summary: phoenix wright thought that the phone call informing him that maya had been kidnapped was the worst phone call of his life.

he was wrong.

(also the doctor has tan skin and straight black hair and hot pink lipstick but I couldn't figure out how to work that in so here you go)

It was a lazy afternoon at the Wright Anything Agency. Apollo was working on a case ("Loser!" Athena had called into the workroom, which he'd ignored), Trucy and Athena were playing a 'mewing simulator' to see who could get a higher score in 30 minutes, and Phoenix was laying on the couch, facing the ceiling and idly daydreaming.

Miles had texted saying that he was finally finished with his investigation (he was going against Apollo, which was going to be interesting to watch) around an hour ago. Phoenix was starting to get worried, as it was only a 30-minute drive from where he was to the Agency.

We should have enabled location sharing, Phoenix thought wryly. It's no big deal. He'll be fine.

Right?

Phoenix tried to push down the anxiety, and was mostly successful until the phone rang. "I'll get it!" Trucy chirped, hopping up from the floor and ignoring Athena's complaints. She ran over to the Agency phone and picked it up, saying, "Hello, Wright Anything Agency! What can I do you for?"

"Mhm," she said, then covered the receiver and called, "Daddy, it's for you!"

Phoenix groaned in sync with his complaining back as he sat up, popped it, and shuffled over to take the phone from Trucy.

"Phoenix Wright, speaking," he croaked.

"Hi, this is Regency Hospital," a clerical female voice said. Phoenix's stomach sank, but he ignored it for long enough for her to continue with, "I'm calling because one Miles Edgeworth was in a car accident, and he told the paramedic to call this number before passing out."

She rattled off the address of the hospital and some platitudes about how Miles would be fine, but Phoenix wasn't listening in the least. "Fuck," he muttered, ignoring the click of her hanging up.

He dazedly put the phone down before saying, "Apollo, hold down the fort. I have an... errand to run." Apollo shouted back affirmation and Phoenix grabbed his keys before running out the door, breezing past Trucy's concerned look.

He pedaled all the way to the hospital (it was fairly far, but Phoenix couldn't have told the difference between 2 and 22 miles at that point), running on a combination of adrenaline and bone-deep worry. The cold wind stung his cheeks and the route was mostly loud city streets, but you could have dropped the Liberty Bell in front of him and he wouldn't have noticed, as worry-spiraling as he was.

He skidded to a stop in front of the hospital, hurriedly tossing his bike in the bike rack with zero regard for bike locks or theft. He rushed inside, almost running into the front desk. The bewildered clerk looked up at him, and he said, "I'm here to see Miles Edgeworth, my husband. I understand that he was a victim of a car accident. What room is he in?"

His tone came out clipped and terse, so he didn't fault the kid for giving him a weird look before beginning to type on his computer. God, I'm old, he thought as the kid made a small ah noise and turned back to him.

"Ward 17, second room on the left," he said, and Phoenix was into the hallway by the fifth word, calling out "Thanks!" over his shoulder. He sped past nurses and doctors, muttering 7, 8, 9...

"There," he breathed, pushing through the stream of people and into the room, which smelled of sickness badly masked with an overuse of cleaning chemicals.

Second room on the left, he mouthed, moving towards the aforementioned door that had a picture of a woman on it, and there was a description of her achievements. A doctor walking out of a different room noticed him but didn't say anything as he pushed open the door, freezing on the threshold to see his husband lying on a white hospital bed, looking far too pale.

Phoenix rushed to the chair next to the bed, ignoring the methodical beep of the machines tethered to his poor husband. He tentatively reached out a hand, but Miles' eyes snapped open the moment Phoenix's hand touched his wrist.

"Wright?" he said in a strangled voice as Phoenix pulled his hand back cautiously. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean, what am I doing here?" the defense asked, confused. Miles ran a hand through his hair, eyes flicking around the small room as if looking for an exit.

"I mean what are you doing here, you imbecile. I thought I told you to stay away from me!" Miles pushed out, looking at his husband with a mix of surprise and worry, and something else Phoenix couldn't name (Longing? Emotional distance? Hope that existed only to be crushed? ).

"What? Miles, did we fight? Are you okay?" Phoenix asked, brow furrowed with worry. He didn't understand why Miles was angry. Had he said something bad about Steel Samurai? Had he gone out with someone and Miles got jealous?

