AN: First taste of lemon! Hope you enjoy.

He heard the bathroom door shut and wondered if the pads were still in plain sight. Shortly thereafter, Wright opened the door and caught Edgeworth's eye. He wordlessly held up the pink box in confusion.

Edgeworth only responded by holding out the cup of tea. Wright put down the box and walked over to grab the cup. Edgeworth tried to ignore the light graze of his fingers when he grabbed the cup, instead motioned for Wright to sit on the couch with him. They sat closely so they wouldn't wake Trucy with their conversation.

"You have quite the daughter," Edgeworth started.

Wright smiled. "She is pretty amazing." He paused and turned more serious. "What happened today?"

"Trucy started her period today," he started calmly

"What?! You say that so matter-of-factly." Wright was clearly shocked.

"After today, I'm not sure I can be surprised by anything else."

"Walk me through the day."

Edgeworth gave him a brief rundown of the events of the evening.

Wright nodded considering the words. "Why didn't you call me?"

"You said you didn't know what all you would be managing today. I didn't know if or when you would be available... so I took care of it."

"That-that was very kind of you," he murmured.

"Wright, I couldn't just leave a young girl confused. It's a natural process. I hadn't anticipated ever having to explain such things to a child, but I assure you, I am quite capable."

Wright didn't say anything. He seemed to still be processing the information.

Edgeworth continued, "I should make you aware that I didn't explain sex and that is something she still needs to know. I only told her what pertained to her own body. When she asked how an egg was fertilized I told her that you would have to discuss that with her. I didn't think it was my place to teach her about that, especially without your knowledge."

Wright looked like he was reeling with eyes wide and mouth pressed into a firm line. He took a large gulp of tea as if his mouth had suddenly gone dry.

"She's growing up so fast. I always thought I had more time."

"She's nearly a teenager." Edgeworth didn't realize that Wright would take the news like this.

"I think I need something stronger than tea."

Wright disappeared into the kitchen and brought back a bottle of wine and two glasses. Edgeworth was both surprised that Wright was a wine drinker and that he assumed he would join. He reasoned that a single glass shouldn't be an issue for him to still drive home. Wright poured them each glasses and took a sizable mouthful from his own glass. Edgeworth sipped his own. It wasn't as high in quality as what he normally consumed, but it was reasonably robust and not too sweet.

"I didn't know you liked drinking wine." Edgeworth wanted to break the tension or at least cause a slight distraction.

"It's been within the last few years."

"I see."

There was a span of silence stretching the moment. He would have to try a different tactic.

"Trucy showed me a photo album earlier."

Wright's face seemed to go slightly pink but maybe it was just from the wine.

"You must have made quite an impression on her. She usually only brings that out when she has connected with someone, but I guess that isn't too surprising given the day you shared."

"Would I be able to get a copy of that picture of us as children?" Edgeworth sounded a little shy to himself.

Wright definitely was turning pink now, and Edgeworth was concerned that his own face was, too.

"Sure." Wright was probably trying to sound relaxed, but it came out slightly strained.

Edgeworth was still uncomfortable with sharing his feelings but part of him wanted him to know.

"That was one of the happiest times in my life."

"Specifically that day?"

"No, our friendship, as children." He took a drink from his glass as a quick distraction from the heat rising to his face.

"At least we're friends now." Wright was always so sincere.

"Not like we were then." Edgeworth realized that it had sounded more sad than he intended but if he was being honest with himself, he was sad, and maybe even felt a little guilty, that he hadn't tried harder in their friendship as adults.

"That's true, but I hope you know that I cherish our friendship very deeply, and I think it is stronger now than it was then. It just looks different. When we were kids, we played together and had fun, but now, I know if I need anything, I can call on you, and that you can do the same. I trust you. While I would enjoy spending more time together, I understand that your life is very busy, and I'm just happy to have you in my life at all."

Edgeworth was struck with emotion and, once again, thought about how he did not deserve this man's friendship but was so happy that he had it anyway. There was a warmth spreading through his chest that, he was certain, wasn't from the wine. He wanted to say something back but it was so difficult for him to express himself so openly.

"I am honored to have you as a friend." It wasn't as touching as what Phoenix had said, but his friend still smiled warmly at him.

