A/N: This prompt came from Facebook's DWP Mirandy Page. I have been trying to coax my muse out from her winter hibernation by feeding her a particular nutty chocolate bar. Anyway, the prompt I was given is as follows;

Andy catches Miranda having a Snickers and almost dies of shock.

Disclaimer: As always I am just fooling with these characters. I do not own or make any money from them. They are owned by Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox.

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Chapter Fifteen:

Jill took a deep breath as she looked at her mom. "What makes you assume I want to discuss this?"

"Get out," Beth stated.

"What? Mom?" Jill was shocked.

"I said get out. You don't want to discuss it, fine. I don't want to see you. You are obviously not the person I believed you were Jill. I don't understand who you are anymore. The women I raised are brave enough to stand up and own their mistakes. Does your sister mean so little to you, Jill, that you can't even offer an explanation?"

Jill sagged in the chair at her mom's words. "It's not that Andy means little to me, she means the world to me." She whispered.

"If that is the case she deserves answers, Jillian," Miranda told her softly. "She was willing to stay and fight for her relationship with Nathaniel, bypassing her own happiness in doing so." She shook her head. "I was at her apartment yesterday, it was clean but very minimalistic. I can only imagine what it looked like when Andréa returned from Paris. Did you know he took pretty much everything from the life they shared?"

Jillian looked shocked. "I had no idea. That's why you asked dad to send you the money? I overheard him and mom discussing it."

Andy nodded briefly and closed her eyes, remembering walking into her apartment and seeing emptiness. "He left the shitty dining table and chairs he insisted on us buying from Craigslist when we first moved to the city and my bookcase, he took my bed and left me the tall boy and wardrobe, probably because he understood I'd find and kill him for touching my clothes. The rest, however, was gone. All the kitchen stuff, the stereo and most of my CD's, the TV. I bedded down on the floor for two nights before Serena found out. She surprised me with a bottle of wine at the apartment one night after I had delivered the book, we'd had the week from Hell in Paris. She called Nigel who came round with more wine. Between them, they organised my nights, and I crashed at their apartments for over a week. When I got the money, they took me shopping and then they helped me put the furniture together over pizza and beer." She glanced at Miranda who had a look of confusion on her face. "IKEA flat pack stuff, we trekked out to Long Island early one Saturday morning, Em covered calls, you had the girls that weekend so I knew I wouldn't be needed unless there was a major emergency. I found out Serena's handy with a set of tools, she made short work with the Allen keys, Nigel however..." She trailed off and offered a small grin. "...he was as much use as a chocolate teapot."

Miranda turned and looked up at the young woman. "I thought I didn't miss a thing concerning my staff, you especially, however, I had no idea." Miranda turned towards Jillian. "As you are now aware, we found out last night that the fry-cook has been sleeping with Lily, as one of Andréa's best friends that trust has now been broken too. It's time for us to ensure she knows she has people around her she can rely on. Nigel and Serena proved it with their generosity. Emily showed it last week when she protected Andréa and verbally eviscerated Nate and Lily." Miranda grinned as she remembered Emily's words. "I believe I have provided enough proof in other ways, the biggest being I let her in and she is knowing me, the real me that my children see. She's always been able to see glimpses that others can't but..." Miranda shrugged. "Andréa probably knows more about me than either of my husbands ever did. She now knows she has Beth, her biggest fear was that your mother had been told about you and Nate and decided to keep it from her,"

Beth gasped at that. "I wouldn't..." Miranda looked at her eyebrow raised in disbelief causing Beth to look away guiltily.

Shrugging again she turned back towards Jillian. "I don't know if Andy can forgive but her willingness to listen tells me she has hope."

Jill sighed heavily as she sat back. Closing her eyes, she tried to gather her thoughts. "You were supposed to come home that second weekend of September. It was your birthday the following week. We had a night planned to celebrate your quarter century, a dinner party with your friends and the family." Jill sighed. "You called that Friday morning you were due to fly out and told us you couldn't make it, some emergency at Runway required your presence." Jillian glared at Andy. "You had already missed out on mom and dad's 20th anniversary in August, our 4th July celebrations, my graduation. There was always some excuse for you not to come home."

