Miranda helps Andy into bed, checking her over once more before asking if she is hungry. Andy is feeling a bit queasy but after a look from Miranda she murmurs that she could probably handle a piece of toast. Miranda gives her a brief kiss, promising to send Cara up with some toast and that she will be back up soon after she eats dinner with her Bobbseys and Ciri.

Andy dozes until she hears Cara arriving to fuss over her, bringing with her some sparsely buttered toast and a hot tea. The tea helps the toast go down and Andy freely admits she feels somewhat better after eating it.

Miranda reappears an hour or so later with some pain relief, for which Andy is grateful. She reassures Miranda once more that she is fine, headache aside. Her fuzzy vision cleared before leaving the Charletons and the nausea has dissipated. All in all, a far better end to the day than it might have been, considering.

Miranda agrees with her assessment and leaves her dozing as the Editor takes a shower and performs her nightly routine before joining Andrèa in bed, curling protectively around her Life-Bond beyond grateful to end the day with her safely in her arms.

It takes a while for Miranda to fall into slumber, her mind going over recent events and attempting to plan for future ones, until at long last the exhaustion takes over and she joins her Mate in sleep.

The next few days pass extremely slowly for both Andy and Miranda as Andy recuperates. Still in the early beginnings of their completed Bond Andy remaining at home to rest leaves them both cranky and restless while apart. By the time Wednesday arrives Miranda can no longer stand the long hours apart, made longer by the inflexible Krav Maga lessons she attends with the twins, and takes an unprecedented day off mid-week, leaving a capable Emily in charge as she spends Andy's last day of rest in her calming presence.

Andy tried to argue with her, saying they were capable of being apart for hours even if it left them feeling wretched, knowing full well how Miranda feels about her iron control on her magazine, but caved in the face of her strong-willed, unwavering Editor, and her own, almost desperate, feelings of needing her near. So much for being an adult about it.

Miranda is acutely aware that both the print deadline and the end of October are simultaneously approaching rapidly, and feels no qualms whatsoever leaving Emily to administer to Runway in her stead, even with the deadline so close.

This, to her, is unusually odd and weirdly freeing. She finds herself in a quiet and serene state, the pressure of the deadline nullified in the company of her Mate, and while they relax on the office sofa during the morning, Andy quite comfortable using her thigh as pillow napping as the Editor reads, she mulls over what this might mean for the near-future

Andrèa has quickly taken precedence in her priorities over and above Runway, over and above almost anything except her children, but she cannot find it within herself to care. She waited six hundred plus years for Andrèa, and she is becoming increasingly conscious of the fact that those years in waiting matter little with the reporter now by her side, and that she is finally done waiting.

She feels the body twitch beside her and her attention is drawn from the book, her brows furrowing as she receives flashes of the contents of her partner's dreams. Miranda grasps Andrèa's shoulder, and shakes her gently. "Andrèa… Wake up darling. You're dreaming." Attempting to bring her partner out of her dreams before they devolve.

Andy is irresistibly drawn to the cajoling, mellow sound of her Mate's voice, released from her dream as she rises into consciousness.

"Ugh." The brunette grunts before rolling over and burying her face in Miranda's soft lower abdomen. "Thanks."

"Do you wish to talk about it?" Andy shakes her head, pressing further into Miranda. "Alright."

She soothes Andrèa, running her hand through her hair repeatedly, the mood returning to the relaxed feel of prior to Andy's dream of the attack on Sunday.

Seeing the effect of these attacks on her quietened Soul Mate, she wonders if perhaps a more proactive stance against the Others prior to December might be feasible. Resolving to discuss it with her lieutenants in the next few days, she returns her attention to Andrèa, eyes filled with love tracing her Mate's alluring features.

Andy joins them for their afternoon Krav Maga, but only participates in light activity. She is even more aware of the danger they are in and is determined to do everything she can to prevent a repeat of Sunday. While the Krav Maga is a good start, she knows she needs further training in some type of weapon. She does not possess claws and teeth like her partner, and being without a weapon against a foe who can only die by cutting off their head is extremely disadvantageous, bordering on suicidal, as she discovered to her detriment the previous weekend.

When they leave the Krav Maga session that afternoon, the twins saying a cheerful good-bye to Fred, Andy elects to join Roy in the front seat, determining that as the only person she is aware of who wields a weapon he would be a good place to start. Miranda and the girls slip into the backseat as Andy slides into the front. Roy is unperturbed by her appearance and just smiles at her amiably as he climbs into the driver's seat, after closing the door behind Miranda.

