Archive of Our Own

Integrating into a family should have been no issue for someone who was already accustomed to doing so, yet Edgeworth still harbored quite a lot of baggage left untouched except for the moments of brevity with his betrothed. Going into the relationship, he was terrified he would pass on the terrible parts of his upbringing to his future stepdaughter, his partner reassuring him that he was actually a natural when it came to interacting with the child despite the awkward introduction into her life.

“I do not wish for her to experience what I have,” he explained one evening after reading a mystery chapter book to Trucy, “While she does have some unorthodox interests, I would like to encourage her to explore them.”

Phoenix gave a sympathetic smile, delivering a cup of chamomile tea to his fiance’s side per their cozy routine, “And you do a lovely job of it!”

Miles scoffed as a reflex, yet felt a sense of remorse for the reaction. When he first came into Trucy’s life, he doubted he would be fit to be any sort of parental figure to her, yet as time went on and he got to know her, he soon found that, deep down, he had the ability. At first, he feared stepping on Phoenix’s toes, yet the girl seemed to gravitate towards him and accept him, hearing her at times say she ‘wanted to be just like Papa Mi!’,, which only further convinced him that he needed to encourage her elsewhere without forcing her hand; he did not want a repeat of his childhood, and he was dead set on protecting her from anything remotely similar, “I suppose.”

“Are you kidding?! She absolutely adores you, Mi!”

He hummed, sipping at his beverage with the same politeness he always did while he considered, “I cannot deny that I’m fond of her myself. I suppose she reminds me of you when we were that age.”

“I can see it!”

“You’re biased, though.”

“I mean, how can I not be?” Wright retorted with a wry smile, “She may not have the same blood as me, but she’s still my pride and joy, y’know?”

“You’ve made that quite clear, dear.”

“Point is, it makes me unbelievably happy seeing my two favorite people growing closer.”

“It’s like I’m going to be a permanent fixture in her life.”

“Well, yeah… and you could have easily distanced yourself from her.”

“And if I did, i would not be able to live with myself,” Miles stated, finding himself staring into the dark yellow depths of his mug as if the years of abuse were trying to summon him to the bottom for another round of remembering all too well the horrors he went through, shaking his head slightly to return to the present conversation, “I want to be better for her. For you, too.”

“And you are!” the attorney added, waiting for his partner to be focused on him again before daring to cup the other man’s cheek, making sure the silver ring made contact with Edgeworth’s skin to help keep his attention, “You’ve come a long way from being completely closed off from others. And if anyone can see that with a clear view, it's a child,”

“Especially one of our prowess.”

“That’s the spirit!” Phoenix encouraged, placing a peck on the other side of his fiance’s face, “I love when you acknowledge yourself like that, being her other dad and all.”

“Well, that is the role I’m taking, yes? Two male figures who are almost married with a daughter, both men would ideally take to those positions.”

“Of course, I know that! It’s just nice hearing it come from you.”

“You lovesick fool,” the prosecutor quipped, setting his almost empty cup to the side and returning an act of romance by leaning from his seat a few inches and connecting their lips for a prolonged moment, sighing into the kiss right before it ended, “A quality I do appreciate from you, Wright. Are we ready to retire for the night?”

“Yeah, the darkness is getting to me…”

“What in the world are you on about?”

“The darkness! From that one YouTube video that Trucy and I watch a lot.”

“Oh, that loud-mouthed programmer that I hear from the office.”

“That’s the one!! But yeah, I’m ready to hit the sack.”

Miles shook his head in a mild form of exasperation, lifting from his seat and letting his partner pull him along to the bedroom without complaint; during their earlier courtship, he rarely got a chance to go to bed at the same time as his beloved, and now that both of their workloads had quieted down exponentially, he found himself treasuring the new nighttime ritual of laying together until sleep caught up to them.

Still, the nightmares persisted for the prosecutor. Luckily, he was able to sleep for longer spurts before they appeared, waking with a pounding heart per usual, but it was no longer accompanied by the violent starts or cold sweats, his breathing still labored while he forced himself to turn on his side and watch his fiance in his peaceful sleep underneath the blaring snores.

In the pitch black of their room, Edgeworth took notice of a smaller figure standing just inside the closed door, his heart catching only out of past habits when he acknowledged the new addition.

“Papa Mi?” Trucy called out quietly, knowing that he was the lighter sleeper of the couple,

“Yes, dear, I’m up. What do you need?”

The child hid her face behind her stuffed rabbit she slept with religiously, bashfully saying, “Can I sleep with you and Daddy? I had a nightmare…”

While Edgeworth had been adamant about having the child sleep in her bed once she turned nine, the additional detail called him to contradict himself- and he found himself willing to do so, “You may. Careful not to wake your father.”

“Can anything wake him up??”

“I’ve yet to see it happen,” the prosecutor reasoned, pulling himself into a sitting position so he could help the girl crawl into the bed, grateful for another reason of his side being pressed against the wall when he hoisted her over the sleeping Phoenix, “Then again, there’s always a first for everything.”

“Like right now?”

“You are quite astute, dear.”

Trucy giggled, hugging the man before she realized and pulled away, “S-Sorry… I know you don’t like that stuff.”

“You’re quite alright,” Miles reassured, patting the top of her head, moving it to the navy comforter and pulling it up while Trucy wriggled underneath with her rabbit, “Comfortable?”

She snuggled closer to Phoenix’s side, nodding politely.

“And Trixie?”

“She’s good! She protected me for a bit.”

“That is noble of her,” Miles remarked, not knowing how to navigate this situation further, yet he wanted to at least try, seeing a reflection of himself when he was a boy, scared and alone in a strange home he would later grow accustomed to, “Do you want to discuss your nightmare?”

“I don’t wanna make you upset too.”

“You won’t, my dear, I'm quite used to distressing dreams myself.”

“You are? Is that why you sleep with daddy?”

“Well, in a sense,” he replied, his cheeks heating a bit at the question that caught him off guard, “I do care deeply for your father as well.”

“Did you sleep with your daddy when you were little??” Trucy asked, yawning.

“...I did, yes.” It wasn’t a lie, he had done so with his birth father.

“So, we got a lot… in common…” Trucy noted, starting to fall asleep as she did.

“It seems we do.”

He watched the girl fall asleep, making certain that she was out before he took one last look at his little family before he turned to face the other direction. He did not blame Trucy for being curious, it was in her nature at her age, and she knew nothing of the horrors he lived with, yet it still stung. Through his haze of muddled memories, he could vaguely recall himself crawling into his own father’s large mattress and sleeping in his arms much like his stepchild until he was placed into a new, foreign home, lonely and reprimanded for the one, and only, time he tried to seek comfort from the man who took him in, still haunted by the way he was laughed out of the master bedroom.

At some point, he clenched his eyes shut to try preventing the tears from flowing and waking the others, and eventually fell into a dreamless slumber.

When he finally woke for the day, Miles groaned with the stiffness in his shoulder from the position he fell asleep in, stretching and finding himself alone in the mattress. Blindly, he double and triple checked with frantic hands, his heart hammering in panic until he felt something soft resting against him as his only saving grace from being taken over by anxiety. Curious, he paused and then investigated the added presence, greeted by the cream colored rabbit that hardly ever left Trucy’s side; it was a gift she received from her father when she was first adopted, so her attachment to the stuffed toy was understandable.

“You are far from your companion,” Edgeworth commented, pondering why she would leave behind the animal when he noticed the moisture that collected under his crimson sleep shirt, sighing at its return, the guilt weighing on him tenfold, “She shouldn’t be worrying about my wellbeing, as polite as it is.”

Not wanting to be swept away by his neverending thought loops that were quite persuasive, Edgeworth climbed from the bed and tidied it before tucking the rabbit underneath his arm and making his way into the hall. He only got a few paces in when he was hit with an overwhelming aroma of citrus, drawn further into the living room by the fragrance when he stopped on the threshold into the kitchen where his fiance was busy at the stove, their daughter stood in a dining chair next to him and helping where she could.

Without alerting the duo that he was standing there, he tried to look in between the two and inspect what they were making, brow furrowing in frustration at his still-blurry vision.

“Papa Mi is gonna love these for sure!!” Trucy determined, taking a break from being her father’s sous chef to lick the spoon she had been using, “You’re the best baker, daddy!!”

“That’s sweet of you to say, baby girl,” Phoenix remarked, his demeanor perking with the compliment, “How’d you know your papa would enjoy these?”

The girl shrugged then thought about it, “Well… he’s kinda snooty, so it makes sense! And, he’s always wearing cologne that smells like this, so I thought to put them together!!”

The defense attorney snickered at the first part of her explanation, moving a plate filled with crepes to the counter before he gathered a second one and returned to his post, “He does have some… refined tastes, I’ll give you that. Just don’t let him hear you call him that, ‘kay?”

