Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Miranda opened the door to see her twin standing on the stoop with her new paramour. Miranda mustered up a forced smile, Dee Dee doing the same as they leaned in and cheek kissed once on each side.

"Dee Dee, so glad you could make it." Miranda enthused, continuing her forced smile.

"Thank you so much for inviting us." Dee Dee gushed, matching her sister's attitude beat for beat. She wrapped an arm around Tom's waist and he had the sudden feeling he was being presented like one of her Tonys. "This is Tom."

"So good to meet you." Miranda held out her hand. "Please, come in."

Tom shook her hand and smiled at her. The clipped, forced attitude was clearly reserved for Dee Dee and it made him instantly more comfortable.

"I'm happy to meet you too." He took off his hat as they stepped inside. "I'm a big fan of Runway."

"Oh." Miranda said with surprise.

"And yet, he's straight. I don't get it either." Dee Dee agreed.

"Are you sure?"

Dee Dee grinned salaciously. "Oh, yes. He's very straight."

Tom flushed. "Um, may I use your restroom?"

"Of course." Miranda pointed down the hallway. "Third door down on the right."

Tom disappeared down the hallway and Miranda turned to her sister. "Wow, Deed. I wasn't expecting someone…"

"Black?"

"Young." Miranda clarified.

"He's not that young. I mean, we can't all be with someone so wildly age inappropriate as you." Dee Dee shrugged.

"I just didn't think you had the pull, to be honest."

"Where is Andrea anyway? There's not another divorce on the horizon, is there?"

Miranda chuckled sardonically. "She'll be here soon."

"The school bus will drop her off after her last class?"

Tom rejoined them and Miranda ushered them into the sitting room. Dee Dee produced a bottle of wine, "we brought a Cab Sauv."

"I think I'll open it now. I have a lovely aged gouda this will pair well with."

Miranda left Dee Dee and Tom alone in the sitting room and Dee Dee put her hand on his knee. "Thank you for being a good sport."

He chuckled. "I think she's perfectly pleasant. You had me prepared for a dragon lady."

"Just wait." Dee Dee warned ominously.

"I also have to admit, I wasn't prepared for how identical you two are."

"You bite your tongue." She teased, cupping his cheek and hovering her lips near his. "I'm much hotter."

"That's indisputable." He agreed, stealing a kiss before Miranda came back.

She had uncorked the wine and poured herself a small amount, swirling it and taking in its aroma before sipping and humming approvingly.

"Would you just pour the wine?" Dee Dee asked with exasperation.

Miranda smirked and filled Dee Dee's glass, pushing it over to her. Dee Dee picked it up and brought it to her lips.

"Patience is a virtue, Deandra."

Dee Dee choked on her wine. "Thanks for that, Mimi."

The two women stared each other down for a few long silent moments before Miranda decided to let it lie for now. She poured a glass for Tom and handed it to him.

"So, Tom, what do you do for a living?" Miranda turned her whole body away from Dee Dee who retrieved a slice of cheese.

"I'm a high school principal." He explained, "I started out as a science teacher but I went back for a degree in administration because I thought I could do more by creating policy."

Miranda nodded, "I think that's very admirable. That's part of why I wanted to be editor-in-chief, I wanted to be able to mold Runway into something that would be the most productive."

"Exactly." Tom agreed.

Dee Dee scoffed, "you run a fashion magazine; you're not exactly molding young minds."

"I disagree." Tom interjected, he faltered for a moment, not knowing how well agreeing with Miranda was going to go over with Dee Dee. "I- I think content creators are some of the biggest shapers of young minds these days. I think it's a really important thing to do thoughtfully."

"Yes, thank you."

Dee Dee hummed, sipping her wine and giving his knee a squeeze. He sighed internally, realizing that it had just been added to a mental list of things to revisit.

The front door opened and the trio turned to the sound, each desperate for an intrusion into the awkward convocation.

"Hey," Andy poked her head into the sitting room.

Tom stood up, relieved beyond measure for another person without the same face to be joining them. "You must be one of the girls." He held out his hand.

Dee Dee let out a raucous laughter, coughing on her wine. "Oh, Tom. Oh, thank you. Sincerely, thank you from the bottom of my heart."

He looked confusedly between the women. "What'd I say?" He asked, mostly to himself as his heart pounded.

Miranda cleared her throat. "Tom, this is my wife, Andrea. Andrea, this is Tom."

Tom's face fell. "I am so sorry."

Andy smiled forgivingly. "Don't worry. It happens. I have a very youthful face; it's the big eyes."

"Yeah, Tom. She's older than she looks. Mimi, she's, what, five years older than the girls?"

"Fifteen." Miranda corrected tightly.

"Ah, right. Hard to remember, I mean, they're all millennials."

"Hello Dee Dee." Andy greeted flatly. She had been over the twins' rivalry ten minutes into meeting Dee Dee and now almost ten years after that first meeting, her tolerance for it hadn't improved. They weren't always like this but when they were it tended toward obnoxious. She was glad that Dee Dee had brought someone with whom she could share long suffering looks.

She looked back to Tom, "please, call me Andy, the only people who call me 'Ahndrayah' are these two goofballs." She motioned to Miranda and Dee Dee who looked scandalized.

Tom laughed, he liked Andy already.

"I'm going to shower really quick. I'll be back soon, I promise." She said that to Tom specifically and he gave her a minute nod of understanding.

Miranda blew Andy a kiss and Andy softened a little; she loved when she was given the opportunity to be Miranda's rock.

Andy went up to their bedroom and stripped out of her clothes and got into the shower. She needed some alone time between work and diving into the Miranda and Dee Dee circus. Miranda had made it abundantly clear that she understood how much mental energy it took to be in the room with the two of them, so she knew her wife wouldn't begrudge her this time. She felt somewhat bad for Tom; it was his first rodeo, after all.

By the time she had showered and dressed and returned to the fray, Caroline and Cassidy had shown up. The five of them had managed to kill the bottle of wine and Caroline opened a Merlot.

Cassidy was on the couch with Miranda with her legs over her mother's lap and Miranda had an arm around her. One of the things that Andy loved most about her wife was how much she adored her kids. It was a true testament to her love that the twins returned for dinner multiple times per week despite having moved out on their own years prior.

Dee Dee had never had children of her own nor the desire to but, to her credit, she was a fantastic aunt and the Priestly twins loved her too. The girls had a calming effect on the ever feudal sisters.

