Notes: I hope everyone enjoy this one too! As the previous chapter this one wasn't reviewed, so sorry if you find too many incoherences.

have a good reading! ^^

Between Wines and Grape Juices

Chapter 11

The station was crowded. All the different sounds of voices, bags being carried on the floor, trains arriving, other leaving, everything seemed a little hasty in that place. The atmosphere of hurry in the air contributed with the impression their time was even shorter than it was.

"You got everything? If you forget something, call me and I'll send it to you via mail, okay?"

"Yes, don't worry, Nick. I didn't bring lots of stuff this time. Aw, I'm so glad I visited! I feel so refreshed and strong to face my trainings again! I owe it all to you guys. Ah! I was almost forgetting… I have an invitation to everyone. You know, Kurain also hosts a big feast along with a ritual when a new acolyte takes the master position. When the time comes, please visit me too! We'll have as much fun as yesterday!"

"I will! I want to know your village! And your cousin! Mr. Wright said she's really cute."

"We'll be there for sure!" Phoenix assured, "so take it easy in your training okay? Make sure you'll eat properly, be organized with you timings and… well, anything you need you know you can call me."

"Yes, Nick!"

"Ms. Fey," Edgeworth took the word, "Take care. We'll be looking forward to see you as the master."

"I will! Thank you!" Maya looked happily at Edgeworth and Phoenix, staring for some seconds at them, wondering how things changed during that travel she made.… thankfully.

"Well, I guess it's time." Maya observed the arrival of her train. "You all take care too, okay? Happy holidays, everyone!"

Maya bade farewell, but they stood there watching her loading her bags and later waving and smiling tenderly from inside the train. In a blink of the eye, it started to move over the trails away from them, leaving only a little emptiness behind especially to Wright. Talking about emptiness, the apartment was emptied again of all the collection items and movies of Maya's series, just as the freeze and his wallet were left empty. Empty was how Phoenix felt for several days after the goodbye to his assistant. He couldn't even count on Edgeworth at those final days of the year, surprisingly the Prosecutor's Offices was just like an anthill overloaded with cases. It sounded crazy to him. People were supposed to live happily at the holidays, not murder others.

So, lately he had been constantly stretched out on his sofa to watch television. It was boring, so his eyes looked at the photograph at the side of it, close to the little Christmas tree with blinking lights. It was impossible to don't focus at a certain person standing just by his side at that photo. Phoenix sighed. It had been two weeks by then since he last saw him. He did have a case to investigate and defend on court, but it wasn't even comparable to the all the sequential cases being designated to the prosecution side.

…I guess that's what I get for having a relationship with the busiest prosecutor ever, a lot of time to sleep.

But he had slept enough already, so he breathed deeply as he got up and grabbed the phone. It wouldn't be that bad to just check on him like… the millionth time.

"Hello, Mr. Wright?" But it wasn't even him who got the call. Kay's voice was adorably attentive, but the sole reason she was the one on the phone made him a little frustrated.

"Hey, Kay, how're you doing? Still busy?"

"Man you won't believe this, looks now some prosecutors are on vacation and Mr. Edgeworth was given yet another case to solve! This sucks! Well, at least we think it's possible to find new leads to end it tomorrow at court, hopefully."

… Phoenix did agree inside, and wondered why on first place it wasn't Edgeworth on vacations, but he preferred to keep it to himself. Probably he hadn't scheduled travelling on the end of the year.

"Right now Mr. Edgeworth is out, but I think he's returning soon, do you want me to ask him to call you back?"

"No, don't mind it. I'll call him again at night. Well…" he looked at the clock and noticed it was at evening already, "Late at night I guess. But don't bother him, okay?"

"… You're sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then… I'll tell him you'll call later."

Kay sighed when turning off Edgeworth's phone and looking at all the papers piled up on that desk. It wasn't the first time they had to dismiss Wright. She hoped it was the last at least.

"Mr. Wright is probably lonely without Maya there with him…" she though loudly, wondering later how it would be good if the prosecutor was free and could spend more time with him. But no! There was that pile of papers waiting to be signed before multiplying again and keep delaying his personal life.

