Be Okay (Part 1)
Author: Fanchiction
Title: Be Okay (Part 1)
Pairing: Mirandy
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Summary: Post-Paris... Andy never went to work for The Mirror.
A/N: These pictures helped me to visualize what I was working with. I thought I might as well share... And I know the Olsen twins are.. Olsen twin-ny... But this pic had teen twin socialites and I ran with it. There was even one with red hair, and I thought to myself,'Self, one of the Priestly twins may be trying to create her own identity. She just might dye her hair!' Okay... Enough of that.
And, yes, I hijacked a Baby Gap picture for the purpose of fanfic. :)
PS: I'm working on the 2nd part of Similarities (a DWP and GL xover) and the 2nd part of this simultaneously, so I'm not sure which I'll pull out first.
School's kicking my butt. :/
Miranda Priestly was in a bad mood. She had four designers, two advertisers, a neglected husband, and two resentful daughters to deal with, yet not an ounce of patience left inside of her. And maybe that was why she waited until the last clacker had clacked away for the night, and pounced on Andrea for an after-hours romp in The Closet. She was relentless, using every frustrated bone in her body to bring her assistant to unforgiving orgasm after unforgiving orgasm until they both lay limp and heaving on the floor.
"You were such a bitch today," Andrea panted after she'd been thoroughly ravaged. "I mean at work," she clarified. She liked it when Miranda was rough with her off the clock... At the office, not so much.
"I was doing my job. Sometimes it takes being a bitch to get things done," Miranda explained. "You know all about that, don't you Andrea?"
The brunette shuddered, and Miranda couldn't help but smirk at the effect that she still had on the girl. "How am I a bitch?"
"You're in the habit of leaving people without notice." She'd nearly lost the girl once in Paris already-- until the girl had showed up at her hotel room that same night looking like a wet cat. 'You weren't supposed let me leave,' Andrea had said. And that was when Miranda realized that she couldn't afford to get rid of her.
"What?" Andy demanded, bringing her lover back to the present. "I left you plenty of notice. You wrote me a letter of recommendation--"
The editor held out her hand in protest. "I'm not talking about Seventeen, I'm talking about us. You said that you wanted to take a break. Yesterday... At the preview... You said that we should take a break."
Andrea's long neck curved down into her shoulders. She was exhausted from a full day of running around for this woman. "Well, yeah. Have you thought about how hard it's going to be to see each other after I leave Runway-- Especially when the gossip rags find out about your divorce? We just... have to figure some things out first."
"What happens between us is private. It shouldn't be hard to keep it that way," Miranda rasped.
"But it is. It's hard, Miranda. We can't stay in the closet forever." She snorted at the irony of this conversation taking place in the literal Closet-- She would've laughed, too, if she didn't feel like throwing up.
Miranda blinked her eyes a few times and looked away. "What about the girls? They're accustomed to having you around now. You can't just drop out of our lives--"
"Dammit Miranda, maybe I don't want to sneak around anymore!" she snapped.
"Oh." Miranda was breathless.
Andrea took a deep breath and sat back. "Nate's in town again."
Foggy blue eyes glanced up immediately. "I see." Miranda's breathing had returned to normal, yet her voice sounded even weaker. "And you're interested in a reconciliation?"
"I don't know-- are you leaving Stephen?" Andrea mumbled.
"I don't like ultimatums, Andrea..." What else could she say? She was a married woman, after all. She would be a hypocrite to expect exclusivity from the girl. They'd never even discussed it. She'd just presumed...
"It's not an ultimatum! It's..."
Miranda's body tensed. "If you want to be with him, then I can't stop you--"
"Miranda, I don't want to be with Nate." Andrea laughed her way through her oncoming tears. She looked almost hysterical.
"Then what are you trying to say...?"
"I wanted to wait to tell you..."
"Tell me what, Andrea?"
"I'm pregnant," the girl blurted.
Miranda nearly choked. "You're...? You--? What?"
"But I haven't slept with him in over two months, I swear to God," Andrea whimpered. Two months ago, Miranda had promised that she was going to ask Stephen for a divorce-- two months ago, they'd acknowledged that this relationship was bigger than either one of them cared to admit-- two months ago they'd made the transition from torrid affair to codependent infatuation.
Miranda took a few moments to process. Her mouth had gone dry and her ears were still ringing. "Are you sure?" she managed after a while.
Andrea nodded hesitantly. "I went to the doctor last week."
"And it's his?"
"Well it sure as fuck isn't yours. What's that supposed to mean, anyway?" Andy snapped, slightly outraged.
"Nothing. I didn't mean it like that..." Miranda corrected, gradually coming back to herself. "So what does the chef have to say about all of this?" She couldn't bear to say his name.
