Disclaimer: Not mine, wish they were... just borrowing to have some fun...

A/N: I have been toying with this for a while and eventually gave in and wrote this. I was always intrigued by the prospect of Miranda's reaction to a Law School graduate looking for work as her assistant, so this story was born.

A/N 2: Since Andy finished Law School at the beginning of this story, I will have her be around twenty-five for this story. Since I have no clue how old Miranda is, I am going to put her age at forty-five and the twins around ten.

A/N 3: I have hesitating about posting this, since it is another WiP, but I finally gave in because I have been feeling guilty with the lack of Miranda on my crossover story 'Taking Chances'. Hope you all enjoy this, my latest bit of madness :-)

Welcome To The Real World

Chapter 1

It is a proud day for Andrea Alexandra Sachs. After three gruelling years, she is graduating from Columbia Law School, twenty-first in her class. She stands proudly and walks over to receive her diploma after her name is called. She has kept her promise to her parents. She has a solid career to fall back on, should her dream career not take off. Now comes the difficult task of informing her parents that even though she plans on writing her bar exam at least for the state of New York, she isn't planning on practicing law any time soon. Just because it would be easier to just accept one of the many offers she has, does not mean she is ready to give up one of her dreams anytime soon. Law school was an emergency measure and a way to stop the nagging from her parents. Not that she would ever tell them the last part.

It has been a month and a half since her commencement and she is still looking for work in the publishing world. Andy wonders how much longer she can hold off, until she has to rely on her 'other' career. She still has a few offers from some local and some not so local law firms as well as the District Attorney's office interested in hiring her. Her parents cannot understand Andy's hesitation in taking one of those offers. Andy sits down and takes a good close look at her finances and gives herself two more weeks before she will cave and take one of those offers. It's like prospective employers run away kicking and screaming the moment they see in her résumé that she has a law degree to go along with her journalism one. As a last ditch effort she applies for a job as second assistant to one Miranda Priestly at Runway magazine, and miraculously enough, she has an interview for the position. Sure, she knows nothing about fashion, but at least it's better than, say, scrubbing toilets, and it is with one of the biggest publishing houses in the industry, she tells herself.

Andy is not holding her breath on landing this job. She knows in some ways she is overqualified for the job and in other, she is underqualified. Talk about oxymorons. She is sure she will hear non-stop criticism from her parents, boyfriend and friends, but the prospect of being hired in a place where it might open some doors for her, is too enticing to pass up. She isn't exactly thrilled either; because being someone's junior assistant is just a nicer way of saying she will be someone's gopher. Andy remembers only too well her times as a summer intern in the District Attorney's office. She wonders if she will be asked to roll over and play dead as well. Andy will not say a word to anyone until she has the job. At the rate she is going, she might as well take on a job at the local McDonald's just to have some sort of income. She quietly sends a quick prayer that the interview she has for the next day will go well.

When her alarm goes off early the next day, Andy gets up and untangles herself from Nate's arms and quickly heads to the small bathroom for her shower. She goes through her head over the possible questions she might be asked, the biggest one of course, being why in the name of God is a person with a law degree applying for a position as someone's junior assistant, especially someone who graduated twenty-first out of a class of three hundred and thirty. She wonders about that herself, but running errands for someone has to be better than flipping burgers, right? She gets dressed, hoping for the best. Once she looks at the clock on the microwave, she utters a small curse because she is running a bit behind. She will have to eat breakfast on the go.

Andy steps out of the subway with barely ten minutes to spare as she makes her way inside the Elias-Clarke building. A quick check in with the security desk and she is on her to the elevators that will take her to the executive offices of Runway magazine and hopefully her new job. As she steps outside the elevator, she is hit by a sea of very well dressed women, and Andy questions her sanity for considering this job. It is clear that she does not fit in, but desperate times call for desperate measures. She needs a job because she can't keep relying on her savings, and she keeps telling herself that this has to be better than scrubbing toilets or flipping burgers. She conveniently forgets the offers from New York's District Attorney's office and a few others from 'that' field.

"Hi, my name is Andrea Sachs and I have an appointment with Emily Charlton." Andy says to the receptionist who looks her up and down. She is quickly directed to another set of glass doors that lead, she is told, to Miranda Priestly's outer office.

"You're Andrea Sachs?" A clipped British tone asks as she steps through the doors.

