fic: Save the Date (5)

[bonnefois]

Title: Save The Date (5)
Series: Ace Attorney
Character/pairing: Nahyuta/Ema, Gumshoe/Maggey, Simon/Athena, Edgeworth/Phoenix, Larry/Maya, Franziska/Adrian, Klavier/Apollo
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 18618
Summary: When Larry gets married after catching the bouquet at Sorin and Ellen's wedding, it sets off a series of weddings, all involving the next person who caught the bouquet. As Ema starts to see a pattern, her interest is caught, both for the possible scientific discovery and the chance on being able to get a wish of her own.
Author's note: as usual, Ema's opinions about certain prosecutors and other characters are her own and I actually love these guys.

Thanks to my NB gf for betaing, even though she doesn't go here (yet.)



One month later.

The dining hall was certainly more lively than usual. Instead of the usual bowed heads of guards in prayer before and after meals over long wooden tables covered in somber white tablecloths, Apollo and Trucy chatted away amid sacred butterfly decor that was carved into the walls and the hanging lanterns that managed to almost give off just barely enough light that Ema managed to not trip this time.

Ema held up the fancy invitation, which was full of purple swirls, glitter, and bombastic font choices and gratuitous and completely inaccurate German. It was about one glowstick away from being a rave in an envelope. It was a Prosecutor Gavin creation, that was for damn sure. Ema scrunched up her nose. "Is this some months late April's fool joke?"

Trucy looked up, and smiled when she saw Ema. The blue broach at her neck caught the light in a faint sparkle as she turned.

"It's true! Polly broke the hearts of girls all around the world!"

Trucy and Phoenix had come in early to help with the planning, considering that Prosecutor Gavin had planned this wedding with the kind of speed usually reserved for suddenly expecting brides trying to still fit in the dress before their wedding day. Something that Ema didn't quite get… unless maybe Prosecutor Gavin thought Apollo was such a catch that he wanted to lock that down immediately?

Ema couldn't see that, either, but it was the only thing that came to mind. Honestly, Ema never thought the fop was the settling down kind at all. But apparently he was, when it was Apollo.

Ema rolled her eyes. "Can you even imagine his wedding? Probably glitter on every surface, he plays the music, and it's held in the Hard Rock Cafe."

"You're not far off except it's not in the Hard Rock Cafe," Trucy said.

These many weddings were hell on her paycheck. She couldn't just reuse the same dress every time, not around the same group of people, most of whom she worked with. Though she was tempted to reuse it for Prosecutor Gavin’s wedding, just to show him. What she'd show him, other than that on her salary, she'd never fight with his ever-increasing amount of suits she didn't know, but she'd show... something.

Besides, it was just Prosecutor Gavin's wedding. The sheer fact that she even showed up at all was enough.

As tempting as it was to just ditch this purple wedding from hell, she was going to miss out on that much free food, and another chance to spend more time with Prosecutor Sahdmadhi.

While she knew this engagement was coming, the true nightmare of the situation was that if she and Prosecutor Sahdmadhi got married and Apollo and Prosecutor Gavin got married, then she'd be in-laws with Klavier Gavin. Of course, she hadn't even had a real date with Prosecutor Sahdmadhi yet, even if everyone else was convinced they had. They'd been mistaken for dating quite a few times now. Him walking in carrying her around bridal style didn't exactly help the rumors, let alone them being seen going into the unisex bathroom to dry off for at least fifteen minutes together, or the dozens of couple-y things they kept doing while somehow not dating.

(Ema wasn't sure how she kept any self-control on that beach, or in that butterfly house, or in that restaurant after it all. Apparently, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi was rubbing off on her, because the past her that tried to flick snacks at Prosecutor Gavin right in the middle of court would've just kissed him already.)

Ema smiled at the memory. Even if it always left her completely incredulous at herself that she hadn't taken matters into her own hands and just grabbed his chin to kiss him right there.

"So, is it going to be in Khura'in?"

If she was lucky, it'd be somewhere else. Preferably Mars. Then she could simply say she didn't have any extra tickets to the stars.

Apollo tugged at his tie, and blew out a sigh. "For now. Klavier wants to have one in L.A., and Germany, and on stage in concert...and that's only the ones I could remember."

"You're telling me the fop is dying to get married in Khura'in?" Ema said incredulously.

"I heard it all! He said he's so happy that Polly said yes, that he's going to keep getting him to say yes and yes over and over, both in the bedroom and out..."

"You weren't supposed to hear that part!" Apollo burst out.

Trucy playfully stuck out her tongue. "Ehe~"

Ema shook her head. "God, he's going to be such a bridezilla. Or make that a Groomzilla. I bet Prosecutor Gavin is going to make it into a thing. Are you picking bridesmaids? Prosecutor Gavin isn't going to force me into some ruffled monstrosity, is he?"

Apollo rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "It's his thing. I'd take just a quiet town hall ceremony. But he always wants to bring out the big lights and make a big show of it."

"Hey, you're marrying a literal rock star who comes into court wearing a shiny leather purple suit and enough bling that I can barely even gathering evidence because he's so damn dazzling that the light keeps getting in my eyes. You knew what you were getting into. Just wait until he's snapchatting your honeymoon to his 50 million followers," Ema said.

Apollo raised his eyebrows. "You sure pulled that fact out fast for someone who hates Klavier's guts."

Ema shoved a Snackoo in her mouth. "What? I can Google."

"Uh-huh. You spend all your time googling Klavier?" Apollo lifted his eyebrows, and gave her that practically patented Wright Anything Agency witness skepticism that Athena made Athena look like a hissing kitten, but Apollo had surpassed even the master in.

Trucy smiled, and put her hands together in a way that reminded Ema of Maya. "Maybe she gets bored and Googles things like 'Who has the most Snapchat members?'"

"Basically. The fop comes up in the damn news so much that I learn details about him even when I don't want to. Especially when somebody I know has such bad taste to date and even marry the guy! Also, he always talks about his fans… he wanted to thank every single fan personally in his last solo album, but it would've been way too large for the CD jacket, so he had to make a whole website where he read off thank yous. It was over twelve hours long and he hurt his vocal chords and got dehydrated in the process."

"That's Klavier, all right," Apollo said.

Ema smirked at Apollo. "Sooo. You're going to have a big Bachelor's party? Hire a bunch of strippers and kiss your single life goodbye?"

She half expected an objection and a blush, but Apollo gave her a grimace instead.

"I think not," Apollo said dryly.

"Well, you'd save money if he was the one on the pole," Trucy said.

"Trucy!" Apollo gasped.

"What? I'm an adult now."

"Nope," Apollo said. "Nope" he said again, and covered her ears with his hands. "Nopenopenope. We're not having this conversation. There's no bachelor party, and even if there was, you couldn't come."

"Party pooper," Trucy said. But she regained her smile soon. "That's okay, I follow his snapchat account, and he snaps every-thinggg."

"Ugh, I'll pass," Ema said.

"He wants you at the wedding, though," Apollo said.

"Yeah, I got that from this invitation. Why? Can't he just accept that I despise him and let me hate him in peace?"

"Of course he can't," Apollo said. "You should know that by now."

Ema let out a frustrated sigh and shoved Snackoos into her mouth. It wasn't like she could just tell Apollo to fuck off.

Okay, she told him to fuck off every day now that they were working together again. Even better, now she got compliments from her Prosecutor for telling the defense to fuck off. But it wasn't like she could just tell him to fuck off on his wedding day. Or wedding planning day, anyways.

"Fine--munch--I'll--munch--come--munch--to--munch--your--munch--stupid--munch--wedding."

"Gee, thanks for the enthusiasm," Apollo said.

Ema brushed the crumbs off her face, twisted her mouth into a grimace.

"If you wanted enthusiasm, you shouldn't have married my worst enemy."

"Hate to break it to you, but it's pretty one-sided. Klavier mentioned he missed working with you and hoped you were doing well. He even said he was glad that you and Nahyuta seem to click so well, and only wished you the best. He just wished that you and he got off on a better start, and hoped that you could one day be on better terms."

Ema rolled her eyes. This only made her hate him all the more. How dare he be nice about this. He was supposed to hate her back, not smile and forgive her when she threw snack foods and harsh words his way.

It would've been so much easier if he just hated her too and gave her even more reason to hate him with sharp words, constant punishments and the kind of comments in her file that would mean no prosecutor would ever work with her again.

Of course, it wouldn't be easier on her-- a bad record could've ruined her. But it would've made it easier to keep up this increasingly one-sided and outdated grudge.

It'd started because he'd been the one who took away Phoenix's badge. But then it came out Prosecutor Gavin had just been manipulated and deeply regretted his part in ruining Phoenix's career. He had the utter temerity to apologize and try and make amends, when Ema had already decided to hate him forever for making Phoenix's life so miserable.

Now she was left with increasingly shallow reasons to hate him like he's a grating, bling-covered europhile, none of which matched her original level of vitriol.

Ema shoved another Snackoo in her mouth. Holding onto a grudge was easier than admitting she was wrong and apologizing for years and years of treating him like that when he hadn't been the corrupt badge-stealing clod she thought he was.

Oh, and she'd support Apollo, too. Even if his taste in men was atrocious. Something she planned on reminding him until the day he died.

*

Two weeks later.

This time, Ema couldn't just fly out for a quick shopping trip, because unlike Prosecutor Gavin, she didn't have a giant purple private jet so she could go all around the world whenever she wanted. Except his was usually busy, sending relief supplies to people working in worn-torn countries. (He even gave out free copies of his CDs for the volunteers as well, and often showed up for massive benefit concerts that gave all the proceeds to charity.)

Ema had pieced through her dresses and settled on the teal one again. It was a classic, and neither of them had been at Maya's (or Ellen and Sorin's, for that matter) wedding, anyways. She headed out towards the loudest bursts, where she could already tell the iconic Chords of Steel was going on.

When Ema opened up the door of the defendant's lobby, Apollo was shrieking at the mirror, while Trucy and Athena gave moral support. He wore his usual red suit that he wore in court. Which either confirmed her suspicions that Apollo really didn't own another suit (what did he do when he had to dry clean it? Just come to court naked? Prosecutor Gavin sure would like that.) or Prosecutor Gavin had wanted to go back to what he'd worn when they first met.

"I'm Apollo Justice and I'm fine! I'm Apollo Justice and I'm getting married today! and I'm f-fine..."

Apollo clenched his fists and let out a chords of steel so intense that he might as well form a rock band. His voice filled up the small defense lobby, and echoed loud enough that it felt like she was front seat at a concert. From the far corner, a guard rubbed at his ears.

Ema crossed her arms. "Yell a bit louder, would you? There's people in Zheng Fa that haven't heard you yet."

"You can do it, Apollo," Athena said. "I already did, and it isn't nearly as difficult as you'd think. In fact, it was really easy! Except the part when Simon accidentally made Prosecutor Gavin his eternal enemy. Actually, he did that pretty easily as well."

"Eh, it happens," Ema said.

"Oh, it's bad luck to see the bride before a wedding!" Trucy said.

