Risenfromash: This first chapter is just a prologue from Nick's POV. It may not be super-readable as it is stream of consciousness writing and present tense. So if you think this is crap please consider reading Chapter 1 when I post it because it will be in a completely different style. I'll be getting chapter one up soon. For those who read Our Secret Mission this is a sequel to it and there are subtle references to it within and this happens after everything else I've posted about Polly and Vera with Cleaning the Slate happening shortly before this begins.

Previously in the Polly/Vera story arc… Convicted Felon Vera Misham has been offered the opportunity to clear her criminal record of her felony forgery counts if she would work with Interpol for six to nine months helping them improve their forgery prevention and detection program. Apollo and her fought about whether or not she should take the offer and they ended up breaking up three days before she departed for Europe. Apollo is now biding his time till her return still living in their apartment, caring for Vera's pet fish (Henry the Magnificent), and speaking to her daily by phone.

Nick and Maya were married a few months prior to Vera's departure and continue to live with Trucy at the office of the Wright Anything Office and Justice Defense Company.

PROLOGUE- Nick

I started noticing it about a week or so ago. Maya was different. She seemed really exhausted. I figured it was the change in the weather. That always gets me, but it had to be more than that.

Then I saw them holding one another. Maya was sitting on the couch and Apollo had his arm around her. They're friends. I don't have a problem with that. No big whoop. We're a close family; Trucy's always crawling all over someone hugging them or kissing them or talking about her panties. It's cool, right?

But for some reason the image of the two of them looking so cozy keeps popping into my head as I lay here in bed with her. She didn't even kiss me goodnight. I don't get it. It seemed like she was avoiding my eyes, too. What is she hiding from me? I thought that when we had stopped having to take our secret missions together that the lies and secrets had stopped as well. Isn't that what we had agreed?

Maybe the elders are bugging her again. They sure are bugging me. This whole "Mystic Phoenix" thing is wearing my patience thin…and I'm just too much of a wreck now to think about it what with the exam only a week away, but I'd feel so much better if Maya seemed like herself and quit avoiding me. Maybe she just wants to give me plenty of time to study, but I haven't had this much space since she moved in and, frankly, I don't like it. Maya, you need to go back to smothering me. That's how I like it!

~xxxx~

Ugh! I had hoped it was my overactive imagination that was telling me Apollo and Maya were hanging out today an awful lot lately. I do have a brain that has been programmed to spot conspiracies. I see every large hamper or suitcase as a potential way to transport a dead body and I see every object as a potential murder weapon. I know how much people can lie while looking you right in the eye, but I had hoped it was my imagination. Years as an Ace Attorney can warp your mind.

But today it was the same damn thing Trucy and I had stuff to do, but Apollo just hung out at the office with Maya. I hate having these suspicions. I'm jealous. I'm actually jealous! But I don't get it? It doesn't make sense. Why would Maya have waited for me all those years if after only a few months of marriage she would cheat? Maya can't cheat! It's not in her nature. Same with Apollo…but then what is up? Since when are those two so…tight?

Even Trucy seems to be on the outskirts of this secret. I wonder if Vera might know what's going on. I could call her and fish around, but what if I worry her? She's stressed out enough, as it is what with how hard Interpol is making her work and breaking up with Polly. If I so much as insinuate he might be interested in someone else she'll probably freak out. I can't believe those two are still pretending they're broken up. What a crock! Apollo loves Vera.

~xxxx~

Vera would be crushed if what I suspect is going on is. But it can't be. No way. Even thinking it makes me feel guilty.

But, if Maya and Apollo aren't messing around what the hell's going on? And why aren't they telling me? Maya tells me everything. We share everything with one another. So what gives? I see the way he's looking at her like he's worried about her, like he cares about her. Is my love and care not enough anymore?

She's bored of me already. Maybe our whole relationship was about longing to be together. Maybe that's what made it feel so special and now that we're finally together and don't have that maybe the mystery is gone. Maybe Maya now sees me for what I am, a washed up former attorney who has been barely supporting his daughter and himself through cheating at poker and just barely playing the piano and I'm old. Just like she always points out.

