Staying true to her word, Andy did stay clothed. Both were shy around each other considering what had happened in Andy's bedroom between them.

''Miranda. I can just take the chair or the tub tonight. You take the bed.'' Andy insisted, grabbing a pillow from the bed. Making her way to probably the chair not the tub, which would be a lot comfier for her neck.

Miranda shook her head at both places for Andy to sleep on tonight. Sleeping in a chair or bathtub was out of the question. This bed was a good size and unless Andréa snored like both her ex-husbands' combined, she was welcome on this Sealy.

''Don't be ridiculous. We can share can't we?'' Miranda retorted.

''I guess.'' Andy nodded half-heartedly agreeing. She hadn't slept next to someone in years.

''Sorry about tonight.'' Andy looked down at the carpet, felt terrible, here she'd planned a really nice evening to make it up to Miranda for her bad behaviour of being a jerk about Kit. This evening's plans were in every way ruined. Starting with her truck breaking down and mud.

''Andy which side do you want?''

Andy grinned at Miranda, at being called Andy. She'd never said it before.

''What?''

Andy didn't answer her question.

''Andy will you just get into bed with me.'' Switching off the light.

Andy slipped into Miranda's right side, felt Miranda beside her, hoping tonight for once she didn't have nightmares. Andy hoped, just being next to Miranda tonight she'd sleep for once and not have them, reliving him with Miranda near her.

Miranda felt Andy's weight settle as the mattress sank a little as she joined her in bed.

Inhaling it. Her. Breathing her out and in, Andy always enjoyed Miranda's scent, it was calming her, she felt Miranda ease close to her in the darkness.

''Josh is adorable.''

Andy smiled in the darkness. ''He does take after me, Josh's affable and has a great smile and he's really smart and did I mention charming like me.'' That earned a small snort from Miranda, her white head settled on the pillow.

''Such modesty Andréa.'' Smacked with a pillow lightly.

Andy rubbed where she was struck. '' I can't believe you hit me.'' Andy scoffed at her.

Miranda leaned closer, her knee brushing Andy's thighs. ''Do you need me to kiss it better?'' Andy smiled slyly.

''Maybe I do Miranda.''

''Your lips may just be the only thing to salve the pain.'' Held her hand over Andy's mouth to be quiet. With Josh and his parents in the other rooms and this wasn't a huge house.

''You are incorrigible.''

Felt Andy smile at her in the darkness and mumbled through her hand. ''I am.''

Miranda's mouth dried as Andy kissed her inside palm. A flush of desire ran through her at the way Andrea lips felt on her again and how her fingers had caressed her like she belonged to her.

Dropping her hand from Andy's face, she made to move closer.

''Can we just not do that? Maybe we can just talk?'' Miranda suggested, leaning on her elbow.

''Sure we can talk.'' Andy didn't mind.

''What am I to you Andrea?'' Miranda asked her this. Needed to know this Andrea better, hoped she was still the same warmly infectious person who left a voice message for her telling her she loved her years ago.

''What do you mean Miranda?''

''Am I, do you want us to be this. I know we've never talked much. There's no one else is there?'' Miranda felt like a fool if Andrea thought of this as a fling or casual for the summer.

Through the moonlight saw Andy staring at her hard, running circles along her arm, waiting for her to answer her.

Brushing white hair behind her ear. ''Miranda it's always been you.'' If it hadn't been so dark Andy would have seen Miranda's blinding smile on her.

''Oww.'' Andy had been pushed back onto the mattress with Miranda atop her, peppering her face with small kisses down and along her jawbone.

''Just so you know I'm hardly a catch. I'm an owner of a falling apart guest house. I don't care what I wear most days. You have a chauffeur Miranda and I drive a Chevy.''

Eyes shimmering on Andy. ''Andrea Sachs do you really think that's what matters to me when I love somebody.''

Turning the tables. ''Miranda did you really think Marybeth and I were together?'' Leaning on her elbows with Miranda on her.

Miranda lied quickly. ''No.'' She had but Andy didn't need to know that.

Andy knew her well enough. ''You did and I saw it. Admit it, you were jealous when you thought Marybeth and I were dating.''

''No. I wasn't.'' Miranda said firmly back to Andy in the dark near her. Getting off her.

Andy knew she was. ''Yes you were.'' Running her fingers through Miranda's hair. ''Just so you know I was the same about Kit.''

Andrea was jealous of Kit. That was the stupidest thing she'd ever heard. Kit wasn't anything like that to her.

Miranda blinked at Andy's words. Digesting them, Andrea thought Kit and her were together. Of all the stupid and crazy things to presume.

''Andy. Kit is not anything like that to me. We've never been together.''

''Good.'' Andy blinked at her. ''Miranda did you just say you love me.''

Miranda froze was it too soon. Did Andrea still love her back?

''Yes.'' Hoping she hadn't ruined this.

Andy kissed her response to her.

Lifting her cotton top off, stopping Andrea's fingers. ''Andrea not here.''

''You owe me and I will be collecting.''

