"Please Mr. Wright. Please, please, pleaaaase don't let that woman prosecutor put me in prison! I swear I didn't rob that bank!" The client's eyes are swimming with tears as he looks back and forth between Phoenix and Maya.

Maya glances at Phoenix. They've had some weird clients in the past so it's no surprise to her that this guy is also a character. Phoenix tries to calm him down. "Please, Mr. Nodme. I believe in your innocence, so this should be a walk in the park."

The man crosses his arms. "You told me that the other day and that woman prosecutor managed to get another day!"

"I know," Phoenix soothes. "But I promise I'm doing my best. I haven't lost a case in years, ask Maya here."

The man looks at her and she nods quickly. "He's right. You're talking to Phoenix Wright, sir. They don't call him legendary for no reason! Countless defendants defended successfully! Helped overthrow a dictator in Asia! Lawyer extraordinaire! The best of the best!" Phoenix makes a face at her. She sounds like she's trying to sell him in an infomercial. She stops when she notices. "Too much?"

"Just a smidge, though I do appreciate the praise."

"Excuse me, but who is this, Mr. Wright?"

"Oh, I guess you haven't met. This is Maya Fey. She used to be my assistant back when I was still a rookie. Since the other lawyer at my agency is away on vacation, Maya's filling in as co-counsel. You're in good hands."

Maya nudges him with an elbow. "Didn't you forget something, honey?"

"Oh, uh, right." They have to sell this, so they might as well tell the client. "She's also my girlfriend, but I swear that won't effect my job. If anything it'll only make us better. We're a good team."

Maya smiles at him, and he has to smile back. That, at least, isn't a lie. They are a good team and he's sure he'll do better in court now that she's beside him.

Mr. Nodme still looks concerned, but he takes a deep breath. "Well, alright. I'll put my trust in you two."

"Thank you, sir. We'll see you in court."

The guard guides the client out of the visitor's room while Phoenix sits back in his chair and sighs. Maya pats his leg sympathetically. "It could be worse, Nick. He could be crying like Ron DeLite, remember him? Or lying to your face like most of your clients. At least he seems honest. You did use the magatama on him, right?"

"Of course. It had no reaction. I know he's innocent."

"Well, then what are you so worried about?"

"I'm worried about Molly! The first day we met she said she agreed with me that prosecutors and defense attorneys should work together to find the truth but the more I see what she's really like the more I wonder if she'll try to pull something to win the case."

"Hm. I don't know. I think her focus is all on you," she says, grinning at him. "She can't resist. I bet she's so jealous of me."

"You are way too into this, Maya."

"It's kind of fun." She leans forward to take a look at his watch. "We should probably head over to the courthouse now. I have something planned."

Phoenix stands up and gives Maya a hand up as well. "I'm nervous. Please tell me it's not something embarrassing or something that will disrupt the trial."

"It won't disrupt the trial," she says as they start to leave. "I'm not that unprofessional, but I can't promise about it not being embarrassing." He absentmindedly takes her hand as soon as they're out of the visitor's room, where people can see them. She squeezes his fingers lightly. "Trust me though, it should get Molly off your back for a while. Or maybe I should say your front."

He rolls his eyes. "Thanks for that image, mixed with what she was doing to that popsicle yesterday it's hard not to think about it."

"Ew, Nick."

"Sorry."

They both try to ignore the raised eyebrow the secretary gives them as they leave the detention centre. People are starting to notice their shared touches. Soon enough the news of their newfound relationship is going to spread.

At the courthouse where both of them are well known, even more people begin to curiously look. By now people are used to seeing Phoenix with Maya, but they're never so cutesy with each other, and Maya is really putting on a show now, holding his hand, wrapping her arm around him, smiling and laughing more than she ever did before they were in this fake relationship, and using pet names aplenty. It still feels awkward for him, but he tries his best to look like he loves it; like he loves her.

There's still no sign of Molly, and Maya gets tired of the couple-y act eventually. She takes a seat on one of the benches and huffs. "This is tiring. I don't know how people do it."

He sits beside her and does his part by resting his arm across the bench behind her. "Have you noticed all the looks we're starting to get?" he says, leaning close to whisper to her. They don't need anyone overhearing.

She looks at him. "We're going to be the talk of the courthouse, that's for sure."