"Yes. Good morning. You must be Emily." Andy says, extending her hand to the person who just spoke to her.

"Great. HR must truly hate us." Emily mutters. "Well, don't just stand there. Follow me." Emily says a bit louder this time, ignoring Andy's extended hand. She does not even bother with the girl's résumé.

"Here is the deal Andrea. There has been a shift in our personnel when Miranda's former first assistant got promoted and I in turn took over as first assistant." Emily starts.

"So basically you are trying to find a replacement for yourself?" Andy asks.

"I have been trying to, but things, shall we say, have been a little on the hectic side. Miranda sacked the last two girls after only a few weeks. We need to find someone who can survive the fast pace of this office and of course, survive Miranda. Are you with me so far?" Emily asks, unsure why she is even bothering.

"Yes, of course. If you don't mind, I have a couple of questions. Just who exactly is Miranda Priestly that she would require two assistants?" Andy asks.

"Oh my God, I will pretend you did not just ask me that." Emily snaps nearly stunned into silence. "She is the Editor-in-Chief of Runway magazine, the best editor there is, and one of the most influential people in the publishing world. You work for her for a year and you can practically take your pick of a job in any publication. A million girls would kill for this job." Emily finishes.

"Well, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. I would certainly like to be considered for the position." Andy says, nearly drooling at the prospect of all the doors that would eventually open for her.

"Andrea, Runway is a fashion magazine, so you must understand that an interest in fashion is imperative to even be considered for this job." Emily says snootily as she tries to stifle a giggle.

"What makes you think I'm not interested in fashion?" Andy cannot help but ask; clearly incensed at the judgement Emily seems to be passing based solely by her outwards appearance. Just as Emily is about to answer, a cell phone chirps and next thing Andy knows, all hell breaks loose.

"No, no, no!" Emily exclaims as she starts to hyperventilate.

"What's wrong?" Andy asks a bit concerned, at the same time a well dressed balding man with glasses steps through the double doors.

"Nigel, she's on her way. Tell everyone." Emily says to the man while completely ignoring Andy.

"But she isn't supposed to be in until 9." Nigel replies looking at his watch.

"I know, but Roy just texted to say that her facialist ruptured a disk." Emily answers as she starts to make her way from her desk into the kitchenette.

Nigel looks in Andy's general direction before he covers his profile with a folder before he whistles to get Emily's attention. "What is that?" He mouths as he points subtly in Andy's general vicinity.

"Don't ask." Emily says as she ducks into the kitchenette.

"All right everyone. Gird your loins." Nigel says, then turning once again in Andy's general direction, "Did someone eat an onion bagel?" He asks before he disappears.

Andy quickly holds up a hand and checks her breath. She scrunches her forehead, and just in case, she pops a mint or two in her mouth. She quickly sits behind the empty desk to get out of the way of the mad dash everyone around her seems to be doing. She is stunned as she watches everyone scrambling about to tidy up. Emily practically launches herself into the inner office with a stack of magazines and newspapers and arranges them neatly in two neat rows on top of what Andy presumes is Miranda Priestly's desk. Emily then puts a glass and fills it with what looks like bottled water, and just as Emily comes to a screeching halt by the elevator, the doors open to reveal an amazingly dressed woman step out regally to hand out a binder of sorts to a waiting Emily.

What Andy witnesses next is burned in her memory for all eternity. The woman she presumes is Miranda, and hopefully her future employer, begins a series of rapid fire instructions to a waiting Emily who somehow manages to catch every single one of them without missing a beat. All Andy manages to hear from all that is a mention of an ex-husband and a parent-teacher conference at a school, which Andy assumes Miranda's child attends. She seriously wonders if she will be able to do that if she somehow manages to get the job. She sends a quiet prayer to the gods for having learned shorthand because she is convinced it will be a plus in a setting like this.

"Who is that?" Miranda asks as she sits behind her desk.

"Nobody. Human Resources sent her up and I was in the process of pre-interviewing her for the assistant job. She is completely hopeless and totally wrong for it." Emily answers.

"Considering the disasters you sent me before, it is clear I will have to interview her myself. Send her in. That's all." Miranda says.

"Of course Miranda." Emily says as she exits the inner office. "She wants to see you. Go! And leave that behind. It's hideous." She adds as she turns to face Andy, grabbing Andy's leather case.