“Too late,” Miles muttered, smirking at how his fiance jumped until he realized the other burnt the side of his hand, “Pretty bird getting hurt by his own element… Hold on,” he instructed, sitting Trixie where their daughter usually sat and rushing to the small kitchen window to pinch off a piece of aloe vera, moving to his partner’s other side, “Give me your hand.”

“Heh, thanks for coming to the rescue.”

“It was my mistake taking you unaware like that,” the prosecutor stated, rubbing the minty plant against the other’s softer skin, “I hope I didn’t ruin the surprise, dears.”

“Nope, we’re almost done!!” Trucy determined, going to use the licked spoon to scoop into a smaller bowl with what appeared to be a lemon frosting.

“Little miss, use another,” Miles gently reminded her, securing a second piece of silverware from a nearby drawer and exchanging it for the contaminated one, “Was this all your idea?”

“Mhm!! I woke daddy up at 6:30, so we could make it in time for breakfast!!”

“You managed to get your father to wake before any of his alarms? How skilled.”

Trucy beamed, turning to her father with some concern, “He’s still clumsy though.”

Edgeworth chuckled at this observation, her claim proven by his fiance's less than perfectly put together crepes that spilled with too much filling.

“True, you’re supposed to be on my side!!” Phoenix cried in mock betrayal, clutching his wounded hand to his breast for added dramatics, “I can’t believe my own daughter has turned on me…”

“I’m just tellin’ it like it is, daddy!”

“I must agree. Would you rather her humor you, love?”

“No…” the attorney lamented, perking back up with his usual energetic self, “I do appreciate your honesty, sweetie, that’s what makes you who you are!”

She giggled as an answer, hugging onto his uninjured arm, “Love you, daddy!!”

“And I love you!!” Phoenix returned dotingly, leaning into the embrace while watching his step so he did not burn himself a second time, “Now, why don’t you go keep papa company? I gotta clean up a little before serving our meal.”

“Alrighty!!” Trucy agreed, hopping from her stoop and bounding to her side of the table where she reunited with her fuzzy friend, “Did Trixie protect you while we were in here, Papa Mi??”

“She did.”

“Yay, it worked!!”

“How did you decide I needed her more than yourself, dear?”

“I thought you’d be sad if you woke up by yourself. ‘Sides, you talk in your sleep.”

“I apologize for worrying you,” Miles gave his sympathy with a sense of panic that she overheard pieces of his tragic past, nodding his gratitude to his partner pausing his chore to place a fresh, steaming mug of English Breakfast tea with a chaste kiss on the cheek, “Though, I appreciate you lending your companion to me for a while.”

Trucy smiled, seeming pleased with herself.

“You are quite the considerate type, Trucy.”

Phoenix murmured an ‘aww’ while he began to set the table with the two platters of crepes along with bowls of berries and powdered sugar.

“I try!!”

“And you succeed, hon!” the attorney assured, flitting from the task he finished to prepare a glass of milk for his daughter.

“You are going to lose steam, pretty bird,” Edgeworth brought up, catching his fiance’s embarrassed look, insisting on taking some of the duties when he convinced Wright to sit, “I’m assuming you want coffee.”

“Am I that predictable?”

“Yes. but it makes returning favors easier.”

Leaving his fiance in a flustered state, Edgeworth busied with doctoring the mug of coffee he poured with the most unhealthy amount of sugar and added a touch of milk. Bringing it to his beloved, he watched with wonder at how patient the man was with cutting the pastries for his daughter to enjoy when she gave up, hovering beside his partner to the point he was elbowed and almost spilled the caffeinated beverage.

“Oh shi- shoot, I’m so sorry, Mi!” the attorney let out, tensing as he anticipated a lecture to be more alert.

“It was my mistake, pretty bird,” Miles replied, sitting the salvaged drink down before he put a reassuring hand on the other’s arm, “I should have announced my approach, so no need to stress.”

“Were you going to correct my form?”

“No, surprisingly. I’m actually impressed with how symmetrical you cut the pieces.” If he was being honest, he was grateful to his partner for demonstrating such care, trying not to recall how he was expected to know how to eat them without instruction. At least there was also no scolding involved either.

Edgeworth shared a knowing look with his fiance before he returned to his seat, collecting a few crepes for himself and joining in the meal.

“Daddy, can I have tea like Papa Mi??” Trucy asked, mouth full of lemon filling.

“Why don’t we wait until you’re a little older?” Phoenix suggested, taking a moment to scarf some of the pastry down, “Papa drinks his tea a little stout, I don’t know if you’d like that.”

“I wanna taste it at least!!!”

“Sweetie…”

“If your father will permit it, I wouldn’t mind allowing you to.” Miles spoke, a little panicked that he was undermining his partner’s parenting style.

“Oh, I didn’t think you liked drinking after others, babe!”

“Usually, I do not. If the little miss wants to see if she likes something, I can make an exception. As long as you’re okay with it, dear.”

“Oh, yeah, go ahead!”

Edgeworth nodded, placing his teacup near the child, “Do be careful, it’s still warm.”

Impatiently, Trucy took the cup and took a hearty gulp of the breakfast tea, her face contorting with displeasure. Making a ‘blegh’ sound, she put the cup down and made no fuss when it was pulled away, “You like that stuff?!”

“Most definitely. I was your age when I started consuming different teas.”

“Gross!!!”

“Then you would do well to stay away from your father’s mug,” Edgeworth retorted with a half-smile, “His might be sweeter on the surface, but it is still strong.”

“Just like daddy!!”

“Indeed, he does fit that description.”

“You guys…!” Wright let out, his cheeks burning hotter than the steam alone could provoke.

“Do you disagree?”

Phoenix remained silent, still blushing while he attended to his meal with more attention after he cut the next crepe on his daughter’s plate, a goofy grin on his face all the while.

“If daddy’s sweet, does that mean he’s gonna make your cake??” Trucy asked, her bright attitude returning once she chased the bitter taste in her mouth with her glass of milk.

“I suppose. I was going to let your father be in charge of that task anyway,” Miles reasoned, bracing for the reaction he would receive from the child when he revealed another part of himself, “I’m not even certain I know what kind I enjoy.”

“Why?? Do you not like cake?”

“Well… It was not a part of my diet for a long time. One of my parents thought it a disgraceful dessert, at least the common flavors.”

Trucy turned her head to the side, quite confused.

“Miles, break it down for her, please.”

“The father I lived with most of my life had refined tastes. Cake was not typically one he cared for.” the prosecutor tried again.

“That’s silly, cake is the best!!!” the girl determined, looking at Phoenix with excitement, “Daddy, I’ll taste all the ones you make!!”

The attorney giggled at her not-so-subtle hint, “Of course you will, sweetie.”

“Is there gonna be a lot of cake left over??”

“On the wedding day? I think so. Unless your uncles Larry and Gumshoe attend.”

“Naturally, they would. Larry has been in your life as long as I have,” Edgeworth pointed out, finishing his plate and setting it aside to focus on the rest of his tea, “As for Gumshoe… I suppose he can come too. After all the paycheck cuts, it would do him some good.”

“That’s it??” Trucy asked, not satisfied with the answer, “What about your daddies??”

The breakfast table grew eerily silent for a few moments, Phoenix trying to hide his distress at the innocent question while he scrambled to come up with an appropriate answer, “Well, hon… my parents don’t talk to me anymore.”

“Why not?”

“They don’t like that I’m with your papa,” Phoenix said, taking care in his choice of words, “Some people aren’t happy when two men or two women fall in love, I’m afraid.”

“That’s mean! You and Papa Mi love each other!!”

“I know, baby girl. It’s just how some people were raised.”

Miles nodded in quiet agreement, taking interest in the pattern on the teacup his fiance chose for him.

Trucy turned to the prosecutor, “What about your daddies, Papa Mi??”

“Trucy, sweetheart…” the attorney warned, pained that he needed to reprimand her and that his fiance would be uncomfortable with the line of questioning.

“Both of them are no longer living,” Edgeworth said curtly, his face unreadable to the man sitting across from him as he continued, “I do have an older sister, but we were never close, so… I doubt she would want to be present.”

“Can you ask her anyway?? I wanna meet her!!”

“Why the persistence, dear?” Miles asked, reminding himself this was a small girl who did not know his messy upbringing and was not inquiring to cause him harm.

“Well, I love my uncles, but it’d be cool to know more girls!!” Trucy explained, considering more to add to her reasoning when she turned to her father once more, “Can Aunt Maya come?? Please??”

“She’s definitely getting an invitation!” Phoenix reassured, glancing between the two in case he needed to rush to his fiance’s aid with the subject at hand, “I’m sure she’d love to, we haven’t seen her since before she moved across the pond!”

“...She lives across the country, Wright. You act as if she left entirely.” Miles muttered.

“Can I make Aunt Maya’s special?!”

