Five months later...

November 21, 1880
Le Chateau Briande
7 P.M.

I was sitting at a corner booth in The Chateau Briande restaurant with my client, Mr. Claresholme, and his family who were taking me to dinner in order to thank me for all my work on his behalf. He'd been declared innocent after a hard fought battle and I was still stunned that I had managed to pull it off.

Prosecutor Edgeworth had been at his absolute best and it had been very difficult to poke holes in the prosecution's case but I did manage to do so and presented compelling evidence that proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my client was indeed innocent and that a jealous business rival had been the one to commit the crime.

After the trial was over, Prosecutor Edgeworth had held back while my client and well wishers of all sorts crowded around us, congratulating me for a job well done. My client had paid me my fee, and more, inviting me to come to dinner with he and his family. I had accepted but had been unable to do so until this evening since I had been busy for the past two months with clients nearly breaking down my doors to have me defend them after the success of the Claresholme case.

Through the crowd, I felt like someone was watching me and turned slightly to see the piercing grey eyes of the Prosecutor lighting on me. He didn't look angry which surprised me; I'd thought that he would have been furious with his loss but I couldn't really fathom the enigmatic expression on his face nor could I explain that fluttery feeling in my stomach while we stared at each other.

I stood there for some time in silence, looking at him before I was interrupted by a reporter who wanted an exclusive interview with the "hottest new attorney on the circuit, Phoenix Wright". I gave him his interview, which took some time to complete since he wanted to know everything that had transpired during the trial and, when it was at last over and he had left, I turned to look in the direction where I had seen Prosecutor Edgeworth standing previously only to see an empty space.

A keen sense of disappointment filled me and that shocked me. Why would I have cared so much that the prosecutor wasn't there? Surely he wouldn't have wanted to stay around to have congratulations to his rival thrown in his face or pointed questions that didn't deserve answers so why was I so surprised, and disappointed, that he hadn't?

I wasn't sure what to make of this although Kate was having a field day teasing me about being a "heart breaker" much to my chagrin. My heart beat faster whenever I thought of him and he'd been invading my thoughts more and more as of late and this troubled me. I wasn't sure if what I had heard about him was even remotely true-I never believed half of what I had heard about anyone, deciding to find out for myself if the rumors were true before I made any conclusions-but it gave me pause, just the same.

I hated dishonesty in any way, shape or form and I couldn't anchor my future, or even my name, to a dishonest man. Rumors of intimidation, witness tampering and planted and forged evidence were the least of the sins that they laid at Prosecutor Edgeworth's door. The worst were that he had willingly, and deliberately, committed murder more than once and had gotten rid of the bodies in an abandoned mine shaft somewhere in the desert.

I found these last the most difficult to believe. From my limited interactions with him in court, he had always seemed to be committed to finding the truth and never once overstepped the line whenever he prosecuted a case. I had heard that he may have skated on the razor's edge of illegal but, to my knowledge, at least, hadn't yet crossed it. I wasn't certain where these rumors had started but they did have an effect to a certain degree in him being feared and shunned although never openly or outwardly.

I had the feeling that his was a lonely existence and my heart went out to him; being homosexual as I was, I knew, and had experienced, rejection because I loved men and I assumed that the same must have been true for him, too.

Mr. Claresholme was retelling a story of his youth that I had already heard more than once already and I let my mind wander as I sat back, sipping my glass of wine. My eyes scanned the diners that sat around us and I imagined the conversations that they must be having before my thoughts once again went to Prosecutor Edgeworth, that beautiful face and those intense grey eyes filling my mind's eye and crowding out every other consideration and thought.

My eyes narrowed. I wasn't sure where that had come from but I now knew that Kate was right and had been all along: I was in love with Prosecutor Edgeworth. I hadn't seen him since the end of the trial five months earlier and I yearned for his presence. I would have been happy at this point to have even caught a glimpse of him even if it was from afar.