"That's the groom, not the grumpy coworker that got dragged into this mess. Apollo isn't marrying me," Ema said.

Apollo gave her a side eye in the reflection of the mirror. "Literally anything I say about that is going to get snack food thrown at me."

"Not yet, only because it's your wedding day, and marrying Prosecutor Gavin is enough punishment. But I'll have snack food with your name on it after this whole spectacle is over. Trust me."

Behind them, someone cleared his throat. In all the noise of Apollo's Chords of Steel, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi had managed to come in without any of them noticing.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi frowned. "This has taken a distinct turn towards tomfoolery."

Ema smirked. "The eighteen hundreds called, they want their missing monk back."

"Humph. If I bring values and knowledge from an earlier time, then so be it. ...If I had to be in this time, then I am glad to have been here with such good company and yourself, and delicious food," he said.

"That only makes you sound more like a time traveler, and good to know I rate slightly above a cheeseburger," Ema said.

Ema twirled a brown strand of hair about her finger. "You're in your prosecutor clothes. Are you going to give the opening statement on the case of the search for Apollo's lost sense of taste?"

"Ah, yes. The opening statement where I interrogate Prosecutor Gavin's sincerity. You are welcome to join me, of course..."

"A free chance to mock Prosecutor Gavin? I'm in," Ema said cheerfully. "You and I will make a great team."

"You are only realizing this now? I have known this from the very start, from the very moment I met you..."

Apollo gave them a sidelong glare. "Would you two quit flirting for two seconds? I'm trying to to focus on my Chords of Steel."

Ema's cheeks turned bright pink. "Er... um..."

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, however, was far more unruffled. He gave Apollo a slightly perturbed glare, which Apollo soundly ignored.

Ema finally found her composure, and her temper flared. "A-As if you have anything to say about flirting! You flirting with Prosecutor Gavin for years on my crime scenes. I had to miss lunch sometimes because you two decided to flirt and banter instead of getting to the bottom of the freaking case! I missed lunch because of you two, Apollo!"

"I get it, Ema. In case you didn't notice, it's my wedding day," Apollo said sarcastically.

Apollo took a deep breath and screamed I doooo! into the mirror.

"I'm surprised he didn't crack the glass," Ema said dryly.

"Yes, I anticipated that and I had extra strong mirrors brought in, just in case," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said.

"Good thinking," Ema said.

Apollo rolled his eyes, with a mutter of flirting again?.

"All right. I'm ready to go out there."

"You need a paper bag to breathe into, Apollo?" Ema said.

Apollo shook his head. He took a deep breath, and clenched his fists. Just like he prepped for each and every trial.

"I've got this."

"You could even say 'it's showtime,'" Trucy said.

"He would say that," Apollo said.

"Nah, he'd go Achtung baby, tonight it is showtime! Ja! Tonight we play it my way!" Ema pretended to do an air guitar, just to complete the impression.

"Quite a remarkable mimicry," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said.

"Laugh now, but she's definitely already got an impression of you that she'll unleash when you piss her off," Apollo said.

Ema had to smile sheepishly at that. She'd already worked on it. Except it wasn't really funny, because her attempts at mockery always devolved into And I'm a foreign prosecutor who is stupidly hot and stupidly hard to read and always compliments my detective, and gives her about a dozen pay raises a week but what's up with me? Nobody knows! The magic unreadable hot monk, coming to a crime scene near you! Just don't expect to figure him out anytime soon!

"Well then, I am sure it will be most elucidating when I witness it," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? Ema shoved that down with the other hundreds of Monk Mysteries, right down to how he hated Swiss cheese so, yet loved the Southwestern Jalapeno Cheeseburger.

The organ music was accompanied by a guitar. Only Prosecutor Gavin could turn this wedding march into a remix. Ema turned her eyes heavenwards.

Apollo clutched his fists harder. "It's time..."

"Apollo, you faced Ga'ran. A wedding is nothing compared to this. Remember the courage which guided you then still remains deep inside you," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said.

"Exactly. Get your crap together, Apollo. Sure he's annoying as hell, but he's nothing compared to that horrible dictator woman. He isn't even threatening to cut off your head! Not unless you've got some secret kinky roleplay going on. And if you do, please don't ever tell me."

"When it's your turn to get married, I'll remind you that you said that," Apollo said.

Ema gestured to her chest. "When I get married, I'm going to be incredibly happy and practically skipping down the aisle, because unlike you, I have excellent taste in people, and know whoever I tie the knot with is going to be the best damn person in the world."

Apollo glanced to Prosecutor Sahdmadhi as she said that. Apparently he'd perceived her little secret.

Or, you know, the fact he had eyes. Because that little secret was the favorite gossip of two precincts, with an ocean between them.

Well, she had excellent taste other than the fact that her choices in men tended to turn out gay. That, however, wasn't surprising. For all the jokes of theater and fashion being filled with gay people, they left out that about other prosecutor and lawyer were gay.

The ones that weren't, like Prosecutor Gavin, were bi.

“Unless you're having second thoughts?" Ema said.

"Nope. Not even a little," Apollo said.

"So go for it. already. You know you want him, for some reason I cannot possibly fathom. You can't make more of a fool of yourself than Prosecutor Gavin does on a daily basis, anyways," Ema said.

Apollo gave her an incredulous glare. "Seriously? On my wedding day?"

"I'm just stating the facts here. like, 'grass is green' or 'Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth is an incredible prosecutor and fantastic man in general and almost nobody is his peer.'"

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi's smile disappeared at this. The guitar solo went on, rising with the organ music. There were no pipe organs here, so he probably made a mixtape. Klavier Gavin's Greatest Wedding Hits, coming to a store near you.

"All right. I can do this."

Apollo gave a more confident smile.

"Thanks for the support, everyone."

Except that smile turned into a sideeye in her direction.

"Well, almost everyone. Not you, Ema. You need to work on your support skills."

"Anytime," Ema said sweetly.

*

Khura'in had never had a celebration like this. Really, Ema was still surprised that the very same guy who got real angry if shows didn't go right and 'the fans weren't as satisfied as if they were my very own lovers,' and made her do guard duty was here willing to take a pay cut, and work in this decidedly more ascetic than glamorous country.

And it wasn't just a temp job, either. Prosecutor Gavin was willing to get married here. He must've really loved Apollo if he went to this place, and gave up a chance with all his fraüleins just to be here, freezing his ass off with a bunch of monks for a religion he didn't practice.

Then again, that sounded an awful lot like somebody she knew, with the exception of the fake German accent and massive amounts of bling. In the end, Prosecutor Gavin was just a bit more vocal about why he was in Khura'in. No wonder he was getting married while she hadn't even gotten a date yet.

What could she say? Here she was, a scientist in Khura'in, thirsting after a monk. Prosecutor Gavin had just actually been open with his feelings and done something about it. While Ema had eaten a lot of Snackoos and perfected the data and plan she might actually take one day....if things went exactly right, that she always set aside when actual opportunities to tell him came.

All in all, Ema filed it away as just another reason to hate him.

People from miles away had come to see the savior of the country get married to some foreign rockstar. At least Prosecutor Gavin knew how to handle big crowds. However, every time Apollo glanced at Prosecutor Gavin, he looked like he was walking out onto a spelling bee, and forgot everything so thoroughly he would've misspelled 'cat.'

He was too far away to hear over the noise of the crowd, but Ema still hissed keep your head in the game, Apollo! The honeymoon isn't until later!

Sure it was unscientific, but telepathy would be real useful right now.

Actually, she'd probably just spend all her telepathy powers telling people to fuck off constantly, so it was best that it only existed in fantasy and science hadn't invented it yet, because she'd promptly use it for evil (and snack related) purposes.

"What a strange celebration," Queen Amara said.

Ema glanced back. The future and past Queens both stood near her, which Ema certainly hadn't expected. After all, the populace of Khura'in were so utterly reverent towards them, and they were always guarded from potential assassins-- well, they didn't exactly fly coach or just hang around any public benches.

They both wore their usual royal attire, or at least what could be seen through their winter wear, with Rayfa in her ceremonial garb, with the shawl covered in bells across her shoulders peeked out from her thick fur coat. Her twin loops stuck out from a thick hat that Queen Amara kept reaching out to pull down over her ears.

Rayfa frowned. "Horn head has chosen a very flashy husband."

"Yeah, I'll say," Ema said.

After years of having to listen to everyone in the world go on and on about how Prosecutor Gavin personally hung the stars in the sky, was the sexiest man alive, and was the most charitable person in the entire world, she was glad to join in to anybody who showed even the slightest hint of disapproval.

"Yet, he has a strong spirit, and his husband sings well," Queen Amara said.

"Speaking of husband, there's your prosecutor," Queen Amara said.

She pointed out past the crowd, where Prosecutor Sahdmadhi had begun to walk towards them.

Really? She put 'your prosecutor' above 'my son'? Then again, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi did value guarding the law an awful lot… his mother, Queen Amara, would certainly know that by now.

The din of the crowd all disappeared as Prosecutor Sahdmadhi came into view. Damn, he wore a suit well. So much for his prosecutor's opening statement. He adjusted a gold cuff link as Ema drew closer.

"So, no joining together to put Prosecutor Gavin on trial?" Ema said teasingly.

"Apollo personally demanded I 'behave' as he put it. At times, he does not seem to understand such jesting. I suppose he is stressed because of this wedding and would not take too such things as a sudden mock trial. I should've prepared it earlier, but other duties called."

"Yeah, tell me about it. You almost expect to have some objection rising up in one of these weddings, or some kind of murder," Ema said.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi looked pained at that. "Ema... to say such things would be to wish misfortune upon a person."

Ema crossed her arms. "Look, I don't like Prosecutor Gavin. You've probably gotten that already, but I don't want Apollo to be unhappy or anything. It's just that so many lawyers and prosecutors around is just asking for a murder to spring up. Though I figured it'd be in either Maya or Phoenix's wedding. I'm kind of surprised how smoothly this all has gone. No murders, no hired assassins or even old exes coming in to break everything apart in hopes of revenge or getting back together with their lost love," Ema said.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi made the karuna sign, warding off evil, with both his hands. "And hopefully, it will remain that way," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said.

"Certainly, if anyone deserves happiness, it's Apollo. He has done so much and faced such struggle...Without his help, the country would have never been freed. ...and your help, too."

Ema smiled. "I didn't exactly knock a queen down with the power of my objections, but I sure wanted to. You have no idea how hard it was to not just tell her off by the end for everything she did to you."

"It would have been far too dangerous by far... but, a part of me wishes I could've seen you give her a tongue lashing then. It would've been highly memorable and deeply...satisfying."

Ema smiled. "Well, I'll just have to invent time travel for real and get back to you," she said.

The guitar-organ mix that sounded like a boss battle theme in the newest Final Fantasy game came to a crescendo. Even though she'd love to skip the ceremony and just spend the entire time trading banter with Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, they both had roles to do.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi was best man, and Ema was currently taking the role of the witch from some fairytale that showed up to a gala simply to curse everyone. Except her curses were more of the swearing kind and eating all the buffet food and less of the a hundred years of slumber kind.

