A/N: Shall I stop leaving these here? What do I have to say today? Nothing. Except you need to stop reading this and go and watch the USA women's international team. Today is Jill Ellis' last game as head coach and she has been a powerhouse. She's arguably done more for women's sport than nearly all other coaches ever. Go watch. It's turning out to be an interesting game.

See chapter 1 for disclaimer

-0-

"Can I go with Cassy?"

Miranda just managed to grab Olivia's hand before she darted after the twins.

"You will stay with me," she muttered, squeezing the little hand in hers. "Cassidy has things to do before we go and watch. Have patience darling."

"M'and! I wanna go!"

"Olivia, enough," Miranda said gently, but firmly. "I do not want you to go to bed early tonight."

"Are we ready?" Andréa asked, coming around the car with Samuel safely in her arms and Nicholas holding her hand.

"Yes, Caroline?"

"I'm here," she grinned, slipping her hand into Nicholas'.

"Good. Onward then."

"Good afternoon," a young woman wearing similar clothing to Cassidy's. "It's my honour to greet you today. Before you enter, it is custom to bow to the flag, paying it a mark of respect, before removing your shoes and making your way to the corner where you can watch."

Miranda pursed her lips, looking down her nose, but Andréa's hand on the small of her back made her huff. She did as she was told, smiling as Olivia copied. Nicholas watched and then did the same thing, matching the girl's hand positioning. He would benefit from this more than the others, she thought, as she toed off her two-inch pumps. She was just glad she had changed from her Bill Blass slacks and into a slightly less form-fitting suit.

"I sit with M'anda," Olivia said, wrapping her arms around her thigh.

"Alright little love," Miranda said, her hand resting on her hair. "That is fine."

They made their way over to the corner of the room and made themselves comfortable on the floor. One of the older students explained that it was not usual to have spectators, but they would make an exception. Andréa snorted quietly and Miranda pinched her thigh in retaliation, flashing her a smirk.

It was almost normal.

In the back of her mind though, she could see the headlines splashed across the pages of New York.

"Hey," Andréa said gently. "Come back to us Miranda."

"Sorry," she muttered, shaking her head. "What's happening?"

"They're just getting situated. You haven't missed anything."

"I wanna go!"

"You'll stay here," Andréa said sternly. "This is Cassy's time. Not yours. Let her be."

Cassidy glanced over her shoulder and beamed, making everything seem a little less terrible and she smiled back as the instructor explained, for Cassidy, what they were doing.

"Take your position on the mat, and sit, cross your legs. Clear your mind of your problems and your thoughts. Taekwondo is about balance. Peace. You cannot master the art if your mind is not clear."

Miranda thought that was sound advice.

"Here," Andréa said, sitting Samuel on the mat and helping him cross his legs. "Nick, you too," she whispered, nodding towards Cassidy. "Now close your eyes and sit quietly. Think about all the happy things."

"Like you and M'anda?" Samuel asked, making her smile gently.

"Yeah, like Mama and M'anda and you sissys and your brother."

"And Carwa? And Patricia? And Mr Woy?"

"Yeah," Andréa whispered. "But do it quietly okay?"

"I whisper."

"Good boy," Andréa smiled, nodding towards Nicholas.

She looked and watched as he cracked open an eye and watched, taking a deep breath when the man at the front of the room did. She smiled and nudged Olivia, crossing her legs as well and letting her mind go. She decided that perhaps a half hour's meditation every morning might do her the world of good. Perhaps if they converted the space in -

"You're supposed to clear your mind, not solve world hunger," Andréa's silky smooth voice echoed around her brain. Miranda smiled and nodded. Taking a deep breath and trying to still her thoughts. It worked, for about a minute, before she remembered that she hadn't emailed Tom Ford's people back about their advertising space.

"It will wait," Andréa whispered again and she cracked an eye open to see her lover watching her. "Just breathe. Work is over. No thinking of work this weekend. We're going to go home, pull the blinds and pretend we're in an Alaskan forest with no one around us for miles. We can even turn the thermostat down if you're interested."

Miranda bit back a smile and pinched the woman's thigh again, getting a beautiful smile in response. Something more was happening and she watched as the class started reciting a benediction, in Korean. She had no clue what it was about, or what they were saying, but Cassidy had clearly learned it somewhere because she managed to get a few sentences in.

