Thanks to everyone who read this and left me a comment.

Part 29

"You do know that I don't approve of this."

Andy chuckled as she watched Miranda scurry around in the early morning hours before the sun was even up yet, trying to get herself together so she could get back to the townhouse and get ready for the day.

"And now you 're laughing," Miranda huffed, pulling her Hermes scarf around her neck.

Andy finally got out of bed, swiftly pulling the older woman against her and kissing her gently. "Sorry, it's just you are too darn cute."

Miranda rolled her eyes. "Oh please, and this is it, you will come over to the townhouse from now on. I am far too old to be fleeing your apartment in the early hours like some harlot."

Andrea had to laugh even harder at that, and the glare she was received wasn't helping. "Sorry, and you're right; I believe it is my turn anyways."

Miranda inhaled a breath, and checked her hair one last time in the wall mirror that was hung in Andy's room. "So I'll see you tonight then?"

A smile filled Andy's lips. "Yes," she drawled. "What time?"

"Come after work, Darling." She grabbed her bag and then kissed her girlfriend before Andy took her by the hand and led her to her door.

"So after my work or your work?"

"Yours," Miranda replied, looking at Andy like that was the obvious answer. "I honestly don't know what time I will be done."

"Will Cass and ..."

"You have a key, use it."

Andy's mouth fell open at being busted with still having Miranda's key. "How…um..."

Miranda gave Andy an incredulous look and softly patted her cheek. "Darling, have you forgotten who I am? Honestly, really?"

"You're not mad?" Miranda grinned that grin that always made Andy shiver.

"No, now I'll let you think about why that is." She bounced her finger off her nose then softly kissed her. "I'll see you tonight. Oh, and the alarm code is A11C21." She then was out the door before Andrea could even say anything.

Andy smiled as she hurried back to her bed, since she didn't have to be up just yet. She knew in her heart that Miranda had always hoped or actually believed that she would be back in her life, hell even her alarm code couldn't be even more obvious. She just realized that Miranda actually knew when her birthday was.

…

Andy made it to the townhouse a lot earlier than she even thought, and she secretly loved using her key to get inside. As soon as she shut the door, she hollered out to see if anyone was even there. She wasn't sure if the twins would be home, or even Miranda's housekeeper for that matter. The silent echo of her own voice was the evidence she needed that she was indeed alone.

"Hmmm, what should I do?" She gingerly moved through the corridor and scanned the area freely. Then an idea came to her, and she quickly bounced up the stairs to Miranda's room.

She loved looking through Miranda's closet and seeing all the latest couture. During one of their late-night pillow talks, she had confided in her that she loved seeing all of Miranda's designer clothes….it was like being in a richly upscale store without having to deal with an annoying sales clerk. Miranda lightly giggled at hearing her say that, and expressed that she was delighted that she converted her over to the dark side, and even told her to feel free to look whenever she'd like. Well, Andy was going to indulge since she wasn't sure when she'd get another opportunity. It seriously was beyond grand, and she was going to build onto her house in California so she could finally have her own closet like this.

Andy's happy thoughts were interrupted by the loud slamming of a door, and even louder voices. Her heart nervously beat hard in her chest and she timidly stepped from the closet to see if she could hear them better. When she picked up that it was Miranda's voice she immediately began to hustle from her room, but when she got to the landing on the top of the stairs the other voice became clear.

"Stephen," she uneasily breathed, closing her eyes as she quietly took steps closer.

"I am not going to tell you again." Andy heard Miranda clip, her voice heated.

"Mir, Honey," Stephen's rough voice rang through the halls. "It is for the best, you know that."

"Oh please, don't even go there" Miranda, detested. "And for another thing…you are not even supposed to be here."

"Oh," he puffed, his voice clearly waving it off. "I am better now, and you know we are good together."

"You what, stopped drinking for a day?"

Andy's heart twisted in her chest at overhearing Miranda's ex-husband wanting her back. She knew in her heart that she wouldn't go there, but it still didn't make it easy to hear.

"Stephen, we are not, and we were never good together."

That made Andy smile and she started back down the steps to make her presence known, when she heard him. "I didn't tell the press about you and your little fling. Plus, you told me that it was over with her."

