Chapter 18:
The night was cool and the wind was blowing harshly around the women standing at the end of the driveway with the unmarked police cars. Andrea stared at the darkened cabin and felt the pain and despair she'd been fighting all week wash over her. Even from the distance she stood from the cabin she could see the curtains in the windows and the empty garage behind it. Fear gripped her heart and she turned to look at Miranda, "I swear Mira... if he hurt my little girl I am going to gut him right where he stands consequences be damned." she said leaning against the cooling engine of the black car Olivia drove them over in.
Miranda's arms were around her in seconds and she inhaled deeply taking in the pleasantly calming scent that was uniquely Miranda. Andrea sighed and wrapped her arms around the older woman resting her head on her shoulder placing a tender kiss on her neck.
"She's alright Andrea. Soon she'll be back in your arms and this nightmare will be over." Miranda whispered.
Minutes passed slowly by and finally the local police showed up to assist in executing the search warrant for the cabin and the surrounding land. Andrea kept her arms locked around Miranda's thin waist as she turned to watch the officers talk with Jo and Olivia before heading off into the dark to search the wooded area surrounding them. Andy felt Miranda's grip on her tightened and looked up at her with worried eyes, "What is it?" she whispered.
The only answer she received was a small smile and a light kiss before the older woman's attention was back on the cabin and the officers now strategically standing around it. She watched as Olivia, Jo, along with a few other officers made their way to the front door, made some sort of hand motions and then knocked on the front door. Nothing happened and Andy was starting to feel her panic rise again as she watched the uniformed officers moving away from the door.
"Where are they going? They can't just leave! Miranda my baby is in there I know it! I feel it." Andy said pulling away from the warmth and comfort of Miranda's embrace. Just as she was about to move around the car and up the drive the porch light came on and the door opened. A burning fury like nothing she'd ever felt before made its way through Andrea's body. She felt the trembling of her limbs and balled her hands into fists her nails cutting into the palm of her hands. She used that pain to ground her and keep her from doing something stupid enough to actually endanger her child.
As they watched Nate shook his head glancing behind him briefly. They were all standing there on the porch and Andy assumed they were talking but the voices were not loud enough to carry to them if they were. She saw the lights from a television when Nate shifted on his feet just before he attempted to shut the door in the detectives' faces. Detective Jo's hand on the door stopped him from completing the act and Olivia handed him a blue paper before they pushed past him into the house while he read it. Andrea released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and moved a little closer to the cabin to wait for something, she just wasn't sure what.
The silent wait seemed to drag on forever and Andy glanced at her watch again before releasing a heavy sigh, "It's only been three minutes... why does it feel like we've been standing here for hours?"
"You are anxious darling. Come here." Miranda said softly.
Andy sighed and leaned into Miranda her eyes trained on the now open door of the cabins the inside lights pouring out of it and illuminating the porch and area in front of it. Concentrating on breathing and a few relaxation techniques she had learned while she was pregnant with Rory, Andy watched the officers outside move to one area to the left of the cabin and the bright beams from their flashlights. Olivia appeared in the doorway with another officer and her phone to her ear shortly after Andy felt herself relax slightly. The anxiety she had just rid herself of came back full force as she watched the silent conversation and the body language of the uniformed officer.
Miranda's hold on her tightened when she tried to move and she tried in vain to get away from her, "Miranda let me go! Something is wrong." she said her voice thick with fear and the tears she felt choking her.
"Andrea, stop and think. If you run up there before they locate and safeguard Lexxi you could put her in greater danger. We have to wait and let the detectives do their job."
"Miranda you hate to wait." Andy said softly trying to distract herself from the fear running through her.
Miranda chuckled softly, "Mm... yes I do." she said kissing Andy's temple, "However Lexxi's safety is more important than my having to wait."
Andy sighed and turned burying her face in Miranda's neck, "I know you're right but this has to be the hardest thing I think I've ever done... waiting is getting harder.
"Look."
Was the only reply she received but she quickly turned to look back to the cabin. Olivia was calling over another uniformed officer as she escorted Nate out of the house. Andy watched with very little emotion as the officer put Nate in handcuffs and walked him over to one of the patrol cars. Andy glanced at Miranda briefly for the first time feeling hope that this nightmare was about to be over. She watched more officers enter the house and felt her panic return, "Why are they not telling us something. If they arrested him then they found her right? Oh god... Miranda what if..."
"Shh... don't Andrea. Do not do that to yourself. She's ok if she wasn't they would have told us by now."
Andrea simply nodded her eyes glued to the scene in front of her. Olivia disappeared into the cabin only to return a moment later. Before she realized what was happening Andrea had pulled herself out of Miranda's embrace and was racing to the cabin porch. Olivia was just clearing the bottom step when Andrea reached her grabbing the shivering little girl she was carrying from her arms.
"Mommy!" Lexxi cried as she threw her arms around Andrea's neck and held tightly to her.
Andy smiled through the tears she felt finally falling from her eyes as she held her little girl against her chest and collapsing to her knees, "Oh thank god." she said kissing her daughter all over her beautiful little face.
"Thank you Detective." Miranda said from somewhere behind her.
Andy looked up at Olivia and smiled, "Thank you so much." she said before looking at her daughter again, "Mommy is not letting you out of her sight for the next 40 years, you got that?" she said with a soft smile.
Lexxi nodded and laid her head back on Andy's chest, "Mommy... I'm cold and hungry." she said softly.
