Author's Note:This is like the previous story, it's not so much about something that happened in the game, but just a snippet of their life together. I guess I just wanted to write something happy. I had this written for ages, but I didn't dare to put it up as it is not game based, but I suddenly thought, why not? This can be in celebration of what I just found out about Ace Attorney 5.
Unexpected guests
Despite how cliché it was, Edgeworth had to admit that the old saying of not appreciating something until it was gone was right. However, was he not being a bit melodramatic? After all, his wife was only in France for about two months.
But then, he had been overseas before that. Therefore, the last time that he saw her was when he was about to go on his business trip. Arriving back without anyone beside him, or without anyone waiting for him, had not been a pleasant experience.
However, this was once the norm.
Ever since he returned back to America, he was alone. Home meant his empty apartment. The truth was that his home had been too big for a single person.
His wife had commented on this too many times, but he disagreed. He felt that it was too big when he was the only person there, not when she was there.
However, Gabrielle was not here right now. The fact that there were traces of her all over the place made it worse, as it was a reminder of how there should be someone there.
What he once accepted as a matter of fact thing becomes something that was a bit difficult to deal with.
Therefore, he decided to utilize his current time so that he could spend more time with her upon her return. He would work outside the conventional office hours in order for him to get a significant amount of his work finished, so that he could have extra time to spend with his wife.
If she was here, he knew that she would be very pleased, although she would no doubt laugh at him and say: "Wouldn't it be much easier if you just admit that you miss me out aloud?"
During the period when she had moved out- angry at his decision of leaving America without telling her- he had not enjoyed being back in his apartment. She took the object that she regarded as hers, which then meant that she did not take the object that was theirs, and there were a lot of these objects.
It was also very difficult to open the wardrobe every morning because he would see the large gap that ought to contain her clothes. However, the same thing was now happening as it was a bit hard to look at the clothes when the wearer was away.
It seemed that he was not going to get any work done, as he was starting to think about wardrobes and clothes. If anyone knew about this, then his reputation of being the cool and calm prosecutor would probably be completely ruined.
Not that he cared about what others thought, of course.
He would go home today, instead of resting in the office. Partly because he was sure that he would not be able to get any work done, and partly because he didn't want to make his plan too obvious.
It was raining pretty hard, making him quite grateful at owning a car. A lot of people were not so lucky, such as the two that were standing in the middle of the rain.
The rain did make everyone's vision less clear, but he was sure that it was impossible to mistake that still spiky hair or the short kimono and sash.
"Wright and Maya?" he examined out as he parked his car. "What are you two doing?"
'Why are you two standing under the rain like idiots?' was what he felt like saying, but since the two were so drenched, he decided that he would spare some sympathy by not saying that.
This turned out to be the wrong question to ask, as both sides started to blame each other. It seemed that what happened was that they both lost their keys and wallet. As a result of having no money and access to the Agency, they could only try to find the keys by retracing their steps.
"Is Larry's bad luck rubbing off on you?" he commented, before he decided. "Why don't you spend the night in my house?"
"In your house?" this was yelled out by both, and their shocked expression made him wonder just what he did to make them think that he was not capable of offering the basic hospitality.
Especially to two who has done much for him.
"Better that then the two you standing under the rain like idiots." He said dryly. "I have more then enough space in my apartment."
He knew that his apartment was pretty impressive, but surely Wright and Maya were being rather extreme due to the way that they were whispering to each other.
Actually, Gabrielle had been quite impressed with it too.
"I am not that rich." He had said. "I just thought that I might as well live in such an apartment."
Because where else would he spend his money on?
Other then for work related stuff, he did not really have any want that he wishes. His tea set and tea was probably his main indulgence.
However, Gabrielle never liked the idea of using his money on herself that much, even now.
"It is as if I am with you for money, I would hate for anyone to think that." She had commented in disgust.
She was happy to use it when she was buying stuff that they would both use- mainly the groceries- but not for her personal use. The only time when she would use his money to buy clothes was usually when he was with her and expressed a desire of buying it for her.
She was willing to use his money for any expense that her trip to France would incur, but he knew that she would not be buying a significant amount of clothes or make up. If she did buy any, it would only be a few.
"Wright, you will have to borrow my clothes." Edgeworth decided. "Maya, you will have to borrow my wife's clothes. Therefore, why don't you follow me? I will go to the wardrobe and get something for Wright, and then I'll leave you to pick something."
"She would not mind?" Maya asked.
"If she was here, she'll already have pulled you to the wardrobe and start to pick some clothes for you." He said dryly, recalling what his wife once said.
"I can't help but to wonder what Maya would look like if she is not wearing that strange outfit. You do realise that she is actually the same age as Franziska?" Gabrielle had commented.
