Author's Note: A BIG thank you to Sandy for her help with this story! All mistakes are still mine.

Many of you have been able to catch on to the little bread crumbs I left throughout the story so this chapter may not be as surprising/shocking for you however I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks for taking the time to read, follow, favorite, and comment. Check out the DWP: Mirandy group on Facebook to take part in this Mirandy Year of Fun and Frolic! The bingo challenge finally prompted me to write for MirAndy after almost ten years. You never know what it might do for you! :-D

Part 3

-Two Months Later-

"Girls, no running on the…" Miranda stopped mid command as the girls stopped their running without her finishing.

The girls were excited to put their prizes away in their rooms. Andrea had helped them win a prize each. It seemed it was a family tradition of Andrea's, one that Andrea's father had passed on to Andrea and Andrea had chosen to pass down to her children. For the tradition entailed the girls finding one prize at any of the carnival game stations they wanted above all else and Andrea would help them win it.

Caroline's had been won at a free for all basketball hoop game where Andrea needed to make three baskets to win the large overstuffed banana. For which Miranda had cringed and promised to blame Andrea for such a monstrosity being in her home. Caroline's prize was not much better. It was as round as it was a garish red. The round stuffed hollow toy could bounce and was dyed to look like a red bull. Miranda knew not where her children's tastes in carnival fair came from.

It had surprised Miranda when after Andrea had won Caroline her bull at the water balloon game station that Andrea turned to her and asked what prize she most wanted. Miranda had stared at Andrea, wondering how the young woman could not tell that what she wanted most from this carnival was her. Alas, she had not had the courage to speak such things to Andrea. Not yet at least. Instead Miranda had insisted that she did not need anything. Andrea, the cheeky thing that she was, insisted that she hadn't asked Miranda what she needed, but what she wanted.

In the end, Miranda ended up with a stuffed bear that's softness tickled her palms as she carried it into the house with her. The soft coco brown fur was far from the eyesore of her daughter's prizes and would find its place upon Miranda's bed—as she suspected the girls' winnings would find a place upon theirs as well.

Miranda had promised the girls a movie night if they finished their homework before five o'clock. So as soon as the door to the townhouse had opened they were off like a double shot. Once they were off the stairs Miranda heard their thundering feet running down the hallways to their rooms. The bangs of their doors made Miranda cringe, knowing one day soon she was going to have to have the walls fixed from a dent caused by the doorknobs.

Miranda turned to Andrea with a smile. Andrea had already taken off her own coat and was waiting for Miranda's.

"Thank you, dear."

Andrea blushed at the term of endearment, as she always did, and went to hang up their coats.

The weather was beginning to turn as the seasons changed. The chill in the air prompted Miranda to turn up the thermostat as she passed it by. She lifted up her sunglasses to make sure she was setting it correctly.

"Let me take those…" Andrea stepped up beside her and took hold of her sunglasses, snatching them right off her head, and the stuffed bear that she'd won her which Miranda had held under her arm.

Miranda tried not to make any sudden movements or noises when Andrea's fingers skimmed over her own as she took hold of Brownie—the name the girls had affectionately given her bear when she'd called for suggestions. The gentle touch ignited a deep desire that Miranda staunched out as quickly as she could, the touch like electricity surging through a malfunctioning outlet.

Andrea placed both Brownie and her sunglasses upon the table unaware of what her simple touch had done to Miranda.

"Would you like something to drink?" Miranda asked of her guest, clearing her throat of the husk within it.

"Something warm would be great."

"Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate?"

"Tea, please."

"Specialty?"

Andrea's eyes lit up, "Yes please."

Miranda had a special tea that she had imported directly from England that Andrea had made a point to try and find just about everywhere, but had come up empty. During one of the many nights they spent talking, Andrea had begged her for the information of where to purchase the tea. Miranda told her it was from a tea shop in London. Very exclusive as Miranda herself was the only one the tea was shipped to, thanks to her long running friendship with the owner since she was a girl. Miranda had a box ready for Andrea to take home with her, just waiting in the cupboard, a little surprise for the young woman.

"Honey and milk?"

Andrea grinned brightly, "You know me so well."

Miranda refused to blush at the statement. Instead she turned her head to the side and led the way towards the kitchen. "Yes, I suppose I am learning a thing or two."

Andrea smiled as she matched Miranda's step, following her into the kitchen. "Hot chocolate is for when it gets a little colder."

"I will keep that in mind."

For the last six weeks she and Andrea had been seeing each other socially. They often times spent many hours together with the girls on the weekend, and Andrea had become a staple in the Priestly household. Their schedules did not allow for them to meet very often by themselves, but when they could manage it Miranda shared lunch or an early breakfast with Andrea. The girls always felt insulted if they were not included, so if they were ever to have dinner together, which they did at least once, or twice, a week the girls were always present.

If Miranda were being honest she used the girls as an excuse. She did not want to push Andrea faster than she was willing to go. The young woman was so skittish when it came to their relationship. It was taxing at times and yet somehow incredibly endearing that Andrea wanted to build a friendship first. It was admirable and truly helped alleviate some of Miranda's own discomfort and fears. At least by using the girls Andrea would join them all for dinner and in the end spend an hour or two in Miranda's sole company after the girls had retired for the evening.

It was in those few hours spent alone at night that Miranda learned about Andrea. Learned about her likes, dislikes, listened to stories of her childhood, her years in college, and even offered critique and advice when warranted on the journalist's stories.

Miranda looked forward to evenings where she spent time with Andrea before the Book arrived. It was far more personal than their lunches and breakfasts spent surrounded by prying eyes and ears, and yet no one questioned their meetings. There were no pictures of Miranda and Andrea enjoying each other's company in the morning or early afternoon. Yet, Miranda felt more comfortable with Andrea in her own home. She felt like she could be herself with the young woman, be vulnerable here within the safety of her own walls. It seemed Andrea felt a similar comfort as well for when they were at the townhouse the brunette was far more animated and shared more than when they dined out.

Today was Sunday and Andrea had spent all morning and most of the afternoon with her and the girls at a carnival taking place in Central Park. It had been a marvelous day filled with smiles, laughter, and joy. It was one they all would not soon forget.

