A/N: Poor Iimy is sitting around doing absolutely nothing except waiting for me to finish this... So we shall continue...

Also the utmost gratitude and respect to the wonderful jazwriter who reminded me quietly that poor Nigel was due to come over for dinner and I'd completely forgotten about it lol

-0-

"Andy!" She looked up to find Nigel returning for the samples from that morning's run-through and she smiled. "You were shirking your duties this morning. I didn't see you?"

"Nige," she scoffed. "Had to scan in some reports for a thing."

"Some reports for a thing, ey," he said, his eyebrow quirking enough to make her chuckle.

"It is a thing and I will tell you about it, but not now."

"Ah, one of those things," he chuckled.

Andy shrugged but Nigel didn't seem to be in a hurry. Miranda had stepped out to meet with Gucci's people but Andy had begged off so she could finish compiling the information for Ann Shankley's secretary.

"I want to apologise," Nigel said contritely.

"What for?"

"Not coming over on the weekend."

"Oh," Andy shrugged again, but she cringed inside. She'd forgotten he was supposed to meet her for dinner. "No biggie."

"I," he frowned. "Sebastian left me."

"Oh, Nigel!"

Andy didn't hesitate to get up and wrap her arms around him. They hugged for a long time before she drew away. He pulled out his pocket square and dabbed his eyes.

"What must you think of me?"

Andy, in fact, had never seen Nigel like this and she smiled gently, taking his hand.

"That you're human, and you loved him?"

"I did," he nodded, looking so sad. "I, he wasn't," he took a deep breath. "Wasn't ready to be tied down, he said. Apparently, I used to be fun."

"What he means by that is that you're now in charge of the whole Art Department and instead of getting drunk every night, you have to actually be a bit responsible, seeing as you're now responsible for the lives of, like, thirty people?"

He chuckled and nodded.

"Remember what I said, at the beginning. About your life going up in flames? I think I had it wrong."

"I think you had it right, for then," Andy said gently. "But not anymore. Perhaps," she winced. "If he isn't man enough to stick around for the rough times then maybe he's not right for you?"

"He seemed right," Nigel sighed.

"I am sorry."

"So," he said, standing tall and sniffing delicately. "I would love it if you invited me a second time. This coming weekend, perhaps. I couldn't," he sighed. "It's been a rough week, but I would love to see the new place?"

"I'd love to show it to you," she smiled. She rummaged through the diary in her head. The twins had a sleep-over and Miranda had dinner. "Saturday night?"

"Sure," he grinned. "I'll bring wine."

"I have some," she chuckled. "But you can."

He grinned and nudged her with her hip.

"Tequila then," he smirked.

"No," she growled. "Absolutely not."

"You used to be fun," he quipped, making her laugh.

She could have clapped back, but she refrained, knowing that despite his teasing, he was obviously hurt. She gathered up the papers and smiled as she noticed him reading the cover sheet.

"Friends in high places, I see?"

"Remember that thing we had going on. A while back. You know. Paris a while back? And everything after it?" He stared at her and she smirked. "Turnabout is fair play, no?"

"Seriously?" he asked, leaning closer to finish reading.

"Ah-ah," she said, closing the folder and sealing it. "I think," she said quietly. "That in not very much time at all, we might actually be able to breathe around here without checking if it's in the budget."

"Was this what Serena was doing with that little waif from Make-Up?"

"Oh," she laughed. "Oh, that's not even the icing on the cake. That's only an ingredient in the base of the cake."

"Of course you would make a cake analogy," he groaned. Andy punched him in the arm. "You hit like a 5th-grade boy," he laughed. "I expect a full run-down on Saturday. I am bringing wine, you can't cope with wine, I'm going to get all the details."

"It's been a while, Nigel," she laughed. "I think I'll be alright."

"Alright, you dark horse," he muttered, spying someone at his door. "I still expect all the gossip."

She took the reports back to her desk and freshened up her lipstick before leaving for the elevators. She made her way up to the executive floor and waved at a few of the secretaries she knew and knocked on the one she knew was Ann Shankely's suite.

"Andrea," the secretary smiled. "I'd been told to expect you."

"I have these," Andy said, showing her the cover sheet. "And two drives of information. Most of it is pretty organised but there are a lot of things to go through."

"You've all been pretty busy down there," she smirked.

"Well," Andy shrugged. "Hopefully it'll be worth it."

"From your lips," she said airily, pointing to the ceiling.