"Curse you, paperwork! You're getting on their way!" She scolded the motionless papers before hearing much known voices approaching the office. From the tones and the issue being talked she knew things weren't that good… so she pretended she was reading something important as the prosecutor stormed inside that room followed by a puppy-eyed detective and lots of questions to answer to the upcoming trial.
"Detective, if you missed something else during your investigation, I'll make sure you'll miss your salary throughout the whole next year!"

"Augh…!"

Miles roamed on his office in deep thoughts. That cold glance, those furrowed brows… it seemed he was about to jump on the first neck he'd see and Kay prayed hard it wasn't on hers. That's why she kept dodging his constant changes of directions; she wouldn't want to be in his way and being shouted to. Gumshoe on the other hand was kind of… following him? Kind of imitating him to see if some ideas would come up? C'mon… what a ridiculous scene…! Kay groaned and buried her face on her hands trying to contain how much those two were pissing her off. Thankfully, a new presence arrived at the scene with new info in hands.

"Mr. Edgeworth?" Said the girl knocking on the open door before walking in with an envelope in her hands, "I have the last results of the DNA tests you ordered."

"Please come in, Ms. Skye."

Ema Skye had been in town for about a week to spend the holidays with her older sister, but she couldn't stand still watching cases waiting for her scientific knowledge to be solved, so Lana managed to integrate her to the police departments as a trainee for some weeks, under Detective Gumshoe's guidance.

"You found something new, Ema?" Kay was desperate to see things move forward.

"Of course! My scientific investigations are always revealing!" Edgeworth's eyes quickly absorbed every word on those results as she resumed the facts, "turned out the footprints match the victim's shoe in fact, but the hidden bloodstain is actually the defendant's, not the victim's!"

"So that puts him directly on the scene! And it supports the struggle marks!" Kay noticed.

"It also explains why the flags were moved… to cover the wound. If we find them, they'll probably have the defendant's blood and fingerprints, and maybe even the missing knife." Edgeworth thought even further.

"I wonder where, though… I don't know any scientific method to help on that…"

"Yet you provided us decisive evidence. I appreciate your efforts, Ms. Skye."

"Good work Ema!" Kay exploded in happiness and hugged her partner, "Now Mr. Edgeworth can finish this case at last! C'mon guys, the holidays are waiting!"

"Detective Gumshoe! Conduct a new investigation. Find out if there are any traces of these flags, even burned fabrics, or any metal that could indicate the knife around. Anything."

"Yes, sir! I will work the whole night if needed, sir!"

"I'll help too!" Ema offered.

"…Good work all of you." He complimented them at last, even if visibly tired.

Just one more day. That thought gave new hope to the team. Kay walked to the corner of the room and poured some tea on a cup while watching her boss arranging the evidences that would be used next morning. He was still stressed so she gave it in a hurry, quickly stepping behind afraid of his terrible humor.

… Maybe I can say something to light his mood a little? At least for now…

"Mr. Edgeworth, er… c'mon, try to relax… you should distract a while. We're almost there now. Oh, I know what would cheer you up! Guess who called you a while ago?" Edgeworth's expression changed to surprise and later insurance just by hearing that phrase, but Kay continued, "your boyfriend! Hehe I get so happy to call him your boyfriend now! Anyway, he said he'd call later but you can call him first and have a good talk with him! I think it would be good to you, you really need to think about something else besides this case!"

It didn't go as well as she thought it would. Edgeworth seemed even more worried.

"Huh? Did I say something wrong?"

"On top of all there's Wright… he's likely mad with me."

"…Why would he?"

"I didn't give him any attention those two weeks. I even… passed out during our brief conversations on the phone… twice."

"You fell asleep during your phone calls with him? Uh… But I bet he knows how tired you've been!"

"However I still have to apologize… somehow. I said I would make him company at the end of the year since Ms. Fey is not around anymore, but I couldn't see him at all. I hadn't the faintest idea all of this would happen. I even have to find him a Christmas present…"

"Calm down! Just focus about talking with him now. Tell him tomorrow it will be all over and you can spend the whole weekend with him! I can help you to find a present too!"

Spending the whole weekend with him?