Miranda quietly went about boiling water for tea while Andrea took a seat at the kitchen island. Miranda set the kettle upon the stove and turned to see Andrea resting her chin on her upheld palm, eyes watching her intently, the sincerest smile upon her lips. Miranda felt as if those gentle brown eyes saw right through her. As soft as they seemed they were strong enough to pierce through the walls that Miranda has spent her entire life building around her.

The mark upon her wrist hummed with warmth at Andrea's gaze, making her heart swell for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last six weeks.

Oh how much she cared for Andrea.
How she'd come to love everything about her.
Goodness how easy it was for the young woman to make her feel.
Feel a vast array of emotions that Miranda had to work to identify.

It was in moments like these that Miranda wished she could reach out to Andrea, brush the errant curls away from her face and tuck them behind her ear. Cup her cheek just to stare into her eyes for a moment longer. She wished she could walk around the island and place a kiss, sweet and gentle with more meaning than words could describe, upon the journalist's lips. She wished she could cross this bridge, this divide between them, and finally move from friends to lovers.

Her desire for Andrea knew no bounds. It was surprising how alive her body could become with the small, innocent touches Andrea often times placed on her hands or shoulders. It was like a bolt of awareness shot through her skin awakening the rest of her body to the touch. Miranda had never felt so alive with any of her previous lovers. She came so alive that it made her start to believe in the nonsense people insisted on spewing about soulmates.

There truly was a beautiful bond between herself and Andrea that went beyond the physical and logical realms and the more time Miranda spent with Andrea, the more they nurtured it, the stronger it became.

Andrea dropped her head, breaking their locked stare, the skin along her neck and cheeks pinking as she cleared her throat. "Ha-how are plans going for the Niagara Falls shoot?"

Miranda's smile turned sharp, "They could be going far better if the legal department would do their jobs."

Andrea grinned, "Permits still not approved?"

"No."

"Have Emily call Gregory Hu in the…" Andrea stopped talking, noting Miranda's raised brow. "I'll shoot Emily a text, have her call someone. It'll help grease some wheels in the office." Andrea pulled out her cell and sent the text right that moment.

For not the first time, Miranda wondered what Emily might think of this friendship she and Andrea had developed. Not that she truly cared for Emily's opinion, but it was a curious thing. She wondered just how her high strung first assistant had taken it the first time Andrea texted her with the answer to a pesky problem she was having at the office, like magic.

Miranda missed Andrea's efficiently in the office, but she wouldn't give up the opportunity to have Andrea spend Sundays with her and the girls and evenings sitting and chatting, and having a friendship and the allusive future with Andrea, for anything in the world.

The tea kettle screeched it's completion into the open air of the kitchen. Miranda turned to the prepped tea mugs and steeped the tea bags in the boiling water, stirring them both before presenting Andrea with hers.

"Would you like to sit here or in the sitting room?"

"Sitting room, of course." Andrea grinned and rolled her eyes, Miranda's smile matched hers. She should have known. They made their way quickly and silently into the sitting room.

Andrea claimed the right corner of the love seat set up next to the arm chair that was recognized as Miranda's. There was a small side table next to the couch between them where they could rest their tea, wine, or general refreshments, as they talked.

"How long do you think we have until the twin cyclones finish their work?" Andrea asked in a conspiratorial tone.

"Guessing by their excitement and the fact that they needed to have completed at least 85% of their assignments before we went today, they should be joining us in the next half hour."

"Well, in that case, let me say thank you for inviting me."

"Andrea…" Miranda warned.

This constant offering of thanks was beginning to wear on Miranda. It seemed as if every-time they spent time together Andrea took a moment to thank Miranda for it, like she was being offered a gift. And perhaps that was how Andrea saw it, but Miranda, Miranda felt as if she were the one receiving a gift. The gift of Andrea's presence.

"No, I understand that the time you spend with the girls is sacrosanct. So, I appreciate you including me with them. It means a lot, Miranda. They're great and you're…you're…" Andrea took a breath as their eyes met once again.

"I'm, what, Andrea?"

"Beautiful…" Andrea whispered but quickly shook her head and cleared her throat, looking anywhere but at Miranda at the admission. "I mean, you're amazing. With them. You're an amazing mother."

"Ah, I see. But I am not beautiful?"

"What! No! I mean yes, I, I mean, god, Miranda you're soo beautiful, so so, breathtakingly beautiful. That shouldn't even be in question. You're just gorgeous. I don't know why you'd even, as if you didn't, you couldn't possibly not know how immaculate you are." Andrea's face was a bright steaming red. "I'm going to shut up now." Andrea bowed her head, her hair curtaining in front of her face blocking the flustered countenance from view.

Miranda felt her cheeks pink at the compliments and she reached forward and dared to brush Andrea's hair behind her ear so she could look into the startled woman's eyes. "Thank you, Andrea."

"Well, I, uhm…you're welcome." Andrea stuttered, her breath catching at the swift swipe of Miranda's fingers against her cheek as the older woman pulled her hand away.

Andrea looked away first. Miranda cleared her throat and focused instead on her tea. The silence between them filled with a familiar tension.

"I wondered, Andrea, if you would be willing to have dinner with me, on Thursday evening."

"Oh, movie night with the girls? Should I make sure to bring Spice World?" Miranda cringed at the reminder that the next movie night, after this evening's, Andrea had promised to bring over her copy of Spice World, a movie she swore was a classic and just had to be seen. Miranda of course wanted nothing to do with it, but the girls had long since fallen in love with Andrea and were attempting to emulate the brunette, so they were thrilled by the notion of seeing the movie.

"I thought, we could dine alone, at La Grenouille…" Miranda offered, holding her breath for a moment as she watched comprehension dawn over Andrea's face.

It was the sudden dimming in Andrea's sparkling eyes that bespoke the coming disappointment.

"Miranda…" Andrea began suddenly unable to look Miranda in the eyes. "…I don't think that's a good idea."

"I see..." Miranda said, although she did not see.

"Miranda, please."

"Excuse me, for a moment, Andrea." Miranda stood from her seat, finding the lack of air in this room stifling. She just needed a few moments away to clear her head and perhaps hide from Andrea's piercing, and all knowing, brown eyes.

