fic: Save The Date (6)

[bonnefois]

Title: Save The Date (6) (end)
Series: Ace Attorney
Character/pairing: Nahyuta/Ema, Gumshoe/Maggey, Simon/Athena, Edgeworth/Phoenix, Larry/Maya, Franziska/Adrian, Klavier/Apollo
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 20k+
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: here's a fanmix I made to go with this fic. Cyanoscarlet compiled it on Spotify as well here.

Betaed by my demigirlfriend.



Two weeks later

The wedding came faster than expected, largely because Detective Gumshoe didn't exactly have a lot to book. If the whole thing cost more than a hundred dollars, Ema would genuinely be surprised.

When it came to Maggey and Gumshoe's wedding, she didn't bother buying another dress. Even though Prosecutor Sahdmadhi had kindly covered the ticket over, just like he'd covered them all as part of her package of working for Khura'in (which included free healthcare, housing, food stipend, and all the latest tech to help solve crime) her wallet was still screaming in agony from repeated wedding related attacks on it. Besides, if anyone appreciated frugality, it was them. The whole event was in the lobby at the court, and the reception was held at McDonalds afterwards , which was a buy it yourself affair.

Plus, if she wasn't careful, she'd outshine the bride. Depending on how many pennies the two of them managed to pinch, Maggey's dress could be anything from made of used ramen packets held together with duct tape, to something found in a thrift shop (as long as it was less than $10.)

Even with the raise she'd gotten earlier, her bank account was already hurting from how many wedding presents, air fare, and dresses she'd had to buy recent. But for Gumshoe, she pulled out a twenty and called it even. She only knew him as a guy who worked in the L.A. precinct anyways. The only conversations they'd had involved food and how great Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth were.

She supposed any person who appreciated what a great guy Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth was couldn't be too bad.

Apparently, the other few people who came had the same idea, as a cleaned out pickle jar contained bills of varying sizes all the way to the top.

Both Gumshoe and Maggey looked at that pile of money-- which might have been all of $100 --with shining admiration and gratitude.

"Thanks for the gifts, pals. We'll be able to pay rent and eat this month," Gumshoe said.

The actual ceremony had been a quick affair at the Justice of the Peace done that morning. Obviously, they'd put everything into the after-event. From what she heard, Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth had been their witness.

The decorations obviously came from the dollar store, and at some point it seems they ran out of money because some of the tables that had been pulled into the prosecutor's lobby had only half the flimsy green streamers which Ema was pretty sure were intended for St. Paddy's day.

Even the sliding glass door that went into the courtyard (complete with fountain) was decorated. They'd kept the gardens where Prosecutor Sahdmadhi liked to meditate,and she liked to eat her lunch. Sometimes, these two things had converged.

Maggey gripped his much larger hand and burst into a big smile.

"Boss, I'm so happy to finally be married to you!"

"I'm not your boss anymore, Maggey."

Maggey laughed. "Does that mean I'm the boss? Or that I get to boss you around~?"

Gumshoe awkwardly rubbed at his neck. "Aw, sheesh. I ran right into that one."

Maggey leaned in close. "Tonight, you'll be the one calling me boss!"

She kissed him on the cheek-- chaste, but promising more --and stepped away. Gumshoe looked a little dazed as she clutched the bouquet and stepped out closer into the middle of the prosecutor lobby. No dancing or DJ at this party.

Maggey held her bouquet, a bunch of daisies which looked like they'd been haphazardly picked from the back lot outside. Her dress looked like it was a repurposed prom dress which had bleach poured over it. The color hadn't entirely faded, and it still had a faint pink hue. It looked less like a thrift shop find and more a dumpster find. Those holes and stains in the back made Ema wonder if it actually should be bagged for evidence instead.

"Is everyone ready?" she asked.

Ema cracked her knuckles and stepped out onto the floor.

