A/N: The characters of Tyrell Badd, Kay Faraday, and Shih-Long Lang are from the Miles Edgeworth AA games. I hope I've made it so you can still follow the next arc of the story even if you haven't played those games, as I try my best to recap any references to them as best I can. If you have any questions, of course, please feel free to message me. The next few chapters may contain some slight spoilers for the Edgeworth games.

This chapter is dedicated to the wonderful reader and FF writer, who is definitely my most passionate reviewer, Ilet Moratar! May your worries about the Fredgeworth's sacred bed be dispelled after this, mi amiga! You're awesome!

Chapter Forty-Five: Skeletons In The Closet

Miles Edgeworth and Franziska Von Karma
Interpol Offices, Borginia
August 7, 2024, 3:00 PM

"Dummkopf!" The whip slashed through the air with a loud hiss, snapping loudly against the man's unsuspecting cheek. "Just who do you think you are? How dare you tell me what I can and cannot do, you foolish fool!"

Shi-Long Lang clapped a hand against his weathered cheek to take away the sting and shot a scathing look at Miles, who merely raised an eyebrow in response to his superior's feral glower.

"Can't you control your fiancée, Edgeworth?"

And risk being at the receiving end of her back-in-action, ever-ready whip? Miles crossed his arms and shook his head. No, thank you!

The head Interpol Agent heightened his glare at him, so the prosecutor acquiesced to the silent order, barely stifling a sigh as he looked imploringly at the fuming Franziska.

"For starters, meine Dame, the alleged foolish fool in question is the head Agent in charge of this smuggling operation and ergo, our boss," he reminded her calmly. "And as you are fully aware, negating his authority counts as insubordination."

As does impromptu whipping of him whenever he says something that you don't like or disagree with!

"Miles Edgeworth, just whose side are you on, you traitorous fool?!" Franziska snapped, brandishing her whip menacingly as her hitherto stormy gaze on the Wolf Man shifted over to her betrothed. "Did you not hear the tomfoolery that this damn foolish fool of a man just said to me? He told me that I could not be your partner in the Borginia undercover investigation!"

"We are changing tactics because our standard investigation methods have been an exercise in futility! We need to do something more drastic!" Lang thundered. "God only knows have wasted how many years in Zheng-Fa and millions of dollars have been squandered while thinking we could find out the key source of the cocoon smuggling by investigating the importing country to which the goods were being smuggled to. Clearly, whoever is in charge has been way too good at covering their tracks, which means we must go start probing the source of where the goods are stemming from. That means a highly dangerous sting operation, which you, Agent Von Karma, absolutely will not take part in – no matter how many times you use that blasted whip!"

"I am one of the best Interpol Agents you have, you foolish fool!" The German woman cried as her eyes flashed flinty sparks of fury. "How quickly you have forgotten that it was I who was successful in helping you shut down one of the distribution systems in Zheng-Fa, as well getting you the contact information to get in touch with the source so that you could orchestrate this sting in the first place! Thus, you have no right to do this to me, you fool!"

Her whip whizzed through the air again, directed at Lang's long sideburn on the right side of his mien.

"Not so fast!"

Prepared for the onslaught this time, the Wolf Man raised his hand and caught the weapon, wrapping it around his huge hand and yanking it out of the angry woman's wielding fingers as he affected his best no-nonsense tone.

"We are going to have this conversation like adults, Ane-san. No more violence or tantrums, is that understood?"

"Do not dare to patronize and call me Big Sister now, of all times, Shi-Long Lang!"

Smoke was practically coming out of Franziska's ears; she was too angry to even note the respectful title given to her, despite being seven years younger than her superior.

"I demand one good reason why you will not allow me to be the undercover agent by Mile's side while we go into this next phase of the venture. Who better to play the part of his lover than his actual fiancée, you foolish fool of a man!"

Lang wearily dragged a hand down his mug.

"Well for starters, what with the legacy and infamy of your late father, as well as your famous Von Karma name and face, you are way too well known here in Europe to try to play an undercover agent without being recognized by the wrong people. We just can't take that risk, Franziska."

"What foolish nonsense!" She declared, although her rage had simmered down to a lower boil as she contemplated her superior's words. "I would as surely go by a disguised name and appearance as Miles most definitely would – are you not worried that he will be recognized as well?"