"Wait!" Andrea stood from her seat and grabbed at Miranda's hands, halting the editor's progress from the room.

Miranda did not turn back around to look at Andrea, her heart was in tatters as a million reasons why Andrea would not dine with her alone, raced through her mind. She had taken her time. She had shown Andrea the woman beyond the mask and the media. She had invited Andrea into her home, into her life, into her children's lives. She was taking this as slowly as the young woman wanted. She was prepared to continue to take things slowly, she just wished to wine and dine Andrea in the way she felt the woman deserved. She wanted to show Andrea that she could be romantic that she could be worthy of her.

"Miranda, I'm sorry. I just, I don't want there to be any misinterpretation." Miranda twisted to show Andrea just how confused she was by her pronouncement. "I have loved spending time with you, and the girls, Miranda. It has been an amazing pleasure. I want to keep seeing you and the girls. I just…I feel like we're not on the same page."

"Then help me get to the same page, Andrea. Explain to me why it is you can dine with me and the girls here but the thought of dining alone with me is so appalling?"

"It's not appalling!" Andrea defended and appeared as harried as she surely felt.

The journalist paid to use her words to tell the masses what they needed to know, couldn't seem to string together sentences that actually made sense.

"Then I do not see why you will not go to dinner with me."

"You're going to make me say it, aren't you?" Andrea mumbled, her hand still gripped around Miranda's wrist. The same wrist where the young woman's name was etched into her skin. "Miranda, I'm not…interested…in you. Romantically."

Miranda felt dizzy and sick to her stomach. The pain in her chest caused her whole body to jerk backwards as if punched in the sternum. The mark upon her wrist burned painfully, but the ache in her chest hurt far worse than her soul mark ever could.

"I mean, I am. I would be. Miranda, I." Andrea stumbled. "You're amazing. Beautiful, funny, you're so funny. You have this dry wit that's just…and you're so caring and nurturing with the girls. You love them so fiercely and anyone would be lucky to have you. So lucky to have you, like that. But it's not me. I don't." Andrea bit her bottom lip. "Can't we just, remain as we are? Friends? Please…" Andrea begged. "I love you, Miranda. I do. I'm just. I can't…be…in-in love with you."

The words suddenly made sense and Miranda wished they did not. She ripped her hand away from Andrea and stumbled away from her. Andrea's eyes showing the woman's hurt, Andrea's pain. But what about her pain? What of the pain that Andrea was causing her? Could she not be selfish in this one moment as Andrea tore down all her hopes for the future they might have together with her rambling, droning words. Words that sliced open parts of Miranda's soul she hadn't even known existed.

Miranda's vision was closing in on her, her breathing labored and the pain, the immense pain in her chest was unbearable. She was having a heart attack. She must be. Surely this is what it felt like to have a heart attack.

"Miranda…here, let me get you some…" Andrea disappeared from the room, leaving Miranda alone for a moment. A moment where she needed to pull herself together.

So it all became clear. The reason why Andrea wanted to be friends first. It was not that she wanted to move from friends to lovers slowly as Miranda had thought she'd implied, as was sure she'd implied. It was that Andrea wanted them to remain friends only. As if by being friends their soul bond could be fulfilled and Andrea did not need to sully herself in being with the likes of Miranda. Andrea said dinner with her was not appalling. But it wasn't dinner that appalled Andrea, it was Miranda herself. She had been judged unsuitable as a lover without even being given a true chance at it.

Andrea had found her lacking. Andrea, her beautiful, amazing, intelligent, kind, Andrea wished to remain friends. Friends only. Her own soulmate found her lacking, thought there was someone better for her out there than Miranda, evil, old, wretched Miranda Priestly.

Andrea returned to the room and stood in front of Miranda with a glass of ice water. Her face unreadable as she stared longingly at Miranda, begging her to take the water and drink it.

"You need to calm down. You're hyperventilating." Andrea instructed, her eyes pained in the same way they had been when Miranda had pulled away from her.

"Do not tell me…what to do." Miranda hissed, her eyes like daggers as she glared at Andrea. She swiped her hand at the glass of water Andrea held up to her like a peace offering and wasn't even minutely satisfied when it flew from the woman's hands and crashed against the wall, shattering in a spray of glass and cold water.

"Miranda, please. It doesn't, nothing has to cha-change. Miranda. We can do this. We can just be friends. Please, you and the girls mean so much to me. Don't do this. Don't shut me out."

"Get out." Miranda spat, twisting away from Andrea, unwilling to see the brunette's tears fall. The brunette who had crushed her, broken her beyond measure.

"I didn't mean to hurt you. I could never…please, Miranda. Please…"

"Get. Out." Miranda repeated, her voice low and gravely.

"Miranda…" Andrea whispered, her voice breaking with her tears.

"GET OUT!" Miranda bellowed, the sound of her raised voice echoing up the high ceilings and deafening them both for a moment.

Miranda did not turn to watch Andrea go. She did not give the young woman the satisfaction. The sound of the front door closing was all Miranda needed. She collapsed upon the floor of her sitting room, her knees aching with the impact even upon the rug covered floor.

Her arms wrapped tightly around her chest and she rocked herself as a keening wail she could not contain left her lips. The pain in her very soul radiating out of her in rough, storm raged waves. She had been strong. She hadn't let Andrea see her truly break. Andrea had only seen a glimpse of the true agony Miranda felt warring within her. It was as if her very soul was splitting in half, tearing itself from her being as the half that belonged to Andrea did all it could to claw its way away from her.

Not a single tear fell from her eyes in Andrea's presence, but now, now they sped down her cheeks like raging rivers.

"Mom?"

"Mommy?"

Miranda whimpered at the sound of Caroline and Cassidy's voices, but she found her vision tunneled in, intake of air impossible, and before she could turn to reassure them that she was fine, be strong for them, pull herself together for them as she should, everything went black.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Miranda groaned as she opened her eyes, the light in the room making her close them. It took a moment to adjust to the hazy nature of her head but when she finally pushed past it she noticed several things all at once.

