Honestly you couldn't believe it, really you should of expected it. But it was hard to when you had thought that today's trial was going to be nothing but a vain attempt. Walking to the street hailing a cab you turned to look at Phoenix and Mia seeming so happy.

"Celebratory lunch?" You bit back a wider smile.

"Hmm" Mia hummed smiling as she closed her eyes. "I'd love too, but I'm afraid I don't have very much time left, perhaps wait for maya?" Mia opened her eyes to look at you. Phoenix frowned.

"But you helped us a lot! How can we have a celebratory lunch with out you!" Phoenix frowned a little more.

"I can't take all the credit" Mia waved her hand in dismissal. "After all there were many times that I thought you two were doing spectacularly by your selves...you do make quite the duo" Mia smiled at you knowingly.

"But we'd of never been able to talk to Cody if it wasn't for you! And some more clues we found it was thanks to you!" You didn't want to take all the credit either, even if you and Phoenix do so well together. Mia just smiled sighing.

"I guess" she let out a slight laugh. "Say Phoenix, would you mind running inside and getting me some water? I'm a bit dry mouthed, with everyone leaving the court house all at once we've got time before getting a cab" Mia smiled innocently at Phoenix who blinked down at her.

"Oh uh-sure" Phoenix shrugged only to turn and look at you. He squeezed your hand suddenly like he wanted to remember the feeling of your small hand in his. "Do you want anything?" He blushed a bit.

"O-oh I'm okay don't worry if we're getting lunch soon I'll last" you laughed feeling your heart skip a beat. Phoenix just nodded hesitantly releasing your hand from his to turn and go back inside the court house in search of some bottled water leaving you and Mia alone. Mia turned to you tapping her fingers against her arms after crossing them and clutching her forearm with one hand.

"When do you think you're going to tell him?" She didn't beat around the bush. You blushed furiously feeling shocked she even said that.

"W-what do you mean?!" You slowly turned to face her feeling on the spot. You knew she was going to be able to pick at you easily. She just smirked a little giving you a playful look.

"You know what I mean (Y/N)...not even a blind man could be blind to the love you and Phoenix share" Mia just smiled more. She seemed so relaxed about it. You on the other hand weren't. You looked away from her dropping your arm to your side biting your lip, you didn't want to wave for the cab now. You wanted to play dumb but it was useless with her, you two had been best friends for years, you'd be a fool to lie.

"I....wasn't planning on it any time soon.." you trailed off. Mia's eyes widened.

"What?" She didn't believe it.

"Well I mean it's just...I don't know, I mean! We know there's something there...after his trial we decided not to act on it, I mean I'm still fresh out of a relationship and he said he wasn't ready himself so we just kinda wanted to wait... but now I don't know I guess I'm just scared cause we're close friends I feel like I could tell him anything! And you know you're the only other person that I've felt that way with.." you gently hugged your self. Mia nodded slowly, she seemed to know something you didn't about the reason why Phoenix wasn't ready for a relationship.(You figured that because when you said it she made a face.)

"I see.." Mia trailed off. "You do seem very close, but if you're ready you have to take a leap of faith..." Mia just sighed again.

"No!" You looked at her quickly. "I just!- I mean it's complicated!" You bit your lip again suddenly remembering the almost kiss from last night.

"Are you ever planning to tell him?" Mia raised a brow tilting her head to the side.

"Well..." your breath hitched. "No...actually... I did promise my self I'd say something if we're ever in danger again, life threatening that is" you closed your eyes.

"And why is that?" Mia was curious now there weren't a lot of times you had been in danger like that, sure during maya and Phoenix's trials you had been but that was a first serious danger you had faced.

"Yesterday, when we went to studio two I slipped on those wooden stairs to the trailer in my heels" you lifted your leg up showing Mia your slippery heel, it wasn't meant to be slippery but on the certain types of surfaces it could be. You lowered your leg. "The railing for the stairs isn't very high and I almost fell over into the spiked fence I knew the moment I tripped I'd of been impaled...if it hadn't of been for Phoenix I would of died...he caught me at the last second." You let go of a shaky breath.

"And that made you think about confessing in another situation like that?" Mia looked confused.

"Kinda" you shrugged. " I mean everything was moving so fast afterwards and I just, didn't know what to do I was panting so hard! Then a while after yesterday I promised my self if I almost die again I'd say something...I can't go with out saying something!" You pinched the bridge of your nose.