“I’m sure she would love that,” Phoenix encouraged, kissing the top of his daughter’s head before reaching over and grabbing the empty plates, ‘Why don’t you and Trixie go draw something for her to add while papa and I clean up?”

“Okie doke!!”

Trucy took no time in scooping up her rabbit toy before rushing off to her room where she kept most of her art supplies.

Edgeworth let out a large sigh he didn’t know he was holding, “Well, that was certainly a… heavy conversation.”

“Definitely. Sorry if she made you feel weird.”

“She’s naturally curious,” the prosecutor remarked, sipping the last of his tea and gathering his share of dishes- he was not awake enough to accept anyone’s pity, especially not from his betrothed, “I suppose it’s also natural to want more family. A shame, really…”

Phoenix nodded, reluctantly pocketing his engagement ring after setting the sink up for the least appealing chore, stationing himself as the one who would wash while Miles dried. For a while, they were both in the domestic groove of helping each other, and then the attorney decided to be bold and prod a little more at a point his daughter made, “Wouldn’t you like to invite Franziska?”

Edgeworth froze at the question, dropping a butter knife that clanged against the metal bottom, causing him to flinch. Shaking himself off, the prosecutor mentioned, “Why should I even bother? I doubt she’ll be enthusiastic about our nuptials or, for that matter, our ceremony.”

“Maybe… she’s changed? I mean, at least she’s not homophobic like my parents!”

“There is that,” Miles contemplated, recollecting the silverware he disgracefully dropped and held under the running stream for longer than necessary, “If I’m being honest, I don’t want to be disappointed if she doesn’t show.”

“You won’t know unless you try though, babe.”

The prosecutor placed the thoroughly rinsed cutlery down with controlled temper that was bubbling from the insistent back and forth, not wanting to be agitated with Wright, but getting close to exploding, “All we did was survive under the same roof, I wouldn’t call that a caring siblingship. Why would she care about me becoming your husband?!”

“Mi-”

“If she showed, it would only be to laugh in my face for…”

“Miles, I didn’t mean to get you so heated,” Phoenix interrupted, stopping for a moment and putting his soap covered hand on his fiance’s when the other seemed receptive to the touch, squeezing firmly once, “If you don’t want to invite her, that’s okay. We have plenty of support!”

Miles said nothing, focusing on his partner’s hand as he calmed his ragged breathing at the anger-filled display.

“All I want is for you to be happy, my love,” the attorney added, leaning closer and pressing a few faint kisses to his fiance’s clenched jaw until it relaxed, “I’ll support you no matter what you decide, alright?”

“I appreciate this declaration, pretty bird.”

Phoenix brightened, splashing a bit of the sudsy water at his fiance as he laughed with relief. He was totally convinced that Miles would make him sleep on the couch for even approaching the subject, “Good to hear, babe!”

Edgeworth elbowed his beloved in the side as a response to the playful splash, a half smile starting to crawl its way onto his face at Wright’s antics.

When he finished rinsing the dishes, Miles dried his hands before he pulled his partner aside. Cupping the attorney’s cheeks, he rested their foreheads together lovingly and musing, “Your positive outlook on my situation is insightful, I apologize for my hostility.”

“It’s okay, babe, really! I felt a little bit of that at the mention of my own folks…”

“You miss them, I imagine.”

“Yeah, but if they aren’t gonna accept that you’re going to be my husband,” Phoenix reasoned, nuzzling their noses softly before he continued, “Then I don’t need ‘em!”

“It still stuns me that you would choose me over them.”

“Well, I love you, silly!”

Miles was quiet for a moment, his eyes slipping closed while he nuzzled back in a rare show of vulnerability. Then, faintly, he said, “And I, you, pretty bird.”

Phoenix squeaked, practically melting at his fiance saying his own version of ‘I love you’; he knew Miles loved him, showing it in different ways than others who were unfamiliar to their dynamic would mistake the prosecutor for hating him. Though, he never tired of hearing those words, pulling away from their embrace only to give his partner a sweet, slow kiss making certain that the other man knew that his declaration did not go unnoticed.

“Mm, blood orange tastes well on you, dear.”

“Yeah? Is that all you wanna taste?”

Miles pulled away and smacked at the other’s arm, “Settle down, Wright. We have a daughter in the next room.”

“I-I know! I just… I never get to hear that stuff from you, it’s hot.”

“At least I still have that effect on you,” the prosecutor gave with a smirk, “Take a moment to compose yourself, dear. I will go check in with our child.”

As if on cue, Trucy came running into the dining room with Trixie in tow in one hand, the other holding a red envelope she definitely did not steal from her papa’s office because she thought they were pretty.

From what Edgeworth could determine, it was covered in a ridiculous layer of similar shaded glitter- honestly, why Phoenix let her have access to so much of the stuff was beyond his comprehension- finding it somewhat endearing that the child herself also had a generous layer of it on both hands, ignoring his disdain for the inevitable mess he would be in charge of cleaning since his betrothed was not as thorough.

“Oh wow!! Aunt Maya’s going to love that, sweetie!” Phoenix exclaimed with a proud smile, “Good job!! Would you like me to send it out to her?”

“Actually…” the girl started, turning to her stepfather with the same amount of excitement from finishing her project, “Can you do it, Papa Mi?? Your handwriting is prettier!!”

Miles snickered at the way his fiance deflated in defeat, sobering while he addressed her, “I would, though I doubt Ms. Fey would recognize my penmanship. Your father is more suited for this task, I’m afraid.”

“You’re what!?” the attorney let out in a crescendo.

“I believe you heard me, pretty bird. Do hurry, the post will be here shortly.”

“Sure, kick me while I’m down…”

“We want at least some guests to attend, after all.” Edgeworth reasoned, an eyebrow raised at the child’s mischievous grin though he took it for amusement at her parents bickering and had not bothered prying further into the reason behind it.

A few months later, the family- mostly the two men- were busy with making their home presentable for the other couple who would spend the night for the ceremony the next day. Currently, Phoenix was plucking a pile of purple petals for their daughter who insisted on being their flower girl despite the wedding being a small gathering of six at most while Edgeworth took it upon himself to declutter the largest of their spare rooms upstairs, flitting between rooms with an air of nervousness; he was not having cold feet, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he wanted to marry his beloved, yet he felt that something was out of place, and his cleaning fit was an excuse to try and figure out exactly what it was.

“Perhaps I should have reached out to her…” the prosecutor mused aloud, fluffing the pillows and resting them neatly against the headboard, the nagging feeling of regret a tiny speck on his radar though it was still noticeable.

Faintly, he heard the guests downstairs, Lary’s voice carrying in his obnoxious way that caused him more aggravation than usual. He swallowed that feeling as he was apt to do, giving the room a final scan. Reluctantly, he removed himself from the solitude he sought out knowing he would cause Phoenix to panic if he delayed joining everyone downstairs.

Stepping onto the first floor, Edgeworth was met with a hearty slap on the back that caused him to let out a displeased grunt.

“There he is!!” Larry announced, seeming proud that he identified the prosecutor when he arrived, “Bet you’re really lookin’ forward to tomorrow, huh Edgey?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Hon, maybe give Mr. Edgeworth some space?” Gumshoe suggested while he shrugged off his trench coat, scratching his chin awkwardly, “I’m sure he has enough on his plate. Right, pal?” he asked Phoenix who he was chatting with, Trucy practically clinging to the detective’s leg.

“You’re telling me! Seriously, if it weren’t for you two coming over, we’d be totally swamped.”

“We can’t have that happenin’!” Larry let out, not taking his boyfriend’s advice and draping his arm over Miles’ shoulders good-naturedly, “Don’t worry though, babe ‘n I are here to help!”

“You actually know how to phrase that sentence?” Edgeworth quipped, removing the arm corralling him and stepping further into the room, “It seems you’ve been more of an influence on this buffoon, detective.”

“I’d like to think so, sir,” Gumshoe replied with a curt nod, blushing at the wink he received across the room from his own partner before he turned back to Phoenix, “So, Mr. Wright, what do I need to help with?”

“You can just call me my name, bud. If you want, you can sit with me while I finish the cake!”

“Oh, are you sure? I’m not so good in the kitchen.”

“Well, Miles doesn’t want to see it until tomorrow, and I could use the company.”

“What about me, daddy??” Trucy asked, trying not to show that she felt left out.

“Of course you’re going to be with us, baby girl!” Phoenix reassured her, patting her shoulder, “I would never separate you from your Uncle Gummy.”

This exchange did not go unnoticed by Edgeworth, yet he also noticed he was falling into his old, sullen habits of detaching himself from his feelings. This was not new by any means, Trucy had gravitated towards the detective the moment they met one evening when Gumshoe visited to vent to Phoenix about his feelings for Larry. The mention of being separated wounded him, though he would not dare bring this up with his fiance on the afternoon before their wedding, instead throwing himself into more work around the property.

