The Devil Wears Prada: Science of Fashion Part 20
Title: Science of Fashion (20/?)
Author: vicar_dibley
Fandom: The Devil Wears Prada
Pairing: Andy/Miranda AU
Rating: G (for now)
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from The Devil Wears Prada
Author's note: English isn't my first language, this hasn't been beta'd so forgive me. The mistakes (language wise and otherwise) are all mine. This is my first DWP fan fiction. Hope you like it:) Comments are welcome!
Summary: It’s an alternative universe, Andy is about 35 and Miranda is 50. In my story Andy is not cheery.
Science of Fashion
20
As they have done for the last three days Andy and Emily went riding in the morning leaving Miranda and Sophia in the main house to indulge in their common passion. Today however when Andy and Emily left the house for the stables, the other two women followed shortly to take advantage of the weather and go for a walk. Miranda and Sophia could see them walking ahead of them, talking, joking, simply having a good time.
“Your Emily is quite an interesting character, she and Andy seem to have hit if off”, Sophia commented as she observed the two of them.
“She isn’t my Emily”, Miranda said surprised.
“Oh please, the girl worships the ground you walk on”, the Contessa snorted. “She may not be yours in the sense as my granddaughter is but you can’t deny she is a bit in love with you.”
“You think so?” Miranda looked at the older woman and sighed at the affirmative nod. “I was afraid she would be.”
“Don’t be”, Sophia calmed her, “I think it’s more like a crush than anything else. One could see she was really happy for both of you the other day.”
“Yes, you are right. Emily has become a good friend.”
“You like her.” Sophia stated the fact.
“I do”, Miranda agreed, “but don’t tell her.”
“I won’t. It’s something she needs to hear from you.”
“I know. I’m glad that she and Andrea have become such close friends.”
“I agree.” Sophia smiled indulgently as she watched the two laughing women entering the stables. “Now let me tell you about the two designers I want you to meet while you are here.”
Just like the other days the afternoon was solely reserved for Andy and Miranda to spend some time alone, either taking a walk or finding a nice secluded spot to talk and enjoy each other’s company. They spent hours on their own relishing the time and space to get to know each other better, talking about their past, exchanging soft touches and kisses.
Andy had packed a picnic basket for this afternoon and instead of having lunch with her grandmother and Emily she had whisked Miranda away to the pond where they spread a blanket in the shade of a willow tree to have a picnic.
Mrs Hutchinson, the cook, had provided the most delicious food and drink. They took turns in feeding each other bits and pieces of chicken, salad and fruits.
“I’m stuffed”, Andy blew out a dramatic breath.
“So am I”, Miranda had to admit, “it was wonderful.”
Together they gathered the dishes to put them back in the basket to make more room for themselves on the blanket.
Andy put the basket to the side while Miranda scooted back to lean against the tree. When Andy turned Miranda patted her lap asking the younger woman to lie down. Andy didn’t have to think twice about the offer. Without hesitation Andy stretched out on the blanket with her head in Miranda’s lap. Leaning forward a bit Miranda’s stubborn lock fell over her eyes causing Andy to reach up and smoothing it back with a smile.
“I love when it does that.”
“It’s annoying”, Miranda scrunched her nose.
“It’s beautiful”, Andy whispered, “and sexy. Like you.”
Closing the distance Miranda brought her lips to Andy’s capturing them in a gentle kiss that soon left them panting for breath.
“What are you doing to me, darling?”
“Loving you”, Andy replied.
Miranda smiled one of her rare full smiles, full of warmth and tenderness for the woman in her arms. She leaned down again showering Andy’s whole face with little kisses. From the corner of her mouth over her right cheek with the scar, lingering to pay reverence to the reminder that Andy had survived the horrible car accident. Higher to her eyelids, to her forehead and nose back down to her mouth.
“You are very beautiful and sexy yourself”, Miranda said after another intense kiss.
When Andy opened her mouth to protest an elegant finger covered her lips preventing her from speaking.
“You are, Andrea. And I will do whatever it takes to convince you of that.”
“Thank you, love”, Andy whispered.
“You don’t have to thank me for loving you, darling. It’s my greatest joy and pleasure that I’m allowed to and that you love me back.”
“You, Miranda Priestly, are the best thing that happened to me.”
“So are you, darling”, Miranda smiled into the soft brown eyes, “so are you.”