When Gabrielle moved in with him, what had impressed her the most was the walk in wardrobe. She had been very excited upon seeing how much space there still was after she put all her clothes there. When she moved back with him after that period of separation, she had been really happy as she unpacked her clothes.
"I only had a tiny closest in that room." She had said as she shook out the folded dresses and hang them up. "It is true that I no longer had as much opportunity to wear them, but to have to put them in a box at the corner…"
That was probably something that he would never understand.
"I know that Gabby won't mind." He assured Maya before he closed the door to give her the necessary privacy.
Back in the living room, Wright was clearly in the process of 'investigating'. It was a very strange feeling, Edgeworth realised, because the only other two that he had ever 'invited' to his apartment was his wife and sister. With Franziska, it was natural since she was his sister, but when he first invited Gabrielle, he had been a nervous too.
"…this is not a crime scene, Wright." He said dryly. "Here, take these."
"You actually own something other then pink." Wright commented as he quickly pulled the clothes to him, just in case that the serious prosecutor decided that such a reaction deserved him to be kicked out of the house while still in his wet clothes.
"That is my work suit, Wright." He muttered. "Of course I have other clothes."
"But your car is pink too."
"It is not pink. What is wrong with having a red car?"
"But your office…"
"I will give you five second to walk out of the door."
"Alright, I'll stop." Wright said, as it was possible that the other might not be bluffing. "Thanks though. But you know, this is kind of nostalgic. I remembered having a sleepover at your house a couple of times when we were still kids."
Edgeworth didn't say a thing, and that was when Wright knew that his friend was actually thinking of the memory with fondness too, just that he would never admit it out aloud.
"Bathroom is that way." Was the answer instead. "And make sure that you don't break anything."
'Yeah, he is embarrassed alright', was what immediately appeared in Wright's mind.
When Wright headed off, Edgeworth realised that this since he left his office, this was the first time that he was alone again. However, it did not bother him at all, because he knew that he would be in the company of his guests soon.
No, that was not the right word.
Not guests, but friends.
However, regardless of who they were, he was the host. Whether he would be required to provide any dinner would be discovered later, but the first thing was to make some tea.
He had to admit: he had been a bit spoiled by his wife. If she was home, then she would welcome him back with a cup of tea just the way that he like it, and if they returned together, she would let him rest while she goes to make the tea.
"Mr Edgeworth, when will Gabrielle be back?"
"In a week's time." He began as he looked up from the tea set. Upon seeing Maya, he actually gave her a slight smile. "You look quite different like that, Miss Fey."
Not only was she wearing one of his wife's dresses, she had her hair completely loose. This was certainly a very different sight.
"It feels a bit weird though." Maya laughed. However, she was still more of a girl then a woman, as she was not that conscious of her appearance. Instead, it was curiosity that was there. "I wonder what Nick would say."
Wright was surprised, because this was a Maya that he has never seen before. However, he was at a stage of not being sure of his own feeling. Therefore, even though he was very shocked and surprised at how Maya appeared, that was all for now.
As for Edgeworth…he was a man who was still trying to work out many things in his own relationships, whether it be with his wife or sister, or with his friends, so he naturally would not be able to realise the significance of what he had caused.
"Mr Edgeworth has such a large TV, so let us watch an episode of Steel Samurai!" Maya yelled out as she grabbed Wright's hand.
Unlike usual, Wright did not immediately reply, as it suddenly felt so surreal. Was this really Maya?
However, it was very brief.
"No way! I am sure that Edgeworth would not want to watch that!" Wright protested.
If he had placed any faith in his friend, then he was betrayed very cruelly.
"I do not object."
It would actually be quite nice to watch something with someone that really enjoyed it. Gabrielle might watch it with him now and then, but that was really for the sake of her wanting to do something with him. However, he could tell that Maya was certainly a big fan.
All this was something very simple: watching TV with his friends, but there was a time when this would have been impossible.
Unlike the other two, who ended up doing a steel samurai marathon, Wright went to sleep quite early. As he went to sleep, he actually heard Edgeworth saying that he would continue to examine the theme of a very good story with Maya.
"Why don't he just admit it?" Wright chuckled to himself. "But then, Edgeworth is like that."
The television was still on, although the DVD had clearly reached the very end as the TV showed the still menu. Edgeworth and Maya were actually both asleep.
The turning of the front door made Wright automatically paused and worry, but he quickly realised that there was nothing for him to worry about, as this was not a break in, but merely someone using the key to enter.
Other then Edgeworth and the apartment keeper, there was only one other person who would have a key.
"Gabrielle?" he said softly as the door opened. She was clearly surprised at seeing him, but he quickly gestured for her to be silent and then pointed to that direction.