"Andy!" Caroline called out, seeing her stepmother. "Remember that game we used to play where you'd ask us questions and we'd give you wrong answers on purpose?"

Andy laughed despite herself. "I do…"

Caroline couldn't stop laughing as she recounted. "Because Cass just reminded me of the time you drove all the way to Boston when mom and us were in the Hamptons? We got in so much trouble."

"Worth it." Cassidy grinned, downing the last of her wine.

"Yup, becoming your stepmother involved a lot of hazing."

"I mean, mad respect because we drove off three of our dad's girlfriends with our shenanigans. You stuck it out."

"That's how I knew your mom was the one because I didn't even mind getting two actual monsters in the deal." Andy teased.

"Girl, you love us."

"I do." Andy agreed.

"How is your dad?" Dee Dee asked, "still running that Ponzi scheme?"

"Oh shit, you didn't hear?" Caroline blinked.

"Oh girls, let me." Miranda insisted. "He was indicted on seven counts of fraud."

Dee Dee's mouth dropped open, "wasn't Eddie a silent investor?"

"Mhm." Miranda grinned. "From what I hear, they're investigating Eddie now."

"Hope springs eternal." Dee Dee put her hand over her heart. She reached for the bottle of wine and tipped it into her glass and only a few sips trickled out.

Caroline stood up, "should we switch to a white?"

"Let's wait for dinner." Miranda said. She patted Cassidy's leg, "speaking of, would you go check the timer on the oven?"

"What's for dinner?" Tom asked.

"Seafood paella." Miranda replied as Cassidy jumped up.

"Wow. Careful, I'm like the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie mouse when it comes to good food." Tom chuckled, "I might want to come for dinner every night."

Dee Dee patted Tom's leg, "not on your life."

"Two minutes." Cassidy called.

Miranda stood up, feeling her head swim a little but resolved not to admit it. "Shall we?"

Dee Dee followed suit, her own head swimming as she followed Miranda to the dining room. Miranda continued on into the kitchen to retrieve the pan.

"Sit wherever you'd like." Andy gestured to the table.

Tom started to sit and Caroline yelled "not there!"

Tom froze and Caroline laughed, "just messing with you."

Tom laid a hand over his heart. "You got me."

Andy took her regular seat and Miranda entered with the big pan and set it in the center of the table. Cassidy followed behind her with two open bottles of wine. "I have grenache or rosé."

Cassidy handed over one bottle to Caroline and they started filling glasses.

"Andy doesn't have a glass!"

"I'm not drinking." She shook her head.

Cassidy narrowed her eyes scrutinizingly. "¿Por qué no?"

"Por que yo dije." Andy chuckled. "Bebes mucho vino."

"Es verdad." Cassidy grinned.

"Everybody sit." Miranda interrupted. "I'd like to make a toast. To family, old and new, coming together for good wine, good food, and good company. Á vos santés."

A mixture of cheers and salud echoed back to her before they all began eating.

"Oh my god." Tom enthused, covering his mouth to not show his chewed up food to the rest of the table. "Miranda, this is phenomenal."

"She is a very good cook." Dee Dee agreed, if begrudgingly.

"Did your mother teach you how to cook when you were growing up?"

Miranda and Dee Dee let out unsettlingly identical guffaws, their heads leaning back, red and white forelocks falling over pale foreheads.

"Only if you count 'how to mix a Tom Collins.'" Miranda scoffed.

"I still can't stand the smell of gin." Dee Dee shuddered.

"Is that why I hate gin? Is this inherited trauma?" Caroline asked.

"No, it's because you broke into dad's liquor cabinet and drank gin until you puked on our eighth grade field trip to DC." Cassidy chuckled into her wine.

Miranda stared at Caroline in surprise. "I was told you had the flu."

"Yeah, you were told a lot of things." Cassidy laughed.

Caroline threw a shrimp at her sister. "I could tell some stories, so shut your mouth. Like what happened at Justin Bieber's eighteenth birthday party…"

"Andy! How's work going?" Cassidy said loudly, putting her hand over her sister's face.

"I think I'd like to go back to this party thing…" Miranda interrupted.

"Oh, Mimi, leave the girls alone, they come by it honestly. It just seems worse because they're wealthy. We got up to plenty of white trash mischief in our youths. The stories I could tell you about our Mimi..." Dee Dee grinned.

"Andrea, how is work going?" Miranda cleared her throat.

"Wow, am I the only one who got up to nothing interesting in middle school, high school, or college?" Andy chuckled.

"No," Tom laughed, "I was quite a square myself."

"Suburb kid?" Andy asked knowingly.

"You know it."

"Well. They're bonding. Dinner over…" Dee Dee teased.

"Aunt Dee Dee, you're not going to move to Indiana, are you?" Caroline asked.

"I think I'm going to split my time for now." Dee Dee admitted. "I'll admit that I find Indiana to be appalling but one of my favorite people lives there, so…" She cupped Tom's cheek, fingernails scratching his beard lightly.

He smiled sweetly and kissed her hand.

"That's stupid precious." Caroline smiled.

"So sickeningly sweet, I might throw up. Seriously. Might throw up everything I've eaten in the last week and a half."

"Please, stop." Andy stiffened, feeling her cheeks get hot.

"Stop what?" Cassidy feigned ignorance. "Talking about vomit?"

"Girls, come on." Miranda warned, putting her hand on Andy's arm.

"What, all of a sudden Andy can't handle the idea of vomit? We've done way grosser things than talk about vomit." Caroline chuckled.

Andy's stomach rolled and she leapt up from her seat.

"Oh, you were serious…" Cassidy blinked.

Miranda set her napkin down, "I'm going to check on her."

"While she's gone, how about some stories about mom?" Caroline leaned forward conspiratorially.

Andy pushed up the lid of the toilet and leaned over. Miranda crouched next to her and pulled her hair back.

"Are you okay, love?"

"I think it was a false alarm…" Andy panted.

"Just sit for a moment and take some deep breaths." Miranda said gently, encouraging her to sit down on the rug and pulled her back against her.

Andy tilted her head back and smiled up at Miranda. "Hey, beautiful."

Miranda stroked her cheek. "Hello, sweetheart."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Sorry, Andy." Caroline and Cassidy chorused simultaneously, orange hair flicking and Tom was again struck by the identical movements of a pair of identical twins.

"It's okay." Andy mussed up their hair as she passed by to the protests of the girls.

Miranda and Andy took their seats and Andy took Miranda's hand. "So, this is probably as good a time as any for our announcement... I'm pregnant!"

