Friday night arrived and Franziska couldn't believe how nervous she felt. She'd been out with Edgeworth many times for dinner and such, but somehow tonight it felt different to her. She grumbled. She knew it was because it was really a date. Her first date with her lover and brother. She might need a drink before they even left the estate.

Miles had gotten a tuxedo special for the occasion and he straightened his tie. He was very pleased Franziska and he were doing this. It had been months since they had done anything fun, other than spending time at the mansion making love and while Miles found that very nice he was looking forward to getting out, but he too felt the significance of the night weighing heavy on his mind.

Previously when they went out there was no pressure to act a certain way. They could bicker or out right fight if they felt like it. They could comment on who they found attractive. Miles and Franziska could be completely themselves, but now that they were "together" if that's what they were and miles wasn't even entirely sure of that it seemed like things were more complicated.

Miles had to remind himself that they were friends and that meant nothing had changed, but if they were just friends who fucked…it was less than what he felt in his heart. He was becoming more agitated by the moment. Sitting in the drawing room he nervously taped his foot and checked the time on his wristwatch.

It didn't surprise him in the least that Franziska would keep him waiting. She often did. Her life had an inconsistency of pace; she would take her sweet time about doing some things and blast through others. And being in love with her meant that Edgeworth was having to train himself to tolerate this illogical behavior. It wasn't the only erratic thing about his sister's behavior, but he did his best to ignore those things.

He believed that Franziska was like an eccentric poet or scientist her attitude and behaviors were simply misunderstood by the vast majority of the world's population. Post humorously she would surely be regarded as a visionary. Who knows perhaps in another hundred years all ladies will carry whips along with their handbags? The thought made Miles smile. That would be something. A world full of Franziska-disciples. The idea would have given Wright nightmares.

Yet Miles had found there was something enchanting about her. The problem was no matter how hard he tried he was unable to name that elusive quality she possessed and the more he thought about it the more his thoughts turned to more carnal desires. Miles liked Franziska for many reasons, but why did he love her? Everyday he found himself struggling to answer this question. In truth, he required no answer, but he desired it. It drove him crazy. Was it just the sex that made him "love" her? He hated to think that was it. He was hoping that an evening out with her might help him better with this quandary and provide him with the reassurance he needed that they weren't merely together because they were two lonely people that no one else wanted.

After all, Miles might not have been lucky in love but he saw the way the men eyed Franziska or at least how they eyed her until they met the bite of her leather, and there were always a few who looked even harder after that. Tonight he would be the envy of the other debutantes, something he had not often gotten to be and while normally he abhorred their obnoxious society life he was going to enjoy this. Franziska on his arm. He chuckled on the inside. He sounded like such a typical male, for once. Oh, well. Being in a relationship with a woman was bound to make him have caveman-like tendencies every once in a while he supposed.

Of course, he would never get to show off his date if she didn't actually come out of her room. He crossed his arms.

"Hmph!" he thought. "Good thing we're in Germany and I'll be able to drive fast." It was his favorite thing about the country. Fast, sleek sport cars were his guilty pleasure and in the United States you so rarely got to enjoy them with all the damned traffic, but living her in the country at the mansion with miles of country roads. It was…wonderful.

Franziska walked in and he drew back a little to better take her in. She was wearing an evening gown of silver and blue that draped itself over only one of her shoulders and pale blue sapphire earrings dangling from each of her earlobes. The look was unusually feminine for her, but in true von Karma style in the same hand in which she clutched her handbag she also held her whip.

"I see you're bringing it with you are you?"

Franziska knew exactly what he was talking about and nodded, though she was mildly hurt that he hadn't complemented her on her outfit. She had gone to a great deal of effort to do her hair and makeup just right and choose a gown that accented her eyes just right.

"Damn foolish fool can't recognize beauty when he sees it," she thought to herself.

"What are you intending to do with it? Whip the string section if the conductor can't keep them in check?"

"Miles Edgeworth, do you even want to go with me?" She said stretching her whip. He could stay home. That would be fine, she thought flaring her nostrils and gripping her whip close to her face.

"Of course, darling, I want it more than anything. I'm just teasing."

"Well, you had better watch out because this is our first date and if you want more you'll do what I want." She narrowed her eyes. She wasn't the least bit apologetic about ordering anyone around especially not her lover.

Miles smiled and spoke with a lilt of amusement in his voice. "Oh, I see. Well then I best behave myself. No, sneaking off to the coat closet during intermission to make out or hiding under the tablecloth at the restaurant to have access to you, because of course a LADY would never want such things."

