There was something special about the little girl sitting on the couch across from Phoenix.

Phoenix-the old one, certainly-had possessed the talent of seeing this in people. It had helped him in that old professional life he'd had. It had shown him the true nature of his clients and of others, and allowed him insight into their lives with the groundless accuracy of instinct.

Often, this meant that he could identify what someone might love or cherish about a person. And there was a lot to cherish about Trucy Gramarye.

"Thank you for inviting Trucy along to this suitability conference," Trucy's caseworker began. Next to her on the couch, Trucy grinned. "She seemed pretty impressed by the building."

"Of course, I'm happy to have her over. I wanted to be able to meet with her as soon as we could." he smiled back at Trucy.

"The goal of this meeting is to talk about your daily life and routine, and your plans to accommodate a child, and since Trucy is here, to let you get to know each other a little."

Phoenix nodded. The caseworker settled back with pen and paper. "So, can you tell Trucy and me about your daily life?"

"Yes. I actually have some good news about that," said Phoenix, brightening. "I got news today that I was hired to work part-time at an art supply store."

"That's wonderful," said the caseworker, taking notes.

"Yes, I'm very glad. Who knew that art degree would come in handy?" He laughed at his own joke. "Do you like to do art projects, Trucy?"

She nodded enthusiastically, but didn't say anything.

"The job is part-time," Phoenix repeated, "so the hours will be flexible. I discussed scheduling my work hours around Trucy's school days with the owner, and he seemed to be open to it. So ideally, I'll be able to take you to school and pick you up, too, and have some days off as well. Oh, and the art store is in walking distance of my apartment and of the elementary school. Or, bike-riding distance, if you can ride a bike."

Trucy was staring at him thoughtfully. Phoenix took notice of this, and smiled.

The caseworker looked between them. The office was quiet.

"Trucy, you do this often, don't you?" remarked the caseworker. "We call it her detective face."

"Oh, I see," said Phoenix.

Trucy continued to stare.

"Well… What is your daily routine like, Mr. Wright?"

Phoenix settled back and tore his eyes away from Trucy. "Let's see...since I've been unemployed, it varies. But I usually wake up at 6, eat breakfast…" He described how he'd spent his days going on outings, visited friends weekly, read, and job hunted.

As he described his meal planning routine, Trucy began to fidget. Phoenix fell silent.

"Did you want to say something, Trucy?" the caseworker asked patiently.

"Yeah," she piped up. "Do you like magic?"

A queasy squirm came and went in Phoenix's stomach. Did that show on my face? "Um… Yes, just as much as anyone, I think."

"Then I have something that will really knock your socks off!" She jumped off the couch and stood between the two adults. Bemused, her caseworker watched.

Briefly, she closed her eyes, and took on the posture of a performer. When she opened her eyes, Trucy grinned impishly, and doffed her top hat.

"Observe," she said, showing them both the empty inside of the hat.

"There's nothing in it," said Phoenix, obligingly feeling inside it when Trucy offered.

"That's right. Now, will someone tell me the name of a song?"

"Um…" Phoenix smiled. "The Entertainer."

"Excellent choice!" Trucy winked. She put her top hat back on, and twirled. Very softly, Phoenix could hear the music begin to play. His jaw dropped.

"Sound familiar?" Trucy asked, taking off the hat. They could hear the music more clearly.

"Wha...Wow!" Phoenix clapped, and the caseworker joined in. "That was amazing!"

Trucy curtseyed, to him and to the caseworker, the jolly music accompanying. When she stood back up, she put the hat back on. The music stopped.

"Mrs. Havish, can I talk to Mr. Wright myself now?"

The caseworker chuckled. "All right. I'll be in the next room if you want me."

Trucy watched her go, then turned to Phoenix. "So, what do you think?"

"Uh…" She's so bright and intelligent. "About the magic, or…?"

"My magic, of course."

Phoenix grinned, wider than he had in weeks. "It was incredible! I can't even begin to guess how you did it."

Trucy giggled, and curtseyed again. "That means the trick was a success." She went and sat on the armchair Mrs. Havish had left.

"You really love magic, don't you?" he asked. Trucy nodded. "What do you like most about it?"

"Hmm…" She kicked her feet and stared at her knees thoughtfully. "Magic...magic is about creating wonder." She looked back up to him. "I like seeing that in people."

Does… Is it possible she knows? Phoenix gulped, and saw the reappearance of what her caseworker had called Trucy's 'detective face'.

"I see. " Some instinct told him he could be level with this child. He shifted a little in his chair, and exhaled a deep breath.

