A/N: SO. Before we start this, I've had a read through what we've already got. How many mistakes are there! So sorry, I'll do my best to go back through that ASAP! Also, another thing is that last chapter, I totally got the twins mixed up, so I've gone back and fixed that - consider Chapter 39 an updated chapter - Cassidy doesn't play soccer - she's starting Taekwondo. This week. Happy days for her.
In other news, they're home now and doing some new stuff that might give me more time to show "Mom!Miranda" and maybe do some paparazzi drama maybe? I feel like they got off easy. Who knows. We'll see. Andy can't be perfect all the time now can she lol
See disclaimer Chapter 1
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"Hey Tiger," Nigel greeted her from the door to her office.
He'd started calling her that after Miranda went out without covering up those now-infamous nail marks on her back during the finale gala of Paris Fashion week only days ago. The headlines had been amusing but rather muted, no doubt in fear of their professional careers.
"Oh god," she groaned, letting her head bang on the desk. "I told her I was never going to live it down."
"She owned that shit," Nigel chuckled. "But yes, you will never live it down. I think Emily still hasn't recovered."
Andy grinned, remembering Emily nearly swallowing her tongue as she fell into step with the rest of the entourage. It was so bad it was a good half an hour before Emily managed to get her voice to work again.
"Darling, are you ready to go?"
"Sorry Miranda," Nigel smiled. "I hadn't got around to warning her yet."
"Warning me about what?" Andy's eyes widened.
"Nothing, let's go," Miranda smirked, winking as she turned. "Assume you're leaving now."
"I am? I haven't said goodbye to Anton," she blinked as she realised what Miranda had said. "Oh god, what have you done?"
"Come along Andréa."
Andy was powerless to resist and got up, grabbing her purse and followed her love out of the door. They rode together, down to the lobby, Andy desperately trying to get Nigel to reveal where they were going. He remained mute, however, slipping into the limo behind him and Miranda with a sigh.
"So a surprise," she asked, unimpressed with the secrecy.
"Possibly?" Nigel smiled.
"Oh god," Andy groaned, her head in her hands.
Miranda chuckled and slid her hand into one of those hands and held on. Andy figured that if Miranda was fine with it, it wouldn't be that bad.
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It wasn't.
They pulled up at The Grill, a restaurant Andy remembered mentioning weeks ago to Miranda in the quiet of their bedroom. Her eyes lit up and she threw herself at Miranda and kissed her hard.
She heard Nigel chuckling in the background but didn't care. Miranda kissed her back and cupped her cheek.
"Ready for your little soiree?" she asked quietly.
"You didn't need to do this," she whispered as Nigel got out of the car.
"I wanted to," she smiled. "You deserve it. You've changed my life Andréa. And you're now putting it on hold for our children's best interests."
"You've changed mine in so many ways too."
Miranda pecked her on the lips again and nodded towards the open door where Roy was waiting to help her. He allowed Andy to help Miranda and tipped his hat as Andy wrapped her arm in Miranda's.
"My lady," he quipped, letting her hit him on the arm.
"Thanks, Roy."
"You're welcome," he chuckled, looking to Miranda. "I'll be around, message me when you're done."
"Thank you, Roy," Miranda echoed nodding to him as they moved into the restaurant.
"Andy!"
"Doug?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Emily invited me," he grinned, hugging her tightly. "Well, Miranda did, through Emily. She remembered you saying we needed to have dinner, but between us, we've never got it together," he grinned at Andy's lover. "Clearly it takes a master to organise our stuff."
"Stuff Douglas?" Miranda mused though she was smirking at them, as they stood there with an arm wrapped around each other.
"Sorry Miranda," he said, paling a little.
"Ignore her," Andy whispered. "She's joking."
"Hmm," Miranda arched an eyebrow. "Lunch, I have blocked two hours, but Ayah Tabari is in town and I must speak with her."
"I forget your roll with the big dogs now girl," Doug chuckled, nudging Andy with his hip. "Come on then, let's eat."
"Andy, darling. Introduce me to this fine specimen."
Andy laughed.
"Nige, this is Douglas. Doug, Nigel Kipling."
"Hello," Nigel said, holding onto Doug's hand for just a beat too long.
"Geez guys, it's my party, alright?" she quipped, slipping her hand into Miranda's and following her to the head of the table.
Emily and Serena were waiting and Serena greeted Andy with a tight hug.
"I am unsure that my Emily will be able to cope without you around to -" she grinned at Miranda. "Tame the dragon."
