A/N – Thank you so much for all the love the first chapter received! The response has been absolutely surreal! Thank you to everyone who took the time to review and give this story some love. Now onward to the next chapter!
Chapter 2 – Little White Lies
Andy's fingers fly over the keys on her laptop is the only sound that can be heard in the quiet apartment. The sun is just starting to peek out over the city, but Andy has been awake for what feels like hours already. After a rather restless night, her mind finding the need to reply every second and analyzing every small detail of the previous day, Andy decided to get a head start on her work, playing hooky yesterday after meeting the Queen Andy knows her boss was not happy with her.
Hopefully getting a head start on her articles will help butter him up some. It also helps to keep her mind busy. With a few final touches, Andy saves her work and closes her laptop. She has done as much as she could without her notes that are on her desk and her missing notebook.
Getting up from her desk she checks on Emma who is sleeping in Andy's bed, pillows placed all around her to make sure she doesn't roll off the bed accidentally. Once she was sure Emma was still fast asleep Andy slips into the bathroom to get ready for her day.
Andy quickly jumps in the shower letting the warm water wake up her tired and aching body. After her shower, she continues with her morning routine. She brushes her teeth, styles her hair, does her makeup before slipping on a mismatching set of bra and panties. Since becoming a parent, she has learned how to do things efficiently and as fast humanly possible.
Andy lets out a happy sigh when she walks out of the bathroom to see that Emma hadn't moved. She makes her way over to her closet throwing on a white blouse and doing up most of the buttons, next is a pair of light grey striped trousers before Andy moves to her vanity to get some accessories.
Opening her jewelry box she chooses a pair of minimalistic silver circle studs to go with her chosen look for the day. Andy starts to search for the perfect neckless to round it all off when she finds an antique silver heart necklace, in the middle of the heart is what looks like a family crest and an 'R' engraved in the middle.
Andy looks at the piece of jewelry dangling from her fingers, it is the only thing she has left from her father. Running her fingers over the edged silver for what was probably the millionth time Andy imagined what it would have been liked if he was still alive.
Would he and her mother still be together? Separated maybe, forcing her to split her vacations and holidays between two homes? Or would he just be the voice on the other end of the phone only calling on her birthday and Christmas?
Boy, little Andy's head would have exploded if she only knew that her fantasies should involve castles and tiaras.
After placing the necklace back safely in her jewelry box Andy moves over to the bed. Andy grabs her phone from her nightstand where it had been charging. Andy knows there is something she needs to do, probably should have done it yesterday but like they say ignorance is bliss Hesitating with her thumb over the all too familiar number she takes a deep breath before pressing dial. The phone rings three times, just as Andy was starting to get hope that it will go to voicemail it is answered.
"Andy sweetie what a nice surprise." The all to cheery voice comes over the line.
"Hi, mom."
Andy greets keeping her voice down mindful of the sleeping baby in her bed.
"It's rather early for you to be calling, not that I mind. Is something wrong, is it Emma?"
"No, mom nothing is wrong with Emma she is fine, perfect actually."
Andy can't help the smile that creeps onto her face looking down at her daughter.
"Oh, thank goodness. Andy, what's going on you sound troubled?" Of course, her mother would be able to tell something is wrong even from hundreds of miles away.
"I met my grandmother yesterday."
"What? Granny Sofie?"
"No mom, not granny Sofie. The live one."
Granny Sofie her mother's mother died when Andy was fifteen, she never got to meet her stepfather's mother as she died before he and her mother got married.
"Oh…oh."
"Yes, the one and only Queen Clarisse Renaldi."
The line is quiet, Andy starts to think her mom hang up on her when her sorrow-filled voice comes over the line again.
"Andy sweetie I'm so so sorry you had to find out like this."
"So, it's true you always knew who my family was?"
There is a bite to Andy's voice, a small part of her still believed that her mother had no idea about her heritage.
"Yes, I knew. But-"
"You knew all this time! You knew who my grandmother is, who my father was! And what in 26 years you just never bother to tell me?" Andy hisses over the phone, her build-up anger starting to bubble at the surface.
"I thought I was doing the right thing not telling you. I thought I was protecting you."
"Protecting me from what exactly?"
