The Devil Wears Prada: Science of Fashion Part 23
Title: Science of Fashion (23/?)
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
23
Sunday did not only bring fine weather but also the arrival of more family members. They had nearly finished their breakfast when two beautiful older women entered the room.
“Mom!” Bridget leaped from her seat and flew into the arms of the woman with dark red hair and green eyes, eliciting a laugh from her mother.
“Hello, baby girl!” Helen McLeod hugged her only child tightly.
Everybody was on their feet now, patiently waiting to be acknowledged by the newcomers.
“Good morning, Sophia”, Helen greeted the Contessa respectfully with a delicate kiss on the older woman’s cheek while her daughter was embracing her other mother equally exuberantly.
“Good morning, dear”, Sophia said softly as she returned the kiss. “Did you have a pleasant trip?”
“Quite so”, Lady Helen nodded.
“Good morning, Sophia”, Angela finally greeted the matriarch as well.
“Angela dear, good morning”, Sophia smiled warmly at the grey haired statuesque woman, graciously receiving another kiss on the cheek.
Angela and Bridget had their arms around each others waist and stood back, quite content to leave it up to Helen to take the lead.
Only now did Lady Helen take a look at the other people in the room. The stressed out looking woman who had been sitting next to her daughter, the breathtaking beauty next to Andy and the cute little redheads. For all she knew the silver haired woman and the girls had to be the reason why Sophia had summoned them so soon after their last visit to Edgewood Hall. Everything was falling into place with sudden clarity.
“Andy girl”, Helen hugged her niece motherly, “I didn’t know we would see each other again so soon.”
“Hello, aunt Helen”, Andy returned the embrace, feeling the same sense of home she always did with her mother’s sister, “neither did I.”
Andy stepped back to greet her aunt Angela properly, whose warmth and solid body always brought back memories of times spent in Scotland riding, fishing or playing in the castle she called her inheritance.
“Now, Andy, will you introduce us to this gorgeous woman, these splendid little redheads and your friend over there?” Lady Helen smiled at her niece’s blush.
“Aunt Helen, aunt Angela”, Andy said with a strong voice, “this is my partner Miranda Priestly and her daughters Caroline and Cassidy. My friend Emily is also Miranda’s first assistant. Miranda, girls, Emily, please meet my late mother’s sister Lady Helen McLeod and her wife Lady Angela Worthington.”
Miranda stepped around Andrea to shake hands with both women, noticing their firm and confident grip. The girls and Emily waved “hello”.
“The Miranda Priestly?” Helen asked wide eyed with awe recognising the name instantly, causing her wife to roll her eyes in exasperation.
“Sorry”, Lady Helen apologised sheepishly, “you probably get that a lot.”
“I do indeed”, Miranda agreed with an understanding smile, “but seldom with such honesty.”
“Helen, darling, why don’t we let them finish their breakfast while we get settled in our room?” Angela suggested mildly. “I’m sure there will be time enough these days to drool over the poor woman.”
“Certainly, dear”, Helen relented with a poisonous look at her wife.
“You know which one?” Sophia asked and received an affirmative nod from Angela.
They left with Bridget in tow, bantering back and forth making the occupants of the dining room laugh out loud when they heard Helen’s mock angry voice, “And just for the record, I wasn’t drooling.”
Mothers and daughter had some catching up to do while Emily and Miranda took care of some business that needed the editor’s attention. Andy gathered the girls and took them to the stables as they had asked at breakfast. They wanted to see more of the horses and to get to know them. Animal lovers they were the twins asked all kinds of questions about how to care for them, although not quite sure or ready to ask if they could learn how to ride. Andy knew it was on their minds but was glad that they, for now, wanted to learn more about how to care for horses. She was quite content to show them all they had to know. She showed them how to groom them, how to keep their boxes clean and everything else there was to know.
The girls were fast studies and with the help of Will they tackled all the chores quite well. Their reward were a few rounds in the fenced-in riding ground with Andy on her favourite mare. When they were on their way back to the house the twins knew for sure that learning to ride a horse was what they wanted. No matter what else it entailed. Now all they had to do was ask their mother to allow it. Well, maybe Andy would help?
Miranda was already waiting for them on the front steps smiling involuntarily when she saw her three favourite girls walking towards the house chatting excitedly.
The twins broke into a run with Andy following slowly behind when they spotted their mother on the steps.
“Girls!” Miranda laughed when her daughters tackled her, trying to sound not too put off at their distinct scent, “You smell like horses. I’m afraid you are in for another shower.”
“Aw, mom”, Cassidy objected smelling her sweater.