"Hmm" Mia nodded her head thoughtfully. "I see why you want to hide your feeling, your connection with him is stronger than your one with Edgeworth...Phoenix makes you much happier, I can see that as clear as day" Mia pressed a finger to her chin. "If you want to know the truth of why I invited him over to go out with us that night I was murdered, I was secretly hoping you two would hit it off...I knew the moment I took him under my wing you two would be a perfect duo" Mia nodded with a faint smile. "Fate is a strange thing (Y/N) it's not something people can mess with, I won't make you tell Phoenix about how you feel I understand your need to take your time...but I will say this: if he makes you happy don't wait, because there will come a day when you both walk separate paths and you won't see him again for a very long time" Mia nodded as she spoke she sounded almost spaced out.

"What do you mean by that?" Your face twisted. "I don't understand..." you trailed off.

"I don't expect you to understand yet" Mia smiled crossing her arms normally now. "It's very far into the future if that gives you comfort, I'm only saying is that you shouldn't wait because you'll only make your self suffer! Go your own pace, but tell him eventually you never know when you could loose somebody!" Mia nodded finally getting her point across to you. Your eyes narrowed in thought before turning your head as Phoenix had rushed back.

"Here!" Phoenix handed Mia the cold bottle of water. Mia took it thankfully smiling at Phoenix before she opened the cap with a little click after she took the cap off she began to drink. "Sorry I took so long I couldn't find the vending machine" Phoenix slouched. You looked at Mia who looked at you recapping her cool drink. You both shared a look that Phoenix couldn't read. "What happened while I was gone?" He straightened himself up looking confused.

"Nothing" Mia smiled at him, "thank you for the water Phoenix" Mia hummed a little.

"Sure no problem" Phoenix raised an eyebrow looking at you for help, you only avoided his gaze. He didn't get it when happened while he was gone?! "Did we not get a cab yet?" Phoenix pouted.

"We were waiting for you, (Y/N) figured that would be when the cab would swing around, right (Y/N)?" Mia stared at you making you jump.

"O-oh yeah totally!" You waved your hand in dismissal. "Isn't that how it works?" You avoided Phoenix's gaze. He narrowed his eyes at you suspiciously.

"Edgeworth didn't come over while I was gone did he?" Phoenix seemed concerned about you.

"What?!" You felt your stomach churn. "No...no he didn't don't worry and even if he did I had Mia she'd of punched him" you sighed looking at Mia who smiled innocently.

"I would never do such a thing" she had an all too innocent smile now.

"I believe it" Phoenix stared at her as he laughed a little. Mia looked at him before she laughed her self. Soon you even found the laughter contagious you began to join them now trying to wave down a cab. The laughter died as the cab swung to the curb and came to a stop all three of you piling in to the cab. This time Mia sat in the front giving you and Phoenix space as she told the driver where to go.

You didn't want to talk to him during the ride feeling your heart heavily beating in your chest. You couldn't wrap your head around Mia's words, a day where you'll both drift apart? It was impossible to think about Phoenix and you splitting apart, you were a team now along with maya. What did she mean you wouldn't see him for a very long time? You just stared crossing your legs resting your elbow on them to rest your chin in the palm of your hand after.

"Where do you want to go for lunch?" Phoenix broke the silence between you suddenly. At first you didn't hear him staring at your reflection with concern, you wouldn't see him for a very long time. She said it was far in the future but you still couldn't help but ponder. "(Y/N)?" Phoenix called your name a little loudly jerking you from your thought. You winced slowly turning to look at him.

"Yeah?" You shook your head to get out of your worried state.

"I just asked where you wanted to go for lunch?" Phoenix looked worried about you.

"Oh!" You blinked shocked releasing your chin to drape your arm over your leg. "I'm not sure but we should go some where to eat fast, we can have a celebratory dinner instead. We have some homework to do right?" You smiled at him, but he saw it was strained. Phoenix glanced at your hands before hesitantly scooting closer to you.

"Are you okay?" Phoenix stared deeply into your (E/C) eyes staring intently at the (gold/silver) flecks that sprinkled around them.

"I'm fine" you smiled more at him this time trying to make it believable. Phoenix squinted his eyes suspiciously.

