A/N: I do not own anything regarding DWP and only write for fun.

A huge thank you to Elliewrites who continues to encourage not only myself, but several other writers in the fandom. She is amazing!

All mistakes are mine as this is unbetad, unbeta-ed? See, I don't even know the correct spelling for not beta read.

Chapter 1

"Ok, so you two are sure the coast will be clear?" The hesitancy in Andy's voice could be clearly heard by twin redheads at the receiving end of their speaker phone. Andy had locked herself into the restroom at Runway before calling the girls, not taking any chances that she may be overheard.

"Seriously Andy, when are you going to start trusting us? I mean the whole Harry Potter thing was like so ten issues ago." Cassidy huffed.

Leave it to a Priestly to measure time via Runway magazines instead of actual calendar terminology.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous you know? I mean it's your mom's birthday and I want everything to be perfect and I want her, I mean you two to be happy with…"

Cutting her off, Caroline intervened before Andy rambled herself into a nervous breakdown. "And mom will be at that stupid benefit dinner with Uncle Nigel so you're covered. He promised he would keep her there long enough for us to make mom's surprise."

"Besides, she won't get mad at you anyway." Cassidy offered.

"Um, didn't we just mention the whole ten issues ago thing? Oh, and don't say that your mom's benefit dinner is stupid. Her job is important" Andy admonished lightly. She knew that technically it wasn't her place to tell the kids to do or not to do anything, but the more time she had spent with them, the more freely she spoke to them.

" You're right, I'm sorry." Caroline said, truly meaning it.

"And well that whole staircase thing was different. Stephen was here and she was super embarrassed." Cassidy continued.

"Uh? Wait, what do you mean?" Andy was confused by Cassidy's statement. Miranda did not get embarrassed by anything. Granted she was much more private around her back then, but she was just simply mad that her assistant did not follow protocol and had walked in on a private moment. Right?

"Sorry Andy, we gotta go! Lilly's here. See you later!" twin voices rapidly said in unison.

Click. Well at least the girls knew how to say goodbye before hanging up.

The girls. Her interactions with them had become much stronger during the divorce proceedings that had just wrapped up between Miranda and Stephen only a few months ago. Once, while stuck in traffic in the backseat of the towncar, Andy had mentioned to Miranda that her own parents were divorced and from then on it was as if she had become an even greater staple than before in the Priestly household. Andy was elated to spend time with the children when they weren't pulling career threatening pranks on her. She had nieces that she hadn't seen since moving to New York that she missed terribly so getting to spend time with Caroline and Cassidy had partially filled that void. Of course she still helped them with their school work, but the actual work was placed on the kids themselves these days.

Cassidy had been struggling lately in mathematics with fractions and measurements so Andy came up with a scheme involving a cooking lesson. Cassidy was more of a tactile learner and it would be a way to help her understand measurements and fractions without the kid feeling insecure about her academic struggles. And because it was also Miranda's birthday, it was a great way for the girls to make their mom a special treat.

So while Miranda was off to a benefit dinner, Andy and the girls would secretly be in the townhouse kitchen making carrot cake cupcakes for their mom. Andy had preplanned the surprise by asking off for the evening of the benefit. She hated lying to Miranda saying that her father was in town when in fact he was not, but shockingly Miranda had allowed her the evening off. Andy wondered if Miranda was trying to make it up to her due to the last time her dad was in town, and their time together had been interrupted by the "drizzling" in Miami. The thought that Miranda would be trying to make amends for past behavior warmed Andy's heart.

Also a part of the ruse included Andy enlisting Lilly's artistic ability by having her forge a handwritten note from a classmate's mother. The note asked if the twins could spend the weekend with their friend Meghan and even had Lilly's telephone number on it. Andy assured her co-conspirator that Miranda herself would not call, but instead pass the task onto her assistant, thus Andy would handle everything.

You better hope this works Andy murmured to herself before taking one last look under the stall doors and heading back to her desk.

Miranda heard her assistant return to her desk, but could not bring herself to summon the girl. Her monikers may have included Snow Queen, Ice Bitch, Devil In Prada, but under all of those names, she still had a heart. And at the moment, it was hurt.

Initially, Miranda had deflated a little when her bobseys had presented her with the request of going to their friend's house. Yes, she would be at the benefit but she had hoped to spend a few minutes with them when she had returned even if it would have been late. Her birthdays in the past with the twins had mostly consisted of receiving handmade cards or crayon drawn pictures, but to Miranda these items were more valuable than the Degas hanging in the study. It seemed this year her children had forgotten her birthday altogether with their request to be at their friend's house. She supposed that as they got older it was only natural for them to become more social and to hang out less with their mom, but the fact that it was her birthday did sting.

