A/N: As you know, I don't own DWP.

Chapter Two: Old and New

Andy looked down at her phone and up at the building before her. Yup, both addresses matched, this must be it. She grabbed the handle of the door and pulled, the glass door was stiffer than it looked. Beyond was a lobby, its walls were white and the floor was polished cream marble. Around the room hung several black and white pictures of New York scenes. Andy took a moment to appreciate the photographs and smiled as she recognized one of them as Lily's.

Lily. She hadn't seen her old friend in months, not sense she bumped into her at the art museum. And that had been- awkward to say the least. They said hello and gave each other stiff "I'm-afraid-to-touch-you" hugs. They then exchanged pleasantries and clipped views on the painting before them. Just when Andy had the courage to ask if she'd like to hang out sometime Lily looked around the gallery, spotted a girl starring at a sculpture and quickly excused herself. It was awful watching her walk up to the girl and playfully push her. Their giggles could be heard throughout the room. Andy didn't finish the exhibit.

Looking at the photo before her made her sad about Lily and Doug, even Nate. She missed her life before Runway. She missed waking up to the smell of greasy bacon and omelets. She missed meeting up with the gang after work and cracking jokes about the corny people at the bars. She missed listening to Doug's latest exploits and Lily's new projects. Sometimes she wished…

Andy sighed, it wouldn't do to reminisce about the past she'd left behind. There was no point in wishing them all back. And why should she? None of them stood beside her in her pursuit of her dream. Yes the path she's taking to it was slightly different than the original idea, but it was still the one she had chosen. She'd chosen Runway, a path to success. Why couldn't she have that and her friends?

'That's what happens when you start doing well at work. Let me know when your entire life goes up in smoke, then it's time for a promotion.'

Andy grimaced as she remembered what Nigel said. She didn't want to admit it, but maybe he was right.

The ping of an elevator brought her from her musings. She half expected Miranda to appear. Instead a tall woman with a mess of curled hair piled atop her head walked out. Her pink VS hoodie and jean shorts made Andy long for when she could wear such clothing in public. (Those items were confined to weekends only.) The woman looked around the lobby and when she spotted Andy she smiled showing her perfect white teeth.

"Ms. Sachs?" she asked revealing her English accent.

Andy smiled back and made to shake the woman's hand only to receive a hug in response. Shocked, Andy giggled nervously when she let her go. This was going to be an interesting visit.

"P- please call me Andy, everyone calls me Andy." She corrected the Englishwoman as she dug around her purse for her notepad.

"Okie dokie Ahndee." She said happily. "Then you can call me Nana. Everyone calls me that." By the end of this sentence "Nana" had pulled Andy to the open elevator. She pushed for the 12th floor with her turquoise acrylic nail. Still smiling, she shoved her hands in the pouch of her hoody and hummed. Was that Star Wars?

Andy cleared her throat and looked over her notepad. It said that she was supposed to pick up jackets from this address. Of course the description and quantity were excluded. Andy hoped Nana had the answer to that. When they reached the floor Nana led them to door 312A, she slid her access card and let Andy in first.

Andy stared in wonder. How anyone could function in such a mess was beyond her. Piles of books, papers and cloth were stacked from nearly floor to ceiling and most of the windows were covered in sketches. Garments and fabrics lay scattered about the floor and random mannequins stood at various openings throughout the room. You could scarcely tell it was a studio apartment at all.

Nana grabbed Andy's hand again and led her through the maze until they reached the other end of the apartment. In this corner stood three racks of clothing from what appeared to be three separate collections. Nana gestured for Andy to have a seat on a plush panda chair while she riffled through the racks. Andy retained the urge to "aww" and proceeded with the visit.

"So Miranda wanted me to retrieve the new jackets. Something about not wanting the ones from last week." She said the last part carefully, trying not to offend Nana. Though something told her this woman was not easily offended.

The designer laughed/snorted from her racks, pulling out a garment covered by a protector. She gave Andy an incredulous look, quirking a perfect eyebrow.

"Oh I had nothing to do with that train-wreck. I saw them just the other day too. Really, Raquel ought to have known better than to hand Miranda a bright-as-sin yellow peplum jacket and call it "fresh and innovative". He deserved the tongue lashing he got. Anyway" she began unzipping the garment bag. "I was the one left picking up the pieces wasn't I? She called me not but a week ago demanding I make 'er a fresh batch."

"Well you know she's a perfectionist-" Andy began weakly.

