Archive of Our Own

i.

“Andy!”

Andrea Sachs turned as she looked at the eyes of her ex-boyfriend from 20 years ago, Nate Cooper.

“Hi… Can I help you?” she trailed off uncertainly, wringing her hands together.

“Um… How have you been?” asked Nate, “We never got the chance to… properly chat with each other after… all that.”

All that.

(By that he means that they haven't actually talked in 20 years apart from the occasional email.)

Andy can't help but sigh internally.

Why now? Why find her now? She is definitely not interested in a relationship with Nate, no thank you, given how things ended between them. She will not be tolerating another person who is not supportive of her career again.

She puts on her best fake smile and clasps her hands together, “What do you want, Nate?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to catch up, just like old times. We can grab dinner, just the two of us.”

Just the two of us.

That means more time spent with Nate and a very high probability of Nate voicing out his wish to get back together. After 20 years.

“Are you free this Friday? I can get us a table at the old diner that we used to frequent,” Nate's hopeful tone pulled Andy away from her thoughts.

Andy’s brain is starting to melt (in a bad way) when he said that.

Two things:

1) she IS free on Friday
2) she does NOT want to hang out with Nate

The only issue is how she can turn him down in a nicer way.

“That shade is wrong! It's not just blue, it's not turquoise, it's not lapis, it's actually cerulean. Fix this immediately,” a familiar female voice with a hint of a British accent came from afar, “For Christ’s sake, why can't people actually be competent at their jobs,” the voice grumbled.

She would recognise that voice anywhere.

The low tone, the coolness, the underhanded insults.

Emily Charlton's voice floated through the air to Andrea Sachs as she stared at the woman who was dressed in a black pantsuit from Valentino's 2026 winter collection.

“Uh… Andy?” Nate's voice snapped her back to the conversation she does not want to have.

“Sorry Nate, I'm not free on Friday-”

“How about Saturday?”

Andy is resisting the urge to just turn on her heels and escape like a fugitive.

“That I can't even-” Emily's exasperated voice comes closer, “If you put the bags here, when the sun rays hit the leather it will look as if somebody had just puked rainbows on it. Fix this. Now!” Her two assistants all but ran towards their assigned stations.

“Why is no one ready?” Emily muttered, raising her gaze from the collection of hand bags, finally meeting Andy's big brown eyes.

Those blue-green orbs fixated its penetrating gaze at Andy, a look of concealed confusion as to why she is standing outside a Coach flagship store, having a conversation with a man, no less.

Curiosity kills the cat.

Emily starts walking over to them.

“I'm… I'm dating Emily now! And we have a date on Friday night,” Andy rushed out, “So… I can't hang out with you-”

“You’re dating who now?” asked Nate, confusion evident on his face.

“I'm dating Emily! And it shouldn't concern you, should it?” Andy’s voice dropped, staring straight at Nate.

“I-”

“Well, well, well, look what TJ Maxx dragged in,” said Emily, folding her arms together as she leaned at the door of the Coach store, a look of suppressed amusement on her face.

“I'm literally wearing Balenciaga, Emily,” mumbled Andy, a hint of resignation in her voice.

“You’re Emily?” asked Nate, pointing at the blonde woman.

“Depends on who's asking.”

“I am Andy's ex-boyfriend-”

“So you're the man who wanted your ex-girlfriend to not thrive at her job in fashion,” said Emily, her voice firm as if she was simply stating facts, “I'll have you know that I will deny to anyone that I have ever said this, but she did great through her short tenure at Runway as Miranda Priestly’s assistant, with or without your support. But I think making grilled cheeses every once in a while for a size 6 won't help much,” she finished, receiving a gobsmacked look from Andy, whereas Nate was at a loss of words.

“Emily…” warm hazel eyes met Emily's emerald-cobalt gaze, forever striking and piercing.

“You’re dating her?” Nate pointed directly at Emily, who is hiding her surprise remarkably well, directing her gaze to the woman whose face is now increasingly red.

“I-” Emily didn’t get to finish her sentence before Andy cut in.

“Emily! Right on time, we’re heading to the cafe nearby to grab lunch, right?” Andy had all but grabbed Emily’s arm and yanked her to her side, ignoring the sputtering from the supposedly composed blonde.

“Andrea I have a meeting in 15 minutes-”

“Bye Nate! See you… never!” Andy yelled back at the man who only stood in shock in front of the newly refurbished Coach flagship store, dragging Emily as she all but ran away from her ex-boyfriend from 20 years ago.

“Andrea Sachs!”

The drop of her full name from Emily finally made Andy pause her frantic run, dropping her hold on Emily’s hand.

“I’m so SO sorry Emily-”

“What. Was. That?”

“Well I… I bumped into Nate just now, and he started asking about my availability and when I didn't tell him right away he immediately asked me out on a dinner date this weekend so I panicked and I may or may not have said that I was dating you to throw him off… ” Andy finished her quick ramble, not daring to meet Emily’s eyes.

The street noise seemed to fade out into silence that stretched on for eons as Andy waited for Emily’s response.

“… When I told you that I want to reconnect and be friends 3 months ago, I did not expect you to use me as a cover so you can get out of a dinner date from your ex-boyfriend of 20 years,” Emily started, “Did you actually say that we are dating to his face?”

“I did…?”

