FF: Housesitter – Part 1/4

Author: Widdy
Disclaimer: I don't own the Devil Wears Prada, Miranda or Andy. I also don't own the film Housesitter, unfortunately someone else does so I'm just borrowing them and I will return them after I'm done.
Rating: PG

Feedback: Yes feel free to feed me.
Pairing: Andrea/Miranda

Summary: When successful architect Miranda Priestly's lover Stephen suddenly decides that their relationship is not working. Their dream house becomes nothing more than a monument to his rejection. That is until a chance encounter with a waitress turns her life upside down.

A/N:I have always loved the movie and I have been playing with this idea for months. I have changed some aspects to fit this story.

Part 1

Gravel crunched under the heavy tyres as the black Mercedes Benz slowly glided to a halt.

"We're here." Miranda declared as her driver opened the door to her town car and then stood aside.

Miranda couldn't help the smile from curling her lips, as she looked up at the reason she was here. She had been waiting for this day for over two years and now it was finally here. The sun was shining and a gentle breeze was blowing through the trees, it couldn't possibly more perfect.

"Where?"Stephen asked with a confused smile.

Miranda smiled happily as she grasped Stephen's hand and guided him from the car. She winked at her chauffer Roy as he moved back towards the front of the Mercedes.

Miranda took a deep breath as she stepped away from Stephen. She glanced over her shoulder and then nodded once to herself.

"Ok, you can open your eyes."

Miranda watched with baited breath as Stephen did what she asked. His eyes almost popped out of their sockets as his gaze roamed over the structure behind Miranda.

"Miranda? What is this?" Stephen asked his eyes glued upon the house.

"Do you like it?" Miranda asked with a smile as she too turned towards the house.

It was everything she had ever dreamed of in a house. Modern and clean, it was beautiful sight to behold. Set back in the surrounding landscape, the house had an edgy look that mingled with a minimalist aesthetic for an ultra-modern appeal.

Miranda had designed the home, to have a sharp shape, so that it gave anyone viewing the home the feel that it was breaking through the natural landscape. She had picked the spot perfectly, overlooking a lake and the distant mountains on the horizon. Both inside and out, the modern architecture was made for the views.

The large windows covered the outside and invited in both the natural light and the outdoors. The minimalist interior boasted the simple finishes and features that you'd expect if you judge a book by its cover. She had purposely chosen contemporary, natural materials like stone, concrete and wood, and strong architectural elements added just the right interest to her design. With the ultra-modern in mind, Miranda had stayed true to her concept of a comfortable home, with the inclusion of all the usual suspects: a garage, laundry, pantry, kitchen and bathrooms, a dining area, an office, a games room, a library lounge with a home theatre, three bedrooms, and a master bedroom with en suite and walk in closet, it truly was her dream home, and was everything she had wanted to give to the man of her dreams. Stephen.

"I don't understand?" Stephen muttered as a frown started to mar his brow.

Miranda laughed at Stephen's puzzled look, "Stephen, will you marry me?"

"Did you buy this house?" Stephen asked, ignoring Miranda's proposal as his frown became more pronounced.

"Buy it?" Miranda laughed, "Stephen, I designed it, I built it."

"For who?" Stephen asked faintly.

Miranda threw up her arms and turned back towards Stephen. "For you, for us, for our future."

"Jesus Christ Miranda!" Stephen exclaimed as he gave his head a sharp shake.

"So what do you think?" Miranda asked.

"I can't believe you would do this." Stephen grumbled.

"What is there to believe?" Miranda shrugged, she didn't quite understand why Stephen was so upset. They had discussed marriage, and living together on numerous occasions. They were both forty-seven, and it wasn't like either of them were getting any younger.

Stephen's eyes became impossibly wide, "that you would build this house without consulting me."

"I didn't know that it was you who was the architect now, Stephen." Miranda replied a touch sarcastically.

"You know I don't mean that," Stephen barked, "besides isn't it me who is suppose to ask you to marry me?"

"To hell with tradition Stephen, I love you." Miranda confessed as she took a step towards Stephen and wrapped her arms around his waist. "So will you Darling?"

"Will I what?" Stephen asked as he looked down into Miranda's eyes.

"Marry me and make me the happiest woman alive." Miranda smiled.

Stephen looked up at Miranda's beautiful house once more and took a deep breath.

"No." Stephen said bluntly with a shake of his head.

Miranda felt her whole world come crashing down around her as Stephen's answer reverberated around her brain.

Three Years Later

It was Thursday night and Bulgarian restaurant The Sofia was full to the brim. Miranda Priestly sighed heavily as she gazed around the interior of the restaurant. It was tacky to say the least. Simple wood tables were packed tightly together and were covered in cheap white table cloths. Red candles were wedged haphazardly in empty wine bottles and placed on each table with garish red swans made from napkins.

It wasn't one of her usual haunts, but Nigel Kipling, her friend, and work colleague had sworn the food was to die for. Surprisingly he had been right. She had never eaten Bulgarian cuisine before and Miranda had found it to her likening.

Now the senior managing architect found herself sitting at the bar sipping sprits with her old friend and engaging in a conversation she would rather not be having.

"It's been three year's Miranda, you need to move on." Nigel said after he took a sip of his cocktail

Miranda sent her colleague a withering look, "I don't recall asking for your advice Nigel."

"No," Nigel smiled, "but I'm giving it to you anyway. Stop moping over Stephen."

"I am not moping!" Miranda glared as she looked down at the amber liquid lacing her glass.

"Oh you are, so he dumped you, it's not the end of the world." Nigel shrugged as he smiled at a passing waiter.

"He did not dump me." Miranda snapped.

Nigel held up his hands in surrender, "Ok maybe dump is too harsh a word. He decided your relationship wasn't working out. Get over it Miranda. Find yourself a toy boy, make him jealous."

