Chapter 9

The day of the wedding had finally arrived. It was taking place in a reception hall just out of town called The Tuin. The time for the big moment was almost here, so everyone in the wedding party was scrambling around making any last preparations. Lisa Wright was helping Maya get into her wedding dress, making sure she looked absolutely perfect before she walked down the aisle.

Maya admired herself in the mirror, smiled, and said, "Thanks for everything, Lisa. You've really made me feel like I'm a part of the family…I've hardly felt the loss of my own family since I met you and Bill and Anka."

"After all the time you've spent with Phoenix and all the help you've given him, it's only natural that we consider you family." Lisa replied warmly.

"I'm so fortunate to have you all in my life. After Mia was killed, I felt like I would be all alone." Maya said sadly, as she remembered the death of her sister.

Lisa put a comforting arm around Maya and said, "We'll always be here for you, you can count on that. All of us are just so happy that Phoenix fell in love with such a nice girl. Phoenix is so lucky to have you."

Maya replied with a small smile.

Lisa smiled back and said, "Well, I think it's almost time. I'll make sure everyone else is in their places. We'll be waiting for you outside!"

Lisa quickly rushed out of the room, leaving Maya alone. Lisa's words set Maya to thinking about her relationship with Phoenix.

I think its actually me that's lucky to have him. But does he really love me? That's something I'm really not sure about, now that I think about it, Maya thought reflectively, I noticed that almost every time I've told him that I've loved him, he hasn't said it back. At first I thought it was because he was shy, but now I think it was something else all together. I know its bad luck for the bride to see the groom before the wedding, but I think I have to talk to him before we get married. I need to know the truth.

Maya left the room to find Phoenix, hoping no one would think she suddenly went missing.

Edgeworth stood alone outside of the reception hall, not talking with any of the other guests since he didn't know most of them, and mostly because he definitely was in no mood for conversation. He had the feeling that most people were avoiding him due to the sour expression he had on his face, and he was thankful for the lack of attention that was coming in his direction. He really didn't know what he would say if anyone tried to talk to him. He noticed that everyone was slowly making their way inside the hall, so he figured it was almost time. As Edgeworth suddenly felt a strange bout of panic and sadness, a voice called out to him.

"Yo, Edgey!"

Edgeworth turned around and found his childhood friend, Larry Butz, approaching him.

"Hello, Butz." Edgeworth said in a disinterested tone, not looking forward to the tedious conversation that lay ahead of him.

"I didn't expect you to be here! Where have you been anyway? None of us have seen you for such a long time!" Larry said in excitement that, in Edgeworth's opinion, was not merited for this conversation.

"I've been in France." Edgeworth replied arrogantly, as if he was too good for this conversation.

Larry, of course, took no notice to this and kept talking.

"Woah, France, huh? I bet the models there are amazing! Well, not amazing as my girl, Monique, but still."

Edgeworth replied with a "humph" of indifference, which Larry took to be one of jealousy. They were suddenly interrupted by someone running up to them.

"Larry! There you are! I was looking all over for you! Everyone is taking their places now. We can't have Phoenix's best man being late!" Lisa happily said to Larry, motioning towards the hall.

She abruptly noticed that Edgeworth was standing with them as well.

"Oh, hello. And you are…?" Lisa asked curiously, studying Edgeworth.

Edgeworth really didn't know how to answer that, but Larry piped up for him.

"Oh, this is Edgey, Nick's and my friend from childhood. Looks like Nick invited him to the wedding since he was in town."

"My name is Miles Edgeworth." Edgeworth clarified in a little annoyance, knowing it was common for Larry to actually confuse someone more while giving them an explanation for something.

"Oh, Miles! I remember you! Phoenix used to talk about you all the time when you two were kids. Wow, how time has passed…" Lisa said, smiling as she reminisced, "Well, I'm glad you came to help celebrate Phoenix's special day. We should all catch up during the reception. Anyways, let's all get inside!"

"Talk to you later, Edgey!" Larry said as he was ushered inside the hall by Lisa.

Edgeworth was once again alone. He slowly started taking steps toward the hall himself, but something was stopping him. The closer he got to the hall, the more his emotions bubbled up inside of him. When he reached the door of the hall, he suddenly broke down, completely losing control.

I can't do this…I know I promised him, but I just can't…Edgeworth thought in anguish, feeling actual physical pain in his heart and tears beginning to flow down his cheeks, knowing in just an hour, he would lose Phoenix forever.

Edgeworth turned around and sat at the edge of a large planter in the garden outside of the hall instead of entering, almost feeling as though he'd never be okay again.

Phoenix was making his way to the reception area after getting dressed, knowing that it must just about be time. He was still hesitating about everything, but he willed himself to move forward. Before he even realized what was happening, he was pushed by someone into one of the rooms he was passing in the hall. He turned around and found himself looking at his sister, Anka.

