I just want to give a big shoutout to those who are reading, and hopefully, enjoying my story thus far and I would like to thank BladeXFire for being the first to review it and encouraged me to write my very first fanfiction and Emiko Gale who inspired me to write a ClayThena fanfic and I decided that this time around it would be just a tad bit longer than the first two. Now for the disclaimer.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies all rights go to Capcom

Back to the Present(Athena's POV)

I woke up the next morning and looked outside to see the sun barely over the horizon. Even to this day, that memory, along with many others still play vividly through my mind. I looked at the time and saw it was only 6 o'clock. Might as well get ready, I have to meet Apollo and his friend in three hours. So I got dressed and did my morning routine like I always do and headed to work. To be honest I was a little nervous about meeting Apollo's best friend,if that wasn't clear enough before, but I tried to put that thought aside and smile as I walked into the Wright Anything Agency.

"Good morning Mr. Wright," I said happily it was always nice to see him.

"Ah, good morning Athena you sure are cherry this morning. Normally Apollo gets here before you do," he said teasingly. Boss always did have an interesting sense of humor so I knew he was only joking.

"Yeah but I thought I come by early and see if I can tidy the office a little bit. Where's Trucy? I would have seen her here by now."

"Trucy left for school a little early, said something about wanting to meet up with Jinxie for some project."

"Oh okay, well I'm going to tidy my office and-," I wanted to say more but couldn't because SOMEBODY just had to interrupt and shout. Huh? I am having a weird de ja vu moment.

"MORNING EVERYBODY," of course Apollo would walk in using those Chords of Steel.

"Geez Apollo you didn't have to yell my ears are starting to ring," and I mean it I clasp both my hands over my ears in an attempt to drown out the noise.

"Oops, sorry Athena, hehe," he said sheepishly, "guess I'm just a little excited to introduce you to Clay," and there it is again. Clay. I feel more nervous the more Apollo brings him up.

"Hey, uh, Athena? Are you feeling okay? You look a little pale, should I get you something? Water, perhaps?"

'H-huh? Oh no I'm fine Apollo but thanks for asking," I don't know how much longer I can keep up this charade, sooner or later he's going to notice something.

"Well okay if you're sure, come on we have a few hours until we need to meet Clay. Let's finish those evidence logs from the Themis case while we wait," Apollo suggested and for once I'm actually happy to do paperwork. It would really help distract me and keep my mind off things.

We worked for a wile and Apollo noticed it was 8:30am and suggested we get ready. I didn't even realize the time until he brought it up, I was so busy with the paperwork I completely lost track of time. Well, I have to meet Clay sooner or later, might as well be now. I grabbed my phone and my wallet and waited for Apollo by the door and we exited the agency together. I must have gotten lost in thought again because I hadn't realized he was talking to me.

"-like him, he loves space, an expert in constellations, and hey Athena?"

"H-huh?"

"Are you REALLY sure you're okay? If you're feeling a little under the weather we can reschedule and meet him another time." I was more than ready to say yes but I didn't because I knew how happy Apollo felt about introducing his two friends to each other. Even now I can hear the happiness in his voice.

"No, I'm fine Apollo. To be honest, I'm surprised you haven't dragged me to meet him at, umm, where again?" I can't believe I forgot where we're meeting him.

"Eldoon's Noodles where else? Clay was feeling in the mood for something salty today so I suggested Eldoon. Anyway let's hurry it's almost 9 o'clock," and at that point Apollo really did drag me the rest of the way until we stopped at the familiar looking noodle stand.

"Well we're about 10 minutes early so let's sit for a bit and wait until Clay gets here. I can't wait for you guys to meet I just know you guys will get along great," and with that Apollo flashed me one of his biggest smiles I have seen yet. Apollo you're not making this easy for me you know.

A few minutes later I saw a silhouette of someone from the corner of my eye and was face to face with Apollo's best friend. As soon as I saw him I let out a small gasp. NO! No it can't be! Apollo went up to him and gave me a big hug and tried to introduced us to each other but I was too shock to even listen, or even pay attention, to half of what he was saying. And I could be wrong but I could have sworn I saw something in his eyes, almost as if I looked familiar to him somehow. At this point I didn't know what to do, I couldn't even more, my heart was racing and the next thing I saw was total darkness.

Clay's POV

My mind was on complete panic mode right about now. Let me tell you, I left the Space Center a little early so that I could meet up with Pollo and his new coworker at this place called Eldoon's Noodles but what I saw when I got there almost froze me in my step. That girl with Apollo looked vaguely familiar but where have I seen her before? I didn't had much time to react when Apollo came over to give me a hug and tried to introduced us but was only able to get a few words in until his coworker collapsed on the ground.

"Woah, hey, hey are you okay?" I don't know what made me do it but I immediately ran to her aid. Why am I doing this? I don't know her...right? I didn't put much thought into it, I was too busy trying to shake her awake.

"ATHENA! Wake up Athena!" I don't need superhuman hearing to know that was Apollo trying to wake his coworker, albeit very poorly but trying nonetheless.

"Hey Apollo is she okay? Should we get her to a doctor? She's starting to look a little pale," and I meant it too, she looks like she hasn't been outside in a while.

Apollo opened his mouth to reply but then we heard a small grunt. Looking down we saw her slowly starting to come to. I let out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding in, I was happy to see she was beginning to feel better.

"Hey, feeling better? Does anything hurt?" I asked her softly. After the fall she had I didn't think it would be smart to speak to her in my normal voice.

"H-huh? N-no, I'm fine," even though she said she was I could tell she wasn't. She reminds me of a little girl I knew once but where? I hope I will remember soon because this nagging feeling is killing me.

