I do not own DWP I just borrowed the characters for inspiration.
The next morning Miranda knew they would have to get up early because the girls would make their Father bring them home as soon as they got up. "Andréa you need to get up Sweetheart. Our children will be stomping into the house before we know it."
"Your children." Andrea grinned.
Miranda laughed. "Oh no, you cannot back out now."
Miranda got up and went to take a shower giving Andréa a few more minutes to doze. The two women made it down stairs just in time to head off the hellions so they would not wake everyone else.
"But Mommy we want to open our presents!" The girls moaned in unison.
"Girls if you do not stop it this instant you will not be opening any presents. You have guest and they need their sleep." Miranda was ready to send them back to their Fathers.
"Who needs beauty sleep? Not I." Roared Richard.
The girls ran to their Grandfather laughing. Richard gave them both big bear hugs.
He walked over to Andy and gave her a hug and kiss. "Merry Christmas Baby Girl."
Andy leaned into her Father relishing in his sent, "Merry Christmas Daddy."
He then walked over to Miranda gave her a hug and a tiny kiss. "Merry Christmas Daughter-in-law."
Miranda blushed, "Merry Christmas Richard." What the hell was she to do with all this hugging?
The twins were jumping up and down. "Is anyone else awake?"
Richard nodded, "I believe everyone is stirring upstairs."
"Yea!" They cried.
"Girls we will be having breakfast first." Miranda warned.
"Mommm." Miranda glared. "Sorry Mom." The girls hung their head and went to the table.
Andy went to sit with the girls. "Just think the longer we wait to open presents the longer Christmas morning will last." The girls tried to smile.
Finally all the adults were up.
Miranda had gone up stairs to help her Mother get ready. "I am really glad you are here Mom. It is really nice for the girls to have their Grandmother around."
Sarah smiled. "So am I Baby Girl." Sarah patted Miranda's hand. "You have a beautiful family here Miriam, a beautiful home, and a wonderful life. I am happy for you."
Miranda's emotions were running wild. She laughed to herself, who would have ever guessed. "I have something to ask you Mother."
Sarah squeezed Miranda's hand, "Yes."
"Would you come to live here?" Miranda looked at Sarah tentatively.
"Miriam Baby, I would not want to burden you here in your house."
"I am able to set you up in an apartment. Hire caregivers. What ever it is you need. Mom I want you here. The girls want you here." Miranda paused, "Douglas wants Bonnie here, and she will not stay if you don't. Mother Bonnie needs this. Someone to love her and give her the family she has always dreamed of."
Miranda got up leaned down and placed a kiss on her Mothers forehead. "Please think about it."
Sarah sat on her bed as Miranda walked out of the room. Who her eldest grew up to be such a loving person she did not know, but she was proud of Miriam. She was not going to tear apart the family again. It was time she gave back to Bonnie and Miriam, and she would do what ever it took to make them happy.
The girls ran to get their present for their Mother. "Mom you have to open our present first!"
"Are you sure you do not want to open something first?" Miranda chided.
The twins shook their head. Miranda unwrapped the gift and burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard tears were running down her face. She turned it around for all to see. The whole room was in an up roar.
"Do you like it Mommy?" Caroline walked over to Miranda and placed a small arm around her.
Miranda grabbed her into a big hug kissing her all over. "Bobbsey I love it."
Sarah smiled at the exchange between her Daughter and Grand-Children.
Caroline smiled. Cassidy jumped up, "now you have to open Andy's present to you."
Miranda rolled her eyes, "I think it should be someone else's turn."
"Mommy please!" Caroline pleaded.
"O.K." Miranda gave in.
"Yea." The girls were jumping up and down.
Andy stood up smiling and pulled out the large painting and placed it in front of Miranda. Andy leaned down and kissed Miranda. "Merry Christmas Babe."
Miranda blushed then began to tear the paper off. Once she had it all off and was able to take a good look at it she gasped putting her hand over her mouth.
Andréa bit the inside of her mouth. "Miranda?"
Miranda stood up and hugged Andrea "It is beautiful." Miranda was crying. Andy held onto Miranda. "I love it. It looks like Scotland." Miranda whispered.
Anna watched the exchange between her Daughter and Miranda. She could not deny it the two women were deeply in love and Miranda was good for Andy.
Andy and Miranda turned it around for everyone to see. Once all the presents were opened everyone was ready for a nap. Andy suggested watching It's A Wonderful Life.
Half way into the movie Miranda's phone rang. She saw it was from Chris and frowned. "Excuse me I need to take this." Miranda got up and went out to the kitchen. "Hello Chris. What is it? Did something come up on Bonnie's test?"
"Miranda, calm down, No I take that back get excited because Maxine and I are parents!" Chris announced.
"Chris that is wonderful news. How is everyone doing?" Miranda was smiling. She could just imagine Chris jumping up and down on the other side of the phone.