“That’s how it is supposed to smell in the country”, Caroline explained her mother seriously, “isn’t it Andy?”
“You are right”, Andy agreed with a smirk, “but I highly doubt nonna would be happy if her dining room smelled like a stable. You heard your mother, go on, take a shower and dress in fresh clothes.”
“Okay”, the twins hung their heads in defeat and scampered off to their room.
“They worked very hard this morning”, Andy said, taking the last step to stand in front of the silver haired beauty. “They’ve earned an extra dessert after lunch. What do you think?”
“I think that you are very good with them”, Miranda closed the distance between them with her arms coming around Andrea’s neck, “and furthermore I do believe that you need a shower as well, smelling like a horse yourself.”
“Do I get a little encouragement?” Andy asked cheekily.
“What kind of encouragement did you have in mind”, Miranda smiled lovingly at the younger woman.
“Hm”, Andy pretended to think very hard about it, “a kiss maybe?”
“And pray tell, my darling”, Miranda teased the brunette, “where do you want me to kiss you?”
“Here?” Miranda pressed a soft kiss to Andrea’s forehead. “Or here?” To her temple. “Or here?” Kissing her scared cheek. “Or rather here?” A kiss to her closed eyelids. “Or here?” Kissing her chin.
“Oh, I know”, Miranda whispered as if she was struck by sudden revelation, kissing Andrea’s lips with such love and tenderness it completely shattered the younger woman’s every last ounce of remaining restraints that kept her still at a safe distance from the older woman. Holding back from Miranda to safeguard her heart from the final rejection was no longer possible. Andy knew she had to take the leap of faith which by no means reduced her fear. She pulled Miranda against her body and returned the kiss with all the love she felt for the woman in her arms.
Unbeknownst to them they had a fond audience, observing them ever since the girls and Andy had joined Miranda on the steps. Helen hadn’t been sure about the editor. Of course Miranda Priestly was an awe inspiring businesswoman whose reputation as a fashion icon was preceding her. But she seemed cold and distant, lacking the warmth one would expect from a partner of Andy’s. The exchange though had blown her preconceptions completely to pieces. Miranda’s whole demeanour had changed the very moment she saw her girls and Andy coming her way. When talking to her daughters her voice spoke of motherly affection and unconditional love. Incredible to watch and what one would never expect from the uncrowned queen of the fashion world was her approach to Andy. Helen knew how one smelled after taking care of the horses but Miranda hadn’t hesitated for a second when she embraced the younger woman. The peppering of the brunette’s face with the gentlest of kisses was wonderful to watch. But what totally blew her away had been the kiss to Andy’s lips. It spoke of want, passion, emotion and tenderness.
“Amazing”, she breathed and turned from the window giving them the privacy they deserved.
Only with the greatest reluctance Andy drew away from the kiss.
“I should go”, she whispered only inches from Miranda’s mouth.
“Yes, you should”, Miranda nodded, not ready to let her go just yet.
“Nonna will not be pleased if I’m late for lunch”, Andy tried not very convincingly.
“I suppose not”, the older woman agreed, leaning her forehead against Andy’s. With another kiss the editor released her and watched her enter the house.
After a few minutes Miranda followed and found Lady Helen waiting for her in the hall. Not sure what to expect from the look on the other woman’s face Miranda let her usual mask of indifference settle over her features. Her eyes turning into blue chips of ice, causing Helen to step back at the sudden change conscious of the fact it was Miranda Priestly she was dealing with now, not the woman so much in love with her niece.
“You love her”, Helen said warmly. A statement not a question. All it took were those words to let the ice melt away. Replaced by that soft expression Helen had seen when Miranda looked at her daughters and Andy.
“More than I can tell you”, Miranda opted for complete honesty and openness with this woman.
“Good”, Helen smiled at the editor. “Welcome to the family!”
“Thank you”, Miranda got out past the lump in her throat, floored by the easy acceptance.
“Hurt her and Helen is going to sink you in the deepest Loch before you can say Prada”, a steely voice of warning declared from behind Miranda.
“Angela!” Helen chided gently.
“Sorry, dear”, Angela joined her wife, putting an arm around her wife’s shoulder and kissing her temple.
Miranda wasn’t sure if Angela was joking or not but she had no intention of ever hurting Andrea.
“Please, believe me when I say that nothing could be further from my mind than hurting Andrea in any way”, Miranda said , looking into the women’s eyes to convey her honesty.
Gazing intently into those ice blue eyes Helen found no subterfuge, falsehood or pretence in them only the truth.