"I don't think so" he was looking at you like he had looked at the witnesses in the witness stand. It made you want to squirm in your seat. "I think something happened while I was gone and you don't want to tell me" he smirked a little seeming pleased he could read you so easily. Then it fell into a worried look. "Am I right?" Silence fell over you two.

"Yes" you took in a breath deciding to be honest. "But it's nothing to worry about" your eyes stared into his, Phoenix opened his mouth to ask you something but the cab came to a stop. Slowly he got out not letting you pay for the fare paying himself before he had gotten out now waiting patiently for you to slide out. He took your hand as you swung your legs out helping you to your feet as Mia stood beside him. She looked dizzy.

"When we get inside don't wait up for me I have to sit down for a moment" Mia looked between you and Phoenix nodding. You looked at her knowing that maya was about to return, you missed her if you were being honest. You nodded before walking inside the office building with Phoenix all three of you in the elevator going up to your floor before getting off. You and Phoenix waisted no time to get to his office. He sighed relieved sitting down in his desk chair relaxing fully. Mia had gone to sit on the couches outside his office door in the receptionist room.

"Boy am I glad to be back here!" Phoenix stretched out while you leaned against his desk by his side with an amused smile.

"You sure seem like it" You laughed a little. "Do you have any idea who could of committed the murder? I'm drawing a blank" you sighed shaking your head. Phoenix sat straighter leaning against his desk turning to look at you from where you were leaning on his desk beside him.

"I think I have a pretty good idea of who it is" Phoenix nodded with a thoughtful look. You gazed at him shocked.

"Really who?" You were curious now.

"Dee Vasquez" Phoenix rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Really?!" You were shocked he had arrived at that conclusion so fast. "I knew I had a bad feeling about her but the murder really?!" You gasped out a bit.

"Well I think Hammer had taken the steel samurai suit to pose as Powers and planned to do something to Vasquez but what I'm not sure, and why she killed him I'm not sure but it's a start" Phoenix looked up at you. "What do you think?" He raised a brow.

"It's a definite possibility, the studio was paying Hammer pennies for his acting...and with Dee Vasquez as the producer..." you trailed off before squinting your eyes. "Remember What penny said about there being an incident involving hammer that she seemed nervous to talk about?" You looked at Phoenix.

"Yeah?" Phoenix looked curious now.

"We need to be asking around about that I have a feeling that's a key part!" You smiled a bit as Phoenix agreed with you. You caught movement in the corner of your eye at the door making you turn your head to look at it as Phoenix had. He assumed it was Mia.

"That case had been a close one, huh, Mia?" Phoenix was trying to strike up a conversation, you didn't think he realized Mia had been so dizzy getting out of the cab because she was loosing connection to maya.

"Really? Too bad, I'm sorry I missed it!" Maya stood in the doorway with wide eyes smirking slightly that Phoenix had mistaken her for Mia again.

"M-Maya!" With how shocked Phoenix sounded you didn't think that he'd ever get used to maya channeling Mia.

"So, what happened? You guys look pretty tired!" Maya walked over to you and Phoenix looking curious.

"Phoenix thinks he pretty much knows who the murder is" you turned away from leaning on the desk to face maya better.

"Now all I need is a motive... and proof." Phoenix nodded along to your words after he spoke.

"Wow! Good going, Nick!" Maya looked shocked clapping her hands a bit.

"Under the "initial trial" system, tomorrow is the last day we have." Phoenix's face fell into a long expression.

"I wish we had more time.." you muttered under your breath.

""Initial trial"...? What's that?" Maya looked confused as she spoke.

"That's the new court system they introduced two or three years ago. They had so many cases in the system, they decided to speed the whole process up. If you want my opinion it's sort of stupid no time for justice with these time frames but we can't exactly argue with the law right now..." you shook your head.

"So, under that system, trials have to end in three days?" Maya looked between you and Phoenix.

"Yeah, pretty much. Well, we've no time to waste! I guess we should go talk to Mr.Powers after lunch" Phoenix stood up from his desk.

"But wait! What happened at the trial?!" Maya watched as Phoenix rounded his desk to walk out of the room nearly leaving maya behind after he took your hand and pulled you with him. You turned to look at maya with a smile as she trailed after you.

"I'll explain over lunch, there's a LOT you missed" you laughed as you three made your way back down the elevator to grab lunch.