gin_akasarahsmom | DWP fan fic story - Like Andrea

For disclaimers see post for Part 1

Judy entered the office slowly. “You, um.. wanted to see me?”

Miranda noticed the woman’s eyes glance at the coffee container and she let a flare of annoyance tinge her voice. “Yes, by all means move glacially, you know how much that thrills me.”

The woman quickly moved to stand in front of Miranda’s desk, knowing better than to sit.

“Have a seat.” Miranda’s fingers flicked to the chair Emily had just recently vacated.

Judy swallowed hard and felt her heart sink as she heard the door click closed behind her.

Andy made sure Judy thought the door was closed, but left it open slightly. The police would only have to push it slightly to swing it silently open.

“I would like some answers.” Miranda raised her eyebrows. “Would you like to tell me why?”

Judy knew she was caught, but then it didn’t really matter now anyway. Miranda was going to die. Andy was going to be saved. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Explain it to me then!” Andy circled around the desk to stand next to Miranda her hand automatically finding Miranda’s shoulder. “Because I’m really having some problems with all this.”

“Andrea,” Miranda warned and patted the hand on her shoulder, finding her fingers tangled in the girl’s. This is what she was afraid of. Andy’s temper was a rather large hindrance when trying to keep a crazed killer calm. However, Judy seemed to be mesmerized by Andy; something which Miranda could hardly blame the woman for.

Judy focused on the women’s linked hands and remembered the scene she’d seen yesterday on the monitors. “How could you?” She accused Andy. “With her?! She ruined your life! She made you miserable. Nate left you because of her!” The crazed woman pointed at the object of her obsession. “Don’t shake your head. You cried yourself to sleep every night after he left!”

“You cried…?”

Andy felt the fingers twined in hers begin to release and she held them tight. “Yes, I cried, but not for him.” Needing to see Miranda’s eyes, Andy looked down into the concerned blue orbs. “When I got back from Paris, he was gone and I was glad I didn’t have to deal with him.” Her thumb caressed Miranda’s hand. “I was crying for you, knowing I’d never see you again.”

“You can’t be with her!” Judy jumped to her feet and wailed. “She’s old enough to be your mother! I’m a much better match for you.”

Andy eased herself between Miranda and the woman. “She’s not old and she is not my mother.” She felt herself tensing to block an attack. “She’s smart, funny, caring and loving, and she’s beautiful and I can’t possibly imagine loving anyone else.” Andy didn’t notice the look Miranda gave her as anger flashed in her eyes and she continued her tirade. “You? I don’t even know you… I don’t remember ever even seeing you in the building. After more than two years you never even spoke to me?? Then you get all pissed because I actually have a life? Why do you even care? I mean… why me?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Judy locked her eyes on Andy, amazed at the vivid brown she found there. Much better than pictures. “You are the kindest person I’ve ever known. You treat everyone around you with decency and respect.” Judy was shaking now. “You are perfect, God... the first time I saw you undress…”

Andy’s teeth ground together. I hate this. Where the hell are the police? You told me you’d get her, Jo. I need to get her away from Miranda. “Let’s go somewhere and talk.”

Judy’s laugh grated in her ears. “I don’t think so.”

Andrea tried to make sense of what she was seeing even as Miranda made a small sound of dismay. Then she realized she was looking down the barrel of a gun. Oh God, please don’t let Miranda get hurt, her kids need her. “Judy, what’s this going to get you? C’mon. Put that away.”

Looking past Andy, Judy sneered at Miranda. “Drink the coffee.”

“Don’t do it Miranda.” Andy held out her hand to prevent the older woman from reaching the container.

“Do it!” Judy waved the gun and pointed it at Andy. “Do it or I’ll shoot her.” Judy knew she wouldn’t really shoot Andy, but Miranda didn’t know that and from what she saw the threat would be enough to make the woman drink the drugged coffee. Once the bitch drank the coffee, Andy would be free.

“Don’t do it!” Andy was panicked now; her heart was beating so fast. “It will kill you. Please, Miranda… think of the girls.”

“Andrea…” She saw Andy glance her way and anguish showed in the Editor’s blue eyes. “I can’t lose you, not now.”

“Awww…that’s so sweet.” Judy waved the gun. “Drink up.”

