Fic - DWP - Like Family Pt 13
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Richard clapped his hands together to get everyone’s attention. “There are still a few hours of daylight left. I’m gonna go heat up a few burgers on the grill, they shouldn’t take too long to cook. Why don’t we all go back outside for a while?”
“C’mon Mom,” the girls each took one of Miranda’s hands and practically dragged her out of the house. “Watch us make a basket from the very edge of the driveway. We’ve been practicing.”
Everyone nodded and filed out of the house, Richard put his hand on Andy’s shoulder. “Good job up there, Honey.”
Andy grinned and reached up, unthinking, to pat the hand on her shoulder. “Thanks… I didn’t do it alone though.” Andy glanced at the retreating trio and winked as Caroline looked back at her and smiled.
“What’s this?” Richard took the hand and looked at the jewelry, his forehead wrinkling.
“Um… it’s… a ring, Dad.” Andy shrugged. “Miranda gave it to me this morning.” She saw his jaw tensing and decided to get it out of the way. “And yes, that is when she asked me to marry her, and yes I told her I most definitely would.” She sighed as her father seemed to be speechless at that. “I love her, Dad…”
“You can’t!” Richard was on the edge of his patience. This delusion Andy was having had gone far enough! Married? No…No way. “You can’t, she’s a woman! You can’t love her…” he ground his teeth together. “…be with her…like that.”
Andy spoke very calmly and very soothingly to her father. “I can, Daddy… I do…I am…with her, like that.” With a deep breath she continued. “She loves me.” She caught the man’s eye. “We are a family, Miranda, the girls and me.”
He shook his head. “You are my family.”
“I hope so.” Andy smiled weakly at him. “I had hoped you wouldn’t disown me when I told you about Miranda.”
“Dis…” Richard shook his head against the thought. “I wouldn’t, ever. You’re my daughter, no matter what.”
Andy threw her arms around his neck, elation tingeing her voice. “I love you, Daddy.”
He held her tightly for a moment, and sighed; he really didn’t want to think about the situation any more. “C’mon… we can talk about this later. Right now, we’ve got some burgers to burn.”
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It was getting late now. Most of the family had gone, Dawn, Jim, Donna had picked up the kids and even Chad had gone to hang out with some of his old hometown buddies so only the Sachs’ that lived in the house, Gram Sachs and the Priestly’s remained. Cassidy and Caroline were playing horseshoes in the fading sunlight while Gram, Miranda, Andy and her parents all sat around the outdoor table in slightly uncomfortable silence watching the children play. Andy was also slightly uncomfortable because her mother and father weren’t sitting together, and that forced Andy to sit across the table from Miranda. She knew her parents had done it that way on purpose and that tactic counteracted nearly all the good this evening had brought, which in truth wasn’t much.
A late night breeze pushed against Andy’s hair and from the corner of her eye the young woman saw Gram shiver a bit. Okay enough of this. Andy and thought and stood slowly. “Be right back.” As she walked around the table, her hand automatically dropped and brushed the back of Miranda’s neck as she passed the seated woman.
Miranda felt the ghost touch and a wisp of a smile fluttered on her lips. It was another thing Miranda loved about Andrea. People don’t just casually touch me, Miranda thought. But Andrea does. It was more than that though and Miranda knew it. It’s not just casual… she identified the difference. It’s natural, it just feels… right, when she does it. It has for a long time.
Andy returned carrying two small throw blankets and detoured to the other side of the patio to take possession of two lounge chairs, dragging them over close to the table. Setting them side by side, Andy winked at Miranda and with a small move of her head asked silently if the woman wanted to sit. When Miranda began to rise, Andy moved over to Gram and draped one of the blankets over the thin woman’s shoulders. “Would you like to put your feet up, Gram?”
The older woman pulled the blanket around her and nodded. “That sounds lovely, dear.” She accepted the young woman’s helping hand to rise. She settled into the chair next to the one Miranda was about to claim.
Andy grinned and stopped Miranda’s motion for a second. “Ah… Not so fast…” She winked at her fiancé and moved quickly to sit on the lounge chair, then moved her legs off either side, patting the empty space in the middle. Miranda smiled and chuckled slightly as she snuggled into the space. Leaning back against Andrea, the younger woman tangled their legs together and adjusted the blanket over them.
Miranda sighed in relief at the contact, tension she hadn’t consciously been aware of draining away. She hadn’t seen the young woman nearly as much as she would have liked to today. “Thank you Andrea, this is quite comfortable.”
“Mmmm…” Andy’s arms slid around Miranda’s waist and she tipped her head to rest her cheek on the soft white hair. “Sure is.”