“Oh my gosh… Sometimes I wonder why I wanted to connect with you again because all you bring me are headaches and the occasional good company on wine nights and lunch dates.”

“Only ‘occasional good company’? I thought I was great company all the time…”

“Don’t give me that look.”

“What look?”

“The facial expression that you make when you pout and look like a wounded golden retriever,” Emily rolled her eyes, staring right at Andrea, who finds the tiles on the streets of New York to be a lot more interesting than it should be right now.

“Andrea. Andy. Look at me.”

That was all it took for Andy to look up from the dark grey pavement, meeting Emily’s piercing gaze.

“Emily, I’m so sorry for dragging you into this, I didn’t mean to do this, I-” Andy’s apology was silenced by Emily placing her index finger on her lips.

Oh my god.

“Why did you say my name?”

“Sorry?”

“Why did you say my name? Out of all the options you have… why me? I don’t know how many friends you have but a person of your… status should have around… maybe 8?”

“I have more than 8 friends!”

“Such a boastful person,” Emily’s mouth morphed into a small smirk, “But you haven’t answered me yet. Why choose me?”

“Well I heard your voice when Nate was asking me about my availability and then I saw you and I just blurted out your name...”

“That’s it?”

“I… yes?”

“So I was merely a choice of convenience?”

“What? No! Emily you are so much more than that I- you are one of the best people I know-”

“Please tell me this will be a one-time thing,” said Emily, whose face Andy is certain that she had seen a flash of genuine surprise and a faint tint of crimson, “Because I don’t think I have the time and continued motivation to pretend to be your girlfriend in front of all your old college friends.”

“I’m hoping that I won’t see him again but who knows what life will throw at me,” Andy replied, “Ugh I’m just praying that he won’t spread this to everyone else… It has been a while since I’ve actually dated someone…”

Emily lets out a short laugh, “For our sake I will be hoping that he is not a chatterbox.”

“Um… are we still on for brunch on Sunday?”

“Of course. Just because you decided to make me your fake girlfriend in front of your ex-boyfriend of 20 years doesn't mean we can’t eat carbs together.”

“Emily!”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“I've got a meeting in… 5 minutes so let's table this conversation alright?” Emily fixed Andy's jacket, brushing away nonexistent dust, her hands lingering for a moment longer than usual.

The sudden closeness she shared with Emily when she was fixing her clothes was… new. She can feel her face heating up slightly.

She blames it on all the running they just did.

ii.

Love is in the air, they said.

Can love please stop being in the air? To be a bit more specific, can her exes please stop wanting to get back together?

This was not something she had anticipated when she was waiting for Emily to grab lunch at the new restaurant downtown (their sweet potato fries are to die for, according to twitter) (no she is not calling it X).

Which is why she is currently having a conversation she would like to discontinue with Brian.

“Andy, can you give me one more chance? I promise, I will do it right this time.”

The pleading is not doing him wonders at all.

“Brian, we ended things between us 10 years ago,” she said quietly, “I think it’s high time for the both of us to move on.”

“I tried. But they weren't you.”

The seemingly earnest look he was giving her was making her rethink past Andy’s life decisions. Since when did she find losers like him attractive?

“Brian, I have moved on. Maybe you should also do that as well…?”

“Are you seeing anyone?”

“Well I-”

“Wow, another one. I don’t know if I should be impressed by the fact that your exes find you to be more appealing after they have separated from you for a long time or by your extremely poor taste in men,” Emily’s voice, accompanied by her classic passive aggressive insults and British accent announced her arrival.

Andy had never been that grateful for Emily Charlton arriving early and not fashionably late.

“Emily! I'm dating Emily right now,” Andy grabbed onto Emily’s arm, hooking her own through it as Emily gave her a look that said Why are we doing this again.

“Not exactly a pleasure to make your acquaintance since you are trying to hit on Andrea,” Emily's hand found Andrea's as she gave it a reassuring pat.

“You like a Brit?”

“Is that a problem?” Andy laced her fingers with Emily's in a seemingly meaningless effort to calm her down a little, who seemed to have taken a personal offense on that question (who is she kidding if she gets asked this she would also take it personally).

“I have no idea what qualities Andy once saw in you, but I am sure that whatever she did see in that…” Emily gave him such a scrutinising gaze that made the man squirm, “are pretty much all gone. How many years have passed since you two broke up and how long were you two together?”

“We broke up 10 years ago and we were together for 3 months.”

A snort came out of Emily, “You only dated for 3 months, you broke up 10 years ago, and now you want to get back together with her? I've seen weirder outfits in the Met Gala than this,” she commented, “This is such an outlandish thing to do, so… out of the blue. Do all men have overconfidence or are they just delusional and believe their nonexistent charms still work 10 years after a break up? You might as well go and find yourself a mirror and see how hideous you look. Not everyone can carry facial hair and you are definitely not one of those people,” she finished.

Ignoring Brian's sputtering rage, Emily dragged a shocked Andy away from the man until he was not within earshot anymore, where Andy suddenly became very aware of Emily's cool and slender fingers that are still laced together with her own.

She is pretty sure her brain stopped functioning for a while.

“You could've been a bit nicer to him.”

“He did not deserve you 10 years ago and he definitely doesn't deserve you now,” said Emily with a light cough, looking pointedly at their interlaced hands.

