"I tried to throw a surprise party for you but, as you can probably ascertain, things did not really go as planned..."

Phoenix blinked at his boyfriend, unsure where to even start with what Miles was telling him. For starters Miles' appearance was nowhere near the normal immaculate condition he was used to and the noises coming from his house also had Phoenix extremely worried. However there was something bothering him more about all this than what had gone wrong. "... You? You were planning a party?"

"Yes, Wright, that was what my words implied."

Ouch. Phoenix winced at the sharp reply. Okay so Miles really was in a bad mood. That wasn't a good sign. However he could barely contain his laughter at the sight in front of him. The usually pristine prosecutor's stance of folded arms, tapping his fingers on his sleeves, did not have the normal effect when he also happened to be covered in flour.

Phoenix opened his mouth to say something else, but then shut it again immediately when he got an icy glare from the other.

"Larry."

"Miles, you don't even know what I was going to ask..." Phoenix grumbled, although that one word was enough to send a shiver up his spine. No wonder things had gone wrong. He paused for a moment as he processed this information fully. "Hold on," he muttered, brushing some of the flour out of Miles' hair, "what could possibly have possessed you to ask him of all people to do anything for this?"

"Ah... well..."

Phoenix cupped Miles' face to stop him from looking away in embarrassment. "Come on Miles, tell me what is going on! It's fine if things didn't go to plan but I don't want to spend my entire night with you sulking."

"Then maybe you should go home."

"..." Phoenix had not heard Miles' voice that icy for a while, at least not directed directly at him. He'd heard it directed at Trucy once or twice, but on those occasions his own voice could have rivalled Miles' so he hadn't paid it so much heed. Without another word, Phoenix swivelled round and headed back towards home, hands in his pockets. He wasn't in the mood for forcing Miles' to tell him stuff tonight. He had been hoping to announce something big but now that would have to wait it seemed.

He glared up at the sky as it started to rain. Geez, thanks, rub it in why don't you? Now I'm going to get soaked and have to explain to Trucy why I am back early.

Edgeworth covered his face with his hand as Phoenix headed off into the night. He could not bring himself to yell after the other. It was, after all, his fault that tonight was such a disaster. And if even Phoenix could not be bothered to get the truth out of him right now, that probably meant the other had had something else on his mind. Great. Now he'd probably ruined everything.

"This is why I should never have listened to you, Larry," he muttered as the other joined him at the door.

"Oh lighten up Edgy, did you even explain to him what you were trying to do?"

"That," Edgeworth stated with a withering look, "would rather have defeated the point of the 'surprise' would it not?"

"Well he knows about the party now anyway, so what..."

Edgeworth resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he saw Larry stick his tongue out briefly in thought before it finally clicked with his idiotic friend just what surprise he was on about.

"Oh."

"That's all you have to say? Thanks to you my perfectly planned evening that could have sealed the future is in tatters and... and I do not know how to fix it. Wright was right, what on earth possessed me to trust you with this?"

"You said it yourself, Edgey, you don't know anything about parties!"

Edgeworth's grip on his own arm tightened as he looked down at Larry. "I seem to recall it was your suggestion that this needed to be a party in the first place."

"Well, it's not like you have much experience with romance either. I've never even seen you date a girl!"

"..." Edgeworth could not even begin to think of where to start with that blatant contradiction of facts. It should be obvious to everyone, even Larry, why such a scenario had never arose. Instead he shook his head in slight despair, then wished he hadn't at the amount of flour that fell out of it.

This was getting him nowhere. He needed to explain to Phoenix somehow... but where would he even begin?

"Daddy? You can't be home! Not yet!"

Phoenix sighed as Trucy blocked the doorway to the office. "Trucy, please, it's late and I'm soaked. I just want to go to bed."

"... Don't tell me you said no?"

Okay, now Phoenix was confused, and was Trucy upset or angry? Both perhaps. "To what exactly? Miles was in a bad mood and so I decided it was best for both of us that I left, that's all."

"Oh no you don't! You get back out there and go back to Uncle Miles before you ruin this evening."

"ME?!" Phoenix yelped, stepping back at the look his daughter was giving him. "He's the one covered in flour!"

Well that at least seemed to have calmed Trucy down, but Phoenix was still puzzled as to why she wouldn't let him into the agency. He was also wondering why she was now lost in thought. Perhaps she was just trying to imagine him covered in flour. After all Phoenix had admitted to himself that it had been quite the sight, and he too was still curious as to how exactly that happened; although with Larry present he could hazard a guess as to what had transpired.

3 Days Ago, The Hog’s Head Pub

Edgeworth glanced around his surroundings with slight distaste. A high class vip pub would be one thing, but this pub was already getting rather rowdy and it was barely even teatime. However he had it on good authority the person he wanted to talk to would be here.

“It’s not fair! Why do they always slip through my fingers!”

Grimacing, Edgeworth stood up as he heard familiar whining coming from the bar area. So Larry’s latest relationship had finally fallen to pieces? That may cause an issue. Whilst he tolerated his friend when necessary, he had no wish to hear him wallow in self-pity all evening.

“I’m a famous artist you know!”

Edgeworth shook his head slightly as he headed over to the bar. It was true that Larry had stuck with being a book illustrator for far longer than anything else, and it was good that his friend seemed to have finally found a career, but calling himself famous was rather a stretch at this point. “Larry…”

“Edgey! Come on, sit down! Didn’t expect to see you here!”

Hesitantly, Edgeworth joined Larry at the bar, and asked the bartender to fetch him a glass of wine. He ignored the odd looks he got for requesting such a beverage. “I hardly expected to find myself in such an environment. However it was necessary I talked with you…”

“I haven’t done anything!!!”

Edgeworth sighed internally to himself. This could be a long evening. “You are not in any trouble Larry. Actually, I… I need your advice.”

“Huh? Oh you want tips from the lovemeister how to win over women! It’s about time! I know you’ve been trying to socialise more with Nick lately but geez man how old are you now?”

“… Larry. I’m going out with Nick.”

“Huh? But…”

Edgeworth folded his arms. “Never mind that now. I wish to know how best to approach announcing it properly to everyone… and -“

“Like a party you mean? Oh boy yeah you do need my help! A party run by you would be so dull!”

“Thanks for the ringing endorsement.”

3 Days Ago, Jenny’s Jewellers

Phoenix stared at the rings, swallowing hard as Trucy excitedly pointed ones out. “Trucy this has to be a secret, please keep your voice down,” he hissed.

He winced a little as she pouted at him. Sighing he handed her some money. “Go buy some new magic tricks. I’ll meet you at the food court for lunch.”
“Of course Daddy!”

As she rushed off, Phoenix resisted the urge to bury his head in his hands. These rings were all so expensive. He had wanted to get Miles an engraved ring but there was no way his finances would stretch to that was there? What was he going to do? He didn’t want to appear cheap. This was important. Whatever would other people say if they saw the Chief Prosecutor was wearing a ring that wasn’t even real gold?

“Sir, would you be interested in our buy now, pay later scheme?”

Phoenix hesitated. The interest on those was usually ludicrous. But what else could he do? He found himself nodding with a small smile before he could think it through any longer. This was for Miles. He wanted everything to be perfect.

He just hoped Miles wouldn’t think that they were moving the relationship along too fast.

2 Days Ago, Poppin Party Planners!

After listening late into the night about Larry's plans, surrounded by drunk imbeciles, Edgeworth had begun to suspect that this had been an even worse idea than he originally thought. The shop they were now standing in was just confirming his suspicions.

"Larry, if, and only if, I decide to believe that this really necessitates a party... this is for an announcement of a relationship, not a young adult's birthday party!"

"There's gonna be drink isn't there? So it's hardly..."

"Hence, why I said young adult," Edgeworth interrupted with a sigh. "Without the inclusion of alcohol I could have attributed this to any typical teenage celebration."

"Do you want my help or not? Okay maybe the party poppers and streamers are a little over the top... but have you even got a cake? There has to be one of those for a celebration right?"

Edgeworth paused for a moment. If Phoenix said yes then there would indeed be reason to celebrate with something such as cake. He then heard a certain voice in his head and flinched. "Indeed. However some of the guests would be far more particular than you would about a cake. The ingredients would be needed to be taken into consideration."

"Man, you even make cake sound dull, Edgy. You seriously need to get out more."

Gritting his teeth in irritation, Edgeworth looked at Larry with icy eyes. "I am merely trying to make sure that all eventualities are accounted for so that nothing can go awry."

"It's a party! Things going wrong are par for the course!"

"Not at mine they are not. Especially if it avoids someone ending up in hospital."

"... Huh? Someone would get that angry over a wrong cake?"

Edgeworth turned and pretended to look at some of the balloons whilst he tried to settle his irritation back down. He sighed softly. "No, Larry. They would get hospitalised because of the cake. Or did you not know that Trucy is allergic to nuts?"

"... Oh so that's why her face swelled like that and Nick started yelling at me... and here I thought I'd baked something wrong..."

Putting the packet of balloons back, Edgeworth turned sharply back round. Larry had done what?! No. Concentrate. That could wait. He needed to get this party sorted in the next few days. He'd already been avoiding Phoenix for almost a fortnight in order to get something organised. He could not delay any longer, sure the other would misread his intentions.

"Can I help you?"

"What's a model like you doing working in a store like this?"

As the staff member giggled at Larry's comment, Edgeworth sighed heavily to himself and headed off to a nearby jewellery store.

2 Days Ago, Jenny's Jewellers

Entering Jenny's Jewellers, Edgeworth glanced around at the displays, feeling extremely awkward. Feeling the cashier staring into his back he turned around and coughed. "I... ah... I require an engagement ring."

"Ooh who's the lucky lady?"

"..." Edgeworth stared at her hard, unsure how to refute that comment.

Fortunately she seemed to catch on because before he could say anything she stammered, "forgive me, sir. It... It's a male ring you are looking for then?"

"I... Verily, ergo..."

"I would have thought a Chief Prosecutor such as yourself, could have afforded something more exclusive than our little boutique can offer."

Edgeworth hesitated. It was indeed true that he could probably get a much more intricate and custom made ring from an online specialist store. However, he had no wish to make Phoenix feel inadequate or inferior in any way shape or form. Also, even though he trusted Phoenix more than anybody else in the world, it wasn't above the realms of possibility that Phoenix might lose it and that would surely just make the other feel worse. "I... I could. However..."