The slash of her whip came incredibly fast, but he dodged it. He was getting good at that and he knew it. His smug smile made Franziska think that maybe she should switch to using her fists and wipe that smirk off his face.

"Oh, I got you something. I was going to wait till your birthday but…well I decided not to." From his pocket Edgeworth produced a jewelry box. Franziska blinked several times out of nervousness and took it from his outstretched hand. She carefully opened it. Inside was a platinum ring set with a pale blue stone that glistened. She gasped a little. This was no trifle. This was a gorgeous work of art, but why was she surprised? Miles had always had impeccable taste.

"I had to guess on the size so if it doesn't fit I'm sorry we can get it sized or if you don't like it. It's no big deal." His eyes avoided her. He had worried so much that doing this would make her mad. It was so hard sometimes to predict what might set her off.

She put her hand on his chin and tugged it in her direction.

"You foolish fool you! How could you think I might not like it? It's gorgeous, breathtaking. Just my color, too. Thank you." And she pulled it out of the box and slipped it on her right hand and admired it.

Miles gazed at her contentedly while she tipped her hand back and forth in the light to watch the ring sparkle. She seemed so normal.

"Come we'd better go."

Miles was snapped out of his momentary reverie and nodded. It was indeed time for them to go.

They ate by candlelight at an intimate Grecian restaurant. The food was very good and Franziska found herself wishing her and Miles were in the Mediterranean basking in the sun. She was tortured by images of the two of them away from their lives of endless work. She had been born to do what she did; bringing criminals to justice was her mission, but why did it have to be that way? Why couldn't she have a more normal job and a normal relationship where the first date didn't come after the first sex? Why couldn't her and Miles have met the way other people do at some coffee house or in some elevator or god forbid over the Internet?

She gazed at him over the table. He was dreamy, like something out of those trashy romance novels she always wanted to read but could never bring herself to purchase. What was it about him she liked so much she wondered? She had felt attracted to him ever since she'd met him. Maybe it was because he hadn't thought she was too terribly weird despite her riding croup or maybe it was that way they had immediately competed. It was so hot! Franziska found herself glancing at her glass of wine. Was that what was making her feel so warm or was it the shy glances she would catch from Miles every now and again?

She told herself to focus. To be able to convince him that this relationship wasn't just her way of fulfilling all her pent up sexual frustration she would have to tone down her arousal for a few hours at least. Though she made no guarantees about how she would behave as he drove her home. The entire ride to the restaurant Franziska had watched his hand on the gearshift and found it erotic. Those strong firm hands…

Miles was extraordinarily nervous. He was having trouble stomaching dinner. His sister, a part of his life since his father's tragic death, was gazing at him like he was her personal savior. It didn't seem right. She'd wanted him for so long and he hadn't wanted her at all. He had lusted after no one even remotely like her. There was no way he deserved this level of adoration. He was disappointed in himself. He was just with her for the sex. The thought filled him with despair. He had wanted so much more and had convinced himself he felt much more, but outside the walls of the von Karma mansion things felt so much the same as they had before, he realized that surely they were just friends…friends who fuck. How could he use her like that? But how could he break her heart and tell her the truth?

Miles found the entire situation hugely complicated. Obviously, there were more reasons that siblings weren't supposed to become lovers than fears of having children with two heads, because even though he was adopted he did love her as a sister and that affection made it harder for him to figure out what he was really feeling. This was so damn awkward. People weren't meant to be living under the same roof, make love, and then go out on their first date.

"Miles, what's wrong?" Franziska hissed at him. "You're not even listening to me."

"Sorry." Miles felt like he might cry or pull his hair out. This was most unpleasant, not at all like when she was naked in his arms. He wondered if that meant that was all he wanted. Could he really be so low he would take sex anyway he could get it even if it meant with a woman?

"Am I going to have to send you home?" She sounded like a school marm threatening to send him to the principal.

"No, Franziska. I guess I'm just having a hard time. I haven't been on many dates."

His sister pointed to his glass. "Drink more wine. That's what I do when I'm on a horrible date."

"I don't think you're a horrible date. It's just-"

"Awkward? Imagine how I felt for wanting you all those years."

Then Franziska leaned across the table and in a low voice said to Miles, "Look I want to believe I'm not a fool for thinking there's more between us than just incredible sex. So for god's sake act like you're having a good time with me."