“Aw, that means a lot coming from you, Em,” Andy squeezed Emily's hand and removed her hand from hers, but kept her arm linked with hers.

“Do not over-interpret this. I am merely stating facts. Men have always been self-centered and self-absorbed, believing that they have the power and appeal to have women be in love with them for the rest of their lives,” she scoffed, “I swear… Why are all of them like this? Full of confidence as they go on and on about their ridiculous philosophies and nonsense.”

“You are a certified man hater aren’t you?”

“After the whole… ordeal with Benji,” a complicated look came upon Emily's face, “I am NOT interested in men any longer. They always fail me.”

“Well… you can always try to be with a woman,” Andy joked, “I have always been an ally.”

“I'm not even surprised by this revelation,” muttered Emily, “And why am I somehow always the one saving you from these unfortunate situations?”

“Thank you for playing along. I mean it,” the honest and earnest look in those warm brown eyes almost made Emily's heart soften. Almost.

“I am hoping that this is the last time I play this charade with you,” she said as they approached the restaurant, “Why are your exes suddenly so interested in getting back with you?”

“Beats me.”

“Well… let's forget about the atrocities men are and enjoy lunch, shall we?”

iii.

Unfortunately, men are always atrocities.

She just got off work at Runway, and is 2 steps away from flagging down a taxi because she is simply too tired to take the train back home.

Or, that was her plan until Matthew showed up.

Matthew had come with flowers and is currently in the process of reciting his poem about his apparent love for her and how it never left him despite their break up 5 years ago (they only dated for 2 months, 3 if she is being generous).

Andy didn't really have the heart to tell him that his rhyme scheme didn't stick and the metaphors were used wrongly.

“Nothing happened in the way I wanted, but I still love you, I promise.”

Yeah, these two lines sound a lot like Gracie Abrams.

“I know it will work out between us, because we never go out of style.”

What in the terrible mash up of lyrics is this? Andy is resisting the urge to just close the distance between them to punch him in the face for misusing Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams’ lines.

This monstrosity can't even be called a poem. It's basically-

“Word vomit.”

Andy turned, and saw Emily Charlton's gorgeous face.

Dressed head to toe in Loewe’s newest collection from Milan Fashion Week, her appearance gave Andy her first glimpse of hope in the dreadful prose she had been stuck listening to.

Matthew finally teared his gaze from his paper, pausing midway through another (in Andy’s not biased opinion) horrific line of his poem, instead staring at the woman who strutted towards Andy, full of confidence and charisma.

“What… what did you just say to me?” Matthew looked like he had used up all his courage to say this out loud.

“Your ‘poem’,” Emily deliberately put ‘poem’ in air quotes, “Is word vomit.”

“It's not-”

“I'm being generous when I'm calling it verbal clutter. It should not even be counted as prose, it can only be noted as a desperate and failed attempt at writing.”

“I-”

“Matthew, this is Emily,” Andy interjected, “She… she is my girlfriend.”

Emily fixated her penetrative gaze on her, the green-blue orbs staring right into her soul. Andy can feel that she was saying again??? She can only mouth back a discrete sorry and put on her most apologetic face.

“You… you never told me you liked girls,” Matthew finally recovered from his initial shock and managed to utter this sentence.

“How many years has it been since you two broke up?”

“It has been 5 years, 300 days and 20 hours.”

The judgemental look paired with the raised eyebrow that Emily gave her conveyed one message: What on earth did you see in this man?

I have no idea. Andy shrugged. She should really start reflecting on what past Andy was thinking about her dating choices. Maybe the fact that he tried to wax poetry about me?

Again, it's just word vomit. The silent conversation they were having was paused by the dry coughs that came from Matthew.

“Um… Do I… Do I still have a chance?” he asked timidly.

Before Andy could even voice out a ‘no’, Emily had already beaten her to it.

“The audacity of you to say this,” the dramatised offense almost made Andy laugh out loud, “Are you homophobic?”

“What are you even talking about?”

Emily grabbed the bouquet from Andy and shoved it back into Matthew's shaking arms, the force being enough to push the poor man a few steps back.

“Leave us be. And if I ever see you again… flowers may not be the thing that is shoved into your stomach. It may be something a little more sharp and lethal,” she finished, grabbing Andy by the arm and dragging her to her car.

“Get in.”

“Are you giving me a ride home? Emily, you are such a saviour, I was so tired today-” Andy continued her ramble until she noticed how Emily was staring at her.

“Um… Emily?”

That seems to have broken whatever kind of trance Emily was in, who immediately broke eye contact, turning her gaze to the streets of New York instead.

The awkward silence persisted until Andy spoke again.

“Uh… where are we going?”

“Tell Michael your address, he will take you home,” Emily kept her voice poised and calm.

“Thanks Emily, I really appreciate it,” Andy said quietly to the woman, focusing on her striking side profile instead, where she can notice the hints of dark burgundy roots amongst the bleach blonde in her hair.

How can someone look so effortlessly beautiful?

“If you have something to say, just spit it out already,” Emily's voice filled the silent car ride, finally tearing her gaze away from the passing buildings.

“I… I really want to thank you for helping me reject Matthew earlier. Even though you shoving the flowers back at him was a little surprising for me-”

“Please. Red roses are wrong, he should've at least brought tulips and blue hydrangeas…”

“You know flower language?” Andy tried her best to hide her surprise from her question.