"Athena, Clay's right why don't we all go back to the office so you can lie down," Apollo kindly suggested. It was sweet of him to take her back but I had a better place to take her.

"Oh come on Pollo, is your office the best place to go? Let's take her back to the Cosmos Space Center. Lots of wide open fields and it would be a nice change of scenery from the cluttered mess you love to work at," I swear that office is messier than his house. I was going to suggest ideas of what we could do when we get there but, the girl who I now know is named Athena, began to look even paler if that's even possible. Athena...now where have I heard that before?

"C-c-cosmos S-space C-c-center?" she stuttered. Was there something wrong with it? We have been getting a lot of good press lately so there couldn't be anything bad on TV that could tarnish the center's reputation.

"Yeah, come on you'll love it," I gently held her hand and helped her up. I kept her close to me in case she was still feeling a little dizzy.

"Really Clay? You've only known her for about a minute and already you're trying to woo her," Apollo said teasingly. I couldn't help but chuckle at his comment, it's true that I have flirted and dated a couple of girls but I never got around telling Apollo why I did. There was this...girl that I met once almost 10 years ago that I would always hang out with everyday at the Space Center. At the time she actually lived there and everyday after school I would come over and see her.

At the time I didn't know why I liked her, I was only 14 back then but when she...disappeared I felt something hollow and empty inside. Even now I still don't know why her leaving left me feeling like something is missing so to help keep myself occupied I went out with a few ladies but they never lasted more than a week or so.

"Come on Apollo I'm only being nice to her, it wouldn't be right for me to leave a lady in distress in her time of need. Aside from being an astronaut I am a gentleman y'know."

"I know, I know I'm only kidding Clay but yeah I guess the office isn't the best place to be. Athena and I spend more time there than in our actual home."

"So THAT'S why your house is hardly ever clean when I come over," I said smirking.

"Yeah yeah yeah, come on if you insist on taking her to the Space Center than let's go now while some of her color is coming back to her face," I couldn't help but laught at his comment but regardless I agree and we started walking, well almost all of us.

"Ummm, you know the office DOES sound like a nice place to rest why don't we all go back there?" I may not have Apollo's laser like vision but I can tell she is avoiding the place at all costs but why?

"The Space Center is a very beautiful place, besides don't you want to get away from all the paperwork? Apollo once told me he had to do half of your paperwork for you," I teased her.

"Well..."

"Come on, I wanna introduce you to my mentor Mr. Starbuck, he's a really experience astronaut who works at the Space Center with me," I thought introducing her to someone at the Center would pique her interest into coming but she started to look pale again.

Apollo's POV

I was silently watching the scene before me, Clay trying to convince Athena into going to the Cosmos Space Center and Athena changing skin tones that could rival Widget's. I wasn't sure what the heck was going on but whatever it was, I was dying to find out. Even when they met I noticed something different in their eyes, it was almost as if this was not the first time they met. I will ask them about this later, Clay finally somehow convinced Athena to go so now we're heading there. I kept a close eye on my friends, Athena I haven't known as long as Clay but I come to like her like she's my sister much like Trucy. Clay, I have known him for as long as I can remember, I'm mainly keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn't go into womanizer mode. He may be my best friend but I want to make sure he doesn't try to do anything.

We finally arrived at the Cosmos Space Center and Clay was still holding Athena close to him, even when we entered the building Clay had not let go of Athena not that I can blame him. With how pale she looks she could collapse at any time if he lets go for even a second.

"Hey you guys wait here for a bit, I'm going to go on ahead and see if Mr. Starbuck is available to come out and see us," Clay said. He finally let of Athena but she started wobbling so he led her to a nearby seat so she can rest for a bit.

"Here Athena, why don't you lie down for a bit I'll be back soon, if you need anything I'm sure Apollo can help you out. He knows his way around the Space Center just as well as I do," he said and with that he left.

Knowing Clay I know he will come back so I turned my attention back to Athena.

"Hey Athena, are you feeling any better?" I asked her softly as I sat next to her.

"I'm fine Apollo don't worry about it," my bracelet was practically bruising my arm when she said that and even when she said it she was barely audible. I know something is up and as a lawyer I will find the truth.

"Athena is there something you're not telling me?"

"N-no it's n-nothing Apollo I promise."

"Athena be honest with me...do you...by chance...hate Clay?"

"W-what? No, no of course not. How can I hate someone I just met? And not only that he did escort me all the way here," okay so I can't really fault her on that last part but when she said "met" my bracelet tighten.

"Athena I know there's something that you're keeping from me. Please Athena, tell me. Do you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you Apollo it's just that-"

"Hey guys I'm back so what did I miss? Mr. Starbuck said he will meet us in half an hour or so," and speak of the devil Clay came back and just when I was close to getting to the truth.

"No Clay you didn't miss anything much," I said.

"Alright then, here Athena I brought you some water to help with your fatigue," why is Clay acting like he knows Athena?

"O-oh, t-thank you Clay," is Athena blushing? SHE IS BLUSHING! WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?!

"Yo, Pollo, you okay man? You're kind of frowning right now."

"H-huh? No I'm fine Clay, just peachy," I was grinding my teeth on that last part.

"Well okay, if you say so dude. Come on, even though Mr. Starbuck says he will meet us in half an hour, he wants us to meet him in his office so he can show you guys it. Apollo you've already seen it but Athena here still has yet to."

It may just be me, but when he said we were going to go and see Mr. Starbuck, Athena began to turn fifty shades of grey, no pun intended. And Clay didn't really give much room for her to protest since he was already literally pulling her along next to him. With a sigh I reluctantly followed them, this day is going to become more and more interesting by the minute.