"Andrea…" Her name was said all too sweetly for her to trust the situation was good. Andy scurried into Miranda's office with her notebook and pen. "Andrea, you failed to remind me of my appointment with Irv this morning." Andy looked mortified.
"Oh my god, Miranda I am so s-" Miranda cut her off with a single finger in the air.
"I think that this is getting to be a problem." Andy looked at her slack jawed.
"This meaning… ?" She was a little angry to be honest with herself; Andy didn't want to loose Miranda in any way.
"This…" Miranda signaled between them and sighed. "Maybe it was a bad idea." Andy bit the inside of her cheek.
"I thought it was going rather well, but if you think it's a bad idea…" Andy couldn't help it; her eyes were already brimmed with tears. "I honestly can't imagine going back to the way it was." She let a tear slip and she caught it up with her finger tip. Miranda sighed an "oh".
"Don't cry, Andrea. It doesn't have to go back to the way it was." Miranda fingers splayed across her forehead as her thumb pressed to her temple. "It just seems that you are getting distracted from your work. I can't have you forgetting to remind me of important follow up meetings with my boss. That's my ass on the line." Andy smiled and nodded in understanding.
"I did get a little distracted, but not because of our friendship. If anything, this is helping me stay on track. I don't want to disappoint you." Miranda smirked, opened her mouth to speak then closed it with a "hmm".
"We can go to dinner and talk about what's distracting you." Miranda kept her attention towards her laptop and other work on her desk. She tried so hard to show that she wasn't so interested in if Andy said yes or no.
"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea." Andy's voice was warm as well as her smile. Miranda finally made eye contact again and found it hard to look away. There was such acceptance and eagerness in the young woman's eyes.
"You can come home with me and we'll head over to…" Miranda paused in mid sentence and fidgeted with her fingers slightly. "Where would you like to eat?" Andy was a little surprised, but she remembered that this is a side of Miranda that she's never seen before. Andy rounded Miranda's desk and leaned against the edge. The younger woman's hips so happened to be in Miranda's line of vision, making the silver haired woman clear her throat and drag her eyes back up to Andy's.
"Why don't you choose? You know where all the great places are. What are you in the mood to eat?" Miranda averted her eyes for a brief second to Andy's thighs then away to her laptop screen.
"I feel like having some Ethiopian food." Andy chuckled and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Ethiopian's eat?" Miranda looked up at Andy with a raised eyebrow, only to swat Andy on the thigh.
"That was cruel, Andrea; besides they do eat, just not with utensils." With a laugh, Andy uncrossed her arms, braced herself, and jumped up on the desk. Miranda watched as Andy crossed her legs. "If anyone where to walk into this office, they would be shocked to see what I let you get away with." Andy hummed in contentment.
"Yes, but I'm special." Miranda nodded, but she agreed to easily.
"Yes, yellow school bus special." Andy jaw dropped with a gasp. Miranda chuckled and rested a hand on Andy's thigh. The younger woman smiled when she felt Miranda's warm fingers just below the hem of her skirt. With a pat, Miranda awkwardly removed her hand. At that moment Emily rushed in as fast as she could on crutches, shooting Andy a look of contempt.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Miranda." Miranda reached out, unseen by Emily, and tugged on Andy's boot to get her down. The younger woman slid off the desk and walked around to the front of the office. "Irv is here to see you." Miranda risked a glance at Andy and saw how apologetic the young woman really was.
"Send him in, that's all." Emily limped out of the office while Andy stood behind. Miranda winked her way. "Talk to you later." Andy smiled softly and walked out of the office. Andy watched as Irv stormed into Miranda's office.
"Miranda, I don't appreciate being stood up." Andy winced as soon as she heard Irv's tone. "This is going to go on my head," she thought.
"I apologize deeply Mr. Ravitz. It simply slipped my mind. I was looking over the book from last night and I forgot." With a gasp, realization dawned on Andy that Miranda was taking the fall. Nigel walked in just then with a portfolio gripped loosely in his hand. He paused when he saw Irv pacing around before Miranda.
"What's going on?" Nigel leaned against Emily's desk. Emily looked from Andy to Nigel and back again.
"Miranda's taking the blame for Andy's mistake." Nigel's eyes went wide and he looked over at Andy.
"Andy?" The woman in question looked up with a guilty sensation that she couldn't explain.
"Yes?" Nigel squinted his eyes in thought.
"Are you blackmailing our boss?" Andy threw a glare at him then turned to her computer.
"What's going on between you two?" Emily made her way to Andy's desk. "You were the one who fucked that up, not her. Why did she take the blame?" Andy snorted and shrugged.
"She likes me better than you?" With a glare, Emily hobbled back to her seat. Nigel chuckled softly.
"Children, children." Emily rolled her eyes.