"I was young, alone and scared, I just wanted you to have a normal happy childhood without all the family drama." Her mother pleads with her to understand. "Andy please understand, his parents didn't approve of our relationship. He was supposed to marry a duchess or countess or some other kind of nobility. The last thing they expected was for the crowned prince to shack up with a broke American artist living in a bachelor apartment and having a baby out of wedlock."
Andy scoffs falling back onto her bed.
"Is that how you justified it, not wanting to cause a scandal with the prince's bastard child?"
"Andrea Mignonette Sachs!" Her mother chides her.
Andy shakes her head trying to calm her anger, this was escalating a lot faster than she anticipated not realizing how angry she was about the whole situation.
"My whole life was a lie. I had the right to know who my father was and who I am, you should have told me."
"I thought I was doing the right thing. Andy, you are a mom now you should understand what it feels like to want to do anything to protect your child even if it means having to lie to them."
"Oh no, you do not get to bring Emma into this! She has nothing to do with this, and I would never lie to my daughter or keep something like this from her."
"So, what are you saying? When Emma comes to you one day asking about her father what are you going to do? Are you going to spare her feeling telling her a little white lie or tell her the cold hard truth that she was just a mistake of a drunken one-night stand?"
Silence.
Andy sits frozen not believing what she just heard.
"Oh my… Andy sweetie I'm sorry I didn't – "
"I have to go." Andy interrupts her mother not even caring that her voice cracked at the end.
"Andy, please- "
"Goodbye, mom."
Andy ends the call quickly before her mother can reply again, fumbling with the phone she turns it off knowing her mother is going to be calling back and in no way ready to deal with that. She drops it with a thud on the nightstand.
Andy closed her eyes tightly, squeezing it so tightly she starts to see lights dance behind her eyelids. But it's no use as some tears still escape rolling down her cheeks. Focusing rather on her breathing hoping it will calm the storm inside her.
Breath In. Breath Out. Breath In. Breath Out.
Finally, the tears stop and her heart doesn't feel like it's trying to break out of her chest anymore. Slowly she opens her eyes again looking unfocused around the room until her eyes land on a now fully awake little girl looking up at her as she happily sucks on her pacifier.
A warm smile breaks out over Andy's face, all of the bad disappearing like a puff of smoke at seeing those big brown eyes looking at her. Emma's soft fine hairs are poking up in every direction evidence of a very good nap. Emma was born with a respectable head of soft blonde hair, most likely the cause of Andy's hellfire hurt burn for most of her pregnancy.
"Morning baby girl," Andy says softly caressing Emma's cheek. Emma babbles something around her pacifier as she happily kicks her legs.
Andy just stays like that for a moment just looking at her happy little girl. Emma really is perfect, no matter what led to her coming into Andy's life. She wouldn't change anything because if she did then Emma wouldn't be Emma and Andy can't imagine her life without her.
"You must hungry, is this tummy hungry?"
Andy leans forward blowing a raspberry on the girl's tummy making her squeal in delight and squirming around trying to get away.
"Ma-ma!"
Andy stop her assault and smile down at the little girl running her hand over her little tummy. Andy looks at the pink and grey onesie Emma has on, the words 'mommy's little princess' printed on the front. Andy can't help but smile if she only knew when she got this onesie how correct that statement was.
Andy is 100% sure if she still worked at Runway Miranda would have had a coronary if she saw the cliché onesie on her daughter. Miranda would have Emma dressed in only the latest baby couture.
"If Miranda had her way you would be the most stylish baby in the whole country," Andy says out loud to the girl, Emma smiles at her as she pulls her pacifier out of her mouth with a pop almost hitting Andy in the head.
"Wow there, you are a dangerous one this morning. Come on let's get some food in this tummy."
With a little tickle to said tummy Andy gets up lifting a giggling Emma with her making their way to the kitchen in search of some food.
By the time she had fed Emma, dressed her and Andy ate a piece of toast in between getting Emma and herself ready she finally looked at her watch and she was so late! Somehow, she went from being awake way too early to running late. Her boss was going to kill her.
She grabs the folders from her kitchen counter putting it inside her messenger bag not wanting to leave her notes at home. Checking she makes sure her laptop and charger are also safely tucked inside. Doing a mental check if she missed anything wallet, keys, Chapstick… but no phone.
She darts to the bedroom finding it still on her nightstand she places the device in her trouser pocket, looking in the mirror she quickly checks her appearance, it's not perfect but it will do for today. On her way back out to the living room she also grabs a sweater for Emma.