“That means you are assisting me, Butz.” Miles remarked, knowing if he did not extend the offer that the pathetic man would do so himself.

“Hey now, don’t act so put out! I'm a great help and you know it!” Larry responded, flashing a determined smile at the prosecutor.

“Sure you are…”

“Behave, you two! And babe?” Phoenix interrupted, a softened look on his exhausted face, “Take it easy, okay? No matter how much we finish today, we’re still tying the knot.”

“I will, if you follow your own advice, pretty bird.”

Phoenix chuckled at this, knowing he deserved to have that applied to himself after practically pulling an all nighter, “Deal. I’ll check in with you in a bit!”

Edgeworth gave a shallow nod of agreement, leading their childhood friend out onto the veranda.

Shortly, the two began to set up a large, metal table adorned with a lilac tablecloth and Miles began to realize, in part, why he was in a morose mood: he felt an overwhelming realization that he wished his own father could attend, melancholy tugging at his every movement outside. He never thought this would bother him, he never thought about wanting the elder Edgeworth to witness him marrying whoever he found suitable, finding himself deep in thought about how Gregory would have accepted Phoenix into the family if only for their shared background as defense attorneys.

“You would love him, papa,” Miles mused, laying the top of the aisle runner in place, catching a glimpse of Trucy’s arms wrapped around her father’s neck, “And her, too. I imagine you’d be proud of the family I’ve made.”

“Uh, Edgey? Who are ya talkin’ to?”

Miles was now too aware of himself, falling silent without explanation. Instead, he continued to stare at the back of his fiance’s head through the kitchen window until disappearing, his heart aching with both adoration and loneliness.

Clearing his throat, Edgeworth awkwardly turned the conversation on Larry, “Are you hoping that we’ll return the favor to you and Detective Gumshoe later in life?”

“Whaddya mean?? Wait-! I, uh…”

“I see I figured out your ruse.”

“Well, kinda? I mean, I’ve only thought about it,” Larry began, clearly caught off guard by the sudden interrogation, “I dunno if we’re even ready for that stage, y’know? And it’s not like we can save for it with how much you cut his pay!”

“Well, that should inspire him to change his work ethic, don’t you think?”

“I guess… Look, I just want better for my man, y’hear?”

“I can see why, he is filled with potential,” Edgeworth complimented, motioning for the other to follow him to a corner of the porch where a box of lanterns sat, “No matter, if we keep this going, we won’t get these set out before sunset.”

Thankfully, Larry did not make a distasteful remark about how the prosecutor was still fateful of the dark and hurried to get the lanterns lined on both sides of the aisle.

It was a simple set up, yet Miles seemed to approve of how his and Larry’s efforts turned out, trying not to linger too much on the fact that the next day he would be walking down that long length of cloth and meeting his partner one last time as an engaged couple.

“I wonder what Nick’s puttin’ together for the snack table?” Larry questioned, rubbing the back of his head in a show of anxiousness, “Hopefully it ain’t too fancy!”

“I believe we agreed for both of our palettes to be accommodated.”

“So… I can actually eat some stuff?”

“You will not starve. Speaking of, I hope he’s finished the cake by now,” Miles mentioned, glancing at the back door when he heard footsteps and saw their daughter approaching, “Did you tire of your father, dear?”

“He told me to come get you!! Uncle Gummy made food!!”

“...Did he now?” Edgeworth asked, sharing a concerned glance towards his childhood friend, “I suppose that was another reason Wright sent us out here, to distract us.”

Larry shot him a sheepish look, refusing to comment knowing that his boyfriend would overhear.

“Honestly, Rich, you should give yourself more credit!” the two heard Phoenix tell the other, settling on that variation of the nickname around Trucy.

Miles lifted a brow in confusion while he stepped into the home once more, yet the evidence of an actual meal sat on the table.

“Ah, shucks, pal! I’m usually not great at all of this,” Gumshoe stated, the meal of smoked salmon, mushrooms, and green beans contradicting him, “It’s nothin’ fancy, but I wanted to make dinner to honor your and Mr. Edgeworth’s upcoming ceremony.”

“That’s really sweet, bud!”

“Did you not state earlier that you were not adept at cooking?”

“That’s what I thought, too,” Phoenix revealed, giving an apologetic look to the detective for the judgment, “I was wary to let him near the stove at first, but turns out…”

“I meant baking!” Gumshoe finished happily, beaming a bit through his current bashful demeanor, revealing, “Ever since my sweetheart became a recurring part o’ my life, I’ve had access to more foods, so I’ve been experimenting with cooking!!”

Not surprising, Wright let out an appreciative ‘aww’ at this confession, appreciating how impassioned Dick was about a task that he and his fiance took for granted in their more than comfortable lifestyle.

“Seriously, man, babe’s come a long way from instant ramen!!” Larry praised, seemingly satisfied with this statement despite the cutting glare that was shot over the prosecutor’s shoulder.

“Sweetheart, you’re digging yourself an early grave,” the detective warned, approaching the two who joined them and pulling his boyfriend aside, “And I would rather have you alive for as long as possible.”

“Heh, I’ll try my best to stay that way, for you!!”

Edgeworth silently thanked the detective for intervening and moved to his fiance’s side; as if he could escape the romantic displays by retreating to the attorney. Though he would normally never consider being affectionate in front of others, the prosecutor rested his head wearily on his bethrothed’s shoulder and breathed in the man’s inviting smell of baked goods and floral perfume underneath, “For once, eating around others doesn’t sound like a horrible endeavor.”

“What does that mean, Papa Mi??” Trucy piped up, appearing almost out of nowhere, “You eat around me and daddy, no problem!”

Miles chewed his lip, involuntarily, yet he gave a simple, “It’s different around a group.”

Trucy thought for a moment, then nodded, offering her smaller hand up to the prosecutor and holding on while she finally said, “It’s okay if you only eat a little bit, Papa Mi. Or nothing, that’s okay too!”

This nearly broke Miles. Again, she was worrying about an adult’s well being at her young age.

“That is kind of you, dear,” the prosecutor remarked, letting the determined girl take his hand and guide him to the table, “Though, I do believe I will be able to indulge in a plate.”

“Are you sure, Mr. Edgeworth? You don’t have t’ force yourself.” Gumshoe reassured him.

“I am certain, detective. Besides, I would hate to forfeit trying a meal you’ve made.”

Gumshoe nodded, “Right, well… enjoy!”

Minding the portion he collected for himself, Miles made an exception for the noticeably untouched bowl of sauteed mushrooms, for once not minding how much he took despite eating with others. And, surprisingly, he did find himself able to prevent himself from binging on the meal even when it came to the vegetable options paired with the smoked salmon, letting his guard down around the few people who were aware of his complicated eating habits, managing to enjoy the dinner without an overwhelming guilt lingering afterwards.

“So… how’s it taste?” Dick dared to ask.

“It’s lovely!!” Phoenix answered, still chewing on a piece of fish while he did, checking in with his daughter who had opted for fish sticks instead, “This was a really thoughtful gesture, Rich.”

“I must agree with my betrothed.”

This seemed to please the detective who continued to eat his own portion when the defense attorney placed something folded in paper next to him, bumping it with his elbow before he realized it was there, “Ya don’t have to pay me for the food, pal.”

“That’s not… Miles and I wanted to show our appreciation for coming to our wedding in the first place,” Phoenix explained, his gaze darting between the detective and his partner when he received a nod of approval from the prosecutor, “We calculated how much you’ve lost in the past couple year, so… this is our gift to you and Larry.”

“I can’t possibly accept this…”

“We insist that you do, detective.” Edgeworth said simply, yet firmly.

“Exactly! You’ve been in our corner for so long, it’s time we’re in yours!” Wright added, patting Dick’s arm encouragingly.

“Well, if you’re sure. Thank you, Mr. Wr- Phoenix. You as well, Mr. Edgeworth, of course!”

“Wait just a damn minute!” Larry let out, startling Miles and Trucy in his wake, his gaze accusatory at the prosecutor, “You mean to tell me you agreed to this, Edgey!?”

“I did. What is the issue?”

“You’re just danglin’ money over his head like that!”

“I assure you that is not what is intended,” Edgeworth remarked, knitting his fingers together and resting his chin atop them, “My fiance and I want to acknowledge those in our life who have not turned on us for being a couple.”

“Okay, well… it’s just confusing is all!”

“Sweetheart, Mr. Edgeworth means well!” Gumshoe replied, moving from the friendly embrace with the attorney and wrapping his arm around Larry to help calm him down, pressing a peck into Larry’s cheek for added measure, “We’ll put this to good use.”

Edgeworth met Larry’s suspicious gaze and winked, but he did not make a snarky remark about the detective’s decision with the gifted money.

“Whatcha gonna use it for, Uncle Gummy??” Trucy asked innocently.