She was in her bedroom.
Greg was sitting on the bed beside her.
The girls were curled up on the bed beside her.
Katherine was asleep in an armchair next to the bed.

"There she is…" The incessant light that had been shining in her eyes was from a small flashlight that Greg had been using to check her pupil dilation.

She truly wondered why she'd ever thought marrying a doctor was such a brilliant idea.

Not two moments later she was reminded of why she'd done so when she felt Cassidy snuggle closer to her within the bed and her eyes fell to her girls. Her beautiful, wonderful, precious girls.

Tears formed in her eyes as she stared at them, choking on the emotion as she realized how scared they must have been.

"How long have I been out?"

"About three hours." Greg commented, content to just watch as Miranda rested her hand upon Caroline's head and brushed through the red curls. "They called right away. They said you had been yelling, screaming really, at that friend of yours, Andrea?"

Miranda flinched at the name uttered so callously, so carelessly in her presence. Didn't Greg understand that she never wanted to hear that name again? Never wanted to think of that wretched woman ever again.

"They said they found you kneeling on the floor and then you passed out. Caroline called me right away and Cassidy has stayed by your side the entire time."

Her soul mark burned angrily upon her skin, making her raise her hand up to itch at the damned thing. Maybe if she stuck to it she could scratch the name off her skin. Scratch till she bled and never have to see the insufferable mark again.

"Miranda…" He said pulling her attention away from the soul mark. "What happened?" Greg asked, his tone far more forgiving than hers would be if he had been the one to scare their children as she was sure she had.

Miranda felt tears prick her eyes, and gods be damned, was she always going to cry now when she thought of the girl?

"I found her…" Miranda whispered, eyes blurry as she looked at her husband, the man she knew she could still love if he hadn't found Katherine and she hadn't found Andr…Miranda cringed at just the thought of the journalist's name.

"Her..." Greg annunciated. Waiting for Miranda to continue.

"My soulmate." Miranda whispered, growling at the tears that fell. "She...she.."

Greg's eyes widened with understanding. Understanding and pity. It made Miranda feel sick to her stomach. How dare he sit there and pity her. How dare he judge her. How dare he think to know the pain she was in, to be understanding of this whole mess. To know, without her having said a word, that her soulmate rejected her.

"Oh, Miranda..." Greg whispered her name and took hold of her hand, the hand that was scratching at her bared soul mark.

The mark that had damned her, that truly had been a curse, from the very beginning.

"It's going to be okay." Greg promised as he cradled her hand against his chest and stared at her in such a compassionate manner that she wanted to scream. Scream and rail against him and pull her hand away and demand to know how he could possibly know it was going to be okay. That she would one day not feel this cold and bitter emptiness in her chest that was surely going to consume all the light in her life. It would destroy her. As it had destroyed many before her. She was destined to be rejected by her soulmate and live with the soul crushing depression that followed.

She never should have let herself hope. She never should have let herself get whisked away with love and of a future with Andrea. She should have known better. For how could someone like Andrea ever want to be with her?

"It's going to be okay." Greg promised again, this time firmer, his resolve for her to believe him almost making her think it could be okay.

But how. How could it ever possibly be okay again?

"Mom...?" Came the soft whisper of a sleep laden voice. It was the sound of that voice that was like a balm to the flames lapping at her soul mark and within her chest-the heat trying to eat her alive from the inside.

"Mom!" Caroline gasped, practically jumping up from sleep as she realized her mother was awake. Caroline crawled on top of Cassidy and pushed her sister to the side, waking her in the jostling movement, to get closer to her mother.

"Mom!" Caroline repeated as if she couldn't think of another word to say. Her eyes filled with tears as she threw herself on top of Miranda and wrapped her small arms around Miranda's shoulders, squeezing her as tightly as she could in the awkward position.

Cassidy, finally awake enough to realize what was happening, shoved Caroline's legs off her as she scrambled to jump bodily over Miranda and Caroline and cuddle into Miranda's other side and squeeze her own arms under Caroline's as she hugged herself tight to her mother.

Miranda buried her face into her children's hair and closed her eyes as she felt their shaking, trembling bodies release their worry with tears and soft sobs.

The sound tore at her heart far more than Andrea's rejection ever could. She lifted her arms and held Caroline and Cassidy tightly against her as all three of them cried.

"I love you. I love you both so much. My darling girls. My brave, darling girls." Miranda whispered to them as she kissed the tops of their heads and squeezed them as she never had before.

Greg and Kristina left the room to give the three Priestly women time alone together.

It was with her daughters nestled against her chest that Miranda knew Greg was right. Everything was going to be okay. She had no other choice. Her girls needed her. She needed to be strong and brave and alright, for them.

They were the bright lights in her life and they would never be consumed by the darkness inside her gaping black hole of a torn soul. She would not allow that.

They deserved better. They deserved so much better than half her soul, but as it was all she could offer them, she would just need to ensure that it was far better than any other half a soul in the world.

-.-.-.-.-

It was during breakfast on the following Saturday after what Miranda and the girls came to call 'the incident' that Cassidy broached the subject she and Caroline had been curious about. Silent, but curious.

They had left Manhattan the morning after the 'incident' on an impromptu vacation. Miranda had never taken sick leave before from Runway, and although it was not perhaps the best time, she had called in sick for the remainder of the week. With a note from Greg of all things. She was sure the rumors would be atrocious upon her return, but she had decided she needed time away. She'd needed to relax and enjoy time alone with her daughters and to learn how to ignore the pain that emanated from her wrist.

As the girls were to return to school on Monday, she knew it was time to return. She had made breakfast and they had all packed their bags. The drive to the airstrip was a short one, but the five-hour flight was a bit trickier. At least this time she had been able to secure Donatella's jet to return home in, as it had been too last minute last time she and the girls had flown first class.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Bobbsey?" Miranda asked as she plied scrambled eggs onto the girls' plates.

Caroline met Cassidy's eyes for a moment before they both peered at Miranda. A unified front meant this was probably not how Miranda wanted to end this peaceful vacation.

"When we go home. Are you...is..." Cassidy sighed heavily finding it harder then she thought to ask what she wanted.