"Is your memory okay, Wright?" Miles snapped. This was his 'I'm feeling self-deprecating, so leave me alone so I can wallow in my self-pity' voice, which only amplified Phoenix's concern. "You seem to have completely forgotten things I told you quite plainly yesterday. And you would do well to call me by my last name."

That gave Phoenix an idea, one he really wasn't fond of and fervently hoped wasn't true. "Mi- Edgeworth," Phoenix began cautiously - completely failing to ignore the way Edgeworth looked like he'd been stabbed at the self-correction, "what day do you think it is?"

"October 21st, 2017," he responded, both the implied 'duh' and implied 'right?' warring in his tone. His brow was furrowed (mirroring Phoenix's own) and he would have found it cute at any other time but now just felt sad.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck." Phoenix swore, head in his hands. His mind whirled, ignoring Edgeworth's scandalized chastisement of, "Language!" He almost laughed at the complete reset of his husband's emotional regulation (his tone felt like there were more emotions layered than Trucy owned pieces of confetti) but the devastation won over.

"Edgeworth." he said slowly, lifting his head out of his hands. "It's 2029." 

Edgeworth's face scrunched for a split second before he scoffed, which made Phoenix's heart sink. "You're even less of a comedian outside of court, Wright. Now will you kindly inform me why I am in this hospital bed? The nurses told me I was in a car accident, but that is incorrect-" not must be or probably is, but is "- as my last memories are of falling asleep."

"Maybe, just maybe, I'm right here?" Phoenix ran his hands back through his spikes - probably ruining them, but he could not give less of a damn right now. "You- you got into a car accident. I haven't spoken to a doctor yet, but you might have amnesia. Maybe I'll ask?"

He got up from the chair, desperate for fresh air, but he was a foot from the door when it opened to reveal a woman wearing a bright red blouse and black slacks covered by a white lab coat. Speak of the devil, he thought dryly as the woman started, the click of her heels on the white tile momentarily stopping.

"Sir?" she asked, confused. "May I ask what you are doing in this room?" He turned back to look at Miles - Edgeworth, his brain firmly reminded him - and he looked like he had been about to say something to Phoenix when the door opened.

"Oh, uh," Phoenix replied eloquently, hand rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm the patient's husband?" His voice cracked on the last syllable, making it come out like a question. The woman gave him a curious look before glancing at the file in her hands and at Edgeworth, and understanding dawned on her face.

She walked brusquely over to the bed, setting her patient file on the small table next to Edgeworth's head. The click of her heels kept eerie pace with the beep of the machines Phoenix was trying very hard not to think about the implications of.

Phoenix headed back over and flopped into the chair as the woman asked Edgeworth basic questions like what his name was, what his job was, and what date it was. 

When he stated again that he believed it was 2017, she looked at Phoenix and mouthed, Does he remember? since Edgeworth was still resolutely staring at his clasped hands.

He shook his head, and he saw from her expression that she felt for him before she turned back to Edgeworth and said, "Well, you luckily don't have any scrapes other than the one on your head," - Phoenix let out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding - "so you should be good to leave with your husband here." 

You'd have to have been blind to miss the way Edgeworth flinched at 'husband.' and the woman grimaced in a way that said, I do not envy your night. to Phoenix. "Here's your patient file, with information about your injuries and general treatment instructions. Yours basically boil down to 'no extreme physical effort or extreme math or logic problems for two weeks.'"

She handed Phoenix the file over Edgeworth's head, and he didn't react as Phoenix numbly took the file. She left, and Phoenix was sure that that clicking and beeping combination would be in his nightmares for months.

"...so." Edgeworth spoke, drawing Phoenix's eyes. "Do we just... leave?" He looked... vulnerable, which wasn't a look one saw often on Miles Edgeworth. He looked a little lost, like he wasn't sure how sturdy the ground beneath him was and was trying desperately not to dislodge it.

"I think so," Phoenix answered, standing up and walking to the foot of the bed. "I rode my bike here, so we need to go outside to the bike racks. We can go to the old bedrooms above the office, probably..." he muttered as Edgeworth swung his legs out from under the sheet. 

He stood up, and managed to stay upright for all of three seconds before tipping, and Phoenix rushed over to catch him. He caught his husband by loosely wrapping his arms around him from the front, so it ended up looking like they were dancing.

