Disclaimer: If I get sued, I want Miles Edgeworth as the prosecutor and Phoenix Wright as my defense attorney.

A Reason to Smile

Chapter 1

Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth slowly sipped his Earl Grey while taking in the atmosphere in Trés Bien. The restaurant was small but fancy, and while the color scheme reminded him of his own office, that was where the similarity ends. The decorations of the restaurant leant towards the feminine side one notch too many, while the suffocating smell of the bouquets of flowers pervaded his olfactory system. Granted, there would always be a bouquet of fresh flowers near the window in his office, but that was Detective Dick Gumshoe and – he shuddered – Miss Wendy Oldbag's idea of freshening up the environment. He might not have wanted it there, but he never made a point to clear it out as well. Indeed, he wondered how Gumshoe, of all people, would suggest coming to Trés Bien, with him having nothing in common with the posh restaurant.

At the detective's sudden loud "Whooop!", Miles turned his head towards the restaurant front door to see the main guests of the day finally appearing. Seeing them still clad in attires from earlier that day and wearing tired looks on their faces, Miles imagined that it had been a far too long day for Phoenix Wright and both Miss Feys. Maya Fey's little cousin – Pearl, was it? -- clung tightly to the black-haired teenager, while his old friend held the door open for them.

His sister, Prosecutor Franziska von Karma, only looked at them for a second before returning her attention to Miss Adrian Andrews, who was excitedly telling her about the latest events going on at Lordly Tailor. Miles and Miss Andrews had a brief acquaintance during a case trial almost a year ago, but what was mystifying for him was that Franziska seemed to have taken quite the liking to the older woman, to the point that she invited Miss Andrews to Trés Bien on her last night in LA.

Larry Butz, the other old friend of his that he would not acknowledged to knowing unless it was important, was pointedly ignored by both women, despite his incessant and embarrassing flirtations towards them both. A few lashes or so of Franziska's whip did nothing to deter his enthusiasm.

Wright and the two girls sat down on the seats left for them. Maya reached for the menu the moment she was seated, declaring she was so hungry, she could "eat up Gourdy", and pored over the menu together with Pearl. Wright apologized in his usual defeated pose for being late, earning himself a lash from Franziska.

When the defense attorney's eyes glanced over at Miles, he let out an embarrassed smile.

"Edgeworth."

"Wright," the prosecutor returned.

Neither talked again until a waitress came over to take their order, and Miles rudely realized he hadn't made up his mind.

"Filet mignon, please," he finally conceited, closing his menu. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Wright struggling with his order. When he heard the man finally making up his mind on only a bowl of soup, he wondered if the defense attorney was taking pity on the detective's wallet. The prices of the dishes in the restaurant weren't too high in his standards, but it must be taxing on Gumshoe.

When everyone's orders had been taken, the waitress returned to the kitchen. Edgeworth reached again for his cup of Earl Grey and leant back on his chair. People around him were making conversation -- Miss Andrews was still talking to Franziska; Larry finally gave up on the ladies and had turned to dishing out love advices to Gumshoe; Wright and his assistant were telling the younger Miss Fey a story about a Wright-look-alike and...poisoned coffee? – while he was contend with sipping his tea.

I am ill-fitted here.

But even as his thought skimmed over those negative opinions of himself, his eyes caught, several times, Wright throwing a look of concern over him, before returning to the girls.

He felt awkward, as he did often in front of people who knew him. He wanted to ask how both Feys were doing after the case, and probably Larry too. He wondered how Gumshoe was faring at the police station, without him helping with the investigation half of the time. And Phoenix Wright...

But he never did ask. He didn't know how.

"...right, Edgeworth?" Wright's voice cut through his thoughts.

"...I beg pardon?" Miles blinked at the three sets of eyes watching him.

Wright gave a small chuckle, "I was just telling Pearls about that one time a guy used a badge made of cardboard to impersonate me in court. And now they just let you in without bothering to check on your ID. I'm just saying the court is so lenient these days, that even Maya could act as a defense attorney anytime she wants without a legit ID."

Miles's face turned into a scowl, "Has the California court really gone to such low depths?"

The sudden change in Miles's demeanor made Wright fumble for words, "Ah! M-Maya hasn't done anything like that, yet..."

Are you saying that she probably would?!

"...but someone did make a badge out of cardboard and fooled everyone, even when he looked and sounded nothing like me!"

"It's the hair, Nick," Maya butted in.

"When?!" Miles slammed the table with his left hand, almost upsetting a few glasses and scaring his other dinner companions.

"It was just last December. Look, I'll tell you the story, if you would just stop glaring at me like that!" Wright answered with a sheepish look.

This is ridiculous! How did the court system of California become like this?!

"What foolishness has gotten my little brother to seethe like this?" Franziska sneered.

"Food's here!" Maya suddenly proclaimed happily. The waitress had returned and proceeded to placing everyone's dishes down respectively.

