Risenfromash: Howdy, everybody! I looked at the traffic on these stories and it looks like a lot of people are stopping by, but you sure can't tell it by the number of reviews…so my theories are that you don't like them for one reason or another or are too embarassed to admit you enjoy them Indochine Ramera, you have my undying thanks for keeping me motivated to continue by dropping me reviews of every chapter, but have no fear Miles and Franziska still have a lot of mischief to get into and a lot of von Karma secrets to bring to light so I'm still plunging forward- no pun intended as this is a non-explicit chapter. I know, what a disappointment…ha, ha

~xxxx~

"I'm so glad we could do this tonight. I needed a drink. I was being run ragged by Miss Whip today," complained Detective Janis Vladamere. She was a square jawed woman with dark hair and green eyes that were bloodshot from exhaustion. "That woman is something else."

"Tell me about it. Edgeworth had me rerun those lab tests three times and kept saying he'd dock my pay if I weren't more careful. Thank goodness he can't get away with doing that here in Germany. I heard his investigative assistant in the US barely had enough money for a roof over his head," said Detective Carlos.

The restaurant was crowded but the detectives and lawyers had secured the posh window side table because they were regulars. This was where they came to unwind, hang out, and drink too much. In front of each of them was a large stein of beer and they were munching on appetizers. In addition, they were also keeping up one of their other time honored traditions, complaining about the jurisdiction's two top performing prosecutors the unbeatable siblings, Miles Edgeworth and Franziska von Karma.

"But don't you feel bad that we never invite Edgeworth or Ms. Von Karma to come out with us?" Prosecutor Thora Landree asked the assembled party.

"No," came the unanimous reply from the others.

At the table was an odd collection of comrades especially to be hanging out together drinking in a German bar. Janis was tall while Thora was petite. Carlos was tan and clean-shaven and could have attracted quite a number of ladies due to his Latin lover vibe had he not been about twenty pounds overweight. And then there was Gutzberg. Gutzberg was crass and undisciplined and downed his liquor in gulps rather than sips. He had a roguish quality about him that made Thora feel slightly attracted to him but fearful of him at the same time. Rounding out the group was Prosecutor Clarisse Keller a middle aged brunette who would have been well known for her achievements had she not been forced to live in the shadow of Miss von Karma and her brother, the "King of Prosecutors."

"Look. I get what you're saying, but they wouldn't come anyway. We've invited them a few times and they never come. It's a waste of breath to bother," explained Detective Carlos earnestly.

"Well, what do they do with their time off?" inquired Thora.

"Work," chuckled Detective Carlos.

"Naw. You know what I think they do? Have kinky incestual sex," Detective Johnathan Gutzberg eyes rested directly on Thora's as he said it making her gaze flit away from him in embarrassment. He enjoyed watching her squirm.

The table erupted into comments of disbelief and laughter.

"Naw. Hear me out." Detective Gutzberg continued unshaken by their doubt. "I'm a detective and I've noticed some things about those two."

"You've gotta be kidding me! Miss Bitch and Mr. No Sense of Humor? No way," said Detective Vladmere. "She's a man-hater and he's-"

"No. Think about it. At the Annual Police Ball they came together-"

"Cause they're both too antisocial to get dates-" supplied Detective Carlos. There was no way he was buying that those two were messing around.

"And Edgeworth watched Franziska all night. He studied her and he cut in as soon as Jacob started getting too friendly."

"So he didn't want to watch his sister get felt up by a balding office clerk. I don't think that proves anything," Prosecutor Clarisse Keller said.

"Whenever they can they go to each other's trials." Gutzberg continued undeterred.

"They're rivals. They're sizing each other up," Thora said simply. "Everybody goes to each other's trials when they can. Especially theirs. They don't just think they're good. They are good. I've learned a lot by watching them. I'd even thank them if they weren't so damned full of themselves already."

"I don't think that's why Edgeworth goes. I think he gets off on it."

The others made scoffing sounds. Thora said it was disgusting and Carlos merely muttered, "Sure, whatever, dude."

"Fine, blow me off. But I'm on to the two of them. I think they're taking their relationship to the next level…if you know what I mean."

