A/N: This one is going out with a massive shout out to Callie-G over on FFNet for providing the prompt.

Summary: Years after the events in Paris, Miranda finds one of her darling Bobbsey's remained in touch with the assistant that got away, Andréa (Call me Andy) Sachs. What will happen when the editor comes face to face with her past? Will she still see a lot of herself in the brunette?

Disclaimer: As always, I am just fooling around with these characters. I do not make any money from them because Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox own them.

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Cassidy made her way across Fifth Avenue, her eyes focussed on one person, the only one who had never broken her promises. As she strode across the busy intersection she thought of the moment that cemented her place in her life.

"We knew she'd find a way to push you away. You'll just disappear from our lives without a backward glance." Cassidy brushed the flowing tears from her cheeks, annoyed with herself for the display of emotion. She sometimes wished she was more like her mom and Caroline.

"Honey, no!" Andy exclaimed. "I promise, no matter what, I will not leave you or your sister." Cassidy watched the brunette frown. "Your mom simply wants me to do something I'm not comfortable with. Paris is Emily's dream, not mine. Emily lives and breathes for Runway, much like your mom does. For me, Runway is just a job, a stepping stone until I can move on to what I really want to do, and write."

"But you care for mom, don't you?" Cassidy asked.

"Yes, of course, I do. More than anything. But to her, I'm just another assistant, albeit quite a good one." Andy stated.

"And you promise not to just disappear," Cassidy demanded.

"You and Caro have my email address and personal cell. If you ever need me I will be there for you." Andy stated. "Pinkie swear." Andy held out her pinkie finger and waited for Cassidy to accept the promise.

Now, at fourteen, she and Caroline had recently gone through a small growth spurt which had them just an inch off their mother's height, but she was still shorter than the older woman who was tapping her foot impatiently and looking around nervously. Setting off at a run, the last few hundred meters were a blur as Cassidy dodged the foot traffic and threw herself at the woman waiting for her at the Terrace Drive entrance to the park.

She found herself caught up in strong arms and surrounded by the now familiar scent of honey, cherry blossom and a soothing note of vanilla. Her hair was swept away from her face and Cassidy looked up into kind, hazel eyes and saw the wide, welcoming smile. That alone left her feeling at home in the world in which she felt she did not quite fit.

"Hey, honey." Andy grinned down at her, her voice warm.

"Hi, Andy. Thanks for meeting me today." Cassidy smiled as she was pulled in for another hug.

"Does your mom know you're here, Cassi?" Andy asked pulling back.

Cassidy shook her head quickly and felt like crying at the sight of pursed lips. "I tried to talk to her, honestly. She just shooed me away, too busy with the book and having the new Emily organise some afternoon meeting. It was supposed to be our day together while Caro is shopping with her friends." Cassidy fought against her rising tears. "She simply doesn't care, Andy."

Andy closed her eyes and sighed. "She does care, Cassi. She may not always be able to express it, but it doesn't mean she doesn't feel." Andy's eyes blazed open. "Come on. We'll walk a little and you can tell me what's going on with you."

Cassidy grabbed Andy's hand and tugged her towards the park as a Porsche came to a screeching halt at the curb beside them.

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Miranda was furious, primarily at her assistant, but also with herself. She'd frowned when she heard Cassidy slam her way from the house after she had explained she was busy. That level of noise was unacceptable.

It was only when going over her schedule a few minutes later she realised it was her day to spend one on one time with her youngest daughter, something the twins therapist stated would be good for them, especially her sensitive youngest child who seemed to be struggling against some inner turmoil.

Moving quickly she shrugged herself into a leather jacket and grabbed her purse, cell and car keys. She connected to her assistant and at the immediate greeting fired off just one instruction.

"Cancel my meeting with Thakoon this afternoon, reschedule it for next week," Miranda stated quietly. "I am surprised you did not advise me of the plans with Cassidy."

"Um, but, um..." The new Emily's stuttering had Miranda rolling her eyes. "...This is the only time Thakoon can meet before heading to Europe, so I thought..."

