X-Over: Devil Wears Prada & Damages

Pairings: Miranda/Andy & Ellen/Patty

Rating: NC-17/Mature

Summary: Two of New York’s most powerful women suddenly met their matches, but it’s difficult making the appropriate adjustments. Luckily Andy and Ellen don't leave them any choice

Disclaimer: Devil Wears Prada’s characters belong to Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox. Damages belongs to Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman, and Glenn Kessler and KZK Production in association with FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television (boy that’s a mouthful!).

*Spoiler Alert: Damages; Season 2 Season Finale & Season 3

*Shout-out to Melanacious for allowing me to run with her Indecent Proposal: Sneak Peek (Shanghaied Surprises)

*All mistakes are my own and feedback is very welcomed

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Part IX
***

“I decided to take the job at the DA’s office.” Ellen announced to her friends over Shepard’s Pie and Guiness at their favorite local watering hole. She accepted the immediate shouts of Congratulations and hugs from Lily, Doug, and Andy.

What she didn’t tell them is that she knew Patty would be able to find her and that she was mentally preparing herself for this eventuality. She also hid the latest Runway issue that featured Patty on the cover. The photo spread was… impressive. She could almost hear the teeth grinding of the many enemies of Patty when they saw her grace the cover, she thought with some amusement.

She also finally contacted Tom, who’d left several messages as he tried to locate her, compliments of Patty. She was jarred back into the present when her phone rang… and lo and behold it was Patty. She debated for a moment whether she should pick up.

“Hey guys, I gotta get this. I’m gonna take it outside. I’ll be back in a jiffy.” She shrugged when she saw Andy give her a knowing look before pressing TALK on her phone and starting for the exit.

“Hello Patty.” She finally reached the door and stepped outside, her heart racing

“Ellen. Did I catch you at a bad time – sounds like you’re at a bar.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just having some fun with some friends.” She paused, hearing Patty’s voice instantly stirred intense emotions inside Ellen, causing her breath to catch, a lump formed in her throat. Her eyes closed as a means to regain control. She cleared her throat before continuing. “How are you Patty?”

“I’m fine. We’ve just started a new case that’s caught my interest. In fact, I heard that you’re considering a position in the DA’s office, so you might come across it.” Talking to Ellen immediately transported Patty back to their more intimate moments; Ellen’s scent, her taste, the sounds she made when she came, almost caught Patty mentally flailing. Stealing her breath, she desperately wanted to see Ellen at that moment.

“Well I know that you’re busy, why don’t we meet up for drinks this Thursday? I’ll text you the details. Sounds good?” Patty held her breath as she waited for Ellen’s response.

Ellen could feel the emotion welling up like foam spilling over the rim of a glass of beer. She wasn’t sure it was a good idea to see Patty yet and she absolutely knew Andy would advise against it. But… she needed to see her as much as she needed to breathe. She wasn’t sure if she hated herself for it.

“Ok, just send me the info and I’ll see you Thursday.” Patty was surprised as her tensely knotted stomach or the tightening of her chest suddenly loosening at Ellen’s acceptance.

“I will.” She paused for a moment, gathering herself. “It was good to hear your voice again. It’s been too long.” She hung up before Ellen could respond, perhaps not wanting to know if Ellen returned the sentiment.

Ellen signed off, shoving her hands in her pocket and then leaning against the side of the building, letting out a huge sigh. She needed a moment… or a few to digest hearing Patty’s voice again before going back inside. It was at that moment that she realized that perhaps Patty was as addictive to her as Miranda was to Andy. Wearily Ellen ran a hand through her hair, her lips turned into a smirk; she’ll have to remind Andy of that when she protests Ellen’s impending engagement with Patty.


Part X
***

“What?! Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Andy asked.

Running a hand through her hair, Ellen kept wondering the same thing. But she knew she’d go through with seeing Patty again. “I’m not sure… but I can’t seem to stop myself.”

Letting a huge sigh as compassion welled inside her – she certainly knew how Ellen felt. Stepping close she tugged Ellen into her arms for a heartfelt hug. “Yeah, I think I have an idea of what you’re going through.”