I sighed as my head swiveled to the left... and I froze, my eyes widening. There, across the room in the company of a young man, was Prosecutor Edgeworth. I found I couldn't move nor turn my head and his eyes immediately locked onto mine and held. His mouth quirked at the corners and I couldn't fathom if he was happy or not to see me; he looked as surprised to see me as I did him.

My mouth went dry as we looked at each other, my heart hammering in my chest and I found that I couldn't look away, no matter how much I might have wanted to.

Why...can't I look away? What is about this man that attracts me so strongly to him? I bit my lip. Is Katie right when she keeps insisting that he's taken with me? I own that she's right about my attraction to him but how does he feel about it all? I know he's like me, a friend of Ganymede, but who is the young man with him?

I couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy pierce me at the thought. What was happening to me? Why was I feeling this way and what was this plethora of emotions that were racing through me? Part of me wanted to march over there and demand to know who this young man was but the more rational part of me cautioned against making a scene.

It was puzzling, to say the least, and I couldn't understand where all this rancor toward the young man was coming from. He had every right to go out with whomever he wished; he wasn't in an exclusive relationship with me so he was free to pay court to whomever he pleased.

Why am I thinking this way? What is it about him that has me all twisted up in knots with all of these conflicting feelings? It troubled me because I'd never been a jealous person before but now it seemed that I looked at complete strangers as rivals, especially complete male strangers.

It bothered me that such a thing could have possibly made me feel like a jealous lover. We'd made no promises to each other, not even one to see each other on more than a professional basis. Indeed, the subject had never even come up. I hadn't seen him since the end of the trial five months ago until this evening so why was I in the midst of jealous throes when I had no right, or reason, to be?

"Mr. Wright?" I heard a concerned voice ask and my head snapped round to see Mr. Claresholme looking anxiously at me.

"Yes?" I shook my head to clear and looked if I could see Prosecutor Edgeworth again but he and his guests had vanished somewhere within the restaurant. Once again I was disappointed and marveled at the oddness of the feeling.

"Are you all right? You've been staring into space for the past fifteen minutes so I wondered if there was anything amiss."

I smiled faintly. "No; I'm just tired, that's all. Its been an emotionally draining trial and I'm really glad its over."

My client nodded in complete understanding and began his tale again while my thoughts drifted once more to the good prosecutor who seemed determined to interfere in my life even when he wasn't physically present. I felt a little nettled about that since I doubted that I had the same presence in his mind that he had in mine.

That brought me up short. My head jerked up and my eyes widened as the thought marched across my mind. Where on earth had that come from?!

As I sat there amongst the other guests, sitting in stupefied silence, that fact crashed loud and clear though my mind. It really did bother me to think that I wasn't the uppermost thought in Prosecutor Edgeworth's mind and I really couldn't understand why it bothered me so much. What was it that I couldn't unravel? What was the missing piece of the puzzle?

And why am I so dense that I can't figure it out?! Some great lawyer I am!

It was getting late and I was tired and frustrated. Much to my consternation, I hadn't been paying much attention to what was going on around me and the restaurant was half as full as it had been when I had come in.

Mr. Claresholme and his family thanked me for my help and asked if I would need a carriage ride home; I shook my head but thanked them for their generous offer, wishing them a good evening and watching them as they left the restaurant, disappearing into the evening. My meal had been fully paid for so I decided to enjoy a glass of wine or two before heading home.

My thoughts were black as I sat there for the next hour, nursing my chardonnay. I was put out to think that I didn't matter to Prosecutor Edgeworth-I thought it was damnably rude that he had wormed his way into my consciousness and had firmly fixed himself there-and then my better sense took over and I felt bad for even thinking it.

It was a ceaseless back and forth battle and I was weary and heart sore. I just didn't understand what it was that I was missing and it bothered me that I was still in the dark about the whole affair. I practically gulped down the glass and signaled to the waiter who promptly appeared at my elbow and refilled my glass. I thanked him and took a big gulp while I tried to sort out my very raw, and confused, feelings.