Andrea stood inside of Lexxi's room a few hours later watching as her daughter finally slept. Watching the peaceful expression on her small cherub face and the soft rise and fall of her chest filled Andrea with a peace she had not experienced once over the last week. Moving as quietly as possible across the room she kissed Lexxi's head once more before leaving the room. Sighing she rubbed the back of her neck and walked across the hallway into her bedroom to change into something more comfortable before climbing into her bed. Sleep evaded her and after lying awake staring at her ceiling Andy got out of bed giving up on the idea of sleeping. Checking on both of her girls she smiled a small smile and climbed the stairs to her art studio.
She stood in front of her easel staring at the portrait she had been working on before the kidnapping took place and felt tears burning the back of her eyes. Her eyes jumped from her own image to Isabella's then from Caroline's to Rory's then Miranda's before the tears started to fall. Swallowing hard she wiped them away and then looked to the last two images on the page. Cassidy's smiling face tore at her heart, the memory of her fearful teary eyes that horrid afternoon made its way to the front of her mind and she had to grab ahold of a stool to keep herself from falling. The pain the young redhead had been feeling was so visible on her person that the image of such was burned into Andrea's mind and it was something she vowed to herself that she would do anything to keep from seeing again.
Finally allowing her eyes to fall on the final image Andrea's eyes settled on Lexxi. In the portrait her little girl's smile was big and bright, her eyes were twinkling with laughter and mischief and it broke Andy's heart that the light was no longer there. She ran her fingers gently over the image of her youngest child, the mirror image of herself at that age and felt the ache in her soul intensify. Tasting blood on her tongue she lifted her hand to her mouth finding it wet and sticky. Pulling her hand away Andy stared at the blood coating her fingertips and frowned looking for a mirror. She found one in a drawer and for the first time in nearly a week she looked at herself in it. Her bottom lip was bleeding from what could only be cuts from her teeth. Sighing she dropped the mirror on the counter, turned on the cold water, and went about cleaning the blood from her lips.
"Andrea."
Andy turned her head and smiled weakly over at Miranda as she walked into the room, "She's home... she's safe... she's tucked in bed sleeping... so why do I still feel like I've lost my baby? Why won't this pain leave me?" she asked her voice barely a whisper.
Miranda's arms were around her within moments and just that simple touch broke the control she had over the pain and the tears.
"Let it out my darling. You've held it in for far too long; it's time to let it go." Miranda whispered.
She decided to do just that. All the pain, the heartache, all the fear, the panic, the hopelessness, the anger, the emptiness, and the devastation poured out of her in the form of choking sobs that wracked her body. Miranda's strong arms around her were the only thing holding her together as the world she'd lived in collapsed around her. Her body convulsed against Miranda as she cried for her little girl and everything she had to endure during the week she was locked in the dark room of that cabin. After no more tears would fall and her breathing was somewhat back to normal she pulled herself up and stood on her own feet looking into soft, comforting blue eyes.
She stared at Miranda for a long time before she smiled slightly, "I love you. Thank you... for everything. I would never have gotten through this week without you Mira. I love you so much more for what you've done for my children and me. I am not sure I could ever explain to you just what you've given us this past week." she said softly her eyes never leaving her loves.
Miranda's smile was warm and full of adoration, "You are far stronger than you think, Andrea. I love you and I love Aurora and Lexxi more than you know. I've done nothing this week that I would not have done had it been Caroline or Cassidy who had been taken. Your girls are like daughters to me and I will always love and protect them as such. There is no need for you to thank me but I appreciate the gesture." she said pulling Andrea against her.
Andy sighed and laid her head on Miranda's shoulder nuzzling her neck, "I love you so much Miranda." she lifted her head and frowned slightly.
"What is it my love?"
"Where are Caroline and Cassidy? Did you bring them back here when you returned?" she asked her voice growing more frantic as she began to panic slightly.
"Shh, relax Andrea. I would not leave the girls alone after everything we've just been through. Cassidy is in bed with Lexxi, when I picked them up from their grandmother's she insisted on seeing her for herself. Once we made it to the house she looked in on Rory and went to Lexxi's. She refused to leave her side and soon fell asleep. Isabella said to just leave her be and so we did. Caroline is in the kitchen having a bedtime tea with Emily and Aubrey. Isabella and Irene had a scotch each and went to bed just as I was coming up to find you." she explained.
Andy nodded and took a deep breath, "Sorry... everything is still just so raw."
"No need to apologize my love, it's understandable. The alarm is set and the security outside has been doubled. Irene arranged for extra security at all hours. The men on night watch have been tripled, day watch doubled, and there were eight additional cameras installed. No one is getting to us while we're here. As for school, that is for you to decide but I think you should let Lexxi tell you what she wants to do. Emily suggested getting the girls a bodyguard until we know for sure no one else will attempt anything. Surprisingly Caroline agreed with her and has already spoken to Irene about helping her find one for herself."
Andy nodded and softly kissed Miranda's lips before laying her head down again, "That's... all good news. I'll talk to Lexxi about it but for now she's staying home, Rory as well. I refused to let them out of my sight until both of those bastards are locked away. I feel like such a horrible mother. How could I let some asshole I used to date kidnap my little girl?"
"You are a great mother Andrea. An excellent mother, your children are happy and healthy, they want for nothing at all, and they love you more than anything in this world. You give them stability, love, support, and comfort. No one can say that you are a horrible mother and mean it. No one." Miranda said with conviction.
Andy felt her heart warm and she smiled against Miranda's neck, "Marry me." she said softly lifting her head as soft brown eyes to lock onto surprised blue ones.