Miranda ran her hands through Olivia's hair as they watched them transition into a standing position and the moving part of the lesson started. Caroline leaned, just a little, into her side. They'd suffered a blow as a family today and a weekend seconded away would do them good. Then perhaps, in a week or two, a vacation. Like she'd considered. Outside the city. Outside the State. Somewhere where the papers wouldn't have pictures, and the children could play and she could just be home-Miranda.

-0-

Cassidy was practically shouting by the time the class had broken up and crossed the road back to the car.

"And did you see what Master Lee did to that board! It was amazing!"

"Alright Cass," Andréa chuckled. "Relax sweetheart. We were all there."

"Oh but Ma, it was so good."

Miranda smiled and glanced down at her phone as it rang obnoxiously loud after the quiet of the Dojong. She frowned, seeing the name and passed Olivia's hand to Caroline and answered the call.

"Yes?"

"I heard about Irv."

"And?"

"I'm concerned about our daughters."

She bristled. Andréa's hand slipped into her and she waved her off, moving away from the car to hiss down the line.

"You think I would ever let anybody hurt my daughters? That I would let that, that -"

This was all she needed. Maxwell overwhelming her with all the emotions she had been made to feel in the last 24 hours.

"They're my daughter's too!"

"And where the hell have you been?"

"I -" He paused long enough that she removed the phone from her ear and checked to see if he'd hung up.

"My doctor said I should have told you and the girls."

"Doctor?" she frowned. "Maxwell, what are you -"

"Cancer," he said quietly. "Early, and relatively easy to treat, but I'm in chemo so -"

"Max, I -" she swallowed. "No matter what has come between us, I would never wish -"

"I know," he said kindly. "I, I was concerned when I saw the headline, I just," he sighed. "Maybe it was the universe's way of getting me to talk to you, finally."

"I," she glanced behind her and saw her family waiting. "Will you wait a moment Max, I know we need to talk about this, just -"

"Do you want me to call back?"

"We are not at home. Will you call back in twenty minutes?"

"Yeah. I saw some photos of you and that Andréa in the papers. You look so happy Miranda. I'm glad."

"I," she blinked the tears away. "I am happy. Happier than I have ever been."

"I'd," he cleared his throat. "I'd like to know this new you, if you'd let me. I know cancer is kinda a big thing and I'm not using it to erase our sins, but I," his breath wobbled. "It puts things in perspective, you know? You were my friend once, before all this."

"I do, and we will. I'll," she glanced at her eldest girls as she neared the car. "I will wait until I speak to you again before mentioning anything. But let us get home and then," she swallowed. "I will call you back."

"Alright," he said, doing a good job of hiding the surprise in his voice. "I'll be here."

"Thank you."

He hung up and she looked at the phone and then met Andréa's eyes, who were laced with worry.

"Come on my darlings," she sighed feigning a smile and fiddling with her bracelet to prevent them from seeing her hands shaking. "Let's go home. Then, I must make one more phone call and I am all yours for the whole weekend."

"Yey!" Sam yelled, throwing his arms in the air. "M'anda's all MINE!"

"All ours," Liv grumped, making Andréa chuckled.

"Alright little'ns, in you get. Samuel, we have to share M'anda but I'm sure she'll make sure you get lots of cuddles."

"Yesss," he hissed, scrambling into his seat.

Miranda smiled, despite it all and slid into the passenger seat, gripping her hands tightly.

Andréa's hands topped hers and she glanced at her, shaking her head just barely.

They drove home listening to the kids chattering and Andréa's voice called out to get their things and take them up to their rooms. Cara directed traffic as they all clamoured to get inside.

"What?"

"Max," Miranda whispered, not making a move to exit the car. "He has cancer."

"He," Andréa blinked. "Really? That's why he's not been around?"

"Yes."

"I -" she swallowed again. "Do you need to go to him or -"

"No," Miranda said, perplexed. "No, he is not my husband anymore Andréa. You are my partner. I am," she frowned. "Sad, for him. His choices led him where our relationship is, but I," she blinked away a tear. "I loved him at one point," she smiled and cupped Andréa's cheek. "Before I knew what love really was."

"What do we need to do?"

"I'm going to call him back and discuss moving forward and telling the girls. I, I find myself not wanting him to go through it alone, but I likewise cannot send the girls there to deal with this."