Looking through the diaper bag making sure everything is still in there since she last checked it a few minutes ago. Andy tries to figure out a way to get Emma to daycare and make her way to work in record time. Luckily Emma's daycare is only across the street but she still needs to go subway hoping to get to work. Maybe the subway gods will be on her side today.
"Emma time to go," Andy says sweetly kneeling next to her daughter's playmat where she is crawling around, pulling the sweater on with only a slight protest.
Standing back up she brings Emma with her settling her on her hip who is happily babbling away in her baby babbles completely unaware of her mother's frantic state. Andy picks up Emma's diaper bag backpack pulling it onto her other shoulder followed by her messenger bag before rushing out of the apartment.
Stumbling her way out of the apartment, to focused on trying to balance the two bags on her shoulder and Emma on her hip, Andy almost walks smack dab into someone outside her door.
"Oh wow, sorry about that." She says hoping she is giving the man an apologetic smile and already moving around the man.
"Princess Andrea?" A deep voice calls after her making her freeze at the edge of the stairwell.
Turning around slowly Andy looks for the first time at the intimidatingly looking man dressed in all black. It takes her a beat to recognize the man from yesterday, he was one of the guards at the embassy. He stood behind Queen Clarisse the entire time of their meeting.
"Prin-"
Andy holds up her hand effectively stopping the man before he can say the title again. She looks nervously around them seeing if anyone was around to hear the man. Taking a few steps closer to the man to be able to speak to him without having to raise her voice in the hallway.
"Um, it's just Andy and maybe not use the title please. Especially in public."
She adds the last part under her breath but he stills hears it and gives a small nod.
"My apologies highness," Andy flinches but decides to let it go, for now, small victories at a time. "I am Joseph. I was sent by the Que-your grandmother."
"Why?" Andy asks confused readjusting Emma on her hip.
"As head of the royal security, she has assigned me to watch over you for the remainder of our stay."
"I don't need a bodyguard, and I don't want one either,"
"That may be, but I'm under strict orders to not let you leave my sight. Ms. Charlotte said she would call you and inform you about my arrival today, did she not?"
Andy tries another juggling act to not drop anything and fishes out her phone from her pocket. Greeted by the black screen Andy groans remembering she never turned her phone back on after her little chat with her mother.
"My phone is off. But I'm guessing I'm not going to be able to get rid of you will I?"
Joseph actually gives her a small smile.
"I don't believe so highness, your grandmother can be very… determined."
Andy lets out a defeated sigh, looks like she going to have a shadow for the day great just what she needs. She starts to make her way carefully down the stairs knowing that Joseph would be following her. When they make their way outside the building Andy stops dead in her tracks when she sees the shiny black town car parked right in front of the building complete with little Genovian flags on the hood. Way to blend into the crowd.
"I take it that's your very diplomatic car?"
"Yes, it belongs to the embassy."
"Are you a good driver?"
"Highness I have driven everything from an army tank to a Segway effortlessly." He says with a slight smirk puffing out his chest.
Andy studies him for a long moment, then she spins around looking back to the busy street.
"Okay then, come along Joseph. We need to get Emma to daycare and then you can drive me to work through rush hour traffic.
Joseph takes his place next to the princess taking the messenger and diaper bag that is teetering dangerously on her shoulder.
"I know you don't want my lingering around highness, but if it helps you can call me Joe?"
"How about Joey?" Andy asks with a cheeky smile, Joe smiles before it quickly falls and is replaced with a cold hard face.
"No, just Joe." With that, he leads mother and daughter across the busy street.
-x-x-
The sound of high heels clicking fast against the office floor as they flee back to the accessories department makes Miranda roll her eyes. Just once she would like it if they didn't waste her time with being unprepared.
Miranda would do anything for a good scorching hot cup of coffee, she will have to send her second assistant to get her some. On second thought the girl would probably kill herself on the way there, the poor thing needs a lot of guidance in life. But her coffee is not something she is willing to gamble with her first assistant will have to do it.
Her heels move effortlessly and almost completely silent, unlike the clackers, as she moves to stand in front of the large glass windows letting her gaze stretch out over the city outside. Looking from the large buildings to the never-ending sea of cars and people moving around below until she lands on the corner, more specifically the corner where she found Andrea standing yesterday.
