Disclaimer: all I own are my copies of the game, my story, and the pieces of my Franziska cosplay outfit.

A/N: I apologise for any continuity errors you might spot, I actually wrote this before I wrote the prologue and I've been rearranging the story like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle ever since. Hope you like the story so far, enjoy.

WARNING: Contains MAJOR AAI Spoilers, don't want, don't read.

Chapter one – Unexpected Arrival

Edgeworth watched as Franziska's car turned the corner, his smirk became a soft smile then returned to his usual stoic stare. Miles was never happy working a case, especially since every case he was involved in involved murder up to now, the blood on the hands of those he prosecuted may have well been on his own, he wouldn't ever let the truly guilty get away, not if he could help it. The he tried to focus his thoughts on the information on the case at hand, lest his thoughts stray into dangerous territories. He sighed and turned to climb the stairs to his office, it had been a very long Saturday and he would have to work through a lot more of it.

26 April 9.00 pm

Prosecutor's building

Room 1202

He went over all of the evidence in his possession to both cases and the files on both, he had examined them all multiple times in the last 5 hours and couldn't come to a logical conclusion. He must be missing something… He didn't want to admit it but he needed another mind on this case to help him see what he was missing. In truth he wanted to see her again. He hadn't lied earlier, before she fell asleep Franziska's input had helped him, but he wouldn't go to her for help, his pride wouldn't let him. He tried once more to sum up the information he had so far.

In the case Payne was working on, there was an explosion at a nightclub early evening 8 days ago, arson. A young woman was arrested matching witness description. Phoenix Burnson, who was found running from the scene before the explosion went off. There was a family who witnessed the girl running from the scene "mere-moments before the carnage" were the words written down.

'Who wrote this report- honestly!' he found himself thinking.

The witnesses scheduled to appear in yesterday's trial were Brendan Engarde and his wife Misty. There young daughter Neva in hospital recovering from mostly minor injuries caused by the explosion. The trial ended in victory to the defence as a "Sufficient" lack of evidence against the defendant brought the trial to an end quicker than Payne would have liked, resulting in some harsh words and threats coming from an upset Mrs Engarde. At the time the bailiffs must have thought it was just the reaction of a frantic mother, upset that the culprit who caused her daughters' injuries were still unpunished. They led her away to one of the defendants lobbies to calm down.

The body of Mr Payne was found by a caretaker in the men's room the next day. C.O.D was blunt force trauma to the head, but there was no evidence to suggest a struggle and nothing unusual on his person. Even stranger still they found a bullet lodged deeply into the wound. It just didn't make sense to him, Misty Engarde insists she never went near that side of the building as she was waiting in the lobby for Mr Payne to come back to apologise for her behaviour and her husband had gone to the hospital to check up on her daughter, neither owns a gun. Mr Payne had never left the courthouse, it's possible that the body was moved but there were no clues to suggest where from or who by… but there was blood at the crime scene, enough of it for the detective in charge to believe that was the scene of the crime… and the murder weapon is still unknown. With everyone else questioned but no other leads the police came to the most logical conclusion and arrested Mrs Engarde who didn't have an alibi.

From every logical conclusion he could draw, Mrs Engarde was innocent, there is no evidence to suggest otherwise and the only motive is that Payne was a terrible prosecutor so what was the cause?

He placed his head in his hands wishing he had an excuse to see her before returning to his work.

Edgeworth looked over the evidence and photos one more time when something on the edge of his desk finally caught his eye.

26 April 10.04 pm

Von Karma Estate

Living room

Lightning flashed and thunder roared behind it. The rain was beating down in sheets and Franziska was feeling very uncomfortable. Since her defeats in court at the hands of that lawyer she had had time to do some serious thinking, taking the words of her oldest friend into account. She was a Von Karma, and had to overcome any troublesome thing that caused bother in her life, but since her fathers arrest the path she walked had become uneven and she was unsure of where the road travelled would lead, even now. She sipped her tea and tried to relax her thoughts drifting over the past year.