"He wants to get married," Andrea sobbed, as if the thought itself had broken her. She helplessly huddled into her lover's shoulder. "I can't marry him, Miranda. I don't want to be with him..."
Miranda felt her heart constrict in her chest. She scooted closer to the girl and scooped her up in her arms. She'd never considered herself to be warm or nurturing in any way... but right now, she couldn't help but whisper calm words of affection into the fragile creature's ear. They held on tightly to one another and, as they melted into one, she realized that she couldn't quite bring herself to let go.
"Sh..." Miranda whispered. "Everything's going to be okay."
-BE OKAY-
Miranda frowns at the man standing on her doorstep. He looks like a stray cat with his ragged jeans and unshaven face. He even has the audacity to be wearing flip-flops in the chilly night air. She fights the urge to slam the door in his face and steps aside so that he can make his way into the townhouse.
"Nice to see you, too, Miranda," Nate teases with a quasi-affectionate nudge.
She tenses at the too-close contact and follows him into the kitchen. She nearly gags when her housekeeper pulls him in for a big bear hug.
"Rosie! How've you been, Beautiful?" he asks over dimpled cheeks. Nate's a shameless flirt, and Rosie loves him for it.
"I'm good, Querido," she chuckles. "We miss you around here..." They've only met a few times, but she's sincere.
Nate turns to Miranda with his ridiculous grin and wiggles his eyebrows. "Aw, did you miss me, Miranda?" She purses her lips and grabs her tea off of the counter without responding, so he continues. "I went to Andy's, but she wasn't there."
"Andrea's not here either. Obviously. Don't you know how to use a phone?"
He puffs out his chest, bravely choosing fight over flight and looks directly into hazy blue eyes. "My boss gave me some vacation time."
Miranda takes an excruciatingly slow and steady sip of tea. "Don't make a habit of it," she cautions, knowing full well just how frightening she can be.
Nate snorts. "He's my son, Miranda, and I'll see him as I goddamn please. If you cared about him--"
"Do not question how I feel about Samuel," Miranda fires back. She's only slightly wounded, though. They're used to saying things that they don't mean. "Andrea should be here soon."
Nate mumbles something unintelligible as he sulks over the breakfast table and takes a seat.
Miranda rolls her eyes in response and whips out of the room.
*****************************************************************************
Andrea Sachs has yet to grow into her role as a mother/steady girlfriend/stepmotherish figure-- although she's doing a fine job of all three. It's just that, for some reason, she still wears "young" and "bright-eyed" all too well for a 28-year-old woman.
"Mimi!" Sam excitedly calls out for Miranda as he enters the townhouse at Andy's heel. On some days, he still likes to wear his Bob the Builder costume from last year's trick-or-treating festivities (even though it's now mid-July). This is one of those days.
"She's probably in her office working," Andy chuckles.
The elated little boy runs up the stairs, leaving Andy to indulge her sweet tooth. It would be an understatement to say she's shocked to see Nate sitting in Miranda's kitchen with a plate in front of him.
"What are you doing here?" she asks, trying not to sound entirely annoyed.
"Stealing Rosie's recipes," he answers with a grin.
Rosie glances between the two and is smart enough to get out of the crossfire before it's too late. "Dinner's on the stove. Have a good vacation, Ms. Andy," she calls out over her shoulder.
"Thanks, Rosie! You too!" Andy follows her with a hug. They exchange some kind words and the woman leaves the room with a smile on her face. "Nate..." Andy grumbles once they're finally alone.
"What? I missed Sammy... I wanted to see him before you guys head out."
Andy snaps her eyes shut. "Well, you can't just show up here."
"You weren't at your apartment, so I figured you'd be at Miranda's palace." He looks around and shakes his head with a snort.
"What?" Andy demands.
He shrugs his shoulders. "This is just... so not you."
Andy arches a challenging brow. "It is me, Nate." They've been through this a thousand times.
"Oh come on, Andy... You've never liked this bullshit." He waves his arms and gestures to their surroundings. "You didn't even like to go to nice restaurants when we were together and now you're spending the summer in the Hamptons with your secret Sugar Mama--"
"Fuck you, Nate--"
"--Our son is going to a preschool that costs more than both of our college tuitions combined, for chrissakes..."
Andy's jaw tenses. "Is that what this is about? You said that you were okay with that."
He sighs before placing an apologetic hand on her shoulder. "Nevermind.... The school is fine... I'm just... I just missed the little guy, alright?"
She looks at his big puppy dog eyes-- the same lovable eyes that her son has learned to use on her-- and melts. "He's upstairs..."