"Serena," Emily groaned, blushing considerably under her pale skin.
"I have had that thought myself," Miranda quipped as she sat and waved over a hovering waitstaff member. "Poor Melody."
It was a divine experience, socialising with adults, no children. Not that she didn't love them, but she remembered the plans they'd made and had to cancel so many times. She sighed as she looked around at her extended family. It was such a mind-fuck. She was a nothing. A nobody with nobody to love her, and nobody to care. And now, she had more family than she could count on her two hands and it filled her with warmth.
She glanced at Miranda watched Emily chew daintily at a piece of fish and nodded as the woman caught her eye. She was amazed at how long ago it felt that Miranda was carefully but sternly instructing Emily to take better care of herself, and it was showing. She was still skinny, but she had a glow about her that honestly, was mostly down to Serena, but she looked healthier than Andy had ever seen her.
Doug and Nigel were thick as thieves down the other end of the table and she squeezed Miranda's knee gently, nodding surreptitiously towards them. Miranda smirked into her wineglass, letting Andy know that she had already seen it.
The bill came and Andy caught how much it was. She blanched, looking at her sideways. Miranda had footed the whole table and she bit her lip thinking about the extravagance.
"Don't worry darling," Miranda said quietly, as the rest of the table talked between themselves. "We can afford it, and it was worth it to see your smiling face. I will not forget to call Bartholemew tonight either. Do not let me forget. I cannot believe I have been remiss in getting this sorted."
"We've been busy," Andy groaned, squeezing the woman's thigh under the table. "I just," she sighed. "It wasn't as good as I thought it would be, especially not for that," she grinned. "Although it was a great show. And we're managing fine. I've got you AMEX if I need it. I'm still not contributing, so," she shrugged. "I'm fine."
"My thoughts exactly on the meal," she muttered, entwining their hands under the table. "We will not be back to this establishment, though I am glad you have enjoyed yourself."
"You have to go."
"Yes," Miranda smiled. "And you must leave to pick up the children."
"I'm looking forward to it actually. Will you be home for dinner?"
"No, but I will try to be home before bed," she smiled, giving in and cupping Andy's cheek. "And then we will talk. I know I have been busy. I fell like I haven't seen you since we landed. I will call Bartholemew from the car. I'll have him make up a portfolio for you, and perhaps we can talk about it after Caroline's game?"
"It's alright," Andy smiled. "I know how it goes. There's time. And we have the whole weekend."
"In the interest of making all things known while I have my full attention to give to you; please make sure you get Cassidy's mouthguard fitted appropriately sometime this week."
"Miranda," Andy scoffed, grinned as she caught Emily watching them. "I have it covered, remember."
"I do," Miranda sighed. "It is a stretch, me going to watch this. It," she bit her lip and let Andy see just a little fear in her eyes. "Concerns me."
"Talk to Cassidy," Andy whispered, leaning over and kissing Miranda's cheek gently. "Listen to her talk and watch her eyes light up like yours do when you see a beautiful piece of clothing. And then you'll feel much better about it."
"What would I do without you, my love."
Andy didn't answer, content just to look at her for a moment before kissing the back of her hand and letting go.
"I'd just like to say something," she said louder, interrupting everyone. "I have loved this and I've enjoyed, more than you know, working with you. You're my dearest friends and I love you all. Wish me luck."
Miranda raised her glass, and the others followed, draining them with a cheer at the end.
"Now, I am leaving, Emily, you are accompanying me, Melody will meet us there. Nigel and Serena, I'm sure you can find your way back with Andréa? Douglas, you are welcome to join Andréa, of course. She can drop you off on her way to pick up our children."
"I took the day off," Doug clarified with an easy smile. "But thank you for the offer."
"You can come and hang out if you like, let the kids meet their honorary Uncle?" Andy said without thinking. She blinked, glancing at Miranda, who wore a completely neutral face so she nodded reassuringly at her best friend.
"I'd love to," he grinned.
"Good," Miranda said, nodding once. "That's all," she muttered as the server took the bill and bowed a little, moving away from the table so they could leave."
"Miranda I -"
"Don't," she said gently, cupping Andy's cheek. "We have been busy, so you have never acted on it, but the Townhouse is your home. You are welcome to invite whomever you wish into it and he is a good candidate for honorary Uncle," she smirked, pecking her lips gently. "I love you."
"I love you," Andy grinned. "Have fun."
Miranda didn't answer but sashayed away, Emily falling in behind her leaving the four of them to watch.