So, she has those fears too, thought Miles. He didn't know if that made it worse or better. If they both suspected it did that validate the concern? Miles didn't know what to say.

"Miles, do we have time to go for a walk in the park?" He consulted his watch and nodded. "If you don't mind skipping dessert." She nodded and Miles quickly left a wad of cash on the table that more than covered the cost of dinner and a generous tip. He thought they both needed to get out into the night air. He figured it would help to clear his head.

The park was right across the street from the restaurant. It was an old historical site lined with a black iron fence. Miles and Franziska had gone there together many times when they were in their teens. It was a beautiful park with a pond where ducks came to swim and frogs and turtles took residence, but in the darkness very little could be seen other than the outline of some trees with low hanging branches that bordered the pond.

"Look at the moon." It was an almost a complete circle and was surrounded by grey clouds. The reflection of the moon in the pond swayed in the night air.

"It's pretty. It reminds me of that painting in the library. The one you brought back from Allebahst that time."

"Mmm. You're right, but the painting has more hues of orange in it. Creates a little different ambience, you know? I wish I could paint."

"What would you paint?"

"You, your eyes."

Miles took a deep breath. Those sounded like the words of a person in love. The attention his sister bestowed on him wasn't unwelcome, but he felt unworthy of it what with all the fears running through his brain.

"Your eyes look so sad all the time. Whatever are you so unhappy about all the time, dear brother?"

Was he really unhappy all the time? Miles wondered if you were perpetually unhappy if you ceased to realize it because it had become your normal.

"I'm not sure that I am unhappy and if I am I don't think I have any right to be."

Franziska pointed a finger skyward like she did whenever she felt she had something to teach her little brother. "No one needs permission to be happy or be miserable."

"Then what are you?"

Franziska stopped walking. "What do you mean?"

"I mean are you happy?"

"I think I'm as happy as I can be."

This comment wounded him. He wanted all the joy in the world for her.

"Franziska, I think maybe all this has been a mistake."

"You're thinking about ending it aren't you?" Her voice shook and her hand reached up to her bosom to the spot where it felt like her heart was tearing. Miles felt it too, but he thought that perhaps it was just seeing her like this so he turned away from her.

"Miles, anything wrong with us is my fault. I shouldn't be paging you to me. I shouldn't be impatient. I shouldn't be…"

She was glancing down at her whip, but she couldn't apologize for that. That was a part of who she was. She started to cry. This wasn't what she had wanted. This wasn't a perfect evening. It was perfectly dreadful. She brought her hand to her face to hide her tears. She wished she were in the von Karma estate so she could run to her room and lock the door and sob into her bed. She had wanted all her life to be with Miles, but no matter what she did she couldn't be what he wanted. Her shoulders began to sag as her sadness started to grip her entire body. It hurt so badly. She'd never felt pain like this before and she had experienced some pretty rotten things. She thought Miles would understand, but even if he did, it could never work.

She was losing the battle with her grief and her legs buckled under her. She began to fall to her knees, but Miles caught her in his arms and pulled her close to him. His arms were strong and comforting, but feeling them around her only made Franziska more sad because she knew she would never be held by him with this level of intimacy again. She continued to avoid his eyes shielding her weeping orbs form his view with her purse and whip. She was so ashamed of herself when had she ever cried this much? She was a von Karma she couldn't do this yet she had no control over it.

"Franziska?"

She couldn't answer him. The compassion in his tone was too great it sounded too loving. It made her want to kiss him. She had to shut off these thoughts.

Then he dove under her hands and his grey eyes, luminescent in the moonlight glanced at her for the briefest moment before his lips met hers. Both of them felt flutters and waves of heat like sparks. But Miles had to be sure. He kissed her again and again with the ferocity of one on a mission. His lips were mashing into her and into her neck and when she tried to hit him in the head with her purse he merely reached up and grabbed both of her wrists and forced them down so she couldn't fight him.

He was no longer thinking clearly. His heart thrilled too much as soon as he touched her. She made him feel amazing and he couldn't allow her to be sad. His kiss was so good and his hold on her so commanding that Franziska began to melt and her hold on her possessions loosened and her purse and the whip fell to the ground as she leaned her body into his kisses. She wanted him more than anything else and as she pressed herself into him and felt his attraction.

"Come with me." He picked up her belongings as she pulled him further into the park with her other hand. She was beautiful with the moonlight reflecting off her pale hair and making the ring on her hand glisten and Miles knew he would follow her anywhere.