He mouths a "thank-you" and pulls her in for a hug. She's surprised at how easy it is to sink into him-- they've always been a near-perfect fit. But the feeling of his patchy scruff against her cheek isn't comfortable like it used to be. He's rough where Miranda's soft... And Miranda is so soft-- He's broad where Miranda's small... Sometimes Andy uses the top of her head as a shelf for her chin-- Nate's hands are always cold, and Miranda is ...well... hot. So to speak.
Speaking of the devil... "Does Miranda know you're here?" Andy finally asks.
Nate raises his thick eyebrows. "What, you think I snuck in?"
"--I don't know why I let him in, but I did," Miranda dryly confirms as she re-enters the room. She's carrying Sam, even though he's starting to get too big for her to hold.
"Daddy!" he squeals, holding his arms out for Nate.
Nate chuckles and picks the little boy up. "Hey! What's up little man?"
"I'm wearing my Hal-ween costume!" He points to his hard hat.
"You are?" Nate holds Sam out to examine him. "Why does he look like one of the Village People?" he whispers to Andy with a obligatory smile on his face.
"He's Bob the Builder, you ass..." Andy retorts.
Nate pushes his bottom lip out in a pout. "There's way too much estrogen in this house, huh Sammy?"
"I went big boy potty t'day!" Sam beams.
Nate's eyebrows lift with interest. "You used the big boy potty all by yourself?"
Sam's head bobs up and down in affirmation. "Mimi saw me do it!"
Nate tenses and shoots a sideways glance at Andy. He hates the 'Mimi' thing. The first time he heard his son say it, he'd insisted that it was too close to 'Mommy' for his liking. What he hates even more than the nickname is the fact that Miranda was there to see him use the bathroom for the first time while he was hard at work in another state. "Mimi's lucky isn't she?" he snarks.
Andy gently slaps him on the shoulder. "You can sleep over if you want to spend some time with him. We have to leave kind of early in the morning."
Nate glances between the couple. "I'd love to, but I'm supposed to be meeting up with Lily and Doug later. What if I come over for breakfast tomorrow? I'll make that stuffed french toast you guys like."
"Sure," Andy agrees.
Miranda shoots her girlfriend a glare. "I have some work to finish up." She finishes speaking with the most passive-aggressive blink of her eyes that Andy's ever seen. She knows there will be hell to pay later. The older woman turns on her heel and exits the kitchen without so much as a glance in Nate's direction.
Andy sighs. "Sammy, why don't you get Mimi to read you a bedtime story while I talk to Daddy?"
"Kay!" the three-year-old agrees.
Nate affectionately smothers him and gives him a kiss on the cheek. He doesn't seem to register that his son now has his own room at Miranda's house, otherwise he would probably be raising hell.
"Bye Daddy!" Sam says before skipping upstairs.
"He's still wearing his Halloween costume?" Nate demands immediately after they are left alone.
Andy rolls her eyes. "Miranda said that Cassidy did the same thing. It's the sign of a healthy imagination. He'll probably end up being a leader or something."
"Did it ever occur to you that Doctor Miranda spends most of her time deciding which feathers and eyeliner look best on grown men? How does she know what's normal?"
Andy snorts. "If you weren't such a Neanderthal, you'd realize that most kids go through phases like this. It's not a big deal." She attempts to release the tension in her body that he's put there by massaging her own neck muscles. "Besides, we were thinking of having a costume party for his birthday this year."
Nate stares at Andy. "When were you going to run that by me?"
"If you don't like it, you can throw your own party for him, Nate. I'm really not in the mood to argue." Andy grabs his arm and leads him out to the foyer. "I'll see you in the morning. Breakfast is at eight sharp."
"Can't wait," he teases with a playful upturned nose. He's always known how to redeem himself with her.
She fights a smile and pushes him outside.
*******************************************************************************
As Andy peeks into the bathroom, she considers joining in on Miranda's bath. But Miranda Priestly likes her baths like she likes her coffee, and Andy isn't in the mood to be burned tonight.
The truth is that keeping their relationship hidden is putting a strain on them. And two strenuous jobs combined with three children, a babydaddy, and an ex-husband don't do anything to make matters less stressful. They're starting to fight more often-- and fuck a lot less. The attraction, however, is still unwavering magnetic heat.
Andy sits on the floor in front of the tub and runs the backs of her fingers over Miranda's arm.
"Mmmmm," the older woman hums in appreciation.
Andy leans in and kisses her slowly-- sensually-- feather soft lips to feather soft lips. "Thank you for being nice to Nate."
Miranda brings one arm out of the water and touches every intricate detail that she so loves about her girlfriend's face. "It's better for Samuel if we all learn how to get along." Her voice is tired from the day's stresses. She gently cups one of Andy's breasts and gives it a curious squeeze.
"God," Andy gasps. She misses the 'them' that they used to be... the passionate and insatiable 'them'. "I'm going to take a shower in the guest bathroom. Meet me in bed in a half-hour?"
