Part 5

As the night rolled on Andrea was wondering if Miranda would actually come to the party at the Villa, where they were most of the cast and crew were staying. It was a beautiful night outside on the huge porch veranda. A variety of songs played loudly over the speakers, and the drinks flowed. The most popular one that graced everyone's lips was the lemon drops. The fire pits were all lit, matching the crazy crimson lanterns that slightly swung back and forth with the cool night breeze.

Andy was dressed in a pair of faded True Religion jeans with a white Rocsi button-front casual blouse that went great with her new Lucchese boots, which was the perfect contrast to the hot, uncomfortable outfit she had worn all day. The entire cast and crew were excited to have finished filming in the desert and were looking forward to getting back to California.

Andy was relieved as well, but she knew once she got back to Hollywood, she still had to shoot that intimate scene with her hot co-star. She didn't want to be nervous, but she just couldn't help it. She noticed him smiling at her in the distance, and started coming toward her. She really didn't want to talk to him, in fact, all she really wanted was to see a certain someone walk in completely overdressed and owning the crowd. As the time ticked by Andy was pretty sure that Miranda basically was saying 'screw the party, screw the interview, Runway doesn't need it, and I am flying home.'

"You know," Orlando said conversationally, handing her a glass of lemon drop. "You should be smiling." His eyebrow rose slightly over his left eye, his accent mingling against his immaculate own smile.

Andy had to admit he was a very handsome man, and she should have been taken away the moment he said hello to her the very first day they met. She figured it was best to keep everything professional, but deep in her heart she knew the real reason why she never really given anyone a chance. "I'm smiling," Andy said, adding a flash of a grin to him.

"I understand, you know," he sighed, looking over at the crowd dancing. "I'm nervous too."

Andy eyed him out of the corner of her eye. "You?"

"I am," he bashfully grinned. "Maybe we should dance; it may help with what we have to do in a few days. Besides, we have to give that set tour tomorrow for E.T.," he exhaled. "We have to give them chemistry."

Andy really didn't want to dance with the man; she wanted to stand there and wait and see if a certain someone would show up, but she knew he was right. They needed to get comfortable around each other. She took a large gulp of her drink, then set it down on the empty table. Giving him a big smile, she offered him a hand. "Let's dance."

His eyes twinkled, and a gorgeous smile graced his lips as he laced his hand in with Andy's and led her out on the dance floor.

Miranda really didn't want to be at this stupid cast party. She wasn't part of the movie, so she knew they shouldn't be there, but she also knew that Nigel, Emily, and Serena wanted to go. She wanted to see Andrea and give her a piece of her mind for standing her up like that yet again… well…that's what she was telling herself, anyway.

So not feeling at all festive, Miranda climbed the mesa steps up to the Villa's large veranda, where the music was hopping as the mix of people danced. Right away she noticed she was over dressed in her black Valentino cocktail dress. As she got to the top of the stairs, the crowd erupted in whoops and hollers, but it wasn't because she graced the scene. Miranda noticed right away that Andy was being led out onto the dance floor by a very handsome man. Next to her a couple of girls cheered them on. "About damn time!"

She narrowed her eyes sharply at them and tried to make out the man who was with Andrea. He looked familiar and as she finally clued in to who he was, she heard Nigel gasp.

"Orlando Bloom? Woooweee! With our dear Six. That's hot! But do you think it's real or do you think it's just because of the movie?"

Miranda felt her heart crumble apart as she watched them move so close together. She had no right to feel this way, up until now she could pretend that it didn't matter, but god it did, and it was killing her. Holding her head high, she was determined not let it show… no matter what.

"Let's get something to drink," Nigel said, but Serena and Emily had already slipped away to do just that. Nigel felt himself fidget, and he never fidgeted.

Miranda felt it as well, and gave him a look. "Would you stop it?"

"Sorry, I shouldn't be like this," he heaved, "It's strange."

"It's this stupid heat," Miranda suggested in an annoyed breath, and was grateful for the interruption when Emily brought her a drink. She eyed the champagne and noticed she was the only one with the flute.

Emily saw the strange look on Miranda's face. "Well I didn't think you wanted the lemon drop."

"This is fine." Miranda sipped at the drink and tried not to watch Andy move around the dance floor with that man's hands all over her.

"I can't believe she gets to dance with him," Emily voiced her opinion quietly.

Serena overheard and softly nudged her side. "I didn't know you were into to the rugged type."

Emily glared at her friend. "I'm not," she bit, taking a sip of her strong drink.

