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Their sleepover was a success.
Franziska and Maya played together, they laughed with each other, they smiled at each other. Franziska enjoyed every second.
Then, Maya and her family left for their home.
Franziska knew that they would, but that did not stop her disappointment.
Even having only said goodbye to Maya Fey only hours ago, Franziska found that she missed her. It was stupid, it was foolish, and yet all Franziska could think about was spending more time with Maya. To see more of her smiling face, to hear more of her joyous laugh, to just be in the friendly presence of Maya Fey.
Franziska was in the living room, reading a book. At the sound of footsteps, Franziska looked up, only to see her mother and Igor.
“Hey, Franziska!” Frieda said with a smile.
“Hello, Mama.”
“You look deep in thought, Franny.” Igor remarked.
At that, Frieda asked. “Whatcha thinking about?”
“About Maya Fey.
“What about her?” Igor asked.
“I miss her.” Franziska said.
Frieda laughed. “You say that like you’ll never see her again!”
“You’ll see her again at school on Monday.” Igor added.
Franziska scoffed. “I’m aware that it is foolish, and yet I still miss her.”
“You really like Maya, don’t you Franny?” Igor said with a smile.
“You don’t usually host sleepovers with people you don’t like, Iggy.” Frieda shot back playfully.
“Touchè Frieda.”
Frieda giggled.
“You know Franny, maybe you can invite her over for some more sleepovers.” Igor said.
Franziska smiled at that. “Perhaps I will, Mr. Iggy. Perhaps I will…”
Frieda and Igor both shared a grin.
The thought of seeing Maya again, of having a sleepover with her, it pleased her.
However, unbeknownst to Franziska, December was the last time she would ever see Maya Fey again for ten years.
━━━━ ❰ · ❉ · ❱ ━━━━
The von Karma estate was as lonely as it was vast. So big that Franziska was sure there were rooms that she had never seen the inside of. The only reason she didn’t feel so lonely within the walls of the manor was because of Miles, whom she was around with often in the day.
They were in Miles' bedroom, where they spent a considerable amount of time with each other. Miles was typing away on his laptop, supposedly busy with university work. Franziska had already finished hers, and while Miles had refused her help, he did agree to letting her sit in the room with him while he worked. That was good enough, in Franziska’s opinion.
Franziska knew that she should have been paying attention to the book she was reading, and yet, all she could think about was Maya Fey. Where she was right now, what she was doing, if she missed her. All thoughts thay swirled in her head questions that replayed in her mind. Eventually, she said them aloud.
“…Miles Edgeworth?”
“Yes, Franziska?”
“Do you still think of him?”
At that, Miles sighed. “Yes I do, Franziska. Every single day.”
“I see…”
“…How about you, Franziska? Do you still think of her?”
The fact that Miles even asked was absurd. Of course Franziska still thought of Maya, she was all she could think of for years.
“I think of her every single day, too.” Franziska said.
Miles nodded. “Of course you do, you love her.”
“And you love him.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you think they still think of us, Miles Edgeworth? Do you think they still care about us?”
“I have no doubts that she still thinks of you, Franziska. You’re remarkable.”
Franziska smiled
Franziska missed Maya Fey, and she hoped Maya missed her too.
━━━━ ❰ · ❉ · ❱ ━━━━
Maya Fey, Maya Fey, Maya Fey.
Franziska never could have expected it, she had never expected to meet Maya Fey again in a courtroom. And it was horrible, the worst thing that had happened to Franziska’s entire life. Maya as a witness? Franziska could handle that. As a defendant? It would bring a wave of conflicted emotions within her, but Franziska could handle that. But Maya Fey as a defense attorney? Franziska could not handle that.
But even if she couldn’t handle that, it made it no less true.
Maya Fey was a defense attorney.
Goddammit.
That vile woman was all Franziska could think about, even now as she sat alone in her office.
“Maya Fey, Maya Fey, Maya Fey…”
That foolishly foolish fool, it would have been so much easier if Franziska hadn’t met her again.
“Maya Fey, Maya Fey, Maya Fey…”
Even despite it all, Franziska found that she missed Maya, missed the old times when they were still friends.
When they still loved each other.
…No, Franziska still loved Maya Fey even to this day.
That was the worst part of it all.
“Maya Fey…”
Then, the door opened.
“Heya sir!” Gumshoe’s cheery voice said as he walked into her office.
In surprise, Franziska yelped and picked up her whip, and whipped at Gumshoe’s direction.
“W-Woah!”
Franziska mumbled out her apologies to Gumshoe, then they discussed something, Franziska wasn’t sure, she hadn’t been paying attention to him. After a half hearted discussion of whatever they were talking about from Franziska, Gumshoe was soon gone, leaving Franziska by herself. Still, her thoughts were plagued by Maya Fey. Her smile, her laugh, the way her palms struck against the wood of the desk, her objection.
She hadn’t changed, the same old Maya Fey.
Franziska missed her, she really did.