Our secret missions were really fun, but I'm happier now that everything's out in the open. Isn't she? Maybe I should take her away again. We could go somewhere new and rekindle things. I won't let this be the end…but what if she wants him instead of me?

Ugh! I shouldn't be thinking about this now. I've only got five more minutes before the break is over and then it's back to Scan-Tron land. I'm so tired of filling out bubbles and I've got to concentrate. That last section whooped my butt there was way too much civil liberties law on there. I'm no good at that. I'm never going to use that. And how do they expect us to remember all this stuff? I'm getting old. Don't they understand my memory isn't what it used to be? Why am I even trying? The wrongly accused have Apollo now. They don't need me. Apollo actually knows what he's doing, unlike me. I never knew what I was doing. I didn't know then and I don't know now.

Oh, my God! What will I do if she's leaving me? How can I already be messing it up? I thought we were happy…I really did. At least, I was happy. I couldn't believe we were finally together after all those years of having to lie about how we felt about one another and having to see each other in secret.

Up until now I've been happier than I've ever been. I finally have the two most precious women in my life together, Maya and Trucy under one roof. I have Maya in my bed with me every night. I never thought this would happen.

Maya, why are you keeping secrets from me again? Why? I love you Maya! Please tell me what is going on!

I'm shaken out of my horrific fears by a voice.

"Excuse me, sir…but are you THE Phoenix Wright?"

I look up from my cup of coffee. It's some soon-to-be-a-greenhorn-attorney. He is dressed in a pinstripe suit with a gaudy tie. He looks like he's Trucy's age. Maybe he's a protégé like Franziska but I doubt it I think everybody starts looking like a kid when you're as old as I am.

I nod. "Yes, I'm Phoenix Wright."

"Wow. You and Apollo Justice are such an inspiration to me." Amazingly, the guy is serious. Dead serious. I smile. Yeah, Polly and me have both had some great moments in court… and some great moments out of court. He's a good kid. I kinda wish he were my son or brother or something. The kid's really awesome. I can't imagine anyone else I'd trust with Trucy. "Thanks. Well, if it weren't for Apollo I couldn't even be here today."

"Oh, man." He pushes his glasses up his nose and smiles. "You're so amazing…do you have any advice for someone like me just out of school?"

"Where'd you go to school?" I'm genuinely curious. I visited the law school when Apollo was going there, but I haven't been back since. Maybe that's why this kid doesn't look familiar to me. Then again lawyers are a dime a dozen.

"Jefferson." Yuck. Jefferson. My first advice would have been to not go there, Ivy is such a better school but maybe he wasn't lucky enough to get into Ivy. I'm lost in my thoughts. What did he ask me? Oh, yes. Advice. I have none. After all, I messed up…well maybe I have some.

"Have a really good team. They should all be people you trust, people who are like a family to you. People you would risk your life for." I tear up. Without my family I wouldn't be here. I think about Maya and Ema and Trucy they're the best assistants you could ever have and none of them were ever formally trained. I think about Mia and Apollo the best partners anyone could hope for. Without these people I'd still be known as a crooked lawyer…well, more crooked than your average attorney anyways.

"Really, you think your assistants are that important?"

"Absolutely. Your partner, too."

"So, how do you pick them?"

"They don't. They pick you."

He looks at me like I'm crazy. I'm used to this look and I merely smirk. They're calling us back into the exam. I toss my coffee cup into the garbage and stuff my hands back into my hoodie pocket. Three more hours of torture to go. Yippee!

"Nice talking to you. Good luck." I tell him.

He nods at me and watches me as I head back into the exam room. I hope for his sake that he's not going into criminal law. It can eat you up and spit you out and this guy doesn't look like he could take it.

~xxxx~

That was a nice dinner Trucy made me. I wish I could have stomached more of it, but the tension is killing me. Before dinner I heard Maya whisper to Apollo that she'd "tell me after dinner" so I'm counting down the minutes until my world officially collapses.