"I'm not looking for someone new, so I wish you would stop with your incessant pestering." Miranda could hardly believe what Nigel was suggesting. He alone knew how hard she had taken the disintegration of her relationship with Stephen.

"You gave that man everything. You built the man a house for God's sake."

"Is it absolutely necessity for you to keep bring this up?" Miranda sighed as she lifted her glass to her lips and downed the burning liquid.

Nigel was right she had given Stephen everything he had asked for. She had finally thought that she had found the love of her life, only it wasn't meant to be.

"And at the slightest sniff of commitment, he just cuts you lose." Nigel continued headless of the withering look she sent him.

Miranda felt her mood dip even further as Nigel rambled on. She knew that Nigel was just trying to get her to move on with her life, but it just didn't work. No matter how many times and ways he tried.

"You are really cheering me up Nigel." Miranda huffed as she downed the last of her beverage.

"Oh I don't mean to get you down," Nigel apologised, "but I really think you need to let this thing with Stephen go."

"I loved Stephen. I still do." Miranda confessed softly. It wasn't something she was prone to admitting, but Nigel was her oldest friend and if she couldn't tell him her problems she couldn't tell anyone.

"I know, that's what's unfortunate about the whole dreadful situation." Nigel sighed with a shake of his head.

Miranda closed her eyes and looked away. She had tried to move on. She had been trying to move past that dreadful day when Stephen had stamped upon her heart. Three years and she felt like she had been standing still the whole time. Oh she had tried dating, but everyone she had met was always lacking in some way, or worse reminded her of Stephen.

Miranda found herself being drawn back to the present when Nigel's hand landed upon her arm.

"Can I get a drink for my friend here?" Nigel said sweetly.

Miranda allowed her eyes to move away from where Nigel's hand lay upon her arm and only to have them land upon the waitress that Nigel was speaking to. Miranda found herself mesmerised as she stared at the woman across the bar. She was dressed like all the other waitresses in the restaurant.

The traditional Bulgarian folk dress she wore was red and covered in embroidered, flowers and motifs. Dark brown hair fell in waves framing the woman's face. But it was the woman's eyes that captured Miranda's attention. The woman's two chocolate brown orbs shone with mischief. As she gazed at her Miranda felt her breath hitch in her throat.

"Yes, what you like?" The woman said in a heavily accented voice.

"Champagne," Nigel said slowly with a laugh, "we are celebrating."

The woman nodded with a smile, "is good, what you celebrate?"

"Moving on, that's what we are celebrating." Nigel looked pointedly at Miranda.

Miranda watched as the woman moved away from them and returned seconds later with a bottle of chilled champagne and two flutes. She placed both on the bar and then picked up the bottle and started to remove the seal.

"I love your accent by the way." Nigel said.

"I, no well speak English." The woman said as she gave the bottle a small shake and then placed a cloth over the cork and twisted the piece of wood firmly.

"Where are you from?" Nigel asked as the volume in the room increased as a party at a table nearby burst into song.

"Bulgaria right?" Miranda found herself saying as the cork came free with a muted pop.

"Yes, yes, I is from Bulgaria." The woman said with a bright smile.

Miranda accepted the flute and held it tightly as the waitress started to pour the sparkling wine into the glass.

"Have you been in American long?" Nigel asked.

The waitress frowned in confusion as she placed the bottle down on the bar in front of them. "Eh?"

"Look leave her alone, she clearly doesn't speak English that well Nigel." Miranda said taking pity on the poor woman.

"Andrea is to be called Andrea." The waitress said.

"Andrea, no talk, you work!" a voice suddenly cried.

Miranda couldn't help the frown that marred her brow as the bleach blonde man who had shouted pointed to a couple down the end of the bar who needed to be served.

"She was pretty don't you think?" Nigel commented idly as the waitress moved away from them.

"I suppose." Miranda replied. Pretty didn't really cover the waitresses attractiveness, stunning was closer to what Miranda had been thinking, but she wasn't about to admit that to herself, never mind Nigel.

"But to get back to the point in hand..."

"Nigel, I don't want to hear it." Miranda warned, "No amount of champagne is going to make me ready to move on."

"You were very ready to marry Stephen, so why not ready to move on?" Nigel persisted, "What about Palo?"

Miranda groaned and took a sip of her champagne. She was sick and tired of Nigel offering up men he thought were suitable. Usually they were thirty years her junior and only interested in one thing. Money. Palo was a prime example of this.

"I'm not interested." Miranda said with a touch of warning in her tone.

Nigel drained the last of his champagne and proceeded to pour himself another, "he's young, ambitious..."

"Muscle-bound and a gold-digger." Miranda interrupted angrily.

"Ok, what about Patrick?" Nigel asked.

"Too old." Miranda countered. Patrick Furnish was almost seventy and not in good health, why Nigel thought that he was a good match for her was beyond Miranda's comprehension.

"David?" Nigel offered with a tilt of his head.

Miranda rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to wince at the mention of David Summers. "Ugh, perpetual bad breath."

"Michael?" Nigel tried again.

"I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer." Miranda said with a glare.

"Ok I give up." Nigel said as he threw up his free hand.

"Thank God!" Miranda exclaimed as Nigel rolled his eyes and topped her glass up.

Throwing her technical pen on the bar Miranda sighed for the hundredth time as she stared at the drawing that she held in her hands. Her life had changed so drastically in the past two years. When she had first drawn the house on the napkin Miranda had never dreamed she would be sitting in a Bulgarian restaurant feeling sorry for herself. No, she had thought she would be happily married living in her house. Stephen had well and truly put a spanner in the works.

Stephen. It was a name that caused equal measures of pain and pleasure. She had thought that she had finally found the one. She had begun to believe that with Stephen her life might finally be complete.

Things hadn't quite turned out like that.

Miranda chuckled to herself as she let the paper napkin drift from her fingertips. As it landed with a soft rustle on the wood of the bar, a damp cloth passed close by and Miranda glanced up and met the beautiful brown eyes of the waitress she remembered was called Andrea, who Nigel had quizzed a few hours before. Miranda smiled lazily and then tapped her finger on the rim of her glass.

