Title: Avec L'amour, De Paris
Author: Haley
Pairing: Mirandy
Rating: PG- 13

Summary: After walking away in Paris, Andrea keeps walking away. She finds a life away from everything she's ever known. Completely vanishing from the lives of those who once knew her...

Disclaimer: If you don't recognize a character... chances are I own them. :p I own NOTHING related to MTV nor the other ceremonies mentioned... I also do not own any of these songs.

A/N: This one is for you Jess! Hope you like it! :-)



Chapter 6:

Andrea stared into the open door of the townhouse her heart pounding so hard in her chest it hurt. She felt someone tug on her arm and looked down into Caroline's smiling eyes. She exhaled and smiled back slightly as she moved into the house. The hall was empty and it relieved her and shot her nerves all to hell. She followed the girls down to a room off to the side. The sitting room was dark except for one area lit by a small table lamp. She stood off in the shadows watching the twins talk in whispered voices on the floor around the light. She felt the shift in the air, goosebumps appeared on her skin, the little hairs on her skin stood and she looked up and at Miranda. Her legs felt like they weighed a ton, her arms were like lead at her sides and she was trying to remember to breathe.

She watched Miranda look her way but she knew the woman couldn't see her face with her hidden by shadows. When Miranda's eyes moved to Angelina and then her children she cleared her throat. Caroline and Cassidy both looked up and smiled at their mother. She returned the smiled and the girls jumped up to hug her. Andy smiled as she watched Miranda with her children, this was the woman she'd somehow fallen in love with over the year she was by her side at Runway. She noticed both Caroline and Cassidy look her way, it was Cassidy that spoke, "Nykhol come meet our mother."

Andy inhaled deeply and watched as Angelina turned around to look her way capturing Miranda's attention in the process. She heard the sharp intake of breath and noticed it wasn't from her and her eyes shot to Miranda. The woman stood eyes wide before she composed herself, "Y-you look..." she stopped. So un-Miranda like Andy found herself thinking. Before she could move her sister spoke, "My name is Angelina, a pleasure to meet you. I am Nykhol's manager. You would be Ms. Priestly, Caroline and Cassidy's mother, correct?" her voice was steady and business like as if she didn't notice the response from the older woman.

Angelina's eyes slid to hers quickly and she knew her sister would take care of things while she tried to figure out what the hell her body was doing. She watch as Angelina pointed to one of the arm chairs and addressed Miranda again, "Do you mind if we sit for a moment. Nykhol needs a minute. I know you are a busy woman and you do not like to be held waiting, however when you meet her I am certain you will understand."

Miranda looked at the woman in front of her for a few long and silent moments before nodding slightly. Caroline and Cassidy stared at their mother and Angelina then turned and stared at each other.

Andy stood in the shadows for a moment longer and then moved to turn on the room lights with her back to Miranda and the girls. She heard movement and then felt Angelina approaching her. She glanced at her sister and smiled wearily. Angelina took her hand and gave it a squeeze and smiled at her. She smiled a little and kissed her sister before turning around and meeting Miranda's eyes. She watched all the emotions fly through the woman's eyes, the one place Miranda could never hide from her. She felt her heart rate increase rapidly, her lungs seemed restricted, her blood seemed to race through her veins over heating her skin. She just watched her, this woman who'd turned her life over on itself, this woman who help change her from the young naive girl she was into the career-minded woman she was today. The same woman who stole her heart right from within her chest without her knowing, the woman she had fallen in love with, this woman who didn't care about her at all. She was thrilled to be near her again and yet she felt scared, panicked, anxious, even sick and she couldn't get away fast enough.

"Andrea" Miranda said her voice was low, soft and it caressed Andrea when it reached her. Her body came alive at the sound of the older woman's voice. It was as if she'd breathe new life into her and she could finally truly breathe again. She moved forward slowly and stood a few feet away from Miranda. She watched the woman's eyes rake over her and the instantaneous heat that followed caused her breath to catch. She was still wearing her sweat pants and hoodie from rehearsal but from the way those blue eyes slowly climbed her body, she would have thought she was in some state undressed. When she looked down she noticed her jacket had come mostly unzipped and her black sports bra and stomach were on display. Her eyes shot to Miranda and she watched the fire dance in her eyes before the walls went up quickly and she was staring into cold eyes full of anger, resentment, something she couldn't name, and a small amount of hurt. She stared at Miranda letting her own emotions flow from her eyes. She let her see the hurt, the confusion, the pain, the resentment, and the longing she felt. Andy stood there unsure of what she should do or what she should say until she knew how Miranda would react to her being there. After that she could decide what to do as far as Miranda Priestly is concerned.