"Well, Trucy. I wanted to talk about your adoption while we're here. I would be so happy if we could be a family. Regardless if we do become family or not, I care about you, and… I want the best for you. I want to make sure that you're okay, and that you have a wonderful life and get to do all the things you want to do. I know how hard it's been-" Her eyes flickered away and back- "and I don't want you to be alone. If the job works out and I get to make sure you're doing well, it would be a dream come true."

She looked away, and down. Phoenix was quiet. I hope I didn't overwhelm her.

When she raised her head, Trucy looked aside at the neat desk behind their chairs. "Do you want to be a dad?" she asked.

Phoenix nodded, then realized she didn't see it. "Yes, absolutely." She looked back at him with her 'detective face'. "More than anything."

Trucy scrutinized him a moment. "You mean it."

He nodded. "I always do."

She pinned him with her attentive, light brown eyes. "More than you want all of this again?" She gestured to the office.

Phoenix felt his face blanch.

"I could kind of tell by the way you look at this place," she said. "You would rather be working here like before, and be a lawyer, like you were with my dad. You're kind of different now. So wouldn't you rather be here like before?"

"Hmm." A fragile smile appeared on his face. "It would be nice, but I probably never will. My badge was taken. I might be different now, but...there are things about me that are still the same."

He looked around the office. "I can hope for impossible things, and even want them. But, I…" He looked back to her. "I want you to be happy more than I want a far-off possibility. I want the best for you." His smile solidified into something sunnier. "That's what I want."

Trucy hopped off the chair. "Want to see another magic trick?"

Now? I hope she understood the gist of what I was saying. "Of course!"

Upon hearing Phoenix's shout and a crash, Mrs. Havish came barreling in. "Trucy? Is everything all right?"

In the middle of the office Trucy was doubled over with laughter. Phoenix was splayed on the floor beside the chair he'd been sitting in, laughing as he sat up and leaned against the chair arm. Above them, a white dove with a cute pink bow looked for a place to land.

"What happened in here?" asked the caseworker, coming closer.

On the floor, Phoenix wiped away tears of laughter, and took the hand she offered to stand up.

"It was all me," he said, and looked back at Trucy. They burst into giggles again.

"I did a trick to pull Rowena from my sleeve, and Mr. Wright was so surprised that he fell," Trucy explained.

Phoenix shook his head, grinning, and straightened his clothes. Trucy noticed the dove-Rowena-had landed on top of a bookshelf, next to an Ivy U law review pin. She went over to coax her down.

"I see," said the caseworker. "Are you okay, Mr. Wright?" Phoenix nodded, and reassured her.

The three of them put their heads together to figure out how to catch Rowena again, which was finally accomplished by the caseworker lifting Trucy onto her shoulders and Phoenix using the case files to ward the dove toward her. Once in her hands, Trucy tenderly placed Rowena inside her upside-down hat for some peace and calm.

"There we go, little bird," Trucy said to her. Mrs. Havish noticed Phoenix smiling at the sight of Trucy caring for her charge.

"Well, we're due back any minute now," the caseworker said, and checked her watch again. "If we leave now, we can still be on time. Let's say good night."

"Bye," said Trucy over the hat softly, so as not to startle Rowena, and waved.

"Bye," he said softly back, and saw them out. When he was back in the office, Phoenix took down the law review pin, and studied it. He cleaned it against his shirt, and placed it back on top of the bookcase.

/

Going to the courthouse to finalize the adoption was a harrowing experience which Phoenix could now only barely remember, but it was worth it to be driving down the street the next day feeling like a whole world was contained in the car-him and Trucy.

"I'm happy everything fit," said Phoenix. "We picked just the right size car."

"Yep," said Trucy, looking out the window at the shops and streets passing. Phoenix let her look silently, and concentrated on driving with all of Trucy's possessions partially obscuring the back window.

He was thinking about how they'd move her things in when Trucy said, "Can I ask you about something?"

"Sure."

"What did you put your hat on for?"

"Oh, the beanie, right?"

Trucy nodded.

"I started wearing it a few days before we were supposed to go to the courthouse." He glanced over to her, briefly. "I…" He could see her detective face in his mind's eye.

"I decided to wear it so I wouldn't be easy to recognize. Some people are still very shocked and upset about what happened. But I didn't want anything to go wrong that day, so we could finish the process. I guess it was a disguise for my old persona. And, it seems like something an art shop employee could wear."

"Oh." Trucy lifted off her top hat, and studied it. Phoenix noticed, but let her think.

When they got home, Phoenix showed her the changes he'd made to the studio apartment to welcome her-most of all, the folding screen and string lights he'd bought for her to design her own space with. They moved her things in, and spent a few days brainstorming and setting up the apartment.