"Your partner isn't quite pulling his weight huh? I understand. Why just yesterday someone bought a ring on credit and yet they still insisted on engraving. I don't even think he's sure they'll say yes. It sounded to me like they hadn't seen each other for a while."

"..." A thought crossed Edgeworth's mind briefly, but he dismissed it. That would be ludicrous. Besides, Phoenix would never be so stupid as to take up a buy now, pay later offer. With still a little doubt in his mind he was about to ask the girl what the man had looked like, then berated himself for even considering it. In the extremely slim possibility that it had been him, it would feel like betraying his trust, and in the more likely probability that this was someone else, he would feel foolish for asking for more details about some complete stranger and would not wish to have to explain himself to the lady behind the desk. Instead he nodded at her words and started looking in the display cabinet for a ring he thought Phoenix would like.

This was going to be more difficult than he had thought.

2 Days Ago, Wright Anything Agency

Phoenix held the letter he had received that morning in trembling hands, trying not to let tears form in his eyes. This was how much the ring was going to eventually cost him?! He'd be paying this back even after they were married.

So how was he going to afford the wedding ring on top of this?

"Boss? You've been distracted all day..."

Wincing, Phoneix hurriedly stuffed the letter into his jacket pocket and looked up at Athena with a sheepish smile as she came over to him. "Sorry, Athena." Sometimes he hated her ability to be able to hear people's emotions, even if it had proved exceedingly useful in court. "What was it you wanted?"

"The case file on Redd White."

Phoenix froze.

"Uh... boss? Hey Apollo I think you better get in here!"

Vaguely aware of Apollo entering the room, Phoenix was startled out of his state by the other yelling at him. He fell off his chair. "Okay Apollo, for that you can have toilet cleaning duty for the rest of the week," he grumbled, rubbing his head as he sat up.

"Like it was ever going to be anything different."

Phoenix couldn't help but smile again at that, although it was short lived as he saw their expectant faces and recalled what Athena had asked. "Why do you want his file?"

"Our client used to work for him."

"No. Absolutely not! You are not taking on that client!" Phoenix snapped, slamming his hands down on the desk as he got back to his feet. He was not even aware how full of hatred his voice had become until Athena took a step back and widget let out a gasp.

"But, Mr Wright..."

Phoenix turned sharply to Apollo. "Do you want to end up dead?"

"..."

The silence that filled the room after that was extremely stiff and awkward. Phoenix knew he was making no sense. Redd White was long gone. Executed for pre meditated murder. It was just his family were important to him, now more than ever, and a case such as this was sending out all kinds of warning signals.

"Who is this Redd White anyway?"

Athena's voice this time. Taking a deep breath, Phoenix slumped back down into his chair and ran a hand through his hair. "The guy who murdered Mia Fey... they guy that was controlling so many people in high places via blackmail that even Edgeworth couldn't stop it when he suddenly decided to change the defendant."

"Huh? Redd White managed to change the defendant even though all the evidence was pointing to the current one? Is that what you're saying Mr Wright?"
Phoenix looked to Apollo who had his finger to his forehead in thought. "Ah. Yes, I don't suppose that made the official recordings you would have seen for various reasons... he... well he accused me because I'd got too close to the truth. Actually if it hadn't been for Mia's spirit reading out the list of names he thought he'd destroyed, I could well have been executed by now."

"But boss do you really want an innocent client to go undefended just because they used to work for a jerk?"

Swallowing, Phoenix shook his head at Athena's comment, then looked to Apollo. "Are you quite certain she's innocent?"

"Well I haven't detected any lies, Mr Wright."

He sighed heavily at Apollo's response. If he wanted to protect them it seemed there was only one course of action he could take. Besides which it may help with his own problem. "In which case... I'll defend her. This is not a matter for either of you."

"Mr Wright, I helped bring down K-"

"Don't you dare utter his name," Phoenix muttered as he stood up. "That is precisely the reason I do not wish you near this case."

Phoenix knew Apollo would realise that was a lie but he didn't care. He headed out of the office with plans to go down to the detention centre. It was better he claimed to Apollo that he thought his connection with Kristoph would be a problem than admit that he was scared of losing the person he considered his son.

He was glad when neither of them called after him.

1 Day Ago, The Edgeworth Estate

Edgeworth glanced around the ballroom and dining room which were now adorned with white balloons. He still was not at all comfortable with this idea but Larry seemed to think that setting things up now would give him a clearer vision of where this was headed.

Unfortunately, right now the vision Edgeworth seemed to have was one of disaster. However that might have something to do with the presence of Larry in his house. Well that... and a certain other visitor who had arrived early.

"You foolish fool! Are you trying to give everyone food poisoning! Stick to the ingredients list! Everything must be absolutely perfect! Even if this is apparently for that fool Phoenix Wright, Little Brother has a reputation to uphold, and you are turning him into a delinquent with this pathetically planned out social event!"

Grimacing, Edgeworth sat down on the sofa in the living room to get away from the voice of Franziska Von Karma that was echoing into the other rooms from the kitchen, smiling slightly as Pess jumped up onto his lap. "Hello old girl," he murmured. "Seems Franziska is attempting to keep Larry in line again. Perhaps I should go into my kitchen and make sure -"

Edgeworth cut off as Pess whined, and he let out a soft chuckle. "Perhaps you are right. I have no wish to be whipped by Franziska this evening if at all possible." He gently stroked his dog with a soft sigh, hoping he would still have a kitchen at the end of this nightmare.

1 Day Ago, Courtroom No. 3

Phoenix sweated as the Judge handed down a guilty verdict. How had Apollo missed this?! So much for getting the money he needed in order to pay for the ring. However this was clearly the truth so he wasn’t feeling down about the loss, he was more concerned about how his client appeared to be reacting.

"I'm gonna sue you for misrepresentation! You're a defence attorney! You're supposed to defend me not help the prosecution!"

He tried to tune out the screaming of his client. A case such as that was all he needed right now. He glanced across to the prosecution bench and suddenly felt an unusual bout of jealousy. Why did things always seem to go wrong for him when he was up against Klavier Gavin?! This was getting ridiculous. Yes, his first case had fallen to pieces because of Kristoph trapping him into presenting forged evidence but even since then he hadn't got a grip on the rockstar. By now he knew the other really was just after the truth, that he had nothing to do with his older brother's schemes, but it still hurt. He tried as much as possible to let Apollo take cases if he knew Klavier was going to be prosecuting but twice now he'd had to defend a client himself, and twice now he had lost. Alright, so the first time he'd been forced to do something because it was behave or Trucy died, but this time... this time he had trusted his protégés and all his instincts that this woman was nothing like her previous employer, that she had been an unwitting bystander to the dodgy dealings Redd White pulled at Bluecorp, but no. That would have been too simple.

"Herr Wright?"

Startled, Phoenix looked sharply up at the new voice, grimacing when he realised everyone else had left. "Hey. G-good going out there..." He muttered to Klavier, trying to sound sincere and not entirely sure he was succeeding.

"You seem troubled."

Phoenix flinched. Klavier could read his body language now? "I... Do you really think she was serious?"

"About pressing charges? Ach, knowing her type, probably. And they won't let you defend yourself in a case such as that."

"Then I'll have to get Apollo involved after -"

"Nein, that wouldn't be a good idea either. She'd probably find a way to use that against you."

Was anything going to go right today? Phoenix wasn't sure he could handle this any more. Klavier was saying that not only was his client being serious, he'd have to pay some other defence attorney to defend him?! He didn't even know any other attorneys right now! The only one he'd ever let in was Kristoph and that had been the worst mistake of his life. And even if Grossberg hadn't been retired for a few years now, letting him near a case involving Redd White would never work out for anybody.

Getting the paperwork out again, Phoenix looked at it and pulled a face. What was he doing? Miles Edgeworth was Chief Prosecutor.

This was never going to work. Perhaps he should just forget the whole thing.

Morning of the Party, Prosecutor’s Office

Edgeworth was busy reading over case files for that day when there was a knock at the door. He sighed softly. He had been hoping that perhaps he would not have to spend every waking hour here for once - not least because he had left Larry and Franziska alone in his house. That in itself was a recipe for disaster.

“Come in?”

“Ach… Herr Edgeworth, I know you are busy planning for tonight but -“

Frowning, Edgeworth looked hard at Klavier. “If you have come to whine about yesterday…” He trailed off as he heard the rockstar chuckle nervously. Well that was unexpected. “Prosecutor Gavin?”

“You haven’t seen the file for yesterday have you? I won.”

Edgeworth nodded at that. That made more sense. However he had indeed not looked, nor was he aware of the sudden change in defence attorney. “So you finally beat Justice, congratulations.”

“… Wright was the defence, Herr Edgeworth.”

Putting his tea down, Edgeworth pushed his glasses up as he lost himself in thought. “I see. Well as long as you got to the truth that is what matters…” He hadn’t realised how icy his voice had become until he saw the other flinch. Immediately he tried to soften his expression - things were always awkward when Phoenix and Klavier met due to what had happened in the past, though like Phoenix he felt no ill will towards the young prosecutor. As a matter of fact, he sympathised with him in a way - after all Kristoph had played Klavier as much as Manfred Von Karma had played himself. “My apologies, We are getting off track. If you won, why are you here?”

“I’m worried about him.”

Edgeworth looked sharply back up from his desk at that comment. “Worried? About Wright? What a ridiculous notion. He can look after himself.”

“… He needs a defence attorney.”

Okay, so something had clearly gone very wrong yesterday. This was why Edgeworth was loathe to take any time out of the office. He was about to put the current case file down and snatch the file for yesterday’s case up when his phone started ringing. “Excuse me, Prosecutor Gavin,” he apologised after noting the number. He had to take this. Feeling a sense of dread in his stomach, Edgeworth quickly answered his phone. “Gumshoe?”

“Sir, are you okay?!”

“… Why wouldn’t I be, detective?”

“Oh good. It doesn’t matter…”

Edgeworth gritted his teeth as he tapped his arm impatiently. “Gumshoe, you called me in a panic for a reason. Do you really think that reply is adequate?”

“I… I just overreacted that’s all. There was a fire engine heading towards your estate. I guess I was mistake-“

“Hold it!” Edgeworth barked, leaping to his feet. “Larry and Prosecutor Von Karma are currently at my house of residence. Thank you for informing me. I shall attend to this personally.”