All in all, it should be entirely unscientific. The thought that something like a superstition could be entirely based on facts. But the numbers didn't lie. Each person had gotten at the very least engaged a short time after catching the bouquet. Maybe it had a placebo effect. But she was running out of time. What if it landed away from her, on some labby's lap? The entire criminal justice system had a date before her, and Ema was sick of it.
Plus, she'd had a close call already. She wasn't about to just sit back and keep waiting for them to eventually happen. Ema knew exactly what she wanted. She'd collected enough numbers. It was about time she took a carpe diem of her own and added herself to the data.

Ema glanced towards Prosecutor Sadhamdhi, who gave her a nod. She saw him mouth good luck,

(Okay, she was pretty sure it was may good fortune follow you wherever you go but close enough. It was the Khura'inese equivalent.)

"Time to throw the bouquet!"

This time, it was just Trucy, a few people from the precinct she didn't recognize, and herself. Everyone else who had caught it was happily married away.

She seriously should've traded the heels for running shoes, but there wasn't exactly time to ask them to stop so she could get changed.

Oh well. She'd just have to run in heels and do better. If superheroes could manage it, so could she. Who knows when the next wedding would be?

Maggey tossed the bouquet of daisies high into the air. It was headed straight towards the sliding glass door to the courtyard. Ema took off at a run, passing Trucy and other detectives for her very last chance. She leapt up and reached as far as she could manage. She managed to just barely catch it.

"Hah, got it!"

Finally, victory. She started to hold it up in sheer triumph, but before she could say another word, she heard d a crack. Cheap shoes, her one weakness.

She went toppling back. There was a loud crash of shattering glass and a sharp wave of pain. Through the haze of instant, breathtaking pain, Ema realized she'd fallen through the glass door.

"Ema!"

She couldn't breathe. She couldn't breathe. There was the sharp penny-taste of blood in her mouth. She coughed red and reached out. She could see people around her. Paramedics? Prosecutor Sahdmadhi was beside her, but she couldn't hear what he said. It all became a dull roar.

She couldn't breathe.

A loud noise cut the room. Flashing lights. Eyes closed. She was being lifted. When they opened again, the corridor was white, and blurred. She saw metal, clipboards, rushing nurses. Bright lights above. Someone was crying, but it seemed far off.

Blood in her mouth. She couldn't breathe.

*

Ema slowly became aware of her circumstances. She felt undeniably hazy and groggy. But there was a silver lining to every cloud, wasn't that what people said? Right now, her silver lining was white and gold and long silver braided hair, sitting right there in the chair beside her bed.

"Prosecutor...Sahdmadhi?" Her voice came out as a hoarse croak. It wasn't until she opened her mouth that she realized just how dry her mouth was.

He opened his eyes. "Oh, Thank the Holy Mother. You're finally awake..."

He rested his head down on the hospital bed beside her.

"I said so many prayers. For a terrifying moment, I thought I had lost you to my fate."

His head bowed. But it wasn't in prayer, but the brink of exhaustion.

“Prosecutor Sahdmadhi!"

"Forgive me..." he murmured. "I could not sleep. Not with the thought that while I was asleep, you could pass into the Twilight Realm..."

"You stayed by my bedside the entire night?"

"It's been longer than a night." Even that much seemed to push him on the brink of falling asleep right there.

"How long was I out?"

"I lost track of time. Two days, perhaps three? You were in the intensive care unit and went through surgery."

"I guess you really can sweet talk anyone. I thought only family would be allowed back here."

"...Trucy told a little lie."

"What, did she say she was my cousin or something to get past?"

"No, about me."

As she shifted, she felt an ache all across her back. The memory of the glass embedded deep in her back came back with a vengeance. "Looks like I won't be wearing anymore backless dresses anytime soon."

Outside, she heard two nurses chatting away.

"What an accident! What was she in for?"

"Some bridesmaid who fell through a sliding glass door. She sure was determined to get that bouquet."

"Talk about desperate-- and unlucky. Anyways, I bet she needs more pain medication. I saw the report-- it isn't pretty. A shame."

"Eh, have Brenda do it. I've worked with this detective before. She's got a sharp tongue and can be awful demanding."