She was clearly startled at the sight, but a few seconds later, she began to laugh, covering her mouth so that none of the two would be waken up.
"I thought you won't be back till a week later." Wright said softly as he followed her to the kitchen, which was of some distance away from the living room.
"Circumstance changed." She said simply. "So, can I ask what caused you and Maya to end up being here? And…is that my dress she has on?"
Scratching the hair which he would always point out to be naturally spiky, Wright explained what had happened.
"I know that I shouldn't say this but I am actually quite glad at what happened to make you guys come here, as we don't get guests that often." She said with a very happy smile. "And Miles…you know what he is like."
"It is quite nice to do…this." Wright admitted. "This does remind me of the times that we had sleepovers when we were both kids. Before all 'that' happened."
"I can assure you that Miles think so too, only that it would take him a while to admit this." Gabrielle said. She had placed her suitcase at one corner of the kitchen, and she then tied her hair up and put the apron on.
"Gabrielle, what are you doing?"
"If Miles heard this, then he would say that this is a dumb question. What does it look like that I am doing?" she asked as she began to take out a number of stuff from the pantry and fridge. "I am going to cook breakfast for the four of us."
"But didn't you just got back from France?" Wright pointed out.
"I slept on the airplane, and this is nothing complicated." She assured him. "I am afraid that you will have to make a do with tea, as Miles is very insistent about coffee not being drunk in the morning. I almost wonder whether he actually did research on it as his explanation of why you shouldn't do this is almost like a textbook article."
"I can help you." Wright offered. "I am not that bad in the kitchen. Out of curiosity, does Edgeworth help you in the kitchen?"
"Sometimes, but mostly not." Gabrielle said. "After all, he is often really tired when he gets back. We do dine out fairly often too."
"I am kind of jealous." Wright joked. "That he can return to all this. Maya's help is often no help at all."
"Are you comparing me to Maya then? That is usually done for only one purpose." this turned out to be a good retort as Wright actually was at a loss due to his confusion.
"As I said, I am really glad that you and Maya are here." Gabrielle suddenly said very softly. "This apartment…is too big. Whenever I am here by myself, I often feel rather lonely. That is why I decided to go with him to Europe whenever I can as I do not want to be here by myself. I don't believe that Miles won't be affected either. Especially him. That is why, I am really glad that you and Maya had made it lively last night."
Saved for the time that Franziska had stayed, Gabrielle could not recall anyone staying the night in this apartment. Even though her friends have come over, it was never to stay the night. After all, they were all grown past that age.
However, it was very nice to have company; she thought as she sipped her tea and watched the breakfast scene in front of her.
Her husband had been very surprised upon seeing her and he was off guarded enough to reveal how glad he was at this, even though they were not alone. Right now, he and Wright was engaged in some sort of debate about one of the events on the news and even though the volume of both men's voice was increasing, she did not want to stop them.
This was because she could tell that they were happy.
Maya was eating a lot and the young woman was dressed in her normal outfit again. However, Gabrielle did notice the expression on Wright's face that he did not notice himself.
"Maya, would you like to keep that dress?" she suddenly said. "I haven't worn it for a while and it really suit you."
This was accepted with a happy nod, which was followed by compliments at the breakfast.
"Yes, it is nice to eat a proper breakfast at times." Wright admitted. "Although I am not really used to drinking tea. I tend to drink coffee."
Gabrielle could not help but to laugh as her husband began to explain his 'why coffee must not be drunk at breakfast' theory.
"I told you, Nick, give up on the coffee." She laughed. "Although…some of my relatives tend to drink coffee for breakfast, Miles. When I mentioned that I drink tea because of my husband, they laughed at me for being 'British' as they said: 'Only a Brit would do so'. They seemed to be convinced that you are British instead of American."
The rest of the breakfast was quite merry as well, and it ended due to Wright and Maya have to return to the office, although she heard something about: "Usually don't wake up this early" from one of them.
"I am almost rather worried about the way that they live." Gabrielle commented. "Actually, this is quite strange. Miles, don't you usually have work?"
Save for their weekend, their breakfast did not last that long due to Edgeworth's work.
"I got a lot of work done so I can rest today." Edgeworth said. "But Gabby, your trip to France…"
"I told my grandmother about what had happened, and she decided that for now, what daddy did would be kept as a secret. This is not that hard as he had been the rebellious son who barely kept in contact with his family." She said. "She does not blame you in anyway, Miles, as she know that daddy was the one who was wrong."
"Did anything else happen?" he asked carefully.
"I met quite some relatives and my grandmother is still willing to love me despite you being my husband, so what else can happen?" at this, she turned to kiss him. "And I got home to learn that my busy husband will spend the whole day with me, so I am very happy."