Then something changed in the room that he couldn't quite put his finger on. It was suddenly very warm and the air seemed almost thick.

"I want to thank you for your help with Trucy today. You went above and beyond and I really appreciate it."

Phoenix's tone had dropped considerably, and he gently patted Edgeworth's shoulder. There was so much casual contact with the Wrights, but Phoenix hadn't moved his hand as Edgeworth had expected. He looked at the hand sitting on his shoulder. Heat started to rise on his face again. He felt slight tingles deep in his stomach, something foreign and exciting. He tried to swallow but his mouth had gone dry.

"You're welcome," Edgeworth struggled to murmur.

His eyes snapped to Phoenix's. They were bright and sparkling, there was something else that Edgeworth couldn't quite recognize, but it threatened a shiver up his spine. He felt drawn closer to this man like some sort of magnetism was pulling them together, and Phoenix had also started to shorten the gap between them. His breath quickened and there was a feeling of urgency building in his chest. He wasn't sure exactly what he was doing. It was one of the few times when logic and reason escaped him, and he relied on something instinctual.

Their lips met and molded together. His heart was pounding, and he inhaled deeply through his nose. Phoenix's scent permeated his entire being, and the flavor of wine lingered on his lips. His mind felt cloudy, almost like intoxication, and tingles danced throughout his stomach. Pressure filled his chest, and energy seemed to pulse through him. He lifted his hand to Phoenix's cheek and held him firmly, wanting to prolong the indescribably beautiful moment. He felt the hand slide from his shoulder to his neck and pull him tightly deepening the kiss. The warm hand felt thrilling while gently caressing his throat. After a moment, the two relaxed a little and pulled away slightly.

His heart was pounding too loudly in his ears while he tried not to give into the jolts of electricity that he felt all over. He looked into his friend's eyes. They were wide and the pupils were dilated. His breaths were ragged. He felt more gentle caressing from his neck, to his jaw, and the hollow point behind his ear. He mimicked the tender strokes on Phoenix's cheek.

He had never had a kiss like that before. The few times he had tried kissing someone in his past, there had been no tingles, or electricity, or heat. Then it hit him, those times there had been no underlying relationship, trust, and most notably, no chemistry. That was it. Somehow, something had budded behind the friendship he shared with Phoenix. He hadn't realized it had been heading toward this but it felt so good. He hungered for more.

He crashed his lips back into Phoenix's and found the man easily returned the gesture, lips fervently pressed together. Warmth spread through his body again, breathtaking and overpowering. He felt a tongue pressing at the entrance to his mouth. His eyes briefly shot open in shock but soon shut them again as he parted his lips in response.

The two took turns exploring each other's mouths as their tongues danced around one another. He felt dizzy and hypnotized by his senses and what this man was able to do to him. An unexpected hum ripped from his throat as the new sensations sent warmth and tingles further south.

Phoenix broke away at the sound and looked at him in surprise. He blushed, it was suddenly too warm in the room or maybe that was just his face.

"I guess I was wrong… There's still plenty that can surprise me today, apparently."

Phoenix giggled and looked at him affectionately. "That was some kiss."

His blush persisted. "Indeed… I-I don't know what came over me."

He looked at the ground, starting to evaluate his actions, worried that he might have screwed up what he'd had with his friend.

"Miles..." It had an edge of humor to it but was still compassionate. He looked at him. Strangely, hearing his first name on the man's lips was one of the most beautiful things he'd ever heard.

"From where I am sitting... It seemed pretty mutual," Phoenix finished his thought.

Edgeworth chuckled lightly. Now that he considered it, there had definitely been reciprocation. What did this mean though? There was something between them, not likely something that could just be ignored. What about his career? What about Trucy? Edgeworth scrunched up his face with the cascading thoughts.

"You're overthinking again, aren't you?" Phoenix pulled him out of his trance.

"I suppose you could say that," he said with a frown.

"Talk to me." It was a request, not a command.

Suddenly he felt very vulnerable, whispering, "I'm just trying to figure out what this means."

"It means we kissed. We have to decide if it's going to mean something more."

Edgeworth pondered those words. Phoenix had basically given him an option to escape, act like those glorious kisses had never happened, and go back to merely being friends. Is that what he wanted? Could he actually do that even if he wanted to? He looked into those sincere hopeful eyes and his heart melted.

