Chapter 10

A/N 1: Read disclaimers from Chapter 1 before proceeding

A/N 2: Thanks again for all your lovely comments, forever grateful for them!

A/N 3: If you're a doctor or a mother who knows the whole drill and you're reading this, don't kill me if I have facts wrong. I tried my best, I swear. Then the rest of it is all writers license.

A/N4: Weirdly, I almost feel like Andy might have been feeling if this were real life. I can't explain it. The way this story unravels and everything she learns and becomes probably has something to do with me. I don't know why I think you'll be interested.

A/N 5: No it's not one of your usual labor scenes. Un-betaed so all mistakes are mine.(Also ff does some of it's own weird stuff at times!)

"The plants and flowers
I raised about my hut
I now surrender
To the will
Of the wind"

-Ryokan

2nd March, 2008

Master Bedroom

Manhattan Townhouse

3:20 a.m.

'You're—you—water—baby?' Andy stares wide eyed as Miranda tries to waddle around the room looking for things to wear and carry.

'Call Emily or someone, ask her to come stay with the girls, then call Roy; and if you've lost your abih—aaahh—lity tuh function, let me know. Please, do move at a glacial pace.' Miranda shrieks as she changes into a loose grey wrap dress especially made by Donatella for the whole birthing procedure as she had strictly declined to wear one of those paper dresses from the hospital. ' And also call Dr. Abassac ;apprise her of this sudden development.'

Even before Miranda has stopped talking and shrieking all the same time Andy has already informed Roy and called Emily (who answered on the fourth ring thankfully!) and is waking the girls up and doing a 10 million other things at the same time.

Miranda on her part decides to begin her descent towards the ground floor; she sternly declines Andy's help and instead asks Andy to be with the girls. Who is Andy to cross an already irritated Miranda.

3.35 a.m.

Caroline & Cassidy's room

'But Andy, Mom can't have the baby now! I mean she didn't even go to any of those classes you mentioned. She won't know what to do' Cassidy speaks through bleary eyes and a broken voice after having been risen so un-expectantly from her slumber.

'Andy, it's not time yet, is it? Will something happen to mom? Will the baby be alright?' Caroline adds her voice mirroring concern and fear.

Andy wants to say something along the lines of 'I don't know! I'm scared too, what are we gonna do?' but then her fight with Miranda from last night which seems like an eon away comes back to her and Miranda's voice tells her that she is a parent now, can't cater to her 'whims and fancies', and in that moment Andy ceases being her own person and transforms into a parent, a real one.

'Hey come 'ere my loves' Andy bends down on the carpet and opens her arms to draw the girls in. They huddle together along with Cassidy's teddy and Andy holds them tightly in her hold and caresses them, gives them courage, assures them, 'It's gonna be alright. Your mommy had the both of you before this baby, she knows the whole drill and as for your little baby brother, Doctor Susan is gonna take very good care of him. I just need you both to be good for Emily, you don't want Mom having to worry about you both, do you now?'

Both twins shake their heads furiously in tandem.

'Will you be brave for me then?' she puts each of her palm on their hearts 'be brave and tell whoever that is up there to keep your Mom and your baby brother safe. Alright?' she smiles a genuine smile.

The twins work up two little watery smiles and hug Andy again before settling in bed and waiting for Emily to arrive.

Something in Andy stirs seeing the girls this petrified and clueless and suddenly she has all the courage in the world to move mountains to keep her loved ones safe. She grabs the bag Miranda had been packing and adds a few more things-an extra change of clothes, bendy straws, lip balm, Miranda's ipod, slippers and other weird things that she remembered from her mother's phonecall from a week ago.

Then she dials Dr. Abassac and rushes down the stairs with the bag in hand to look for Miranda.

'Hello, hi, umm Dr. Abassac, this is Andy, Andrea Sachs, umm, Miranda Priestly's, umm,' lover-partner—

'Yes, yes Andy, is Miranda fine?' Susan speaks groggily into the receiver.

'Umm no, her water broke about half an hour ago—and and she's having contractions, I guess.' Andy says as she walks towards where Miranda is sitting on the sofa and clutching her belly looking like she is a minute away from passing out.

'How far apart are they?' Susan asks.

'What?'

'The contractions Andy, how far apart are the contractions?' the doctor asks agitatedly.

'Umm, the contractions—how far apart?' she looks up at Miranda and puts her free hand on the belly.'

'10-15 minutes,' Miranda says through gritted teeth and focuses on breathing normally.

'Okay, okay, get her to the hospital, I'll see you there.'

Before can disconnect the call Andy decides to ask the inevitable 'Doctor, another thing, you said you'd do something about the breech-' beside her Miranda goes stock still.