"If you're going to talk about someone behind their backs, do it more quietly," Ema muttered. It seemed everybody had an opinion about her these days.

His hand tensed into a fist.

"I shall go speak to them," he said.

"No, stay..." Ema said.

His gaze was filled with concern. "Are you in pain, Ema? I can call for help immediately--"

Ema cut him off. "I'm fine. Well, not fine but still kicking. Um... Hey, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi.... Don't you think it's time?"

"Time? Whatever for? Lunch?" He looked up to the clock above her bed. "No, that will not be served for a while yet. Is the pain medication you need? I will call the nurses this instant, and give them a sermon on the harmful effects of their gossipy ways."

"No, for us. Everyone talks about how fond you seem about me. Everyone thinks we're dating or even married... and you even said..." Ema cleared her throat. "Look, I forgot my phone then, when you were talking to Queen Amara in the channeling room."

"...you heard that?"

"Yeah... And you already, um, know about how I reacted about Madame Estelle when I thought you and her were... So, if it's like that, then let's date already. No more dancing around the issue."

They'd even literally danced around the issue, on more than one occasion.

"Ema..."

"If you say no, that you're not interested after all and the whole thing was a mistake then I'll just blame it on the painkillers I'm on and we'll go back to how it was, I guess. Maybe I'll move if it gets too awkward."

"That isn't necessary," Prosecutor Sahdmadhi said suddenly. He took her hand in his.

He gently kissed her knuckles.

"I thought... I had lost you, that fate had taken you from me. Everything was crashing down again. When I met you, I finally escaped the feeling that grief would be my only companion and there could be only hardship in my life, that in some life I must have done some grievous harm to be given a fate like this. The thought of losing you...." He couldn't bring himself to speak any longer.

"It isn't fate, I just really need to stop buying cheap shoes, even if they are cute and easy on my wallet," Ema said.

"The truth is, what everyone says is true. Ema...you must understand. You are my spring. You are the sun that thaws the ice within me. You gave me hope when I had lost all hope. Love is not enough of a word for what you are to me."

She tightened her grip on his hand.

"Look, I'm a scientist, not a poet. I don't have a lot of flowery stuff to say. But I really like you. And I think we should just be kissing already. Hell, we should've been kissing for months. I was ready to be smooching you about ten minutes after I met you."

"I agree. However, there were complications--"

"I think those 'complications' have been overthrown for over a year now," Ema said dryly.

"Not merely that. Khura'in needs so much work to rebuild. Every time I thought to speak to you, something would happen and the chance would be lost. A meeting, a crisis, an invitation... All these weddings...while they offered plenty of time together, it also meant I could not speak to you of such things. I wouldn't want to upstage their special days."

"Are you kidding me? You're saying we could've been dating for ages except everyone else had to have their turn? What about the months between?"

"Every moment I was about to ask you, a notice for another wedding would come. And you told me how these weddings are full of grave insults. Do not outshine the bride, do not miss them. I did not want us to be cursed. There was an article I read while we were in flight about the putrid actions of a best man who proposed at someone else's wedding. It was considered the rudest thing imaginable by the writer. I resolved to never be selfish like that. So I would wait a little longer, even though I longed to tell you every second we were together. Then there would be meetings to figure out how to keep Khura'in safe while I was gone. I almost told you a thousand times, but I did not want to rush you."

It was hilarious, but she wasn't laughing. Half because it'd hurt to laugh. She shook her head. She'd been right, and so had every single person who'd remarked on them.

"As long as I've known you, you've never focused on yourself. You don't have to feel guilty because you took some time from your family and country. Or for me, for that matter," Ema said.

"No, I must admit that I can be quite selfish. That day you said you were going to a wedding, I misheard. I thought it was yours. I came overseas as soon as I could to stop you and confess my feelings. Even thinking you were to pledge your love to someone else, I took that step to steal you away. But when I was proven mistaken, then the moment was lost..."

"Wait, you thought I was getting married? That's why you were there? We literally could've been smooching all this time, and you kept waiting for everybody else like that person caught at the door going 'no, after you?'"

