A/N: There's more coming. Next up is some serious sorting stuff cos my head's about to explode, so I can't imagine how they're feeling. So yes. Got some Doug, got some fluffy M'anda moments it's going to be great. But before then, have some more fluffy family feels.

See disclaimer Ch 1

-0-

Later that night Andy lay listening to Miranda sleeping. Just as her eyes began to close, she heard another noise that made her sit up a little. She glanced over at Miranda, not willing to wake her after the day they'd had. She kissed her forehead gently and slid out from under the covers, pulling on her robe and padding out of the room.

Patricia had also heard the noise and the big dog joined her in the hallway. She gave her a good scratch behind the ears. They needed to get life under control. Life was so busy, she was afraid that even Patricia was getting left behind.

"Come on girl, let's go check on 'em."

Patricia followed, listening to Andy a whole lot more now she was family than she did as an assistant.

She assumed that Olivia was alright, considering Patricia had left her side at all during the night. She grinned, patting the dog's side. Andy was fairly sure Miranda still hadn't really forgiven the big lug for abandoning her for Olivia.

She checked on the boys, chuckling as she lifted Sam back onto the bed, instead of hanging half out of it, and pulled Nick's covers up to his chin. They'd worried about them sharing a room at the beginning, but it was working perfectly. Nicky's gentle calm helping Sam wind down in an evening, and Sam's demand for 100% of someone's attention, bringing Nicky out of his shell at times. She was pretty sure Nick was talking to Sam. Not all the time, but some times. Sam often couldn't really work out what was secret and what was not and sometimes made it sound like Nick had told him something.

She couldn't wait for the day he told them something.

She made her way to the girls' bedrooms on the floor below. She'd known it was them but wanted to give them a chance to deal with it on their own for a while. She found the twins curled up together in Cassidy's bed. The eldest taking the role of protector, as usual. But, shocking Andy a little, it was Cassidy that was sobbing into her pillow while Caroline slept, no doubt exhausted by her own crying earlier int he night.

"Come here sweetheart," Andy whispered, touching her shoulder.

She was glad she'd planted her feet as Cassidy scrambled up out of bed and threw herself in her arms. Andy smiled sadly and wrapped her arms around her, holding her there while she cried.

"It's alright. It's okay to feel like this."

"I don't want him to die," she hiccuped.

"I know baby," Andy soothed gently. "But people much smarter and better trained than us have said he's doing well. In this case, we just have to trust that it's going to be okay."

"Why does it always happen? Why do people die? I don't," she took a great shuddering breath. "What if Mom, or you, or -"

"Hey," Andy said, stopping her. "Hey, none of that. We're all fine and we're doing okay. Your Mom and I are in fine health," she wasn't lying, but it did remind her that she needed to work out what was going on with her health insurance. She'd assumed Miranda had just put her on theirs but so much had happened, she'd never actually checked.

It didn't really stop Cassidy from sobbing and Andy clicked her tongue, asking Patricia to stay with Caroline in case she woke up and carried Cassidy back up the stairs to their bed.

"Oh baby," Miranda muttered sleepily as Andy tucked Cassidy in beside her. "Come here. We have you, my little warrior."

Andy smiled, Miranda was so squishy when she was sleepy. All the hard edges and the pointy angles disappeared and were replaced with much softer and lighter Miranda. It reminded Andy of the time Emily had told her to get in bed and demand a bedtime story, early on in their working relationship. She smiled as she checked once more on the little ones and got back into bed. Miranda was still half-awake as she lay cradling Cassidy while she cried.

"Mama and I are both here now Cassidy," she said, telling Andy that Cassidy had asked for her. That warmed her heart a bit. "Sleep baby. Everything will look better tomorrow."

Andy shuffled forward and Cassidy's arm shot out and pulled her impossibly closer. Seeing what she was trying to do, Andy pulled Cass on top of her, letting her rest against her side so she could still be near her Mom and wrapped her arms around both her girls.