“Despite how lowly Miranda thinks of floral in spring a lot of brands still do it,” Emily replied, “Tulips represent forgiveness while blue hydrangeas represent sincerity. No wonder his prose was terrible he doesn't even have a single ounce of literary literacy in him,” she finished, earning her an impressed look from Andy.

“I was thinking of a time to cut in but I just couldn't find an appropriate one…”

“Timings are a weird thing,” Emily agreed, “But please don't tell me you are planning to wait for his whole profession of love to end to reject him…”

The moment of silence from Andy told Emily all she needed to know.

“Oh my gosh you are serious.”

“It's kind of rude to do that to him-”

“Oh please, do you want to listen to him drone on and on with his literary disaster?”

“How much did you hear?”

“His poem was a mash up of romantic lyrics in the worst possible way.”

Great. So just about everything.

“So… you witnessed the whole thing?”

“I was looking forward to seeing you deal with this on your own but I cannot stand listening to that pathetic attempt in wooing you. It is simply horrifying to witness. If I heard him say one more Taylor Swift lyric I might actually call security and have them escort him off the premises.”

“Emily, he's outside the Runway office. I don’t think you have jurisdiction there…”

The pointed look Emily gave her silenced Andy.

“You listen to Taylor Swift?”

“Andrea, unlike you, I didn't live under a rock in 2014. Of course I've listened to Taylor Swift,” Emily replied with a nonsensical wave of her hand, “Couldn't avoid it even if I wanted to, radio stations played it on loop.”

“She's one of my favourite artists,” Andy grinned sheepishly as she showed Emily photos of herself at the Eras Tour.

“So you have basic white girl music taste too…”

“Don't act like you don't listen to her! I know you listened to reputation on loop for a while.”

“... Why are we talking about my music taste?”

“Cause… I believe it's good?”

The look of genuine curiosity Andy has for Emily's musical affinities, conveyed through those warm doe eyes, brimming with kindness, made Emily's icy heart melt a little.

“I thought we were talking about how your exes all want to get back together with you years after breaking up.”

The look of dramatised surprise Andy makes almost made Emily laugh out loud.

“Emily!”

“What?”

“I- You don't just say things like this!”

“Like what? Like they didn't treasure what they had and only realised it after things ended? Very convenient for them.”

“Well… you know what they say, you only treasure what you had after you lose it first,” Andy shrugged, not noticing how Emily's face suddenly fell into a more perceptive pause.

“We're here, Miss Sachs,” Micahel's voice cut through the shared silence the two women had.

“Thanks for the ride Emily,” Andy said as she stepped out of the car, “It was nice talking to you through this car ride,” offering Emily a soft smile, which nearly made her heart do a backflip. Nearly.

“Hopefully, the next time we meet I don’t have to swoop in to save you from public humiliation by men.”

“Oh no, what would I possibly do without my knight in shining armour?” Andy laid a hand over her heart dramatically, whereas Emily is fighting the urge to smile at her theatrics.

“Then I guess you will perish and die, like a good old damsel in distress.”

“I am NOT a damsel in distress! I can save myself!”

“Yes, look at what those past 3 times showed us.”

“Emily…”

“Please stop making that face.”

“What face?”

“The one where you look like a kicked puppy. Now off you go, don't make a whole deal out of this,” Emily shooed Andy away, “I'll see you for the meeting tomorrow at Runway again.”

“Right! Um… let's hope that there are no more pesky exes.”

“Cheers to that,” muttered Emily.

“Maybe… third times the charm?” Andy joked light-heartedly.

“Let’s hope so.”

Emily watched from the car as Andy entered her apartment building, only leaving when she was out of eyesight.

“Home, Miss Charlton?”

“That would be nice, Michael.”

As the car pulled away from Andy's home, Emily leaned towards the car window, staring mindlessly at the passing streetscape, her mind replaying Andrea's bright smile and the dramatic way she had said ‘her knight in shining armour’.

“Goddammit Andrea Sachs,” she muttered under her breath.

iv.

Turns out, the charm doesn't work after 3 times.

If she wasn't questioning the life choices of Andy from 3 years ago, she is definitely questioning them now.

Is it men trying to get back with their ex-girlfriends season or something because why is she being stopped by Gary at the exact same position Matthew said his ‘word vomit’ yesterday, as Emily had put it eloquently.

She is starting to think that all her exes have formed a communication network that allows them to know when and where one failed so they can send in the next one to try.

“Jin, can you go back first? It won't be too long,” Andy sighed.

“Be careful boss,” Jin took the coffees and left, leaving Andy alone with Gary.

“Hi Andy.”

“Gary, I literally have a meeting to get back to in 15 minutes.”

“I'd make it quick for you.”

“You never were…” muttered Andy.

“I'm still in love with you-”

“After 3 years? Cut the bull shit Gary, we both know that you only got together with me for a month to find out how much dirt I had on your boss to stop me from publishing that exposè.”

“I- I still have feelings for you!”

“It never worked out between us, why don't you understand?”

“Because we clicked back then!”

“You mean when you tried to get information from me and failed.”

“I did not.”

“You were trying to unlock my laptop.”

“I was trying to help you reset your password!”

Andy can't help but laugh, “How many outlandish excuses do you have Gary? What's in it for you this time?”