Miranda exhaled slowly and looked at the coffee container on her desk. “One thing first.” She stood and tangled her fingers in Andy’s long brown hair, turning the girl to her, pulling the dark head down so their eyes were even. “I love you too, Andrea.” She captured the warm luscious lips with her own, lightly at first then, deepening, crushing the girl to her. Trying to press all the feeling she had into this one all too short contact. Tasting the sudden tears; not knowing if they were hers or Andrea’s. Tearing herself away, Miranda hugged the dark head to her shoulder and whispered, “Don’t interfere.”

Releasing the girl, she took the time to gently wipe a tear from the young cheek with her thumb before returning her glare to Judy and picking up the coffee. “I’m not sure what you expect to accomplish with this.” Miranda lifted the cup to her lips and tipped the container up. The warm liquid rushing over her tongue forced her eyes closed. The sound of dismay from Andrea kept them that way for a long moment.

Judy watched closely and smiled with a sort of insane glee when she saw a convulsive swallow at her ex-boss’ throat. “It doesn’t matter now, does it? You’re dead.” She wasn’t surprised when Miranda said nothing, just staring at her with that oh so superior look. “I would have killed you just for being a bitch, but you hurt Andy, ruined her life, drove her boyfriend away, so I wanted you to suffer too. That last issue of Runway is what you will be remembered for, the issue that killed Miranda Priestly, the proof she went totally nuts.”

Miranda just continued to stare, her eyes not even looking up as the door swung silently open. Jo quietly walked up behind Judy, gun drawn and pressed between the woman’s slim shoulders before she spoke. “Drop it.” She took the gun from the insane woman, handing it back to one of the officers that had followed her in. She cuffed Judy, reciting the standard ‘You have the right to remain silent’ speech. Jo thought it might just be the height of irony that they were called Miranda Rights.

Judy confirmed she did indeed understand the rights as they had been explained to her, but it was obvious that either she didn’t or she just didn’t care since she immediately turned to Miranda and laughed. “It doesn’t matter anyway, you’re still dead.”

“Ambulance is on its way.” Jo turned to the Editor and gestured to the coffee container in her hand. “I’ll take that.”

Miranda looked down at the cup in her hand and nodded. Walking toward the detective and the woman in cuffs, Miranda stopped within arm’s length, then held her assailant’s gaze as she calmly took the top off the cup and spit the contents of her mouth, the entire drink she’d taken earlier, back into it. “Thank you, Detective.”

“Sorry it took so long.” Jo handed the woman off to one of the uniformed officers. “Take her to the station. I’ll stay and get statements from these two.”

“Miranda?” Andy’s voice sounded small.

The Editor’s heart broke a little at the quiet question, but she held up one elegant finger. “Hold on.” Walking to the bathroom she quickly swished her mouth out, spitting any remaining traces of the drug-laced coffee down the sink with a healthy amount of mouthwash. She gracefully wiped her mouth with a tissue, very lady-like as she walked back into the main part of the office. “Sorry.”

“Pardon me.”

Jo looked behind her to see a very redheaded woman holding a cup of coffee. She held up her hand. “Whoa. Who are you?”

“Emily,” Miranda answered. “Finally.” She reached for the cup and immediately took a sip. “Mmmm… Thank you, Emily. If I wasn’t already taken I think I’d marry you.”

Emily gasped. “That’s it! This nonsense has got to stop right now!” She glared at Jo. “I told your…” She wiggled her fingers distastefully. “…people… to take the freight elevator. There is a coven of Paparazzi out front. Did you have to use sirens to get here?” She turned on Andy. “And you…” She pointed at Miranda. “Put her back the way you found her right this minute!”

“Emily!” Miranda slid on the Goddess mask. “Modify your tone.” Her eyes bore into her assistant for a long moment. She realized that balancing the woman she was with Andrea, and the leader she needed to be at Runway was going to be harder than she anticipated. I’ll never be able to stop being the bitch boss, she thought sadly. Taking one deep breath she was fully the Miranda Priestly. “Call Donnatella and cancel our lunch, reschedule whenever it’s convenient for her, schedule an art department meeting for tomorrow morning, cancel any appointment I have after two today reschedule or not I don’t care, Get Patrick on the phone, call my lawyer and set up a meeting with them tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest, I will also want to speak with Laurie in Public Relations at some point before the print deadline and tell HR that you are going to need a replacement for Judy.” She blinked. “That’s all.”