"Hey Mr. Elf-Man…" Andy returns his smile with ease.

He chuckles. "Andy the Neighbourhood Fae… what can I do for you?"

Amused, she proceeds with her request. "This fairy needs either advice or training."

"Hmm." He is focused on the road but his hum indicates she should go on.

"We know I have neither fangs nor claws, and I cannot be unarmed against the Others as we discovered on Sunday. You wield a pretty mean axe, my friend and I was wondering if you might be able to teach me to use one or point me in the direction of someone who can."

"It's called a Labrys."

"The axe has a name?"

He nods. "It's been passed down in my family for centuries. Usually to the next female Elven warrior, unless like in my case, my parent's failed to have a girl, in which case it passed to me as the eldest and when the time comes will be passed along to my daughter."

"Oh… it sure didn't look that old."

Roy chuckles. "No, Elf magic is strong and deep and preserves our artifacts rather well. You know, you are not completely unarmed though, right?"

Andy looks at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"Elves and Fairies are not really dissimilar. Sure, you have wings and I do not, and my ears are longer than yours," He winks and she laughs. "But we both have our magic. Yours probably just needs to be unlocked by a high-born, of which, by the way, Miranda knows a few. You will need training to control it, as all young Fae do. Tell me, were you by any chance born with what is known as Stahl's ear?"

She nods. "Strange question, but yes. My parents had it fixed when I was about two."

"Ah," He murmurs as they pull up to the town house. "Let me get the Boss Lady out and we can talk more,if you like." Andy nods and they both get out, Roy circling the car to open the door for Miranda.

The Editor steps out looking as regal as usual, followed by two very boisterous girls. As the girls amble past her to go inside, she looks between Andy and Roy before murmuring. "You were a good place to start. I should have thought of that sooner." She chuckles wryly. "Lock the car up Roy, I'm sure we have coffee to offer while you finish your conversation with Andrèa."

"Yes, my Queen," He smiles and winks at her cheekily, bowing low. "I would be most honoured and pleased to elucidate your Consort further."

Miranda slaps him lightly on the arm as he rights himself. "None of that, you! We left those terms behind in our previous life, remember?"

He chuckles freely. "I know, but I sometimes miss the old ways and you most certainly are my Queen. I just like to remind you, occasionally."

Andy stands next to them, eyes darting between them with rampant curiosity.

"Roy is part of our Clan, Andrèa." Miranda shrugs. "One of a number of beings who are not Draconic but found a home with us, like you, who needed it at the time. We are, I suppose, a unique Clan in that way and our members are extraordinarily loyal, to a fault. A story for another time, perhaps? We should probably move inside in case there are any unsavoury types lurking about."

She glances about, noticing everything. Concludes they are safe but they should definitely not linger on the sidewalk. They make their way up the stairs and into the townhouse. They slip out of their coats and shoes inside the door before Miranda turns to Andrèa.

"My office should suffice. I will find Cara and bring coffee when I join you." She brushes her lips lightly over Andy's, turns on her heel and heads in the direction of the kitchen, leaving Roy and Andy to make their own way up.

Andy sits in her usual place on the sofa and indicates to Roy to take the single chair opposite her. "Can we return to the Stahl's ear part first?" She asks him and he nods genially. "Maybe before you leave you can tell how an Elf ended up in a Draconic Clan, if we have time."

"I'd be delighted, Andy. The reason I asked about your ears is because I can see they are shaped like humans, but you are Fae, perhaps not born, but certainly of the Blood. Somewhere in your history, I imagine."

Andy nods. "Miranda asked me about that too. I would have looked into it earlier but today is the first day I've felt even remotely close to normal after the concussion on Sunday, and Miranda rather strictly enforced a 'no screens' rule."

Roy chuckles. "She would. She is rather overly protective of those she cares about."

"No kidding." Andy rolls her eyes and smiles at him.

"If it helps, your ears should grow back now the fairy within is awake." He shrugs. "I've not known of a case where they haven't. They still won't be as long or as pretty as mine though." He teases her and she laughs. "They will be much as they are but with a pointed tip once they return to their form. Now, weapons…"

Andy nods. "Go on."

