The beginning like the whole chapter is like super iffy to me…I don't like it. But you guys have no idea how many times I had to redo this chapter! I lost count after ten… anyways so I don't know if it's very well explained just tell me if it's not. Plus I can't stand the chapter name I might change it but at the same time I might not. This chapter was originally suppose to be part one of the next one, chapter 8, but I didn't really wanna do part one or two's till later in the story. You'll see why later. Anyways have fun leave a review…let me know how this chapter turned out… my favorite part has to be Alyssa! You'll totally see why later. I just love how I wrote her actions.

*sigh* I need a pick me up… Like a churrio or Pepsi… maybe I'll go play ME: AAI. Yeah so will I go play the epicness that is AAI, have fun reading.

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Chapter 7: Exposed

Only the soft sounds of their shoes touching the stone path could be heard. Alyssa grabbed onto his arm, giving it a light squeeze pointing around at the beauty that surrounded them.

Flowering trees like the stars seemed to twinkle, an array of colors blooming from their branches. Flowers glistened from dew in the moonlit sky. The soft aroma of sweet flowers filled the area. Sounds of music and laughter reached his ears as they drew closer. Carefully and with much care he opened the white foliage covered gate, exposing them all to a new beauty.

Glimmering trees surrounded the courtyard like plaza. Glistening flowers bordered the white marble like stone of the floor. Dark red cloth covered the vast array of tables on the white stone. Lights twinkled and shone lighting the area. The Goodness like fountain in the center of it all shimmered like a rainbow, strategically placed lights giving the falling water the effect.

He found them sitting at one the delicately draped tables, champagne glasses in hand talking to familiar faces.

Phoenix watched as a silver haired woman was the first to notice him, pointing him out to the others at the table.

"Nick, Buddy I was starting to think you weren't gonna show." Larry yelled from the table, a bottle of newly opened champagne in hand.

Edgeworth got up and walked towards him, a teasing smirk on his lips.

"Late as always, Wright." He heard his childhood friend say, coming to a stop holding out his hand. Phoenix rolled his eyes at the comment, grabbing the man's hand. "Yeah, well maybe I'll come early one of these days." Edgeworth chuckled shaking his head at him.

"Such a big task for a foolish fool such as yourself, Phoenix Wright. Are you certain you can handle it?" a voice asked smugly. Phoenix looked past Edgeworth to see Franziska stare at him. A smug smile playing on her lips and a sinister glint in her eyes. "If I can beat you in court Franziska. I think I can handle coming on time."

He laughed taking notice of her falling smile. She huffed and scoffed turning the other way muttering about fools. "Besides I'm late because I brought guests."

"Who'd ya bring, Pal?" Gumshoe asked him a smile on his face.

"Well of course I brought Maya. Pearl came along too." he said pointing to the two.

"Always a pleasure to see young Pearl. I'm glad you could attend, Ms. Fey must enjoy keeping you to herself." Pearl giggled "And Ms. Fey it's been far too long, I believe it's been a year since our last meeting."

Sadly during their last get together Maya had been unable to attend, apparently having a meeting with the elders of Kurain. Phoenix couldn't help but notice that this had probably been the longest Maya had stayed in the past few months. Constant meetings, channeling's, and other tasks kept Maya away from times with friends and him. Pearl usually stayed in Kurain most of the time, in training to become an acolyte. This had to be the first time in nine months Phoenix had seen her.

"Missed you too Mr. Edgeworth. You have a lovely garden, such a pretty place to hold a party. Happy Birthday by the way." Maya whispered hugging him.

"Also I'd like all of you to meet my little brother Derek and my baby sister Alyssa." Phoenix said introducing them next. "Derek, Alyssa I'd like you to meet Miles Edgeworth, Franziska Von Karma, Larry Butz and Dick Gumshoe." He said pointing to them respectively. Gumshoe and Franziska looked at him in shock. Thoughts of him having siblings never coming to mind.

"Mr. Gumshoe, Ms. Von Karma it's a pleasure for Alyssa and I to make your acquaintance." Derek spoke smiling widely. Receiving a smile and nod from both Gumshoe and Franziska in agreement. "It's very nice to meet you both." Alyssa said sweetly, smiling at the two.

"I must say it's hard to believe you're both related to that foolish fool." Franziska said teasingly, a smirk on her face.

"Yeah Pal I never knew you had family."

Phoenix shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah I don't talk about them much, besides we only got back in touch about 4 years ago."

"Look who it is, Baby Doll Alyssa! I haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?" Larry asked giving Alyssa a goofy grin.

Phoenix smiled; Larry was like a third brother to Alyssa. She had grown up with him half of her life. He treated Alyssa like the sister he never had. Caring for her the same way Phoenix and Derek had, constantly called her pet names, Baby Doll being his favorite.

"Oh sure Larry just ignore me. Not like I matter." Derek said.

Larry laughed "Sorry Bud, but you know how things are. Ladies first am I right?" Phoenix watched as Derek only rolled his eyes muttering about how things never change, smiling widely.

"Miles it's good to see you again." He heard Derek say shaking the man's hand.

"You as well Derek. I trust that life has treated you well." Of course Derek and Edgeworth had known each other. During the time Phoenix had become friends with the man so had his brother.

"I must say this would be the first time I met your sister, Wright. I'll be frank if Larry had not informed me of such a subject I would have never guessed." Edgeworth said looking directly at him.