Emily breathed a sigh. “Oh, thank God.” Things were back to normal. She left quickly to perform her tasks.

Miranda spoke to Jo. “You should take Andrea’s statement first.”

“Why’s that?” Jo grinned at the woman.

“Because…” She gestured to the door just as Emily called.

“I have Patrick.”

Miranda smirked. “I have a phone call to take.”

“Lady, you’re somethin’ else, you know that?” Jo’s admiration rose to the point she was beginning to think about Miranda with almost as much awe as her own wife did.

“So I’ve been told.” Blue eyes twinkled as Miranda picked up the phone. “The question is…what?” Holding the phone to her ear, the editor got down to business. “Yes, Patrick, I need you to find a good location for a shoot in July…something, patriotic... I’m not interested in excuses…”

Jo let the phone conversation move to the background and turned her attention to Andy. “You okay?”

“I…” Andy felt her insides shaking. “I don’t think so.”

Jo led her to the chair. “S’okay, deep breaths.” She gripped her friend’s shoulder. “We got her, she won’t hurt you anymore.”

Andy nodded. “Thank you.” Judy was not really what was freaking her out though. She couldn’t stop thinking about Miranda’s words. I love you too she’d said. I love you too? Too? When did I…I never… Then it hit her when she was ranting at Judy. I told her I couldn’t imagine loving anyone else. She hugged herself and looked up at Miranda on the phone. The older woman caught her eye and as she was discussing the current photo shoot details, she winked. Andy felt her heart speed up, I could have lost her. I can’t lose her.

“Miranda sent Emily for coffee and called Judy in…” Andy began. She told Jo everything and by the time she was finished, Miranda was standing next to her rubbing her back lightly.

“Andy.” The detective spoke softly. “You need to rest for a while. Do you have somewhere to go?”

The question made her realize a sad fact and Andy looked horrified. “I have to find another place to live.”

“You have a place to live.” Miranda spoke firmly. “When will we be allowed to gather her things from the apartment?”

“Shouldn’t take too long,” Jo assured her. “It’s not Andy’s apartment that we’re really interested in, only the one Judy stayed in.”

“You want me to stay with you?” Andrea was sure this was a dream and closed her eyes, only to see the image of Miranda lifting the poison coffee to her lips. She gasped and her eyes flew open.

Miranda’s fingers brushed through Andrea’s long brown hair. “You can stay with us at the townhouse for as long as you need, as long as you want.” She hugged the head to her and kissed the top of it gently. “You need my statement now, Detective?”

Jo swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah, it would be good to get it now.”

Miranda spoke quickly and quietly, giving Jo the bare facts, which corresponded to Andy’s story.

“Thank you, Ms. Priestly.” Jo grinned and tilted her head at the woman. “You’ve been very helpful.”

“Don’t tell anyone that,” Miranda warned the woman. “They’ll think you’re crazy.”

Andy snorted back a laugh.

“Ahhh…” Miranda smiled down at the young woman. “No laughing at the old lady.”

Rolling her eyes at that, Andy stood and hugged Miranda tightly and whispered, “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I’m fine, Andrea.” Miranda returned the embrace, resting her head on Andy’s shoulder for a long moment. She looked over at Jo. “Will you escort Andrea home, Detective?”

“Sure.” Jo gestured to her friend. “I’ll give you a lift.”

Andy continued to hold Miranda. “I don’t want to leave.”

“I’ll be home early.” Miranda’s eyes twinkled. “I’m going to finish up here and I’ve already told Emily to cancel my afternoon. I’ll be home before the girls are and we can talk to them together.” She gently disengaged from Andy’s iron grip, and retrieved a spare key from her desk drawer, handing it over to Andy. “You go and get some rest. I’ll be there soon.”

“C’mon.” Jo took Andy by the arm. “Let’s get you home.”

Miranda watched them walking to the elevator, each step Andy took away was a pain to her. I’ll be home soon, love, she thought. Then took a deep breath and got to work.

“Emily.” The girl was not going to be happy or, Miranda laughed to herself, maybe she was. The ‘old Miranda’ was about to reappear with a vengeance.