"Oh! Right." Andy says as she grips her résumé and gently knocks on the door.

"Well, come on in. It's not like I have the time to wait for the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace." Miranda says impatiently.

Andy quickly scrambles into the office. "Good morning Ms. Priestly." Andy says as she hands over her résumé and waits patiently as Miranda goes over it.

"Sit." Miranda says without looking up. "Explain to me why someone fresh out of Law School is looking for work as my assistant in a fashion magazine." Miranda continues to speak once Andy sits down.

"I did my undergrad in journalism at Northwestern University. I originally came to New York to be a journalist. I attended law school as a fall back option only. I have sent applications to just about every publication and to be honest it is either working as your assistant, doing I'm not exactly sure what in Auto Universe, or finally give in and pursue other interests. I am sure I will do a good job as your assistant." Andy replies.

"So, you don't read Runway?" Miranda asks.

"No, I don't." Andy answers honestly, knowing there is no point in lying.

"And before today you had never heard of me." Miranda continues slightly amused by the thought.

"No. I have not." Andy replies, somehow managing to keep her features even.

"You also have no sense of fashion." Miranda says looking Andy up and down.

"Well, that actually depends on who…" Andy replies.

"No, that wasn't a question. It was statement of fact." Miranda retorts softly.

Andy takes a deep breath, but moves on, undeterred. "I know I don't really fit in here. I am not skinny by the fashion industry's standards, and my knowledge of the fashion industry can fit in a container the size of a thimble, but I am intelligent, a hard worker and I learn fast. I was the editor in chief of the Daily Northwesternand The Columbia Law School News. I have won a few national competitions for college journalists with my series on the janitor's union for the exploitation of recent immigrants who lack the proper language skills and for my series on the over worked lawyers working for New York's District Attorney's office and the Public Defender's office…" Andy starts to say before she is interrupted.

"That is all." Miranda says looking up and through her glasses at Andy, making the young woman squirm a little at the scrutiny.

Suddenly, Nigel burst into the office in a whirlwind of papers and photographs. "I got the exclusive on the Cavalli for Gwyneth, but the problem is, with that huge feathered headdress that she's wearing she looks like she's working the main stage at the Golden Nugget." Nigel starts to say only to stop short at the glare he receives from Miranda.

"My apologies Miranda. I didn't know you were busy." Nigel says looking around confused, wondering why Emily didn't say anything to him. "I'll uh wait outside until you are done here." Nigel says quickly as he steps outside before Miranda has a chance to say anything else.

"Report to Human Resources to straighten out your paperwork. You start tomorrow." Miranda tells Andy. "Emily." She calls out softly.

"Yes Miranda." Emily quickly walks in the office, pad and pen in hand.

"Show the new girl the ropes when she returns from Human Resources and send Nigel back in. That's all." Miranda says dismissing both girls.

"I don't know how the bloody hell you pulled that off, but I'm sure she has her reasons. Right, job description." Emily says before she takes a deep breath and begins the same spiel for a third and dare she hope a final time, at least for the near future.

"First of all, she is Miranda. Not Ms. Priestly or Ma'am or Mrs. Priestly. She hates that. No one, and I mean no one gets on a lift with her. If you have to run up the stairs to beat her here then so be it, but you do not ever get on a lift with her. You do not ask her questions. Ever. Now, for the job part. You and I answer the phones. Each and every phone call must be answered. No excuses. Calls roll over to voicemail during business hours and she gets very upset. If I'm not here, you are chained to the desk." Emily continues with her rapid fire instructions.

Spouting off instructions at a breakneck speed must be contagious, or a pre-requisite Andy thinks "But what if I need to…" Andy begins to say before she is interrupted again.

"No excuses. One time an assistant left the desk because she sliced open her hand with a letter opened and Miranda missed Lagerfeld before he boarded a seventeen hour flight to Australia. She now works for TV Guide." Emily says.

"Gotcha. Man the desk at all times." Andy says resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"Now, even though we both must answer the phones, you and I have completely different jobs. I mean, you run errands and get coffee. I am in charge of her schedule, and her expenses. I am indispensable. You are to get her coffee only when she is in the vicinity of Elias-Clarke. Roy, her driver, will text you to let you know. Miranda will always take a grande, no foam latte with an extra shot of espresso, searing hot. Not lukewarm, not just hot, but hot enough to cause third degree burns on contact. Now, be a good little girl and keep an eye on the phone while I run down and give the Art Department the Book." Emily says as she grabs the big binder-like object Andy saw earlier.

