A/N: Hi, everybody! I know I haven't submitted stuff in a while but, I have now! I still have other stories to finish . . . criminy . . . But this one had to be written! I was sad at how few Maya/Phoenix fics there are . . . or fics with Maya at all and the overwhelming majority of Phoenix/Edgeworth and other such slash dry heaves

The only Maya/Phoenix I could find was rated M and didn't feel believable to me. I'm not saying my story will be any better but I'm willing to try. I love Nick/Maya but can't see them plunging immediately into sexual relations after confessions . . . please! My take on both their personalities is that of extreme naivety. They're both big kids on the inside, well Maya's inner child is more on the outside than Phoenix. Their relationship is of great friends perhaps almost brotherly/sisterly like—but—it could easily be pushed to lovers. Their age gap is not that severe and gosh darn it if Phoenix wasn't just so sad and cute the way he was freaking out over the threat to her life in the fourth case of the second game and the fourth piece of evidence and the way Maya interacted with Phoenix when they were reunited—so cute! If they became lovers I would see it as very innocent. In my world the sex would be coming after the marriage. Anyway, I've ranted long enough. Oh, also, to those who haven't played the second game, a warning: SPOILERS ABOUND AHEAD! And I can't remember the dialogue exactly from certain parts of the games so cut me some slack there, if you will. I tried to remember as best I could!

Chapter 1

When did she become such an inseparable aspect of my life?

The fear that gripped me as I broke down the door to the Channeling Chamber . . .

Maya's agonized expression as she stared at me through the bullet-proof glass . . . The eyes staring back out at me were dark and dead, so unlike those of the Maya I knew and . . .

I could not remember the last time I had felt so helpless. Talking on the radio with De Killer . . . knowing my client was guilty . . . hearing Maya's frightened voice through the tinny speakers.

" . . . And now I'm going to lose the person closest to me!"

I recalled all this as I stood in the lobby waiting for Maya. If Pearls had not beat me to her I would have crushed Maya in my arms and probably kept her there for an embarrassingly long time.

At the Diner I was, for once, more than happy to treat my assistant. I was strangely relishing the sight of her biting into a cheeseburger, her features melting into absolute, unmitigated pleasure. Perhaps it was not so strange. I thought I would never see her breathe again, much less eat. Funnily enough, breathing was not something she was concerned about while scarfing down her burger.

"Whoa, Maya," I patted her back with a nervous laugh, "you might want to slow down before you choke! I just got you back." She must have heard the faint somber tone in my voice because she stopped eating, a hard concept in itself, and looked up at me. Her eyes seemed to deepen in color; countenance mature.

"Thanks . . . Nick."

These were her words in the court lobby. Her expression then in was the same as she had on her face now. Something else had lingered in her eyes as well . . . something momentarily beyond my befuddled mind's recognition . . .. Before me I suddenly saw Maya for the young woman on the cusp of twenty that she really was. Gee, the Diner was awfully warm.

"Nick?"

The sound of her voice and the sight of her lips moving startled me out of my reverie. I realized I had been staring at her for almost a full minute. Maya frowned, concern etched on her face.

"Are you okay, Nick? You look a little flushed. I hope it's not a result of all the stress I caused you . . . though it probably is." Maya hung her head.

"Oh, no, no, no, Maya. It's not that . . . i-i-it's just a little warm in here." I loosened my tie. My assistant did not look convinced. Her attention was no longer on her half-eaten cheeseburger.

"Can I get this to go?" Maya asked a passing waitress.

"You're full?" I asked, incredulous.

"Yep!" She responded in a cheerful tone, but her carefree smile did not reach her eyes.

Once outside we made to part ways with Edgeworth but her stopped me, wanting to talk with me.

The taxi we had hailed came to the curb.

"Maya, why don't you and Pearls go on ahead to the office, I'll meet you there."

"Right-o, Nick!" She said saluting me, wearing another false smile.

"What's wrong with Miss Fey?" Edgeworth asked me once the taxi pulled away.

"I don't know."

Edgeworth gave me an odd look for a moment. His cool gray eyes hinted at some amusement.

"My foster sister sent this to me in the mail," a small envelope passed into my hands, "with the explicit instruction to present it to you."

"Miss Von Karma?"

"She said she was going to wait until she met with you again in court to give it to you but, apparently changed her mind for one reason or another."

"Really?" I was doubtful. It must have shown on my face.

"Yes. . . Well—to tell the truth—I talked her into it. I thought it was imperative that you have that card."

Curiosity drove me to open the envelope right there. I was shocked to see De Killer's calling card.

"Turn it over," Edgeworth instructed.

I did and was even more shocked to see a profile drawing of myself incorporated with the shell image on the card. Underneath it was my nickname, "Nick."

"We found it on the floor of the room where De Killer had kept Maya imprisoned."

I did not know what to say. All I knew was I had never been so deeply touched as this before. She had been thinking of me the whole time . . . believing in me . . .

I felt again the overwhelming urge to hug her—and tightly.

"Go," said Edgeworth with an irritating grin.