Risenfromash: Ok, guys this is gonna feel like the end, but there will be an epilogue so Episode 16 has ended up being 13 segments. Thank you fro your support through this project.

EPISODE 16

Part XII

The office day had long since wound down, but Franziska still toiled in her office. She contemplated the black leather couch deciding if she minded using it as her bed fro the night. Prosecutors Edgeworth and von Karma were always prepared to stay the night. They both kept a complete change of clothes and toiletries in their respective offices for occasions when the day's work became the evening's work and then proceeded to drug on to the next morning. Papa had taught her that recuperation by sleeping was a luxury for those not dedicated to locking all the world's criminals behind bars and away from the rest of civilized society.

Tonight, though, it was less of Franziska's caseload that kept her at the office and more that she was apathetic about returning to the mansion because she knew she would simply to have to turn right back around again the following morning. It didn't seem worth the bother, not when she'd be sleeping alone anyways.

A knock at her office door startled her. She had believed that everyone else had already gone home for the day.

"Enter!"

She was surprised that it was Defense Attorney Walker who entered and stood before her. He was never one to work late.

"What do you want?" Franziska had to literally bite her tongue in order to cut off the "fool" she found herself wishing to tack onto the end of the sentence out of habit and though she did stifle her speech to appear more diplomatic she grabbed her whip off the corner of her desk, just in case.

"I came to talk to you about your brother."

"Oh, I guess you're the expert on him now, is that it?"

"Prosecutor von Karma, he needs to talk to you. He's outside."

"Let me guess. This is your idea."

"Yes, it is."

Franziska slid her fingertips on the leather of her whip. "If I do this will you leave me alone?"

Josh considered this and nodded. "Other than you whomping my butt in court you'll never have to see me."

"Except for when you come over to my house to screw my brother, is that correct?"

Josh had heard the expression "dagger-eyes" before. He'd even said it once or twice himself but never before had he witnessed it like this. He could see the intensity of her jealousy; there was weight and substance to it. He felt as though he should be ducking for fear he might be injured or lose something important like an eye or his scalp.

"Yeah well…" Josh muttered, suddenly reevaluating his plan. Why exactly was he doing this? There were many reasons why this was a horrible idea. For one thing, Franziska might very well kill her brother or Miles might give in to some internalized rage and annihilate her or, and Josh shuttered at this possibility, they could decide to gang up on him. Josh could imagine the headline, "Germany's Top Prosecutors Held for Questioning in Brutal Death of Losing Defense Attorney." It was more than a little disturbing, but he reminded himself that Edgeworth showed no overtly violent tendencies. Franziska was, of course, a different story.

Franziska felt she didn't really need to hear Miles' speech. After years of studying the oratory techniques employed by her brother she could imagine not only the content of what he had to say, but the delivery as well. He would use the same open armed gesture he used when in court giving a closing argument. He would be tactful explaining how Joshua was the center of his life now and how whatever he had felt for her was long dead. He would forego passing judgment on whether he and his sister should have ever entered into the romantic entanglement that they had been engaged in; knowing wisely that what was done was done.

His statements would all be extremely logical and show why it was time for her to move on and for them to again act as brother and sister sans romance. It would be a perfect argument. Little Brother would have once again bested her and she would be forced to say she had no evidence to the contrary, because there was absolutely no logical reason for her to remain alone wishing, hoping, and/or begging for his forgiveness. What's done is done he would say.

Franziska nodded her acceptance of Josh's request and he opened the door.

Miles entered showing no overt signs of nervousness. He had been well trained in how to hide signs of apprehension.

"Franziska, we need to talk," he said. Here we go, she thought, fully expecting an exact replay of the speech she had heard play through her head just a moment ago.

He walked towards her and Josh hung back.

"I'll just leave you two alone," he said and with that Josh dashed out the door.

Franziska realized his plan a moment too late and ran to the door, but it was already jammed shut.

Miles was furious. "Joshua! Joshua, you open this door right now, this is not funny!"

Franziska pounded at the door while Miles continued to shout for his boyfriend to open the door, but nothing happened. The siblings kept up the ruckus for several more minutes before Franziska abruptly stopped beating the door and sighed.