On the whole, Trucy first seemed content. She readily went to school and continued developing her magic skills. But something seemed off to him, something subtle, that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

He spent a few days considering the problem in the back of his mind, until he saw a flash of the right color pink while at work.

Pearl. She reminds me of Pearl. She's well-behaved and perfect...but a little too perfect. Oh, Trucy. I hope she isn't working hard to put on an act. He opened another box of sketchbooks, and frowned in thought as he stocked the shelf.

She hasn't really talked about how she feels, either. I hope I can reach out to her and support her.

Several weeks after she moved in, Phoenix began to notice inconsistencies in the stage persona. He could see something weighing on her mind. She still went about as usual, but Phoenix was accustomed to recognizing subtle emotion from his relationship with Miles Edgeworth. As he'd done with the man he loved, he waited for her to come to him when she was ready. But more time passed, and Phoenix watched Trucy suffering silently.

She doesn't trust me like he does, he realized while lying awake at night. I...I have to keep trying. It's only right that I earn her trust.

Phoenix had recognized early on what a responsible person Trucy was, and so, when schedules conflicted, Trucy walked home by herself from school. One such afternoon, when Phoenix got home, Trucy was looking through a box at her desk. When she heard him enter, she hid the items in the box so guiltily it made his gut wrench. Oh, Trucy…

"Hi there," he said from the doorway, taking off his shoes, giving her time to recover.

"Hi!" she said, standing. They chatted about dinner and had a quiet evening, but secretly Phoenix was concerned.

The next evening, over dinner, Trucy said to her plate, "I was looking at some tapes of Dad's performances."

"Oh?" Phoenix said. "I didn't know you had any."

"Yeah," she said softly.

There was an uncomfortable silence.

Phoenix's heart ached. "Well…" He cast about for something to keep this topic going. "Wh...uh, what would you think if we watched them?"

She looked up quickly, eyes wide with anxious confusion. "No, that's okay. We don't have to."

Even though they were the last things he thought he was capable of right now, Phoenix nodded his understanding, and gave a soft smile. "All right. I'd love to watch one with you someday, if you ever want to. But if we don't, that's okay too."

Trucy struggled to recover her persona. "Sure! I'll think about it. But I have to do homework now." She looked away from him and jumped off the chair with her plate still mostly full of food. Phoenix could still see how her little shoulders hunched as she scraped her plate and put it on the sink counter.

"All right," he said, and privately struggled with his frustration and guilt. He was nearly done with the dishes when Trucy reappeared in the kitchen.

"Hey, Truce," he said, smiling.

"Hey," she said quietly, hands behind her back. "I was trying to do my homework, but I couldn't stop thinking about it."

"That's okay," he said, drying his hands and leaning an elbow on the counter. "Maybe we should think about it. Your brain might be trying to talk to you about something."

She smiled, just a little, then met his eyes. "Brains can't talk."

Phoenix chuckled. "It seems like yours has something to say, though."

Serious once again, she nodded, and held out to him what she'd been holding behind her back. It was a videocassette. "Maybe we could watch this one."

He went over and crouched down to look at it, but didn't crowd her. The handwritten label said:

BOSTON, NEW YORK, DUBLIN, PARIS/PART 3 OF INT'L TOUR 2

"Yes, lets watch this one," he said warmly. They went to the little living room area. While she put the cassette in the VCR and Phoenix set up the TV, he said, "I didn't know they performed in such amazing places. I'm curious."

"Yes," Trucy said, and rewound the tape. Phoenix sat on his usual end of the couch, and when the tape was ready, Trucy grabbed the VCR remote and sat on the other.

In the few seconds of blank tape, Phoenix looked over at her. She sat on the very edge of the cushion, eyes forward, and oddly tense. Phoenix deliberately relaxed his body posture. She's struggled for so long. Something is going to happen, and I need to be able to handle whatever it is.

The video picked up with the roar of applause. It showed an indoor arena, packed full of attendees, and the stage set up for the show with props and contraptions. One by one, the members of Troupe Gramarye came out and bowed to applause. When her father entered, Trucy gasped.

In the video, Zak Gramarye began to introduce the group and wind up the crowd while exciting music played and lights changed. He paced back and forth across the stage, gesturing and introducing the props. The camera followed him, occasionally zooming in on his face as he went.

Phoenix looked over at Trucy. Tears were streaming down her face.

"Trucy," Phoenix said softly over the cheering crowd on the video. "Hey, it's okay."

She glanced over at him, and quickly wiped her eyes. He sat forward and handed her a tissue from the living room table.

