A/N: The second to last chapter of TSMOS! It serves as a bridge between the previous chapter and the next one. So let's get ready together! It's time for femslash!

Chapter 32: Preparing for forever

March 10, 2031

Central prison, visitor's room

11:00 a.m.

"...And this is such a big event in my life, so I feel like I should do something that really shows just how much this all means to me. So that's why I've decided on this. But first I want to hear what you guys think, as my parents."

Richard and Diana Newman considered Robin's words from the other side of the glass pane, while Robin and Juniper waited in anticipation for their response. The two of them had spent a few months enjoying their engagement, then at around the beginning of this year they started planning the wedding.

Today was one of their routine visits to Robin's parents at the prison, where Robin broke the news of the engagement to them. To their credit, Richard and Diana immediately congratulated Robin and Juniper on their engagement. From there, the conversation went into the few specifics that had been laid out so far, including something Robin had planned.

"It's pretty appropriate, I suppose," Diana finally said. "I assume you already discussed this with Miss Woods?"

"Robin told me first," Juniper said. "It did surprise me when she asked me if she could do this. But she's so sincere about it I found I couldn't say no."

"If you told us this seeking our approval, you didn't need to," Richard said. "We told you we would let you live your life as you wanted, Robin. But if you really want it, you have our blessing."

"Thanks, Mom and Dad!" Robin exclaimed joyfully.

"Our daughter is really getting married," Diana said, looking melancholic. "Honestly, I never thought the day would ever come, because of what we did. Now it will happen, and we can't be there. It's what we deserve."

"Ah! Don't worry about it!" Robin said quickly. "I'm going to have Myriam set up a lot of cameras to film the whole thing. So if the prison lets me, I'll send a copy of the footage to you guys!"

Juniper couldn't help but smile at this. It said so much about Robin that one of the first things she suggested for the wedding was this set up, so that her parents wouldn't get left out. The painful wounds between the Newman family closed a little more with each visit, and Juniper believed that one day they would finally close completely.

"Our daughter's certainly special," Richard suddenly said, having been observing Juniper. "A bit of a handful and sometimes stubborn, though."

"Don't say that, Dad!" Robin exclaimed, embarrassed.

"Now considering what my daughter is going to do at the wedding, I think it's time for us to have a discussion," Diana said to Juniper completely seriously. "There are a few things you must know about married life."

"Don't you dare, Mom!" Robin cried out.

March 10, 2031

Prosecutor's Office, Robin Newman's office

1:21 p.m.

"Your Mutter sounds like an absolutely delightful woman, Fraulein Robin," Klavier said, chuckling.

"Hphm. I admit, I would have like to have observed that spectacle myself," Simon added, equally amused.

"Yeah, yeah, very funny," Robin said, still feeling rather flustered from the direction that prison visit had gone.

"I do feel like I learned quite a lot from your parents today," Juniper said good-naturedly.

"So why did you summon us here, Robin-dono?" Simon asked. "Entertaining anecdotes aside, I do not have all that much time to spare."

"To talk about the wedding, of course! You're both are going to be there, right?" Robin asked.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. Of course, I don't think I'd be satisfied being just a member of the audience," Klavier said, snapping his fingers. "I may bring along one my guitars and add some accompaniment. That is, if you and Fraulein Woods accept this."

"We'd be more than happy with that! Thank you, Klavier." Juniper said.

"While I appreciate the invitation, I do not feel as if I would belong at this event. We are merely co-workers, nothing more." Simon said, not maliciously.

"Well, I have a feeling that Athena will drag you to the wedding whether you want to or n-o-t." Robin said cheerfully.

"I'm afraid you are right there, Robin-dono," Simon said, scowling. "Wouldn't just bringing Skye-dono with her be enough?"

"Of course not. You're really important to Thena," Juniper said. "She'd definitely want both you and Ema to be right there with her."

"True enough. Then I will attend this wedding. It's not very often one observes an event such as this, after all."

With how fast Simon changed his mind, Robin couldn't help but wonder if Simon had actually wanted to go and had just been too shy to say so directly.

"Has a date already been planned?" Klavier asked.

"Yup! Juniper and I are going to get married this May," Robin said, getting excited just thinking about it.

"Then you'd better clear it with Herr Edgeworth. Wouldn't want work to get in the way, ja?" Klavier said.