"If I spend the weekend with him and no one else… you think it would be enough to compensate?"

"Well, I guess so! Yeah, this is it! Tomorrow you'll win the case, everyone will lunch together and we can search for a present at afternoon since he'll be working too. And at weekend you just use your time to be with him and forget about everything else, okay?"

"What about you? You already have to pack your bags…"

"Don't worry, you've been with me these whole two weeks! He's the one who you need to see. Besides, I'm going at the end of the afternoon; we can still have a delicious lunch together!"

Edgeworth nodded. He decided to follow her councils and grabbed the phone to return the call before the movement of his office ended up hurried again. At least Phoenix seemed to be excited with the idea and didn't look mad on the phone.

But Miles knew all of that would happen again. And thinking he would have no choice but being distant and letting Wright all by himself for an indeterminate time in future as well made him already feel a jerk.

"I don't like your face… did he turn you down?" Kay asked a little hesitantly.

"No, he didn't, it's just… I should be honest with him… I should probably warn him I'll have to be absent in future as well. What's happening now may repeat soon, I'll have to deal with many cases again and maybe I'll have to leave him alone for some time."

"But… he understands it's your job and it demands time, doesn't he?"

"I believe so… yet it pains me to accept I'll always have to put my job in front of him."

Kay opened her mouth, but only a sigh came out. She crossed her arms, but her eyes looked at the prosecutor with admiration. What a change, Miles Edgeworth talking about revising the priority of his work over his personal life. He had been changing a lot, and still was. In part, it was her fault he was feeling so divided inside. She motivated him so much to work further his personal life, she talked so much about love and Mr. Wright to him… it would be a shame if he could only give him that attention from times to times. So she tried to make her brain work a little faster and give her an idea to help him calm down.

… At least if they didn't feel the absence of each other daily…

… Daily?

"Hey…!" She looked at him surprised and let him a little confused. A huge smiled appeared when her idea grew stronger. "I have something for you!"

She looked inside her purse and grabbed a key keeper shaped as a blue badger. Then, carefully, the girl took off one of the keys inside it and placed it on Miles's palm.

"This is the key to your house." Kay stated.

"…The copy you mysteriously made?" His headaches seemed to be coming back.

"You'll make a good use of it when you decide to ask him to live with you."

Edgeworth looked at her with a blank expression. She responded with a victorious smirk.

"Seriously, you should think about it! That way, even if you have to stay until late at this office, when you get home you'd still see him! It's perfect! You wouldn't have to sacrifice your job or Mr. Wright, you would even get closer to him!"

"It's… so sudden…"

"Honestly… I see no reason why you shouldn't live together. You know each other for your whole life! It's not as if you're getting to know your boyfriend, you two were always around each other. But it doesn't have to be now, too. If you prefer having more time of relationship before inviting him, you can keep this key with you until the day you decide to ask him!"

"Yet you should keep yours. You know you'll always be welcome at my house."

"I know that, thank you so much! But as the Yatagarasu I have skills to copy it anytime I want! Hehe! So I don't think I'll need it, not until I come back. I think you two will make a better use of it than I will. When you give it to him, remember to tell him this is kind of a Christmas memento from me too, okay?"

"Sure, you copied this after all."

"Don't give me that look, Mr. Edgeworth! You know I steal only the truth! And… love in a certain way!"

"… Indeed."

48 hours. Of course Edgeworth thought how long that time was. Of course his imagination had preceded what would possibly be the schedules for that weekend. Maybe they would go out to eat, or maybe cook at his apartment. Maybe they would watch television together, go to the movies, or drive to anywhere at night.

…Everything they would probably do if they lived together.

One thing was certain. They would be by themselves, they missed each other… and there was a high probability their dating time would evolve to something more… intimate.

The thought made Edgeworth quite nervous as walking up the stairs to Wright's apartment at that morning. It's not as if he didn't want it, he knew it would happen soon or late, but he was nervous, incredibly nervous. How couldn't he? It would be his first time with another man…! He couldn't shake out the nervousness, no matter how much he did want to have that new experience with Phoenix.

He wondered if the other was thinking that way too.