They were alone in Ellen’s swank apartment in Brooklyn and Ellen just broke the news of her impending date with Patty. Feeling her eyes well with tears, she just wanted to burrow herself next to Andy on her couch and forget everything for a few hours. But as the hours drew closer for her assignation with Patty she knew that would be an impossible feat.

“How do you do it? How do you keep putting up with Miranda’s bullshit? Do you think you’ll be able to walk away? Sooner rather than later?” Looking deep into Andy’s big brown eyes, she suddenly thought she could understand why Miranda found Andy so irresistible. Leaning her forehead against Andy’s, Ellen added, “Do you ever think about why we ended up in their ‘clutches?’”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I mean out of all the wet-behind-the-ears assistants or straight-out-of-law-school suckers, underlings with significantly less scruples, current employees , or future employees --why us?”

“Ah, well… I don’t know. But actually? That’s a pretty insightful question. I mean I think about Emily who is certainly attractive and kisses the ground Miranda walks on, would have her baby, while I knew nothing about fashion, and in fact, didn’t even care.” Andy leaned her head on Ellen’s shoulder, perhaps to hide the intensity of her feelings. “I’m not even sure when my feelings for her changed. One minute she was a very posh pit boss whom I hated and feared and then the next thing I knew I wanted to do anything and everything to make her happy. Naked of course.”

She slid out of Ellen’s arms to walk over and sink into Ellen’s uber-comfortable sofa. “But I also knew that I had to walk away from her if only to find the pieces of myself again. Yes, Miranda irreparably changed me, but I was still me somewhere in there, I just had to ‘pull her out’ again.” Leaning her head back against the sofa, staring up at the ceiling she continued. “Miranda is larger-than-life, which I suspect is Patty’s problem too. Trying to find a place in their world other than on our backs; no matter how pleasant that may be, is the only thing that’s going to make us sane. I know that I’ll have to once again, make a hard decision about Miranda if she doesn’t get her act in gear. But this 2nd time around doesn’t make it any easier.”

Lifting her head she stared at Ellen, noting that she looked rather yummy in her new plum off-the-shoulder blouse. Mentally shaking her head at that train of thought, she watched as Ellen came to sit next to her on the couch, cuddling into her side, thinking that if anyone walked into this situation they’d definitely think they were lovers. Actually Andy was surprised they weren’t; Ellen was attractive, successful, and they had LOTS in common; older women as lovers notwithstanding.

“Do you ever wonder why we haven’t become lovers?” Andy who’d lifted a bottle of water to her lips barely saved herself from spraying water everywhere at Ellen’s “psychic friends-like” question.

Ignoring Ellen’s laughter, she responded. “Yes, because of that cold sliver of dread that’d tickle down our spines the morning-after as our lovers found out has subconsciously given us pause.” As she shared a laugh with Ellen she offered a more wicked follow-up and a wink. “That doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed that you’ve been checkin’ out the goods.” Which caused Ellen to laugh even harder.

“Cute Andy. Anyways, we’ll just have to be there for each other.” Ellen paused as a thought came to her. “In fact, why don’t you tag along?”

“What? Are you nuts? I ca—“

Growing excited as this new strategy Ellen tried to convince Andy. “Come Andy, it’ll prevent me from making an absolute fool of myself and you can meet the “devil” herself.”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing Ellen.” She shook her finger at Ellen she mildly scolded her, “You’re trying to give yourself a little leverage by getting Patty to think you’ve moved on.” She watched as Ellen pulled on her “I’m innocent” look that fooled no one.

“Ah don’t give me that look. Your little manipulation isn’t very original and from all indications about her brilliance Patty would see through it like camel-toe in a thong.”

As Ellen tried desperately to squelch that unpleasant visual, she took a moment to rethink Andy’s protestations. “Ok, maybe you have a point, but I do think there is some validation to letting our lovers think they have some competition. I mean how many times have you tried to tell Miranda that she can’t continue to take you for granted?”

