"1 ... .2 ... 3 ... 4 ..."
"HAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH !"
"Pull it again, Miss Skye! Harder! Harder, Miss Skye!"
"I ... can't ... it hurts, Oh my God! Mm-miles ... "
"Stay with us, Miss Skye! A little bit more! A little more, then the baby will come out!"
"HYAAAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH ... AAAAAHHHHHH !"
"Sis, hang on..." sobbed Ema Skye as she clutches her beloved sister's hand tightly. It's been more than 8 hours she accompanied Lana struggling to give birth to her baby. Endlessly she prayed silently .. God… Please save my sister. She and her baby must be safe! They must be healthy ! Suddenly a baby's voice, no, two babies, broke the silence in the room.
"Congratulations, Miss Skye! Twins baby boy!" said the doctor who helped her birth, doctor Damian Duff. He lifted the babies very carefully, then handed them to Lana's hand.
Both Lana and Ema was fascinated by the beauty of the twins. The twins had gray eyes like Edgeworth, a nose like Edgeworth, and eyebrows and lips like Lana. Lana looked at her son's weakly... This may be the first and last time she can see her sons, the result of her love with Edgeworth ...
"Ema," Lana called softly. "If I couldn't survive ... please keep your promise ... Don't tell Miles anything ... And make sure the names of these two children are Dominic and Dominico."
"Sister!" Shouted Ema, her face already wet with tears. "Please don't say that! You will survive! You're coming home soon! And me, Mr. Edgeworth, and you, together, three of us will take care of these two children until they grow up!"
"Ema ... my sweet little sister ... I'm sorry ... I can't hold it any longer ... ..Please tell Miles ... if I love him ... more than anything ..." Complications happen. Lana closed her eyes slowly, making Ema scream hysterically as she squeezed her hospital gown. All the doctors and nurses in the room were bowed down, regretful, why they couldn't save all of them.
The day was very dark, but Edgeworth was still sitting in his office in the High Prosecutor's office. His eyes were tired after signing dozens of forms and letters. He glanced briefly at the clock, and jumped because it was half past eight. Yawning slightly, he started tidying the files into his briefcase to finish it at home. He then picks up his cell phone, intending to call Lana, asking if they will have a romantic dinner to celebrate their one-year anniversary. Since early this morning, Lana has not replied to his text messaging or phone calls, making Edgeworth feel a little worried. It's unusual for Lana didn't give any news to him like this, usually, no matter how busy she was, she would give news to Edgeworth.
DUK DAK DUK DAK DUK.
Edgeworth raised his head from his cellphone screen, and Ema Skye was now standing in front of him. Her face was red and she looked very sad. Ema bit her lip. How can I tell this sad news to Mr. Edgeworth? How? He can get a sudden heart attack ... Especially if he knows the cause why Lana died…
"Ema?" Edgeworth asked in surprise. "What happened to you? You got ripped off ? Anyone hurt you ? Someone harasses you? Tell me!"
Ema is still silent, not answering. She bit her lips very hard, and finally sobbed loudly.
"Ema Skye, tell me who was harassing you! Now!"
"N-no, Mr. Edgeworth! There are no one w-who h-harrassed me!"
"Then why are you crying?"
"S-sis… S-sis ... died this afternoon," Ema replied stammered.
"Sorry, Ema? I guess I did not hear you right ... What did you say? Lana died?" Edgeworth chuckled. "Ema, such a joke is not funny, you know! Yesterday we were still kissing and watching movies together, playing pancho and snake ladders and Lana cooked me a delicious pasta ... "
"Mr. Edgeworth, what for am I kidding? ! Sis is dead! Sis was gone! Lana had left all of us!"
Suddenly Edgeworth became hysterical. No, no, no! This is not possible! Ema must be confused! Next week I was just about to propose Lana!
"Where is the proof that Lana is dead, Ema?! Wheeeeeereeee? !" cried Edgeworth as he squeezed Ema's shoulders and shook her violently.
"Come with me to our apartment, Mr. Edgeworth. T-they've brought sis' corpse. Tomorrow Lana will be buried."
Still with a headache and hoping it was all a dream, Edgeworth nodded, and walked with Ema to his car.
He actually knows, Ema couldn't be kidding for this sort of thing. But still, he could not accept it, that his beloved lover was dead! Lana always looked healthy, she never even got sick at all, in contrast to Edgeworth who had chickenpox at least twice a week. Edgeworth drove very fast, unable to concentrate. When they reached Lana and Ema's apartment, Ema dragged him off the car. And it was true. The mourners had begun to arrive. Edgeworth pushed inside, not ready for what he saw ...
