Andy's quietly reviewing her questions as she sits and waits for her name to be called.  She hasn't stepped foot in an abortion clinic in eight years, since accompanying a friend to an appointment during her sophomore year at Northwestern.  She's here to interview the director on the subject of the on-going health care debate.  This is just one in a series of interviews she's conducting that focus on the role of the consumer, insurance company, as well as the physician in the industry. She's deep in thought when someone takes the seat next to her, slightly nudging her as they sit down down, thus breaking her concentration.  Andy looks up and takes in the profile of the young redhead sitting next to her.  She's dressed stylishly as if she'd stepped right out of Runway magazine in a pair of fitted charcoal trousers with a fuschia colored Donna Karan blouse.  It's sleeveless with a deep v neckline.  Chestnut eyes fall to the Jimmy Choo slingbacks covering her feet, and Andy nearly moans. They're to die for.  Who could blame her for staring?

"Excuse me," a snarl cuts through her musing. Removing her Gucci sunglasses, "Must you continue gawking at me as if I'm some erotic exhibit at The Venus Temple." She scoffs indignantly. "It's unbecoming for a woman of your age."

Shaking her head.  "I...I'm sorry."  She looks into familiar blue eyes and her doe-like orbs widen in recognition, "Holy shit. Cassidy."

She slams her hand over Andy's full lips, "It's Caroline. And would you keep your voice down for fuck's sake."

"Oh my god. What are you...like fifteen... sixteen years old by now?" Caroline Priestly is the last person she expected to run into here.  Six years have passed since she left Miranda on that gloomy day in Paris.

"Seventeen," she hisses. Looking at the reporter with curiosity, "And who are you?"

Andy extends her hand, which Caroline doesn't accept. "I'm Andy Sachs. I used to work for your Mom."  When the redhead continues to look at her as if she's speaking Latin, she adds, "I'm the one who got you guys the Harry Potter manuscripts."

"Oh..." she sighs. "So you're the one who got away. What are you up to now?"

"I'm a reporter." Caroline's piercing blue eyes widen in fear, and Andy dismisses her with a wave.  "Don't worry I'm in no rush to run this story."

She nibbles down on her bottom lip in a nervous manner, "You…you're not going to say anything to Mom are you?"

 Andy's breath catches. "What?! Mi...Miranda doesn't know." The room starts to spin, and she feels as if she about to pass out.  Then she takes a moment to think it over and comes to her senses. Of course Miranda doesn't know. Why else would Caroline be in some dingy clinic located in Brooklyn, instead of some posh place in Manhattan. "This is ridiculous." Gathering up her notes, "Caroline we have to go."

"No way. I can't afford to wait any longer," she replies, continuing to sit there defiantly.

The impatient journalist leans forward, so close that their noses nearly touch.  "Get your ass out of that chair now, before somebody recognizes you," she hisses.  Andy slings her satchel over her shoulder, and approaches the receptionist with Caroline following closely behind her. "Hey...Uhm I'm Andy Sachs from The Mirror...I had a 1:30 appointment scheduled with Dr. Sullivan. Would you please notify her that something has come up, and that I will call her to reschedule another interview." 

Without looking up from the computer screen, she responds in boredom, "Sure.  I'll let her know."

Andy just shakes her head and leaves.

They walk down the steps of the clinic together. "I'm hungry." Holding out her hand to hail a taxi, "Would you like to grab a bite to eat?"

Caroline shrugs. "Sure. But no seafood." She exhales a deep breath. "Seafood makes me nauseous."

Holding the door open to the cab for Caroline to climb in, Andy says with a wry smile, "I'm sure I can think of something." 

*****

Caroline and Andy are sitting in the journalist's living room eating lunch. Her Midtown apartment is a far cry from the dump she shared with Nate, but not much in comparison to the luxury that Miranda can afford.  Sabrina, Andy's favorite movie, is playing on the flat screen. It almost feels like hanging out with an old friend in a bizarre sort of way.  The journalist isn't sure what to say, so she sits quietly watching the movie, waiting for Caroline to talk.  During the entire time Andy was preparing the meal she barely uttered a single word, preferring to sit quietly and watch  as the brunette babbled on and on about the failures in the health care system. She's twenty-nine and has went through a pregnancy scare a time or two over the years, and can only imagine the amount of pressure that's weighing on her at this moment.