"Is Andy going to come for movie nights anymore?" Caroline asked for the both of them. Caroline offering her sister a thankful squeeze as they held hands and waited for their mother to talk about what happened between her and Andy.

Miranda flinched, if only minutely, at Andrea's nickname. She had gone almost all week without having to hear the woman's name spoken aloud. That did not keep her from thinking of her often, or from peering at the black letters upon her wrist. Letters that would be blacked out on Tuesday evening. She had made an appointment with a specialist who would block the letters of Andrea's name away from anyone's peering eye, including her own.

"No. She will no longer be joining us for movie nights." Miranda wished she could say her voice was calm and neutral, but she could tell how rough and stern it had become without her truly meaning for it to.

"Oh..." Cassidy dropped her head in remorse at the news.

"Good." Caroline stated firmly, nodding her head and holding Miranda's gaze with a sense of courage and conviction well beyond her years.

"Caroline...!" Cassidy hissed. Shocked that her sister said that.

"She hurt mom!" Caroline growled, an innocent rage in her eyes that only a child could hold. "I don't want to see her ever again." Caroline spoke, her voice breaking at the memory of just how hurt her mother had been by Andy.

"Caroline..."

"No. Cassidy wanted to know. But I knew. I knew we wouldn't. She hurt you. She made you..." Miranda waited for Caroline to finish, but the sudden appearance of angry tears kept her quiet for a moment as she wiped them away like the nuisances they were. "She hurt you." Caroline whispered in an emotional way that bespoke how such an action was unforgivable.

"She did, yes." Cassidy's eyes widened at her mother's admission. "Very..." Miranda's voice broke but she had not cried over Andrea since that first night and she swore she never would. Never again. She intended to keep that promise. "Very much."

"Momma..." Cassidy whispered as she moved from her seat and went to hug Miranda. Miranda smiled sadly and bent over in the hug to kiss Cassidy's hair.

"It is alright my darling. You are allowed to still like her. I understand it can be hard to turn off ones feelings for someone."

"Do you still like her, mom?" Cassidy asked as she tilted her head up to look at her mother, arms still tangled around her legs.

"I..." Miranda looked off into space as she tried to answer her daughter's question, honestly. "Yes. I still care very much for...her..." She could not bring herself to say Andrea's name. Not yet. Maybe someday, but not today.

"That's stupid." Caroline pronounced with an all knowing attitude only a 12 year old could muster. "You should hate her. Like me."

"Caroline..." Miranda warned, "Hate is such a strong word. I would never use such a word lightly. And neither should you."

Caroline crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from her mother. She obviously disagreed but was smart enough not to say so.

"That must be hard." Cassidy said as she rested her cheek against her mother's hip. "Still caring about her but never wanting to see her again."

"It is." Miranda admitted, in awe sometimes of how simple Cassidy could make such complex feelings seem.

"Enough of this for now. We must eat quickly and get to the air strip. We do not want to miss our plane." Miranda patted Cassidy along to take her seat and eat the eggs that had gone cold in the time it's taken for them to finish talking.

"You're having some too. Right, mom?" Caroline asked, eyeing the empty third plate and looking with worries eyes to her mother, who hadn't eaten very much of anything in the last six days.

"Yes, yes, I am." Miranda forced a smile as she made herself an egg, the taste of it like sand on her tongue as she forced herself to eat it. She would need to speak to Greg upon their return. To get names of psychologists who handled situations like this. Although she felt well rested, as she'd done quite a bit of sleeping since their arrival she found her appetite had all but disappeared and when she ate it was hard to enjoy the meal and harder still to keep it down.

For now, she swallowed and smiled as the girls chatted about the gossip their friends had emailed them about taking place at school.

There was time to worry about such things. Now was not one of them.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

They returned to New York right at dinner time, so as a final treat for their impromptu vacation Miranda brought them to John's Pizzeria for dinner. Greg and Katherine had been gracious enough to pick them up and had also been taking care of Patricia for them while they were away.

It stung a little when the maître d that had seated them before smiled and asked if they were a party of four tonight. It had been the girls that glared and said, five.

They were shown to a larger table, directly across from the table they usually sat at, but this one still allowed them to play their game. But even as the girls told Greg and Katherine about their trip and pulled her into the conversation to discuss how they'd gone swimming with the dolphins and had flying monkeys resting on their shoulders, Miranda became distracted. Distracted by the memories of Andrea joining them here, partaking in their game, making herself a part of their family unit.

It was harder than Miranda thought it would be to keep the young woman out of her mind. It had been slightly easier while she and the girls were away. She had kept them as busy as possible. They went swimming with dolphins, parasailing; they went to an enclosure that housed flying monkeys that would sit on your shoulder for a time. They enjoyed fun activities at the beach and were given lessons on how to sail and how to surf.

It was a vacation none of them would soon forget filled with wonderful memories. But now they were home and everything in New York seemed to remind Miranda of Andrea and of what she had lost. She put on a brave face, for the girls, but Greg and Katherine saw through her attempts. They saw the exhaustion in her eyes and the sag in her shoulders and that extra second it took her to laugh or smile. They were older, they understood the pain she was going through as they had forced themselves to go through it for Greg to attempt to stay with Miranda and the girls. Now, knowing that Greg had lasted as long as he had, Miranda held new respect for her ex-husband. She also had a profound sadness and empathy for the pain Katherine must have felt at being the one left behind.

One day soon, Miranda was going to have to apologize for that pain. Even if that bridge had long since been passed, she felt now that she needed to express how grateful she was that Katherine could bare to look her in the eyes, and thank her for loving the girls as profoundly as she did, when they had been the reason for her to feel this excruciating pain when Greg rejected her all those years ago.

By the time they made it back to the townhouse it was well past 9pm and the girls were napping, each using one of her shoulders as a pillow. Greg smiled at Miranda through the rearview mirror, his hand grasping Katherine's as he drove them home.

As they pulled up to the townhouse Greg's shoulders drew inward and his muscles tensed. Katherine and Miranda noticed the change in the aura of the man immediately. Katherine, however, was the only one of the two who could tell why Greg had become so upset.

Katherine sighed heavily, "I'll take care of it."

"No. Let me." Greg glared at something outside the car that Miranda could not see yet. Greg put the car in park and looked back at Miranda and the girls. "Stay here for a minute."