“All right”, Helen accepted Miranda’s words with a gracious smile. “What I’m dying to know is how you two met. I can’t wait to find out how that happened.”
“At a party actually”, Miranda explained, “she was hiding from me, now that I think about it.”
“That sounds like our Andy, all right”, Angela laughed heartily, leading them into the sitting room, eager herself to hear how her favourite niece met this formidable woman.
Freshly showered, smelling of orange blossoms and clean skin the twins found their mother in the company of Andy’s aunt chatting amiably.
“Hello, girls”, Miranda held out her arms for them to join her on the sofa.
Snuggling into Miranda’s side under each arm, they got comfortable, wiggling closer into their mother’s side.
“Did you have a good time with Andrea?” Miranda asked depositing a kiss on both their heads.
“It was so cool, mom”, Cassidy confirmed for them both. “Andy even let us ride with her.”
“That was totally awesome”, Caroline agreed with her sister.
“I am glad baby”, Miranda squeezed them into her side. She silently wondered when they were going to ask her about learning to ride. Because knowing her daughters like she did as their mother it would eventually lead to that. At the moment though it seemed as if they were thinking about the best strategy to broach the subject to her. Miranda was glad that Andrea had taken the time to show them what it would entail. It wasn’t just getting on a horse and riding through the country. It was about responsibility, about taking care of a living creature. If they decided to give it a try Miranda knew Andrea would be with them, helping them to learn everything and teach them how to be careful so they would not get reckless and injure themselves. She knew of no other person she would trust with her daughters like that.
George entered the room with a slight cough to tell them that lunch was ready.
“Madame asked to inform you that lunch is to be served”, the butler said snobbishly.
“Thank you, George”, Lady Helen got up. “Is my niece already back?”
“I’m sorry your Ladyship but I haven’t seen her Grace since breakfast”, George informed her with a haughty sniff.
“Right”, Helen rolled her eyes at the man’s attitude, “you go ahead and I’ll go get her.”
Helen climbed the stairs wondering what took Andy so long. As she stood in front of her niece’s room she couldn’t hear the shower or a blow dryer. Knocking softly she opened the door a crack and called out “Andy?”. When there was no answer Helen stepped inside finding Andy at the other side of the room in front of a body length mirror, only clad in her underwear. She was holding her cane in a vice like grip in her left hand and with her right she was covering the scar on her right cheek. Staring with unseeing eyes at her reflection she was neither aware of Helen nor of the tears silently running down her face.
“Oh, Andy, no”, Helen’s voice brought Andy from her trance like state. Turning around she looked at her with so much pain in her eyes, the older woman felt her heart break all over again for her niece.
Closing the distance between them with long strides Helen enfolded Andy in a gentle embrace.
“There, there”, Helen cooed, soothingly stroking Andy’s back. She carefully manoeuvred them over to the bed where they sat down with Andy still clinging to her aunt’s neck.
After a considerable time the younger woman had calmed down and Helen drew back to wipe the tears from her niece’s cheek.
“Now, tell me, what brought this on?” Helen had a good idea why Andy was so distraught, but she needed to hear it from Andy. “Is it about Miranda?”
Andy didn’t quite trust her voice so she simply nodded in affirmation.
“If this kiss on the front steps was any indication I have to say that this woman loves you completely”, Helen put her palm against Andy’s cheek, “the woman sure knows how to kiss.”
The biologist had the good grace to blush when she thought of the kiss she had shared with Miranda only a short time ago. It had spoken of love, passion, desire and lust. And it was the reason why she was in this state right now.
“It’s just...”, Andy started and drew a frustrated breath, “how can she still want me when she sees me like this for the first time?”
“Like what?” Helen asked gently.
“Naked”, Andy harshly whispered, “There are times, I can’t even stand looking at myself.”
“Oh, baby”, Helen hugged her niece tightly, feeling her own eyes water at the hurt in the younger woman’s voice. “Have you told her about your insecurities?”
She sighed when her niece only shook her head “no”.
Pulling back from the embrace Helen took a good look at her underwear clad niece. Her scared cheek, lower abdomen and right leg.
The reminders of her accident were clearly visible. How could they not after those horrible injuries she had sustained and the numerous surgeries she had to endure. But the doctors had done well, Andy still had her right eye, she still had her leg and could walk and the scars were not that bad at all. But Helen knew Andy saw them in a completely different light, they reminded her of everything she had lost.
“Promise me something”, Helen waited for the younger woman to nod before she continued, “promise me to talk to Miranda. She loves you and she’ll might surprise you.”