And he saw it. Lana's body lying lifeless in the crate. He could not help himself. Edgeworth ran over to the crate, kissed Lana's pale forehead, clasped her hands, and tears dropped from his cheeks. The mourners watched in astonishment. Yes, who would have thought they finally could see the Demonic Attorney Miles Edgeworth weeping for his boss's death?
Lana and Edgeworth's relationship was kept as a secret, because they do not want people to gossip about it and become scandalous. Although some employees in the High Prosecutor's Office suspect them both. Who knew that Lana and Edgeworth was in a relationship only Ema and Franziska. Even Maya, Phoenix, and Detective Gumshoe didn't know at all if Edgeworth and Lana have been dating for a year.
The next day, Lana was buried. Edgeworth and Ema didn't stop crying. Both of them felt so miserable, but Ema knew that Edgeworth was far more devastated than her. She tried hard to cheer up her future brother-in-law, though she did not succeed in getting him to stop crying.
"Ema," Edgeworth said as he finally managed to stop crying. "I just realized. You have not told me why Lana died. Is it because she's sick?"
Ema swallowed. Her sister had told her for not to tell Edgeworth about their two children ... But what about those two poor babies, if their father does not know about them and their mother was gone? Ema was unlikely to care for the two babies, she is only 16 years old!
Edgeworth looked suspiciously at Ema. "She's not really ill, is she? Tell me, Ema, Lana actually died because of what?"
Ema took a deep breath. "If you want to know the answer, c'mon, we're going to the Advent hospital."
Edgeworth was very confused. Why would they go to the hospital if Lana's been buried? Maybe Ema will take him to a doctor who would explain Lana's illness? But he did not press Ema any longer. They then headed to the Advent Hospital.
Upon arriving at the Advent Hospital, Ema leads the way very quickly without saying a word, and without giving Edgeworth a chance to ask. They passed ward after ward ... as they entered the pediatric ward, Edgeworth suddenly had an uneasy feeling. Don't say Lana die because of ... Oh no ...Is my guess right? But indeed I've had sex with Lana several times ...
They then entered the NICU. Edgeworth felt his knees go limp. Looks like his guess was right. Ema takes Edgeworth's hand, and leads him toward the incubator of a very small baby.
"Well, you can conclude yourself now, why did my sister die, Mr. Edgeworth?"
Edgeworth's lips turned pale. "Because ...complications of childbirth?" He guessed fearfully.
Ema nodded slowly. "Yes. And this boy, is you and sis' son." said Ema again.
"So, Lana was die because of giving birth to this child?!" Edgeworth exclaimed. Somehow he suddenly felt an inexplicable hatred penetrating his chest. Lana died of childbirth ... Lana sacrificed her life to give birth to this child ?
"Sorry, Mr. Edgeworth! I almost forgot. Not 'this boy' but 'these two boys', Mr. Edgeworth." said Ema as she pointing her finger to another incubator. "You and sis' son are twins, Mr. Edgeworth. Before Lana died, she told me that the names of these twins were Dominic and Dominico."
Edgeworth grabbed his chest and leaned against the wall. Cold sweat soaked his forehead now.
"TWO CHILDREN? NO, THIS IS A DREAM, THIS NEVER HAPPENS, THIS ... THIS ... "
"Mr. Edgeworth! Calm down!"
Then Edgeworth collapsed to the floor with a deafening enough sound.
As Edgeworth opened his eyes again, he was lying on a waiting room chair. Ema brought him a glass of water.
"Ah, finally you're awake, Mr. Edgeworth! You really scared me! Here, have a drink, Mr. Edgeworth!"
Muttering his thanks, Edgeworth drank the water quickly. Tears slowly wet his cheeks again.
"Since when was Lana pregnant?"
"Since that trial, Mr. Edgeworth. When the trial, my sister had been pregnant for 1 month! Well I'm not surprised since both of you often dating after coming home from work and I often hear oh oh oh oh oh sound in our apartment at midnight!"
"Hey! So you often eavesdrop us?" Edgeworth's face flushed. "When she was in court she was pregnant for 1 month? Why she didn't tell me anything ? But ... if the twins were indeed my son and Lana, that would be ... only 7 months! The twins shouldn't born yet!"
"The twins were born prematurely, Mr. Edgeworth! Because my sister suffers from long term stress! She's really worried when you're in the hospital because hit by pole and when you're involved in the Robert Hammond murder! She won't tell you, because she knows you dislike children! She's afraid you'll leave her if you know she was pregnant!"