"Yeah. I just really hope this doesn't make it back to Trucy…"

"We'll be careful, Nick. Now, where is that Molly? I want to really test my acting skills." As if on cue, they hear that distinct laugh coming from somewhere down the hall. Maya looks at him. "Speak of the devil." She grabs him by the wrist. "Come on, sweetie. Let's go show her who you belong to."

Maya starts leading him down the hall, looking around as she goes to see if she can spot Molly. They find her when they hear that laugh again. Maya points. "Look! She's flirting with that bailiff!"

"A different one this time," Phoenix observes.

"Huh?"

"Before I met her that's what she was doing. Flirting with a bailiff. Then she set her sights on me."

"I guess she can't help herself. If you're not around she has to find someone to give her attention to."

"So how do we get her attention?"

Maya taps her foot. "I was assuming she'd be watching out for you but she's so busy right now."

"Isn't that a good thing? Better she be busy with someone else instead of me."

"I guess so. I think she's just playing the field though. She'll keep looking, but that doesn't mean she's given up on you yet." Maya thinks for a second and turns to face him. "Put your arms around my waist."

"What? Why?"

"Just do it, Nick," she says. "Like you're going to pull me in for a kiss."

"Alright, fine." He wraps his arms around her and locks his hands behind her easily, resting them on the small of her back. When he goes to pull her forward, Maya clears her throat and lays her hands on his chest, then starts to push him away.

"Nick, stop it!" she says, loudly. "We can't do that here in the middle of the courthouse!"

He lets go of her and holds out his hands. "But you told me to—"

Maya raises an eyebrow. "Play along," she hisses at him. "You have to act, Nick! Come on, you were an arts major!"

"Painting and drawing! Not theatre!"

"Niiick…"

"Oh, fine. I guess I did take one drama class." He wraps his arms around her again and pulls her against him quickly. Maya squeaks at his unexpected strength and looks up into his face to find him smirking down at her. "How's that?"

"Not bad."

He tilts his head at her. "What now?"

She blinks. "Oh right. Lean down like you're whispering sweet nothings to me." She lifts her arms and wraps them around his neck.

He's acutely aware of how close they are; bodies pressed together and arms around each other. The last time they'd been so close was during the Sprocket wedding reception. Larry had gone off to talk to her where she was sitting at a table with Ema and Athena while Phoenix spoke with Edgeworth, but when he noticed Larry attempting to get Maya to dance with him, he had to step in. She was more than thankful and they stayed together the rest of the night, just so she could avoid Larry's advances.

She's staring up at him expectantly now, so he leans down towards her ear. Her hair brushes past his cheek, tickling him. So she wants to pretend he's dirty talking? He can definitely do the Maya version of that.

"I'm going to take you home later…" he whispers, "and make you the biggest bowl of ramen you've ever seen."

He can swear Maya actually shivers. "Oh, tell me more," she says.

"We could order a pizza instead… unlimited toppings, extra cheese."

"Mm, be careful Nick, you might actually get me turned on." He pulls back from her to look at her face and finds she still has her eyes still closed. She's even biting her lip. If he didn't know any better he'd say she already is turned on.

He looks away from her and glances quickly over to where they saw Molly. "She took the bait," he whispers to her. "She's looking this way."

Maya's eyes pop open. For a second she almost looks annoyed that he stopped whispering to her, but then she becomes all business again. "Good. Come on." She takes him by the hand and starts dragging him down the hall.

"Where are we going now? The trial is going to start soon."

"Oh, we have a few minutes, we'll be fine."

Phoenix looks around when Maya stops in a seemingly random place, but she's determinedly striding towards a door that he knows for a fact is a closet full of cleaning supplies that the janitors use to clean the courthouse after hours. She jiggles the door handle and finds it unlocked. "Come in here with me," she says, winking at him.

"Maya, a supply closet? Really?"

She yanks on his wrist a bit harder and manages to pull him reluctantly inside. She shuts the door behind them, dousing them in total darkness. It's so pitch black that neither of them can see what they're doing, and the cleaning supplies on the shelves and scattered on the ground around their feet makes for a tight fit. He can feel Maya's hands on him, touching lightly so she can get her bearings and situate herself properly.

