Author's Notes:

Hey all! :) I'm sorry if I kept any of you waiting for an update -.- (I'm not going to give you a list of excuses for the delay.) I will add, however, that I did have this chapter begun several months ago, but it was just so BORING that I could not continue it. So I abandoned it for a (very hectic) three months, and sat down and took it from a different angle yesterday. So this chapter may not be great, but I can promise that it's better than whatever that first trial for Ch. 3 would have turned out as.

You may be a little disappointed that there's still no real evidence of the chemistry between Mia and Diego here, but take into account the fact that when Turnabout Beginnings started, they were talking like they barely knew each other.

Next chappie, I promise, things will kick up a notch :)

Anyways, enough of me blabbing - everything else that needs to be addressed will be in the end notes

Chapter 3

Diego Armando had a very good poker face.

Not that he gambled. But his years growing up as his mother's supporter had pushed him to always be cool-headed and calm. Then his career as a defence attorney had reinforced that cool, collected composure. It took a lot to surprise him. The new rookies at the law office even had a secret competition to see who could catch him off guard. So far, no one had succeeded.

That wasn't to say he acted emotionless. In fact, he was quite the opposite. He was always the life of the party, he always had some witty comeback to whatever people had to say to him. But beneath that playful exterior was a man with a steely determination and a depth that few people took the time to understand. In truth, he was lonely, though not even he realized it. He had gone for so many years without anyone to truly understand him, that he didn't even realize what was causing that empty feeling inside of him.

Diego was already on his third cup of coffee when the office door swung open at precisely 9AM. A young woman walked in, chewing her bottom lip, and glanced around, looking like she had momentarily lost her bearings. Diego saw her inhale sharply and intercept the first person who walked past her, one of the trainees.

"Um, excuse me, is Mr. Grossberg in?"

The trainee looked a little thrown at seeing a woman in the male-dominated office and seemed just as flustered as she was.

"Oh, y-yeah," he stammered. "Just follow me." He led the way to Grossberg's room.

Poor kid, Diego chuckled to himself. He was, however, curious about the mysterious woman.

"Theo," Diego had walked over to his understudy's desk.

"Mr. Armando?" Theo glanced up from the papers he was diligently filling out, ink smeared across his nose.

"You don't happen to know who that lady was, do you?" Diego was seldom at the office as he was constantly taking cases, leaving it to his understudy to fill him in about the office details.

"I think I overheard someone say that Mr. Grossberg hired her. Something about graduating with astounding marks or something."

"So I guess we'll be making acquaintances with her soon." Diego gestured towards the men-filled office and asked amusedly, "Do you think she'll survive?"

Before Theo had the chance to reply, Grossberg's door opened and he emerged, followed by the woman, who looked terribly small in comparison.

"A-hem!" That throat-clearing could be recognized anywhere. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce to you the newest addition to our law offices, Ms. Mia Fey. Mia, would you like to introduce yourself a bit?"

Mia's face went pink. Diego felt a wave of pity for her being put on the spot like that and came to her rescue.

"Mr. Grossberg, I'm sure Ms. Fey would like us to introduce ourselves too. And maybe we should get her settled before we play the get-to-know-yous?"

"Ah, that's a good idea, Diego. Mia, m'dear, you'll be working under me, so just let me know if you need anything. Mr. Hammond will show you your desk."

She turned to the man Grossberg had gestured to, who politely offered his hand.

"Robert Hammond," he introduced himself, shaking her hand tightly. She smiled politely back, then snuck a relieved glance at Grossberg's retreating back. She went around as everyone introduced themselves, though she still looked a tad uncomfortable at being spotlighted.

Diego switched his coffee mug to his left hand when Mia got to him.

"I'm Diego Armando. Just call me Diego," he smiled complacently.

"Just call me Mia." She took the outstretched hand and smiled at him. When their eyes met, he had a sudden flash of fragmented recognition.

I've seen those brown eyes before. But where?

"Ms. Fey, have we met before?" he asked suddenly.

She seemed thrown by his question. "I-I'm not sure..." She didn't recognize him, but a sense of familiarity tickled the edges of her memory. But before anything else could be added to that conversation, Theo extended his hand and Mia's introductions continued.

After a half-hour of settling Mia in, everyone returned to their usual spots, though there was many a glance in Mia's direction. Of the people who were studying the newcomer in their office, Diego was one of them.

Where have I seen her before? Diego mused, watching as she pushed her brown bangs back, only to have them fall forward again.