The girls squealed with delight. "We're gonna have a little Andy running around?" Caroline grinned.

"I can't wait to teach it swears and bad habits." Cassidy laughed.

"Actually, they're going to be your half siblings." Andy corrected.

"Oh, honey, I think you missed something really important in biology." Dee Dee furrowed her brow.

Andy laughed, "it's Miranda's egg."

Dee Dee furrowed her brow. "Isn't that a little… there's no way Mimi's still ovulating."

"When I was in my 20s, I froze some of my eggs because I wanted to focus on my career and be pragmatic. They contacted me to ask if I still wanted them to store them..."

"It was kismet. It was just very right, perfect timing really." Andy beamed. "We'd been talking about the possibility of children and... I'm really excited."

"Now, I heard you say 'they' - plural or gender neutral?" Dee Dee asked, leaning toward Andy conspiratorially.

"Plural." Andy nodded, "they're twins."

"Identical or did more than one egg take?"

"Identical." Andy confirmed. "Just one egg."

"That checks out. The twinning is very strong in our family." Dee Dee nodded, "that's partly why I never had children."

"You don't even have the mothering instinct for one child at a time." Miranda agreed.

"Exactly. I'm much better as an aunt." Dee Dee sipped her wine. "I'm surprised either of us wanted to be a mother after our childhood, to be honest."

"Well, I'm in a much better place financially and emotionally than Janet and Larry ever were." Miranda shrugged. "It took me a while to feel like I was in the place to become a mother and I've never had a single regret."

"That's good." Cassidy snorted a laugh, "considering we're sitting right here and your pregnant wife is right there."

"How far along are you?" Caroline asked.

"Three and a half months."

"Fuck off." Cassidy laughed, "and you didn't tell us until just now?"

Dee Dee laughed, "oh god, Mimi, you're way too old for this."

"Would you stop calling me Mimi?" Miranda snapped. "It's getting on my last nerve."

"Why don't you make me?"

"Fight to the death!" Caroline called.

"Hundred bucks on mom." Cassidy goaded.

"You're not my favorite niece anymore." Dee Dee scoffed.

"Hey!" Caroline's mouth dropped open.

"You rethinking bringing more of us into this world yet?" Miranda gave Andy's hand a squeeze.

"I can't wait for Christmas." Andy laughed, pulling Miranda in for a kiss.

Chapter Text

"You really are a trooper. I'm surprised you wanted to come…" Dee Dee smiled at Tom.

"I actually love baby showers," Tom admitted, "I love the games and seeing all the little clothes and the tiny shoes."

Dee Dee laughed, "of course you do, honey."

"Plus, I've already learned never to miss a party thrown by your nieces."

"My man's no fool." Dee Dee agreed with a chuckle as they walked into the venue. It was a trendy, industrial venue with a view of the water glittering beyond the patio and, it came as no surprise to Tom, an open bar was already pouring drinks.

"Thank god you're here." Miranda approached, grabbing Dee Dee by the arm. "I need to run out to pick up ice cream because, apparently, Andrea will die without it. And she keeps trying to get up even though she's as big as a house and then gets upset when she can't and I'm losing my mind."

"Welcome to being a dad." Dee Dee laughed.

"I don't envy the nausea, the weight gain, not being able to get comfortable, the kidney punches, the swollen feet, the mood swings… but I do miss getting to make ridiculous and unreasonable demands."

"And once the babies come, you can go back to being the one who makes ridiculous and unreasonable demands." Dee Dee teased.

"Hope springs eternal." Miranda nodded, "keep an eye on Andrea?"

"We've got her." Dee Dee promised, "go."

Andy had her back to them as they approached. She had her hands on the arms of the chair, her arm muscles trembling with effort.

"Andrea, you're going to hurt yourself." Dee Dee objected. "You need to-"

"Miranda, I swear to Christ, if you finish that sentence, you're going to regret it for the rest of your life." Andy growled, unable to fully turn to the pair.

Dee Dee and Tom came into view. Dee Dee chuckled despite knowing she was risking Andy's wrath. "We come in peace."

"Oh god, I don't think I realized how much you sound like her too." Andy smirked.

"Well, you seem like you're in a great mood." Dee Dee started, undaunted. "Are you trying to get up for a reason or just out of stubbornness?"

Andy smiled sarcastically. "I'm thirsty, Deandra. Drinking liquids is something humans consume to stay hydrated. I currently have two extra humans who are taking their fill of everything I ingest before I get any of it and I am running out of the energy I need to muster to get my nutrients."

"Andrea." Dee Dee put her hands on either side of Andy's chair. "In the fewest amount of words possible: tell me what you want to drink."

"Orange juice." Andy humphed.

"Okay." Dee Dee nodded curtly. "I'll be right back."

Tom looked at Dee Dee, stricken. She put a hand on his arm. "What would you like to drink?"

"You know what, I'd love a piña colada."

Dee Dee leaned in and placed a soft kiss to his lips. "Keep Andrea company."

Tom sank down into the chair next to her. "Hi, Andy…"

"You can stand down, Tom." Andy smiled, "I'm not going to yell at you."

Tom let out a sigh of relief. "Just Dee Dee and Miranda then?"

"I think the babies are yelling at them. It must be in the DNA; they want to be mean to them. I called Miranda 'Mimi' the other day, I have never called her that. We both felt very weird about it."

"How do the babies feel about Caroline and Cassidy?"

"They seem to like them." Andy shrugged. "I've been closer to them than ever the last couple months; I think they'll be good siblings. I have a good relationship with the girls but we're not tight. They still tell everything to Miranda, they always have, I've never been the stepmom that they confide things in because I'm younger and 'I get it.' which probably means they knew from an early age that I don't get it. Miranda gets it. I definitely feel like the older, crankier one."

"You want your wife to be cranky?" He quirked an eyebrow.

She laughed, "fair enough."

Dee Dee returned, juggling three drinks. She set them down on the table and then handed Andy her orange juice. "For you."

Andy accepted the juice. "Thank you." She put the glass to her lips and drank almost the whole cup in one go.

"And your piña colada." Dee Dee held it out and continued when Tom opened his mouth to protest. "They do not have little umbrellas. I asked."

"Can they really call it a piña colada if there's no little umbrella?" He asked with a small sigh, trying not to be as disappointed as he was.

"When you're pregnant, honey, I'll chase down all the little umbrellas for you." Dee Dee kissed the top of his head.