Miranda's lips twitch into a smile as she retracts her hand. "Twenty minutes."
Andy nods and nearly stumbles out of the room in her failed attempt to hurry.
Unfortunately, she falls asleep before Miranda even gets out of the tub.
*********************************************************************************
"G'morning," Caroline mumbles. She's never been much of a morning person, and it doesn't help that she only got home a few hours ago.
"Oh, thank God," Andy gasps. She suspects that the teenager is battling a severe hangover, but she shoots her a silent plea in the form of big brown eyes anyway. "Will you tell Sam how good Cheerios are?"
Carol smirks. "Are we out of Lucky Charms?" At Andy's nod, she sits down next to the little boy. "Aw, Sammy, Cheerios are just as cool as Lucky Charms. Cass and I used to eat them all the time."
Sam remains unfazed. "I don't like Chee--wee--ohhs," he calmly states.
Andy always marvels at how much like Miranda her son ended up being. Even when he was a baby he didn't throw tantrums. He isn't a brat, but he never expects anything less than the best either. He's inherited Andy's looks, Nate's confidence, Cassidy's creativity, and Caroline's rebelliousness-- but at the very core, the kid is all Miranda Priestly.
"What time are we leaving?" Carol asks, running a hand through her messy newly blonde tresses. She gets up and pours herself a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Andy glances at the clock over the stove. "Nate was supposed to be here for breakfast at eight, so we're running a little late."
"Ah."
"Is Cass getting ready?" The brunette asks. She grabs a secret stash of poptarts out of the pantry.
"I don't know... She's been locked in her room since yesterday. I think she's in one of her 'moods' or something."
Andy rolls her eyes and holds out the box of pastries to her son. "How about these?"
"Mommy," Sam sighs, "I only want Lucky Charms." He's obviously bored with this conversation, but Andy's determined to feed him before they leave the house.
Miranda enters the kitchen and heads straight for the coffee. "Good morning everyone," she sing-songs. A quick kiss from her girlfriend & a sip of coffee later, and she's ready to start her day. "What's going on?" She glances at her watch.
Andy shrugs. "We're out of Lucky Charms," she laments.
Miranda shakes her head and mumbles something about "incompetence" that Andy can't quite catch. She grabs Sam's bowl and fills it with Cheerios and Andy's secret stash of marshmallows. "Here you go, sweetheart."
"Thank you, Mimi!" Sam squeals.
Miranda glances back at her girlfriend. "What's happening with Nathanial? It's almost nine and we need to get going soon."
"I know," Andy groans. "His phone keeps going straight to voice mail."
A half hour passes by, and Miranda is close to (in Carol's words) 'flipping a bitch'. The phone rings, and Andy all but leaps up to get it.
"Hello?" she answers.
"Andy?" a familiar-yet-unidentifiable voice asks.
"Yeah. Who's this?"
"It's Lily. I've been trying to reach you all morning. I didn't have your new number."
Andy hasn't heard her voice since they had the big falling out when she starting seeing Miranda. "Is everything okay, Lil?" she asks, as if no time has passed.
"Nate got mugged on his way to my apartment last night... he got beat up pretty bad. He's um... I took him to the hospital..."
And that's just about when Andy's hearing stops working. She says some well-placed okay's and mmhmm's and hangs up the phone. Miranda looks like she's expecting an explanation, so Andy doesn't waste any time. Within minutes, the three of them-- Andy, Miranda, and Sam-- are on their way to the ER.
****************************************************************************
When they get to the hospital, they run into Lily, who pulls Andy and Sammy in for hugs and gives a quick nod of greeting to Miranda. They update each other for awhile-- Lily's got a husband now. And an expensive apartment in Manhattan. And a dog, even though she's always been a cat person. Before Andy can show too much distaste, Lily leaves for the gallery because there's no one else to open it up for her.
Andy goes into Nate's room first, while Miranda keeps an eye on Sam in the waiting area.
Nate looks like he's been beaten up pretty badly. His eyes start to flutter open and Andy sits in the chair next to the bed.
"Hey," he rasps.
"Hi," she whispers. "Are you okay?"
Within seconds, Nate's wearing his lopsided smile. "I'll live." He curses as he tries to sit up.
Andy pops out of her chair and helps him to adjust to his new position. She tries not to panic when she sees the dried up blood on his pillow. "What did the doctors say?" she manages to ask.
He rolls his eyes with a huff. "They don't want me to go back to Boston yet. They're worried about my head injury."
There's a thoughtful moment of silence before Andy responds. "So come with us."
"What?" he chokes.
"To the Hamptons. Miranda's ex has the house next door-- maybe you two can bunk together. And that way you'll get to spend some time with Sammy this summer."
