A/N: Miles Edgeworth and Phoenix Wright do not belong to me; they belong to CAPCOM. Other incidental characters, both Union and Confederate, the plot and Melissa Thurber-Wright are mine. :) Lieutenant General James Longstreet, C.S.A., is real and used fictitiously.

Thumbnail artwork is a gift art that StudioKawaii made for me for my birthday last year. THANKS, DEARS! 3

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Three different people, three points of view.

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Chapter 1 of a four part fic. Takes a look at three different characters and their reactions to Phoenix's death at Malvern Hill. The first looks at Lieutenant James Longstreet, followed by Miles, then by Melissa Thurber-Wright, Phoenix's mother and, finally, all three will be brought together in the final chapter. Hope you enjoy!

The title comes from a romance novel I have and from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV): For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Not beta read

Comments are appreciated and constructive criticism is welcomed. I will probably change some things at some point; always room for improvement!

Thanks to my readers and all those who have favourited, reviewed, story alerted, favourite author or author alerted me. I appreciate it more than I can say!

Thanks to Pearls1990, my beta reader, for the inspiration! :)

Special thanks to my beloved husband, DezoPenguin, for all his help, support, advice, nagging (when necessary) encouragement and the title! I appreciate it more than I can say! Love you!

Rated Teen, Male/Male relationships, Angst/Tragedy, American Civil War AU, Alternate Universe, Phoenix & Edgeworth

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July 6, 1862
Confederate camp of Lieutenant General James "Old Pete" Longstreet
His quarters
9 P.M.

Lieutenant General James Longstreet sat back in his chair, rubbing his eyes with his fingertips. Letters home to families who's loved ones had been killed in battle were never easy ones to write but his was no reason for him not to; he had a duty and one he didn't shirk from, no matter how hard it was.

The parchment paper lay on the desk in front of his ink blotter with only a few words scrawled on it but his heart was too heavy to continue and he had laid down the pen, tears running down his face.

He'd heard of Phoenix's death a few days earlier from Major Shaw who'd been prostrate with grief at the Major General's death. He also let Longstreet know that he, personally, had killed the Confederate sharpshooter responsible for firing the fatal shot that had killed Phoenix.

He'd placed himself in Longstreet's hands by admitting what he'd done to him but Longstreet couldn't find it in his heart to blame him. Military justice would be served but he resolved to put it off until later. Truthfully, he wondered if he wouldn't have done the same had he witnessed the Major General's death.

He wiped his red-rimmed eyes again and, picking up the pen once again, began to write.

July 6, 1862

My Dearest Melissa

I do not know if you have heard the news as of yet-although I suspect that you already know-but it is my sad duty to inform you that your son, Major General Phoenix Wright, was killed five days ago at Malvern Hill.

Longstreet stopped, feeling tears welling up again in his eyes. He sat back, letting his grief roll over him as he wept. He waved back his aide-de-camp who had come into the room to see if something was amiss; to his credit, Lieutenant Markham nodded once and left, closing the door behind him as he did so.

After some time had passed and he felt more in control of himself, he picked up the pen and continued to write.

He died saving Colonel Miles Edgeworth's life, his beloved, taking a Minié bullet in the back as he charged up from below. I'm told that it was a Confederate sharpshooter who fired the fatal shot and your son bravely intercepted it. I'm also told that the one who killed Phoenix is, himself, among the dead so perhaps in this there will be some shred of comfort, however small it may be. That will not bring him back, my dear friend, but I know that I am proud to have known and have had him serve under me; I can honestly say that I have never known a better, or more unselfish man, than he. He does you, and our late Martin, proud.

I've often accused him of being a reckless, damned fool in the past, dear Melissa, but I cannot fault him for his actions in this case. He did as his deep love for Miles directed he should and I cannot help but feel pride in him for his selfless self-sacrifice.