Caroline's voice broke the rising tension in the room, "Andrea? Who...what? Mom... are you ok?" she asked moving to Miranda's side.

Andrea stood back and watched Miranda blink and look at her daughter, "Who did you say she was sweetie?" Miranda asked her voice barely audible to Andrea.

"Nykhol, the French actress I'm always talking about! She sings too, remember that song I was singing when we were coming from the train? She is the one that sings the song. She is here for the awards and then she leaves for some other appearances before she's back here." Caroline exclaimed the excitement showing in her voice.

Andrea looked at her and smiled a soft smile before looking at Miranda again, "Hey Cass, you know that talk we had about the talk we need to have?" she asked looking at the young redhead standing near the doorway.

"Yes. We came to ask mom for permission to go to your house. Why? Are you ok Nykhol?" Cassidy asked moving to stand next to her.

Andy smiled and nodded, "It's time for that conversation."

"Now?" Cassidy asked softly.

"Now." Angelina stated looking over at her.

"Now." nodding Andy said in unison with her twin.

Andrea sat across from the three Priestly women with Angelina next to her staring at her shaking hands. She took a deep breath and clasped her hands together before raising her eyes to look at them. She looked from the two curious and anxious teenagers to their mother sitting between them. Miranda's expression was unreadable, her body was still, not giving anything away, her eyes were glacial, and her lips pursed slightly. Andrea exhaled loudly and shifted on the sofa before closing her eyes and regaining her composure. When she opened her eyes she felt more like herself and less like who she was years ago.

"Cassidy, I owe you an explanation, so here it is..." she locked eyes with Cassidy and smiled softly, "A little over three years ago, I worked for your mother." she glanced at Miranda for a moment then looked over at Caroline who gasped. "I know, its a shocker right? Its true, I was second assistant under Emily." she watched the girls as they both sat and thought over what she said. When she shifted her eyes she detected movement coming from Miranda and looked at her. The older woman was staring at her with a look that tore through Andy's very soul. She felt tears gather in her eyes and blinked rapidly forcing herself to look away.

When she opened her eyes Cassidy was staring at her while Caroline stared at the space above her head. Andy sighed, "Think Harry Potter girls." she heard twin gasps and watched as shock appeared on both faces.

She nodded, "Yeah... that was me. So I knew you before today."

"When did you get fired?" Cassidy asked.

"What did you do?" Caroline asked.

Andrea shook her head and chuckled softly, "I'll tell you as I explain to your mother." she said turning back to Miranda with pleading eyes.

When she detected the slight nod of the snow colored head she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "When I went to Paris with your mom years ago, I ended up leaving. Before we get to that however I have to explain my state of mind at the time." she waited for confirmation to go on. Once all three nodded she stood and moved to stand near the fireplace and stared into the fire.

"The time leading up to fashion week was hectic, both at work and at home. My boyfriend at the time hated everything to do with who I was, my friends hated everything to do with Runway and my new life, my parents..." she paused and hugged herself looking over at Angelina. Her sister walked over and wrapped her arms around her. She inhaled then continued, "My parents hated what I'd turned into, my mother yelled at me for the first time in my life. She went on about how my job was killing her child and in her place was a heartless bitch that she wanted nothing to do with. The night of the girl's recital and the hurricane... my dad had decided I needed a different job... that conversation led to the initial disintegration of our relationship. When I told him that I was going to Paris for fashion week he lost it. I only talked to them once after that... while I was in France... my mother's statement was that she had one daughter and I was not her... she hung up on me. My bestfriend since I was 3 turned his back on me just days before. One of my closest friends since high school called me an ungrateful backstabbing sl- anyway... I was messed up. My emotional and mental states.... were deteriorating. My life was falling apart around me not to mention I'd just taken Emily's dream right out from under her. All because..." she stopped and walked away from Angelina and turned her back to everyone in the room.

After a few moments she spoke again her voice barely higher than a whisper, "Everything about fashion week was beautiful. The shows were extraodinary... something I'd never even dreamed of ever witnessing, it was amazing. Still... I felt horrible inside... I was so confused about... everything... I felt so out of control and I just didn't know what to do." she turned and looked at everyone watching her. For the first time since she was 10 she felt the weight of each pair of eyes on her. She remembered the last time she had this feeling. She was about to perform in the school talent show with Angelina their 2nd grade year, it was the last time she'd experienced it and the first time heard the term, stage fright. She closed her eyes and took a few even breaths.