"I would not put it in such terms, but yes," he said.

Un-fucking-believable.

"See, this is why you need me around. Me to tell people to back off and let us through and to tell people to fuck off and take your turn already. You don't have to put your happiness on hold, and I will kick down whatever doors to make that happen."

He couldn't help but laugh. "You're right..." His head began to bow. She thought it was in prayer, but as he suddenly jerked up, she realized he was falling asleep right there.

"You really need to sleep. Sleep is needed to activate parts of the hippocampus that filter through information. You won't be able to learn much pulling all nighters all the time."

"...No. I cannot bear to leave. If I do, then it could be the last time I see you."

"I'm not going to die. I'm fine now. Now get out of here. That's a command from your girlfriend."

She liked the sound of that. your girlfriend really rolled off the tongue.

He shook his head.

"Ugh, you're so stubborn. What are you going to do, sleep on the floor in here?"

"I have not figured out a way, but I will. Even if I collapse into that chair in exhaustion...at least I will be near you. The thought of leaving you...it leaves a very putrid feeling in my chest. I could not bear it at this moment. I would wake and wonder if this was a fever dream, and in the true reality I lost you."

"There's a bed on the other side," Ema said. "I think it's empty."

His brow furrowed. "That is meant for patients."

"What are they going to do? Throw you out? You're the Prince Regent of Khura'in. You could put a curse on them or have your mom call back spirits from the dead to haunt them."

"Forward as always. That's why I..." he broke off. It looked like she wasn't the only one who got tongue tied.

Ema shifted even though it hurt. The bed was narrow, and it had a metal frame and handles which made it pretty difficult to fit him in here. Not that discomfort ever stopped Ema. She'd flown across the entire damn world with him. She'd been jetlagged, and survived a whole revolution.

"Well, fine. You could try climbing up here. If anybody complains, I'll tell them to go sod off."

The nurses would probably flip, but that's what they got for gossiping about her.

"I've known you long enough to know those will not be the words you use," he said.

"Obviously," Ema said.

She expected some kind of resistance, but maybe he was simply too exhausted. He climbed up into the hospital bed and curled up against her. His arms hovered about her, but then pulled back.

"I do not want to hurt you."

"That has to be killing your back," she said.

"No… I am used to discomfort. I'm a monk. I've slept upon the cold temple floors before. This is a paradise by comparison... even more that you are here with me."

She sighed. "Fine, be stubborn, just like always. Just get some sleep already."

He reached out and she took his hand. Overall, it was not how she figured this whole confession thing would play out. He let out a soft sigh, and soon she heard his breaths become even. No wonder, he'd been up so long waiting for her.

Worrying about her, loving her. His fingers fit into hers so well. It wasn't long before Ema as well found herself drifting off.

*

Ema woke up first. His head was buried against her. She rested her hand against his back and gently stroked. He shifted, and let out a soft sigh, but didn't wake. Funny, they'd 'slept together' long before they slept together. Counting the times they'd fallen asleep on each other in various forms of public transport, they were actually racking up quite a bit of 'sleeping together,' in fact.

As a nurse walked in, Ema put a finger over her lips and pointed down to him.

"Oh… I'll just leave you with your husband. Ms. Skye, please just push the button if you need anymore painkillers."

Ema was about to speak, when he held up his hand.

"Thank you."

"You were up?" Ema said.

"I am now. The door is rather loud," he said.

"Sorry, I was trying to make sure you actually got some more sleep."

"I will be fine. I am glad to see you again, and that you are doing well..."

He nuzzled his head against her side.

Make that well-ish. She wasn't exactly feeling great. But with painkillers and her boyfriend, she could push through. (Man, she loved saying those words. Every time she thought the term my boyfriend she felt a little jolt of joy.)

"I was surprised that you had no reaction to that," Nahyuta said.

"About what?" Ema said.

"That nurse called me 'your husband,'" Nahyuta said.

"Oh, that? Actually, I'm pretty used to people thinking we're an item. It's been happening pretty much from about two days after we met. It's only logical that eventually it would lead to them thinking we're married when we're not."

