I have nothing to add up here except for the disclaimer so here it is.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies all rights go to Capcom and Nintendo

Athena's POV

Why did I let him talk me into this? And why did I agree to it in the end? It isn't like I don't want to see Mr. Starbuck again. I do I just don't want to meet him here at the Space Center and not under these circumstances. I don't need him to accidently slip up about my connection to the Space Center. I'm not fully convince that the Clay I'm meeting and getting to know is the same one from nearly 10 years ago but if Mr. Starbuck knows him and says something about me, I don't know what I will do. We were walking through all the many different hallways, Clay was trying to tell me what each object or display was but I already knew everything, after all I did used to live here many years ago. But I wasn't going to say anything and draw even more attention to myself so I stayed quiet as he led me to Mr. Starbuck's office. Even to this day he still works in the same office. I bet it's still as messy as I remember. I unknowingly let out a small giggle to which the guys began to look at me a little funny. I didn't put much thought into it because Clay started talking.

"Well, it's nice to see you're feeling better, Apollo said you love to smile to everyone and now that I finally got the chance to see it for myself, I can tell you must have an amazing personality," he smiled at me as he said it.

"Well here we are everyone, Mr. Soloman Starbuck's office it's a little messy," so I was right, "so you should watch where you guys are stepping."

"H-hey umm, C-clay?"

"Yes Thena," Thena? How did he know that? Apollo probably told him that.

"Ummm, do you think I can see Mr. Starbuck...well alone?"

"Well, I guess so. I don't see why not but-"

"Great thanks Clay," and with that I sprinted inside his office leaving the two guys speechless in my wake.

I went inside and had a nice look around his office, it's exactly as I remembered it all those years ago. He really hasn't changed much since I left the Space Center. Eventually I spotted him at the other end of the room and at that moment he looked up and his eyes met mine. Even though it has been almost 10 years since we last met I knew that he recognized and remembered me.

"A...Athena? I-is that really you?"

"Mr. Starbuck, it's been a while. How are you?"

Meanwhile back with Clay and Apollo (Clay's POV)

Okay that was a little more than weird, the way she went into Mr. Starbuck's office like that you think she already knew him. I was going to dwell on it a bit more but Apollo started to talk to me, and it may just be me but he looks a little peeved.

"OKAY WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE?!"

"Yo dude, tone down those Chords of Steel would you? His office may be soundproof but that doesn't mean you have to yell."

"How did you know that?!"

"Know what? About your Chords of Steel? Come on I've known you-"

"NO NOT THAT! I meant how did you know Athena's nickname?! I NEVER even told you!"

"Oh that? Ummm, to be honest I haven't the slightest idea where that came from. Just something that popped into my head."

Even though I said it, I wasn't telling a complete lie. Thena was a name of an old friend of mine. I don't know why I called Athena that, although she does remind me of her. I hope I remember soon, I'm actually wondering why I'm getting so close to Athena, I just met her and yet...I feel like I have known her for years.

"Okay Clay, I don't know what has been happening for the last hour or so, but I do know there is something going on between you and Athena. Whether you guys are aware of it or not I know there is something. Come on Clay I'm your best friend you can tell me."

Well I guess I was going to have to tell him sooner or later. So with a sigh I began to tell him about a very special friend of mine.

"Alright Apollo you win, well get comfortable it's...a bit of a long story."

Meanwhile back with Athena and Mr. Starbuck (Athena's POV)

"Mr. Starbuck, it's been a while. How are you?"

Mr. Starbuck was speechless for a minute, I guess he was in shock for seeing me again after so long, not that I could blame him really. I didn't think I would be back this soon on my return to the states. After a while Mr. Starbuck came up and gave me a hug. I immediately returned it now realizing how much I missed him. We stayed like that for a while, not moving until he let go and held me at arms length.

"Princess, you...actually came back? I was beginning to think I might not get to see you again. What happened anyway? You look really well."

"P...Princess? Wow I didn't think you would remember that."

"Well, of course I did Athena, after all Clay was the one who gave it to you and word about your new nickname spread like wildfire around the Center."

"Clay...right," why does his name bring me both happiness and sadness every time I hear it?

"What's wrong Princess? You're not happy to see him again or something?"

"No it's no that it's- wait what do you mean 'again'?"

"You didn't recognize him? He's the one who came to me saying he has some friends he wanted me to meet," I-is it true? but no that can't be I'm sure Clay is a very common name but I couldn't think about it further because Mr. Starbuck continued talking but in a softer voice this time.

"He was also the one who came to me asking where you were all those years ago. His exact words were, 'Hey Mr. Starbuck where's Princess Thena,' at the time I couldn't answer him because I didn't know either."