Andy nodded and tapped the reports before she made her way back to Runway. She had just pushed the button for the elevator when someone came up to stand next to her. She glanced beside her and her blood went cold as she saw the smirking face of Irv Ravitz. She swallowed and tried not to panic. After the last time she'd been stuck in an elevator with him, the thought of being alone with him brought back all those feelings of panic she'd had the first time.

"Andy!"

She turned just as the elevator signalled its arrival and she turned to see Ann Shankley smiling easily.

"Are you on your way down?" she asked conversationally.

"Um, yeah," Andy managed. "Yes."

"I'll join you," Ann smiled. "Hello, Irving. How are you?"

Andy didn't know what was happening as Ann stepped into the elevator, her arm steadying Andy's gait. She stood between them both and they rode in silence down to the fifteenth floor.

Andy got out, once again with Ann Shankley's hand in her elbow. They stood in front of the elevators while the door closed and Irving Ravitz was carried to a different floor.

"Are you alright?"

Andy breathed out harshly and closed her eyes. A wave of emotion washed over her but she couldn't speak it into existence.

"Andréa?"

Miranda's voice brought with it all the peace she needed and she felt an arm around her middle as Ann and Miranda spoke quietly.

"Thank you, Ann," Miranda muttered.

"You are most welcome," she said gently. "Take care, Andy."

She couldn't speak as she was manoeuvred into the office. She heard Miranda's glass door shut behind them and Miranda pushed her gently onto the sofa.

"Breathe," Miranda said gently, sitting beside her. "Just breathe, Andréa."

She did, closing her eyes.

"Andréa, keep your eyes open, look. We're perfectly safe. It is just you and me."

She did and she looked around trying to breathe calmly as she calmed down.

"I'm so -"

"It's alright," Miranda said gently. "Ann took care of it."

"Oh," she looked, horrified at Miranda. "I -"

"I told her," Miranda said gently. "When we were at lunch. She knew."

Andy put her head in her hands and realised her hands were shaking.

"Andréa?" Miranda pulled her hands away and took them between her own. "It's alright to be scared of that odious little troll. It's okay."

"It's not, I just nearly lost my shit in front of one of the board members!"

"One of the Board members that is well aware of the kind of man you have trouble with. If it were up to me, he'd have had his genitals removed by now, but it is not and that is perhaps for the best."

Andy snorted and then sat back with a laugh.

"Nobody would believe me if I told them how funny you are."

"That's good," Miranda smirked. "My reputation will remain intact." Andy laughed again and felt the last of her anxiety leave her. "That's better," Miranda smiled.

"Can I go for coffee?" Andy asked, needing something to do that was outside the building.

"Yes," Miranda nodded. "In fact," she glanced at her desk. "You may take me for coffee. How is that?"

"Great," Andy smiled.

"Good. Give me ten minutes and I'll meet you at your desk."

Andy locked up her desk and shut the computer down. It wasn't late enough that they definitely wouldn't come back, but Miranda had been a lot less stringent about being in the office lately. Most of the work she needed to oversee was done online anyway so it wasn't such an imposition to do some of it at home. It occurred to her suddenly that Miranda was joining her so she didn't have to ride the elevator on her own and her heart thumped happily.

"Ready?" Miranda asked as she strode up.

"You're a giant mushball," Andy grinned. "You don't want me riding the elevators on my own."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Miranda's eyebrow quirked. "Are you quite sure you didn't smack your pretty head somewhere?"

"You're hopeless, Miranda Priestly."

"If you say it is so, Andréa, then it is. Now take me for coffee."

Andy giggled and offered her arm gallantly. Miranda rolled her eyes good-naturedly and took it. With every passing moment that Andy was beside Miranda, she felt better so she decided just to enjoy it and she pushed the button and laughed at the unimpressed look Miranda gave her in return for her smile.

-0-

The working week passed quickly, after that, and before Andy knew it she was answering the door to a cheerful knock from Nigel. He arrived, looking resplendent in a suit jacket that was clearly bespoke and she let him in and gave him the tour. He made no comment about the girl's room but he did make a noise of amazement when he saw the furniture.

"Miranda," Andy shrugged. "It was a joke."

"A joke?" he asked, clearing his glasses and peering closer.

"Yeah," she chuckled. "I'd been sleeping on a mattress on the floor before this. Well, before all this. And she said that she wouldn't let me sleep on a mattress on the floor again, so she got me the next best thing."