Miranda smiled she was sure she would be.


Miranda loved her.

Sleepily closing her eyes moving into Miranda, no tonight she wasn't having nightmares with Miranda by her. Not with her here, so close.

Miranda felt Andy's body heat near her. Warming to it, shivering at Andy's breath near her nape. Snuggling to Miranda.

''Cold?'' Andy asked feeling her.

''No. I'm perfect.''

''Good so am I.'' Andy response made Miranda smile in the darkness.

Miranda wasn't cold just never felt so fitting to and belonging with someone so perfectly before Andy lying by her, her last two ex-husbands in bed with her took up most of their bed and were in truth really awkward sleeping with. Their scratchy stubble and when she wanted to be held they wanted morning sex.

Felt Andy's heartbeat through her cotton shirt, against her back.

Miranda lay to Andy falling asleep.

Andy began twitching in sleep.

He'd thrust. Hurting her. Finishing. Licked her skin. Felt it carve a curved scar on her face, just below her eye.

Plunged and sliced his knife across her. ''I want this to be the last thing you feel before you die.'' Raped again as she was bleeding and dying.

Dona's voice near her. ''Andy do you hear me? I won't hang up.''

Breathing fast.

Jolting up as she felt a hand brush her face. Catching it, Andy gripped it hard. Heard a wince of pain from someone close to her in the pitch black darkness.

Andy let go instantly. Flipping on a light next to the bed. ''Miranda!'' Andy saw Miranda rubbing her wrist. Oh god she'd hurt her.

''I hurt you.''

Miranda saw Andréa had been shaking and now in the light was sweaty and her breath ragged. ''Andy I'm fine.''

Miranda showed Andy her wrist. It was fine. She was fine. Andrea was however far from fine in front of her. ''You were crying out. I-I heard you call out.''

''Sorry it was just a bad dream.'' Running her hands through her short hair.

Miranda watched Andy's reaction intently. Whatever she'd been dreaming of she was terrified of, saw her shaking.

Reaching out to stroke Andy with reassurance who shrugged off her touch. ''Don't.''

''Was it something you want to talk about?'' Miranda asked softly, holding Andy's gentle brown eyes.

When her girls had bad nightmares when they were younger, Miranda was there for them. Always.

Andy shook her head. Miranda was never going to know, any of it ever.

Miranda was the last person Andy would ever tell about her rape, Andy couldn't bear the look of pity or disgust in her crystal blue eyes on her.

''It was just a dream of what happened to me.'' Andy vaguely supplied.

Getting out of this bed away from Miranda, she'd take the chair, she should have done that in the first place or slept on the couch in the living room. She shouldn't have even thought it was okay to join Miranda.

Miranda's eyes followed Andrea's strides and distress, this dream-no nightmare upset her greatly, could see it in Andrea, deciding to take Dona's advice and to ask Andy to tell her more. ''Do you want to talk about it? Was it the car crash?''

Andy agreed quickly with her. ''Yeah it was the crash.''

Miranda knew instantly Andrea was lying to her. Dona told her Andy wasn't in the crash.

Why lie to her? Miranda tentatively began tracing Andy's small scars who didn't flinch this time to her touching her. Running the pads of her ivory fingers across Andy's marked skin along the corner of her eye as Andy's breathing evened out.

''Andrea tell me what really happened to you please? ''

Andy's mouth firmed to this. ''What do you mean Miranda.''

''Dona told me you were hurt, but not hurt in a car accident. What happened to you? Please tell me. I want to know everything.'' Caressing her face kindly with her fingers. Saw Andy almost flinching away.

Andy looked at Miranda. She wanted to know everything about that night. What happened to her?

''What did she say?'' Andy demanded from Miranda lowly, keeping her voice calm and even considering how she was reeling inside.

Did Miranda know?

Swallowing hard, if Dona had told Miranda anything about that night. How she was there with Andy, being there on the line hearing it all. Him violating her.

''She only told me to ask you to tell me.'' Miranda confessed, seeing something in Andrea upset her.

''Did she.'' Coldly spoke to Miranda. Andy would never forgive Dona if she told Miranda about her attack.

Blinking at Andrea's sudden coldness to her.

What was Andrea so afraid of? Miranda moved close to her, stroking Andy's tanned arm who distanced herself from her touching her, with her usually warm loving eyes becoming so empty on her and her body tensing.

'' Will you tell me, please Andrea? '' Imploring her to confide in her. ''Share this with me.'' Miranda wanted to know.

''I can't okay. Drop it, just drop it. Miranda.'' Andy meant this, to not push her.

''Andrea just talk to me. I want to know what happened to you.''

''No Miranda you don't.'' Andy said this quietly.

Deciding to sleep in the chair tonight. Left Miranda alone in bed.

Andy was keeping her distance from Miranda last night and this morning. Wasn't there when she woke up, Miranda saw a pillow and folded blanket on the chair across from the bed.

Marybeth made Miranda a coffee, had been told she liked it hot by Andy who went out with Kevin to fix the truck.