"That's gross," Thora said crinkling her up-turned nose. "Besides, Edgeworth is totally asexual. I was kind of into him when I first started here, but after dropping hints like crazy I gave up. I know a lot of people think he's gay, but I just think he was born without that desire…or something."

Carlos shook his head, "He's gay. I'm sure of it. There were too many rumors about him and that one American defense attorney, Wright. I'm sure ninety percent of the stories were total bullshit but there had to be some truth in it somewhere."

"Besides, they are brother and sister and Franziska has always maintained that she hates his guts."

"It's a very fine line between hate and love, especially for a woman who uses a whip as a way to punctuate her sentences." Gutzberg said as if he was some kind of authority on sexual attraction.

"Oh, come on, Gutzberg! You got any real evidence, man?"

"Not yet. But I will. They'll mess up. I'll catch 'em. The brother sister act is just a cover. It gives them a convenient excuse to travel together, room together, stuff like that without us all catching on, but they're doing it. I can tell."

Thora made a face. "You need to find yourself a hobby."

"Why? So I won't make you all feel stupid when it comes out they're eloping or having sex in the file room or something?"

"Ok, I'll admit I've wondered if Edgeworth was maybe attracted to her. I've noticed he's a little different when she's around, but there is no way in hell she's going for him or any man. Maybe once, but not for more than a night as fodder for her whip and stilettos. He may seem asexual, but it's her who's messed up. She hasn't got a romantic bone in her body. She's all balls herself."

"Well, speak of the devils." Carlos pointed out the window and saw Prosecutors Edgeworth and von Karma walking together along the sidewalk across the street from the restaurant and everyone at the table fell silent as they watched the pair.

~xxxx~

"Franziska, I wasn't going to stiff the waiter because you think your steak was overdone. That's the cook's fault, not the waiter's."

"Well, you didn't need to be so generous. That table was too near the kitchen door. I kept worrying that it was going to bang me in the back of the head."

"Darling, that's only because you have an abnormally large space bubble. There was no way that door was going to hit you. And we could have requested a different table if you had said something at the time."

Franziska narrowed her eyes and glared at Miles and quit walking. Miles took a few steps forward before he realized she was no longer accompanying him. He took a deep breath and walked back to her. "Fine. Next time you pay the bill and determine the tip. I was just trying to be helpful and thought I'd take care of it while you were in the ladies' room. I won't be helpful any more."

She realized he was teasing her even though the change in his tone of voice was barely perceptible.

"Brother, do you really think I have an extra large space bubble?"

He laughed. "Of course. I have plenty of evidence to support the theory as well."

"Like what?"

"Like how you flinch when Detective Carlos gets close."

"I think he likes me."

"Carlos would never do anything inappropriate. He is a very competent detective. If we ever return to the U.S. I wish he would come with us."

Franziska noticed the way Miles talked. He was treating the two of them like a unit now. He'd never done that before. She wondered if he was consciously doing it or it was simply that with the passage of time he saw them that way now.

"What other evidence do you have?"

"You carry a whip and hit people with it." His lips twitched into a smirk

She angrily gripped her whip wondering if she should demonstrate its use on him.

"Darling, it's ok. You let Helga get close. You let me get very close." He said slowly and sensually as he placed his hands on her hips. He smiled at her. "We're all different. You accept all my oddness. I don't mind and I don't think you should be ashamed of anything. However, it might do you well to admit some things to yourself. Like, for example, that you have an incredibly large space bubble."

Franziska stepped back and lashed him with his whip.

He laughed and let go of her hips.

~xxxx~

"See look at that. The way he was holding her…" Carlos commented.

"No, man that isn't holding. No wonder you ain't got a girlfriend. That's not how a man in love holds a woman. It's not an embrace."

"Naw, it's not but how many brothers put their hands on their sister's hips? I even think they were holding hands!" Gutzberg said.

"Brothers and sisters hold hands," Thora offered.

"Yeah, when they're six. Face it guys. There is something going on between those two. Maybe they aren't messing around…maybe, but mark my words they will be. I got a nose for these things."

"Oh like how you had a nose for Captain Farmer's relationship with that man in the records department?"

