103 Show Must Go On

Empty spaces, what are we living for?
Abandoned places, I guess we know the score, on and on
Does anybody know what we are looking for?
Another hero, another mindless crime
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime
Hold the line
Does anybody want to take it anymore?

The show must go on
The show must go on, yeah
Inside my heart is breaking
My makeup may be flaking
But my smile, still, stays on

Whatever happens, I’ll leave it all to chance
Another heartache, another failed romance, on and on
Does anybody know what we are living for?
I guess I’m learning
I must be warmer now
I’ll soon be turning, round the corner now
Outside the dawn is breaking
But inside in the dark I’m aching to be free

The show must go on
The show must go on
Inside my heart is breaking
My makeup may be flaking
But my smile, still, stays on

My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
Fairy tales of yesterday, grow but never die
I can fly, my friends

The show must go on
The show must go on
I’ll face it with a grin
I’m never giving in
On with the show

I’ll top the bill
I’ll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
On with the show
Show
Show must go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on

Phoenix Wright and Trucy Wright
Wright Talent Agency
December 24, 2025, 11:00 AM

In my sleeplessness, I am drunk in silence. For hours, it has seeped into my pores, dowsing my mind in its thick toxicity. The usefulness of my thoughts left long ago, leaving these fatigued neurons to fire almost randomly and flailing without direction. I crave not to think at all. I yearn to be absorbed into the darkness that the night promised me hours ago. I so desperately want to wake up feeling refreshed in the stream of white daylight, unaware of the hours between then and now. I simply wish to sleep. Nevertheless, as usual, my wishes don’t mean a damn thing, and behind these closed lids, the restlessness and wretched insomnia continue.

After waking up from his series of tormenting dreams featuring ghosts of girlfriends past, he’d lain awake for a long time in the dark – for a good two hours, thinking and not thinking, in that barren state which was not sleeping, nor yet full wakefulness, which was an excruciating strain.

Eyes that won’t close. A heart that won’t stop its beating. The dark space is endless in the abyss prison that is my mind. I wish to drift away into a never-ending dream, but dreams are only a memory in this hell of reality.

Phoenix got out of bed the next morning feeling like the energy was slowly trickling out of him; as though he were leaking electricity. Taking a glance at his unshaven face and dark under-eye circles in his dresser mirror, he wryly observed that he could have easily pulled off being a walking zombie; dead on the inside, but subconsciously awake.

Coffee. He needed it. Lots of it.

As he staggered towards the kitchen, the fragrant aroma of blueberry pancakes filled the air.

“Good morning, sleepyhead!” Trucy chirped, waving at him over the griddle as she flipped a fresh flapjack over. She was wearing her regular magician’s outfit, but with a Santa Claus cap instead of her regular blue top hat. “Glad you’re up! Now that you’re finally awake, you can get breakfast while it’s hot.”

The hobo grunted something barely intelligible, which may or may not have passed as a greeting, and poured himself a cup of coffee, downing half of it in one gulp before slumping into his seat at the table.

“I made the hotcakes Christmas style, Daddy!” His daughter plopped a stack of pancakes onto the table in front of him and kissed him on the cheek. “See? They’re shaped like little Santa hats and Christmas bells!”

“They look great, Truce.” He smiled faintly. “But I’m not too hungry this morning. Maybe I’ll have them later.”

“Come on, you have to eat!” She insisted, sitting down at the table and stuffing a forkful into her mouth. “You always said breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and besides, it’s Christmas Eve, and you simply cannot rob me of the chance to have holiday breakfast with my Daddy! As it is, I was gonna head out to work soon and thought I was going to miss you for sure!”

“Fine, maybe just one.” He speared a pancake with his fork and popped it into his mouth.

Trucy had surprised him over the years by surpassing him greatly with her culinary skills, and therefore, usually ended up taking over the cooking duties. Phoenix was sure that to anyone else in the world, his edible Santa hat tasted superb. However, this morning, for him, every food may as well have been cardboard, and no amount of chewing made it possible to easily swallow. His mouth was dryer than a sandbox in summer. His brain was too preoccupied with vivid memories of the taunting dreams from the night before, as well as feeling completely short-circuited from his lack of sleep for the fifth consecutive night in a row. His insomnia had magnified a ten-fold this last year, and this past week leading up to the holidays had been particularly brutal. Every time he closed his eyes and drifted off, he’d somehow wind up seeing Maya’s face. Asleep or awake, his mind was like a one-track treadmill that seemed determined to torture him, and would not let him be released from his thoughts, which continually plagued him with memories of his former lover.

The pianist chased down the mouthful with the remainder of his coffee and immediately got up for a refill. It was only as he downed his second cup that his brain, at last, registered what his daughter had said.

“You’re going to work today, Truce? On Christmas Eve?”

“The Wonder Bar is having a special holiday afternoon performance and is closing early this evening because of Christmas. Besides, I don’t have much of a choice, right?” Trucy shrugged. “I have to pick up as many shifts as I can, seeing as how we barely made rent this month.”

Phoenix grimaced, at both the reminder, as well as the aftertaste left behind in his mouth from the cheap instant grounds. The no-name stuff was gritty, tasteless, and bitter, and lingered distastefully on the tongue, but it was all he could afford. Due to his lack of sleep, he had torn through his monthly special South American roast from Godot by mid-month, as coffee was his only means of staying awake.

Presently, money was extremely tight, what with him having to support himself and his kid based solely on their combined salaries, and no more additional help from any other parties. Therefore, to help make ends meet, he’d been forced to cut corners, even with the smallest luxuries. This entailed being resorted to consuming generic store brands with everything, from toilet paper to coffee beans, and even then, he wasn’t always successful.