"The Book? But what if…" Andy begins before she is interrupted yet again.

"The Book is a mock up of what is in the issue we are currently working on. It gets assembled every night and normally it would be the job of the second assistant to deliver it to Miranda, but until you have proven to be trustworthy and not some psychotic lunatic, I get stuck with the lovely task. Now, I am sure you are capable of answering the phone and taking some messages until I return. Do not bother Miranda unless it is important." Emily says before she grabs the Book and leaves behind a confused looking Andy. How in the name of God is she supposed to know who is important enough to put through, she silently curses at Emily's retreating form.

Andy finally leaves the Elias-Clarke building in a bit of a daze after shadowing Emily for the rest of the day and then completing all the required paperwork and signing the standard non-disclosure agreement all Elias-Clarke employees must sign. Somehow, she actually feels proud because she got a job all on her own in a publishing company. Granted, for now she is just a glorified gopher, but she knows that with some hard work, she will move closer to making one of her dreams reality. She walks to the nearest subway station with an extra spring to her step, and heads to the usual hang out to meet Nate, her boyfriend, along with Lily and Doug, her childhood friends.

"Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence." Nate jokes. Andy picks up an undercurrent of bitterness, but chooses to ignore it. It has been a good day and she doesn't want it to end in another fight.

"Sorry guys, I just left Elias-Clarke an hour or so ago. I have been stuck in the subway since." Andy says as she plops down on the empty chair by Nate, motioning a waitress for a beer.

"What were you doing there?" Lily asks perplexed.

"I had an interview there this morning. Then I was finishing some paperwork and stuff. You are looking at Miranda Priestly's new junior assistant." Andy says with a smile.

"You got a job in a fashion magazine?" Doug asks surprised.

"They must have been blind when they hired you." Nate says laughing. The comment is meant as a joke, but it feels more like a backhanded insult and it just reminds Andy how out of place she felt during her interview. It just serves to make Andy even more annoyed with Nate's behaviour.

"I know it's not the ideal job, and that I'm not glamorous when compared to the other women who work there, but you don't have to be such a jerk about it." Andy replies slightly hurt.

"Well, the Dragon Lady of the publishing world did not get to where she is by being predictable." Doug interjects, hoping to stem any arguments. He knows how hard Andy has worked for her Law degree just to get her parents to back off, and how frustrating is has been for her to find work as a writer.

"Hold on a sec here Doug. How is it that you know who my boss is, but I have never heard of her?" Andy asks surprised and awed at the same time.

"Shh. Don't tell anyone, but in reality I am a woman." He mock whispers to the group.

"That explains so much." Lily says in between snorts of laughter.

"In all seriousness though, don't feel bad. You have been so busy with school that you're lucky you know who the editor-in-chief for The New York Times is. Don't let it bother you, kid." Doug says with an understanding smile.

The rest of the evening is spent joking around, and Andy has to admit that life is good. They eventually part company because as much as they want to think that they are the masters of their fates, they all know come morning, they will have to get up and work and ever so slowly start to carve a place for themselves in their respective professions. At the very least, the other three have three years advantage over Andy, which just depresses her even more.

Andy's official first day is a complete disaster. The six a.m. wake up call from Emily with the Starbucks order should have been a sign for things to come. She truly has no idea what is going on around her, and it seems that the people (namely Miranda and Emily) who are supposed to train her just expect her to do the job with only a mere hint of input on their part. What was to her a simple comment about two belts that looked the same turns into a reason for Miranda to verbally humiliate her in front of the department editors. The rest of her first week passes by in similar fashion, with Andy barely hanging on. When she does her job well, it is never acknowledged, but when she makes a mistake, however miniscule, the hounds of hell seem like fuzzy, cuddly puppies when compared to Miranda.

Andy's turning point happens after her dad's first visit when Miranda calls from Miami for a flight back to New York in the middle of a hurricane. The resulting verbal evisceration is the worst one yet, and it leaves Andy in tears. After an eye opening chat with Nigel, she realises that all she has done in the first month of her employment is to simply coast by, not really making a real effort to learn about her duties or work environment. His words hit her like the proverbial tonne of bricks. It really is no wonder that she is still just a gopher disguised as a junior assistant who is barely hanging on by a thread. It is at that moment she decides to give it her all, something she had said she would do during her interview.