"Ah! Good point. Well, I'm already here, so I'd better stop by his office." Robin said. Before anyone else could say a word she was already out the door.

"You honestly wish to tie your life with hers, Miss Woods. One can only hope you know what you're getting yourself into, for once." Simon said, laughing and slapping his knee with a hand.

Juniper found she could actually ignore Simon's unique brand of humor for once. Once she was done talking to the Chief Prosecutor, Robin would come back. She would come back smiling, maybe laughing, and likely hug Juniper before telling her how the meeting had gone. So yes, Juniper did wish to tie her life with Robin's.

"This meeting has certainly been an inspirational one. I think I will return to my office," Klavier said. "Farewell, Fraulein Woods. May our paths cross again soon."

Klavier left the office, leaving Simon and Juniper alone in the office. An awkward silence settled over the room, and Juniper could only fidget anxiously.

"If you need some company still, Woods-dono, then I suppose I can wait here a little longer," Simon said suddenly. "At least until Robin-dono returns."

"Thank you, Simon," Juniper said, a small smile on her face. "I think I'd like to talk with you for a little bit."

With a loud screech Taka, who had left due to Robin's loudness, flew into the office, the hawk landing onto it's usual perch of Blackquill's shoulder.

"It seems that Taka wishes to join in our conversation," Simon said, looking content for the first time. "You'd better accommodate my bosom buddy."

"I'm sure Taka has a lot to say," Juniper said gently.

March 10, 2031

Judge Courtney's office

2:30 p.m.

Juniper managed to have a casual conversation with Simon Blackquill. They had some common ground with each other, with one of Simon's favorite hobbies being taking strolls out into the local parks, and Juniper telling him about the new flowers that were growing right now.

Even Taka participated in the conversation, at one point briefly resting on Juniper's outstretched arm when Simon asked her if she wanted to get a closer look at the hawk. It was like being in the same room as two friends, even if one was a bird.

Robin did indeed return in an incredibly cheerful mood; the Chief Prosecutor had allowed Robin to have the day off that they needed. After leaving the Prosecutor's Office they headed to the next stop on their list of places to go: Judge Courtney's office.

Luckily, John Marsh happened to be visiting the judge as well, so Robin asked him to stick around while they talked to Justine. With the date secured, Juniper asked Judge Courtney was free that day for a very specific reason.

"If I'm not mistaken, I should be available that day. But...you're truly asking this of me, Miss Woods?" Justine said, truly surprised.

"There's no one else we'd rather have it be than you, Judge Courtney," Juniper said sincerely.

"With how long you've been teaching Juniper, we'd want you at the wedding anyways!" Robin added. "Just think of this as having a special front row s-e-a-t!"

"The fact that I can attend this function in the first place means the Goddess of Law desires for me to play this role," Justine said reverently. "Very well. Expect me to be there."

"You'd better be there too, John," Robin said to the detective. "With how long we're around each other during our cases, I think it's only right."

"Okay, sure," John said nonchalantly. He leaned towards Robin and whispered. "If nothing else, I'll come along to make sure Mom doesn't ramble on about the Goddess of Law for too long."

"I heard that, John," Judge Courtney said softly but dangerously. "If that is what you wish, I could get it all out of my system… the next time I visit you."

"...Well, by the looks of it, I might not be able to make it after all," John said as Robin started laughing. "But I'll keep you posted, Boss."

March 10, 2031

Wright Anything Agency

4:00 p.m.

Of course, everyone at the WAA were the first to learn at the wedding. As such, they did their best to pitch in getting things in order. To certain people, making sure there were no hitches in the plans was very important.

"Non non non! If you can't make a delivery there there's no point in us having this conversation at all!" Athena shouted into her cell phone. "So either buck up, or you can say goodbye to our business!"

"Athena, at this rate we're going to end up eating on the ground," Apollo said in his usual deadpan as Athena ended the call. "I don't think you should be so wound up about this."

"This is my best friend's wedding, Apollo," Athena said intensely. "If that catering service isn't going to make the effort we are, then we're better off without them."

"I'm really glad you're trying so hard, Thena," Juniper said. "But I didn't realize there'd be so many problems with where we're holding the ceremony. Maybe we should move it somewhere else."

"Don't start thinking like that, Junie!" Athena urged. "We'll think of something. I'll do it all myself if I have to, so don't worry."

"You really don't have to go that far," Apollo said. "Though, thinking outside the box certainly wouldn't hurt."