“Oh, well… something I’ve been meaning to get your uncle for a while now.”

Larry began choking on his second helping of salmon, his eyes watering well after he stopped his coughing fit, “Babe…?”

“Are you gonna ask Uncle Larry to marry you??” the girl pressed.

“True, hon, let’s not bombard your uncles with questions, ‘kay?” Phoenix suggested, not wanting to put the other couple on the spot when he realized that the detective seemed uncomfortable giving more details, “I bet whatever it is, it will be lovely, Rich.”

“I appreciate that, pal, I definitely need the support!!”

“I’m onto you, babe…” Larry grumbled.

“No need to be hostile towards your partner,” Edgeworth warned, removing himself from the table and collecting a bottle of alcohol from the refrigerator, pouring a glass for each adult before he took out a plastic cup that he filled with cranberry juice knowing that the girl would want to join in somehow. Placing the last glass in front of Larry, the prosecutor remarked, “He wants to provide for you, that is clear. From someone who has a significant other who does the same, make sure to cherish what he does, and return the gesture.”

“Uh, yeah, ‘course I will!” Larry agreed, chuckling nervously with the subtle threatening tone, turning to his boyfriend and perking back up to his usual demeanor, “You can count on me to do that, babe, don’tcha worry!!”

“I had no doubt you would, hon,” the detective told him, the two gazing at each other for a few moments in a contagious, endearing way. Dick broke the loving look to attend to his glass of wine, turning his attention to the attorney on his right as well, “So… Ms. Maya is attending the wedding, too, right?”

“Yeah, she is! She’s supposed to fly in later tonight and stay with Pearl until the ceremony.”

“Oh, that’s good to hear! Makes sense that she’d want to spend time with her family.”

Trucy began to kick her feet under the table at the mention of her aunt, trying to drink her cranberry juice like her stepfather when she glanced up at him with excitement, “I hope she liked her invite!!”

“I’m sure she did, dear. She is coming, so you got her attention.”

“I can’t wait to see her!!!”

“I am sure she feels the same way,” Miles dared to encourage, already pouring himself a second glass of red wine, “Who would want to miss out on your performance tomorrow, anyway?”

She giggled at this, her kicks speeding up with giddiness until she accidentally kicked her father in the knee, “Sorry, daddy…”

“It’s okay, baby girl,” the attorney let out, shaking his moment of shock off with ease and patting her head gently. Surveying the situation going on her other side, his fiance managed to convince his best friend to hand over his wine glass as well, Phoenix suggested, “Hey Rich, would you and Larry mind helping True to bed? I think we should turn in early for the night.”

Gumshoe raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in routine, yet quickly understood once he noticed the two glasses in front of the prosecutor, “Not at all, pal. You alright with that, kiddo?”

“Yeah, that sounds cool!!!”

Enamored with the fact that she would get a bedtime story from her favorite uncle, Trucy did not seem to notice that anything was off with the state her stepdad was sending himself into. Happily, she gave Miles a side hug that was, surprisingly, reciprocated before she gave her father one and disappeared with the other couple following closely behind, Gumshoe giving a sympathetic pat on the prosecutor’s shoulder when he passed by.

Somewhere under the slight intoxication, Miles felt some level of regret for starting to spiral in front of their child, that fear sharpening into a fine point that stabbed his stomach with how his fiance looked at him. He knew it was unlike him to exceed a glass every so often, so he could only imagine what the attorney’s assumption was, stumbling to say, “It’s not because of you…”

“I figured, hon,” Phoenix mused in a sympathetic voice, excusing himself to gather a few plastic bottles under his arm before returning to his lover’s side and helping him to stand, “I just want you to be safe, so let’s head to our room.”

When they arrived at the bedroom, Phoenix set the bottles of water on the side table, his hand still around Edgeworth’s bicep to steady him. Turning to face the prosecutor with a gentle look, he mused, “I’m going to help you into comfortable clothing, alright?”

Miles nodded, his eyes slipping shut to negate the vertigo he was currently dealing with, leaning against his betrothed while his clothes were removed and replaced with caring touches. Grateful, he reached up to stroke the other’s hair in admiration, “I should… admire you more, pretty bird.”

“I thought you already did?” the attorney teased, pushing against the slender hand that was petting him in a haphazard motion, “I enjoy seeing this side of you, Mi. Are you feeling alright?”

“Mhm, never better.”

Wright nodded, finishing by buttoning the man’s crimson night shirt and guiding him into bed with a patient hand. Making sure Miles was settled, the defense attorney reminded him, “Drink at least one bottle of water before we fall asleep, ‘kay?”

The prosecutor nodded, doing as instructed before he forgot to, “Phoe?”

This caught his attention, knowing the gentle nickname was used sparingly and he should be attentive, “Yes, my love?’

“Are you upset with me for how I acted?”

“No, baby,” Phoenix reassured, climbing into bed and shifting closer to his fiance until he rested his head on the tensed shoulder, “You seem troubled, I thought you’d do better if we talked in private.”

“...You know me so well, dear.”

“I’d like to think so! Do you… want to tell me why you were double-fisting at the dinner table?”

Miles was quiet for a long time, convincing the other man that he fell asleep when he cleared his throat, starting and stopping multiple times until he made himself begin, “With all the talk of family today, I think I’m regretting not extending an invite to my sister.”

“That’s big of you to admit, Mi!”

He hummed, processing the slower thoughts in his always racing mind, “I suppose, but it’s too late now.”

“I don’t think so, you can always invite her over in the future.”

“That may be so, but… this is a one time event.”

“We could postpone the wedding?” Phoenix suggested, trying to find ways to soothe his partner, “I’m sure everyone would understand, I don’t mind having Larry and Dick stay for a while longer.”

Miles sighed, turning so he rested his cheek against the other’s forehead, “No, that would be unfair to everyone involved. And, I’ve waited long enough to declare my true love to you, dear. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

“I agree, I can’t wait either! But, if you want Franziska there… then I will, for you.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, Phoe,” the prosecutor let out, struggling against the emotions he usually kept under lock and key and the warmth of his beloved that caused him to almost fall unconscious with the closeness. Contemplating his options, Edgeworth came to another that he voiced, “A compromise, mayhaps? I will contact her before the wedding, ask if she’s in the area, and invite her to an after dinner? We haven’t gone out in a while, so even if she doesn’t come around, we would have a nice family outing.”

“That sounds really nice, either way!” the attorney encouraged, pressing a peck to Miles’ jaw, “I’ll remind you when we get up.”

“You’re more forgetful than I, pretty bird. Even when I’m inebriated.”

“Rude…” he pouted, his joy not faltering despite this.

“The truth can hurt sometimes, dear,” Edgeworth remarked, wincing at his own words and attempting to correct himself, “It’s a quality that endears me to you, so it isn’t always a detriment.”

“I get it, babe, you don’t have to explain.”

He let out a lone huff of laughter at the reassurance, then silent again for a few moments when he revealed another worry of his, “I hope I didn’t scare our daughter tonight. That is the last thing I want to do.”

“I don’t think you did. She was too preoccupied following in our footsteps to notice.”

“Ah yes, she would interrogate those fools.”

“Those fools are part of our family, y’know!”

This caused Miles to pause, caught off guard by this statement; like his fiance, he kept the others at arm's length, especially in the office when Gumshoe tried to shoot the breeze with him in the spare seconds they had before Miles dove into another case. Yet, the detective still chose to tell the two immediately when he fell for Larry, when they started out with casual dates, and their official relationship status as if Miles did not close him off. Hell, the one time that he even confided in Dick was when he conspired to find a way to figure out his fiance’s ring size, the detective eager to help and already congratulating the prosecutor, because he knew there was no way that Phoenix would reject the proposal.

And, only half an hour ago, Miles defended the detective and his intentions to the detective’s boyfriend- the boyfriend whom he knew since childhood alongside his partner, one of his longest held companions.

“I suppose they are. There’s some comfort in that, surprisingly.”

Phoenix’s laugh echoed against the walls, controlling himself only when he began to tear up from the force of them, “I love how you look at things, Mi.”

“I can’t take all the credit,” Edgeworth murmured, sleep getting more difficult to fight off, “Trucy and yourself… taught me how…”

“I’m glad the two of us have had that effect on you, love.”

The night passed on in a blur, Miles soon finding himself being pestered by a stripe of sunlight that snuck past their solid, ocean blue curtains, grumbling when he opened one eye to assess what was going on around him. From what he could tell, his partner was sitting up on his side of the bed, an earbud in his right ear while he held up his phone, scrolling precariously on his phone trying not to bother the man beside him.

It was a pleasant sight, one that Edgeworth could sneak away with in an attempt to go back to sleep and ignore the fogginess that lingered from his night of drinking. Or, he would have been able to if Phoenix hadn’t spotted his calculated motions to try and get comfortable all over again.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” he greeted, pausing the video he was listening to and turning his full attention to his fiance, “Are you feeling okay from last night? Did you drink enough water?”

