115 Time After Time

 A/N: As I further delve into Fredgeworth’s courtship backstory, I realize that since it stems 100% from my imagination, I must be honest and confess that it is therefore so much harder to create than the one I did for Nick and Maya, as Miles and Franziska have essentially zero canon for me to work with! The perfect prosecuties, I feel, have a beautiful backstory love tale to be told, which is quite comparable yet completely different from the one Phoenix and Maya have, and I am hoping you all like it!

This is another long read, as will be most of the chapters going forward, as I am in the heart of the story, but I hope my work continues to give you entertainment and, in this case, some good weekend reading!

Hello, can you hear me?
I’m in California dreaming about who we used to be
When we were younger and free
I’ve forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet

There’s such a difference between us
And a million miles

Hello from the other side
I must have called a thousand times
To tell you I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done
But when I call you never seem to be home
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I’ve tried
To tell you I’m sorry for breaking your heart
But it don’t matter.
It clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore

Miles Edgeworth
Von Karma Estate, Germany
April 14, 2026

Miles buried his head in his hands, lost in a wave of melancholy as bittersweet memories flooded his anguished mind.

Franziska, he despaired. How has it come to this? The world is empty without your love. All this time that we’ve been apart, there was never a day that passed that you did not occupy my every thought. How I feared the distance would do us more harm than good while I was away all this time, given our fragile state when I left. I thought you understood! I believed you said you supported my decision to go back! We both willingly chose this, we chose to separate for the good of the mission, but it hurt me every single day to have been without you. More than anything, I wished that we could be together, in the same dimension and time. This game has owned us for too long, my love. I am lost without you, so very lost. That must be what it means to be two halves, only with unity are we whole, only with unity are we found…

Miles Edgeworth and Franziska Von Karma
Von Karma Estate, Germany
February 13, 2009

“Rührt, Franziska!” Katharina laughingly chastised as she lightly rapped on her 11-year-old sister’s rigid arm. “I am supposed to be the male partner here; therefore, you must allow me to lead you, and not the other way around. Move closer to me!”

“I am relaxed!” The pre-teen scowled, shrugging and then releasing her shoulders to loosen them as she’d been commanded. “It is just nigh impossible to get close enough to you or maneuver around that enormous stomach of yours!”

“As if it is not already difficult enough for me to move about, given my condition! But now I am forced to contend with your surly disposition as well?” The elder Von Karma teased. “Realize that you must be acting like quite the raging hormonal pre-adolescent to be hearing this from the mouth of a hormonal woman who is with child!”

“I am neither surly nor hormonal!” Franziska denied hotly. “You are simply not leading me properly!”

“Because you will not relax your posture and allow yourself to be led!” Katharina exclaimed, the good humor fading from her face and slowly being replaced by an expression of aggravation. “It is fine to demonstrate your impressive dancing lessons in action, Little One, but just remember to leave your inner feminist on the sidelines tonight with your partners! Remember, he is the boss on the dance floor, if nowhere else!”

Franziska blew upward at her sweaty bangs in annoyance, before turning to the petite, sweet-faced, young schoolgirl standing off to the side of the studio, her blue eyes twinkling with mirth as she observed the sisters’ exchange.

“Adelaide, is there no way I can convince you to be my dance partner?” The silver-haired preteen implored, finally giving up and dropping her hands from Katerina’s shoulders in exasperation. “I really wanted to get some last-minute preparation of my steps tonight before we head out.”

“I don’t think my fragile ego could handle your criticism, Franziska,” the younger Von Karma’s friend shook her head. “If you’re finding fault with your sister, who has taken private lessons, I cannot imagine what you would think of my completely amateur, never before instructed, dancing footwork!”

“Humph!” Franziska folded her arms across her chest and sulked. “This is quite the dilemma, as it is nigh impossible to practice my acquired dance skills, what with my partner being shaped like a human beach ball!”

“Anneliese, please ignore your cranky Tante Franziska,” Katharina giggled, rubbing her protruding abdomen and directing her comments towards her seven-month pregnant belly. “It is not your fault that my gestational physique is causing her such stress and angst! She is merely morphing into even more of a nitpicky perfectionist than even your Großvater Manfred!”

The expecting mother then turned her smirking face towards her sibling’s classmate.

“I cannot say I blame you for refusing to be a potential victim to her ornery verbal lashes, Addie. There is no reason your confidence should be blown to smithereens, right before what is supposed to be a festive and romantic event!”

“Well,” Addie coyly dropped her eyes. “I also promised my boyfriend, Élie, that I would save all my dances tonight for him, exclusively.”

It’s so unfair! Franziska grumpily fumed. At least my friend knows she will have someone to dance with tonight! I have to deal with the fact that I might be doing all this preparation for naught! What if nobody asks me to dance tonight? What would be the point of having all the capability, if I am not allowed to demonstrate it? Oh, this is such a foolish thing to be doing! I cannot believe I let Addie talk me into going to this foolish, juvenile school event when I should instead be spending the evening studying my law books if I intend to be a prosecutor in the next two years!

“What’s this I hear about romance?”

The unexpected sound of the refined baritone reverberated through Franziska’s bones as Miles strolled into the room at that moment. He smiled pleasantly at the three females before placing kisses on both of Katharina’s cheeks in greeting and graciously bowing in his now customary manner at Addie, who pretended not to swoon at the chivalrous gesture, which suited the debonair teenage law student all too well.

“A pleasure to see you again, Addie. Schwester, I cannot get over that glow of yours – you look positively radiant.”

“Danke, Bruder,” the mama-to-be responded, returning the European-style kiss exchange and beaming at him. “It is nice to hear that one of my siblings thinks pregnancy agrees with me, as opposed to comparing me with large inflatable and spherical objects!”

“So I heard.” Miles snickered. “Although for the record, we should attempt to forgive Franziska’s most unflattering description of your delicate condition, in light of her tense and distraught state.”

