Title: Lucky
Rating: T *But it can change
Pairing: Miranda/Andy
Prompt(s): Prompt given by laintmr (LJ): Miranda Blacklisted Andy but they meet again thanks to Doug and good luck.
Summary: After being blacklisted by Miranda, Andy has to go back home. Doug comes to her rescue and gives her an unforgettable vacation to Paris. A simple trip to the gas station becomes the biggest opportunity in Andy's life.
Disclaimer: I own all the rights for DWL, I'm Lauren Weisberger…. Just Kidding! Nothing is mine, I wish it was, though.
A/N: Thanks to my Beta, Polgaria (here at ff . net)/wiser_dachshund(LJ) :D for being nice and agree to check this, and for the talk about earthquakes, food and hospitals :D
1.- All Roads lead to Paris
Two years after leaving Miranda in Paris, sitting in a desk in front of a computer, copying transcripts of her father's cases was definitely not the plan Andy had for her life. She was supposed to be in New York working for a big newspaper, trying to get the big next story that would make her name appear in the main page; she could even be nominated for a journalism award.
She looked around the office: dark furniture, old diplomas and certificates hanging on the walls, she'd known this office since she was a child, but she never expected to end up stuck in this place working for her father, who was paying her more than normal for a job that her mother used to do for free.
Arriving home wasn't easier; sure homemade pizza and Mom's cooking was always welcome, but going back there, sleeping next to stuffed animals, the all-knowing witnesses of her childhood was, well… Depressing. Sometimes she felt numb as if nothing mattered anymore; but that wasn't really true. She felt pain every single time she walked down the street in a couple of old Jimmy Choos that she hadn't been brave enough to get rid of, and saw Runway on the shelves of one of those cheesy magazine kiosks.
She felt empty. Something as simple as the magazine was the only link, the only proof that she ever knew Miranda Priestly. The ring of a phone made her realize that she had to answer and continue doing her duties as her father's assistant. She sighed.
"Good afternoon, Mainard and Sachs law firm," she said in a monotonous voice, trying to sound only about half as depressed as she felt.
"What's up gorgeous?" sounded a friendly voice. Andy smiled into the phone, and her eyes flickered to the door where her father stood watching.
"How is it going, Doug? It's been a long time," she said with a smile
"Yeah sure, we talked yesterday." Andy could sense he was smiling "I'm calling you because I have a proposition to make."
"I hope it's not engagement." Both laughed, while her father seemed to pay attention to the call.
"No, it is actually a favour," Doug said, and Andy was suddenly serious "Look, because of work I have to go to Paris and I…"
"Doug, when I was there I didn't have the chance to actually visit the city, so I don't think I can help you," she interrupted him.
"No, it isn't that, Andy. Look, I was supposed to go with Jon you know, but now he can't go. His mom is at the hospital and he is the only one who knows enough and could go with me."
"I'm sorry about Jon's mom… So what can I do for you?" Andy asked while taking notes about a case.
"Basically I'm stuck with a ticket to Paris and since I've talked to my boss and I can bring someone, you were my first option." Obviously she doesn't need to know that I bought the ticket for her to get her out of Cincinnati to see if I can make her feel better, Doug thought.
"What? Doug I don't know if I can accept," said Andy a little shocked "I'm really thankful, though… You can always ask Lily, she would be very interested in going to museums and…"
"Andy, stop. Look, I like Lily, don't get me wrong, but after all the fuss she made because you left Nate, well… I can't say we are really that close anymore. Besides, it's a decision I already made, I already talked to your father and he and your mom will have everything under control for the two weeks we would be there."
She looked seriously to her father, who mouthed the word go.
"Doug I can't… I…"
"Andy" he said seriously "I know you are down and that's why I think this will be good for you, for us! Look at the bright side! Everything is already paid, and we get to have pseudo vacations together, like we did back in High school. C'mon I don't wanna loose that ticket, because if you don't come I won't bring anyone else." She knew he meant it.