"Edgeworth was never at the forefront in the matters as you have been; he's been strictly behind the scenes of the investigation this whole time, so no, his mug is not well known," Lang explained with strained patience. "Also, his prosecuting fame was mostly prevalent in the States, so his name and reputation have not followed him overseas very much at all. He will be a much better plant and thence, much easier to disguise as a billionaire playboy for this reason."

"A billionaire playboy?"

Franziska's eyes narrowed as they slid over to her suddenly guilty-looking fiancé, for the first time taking in his recently acquired, closely-cropped long soul-patch and narrow mustache. Normally clean-shaven, she realized Miles hadn't shaved for over a good few weeks now, as though in anticipation for something of this sort…

The prosecutor caught the devastated look in those silvery depths as the realization dawned on her then, and her eyes flickered with deep hurt for a second and he knew he couldn't stay away from her. He wanted to go to her, to soothe and help make her see the logical reason for all this.

But then pure anger flared again.

The fiery femme's eyes didn't widen. Instead, they unhurriedly formed into unnerving slits as she now directed her lethal glare at her lover.

"You knew about this Judas-kiss, Miles Edgeworth!" She accused, her voice wavering. "You have been made privy to their plans for you this whole time! Moreover, you knew they were planning on shutting me out! So that is how it is going to be, nein? Fine then! But tell me something; was this why you have been growing out your facial hair lately, to look like the alter ego of Iron Man?!"

"Wright advised me this would be the best route to go with!" Miles shrugged helplessly. "When I last emailed him, casually inquiring about how an alleged billionaire playboy appeared, he insisted I look up images of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark! Apparently, this goatee was the look he possessed in all those Marvel superhero movies!"

"Good call, Edgeworth," Lang nodded approvingly, oblivious to the expression of wounded betrayal still on Franziska's face. "The finishing touches will be getting you some designer sunglasses, a fitted dark suit, and slicking back your hair. The pièce de résistance will be your arm candy, of course."

The couple swiveled their heads in unison at the Agent upon hearing the last words, mouths agape.

"Arm candy?!"

"Of course." Lang shrugged. "You can't be a billionaire playboy looking for drugs and good times without the flashy car, or the even flashier, scantily-clad, hot babe on his arm to complete the picture."

"Hot babe?" Franziska's voice had reached a fevered pitch now. "How is it that you dare claim that you see fit to put some random Schlampe on my fiancé's arm – while I am still present? Are you trying to imply that I do not fit that bill?"

Her infuriated gaze traveled back to her prized whip, still in the Agent's hand, as if contemplating snatching it out of his fingers.

"What reason do you have to determine I lack the sex appeal to fulfill this role, you low-down, rotten, sneaky son-of-a…"

"Franziska, you're pregnant!" Miles exclaimed in exasperation.

She stared at him, shocked into silence at his unexpected outburst of what she'd thought was confidential information.

"I didn't want to get into personal matters and had hoped that my authoritative stance on the matter was justification enough," Lang stated, crossing his muscular, leather-clad arms across his chest.

"However, since the cat's out of the bag, Franziska, that is indeed the primary reason why I will not allow you to endanger yourself in this kind of precarious situation."

"I cannot believe you told him!" She shrieked, running over to his other half and pounding him in the chest with her tiny fists, until he finally caught her wrists, staring down at her with a tormented expression as he saw the tears of rage in her eyes. "How could you deceive me like this, Miles? How could you go and tell him our private information yet not even tell me any of this?"

"Meine Dame, please calm yourself," he pleaded. "It's still so early in your term and you shouldn't be getting so upset…"

"I'm only two months along!" She shouted, at last ceasing her struggling efforts from his grip and instead of stamping her foot on the ground in helpless fury. "The baby is not due till March, and I am not even showing yet!"

"Franziska," his tone was beseeching. "I can't have the mother of my child risk her life or that of our baby! I love you both too much to let that happen. I'll not have you be put into danger…"

"To hell with you both!" Franziska finally managed to wrestle free from him and cast a wild-eyed glare at the two men. "I hate you! I will never forgive you for this duplicity, Miles Edgeworth!"

She turned and ran from the office and out the front door, leaving a hapless-looking Lang and agonized-looking Miles behind in her wake

Once she'd reached the outside of the building though, taken in some fresh air, and forced her angry – and admittedly, hormone-riddled – mind to assess the situation, she grumpily recognized, in her heart of hearts, that she had been the one in the wrong.

Ever since that fateful morning in Zheng-Fa nearly a year ago, when the two of them had had their heart-to-heart about wanting a baby, she and Miles had been trying, with no avail, for the longest time, to conceive again. No protection, no worries, just blissfully making love with wild abandon, whenever the opportunity arose.

