Risenfromash: This portion of the story introduces some stuff that will be important in future episodes. I didn't realize that this is when Franzy's housecleaning and redecorating habit begins but it makes perfect sense. A bunch of my friends are getting divorced right now and they are all going through their own nesting phases. So this is dedicated to them as they turn new leaves in their life…

This chapter is unfortunately choppy…it's what I refer to as a montage chapter.

EPISODE 16

PART IX

Now that Miles was with Joshua, Franziska found herself with free time and she wasn't used to it. She didn't like to be idle, so she tried a variety of new hobbies. First, she went to pilates with Prosecutor Landree. She had thought that the exercise would be a good stress release and if she met some new people in the process all the better. But her experience at the gym had not gone how she had hoped. Everyone there was a fool obsessed with what they ate and with that ten pounds every woman gains and looses a million times over their lifetime. She had to endure everyone's inane stories about their attempts at fad dieting and it left her wishing she hadn't left her whip in the locker room, especially when she tried to relate and was shot down as a "string bean" that couldn't participate in the discussion due to her naturally thin body type.

Franziska had found the experience so agitating that she was sure any health benefits she received from the work out were negated by the anger coursing through her veins as a result of the stupid women. It reminded her why she didn't have a lot of women as friends. She didn't like them. They were all fools.

So, then she moved on to photography. She bought a camera and started taking pictures of the flowers in the garden, but she got so frustrated with the tripod's refusal to stay at the proper position that she threw it along with the camera across the garden path and into a tree damaging the camera beyond repair.

After those experiences Franziska decided to stick with what she knew, namely being Von Karma and so she focused her sights on something she knew needed to get done and that only she could do mansion cleaning. The von Karma estate had been in the family for generations and like any home that people haven't moved out of for a long period of time it had accumulated a great deal of clutter. Fortunately, the house was a mansion so most of the clutter was stuffed out of sight in rooms used for storage, but Franziska was sure that she and Miles didn't need all this stuff. There were rooms that neither one of them had gone into in years and she thought that she may as well determine what exactly they had inherited and see about selling some items or putting them to better use.

That was the motivation she told Helga and the other servants, but true to her upbringing she had another motivation, a secret one. One that only Miles would suspect and he was too busy navigating his out-of-the-closet lifestyle to realize what she was up to.

You see, Franziska was lonely. More lonely than she had been in all her life, because before she had at least had Miles Edgeworth as her brother. If she had gotten desperate she could call him on the phone or order him to come to dinner with her and he had always done so, but now the rules had changed. Miles no longer would care for her as a dutiful brother, because she had been his lover and been unfaithful to him. Which meant that Franziska had no one. But both Miles and Franziska knew that she had another biological sibling. Somewhere Franziska's sister was raising a daughter, both of whom were von Karmas.

Back when Miles and Franziska had been together they had discussed potentially searching for these lost relatives. With Manfred now laid to rest and Miles in Germany to provide emotional support to his sister it had seemed like the natural time to go hunting for them. With their combined investigative skills and Franziska's resources through Interpol they were bound to find the girl who ran away with her infant back when Franziska was just a toddler herself.

They had discussed the good and bad about trying to locate the woman. Potentially it would dredge up a lot of painful memories for everyone. Franziska's sister had undoubtedly started a new life and may not be happy about being found and being reminded of her heritage as a von Karma, but still Franziska had thought that someday getting to meet them would be worthwhile and Miles had agreed saying he felt awkward having inherited a vast fortune while a blood relative, a real von Karma, had gotten nothing. He wanted to make sure that Manfred's granddaughter was able to have the best education she could and reap the benefits of being a von Karma perhaps getting to be the only von Karma to reap the benefits without having to pay the high price of dealing with Manfred's cruelty.

But all this had been discussed while Miles and Franziska had been together. The togetherness had given Franziska the strength to go down this path, which would almost assuredly uncover many painful legacies and without his love she wasn't entirely sure that she could do it. But she felt it had to be done and who better than to resolve the whole unfortunate matter than a woman with the von Karma blood coursing through her veins.

~xxxx~

Franziska started with the "storage room" on the second floor. It was really a sitting room that had become a storage room when the servants had needed somewhere to stuff things that had nowhere else to go. She opened the door and sighed. She knew the maids came in here periodically to dust, but it didn't make a difference. The place was filthy and full of crates, steamer trunks, and cardboard boxes overflowing with stuff that hadn't been used or looked at since probably before she was born. It felt overwhelming, but she tried to make it into a game of sorts. It was like she was going to an antique mall where everything was free because she already owned it.

And there was a lot of treasure. She discovered that she and Miles were the proud owners of at least thirty works of art by famous painters that she was sure neither she nor Miles had been aware of. She also found a vintage ball gown that must have belonged to her mother.