Being skint also meant he was playing poker more than he was performing piano at the bar, and whenever possible, Trucy was working extra hours at her job, as well. Thus far, it was only by the grace of God that it had not affected her schoolwork much.

“Speaking of money that’s owing, the utility bill is due at the end of the month. Have you paid it yet?”

Oh crap, I knew forgot to do something!

Phoenix suddenly found his appetite restored and busied himself polishing off the rest of his flapjack to avoid answering the question.

Noting the guilty look on her father’s face, which he hadn’t been quick enough to hide, Trucy hastily swallowed down her last bite of pancakes and brought her dishes to the sink.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said quickly. “I can just pay it through online banking before I head out. It’s been Grand Central Station here while you were sleeping and you missed quite a few phone calls! Would you like your messages now, or should I wait until you’re on your third cup of Joe before you’re coherent enough to process them?”

The card shark glanced over, the corners of his lips fighting a smirk; his eyebrows slightly raised, ready to give a mild reprimand to the teen for her unprecedented sarcasm, but then relaxed somewhat when Trucy grinned mischievously.

Ha-ha, so Daddy isn’t a morning person – never has been, never will be! She’s had almost seven years to get used to this!

“Very funny, missy. I’m as awake as I’m going to be. What went down while I was sleeping?”

“Well first off, Iris called. She wanted to know if you and I were going to go up there for Christmas.” Trucy began ticking off the phone calls on her fingers. “Next, Uncle Larry called. He’s back in town, and is probably here to stay, as his world art tour is finally over. He’s going to be at Uncle Gumshoe’s for Christmas tomorrow, and he was wondering if we were going to be there. Then Uncle Gumshoe himself called, asking if we’re coming over tomorrow, as we have every year. I told him to call back a little bit later because you were still in bed. ”

“I’ve been meaning to call Iris back,” he said gruffly, reaching for his morning paper. “I’ve got to let her know that I won’t be coming up this evening because my work is having their employee Christmas party tonight. And as for Gumshoe…”

“Number four,” she interrupted, looking sulkily at her father. “My friend Gouda called and asked me if I’m going over to her place tonight after work for Christmas Eve like I’ve done every year but I told her I wasn’t sure yet, because for the last few weeks you have been insisting that I’m grounded from going anywhere except for work…”

“Ergo, I refuse to un-ground you, just because it’s Christmas, so you can stop pouting, Truce!” Phoenix stated firmly, affecting his best fatherly tone. “Or have you forgotten that I wasn’t exactly about to reward you for getting expelled from school a fortnight ago, right before the holidays!”

“I haven’t forgotten, Daddy.” The teen shuffled her feet uncomfortably. “However, seeing as how it is the holidays, I was hoping you would stop being the Grinch just for a minute, and finally give me a chance to at least explain…”

“Oh, I think your school principal explained it well enough when he called me in.” Phoenix put up his hand, silencing the protest she was about to make. “I still can’t believe you got into a fight with another student! I’m not sure if it was a combination of you using the martial arts moves Sasha taught you a few years ago, or the shock of you also springing Mr. Hat on him, but you made the kid soil his pants, Truce!”

“But Daddy – that Drew Peacock is the meanest bully in school!” Trucy protested, sniffling slightly. “Why can’t you listen to my side of the story about what happened?”

“Because I am still so mad at you, that’s why! There is no excuse for violence! I thought I’d raised you better than that!” The poker champ rose to his feet and aimed his famous courtroom finger at his daughter then, uncaring that tears were forming in her eyes. “Spare me the waterworks Truce! How could you get yourself kicked out of school before the end of the first semester? Do you have any idea how hard it’s going to be to find another high school within our area, to attend mid-year?”

“It’s not an excuse!” The girl wailed, her chin quivering now. “Daddy, please, you have been avoiding this for the last two weeks, but I’m begging you to listen to me…”

“I don’t want to talk about this.” He abruptly grabbed his newspaper and was about to head out of the kitchen, but Trucy clamped a hand on his arm, effectively stopping him, and looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes.

“You never want to talk anymore!” Her eyes welled up. “You never even smile anymore! You-you’re just not the same anymore, Daddy! What’s happened to you?!”

Phoenix halted then and felt some of his acrimony draining at the sight of those agonized blue eyes filling with tears, instinctively knowing they were genuine and not intended for manipulation purposes, which most teens were infamous for cueing on command.

“Don’t you want to hear my defense about why that douchebag got a roundhouse kick to the midsection?” The teardrops were trickling down Trucy’s cheeks now. “And why I sprung Mr. Hat on him to deliver the final sucker punch? It was because of you, Daddy!”

That caught him off guard.

“Because of me?” He echoed, completely disconcerted.

“He cornered me before school in the front courtyard, in front of all of his mean friends, trying to look like some sort of big shot. He said ‘hey magic girl, it’s been almost 7 years, has your big faker of a father been able to clear his name yet? Because if he hasn’t by now, obviously it’s because he’s guilty of forging that evidence, which makes him a low-life criminal, just like your other father’!” 

Trucy was fully bawling now, barely able to brush the tears away as fast as they fell.

The anterior attorney felt as though he was the one who’d been sucker-punched as he tried to digest this information.