Was there assigned seating? While the furthest seat possible was tempting, because then she could ignore this the fop and scroll through her phone as he went on for his eight hour wedding speech about how Apollo was the peak man and he was so happy to be married. However, the temptation to livetweet the wedding in the snarkiest way would be too tempting.

And she owed Apollo at least that much to leave the sarcastic tweets until after he was on his honeymoon.

"Ah, yes. Mother asked me to relay this to you. She wishes you to sit with them."

Ema glanced back, to where Queen Amara smiled back with that same kind of unreadable enigmatic smile that Prosecutor Sahdmadhi had undoubtedly gotten from her.

"O-oh, right. That's fine," Ema said.

Right, just nonchalantly hanging out with her boss's mother who was also basically a god here. No big deal.

"Apollo asked me to be his 'best man’ so I must join them at the front, and deliver a speech later."

"I bet that went over well," Ema said.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi closed his eyes, and made an okay sign with his fingers at the memory. "Yes… it nearly devolved into an argument. I did not understand at first that this 'best man' concept was part of the wedding ritual and not simply him criticizing my conduct."

Ouch, it'd gone worse than she even imagined.

"Right, good luck then. I'm sure you'll give a great speech. You've certainly got the gift of gab."

"I am honored by your praise, and shall certainly do my best."

She smiled. He didn't even quite get what 'the gift of gab' meant. And in her case, it'd been a little bit of a joke, because the way she mentally categorized his voice was a bit less tongue in cheek and more wish his tongue was in my mouth.

She sat down near the past and future Queens, something which caused a stir of whispers from the Khura'inese guests.

In the end, it didn't matter that this was the third time she wore her teal number, because she'd had to pull on a thick coat. She didn't put her hair up this time. Partly due to not wanting to make it look like she'd done anything special for this wedding (she'd heard enough of 'your blinding hatred actually means you want to fuck him for a lifetime. Maybe it worked for other lawyer pairs, whose rivalry seemed to be based solely on how much they wanted to fuck each other, but it didn't apply to her, thank you very much.) and partly because her hair had grown a bit. When in Rome, as they say. Or more like When Your Boss Is One Animal Friend From Being A Disney Princess, And The Nearest Barber Is An Airplane Away. She kind of liked it, though. Even though she'd started to have to put her hair back in a ponytail to keep it out of her lab equipment. She was thinking of asking Prosecutor Sahdmadhi for braiding tips.

The wedding ceremony was just as quick as the engagement, because somebody had the brilliant idea to have an outdoors ceremony in Khura'in, which main export was spirit-channeling, and snowed deep into May.

(There were so much joke potential in there, Ema didn't even know where to start.)

Ema guessed the utter genius in this was Prosecutor Gavin, because Apollo actually knew that in Khura'in, summer was defined as the one week a year it wasn't snowing. And even that wasn't guaranteed to not have snow, wherein it would be labeled "summer."

"Yes, what a summer. I should've brought my bikini along and sunbathed earlier," Ema said snidely under her breath.

Phoenix, always everyone's dad, stood beside Apollo. For a minute, Ema wondered if there was going to be a dad off when Dhurke conjured up, but instead they settled to teasing the new husbands-to-be, and exchanging dad smiles and thumbs up to each other.

If Dhurke hadn't died, they probably would've gotten a chance to be friends of sorts. Of course, this was Khura'in so a little thing like death didn't get in the way of things like friendship or romance. Ema knew for sure Queen Amara and Dhurke still had a thing going on, even beyond the grave, from flirtatious look they shared across the room.

(She'd also kind of got that idea from how she'd run into Queen Amara looking slightly off. Mussed hair, flushed cheeks, with the clear evidence that she'd been sneaking off to make out like a teenager. This always tended to coincide when one of the other living spirit-channelers just happened to be in Khura'in at the time.)

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi's shoulders stiffened at the sight of his father. His face became a mask of blankness, but Ema had learned a thing or two about him along all the time she'd been working with him. He'd looked the same way when Queen Ga'ran had him under her control.

"Herr Forehead," Prosecutor Gavin said. His voice was filled with unspoken feeling.

Apollo had the sort of look like his bluff had been bested in court. "Seriously? On my wedding day? You can't even use my name then?"

Prosecutor Gavin chuckled. "Even though you become my husband today, you'll always be my Herr Forehead. You see, the moment I saw you, everything changed. That little defense lawyer, such an underdog, and so full of passion. Even during those darkest times, you reached out to me. And for that I am grateful, and so grateful that I met you."

Apollo looked like somebody who had suddenly forgotten all his lines to the school play. She wondered if he'd yell out a yeah, me too! or I dooooooo! in his Chords of Steel.

"Ah~ did I leave you speechless, Herr Forehead? You're supposed to save that for the honeymoon. I'm so happy to think we'll be making beautiful music all the rest of their lives."

Beautiful music was debatable. Unless it was just a euphemism for sex. Then they'd definitely make tons of 'beautiful music.' Hopefully not on her crime scene or lab.

Apollo rubbed at his spikes, with flushed cheeks that undoubtedly wasn't just from the cold. "Jeez, I forgot the vows I was going to say."

Soft chuckles echoed about the courtyard.

"If you don't remember your lines soon, I'm going to marry him!" Trucy called out.

"Objection!"

"How about the classics, ja?"

And it passed between them. The slightly pronoun changed, I take this man to be my lawfully wedded husband.

Prosecutor Gavin's lips twitched at the word obey, and he pulled Apollo in closer as the words until death do us part passed between them.

Then, he dipped Apollo in a passionate kiss so dramatic, it looked like something straight out of a music video. Ema wouldn't be surprised if he used the footage later for his latest The Defense Is My Dream Man album tour.

*

Thankfully, Ema was spared hypothermia by the reception being moved inside. And thankfully, she wasn't working guard duty tonight, because almost the entire population of Khura'in, many journalists, and tons of staff from the L.A. law to say nothing of his old school friends from academy were there.

So, the room was utterly packed. Ema camped out near the buffet, in case all the good stuff got taken.

A spoon clinked against a glass of champagne and it echoed through the halls. Even with all the noise, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi got their attention.

Ema glanced back from the ever-so-tempting punch bowl which was sending a siren song to her. Prosecutor Sahdmadhi lifted up the glass.

"A toast is in order for the new husbands… the origin of this custom is quite varied and apocryphal. According to one source, it was a means of preventing poisonings. Other sources, it was due to a custom within the 17th century of putting spiced bread within the glasses. Quite fascinating reading. Ahem… moving on. Apollo tells me that this is a custom in his land, one that he and his new husband seemed quite fond of. To them, the 'best man' recites a speech."

He glanced down towards the glass.

"Apollo and I were raised side by side, deep within the mountains as children. Even as fate tore us apart, he has returned to where it all began, and for that I am deeply grateful. For, without Apollo's hard work, we would not be here. He tirelessly strove, even risking his own life to free not just the country but my family and I from Queen Ga'ran's tyrannical rule. I am proud to call one such of his caliber as my brother, and now, I have gained another brother. Klavier Gavin flew across the seas, to help this country when we had so little staff to right the wrongs of the previous... rule."

His eyes sought her out through the crowd as he kept speaking.

"Klavier Gavin's devotion was so much that he gave up his life, the chance with work within his home country, and yes, even dreams, because his dreams of time with Apollo were greater, and stronger than this. Even though he was separated from his friends, from working with mentors, and even his favorite snacks, he stayed because of how deep his love for Apollo was. That it spanned oceans, and surmounted all challenges...As love should. I wish both of you a thousand years of happiness, through a thousand lives."

There was a murmur of agreement all through the room, and several cameras flashed.

Prosecutor Gavin stood up. "I could've hired a wedding band," Prosecutor Gavin began. He smiled against the microphone, and gave the crowd a sultry look.

Behind him, Apollo shook his head.

"But I knew they wouldn't do my husband justice. This album is the story of how my life changed when a defense lawyer appeared before me with such an intense gaze. Without further ado... let's rock!"

Ema let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. If only rolling her eyes and sarcasm counted as cardio, she'd be the most fit person alive.

Of course, Prosecutor Gavin would play his own songs. In fact, he recorded a whole album just for their wedding, and this was the grand unveiling.

Like hell she was going to dance to Prosecutor Gavin's songs. It'd be like admitting that she had Guilty Love as a guilty pleasure deep in one of her Spotify playlists. Hell, she'd even owned a Gavinner's CD when she was a teen. It was buried so deep that no one was ever going to know that. If anybody asked, The Gavinner's music was shallow pop, and Prosecutor Gavin's previous solo career was little better.

Through all that knee-jerk reaction, even Ema had to admit his new stuff was pretty catchy. Apparently falling head over heels improved the sound. Even if it was a little embarrassing to watch him broadcast his public displays of affection across the entire world. (Which wasn't to say his earlier solo albums hadn't also been all thinly veiled love songs for Apollo. Seriously, The Defense Is My Dream Man. Prosecutor Gavin was fooling nobody.) Ema lifted her champagne glass. Kudos to them. Now if she could just get her love life wrangled, that would be great.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi reappeared. She thought he'd go back to sitting by the new husbands, but instead he pushed gently through the crowd until he reached her.

"You did a good speech. Short and sweet, just like Apollo. Okay, maybe he's not so sweet..." Ema smiled.

"I was hoping you would stay long enough to hear," he said.

"Where else would I go? It's not like I can ditch the wedding and go get some takeout."

Other than back to her quarters with some noise canceling headphones, where she'd never have to hear 'Guilty Love' again.

Ema smiled. "What, you had something hidden in there for me?"

"...I simply feel more comfortable when you are there, especially during such a public announcement. The truth is...I always feel more comfortable with you by my side."

She smiled, and twisted her hair about her fingers. "Well, I'll always be here to tell you when you mess up. Often in the middle of court."

"Hopefully we will sort out any misgivings before then," he said.

"Who knows, it could happen," Ema said.

The mic let out a little creaak noise, and Prosecutor Gavin's honey-like voice filled the room.

"Fraüleins and gentleman, it's time for the bouquet toss. I would've skipped the bouquets all together, but a certain fraülein would've been heartbroken."

Amazingly, he'd given her even more reason to hate him. Ema hadn't thought that possible. Ema turned away from Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, and let out a sigh.

"Now see why we didn't get along?"

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi chuckled softly. "May luck follow you on your journey."

Ema joined the ever thinning crowd of people. Most of the Khura'inese weren't familiar with this tradition, and by now most of their circle was married. Which meant her chances were growing. And maybe, just maybe, she'd finally make it.

Prosecutor Gavin tossed the bouquet with flourish. Though she tried, even risking her shoes to make a jump for it, the pitch went wild and the bouquet slammed Detective Gumshoe right in the head.

"Hey, watch it, pal!" He bent down to pick up the bouquet, and rubbed at his head as he looked it over.

"Forgive my aim, Herr Gumshoe!"