But nothing had happened.

Month after month she'd frenetically checked that at-home urine test, only to be disappointed by the negative results each time. Then, in June, on the night of her birthday, a miracle had happened, and a month later, they'd both been delighted to see that smiling face on the stick, indicating at long last, they'd been given another chance, and Franziska was finally carrying their child once more.

They'd decided to keep her pregnancy a secret, for now, telling nobody – especially since she was still in the first trimester – so she'd been beyond stunned to learn that Miles had gone behind her back and informed their boss of her delicate condition! It was humiliating! It made her look weak, helpless, and unprofessional. For heaven's sake, she was in her mid-20s now, and as a grown woman, she should be allowed to make her own damn choices! How dare her fiancé decree to act like her father – or worse, her lord and master! – and make executive decisions like this behind her back?!

With a rueful sigh, she shook her head at that ridiculous notion, dismissing it as soon as it entered her head. Deep down, Franziska knew Miles had not been trying to play God with her, at least not without just cause. He loved her and simply didn't want to endanger her or their baby, especially after the heartache they'd faced four years ago. She would need to apologize to both men for the erratic way she'd behaved.

Hell, she could blame her pre-existing tempestuous nature as now being magnified due to the pregnancy hormones. And she still had a good 7 months to milk the hell out of that excuse! She reached into her bag for her mobile and hit the speed-dial button for their home mansion back in Germany. As she waited for the call to connect, she idly wondered just how much Arsch-kissing she'd have to do to Lang in order to get her trusty whip back.

Hmmm, to regain his trust, I suppose I will have to prove that despite being with child, I am still entirely capable of being level-headed and rational…

"Hello?" A sleepy – and distinctly female! – cadence murmured into the receiver after about half a dozen rings.

Franziska stared at the phone as though it were some sort of contaminated item in her hand, her full lips parted in a silent gasp. The voice didn't have the Bavarian accent of Helga, her head housekeeper back at home, whom she'd called to give some additional home-care instructions. No, this unfamiliar voice sounded distinctly American and quite sleepy, as though having just been risen from slumber!

"Hello?" The voice on the phone said again, sounding a tad impatient now. "Who is this?"

"Who am I?" Franziska shrieked, forgetting her earlier decision to be calm and rational now. "Who the hell is this?"

"Oops, shouldn't have answered," the voice mumbled, and then all the fuming German heard was a click as the woman hung up.

Seething, she double-checked the number she'd dialed, and was infuriated to note that in her haste, instead of having dialed the number for their home in Germany, she'd called Miles's penthouse home back in LA – where absolutely nobody else was supposed to be other than Hendricks the butler!

Who, unless he's gotten a sex-change operation or castrated himself, was most definitely not the one in possession of the high-pitched, feminine voice I just heard!

"Franziska!"

The Agent whirled around at the sound of her name and spotted Miles jogging towards her, an expression of earnestness on his handsome face. He stopped before her, placing her hands on her shoulders as he looked down at her with loving relief.

"Meine Dame, I'm so glad I caught up with you!"

She shrugged free from his grip and glared at him, sparks flying out of her eyes.

"Miles Edgeworth, warum zur Hölle is it now that every time I call your phone, some random woman answers it?!"

"What in the name of Blackbeard's dandruff?!" A startled look flashed across his features.

"I just called your – our – home, back in Los Angeles by accident while I was trying to call Helga," she bit out. "And some random Frau answered the line! Care to explain yourself?"

Miles clapped a hand to his forehead.

Note to self – murder both Wright and his girlfriend in their sleep next time I'm in town for causing me this latest strife, however unwittingly…

"Meine Dame," he replied patiently, rubbing his hands up and down her tense shoulder. "That wasn't a Frau…"

"Really?" She derided humorlessly. "You could have fooled me!"

"No, it was most assuredly not just some woman! If you could please calm down and hear me out…"

She cut him off again.

"Unless there is a kept Mann, instead of a kept Frau, with an alarmingly high falsetto that is living the luxe lifestyle in our home – on your Sugar Daddy dime! – I would certainly beg to the contrary! I cannot even decide which is worse!"

"God's elbow, Franziska! That was Miss Fey!" He blurted out.

"Miss Fey? You mean … Maya?" Franziska's eyes widened. "What on earth is Maya Fey doing in our house?"