Andy only dared a glance at her parents. The expressions on their faces were indescribable and she fought the urge to laugh. Get used to it guys… I’m not letting her go.
“Andy, can I see you in the kitchen please?” Dorothy began to stand when Andy replied.
“No.”
“Uh… what?” Andy’s mother bristled. “Did you say no?”
“Yes.” Andy inhaled the scent of Miranda’s shampoo. “I said no.” She did not turn to look at her mother. “It’s my birthday and I’ve missed being with my fiancé all day, so right now I’m going to sit here and relax for a little while, while I hold her in my arms…” Angry enough to tweak the woman slightly, she hoped Miranda wouldn’t get too upset with her and Andy added. “…and watch our children play.”
“Your children!?” Dorothy glared at Miranda. “Are you going to put up with that?”
“With what?” Miranda gave Cassidy the thumbs up sign for scoring a point. She turned to look at the upset woman. “I have no problem whatsoever being held by Andrea, nor do I object to her paying attention to our children.”
Andy glanced over at her stunned mother. “If you have a problem, we can leave right now.” From the corner of her eye Andy saw her mom begin to rise from her seat, again. Moving her mouth away from Miranda’s ear, Andy shouted to Caroline, “Great job, Caroline! Three ringers in a row!”
Caroline turned toward the encouraging voice and seeing where they were sitting rolled her eyes, but waved to acknowledge the comment. She also smiled at the look on her Mom’s face. Andy makes her so happy, Caroline thought. How lucky am I to have such great parents. Her breath hitched as that thought rolled through her mind and in a fit of mischief she called back, “Thanks Mom!”
Dorothy collapsed the last few inches back down into her chair. “Did she… did she just call…”
“I knew it.” Pava chuckled. “I knew it, from the first moment I saw them… trouble, trouble through and through.” The woman winked at Miranda’s startled glance. “’Course, I wouldn’t expect anything less from my great-grandchildren.”
“Mom!” Richard reacted without thinking. Andy claiming the children as hers was obviously just meant to tease Dorothy, for his mother to agree…well it was too much for him to ignore. “That’s not…”
Pave waved him silent. “I know it’s not yet, not officially. After the wedding though…” She chuckled at her son’s expression. “Oh, get over it, Richard. Your daughter is happy and with the person she loves! What more could you want?”
Richard stared sullen and silent at his mother, unwilling to tell her what he really thought of Andy’s behavior.
Miranda answered for him. “He wants what every parent wants for their children. He wants her to be happy, healthy, and he wants to know that when he’s no longer here, his children will be safe, and loved, and well taken care of.” She nodded at his widening eyes. “He wants to know that the choices his children make in life don’t hurt them. He doesn’t want to see Andrea have to endure the pain this relationship will bring her.”
Pava snorted. “Every relationship has painful times.” She held her hand up to stop her son’s shaking head. “Yes… even your father and I had rough times.”
“What he doesn’t realize...” Miranda continued, feeling, even as she spoke, waves of love flowing off of the woman holding her. “…Is that Andrea will meet or exceed every one of those wants. She is as safe or safer with me than anyone else, she will be taken care of forever and she is totally and completely loved.”
They were all so focused on Richard that they didn’t realize the girls had moved to stand at the foot of the lounge chair Miranda and Andy were occupying.
“Mom?” Caroline smiled as both Andy and Miranda’s head whipped around to see her. “We’re kinda tired… can we go back to the rooms now?”
Miranda turned her head slightly. “Andrea?”
With a quick glance at her parents, Andy nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that would probably be best.” She held Miranda where she was when the woman tried to get up and asked the girls. “Would you run upstairs and get our…” With a glance at Miranda, Andy smirked and finished the request. “…stuff?” The girls nodded and took off.
“Sssss,tuff?” Miranda turned slightly to regard the young woman through narrowed eyes.
Andy grinned. “You can wear cerulean blue...” Dark eyes twinkled in the twilight and she shifted to kiss the tip of the older woman’s nose. “…I can say stuff.” They locked eyes for a long moment.
“Here’s your jacket, Andy.” Caroline handed the item to the seated woman. Cassidy passed her mother’s jacket to her.
“Thank you, Cassidy.” Miranda folded the soft leather into her lap. “Would you bring my phone here?”
Cassidy retrieved the phone from the table and gave it to her mother.
“Thank you, Bobbsey.”
Caroline rolled her eyes in sympathy for the nickname, as Cassidy sighed. “You’re welcome.”
Miranda leaned back against Andrea as she called for the car to pick them up. She closed the phone and mumbled to Andy, “Ten minutes.” She smiled as Andy nodded and tightened her embrace.