"No, that's..."
"Why not? You don't have work next week." She watches a plethora of emotions play out on his face as he considers. "Listen Nate, you're hurt and I'd feel better if you didn't fly back to Boston yet. Stay with us, spend some time with Sam, and maybe you and Miranda can even get to know each other a little bit."
He rolls his eyes. "If I go, I'm steering clear of the Dragon Lady."
"If you actually tried to get to know her, you'd see why I love her so much."
"Doubt it," Nate chuckles. "How do you even know she'll let me come to the Hamptons?"
Andy swallows-- Hard-- Because she doesn't know.
*******************************************************************
Only a few hours later, the lot of them find themselves spread out between Miranda's Jag and Mike's Porsche Cayenne on their way to East Hampton. They leave big, sloppy Patricia at home with a sitter. When they get there, Andy spends her time getting Nate set up at Mike's house while everyone else unpacks next door. By the time everything's settled, it's too late to go to the shopping center and too cold to go to the beach, so Carol and Cass offer to take Sam to the movies.
Andy makes her way into the extra bedroom which doubles as an office. She holds a plate of salad in front of her girlfriend and sits on the bed. "I brought you dinner if you're interested," she sheepishly offers.
Miranda snorts. "Did you feed Nathanial his dinner yet? I think it's about time for his sponge bath."
"Oh my God," Andy groans. "I don't even get why you're upset. Are you jealous, Miranda?"
"Jealous..."
"I'm just trying to make him comfortable. It's hard enough for him..."
"He's not your responsibility," Miranda reminds her.
Andy sits on the desk in front of Miranda's chair and takes her hand in her own. "If I wanted to be with Nate, I would be with Nate." She scoots in and begins a trail of kisses down her girlfriend's neck. "I'm... with... Miranda... Priestly." Miranda lets out a frustrated moan. They haven't been intimate in what feels like a lifetime. Andy feels herself already getting slick between her thighs, and she hasn't even been touched yet. She pulls Miranda over to a nearby couch and straddles her. They're a mess of limbs and warm kisses until they're both undressed and panting. "You feel so good..." she husks, her words muffled against Miranda's scorching skin.
"Oh God," Miranda gasps. She's delirious or dying or something that Andy can't quite place. It's been too long and she's going to explode.
Andy hungrily nips and sucks Miranda's breasts. "Want... you so bad... Haven't had you in... weeks," she mutters in between kisses.
They're so caught up in each other that they almost don't hear the front door slam.
Andy springs up, her gaze glued to Miranda's wild eyes "Is that...?"
"Get dressed!" Miranda hisses. She slips into the bathroom in the hall and leaves Andy to fend for herself.
"Andy? Mira?" a decidedly male and English voice calls out.
Andy thanks the heavens that it's not the twins, pulls on the last of her clothing, and stumbles out into the entry hall where Mike is standing. "Hi!" She grants him an awkward hug and hopes to God that he can't tell that his ex-wife was just about to fuck her in every room of the house. She wonders if he can smell her. If he can smell Miranda...
He gives her a chaste kiss on the cheek and smiles. "I'm going to run to the market. Maybe you should check in on Nate while I'm gone? He's been asking for you since he took his pain medication."
"Yeah, I'll head straight over there. Thanks, Mike." Finally her breathing starts to slow down.
He stares at her for an excruciatingly long moment, gives her a wink as if he knows that he just walked in on something untoward, and waves goodbye. She's mortified.
***************************************************************
Andy's been watching Nate sleep for about a half hour before his eyes start to flutter open. He's still bruised and swollen, and a part of her heart clenches to see him in pain.
"I could kill those motherfuckers," she whispers.
Nate smiles. His pupils are dilated and he looks a bit loopy from the medication he's on. "You know what I've always wondered?" he slurs, as if they've already been immersed in heavy conversation.
Andy decides to humor him. "What's that, Honey?"
His smile widens at this. "..What we would be like if we were together."
"Whoa... What did you take?" Andy's sure it's the drugs talking.
"No, I'm serious," Nate insists. "I let her have you without a fight--"
"You want to fight Miranda?"
"If I hadn't taken the job in Boston, Sam would have both of us." He's rambling now.
"Sam does have both of us, Nate." Andy's already frustrated and she doesn't have the patience for nonsense.
"You wouldn't have gone running into her arms after I left--"
"--I didn't go running into anyone's arms. We were already--" She corrects herself mid-sentence. "Moving had nothing to do with it. We were done a long time before you left."
He finally focuses, his eyebrows scrunched up high on his forehead. "That's not what I mean. We still hadn't broken up," he reminds her. He's annoyed now and Andy knows she shouldn't push him.
"Well, we weren't together," she says.