After spending some time in Germany visiting her sister, she had unexpectedly gotten involved with Interpol by prosecuting the head of a small but still dangerous group that had managed to corrupt her beloved homeland. A vile woman by the name of Helga Sinclair had been trafficking people, kidnapped from other countries, into Germany to work as slaves in houses and prostitutes on the street, during the case she worked closely with Shi-Long Lang, an Interpol agent whose methods and record was almost as perfect as hers, almost. Thanks to Franziska and Lang the group was no more and the people who were victimized by Sinclair were set free. Since then Franziska has been working with Agent Lang on a case investigating possibly the largest smuggling ring in history. It was all thanks to Miles Edgeworth's assistance that she and Agent Lang were finally able to arrest the ring leader and end an ordeal that spanned over a decade. She was relieved that particular case was over.

The trial of Ex – Ambassador Alba was a taxing one, the trial in session everyday for three and a half weeks. The man first denied his involvement, claimed he was blackmailed, then went so far as to accuse her of forging evidence against him, oh if looks could kill. Agent Lang had thankfully stepped in at this point before Franziska's rage had chance to reach fruition. Lang had called for Miss Yew to testify in Alba's trial and then the old man had the gall to say she was the mastermind behind it all, it was Franziska's turn to stop the wolf's rage, and she presented her evidence and her arguments just like Edgeworth that fateful night. It was a verbal almost completely re-enacting his battle with Edgeworth step by step, word by venomous word. Eventually a guilty verdict was handed down and he was sentenced to life under constant surveillance in a maximum security prison, they couldn't put a former hero to death, but stripping him of all the luxuries he was used to, killing his previous life, was a fitting equivalent.

After the trial she had been offered a permanent position with Interpol, working alongside Agent Lang but she declined saying she had personal affairs she needed to sort out first. Since that time she had returned to America deciding to stay, for a while at least. She knew exactly why she wanted to stay. It was because HE was here.

A soft "mewing" woke her up from her thoughts, since she was planning to stay in America she felt company would be acceptable and thought she should find a house pet that would be as perfectly well kept as she herself is. Before she knew it she found herself with a silver furred Egyptian Mau only a year old. It was very spur of the moment; she purchased him earlier today after her visit to the prosecutor's office. She took one look at him and instantly thought of Miles Edgeworth, it was those big eyes they made her think back to their childhood.

While it amused her to name the cat after him of all people she decided he might take that as a complement and decided to settle for a nobler name, more worthy of the breed, thus more worthy of her. Maximilian leapt onto the sofa next to her and curled up wanting attention; she scratched the top of his head gently and smiled he had been here a matter of hours and already made himself perfectly at home. He had started to play with the belt of her cotton robe; beneath it she wore a pale blue silk nightgown. The storm didn't bother the cat as much as it bothered her; she hated to admit it, but the one thing that scared her, the one thing that would make her feel like a vulnerable child was a thunderstorm, and right now they were sitting in a massive one. Maximilian's ear pricked up and he ventured off. Franziska found his behaviour curious, but before she had time to follow him, there was a knocking on her door.

She froze, what kind of foolish fool would be foolish enough to knock on her door at this late hour? And what kind of foolishly foolish fool would foolishly think it wise to be out in this storm? The fool. The knocking came again, this time louder. Franziska held her whip in her hand and headed for the door ready to defend herself should the fool there try anything funny. She opened the door slowly and was shocked beyond words to find who stood there, Miles Edgeworth, in his full, now red, suit, soaked to the bone. For a few moments there was silence, then Franziska found her tongue.

"Miles? W- What are you doing here?" she mentally scolded herself for sounding concerned, he just smiled.

"Something was left on my desk today; I think they belong to you... If I may come in, I can explain better, when dry" He looked nervous, then again, he had right to be.