Presumably, Phoenix Wright! However, logic would dictate this isn't the answer that needs to be spoken at this moment! Miles bit back the sarcastic retort threatening to spring from his lips. Holy mother of pearl! I could have sworn I commanded that imbecile and his girlfriend never, under any circumstance answer the phone!

"Miss Fey stays over there whenever she's down in LA for Kurain Master conferences or meetings," Miles explained. "The rest of it is a bit of a long story…"

He quickly gave the quick rundown of the situation which he belatedly realized he'd been remiss in sharing. Franziska listened intently, nodding, and even giggling slightly when Miles relayed how he'd instructed the butler to essentially rig and nail down every Steel Samurai bit of memorabilia so that it'd be spared Maya's indisputably sticky fingers.

"Ergo, you see, it's perfectly innocuous," he concluded. "Although after that time you called my cell and had Kay answer it, I can see why you may have gotten the wrong idea."

"I blame these hormones, Liebling. I am overreacting to everything," she admitted, blushing at her foolishness. "I am very sorry. Nonetheless, on both counts, what with Maya and now this sting – why did you not tell me about all this earlier?"

"I agreed to help Wright and Miss Fey with their extenuating circumstances years ago. It was right before … our misfortune." Miles winced. "Hence, it entirely slipped my mind."

"Understandable. Phoenix Wright is most fortuitous to have a friend as loyal and generous as you, Liebling. But I know he has had his share of bad luck, so it is wonderful you were able to assist him in this matter."

"He's a downright fool at times, Franziska, but he's my fool," Miles sighed. "Moreover, he has done a lot for me in the past, as well."

"I agree with you completely. However, as our bedroom, and our bed is their rendezvous safe place..." Franziska's eyes gleamed with derision. "I do hope after everything is said and done, you will have Hendricks incinerate all the sheets, will you not?"

"Never mind burning the linens," he drawled, tapping her on the nose. "I promise you that I shall ensure we get ourselves a brand-new bed and present our old one to them as an early wedding present!"

They both snickered, then his expression grew serious again.

"But back to this. Everything since… this whole operation…our schedules…I genuinely forgot about it, meine Dame. Forgive me; my deception was completely unintentional."

"I do forgive you, Miles. I hope you can forgive me." She pulled his head down to hers for a gentle kiss. "I love you so much."

"Always, meine Dame. I love you, too."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled tenderly down at her.

"With regards to the sting…that wasn't exactly my decision to make, keeping you out of the operation. I told Lang that you were in the family way a month ago when he mentioned he needed me to be the plant. He decreed he would tell you about it when the time was right, and for some reason decided that today would be the day. I was following orders from our superior, Franziska – although I'm sorry that meant keeping things even temporarily secret from you."

"All is forgiven, Miles!" She insisted, standing up on her tiptoes to kiss him again. "However, I am certainly hoping that is the only other secret you've been keeping from me? There is absolutely

nothing else that you think I should be in the know about?"

"I have disclosed every single one of my past chronicles that would have any effect on our present circumstances," he promised. "You have my word!"

"Good! I just wanted to clarify that zero pending surprises may get sprung upon me in the foreseeable future?" She prodded with a teasing smirk. "There is absolutely no other matter, whatsoever, that may have possibly slipped your mind?"

"None in the least," he swore, taking her hand and leading her back into the building. "I'm a boring old prosecutor, Franziska. And you've been raised by my side for most of my dull, uneventful life. What other deep, dark skeletons could I possibly have lurking in my closet?"

"I guess none, you dull old man you!"

They were both grinning as they entered the office again, finding Lang with one hand holding his cell to his ear. With his free one, he was doing practice lashes with Franziska's leather weapon, expertly wrapping it around the out-of-reach items on his desk and using it to draw them near. He ceased his whip-wielding when he saw the two, looking a tad embarrassed to have been caught in such indecorous behavior.

"You're back, Agent Von Karma," he said brusquely, glancing over at Miles. "I take it you two have smoothed things out?"

"We have, Agent Lang," she replied sweetly. "I wish to apologize for my conduct earlier. You were right about your decision. The sting is too dangerous for a pregnant woman. But I do hope that I will still be doing my regular Interpol Agent duties and not be completely kept out of the loop?"

"Of course! You'll be right in the eye of the hurricane!" Lang assured her. "You're one of our finest agents, Franziska. We still want you to trail the plant, er Miles, in the van where needed, and do stakeout and surveillance, as is customary."

"Very well. Tell me, who will be accompanying Miles as the arm candy, then? Kay Faraday?"