The change is remarkable. It starts with a complete adjustment in attitude and a makeover with the help of the only person who has been kind enough to offer her a few words of guidance disguised as snarky remarks. During what little spare time she has, she researches Miranda Priestly and she can almost kick herself for not knowing who this woman is, because her boss took over as Editor-in-chief of an ailing magazine to turn it into the flagship publication of Elias-Clarke. She learns that under Miranda, Runway went from a barely mediocre publication on the brink of disappearing to the premier one of its kind in the span of just two years. She reads of the complete re-structuring of personnel and of the insane schedule Miranda has been on since she took over the helm of the magazine. When she really thinks about it, for every hour of overtime she has put in, Miranda has worked just as much if not more, and what has started as resentment and near hatred towards her mercurial boss slowly turns into admiration.

Slowly, things begin to improve at work. Sure, she is still running around ragged, but mixed in with running personal errands for her boss, are more work related errands for her to run. Within a couple of weeks, Andy has streamlined her duties around the office. She no longer gets Miranda's Starbucks coffee on disposable cups, but in one of their insulated stainless steel mugs, so the coffee remains scorching hot. She has at least three of them on hand so there is always a clean one when Miranda requests her supernova explosion hot latte. She keeps a hidden stock of Miranda's favourite Hermes scarves in all the basic colours, especially white ones by her desk so they are always available should Miranda need a replacement. Unfortunately, as a direct result, her personal life has taken a turn for the worst. Her family and friends cannot comprehend why Andy works as hard as she does for someone who does not seem to care if she is found dead in a ditch as long as her duties are completed.

Andy's life is an endless succession of juggling work commitments with personal ones. Unfortunately for Andy, her family, and her friends, what little free time she has left is spent holed up in the apartment she shares with Nate studying for her upcoming bar exam. If she doesn't at least make an effort to write and pass the bar examination she will never hear the end of it from her parents. Besides, it's not as if she will just throw the last three years of her life just for the hell of it. She might not have any immediate plans to practice Law, but at least she wants to make sure that avenue remains open for her should things change in her life.

"Hey guys. I have gifts." Andy says as she joins her friends in one of the few Friday nights she is done in a somewhat decent hour.

"Look who decided to finally join her friends for a bit of fun. Don't you have to study or fetch coffee, or maybe paint your boss's toe nails?" Nate says slightly put off. Things have been quite tense between them.

"I have some Clinique and other samples." Andy says, ignoring Nate's comment. It's been forever since she has had a night out with her friends and she refuses to spend it arguing with her boyfriend.

"What is that thing?" Doug asks pointing at a funny looking stick.

"It's a Bang & Olufsen phone. I googled it, and it's worth over a thousand dollars." Andy replies shaking her head.

"That thing is worth a thousand bucks." Lily says in disbelief. "Oh my God! Is that the new Marc Jacobs bag?" She asks when she spots a blue shoulder bag Andy is putting on the table.

"Maybe…" Andy says.

"Girl, where did you get that? Those things are impossible to get." Lily asks practically drooling over the bag.

"Miranda received it as a gift. She didn't like it and told me to take it. Do you want it? I don't really care for the colour or style that much." Andy asks her friend, knowing the answer already.

"I cannot possibly do that. I mean, it's worth almost two thousand dollars." Lily says as she starts to shove the Clinique samples Andy had given her earlier.

"Sure you can't." Andy says with an amused smile as she finally relaxes a bit and places the phone she has had glued to her ear since she started working for Miranda.

"I don't get you women. Why do you need a hundred different bags when one can work just fine. I mean, all you use it for is to carry all your junk in anyway. With one, you wouldn't have to switch things around so much and you certainly would not be forgetting things that often." Nate says hoping to make up for his earlier comment.

"Well, it's something that you straight men will never understand." Doug says to him. "Thanks for the phone Andy." He says as she turns to face him.

Before she can formulate a reply, her phone goes off with a now very familiar ring tone.

"Oh. It's the Dragon Lady herself. Here, let me get that and tell her to get her own coffee." Lily says as she picks up the phone and looks at the caller ID.

