A/N: For those of you who haven't read The Ties That Bind, a love-sick Franziska was doodling potential future baby names, naming her and Miles' daughter Manfrieda after her father for a girl, or Gregory after his, if it were a boy.

Chapter Forty-Three: Too Many Walls

Miles Edgeworth and Franziska Von Karma
Presidential Suite, Lan Kwai Fong Palace Hotel
Zheng Fa
September 12, 2023, 6:31 AM

As Miles walked into the luxurious hotel room he shared with his fiancée, he found Franziska, clad in satin baby-doll pajamas, standing in front of the King-sized bed, with her arms across her chest, frowning, as if in stern contemplation, at the gigantic Louis Vuitton suitcase yawning open, which only half was packed. She looked up as her lover entered, his expression neutral, although his brow was arched.

"Was something the matter, meine Dame?" He drawled, still in good spirits from the humorous email from his best friend. "You sounded most displeased when you called out to me earlier, and I wondered what misdeed I had done to have been deserving of such ire in your tone."

She flushed slightly at the unspoken reprimand in the words.

Translation: What the hell did I do to deserve that level of bitchiness?

The answer was he'd done nothing…and yet everything. As childish and pathetic as it sounded, she'd been jealous when she'd heard him laughing. What right had he to feel such joy, whereas all she had been feeling the past few years was complete and utter wretchedness and misery? She hadn't laughed in ages. Hadn't wanted to. Didn't think she would even know how to if her life had depended on it. Not since…

No. She would not let her mind go there. Even now, three years on, it was too painful. Too raw. As fresh as if it had been yesterday. This was her cross to bear. She needn't burden him with it.

"Nothing, Liebling," Franziska replied stiffly, dropping her head so her gaze was focused on the items in the suitcase and her silvery hair fell into her face, obscuring it from his view. "I shouldn't have used that tone or words with you. It was wrong of me. I guess I felt left out from whatever had you so entertained."

She looked up then, having had a moment to compose her features, and forced a slight smile.

"Care to share?"

Still chuckling somewhat, Miles gave her synopsis of Phoenix's latest plight, expecting to at least hear a titter from his partner when he got to the part about Butz getting a spinning kick to the midsection, but while a flicker of amusement flickered within her beautiful gray eyes, not even a trace of genuine mirth crossed her lovely face.

It made his insides ache.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd ever seen her truly smile.

It was a rare time when both of them were together, on the same schedule. But, as their assignment in Zheng Fa had at last wrapped up and they were headed to Europe soon, Agent Lang had allowed them a fortnight to tie up all loose ends in preparation for the next stage of the undercover operation.

They had half a month to go... and yet already, his ever-zealous Dame was packing their belongings! Franziska had always been organized and fastidious but had been more so than usual the last few years, always wanting to be prepared, and never caught unawares of anything.

Especially since…

He couldn't say the words out loud. Couldn't even let himself think them. Franziska had insisted they never speak of the matter again. It had been the only way for her to handle what had happened, and while he disagreed with her coping method, Miles loved her so much he had reluctantly acquiesced and swept it all under a rug like she'd insisted. He hadn't had a choice – he'd been too wary of facing the wrath of her since rediscovered whip if he hadn't!

Now, as he looked at her unintelligibly guarded expression, he felt the same frigid wall between them that rivaled the Berlin one. He longed to break down that barrier, and turn her back into the warm, laughing woman he'd fallen in love with. But how? That old Franziska appeared to have completely vanished for good. In her place was an even colder, more remote version of the whip-wielding hoyden she'd been before they'd gotten together, and she seemed there to stay, permanently.

He couldn't take it anymore. If Phoenix Wright could find it within himself to brave not one but two pubescent, PMS-ing girls, Miles Edgeworth could discover the strength to handle things with his presumably pre-menstrual future wife!

Miles strode over to her side and put his hands on her bare shoulders, trying not to flinch at the realization that she'd visibly stiffened at the unfamiliar sensation of his touch.

"Franziska, we need to talk," he stated firmly, in his best no-nonsense, prosecutor voice.

She stubbornly jutted her chin, the way she always had when about to be scolded by her father in the past, and affected her most supercilious expression.

"What do you wish to speak of that is so important, Miles?" She asked coolly, meeting his eyes levelly. "Can you not see I'm trying to pack for our next trip?"

"We don't leave for another two weeks," he reminded her mildly, not at all swayed by her attempted haughty countenance. He pushed her gently back onto the bed, taking the suitcase and placing it onto the floor so he could sit next to her. "So enough of that, please."

