to Nick and ran her fingers through his hair. Life was perfect at that moment.