"Oh my God Lily. Don't. Give me the phone. I have to take the call." Andy reaches over in a panic just as Lily throws the phone in Nate's general direction.

"Let me. I'll tell her to shove it and to stop picking on innocent girls." Nate says with a growl, surprising everyone. One thing is to joke around, another altogether is to actually do something that might cost Andy her job.

Doug quickly snatches the phone and hands it over to Andy, looking apologetic.

Without a glance their way, Andy walks out the crowded restaurant to take the call. She returns shortly with a glare in their general direction.

"Thank you for nearly costing me my job. I have to go now. I understand you think what I do is not important at all. I get it that I don't have as much free time as I used to and we don't get to hang out as much, but you don't have to be such assholes about it." Andy says to Lily and Nate. "I'll see you around Doug. Thanks for returning my phone." She adds as she grabs her things and leaves before they can say anything to her.

Since it is a work related thing, at least Andy doesn't have to take the subway. She waits for Roy to pick her up outside the restaurant without a backward glance to her friends. She still cannot believe how childish Lily and Nate were. Maybe she should have stayed home to study. At least it would have saved her the aggravation.

Andy quietly makes it to the building and takes the freight elevator to James Holt's loft to pick up the portfolio containing his latest line for Miranda's approval. "Hi, I'm looking for James Holt." Andy says after looking around the loft for a bit.

"He is the guy wearing the jeans and grey shirt." One of the party goers points in the general vicinity where a group of people are chatting and laughing.

"Thanks." Andy says as she walks over.

"Um, hi. I'm Andy Sachs. I'm picking a portfolio for Miranda Priestly." Andy says once the attention of everyone in the group is directed her way.

"James. You must be the new Emily. Nice to meet you." He says as she extends his hand to her.

"Yup, that would be me. Nice to meet you as well." Andy says chuckling.

"Be right back with your things." He says as he rushes to the back of the loft.

"Here you go. This has the sketch of Miranda's dress for the benefit. It also has my new collection. All top secret." James says as he hands over the portfolio to Andy.

"Don't worry. I'll guard it with my life." Andy says with a smile.

"Come and joins us for a bit. You're working for Miranda Priestly now. You must be in desperate need of hard liquor. Excuse us, girls. She'll have the punch. It's deadly. Have fun." James says as he hands Andy a champagne flute filled with a fruity drink.

"He is right, you know. I had that punch at James's last party and I woke up in Hoboken wearing nothing but a tutu and a cowboy hat. Christian Thompson." A man says with a charming smile as he extends his hand for Andy to shake.

"Andrea Sachs. Pleased to meet you Mr. Thompson. I'm a big fan of your work. I actually reviewed your collection of essays for my college newspaper." Andy says shaking his hand. She puts down the drink after one sip and the alcohol hits her like a freight train.

"Did you mention my good looks and killer charms?" He asks smiling and oozing charm.

"I might have, had they included a picture of you with your work. It truly is an honour to meet you. I'm an aspiring writer myself, so you have no idea how thrilling this is for me." Andy says a little star struck.

"No kidding. I should read your work. Why don't you send some of it over my way?" Christian asks.

"Well, I don't have anything recent because at the moment I am working as Miranda Priestly's assistant." Andy answers sheepishly.

"Well, that's too bad then. You'll never survive her." He starts to say only to be the interrupted this time by a shocked Andy.

"Excuse me?" Andy asks in disbelief.

"My apologies, I meant no offense. It's just that you're so nice that I doubt you will be able to survive the Dragon Lady." Christian says throwing his arms up in defeat.

"Apology accepted. Well, I uh, have to go. Early day tomorrow, and there is no rest for the wicket. It was nice meeting you." Andy says after a bit.

"The pleasure is all mine. I meant what I said earlier. Send me some of your stuff for me to read. Bye Miranda Girl. Oh, and you're anything but wicked. Charming, definitely gorgeous, and perhaps sweet, but never wicked." Christian says with a smile as he hands a business card to Andy before he turns in the other direction.

Andy leaves after that, unsure of what to make of the meeting. She puts his business card in her purse nonetheless because it means another possible contact. Once she makes it back to her apartment, she makes the decision to send Christian Thompson some of her best work. One never knows what can happen. And pigs will fly and Miranda will show up to work dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt. Andy's inner voice mocks her optimism.