She tried to turn her face to the ground then, but he lightly placed his finger under her chin and tilted her head in his direction, forcing her to look at him.

"Mein Dame," he pleaded. "Talk to me, please. I know how hard this day must be for you. It is for me as well. I remembered the date. I'm aware of what today is."

"Please, don't do this to me, Miles! I simply just cannot …"

She choked back a sob and jerked her head away, and tried to rise from the bed, but he put a hand on her arm, pulling her back onto the bed, and into his arms. She collapsed against him then, crying so hard her entire body shook.

"When will it stop, Miles?" She wept, nearly wringing his heart out with her tears. His tough, tenacious Frau so rarely cried. "When will the pain go away?"

"I don't know," he replied honestly, stroking her satiny hair, his own eyes welling up at the pain she was in, yet at the same time, relieved that this time, she was at least letting him comfort her, so they could at last mourn together. "But I do understand, meine Dame. And I'm here for you."

"How can you possibly understand, Miles?" She drew back and looked at him with sorrowful eyes, still watery with tears. "You cannot possibly comprehend how I'm feeling today, of all days!"

"Franziska." His agonized smoky orbs met hers, shining with love and sympathy. "You weren't the only one to have felt the loss on this very date three years ago. It was my baby too."

There, he'd finally said it out loud. The words they'd left unsaid for so long, at last out in the open, the unignorably harsh ring echoing within the walls of the silent room.

"I loved her so much, Miles!" The German woman sobbed, falling back against him in another torrent of tears. "My precious Manfrieda … gone forever. She was with me for such a short time …I did not even know until it was too late!"

It was such a tragedy. His fiancée had been five months along when she'd miscarried, but as she was so petite in stature and frame, and because of her constant irregular monthly cycles and even more irregular work schedule, neither of them had deduced she'd been pregnant. She'd mistaken her occasional spotting and cramps for regular menstrual ones … until the fateful day she'd lost the fetus. After she'd been rushed, bleeding, and in excruciating pain, to the hospital, Miles would never forget the look of devastation in her eyes when they'd found out that their baby was gone. That it'd been a girl, whom they'd decided to name Manfrieda, as an homage to her late father.

"I know, Franziska." He murmured, tightening his arms around her back and drawing her against his chest. "I know."

"If only I had known!" She wailed. "I know Manfrieda was not planned, Miles. But I wanted her so much! What were the odds that the sole time I missed my pill would have been the one time we made love that spring?"

Miles felt a twinge of guilt creeping over him. He remembered how he'd been grumbling to himself how moody, distant and withdrawn Franziska was being at the time, and begrudging her not fulfilling his primal urges, which he had been attempting to do himself while dredging up the memories of his former lover! Although he'd never actually been unfaithful, he still felt as if he'd wronged her somehow. If only he'd known she'd been carrying their child at the time! He wasn't sure if or how it would have made a difference, but he still felt terrible about the whole thing.

The worst part was that since then, he hadn't even been able to comfort or console her - Franziska barely let him touch her, seeming to swap her old birth control method of the pill for flat-out abstinence! He could practically count on the fingers of his hands how many times they'd made love in the past three years, and mostly it'd been on the traditional festive occasions, like his birthday or Valentine's Day! Each time, he'd sensed her reluctance and trepidation, and had essentially felt like he'd merely spent himself on her, instead of it being a mutually enjoyable experience. They'd barely hugged or kissed, either – it was as though his touch made her skittish – as if she was afraid he would ravage her against her will whenever he tried to be affectionate or put a hand on her, in any sort of way.

With their opposite work schedules, those awkward moments of her evasion to intimacy hadn't been too glaring, but when they were alone together, as they were now, it really and truly was. He was surprised she'd even let him hold her this time, but he was grateful to have at last been able to offer her comfort from the pent-up grief she'd been harboring all this time.

"It doesn't matter that Manfrieda wasn't planned, meine Dame." He brushed her hair off her face and regarded her with sincere eyes. "But believe you me, she would have been not only loved but cherished and welcomed."

"Do you really mean that, Liebling?" Franziska regarded him hopefully, still sobbing slightly. "I did not think it was possible to want something so badly that I at the time, did not know I even had! But the hardest part of this all was that you know have yearned for a baby for the longest time now. I just did not know if you did just yet … or if you had only gone along with it initially just to appease me. So I wasn't quite sure how you felt about the loss. A part of me wondered if you even may have felt…" She dropped her eyes then and could barely choke the last word out. "R-relieved."

