A/N Thanks for commenting! It's very much appreciated.I might not be able to update next week... I'm not sure, but I thought I'd warn you guys just in case.

Chapter 4

Andy stared down at Nate with wide eyes full of horror. This seemed like something straight out of a nightmare. Not only had Nate proposed, but he had also done it in public which meant she could either crush him in front of all these people or say yes and damn herself for the rest of her life. She didn't love Nate and was barely able to stay in a relationship with him. Marrying him just because it would make him happy was taking it one step too far. She couldn't do that. She wouldn't do that. Not to him and not to herself.

"Nate," she whispered hurriedly. "Please get up," she begged. Both Doug and Lilly released a sigh of relief when they heard her say that. They had both feared that Andy was going to say yes even though she didn't really love Nate anymore.

"Oh… Okay," Nate said slowly still keeping the smile on his face. He sat back down on his chair and they all remained quiet until everyone else in the restaurant started talking again.

"I'm sorry," Andy offered to Nate who was still smiling slightly. Doug was staring at Nate like he had grown a second head. 'Why in the hell is that guy still smiling?' he wondered.

"That's okay, Andy," Nate replied still smiling. "I understand that you need some time to think about it. It's an important decision after all."

Doug coughed to hide his chuckle while Lilly choked on her wine and Andy could only stare at him.

"But I," Andy started to say.

"It's okay, honey. Let's just enjoy the rest of our dinner and you can tell me your answer when you're ready," Nate said and motioned a waiter over to order dessert effectively ending the conversation.

"Nate, we need to talk," Andy said when they finally arrived back at the apartment. She had finally realized that she wasn't doing him any favors by staying with him and had decided it was time to break up. She knew she was going to hurt him and she hated herself for it, but she realized he deserved to be with someone who was in love with him, who was going to want to marry him some day. She bit her lip. They had been together for five years now and she knew that even though she wasn't in love with him anymore she was going to miss him nonetheless.

"Oh Andy do we have to do that now? I'm stuffed and exhausted," Nate sighed walking to the bedroom shedding his clothes as he went.

"But…" Andy started following him to their bedroom. He was already lying down on the bed when she reached him.

"Listen babe, we'll talk tomorrow, okay? After work," he said with his eyes closed.

"Sure," Andy sighed. "But I'm going to be a little later since I agreed to go out for drinks with Doug and Lilly.

"Again? We just had dinner with them?" Nate grumbled sleepily.

"Yes again," Andy answered a little annoyed. Nate's only reply was a snore.

'Well at least I won't have to worry about him trying to get in my pants tonight,' Andy thought to herself. 'And it's not like I'm looking forward to turning down his proposal and breaking up with him.' Andy sighed and dropped down onto the couch. 'How did I get myself into this mess in the first place?' Andy thought miserably. 'Oh yeah I started at Runway, fell for my boss, was fired by that boss and am now staying with my boyfriend because I don't want to make him unhappy… Such a mess,' Andy thought. 'But I'm going to fix it,' she thought determined before falling asleep.

"Morning," Nigel greeted Emily as he walked in.

"Good morning. Hold up! Where are you going?" Emily asked one eyebrow raised as Nigel kept walking towards Miranda's office. "She didn't want anyone disturbing her."

"She's expecting me," Nigel said. "She called last night."

"Okay," Emily sighed. "But it's at your own risk."

Nigel grinned and nodded.

"Miranda?" he said hesitantly as she opened the door.

"Nigel! Come in," Miranda said sounding a little distracted. "And close the door," she added.

"So… You wanted to talk about something?" Nigel asked surprised that Miranda seemed distracted and hesitant. Normally she just plowed ahead and demanded whatever it was she wanted without the slightest hint of hesitation and he couldn't remember the last time she had been distracted.

"Ah… Yes," Miranda said and fell silent again not used to explaining herself and not knowing how she should start.

"Is it about work?" Nigel guessed starting to feel nervous because of Miranda's odd behavior.

"No, not really," Miranda answered shaking her head. 'Why is this so hard?' she asked herself annoyed that she was having so much trouble with expressing herself. 'Screw it I'm just going to say it like I do with everything else!'

"I'm in love with Andrea Sachs and want her back in my life," Miranda said and watched as Nigel's eyes went ridiculously wide.

"So… you're in love with Andy?" Nigel asked his eyes still wide and his tone disbelieving.

"Yes Nigel, I am," Miranda repeated a little annoyed that she had had to repeat herself.

"But… But… Since when?" Nigel spluttered.

"I don't really know," Miranda admitted as a small blush graced her cheeks. It was unsettling for her to have to admit she didn't know something. "I only figured it out about a week ago, but I fell in love with her somewhere during last year while she was working for me."

"And she doesn't know?" Nigel asked knowing that the answer was probably no.

"Of course not," Miranda said sounding indignant.

"It's not that insane to tell the person you love how you feel, Miranda," Nigel said softly.

"I know that!" Miranda barked. "But it is insane when the person you love is twenty-five years younger than you, an ex employee that you fired and has absolutely no interest in you," Miranda continued quietly.

"So what do you want to do? And why did you tell me?" Nigel asked curiously.