“Miles Edgeworth!” Franziska flushed with guilty shame at how much of her unbecoming behavior her Little Brother may have witnessed. “How long have you been standing in the shadows like a Peeping Tom of sorts, rather than properly making your presence known to us, you  foolish fool?”

“Long enough to hear that my Große Schwester appears more anxious than excited about attending her very first school dance.” He arched a well-groomed eyebrow. “I apologize if my presence surprised you so but I thought by now you would know I usually come back home to visit during school half-term.”

Franziska’s cheeks further reddened. Indeed, she had been so frazzled about the evening’s activities that it had wholly slipped her mind about when her Little Brother’s next appearance at the mansion would be. Over the past few years, even though his legal studies had taken him out of the country, she was normally on top of keeping track of his holiday schedule; she fervently looked forward to his visits, as they were the few highlight moments of her life – not that she would ever let him know that! The smug, derisive expression Katharina was presently directing at her was bad enough already!

“I have better things to do with my time than memorize your traveling schedule, Kleiner Bruder,” she replied hotly, hating whenever he had the upper hand. “But if you must know, yes, I have finally let Addie talk me into attending one of the school dances this evening, and hence, wished to perfect my dance technique.”

“It was a hard-earned victory, finally convincing Franziska to act her actual age and not feign that she is 11 going on 21 for one evening, and be amongst regular children!” Addie inserted with a wry smile, ignoring the look Franziska shot her. “Hence, tonight will be her grand debut at an elementary school society occasion. Therefore, as is tradition, she wants everything to be perfect.”

“Naturally,” Miles responded with a knowing grin. “There is nothing wrong with wanting to have a mini dress rehearsal before the main event. So, what appears to be the problem?”

“Franziska finds her sister’s belly gets in the way whenever she tries to practice her dance steps with her,” Addie answered, with the childlike candidness of a sixth-grader. She shrugged helplessly at her friend’s foster brother. “Perhaps now that you’re here, you could take over as partner? Assuming, of course, Katharina has no objections?”

“None whatsoever!” The pregnant blonde responded dryly. “Miles, perhaps she will loosen up and be less of a stiff piece of plywood in your arms than she was in mine.”

“I would be happy to experience the result of four years under my former dance instructor’s tyrannical tutelage.” Miles quirked an eyebrow playfully at Franziska, who was blushing furiously now. “Shall we dance then?”

The teasing cadence in his familiar tone made Franziska feel as though she’d been carried off to a world where sound was the only power that could change everything wrong in the world. How she loved Miles’ voice. How she loved him, as much as her young and giving heart could love a man who only saw her as nothing more than a child.

Therefore, the chance to be in his arms was something she craved more than the air she breathed. She squeaked and then flushed lightly when she realized Miles was still waiting for an answer.

“I suppose you’ll have to do,” she huffed, as though she were doing him a favor while she obediently placed her small hand in his, and her sister turned the music up on the stereo.

“I always loved this song growing up!” Katharina gushed as “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper began to play. “I think it’s such a beautiful, song, but it is also full of melancholy if you truly listen to the lines.”

“It is nice,” Addie conceded. “But I don’t know if I understand what it all means.”

“The lyrics pretty much describe two people that can’t keep the same pace within their relationship,” Katharina told her. “One character is essentially miles ahead while the other struggles to keep up.”

“Oh, I see.”

The two girls lapsed into silence then as they smilingly watched Miles effortlessly glide and lead the now fully relaxed Franziska about the studio floor in a smooth waltz. The dancers moved like water transformed by the music, flowing in graceful arcs, limbs in constant motion, painting a picture that sound alone could never achieve.

Despite being deliriously happy, Franziska was slightly embarrassed as she realized just how much she was reveling in being in Miles’ arms for so long, for possibly the longest time ever since she’d known him! She relished the warmth he emitted from every part of his body. It was as if the temperature at her waist where he had rested his left hand, and her other hand, which was clasped against his own, had gotten substantially higher by one or two degrees! She also enjoyed feeling the hard muscles of his back as she rested her hand there, unable to resist ever so slightly trailing her palm up and down, while barely resisting the temptation to slide her hand to his abs to see if the front of him was as equally toned and firm!

She was so lost in thought that she stumbled slightly in her footsteps. Fortunately, Miles caught her.

If you’re lost you can look – and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you – I’ll be waiting
Time after time

“Are you all right, Franziska?”

“Of course I am, you fool!” She replied loftily, dropping her eyes as she felt her cheeks grow warm. “But try to have some courtesy, as my legs are nowhere near as long as yours, so will you slow down? This is a dance, not a race, Little Brother!”

You said go slow –
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

“You said go slow,” Miles smiled as he obediently did as requested, shortening his strides, seemingly unaware that he was voicing the song lyrics playing simultaneously at that moment. “I fall behind.”

When the song was over, Katharina and Addie both applauded enthusiastically, although Franziska was loath to let Miles go. When she reluctantly dropped his hand, at last, she looked straight into his eyes, a deeply grateful and very soft look in her eyes, accompanied by a sweet smile upon her lips; a smile she rarely used.

“Danke, Kleiner Bruder,” she whispered.

“My pleasure.” He bowed grandly in return.

“I guess all it took was an actual male to lead her! Good job, Miles!” Katharina praised. “Good job both of you! I do not doubt that any boy that dances with you tonight, Little One, is a very lucky lad indeed!”

“I second that motion,” Miles said kindly, then glanced at his watch and frowned. “I’m glad that went well. I need to go get ready now, as I have plans this evening.”

“Plans, you say? On Valentine’s weekend?” Katharina grinned impishly. “This would not happen to be a date perchance would it, Bruder?”

A date? With a girl? Franziska’s heart sank as her miserable eyes searched Miles’ face, which was slowly turning pink under his older sister’s scrutiny. No! Please say no!

“I don’t know if I would quite call it a date per se,” he mumbled uncomfortably. “It’s just one of my peers at law school, who is also home visiting their family during the break. They proposed we get together for some sort of hot beverage and go over our study notes, in preparation for our upcoming tests, which commence when we return to school.”

