Chapter 21:
Andrea sighed in relief when she reached the car and was able to get herself and Lexxi into it and close the door. Miranda was soon in the seat next to her and the car was pulling away from the hospital. The press had found out about Lexxi's rescue and their trip to the hospital by the time they had finished with the tests and left. Miranda had offered to find another way out to avoid the chaos but she had turned down the offer more than a little tired and just wanting to get out of the hospital. The doctor had informed her that Lexxi's hymen was intact and showed no signs of stress so Lexxi did not have to sit through a full SOEC.
Andrea felt another wave of relief run through her as the doctor's voice ran through her mind. She still hated the assholes and she still wanted them dead for what they did to her baby but she was relieved to know that they had not done worse. Looking down at the little head in her lap Andrea smiled and ran a hand through her daughter's hair, "I love you Princess." she said softly.
Lexxi shifted and looked up at her with a tired smile, "I love you too Mommy... Randa too." she said before closing her eyes and returning to her attempt to sleep.
Andrea looked up at Miranda and found the older woman's eyes trained on her. She smiled lifting Miranda's hand to her lips and kissing the ring on her finger, "I love you Mira." she whispered gazing into clear blue eyes.
"And I love you too." Miranda replied softly.
Andrea smiled softly running the back of her fingers over Miranda's cheek, "Thank you for coming Miranda."
Miranda chuckled lightly, "Where else would I be Andrea?" she asked softly.
Andy smiled and shook her head, softly kissing Miranda before leaning back into the seat resting her head on Miranda's shoulder. They stayed quiet through most of the ride both off in their own thoughts and trying to keep from waking Lexxi again. Andrea looked down at her daughter and sighed softly knowing this was a trying day on her baby. She was going to do everything in her power to make things better for her children. All four of them. Smiling at the thought Andy shifted Lexxi into her arms as they neared the house.
As suspected there were cars and vans belonging to the press lining the street and the owners were gathered on the drive blocking the gate therefore keeping them away from the house. The security team arrived and cleared a path allowing the car to gain entrance while keeping the cameras out. When they parked Andrea covered Lexxi with Miranda's jacket and quickly left the car and made her way to the front door which opened as she approached. Once they were all inside Andrea sent Irene to make Lexxi something to eat and bring it up to the little girl's bedroom.
Slowly and quietly Andrea carried Lexxi up the stairs and into the girl's bathroom. Sitting on the edge of the bathtub with Lexxi seated in her lap she turned on the tap and adjusted the water temperature before plugging the drain. Miranda appeared in the door as she woke Lexxi and helped her out of her clothes and into the warm bath.
"How is our girl doing?" Miranda asked from her position against the door.
Andy smiled warmly at her before turning back to Lexxi, who was busy lathering her arms humming softly and began to wash her hair, "She's still half asleep but I couldn't put her to bed without giving her a bath. I didn't last night. I just put her to bed; I am thinking that was a subconscious thing from all the seminars I sat through in high school and college. Now that everything has been done I am cleaning every trace of those-"
"Andrea." Miranda said her eyes going from Andy to Lexxi.
Andy nodded and took a deep breath, "I know... I'm sorry... but you know what I mean." she said rinsing Lexxi off and pulling the stopper from the drain, "Will you hand me that towel?" she asked pointing off behind her.
She felt Miranda behind her and looked back smiling, "Thanks." Andy said before turning back to wrap Lexxi in her towel and picking her up.
Andy nuzzled Lexxi's hair as she carried her to her bedroom and sat her on the bed. Silently she went around the room clicking on the light and gathering undergarments and clothes for the small brunette. When she reached the bed she stood Lexxi up and smiled when her daughter leaned into her resting her head on her shoulder. Andy wrapped her arms around Lexxi and pressed soft kissed on her forehead, "Come on baby, let's get dressed, have a light lunch, and you can take a nap. When you wake up we'll do something for dinner." she whispered against her daughter's damp, wavy brown curls.
"Can we make pizza?" Lexxi asked looking up at her.
Andrea nodded smiling and pressed another tender kiss to her daughter's forehead and stood her up, "Come on let's get dressed."
Andrea helped Lexxi into her clean clothes and sat her on the bed. She picked up the damp towel and folded it in half returning it to the bathroom to dry. As she went to return to Lexxi's room she smiled and paused in the doorway before the room's occupants noticed her and watched Miranda sit next to Lexxi and Lexxi climb into Miranda's lap. The two whispered quietly to each other and then Lexxi giggled and place a small hand to Miranda's cheek. Lexxi said something to Miranda and Andrea watched the change in Miranda's face as emotion washed over her.
Andrea found herself wondering what Lexxi could have said to her to cause such surprise, awe, love, and pure elation to show clearly on Miranda's face. When Miranda hugged Lexxi to her chest her eyes found Andrea's and she smiled with tears in her eyes. Andy felt her breath catch at the beauty it was. Miranda's eyes were bright with love and happiness with a light sheen of tears that refuse to fall. Her skin was flushed a light pink and her smile was radiant and breathtaking in its beauty.
Andy walked over to the bed and sat next to them resting her head on Miranda's shoulder watching as Lexxi curl up against Miranda's chest playing with the necklace around the older woman's neck. When she felt Miranda's arm around her waist she looked up at her with a small happy smile. Andy felt Miranda's arm tighten against her pulling her in closer and she willingly snuggle closer to her closing her eyes as she did.
"Mommy?" Lexxi's quiet, sleepy voice pulled Andrea's eyes open.
"Yes Princess?" she said looking into tired brown eyes.
"Can I sleep in your bed?" Lexxi asked softly before covering a yawn.
