Medical leave (a Mirandy fanfic)

Chapter 13: the longest week I

Their pleasant weekend had been cut short. Since discovering the sneaky stunt Ravitz had pulled, Miranda was a bundle of nerves. As much as she tried to deny it, Andrea was too well versed in reading the editor. She rubbed her temples and pinched her nose more frequently like she did when some uninspired employee presented her with some abhorrid excuse for a well done work. She sighed deeply and was quieter than usual, she toyed with her fingers and rings all through lunch.

For any passer by, her face was a mask of nothingness but Andy knew exactly what was going in her mind. Miranda Priestly was a woman comitted to her job, she never did things by half and only expected perfection. For such a woman, this situation was at least catastrophic.

-"Miranda, love. Look at me" - the brunette reached over the table, taking her hand. Miranda looked a moment at ther joined hands and then, turned to look at her lover - "It's going to be ok, we'll sort this out. If there's someone who can manage such a situation, that's you. No one can do what you do, Miranda. You're amazing" - Andrea regaled her with her brightest smile and lifted her hand to her lips, placing a kiss that spoke of absolute adoration. Miranda smiled and cupped her face.

-"Thak you, darling. I don't know what I'd do without you. But I can't avoid but feel betrayed" - she frowned - "I already know Irv and Jacqueline so I can't say their methods are a surprise, but thinking that there's someone in our team that gave him the draft of the issue is... Trust and loyalty are hard-won goods, Andrea. I can't believe I misjudged someone so wrong"

-"Maybe you didn't. He could have gotten the draft from one of the computers at the art department, or any department actually. You know a preliminaire circulates among the departments before the draft becomes definitive and is sent to printing. Aaaaand Irv wouldn't be denied access by the guards, though I'm not sure there will be a tape of the robbery. I mean the man is an ass" - this earned a chuckle from Miranda and Andy felt slightly relieved - "But he's not so careless"

-"You're right, darling. But I can asure you something, neither Irv nor Jacqueline will get away  unscathed from this"

-"Mmmh, I'm sure you'll impart divine justice, left and right" - Andrea leaned over the kitchen isle and kissed her - "Now, let's clear the table and I'll get to work on that article"

-"I'm sorry, darling. You should be resting and I should be freely enjoying your wondrous company" - Miranda rested their foreheads together-

-"Hey, it's ok" - Andy pecked her nose - "I'm glad I can still be useful and help, I'm glad you trust me as to ask me to write for Runway, even if it is a single article"

-"You're a talented writer, I told you. You'll do great things, my darling. You'll go far with whatever you put your mind in to. But I hope you'll still want to come back to me, to us" 

-"Always, Miranda. I'll always come  back to you" - the brunette kissed her fiercely - "I love you and I'll remain at your side as long as you let me"

-"Then you can't leave" - Miranda's shoulders relaxed and a smile spreaded through her face - 

-"Acceptable" - Andy mocked and Miranda pecked her lips. They cleared the table and made their way to the den.

Roy brought the twins in the evening and the girls found both women working cozily in Miranda's study. Miranda was sitting in the love seat, writting the editorial note for the issue. There wasn't much more she could do right then and there, she had already given the pertinent orders and I all she could expect was to enjoy the last moments of peace  of her Sunday evening. Andrea was sitting cross-legged on the fluffy rug, leaning slightly against Miranda's right leg, while the editor played absentmindedly with a lock of her hair. 

Both girls stood in their tracks and took in the image before them. The den was their mother's sanctuary, she worked there, she would shelter there when she fought with their father, she would stay there when she didn't feel like receiving a slightly tipsy but completely disgusting Stephen. And now, she was sharing her most sacred place with Andrea, like the brunette had always belonged there. The twins looked at each other before their mother's voice interrupted their wordless conversation.

-"Hello, Bobbserys. Did you have fun?" - the editor acknowledged them and Andrea dedicated them a warm smile -

-"Yeah, it was ok" - Caroline replied and shrugged-

-"It was fun. Dad liked his present and this morning we went sailing" - Cassidy answered honestly-

-"That's lovely, my darlings" 

-"Sooooo..." - Caroline probed with her sister's beforehanded connivance and Miranda tilted her head expectantly - " You two dating or what?"

Andrea froze instantly with her fingers hovering over the keyboard of her notebook, suddenly the rug under her seemed all too interesting. Miranda, on the other hand, didn't seem apalled at all. She was expecting this, of course. Their girls weren't in the habit of forgetfulness.

-"Ah, uhm, we..." - Andrea tried to gather her wits to no avail - 

-"You could say so, yes" - Miranda stated, nonchalantly and Andrea looked up at her, wide-eyed- "It's ok, darling" - she reassured the young woman - "They urged me to take good care of you so you'd stay, but I might have added other methods to the inventory" - Miranda blinked at her - 

-"Ooooh, so you seduced me with calzone and good coffee to keep me here?" - Andrea quipped-

-"Maybe" - the editor smiled mischieviously and both women were starttled by the sound of whooping and cheering - "Girls, that doesn't mean Andrea is moving in. We still have some... issues to sort out, thus our relation must remain secret for a while"

-"Ooooh" - both deflated - 

-"But how long?" - Cassidy enquired - "You are no longer married to that... - Miranda raised a brow and Cassidy prompted to embellish the next sustantive as much as she could- "man" - and only that took her best efforts- 

-"Yeah, mom. This is the 21st century, no one would dare question you because Andy's a girl as well" - Caroline pointed, shrugging off her mother's concerns at the same time. Not that Miranda doubted her daughters, she had vowed to give them an open-minded and accepting education, unlike the one she had to put up with - 

-"I know, Bobbseys, but it's not that simple. Trust me when I tell that discretion is our best ally now"

-"Okaaay" - both acquiesced - 

-"We'll be unpacking" - Cassidy said and both fleed from the room - 

-"Ok, that went better than I expected" - Andy admitted, a little apalled- 

-"And what were you exactly expecting?" - Miranda retorted, cupping her cheek and bringing her face upwards - "They are besotted with you, my darling. You've been so attentive and loving to them" - Andrea smiled widely at the prospect of being accepted so quickly and Miranda traced her cheeks with her thumb-

-"As am I, Miranda. I love you all, very much" - the brunette couldn't help the tears of pure joy and Miranda smiled lovingly-

-"Let's take a break. I'll make some hot cocoa for the girls and..."

-"Oh!" - Andy exclaimed looking at her with pleading eyes, before the silver-haired woman could continue - 

-"Don't you tell me you'd rather have a childlish hot cocoa decorated with star-shaped colourful topping than a regal and perfectly adult coffee?" - Miranda quipped, arching an amused brow at the brunette's excitement - 

-"Of course! Adulthood sucks!" - Andrea pouted adorably and Miranda's chest filled with affection-

-"Very well, four cocoa cups then" 

-"Hey!  You were mocking me because you said it was childlish" - but Miranda exited the room before the end of the phrase, laughing on her way downstairs -