"Ow," he hears her say. "I stubbed my toe on a paint can or something. Isn't there a light in here?!"

He reaches up and feels around for a light switch. His fingers finally close around one of those pull strings, and a yellow tinted incandescent light bulb pops into life above their heads. "Better?"

"Much better."

He stares down at her and lowers his voice. "Maya, I know we're trying to sell this relationship thing, but I still need to act professional! We could probably get in trouble for doing… well, what anyone who saw us come over here thinks we're doing. We're in a courthouse, this is public indecency."

"You're the one who started it, with all that sexy food talk," she teases.

"Yeah, well you looked like you were enjoying it a little too much."

She puts a hand over her stomach and frowns. "I'm hungry."

"Of course you are. What are we doing in here anyway?"

"Making out, obviously. Maybe more, depending on what people are thinking," she says, wiggling her eyebrows.

He rolls his eyes. "It's so cramped in here, we wouldn't be able to do anything even if we wanted to."

"I don't know. I'm surprisingly flexible!"

"Well I'm not."

"Believe me, I know. How's your back, by the way? You hurt it in Khura'in right? I totally missed it, being framed for murder and all that."

"Not bad, but it still gets sore every now and then. It's probably just all my old injuries finally catching up to me."

"You are so old."

"You're the one dating an older man." She doesn't seem to have a response to that, so she leans back against the shelf behind her and smiles at him. "What?"

She shrugs. "I don't know. Is it weird that I'm kind of enjoying this? To be honest, I've never had a boyfriend before, which is sort of embarrassing given my age, so…"

"No one ever asked you out when you were in Khura'in?"

She shakes her head. "No. Even if they had I would have declined anyway. I always wanted to come home, so I would have had to leave eventually. It would never have worked out."

"You wouldn't have stayed if you'd found the right guy?"

"Nah. I would've missed you too much," she says, tapping his chest with her fingers. "Two years was enough."

He nods. "Yeah… It was hard. You were gone when so many good things were happening here. I hired Apollo and Athena, and got my badge back, but I didn't have an assistant anymore… Apollo and Athena were great to mentor but it wasn't the same without you. You know I would have missed you too, if you'd stayed there longer. This will probably sound so selfish of me but I'm… glad you didn't."

She glances down. "Thanks, Nick. So am I." She takes a breath and looks back up at him. "Now let's get out of here. It's getting kind of warm and I don't want to be all sweaty before the trial."

"Okay." He reaches to push the door open but Maya stops him.

"Wait, first we need to look like we were making out."

"And how do we do that?" Maya grabs at the obi around her waist and loosens it a bit. He starts to panic a bit. "What are you doing?!"

Maya rolls her eyes. "Don't make me do all the work! Loosen your tie a bit, untuck your shirt, mess up your hair a little. This stuff is obvious!"

"But even real couples at least try to look like they weren't doing anything!"

"We're not a real couple though," she says, reaching up to his hair.

He jerks his head away from her. "Don't touch."

"Ooh you're one of those guys? Don't like your hair touched? Why? How long does it take you to do in the morning?"

"I've told you before Maya, it's natural. I don't have to do anything."

"Mhm… sure it is." She reaches up again, and again he tries to get away from her. He groans when the shelf behind him digs painfully into his back. Something falls to the floor with a crash.

Maya cries out. "Aah!"

"What? Did it fall on you?"

"Yeah! Thanks to you!" she says, smacking his arm.

"It was an accident!"

She grumbles something else that he can't hear and kneels down. There isn't much room down there. "My poor foot."

"Maya, please stand up."

She gets up a little too quickly, and in their close quarters she ends up hitting the top of her head into the bottom of his jaw. His teeth clack together and he hisses in pain, but he's grateful he wasn't talking or he might have bitten his tongue.

"Oh no, Nick! I'm sorry! Are you okay?" She puts her fingers on his jaw. "I didn't break it, right? You can still talk? Your teeth are okay?"

He puts his own hand on the top of her head, mostly to push her away but also to be sure she's okay. "I'm fine, are you?"

"Yeah. I might have a goose egg later though."

He slides his hand down the back of her head. Maya's hair is soft and almost silky, just like he'd described to Molly. At least that hadn't been a lie. He consciously moves his hand so he can run his fingers through it before pulling away, and Maya lets hers drop from his face as she takes a step back, as far as she can with the shelf behind her.

