Chapter 3 – Just the Start
A/N: Hopefully this chapter is a little shorter than the last one…
The rain poured down as Athena abruptly woke up in the middle of the night. The dull moonlight poured through the window and focused on Simon, soundly asleep – the white patch of hair standing out in the darkness. This was one of the only moments of each day where Athena got the chance to see Simon completely at peace. It usually comforted her enough to eventually lull herself to sleep, knowing that he was safe and with her. But tonight, Athena was finding it hard to stay asleep. As soon as she closed her eyes to try and convince herself to sleep, she immediately opened them.
"Simon." She whispered and tapped his arm. "Simon…." She said louder and started slapping him. Simon groaned and turned away from her.
"Thena, just go to sleep." Her heart always fluttered when he used her nickname. She had to remind herself to breathe.
"The heartbeat." She blurted.
"What? Your own or mine?" His voice was gravelly and tired, but she could faintly hear some worry.
"The baby's." Simon quickly turned around and opened his eyes to meet his wife's bright blue eyes, which were shining with emotion.
"Really?" He couldn't contain the excitement in his voice. It only added to Athena's own excitement.
"It's faint, but it's definitely there. It's like an echo to ours." She put her hand on her belly, sub-consciously. "They'll probably let us hear it properly at the scan."
"Mmm-hmm." Simon had already started dozing off but a smile was still on his face. Athena kissed him.
"Sleep well." She whispered to both her husband and her child.
"Well, Mr and Mrs Gavin. There's your baby". Ema couldn't believe it – here was their child but it was so… tiny! She could barely make out its features on the screen.
"It's so small, yet it's alive?" Klavier always managed to echo and voice her own thoughts.
"Absolutely." The doctor nodded. "It won't be small for much longer though. Do you want to know the gender of the baby?"
"We can know that now?" Ema asked.
"Sure. But we can always do it at a later scan if you want to think about it."
Ema looked at Klavier – unsure. Klavier looked just as uncertain but still said,
"We might come back at a later scan. It's pretty exciting just seeing it alive."
The doctor just smiled and nodded. She printed out the picture of the scan and gave it to Klavier. He marvelled as he held the image in his hand and then pocketed it. The doctor gave Ema a towelette to clean the cold gel off her stomach. "Well that's you guys done. I'll see you in a month's time for the next check-up and scan." And Ema and Klavier were waved out of the clinic, smiles on their faces. They walked down the street, hand in hand, enjoying the clear day.
"I'm going to have to tell Herr Edgeworth pretty soon. It wouldn't be good to surprise him with this kind of news after you've started to show." Ema didn't know how to describe Klavier's mood but she would probably say he looked both nervous and resigned. She knew he was uneasy about sharing some big, private news with his boss – especially when he didn't want the public to know their special news yet, but they both knew he had to. She always marvelled at how personable and real he was when they were alone, the smooth, confident façade gone.
"I'm sure Mr. Edgeworth wouldn't mind this little announcement. You are one of his best prosecutors after all and you know he has a right to know. I'm sure he's had others tell him stuff like this before."
"Of course, he has. It's just… I'm not used to this kind of conversation, ja? I don't even know why I'm this nervous about it. It's just a conversation with Herr Edgeworth that will last about five minutes. Nothing huge." His attempt to give himself a pep talk was feeble at best and Ema knew it was unlike him to be so nervous. Klavier squeezed her hand and sighed. "But I'm still uneasy about this."
"You are one worried fop. I'll come with you if it'll make such a difference." Klavier smiled at her. "You can always show him the image too. Don't guys have a little geek out at those things? And I'll even add some scientific details that you'll leave out of your little conversation. I'm positive that Mr. Edgeworth would love my anatomically detailed description of your beautiful body." She tapped her chin, thoughtfully. Klavier's smile faltered, he dropped her hand and stopped.
"Ema!" Klavier was shocked at Ema's suggestion, yet curious at her description of him from her point of view. How do I look in bed from her perspective? The thought briefly crossed his mind before scenarios appeared in his mind of Ema's explanation of details to Edgeworth, uncomfortably yet politely sitting through her enthusiastic detail, gradually becoming paler.
He shook his head while Ema laughed. "Mein Gott, Ema. You couldn't do that to Herr Edgeworth, even if you tried. You'd get embarrassed before he would."
"But you'd get turned on." She shot back. Klavier coughed but smiled anyway.