She led him to a spot by the lake shielded by tree branches. One could be concealed there yet easily view the pond. Years earlier they had come here to enjoy the shade while they read. Other children and teenagers biked about the park or made out on the benches, but he and Franziska had sat under the tree and studied and argued over who would be superior.

She gently pushed him and he fell down in the dirt and she climbed on top of him.

"We're going to miss the symphony," he moaned as she licked at his ear while unbuttoning his tuxedo jacket and dress shirt.

"Oh, well," she whispered to him and her speech tickled him sending shivers up and down his body. She was running her hands up and down his bare chest now and he pressed himself against her. He couldn't get more aroused or so he thought until she again whispered in his ear.

"Miles, I used to sit under this tree and stare at you while you were absorbed in your books trying to memorize every little detail of you so that when I was in bed at night and touching myself I could think of you." She grabbed his hand and pulled it under her garments.

"I used to imagine you touching me here." She said guiding his fingers to her clit.

"Oh, Franziska!"

"Miles, I've never had sex on the first date before, but I want you to fuck me so badly."

She was simply too enticing. Her eyes so trusting, her body so ready to accept him into her, her touch so wonderful, she was irresistible. He grabbed her wrists and rolled her onto her back and started to fumble with his clothes.

Then he yanked her soaked panties down.

"Miles, don't ever doubt that I want you." It was almost too easy to enter her. He watched as her features pulled close together and then relaxed. Her jaw slackened and she made little breathy noises by his ear.

He could smell the familiar scents of the park and Franziska's flowery perfume along with a newer aroma he was becoming all too familiar with. The smell of her wet womanhood. The three combined to create a scent so intoxicating he was sure it could be bottled as a love potion. How could this beautiful creature have ever desired him so much that she would think of him as she explored herself?

It was funny, he had never thought of women when pleasuring himself, but now that he was with her, anytime he felt aroused he thought of nobody but her. Images of her rolling naked in his bed, pointing her finger at the accused in court, her sitting reading as a teenager they were all he could think about.

He was thrusting into her as her hands clung onto his shoulders.

"Harder, harder. You can't do it too hard. I promise."

So he pounded still harder. It felt so good. He felt like he was doing something very important, earth-shattering even and it was cemented in his mind when Franziska's entire body stiffened abruptly and he felt moisture squirt at him. Her mouth was wide open and then she inhaled with a gasp and her entire body spasmed, but he wasn't done with her yet and seeing her cuming only excited him more and he more slowly slid in and out for a few moments as she lurched and weakened. Then he plunged into her and he groaned and mashed his teeth as he proceeded to thrust into her over and over until he finally burst.

Franziska lay panting with glassy eyes and a smile of satisfaction upon her face. Miles pulled her dress down and pulled his pants up and did his belt, but he brought his hand back under her dress and let his hands slide on her moisture until they slipped into her. They lay there next to one another looking up at the underside of the tree branches. Franziska was silent, but occasionally lurched from his touch and he found it amusing torturing her like this.

"You love me don't you?" she asked.

He nodded with guilt as though he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. His feelings were so new and confusing yet here he was once again craving her touch having wild desires to explore every inch of her.

"You know it's going to be damn embarrassing if we have to explain to our bosses why we got arrested for public indecency at the exact same time."

Franziska laughed. "Yeah, but it'll be oh so worth it." And she slide herself down a little bit so the finger brushing against her came in contact with her even more.

"Franziska, I can't stand making you cry. You need to understand I'm just scared."

Franziska sat up. "Miles Edgeworth, what on earth do you have to be scared of?"

"You."

Franziska eyes were like planets. "I'm scared that you'll come to your senses and reject me or that I'm kidding myself into thinking that this is more than it is." He withdrew his hand and they both feel disappointed.

"And?" She questioned.

"I don't know."

"Well then, fool, kiss me again."

He did. Franziska clutched him to her. Her hands ran along his backside and ruffled his silvery hair. He felt wildly turned on. Whatever it was he felt for her was powerful and he wanted to feel it all the time.

She pulled her lips away from his. "So?"

"That doesn't help. It only confuses me more."

"Oh, I see." Franziska looked disappointed. "You think it might only be sex. Even though you've said you love me."

"Yes. I don't want to lie. I love you too much." The irony in this statement wasn't lost on either of them, but they both ignored it. Maybe the proper word didn't exist in any language for what they felt for one another.