“Nothing! Can't a man just get back together with the girl of his dreams?”

“Probably in your dreams,” mumbled Andy, her patience starting to wear thin.

“What can I do to get a second chance?”

“Nothing.”

The sharp and cold voice of Emily Charlton cut through the painful conversation that Andy was having.

“Emily! What are you doing here?” The last bit was so quiet that Emily almost couldn't hear it.

“Your junior editor who still thinks of herself as your assistant told us that you're stuck with yet another pathetic excuse of an ex-boyfriend,” sparing Gary a glare, “Why are you still here?”

“Um… are you talking to him or me…?”

“Obviously at this ill-fitting disaster,” the British accent somehow made her words meaner than it should, “Why would I say this to you Andy?”

“Well… I-”

“No matter. You,” Emily stood in front of Gary, the imitating aura in full force, “do not belong here. Get out of here before I call for security to escort you off the premises.”

“Who are you?”

“She's Emily! She's… she's also my girlfriend,” Andy stepped up to Emily's side, linking arms with the woman as said woman merely fired her a look that said what the hell Andrea Sachs.

Andy can only offer Emily her best puppy dog eyes, causing the woman to roll her eyes and wrap her other arm around Andy's body, pulling her close.

That move may have made Andy's heart skip a beat or two.

“You treated Andy as a tool and left after she exposed your futile attempt at betrayal. You're begging for her to get back together with you because your company is in need of good press from Runway, am I correct, Gary Fields, CEO of a random fashion company that sells… ah yes, mediocre swimwear, is that right?”

In their extremely short time together, Andy had never seen Gary at such a loss for words. Yes, not even when she exposed him for trying to delete all the dirt she had on his boss.

She would feel sorry for Gary, but seeing Emily openly defend her like that is just so… gratifying, considering what they had gone through.

That and the asshole deserved it, Andy decided.

“This does not concern you,” Gary spat as he tried to gain back some type of upper hand in this conversation.

“I believe it does,” Emily said coldly, “You are causing the features editor at Runway to be late for a meeting, which could fully jeopardise the future of next month's issue. I don’t know if you have the funding to replenish their losses, but I suppose you don't. Someone who wears a tie like that doesn't have the money to save their company,” she finished.

“My tie looks fine,” Gary insinuated, but was completely ignored by Andy and Emily.

“I believe we have a meeting to get back to, Miss Sachs,” Emily offered her hand to Andy, which she accepted gracefully.

She didn't want to hold my hand before and now she's offering it to me…

“We do, Miss Charlton,” Andy mimicked her tone, walking side by side with Emily as they went back to the building.

“I'm not giving up on us Andy!” Gary yelled from behind.

Emily can sense Andy's irritation and suppressed fury from the way she stopped in her tracks and held onto her hand tighter.

“Can you give me a minute? I'll be back in a flash,” Andy gave Emily's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Emily let her go as she watched Andrea walk up to Gary and slapped him right across the face.

Extremely satisfying.

“I trust that he's taken care of?”

“Yep,” said Andy, offering Emily a sheepish smile.

“Good.”

The silence persisted while Andy looked at the shadows as they walked back to the building, noticing how close their shadows are.

She brought her hand near Emily's, looking at how their shadows become seemingly intertwined.

“If you want to hold my hand, you can just say it,” Emily suddenly said.

“What- I-” Andy sputtered, quickly hiding her hands behind her back.

“You were playing with the shadows just now, don't act like you weren't.”

“You noticed?”

“I see everything Andrea, whether or not I say something about it is different,” she said as they got into the elevator.

“Thank you again, for saving me from Gary.”

“Seems like you had it handled at the end.”

“Yeah but… thank you,” Andy turned to look at Emily, “for defending me again.”

“This is the 4th time you used me as a cover for rejecting your ex-boyfriends’ proposal in getting back together,” Emily noted.

“You kept track?”

“Andrea, we literally had the same situation occur yesterday,” she said in a matter of fact tone, “At least Matthew was much more timid than whoever this Gary guy is.”

“I think I should just swear off men in my love life and start dating women instead,” Andy half-heartedly joked.

“Are you being serious?”

“I mean… I always knew I was bisexual,” Andy shrugged as if she didn't just divulge a very personal piece of information to Emily.

“... Did you just come out to me?”

“Uh… I think so?”

“I'm also more inclined to girls these days,” Emily said so softly that Andy almost didn't catch it.

“Did you just come out to me?”

“Yes?” Emily even has the audacity to look a little annoyed, while Andy is currently having an internal mental breakdown as her brain tries to process this new piece of information.

Oh my god Emily likes girls too…

“Don't give me that face! I thought I've dropped enough hints already,” she muttered.

“Um… since when?”

“I literally told you I am not interested in men any longer a few weeks ago.”

“... right…”

“For Christ’s sake Andrea, please, improve your memory.”

“I'm sorry for forgetting about this and… I'm really glad you trust me enough to let me know this about you,” Andy's smile felt like a warm ray of sunshine on the beach, cozy, soft and welcoming.

It's really unfair as to how Andrea Sachs just radiates warmth and kindness. A literal ray of sunshine, Emily noted, always trying her best to help and be positive.

“Um… I don't know if you do this type of stuff but… can we hug?” Andy asked timidly.