'Andy, get to the hospital first, we'll decide then. Don't waste time.' says firmly and then disconnects.

Andy disconnects the call and stares directly into Miranda's eyes in which swirl a whirlpool of emotions- for once the blue is not cold, nor warm, but hazy and clouded over.

Andy puts her hand over Miranda's where it's resting on her stomach and gives it a gentle squeeze; because it's the best she can offer at that moment.

Andy wants to tell Miranda it's gonna be alright, there is nothing to worry about, but she doesn't know that and she doesn't want to make false promises. Not today of all days.

It's Miranda however who takes Andy's hand, firmly, kisses her palm and whispers, 'We'll get through this.'

Andy nods in affirmation because that's the only way both Miranda and her know. They will have to get through this.

The moment is cut short as a shrill pitched 'Andy! I'm here!' reverberates across the living room. Emily as put together as ever in 4-inch heels, runs across the carpeted foyer and into the drawing room at 3 in the morning.

Emily had long ago crossed the stage of being afraid of Miranda, especially now that she was no longer Miranda's assistant but the new Assistant Art Editor. She had gone from being Andy's arch rival to her best friend and although she didn't stop worshipping the ground that Miranda walked on she had developed enough backbone to look at Miranda as a mentor and her best friend's partner. So seeing Miranda Priestly in labor at 3 in the morning, face distorted in anguish, clutching Andy's hand wasn't that much of a stretch for her.

'Hey! This is the earliest I could manage. Roy's outside, I'll go up to the girls, don't worry about them.' Emily says reassuringly. She looks emphatically at the frazzled couple.

'Yeah, oh he is. Okay, we'll leave then. The girls are in the room. Take care okay.' Andy says in a harried tone as she helps a struggling Miranda up from the couch and puts a hand around her waist.

Miranda curls her palms into fists and walks painfully trying to keep the discomfort at bay. Emily hand motions to Andy to give her a call if there's any news; Andy nods and the couple make their way down the front steps of the townhouse.

Ever the faithful chauffeur Roy never fails to do his duty- take the bag, secure them well into the car and drive fast but carefully; don't disobey signals, be careful with the bumps but get to the hospital already! He's been with them throughout the whole journey and he's ready to see it through too, except the fear in his employer's eyes keeps diverting his attention away from the road.

The half an hour car ride seems to go on for an eternity. Every ten minutes Miranda groans and squirms in her seat and all Andy can do is soothe her with emphatic looks and soft caresses. Andy adjusts the pillow behind Miranda's back; gives her little sips of water to drink and mops the sweat off her face at regular intervals.

Miranda looks petrified and Andy is too scared to look into her eyes because she fears that Miranda might read the terror in Andy's eyes as well-and no, Andy can't let that happen. Instead she has her eyes glued to Miranda's stomach which seems to have changed shape in some way-she'd read something about it 'dropping'! (Why hadn't she seen it before?)

"Andrea," Miranda's voice sounds cracked and wispy although she hasn't uttered a word since getting into the car.

Finally Andy looks into Miranda's eyes, which are searching for faith, courage or something in Andy's to keep her from breaking.

'I hope I had—It's too early—what if?' she's too scared to finish the thought, 'I'm scared!' and with that the first drop of tear trickles down the elegant slope of Miranda's cheekbone.

Andy envelops her lover in her arms careful to not hurt her in any way 'Hey, hey, sshh, shhh, you said we'll do this. We can.'

She takes Miranda's palm and kisses it, fervently and repeatedly until Miranda's sobs subside.

She stays buried in Andy's arms and whimpers as the contractions hit. She seems calm, too calm, not like those women in the videos giving birth. Andy wonders, whether it's a calm before the storm or just Miranda Priestly's endurance.

She hopes it's the second because she isn't ready for the storm.

4.30 a.m.

New York Presbyterian Hospital

'Hi! My wife's in labor, we need a room and is Dr. Abassa-'

'Andy, Miranda! Everything's ready. I'll do a prelim examination and then we can decide. Miranda I'd like you to use the wheelchair.'

'No! And what decision?' Miranda says through gritted teeth.

'You're in preterm, the baby's in breech and since you're already having contractions I highly doubt if we're gonna be able to delay the labor. So, just follow me, we'll talk more inside.' Dr. Abassac starts walking, looking like a woman on a mission.

Andy doesn't know whether it's the doctor's words or Miranda's fatigue that wins over but she drops into the wheelchair and grips Andy's hand a little too tightly.

They reach a private room meant for VVIPs specially equipped with all amenities and as soon as Miranda is assisted into bed Dr. Abassac starts work.