--------------

The ride was silent all the way to the townhouse and Jo walked Andy to the door. “You gonna be okay?”

Nodding, Andy used the key and opened the door. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” She sighed. “This is all just so weird.”

Jo nodded. “I’m sure it is.” She shuffled from foot to foot for a minute. “Do you want me to drop by your work and let your boss know you won’t be in for a few days?”

“Oh god, Work. I totally forgot.” Andy’s knees buckled and Jo caught her.

“C’mon.” She hauled her friend into the house and settled her on the couch in the study. “Get some rest okay?”

Nodding Andy heard the front door close as Jo left. She curled up on the soft cushions, remembering pressing Miranda back into them. Closing her eyes, she saw the white haired woman lifting the poison coffee to her lips. Gasping, her eyes flew open. I could have lost her. Uncomfortable on the couch, Andy found she needed to be close to Miranda and made her way upstairs. Stretching out on the bed, Andy curled around the very same pillow Miranda had curled around. She could smell Miranda on the pillow and sheets. It was too much and once the tears started, she couldn’t stop them.

----------------

“Andrea.” Miranda spoke softly. “Andrea, you need to wake up. The girls will be home soon.”

“Did I fall asleep?” Andy raked her fingers through her hair.

Miranda traced the girl’s cheekbone and smiled. “For a little while.” She leaned down to kiss the tearstained cheek. “You rested now?”

“Better.” Andy pulled the older woman down to her, holding her close. “You were going to… I could have lost you.”

“Shhh…” Miranda stroked the girl’s back. “I’m right here, and I’m fine. The ambulance people stayed with me for three hours before they finally agreed I hadn’t ingested any of the drugs.” She smiled at the concern in Andrea’s eyes. “Doctor Dawson called, she said things look okay. I’ll have more tests done in a few weeks to make sure.”

“Oh!” Andy held Miranda tightly. “That’s great!”

“I told you I would be fine.” The white head tilted in question. “You doubted me?”

Andy was mesmerized by the porcelain skin on Miranda’s cheek. She reached up and traced the shadows there. “No, not for a minute.” She couldn’t stop herself from moving to capture the woman’s lips, whimpering at the contact. “I need you.” She nuzzled the woman’s neck, nipping at the softness.

“Andrea.” Miranda tipped her head back automatically, giving Andy better access. “We can’t do this now.” She smiled as the girl pulled back. “The twins will be home soon.”

“You think they’ll be okay with me staying here?”

Grinning at that, Miranda sat up and nodded. “Yes, since the first question out of their mouth’s this morning at breakfast was ‘Where’s Andy’, I think they’ll be fine.”

Andy laughed. “Okay.” She lay back on the bed. “So which guestroom do I get?”

Miranda’s eyebrows rose significantly. “You want a guestroom?”

Biting her lips together, Andy shook her head. “Umm... no, not really.”

“Oh, thank God.” Miranda’s shoulders dropped in relief and she moved to lay next to the girl.

“I totally blew off work today.” Andy admitted. “And I’m not sure I care at the moment.”

“Your detective friend called.” Miranda smiled as Andy snuggled close. “She said Judy was wanted by the FBI. She was an accomplice with a scam artist that went in to small town hospitals in the Midwest. They’d take over the operations and then run them into the ground. That’s how she got all the drugs. She had almost graduated from pharmaceutical school in St. Louis so she knew which ones to give me and the dosages that would probably do what she wanted.”

Andy lay with her head on Miranda’s chest, listening to the woman’s heart beating strong and steady. “Did they say why she fixated on me?”

Miranda absently stroked Andy’s arm. “She was on the run from the FBI and paranoid. When she moved into the apartment, the other units around her were all well established, but she worried about agents doing surveillance on her. So, she set up cameras in the empty apartment below her and watched the new tenants to make sure she was safe. She explained the rest in the office about why you.”

“She watched me undress.” A shudder went through Andy. “That really creeps me out.”

“It’s not an entirely fun prospect for me either.” Miranda buried her fingers in the girl’s hair, tilting her head back. “I don’t like to share.”

“Yeah, um… about that.” Andy bit her bottom lip. “There are um… a couple of girls you will have to share with.”

“What?!” Miranda’s eyes narrowed at the tiny grin on her lover’s face and she realized who they were talking about. “Andrea, don’t scare me like that.” She chuckled. “Caroline and Cassidy don’t count for sharing. They’re family, that’s different.”