Andrea smiled and stood picking Lexxi up from Miranda's lap and cradling her into her, "Of course you can princess." she said kissing Lexxi's hair, "Come on Mira."
Walking across the hall to her bedroom Andy softly hummed to Lexxi while her daughter played with strands of her hair. When she reached her bed she was just starting to shift Lexxi when Miranda stepped forward and pulled down the blankets for her. Andy smiled and laid her daughter on the bed then kicked off her shoes and climbed in next to her. Lexxi curled up to her resting her head on Andy's chest and an arm around her waist. Laughing softy Andy moved them over so that she was in the center of the bed and looked up at Miranda, "There's room for another." she said softly.
Andy smiled a soft amused smile as Miranda went to the closet and then the bathroom carrying some clothes with her. When the door opened a few minutes later Andy opened her eyes and looked towards the door as Miranda walked back into the bedroom. She ran her eyes over the editor's body at leisure. Miranda had changed into a pair of Andy's yoga pants and a shirt one of the girl's had given her and the sight and significance made Andrea's heart warm. Lexxi stirred against her and Andrea looked at her daughter as her eyes open.
"Randa hurry... its cold." Lexxi said sitting up. When she looked at Miranda, Andrea saw her face light up and she smiled with a giggle, "I made that! It's my favorite 'cause sissy helped me."
Andrea smiled and watched Miranda climb into bed next to her and kiss Lexxi's cheek, "It's one of my favorite's too, because you gave it to me darling." Miranda said.
Lexxi smiled and hugged Miranda then laid back down curling up against Andrea's side. Smiling Andrea looked at Miranda and pulled her down against her and kissed her gently on her soft pink lips. They exchange a few soft kisses staring into each other's eyes and Andrea smiled against Miranda's lips, "I love you Miranda... so much." she whispered watching Miranda closely.
Soft lips were firmly pressed to hers and Andy gasped and Miranda's tongue slipped into her mouth. Andrea groaned and pushed Miranda back gently breathing heavily, "Nu uh. You cannot kiss me like that woman, our youngest is right here." she said with a smile.
Miranda chuckled, "I forgot?" she said as she lay down next to her.
Andrea laughed, "Yeah... right. You know exactly what you were doing." she told her.
Miranda laughed and the sound was hearty and made her feel warm and somehow comforted. Andy grinned and pulled Miranda closer to her lacing their fingers together and resting them on her stomach. As she laid there listening to the soft, even breathing of her daughter as she slept and Miranda's breathing soft and steady Andrea found herself thinking over the horrific nightmare the past week had been. Tightening her hold on Lexxi slightly, Andy let the tears slide silently down her face to drop on the pillow and released the stress of the morning, the pain and fear that had gripped her heart when she thought of someone causing more pain for her daughter.
Feeling Miranda shift in bed Andy turned to look at her and found herself quickly wrapped in strong arms. Andrea released her hold on Lexxi and turned into Miranda as the tears continued to fall. As she cried in the comforting embrace of the woman she loved Andrea let the knowledge that Lexxi was safe and with her along with Miranda's presence calm her. Slowly the tears began to ease and Andrea relaxed her hold on Miranda.
"Shh... that's it, everything is alright my darling. She's home, she's safe, and she's doing alright. Let her rest, you get some rest it's been a stressful morning. When you wake up we'll spend time with our children and then make pizza and maybe watch a movie. Lexxi is right here with you and she's sleeping peacefully again." Miranda whispered kissing softly.
Andrea nodded and looked up at Miranda, "I love you." she said softly.
"I love you Andrea. Forever." Miranda said kissing her lightly.
Andrea smiled and rolled over pressing her back against Miranda and wrapping her arm back around Lexxi. She sighed and kissed the little girl's head before burying her face in her hair letting her scent relax her body and mind. Andrea heard the other three children along with Kat and Isabella in the hall and smiled lazily at the knowledge that her family was in one place and safe as she allowed sleep to take over her.
When Andrea opened her eyes again it was to a darker room and an empty bed. Before the rational part of her brain caught up with her she was up out of bed and racing from her room into Lexxi's. Upon finding it empty Andy quickly made her way down the stairs her heart pounding in her chest frantically as her mind raced trying to overcome the panic. As she was walking past the kitchen she heard giggles and then Lexxi and Rory laughing before both girls came through the door followed closely by Miranda and Caroline.
"Mommy! We were going to come wake you up! Randa helped us make you a special pizza and Nana said we can eat in the family room and watch movies!" Lexxi said skipping over to where she stood.
Andrea smiled and kissing the soft chestnut hair falling in waves around her daughter's innocent features, "Well then let's go pick out some movies while the pizza cooks... what do you say?"
"Can I help Mommy?" Rory asked bouncing slightly.
Andrea laughed and nodded, "Of course."
"Come on Carrie! Let's get Cass and we can make the parentals watch one of our movies!" Rory said pulling Caroline along behind Lexxi who had run off as soon as she got her mother's agreement.
Andrea chuckled shaking her head, "Parentals?"
"Mm... one of Cassidy's choice terms. She dropped the 'units' from it after about a month. I went from being a 'parental unit' to just a 'parental'."
Andrea just laughed wrapping an arm around Miranda's waist, "Well my love should we see what the little monsters have in store for us tonight?"
Miranda let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled her eyes, "Really Andrea, how many times must I remind you, those girls are not monsters, their demons in training."
Andrea chuckled shaking her head, "Ah yes, they do have the 'Devil' herself as a 'parental'." she joked in the most sincere voice dodging the playful swat Miranda sent her way.
"You'll pay for that." Miranda said her eyes narrowing in a way that would make any Runway employee fearful.
Andrea laughed and shook her head, "You have to catch me first my dear Mira." she said with a wink before she darted off to join the girls.