Caroline finally decides to break the silence.  Pointing her fork in the direction of the Chicken Parmigiana, "Hey...this is pretty good."

"Thanks. My ex-boyfriend was a chef." Twirling her pasta, "He skipped town, but his cooking lessons stuck with me." 

She looks off into the distance, looking a million miles away and out of nowhere Caroline starts sobbing uncontrollably. “Oh God…I can’t…believe this is happening to me.”

Andy sits her plate on the coffee table, and takes the redhead into her arms.  "Sshh...Try to calm down, Carol."

Caroline rests her head against Andy shoulder and relaxes in her arms.  "This is so fucked up."

"Yes it is." Slowly drawing circles in her back with her index finger, she asks, "Do you want to talk about it?"

She's not sure why, but she trusts Andy and could use a friend.  "Two weeks ago I found out..." The brunette listens as Caroline tells her the story of how she naively fell for the charms of Jacob Hawthorne, the son of Jeremy Hawthorne, the chairman of the NY Fed.  He reacted like the typical immature teenager and freaked out once she told him of the pregnancy, demanding that she, 'Get rid of it.’ Which is apparently what Caroline intended to do when Andy ran into her at the clinic. The journalist continues to hold her tightly until the tears subside and her breathing evens out.  "My mother's going to kill me."

Stroking her fingers through crimson tresses, "Miranda loves you.  I'm sure she'll be disappointed, but she'll survive." She tries her best to sound confident, but her voice wavers with uncertainty. 

Caroline sits back and looks into warm chestnut colored eyes, "You don't understand... After you...Look. She's different now. She won't be okay with this."

Andy reaches out and grabs a hold of Caroline's hands. "I know she can be harsh, but she's your mother and she'll do anything for you.  You have to tell her the truth." She’s not surprised that Miranda’s in the dark.  Her daughter’s two months pregnant and she hasn’t the slightest clue.  She’s aloof by nature, and her work schedule doesn’t leave much room for anything outside of Runway. 

Caroline shrugs. “I’ll think about it.”

Gently rubbing her thumbs across the backs of her hands, “If you want…I…I’ll be there with you…when you tell her.” 

“I’d like that very much, Andy.”

She stands up and pulls Caroline to her feet. “I have a couple of articles to proof before I send them in." Leading her towards the back to the bedroom,  I’m sure you could use a nap.  I’ll come wake you when I’m finish.”

She removes her shoes and climbs in the bed. “You have no idea. I haven’t slept in days.”

Andy covers Caroline with the duvet.  “I know this may be easier said than done, but try not to think of this as the worst thing to happen to you.” She leans down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Get some rest, Caroline.”

 “I see why Mom liked you.”

 “Huh.”

 “Mom,” she yawns in exhaustion. “I think you were her favorite.”

Andy looks at her with disbelief. “I have a hard time believing that. I really wasn’t that good of an assistant.” Ruffling her bangs, “And things didn’t end on the best terms either.”

 “You must have done something right.”

 “I guess so.” Pushing herself off the bed, "Try not to worry so much."

She shuts the door and heads for her study. 

"Yea...Yea," Caroline groans after her.

*****

Andy has a lot of progress to make up, if she doesn’t intend on spending the weekend stuck in her apartment. Three hours later she puts the finishing touches on her articles and e-mails them to her editor.  She’s almost certain it’s not her best writing, but it’s difficult to focus when you have the pregnant daughter of Miranda Priestly lying in your bed unbeknownst to said former boss.  After clearing out her inbox and calling Lily to notify her that she would not be meeting her for drinks, Andy goes to wake Caroline.

She gently knocks on the door before entering. “Caroline…honey it’s time to get up,” she says, keeping her voice low as not to startle her.  Andy sits beside her on the bed, and nudges the redhead until she wakes up.  “I wish I could let you sleep, but I think it’s time you went home.”