"When I found out that morning that Irv was after Miranda's job I had to warn her." she turned and looked at Miranda a small smile on her lips, "You ignored me, hung up the phone on me, snapped at me, closed a door in my face and asked me about freesias. I was waiting for everything to just fall apart. Nigel was excited about that night, about his move to James Holt International, then his world came to a halt. I think I stopped breathing for a minute there. Then he spoke... he sounded so defeated... I felt so bad for him... but he hoped for the best. He knew you would pay him back. I should have just let it go. I did later... by then... it was too late..." she closed her eyes as tears began to form she swallowed and walked away.

She felt Angelina wrap her arms around her and turned into her sister's embraced. She continued swallowing back the tears and trembled against the pain. She breathed deeply and let herself relax into her sister. When she felt she could move again she move back and looked at Angelina and smiled weakly. "I love you." she whispered.

Angelina smiled at her and she felt warmth and comfort knowing her sister would always be there for her. She moved futher out of the embrace and took her sister's hand and moved back to the sofa where she sat with Angelina. "Sorry... The conversation that night in the car shattered what was left of me. I seriously felt as if my life stopped. I couldn't figure out where it happened, what  exactly happened... I just... realized I didn't know who I was anymore. I felt like my life was no longer in my control. I had to get away... I had to figure out what was going on with me before I completely just lost myself. For about half an hour I just walked. Thinking over everything and nothing. It was a surreal experience. So... yeah, I walked back to the room packed my things... search for a place to hide... I left that night. I was scared... terrified even. I felt like I was dying... my heart was broken..." she looked up and locked eyes with Miranda, willing her to understand. "I had slowly lost my mind..."

Looking away she continued softly, "I didn't have anyone to talk to... I was alone. Angelina had told me ahead of time that she would be out of contact range for a few days... my parents wanted nothing to do with me... my friends hated me... my ex was probably cursing my name. I laid in the hotel room and cried for two days. After that I was done crying. I called Angelina and told her I'd left Runway and was still in France. She asked me what I was going to do... I laughed... told her I'd let her know when I knew. I went out that night, just to get away... you know? I was in this one place and they were doing karaoke... I decided to just do it... I remembered doing it when I was younger with my friends. So I did a song I knew from one of Angelina's cds. They loved it. I had fun and decided I'd go back once I figured out what I was going to do. I got online and downloaded some programs to help with my french." Andy chuckled and pulled her hair out of its ponytail.

Running her fingers through her hair she sighed, "I went back and found out they needed a bartender, I asked and was hired. I would sing for them every night. The owner would let me keep any money they gave me for singing. I loved going to work again... Loved spending time just letting the music take over me. I was asked if I would consider singing at nights for the patrons at a steady rate plus tips and a few benefits. I agreed. That's where Angelina found me a month after I walked away from my life. No one knew Andy or Andrea... they only knew Nykhol." she stopped and looked at everyone around her, "That's what happened over three years ago in Paris, why I walked away and a little of what happened after."

Angelina rubbed her back comfortingly and Andy sighed and leaned into her sister. She felt raw, exposed. She'd given Miranda something no one other than Angelina and she had. Miranda could change her entire life and career with the information she held. No one knew who she was outside of her career and that's how she wanted it to stay. She knew it would eventually make it out. Someone, somewhere would out her so to speak. She knows it's inevitable, but she hopes. Andy looked up at Miranda and her girls and waited to hear what they had to say. She was nervous, even more so than when she'd first arrived.

Cassidy moved over to her and just stared at her for awhile before she spoke, "You seem like a really nice person, even back then when we gave you hell and you had absolutely no reason to be nice to us you were. I am glad that you are safe Nyk- Andy." Cassidy hugged her and whispered in Andy's ear, "I would really like to still have dinner if mom says its ok."

When they seperated Andy nodded slightly and looked over at the last two Priestly women. She caught Miranda's eye and felt herself drawn to the woman. The tension between them that pulsated and continued growing rapidly. She took a slow breath and then swallowed before speaking soft but clear and with conviction, "I'm sorry Miranda, I was very wrong to leave the way I did, it was unprofessional, and not very kind... but I had to... it was... literally... my life or death." she said ending with a barely audible whisper.