Andy stares intently at the doctor's movements while Miranda's mind conjures up a hundred 'whats', 'whys' and 'ifs' –what if there is something wrong? Why did she not go for those classes? Why didn't she brush up on those birthing techniques before? What if she can't do? What if-

'Miranda you're about a 6 cms dilated but, the baby's still in breech and it's too late for ECV, and-and the baby's in distress.'

'In distress?' both mothers shout out at the same time.

'Yes, the umbilical cord is choking off the supply of oxygen to the upper part of his body. There is nothing much to worry about, but we'll have to do an immediate C-section. Anna, prep the operation theatre.'

And then it all falls into frenzy, Miranda forgets how to breathe and the oxygen mask is not enough to keep her from hyperventilating and getting restless. From the room to the operation theatre her screams treble as the contractions hit harder. Andy does her best to console her and cool her down with the damp washcloths on her head. Cheeks ablaze and her silver hair matted to her forehead she looks at Andy through glassy eyes as they administer her with the anaesthetic. Andy has never felt so helpless in her life- she knows Miranda is in tremendous pain and yet she can do absolutely nothing to relieve her of it. Instead she looks to Dr. Abassac to help Miranda out.

'Okay Miranda, we're cutting, we'll have the baby out in no time, it's all gonna be fine.' Dr. Susan reassures.

Andy kisses Miranda's hand and looks at Miranda for the approval who nods with whatever energy is left in her.

Miranda takes Andy's mask off her mouth with her free hand and says 'Tell me about the day when I wore two different pairs of heels to work.'

Andy smiles, tries very hard to put the present situation to the back of her mind and starts her story,

'It was an afternoon in November when Nigel called me and told me you'd started a new fashion trend at Runway. When I asked him what it was he told me you came in looking very chic in a black Vera Wang dress wearing two different pastel shades-brown and blue of Prada pumps. Those Godforsaken six-inches!. Of course everybody at Runway thought you'd done it on purpose and your staff still sometimes maintains that as a fashion statement. You didn't realize for an entire day that you were wearing two different pairs of heels and it was only in the evening when I asked you how your feet were doing did you realize your folly. I remembered you stared at your feet for more than an hour' Miranda nudges Andy 'okay,okay it felt like an hour, the girls and I couldn't stop laughing. The worst was when you sounded so defeated and said 'Why didn't anyone tell me? Incompetent bunch of idiots!' Andy says in Miranda's effectual voice. 'Who would tell the Ice Queen that she was the idiot in this one! Oops!'

Miranda blushes and hits Andy lightly.

Andy adds, 'It was the eyes, wasn't it? You were thinking about the colour of his eyes?'

Miranda nods and as if on cue a shrill cry fills the room. Miranda closes her eyes-smiles and whispers 'Christopher.'

Andy jumps up from her seat near Miranda but Dr. Abassac and the nurse are obstructing her view. She can still hear the cries but they sounds less shrill, weaker and she cranes her head to get a good look.

'Quick get him to NICU and give me 10 milligrams of Zrtec-D, she's going into anaphylaxis.'

Andy stands stunned in the middle of the operation theatre. She sees the nurse carrying a small bundle of cloth (was it a head there?) in her arms, she can hear machines beeping behind her. She has the urge to run out of the room and follow the nurse but she turns back for a last look at Miranda.

That's when terror strikes her. Miranda's shivering in the hospital bed and vomiting into a bowl next to her. Andy stands paralyzed unable to move. No, no, she's isn't prepared for this- not Miranda, nothing can happen to Miranda.

'Anna, we need 2 more units of bloody, get that ready, we're losing blood, give me two more milligrams of the antihistamine.'

A sharp beep on the ECG machine brings Andy back to reality. She snaps her attention to Miranda again who seems to be losing consciousness and energy with every passing second.

'What's wrong? What's happening to Miranda?' she rushes to her lover's side and takes her hand.

'Andy, Andy, we need you out of here. Please. Martha, escort her outside. Miranda will be fine.'

'No, Susan, tell me, Mira-'

'Ma'am, please—we'll take care of her!'

The woman named Martha escorts a reluctant Andy out of the operation theatre and leads her to a chair outside the OT.

'What's happening? My—Miranda?'

'It's a reaction to the anaesthesia. She'll be fine ma'am, Dr. Susan has never done a botched surgery. Calm down.'

'Uh, yeah. Are you sure? Why did they—why did I have to leave?' Andy tries to look inside the OT though the small round window. Miranda's being hooked up to machines and but things look under control

'Too many people in the OT is just chaos and panic. Ms. Priestly will be fine!' Martha reassures.

Andy nods, then smiles a little, 'What about my son?'