"Maxine and the baby are fantastic. Maxine had a very short easy labor. Five hours from first labor pain to baby." Chris added proudly.
"Lucky for her." Miranda rolled her eyes, she was jealous. "I was in labor for thirty-six hours before they decided to do a section. What did you have and what is its name?"
Andy walked into the kitchen. "Is everything all right Miranda"
Miranda smiled and motioned her over. Miranda put the phone on speaker so Andrea could hear. "It is a girl! Her name is Sophia Grace. She is bald as can be and so beautiful. Maxine breast-fed her already and Sophia took to it like a champ! Oh Miranda this has to be the best feeling!" Chris was grinning from ear to ear.
Miranda laughed. "Yes Chris it is the most unbelievable love you will ever feel. And the name is beautiful. You know I should do an issue on designer children's clothes. She can be my first model." Andy started laughing.
"Miranda you are going very deep into debt!" Chris warned.
Miranda started laughing. "Congratulations Chris. Tell Maxine we are so happy for you all. You will have to let us know when you all get settled so we can come over and see her."
"I will and we will have you all over soon. Bye."
"Bye Chris." Miranda hung up.
Andréa looked at Miranda. "I can't wait to get pregnant." Miranda smiled and gathered Andréa into her arms.
She kissed Andréa on the forehead. "I know Sweetheart. It will happen soon enough for us, but first we have to make it through the wedding." Miranda took a deep breath, and Andy smiled.
Just then two red heads came running into the kitchen. "You guys are missing the movie!"
Miranda looked at the girls. "I have good news. Remember Maxine and Chris? Well, Maxine had her baby tonight."
"Really? When can we see it?" The girls gushed.
Andy giggled.
"Chris will call us once she and Maxine get settled back at home." Miranda explained.
"Yea!" The girls were jumping up and down. Miranda just shook her head.
The next day Sarah walked in on Miranda while she was going over some ideas for a children's issue. Miranda knew this would be another award winner. She would love to get the children of the pregnant models she had earlier that year.
Miranda looked up over the top of her glasses. "Hello Mother. Is there something I can do for you?"
Sarah sat on the chair near Miranda. "I have been think about the talk you had with me. I am going to miss the girls when I go back to Scotland. I would enjoy being around and watch them grow up. I have missed so much of their life already."
Miranda sat in silence. "It could have been different."
Sarah looked at her Daughter then closed her eyes, "Yes, I realize that Miriam. I am just glad to have a second chance with them … with you." Miranda shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She knew the Dragon Lady was trying to come out, and she did not want that to happen.
"We are all just lucky to have the girls' period. I do not know how it happened." Miranda smiled, "I mean how I got so lucky. After what Dr. Fleming told us ..." Miranda wiped a tear away. "I just stopped dreaming of having children."
Sarah sighed, "I never knew you had wanted children."
Miranda looked up, "A child learns to stop hoping for something they can never have, but I never learned to stop hoping for the impossible. I just learned to keep it all to myself."
Sarah looked at Miranda with a sad face. "I wished I could have been around to help you with them when they were little you must have been so excited. I know I was when I was pregnant with you."
Miranda stood up and looked out the window running the ear piece of her glasses over her bottom lip. Sarah watched her oldest Daughter so proud of what she had accomplished. "You were right Bonnie will insist on coming back to Scotland even though I don't need her to take care of me. I still have plenty of good years left in me." Miranda turned to look at her Mother. "I think it was a good excuse for her not to take a chance and fall in love again. After Liam died she would not go out with any other boys." Sarah sighed, "No matter how much I encouraged her to."
Miranda was shocked, "You encouraged her to? I thought ... you wanted her to stay at home to help you."
Sarah shook her head, "Staying at home was all Bonnie's idea. I never really needed her to be there, but that is what she wanted, so..."
Miranda finished for Sarah, "You stopped pushing her to find another man."
Sarah nodded.
Miranda sighed, there was so much about her Mother she did not know.
"Douglas is not about to let her get away with that. If he is anything like his friend Andrea he will fight for Bonnie."
Sarah smiled. "Yes I have noticed the way Bonnie and Doug look at each other. She deserves to have the chance to build this relationship. Liam's death was very hard on her and I know she had always dreamed of having a large family. She deserves to have the family she always wanted."
"So you will be staying here?" Miranda asked wishfully.
Sarah looked up at her Daughter and nodded her head. "But I do not want to be a burden on you."
Miranda sighed with exacerbated. "Mother, how many times do I have to tell you? You and Bonnie have not been a burden on me. My job. My position allows me the benefit of being able to take care of my family. I have plenty of bedrooms here and you would not be a burden."
Sarah's eyes teared. "I know you do Miriam, and I am so proud of you, but I do not want to intrude on your family especially now that Andy is with you. I will accept a small apartment if that is still an option."