"Oddly enough, that makes me very happy." Tom grinned.

Dee Dee wrapped her arms around him. "Love you."

"Love you too." Tom nuzzled her sweetly.

"Dee Dee, how on God's green Earth did you manage to land someone so nice?"

"Despite all her best efforts and my better instincts." Tom laughed.

Dee Dee furrowed her brow and was poised to respond when Miranda rejoined the group.

"I have all the Ben and Jerry flavors they had at 7-11: Milk & Cookies, Americone Dream, Minter Wonderland, New York Super Fudge, and Half Baked. They didn't have the S'mores one, but I can go to another store."

Andy cupped Miranda's cheeks and drew her in for a kiss. Miranda smiled, "what was that for?"

"I'm sorry I yelled at you." Andy admitted, "I appreciate you getting my ice cream even though I was not very nice about my request."

"I understand. I was told I was a nightmare when I was pregnant with the girls."

"You being a nightmare and being pregnant has never been mutually exclusive, Meem."

Miranda chose to ignore her sister's jab. "Would you like one of these now and I'll have the caterer keep the rest on ice?"

"Can I have the fudge one now?"

"Of course, darling." Miranda retrieved it from the bag and handed her a spoon.

"I love you."

"I love you too." Miranda squeezed her shoulder and gave her a kiss before straightening up. "I'll be right back."

Dee Dee followed after Miranda. "Andrea used a couple of phrases… has she always…?" She asked in a low, concerned tone.

"No, she hasn't." Miranda sighed, "I'm glad you noticed it too, I thought I was losing my mind."

"It's very disconcerting." Dee Dee nodded.

"Try waking up to it." Miranda shuddered, "I almost had a heart attack one morning when she asked me why my lazy ass was still in bed."

"And she's never said that before?"

"Never! She sleeps much later than I do and it was ten minutes before my alarm." Miranda shook out her unease. "I don't believe in anything paranormal but it is very unsettling."

“The last thing we need is mom being reincarnated.” Dee Dee agreed and the twins crossed themselves simultaneously out of a long buried habit.

Lily let out an excited yelp, "Andy!"

"You made it!" Andy grinned, setting her ice cream down. "Help me stand up; I need to hug you!"

Lily chuckled, "I've been working on my arms, so this is going to be a good test."

"I think you're going to need your leg muscles more." Andy admitted, lifting her arms, "Miranda's thighs are amazing right now; it's insane."

Lily wrapped her arms around her, "can this count as our hug?"

"I want to stand up and stretch my legs, Lily." Andy whined.

"Okay, okay." Lily got a grip and started the countdown and managed to heave Andy onto her feet. Lily panted and wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. She held her hand up, "teamwork."

Andy grinned and high fived her. She wrapped her arms around her, "it's so good to see you. I miss you so much."

Lily held her tightly. "I miss you too. This is the most time we've spent apart since kindergarten."

"How's California?"

Lily smiled, "it's good. It's really good. I don't know why but I didn't think running such a small museum would be this much work, but I love it."

"Good."

They separated and Lily smiled affectionately. "That hug was totally worth it." She offered her arm, "do you want to try to walk around a bit?"

"Thanks." Andy accepted the arm. "My ass keeps falling asleep and I don't want to keep bothering Miranda. She's so sweet and she never complains to my face so I don't want to find out what her breaking point is."

"I still can't get over it. Miranda Priestly, sweet."

"You've had so many meals with us and stayed in our guestroom. You know Miranda is capable of being nice."

"I know, I know. But it's, like…" she paused to formulate her words. "It's like when I see her, I see Miranda, like, my best friend's wife, supportive partner, gracious hostess, et cetera, but when you mention her, I think Miranda Priestly, the Prada-wearing devil that terrorized you for a year."

"She's still that too." Andy laughed. "So, where are you staying?"

"I'm staying with Doug and Mohammed. I'm taking them out tomorrow to celebrate their engagement."

"I'm so bummed he couldn't come today and I can't come tomorrow." Andy sighed.

"When the babies are born, we'll all get together. Maybe you can all come out to Van Nuys and I'll show you the sights."

"Perfect." Andy smiled. "Oh my god, Lil, I'm going to be a mom in, like, a month…"

"Getting nervous?"

"I'm so nervous." Andy admitted. "Miranda's stepping down as editor-in-chief, so she'll be around a lot. I definitely know I’m not in this alone. In the fall she's going to start teaching at the Fashion Institute but it’ll only be three days a week."

"Oh god, are they going to unleash her on freshmen?"

Andy laughed, "no, it's going to be an upper level course on running a fashion magazine. It'll be good for her. She needs to work less but she wouldn't be able to handle not having work at all."

"Sounds like you've got it pretty well figured out." Lily shrugged, "what about your work?"

"They're letting me work from home as much or as little as I want. One of the perks of being a senior writer." Andy smiled, "but I haven't been able to do much recently, I am so tired, so hungry, and I have to pee constantly. Speaking of, would you point me in that direction?"

"Do you need help?"

"Thankfully, no. If I use the handicap bathroom, I can do it myself. I have one of those chairs at home that lifts up and dumps you out onto your feet for when I'm home alone."

"Like for old people?" Lily teased.

"Shut up." Andy laughed, scandalized. "I'm three people right now!"

"I'm sorry."

"I'm just teasing, I only have this card to play for another month, so I'm getting good use out of it." Andy chuckled.

Miranda returned to the spot where she left Andy and sighed. "Now where'd she go?"

"She can't have gotten far." Dee Dee shrugged. "And where's Tom?"

"You think they wised up and left us?"

Dee Dee scoffed a laugh, "if she's channeling mom, I wouldn't say it's out of the realm of possibility."

"Hey, babe." Tom approached, grinning like the cat who ate the canary.

Dee Dee laughed, "what did you do?"

"Oh, this?" He asked innocently, nodding toward the little umbrella sticking out of his drink. "I improvised. The caterer had toothpicks and the girls had crepe paper and tape, so…"

Dee Dee threw her arms around him and kissed him square on the lips. "God, I love you."

"I love you too."

"There you are." Miranda smiled as Andy and Lily returned.

"All three of them were in good hands." Lily assured her.

"I don't doubt it. I'm so glad you were able to make it, Lily." Miranda accepted Andy's hand and Lily released her.

"I'm gonna go get a drink, do you need anything?"

"No, thank you." Andy turned her attention to Miranda. "Hi. I've been missing getting to be at eye level with you."

