Medical leave (a Mirandy fanfic)

Chapter 15: Reprieve

Miranda climbed tiredly but always elegantly the steps that led to the front door. It was well past 10 PM and she couldn't wait to kick her shoes off and get in bed. She quietly opened the door to a darkened foyer and while she was hanging her coat, she could see a dim light filtering from under the kitchen door. Muffling her heels as much as she could, she entered the kitchen to find a robe-clad Andrea confortably working on her notebook, ensconced on a stool with her elbows propped on the kitchen isle. As soon as the brunette heard the door, she whipped her head and offered a luminous smile to the editor.

-"Hey, you're home"  - she climbed down from the stool and approached the silver-haired woman-

-"Finally" - Miranda sighed, closing the distance and hiding her face in the crook of the other woman's neck. Andrea embraced her soothingly and caressed her white locks - 

-"It must have been a hell of a day. Come, Cara made something for you, I'll turn the stove on - she said, pecking Miranda's cheek. Andrea led her by the hand to the stool and then set the stove and retrieve the wine and two glasses from the pantry. Miranda toyed absentmindedly with her watch - "Hey, it's ok. You're home now" - the younger woman cupped the editor's face and cooed to her lovingly. Miranda captured her hand and place a kiss on her knuckles -

-"I could definitely get used to this" -she closed her eyes, reveling in the moment-

-"To working yourself to exhaustion, yeah, you're pretty much used to that" - Andrea mocked her-

-"No, I could definitely get used to coming home to you and the girls. To drifting off swooned in your warmth and to waking up in your arms" - she sighed- " Andrea, if you have any doubt about this, about us, please, just please, tell me now. Because if you lure me into a false sense of security just because you're afraid of saying no, I..." - Miranda clenched her fist and stared intently at the kitchen isle surface-

-"No, no, no, wait. Look at me. Miranda, please look at me"- Andrea pleaded and the editor complied reluctantly - "I want this, I've never wanted something so much like I want you"  - she  snaked her arm around Miranda's waist, resting their foreheads together - "I'am not luring you into anything. I'll give you everything, everything I have, everything I'am is yours. Though that doesn't sound very promising coming from an unemployed journalism graduated" - she smiled resignedly - "I'am no one, and you're Miranda Priestly, I have nothing, you have everything. But if you let me, I'll proove to be worthy of you, just wait. I'll build a name for myself so you'll never have to move a finger on my behalf. But please, give us a chance" - she eyed the older woman, concern, fear and love glazing her chocolate eyes - 

-"Andrea, you don't have to proove anything to anyone.  You're kind and beautiful and so young. I'am afraid that... that being with me will suffocate your talents, that my name will always be a hamper and you'll grow resentful of me" - she furrowed her brows in pained expression -

-"That won't happen" - she gently tilted the editor's head and pressed their lips together - "I don't think I'll ever grow tired of kissing you, growing resentful of you is out of the question" - she smiled and pecked her nose - "Your dinner must be ready" 

-"Give me that mitt, I don't need you to burn your good hand" -the editor jokingly bumped the brunette out of the way with her hips - 

-"Hey, I'm doing excellent with my new found hability in my left hand" - she wriggled her fingers-

-"I won't take the chance. Did you have dinner?"

-"Yup, with the girls. They asked whether you'd make it to dinner tomorrow"

-"I don't know, darling. There's still a lot to do, I'll see what if I can..."

-"It's ok" - Andrea smiled reassuringly - "They were just asking, they know how hard you work and I told them that there was a situation going on. They understand"