"We need to talk." she said in urgency.

"Umm…can't this wait? I'm sorta late for something important…" Phoenix said, not so convincingly.

"No, this can't wait." Anka said forcefully, "I can't let you do this! You don't love her!!"

Phoenix sighed and replied, "Feelings are complicated things, I don't expect you to understand…"

"No, things aren't that complicated. You don't marry someone you don't love, period. Especially not when the person you do love is right in front of you!" Anka said, barely keeping her voice down.

"I…I don't – " Phoenix said, sounding very unsure.

"But you love Miles! You've loved him for at least seven years," Anka continued, cutting Phoenix off, "And you also said that even if you were 'moving on', you'd still always love him! Are you going to throw that all away?!"

"Well, I…hey, wait a second! Did you…read my journal?!" Phoenix started saying thoughtfully, but cut off as a look of disbelief, embarrassment, and horror materialized on his face.

"Umm…yeah…but that's beside the point! Desperate times call for desperate measures!" Anka said with some guilt, but she brushed it off, convinced that was the only thing she could have done.

Phoenix was slightly annoyed and angry at her for invading his privacy the way she did, but he just sighed and let it go.

I know she was only trying to help, even if her methods were a little questionable. Phoenix thought, forgiving her.

He got a bearing over his thoughts, and then he spoke again.

"Look, Anka…"

Maya continued her frantic search for Phoenix before the wedding, so far coming up empty handed. She asked various guests that she ran into if they had seen him, and most of them hadn't.

I hope I find him…this is something that definitely cannot wait…Maya thought anxiously.

Suddenly she heard voices from a room just up the hall she was in. As she got closer, she recognized the voices as those of Phoenix and Anka. She was about to join them in the room, but she suddenly heard what Phoenix was saying and she stopped by the door.

"…I can't do that to Maya. She doesn't deserve that." Phoenix said hesitantly.

"What are you saying?! Think about it! That wouldn't be fair to her!" Anka said adamantly.

"But…I…just…I do love Miles, but I made a promise to Maya, and I…I shouldn't break this kind of promise…" Phoenix said with difficulty, his reluctance crystal clear in his voice.

Maya had heard enough. She now knew the truth about Phoenix's feelings for her.

I didn't know he was making such a huge sacrifice for me…I don't know why I didn't realize all of this sooner…Maya thought, as tears came to her eyes.

She quickly walked into the room, interrupting Phoenix's and Anka's conversation. They both stopped talking abruptly and looked at her in surprise.

"Maya! Oh, please…it's not what you – " Phoenix feebly started saying in a small panic.

"Nick, just...don't. Honestly, I was having doubts about everything but...now it makes sense. I just...I can't believe you'd make such a sacrifice for me. But...I really just can't let you do that." Maya said with a sad smile.

"Oh, Maya, I'm so sorry…This is all my fault…" Phoenix said in sorrow, stepping forward and wiping away the tear that was rolling down her cheek.

"This wedding can't happen. It just isn't right." Maya said, looking away from Phoenix, obviously struggling to keep herself together.

"God, I never meant to hurt you, Maya…" Phoenix said, feeling incredibly guilty.

After a moment of tension-filled silence, Maya spoke again.

"I think this is all for the best…how could I marry someone that didn't love me? I know that you would have been a great husband, Nick, but your heart lies with Mr. Edgeworth."

"Maya…" Phoenix said softly, not knowing what he could say to make her feel any better.

"Go to him." Maya said swiftly and forcefully.

"But, what about – ?" Phoenix started asking, suddenly realizing that they had to tell everyone that this wedding wasn't going to happen.

"Don't worry about it, Nick. Anka and I will take care of it," Maya said, motioning behind Phoenix to Anka, "Just go to him."

Phoenix glanced thoughtfully between Anka and Maya for a moment, and then nodded his head and left the room.

Phoenix searched all over for Edgeworth, fearing that he might have left already. Just as he was about to give up, he spotted someone sitting all alone on a large planter just outside the hall. As he got closer, he found that it was Edgeworth. Phoenix slowly approached him, trying to figure out what to say. When Phoenix was right behind Edgeworth, he was surprised to see that Edgeworth didn't even seem to notice him. He reached out and put his hand on Edgeworth's shoulder, and turned Edgeworth towards him. Phoenix found Edgeworth's face stained with tears, causing Phoenix's heart to break to see him like this.

"Miles…" Phoenix said softly.

"I'm sorry…I just couldn't be in there. I really tried, but I just couldn't…" Edgeworth said, his voice cracking, doing everything in his power to keep from breaking down in front of Phoenix.

Edgeworth looked at Phoenix in confusion when realized that Phoenix was out here talking to him when he was supposed to be inside getting married.

"Wait a second, what are you doing here?" Edgeworth asked softly, not letting himself get his hopes up too quickly.