"Uh...Mr. Armando, sir?" Theo was unsettled by his mentor's odd behaviour. "Sir...I hate to ask, but...you're...not checking her out, are you?" He lowered his voice at the last part.

"Theo," Diego sighed. "I know what I'm doing, alright?"

The poor boy backed off, but couldn't help but be wary. After all, it wasn't exactly normal for his mentor to look like he was ogling her.

Diego's brows furrowed as he continued watching Mia. He knew he probably looked strangely creepy, but he wouldn't be able to work until he remembered where he had seen her before.

Mia was intently studying a case file Mr. Grossberg had handed her, but was momentarily distracted when one end of her scarf slid off her shoulder and obscured her papers. Absentmindedly, she flung it back over her shoulder.

Diego felt a sudden jolt of recognition. That little action had stirred up a moment of déjà vu in him – he had seen his sister do the exact same thing so many times before. With a start, he looked again, this time at Mia's scarf. Without a doubt, it was identical to Isadora's. Suddenly, the memory flooded back to him – that girl, the spirit channelling, his sister's scarf. But most of all, what that mysterious girl had done for him; the way she had helped him up from where he had fallen and encouraged him to keep going.

That can't be her! What are the chances? He asked himself in disbelief. But the more he studied her features, the more he was certain that he couldn't have mistaken those brown eyes.

She got up out of her seat and started towards the office's little kitchen, presumably to pour herself a drink. Diego followed her, determined to find an answer.

Leaning against the doorframe, he spoke.

"Coffee?" he offered, lifting the coffee pot off the counter beside where he stood.

Mia jumped, startled. "Oh! Mr. Armando, I didn't notice you there." She let him pour her a cup and thanked him as she took it.

She smiled. "By the way, I forgot to mention this earlier, but thanks for getting me out of that little...uh, situation with Mr. Grossberg."

Diego gave his signature grin. "It was nothing, Kitten."

Oops. He hadn't meant for that to slip out, but the memory of Mia looking so put on the spot reminded him of a vulnerable kitten.

Mia gave him a weird look.

Diego cursed himself internally for the tongue-slip, but continued smiling suavely.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Ms. Fey. I have a bad habit of calling beautiful ladies that." He nearly tripped over his own words as he scrambled to make up the lie.

Mia blushed and glanced down to take a sip of her coffee.

What. A. Flirt.

"Ms. Fey, I know I asked this earlier, but are you sure we haven't met before?"

...Is that just a really bad pick-up line?

"Uh..." she glanced up uncertainly. She had to admit that there was something about him that seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Before she could come together with some kind of suitable response, one of the trainees called from the desk, "New case for you, Mr. Armando!"

"Give me a moment," he answered them, turning back to Mia.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Fey. I guess we'll have to continue this conversation at a later time, then."

Mia nodded complacently, smiling slightly behind the rim of her mug.

The trainee called again. "It's a big case, sir! You'll have to fly there for a couple of weeks!"

Diego sighed. "A much later time then," he added apologetically to Mia.

"So I won't be seeing you for a while, I presume?"

Diego grinned again. "Then I hope that when I get back, you'll be taking your first case."

Mia returned the smile. "I hope so too."

As Diego turned to leave, he was certain that his recognition of her was correct.

It seems that she doesn't remember me. Ah...well, when I get back, we'll have lots of time to chat, Kitten.

End Notes:

Oh, poor Diego, being misunderstood by Mia like that.

Anyways, this is just going by my theory: I don't think Diego's actually a flirt. The game leads us to believe that because he refers to both Mia and Dahlia as "Kitten", but...what if he just called Dahlia that so that it wouldn't be so obvious a pet name (no pun intended) for Mia? Well, that's what I think. After all, flirts don't suddenly meet one person and turn absolutely and completely percent loyal to that person of their dreams. It's too much of a stretch. After all, bad habits die hard, no?

I don't know if you guys found this inconsistent: confident, upbeat Diego contrasted with his inner monologue. I'm aware of how hotshot he acts in front of people, but is it too ridiculous to imagine all the uncertainties he hides inside? Like him scrambling inside to make up the lie about the "Kitten" slip while maintaining his usual composure. Was that too much of a stretch?

Oh, and one little explanation: The reason Diego remembers Mia, but she doesn't recognize him is simply because he was older when he met her. I know that the same amount of time passed for both of them (duh), but just because Diego was older when they met, the memory was more vivid for him. That's all :)

Umm...so review, please? (Pretty please with a...a...Snackoo on top?)

Anyways, next chapter, Mia takes her first case! And we all know what happens :)

Or do we?