Andrea and Miranda stumbled out of their bedroom. The bright light hit their eyes, blinding them momentarily. Their hair stuck up in odd places and their eyes were heavily lidded. They could still feel the weakness in their limbs and the steady thrum of their heartbeats echoing through their veins. Their silk robes captured the sunlight in the room, and they shimmered in the artificial rays.

"Hi Mom" Cassidy said from the kitchen behind them.

Miranda jumped and pulled her robes tight around her. Her daughters were standing in the kitchen. She had not expected them so early.

"Hey girls" she said with a nervous smile as she greeted them with bone crushing hugs.

They were both nineteen years old, yet already looked like grown women. She hadn't seen them since Christmas. They had started their second semester at Oxford together and lived in her cottage outside of Town. They had clearly inherited their father's height; they both towered over their petite white-haired mother.

"How long have you two been here?" Miranda asked innocently.

"We just got in. Have the things from the townhouse arrived yet?" Cassidy asked as her eyes wandered over the penthouse, apprehension tense in her features. She decided not to mention that they came home an hour ago and one strange guttural sound from their bedroom sent them nearly running back out of the front door. Cassidy knew that a great deal of awkwardness could be avoided by simply lying and changing the subject.

"Yes. They came in yesterday. Everything is in your rooms." Miranda said, pointing across the living room to a hallway that led to their bedrooms. The red-head nodded slowly, her eyes still raking over the penthouse interior. She was almost afraid to look outside. Her mind was unable to make sense of what it was that she saw. They were underground, but it did not look like it at all.

"What is this place?" Caroline asked, standing by the windows.

"Our temporary home" Miranda answered from across the room, pouring herself a hot cup of coffee.

The brew steamed in her ceramic mug. Her tongue moistened with desire for the bitter taste. She brought the cup too eagerly to her lips, and scalded her mouth with the piping liquid.

"Fuck!" She cried out as she spun around and spat the mean mouthful of coffee in the sink.

"Home?" Caroline repeated back to her mother. She finally looked out the large north windows, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

The view was incredible. It was very strange seeing something that she just knew was not real. There was an illusion of control over God's own daily tasks. The sunrise and sunsets were only a mockery of nature, here. Tiny lights projected a picture of the sky across the ceiling, yet she could see no end to the depth of the blue. It was a strange and beautiful machine but hardly one she could enjoy. All she felt was unease when she looked out over the skyline. Nothing about it felt right.

"How long is temporary?" her daughter pushed, her eyes were distant and fearful of the world around her.

Miranda said nothing as she stared at the city behind her young daughter; she really had no idea exactly how long. They could be here for months, or years. Whenever everything is over, and it is safe on the surface, they can go home. They could, however, never go back home to New York City. No one could.

"I don't like this place. Everyone I've met so far is really weird." Caroline's freckled nose wrinkled in distaste.

"I couldn't help but notice the same thing" Andrea said more to her wife than to Caroline.

Miranda looked at her warningly. The last thing she needed was for her children to have a reason to hate her.
It was a miracle that Andrea still spoke to her or that they had even made love last night when they had not been intimate in months. She remembered feeling so desperate to communicate. Her emotions overcame her like a sickness in their dark bedroom and had made her body tremble like wild blossoms on a moonless plain. Her wife could feel her pain through the twitch of her thighs against her. She could hear it in her cries for mercy that spilled from her lips like honey into the darkness.

Miranda feared she would crush her lover's fragile young body with the intensity of her touch. Her mind begged her arms to squeeze tighter, to bring her closer, to sooth the burning emptiness she felt weighing on her chest. The guilt had only mounted day by day, never losing an ounce of its great weight upon her heart.

She remembered staring into her eyes and searching for relief, for an answer. How could anyone truly love her after knowing everything she will be responsible for? How could this beautiful creature still look at her with such affection when she has stolen so much? Miranda could not bear her children to know what she's done. She could not bear two more reasons to hate herself.

"This is where we need to be, Caro" Miranda said finally. She could feel the emotion swelling at the back of her throat and begin to wet her eyes.

"I don't like it."

"I don't care" Miranda said as she walked past her child and into her study.

She started opening boxes and putting away her collection of literature. Her features gave nothing away, but the hurried, rough movements she made as she began stacking books, hinted to everyone in the room at the darkness that was clouding her mind.

"I'm an adult, you know. You can't make me stay here." Her daughters blue eyes were intense with frustration. She really enjoyed her studies in England and she had mentioned meeting a boy. She was very unhappy to have to leave school to come here, some creepy underground city.

"Just try it out for a couple of days, okay?" Miranda huffed, placing her hands on her hips. As if Caroline would even have a choice by tomorrow.

Caroline didn't reply, but continued to look out at the city without expression. Her young mind felt nothing but resentment for her mother at the moment.

Miranda shook her head and went back to stacking books. She was sorry that she had to take her away from something she loved and possibly even someone she loved but she could live with being hated. She could not live with losing her two babies. Her stomach sank low inside of her at the thought. How many mothers will she inflict with the very same pain that she fears most? How many faceless millions? She pushed the thought out of her mind with a few deep breaths. She did not have the luxury of breaking down now.