Miranda placed her cell on hands-free and navigated out of her garage with squealing tyres as she shot forward down East 73rd Street. "You thought I would easily reschedule plans with my daughter, who, in a few days, goes off to her father's for the rest of the summer? That's unacceptable."

"But last week..." Emily bit back.

"Last week, I took my eldest daughter, who actually holds an interest in fashion, to a lunch meeting with Marc Jacobs. That is not a suitable solution for my youngest daughter." Miranda's eyes travelled the ahead and she saw the shock of familiar red hair running across the road and down Fifth Avenue towards East 72nd Street. "That's all."

She navigated traffic easily, cutting off a cab and receiving the bird and a blast of a horn as she turned onto Fifth. Miranda watched as her daughter threw herself at someone and her eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected sight of red locks mingling with luscious chestnut. "Andréa?" She queried breathlessly.

Over the four years since Andréa's abrupt departure from her side, Miranda had only seen the brunette a handful of times and yet she had followed her meteoric rise through the ranks at the Mirror. The young woman had been nominated for, and won, two prestigious Crystal Quill awards, but had not been present at the awards ceremonies to accept the plaudits. Her editor had accepted them in her stead, citing other responsibilities keeping the young woman away.

Miranda had been glad at the time. She doubted very much she would be able to treat the younger woman she secretly cared for with her usual icy indifference. The words the Mirror's editor had spoken as he collected the last award had many laughing, but for Miranda, they hit a raw nerve.

"A few years ago I was told I'd be an idiot if I didn't hire Andy Sachs. I can say wholeheartedly it was easily the best decision I've ever made as an editor. What I didn't know when I initially interviewed Andy was how much of an impact she would make in the bullpen. She is funny, eccentric and always enthusiastic. A one of a kind, genuine, generous, beautiful soul. Andy is the epitome of a true journalist, she is unwaveringly fair and unbiased and she is relentless when she has a story to tell." The man grinned at the attendees. "Now, Andy had asked me to say a few words, to express her sincere gratitude for this recognition tonight." The man paused for a beat as everyone waited expectantly. "Thanks. That's all."

Nigel had glanced at her and guffawed at the words, which infuriated her. He knew how she felt, she'd told him one night after her divorce from Stephen was settled as they shared a celebratory bottle of 25-year-old Macallan. She'd admitted to him she wished to push the brunette away as she would only hurt the young woman by keeping her close.

Miranda slammed on her breaks pulled to a halt next to her daughter and her errant ex-assistant. Flinging the door open she pushed her shades down her nose and watched as Cassidy tugged Andréa's hand. "Cassidy Marie Priestly, do not take one more step with that woman. Get in this car, right now."

She watched as the brunette stiffened and Cassidy's shoulders sagged. She heard her child's whispered apology to the younger woman as she pulled her hand free and ran through the entrance of the park away from them.

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"Now look what you have done?" Miranda's words, hissed furiously at Andy when she turned to watch the young girl run into the park, hit her like a blunt force.

Andy spun on her heel and glared at the older woman who had stepped from the Porsche. "What I've done? Oh no, Miranda. This is all on you." Andy stepped forward, getting more and more frustrated and anxious the closer she got to the editor. "You caused this, Miranda, with your inability to stop yourself flying off the handle at the sight of your daughter with your biggest fucking disappointment."

"I...I...but..." Miranda couldn't formulate words, speechless in the face of Andy's frustration. "...Why was she even with you?"

"She had plans that were seemingly cancelled." Andy's frown deepened. "I abandoned my own when one of my children's best friends called me looking for them. I heard the tears in her voice when I explained my daughter had left New York this morning to spend a week with family in Ohio before heading off to Long Lake Camp." Andy sighed. "Because she was obviously upset, I decided against continuing my plan to catch up with the usual housekeeping while my son spends the morning with his father."

Andy watched as Miranda swallowed nervously at the admission. "Children? Best friend? Son?" Miranda stuttered. "I do not understand." She admitted.

Andy sensed the older woman's rising frustration and decided to provide some basic information. "My son, Ethan, has just turned three years old, Miranda." Andy grinned at the thought of her beautiful son. "My adopted daughter is fourteen. She attends Dalton on a scholarship for gifted children."

