As the Heart Worries and Waits

Part 3

Deanlu

Devil Wears Prada is the property of 20th Century Fox, Lauren Weisberger, and Aline Brosh McKenna. Well, when I started this I never expected it to turn into an ongoing story, yet it has even more possibilities than I thought it would. Thank you all for encouraging me.

Miranda waited outside the private room. She had been by Andrea side all the way until they had brought a portable X-ray machine into the room. Now she waited very worried after the young woman had become severely dizzy and nauseous coming into the emergency room. Alister Rockefeller, the head of New York Presbyterian Hospital had been called as Roy drove Andy and Miranda to the hospital. Miranda in very short and clipped manner explained the situation. Alister had been more than accommodating. A nurse and orderly were waiting at the emergency room doors as Roy drove up. Andy was whisked through the double Emergency doors and into a private room. The head of Orthopedics' was present as well as another doctor to examine Andrea for concussion and her injuries.

"Miranda?" Nigel said as he walked up to the older woman. A quick call from Emily had sent Nigel out into the late afternoon and by Miranda's side. His friendship with the two women had been invaluable over the last few years, especially when Doug had started dating Nigel a year ago. The relationship had blossomed and they were still together to the surprise of the editor of Runway. "How is she?" Nigel asked laying a comforting hand on Miranda's shoulder. Three years ago Nigel would never have chanced this personal touch, now he was at a level of friendship that in this situation the risk was negligible.

"I'm not sure. Dr. Jackson has the X-ray technician inside taking a set of x-rays." Miranda said as she stood and paced in the hallway. "I should have made her stay in the Igloo with me. I should never have allowed her to go skating with the girls. Doug and Lily were there, they could have been with the girls. Andrea is so stubborn sometimes." Miranda raged while Nigel gently grasped both her shoulders and looked her in the eye.

"You know Six, always pushing head long into the thick of everything. No one can tell her to slow down or stop, except you. How did it happen?" Nigel asked as he looked toward the door Andrea was behind.

"A bloody sniveling boy who didn't know how to skate careened into Andrea and the girls. Andrea ended up on the bottom." Miranda let out a huff as she wrapped her arms around her. "She was already in a brace for the damage she received in Pakistan from the car bomb. Now…" Miranda shook her head as her voice trailed off. Nigel could see the lines of worry and feel it radiating from the fashion goddess's body.

"Hey, Andrea will be fine. She is a fighter. You will be home in no time celebrating Christmas with the girls." Nigel said as the door to the room opened and the portable x-ray machine was moved out.

"Mrs. Priestly, you can go see her now. The doctor will be with you in a short while. I've just given her something for the pain, so she is still in some discomfort." The nurse said as she stood by the door motioning for Miranda and Nigel to enter. Miranda was on her feet moving as quickly as she could to Andrea's bed side. The young woman looked frail and pale when Miranda caught sight of her. A fine sheen of sweat covered her brow most likely from the pain. It caused Miranda to gasp and her heart to tighten. Miranda laid her purse on the nearby stand and bent over the bed gently running her fingers through sweaty locks. Andrea's eyes fluttered open as a smile broke across her face in recognition of her lover.

"Hey, everything okay?" Andrea asked seeing the worry in Miranda's eyes. Her eye's drifted to the person standing behind Miranda and her smile widened. "Nigel, good to see you." Nigel stepped around to the other side of the bed and leaned over.

"I hear Six your still crashing through life. I thought we took care of that problem when you two got together." Andrea rolled her eyes and snickered.

"This was not my fault. I cannot control every stray child on the ice." Andy replied even as she yawned and her eyes fluttered shut for a moment. "Sorry, the pain medication he gave me is making me tired."

"Then rest. I will wake you when the doctor returns with your results." Miranda said softly still running her fingers through Six's locks. Andrea went to protest, but was silenced by a soft kiss followed by gentle whispered words. "Please, for me Andrea. Just rest and we will be home soon." Andrea nodded letting her eyes flutter shut. Miranda and Nigel watched as her breathing deepened and evened out signaling she was asleep. Miranda moved away from the bed after leaving one more soft kiss on Andrea's lips and motioned Nigel to follow. They sat in two chairs nearby within full view of the where Andrea slept. "I almost lost her Nigel. The bloody Pakistani security failed to protect her. If I hadn't of paid for her own security detail I would have lost her." Miranda angrily hissed.

"You didn't though. She is here and safe. She just needs time to replenish her reserves and heal. All will be fine." Nigel spoke softly glancing toward his friend who was wrapped in a healing sleep nearby. "What can I do to help?"