He chuckled. "No wonder. I'd never felt anything like that. Meeting you. For once, it seems, I could not hold back. And even strangers saw."

"Never thought I'd see the day when just anyone could tell what the hell you're thinking," Ema muttered.

"My thoughts are more simple than you give me credit for. Knowledge I find to improve my protection of Khura'in and the law and read the last rites of the dead, the methods to better protect my family and country, to prosecute those putrid and damned, to learn..."

"And food," Ema said.

"I was going to say 'and you, but yes, food too."

"So that's where I rate, slightly below food," Ema said teasingly.

"How do you put it in your country? 'You save the best for last,'" he said.

Smooth move. He'd definitely dodged that one.

He reached for her hand and took it again.

"The truth is, it wasn't a mere false assumption. They wouldn't let us in. You were wheeled into the back. I could barely focus. I tried to speak to them, but they would not listen. Family only, they said. Suddenly, Mr. Wright's daughter spoke up. 'She's his wife!' she suddenly cried out. When everyone was incredulous, she spun a tale of us married in Khura'in, which was why it never showed up on the records, and how I was so very distraught and needed to be there with my wife. Thanks to her mischief, I was able to see you. She is truly a pure hearted girl."

"That's what I was trying to tell you then. Trucy's a sweetie. A bit mischievous, and prone to bending the rules, but she'd never really hurt anyone."

"Yes… you were right."

She nudged him. "I didn't quite hear you. Was that what I thought it was? You're going to have to repeat it to be sure."

He smiled, and said each word with measured grace, "You. Are. Right. I should have listened to your counsel."

"About time you start realizing that."

"Dear Ema, I always realized. And had I listened to you, the case would've been far shorter."

And she must've been as forgiving as her dad, because the case against her had been pretty brutal. Apollo barely managed to prove her innocence, with how Mr. Reus had worked up such a case against them.

She changed the subject from the past. "Have you eaten anything?"

He shook his head. "No… but I have taken longer fasts than this."

"Sheesh. I know hospital cafeteria food is awful, but go get some anyways. Or at least eat from some vending machines. Then you can bring me back something."

"The thought of leaving you fills me with deep unease."

"Trust me, I'll still be here when you get back. I'm not going to code out or something. Though I might die of severe Snackoo deprivation at this point."

He reached out towards the little bedside table. She hadn't noticed until now that anything of note had been there. In his hands was a bag of almonds. "I bought this yesterday, but I could not bring myself to eat. Nice and healthy, what you need right now."

Ema looked down at the bag with a grimace, "Um, thanks," she said.

He smiled and brought out a bag of Snackoos from there as well.

"Those are actually for me. These are for you."

"Hey, I wasn't trying to be ungrateful. I was just really expecting my Snackoo fix and--"

"Think nothing of it. I like your forthrightness."

"I wanted to believe then that we could eat them together again. Even when it seemed so hopeless, I wanted to..."

"Well, keep dreaming. These are mine," Ema said. "Though there's gonna be crumbs all over."

"So be it," he said. "I have endured worse hells that the hell of 800 million crumbs within the bed."

"I can't even tell if that's a real thing or not," Ema said.

His enigmatic smile gave her no answers.

Two weeks later.

Ema's spoon scraped loudly against the bottom of the plate. She cringed at the noise, which could be heard even above the din of the restaurant. "This is good curry," Ema said.

"Mm, yes. It is as you could say it is delicious. You could even describe it as 'rocking," Nahyuta said.

Her brow furrowed. Rocking? It was almost like she was talking to her old nemesis. Ema tried to shake it off.
Maybe she was the one variable. Maybe her numbers were off. She was sure they'd had something, but he was quieter than ever. She'd thought the tongue-tiedness would be over when they got serious. Sure, it was easy to throw some simple flirtation around when they were working together, but now that they were actually there, Ema wondered if they didn't both have the romance version of stage fright.

It was weird, because they'd talked so well every single other time. But now that they were actually on a date, she kept second-guessing herself. And he was more unreadable than ever.