Frozen, Andy's eyes went wide at hearing that, and now from her position on the stairs she could see Stephen gather himself closer to Miranda. "I still love you," he declared, placing a hand to her cheek, and Andrea could feel the sneer spread through her lips at seeing that gesture.

"How dare he touch her?" she whispered, as she continued to glare.

Miranda flinched her head away, and when she did she noticed Andy staring down at them. She swallowed and her eyes went wide in complete shock. "Andrea," she expressed sharply.

Stephen jumped and followed Miranda's gaze up the stairs to where Andy now strutted down them with authority. "Looks like I have interrupted yet again," she hissed, and her eyes burned as she glared at him for a moment, then landed them on Miranda.

"Stephen was just leaving." Miranda bit, directing the harshness of her tone toward her ex-husband.

"I'm not going anywhere." He crossed his arms over his chest. "She needs to leave; I mean, since you told me you broke it off with her."

Andy gave Miranda an irate look. "Is that what you told him?"

"Andrea, listen, I …" she was caught and she knew this wasn't going to be easy. "Yes I did tell him that. I was waiting for it to blow over. I was looking out for you, okay."

"Me?" Andy sternly voiced, pointing at herself. "How is that looking out for me? You think I like being lied to? And I am more than capable to look out for myself."

Stephen laughed it was eerie nasty, and it shattered the way Andrea was looking at Miranda. Startled, she cast a careful glance back in his direction. "Did you really believe what she…" he sneered at his ex-wife mockingly. "The ice queen of New York…. the one and only who only looks out for herself told you? Oh wow, that is just sad. It's even sadder when you are now an actress who could have whomever you want. Hell, even I could do better by you then she…" He smirked with a callously raised eyebrow, tossing a knowing look over at the older woman. "Shit, I get it…. you are using this poor girl, she's your fountain of youth."

Stephen laughed coldly at seeing the effect he was having on both women's stunned faces. "Andy, get out while you can. Seriously, she will never give you want you want or what you need. She's twice your age, and her heart is all bitter, plus you can see she lies." He now turned fully toward Andrea. "I wouldn't lie to you," he leered, trying to gather himself another opportunity.

Andy swallowed and made a face of total revulsion as she took a timid step back. "Ew no."

A fiery rage filled Miranda at seeing her disgusting ex go after Andrea. She was livid as she stormed closer to Stephen, and Andy's eyes widened at seeing it. She had rarely seen that look, hell she wondered if she ever really had.

Miranda's will to stay calm went straight out the window and she had heard enough from her bastard cheating ex-husband. She pushed a hand against Stephen's chest hard. "You," she shouted. "Leave now!" She pushed him in the chest again. "And never come back, this debacle is over…you think I am that stupid to ever want you back? I don't ever want to see you again…. get the fuck out!" she snarled.

Andrea hid a smile as she noticed the worried expression on Miranda's ex-husband's face. It was clear that Stephen knew his ex-wife meant it and that she was now pissed. He finally relented by taking a step toward the door, but his arrogant grin never left. "The only pretense here is what is going on between you two. Oh, and Mir, I don't like being lied to…. the press will hear about this."

Miranda tossed Andy a sympathetic expression, but held her head high. "Go ahead; tell them I honestly don't care anymore. You have blackmailed me for the last time. In fact, I think a restraining order is in order."

That surprised Stephen and he blinked as he flayed his hands out. "Have you lost your mind?" He was losing and he knew it, so he mellowed, and a fake sorrowful gleam filled his eyes. "I won't talk if you will just…"

"I am not paying you another cent. Now get out of my house before I have you arrested for trespassing," she threatened.

He was about to make a snappy retort, but then he just stomped out the front door.

It took a moment before the slamming of the door rang out, and the house quieted. Andy settled her rapidly beating heart as she exhaled a silent breath of relief and then turned to look at Miranda.

The older woman heaved her own long deep breath as she stared at the brunette. "Well I guess we can no longer keep this quiet. I'm sorry…I just couldn't…"

Andrea shook her head and quickly erased what little separated them to swoop Miranda up in her arms. "I don't care; I am ready for everyone to know how much I love you."