"I would be happy to train you Andy, it would be advantageous until your magic is unlocked and even after, I have no doubt. Especially as you work to control the magic. There isn't a lot of time to prepare, I know, but I am aware you now pick things up of this nature exceptionally quickly." He is quick to reassure her. "No, I'm not a mind reader." He chuckles again and Andy wonders if it is part of Elvin nature for them to be this cheerful all the time. She doesn't think she can recall a time where the man in front of wasn't in some form of perpetual good mood. "The girls talk in the car, you know. I hear it all normally, unless the screen is up…" He taps his ears. "Sometimes even then. The last two days, they've missed you coming with them, but did mention how quickly you picked it up already and couldn't wait for you to continue going with them again."

"Aww… I missed going with them too."

"Anyway, I know you already have a crammed schedule… oh!" He looks up as Miranda places a coffee in front of him. "Thanks, Boss."

Miranda joins Andy on the sofa, handing her another cup. Andy sends her a non-verbal thank you. "Where are we?"

"Discussing Andy's schedule." Roy responds. "Ideally, I'd like to do at least an hour a day. I think weapons will be just as effective, if not more so, than the KM. Keep going with that also, it will help build your stamina; you and the girls will be in need of it."

Andy sighs. "I am definitely going to have to take that leave of absence, aren't I?" She asks rhetorically. Shrugging, she continues. "I should have some time built up. Other than when Ciri was born, I've rarely taken time off." She pauses to mentally calculate. "Yeah, I think I have enough to last till New Year, almost certainly."

Looking back to Roy she waves at him to continue. "So, an hour a day, every day." Andy groans. "Early morning is probably best… with the KM of an evening. I won't keep you from Miranda too long if I can help it." He smiles at them both. "We might leave it a few days to start though, as Andy, you are still technically on rest til tomorrow, and I will need time to organise suitable weapons for you. I would offer our Labrys to work with at the start but it won't allow anyone else other than my family to handle it." He pauses to swallow some coffee. "I will need your height, arm length and hand measurements, too."

Miranda looks at him archly. "Specialty made, really? For a beginner?"

He smiles, unfazed by her sharp look. "Yes. A weapon that feels like it belongs to its bearer always works best, especially one imbued with magic."

Miranda nods. "Alright. Cost is unimportant, obviously. Not in comparison to the value of Andrèa's life, especially to me."

Andy's lip curls up in a small pleased smile as she feels the warmth in Miranda's words. Returning the love and warmth to the woman beside her, sees Miranda's lip quirk in acknowledgement.

"I need a few days to source materials, and find my smith but I should hopefully have something perfect by the end of next week. I will pick up a serviceable one for use in the mean-time." He looks to Andy. "Tonight or tomorrow, I would suggest researching bladed weapons and work out what you are drawn to, as that will be the one you are meant to use. That will give me enough time to find the serviceable one and we can begin on the weekend."

Andy nods, Miranda murmurs in agreement.

Once the discussion about weapons is out of the way, Miranda invites Roy to stay for dinner, and they spend a pleasurable hour or so in Roy's company as he regales them with tales of his misspent youth and how he wound up in Miranda's Clan after his Banishment from his Elven cluster, for daring to love a human woman. He chose love over duty and, though his human love passed in the mid-1850's just before she turned forty, he never once regretted loving her or choosing her over kin. His only regret was she had not borne him a child to continue their love in a new generation.

He met Miranda, then Marie, in about 1862, in Paris, of all places. He had been drowning his sorrows for about five years by then. Miranda helped him pick himself up, dusted him off and called him family and in return earnt his loyalty. He had been with her since, changing who he was each time she started a new life. In 1983, not long after joining Miranda in New York when she took the reins of American Runway and began morphing it into the multi-billion dollar venture it is, Roy met his current wife, Alesys.

She was also Elvin, though only half and disavowed, as her Elf mother refused to acknowledge her, having left her with her father the moment she was born. Alesys has birthed three beautiful girls, the oldest about to turn twenty, and the youngest going on 13, in the year below the twins at The Dalton School. The older man is overjoyed to finally be able to pass down his family Labrys, when the time comes; it is his one remaining connection to his Elvin heritage.

After a pleasurable dinner, Roy takes his leave and makes his way home to his wife. Andy and Miranda detour via their youngest daughter's room to say goodnight before joining the twins for an hour or so in the den. Once the girls also head to bed, Miranda suggests that Andy join her in their office, if she is not overly tired, so that the Editor can review The Book and, as Miranda considers her well now, allows Andy to return to her own unsupervised screen time and perhaps finish her article before taking her leave of absence.

Andy follows willingly, happy to spend any and all time with Miranda.