Franziska looked surprised, but found herself moving aside to allow him entrance and once she had closed the door again left to find him a towel. Once he was dried and settled with a cup of tea in his hand she found herself glaring at him from across the room. There were candles lit on her table giving off a relaxing scent, but she was far from relaxed at this moment in time.

"So what is so urgent that you felt you had to walk to my home at this hour through a storm?" as if on cue the lightning flashed as it did she counted the seconds 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… the thunder came crashing behind, the storm was very close now, it wouldn't be long before it was right over head and that is when Franziska struggled most during a storm, and he knew it, curse him being here now…

"I didn't walk here. My car broke down at the bottom of the road and No-one can make it out until the storm passes." He chided her with his arms folded; she growled at this, who did this man think he was speaking to her like a child?

"That is logical, but for what purpose did you visit me a this hour" she too crossed her arms regaining her compositor, it was at this point Maximilian had returned and jumped onto her lap, she stroked his back all the while looking at Miles, she was starting to look like a mafia boss, it was very unnerving.

He was even more surprised to find a cat wandering her home, and even jumping into her lap without a second thought, and more so to find that she was playing with it, his surprise only slightly breaking his stoic visage, 'Trust her to find herself the perfect pet.'

"As I said Franziska." He spoke softly, which was very unlike him "you left something on my desk from earlier, I believe it was a personal item…" he pulled something out of the pocket of his jacket which was drying by the fire, it was a miracle that it hadn't been water damaged considering the rest of his coat. Franziska realised how handsome he looked in the fire light with only his shirt and trousers on, she felt the heat rising to her face, and lowered her head to her lap where Maximilian lay curled up, so Miles wouldn't see her blush. 'Foolish thoughts foolishly trying to make a fool out of me'

"Only a foolish fool would forget something important, Miles. I am no fool." She retorted.

"No, your not, you were however exhausted earlier."

He put his evidence down on the table next to her, then knelt down in front of her. She was taken by surprise by his hand which was suddenly on her chin, gently lifting her to face him.

"You looked so peaceful when you slept."

She was screaming at herself for allowing this to happen, and for not reacting how she thought she should, but the storm outside had already caused her to forget her usual attitude. Now she just wanted the weather to pass. They looked into each others eyes, she tried to look away. She could feel herself blushing.

"So beautiful…"

She wasn't sure what her feeling were towards this man, she grew up with him, she admired him, though she wouldn't admit it and she wanted so badly to hate him, but at the same time she longed for his touch and was almost sad when he took his hand away. Max jumped off her lap and moved to his favourite spot near the fire where Franziska had lay a cushion down for him.

Sheer rage swept across her features as she came back to earth. She opened her mouth to say something but the lightning struck again knocking the power out and the loudest clash she had heard all night followed. The storm was now directly overhead.

She couldn't hide her fear anymore and screamed forcing herself into Miles' waiting arms. She gripped his shirt tightly and let her head rest on his chest, he smelled faintly of peppermint, it was calming. He let his chin rest on her head and begun to run his hand gently up and down her back, comforting her, just like he did at the von Karma estate. Franziska flashed back to her childhood.

Franziska was in her room when the storm started, at first it was pretty far away and she was studying so it didn't bother her but it didn't take long before the noises were getting to her, she was scared but still she wouldn't scream her father explained to her long ago a von Karma never showed weakness, which is why he never showed affection for her in public but would make up for it later by reading past cases to her and Miles in front of the fire in the living room, he would even let her sit on his lap. Lightning flashed right in front of her window and she suppressed a cry when the thunder rumbled above. She grabbed a pillow off her bed and curled up in a ball in the middle of her bed, wishing the storm would pass quickly.

She was 7 years old at her fathers old Estate on the city outskirts; she had come with him to study in America whilst his wife and eldest daughter remained in Germany. he had had to leave Franziska and Miles studying in the care of their tutor, Cyndi Wobityde while he was in court, he was supposed to be back around 5 and told her she could leave before then, so long as the children had finished their work. Of course Miles and Franziska had finish early, they always do for her, she managed to make studying fun, not that perfection needed fun, but it was an enjoyable change. 5 had came round and Cyndi had left, knowing full well Miles was responsible enough to take care of both of them until Mr von Karma got back, and Franziska was far too mature for her age to cause any trouble, she would probably be in her room cramming. For some reason she simply had to match Miles in his studies, the girl maybe a genius but she had no idea how a child her age should behave.