With her hand in Andrea’s hair she soothed the younger woman into a peaceful sleep. Miranda leaned her head against the tree closing her own eyes, enjoying the gentle breeze and quiet of a summer afternoon in the English countryside.
Andy awakened with a start, surprised that she had even fallen asleep in the first place. When she looked up at Miranda she saw that the older woman had her eyes closed and by the even rise and fall of her chest she had to be asleep as well. Lifting her left hand Andy cupped Miranda’s cheek causing her to open her eyes with a deep intake of breath.
“Hey”, Andy whispered mesmerised as she gazed into those clear blue eyes looking down at her.
“Hi”, Miranda covered the hand on her face with her own, turned her head and bestowed a kiss on the soft palm.
“We should go back.”
“You are right”, Miranda agreed with a sigh. She helped Andy to her feet and together they folded up the blanket. They gathered their things to return to the house.
As they where nearing the back of the main house crossing the lawn a tall woman with fiery red hair was stepping through the doors walking towards them. With long strides she came closer, a big smile on her face reminding Miranda very much of Andrea.
“Andy”, the woman called with glee when she was in front of them embracing Andrea in a big bear hug, nearly lifting her off her feet. Which wasn’t an easy task as Andy wasn’t so small herself. She was a few inches taller than Miranda but still half a head shorter than the woman currently hugging her.
“Bridget, you silly cow, let me go”, Andy laughed at the other woman’s antics.
“If you insist”, the redhead smirked.
“Yes”, Andy smacked her on the shoulder and turned towards Miranda to introduce her to the newcomer. “Miranda, please meet my cousin Bridget McLeod. Bridget may I introduce Miranda Priestly.”
“How do you do?” Bridget held out her hand to the editor.
“How do you do.” Miranda shook the offered hand with a grin.
“So, are you the Miranda Priestly?”
“I am.”
“How come you always get the gorgeous and sexy women who play for keeps, Andy?” Bridget asked with mock indignation and a hint of sadness that didn’t go unnoticed by Andy.
“My charming personality?” Andy offered.
“Yeah”, Bridget nodded sadly.
“Darling, why don’t you two do some catching up while I go inside to call the girls”, Miranda suggested, sensing that Andrea’s cousin was in dire need for a shoulder to cry on.
“Would you awfully mind?”
“Certainly not. Go on! I’ll see you both later”, Miranda kissed Andy on the lips and went towards the house while the cousins watched her leave, each occupied with their own thoughts.
When Miranda had disappeared inside Andy nudged Bridget’s shoulder with her chin indicating the path that led to the front of the house.
“What’s up?” Andy asked kindly.
From behind the curtains Miranda observed the cousins as they walked across the lawn deep in conversation. She intently studied them, fascinated by their looks and demeanour when she heard light footsteps behind her.
“Those two are quite a pair, aren’t they?” The Contessa said from Miranda’s right.
“Very much alike and yet so different.” The editor agreed thoughtfully.
“They always were more like sisters than cousins. Strong willed, intelligent, charming, with a good heart and too noble for their own good”, Sophia sighed.
“That’s not a bad thing”, Miranda pointed out, remembering Andrea’s chivalrous behaviour towards her right from the first time they had met and how she had revelled in being treated in such a manner and how right it felt coming from Andrea.
“No, of course not”, the Contessa nodded, “it makes them the special women they are but sometimes people pry on it and it leads to heartache and pain for them.”
“What happened? If you don’t mind me asking?”
“Not at all. You should know because Andy will be agitated after Bridget told her.” Sophia turned and sat on the sofa, patting the spot next to her for Miranda to sit down. After Miranda had done so the Contessa explained what was troubling Bridget.
“Well, the question should rather be `who happened?´”, Sophia snorted with contempt.
“All right. Who happened?”
“Lady Elizabeth Devonsham, former Elizabeth Pennhurst.”
“The woman who broke Andrea’s heart when she was a young academic at Oxford?”
“That´s the one”, Sophia confirmed, “the woman is a curse. It’s like as if her life’s goal is to sink her claws into every lesbian in this family. She even tried to seduce Bridget’s mother last year at a party. Can you believe the audacity of that woman?”
“Hmm”, Miranda raised her left eyebrow, “did she succeed?”
“No”, Sophia snorted, “Helen couldn’t have been less interested and immune to her charms. She and Angela have been together for more than 30 years. Although that didn’t keep Elizabeth from trying.”