"Another whisky if you please, my little Bulgarian friend."

The dark haired woman in front of her lifted her eyebrows. A minute later Miranda was watching as Andrea proceeded to pour three fingers of whisky into the glass.

The dark haired waitress leaned forward and ran her cloth over the surface of the bar. As she got close to Miranda's hand she picked the napkin that sat in front of Miranda. She glanced at the ink drawing and then handed it back to Miranda.

"Nice huh? That's my house; I designed and built it for the love of my life. I guess you could call it an engagement ring."Miranda chuckled humourlessly as waved the paper napkin at Andrea.

"Only things didn't go to plan, because when he saw the house he couldn't get far enough away from me." Miranda spat with a touch of bitterness.

"Story of my life, were men are concerned, I think my success scares them." Miranda snorted and then drained the glass.

She turned back to the waitress and was about to speak again, when a small dark skinned woman with dirty blonde hair, wearing a tight fitting black coat rounded the corner. Miranda watched as she leaned over the bar and touched the Bulgarian waitress Andrea in the small of her back.

"Hey Andy, I'm getting out of here. I won't be at the apartment; I told Doug that I would meet him for a quick drink, you coming?" The dark skinned woman asked as Andy turned and dropped the cloth upon the wood bar.

"Oh Lily, hey. You know what I'm gonna pass, I think I'll just have an early night."

Miranda blinked slowly as her alcohol addled brain tried to process what she was hearing.

Lily smiled and nodded, "Alright then, see you in the morning."

"Ok, night Lils, love you." Andy said as she leaned across the bar and met Lily's cheek with her lips.

"Love you to, see ya." Lily said as she quickly made her way from the bar.

Miranda blinked slowly as stared at the brunette who started to turn the lights off behind the bar.

"Hey." Miranda called out as she watched Andy grab her cloth and start to make her way around the bar.

"Yeah?" Andrea answered as she glanced in Miranda's direction.

"You're American." Miranda said dumbly.

"So I am." Andy smirked, "Thanks for pointing that out, for years I have been thinking I was an Eskimo."

Miranda groaned as the lights of The Sofia's neon sign flickered once and then went out. Miranda pulled her handbag open and peered inside as she looked for her cell phone.

Miranda glanced up from her bag as the sound of laughter and voices filled the air. She watched as the waitress from earlier, Andrea joked with a dark haired man and then bid him good night. She was still wearing her uniform under a white coat. Before all Miranda had been able to see was her torso, granted she couldn't see much more now, but even through the bulky coat and the folk dress Miranda could tell that the woman had an impeccable figure.

"Hey, you lied to me." Miranda called out as Andrea turned and started to walk in the opposite direction.

Miranda started to walk back towards The Sofia as Andrea turned and smiled.

"I have a name you know." Andy informed Miranda as she folded her arms across her chest.

Miranda nodded, "Andrea."

"Yes?" Andrea asked with a tilt of her head.

"You said you were Bulgarian." Miranda pointed out as she drew closer to the dark haired waitress.

Andy shook her head and smiled brightly, "No, you said I was Bulgarian."

"You lied to me," Miranda persisted, "you even had the accent."

"I didn't lie." The brunette shrugged.

"Yes you did." Miranda snorted.

"Ok, so I deceived you." Andrea admitted with another shrug.

"Why?" Miranda asked, genuinely interested in why the dark haired waitress had pretended to be Bulgarian.

"Ambiance." The brunette smiled with her arms wide. "Makes the customer's feel better if they think they are getting an authentic Bulgarian experience."

"Well you had me fooled." Miranda admitted.

"I know who wouldn't be fooled by my 'little Bulgarian friend' act."

"I didn't mean to be..." Miranda trailed off with a wince,

"Condescending?" An amused Andy offered her eyes twinkling.

"That's one way of putting it." Miranda grumbled, "Look..."

"I really have to get home." Andrea interrupted as turned and took a step away from Miranda.

For some inexplicable reason Miranda had the desire to spend a little more time with Andrea. Miranda didn't know why, but she just couldn't let the brunette leave.

"Well can I give you a ride home? I can call my driver." Miranda said as she opened her handbag once more and started to look for her errant cell phone once more.

"No," Andrea shook her head, "it's only a short walk."

"Then let me walk with you?" Miranda asked.

"I don't know." Andy hesitated.

"It isn't safe to walk the streets alone." Miranda persisted.

"Says the woman who was just standing outside the restaurant on her own." Andrea laughed.

Miranda smiled as the lyrical laughed slowly died, "Point taken, so?"

"Ok." Andrea finally said with a small nod.

Miranda found herself smiling at the brunette's youthful exuberance. Every now and again she would turn and walk backwards, her arms would move in an excited way and a fire would dance in her eyes. All in all Miranda found herself captivated.

"So, where did you move from?" Miranda asked as she strolled along next to the dark haired waitress.

"Oh everywhere." Andy answered enthusiastically.

"Everywhere?" Miranda asked with a quirk of her lips.

Andrea nodded, "Yes, I'm originally from Ohio. When I was seventeen, I upped sticks and left, went straight to L.A."

"Did you want to be a star?" Miranda inquired her smile growing.

"No," Andrea laughed, "I just wanted to see California. From there I went to Tuba city, Raton, Clarksburg. Then I headed to Akron, I stayed there for a year or two."

Miranda nodded as her eyebrow's started to crawl up her forehead. Apparently Andrea liked to travel, Miranda had been a few places in her life, but she hadn't lived in as many places as Andrea and she was twice her age.

"Where did you come here from?" Miranda asked.

"I came up here from New York." Andy said as she tilted her head upwards and started at the sky.

Miranda lifted her eyebrows in surprise. "I used to work in New York."