“I see,” Katharina derided, gray eyes dancing with merriment at his obvious discomfort. “Does this peer of yours have a name?”

Mein Gott! Let him say a boy’s name! Franziska silently prayed. Please! Please! Please!

“Her name is Susan,” Miles finally answered, after what seemed like the world’s longest silence. “Susan Liddy-Gates.”

“What an interesting name,” the elder sibling commented, barely masking a smirk. “It sounds like that of a very aggressive woman lawyer.”

Franziska bit back a scowl.

I think the name sounds dumm und hässlich and like a woman that would have a most abominably belligerent disposition! Besides, it’s not even German!

“I suppose you could say that is a fitting description for her,” Miles chuckled ruefully. “She is indeed very bellicose about everything she does, academically as well as in her personal life, seeing as how she is my sole competition for class valedictorian and has insisted that she be the one to come and fetch me tonight.”

He glanced down at his watch again.

“Ach nein! She will be here in less than half an hour! Susan is notoriously punctual. Ergo, I cannot be tardy and keep her in wait! Excuse me ladies, but I must go prepare myself for the evening. Addie, Franziska enjoy the dance!” He bent over and kissed Katharina on the cheek one more time. “Schwester, it is always a pleasure to see you. My regards to Günther. Auf Wiedersehen!”

And he bolted up the stairs.

“Franziska, we should get you ready as well. That is why you ordered me to come over, after all.” Katharina turned to face her sister, who was staring forlornly at the staircase, looking heartsick. “You need to take a shower first before I can do your hair…”

Her voice trailed off as she saw the desolate expression on the girl’s face, and a compassionate look came to her eyes.

“Oh, Little One, please do not be so downtrodden. You heard him say he did not even consider it to be a date!”

“That’s true!” Addie piped up encouragingly, no stranger to her friend’s not-so-secret crush. “And even if it is a date, it’s not like he’s getting married!”

The future prosecutor nodded unhappily, even as she fought back tears and put on her bravest Von Karma face.

“What foolishness is this that the two of you are speaking of?” Franziska tossed back her hair and raised her chin proudly. “Meine Kleiner Bruder’s comings and goings are of no consequence to me in the least! Miles Edgeworth can date or wed whomever he pleases!”

She forced a smile for her both their benefits and strode past their confused-looking faces towards the stairs.

“Come along Addie, we have a dance to get ready for!”

Later That Evening…

Where is he? Franziska peered out her bedroom window, which faced the front entrance and driveway, for the umpteenth time.  That Schlampe in the tacky, lime green Mercedes picked him up way before we left for the dance, and it’s now a quarter after midnight! 

As silly as it was to be waiting up for Miles’ return that night, she just couldn’t help herself. She’d just had one of the worst nights of her entire life, and nothing but the sight of her Little Brother’s handsome face would possibly make her feel better.

She idly flipped through a few of her law books, trying to ignore the clock. Her Papa, of course, was nowhere to be found. Not that it mattered, as she didn’t want to face him with this mask of dejection that she was neither able to remove, nor explain. After all, how could a man with so much influence and power possibly comprehend that for once, the illustrious Von Karma name appeared to have closed more doors, rather than opened them, for his daughter that night? That it was a name that struck fear in the hearts of every boy in school, hence making Franziska about as approachable as a leper!

At least, that was the excuse the sympathetic Adelaide had tried to mollify her with that night, even though she wasn’t sure if such was the case, or if her friend had been merely trying to placate her. The youngest Von Karma no longer knew what to think about anything anymore.

Just then, she saw headlights in the driveway flashing through her window and raced back to it, making sure she remained barely visible as she peeked behind the heavy curtain.

Miles had finally returned home.

As the car stopped in the long driveway, she saw the passenger door open and watched as he stepped out of the vehicle, but to her surprise, the same bony (and way too scantily dressed for a mere study session!) girl who’d picked him up earlier in the evening exited the vehicle as well. As her overly tall, flat as a board and scarecrow-built rival named Susan accompanied Miles to the front door and stood under the glaring porch light, the brunette once again gave Franziska confirmation that she was suffering from an incurable case of Backpfeifengesicht syndrome!

Miles nodded politely at his companion, and then turned back towards the door, when Susan abruptly grabbed his face, then planted what looked like the world’s most sloppy, disgusting, kiss right on his unsuspecting lips!

The German girl’s fingers positively itched for her riding crop!

She drew back from the drapes and made a face, both jealous and repulsed at the sight, unable to tell from this angled distance whether her foster brother was enjoying, or even reciprocating, the kiss! When she dared peek from behind the drapes one more time, she saw that the horny Miststück was still attempting to chew Miles’ face right off, like some sort of grotesque, horror reenactment from Silence of the Lambs!

Ew! Yuck! Is she training to be a deep-sea scuba diver of some sort?! I have not seen her come up for air yet! If I did not already think she had a face that should get a slap that whistles across the cheek before, I most certainly do now! Ngh! Get off my Little Brother, you horse-faced … Hure!

After what seemed like a million years, Franziska was relieved to see that Miles was the one to break away from the embrace, nod his head once more, and then put his key into the front door. She stepped away from the window again and then waited impatiently, making sure that the overhead light in her room was on so that he would know she was still awake when he finally came upstairs.

After what seemed like eons, she, at last, heard a knock at her door.

Franziska quickly made sure that she was settled comfortably on her bed with a law textbook in her lap, which she attempted to appear entirely engrossed in.

“Come in!” She called, in as casual a voice as she could muster.

Miles opened the door and stepped in, one hand conspicuously hidden behind his back.

“You are still awake?” He said with surprise. “I thought you would have been in bed ages ago.”

“It is the weekend now, so why wouldn’t I be up?” She replied offhandedly. “I am often awake at least this late so I can study my books. I’m not a child anymore, you know!”

“Apologies, Große Schwester, for even implying such a thing,” he grinned. “I was going to sneak this into your room to surprise you for when you arose in the morning, but since you’re awake, I suppose I can just give it to you now since it’s now officially Valentine’s Day.”