Can we hug? Emily is trying her very best to not just yank this woman straight into her arms and never let her go.

“If you insist.”

Emily felt Andrea's warmth as she wrapped both of her arms around Emily's body, one hand settling around her waist, the other one hugging her by the shoulders, reducing their distance to nothing.

Emily found herself reciprocating the hug as she reached up slowly to hug Andrea back. She placed both her arms around Andrea's back, gradually tightening her hold on her.

Andy tried to hide her surprise when she felt Emily return the hug, choosing to place both hands on her back instead, embracing her more closely.

It was only when the elevator doors signaled their opening with a ding that the two women separated.

v.

Andy Sachs is having a bad day.

She genuinely thought this day could not be worse.

However, it seems like fate has other plans.

Fate has seemingly decided to give her the middle finger and sent Jason to the cafè that she's now waiting to get a cinnamon roll and a chai latte.

She is currently in the process of internally praying to whatever Gods are out there to have Emily Charlton show up. It's only because she doesn't have the energy to deal with douchebag number 5 today. No particular reason.

“Andy please… just give me one more chance. I promise you, I will change!”

Andy is resisting the urge to just leave her coffee and cinnamon roll behind and make a run for it.

But then again, he would probably chase her down the street and she does NOT want to make a scene.

“Look Jason, I have had a very rough day at work and I genuinely don't have the energy to do this with you now…” she said, wringing her hands, “That and I'm not interested in getting back together with anyone.”

“I saw you reject someone the other day, so I knew I had a chance…” Jason handed her an iced chocolate mocha, “I hope this is still your order.”

No Jason, I want a chai latte right now, not an iced chocolate mocha. Not that an iced chocolate mocha isn't great, she just doesn't want to have something cold today. Her stomach wasn't feeling very good and she will not be making it worse.

“Hot chai latte for Andy?”

“That's me, thank you,” Andy grabbed her order and cinnamon roll, making her way out the cafè doors.

“Andy, wait!” Jason followed her out, still holding the iced chocolate mocha.

“Nope,” Andy muttered as she crossed the sidewalk and made a beeline for the nearby luxury retail stores.

“Andy!” Jason called after her.

Why are men this persistent? Do they know when to take a hint?

She momentarily paused at the door of Prada’s newest flagship store.

*flashback to 5 days ago*

“You got a job at Prada?”

“You are looking at their newest chief marketing officer,” Emily pretended to act aloof but the glow in her eyes betrayed her concealed excitement.

“I'm so happy for you!” Andy immediately reached out to hug Emily, causing the blonde to stiffen a little before returning the hug.

“This is cause to celebrate!” Andy exclaimed, “Dinner's on me tonight.”

“I would expect nothing less.”

“Emily!”

“What? Don't act like you weren't going to do it,” the slight curve of lips betraying her happiness.

“So… what's the first thing on your to-do list?”

“Handling the design and renovations for the flagship store Prada has on 5th avenue. It's way overdue for a makeover.”

“Cheers to that,” Andy said, holding up her wine glass, clinking it with Emily's.

“I'm hoping that you will bring out champagne at some point in the evening,” Emily said after she took a sip of rosè.

“Of course, Prada's newest chief marketing officer,” Andy winked at her, “I will expect nothing less from you.”

Emily merely gave her a minuscule smile as she went back to her minestrone.

*flashback ends*

“Oh fuck it,” she muttered as she pushed open the door to the store that is still in the middle of renovations.

Hopefully Jason wouldn't have followed her here…

Her entrance was accompanied with multiple pairs of eyes staring at her.

“Um… is your boss here? Emily Charlton?”

A girl who looked suspiciously like one of Emily's assistants came over, “Who are you?”

“I'm Andy Sachs. I worked at Runway with your boss like 20 something years ago and we reconnected recently um… can you just find her for me please?”

The girl double blinked, “Okay… uh… make yourself comfortable,” before she walked upstairs.

Andy let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

“Andrea?”

Emily Charlton's voice ringed throughout the large store as she walked down, looking at Andy, who finally stopped pacing.

Dressed in a customised black Prada pant suit and a pair of matching heels, Andy had to do a double take when she realised that Emily was only wearing a sheer black lace undershirt underneath the suit jacket.

It wasn't until Emily had finished walking down the stairs that Andy realised that her hair was red again.

“Earth to Andrea Sachs?” Emily snapped her fingers in front of Andy, causing her to jump a little.

“I- uh- it's just- you look great Emily!”

Emily gave her a confused look before glancing down at her outfit, a slight smirk finding its way onto her face as she smoothed down her jacket, revealing more of the black lace.

“Do I now?”

“I- uh- I-” Andy stuttered through her words as she continued to stare at Emily, finding it impossible to take her eyes off of her.

Why does she look so good?

Her brain is starting to play Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli on its own accord.

Suddenly she understands why the Greeks would go to war for Helen of Troy back in the day.

Emily can't help but have a smug look on her face as she takes in all of Andy's staring.

She mentally thanked herself for trusting her own judgement when she picked the black lace undershirt to wear today.

“If that's what it takes to have you speechless, I should wear this more often,” Emily smirked.

Smirking looks unfairly good on her.

“I- uh- I just- you- I've never seen you dressed in these,” Andy finally managed to say a full sentence.

“In black lace?” Emily tugged at her undershirt, causing Andy to gulp and swallow as her face started to gain a crimson touch.

