Note - Hey folks, another new story based on a half-finished draft I found on my computer. I hope you like it. I should have a new chapter every day this week if all goes well. Enjoy!

Title: Sabbatical

Summary: Miranda takes a sabbatical, with Andrea's assistance, of course.

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December - Paris, France

Andrea sighed. For a moment, she was so close, so sure the older woman would end up crying in her arms. It broke her heart, watching her construct her walls so quickly. She wanted to comfort her so badly, but Miranda only wanted her to do her job.

Without a second thought, she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Christian: See you at Chez Lorraine at 19:00. -Andy

The next morning was, in a word, rough. Between oversleeping, realizing Christian's betrayal, then Miranda's dismissal and subsequent betrayal, her head was pounding and she just wanted to get through the last show.

When Miranda turned to her in the taxi and started talking, she was only half listening, until she heard something that made her ears perk up.

"I'm sorry, what?" Andrea asked.

Miranda rolled her eyes, then repeated what she said. "I see a great deal of myself in you, but I think you are probably better at keeping it together than I am."

"Oh, Miranda, I doubt that…"

"No, you are," Miranda said. "I want to apologize for my behavior last night. It was unprofessional to…dear god, I'm going to start crying again."

Andrea gently chewed on her lip. This conversation was headed into uncharted territory, and she wasn't sure she was prepared.

"Yesterday was the worst day of my life," she began, reaching into her handbag for a tissue to dab her eyes with.

"If it makes you feel any better, everyone already thinks Stephen is a jerk and doesn't treat you well," Andrea said, finally reaching her hand out.

Miranda smiled and squeezed the young woman's hand. "He is, isn't he? It's not just the divorce, though. It's—" she paused and again squeezed the young woman's hand. "Can I trust you to not repeat a word of what I am about to say?" she asked.

"Of course," Andrea said, suddenly worried.

Miranda closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm six weeks pregnant," she said. "Stephen doesn't know. I had an appointment yesterday morning—I thought it would be easier to take care of it here, not in the States, but I couldn't go through with it."

"Oh, Miranda, I can't even imagine," she said, squeezing her hand tightly and reaching out for the woman's shoulder with her other hand. "What can I do to help you?"

The woman shook her head. "I don't know. It is a relief to be able to talk about it with someone, even. I can't raise Stephen's child, but I don't know what else to do, unless I just disappear for nine months," she said.

"I can arrange that if it's what you want," Andrea said quietly. "You'd just say you're taking a year sabbatical."

"I wouldn't be able to see my girls."

"Well, you could Skype them regularly, and you could probably go on a vacation with them before they go back to school in the fall," Andrea said. "Would James be okay with them staying with him full-time?"

Miranda rolled her eyes. "He would love it. What would I say I'm taking a sabbatical to do, though? Something that would require me to be so isolated."

"Writing a book?" Andrea suggested.

"I suppose after nine months, everyone would be expecting a book release, wouldn't they?"

"It doesn't have to be a memoir or anything personal. You'd get a contract with no problem—people will buy whatever you write."

"And why should I presume you know all of this information?" Miranda asked.

"I spent a summer as an intern at HarperCollins."

"Oh. I guess I should have known that."

"If you're sure that you want to see this pregnancy out, I can begin making arrangements for you right away. However, I think it would be wise to find a doctor who would be able to make home visits to check in on you as needed. Do you have a preference on the location?"

"No. But wait—before you make any plans, I need to think this through."

"Understood," Andrea said, pulling her hands back into her lap. "Take your time. I think it would make the most sense for you to step away on the first of the year, so we have a few weeks. Whatever you need—even if it's just someone to think aloud in front of—I'm here."

"Thank you, Andrea."

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TBC - let me know what you think! I know I have a lot of pregnancy-related stories lately-turns out all the fragments on my computer were about babies.