He first gave some shy knocks on the door as his cheek where terribly colored. But he knocked again a little louder just to make sure he would be heard.

"I'm coming!" The gap between hearing that voice from inside and really waiting to see his face dried his throat. His feet were unquiet… just as everything inside him.

"Miles! Good morning! How you've been?"

Edgeworth flushed even more when seeing that lively smile already at morning.

"Come in! You want to hang your coat somewhere?"

….I barely entered and I'm already taking one of my clothes off.

"I see you arranged the place." Edgeworth scanned all over the apartment, noticing the little Christmas tree with blinking lights just as the balcony outside and imagining if it was so well decorated because he left Wright alone.

"Of course I did! You should see the office, I put some lights at Charley too. Maya even helped me through the internet, I don't even know how she got some signal up the mountains."

"Who is Charles?"

"The plant… ah… never mind…" Phoenix sighed smiling at Edgeworth's difficulty with names and changed subject, "Hey, I was making lunch for us! I bet you don't eat a homemade meal for ages. And you still look kind of unhealthy."

"Unhealthy? Do I look that awful?"

Phoenix smirked.

"Being the busiest prosecutor in the world, I say you're incredibly fine."

Seeing how he got excited to cook and welcome him made him think how much Wright was expecting to see him again. How much he probably counted the hours to their encounter and maybe how much he felt frustrated every time the prosecutor passed away on the phone, even if unwillingly.

He may have missed me so badly, but he's not mad. He's just trying to please me, make me comfortable and value our time together.

…I've put him in second place enough already.

"I also bought a wine! Want to try it?"

"…Why not?" Edgeworth answered with serene eyes after finishing his thoughts.

The dinner was approved, even more accompanied with a drink it had been some time Edgeworth didn't appreciate. Phoenix coughed a little with that one, it was drier than he was used to, and by that the visitor could see he had bought it wrongly, but with the intuition of pleasing him. He didn't feel as picking on him though, so he just changed subjects.

"Tell me how your week was." Miles felt the urge of hearing Phoenix talking about the world outside the four walls of his office.

"Well… I got a case at Monday, investigated it for two days and won it. It wasn't hard to prove my client innocent, the worst was to find another person to point as the murder. But I don't think you want to talk about this, right? Let me see what else… I met Larry at Thursday. He made me eat crappy food… and he seemed pretty intrigued about our relationship. He asked many times if we were certain about it, since when we had been seeing each other… things like that. But I don't blame him. It had been a while since the three of us met and when he sees us again, we're there kissing on a boat."

"It's a comprehensible shock."

"But in the end I didn't think he was shocked in a negative way. The model he was with dumped him these past few days, well, that's no news. I think he was a little envious of us, because we seemed realized and truly happy at that night… something like that. Even so he said some nice words to me; he wished us to be happy and everything.

"I see… I'm surprised he's acting maturely about us."

"Yeah, he even asked how I did to make you fall in love and if I could help him find a new girlfriend, but I trailed him off.

"Tell him to talk with Kay. She's good with these things and this way he'll give you some peace."

Phoenix agreed and then the conversation moved to how were the rest of the days in which Miles couldn't be present, about how was Wright's office, Maya's latest news and every other events worth to be shared. Soon nothing else existed in the world but Phoenix and his lively way. Everything around him seemed to gain more life, as it always did and always would. The prosecutor himself had changed under influence of the man in front of him and he was completely aware of that. Even the fact of falling in love was part of that process. Oh, he shouldn't have slept during their phone calls, thus missing the opportunity of hearing that voice telling him everything inside his mind. It was when he realized he had been completely carried away by watching him. All the troubles he faced from that hurried week suddenly disappeared and Miles was willing to keep immersed in that escapee of reality as long as possible.

Every other program they shared had a different meaning, just because of his presence. Those illogical movies on the television gained another color just because Wright was there playing with his hair, even if completely apprehensive trying to get what was about to happen.

"What we will do at Christmas?" Miles asked with a low voice to don't bother his attention to the movie.

"I don't know… you have a plan? We can spend it here, if you want." He turned to him at the same time, even if

"If that's the case… maybe I could call some people to spend New Year at my house, it has plenty of space. Ms. Skye came back, I told you didn't I?"