The years had made him a bit more gray, a bit poorer, but he was still just as loyal to his prosecutor. He'd ended up on guard duty--though Ema hardly thought he minded, considering his placement was very near the buffet. A buffet he'd already visited several times.

Detective Gumshoe lifted up the bouquet and rubbed thoughtfully at his chin with his other hand. "Flying flowers now? A shame they aren't edible. I could use a snack for the flight home."

Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth smiled in a way that spoke of warmth and nostalgia rarely seen on his stern, handsome face. "It looks like it's your turn."

"Married? Me?" Gumshoe smiled then. "Married...I kinda like the sound of that! But wait, don't weddings cost money?"

"I will ensure that you are compensated for your most kind act of doing guard duty for the land of Khura'in," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said.

Ema glanced back to the buffet, her de facto soul mate.

"Looks like it's just you and me," Ema said to the punch bowl.

*

Prosecutor Gavin sang to Apollo as they danced their first dance as husband and husband. Even Ema had to admit that Apollo looked really happy.

Okay, by happy, it meant that Apollo looked blushy and kind of turned on and like he might scream out objection then bullshit a stuttered response, but that was just Apollo when Prosecutor Gavin was around, period. Ema, for one, was glad they were going to have a short honeymoon in Zheng Fa, because if not she'd probably hear Chords of Steel at night, or Apollo screaming take that! (or even hold it!) in bed.

And fine, she could sort of be happy for him at the same time thinking he had horrible taste. Just like she was happy for Athena (and glad that she wasn't marrying Prosecutor Blackquill, either) and sort of happy for Maya, because she wasn't sure she'd ever wish Larry Butz (now, Larry Fey) on anyone. But whatever, it wasn't like anyone made them have a shotgun wedding, Maya had willingly walked into that. There was no accounting for taste, apparently.

Even if Larry seemed almost kind of decent now, like fatherhood had pushed him into finally shaping up. Certainly not of Prosecutor Sahdmadhi's peer, though.

Nope. That didn't make it better. She still hated Prosecutor Klavier Gavin. Forgiveness was a long ways off.

Ema knocked back drink after drink of the bright red punch, and each one left her feeling lighter. Suddenly, everything wasn't so bad. Ema liked the party a whole lot more. She kept laughing at nothing, because with every drink, things got better. Not even the music was so annoying now. This buffet was so well picked, it was like they had her in mind. And maybe they did. Prosecutor Gavin sure got used to her preferences in food, considering how many she launched them at him over the years.

After so many drinks of punch and so many trips to the very varied buffet that Ema forgot how many times she'd been there, Ema settled down near a surprisingly empty table. Unfortunately, Ema realized she was down to her last half of punch. She'd have to go out towards that bowl, which was quite a bit lower with how hard she'd been hitting it.

Suddenly, walking was a challenge. At least, managing to walk in these heels without falling flat on her face. Maybe she could try and convince Apollo that humiliation was their wedding present.

Except that would entail her and Prosecutor Gavin actually having a mutual sense of hatred, as opposed to her incredibly one-sided kind, which was answered with kind smiles and chuckles that only infuriated her more.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi sat next to her, and damn did he look fine. Unlike her, he didn't have any crumbs or punch spilled down his pristine suit. The very same one that fit him so well, and yet she wanted on the floor. Though he'd take the table, or simply hung up, as long as it had the same result.

"Hey there..."

She'd almost said hey handsome because suddenly it was like the little filter she had for her mouth went on a vacation to Maui. Not that she ever had much of one, but it was enough that she didn't usually say things like I wish it'd get hot enough for you to remove that frock so I could see what's underneath it better, I totally want to prove my fantasies right. For science, you know or nice suit. I wish it was on the bathroom floor, and that my dress was there too. Get it? No, then how about this one: I'm pretty cold, want to be my blanket and keep me warm? Just crawl up on top of me and I'll be hot in no time...

He cleared his throat. "Ah....Ema, I believe that punch contained some alcohol in it."

"Prob~ably that'd exp~lain why I'm in a good mo~od sud~denly, des~pite it be~ing h~is wed~ding."

Jokes aside, she totally figured it out by the second drink. But drinking apparently made Prosecutor Gavin more tolerable even more than Snackoos did. Who knew? All this time if she'd simply taken a flask to work, she might've been a nicer person. Because Ema was a flirty drunk who tended to spill things she really shouldn't.

Like punch, or how much she wanted her boss, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi...

Ema knocked back the last half of the punch, and felt even more warmth spread through her chest. Who cares if the stupid fop had gotten married before she even got a date? Who cares if he'd beaten her not just to the gate, but everywhere else where it mattered? Prosecutor Sahdmadhi was right near her, and damn he looked fantastic tonight, so sleek and elegant and handsome and why wasn't she just kissing him already? If she'd just kissed him in that bathroom like she wanted to, they'd have been dating for months by now.

Alcohol gave her such great ideas, she should listen to alcohol more often. And, she thought, she should climb into his lap. That was a great idea. Why hadn't she thought of it before three drinks of punch?

She began to lean in, but he cleared his throat.

"Ema, you...ah... seem rather... inebriated."

She cracked up, all thoughts of kissing him temporarily forgotten. "You're s~o fu~nny. It's like you ate a dictio~nary whole. 'y~es, Em~a you are su~rely ine~briated.'"

"I did learn most of my English from a rather archaic dictionary in my family's library," he said dryly.

"I mean, I mean, you're always up there...giving sermons. And they're supposed to be all p~ure and full of jus~tice, but your voice...n~ot so p~ure~ A~t least to m~e...That isn't ev~en the o~nly th~ing n~ot s~o p~ure...heheh... on~ly I cou~ld find a mo~nk's frock s~o h~ot..."

She reached for her glass, only to find it empty. But suddenly actually walking to the punch bowl made her feel oh so dizzy. Everything was dizzy. Her head was spinning but oh, he was so handsome. Stunning, really. She suddenly had so many lines stuck in her head like nice lips, they should be on mine.

His brow furrowed. "Ema, you're making no sense. ...Should I get you some water? I read once that this helps sober up the inebriated."

Ema suddenly wrapped her arms about his arm, and nuzzled against him.

"No....stay... st~ay with me...."

She rested her head against him, and wrapped her arms about his arm. The room settled a little near him.

"Ema..."

Ema laughed softly. "I'm s~o tired of wed~dings, honestly. At lea~st I didn't have to fl~y for this o~ne."

"Then rest. You certainly deserve it."

"It's s~o annoying. Every~one el~se ge~ts to be ha~ppy. Ev~en the stu~pid f~op. I wa~nted to cat`~ch it and be h~appy too."

"My apologies. I have been praying for your luck."

"Y~eah, it's just a go~od luck sy~mbol...proba~bly. I just need a li~ttle go~od lu~ck cha~rm to gi~ve me eno~ugh moral~e to fin~ally sa~y it. Even if it's a pla~~cebo...though the data says other~wise. Ev~en tho~ugh I th~ink I alre~ady kn~ow the ans~wer..."

She closed her eyes. It felt so nice against him. Why didn't she have her own personal monk pillow that she got to snuggle up to every after a day spent solving crimes and nights filled with wild sex? What even was she waiting for? She had her data. If only she'd tried harder and gotten that stupid bouquet, she could have it both ways. She could be making out at the fop's wedding and keep all the data she'd been working on. For a hypothesis that no scientific paper would take.

"Hey, Pros~ecutey Sad~hottie....I ne~ver minded that much, because you were there...Even through the jetlag, the long flights...it didn't matter. You could make anything boring interesting just by being there...I always have so much~ f~un with you..."

She let out a little yawn, and released his arm, only to stretch out across his lap, like a cat.

"E~ven tho~ugh I'm t~ired of we~ddings, I wa~nt t~o go to mo~re with y~ou... I'd go any~where with y~ou… I lo~ve you..."

She felt his hand rest against her hair, and let out a little sigh. The loud wedding concert faded away, and she finally relaxed.

*

The next day.

Ema couldn't even enjoy that Prosecutor Gavin was in another country for multiple days, considering that her head was pounding like it had its very own rock concert going on in her skull.

The crawl back from the bathroom had been embarrassing and excruciating, to say the least. She knew that she needed to get fluids in her, but right now even walking caused a horrible throbbing pain. Now was the time to be under these blankets and feel the full force of her regret.

Ugh... I'm never drinking again, she thought.

A soft knock sounded at the door, but it still sounded like a jackhammer to her. Ema flinched at the noise.

"Ema? May I enter?"

She let out a groan and pulled the covers closer.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi was not the person she wanted to see looking like this. Ema didn't dare look in the mirror, considering that she hadn't taken her make up or her clothes off. Somehow she'd gotten back to her bedroom. After a certain number of drinks of punch, everything became muddled.

"I'm not doing well right now." That was putting it mildly.

"I have something for you."

Curiousity won over her throbbing head. Something could be anything from something sparkly to a raise. Or maybe he was assigning work to get her ass out of bed. It was like a wheel of fortune, except make it the Wheel Of Sahdmadhi. Would she get scolded for being drunk and disorderly, or hit the jackpot? Tune in and find out today!

"...Come in..."

The door opened, and softly closed.

"I wished to be there when you woke, but duties called me away. I posted a guard at the door to contact me when he heard you wake."

Oh, great. Someone had heard her in the bathroom. At least she'd gargled some mouthwash before she got back, though the minty taste had almost left her nauseated again.

"I brought you a traditional Khura'inese cure for your state. I do not know the English word--"

Yeah, he wouldn't He was a monk, after all.

"Hungover," Ema said.

"Yes, this hungover has overtaken you, like a vile demon."

She lifted the covers enough to peek out and look, but not enough that he could get a look at her in her wrinkled dress, with yesterday's makeup on and stains that would have to be dry-cleaned out. Except the nearest dry-cleaner was an airplane away.

She reached out and grasped the stainless steel tumbler of whatever he'd made. He'd actually bought the tumbler while they were out, it'd been on sale and had a painted deep sepia pattern of words from different tongues. Prosecutor Sahdmadhi had managed to translate the entirety of it before they'd even gotten off the next plane. (Turns out they were all just 'love' over and over in different languages.)

The smell was definitely strong, though she couldn't quite place what it was made of with a single glance.

"Can you hand me some Advil?" Her voice came out as a hoarse croak. She seriously was not exactly oozing sex appeal at the moment.

"Where should I look?"

"In my bag. In the zipper pouch. No, not that zipper pouch, the top one. No, lower. A bit lower. It's a little bottle. Yes, right there."

For a moment, through her throbbing headache, Ema couldn't help but worry that there was some kind of horribly embarrassing thing there. But, all that greeted her ears was the crinkling of old Snackoo bags. The worst he could've found was her back-up tampons. And Prosecutor Sahdmadhi was not the kind of guy to freak out about menstruation.

(Sheesh, it wasn't like she kept notebooks with Prosecutor Nahyuta Sahdmadhi + Ema Skye drawn out in a heart in her journal.

She preferred to keep writings in a notes app, anyways.)

"May I draw you a bath? The second part of this remedy involves--"

She tried to focus on the Khura'inese words he said, but her brain was throbbing so very much.