"What?" Thora's eyes grew large. "I never heard about this…"

"That's because there was nothing to hear." Grumbled Detective Carlos. "Their "relationship" turned out to be that they're next door neighbors and house sit for one another when they go out of town."

The others laughed.

But Thora looked thoughtful. She was still watching the two lawyers across the street. "You know, you might be right." She tipped her head to one side in contemplation. "I don't know about the kinky part, but, you know, he might be in love with her. It would explain a lot. I mean he tolerates a hell of a lot of crap from her."

Just then Franziska snapped him with her whip. He grimaced for a moment and then appeared to laugh. As though whipping was a natural part of a person's communication style. He shrugged at her playfully as she seemed to grow more agitated.

"I mean look at him…"

"You're just seeing that because you're still infatuated with him." Clarisse said.

"I am not. I have a boyfriend."

"Yeah. A boyfriend who couldn't even trouble himself to come out tonight," grunted Gutzberg.

"He had to work."

"And on Thursday night, too." Carlos said.

"And last weekend when you were supposed to go to the mountains and-" Janis offered.

"He works hard."

"Yeah at seeing another woman." Gutzberg said. "Come on Thora, wake up. The man is cheating on you."

Thora stared into her drink.

"Aw, don't mind what they say we'll find you a much better man than that boyfriend of yours or some insane Prosecutor. See that guy in the corner there. He keeps looking over here at you," Clarisse said.

Everyone had lost interest in the ace attorney's talking on the sidewalk across the street except Detective Gutzberg. He gnawed on his pretzel angrily. They didn't believe him, but he knew it was true. Edgeworth and von Karma were different somehow and he was dying to prove it, but it would be challenging at the office. The prosecutors were below the radar because they had always been close and they were star performers so they got away with bazaar eccentric behavior. He wondered if they were as careful outside the confines of the office and courthouse.

"Well, I'll be back. I gotta go pollute the air," Gutzberg said producing a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and heading out the door. "I'll be back."

~xxxx~

Miles and Franziska had reached the car, but neither was in a hurry to get in it. Franziska's silvery hair shimmered under the streetlights and the night was unseasonable warm. It was a nice night to be out.

"I worry sometimes that the reason you're with me is that as your brother I can get past that impenetrable barrier of yours." He said looking down at her hand in his.

"How dare you?" She made to slap him in the face, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled it away from him.

"Franziska, please don't be mad at me for being honest."

"Well, that isn't why I like you. I would have hoped you would have known that by now, but I suppose all men are fools. Even someone like you."

Miles smirked. "And what, dear lady, is that supposed to mean? Perhaps I should be slapping you for that insolent remark."

Franziska leaned into him. "Miles, you don't honestly think I wouldn't have ended up with you even if you weren't my brother." Miles couldn't help but wonder about this. It seemed unfortunate that he found his true love through a series of tragic events and crazy circumstances. If one domino had fallen a different direction would they be here together? Would he have been doomed to be alone his whole life?

"I don't know. There is little evidence we would have even met."

"Now that's not true. We're both amazing prosecutors. Of course, I'm a tad better," Edgeworth coughed at this remark. "But that isn't the point. The point is I'm sure I would have met you at a conference or something."

"And you would have stolen me away for hot hallway sex?" Miles chuckled. "I strongly doubt that, sister. Besides, what if I hadn't become a prosecutor?"

Franziska leaned her head back in laughter. "What would you be if you weren't a prosecutor? It's the only thing you're good at…"

Miles lifted one of his eyebrows. She knew he was good at something else.

"Well, ok you have your talents, I suppose, but really I'm very curious. What would you have been if you hadn't become the Demon Prosecutor?" She said his foolish nickname as though it were something he had chosen for himself like a pro wrestler would.

"I would have become a viola player," he said without hesitation.

Franziska doubled over in laughter clutching her whip. It reminded Miles of Calista Yew's incessant cackling and he found himself grimacing. "I don't think it's funny. I loved playing viola…I think I was decent at it…"

"You seriously considered becoming a professional viola player?" She looked at him with great amusement.

"Yes."