“Y-yes, sir! Sorry sir!”

Ending the call, Edgeworth turned to Klavier, feeling a severe headache coming on. “My apologies Prosecutor Gavin but it seems I have somewhat of a personal emergency to attend to. You are coming to the party tonight, yes?”

“Ja, but -“

“If you are still worried about Wright, you can explain to me exactly what happened then. It is not as though he will be in any danger tonight at the party now is it?”

Edgeworth headed out after that before Klavier had a chance to stop him.

Little did he know his logic would fall to pieces a few hours later.

Morning of the Party, Wright Anything Agency

That morning, Phoenix had not wanted to get out of bed, and yet here he was, sitting at his desk in the office. Athena was currently out investigating, and Apollo… Apollo hadn’t turned up yet. To tell the truth, Phoenix was beginning to get concerned. It was most unlike Apollo to be late like this. Last time the other had been this distant was during the murder trial for Clay Terran. Was it possible Apollo hadn’t noticed he was lying the other day? Phoenix really hoped not. He also hoped the other wasn’t beating himself up for accepting a dodgy client. Especially when he himself had made the same mistake before - Just like Matt Engarde, Truly Good hadn’t killed anyone directly. Once again it had been a hitman who had carried out the task. Fortunately for Phoenix, said assassin wasn’t as noble as Shelley De Killer and had thrown Truly Good under the bus with little prompting. Although something still didn’t quite sit right with him. Truly Good was guilty as he and Klavier had proved, of that he was certain, however something about the anonymous cloaked assassin who gave them a recording of the meeting was rubbing him up the wrong way.

“Morning Mr Wright… sorry I’m late…”

So relieved to hear Apollo’s voice, all of Phoenix’s concerns evaporated. Perhaps he was just being paranoid. Smiling he stood up and ran a hand sheepishly through his hair. “Heh. Perhaps you can make it up to me by cleaning the toilet?” He teased. However his expression became serious as he took in Apollo’s appearance properly; the younger attorney looked terrible. He’d clearly not had any sleep and his clothes were a ruffled mess. “Apollo… are you alright?”

“Did… did you mean what you said?”

Phoenix paused, trying to work out what Apollo could possibly be referring to. There was only one thing he could think of but that couldn’t possibly be…

“About not wanting me involved in a case like this because of Kristoph?”

As Apollo supplied the answer, Phoenix winced. So it was what he thought. But that made no sense. “Apollo.. of course not. That was a lie. You know that.”

“Do I, Mr Wright? This piece of junk either isn’t working or both you and the defendant are getting around it if that is true!”

Phoenix was about to put his hand on Apollo’s shoulder when the other threw his bracelet across the room. It hit one of Trucy’s pretend swords and shattered into a million pieces.

They both stared at it for a while, slowly coming to the same conclusion.

Without a word they held each other’s hand in way of an unspoken apology.

It seemed Apollo’s bracelet was a fake.

Afternoon of the Party, Edgeworth Estate

Edgeworth had driven as fast as the current traffic laws would allow him in order to get back to his estate. If he'd left Larry on his own he would have expected something like this but he had more belief in Franziska than this.

Perhaps Gumshoe really had been mistaken and the fire brigade weren't heading to his house at all?

No, much as Gumshoe could mess up, his instincts on things like this were usually pretty sound. However as Edgeworth pulled up onto his driveway, what he saw wasn't quite what he had been expecting.

There was indeed a fire engine, but there was no sign of any fires. Instead he could see they were trying to get Pess out of the tall tree that was reachable from his bedroom window. He frowned at his dog. What could possibly have possessed her to go up there?

"You foolish fool of a foolish fool who foolishly acts without thinking! If little brother finds out about this..."

Despite the peril his dog was currently in, Edgeworth couldn't stop a small smirk from forming as he heard Franziska's voice echo down from the hall. It sounded like Larry had caused this somehow. Larry causing something wasn't entirely unexpected, but he hadn't expected anything to put his pet in danger. Sighing softly to himself he headed inside. "If I find out about what, exactly, Franziska?"

"Miles Edgeworth do you not know it is rude to eavesdrop! A Von Karma should never -"

"Franziska, this is my house, and my beloved pet is currently in a tree. I think someone at least owes me an explanation, do you not?"

"Hmmph. Ask him."

Edgeworth turned towards Larry. Having seen Franziska fold her arms and look away, he knew she was now sulking because he had rebutted her comments and wouldn't get anything else out of her for a few hours.

"It's not my fault man! Why does everyone always blame me?!"

Tempted as he was to retort with the old school saying, Edgeworth shook his head and folded his arms. He was way out of patience for today. "Just the facts, Larry."

"Well, I was testing some party poppers and..."

"You startled my dog," Edgeworth completed with a grimace and a resigned sigh. "I thought I told you they weren't necessary."

"But you have to have something to celebrate with when he -"

Edgeworth cut Larry off with the sharpest look he could muster. That was meant to be a secret! Even Franziska didn't know yet and nor did he care for her to know until it was too late. He suspected she would try and talk him out of it otherwise. Instead he quickly asked, "I trust you have both taken care of my kitchen?"

"Of course. A Von Karma knows how to bake the perfect cake with just the right amount of nutrition, and, naturally, no nuts."

"...Crap. The cake!"

He really should have seen these two polar opposite reactions coming a mile off. Of course as far as Franziska was concerned her role in making the cake had already finished as Larry was supposed to be handling the catering, much to Edgeworth's unrest. From their replies he could ascertain that for Franziska everything so far had gone smoothly, but Larry had forgotten to take it out of the oven. Fearing there really would be a fire in his house if he didn't do something, Edgeworth hurried after Larry and barged past him into his kitchen. He tried not to wince at the different plates and cups scattered around. No point worrying about the mess right now. Apparently perfect cooking to Franziska did not go hand in hand with a perfectly tidy kitchen.

Hearing the oven shake, Edgeworth's thoughts evaporated and he strolled over to it. Turning the oven off before opening the door there was a loud bang as the cake exploded and he got covered not only in the cake but in the bag of flour that was still on the counter that got dislodged by the explosion.

About to thunder his disapproval at Larry, and possibly Franziska as well, Edgeworth went white as he heard the doorbell accompanied with the familiar tinkle of a bike bell.

Of course, Phoenix would pick this precise moment to turn up.

Deciding the day couldn't get any worse, and realising he had missed his conversations with his boyfriend these past couple of weeks, Edgeworth stomped off to the front door to answer it.

Appearances be damned. He was going to have a nice talk with Phoenix and have a laugh about the non existent party.

At least, that's how it probably would have gone if one or both of them had been in a better mood.

The Present

Getting back on his bike, Phoenix shook his head to try and get some of the rain out. It was a futile effort as it was still raining and he was already drenched, but nonetheless he had to at least try as Trucy still wouldn't let him into the agency.

Still she was right, he had to patch things up with Miles. He did at least still want to be friends even if the other no longer wanted any more than that. A sinking feeling started in Phoenix's stomach. Was that what the party was for? Soften the blow of a 'sorry, this is not working' speech? It would certainly explain why the other had been avoiding him for two weeks.

He knew Miles was busy, but not that busy. He'd even missed one of Trucy's Magic shows the previous week and he never did that. Besides which it would be typical that Phoenix had gone for moving their relationship up a notch when the other wanted to take a step back. After all he had never been one for reading romantic relationships very well. Perhaps it was -

Phoenix's thoughts were cut short as he was almost knocked off his bike by a passing car. He rang his bell in annoyance. He hadn't been that distracted! And then his eyes widened as the car turned round and hurtled straight towards him. He was thrown far from his bike, the wheels spinning as the frame crumpled.

Through blurred vision he thought he caught sight of a logo on the car door before passing out.

It was the logo for Bluecorp.

Back at the estate, Edgeworth had spent the evening turning people away and apologising that there would be no party tonight. He had at least found time to get cleaned up since the cake incident and was now laying on the sofa and trying to soothe Pess by stroking her. She still seemed a little jumpy. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen Pess like this, not even on fireworks night, which made him wonder just how close Larry had been to the poor girl when he'd set the party popper off. Still, he was too emotionally drained and tired to have another talk with Larry right now. There was only one person he wanted to talk to and he'd effectively given them the cold shoulder.

His phone suddenly started ringing. Edgeworth looked at the number, then at the clock, then back at the number with a frown. What was she doing up at this hour? He quickly pressed the answer button. "Trucy? What can I do for you?"

"Has he done it yet? Or did you do it?"

"... I am afraid you have lost me. Who are you referring to?"

"Daddy of course! I sent him back your way!"

Edgeworth sat up, his grip tightening on the phone as Klavier's warning echoed in his mind. "When was this?"

"Huh? Hours ago now! You mean he hasn't arrived?"

Now Trucy sounded scared and Edgeworth berated himself for his lack of tact. "No, Trucy, I am afraid he has not. But it's a very wet night tonight. Perhaps he decided to stop off at Justice's on the way to dry off?"

"That wouldn't work. Polly's here! So's Athena."

Edgeworth put a hand to his head. "Trucy, it is late. I promise I will find out where he is. Try to get some rest."

"Okay... Papa."

She hung up immediately, and it was only when Edgeworth headed towards his car that he registered what Trucy had called him.

He suddenly felt sick. What if something really had happened to Phoenix and now he'd never be able to propose? Worse, their last conversation was the nearest they got these days to a non professional argument.

Putting his coat on and grabbing his keys, Edgeworth got into his car and used the hands free set to dial the precinct as he drove.

He would find Phoenix, even if it took him the rest of the night.

It was sunrise by the time Edgeworth arrived at the crime scene. Gumshoe had been able to give him some unexpected road closures and one was on the route he knew Phoenix would have taken. What he had not expected to find there was Ema Skye, complete with one of her forensic kits, and munching frustratedly on Snackoos.

"Detective Skye?"

"Ah! Chief Prosecutor..."

Seeing her quickly put her Snackoos away and look away from him instead of at him, Edgeworth knew something was seriously wrong. "What is going on here?"

"Well..."

"Just the basic facts will do for now, Detective Skye."

"Hit and Run. Estimated time of collision some time after Midnight. From the tire tracks it appears the car turned around at one point."

Car tire tracks in two opposite directions... so this had been deliberate. Edgeworth nodded slowly. "Any witnesses?"