Silence met that statement for a few moments before Andy gave a quiet rejoinder. “I know. And I know at some point I’m going to have to decide when ‘enough is enough’ and I’m scared to death that she just won’t care enough.” At that Andy’s eyes began to tear up, two fat tears spilling down her alabaster cheeks, causing Ellen to feel an impotent anger over Miranda’s treatment of this special woman.

She slipped her arms around Andy once again, snuggling close. “So come with me or at least meet me there later. It’s obvious that we’ll be needing each other more than ever because let’s face it: we can’t tell anyone, we’re dating two of Forbes’ list of most powerful women in the country, we’re also involved in a lesbian relationship with our powerful lovers, oh, and we’re WAY younger than what’s deemed ‘appropriate’ for our lover’s age-range. You couldn’t make this shit up.”

A watery chuckle followed this argument. “Fine. But I’m giving you a few moments or more like at least a half hour alone with her before I join you. “She held up her hand to stall any protests from Ellen. “Come on you need to feel her out first. Maybe she’s… seen the light.

They steadily watched each other for a few moments before Andy broke the silence. “So now on to the most important issue we have to address: what are you going to wear?”


Part XI
***

Miranda allowed the full-bodied scent, with black currant motes to dance around in her nose before taking sip of the California Kosta Browne’s Pinot Noir which despite Miranda’s preference for a good Italian Sauvignon, Patty highly recommended. She wasn’t wrong. She steadily watched the pensive expression on Patty’s face as she stared into her own glass of wine before she turned her attention on Miranda.

“Well thank you for taking the time out to meet me. I also wanted to thank you for making me look spectacular in that Runway spread. The loathing it inspired was truly first-rate.” She finished with some amusement.

“I can assure that was not my intention. Having said that, I was not… unaware of the reactions it might solicit, which means more magazines are sold.”

Chuckling, her eyes twinkling, Patty responded. “Then I can say without a doubt it was a smashing success.” She speared one of the duck confit tarts before beginning a new topic. “I understand you have two daughters? Twins if I’m not mistaken.”

“Indeed. Caroline and Cassidy. Perfect monsters, but very sweet and loving, and impossibly loyal towards a Mother who hasn’t always had the ability to be there for them. Luckily they always knew their love was returned ten-fold, so perhaps it made things bearable for them.” Internally Miranda was surprised at sharing this bit of personal reflection. But she suspected Patty might know a little bit about successful women raising children and the impossible choices one must make. Although little is known about Patty’s son, other than he was in high school.

Patty continued to intently eat as if she hadn’t heard a word Miranda said, but then replied. “I’ve washed my hands of my son. He is my biggest fuck-up and my cross to bear, I suspect, for the rest of my life. While, I love the Little Prick, there’s enough mutual loathing between us to overshadow any feelings of guilt over cutting him out of my life.” And with that she dug into her food once again as if trying to escape the words that’d been dancing around in her head for a long time but were now released into the atmosphere never to be taken back. “This is not to say that when I’m in an indulging mood or threatening to punch out my therapist when the knowledge that my son has perfected some of my worst traits, that I give into the guilt.”

Mentally shaking her head at the acrimonious relationship between Patty and her son, while shuddering over Patty’s relationship with son that sounded terrible, she became ever more thankful of her how wonderful her daughters were. “It is the my greatest fear and I suspect the ultimate risk to having a child with the kind of lives we lead. I am sorry for your unfortunate circumstance.”

Patty released an hmpf! before putting her fork down and turning her returning her attention to Miranda. “Let me be perfectly honest with you Miranda: I was/am a horrible mother. The legal world, in particular the world I deal in is a world of shadows, where ideas of black and white are ambiguous. More so if you want to be successful. It’s rather like being a politician in D.C., you compromise just enough in order to get results. If you don’t, you’ll get eaten alive; especially in the type of litigation I’m involved in.”