"First, you will come to dinner tonight. I know Andrea will not be up to it, but the girls need to finish out their Christmas joyfully. Lily and Doug are already there. Andrea can rest upstairs and the girls can have an enjoyable evening." Miranda watched as the mention of Doug caused Nigel to smile. "Tomorrow though, I need you to take the reins for me for the next week at Runway as it is my intention to spend the week helping Andrea heal and recuperate. I then need you to get ahold of Andrea's editor, Gary at the Mirror and let him know she is on bed rest for a week. Let him know the severity of her injuries. Also impart to him how disappointed I am on the condition he returned Andrea to me." Miranda whispered icily. Nigel nodded making notes on his palm pilot. "I also want you to contact the state department and find out what went wrong with security for Andrea while she was there. I know there is a war going on, but things like this are rare in Pakistan especially with this high of a ranking individual." Nigel nodded looking up as the door to the room opened admitting Andrea's physician.

"Ms. Priestly, may we talk outside?" Miranda nodded and followed the doctor outside to the nurses' station with Nigel accompanying them. The doctor pulled up two X-rays of Andrea's wrist. "She is very lucky. She did not completely break the wrist. It's fractured here and here" He stated pointing at two different points. "She doesn't need surgery at this time. I am going to cast the wrist, write her a prescription for pain medication, and send her home. I need to see her back in three weeks. I want to recheck the wrist at that time and we will recast after that. She will need some physical therapy once the cast comes off permanently, but there should be no lasting effects other than she might be able to tell when rain is coming." The doctor smiled at his joke only to swallow the smile from the icy glare he received from the woman in front of him. "Yes, well…um…If she begins to run fever, you notice a bad smell coming from the cast or there is major swelling you need to bring her in right away. I would suggest light activity for the next week with plenty of rest. If you have any questions or a concern here is my number just call immediately or bring her into the emergency ward." Miranda nodded looking again at the X-ray.

"You are sure there is nothing else to worry about?" The editor of Runway asked as she studied the x-ray.

"No, my biggest concern is she gets enough rest to recuperate. Her reserves are very low. I have given her a shot of antibiotics and tetanus because she couldn't remember if they had done that in the hospital in Pakistan. I am going to send a prescription for antibiotics with you just in case. Several of the cuts she received while overseas didn't look good, so we cleaned them up a little more. Now though, rest, food, and her family are what she needs most. Now if you will excuse me I will go cast her arm and get her on her way with you." Miranda nodded as the doctor headed back into Andrea's room with a nurse and a cart.

"Leave it to Six to make things difficult." Nigel said as he ran his hand through his nonexistent hair. "She is going to be fine Miranda. We will make sure of that." Nigel said gripping Miranda's shoulder as the editor closed her eyes thanking any deity available for the second chance.

"I am going to contact Lily…" Miranda began only to be interrupted by Nigel.

"Let me contact Lily and Doug. Then I will let Emily know about tomorrow's changes and what we need to do. Why don't you go back to the room while they cast Six's wrist? We need to make sure that is done right." Nigel smirked as he glanced at Miranda. Miranda smiled and whispered a thank you to Nigel. She then turned and slipped into the room to take a spot opposite of where the doctor worked on her wrist. Miranda noticed the slight sheen of sweat still on Andrea's brow and her eyes were slightly unfocused. The doctor mouthed pain meds to Miranda who nodded.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Miranda asked softly watching as Andrea's eyes tracked slowly toward her.

"Better, the pains not as bad as it was before. Really tired, but doc says he needs me awake while they cast the wrist." Andrea's closed and then opened again. "How are the girls? I didn't ruin their Christmas did I?" Miranda's heart warmed knowing Andrea was thinking of the girls first even as she lay severely hurt in the hospital. The young woman before her just took her breath away with the love she was able to give to them.

"No, my love all is well with the girls. Lily and Doug are with them right now watching movies. We will be home in a little bit to join them. You're going to need to rest tonight Andrea. Nigel is going to come to the house for dinner with the girls. We will have dinner with them tomorrow if you're feeling better. Does that sound okay to you?" Miranda whispered softly glancing toward the doctor who was finishing with her cast. The nurse left the room briefly and returned with paperwork.

"Yeah, I really wanted to have dinner with them tonight, but I am so tired. I hope they aren't mad at me." Andrea slurred as she began to fall asleep again.

"Never, my love they care deeply for you. Rest and we will leave soon." Miranda said leaving a soft peck on Andrea's forehead as she released her hand and walked over to the doctor.

"Here are the antibiotic and pain medication. If you will just sign these papers she is yours to take home. Ms. Priestly, make sure she doesn't over do." The doctor said with a final warning as the nurse took over and he departed the room. Miranda signed the papers. Nigel and Miranda helped Andrea out to the car and soon were on their way to the townhouse. Miranda glanced down at her watch noticing Lily had been right as the time was now just seven in the evening.