"None that we can find so far, sir, but visibility tonight is terrible due to all this rain. It was only thanks to someone walking their dog that we even found the victim..."

Edgeworth winced. Now he had got to the hard part. "Leaving aside why someone would wish to walk a dog this late, especially in weather such as this, who was the victim Detective? The way you are avoiding his or her name suggests they are known to me."

"They are, Herr Edgeworth."

Whirling round, Edgeworth found himself looking into the upset and tired eyes of Klavier Gavin. He was also holding a leash. Glancing down he saw a golden retriever on the end of it and it all clicked in his mind. Of course Klavier would walk his dog late at night. He was less likely to be disturbed by the press then. And presumably he had come this way because he was still worried about... Edgeworth took a step back as his knees threatened to buckle underneath him. "The victim... It's Wright isn't it?"

As Klavier nodded, Edgeworth found himself hyperventilating in a way he had not since the last time he had attempted to ride in an elevator.

"No... it cannot..." He gasped for air, tears threatening to spill down his cheeks as he clenched his hands tightly together.

He was vaguely aware of Klavier saying something to Ema before he blacked out.

It could not have been more than half an hour that Edgeworth had been out for, but when he came round it was not Klavier or Ema he saw looking over him, but rather the concerned brown eyes of Apollo Justice. Clearing his throat a little in awkwardness, he struggled to sit up. "Forgive me, Justice. It is most unbecoming of me to lose my composure like this."

"Hey, my best friend was murdered by an international spy remember? I wouldn't call this losing your composure."

Edgeworth really wanted to thank Apollo for the sentiment as the shorter carefully helped him to stand up, but his throat had gone incredibly dry at the mention of murder. What if Phoenix was dead? His eyes must have betrayed his thoughts because it was Klavier who spoke up next.

"Herr Wright has been taken to the hospital. His bike is completely totalled but as to his own status... Ach... I'm afraid I cannot say. We have tried to preserve the crime scene despite this rain so that you can take a look for yourself if you wish."

Perhaps no news was good news? He had to treat this like any other case. Any other case like he would have done for Interpol a few years ago. Time to explore every nook and cranny until he was certain he had the truth.

The first thing he noticed was a black box glinting in the sunlight that had begun to break through the rain. Edgeworth shook his head a little. At this rate a rainbow would form over the box and that felt too much like something out of a Pink Princess love interest episode for his liking.

With trembling fingers, Edgeworth carefully picked the box up and opened it. Inside was a ring his size with an engraving that read 'the truth will always unite us'. The box almost fell from his hands but Apollo caught it for him. He put a hand to his head. So that's what Trucy had meant - Phoenix was also planning to propose.

He didn't know how or why or even when Trucy had realised he was going to do the same, but it seemed she had tried to make it so they'd do it at the same time and have a good anecdote to tell for years to come.

She really was something else, that girl.

Phoenix stirred to the faint beeping of medical machinery. His whole body ached. What had happened to the days when he could be thrown against a lamppost and suffer no more than a sprained ankle?

Perhaps he really was getting too old for this. He tried to sit up, only to be stopped by an admonishing tut from one of the doctors.

"Mr Wright, please remain still. It is not safe for you to move yet. In fact, it is rather a miracle you are awake at all right now. So please, follow my instructions. I really do not wish to have to sedate you."

He didn't like the sound of that. It sounded as though his strange ability for surviving accidents was indeed still working and this time had had the unfortunate consequence of him coming round whilst he was still being treated. He'd never felt pain like this before.

As he squeezed his eyes tightly shut to blot out the pain and the dazzling hospital lights, something came back to him in his fuzzy memory.

This hadn't been an accident.

Once he had made as many notes as possible to what had occurred at the scene, Edgeworth reluctantly agreed to go to a nearby coffee house with Klavier and Apollo so that they could talk properly.

Right now, he did not have that much to go on. As both Klavier and Ema had warned, the rain had washed away a lot of what could have given them clues as to how exactly this came about, although for once Edgeworth was sort of relieved of this fact. The last thing he wanted to do with his logic was be able to deduce from blood spatter just where Phoenix had been hit by the car.

That said, the remains of the bike had rather taken over his imagination as well. Klavier had not been joking when he said the thing was totalled. It now resembled something more akin to a weird modern art sculpture than a bike, though Edgeworth had managed to salvage the bell from it.

It was silly, really. It was after all just a cheap bike bell, but he remembered the story behind it:

Phoenix had started biking again after the last time he was involved in a hit and run, deciding that it was safer than walking. However as this was during the time of his disbarment he really could not afford much, and he was loathe to ask anyone for help. Instead he went back to using his old bike which had seen better days, and the bell was completely rusted and barely worked.

Which was why, in the interest of safety, Edgeworth had insisted on buying him one when the other was over in Europe helping him with studies.

Of course, Phoenix was reluctant to accept anything from Edgeworth in those days, clearly wary about what had transpired over recent years. Not that Edgeworth could blame him for that after finding out just how much Kristoph had been puppeteering the narrative of the courts and Phoenix’s social life. However, Edgeworth did not let Phoenix’s mood deter him on this one point and even went into a lecture about road safety law until the other finally buckled and agreed to let him buy him a new bell under one condition.

That condition had been that he’d buy the food that night.

Edgeworth shook his head a little in bemusement as he recalled this, the bell in his hand. The food had ended up costing more than the bell, but that was the way Phoenix’s mind worked. The food was a necessity for his daughter to stay alive, the bell was not.

“Herr Edgeworth?”

Hearing Klavier’s concerned voice as he and Apollo returned from fetching the drinks, Edgeworth hastily put the bell in his pocket and looked up at them with weary eyes. “My apologies, Prosecutor Gavin. I was lost in thought.”

“Using that logic of yours to work out who did this to Mr Wright I hope!”

Edgeworth's throat dried up again and he quickly took a sip of his tea to try and compose himself. He was feeling terrible now - of course Apollo was as upset as he was. Despite their differences, Phoenix and Apollo were practically family these days, and Edgeworth was sure Apollo saw himself as a brother to Trucy as much as he saw himself as a brother to Franziska despite the way in which they met and not being related by blood.

If only he knew the truth he may have re-thought that analogy, but with the current facts that was how it appeared.

“Indeed…” Edgeworth reassured Apollo, then realising that that hadn’t been strictly true and glanced at his wrist. He was surprised to note he wasn’t wearing his bracelet. “… Justice?”

“Yes?”

“Where is your bracelet? I do not recall you ever being without it before…”

Seeing the young attorney’s hair droop and mutter something under his breath, Edgeworth realised he’d said something that hit a nerve. Logically then something had happened to it.

“Herr Forehead’s bracelet was switched. This is why…”

Edgeworth’s frown deepened as Klavier trailed off. He was clearly being careful not to upset Apollo further, which meant the bracelet’s disappearance was likely connected to what was now happening.

That was when his mind went back to what Klavier had tried to tell him back at the prosecutor’s office. “Prosecutor Gavin, I think it is about time I heard what exactly happened during the trial of Truly Good.”

As the other explained, Edgeworth could feel his mood getting darker and darker by the minute. From what Apollo had also supplied during this he could conclude that Truly Good had tricked the Wright Anything Agency into taking this case by making sure that Apollo did not have his real bracelet somehow. Perhaps the hitman had taken it? Then there was the mention of suing Phoenix for misrepresentation which suggested to Edgeworth that the other was aware of his past and decided to use that to her advantage. And now Phoenix would not even be able to add his own view points to the mix. As Chief Prosecutor he had some influence over court timetables, but he also knew that telling them to delay this could make it look like he was indeed colluding with Phoenix and that would only make Truly Good’s case to nullify the verdict all the stronger.

Which led him to another conclusion. One of motive. This was far too convenient for it not to have something to do with the court case. Whether it was the culprit or the hitman’s doing was another question, but Edgeworth would put his prosecutor’s badge on this being part of their plan. Realising there was only one thing for it, he turned to Apollo. “Justice, I am sure you are insisting you represent him as defence…”

“Of course! Mr Wright is many things but he always tries to make sure the truth is found!”

“I thought so,” Edgeworth muttered, trying to ignore Apollo’s odd wording. Before he persuaded Phoenix to take the bar again, the other had said there were things he had done that he wasn’t proud of to make sure the truth came to light. Edgeworth assumed that this was about one of those and he would rather not know unless Phoenix dared to tell him directly. He himself had had to push his morals back on a couple of occasions to make sure the truth came to light. To bring an ambassador down for the sake of the people, for one. “However, as Prosecutor Gavin has highlighted, they would likely see that as an advantage.”

“But I can’t just do nothing…”

Edgeworth wagged his finger a little. “I was not suggesting that, Justice, just that you cannot represent Wright on this occasion.”

“Then…”

He handed Apollo a business card. “Here. Go talk to Mr Shields. He runs my Father’s old law offices. He is the only attorney I trust as much as Wright.”

He was glad when Apollo visibly relaxed at that.

After a few more exchanges of words and ideas, they decided it was time they got on with work. Edgeworth shook Apollo’s hand at the door of the coffee shop before the other headed off on his own bike, then turned to Klavier. “Prosecutor Gavin, will you accompany me? If, as I suspect, this hit and run is a direct result of the trial you presided over then I will require you to prosecute the culprit.”

No answer. Edgeworth frowned to himself, then grimaced as he went back over in his mind what he had just said combined with Klavier’s description of the trial itself. “Prosecutor Gavin… none of this is your fault. Together you and Wright found the truth. That is what we aim for. The only people at fault here are the criminals and I would appreciate your help in making sure justice is served.”

“Ja, of course.”

Edgeworth nodded in thanks, but as he was about to head off he realised Klavier’s posture was missing its usual swagger. “Prosecutor Gavin? You seem troubled. I have already stated that I do not-“

“Ach, it’s not that. I could have taken any route to walk Vongole tonight and yet I…”

“You were still worried because of earlier, and for that you have my thanks, Prosecutor Gavin,” Edgeworth replied softly. “Are you really upset because you could potentially have saved Wright’s life?”

“… I thought he was dead.”

As Klavier admitted that, Edgeworth’s vision began to blur again. He had come to the conclusion some time ago that Wright must be badly off as no one seemed willing to bring his current status up to him, but hearing his fears confirmed did little to improve his mood. “But he wasn’t, Gavin. That is the main thing. And it is thanks to you that he is getting treatment right now.”