"I told you at the time the digital copy had been lost. It was all hands on deck as we tried to pull everything back together using the hard copy of the book Miranda uses for editing." Andy shook her head.

"Why did you need to be there? Your job is to fetch coffee and clothes on Miranda's whim." Jill demanded.

Miranda's eyes turned cold. "Is that what you think Andréa does all day? She starts her day at 7:30 am when I arrive at Runway, often before. Most evenings I do not see the book much before 9 pm, sometimes later. Yes, she brings me my coffee and my lunch when required. And yes she runs to showrooms to pick up items, but she does so much more."

Miranda's eyes softened as she contemplated all Andy did for her. "She organises my schedule so I can do what's important for Runway and still find time for my girls, I don't think she realised I would wonder why suddenly I have more free time, why suddenly I'm able to be home for dinner with my girls." Miranda smiled softly. "She liaises with designers, photographers, models, Human Resources and Elias Clarke Board Members to ensure I have what I require. Andréa fixes everyone's incompetence before I find out about it, another instance where she assumes if she acts before I notice it I won't breathe fire and fire my entire editorial or art departments or blacklist someone in my fury." She looked at the brunette who chuckled and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "She keeps me on track so I do not become overwhelmed by everything I need to do, in my quest for perfection. Andréa can anticipate my every need, whether it's for Coffee, Tylenol, a tampon or a chocolate bar." Andy blushed at that.

"She steps in with my girls when I cannot, attending recitals or sports events, and my girl's think highly of her, they ask for her company more than mine these days, especially to their sporting events. They talk to her about books, music and movies and they understand they can ask her for advice or to make time for me to be there for something important in their lives. They trust her to make our family life better." She looked at across at Beth who smiled. "Andy is adored by everyone who comes into contact with her. She has charmed the fashion and publishing worlds with her easy smile, the calmness that belies her strength of character, her genuine kindness and her generosity."

Looking at Jillian she continued to speak. "You think your sister is just a fetcher and carrier for a career-obsessed, crazily demanding fashion lady?" She shook her head. "No Jillian, she is an extraordinary human being who somehow surpasses my impossible expectations daily. She is spectacularly talented. Not only is she the best assistant I have ever had, she is the best person I ever encountered, she amazes me in every way." Miranda leaned back against Andy who held her tighter, overwhelmed by Miranda's words about her.

Jill looked shamefaced at Miranda's words. "When she first worked for you she made what she did for you sound inconsequential." She said to defend her words. "I was so angry with her that weekend, for once again choosing Runway over her family, but I wouldn't knowingly hurt her for the world." Looking towards Andy she continued to explain. "We still had dinner, Nate arrived with his parents, Lily and Doug used your absence as an opportunity to stay in New York. The conversation got around to the job at Runway and as the wine flowed Nate regaled us with stories about 2 am phone calls for Hermes scarves, demands for unpublished Harry Potter manuscripts and science projects that took up half of the apartment space."

"They won an award for that Project," Andy breathed. "And they do their own homework these days."

Miranda grinned. "The twins told me how irate parents stormed the school demanding testing so their children were placed at their ability level rather than within specific age brackets. I wondered why the calls from the principal had ceased. They seem to be less bored and prone to mischief."

Andy grinned. "It was easy to leave a few words of discontent in other parent's ears while dropping your name. Dalton had to do something when prominent players were about to pull their children from the school and if Miranda Priestly is displeased, there's usually a reason for it."

"You are sensational," Miranda whispered.

"Yes, yes we all agree Andy's amazing. Do you want me to explain further or are you going to continue with your mutual idolatry?"

Andy looked over at her sister. "Do you want me to drag you from this room and punch your teeth in? You're lucky I'm willing to listen to whatever bullshit you come out with."

Jill gulped nervously and closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Sorry." She mumbled contritely. "When dinner finished Nate suggested we go clubbing. I thought nothing of it and agreed. We drank more and we danced. After about an hour everything turned woozy, I had become light-headed. I'm not like you, Andy, I usually have a reasonable tolerance for alcohol. Anyway, we got a cab together and when we got back to Nate's, he pulled me from the cab and to his room with claims he wanted to show me something."