"Is that right," Nigel hummed, still looking at it carefully. "Well, doll, I think it's beautiful."

"Yeah," Andy smiled. "It's pretty awesome. And it's massive too."

"I noticed," he muttered but the stove timer went off and she went to rescue the lamb chops she'd cooked.

"Take a seat," she said.

He sat at the bar. He'd already uncorked the wine and though he did get up at one point to poke around in the cupboard, he sat waiting patiently until she plated their dinner up and presented it to him.

"Bon appetit!"

"Andy, I know I joke a lot, but I'm serious when I tell you that this is a beautiful place."

"It is," Andy smiled looking around. "I'm so lucky."

"I have to ask -" He stopped as he took the first bite. "Oh, Andy, where have you been hiding these skills!"

She laughed and sat beside him.

"I did live with a chef for a long time, you know."

"Well yeah, but did he leave because you were the better cook?"

She laughed, only managing to save the wine from tipping over as she struggled to remain upright.

"Nigel."

"I'm just saying it's delicious."

"Well, thank you."

They ate quietly for a while, savouring the flavours before he stopped and looked at her.

"I am going to ask, I've tried not to, but I'm your friend and I need to know. How are you affording this?"

"Oh, um," Andy shrugged. "I have a bit of help, but also Miranda introduced me to her finance manager? He's helped me pay off a few debts and save some money. It's," she considered telling him and remembered Miranda's warning at the beginning of their agreement. How she was an over-sharer. "It's subsidised, of course." She didn't tell him how. "It's not like I can afford all this at the market-rate, can I?"

She wasn't sure that he didn't have follow up questions but she took a bite to stall him from asking. She nearly choked as the front door slammed open and little footsteps announced the surprise arrival of the Priestly twins.

"ANDY!"

"Oh!"

She glanced at Nigel, who was looking at her sideways.

"Girls, shoes -"

Andy blushed, though she wasn't sure why, as Miranda's tired voice called out.

"But Mom!"

"Now."

"So -"

"Um."

"Andy!"

"Hiya munchkins," she said, getting up and accepting their hug.

"Uncle Nigel?"

A thump sounded near to the front door and Andy sighed, rubbing her head. She decided immediately that everyone currently in the apartment was her friend and she'd quite like it if they all stayed. She left the twins with Nigel and went to the door. She smiled, despite Miranda's frown.

"I was unaware you had company," Miranda muttered, looking lost.

"It's only Nigel," Andy smiled but Miranda didn't look impressed. "Don't go," Andy said quickly, as Miranda glanced at the single shoe she'd managed to take off. "I made lamb chops. You'll like them, I promise."

"Andréa, it's -"

"Please," she said. "You and he are friends. We're all friends."

"I shouldn't have come here without asking."

"You should have," Andy argued softly. "I told you that you could. I want you to."

"You could have had company. You do have company."

They could hear the girls talking to Nigel in the kitchen but Miranda didn't move.

"What happened?"

"The other girl has appendicitis."

"Ouch," Andy winced. "Guess dinner was cancelled?"

"I met with them first. Then I had to cut it short to pick the girls up."

"Did you eat?"

"I didn't but -"

"Please?" Andy smiled.

She saw the moment Miranda gave in and she rolled her eyes, stepping out of her second shoe and into the apartment.

The girls were already browsing the pantry and she smiled apologetically at Nigel.

"Good evening," he muttered, getting up and kissing Miranda's cheek.

"Hello," she said carefully.

"Please relax, both of you. You're in my home. You're friends. Nige?" He looked at her. "Pour more wine, Miranda, change, if you want your dry cleaning is in the closet. Girls?"

They turned and looked at her.

"There are leftovers from yesterday."

They made a face.

"Chicken hotpot."

"Oh!" Cassidy grinned. "Thanks, Andy."

Caroline moved to hug her while Cassidy rummaged in the fridge.

"I missed you," she muttered as Andy hugged her back.

"I missed you too," Andy whispered. "We'll go climbing tomorrow, okay?"

Eventually, with the leftovers heated and Miranda changed into something less formal, Andy sat them all at the dinner table and raised her glass.

"To family?"

Miranda rolled her eyes affectionately and tipped her glass to Nigel, who stared at her for a long moment then tapped her's with his own.

"Family," he smiled.

"I'm glad we're back," Cassidy grinned, tapping the bottom of the glass against Caroline's a little too forcefully. "Whoops."

"Yeah," Andy poked Cassidy's middle as she offered her a napkin. "Me too."