"Damn fool defense attorney. You sure can pick 'em, brother," she mumbled grouchily. "Why in the hell is he doing this?"

"Because he believes I'm still in love with you…and he would really like to start coming over to the estate."

Franziska snorted.

"It's not all altruistic. His hot water heater sucks."

Franziska glanced at her brother and laughed. Miles never used a word as unrefined as "sucks." Obviously, a little of Joshua had rubbed off on him and it amused her.

"Well, I suppose there are worse things than spending an evening with my brother. Tea?" Franziska walked to the corner of her office where she had a coffee maker and all the fixings for tea and coffee.

"Yes, thank you."

Franziska set down her whip and began to make her brother his favorite tea as she pondered how she was going to survive alone with him while he told her how fulfilled he was with his new life.

Miles took a seat on the sofa and called Josh's cell phone.

"You've reached the voice mail of Joshua Walker AKA The Losing Lawyer. Leave a message at the tone! And if you're one of my clients I'm just kidding…really I win every once in a while… BEEP"

"Josh, this isn't funny and you and I will have some serious talking to do tomorrow. This is highly inappropriate. I can only imagine how awkward Franziska feels and-" The machine cut him off and Miles sighed.

"I think we're stuck," he said as he took a cup of his favorite tea from his sister.

She tried to think of polite conversation. What had they talked about before they had become lovers? Surely they knew how to talk without punctuating their sentences with sensual glances and passionate kisses.

She sat down next to him on the couch and after sitting there stiffly for a few moments she asked him, "Have you done anything fun lately?"

She cringed. Of course, he'd done something fun. He'd been making passionate love to Josh.

Miles shrugged. Making small talk with her was strange, but he was willing to make an effort because she was. "I went to a wine tasting."

"Oh?"

"It was pointless. I know more about wine than the people hosting it."

She smiled remembering many lovely evenings spent with him over a bottle of a fine vintage. "Well, we're not exactly novices to the finer things." She tried to imagine Defense Attorney Walker at a wine bar or the opera. It was like picturing a lumberjack in a salon.

"What about you?" He asked.

"Working, of course."

"Yes, your case on the Hamilton murders was perfect."

"Thank you. I worked hard on it." Franziska took a sip of her tea and began to feel more relaxed. Either the herbal aroma wafting from her cup was having an effect on her or having Miles sitting next to her was soothing in spite of the strange circumstances. Yes, the topics of conversation were superficial, but to once again be speaking to her brother was wonderful.

"It showed. You were magnificent." As though with photographic memory he recalled her pointing at the culprit on the witness stand breaking him down till he not only admitted his guilt in that murder but in several others as well. Her victory over the accused had excited him and it did now, but he pushed it from his mind, old habits die-hard.

"You mean you were there? I didn't see you? Where were you hiding yourself, fool?"

"Far in the back. I thought I might have to leave." Miles didn't specify whether he believed his exit would be related to professional or personal matters and Franziska thought it impolite to ask.

The room fell silent other than the sounds of the two of them gently blowing on their tea to cool it and occasionally taking a sip.

"Josh seems nice." Franziska stated as though profiling a potential witness.

"He is." Miles smiled. Joshua was great. Well, other than this little stunt anyways.

"I don't understand how you can be with someone who is such a bad attorney, though."

"Oh, come on, sister. He isn't a bad lawyer." He was going to say that Walker's record was terribly skewed by Franziska and him, but his sister simply raised her eyebrow and he relented. "Ok. He kind of-"

"Stinks." She provided helpfully.

"But he isn't talented at piano playing or poker playing so what else is he going to do?"

Franziska laughed. She had never thought of Phoenix as a good attorney, either. His style was far too lackadaisical and haphazard for her to believe he was as brilliant as people said he was, but Walker made Wright look like a DaVinci of the courtroom. Plus, Walker's assistant was a total airhead. Franziska would have thought Walker had hired her in order to obtain access to her telephone number, but since he was gay that theory was obviously fatally flawed.