"Me?! Awesomesauce!" The Yatagarasu's familiar chirp could be heard crowing excitedly from the other end of the line. "I'd be super-stoked to be Mr. Edgeworth's fake bimbo for this stunt!"

Lang frowned into his phone at the word choice, while Miles barely resisted an amused snort at the lively ninja's effusiveness.

"Negative on that, Kay. We'll need you to keep an ear to the ground during all of this and keep close tabs on the suspect," the Wolf Man informed Miles' former assistant turned fellow Interpol agent, clearly trying hard to hose down the girl's burning enthusiasm. "We may even need to utilize your Great Thief espionage skills, should the need arise for you to break into a place that requires truth-stealing."

"Why can she not do double duty?" Franziska suggested mildly. "If anyone can pull off stealth and secret identity, it would be the daughter of the original Yatagarasu."

"Because we need a smoking hot, sexy, femme-fatale type, not a perky girl-child with a key in her hair!" Lang barked, clearly frustrated with the conversation. "How's that for a good enough reason?"

"Objection!" Kay protested. "Who are you calling a kid, Wolf Man? I'm 23 now, I'll have you know!"

The Wolf-Man sighed, dropped the whip onto the desk, and began rubbing his temple with his free hand. Seizing her opportunity, Franziska discreetly grabbed it and silently slipped it back onto her hip holster, smiling angelically at the irked Agent the whole time.

Their leader was too engrossed in the phone call to even notice.

"Yes, Kay, I'm sure you're now a lovely young woman," the Zheng-Fa denizen acknowledged dryly. "Nonetheless, you're far too valuable an asset for us to risk at the moment."

Miles bit back a chuckle, then frowned as a disturbing thought hit him.

The prosecutor wasn't quite sure if this implication insinuated that he was a less valuable part of the sting by comparison since Lang had borne zero qualms about putting Miles' neck on the line to go undercover, or if the other man was merely trying to placate the feisty girl.

"We already have someone in mind," the Interpol head continued. "She's a special field Agent that we've been extensively been training for years just for this particular assignment. She is aware it's a high-risk situation but has agreed to the terms as part of her early parole. In exchange, we will be expunging her records after 10 years as part of the agreement. She's no stranger to the field at all, as she was already in the world of law many moons ago."

Someone who had been in law…but then had been convicted of a crime…as they'd been paroled? As in, had done prison time? And was now agreeing to a top-secret, dangerous mission in exchange for clearing her criminal background?

Miles' brow furrowed as he tried to piece together the bewildering tidbits of information he was hearing, yet drew a complete blank. It was a bizarre, but not unheard-of situation, of course, for someone of prior influence to negotiate some sort of bargain in exchange for their freedom. But for the life of him, he couldn't imagine who it could be. Perhaps someone from Europe? Or even Zheng-Fa?

"Yes, yes, you will be working with her as well. As luck would have it, she's on her way here as we speak, which is why I called you," Lang was now telling them. "I figured the timing was perfect, as Franziska and Edgeworth are here now as well. Detective Badd should be coming along with her any moment now."

"Someone call my name?" A deep voice from the office entrance intoned just then.

The three turned their heads, where a male figure stood, his broad frame filling the whole doorway. He was large, unshaven, and wore a coat that looked like it had been salvaged from a war zone. Even the man's loosely dangling tie carried similar holes.

After taking a suspicious look back and forth, the man shoved his hands in his coat pockets and began trudging forward. A white stick, which looked like a cigarette between his lips, flicked slightly as he walked. The man pulled his hand back out of his coat. In it, he held a small, personal mirror. After giving himself the once over, he stuffed it back in his pocket. He removed the stick from his lips, which turned out to be a lollipop!

"Detective Tyrell Badd, at your service," he said gruffly. "Nice to see you all again. I brought along with the requested company, Agent Lang. Behold your newest Interpol addition."

A shadow stepped out from behind the burly man. At first, all Miles spotted a flash of a jacket and a willowy form, but then, as if in slow motion, the rest of the body emerged into view.

And it was within that moment, for the first time in his life, that the cool, calm prosecutor felt his composure completely unravel.

As his thunderstruck gaze fell upon the face that had been haunting his memories – and very recent fantasies! – for the past near-decade, his eyes went round with shock, and his jaw dropped to his chest as he realized who had been assigned to play the part of his arm-candy bimbo!

"Lana?" He gasped.

March 1, 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) 😄