Nahyuta cleared his throat. "What do you do… on your time off?"

His voice sounded oddly wooden, like he was a poor actor, reading lines off a teleprompter. She could've sworn she heard the shifting off cards. But that made no sense: he didn't do card tricks. Unless he took up a new hobby when she was in the hospital.

It'd been so much easier to talk when they weren't dating. Maybe she'd asked for a label too soon and they should've just been in limbo for a little while longer.

Or maybe she just needed to give it a little more time. But the cynical side of her kept giving her a complete I told you so with lifted brow. Of course it couldn't last. Nothing good ever does for you. What do you expect? You have horrible luck.

"Well, I watch stuff like Forensic Files and nature documentaries. You should know; you watch it with me sometimes. For a while, I've been taking on untested rape kits and evidence for The Innocence Project. It's been harder to do overseas, though. Rebuilding Khura'in is taking up pretty much all my time."

Which he should definitely know, from how much she complained about it.

"You spend your free time working?"

She smiled. "Hey, you know what they say. 'Love your job and you'll never work a day in your life.' It's like playing, really."

"Since you enjoy it so much, I'll be sure to assign you extra paperwork."

Ema clutched more tightly to her fork. "What!"

He chuckled. He has such a nice smile, and a wonderful, soft deep laugh. Now this was the reason he'd captured her interest the very first meeting. One of them, anyways.

And maybe, maybe it was just nerves. Usually when he withdrew like this, he was worried. Or, you know, being blackmailed by his evil aunt. Either or.

But before he could say another word, a shot rang out. Ema dropped her fork. A scream came up from the kitchen, and it rose to several cries. The hum of the crowd increased as people left their seats.

"I brought my things," Ema said.

They rose up from their booth as more screams and shrieks to "Call the police!" rose up.

"Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, and this is Forensics Expert Detective Skye with me."

Ema pulled out a fresh set of rubber gloves from her bag. "Don't worry; we're on the case."

*

Ema didn't figure she'd spend her first date, the one she'd been waiting far too long for, bent over a corpse. Did she jinx it by bringing along her gear? It was habit, really. He said they were going somewhere and she grabbed her bag of forensic supplies. Like a superhero went straight for their cape.

She'd probably ruin her dress at this rate. She'd nabbed a great sale on a teal green sundress with a flower print that really brought out her eyes and managed to be slimming and make her breasts look bigger at the same time, possibly via magic. But she hadn't brought another pair of clothes, and it wasn't like she could just leave and get changed.

Ema let out a sigh. She'd taken in the samples, done the photography of the crime scene, while he interviewed the staff. Fingerprinting a kitchen would be a nightmare. So many unrelated fingerprints to sort through, to say nothing that it'd be thoroughly cleaned down constantly.

Ema's eyes narrowed as she watched the interrogation from afar. Those two waitresses kept flirting with him, like a crime scene was any place for flirting. However, he deftly avoided their every flutter of an eyelash.

(Never mind that she'd flirted with him on every crime scene they'd been on. It was different when you were with the police, of course.)

So much for the amazing date she'd been waiting on.

*

"Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, I'm finished with the crime scene."

"Thank you for always putting so much effort, Detective Skye," he said.

By some miracle, she had managed to not spill any crime scene goo on her dress, and she hoped a good dry-cleaning could deal with the smell of chemicals that lingered. Her shoes weren't so lucky.

It wouldn't help with her smell now, though. She had a faint scent of death mixed with chemicals. Sure, he was used to the scent of a crime scene, or how none of the forensic scientists came out smelling like roses-- but she wanted to be cute, and not covered in goo and crime scene stench. She began to dig through her bag. She'd begun to pack those one dollar cotton candy perfumes from Walmart in bulk.

Back when she'd been with Prosecutor Gavin, she hadn't bothered, but when it came to Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, she'd pack the extra lipstick, keep her desk clean and keep the extra perfume on hand, just in case.

"They already cleared our food away, I am afraid. It'd gone cold. Though they did give us a free voucher for another time..."