"I'd almost forgotten you're taller than me." Miranda joked.

"Probably not for long. My feet have spread and the monsters are leaching calcium from my bones."

"I'll enjoy it while I can then." Miranda brushed hair away from Andy's forehead.

"Are you guys still having sex while she's this pregnant?"

"Dee Dee!" Tom, Miranda, and Andy all gasped.

"What?" Dee Dee demanded. "We're all adults. And that's my DNA in there too." She pointed at Andy's bulging stomach.

"Miranda, make her stop." Andy frowned.

"Do you ever have a thought that you don't verbalize?" Miranda smirked.

"What? We're identical, who cares?"

"But we're not both sleeping with Andrea, so it's rude." Miranda scoffed.

"How do you know I don't have twin telepathy and don't know everytime you orgasm?" Dee Dee countered.

"Then you'd already know the answer to your question, wouldn't you?" Miranda challenged.

"Miranda." Andy tugged on her arm. "Can you help me stretch my legs?"

"Of course, love."

When they had walked a couple feet from Dee Dee and Tom, Andy lamented, "I'm gonna have a little Dee Dee, aren't I?"

Miranda smiled indulgently. "Our babies are going to be their own people. Do you think the girls are like Dee Dee?"

Andy considered this and shrugged noncommittally. "I mean… a little? Sometimes."

"We won't let Dee Dee meet the babies until they're off to college then, okay?"

"Yeah, that sounds like a plan, thank you for understanding." Andy laughed.

"Do you want to hang out with Lily today?"

"And leave you with Dee Dee?"

Miranda chuckled, "if she gets really annoying, I'll find Nigel. Besides, she's been much more bearable since she's been with Tom. He's a tempering force."

"I'll have to take your word for it."

"Just give a shout if you need me, okay?"

"You're wonderful." Andy cupped her cheek. "There's no one else in the world I would want to carry fifty pounds of baby weight around for."

Miranda kissed her softly. "Well, I never thought someone other than me would be having my baby. I think that's pretty amazing."

Andy gave Miranda a squeeze. "Make sure you have some fun today too, okay?"

"I will."

"And don't give Dee Dee the details of our sex life."

"I have no intention of doing that, love." Miranda laughed.

Miranda walked back to her sister. "Why are you like this?"

"Are you embarrassed?"

"No, it's just not your business." Miranda insisted.

"You can ask me about my sex life." Dee Dee doubled down.

"Dee Dee…" Tom chuckled awkwardly.

"What? You've got nothing to be embarrassed about, babe. Not a single thing."

Tom flushed.

"Best sex of my entire life." Dee Dee stated, "hands down, not even close to the runner up."

"Oh my god…" Tom attempted to hide his face in his drink.

"Dee Dee, stop." Miranda laughed. "You're being obnoxious and you're embarrassing Tom."

"Okay, okay." Dee Dee put her hands up in surrender. "I just don't know why you're shy all of a sudden."

Tom cleared his throat. "Miranda, this is technically your baby shower too and no one's offered to get you a drink. Can I get you something?"

"Oh, thank you, I'll take an Old Fashioned."

"Coming right up. Do you need a top off, Dee?"

Dee Dee looked into her glass and threw back the last couple sips. "Yes, please." She handed over the empty glass.

"Be right back."

Microphone feedback pierced the air, eliciting groans and protests. "Sorry." Cassidy snickered. "Hope everybody's enjoying themselves and the open bar!"

Cassidy raised her glass and a couple people whooped in response. Caroline took the mic and continued. "The appetizers are starting to circulate and the main course will be in about an hour and then cake!"

Cassidy took the mic back. "And no stupid baby shower games but we will be doing a 'guess Andy's weight' contest."

Caroline leaned in and added, "closest without going over wins."

"I swear to Christ, girls, you'd better be shitting me." Andy snapped.

"Tough crowd." Caroline laughed.

Twin shivers went down Miranda and Dee Dee's backs. "If she threatens to 'whoop' anybody, I'm leaving, I don't care if it's rude."

"If that happens, I'm staying with you and Tom tonight and I don't care if that's rude." Miranda concurred.

Chapter Text

"Why is Dee Dee coming over again?" Andy questioned as she struggled to take plates out of the cabinet.

Miranda watched her but didn't interfere as Andy valued these symbolic gestures of independence. "Tom had to go home to Indiana and she's in pre-production on a new musical so she couldn't go with him. She's lonely."

"But she has, like, friends, doesn't she? Like that guy who's in almost every musical with her these days. Isn't he, like, her best friend?"

"Barry?"

"I guess." Andy shrugged. "I'd just think she'd have people she'd want to spend time with more than us."

"I invited her because we've been enjoying each other's company recently." Miranda admitted with exasperation and reached around Andy to grab the plates.

"Hey." Andy objected.

"You're going to hurt yourself." Miranda put her hands on her hips.

"I'm gonna hurt you if you keep sassing me back." Andy grumbled.

"You're not from Appalachia, where are you getting these phrases?" Miranda griped.

"I don't know!" Andy snapped loudly.

"Why are we yelling?" Miranda demanded, her tone rising to meet Andy's.

Andy and Miranda held each other's gazes for a few long moments before they both started to laugh.

"I think I'm cracking up." Andy chuckled. "I'm so ready to just give birth and have it over with."

"When I was at this stage I wasterrified to give birth. Childbirth is scary enough but when there's two of them... I thought I was going to be ripped in half and I was in so much pain I literally left my body."

"Miranda…"

"No, really, I had that exact thing you hear about when people are in such unbearable pain that their brain shuts off the feeling receptors so you don't seem like you're in your body anymore. My brain probably thought I was going to die."

"Miranda!" Andy gripped Miranda's arm tightly until Miranda winced in pain and looked at her, aghast. "None of that is even remotely a helpful thing to say to me right now. If you could tone down the unbearable pain and death talk until all is said and done, I would be very grateful."

Miranda rubbed the spot on her arm, trying to soothe the throbbing little red crescent moons. "Sorry." She murmured.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" Andy cradled Miranda's arm. "If you go get the stuff, I'll wash it off for you."

"It'll be okay. You've scratched me worse." Miranda smiled.

"But usually it's in a much more fun context." Andy grinned.

Miranda stole a kiss. "I love you. No hard feelings."

"I love you too." Andy smiled. "Would you help me to the dining room? I need to sit down."