“Yeah… It's… you look good,” she finally settled with this response.

“Thank you for the compliment, I just love it when people validate my clothing choices,” Emily's smirk widening as she said it.

“You… you also re-dyed your hair,” Andy tried to keep her voice more poised but the surprise is still evident.

Emily looked at the reddish-brown locks, “Oh these? I thought I'd change it back to this colour since I'm having a new position in a new company,” she touched them gently, “besides, the bleached blonde never suited me that well,” she added.

“You look good in anything,” Andy blurted out before her brain could comprehend what came out of the mouth just now.

A momentary pause came before she spoke.

“Do you mean it?” Emily's voice was so small that Andy could barely hear her if she didn't concentrate.

“Of course! I really mean it, you look good in anything,” Andy reached out to hold Emily's hand, giving it a tight squeeze, “You have such a great sense of style.”

“Thank you, Andrea,” Emily returned the squeeze, “It… it means a lot to me as well.”

The kindness and genuine care she can find in Andy’s rich, warm chocolate eyes filled Emily's heart with a type of indescribable warmth.

“So, what brings you here? Is Runway planning to do a feature of our flagship store that I haven't heard about?” Emily cleared her throat.

“I- uh… I'm actually hiding out…” Andy started, but was immediately interrupted by Emily.

“Who is it this time?” Andy could feel a tiny bit of concealed anger in her voice.

Andy sighed, “His name is Jason.”

“How many ex-boyfriends do you have?” muttered Emily as she puts her hands on her hips, a look that contains a mix of disgust and annoyance gracing her face.

“They just keep showing up!” Andy grumbled, “And I genuinely don't have the energy to deal with one today, I was so ready to get back home and have my cinnamon roll in peace…” she mumbled.

“I'm almost done today so… if you're up for it… we can have dinner at the newly opened restaurant down the block?” Emily asked, staring down at her heels, “Unless your cinnamon roll can't wait.”

Is THE Emily Charlton asking her out to dinner together? Why is she looking so shy and somehow… a little scared as she was waiting for her response?

Wait a minute. Is she asking me out on a date?

“I would love to!”

Andy could see how Emily let out a relieved sigh when she said yes.

“Great… I'd have Amelia make a reservation for us,” Emily beckoned her assistant to come over as she gave her instructions, Andy looking on with a smile on her face.

“Hey um… just to make sure that we are on the same page here…” Andy said, making sure that Emily's assistant is out of earshot, “This is a date right? Like a date date, in the romantic sense. Right? Or am I misinterpreting things?”

The moment before Emily replied seemed to stretch on for centuries.

She noticed how Emily took a deep breath, finally meeting her eyes before responding.

“You really do insist on dragging things into the light and poking at them until they are painfully obvious,” Andy can feel how Emily is resisting the urge to roll her eyes, “But yes, it is intentional. In the romantic sense. Happy?”

The broad, toothy grin Andy gave her was enough to almost make Emily audibly swoon. Almost. She can feel a smile creeping up on her face.

“Yeah, more than happy. Elated, even,” Andy elaborated, her mega-watt grin still in full force.

“Well, I am glad that Miss Sachs is delighted by this new development in our ever-growing relationship,” Emily said with her usual poise, “I would’ve brought you flowers, but since I did not anticipate your arrival today-”

“Wait. You were going to get me flowers?”

“Don’t give me that look! This would basically be our official first date!”

“You were going to get me flowers,” Andy repeated, “Oh my gosh, the idea of you having considered getting me a bouquet or something on a first date is-”

“Weird? Out of character?”

“No! I was going to say it’s a very sweet and lovable gesture because not a lot of people do it now,” Andy’s face turned wistful, “The fact that you thought about this is more than enough to make me swoon.”

“You will swoon over me getting you flowers and me wearing sheer black lace shirts?”

“Um… yes?”

“Wow, you’re so easy to please,” muttered Emily.

“I do think I am an easy person to please,” Andy laughed at herself, “But I also believe that I can be a pretty likeable person,” her smile is like a star in the night sky, radiant and bright.

You are a very easy person to love.

Unfortunately for Andy, moments of happiness and relief are often short-lived, and this one is no exception.

“Andy!” Jason’s voice came in through the background.

“Oh my god he’s here,” Andy immediately hid herself behind Emily, crouching down a little because she is taller than Emily, despite the intimidating aura the other woman can give off.

“Sir, this is private property. This store isn’t open to visitors yet, so I suggest you leave now or else I will have to ask security to come and escort you away,” Emily’s voice had turned cold, without a single hint of the warmth or care she showed to Andy a few seconds before.

“I’m here to find Andy, who is standing right behind you-”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Jason… I’m her ex-boyfriend from 2 years ago-”

“Don’t know, don’t care. Andrea wasn’t interested in you when you two broke up and she certainly won’t be interested in you now.”

“Why are you so sure about this?”

“Because… Emily is my girlfriend,” Andy gently interlaced her hand with Emily’s.

“You two are dating? Since when?”