She took it, but kept it in her lap. "I'm okay," she said. But when she looked back at the screen, she burst into more tears. "Dad!" she sobbed, and hid her face in her hands.

Phoenix moved closer to her across the couch. Since she'd come home, she'd neither spoken about her father nor been quick to let Phoenix hug and touch her as a parent should, though she seemed to like when they did. He paused a moment to let her know he was there, and then softly put an arm around her shaking shoulders.

"Trucy…" he murmured. "Trucy, here." He pulled a pillow from the other side of the couch to put in his lap, and patted it. "I'm here. Why don't you lay down? It's okay."

She laid against him, then melted onto the pillow, weeping bitterly and sometimes breathlessly while Phoenix held her and stroked her hair. Over the backdrop of a world-class performance to a sold-out audience, Trucy cried for her father and told him how much she missed him, how sad and alone she felt and how much she wished he would come back. Phoenix held the box of tissues for her to take when she wanted them, and held her as she sobbed wretchedly.

Each show was just under an hour long. Phoenix watched the performances of this man who had disappeared, bringing them both to exactly this place and moment in time.

Trucy wore herself down, and ever so slowly over the Paris performance, her hiccupping sobs became more infrequent. Phoenix reached over for the remote as the show approached its end. By the time her father and the troupe took their final bows, Trucy's red and tearstained eyes had closed. Phoenix let the video play through until the recording disappeared, then turned off the TV so the end of the tape wouldn't wake her.

He settled back with a small sigh, wiping away the last of his own tears. Too emotionally exhausted to think, he closed his eyes and fell asleep with his daughter's warm weight against him.

/

Hi, Miles. I know we were planning our phone call for tonight, but I have to reschedule. Trucy found her parent-teacher conference reminder at the bottom of her backpack! It's tonight, and will run into our call time. What's a good time for you next week?

SMS Sep 21 09:39

Good morning. It's no problem. I'll look at my schedule after I'm done making my morning calls. I believe the same time next week should work. Let me know how the conference goes, and we'll talk soon.

SMS Sep 21 09:55

Phoenix slipped the cell phone back into his apron pocket. His boss permitted him to carry it while working, but Phoenix understood the unspoken rules that came with that. He returned to organizing the computer inventory, the words of Miles' text echoing pleasantly in his mind.

Once the owner took over the register at 17:00, Phoenix returned home to change. Trucy looked up from her homework at the kitchen table when he entered. "Hi, daddy!"

Phoenix grinned, and went over to kiss her on the forehead. "Hi, sweetie. Almost ready to go?"

"Yep!" she said, and shut her homework folder. She got her backpack ready with things to do during the conference while Phoenix changed clothes. They reemerged into the pre-dusk and walked to school together.

Trucy checked in at the library, and Phoenix made it right on time to her classroom at 17:45.

"Mr. Wright," said her teacher, standing as he entered. Phoenix crossed the room, and they shook hands. "I'm Mrs. Jay, Trucy's fourth grade teacher."

"It's nice to meet you," he said cordially.

She gestured to her desk and they sat down.

"Well, as you might expect as her parent, Trucy is an angel in class. I was initially concerned about her adjustment when I saw she'd been home schooled and about her previous family situation, but she has exceeded all my expectations."

"Thank you, that's wonderful to hear." Phoenix beamed.

Mrs. Jay looked up at him, then back at her notes. "She's doing well academically, and I hope she can keep up her Social Studies grade that she just pulled up. Her Science and Reading grades are outstanding, and her Math grades are excellent." She handed him a copy of her report card.

He read it over. "This is great." Once he'd read it through, he read it again. "I'm proud of her."

"Yes," said Mrs. Jay, looking at him. "I also wanted to talk about her social development."

Phoenix looked up, sobering.

"Trucy is unfailingly kind and supportive to others, and now I see where she got it from."

"From? You mean, from…me?" he asked.

She nodded, amused.

Phoenix chuckled. "No, it's all Trucy. I mean, maybe she modeled some habits or phrases or something from me, but trust me, she's always been this way."

"Well, whatever you're doing, keep it up," she said. "She can be very talkative at times, however, when it's time to listen. I'd just have a short chat with her about listening to adults, and subject shifts in conversations. Okay?"

Phoenix nodded. "I will."

"She's very bright, Mr. Wright. You should be proud."

"I am," he said, grinning. "Very much so."

"That's good," she said, picking up her pencil. "Were there any questions you had for me?"

Frankly, Phoenix chatted with her about the free school lunch program, after-school care, and reimbursement for the school supplies they'd bought at the beginning of the semester. Mrs. Jay explained them just as frankly, and the tight little knot of worry he hadn't known was in his chest loosened.