I glance at Apollo. It's funny. He seems nervous, but not guilty. You'd think if he was messing around with my wife he's be acting at least as guilty as he does when he eats the last of the pudding without telling anyone. He's such a good kid. It's gotta be something else…it's just got to be.

I look around at "Apollo's" apartment. He must really love Vera because this is the girliest bachelor pad I've ever seen. Then again he's been in love with her from the first moment he saw her or so Trucy tells me. She was there; I wasn't. But it didn't take me long to pick up on the fact that for him Ms. Misham wasn't just another client. He didn't just want to get her a not guilty verdict he wanted to help her start a new life. And he has. I'm sure that if she were here none of this would be happening. Polly worships her. There's no way he and Maya would be…

Oh, Jesus. Trucy wants to play charades. Ok, munchkin. I'll play. I don't feel like it, but for you I'll do it. It's not your fault Daddy's world is falling apart around his eyeballs. Not that it isn't always doing that. Trucy, no matter what happens you and me have got each other even if Maya and Apollo decide to be together it'll be ok because I have you.

Oh, I should be paying attention. It's a movie title. Ok. Let's see. She's scratching her armpits and hopping around. Gotta be a monkey. I can't think of any movies about monkeys. All I can think of is you, Maya. Damn. Concentrate, Phoenix. Maya, you and I have gotta talk. If I'm making you unhappy you need to tell me. I'll try harder.

Do you think I'm pressuring you to get a job when I complain about the bills? Because I'm not. I'm just venting, letting off steam and frustration. I'm not mad. Or is it that I'm boring you? That's it isn't it? I'm too old for you and I'm completely uninteresting. That's what it is. Apollo's closer in age to you…but I don't get it. He's supposed to be with Vera. We all know this. We all see the way his eyes light up when she enters the room or when she calls from Europe. It's like the way I am when you're around, Maya. Oh, Maya.

Apollo got it! "3 Monkeys and a Pirate" that's a movie title? Never heard of it, but everybody else seems to have. Oh, my God. I'm old. I don't even know the names of popular movies. My live peaked ten years ago. I'm washed up. Why'd I even take the bar exam again?

Oh, Maya's turn. She's so excited. She's so adorable, so cute. I can't believe my life with her is falling apart. Concentrate. Put on a happy face for Trucy. Don't let your problems with Maya ruin this nice evening with the family.

She's motioning like she has a big belly. Trucy guessed Santa Claus. That's a good guess…oh; she's rocking her arms like she's rocking a baby to sleep.

I extend my arm and point while shouting it. "You're Having a Baby."

Maya's grinning and hopping up and down. Why is she so excited that I figured out…? Oh, my GOD!

"Maya. You're…pregnant?"

She's in my arms. Hugging me. I glance at Apollo. She's having his baby? I don't get this…I mean I heard him tell her she needed to tell me…oh, lord. I've been an idiot. He's been covering for her morning sickness so I'd take the damn bar exam. Of course, he covered for her. He would do anything for us. He and Maya would do this for me. It's so Maya and Apollo.

"You knew didn't you?" I look at him. He grins sheepishly and runs his hair through his spikes as he nods.

"I'm so relieved. I thought you were having an affair with Maya."

The shouts about my stupidity are surely heard around the globe and Maya's punch to my gut is very well deserved and even though it hurts I just grin. I grin from ear to ear. I've never been happier. I'm gonna be a Dad…again, Maya stills loves me, and I have the best friends and daughter on the planet. My life is awesome.

Risenfromash: In case it isn't obvious the last section was at Vera and Apollo's apartment because downstairs in the office where Truce and Maya/Nick live they only have a kitchenette so whenever they have a sit-down dinner they use Vera's apartment. I've had this happening in a lot of my stories, but I realize since Trucy was the cook it might confuse people why Nick was commenting on Vera/Polly's decorating which is of course all Vera and all lavender.