A/N 1: Read all disclaimers from chapter 1 before proceeding.

A/N 2: I'm gonna stop apologizing for sporadic updates coz they'll just seem hollow after a while. But yeah, for everytime I make people wait I'm working my ass off. Well mostly.

A/N 3: Okay, truth be told I am NOT AT ALL happy with how this reads. I don't know too many disconnects, abrupt pieces but I don't want to drive myself crazy over this! Hope you like it better than I do!

A/N 4: Un-betaed so all mistakes are mine

"If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were."
― Khalil Gibran

26th July 2009

Andy's Lower Manhattan Apartment

6:00 p.m.

'Okay, okay kiddo, enough with your video game, they're gonna be here soon, please go freshen up! Go, go, go!' a frazzled Andy tells her son.

'- and Jessie, Jess no, stop, don't ruin the carpet, no-'

'Mommy,'

'Jessie! NO!' Andy scolds her pet and shoves her away from the carpet delicately 'you moron, you're gonna ruin it. We have to look presentable'

'Mommy, I already had a bath.' Chris says, confused at his mother's apparent nervousness.

'Mommy, it's only Snow Fairy, she'snot gonna get angry because our house isn't as pretty as hers,' Chris says doubtfully, then adds, 'will she?'

'No, no no sweetheart, not at all; but we must look proper, you know, because they'll be our guests. Besides we have to thank her for helping us, so we need to take good care of her—uh-uh-I mean them!'

'Yup, you're right, I guess! Do I look handsome?' Chris asks, out of the blue startling Andy. He had changed into a red t-shirt with a cartoon of Tintin and Snowy on it and he wore a pair of olive green trousers all done up with a belt.

'Yes handsome, you look utterly charming' Andy says ruffling her son's hair and pecking him on cheek, 'So, who's the lucky girl or is all this show off business for your 'Snow Fairy'?'

Chris blushes, then flashes a toothy smile 'Yah dumb dumb!'

'And will Chris tell Mommy how she looks?' Andy blushes till the roots of her hair. She had changed clothes some 729 times before settling on a pair of blue skin-fitted jeans and a beige self patterned top-chic and classy yet casual-just about perfect for an evening at home. She'd left her hair loose with the edgy bangs falling on her face and after much deliberation had decided to be make-up free.

'You look real nice, but not better than meeeeeee though' Chris tugs at one of her mother's bangs mischievously and starts running 'catch me if you can!'

'Oh—you—Christopher Sachs, I'm coming to get you. Wo-kayyyyy' and with that mother and son launch into a round of hysterical laughs and playing, with Jessie close at heel.

And then all of a sudden a buzzer from the intercom bring them back to the reality.

'Hello, yes good evening Dmitri! Yeah, oh, ohk. Yeah, yeah sure, please send them upstairs.' Andy speaks nervously into the telephone.

'Woops, quick Chris, is everything in place? They're here!'

Andy couldn't have prepared herself for the Miranda standing outside her door and for a moment she thinks it was still all the same-Miranda and the twins coming over for 'pizza dinners' before she had moved into the townhouse where the tradition of pizza dinners continued. Those evenings were boxed in that compartment of Andy's memory which read 'most precious'- the twins and Miranda would make their way to Andy's house every Friday evening and rewind and relax with Disney movies and tacos, pizzas, sodas and Miranda's favourite-gummy bears. Miranda would of course act extremely haughty and try to restrict herself to a bottle of exquisite wine she insisted on bringing but by the end of they'd manage to degrade her to Domino's pizza and cola drinks.

Here she was again-in her regular wear for those Friday evenings- a pair of some godforsaken super-expensive jeans, a filmy equally expensive shirt(today it's maroon) sometimes(like today) accessorized with a necklace of beads and her signature hoops. Agreed she's thinner than before and a wee bit older but there is something in her face today which Andy can't quite place-it makes Miranda shine from within, like she's consumed a light bulb and for a second a similar July night plays in her mind-the night they had found out about the pregnancy. She looks radiant today, just like she had more than a year back.

'Andy, if you'd budge, we'd like to go in! You can continue gaping at Ma afterwards.' Caroline pipes in. Andy blushes a deep shade of red, so does Miranda.

'*Caroline, manners!*' Cassidy says seriously copying her mother, and then smirks.

Andy budges of course and breaks out in a sweat 'Uh-uh-umm, yeah, c-c-come in!'

All three Priestly women smirk through closed mouths. Damn them.

Chris runs into the room pretending to be a sports bike racer with Jessie following close suit; he bumps into Cassidy-

-'Beep, beep'

-'Oops, sorry Kentucky Kid.' Cassidy gives way and he bikes forward and collides straight into Miranda and hugs her around her legs.

'Oh my, let me look at you Mister!' Miranda smiles a real smile and laughs softly, the twins notice, Andy melts. She takes him up in her arms, 'Someone looks very handsome this evening.' Chris grins. 'Gee thanks Snow Fairy.' Miranda snorts.

'Andy, you've taught him how to say 'gee' like you do, you're a bit too much!' Cassidy says and goes in to hug Andy who just shrugs her shoulders, then hugs back.