"You did?" Andy asked with a smile.

"I did," Miranda nodded, "when I was first starting out, many, many years ago. I had all these big plans, I moved to New York to go to school. You?"

Miranda watched as Andy tilted her head up towards the stars, couldn't help her thoughts of how beautiful the younger woman she was walking with was. She had a carefree attitude that seemed to exude from every pore in her body. It was an intoxicating mix and for some inexplicable reason Miranda felt herself just wanting to be near the other woman.

Miranda suddenly realised that Andrea had continued speaking when she had asked her about her time in New York.

"Sorry?"

"I lost you for a moment there." Andrea laughed, "I said I wanted to be a journalist, so I headed to New York."

"How long ago did you come to Boston?" Miranda inquired.

"Not long, about five months?" Andy said with a shrug, "how long did you stay in New York for?"

"Five years, I finished school, worked at an architectural firm in Hell's Kitchen, then I got offered a better job here in Boston, so I moved back home to Dobbs Mill."

"Dobbs Mill? Where's that?" Andrea asked intrigued.

Miranda couldn't help the smile that spread over her face as she thought of her home town of Dobbs Mill.

"About fifty miles from here. It's where I grew up. It's a typical small town, white picket fences, town square, everybody knows everybody, and all your business." Miranda explained with a quirk of her lips.

"Is that where he's from?" Andrea suddenly asked to Miranda's annoyance.

"Who?" Miranda asked as she tried to avoid answering the question posed to her. She knew very well who Andrea was referring to.

"The guy who thought the house was too big for his finger." Andy smirked.

"Oh Stephen," Miranda exhaled noisily, "yes, yes that's where he's from."

"So you two grew up together?" Andy asked.

"Yes, he lived on the same street." Miranda said with a reminiscing smile.

She had grown up on the same street as Stephen, he had been her best friend growing up, they had dated on and off through high school. He had always been funny, intelligent, and her ideal match. They had lost touch when she moved to New York to study and he had gone to Europe to travel. When she had returned to New England they hadn't seen each other. That was until six years ago when they had hooked up again at a mutual friend's dinner party. Wine, good food and excellent conversation had all contributed to Miranda falling for Stephen all over again. She had once loved the boy, but in that moment all those years ago, she had fallen in love with the man he had become.

"Do you still love him?"

"It's over now." Miranda answered evasively.

She didn't really want to talk about Stephen, she had been enjoying herself, and for the first time in a long time she hadn't felt the oppressive weight he had thrown over her that day. Andrea's sheer presence had banished all thoughts of Stephen from her mind.

"I didn't ask that, I asked if you still love him." Andrea persisted.

"And I answered that it's over." Miranda stubbornly refused to be moved.

"Yeah yeah..." Andrea chuckled softly as she allowed Miranda not to answer.

Miranda looked away and stared off into the distance. She liked to tell herself that it was over, but the truth of the matter was that she was still pinning for what she had lost. Miranda knew that Nigel was right, she had to find some way to let go, and move on.

"I haven't been up there in almost three years." Miranda blurted.

"Three years?" Andrea asked, shocked.

Miranda sighed and nodded, "Yeah, I should at least go and lock the front door."

"Wait," Andrea said as she laid a hand on Miranda's arm to halt her progress. "You still own it?"

"Yeah." Miranda admitted, three years and she just couldn't bring herself to part with it.

"And it's been sitting empty for three whole years?" Andy asked disbelievingly.

Miranda dipped her head, "Yeah, I guess I have a problem with letting go."

"What's it like," Andrea asked, "I mean I saw the outside, but what is it like on the inside?"

Miranda took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She could still picture every detail as clear and crisp as when she had first put them down onto paper.

"Beautiful." Miranda sighed, "Its everything I have ever loved about design all rolled into one house. I mean it might not be to everyone's tastes, but it is what I have always dreamed of. I really let go and poured myself into that house."

Miranda opened her eyes and looked at Andrea, "it's very minimal, and open, polished granite floors, and it has a great floating staircase. Huge panoramic windows, I mean you can bathe and look out over the lake and see for miles around from any point in the house."

"Sounds wonderful." Andy breathed.

"It is, it truly is wonderful," Miranda admitted, "I don't use it but I just can't bring myself to sell it. It's like I'm stuck in limbo, stuck in that moment when my carefully laid plans just came crashing down around me, and every time I try to change I just can't, you know what I mean?"

"No." Andrea smiled.

"What?" Miranda said puzzled.

She didn't understand Andrea, one minute she thought she was getting to grips with her and the next she would throw her off balance.

"No, when I want to change I just do. I move town, or change my job, or change how I look, or who I am. Sometime I do the whole lot." Andrea laughed with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders.

Miranda found herself laughing along, "Why I am not surprised, my little Bulgarian friend."

"You know you can call me Andy, most people do." Andrea offered.

Miranda shook her head. She didn't like it, it didn't sound right. Andrea, sounded better, exotic, it sounded natural, but more importantly it rolled of her tongue. "I'm not most people."

"No, no you're not." Andrea agreed with a strange smile.

Miranda smiled back and then glanced upwards up. Her surprise was apparent as she found herself staring at the sign for The Sofia.

"Wait, were back at the restaurant?" Miranda frowned, puzzled.

Andy nodded with a smile and walked past Miranda, "Yep, I live in the apartment above the restaurant."

"Then why did we just walk around for two hours?" Miranda asked, annoyed and perplexed. "My shoes are ruined."

"You said you wanted to walk, so we walked." Andy shrugged, "Besides, I am sure you can afford a new pair of shoes."

Deciding not to argue the point Miranda started to search her bag again for her cell phone. After two minutes of fruitless searching Miranda came up empty, again. With a muttered curse she turned back to find Andy was standing in front of the restaurant side door smiling back at her.

"I can't find my cell." Miranda informed the smiling brunette.

Miranda watched as Andy placed her key in the lock of the restaurant side door.

