The Gift of Possibilities - The Eighth
All hail the Little Freakboat. It's mine!
Disclaimer: The Devil Wears Prada is neither mine nor Ruari's. No infringement intended, no money being made. The building belongs to Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox. We're just redecorating. When finished, we will tear down the new curtains and fancy artwork, but leave the festive paint…
Rating: T
Fandom: The Devil Wears Prada
Pairing: Mirandy
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Eighth ~ CeeLyn’s
As she walked out of the study Andy noticed a shadow on the stairs.
“Miranda?” she called softly.
There was no answer. Moving from the doorway to the landing she realized that it was indeed Miranda, who seemed to be listening in on the twins’ party downstairs.
“Hey,” she said softly, sitting down. “What’s going on? Picking up any good gossip?”
Miranda nodded ‘no’ absently, and then felt an arm drape around her shoulder. As she turned Andy could see the unshed tears in her eyes.
“Sweetie? You okay? What’s wrong…” the concern was heavy in Andy’s voice as she pulled Miranda around to face her full on. “What? The biopsy? I thought they said-”
“No, darling. Everything is fine. The biopsy was exactly as I told you. I’m fine. Really.”
Andy stared into Miranda’s eyes, searching for a reason not to believe her and then finally pulled her firmly into a tight embrace.
“I’m gonna kill you if you do that again. So, what? What is it? Has something happened?” She now had pushed Miranda away again and was giving her that ‘don’t mess with me’ look Miranda had come to know all too well.
Brushing away the pool of tears Miranda smiled gently and gestured toward the sounds coming from the party. “It’s nothing, I promise. It’s just…I’m going to miss them.”
“Miss them? Are they going somewhere? They’ll be here for Christmas next week, right? What? Where-”
Miranda laughed and took Andy’s face in her hands. “You are such a reporter, aren’t you?” She paused to kiss Andy briefly, but sweetly. “What I am going to miss is them, the twins. They aren’t my little girls anymore…”
Tears once again began to fill Miranda’s eyes.
“Oh, honey, that’s not true. They’ll always be your little girls. It’s just, well, now they’re grown up little girls. Is that what this is all about? Their graduating?”
The distant look in Miranda’s eyes told her there was more.
“It’s the biopsy, isn’t it? No, I know you said everything is fine and I believe you. It’s got you rattled though, doesn’t it?”
At that Miranda began to weep openly, wrapping Andy in a tight embrace. Startled by the sudden display of emotion Andy did what came naturally to anyone in that position-she rocked, she hugged, she patted, she rubbed, and she whispered soothing sounds in Miranda’s ear until she quieted.
Finally Miranda pulled back a little, wiping her eyes on the arm of her sweater. Looking to see Andy’s eyes go wide at such an un-Miranda like gesture she smiled crookedly.
“What? I’m upset. I don’t have a-”
Andy produced a silk handkerchief, which in turn produced a raised eyebrow from Miranda.
“Hey, I’ve picked up a few things from you through the years, okay? You are like the boy scout of fashion. Always prepared.” Wiping the tears from Miranda’s face she said more softly, “Now what’s going on? Really?”
It took every ounce of will power Miranda had not to look away.
“I’m getting old, Andrea. Older every day. I am going to miss so much of their lives, so much of yours…Oh, Andy I’m going to miss so much!” Once again Miranda collapsed against the younger woman’s shoulder.
“Honey, Sweetie, you’re… wait. ‘Andy?’ You called me Andy!” She could not help the laughter that bubbled out as she tried to console the woman in her arms.
It was at this unfortunate moment in time that Caroline stepped into the hallway at the bottom of the steps. The sight of the two women sitting on the stairs, clutching each other while one cried and the other one laughed must have been too much for her. Andy could have sworn she heard her mumble something about ‘menopause central’ before turning back to her guests.
Miranda’s sobs had subsided once again and Andy pushed away from her. Holding her at arm’s length she caught Miranda’s gaze and held it.