'Like you know Miss, he's pre-mature. We're gonna keep him here for a while in the NICU so he can grow better. You can see him of course, after we sanitize you.'

'Yes, I mean no, I'll wait till Miranda is fine.' Andy says.

'Okay Miss, I'll give you the heads up as soon as the surgery is over.'

Andy sits on the solitary grey chair and shuts off all thoughts completely. Her phone vibrates in her jeans pocket; she retrieves it to look at the display name: it's Emily.

She can't talk now, not when Miranda is in this state, not when she hasn't even seen her son. The girls will have questions, so will Emily and she can't deal with it right now.

Shall not break down. Shall not break down. Shall not break down. Cannot breakdown.

'Andy—Andy?' someone's shaking her at the shoulders but it's not even morning—and it smells of disinfectant and babies-and, she jumps out of her chair and stands up to look directly into Dr. Abassac's eyes.

'Relax Andy' Susan smiles, 'Miranda is fine. The initial shock wore off. We've stitched her up; there is nothing to worry about. She'll be unconscious for a while though. Did you have a look at your boy yet?'

Her boy, her son. She shakes her head vigorously.

'Well what are you waiting for? We'll talk more later during the day. Get some rest before you have to be up again. Go!' Susan pats her right arm, 'and congratulations!'

'Thanks!' Andy beams and bids adieu to Susan as she is escorted by Martha towards the NICU.

'Andy, I'd suggest you watch him from the outside, you've been here all night, we don't want germs-'

'Yeah, no I get it. I'll go inside tomorrow morning, I mean later today, after I've had a bath.' she ruffles her hair unconsciously and looks among the incubators.

It all looks so foreign and scary and white, like she'd seen in the movies. Not something she had dreamed of but Andy realizes that blessings are rare and far placed and she'll take anything that's given to her, she no longer has reservations. Happiness comes in all shapes and forms. Hers might not be perfect as yet but she hopes it will be, someday atleast.

'He's yours.' Martha points towards an incubator towards the right end of where Andy is standing. She takes baby steps and moves towards where Martha had pointed, the white tag attached to the incubator is still blank, awaiting a name. A name for her son.

She leans in to get a good look at what's inside the incubator. In Andy's eyes it's the eighth wonder of the world-the first thing that catches Andy's attention is his eyes- crystal blue glistening with wonder, maybe like baby Miranda's. It's too much for Andy to take in-this tiny person, as wrinkly and scrunched up as he looks with the small tuft of brown on his head is the most beautiful thing Andy has ever seen. She will never be able to erase this memory from her head and neither would she ever want to.

She smiles and cries all at the same time and keeps staring at the bundle of joy. If only she could hold him and kiss him and protect him from all the world. The baby does a little dance before moving his hand up as if to grasp something and Andy finds it the most amusing thing in the universe.

She looks up at Martha who is looking at Andy tenderly, happy to see a new mother bonding with her son. The young woman with her antics is almost as wonderful as the baby inside. She looks at Andy crying tears of joy and she knows that now is not the time to tell her that the baby has a long way to go before the glass walls are removed. She doesn't tell Andy that the show isn't yet over, that an anti- climax may follow or it might all turn out wonderful.

7.30 a.m

Andy is still beaming when she returns to Miranda's room.

Months of devotion, of sacrifice, of trials, of patience, all of it seems immaterial to her now, she's found her sun, her sunshine. And that's enough.

And then Miranda is fine too, so are the girls. It's all good.

She realizes now, what it means when women say they feel 'complete'. She's never known such happiness; she could never in a lifetime think one night could change her as much.

She looks at the woman lying in bed, still unconscious. Miranda, her Miranda. Her everything, the woman who had been ready to do anything to see her happy and who had accomplished it at last, after weathering a million storms. Her heart fills with reverence for everything Miranda has done-she is the pillar of Andy's life and not just Andy's but also the girls life and now this little person's life-her person-so she needs to keep Miranda safe and she will fight tooth and nail if required.

She approaches Miranda's bed and takes her in-she still looks pregnant mostly, but she also looks sort of peaceful even though the dark circles around her eyes and the hair that is still matted to her forehead cannot hide her utter exhaustion.

Andy takes Miranda's hand which is still attached to an IV and kisses the tip of each finger.

There is too much Andy needs to take care of, she has too many people to call, a hundred things to do, but for now she lays her head beside Miranda and soothes herself with the gentle breathing of the older woman.

All the world can wait-she has her family beside her-safe and secure and nothing else matters in that moment.

Leave me some reviews! Next up: Miranda has a minor setback and Andy's comes to the rescue. Mirandy follows! ;)