"Franziska!" Miles' eyes were wide with shocked dismay. "How could you even … of course, I wasn't relieved – I was just as distraught as you were! Because I love you, and more than anything in the world, I want a life and family with you, even at this point, with our hectic schedules and careers."

"I think I very much needed to hear that." Franziska wiped her tear-stained cheeks and smiled at him sadly. "I know have pushed you away all this time, Miles, and I apologize. But I was so terrified of getting pregnant again, and I just could not endure ever having to go through such a heart-breaking experience again. Or even worse, once more feel like I had brought a child into this world that was only reluctantly accepted by his or her father."

The prosecutor took her face in his hands, and as he peered searchingly into her eyes, a beautiful moment of shared tranquility and mutual understanding was felt between the lovers, for the first time in forever.

As you walk in love, understanding your entire being becomes perfected.

"Franziska Von Karma, please believe me when I tell you, with all my heart, that I would welcome and thank God for any child you gave me."

"Oh, Liebling." Her lips trembled as she peered up at him, the expression of relief and love on her face as clear as day. "Danke. Ich Liebe Dich."

"I love you too, meine Dame." He gazed at her meaningfully. "But what I'd also love the opportunity to demonstrate to you just how much I love you."

He leaned towards her, and a slight pinkness tinged her cheeks as the meaning of his words sank in.

"Miles, we cannot! I – I am not on the pill anymore," she stammered, blushing gorgeously. "And it had been so long since we made love that the box of condoms we had from last time has expired! It could be risky if we make love right now."

"Then let it be," he growled, advancing upon her with a wolflike gleam in his eye. "You're going to be my wife, dammit. And if we are blessed again with a life that we created this time, we'll know it was expected and wanted. I've been aching for you for so long, meine Dame, and I can tell by that look in your eyes that I'm not the only one who's been craving this…"

The world tumbled in slow motion, then stopped for a brief moment. Her pulse and blood both began a gleeful tandem race, set off by the damp heat of her loins, which were now throbbing. And then his hot, demanding mouth claimed hers, declaring his unspoken victory just as her resistances collapsed, like a house of cards.

Surrender had never been so sweet.

She couldn't suppress her moans as his insistent tongue invaded her mouth, entwining with hers in a voraciously primal mating dance.

The past and present blurred together, but this time, there was no retreat. Meeting him halfway, their tongues tangled and fought in a sensual dual she was happy to lose. He claimed and plundered, pressing her back onto the bed until she was stretched out and he loomed over her. His other hand cupped her breast, flicking the tight bud. She gripped his shoulders and arched against him, asking for more, and without breaking the kiss, his hand slipped underneath the silk chemise and lacy bra and hit bare skin.

Dieser Mann ist der Teufel.

His fingers tweaking fingers felt so good, causing a tingling jolt down to her womanhood, which was already clenching with sharp delight, desperate for pressure. Never had her body lit up so fast, with just a kiss and simple touch. Usually, it took a while for foreplay to get her going but at this instant, she knew she was seconds away from coming – if only she could lift her hips just slightly to get the friction from his –

A rakish look from the Demon Prosecutor.

"I don't think so, my Wild Mare." His lips uttered the naughty taunt against hers while pausing to nip, then suck. "I waited for three years to have you properly. I'm not letting you get off on a quick rub on the bed."

She should be embarrassed to be called out on her attempted greedy self-indulgence, but Franziska was beyond caring about how she reached gratification right then. This uncaged hunger had surpassed any sort of rationality. Her body was burning as the inner flames of desire threatened to consume her. Her back arched off the bed.

"You win. I want you. Fuck a baby into me, Miles Edgeworth!"

He chuckled low and dirty.

"Oh, mein Dame, you're still gonna pay."

Shivers raced down her spine. He teased her pebbled nipple, flicking the peak back and forth with his tongue until it was so taut and swollen she knew just one more swipe could take care of the agony.

"Pay for what? I have not done anything."

He broke the kiss and stared deep into her eyes.

"You did everything. You just don't know it yet."

The words made no sense, but he gave her no time to ponder. He lifted her and pressed her down on the bed, so her legs dangled over the side, her back supported by the mattress. Franziska waited for the frantic pull of clothes, the feel of skin on skin, the mad rush towards a release that usually accompanied a passionate encounter. Instead, he towered over her at the edge. With his dark, simmering gaze trained on hers, Miles smiled, telling her immediately he was in no rush.