Miles let out a deep grumble, annoyed only slightly that his attempts were foiled. Scanning over himself, he came to the conclusion that he was fine, only slowed by the leftover tipsiness, “I’m quite alright, dear. A little hazy, but all things considered…”

“I can hand you another bottle if you need it?”

“Not now, thank you though.”

Phoenix nodded, his hand immediately finding its way into his partner’s slightly disheveled hair, “So… Do you remember much from last night?”

“I recall blubbering to you like an idiot. That’s all, really.”

“You promised you would do something when you woke up.”

Miles’ nose wrinkled at the insinuation, “Can’t it wait until the night of our marriage? That is traditional, and I’m willing to make an exception.”

“Huh? Oh! No, not that, though I see why you thought…” Phoenix rambled with embarrassment, shaking it off in order to properly address his partner, “No, you said you were going to contact Franziska.”

About to question the sincerity of that claim, the prosecutor had a brief retrieval of the memory after he revealed to his soon-to-be husband that he regretted not trying to talk to his sister. He nodded, propping himself up by his elbow and motioning for Phoenix to hand over his phone, “I’ll go ahead before I decide to forgo this plan.”

When he pulled up the contact of which he had not in nearly three years, the last conversation being about how Miles resembled his father as the impromptu defense in a court hearing, he began to draft a message that would sound satisfactory. While this was a momentous occasion, he did not want to hold that over her head and force her hand somehow, doubting himself with every other word until he managed to end the explanation with the idea of going to a restaurant after the ceremony, sending it hurriedly before he could erase the entire message.

“...I did it.”

“You did, that’s my hubby!”

“Not yet, dear,” Edgeworth corrected, pulling himself up to meet his partner and dare to press a peck against the other man’s cheek, “Though, I do appreciate the sentiment, it has a nice sound.”

“Get used to it, ‘cos I plan on using it every chance I get!!”

“You would, dear…”

Expectantly, their playful banter was cut short by smaller footsteps rushing to their door, “Daddy, Papa Mi, are you awake?!”

“Yes, sweetie, the door’s unlocked.”

Trucy let herself in, more cheerful than Edgeworth was expecting for someone who detested early mornings not unlike her father. Unsurprisingly, she was already wearing the pink dress she picked out for the special day, her hair already brushed and in a neat braid, holding onto something in her smaller hand that she was trying to pass to her stepfather, “Papa Mi, you gotta wear this!!”

“Hang on there, sweetie, papa’s still waking up.” Phoenix warned, taking the item for the time being- a tie clip that was so deeply metallic that it almost looked black instead of its dark silver hue,”Where’d you find this, True?”

“Uncle Gummy brought it, he wanted me to give it to papa!!”

“Oh, really? Did he help you get dressed?”

Trucy nodded happily, turning to the side so she could show off her hair to her father, “I asked him and he learned real quick from a video for me!!”

“That was really nice of him!!”

Miles hummed in approval of this information, glancing at the object still in his fiance’s hand, “A… tie clip?”

“Yeah!! Uncle Gummy said ya need to borrow something to get married!!” Trucy informed, her bright smile faltering a bit, “Why are you and Papa Mi still in bed??”

“I didn’t want to wake your papa,” Phoenix reasoned, checking the time and letting out a loud squeak, “Mi, we gotta get changed, like, right now-!”

“It seems we do.”

Phoenix practically jumped from the bed, his foot caught on the comforter, muttering how he didn’t need to hurt himself so close to their arranged time to wed. Brushing himself off, he sighed and turned to his daughter, “Thank you for keeping us on schedule, sweet girl! Is Aunt Maya here yet?”

“Uh huh, Uncle Larry let her in!”

“Of course, we’re going to be late for our own wedding… Why don’t you keep her company while we get dressed?”

“‘Kay, love you daddy!! Love you, Papa Mi!!”

Sending his response to the child over his shoulder, Phoenix sped over to their dresser where they laid their outfits the day before their friends arrived and began to get dressed. It wasn’t until he started to fasten his tie that Miles registered the urgency through his daze and did the same, tripping over his partner’s discarded pajama bottoms in his wake with a disgruntled huff.

“Sorry, love! I seriously thought we had a bit longer to lounge around…”

“Well, at least we’ll have some added luck on our side.” Miles responded, buttoning his dress shirt and wrapping his own tie around his collar when he took notice of a small issue, “Wright, you put mine on.”

“No, I grabbed- oh, damn it, you’re right…”

“What was that?” Miles asked, smirking at the annoyed look from his partner.

“Give me a minute and I’ll trade you.”

“Nevermind that, we’re already behind.”

“If you say so,” the attorney mused, shrugging on his suit jacket and smoothing his outfit down with a shaky hand that was taken to a steadier one. Looking at his fiance, he began to calm down and threw a cheeky grin at his fiance, “Shouldn’t you be lecturing me for not setting enough alarms?”

“If I recall much of yesterday, I was told that ‘no matter what happens, we’re tying the knot’, and I believe that claim.”

“We are, baby.”

“Then, no need to stress,” Edgeworth consoled, giving the hand he held a firm squeeze before releasing it, slipping on his cravat and jacket, “Besides, it gives my sister some extra time to decide if she’ll show or not.”

Miles had waited so long to start getting prepared only so he monitored the incoming messages from his own phone, setting it aside to focus on looking proper enough for their upcoming nuptials. He knew he shouldn’t get his hopes up, that never worked well for him in the past, yet he couldn’t compel himself to in fear that if he did then the odds of his sister arriving would decrease further.

Quietly, the prosecutor pinned his partner’s badge to his lapel, straightening how his collar laid, “You said that Larry would cover taking pictures, correct?”

“Yes, love. I saw him bring in his camera bag yesterday,” the attorney reassured, catching a glimpse of the pin decorating Miles’ neck, “Look at you being sentimental!”

“Most of our relationship revolves around the court, so I thought it necessary,” the prosecutor reasoned, his cheeks burning at the mention of him wearing Phoenix’s badge, “Besides, it would be considered ‘old’, would it not? Now that you’ve been removed from serving.”

“I guess, yeah! So… what would be the ‘new’ thing? That’s what we’re missing!”

Instead of responding directly, Edgeworth pulled his fiance closer to him after securing a box from atop the dresser, securing a gleaming prosecutor’s badge to the haphazard collar of his almost-husband, “You’ll be the first to wear this, so… we have it covered.”

“I’m touched!!”

“As you should be,” Miles pointed out, straightening the other’s lapel before he secured a neatly folded piece of paper in his dress pants pocket, offering his arm, “Are we ready to proceed?”

“Didn’t you already give our certificate to Winston?”

“I did. You’ll see what purpose this document serves momentarily, dear,” Edgeworth explained, knowing if he’d given this form to the other prosecutor that he would ruin the secret by spreading it around the office, “No need to worry, Phoe, trust me.”

“Of course. Anyway, I’m ready when you are!!”

Miles sucked in a calming breath, his heart picking up speed when his partner clung onto his offered elbow and they began to walk together to the back door where their daughter waited, swinging the basket of petals around with impatience.

“You look so pretty, True!!” Phoenix gushed, opening his free arm for a side hug that she immediately took, “You’re going to do great, sweetie. Isn’t that right, Miles?”

“Indeed, dear. Though, I fear she’s going to steal your spotlight.”

This made Trucy giggle, “I’ll try not to, daddy.”

“There’s no use, you’re too darn cute!!” her father reassured, giving her a final squeeze before releasing her so she could fulfill her role, “That’s our girl.”

“She’s a natural.”

“Isn’t she?!” Phoenix questioned, his pride overshadowing the way he anticipated stepping over the threshold onto the lawn, sneaking in a kiss to his fiance’s cheek before musing, “I’ll see you on the other side, hon.”

Reluctantly, the prosecutor let his fiance remove himself and stop out first like they rehearsed. Trying to steady his racing heart, especially while admiring his fiance’s beauty while waiting, Miles took the leap in front of him, overly aware of their guests focusing on him now while he took each calculated step. While he detested the attention, he soldiered on, his gaze tunneling on the one person who loved him enough to put up with his unresolved issues, his shorter temper, and unusual displays of affection, who wanted to be with him of all people until was standing opposite the attorney.

“Looks like our grooms have mismatched their outfits. That’s definitely a bold style choice!” the officiant remarked with a smirk, not faltering even under the sideways looks he received from both men, “Regardless… shall we start this ceremony?”

“Yes, and do get on with it, Payne.” Miles stated matter-of-factly, returning his gaze to his betrothed and realizing how gorgeous the man looked in even a small piece of his usual outfit.