"Are you not sleeping tonight my love?" Miranda asked, her fingers tangling in those that were tracing little patterns on her side where her pyjamas had ridden up.

"Not so far," Andy smiled. "I'm fine though."

"I'm having nightmares," Miranda whispered, as Cassidy yawned so widely it cracked her jaw.

"I know, I've been keeping an eye on you," Andy muttered, kissing both Priestly heads beneath her chin. "And I will again. Close your eyes, and don't worry. Everyone is fine"

"Our hero," Miranda said, wiping away a few tears from Cassidy's face and giving her an Eskimo kiss. "Sleep now, Cassidy."

She sniffled for a while longer before she finally dozed off. Miranda stayed awake for a while beyond that before she too dropped off and left Andy to her thoughts.

The consequences of Irv's behaviour could be far-reaching, but hopefully, they would avoid the brunt of it. The adoption process for the little ones was ironclad, thank-god. Nothing could touch that. It was something they'd both been thankful for when the lawyers first informed them. Alec had outlaid good money for the best lawyers in town to draw up his will, something that had shocked them both when their own lawyer had said so. Initially, they'd both assumed Alec had simply forgotten to change something, but the lawyer who drew up the will had been adamant. Alec had meant to make Miranda the legal parent of the children, having no other family between them to speak of. It had been a turning point in the relationship Miranda had with the children. She'd stopped worrying so much and started treating them like her own.

As she felt, finally, the first beginnings of sleep calling to her, she sighed and settled into the pillows and pulled her girls closer. Cassidy whimpered in her sleep and she soothed that and then Miranda's kicking feet just after. Before finally succumbing to sleep she desperately sent up a prayer that bad things did not come in threes.

-0-

Andy spent most of the next day keeping the little ones entertained to give their big girls some time to themselves. Miranda had swapped with her, on an off and eventually, the lazy Saturday culminated in a Disney marathon in the media room, with everyone curled up on the floor. Even, Andy was chuffed to see, Miranda.

They made a bed out of the couch cushions and Andy brought her lady a glass of wine and she spent a good portion of the first movie - Moana - watching with interest while she ran her fingers through Samuel's curls. The action sent him to sleep and Andy very carefully carried him up to bed, changing him and tucking him in with no fuss at all. During the next movie, Nick had moved onto Andy's knee and Olivia had curled up with her head on Miranda's thighs. Cassidy had curled up behind her, her arms around her little sister and her head resting on Miranda's belly while Caroline snuggled up to Miranda's other side with her head tucked under her chin.

Nick was content to sit with Andy, grinning as she tickled him gently. He didn't look tired at all and it reminded Andy that she'd said she would take the little ones out on Sunday so Miranda and the girls could have some time together.

"I'm going to take these three out tomorrow morning. We're going to go on an adventure of some sort while you guys have a Priestly Pampering day."

Miranda rolled her eyes but smiled, tangling her hand in Andy's as they watched the rest of Finding Dory with Olivia and Cassidy snoring quietly.

"Cass isn't okay," Caroline said as the credits rolled.

"I know," Miranda said, kissing her forehead gently. "But she will be. Being strong all the time is exhausting."

"Am I like Dad?" she said suddenly, looking up at her mother. Andy was interested to know the answer as well, considering Cassidy was almost Miranda's replica sometimes.

"You are," Miranda smiled, cupping Caroline's cheek. "But you are also like me, in a way. Those parts of me that I don't usually show. It is remarkable sometimes how much you remind me of myself, when I was about your age."

"Really?" Caroline smiled, completely charmed by that idea.

"Really," Miranda chuckled. "But you also, in some ways, remind me of Andréa. You are kind and genuine and you have a beautiful heart that will do anything for anybody with no thought to how much it might put you out. It is one of Andréa's best qualities."

She'd whispered it like Andy couldn't hear, but she felt her cheeks flaming as she took the compliment for what it was. Caroline looked over her shoulder and grinned at her, giving her a fistbump for her troubles.