"Yeah, his penis," Andy muttered darkly. Miranda smirked as Beth gasped.

Jill squeezed her eyes shut tightly. "He pushed me against the door as it closed and kissed me. Between his kisses, he was mumbling about how if you weren't willing or able to give him what he needed he would get it from the next best thing." Jill cried softly. "I tried to push him off, but he was too strong. I didn't want him. I tried to tell him, I didn't want to hurt you, Andy." Jill cried harder as she wrapped her arms around her middle. "I remember his laughter. He told me you didn't have to know, you were so wrapped up in Miranda and Runway you were clueless about everything outside those things. I must have passed out at some point. I remember nothing until I woke up on the floor, I ached so badly. The front of my dress was torn, my panties ripped and my bra unclasped. I woke him up and asked him what the fuck had happened. He told me we'd had sex. I grabbed his shirt and after I put it on he leered at me and told me I looked good in his clothes but would look better with nothing on. I slapped him and ran from the house. I came home and showered, I slept for two days. Mom and dad assumed I had a monster hangover, but I was so ill."

Miranda moved off Andy's knee as the brunette sat there stunned, Beth was crying softly at the anguish in her youngest child. Walking softly the young blonde she spoke. "Jillian, did he rape you?"

"No!" Jill declared. "We were drunk. I went to his house. I didn't say no."

Moving to kneel in front of Jill Miranda tilted her face and caught her gaze. "I am not talking about the legal definition of rape, which does not cover the multitude of grey areas. If you cannot say no or if you showed your discomfort, and he continued. If it was a situation that is not what you wanted and left you feeling guilty or victimised in any way. That makes it rape, Jill. Surely you realise that? You are not alone in your thoughts that because you were intoxicated and went to his home because you could not say no or forcibly stop him then you deserved it, but you didn't. He committed an atrocious act against you, he abused your trust in him as Andy's boyfriend, your trust in him as a family friend." Miranda's blue eyes held understanding and concern.

"I don't want your fucking pity." Jill seethed as she stood, stepped around Miranda and made to walk from the room. Andy stood quickly and within four strides had effectively blocked Jill's exit.

"You are not leaving this room, Jill," Andy told her gently. "Miranda isn't offering you pity." Looking towards the older woman she saw the pain and tears in the stormy blue eyes. "She is offering her understanding," Andy whispered. "Her knowledge and perhaps her own experience." She looked briefly at Miranda who offered a single nod of her head.

Looking up at her big sister, Jill trembled. "He took what he wanted with no qualms, he took everything and left me nothing." Beth and Miranda gasped as Jill swayed before falling into a dead faint. Andy caught her quickly and hoisting her little sister into her arms strode out of the room calling loudly for help. As the doctor ran towards her, he took Jill gently from her arms and headed to a free room. Andy was heard providing basic information about the previous day's car accident and subsequent miscarriage.

Miranda sat heavily on the chair Jill had vacated. Looking over at her onetime friend she placed a gentle hand on her wrist. "She' going to be okay Beth," Miranda stated. "It will take time but she will get over this pain, they both will."

Beth gazed into the clear blue eyes. "He didn't just take her self-respect that night Miri, he took her virginity. Jill was waiting for something akin to what Richard and I had, for the love of her life. She understood she'd find it, the women in our family always do. It's the one hope we hold dearest."

Miranda felt sick at Beth's words regarding Jill. "That filthy sonofabitch." She closed her eyes trying to shut out the horror of Nate's actions.

Beth nodded. "It makes me glad Richie isn't here, he would commit murder for his girls." Beth sighed. "Andy was always different from me and Jill. She was always in search of the love she craved, but never truly believed she would find it, she let herself settle for less than she deserved. Then you came into her life, it has been you since the first moment she laid eyes on you. We could all see it in her desire to do whatever she could to make your life easier, to please you. She wouldn't hear a bad word spoken about you, even when she raved at the beginning about how infuriating you were. That's the reason she stopped coming home and missed events, Richie was particularly cutting and she fought him, she hated that. She struggled to see for herself what it meant, but then that changed, I was speaking to her one day just before you went to Paris and she seemed different, more open." Beth stated. "She asked me how I recognised her dad was the one. I told her what I told you all those years ago."

