I was watching the deleted scenes from "The Devil Wears Prada" and I got inspired by one in particular. That is where the story begins :)

"Party of Three, Table for Two"
The Devil Wears Prada
Emily/Andy, Emily/Miranda

Emily and Andy stood in the ballroom amongst the crowd for one of the “social events of the year,” as Nigel liked to call it. Andy was fidgeting to leave so that she could be with Nate, but Emily just had to ignore that fact. She could simply not believe that Andy was still so defiant about this job.

She lived and breathed fashion and all this was just handed to Andy just because she had the gall to stand up to Miranda. If she knew who the hell she was, that wouldn’t have even happened, Emily thought with resentment.

Emily shook her head to pull herself together. Maybe it was all the cold medicine that was causing her mentality to take such a spiral downward. Sure, she ostensibly acted malicious toward Andy, but deep down, and she would NEVER admit this, but she admired the sassy little girl.

“We must be here for when Miranda arrives,” Emily told Andy, hoping she would pull herself together and act like she wanted to be here. Emily turned and saw her. “Oh my God, there she is!” Emily said in awe.

Miranda descended the staircase to her admirers below. Emily was truly, in her mind, one of Miranda’s biggest admirers. It was almost a bit unhealthy, Emily thought sometimes. She loved going to work even though it was hell most of the time. But she loved fashion and she loved Miranda.

She watched as her boss and idol came down toward everyone. “My god, she’s amazing!” Emily said softly, not meaning for her thoughts to be vocalized. “Are you crying?” Andy asked, incredulous. “No,” Emily said, catching herself. But she was crying. Miranda was like a condor; beautiful, rare…dangerous.

***

Emily was disgusted with herself tonight. She couldn’t believe that she forgot a name on the list she studied weeks for and Andy remembered like THAT! Another reason why she looked up to and down at Andy. She looked over at the brunette after a while and figured that she owed her. “Go on, I have it from here.” Andy looked at her with hope. “You sure?” “Yes, go, have fun,” she said, uncharacteristically friendly. At least she would have Miranda to herself for the rest of the night.

She then heard the drunken revelries of Miranda’s husband and wanted to stab herself with a cuticle trimmer repeatedly. She stopped shooting daggers at him with her eyes and after with shock when he in a drunken miasma insulted Irv Ravitz. She was in such a daze from her cold that she didn’t know what to do. She was done for!

When she found she was not told she was fired under Miranda’s breath, she looked up to notice that Andy had pulled Irv away to speak to him about something to distract him and Miranda was edging her husband away from the situation. She did happen to notice that Miranda mouthed “thank you” to Andy before they parted ways.

Emily now hated Andy.

***


Emily stormed into work. She refused to speak to Andy and would be even more unsympathetic to her today than ever. Let her find her own damned contacts and solve her own “crises”. She’s been working here for how many months?

Emily threw down her things as she settled at her desk. Why the hell did Miranda think Andy was so special? She wouldn’t know good fashion unless Nigel was there to hold her hand. She didn’t expect a pat on the head from Miranda, but a bout of kindness now and then would have been nice, and Andy has it dispensed to her, like everything else at this job.

She sat down and ran her hands through her hair. It was quiet because Miranda was not in yet. It was the calm before the daily storm. There was a photo shoot going on today, so she was probably prepping for that. She heard a faint sound in the kitchen and looked over at Andy’s desk to see that her things were indeed there. She went to the kitchen and was taken aback by what she saw.

Andy was facing the sink, her shoulders softly shaking as she tried to cry quietly. Emily’s main instinct was to make a snide remark, but something in her changed at that point. “Are you alright, Andrea? I hope you didn’t eat any cheese that was in that fridge; it probably expired over the weekend.” Emily said, going over to the brunette. Andy did not even turn or acknowledge her.

“Well, what could be so bad, dear? You look great today.” Andy let out a chuckle and a sniffle. “Fashion won’t solve my problems today.” Emily went over to Andy and put a hand on her shoulder, Andy still not making eye contact with her. “Nate and I are having problems.” Emily frowned. “You didn’t make it to his little party?” Andy shook her head and tapped her manicured fingers on the sink, trying to gain composure. Emily rolled her eyes and was thankful Andy could not see it. “Come here.”

Emily made a rare gesture and went to hug Andy, who accepted the gesture with gusto, wrapping her arms around Emily’s tiny frame and sobbing quietly. The only way Emily could tell she was still crying because of the jerking movements of her body. Soon, she quieted down and parted, looking at Emily with gratitude. “I’m sorry.” Emily shook her head and offered a half-smile. “Don’t worry about it. At least you’re wearing waterproof mascara.” Andy and Emily shared a small chuckle and looked at each other seriously. “I can’t tell you that it gets any easier,” Emily said. Andy smiled half-heartedly. “I didn’t ask you to.”

Emily didn’t hate Andy anymore.