"Did you leave it in the bar?" Andy asked as she glanced past Miranda towards the closed bar.

"No, I don't think so, the last time I had it was in the back of my car." Miranda sighed and rolled her eyes towards the heavens, "Do you mind if I come up to your apartment and call my driver or even a cab?"

"No, I don't mind."

The first thing Miranda noticed about the apartment was the fact that it was tiny. She doubted that she could fit the bathroom in her apartment in the first room. The tiny apartment contained three doors. One was the front door, the other led to a small bathroom, and another to a small bedroom.

Miranda watched as Andrea pulled of her coat and threw it on the bed that was situated in the living room come kitchen area.

"Do you live here alone?" Miranda asked as she continued to watch Andrea shed her clothing.

"No," Andrea said with a shake of her head, "I live with one of the other waitresses."

The folk dress soon followed the coat and so did Andreas's shoes. Miranda found herself staring as Andrea's flesh was revealed. Miranda felt her heart beat increase and her pulse rise.

"The other waitress? The one who was talking to you in The Sofia?" Miranda asked, as she turned her head away from Andrea, confused with her own reaction.

Andrea nodded, "yeah, Lily. It works out great because we save a bundle of sharing and Gavril gets to know that the apartment is looked after."

"Gavril?" Miranda asked as she glanced back to find all Andrea was wearing was an over sized white shirt.

"Yeah, the little man with the bleach blonde hair," Andrea held up her hand midway up her chest to indicate the man's height. "The man who interrupted, when I was talking to your friend."

"Nigel. Yes, I know who you mean." Miranda nodded, she remembered the man clearly.

"That's Gavril, he owns The Sofia." Andy informed Miranda.

"So what's your name?" Andrea suddenly asked.

"My name?" Miranda blinked dumbly.

"Yes, we have spent the last two hours together and you still haven't told me your name."

Miranda realised that Andrea was right. They had spent hours together talking about things she had never told anyone, and she hadn't even told her companion for the evening her name.

"It's Miranda. Miranda Priestly."

Miranda watched as Andrea pursed her lips and then frowned in thought. Her full lips twisted and then she gave her head a little shake. Miranda was wondering what Andrea was thinking about, and just as she was about to ask when Andrea spoke.

"No, I don't think I have ever met a Miranda before, what does it mean? Andrea means manly and virile, two components I don't think I particularly need. My Mother named me after Andrea Leeds, you know the actress from Stage Door? She loved that film when she was kid, and said that the name just spoke to her."

Miranda looked blank, "I have never seen Stage Door, but Miranda, it means worthy of admiration. I think my mother named me for Duke Prospero's daughter Miranda in the Tempest."

"Somehow I don't see you as being as naive as Shakespeare's Miranda. Then again she had her moments." Andrea laughed.

"You like Shakespeare?" Miranda asked with a quirk of her lips.

"I do." Andrea nodded with a smile, threw up her arms and spun in a tight circle. "Anyway, this is my apartment, do you mind if I change?"

Miranda shook her head; it wasn't like Andrea had much left on to change out of. "No, and it's nice."

"You don't have to lie." Andrea laughed as she disappeared into the small bathroom. "I know it's not much."

"I'm not, I like the way you have used the negative space." Miranda replied honestly, it wasn't anything special, but it was homely and well loved, which was more than could be said of her homes. Both of them.

"Thanks." Andrea's disembodied voice drifted out from the bathroom.

"So, your phone?" Miranda asked.

Miranda raised her eyebrows in question as Andrea's head appeared, and was quickly followed by her body clad in a loose white dressing gown. "I don't have one."

Miranda dragged her eyes away from Andrea's barely covered body and frowned, thinking she had misheard what the brunette had just said.

"What?" Miranda blinked in shock.

Miranda's eyes followed Andrea as she crossed the apartment and sat upon an old wooden chair in one corner of the room.

"We can't afford one," Andrea admitted brightly, "and Lily's never here and she's the only person I know in town, apart from her friend Doug. So I just didn't see the point."

Miranda held up her hand to halt Andrea's speech.

"You said I could come up and use your telephone to call my driver." Miranda replied flatly.

"You said that," Andrea said with a roll of her eyes, "but that's not why you really wanted to come up here."

Miranda frowned as Andrea ran her fingers through her hair.

"What are you talking about?" Miranda asked in obvious confusion.

Andy sighed as her lips curled into another dazzling smile, "You came up here because you want to sleep with me. You know that as well as I do Miranda."

Miranda felt her jaw drop open at the brunette's word. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing the other woman tell her. "What?"

"You want to sleep with me." Andrea shrugged and then stretched, pushing her chest out.

"I do?" Miranda asked as she found her eyes drawn to Andrea's pushed out breasts.

She quickly shook her head and looked away. She frowned as she considered what Andrea had said. She had never found herself attracted to another woman before, but Miranda had to admit there was something about Andrea that intrigued her. Miranda questioned herself; did she want to sleep with Andrea? Is that why she had followed her up to her apartment? Was that the real reason she hadn't quite wanted to leave her presence when she had found herself talking to the younger woman outside of the restaurant?

"Yes you do." Andrea nodded.

Miranda's eyes widened as a thought suddenly occurred to her.

"Wait a minute" Miranda paused, her heart thundering in her chest, "You said yes."

"I did." Andrea nodded as she stood.

Miranda swallowed instinctively as Andrea slowly made her way over to where she stood.

"I've never slept with a woman, so why would I want to start now?" Miranda asked as she licked her suddenly dry lips.

Andrea tilted her head, "There is a first time for everything."

Andrea smiled seductively as she stepped forward and started to peel Miranda's coat from her shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Miranda asked faintly as she stared at Andrea's long fingers as they started to quickly and efficiently unbutton her blouse. She couldn't quite believe this was happening, and more so she couldn't quite believe that she was allowing it to happen.