"Prosecutor Sahdmadhi? This is nice, I mean really nice, but my head is killing me so could you please talk more softly, or not at all?"

Which was the only reason she'd ever tell him to shut up, because he could read off literally the most boring, watching paint dry thing and make it sound sexy and oh so enticing. She'd once listened rapt as he read the entire flight schedule over a layover, and then pretended like she'd missed one and like it mattered that she heard it again just to hear him talk some more.

"My apologies. However--"

"Yeah, I was getting to that. I'll try anything at this point. So, thanks for drawing me the bath," Ema reached out from under the covers. Like hell she was going to let him see her in her current hungover swamp creature state.

"If you will give me a few minutes, I'll have it ready."

"Um, thanks," Ema said. She huddled under the blanket and sipped at the drink. As a scientist, she was rightly skeptical of hidden miracle cures, especially those that came up as pop-ups, but she was willing to hope that this was the one exception.

After a few minutes, the rush of water sounded in the other room, and he returned. Under the blanket, she could just see the gold brocade over his monk's frock, and the shimmering silver of his long braid.

"It is ready. Do you need help otherwise...?"

Ema had a mental image of Prosecutor Sahdmadhi carrying her bridal style to the bathroom, and then peeling off all her troublesome (but still very cute) clothes.

She'd have to set that mental image aside for later, because post-vomiting hungover with a side of balancing hard to try and not become overwhelmed by nausea again was not a sexy feeling, no matter how someone tried to put it.

"Nah, I can get over there. And, um, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi? Thanks for this. It was really nice of you. I wasn't trying to be mean by saying not to speak, my head is just killing me."

"Anything for you, Ema."

She could hear the smile in his voice. Ema glanced down to her knees. Sometimes the things he said sounded so damn romantic, that it left her breathless. But even thinking about it made her head hurt.

And this time, it wasn't just because he was so damn unreadable.

"I hope the you find the drink and bath as nourishing and healing as the records claim it is, and are completely recovered soon. However, there is no need to come into work today. Hopefully, Khura'in will behave while the only remaining lawyer in the country has taken leave."

"I can only hope. Trying somebody with such a small staff would be hellish," Ema said.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must return to my duties," he said softly, even regretfully.

"Yeah, gotcha...See you."

Ema waited until the door closed before she hobbled out towards the bathroom, a blanket covered swamp creature who only felt marginally more alive with more fluids in her..

*
Through scientific inquiry (see: her memory and vast knowledge of all things food) Ema had figured out that both the drink and the bath contained ginger, though she couldn't name the rest of the herbs and spices in either.

Honestly, he could've told her that it was from an old legend to drive the ghosts out of someone and Ema would've tried it at this point. Ema couldn't tell if it was the Advil kicking in early, a placebo effect, fluid intake or some combination of them all, but she felt slightly less zombified.

Ema had the wonderfully realization that at some point last night, she'd gotten punch in her hair. Well, it was better than getting what she'd spewed up that morning in there, she supposed.

The room was shuttered and dark, the butterflies hidden away behind the drapery. A single candle near the basin was her only light. The bath tub was made of stone, with wood and circular stones built around it, until it almost looked like a chimney support. It lacked the kind of modern plumbing she was used to--had he really drawn, heated and carried that water himself from somewhere else in the castle? She'd have to ask him later on.

The water had a golden edge from the powder, and it felt warmer and smoother than usual. Ginger in a bath had an interesting effect. It left a toasty warm feeling, even when the water should've turned lukewarm.

Which made it a longer bath, which gave her plenty of time to think.

Here he was, her boss, and the ruler of this whole entire place-- if temporarily --and he was putting aside everything to take care of her. She shifted her legs, and her knee poked out of the water, and reached for the carved stone cup. She dipped it deep into the water and wet her hair. Water slid down her back, and dripped down to form dozens of little ripples across the surface.

How many times had he put aside every single duty to go with her? Because Ema wasn't stupid; she knew damn well he wasn't desperate to go to weddings of people he barely even knew, and some he didn't even like. Not when he had a very literal weight of the world on his shoulders. Rebuilding Khura'in would be a difficult task with a full staff, but with their bare-bones one, it became nigh impossible.

Yet he managed to work tirelessly on that goal and still make Ema his priority over and over and over.

Ema smiled to herself as she remembered over and over how everyone had said it seems he's taken a liking to you and it seems he's grown fond of you.

Next time, when she didn't look like the creature from the black lagoon, she'd have to invite him in to the bath with her. She smiled a little at this naughty fantasy that she knew was not going to happen.

Or at least, not happen any time soon.

Two weeks later.

Prosecutor Gavin leaned in and kissed Apollo's neck. Apollo flushed bright red, and pulled at his collar. "Klaver, we're in public."

"Ah, Herr Forehead, you don't quite understand. We are married, and you are my husband. This is what we must have for an extended honeymoon, given the world tour will be delayed due to there being only one lawyer in all of Khura'in. So I will make every single day of your life into a honeymoon."

"Wouldn't it take more weddings to do that?" Apollo said.

Prosecutor Gavin's eyes lit up. "You have the best ideas. Stay tuned for the second part of this album: Honeymoon Lights, Honeymoon Nights."

He leaned in to give Apollo one last kiss. Apollo's cheeks were about the shame shade as his suit. Ema let out a sigh and dug deeper into her bag.

"By all means, make out in front of me like I'm not even here," Ema muttered.

"By public I mean Ema's here," Apollo said dryly. "Khura'in doesn't care about your PDA, but Ema's about to launch a snack assault on us if you don't tone it down."

"Eh. I'm not going to waste my snacks. I'll have to just empty out one of my water bottles and spray you both with water like cats if you keep making out in my crime scenes and my lab. At this point, it has to be purposeful."

"Maybe you can keep Herr Justice here from climbing the drapes," Prosecutor Gavin said.

"That was one time! I was getting Mikekeo from there!"

Prosecutor Gavin laughed. "You're so like a cat."

"And Fraülein, this is a short mock trial to test out the new structure of courts, yes? So you have no crime scene to be messed up."

"Unlike you, I'm taking this mock trial seriously," Ema said crossly.

"Ah, then I shall certainly get back to this most important 'mock' work."

"Are you mocking me?" Ema said.

"Not this time, Fraülein. See you later, Herr Husband… don't get too tired out. You'll need lots of stamina, ja? For dinner, and.... dessert."

Prosecutor Gavin leaned in and gave Apollo one really intense kiss. Ema had to look away when that kiss got a little steamier and less PG-13 rated, especially when Prosecutor Gavin's hands started wandering...and wandering...

"Sheesh! Keep the R-rated stuff to your bedroom, please!"

Prosecutor Gavin chuckled. "I'm just giving Herr Husband a preview of tonight's show."

"I didn't ask to be given a preview. Unsubscribe me from your issues, please," Ema muttered.

"Ja, ja, you have plenty of issues of your own, Fraülein."

Ema tightened her grip on her bag. "You're really breaking my no wasting snacks resolve, Prosecutor Gavin," she said from between gritted teeth.

"You must've learned something from Herr Monk if you've suddenly gained that much self-control, Fraülein. After all, you never failed to 'share' your snack food with us," he said, with a faint smile.

"Don't tempt me," Ema said.

Prosecutor Gavin gave him one last wink, and headed out.

Man, Apollo must be rubbing off on him. This wasn't the first time he'd responded to her biting comments with actual snark, full well knowing that it'd turn into a never ending cycle of sniping at each other, instead of simply laughing it off.

Apollo had to take several breaths, and probably wait for a little blood to go back to his brain.

Ema smirked. "If you need help cooling off, I'll be happy to push you into the nearest snowbank. There's plenty of icy waterfalls that could work, too. Prosecutor Sahdmadhi meditated under one for nineteen hours as part of his monk training once."

Apollo took a deep breath. Prosecutor Gavin had left him so frazzled that even a bigmouth like him couldn't even speak.

"Big plans, huh?" she said.

"Tell me about it. He's already talking about if we got another wedding, we could have what he calls a 'honeymoon tour.' I'm trying to talk him down to only one wedding a year," Apollo said.

"I sure didn't see the Gavinner's next release being a sex tape, but I guess I should've. I can't believe you guys fight about how many weddings you can fit into a year," Ema said.

Apollo blushed, and ran his fingers through his hair. "Hey, we fight about other stuff too..."

"Like his snapchat addiction?"

"He snapchatted his shower. To 50 million people," Apollo said flatly.

"Let me guess: he wasn't alone?" Ema said.

Apollo's look told it all.

"Guess he's making up for the lack of a bachelor party."

Apollo didn't meet her eyes. "Actually, there was a bachelor party."

"You left me out of your bachelor party? How could you, Apollo?!"

"I didn't have one planned! It was a surprise. And the stripper was--ahem--Klavier."

"I should've known. Please never invite me to your bachelor parties," Ema said.

"Don't you have work to do?"

"You're just trying to get me away so you can go make out with your husband again."

Apollo's guilty look told everything, really.

"Whatever, you're newlyweds. Just keep it off my crime scene. I don't want Prosecutor Gavin stepping in my footprint analysis again because he's too busy thinking about you and not looking where he's going."

"I think Nahyuta was asking for you anyways. Did you already meet with him?"

Ema let out a little sound in the back of her throat and reached for her Snackoos.

"Did something happen with you two? You're acting weirder than usual."

Ema glared at him. "Than usual? What do you mean by that?"

Apollo had an Oh shit expression, like his bluff had been called in court.

"Just, I thought you were angry about the pictures--"

"The pictures? What are you talking about?" Ema rolled her eyes. "Forget it. I've got some data to send back anyways."

*

Ema wouldn't have willingly looked through Prosecutor Gavin's newly bindered purple wedding album, but there mere thought that Apollo thought she might be mad about it made her find it. (It'd been left on Apollo's desk, with a rather ribald post it note from Prosecutor Gavin to his husband.)

Ema flipped through the pictures. She wasn't sure he'd done the photos. She'd assumed it would be a professional photographer, given Prosecutor Gavin, but these didn't look like the work.

She remembered seeing Trucy going around. Maybe he'd gotten both to get a good variation of glossy shots and authentic shots caught unaware.

She flipped the next page, only to drop it on sight. Her cheeks burned. There were shots taken when she looked up flush-faced at a rather confused and concerned looking Prosecutor Sahdmadhi. She didn't even remember what she said, but if someone had told her that she'd said something like I want your pillar of virtue inside me now she would've believed it. Then there was one where she nuzzled against his arm, while he flushed in surprise. There were some of her talking to him, while he tried to follow her increasingly drunk frame of mind, with a very furrowed brow. Then, there were shots taken between them, right after she'd fallen asleep in his lap. At this angle, it looked like she was blowing Prosecutor Sahdmadhi in public. The fact that his hand rested upon her head, and he stared serenely down at her didn't help. She wasn't sure that oh, I was utterly shitfaced drunk because I didn't realize the punch was that alcoholic at first, and by the time I did it made the wedding finally tolerable so I kept on going. So then I fell asleep in my boss's lap after I probably hit on him in the worst way possible was a good excuse, either.