"Okay." Miranda nodded, wrapping an arm around her. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I haven't felt okay in three months." Andy huffed and puffed as Miranda helped her to the dining room. "The babies are somehow managing to smoosh every organ in my body and I just need to sit down."

"Of course, sweetie." Miranda helped Andy lower down into the armchair she'd moved into the dining room so Andy would be comfortable at the table.

Andy winced, cupping her stomach.

"Are you okay?" Miranda frowned.

"I'm okay. Dr. Khatri said the Braxton-Hicks contractions are super normal at this stage."

"You're having contractions?" Miranda demanded.

"Braxton-Hicks contractions. They're not labor contractions. I had one in the doctor's office and she told me that it's totally normal and it's not a real contraction. Stop looking at me like that." Andy laughed. "I promise I'll let you know if I go into labor."

The doorbell rang and Miranda hesitated.

"Good, Dee Dee can distract you and you can stop worrying about me so much. Go get the door."

Miranda sighed lightly before walking to the foyer. She opened the door and Dee Dee handed Miranda the bag of food so she could take her coat off. "Any mom updates?"

"She told me not to sass her back." Miranda smirked.

"Jesus." Dee Dee laughed. "I mean, seriously. What the hell?"

"Did I become mom when I was pregnant?"

"No, you were a nightmare in your own unique and horrible way." Dee Dee tossed her double breasted Valentino coat onto the entryway chair.

"Yeah, don't hang up your coat."

"I picked up the food, don't be obnoxious." Dee Dee chastised.

"Andrea's already in the dining room." Miranda handed the food back to her and picked up Dee Dee's coat to put it away.

"I have arrived." Dee Dee announced with a flourish as she entered the dining room. "Andrea, you look like shit."

"Love you, too, Deed." Andy winced.

She set the food down. "Can I get you water?"

"Thanks." Andy nodded gratefully.

"Miranda, red or white?" Dee Dee called out.

"Red!" Miranda called back.

"Stop shouting! We ain't deaf!" Andy shouted.

"I'm gonna look for holy water for you because we have to exorcize that demon."

"Hell of a thing to say about your nieces or nephews." Andy scoffed, cupping her bulging abdomen.

"I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about my mother." Dee Dee pointed her pinky and pointer fingers at Andy, warding off the evil eye.

Miranda opened the take out bag and set Andy's salmon in front of her and Andy reached for it and then winced.

"That worries me, Andrea." Miranda furrowed her brow. "Did Dr. Khatri explain how to tell the difference between a Braxton-Hicks and a real contraction? Because you're in week 36 and-"

"Miranda. Stop. All the books say 38 weeks is full term and most first time moms don't give birth early."

"It's different with twins-" Miranda protested.

"I don't want to argue about this, please!" Andy snapped. "I'm hungry and I'm tired and I'm uncomfortable. Please stop arguing with me."

Miranda held up her hands in surrender. "I'm going to help Dee Dee."

"Thank you." Andy smirked.

Miranda walked into the kitchen and held her hands up again. "Give me strength." She whispered exasperatedly.

"What?" Dee Dee asked, uncorking a Cabernet Sauvignon. "Did she ask you to get her a switch?"

"No, she's being regular obnoxious. She's 36 weeks and that's considered full term for twins. I had the girls in week 35, and they were almost seven pounds each. But she's very sure she's going to make it to 38 at least but she heard someone say first time moms deliver late so I think she thinks she's going to make it until 42 weeks."

Dee Dee laughed and pushed the wine glass over to Miranda.

Miranda took a big swig of wine. "If she does somehow make it that long, they're going to burst out of her like xenomorphs."

Dee Dee laughed and topped off Miranda's glass when she set it back down.

“Okay, we’re going to sit down at the dinner table and humor her delusions. You’re married to our mother.”

“At least the food is better.” Miranda griped, swigging from her glass again.

“While admitting that I’m one of the last people on earth who should be imparting this advice: you should slow down.”

“My nerves are so frazzled.” Miranda whispered. “I’ve been retired for a week and I have no idea what to do with myself and I’m stuck in a house with a woman who switches between sweet, angry, and mom violently unpredictably and she cannot be reasoned with in any of those states.”

“Come here.” Dee Dee set the bottle down and walked around the kitchen island and held her arms out for her sister.

Miranda smiled and sank into Dee Dee’s arms, wrapping her arms around her twin and reveling in such a comforting and unconditional embrace. “I’m worried she’s not going to stop being mom.” She admitted. “I feel ridiculous for even thinking that that’s what’s happening but it’s hard to rationalize it away.”

“I know.” Dee Dee rubbed her back. “But at least reliving our shared trauma has brought us back to being friends.”

Miranda chuckled. “I guess that was one thing mom was always good for.”

Miranda’s phone dinged and she pulled it out of her pocket. She sighed before turning it around for Dee Dee to see.

[Sitting by myself in the dining room…]

“You get the water, I’ll get the wine.”

Miranda followed behind Dee Dee and she set the glass of water in front of Andy. “Here you go, darling.”

“Thanks. I was starting to wonder if you’d slipped out the back.”

“That’s not how I’d affect my escape. The backdoor only leads to a closed courtyard.” Miranda teased.

“I’ve seen you do some incredible things when you put your mind to it.”

Dee Dee choked on her wine. “TMI, ladies.”

“I wasn’t talking about sex, Dee Dee.” Andy snapped.

Dee Dee wiped her mouth on her napkin. “Pardon me.” She smirked.

“How’s your salmon, love?” Miranda cleared her throat.

“Cold. Since it took you and Dee Dee five hours to get the drinks.”

Miranda lifted the wine to her lips and murmured. “I love you.” into the deep red liquid.

“What was that?” Andy frowned.

“I’m reminding myself that I love you.” Miranda took Andy’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Would you like me to reheat it for you?”

“And leave me here with Dee Dee?”

Dee Dee scoffed. “Thanks.”

“Is there anything I can do-” Miranda stopped mid-sentence to let out a gasp of pain when Andy squeezed her hand as she grit her teeth, groaning.

Andy released Miranda’s hand and Miranda pulled it back, flexing her fingers as she stood up. “I’m calling an ambulance, these aren’t Braxton-Hicks.”

“No, Miranda. No.” Andy growled. “I’m not going into labor and I just want to eat my dinner. Sit down.”

Miranda sank down into her chair. “I can appreciate that you’re uncomfortable and in pain but is it possible to be just a bit nicer to me?” Miranda pursed her lips. “I’m really trying here.”

