Yes, it is much AUs! Everything I learned about it was from FFA, though, not so much first-hand experience. I did once check out a story where Andy was a space-botanist and Miranda was a pirate that got captured ...

Hmm, I had thought the "she now works at TV Guide" was about a girl leaving, but a google tells me it was about a girl leaving the desk and being fired. So you were right!

I hated/disliked Walter from the start and thought she should never have gotten back with him after he left her, so I think I discounted anything he said in that vein as he was The Settling Choice.