It had been over nine months since Andrea Sachs had walked out on fashion week, her job and more importantly, Miranda. The fact that she had not only lived to tell the tale but actually got her reference had stunned everyone, herself included. Theories as to why this was so, had abounded at the time, her personal favorite, pod people taking over the Editor's body and forcing her to be nice. She wasn't sure whether the woman had heard the rumor or not, but from the horror stories she'd heard since, Miranda was quashing it as ruthlessly as ever.

While things appeared to stay the same at Runway, the fact that she actually had time for a life was testament to the change in hers. No more on-call 24/7, lack of sleep and permanent hunger for her and while she had maintained her size four figure, in the real world she no longer worried about people commenting on her weight.

This particular morning was bright and crisp and had brought no hint of impending apocalypse. She had gone to the paper to continue researching a feature she was writing on the crisis in city health care funding for chronic diseases and was currently sitting at her desk eating a skinny blueberry muffin, reveling in not feeling guilty about that fact and listening to Mark, one of her co-workers, ramble on about a 'Spider Wall' he was planning on taking his kids to.

Of all the changes she had experienced since leaving Runway, the luxury of being able to answer her cell without checking to see who it was, was by far the greatest... and something she would seriously rethink over the coming days. Hearing it buzz to life now, she smiled, pulled it out of her pocket, pressed answer and said "Andy Sachs" cheerfully.

"Please tell me you're near the office", a voice said in her ear and Andy's smile broadened on hearing the only person she'd kept in contact with from her former life.

"Hello to you too Nigel."

"There is no time for pleasantries. Miranda's new you didn't confirm her facial appointment this morning, which could see her set a record with Human Resources since said facialist has been rushed to the ER with a ruptured appendix. Miranda's on her way back and wants this afternoon's run through in 15. I am 20 minutes away and that's assuming I can get a cab to stop around here."

A puzzled frown had etched itself on to Andy's face during this somewhat breathless speech, "where are..." she started, before hearing another muffled conversation, going on on Nigel's end.

"Oh Thank God!" he said before bringing the phone back to his ear, "Eduardo has a Vespa, I' ll be as quick as I can..."

"Who's Eduardo? And you still haven't told me why you called..."

"Of course I did, go talk to her..."

"What?" Andy shrieked in shock, then seeing the curious looks she was getting quickly swept the papers on her desk into her bag and moved into the corridor.

Nigel winced and held the cell a little further away from his ear "ok so don't talk to her... just throw yourself under the car... call in a bomb threat... shoot out the tires... just stop her getting up to the office before I do."

"Nigel, she's not going to fire you for being 5 minutes late for a meeting she's moved." On momentary reflection, Andy knew that Miranda could do that in her sleep, but Nigel was already talking.

"... any other day I'd agree with you, but Irv's latest move is to halve the budget for the entire next issue, Emily collapsed yesterday and failed to deliver the book and I've already been late for one meeting this week."

"Wait, Emily collapsed? What hap..."

"Six!" For the first time she could hear a slightly hysterical tone in his voice, "I'm calling in every Blahnik, Chanel and Versace clad favor I've ever..."

"Ok, Ok, I'll try but..."

"Let's do drinks tonight, usual place, a new Dolce came in that will look stunning on you!"

Andy guessed that was a thank you, but the static in her ear was not going to tell her anything and she needed to focus. Miranda's day was apparently going to hell, which meant everyone else's was going to get there first and Nigel was her closest friend. The bomb threat had sounded like a good idea, but who knew what kind of measures the city took against things like that these days. Out of habit she started walking towards Elias-Clarke as she dialed a number she still knew by heart, "Paul? Hi, it's Andy Sachs... yeah long time huh... could you? I'll be there in 10, thanks, bye". Miranda Priestly insisted on perfection in all things, but Andy had learned early on that nothing could foul up the day faster than bad coffee; she still had no intention of approaching the woman in person, but it paid to be prepared. The last time they'd spoken, Nigel had thought Christina was doing a less inept job than the last one, what had been her name, Rachel? No, Rochelle, still if she hadn't been fired yet, coffee was probably the last thing on her mind... and what the hell had happened to Emily?