Chapter 12:

The next few weeks passed without much of an incident. The DeMarzio estate had gain a full security staff and two new house workers; Irene fell into her new job easily, the new assistant replacing Aubrey at the studio turned out to be a young man named Marshall, whom all saw as a saint. He easily fell in with Aubrey and the women at the shop, and Andrea found herself free to spend time with Miranda and the girls. After much debate she and Isabella made the decision to take the girls to Paris along with them for Fashion week and the finishing work for DeMarzio Paris. The girls were so excited they packed two weeks before they were actually scheduled to leave and asked everyday if it was time to go yet. When the time for the trip finally arrived the girls were so excited that Kat, Isabella, nor Andrea got any sleep the night before.

"Mommy, look!" Lexxi exclaimed bouncing in her seat and pointing out the window, "Is that the tower you and Nana talk about?"

Andrea smiled and glanced out the window and nodded, "Yes munchkin, very good. That is the Eiffel Tower or La Tour Eiffel. It is a very famous monument and the most recognized in the world. We'll visit before we go home if you and your sister would like to." she told her daughter re-buckling her seatbelt.

"I do! Rory, you wanna? Please... please... please?" Lexxi pleaded the excitement evident in her voice as she stared at her sister with wide, brown eyes.

"Mommy, can we go to the museum too? The one with Mona Lisa? We talked about her is school, she is in Paris right?" Rory asked nodding to Lexxi.

"Of course baby. We'll see everything we can and Kat will take you girls around while Mommy and Nana work as well." Andrea told them smiling at the enthusiasm and excitement her children were exhibiting.

The car stopped in front of the hotel shortly after that and they all climbed out as the bellhop appeared to get the bags. Isabella smiled at the young man and took Lexxi's hand before she could dart off. The hotel was extravagant, the high ceiling was home to beautiful chandeliers, there were lit fireplaces around the lobby incased within the stonewalls, bright polished hardwood floors beneath their feet reflecting the lights, and strategically placed furniture from the 1860's. Andrea smiled when she heard both of her daughters and Kat gasp and stare wide eyed around them.

"Beautiful isn't it? Come along then, we'll get unpacked and have dinner out in town tonight. Then we'll see Paris by night." Isabella stated heading over to the elevators.

The girls smiled widely and quickly followed leaving Andrea and Kat to trail behind them, "Why are we not staying at your house here? I hear the girl's talking about it all the time." Kat asked softly looking over at Andrea.

Andrea smiled, "Renovations. Instead of having the girls there with all the chaos and chemicals we decided to stay here. The suite consists of 3 rooms with en-suite bathrooms, a common room and a small dining area. You can have your own room for the trip if you'd like. The girls are welcomed to sleep in a room with me."

Kat shook her head, "No, it's fine. The girls and I will be fine in a room together. You'll need your sleep and I promise you, in a room with you, they will wake you up bright and early every morning."

Laughing Andrea nodded and led Kat into their suite quickly collecting her bags and entering the only bedroom to the right of the common room. Grabbing her toiletry bag from her largest suit case she walked into her the bathroom and turned on the shower.

"Leaving in 20 minutes," Isabella called to her from the other room, "Emily and Serena are meeting us in the lobby then."

"Aunt Rena is here?" she heard Rory ask before she closed the door smiling.

The constant ringing of her cell phone pulled Andrea from her sleep. Fumbling on the nightstand she located it and hit the answer button without glancing at the caller id, "Hello" she mumbled her voice thick with sleep.

"Andrea." Miranda's low voice sounded in her ear pulling her out of her post-sleep haze.

"Yeah, it's me. What time is it?" She asked rolling onto her back and staring up at the ceiling.

"8. Did I wake you?"

"Mm..." she murmured fighting a yawn, "S'okay. How was your flight?"

"Long. What time is Katora expecting the girls?"

Andrea shifted on the bed her fingers running through her hair, "In an hour, I think."

"Very well." Miranda said. Andy smiled and shook her head as the line went dead, that was so Miranda.

Andrea got out of bed knowing she'd never get back to sleep and made her way to the bathroom to get ready for the day. She stared at herself in the mirror running her hand through her sleep tousled hair and smiled when she saw a smaller version of herself appear behind her own reflection.

"Hey munchkin," she said with a smile, "what are you girls up to today?"

"We're going on a boat ride!" Lexxi said excitedly entering the bathroom.

Andy smiled and picked her up and sat her on the bathroom counter. She rummaged through her bag for her hairbrush and then started running it through Lexxi's long chocolate colored hair, "That sounds like fun baby. You make sure not to fall in the water. Did you ask Kat to take you to see Notre Dame?"

Andrea laughed at the wide eyed look her daughter directed at her in the mirror, "The place where Quasimodo and Esmeralda are in the movie?" Lexxi said softly her eyes lighting up.

Nodding Andrea grabbed a set of pink hair bows, "The actual cathedral is here in Paris."
"Mommy... what's a ca... ca-"

"A ca-the-dr-al," Andrea said slowly fixing the last pigtail and running the brush through it once more, "Try it again."

"Ca-the-dr-al. Cathedral. Is that right?"

