Medical leave (a Mirandy fanfic)

Chapter 10: a weekend just for us

That Saturday morning was a lot of fun, and Miranda had to admit that she enjoyed herself very much. She enjoyed watching Andrea interact with her girls, she had never seen the twins so interested in someone who was not blood related or had known for years. The relation with  their father was ok, a bit distant at times but eventually ended up in good terms. James worked as hard as Miranda and the fact that the didn't live together made it difficult for both parties. With Stephen it was a whole different story, at first the girls had made some efforts but soon they deemed him unworthy of such efforts, and the man hadn't even really tried. So their enthusiasm and love for Andrea was a novelty.

After lunch, and of course the promised travel to the yogurt ice cream shop, Roy took the women back to the townhouse. The twins handed him their luggage as they rushed upstairs to check in case they had forgotten something. Miranda was in the den, lazily going through her e-mail inbox when both redheads opened the door tentatively. Without taking her eyes from the computer, Miranda asked:

-"Did you pack everything you need, bobbseys? Make sure you're not leaving your homework behind"-

-"Yes, mom" - both rolled their eyes and chorused-

-"Good" - Miranda stood and walked towards them, enveloping her daughters in a tight hug - "Be good to your father and that includes her girlfriend" - she clarified just in case - "Do you have his present?"

-"Yup" - Caroline answered and Cassidy showed her a blue package - "Are you going to take care of Andy?"

-"Yes, bobbsey, I'am"

-"Great, take good care of her" - Cassidy added - "We really like her"

-"Yeah, and we don't want her to leave. So maybe if you take good care of her, she won't leave" - both grinned at the idea - 

-"Oh, girls, I don't know. Andrea will have to go back to her apartment eventually"

-"What? Why" - both exclaimed in indignation - 

-"Because she lives there"

-"She could live here, with us" - Caroline prompted to propose - 

-"Darling, why would she move here?"

-"Because she likes us, she said so" - Caroline observed - 

-"Yes, darling, she does. But that doesn't mean that she'll move in"

-"But isn't that what people who love each other do? They move in together?" - Caroline queried-

-"That's entirely different, Caroline"

 -"It's not!" - she retorted - "She likes us and she saved us because she likes us"

-"Yeah, and she injured herself in doing so. That must mean she likes us a lot"

-"Yes, darlings, she does like you but..."

-"She likes you to a lot, too, you know?" -Caroline probed-

-"I..."

-"Do you like Andy, mom?" - she inquired further -

-"Yes... yes, I do like Andrea" - Miranda answered wishful-

-"No problem then" - Caroline stated and Miranda sighed. They were stubborn and fiercely determined, and she knew exactly from which side of the family that came. Hers.

-"I'll see what I can do" - she deflated in defeat and both girls beamed - 

-"Thank you, mom!" - Caroline pecked her mother's cheek and stompped out of the room-

-"She really likes you, you'll see" - Cassidy pecked her other cheek and ran downstairs to join her twin. Both girls hugged Andy and jumped in the car, as soon as they were out of sight, Andrea closed the door.