Robin, who had been listening the entire time, did her best to think of a solution to the dilemma. Hugh, had been reading a book at his desk, adjusted his glasses in the way he did whenever he was deep in thought.

"I think Athena's suggestion has a lot of merit," Hugh suddenly said. "It's not like there's all that many people in attendance, and some other aspects are being handled by Juniper and Robin themselves. I don't think there's a reason why we can't pool our resources."

What Hugh was talking about were two specific parts: The dresses and the rings. Unsurprisingly, Robin was making the rings herself, and had scrapped her designs at least five times. The dresses fell to Juniper, who had personally drawn up the designs, and was going to start making them soon. As for the catering…

"Okay, so to put it another way all we need is a few tables, chairs, and someone to make some food!" Robin said enthusiastically. "Can you think of how we can do that, Hugh?"

"Well, chairs and tables are simple enough. We can just rent them from somewhere," Hugh answered. "As for food, I'm not about to burden my best friends by asking them to cook on their own special day."

"Come to think of it, how many of us can actually cook here?" Apollo asked.

"Oh, I can cook!" Trucy said, having listened in on the ongoing conversation. "It was one of the first things I learned living with Daddy."

"Then I'll pitch in to help Trucy! What? I know how to cook," Athena said defensively in response to the stares. "My Mom's relatives taught me back when I lived with them, and it was a useful skill to have when I studied law."

"Well, my Grandma could help out Thena and Trucy. I'll ask her about it when we go visit her," Juniper said. "Though, I'm hesitant to ask her for anything besides her presence."

"Knowing your Grandma, she'll probably have a list of things she wants to do ready," Robin said playfully.

For a moment, Juniper felt herself become overwhelmed by all the support she was receiving. As usual, things weren't proceeding exactly as planned, but with every wrinkle everyone contributed to smoothing it over. Already, Juniper wanted to do her own part, and her mind went to the designs she had waiting back home.

March 10, 2031

Twilight Horizons home

5:30 p.m.

The final stop of the day before going home was the old folks home where Virginia Woods was contentedly spending her days. The elder lady was very much an active part of the community, and in fact more or less took charge of the place not long after coming here.

Unsurprisingly, Virginia was leading her fellow residents of her home out on a stroll when Juniper and Robin found her. Her expression brightened as soon as she saw the two women, and she excused herself from the group.

Also as expected, Mrs. Woods immediately agreed to contribute and supervise making food for the wedding, and just as Robin said she had other suggestions. It took a while to convince her that her only other job was to enjoy herself.

"Miss Newman! How does your career fare?" Mrs. Woods abruptly asked Robin.

"It's going well! Mostly because I have Juniper here to help guide me!" Robin answered reflexively.

"That's good to hear. I'd be displeased if you lost your temper again," Mrs. Woods said softly.

Juniper couldn't help but sigh. What her Grandma was referring to, of course, was the Vitamin Square case. Virginia had given Robin a verbal reaming for that, and even after all this time she still hadn't quite let it go.

"Grandma, I understand why you feel the way you do, I've forgiven Robin for what happened. Could you do it too?" Juniper asked.

"Well, she could convince me that it won't ever happen again," Mrs. Woods said reasonably.

"Oh! If it's proof you want, then I think I have something pretty decisive," Robin said. "I wanted to ask for your approval for something anyways."

With that, Robin told Juniper's Grandma the idea she discussed with her own parents this morning. Juniper voiced her own thoughts on the matter as well, mainly that she understood what this would mean and she was behind it a hundred percent.

In response, Virginia Woods repeated the idea out loud once, then again as if to make sure she had heard it correctly. Finally, she rewarded Robin with a soft, sincere smile.

"Yes, that's all the proof I need. As for what you're doing, I give my full approval," Mrs. Woods said proudly. "It's the most fitting way of welcoming you into the family, Robin."

Family. The word echoed around in Juniper's head, with all the significance that came with it. From the moment they met, she and Robin had been fast friends. From best friends, they evolved into lovers. In May, their relationship would evolve one last time: binding themselves to each other as family, now and forever.

A/N: Yes, I was intentionally vague about a few things to keep all of you guessing. Just two parts left: the final chapter, and the epilogue. I may post them both at the same time. It will take a little longer, but it's all worth it for the best finale. Until then, this has been Orion Fowl, and thank you for visiting my Corner of Romance.