''Andy's out with Kevin.''

''I'm glad Andy has you now.''

Miranda sipped her drink at the counter. She was actually mad at Andrea today.

No. Furious with cold indifference. No amount of Andrea's thoughtful gestures, letting her sleep in or having her clothes dry and folded and waiting for her was not endearing her to the exasperating closed off brunette.

It made her livid with her. Andrea cared enough to do those little things for her that showed her she meant a lot to her but not enough to have a meaningful conversation about what happened to her.

If they really mattered, she'd tell her about it.

Miranda was still quite freshly angry with how secretive Andy was, why wouldn't she tell her anything last night about how she got her scars, if Andrea wanted them to be together, she should share things like that, Miranda felt this, being a us should start with no lies and here last night Andrea had lied to her face about being in the crash?

It hurt her that Andrea wouldn't share with her this part of her life, yes Miranda knew she'd hurt her deeply that night at the Gala.

''I was so worried. Dona and I didn't know if she'd even be still alive this last year.''

Miranda stopped sipping from her mug. Alive. What did Marybeth mean? Had Andrea tried to commit suicide?

Marybeth saw Miranda's reaction to her words. ''Andy was lost in a dark place for a long time, mainly with what happened to her. She likes to go away for a few days to sort herself out on her own. We worry so much, she'll never come back.''

Miranda asked Marybeth. ''What happened to her? Tell me. Andrea won't talk about it to me.''

''Andy hasn't said anything about that night?'' Marybeth decided to tell Miranda everything. Miranda had to know.

'' Andy was attacked… the night of Jill and her parent's crash, walking home. Andy almost died from it.''

Attacked. Almost killed. Miranda swallowed the word.

Her Andrea was mugged with a knife. The night she rejected her. It explained her scars and her upset last night.

Marybeth pressed her mouth thin, opening a door to the fridge. Did Miranda know about him?

Marybeth knew Andy probably wouldn't tell her. ''Miranda. Andy really should be the one to tell you this but she was also…

Honking disturbed them and what Marybeth was about to share.

Josh came zooming in, Kevin chasing after him.

''Andy's waiting Miranda.''

Miranda thanked them, Josh kissed her goodbye as she stepped outside to the driveway, seeing

Andy leaning near her truck, holding the door for her. ''Just call me your new Roy.'' Making no indication to Andy she now knew everything from that night from Marybeth.

They stopped at a few stores driving back to the guest house.

Miranda didn't think video stores still existed. With Andy's membership rented DVDs, Caroline didn't know Andy did own a television. Stocking up on batteries, candles and groceries because of the weekend weather forecast.

Watching Andy silently with the cart, deciding between lamb or chicken or ingredients for vegetable lasagne.

She must have lost so much blood and could have died that night. Miranda knew she could have lost her without realising it.

Andy saw Miranda's wet blue eyes on her. ''Miranda's it's not that bad, my cooking. Honest. What. What is it honey?''

Miranda got control of herself. ''Nothing.''

Andy still didn't believe Miranda saying it was nothing, paying for their purchases at the checkout, holding their brown bags in her arms.

Kissed by Miranda suddenly, it was tender, lingering on her surprised lips and showing Andrea with this kiss she loved her that she wasn't afraid to show it out in the open and knew how once she'd almost lost her as they got into her truck.

''What was that for?'' Andy asked after Miranda broke their kiss.

''No reason.''

Andy turned her keys and started her truck. ''Do continue doing that now and again for no reason.''

Promising her, eyes shimmering on Andy. ''That I will.''

Andy could live with Miranda promising to kiss her randomly, driving them back. Miranda tried not to smile at Andy's radio, set to classical for her.

Leaned closer into her alluring brunette as she drove them back to the guesthouse.

''I love this, being here with you.'' Andy couldn't form a reply at Miranda whose eyes were on hers so open and loving.

Smelt the salt as they drove up coming to a stop, turning off the truck.

''Miranda we're here.'' Andy lightly nudged Miranda who was snuggled near her shoulder, ran her fingers along ivory soft skin that she could never get enough of touching. ''Are you asleep.'' Andy teased her lightly.

Miranda stirred, her eyes opened to Andy leaning across her with a lopsided grin, pressing her lips to Andy's brushing fingertips.

''It's going to be really bad weather late tomorrow. Are you still going with Kit to Ephraim's Roselawn tonight?'' Andy tried not to sound in anyway jealous or possessive. Andy and she hadn't even labelled this.

''I have to and as I said before Kit is only a friend nothing more my darling.''

''I like it when you call me that. Yours.'' Andy's got out and went around to hold her door, standing over her, Miranda was pressed against the truck door, lips near hers.

''Because you our mine also.'' Andy stated.

Taking the bags as both walked in through the screen door porch.

'' I can drive you both there. I know the way, I've been there a many times myself.'' Miranda saw a change in Andrea's face, her brows furrowed and her mouth tensed about this person named Ephraim.

''Andrea who is Ephraim to you?''

''He's family.''