Cyndi had talked to Mr von Karma earlier that week about getting Franziska a pony and was surprised she still had her job, then again no matter how scary and strict he was on the outside, he cherished his daughter deep down, she was sure by Franziska's next birthday she would have some animal or other to play with.

Miles had gotten a call from the courthouse, Mr von Karma was definitely going to win his case but the defence was refusing to back down and putting up more of a fight than he had anticipated. His driver would call when they were on their way but until then they were on there own. Miles was happy with that; he could relax for a little while. It had began to rain a little after 6 and was a full blown storm by 6:30, Miles had watched the storm for a while before his stomach had growled reminding him neither he nor Franziska had eaten yet. It was 7 o Clock when he had taken some soup up for Franziska, he knocked on her door and waited getting concerned when she didn't answer he opened the door to let himself in.

"Franziska? You ok?" he dropped the tray when he saw her curled up on her bed crying "Franziska?"

He moved on instinct, he put a comforting hand on her shoulder surprised when she moved to cling to him; he held her and began to stroke her back, like he remembered the maid doing for him after an earthquake, he was so glad no-one else found him like that. He muttered comforting words until the storm passed. It wasn't long after that the tears stopped and he waited for her to stop shaking.

"Th- Thank you Miles" She spoke without looking at him and looked to the mess on her floor "let me help clean that up…"

They sat there in front of the fire in a comfortable silence until the storm had passed, Edgeworth kept his hold on Franziska while she stopped shaking, he looked down at her smaller frame, she had loosened her grip on his shirt, but kept her head on his chest, the rhythmic beating of his heart soothed her. A sudden urge overcame Edgeworth and before he himself realised it he had planted a small kiss on Franziska's head.

"Miles?" she looked up at him questioningly at the sudden contact.

Edgeworth realised what he had done and took his arms away raising them as though he had been caught doing something wrong, then again growing up in the von Karma household no matter the reason, even emergencies, touching Franziska without any kind of permission would get him a beating, usually from Franziska herself.

Franziska watched his reaction. He had a dear-in-the-headlights look about him, it amused her. She smiled at him evilly; his eyes couldn't hide his fear at what she might have had planned. Her hands found their way up to the collar of his shirt and without a second thought she pulled him down towards her, her lips crashing against his.

He was stunned, Franziska von Karma, the little girl he grew up with, who when she was younger would have sooner lashed at him with her riding crop if he so much as looked at her the wrong, had locked lips with him. Even more amazing was how much it aroused him. He wrapped his arms back around her and deepened the kiss; it felt good her being this close to him.

They broke apart he pulled her further into the embrace nuzzling her neck. She shivered as his warm breath trailed over her bare neck. She let her head rest on his shoulder and began to whisper to him, it took a moment for him to register she was speaking in German.

"Thank you, Miles, you don't know what this means to me"

He smiled, it had been a long time since Franziska had thanked him for anything this sincerely. Since she was speaking in German he replied in kind.

"You would do the same for me"

"I suppose I would, can't have my rival cowering to anything other than my whip."

He laughed a little and hugged her closer. She sighed and let her shoulders droop as though defeated.

"I'm not perfect Miles. I'm in no way superior to you."

"But you are. You never ceased to amaze me in all the years I've known you, you studied hard since you were old enough to read, you became a prosecutor at 13. Franziska, any other girl would be starting to rebel against their parents at that age, you started a career! Without your help I wouldn't be where I am today."

"You truly mean that?" a small smile crept to her lips.