Maybe it was just the shock of seeing the young woman again but the lost look on the younger woman's face is burned into her mind. Andrea always seemed like the type of person who had everything planned out and under control. Miranda had witnessed this many times when she had given the girl some impossible task to perform. She was always too good for Runway, to good to be an assistant. Maybe she has always been a royal.
Miranda absentmindedly runs her fingers over the delicate silver chain around her wrist feeling each link under her fingertips. Something about the feeling of the smooth metal she finds soothing.
The soft footfalls of someone entering her office bring her back to reality, she doesn't need to turn around to see who it is because there is only one person who would be bold enough to enter her office uninvited.
"What do you know about Genovia?" She finds herself asking not turning around.
"The country?" Nigel asks completely thrown by the strange question. "Just the usual stuff you learn in Geography and see in movies and magazines. They have really good pears, they are famous for them actually."
Miranda just hums in acknowledgment still staring out of the window.
"Why the sudden interest in the small European country?"
Nigel sits down in the chair across from Miranda's desk.
"We are talking about news events like you suggested," Miranda says with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Nigel lets out a chuckle of course Miranda would use his words against him. Miranda finally turns around facing the smiling man.
"Are you here for any other reason to annoy me?" She asks sitting down at her desk.
He hands her the folder with the photos of the previous day's photoshoot. Miranda wordlessly opens the folder starting to critically study the images. Nigel watches her curiously for a few moments.
"So, Andy Sacks?" He asks leaning back into his chair removing imaginary lint from his trouser legs
"Emily Carlton." Miranda deadpans without missing a beat.
"What?"
"Aren't we naming my ex-assistants?" Miranda asks flipping to the next set of images.
"Ha ha you are really funny you know that?"
"Yes, I'm hilarious."
"But seriously are you and Andy secretly friends?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm just trying to make sense of what happened yesterday. Did something happen is Andy in some kind of trouble?" Nigel asks concern evident in his voice and this makes Miranda stop and look up at the man.
"Nigel, relax Andrea is fine she isn't in any 'trouble'."
"Then what is it? No offense but I never thought you would talk to her again much less show up with her at a photoshoot acting like it's the most normal thing."
"Please, Nigel you are being very dramatic."
"Miranda I was there in Paris when she left, I saw you when you realized she was gone. You were so angry and confused and just lo-"
Nigel stops immediately when Miranda raises her hand silencing him. They may be friends but even Nigel knows when not to disobey Miranda.
"Nigel, I'm going to stop you right there before you start congratulating yourself on psychoanalyzing my broken mental state. If you can remember correctly there was a lot of things happening that week including my husband serving me divorce papers, the imp Irv trying to blindside me by giving away my magazine, I had to give away your dream job to save mine and my assistant left me in the middle of the busiest week in fashion. So, forgive me if I was a little angry and confused."
Nigel's shoulders drop in defeat. Miranda looks calm and unbothered on the outside but her tightly closed fist on the table gives her away. Miranda is right of course, she is always right. But Nigel always has and still does feel that Andy's disappearance had a bigger impact on Miranda then she would ever confess to.
"I'm sorry Miranda you are right, it was one hell of a week." He says apologetically running a hand over his bald head. "But you have to understand why I find her sudden presence so strange?"
Miranda lets out a breath, clearly Nigel was not going to let this go. Miranda leans back in her chair deciding to give the bald man at least some peace of mind.
"Andrea was having a bad day, she needed someone to help get her mind off of things for a little while."
"So, she called you?" He asks a little sad that his friend didn't think of talking to him, he knows they're not best friends but he still thought they were close.
"She didn't call anyone," Miranda says trying to reassure the man, she can already see the question in his eyes. "And before you ask no I'm not going to tell you what happened, Andrea will tell you when she is ready."
"Okay, I can accept that."
"She didn't pick me over you Nigel, the only reason I know is because I was just at the right place at the right time."
Nigel lets out a chuckle, sure he highly doubts that's the only reason why Andy confided in the Editor-in-Chief. Then something hits him and he leans forward so fast he almost falls out of the chair.
"Oh, my Gucci." His eyes brighten even more making Miranda frown at him. "You Miranda Priestly were her Knight in shiny white Prada."
"Excuse me?" Miranda's jaw almost drops open at the sudden accusation.
"Don't deny it you said it yourself you were just helping her, distracting her by being at the right place at the right time. My my Miranda I would never have taken you for the 'rescuing the fair maiden' type."