"Um....yeah, we were. At least, I thought we were." A collection of proverbial wheels turn in his head as he watches her squirm under his gaze. Then, suddenly, he gets it. "Oh my God... Were you cheating on me?"
She stares up at him with a thousand unspoken explanations on her tongue, but they won't come out. Her silence is answer enough. "We weren't together-- you were in Boston and we were in a grey area--" she finally manages.
"A grey area? Why didn't I know that?"
"Nate..." This conversation has gone from unpleasant to horrible in a matter of seconds.
"Were you fucking me and Miranda at the same time?" he hisses and Andy can't help but gasp because he's usually not this crude. He's usually a mellow kind of guy. "Get the fuck out of my room," he orders. When she doesn't budge, he starts to get himself out of bed.
"Nate..."
He groans as he finally gets on his feet and slips his sandals on.
"Where are you going?" Andy nearly shrieks.
He ignores her as he limps out of the room. And then Andy's alone. She's alone and she's sick to her stomach and she feels the tears coming.
**********************************************************************
Miranda doesn't leave room for interruptions or falling asleep when Andy gets back. Sam's in bed, the twins are at a party, and she happens to be ravenous. She ambushes Andy in the shower with less than honorable intentions. They stumble out of the steamy bathroom in a tornado of warm, wet heat.
And then there's Andy. Although she's got a river flowing between her legs, Andy seems somewhat distracted. She whimpers at the first swipe of Miranda's tongue against her sex and shuts her eyes so tightly that it hurts.
Miranda knows better. Andy usually loves to see her like this... Loves to watch her. She finally wills herself to stop what she's doing, scoots up, and gently bites down on a deceptively puckered nipple to get her girlfriend's attention. Andy yelps in shock.
"Where are you?" the older woman breathes against the soft of her girlfriend's belly.
The brunette sighs and allows her head to fall back against her pillow.
"Andrea?" Miranda says a little louder.
"Sorry!" Andy squeaks. "I've just... I'm thinking... I've got a lot on my mind." Miranda looks at her as if she's expecting some kind of complex elaboration. "I... Nate and I had a fight when I went over there."
Miranda sighs. Sex is now officially out of the question. "What is it now? The school again? Or is he still upset about the costume party?"
Andy's quiet for a moment. "No, it wasn't about Sam. It's about us. He um... He didn't know that you and I were having an affair while we were still thinking about getting back together." She feels Miranda's body tense against her own.
"What did you just say?"
"You knew that. You knew that I hadn't officially broken up with Nate when we got together. I mean, he was in Boston and we were on the verge of breaking up but--"
"It wasn't an affair," Miranda states as if the wind's been knocked out of her. She knows that it was, indeed, an affair. On top of the fact that both of them were in supposedly monogamous relationships when they first starting sleeping together, Andy was also still working for her at the time. Miranda knows that she should own up to it, but she's been cheated on so many times in her life that it makes her sick to be on this end of things.
"Okay..." Andy whispers. She lets out a breath and turns over onto her side convinced that Miranda is mad at her.
"What are you doing?" the woman asks.
Andy turns back around. "Going to sleep?"
Miranda sighs. "It's the first night of our vacation... We should do something."
"Like what?"
"I don't know... I'm not used to having all this free time," she confesses.
Andy feels the fluttering of brand new butterflies in her stomach and snuggles into her lover's body with a low hum. "I love that you took time off for us, Baby. I didn't thank you yet, did I?"
Miranda shrugs her shoulders.
"Well, thank you. I know how much of a risk it is," Andy husks as she kisses Miranda on her distinctive nose and again on those glorious cheekbones. She has the impulse to say more, but she knows it would only lead to her own misery. There are two very dangerous 'L words' that Miranda Priestly has yet to say in front of Andy. So the brunette refrains from saying 'I love you even though you're ashamed of me, you big lesbian' or anything risky like that. She pulls back and kisses her girlfriend's eyelids instead.
Miranda runs her fingers through chocolate tresses, but she knows better than to make promises that can't be kept. "Are you all right, Darling?" she asks when she senses that something is still amiss.
Andy's not all right, per se... She's tired. She's exhausted from all of the lies that they've told, all the tracks that they've covered, all of the loved ones that they've left out... She wants to introduce everyone to the "Mimi" that her son dotingly refers to on a regular basis-- she wants to explain the drastic upgrade in her wardrobe over the past four years. But more than anything, she just wants Miranda. So she ends up nodding her head. "I'm fine, Baby. I'm just tired."
Miranda tenderly kisses her lover's forehead and turns out the lamp on the nightstand. "Let's go on a picnic with the children tomorrow." She pulls the sheet over their bodies and spoons Andy from behind until she feels her breath slow into a sleeping pattern.