At this point I couldn't talk, taking into account everything he said it all made sense. Right then all of my memories of Clay began playing through my head. I eventually had to grab hold of it because it was starting to hurt from all the flashbacks I was getting.

"I see you still have it."

"H-huh? W-what do I still have? If you mean Widget then yeah-"

"No Athena, I mean your ribbon. Even now you still kept the one gift Clay gave you for your 10th birthday."

That's right, I subconsciously grabbed it, feeling the soft fabric between my fingers and reminiscing about that day. I remembered how happy I was when he gave it to me, I remembered the hug I gave him to which he returned. and I remembered the picture. The very same one I kept with me and is now sitting on my nightstand.

"You know he misses you a lot Athena," I jumped in surprise when he started talking again.

"He doesn't like to admit it, or likely not know it, but every now and then he slip up and say you're name."

He...he still thinks about me? Than if it really is true, he really is the same Clay I befriended when I was a little girl. And more importantly...he still remembers me to this day, he might not realize it up front on his own, but the fact still remains. Nearly 10 years have gone by but my friend still thinks about me. I feel so guilty leaving him like that, I didn't get my chance to say goodbye to him. How can I face him? What would he think of me? Would he even want to be my friend anymore?

"Athena, I don't mean to pry but...why did you leave? I know what happened that day must have been really hard for you but...why? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to but if you do this room is completely soundproof."

Well I guess I do owe him an explanation, and who knows? Maybe talking about it to Mr. Starbuck will make it easier to explain myself to Clay.

"Okay Mr. Starbuck, you have the right to know it's...kind of a long story."

Meanwhile back with Clay and Apollo (Apollo's POV)

"Alright Apollo you win, well get comfortable it's...a bit of a long story."

Finally we're getting somewhere, sheesh it took him long enough. Once I get this bit of truth from Clay I will have to inquire Athena about this later as well.

"Well, I'm all ears Clay so lay it on me."

"Haha, you sure are as persistent as ever but I expect nothing less from you."

"Yeah yeah so the story?"

"Alright, alright geez I'm getting there. Well anyway, you see there was this...girl I befriended almost 10 years ago here at the Space Center. At the time she actually lived here with her mom."

I let out an internal sigh, just a middle schooler and already he's going at it. Normally I would chastise him about it but Clay actually has a serious look on his face when he was talking about this 'girl.' Was it possible Clay actually developed some feelings for her? From how he looks I think he still has them.

"Okay I'm with you so far."

"She was this really bubbly girl with fiery red hair and she used to wear these really bulky headphones everyday. She said it was for her mother's research and that it was important she wore it all the time."

"So you made a friend with someone who lived at the Space Center and she was a redhead. How old was she anyway?"

"I first met her when she was only nine at the time, I was 14 back then."

Sigh, Clay your womanizer ways knows no bounds. It's hard to imagine anyone who looks like the person Clay knew living here. I used to visit Clay at the Space Center and I have never met anyone like that but then again maybe they were in a restricted area of the Center.

"So what ever happened to this little girl of yours? I imagine we would have ran into her by now."

"Yeeah well, you see she...she doesn't live here...anymore."

In all my time I have known Clay I have never heard him sound this quiet before. This friend of his must still be important to him and I don't need Athena's ears to know that he still misses her very deeply.

"What was she like? What kind of person was she?" I asked in a softer tone.

The next thing that came out of Clay's mouth overwhelmed me with emotion to no end because he sounded really genuine. Of all the relationships Clay has gone through he has never really shown a lot of commitment but when he began talking about this friend of his, he really sounded like he wanted to be with her.

"She was an amazing girl. She always had this aura of innocence surrounding her. She grew up with her robot friends so she didn't really understand the difference between humans and robots which I always found to be adorable."

Is he actually blushing right now? In all my years I have NEVER seen him blush over a girl. EVER.

"I miss her a lot Apollo," he said in an uncharacteristically soft voice. The rare chances he used my actual name I knw he is being really serious here.

I didn't know how I should ask but I think this time it should be safe to be blunt about it.

"Umm Clay?"

"Yeah man," he's still really soft, this 'girl' of his must have left a really deep hole in his heart.

"When...when was the last time...you actually saw her?"

"It was the last week after her birthday, we were hanging out in one of her favorite hiding places in the Space Center when she got called to go to her mother's office. I went with her even though she knew her way around the Space Center like the back of her hand but then the alarm went off and, in fear of something happening to her mom, she ran there.

"I...at some point we lost each other in the midst of chaos and at that point everyone was forced to leave the building and no one was allowed back for more than a week," poor Clay, he's actually choking up right now I can't imagine how hard that must have been for him.

"That...that moment up in her hiding spot up to the point when we were walking together was the last time I hung out with her."

At this point Clay just lost it and was balling his eyes out. I didn't know what else to do except hug him.