I nearly jumped a foot when I felt someone gently tap me on the shoulder, squawking indignantly as I was forcefully brought back to reality. It was then I realized that the restaurant was empty save for myself which only depressed my spirits even further when I looked up to see the maître d' standing at my elbow.

"I'm terribly sorry to disturb you, Sir," he said loftily, looking down his nose, "but I was asked to give you this message."

I frowned, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "A message? For me? Who is it from?"

"I do not know, Sir. I was asked to give this to you by a certain gentlemen and he did not give his name." He took a small cream colored envelope from his breast pocket and handed it to me. I took it with shaking fingers.

I thanked him and, once he had left, opened the envelope which was pretty difficult to do since my fingers were trembling so badly. I wasn't exactly sure why this was so but it seemed to me that my body had a mind of its own lately.

I hurriedly opened the ivory colored parchment paper and saw these words written in an elegant hand:

Come to the coat room at your earliest convenience. I await you there.

It was unsigned.

This was definitely unusual. I sat there in stupefied surprise, a poleaxed expression on my face. Who could this message possibly be from and how on earth did this person know I was here?

I sat there in silence for many minutes, going over every possibility in my mind as to who might have sent this rather cryptic message, my eyes narrowing. I knew that there was a chance that an enemy of mine sent this to me in order to trap me-I'd seen it done to others who's tastes also ran to men-and have me arrested on sodomy charges which would, in one fell swoop, end both my career as a lawyer and ruin my name.

However, the more that I looked at the words written on the paper, the less likely it seemed that it would have been an enemy who had sent this. For some reason I couldn't really explain, it had a different feel to it and, despite my continuing hesitation, I felt compelled to go to the coat room and find out both who sent this and why.

I finished my glass of wine and stood up to see the maître d' again waiting for me at my elbow. My eyebrow raised slightly but I made no other comment as he escorted me to the coat room, closing the door and leaving me alone.

I had a slight flush to my cheeks because of the wine and was feeling a bit giddy as I looked around me at the wall of coats that seemed to surround me on all sides. I reached out and ran my fingertips over the fine quality materials, an odd distorted sense of being beyond time invading my perception. It certainly was a very odd feeling, to say the least, and the sense of unreality was starting to play havoc with my senses.

I heard a slight rustle off to my left and I slowly turned my head to look in that direction, my eyes narrowing.

"Who's... who's there?" I asked, my tongue feeling like it was made of lead and I teetered on unsteady feet, my hands held out sideways in order to try and steady myself.

Silence. The only sound I could hear in the room was the frenetic beating of my own heart; fear started to invade my being and I couldn't control the shaking that I could feel start in my legs and that was slowly working its way up into my arms and fingers. My eyesight had gone fuzzy and I had the terrifying feeling that someone had drugged my wine deliberately and was waiting to accost me in the coat room. Like a fool, I'd fallen for it and walked right into their trap!

I heard another rustling sound come from somewhere to my right and I whirled about which seemed agonizingly slow only to be confronted by empty air. Twice again this happened, each time coming from different directions and I was becoming thoroughly confused in this enclosed space.

"Who's there?" I demanded, reeling a little to the left and coming into contact with a rack of coats that I nearly knocked over, cursing softly while I tried to keep it upright. "I know you're there, I can hear you! Show yourself!"

I was breathing hard by the end of it and trembling noticeably. I put a shaking hand up to my forehead, pressing it hard against it. It was ice cold and I cursed myself again for falling into this trap. What had I been thinking?!

A sound from behind me made me tense and, before I had a chance to react, I could feel something soft and smooth slide across my eyes and the world suddenly went black.

I sucked in my breath sharply, lifting my hands to my face which again, to my befuddled senses, seemed agonizingly slow. My heart had nearly stopped when I'd felt the cool silk slide across my eyes and blocked out the world. I tensed again this time to fight until I heard a soft voice whisper in my ear, "It's all right, Mr. Wright. I'm not here to hurt you..."