Miles glared at the filet mignon in front of him. It looked nothing like filet mignon.

Even the food in California is a joke!

As everyone dug into their dish, Miles took a half-hearted taste. It wasn't exactly what he had expected, but it was still edible. The others, however, enjoyed their meal with gusto.

"Hey, this is actually not bad. I guess the new owner found a chef with real cooking skills this time," Wright exclaimed.

Miles dared not imagine how the food there tasted before.

Over the course of the meal, they exchanged news, joked a little and had a merry time. The proceedings of the day and the events before were deftly avoided. Even though Miles was often quiet, Wright would try his best to get him into their conversation, when he and Maya weren't busy trying to cheer the little one up.

By the time the food was gone and the wine bottle emptied, it was almost eleven. Pearl was already chain-yawning and having a hard time keeping her eyes open. With a smile, Wright declared that they should probably take her home. Everyone else agreed that it had been an exhausting day, and would be leaving as well.

"I'm going over to Adrian's house for a cup of coffee, little brother, so I won't be returning to the hotel with you," Franziska looked over to Miles.

Miles nodded, "Do remember your flight is tomorrow morning. I'll accompany you to the airport."

Franziska scoffed as she prepared to leave, "I can manage the trip to the airport on my own perfectly, Miles Edgeworth. You don't have to bother."

"I will accompany you, nonetheless."

Franziska muttered a "suit yourself" under her breath as Miss Andrews thanked the detective for the dinner and said their goodbyes to the group. Miles looked over to the drunken form of Larry, all sprawled out on the table. The man would have tried to follow the two women home if he were half-sobered, Miles mused. Good thing he wasn't.

"Edgeworth."

Miles turned his head. Wright had moved from his seat to sit beside him. Miles noticed the girls were missing, and threw the defense attorney a cocked eyebrow.

"They've gone to the ladies. Listen, I haven't thanked you for helping me out these couple of days, and we really need to catch up with each other. When are you leaving?"

Miles straightened his back, "I have some business to attend to, while I'm in the city. I haven't bought the flight tickets, but probably this weekend."

Wright made a face that Miles couldn't decide if it was relief or just tiredness. "I see. Let's do lunch, or dinner, or something. You know, before you leave."

"Something?" Miles raised both eyebrows at him.

"Something. But not tonight. I want to make sure the girls are all right."

Miles thought about the suggestion. Coming back to the states were as suddenly as such, no thanks to Larry's incomprehensible gibberish over the phone just three days ago, but since he was back, he figured he could do with a short vacation while attending to loose ends in that part of the world. While 'doing something' with Phoenix Wright wasn't high up on the list, there was no reason to refuse, especially when Phoenix Wright's sincere eyes trained on him for a positive answer.

"Understood. I'll...make time."

There was that idiotic smile on his old friend's face again, Miles observed. It was then that Maya and Pearl returned from the restrooms, and so Wright and co. waved goodbye to the group, while Wright thanked profusely for the celebration. As he kept the door open for the girls to pass through, he looked back at Miles and made a call sign with his hand, before realizing how stupid he looked and sheepishly put it down. Miles watched with amusement as his friend bid a hasty retreat.

Their waitress returned to the table with the check, as Gumshoe fumbled for his wallet. Miles dug his own out, and insisted that he pay for the meal. Gumshoe protested, and in the end they agreed to split the bill. The waitress bowed and thanked them before leaving their table.

Again, Miles looked over at Larry with a bit of annoyance, "I suppose we should take him home as well."

Gumshoe nodded and stood up, with Miles reluctantly following him. Both men struggled to lift Larry from his drunken position, and it wasn't any easier trying to drag the man out of the restaurant and into Gumshoe's car, but they managed.

With Larry snoring loudly in the back car seat, Miles and Gumshoe buckled up at the front.

"Mr Edgeworth," Gumshoe turned the keys to the engine, "are you free for lunch some day? I think I wanna ask for some advice from you, since you look like you have tons of experience in this..."

"Pertaining to what?" Miles asked. Legal advice? Living in Europe? Wallowing in self pity?

Okay, that last one was unnecessary, even to himself.

"Ah..." Gumshoe seemed to have trouble voicing it out, and if it were bright enough, Miles would have noticed the man sweating bullets. "Larry's been trying to teach me a few tricks the whole night, but I figured I should ask from a real pro..."

"Gumshoe, what is it?"

"It's...it's about a girl..."

Miles stared at him disbelievingly. Him having tons of experience in girls? Him a real pro? The truth couldn't be further!

"I hardly believe I am qualified..."

He was cut short by a pair of puppy eyes. For someone as large as Gumshoe, his puppy eyes were disarmingly helpless and innocent.

Miles gave in quickly, "Fine. If you really think I'm suitable for giving out advices of this sort."

Gumshoe beamed as he spouted a string of thank yous while attempting to drive.

Oh well...might as well introduce him to some real food while I'm at it too.