"Of course I do. You've changed a lot more since your father…" he trailed off when she flinched; he forgot himself in the moment and brought up a touchy subject for her, he felt her grip on his shirt tighten "I'm sorry, I meant…"

She switched back to English

"I'm no longer a child Miles, I've truly grown up since papa…" she trailed off herself, she still found it hard to believe the pain and suffering her father had caused, all in the name of perfection, in the end he became the thing he hated most, and he had to be punished for it, No-one is above the law, not even Manfred von Karma.

"…Since papa… left…I tasted my first defeat, I was no longer perfect …and since that case… I've had time to think… I no longer have reason to be. If to be perfect is to become like papa…" she stopped as silent tears ran down her cheeks, she hoped he wouldn't notice and tried to change the subject. "Don't think of me as a sister anymore, I never was your sister, I was always your rival…" 'And now I only want to be here in your arms, forever'

He stood picking her up in the process, sitting like that on the floor was nice, but got very uncomfortable after so long. He expected protects but she just wrapped her arms around him. He moved to the sofa and sat down, letting her sit in his lap, one hand holding her gently in place the other stroking her hair, he sighed contentedly taking in her scent, honey, with a hint of leather? Of course her whip never left her side so it was only natural. He felt something soft press against his neck, she was kissing him, they were gentle, relaxing and yet somehow arousing… he shifted beneath her trying to hide his enjoyment from her.

She noticed him shifting, either he was enjoying it or it was making him uncomfortable. She tested this by gently sucking on the side of his neck, he rewarded her with a barely audible moan, Franziska smiled to herself as she let her tongue roam his neck, his moans became louder and it was getting harder for him to hide his arousal, she enjoyed the effect she had on him. Their bliss was disturbed by something small and furry rubbing up against Franziska's leg.

Franziska stopped and looked down at her new friend; Max had noticed what was happening and was getting jealous at the lack of attention he was getting. Franziska thought that was cute. She picked him up and let him sit on her lap, he curled up and sat there content. Miles glared at the cat, thoroughly disappointed in having been disturbed. Franziska noticed this and smirked, so he's jealous of her kitty is he?

"His name is Maximilion; I decided to stay in America a while so should get a pet to keep me company, something worthy to live in the von Karma household, I saw him today and thought of you… he looked so helpless I felt I had to take him in." she only realised what she had said a moment after she had said it and hoped adding the last bit wouldn't give her sudden feelings away.

He caught on to her pause and quick cover up, he found it cute that after all she just did she was trying to bluff her way out of it.

"If you wanted some company Franziska…" he leaned in closer and switched to German again "all you had to do was ask…" the tone of his voice sent chills down her spine.

He pressed his lips firmly against hers moving his hand to stroke her cheek, she melted into the kiss responsive to his every move. A thought flashed into her mind and she ended the kiss quicker than either of them would have liked. She moved off his lap feeling a little overwhelmed.

"You still haven't told me why you are here Miles." Her usual tone returning to her voice.

He laughed softly and took her hand in his caressing her slender fingers with his own. She looked up to glare at him only to find him smiling sweetly at her, her heart seemed to skip a beat.

"When I sent you home after your nap, you left your gloves on my desk. I came to return them to you." He told her pointing to the side table he placed them on; He brought her hand to his lips and kissed hers softly. "I wish you wouldn't wear them all the time, you have lovely hands…"

Franziska visibly blushed. The storm may have passed but it was still pouring outside and she was ready to kick him back out in the rain and make him sleep in his car for daring to embarrass her, but she was still tired off the flight, and the fear the storm had brought out had left her physically drained.

"Miles Edgeworth" she tried in vain to stifle a yawn "you foolish fool, foolishly coming all this way to return a pair of foolish gloves?" as she said the words she felt herself drifting off, her head lulled to the side, resting on his shoulder.

As Franziska fell asleep in his presence for the second time that day one thing became very clear to Miles Edgeworth. He wouldn't be going home tonight.

He found a comfortable spot and began running his hand through Franziska's hair the girl sighed contentedly muttering the word "fool."