"Yeah, that she came to see Lana at the holidays. You're thinking about inviting the two of them? I think it would be great."

"Yes, she had been a great help. Thanks to her efforts I'm here now. And the chief prosecutor had been more open to these situations. But I still wonder if she'll get mad with a subordinate's invitation."

"They won't. And you know how to ask gently. I'm more concerned about Larry in fact, now that the three of us met he won't let us off his sight that soon."

"…I'll have to call him as well, right?"

"It's just New Year. And it would be good, he didn't react in any bad way to the fact we're together. So we shouldn't avoid him if he did accept our relationship."

"True… I concede I'll invite Larry. I hope he won't do anything shameful in front of the chief prosecutor."

"Hah, we'll have to pay and see. So are we agreed to that? Christmas here and New Year at your house?"

Edgeworth softened to see his vivid eyes motivated with the idea.

"Yes."

But their eyes kept locked at each other. Soon Phoenix excited eyes gained deepness and calm… but also some passion could be spotted discreetly on them. Edgeworth wondered if he seemed as much as pleased, as he felt that warmness and that same chemistry appearing once again between them.

Phoenix's hands reached the back of his neck and his face drew closer. His wide eyes suggested they shouldn't talk anymore and that's what they did as their mouths touched.

Sweetly, gently… as if asking permission to finally interlace their tongues together. They missed each other's touch, their voices, smell… each other's whole essence. And to reassure the feel they were together again and kill that yearning inside, they held each other more and more firmly during the contact of their lips.

The parting was brief; their eyes only had time to open in half before closing again when accepting the following kisses, deeper, more and more intense, full of passion, love and care, but also each time more consuming.

Each time more addicting.

The grip of their hands gradually got stronger to tie their bodies together. Their hands adventured into knowing the reliefs of their bodies. Minds forgetting completely about the world outside, at least for that moment… the air getting thinner, those shivers running from head to toe, the desire towards the other… Ah, everything felt as a dream - a tempting one.

This way it will really happen…

"Miles…" Phoenix's airless voice was the first to be heard for a while now. They were kind of dizzy in consequence to the wild kisses they had been exchanging. Phoenix ended up above him, his hands trembled slightly as he rested them on his lover's waist as his lighted up eyes faced him. It was clear he was equally stimulated… but he seemed troubled when rested his forehead on Miles' shoulder.

"What is it?"

"You're thinking the same as I am?"

Edgeworth gulped and his eyes trailed off aside.

"I believe so…" his voice was lower than usually.

It was kind of… an embarrassing situation.

"…Are you nervous?"

Getting more and more embarrassing.

"...Just as you are..."

It was so difficult to resist that pleasure running through their bodies. But why should they anyway? Phoenix lifted his head up and stared directly at him, flushing a little, but bearing confidence.

"You want to try it…?"

The answer came as a nod followed by yet another kiss, a smooth one. Even with the tenderness their hearts beat fast in anxiety, but it was okay, right? They were together after all. Even all the nervousness was a good sign, it indicated it meant something important to both of them. Phoenix got up and helped Miles to lift up as well, embracing him and pressuring their bodies together once again when resuming the kisses.

Their feet moved all the way to the bedroom, as if by their own will. Gravity played its magic, pulling clothes to the floor.

Staying in bed with Phoenix Wright was a scene no matter how the prosecutor pictured beforehand it would still be far from what it was in reality. He did imagine his boyfriend's sleepiness was longer than his, though. He seemed so calm and defenseless like that, inside that profound sleep. Miles had no idea which time was then. Why should he care anyway? Few were the times in his life he didn't depend on time. That scene could last an eternity, as long as he could watch his loved one in a serene nap like that.

Ah, how good it would be if he could watch him like that every single day.

But then again… why couldn't he?

All the time he had with Phoenix ended up as a valuable time. Was there a single reason to hold back if he knew he wanted to stay with him every day and wake up at his side?

"You slept for a long time." He observed when Phoenix lazily woke up, covering his lazy eyes with his arms until they got used to the clarity of the lamp lights still turned on.