He reaches up and starts to loosen his tie. "There. Are you happy?"

She smiles and nods. "I guess that's enough. Let's go."

She opens the door and takes a step out, while readjusting the obi she just loosened herself. He does the same with his tie.

"Ahem."

They both turn at the sound of someone clearing their throat to find Molly leaning against the wall a few feet from the closet they just stepped out of. She raises an eyebrow at them. "In the courthouse? Really, Phoenix? You're a lawyer."

He laughs awkwardly. "Well, you know how it is."

"We haven't seen each other for a few weeks, so it's sometimes hard to keep our hands off each other, right?" Maya says, blinking up at him. "You should see us at home."

Molly smiles. "What I heard in there didn't sound too loving. It sounded more like you were having an argument. Trouble in paradise?"

Phoenix finishes with his tie and focuses on tucking it back under his waistcoat. "No, not at all. If anything we're better than ever. Maya can be kind of bossy because she knows what she wants, that's probably what you heard, right Maya?"

"Yep," Maya confirms. "Anyway, are you ready for the trial, Molly?"

Molly pushes off the wall and starts to walk past them, her high heels clicking on the floor as she goes. "It's Prosecutor Hott to you, Miss Fey. And I am ready. Don't get too excited, I still think your client is guilty."

"We'll see, Prosecutor," Maya says.

Phoenix watches Molly as she goes, expecting her to make some sort of flirty comment or face at him, but she keeps her cool and walks past without even looking his way.

"Oh no," Phoenix says once she's gone. "She seems way too confident. What if we missed something at the crime scene?"

"Calm down, Nick. She's just trying to freak us out. Don't fall for it. Come on, the trial is going to start soon."

When they make it to the courtroom, Molly and the defendant on the case are already standing in their respective spots. The judge looks at them disapprovingly. "You two are late."

"I'm sorry, Your Honour," Phoenix says. "We were caught up with something."

"More like caught inside the supply closet together," Molly says.

The judge raises his eyebrows. "Oh, really? Is this true, you two?"

Phoenix scratches the back of his neck. "Uh, yes, Your Honour. I apologize, really, I know it's unprofessional—"

"Well, it's about time, Mr. Wright!" the judge booms. "You too, Miss Fey! I've been watching you two together for close to fifteen years now! There was a bet going on between us judges back in the early days about when you would finally get together. We gave up after you were… well, you know. But after seeing you two together again during the Sprocket case last September I was just sure it wasn't over yet."

"O-oh, uh, right. Heh, I guess it just took us a while to realize." He turns to look at Maya, who smiles back at him. "But we did eventually."

Molly is gaping at the conversation from the other side of the room. When Phoenix looks at her he can see her surprise even from where he's standing. She was expecting them to get into trouble, but instead the judge is praising them and talking to them like they're old friends.

"Excuse me, Your Honour," she interrupts, "but shouldn't Mr. Wright receive a penalty for being late to court because he was too busy making out with his assistant in the supply closet?"

The judge shakes his head. "I don't give out penalties when it comes to love, Prosecutor Hott. You're new to this courthouse and relatively new to prosecuting so you don't know much about Mr. Wright's history with us. I'm simply happy for them." The judge turns to look at Phoenix and Maya again. "Besides, you have to keep things exciting right? When the urge strikes you best act on it! Why my wife and I still—"

"Alright, Your Honour!" Molly interrupts. She shuts her eyes and pinches the bridge of her nose. "May we please start the trial now?"

Phoenix leans towards Maya. "We should have done this sooner," he whispers. "No penalties for love? What the heck? Imagine how much easier it would have been to prove your innocence all those times if I'd just told the judge I was in love with you?"

"Yeah, never mind about actually proving me innocent so people didn't forever think I was a murderer who got off free," she whispers back.

The judge bangs his gavel. "Alright, you two. I'm happy for you but let's try to focus on the case at hand now. No more canoodling at the bench. Shall we begin?"

"Yes, Your Honour."

"Prosecutor, please call your first witness."

"The prosecution calls the lead detective to the stand."

A detective neither Phoenix nor Maya recognize walks to the stand and begins to talk on and on about his own love life. Apparently, he's not too lucky in the love department. Phoenix and Maya exchange a glance.

