AN: This is my first posted AA fanfiction. I've only played the original trilogy (I know some of the other events that happen later in the story) so please forgive any slight OOC moments or vague moments. This story contains Male/Male interactions and other adult themes. There are also some biological descriptions. I tried to avoid them being graphic for those that might be squeamish but wanted to warn anyone who might be sensitive to it. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ace Attorney. I merely write fanfiction for entertainment.

Miles Edgeworth sat in his office finishing paperwork from a recent trial. This week's schedule didn't look quite as full as usual, and he was thankful for it. He stretched trying to relax tension from his shoulders. He had been sitting there for a while and started to feel stiff. He decided to take a short break to make some tea.

He just sat down on the comfy sofa to enjoy his tea when his phone rang. Why was Wright calling him? They had started to associate more as friends lately, but he hardly ever called unless it was important.

"Miles Edgeworth speaking," he answered.

"Hey! I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Phoenix replied.

Edgeworth frowned. He had interrupted his few minutes of relaxation but since Wright was his friend, he indulged him.

"I have a few moments."

"So Maya needs me to help her with something in Kurain Village early Friday morning."

Phoenix paused. Edgeworth wondered why Wright was even telling him all of this.

He continued timidly, "And, well… I was hoping for a favor."

Edgeworth understood the call now. He had been looking forward to a calmer weekend but maybe if the request was reasonable…

"Before I can decide whether to accept or reject, I will need to know the favor."

"Well, I wouldn't get back until late that night, and I can't take Trucy with me since she has school. I know you're busy, and I wish I didn't have to ask, but is there any way you would be willing to watch Trucy?"

"Could you not move it to the weekend?"

"Apparently not, Maya said something about a meeting with the Elders or something… I'm not sure about all that will be involved, but Maya was clear that it couldn't be moved."

Edgeworth paused considering. Trucy was a bright young girl, and he did care for her. He was apprehensive though. He hadn't really spent any time with her alone. He wasn't even sure what to do with a 12-year-old girl.

"I don't know about this," Edgeworth revealed.

"All you would have to do is pick her up from school, hang out, have dinner, and help her get to bed at a reasonable time, then just stick around until I get back. She's pretty self sufficient, and she would love to spend time with you."

Edgeworth was still not used to such open communication about affection. It made him slightly uncomfortable but his heart felt full.

He gave a weak protest, "Am I really the best p-"

"Please, Miles, there aren't many people that I trust with my little girl." Phoenix was pleading with him.

Edgeworth felt his face getting hot. Wright trusted him, and this wasn't about trusting him with something trivial. This was about Trucy, Wright's pride and joy. He still felt nervous, but he knew he had been defeated.

He sighed, "Very well, since I am not as busy as usual this week, I will agree."

"Thank you so much! You don't know how much this means to me."

Edgeworth suspected that he might know, though. Wright was not exactly good about hiding his emotions, and his words had practically dripped with excitement, and he could imagine the wide and eager smile that Phoenix was certainly wearing. He felt the corner of his mouth twitch up in response to that mental picture. He secretly hoped for that smile every time he saw his friend. It filled him with warmth and reminded him of fond memories of their childhood.

"I will need to know which school and time of dismissal as well as any other relevant information."

"Always about the details," Phoenix chuckled. "I will text you with the specifics and again, thank you."

"You're welcome," he paused but either courageously or recklessly, he wasn't sure which, added, "Goodbye, Phoenix."

Edgeworth drove into the pick up lane at Trucy's school. It was a nice day so he had the windows rolled down on his flashy red sports car. The lane moved slowly. He was shocked that people had to do this daily, although this line was not nearly as bad as the school down the road. He decided that the children must be younger at that school. The line lazily oozed forward.

He had worked diligently during the week and was thankful that he had completed his work early so that he didn't need to worry about it while caring for Trucy. The line creeped forward again. He saw Trucy sitting on the steps with three other girls, the overhang shielding the sun from them. She laughed with them, not having noticed him yet. His heart squeezed with joy. Part of him was very happy that he had been coerced into this favor, even if it did cause what he would have once deemed unnecessary feelings.

Then he saw ten children get into a large van that was a few cars ahead of him. As the van was exiting the pick up lane, he saw large letters on the side Rainbow Afterschool Care and Family Activity Center followed by a phone number and address. With that van gone he could actually move forward a good amount. Trucy had finally seen him. She said something to her friends and they all looked over at him. He suddenly felt a little awkward. As he pulled forward again, he caught part of her conversation.

"-not really my Uncle. I just call him that because he's good friends with my daddy," Trucy explained.

The girls looked at him again with wide sparkling eyes. One of them leaned toward Trucy, "he's cute."

The other girls giggled, but Trucy just stood up and said her goodbyes as she walked toward his car. He really didn't know how to feel about prepubescent girls thinking he was cute, but he decided it was silly and ultimately ignored it.

"Hi, Uncle Edgeworth!" She beamed at him. "Can I sit in the front seat?"

He surveyed her. She was pretty small but it was a short distance.

"I doubt your father would approve, but I suppose it would be acceptable this time."