“I’m sorry.” Andy sighed, taking a big gulp of her water. “It’s just frustrating that you keep saying you think I’m going into labor because it’s not time yet.”

“It’s different with twins.” Miranda said calmly. “I know the baby books say 38 but twins are considered full term at 36.”

“I’m scared.” Andy admitted. “I’m not ready for this and I need to just have a normal dinner, okay?”

Miranda gave her hand a squeeze. “Okay, sweetheart.”

“And, sorry, Dee Dee, you’re a guest and we don’t get along but I don’t have to be openly hostile toward you.”

“You flatter me.” Dee Dee raised a glass to her sister-in-law.

Andy speared a bite of salmon and brought it up to her mouth. “How are rehearsals going?”

Dee Dee nodded, “good actually. I don’t know if Miranda told you but I’m actually playing a supporting role and doing some directing.”

“Oh, she didn’t. That’s cool. Do you like it?”

“Do I like bossing people around?” Dee Dee raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Andy chuckled, “of course, stupid question.”

"Ironically, stepping out of the spotlight seems to have people more interested in me again. So, there's an unexpected bonus." Dee Dee grinned.

"When are you able to go see Tom again?" Miranda asked.

Dee Dee opened her mouth to speak and Andy let out a wail and grabbed Miranda's arm.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Miranda asked, stricken.

"These kids are killing me." She ground out. "One of them just kicked me right in the bladder; oh god, I just peed everywhere…" she admitted, embarrassed.

"Get me to the bathroom." She winced.

"Here we go, honey," Miranda wrapped an arm around Andy and helped her to her feet. "Sweetheart, I don't want you to panic because I know you said you weren't ready…"

"Don't say it…" Andy pleaded.

"That's not pee. Your water just broke and we have to go to the hospital."

Andy gripped Miranda tightly as another contraction almost brought her to her knees. "Okay. Okay… uh, hospital, yes…"

"Ladies, that was less than two minutes since the last one." Dee Dee bit her lip anxiously.

"Dee Dee, can you hail a cab? I think we can get a cab quicker than an ambulance at this point."

Dee Dee picked up her wine and downed the rest of it. "On it."

Andy yelled as she clutched her stomach. "Oh fuck, I think it's happening right this second." She squeezed Miranda's arm tightly.

"Right this second?" Dee Dee demanded shrilly.

"Put me down." Andy panted, gasping through another contraction. "I don't want the babies to fall out."

Miranda eased her to the carpet and helped her prop up her feet. "I don't think they're that close- oh Jesus, I think I see a head! Dee Dee!"

Dee Dee nodded, fumbling with her phone. "Yup, 911, I'm on it!"

"Use the landline in the kitchen so they have the address faster." Miranda turned her attention back to Andy. "Here, hold my hands, do the breathing."

"I'm trying." Andy squeezed her eyes shut, gripping Miranda's hands for dear life.

Dee Dee made haste to the kitchen and grabbed the phone, quickly dialing 911.

"911, what is your emergency?"

"My sister-in-law is giving birth in the dining room and we need an ambulance ASAP."

"Is she a high risk pregnancy?"

"Well, she's in her late thirties and she's having twins."

"What week is she?"

"Are you sending the ambulance?"

"Yes, ma'am, it's on its way. I'm just getting information to pass along. Do you know how many weeks she is and was it precipitated by an injury or other event?"

"Um, shit, they told me but… thirtysomething weeks? We were just eating dinner. Oh, and her water broke."

"How long ago?"

"Minutes." Dee Dee snapped. "She was having contractions for a while but she thought it was the fake ones."

"How long was she having contractions?"

"Since before I got here. The last ones were less than two minutes apart."

"Okay. They should be arriving momentarily; go to the front door and let the paramedics in."

Dee Dee hung up the phone and walked into the dining room. "Paramedics are almost here. How are you doing?"

Andy responded by screaming at Dee Dee at the top of her lungs and Dee Dee nodded. "Yeah, that's about what I figured. I'm going to go let the paramedics in."

"You're doing amazing, honey." Miranda soothed.

"Is it gonna get easier now?" Andy asked earnestly and immediately yelled in pain.

"Um…"

"Lie to me!" She shrieked.

Miranda nodded emphatically. "You're over the worst of it, sweetheart. It's smooth sailing from here."

"Okay, stop lying to me, it's not actually making me feel better." Andy panted and screamed in one breath.

"Excuse me, ma'am." One of the paramedics approached Miranda.

"Andrea, you're gonna have to let me go."

"Miranda, don't leave me."

"I'm going to be with you but the paramedics need to get you to the ambulance." Miranda explained gently, trying to dislodge her hands. "Sweetheart, let me go…"

"There's room for her in the ambulance, it'll be okay, sugar." The paramedic assured her and helped Miranda extricate her hands.

"Miranda, I'm scared."

"I'm right here. You're in good hands."

Miranda stepped back while the paramedics prepped Andy for transport to the hospital. Miranda followed behind and saw Dee Dee on the curb outside.

"I'll meet you over there." Dee Dee waved.

"Call the girls too?" Miranda asked.

Dee Dee nodded. "On it." She took her cell phone out as the ambulance pulled away and her Uber pulled up.

"Yo, yo, yo, Auntie. ¿Que pasa?" She answered.

"Your siblings are being born, want to go to the hospital and meet them?"

"Oh my god, right now?"

"Yeah, she almost gave birth in the dining room so I don't think it's going to take very long." Dee Dee chuckled.

"Ew, for real?"

"Yeah, for real. Your mom said she could see a head."

"So gross." Caroline laughed. "Cass and I can leave right now. Are you there?"

"I'm on my way. I'll meet you there."

"Drop a pin and we'll find you."

"How about you just call me when you get there?" Dee Dee smirked.

**

Dee Dee's phone trilled and she smiled, "Tom!"

"Hey beautiful," he grinned. "I know it's kind of late but the PTA meeting just ended and I wanted to see how it's going with Andy."

"Yeah, the girls and I are still waiting on them." Dee Dee turned the phone to the girls who looked up from their own phones and waved and greeted Tom. Dee Dee turned it back to herself. "We've just been sitting here for, what?"

"Three hours." Caroline supplied.

"Three hours and thirteen minutes." Cassidy corrected.

"Yeah, but how many seconds?" Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Oh, bite me." Cassidy snapped.

"We're all hangry and tensions are running high." Dee Dee said to the phone. "I don't know why we haven't heard anything. It seemed to be happening pretty fast."