Franziska leaned into him. "You're a funny, funny fool. It's just one of the reasons I like you."

"I still fail to see what is so amusing about me playing viola."

Franziska tried desperately to remove the grin from her face. Instead, she succeeded in moving her lips around as though she were doing some odd type of mouth muscle exercise…until Miles leaned in to have his lips join hers.

"It's ok. I guess it is kind of funny. And it's violin players who get all the groupies anyways, or so I hear."

Franziska threw her arm around his neck and turned him so he was leaning against the side of the auto. "Little Brother, do you really think you would know what to do with a groupie?"

Miles smiled at her. "Well, I'm getting there. Thanks to you, of course."

She felt so wonderful with him. He was handsome and had a sense of humor like no one else's and he was forgiving of her quirks and eccentricities. How could he think she merely loved him for the convenience of the thing? Like she was with him because he was handy or something? Ridiculous.

"I love you." She said. "As a brother, but also as much, much more. You believe me don't you?"

Looking down into her eyes he nodded and putting a hand on either side of her face brought her lips to his. His hands slid from her face down her back as their tongues explored one another, there lips gently massaging one another's. Then they just held one another their eyes closed, both thanking whatever mystical power had overcome logic and brought them together against great odds.

Miles opened his eyes and Franziska buried her face in his shoulder and it was then Miles saw Detective Gutzberg leaning against a building smoking a cigarette clearly watching the two of them. Miles glared at him. It wasn't like he could pretend the detective wouldn't recognize them. Franziska and he tended to stand out from the crowd due to their unique sense of fashion, the whip, and Miles rather flashy automobile. Miles held Franziska to him gently, but possessively as he glared at the detective. He did not want him and his sister to be the subject of gossip around the water cooler and he would do whatever he needed to ensure it didn't happen and the detective seemed to understand that as the man stamped out his cigarette on the pavement and left.

~xxxx~

"So, what'd you see?" Detective Carlos asked Gutzberg.

"Whatda you mean?" grunted Gutzberg.

"Oh, come on. You were spying on Edgeworth and von Karma. I'm a detective, too, remember."

Gutzberg wished he could tell the others that he was right, but Edgeworth's look was unmistakable. If he breathed a word of what he saw he would be in the job market if he were lucky enough to still be able bodied, that is.

Funny thing was he couldn't quite put together why they'd be keeping it a secret. They weren't biologically brother and sister, after all. But the American prosecutor was in some ways even stranger than his sister…

Gutzberg shrugged. "I guess you're right. They looked like normal siblings to me."

~xxxx~

Now that the detective had left Miles relaxed and smiling at his sister said, "Would you like to go out for a drink? I thought we could go to that hilltop bar and see the view."

Franziska smiled. "Yes, Miles we can go to the nice elevator-less bar. When we are right by hundreds of pubs and clubs that have views."

Miles opened his mouth to tell her to be quiet but he shut it again. He shouldn't be mad that she could see right through him. After all, being understood was one of the best things about being with her.

"Are you ever going to get over your elevator phobia?"

"Not unless you can somehow travel back in time and stop my father from getting murdered by your father, but logically I don't believe you'll be able to do that." He said as he held the passenger door open for her.

"Miles, if I could I would."

Miles smiled and kissed her on the forehead as she bent to get in the car. "I know, sister. I know," and he closed the car door. He hoped his father would forgive him for feeling as though even if he could change things he might not, not now that he had Franziska. It caused him great guilt, but he really didn't believe had it not been for the evils of Manfred von Karma that they would have found one another.

But thankfully it was not a choice Miles or Franziska would ever have to make. Their fathers' choices had been their fathers' to make and it was now time for Miles and Franziska to make their own choices.

Franziska lifted her whip indicating that she was growing impatient with him and so he quickly entered the car.

"What are you doing?"

"Sorry, I was just thinking how your eyes look like sapphires in this light."

Franziska rolled said "sapphires," but she smiled at his compliment. "Fool! Now let's get going and if they give us a crappy table I'm making you sit by the door and we'll see how you like their foolishness."

"Alright, darling." He said starting the engine and listening to its contented purr and feeling like he should be purring right along with it. "Whatever you say."