"Gregory…what is it?" Miranda asked trying to look out the windows but unable to see in the direction Greg and Katherine had looked due to her location in the center of the back seat, and her inability to move or risk the girls waking up.

"Just, stay here. I'll take care of it." Greg promised in that way he did. It immediately set off alarm bells in Miranda's mind as to what it was he needed to go and take care of while his family remained in the car. Was it dangerous? Were the girls in danger? Miranda's grip on the girls tightened unconsciously at the mere thought.

Greg disappeared outside of the car and he walked towards the stairs of the townhouse.

"Katherine?" Miranda questioned, becoming frustrated with her inability to see what it was that her ex-husband and current wife were trying to shield them from.

Unconsciously she had an idea, but that was impossible, wasn't it?

"Let Greg handle it, Miranda."

Miranda glared, unwilling to accept that answer.

"Girls…" Miranda was remiss to wake them, but she was not some damsel in distress that needed saving. She could very well handle whatever was outside this car. She was Miranda Priestly, and Miranda Priestly ran from no one.

Except…

Cassidy moaned as she was awoken from her sleep. But she did as her mother asked and slid over so that Miranda could get out of the car. Instead of remaining awake Cassidy scooched over and snuggled up against Caroline and fell back to sleep. Not even the sound of Miranda's door closing or Katherine hissing, Miranda's name waking her again.

Standing on the curb Miranda straightened out her clothing and prepared to march over to Gregory and the cause for concern when she noticed just what, or whom, it was that Gregory was trying to protect her from.

…there was one person she ran from. One truth that she ran as far and as fast as she could from, and there she was. Standing on her stoop, pleading with Gregory to…to what?

Miranda's eyes widened at the sight of Andrea Sachs standing on her stoop arguing in hissed whispers with Gregory. Even in the shadows of night she could make out Andrea's figure.

Why would she have returned? Hadn't she made it clear she did not want to be romantically involved with Miranda? Hadn't she already ruined what they'd had by rejecting their bond?

"When will she be home? I need to speak with her." Andrea begged, her voice finally rising above a whisper.

"You need to leave. We've gone over this. You, are not welcome here. Not after what you've done. The last thing she needs is to see you."

"But, there's been a big misunderstanding." Andrea looked away from Gregory as if her eyes were being pulled right towards Miranda.

Miranda who stood stock still upon the curb, staring right back at the young woman who'd broken her heart, dumbfounded.

Andrea's entire presence seemed to relax at the mere sight of her. The tension that had riddled her young form releasing itself as she exhaled, all at the singular sight of Miranda.

"Miranda!" Andrea called out as she pushed past Greg and came rushing towards her. Once Andrea was five feet away she stopped dead in her tracks.

"What are…you…doing here?" Caroline hissed from just behind Miranda.

Miranda hadn't even heard the door of the car open.

"I…"

"We never want to see you again." Caroline stepped in front of her mother and glared dangerously at Andrea.

"Caroline, I just…" Andrea looked between Miranda and Caroline wordlessly. She had nothing more to say and Miranda did not wish to hear it even if she did come around to say it.

"As Caroline said, Andrea," Miranda licked suddenly dry lips. It was the first time she had said Andrea's name in a week and it still caused her soul mark to burn. "We do not wish to see you again."

Andrea seemed to crumple at the words, her hands balled into tight fists at her side as she pleaded with her eyes as she tried not to whimper.

"You heard them." Cassidy whispered, hardly able to meet Andrea's eyes as she too came to stand beside Miranda.

Greg arrived behind Andrea and looked at his daughters with pride. "It's time for you to go." Greg insisted, his hand placed firmly on Andrea's shoulder.

"Come along, Caroline. Cassidy." Miranda took hold of Caroline and Cassidy's hands and walked, with a wide birth, around Andrea and Gregory and into the house.

"Miranda please! Let me explain. I just…please let me explain! Don't shut me out like this. Please! Miranda!" Andrea called out, but Miranda refused to turn around and acknowledge the younger woman.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"She's still out there." Greg announced to the room as he peered out the window in the sitting room towards the stoop, where Andrea had taken a seat and had not moved since.

Miranda ground her teeth together. She knew without looking that Andrea was outside. Her skin was practically itching from the burn of her soul mark at Andrea's closeness.

"Are you sure you don't want me to call the cops?" Greg asked, "They'd have her out of here in no time."

"No. She will leave. It's what she's good at." Miranda bitterly stated as she brought her glass of wine up to her lips. It tasted like tar and she could hardly stomach it, but it was better than drinking nothing at all.

Katherine looked between her husband and his ex-wife, sighing heavily. "Are you sure you don't want to talk to her?" Miranda stared at Katherine as if she'd grown a second and then quite possibly a third head. "She just…maybe you should talk to her. Maybe she's changed her mind." Katherine offered, "Why else would she be sitting out there in the cold?"

"Kris…" Greg shook his head. "You don't really think that, do you?"

"I mean, why else does she keep coming back?" Katherine asked. "It has to be just as painful for her as it is for Miranda. You know what it's like, Greg."

"So, she has decided that she will risk having me as a lover so she is not in pain any longer." Miranda drawled, eyes darkening at the very idea of it. "Well then she can just go fuck herself." Miranda downed the rest of her glass of wine and stood to get herself something stronger.

There was a whispered conversation behind her between the two soulmates. It seemed they came to an agreement as Greg came to stand beside her at the liquor stand.

"Maybe…you should hear her out." Greg offered meekly, looking sideways at Miranda.

"Why!?" Miranda threw down the decanter she'd been holding to pour herself some bourbon. The crash of the glass upon the metal clanging into the air around them. "Why should I give her the chance to come here and profess her love for me only so she might feel better. What of my pain? What of what she's done to me? Does that mean nothing?"

"No, of course it doesn't mean nothing, Miranda! It's just. Maybe…maybe she needed time. Maybe this isn't her selfishly coming back to you to ease her own pain. Maybe there was a misunderstanding."