“You got me a present?” Franziska sprung up from the bed, her earlier misery forgotten. She rushed over to him, bouncing on her heels with excitement, before realizing what she was doing, then vainly attempted to affect a more neutral tone. “I mean, oh, did you have a surprise for me? How very thoughtful of you.”

“Not so much of a present – just a mere token.” Miles chuckled and reached behind his back, presenting a single, long-stemmed red rose to the completely stunned and elated Franziska. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Große Schwester.”

“T – thank you so much. It is very beautiful.” Her hand was shaking as she accepted the flower, the first one she had ever received in her whole life. “B – But why…?”

“I went to a café tonight with Susan so that we could compare study notes. A flower vendor came into the place, obviously capitalizing on the fact that it was Valentine’s Day weekend, and asked me if I would care to buy a pretty flower for my pretty lady friend. Since he put me on the spot like that, in such a crowded and public place, I felt obligated to do so.” Miles shrugged. “I figured since I was already exercising my magnanimous streak, I may as well kill two birds with one stone, and also get one for an even prettier little lady.”

Upon hearing the compliment, Franziska felt her cheeks turning a bright crimson that undoubtedly matched the velvet dress she had adorned for the dance, which she still wore.

“Danke, Miles.” Dropping her bashful gaze, she took the proffered floral stem, took a sniff of its divine fragrance, and smiled delightedly. “This is so thoughtful of you.”

At least somebody – in all actuality, the sole person whose opinion I even care about – thinks I am not completely repulsive! If only he could have been there tonight with me…

“It’s the truth. I like the way Katharina did your hair tonight, braided and tied back with the velvet ribbon. It’s quite fetching. However, I’m afraid I made a grievous error with the other rose recipient, as she seemed to have mistaken my intentions for being more than they were…” His voice trailed off and his features twisted into a slight grimace. “But that’s neither here nor there…”

“No, please…I  want to hear more about your date,” Franziska interjected quickly, a glimmer of hope flickering through her. “W- What do you mean about her mistaking your intentions?”

“It’s nothing I care to discuss with an 11-year-old!” Miles groaned, but then saw the glare in her eyes and put his hands up in mock surrender. “Fine! Fine! I shall tell you! Just restrain yourself from using that riding crop of yours, as my mouth was essentially assaulted enough by your gender this evening!”

“Meine Gott! Assault? Mouth?” Franziska placed a shocked hand to her lips and did her best to appear innocent of this knowledge. “Do you mean to tell me that your date hit you?”

“That is exactly what I am trying to tell you.” Miles crossed his arms and scowled at the memory. “Indeed she did hit me, and in the most unsolicited manner; right in the mouth, with the forceful pressure of her lips!”

“How dreadful.” Franziska put on her most innocuously confused expression, even though internally, she was cheering with glee. “I take that to mean that you did not wish her to kiss you then?”

“No, I most certainly did not!” He frowned. “I had zero interest in Susan whatsoever, apart from academically but I still should have realized that her expectations for this evening went beyond merely studying together, especially since she showed up in a scarlet mini-dress for what was supposed to be a night at the coffee house.”

“I saw!” Franziska blurted out before she realized what she’d done. He regarded her quizzically, and she hastily attempted to retract her statement. “I mean, I see what you are saying, er, about perhaps her intentions being different than your own, based on what you are telling me.”

“I cannot help it if I am somewhat old-fashioned, Franziska.” Miles sighed. “While there are indubitably many members of my gender who would be flattered by such attention, I generally prefer, as the man, to be the one to do the chasing, as opposed to being the object of such hot pursuit.”

“I do not think that is old-fashioned at all,” she said quietly. “I think that sounds quite nice. I – I wish more boys were like that.”

“Speaking of boys, I apologize for going on about my night, before I even asked about yours.” He gave his head a shake, as though attempting to erase the reminiscences of his evening and smiled indulgently at her. “Tell me all about your first dance. How full was your dance card? Did you have to beat the boys off with a stick tonight?”

“I would rather not talk about it.” Franziska felt a lump forming in her throat as the horrid memories at the dance resurfaced and she shook her head. “It was a foolish, childish event I had no business going to. I should have just stayed home and read my law books.”

“I know you want to be a prosecutor like Manfred and myself, Franziska, but someday, you will be happy to have had at least some childhood memories to draw upon.”

The girl didn’t answer, so it was now his turn to look bewildered.

“Tell me why you would say such a thing?” He peered at her downcast face with concern. “Did something bad happen tonight?”

More silence from the sullen child.

“Franziska, please talk to me.” He placed a hand on her shoulder as his voice took on a protective tone now. “What happened at the dance? Was some lout mean to you or try to behave in an unseemly manner?”

“Just leave me be, Little Brother.” She felt tears of humiliation forming in her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to halt them. Throwing his hand off, she turned away so he couldn’t see her face. “It – it is getting late. I shall see you in the morning.”

Undeterred, Miles put a firm hand back on her shoulder and turned her around to face him.

He then spotted the liquid pools in those mesmerizing grey orbs, which he also noticed at that moment looked so identical to her beloved late mother’s that it was almost painful to see. That was when Miles realized the answer to his query, without her even needing to say a word. The realization made a lump form in his own throat.

She went through all the trouble of getting dressed up like a princess, made her sister do her hair, and even practiced dancing in preparation for her first ever school formal… only to have it undoubtedly be her last. His hand curled reflexively into an angry fist. She wasn’t even given the chance to make it to the floor –because not one of those blind as bats, Saukerl boys in her class ever asked her to dance!

“What’s wrong with those Dummkopf lads at your school?” He murmured, his face awash with sympathy. “How is it even possible that none of them asked the prettiest girl in the room to be their dance partner?”

“Please stop!” Franziska cried angrily. “Stop saying that I am pretty, as this opinion is obviously not shared by boys who are mein age! The kids – they all seem to think I am a stuck-up snob and think that I believe myself to be better than them! Or they hate me because I am smarter than them! Alternatively, they seem to think I am downright ugly! How else to explain the fact that not even one of them wanted to dance with me tonight?”