“None of your business,” Emily replied coldly, wrapping her arm around Andy’s waist possessively, pulling her close, “If you don’t leave now, I will be forced to call security and things won’t look good for you at all. Imagine getting thrown out of the Prada flagship store on 5th avenue, oof, it would be humiliating and go viral all over TikTok where people would be judging your choice of clothes. Orange shirt and navy blue suit jacket… I don’t know what direction you are going for here but I am certain that you don’t have any fashion sense whatsoever. This fit, if you could call it one, looks like mixed colours in a toddler’s artwork, and I’d have you know that art by toddlers never looks good because they did it without any purpose or aim, like your styling choices.”

This roast was probably too much for Jason’s poor heart to handle because he almost lost his hold on the iced chocolate mocha. Normally, seeing beads of cold sweat on people’s foreheads after they got schooled by Emily Charlton would have Andy feeling sorry for them, but it’s douchebag number 5. She feels great.

“I…”

“Security may you please escort this man out,” two burly men popped out of nowhere, “And… make sure he is banned from entering here ever again,” she finished quietly as the guards led Jason out of the Prada store.

“Wait! Why aren't you guys kicking her out? She's not a part of your staff either. She shouldn't be in here,” Jason’s last ditch attempt at getting Andy to leave with him is met with the coldest glare Andy had ever seen on Emily. The barely concealed anger in those green-blue orbs have Jason finding cold sweat on his forehead once again.

“As the chief marketing officer of Prada I have the right to allow guests into this establishment… Andrea is definitely allowed as she is my girlfriend, but you… you are a nobody. If you still care about the little self-respect you have, stop embarrassing yourself here and leave.”

As Jason was shoved out of the store unceremoniously by the guards, Emily turned her attention back to Andy, who was seemingly staring at her in awe.

“What? What is that sickening look?”

“No, it’s just… I love it when you send them away with your sharp tongue.”

“Well… I will be taking that as a compliment.”

“It is.”

“Please tell me that you don’t have any more ex-boyfriends…”

“I really can’t guarantee when and where they will show up.”

“You, Andrea Sachs, are impossible.”

“Impossible to not love?”

“Oh for Christ’s sake Andrea, please, kindly shut your mouth.”

vi.

Life has been great to Andy Sachs lately.

She had officially started dating Emily one month ago, things at Runway are smooth (Miranda didn’t scold her for being late to a meeting by 3 minutes because she was too busy texting Emily), and none of her ex-boyfriends have shown up since she went on that dinner date.

She made her way to Marlow East, the place where she had shared sweet potato fries with Emily 20 years after she had been berated by her for eating carbs.

Emily had texted her, saying that she will be running late because Prada is demanding and in need of her superior taste in heels.

Andy had laughed at the text, and shot back a see you soon with the red heart emoji (because she is old fashioned and a bit of a romantic).

She sat down at the corner table, looking through the menu as she waited for Emily to arrive.

What she didn’t expect was Peter sitting down at the table.

“Is this seat taken?” The Australian asked.

“I’m actually waiting for someone so…”

“It’s not me, I’m sure.”

Obviously.

“So uh… how have you been?”

“Uh… great! I’m dating someone now.”

“Oh. Couldn’t say that I expected this to happen but… I do believe congratulations is in order.”

“Thank you,” Andy fidgeted with her hands beneath the table a little.

“But still… Can I interest you in a drink? To catch up as friends?”

Can we not? Please?

“No you may not.”

Emily Charlton’s voice floated through the air as she seemingly materialised out of thin air.

“Hey babe, sorry I’m late, I have to endure an endless number of meetings,” Emily said, completely ignoring Peter as she leaned down, using her index finger and thumb to tilt Andy’s chin up, capturing her lips in a chaste kiss.

“Hi… babe,” she offered her a warm smile.

She had never called me babe before. Never.

“Is this your…?”

“Girlfriend,” Emily finished the sentence for her, lacing their fingers together.

“You’re dating a girl?”

“Is there a problem?” Emily tightened her grip on Andy’s hand.

“No, not at all,” Peter hurriedly said, “Well… it’s lovely seeing you again Andy, and I wish you both all the best,” he left and sat back down at another table.

“This is weird.”

“What do you mean?”

“He wasn’t being mean or annoying or rude to you.”

Andy laughed out loud, “Come on Em, it’s not like I always date assholes. I do find the occasional good guy every now and then.”

“Well he seemed decent enough,” Emily glanced at the menu, “But… I am confident that you won’t be finding a good guy every now and then.”

“Why?”

“Oh my goodness must I spell it out for you every single time?”

“It will be greatly appreciated,” Andy said with a slight smirk on her face.

“You have me. Satisfied?”

“Very much so, babe.”

A tint of red could be seen despite her usage of the menu to hide half of her face.

“Do you like me calling you babe? Oh my gosh, that’s so cute, I can’t even-”

“What do you mean by cute?”

“Babe, the way you are blushing right now-”

“I don’t blush.”

“Your face is literally crimson-”

“Andrea?”

“Yes?”

“Kindly, shut up.”

So yeah, maybe having your ex-boyfriends show up and try to woo you for 5 times can have the occasional good outcome, because Andy walked out of these situations with a gorgeous girlfriend in tow.

If that isn’t a sign by the universe to use your friends as your fake significant other to make persistent suitors leave, she doesn’t know what is.

Life is good, Andy Sachs decides, as Emily Charlton kisses her slowly, her hand cupping her chin, touching Andy so gently as if she is a precious work of art.

She felt herself smile into the kiss as she kissed Emily back.

fin.