She looks around the room taking in her surroundings.  An excessive yawn escapes her lips, “Geesh…How long did I sleep?”

“A little over three hours,” Andy replies, yawning a bit herself. The journalist has recently started venturing into freelance, which of course has added to her already large workload.  She doesn’t dare complain.  After all she's wanted this, since deciding to attend Northwestern in her junior year of high school.

 “Come here.” Caroline slides over and pats the vacant space beside her, “You look as if you need it.”

Andy claims her spot on the bed and lies down on her back with her arms folded behind her head.  “It’s crazy how fast time seems pass by.  I haven’t had time to do much else outside of work lately.”

The redhead’s lying on her side facing Andy with her head propped on her hand. “So…you don’t date.” 

“Every once in a while. Nothing serious.”  Dating in NYC is exhausting. The mayor should hand out checks for those patient enough to try. Hell it feels like a second job anyway.  “This city is full of beautiful women. I’m not exactly at the top of the totem pole."

 "You don't give yourself enough credit," Caroline says. “Any guy would be lucky to have you, Andy.”

Clearing her suddenly dry throat, “Thanks... but my problem isn’t with men, Carol.” She looks at her pointedly. “I’m attracted to women, at least most of the time.”

 “Oh.”

 “Yea oh.”

“Well there’s nothing wrong with that.  My best friend, Alicia, is dating a girl name Maxine…Max for short.” Her eyes scan Andy’s torso from top to bottom in a withering way that reminds the journalist of Miranda.  She’s wearing her favorite bootcut jeans paired with a grey blazer.  The outfit isn’t exactly fashion forward according to Priestly standards. Caroline pulls at the belt loop of her denim. “Are these from The Gap?” She nods in affirmation, and the redhead purses her lips. “True Religion would fit your figure much more nicely.”  Her tone is blasé, as if she’s discussing the weather, “You could use some help coordinating, but you’re still much better looking than her.  Max tends to stick to t-shirts and skinny jeans.”

“Thanks…I guess,” she murmurs.

“Maybe I should date women,” she muses aloud. Lightly running her left hand over her abdomen, “I sure as hell wouldn’t have found myself in this situation.”

“You’re months away from graduating.  Don’t let this deter you, Carol. You can still do all the things you want.  Now you just have to do them in a different order that’s all.”

“I can’t exactly go to Paris to study now can I," she states in a bitter tone.

"Well...lets just focus on the first step...which is telling your parents."   

"It's my choice to decide, Andy." Caroline climbs out of bed in search of her shoes.  After locating them she exits the bedroom  and heads for the living room. 

Following behind her, "Just what is that suppose to mean?"

She snatches up her clutch off the couch and turns on her heels to face the brunette.  "Fuck.  It means I will tell them when I'm good and ready."

She closes her eyes and tries to calm down.

Andy sighs, "Okay. You're right, Caroline. It's none of my business."

She looks at her with flaming blue orbs filled with confusion and anger. "Look I've got to get out of here.  I need some space. Thanks for...everything."

"Hold on a sec." Andy runs to grab a business card from her satchel, and returns to the living room. "Here. This has all my contact information. You can call me anytime...even if it's just sit to on the phone and listen  to me breathe."  She shrugs. "I don't care."

Caroline takes the card from her hand and looks at the information. "I'll give you a call, okay." 

"I'll be waiting to hear from you," Andy says before closing the door behind Caroline.

Andy flops down on the couch and covers her face with her hands, as she replays the events of the day.  She wishes she could carry on as if she'd never ran into Caroline.  But even now after spending a few hours with the girl she feels obligated to be there for her in some capacity.  Once again she's finds herself entangled in Miranda Priestly's web.  She only hopes that Caroline won't go out and do something rash.  There's no telling what kind of crazy thoughts are roaming through her head, and having her former boss as a mother can't make things any easier.  The journalist contemplates calling Miranda, but quickly tosses that idea out. Betraying Caroline's trust is not an option, at least not at this stage in the game. She doubts the editor would appreciate her motives anyway. Miranda is sure to find some way to blame her for all of this.
 

TBC