"It is very thoughtful of you Doug, but," she suddenly saw her father gesturing, encouraging her to accept "… Ok, ok… Just nowhere near fashion, PLEASE."
Doug sighed. "Done! I swear. I'm way more interested in getting you to accompany me than a couple of male models wearing the latest from Armani."
Andy laughed, she knew more than anything just how much into fashion and into male models he was "Paris, mon chérie" he said laughing "we'll have a blast."
"I hope so," she said, admitting defeat with a smile in her father's direction.
Andy looked around as if it was the first time she ever saw Paris, she couldn't help but be filled with memories of Miranda. Miranda next to her in the car, Miranda talking to designers, Miranda crying, Miranda walking between Paparazzi looking back, searching for her. Andy shook her head trying to keep away the memories. Suddenly she felt how Doug offered his arm for comfort, and both walked into what, she hoped, would be an unforgettable vacation.
"You CAN'T do this!" For the first time in his life Nigel was in front of an out of control Miranda Priestly, He was grateful that he wasn't the reason of the fury of the Dragon Lady. Suddenly she hung up, Nigel knew who and what was the reason of the unusual proof that Miranda was just as human as anyone, and actually felt something besides disappointment or discontent: Irv Ravitz, Budget cuts.
"I'm so surrounded by incompetence," she said in a low, soft voice after hanging up the phone.
"Emily." The first assistant ran into the Editor in chief's office.
"Yes, Miranda" she looked at her boss with fear. Not only did Miranda look irritated but also tired and that NEVER was a good combination; Nigel next to her was just plain nervous.
"Please fire the new Emily, that's all," said her boss. Emily stood there a little shocked, this new Emily seemed to be fairly competent and was her only chance to stop being Miranda's assistant and move on.
"I'll start looking for a replacement immediately, Miranda," she said. But before Emily even finished the sentence Miranda looked straight at her.
"Don't," she said, looking really pissed. "From now on you'll be my only assistant, and if Human resources asks for the reason of the firing, tell them 'Reduction of personnel' … That's all."
Emily thought an irritated, tired AND pissed off Miranda was the worst combination ever. She got out of her boss' office as fast as she could.
As she escaped, she realised that after all the changes made by Irv- and all the budget cuts- the revenge of that bloody dwarf against Miranda was starting to be perceived by the Runway workers, and Emily knew that the next step was Runway readers noticing the changes… This was worse than she thought.
"Can you repeat where we are going at this time in the morning?" said Andy in a sleepy voice, while waiting for her coffee to be delivered. She hated buying coffee in gas stations, but since Doug seemed to be in a rush it was their only option.
"I have to see the manager of this pharmaceutical company. It is basically the most important thing I have to do during this trip," Doug explained.
Suddenly Andy started to look at the machine next to them with interest.
"Euro Millions?" asked Doug with humour, though they were interrupted by the girl delivering their coffee.
"It's the most famous lottery in Europe," she explained with a smile. "Actually everybody is buying tickets, the drawing is going to be held tomorrow and the prize is the biggest given to this day €263,818,431." She pointed to the screen in the machine. "It's really tempting." Andy looked at her, and the woman smiled. "Then I guess I'll have to tempt my luck," she said, taking €2 out of her pocket. Doug looked at her and started to do something with his iPhone.
"You realize that the odds are 1 in 176,275,360, right?" he said smiling while she took her ticket.
"Did you just calculate that?" she asked kind of shocked.
"Nope, Wikipedia told me so." He offered up his phone, and they both laughed. "There's no way you can win. It's nice dreaming, though," he added drinking his coffee while leaving the place.
"Let's make a bet…If I win, even if the prize is two euros, you'll buy me dinner." Andy smiled sweetly.
He hesitated. "You know the bet won't work…It's just an excuse to buy me dinner," he said. "If you don't win you buy me dinner, if you win you'll buy me dinner anyway because we would celebrate. Am I right?"
She chuckled; It was nice having a friend that knew her well.
That was the first chapter! I hope you liked it! :D Let me know leaving a review :)