Miranda stood looking at her Mother not knowing what to do. She turned around and stared out the window again. "I can arrange that."
Sarah nodded wiping at her tears. "Thank you Miri… Miranda."
Miranda closed her eyes and trembled. "You can call me by my given name. It is O.K."
At dinner that night Miranda announced that her Mother had a surprise for everyone. She nodded to her Mother.
Sarah looked at everyone especially Bonnie. "I have decided to take Miranda's kind offer and I am going to stay here in New York. I want to be closer to my girls and Grandchildren."
The twins looked at each other and jumped out of their chair. "Yippee, Yippee!"
"Girls, please." Miranda smiled sweetly. She was so glad her children would have another Grandmother around.
The girls smiled and went over to hug their Grandma. They look over at their Aunt. "Are you going to be living with us too Bonnie?"
Sarah spoke up. "Oh girls I will not be living here I will have my own place. Your new family needs your home to yourself."
"But you are part of our family Grandma." Caroline frowned.
Anna laughed. "They have a point there Sarah."
Sarah laughed hugging the girls. "I know I am part of your family, but I will have my own place and you two can visit any time you want."
The twins looked at their Aunt. "Will you be living with us?"
Bonnie looked at the girls, her mother, and Miranda. "I – I don't know." She looked very distressed.
"Girls, Bonnie will be able to stay were ever she wants. She can stay here or with your Grandmother. You need to give her time to think about it."
"Well, we are glad you are staying here in New York." Cassidy announced.
Caroline looked distressed.
"What is wrong Bobbsey?" Miranda frowned.
"If Aunt Bonnie and Grandma come live here then we will not be going back to Scotland. I liked it there."
"Bobbsey, we can go to Scotland any time you want to. Our home will always be there. I am sure Bonnie and your Grandmother would like to go back also. They have many friends there and Uncle Michael still lives there."
Caroline smiled. "So we can go back any time?"
Miranda nodded and smiled she motioned for Caroline. Caroline walked over to her Mother and Miranda gathered her up in her arms. It amazed her that her girls did not act spoiled. The family could go back every year with the money Miranda made. Yes they went to a prestigious school, had a large nice house, was taken to school in a driven Lincoln Town car, and never wanted for anything. Yet they never acted like spoiled rich children. They hardly ever asked for anything out of the realm of other children. They did not have an extensive amount of expensive toys. They did not even have cell phones.
All though they did not know about it they both had trust funds with enough money they would never have to work, but Miranda did not want them to know this. She made a promise to herself that the girls would go to school and work. She did not care what they did but she wanted them to find their way in the world. She did not want to raise privileged children.
Miranda was not the only one who was amazed at the girl's reaction. Richard placed his arm around Anna's shoulders and whispered into her ear. "Are you as surprised as I am on how grounded the girls are?"
Anna looked at him, patted his knee and nodded.
Andy smiled at the girls. They were so loving, Miranda had done a wonderful job raising them. She could not wait to raise more children with her.
Bonnie excused herself from the table. Doug was flabbergasted. He stood up and started to go after her.
"No Douglas, wait let me." Miranda got up and followed Bonnie up to her room. Miranda knocked on the door. "Bonnie may I come in?" There was no response. Miranda slowly opened the door. Bonnie was sitting in her chair. Miranda went over and sat in the chair next to her. "Want to talk?"
Bonnie shook her head. "I don't know."
"You are scared." Bonnie nodded. "Douglas is a good man. He adores you. The way you look at him …"
Bonnie shook her head. "No stop." She glared at Miranda.
Miranda turned to look at Bonnie. "It is time to stop punishing yourself. Nothing you did brought about Liam's accident." Bonnie bristled. "Douglas loves you. I can see you care for him. It is time for you to live your life, dream again, and be happy."
Miranda got up, kissed Bonnie on the forehead,
and walked out of the room. When she came down the stairs Doug was pacing at the bottom. "I suggest you go home Douglas. She has some things to work through."
Doug looked at Miranda. "We are to go Nigel's party on New Year's Eve."
Miranda nodded. Doug glared at her, grabbed his coat.
Andy walked into the foyer. "What … where are you going Doug?" Doug could not say anything so he just left.
Andy looked at Miranda. Miranda motioned Andréa into the living room. "Bonnie, she is afraid of loving Douglas. Afraid of losing him." Miranda took a deep breath. "I know, Mother knows, she loves him. She is scared." Andy started pacing in front of the window. Miranda went to Andréa and stopped her, taking Andréa into her arms. "They will figure it out."
Andy's parents returned to Chicago the next day. Good-byes were getting easier for the girls as now they believed they would see their Grandparents again.
Flowers arrived that day for Bonnie. The card read: I love you, please do not leave me Doug. Bonnie smiled and inhaled the sweet scent. Miranda was right it was time. Bonnie called Doug and thanked him for the flowers.
I hear wedding bells!