"Apollo"gizes for the long wait, I won't spare any of you the excuses as to why because they are not even that good and I don't want to bore you anymore than I am doing right now. I am currently typing this story on my new laptop and I am LOVING it. Anyway, I want to thank Emiko Gale once more but this time for reviewing my story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ace Attorney, all rights go straight to Capcom and Nintendo

Meanwhile back with Athena and Mr. Starbuck (Athena's POV)

"Okay Mr. Starbuck, you have the right to know it's...kind of a long story."

"I promise I won't judge you Athena. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

Well I suppose it's story time I wonder how Clay and Apollo are doing right now. Okay deep breath Athena you can do it.

"After mother was killed I was sent over to Europe to live with my aunt and uncle. There I went to school and studied psychology and law."

"What prompted you to study law?"

"There are two reasons, the first is that while I was in Europe I met my boss, Mr. Wright who was also studying to get his attorney's badge back. We talked for a bit and then I told him about my special ability and told me I had potential in being a defense attorney.

"So ever since that day I would study day in and day out until I was finally certified a few months ago."

It actually felt good to get this off my chest and tell someone. I've been keeping this secret in for so long and now it's finally out.

"What was your second reason?"

My second reason was to save someone else who was also very dear to me but I wasn't ready to disclose that information just yet.

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me I understand. I'm just really glad to see you again," I couldn't help but smile at him because I felt the same way too.

"Will you...will you be going back to Europe Athena?"

That was a question I didn't expect to be asked. I had spent a fair amount of my life in Europe but aside from seeing my relatives I don't have any another reason for going back, at least not right away.

"No, I...I have been away from home for so long. I'm not ready to leave again. I don't want to leave again."

After a few moments of awkward silence Mr. Starbuck just looked at me and smiled.

"That's just what I wanted to hear Athena. Welcome home," I didn't know what else to say so I did the only thing that came to mind, I hugged him.

"Come on Athena let's go I think we've kept the guys waiting long enough."

I nodded my head and we proceeded to leave his office together. I hope Apollo and Clay are doing okay. Oh who am I kidding? Of course they are.

Meanwhile with Clay and Apollo (Clay's POV)

Well the secret's out and now look at me. I'm crying like a new born baby.

"Clay it's going to be okay I promise," Apollo said as he hugged me.

I wasn't so sure about that but I heard the door unlocking behind me so I quickly dried my eyes and tried to make myself look presentable. Mr. Starbuck came out first and held the door open for Athena.

"Sorry to have kept you guys waiting. I hope you guys weren't waiting for too long," said Mr. Starbuck.

"No we weren't," Apollo replied.

I looked over at Athena to see how she was doing since she seemed so excited to see Mr. Starbuck. She definitely seems a little happier but I could still see the sadness in her eyes. But at least most of her color came back so that's good.

"Well now that I'm free let's do something,"

"How about lunch? We didn't get to eat since I...uh...f-fainted," said Athena.

"It's okay Athena no one blames you," I said to her softly. What was that look in her eyes just now? She's looking at me like she really does know me. What the heck did she and Mr. Starbuck talk about?

"How about I take all you guys out to lunch? My treat," Mr. Starbuck offered.

I wanted to protest and decline because although no one truly blames Athena I'm a little bit worried it might happen again and looking over at Apollo I could tell he was thinking the same thing.

"Will you be okay Athena? I could help you walk there if you want?" I said to her as I held her hand. Not a moment later Apollo came by and gave her a side hug.

"You should take it easy Athena. Getting lunch is not worth it if we have to send you to a doctor before we actually get there," he joked trying to lighten the mood.

With that comment Athena showed us a smile that was full of nothing but pure, genuine happiness.

"Don't worry about me guys after all...I'M ATHENA AND I'M FINE!" she yelled triumphantly as she flashed a peace sign.

At that moment my mind did a 180. That...that phrase! There was only one other person I knew beside Apollo who would say that. It...it can't be! I'm pretty sure I look pretty stupid right now because everyone is staring at me but it was Athena's voice that broke me out of my trance.

"Are you alright Clay? I think if anyone here needs to see a doctor it would be you. You look a tad pale right now."

I can feel it too but after hearing that you can't actually blame me. There is definitely more to her. Could it even be possible Athena is that girl from the Space Center 10 years ago?!