"You're pretty mushy Momma bear," Andy said, without thinking.

Miranda chuckled and kissed Caroline once more and ran her hand over Olivia and Cassidy's hair.

"I vote that we make our way up to bed," Miranda said, stifling a yawn. "I think we should leave these two here."

"Can I stay here too?" Caroline asked.

"Of course you can," Miranda smiled. "Though I would like for you to brush your teeth first. These two will have to miss out tonight, but you," she tapped Caroline's nose. "Are not so lucky."

"I love you, Mommy," Caroline said, her voice sounding very young all of a sudden. "I really love you."

"And I really love you, my Bobbsey."

They cuddled for a while longer before Caroline went to get ready for bed, leaving Nicholas and Andy and Miranda watching the two girls sleep.

"I guess I'd better help you up," Andy grinned. "Or you'll be stuck here forever."

Nick giggled, something he'd been doing a bit more lately and Miranda beamed at him, accepting his little body in his arms where she cradled him like a baby, avoiding his long legs kicking the girls' heads.

Andy managed to slide her hands under Olivia's head, grinned when Miranda arched an eyebrow at where her hands were going. She shook her head and let Miranda slide her legs out, before she did the same with Cassidy, placing their heads on a pillow and laying a blanket over them gently.

"'Night 'night you two," she whispered, kissing their heads.

The three of them made their way up to their bedroom, Nick hanging onto Miranda happily. She dropped him on the bed and tickled his belly as he bounced, making him giggle again. She kissed his face over and over and over until he pushed her away, beaming happily.

"I love you, little Nicholas," Miranda whispered, as Andy come up beside her, now changed and ready for bed. "But you don't look a bit tired, do you?"

He shrugged and Andy laughed, tapping Miranda's bottom with a smirk and swapping with her.

"Come on then you," she sighed, catching his feet. "Scoot up the bed and we'll read for a while, alright?"

He scrambled up and snuggled under the covers on Miranda's side, his nose just peeking out from under the covers. Andy laughed and followed him, pulling him out of Miranda's place and rolling him onto her belly. They read while Miranda got ready, Nick's little fingers tracing the pictures on the page as he followed along. Eventually, Miranda slid in beside them and Nick put his hands over the words to stop her.

"Are you done for tonight?" Andy asked, looking down at him.

He sat up a little and pulled the book out of Andy's hands, passing it to Miranda with the most adorable puppy-dog eyes Andy had ever seen.

"Well," she said, looking over her glasses. "When you put it like that," she smiled, making Andy laugh.

She snuggled down with him and scooted closer where Miranda could reach both of them. As she read, Miranda's fingernails scratched over Andy's head for a while, and then NIck's until Andy couldn't keep her eyes open. She fell asleep, curled around their boy as Miranda really did read her a bedtime story.

-0-

Andy woke bright and early the next day, having finally gotten a whole night's sleep. She found Nick staring back at her, content to lay between them until one of them woke up. She kissed his nose and slid out of bed, leaving him where he was for the moment. When she was done in the bathroom, she beckoned him out and watched as he kissed Miranda's lips gently and slid from the bed, his hand going to Andy's sleep shirt and holding on tightly.

"Good morning, little Prince," she said, kneeling in front of him and kissing him again. "We're going on an adventure today. Can you get dressed for me? Then we'll have some breakfast?"

She checked on Sam and decided to let him sleep before going down and checking on Liv, who was sitting playing while her older sisters slept.

"Hi Mama," she said happily.

"Hey baby," Andy flashed her a bemused smile. "You could have come back upstairs you know?"

"I know, Cassy was having bad dreams so I stayed."

"Looking out for your big sister huh?" Andy grinned, leaning down and kissing her cheek soundly. "Thank you, sweetheart."

"You're welcome," she grinned. "Can I have french toast for breakfast?"

"Um, maybe, how about you have cereal for your first breakfast and then you, me, Nicky and Sam are going on an adventure while Cassy and Caroline spend some time with M'anda."