Meanwhile at the Townhouse…

"Lily? Can I talk to you?" Caroline asked softly as she watched Doug and Cassidy fight it out on the Wii boxing. Lily could tell Doug was going to get whipped by Cassidy.

"Sure, let's go down and get some hot chocolate and popcorn for these two. Doug, Cassidy we will be right back. We are going to get some refreshments." Lily said as she watched Doug and Cassidy wave her off. Caroline followed Lily down to the kitchen where Meryl the housekeeper and cook were just putting the finishing touches on the meal that would be served at eight that night. It was seven now and Meryl would leave soon.

"Ms. Lily, how can I help you and Miss Caro?" Meryl inquired as she moved to where they sat at the kitchen breakfast bar.

"I was wondering if we would get in your way to make popcorn and hot chocolate." Lily inquired noticing that the kitchen was almost immaculate even with some things cooking.

"I tell you what, why don't you and Caroline go sit in the front room. I will bring out drinks for everyone and you can get them down here when they are ready." Meryl said already moving to ready the snacks for the group.

"Alright, come on Caroline. We can talk until the others arrive down here." Lily and Caroline moved into the front room. Caroline moved to the front window and stared outside as Lily waited. Lily watched quietly wondering if Caroline knew how much she looked like her mother at that moment. Lily had become part of Miranda's inner circle since Andrea became her wife so she had been part and partial to many significant moments. Right now she knew something was weighing on the young girls mind all evening. Caroline had been quiet and reserved since they had come back from ice skating. She had played several games, but not with the normal enthusiasm the young girl was known for in the past.

"Do you think Andy still loves us?" Caroline asked out of a clear blue. As she turned Lily could see the genuine worry and fear in the young girl's looks. "I mean I know she loves us, but do you think she… we said some terrible things to her…awful things to her before she left…I'm scared…" Caroline's voice drifted off as tears began to fall softly. The young girl turned back to stare out the window. "Cassidy and I have never had someone…besides mom and dad who really…loved us…really cared…Stephen…he just used us to get to mom. He never really cared…" bitterness infused Caroline's voice as she continued. Lily recognized it for what it was straight up fear. The girls had finally found someone who cared for them, loved them, and they had opened their hearts. Then they had almost lost it and the fear was suffocating the young girl. "He was such a good actor…making everyone believe…I don't think I could stand if Andy hated us." Just as Lily went to answer another voice tired, laced with pain answered causing Caroline to turn suddenly in shock.

"I love you. No matter what you say to me and no matter how you strike out. I chose you and your sister Caroline. I chose your mother." Andrea stood in the doorway of the front room Nigel and Miranda helping her to stand. Caroline and Lily had never heard them enter. "I would walk through fire for you young lady and for your sister." Andy said as she shook off Miranda's hold on her and walked to Caroline. She knelt down in front of the young lady and took her hands. Andy looked directly into Caro's eyes with a surety that comes from trials endured and spoke firmly without hesitation, "You are my daughter and I love you. You have nothing to fear. I am not acting or pretending to garner your approval. I love you and your sister." Cassidy appeared suddenly next to Caroline having sought out where her twin was and why it was taking her so long. "I forgave you your words the moment you said them." Andy released Caro's hands and reached up behind each twin's necks gently pulling their foreheads to hers even with her cast on. "I love you and you belong to me as sure as your mother belongs to me, Understood." Andy said looking into their eyes. Both twins nodded with tears running down their faces. "Good, glad we got that settled. Now can you help me upstairs? I'm really tired." The twins hugged Andy tightly even as the adults in the room attempted to inconspicuously wipe their eyes. Doug walked in at that moment noticing all the tears.

"So what did I miss?" He asked causing Lily to burst out laughing and the rest of the group to start chuckling. Lily rose even as the twins helped Andy up and Miranda went to her wife.

"Come on, I'll tell you in the kitchen while we get ready for dinner." Lily said pulling a confused Doug along with her. Nigel followed shaking his head as the girls hugged Andy.

"Girls, why don't you go join Doug and Lily. I will be right there after I get Andrea settled. Then you can come and visit with her." Both girls nodded, though she could see they were reticent to follow the directions. Just as they were about to leave the room Caroline turned around. "Andy, I'm sorry. I should never have said those things." Andy smiled seeing the same apology in Cassidy's eyes.

"All water under the bridge. You're forgiven, now go on and keep an eye on Doug for me." Caroline and Cassidy smiled heading off to the kitchen. Andy closed her eyes for a moment as secured, strong arms wrapped around her.

"You, Andrea Sachs Priestly are an amazing woman." Miranda said kissing her wife deeply. When they separated Andy shook her head.

"No, just a lot of hard work and hope, I live on it you know." Andy responded smiling as Miranda chuckled and kissed her again.

"Come on, let's get you to bed." Miranda said as they headed toward the upstairs bedroom.