***

Emily sat in the hospital bed, her head a blur. What had happened? Oh yes, she was hit by a cab when she ran across the street with the scarves. What happened to the scarves, she thought with worry. Oh, screw the scarves, she thought to herself; I must look awful.

She brought her hand up to her face and realized not only was her makeup scrubbed off, but she had a cut on her forehead. She hoped it wouldn’t leave a scar. She also looked over herself to find she had her leg in a cast. Crutches, she thought with disdain.

She looked around the room, which was actually quite lovely for a hospital room. There was a great view of the city and for once, she thought, she could relax. She looked over at flowers with a tag that showed they were from Miranda, also showing her that she had been out for hours and that it was appreciated that she was brought down in the line of duty, so to speak; it was a respect issue. Emily wondered what her obituary would have read if she hadn’t made it? “Killed for fashion”?

She heard a knock at her door and looked to see Andy. “Knock knock.” She said softly with a timid smile. “Andy, what are you doing here?” Andy came into the room and sat at the window. “Wanted to see how you were. You gave me a scare.” Emily smiled and felt tears come to her eyes. “Thank you. But I’m fine. And they gave me Vicodin.” Emily said with a hearty laugh, Andy joining in.

Emily lay back on her pillow and let out a sigh. “I hope I’ll be better in time for Paris. I also really hope that my scars won’t be too bad. I wonder if I have to use crutches, oh God!” Emily mumbled. Andy let out a shaky breath. “Um, Emily, about Paris…”

***

Emily ushered herself into the office, wobbly on her new crutches. She was so mortified, but everyone was very nice to her. People held the elevator for her and Nigel got her a hot chocolate from Starbucks, offering her his condolences that she wasn’t going to Paris. Emily smiled and nodded, accepting the drink, but then throwing it in the trash when he was out of sight. She didn’t need sympathy or the chocolate.

When she got to the office, she put down her things with difficulty and went to settle. “Emily?” Emily looked up over at Miranda, who was sitting at her desk, looking expectantly at her. She knew she didn’t want Andy, so she walked over to Miranda.

She didn’t know how to feel at the moment. She felt betrayed by Miranda. Her idol, her boss, who gives her so much, but took away Paris for her, after all the sacrifices she makes. She put that out of her head and looked at her boss. “What can I get for you?” Miranda smiled a thin smile and got up. “Walk with me to go someplace private.” Emily followed, Miranda graciously walking slow so Emily could catch up.

Once they reached a photo editing room, Miranda shut the door and looked upon Emily. Miranda was quiet for a while, pursing her lips. Knots were formed times a thousand in her stomach until Miranda spoke.

“I know you must be terribly disappointed that you cannot go to Paris. But it was my decision, and I made it,” Miranda said, before walking towards Emily very slowly. “However, I appreciate the efforts you have put in over the years for me. You have really been a lifesaver for me, and I’m sure you know that,” Confusion and vindication ran through Emily’s veins as Miranda kept stalking toward her.

“This is why I am giving you the opportunity to say anything you want to me at this moment. You can yell, scream at me, cry, whatever you wish. I know sometimes I really do act like a dragon lady,” she interrupted her own speech with a chuckle, “well, I do that A LOT, but that doesn’t mean I am beyond compassion and understanding. So, go ahead.”

Emily looked Miranda in the eyes and didn’t know what to say. Too many emotions flooded her for her to be able to say anything. Finally, she found herself in order to speak.

“I admire you.” Miranda lifted her eyebrows in surprise, but she mostly remained stoic. “This magazine, this work, this world means everything to me. YOU mean everything to me. I kill myself over this job and I feel sometimes like nothing comes of it. I know it’s stupid, but for once, I would like for you to show me yourself as you do to Andy. Just once. No compassion, no tenderness, not even a sympathetic ear as you are offering me now.” She looked away for a moment and let out a shaky breath, then looking up at her boss. “I’ve admired you years before I worked for you, and I don’t even know you.”

Miranda took it all in, a smile starting to form on her lips. She sighed and put a hand on Emily’s shoulder. “My dear, I’m afraid I can never show myself to you. It is not for callous reasoning, I assure you,” she said, taking a moment before she continued.

“I show myself to Andrea because she is weak. She is learning and to teach is to sacrifice a bit of yourself. I do not show myself to you because there is nothing to teach you. You are a strong, beautiful creature and I admire and trust you above all others.” Miranda leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on Emily’s lips. She then moved away and looked at a shocked Emily. “That’s all,” she said with a smirk as she walked out of the room.

Emily stood in severe shock of the situation. Had she not been on her crutches, she was sure she would have fallen to the floor. She knew now that it was all worth it. She wiped away a single tear that fell down her cheek in surprise and got a grip on herself. She held herself up high and journeyed back to her desk. She was glad she wore water proof mascara.

DISCLAIMER: Do not own "The Devil Wears Prada," Starbucks or any of this. Not making any cash. Get over it.