“…”

Edgeworth turned to look at the other who had frozen in place, a different look in his eyes now. Had he said something wrong? Then he realised he had been so upset about Wright’s current predicament that he had slipped up and used just Klavier’s surname, something which he had avoided doing ever since he had returned to this country. Klavier had insisted there was no need, but Edgeworth had known better. There was a reason he had never called himself a Von Karma at any point after all.

“Klavier. My apologies. I cannot think clearly right now.”

As the other nodded, Edgeworth tried to relax. He was about to suggest they pay the hospital a visit when Ema came over to them.

“Chief Prosecutor, I think you should see this. It was found in a nearby drain.”

Taking the soaking wet piece of paper, Edgeworth carefully prised it apart. Most of it was ineligible due to the rain but he could make out enough of the heading to know what this was.

It was a contract for a buy now, pay later scheme.

No wonder Phoenix had been so frustrated with him.

He really was an idiot sometimes.

After reassuring Klavier that it was alright for him to continue the investigation on his own for the time being, Edgeworth had headed to the mall. It was late enough in the morning now that the shop he wanted to go to should be open. If his deduction was correct he needed to sort this as soon as possible.

“Chief Prosecutor? What can I do for you today? Did your partner not like the ring? Or… did he say no?”

“I do not see what business that is of yours. I am here on a professional matter, not a personal one.”

“Oh, someone sounds jilted.”

Edgeworth gritted his teeth, not having the patience for this, especially not today of all days. He slammed the soggy letter on the desk. “Is this one of your letterheads?” The name of the recipient was still just about legible.

“Oooh yes. He was that fool I was telling you about last time you were in here. The one who insisted on engraving despite needing the ring on one of our schemes. Has something happened to him? If he does this a lot perhaps a loan shark got impatient and -“

“Wright would never borrow money, especially not from a back alley incompetent such as a loan shark,” Edgeworth thundered, his eyes full of more fury than he had felt in a long long time.

“… S-sir?”

Edgeworth quickly regained his composure. After all this was getting him nowhere. “The person who received this letter was involved in a hit and run incident last night.”

“Careless driver as well huh?”

“He was the victim! And I would prefer it if you stopped insulting someone who is on their death bed.”

Jenny shrugged. “Unless you are claiming I somehow had something to do with the hit and run I am not sure what I can do for you. A contract is a contract after all, and I’m not breaking any laws.”

No, but you do seem rather immoral in your methods and gossip about your clients, Edgeworth thought to himself. Pushing those thoughts aside for now, he showed her the ring he had found. “I take it this is the ring the contract is referring to?”

“Correct. His cute girl came to pick it up, though she did seem a little odd. A magician or not who wears their stage outfit all the time? Besides childbirth out of wedlock…”

“Trucy is adopted,” Edgeworth hissed, beginning to regret buying his own ring from this place.

“Oh, they are known to you?”

Ah. Seemed it was time to enlighten this incompetent cashier just what she had unwittingly been saying about him and his friends behind his back. It had dawned on him that as Trucy had come here on her own to pick the engraved ring up that that was how she had heard that he himself had also bought a ring and put two and two together.

“Yes, they are known to me.”

“As ex criminals no doubt.”

Jenny was laughing. Edgeworth did not find it in the bit amusing in the slightest. “I beg your pardon?”

“Well you know, the hoodie, that hat… he isn’t exactly…”

A faint smirk tugged at Edgeworth’s lips as he heard this. So Phoenix had been in his casual clothes. Probably to stop any rumours about him buying a ring as Phoenix knew how much Edgeworth had emphasised the need for privacy about their relationship until they were sure it was the right thing to do.

“That is merely what makes him feel comfortable on his days off. Or are you telling me you have never heard of Wright? Mr Phoenix Wright? The king of the turnabout?”

“… Oh my god. Are you pulling my leg? I knew he’d lost his way in recent years but that… that hobo is -“

“The defence attorney who unmasked the Phantom and is helping me put an end to this dark age of the law caused by one Kristoph Gavin and the in-just incarceration of Prosecutor Simon Blackquill. He also happens to be the person I was planning on proposing to so I would appreciate it if you stopped degrading my partner to others before I decide to press charges.”

“…”

Edgeworth felt a strange sense of relief and pride when she shut up after that and tore up the pay later contract without another word.

Deciding that was adequate compensation, Edgeworth turned and headed out of the store.

It was time he checked on Phoenix.

When he got to the hospital, he was unsurprised to find Trucy already sitting at Phoenix’s bedside. Unfortunately no matter how much he had tried to prepare himself, Edgeworth still wasn’t ready for the shock of seeing Phoenix with his legs in plaster and his neck in a cast. Phoenix looked terrible. This was more akin to what he had been anticipating finding that day all those years ago when Larry had phoned him and told him Phoenix was dying. Of course that time all Phoenix had gained was a terrible cold, despite falling off a burning bridge into a dangerously fast river. Now, though… he gripped the door frame as he tried to stop his body shaking with worry.

“… Papa?”

Hearing Trucy’s voice was enough to snap Edgeworth out of his traumatic state. Shakily he made his way over to her and pulled her into a hug. “Trucy… my apologies. I should have prevented…”

“No! This is my fault! I sent him back out in that pouring rain to talk to you! I should have just let him in…”

As Trucy burst into tears, Edgeworth was reminded of his own mental state after his father had been murdered and tried to suppress a shudder.

Holding her tightly, he looked to the bed with worry present in his grey eyes.

Come on, Phoenix, do not leave either of us like this. I’ll never be able to persuade Trucy that this is not her fault.

And then you’ll never forgive me.

As he sat there quietly, with Trucy now on his lap, watching Phoenix’s unsteady breathing through the beeping of all manner of hospital machinery, tears finally started to fall down the Chief Prosecutor’s face.

He was never going to attempt to plan a party ever again.

“…Miles?”

The raspy voice of Phoenix Wright was enough to jolt Edgeworth awake. He was not even sure when he had fallen asleep or how long for. Trucy was still on his lap, curled up and fast asleep. Placing her to one side on a spare chair and draping his jacket over her, Edgeworth sat on the edge of the bed and placed his hand over Phoenix’s. “I’m here.”

As the other grabbed his hand, Edgeworth cringed at how much Phoenix was trembling. “Wright, you should be resting.”

Apparently that was the wrong thing to say because Phoenix tensed at that. Edgeworth frowned and kept ahold of his friend’s hand.

“So… it really was that huh. The party was meant to soften the blow. You know you didn’t need to avoid me for two weeks to just tell me that… I should have seen it coming…”

“Well you yourself were planning the same thing,” Edgeworth muttered with confusion.

“No! I was planning the opposite! But I guess I really was rushing too much for -“

“Hold it,” Edgeworth snapped, finally latching on to what Phoenix’s semi delirious words really meant. He was not going to be one of those people. Not something out of one of those idiotic romance television shows where no one paid attention to what the other was saying and ended everything on a ridiculous misunderstanding that never would have happened had one or the other just let the other speak. “I was going to hold a party for us to announce our engagement. That was of course, assuming you had agreed to my proposal. If, however, you had thought it rash of me, I was going to simply suggest we use the party to announce to our friends officially that we were dating. I have asked you to keep this a secret long enough and I know now without a shadow of a doubt that it is you I wish to spend the rest of my life with.”

“…”

Edgeworth waited patiently and watched several different emotions pass over Phoenix’s face. As the silence continued he wondered whether perhaps he had actually misread the intention and that ring wasn’t what he thought it was and Phoenix was the one who wanted to break up even though that was completely irrational and illogical of his mind. That was when Phoenix started laughing.

“Phoenix?”

“Oh god. Oh god Miles. I really thought maybe I had messed everything up. And then when you called me Wright just now…”

Now it was Edgeworth’s turn to chuckle. “Phoenix, I use your surname even when we are alone when I am frustrated with you, you know that.”

“… Ah. Yeah. I guess.”

Hearing how strained Phoenix’s voice was again now, Edgeworth leant forward and ran a hand through Phoenix’s spiky hair. It was still wet to touch. “You are going to catch a cold.”

“Miles, I’m in a hospital bed with a broken neck and two broken legs, not to mention bruised ribs and a crushed lung, and that is what you are worried about.”

Edgeworth smirked a little at that. Phoenix was joking again, that was better. “Whilst that is true I do not wish you to cause yourself any more unnecessary trouble. I shall ask a nurse for a towel.”

“I’m fine, really. But… what happened?”

The smirk on Edgeworth’s lips evaporated at that moment. He did not think Phoenix would know anything that would help them with the investigation, but he had held on to a slight hope that maybe, just maybe, Phoenix had seen the car that hit him. “You do not remember?”

“The fact you are asking means you are here professionally and I was right when I first woke up… this was deliberate.”

Edgeworth paused. “When you first woke up?”

“Yeah. I’m sure I could remember more then. Sorry I’m not any help.”

“Just get some rest, Phoenix. Let me handle this. Talking of letting me handle things, you should not have got yourself into financial trouble on my account.”

“… You’ve seen the ring.”

“Yes, I have. My apologies but it was at the crime scene and I had to ascertain whether it was any relation to this case or not. All you need know is that it has been sorted.”

“… Miles, you better not have paid for it yourself.”

Edgeworth sighed softly. “When I originally went to the store, that had been my intention. However I then became aware of what the proprietor had been saying behind not only your back but mine as well and my method changed. Especially as it was the store where I also had been foolish enough to purchase a ring.”

“There? But Edgeworth you could…”

“I did not wish you to feel inadequate or inferior,” Edgeworth interrupted hastily, rubbing his finger over Phoenix’s thumb gently. “For you are neither of those things. The cost of the ring is not important, the sentimentality behind it is. And as we both opted for engraving from the same store, they should both suffice quite well don’t you think?”

As Phoenix managed a genuine smile for the first time since Edgeworth had been at the hospital, Edgeworth could feel his heart melting all over again.

He really did love this infuriating man.

Reassured by the doctors that Phoenix was stable for the time being, Edgeworth had left the other talking quietly to Trucy and had headed back to the crime scene.

He was surprised to find Klavier yelling at someone over the phone on his return. He had never seen the other lose his composure at all so this was extremely unsettling. “Prosecutor Gavin?”