"… You've been awake for too long?" His voice was also slow.

"Not that much. Don't worry; I was entertained seeing you asleep."

"That's not fair." Phoenix turned to face him, "I want to see you sleeping too."

Though watching him bare chested and his soft gray hair falling out of order on the pillow was already an amazing scene.

"… I think you'll have a difficult time then. I sleep late and wake up early."

"… I forgot we're talking about great prosecutor Miles Edgeworth. But even you should sleep more, you know."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Miles's expression changed to a little guilt as he thought about what he still had to say. "Phoenix I wanted to apologize for barely talking with you these weeks, though I promised you I'd be with you at the end of the year."

Wright seemed quite confused.

"But you are here. And we talked, even if it was briefly."

"We talked, but not the way it should be. I should warn you, it may happen again… I can't predict how much work I'll have and when, so there will be some situations I'll have to be a little absent."

"I'll be ready. I'll be fine, as long as I can see you later."

"Even so…" Miles shifted position, surrounding Phoenix with his arms and thus standing above him and facing him directly, "these past hours we were by ourselves, how much you liked them?"

Phoenix's heart beat faster with the change of position, but he tried to think straightly and answer him.

"What kind of question is that? Of course I liked them! You know it."

He smiled discreetly, but happily when hearing those words.

"Yes. I know."

Phoenix felt a little confused, nervous, almost intimidated somehow by the strong presence of his companion. But it only got dizzier with the following words said by that unforgettable voice.

"Would you enjoy as well if we could see each other every single day? Stay like this, as we are now, every night? Even if I have to work until late, we would still see each other and you wouldn't have to wait weeks to meet me just for a few hours. At least… this is the future I imagine with you at my side."

Phoenix lacked words, even more as he felt the light touch on his cheeks and when was about to hear what was still there to say.

"So would you like to live with me, starting next year?"

The same scene. The same hurry, same crowded place and a similar smile even at goodbye. As Maya, Kay didn't let any sadness appear by seeing all those people she had so much fun with standing in front of her waiting for her to leave. Edgeworth, on the other hand, felt a little uneasy when watching Kay surrounded by her suitcases and a bag on her shoulder. The other day she had just arrived, now she was about to say goodbye. It was strange, seeing her leaving after so many plans, so many headaches, so many troubles…. and partnership.

"Gummy! You better make some progress with Maggey, you heard me? I'll keep texting you some daily tips. You better use them!"

"Right… hey, Kay. Uh, thanks for all the help!"

"Don't mind it Gummy! I'm just accomplishing my duty!"

"Hey, Kay, make a safe trip! Happy holidays! Drop by again any time!" Phoenix complimented her with a hug.

"Thanks Mr. Wright! I will! Happy holidays too, it was a pleasure to meet you!", at the end she murmured on his ear, "stay by his side, right?"

He nodded. His confident eyes were trustworthy to her.

She then turned to the prosecutor, barely knowing how to say goodbye to him.

"Happy holidays, Mr. Edgeworth!"

"Have a safe trip and great celebrations."

She nodded back, "Yes! You too!"

"Kay?"

"Huh? What is it?"

"…Thank you for always being at my side."

Of course his eyes drifted aside. He wasn't good with those types of situations. But little by little he could say he was getting better at it. When he looked back at her with the corner of his eyes, he only caught a glimpse of her black hair floating in front of him before feeling her weight on his chest and the grip of her arms on his back.

"Hghnn! Don't make me cry, Mr. Edgeworth!"

"But you're already crying!"
"I know! And it's your fault!" She answered with a crying tone right before she grabbed his cravat and blew her nose on it.

"My cravat!"

"Oops, sorry! Hehe!"

"Calm down, Miles! You just have to wash it!" Wright tried to help somehow, but he couldn't know it was on purpose.

"You…" He closed his eyes trying to remain collected as he took it off his neck, "… Fine, Kay, you can wash it and bring it back next time."

"Yay, thanks! It won't take that much time as it took last time."

"I demand so! I want it back in months, not years!"

Kay entered the train and as it moved and separated her from the group, she waved the cravat as a signal of goodbye.

What a good signal… a fine pretext to return soon.