'Look what we got you, Chris!' Caroline chimes and holds up a huge box of crayons and a sketch pad.

Chris wriggles from Miranda's arms and rushes towards Caroline and tries to jump up to the height where Caroline is holding the box above her head.

'Nope, first tell me you know who I am?' Chris glances between the two sisters and pronounces 'Caroline!' and Caroline who is completely stunned lowers the box; Chris jumps and grabs it.

'Careful Christopher, we don't need matching shiners!' Miranda warns.

'Chris what are you supposed to say?' Andy orders.

Christopher who gets completely lost in his set of crayons looks up with shining eyes 'No way! WOW!'

Andy raises an eyebrow.

'I mean thanks!'

Andy looks at the humungous box of crayon containing every shade of every colour. Typical Miranda, some things never change.

'You like it? Now Christopher, you'll have to draw me something, won't you. I came all the way for this, remember?' Miranda states and stares directly at Andy as if trying to justify her buying Chris a box of crayons. As if.

Andy shakes her head 'What are we doing here? Let's get settled in the drawing room, I have dinner ready, just tell me when you guys are hungry!'

The party make their way towards the drawing room( Miranda waits for them to leave and then bends down to ruffle Jessie's fur and kiss her who is content with the attention and has settled on a rug near the door.)

'Andy, this place is WONDERFUL! I really like it, it's about a 10 times better than you-' Caroline cuts herself off before mentioning that ratty old apartment from the past. Thank God their mother isn't around.

'Andy, tell me you have Pizza for dinner!' Cassidy asks excitedly trying to change the topic completely.

'Umm, no for a change I decided to become a sophisticated snob for-' Andy cuts herself as Miranda glares at her, 'I mean—I—have good food!'

'Yes, what a pity!' Miranda fake sighs, 'girls you'll simply have to wait till next time for pizza.' Miranda says and settles on the barcalounger.

Next time. There will be a next time. Andy smiles from ear to ear.

'So, tell me about everything girls!' Andy gushes excitedly as the twins and she occupy the sofa completely; and from then there is a flow of incessant chatter spattered with doses of raucous laughter.

They talk about everything-from Dalton, to crushes, to frenemies to American idol and all those things that Miranda can't seem to keep up with. Ever. Things that Andy kept up with, an era back.

Miranda on the other hand is content with just sitting and observing everything, trying to add some valuable information but being ignored everytime-just like old times.

So, instead Miranda thinks of a million different happy thoughts and focuses on Chris- the boy who suddenly came out of nowhere and captured her heart.

He's settled himself on the ground near Miranda's feet and is busy drawing in his newly acquired sketchpad. He looks content and so do Andrea and her daughters. Miranda's heart is ready to leap out of her chest from this apparent picture of domestic bliss.

From the outside it looks like a perfect family spending an evening together; it's believable and it could have been true, all of it, everything. But it isn't, it's all a façade, so Miranda shivers as the reality of the situation hits her-it's never gonna be the same again.

They were not hers.

'Helllooooo, tell me if you like it?' Something tugging at her jeans brings Miranda back to the four walls of the apartment. She focuses her attention back to the people in the room and finds four sets of eyes staring back.

'Uh-uh' Miranda Priestly never stutters. Finally she registers what she's being asked and her eyes fall on the drawing Chris has been working on.

It reads 'MY PEOPLE'.It's a typical five year olds drawing-stick figures and mountains, the sun and the waterfall. Then there is a house in front, a little disproportionate and in front of it are standing five people and a dog. Each person has a tag near the feet. Caroline, Mommy, Chris, Snow Fairy, Cassidy, and in front of Chris is Jessie.

'Oh, oh it's beautiful Christopher. Look at all of us!' Miranda glances in Andy's direction who looks away from Miranda's face and stares at the drawing instead.

'Isn't it, I knew you'd like it! It's our house, all of us will fit in it! We can all stay together; will that make you happy Snow Fairy?' Chris asks expectantly. Being the sensitive soul that he was he had realized something had been disturbing his Snow Fairy right since the beginning and he wanted to make it okay, he wanted to make Snow Fairy smile all the time the way she had smiled when she commented on his clothes.

'Happy?' Miranda asks quizzically, completely lost.

'Oh Chris, this is wonderful darling! I'm gonna put it up on the fridge' Andy takes the drawing from his hands and kisses his forehead, 'but I think everybody is very happy—I mean hungry now! We should go eat all the lovely food, don't you think?'

Chris forgets all about his question like all little boys do and jumps up to rev up his motorbike as he makes his way towards the dining room.

The twins laugh at his antics and follow him.

Miranda sits, rooted in place, staring at a black spot on the floor, she seems ashamed for some reason.

'Miranda? Dinner?' Andy inquires. Miranda looks up with that lost expression on her face and Andy's heart breaks for a millionth time.

'Yes, yes, dinner.'

'Oh my God Andieeee! When did you learn how to cook this well? You're gonna give mom competition!' Cassidy exclaims.