"We could dance," Serena tried, and then gave her an awkward shrug by the weird look she got from the redhead. "What?"

Emily rolled her eyes at her. "I don't think so," she tiffed.

Soon the song was over and Orlando hugged Andy. "Thanks for the dance," he whispered against her ear.

"You're welcome," she barely got out, and then she noticed the very person she been waiting for all night, maybe her entire life. Up there on the raised patio, by one of the fire pits, looking like a vision in her Valentino…a look only Miranda herself could pull off.

Their eyes locked and instantly Andy's heart raced up her throat alongside the butterflies that were all tied up in her stomach as soon as she noticed she was there.

Orlando must have picked up on the way Andy was trembling. "Are you okay?"

Andy sucked in a breath. "I'm fine; I just need to talk to someone."

His lips bowed into a soft smile before he leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss. "Something to break the ice," he husked.

"Thanks," was all Andy could utter as she graciously walked away from him and toward the one person that made her even more nervous than the thought of that intimate scene that was awaiting her.

Miranda never took her eyes off of Andy's as she made her way toward her through the crowd, and as soon as she was within speaking distance the brunette spoke. "I'm glad you all could make it."

"Nice of you to grace us with your presence, Andrea," Miranda sneered evenly, her pale eyes regarding her with a perplexed expression, one in which Andy couldn't read.

"Yeah, well I didn't think you guys would actually come tonight."

"Oh," Miranda purred. "You think you can blow off two interviews and I will just give up that easily? If that's the case, then it must be this desert heat that has fried your little brain." Her tone was light, but her gaze burned its way through Andrea.

Andy blinked back at the way Miranda was acting. Yeah, she knew blowing her off wasn't going to be good, but this felt a little different. She just casually shrugged her off, and maybe it was the affect from her drink or maybe it was because Miranda was right and the heat actually fried her brain. "So you wanna dance?"

The reaction she got from Miranda made her heart beat up in pride, and the look of utter shock that filtered across the older woman's face made her smile. "Excuse me?"

"Oh come on, you heard me," Andy said firmly. A sly smile graced her lips as she held out a hand for Miranda to take. She didn't take her hand the first time she offered it to her, so she wasn't sure if she would now.

Miranda eyed her suspiciously. "Is this some kind of game to you?" she hissed quietly. "You promised an interview, and if you couldn't give it to me tonight, then you told me that we could get another cast member to give us one," she vented as calmly as she could. Her dagger like glare moved to the man who was dancing closely with Andy seconds before. "Maybe your boyfriend over there would be so kind to give us a few words."

Andy snorted out a soft giggle and shook her head. "Go ask him, Miranda, I'm sure he would be charmed by you. But I want to dance and have fun tonight. You should really try it sometime." She then offered a hand toward Nigel, Serena and even Emily. "Any of you care to dance?"

Serena was quick and she shoved her glass into Emily's hands. "Hell yes," she agreed and quickly grabbed Andy's hand.

"Hey babe," Andy winked with a playful smile, pulling the blonde out onto the dance floor.

Soon Nigel was out dancing with Andrea's hairstylist, which left Miranda and Emily looming over the crowd, well not entirely over everyone, just over where Andy and Serena danced.

"This is total bollocks," Emily detested. "I can't believe we are still bloody here. We could be back in New York, but noooo."

Miranda didn't want to hear her assistant whine, but apparently she had no other choice. "Go dance!" she demanded. "You don't need to be at my beck and call tonight."

"I don't dance," Emily admitted shamelessly.

Miranda shooed her off. "Then go drink. Do something. In fact, go schmooze on up with that actor over there and get some good behind the scenes gossip."

Emily's eyes never left Serena, and watching her smile with Andy was making jealous. So instead of going to some actor that was there, she left her drink behind and nervously asked her friend if she wanted to come with her.

"Where?" Serena asked, her brow fell in a concern "You okay?"

"Please," Emily voiced, and motioned away the dance floor. Without waiting for Serena to answer, she just yanked her hand and pulled her away from Andrea.

Andy mischievously grinned at them and then narrowed her sights back on Miranda. Within seconds she was back at her side, and the confusion and strong emotions Miranda had been experiencing lately, not to mention Andy's intoxicating smell, kept the icy words from forming for a full minute as they stood side by side.

Miranda finally freed herself from the anxiety she felt being this close to this woman. "Having a good time?" she asked, and then mentally winced at hearing her ask her that when all she wanted was to lay into her again for making her wait days here to get this bloody interview over with.

"Better now," Andy replied, appearing somewhat startled by Miranda's question, and tone.