Relief filled Miranda's chest. She was thinking the worst since she did keep all of this from her ex-assistant, and been afraid that she was going to have to grovel a little. She inhaled another sigh of relief as she pressed herself tighter against the safety of Andrea's body. "Thank god, because I wasn't really thinking in that moment…. I just had heard enough and…"

Andrea drew back and shook her head. "Shhhh…it doesn't matter, I don't care. This is what I want."

"I'm sorry I lied to you, I should have told you what I had said to him."

"Just don't make a habit of it," Andy said, cupping the same cheek that Stephen once had held in his hand, as if reclaiming it for herself.

"I can't lose you," Miranda's voice caught.

"Hey, no, never. I'm here."

Miranda flung her arms back around Andrea and held her close. They were so lost in one another that they didn't even hear the door open.

"Holy hanna banana, is that Andy Sachs?"

Miranda and Andy pulled apart, and both had shocked expressions at seeing Cassidy and Caroline and what looked to be a friend standing just inside the door.

Miranda inhaled a breath as she laced her fingers together in with Andy's. "Girls, I see you brought a guest over? You should have told me."

The girls wore matching smiles, ignoring their mother's unpleasant glare for not telling her. "Sorry Mom, we thought we did."

The teenage girl slid past the twins and headed straight over to Andy. "This is unreal, I got to get a picture with you, if not, then no one at school will believe me," she all but squealed.

Miranda glared at her girls, and on cue they took hold of their friend's hand. "Later, let's go um study."

"I can't…what if she leaves, the girl protested.

"Um, I believe I will be around," Andy said, and she noticed the girl's gaze drop to their hands.

Her eyes went wide. "Are you two?" She pointed at them, waving a finger in the air. "Together? Like together?"

Cassidy and Caroline's eyes now went even wider, and they knew that the shit storm would soon to arrive. They both smiled a sorrowful smile, hoping that their mother would let them off easy as they quickly yanked on the girl's free hand and began to drag her up the stairs. "Sorry Mom, we will be in our room," Caroline breathed.

"Let us know when supper is ready," Cassidy finished, with another hopeful smile that she wasn't to be reprimanded later for this.

As soon as they disappeared, Miranda turned toward Andy and her head fell against her chest. Surprise filled Andrea's face at seeing this side of this woman. "Hey, it's okay." She ran a hand over her back soothingly.

Miranda heaved a loud groan and finally drew her head back up. "He is right, you know."

A line etched across Andrea's brow as she blinked at the other woman. "He who?" she blurted, then suddenly grasped it. "No never, he is never right."

"You could do a lot better, Andrea."

Andy glared at her. "Don't…we are not going there. We already went over this. So no more, okay? I want this, I want you, so don't try to talk me out of it."

"I'm old, and I have two teenage girls, and you're young and beautiful with your entire life ahead of you. I'm afraid I will just hold you back."

"No, No!" Andy growled, throwing in a little acting on her part. "This is the most important thing in my life, you Miranda, you and your girls. I want the best possible team with me…that no longer includes anyone else."

Miranda couldn't contain her soft smile at seeing where Andy was going with this. "Andrea," she clipped in warning, but her tone was tinted with humor.

Andy toyed with the front of Miranda's blouse, but her gaze was firm and serious. "Don't argue with me. If you do, then I will assume you're not serious about your future….my future…our future." She inched closer, her eyes delving deeper against Miranda's blue ones.

"The decision is yours," she husked, her lips now so close to Miranda's that the older woman could feel the heat from them, and was about to press her mouth over them when she noticed Andy begin to smile.

A devilish smirk sparkled through Miranda's eyes. "Well, go on….say it."

Andy was having hell schooling her features to keep her face even devoid of any emotions. "That's all," she said in a dry tone, with a flare that was in total Miranda fashion.

Miranda's lips split into a sly grin as she cupped Andy's cheeks, pulling her closer. Her face went even, all Priestly, and bossy. "Darling, that is not all," she husked and now her smile widened before she closed the remaining distance to press her lips to the younger woman's. The contact was very gentle, yet implicit in its promise, both women taking their time to savor the tender kiss.

Andy inhaled, shuddering. "It's not huh? So, are you going to argue with me?"

"No, not argue, but like I said it's not all…. it's just the beginning."

`~FIN`~

Epilogue to come.