A/N: Did someone ask for an update? :P I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year has started off with a bang! It's a new year and that means time for a New Years Resolution. I make mine to all of you who regularly read my fic's: I promise to finish these fics and to update regularly until i have finished them. There are two reasons for this: 1) I've been taking ridiculously long to update my fic's! 2) I have more fics planned on the horizon! I'm planning a multi-chapter multi-fic Miles and Franziska series, but that's all I'm going to say on that one. Also I'll be taking requests for one shots (or short 2-3 chaptered fics). I have a few planned but if you'd like to make a request PM and I'll get back to you :D! Anyway, enough with the babble and on with the next chapter! I hope you enjoy it and as always R&R if you would be so kind :D!

Chapter 21: Recovery

The car journey home from the hospital had not been an uneventful one.

"Miles Edgeworth, you will explain that foolish behaviour of yours right this instance!"

Miles sighed. He had hoped all mention of his behaviour would have been left behind with Franziska's dismissal of one Phoenix Wright's behaviour. Placing more focus onto driving that he needed to Miles tried to think of a reasonable response.

"Well? You know how I hate to be kept waiting Miles Edgeworth." Franziska said with a distinct look of displeasure evident upon her face.

"I….Well….Wright just picked the wrong moment to confess to such a…..I was worried about you Franziska and I momentarily lost control." Miles felt an unfamiliar heat begin to flourish in his cheeks.

A small triumphant smirk graced Franziska's lips as she spotted the crimson glow that had adorned Miles's features.

"Tell me, why on earth were you jealous of such a pathetic fool as Phoenix Wright?"

Goddamnit!

Miles had hoped that Franziska wouldn't have picked up on the jealousy, but he couldn't say he was surprised that she had.

He grimaced and gripped the steering wheel hard. He really didn't want to have to admit to her why he had, and, if he was honest, still felt jealous.

"I…I didn't want to lose you to him."

"There's more to it than that. I know you better than that Miles Edgeworth."

Sometimes, just sometimes, Miles hated how perceptive Franziska could be. On a normal day Miles would probably have refused to answer such a question, but after everything Franziska had been through and seeing her still bruised and vulnerable, he felt like she deserved an explanation.

He sighed.

"Yes, there is more to it than that. I Love You Franziska, more than I've ever loved anything or anyone before. When Wright confessed his feelings it was as if my worst nightmare had come to life. He is a famous and successful defence lawyer….just like my father was…someone to be admired. He vehemently stands up for the truth and for his clients, putting his reputation on the line for justice. I, in comparison, am the failed student of a legendary prosecutor, too afraid to face my own corruption I fled like a coward. True I came back a better person, but I still was unable to accept the consequences of my own actions. When I came back and saw you, I couldn't believe how much you had changed. You were a beautiful woman, strong and confident and full of conviction. Just like Wright. Although somewhat misguided, you were able to accept the mistakes you made, and in the end you proved yourself far worthier than myself and even your father. When you burst through those courtroom doors, evidence in hand, my heart stopped. It was as if you had transformed into the most perfect and beautiful creature I had ever seen. I…I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was jealous of you, jealous of how you became a bigger person by putting aside your personal vendetta against Wright to help save another's life, despite your own having had an attempt made against it. I know you discharged yourself from the hospital early to get the evidence to us. You had become a better person without the need of theatrics and without the need to run away. I know you were upset after the case, but that was to be expected, you'd won the case but didn't get the smug satisfaction you'd grown accustomed to. Not to mention that, well, I was not the most supportive I've ever been. I drove you away, the person I cared about most. Wright would not have done that to you, he would have treated you with the respect and love that you deserved. He is a far better person that I could ever hope to be and I wouldn't have been surprised if you had chosen him over myself. He is everything you deserve Franziska, I can't deny that."

Once again Franziska sat stunned in a momentary silence as the weight of Miles Edgeworth's words sank in.

"Franziska?" Miles asked, a curious yet worried tone tinging his voice.

"….fool…."

"Excuse me?"

"I said you are a fool Miles Edgeworth. Firstly I have NEVER had any feelings towards Phoenix Wright. He is a friend, and nothing more, you are a fool for thinking otherwise. Secondly, I have spent my life living in your shadow…and you were jealous of me?"

Miles glanced over to his passenger to see her staring at the car floor with what looked like tears in her eyes.

"Indeed I was Franziska. I have always looked up to you, admired you, I always felt like your 'Little Brother'."

Taking a hand off the steering wheel, Miles placed it on top of one of Franziska's delicate hands.

"I've cared about you for a long time Franziska, I was just too much of a coward to admit it. You are the most perfect woman in existence to whom I pale in comparison. I was indeed a fool for treating you as I did. It was ungentlemanly and above all, it was cruel. I hope one day, you will find it in your heart to forgive me."

Gently he gave her hand a slight squeeze, feeling a warm tear splash onto the back of his own. Despite her tears being silent, the shame on her face was very apparent.

"Franziska…."

"I….I'm sorry Miles…." Franziska said as she started to shake from sobbing.

"What?" Confusion furrowed itself into Miles' brow as he pulled into his driveway. "Why are you apologising Franziska? You've done nothing wrong."

Turning of the engine he took both of her hands in his.

"I….I hated you….I envied you….I wanted you….and all I ever did was put you down."

Softly Miles lifted her chin so that her gaze could meet his.

"Franziska, never apologise for what could never have been your fault. You had every right to hate me, I left you behind. Despite my feelings for you I put my career first. I hurt you Franziska; I can see that every time I look into your eyes. I caused you that pain and I promise you I will devote my life to making up for my past mistakes. I should never have treated you the way I did. I should be apologising to you."