“Are we seriously doing this?” Andy asked in awe. “We are going to live together, be a couple… go out?”

Miranda nodded. “I would like that very much.” She sighed. “It’s going to cause a stir though, you’ll have to get used to appearing in the gossip rags…are you ready for that?”

“I was ready to be shot for you earlier today.” Andy blinked as she thought about the incident and didn’t curl up in mind-numbing fear. “I think having my picture in a few papers won’t be too hard.”

Sighing, Miranda felt sick knowing Andrea had been in mortal danger. “It’s more annoying than you might think, but it’s bearable, especially if I get to be with you at the end of the day.”

“Always,” Andy promised and began to laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“When I confronted you about the ‘brunette’ issue, you told me that all the models wanted to be like me.” Andy laughed at the memory. “But if…when… our relationship hits the gossip pages, everyone is going to want to be like me!”

“Ha! Doubtful anyone would want to put up with me.”

Andy rolled and propped her head up on one fist, the other hand moving in small circles on Miranda’s stomach. “They would if they knew anything about the real you.” She felt the tummy under her hand rumble. “Movie night tonight? Can we order pizza and pig out?”

“Hmmm… not sure about pigging out, but a movie would be nice.” Miranda shifted and gave her partner a light kiss that quickly deepened, leaving both women breathless when they finally broke away. The white haired woman panted, “I guess one slice of pizza wouldn’t hurt.”

“Ha!” Andy laughed. “You’re so easy.”

“Shhh…” Miranda quirked her lips. “It’s a secret.”

Andy grinned and Miranda took a deep breath when they heard the front door slam. “The girls are home.”

“Well then, let’s go tell ‘em what’s going on.”

------------------------------

Two hours later Andy and Miranda found themselves stuffed with pizza, sitting on the couch in the theater-playroom laughing at the ending of a comedy, because that is what Caroline declared they needed tonight. Something funny to ease the tension. As relaxed as they were, they all still jumped when the doorbell rang.

Andy patted Miranda’s knee and stood. “I’ll get it.” She dropped down the stairs, sliding her hand along the banister and realized. I live here now. She wasn’t sure how she got so lucky.

She peeked out the small window by the door and saw a deliveryman with a large bouquet of flowers. She opened the door. “Can I help you?”

“Andy Sachs?”

“Uh… yeah that’s me.”

“Delivery for you.” He handed over the flowers and held out a clipboard. “Sign on the last line please.”

Andy signed the form and looked at the colorful arrangement. “Thanks.”

“Have a nice evening ma’am.”

Andy closed the door and fished the card from its holder and laughed loudly.

Andy,

Nods are awesome!

J.P.

“Andrea?” Miranda’s voice floated down the staircase. “Who was at the door?”

“Flower delivery, from Jo.”

“Ah. That’s nice.” Miranda hesitated. “It’s the girl’s bedtime, Andrea. They expect you to tell them good night.”

From the tone in Miranda’s voice Andy understood that the older woman also expected it. “I’ll be up in a minute.”

Andy took the flowers into the kitchen and set them on the table. She looked around and thought about how only three nights ago she was scared out of her mind to be here having dinner with Miranda, sitting at this very table. Scared because the only Miranda she’d really known was the Goddess, the bitch boss who terrorized Runway in order to get the magazine exactly how she wanted it. Only the few short glimpses of the woman under the mask had caught her attention making it impossible for her to stay away. And now…

Andy shook her head in wonder. Now I know the true Miranda, the Goddess, the bitch, the loving mom, the caring woman all in one package. As she made her way back up the stairs, humming Somewhere over the Rainbow. Andy knew for certain, if they only knew the real Miranda…my Miranda...

Everyone would want to be like me.

End.

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From:

kdsusa3.livejournal.com

This was so totally excellent. I'm glad that you jumped on the Mirandy train. Please continue writing in this fandom. Please????

From:

kdsusa3.livejournal.com

P.S. I loved the FOL mini-crossover.

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From:

styx63.livejournal.com

Wow ! I'm a big fan of your "Negociation" series and I can't tell how excited I'm to see you writing for this fandom and this pairing. OK, I shut up and I go read "Like Andrea" ;-)

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