She eventually grew tired of that teasing attitude of his, the way he could never take any of her scolding seriously, the way he constantly avoided her furious gazes whenever he "harmlessly" engaged another woman. That coy, insulting smirk he offered her whenever she tried to confront him, that guilty, side-glance of his eyes when she slapped his face. She had always thought that she was the one who owed him, the one who was obligated to make amends for her past actions, not the other way around. However, after spending those years together, she realized that the Phoenix Wright she had once known had lost a part of himself somewhere along the path they walked together.

But she didn't want him to lost that part of him. She missed the old him, the one who would childishly blush when she wore cute summer dresses, who would gently take her hand and kiss her cheek and honestly ask her how her day was, and who would shower her with gifts on her birthday, perhaps more so out of fear than affection, but gifts nonetheless.

At first she thought the transformation was her doing. She knew all too well that her demeanor wasn't entirely…amenable, and it wasn't inconceivable that some of that ire rubbed off on him during their time together. But soon it was clear that whatever affliction he had wasn't anything like her attitude. His was one of…cockiness, of sheer contempt for his opposition, a bizarre desire for respect in court, attributes that she had long since shed. She couldn't exactly explain it. Perhaps it was her brother's recent absence from the country – that in itself would have surely altered Phoenix's courtroom ethics. Edgeworth had always had the uncanny ability to snap Phoenix back to his senses whenever he needed a good lecture, a skill that Franziska had not quite yet acquired for herself. Whatever the reason, Phoenix Wright was becoming quite intolerable. It pained her beyond reason to see it happen, but she was slowly losing the person who had made her who she was.

She couldn't bring herself to be surprised at his change. No one could remain so flawlessly altruistic for long, after all. Even him. Phoenix didn't seem surprised either, when she showed him the divorce papers.

Weeks passed. Franziska was surviving, but she desperately needed someone. Someone who would take her mind off of him. And then came that case. Her first and final trial against Kristoph Gavin. It had been weeks since she had returned to the states, and to find another German in the courtroom upon her return from Europe had been oddly…comforting.

She'd lost that trial, but she wasn't upset, of course – she'd been taught long ago. And besides, any woman would find it difficult not to be elated if handsome Kristoph Gavin asked her out to dinner as soon as the court proceedings were over.

Kristoph was an entirely new experience for her. He was curt, but kind. Old-fashioned, yet alluring. His unparalleled grace showed no signs of uncertainty, no shyness, no bothersome naivety. The conversations they shared were sophisticated and meaningful. His fascinated attention on her was intense, almost eerie, making her feel as though she was some exquisite rare doll instead of his lover, but she didn't mind. The almost obsessive attention she received reminded her of her old Phoenix. Except Kristoph could speak German.

But as she figured, her relationship with Kristoph didn't last long, either. She managed to brush the blow away with a sigh. At least this time she knew better than to get married.

Some more months passed and Phoenix's badge was gone. She felt she should at last, at least, pay him a visit, offer some words of consolation, encouragement, meet his newly acquired daughter whom she'd heard so much about. What she didn't expect when she knocked on his door was for him to take her shoulders and force her lips to his.

She'd shuddered under the kiss, letting old memories seep into her head, then abruptly shoved him away. Why are you doing this, she'd said to him, exasperate tears welling. Why now, why now…?

He'd chuckled sadly. He didn't know. But he did know that he needed her as much as she'd missed him. She'd scoffed at the arrogant remark, but only half-heartedly, too relieved to be angry with him, all the while realizing that maybe she could learn to love this new Phoenix, this slipshod, cryptic excuse of a man. She'd smiled, genuinely, and looked in his bright eyes, put one arm around his neck and let the other one idly twist the unkempt strands of hair that drooped down his forehead, and leaned up to press a soft kiss to his prickly cheek. You fool.

Nice, short chapter, yes?

This was greatly inspired by the fourth case in Apollo Justice, when you got to play as Phoenix during his last trial. It was hard not to notice his new attitude in court; he was extremely cocky, and seemed more concerned about implicating Valant as the murderer than actually finding the truth. But that's just my opinion. xD Anyway, I thought it'd be interesting to see some of his old friends' reactions to his new personality.

And the whole Franzy/Kristoph thing...don't read too much into that. I just needed Franziska to get with someone else, and happened to choose Kristoph. xD