“We’ll go out front and watch for the car!” They ran off, and a few seconds after they disappeared all the adults heard the distinctive bounce of a basketball on the asphalt drive.
“Good,” Andy leaned back on the chair and closed her eyes. Miranda’s warmth soothed her. “That means I don’t have to move just yet.”
Pava laughed. “Good to know someone around here has their priorities in order.”
“Mother!” Richard was having a hard time watching his daughter cuddling with this woman… and mother is acting like it’s just, nothing.
“They’re in love, Richard… can’t you see that?” Pava smiled at the couple who seemed oblivious to the argument flying over their heads. “They really are a striking couple.”
“Gram.” Andy ventured quietly into the conversation. “I think Dad is uncomfortable enough without your comments making it worse.”
“Tough.” The old lady answered her grand-daughter. “I’m seventy-one years old, I can say what I want to, if the truth hurts… He can just deal with it.”
Dorothy interrupted the conversation. “Will you be back tomorrow, Andy?”
Andy bent her head to Miranda. “Will we?”
“Perhaps it would be better if we said our goodbye’s at the bed and breakfast. The flight to Martha’s Vineyard will leave early afternoon, and we will need to get ready and pack…” Miranda didn’t actually want the intrusion tomorrow, but for Andrea she would make allowances.
“Yeah, that sounds good.” Andy nodded. “Why don’t you guys come over about eleven… we can have a couple hours to talk, maybe go out to lunch before we go to the plane.” She saw them nodding and turned to see her Gram. “You too?”
“Of course, darlin’, I wouldn’t miss it.” Pava winked as she saw Andy mouth. ‘Come early’.
They all turned toward the sound of pounding feet. Cassidy skidded around the corner of the house. “Car’s here.”
Miranda stood and slipped her jacket on, Andy did the same.
“Good night.” Miranda tilted her head at the remaining people. “Thank you for the hospitality.”
“See ya tomorrow.” Andy hugged her Gram, then her mom and dad. “Good night.”
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“Wow.” Andy laughed. “The girls were out like a light!” She snuggled down into their bed. “How about you?” Her hand rubbed Miranda’s flat tummy lightly, but suggestively.
Chuckling, Miranda turned shining blue eyes toward her young companion. “This is the least physically active day I’ve had in… a long time.” Her fingers tangled in dark brown hair and she pulled Andrea to her. “I have a lot of energy to work off before I can sleep.”
“Oh, Yay.” Andy smiled as Miranda took control. She felt the older woman’s hands twining in the material in the front of her pajamas just under where the buttons ended. “Oh no.” Andy stilled the hands, “I like these pajamas, and if you tear the buttons off of them now I won’t get them back for over a week.” She smiled at the frustration on Miranda’s face. “I’ll do it.” Grinning, Andy began to unbutton the top of her pajamas slowly, very very slowly, one button at a time.
“You are evil,” Miranda accused as Andrea parted the last button, but she quickly stopped the young woman from removing the garment. “Don’t,” she said. “Let me.” Slowly, Miranda slid her hands under the soft material, pushing it down off Andrea’s shoulders. She didn’t take it all the way off though, she only pushed it down far enough to expose Andrea’s perfect breasts before she gathered the extra material and tied it together, trapping the young woman’s arms at her sides. Blue eyes twinkled with glee. “Now, I’ve got you.”
Andy laughed, low and sultry. “You sure do.” Lying back on the bed she writhed a bit. “So, what are you going to do with me now?”
With an evil sort of laugh, Miranda began to work the bottom half of Andrea’s pajamas off. “It is your birthday Andrea, so you choose.”
Never taking her dark eyes off Miranda, Andy smiled. “Kiss me.”
“Very well.” Moving up, she allowed their lips to meet for a long languorous moment before moving to trail soft heat along Andrea’s jaw up to her ear, then down to the young woman’s delicious neck.
“Miranda…” Andy felt her lips being covered by two long elegant fingers.
“Shhh…” Miranda closed her eyes as Andrea pulled the fingers on her lips into her mouth, swirling her talented tongue around them. “Andrea… You’ve had your request.” Removing her fingers from the luscious warmth, Miranda chuckled, the kind that depending on the context either made Runway employees shake in their boots or made Andrea quiver; this was the latter. “It’s my turn now, so just…”
“Lay back and take it?” Andy grinned, a grin that was wiped away when Miranda growled.
“Yes.”
Andy closed her eyes as sensation washed over her. Oh God… she thought and she could feel herself drowning in wave after wave of pleasure as she gave herself over to Miranda, completely.
I’m gonna marry her!
On to Part 14 - the conclusion
http://akasarahsmom.livejournal.com/10274.html