"I am okay with all of this, if you need to go to him?"

"I wondered if," she cleared her throat. "If we shouldn't, all of us, do more to, incorporate him into our," she sucked her bottom lip. "Family."

Andréa beamed at her and leaned across the centre console to kiss her deeply.

"I think that's a great idea."

"You do?"

"I do. I think the girls are a part of our family, but that he is a part of theirs. I will never be one to say no to more family."

"I know," Miranda whispered.

"And I think, honestly, it might do the littles good to get to know him too. To stop it from feeling too 'other'."

"You always know the right thing to say," Miranda whispered.

"I know you, and I love you."

"I know that," Miranda smiled, feeling it in her soul. "And I am so thankful Andréa, for you and for everything."

"I love you, Miranda Priestly," Andréa grinned. "Go and call him back. Cara and I will get dinner on and we'll go from there. You could even invite him, if you needed to? Might be better if the news comes from both of you?"

She watched as Andréa walked away before calling her name, watching with an overwhelming feeling of completeness as she turned to smile at her.

"I love you. Endlessly."

"Here's to forever, yeah?"

"Forever, my darling," Miranda muttered, watching her go until she entered the kitchen.

She stood, in the relative cool of the garage, playing with her necklace, before realising she had no more excuse to avoid calling him back.

"Max," she said gently as he picked up.

"God, you know it's serious when you call me Max," he chuckled, making her feel better.

"How would you feel about joining us for dinner. Here, at the Townhouse?"

"Really?" he asked and she could tell that she had shocked him. "Won't Andréa be -" he didn't finish the sentence.

"It was her suggestion actually."

"Ha," he said quietly. "THat's how you know it's real then, I suppose?"

"What?"

"You discuss things. We just used to," she imagined him shrugging. "Tell each other how it was going to go."

She considered it and nodded, forgetting he couldn't see her.

"This way," she continued, not able to concentrate on any other revelations. "You can meet the little ones and then we can tell the girls together?"

"I -"

"I realise it seems unorthodox, but we, Andréa and I, have discovered along this journey that family is," she nodded, forgetting he couldn't see her. "Rather a case of build-your-own. And, you are the girls' family."

"I would like that, Miranda," he said, his voice wobbling again. "I don't," he cleared his throat as his voice cracked. "I would like that."

"Good. Shall I pick you up, or can you join us here?"

"I can still drive Miranda, I'm not bedridden," he chastised gently.

"Of course, I'm sorry."

"She's done a number on you," he chuckled. "You've apologised more to me in this phone call than ever before."

"Maxwell."

"Shutting up now," he laughed and she let him. He certainly wasn't wrong.

"Is there anything you require? Dietary needs etc?"

"No, I'm between treatment protocols now, so I am fine. I need to put a bit more weight on actually, it," he paused. "It takes a lot out of you."

"I'm -" she stopped as he chuckled. "Make your way here. Dinner is at 7."

"Yes Miranda," he said teasingly. "See you soon."

"Mom?" She looked up, finding Cassidy on the step, looking at her shrewdly. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, I," she warred with herself over what to say. "Your father is coming here," she said all of a sudden. "For dinner."

"He's what?"

"He's coming here for dinner."

"We figured it was time to get to know him," Andréa said, appearing behind Cassidy in the hall. "So the littles weren't too worried about you guys going away."

"He hasn't called for months, why all of a sudden?" Cassidy said, looking between them as Andréa joined her.

"Have you put your gi away?"

"It's a dobok, god Ma," Cassidy rolled her eyes. Miranda glared at her, even though she knew Andréa had done that on purpose to redirect her attention. "Sorry, no, I haven't."

"Cassidy, while I understand that I perhaps didn't get that right, you have no right to speak to me like that," Andréa said sternly, shocking Miranda a little. It wasn't often that she disciplined the girls. It wasn't often that she needed to.

"Yes Ma, sorry Ma."

"Off you go. Get whatever it is that you need to do so that you have your evening free, alright?"

"Yeah," she whispered, looking sadly between them.

"Come 'ere," Andréa sighed, pulling her eldest into a hug. "Just watch your tone alright? We love you."

"Love you too," she muttered, before running up the stairs.