"Um, thank you, sir. We're both very happy," Phoenix tells him.

Molly yells at the detective to testify and stop talking to the defense. After that, the case mainly stays on track, and Phoenix is glad that he ended up calling Maya the day before. She really does put him at ease. It makes defending against a prosecutor like Molly much easier, and he's quite confident the trial will be over today, with a not guilty verdict for his client.

"I can't believe she got another day," Maya says as they exit the courtroom four hours later. Phoenix's client is being led away by the bailiffs to go back to the detention centre. They can hear him blubbering from all the way down the hall. They'll definitely have to go visit him soon. It will be surprising if he doesn't fire them.

Phoenix sighs. "She's good. Doesn't she remind you of Edgeworth?"

Maya nods. "Yeah, but not in a good way."

Molly walks out behind them. "One more day, you two. I guess you better spend more time investigating and less time at the beach."

"You were at the beach too!" Maya says.

"Yes but, as you can see, I was prepared for court today."

"We know our client is innocent," Maya says. "You're gaining favours or something!"

"How dare you?" Molly says. "I don't think I know what you're implying."

Maya looks her up and down. "Oh, I think you do."

Phoenix decides it's time to step in. "Hey, stop it," he says, taking Maya by the arm. "Let's just go."

Maya takes a deep breath. "You're right, Nick. I'm sorry, Miss Hott. I shouldn't imply things like that…"

Molly straightens her blazer. "Hmph. Apology accepted, I suppose. Now even though I could, I'm not going to bar you from the crime scene if you want to investigate again." She looks at Phoenix and gives him a smile that any other man might have found lovely. "But that's only for you, Phoenix. I don't want your girlfriend being the reason you get kicked out of a crime scene."

"Thank you," he says.

She nods and turns to leave swiftly.

When she's gone, Phoenix looks down at Maya. "Why are you trying to pick fights with her?"

"She started it!"

"You basically implied that she uses her body to gain favour with the judge, Maya."

Maya crosses her arms, her face settling into a pout. "I said I was sorry."

"Just try to be civil, at least. We really don't need another disadvantage."

"Alright, I get it."

"Good." He holds out his arm. "Shall we, dear?"

She eyes him but eventually links her arm with his. On their way out of the courtroom they pass by two women, one of whom turns to the other and says something like "I always knew" in a hushed tone.

Phoenix wonders just how many people feel like they "always knew" about him and Maya, or have at least seen them together enough times to get the impression that there's something more between them. The judge, Trucy and Pearl, Athena, even total strangers he's never seen before but obviously know about him seem to act like they know more about his feelings for Maya than even he does. He does care about Maya, probably more than anything or anyone else besides Trucy, but he never thinks about her in a romantic sense. Sure there's the odd fleeting thought or fantasy every now and then but he tells himself that's just a side effect of being a man and happening to have a pretty friend. He never seriously thinks about her in a more romantic, domestic sort of sense.

Not until now. Now that they're 'official' and people are starting to find out and they're all acting as if it's the most obvious and natural thing in the world that they're together. He can't help wondering what it would actually be like to be with her. What would it be like to kiss her? To touch her more intimately than a hug or a hand hold? To fall asleep beside her? It's been so long since he's had anyone for that sort of thing. Since college, Maya really is the closest he's had to it. When he was still a rookie, after Maya turned eighteen and started to come to the city even more often, that had been the closest they'd ever been. There had been plenty of nights on the sofa together, cuddled up and eating popcorn while watching movies, falling asleep with heads on shoulders and in laps. Entire weeks spent staying in the same apartment together, eating together, and occasionally investigating together when they managed to snag a client.

That was all he needed back then, the closeness of a friend. Maya provided that for him and he for her and that was enough, but over the years of his disbarment and her training they became more distant. Maya couldn't stay in the apartment after he adopted Trucy, the casual touches came less often, and the late night movies as well, and nowadays he finds himself… missing it. He isn't lonely, he has Trucy and Athena and Pearl to fill the office, and he still has Maya now that she's back from Khura'in, but it still feels like there's something missing. Something that maybe this fake relationship is temporarily filling.

"Nick?"

"Huh?"