Smiling she kissed Lexxi's cheek and nodded, "Perfect. A cathedral is big fancy church baby girl. Notre Dame is a famous cathedral. They started building it in 1163 while Louis VII was the King of France, which was a very long time ago; it took the workers over 180 years to finish it."

"That's a long time," Andrea watched Lexxi tilt her head to the side and stare blankly for a minute before she looked up at her frowning, "Was the people too slow to build it?"

Andrea laughed and hugged her daughter, "No baby, it's a really big building and they didn't have all the fancy things we have now to help them build it faster."

She kissed Lexxi's head and helped her down from the counter. She pulled her hair up and washed her face glancing over at the little girl she'd given birth to almost 6 years ago feeling the familiar warmth and love she felt that morning fill her heart, "Mommy loves you baby."

The smile that lit up her daughter's face was bright and brought tears to her eyes, "I know mommy. I love you too. I love you more than all the stars in the sky."

Smiling Andrea went into her room to grab her clothes and kissed Rory's head as she walked pass for the bathroom. She could hear Isabella talking to someone out in the common room and peeked out the door of her room smiling at the scene that greeted her before going back to her daughters.

"Mommy, can we watch you do your makeup? Please?" Rory asked her eyes bright and pleading. Andy nodded and sat Rory next to her sister.

She quickly changed and pulled out her makeup bag, "I still have no idea why you girls like this so much but you know you can always watch."

Her daughters giggled and she smiled applying mascara to her long lashes, "What time did you girls wake up this morning?"

Lexxi shrugged her little shoulders and Rory rolled her eyes, a habit she picked up from the twins, "I think it was 7."

"Mm... and don't roll your eyes, it's not nice." she admonished sternly looking over at her oldest.

"Sorry Mommy." Rory said softly looking up at her through her lashes.

"Apologize to your sister, she's still learning how to tell time, you're supposed to help her not roll your eyes because she doesn't know."

"I'm sorry Lexxi. I love you and I'll be a better sissy and teach you better to read the clock." she said hugging her sister to her side.

Andrea smiled and kissed them both, "Good. Now, you two remember to stick together and take care of each other. Family is very important in life, they are the ones we should be able to count on when we need help, and not the people that make you feel bad. Ok?" When both girls nodded she turned back to the mirror and finished her eyeliner.

When she finished she tossed it in the bag and took out two different lipsticks, "Which one?" she asked the girls. They looked at them and then each other before both choosing the Snow Silver Rose pink lipstick by Revlon. She smiled and nodded before applying it and sticking it in her pocket.

"Alrighty chickadees, let's get out of this bathroom and see what Nana and Kat are up to. What do you say?" Andy said picking Lexxi up and letting Rory climb on her back with a delightful squeal.

Andrea laughed with her daughters as they bounced out into the common room. Isabella looked up and smiled at them shaking her head, "Andrea, I swear you are the silliest woman."

Andy chuckled and winked at her while Kat took a picture of them laughing. There was a knock on the door to the suite and Rory squealed and wiggled so Andrea let her down and sat Lexxi on her feet as well before moving over to answer it.

"Hi Andy!" twin voices rang out as soon as the door was opened and she found herself wrapped in four slender arms.

"Hey," she said hugging them both, "how are you ladies?"

Caroline smiled and let her go while Cassidy moved to the side her arm still around her waist, "We're great! Excited, no matter how many times Mom brings us to Paris we always have fun. This time we get to hang out with you guys so it's like more exciting!" Caroline said smiling and picking up Lexxi.

"Cassie are you going to the cathedral with us? Mommy said it took them over 180 years to build it because it was long, long time ago. Right Mommy?" Lexxi asked from Caroline's shoulder looking over at her mother.

"That's very good Lexxi." Miranda stated walking into the room and closing the door, "Notre Dame is a great place to visit." She smiled at the little girl and kissed the top of her head.

Rory giggled and wrapped her small arms around Miranda, "Ms. Randa, will you come with us to Notre Dame?" she asked looking up at her.

Andy chuckled and shook her head, "Miranda, my daughter is becoming your shadow."

Miranda smiled and shook her head, "She is not, and she's just a great judge of character." Miranda sat down pulling Rory to her lap, "I can't go with you to see Notre Dame today, I have to listen to self-important people talk all morning, but I'll tell you what we'll do tonight if you girls behave for Katora." she stated glancing at all four of the children.

"We'll behave, promise! Right?" Rory stated shooting an icy blue glare that was so like Miranda's that Andrea and Isabella both doubled over laughing.

"Oh goodness Andrea, you are right! She's turning into a miniature Miranda." Isabella said between gasps for breath.

Miranda chuckled and hugged Rory to her, "She's got good taste. Well since Rory is going to keep you three in line and make sure you're on your best behavior, I'll take you out tonight. We'll have something to eat and visit the Eiffel Tower and possibly go to the Musee Rodin. Sound good to you Miss Rory?"

Rory nodded, "Yes that is acceptable."

Andrea wrapped her arms around her stomach laughing harder leaning against the wall, "Oh my god. The day she starts... ordering extra hot Starbucks... and dismissing people... with 'that's all' I'm... banning her... from Runway." she managed to get out between fits of laughter.

Miranda and Rory both turned and glared at her but the smiles they were both trying to hide gave them away and just made the other occupants of the room laugh harder.