“I told him to stop.” Trucy drew in a deep, shuddering breath. “I told him to get lost and leave me alone, and tried to brush past him. But then he grabbed my arm and said ‘I’ll bet your magic tricks are as fake as that evidence your loser bum of a father presented in court. You’re both complete phonies’! Was I supposed to do nothing Daddy, while this asshat, who has been picking on me ever since I turned him down last year when he asked me out for a date, insulted both my fathers and my legacy? I tried to shake off his grip, but he wouldn’t let go of me, and only held on harder. I had a visible bruise on my upper arm, and I wanted to show it to you, but you just wouldn’t hear me out!”

Phoenix felt a painful lump forming in his throat, suddenly feeling like the world’s biggest shit heel. His daughter was no troublemaker nor delinquent. In fact, at that moment, right there and then, he realized that Trucy was his only existing proof that he’d done something right in his life, if her big, beautiful heart, steadfast loyalty, and unwavering sense of self-esteem could even be attributed to him at all!

Wordlessly, he pulled the sobbing teen into his arms, holding her tightly while she wept.

“I’m sorry, Truce,” he murmured, stroking her hair. “You’re right. I should’ve listened to you. That kid sounds like a real jerk, and you shouldn’t ever have to put up with that kind of abuse. Thank you for defending me, honey. I’m not mad at you anymore. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of you.”

“T- Thank you, Daddy. Everybody’s got their breaking point, and that fart pick was it for me!” The adolescent stormed, her tears soaking his T-shirt. “It wasn’t merely Drew who did it for me – he was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. It’s just been… everything and I just couldn’t take it anymore!”

He drew back and placed his hands on Trucy shoulders, peering down into her face with concern.

“What does everything mean, baby girl? What else has been bothering you?”

“My best friend fell off the face of the earth and completely ignored me, right up until Aunt Maggey’s baby shower in the summer,” she replied bitterly, her voice muffled as she buried her face back against his chest. “I don’t know what I did to her to make her stop returning my calls and emails, but from March, up until July, it was like Pearl hated me or something! Then, around the same time, you got all gloomy and withdrawn and didn’t want to talk to me anymore, either. I felt so confused and alone! I had no idea what I did, to either one of you, to make you both just stop…loving me!”

Phoenix swallowed hard. It had never occurred to him to think about the ramifications of his breakup with Maya on anyone else, and he felt terrible about it. Obviously, Pearl had not wanted to associate with anybody that had anything to do with him, which was understandable, but while he couldn’t do anything about that, he could certainly set things straight about the other issue that had been distressing his poor daughter.

“Trucy, forgive me,” he said humbly. “You haven’t done anything! I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, I haven’t been sleeping well, and work has been crazy! I’m sorry if I pushed you away, but you have to know that you’re my light and that the only good thing I have left in my life is you, baby girl!” He smoothed her hair back from her forehead. “You can doubt that the sun will rise tomorrow, Trucy Wright, but promise me that you won’t ever doubt how much I love you, ever again, OK? I will tell you that every day, and every night until you believe me again. You’re my daughter, and I love you, so very much.”

“I love you too, Daddy.” Trucy hiccupped slightly as she tried to stop crying. “I’m sorry to lay all this out on you, but with first Pearl, and then you acting so distant, I don’t know, the whole thing seemed like the whole world hated me, and everyone was out to get me! It sounds so silly, but that was how I felt!” She sighed. “Don’t worry about Pearl and me, we’re OK now. She sincerely apologized to me at the baby shower, and explained that she’s just been very busy and has been kind of preoccupied because when she’s not helping Maya run the village, she spends every free moment on Skype with her new boyfriend who she met on her spring trip to Europe.”

“Little Pearls has a boyfriend now?” He blurted out before he could stop himself, astonished by the news.

“Pearl’s not so little anymore Daddy, she’s a year older than me! She turned 16 in the fall!” The magician giggled slightly, her tears gone now. “She and I are back to talking and emailing, and I think we’re back to normal. However, she’s not coming down to Uncle Gumshoe’s this Christmas, because her boyfriend came down yesterday from England and is spending the holidays with her in Kurain. She invited me to come up, of course, but I don’t want to be the third wheel with her and Luke!”

Phoenix felt a jolt within him at this newest bit of information. Today was definitely his daughter’s day to pull the rug out from under him!

“Luke? His name wouldn’t happen to be Luke Triton, by any chance would it?”

“Yes, I think so,” Trucy smiled as the realization dawned on her. “He was the famous Professor Layton’s apprentice when he was younger, I believe she told me. I saw his photo, and she’s such a lucky girl. What a cutie!”

It’s a small world, after all, it’s a small world, after all, it’s a small world after all…

“Hey, that would make him the same Luke that was the Professor’s apprentice, who you met when you went to England, so that means you know him, too then, right?”

“I used to.” Phoenix cleared his throat. “That was a very long time ago though. So, they’ve been together since spring, you said?”

“Uh-huh. Since May. Pearl is so excited! This will be her first time seeing him since then!”

More power to them! They’ve still managed to see each other twice in seven months, and these two have the Atlantic Ocean between them! Phoenix noted sardonically. Funny how a couple of teenagers are better at this whole long-distance thing then we were! What was our personal best? Three times in a year and a half, if I’m not mistaken?

“Well good for them,” Phoenix said noncommittally, reaching for his newspaper again and lightly tousling his daughter’s hair. “You’re certainly welcome to go if you want, but I don’t know about going to your Uncle Gumshoe’s this year, Truce. Maybe you could just let him know whenever he calls back?”

“I wouldn’t want to go without you! Why don’t you want to go, Daddy?”

“I haven’t been feeling too great lately. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been sleeping too well, but I think I might be fighting something, which probably wouldn’t make me a welcome guest in a house that has a brand-new baby.” Phoenix looked away then and dropped his eyes down to the newspaper. “However, I’ll be here Christmas morning, if you want to hang out with your old man when you come back from your friend’s house.”

