The next few days seem to fly by quickly for Andy, but thankfully the drama seems to settle down. While she and Miranda spend an inordinate amount of time together, most of it is either at Runway or asleep. Andy's growing relationship with Miranda requires them to be in each other's constant orbit, otherwise they are affected negatively. If one of them is absent with any kind of distance, the rollercoaster of emotions they feel, combined with an edge of increasing physical discomfort the longer they are apart does not bode well for anyone around them.
They try their best to manage it, and Andy is grateful that after the first four or five days, where everything was just happening so fast Andy's head felt like it was spinning off her shoulders, the almost calmness helps her process a lot more. Andy doesn't mind spending so much time with Miranda, truly, and loves finally getting to know the woman behind the EIC mask, someone she only caught brief glimpses of during her time working at Runway.
The mornings and evenings spent with the children have also been wonderful, the five of them (and Cara) truly learning to live cohesively as a family. As with any fusion of families into one, there have been some teething problems, all minor, as the twins adjust to having another parent who is as involved as their mother. It has been wonderful for them and most of the time they adore Andy, knowing for the first time in their lives they have two parents willing and able to be supportive and loving, something they never received from their father.
However, they also learn quickly that Andy will not be a pushover when it comes to saying no, and will stand firm even when they yell at her for not giving them what they want. In the end, it makes them love her more because they know Andy only wants what is best for them.
Andy meets with the Krav Maga instructor first thing Wednesday morning and, after Miranda and she decide that the classes must be done after Miranda is finished at Runway for the day so she can be in attendance, if only to negate the effects of separation.
Sensei Fred, who Miranda insists on calling Frederick, turns out to be a Nephilim in human form and a Grand Master in Krav Maga. They discover the Nephilim connection when they all arrive at the dojo for the first session on Thursday afternoon. He knows the moment Miranda and the girls walk in with Andy he is dealing with Dragons. Not only that, he has been expecting their appearance for some time. One of his own legends has foretold their coming and his particular role in their destiny. He is a rather tall, lanky man who appears to be of Hispanic origin if the bronzing color of his skin is anything to go by, towering over all of them at a rangy six-foot-nine.
He is even more enthusiastic about setting up an almost grueling training schedule, which is tougher than originally planned, once he knows who they are, than he was when just meeting with Andy. All of them nixed his idea of doing a very early am, hour session six days a week for various reasons and, after much debate, settle on an hour every weekday afternoon from 5.30-6.30pm and a two hour session mid morning on Saturdays.
He agrees with Andy given the girls' heritage, and Andy's burgeoning Draconic traits that they will indeed pick up anything he teaches quickly and easily.
The first lesson goes extremely well, with both the girls and Andy picking up the techniques he shows them almost instantly. Seeing this, Miranda agrees that perhaps the lessons might also be beneficial to her on top of her regular yoga time, and joins them before the end of the lesson.
Thursday evening both women are happy to note while bathing their youngest, that Ciri's ever-growing dragon scales seem to have slowed a little in their spread across her body. Miranda takes this as a good sign that perhaps they might have more time to prepare than they originally thought.
Thursday ends with everyone going to bed and passing out relatively early from exhaustion after their Krav Maga session. Even Miranda puts The Book off for the evening, she is that tired.
Friday's staff meeting at The Mirror is another test of endurance for both Andy and Miranda, but thankfully only lasts an hour and a half as it brings on the worst of the 'separation sickness', as Andy had begun to call it, so far. Greg is happy to see her whole and in one piece, delighting in how happy she appears. She walks out of The Mirror with a new assignment, admittedly just a fluff filler piece that isn't going to require much more than some online research. She also receives an invitation for Miranda, the girls and herself to join Greg and Helen the following week for dinner.
Andy says she will mention it to Miranda, that it might be better for Andy and Miranda to host, given Andy's family has grown by three and squishing them all into Greg's tiny three bedroom apartment is just asking for chaos, especially adding in Greg's adult daughter and teenage sons. She is also grateful that Greg is allowing her to keep working from home while this is all going on.
In between all of this, Andy did as Miranda asked and spent some time researching for a Draconic name for their daughter, and threw in a few of her own ideas. By Friday evening they finally narrow it down to Nael, a name they both like. They inform a much delighted Serena, who can happily inform her Mamita for the Annals.
By the time Saturday rolls around, Andy is beginning to feel extremely frustrated and done with this whole waiting business with Miranda. Their days have been long and busy all week so, by the time they actually get to bed, they are more than ready for sleep. Which both of them find disappointing, even while agreeing they want the time to be able to enjoy each other, not have a rushed encounter.
She knows Miranda has been waiting for her to be ready, as well, and they both spend any free time they have building each other up with kisses, long embraces and some really heavy making out which always ends far sooner than either wants. Each session heightens the heat that has been burning deep at a consistent low level all week. While they have not pushed the limits they did on Monday, all Andy knows is she needs to have Miranda. Soon. Or she might just combust!
It is beginning to look like they might find the time to themselves Saturday evening. The twins organise a sleepover at a friend's earlier in the week, and Emily spends a good hour on Friday afternoon convincing the women that their daughter needs to come spend some much-desired quality time with her Aunts. That is granted on the proviso that Miranda drops her off so that she can improve the Wards around Emily and Serena's building for added protection.