Feeling totally blinded by how beautiful Andrea looked so dressed down, Miranda didn't even realize what that comment could mean. "So, you are not going to stand me up again tomorrow, are you?" she asked, her voice clipped as her eyes pierced Andy's brown ones.

"No, I promise," Andrea said sincerely, and then her gaze dropped down and raked slowly up Miranda's body. "You are ... you look..." The younger woman started, paused and looked at her with bright hungry eyes. "You are exquisite in your Valentino," she finally managed, her tone husky.

Miranda swallowed tightly from the look she was getting from her ex-assistant, yet she could have sworn she had seen that look from her before. Her eyes went momentarily wide at realizing it was in Paris where Andy had stared at her with such a yearning. She just didn't know what it was then…not really, but tonight she knew. Miranda wasn't that old to know what exactly that look meant, but the thing was, what the hell was she supposed to do with it? "I'm glad you are aware of who I am wearing," she noted in a teasing voice, her tone almost flirty. She winced when she heard herself and stared at her almost empty drink. Shit, when did I drink all of that?

"I am always aware of what you're wearing," Andy stated matter of factly. "Hey, I see champagne; you should really try the lemon drop."

"Why is that? Are you trying to get me drunk, Andrea?"

"No," she hummed, with such an enticing smile that Miranda had to quickly look away. "Eh, okay maybe. Come on let's go get us one." She felt her nerves amp up and seeing Miranda's delayed reaction, then knew she was caving once she huffed a bit of hair out of her eyes and groaned.

"Fine, lead the way."

After two drinks, Miranda was actually starting to smile and Andy had to hold off her own as she watched her. "What are you smiling at?"

Miranda blinked and looked over at her, and then slightly giggled. "I suppose I don't really know."

Andy snorted, then slowly nodded her head. "So um tomorrow.." she began, but got cut off when a woman came over to them and butted in-between them.

"Hey Andy, you looked really good today, and thanks for helping me remember my line." The woman appeared to be maybe in her thirties and was a knockout. "I felt like an idiot; I owe you."

Andy humbly shrugged. "No biggie."

"Oh please, yes it was," the woman praised, and Miranda could have sworn she was flirting with Andrea, in fact, she wasn't the only one that kept interrupting them. She didn't want to admit it to her former assistant, but she was getting very much annoyed by it. So as the woman continued to talk Andrea's ear off, Miranda kept sipping on her drink.

Almost after her third lemon drop, Andy freed herself from the woman. "I'm sorry; maybe we should go somewhere and…"

But before she could get that out, another person came over, but this time it wasn't for Andy. He was a very charming handsome older man, who only had a very minor role in the film; hell, Andy didn't even remember his name. She groaned this time at the interruption.

"Hi," his low voice was firm as he leered at Miranda. "I been watching you all evening, and I was wondering if you'd care to dance with me?"

Andy grinned, and knew it was only a matter of time before the man whimpered off to lick his wounds from even daring to as Miranda anything, let alone to touching her, which he already did by taking her free hand before she even had a chance to voice her opinion.

"Sure," Miranda responded formally. She allowed the man to lead her out onto the floor, leaving Andy holding her drink and staring after her.

"You got to be kidding me," she spewed quietly, as her chest heaved in irritation at watching him lead Miranda around the dance floor. "She wouldn't dance with me, but him of all people." She was only talking to herself, but apparently Nigel walked up behind her just in time to overhear.

"Oh, just go butt in," he valiantly teased, with his chin pressed against his knuckles as he stared out at his employer.

Andy glared at him from the corner of her eye. "Yeah, right," she said, and then made a face as she turned on him. "Wait a sec, did you just…"

He exuberantly rolled his eyes and sighed. "Oh please; it's written all over her face, so much so it's making me nauseous," he informed, twirling a finger in the air.

"Oh like you're not any better; you and Steve should just go get a room already."

A slow devious smile split his lips. "Why do you think he's not here right now?" he whispered in a hushed voice.

Andy's eyes went wide. "You mean, already.. you….uh… you…"

"Not yet," Nigel pointed out sharply. "I'll slip out and meet him soon," he said very nonchalantly. "I just came over here to ask if you've seen either Serena or Emily."

Now that she was thinking about it, she hadn't seen either of them since Emily whisked Serena away from her. "Actually no, I haven't."

Nigel squinted his eyes and put a finger at the base of his chin. "Hmmm, I wonder where they ran off to. Huh, no matter." He paused, then came face to face with Andy. "This time, don't ask her, just go do it. Besides, Miranda doesn't even know what's good for her."