"Quit being so juvenile, Andy; I've known her longer anyway." Andy couldn't help herself, she let out a chuckle while sticking her tongue out. "Yeah, I'm sure you're girlfriend would love that." The brunette gasped and snorted. Nigel shuddered with disgust and stared wide eyed at Emily.
"OMGod! How did you know!?!" Emily turned back to her Imac with a scowl.
"You were sitting on her desk and she had her hands all over you." Andy went slack jawed. Nigel put up a hand and huffed.
"I've had enough." With that he walked out of the office leaving the girls to argue.
"She did not!" Emily faced Andy and gave her that mirrored Miranda's usual look of irritation. "She patted me on the thigh. Anyway, it's not like that." Andy attempted to return to her work, but failed miserably.
"Riiiight, whatever you say." Andy rolled her eyes.
"Ptsh!" Finally able to recommence with her work, Andy turned back to the computer screen and focused. She was able to organize the entire Winter Gala, schedule Miranda's time for the following month, and was able to narrow down which restaurants Miranda might want to go to. Andy saw a pale hand pass in front of her and realized she zoned out when she ran out of things to do. Her attention was drawn back to the person in front of her. Miranda Priestly stood there looking highly amused as watched Andy sit there with her head in her hand.
"Do you often drool when you day dream?" Andy glared and passed a finger over the corners of her mouth to make sure she was just joking.
"Hello, nice to see you again too." With an evil smirk, Miranda rested her palms on the desk lowering her torso slightly. Andy glanced towards Miranda's not fully buttoned blouse, on her way down to the desk, and proved her thoughts right, they were magnificent. The older woman's smirk turned into a full blown grin.
"Or were you just fantasizing about me?" Miranda chuckled when Andy's jaw very nearly hit the desk when she slipped off her hand. When she stood, Andy took the little time to compose herself. "Just a joke, of course." Miranda retrieved her own coat and bag and tossed Andy's belongings on her desk. "Let's go say good bye to the twins." Andy gathered her stuff and helplessly followed the sashay of Miranda's hips. It was a silent trip to the town house, with the exception of Miranda humming "Super Trouper" softly to herself. Andy kept stealing glances at the dragon lady while she stared out the window. "She must have recently watched Mamma Mia." Andy thought with a smile.
"What are you humming?" Andy decided to play stupid. Miranda turned to her with a sad smirk.
"It's called Super Trouper, by Abba. It's the girl's lullaby. Or was the girl's lullaby, before they decided they were to grown for it." Andy reached over and stroked Miranda's arm and pulled back when Miranda turned to her sharply. However she turned to her, the look on Miranda's face showed nothing but acceptance. Feeling brave, Andy reached over again and rested her hand on Miranda's. With a smirk, Miranda gently squeezed the fingers that slipped between her forefinger and thumb. "They're growing up." Miranda pulled away slowly. "It's a rarity when they do want me to tuck them in and sing to them; usually, that's when they're sick." Miranda turned to look out the window once more.
"There's so much to learn about you." Without thinking, Andy let it slip and prayed she wouldn't be punished for it. Instead of being the Ice Queen she always portrays, Miranda simply nodded.
"Indeed, there is." Andy hummed and wrung her hands nervously when they pulled up to the town house. The first to get out was Andy; she made her way around the car and opened the door for Miranda. Andy extended her hand to help the woman up and to her surprise, Miranda actually took it. Once she was out of the car she stuck her head in and said a brief goodnight to Roy and shut the door. Andy allowed Miranda to lead the way. As soon as they came in the door they were bombarded by two overtly eager 11 year olds.
"Mom!" Caroline, Andy assumed, hugged Miranda around the waist and Cassidy reached over and kissed her mother hello. When their greetings were done with, both girls looked at Andy. "Why is she here?" Caroline's attitude left Andy feeling like Miranda just ripped through her. Miranda looked back at Andy with apologetic eyes.
"She's going to have dinner with me, she's mommy's friend." When Miranda turned back to her twins, Andy grinned. Caroline shrugged and Cassidy looked back and forth from Miranda to Andy as a knowing smile erupted on her face.
"When is Daddy coming?" Caroline checked her watch.
"He should be here soon." Miranda reached out and brushed back strawberry blond hair and tucked it behind Cassidy's ear. "You have everything packed? You have to make sure you have all your school books and your homework assignments." Caroline patted the bags at the base of the stairs.
"Got everything, Mom." With a reassured smile, Miranda reached out and hugged her daughters tightly. A horn sounded loudly outside and the girls scurried to put their bags on. "See ya, Mommy." Miranda sighed softly, barely audible, but Andy heard it.
"Bye Mom!" Miranda leaned over and kissed her daughters on their precious, pink, rose bud lips.