"I wanna spend time with M'anda!" Olivia said, her face a picture of unfairness.

"I know," Andy smiled. "And you will, because when we get back, you can ask her to play with you for as long as she can stand, alright?"

"Do you think she'll play hairdressers with me?"

"I bet she will baby," Andy replied, suppressing a tiny evil chuckle at the thought.

"Alright," Olivia shrugged, getting up and following Andy from the room.

They ate their breakfast, by which time, Sam had joined them. He had an innate ability to be able to tell whenever someone was cooking or eating and he shuffled into the kitchen, yawning and dragging Bop along the floor. He slumped down on the floor and laid his head on Patricia, sucking his thumb.

Andy winced a little, though she knew Patricia was a very clean dog and managed to snap a picture quickly before he woke up properly.

"Can I has toast peas?"

"Toast peas?"

"No," he frowned. "Pweas?"

"Of course you can baby," Andy chuckled, smoothing his frown lines "I was just teasing, I'm sorry."

"Mummy said you shouldn't tease people," Olivia said suddenly, frowning into her milk. "Mama?"

Andy took a deep breath and turned, trying to smile.

"Yeah baby."

"Can we get some pictures of Mummy and Daddy? Like the snappers took?"

"You want photos of your Mum and Dad? Yeah, sweetheart, we can do that. Maybe," she glanced at Sam who, mercifully had put his headphones on while he listened to his tablet. Something they didn't really encourage at the breakfast table, but for once, Andy didn't mind. "If you ever want something or need something to do with Mummy and Daddy, ask me or Miranda away from Sam okay? He is still very little and I don't want to confuse him."

"Okay, sorry Mama," she said easily.

"It's okay Princess," she said, sliding in the bench seat where Olivia was perched. "It's okay to want those things. You just tell us whenever you need something alright?"

"M'kay," she grinned, her milk moustache making Andy smile.

"You've got a mo!"

"I like milk."

"Good," Andy said, nodding her head. "I like you!"

"To drink?" Liv asked, her tiny nose scrunching.

"No silly," Andy smiled. "To eat of course."

She pulled the little girl onto her knee and pretending to munch on her while she giggled happily and kicked her legs. Only when she kicked the table and nearly knocked Sam's tablet flying, did Andy finally stop.

"Sorry sweetie," Andy said gently, pulling off his earphones. "Let's get you some breakfast, alright?"

"Can I has sketti?"

"Yes you may. With toast or by itself?"

"Toast peas," he said again.

"Alrighty then," Andy nodded, getting to work.

-0-

They spent the day discovering Central Park. Andy was aware that as a trial run, they needed to be relatively close to home, but it worked out spectacularly. It was cold, but not oppressively so and the children had fun running around the playgrounds that they found, and watching the model boats sailing on the lake. They'd even managed to squeeze a little trip to the zoo before Miranda rang.

"Darling, I do so love my girls and we have enjoyed our time, but it is not quite the same without you all here. Cassidy and Caroline had decided that it would be best if we perhaps all do some adventuring on the weekend. Together. And then, if they need some time alone with me, they will let us know."

Andy grinned. She'd thought the girls might say that when faced with the quiet house.

"We'll be home in twenty minutes baby," she muttered, keeping an eye on Olivia as she climbed on the structures at the park closer to home. "They're ready to be back in the warmth I think. I found a flyer for rock climbing too. Maybe we can check it out this week?"

"Yes, now come home my darling, I'm making french toast for lunch."

"You are?" Andy grinned as Sam chugged down some water. "Well, then we'll run."

"There will be time. We are only now getting dressed, although admittedly into our weekend clothes, as you'd call them."

"Good," Andy grinned, imagining Miranda in a pair of her sweatpants with the bottoms rolled up. "We'll see you in a bit then."

"I love you."

Andy grinned.

"I love you."

She rounded up the children and they made their way home, waving to the paparazzi as they passed.