Edgeworth froze, staring up at Phoenix. Phoenix belatedly realized just how close their faces were, and he distantly noted just how much Edgeworth's eyes resembled galaxies. "Phoenix," Edgeworth breathed, drawing way too much of Phoenix's attention to his light pink lips.

"Miles?" Phoenix asked, desperate for something, anything, to get him out of this small room where everything seemed to be fading away except him and the beautiful man in his arms who presently wanted nothing to do with him.

Edgeworth seemed to startle, and jumped, righting himself. Phoenix hovered at his side, feeling slightly awkward. When Edgeworth wobbled again, Phoenix swooped and slung one of Edgeworth's arms over his shoulders, wrapping one of his own arms around Edgeworth's waist.

Edgeworth flushed and looked anywhere but at Phoenix as they hobbled out of the hospital. They managed to get all the way to the bike racks before Phoenix realized something. He muttered a string of curses and set Edgeworth down on a bench as he fumbled with his phone.

"Sorry, Edgeworth. I just realized what biking here means, so let me call one of your employees to drive us home since none of mine have a car."  he said, looking for Klavier's contact in his phone. Maybe I should have listened to Franzi and gotten a newer model, he thought offhandedly.

"I have employees?" Edgeworth confusedly asked, and Phoenix mentally slapped himself for not telling Edgeworth that before.

Phoenix blinked, trying to figure out the best way to phrase this. "You, uh, may or may not be the Chief Prosecutor now? And your employees consist of a kid with a not-so-nice father, an absurdly famous rock star/prosecutor, the most famous thief of their generation, and a former criminal with a sword and a hawk."

"Isn't a famous thief counterintuitive?" Edgeworth puzzled, and Phoenix almost laughed again at the fact that that was the thing that had stuck out of everything he'd just said.

"You should probably be glad you've forgotten her rants about how 'the name inspires fear!'" Phoenix muttered, startling a laugh out of Edgeworth, a sharp and raw sound. Edgeworth froze, startled, and Phoenix took that as an opportunity.

Klavier picked up on the second ring, drawling, "Klavier Gavin, famous prosecutor and rock star here! How can I help you, ja?"

"Hi, Klavier." Phoenix responded, frowning at the noise of surprise Klavier made and a panicked laugh on the other side of the line. "And Apollo."

Apollo grumbled something Phoenix couldn't quite make out, and Klavier laughed before saying, "What is the reason for this call, Herr Wright?"

"So Edgeworth kind of got into a car accident, giving him, uh, amnesia.." he began, earning a sharp intake of breath from Klavier, "and I thought that maybe meeting everyone could help jog his memory?" He glanced over at Edgeworth, who shrugged as if to say, It can't hurt.

He assumed that Klavier had nodded when his next words were, "Of course. I'll text everyone to meet up at the Agency, and come pick you and Herr Edgeworth up at, er, where, exactly?"

"Regency Hospital." He flashed a thumbs-up at Edgeworth, who gave him a small smile that made his heart flutter in return (God, Phoenix, you're married. Just because he has amnesia doesn't mean you're teenagers in love again.).

"Oh, uh, Klavier?" he added, almost shyly. Klavier made a noise of acknowledgement and Phoenix heard the sound of footsteps. "Tell Trucy, will you?"

"I will, Herr Wright." the blonde replied softly. He hung up to see an Edgeworth with a furrowed brow and cocked head. Phoenix firmly told his brain not to find it cute, since they were currently... fighting? Annoyed at each other? Emotionally distant at the moment?

"Who's Trucy? And why is she so important that you need to mention her specifically?" Edgeworth asked. (Not cute. Bad! Bad brain!) Phoenix hesitated to answer, but Edgeworth fixed him with his Patented Prosecutor Glare™ and Phoenix had no choice but to relent.

"She's, uh, my adopted daughter?" Phoenix said, cringing at the shock and horror on Edgeworth's face. He gaped for a few seconds, mouth moving up and down even as no sound came out. He finally got back the motivation to speak back, and his voice was so surprised Phoenix wondered how he even was speaking.

"Your what?!"

+++

klaviergavinisbetterthanyou 3:18 pm

I regret to inform you all that there is an emergency meeting at the Agency ASAP, and it's urgent that you all appear.

This is at Herr Wright's request.

rabidburgerlesbian 3:18 pm

wtf happened nick doesn't request meetings unless he's literally on fucking fire

FINE 3:18 pm

i mean you don't know he's not

give_me_the_spotlight_capcom 3:18 pm

Klavier are you okay??????