"Let's just keep this news to ourselves… and Lana," he said in response to Ema's look at him, "…for a little bit longer, ja? When I get around to it, I'll do the talking, danke. By myself, I'll be fine. I might show him the scan picture. No detail from the mother-to-be needed." Ema attempted to look innocent. "But maybe you can tell me this beautiful, anatomically detailed description of myself?" It was Klavier's time to smirk.
"Sadly, it's not suitable for children's ears, fop." She said, placing both hands on her stomach. And in response to Klavier's exasperated expression, she only smiled.
Phoenix really did try to convince Edgeworth to come over to the office so he could share the news but naturally, the Chief Prosecutor was far too busy with no time to spare, save for a phone call. This "excuse" didn't really satisfy anyone in the office, including Maya, but there was nothing he could do. And so, Phoenix found himself sitting at his desk, holding his phone in front of him, dialling Edgeworth with the watchful eyes of the unsatisfied co-workers/friends/Mr. Hat/family/wife around him.
"Put it on speaker!" Trucy whispered loudly. Phoenix just rolled his eyes as he pressed the screen on the phone. He would have preferred to talk to his best friend in complete privacy but that was a luxury unknown to these particular people crowding his desk, especially when it was Phoenix's life involved.
"Wright." The familiar voice sounded. There was always some comfort in hearing this voice – it was friendly, at least to Phoenix. No matter the tone, one could always have some form of civilised conversation – even though it could be awkward. "I was expecting your call when I got your message. What is it you so desperately wanted to talk about?"
"Edgeworth. I'm so glad we can finally talk…" All his words failed him. "Uh… How have you been?" Phoenix chose to ignore the eye rolls from his audience and Athena's exaggerated hand signals to just tell Edgeworth the news.
There was a cough from Edgeworth.
"Wright, just spit it out." Phoenix could hear Edgeworth's glare in his voice.
"Ah… right… well… I would have liked to tell you this in person…" Phoenix took a breath and looked at Maya who just gave him a thumbs up with a reassuring grin on her face. He breathed out. "Maya and I are expecting… and I guess I wanted you to know."
Silence. Phoenix's audience held their breath as more silence followed.
"Well…" Edgeworth finally said. There was a collective sigh in the office, that Phoenix was sure Edgeworth heard. "…Congratulations, Phoenix. I-I know this has been a long time coming." Edgeworth's voice had an odd emotion to it. It had softened – Phoenix thought there was a combination of surprise, happiness and a twinge of sadness. Athena seemed to hear the same, though her face reflected the sadness she heard.
"Thanks, Miles. I… We…" He took a breath, not knowing what else to say. "This is all a bit surreal to be having a conversation with your best friend about your own future children."
"Yes, well." Edgeworth's voice was cold and curt again. "I have to be somewhere now." There was a pause and Phoenix almost hung up before he heard quietly, "I'm… touched that you felt to include me in this part of your life, Wright. Let me know how it goes for you and Maya." The line went dead.
Despite the stunned silence from the audience, Phoenix smiled to himself as he put the phone down. He didn't know how he had expected Edgeworth to react, but the reaction hadn't really surprised him. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted Apollo slipping $10 to Athena with resignation written all over his face.
"So, Edgeworth didn't smile but he didn't shake my hand. I'm not sure you entirely won that bet, Athena." He smiled and folded his arms
Athena looked shocked and froze, caught in the act of receiving her wager, while Apollo appeared to have totally forgotten that part of Athena's bet and instead just turned to glare at her.
"But Boss! The Chief Prosecutor didn't smile. His emotions were too mixed. And it was a phone call so obviously he couldn't have shaken your hand… right?"
"Oh, I knew that. The question is, did Apollo?" The continued glare at Athena from Apollo was enough to give Phoenix his answer. "Too cruel, Athena, to be betting on different terms to Apollo. So, as your boss and technically, the person who the bet was related to, I suggest that I get the $10." There was immediate uproar from the attorneys at this statement, yet Phoenix continued. "Because neither of you seem to be able to agree on the bet."
The two attorneys could not deny this and with a sullen look on her face, Athena handed the $10 to Phoenix. There was a big grin on his face.
"Who knew a simple bet could be the beginnings of something so important?" Both junior attorneys looked puzzled.
"… What do you mean, Mr. Wright?"
"Well, you and Athena are the first sponsors of the baby's college fund, Apollo." And Phoenix walked away to his room, leaving everyone else in a state of mild surprise – except Maya and Pearl, who looked ready to give Phoenix a good whack on the arm.
"NICK!" She shouted at his retreating figure. "If it's a girl, which I know it is – she's going to Kurain Village!"