He couldn't just let things go back to how they were before, but it suddenly felt very real, and part of him wanted to run, pushing away all of the new feelings. He had done something like that before. It had been a time of great transformation, but he remembered how deeply it affected Phoenix. No, he had to be brave this time and be honest about what was happening between them.

With a little more resolve, he mumbled, "I want it to mean something."

Phoenix's face split into a wide smile. "So do I."

Edgeworth smiled too, relieved but still embarrassingly vulnerable. He thought his face would never recover from the unrelenting tinge of pink.

"I guess that's two things I have to talk to Trucy about now," Phoenix mused after the brief stretch of silence.

Edgeworth had almost forgotten about the other discussion. "Do you have any idea what you will say?"

"For the sex talk or about us?" he teased.

"Uh, Either? Or-or both?" Edgeworth uncharacteristically stumbled over his words in his bashfulness.

"You're very cute when you're flustered."

Edgeworth outwardly scoffed but was secretly riding the adrenaline high from realising that Phoenix cared, not only about who he was as a person, but was also attracted to him. Before all of this, he didn't even know that Phoenix could be attracted to a man at all, much less himself.

"I'm really not sure, to answer your question." Phoenix pulled him back into reality.

"She seemed to handle facts and directness quite well; perhaps, that would be the simplest place to start."

"I'm also trying to decide if I want to have both of those conversations at once. They're both important but discussing them together might imply certain things about us."

Edgeworth stifled a shiver down his spine. That statement had sent its very own implication. It made him nervous and excited at the prospect.

"Ah, that's a fair point," he agreed awkwardly. "Maybe at least a little separation would be advisable, several hours at the very least."

"Do you want to be here when I tell her about us?"

"If you would like." Edgeworth didn't even know how to define what they were. 'Boyfriend' felt juvenile, while 'lover' definitely implied a sexual relationship. Maybe Phoenix would have a better term.

"I think it's probably a good idea."

"Maybe this is an asinine question, but how exactly would you label what we are?"

"That's a good question," Phoenix pondered. Then his pensive expression gave way to a sly smirk. "What do you want us to be?" His voice became rich and silky with the suggestive question.

The term 'lover' reentered his mind with renewed tingles. He shuddered, unable to stifle the sensation. Phoenix sensually placed a hand on his thigh. Blood pumped through him again but the rushed thumping came from a source much lower than his heart.

Phoenix leaned into his ear and seductively whispered, "Maybe 'partner' would be fitting." Then he nibbled his earlobe enticingly.

"Phoenix." It came out as a mixture between a whisper and moan.

"I love it when you call me that. Especially when you say it like that," he revealed as he began peppering his neck with kisses.

"You're driving me crazy." His own voice sounded foreign, deep and suggestive. His eyes were shut, angling his head to allow Phoenix better access.

The sound of a door opening thrust them apart, and they desperately tried to look like they were having an innocent conversation. At the sound of another door being shut, Edgeworth let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.

"Do you think we woke her?"

"I don't think so. I think it was just a coincidence," Phoenix replied.

Edgeworth picked up the wine glass from where he had abandoned it earlier and took a sip. Phoenix did the same. A moment after a whooshing of water, they heard the bathroom door open and Trucy peaked around the corner to look at them.

"Hey, sweetheart, did our talking wake you?" Phoenix beckoned the girl over.

"No, I just had to use the bathroom," she responded groggily, rubbing her eye with her fist. Phoenix looked relieved.

"That's good. Why don't you head back to bed? It's pretty late."

"Okay, goodnight, Daddy." She hugged Phoenix who kissed her temple. She yawned and gave Edgeworth a hug too. "Goodnight, Uncle Miles." She trudged off toward her room.

"Goodnight..."

Edgeworth was completely bewildered. Once Trucy's door shut, Phoenix turned to him.

"Uncle Miles?" Phoenix smirked at him and teased, "so informal."

"That's the first time she's called me that. Who knows what she'll call me once she knows that we're…" How did he want to finish that? Seeing each other? Dating? "In a relationship."

Phoenix winked at him. How did he make that look so charming?

It really was getting late, Edgeworth thought. As much as he wanted to stay and kiss Phoenix endlessly, and maybe other things, not that he would admit that part out loud, he knew he should leave soon. Phoenix yawned confirming that thought. Edgeworth drained the last of the wine in his glass and stood.