Is Mr. Wright okay???????

Who died????????

if-something-smells 3:19 pm

Even me? This must be pretty fucking serious, then!

klaviergavinisbetterthanyou 3:19 pm

Mr. Wright has requested that I wait to tell you all in person.

I am sorry.

mrhatirl 3:19 pm

Is Daddy okay?

Is Papa okay?

Oh I'm glad I'm already here.

Franziska_Von_Karma 3:20 pm

Even me?

klaviergavinisbetterthanyou 3:20 pm

Mr. Wright requested you specifically as well as young Fräulein Wright.

Yatagarasu 3:20 pm

well that's ominous as shit.

imma tell quilly and sebby cuz their phones are off.

FINE 3:20 pm

this is gonna turn out so okay, trust me guys

+++

Phoenix wasn't the local expert on awkward situations, having what Maya called a "silver tongue" - the ability to talk his way out of any situation. There was one particular situation, however, where words failed him. 

Which happened to be sitting in a car with his amnesiac husband, who had reset to a time when he hated Phoenix and also the driver happened to be one of his husband's twentysomething subordinates. Who was bouncing his head to a tune neither of them could hear, having put in earbuds to grant them some semblance of privacy.

"...so." Phoenix began. Edgeworth's head snapped to him, looking vaguely panicked like Phoenix was a judge about to deem him unfit and cast him into the flames of hell. "Why don't you try asking me things that you'd like to know about... now?"

Edgeworth inhaled audibly, staring like he was trying to drill a hole into Phoenix's brain, even though his gaze was directed over Phoenix's shoulder After a few seconds, he stated slowly, "Why are we married?"

Phoenix had not expected that. He blinked for a few seconds, searching every corner of his brain for a scrap of a coherent response. "What do you mean?" he settled on.

"I mean why would you be... attached, I suppose, to me enough to marry me. What on earth do you see in me? I thought we hated each other."

Phoenix's mind, usually so full of words and concepts that it resembles a scribble drawing done by a four-year-old, feels like a freshly wiped blank whiteboard. "T-that..." He means to say, That's what you wanted to say? but he loses the ability to form words. "Why would I not?" finally comes out, surprising both of them.

"I never hated you, Miles." He's forgotten the 'Edgeworth only' rule, but it seems to have the desired effect as the man across from him is too stunned to correct him.

"And don't get me started on why I like you, this car ride is like five minutes tops. We'd be here for hours." And he's talking like there's no amnesia, but it seems to work as a slow, unbelieving smile spreads across Edgeworth(Miles?)'s face.

"I... thank you, Wright." Damn. It's still Wright. "I still think-" Edgeworth was cut off by the car stopping, and a glance out the window told Phoenix that they were at the WAA.

"Herr Lawyers!" Klavier calls, turned to face them, one earbud (EarPod? What are they called now?) in his hand and the other hand on the steering wheel. "Your chariot has arrived!" He sweeps the arm he has on the steering wheel to indicate the glorious landscape that is the Agency parking lot. His hand hits the window, and he shakes it, muttering a string of what Phoenix can only assume are German curses.

Phoenix snorted, then glanced at Edgeworth as if to say, Can you believe this? Edgeworth sent him a small smile back, which made Phoenix's heart flutter. "I- uh, hold, please!" Phoenix half-yelled in mixed embarrassment and too much joy to contain, jumping out of the car and running around to the other side to get the door for Edgeworth.

"Sorry, Klavier has one of those fancy new cars with the weird door-opening setup." Klavier scoffed and flicked a hand at him, slamming his door and strutting up to the door of the Agency - presumably to brief everyone. Phoenix offered Edgeworth his hand and Edgeworth took it, exiting the car with the grace and poise that younger Phoenix had envied so.

"Is that the rockstar?" Edgeworth muttered to Phoenix, starling a laugh out of him. "Yeah, Klavier Gavin. He's a nice kid. He tries." Phoenix starts walking toward the Agency, and it is only when he moves to put his hands in his pockets that he notices that he's still holding hands with Edgeworth.

Edgeworth glanced at him, surprised by the sudden jerk. Phoenix blushed, crimson from the tips of his ears to the tips of his toes. He doesn't move his hand, though, and Edgeworth eventually relaxes, even glancing around at the meager flora that adorn the parking lot.