Andy makes it a point to arrive extra early to work the next day to deliver James's sketches. She is uncomfortable having them home, because with her luck, spill scalding hot latte on them, or worse yet, she might lose them. That thought alone is enough to start her hyperventilating in fear. She breathes a sigh of relief as she sets the stainless steel mug on the desk along with the glass of chilled Pellegrino and the portfolio with the sketches on Miranda's desk before she heads out to her own desk to begin her duties for the day.

"Emily." Miranda says softly.

Emily glances in Andy's direction and gestures with her head for Andy to get up and go see what their boss wants.

"Yes Miranda?" Andy says the moment she enters, pad and pen in hand ready to jot down the next wave of errands.

"Call James Holt's office and tell him I want the preview moved to twelve-thirty today. Tell the others and be ready to leave in a half hour. That's all." Miranda says barely looking in Andy's direction.

"Yes, Miranda." Andy says as she leaves to tell the others of the change in plans.

Andy barely glances in Emily's general direction as she scrambles to find Nigel.

"But we're not expected until next Tuesday. Did she tell you why?" Nigel all but whines because this little change has thrown a huge loop in everyone's schedule.

"Of course she did. She went into a detailed explanation of her the reasons why. Then we brushed each other's hair, did each other's make up, and gabbed about American Idol." Andy deadpans.

"Right. What was I thinking?" Nigel replies, shaking his head at the absurdity of his earlier question.

"What's a preview? I don't think I have ever heard her mention one before." Andy asks as they make their way to the lobby.

"Miranda insists on seeing the collections of designers she discovers before they show the rest of the world. After all, it is her reputation on the line." Nigel begins his explanation.

"And she tells them what she thinks?" Andy asks.

"In her own unique way. There's a scale. One nod is good. Two nods is very good. There's only been one actual smile on record, and that was Tom Ford in 2001. She doesn't like it, she shakes her head. Then, of course, there's the pursing of the lips." Nigel whispers as they wait for the rest to join them.

"Which means?" Andy asks curious.

"Total and utter disaster, akin to nuclear wasteland." Nigel shares as he spots Miranda and the rest of their group. "Good morning Miranda." Nigel says as she strides past him to the waiting car.

The preview is of course a complete disaster and in the end, a dejected James must redo his entire collection. What he thought was his masterpiece, the one Miranda would wear to the benefit turned out to be the one she hated the most. The memory alone makes him cringe with dread and distaste.

"So, because she pursed her lips James will now have to redo his entire collection?" Andy asks bewildered.

"You still don't get it, do you Six? Miranda's opinion is the only one that matters." Nigel says softly as Miranda walks over to her waiting car. Andy instinctively follows with her trusty pad and pen.

"Call my husband and confirm dinner." Miranda starts a new series of instructions.

"At Pastis? Done. There is a reservation under your name for seven-thirty p.m." Andy replies.

"I will not returning to the office at all so you will have arrange transportation back to Elias-Clark. I will need a change of clothes." Miranda continues.

"I, uh, already messengered your outfit along with second and third options over to the shoot location earlier today." Andy says without missing a beat.

"Very well. Andréa, I would like for you to deliver the Book tonight. Have Emily give you the key." Miranda drawls before she gets in the car and drives off leaving behind a shocked Andy.

Andy can't be happier, since she finally earned her name. She is no longer 'Emily'. Andy finds the way Miranda says her name intriguing. It's almost as if she is caressing each syllable of her name, instead of the English pronunciation, Miranda says the name more like Spaniards, or the French would. It makes her name feel exotic.

"Do not lose this." Emily hisses as she hands over the key to Miranda's townhouse.

"Don't worry so much Em. I won't. Did you know she called me by my name today? I'm no longer your twin. I have my own identity now. And since I'm delivering the Book now, it must mean I am trustworthy and not a psychotic murderer." Andy says with a giant grin.

"Whoopee." Emily replies dryly.

"Now, it is imperative that you do exactly as I tell you." Emily begins and Andy quickly pulls out her pad and pen.

"The Book is assembled every night between six and nine. You must wait around until then. You will be delivering Miranda's dry cleaning along with the Book. Roy will take you directly to Miranda's townhouse with the dry cleaning already waiting in the car. Once inside, and this is very important. You shall not be seen nor heard by anyone. You hang the dry cleaning in the closet that is directly across from the staircase and you place the Book on the table with the flowers. Once that is done, you exit, lock the door and leave. Is that clear?" Emily asks.