At least it wasn't going to the tabloids. If someone like that happened with Prosecutor Gavin (God forbid!) Ema would be staring at her face in all sorts of gossip rags for months upon months.

And next up, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi was carrying her off. Considering that she'd woke up hungover and wearing yesterday's clothes, she knew nothing had happened. But other people might not know that. There'd be a whole lot more rumors

"If only," Ema muttered too herself.

She closed the binder and headed out. She still had results to give to Prosecutor Sahdmadhi about the tests of the new mock crime scene and new equipment.

She smile to herself. She was looking forward to thanking him for keeping her company during the next wedding.

*

"Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, I've got the--" Ema broke off as she caught sight of Prosecutor Sahdmadhi--and the woman in his arms.

It was difficult to quite tell the woman's age, it amorphously hovered between thirties and forties, She wore a fashionable dark bob, and a very fancy suit--probably designer. And she had her arms about Prosecutor Sahdmadhi. Just like Ema had, not so long ago on that dance floor.

"You did a very good job," he said. Her voice was like something in a movie, a sensual purr.

She felt as if she'd been punched in the stomach. The papers slipped from her hands and fell to the floor. Thankful for anything to hide her burning embarrassment and horror, Ema immediately bent down and grabbed them up.

"I-I'll be back l-later to show you the um, date---er data you asked for!"

Ema rushed out the door. It wasn't until she felt the chill of outside that she came to a stop. She hadn't stopped to grab her coat, but for once, Ema welcomed the cold against her skin.

Her hands trembled as she desperately opened up her bag until she came across the crinkle of heavenly sweets. Bite after bite and it didn't make her feel any better. Ema knew she was doing the Snackoos equivalent of chainsmoking, but she couldn't stop.

"There you are. Hey, Ema--"

Ema whirled around. "What do you want?"

"Uh-oh, the clouds are back," Apollo said under his breath.

"Say it to my face," Ema muttered.

"Er, the data? Nahyuta said you'd finished," Apollo said.

"Why didn't you ask for it earlier, huh? Too busy making out? Fah."

"Actually--"

Ema glared, and set her attentions back to the Snackoos. "You'll have to--munch--come back--munch--later. As you can--munch--see, I'm--munch--busy. So, so, so busy..."

Thankfully, for Apollo's sake, he didn't ask if it was her time of the month. Because if he did, even if she needed every Snackoo around, they were going on his head. She'd probably kick his shins, too.

"Nahyuta was asking where you were. He said you ran off before he could introduce you."

She clung to the bag so hard it crinkled in her hands. "Oh is he, now? Maybe he needs a mock autopsy report, too!"

"--Trouble in paradise?"

Ema grimaced. "Trouble in paradise? That's rich! Why would I have any trouble with Prosecutor Sahdmadhi? It's not like we're dating or anything! Never mind that every single person involved in L.A. law to all of Khura'in think we're an item. All the times we had together--Apparently all that evidence meant...nothing at all. Just exactly like what I mean to him. In fact, he finds the idea that anyone would ever think we were together completely repulsive and apparently only thinks I'm good at processing crime scenes!"

Apollo frowned, and rubbed at his chin in thought. "But Nahyuta hasn't mentioned dating anyone, and we just talked today."

Ema rolled her eyes. "I know you're a newlywed, but you seriously need to pay a little attention to your family. I literally walked in on them. Besides, like that means anything, he never reveals anything at all! Here I thought I finally solved all his mysteries, and I didn't know jack!" Ema shoved another snackoo in her mouth. She was on the brink of crying. That was the worst part. She could take getting cranky, but crying? What the hell was she supposed to do when she was crying over the fact that her boss valued her as an employee and only an employee. Most women would kill for bosses like that.

But, no. She had to go fall in love with a guy who respected her so much that he just wanted to be her prosecutor and nothing else. All those times she thought he was into her was just him being a very appreciative and supportive boss. All those times everyone else thought they were on the brink of a relationship, they were just mistaken. Lucky her, she got the perfect boss instead of the perfect boyfriend.

It was probably just cultural cues that got mixed up, and was all in all, utterly meaningless. Great. Just great.

As much as she wanted to tell herself he wasn't worth shedding tears over, he was. God, he was. This had gone way beyond harmless crush. She'd freaking moved across the world. She'd uprooted her life and it wasn't just for the bonus on her resume, that was for damn sure.

"Maybe you misunderstood?" Apollo said.

Ema whirled around, with enough fury to make Apollo take a step back. "They were embracing! Holding each other right in his office! She said he was doing a good job at it! What kind of excuse is that! I know she damn well isn't related to him. Why else would he be with some strange woman holding her in his office?"

"Did you try talking to him? There's got to be a reasonable excuse," Apollo persisted.

Apollo ducked a snackoo aimed right at his forehead. "--I'll just come for the data later," he said.

"You'll have to wait a long damn time, because I'm real busy here! And I'm going to keep being busy for a real long time!"

Ema sat on the side of the crumbling wall and finished out her Snackoos. She let out a sigh. She had enough self-pity to drown in. But Snackoos hadn't done much to make her feel better. In fact, she felt worse.

Apollo didn't deserve to be treated like that. Ema had worked hard to stop taking out her issues on other people, like she had in the past. But sometimes, the monster rose up again.

"I'm Ema Skye, and I'm fine!" The bag crinkled in her fists as she took in a breath for another scream. "I'm Ema Skye, and I'm kind of okay! ....I'm Ema Skye and I'm...a mess..."

Maybe it worked for Apollo, but it wasn't even making a dent into this feeling. It wasn't just sadness, but regret and irritation at herself mixed with a heavy sense of betrayal.

She'd thought after all these weddings, it was all but bound to happen in due time. He'd be so inspired by how she filled out those cute dresses that he'd definitely act on what was there. But, what if nothing was there at all? She'd taken in the evidence of everyone talking about them constantly, saying how fond he was of her as an assurance that they'd just eventually end up together without any extra effort on her part. She'd thought she'd read him as interested, that he would start their--- whatever it was --together. Sure, she'd taken steps, but she hadn't told him how she felt, did she?

She'd let herself get tongue tied, but that was no excuse. There'd been a thousand times she could've just kissed him. He'd have gotten the message, even if she couldn't say it.

And would it even matter if she told him how she felt? Because if he'd wanted her, he could've so easily asked her. They'd been on a dozen or more not-dates, and every single time there was ample time to kiss her.

And he hadn't.

With Ga'ran out of the picture and him ascending the throne as regent, he was bound to get popular. She hadn't even thought about the fact that some famous foreign woman could just snap him right up like that. She'd never even seen it, and she worked by him every single day.

Some detective she was.

She hadn't even realized the depth of her feelings until she'd lost him. She'd thought it was a crush, a long, drawn out flirtation which would surely turn into something more eventually, with no need to rush. But now the thought that all those almost kisses meant nothing anymore, she wanted to simultaneously kick things and break into tears again. But she settled for finishing another bag of Snackoos. Her stomach ached so much, she wasn't sure she'd be even able to keep these down. A clawing ache filled her stomach, and she couldn't tell if it was the grief for what she'd never had, or just too many sweets.

But eating was the only coping method she had, and she had a whole lot of coping to do. Like a complete idiot, she'd gone and had feelings for someone who wasn't just her boss, but the damn Prince Regent. She couldn't just ask for a transfer. (And even if she did, her options for other bosses were the fop again and Gaspen Payne. Not exactly ideal.) The only way she'd manage to tune him out was to leave the country, and her contract wasn't up for quite a while. Leaving them now because of a broken heart would probably throw every single case out of whack, and leave her with a big nasty black mark on her record.

She'd just have to get over it. Hopefully with better anger management methods than the last time her life fell apart.

Ema stared down at her empty bag.

"Well, Ema. You've really fucked it up this time."

*

Ema took the next day off, purportedly for a stomach flu. Technically, her stomach did hurt like hell, but then so did everything else.

The door was locked, the thick blankets with a top layer of fur were pulled over, like a secret fort.

She watched movies on her phone. Sure, the buffering from the shitty internet was annoying, but she didn't exactly have any place to get DVDs here. Ema needed her dose of impossibly beautiful white people with love lives messier than hers all finding love in spite of it all.

Her general watching queue was split pretty evenly between romantic comedies and science documentaries. Neither of them were helping at all. The romantic comedies only reminded her how many times he could've kissed her, or how dashing Prosecutor Sahdmadhi was--Like Mr. Darcy, but with better hair and eyelashes she'd kill to have. And the scientific documentaries only reminded her that she had meant to watch all these with Prosecutor Sahdmadhi.

Ugh, His Ephemeral Holiness had gotten under her skin before she knew it, and now she was heartbroken over someone who was never hers to begin with. She was now in full mourning for a relationship that never even happened, an almost that was all in her head. (And everyone else's, given all those comments she'd gotten.)

And she'd have to get over it fast, because she, being the utter genius, had to go and freaking fall for her boss. The one person who could make her entire life complicated. The one person she'd been willing to give up everything, just because he asked her.

A knock came at the door. "Detective Skye."

"Speak of the devil and he will appear," she muttered.

"Please repeat that? I did not hear you."

"Never mind! Listen, don't come in. I'm totally gross right now," Ema said. She faked a series of coughs for effect. "You're some big shot regent and can't take even a day off. I'm off duty anyways. I get sick breaks, I read that contract! You can't tell me otherwise."

His voice was muffled through the door. "I am not saying you should return to your duty at all. Please get well. I merely...wondered how you were feeling. You disappeared so suddenly yesterday, and Apollo said you were upset."

"Like utter crap. So--Just go on back to your job and to..." Ema glanced away and muttered quietly her. Not loud enough that he could hear.

"I brought you some broth," he said.

"Thanks," Ema said flatly. "Leave it out there and I'll get it. Wouldn't want you to get sick, being the Regent and all. The whole country would probably freak out if you so much as had a sniffle."

"As you wish," he said. "Please, do get well soon."

Even when she was treating him like a jerk he was polite. Ema let out a sigh. It wasn't his fault he'd found some other lady, someone mature and beautiful and probably rich and classy as hell. Somebody who never had crumbs in her bra, and bed, and also underwear, and the crime scene.

She waited until she heard his footsteps recede until she came to the door. With a sigh, she opened it and pulled in the bowl.

Stupid Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, making it hard to remain angry. Honestly, bringing her broth right in the middle of the day. Even if he didn't make it himself, he'd done it personally when she knew damn well that he didn't have time.

See, it was things like this that gave her the wrong impression. And everyone else who saw them together, apparently. If she was going to get through this heartache, she'd have to tell him to cool it with the constant compliments, before anybody got the wrong idea.

Namely, her.

Her stupid, traitorous heart beat faster as she brought in the gift.

This sure wouldn't be easy, but it wasn't like Ema had any other choice.

*

Ema could've used up the rest of her sick days, wallowing in self-pity and the smugness that they'd be scrambling without her on the case, even if it was a mock trial. But not only would she screw herself over when an actual sickness came, but she'd gotten bored of feeling sorry for herself. So, she stepped back out into the chilly Khura'inese air several days later.

