Omg! I know! I UPDATED!!!! (Shocked gasp erupts from readers).
I'm TERRIBLY, AWFULLY sorry that I haven't updated before now!!! School, tests, applications, plays, and other activities have ruled my life but I am finally FREE for at least a short bit! I do hope you haven't given up on this story- it's still in the works and I promise this is not the end.

What's Missing From Her Life 10/?
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing! DWP characters belong to someone else, and Ellen DeGeneres belongs to herself. Hopefully.
Archiving: Sure! But notify me first, k?
Enjoy!!!!

 

Andy spent the next few days setting up interviews and focusing on her article. She barely had time for Miranda, and the same seemed to be true for her, save a few appreciative murmurs. It almost felt like Andy was a genuine writer for Runway. Miranda certainly seemed to be treating her as such. Still, she began to find it disconcerting that she hadn’t had any actual work come up during her time on the article. Everyone else around the office seemed, if anything, to have an increase in workload. Nigel barely had time for a small smattering of chit chat anymore, and Emily was looking even more emaciated than usual. Miranda, though, seemed the calmest of calms. She spent a little extra time out of the office, sure, but her time in the office was characterized by lazily drawn out phone calls with Italian designers and the twins. Nigel informed Andy quickly that this must be a good sign, considering the depths of hell from which Miranda had slowly been pulling herself.

A day after these changes had registered on Andy, however, the strangest thing happened.

“Andrea, tonight I would like you to dine at my house.”

Andy’s head jerked up from the laptop she had just been furiously typing on.

“Wha-ah?”

She must have looked terrible, because Miranda rolled her eyes and turned away.

“Ellen has come into town in order to broadcast her show. She has agreed to come by for dinner and be interviewed by you in the process. The girls will be at their father’s, so it will be a more comfortable environment. You will be there at 7, Ellen will arrive a half hour later.”

Still trying to wrap her mind around the idea, the young reporter asked confusedly, “Why so early?”

This set off another eye roll from Miranda.

“I will be prepping you for the interview. God knows you’ve never spoken to anyone of Ellen’s caliber before and I want to make sure you are taking the write angle with your questions.”

Andy nodded, and dumbly turned back towards her work for the rest of the day.

 

There was no further mention of the night, but Andy knew how important it was. Though offended she may have been, she knew Miranda was right when she told her that she had never interviewed anyone of Ellen’s ‘caliber.’ Her quotes from the justices the week before had topped her list of incredible interviews and she had been greatly looking forward to interviewing Mayor Newsome, but nothing like this had ever crossed her mind.

When dressing for the evening, she chose a black, Gucci pencil skirt with a red, slightly snug top. She wanted to make an impression, but she kept in mind that Ellen would probably show up in a business suit and Converse sneakers, so she opted out of the five inch heel. She grabbed her tape recorder, assuming that a notepad at the dinner table would make Miranda’s ears boil, and stuck it in her purse.

She arrived at Miranda’s exactly at 7, and was let in by the maid. She went immediately to the study to find Miranda sitting in the ‘comfy’ chair. Andy inhaled sharply. She was in white, loose-fitting slacks, with a low-cut cashmere top that left little to the imagination. Andy was lost in her thoughts for a moment, before she realized that Miranda was looking right at her.

Andy felt her face go red. If Miranda noticed, she didn’t mention it. She simply gestured for Andy to take her seat on the couch across from her and began speaking.

“As you probably know by now this article will be featured. You must listen carefully to what I am about to tell you. Do not ask a single question about morality. Focus on emotion and her relationship with Portia. I would rather you didn’t bring up politics unless necessary; stick to her reaction. If she asks you for your opinion, which she probably will, give it. This dinner will be largely conversational, so you may record. Just don’t quote me.”

Andy nodded, trying to remember all that had been said.

“Should I ask about her personal plans regarding the decision?”

Miranda nodded, “She will most likely be willing to talk about them.”

With that, they were interrupted by the doorbell.

Miranda let a smile caress her face, “Ah. Early as usual.”

Andy tensed up, and was noticed by her boss.

“Be calm. She’s not a Mongolian foot soldier for God’s sake.”

Miranda walked slowly to the door and opened it after brushing a stray lock of hair (which Andy had been fixating on) out of her eye. Sure enough, standing in the doorway, was Ellen DeGeneres herself. Andy couldn’t help but grin; she had been a fan since her first show and was sad to see it cancelled. She never missed an episode of the talk show, either.