"Nigel." Miranda all but growls her warning.
He lifts his hands in surrender, but the smirk is still firmly in place.
"I'm sorry, all I'm saying is that I find it rather… charming."
"Get out."
-x-x-
Andy runs an exhausted hand over her face feeling a headache starting to form at her temples. She reaches for the mug at the side of her desk and wenches at the horrid taste of cold coffee. Andy has been working non stop all morning, thankfully both her co-workers are back and she only has her work to worry about today.
Looking out over the bullpen she sees some people hard at work and others already feeling the weekend spirt. Andy looks to the reception area where she can see Joe sitting in one of the visitor's chair, just sitting, not paging through a magazine or playing on his phone. No, he is just sitting there in all his intimidating glory making everyone around him on edge.
Andy finds this rather amusing especially the way Melanie continuously tries to start a conversation with the man, but each question is just answered with a curt one word before he goes back to observing everyone.
Andy reaches into her bag pulling out her phone seeing it's still turned off. Turning it on she waits for it to quickly boot up. Once she is at the home screen various icons start to light up indicating 15 new text messages, 2 voice mails and 7 missed calls all from her mother. But there is also an email from Charlotte Kutaway.
Ignoring all the messages from her mother, for now, Andy opens the email being greeted by a proud Genovian seal letterhead. As Andy expected Charlotte informs her about Joe joining her for the foreseeable future as a request from the Queen. Charlotte also goes on to say that the Queen would like to invite her to tea again at the embassy tomorrow morning.
Andy knew this was coming of course, her abrupt exit the previous day only put their talk on hold. There was still a lot they need to talk about, and a lot of questions Andy needs answered.
She quickly replies to Charlotte accepting the Queen's invitation to meet the next day. Hopefully, this meeting will be a little less – shocking. She wonders if Miranda would mind if she calls her if things go bad again.
Speaking of the editor Andy gets an idea, she quickly scrolls through her contacts hoping to still have the number. A big smile breaks out on her face when she finds the number she is looking for and hits dial.
"Hi, its Andy. Yes, Andy Sachs. I'm good and you? Actually, I was wondering if I could ask a big favor? She says chewing nervously on her bottom lip.
She tells her coworkers that she is taking her lunch break then makes her way out to the reception area and over to Joe.
"Come on G.I Joe we have a mission," Andy says excitedly.
"What kind of mission? Is there going to be danger, am I going to have to kill someone?" Joe stands up straightening his leather jacket.
"Wow, easy there will be no need for killing."
"If it helps, I have diplomatic immunity," Joe says with such seriousness it makes Andy pause for a moment. He has to be joking, right?
"Uh… thanks but this is a simple driving mission." Maybe mission was the wrong choice, she should have rather gone with errand.
"Will I at least get to punch someone?" Joe asks starting to make his way outside with Andy.
"No, there will be no punching, kicking or biting," Andy says very seriously.
"You Americans are no fun."
-x-x-
Miranda is strolling out of the Elias-Clarke building in all her fashionable glory, she has a business lunch she needs to get to. She isn't too excited about the meeting but knows it must be done especially with Irv breathing down her neck again lately. Putting her sunglasses on, her step nearly falters but thanks to years of practice no one notices her miss-step.
From safely behind her sunglasses she observes the princess leaning against a black car. Making her way over to Andy, Miranda lets her eyes roam over the woman not having allowed herself this curtesy the previous day. It appears that her time at Runway didn't go completely to waste. She may not be wearing couture but she is still looking very fashionable. Her hair is also longer now, her bangs grown out, soft wavy curls cascading over her shoulders and down her back. Her makeup was minimal but done with precision to enhance and not to cover up. Andy looks her happy normal self to any onlooker, but Miranda can see the dark clouds behind her eyes.
"Hi," Andy says giving her a small but warm smile as she steps closer to Miranda.
"Andrea, should I be concerned? This is the second day in a row now I find you standing outside my building. Are you becoming a stalker?"
"Oh, please if I wanted to stalk to you I know a lot of better ways then waiting in plain sight," Andy says with an eye-roll.
"Then pray tell what you are doing here?" Miranda asks with the slightest up tilt to the corners of her mouth conveying her true feelings, it's small but Miranda knows Andrea sees it.
"I was just thinking that since you were so kind as to give me a ride yesterday, I wanted to return the favor."