Startled Andy flinched back at hearing his words. "And I'm…"

He shook his head, stopping her before she said another word. "You know right here." He placed his index finger over her heart, then added. "That you are." He blew out a breath, indicating his job was done. "Don't let this opportunity pass you by, my dear. You may not get another chance." He kissed her on the cheek and then flamboyantly walked away.

Andy got rid of their drinks and squared her shoulders as she firmly walked over to where Miranda was dancing with that man. She tapped him on the shoulder and his brow furrowed at her in annoyance. "Yeah?"

"Okay, I loaned her out long enough, but the rest of her night belongs to me," Andy expressed sharply.

"What the hell does that mean?" he asked, but Miranda was hanging on every word, even though she did feel slightly buzzed.

"I owe her an interview, and well she owes me a dance." She didn't wait for him to respond, she just took hold of Miranda's hand, and the moment their skin touched, her breath caught, and the fiery sizzle she felt bringing Miranda's body flush with hers was more than she thought she could handle. Andy was thankful for the loud music or else her ragged breathing would have clearly given her away.

I'm alone, yeah, I don't know if I can face the night

I'm in tears and the cryin' that I do is for you

I want your love

Let's break the walls between us

Don't make it tough

I'll put away my pride

Enough's enough

I've suffered and I've seen the light

Bayayby, you're my angel

Come and save me tonight

Andy kept their dancing simple, but her embrace was soft, and she couldn't help but breathe in the way Miranda smelled; it wrapped itself all around her. She wasn't at all buzzed, but she was feeling drunk right then as she held Miranda in her arms. Her heart hammered away in her chest at how lucky she felt to be doing this, when she thought she'd never get a chance. It wasn't long before she felt Miranda began to relax more into her embrace and melt against her. Unbidden, Andy lightly nuzzled her nose against the side of the older woman's smooth neck and couldn't help her snide comment. "I think one day you'll make a fine dancer," Andy teased with a smile as they swayed together.

Her smile grew when she noticed Miranda's eyebrow rise and the pursing of her lips to make a snappy retort, but Andy just smiled, and pulled her closer. "I'm messing with you; you dance wonderfully, even when you're intoxicated."

"I'm not toxicated….intoxicated; oh, you know what I mean."

"Sure you're not, and that right there is the only reason why you're dancing with me now."

"Apparently," Miranda said, but deep down she knew it was a lie when she suddenly felt dizzy, and wondered if it was due to the amount of alcohol that was in her system. Or maybe it was the fact that feeling Andrea's arms around her was stirring things up deep inside that she had to desperately fight down before she made a complete idiot out of herself. With that suddenly spurring against her, Miranda abruptly took a step back and away from those enticing arms, which alongside the buzz she felt in her head was going to make her do something she was sure she'd regret in the morning.

Quickly picking up on the way Miranda suddenly swayed, Andy reaffirmed her hold on the older woman. "Hey are you okay?" Her brown eyes shined with such compassion that Miranda suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe.

"I need to sit down," she uttered faintly, and once again pushed Andy's arms off of her.

Andy glared when Miranda kept pushing her away, but didn't relent, and soon she re-gathered her hand with her own and laced their fingers together. "You might not want this, but I'm holding on to you nevertheless."

Miranda tried to yank her hand back, because it was too much for her being with Andy like this and this damn, stupid song was getting to her.

What can I do?

I'm sleepin' in this bed alone

Bayayby, you're my angel

Come and save me tonight

You're my angel

Come and make it alright

Come and save me tonight

You're the reason I live

You're the reason I die

You're the reason I give when I break down and cry

Don't need no reason why

It pained her all the way to her core and her stupid heart was making her eyes shine with unshed tears, so she jerked back again, but soon found that it was pointless because Andrea was too strong.

"Let me go!" she demanded, blinking rapidly to maintain her composure and to help ease emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. This scared her; she wasn't used to feeling what she was feeling when she looked at this woman who gazed back her with such tenderness in those eyes.

"No," Andy said firmly and just pulled her closer. Their breaths mingled, and Miranda thought this woman was actually going to kiss her, and God at this moment she wanted just that, to lose yourself in this woman, lose that icy control completely, but to her disappointment, Andy only hardened her glare. "I will not let you go, not this time."

"It is I that let you go, if my memory serves me," Miranda rebutted icily.

A bold look of satisfaction fell across Andy's face. "You're right Miranda, but not this time, and not tonight." She reaffirmed her hold on Miranda's soft hand, and began to lead her away from the dance floor and toward the elevators.