A/N: Please note, this is an updated chapter as of Oct.1.2019!

Previous A/N: Hello again. Quick one today. I've had it done for a minute, but have only just got around to doing something with it. It ends a bit abruptly, but I don't think it's a bad one. This one took a huge turn somewhere I wasn't expecting, so I guess I'll just figure that out as we go! Have fun!

See disclaimer Chapter 1

-0-

They slept until 9:30. The twins were up at six, but they happily managed to squeeze in the big bed either side of Miranda and Andy and settled in for a lie-in as well. Liv had managed to remain vomit free for the rest of the night, so when Miranda's phone rang at quarter to, Andy was already blinking awake.

"Yes?"

Andy watched Miranda wield her power on the phone while Olivia was tucked up on her chest. She stroked her hand through Liv's curls absently as she listened.

"Andréa and I will be down at 11:20. Have Nigel bring the gowns to our room and call the maid service, Olivia was ill last night. I will, of course, pay for the inconvenience, Jocelyn and Serena should be here by 11:15" she glanced over and caught Andy's eye. "That's all."

"Good morning," Andy smiled indulgently, wishing there weren't two and a half children between them.

"Good morning," Miranda replied, her blue eyes sparkling with mirth.

"Hey," Cassidy muttered, sitting up suddenly and leaning on Andy tiredly. "I'm super glad we got to come and see you Mom, but I'm beat."

"I know sweetheart," Miranda said, leaning over to brush away her fringe. "We shall be back in New York tomorrow evening. And then, Tuesday, you have your first Taekwondo lesson."

"Hey!" Cassidy grinned. "You remembered!"

"Of course I did," Miranda said haughtily. "And we shall obviously all be there!"

"Oh," she swallowed, looking a little unsure. "Okay. That's a lot of people on my first day, but," she grinned. "I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you for letting me." She fell quiet for a while and Andy watched Miranda wait for her to continue. "It's pretty cool, you know," Cassidy said. "Like, you're super chill lately."

"I have never been chill in all my life Cassidy," Miranda chuckled. "But I am very relaxed. Everyone is happy and healthy and I think we have settled into a relatively stable routine."

"Hi," Caroline whispered, sidling up to Miranda's shoulder.

"Don't wake Olivia," Miranda whispered gently, extracting her arm. "But come here, darling."

Caroline beamed as she snuggled up to Miranda's side and sighed, resting her head on her chest.

"Remember when we used to come and get in with you on Sunday mornings?" Caroline whispered. Andy smiled watching as Miranda traced her nose gently.

"And then I would cook you pancakes and play video games with you?"

"I kinda wish we could still do that. I know you're super busy but -"

"Caroline?" Miranda said, smiling gently. "If that's what you wish, then we shall endeavour to achieve it. Because we can do anything."

"Maybe I can take the littles to some sort of sporting thing on Sundays," Andy offered. "Give you guys some Mom time."

"It's not that we don't love them," Cassidy said quietly.

"We just miss Mom sometimes."

"I'm sorry sweethearts."

"It's okay," Cassidy said, grinning cheekily. "We're just not used to this competition. And I'm pretty sure they're cuter than we are, so we're on the back foot."

Andy chuckled and poked Cassidy's middle where it was resting on her.

"What's happening Mama?" Sam's precocious voice interrupted their quiet time.

"Nothing at all little monkey. We were just talking to the girls."

"Cassy, come cuggle me."

Andy chuckled and switched places, letting Sam cuddle on Cassidy until he was bored of that.

"Why Liv gots to cuggle you so much," he frowned, sitting up. "You's my M'anda."

"There is plenty of me to go around Samuel," Miranda said gently as Andy slid out of bed and pulled on a dressing gown. "There are five of you and one of me. Olivia was unwell last night, so she gets the priority today. You," she tapped his nose. "Little love, must learn some patience sweetheart."

"I don't got patience."

"The best people don't," Andy grinned, kissing Cassidy and Sam's hair. "Coffee?"

"Yes," Miranda smiled. "And some breakfast for the ravenous hordes."

"I come?"

"Course you can," Andy smiled, turning around. "Hop on, Monkey."

He jumped onto her back and she carried him out into the living room, using the phone to ring down for room service.

"You want to watch cartoons for a while?" He nodded. "Alrighty," she said, pulling the twin's bedding closer. "We gotta do this right, you know. There's only one way to watch cartoons in the morning."

"Wha' tis it?"

She grabbed him and kissed him riotously before dropping him on the bed.

"You gotta be a human burrito!"

"No!" Sam giggled. "I don't wants to!"

"You don't?" she laughed, trying to roll him up in the covers. "No Sam-urito?"

"Noooo!" Sam yelled. "M'anda!"

"Unhand my son," Miranda said dangerously, her eyebrow making Andy back off a little before she realised Miranda wasn't the boss of her anymore.

"You totally got me there," she said with a wry grin as Sam giggled as he jumped into her arms.

"Glad I've still got it," Miranda said catching him deftly. The doorbell went and she put Samuel back in front of the television, where he was soon joined by Caroline.

"Monkey, do you want jelly toast this morning?"

"Yes!" he hissed.

"Please," Miranda said, her eyebrow going up.

"Peas!"

Andy bit back a smile and spread some strawberry jelly on two pieces and poured him a glass of milk, taking it to the table.

"Come up here sunshine," she said gently. "You can still watch from here, but let's make sure we don't get jelly on the sofa."

"Fine!" he huffed and Andy laughed.

"Gosh, you sounded like Aunty Emily then. Aunty Serena's going to have a field day today."