"WHAT?"
"So how, Mr. Edgeworth? You'll take care of and raise your own children, right? I certainly can not take care of them, I'm only a highschool student!"
"You think I want to take care of the babies who had killed Lana ?!" Edgeworth shouted again. Ema clasped her mouth, not believing what her late sister' boyfriend had said. Feeling very angry, without thinking again, Ema rose from her chair, swinging her hand ...
PLAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKK!
Edgeworth was dumbfounded. This was the first time a woman, a minor, dared to slap his smooth as silk cheek!
"HOW CAN YOU BLAME LANA'S DEATH TO AN INNOCENT AND WITHOUT SIN BABIES, MR. EDGEWORTH?!"
"IF SHE DON'T GIVE BIRTH TO THAT BABIES, LANA WOULD BE STILL ALIVE AND HERE WITH US, EMA! THEY ALSO HAVE MADE YOU LOSE YOUR SISTER!"
"THAT BABIES NEVER ASK TO BE BORN, MR. EDGEWORTH! MAYBE ALL OF THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF YOU'RE NOT HAVING A LUST WITH MY SISTER'S BODY!"
"OBJECTION! IT'S NOT LUST, IT'S LOVE! YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND, EMA, YOU'RE STILL A SMALL CHILD!"
"OBJECTION! I AM NOT A SMALL CHILD, MR. EDGEWORTH! I AM 16 YEARS OLD!"
"Hello, what's all this fuss about? Sorry sir and little lady, if you still clashing like foxes who want to kill each other, we are forced to drive both of you out. This is a hospital, not place where the orangutans are shouting." said a passing doctor.
Edgeworth and Ema fell silent, then sat back in their seats.
"How, Mr. Edgeworth? You're Dominic and Dominico's biological father, you have to be responsible and take care of them! Raising them!"
"But I do not know anything about babies, Ema! How can I take care of two babies at once if I have never dealt with children, and I am busy with my work?!"
"You can learn, Mr. Edgeworth! With your nanny when you were a child, what's her name?"
"Michella?"
"Yes, that's right!"
"Aggh ... I don't know, Ema ... please give me some time to think ... just three days, okay?"
"OK!"
"And don't forget to keep this a secret. If the public knows about the relationship between me and Lana, and I have children from our relationship, this will be a big scandal and the High Prosecutor's Office name will tarnish further!"
"You don't have to say that, Mr. Edgeworth! Of course I will shut my mouth! Let's go home!"
Without them knowing it, someone had eavesdropped on the conversation they had been talking about, and recorded it with a tape recorder.
"Hihihihi ... So you have children out of wedlock, the result of your relationship with Lana Skye, Miles Edgeworth? Hihihihi ... just wait ... your name will be destroyed more..! Then my revenge to you will be avenged!"
The next day, as Edgeworth walks into his office, he can feel the cynical look and whispers of the people. Edgeworth frowned. It's impossible about Dominic and Dominico already spread to the public, right? There's just me and Ema in the waiting room!
Upon entering the High Prosecutor's office, his colleagues also looked at him with disdain. Edgeworth tried to ignore it. He then went into his room, preparing the tea first before facing the pile of files on his desk.
DUAK!
Detective Gumshoe slammed the door, hitting Edgeworth's face, and in an instant, his forehead was full of bumps and his nose was swollen. His suffering wasn't enough there. The cup of tea he was holding spilled over his favorite cravat, which he had just washed for over 4 hours.
"DETECTIVE!" shouted Edgeworth. "What are you doing? Breaking into my office is like a thief who was chasing a chicken! Look, my forehead was bumping! Do you want your salary getting cut again, again, again, Detective?!"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Edgeworth! But, I heard the gossips from people ... then from TV .. is that true, Mr. Edgeworth? I just want to ask for your confirmation!"
"Talk clearly, Detective! What kind of gossip?"
"Try to turn on the TV, Mr. Edgeworth."
Rubbing his sore forehead from the bumps, with wonder Edgeworth turned on the TV.
"Yes, and hot news today, viewers! The Demon Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth turned out to be a naughty boy! He had been dating Lana Skye, and from the result of their relationship, two babies twins named Dominic and Dominico were born. We wonder why Chief Skye died, it turns out that poor woman died from complications during childbirth! And can you believe it, viewers? Miles Edgeworth blames two innocent babies for his lovers' death! This is the second biggest scandal in the High Prosecutor's Office after the SL-9 case! Come on, let's hear the recording of the conversation between Mr. Edgeworth and the younger sister of the late Chief Skye, Ema Skye.."