“Of course, I want to spend Christmas with you, Daddy! Wait – what? Do you mean to say I can go to Gouda’s tonight?” Her azure eyes lit up. “You really mean it?”

“I sure do,” he replied, flipping idly through the paper. “Have fun, baby girl!”

“You’re the best, Daddy!” Trucy squealed with delight, lurching herself at him with a huge hug, just as Phoenix flipped over to the LA Times lifestyle section.

And that was when he saw it, in full color, right on the front page.

LOVE IS IN THE HAIR! The large headline read, followed by the subheader, which read: Billionaire Salon Tycoon, Longines Beaugosse is newly engaged to Maya Fey, Master of the Kurain Channeling Technique!

Underneath all of this was a full-page photo of Maya, in a long black dress, locked in what looked like a passionate embrace with a man, who had her bent over his arm on what looked like a red carpet. His face was not completely visible, as it was facing her, and turned away from the camera. Beside the couple’s photo, from what looked like a company business profile, was a headshot of Maya’s smiling visage, next to another one of a handsome blond man, who looked like a live-action Ken Doll.

“Maya Fey!” Trucy exclaimed excitedly, tapping her finger against the photo. “She used to be your assistant, right Daddy?”

Phoenix nodded mutely, incapable of speech at that moment as he just stared at the photo, openmouthed. His brain formulated no thoughts, other than to register that he was utterly floored.

There were several quotes splashed around the borders of the page.

The exclusive first photo is seen here first, of the secret lovebirds on a romantic trip to the Cannes Film Festival! Find out all the details on page 3! The ring! The romantic proposal! The intimate personal details of this match made in heaven, as told by a close inside source!

“She looks like a movie star,” the teen breathed, her eyes shining with admiration. “You never told me she was so pretty, Daddy!”

He closed his mouth, and then looked at his toes before glancing back up to catch her eye.

“I guess so,” was all he could say.

At that moment, the phone rang, and Trucy bounced away to answer it while he sat there, completely dumbfounded, trying to digest the news. He flipped open to the referenced third page of the paper, barely registering that his hands were shaking. He supposed he could attribute that to three cups of coffee on slim-to-no sleep taking its ugly toll.

The 30-year-old philanthropist tycoon, of the successful You Blo Me blow-dry salon chain proposed to the delighted Kurain Master, 27, last night on a romantic trip to the Eiffel Tower in France, the very country where this worldwide exclusive Cannes photo of the duo was initially taken…

“Daddy,” Trucy’s voice suddenly broke into his thoughts. “Daddy, the phone – it’s for you. It’s Uncle Gumshoe.”

No response from Phoenix.

“Daddy?” His daughter’s sweet voice sounded confused and slightly anxious now. “Daddy, are you OK?”

My heart still beats, but against a chest that feels hollow, Phoenix’s mind was spinning. My eyes still see, yet the world that is so close around me seems far away. My mind begins to shut down, unwilling to think anymore. Perhaps this is a shock because I dreamed of my ex, merely the night before, only to wake up to this, the morning after! I’m not quite sure….

“Daddy!” Trucy sounded exasperated as she waved the cordless phone at him. When he still didn’t reply, she pressed the receiver into his hand and forcibly lifted it to his ear, giving him a pointed look as she did so. “Talk to Uncle Gumshoe, please! You can let him know about Christmas yourself since he’s on the phone it right now.”

While still in a daze, Phoenix raised the phone to his head but still couldn’t find his voice.

“Hey, pal!” Gumshoe’s familiar loud boom in his ear finally snapped him out of his trance-like state. “Are you there?”

“Hey, Gumshoe.” He cleared his throat and forced himself to sound as neutral as possible. “Yes, I’m here. What’s up?”

“Long time, no speak!” Gumshoe chuckled. “I was a little bit worried about you for a while, it was like you fell off the face of the earth, again! Have you been getting my calls and messages?”

“Sorry about that.” The hobo slapped the newspaper shut and dropped it back onto the table. “I know you’ve called a few times… Just been crazy busy with work and everything. I tried to return your call last month sometime, but Maggey said that you’d gone away somewhere.”

“Um, yeah, I had to make an unexpected trip abroad…” Gumshoe mumbled awkwardly. There was a pregnant pause as Phoenix pointedly didn’t pry for more details, and the police chief appeared reluctant to give any.

There was an uncomfortable silence on the phone as the other man was struggling to find the right words for his next line of conversation.

“Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something…” Gumshoe coughed. “So…did you happen to check out the front page of the local newspaper?”

“The front page?” The former lawyer asked mildly, although he had a pretty good idea where this was going.

“Er, yeah, the first page of the lifestyle section of the LA Times and the front page of the local newspaper, pal,” the ex-detective mumbled apologetically, as though he were personally responsible for delivering the confounding news about Maya’s betrothal.

Proposing atop The Eiffel Tower? Cliché much? Oh well, it looks like Maya’s traded up for sure! From Pauper to Prince, indeed! Got herself a hair heir who’s more rich and famous than she is! Good for her! I’m certain this is a match the elders and The Dragon Lady wholeheartedly approve of!

“Yes, I’ve seen it Gumshoe,” he replied politely. “What of it?”

“Well, a couple of things. I guess I wanted to see if you’re OK? I mean, I heard about you and Iris, so I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t be, but you know, you’re both my friends so…” The other man’s voice trailed off. “Maggey and I, we wanted to know, would it bother you if little Gordy were to be the ring bearer for the ceremony? Maya called this morning and asked us. I mean, if it is a big deal to you, we can always tell her no, but…”

“That’s very considerate of you,” he replied affably, fully regaining his composure now that the initial astonishment had abated. “But completely unnecessary. Maya has moved onward and upward in the world, and I wish her nothing but the best. I’m sure your son will be a delightful ring bearer.”