Ciri is delighted to discover she is having a sleepover at Aunty Emawee's and Aunty Seweena's; she spends the hour or so after their morning Krav Maga session asking every five minutes if it is time to go yet. Miranda finally gives in, calling Emily to tell her they are on their way somewhat earlier than planned because someone is so very excited. Emily finds this adorable and agrees immediately.
Andy waits at home for the twins to be collected before she starts planning ahead for the evening, remembering to call Nigel and reschedule his introduction dinner to Ciri for the following night. Once the twins are picked up she sends Cara home, telling her to take Sunday off as well and awaits the arrival of her soon-to-be lover with excitement already pooling deep in her belly.
Andy feels like she has been impossibly turned on the entire week, and if their make out sessions are anything to go by, she knows her entire world is going to burn down around them that night. She wonders how, even the stolen moments they have managed to find this week feel even better than the one night they previously shared when Ciri was conceived.
It is just before four when Andy finally hears the front door open and close from her position on the couch in the den, where she has spent the last hour or so just relaxing and lightly dozing. The Wards must have taken longer to upgrade than Miranda thought, she thinks, as she realises the time.
She stays where she is, comfortable with her eyes closed, her inner Miranda sense telling her the other woman will find her soon enough. They seem to have developed a sense of knowing when it came to the location of the other, and Andy knows this can only help in the coming days. It is similar to the sense that has also flourished in the last week, of knowing exactly where all three of her daughters are at any given time.
She hears Miranda mumbling to herself as she removes her shoes, placing them in the dry cleaning closet before climbing the stairs towards Andy. It is on whisper-quiet, stocking-clad feet, that only Dragon ears can hear that Miranda finally enters the den and Andy is almost trembling in anticipation.
"Ah, there you are." Miranda murmurs quietly as she makes her way over to the couch.
Instead of settling beside Andy, as she has done all week, Andy suddenly finds herself with a lap-full of Miranda as the older woman straddles her thighs. Her eyes pop open with a surprised smile and she is greeted by the sight of Miranda up close, crystal ice eyes already seeking to lock onto her own as they open. Miranda's arms drape over her shoulders to meet behind her head as Andy's hands come to rest on Miranda's hips.
"It appears we have a house to ourselves for the night. My my, Andrèa, whatever will we do about that." The Editor continues, licking her lips. Andy's eyes flash briefly to that devilish tongue before settling back on Miranda's. "Oh I know…"
She dips down, her head tilting slightly to the side, claiming Andy's lips and soul in one fell swoop. Andy gasps as Miranda opens their connection wide and the fiery sensations of Miranda's own arousal sweep over her, allowing Miranda to slip her tongue inside to plunder the depths for long minutes. Andy tastes remnants of coffee and something delightfully, pepper sweet that is solely Miranda. She moans, the sound being pulled from somewhere deep inside her as Miranda relinquishes her lips, both of them gasping for air, before moving along Andy's jaw, nipping and suckling as she goes.
God, Andy feels like she could come from just this, with how quickly Miranda is stoking the flames within. Miranda's tongue swirls its way down her neck and Andy is completely helpless to stop the small thrusts of her hips, seeking any kind of friction she can find.
"Mine…" Miranda growls, almost inaudibly, before biting gently into that sweet spot at the junction of Andy's neck and shoulder, sucking hard before laving the area with her tongue.
Andy shudders, hissing at the sweet, sharp sting of pain from the hickey Miranda is sure to leave in her wake. "Yours." She pants, in response as the floodgates open between her thighs, increasing the already substantial amount of moisture gathered there. "Mirandaaa…." Andy whines, struggling to find the breath Miranda insists on stealing from her. "Take… Take me to bed."
Miranda pulls back to look at Andy, her burning blue irises reduced to a tiny ring around deep, dark pupils that are almost black. The fire in those eyes blazes its way through Andy, and she finds she wants nothing more in this moment than to devour Miranda whole, to Claim her in the same way Miranda seems intent on Claiming her Andrèa.
The reporter pushes gently at Miranda's hips, in an attempt to get her to rise. "Up." She puffs, slowly regaining her breath, eager to move to the bedroom so they can have the space to move on their bed, instead of dry humping on the couch. "As delightful as a quick fuck…" Miranda's eyes flash. "On the sofa sounds, we are not doing that today. I want the space and time to explore each…" She trails her hand from Miranda's cheek, across her jaw, down her throat and over her shoulder, the feel of Miranda's flawless ivory skin creating sparks against her fingertips and she is captivated by the tremors her touch causes in the Editor. "And every… delectable crevice of this divine body..." Her hand continues its descent, tweaking Miranda's nipple through her clothes as she speaks. The older woman sucks in the air with a hiss, before releasing a growl that pulls deeply at Andy's core. "Inside and out... So, up!" She gives Miranda's hips another gentle nudge.
Miranda stands, somewhat grudgingly having been enjoying being seated right where she was, holding out a graceful hand to pull Andrèa up before hoisting her into her arms, causing Andy to let out a squeak and make for the bedroom two floors up, pausing multiple times along the way just to spend several delicious moments kissing the brunette, leaving them both gasping for air, chests heaving.