Miles had a theory about why such a travesty had occurred at the school, although he had no idea how to voice his speculations aloud. Nevertheless, he was positive that none of the boys’ rejections had anything to do with finding his adopted sister lacking in any way, appearance-wise, with her fine dress and artfully made-up, exquisite doll features. He already could deduce that, as she teetered on the brink of womanhood, Franziska Von Karma was rapidly being turned by nature into the spitting image of the ethereal Minna Von Karma, save for having Manfred’s hair color.

Nonetheless, it was the fact that she also bore Manfred’s last name, and the imposing and fearful reputation that went with it, which had been her cross to bear tonight. What family in all of Germany didn’t know the illustrious Von Karma name and all the lore that went along with it? What boy possibly hadn’t been warned about the identity of Franziska’s father, and all of the power and influence he was privy to, which would allow him to crush anybody like a bug, should they dare to even glance in the direction of his youngest daughter?

Moreover, how to explain any of that to a devastated 11-year-old girl, whose tears were now trickling down her cheeks, all the while nearly wringing his own heart out in the process?

“Franziska, I need you to listen to me.” Miles took her hands in his own and crouched down so that they were face-to-face. “At this point, I hope you understand that you are a very precocious little girl. Right now, this means that yes, you are smarter than most of the other children in your class, and that can intimidate a lot of them because they cannot relate to such levels of intellect from someone their age. But don’t ever let me hear you say that you are ugly, ever again. You are not just merely a pretty girl; you are already on your way to being so incredibly beautiful when you get older, that most men may very well be too afraid to approach you. This is through no fault of your own but due to their own issues and insecurities. I know it sounds like a lot to take in right now but I need you to try and remember that.”

“H – how is that supposed to make me feel better?” Franziska wept, uncaring that the tears were freely flowing down her cheeks now. “I didn’t ask to be born smart or look like I do, so why am I being punished for that? It’s not fair! It just means I’m always going to be alone, with no friends, and no boy is ever going to want me! Am I supposed to pretend that I’m dumb and act foolish and giddy like all the other girls, just so the boys will like me?”

“That’s not what it means that all.” The forthcoming Demon Prosecutor gallantly reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and handed it to her. “It means that Mother Nature has made it so that unlike other girls, who will need to kiss a thousand frogs before they finally find their Prince, all of your inferior frogs will automatically be weeded out for you. This means that the right Prince, who will be secure about himself and confident enough in his abilities to appreciate and not be overwhelmed by your intelligence and your beauty, will make a direct path to your door. He will never ask you to change anything about yourself, because he will like you, just the way you are, and then he will sweep you off your feet, into his arms, and take you to his castle, where both of you will live happily ever after.”

“You think so?” She sniffled and eyed him hopefully. “Do you honestly believe someday, somewhere, a boy out there will like me, just for me?”

“Someday, Franziska Von Karma, I swear to you that one very lucky boy out there will love you, and everything about you,” Miles promised, rising back up to his feet. He walked over to the stereo in the corner and turned it on, filling the room with soft music. His palm was already extended as he walked back to her. “Shall we dance?”

“W – What?” Franziska dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief and regarded him with confusion. “Dance?”

“It’s Valentine’s Day and I just had one of the most terrible evenings of my life, with an overly amorous young woman who appeared to have tentacles as opposed to hands! I’d like very much to obliterate that recollection, as much as I’m sure you would like to wipe out a few of your own. And I cannot think of a better way to do so than to dance with meine Große Schwester, who is a most wonderful dance partner.”

He tilted his head to one side and an expectant smile played on his lips.

“I humbly ask you to do me the honor of giving me this dance?”

“Time After Time” began to play on the radio and he bowed grandly, while she reflexively curtsied back.

“Look, Franziska,” Miles teased softly as she stepped into his arms and he led them into a waltz. “It must be a sign of some sort – they’re playing our song!”

“Foolish fool!” Despite herself, Franziska still tittered at the quip, her earlier desolation completely forgotten now as she stared up at him. “You know there are no such thing as signs!”

Sometimes you picture me –
I’m walking too far ahead
You’re calling to me, I can’t hear
What you’ve said –
Then you say – go slow –
I fall behind –
The second hand unwinds

Suddenly, a dark thought crossed her mind as she contemplated the lyrics and her face grew pensive.

“You shall be done law school and become a lawyer in just over a year, at the rate you are going,” she noted, feeling a fresh wave of despair wash over her. “And then you are probably going to move even further away, and be too far ahead of me to ever fall back so that I can catch up, and I will be all alone. What am I supposed to do then?”

There was a long silence that followed her query, but then Miles finally spoke, his tone gentle and soothing.

“Franziska, do you trust me?” He asked quietly.

After a brief moment’s pause, she nodded.

If you’re lost you can look – and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you – I’ll be waiting
Time after time

“Then as much as you believe me when I tell you that someday your prince will come and that he will find you, without you needing to look for him, I promise you that I will never be too far ahead for you to catch up with me.” His smoky eyes peered intently down into hers. “I give you my word that I will never stray too far away from you so that you won’t be able to find me. I hope you believe me.”

Franziska peered up into his handsome face and nodded again. She did believe him.

Miles Edgeworth is my anchor and the only person in the world who gives me hope. Whenever the darkness begins to creep in, it is he who is my nascent sunlight that caresses my skin, baring promises of a new dawn … new hope of beginning.

December 20, 2014

“Anneliese, why can you not just be ein gutes Mädchen and just nap already?” Franziska groaned, the impatience beginning to creep into her tone as her niece continued to run her ragged and spin around in circles like a miniature cyclone all around the room. “You have been running amok for the past four hours!”

“Because, Tante Franny, I am not tired!” The little girl insisted, even as she rubbed her wide hazel eyes with her miniature fists and stamped her tiny foot on Franziska’s bedroom carpet. “I want to watch Christmas shows on TV!”