Eventually (thirty seconds later, but they were both to busy sneaking glances at each other to notice or care) they reached the door, and Phoenix reluctantly took his hand out of Edgeworth's to push open the large oak doors. He cast Edgeworth a look that says, You ready? and Edgeworth nodded, stern and stoic.

Phoenix opened the doors and saw all the heads in the room snap to him. Maya, Athena, and Trucy were on the couch, and Klavier was crouched next to the armrest Trucy was leaning against. Tears shone on her cheeks as she looked hopefully at her father. Larry sat crosslegged in front of the couch, looking as vaguely flustered as he normally did.

Kay and Sebastian stood next to a potted plant in the corner by the door, anxious looks present on both of their faces. Blackquill loomed over a nervous Apollo on the opposite side of the room. Franziska sat in an armchair next to the couch with crossed arms, looking for all the world unbothered as she tapped a finger on her elbow.

Edgeworth peeked nervously over Phoenix's shoulder, seemingly awed by the sheer amount of people that had shown up for his sake. Trucy got up from the couch and rushed over to the pair of them, nearly vibrating with pent-up nervous energy. "Papa, are you okay?"

Edgeworth stood in silence for a few seconds, seemingly waiting for something to happen. He looked over at Phoenix and said, "Wright, shouldn't you answer her? Aren't you her father?"

Trucy's face fell, and she slumped. "I guess he really doesn't remember." She sniffled and walked back to the couch, earning concerned looks from everyone except Edgeworth, who looked puzzled. "Who are all these people? Who was that young woman just now?"

Phoenix sighed, and saw an expression of oh shit flit across everyone's faces in unison. Phoenix might have laughed if it hadn't been such a sad moment. "My- our daughter. Trucy."

Edgeworth blinked. Blinked again. "W... what?" There was a collective inhale, and Edgeworth looked around at everyone. "Who are all of you then? I know who Klavier is, vaguely, and I recognize Franziska, but I am lacking about the rest of you. Please fill me in."

"Ooookay." Phoenix huffed. "Why don't we..." His eyes scanned the room, looking for a place for Edgeworth to sit. "Actually, Franzi, can we put him in the chair and everyone can tell him who they are to him? Maybe that can jog his memory."

She nodded once, sharp and cutting, daring anyone in the room to comment on the tears dotting her eyes. She stood up and wobbled once on her stilettos before walking purposefully to stand on the opposite side of the couch, forcing Larry to hurriedly pull his legs in lest he be stepped on.

Phoenix gently guided Edgeworth to the couch with a hand splayed on his lower back, and took a slight pleasure at how Edgeworth shivered at the touch. Edgeworth sat in the plush armchair, still stiff like a wound spring, and looked around the room once more. Phoenix leaned an arm on the back of the chair and gestured for the first brave soul to step up.

This first brave soul turned out to be Athena. "Um, hi, Mr. Edgeworth. You didn't know me that well, but I worked under Boss here" - she waved a hand in Phoenix's general direction - "and I had one or two cases against you."

Edgeworth's eyes flashed with something that looked like recognition, and he said, "Was one of them State v. Greene, a woman accused of murdering her newly ex-husband when the murderer turned out to be the man's brother - for life insurance purposes? And the other State v. Williamsburg, a man accused of murdering his father for the inheritance, but the true culprit was his stepmother after she discovered her husband was cheating on her?"

Athena nodded so fast Phoenix thought that she might give herself a crick in the neck, and as she moved back to the couch Phoenix felt a small bubble of hope rise in his stomach. Maybe this would help after all.

The next one to take her chance was Kay, and with a nervous glance at Sebastian, she began with, "I... you saved my job and my reputation as the Yatagarasu, and I break into your office a lot even though I work at Interpol now." She pulled on her scarf a little with her right hand, as she was clearly upset by the 'reset' of her father figure.

Another flash of recognition. "If you ever replace my tea with instant coffee again, young miss, I will have to bar you from the premises. And yes, you may be a 'great thief,'" he said, a steely glint in his eyes that made Phoenix shudder, "but I have my ways. And money to bribe Lang to watch my office."

Kay burst out laughing, clutching her stomach, and Phoenix saw a few smiles crack around the room as the tension eased slightly. "Ooh, I'll get you someday, Mr. Edgeworth!"