“Ach… Herr Edgeworth… es tu mi lied…” the other muttered after ending his phone call. “I know he’s a veteran prosecutor and I shouldn’t speak ill of colleagues but could you please do something about that arschloch?”

A faint smirk played about Edgeworth’s lips. “Now now, he may be well past his prime, but Winston Payne is at least a genuine prosecutor who would never stoop to fabricating evidence, which is more than I can say for that poor excuse of a brother of his.”

“… And yet you still knew who I was talking about.”

Edgeworth nodded as Klavier chuckled. “Indeed. However what on earth possessed you to lose your composure like this?”

“He wants me to testify.”

Edgeworth’s blood ran cold. There was only one reason right now that Payne would ask for that. He often let Payne handle non-homicide cases. In fact he was still reasonably good at those. “Against Wright? That’s ludicrous.”

“Ja. And then… I guess he thought maybe I’d be pleased about this… he suggested if it could be proved that Wright wasn’t as pure as people thought that we’d have a case for appealing against that jury system case…”

Ouch. Now Edgeworth understood Klavier’s anger all too well. It was clear Payne did not understand Klavier’s relationship with Kristoph otherwise the other would never have tried to use that as a bargaining chip. “You have my apologies, Prosecutor Gavin. Logic was never his strong point.”

“Ja… I’m sorry I lost it but to think someone believes I would be pleased if Kris was free again after all that man did…”

Edgeworth held his hand up. “That is quite enough, Prosecutor Gavin. I do not need to hear any more on this matter. You have refused to testify for the prosecution as it should be. In fact I suspect Justice or Mr Shields will ask you to testify for the defence. And if they do, you have my permission just this once.”

“Danke. How is he?”

He didn’t even need to ask Klavier who he meant with that question. He swallowed a little. “Wright… is stable. Despite a damaged lung and broken limbs. Unfortunately his short term memory appears to have been impaired. From talking to the doctors it sounds as though when he first awoke he was still aware of what had happened but he was in so much pain they had to resort to sedating him.”

“Ach, and it affected his recollection of the event?”

“Yes,” Edgeworth replied with a resigned sigh. “I know it is unlikely he would have recalled anything of use but it is frustrating that the victim is awake and is the only eyewitness we have so far.”

“WOOF!”
Edgeworth turned as he heard Vongole barking loudly at something. He looked at Klavier but the other simply shrugged. It seemed he had no idea what had got into his dog either.

Quickly, Edgeworth headed over to the retriever who was a couple of streets over. His eyes widened at what he saw.

Hiding in an alleyway was the burnt out shell of a completely totalled car. From this he could deduce that the run in with Phoenix’s bike had caused more damage to the car than the criminals had expected and had done this in a bodged attempt to cover up the broken down car.

Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for Edgeworth, they had not done a very good job of it. It seemed Vongole had smelled some blood on the front grill of the car, and the dents were consistent with a collision with a bike.

They were finally making progress.

“Objection! A lawyers job is to get to the truth, not to defend blindly. I myself have taken on clients who were clearly guilty but repentant in order to get them the best verdict for their situation.”

“Objection! Wright always only took on clients he believed to be innocent and that is what he promised Ms Good. That she would get a complete acquittal. Clearly he failed, just as you will against me. I am known as a rookie killer for a reason and right now, despite your years of experience, you are making rookie mistakes, Shield!”

Edgeworth’s eyes narrowed as he watched the trial from the gallery. He had handed the car Vongole had found over to Ema and Klavier to investigate so that he could drop in on this fiasco of a trial for a while. Payne was long overdue another assessment anyway and this seemed a suitable time to do it.

Payne’s insults always got too personal in a case he had no hope of winning.

At that moment he felt his phone vibrate. Glancing down a small smile formed on his lips.

It was time to bring this farce to an end.

“Well, Mr Shields, anything else to add? Considering the defendant could not even bring himself to show up to this today tells you everything we need to know…”

“Hold It!” Edgeworth snapped, appearing at the witness stand. He had had to time this perfectly otherwise his slight advantage would slip from his fingers.

“Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth? What is the meaning of this outburst in my courtroom?”

“My apologies your honour,” Edgeworth stated calmly, pushing his glasses up, “but I cannot just watch from the sidelines when vital evidence has come to light. Now as you all know Wright is not present at todays proceedings. For a civil case such as this it is not a legal requirement so no one has really batted an eye to this until Prosecutor Payne just now raised the point that some of you must have been thinking. However I am here to explain just why exactly he is not here. You see last night there was attempt on his life in way of a hit and run and he is currently hospitalised. He should recover barring any complications, but it is my belief that the crime and this case are related.”

“Pfft, you have no proof! And you can’t submit evidence from an unrelated case!”

As Edgeworth had suspected, Truly Good knew her evidence law. Of course if she’d worked for White and had been aware that he was actually breaking the law then that would have given her good reason to find ways to protect herself. This was why he had waited until this precise moment.

Until a few minutes ago he had indeed had no evidence to link the two events. What he had now was pretty circumstantial but it should at least delay the proceedings long enough for Klavier to get here with the rest of the results from the car.

Once prompted by the judge he submitted to the court the photo message that Klavier had sent him.

It was a cast impression of a mark they had found on the car. It was rather mangled from dents and being burned but it was still recognisable.

It was bluecorp’s logo.

“That’s it? Ms Good did used to work for Bluecorp, but it is hardly enough to link the two cases.”

Edgeworth had been expecting this too. Fortunately he had been working on the assumption that this had to do with Bluecorp ever since Klavier had given him full details of the trial. “Used to work for? Hmm. It seems no one thought to ask for a copy of Redd White’s will.”

“T-there’s no need for that!”

“Ms Good, please do not interrupt the court.”

For once, Edgeworth was glad of the Judge’s interruption. He had not wanted to shout over Truly Good unecessarily. Getting into a shouting match just caused confusion in cases such as these. Instead he used the silence to his advantage and submitted to the court the part of the will where Redd White had left the blue corp name to Truly Good, his secretary on weekends when April May was away. It seemed he never forgave April for getting herself arrested for the wiretapping of Mia Fey’s phone.

“That’s forged!”

Edgeworth shook his head and looked hard at Truly Good. Had she no honour at all? “Ms Good, are you really accusing the Chief Prosecutor of forging evidence? It will be easy enough for the court to verify this evidence during a recess if necessary. Your honour I wish to indict Truly Good as an accessory to the attempted murder of Phoenix Wright and attempted prevention of justice. These cases cannot continue until we have all the necessary facts.”

“Agreed. I see no reason to believe that Mr Wright was colluding with the prosecution during the last case and this latest news seems to change the motive behind Ms Goods intentions somewhat. I hereby dismiss the charges against Mr Wright and adjourn this court until tomorrow where we shall commence the trial for the hit and run incident.”

“Thank you your honour,” Edgeworth replied with relief.

“Well timed Miles my boy! I knew you’d come through and not leave me in the mess you’d got me into by insisting I couldn’t tell anyone where Wright was.”

Edgeworth looked apologetically at Ray. “My apologies, Ray, but you can see now why such a requirement was necessary. You also have my thanks for stepping up to this case at the very last minute.”

“Hey, don’t thank me, I know how much that man means to you.”

Flinching a little, Edgeworth nodded. He knew Ray was simply teasing. Besides which Ray was one of the few people who remembered or even knew that he and Phoenix had been so close during their school days. It made sense that the other had worked out just how close they were now.

Sometimes Edgeworth wondered where exactly they all would be if DL6 had never happened. Would he be better or worse off?

Perhaps it didn’t matter any more.

“Daddy, you are going to be okay aren’t you?”

Phoenix winced at his daughter’s question. He had known that that one had been coming for a while and he still wasn’t sure how best to answer it. The doctors didn’t seem sure themselves whether his body would completely recover from this incident. It was a miracle that no damage had been done to his back aside from some bruising. Eventually he forced a smile and held Trucy’s hand. “I’m alive, isn’t that the important thing?”

“Yes… but… won’t Papa be upset?”

Speechless, Phoenix looked at his daughter with wide eyes. When had the other started calling Miles her Papa? That had to be who she was referring to and yet he was used to her calling him Uncle Miles, even before they had started dating. “Trucy… is Miles okay with you calling him that?”

“Huh? Oh… guess the cat’s out of the bag…”

Seeing her disappointment as though she’d revealed a big secret, Phoenix chuckled. “If you mean about Miles proposing I already know.”

“Tell me you said yes!”

Phoenix was about to reply, then frowned as he realised something. “Huh…”

Though both had admitted to the other that they had been planning on proposing, neither of them actually had.

Phoenix glanced up as he heard footsteps. Trucy had been persuaded to go home and he was expecting his next visitor to be Miles returning, or possibly Apollo or Athena. He had not expected who it was at all.

“Prosecutor Gavin…”

“Herr Wright… how are you doing?”

“I’ve been better,” Phoenix joked with a slightly strained voice. He looked at the younger warily. “Please, take a seat. What brings you here?”

“I’m here for both professional and personal reasons. I am prosecuting this hit and run case.”

“Ah. Well I’m sorry but I still don’t remember…”

“Perhaps this will jog your memory?”

Phoenix sat up a little as Klavier showed him an old photograph of the car that had been destroyed that they had been able to pick up on the CCTV a few streets away from where Phoenix was actually hit.

Klavier’s theory had been right. Phoenix tensed as everything came flooding back. He went white. “Oh god…”

“Es tu mi lied, Herr Wright, but I really need any information you can give me…”

Smiling uneasily in reassurance that he understood, Phoenix slowly and shakily told Klavier just what exactly had occurred the previous evening. Though he wasn’t sure how much it would help.

As he finished, he was surprised to find the other looking more distressed than before. “… Prosecutor Gavin?”

“Four hours. You had been there four hours before…”

Phoenix frowned, wondering what on earth Klavier was muttering about. Was the other implying he’d been laying at the side of the road, bleeding with major injuries, for four hours or so? He swallowed hard. “I’m… I’m fine, Prosecutor Gavin. Although, I would like to know who found me so I can thank them. The doctor implied the damage to my lung would have been irreparable if I had been left for much longer.”

“It seems I may have made up a little for the trouble I caused you years ago…”

Hearing the tone to Klavier’s voice, Phoenix suddenly grabbed the rockstar’s hand. He didn’t need his lateral thinking to work out what the other meant. “You were the one who found me?”

“Ja.”