Phoenix let out a sigh, and said, "Miles, I…couldn't do it."

"What?" Edgeworth said, his eyes narrowed in confusion and suspicion.

"I couldn't do it." Phoenix repeated, his voice a little stronger this time, "It wouldn't have been true to Maya, and most importantly, I couldn't do this to you…"

Edgeworth just kept looking at Phoenix in disbelief, hardly being able to comprehend what Phoenix had just said to him. Phoenix stepped forward, cupping Edgeworth's face with his hands and wiped away Edgeworth's tears with his thumbs.

"And anyways, I don't love her…" Phoenix whispered as he slowly moved his face closer to Edgworth's, "I…love…"

Edgeworth didn't even let Phoenix finish the sentence, quickly closing the distance between his face and Phoenix's. The kiss was so intense, being a final culmination of every drop of love and desire they felt for each other, that Phoenix felt himself getting slightly weak in the knees. Phoenix clutched tighter to Edgeworth and vowed to himself that he would never let him go.

"Phoenix…" Edgeworth murmured breathlessly in Phoenix's ear, all the sensations he was feeling over powering his senses.

Edgeworth could not find any words that could accurately describe what he was feeling in this moment. He couldn't believe that he had been given a second chance to do things right this time, hoping dearly that this wasn't a dream. Edgeworth buried his fingers deep into Phoenix's hair and kissed him deeply once again, feeling light headed, his heart beating madly.

The world around them was forgotten as they opened their hearts to each other, as should have been done years ago. Neither wanted this moment to end as they kissed desperately and clung to each other feverishly. Unbeknownst to them, they started to gather a few eavesdroppers.

"Wow, he looks so happy…" Anka said quietly, pleased that she could help unite her brother with the person that he truly loved.

Anka and Phoenix's parents joined her outside when the news about the wedding was broken to them. Quickly, their eyes were drawn to Phoenix and Edgeworth, and promptly their mouths dropped open.

"Is that…?" Lisa asked Anka, too shocked to think straight, let alone finish her question.

"Miles Edgeworth, the one Phoenix really loves? Yup." Anka replied as a matter of factly, the happy grin never leaving her face.

"Wait a second, is that…a man?" Bill added in disbelief, wiping his glasses to see if he could get a better look.

Anka's smile broadened and she shook her head a little in amusement.

At last, Phoenix and Edgeworth decided to come up for air, but they still clung to each other closely, breathless in each other's arms. Edgeworth slowly pulled back slightly and gave Phoenix a playful smirk.

"Who is it that you love then? You never told me." he said, his voice cool but not uninviting.

Phoenix then laughed and pretended to think about it.

"Larry." Phoenix replied, hardly able to keep a straight face when he said it.

"Well, I suppose that calls for a change in the saying then." Edgeworth said, smirking in amusement.

"Saying?" Phoenix asked curiously.

"If something smells, make sure you get the Wright Butz." Edgeworth replied, looking happier than Phoenix had ever seen him.

Phoenix laughed again, thoroughly surprised that Edgeworth cracked a joke. Phoenix's mind then flashed to the future, realizing that things between them and just things in general would be changing due to current events.

"So, Miles…what now?" Phoenix asked.

"Well, my plane to France is leaving in a couple of hours. Since, clearly, you no longer have a wedding to attend, I'm sure you can spare the time to…join me…" Edgeworth tried to say with his cool demeanor intact, but some of his nervousness poked through.

Phoenix smiled broadly in happiness and excitement and said, "Yeah, I'll join you. I'll finally see if the French fries and French toast there is actually any good. "

Edgeworth laughed in response, and this made Phoenix's heart flutter since, in the whole time he knew Edgeworth as an adult, he never laughed around Phoenix once.

Phoenix and Edgeworth hurried away from The Tuin before any of the other wedding guests noticed their absence, not wanting to deal with any of their looks or questions, only wanting to enjoy each other's company. They first stopped by Edgeworth's hotel room so he could pick up his luggage and check out. Then they ran over to Phoenix's apartment to pick up a few things for him. Phoenix finally gathered all of his things for the trip and finally joined Edgeworth, who was waiting for him by the door.

Phoenix gave Edgeworth a small smile and said, "Hey, Miles…"

"Yes?" Edgeworth asked, raising an eyebrow in question.

"I…love you. It's only ever been you…" Phoenix replied, feeling a rush from his emotions.

Edgeworth looked away from Phoenix, a shy smile materializing on his face, before he said, "I love you, too."

After a moment, Edgeworth cleared his throat in embarrassment, feeling extremely awkward and vulnerable in situations whenever he had to reveal his true feelings about something.

"Anyway…we have a plane to catch." Edgeworth said, giving Phoenix a mischievous smirk.

Phoenix laughed and left his apartment with Edgeworth, looking forward to the future and for what it may hold.