“How?” Andy asked quietly. “By telling me she can’t bare touching me because she’s put off by those scars?”
“No”, Helen smiled ruefully, “but that she has her own insecurities.”
“How can you be so sure?” Andy asked in a small voice, thinking about the gorgeous woman she loved with all her heart.
“Just talk to her.”
“Okay, I will, I promise”, Andy finally relented.
“Good”, Helen stood, “now get dressed or your grandmother will give you her piece of mind for being so late.”
“Yes, ma´am.”
The moment Lady Helen and Andrea joined them in the dining room Miranda knew something was wrong. She knew Andrea had been crying. At her questioning look at the younger woman Andrea had merely smiled reassuringly. Miranda had let it go but was determined to find out what had caused her distress.
Since the weather looked less than promising in the afternoon it was decided to spend it in the house. The twins got comfortable in the drawing room, reading the books they had brought with them. Lady Helen and Angela decided to take a nap which gave Sophia reason enough to take one herself without feeling too guilty. Emily and Bridget decided to give snooker another try whereas Miranda and Andy got comfortable in her study. A lazy Saturday afternoon for the women of Edgewood Hall was what they all needed.
Miranda was sitting on the big, cosy couch with Andrea’s head in her lap. She let her hand sift softly through the dark tresses, nearly putting the younger woman to sleep with her gentle ministrations. Andy had her eyes closed revelling in the warmth of Miranda’s body and the soothing hand in her hair. When she felt a manicured finger tenderly trace the scar on her cheek her eyes flew open. Miranda had never backed away from this imperfection of her face, quite the contrary. The first time the older woman had kissed her she had kissed this side of her face. The finger had been replaced by Miranda’s soft lips as they were following the path of the scar. Closing her eyes again Andy couldn’t prevent the tears from falling. Miranda’s lips reached hers kissing them gently before they kissed away the tears.
“Shh, darling”, Miranda whispered into Andrea’s ear, “I love you, all of you.”
Andy turned in Miranda’s lap, looking up at the silver haired beauty with pained eyes.
“How do you know?”
“Let’s just say it is something that has crossed my mind as well”, Miranda admitted sincerely.
Drawing her brow together in confusion Andy sat up to get a better look at the woman.
“What do you mean?” She asked honestly confused.
“Darling”, Miranda smiled tolerantly at Andrea, “I’m a fifty year old woman who has delivered her twin daughter’s via Caesarean and I breast fed them. As you know by now, my face is anything but flawless anymore and the rest of my body isn’t either.”
“You are gorgeous, Miranda”, Andy started to protest but was stopped by a gentle finger on her mouth.
“You are very sweet, my darling”, Miranda knew Andrea did indeed see her that way, “but we both know I’m less than perfect with my make up gone and I’m certainly anything but with my clothes gone.”
“Miranda you are the most beautiful woman I know”, Andrea had removed the obstructing digit, “even more so without your make up. As for the rest of your body I can’t wait to discover every inch of it. I don’t care about the scar on your belly. It means you have given birth to two wonderful girls. I really can’t wait to see all of you, Miranda Priestly. To make love to you.”
“That is exactly how I feel about you, Andrea”, Miranda admitted.
“But my scars are more intrusive and abhorrent than yours can ever be”, Andy objected with a sigh.
“Why don’t we cross that bridge when we come to it and let me be the judge of it?” Miranda asked gently. “Do you trust me to keep you safe?”
“With all my heart”, Andy nodded.
“I trust you to do so the same.”
Leaning forward to express the trust she felt the women didn’t hear the door to the study open. Only when two little redheads giggled at the sight of their mother and Andy kissing the women knew they had an audience.
Not in the least bit worried about Caroline and Cassidy finding them kissing, the women drew apart slowly. They felt comfortable with each other and wanted to feel the girls the same way.
“Come here, you little minions”, Miranda turned on the couch, gesturing for them to join them.
Running over to where Andy and Miranda were waiting for them, Cassidy occupied her mother’s lap and Caroline, asking silent permission, got up on Andy’s.
“All done reading?” Andy asked as she tickled the girl in her lap.
“Yup”, Cassidy answered for her sister, who was trying unsuccessfully to squirm away from the fingers, enjoying it nonetheless.
“Can you show us how to play snooker”, Caroline got out between fits of laughter.
“Sure”, Andy agreed. “Now?”
“Please?”
“All right. You go on and I’ll be with you in a minute”, Andy promised.
The girls raced out of the room, leaving both women with a smile on their face.
“Join us?” Andy asked the editor.
“In a minute.”
“Okay”, Andy slowly got up and followed the twins.
TBC