That voice... It sounded so familiar but I couldn't quite place it although my heart beat so hard in my chest I thought it would burst. I know that voice! Where have I heard it before?

I froze, my breath coming in rapid pants, my chest heaving.

"I know that you're seeking something," the voice went on and I could feel the soft touch of buttery soft leather gloves against the back of my hand, "and I'm here to help you find it."

I held my breath, swallowing hard.

"I know that you are a friend of Ganymede, like me, and I also know that you're looking for someone." A pause. "Is this true?"

What...?

"Is this true, Mr. Wright?"

"How...how did you...know?" I asked haltingly.

The voice laughed.

"I could plainly see it as could anyone else who knew what to look for." The voice didn't sound threatening which was a wonder and I was becoming thoroughly confused over the way this strange conversation was going. "I'll ask you again, Mr. Wright: are you like me?"

"Yes," I whispered back since I couldn't make my voice go any higher than that.

"Who is it that you seek?"

"I..." I began to say but stopped. How could I tell this stranger that it was Prosecutor Edgeworth whom I wanted? I could no longer fight this feeling anymore than I could ignore it. I wanted Prosecutor Edgeworth so badly that I ached. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I couldn't any longer; my heart wouldn't let me.

"Yes?" The voice sounded like silk as it seemed to flow around me, the gloves touching every inch of bare skin that was visible. "Tell me, Mr. Wright..."

"I... can't..." I swallowed hard, my senses reeling.

"Why not?" The voice was persistent. "It's only you and I here; no one else will know..."

"Because I..." I stopped again, cursing myself inwardly, shivering as I felt the gloves pass over my cheek and I moaned softly.

"Tell me." The voice purred in my ear, the gloves tenderly caressing my bare skin. "Tell all, Mr. Wright, and I promise you that all of your trials will be over." I could feel breath on my cheek and I realized that whoever it was in here with me was standing right beside me.

"I...I..." My throat was so tight it hurt and I was having a very difficult time speaking. I didn't know who this stranger was but he-I was certain it was a male since the voice was at a lower octave than a female's might be-knew enough about me to make me very concerned about what he might do with the information if I told him.

Yet, did he not say I know that you're a friend of Ganymede, like me? This meant that, no matter who this man was, he had the same taste in partners that I did. Still it was a little disconcerting that this stranger should know so much about me while I knew next to nothing about him. I was beginning to calm though and I had to admit that the soft caresses that those gloves were making on my skin were going a long way to comfort me.

It's like he knew that all along... This was decidedly strange but I couldn't ignore the feelings that were racing through me like a careening carriage. Perhaps this is to only make me admit what, and who, it is that I really want. He's not threatening me; if he were, it wouldn't only be me and him here and I'm sure that he would have had an associate hiding somewhere close. Besides, he's like me and what would be gained if he were exposed along with me?

The air was filled with tension; it felt like the world was holding its collective breath and that everything depended on the answer I was to give the stranger who stood silently beside me. I knew he was still there by the faint puffs of breath I could feel drifting across my skin.

It all depends on me...doesn't it?

A soft chuckle confirmed my suspicions.

"I..." I began again, stopping for a moment and swallowing hard, feathering my tongue over lips that had suddenly gone dry.

"Yes, Mr. Wright?" The voice sounded like it was further away than it had been previously.

"I...I ...want... Prosecutor Edgeworth."

There was silence for a long moment that seemed to drag on too agonizingly long for my comfort; my heart was beating so loudly I was surprised that he didn't hear it. I could feel my hands starting to curl into fists and I had to make a concentrated effort to stop them from doing so.

I knew that my mysterious companion was still here with me since I could once again hear his breathing and feel it on my skin. That meant that he was very close.

"Are you certain, Mr. Wright?" The voice sounded teasing yet beneath there lurked equal amounts of trepidation and hope. "Is this truly whom you seek?"