"Removing your clothes," Andy whispered as she gazed deeply into Miranda's eyes. "We can hardly sleep together, if you're fully dressed."

"No, I don't suppose we can." Miranda whispered as she gave in, dropped her bag upon the apartment floor and allowed Andrea to claim her lips in a searing kiss.

Andy stretched and smiled as she slowly came back into the waking world. Her night had turned out to be quite interesting. When she had awoken that morning, she hadn't thought that she would end up in bed with an architect. She had never thought that she would sleep with an architect period, but then since she was seventeen, Andy had learnt that life was always throwing you surprises.

Breathing deeply Andy hummed at the scent of Miranda and their late night activities seared a path up her nostrils.

Miranda. Andy had been drawn to her the minute she had laid eyes on her. She was a striking figure, in her tailored designer suit and her perfectly coiffed platinum hair, and her eyes. Andrea moaned as she recalled the way her blue eyes darkened when she was aroused.

Andy stretched again and allowed her smile to grow as she muttered the word morning and then rolled over. Andy's arm moved through the air and to her horror continued to move through thin air and impacted with the cold mattress beneath her.

Pulled herself upright Andy clutched the sheets to her breast and looked around her apartment. The window was partially open and sunlight was streaming though. Andy looked down at the space Miranda had occupied and sighed.

Flopping backwards Andy threw her hands over head. She couldn't believe that the other woman had just up and left; she hadn't even had the decency to tell her she was leaving. It wasn't like she hadn't enjoyed herself. Andy smiled to herself as she recalled how she had made the older woman scream her name, over and over.

Rolling over Andy allowed her arm to flop listlessly over the side of her bed. As her hand dangled Andy felt her fingertips brush against something soft. Peeking over the edge Andy stared at the square of crumpled paper lying upon the floor.

Andy used her fingertips to snag the crumpled paper napkin.

Andy instantly recognised what it was. It was Miranda's dream house, the one she had built for her lover, the man named Stephen. The house that had subsequently spelled the end for Miranda's and Stephen's relationship. Andy didn't understand how anyone would turn down such a house.

As she stared at the black line drawing Andy couldn't help the smile from spreading over her face as an idea suddenly occurred to her.

Andy's eyes flew open as the coach she was travelling came to a jerky halt. A rumble and then a thud reverberated throughout the bus and was followed by a sharp shout.

"Dobbs Mill, watch your step getting off."

Andy coughed and quickly jumped to her feet, grabbing her heavy bag as she did so.

"Oh that's my stop, wait." Andy called out as she stumbled down the centre of the coach, apologising to the other passenger's and she bumped and jostled them on her way.

"Thanks."Andy said as she gave the driver a grateful smile and then bounced down the steps with her holdall.

"No problem lady."

As Andy hopped of the last step of the coach she gained her first view of Miranda's home town of Dobbs Mill.

When the other woman had said picturesque she hadn't been kidding. It was a picture perfect little town.

Andy allowed her eyes to slowly roam as she took in the surrounding area. A small duck pond sat in the middle of the town surrounded by small grass hills crisscrossed with gravel paths. The town hall to the right, the church with its towering steeple was situated directly in front of her. Rows of small shops lined the left and children sat feeding the ducks while their doting mothers and grandparents watch on. Dog walkers and cyclists waved to each other as they passed by.

Andy couldn't help but smile as she turned around and tried to absorb the place in which Miranda had grown up. Why she had left was a mystery to Andy, this was the quintessential American dream.

Picking up her bag Andy slowly started to make her way through the town.

As she walked Andy marvelled at the perfection she suddenly found herself in. When she had decided that morning she would come here, she hadn't quite prepared herself for what she was doing. Like most things in her life it had been a spur of the moment decision.

Shaking her head Andy smiled and moved on as a man mowing his lawn smiled at her and wished her a good day.

After an hour or so of walking Andy found herself in the outskirts of the town. She had looked everywhere for the house on the napkin.

"Where the hell is this place?" Andrea muttered as spun around.

Dropping her holdall Andy sighed and ran the back of her hand over her damp forehead. They day was getting hotter and Andy didn't have a clue where she was. Andy shook her head; she knew she should have asked someone directions. Only fear of questions had stopped her, and some false sense of direction.

About to give up Andy looked back towards town. As she turned a flash of white through the trees caught her attention. Andy frowned picked up her bag and quickly crossed the road and made her way through the trees.

Looking down at the napkin Andy smiled, she could hardly believe her luck.

There it was.

Andy huffed as she walked up the gravel drive way. It was truly huge, at least five meters wide and seemed to go on for miles.

Andy couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from the house that Miranda had built. It was everything the older woman said it was and more. The tiny picture on the napkin had captured her imagination, but the house itself blew it apart. The grey white concrete building sat imposingly upon a hill of green surrounded by trees.

Andy shook her head as she contemplated the fact that Mirada didn't live here. She could understand why she didn't, but it was surly crime to leave such an imposing structure to decay.

It had sat empty for three years, and as she gazed around the immediate area that fact was obviously apparent. The garden was a mess, the grassy hills and surrounding land was severely over grown. Andy didn't think that grass had been mowed for years. The once immaculately laid borders that ran alongside the drive way were covered in weeds. The beautiful plants that had once sat proudly in the soil had either died or struggled for life amongst the wild flowers and weeds.

With a sad sigh Andy looked back up at the house. As she stared at the exterior Andy knew one thing about Miranda's ex- lover. He was a fool.

Andy eventually came to a halt at the path that led up to the house. Concrete slabs spotted with moss made a curving path up a small incline and led to a set of steps.

Andy bit her lip as a sense of excitement filled her breast. She knew what she was going to do was technically wrong, but then so was leaving the apartment of a woman you have slept with, without so much as a farewell, or even a thank you.

As Andy placed her first foot upon the path she pumped her fist and dashed up the path.