“It’s so great that you’re alright with this!” The relief was evident in the police chief’s voice. “I mean, considering the wife already told Maya that she was going to get Gordy a brand new little tuxedo, and she’s all excited about getting herself back into shape and buying a new dress and all…”

“I hope they have fun shopping for this momentous occasion,” Phoenix said cordially. “Considering how renowned both the bride and groom are with the media, I’m positive it will be one hell of an affair!”

“I’m glad you’re taking the so well!” The former flatfoot remarked. “Maggey was worried about your reaction, even though I was sure you’d be fine! Still, she insisted that I call you as many times as needed to get confirmation. I told her not to worry about that – I’ve been chasing you for the last seven months, even though you’ve only apparently returned one of my calls, but I never gave up on you, did I?”

“No chief, you most certainly did not,” the pianist deadpanned. “Kudos for your perseverance.”

“I’m a cop, it’s what we do!” Gumshoe chortled. “So Larry is in town again, and he’s going to be over here tomorrow night. How about you?”

“That’s very kind of you, but I’m going up to see Iris for Christmas.”

Upon hearing this, Trucy, who had been standing in the corner this entire time while staring at her father with a pensive brow, gave a small gasp of indignation, crossing her arms while looking disapprovingly at her him.

“How is she doing, anyway? You crazy kids keeping well?”

“We’re both fine, thank you,” he responded pleasantly. “I’m going to ring off now, but thank you for calling and a Merry Christmas to you, Maggey, and the kids.”

“Thanks. Merry Christmas to you too pal. Maybe we can catch up sometime in the New Year, huh.”

“Sure thing. Take care.”

The moment he rang off, his daughter swooped down on him, hands on her hips and a frown on her pretty face.

“Yes, Truce?” He asked wearily.

“Why did you lie to Uncle Gumshoe like that?” She demanded. “You told me you weren’t going to go see Iris because you have your Christmas party tonight! Then you said you were coming down with something, so you didn’t want to go see Uncle Gumshoe and risk making baby Jeff sick. But now, you just told him that you are going to go see Iris! What gives? Why all the bluffing, Daddy?”

Because I’ve been doing it so long for a living, that I just can’t stop doing it in real life! The DILF longed to retort, but considering how upset Trucy had been just a few moments ago, he decided not to rock the boat.

“Didn’t you say you have to get ready to go to work soon?” He asked pointedly.

Trucy’s shoulders drooped defeatedly, knowing better than to press the issue when her father became closed off like this. She turned to leave but then paused in the kitchen doorway for a moment.

“If you are going to stay home after your party tonight, Daddy, I hope you get the rest that you need, so you can finally go back to being the way you used to be.” Trucy regarded him with a troubled expression. “I miss seeing you smile.”

Phoenix smiled softly at his daughter. “Is this better, baby girl?”

Trucy bit her lip, nodded silently, and turned away again.

“Merry Christmas, Daddy. See you tomorrow morning.”

Phoenix Wright
The Borscht Bowl Club
December 24, 2025, 5:50 PM

The moment the card shark walked into The Borscht Bowl, he spotted Tyler at his usual spot behind the bar, leisurely flipping through the newspaper. It was completely dead; aside from a couple of stragglers in the corner of the room, there was nobody else inside the tavern. The office party was going to start at 9:30 that evening, and Boris, the cheapskate that he was, wanted to make sure they were open until at least 9:00, to squeeze in any extra dimes from last-minute customers popping in for a pint before heading off for their holiday festivities.

“How goes it?” Phoenix politely asked the bartender, whose head jerked up from the article he was reading, his longish, shaggy brown hair flopping backward from his face as he did so. He quickly stashed away the newspaper, but not before Phoenix saw that his colleague had been reading the lifestyle section of that day’s paper. “I’ve already seen it Tyler. No need to hide on my account. I’m fine.”

“I would certainly hope so, all things considered.” Tyler looked at him coolly, his normally friendly brown eyes noticeably lacking his customary warmth, which had been more and more of a regular occurrence ever since he and Maya had split up, and it was then that Phoenix belatedly recalled how fond the bartender and his wife had been of both Maya and Pearl.

“Maya looks really beautiful, doesn’t she?” Without even waiting for a response, Tyler reached back under the counter and pulled out the lifestyle section, flicking his finger against Maya’s photo. “But her hair’s in an updo in this photo, so it’s kind of hard to make out the drastic haircut my wife gave her just a couple of months before this picture was taken. She called Sasha up out of the blue, and intended to hack it off at the nape.”

The poker champ thought he had reached the humanly possible quota of staggering news that day, but it seemed he was wrong. Oh well, it wouldn’t be the first time.

Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket! Maya chopped off her hair? Her long, beautiful hair? His mind recoiled in disbelief. At the nape?! Does that mean she’s wearing a wig in that photo?!

“Sasha didn’t do it though. She tends to refuse knee-jerk requests that customers will undoubtedly regret right after making them because she’s been in the industry long enough to know when someone truly means it, and when they don’t.”

The bartender’s intense dark gaze nearly bored a hole into the DILF’s face.

“So, Phoenix, you, perchance, wouldn’t happen to know what could have possibly made Maya want to chop off that glorious, trademark mane of hers in the first place, would you?”

