Title: I'll be waiting

Prompt: #55-Waiting

Pairings: Edgeworth x Franziska

Author Note: This one's for ma-yonaka14's birthday. Happy Birthday, Corny! Hope you like the story! This is my first time writing Franziska x Edgeworth...

Disclaimer: I don't claim to own anything, so don't try and sue me. You'd lose anyway. I know a few very good lawyers.

Summary: "You don't have to come home right away. Just know I'll be waiting for you to get back."

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There was an incident, when Franziska von Karma was 11 years old, where she became so overwhelmed by the strict rules of the von Karma household that she angrily confronted her father. After a particularly loud shouting match, she had flung open the front door and had stalked out of the house, fuming. She didn't know where she was going to go, only that she couldn't stand where she was a minute longer. She began walking down the long highway leading away from the von Karma mansion. The walking slowly neutralized her anger, and soon she took a deep, calming breath, and thought about what to do next.

She wasn't going back. That much she knew. But where could an 11-year-old runaway go? Miserable, she sat down on the side of the road and began to cry.

Wrapped up in her own thoughts, she didn't even hear the car engine approaching her until it had come to a rest very near her. A familiar voice reached her ears.

"Franziska, get in the car."

She glared up at 18-year-old Miles Edgeworth.

"No! I'm not going back! You can't make me!"

After a long stare-down, Edgeworth finally relented, sighing.

"Fine. You're right. I can't make you do anything you don't want to do. But can you just hear me out? I know life can be stressful at home. And I know you're really upset right now. So you don't have to come home right away. Take your time, think things through. But Franziska? Please promise me this. Don't disappear forever. You have to come back. It doesn't have to be today, or tomorrow, or even next week. Just know I'll be waiting for you to come around. …I'll be seeing you," he added quietly as he pulled away, turning around and heading back to the von Karma household. Franziska felt the tears coming again. She sat there, letting her grief and anger out, for another half hour. Then she slowly drew herself to her feet and began the long trek home. She got back just as the sun started to disappear between the trees. Her mother immediately wrapped her in a huge hug, fussing and crying and laughing with relief. At some point in all the commotion, Franziska happened to look into the doorway leading into the corridor that lead to the stairs. Miles was standing there. He smiled, then disappeared into the corridor. Neither of them ever talked about the events of that day. Not one word was exchanged about how Franziska had almost run away from home, never coming back. Soon the whole incident was lost in time.

15 years later, Miles Edgeworth proposed to a very grown-up Franziska von Karma. On a beautiful summer day they said their I dos, and began their life together. It wasn't long, however, before the reality of the real world kicked in. Stress and strain created tension between them, and started to weight down the 'happy' couple. One day, after a particularly loud shouting match, Franziska stormed out, hopped in her car, and began to drive away. She saw her husband fading from view in her rearview mirror, but she refused to turn around. Her cell-phone rang. Instantly recognizing the caller ID, she angrily tossed the phone into the passenger seat. A few moments later, her phone buzzed, telling her she needed to check her voicemail. Hesitating at first, she grabbed her phone. Might as well give the fool one last chance to plead his case. This had better be good.

"You have one new message," The monotone female voice informed her, "Message one:"

There was a brief pause, then Miles Edgeworth's voice took over.

"…I knew you wouldn't pick up. Please, just hear me out. You don't have to listen, or believe me, but give me a chance. I-I can't make you do anything you don't want to. And I know life can be really stressful at home. You're really upset right now, and I understand that. So…you don't have to come home right away. Take your time, think things through. But honey? Please come back someday. Don't disappear forever. I love you. You have to come back. It doesn't have to be tomorrow, or next week, or even next year. Just know I'll be waiting for you to come around. And I'll keep waiting as long as it takes. Even if it takes forever."

"…There are no more messages. Saved message-"

Franziska slowly hung up the phone. She tossed it back into the passenger's seat. For a long time, she did nothing but drive, pouring on the speed. Then, she pulled over to a roadside motel and booked a room for the night.

This time, it took her four days to make her way home. When she got there, she found Miles Edgeworth waiting for her, just like he had promised her. And while neither ever thought of leaving again, It wouldn't have mattered if they did. For each would wait for the other as long as necessary, so they could be together again.

Wow. Cheesiest ending ever. In any case, have a happy birthday, Corny!