"I remember you telling me how it was for you and Richard. You told me he was the person intended to help you complete yourself. You knew he was perfect for you the moment you met. You tried to explain that there was such depth to your relationship you could sense what he was thinking even if it was not verbally expressed. Having never met him I was leery, cynical. Now though..." Miranda struggled to find the words.

"Now?" Beth queried softly.

"I told Andréa about my parents' marriage, my father's claims my mother was his destiny," Miranda explained.

"I remember that story, you called it romantic claptrap." Beth smiled sadly. "I was sad for you."

"I may not practice my formative religion but I've taken some of its lessons and applied them throughout my life. Tzedakah, for example, I give to charity anonymously but I have also gifted, loaned or created partnerships that allow people to be self-sufficient." Miranda explained. "And what I feel for your daughter seems divinely foreordained. I'm not scared of having difficult conversations with her, as I said before she can read me better than anyone I have ever encountered and I can read her. She is my bashert Beth, my destiny." She whispered.

"Then I wish you both well in your relationship. I'm glad she has found you Miri. That you found each other." Beth stated as Andy walked back in the room supporting Jill. Seeing the sister's Miranda rose from the chair and helped ease Jill into it. Looking at Andy she saw the concern etched on her face and the guilt expressed in her eyes. Clasping Andy's hand she squeezed lightly.

Beth could see Andy's hurt and guilt she spoke softly. "Baby girl this is not your fault. Neither you nor Jill asked for any of this. We all trusted Nate, he stayed in our home and he was welcomed into our family."

"I should have left him years ago. I knew deep down he was unhappy. My pregnancy complicated matters, and I believed I had to make things work. I should have known I wasn't enough." Andy had tears forming in her eyes. "You heard him tell me Jill was pregnant and had lost the baby when he broke the news of the accident Miranda. He would have known it was his, Jill was…well...he knew how much it would hurt me."

"Darling, he is a shit of epic proportions. You are not to blame." Miranda stepped closer.

"But I am, don't you see? He got from my sister, by force or coercion, what I couldn't give him, not only the sex but the child. He will fight for a place in his child's life." Andy whispered. "He will never leave us alone."

"But I thought...the baby?" Beth was confused. "What do you mean by what you couldn't give him?"

Looking at her mom she explained. "I was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure around Eighteen months ago. I can't have children Ma."

Beth was shocked. "You never...why didn't you..."

"Ma I've only just come to terms with it myself. Runway helped with that, it kept me busy enough to pull me out of my depression, it pulled me away from my pain." Andy explained. "Before now only two people knew. Nate and recently Miranda, it was something she needed to learn, there are certain complications from the diagnosis." Andy blushed furiously.

"There's another baby." Miranda exhaled focusing on Andy's other words and trying to ease her embarrassment.

Andy looked at Miranda. "It was twins, one was lost and one is, by some miracle, very much alive," Andy told them breathlessly. "Jill refused an ultrasound yesterday, too concerned with leaving me a million voicemail and texts." Andy glanced at her. "Her injuries were superficial other than the miscarriage but she told them she would see her OB-Gyn and discharged herself." Andy glared at her little sister. "Don't you ever scare me like that again Shithead!"

"I don't want it," Jill mumbled. "I cannot have this baby, I'm 23 and I haven't finished my J.D. I'll have no means to support it." Jill was panicking. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I thought it had all gone away."

Miranda watched as Andy sat crossed legged in front of her sister and clasped her hands, stopping Jill's fingers from performing the agitated dance that Miranda had seen before in Andy. "Jillybean stop!" Andy told her. "You need to calm down and take the time to consider this clearly. You have time to make a definitive decision, not based on panic or worry for your future. Not based on whatever bullshit Nate tries to pull." Andy tilted her sister's face so she could look into her eyes. "Regardless of the decision, it will change your life forever and live with whatever choice you make. But you have your family here to love you, to protect you, to support you and to help you through this."