Not that going on the job made it better. Unfortunately, dodging Prosecutor Sahdmadhi meant seeing more of Prosecutor Gavin. Which meant her mood was even lower than before.

Ema glanced down at the notification from her phone. If Prosecutor Gavin sent one more Snapchat at her of Apollo with captions like they were best friends, she swore she was going to block him. Even if he was Apollo's husband.

Please meet me in my office, Detective Skye.

In retrospect, maybe teaching Prosecutor Sahdmadhi how to use more advanced phones than the grandpa Nokia's that the Wright Anything Agency used wasn't such a great idea.

Ema had prepared herself for this moment, but it still felt like a punch to the gut. She busied herself with digging in her bag so she wouldn't have to meet his intense green eyes.

He'd gone and framed that stupid cheap sky picture right above his desk. It didn't even go with the decor, yet for some reason he loved it. There was no accounting for taste. Ema sat before his desk like a petulant teenager who just got sent to detention.

Actually, make that a petulant teenager who just found out her crush was dating someone else.

He had the utter gall to look fantastic. Sure, he did that every day, but after days of not being near him (despite every other thought being miserable and about him) seeing him made her heart do a little flip.

Stupid heart.

"Are you feeling better?"

"I'm here, aren't I?" Ema said flatly.

He paused at that, but didn't comment. He'd learned pretty fast that sometimes it was better to tread lightly, and that some days everything pissed her off.

"I know you are very busy, but if you would take on this cold case, I would be very grateful."

Ema clutched the folder tight. His voice was so gentle. She'd missed him, through it all. Getting over him, and the relationship they'd never had was going to be one hell of a chore, and the last thing she needed now. But what else could she do?

It was just her luck.

The woman appeared behind him. "If you have any questions, I would be glad to answer."

"Then tell him. I'm just a labby," Ema muttered.

"Don't mind her. She's recovering from a severe stomach flu and it's left her a bit... grumpy," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said.

Now he was taking her side. Ema crossed her arms across her chest, with all the maturity of a grounded fourteen year old.

"And she is hardly 'just a labby.' Detective Skye is a very talented forensic detective who has traveled all the way from America to help the country of Khura'in. We are very lucky to have her here."

Ema's lips pursed. He still wasn't forgiven, even it he'd made a nice comment or two. It was sweet comments like that which got her all the way over this side of the world... and made her fall completely head over heels for him.

Ema felt another rush of pain. Just shove it down. You can put food on that ache later. It won't help much, but it's all you've got.

"Detective Skye, this is Madame Estelle."

"This is her? The one you speak so well of, Regent Sahdmadhi?"

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi nodded. "Yes...she is the one."

Madame Estelle smiled. "I'm so grateful you're taking on my case, Detective Skye. You see, my sister-in-law...she suddenly died while I was teaching overseas on a temporary assignment. It was ruled a suicide by the police, but I could not believe such a thing. She was so happy about her new job and new boyfriend. Just days before she had sent me messages all day. I was so busy then, I put off responding to her until later that day."

Madame hung her head, and clasped her long, delicate fingers together.

"I would never get a chance to see her again. I was racked with guilt. Had my lack of a reply pushed her over the edge? Had she truly been horribly sad all that time and all those happy messages just a mask to comfort us? I consulted psychics and even tried seances and ouija boards. They all told me platitudes about how she was happy on the other side and had finally found peace. But I could not believe it. Then I heard about the kingdom of Khura'in. If I could just have my sister-in-law channeled once more, then I could finally find out what truly happened."

Not only has she gotten him, now Ema would be working the case. Talk about rubbing salt in the wound.

But then, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi wasn't Ema's. It couldn't even be called stealing away.

It wasn't like she could just deny a direct order. Well, she had before, but it hadn't gone too well. Besides, even if the lady wasn't her favorite person right now, Ema wasn't just going to abandon her. Not when a few tests would help solve a potential murder.

Ema let out a long sigh. "All right, fine. I'll process the evidence right away. Just sign away the clearance or whatever forms you need."

"Thank you so much, Detective Skye. I cannot say how much this means to me."

Ema looked away. "Is that all? Because if not, I've got a lot of work to catch up on from when I was...sick."

"That will be all," he said.

"And Detective Skye?"

"...Yes?"

"Do take care. You are invaluable to the Kingdom of Khura'in."

Ema let out a derisive snort and closed the door behind her. It took all her self control not to slam it.

*

There was a peace in the humming of machinery and data collection. Or at least, there was. Today it was bittersweet, like a goodbye.

She didn't want to leave Khura'in. He'd talked plenty of times about how he was done being Prince Regent, they could take on cases all over the world. Just like how he'd utterly dazzled her from the first meeting with promises of globetrotting and case solving in incredible locales that Ema never could've afforded on her own. Hopefully spread out with a little sightseeing, because being constantly jetlagged and between airports had been seriously exhausting.

And she didn't want to hate the lady. It wasn't her fault she actually took the step and went after Prosecutor Sahdmadhi. Who wouldn't? Ema sure should've when she had her chance.

Honestly, why hadn't science progressed to the point where they could make nice robotic hearts with feelings that turned on and off? Because she'd kill for an off switch right now. They could go back to being just a prosecutor and a detective and then she could go back to L.A. eventually when the job was done. She'd have an excellent resume, and maybe she'd get to work with Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth again. She'd be back on track for all her dreams, and this whole Khura'in thing would be just a few paragraphs in her resume. Instead of Prosecutor Sahdmadhi being that regret and heartbreak, he'd be a great reference for any future jobs she did.

Okay, maybe she'd have to do some Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind type mind wiping, but it could work.

Note to self: figure out an off switch.

As she looked over the evidence and autopsy in the case, Ema found one hell of a glaring contradiction. Either the police there were corrupt, or asleep on the job. Because the gun and powder burns were on the opposite side of the entry wound.

How hadn't this been caught? Shouldn't a lawyer have challenged it? It seemed like Madame had quite a bit of money, and class, if not prestige. Was it some foreign court specification she didn't know the rules for?

Ema packed up her findings and headed back towards Prosecutor Sahdmadhi's office.

*

This time, it was Apollo who was in Madame's arms, spinning around the room with bewildering speed.

"Are you kidding me? You're a married man. Are you and Prosecutor Gavin swingers now?" Ema said.

"It's just dancing," Apollo said.

"Hey, George Bernard Shaw said dancing was just a desire for sex!"

Technically it was a paraphrase, but that was the gist of it.

"And he is right," Madame said. Apollo looked downright flustered as he tried to keep up with her. "Dancing is a beautiful thing. Now…one, two, three, time. Apollo, it's time to dip me."

"He is more 'the dipped.' It comes with his extremely small stature," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said serenely.

"Excuse me?" Apollo said.

"I meanly speak the truth," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said.

"Just because you've got over several inches on me doesn't mean I didn't completely trounce you last case, and a bunch others!" Apollo looked about ready to pose for an objection, except Madame twirled him, until he looked dazed and dizzy.

"As long as the souls of the dead are laid to rest, there is no loss," he said.

Prosecutor Gavin watched on, and was all smiles and laughter at seeing his husband in someone else's arms. Not that it meant anything; she always figured he was a swinger anyways. He just gave that vibe. But she didn't realize that Apollo was a swinger, too.

Ema took a moment to take this all in. She'd only seen a fraction and had jumped to conclusions on very little evidence. Sheesh, if Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth had come across that, he would've sought the truth for a rock solid case. She'd made a case on emotions, shaky witnessing and hearsay.

"Oh, Detective Skye. Have you already found something? That's even more fast than usual. Your brilliance always astounds me."

Ema nodded, unable to process words. Apollo's words rung in her mind.

"A few more tries, Monsieur Justice, and you will be ready for the next upcoming wedding. Your dancing skills are truly improving at an extremely fast rate, Monsieur Sahdmadhi. I am so grateful you let me pay for the services of Khura'in with only my skills."

"You are too humble. You are a world-class dance instructor. I am grateful to be able to read the last rites for your sister-in-law," he said.

Ema covered her gasp with her hand. "A-a d-dance instructor?"

"Told you. Actually talking to someone instead of flying off the handle really works. You should try it sometime," Apollo said.

"Shut up already, Apollo!"

"Oh? You thought him and I were?" Madame covered her laughter with her delicate gloved hand. "Ohoho, the thought. Me with a man. How utterly preposterous. While even I have to admit he's rather beautiful for a man, that changes nothing of my preferences. Besides, I'm a married woman. It is my wife's twin sister who has passed, you see."

Ema blushed to the roots of her hair.. "I-I walked in and you were in each other's arms! What was I supposed to think?"

Literally this whole depressing week could've been prevented if she'd Googled the lady and seen spoiler alert, she's a giant lesbian and married to a woman right underneath her elegant picture. But no, she'd jumped into conclusions and fallen straight into old bad habits. Ema's cheeks burned as all the weight of the shame came crashing down on her. Whoop de freaking do, she'd fucked up. She'd fucked up hard. This was not how she wanted to confess her feelings to Prosecutor Sahdmadhi.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi looked concerned. "Madame Estelle, did I give off the impression that I was making amorous advances towards you? I meant no such thing, however perhaps there was some custom I missed. If so, then you have my utmost apologies. My heart lies elsewhere, and even if it did not, I would never be flirtatious towards a married woman, even more for a woman uninterested in someone of my gender."

"Oh, no. You are so very respectful and such a gentleman, and oh so well dressed. I could hardly believe you were a straight man, even when you spoke of your love. They certainly make men far different than any country I've met, and I live in the land of romance."

"Gender has nothing to do with whom I love, and I am considered somewhat an anomaly even here," he said.

"Then I was right. You and I are on the same side. I simply had that kind of feeling upon meeting you. I'm glad I haven't gotten rusty over the years," she said.

The more they talked, the more Ema's cheeks burned. Not about talks of gender expression and sexuality, but because she, like a complete idiot, had shown her cards. Hell, she'd practically thrown them at Prosecutor Sahdmadhi's head. Now everybody knew she was completely stupid over him.

Okay, they already basically figured and had telling her right to her face about his supposed growing fondness for her, but now nobody, not even Larry freaking Butz would miss something like this.

Well, if he had suddenly come to Khura'in. God forbid.

"Right, I'm going to go throw myself under a bridge now," Ema said.

"...Detective Skye, please stay a moment longer. I, ahem, I was hoping you would take the classes with me. So this coming wedding, we could dance again. For you see, I had an invitation. Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth wished to speak with me, and at the same time, a detective close to him was getting married. He assured that the affair would be very 'low key' and even perhaps 'low brow.' I was hoping to go with you."

"Oh, um, ....yeah."

"And, I am sorry for any unhappiness this misunderstanding caused you."

Ema didn't respond. Her cheeks were growing hot again. Ugh, he was so damn polite sometimes. And her heart was racing so much.

"I am sorry to intrude on you and your paramour, but please tell me the results of your investigation. Did you find anything about my sister?"