The teenage prosecutor moaned inwardly. Having babysat her young niece on numerous occasions now, she knew the signs of when the little girl was tiring, such as the overly bright eyes and random bouts of petulance disrupting her normally sunny disposition.

Of course, another glaring piece of evidence was Anneliese’s increased hyperactive level of activity, which had resulted in running her poor aunt ragged for the whole afternoon whilst her parents did their last-minute Christmas shopping!

The drained prosecutor had no idea how Katharina, who was 10 years her senior, managed the energy to keep up with her tireless offspring – at this point, if she managed to get her niece to take a blasted nap, Tante Franny would more than likely be joining her!

I blame those Dummkopfs, Hans and Helga! Franziska fumed. They have always been the spoiling, grandparent kind, and I just know they went against my wishes and snuck her extra gingerbread cookies when I was not looking! The child is obviously on a boosted sugar level high!

She was entirely left to her own devices with the little girl as well. Even though Miles was home for the holidays, he’d been in another world, seemingly distracted and closed off, barely looking at or speaking to her since arriving yesterday. He’d briefly greeted Anneliese when he’d come home from running some mysterious errand, but then he’d holed himself up in his bedroom, behaving in the same manner he’d demonstrated during his sullen teenage phase.

His distant comportment pained her greatly, considering that her Little Brother was now a grown man! While Miles could be as guarded as Franziska herself with his emotions, particularly amongst strangers and in public, it was still so unlike him to completely shut her out in such a manner. It was especially complexing to her since she felt that they had grown considerably closer when she had visited him in California during her summer vacation a couple of years ago. It had been right before she had passed the bar exam to become a prosecutor when they had investigated Byrne Faraday’s death together. What possibly could have occurred during these past few years, since he had become an American prosecutor, which would make his behavior do such a complete turnabout?

“Anneliese, I refuse to watch more television with you until you have at least taken some rest, or your mother will have my head!” Franziska exclaimed with frustration.

As it was, she had seen Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and The Grinch so many times already that she could recite the dialogue from each movie, line by line, for that was how well she now knew them by heart! If she had to endure it one more time that day, she knew she would start screaming!

She now had only one last resort as a bartering tool for Anneliese’s good behavior, and while she was reluctant about resorting to bribery, it seemed she had no other choice!

“If you act like ein gutes kleines Mädchen and take a nice little nap, I promise to give you some more of Helga’s fresh-baked Christmas cookies!”

The sugary goodies would no doubt give her niece yet another adrenaline rush but by that time, hopefully, her sister and her husband would be back, so it would be their issue to contend with by then!

The little girl pondered the offer for a moment, then shrugged and hopped onto Franziska’s bed.

“Fine, I’ll lie down. But you have to read me a story first.”

The prosecutor’s mind went wild with panic. Of all the things her sister had packed into a bag for her daughter when she had dropped her off, including a change of clothes, some toys, and holiday DVDs, age-appropriate reading material had not been amongst them whatsoever! The bookshelves in her bedroom now fully consisted of nothing but law textbooks and reference materials, as Franziska had long since gotten rid of all of her childhood books, a decision she was now mentally cursing herself for.

What on earth am I going to read to a five-year-old?! Maybe I can read her a passage from one of my legal publications? Perchance, I can bore her off to sleep?!

“Sure, you just stay right there, and I will find a nice book to read.” She reached over for the text on her night table and opened up to the bookmarked page she’d highlighted as she took a seat on the bed next to Anneliese, who eyed her with anticipation. “Look here is a section on, er, family-related matters!”

Franziska cleared her throat and began reading.

“The age of consent in Germany is 14, as long as a person over the age of 21 does not exploit a 14- to 15-year-old person’s lack of capacity for, um … carnal self-determination, in which case a conviction of an individual over the age of 21 requires a complaint from the younger individual. Being over 21 and engaging in ah, such relations with a minor of that age does not constitute an offense by itself. Otherwise, the age of consent is 16…”

“Tante Franny! Das ist so langweilig!” Anneliese whined, jutting out her lower lip in a displeased manner, not at all dissimilar to her aunt’s! “I don’t want to want to hear about dumb, boring lawyer stuff! Haven’t you got any books for children?”

Franziska frantically wracked her brain, then had a swift flash of inspiration.

“I do not, but your Onkel Miles does! Have you heard of a wonderful children’s writer named Robert Munsch?”

The flaxen-haired moppet scrunched up her face in deep thought, then nodded.

“He wrote that book The Paperbag Princess, ja?”

“Yes, as well as many others. When he was a little boy, Onkel Miles’s favorite book was Love You Forever, so for his Christmas gift a few years ago, I got him the entire, limited edition, Robert Munsch Collection. He might still have it in his room. I’m sure he would not mind if we borrowed it…”

“Yay!” Anneliese squealed excitedly, bouncing off the bed like a little rubber ball. She was already out the door before the words had barely left Franziska’s lips. “I’m going to go ask Onkel Miles right now!”

“Anneliese, wait!” The teenager called, rushing out the door after her niece, who was already down the hall and had flung open the bedroom door to Miles’ bedroom, naturally, without even knocking. She caught up with her niece at the doorway of the room and skidded to a shaky stop.

Then her breath got caught in her throat at the sight that greeted her.

Standing in the bedroom, his hair slicked back and wet from the shower, obviously having just emerged from his bathroom, was her Little Brother. Make that her not so little, in any way, shape, or form, brother, as she had never seen him before, save for in her wildest teenage fantasies!

Miles was wearing nothing but a small towel wrapped around his trim waist, along with a gobsmacked expression at the sight of the two girls, which she was sure mirrored her own – albeit for
completely different reasons!

Franziska swallowed hard as she stared achingly at his rippled physique, knowing she should do the appropriate thing and avert her eyes but found herself utterly helpless to pry her gaze away from the sight of his wet, chiseled form. She’d always mused that underneath his clothing, Miles Edgeworth was probably the most perfect male specimen on earth.

Now, thanks to her guileless niece barging in on him, she had irrefutable evidence that her speculations had been nothing short of the truth!