Her eyes went pensive once again as if remembering something. ”I once told someone how I selected a case. I told her it starts with a seed of anger and the seed has to be cultivated until it grows into a full-blown rage. And then I know. I have no choice but to take the case because the rage doesn’t abate until someone’s made to pay. It’s not pretty, it’s intensely complicated and dirty. Yet, it’s what drives me… at least professionally.” She smiled and not a nice smile. “And there is nothing more gratifying than seeing my opponent from across the table with an air of impotent rage and crushing defeat as I destroy their gluttonous livelihood.”

Squashing a shiver that went down her spine at the quiet ferocity of Patty’s words, she was reminded of her own sense of… vengeance. She thought about those who’ve tried to cross her and how she set out to utterly destroy them. Miranda wondered if that made Patty and her cut from the same cloth

“I imagine that most would assume we are alike, Patty. But I suspect that in your line of work you might have to engage in things I am fortunate I don’t have to consider. I simply have to blacklist a writer or a designer from working in the industry or squash the over-inflated aspirations of an employee whom somehow thought that mediocrity was acceptable.” She took a sip of her wine before continuing.

“Whereas, you are saving lives, most certainly livelihoods; uncovering neglect by powerful forces means you have to swing a bigger pair of Jimmy Choos. Although, I assure you that the intense feelings of hatred and disdain might be equally powerful from both our ‘victims.’”

Following that Miranda lifted a questioning eyebrow and took another sip of wine. “So for women like us; our work, our ambition, tends to be what drives us, even outside of work. Do you think that will ever change?”

On the heels of that question Patty’s face tensed and pinkened and her eyes darkened with emotion. A muscle jumped in Patty’s cheek, before she seemed to gain control of whatever powerful emotions that tore through her like a tsunami, and her face smoothed out into an emotionless mask. “Some people call it coming to a crossroads; I call it an emotional inconvenience. Lately, it has unduly influenced my life. The jury is out on whether it’s an improvement.” Miranda found herself captivated and almost holding her breath, wondering if Patty will continue. She wasn’t disappointed. “Her name is Ellen, she was one of my Junior Associates, and I keep hoping that…” a deep sigh escaped her, her eyes briefly closed tiredly, “I keep hoping that this will make sense at some point and I can go back to being that cold, unfeeling, bitch everyone believes me to be.”

Miranda was astounded, realizing that her mouth hung slightly open, similar to the “fish imitation” she always accused Emily of. She quickly snapped it shut. She wasn’t sure if this Ellen was her lover, but it was clear that she was able to do something Miranda suspected very few people in the world could do. Evoke a powerful emotional response that appeared to be something close to… love. Even more astonishing is the parallel between their lives: two older, successful and powerful, women, in the twilight of their recent divorces, emotionally entangled with their younger, female, lovers.

Because Miranda believed that only a lover would say Ellen’s name in such way as Patty just did. Miranda’s elegant hand rubbed her brow in consternation before frowning. Why would Patty share such an incendiary piece of information? From all reports Patty never did anything without some kind of hidden agenda and while Miranda can appreciate Patty’s professional Machiavellian tactics, she was not a pawn to be played in one of her games. Narrowing her eyes at Patty, pursing her lips when she saw the knowing look in Patty’s eyes… No! She couldn’t know could she? About Andréa? Miranda felt her heart begin to race in cold dread, wondering what Patty planned to do with that information.

“Miranda you’ll find that information is my stock-and-trade. Not to mention I happened to of been getting a late dinner-to-go at fairly exclusive, quiet, little restaurant in the Lower East Side, one night about a month ago.” she finished with some amusement.

That cold dread turned into ice as she thought about what this woman is capable of and how Andréa would have neither the know-how or will to deal with her. Keeping her face purposely expressionless Miranda attempted to squash the feelings of fear and a rising anger at the situation, at Patty, and at herself for endangering Andréa.

“Oh for god’s sake, in spite of what everyone may say, I’m not some unfeeling monster! I shared my own personal struggle with you because you cannot ignore the unusual parallels between us.” She chuckled as Miranda struggled to believe her and subsequently maintain a level of trust in Patty. “Look if you’re as bewildered and somewhat helpless when it comes to your lover as I am with mine, then maybe we can figure out a way to address the situation.”