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"Nathanial Fucking Cooper," Andy growls into her phone. "Your son came into my room this morning and begged me to get his Daddy to make him stuffed french toast, but when I went to get you, you-- and your stupid crutches were gone. You better call me right the fuck now, Nate. Sam thinks you must have died or something because he doesn't think you'd just walk away. But I know you better than that. You're actually really good at walking away. And for what, Nate? Because we had a stupid little tiff over something that might or might not have happened years ago?" Her voice softens in her final plea. "Just... Call me back so that Sam can talk to you." She ends her call and slams her phone down on the kitchen counter, her cheeks bright red. She nearly jumps when she hears a throat clearing in the doorway. "What?" she demands. She expects Miranda, but Cassidy is standing there instead. "Oh, hey Cass."
Cassidy smiles sweetly and sits on the counter opposite Andy. "My Dad used to pull shit like this all the time when they first got divorced."
"Mike did that?" Andy asks in disbelief. "But he's so sweet..."
Cassidy shrugs her shoulders,
Miranda bursts into the room with her phone to her ear. "What do you mean her car broke down? Fire her. And then find a way to get it to me. I don't care if you have to go one by one and scan every single page of it into the computer. And then get a hold of Giancarlo and tell him that I liked the samples but I won't be able to give the final approval until I'm back in the office. Then get a hold of Tyra Banks' people. She wants to be in the Shape Issue, and that's not happening. Ever. Remind her that it is, in fact, 2009. I also want you to contact Rachel Zoe's people about her feature piece. I don't want to have to talk to that horrid little woman myself, so handle her--Then finish up the final touches on this year's benefit. Are you listening to me, Vanessa?"
"Y-yes Miranda," the girl stutters.
"Have you been in touch with the dog sitter?"
"Um...Y--"
"Then make sure he gives Patricia her arthritis medication-- the poor thing shouldn't have to suffer."
"Yes Miranda."
"Oh and Vanessa?"
"Yes Miranda?"
"Don't forget to fire the new you. That's all." Miranda finally ends her call and gives her girlfriend and her daughter their respective good morning hugs and kisses. "I think we should reschedule our picnic. The girls and I wouldn't get back in time for the Brinkley Barbeque."
Andy frowns. "What are Sam and I supposed to do all day?" she grits.
"I don't know," Miranda tiredly exhales. "I trust that you can make good use of your time."
Andy's temper has sparked and she would express it, except that her phone rings right when she's about to tell Miranda to go fuck herself. It's Mike and he found Nate passed out at the beach this morning.
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"Are you okay?" Andy whispers as she tip-toes into Nate's room. She sets Sam down beside him on the bed.
"I feel like shit," Nate laughs.
"Nate..." Andy whimpers, "I'm sorry that I never told you--"
He holds up a hand in protest. "Don't. It's taken us a long time to get to this point, and I don't want to go backwards."
She smiles and kisses the back of his hand.
"I thought you had some party to go to," he says before taking a sip of his water.
Andy shakes her head. "Mike and Miranda took the girls. You know the drill; I'm not allowed to go."
Nate snorts as he runs his thick fingers through his son's hair. "Jesus, if you're going to be with her, at least make her treat you right."
"Stop--"
"No, I'm serious! You need to make her understand how important you are to her."
And that's the sentence that sticks in Andy's head for the next hour as she's changing into something a little more chic-- Ungaro in ivory to be exact. She hears it over and over again until she's ringing Christie Brinkley's doorbell.
A man in a white suit answers the door with a clipboard in his hands. "Name?" he asks.
"Andrea Sachs," she yelps. She didn't think about guest lists.
"Nope. Not on the list," he confirms after glancing over the page a few times. He gives her a bored look and taps his foot against the hardwood floor.
She's about to give up when she hears a man behind her drawl, "Well, if it isn't little miss Andy Sachs." She whips around to see Christian Thompson with a youngish girl on his arm. "She's with me," he tells the doorman, and he gestures for Andy to take his other arm. She refuses and walks ahead of him.
"What are you doing here?" Andy demands once they're inside.
He smirks and whispers something in his date's ear that sends her to the bar in the backyard. "I was invited. Remember, my name was on the list."
Andy rolls her eyes. They've seen each other quite a few times over the years at different events since she's been writing for Seventeen. They've sort of even become friends (against Miranda's will, of course). "I was in town, so I decided to stop by." Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Caroline-- the poor teenager nearly drops her drink on the floor when she sees her. Andy pretends not to notice and latches onto Christian's arm. "Let's go outside," she says with a sinister grin.