He was beautifully made, with long, graceful bones and flat muscles that flowed smoothly from the curves of chest and shoulder to the slight concavities of belly and thigh. Since he was facing them, she couldn’t see his broad back, although a part of her wished she could! The other very small part cautioned that she needed to get a hold of herself – posthaste!

She let out a shaky sigh and gave her head a firm shake to pull herself together.

“Miles, I am so sorry!” Franziska gasped, clamping her hand down on her niece’s shoulder as the full embarrassment of the scenario finally sunk in. “Anneliese just took off like a rocket, because she was so eager to ask you if she could borrow one of the children’s books that I gave you for Christmas a little while ago…. I was trying to get her to take a nap, and I didn’t have anything to read to her, because as you know, I foolishly gave away all my own children’s books ages ago when I became a prosecutor, never imagining I would ever need them ever again… and we were hoping you would not mind…assuming you still have them here, and not at your place in Los Angeles! Although, of course, we had no idea that you would be in such a state … and I know she really should have knocked…”

Belatedly, she realized that she was rambling like a dithering idiot, and felt a heated blush rise to her cheeks. Also, she had yet to stop staring!

“So, anyway, we shall be in my room while you… Get decent. That is, get clothed. Not that you are indecent looking in the least! Not that I have anything to compare you to at all…”

“Franziska, calm down. You’re babbling!”

Seeming more exasperated than flustered now, Miles raised a finger, signaling her to wait, ducked back into his bathroom, and came out a split second later in a knee-length bathrobe, more modestly, although somewhat damply, dressed. He smiled indulgently at his niece, who had no idea what faux pas she’d had just committed, and waved the two of them inside the room.

“It’s fine. These things have been known to happen when there’s a little one afoot, and it’s certainly nothing to get into an uproar about. You’re welcome to try to find the books on my shelf. They are still in the same pristine condition they were in when you kindly give them to me.” He gestured towards the mahogany bookshelf against the far wall. “Help yourselves.”

Anneliese certainly didn’t need to be told twice and was already scouring the shelves with eager eyes, trying to find the sought-after item while Franziska scrutinized his expressionless face intently, grateful for the reprieve but also somewhat suspicious. Miles Edgeworth had always been a private man, who jealously valued his privacy above all else, and had had zero qualms letting her know as such, on countless occasions, growing up! It was very uncharacteristic of him to be so placid in such an instance, and it made her feel slightly weary, as well as concerned.

She walked over to his bed, which he was now sitting on, staring blankly out his window, holding his cell phone in his hand while he idly stroked it with his fingertips.

I am officially worried now! This is most peculiar! It is as though my not-so Little Brother has been body-snatched by the pod people!

“Little – Miles,” Franziska corrected herself hastily. “It is not my intention to pry into your personal affairs, but I notice you have not quite been yourself since arriving, and it appears that there is some matter causing you some sort of great disturbance. It is most vexing to see you this way. You have been very kind to me in the past whenever something has been bothering me, so I just wanted to let you know that if you needed to talk, while I may not have any advice to give you, I will most certainly listen. Sie können Ihr Leben darauf wetten.”

“That’s very charitable of you, Franziska, and I’m glad I could bet my life on it.” Miles turned his head away from whatever he had been staring at, outside the window, and looked at her with vacant eyes. “All the same, I don’t think discussing my private matters in the presence of a young child would be prudent at the moment…”

“Tante Franny! I found the books!” Anneliese crowed, yanking down the entire box holding the collection from above her head, uncaring as they all clattered to the carpeted floor, which she promptly set her little bottom upon while she poured over them. “Look at all these pictures! He’s even got my favorite one – Mortimer!”

The teenage girl swung her eyes over from her sister’s crotch goblin and smiled wryly at the now amused-looking Miles.

“I do believe we have been bought at least a few good moments of distraction in that domain…”

“Franziska…” Miles crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply. “If I were to ship something to the United States via express post, do you think, at this time of the year, that Germany’s mail system is reliable enough to place faith in that the package would arrive by Christmas?”

She was quite taken aback by the unexpected question, as had been the last thing she had thought he would choose to bring up. This was what had him all out of sorts? The pressing matter of whether or not he could trust the Deutsche Post?

“Yes, I imagine it would, as long as you have gotten it to them by end of business day today, although this late, you had best keep your Daumen drücken,” she answered uncertainly. “What was of such importance that you are trying to send it at the 11th hour?”

A lightbulb went off over her head at that moment and understanding dawned on her as she remembered his earlier mysterious errand.

“Were you trying to send a last-minute gift to somebody back in California?” She attempted to squelch the immediate pang of jealousy rising within her as she asked the next question. “For somebody special, I take it?”

“I don’t know how I feel about discussing such things with you, either.” Miles let out a humorless chuckle as he raked a hand through his wet hair. “I must fully be at my wit’s end if I’m even considering confiding my heartfelt secrets to a girl who is barely more than a child herself!”

“I am hardly a child anymore, I will have you know!” Franziska put her hands on her hips and regarded him sternly. “It is almost insulting that you still think of me to be noch grün hinter den Ohren sein! I have also been working in the same field as you since I was 13, so obviously, I have a greater mental capacity and maturity than most girls my age! If memory serves me correctly, I was only 11 when you felt comfortable enough to talk to me about your oversexed classmate’s unwanted advances!”

Miles remained stubbornly silent, and as she didn’t have her trusty weapon handy, which she had recently upgraded to from her riding crop, she settled for jabbing him in the arm instead.

“In der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen, Miles Edgeworth! Now cease acting as Dumm wie Bohnenstro, you fool, and confide in your Große Schwester already!”

“Perhaps I am being a bit thick. I’ll also acknowledge that beggars can’t be choosers!” Miles rubbed his arm from the surprisingly sharp shot and glowered at her. “Per contra, it is hardly a sign of newfound maturity when you resort to physically assaulting the very people you’re attempting to have an adult conversation with!”

“You are being a completely foolish fool by holding everything in, and being a complete wet blanket during what is supposed to be family Christmastime!” Franziska snapped irritably. “You are also most fortunate I did not have my whip with me!”