In the upstairs storage room she found much more junk. Apparently the servants had been under orders to never throw anything away. Or at least she came to that conclusion when she found a stinky shag area rug and a broken lava lamp. It was so like her father to believe that he needed to retain ownership of even such tacky and useless items.

Every weekend Franziska spent opening boxes and swearing in German at the dust bunnies and crap she found when she was hoping to find a clue as to her sister or niece's whereabouts, but really she knew that no clue would be found in the storage rooms. It was Manfred's office that held the secret. It held all the secrets including some of Franziska's.

There were still family secrets she hadn't shared with Miles and now she thought she probably never would. She would be laid by her father in the family crypt knowing that only she and her oppressive father knew the truth about her level of devotion to her brother.

Finally the day came when she could put it off no longer. It was time to clear out her papa's office and head held high she stepped into the dark room with its woodsy smell and was immediately transported back to her youth.

~xxxx~

Franziska had been told her father wished to see her and always the dutiful daughter she had reported to him as soon as she made sure she was presentable. It was always important to look as near to perfection as possible, especially when visiting father in his office. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself to face her father. He undoubtedly was going to criticize her or give her a new task to do in addition to her fulltime job as a prosecutor. There was no pleasing Papa, but she always tried because he was Papa and she loved him.

She went to his office and knocked on the door.

"Enter!"

"You wished to see me Papa."

"Yes, Franziska. I need to speak to you urgently. Close the door."

Franziska did as she was told and then came closer to the desk.

Manfred came around from behind the desk and stood in front of her using his full height over her to increase the intimidation.

"Franziska, how do you feel about Miles Edgeworth?"

Franziska shook a little. How did he know? Who in the household had blabbed or what had he seen? Not that it mattered. Miles was a man now and Franziska was still trapped in her status as a little girl working and living like an adult.

"I HATE Miles Edgeworth, father."

"I wish I believed that, but I have observed that ever since that case I had you work on together you have seemed more how should I say…chummy with him?"

"I utilized the concept of partnership to maximize our effectiveness at catching the culprit of the double homicide, father. I use whatever means necessary-"

"Yes, yes. I've taught you well, but you're a female and therefore much more foolish than I have ever been or ever shall be. You understand that Edgeworth is your brother and a great deal older than you." Manfred said raising an eyebrow and studying his daughter's expression intently.

"Of course, Papa."

"Then you won't mind if I throw this filth away will you?"

In Manfred's hands was a leather bound journal that contained Franziska's most intimate thoughts. If he had read it he knew the truth.

"Franziska, you lied to me. I don't like being lied to." Manfred reared up and grabbed Franziska's arm.

"Come here and burn this filth. Miles Edgeworth is your sworn enemy and the only times I will allow you to see him are within the confines of a courtroom! He will no longer be invited home for Christmases."

"But, Papa. He's my brother!"

"Yes, and that's what makes your desires so wrong, Franziska! Do you understand me? Get down there."

He pointed her to the base of the fireplace as he began ripping pages out of her journal and forcing her to burn them.

When he was satisfied that she was doing as she was told he marched across the room and opened a cabinet and pulled something out.

"You shall burn this as well." He said handing Franziska Miles' viola.

Franziska shook her head madly.

"Papa, that's Miles' viola! He loves it." The look of disgust upon her papa's face was undeniable.

"Yes, and you will destroy it."

"I will not father. I won't. I can't hurt him like that."

"That is why you will fail. You are weak."

Manfred extended his arm holding the viola above the fireplace.

"No, Papa! Don't! This isn't right."

"Child you NEVER presume to tell me what is right. I am your father and you, Franziska, are a sick and twisted girl."

He smashed the viola into the mantle with such force that the antique instrument's back shattered. Tears were flooding from Franziska's eyes.

"Franziska! Do you really believe that he will ever love you as anything more than a sister and after this he won't even love you as that. He will hate you and it won't matter how you feel about him."

"How can you do this to him, Papa? How can you do this to us?"

"Because you will be the best prosecutor there is and I will not allow some insane infatuation to get in the way of that. Franziska, Miles Edgeworth will grow to hate you. I will see to it!"

Franziska launched herself at her father and he pushed her back. She stumbled and fell. Her hand reflexively went behind her to stop her fall, but landed in the fire and she screamed with pain as she felt her flesh burning. "PAAAAAPPPPPAAA!"

~xxxx~

Franziska was sitting by the fireplace and though it wasn't lit the scar from that day seared with heat as though she had just been branded. She had done all she could to forget about that day. She had never told Miles the truth about the scar even when he asked her how exactly the accident had occurred. Instead, she hid it under her leather gloves and made excuses for her father's behavior. She was clumsy. He had never meant for it to happen. It was an accident. He really loved her. He was sorry it happened. But she wasn't sure any of that was true. And she wasn't sure why even after all these years she was still lying to Miles about it.