"Gregory…if you were not the father of my children you would find yourself unceremoniously thrown out on your backside." How dare he suddenly take Andrea's side in all of this! How dare he! He who knew the types of agony she was in. He who knew the depth of her pain and how fitfully she was struggling to remain at least somewhat herself.

Greg nodded, sighing heavily as he stepped away from his irritated ex-wife.

"Maybe we should go?" Greg nodded, looking to Katherine, who stood and stepped up to his side. "We'll call you in the morning." Greg dared to place a kiss on Miranda's cheek before he and Katherine left.

There was a pause between the door opening and closing. One in which Miranda imagined Andrea jumping up to try and plead her way into the house. Shaking her head she scuffed at the immaturity of the journalist.

Miranda swirled the bourbon around her glass, her eyes fixated on the sloshing motion of the liquid that she knew she would not be able to taste and oh how she hated Andrea in that moment. Hated the girl for all she had stolen from Miranda, all the possibilities of their future together, the possible happiness, and the simple pleasure of enjoying a $2,000 bottle of bourbon.

"Miranda?"

The glass fell from her hand, spilling the liquor upon the rug beneath her, as she spun around to see Andrea standing in her doorway. Feeble little Andrea Sachs who was rocking awkwardly back and forth on her toes, her hands grasped tightly together in front of her.

Miranda's eyes narrowed, "Breaking and entering, now are you?" Had Gregory forgotten to lock the door? Surely, he wasn't foolish enough to allow Andrea in…surely he wasn't.

Andrea offered a forced smile that looked more like a grimace, "Uh…Greg let me in."

Miranda's glare darkened. She was going to kill that man. Dead. He was dead to her. After all the strides they'd taken to being friends for the girls and he went and betrayed her like this!?

"Not his decision to be made, I'm afraid. You are not welcome here any longer, Andrea. I would appreciate you taking your leave. Immediately." Feeling that was that and Andrea would leave Miranda turned and made her way towards her arm chair where her phone sat upon the table. She was going to call Greg and—

"No."

Miranda's head whipped back to stare at the brunette, "No?"

Andrea shook her head. "Not until you hear me out."

Miranda's teeth ground together as she stared at Andrea incredulously. It was as she looked at Andrea that she noticed how unkempt the woman was. Before when Andrea had been standing on her stoop only the dim street lights had shone on the young woman. Now, with the clear light of Miranda's study she could see the disheveled woman clearly. Andrea's hair was a raggedy mess, there were dark circles under her eyes, her skin tone was a greyish pallor, and her hands were trembling. From being in the chill air outside or from fear and nervousness, Miranda did not know, but found she could not help but care about it.

The woman looked as frightful as Miranda felt. Miranda poured herself another glass of bourbon.

"Aren't you fetching…"Miranda mocked, waving her hand around in the air, seemingly uncaring, as she made her way to her seat.

Andrea blew out a long breath and stayed in the doorway of the room.

"Well then, by all means, move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me."

Andrea bit her bottom lip and seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown as she appeared to be contemplating whether or not to risk going tit for tat with Miranda in insults. Miranda almost hoped she would. It had been a while since she'd faced a noble opponent in such an event. Sadly, Andrea seemed to think better of it and remained silent and unmoving within the doorway.

"I haven't all night, Andrea. Say what it is that you need to say and then be gone with you. I have little desire to look at you any more than I must."

It hurt too much to be this close to Andrea, feel the ebbing flow of their bond, and feel just how jagged and broken it was, her very soul reaching out to Andrea's in a desperate plea to be taken back, to be found worthy. Even while Miranda herself refused to lower herself to such things. Andrea had made her choice and although Miranda dreamed of begging Andrea to take her back if only to ease the pains she was in.

Andrea flinched at the words, but Miranda forced herself not to care. She took a sip of the bourbon and closed her eyes at the bitter, foul taste of it. Would nothing ever taste as good as it did before?

"I didn't want to hurt you, Miranda. I still don't. I don't want to be the reason you're hurting."

"Then do hurry it along." Miranda drawled.

"I just, I love you. I do, soo much, Miranda. I…" Tears formed in Andrea's eyes as her words seemed to catch in her throat.

Miranda felt no pity or compassion for the young woman. She scuffed at her, "You do not love me."

"But, I do, Miranda!" Andrea insisted.

Miranda placed her glass upon the table in frustration. "You yourself told me you did not, could not, be with me romantically. So tell me, Andrea, how then do you love me? As a companion? A friend?" Miranda sneered, as if the word friend was a dirty word.

"It's so much more then that." Andrea confessed, her lips trembling. "I love you, so much Miranda. I love everything about you."

Miranda rolled her eyes, unbelieving. "And yet you cannot be with me romantically?"

"Yes…" Andrea admitted it, but it seemed to pain her to say the word.

Miranda was curious then, "What is it about me then that keeps you from loving me romantically? Is it that I am too old?" God she hoped not. She had waited 40 years for Andrea. 40 long years and now? Now it would be for nothing because she had waited so long? That time had damned them to be born so far apart from each other? What good was fate then!?

"No!" Andrea seemed scandalized.

"A woman then?"

Andrea rolled her eyes, "No!"

"A mother?"

"Of course not, Miranda. Don't be ridiculous!"

Miranda nodded, there was only one other explanation that could be why Andrea did not wish to love her romantically. "You do not find me attractive then."

Andrea finally took a step into the room and away from the doorway at that. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Miranda!"

"Then enlighten me, Andrea. Why is it that you cannot love me, romantically?" Miranda challenged, feeling the pain in her chest tighten the longer she held Andrea's eyes.

"Because, because…"

"Because…" Miranda prompted, "Spit it out, already!" Miranda stood from her chair in a flourish of anger. Let this humiliation be done with.

"Because you're not my soulmate!"

Miranda's eyes widened at Andrea's admission. She stared at the woman, not comprehending what she was just told.

"Andrea…" Miranda began, moving a half step closer to Andrea as she stared at the girl in wonder. How could Andrea say that? How could she deny their bond so blatantly and seem to mean it so truthfully? How?!