"Bye darlings… behave." Miranda watched her girls run out the door and drive off. "I'll never get used to them going." She turned to Andy. "Just you and me, then" Miranda reached out and tugged on Andy's jacket. "Let's go. I've changed my mind about what I want to eat." With a chuckle, Andy followed Miranda out the door. Driving down the street in a convertible Porsche with Miranda Priestly as the driver is quite scary. The car doesn't feel very safe, and Miranda has road rage. "No wonder she doesn't drive during the day; traffic would be her reason for murder," Andy thought with a chuckle. "What are you laughing at?" Miranda glanced at her then kept her eyes on the road a head of her.
"You have a terrible temper." Miranda smiled and rolled her eyes.
"At least I'm not shouting obscenities outside my car window." Andy giggled at the thought.
"No, but honking your horn for three full seconds is just as bad." Miranda snorted and pulled into a McDonalds drive through. Andy took one look at where they were and submitted into a fit of hysterics. Miranda stared at her with a smile plastered to her face.
"I don't see what's so funny." Andy tried to speak, but only made it worse for herself. "What?" Miranda was now chuckling softly; Andy's laughing was infectious.
"This…" Andy took a deep breath. "Is what you wanted to eat?" Miranda raised an eyebrow as she pulled up to take her order.
"Hi, welcome to Mc-" Miranda immediately cut her off.
"I'll have a number one with a medium coke." Miranda turned to Andy and tapped her on the thigh. "What do you want?" Andy tried to stifle a chuckle.
"Same." With that, Andy burst into hysterics once more.
"Two number ones with two medium cokes." Miranda waited impatiently for the server to repeat the order to her.
"Ok, that'll b-"
"Bore someone else with your details." Miranda drove to the next window receiving a gasp from the girl who stood there.
"You're Miranda Priestly!" Miranda rolled her eyes in annoyance with both Andy who wouldn't shut up and the girl who seemed to want to kiss Miranda rather than do her job and serve her food. Miranda handed the shivering girl her debit card.
"Make it quick." The girl, if anything, took more time trying to hurry up. She dropped the card twice, once outside the window making Miranda get out and get it herself. "We will see if I ever come here again. I will call your manager and report you." Miranda's empty threats left Andy shaking with silent laughter. Miranda drove to the next window and snatched the bag away from the skinny boy standing there. Andy sunk in her seat, not being able to control her laughter. Miranda took the drinks from the boy and sped off. Glancing at Andrea put her in a good mood all over again.
"Why are you laughing at me?" Andy had to gasp for air.
"Did you memorize the menu?" Andy began to shake uncontrollably, again. Miranda tried so hard to purse her lips seriously but an awkward yet cute smirk came of it.
"I just know what I like." Andy inhaled deeply and sighed.
"Apparently you like Big Macs." Andy laughed again bringing Miranda along with her. When they pulled up to the house, both women's spirits where high and their eyes shone with unshed tears of laughter. Miranda led them into the living room where the fire was crackling and the room was comfortable. Miranda dropped off the food and drinks on the coffee table.
"I'll be right back." Miranda left Andy to look around, but instead of sticking her nose into everything she settled down on the floor and watched the fire. Miranda returned with two plates and utensils. Andy pointed at the utensils.
"What are those for?" Miranda chose to set them up before answering.
"For eating." Miranda was always sarcastic, queen of sarcasm in fact. Andy mocked Miranda while the woman in question gracefully swooped down on the floor. Miranda cut her burger into quarters and stabbed a fork into one of the quarters.
"What do you think you are doing?!" Miranda looked up in shock. Andy reached over, grabbed one of Miranda's quarters and put it right in front of the older woman's lips. Miranda rolled her eyes and sighed. When she realized Andy would not back down, she delicately took hold of Andy's wrist and took a small bite. Her bottom lip accidentally brushed against Andy's thumb. "Thank you! That's how you eat a burger." Miranda smirked and licked her lips.
"Really? I wasn't aware…" Andy took a bite of her big Mac and some of the special sauce smeared on the corner of her mouth. Miranda smiled warmly as she reached over and wiped, gently, at Andy's mouth. Without thinking, Andy leaned in to Miranda's touch. When Miranda pulled away, it caught Andy's attention. They sat in silence, looking into each other's eyes for a moment. Andy felt a warmth spread over her as her heart raced. Miranda felt panicked, but not in the bad way one would expect. At that moment, Miranda's cell phone rang. Frantic, Miranda searched her person for her phone.
"Hello girls." Miranda got up and began walking around while talking to her daughters. "Well, alright, if you're tucked in." Miranda began to sing "Super Trouper" for Caroline and Cassidy while Andy listened in. When the call was ended, Andy and Miranda finished their meals, neither mentioning what happened or what nearly happened. And when they said their goodbyes, Miranda dared to lean in and kiss Andy on the cheek. With a whispered "bye" they parted until the next day of work together.