━━━━ ❰ · ❉ · ❱ ━━━━
Slowly, Franziska became comfortable.
She became comfortable with Maya Fey, became comfortable with the new friends that Maya brought along the way, comfortable with being imperfect. It was odd, Franziska’s entire life she had spent worrying about perfection, yet now, it was less so. She still worried about perfection, still worried that she wasn’t deserving of love, the ripples of her father’s influence still obvious within her, but she found that her worrying no longer rendered her into a nervous wreck.
That was good, that was progress.
Progress, not just for Maya, but for herself too.
She couldn’t be perfect, but she didn’t have to. Franziska could just be herself.
Even now, Franziska was still learning that.
After a long day of legal duties in France, Franziska was happy to finally be in her hotel room. Though, she would have been happier in the warm presence of Maya Fey, to hear her laugh even just once. Though, now she wanted a nap. However, just as she had taken off her bow, she heard the sound of her phone ringing.
Ring ring ring! Ring ring ring!
Franziska picked up her phone and then answered. “Hello? Franziska von Karma speaking.”
“Franzy! Franzy dude!”
Franzisk sighed, why was this fool calling her? “Why did you call me, Larry Butz?”
“Dude! It’s Maya! Something’s wrong with her!”
“I am sure that Maya Fey is capable of handling whatever situation-”
“Dude! It’s serious! She’s gonna die!” Larry cut her off.
Franziska’s blood ran cold.
…What?
Franziska listened to Larry as he babbled on and on about some mountain and bridge, she didn’t care about any of that. All she cared about was the fact that Maya Fey fell off a goddamn bridge. After Larry’s call, Franziska immediately made arrangements for her to return to America.
━━━━ ❰ · ❉ · ❱ ━━━━
Years had passed, change coming day by day.
Many changes happened within those years. Franziska became the Chief Prosecutor of Los Angeles, Miles started working with Interpol, Maya Fey got disbarred and started working in the Borscht Bowl, along with adopting a daughter of her own, Maya’s young cousin Pearl Fey became the Master of the Kurain Channeling Technique, that fool Larry Butz became a famous children’s book illustrator, and Phoenix started working as a courtroom sketch artist.
Really, it was fascinating how so much could change over the years.
Franziska took much more trips to all other the world, too. Seminars, talks, conferences, all about law, things she attended. To see and experience the world, and every little fascinating thing about it.
Franziska was in France, attending another seminar about various legal topics. France was a beautiful country and it had delicious food. At that particular morning, Franziska was in a local cafè, enjoying a cup of coffee and a fresh baked croissant.
Though, as Franziska sat on the outside patio of the cafè, taking a bite of her croissant, all she could think about was Maya Fey.
Maya Fey loved food, a seeming never ending black hole in place of her stomach. Maya had always gone on and on about how much she wanted to try French croissants, and to see the sights that France had to offer to her. Franziska sent pictures of her trips to Maya, making sure to show every sight that reminded her of Maya Fey, but that wasn’t enough.
Franziska wanted to spend time with Maya, to laugh at her amazement at everything.
Maybe she could talk to Maya about that…
At the sound of a notification, Franziska picked up her phone, smiling as she saw that it was from Maya Fey.
━━━━ ❰ · ❉ · ❱ ━━━━
Finally, finally, Franziska was off the plane.
Flying was always Franziska's least favorite part of travelling, tedious and boring and needlessly complicated. The only upsides were that the food in first class wasn’t as dreadful as economy, and that first class made things at least slightly comfortable for her.
Soon Franziska was in the airport, searching for Maya Fey and the other people who would welcome her back, and she soon found them. She couldn’t help but smile as she saw Maya, Trucy, and Pearl waiting around for her.
Trucy spotted her first, and her face lit up in a grin.
“AUNTIE FRANZY!”
At that, Maya and Pearl turned to her, and their faces lit up too.
“FRANZY!”
“Ms. von Karma!”
The two girls started waving their arms wildly while Maya smiled and did a quick wave. Franziska wasn’t sure why, they already had her attention. Despite it, she was smiling, that smile staying the entire time as she walked over to them.
“Hello Pearl Fey, Trucy Fey…” Franziska slowly brought her gaze to Maya, and her smile grew wider. “…Maya Fey.”
“How was France, Franzy?” Maya asked.
“Hey! That rhymed!” Trucy said with a grin.
“Alliterate.” Franziska corrected, and then she added. “And yes, it did.”
Trucy and Pearl giggled, meanwhile Maya was smiling.
“Alright alliterate.” Maya said, then asking. “But how was it, seriously?”
“It was good, Maya Fey.” Franziska said.
But it would be better with you, was the single thought Franziska has.
She couldn’t say it aloud though, that warranted a private conversation.
Maya slowly grinned. “…Did you bring me the chocolates like you promised?”
Pearl and Trucy turned to Franziska with pleasing eyes.
“Of course I did, Maya Fey. I am not a fool after all.”
Franziska laughed with Maya, and so did Pearl and Trucy.