Phoenix winced, then smiled. “Then thanks, but geez no wonder you’re so shaken. Must have given you quite a shock huh? What were you even doing out at that time of night?”

“Walking Vongole.”

Hearing that name made Phoenix’s smile falter a little, but he knew it was stupid. Vongole may have been Kristoph’s dog once upon a time but a dog could not help who his owner was. “Ah. So you have Kristoph’s dog?”

“Ja. For now.”

Phoenix squeezed Klavier’s hand at the uneasiness to the other’s voice. “Well he’s hardly going to reclaim her…”

“Nein, but I doubt he’d leave her to his estranged brother in his will.”

Oh. Phoenix sighed softly. “She means that much to you?”

“… Actually I was the one who gave her to Kris in the first place.”
Gave, or manipulated into? Phoenix wondered, though he did not voice this out loud. “Well, if he does try to take her away from you I’m sure I can find a way to make sure you get the custody.”

“You’d help me? Why?”

Phoenix would have shook his head if it was not for his neck brace. “… Klavier. You are a good person who was once misguided by someone who was very good at hiding who they truly were. Besides which if you had not been taking a late night work I may well not be here at all right now.”

“Danke, Herr Wright.”

“Klavier, please. There’s no need to be so formal. It doesn’t suit you.”

“… Would you prefer Herr Firebird?”

Phoenix burst out laughing.

That evening, Edgeworth dropped round to the agency, sighing as he heard Athena arguing with Apollo. Seemed she was annoyed that she hadn’t been informed as to what exactly was going on.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly opened the door and cleared his throat a little. “Forgive me for the intrusion, Ms Cykes, but if you wish to chew anyone out for this then your wrath would be better aimed at myself, rather than Justice there. He was merely following my advice.”

At that she seemed to calm down, looking to the side. “Sorry Mr Edgeworth. I’m just worried…”

“We all are, Ms Cykes,” he tried to reassure. “However that is not why I am here. Justice, I believed this belongs to you?”

Edgeworth could not help but smile softly as he saw Apollo’s eyes light up as he produced his bracelet. The real one this time.

“W-where? How?”

“It was in the boot of the car that hit Wright. It seems that the criminals were not very professional about covering up their tracks. Using a company car and not disposing of it properly has given us much clearer evidence then we would normally have in a case such as this.”

“… That’s good, right?”

Edgeworth sighed. Apollo had obviously noticed the odd tone to his voice. “Normally, yes. However I seem to have hit a slight snag in my investigations.”

“What’s wrong Mr Edgeworth?”

Looking between Athena and Apollo, Edgeworth sighed again. “The company car was still registered to Redd White. Whilst it being part of bluecorp which Ms Good now owns, it means I have no leads as to who the actual driver was.”

The look on Athena and Apollo’s faces after that just made Edgeworth feel even worse.

At this rate he was going to fail Phoenix.

The next day in court, Edgeworth was not feeling any better about the predicament. He hoped Phoenix understood why he had not yet returned to the hospital. Right now he was watching Klavier try his best to use what little evidence they had gathered to prove Truly Good’s involvement in the hit and run despite her being incarcerated before it had occurred.

She of course was claiming that because she hadn’t had any visitors there was no way she could have arranged it and if someone had used company property by stealing it it was hardly her fault. In fact she was even claiming it was karma for Phoenix leaving her in this mess as though she really was innocent.

Edgeworth knew better. He recognised the tactics she was using all too well, and he knew Klavier did as well. That did little to reassure him when without having indicted the driver as well they had no way of linking her properly.

She was good at hiding behind other people it seemed. For a start the hitman…

The hitman.

Cursing his stupidity, Edgeworth hastily got up and exited the courthouse. He had to find that mysterious figure and fast.

He just hoped Klavier could stall for a little longer.

At the hospital, Phoenix was feeling restless. The painkillers seemed to be relaxing his body for the most part but right now he was alone in the hospital. He wished Miles was back. He would even be willing to attempt a game of Chess even though he knew the other would thrash him within a few minutes.

But Trucy had a magic show to put on, and he had insisted she not cancel on his behalf. She had been looking forward to this particular one for a long time and he didn’t want her to miss it. She was an adult now after all. And she always could look after herself.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in?” Phoenix managed a smile as he saw Apollo nervously pop his head round the door. “Heh. I wondered when you’d show up. Don’t you care about your boss?”

“Mr Wright… I…”

Phoenix sighed. “Apollo, I’m joking. I know you’ve been busy making sure that woman didn’t win that case against me.”

“H-huh? How did you…”

“Prosecutor Gavin told me,” Phoenix replied simply. “In fact he kept me company for most of last night until they insisted on him leaving. I think his sway as a rockstar let them turn a blind eye for a while.”

“He could have told me he was coming here…”

Phoenix couldn’t help but laugh at Apollo’s annoyed reaction. The other was probably just upset that Klavier of all people had beaten him to checking up on Phoenix and hadn’t let him come along as well. “I think he needed to talk to me alone. We were talking about the hit and run…”

“You remember what happened now? Mr Edgeworth said you could not recall…”

“After Prosecutor Gavin showed me CCTV of the car, yeah. Though that didn’t tell them much other than confirming what they had already worked out. Did they trace the cars owner?”

Apollo winced, causing Phoenix’s smile to fade. “Apollo? What is it?”

“Mr Edgeworth said the car was still registered to White. He’s hit a dead end.”

Phoenix closed his eyes tightly. No wonder Miles hadn’t been to see him again.

The other probably thought he had failed Phoenix. Though as far as Phoenix was concerned he could never do that.

Well… not unless he decided to fake his own death again. That was still a slightly sore point, even if since his disbarment he understood more where Miles had been coming from.

He just did not wish to be apart from the other again.

Edgeworth glanced around the back alley he was now standing in, pulling his long flowing black coat more tightly around himself. This did not feel at all safe but if he was to catch a hitman a place such as this seemed like a good place to start. He had placed a message on the underground that he was sure would only make sense to the hitman that Klavier had mentioned had testified against Truly Good and confirmed her as their client.

“Chief Prosecutor, well this is a surprise. If you have come to arrest me you will never find out my identity.”

“Perhaps not, but what I am after right now is information. I would like to know who was driving the car that hit Phoenix Wright, unless you and them are one and the same?”

“I would never kill anyone!”

Edgeworth paused. That wasn’t what he had expected the other to say at all. “I beg your pardon? Did you or did you not admit that Ms Truly Good hired you to kill the owner of the Hog’s Head Pub?”

“Yes, but this has gone far enough. I thought she was better than this…”

As the other removed their disguise, Edgeworth’s eyes widened. The lady staying in front of him was almost a spitting image of Truly Good. “And you are…”

“The defendant’s sister. I am sorry for the deception but I thought if she’d hired someone she’d get a lesser sentence. It is not as though I am truly innocent either.”

“Oh? And what may I ask have you done, other than pervert the course of justice?” Edgeworth asked, folding his arms and tapping his sleeve with slight irritation.

“… I’m a kleptomaniac. Truly said she would keep my secret safe if I helped her out with this charge. She claimed she’d really done it in self defence but now I know better. That lawyer was only trying to help her and now you’re telling me she tried to have him killed?”

Edgeworth felt a sinking feeling in his chest. “So you are telling me that you do not know who she hired or even how?”

“I’m sorry.”

Sighing, Edgeworth nodded. “In which case I want you to go testify - the whole truth this time. Show the court what your sister is really like and come forward about your own problems.”

As the other nodded and headed in the direction of the courthouse, Edgeworth was certain that the other felt genuine remorse for how out of hand things had gotten.

However, something then clicked in his mind.

Something he really should have seen straight away.

A kleptomaniac? Then Truly Good’s sister was the one who had stolen Apollo’s bracelet.

The one that had been found in the car.

Quickly he dialled Gumshoe’s number.

He had just made a terrible mistake.

Phoenix stirred from a pained sleep as he suddenly found he could barely breathe. Someone was holding a pillow over his face. He tried to grab at them, his eyes wide with panic. She looked like Truly Good but that couldn’t be right could it? Surely she was still in prison?

“Sorry Wright, but I don’t like to leave things to chance… just like I didn’t like my little sister stumbling onto my little secret…”

In that instant, everything clicked in Phoenix’s mind. Turn the trial about. If Truly Good was innocent then the assassin had to be lying about being hired by her.

And if that was the case the person on the tape requesting the services of a hitman had not been Truly but someone who looked like her.

Another family member.

Her sister.

As he struggled for air, this revelation did little to relax Phoenix. So he had been defending an innocent after all. Truly had been set up by her sister and the stealing of Apollo’s bracelet had been to reassure them that they hadn’t made a mistake.

Perhaps he deserved that misrepresentation claim after all, he thought bitterly as the world faded from his vision.

As one last breath escaped his body, he thought he heard the door slamming.

But it was too late.

Edgeworth paced up and down the hospital corridor a few hours later. As he had requested Gumshoe had burst into the hospital and had found Truly Good’s sister, Nora Good, standing over Phoenix’s bed, a pillow still in her hands.

After that it was only a matter of formality for Klavier to clear up what exactly had happened over the past few days: Nora Good had been the girlfriend of the owner of the Hog’s Head Pub and had found out that he had been considering leaving her for Truly, having found out from her sister that she was not someone he should be associating with. Enraged, Nora had hit the bartender over the head with several of his bottles until he was killed by blunt force trauma. When she fled the scene she happened to notice her sister discovering the body and had hatched this plan.

After all, who would believe that someone who used to work for Redd White was truly innocent?

Edgeworth put a hand to his face. That had almost worked. Even Phoenix probably would not have touched this if Apollo had not insisted that she was innocent because of his bracelet’s reaction. He now suspected that Nora had stolen the bracelet after Apollo had spoken to Truly for the first time, instead as before as they had hypothesised, so that when he turned up in court he wouldn’t be able to tell that Nora was lying.

Of course, Phoenix had taken the case instead and almost thrown everything into jeopardy. Nora had clearly been worried that the other was suspicious that not everything had been cleared up, and she couldn’t risk him finding out that the ‘hitman’ was related to the defendant.

And now Phoenix was fighting for his life because he had been foolish enough to tell the real criminal that he was still alive.

If Phoenix died now it would be all his fault.

A month later, and Edgeworth was sitting at his desk, reading over the same line on the report for the fifteenth time that morning.

He just wasn’t able to concentrate.