"Yes." I could feel my heart swell as I said this. There was no doubt in my mind that this was the absolute truth. "I can't fight this feeling anymore." I took a deep breath and plunged on, saying out loud what I had been feeling, and wanting, for months in a rush of emotion that made me dizzy. "I want him in my life, I want him for my lover."

Another soft chuckle and then I could feel the blindfold being untied and slipped off of my eyes; when I could see again, Prosecutor Edgeworth's twinkling grey eyes looked bemused at me as he leaned in, cupping my face in his hands and said, "It's about time, Phoenix" before he kissed me softly, his lips curving into a smile under mine.

To hear him say my name thrilled me beyond anything I had ever experienced and the feelings that raced through me at the speed of light were incredible. His sweet mouth moved against mine and I couldn't help a soft moan escape my lips as I melted into his embrace.

I could feel his mouth opening and his tongue demanding entrance and, with a muffled moan, I obeyed instantly as it slid into my mouth. He deepened the kiss, his hands sliding down my face to my shoulders and then down my arms before they curled around my waist as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. I only hesitated a moment before I did the same.

Time seemed to stand still as we kissed, our mouths moving sweetly against each others'. It seemed as though we had been lovers for years and I was amazed at how easy I found it to follow his lead. I was content to follow wherever it was that he decided to take me.

Soon, too soon it seemed, he stepped back, his eyes looking deeply into mine while I struggled to catch my breath. I could feel his fingers gently kneading my back and his quick heartbeat. He smiled tenderly at me as he leaned in again, planting a soft kiss on my cheek, lying his head on my shoulder.

"How long...?" I asked breathlessly, my arms tightening around him.

"From that day when I saw you in Mrs. Newson's tavern," he replied.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wasn't certain about how you felt at the time. As I'm sure you understand, I can't afford to let it get out that I prefer men else everything I've worked for, my career, my law office, my good name and reputation, would be put in jeopardy."

I could understand that since I knew the risks that were entailed for men like us who preferred their own sex. I nodded, sensing that he had more to say.

"I tried to ignore what I was feeling for some time after the trial ended but it didn't go away," he continued, his voice soft, "on the contrary, it only became stronger as time passed. As I said, I didn't know how you felt so I decided to give you some space in order to help us both figure out what we were feeling and if it were truly real."

I felt his arms tighten around me. "I've missed you terribly these past five months. Many a time I wanted to reach out to you but I had to restrain myself from doing so. Uncertainty about your feelings kept me back; I didn't want you to feel pressured so I stayed in the background and bided my time until you were able to work out how you felt on your own."

So, all this time when I felt that he didn't care and worked myself up into a jealous rage, he was thinking of me all along. He was just giving me some space to work out how I felt... I felt ashamed over all the bad thoughts I'd had in his direction for the past while since I now knew that they had been unjust.

"Why now?"

I could feel his lips curve into a smile. "When I saw you looking at me from across the room where you were having dinner with Mr. Claresholme and his family. There was something in your gaze that gave me pause and I found that I couldn't tear myself away from you, that I was more than content to look into your beautiful blue eyes. That's when I knew how I felt and how you felt; I could see it in your eyes." He took in a shaky breath, his head lifting and turning to the right, his lips grazing the outer shell of my ear and I shivered in excitement at his close proximity. "That is why I arranged for you to come in here: so we could have a chance to talk privately and I could find out if what I saw was really the truth."

I chuckled ruefully. "I almost didn't; I wasn't sure if it were an enemy trying to entrap me." I blushed. "I'm very glad I did."

"So am I."

We stood together for many wonderful moments before he stepped back, a wide smile on his face. I was dazzled by that beautiful smile that seemed to light up his entire face. My breath caught when I saw the look in his eyes of the promise and beginning of a new relationship between us and the gift of budding love that we were to give to each other.

He smiled at me as he leaned in to kiss me one more time and then held out his hand. I took it in mine.

It was the happiest time of my life bar none.

He squeezed my hand and we walked out of the restaurant into the frosty November night, the stars shining brightly in the velvet black sky.