"Is this what he wants us to be talking about? Him?" Franziska said irritation seeping into her voice. It seemed unfair to her that Joshua would force the two of them to be alone like this. Perhaps he was testing her to see if she would once again beg for her brother's forgiveness, but she would not. She had requested it before and failed to receive it. To continue in that vein seemed inappropriate especially while he was in another relationship.

Miles shrugged. "I think he'd feel better if the three of us could all be in the same room together without the tension being too extreme."

Franziska growled. "Well, I'm not watching any more cases the two of you have against one another. You're disgusting. Last time I watched you I thought you were going to start ripping each others clothes off right there in front of the judge."

"Oh?" Miles went a little red in the face. "What case was that?"

"A double homicide, the name is eluding me at the moment. The man killed his wife and her lover in a fit of rage when he found them in bed together-"

"Oh, that case. Well, Josh almost won that one so I was a little…er…worked up."

Franziska knew all too well how Miles was when he got "worked up". It made her wish not only that she were a man, but also a defense attorney so she could have heated in court debates with him and then pull him into the file room and fuck his brains out afterward. The intensity of the fantasy was too great forcing her to swiftly turn her head from him to hide her blush. Damn, she thought, I still want him and intensely so. The aroma of his cologne mixed with scents from his Darjeeling was creating in Franziska erotic feelings she had all but forgotten.

She finished her tea with a large swallow so that she could use her empty teacup as an excuse to retreat to the corner of the office with the refreshments. She needed to be further away from Miles. The proximity of his body was too much for her to take. It didn't matter that he was in love with Joshua now. She was still in love with him and she still desired him.

It's over. It's over. It's over.
 She chanted the mantra to herself but it wasn't helping. Instead the words were starting to flow through her mind in the rhythm of their former lovemaking. They were pulsating with every beat of her heart, throbbing with the aching of her body. She wanted to touch him, to kiss him, to make love to him once again and she found herself desiring all those things the two of them did together, all those disgusting naughty things that weren't disgusting and perverted with him, but were when she thought of her doing them with anyone else.

She thought about him punching Klaus and how he had not only been outraged by the abuse she had sustained from him, but also by just the thought of her with someone else. She wished she had thought about that before going to Harold's hotel room. How very foolish she had been.

Miles seemed to notice that she was taking refuge in the corner and he stood up.

"Franziska, we need to learn to be around one another again. We can't continue like this. You're my sister. I won't shut you out of my life, not anymore." Miles had realized that was what he had been trying to do. Since her return he had been ignoring her hoping that by pushing her out of his life it would take the pain away. But instead he had alienated the most important person in his life. He could deny it and she could deny it, but he was a satellite of hers and he felt himself being pulled back toward orbit.

He stood up and walked over to her.

"Franziska, please try to understand."

Her back was to him so he stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. His words were gentle caressing her mind. The touch of his strong hands and his soft words made her start to melt into that gelatin she seemed to become whenever he was near enough to catch her.

It's over. It's over. It's over, she continued to chant to herself.

"I understand. You have it all figured out now." Her sarcasm was unbecoming, but she didn't care. She was hurting too badly to worry about being perfect. Miles and Joshua always together…it made her so upset, so hurt. Miles was so lucky. He had someone and she had no one, not even a friend, and no one's shoulder to cry on.

"Dear sister…" he murmured to her as his hands moved to her waist and wrapped around her torso to give her a hug.

"Miles, I'm happy for you. Really I am." Her voice was shaking. She fought to steady it, but when the tremors in her voice ceased, her body started quivering. Miles spooned her more tightly attempting to smother her shaking with his embrace.

"Miles, I'm simply jealous. You have exactly what you want."

"I don't have exactly what I want." He spun her around and planted his lips on hers. Miles thoughts were going crazy. He wanted her so badly. He couldn't deny it. At first he had blamed habit, but as he pinned her against the bookcase he realized he had never felt this wild with Josh, not even for a moment. He wasn't sure what this desire he felt for her was or why he felt like he had to be hers, but he did. Nothing else mattered. He couldn't stand thinking of her alone and he couldn't stand the sight of her with anyone else.