"Which one?" Miranda asked.

"What?" Andy was suddenly confused.

"Which scholarship? Which of Cassidy's friends is it? Take your pick." Miranda hissed, hating the fact she had to ask for information from the young woman.

"Walk with me and we can talk. I will tell you what you wish to know." Andy gestured towards the park entrance. "We can look for Cassi while we are at it." Andy could feel Miranda's indecision rolling off her in waves and shrugged, unwilling to wait for Miranda to offer her refusal with a scathing comment. "Whatever. I'll just head on in and meet Christian and pick up Ethan."

The name seemingly had Miranda shaking herself from her funk and bristling. She slammed the car door, not caring that she was in a no parking zone. "Christian? Thompson?"

Andy was suddenly nervous. "Yeah, it is quite strange how one event can change your whole world." She swallowed the swirling emotions rising from Miranda's presence after so long and looked away as she explained. "Christian is the father of my son, and he is now one of my best friends. If truth be told, he is one of my only friends since all the people I came to New York with disappeared at the same time as my ex moved to Boston four years ago." Andy bit her lip to stop herself from babbling. There was honestly so much she wanted to say, things that would not be welcome to the older woman.

She felt Miranda's hand on her wrist and took a deep breath. Looking down at the editor she saw a hint of curiosity. "I will walk with you, and you will explain further." Miranda softened slightly. "It seems I have been blind, especially regarding your presence in my youngest daughter's life, Andréa."

"Okay." Andy agreed breathlessly.

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They walked in silence for a few minutes. In an unexpected gesture, Miranda allowed Andréa the chance to work through what she wanted to say while giving herself time to contemplate how to navigate things with this new, mature, Andréa Sachs.

She sensed the younger woman did not fear her as she had at the beginning of their professional relationship. And Miranda was curious. She wanted to know this woman, whose written words often pulled her in and made her feel more in three sentences than the whole James Holt autumn/winter line ever could.

When Andréa spoke quietly, it pulled her from her own musings.

"Two months after starting work at the Mirror I found out I was pregnant. I knew it wasn't my ex-boyfriend's child. We struggled to remain intimate while I worked at Runway." Andréa admitted. "He walked away just before we left for Paris, and I did not fight for him to stay. He did not approve of all the changes I went through."

Miranda rolled her eyes. "Of course you changed, you grew up."

"Yeah, I know," Andréa stated quietly. "I suppose you won't be surprised to hear Christian initially wanted nothing to do with me or the pregnancy. He asked me to think about having an abortion, and I admit I gave it some consideration. I was just starting out in my chosen career and was alone."

"What changed?" Miranda asked.

"Christian and I were arguing, having met to discuss things further, most importantly, my decision to keep the child. I'd had my first ultrasound and heard Ethan's heartbeat. I simply couldn't fathom going through with an abortion after that. While we were arguing I received a phone call from my parents. They were calling to let me know that my cousin had died in a tragic accident, leaving her ten-year-old daughter, my god-daughter, behind." Andréa's voice was hoarse as she fought her tears. "My aunt and uncle had disowned my cousin, Amy, when she became pregnant at fifteen. It was my parents who stepped up to help her finish school after Izzy was born."

"So why did you end up with the child?" Miranda asked. "Isabel, I assume?"

Andréa nodded. "Yes." She sighed. "My parents felt they were too old to raise a child. They are close to retirement age now, having had me late in life. Amy was prepared for every contingency and had everything in writing. You see, she had no one else. So, I became Izzy's guardian. Amy's life insurance policy was placed in trust for her daughter's college education and there was also a small payout for the accident that caused her death, which was set aside for immediate necessities. A deposit on a bigger apartment was one of the first things we needed. A week after the funeral I returned to New York, with a grieving ten-year-old, having told my parents I was pregnant. I advised them there was no chance I would marry Christian because I was not quite as straight as I had assumed. I experienced their displeasure at my life choices and walked away from their disappointment." Andréa let out a harsh bark of laughter. "They welcome Izzy into their home for a week every summer and treat her like their own grandchild, but they have yet to meet their grandson, and have no interest in him, or me for that matter."