After the accident Manfred had rushed her to the hospital and servants had dealt with the mess and the whole affair had been hushed up in true von Karma fashion. Franziska figured Papa must have been mad that his plan had backfired because instead of Miles growing angry that his sister had for some strange reason destroyed his prized possession he had coddled her worried how she could have been so careless as to trip into the fireplace. Even now when Miles pondered whatever happened to that antique viola he had once had, Franziska would feign innocence to protect her father's honor.

But Manfred had no honor. He had done terribly evil things and beign his daughter had made Franziska feel unworthy of love or caring. Maybe that was why she clung to her brother. He made her feel good, just the way she was. He loved her in spite of her imperfections, or at least he had Franziska was sure of that. Which was why his recent actions puzzled her so. Why had this transgression of hers changed his mind about her? She had said she was sorry. She had begged for his forgiveness making sure to say "please" and usually that was all it took. He was a very kind-hearted man, after all, but it was as though what she had done had made him question every other action she had ever taken.

She began to cry. She had not wanted to dredge these memories up, memories of how she longed for him, especially not when she had finally had him and foolishly lost him again. She hated the memory of her father's disgust at knowing she found Miles Edgeworth attractive and worthy of affection.

"Little brother…how could…you…" she sobbed reliving the pain of the moment he released her hand when she had told him the truth. She thought the truth was what Miles Edgeworth wanted. She sniffed and wiped her nose and her eyes came to rest upon a portrait of her father hanging by the door leering at her from the shadows. He looked commanding and stately. Manfred would probably have described it as "dignified," but all she saw was cruelty. He had been cruel to her and even crueler to Miles.

"It's your fault, Papa. You pretended to love him yet you never really did. He thinks I'm like you! That's it isn't it? You're dead but you continue to ruin my life! I hate you! I did one thing wrong and now, now he thinks I'm you!" Franziska picked up her whip and lashed the painting tearing at the canvas with her strike. She lashed it again and again wishing it were really her papa. Wishing she could tell him in intimate details all the things she and Miles had done together and how, yes, she may have lost him, but she had had him and they had been in love just as she had always dreamed they would be.

Franziska hadn't understood till now why her brother had failed to forgive her and why he wouldn't talk to her about what happened. But now she understood that he was more like her than she had ever imagined and that under his stony exterior, Miles Edgeworth was hurting…a lot.

He probably thinks I never really loved him. She looked down at the scar on her left palm and rubbed at it.

"If only you knew, Miles Edgeworth."

"Papa, if it were up to me I'd rather never have been born than be your daughter. Miles Edgeworth is everything you never could be and you hurt him and I will never forgive you, but I forgive him. I forgive him for these months of loneliness. I forgive him for how he looked at me like I was filthy. I forgive him for moving on so quickly to Josh and for finding happiness with him. I can forgive, and I choose to forgive him. Papa, I will always love Miles Edgeworth and I will always love you. But I choose not to forgive you. I hate you and I'm glad you're dead."

She marched out of the office and into the kitchen shouting Helga's name as she went.

Helga came running from the sitting room where she had been dusting. "Franziska, what is wrong, child?"

"Helga, I have made a decision. I wish to have my father's office cleared out and his possessions sold at auction and I'd like you to give the money to that organization that gives low-income kids music lessons and exposes them to classical music. I can't remember the name, but it's Miles' favorite charity."

Helga cocked her head to the side. "Are you sure? The desk itself is worth…"

"Yes. And have it done soon. No foolish delays…please. It will make Miles and I very happy to be rid of my father's stuff. It's like a noose around our necks. We just want to be rid of it."

"Ok," Helga said surprised to hear Franziska again referring to Miles like family, especially considering he hadn't come home the night before undoubtedly staying over at his boyfriend's apartment as had become Miles' Friday night habit. "But what are you going to do with the room?"

"It doesn't matter. I want Papa's stuff gone, especially that portrait. You can burn it or do whatever you want with it. I refuse to dignify any of his junk with my further attention. I'm done cleaning house. I don't care about any of this crap. I'm going out."

Franziska knew that by having the servants clear out the room there was a good chance she may be having them destroy clues to her sister's whereabouts but she didn't care. Her sister had made the choice to leave and Franziska needed to care for herself. She knew that she would never be as happy as she was with Miles Edgeworth, but she needed to quit pining. It had been nearly a year; he wasn't coming back to her and Joshua was a good man. They deserved to be happy. She would just have to train herself to ignore the stabbing pains she got in her heart when she saw them together or the way Miles eyes lit up when Josh entered a room.

Helga was having trouble keeping up. "Where are you going?"

"Into town. Shopping. I have to buy a fancy dress for that foolish benefit ball that's coming up. And I feel like something new. Maybe something a little sexy. Oh, and when you make the donation to the youth symphony make it in the names of Miles Edgeworth and Joshua Walker. Miles would like that, I think."