Miranda who had regained her bearings and was in better spirits said, 'Oh Cassidy, we can't have a competition here, we all know who's gonna win, on the other hand, I do have to agree, this is wonderful.'

Snooty Miranda is snooty.

'No really Andy, do you cook like all the time?' Caroline enquires.

'Yeah I do, I mean we don't have a cook and Mr. Chris here is quite the fussy eater, so I had to learn! It's a lot of fun, besides my job hours are really flexible, so I always have the time to come home,cook and stuf-' oops. 'Actually you should come by my office sometime, my work is lots of fun' 'more than your mother's' Andy mouths looking completely serious.

The twins laugh again and Miranda glares. Chris is content chewing on his piece of lemon chicken.

'YEAH! We will! And we're totally betting on you Andy-you have to come with us and watch Mamma Mia!' Cassidy exclaims.

'That's enough Cassidy, please don't impose on Andrea, she has enough to do!' the acidic tang of Miranda's voice makes Andy twinge.

She ignores Miranda's comment and smiles 'Yeah, count me in for that! I'm gonna get us tickets for that tomorrow. Do you wanna join us, Miranda?' she asks matter-of-factly.

'Chris, what about him?' Miranda asks concerned. Chris perks up at the mention of his name.

'I'll leave him with Avis, she's my colleague, she has a son too; he's gonna have fun, won't you Chris?'

'Nope! If Caro and Cass get to go with you, I get to go with,' he fills his mouth with a spoonful of vegetables and points towards Miranda.

'Yes Christopher, it's only fair, don't you think Andrea?' Miranda asks, characteristically tilting her head.

'Yes only if you're free, I mean.'

'So I will be. Now Christopher, where do you want to go? We could go to the museum or the zoo or the water-park.'

'BORINNNNNG. Aunt Avis always knows where to take us coz Aaron tells her what we like. I hope you had a son Snow Fairy, why don't you have a son?' Chris asks innocently.

'CHRISTOPHER! Haven't I taught you how to talk? That's enough, can't you keep your big mouth sh-'

'That will be All, Andrea' Miranda cuts her off harshly; both of their faces betraying raw painful emotions.

Andrea's face is red with anger and she continues glaring at Chris who has big droplets of water falling from his eyes. The twins sit shell-shocked.

'I don't understand the need for such hysterics.' Miranda reduces Andy to ashes with her death glare.

She rises from her seat and walks towards Chris's seat and wipes at his eyes, 'Come now, Christopher, we can't cry while eating, can we now?' She lifts Chris up sits on the chair and seats him on her lap 'Andrea, Christopher is right. I don't have a son but,' a staccato pause, 'if Christopher-Chris so wants he can be my son, can't you?' She cups his cheek and plants a soft kiss on it.

'Yes Snow Fairy, I'm soo sorry. I can be your son. I WILL BE YOUR SON!' He buries his head in her bosom and mumbles another sorry and continues sobbing.

Miranda feels almost whole again.

She ruffles his hair and kisses him everywhere she can and soothes him with baby talk.

Andy and the girls explode with happiness. They try to contain those tears of joy, but in vain.

'There, there, son, no more crying. You have a lot to teach this new mother of yours, don't you? Tell me where does my Christopher want to go?' Miranda soothes.

'Anywhere Mamma's gonna take me.' He kisses Miranda on the nose again.

Mamma

He's gonna call you Mamma and me Mom.

Who cares if it's the other way round now, you can't always get what you want. Nothing matters because Chris calls her Mamma, considers her as a mother and that's a lot more than enough.

'Yes, Mamma will take you everywhere she can. She has a lot to catch up with. Now, somebody owes someone an apology, yes Chris?' Miranda and Chris both look at an unsuspecting Andy with raised eyebrows.

'Hey, I'm sorry bud, I shouldn't have shouted! You'll forgive me?' Andy holds her ears with her hands.

Chris grins 'Yeah Mommy, I do! It's okay, I have a new favourite now, anyway!' he looks towards Miranda who suppresses a sly smile.

'Really, really bud? After everything? I'm coming to get you Mister.' And with that Andy launches into a tickle attack on Chris as he wriggles out of Miranda's grasp and runs around the house with a suddenly awake Jessie following them, barking with glee.

The twins break into fits and help Andy get back at Chris who squeals in delight at being fake attacked. Jessie is content with licking all of them to glory. The room reverberates with laughter.

Amongst all this Miranda hears her own laughter and today it doesn't surprise her as much, she doesn't feel scared as much. She feels different-born again.

A mother to a son.

She hasn't known this much happiness in a long time but tonight she isn't scared of laughing, of happiness. Hope shines on the horizon and Miranda feels stronger.

That night she sleeps with a smile on her face and she has hope that the smile might remain; not because it's happy to be there but because this time around Miranda Priestly has decided to seize it and keep it.

Miranda Priestly has decided to move on, to live life again, and to give happiness a second chance.

Thank you for ALL the reviews, I love you for the encouragement! More is always appreciated!

I am dreading writing the next chapter: might have too many medical and technical details and I suck at that, so wish me luck!