A/N: It's been a while since I last updated - I'm really sorry about that. The last week's been a bit hectic. But here it is at last: the final chapter. This chapter turned out to be VERY different from my original idea. But my original version of this chapter ended up having too many problems, so I had to scrap it. But I think that maybe later I'll finish it up and post it as a bonus - purely because I dislike it when something has four chapters (it just doesn't feel complete with only four, you know?)

Warning: This chapter's pretty sappy. But I had fun writing it, so I hope you enjoy reading it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ace Attorney. Capcom does, unfortunately. I want my AAI2, dammit!

Trucy's face was uncharacteristically serious when Nick pulled away from their short kiss. "Nick..." she said. "I think you should know that I'm not ready for a serious relationship yet."

Nick felt a plummeting sensation in the pit of his stomach. "Oh..." he mumbled. "Right. Then-"

He was cut off as Trucy stood up on her toes and gave him a light peck on the cheek. "But this isn't serious, right?" she said, smiling impishly and turning away to unlock and push open the door to her home. Inside she found Phoenix crumpled on the couch, looking faint.

The door swung closed and Nick slowly turned around to begin the walk home. His heart was thudding almost painfully. Slowly but surely, a wide, goofy grin spread across his face.

He nearly skipped all the way back to his apartment.

-o-

As promised, Trucy and Nick did not engage in a serious relationship. However, Nick was content enough just to at last have the freedom to hold her hand, brush back her hair, touch her face... Kiss her lips.

A light breeze swept through the branches of the trees as Nick and Trucy wandered around the park at Gourd Lake together. They were on an "educational field trip", although everyone knew that the teacher really just wanted to find an excuse to not teach and enjoy the arrival of the new season.

Trucy inhaled deeply and smiled elatedly at Nick. "Doesn't this weather just taste like spring?"

Nick laughed. "How can anything taste like spring?"

"Well, lots of things do," Trucy said defensively. "I mean, there's even a food called spring rolls."

"Spring rolls don't actually taste like spring, Trucy."

"Oh... Well, that doesn't make any sense!" Trucy put her hands on her hips in indignation.

Nick laughed again. His face softened slightly as his eyes traced her familiar face. As they walked, Nick spotted a single yellow dandelion sprouting by the path. He leaned over and plucked it from the grass, and held it out to Trucy with a soft smile on his lips.

Trucy took the plant and rolled it between her fingers. She looked up at her friend and smirked. "You know, dandelions are actually weeds."

"Yeah, I know. But they're bright and beautiful nevertheless... Just like you."

Trucy crossed her arms. "So... you're saying I'm a bright and beautiful weed."

Nick rubbed the back of his neck and grinned apologetically. Way to go, Shakespeare, he thought to himself. That's what you get for trying to be poetic.

They sat down on the soft grass, enjoying the warm sunlight that blanketed the park. Nick laced his fingers through hers. It felt nice, but he swore to himself that, someday soon, he'd get her to do something more exciting and satisfying with him. She may not have been ready for a serious relationship yet, but perhaps one day...

Nick raised his free hand to tuck a lock of Trucy's hair behind her ear. He grinned at her. "You're not totally mine yet, Truce. But you will be, one day."

Trucy pouted. "Hey! Why do I have to belong to you? Why can't you be mine?"

"I'm already yours." They both smiled at how corny he sounded. "I've been yours for years," he continued, leaning in closer to her. "But I promise you, someday, you'll also be completely and utterly mine."

He closed the distance between their faces, falling into the blue depths of her eyes.

-o-

Nick stood in a shadowy corner of the dingy little place known as the Wonder Bar. Despite its name, he couldn't really see anything wondrous about it - save for the amazing young magician up on that stage. Trucy didn't know that Nick was there. He had come to her nightly performance on a sudden whim. He had not attended one of Trucy's Wonder Bar shows since that first time back in the eighth grade.

The stage lights hit her brilliantly. As usual, the radiance of Trucy's presence shone and lit up the otherwise gloomy bar. Performing on stage, it was almost as though Trucy was glowing. Ever since the show had begun, Nick couldn't wipe the huge dopey grin off his face - because as soon as the first light had come on, Nick had noticed.

She was wearing his brooch.

Trucy's dazzling smile did not hit Nick as hard as it had during that first show, years ago, although it still affected him just as deeply. Instead of a punch in the gut, Nick felt more as though it was a single shaft of sunlight, sharing with him its warmth.

Unconsciously, he took a step forward, a step out of the darkness and closer to the light, to Trucy. From up on stage, Trucy's piercing eyes settled on Nick's steady chestnut ones for a single lingering moment. One of her hands involuntarily traveled to the brooch - his brooch - that was holding her cape in place. Intentionally or not, she had placed it directly over her heart.

And that's the end of that. This was always meant to be just a fun and light-hearted little story - no awesome mind-blowing plot - so I hope you weren't disappointed. Thanks for reading, and thanks a TON for those of you who reviewed and/or favourited!