"She's not coming out today ladies and gentlemen," she said, watching as they all thought long and hard about snapping some pictures of the kids.

"Liv, take Nick and Sam inside, please. Make sure you take your coats and boots off."

"Yes Mama."

She watched as they did as they were told and turned back to face them.

"I'm asking you to drop this. This," she waved at their home. "Isn't news. She isn't news."
"What about Irv Ravitz. Word is they fought all the time."

"Miranda doesn't fight with people," Andy shook her head as the few more seasoned paparazzi chuckled. "She leads people. Other people, who have no respect, don't get that. I cannot speak for Miranda, but I can say that the only instance I came upon him was as the CEO of Runway and as such, I'm bound by an NDA. So," she shrugged. "You have nothing and you're wasting your time. You know what Miranda's going to say."

"What do you think about it?" someone asked.

"What do I think about it?" she gaped at him. "What the hell do you think about it? Because if you aren't disgusted by the allegations then you maybe need to take some time off to get your head looked at. We have five children and I cannot imagine the horrors that -" she bit her lip. "We're horrified by the allegations and hope that the full weight of the law is used to investigate, and if necessary prosecute, these allegations. They all fell silent as Andy tried to get her emotions under control.

"When is she going to put a ring on it?" someone called, taking the opportunity to be cheeky.

"Shit, that's a bit of a U-turn isn't it?" Andy chuckled, wiping her eye and trying to clear her thoughts so she didn't put her foot in it. "And it's really none of your business."

There was a general lull in the questions and she grinned.

"See," she shrugged. "We're really boring people, raising our kids in this crazy city. There's no news here guys."

As she was speaking, she saw a car pull up down the road and smiled as a familiar figure got out.

"Who's that?"

"Just a friend, leave him alone," she muttered, nodding to the door and waiting for Doug to join her. "Have a good day guys. I'd be careful of the waterbombs. It's mighty cold out."

They all took three steps backward and she chuckled as she wrapped her arm around Doug and walked with him up the stairs.

"I didn't mean to turn up unannounced," Doug said, looking worried.

"What's up?"

"I want to talk to you about something," he said, looking up at the stairs warily. "I saw the paper. I know it's a terrible weekend, but -" Andy held up her hand as she heard the gentle footfall of the love of her life.

"Andréa?"

"Hey," she smiled encouragingly. "Doug is here."

Miranda paused, looking between them with wide eyes, before looking back down at herself.

"Stop," Andy said, stepping forward and taking her hands. "You can trust Doug. Please don't panic."

"Oh," Doug said, finally lifting his eyes off the floor. "Yes, please don't worry. I'm intruding without invitation, don't mind me. Or, I can come back?"

Miranda pulled the robe around her a little tighter and Andy watched as she warred with herself before rolling her eyes and letting go.

"Fine," she said, more to Andy. "Looks like you're family now Douglas," she quipped, making Andy laugh. "I'm making French toast Douglas, are you interested?"

"Yes please," he breathed as she swanned past them, pausing and turning back to kiss Andy gently before slipping into the kitchen.

"She is -"

"Mine," Andy quipped, making Doug snort.

"Yeah yeah," he grinned.

"Do you wanna talk now or can I go and change? You can hang out down here with Miranda if you like? Or the kids will all be upstairs by now."

"I might," he swallowed. "Go and help. If I'm here unannounced, I might as well do something useful."

"Well if the kids realise you're here, you'll get no peace, so yeah maybe that's a good idea. Can I hazard a guess it's to do with Nigel?"

His eyes widened and he took a deep breath.

"Yeah," he whispered, running his hand through his hair.

"Well, I know Nigel fairly well, but he's been Miranda's friend since they were in their 20s."

"Oh," he said, looking apprehensively at the kitchen door.

"She'll be gentle," Andy soothed. "Just be chill with her. It's her weekend off. It's been a really fucked up week."