"Yay!"

She excitedly hopped into the passenger seat and put her bag at her feet. He waited for her to secure her seat belt as the car in front of him was exiting. With the defining click, he carefully made his way out of the pick up lane.

"How was school?"

"Pretty good, we started a new book in English class."

"What is the book?

"And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. It's a mystery book, but I'll probably be able to figure out the murderer before the end of the book."

"I suspect you will. I've read some of the Agatha Christie books, and I enjoyed them."

"I bet this one will be more my style. I didn't really like The Hobbit that much."

"I didn't know you had an interest in reading." That was something they had in common. He hadn't been able to spend as much time reading novels recently being so busy, but while living in the von Karma house, reading had been one of his few escapes.

"Yep, Daddy always says reading is important, and that it makes you smarter."

"Wise words. Do you have any homework?"

"Just some algebra."

"I wasn't aware that they taught algebra at your age."

"Daddy said I was too smart for the regular classes so he wanted me to take the harder ones."

"It sounds like he cares a lot about your education."

"Yeah, he does. I don't mind it though. I like a challenge."

Edgeworth looked over at her, having just arrived, and she had a determined gleam in her eye. He nearly had to do a double-take. How many times had he seen that look in his friend's eye? Some of those things clearly were not connected to genetics.

Once inside, Trucy pulled out her homework and sat at the table. It was too early to worry about making dinner yet, and he didn't bring any work with him since he had already completed it. He decided to peruse the bookcase. Legal texts, magazines, a few novels that didn't really catch his interest.

"Daddy has more books on the shelf in his room," Trucy piped up.

"Would he have a problem with me looking in there?"

"I don't think he would mind. You're his best friend after all."

Edgeworth felt electricity shoot down his spine and a swell formed in his chest. He was also very aware of his abdominal muscles clenching at the confession.

"He considers me his best friend?"

"Well, yeah. You didn't know?" She asked incredulously.

"I thought surely Miss Fey or-"

"Daddy sees Maya more like a little sister. I think he feels like he has to take care of everyone. But... it's different with you, more like a give and take. It's pretty amazing to have so much trust in a friend like that." A sparkle glinted in her eye, "I hope I have that with someone someday."

Edgeworth suddenly felt very overwhelmed.

"I'm sure you will." He gulped trying to keep his voice steady, "I'm going to go look at the books in the other room."

She nodded as he walked into Wright's room. Adrenaline coursed through his body and felt his heart pounding out of control. Maybe Wright was better at disguising his emotions than he had previously thought. He had no idea that he held him in such high esteem. Edgeworth felt feelings rising in him. He normally was so controlled but being around Trucy and hearing how much Wright cared, it made him feel warm things. Edgeworth hadn't felt that way in a long time, not since his father had died. He felt a tear trickle down his flushed face. Edgeworth thought that this must be what it feels like to have a real family.

He took a few deep breaths to compose himself and tried to look around the room as a distraction. It was a simple room. A queen-sized bed, covered with an old sky blue handmade quilt, was against the wall opposite the door. The quilt was turned down at the top showing navy sheets and pillows. Gray nightstands framed either side of the bed. He was very tempted to look at what Wright kept in those drawers, but that would be an invasion of privacy, so he resisted the urge. He instead turned to the bookcase on the adjacent wall.

There were many different subjects on these shelves. There were several books about art, both its history and instructions about techniques. There were a few odd books like one that just contained random facts or another that contained satirical versions of children's stories. Most of the books were novels, though. Edgeworth determined that Wright must have categorized his books according to genre and he had some in just about every subject: science fiction, mystery, romance, adventure, historical fiction, thriller. He picked one somewhat randomly near the adventure section. He then returned to the main room and began quietly reading on the worn down couch.

"Uncle Edgeworth?" Trucy called out.

"Yes?" Edgeworth found a stray piece of paper and used it as a bookmark. He hated when people turned down the corners in books.

"Can you help me?"

Edgeworth set the book on the side table to his left and went to look at the problem. He quickly noticed that she had just started a section that was about system of equations. He had actually really enjoyed doing those types of problems as a child.

"The question asks you for the values of x and y. The first thing you will need to do is isolate one of the variables on one of the equations."

"You mean move the equation around to make it x equals whatever or y equals whatever."

"That's correct." He watched her do the simple arrangement on one of the equations.

"Okay, now what?"

"Now you use that equation as a substitute in the other equation."

"Like this?" She substituted in the y equation.

"Make sure you use your parentheses correctly." He saw her add them in. "Yes, now solve for x."

She made the calculations. "So x equals 7."

"Now use one of the equations and put the 7 in place of the x."

She solved it quickly. "So y equals -4."

"Now you must check your work. Put the values for the variables in one of the equations and verify that the sides balance."

"Yay! They balance," she confirmed with a smile.

"Good." He gave her a slight smirk.

"Thanks, Uncle Edgeworth, you're a really good teacher. These are actually kinda fun."

"I enjoyed these types of problems in school as well. Go ahead and finish up, then we will decide on dinner."