Miranda and Ellen briefly embraced as the hostess showed the guest inside. “Wow, Miranda, the place is really coming along since last time I was here.”

The editor laughed, “Yes, I had it redecorated just for you.”

Andy smiled, enjoying the brief contact between the two women. It seemed to humanize the boss she had tried so long to humanize.

Miranda led Ellen into the hall where Andy was standing, and graced her with a bright smile.

“This, Ellen, is a rising star in the magazine; Andy Sachs.”

Ellen smiled and shook Andy’s hand. Miranda looked pleased that Andy hadn’t been able to ruin the evening thus far.

“Nice to meet you, Andy.”

All Andy could do was grin. Miranda rolled her eyes.

“Well, dinner is ready in the dining room.”

“I thought I was early.”

Miranda smirked, “I did as well, which is why though you are not on time, dinner is.”

 

As soon as they sat down, Andy flipped on the tape recorder. The first few minutes passed by with general chit chat. The young journalist was eager to ask questions about the interviews that Ellen had done, and did so. Miranda cautiously watched the exchange. Andy caught the older woman staring at her a few times out of the corner of her eye. Soon, however, the topic changed to the matter at hand.

“So, what I was wondering first is- do you and Portia plan to take advantage of the new law in California?”

Ellen grinned and shook her head, “Yeah, Yeah. Plans are in the works as we speak.”

“Had you and Portia previously had any type of ceremony?”

She shook her head, “Not any official kind. We considered ourselves married so to speak, but we hadn’t taken any ceremonial actions towards it.”

“How are you feeling about the decision to allow gay marriage in California?”

“I’m excited. I really am. I think that it’s the first step on a long road to making America really accept people from every corner of life.”

Miranda stepped in then, and surprised Andy.

“You know, I agree. I think it’s been a little ridiculous that countries such as Canada, Great Britain, and Australia have granted rights to same-sex couples and America hasn’t even done that, let alone full marriage benefits.”

Ellen nodded, “What do you think, Andy?”

She shrugged her shoulders a bit. “I don’t see any reason why gay couples shouldn’t be allowed marriage. It’s a right, not a privilege, and they’re not any different from straight couples.”

Andy found herself in a daze as she simply realized where she was and what she was doing. She was casually discussing gay marriage with Ellen DeGeneres and the woman she couldn’t stop thinking about for five minutes, who was becoming more and more open as the night went on.

The conversation drifted a little after Andy got the rest of the quotes she wanted, and turned towards more personal aspects.

“So,” Ellen asked, “how have you really been, Miranda? Two weeks ago you sounded pretty bad off.”

Miranda inhaled sharply and cast a glance at Andy, possibly wishing she wasn’t there to here her explanations.

“I have been…lonely, and disorganized.”

A pain struck through Andy’s heart at this moment. She could hear to strife in Miranda’s voice. She knew that even though things seemed to be getting better for the older woman, they still weren’t to the point of happiness.

Ellen gave Miranda a sympathetic smile.

“Is it the divorce? I know it hit you hard last time…”

Miranda let out a chuckle.

“No, no, no…not this time. It’s…different.”

Ellen nodded.

“You need somebody. I have a great guy I could…”

Miranda shot her a death glare.

“I don’t need a pity fix-up. I’m perfectly capable of finding someone on my own, thank you.”

Andy remained silent during this period, hoping the conversation would form better without her input.

“Then why haven’t you?” Ellen asked.

The breath caught in Miranda’s throat.

“Maybe I don’t need anyone.”

Ellen scoffed. “You’ve been saying that for years. You know it isn’t true.”

Miranda looked at Andy, obviously willing her to leave the room.

Andy stumbled over her words, “I…I’ll just go…and check the weather!”

She made her escape, but stood right outside the hall where she was unseen, but could hear.

Miranda continued once she thought Andy was out of earshot.

“Ellen…I have been re-evaluating certain aspects of my life. I no longer see men as a part of it.”

She shrugged, “So you’re just giving up on love then?”

This elicited a sharp intake of breath from Miranda. It finally clicked with her dinner companion.

“Oh! Did you just figure it out or something?”

“Yes. And I would appreciate you keeping it under your hat for the moment- I wouldn’t much like it to get out in the middle of divorce proceedings.”

This admission had Andy flattened against the wall. She was half confused and half utterly delighted. The idea that the woman she had grown to care so much about stood a chance at caring for her was more than intriguing…but she would have to tread carefully.