"Speaking of, the gowns are coming in ten minutes. We are scheduled to leave at 11:20."

"Ooh," Andy frowned. "Now that feels weird. It's usually me telling you your schedule," she grinned lopsidedly. "Not the other way around!" She passed Miranda her coffee and fixed herself one. "Is Nicky not awake?"

"No," Miranda mused, rubbing her bottom lip.

"I wonder if maybe he's not sleeping well," Andy muttered. "He was awake when I went in last night."

"Perhaps your suggesting of putting them into something that will tire him out is a good one."

"I have plenty of good ideas," Andy said, feigning hurt.

"I know you do darling," Miranda murmured, kissing her sweetly. "I just meant it will be good to wear them out."

"Sport's useful isn't it," Andy grinned, remembering the conversation they'd had earlier in the year.

"Mhmm," Miranda grinned. "I do remember someone mentioning it, yes."

Andy grinned and finished her coffee. "I'm going to hop in the shower."

"Alright," Miranda smiled, leaning in for a kiss and resting her forehead against Andy's. "Do you know, for the first time in my whole life as Editor, I am ready to go home."

"I'm sorry," Andy frowned, taking a step back. "We added to the stress of this week."

"No my darling, no," Miranda said, pulling Andy back into her arms. "You have made my week even more special. I have loved our time here and I think, next time we find ourselves with a spare week, I am looking forward to travelling to places with our children. Seeing somewhere through the wonder of a child's eyes has been magical to me," she ran her finger over Andy's cheek. "I had forgotten."

"I think we'd love that," Andy whispered. "We all love spending time with you."

"I worry, Andréa," Miranda said, stepping back a little. "That your life has been put on hold to take care of these babies."

"I admit I have been thinking very hard about how our lives have panned out," she smiled, blushing a little at how often Miranda hit the nail on the head of whatever thought was stewing in her mind. "But I've decided that I'm not sure I care anymore. I," she bit her lip. "Hear me out before you comment on this, okay?"

"Alright," Miranda said carefully.

"I'm not doing my best work," she admitted. "I'm rushing. And then when I'm done, I spend a good portion of my time with the kids, wondering whether I've done my best work. Anton lets me work how I like because of," she shrugged. "You, basically. So," she took a deep breath. "I've decided that I might take six months off."

"What?" Miranda's eyes nearly bugged out of her head.

"I feel like they're missing out on us," she whispered. "Sam said something about it last night, and the girls commented today. I don't want to stop working forever. Not even for a long time, but I think," she shrugged. "I think they need this."

"And thus, the trap that all women fall into," Miranda mused sadly. "The expectation that women will work like they don't have children and raise children as if they don't work."

"I'm not sad about it," Andy said, cupping Miranda's cheek. "I'm kinda hoping that when, in like a million years, you retire," she chuckled. "You'll take over and I'll get to go to work all hours while you're taking care of the masses of teenagers we'll have by then."

"I see," Miranda rolled her eyes. "Very clever my darling."

"Is it a terrible idea?"

"No," Miranda said quietly, cupping her face. "I hear what you are saying and I think that if that is what you need to do, you should. I worry that you will not go back though. I do not want you to become another statistic Andréa. The world should not be deprived of your voice."

"I will," Andy smiled sadly. "Because I have something else other women don't."

"What?" Miranda said, a tiny frown appearing between her eyebrows.

"You," Andy grinned, tracing that slightly crooked nose. "You've single-handedly changed this industry into what it is. If anyone can give me ideas and pointers and tips on how to get back into it, you can, even if you can't technically give me a reference."

"I will do everything in my power," she kissed Andy gently as she went to speak. "Within the parameters of your needs."

"You know my needs," Andy whispered, kissing her hard.

"Ew, way TMI," Cassidy laughed as she walked out, carrying Nick on her back. "This one woke up."

"Hello honey," Andy said, clapping her hands and taking him from Cassidy's back. "Hungry?"

He nodded and Andy smiled, poking his belly gently.

"Good, give M'anda a kiss then she's going for a shower."

"I thought you were," Miranda smirked.

"Yeah, then the hordes woke up and need feeding, so I'll do that while you get prettied up. No one is going to take photos of me."

"Oh my darling," Miranda sighed, cupping her cheek. "Everyone wants photos of you."

She left, kissing Nick sweetly on the nose. Andy watched her go, grinning as she swayed her ass just a little.

"What a woman, ey," she said, hefting Nick up on her hip and chuckling when he rolled his eyes. He may not be talking, but he was definitely communicating.

-0-

Andy was just sliding off her dressing gown after Nigel dropped off the dresses when Miranda's voice called her name with an air of urgency.

"ANDRÉA!"

Andy pulled the robe back on as she rushed into the bathroom.

"What? What's happened?" Miranda stared at her and Andy held out her hands. "Miranda, what?"

"Look at my back."

Andy frowned and glanced in the mirror, her eyes widening as she saw the problem.

"Holy shit," Andy said, her eyes widening and her hand covering her mouth. "Fuck!"

"Hmm," Miranda said, glancing over her shoulder at the eight lines marring her otherwise pristine shoulders. "I can't say I'm not impressed by them," she grinned evilly back at Andy. "Perhaps I will wear our love on my shoulders later tonight."

"You're not going out there without covering them?" Andy's eyes widened. "Are you?"

"Why not?" Miranda smirked. "I think it will be a fantastic piece de resistance to this year's amazing week."

"Oh my god," Andy groaned. "I'm never going to live this down."

"Why would you want to darling," Miranda whispered with an evil gleam in her eye. "Why on earth would you want to."