As Franziska stared into his eyes, Miles could see the longing deep within them, the want to just be loved. Miles carefully wiped away her tears before leaning in and softly placing a tender kiss on her lips. His own lips tingled as he felt Franziska returning the kiss.

Miles had been starting to enjoy it until…

*SLAP*

"Don't you EVER make me show weakness like that again!"

Despite the blossoming handprint developing on his face, Miles couldn't help but smile. He loved how strong Franziska was, and how she could pull herself out of some of the darkest pits of despair and pity and carry on like nothing had ever happened. Swiftly stepping out of the car and out of slapping distance, Miles walked around and opened Franziska's door for her.

"I've prepared you a room upstairs."

Franziska climbed out of the car, using her cane to help her and made her way towards the front door.

"I assume you still have my clothes from my last stay?"

Miles nodded.

"Yes, and they've been put away and organised to your specifications."

Franziska let out a little mumble of approval as she headed inside, pausing to ask Miles Edgeworth a question.

"Miles, where did you get this cane from? It feels familiar."

He smiled.

"It's yours. The one you never learnt to wield. I kept it."

"Hmph. At least it's the proper size now."

Just to prove she could, Franziska emulated the flourish she'd been unable to master all those years ago. Seemingly satisfied she continued on into the house.

"I'm impressed you remember that move."

"Hmph. I am a von Karma, I do not forget what I have been taught."

For a moment, Miles stood in the doorway and gave her a moment to reconsider what she had just said.

She turned and looked at him.

"You know very well what I meant Miles Edgeworth!"

Closing the front door behind himself, Miles escorted Franziska to the living room.

"Can I get you a drink? Then I'll start cooking dinner."

"I'll have a cup of tea and then we will make our way to the office."

Miles closed his eyes momentarily, pressing his fingers to his brow.

"We've been through this Franziska. You're not fit enough to work."

"I wish to see my co-workers." Franziska said simply, sitting herself down in one of the chairs.

"No Franziska, you want to work. I know YOU better than that."

Miles headed into the kitchen to start brewing some tea.

"Actually I want to check up on the status of the investigation of my father."

It still unnerved Miles how easily Franziska could talk about what had happened to her. She'd been left heavily scarred from the bullet wound and where it had gotten infected. Fortunately the majority of it was either covered by her hair or by her collar. He wondered if she felt self-conscious about it.

Although Franziska had been given a full medical examination in the hospital, Miles still had no idea of the events that had transpired whilst she was held captive. In fact, Franziska hadn't told anyone. The only information she had given had been in relation to the whereabouts of the place she'd been held. As Miles prepared the tea to take into the living room he let his mind wander as to what might have happened. Miles didn't particularly want to ask Franziska what had happened, but, he needed to know, after all he was going to be the one to take Manfred von Karma down for good.

Putting all the necessary components onto a tray, Miles took the tea into Franziska.

"Franziska, I need to ask you something." He asked as he poured her a cup and passed it to her.

"And what is that?" Franziska replied taking the tea and sipping it slowly.

Miles sat down, taking his own cup of tea and took a deep breath.

"What happened to you whilst your father had you?"

Franziska looked a little shaken by the question, clearly unhappy with the tone the conversation had taken.

"I….I don't wish to speak about it."

Franziska turned her head away from Miles to hide the shame and the fear in her eyes.

"Franziska….please….I know it's difficult, but I need to know so I can bring your father to justice."

Tears once again filled the young prosecutor's eyes.

"He…he told me you were dead. He had one of your cravats, and it was covered in blood…"

The memories were haunting her, like a shameful secret that wouldn't leave her alone.

"He…He…I DO NOT WISH TO TALK ABOUT THIS!"

Franziska slammed her fists down onto the arms of the chair she was sitting on, spilling tea all over her lap and smashing the cup still in her hand.

"Franziska calm down!"

Miles stood up to restrain Franziska from doing any more damage.

"Where is my whip?" She demanded.

"It was lost in the building collapse." Miles said, almost solemnly.

Franziska's whip was such a part of her life and one of her most treasured possession that Miles knew she'd be devastated at the news.

"….Do you still have my crop?"

Miles could hear the sorrow in her voice. It would have seemed silly, foolish even, to mourn the loss of such an object, but her whip was the only possession she had that had enabled her to gain some respect from her father.

"Yes, I do."

"I would like it."

Miles left the room immediately, returning with her riding crop. Franziska took it from him, feeling the cool leather under her fingertips. It wasn't the same as having her whip, but it would do for now.

She gripped onto it tight as if scared to let go and brought it close to herself.

"I shall change into something more appropriate and then we shall go to the office." Franziska ordered, pointing her crop at Miles.

Annoyance started to fill Miles Edgeworth.

"Franziska, you are not listening to me. You are not going to the office. You are in no fit state."

"Fine. If you won't take me, I'll walk." The defiance in Franziska's eyes burned as strong as it had in years gone by.

"Why do you feel the need to be so stubborn?" Miles demanded.

*CRACK*

Miles hissed in pain as the crop hit his shoulder clipping his ear. Truth be told, he'd forgotten how much more painful the riding crop was compared to the whip.

"Fine. I shall take you to the temporary prosecutors office…."Franziska's face filled with triumph "….tomorrow morning."

Before Franziska could argue back Miles continued.

"It's starting to get dark, which with your father on the loose makes it an unsafe time to be out, not to mention you need a decent dinner and some rest. Grant me this one evening to take care of you and I give you my word we'll go tomorrow."

Reluctantly Franziska agreed before heading upstairs to change out of her tea stained clothes.

Miles headed back into the kitchen, took of his jacket and started to prepare their evening meal. It was to be a homemade steak and kidney pie with chips, one of Franziska's favourite meals from her time in England.

As he went to put the meal into the oven to cook he was interrupted.

*Ring Ring*