“So, while she couldn’t have the mother she tried her luck with the daughter. Is that it?” Miranda asked with pursed lips.
“Probably.” Sophia guessed. “Bridget had obviously no idea who she was when she fell for her charms. Now that Elizabeth had her she got tired and threw her away. Just like she always does. She would never divorce her husband. Too much to lose.”
“Poor Bridget”, Miranda felt for the younger woman who was so much like her beautiful Andrea.
In her grandfather’s study Andy was consoling her cousin who was hurting and at the same time berating herself for falling for a woman like Elizabeth Devonsham. With her arm around Bridget’s shoulder Andy held out a handkerchief for her cousin to dry her eyes and blow her nose. Taking it Bridget did so and finally looked with bleary eyes at Andy.
“You must think I’m the biggest idiot in the world.”
“No, don’t be silly”, Andy shook her head, “Elizabeth can be a very charming woman and she is beautiful.”
“And her heart is cold as ice.” Bridget added.
“That too”, Andy agreed. “And people call Miranda an Ice Queen. They certainly have never met our dear Lady Devonsham.”
“I envy you Andy. You are a very lucky woman.”
“I know.”
That’s when the door to the study opened after a hesitant knock and Emily poked her head around the corner smiling sheepishly.
“Hey, Sachs, care for some...”, Emily started but stopped when she spotted the fiery haired green eyed woman next to Andy who looked like she had been crying recently.
“Uhm, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt, I’ll just...”
“Stop, Emily and get in here”, Andy got up slowly leaning heavily on her cane. “I want you to meet my cousin Bridget McLeod. She just arrived from London for a few days.”
“Uhm, hi?” Emily greeted the magnificent woman looking very much like Emily had always imagined the legendary Queen Boudica must have looked. Tall, with long fiery red hair and piercing green eyes. The fact that the woman was Scottish didn’t matter for she was a vision. Her red rimmed eyes didn’t distract from the image as far as Emily was concerned. When she realised she was staring Emily blushed profusely.
“Bridget, this is Emily Charleton, Miranda’s first assistant and most loyal pupil and friend.”
“Hi!” Bridget smiled, suddenly shy.
“Was there something you wanted, Em?” Andy asked.
“Oh, yes, I was wondering if you cared for a game of snooker but I see you are busy.”
“Why don’t you play with Bridget? I’ll go looking after Miranda.”
“Well?” Emily prompted.
“All right, why not.”
With Bridget in tow Emily left the study leaving an intrigued Andy behind who silently wondered what had just happened. An awkward situation, nothing more, or? Shaking her head, Andy also left the study in search of Miranda.
As it turned out an easy friendship with Emily was exactly what Bridget needed and the same could be said for Emily. Being a journalist herself, Bridget understood what it meant to work for a demanding boss although there was nobody as demanding as Miranda Priestly. At the end of her first week in England Sophia asked Miranda to visit the two talented designers they had talked about. Andy, knowing her grandmother’s relentless race through the city when pursuing her favourite past time stayed at Edgewood Hall, working on an article and reading. Even Emily found herself with a day off as Miranda wasn’t in need of her company, much to her relieve. So while Andy spent most of the day alone, Emily and Bridget spent the day together.
In the late afternoon Andy went to her grandfather’s study to read the latest Val McDermid novel on the big comfortable couch while Emily and Bridget quarrelled all the way to the billiard room. An hour into reading her novel the door opened and an exhausted looking Miranda smiled tiredly at Andy as she gazed over the rim of her glasses at the editor.
“Nonna, overdid it again apparently”, Andy sympathetically offered as she put the book on the coffee table in front of the couch.
“That’s the understatement of the year”, Miranda blew the lock on her forehead. “Where does that woman get her energy from?”
“She has always been that way when it came to fashion”, Andy said as if that would explain everything and maybe it did because Miranda nodded with a understanding expression.
“Where is may wayward assistant?” Miranda took off her heels with an audible sigh of relieve causing Andy to smirk.
“Last time I saw her, she and Bridget were on their way to the billiard room planning to best each other at snooker”, Andy explained and held out her hand to the other woman. “Come here!”
“No”, Miranda shook her head, “I should go upstairs to shower and change.”
“You can do that later”, Andy said with her best puppy look. “Please, come here.”