“I wouldn’t think it’s very commendable to just whip people at random, either!”

“I swing, therefore I whip! That is my philosophy!”

They glared at each other for a moment, but finally, Miles looked away and shook his head sheepishly.

“Stop glowering at me like that, I beg of you!” He protested laughingly. “Lest I be turned into stone!”

“Pray tell, who is she?” Franziska demanded, her heart beginning to hammer as she braced herself for the answer. She was silently praying that she was wrong about her theory as to what was troubling him. That it was something minor, like a work issue. “Who is this woman responsible for you acting like The Grinch at this festive time of year when you are supposed to be enjoying the holiday season with your family?”

“She’s a new coworker,” he finally admitted with a sigh, unaware of the tight constricting that formed within Franziska’s chest at his answer. “I’ve just been tussling with whether or not it would be appropriate to send her a gift for Christmas. She certainly wouldn’t be expecting one, as I didn’t even leave her card at the office when some of the others at work exchanged them with each other. Yet I couldn’t help but wonder if it’d be the worst thing if I let her know that even though I am here, and she is back there, she still occupies my every thought. It’s not in my nature to be so trite; perhaps I am overly sentimental because of the festive season, or just overthinking the whole thing. Ngh! I just don’t know…”

Franziska died a little inside. Just when she’d thought she was finally old enough to confess her feelings, and hope that Miles would, at long last, see her as more grown-up, it seemed that she was destined never to catch up, as his heart was already elsewhere. The knowledge was excruciating but she loved him so much that she decided to make good on her offer and give him the best, unbiased, Big Sister advice she possibly could, regardless.

“Well, if she works with you, obviously she must be a woman of some intelligence, who would, therefore, be delighted to be the recipient of some sort of token of affection from a man like you,” she finally managed to get out, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat. “Thusly, I am uncertain about what is hindering you from following through with your desired actions? You have never been hesitant about anything, Miles. Why would such be the case now?”

“It’s a bit complicated, Franziska.” Miles looked at his cell, as though contemplating whether to use it, but then ultimately decided against it, and quickly shoved it into his night table drawer and slammed it shut. “As much as this woman haunts my mind and my every thought, I can’t disregard that she is a coworker, so getting involved with her goes against my work ethics and beliefs.”

“Is it against office policy to date among colleagues?”

“Not really. I suppose it would be considered frowned upon in this instance, though, since I am her subordinate.”

“Could the two of you not just practice discretion in the meantime then?” She ventured, nearly choking on the words even as she uttered them.

“It’s not just the fact that we work together.” Miles rose from the bed and began pacing the room like a restless tiger. “As much as I would be most pleased if I were the lone contender for her heart, it brings me great distress to have to be acknowledging, aloud, that such is not the case. There is indeed another contender who also has a hold of her affections.”

“I still fail to see what the problem is.” Franziska took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. “There is no woman with half an eye, or with blood in her veins, that could ever choose another over you, Miles Edgeworth. You are the greatest man I have ever known and any woman alive would be so lucky to have you. You are a Prodigy Prosecutor with a perfect record, a genius logical mind, and a compassionate heart. What more could she possibly want?”

“Mayhap she is not desirous in preference for a man of refined tastes,” he muttered darkly. “I get mixed messages, as she seems torn between me and one of those rough around the edges, cowboy types.”

“Then she is an unpardonable fool and not worth your time!” She cried passionately, her heart overcoming her logic at that moment as the words spilled out. “Without even laying eyes on this other man, I already know that there is no way he is as handsome as you are! Truly believe me when I say this to you: Miles, you are not only the greatest man I have met but the most handsome man that I have ever known!”

There was an odd stillness in the room as he stared at her. Franziska felt her face flaming and dropped her gaze but not before she saw the color rising to his cheeks as well at her outburst.

“I don’t believe that I ever heard you say such a thing, or anything, with regards to my physical appearance before.” Miles jammed his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet awkwardly, obviously embarrassed and unaccustomed to such commentary. “That is very nice of you to say, however biased you might be, Große Schwester.”

“Your foolish self has not been paying much attention to anything over the years, as this is most certainly not the first time I have let you know how physically ansprechend you have become, Kleiner Bruder.” She was unable to hide the earnestness in her tone. “How do you never notice the way my girlfriends, such as Addie, despite being spoken for, get reduced to blushing, giggling ninnies within your presence? Moreover, how have you never seen the admiring glances of all the women in the streets whenever we have been out together?”

How have you never seen the admiration in my own eyes?! Or the obvious longing in them, even as I say all these ego-stroking words that will only further propel you into this other mystery woman’s arms?!

“I guess I have been too preoccupied with first my studies, and then my work, to pay mind to much else,” Miles muttered, his eyes on the floor. He glanced up then and flashed her a half-smile. “You have given me a lot to think about, Franziska. A New Year is looming. Perhaps I should consider resolving to explore what else is out there for me, besides just my job. Thank you, Big Sister.”

Up until that moment, the German expression Jemanden ausnehmen wie eine weihnachtsgans, meaning, to gut someone like a Christmas goose, had never made sense to Franziska, but upon hearing those words, that was exactly the impact she felt! She could feel a stinging sensation building behind her eyes and knew she had to get out of there before the tears burning behind them began to fall.

“Sehr gut.” She forced herself to smile. “We cannot have you hating yourself for chances that you never took, which could otherwise sich in den Arsch beißen! However, I do need to put Anneliese down for her nap now. I will return the books to you as soon as I’m done reading them to her. I shall see you later, Little Brother.”

Before he could respond, she quickly turned away from him and walked over to her niece. Scooping Anneliese up into her arms, along with the books that she held in them, she quickly strode out of the room, all the while only thinking one thought in her mind:

Bitte, Gott don’t let him see me cry this time, I beg of you! Don’t let me make a fool of myself even more than I already have…

Adele – Hello

Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time

German Translations

noch grün hinter den Ohren sein! – still green behind the ears!