He returned the smile, and Phoenix felt his current self coming back, just a little. "We'll see about that, young lady. Now return to your potted plant position," his mouth quirked, and Phoenix was enraptured, "and let the next bard come up to spin their tale." 

The next one was Blackquill, then Apollo, then Sebastian, and soon earlier challengers were returning to tell more of their story as Edgeworth remembered more and more. By the finish, he knew how he knew everyone, and remembered details about their interactions, but they were mostly work-related and rarely personal. 

Phoenix sighed as Apollo moved away for the final time. "Well, guys, that helped a lot. Thanks for all your assistance, and Apollo and Athena can go home. I don't require any more than this today." Apollo and Athena nodded, and they both moved into the workroom to gather their things.

"My workers are dismissed as well." Edgeworth said from below Phoenix, then stood up. Kay, Blackquill, and Sebastian left, Kay and Sebastian murmuring quietly to each other. Klavier lingered and left with Apollo, hand on his back in the same way Phoenix had guided Edgeworth earlier. Phoenix smiled. Fucking finally.

Eventually, it was just him, Edgeworth, and Trucy, Franziska having left after a short conversation with Edgeworth that had left both of them with misty eyes. "So," Phoenix said.

"So." Edgeworth agreed, looking down at Trucy, who had moved to stand in front of the two of them. "I would estimate that it is around 6:00 pm, so do either of you have any ideas to 'jog my memory,' so to speak or shall?"

"6:03, but yes," Phoenix said, earning a glare from Edgeworth that had no malice behind it. "Truce? Any ideas?" She brought a finger to her lips in an exaggerated motion, then jumped, startling her fathers.

"Oh! I've got one!" she chirped, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. Her eyes shone, but instead of tears it was from hope. Phoenix crouched down so that he was eye level with his daughter (I don't even have to go that far anymore, he thought with a mixture of dejection and pride), and he reached out a hand and brushed hair out of her eyes. "And what's that?" 

She giggled. "What if we take him to the field where you guys got married? That's a pretty significant event, that might jog his memory!" Phoenix stood up, ignoring the pain in his knees as he glanced at his partner.

"Hmm... that might not work, it's late-ish..." he trailed off, waiting for Edgeworth to say something to Trucy. Edgeworth fidgeted for a second, before saying, "I agree with Wright. We should-"

"Well," Trucy began, glint in her eyes that was eerily reminiscent of her father's from earlier, "it's either that or I bonk you on the head with Mr. Hat to jog your memory. What'll it be?" She pulled the aforementioned puppet out of nowhere, brandishing him at Edgeworth as if it was a deadly weapon (which it probably was).

Edgeworth looked helplessly over at Phoenix, who stifled a snort. "Wright, can't you stop her? From, er, grievously physically maiming me?" Phoenix tipped his head back and laughed, then shrugged. "Sorry, Miles. She's kinda a force of nature when she wants to be."

Phoenix would have expected a flinch or some other negative reaction at the accidental slip of the first name, but he just smiled fondly at Phoenix. "I suppose we have no choice, then." Edgeworth said, spreading his hands. "Shall we?"

"Uh, about that..." Phoenix said, rubbing the back of his neck as the eyes of the other two flicked to him. "I don't have a driver's license?"

"You what."

+++

Phoenix had had to point out Edgeworth's car to him as it was a completely different model than 2017 ("Still the same garish red color, though." "Shut up, Wright."), and he had had to pull up a GPS app on Edgeworth's phone, but they were on their way towards the field, speeding down a highway at who-knows-how-many miles per hour.

Edgeworth was in the driver's seat (of course) singing along surprisingly well to some Bruno Mars song, Phoenix was in the passenger seat poking his head out the window and making strangled noises as his face was beaten up by the wind, and Trucy was in the back seat laughing her head off at both of them.

He seems like his last week's self, Phoenix thought - though didn't voice, as the wind rushing down his throat prevented him from doing so. All he needs is one more push...

"What on God's green sphere are you doing, Wright?" Edgeworth asked during an instrumental interlude in the song. "Mmmmmmmmngth!" Phoenix answered, causing him to laugh, a sound as bright and impressive as the almost-setting sun they were driving towards.

He pulled his head back in, and Edgeworth reached out a hand to fix his hair, glancing in the sunshade/mirror that Phoenix had pulled down at somepoint to do so. His touch was light, almost nervous, and Phoenix found that his breath hitched at the contact.