Edgeworth started to understand why Wright was so happy as a parent. He hadn't ever considered it for himself but it did seem to be rewarding. While Wright was the exception, many times children came after being in a relationship, and relationships had always been difficult for him. He then noticed that Trucy frowned.

"This one didn't match. I must have missed something."

Edgeworth looked at her work and immediately noticed the problem. He wanted to see if Trucy would catch it before pointing it out. She looked for a moment.

"I just don't see it." She seemed irritated.

"Check this line." He pointed to the line that had the mistake.

"Oh! I accidentally switched the negative to a positive." She erased the incorrect portion of work and reworked the problem.

"There!" She exclaimed triumphantly.

Edgeworth stifled a chuckle at her enthusiasm as Trucy continued her homework. He took the opportunity to see what he might make for dinner. He could cook pretty well but he wasn't sure what would be in the kitchen. There were some basic spices in one cabinet and in the pantry were some snacks and instant noodles. He opened the fridge to a few eggs in a carton, a half empty gallon of milk, some cans of soda and beer, and a container of leftover chinese take out. He checked the freezer to find a pizza, a bag of broccoli, and some popsicles. He sighed quietly to himself and wondered how nutritious the meals usually were for the Wrights, at least there was a suggestion of vegetables.

"I finished my homework," Trucy announced as she put her homework back into her school bag. She took the bag to her room and Edgeworth heard the door to the bathroom snap shut. He sat back at the table and waited so he could ask her what she wanted.

A few minutes later Trucy walked back into the room with an expression that Edgeworth had never seen on her face before. It looked like a combination of guilt and embarrassment, and it filled him with dread. He stood up and took a step toward her.

"What's wrong, Trucy?"

She was definitely on the verge of tears and was bright red in the face. She lowered her gaze.

"I… um… I think… um... I think I started my period and... and I don't really know w-what to do."

A few tears escaped, rolling down her cheek. Edgeworth was thankful that she wasn't injured or ill, but what was he supposed to do to help her. He was trying not to panic. Obviously he knew about the biology but how was he to be expected to guide a child through what was likely a very confusing situation.

"It is a natural biological process," he began cooly.

She still had that look of shame and anxiety. This would require a gentle approach. He struggled with affection but he needed to be there for Trucy. What would Phoenix do? He grabbed Trucy's shoulder, and gently pulled her into an awkward hug. She pressed into him and held tightly with her head against his stomach. He forced himself to soften his tone.

"It's okay to be scared, but everything is going to be fine." He rubbed one hand on her back in, what he hoped to be, a comforting way. "Do you understand why women get periods? Has anyone talked to you about that?"

It was awkward. He had to ask. He really didn't want to be the one to have to teach her, but she needed to know.

"Well, in school we had a special class that told us about them, but they didn't really discuss why. They basically just said that it happens around this age." Her voice had barely been more than a whisper.

"I will explain it." Edgeworth guided her to the couch, feeling slightly irritated that her school provided a class that didn't even contain the pertinent information. He pushed that part out of his mind since he had more pressing things he had to manage at the present moment. This was one of the most uncomfortable things he had ever had to endure. He could only imagine how Trucy felt, especially without a major female figure in her life. He would just have to do his best.

"Women's bodies are specially equipped to have children. This is very closely related to why women have periods." He could tell he was speaking in a similar way to when he had helped her with her homework, but it couldn't be helped. More importantly, he wasn't sure how much detail he should go into. He definitely didn't want to venture into a full sex talk. Maybe that part could be more vague.

"Approximately once a month, a woman's body releases a very small egg from her ovary into the fallopian tube. If this egg becomes fertilized, it becomes an embryo and implants inside the uterus. That embryo will then grow into a baby. Do you understand so far?"

"I think so. What happens if the egg doesn't get fertilized?" She seemed calmer and more curious which was comforting.

"That's a very good question. While the body is waiting on a fertilized egg, the uterus forms a layer of tissue. That is what allows an embryo to implant in the uterine wall. If the egg doesn't get fertilized, then the body causes the uterus to shed that layer of tissue. That is what is released during your period."

"This happens every month?"

"Yes. I believe 28 days is the average length of a woman's cycle."

Trucy was silent. She was looking at the floor, but the wheels were turning in her head.

"So how does an egg get fertilized?"

Edgeworth knew he should have expected that question. Trucy was too smart to leave any stone unturned. It didn't change the fact that his face was becoming very warm.

"Ah, I better let your father tell you that part." His voice faltered slightly with the statement but if she noticed then she didn't say so. Then he added, "I will inform him of what I told you so far."

"Okay, umm, Uncle Edgeworth?" She looked at him, embarrassment back in her expression. He nodded for her to continue. "Can we go to the store to get, you know, supplies?"

"I assume that was part of what they taught you in your special class at school."

She nodded.

"Yes, going to the store would be wise indeed. We can also get groceries for dinner. The kitchen was lacking."

She gave a small giggle and Edgeworth was thrilled to see her smiling again. Suddenly, she pushed herself into him for another hug.

"Thanks, Uncle Edgeworth, for, you know, everything."

He patted her gently on the head, not knowing what to say. He settled on, "What would you like for dinner?"