"Sorry, I -"

"Don't apologise. She was out of line and you are her -" Miranda chuckled. "Ma," she said, finally entering the house with a long and pained sigh. "I was naive to assume they wouldn't have realised something was wrong when I told them."

"Look, new things are scary. I get that, intimately," she laughed, wrapping her arms around Miranda and pulling her close. "They'll figure it out. Although if we can stop them from taking on too much, that would be better. They need to also be themselves, you know?"

"Exactly," Miranda sighed, smiling as she heard a little giggle. She'd know that giggle out of a hundred other children. Because it was one they heard the least often.

"Come here Nicholas," she muttered, stepping away from Andréa and catching him as he jumped at her. "Oof, you are getting so big. But I do so love hearing you."

"Two of my favourite people, all snuggled into one," Andréa muttered, kissing both their heads. "Nicky, you gonna take M'anda upstairs and let her read to you?"

"You will need help getting dinner," Miranda said, looking torn.

"Cara and I have it. She's staying until it's ready. It's alright. Go have some downtime with our boy."

"Fine," she smiled, nuzzling Nicholas where he lay with his head on her shoulder. "Call me if you need me."
"I will, but we won't. I'll call you for dinner at 7."

She carried Nicholas up the stairs and settled into the chair that he usually occupied with Andréa, sighing sadly as he passed her the book they were reading and snuggled up against her neck. She considered what she would do if anything were to happen to any of them, then pushed those thoughts away with a shudder.

She would not be imagining those scenarios, not for anything. She would concentrate on what was in front of her, and for now, it was Nicholas and his steady breathing, and his fingers that were playing with the hairs on her neck.

-0-

Two slamming doors were all Miranda needed for the pounding that had begun behind her eyes. She'd had the worst day she could have imagined and it was only set to get worse.

Both twins had decided that in light of their father's revelation that Miranda had known and had been keeping it from them. She hadn't had a chance to rebuke it before they stormed off.

"I'll talk to them," Max said quietly, touching her hand. "If, can I -"

"Yes," she waved him upstairs. "Same rooms."

"It'll be alright."

"Aren't I supposed to be saying that to you?" Miranda said, getting up and walking to the bar.

"No," he said quietly. "You certainly don't have to."

"It will be," Miranda said decisively, offering him a glass. "All these things can't have piled on top of my day for it to end badly. I can only cope with so much."

"I did not mean to make this already difficult day harder. I don't really even know why I called."

"It was time," she nodded. "I'm glad you did, even despite it all."

"You have changed more than I realised," he smiled as he accepted the drink. "You would never have told me that, not even when we were married."

"Life has changed somewhat since then," she chuckled. She sat back down and toasted him silently, savouring the burn as she swallowed. A mop of curly blond hair appeared by the door and she smiled as Sam's face followed.

"Can I has you?"

"You can, little one," she said, putting her drink on the table and letting him clamber up on her knee.

"Who dat?"

"This is Max, he is the twin's Daddy."

"Cassy and Caro?"

"That's right," Max smiled. "Are you Sam or Nick?"

"I Tham!"

"Hi Sam," he said, offering his hand and grinned when Sam gave him a high-five. "It's great to meet you."

"You take my sissies away?"

"No sweetheart," Miranda soothed gently. He was such a wildman. "They're going to come back."

"M'kay." he said, getting comfortable in her arms.

"God, it's like you're a new person," he said, running his hand through his hair. "And to think I -"

"Don't," she warned. "Don't you dare. I invited you here to -"

"No," he said, holding up his hand. "No, I know. It's," he sighed. "Just funny how life turns out somehow isn't it."

"It is," she smiled indulgently as Olivia also popped her head around the door.

"Aw," she said with a frown. "No fair."

"Come here sweet one," she chuckled. "I have an arm free."

"Have you got -" Andréa laughed as she poked her head around the room. "I should have known. They're drawn to her like moths." Max looked between them. Miranda bit back a smile at the perplexing look on his face. "Max, did you get enough to eat? I can make you some leftovers to take home if that'll help?"

"I," he looked at her carefully. "Yes actually, that would be nice, thank you."

"Good," she nodded. "Want me to take them or -"

"I believe Max was going to talk to the girls, so I'm fine."

And she was. Olivia was tucked under one arm and Samuel tucked under her chin. She wasn't going to be going anywhere for a while. In fact, they would just as likely fall asleep in that position if she let them.