(A/N: So, I've returned to writing fanfiction after at least two years. After completely wiping my profile and stories clean, I'll start a clean slate with a Phoenix Wright fic/drabble collection/anthology. As for pairings, basically anything goes. Same for genre, format, characters used, setting etc. Possible spoilers for all four games. Forgive me if the characterizations are off. Shutting up now.

Disclaimer: If I owned Phoenix Wright, I wouldn't be writing this.)

Never Would Have Made It

--

If Phoenix had never met his Dollie, the pretty redhead at university, he would probably be an artist or an actor.

At least, this is what he tells himself. After all, Dahlia (or rather, Iris) was the whole reason he became entangled in law. If she hadn't used Phoenix as a tool, he never would have met Mia Fey. He never would have been astounded by Mia's skill in the courtroom. He never would have become a lawyer (after all, Edgeworth wasn't there to inspire him anymore), let alone discover that he had actual talent in court.

He never would have met Maya, either.

("Nick, hurry up and get those papers done! You promised we'd go out for burgers!"

"Ugh. I know, I know. Just give me about ten minutes."

"Fine. But we're gonna watch the Pink Princess marathon."

"Sure, sure."

"And for movie night I get to choose the movies."

"Okay, whatever."

"And you have to pay for the food."

"Of cou- hey!"

"Too late, Nick!")

Larry would probably be in jail for the murder of his girlfriend.

("Hey, Nick, wanna buy a Samurai Dog? Everyone loves them!"

"Er, no thanks Larry."

"What!? C'mon Nick! Buy one for me!"

"Maya, I'm practically bankrupt."

"Oh. Okay."

"Ugh, don't look at me like that. Fine, I'll get you one."

"Hooray!"

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Nick!")

Edgeworth would have headed straight down the wrong path, continuing to be the 'Demon Prosecutor' that everyone hated (save for maybe Detective Gumshoe).

("Wright, what are you doing with my car?"

"I have no idea. Ask Larry."

"Ack! Edgey! Well, we weren't going to hijack it, if that's what you were wondering!"

"..."

"..."

"Hey, Nick! Why are you all standing around Edgeworth's car?"

"It's nothing. Let's go home, Maya."

"Okay, I guess..."

"Wait, Nick! No! Don't leave me here!")

He never would have gotten to know Detective Gumshoe. He never would have beaten Franziska von Karma. He never would have sent Manfred von Karma to jail.

He never would have done all the things that he was legend for, like weaseling the truth out of defendants and witnesses and prosecutors and all the other people he met and befriended along the way. He wouldn't know as much about the Fey family and spiritual channeling. He wouldn't know what a Magatama did or what Psyche-Locks were. There were so many things he wouldn't know.

When he saw Iris that last time in court, before she was imprisoned, he was too shocked with her role in Dahlia's plan to really appreciate what she did for him. (He was also a bit shocked to learn that she still loved him, even after all this time, and he felt a bit guilty that they could never be 'Feenie' and 'Dollie' again.)

It is only much later, while he thinks of would-have-beens and could-have-beens and should-have-beens when he tells her, in his mind, what he should (but couldn't) have told her back when he first became a lawyer.

'Thanks for everything, Dollie.'

(A/N: This is what happens when I use a different style than I'm used to. Review? Chapter titled after the song "Never Would Have Made It" by Marvin Sapp)