Without missing a beat, Winston began the expected speech. While Miles usually did not care for the other prosecutor’s droning on, he was not bothered by the man who was taking some lighthearted digs at the two- mainly how it took them long enough to even start being a couple- though he did manage to keep it professional despite these jabs. Honestly, it felt friendly in a weird way, not too far removed from what Larry did, so it was familiar, too, a feeling of security settling over him.

“If either of you have vows to exchange, we’ll hear them now.” Payne prompted, pushing up his glasses while he waited for either man to take the opportunity.

“If it’s okay with you, Mi, I’d like to go first.”

The prosecutor nodded, “Please do, pretty bird.”

Phoenix beamed despite the fact that he began to fidget to combat his nerves, chuckling to himself before he remarked,, “From the moment we met as kids, I knew there was something I was drawn to about you. Of course, I didn’t know what that meant, that I felt the happiest when I was near you in a way no other person made me. And those feelings never went away even though you were cut throat and determined during a trial, it only made the feelings grow more intense, and the day when we became boyfriends was one of the best moments in my life. We’ve built a little family together, my daughter became ours. And knowing that you’re going to be in mine and Trucy’s life forever? I couldn’t be any more ecstatic!!

I know we’re going to have moments where we still butt heads, misunderstand one another, and might even step on each other’s toes, figuratively and literally. But, those moments are worth it if that means I get to be your husband. I adore you, Miles.”

The prosecutor in question felt the warm pinpricks of tears forming at his lashes, yet he knew it would take much more to let them flow and iit caused him to direct frustration at himself. What kind of person was he, if he couldn’t be moved to tears by his own partner??

But, he was moved, touched even, that Phoenix thought so much of him. Even after he was molded into the Demon Prosecutor he was known as, the attorney still loved him.

“If I may be so bold as to say, my sweet: you are the fire that still burns in my jaded heart. While it’s taken quite some time to get used to it, I am grateful for you bringing this warmth to my life,” Edgeworth declared, his composure buckling under the way his fiance looked at him with confused adoration and awe, a single tear snaking down his cheek under the weight of it all, “I gave up on pointless emotion long ago, but you restored my faith in how important they truly are. I have a long way to trek to get to being as human as you are, but I’m on my way. You, and Trucy, make me want to improve on myself… so, one day, I’ll be perfect and make up for it all.”

“You already are, Mi. That I’m certain of!”

Miles wanted to argue, but he refrained, knowing this was not the appropriate moment to do so; he was riddled with self-worth issues, and even with those, Wright had not called off the wedding.

“Thank you for believing in my potential, pretty bird,” Edgeworth added, giving a curt nod to the officiant before reaching for his partner’s left hand, “May I, dear?”

Phoenix nodded, tears already falling down his face that became a cascade of waterworks when he felt the engagement band start to slip off his finger.

Gently, Miles coaxed the silver band away from its wearer, waiting for the other prosecutor to give him the go-ahead. Then, he returned the ring to where it belonged- he still thought it odd that Phoenix didn’t want a different wedding band, but he did not argue with that request, murmuring, “That’s better, where it belongs.”

“Miles…!”

He glanced back to his almost-husband, unphased by the gushing attorney only so he could retort, “Are you not going to return the favor?”

“Oh, yeah, of course!!” Phoenix exclaimed, his face nearly matching the borrowed tie when he remembered it was his turn and rummaging in his breast pocket to produce a lighter, silver ring.

Extending his own hand, Miles faltered only for a few seconds when the band fell into place, observing the new and permanent addition to his attire.

“...Is this the part where we seal the deal?”

“Not yet. I have one thing to take care of,” the prosecutor remarked, directing his attention to the limited crowd and calling out, “Trucy, dear, would you please come here?”

Confused, but eager nonetheless, the girl ran up to the couple and looked up, “Yes, Papa Mi?”

The prosecutor kneeled onto both knees after securing the piece of paper tucked in his outfit, unfolding it in a slow, methodic way when he told her, “I know you’ve already accepted me as your second father. I want to ask you… How would you feel about me becoming your legal father?”

Trucy blinked, seeming stunned, which mirrored Phoenix.

“I know I’m putting you on the spot, forgive me, dear. But, I am also a part of your life, not just your father’s, and I felt it wrong to not include you.”

She was still quiet.

“If you don’t want me to, that’s okay too.’

“Does that mean you’ll be my papa forever??” Trucy questioned, seeming uncertain.

“It does, yes.”

It took a moment longer, and then the child threw her arms around Miles’ neck, crying and nodding even when the prosecutor put his arms around her in a rare return of a hug that lasted quite a while.

“I think she accepted! Am I right, True?” Phoenix assessed, his heart practically melting at the sight unfolding in front of him.

“Yeah!! He’s my papa, always!!”

This caused a chorus of ‘awws’ to echo around the small venue, the girl holding on to her new father tighter.

“I hate to cut this short, dear, but I do need to return to your dad.”

Trucy nodded, releasing Edgeworth from her grip only to cling onto his dress pants instead. Though it impaired his movements slightly, he did not mind and even appreciated it to a degree since it gave his partner the excuse to close the distance between them and initiate the binding kiss. It tasted overly salty, yet Miles did not let that detail stop him from returning the display of affection.

When he was forced to end the embrace, Miles handed over the adoption form to Winston and instructed, “We’ll sign both first to make the process easier.”

“You still need witnesses.” the other prosecutor reminded him.

“I am aware.”

“Rich said he’d be one. Larry?” Phoenix suggested.

“I mean, I am kinda busy here, Nicky!! You might wanna ask… someone else.”

“The only other person’s Maya so…?” he said, looking over to his assistant when he let out a loud yelp when he registered another woman sat next to her in the audience.

“Well, who else would be suitable for the task?” Edgeworth retorted.

“Since you asked, why not myself?”

Trying not to cause himself whiplash as he followed the familiar voice, Miles was stunned by his estranged sister being among their guests, for he assumed she would not have made the effort especially on such short notice. More surprising, she was dressed down from her usual eye-catching attire, wearing a simple blue dress that paired with the few gemstones she kept on her person.

Franziska did not wait for either man to approve, strutting her way to join the altar, “Count it as my blessing in all of this, little brother.”

“Wait… brother?!” Trucy asked with a gasp, gazing at the older woman in shock, “You’re really pretty!!!”

Franziska gave a slight smirk at the compliment, “Smart girl.”

Edgeworth gave her a cutting look in warning before inquiring, “And this benefits you, how?”

“Maybe it’s the only way she knows how to come back into your life?” Maya finally spoke up.

“You can reject my offer,” Franziska mentioned, ignoring the point the other woman brought into light, smoothing her dress with a gloved hand in a show of some anticipation. Though, she did not falter with the inclusion of, “Though, it would look more official if a prosecutor of my prowess signs off on such an important document. Don’t you agree, Mr. Payne?”

“I-I guess, but… I’m literally right here!”

“My point still stands.”

Miles turned back to his newlywed husband, clearly conflicted. He posed to ask for Phoenix’s approval when the attorney interrupted the attempt.

“It’s up to you, Mi.”

MIles contemplated this sudden turn of events, for even though he kept his reservations about accepting this proposition. From what his husband’s assistant interjected, and from years of growing up together, he could clearly deduce that his sister was trying to request, in turn, that they be somewhat closer than in the past. Still, he found himself being overprotective of his child and did not want to unearth her way of living if there might be some strings attached.

“Only on the premise that you will not use our child as a pawn.”

“That could be taken in many different ways, little brother.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I don’t. At least, not without you telling me the exact parameters of what you’re negotiating,” von Karma responded, glancing towards the defense attorney with little interest, “I’m sure you understand where I am coming from, Wright.”

“I mean… yeah, but this is our daughter we’re talking about! We’re not just going to let you do whatever you want!!” he argued, bristling ever so slightly.

“Stand down, dear. I have this under control,” Edgeworth stated, not daring to take his eyes off of his sibling even when he sensed the uneasiness in how his husband looked at him from behind. Ignoring the tension, he clarified, “You will not use Trucy against us or undermine how we raise her. Nor will you influence her in the way our… father… did. Understood?”

“I trust I will get this in writing later.”

“When I’m not in the middle of getting married.”

The female prosecutor considered her brother’s demands, chuckling to herself, “Naturally. I doubt you’ll have time after the ceremony to do so with our arranged plans.”

“You received my message then.”

“I wouldn’t be here otherwise. Anyway, I will accept your terms on a single condition.”

“And what on earth would that be?”

“That’s easy: I want to be involved with my niece.” Franziska answered matter-of-factly, unphased by the suspicious ways the men watched her, “I know you must be on edge due to this, but like you, I’ve done some thinking on how our upbringing made us. Like you’ve said yourself, I want to do better- or, at least try.”

“It’s true, Nick!!” Maya let out, appearing next to the other woman in the blink of an eye, pausing only to take her hand and knit their fingers together, “If it means anything, I know my girlfriend wants to make up for the past.”