"Crystal." Andy says looking up, head swimming with yet another set of meticulous instructions.

"I am going home now. Do not screw this up." Emily hisses.

"See ya tomorrow Em." Andy says with a sigh. It seems that her days are now officially longer so she grabs the phone and calls Nate to inform him of her new responsibilities.

"Look Nate, it's not like I have a choice in the matter here." Andy says through another tired sigh.

"That's your answer to everything. 'I had no choice.' This job is taking over your life. First it was Law School, now it's Miranda and fucking Runway. Not to mention all the cramming you do when you happen to have some free time. I barely see you now. I thought you never wanted to practice law." Nate says getting angrier by the second.

"Look, I'm not going to just throw away three years of my life. I graduated so I might as well make sure I write and pass my bar exam. It is my fall back career after all." Andy explains for what feels like the millionth time. "Listen, I don't want to argue. I just wanted to let you know that I won't be done with work until I deliver the Book. Which means there will be days where I won't be home until ten or eleven, depending on what time they finish here." Andy says resigned to yet another argument.

"This is new how?" Nate asks, the bitterness in his voice loud and clear even over the connection. "Even before you got saddled with this, you barely made it home before ten." Nate grinds out.

"Don't start, ok.? You also work late at that restaurant so it's not like you're home when I do make it out early." Andy snaps.

"Yes, I work late, but I also go in late. You leave at the crack of dawn. And when I do see you, you are too tired for anything." Nate continues his tirade only to be cut off by Andy.

"I do not have the patience for this right now, Nate. I do not want to have this conversation over the phone. I just called you so you wouldn't worry if you called the apartment and I'm not there yet. We will continue this conversation in person at a later time, preferably when I'm not still at work." Andy says, struggling to keep her anger at bay.

"When? You are always working. We never are in the same room together unless we're both sleeping." Nate fires back.

"Good bye Nate." Andy hangs up before she says something she will regret.

Andy takes advantage of the time while the Book is put together to answer e-mails and catch up with other work related matters that still need her attention. Soon, she is sitting in front of her desk, twiddling her thumbs and she makes a mental note to bring some of her exam material to review. She might as well get something useful done while she waits. The Book finally arrives a few minutes after nine and Andy practically jumps when the person bringing it up dumps in unceremoniously on her desk.

"I'll be down in five Roy." Andy says as she begins to pack her things, knowing that Roy will be waiting for her at the entrance by the time she gets down.

Once she enters Miranda's townhouse, things go quickly downhill. There isn't just one closet across from the staircase. There are two. She sighs and before she can make a decision, she hears a voice from the top landing of the staircase telling her which door to use. When she goes to put the Book on the 'table with the flowers' she of course sees every table in the vicinity with flowers on them. She is about to scream in frustration. She just wants to go home and sleep.

"You can just give us the Book. We'll take it to Mom." The same voice cuts through Andy's murderous thoughts.

"I can't do that." Andy whispers.

"Well, you can just take it up to Mom then. It's ok. She'll be fine and grateful that she won't have to climb down the stairs to retrieve it. Emily does it all the time. It's the first door to your left on the third floor." One of Miranda's daughters says, eyes glinting with mischief that Andy fails to see from her position at the bottom of the staircase.

The mention of Emily's name seals the deal for Andy and against her better judgement; she starts the climb up to a set of soft giggles. With each step she takes the feeling of immediate doom increases and just as she makes it to the top of the landing, she hears a full fledge argument between Miranda and her husband. Before she can turn around and make it back down, her eyes lock with Miranda's, and she swears that the temperature dropped to sub-arctic in a microsecond.

"I'm sorry. I made an error in judgement. I will on my way now." Andy says as she drops the Book and leaves before a shocked Miranda can say anything.

All the way back to her apartment, Andy is sure she will be fired comes morning so she spends a few hours that night updating her CV. She wonders if her short tenure at Runway will have any impact in future job searches in the publishing world, or if she will have to just throw in the towel for now and accept one of the 'other' offers she still has. She spends the rest of the night tossing and turning, having a hard time reconciling the very human woman she saw earlier having an argument with her husband with the Ice Dragon of Runway.

TBC