He looks down and finds Maya staring up at him. "Are you okay? You looked kind of lost in thought for a moment there."

"Oh. I'm fine… Can I ask you a question, Maya?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you think you'll ever get married? For real?"

She looks down at the sidewalk. "I don't really know. Technically I don't have to now that Pearly is my heir. She wants the title of Master, she wants to get married and have kids and that whole life, so I don't feel guilty passing it on to her. If that wasn't the case I suppose I would say yes, because I need to do my part to keep the Fey clan alive. But now… I don't know. I guess only if I find the right guy. What about you?"

He keeps his eyes straight ahead. "I don't know either. I'm so busy now. Trucy is still a handful even if she is going to be eighteen soon, I'm still mentoring Athena now that Apollo is gone, not to mention I'm not that young anymore."

"Oh, Nick. You're not even forty yet. You're still fine in the age department, believe me."

"Hm? Aren't I an old man to you?"

She can't hide her smile. "Come on, you know I say that just to tease you. Anyone would be lucky to have someone like you."

"You really think that?"

"Yeah, I mean, look at how well you treat me, and I'm only your fake girlfriend."

"Tell me more about how great I am, Maya, I really love it."

She laughs. "Okay. Well… You care more about others than yourself. Which can sometimes cause you to do really dumb and reckless things but it's still a good trait to have, I think. You like helping people, and you believe in them to the end. You're a successful lawyer. You're a good father and father figure to more kids than I think you even realize. You're a good friend, too." She looks up at him again, a faint tinge of red staining her cheeks. "And, even though it's kind of embarrassing to say this to you, I will admit you're not bad on the eyes either. To be honest, it really isn't that surprising that Molly is so interested."

Phoenix isn't really sure what to say to all that. He was half joking when he told her to tell him more, he wasn't expecting her to seriously list off all the reasons she thought he would be good boyfriend material.

Maya's cheeks turn even redder when he doesn't say anything, and she elbows him in the side. "Please say something because now I feel really awkward."

He pulls his arm away from her and wraps it around her shoulders instead. "No, don't feel awkward. That was… nice. Thank you, Maya. I'm flattered." He sighs. "Now I just need to find someone who thinks all of that and isn't scary. Apparently I only attract the scary ones."

"But I don't think either of us are actively looking."

"Well I feel like if it's meant to be, it will be. Why go looking? It's always someone you least expect, not someone you find on some dating app or matchmaking service."

"I guess you're right."

"You know, while we're admitting awkward things, I also think anyone would be lucky to end up with you."

"Aaw, really?"

He nods. "Yeah. You're fun, smarter than people, including myself, give you credit for, you're funny. You've been through so much but you still don't let that get you down. I really don't know how you manage to be so optimistic all the time."

"And I'm gorgeous, right?" she says, flipping one of her hair beads over her shoulder.

Phoenix shakes his head. "You say that like it's a joke, but it's true."

"R-Really?"

"Mm. I was a little surprised that you didn't have a boyfriend in Khura'in. I thought for sure…"

Maya laughs. "Were you worried?"

Was he? He didn't have much time to think about things like that after Maya called and he heard that scream. He just got on the plane to go, and then he was caught up in a murder trial as soon as he got there. By the time he finally met with Maya again he hadn't even had time to worry about something like that.

Maya's phone rings before he has time to answer her, and she pulls it out of her sleeve. It's a text message from Ema Skye of all people.

"Ema?" Phoenix says as he leans over her to view her screen. "I didn't even know she was in the States again. What does she want?"

Maya's fingers move swiftly over the touch screen to open the message. She tilts the screen so he can read it as well.

O-M-G i just heard about you and mr. wright! we're having a girl's night tonight. i'm inviting kay faraday so you should bring someone too! i'll text you later but be ready by at least 8 pm!

Maya grimaces. "Great."

"That doesn't sound bad."

"You're okay with it? What about the investigation?"

"We can head over to the crime scene right now, then go to the detention centre, and by the time we're done I'm sure it'll be time for your little night out. Just make sure you don't get too drunk or anything, you don't want to be hungover for court tomorrow."

"That works. Now I just need to think of someone to bring…"

I have to thank my friends Summer and Despare from our Discord group for helping brainstorm ideas for this chapter. The closet idea was all them, I just wrote it out.