“Look. I know exactly how old you are. Okay? And you know exactly how old I am. But you are not old, any more than I am young. We are what we are. You are in good health, right? I am in good health, well, except for the ice cream problem… Anyway, we have years, Miranda, years left together. Decades, hopefully. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, next week, next year? We both know how fast things can happen and we both know how important each and every moment is. Let’s just be, ok? Our moment is now. I worked too damn hard to get into this family portrait for you to start sketching out its demise. So, stop it, damn it!”
Andy grabbed Miranda in a fierce hug. "I cannot imagine a life without you. I cannot remember really living a life before you." At that Andy suddenly pulled back and gave Miranda an inquisitive look.
"You know, we've never really talked about 'before' before."
Miranda struggled to catch up with Andy's familiar frequent gear shift.
"What 'before' Andrea? You do so confound me at times..."
Sensing her question had its desired effect of rousing Miranda from her dark mood Andy pressed on. "Before. Before me, before, well, the men in your life. Tell me, Miranda Priestly, were there any other skirts you chased before mine?" Her attempt at waggling her eyebrows brought a chuckle from Miranda's lips.
"Skirts? Want to know if I chased skirts? Hmmm. No, I can't say that I did. Although..."
"What? WHAT? You don't get to say 'Although' all coy and mysterious and, Miranda-like, and then just leave it at that!"
"Miranda-like? Please Andrea, don't be- well. Please. Fine. Yes, there was one young woman in college. But before you get all 'Andy-ish' let me say no, nothing happened."
"But you liked her, right? Did she like you?"
"Andrea, she didn't even know my name. She was just a young woman, a very beautiful young woman I saw everyday on the commons. She had the most gorgeous red hair, her body was tan and willowy. She was very attractive. I always wondered who she was and what she did..."
"You didn't even know her name?"
"Oh, I knew her name. Gloria. That's all. Just Gloria. I heard someone call out to her one day. She turned, her hair caught the sunlight, and she had the most radiant smile. Almost as beautiful as yours, my dear. But not quite. But that was a long time ago. A lifetime ago. And now I have a new life, with you."
Miranda's smile warmed Andy as much as her embrace.
“I’m sorry, Andrea. I didn’t mean to scare you. I am so sorry.” The words were meant to comfort her younger wife, but somehow managed to sooth her own soul as well. “Do you know what I love about the fact that you are so much younger than me? I love that you will be there for the girls. They will have their darling Andy to watch over them and tease them and teach them all the things they’ll need to know to be a good mother, mmm, how about grandmother? And you will have them as well. I cannot tell you the peace that brings me, knowing you all will be there for each other. But you are right. That is not for quite some time, is it?” Turning her head into Andy’s neck she placed several light kisses up the slender woman’s throat. “And as for you getting into this family- Darling you were always there. From the very beginning you were always there, always in the picture, perhaps just not quite in focus.” Her mouth settled on Andy’s for a kiss full of need and desire. “And now- now you are my vision. I love you, dear Andrea.”
Standing, she pulled Andy up with her. “Shall we go down and see if there is anything left of the family room? I simply cannot imagine what they are doing to generate that amount of noise.”
With their fingers entwined the two women made their way down the stairs to the doorway of the family room. Caroline and Cassidy and their friends were oblivious to their audience as they laughed and joked and picked through snacks and argued over music. It was a room full of joy and promise and noise and love.
As Miranda was pulled into the room she caught a glimpse of that amazing gift Andy had given her that first Christmas so long ago. It is still amazing. So beautiful, and so prophetic. Andy grabbed Miranda’s hand and spun her around under the mistletoe hanging near the center of the room. Just before her lips met those of that dear, sweet woman that had offered to share her life she caught a glimpse of last year’s gift. Prophetic, profound, and perfect. It was all she could ever ask for, and all she could ever need; her family, her love.
That’s all…