"She's bat-shit crazy is what she is. But I guess so…"

She pulled out the piece and Andy smiled slightly. It was a deep navy blue military style jacket with gold buttons, somehow Nana gave a nod to both the past and the future in this one piece. She thanked God she wouldn't receive Miranda's Glare of Eternal Death for this at least.

"That looks great, how many did you make?"

"Ten." Nana answered grumpily.

Andy gapped, ten was quite a few in so short a time frame. Judging by Nana's mock blubbering she agreed. She had just finished sniffing and wiping away an imaginary tear when she said "Course I had to eh? What with her letting me dress her for the party this evening and all. I'd hate to lose that kind of advertisement. Miranda Priestly wearing something by me? Imagine that." Andy couldn't help but smile as Nana practically glowed before her. Yes, that would certainly skyrocket the new designer's career. It always amazed Andy how that worked. One nod from Miranda and your garment was a roaring success. One smile and your collection was phenomenal. One night with her wearing your design and your career was practically set.

As Andy took the rolling case (thank God) that held all the jackets she couldn't help but ask: "So what did you make for her?"

Nana tapped her nose and winked. "Ah ah ah nosey, not until tonight. See you Ahndee!" Nana smiled again and waved Andy off to the elevator.

Nigel was already waiting for her when Andy arrived four hours later from her errands. Miranda was having lunch with Donatella and her services would not be needed until she arrived at the office later on. So this was as good a time as any to visit.

The lights shined brightly over the large room they deemed The Closet. The floors reflected the light and made everything seem clean and expensive. Andy walked up to Nigel who was already holding up a black dress. As she approached he held it up to her and examined. She wordlessly gushed, it was a long velvet piece with a deep plunging neckline. She could imagine waltzing into the gala feeling confident as the cameras flashed and politely ignoring the stares she'd receive. The thought made her blush, if only she could be like that in reality.

Nigel must have picked up on her adoration for the dress because he scoffed and put it away.

"Oh you are too easily impressed my dear." He said, chuckling at the indignant look he received as response.

"No I'm not! That was a really pretty-"

"But that's just it isn't it? You have to aim higher than just pretty if you're going to- say." He stopped his searching and looked at Andy curiously. Andy squirmed slightly.

"Where exactly are you going anyway? Is this a personal event or work related? You gonna peruse down Time Square or are you sitting in on a finance meeting? " He raised his eyebrows and looked at her over his glasses. Andy began to fidget. That was a really good question. She assumed work related but nowhere on the schedule did it say "Gala at 8" Miranda purposely emailed it to her instead of mentioning it allowed before Emily. Thus… leaving her to reveal to Emily that she would be waiting for the book, not Andy. Great. Emily would just love that. The thought sobered Andy right up.

"Well, um. Miranda just sorta sprung it on me this morning. She said it was a Gala, but she never mentioned what it was for or anything. And I honestly don't know what would be appropriate because she didn't tell me who this was for or what she was wearing. I mean I met the lady dressing her this evening but she wouldn't tell me and her place was such a mess I-" Andy stopped mid babble. Nigel was staring at her, slack jawed, as dawning comprehension of what she clearly missed suddenly hitting him.

"You're going to the Hemingway gala this evening? That gala? The one with all the investors, fashion moguls and celebrities, the exclusive invitation only gala, that gala?" Nigel looked beside himself as he grilled Andy for details she did not have. And she told him so, several times, and yet he still couldn't believe it. How could she have gotten into the most exclusive party of the season and not know about it? And what's worse, she was Miranda's plus-one. Just her and Miranda in a sea of important people. Which meant that this dress would have to be way more than "pretty".

"Speak of the devil." Nigel muttered as he looked at his vibrating phone. He'd just received a text that was clearly about Andy because he looked up and starred at her more intently.

"W- what is it Nigel?" she asked, absently twisting the cuff of her sleeve. Nigel just shook his head and gave a slightly sarcastic smile.

"Her majesty has informed me that you are to match her in some way. That "for God's sake, something bolder than what you usually offer her."" His imitation of Miranda was exaggerated but Andy couldn't help a giggle.

"I remember what her gown looked like, damn this is gonna be tough." He bit his lip, turning his attention to the racks of clothes. He thumbed through a few, but clearly found them to be less than adequate companions to Miranda's dress.

"Um I'm sure you can find something in all this." Andy gestured to the enormity of The Closet, there was enough outfits here to clothe half of New York City. Surely something had to match.

"For my sake I certainly hope so, now go find some grease, my God a lot of grease."