He stopped again, lowering his head for a few moments before he lifted it again and continued writing though his fingers were a little shaky. He'd written many a letter like this over the past year but never was one proving to be so difficult as this one was.

He died with honor and I can only hope that this will be of some comfort to you. I know that this will not bring him back but perhaps you can glean some mode of satisfaction that your beloved son, whom the Army of Northern Virginia is mourning today as am I, dear friend, did as he felt he had to. Louisa also sends her condolences-I told her the news as soon as I learned of it-and she will be coming to see you in a few days; I wish that I could accompany her but I am unable to due to the uncertain circumstances of War. Rest assured that my grief, and sorrow, is as heavy as yours as I, too, loved him as if he were my own son.

We were the closest of friends and I wish that he could have been spared to us but this is not to be.

He paused again, looking out of the window, staring off into the distance in silence. He closed his eyes as another wave of grief washed over him. He sat there, shaking with suppressed sobs, wishing with all of his heart that he didn't have to write this letter to his dear friend Melissa; she would be heartbroken, having lost both her husband and now her son in the past five years.

She wouldn't be unlike any other woman who was suffering the loss of her sons, husband, father, brothers and uncles but he inwardly cursed the ever spinning Wheel of Fortune, just the same. He wished that he could spare her the grief to come.

He composed himself and continued.

We were the closest of friends and I wish that h could have been spared to us but this was not to be. I share your pain at his loss and I know that the men who served under your son will also mourn him greatly for they loved him as much as I did. I am sure that there will be some who will write to you and share their memories of him with you. I know that this is only small comfort but it is offered with the most sincerest of hearts and I pray that God will be with you in this time of sorrowful testing.

I suspect that Miles will be coming to see you, as well, in the coming days and I pray that he will not blame himself for this tragedy as I know full well that he will. He came to see me two days ago and he looked absolutely wretched, repeating over and over how sorry he was and how he wished that it was he who took that bullet and not Phoenix. I tried my best to comfort him but his sorrow is deep and great and I fear that he may do himself harm if he is left to himself and his unrelenting grief.

I will close now, my dearest friend, for tears blind me and I have nothing more to add that I haven't already said. Again, I regret that this letter to you after so many years couldn't have held better news and I am sorry that I couldn't bring it to you personally. I wish that I could be there to comfort you and I know that Phoenix wouldn't want you to grieve him too long and stop living your life on his account.

If there is anything that you need, please don't hesitate to name it and I will be happy to try and get it for you. It is the least I can do.

Please accept our condolences on the loss of Phoenix; take care and do be well in these sad days to come. All of our love to you and kisses from the children who also send their love and condolences. God bless you and be always with you.

As Always,
Your Devoted Friend,
James Longstreet
Commanding Officer
The Army of Northern Virginia

PS Perhaps this is not the proper time to include this, and please forgive me, dear friend but I hear that Colonel Mason has been paying you court recently and I wished to be the first to congratulate you. He is a fine man and I know that he is quite taken with you, as well, as he has for many years now. I remember Phoenix telling me that Colonel Mason had asked him for his permission to pay you court after First Manassas and he told him that he should ask you for himself as you were fully capable of making your own decisions in this matter. He was, indeed, every inch his father's son and I am grateful to have known him for as long, and as closely, as I did. Believe me, my dear Melissa, that I will miss him as well for he was like a son to me though were close friends.

Done at last. He put down the pen, blew on the ink to dry it, folded it and placed it into the cream colored envelope that he had lying next to his left hand on his desk, licked the outside and sealed it, placing it in the box that lay at the top right hand corner. He would see to it that it would be sent to Melissa via special courier. He wished that he could be there to deliver the sad news in person but he had a War to fight and, personal feelings aside, it was what he would continue to do.

He looked out of the window again and lowered his head, praying for the happy repose of Phoenix's soul before returning to the work that they had begun together and now that he must complete alone.

Godspeed, Phoenix, and happy journey. We'll meet again someday on that happy shore.