"Miles, what are you doing?" Franziska was attempting to resist her brother's overture. Being unfaithful was what had gotten them into this quagmire in the first place and she was committed to not making more of a mess, but Miles didn't say anything. He was too busy madly placing kisses on every inch of her exposed flesh as though his life depended on it. Franziska's head was tipping backward involuntarily in response to his touch. His hands were clutching her sides and she could feel how aroused he had become. She knew what would happen if she didn't stop him.

"Miles, Miles we can't!" Franziska was practically sobbing. Every part of her wanted him. She wanted to grab him and pull him into her. She wanted their two bodies to once again become one, but they had to think. She had to force her brother to think about what he was doing.

"Miles!" She stamped her foot his toe narrowly escaping being squashed by hers.

Miles parted their bodies for a moment but his hands remained tightly clinging to her sides. He was panting and his gaze into her eyes was intense. He knew what he wanted. "Tell me this isn't what you want and I'll stop." He challenged.

"It isn't that. What about Walker?" Miles did feel bad about that, but right now his life with Joshua seemed a million miles away. The only problem was it wasn't a million miles away. It wasn't a million years ago. It had been only a few moments ago and a few days ago he and Joshua had been in the heat of passion with one another. Miles scowled and felt the urge to cry, though as usual no tears came. His face, mere inches from hers, had a look of sadness upon it as he next spoke. "We're fighting a lot." He said looking down at the ground. Franziska was stunned. She had no idea that the two ever argued about anything more important than what to eat for lunch.

"What on earth would you two find to fight about?" Miles grinned sheepishly and raised his head to once again look into her eyes. "You," he said simply.

Franziska let out a gasp of surprise.

"Me?"

"We fight because I claim to no longer be in love with you and, Franziska, it isn't true. I've been a fool, sister." Franziska considered this and believed it to be true. It had been fear of being hurt again that had kept him away from her for so long.

"This was Josh's idea, not mine. He's not as big a moron as you think he is. Sister, he knows. He's known this whole time. I'm the one who has been in denial. He did this so we would talk to one another."

"Then we should talk," Franziska said very much wishing she could believe it would be alright to smother any words with kisses.

The corner of Miles mouth turned upward as he stared at her. "Have you not realized it yet, darling. This is how you and I talk to one another."

She thought back to the years they were together and how it had all begun. There had been no discussion, no grand admission of their feelings. She had touched him; a hand on his chest had said everything she had been unable to for all those years. She stood there bewildered and realized that he was probably right. She lifted her hand and he took it in his kissing it before placing her hand on his chest as they had done together years ago.

Miles closed his eyes for a moment wishing they were undressed so he could once again feel her long delicate fingers dance upon his skin. He opened his eyes again and saw how her face was blotchy from crying. He felt horrible for all he had put her through. He opened his mouth to say that he was sorry, but she put her fingers on his lips to hush him before resting her head on the nape of his neck. He held her close hugging her and vowing to himself to never again leave her. It didn't matter what happened; it was with her he belonged.

She felt happy and safe in his arms once again. It had been so long since she had been touched and could enjoy not only the warmth of another person's body but also the warmth of love.

"Miles, I've missed you."

Miles trembled thinking of her patience with him. He felt guilt remembering how he had convinced himself that she'd never loved him when any fool could see how devoted she was to him.

"I love you." He said and the admission brought with it a peace he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Franziska's lips pressed against his. "I love you, too." She began to pull away from him, her gaze averting his eyes. She began to tremble like a caged animal. What had he done to her?

"Oh, Miles. I'm so sorry." Her shaking wasn't ceasing so he wrapped his arms tightly around her and lifted her up off the floor placing her upon the edge of her desk. Franziska rested her arms on his shoulders and her legs draped around him.

"Franziska, I should have listened to you. You told me the truth, the very thing I have always claimed to value most. You could have lied to me and I never would have known, but you did the hard thing you were honest and I returned the favor by-"

"Acting like a man in love?" He ran the back of his hand across her cheek.

"Franziska, promise me that when you're off attempting to ensnare the world's evil-doers that you'll consider taking some time out to remember that I'm waiting for you."

She flushed. He had been right all along. She wouldn't have cheated if she had called him and admitted how miserably lonely she was without him.