“Girlfriend!? And you never mentioned this on our video chats, why??”

Maya gave a sheepish smile, “Better late than never?”

The siblings cleared their throats in tandem, caught in a stand still that Miles, for once, decided to break with his answer, “With that testimony, I believe I’m willing to accept this offer. As long as you make a noticeable effort, I would hate to see my daughter’s hopes snuffed out by her aunt.”

“That sounds promising.” she remarked.

Edgeworth gave a single nod and went to face his husband, noting the worry on his brow; while he was self-conscious to show more affection towards Phoenix knowing his sister was close by, yet he closed the distance between them and brought a hand to the other’s face, caressing his beloved in a similar way to how he preferred to be grounded when he himself was going through a flashback and stuck in his head, making sure that his ring made constant contact, musing, “I promise we will sit down and draft a document free of loopholes as soon as possible. Believe me when I say I have Trucy’s best interest at heart.”

Phoenix nodded, lifting his own hand to hold Miles’ in place, grateful for the affection.

“Talk to me, dear.”

“I know you do, you’ve proven it every single day!” the attorney reassured with a light, nervous giggle, “This is a lot, y’know?”

“Do you need a moment to collect yourself?”

“I can wait till after we finish the forms. Can I ask a favor, though?”

“You may. Whatever you need, I will fulfill it.”

“When we can finally sit down, can you hold me?” Phoenix requested, his hopeful demeanor tainted with a bit of bashfulness that was soon forgotten about when he remembered, “Oh, and… will you eat something?”

“The first I can guarantee, but the other… I will attempt to.”

“That’s fine, we can share a piece of cake.”

“Sure, dear,” Miles agreed with a small amount of apprehension, yet he appreciated his partner being selfish instead of putting himself to the side to take care of everyone else.

“If we’re done with all of this melodrama reunion, can we finish up?” Winston interrupted, gesturing for the grooms to meet him on the other side of the podium.

“Your patience is impeccable, Rookie Killer.”

“Sue me for trying to keep up with everything!”

“I have a half a mind to,” Edgeworth responded in a dry tone before he led his partner to the other side of the podium and signed off on the marriage certificate and adoption forms respectively, filling with a sensation of satisfaction knowing the family he built was secured.

When the two witnesses did the same, the prosecutor retired to a padded seat on the patio and sat with the contentedness of knowing he belonged somewhere, that he mattered to his husband- that word causing flutters in his chest, a sensation he detested until now- and his daughter. For once, he welcomed these emotions and wanted them to continue instead of his usual instinct to shove them aside, hoping this would not be his only experience of such.

“I didn’t expect you to be a family man after what we went through, little brother.” Franziska remarked, taking it upon herself to take the seat next to him.

“Well, I do care for Wright, and I couldn’t neglect his, our, daughter.” the man explained, voice catching for a moment that he cleared from his throat prior to carrying on, “She deserves to not be burdened with traumas of our magnitude. Or any, for that matter.”

His sister nodded, “Not that I’m complaining, she’s cute. And fatherhood looks good on you.”

‘I never expected a genuine compliment from you,” Miles commented, scanning over the rest and watching Trucy interact with the utmost enthusiasm with her Aunt Maya and Uncle Larry while her father was pulled aside by Gumshoe for some reason he would undoubtedly hear about soon, “Be honest, did Ms. Fey put you up to this?”

The woman was silent for a few minutes, watching how her girlfriend got along with the child. Then, she answered, “She did a lot of convincing me to reach out to you.”

“Not unlike my own partner, then.”

“Though, I came of my own accord,” she clarified, turning to meet her sibling’s perplexed expression, “I’m still processing what went on in the past, and I know I wasn’t the nicest person to live with…”

“We were pitted against each other, sister. Looking back, I do not take it personally.”

“Still, I recognize my part in his games. And so, I’m-”

“You don’t need to say it, you weren’t the one who made children fight for your attention,” Edgeworth interrupted, bracing for her to unsheath her notorious whip and brandish it against him for daring to cut her off. While she was visibly annoyed, she kept her own composure and waited for him to finish, “While your actions were hurtful, I realize the importance of doing so. Instead of staying in the past, though, I propose that we move on with a fresh start.”

“Do you think that’s the best option?”

“Do you not?”

“I want to ensure your confidence before I agree to this,” Franziska reasoned, giving a curt nod to her brother-in-law who approached with a plate in hand, “If you do believe so, then I will too.”

“It’s decided, then,” Miles confirmed, his attention on the attorney though he still spoke to the woman, “Since we are starting over, Franziska, this is my husband.”

The way Phoenix flushed and puffed his chest out at the same time caused the prosecutor to let out a huff of laughter, beckoning his partner closer.

“It seems that Wright has done a lot of good for you,” she commented, noting the hesitation in the newcomer when he reached the transition between grass and brick, “I don’t plan on whipping you again. Unless you treat my brother any less than what he deserves, you hear?”

Phoenix yelped at the threat, yet understood the purpose behind it, “Y-Yes ma’am! I would never hurt him.”

“Good, because if I catch wind of even the slightest whisper that you have,” Franziska continued, her voice lowering as she considered the nearby detective and child for different reasons, “I will make your disappearance untraceable.”

“I believe he’s received the message,” Edgeworth interjected, guiding his partner to sit on his lap and wrapping a loose arm around the other’s waist, “Isn’t that right, Phoe?”

“...Yeah. Jeez, I thought gaining a sister was supposed to be welcoming.” Phoenix muttered with a pout.

“Oh, trust me, this is her way of welcoming you.”

The woman nodded once, “Indeed. While I still think you a foolish fool, you are a part of the family now.”

“Uh, thanks?”

“Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to spend time with my new niece. We’ll talk more later.”

Without a glance back to the couple, she was off.

“I hope she didn’t terrify you too much,” Miles mused, giving an exasperated look to his beloved who was unbothered enough to start digging into the large slice of purple cake, accepting an offered bite, “You never fail to amaze me with how swift you are to recover.”

“I overheard a bit of what you were talking about, so… I figured, if she’s turning over a new leaf, I should too!”

“But?”

“...She still kinda scares me.” Phoenix admitted, snuggling closer into the embrace when he began to eat a spring roll stained with lilac icing.

Miles wrinkled his nose at the unbothered way his husband continued to eat, “Naturally, she would. Though, I trust she is being genuine.”

“That’s all that matters!”

Miles hummed, then warned, “Take more care to not ruin your suit, dear. We are going to lunch with my sister and Ms. Fey.”

“Oh, right!!” Phoenix exclaimed, causing his husband to roll his eyes knowing it was affectionate in nature, setting aside his plate on the glass table next to them and resting comfortably against the prosecutor, “I can’t believe we’re married…”

“It only took years of you pining for me after our court proceedings.”

“And years of writing ‘Mr. Phoenix Edgeworth’ in the free spaces in your old notebooks!” Maya called, giggling at how she startled the couple who thought they were in their own bubble.

“How do you know about that!?”

“So, it’s true. Figures…” Miles mused, a smirk growing on his exasperated face.

“What, you kept them in your office! What was I supposed to do, not read through them?”

“Yes, exactly that!”

“Whoops… Well, look at it this way, Nick! You manifested the man of your dreams!!”

Phoenix groaned in embarrassment, burying his face into the prosecutor’s chest, muttering a muffled, “I wish I was dead…”

“Take that back,” Miles said in a softened, yet still serious voice, tightening the hold on his husband and resting his chin atop Phoenix’s ducked head, “While it is ridiculous, I find it impressive that I caught your attention to such a degree.”

“Of course you would…”

“Though, I do not think it wise to change your surname.”

“Why not??”

“While I don’t think you would tarnish it,” Miles explained, trying to save his partner more shame on such an important day, “Your antics in the courtroom are unique to you, Wright. And you are worth having an identity that is not tied to me, pretty bird.”

Eventually crawling from where he hid, his face still pinkish in hue from his assistant revealing a childhood secret he never thought would be brought to light. Chuckling the bashfulness away, he continued to nuzzle into his spouse with gratitude and mused, “I still like the sound of your name with mine…”

“I’m sure we can reach a final decision on that, dear.”

From afar, Miles noticed how his sister smirked to herself and braced himself for a revelation of his own. Yet, it never came.

“Names aside… was it your idea to invite my sister anyway?”

“No, I would never go behind your back like that!!”

“I figured as much.”

Though he was not thrilled that the decision was made before he was ready to admit he wanted Franziska to be present, Edgeworth found himself owing a debt of gratitude to his child. That quality of being able to bring people together was one he overlooked, yet he knew how remorseful he would be had Trucy not tampered with the invitation; not unlike her father, she wanted the best for her other parent. And for that, the last of his uncertainty of whether or not he had any meaning, lasting impact on the girl dissipated.