“I’m quite certain I have no idea what you’re referring to,” the beanie wearer answered smoothly, his expression unreadable. “Although, as it’s all water under the bridge, what does it matter now?”

“I guess it doesn’t,” Tyler shrugged. “The point is, Maya’s moved on and is happy now. She’s already asked Sasha to do her hair for the big day. We think this couldn’t have happened to a nicer gal.”

The pianist raised a brow but refused to take the bait. The bartender just looked at him disgustedly, then pulled out his countertop rag and busied himself wiping down the top of the bar, muttering something under his breath that sounded vaguely along the lines of, cold-hearted son of a bitch.

No matter. Phoenix shrugged internally. He’d certainly been called worse. Besides, regardless of Tyler’s apparent rebuking of their previous friendship, which kinda sucked, he hadn’t come over for idle chitchat, anyway. He had three hours of work to get out of the way before the holiday festivities began, and Tyler was just the person who could help kick it off!

“Hey, Tyler?”

“Yeah, what?” The younger man wasn’t even going to pretend to be civil, it appeared.

“I need you to give me a bottle. And I’m not talking grape juice.”

“You, drinking something besides grape juice, while on the clock?” Tyler smirked and regarded him skeptically. “This is new! However, you know it’s been hard enough for me to slip you freebie bottles of your regular, nonalcoholic poison, never mind the stronger stuff. Or have you forgotten what a skinflint Boris is?”

“Lighten up, you Grinch! It’s the holiday season to drink and be merry! Put it on my tab.”

“You don’t have a tab.” Tyler shook his head stubbornly. “Now, for friends of mine, I never minded bending the rules, but…”

“The man ain’t lying, Phoenix,” a familiar voice cut in then. “We all know here that Russian is so dang cheap he wouldn’t give a nickel to see Jesus ridin’ a bicycle! Still, Tyler, that’s no reason ya for to turn into Scrooge over one lousy bottle of vino! Put it on my tab.”

The pianist turned around, and there stood Tiffany, her impressive assets aptly displayed in her sexy party dress, in place of her regular waitress uniform. The statuesque beauty’s pneumatic physique was poured into a tight-fitted, spaghetti strap, crimson dress, with a huge slit up the thigh. A Santa hat rested atop her halo of platinum curls.

The barkeep shrugged and handed his colleague a bottle of domestic red wine before turning to serve another customer.

Phoenix turned away from the bar and lifted the bottle in a mock salute to the pretty blonde.

“That was awfully nice you, Tiff. Much obliged.”

At least not everybody here that I work with now hates my guts…

“It’s the holidays, sometimes we need spirits to get into the festive spirits,” she winked. “Merry Christmas, Phoenix.”

Then she sashayed off.

He unscrewed the cap, set it atop the bar counter, and sauntered over to the piano, his lips already fastened on what he knew would be the first of many bottles that evening.

One of the drunks in the corner promptly bent over at that moment and threw up on the floor.

Phoenix sighed.

It was going to be a long night.

Phoenix Wright
The Borscht Bowl Club
December 24, 2025, 11:55 PM

In traditionally true cheapskate fashion, instead of any sort of cash holiday bonus, or even gifts for his staff, Boris had treated the bar employees to a traditional Yuletide feast of pizza and wings that night.

You know, because catering something even marginally more festive appropriate would cost extra!

He opted to forsake the food in exchange for wine that evening. In an unexpected gesture of additional generosity that year, this year’s staff party had included unlimited drinks, which Phoenix surmised was more Natasha’s influence than her husband’s.

The owners had also decided to splurge on a karaoke machine for that evening’s entertainment.

He sat there on the piano bench, rocking side to side, although he wasn’t sure if it was since he was now on his fourth bottle of wine, or if it was his body’s reflexive reaction to the hypnotic tempo of Tiffany’s sexy karaoke performance of the Christmas classic, “Santa Baby.”

Think of all the fun I’ve missed;
Think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed;
Next year I could be just as good… if you check off my Christmas list

Truth be known, Phoenix honestly was unable to ascertain whether or not the bombshell’s voice was any good, as by that point, he was semi-pissed off his gourd, although he was not so drunk he didn’t notice that her smoky eyes were zeroing right on him as she sang the last few notes of the suggestively naughty tune.

Santa baby forgot to mention one little thing… A ring…
I don’t mean on the phone; Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry, tonight!

He applauded enthusiastically when the performance was over, and Tiffany flashed him a flirtatious little wink as she sauntered off the stage and strolled towards him.

“I do believe it’d be yer turn to rock ma socks off now,” she said playfully, removing her Santa hat, taking off his beanie, and putting the red cap on his head.

“Me, sing?” Phoenix scoffed and waved away the suggestion. “Nah! These guys hear me warble often enough when I’m on duty! I don’t want to damper the evening! After all, this is supposed to be a party, right?”

“Yer a funny fella.” Tiffany laughed and tossed her hair. “In the six years ya been workin’ here, Phoenix, yer piano playing has remained just barely subpar, but ya got the voice of a lark to compensate and ya damn well know it!”

Natasha came up onto the stage then, still in her customary purple dress, although like Tiffany, she had spruced up for the occasion with a Santa hat on her head.

“Is nobody more performing tonight?” She asked. “Because if everyone finished singing, then as you know, I always endink the night with holiday speech, wishink Merry Christmas and thankink all for another year good service. But since we havink this machine, this year I thankink you all with song.”

Phoenix barely stifled a groan. The Russian woman’s rendition of “I Touch Myself” earlier that evening had sounded like a strangled cat crossed with a banshee and his head was already beginning to throb in anticipation for the next assault to his ears.