"So you told your parents about your circumstances, what then?" Miranda queried. She was surprised by the young woman's easy admittance about her sexuality. It amazed her how things had changed over the years. In the late 70s and 80s, even with the rise in the LGBT movement, when she was building her career there was no way she would have been taken seriously if she'd allowed herself the freedom to be true to herself, not in the old boys club that was the publishing world.

Andréa frowned as she dodged a cyclist. "Christian arrived while Izzy and I were packing up my apartment ready to move. He took one look at me, told me I looked like shit and then proceeded to carry boxes down the four flights of stairs to the waiting U-Haul. He spent hours with us that day, helping to unpack while I settled Izzy. After watching me with her he told me I would be a great mom and he couldn't wish for a better person to raise his child."

"Does he assist with the boy?" Miranda glanced at the young woman keeping pace beside her. She was curious about Christian's role in Andréa's life. Were they romantically involved? The little she had ever seen of the writer had left her with the impression he was a self-centred, smarmy ass. She couldn't imagine him being particularly hands-on as a father.

"He pays child support. He and Ethan spend Saturday mornings together and we all have dinner at least once a week, sometimes more. He's been known to babysit when I am immersed in my work. We have a good relationship now he's no longer trying to charm his way into my panties, which is an added bonus." Andréa smirked as Miranda scoffed. "He's not all bad, Miranda, not when you scratch the surface and get to know him. He often keeps me on an even keel when I feel overwhelmed."

Miranda stalled at the sight before her. Cassidy sat swinging forlornly on a swing as she brushed tears from her face. Her heart broke at the sight. "I know there is more to this tale, and I honestly wish to hear it, but I need to know one thing. How is it you still have contact with my daughter?" She gestured at the young girl who had yet to notice them.

"When I dropped off the Harry Potter manuscript, I spoke to the twins, and we got to know each other over the following months. Before Paris, I made a promise to Cassidy I wouldn't disappear from their life, even if I no longer worked at Runway." The words stunned Miranda. "We initially emailed but I met Cassidy again in person when I took Izzy to meet with the head at Dalton, to discuss the Miranda Priestly Scholarship for the Artistically Gifted. The P.S I had enrolled Izzy in was incapable of giving her what she needed."

"I remember being given the information about the scholarship," Miranda stated, surprised. "Isabel seemed like a worthy recipient."

"Thank you, I believe so, but I may actually be a little biased." Andréa grinned shyly. "Dalton has roped me into certain things. I'm now part of the parental Gay-Straight Alliance and I recently helped the students in seventh and eighth grade create their own G.S.A. We have quite a few active members. Izzy is part of it, as is Cassidy. Each child that has joined the group has done so for their own reasons, whether it be they identify as or their parents are, or they simply wish to offer support as an ally of the L.G.B.T community." She gazed at Cassidy and noticed her watching them.

"Why would Cassidy join the G.S.A?" Miranda queried breathlessly, stunned by the influx of information she had been given in the last fifteen minutes.

"You need to ask her that," Andréa stated softly. "You did an amazing job with the girls. They're both good kids, Miranda, truly accepting of other people's differences. That in part is due to you, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are ready to accept their own."

Miranda watched in disbelief as Andréa stepped away. Running towards the swings, and sitting on the one next to Cassidy, she kicked off from the ground, using her long legs to propel her higher. She caught the brunette's loud laughter as Cassidy kicked off and pushed herself, reaching out to clasp Andréa's hand as they swung together.

Part of her wished she could join them, but instead Miranda's mind was running over certain points of what the brunette had told her.

1) Andréa Sachs was not quite straight.

2) Andréa Sachs had two children she was raising alone.

She attempted to banish thoughts of the brunette's personal life, pushing the information to one side to concentrate on her daughter, and to help her with whatever was troubling her, but one final thought flickered in her mind.

She could still see much of herself in the young woman who she had once labelled her greatest disappointment.

She watched as the two on the swings launched themselves from the moving equipment, still holding hands. Her heart jumped in her chest and her eyes fell closed as they soared towards the ground, only to blaze open as they landed on the balls of their feet and laughed freely.

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