There was no way Miranda could ever resist those soulful brown eyes with the pleading look, so why pretend. Pushing away from the desk she was leaning against Miranda took the few steps towards the couch and took hold of Andy’s hand to lie down next to the younger woman. Miranda snuggled against Andy’s left side with her head on her shoulder and her arm thrown over her stomach. Andy’s cheek rested on top of the silver hair, with her arm around Miranda’s shoulder and one hand caressing the arm on her stomach.
“This is nice”, Andy whispered against the soft hair.
“It is”, Miranda agreed with a blissful sigh. She could get used to being in Andrea’s arms like that, feeling safe and protected. “Tell me about your day, darling!”
“My day?” Andy chuckled lightly. The silver head on her shoulder merely nodded and with closed eyes Miranda listened to Andy’s voice till she fell asleep.
Andy’s voice became lower as Miranda’s breathing became more even indicating that the editor was falling asleep. When Miranda was finally sleeping Andy closed her own eyes, tightening the hold on the editor and following her into sleep. That’s how Sophia found them half an hour later on her search for everybody all over the house. They were snuggled into each other with happy smiles on their faces looking completely content. Sophia tiptoed into the room, took a blanket from the back of a chair and carefully covered them. She put a tender kiss on both their foreheads and left the room, a brilliant smile adorning her own face.
Nearly an hour later the distinct ringing of Miranda’s mobile phone woke them from their pleasant rest.
“Sorry”, Miranda mumbled sleepily from where she lay atop Andy, her body already mourning the loss of warmth and softness as she got up to take the call.
“No need”, Andy waved her off as she sat up herself, frowning at the blanket that was covering her legs.
Miranda went over to the desk where she had put her bag to get her mobile phone, sighing when she looked at the display and the caller ID.
“Yes, Greg”, the editor barked into the phone, slightly grumpy at being awakened so rudely from a very pleasant nap. Her annoyance soon turned into anger as she listened to what her ex-husband had to say.
“All right, as soon as I know, I’ll call you back.” Shutting her phone, Miranda pinched the bridge of her nose feeling a headache coming on.
“Everything all right?” Andy asked worriedly.
“I have to get on the next flight to New York.”
“What? Why?”
“My moronic ex has to go on a business trip and his wife doesn’t want to be bothered, therefore I have to get back”, Miranda sighed, already gathering her things. “Emily needs to get us tickets and take care of everything.”
“Whoa, slow down”, Andy put a calming hand on Miranda’s arm, causing her to stop and take a deep breath. Andy took Miranda’s hand and led her back to the sofa where they sat next to each other.
“Okay, so your ex can’t take care of them any longer and wants you to come home to get them. Right?”
Miranda merely nodded, wondering what Andrea was trying to say.
“Why don’t we bring them here?”
“Andrea, I can’t impose on you like that and expect you and your family to just take over when my ex finds it suitable to run from his responsibilities.”
“You don’t”, Andy contradicted her gently, “I would love to have them here and spend time with them. The four of us. And I know for certain that nonna is already dying to meet them. So what do you say?”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely, love”, Andy put her hand gently on Miranda’s cheek.
“All right”, Miranda agreed, “Thank you, darling.”
“You are welcome”, Andy leaned forward to tenderly kiss Miranda’s lips. “Now let me find nonna´s assistant to arrange everything. Don’t worry they will be perfectly safe. As soon as we know when and how you can call him and give him the details.”
Andy was already up and walking out of the room in search of said assistant, leaving a stunned Miranda behind.
“What did I ever do to deserve you?” Miranda wondered with awe.
Andy found both her grandmother and her assistant Barbara in her nonna´s study working over the arrangements for a charity event next month. When Andy explained the situation Sophia was delighted by Andy’s idea and Barbara set out to get everything done so that the girls could be at the estate as soon as next evening. A few phone calls later Andy was on her way to Miranda’s room to inform her of what has been arranged.
“The family jet will be waiting for them at the airport, one of our most trusted attendants will take care of them. Charles, our driver will take you to Heathrow tomorrow so you will be there when the plane arrives.”
“I don’t know what to say”, Miranda was deeply touched.
“You don’t have to say anything. Seeing that certain spark in your eyes at the prospect of having your daughters with you is enough.” Andy beamed at the older woman.
“I love you, Andrea”, Miranda breathed with tears of happiness in her eyes.
“I love you too.”
TBC