“You presume a lot. I do not like to be taken for a fool; you’d do well to remember that if we are to have any kind of dealings in the future.” And with that Miranda prepared herself to exit the situation immediately, ignoring the look of alarm and concern emanating from her companion.

“I’m sorry Miranda.” Patty looked down into her glass of wine and without looking up again she quietly pleaded with Miranda. “Look, I need…,“she swallowed a heavy lump of emotion before continuing, “I need some assistance. When I was able to deduce that we may have… this in common,” she waved a hand at the invisible pink elephant between them, “I thought you might have some ideas or pointers that can give me a fucking clue!” She ran a hand through her shaggy, blonde hair. “Because if I don’t? If I gloriously fuck this up in my usual way, I don’t think I’ll ever get another chance. And…” she found herself suddenly blinking away moist eyes that felt stinging and hot. “… I think it’s the only way I-I can breathe again.”

Her hands clenched around the linen napkin she finished her plea. “Miranda, I’ve been shot, I’ve been stabbed, I’ve had bomb-threats and scares, from formidable opponents and yet, I didn’t fear them – I despised them. A world without Ellen terrifies me.”

Miranda found her own eyes stinging and hot as thought about Andréa. She knew exactly what Patty was talking about. “Patty let me be perfectly clear: our future dealings together are of a personal nature. As such, any and all information will never be disclosed, bargained, manipulated, in any way without my consent or knowledge.” She leaned closer, intently focused on her next words to Patty. “Because unlike those unscrupulous, nefarious, individuals you deal with I can and will use my considerable power to destroy you if you renege on this demand.” She gathered her purse and stood from the table, preparing to leave. “I am fairly certain that we don’t deserve them, but we more than likely need them, I think it’s time to show them. I’ll be in touch. That’s all.”

With a tiny grin Patty appreciatively watched Miranda make her dramatic exit. For some reason she felt… lighter… centered. Knowing that she’ll be “pooling her resources” with Miranda Priestly to woo her Ellen, knowing that she decided to take this risk not because it would gain her professionally, or fill that vat of intense loneliness she secretly felt when she wasn’t knee-deep in litigation. No, this lightness was about doing something in the sun instead of in the shadows as she mostly conducted her life these days.

Yes, it made her very vulnerable, but when she thought about those burnished, brown with flecks of green eyes, thick lashes, pert nose dusted with a smattering of freckles, lush cinnamon lockes, and full lips, it caused a visceral reaction in Patty. But when she thought about their invigorating debates over some legal issue, her compassion as she thought about all those people dying in a small town saturated with the pollutants from their last case, the quiet looks of pride and happiness shining from those eyes as Patty outmaneuvered her legal opponents, were among the many reasons why this was her moment in the sun and Ellen was her sun. She pulled out her Blackberry and dialed a number from memory.

****

In the back of a Mercedes going Uptown, Miranda pondered the interesting turn her life had just taken. Without her even realizing it, Miranda knew her “time was up” in regards to Andréa. Everything came spilling into her mind; the sex, the thoughtless words and actions, the inconsideration of Andréa’s feelings, time, or efforts. She knew without looking into a crystal ball that if she didn’t take drastic measures now she would lose her – for good this time. Miranda shook her head wondering how Patty Hewes who was willing to risk it all in a significantly more conservative business environment, with intensely more dangerous enemies, for her lover, would be the one to remind that Miranda could do no less. And even worse, Miranda knew that she was in love with Andréa and refused to acknowledge that “little detail”; accepting that it was a strength, not a weakness. She sincerely hoped she wasn’t too late.

“Roy, take me to Andréa’s please. You remember the address?” Miranda requested. Miranda had been so busy trying to hide Andréa that she’d even gone so far as to use taxis---well that would be the first thing that would change. She also knew that she could count on Roy’s discretion. She would handle a public disclosure on her own time and no one else’s if she could help it.

“Yes Miranda. Would you like me to wait?”

“Wait ten minutes and I’ll simply call you if I need you. That’s all.”