"So, you hired a car to drive me to lunch?"
"No, actually the car came with Joe?"
Andy motions for the man standing to the side to join them, he steps closer carefully nodding at the other woman.
"Miranda I would like you to meet Joseph, my royal babysitter. Joe this is Miranda Priestly."
Miranda narrows her eyes at the man studying him closely and not even trying to hide how she sizes him up.
"Joseph, I take it you work for Andrea's grandmother?"
"Yes ma'am, I'm the head of her security detail."
Miranda hums but doesn't stop her scrutinizing of the man, he doesn't flinch or back off just stands there back straight, chest out and hands clasped in front of him. After a few tense seconds Miranda nods satisfied.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Joseph."
He nods opening the car door for them.
"You to Ms. Priestly, and I prefer the term bodyguard rather than babysitter."
"With Andrea is there any difference?" Miranda deadpans climbing into the car.
"Hey!" Andy says offended but Miranda is already seated on the other side of the car ignoring them.
"I like her," Joseph says with a smirk.
"Join the club," Andy mumbles following Miranda into the car.
Joe slides in behind the wheel and Miranda gives him the restaurant's address as he pulls out into the slow-moving traffic. Miranda just calmly stares out of the window and Andy has to fight her instincts to start fidgeting with her hands. After two blocks Andy finally breaks the silence.
"So, what do you think? Not too bad for a car with little flags on the hood?"
"It's acceptable." Miranda deadpans but there is no malice in her tone.
"I guess being a secret royal has some perks."
Miranda turns away from the window to look at the younger woman. Andy is staring at her hands and she is slightly hunched over like she is trying to make herself smaller.
"You have been crying." It wasn't a question.
Andy's head snaps up, eyes wide in complete surprise.
"Wha- how did you know?"
That was hours ago, Andy had reapplied her makeup and her eyes were no longer red and puffy.
Miranda reaches out touching the collar of Andy's white shirt. Andy lets out a small gasp at the sudden move not expecting the contact.
"You missed a spot."
Andy looks down at the place Miranda's thumb is stroking to find a small black spot where one of her mascara filled tears must have landed. Of course, Miranda has eyes like a hawk she can spot an imperfection from across the room.
"Oh."
Miranda pulls her hand back slowly dropping it in her lap.
"I talked to my mom this morning," Andy says swallowing hard and avoiding eye contact.
"I take it it didn't go well?"
Andy shakes her head sadly.
"No, it didn't. Turns out she always knew about my grandmother being a Queen but decided to hide it from me. And I know I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. Hell, you know it better than anyone else. But that doesn't mean…" Andy lets out a sigh. "Some things were said."
Miranda doesn't say anything she just keeps looking at Andy.
"Anyway, maybe it was just my exhausted brain overreacting."
Miranda goes along with the new direction of conversation sensing Andy still wasn't ready to talk about exactly was said between her and her mother to upset her so much.
"You didn't sleep well, considering the circumstances I'm not surprised."
"Yeah, and I think Emma sensed it too. She is usually a good sleeper but she woke up four times last night."
Andy slumps back against the leather seats.
"Ah yes, animals can sense when something is wrong. I remember how Patricia was practically attached to my hip when I found out David cheated on me."
That is probably the most personal information Miranda has ever gifted Andy with, and it made her heart warm and fuzzy knowing Miranda trusted her with it. But the comment felt out of place and that's not something she could ever accuse the editor of. Unless…
"Miranda, do you know who Emma is?" Andy asks testing her theory.
Andy has never specifically told Miranda about her daughter, not on purpose they only talked for the first time yesterday. But Andy made no secret of her being a mother either, Nigel and her old Runway friend knew. There was also a lot of pictures of Emma on her social media, so she was in no way trying to hide Emma.
"Yes, she is your dog isn't she."
Andy lets out the loudest snort Miranda has ever heard.
"I take it she is not your dog then."
"No, she's not a dog. Why would you think that?"
"I've heard Nigel talking to Emily and Serena."
"Okay, first of all, I'm going to have a very serious talk with Nigel and secondly… you know what why don't I just rather show you." Andy's eyes shine with childlike excitement, like she was about to tell a big secret she wasn't supposed to.
"Show me?" Miranda asks unsure.
"Yes, how about tomorrow. Maybe we can meet up somewhere, that is if you want to?"
Andy was suddenly not feeling so confident in her spontaneous proposal anymore.