"Uh, shouldn't your eyes be on the road right now?" Trucy chided sarcastically, causing Edgeworth to laugh again and pull his hand back. The real Edgeworth from 2017 would have flinched and stopped talking, so Phoenix was hopeful for the field plan.

"My apologies, Miss Wright. I shall endeavor to be faster in the future." Trucy gasped scandalously before exclaiming, "No! I like living very much, thanks!"

Was it possible to burst from happiness? Phoenix thought he might. His partner (albeit with a little amnesia), his daughter, and himself barreling down the freeway at 80 miles per hour towards an informal renewal of their vows, with the sun on track to set while they did so.

Phoenix spotted the field in the distance and pointed out the window - receiving another windblast while doing so, but it was for a good cause - and said, "Hey, look! There it is!"

Edgeworth's eyes flicked to him, then to the field. "So it is, Wright." He began slowing their speed a little, something Phoenix was deeply thankful for. (He'd never admit it, but his husband's laissez-faire attuide toward driving scared him. A lot.)

Phoenix turned to look at Edgeworth, who gave him a small smile. "Hey, you remember!" Phoenix shouted in his Objection! tone, complete with aggressive pointing and all. Trucy laughed from the back seat. "Well, the field at least."

Edgeworth gave a nod. "Yes, small details are coming back, although I'm still lacking the big picture and I don't have all the details." He glanced at Phoenix again, which made Phoenix thank whatever deity above for the speed of 5 miles per hour.

"Well, hopefully this fixes that." Phoenix replied as they pulled up to the field. "I know it doesn't seem much, but, y'know, it fit us. And our surprising amount of emotionally adopted children."

Edgeworth gave a short bark of laughter as he opened the door for Trucy, who ran around the car to meet Phoenix as he got out. "Well," he said, clapping his hands. "Shall we?"

Phoenix, for his part, nodded mutely, suddenly nervous. Trucy grabbed his hand and pulled him and Edgeworth, skipping, into the field. She stopped like she'd hit a brick wall, causing Phoenix to stumble and the other two to laugh. "Hey! You're, uh, not very nice!" he yelled, floundering for a quick comeback.

"Oh shush, Daddy." Trucy chirped. "This is about where we started the aisle, so we could reenact that and see if it triggers anything?" The two men looked at each other, and then both shrugged as if to say, why not?

Trucy grabbed Phoenix's hand and tugged him up to where he assumed the vows had been exchanged, and he looked helplessly back at Edgeworth, who hid a smile behind his hand. "How do you remember all this, Truce-a-loose?" he asked his daughter once she'd positioned him.

"A magician never reveals her secrets!" she returned before skipping back to Edgeworth and pulling him to the spot where she wanted to start, presumably, walking him down the aisle. Phoenix put up a hand to shield himself from the setting sun as he watched them walk towards him.

Trucy deposited Edgeworth across from Phoenix, then ran around to the other side of them and said in a fake deep voice, "We're gathered here today for the wedding of Daddy and Pa-Mr. Edgeworth." Phoenix cringed at the correction, but thankfully his husband didn't notice. "I am super not allowed to perform weddings, so do the vows and stuff I guess."

"Miles Edgeworth." Phoenix began, causing the man in question's eyes to snap to his, familiar connection thrumming between them. He was surprised that he still remembered their vows after two years, but the words laid themselves out in his mind like the text in Star Wars.

"I can't believe we're finally here. 25 years of laughter, of tears, of distance, of fake rivalry that everyone but us knew was fake," - this had earned a laugh from Maya at the actual wedding, but now Edgeworth was the one who laughed - "and we're here. It might have been the windiest path in the history of paths, but it led us here in the end. And isn't that all we could ask for?"

The other two were quiet as Phoenix continued. "You were the first, and last, man I've ever loved, and good riddance because I genuinely don't think anyone else could compare." Edgeworth seemed genuinely touched even as recognition stirred in his beautiful grey-green eyes. "I swear by my troth, on a mountain of Bibles, on my soul, heart, and breath that I'll love you until the last one."

"Phoenix Wright." Edgeworth started after an emotionally charged pause, the words seemingly coming out of their own accord before he was returned control of his own voice. "I do not mean this lightly when I say you've saved my life again and again. You took the broken boy that Von Karma had molded and turned him into a happy, healthy man." God, Phoenix was so in love he couldn't even describe it.