Phoenix was supposedly stable in the hospital but was in a deep coma and had shown no signs of waking up. Edgeworth knew that Phoenix’s medical insurance would never stretch to the costs of this and had insisted he be moved onto his insurance. He would handle the costs from here on out. He owed Phoenix that and more besides.

“Little brother, go home. I can handle this.”

Looking up from the paperwork with tired eyes, he had barely slept for a month after all, Edgeworth shook his head at Franziska’s request. “I am Chief Prosecutor and it is my duty to make sure that everything is running smoothly here. I cannot take an extended period of time out and, forgive me, but with the distrust in the law system still bubbling in the background I do not believe anyone would willingly accept a Von Karma as a replacement.”

“… Then allow me.”

The new voice surprised Edgeworth, though in retrospect it really should not have. Dropping the papers he folded his arms and tapped his fingers on his sleeve as he looked at Klavier. “Is this supposed to be an intervention?”

“Ja. Herr Edgeworth you are no use like this. The file I received this morning included Herr Samurai’s latest report. I came here to give it back to you. Herr Firebird is important to you ja? Let us handle this. I am used to press intrusion.”

Edgeworth hesitated. Whilst that was true, Klavier’s past was almost as tainted as Franziska’s. On the other hand he had personally bought down the person who had tainted his past and would never have used any methods that Kristoph would have done. Slowly he found himself nodding in agreement. “Very well. Prosecutor Gavin you have my permission to be acting Chief Prosecutor. Franziska, please make sure everyone else stays in line and does not try to undermine his authority.” He hoped that would satisfy her need for power enough for her not to object about Klavier being the one in charge instead of her.

Once that was settled he put his coat on and headed out of his office and down the twelve flights of stairs.

Outside he was unsurprised to find that it was raining. He felt it fitted his mood right now very well indeed.

Though he had not been very aware of what he was reading that morning, he was sure he had seen both Apollo and Athena’s name on defence attorney sheets, which meant Trucy would be at the hospital again.

He really should go and lend a supportive shoulder, but he wasn’t sure he could do this any more. He knew the longer this went on, the less likely it was that Phoenix would ever wake up.

Sitting down on a nearby bench, and shaking his head to dislodge some of the raindrops, Edgeworth looked down at his hand; He was wearing the ring that Phoenix had bought him despite the other never proposing. He had put his own one onto Phoenix’s finger as well during an irrational state of mind when he thought maybe that would make sure they were always together.

Taking it off he looked at the engraved slogan once more ‘the truth will always unite us…’

He forced back a grieved and bitter chuckle. The truth? Unite them? By stumbling into the truth in the way he had he had caused Phoenix further suffering.

Sure, Nora was now behind bars, waiting on a date of her execution, but that did not make Edgeworth feel any better about himself.

In the confines of the deserted park due to the terrible weather they were having, Edgeworth cried harder than he could ever remember doing before. He made no sound, but his body shivered with the emotional grief of the fear of losing the one person who really understood him.

The fear, and the guilt of having caused this.

“Mr Edgeworth sir? Pal? Hey! You okay?”

As Gumshoe took a seat beside him and shook him, Edgeworth finally realised he was no longer alone and looked up at the detective, grimacing at how vulnerable he must look right now. Then again it could be worse - Gumshoe had been with him for many years now and knew his weaker side. Anyone who stuck to him as loyally as Gumshoe had was bound to have found out about his aversion to earthquakes and elevators sooner or later for a start.

Seeing the other hand him a very worn handkerchief, Edgeworth decided not to decline the detctive’s hospitality for once and took it. He slowly dried his eyes. “My apologies, detective, but I am on leave. If you have anything you need a prosecutor attending to, ask Prosecutor Gavin or Franziska.”

“No sir, I was looking for you.”

Edgeworth frowned. “Really, there was no need to worry. I would much rather be on my own.”

“That’s not… not entirely why I wanted to find you. You see, pal, Mr Wright’s awake.”

The handkerchief fell from his hands as Edgeworth stood sharply up. He suddenly felt extremely dizzy and sick, but this time it was with relief. “Why did you simply not phone?”

As Gumshoe stared at him oddly, Edgeworth realised why the other had not done so. In his confused state, he had left his mobile phone back at the office. No doubt Franziska had answered it and told Gumshoe to go and find him in person.

Muttering his thanks to Gumshoe, he quickly headed off in the direction of the hospital.

If he had been thinking straight he would have asked the other for a lift, but right now his mind was on one thing and one thing only.

He had to tell Phoenix he loved him.

“Daddy!”

Phoenix forced a tired smile at Trucy as she hugged him with a bright smile of relief of her own, though even he could see that she had been crying. “Trucy… not so tight…”

He felt a twinge of guilt as she let go completely and muttered an apology. That hadn’t been what he meant. “Sweetheart… I’m sorry. I just don’t feel very good. How long have I been out for?”

As Trucy hesitated, Phoenix realised that things were very wrong here. He’d been out for a while hadn’t he? Had they nearly given up on him? He hoped not. He was about to ask where everyone else was when the hospital door burst open.

Glancing up, Phoenix’s eyes widened with surprise:

In the doorway, panting, and barely able to stay standing, was Miles Edgeworth. His clothes were sticking tightly to his body, the other wet to the bone from the torrential rain outside. Water dripped from Miles’ hair but the redness of his eyes gave away to Phoenix that the water on his face wasn’t just rain water but tears. “Miles…”

“Phoenix, I love you. I… this is all my fault… I made a foolish error and endangered you… I understand if you never want to…”

Phoenix sighed, though his heart was all a flutter at Miles actually saying ‘I love you’. Usually he got a muttered ‘same to you’ or something similar. It was extremely rare for the other to be so forthcoming with his emotions, but it was also breaking his heart to see this. Clearly he had been very near to death to upset Miles this much, and what had the other meant by his fault?

“Miles, come here…”

Edgeworth hesitated as he heard the other tell him to come to him, worried that he had fallen asleep on the park bench from exhaustion and this was all just a wonderful dream. However he felt himself being dragged over to the bed by Trucy.

Taking a deep breath he sat down on the edge of the bed, and took Phoenix’s hand once more. “Phoenix… Nick…”

“Hey, don’t go all sentimental on me now. I’m awake see? Whatever happened it’s fine. And you aren’t the one who held a pillow to my face… are you?”

Edgeworth winced. Of course Phoenix was unaware of the exact circumstances of his attack. No doubt his memory was fuzzy again too. “No, but I did make the culprit of the hit and run aware that you were still alive. Even though that had not been my intention…”

“Miles. Stop. Are they in prison now?”

“Yes, but -“

“Then you did what you said you would. You found the person behind the hit and run. And this never would have happened had I not defended a guilty -“

“She was innocent,” Edgeworth quickly interrupted, sighing at the confused and shocked look he got from Phoenix after that. He had been dreading this conversation.

Slowly he explained to the other just what exactly had happened.

Once Miles had finished, Phoenix wasn’t sure how to feel. He had almost sent an innocent woman to her death because her sister had switched places with her. The idea of Dahlia doing that to Iris or even Kristoph doing it to Klavier entered his mind and he forced back a shudder. On the other hand that meant that Apollo hadn’t made the same mistake he had after all - the person whose request he had accepted really had been innocent. That was at least a relief to Phoenix. Things had been hard for Apollo and hated to see the other suffering any setbacks. However that made him think of another question. “Apollo and Athena… how are they?”

“They are managing really well,” Miles tried to reassure. “They are still taking on clients I believe.”

“You… believe?” Phoenix looked at the other with a deep frown on his face. Miles was Chief Prosecutor, he should know what was going on in the courts. That was when he noticed the dreadful black bags underneath the Chief Prosecutor’s eyes. Swallowing hard he reached a shaky hand out to Miles. “… Have you not been sleeping?”

“I… verily… ergo.. that is to say…”

Phoenix winced. He had got Miles this worried about him? He knew how much Miles prided himself on his work, and it sounded like his worry for Phoenix had got in the way of that. “I’m sorry, Miles…”

The other laughed a little, his voice straining as he murmured, “Wright, you were very nearly killed by my error and you are apologising to me?! I do not think I will ever understand your mentality.”

“Edgeworth,” Phoenix snapped, his eyes alight with determination and passion, “Will you please stop blaming yourself? I am awake. Can we please just put this behind us?”

“…”

Phoenix frowned at the lack of a response from Miles, then realised Trucy had gone extremely quiet as well. His throat began to feel dry as his mind took an illogical leap - something was still wrong with him. They didn’t believe he was here to stay. “Miles, Trucy, listen. I’m fine yeah? And hey this month unconscious has given my broken bones time to heal without me paying attention to them. In a way this has been a nice rest.”

Phoenix smiled goofily and tried to ignore the unsettling silence that followed his rather maudlin joke.

Edgeworth shook his head as Phoenix sat there with a grin on his face. How could the other still be so upbeat after all this? The other should hate him and yet here they still were.

Not only that but they were still wearing each other’s rings, although Edgeworth was hesitant to point it out to Phoenix. Instead he hesitantly asked, “Are you sure you are feeling alright?”

“Well I did feel rather sore when Trucy hugged me but I figured that was just cos of the hit and run yeah? Miles please don’t fret. I’m awake and that means I’m getting better.”

Perhaps Phoenix was right, but Edgeworth was still concerned. He was so used to Phoenix coming out of even the most severe of incidents with barely even a scratch that this had spooked him.

But even if Phoenix was going to have some difficulty after this, surely that didn’t change anything? Thinking illogically about what could or couldn’t happen was clearly upsetting Phoenix which Edgeworth had no intention of doing.

Swallowing hard he came to a decision and sat down on the edge of the bed. He lifted Phoenix’s hand so the other could see both the rings on their fingers.

“Phoenix… I never got the chance to ask… and somehow these made me feel closer to you even when I could not bring myself to be at your bedside. If you really can forgive me, then let us start again. This is really not a romantic place to do so, nor is it how I envisioned this going…”

“Miles! If you’re trying to propose, the answer is yes! I thought you’d know that by now!”

A watery smile formed on Edgeworth’s face and he leant over the bed.

As he shared a gentle kiss with Phoenix, his body finally stopped shaking.

He and Phoenix were together at last and no matter what stood in their way from now on that was all that mattered.

Although, he wasn’t sure he would let Larry inside his house ever again.