"I want her in my life. Preferably as a partner, but I'd be content to have her in my life as a friend or even as a colleague. I know that me falling for her doesn't necessarily mean that she loves me too. "

"And you told me all this because…"

"Because you're my friend and I'm going to need your help," Miranda answered sounding a little shy which kind of shocked Nigel.

"What can I do?" He asked wanting to help Miranda with this. He hadn't ever seen her this vulnerable which told him she really did want Andy in her life. She hadn't ever asked for his help like this either so he was going to do everything he could to help her.

"I know you're still friends with her so I'm going to need your advice."

"Okay… What can I tell you that will help you?"

"Do you think I might be able to convince her to return to Runway?" Miranda asked. "As a writer this time."

"I don't really know," Nigel said hesitating. "She has her dream job now… She's writing for a newspaper and is getting a lot of attention. She's really making a name for herself as a writer too. I think it's only a matter of time before a bigger paper makes her an offer."

"So there's no chance?" Miranda asked sadly.

"I didn't say that. She hasn't gotten any of those offers yet so you'll need to be fast and since she hasn't been all that happy lately I'd say you have a chance she'll take you up on your offer."

"She's unhappy?" Miranda asked not liking what she was hearing.

"Not unhappy really. Just… She seems to have lost some of her joie de vivre."

"And you think she might be happier working here?"

"I don't know, but if she thinks that I'm sure she'll accept your offer," Nigel said.

"Okay. Thank you, Nigel."

"You're welcome, Miranda," Nigel replied smiling.

"If this works I'm going to need a lot more of your advice," Miranda said.

"I know. And I hope this works, Miranda."

"Oh and Nigel tell Emily to go get me the Gucci skirts."

"Will do," Nigel said grinning as he walked out of her office.

"Hey," Nigel said looking at Emily who was typing so fast he was afraid the keyboard would break. "She wants you to go get the Gucci skirts," he continued when she finally stopped typing like crazy.

"Wait! What did she want to talk to you about?" Emily asked curiously. Miranda never called Nigel herself to schedule a meeting.

"Oh she just wanted to talk about a writer she's thinking of hiring," Nigel answered happy that he didn't have to lie.

"What writer?"

"You'll see when she manages to hire her," Nigel said grinning as he walked away. He loved toying with Emily who was really too curious for her own good. "Now go get those skirts!" He called over his shoulder.

"Sometimes he's really obnoxious," Emily muttered as she stood up. "Try and keep things together here," she said to the second assistant who rolled her eyes once her back was turned.

"Emily," Miranda called when Emily had stepped into the elevator. The second assistant nearly tripped over herself in her hurry to get to Miranda. "I want you to contact Andrea Sachs at the New York Mirror and make an appointment with her for 4pm. Do no take no for an answer or you can go find yourself someone else to fetch coffee for," Miranda threatened.

"Yes Miranda," the girl named Sandy squeaked before hurrying out the office.

"Andy Sachs," Andy snapped into her phone. She really wasn't in a good mood. She didn't have a goodnight sleep, hadn't been able to wake Nate up so she still had to talk to him, she had just learned that her editor had hired a new writer who couldn't write to save his life just because the guy's father was a friend and to top it all of the guy would make more money than she did. So she really didn't have the energy or the will to be polite today.

"This is Sandy Gruber. I'm calling on behalf of Miranda Priestly who would like it if you'd meet with her in her office at 4pm," a slightly nervous girl replied.

"Miranda Priestly?" Andy repeated incredulously. Was this a prank call or something? Andy checked the caller id then and saw that it was indeed Miranda's number. "What does she want to meet with me for?" Andy asked.

"She didn't say, miss. Can I tell her you'll be here?"

"Euh…" Andy hesitated. On the one hand she was dying to see Miranda again, to hear her voice and be in her presence again, but on the other hand she didn't want to torture herself again, to see the woman she loved and know that she would never ever have her.

"Please," Sandy urged. "She told me she'd fired me if I didn't get you here."

"Fine," Andy sighed knowing first hand that Miranda didn't make empty threats.

"Thank you. Don't forget 4pm," Sandy said relieved and hung up the phone.

'God what have I gotten myself into now?' Andy wondered as she buried her head in her hands.

"She'll be here at four, Miranda," Sandy announced happily.

"Good," Miranda replied nodding. "Was there something else?" she asked coldly when Sandy kept standing in the doorway of her office.

"No," Sandy replied before hurrying off.

"Didn't think so," Miranda muttered grinning slightly.

"You love your job way too much you know," Nigel said as he entered her office having caught the conversation with her assistant.

"Tell me something I don't already know," Miranda replied. "Like when that idiot of a designer is finally going to finish his collection."

"He has asked for another week," Nigel answered bracing himself for her reaction.

"Another week?" Miranda asked incredulous. "His collection was supposed to be finished last month."

"I know, but he still isn't ready," Nigel said weakly.

"Tell him he has a day or I will get another designer."

"I will."

"So when is Andy coming?" He asked grinning like a mad man.

"She'll be here at four and I better not see you hanging around my office then. That grin of yours would be enough for anyone to stay the hell away from this building," Miranda grumbled.

"Yeah right. Keep telling yourself that it's my grin that keeps people away," Nigel chuckled and returned to his own office to tell the designer he only had one more day.