"The girls are arriving back tomorrow morning from their grandmother's and I would like to spend some time with them."
"Oh okay, I understand," Andy says a little dejected, of course, Miranda would rather spend time with her daughters.
"You could come over to the townhouse in the afternoon?"
Andy looks up at the woman not expecting the offer, but of course Miranda isn't letting anything slip past her emotionless mask. But Andy still smiles seeing the offer for what it really is, Miranda was allowing her to invade her personal time with her daughters and her home.
"Yeah, that would be perfect actually. I'm meeting with the Queen in the morning anyway."
"Are you okay with meeting with her again?" Miranda asks with a hint of concern.
"I think I am. I have a better idea of what to expect and I have questions I need answers to."
"That's good. You need all the information so you can make an informed decision."
Andy rubs her forehead.
"This is never I decision I wanted to have to make." There is a lot of variables she needs to consider; she won't just be making a decision that will change her life but her daughter's as well.
Miranda can see the fight going on inside the girl's head.
"Andrea." She looks up at the older woman. "Whatever you decide, you need to make the right decision for you and not what someone else wants or what you think you should do. I know it isn't easy, as your decision will affect not only yourself but many others. But in the end it is still your decision. Even if that means not being a princess, I'll even give you your old job back if that is what you want."
Andy gives a slight watery chuckle at that, Miranda was telling her she will support her no matter what. And that meant more to her then the editor will ever know.
"Thank you." Without thinking, Andy reaches over taking Miranda's hand squeezing it before letting go again. "How do you do that?"
"Do what?" Miranda asks after clearing her throat.
"Know the right thing to say."
"Oh please, Andrea you should know by now that I don't do anything if it's not perfect," Miranda says with a dismissive wave of her hand but there is a smirk on her face.
It is such a Miranda response that Andy can't help but smile. Deciding that they have had enough of the deep stuff Andy tries to lighten the mood.
"How are the girls?"
"They are wonderful," Miranda says with one of her rare warm smiles. "They are having a wonderful time with at the beach house, my phone's memory is almost completely filled with beach photos but luckily most of them are in focus."
"They did always love the beach."
They are broken out of their little bubble when Joe pulls up to the curb and announces their arrival, Andy can't help feeling a little sad that their time together has come to an end. Luckily she can look forward to spending tomorrow afternoon with Miranda and the twins.
"Should I be expecting Roy to pick me up or have you so graciously given him the afternoon off?"
"Roy will be picking you up later, unfortunately, I have to head back to work my lunch break is almost over."
"You spend your lunch break chauffeuring me around?"
"Actually, Joe did the chauffeuring I just sat here in the back enjoying the company," Andy says with a big cheeky smile.
"Hmm."
Joe opens the door for the editor.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow then?" Andy couldn't help but ask still not believing Miranda agreed to meet with her again
"Yes, I expect you not to be late."
With that, she slides on her sunglasses again and exits the car.
"But we didn't agree on a time!"
Andy's words fall onto deaf ears as Miranda is already making her way swiftly into the restaurant. She waits until Miranda has completely disappeared before she tells Joe to head back.
"Your friend is…. Interesting."
Andy snorts.
"Yeah that she is. Let's just say I used to work for a queen too."
"You were employed by Ms. Priestly?"
"I was, for almost a year I was her assistant well her second assistant."
"She needs two assistants?"
"Believe me she does. Hey Joe, why the sudden interest in Miranda?" Andy couldn't help but ask.
"My job is to protect the crown, that includes the crown's physical state as well as emotions."
"Well, you can stand down Joe. Miranda won't hurt me." It's probably the most sure she has sounded about anything in two days.
She looks up to see Joe eyeing her suspiciously in the rear-view mirror.
"Seriously Joe, it's rather her that needs protecting from me," Andy says sadly lowering her head to look at her fidgeting fingers. Miranda may never admit it, but Andy knows she hurt her ex-boss by leaving her alone in Paris without so much as a word.
"Princess." Andy still flinches at the title but nevertheless looks up at the man. "Would you like me to get you some food before we return?"
"Only if you will share some nuggets with me?"
"Nuggets?"
"Hey, don't judge me, I have a nine-month-old I need food I can eat with one hand." Joe smiles at her.
"Then nuggets it is."
Andy gives him a grateful smile before she turns her head to stare out the window. Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.