Once they're in the midst of the party, she spots Miranda. Without letting go of Christian, she makes eye contact with her her girlfriend. Miranda shoots her the deadliest look she's ever seen. "Hello gentlemen." Andy mingles with the crowd that Christian has just introduced to her. They're very quickly enamored with her-- with just a few bats of those long eyelashes, they're smitten. It takes Miranda no time to make her way over.
"Mr. Thompson... Jacob. Frank. It's good to see you all," she greets with a pair of phony air-kisses for each one of them. "May I borrow Andrea for a moment?" Miranda snatches the girl away from Christian and leads her to a secluded area away from the barbeque. "What do you think you're doing?" the older woman demands under her breath with a deceptively calm smile on her face for appearance's sake.
"I'm making good use of my time," Andy chuckles. Just as she's about to be reprimanded, a tall, dark, and handsome douchebag approaches the couple.
"Miranda, where'd you run off to?" he husks.
"She's obviously right here," Andy snarls. She feels her fangs coming out as he snakes an arm around Miranda's waist.
Miranda's eyes go wide for a split second before she settles again. "Aiden, this is Andrea. Andrea, Aiden."
"Pleasure," he says without taking his eyes off of the older woman.
Big, brown and innocent meet icy, blue, and calculating in a moment of jealousy. Andy can't believe that her girlfriend is letting this slimy guy touch her. He's sleazy. He's Christian Thompson in ten years.
Mike must've sensed what was going on from wherever he was, because he's at Andy's side within seconds.
"Andy? Are you alright, Darling?" he asks with a gentle kiss on the cheek.
Andy understands right away that she's supposed to take the high road and walk off with him. She takes his hand and squeezes it. She can't look at Miranda right now. She's afraid of what she might say. Instead, she grips onto Mike even tighter and leads him back to the crowd she was talking to earlier.
Her eyes stay on Miranda for most of the night. She can't stop watching the woman laugh, and smile, and lie. Her phone rings, finally breaking her out of her trance. It's Nate explaining that Sam had a nightmare and won't stop crying. Andy retreats to a corner and tries to soothe her son over the phone. When that doesn't work, she whispers that she's leaving into Mike's ear and grabs her purse.
The second that she's out of the door, she feels the tears rolling down her face. Then she hears tell-tale clacking of Christian Lous behind her on the wooden porch.
"Is everything all right?" the editor calls after her girlfriend. "... Michael said that there was an emergency with Samuel..."
Andy turns on her heel. She wants to be angry with Miranda, but there are more important things going on right now. "He's having night terrors again," she hiccups, mascara streaming down her cheeks. "Nate can't calm him down."
"Ah." Miranda walks down so that they're only inches apart. "Do you need me?" she asks. She's sincere-- Andy knows that much.
"Go back to your party, Miranda," Andy insists. She starts to walk away again.
"Andrea..." Miranda is suddenly gripping her wrist. "You know that I don't care about these things...I care about you and Samuel." She offers her hand, which Andy gladly takes. Andy takes a deep breath and rests her head on Miranda's shoulder as they walk back toward the summer house. Miranda tenderly kisses Andy's forehead. "What's wrong?" she asks.
Andy's fighting tears again. "I can't do anything to help my baby... This horrible thing happens to him, and I can't do anything about it. He was so scared, Miranda... You should've heard his little voice."
Miranda feels her heart clench and picks up the pace. She doesn't do emotional very well.
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"Is he sleeping?" Miranda asks a few hours later, letting her eyes peek out from the tops of her glasses. She sets the Book on the nightstand and studies Andy.
The brunette nods and crawls on top of Miranda. She startles the older woman by straddling her and kissing her hard on the mouth.
"What was that for?" Miranda asks once she has enough breath.
Andy eyebrows furrow in concentration as she jams her knee in between Miranda's thighs.
"Oh!" Miranda gasps.
Andy doesn't wait long before scrunching Miranda's nightgown up to her waist. And then she's inside of her, and she's slick, and she's soft, and she's warm. Andy's head feels a bit cloudy as she watches her lover writhe underneath her.
Soon enough her fingers travel deeper and with more force. The sounds coming out of Miranda's mouth are loud and desperate. Andy uses her mouth to silence her... swallowing every moan. She doesn't want to wake the twins.
Miranda looks like she can't last much longer as the cries in the back of her throat escalate into frantic whimpering.
And then it's one thrust, two thrusts, three thrusts and a mind-shattering orgasm.
Andy immediately collapses onto her girlfriend as she tries to get her breathing under control. "I love you, I love you, I love you..." she chants barely above a whisper. Her wrist is killing her and she knows that she must be coming off like a fucking lunatic because there's a look of terror in Miranda's hazy blue eyes.
Miranda licks her lips and hesitates before holding Andy as she trembles in her arms.
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PART 2.
the dog, the happy couple, the twins, the pride & joy, the ex-boyfriend, and the ex-husband.