"Andrea and I will be leaving in an hour for Dinner. If you two don't decide to go out you can press nine on your phone for the kitchen downstairs." Miranda said as she abandoned her task in her study and walked into her bedroom without another word.

Andrea followed shortly behind her and shrugged toward the girls, turning her eyes momentarily toward the ceiling as she closed the door, as if to say 'what can you do?'

"Maybe it won't be so bad." Cassidy suggested as she leaned against the windows, looking at her sister.

"You were dying to get out of school" Her twin replied with a sneer.

"It'll just be nice to have a little break"
"Come on, Care. I'm sure Tristan will be there when we get back." Her twin said with a nudge.

Caroline smiled and it reached her eyes. She thought of the beautiful blonde boy waiting on the steps of their home in England, his light blue eyes hidden in the breeze by his curly blonde locks. It calmed her for only a moment until she thought of the distance and time placed between them. She had never met someone who had made her so happy before.

Inside the bedroom, Miranda and Andrea were getting ready for dinner. Andrea was leaning over the counter, her face close to the mirror, painting her lips a deep red. Her body was bare but for a small pair of black lace underwear that from this angle made Miranda's heart race. She felt her legs weaken and her body flash with heat. She desired to reach out and caress her beautiful form.

"I must warn you, tonight we will be among many council members. It is imperative that you do not let on your… distaste for the program. They do not tolerate criticism or dissidence of any kind."

"You don't think I can control myself?" Andrea asked without looking at her.

"Of course I think you can, but will you?" The older woman pleaded, she was as serious as her young wife had ever seen her.

"Andrea?"

"Yes, Miranda" She answered firmly.

There was a knock at the door and Cassidy popped her head inside.

"Hey, Caro and I are going to look around town. We'll be back later."

"Alright, make sure you know the code to the front door and I want you back here before dark" Miranda said but not before the door was closed and the footsteps on the other side faded to silence.

The silver-haired woman sighed and relaxed. She watched her wife pull on her long Sauvignon evening gown under the soft glow of the bathroom light. Her creamy skin was ravishing beneath the flowing deep red fabric.

"Stunning" She whispered.

The brunette smiled at her in the mirror, mischief sparkling momentarily in her rich chocolate eyes. The moment passed quickly. A saddened and helpless expression replaced her smile.

Miranda could hardly recognize her. She had married an obnoxious optimist, who believed in fairy tale notions of love and happily ever after. She had even made her believe in them too. But this woman had no hope in her eyes.

How could I ask her to do this? After everything I've done? Miranda thought to herself. Her ice blue eyes followed Andrea as she slipped on her black pumps. The regal older woman sat relaxed in an armchair, her hand clutching an expensive glass of brandy.

I've trapped her here with people celebrating the success of the program that will destroy everything she loves. She is their victim, and I'm making her sit in the same room with them.

I'm still asking her to love one of them.

How could I be so cruel?

How could I forget everything that ever meant anything?

She had forgotten the significance of having a family other than the one she had made for herself. Why she would let her go alone on Christmas or to any of the other stupid family gatherings she constantly flew home for, she would never understand. She supposed it was the same sociopathic tendencies that led to this very moment in time.

She should have been there, should have taken the time to get to know her family. Andrea nearly begged her to come with her but she always found some way out of it. Looking back now, she realized how little she truly gave to her wife, and how much she had truly given to her.

"I love you, darling. I really do." She said suddenly as the brunette sat next to her on the arm of her chair.

"I love you too, Miranda." Andrea replied with a look of slight surprise.

The older woman tugged her down to lie across her lap. The brunette squeaked and flailed for a few seconds before settling into her wife's arms. Miranda attacked her face with small kisses until she saw a smile spread across her beautiful face.

"Andrea, I know I've been terrible to you in the last couple of years. I know I don't deserve you" She hung her head as fat tears started to seep from her eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I never should have made you come here. I never should have forgotten your family, and I should have come to Christmas every year with you. I should have done so many things differently. My darling, I am so sorry."

"Calm down" Andrea whispered as she took Miranda's reddened face in her hands. She made her look into her eyes, and she wiped away her tears as she did.

"Breathe."

The silver-haired mogul did as instructed. She closed her eyes and breathed calmly in and out, her lips quivering with each breath she took.

"This dinner tonight, if you don't want to go, you do not have to." Miranda said before wiping away fresh tears.

"I mean, Everyone will be there. Capitol Hill, Wall Street, Hollywood… anyone who is important in Metropolis will be at this dinner tonight. And they will all be celebrating the 'beginning of a new age' together"

"It's happening soon, isn't it?"

Miranda nodded and looked away from her again.

"I want to go with you. I can't let you go alone now, can I?"

Andrea placed several small kisses on her face until she saw her smile. Then she got up to grab her handbag and they began making their way down to the lobby of their hotel. Miranda held her arm softly at her side. She was handsome in her expensive noir pant suit and gold button up blouse, the two of them together turned the heads of everyone that passed them by.


TBC


I apologize for the insanely long wait. I had some trouble with deciding where to take this, but I believe you will enjoy what I have in store for you.

Thank you for reading,
-X