"But you hate me, you hate being here. We are all aware that you feel this isn't your home." Jill whispered.

"Nah, I don't hate you, I hate the way you told me and the fact you distanced yourself. It pissed me off, but I was even pissier with Nate, I still am. At that moment I wished I could be anywhere else in the world and I didn't give you a chance to explain. For that I'm sorry." Andy told her. "You know I've always been different. It is like I was born at the wrong time, or maybe even on the wrong planet. I didn't fit anywhere or with anyone until recently." Andy offered Miranda a small smile. "The world has always seemed suffocating, isolating, and overwhelmingly foreign."

"Andy we have tried to reassure you, show you that you belong. Yes, you are different but we love that about you." Beth told her. "All we ever wanted was for you to embrace what makes you uniquely Andy. For you to stop shrinking yourself to fit in."

Jill shook her head. "You are genuinely the best of us, the dreamer and deep thinker, your ability to think outside the box is phenomenal. Miranda pointed something out last night that stuck, she told me you are missing a part of yourself that can no longer be found but you aren't broken, you just haven't realised it yet."

Andy nodded. "She told me the same. I'm sorry for threatening to drop kick you and knock your teeth out." Andy whispered.

"I'm sorry for distancing myself. I should have talked to you." Jill said sadly.

"Neither of you are at fault." Beth and Miranda told them simultaneously.

Miranda sat at the end of Beth's bed gently, careful not to jar the leg. "You need to stop assigning blame to yourselves and move on from this. Give yourselves time to heal, to rebuild trust and friendship." Miranda told them quietly forcing the two young women to listen intently. "Family makes us strong in times of trouble. As I explained to Andréa, she has a family in my girls and me, then there's Nigel, Douglas, Emily and Serena. A family is not just blood, it is the people who stand by you when your world turns to Hell as long as you trust enough to share your difficult times. Be a part of that family, stand up for and by each other. That's all."

"I see what you mean about her sis," Jill said with a small smirk. "She doesn't have to raise her voice to be heard. It's powerful and a little scary."

"Yeah, she's something else." Andy grinned at her sister.

"Rather you than me," Jill told her cheekily.

"Yeah well...let's keep it that way, okay?" Andy said with a raised eyebrow. "We best be going, Miranda. We have a date with my brother from another mother and his bald little hottie. Someone mentioned open mic." She shook her head in disbelief as Miranda smirked.

Beth looked across at Miranda her eyes twinkling with slight amusement. "You still sing Miri? That's fantastic."

The smirk vanished quickly. Shaking her head Miranda tried to speak but nothing would come out.

Andy and Jill grinned at each other seeing Miranda's obvious discomfort. "Close your mouth Miranda, we are not a codfish." Andy uttered trying to stifle her laughter. Miranda scowled at her but behind it, there was a twinkle in her eyes. "This will be epic, guitar or piano?" Andy asked.

Hearing the words Miranda gave her a mock glare and ignored the question. Standing quickly she said. "Come on, darling, Jill do you need a ride?"

Jill shook her head in the negative. "I will stay with Mom longer, then I'm gonna go home and clean up."

"I did it this morning Jilly. I had things to collect, my guitar for one." Andy gracefully unfolded her legs and moved into an upright position. Leaning over Beth she placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "See you tomorrow, Ma."

Beth nodded. "I love you, Andy, never doubt that."

Andy pulled Jill up and gently enfolded her in her arms as Miranda said her goodbyes to Beth. "I will make Nate pay for what he's done to us." She promised quietly. "Do you still have the clothes?" She sensed Jill nodding against her shoulder. "Give me a few days to talk to my contacts."

Jill looked up at Andy and saw the determination flashing in her big sister's eyes. "I'm scared." She admitted.

"I know little sis. I'm here now, I'll protect you always." Letting go she stepped away and offered her sister a sad smile. "Take it easy tonight. I have my cell if you need anything."

Miranda clasped her hand entwining their fingers as she was led from the room and through the hospital to the car.

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