Franziska put one of her hands on either side of his face and stared into his eyes.

"I'm sorry that I hurt you."

Miles rubbed his nose into her neck in that affection feline way of his and shivers extended up and down her spine. She swayed backwards and he set a few of the items that decorated her desk onto the floor so she could lay back. She closed her eyes. Even with them closed she could sense his presence near her. He put one hand on either side of her on the desk and gazed down at her.

"Franziska, please don't ever do this again. I'm sorry, but I don't think I could stand it." Franziska's heart ached. How could she have done this to him?

She brought her lips to his. "I'm so sorry."

"I know, darling," he said easing himself over her and tears of joy formed in the corners of Franziska's eyes as they kissed.

~xxxx~

Sometime after midnight Defense Attorney Walker unjammed the office door and cracked it open ever so slightly to spy inside. The only light on was the desk lamp, but it cast enough light to illuminate the naked forms of Miles and Franziska holding one another on the floor as they slept. Miles' arm was loosely wrapped around his sister and Franziska's naked body was draped across her brother's in such a feminine way it was hard for Josh to believe that this could be the same woman who heartlessly slashed her subordinates with a bullwhip on a routine basis.

The pair was so beautiful together that for a moment Josh found himself admiring them before the reality that his boyfriend had returned to his ex sunk in with him. Josh had thought this was what would happen, but it didn't make it hurt any less at least it didn't seem to lessen the blow because it hurt badly. He pulled the door shut and choked back tears that her knew he would eventually lose the battle with. He tried to comfort himself by thinking that he had pretty much made up his mind anyways. But the thought of never being with Miles again tore at his soul and he headed out to find the nearest tavern to numb the pain.

~xxxx~

The next morning Defense Attorney Walker visited Edgeworth at work. He snuck into the prosecutor's office and wrapped his arms around Miles, kissing his neck before Edgeworth even know he'd entered the room.

"Good morning, hun."

Miles jumped and turned around to face his boyfriend.

"Josh. I…"

"Don't know how to thank me. I figured as much," Joshua sighed and rolled his eyes. "It's ok."

Miles felt terrible. He really did care about Josh. He even thought he loved Josh but what he had with Franziska was deeper somehow. The complexity of the feelings he and his sister had for one another was, for better or for worse, something that he was now sure he couldn't escape from.

"I'm really sorry, but I'm going back to Franziska."

Josh had been practicing his reaction to this statement all night and now he recited it just as he had prepared it. "It's cool. We weren't going to last anyway."

Miles body stiffened. "And why is that?" He thought things had been going pretty well. They didn't fight, other than about Franziska. They had good times together and Miles could swear that they had been falling more in love with one another not less.

"Miles, it's not that I don't like you. I'm leaving."

"What?" Miles was stunned and reached for the corner of his desk for support.

"Josh, you are not going back to Greg! All that idiot does is sleep around and write absolutely atrocious poetry."

Josh hadn't anticipated this reaction and found himself temporarily derailed from the conversation he had been planning on having. "No, I'm not going back to Greg."

Miles surveyed Joshua for any signs that he was lying. Josh closed his eyes wishing that Miles gorgeous silver eyes would suddenly turn dull brown and boring like everyone else's. "And for your information Greg's novels are much better than his poetry."

"Well, I should hope so. I couldn't imagine they could be worse." Edgeworth found himself temporarily distracted by the remembrance of horribly pretentious iambic pentameter.

"I'm going back to the states."

Miles' head tipped ever so slightly and his lips pouched out as he thought. Joshua thought it was adorable so he was forced to close his eyes once more so he wouldn't lose his composure.

"Josh, that's ridiculous. You don't have to leave just because we're breaking up. We can still be friends."

"And I hope we will be, but I'll be doing it from the other side of the Atlantic. I'm not doing well here and," he leaned close to Miles and whispered "honestly, I don't dig Germany."

"Where will you go?"

"Boston. I've got a chance to get on at a firm there. I suck at this being your own boss stuff. I need someone to ride my ass." Miles lips twitched.

"You know that's not what I meant!" Josh playfully slapped Miles on the arm. "I mean I'm doing really badly here. I'd like to actually win some cases. I can only have a sense of humor about my losing streak for so long."