When they were done, Phoenix nodded appreciatively over his new notes. "Thank you. Now, do you have any questions for me?"

"Well…" Her eyes flickered down to his name on her notes. "How…how are you finding being a parent? We have support programs for parents, as well."

He smiled. "I love it, I really do. Trucy is the world to me. I wasn't lucky enough to know her by now for as long as a biological parent would, but I'm sure that I would feel just as strongly if I had. It can be difficult, in many ways, and it's not always pleasant. But… I love her so much."

He paused, and laughed. "Sorry!" he said, and looked away. "I tend to gush when it comes to her. But," he looked over his notes, and back at Mrs. Jay. "If there came a time where just care and love weren't enough, I know the right thing to do would be to ask for help. Thank you for telling me about it."

"Thank you, Mr. Wright." The teacher stood, and Phoenix followed suit. They shook hands once more. "I hope to see you two at the Fall Festival."

"Oh yes! We'll absolutely be there. Trucy wants to do a show." They walked down the hallway that led to the library together. "When do signups start?"

Mrs. Jay stopped, eyebrows raised. "They've been open for two weeks, and close at the end of this week."

Phoenix laughed, shaking his head. "I guess her backpack needs a more thorough examination for more lost flyers." He waved cheerily. "Bye, thank you."

She waved goodbye, and Phoenix entered the elementary school library.

"Trucy? I'm all done," he called, looking around for her.

"Hi," she said, coming around from behind a kid-sized stack. They hugged, and Phoenix rested a hand on her shoulder.

"How'd it go in here?" he asked. "Not too boring, I hope." They headed out of the library.

"No, it was good." She wiggled her eyebrows. "I finished all my assignments."

"That's great. Maybe we should get some cheeseburgers tonight?"

Trucy cheered and led the way when they got outside, but once they entered the busier part of town, Phoenix called her back to hold his hand.

/

Phoenix,

I've been thinking a lot about what you told me about your parent-teacher conference. I have come to recognize some insights about you that I hope you will find useful. I offer these in the hopes that they will help you, and I do not wish to patronize you with any misunderstanding from my observation point. Please, take what you will and correct me where I am wrong.

When you first let me talk to you after the Gramarye trial, you may remember the reason you gave for why you had kept me at arm's length for that two-week period. After explaining how you were miserable and unfit for human companionship, you revealed to me that you didn't know what you were anymore after losing your badge. Your identity had been stripped from you. I'll never forget the pain in your eyes when I told you that I had felt that too, after the trial of Lana Skye and the fall of the High Prosecutor's Office. I am grateful I could be there that night for you, to show you that you are never alone.

When you told me about adopting Trucy Gramarye, then, I was quite shocked. But eventually, as you explained your reasons, I understood. Your explanation began this path of realization I am showing you today. As you told me, weekly, more and more about Trucy and now about the parent-teacher conference, my understanding strengthened. Then, when I thought back to the emails you, Maya, and Pearl sent me while I was abroad, everything became clear.

Phoenix, you haven't lost who you are. I can only partially imagine the damage you've taken and the despair you've lived with—this pain is uniquely yours and I won't pretend I can comprehend it. But in this pain, you were still there, reaching out to someone you knew needed your help, even when you considered yourself both unfit to help and helpless. You had always planned on caring for and treating Trucy affectionately and raising her healthily, to be sure, but I've seen how your deep and selfless love for her has swept you off your feet.

This love and generosity are who you are as a person. You do not have to fill a role of defense attorney or savior to be that person you are. Your love, worth, and will to fight are just as good and right even if you are not a defense attorney. With that badge or without, you are still the person who saved my life and the lives of many others. With that badge or without, you are still innocent. And with or without that badge, my gratitude for your presence in my life is greater than I could ever express in words.

It isn't about me, though. It's about you, and Trucy, and the incredible way her relationship with you has revealed your real self, your true self. But still, I couldn't be more proud or honored to call you my dearest friend. I hope my thoughts have helped you.

Sincerely,

Miles Edgeworth.

Miles,

Way to make a man cry at work. I kind of brought it upon myself by using my phone to check email during work, but still. Anyway, I'm in the stockroom with the door closed and I can't seem to stop. I think you know why, but just in case, I think it's right to quote the most brilliant and precious man I know.

Once again, you have led me into the light. You are a miracle.

Sincerely,

Phoenix Wright.

P.S. Could you come by at the lunch hour? Or as soon as possible? I want to see you.

At 12:19, a customer walked in past the 'closed for lunch' sign the owner put up before he left. Phoenix looked up to see who it was, and ran to him.