And then as if to add salt to the wound, there was Andrea. Miranda was somewhat taken aback when her assistant had asked off in advance for the night of the benefit. The 25th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Dinner was a major social event, but if she were being honest with herself, she was more upset over the fact that it was because it was her birthday. It had been years since she had even celebrated or acknowledged her birthday save for the cards that her daughters made for her, but this year she at least wanted to spend it with Andrea even if the girl was oblivious. Had it been any other employee she wouldn't have even listened to the request, but she knew that the last time Andrea's dad was in town the poor girl had spent her entire evening working on trying to get her out of Miami. Miranda's guilt at putting her career first over her girls had made her lash out at Andrea viciously, and to this day she felt remorse at her choice of words. Andrea was smart, but she was not fat. The curves that held the brunette together had wrapped themselves around her heart.

Ever since they had returned from Paris, there was an unspoken change around the boss and employee. Had Miranda given voice to what that change actually was, she would have said that she had feelings for Andrea- feelings she most certainly did not want to give voice to. Silly thoughts of a foolish old woman.

Four Months Ago:

Andy had tossed her phone into a fountain only to want to swan dive back into it several hours later. Having a fit of self righteous behavior along with not wanting to deal with a plethora of confusing feelings, Andy had walked away from her boss and had thrown her phone into the murky waters that reflected her own muddled thoughts. She then placed one heavy foot in front of the other trying to put as much distance between herself and her boss as possible. Andy walked all over Paris, taking in the scenery, thinking the whole time how much nicer it would be to have a certain someone beside of her to take in the Effile Tower, the Louvre, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. All she could think about was how much she hated fashion, hated the snobbery, hated that she wanted nothing more than for Miranda to see her, to be with her here now on the Pont des Arts placing a padlock on it.

She had known for weeks that her relentlessness into pleasing Miranda did not stem from some form of being a loyal employee. She had no real investment in the fashion industry. She wasn't like Emily at all whom would starve herself just to fit into the latest Posen dress. She ate carbs for crying out loud. So why would she ask Nigel for a makeover? Why would she practically kill herself to retrieve an unobtainable manuscript? Why would she answer her phone when Nate was walking away from her? Simple. She loved Miranda.

Suppressed feelings came bubbling to the surface and Andy found herself running back to the fountain. Undoubtedly her phone would be ruined, but if she were to be banished from the life of Runway, she wanted to at least have this one tangible item back. As she approached the Place de la Concorde, she saw a lone figure sitting at the bench along side one of the ornate golden fish. Miranda. The editor was sitting slightly hunched over and within her possession was a small silver device. She was staring at it in almost disbelief, as though if she bore her vision into it hard enough it would ring.

Andy walked trepidatiously up to the concrete wall her boss, maybe ex-boss, was sitting on. Miranda continued to stare at the device and the defeated ora around her made Andy's heart break. Sitting next to the editor, she placed her hand over the wet phone, encompassing Miranda's hand as well. Although the sun had long since set, sun glass covered blue eyes lifted and lips pursed. Andy wanted to apologize, get on her knees and beg for forgiveness, but instead they just held each others gaze. Andy felt it was terribly unfair that she could not see past the tinted frames that rested on that patrician nose.

Before she lost all of her nerve, Andy whispered, "I'm sorry."

And had the moment around them not been so still, she would not have heard the soft reply of "Me too."

Nothing more was said as they disengaged their hands and walked to back to the Ritz in silence. The rest of Paris fashion week went by as normal, but with everything changed as well.

Present Day:

Andy noticed the time and jumped up from her desk. Miranda would need to leave soon so she retrieved the editor's coat and bag. She followed her boss as she strode towards the elevator carrying a note pad in the event there were any last minute instructions she would need.

And then there was a nod. A nod from a head of stark white hair indicating that Andy should enter the elevator. No one rode in an elevator with Miranda Priestly. It was one of many of the golden Rules of Runway. But no one else had ever walked away, if only briefly, from the fashion maven either but when it came to Andy the rules did not seem to apply.

When the doors closed Miranda began speaking. "The benefit starts at 7pm however I must leave now to get dressed at Dior. I understand pink is their signature color but I refuse to look like a bottle of pepto bismol. You do have the alternate dress that Marchesa submitted already over there correct?"

It was all Andy could do not to snort. It did not matter if Dior had draped her in every shade of blush and bashful, there was no way Miranda would look like anything other than a goddess.

"Yes, Miranda. It was delivered there at noon." Andy replied.

"The girls should already be over at Megan's house. I know you have asked for the evening off, but I would appreciate it if you would confirm this for me."

"Of course Miranda. I wish…" Andy had to stop herself. She wanted to say that she wished that she could go to the benefit with her, to see her looking radiant in Dior, to just simply be with her so that she knew everything would go smoothly.

Miranda turned towards her assistant, raising an impeccable eyebrow. "What is it that you wish Andrea?"

Andy had plenty that she wished for but instead opted for the safest choice of words, "I wish you a successful evening."

"Hmmm. And you." Miranda stated although she didn't exactly mean it. She wanted her assistant to be with her. And not just because everything ran smoother with Andrea by her side, but because she wanted with her always. Once again, the ramblings of a foolish old woman she said to herself.

Andy rode the lift back up to the office and gathered her belongings. Pulling out her cell phone and pressing the familiar keys, she called Lilly.