"You'd win cases if you spent more than a half hour preparing for them." Joshua thanked the heavens for this insult to his work habits because he needed more reasons to believe that he and Miles wouldn't have lasted. The night before Walker had tried to create a list of things that showed their incompatibility and all he'd been able to come up with was that Miles didn't like zombie films.

"Yeah, yeah. What's the point when I've got the von Karma clones as my adversaries? Really, I could prepare all week and I'd still get my ass handed to me."

"I think you're exaggerating just a little."

"Miles, I've got no clients. My bad reputation is getting around. Criminals aren't all stupid and the innocent sure as hell aren't going to sign on for a loser to represent them. Besides, my dad isn't doing too well so I need to go help out my family. I'm moving in with my sister. She's in desperate need of a roommate right now anyways. Her last one left without giving her any notice."

"You're moving in with your sister?" Miles was cracking up.

"You pervert! It isn't like that. God, Miles, you are such a freak," but his words sounded more loving than appalled.

He wrapped his arms around Miles and rested his chin on his shoulder.

"When were you going to tell me you were dumping me?" Miles asked with the subtlest hint of hurt pride.

"I dunno. I figured I had a chance of easing the pain by letting you realize how much you still want Franziska. I didn't want you begging me to stay."

"I would not have begged."

"Yes, you would have."

Miles lifted his eyebrows. Maybe Josh's self confidence did border on cockiness at times.

"Ok, you may be right," Miles conceded.

Miles felt devastated at losing his friend and he could only imagine what a wreck he'd be if he hadn't been back with Franziska.

Josh kissed his neck and Miles smiled and patted his hand at his waist.

"When do you leave?"

"As soon as I can. I got nothing keeping me here after the defeat I have scheduled for tomorrow morning."

"That defeatist attitude is why you lose."

Josh found this comment all too true. After all, it was why he was losing Miles. He accepted defeat too easily. Miles was great, amazing, and spectacular. Josh knew he should have been going down fighting. He should have been doing anything to keep him, not handing him over to someone else, but Mile's heart belonged to Franziska and Josh didn't want to get in the way of that even though it made him feel sick with sadness.

"So, hun, what do you say once for old times sake?" He pressed himself into Miles. He would have loved to take him right there in the office, to have a last intimate moment together before he departed probably to never see him again.

"She could watch," he whispered enticingly in Miles ear. Miles swallowed. He found the image very hot.

"No, I think I had better not. I think Franziska and I need more normal…" He couldn't find the word, but he knew now was not the time to explore such possibilities. Now was the time to rebuild the trust between the two of them, just the two of them.

Josh took another deep sigh. "Ok. Can I at least get a goodbye kiss?"

"What? You're not going to see me before you leave town?"

"No."

Miles had never been dumped before and he now understood why people universally said it was unpleasant. Even here where it was obviously mutual he found himself wishing he could alleviate all the pain from both of them and fast forward to some time when they could laugh about this.

Miles pulled Joshua to him.

"Please promise me you'll take care of yourself."

"You too and take good care of the Ice Princess. She really needs somebody…and maybe some therapy."

Miles nodded, but there was something else he had noticed.

"What did you call her?"

"Oh, God. You're not going to hit me or something now are you? Because you should hear what the judges call her."

Miles laughed. "No, you just reminded me of somebody…"

"No, Miles. You're not setting me up. I'm through with love for a while. I'm going to go live a chaste life with my sister."

"Sure you are," Miles said locking lips with him. Josh's lips felt so soft and gentle and Miles remembered feeling them all over him. It was sad when things didn't work out. Miles hoped it wasn't too long before Josh found someone to love him best.

Joshua pulled out of the kiss and said, "Goodbye, Ometers." And he didn't make eye contact with Miles again. If he had he would have cried. Leaving him was one of the hardest things he had ever done.

Miles turned back to his desk and found himself crying. Tears were falling onto his desk like fat raindrops.

"Miles?"

Franziska had come to visit him.

"Miles, are you alright?"

He wiped his eyes and his nose before turning to face her.

He smiled at her loving gaze. "I will be, darling."