"What a woman, ey," Nigel grinned at Doug.
"She's," Doug shrugged. "Amazing."
"And all mine," Andy grinned, nudging Serena's hip. "Em looks good," she grinned, leaving Serena to take that however she wished. "And I never got a chance to thank you for looking after the kids. They loved the little fashion parade you guys did."
Andy and Miranda had come home after the last gala of the evening to a cleared out living room in their suite with improvised lighting and speakers dotting the room. And as soon as Miranda had shut the door behind her, the music had started, leading to a beautiful, fun, fashion show featuring none other than all five of their kids wearing couture, to daywear to a downright ridiculous mish-mash of things that made Andy hoot with laughter. Serena had even thought to have Patrick's assistant on hand to take some shots for them. She was looking forward to getting them sometime this week.
"That was all Jocelyn's idea. I just helped out."
"I doubt that," Andy grinned. "Thank you, either way."
"They are beautiful children. I really did enjoy hanging out with them."
"They are," Andy smiled. "And I'm going to be late to school if I don't get a move on."
"How are you getting there?"
"I think someone should have brought the car," Andy muttered. "If not, we can call an uber I guess?"
"Holy shit Andy!"
She laughed as Doug's mouth dropped open and she accepted a key from a valet. It wasn't an out-of-the-ordinary looking car, but once you looked closer, you could tell it was a bit special.
"Yeah, Roy's friend did it up for us so we could all fit, without it being too big. It's crowded on soccer mornings, but it's super comfy."
"Soccer mornings," Nigel scoffed. "I bet it's like herding cats all by yourself."
"Oh no," Andy grinned, doing her belt up and looking back at Nigel int he mirror. "She's there too."
"What?"
"Miranda is a soccer mom now," Andy giggled. "She'll be a taekwondo Mom too after this weekend."
"You're one of a kind kid," Nigel grinned. "The girls have wanted to do sports since," he shook his head. "Forever."
"Well, they're pretty happy either way," she said, carefully pulling out into the traffic. "The girls have expressed a wish for a bit more Mom-time, so I've got to find something to do with the littles one morning on the weekends."
"I think Jocelyn said something about her boy doing gymnastics?" Serena said helpfully. Andy grinned and made a mental note to call Joc later in the day.
"I think Sam would love that," Andy chuckled. "Maybe they all would," she grinned. "Alright Runway crew, thank you for flying Andy air."
Nigel chuckled and Andy watched in the mirror as he passed Doug a card quietly and looked pointedly at him before getting out of the car.
"Nige?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell Anton I'll come and see him before the end of the week?"
"He'll be fine," Nigel said easily. "He's a good guy."
"Which is why I want to say thanks to him," Andy smiled as Doug got in the front seat. "Have a good afternoon!"
"Alright," Andy said as they watched Serena and Nigel walk back into the building. "You ready to meet the crowd?"
"I am," Doug smiled. "It's," he looked at her as she pulled back into traffic. "You're different. Happier. Softer."
"You have to be when you're in love with Miranda Priestly and have five kids between you."
"I don't doubt that," Doug chuckled. "How's it going?"
"Really well. We're busier than you can believe. I," she sighed, signalling to turn. "It's been a really, really big learning curve. She has," she shrugged. "A lot of money and I'm not paying for anything and I want to, but we've been so busy, I just haven't."
"Maybe take it as a sign," Doug smiled. "Save your money for something. Pay your Uni debts off."
"I am," Andy shrugged. "It's amazing how much money you can save when you're not paying for anything except coffee and the occasional lunch every day. Although Cara cooks for a literal army so I always have leftovers."
Doug laughed and they lapsed into an easy silence.
"I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend," Andy said quietly. "I let us drift apart."
"No," Doug said gently. "You didn't. We both did. Between Nate, and Lily. I don't know, it was just," she sighed. "Too hard to navigate. But, I want to be your friend again. I want to know the new you."
"I want that too," she whispered, squeezing his hand. "I've missed you. I've missed adult conversations with people other than Miranda and Cara. The girls are really mature but there's nobody to shoot the shit with, you know?"
He laughed and nodded as they pulled up to the school. She waved at the security guard and parked the car.
"You wanna come in? Or wait in the car?"
"I would love to come in, will they let me?"
"Yeah," she grinned. "I'm Miranda's girl. We get carte blanche."
"That's awesome," he laughed, sliding out of the car.
She locked the car and they followed a few of the parents into the junior school, nodding to a few of them as she did.