“So, I endink night singink famous Mariah Carey song, “All I Want for Christmas” for you people.” Natasha pointed to the DJ. “Play that funky music, white boy!”

Phoenix’s heart froze in his chest.

What tune did she just say she was going to sing?!

The bars of the song began to play.

Nausea swirled unrestrained in his empty stomach. His head swam with half-formed regrets. His heart felt as if his blood had become tar as it struggled to keep a steady beat. His suddenly melancholy mood hung over him like a black cloud, raining his personal sorrow down on him, which followed him wherever he went, that he’d been trying so desperately to suppress that night with the wine. And up until that exact moment, Phoenix had been mostly successful in doing so. Had even tried to convince himself he was actually having fun with his coworkers that night.

Now as he looked around, even the festive colors and holiday decorations within the bar looked drab to him, and all the sounds around him begin grating on his frayed nerves.

Phoenix couldn’t listen to another woman sing that song. Not tonight. Not then. Not after a day like he’d had when in one day, he had already been brutally whammed with enough jarring news to last him well into the next millennium!

“Objection!” He shouted hoarsely, jumping to his feet and pointing at Natasha. “Stop that music!”

Immediately, the grateful-looking DJ obliged, readily seizing the music before Natasha could begin the first bar.

“Phoenix Wright!” The Russian woman narrowed her eyes at him. “What is meanink of this? You having a problem with my singink?”

“No!” Desperately he raced to the stage and grabbed the microphone out of her hand. “Of course not, Natasha, we all love your singing! It’s just – I just wasn’t paying attention a moment ago, when you asked if we were all done performing! I still have yet to go up and sing! And, um, I promised Tiffany that I would! It’s my way of thanking her for buying me a drink earlier tonight, heh, heh.”

Natasha eyed him suspiciously but then nodded slowly.

“It is fine,” she announced crisply. “You singink last song this night, Phoenix Wright. But make sure you makink it good.”

Yup no pressure there it all! Phoenix felt the sweat forming at his temples. I feel like I’m right back exactly where I was six years ago, at my very first audition to get this gig!

Phoenix walked over to the DJ and didn’t even bother flipping through the songbook. He knew what he wanted to sing.

“Are you sure?” The DJ asked doubtfully. “It might be kind of a downer.”

“Just play it.” Phoenix steeled his jaw.

Still wearing Tiffany’s Santa hat atop his head, and trying to block out the hooting and hollering his presence on the stage brought from the rowdy blonde, Phoenix closed his eyes, waited for the music, and began. He didn’t even need to look at the screen for the lyrics.

This Romeo is bleeding
But you can’t see his blood
It’s nothing but some feelings
That this old dog kicked up

He knew every single word of this song by heart because that was where the lyrics were permanently engraved.

It’s been raining since you left me
Now I’m drowning in the flood
You see I’ve always been a fighter
But without you I give up

Memories of the previous holiday, on this exact same date, flashed in his mind, against his will, and without warning.

Now I can’t sing a love song
Like the way it’s meant to be
Well, I guess I’m not that good anymore
But, baby, that’s just me

In his mind’s eye, he could see the scene as clearly as if it were yesterday.

And I will love you, baby, always
And I’ll be there forever and a day, always
I’ll be there ’til the stars don’t shine
‘Til the heavens burst and the words don’t rhyme
And I know when I die,
You’ll be on my mind
And I’ll love you always

A goddess in a bathtub, filled with bubbles, rising up from the water like some sort of exquisite Aphrodite. Glorious, obsidian hair, pinned atop her head so you could see those florid cheeks and flawlessly sculpted lips, as if crafted by seraphs themselves, glistening attractively from water beads, added further rosy clear, colour. All these features set together on a delicate, almost angelic face. Singing that Mariah Carey Christmas song.

Now your pictures that you left behind
Are just memories of a different life
Some that made us laugh, some that made us cry
One that made you have to say goodbye
What I’d give to run my fingers through your hair
To touch your lips, to hold you near
When you say your prayers, try to understand
I’ve made mistakes, I’m just a man

He could still vividly recollect the lyrics the goddess had been singing. That song. The one he’d refused to let Natasha besmirch: ‘Cause I just want you here tonight, holding on to me so tight, what more can I do, oh, Baby all I want for Christmas is you.

When he holds you close, when he pulls you near
When he says the words you’ve been needing to hear
I’ll wish I was him ’cause those words are mine
To say to you ’til the end of time

What had followed that bathtub performance had been a searing kiss that he could still feel stamped on his lips every time he closed his eyes.

Yeah, I will love you, baby, always
And I’ll be there forever and a day, always

He still remembered his exact thoughts: I swear this woman is an expert on keeping my heart beating. Without her, I’m sure it would simply stop.

If you told me to cry for you
I could
If you told me to die for you
I would
Take a look at my face
There’s no price I won’t pay
To say these words to you

Phoenix threw his head back, tilting his face up at the heated overhead light beating down his face, all the while hoping that the burning tears trickling from behind his tightly squeezed eyes would be mistaken for the sweat streaming from his temples.

Well, there ain’t no luck
In these loaded dice
But, baby, if you give me just one more try
We can pack up our old dreams and our old lives
We’ll find a place where the sun still shines

I have tried to throw her out of my head. However, she keeps coming back every night. I don’t know if I should really call it a nightmare, because I always wake up before I get to see the part where I tell her I love her. Maybe I can never get rid of it, or maybe I don’t want to. It’s the only part of her I can hold on to. And every time I see her, I revise through all the other options I had: beg her to take me back, tell her I love her, or make her swear never to leave me. But I had done none of them, and what’s done is done. I can’t ever change that. I let her haunt me every night, so I can still have part of her with me, and hope that one day, she will forgive me.