When she reached the top of the staircase Andy stared at the wood door. Stepping forward Andy wrapped her hand around the door handle and pushed downwards. To her pleasure Andy found that Miranda had been telling the truth when she had said that the door was unlocked.

She knew she shouldn't be shocked; Dobbs Mill was the kind of place that people didn't lock their doors. Like Miranda had said, everyone grew up together and everyone knew each other's names.

Dropping her bag on the thresh hold Andy pushed the door open.

Looking down Andy smiled as her shoes clicked upon the dark grey granite floor that ran the full length of the room. Glass and concrete dominated her first view. Light streamed in through the window to her left and bathed the entrance hall in a golden haze.

Andy smile grew as she stepped forward and noticed the floating staircase Miranda had described.

Andy felt her breath hitch as she walked around the lower floor. The space was empty, but the size of the room was unbelievable. Two huge sliding doors dominated the right hand wall. With a smaller picture window was situated under the staircase. A white and grey kitchen sat at the far end of the house, accompanied by a pantry and laundry room.

As she wandered back towards the front of the house Andy found herself walking up the staircase, her wonder at Miranda's brilliance growing with each room she entered.

She looked at each bedroom in turn. All four sat said by side in an L shape. The Master bedroom was naturally the most impressive of them all. From the exterior the master bedroom was the most impressive feature of the house. It jutted out from the rest of the house and was a different colour, unlike the grey white concrete the master bedroom was covered in grey metal panels. As she wandered around Andy came to a halt by the window that dominated the room. She looked down with a smile, the whole room gave you the sense that you were floating in mid air.

The en suite bathroom Andy found was exactly like Miranda had described. A huge granite tub sat imposingly in the centre of the room. A long panoramic window encompassed one entire wall, giving the bather, or bathers the most wonderful view of the lake and surrounding countryside.

Laughing Andy pressed her head to the glass of the window and sent a silent thank you to Miranda Priestly, for building this house, and more importantly for coming into her life.

Andy glanced at the sandwich board as she pushed opened the red door that led to the grocery store. Bold yellow letters announced that she was entering Travis's general store.

Walking around Andy suddenly realised how hungry she was. She hadn't eaten since ten that morning, and then all it had been was a stale croissant and a cup of lukewarm coffee she had bought at a stall near the bus station.

Stopping at the end of one of the aisles Andy found her attention drawn to the back of the store. An elderly man wearing a gingham shirt, a blue apron and small round glasses was boldly announcing the names of the food stuffs placed upon his counter.

In front of him stood a woman. Her freshly curled white hair bounced on her shoulders as she nodded with each announcement the man made.

"Right Hazel that will be fourteen dollars." The man told the woman as he picked up a brown paper bag, shook it out and started to place the items she had purchased inside.

"That's fine Travis," the woman said with another sharp nod. "Just put it all on my account."

"Will do Hazel." The man called Travis smiled as he handed the woman her groceries.

"Take care now Travis." Hazel said as she clutched her groceries to her chest and spun on her heel.

"You too."

Andy flashed the woman named Hazel as smile as she made her way from the store. Grabbing a jar of jelly Andy suddenly had an idea.

The groceries sat piled high on the counter. Like when she had first walked into the store Andy watched as Travis announced the names of the food she had picked out.

"Right young lady," Travis said with a small smile, "You're looking at forty five dollars and twenty five cents."

Andy nodded and then smiled sweetly, "Put that on the Miranda Priestly account for me."

Andy bit her lip as she watched a look of shock and then confusion pass over the face of the elderly gentleman in front of her. "Excuse me?"

"Miranda Priestly, Lakeview House." Andy said with as much confidence as she could muster.

"Yeah," Travis nodded slowly, "I know Miranda, but I'm afraid she doesn't have an account here."

Andy silently cursed Miranda; she couldn't believe her bad luck. Thinking quickly Andy snapped her fingers and tilted her head to one side.

"Your Travis right?" Andy smiled brightly.

"Yeah, and you are?" Travis asked.

"You know she told me all about you." Andy laughed.

"She did?" Travis frowned.

"Yeah, and this store, it's great, God it takes me back. You know my Grandpa had a store just like this in a little town in Ohio." Andy said as she gave her head a small shake.

"Oh right, what's your relation to Miranda?" Travis asked with a bemused smile.

"Oh well, erm..." Andy swallowed hard and allowed her eyes to roam around the store as she found herself rambling. "It just happened so fast. I didn't even know what was going on at the time, one minute we are friends and the next... bam."

Andy inwardly cringed at the word she had just used.

"Bam?" Travis echoed.

Andy nodded her head slowly, "yeah, I'm just here sorting out the house, she doesn't even know that I'm here, she would be furious if she knew, you know what a control freak Miranda is."

"Yeah I sure do, gets it from that Mother of hers." Travis laughed.

"She thinks I'm visiting my sister in Toledo," Andy said as she pressed a finger to her lips. "She told me all about this great town she grew up in, all about everyone who lives here, and the fabulous house she built..." Andy laughed and turned her head. She couldn't help the grimace that flashed across her face as she desperately searched for an away to climb out of the hole she was digging herself.

"Well, and the truth is I'm her wife." Andy blurted.

Andy closed her eyes and internally screamed at herself. She opened her eyes and met Travis's shocked gaze.

"What?" Travis breathed.

"Yeah." Andy nodded.

"You're hitched to Miranda Priestly?" Travis said as her pointed towards Andy.

Andy forced her lips to turn and shook her head. "Yeah, isn't it great."

"Miranda Priestly's a lesbian?" Travis asked disbelievingly.

"Yeah, hardly believe it myself." Andy laughed gently. She knew that if Miranda ever found out about this, there would be hell to pay.

Andy gave a small wave to Travis and then released a deep breath as the door to the general store closed behind her. Wincing internally Andy wondered what the hell she had been thinking when she had announced to the store owner that she was married to Miranda priestly. Berating herself, Andy knew she hadn't been thinking that was the problem. She had just said the first thing that popped into her head. It was a small town, she had no doubt that in a few hours everyone within a half mile radius of the town would know, who she was and that she had corrupted Miranda Priestly.