Gott hab Erbarmen, he was going to kill her!

He toed off his slippers and pulled off his pajama top with one easy motion. His skin gleamed in the morning sunrise outside the window, with chiseled, well-defined pecs and biceps. A line of light hair traveled down washboard abs and disappeared into his pajama bottoms. Her fingers fisted to rip them off, and feast. Franziska was just about to jump him when he moved out of reach.

"Stay there. Don't move."

She didn't think she was capable of movement then. Because her mind had become putty, just like her body.

Without a word, he reached for one barefoot, rubbing it in a slow massage. As he pressed into her instep, she swallowed a frustrated whimper and waggled her leg slightly, trying to nudge him towards her more important parts. Her body craved release, but he took his time with each foot, then gently let them sway back, dangling in off the bed.

"Leibling?"

"Ja, mein Dame?"

"I was right on the edge of glory, but you appear to have greatly strayed from your path in getting me there."

A wicked grin.

"Have you never heard the adage that it's all in the journey and not the destination?"

"Humph! I always thought that was so ein Schwachsinn!" She scooted downward slightly and wiggled her hips. "Reaching that finish line – without meandering onto unnecessary scenic routes – that is the best part!"

The thought of a mind-blowing orgasm had all her circuits firing. She enjoyed sex but found her mind was way too involved, so she did best with a quick, intense session that got her to climax. Franziska had accepted her limitations and issues a long time ago, and though many times she wished to be less complicated, she also realized it was easier to accept and move on than try and fight her natural inclinations.

"What if I told you I intend to change your mind?"

He played with her ankle, slipping his fingers under her leg and rubbing her calf. Heilige Hölle, the man could've been a massage therapist and made millions! Her muscles flexed while he kneaded, then caressed the back of her knee. Bolts of pleasure streaked through her.

"What if I told you I don't intend to let you get to the goal until you're begging me?"

Verdammt, he is a cocky one tonight! Beg him? Not going to happen! A Von Karma begs for nothing from nobody!

Nevertheless, she was so hot and bothered right now, all she could think of was that as soon as he got close enough for any friction, she'd simply take care of things herself!

She smirked knowingly in response.

"I would say good luck with that, Liebling."

His leer was very smug and inherently male. A shiver of warning trickled down her spine. She'd never begged for anything in her life, especially for a man to satisfy her. She didn't intend to start now.

Miles leaned over and skated both hands higher, pausing right underneath her thighs. He squeezed hard, and her hips lifted unconsciously.

"I'm going to love every moment of this..."

SORRY FOLKS!

Due to FF site content restrictions, the rest of this scene has been cut. The full version, along with the entire uncut version of this story, can be found on thejordanphoenix dot com

See you there!

And for those of you still here, we now return to the family-friendly ending of this chapter:

"Mein Gott! Oh, Miles, Miles, Miles…"

She broke apart again, hazily noting him following her over the edge. She gripped his hands as her only anchor, his weight pressing her against the bed until they collapsed, and closed her eyes. Her mind was completely and blissfully empty.

But for the first time in three years, Franziska Von Karma's mouth was open into a genuine, beatific smile.

Translations:

Dieser Mann ist der Teufel – this man is the devil

Gott hab Erbarmen – God have mercy

so ein Schwachsinn! – what nonsense!

Mood music from this chapter - full video and lyrics on thejordanphoenix dot com:

Cathy Denis - Too Many Walls

February 14, 2022: This story is now being uploaded to be more family-friendly as the previous version was removed for being too steamy and setting off the site smoke alarms, and for having song lyrics. No harm, no foul. Seriously, I'm not worried - who the heck only reads a story for song lyrics and like, TEN chapters of canoodling out of 196? That's grossly underestimating my amazing and loyal readers, wouldn't you agree?

In the meantime, as I go through the painstaking task of ensuring my new version complies with regulations per the admin's advising, the full uncut version of Turnabout Everlasting, and Filling The Void (the other far too sexy for this site previous casualty, which I've started reposting in a less risqué format) plus all 100+ chapters of Singing In The Courtroom can be found on THEJORDANPHOENIX dot com

All 196 chapters are now on my personal site and going forward, I will be posting there first when I write new chapters, so make sure to follow me for the latest updates and direct music video links! (I am still taking reader song requests, BTW) 😄