"You worry this because you analyze everything logically and you can't think of a single reason I would love you other than that you have the most amazing way in bed."

Miles made an embarrassed throat clearing noise and Franziska reached for her whip. "Don't argue with me."

"Miles, I like you because you are an honest man. You don't think my obsessions are silly. You can recognize at least two hundred different flowers. You like the finer things, but are willing to share with anyone. You are never crude. You care deeply about your friends. You're a romantic. You're just in the wrong century…I was just hoping you could find some things you liked about me."

Miles was glad she was done talking about him. He was a show-off with his legal skills, but humble about everything else. Having Franziska make him sound like some prize just wouldn't do.

"I don't even have to think about it. I love your delicate fingers and how clever you are. You can read a classic French novel faster than anyone else I know and still completely understand all the nuances and catch every detail with striking clarity. I like how you always smell like flowers. I like how you walk. I like how you're not afraid to speak your mind and how you sacrifice so much of yourself for others."

Franziska was very close to him now. "Do you really mean those things?"

Miles closed his eyes and crossed his arms. "I said them didn't I?" It seemed he was at an impasse with himself. He loved things about her. He wanted to make love to her all the time, but what would make it real love?

The tender touch of Franziska's lips made him open his eyes.

"Then what's the problem, brother? Surely you must know that every day I'm with you is the happiest of my life."

"Franziska, I'm just not sure. I loved all those things about you forever. It's so much like it was before…I thought it would be more different somehow."

"Miles, we've always loved each other right?"

He nodded. Of course he had.

"And we've always gone to the symphony together and had dinners together."

Miles nodded. "Sometimes."

"The new thing is how we express our feelings, right?"

"I guess."

"Just because it's the only difference between now and before doesn't mean it's not love, my dear brother."

Miles blushed. "It isn't that I don't love you. I just don't want to use you. I've been so lonely and-"

"Miles, let me show you how much I love you," but the only words Miles heard was "I love you." And it was enough. It didn't matter what this was anymore. He wasn't going to fight it. They were making each other happy, more than happy and as she climbed on him pulling his length into her he thought that none of his concerns mattered too much. He had never seen Franziska smile more than she did looking at him and he had never felt so treasured, so valued.

Her body surrounded him grinding into his pelvis, massaging his cock. He closed his eyes enjoying the contact as she pressed herself downward to whisper in his ear, "Miles, please…mmm…don't…be…ashamed…mmm…of me…" then her speech transformed into a series of pants and pleasurable moans as she threw her body backward while still connected to him. Listening to the intermingling of their moans and groans reminded Miles of the instruments in an orchestra combining to play the symphony. His worries and fears drifted away from him and he found himself completely captivated by the bliss of their lovemaking.

Franziska took her time but finally collapsed on him, exhausted by the exertion of riding him. Their eyes were right in front of one another.

"Brother, love doesn't make sense. You'll only make yourself frustrated by trying to analyze it."

Miles laughed a little. Was he treating their relationship like a crime scene in need of investigating? He realized that his sister was right, he probably was.

"Sorry. I just needed to know that I loved you." His hand rested on her thigh but he felt so sleepy his hand finally slid down her leg as he drifted off to sleep.

Their slumber might have extended on for hours had another couple sneaking away to the same spot not woken them up.

The young man was holding a girl's hand. Miles could tell that much due to the curves he saw in the moonlight as he heard them lift a nearby branch to enter the sanctity of the tree's cover.

"Oh!" The boy was embarrassed and turned to go, but Miles shook his head.

"Don't worry, we should be going." He nudged his love who murmured something.

"Franziska, let's go home. These lovely young people have come to enjoy the view of the pond as well." He winked at her as he adjusted their clothing for modesty and Franziska was entranced by the fact that even in the dark she could see his wink because of those magnificent glowing eyes of his. They were hypnotic to her. She stood up without a word. He grabbed her purse and whip and led her by the back of the elbow back to the path.

At first she walked as though in a trance, but the further she walked on the lane in the path the more she began dancing and humming to herself as though drunk from their passion. Miles felt an odd sort of pride watching her, knowing that he had been able to fulfill one of her dreams, a fantasy that only he could fulfill. Yet more even than that the memory of her voice saying "I love you" echoed in his mind making him feel more in love with her than he ever would have thought possible.

However, his self-satisfaction ended abruptly when Franziska quit her happy sauntering and he saw the silhouette of her whip held high above her head in the moonlight. "Miles Edgeworth, you forgot my panties!"