"You were the only person I've ever loved. I don't care if I'm 9, 19, or 109, I'll still love your ridiculous hair and your objections and your beautiful turnabout mind. I swear on the Samurai spear" - this was actually quite a serious vow for Edgeworth, possibly even more so than Phoenix's had been - "that I will be yours for this life and the next. Forever."

"Forever." Phoenix repeated, lost in Edgeworth's eyes. Had they always had this much depth? Were those highlights always there? They stood there, lost in each other's eyes, until Trucy cleared her throat dramatically and started at both of them.

"I now pronounce you married or something like that." she said, continuing the baritone, as she took one of each of their hands from where they had been holding each others' and aggressively shook them.

Phoenix looked at Edgeworth, hope bubbling in his stomach. Maybe it was the sunset, or the vows, or the fact that he had a family, but he felt like this could really work. "So. Remember anything?"

Edgeworth looked down, and Phoenix felt the hope leave his body like he was a punctured balloon. "I am sorry. I only remembered the ceremony."

Phoenix sighed. He knew, logically, that not getting Edgeworth's memory back today didn't mean that it would never come back, but it still felt like a door slamming shut. "Great. Well, I guess we should-"

"Hey!" Trucy interrupted him, pointing at him in such a perfect impression of his objection pose that he felt a tear rise unbidden, "There's one more thing we haven't tried, that's so sentimental that it has to work for you dorks!" Phoenix saw that her eyes were misty as well.

"And what's that, sweetheart?" Edgeworth asked, startling Phoenix slightly. Maybe he was remembering a little more than just the vows. "We'll try it, but I make no promises. I don't know if it will work, and you have to promise you won't be let down if it doesn't.

"Oh yeah?" Trucy responded defiantly, staring him right in the eyes. "I rather think it will!" She pulled out her phone and sniffed before saying, "I have the song you danced to right here. Go slow dance or whatever you adults do."

She made a shooing gesture, and they both moved away from her and into position, one of Edgeworth's hands on Phoenix's waist and the other clutching one of Phoenix's, with his other hand on Edgeworth's shoulder. God, I hope this works. Phoenix thought desperately.

The beginning notes of golden hour filled the area as Phoenix and his husband began dancing, first just simple swaying, then progressing onto moves that they had actually done at the wedding. "Hey," Phoenix said softly, staring into Edgeworth's eyes.

"Hey yourself," Edgeworth responded before chuckling, and Phoenix joined in. "I found it hard to believe initially. Us, married? A daughter? No, I told myself, I didn't deserve that. This was the universe getting back at me for condemning so many innocents." Phoenix squeezed his shoulder and hand, as if to communicate all his love through touch.

"But as my memories began to return, I found that it seemed less and less hard to believe. Maybe I had improved. Maybe my trying was enough. Even though I do not remember our relationship that clearly," Phoenix winced. "I remember the love. And isn't that enough?"

"Isn't it enough indeed, Miles." Phoenix agreed, watching his husband's unguarded face smile fondly. "I meant my vows, you know. No one could ever compare to you." He leaned in and kissed the tip of Edgeworth's nose, earning a laugh. "I love you, Miles Gregory Edgeworth."

"I love you too, Ph-" Edgeworth was cut off by Phoenix tripping over a root and wobbling once, twice, before tipping and pulling the prosecutor with him. They bonked foreheads rather harshly, but they were still laughing together. Trucy rushed over to check on them, meaning the notes of the final verse grew louder.

"Daddy? Papa? You okay?" she blurted, slipping and calling Edgeworth 'Papa.' He looked at her (which was a tough task considering he was on top of Phoenix and facing the ground) and said, "Yes, Trucy, I believe I am. Better than fine, actually."

"Wait-" Phoenix said, sitting up, causing the man on his chest to slide a little as he adjusted his glasses."-you remember?" he asked, undisguised glee coating his voice.

Miles smiled, golden and true and happy, and Christ above, Phoenix had never seen such a beautiful sight in his life. "That I do, Phoenix." He pushed himself up and helped Phoenix to his feet, and he wrapped an arm around Phoenix's waist and pulled him close as Trucy hopped into the space in front of them.

"I guess my skull really is that hard." he commented with a backdrop of the violin solo that ended the song, earning a glare from Miles and a groan from Trucy. He grabbed his daughter's hand, and gave his partner the biggest smile of his life.

"Let's go home."