"Of course, she would be, Maya." There was a gentle reassurance in his shout. "But we all know it's going to be a boy."
The rest of the people in the office suddenly became interested in the office plants and the piles of paperwork as Pearl quietly mentioned something to Trucy about Mystic Maya's usually and uncannily accurate predictions of the future. Maya huffed off in the direction of Phoenix's room, her choice opinion about the child's gender audible to every ear in the apartment block.
A familiar tune sounded from Mia's phone as she and Diego were leaving the office at the end of the day.
"Maya! I'm so glad you've rung! How were your lessons?"
"Hey, Mia. Hey, Diego" Maya just assumed that Diego was with Mia whenever she rang. "The same old, Mia. Waterfalls are brilliant for the mind, you know." Mia laughed.
"Oh yes, I love the feeling of cold water pounding down on my head and shoulders in the morning. Just with hot water instead of freezing cold. Also known as a shower. Maybe you've heard of it?"
"Mia! Waterfalls are the best! You're totally missing out by being in the city!" Mia just smiled.
"Maya, I'm pretty sure we have this debate every time I ring you. But it's not why I asked you to call me. I told Aunt Morgan I had a question for you so… here's my 'question'. Just keep your voice down alright?" She glanced up at Diego while she was talking and he held her hand.
"Ok, Mia." Maya's voice was totally serious, almost worried. "What's wrong? Are you and Diego ok?"
"Couldn't be better, Maya." She couldn't stop beaming and neither could Diego. "Let's just say, completely hypothetically, that one of your friends told you that they were pregnant?"
"Yeah, and?" Maya sounded thoughtful.
"Well, how would you react if I told you that that someone… was me?" Maya just gasped. "Maya?"
"No." She whispered.
"Yes."
"For real?" There was an edge of excitement and wonder in Maya's voice.
"Yes!" Mia couldn't contain her excitement any longer. "Oh Maya, it's so exciting! We're about to go get a scan. I wish I could come and see you and tell you at the village, but I don't think Aunt Morgan will like the news, so keep this hush. Ok?"
"Of course! Mia, you're gonna be the best m-… attorney." The excitement vanished.
"Maya?"
"You should definitely accept the promotion. You're already a great attorney and you could do so much more with this better job. Think of the people around you. I'm so excited for you, Mia. I'm sure Diego will be a wonderful help too." There was a pause and Mia looked at Diego uncertainly. Then Maya breathed out. "Sorry, Aunt Morgan was slowly passing. If she asks, I'll just tell her you wanted to talk to me about a job promotion." She was speaking more hushed now. "Really though, Mia. That's brilliant. I can't believe this is happening! I hope she can come to the Village and become a great spirit medium."
"Maya! We don't even know the gender yet!"
"I know, but I think it'll be a girl. Congratulations to the both of you. You'll both be wonderful parents." She whispered the last bit.
"Thanks Maya. Hey, when you get the chance, you should visit – even if it's before-"
"Morgan." Maya coughed, discreetly and quietly but clearly.
"Like I was saying, you should visit me at my new job." Mia knew that Maya got the real understanding.
Their phone calls were always tweaked to hide the real events of Mia's life from the prying ears of Morgan. While Mia didn't really care what Morgan thought of her, she knew that Morgan would make life hell for Maya. She knew Morgan would use any method to try and cause Maya to fall away from the position of Master of Kurain that was hers to inherit after many years of training. Mia could picture her talking crassly about Mia to annoy Maya and then try and convince Maya that the Village was not the place for her. Mia couldn't let that happen to her sister. She would usually send a letter to Maya – they were usually safe from prying eyes but a letter would take far too long and this was something that Mia needed to tell Maya herself. The only thing she allowed Morgan to find out the truth about was Diego's presence in her life. Although she knew her aunt hated men, she wanted her to know that for herself, Diego was a big a part of her life as the Village had been.
"I can't wait – I'll see when I can take a break from lessons for a couple of days." Mia nodded, even though Maya couldn't see it.
"Alright. Keep in touch. Love you Maya."
"Ok! Bye, Mia! Bye, Diego!" Diego smiled – Maya never forgot to say hi or bye to him. Mia smiled up at him as they touched noses, perfectly content.
A/N: Hope you liked it! I know the Cykesquill bit was definitely shorter but I'll make up for it :) It's been a while since my last update but I'm coming back into uni so don't expect anything until the end of the year :( Keep the reviews coming though - I do check up on them from time to time!