"I'm sure you'll hear something soon. I want to send something, do you think Andy would like a giant cookie or an edible arrangement better? And follow-up question: would she want a chocolate chip or double chocolate cookie?"

"I couldn't even begin to guess, my love." Dee Dee laughed.

"I'll just send a selection and she can have whatever she wants."

"That sounds good, darling." Dee Dee smiled, "I have to go, the desk nurse is giving me a dirty look about the phone."

Tom chuckled, "okay, keep me posted. I love you."

"I love you too." Dee Dee put the phone back down and sighed.

"Do you think you and Tom are going to get married?" Cassidy asked.

Dee Dee shrugged. "I'm not worried about that. The last marriage was such a spectacular disaster. I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be."

"I mean, mom's had three spectacularly disastrous marriages and she still married Andy."

"Well, Andrea's young and hadn't been married before. When you're with someone young they expect to do things you've already done when you were young and naive."

"What do you know about that?"

"You think your mom is the only one with groupies? Idealistic young people who look at you with awe and admiration…"

"So, you've slept with young people too and you give mom so much shit about Andy?" Caroline laughed.

"Yes, because you're not supposed to marry the groupies; it makes you look old and silly." Dee Dee laughed.

"Say what you will but Andy is the right person for mom. Do you remember what she was like that last year with Stephen? She was so stressed out and volatile. She was so unhappy for a really long time."

"Long stretches of unhappiness are pretty much par for the course of adulthood, ladies." Dee Dee teased.

"And Andy wasn't even a groupie. She did not like her at all. She's told us. She thought mom was a miserable, haughty, capricious asshole." Caroline insisted.

"I mean, where is the lie?" Cassidy laughed.

"If she disliked her that much, how did we end up here, then, with Andrea giving birth to Miranda's spawn?" Dee Dee raised an eyebrow.

"She got to know her as a person and fell in love." Caroline smiled. "I think it's really romantic. And I think what you have with Tom is really romantic too."

"Yeah, well…" Dee Dee shrugged noncommittally but smiling nonetheless. "No one is talking about marriage. I finally got shot of Eddie."

"Oh, come on, Tom is nothing like Uncle Eddie." Cassidy folded her arms. "He's a legit cinnamon roll."

"When are the two of you going to start thinking about marriage? Two can play at this game."

"We're too young to get married." Caroline smirked.

"Well I'm too old to get married." Dee Dee insisted. "Why can't two people just love each other and be together without involving the government?"

Dee Dee shifted impatiently in her seat. "How long's it been now, Big Ben?"

"Three hours and twenty two minutes."

"I'm going to see if the nurse will tell me anything." Dee Dee walked up to the nurse's station. "Hi, I'm Miranda Priestly and my wife, Andrea Sachs-Priestly is admitted here and I'd like some information."

"You've been sitting in the waiting room and I've heard three people call you Dee Dee."

"Dee Dee can be a nickname for Miranda." She insisted. "Come on, I'm obviously related."

"I can't give you protected health information just because you have the same face as the person's spouse." The nurse replied tiredly.

Dee Dee threw her hands up in frustration before going back to her seat.

"Didn't work with the last nurse either, Aunt Dee Dee." Caroline chuckled.

"Are you doing anything proactive?" Dee Dee smirked.

"Hey. There's mom." Cassidy announced, standing up.

"Oh, thank god." Dee Dee sighed with a modicum of relief, but bit her lip nervously. "Everybody okay?"

Miranda nodded, "everyone's okay. The babies are amazing and Andrea's going to be fine too. She lost a lot of blood but they've got her stabilized and she's going to be completely fine. Scared the hell out of me though."

The girls surrounded Miranda and threw their arms around her. Miranda smiled and wrapped her arms around them and, for the first time in her life, Dee Dee felt a twinge that she may have missed out on something.

“Dee Dee…” Miranda said, holding an arm out for her sister. Dee Dee gladly got up and folded into the embrace, realizing that she hadn’t missed out on this because she was already a part of it.

Dee Dee leaned her forehead against Miranda’s. “You doing okay?” She whispered.

“I am now.” Miranda smiled.

The four women separated. “When can we see Andy and the babies?” Caroline asked.

“They’re getting Andrea a private room. When she’s all set up, we’ll be able to go back.”

“A private room?” Dee Dee’s eyebrows went up. “So, which wing will you be donating?”

“Yeah, no kidding.” Miranda chuckled. “Hard to be mad at them though when they just saved her life.”

“It was that serious?” Cassidy furrowed her brow.

“It could have been if they hadn’t caught it. But she’s completely fine, just exhausted.” Miranda insisted.

“Should we come back tomorrow? Let her rest?” Dee Dee asked, despite groans of protest from the girls.

“She said she wanted everyone to meet the babies and say hi to everyone before visiting hours end.”

“Good. Because I am meeting those babies come hell or high water, mamacita.” Cassidy stated firmly.

A nurse opened the double doors and announced, “she’s ready for you all.”

The girls excitedly followed the nurse and Dee Dee put an arm around Miranda’s waist, leaning in and whispering, “maybe the blood loss was purging mom.”

“One can only hope.” Miranda agreed as they followed her daughters down the hallway.

The door opened to a small single room with Andy propped up against the pillows, both babies in her arms. “Hi gang.” She smiled sleepily. “Aren’t they perfect?”

Miranda sat on the edge of the bed and leaned in and kissed Andy’s forehead. “You’re pretty perfect too.”

“Can I hold one?” Caroline blurted out. “Did you get to hold them yet, mom?”

“I held them both after they were born.” Miranda ran her hand delicately over the silky brown hair of the closest baby.

“Come here, Caroline.” Andy beckoned her forward.

“Support her head,” Miranda instructed Caroline as she eased the baby into her arms.

“Her? Two more Priestly women?” Cassidy grinned.

“Get over here and hold your sister.” Andy smiled. “Try to hold back the shenanigans until they get a little older.”

“I’ll try.” Cassidy shrugged as she scooped up the other twin, Miranda cupping the back of her head as Cassidy picked her up. “Mom, I got it. I’ve held a baby tons of times.”

“Have you decided on names?” Dee Dee asked, gently stroking the cheek of the baby in Caroline’s arms.

“Fiona and Farrah.” Andy announced triumphantly.

“Oh, little Flora and Fauna.” Caroline grinned.

“Miranda…” Andy frowned.

“The more you protest, the more it’ll stick.” Miranda shook her head, giving Andy’s hand a squeeze.