At that moment Phoenix couldn't help but notice how quiet Alyssa had suddenly become. Derek must have noticed it as well. Phoenix and Derek noticed how red her cheeks had suddenly become.

"Sweetheart you ok?" Derek asked an eyebrow raised in confusion. Alyssa had never been the type to be shy, her meeting with Maya and Pearl evidence of it; she had always jumped at the chance of meeting new people. He watched in concern as she only nodded in response.

"Cupcake your being rude, say hi." he urged looking at her.

She gulped visibly before speaking softly "H- h- Hi its- um a pleasure to meet me…. I mean you! I mean you- it's a pleasure to meet you! Not me…. God I must sound like an idiot right now…" She buried her face in her hands, trying her best to hide her embarrassment.

Edgeworth chuckled slightly before taking hold of one of her hands. "The pleasure is all mine, . Please make yourself welcome." He gave her hand a slight peck before releasing it, causing Alyssa to turn a deeper shade of red.

"Please just call me Alyssa." She said giggling slightly, the red never leaving her face.

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Her lips were parted ever so delicately, a soft harmonious melody escaping them. Her white dress fluttered behind her with every graceful movement. The soft yet defined sound of her heels touching the stone floor could be heard with every smooth step. Golden bracelets chimed against one another with every flowing movement. Her hair swayed smoothly in perfect harmony with every step she took, every movement she made.

"It's...like she's...dancing..." he whispers to himself, watching her closely.

He watched as Maya scooped up her cousin, twirling the younger before holding her close. The action itself causing the younger to giggle before she whispered something into the older's ear, pointing towards something. Maya stared at Pearl in confusion for a moment following the younger's outstretched finger to see the night sky. Her eyes seemed to soften as she watched the stars twinkle, Maya turned planting a small kiss on the younger's cheek.

"Maybe…" She whispered in a voice so pure; the edge of her lips curved ever so slightly. Phoenix felt his heart stop for a moment. For the first time in what felt like years…she smiled; the smallest of smiles gracing her features. It was small, barely noticeable, but it gave him hope. She wanted to smile; all she needed was an extra push.

"What's up Buddy? Why so glum?" Phoenix looked to his right taking notice of the man who was walking towards him. A goofy grin on his face as he took the empty seat next to him.

"I'm not sad Larry."

"Could have fooled me." Larry shrugged, "But really what's up? It's a party Nick. Everybody's having fun, except you."

He fell quiet for moment paying no mind to Larry only focusing all his attention on those around him. He looked around taking notice of the sound of laughter that reached his ears. He watched as Derek sat and spoke with Franziska, as Alyssa talked with Edgeworth, as Pearl played with Gumshoe. Each laughing, happiness in their hearts.

"How'd you do it?" He whispered, looking at his friend for an answer.

"Do what?" Larry asked him confused.

"How did you make her smile?"

"Who?"

"Maya… how'd you make her smile?" he watched as surprise and confusion became present in his friend's eyes. Larry looked around searching for her before looking back at him. It was an odd question that much he knew. But Larry had been the only one who'd know the answer.

"Larry do you remember that day; I called you, asking if you could do me a big favor. I had a trial that day but I promised Maya and Pearl that I would take them to the music festival in People Park. A sort of good bye before she had to leave for Kurain again, to become the Master. I had a trial so I couldn't go but I remember telling them you would take them for me. You did and I thank you for that. But do you remember when you called me. I picked up thinking you were going to tell me you had fun, and that Maya had gone back. Instead I picked up and you asked me something…"

"Yeah I remember. I remember asking if you had ever seen her smile. Why what's wrong?"

"How'd you do it? Make Maya smile like that?"

Larry looked at him clearly confused by the odd question. Phoenix had a feeling he knew how to make Maya smile again, but he needed some conformation before trying. It was beyond him how Larry had managed to make a "breathtaking smile" escaped Maya's lips. The call had never bothered Phoenix much; he merely brushed it off as one of Larry's crazy notions. But now the thought of that smile seemed to haunt him. The letter she read last night echoed in his head, the angelic voice reciting lines in it. The smile Larry had described as breathtaking seemed the same as the one the letter described. He knew if he wanted to see Maya happy he would have to make her smile, not just any smile though. Phoenix was determined to see a true smile grace her features.

He watched in silence as she slipped away, whispering something to Pearl before disappearing into Edgeworth's garden. He stared at Larry in hopes of getting an answer, the same answer she had unknowingly given him last night.

"We danced…"

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So let me explain something first this chapter is called exposed because it sort of in a really bad way exposes what makes Maya smile, like what her dad wrote in the letter. Of course the letter will go into greater detail later on in the story where I had first planned to introduce it; as will the reason why it makes Maya happy. Secondly hopefully you guys can tell who Alyssa is crushing on, if you can't look through the reviews cuz Edgey totally won; And so because of that I decided to give Larry and Alyssa a more brother sister type thing. (Also to that one person who wanted me to make a little rivalry between Alyssa and Franziska. I might consider it but at the same time I might not. I'm the person who although I love them both can't get over the fact they are family.) Thirdly… this chapter has more dialogue between people, which I am not very good at… I'm more into detail, random metaphors, and similes. More poetic stuff… anyways leave a review tell me how bad or good I did. To be honest I'm having a bad day so I could care less… right now. Being depressed sucks…: (

I'm on fall break right now so chapter eight will be either up later today (most likely night time) or tomorrow because I practically have the whole thing planned in my head… just need to type it up.