Ema was grateful for the distraction to her humiliation .

"Ah! Yes, it's definitely not a suicide! And whoever did this case was either really inept, or being bought off."

She pulled out the folder. "With this, you'll be able to have the case re-opened for sure."

"Thank you. With this, and the spirit channeling, my sister-in-law can finally find peace. And I too..." she looked away suddenly, and covered her eyes.

"No...I must not..."

She broke off, a sob in her throat.

"Madame Estelle, take as long as you need," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said softly.

"No… I must stay strong for her."

She lifted her head and forced a smile, though it came out grim.

"So were you going to use the Divination Seance?" Ema said.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi shook his head. "No. She has suffered for long enough. To see her sister-in-law's death would be cruel… I will request that mother channel the spirit right away. Your sister can testify herself to what happened."

"Thank you. You are most kind," Madame Estelle said.

"Detective Skye. Please join me within the channeling room."

"You want me to come as well?" Ema said.

"You are my partner. Not merely an assistant, or aide. I respect your input, and am sure you will help illuminate the truth."

"Ah--I-I'll be there," Ema said. "Right-o, partner in crime. Solving, that is."

But all she could think, past the hammering of her heart was partner in everything? Because she still had to figure out how to get to the level of partner in smooching.

As much as she'd wallowed and tried to kill her feelings in the past week, they were back with a vengeance. Because, truth be told, they never left. She'd just thrown a massive tantrum and tried to shove them down and put Snackoos on top. All she'd got in the end was a stomachache and a headache from so much crying.

Oh well, everyone had off days.

*

The summoning room was largely barely. Dark red curtains were drawn across the shuttered windows. Flat pillows with intricate golden flowers between stylized soul butterflies were laid before a small, square table.

Ema glanced around the room, looking for the seat that had 'forensic scientist parking' on it, but no such luck.

"Detective Skye, may I see that device you are always checking?"

Ema was more than a little surprised that Queen Amara had suddenly spoken to her before a spirit channeling session.

"My phone?" She held it up. It was pink, with a case that had smiley face stickers. "Is it bad for the channeling or something?"

She patted beside the pillow she knelt on. "Ah, please lay it down here. Technology is fascinating, is it not?"

Usually it was weird to just suddenly want someone's phone, but Ema wasn't about to sass the former queen, who was revered as divine in this country.

Queen Amara closed her eyes. "We can't begin until you take a seat, Detective Ema Skye."

"I was just looking for where detectives sit."

"By their prosecutor, I would presume," Queen Amara said.

"Um, right." Ema sat down next to Prosecutor Sahdmadhi. Both he and his mother had taken on an enigmatic, slightly amused expression.

Queen Amara shaped her fingers, and slowly the woman faded. The features of her face changed to someone more youthful, with dark black hair and haunted eyes. No matter how many times Ema saw it, it never stopped making her go holy shit, what the fuck? inside.

It shouldn't be, and yet, here she was. A scientist in a country of death and ghosts.

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi squeezed her hand.

Ema glanced towards him. He gave her a soft smile.

She didn't want to interrupt the whole thing, but it was too dark for some kind of morse-code blinking that she was actually not scared, but he could feel free to hold her hand forever anyways.

He kept ahold of her hand as the inquiry continued.

Madame Estelle gripped her handkerchief in her hand. "Margot!"

"Estelle..."

Madame Estelle began to sob. "Oh, Margot! Is it true? Was it suicide? Did I let you down that much? I'm so sorry for being a bad sister-in-law. I never could've guessed that this call would be your last...I was so busy that day! But it is no excuse. I should've put you first."

"No... it was not suicide. I was coming up the stairs to my rooms, when I realized I was being followed. It was Monsieur Villanelle."

Madame Estelle gasped. "The police chief!"

"Yes, he had been pursuing me for some time. I told him time and time again that I was not interested, and I tried to report him, but it was to no avail. If I called the police, it would be him who would come."

No wonder the case had been so botched. The police chief had buried everything he could. Maybe he'd even had evidence falsified. What a disgusting person. Then again, Ema wasn't surprised. She'd dealt with Gant's attempt to destroy them all.

"That… monster had the temerity to tell me he would do everything he could to find your killer!"

Madame Estelle had a fire in her eyes now. "Margot, you will be avenged. I will take this evidence and ensure that man pays for every year you should've been alive with us!"

"Thank you, Estelle. For never giving up on me. Tell Olivia I said.... I said...." Margot shook her head. "Simply saying 'hi' doesn't seem enough, now does it?"

"We miss you so much, every single day," Madame Estelle said.

A member of the court finished taking down her confession, to use as evidence.

Margot closed her eyes and stepped back. "Goodbye, Estelle."

Madame Estelle suddenly embraced Margot, as the dead girl faded back to a former queen.

"Ah… Queen, forgive me."

"Think nothing of it," Queen Amara said. "I hope this will help rest the souls of your dear sister-in-law."

"Yes, me too," Madame Estelle said.

Ema headed out. Just as Ema got outside, she reached into her bag to pull out her phone and check the time. But as she searched more and more, she just touched her tools. She set it down and knelt on the floor next to the door. Now, where the hell had she put it?

"Wait, I must've...."

That was right. She'd let Queen Amara take ahold of it, then Madame had the spirit channeling had happened. Queen Amara must still have it. Or it was simply set down in the channeling room.

Ema stepped back in. The room was still dimly lit, but Ema realized she wasn't alone.

"Yuty, I saw you there, holding hands in the dark."

When caught between a potential awkward situation versus not being able to get her phone, Ema did the one thing she could: she quickly hid behind one of the thick, red drapes.

"I was keeping her steady; spirit channeling is something that is not common within the L.A. courts. Ema still finds it quite startling, even working with it every day."

"Is that what they're calling it now? Honestly... She makes you so happy... Why don't you marry that girl already?"

Ema's breath caught at this.

"It is complicated, mother."

"Complicated? I see nothing complicated. I see two people very in love with each other, yet being desperately stubborn about admitting it to each other. And frankly, I don't see a particular reason why, save for the fact that you are both being bullheaded."

"It is different within that country. When I researched, I found that the people of the United States partake in very long courtships. At least a year, often as much as five. Impulsive marriages do often happen in a place called 'Las Vegas' also known as 'Sin city.' However, they are considered frivolous, and often a side effect of imbibing too much. To speak too much feeling too quickly seems to drive away Americans. The word is, ah, 'comittmentphobic.'"

Sheesh, it wasn't that long. Plenty of people got married with only a year or less of dating. She'd have to correct his research. The only problem was bringing it up. It wasn't exactly something she'd discuss over dinner. Where had he based his information? Sex and the City? Or had he solely used Robin from How I Met Your Mother as his case study?

"How interesting. However, I must ask. Have you taken the first step and told her how you feel already?"

"She must have surmised my feelings. I have not been subtle."

"Surmised? Dear Yuty, take it from me: women don't want to guess. That would only make her confused and possibly doubt herself. Besides… what if someone else stepped in, and wooed her right out from under you? Have you thought of that?"

Prosecutor Sahdmadhi fell silent. His back was to her, so Ema couldn't see his expression. But even in this dim light she could see his fists ball in unspoken rage.

"Why, that one guard seems awful taken with her. The young and handsome one, rather flirty. What is his name? Pla'ya?"

"Mother, this is no time to jest," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said from between gritted teeth.

"What jest? Would you put it past him? Do you think you're the only person in the world who thinks fondly of her? She's a pretty girl, feisty and full of life. And you've made no marriage promise for her. Someone else could very well see her and declare their feelings before you even start with a plan of courting her."

"I do not even want to think of such things," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said coldly.

"Then, there really is only one way to ensure that Pla'ya, or anyone else sweeps her away. Why, those other prosecutors would love to work with her. You yourself mentioned that you feared she might get--what was the word--headhunted at these weddings? A vile and putrid word to be sure."

"For a vile and putrid practice."

"Oho, it's only all right when you do it, yes Yuty?"

"I did not 'headhunt' her. I asked her to work for Khura'in, and she accepted. Those are two far different things. Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth seems to hold me no ill will."

"Yet, you still stole away his prized detective, didn't you? The way she speaks of him, she admires him very much."

"He is a married man. To another man, at that."

"Yes, but she might want to work with him again."

"Th-that's preposterous. I've given her a higher raise and allotment than any other prosecutor would. I've ensured benefits, bonuses...everything I could possibly spare for her."

"I've always known since the moment I saw you two together that you loved her, but look at how upset she was that Madame Estelle could be your love. There isn't much to wonder about her feelings."

"Even you knew of this?"

"Oh yes. Goeh'sip, the maid tells all. It always gets around."

Great. The entire country was probably talking about her at this rate. Even more than usual, that was.

"As happy as it makes me to think that she cares about me, I am still confused how anyone could take a mere dancing lesson as a sign of a relationship. I knew of Madame Estelle's wife and tried my utmost to be as courteous as possible, and yet still rumors persisted. And even Ema believed that of me. Perhaps an apology to Madame Estelle is in order if my conduct was so mistaken by others."

"Ohoho, dancing has a reputation of being a romantic thing."

"...Ema is the only one I want to dance with, truly. I adore her more than words can say."

Ema's breath caught at this. They had to hear her heart. It beat so loud, Prosecutor Gavin probably would've used it as a background for one of his new tracks. She covered her mouth with her hand. At this rate she'd have to bite her palm to keep her breathing down.

"I am not the one you should be telling this. Now, you need to set aside your stubbornness and court that girl already," Queen Amara said.

"Yes, I shall… right after this wedding. But for now, I must close the details of this case."

"Hoho. That's my boy, ever the workaholic. I am proud you have laid so many souls to rest."

"Yes… with Ema by my side, there shall be far more souls given peace," he said.

The door suddenly opened. Ema froze, afraid that her position would be revealed.

"Prince Regent Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, there's an urgent matter--"

"Yes, I am coming right away."

She waited until his footsteps began to recede.

Queen Amara chuckled. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "You can come out now. Ema. Or should I start early and simply begin referring to you as 'future daughter-in-law? It does have a rather nice ring to it."

"Um, I wasn't---" she cleared her throat. "I-I just came back for my phone. I didn't realize you and he were...talking...I just...really needed....my phone."

"Then you heard everything? Good." She held out the phone, which had laid next to her pillow the whole time.

"Uh, thanks," Ema said. She quickly rushed out before she could make some intercultural faux pas. Though knowing Queen Amara, she'd probably find it funny.

It wasn't until she'd gotten all the way into the courtyard that everything sunk in. Queen Amara had orchestrated it all with the kind of brilliant tactics that almost made Ema think she saw the family resemblance between her and Queen Ga'ran. Something she'd never say out loud, of course.

Okay, Ema wasn't stupid. She'd just been absolutely caught up in the moment, and how Prosecutor Sahdmadhi had blatantly admitted his feelings. It'd taken a bit to catch on just what was happening-- what she was witnessing, no being shown by Queen Amara.

Ema was certain of one thing: She had enough data. Both on herself and weddings. She wasn't going to let another wedding go without by making her move.