"It's late. I should probably head out." It sounded more disappointed than he had intended.

"I'll walk you out."

They walked side-by-side on the way to Edgeworth's car, hands grazing as they swung between them. His fingers were itching to grab the other man's hand. He wasn't sure why he was being so hesitant about it. Surely, holding someone's hand was nothing compared to making out on their sofa, but it felt so intimate. Kissing was about passion. This was about affection. Quite frankly, neither came to him naturally.

He realized he had been staring down at their hands when Phoenix reached for his. When Edgeworth looked up at him, it was clear that he had been watching him and must have guessed his internal struggle. All of this was so much easier for him. Phoenix struggled with being overly caring and sympathetic, even to the point of recklessness at times. They helped

balance each other in that regard. Edgeworth smiled lightly at that thought.

As they approached the car, butterflies rushed through him again. Part of him just wanted to pick up the other man and carry him back to the bedroom and have his way with him. Those were all very unfamiliar types of thoughts. They were exciting and terrifying. How did this man always seem to have so much power over him? It was a silent power that spoke to his very soul. It was awakening many new things within him; although, hadn't Phoenix always been the one to do that to him?

They stood next to the driver side door. Edgeworth hesitated, he didn't really want to leave. Phoenix reached up and cupped his cheek. He found himself leaning into his hand reveling in feeling. Without a second thought to question himself, he advanced and captured Phoenix's lips in a tender kiss. Phoenix moaned and forced the prosecutor's hips against the door, their lower bodies now flush against each other. Phoenix deepened their kiss, and Edgeworth wrapped his arms around the other man's waist bringing their chests against each other as well. He felt like his body was going to explode from all of the emotions and sensations filling up inside of him, but instead, the tension continued to build.

He shifted his weight and flipped them so Phoenix was the captive one. Phoenix gave him a look that he had seen earlier. Edgeworth suddenly understood what it meant; passion, lust, desire and it was for him. He started kissing Phoenix deeply, without hesitation. He nibbled at his bottom lip then ran his tongue across it. Phoenix willingly parted his lips and their tongues danced once more. He fervently explored the man's back, sides, and chest with wandering hands. Phoenix sucked on his bottom lip and settled his hands onto his ass causing pleasure to course through him again. He grunted in earnest and found himself pressing his hips more intensely into his partner. There was no denying both of their arousals as they moaned at the new friction.

Their lips disconnected but their bodies stayed firmly pressed together. Their breaths came out in gasps, rough and ragged.

"I like the new Miles." Phoenix's voice was full of seduction. Miles blushed.

"As do I; however, if I am to actually leave sometime this evening then we will have to find a way to keep our hands off of each other."

"If you insist; however, I will point out that I am the one shoved against the car at the moment." Phoenix was clearly teasing him but it was obvious that his departure was difficult for him as well. Miles took a step back but held Phoenix closely to him.

"Let me take you and Trucy to dinner tomorrow. We can tell her about us."

"I accept, but you and I will have to go on a proper date soon. I don't want you to think I'm some sort of booty call," Phoenix teased playfully.

Miles laughed openly. "Because I'm definitely the type to try and pull such a thing," he quipped facetiously. Phoenix joined in the laughter. It had been a long time since Miles had been so unguarded. Miles embraced Phoenix wondering why he hadn't noticed what had clearly been building between them for a while.

In a moment of boldness, Miles brought his lips near Phoenix's ear as the other had done earlier. "Tomorrow then?" he whispered flirtatiously and smirked when Phoenix shivered in response.

"Yes," Phoenix responded breathlessly. Miles curiously shifted his lips down to kiss his jaw and neck just as Phoenix had done to him.

Phoenix groaned. "Okay, I deserved that."

Miles gave him a chaste kiss. "Yes, you did." He could hardly believe that it had been so easy.

He grudgingly pulled away from him, but Phoenix grabbed his hands in the separation and kissed each one in turn. Miles blushed at the quaint gesture, and Phoenix released his hands. Miles fumbled for the keys in his pocket with his quivering hands. Having found them, he finally opened the door. Before sitting, he turned back toward Phoenix in a lingering glance. They shared one last kiss before he departed.