"Y-yeah don't worry about me Athena; you just said something that surprised me that's all. But I guess I shouldn't be too surprised since Apollo said you're full of them, surprises I mean,"

"Oh well thank you. I can't really deny that claim since I asked Apollo to stab me with an arrow in our last case together," at that statement my eyes were bulging out of my head.

"YOU ASKED HIM TO DO WHAT?! YOU DID WHAT TO HER APOLLO?!" I didn't mean to yell but asking someone to stab yourself and saying it so casually isn't exactly normal to hear.

"What are you yelling at me for?! It wasn't even my idea to begin with and I didn't actually stab her with the arrow I taped it to her side. I'm not so cruel as to actually commit murder and in court no doubt,"

"I'm sorry man but you can't blame me for freaking out. I can't imagine you handled this any better than me,"

"Good point and no I didn't,"

"You should have seen him, his tow horns were so droopy and there was so much sweat dripping down his face," I couldn't help but laugh at the comment.

"Yeah yeah laugh it up. I worry about you sometime Athena and I thought Trucy was a little reckless,"

"Come on Apollo you know Trucy will always be reckless now come one I'm starving. Vamos amigos, vamos!"

After that Apollo, Mr. Starbuck, and I became victims to her surprising strength. I think I speak for all of us when I say we are all in a little bit of pain. Well as long s she's happy I'm not going to complain.

Athena's POV

I think I might have scared Clay with his and Apollo's catchphrase. But I think I scared him more with the little story I told, I hope he isn't too mad at Apollo. I dragged everyone outside to the entrance and from there Mr. Starbuck led us to his car and drove us to a nice but understated restaurant not too far from the Space Center.

"Well everyone welcome to 'La Res-toe-ran-te Estrey-as,'"

"Actually Mr. Starbuck it's pronounced 'La Restaurante Estrella.' I had some time to learn some foreign languages while I was in Europe. It means 'The Star Restaurant' in English," I explained to my English-speaking friends.

"A very fitting name for a restaurant so close to the Space Center," Clay remarked.

"I'll say in any case as long as it's better than Tres Bien than I'm for it," commented Apollo.

"What's Tres Bien? Sounds exotic," Clay asked.

"You don't want to know," Apollo and I said in unison.

I love European cuisines but that is by far the worst restaurant I have ever been to. I'm not even sure if the owner of that restaurant knows the first thing about cooking or is even French for that matter. We all decided to drop the conversation there and head inside. The smells coming from inside was becoming harder to resist.

Apollo's POV

I'm glad everyone is in a better mood, Clay doesn't looked like he was crying and Athena is back to her hyperactive self again. I'm glad this day was turning around for the better. Ring...ring... Maybe I jinxed it, let's see who's calling.

"Hello?"

"Hi Apollo how's your visit with Clay?" Mr. Wright asked. Do we have to go back?

"It's going well thanks for asking," I responded.

"That's great to hear and I know what you're thinking so before you ask no I'm not calling you and Athena to come back," I can already see Mr. Wright smirking from here.

"Oh, then what is it you wanted to tell me?"

"I just called to let you know I'm closing the office a bit early. Do you remember that project Trucy was working on with Jinxie?" Of course how could I forget? She bought all of her supplies with my credit card.

"Yeah what about it?"

"Well apparently the project they were working on involved some...explosives to put it tactfully," he said.

"Wow...to be honest if it was coming from anyone else I would be in shock but since this is Trucy we're talking about here I'm not really all that surprised. I'm just dreading the damages we might have to pay for,"

"Yup, here's hoping they won't sue us," I know he was joking but I can hear the seriousness in his voice.

"Well anyway, that's all I wanted to tell you so enjoy the rest of the day off with your friend and Athena,"

"I will thanks for telling me about it," and with that we both hung up and I proceeded inside the restaurant.

Clay was waiting for me inside when I had entered.

"Took you long enough Pollo, come on everyone's waiting for us. We're sitting in one of the booths near the back of the restaurant," he said.

"Cool let's go,"

Hey this is an additional note to those who are new to this story and are now reading my latest chapter. This story has just been updated with some minor Spanish grammar corrections curtesy of for who I am very thankful for alerting me to some of the mistakes. Guys don't be afraid to correct me if you find any mistakes, I won't mind so long as you are polite about it.