"Alright," he nodded, wiping his hands on his pants and walking into the kitchen as Andy picked up three coats and straightened 9 tiny shoes in a row. They'd need a bigger closet at this rate.

"Mama!"

"Hey," she grinned as Cassidy wrapped her arms around her and held on tight. "Hey," she said again gently, pulling her head back and looking at her.

"You knew we'd miss you all, didn't you."

"I wasn't sure," Andy grinned. "But I wondered if it would be that way."

"I'm glad you're home."

"Me too," she said, pressing her cold nose against Cassidy's cheek. "It's freezing outside."

Cassidy squealed and tried to move away but Andy nuzzled her nose into her neck and couldn't help but smile at the laughter. Eventually, she stopped and let Cassidy hang onto her as they stood rocking gently in the hall.

"You alright Karate Kid?"

"Ha, more like Taekwondo kid," Cassidy giggled. "Yeah. Just," she shrugged. "Thinking about stuff, you know?"

"I do."

"Is Mr Ravitz going to jail?"

"God, if what they're saying is true, I really hope so baby," Andy said, shivering at the thought and the cold damp around her calves. "Come with me, I need to change."

"Alright," Cassidy said, walking with her arm around Andy up to their bedroom. Cassidy jumped on the bed and sighed as Andy went into the closet and changed into sweats and a t-shirt, pulling on a hoody and a pair of fuzzy socks until she warmed up.

"Now," Andy said, dropping beside her. "Talk."

"I just," Cassidy sighed. "It all seems so much. Dad and Mr Ravitz and," she shook her head. "It's a lot."

"Oh baby, I know it."

"Do you ever feel like everything is pushing down on you?"

"Every day at the moment," Andy chuckled, tapping her nose. "And I know your Mom does as well. My plan today is plonk you lot down in front of the TV while she and I figure out how to make it all a bit easier."

"Can we see Dad this week?"

"Yes," Andy shrugged. "Whenever you want to."

"That was easy," Cassidy snorted.

"He's you Dad baby," Andy said gently. "And he loves you. Neither your Mom or I were trying to keep you from him, even before this."

"I know. He was different when he was here. He," she frowned. "He was listening, you know?"

"Being sick gives you a very stark reality check. It's easy to forget what is important in this life. Mortality is a really good way of kicking you in the shins."

"Andy?" she said quietly, looking into her eyes.

"Yeah."

"Why do the kids not call Mom," she bit her lip. "Mom, I guess?"

Andy sighed. She smiled gently and pulled Cassidy into her arms, kissing her forehead.

"Because for all of their lives, they had a Mommy. And then she died. I feel a lot of guilt that I got a name and she really didn't."

"I think it hurts her."

"I know," Andy sighed. "But we can't make them call anyone anything they don't want to. It's possible that as they grow older, it'll be easier to just call her Mom, but for now, she's their M'anda and that means as much to them as calling her Mommy. And your Mom knows that, even though she secretly wishes it was different."

"Hey Mama?" Cassidy whispered. "I'm really glad you came into our lives," she snuggled until Andy's chin. "You taught Mom how to get us, you know?"

"Nah," Andy smiled. "Your Mom just needed to know that she had someone in her corner to give her the courage to be herself. She's had to be perfect all her professional life. I just gave her some room to wear my hoodies on the weekend and snuggle with her babies. She's not on duty when she's home, she couldn't have that before."

Cassidy giggled again and rolled away, sitting up on her arm.

"Thanks for loving us, Mama."

"Oh baby," Andy grinned, kissing her forehead soundly. "You all make it so easy. It is my greatest joy."

"Alright. I'm done being mushy now. I'm going down to see if Mom needs help."

"I left you a surprise in the kitchen," Andy grinned, knowing she'd be happy to see Doug.

"Sweet. Love you."

"Love you too sweety."

She took a moment to feel the joy and sat up, grabbing her laptop and taking down the stairs with her. It felt like the first moment in a long time that they could all just breathe for a while. And she was determined to enjoy it while it lasted.