Andrea grabbed at the top of her head, pulling her hair into a tight fist for a moment. "I just, I promised myself I wouldn't do this. That I wouldn't fall in love with someone that wasn't my soulmate. Not again. It was too painful. I just…I couldn't help it. With you. I couldn't help but fall in love with you, Miranda. And I want you, gods above and below, Miranda do I want you! So much. You are so beautiful, and I want to touch you. I want to feel your skin against mine and know what you taste like." Andrea closed her eyes for a moment at the mere idea of tasting her. The sight of Andrea's bodily reaction to the thought made Miranda shiver.

"Andrea…" Miranda stepped closer to Andrea, approaching her as cautiously as she'd approach a wounded animal.

"It's just, I dream of you." Andrea's breath was short as tears pricked at her eyes. "I…I need you in my life. This last week has been awful. I just. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I just feel so empty without you and the girls in my life." Andrea pressed her hands tightly against her chest, tears falling from her eyes as she continued her confession.

Miranda stood in front of Andrea now, her hand cupped upon the brunette's cheek. Her thumb absently wiping away Andrea's tears. Andrea moaned pitifully as she pressed her face into Miranda's hand, her own coming up to take a deft hold of Miranda's wrist, keeping her hand exactly where it was.

"I'm just so afraid Miranda." Andrea admitted as she stared into Miranda's eyes. "I want nothing more than to go out with you. To date you. To move beyond this friendship, but I can't do that to you. Or myself. I won't do that to us, Miranda. I won't lead you on."

Miranda had to know. She had to know how this had come to happen. Why did Andrea think they were not soulmates? Was it possible that Andrea was her soulmate but someone else was Andrea's? Miranda had never heard of such a thing, but that did not mean it wasn't possible. It would be her luck to be the first in this instance.

"Andrea, what name is upon your wrist?" Miranda asked. She knew it was taboo to ask another person the name of their soulmate. It was one thing for the person to voluntarily give you the name. It was another thing all together to actually ask what the name was.

Andrea blushed and looked down, her hands falling away from her grasp of Miranda's wrist. "It's not yours, Miranda."

"Andrea…" Miranda coaxed Andrea to look her in the eyes again, her palm still cupping the smooth cheek of the journalist. "The name upon your wrist."

"It's not Miranda." Andrea insisted, her eyes sparking with curiosity.

Miranda flinched at that.

"I'm so sorry, Miranda." Andrea apologized again. "I want it to be you. I want it to be you so badly."

"Shh…" Miranda whispered as she stepped closer to Andrea and allowed the journalist to rest her forehead against her shoulder. Miranda felt her own eyes prick with tears, not understanding how this could be.

"It begins with an M, though, yes?" Miranda asked, suddenly feeling hope blossom in her chest.

"Yes." Andrea nodded, leaning back to look up into Miranda's eyes.

Miranda held her breath, it had to be this. It had to be. There was no other option but this. Andrea was her soulmate and this was all just one big misunderstanding.

"Did you know, that I changed my name when I turned eighteen? Legally of course." Miranda licked her lips. Wondering if this week of hell could have been so easily avoided. She wondered if it was truly this simple. This simple of a misunderstanding. Could all of this pain have been so easily avoided if she had just told Andrea the name her parents had given her upon birth?

"Nah…no. I, I didn't." Andrea swallowed, suddenly her eyes widening as Miranda looked into her very soul with her piercing blue eyes. "What…what was your birth name?" Andrea asked breathlessly.

"Miriam…" It had been ages since she had said her given name, even longer since she thought of herself as Miriam. But as she watched Andrea's eyes alight with wonder and the color return to her cheeks in an instant, she knew that she would be Miriam Pritchnik for the rest of her life if it meant Andrea would smile at her the way she was smiling at her now.

Andrea sobbed through her sun bright smile.

"Miriam…" Andrea repeated.

"Miriam." Miranda confirmed.

Miranda nodded her head as she lifted Andrea's hand up and twisted it around so that she could see the bold black letters of her birth name written clear as day upon Andrea's frail wrist.

Smiling with a relief and joy she could not accurately express, Miranda lifted her own hand up and lifted the black band she'd placed on top of it, showing Andrea her own name written upon Miranda's skin. There were deep red scratches over the mark. Miranda had found herself unconsciously doing it to the point where she'd put the tight black band around the mark so she wouldn't injure herself any further.

Andrea frowned at the marks and gently skimmed her thumb over and then under the glaring red streaks, her head shaking from side to side in sorrow.

"None of that now." Miranda instructed, feeling far more like herself than she had in a week. It was like life had slipped back into her.

Andrea nodded her head firmly twice, as she followed instructions. Until it appeared that all of this suddenly sank in for her.

"Oh, oh thank, thank god!" Andrea threw herself into Miranda, wrapping her arms around her neck and pulling the editor into a bearhug. The hug lasted only a moment, but in that moment all the pain and tightness in Miranda's chest disappeared as she breathed in the scent of her soulmate and felt Andrea's body pressed so firmly against her own.

"I love you, Miranda. So much. So so much." Andrea rushed to say, looking into Miranda's eyes with such clear sincerity and devotion. "Gods, I am so sorry. So truly sorry. I didn't. I…"

"Shh…" Miranda whispered, rubbing her nose against Andrea's as they breathed in the same air. Her eyes closed as she relished this moment for what it was. "I love you as well, Andrea."

Andrea whimpered at the statement, but the sound was swallowed whole by Miranda's lips, for she dared not wait another moment before sharing her first kiss with her soulmate.

There was poetry written about the kiss shared by soulmates. How the barest of touches could help alleviated all worries and fears. How in that instant they both knew without a doubt that their destiny had always been to be in that singular moment where they sealed an unwritten mystical deal just by the touching's of their lips.

Miranda had read many poems of such moments and had never understood how by sharing one measly kiss all fears and worries could be lifted off a person's shoulders. How could one kiss be so enlightening and awe-inspiring that all doubts could be assuaged? How, she'd wondered.

But now. Now she did not wonder. Now, as she felt the swipe of Andrea's tongue against her bottom lip, and the press of Andrea's body fully against her own, she knew. She knew that all would be well between them, because they had finally found each other.

As they were always meant to.

For the first time in her life Miranda believed in destiny. And her destiny was a six-letter name upon her skin.

A name, attached to a woman, that meant the world to her.

The End