Uh, spoiler warning goes here, I guess. Enjoy.

--

They sat on a bench by the river and watched the sun set, knowing that their borrowed time was coming to an end. They didn't need any words, not any more; they merely wanted to bask in each other's presence.

It was he who finally broke the silence.

"You know..."

She turned and looked at him. He was fiercely not looking at her, breathing deeply, like he was about to dive under water.

"You know, I...y'know..."

Now she was staring. She had never known him to stutter or be at a loss for words like this. He took a deep shuddering breath, and put a hand on his visor. His lips were trembling.

"Y'know, I was gonna ask you to marry me, when that case was through."

She didn't have anything to say in response to that revelation. All she could do was take his hand and hold it. He held her fingers too tight, clutching at her hand like a lifeline as his shoulders shook with silent sobs. There were suddenly so many things she wanted to say to him, so many things that she had never gotten the chance to let him know. All she could do was lean her head against his shoulder and whisper "I love you."

He gripped her hand tight again. "I love you too, Kitten."

"I'll be waiting."

"I'll see you again." And then, as the sun set, there was a moment of confusion, of shifting strangeness, and then her hand in his was tiny and the head leaning against his shoulder was Pearl's.

Rubbing her eyes, she sat up. For a moment, she seemed confused as to where she was, but then she looked at him, next to her. "Ah! Mr. Armando! How was your day with Mystic Mia?"

Laughing softly, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Perfect."

--

Notes: This probably takes place shortly after T&T, after the last case is over, but before Godot /Diego's own murder trial. In my head, this is canon.

Anyway, I didn't really intend to write this, but I finished playing through T&T, loved it, and then I was sitting at my computer, letting my mind drift, and I started thinking about Diego and Mia, and the way they had loved and lost one other, and I just started SOBBING. It was so strange. And then, as I was sitting there, still crying, I reached for the keyboard and tried to put that down into words. I probably didn't succeed, but I hope you liked it anyway. In case there's any confusion as to what's going on, Pearl channeled Mia so that she and Diego could have one last day with one another before he went to trial/prison. This is the end of that day.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and all associated characters are copyright Capcom.