"Excuse me." a deep voice called out to halt Andy's progress.

"Yeah?" Andy said as she turned and met the eyes of a tall greying man.

He was dressed in light chinos, loafers and a blue and white striped shirt. A purple Pringle jumper was tied in a knot by the arms and was hung over his shoulders.

Andy raised her eyebrows in question when the man didn't speak. "Can I help you?"

His blue eyes shone with confusion as he gently ran his fingers through his hair.

"I was just in the store and I couldn't help over hearing what you said to Travis." The man said as he looked back at the store.

Andy swallowed and then quickly smiled. She knew there was no way out of this situation now; she just had to go along with what she had said.

"Oh about me and Miranda." Andy said as she laughed softly.

"Yeah, your married to Miranda Priestly?" the man asked as a small frown marred his brow.

"Yeah," Andy breathed as she moved her had up and down, "I know it might be hard to believe, but it's true."

The man pursed his lips and then suddenly extended his hand. "I'm Stephen."

"Stephen?" Andy echoed dumbly as she took the hand and gave it a small squeeze.

"Forde."

"Oh Stephen, Miranda told me all about you, I'm so pleased to meet you, I'm Andy did she tell you about me?" Andy asked knowing full well that it was imposable.

"No," Stephen said with a shake of his head, "I haven't spoken to Miranda, since, well you know. I certainly didn't know she was married or that she was... gay."

Andy nodded her head as she pretended to understand Stephen's plight.

"Well we haven't really told anyone yet." Andy lied again.

"Sounds like Miranda. How is she?" Stephen asked quietly.

"Oh she great, such a wonderful person." Andy gushed as she laid it on thick. "I mean nowadays it's hard to even tell if someone is going to be there when you wake up."

"So you're living in... the house?" Stephen asked with a nervous laugh.

"Starting to. We are just moving back, well I say we. Miranda is working, so I have come ahead to get everything shipshape for a time when she has a moment to come down."

"Yeah it looks like it." Stephen smiled as he looked down the brown paper back Andy was clutching to her chest.

"Well a girl has got to eat," Andy laughed, "I just have to get something to cook this stuff in and something to eat it off."

Stephen turned and pointed to a little building directly across the road.

"The hardware store is just over the road. Why don't I introduce you?" Stephen offered.

Seeing no way to refuse Andy forced herself to smile, "That would be great."

Dobbs mill hardware store was a small grey building that was laid out in exactly the same was as Travis's grocery store.

Andy stood mutely as the small stout woman called May Harper placed item after item upon the counter and then turned with a smile.

"You know I don't have the cash on me for all this stuff." Andy confessed with a nervous laugh.

"Oh nonsense dear, I'll just make you up an account." The woman offered with another smile.

"Really?"

"Of course," May said, "you just congratulate Miranda, she was always a sly one that girl. I just can't believe she has gone all these years without telling a single soul she is gay. You know we are all accepting in this town."

Andy glanced left and noticed the wince that overtook Stephen's face at May's words. He looked down at his watch and suddenly clicked his fingers.

"Oh would you look at the time, I have to run Andy." Stephen smiled.

"Really?" Andy asked with fake look of disappointment, even though she couldn't wait to get rid of him.

As she looked him over Andy didn't see what Miranda had seen in him. There was something about him that just wasn't right.

"Yeah sorry." Stephen shrugged.

Andy waved of his apology, "Oh its fine, it was nice to meet you Stephen."

"And you to Andy, we will have to get together for lunch sometime."

"Sounds great." Andy nodded; even though she would rather pull her own teeth out.

"Looks like your marriage is off to a good start, I'm happy for Miranda." Stephen said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I know, she's so great. I can hardly believe my luck. It's like I have died and gone to heaven."

Walking down Hardman Street Andy came to a halt at the kerb and looked left and then right. The road was empty and Andy weighted down with bags started to cross the road.

No sooner had she stepped foot in the road then Andy heard a car horn blearing. Looking up Andy felt her jaw drop as an old convertible Mercedes Benz stopped inches from her leg. Squinting though the dust that the car had thrown up, Andy could just make out the shape of a woman.

The door to the car opened and Andy watched as one black leather stiletto was quickly followed by another. As the door shut Andy's eyes tracked up the woman's body and over a black pencil skirt and tight white blouse. A silk scarf covered her white hair and Andy's eyes wandered to the woman's face. She was older than her body would lead you believe, Andy put her age around seventy.

"Are you ok?" the woman asked as she slipped a huge pair of sunglasses off her face

"Yeah I'm fine." Andy told the old woman as she picked up the bags she had left fall to the ground.

The woman looked remarkably familiar and Andy couldn't quite shake the feeling that they had met before.

"Good." The woman said, "Would you like a ride? It's the least I can do considering I nearly killed you."

"Oh you don't have to..." Andy started to say

"Nonsense." The woman held up her hands and moved around to the back or her car. "Come on put all that in the trunk."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

With a small nod Andy did what the woman said and then climbed into the car.

The old woman turned the key in the engine and then turned to Andy with a smile.

"Now where did you say you lived?"

"Lakeview House."

For the second time that day Andy watched as the mention of Miranda's house caused a jaw to drop.

"What did you say?" the woman asked, her voice rising.

"Lakeview house, you know that fabulous house Miranda Priestly built. I'm just here getting everything in order because we have decided to move back." Andy smiled sweetly and then offered her hand to the stunned older woman. "I'm Andy, I'm her wife."

The other woman took her hand and gave it a sharp shake, "I'm Charlotte, I'm her Mother."

Andy felt her eyebrow's crawl up her forehead, now she knew why Charlotte looked familiar. Looking at the heavens Andy knew her day couldn't possibly get any worse.