And I will love you, baby, always
And I’ll be there forever and a day, always
I’ll be there ’til the stars don’t shine
‘Til the heavens burst and the words don’t rhyme
And I know when I die,
You’ll be on my mind
And I’ll love you, always

Phoenix hadn’t given such a heartfelt performance before an audience since his original impromptu recital nearly 7 years ago. Even now, there was only one woman in the whole world who would ever inspire him to sing like this, with his entire heart and soul… Both of which he’d thought had deserted him these past nine months because all he’d been feeling within the depths of both was a hollow, aching numbness.

When the song was over, the immediate silence in that room was so deafening, you could’ve heard a pin drop.

Then all at once, a cacophony of applause and cheering by every single person in that room, including Tyler, who gave a thumbs up and then a half-smile, which seemed to say something along the lines of I guess you’re not such a heartless son of a bitch after all.

But Phoenix didn’t care about the standing ovation. All he knew was that he had bared himself for all to see, and now he’d never felt more exposed or vulnerable. He couldn’t stay there another minute.

He blindly staggered off the stage and towards the exit doors, desperately needing air. He didn’t know where he was going, but he knew one thing. He had to get out of there.

Phoenix Wright and Tiffany Pearce
Outside The Borscht Bowl Club
December 25, 2025, 12:10 AM

Tiffany came running after him the moment he stepped outside the doors.

“Phoenix wait!” She called. His blue beanie was in her hands.

Panting, the erstwhile attorney turned around, chest heaving, finally realizing that if she was holding his hat, that meant he still had hers. He yanked the cap off his sweaty scalp, reveling in the cool night air flowing through his heated, sweaty scalp. His head felt like it was going to explode.

“Why did ya run out of there without even taking a bow, sugar?” The lovely blue eyes were puzzled. “Ya were amazing! Didn’t ya hear all that applause? A blind bat could see ya were singing it right from yer heart… Bon Jovi woulda been proud of ya!”

The server beamed at him, then realized he wasn’t looking at her so much as he was looking through her.

“Phoenix… ya feeling alright?” A concerned look flickered across her face. “Whatcha planning on doing tonight?”

“I was gonna go home,” he slurred, swaying slightly on his feet. “My daughter is away at a friend’s house for the night so I was gonna be all by myself, and I was going to get even drunker than I already am, so I can try to forget how much I hate the fucking holidays!”

“I don’t think you should be alone tonight, suga.” Tiffany bit her lip and placed a hand on his arm. “How about ya come sleep off some of that sauce on my sofa?”

“That is a great idea!” He laughed loudly, a harsh sound, with no mirth in it whatsoever. “I guess that means you at least know your address? Because I seem to have forgotten mine!”

“Alright, that’s enough of that Mr. Three Sheets to the Wind!” Tiffany was already waving down a taxi, then all but shoved him into the back seat before climbing in beside him as she recited her address to the driver.

Tiffany’s apartment wasn’t very far from the bar, although in the hobo’s current state, it could have been anywhere from a five-minute ride to an hour. He was clueless as to time or his whereabouts at that moment.

The tall blonde had to prop him up like a human crutch to escort him into her building, up her elevator, and then down the hall to her residential unit. Once inside, she seated him on the couch and chewed her lip nervously.

“Ima get ya a big ol’ glass of water OK? Then I’m going to get ya a pillow and some blankets for this here sofa.”

“Thank you, Tiffany.” The drunken musician eyed her admiringly; all dazzling and statuesque in that killer dress, and flashed his first genuine smile all day. “Did I tell you how purty you looked tonight?”

She shook her head and giggled slightly before bending over him and gently tapping his nose.

“Yer quite the sweet talker when yer drinking ain’tcha?”

“Drunk or sober, Tiffany, you are absolutely beautiful.”

The drunken musician grabbed her hand, and with a quick tug, pulled the startled waitress down onto the sofa, who, unprepared for the action, ended up sprawled right on top of him. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and devoured her with hungry eyes.

“Phoenix!” She gasped, her heart pounding wildly as he abruptly flipped her over onto her back so he was leaning above her on the sofa. “Wh – What are you doing?”

“Something I should’ve done a long time ago,” he replied savagely, raking his fingers through her thick curls, cupping the nape of her neck, and lifting her head towards his descending lips.

“Lord help me over the fence! This is crazy…” Tiffany moaned weakly, even as her body instinctively arched towards his.

The hobo swallowed, closing his eyes and inhaling slowly. He knew he should be all rational and do-the-right-thing and listen to his conscience and just push her away, but there was another side of him that he could not control at the moment, and it was determined not to give him that chance.

His eyes flashed open and he growled, “I want you,” right before pushing her back against the cushion, slamming his forearms on either side of her head and kissing her more forcefully than she’d ever been kissed, so firmly that she could feel his stubble scoring into the surface of her lip. He pressed his hard body against hers and she pressed back, grabbing handfuls of his t-shirt and fitting herself to him while his tongue stroked the interior of her mouth. When he drew back a fraction, she gave one final attempt at protest, with an embarrassingly inarticulate rasp.

“B – But, ain’tcha got a girlfriend?”

Sitting up, he dragged her astride his lap, cradling her head in one palm and crushing her closer with the other as he looked fiercely into her wide blue eyes, and only uttered two words before crushing his lips against hers again.

“Not tonight.”

Queen – Show Must Go On
Gwen Stafani – Santa Baby
Bon Jovi – Always