Then the host set the tape. What is none other than the voice of him and the voice of Ema. How can they know ? Who's recording my conversation and Ema ?
Edgeworth was very shocked, and finally sprayed his tea into Detective Gumshoe's face.
"Gee, Mr. Edgeworth! I'm sorry I made you bump, but it's so hot!" Detective Gumshoe's hissed. He then took his handkerchief and wiped his face.
"B-b-but… H-h-how ... ?" whispered Edgeworth limply.
"How about it, Mr. Edgeworth? Don't tell me the news was true ... "
Edgeworth took a short breath, and closed his eyes.
"Yes, Detective. I did have twins from my relationship with Lana. Ema says she's been pregnant for a month while in that Bruce Goodman trial ... But I have no idea about that! Lana did not tell me at all!"
"Whoa, Mr. Edgeworth ... Means I've become an Uncle?" Detective Gumshoe's face looked very happy. "When will you bring them home, Mr. Edgeworth?"
"I'm not taking them home, Detective! Those babies who had killed Lana, those babies who had made me lose the woman I love ... I ... I plan to send them to an orphanage."
Detective Gumshoe looked at Edgeworth in disbelief. His mouth opens widely. Love can indeed make someone think stupid! Then, his hand swung, and ...
PLAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKK !
Detective Gumshoe slapped Edgeworth.
Ema's slap was not gone yet, and now he's slapped by Detective Gumshoe as well! Just yesterday he was shocked to be slapped by an underage girl, now he's more shocked again because slapped by his men, the careless detective who often upset him. Edgeworth looked carefully at Gumshoe's face. He was so shocked, he did not even think to threaten to cut his salary again. He never saw Detective Gumshoe furious like that.
"Mr. Edgeworth! I always admired you, I always respect you, I'm always sad when people call you Demon Prosecutor, but, but ... it never occurred to me if you going to really show your demon's side! How can you blame your own children for Chief Skye's death? And want to abandon them just like that? I'm really disappointed with you, Mr. Edgeworth!" Before Edgeworth could answer, Detective Gumshoe was already out, and closed the door by slamming it.
Edgeworth sighed, stunned in his chair. His forehead was bumpy, his cravat was dirty with tea, his nose was swollen, and his scandal with Lana had been revealed to the public. Apparently, his life will be much heavier after this. Looks like he has no choice but to take care of the twins.
"Mr. Edgeworth! You have know, if your secret has been revealed to the public ? Are you still going to abandon Dominic and Dominico?!" exclaimed Ema who had been sitting in the waiting room when Edgeworth visited the Advent hospital again.
"I know, Ema," Edgeworth replied wearily. "I have no choice. I will take Dominic and Dominico home and raise them."
Ema's face flashed brightly.
"I'm so glad to hear it, Mr. Edgeworth! Be a good father, okay? I was just chatting with Doctor Duff, the doctor who helped my sister's childbirth. He said Dominic and Dominico could be brought home next week. Let's see them again, you have not seen them clearly yet. They're so cute, Mr. Edgeworth."
They both went into the NICU room, and after watching the children's faces well, Ema was right. Both of them are so cute! Edgeworth was disgusted with himself. Why would he blame his two children, innocent cute babies, who never asked to be born, for Lana's death?
"If you want to hold their hands, or carry them, just do it, Mr Edgeworth," said Doctor Duff as he entered the room.
"Eh? Is it okay, Doctor? What if they get germs?"
"It's okay, ! Why would I forbid a father to touch his own flesh and blood?"
Edgeworth hesitated for a moment, but eventually he put his hand into the incubator containing Dominic. Dominic's hands were tiny, and he had the same fingernail and index finger as Edgeworth. Edgeworth held the tiny hand, and looked at Dominic's face. Saw the innocent face of the baby make Edgeworth's heart melted instantly. He then raised Dominic from his incubator, his hands shaking slightly as he carried Dominic. He swung Dominic gently. When finished, he turned to Dominico's incubator. Edgeworth could hardly tell them apart, but he felt that Dominico's body was thinner than Dominic's. Regardless of Doctor Duff and Ema looking at him, Edgeworth sobbed loudly. Lana had risked and sacrificed her life to give birth to these two babies. How wicked he is, if he avenge Lana's sacrifice by abandoning both of them. Edgeworth swore to himself he would raise Dominic and Dominico well.
Lana, I will avenge your sacrifice by raising our children well. I swear your sacrifice will not be in vain.
Continued…