DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. I DO NOT OWN THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. This is just for fun.

2. I originally didn't intend a sequel to Double Trouble, but once I began thinking of this, I had to do it. I hope you like it.

PART 1

Emily Charlton's highly-trained ears picked up footsteps behind her, and she paused her typing. She knew everyone's distinctive footfalls, from Nigel to Andy to Irv, and of course Miranda. But these sounded unfamiliar to her. They were slow and quiet... almost shuffling. Glancing at the clock, she frowned. It should be around the time her enigmatic employer returned from the hospital, but despite obviously in high heels, the steps did not sound like Miranda's at all. Emily turned around and was stunned.

It was Miranda Priestly-Sachs. But a Miranda Priestly-Sachs Emily had never seen before. Her head was bowed, her shoulders slumped, her strides small. Had it not been for the thousands of dollars-worth of clothing she was wearing and the iconic silver hair, the first assistant would not have recognised her. Emily's eyes widened even further as her boss got nearer and she was able to make out her expression.

There was nothing there. No unshakable confidence, no arrogance. Only... vacancy. Miranda's eyes were staring, unmoving, ahead of her. Emily's chest instantly clenched. Something was wrong. And considering where the Runway editor was returning from, it was obvious what it was.

Indeed, it was not a simple check-up at the doctors. Rather, it was a unique double-appointment at the gynaecologist for her and her wife. Both Andy and Miranda were pregnant. Emily nearly fainted when she learnt that piece of news. She dreaded to think of the months that lay ahead for the Priestly-Sachs', and for everyone at Runway. It would be a nightmare, frankly. Emily envisioned taking on more work, and even Nigel temporarily becoming editor when Miranda went on maternity leave. Hell, Irv might even use the situation to try and oust Miranda from the magazine.

It was a strange situation. Since Andy returned to their lives and she and Miranda had fallen in love, Emily saw a side of her boss she never knew existed. She was Human after all. Meanwhile, Andy's visits to Runway in a non-work situation led to her and Emily actually becoming something close to friends. She was sincerely happy for them when they married. And when Andy became pregnant, after months of IVF... well, Emily could tell Miranda was overjoyed.

Seeing Miranda now, however... it seemed a light breeze would send her flying. The redhead started a new mantra in her head: The babies are fine the babies are fine the babies are fine... When Miranda reached Emily's desk, she made no indication she was going to stop, let alone ask for messeges or give her orders. If Emily did not say something, she wondered if Miranda would even have bothered to open her office door before entering. "Miranda?" There was no response, and that nearly sent the Brit into a panic. "Miranda?" she repeated, slightly more urgently.

Miranda's head suddenly jerked to face her, and Emily audibly gasped. Her boss' eyes were completely glazed over, unfocusing. "Yes?" she asked absently.

Emily slowly got to her feet. She wanted to rush to her boss and shake her to see if she would respond, but that would not be appropriate. "Is... everything alright, Miranda?" Stupid question. "How... did the appointment go?" Ditto.

At that, Miranda's eyes widened slightly. She then visibly too a breath and let it out. "Everything... everything's... " She drifted off. Then she shook her head minutely, and cleared her throat. "Any... messeges?"

"No, Miranda... " said Emily warily. "Miranda... you didn't answer... " She paused. One did not question or correct Miranda Priestly-Sachs, but Emily was beyond worried now.

"Good," Miranda suddenly said. "Good." She began moving towards her office again. "I'll... I'll be in... " Again the sentence went unfinished as Miranda slowly opened the door to her office, stepped in, and noiselessly closed it.

Instantly Emily dashed to her bag and pulled out her phone. As she sat back down she frantically brought up Andy on her contacts and hit Call. As she heard the dialtone, Emily tried not to tremble. But as the seconds past and the dial continued, the shakes started. Miranda's wife was not answering. "Bollocks!" Cancelling the call, Emily instead selected Serena's name. The babies are fine the babies are fine the babies are fine...

"Emily?" came Serena's confused voice eventually. "Why are you calling me on your cell? Where are you? Are you not at your desk?"

"Serena, something's wrong!" cried Emily as quietly as she could. "Miranda just got back from the hospital, and she's... she's... oh, God, Serena - I think something's happened!"

"Darling, calm down," came her fiancee's soothing voice. "Tell me what happened." By the time the redhead recounted what had transpired, she was near tears. She was crushed at the thought of Miranda or Andy losing either of their babies. "Is Miranda in her office now?" When Emily could only whimper an affirmative reply, Serena sighed. "Darling, please don't make yourself upset. Take a breath. I'm sure it's nothing. Think - if it was something bad, she wouldn't have returned to the office, right?"

Emily closed her eyes and nodded, despite the Brazilian not being there. She began wiping her eyes - God, she was actually crying. "I... " sniffled the Brit, "I can't reach Andy... she's not... not answering her phone... " She paused and took a big gulp of air. She had to get ahold of herself. Stop letting her imagination run wild and acting like a child. Only... "God, Serena... you didn't see her... I've never seen her like this... One of them's lost their baby - I can feel it! I... AAHH!" Emily nearly leapt out of her chair as her desk phone burst into life.

"Emily?! What is it?!" Serena cried.

"My... my work phone... I... " The redhead glanced at the caller ID and froze again to see Miranda's home number. "It's the townhouse."

"Answer it," said Serena hurriedly, apparently in motion. "I'm on my way to you now, meu amor." With that, the Brazilian hung up.

Emily blinked a few times before picking up her deskphone. Not bothering with formalities, she blurted out a response. "Andy?"

"No, Emily, it's Caroline," came the voice of one of Miranda's daughters. "Is, erm, is Mom there?"

"She's... in her office," said Emily slowly. "What's up?" Ugh, that attempt to sound casual was pathetic.

"Well," Caroline sounded uneasy. "Andy's home... and she's... acting weird... "

Emily gulped. The babies are fine the babies are fine the babies are fine...

TO BE CONTINUED