She'd liked that curry, too.

She didn't find the perfume, but even more, she felt like she'd slammed right into the realization that it felt like they'd taken about twenty steps back. Like they were right back to that minute where there was a brand new prosecutor, who couldn't stop complimenting her.

Had she misread the signs? Or was it something else entirely? She'd been waiting on this for over a year, and they'd had better times during three hour layovers.

"Let's just go home," Ema said.

With a last goodbye to the detectives (who all gave her knowing looks from how she was, yeah, yeah she was on a date with Prosecutor Sahdmadhi. How great) they headed out.

Ema checked the bus schedule on her phone. "Well, we missed the last bus. I'll see if any Lawfyts are active nearby."

Lawft had sprung up pretty recently, specializing in carting around those involved with the law. Though they'd come into the news recently from all the drivers that had to be arrested. The company really needed to work on that background check, because way too many former criminals were going on taxi-related sprees of revenge against the people who put them in jail the first time around.

They fell into silence.

"Maybe we're not the kind of people to go on dates," Ema said softly.

Or maybe....

Ema didn't want to let herself even think that thought. That maybe she was mistaken and they actually had only working and friendship chemistry, and she spent all this time chasing a love affair that would fizzle out immediately. That everyone had been wrong about them, especially her.

"Did you say something, Detective Skye?"

She let out a sigh.

"You feel it too, right? It's not just me? I-I just didn't think it'd be awkward. We've always really clicked. When we weren't dating, it was never really an issue. Well, okay sometimes you were closed off and it got frustrating, but that's mostly over now."

Mostly because it was Queen Ga'ran that caused his sudden shifts in personality. However, he was still stubborn and dealt with all his sadness by completely shutting down his feelings and becoming completely unreadable.

Was that what happened this time?

He let out a long breath. "This is my failing, I apologize. I never had much time for such things. Datz gave me these flashcards. Then Prosecutor Gavin, Apollo's own husband, gave me suggestions as well. But when I tried to use them, they seemed all wrong. Yet I could not simply ignore their suggestions, for I knew nothing of love until I met you. So I tried them..."

It came to mind that he had kept his gaze often down to his lap. All that time he'd been checking a dating cheat sheet.

"Seriously? You asked for help from Prosecutor Gavin? Why didn't you just ask Larry for advice while you were at it?"

"Actually, he did offer me advice several times when we met up at the weddings. I had written up his advice and also followed it. After all, he has much more experience dating than I."

Ema couldn't help but laugh. "You… you really took advice....from them... seriously? I know you aren't stupid; you're one of the smartest people I know. I can't even figure out what made you think asking the most annoying prosecutor in the world for tips and freaking Larry Fey! Until Maya, he struck out with literally every woman he met-- me included."

The fact that he'd kind of cleaned up after getting married and she didn't want to hurt Maya was the only thing that kept Ema from firing snack food at him on sight, just as a warning shot to let him know not to get anywhere near her. Nope, not even.

"Fear, I suppose," he said softly.

"You got first-date jitters?"

He nodded.

"I thought it was just me who was awful on dates. Usually by the time I bring back half the buffet and tell them about the fascinating blood-spatter patterns I had to process, they suddenly remember they left the oven on and bolt for the door....and I probably shouldn't be talking about past failed dates while I'm on this one," Ema said.

His lips pursed. "Truly… those putrid past dates of yours have no taste. I would gladly talk about blood spatter patterns with you."

Ema smiled. "Honestly… it kind of feels like a date just being around with you on crime scenes, getting food late and waiting for the next plane to come in., and getting ready for weddings."

"I am glad to know I wasn't the only one," he said.

"I still want to get food with you and do this--dating thing. Maybe it was just… nerves. Hopefully next time won't be interrupted with a murder," Ema said.

"No, it was my own fault. I relied on the words of others in a moment of weakness. And their suggestions..."

"...were pretty bad. I mean asking Prosecutor Gavin, really?"

"In that moment, my experience seemed so lacking. I asked whoever was nearest in a desperate bid to not lose your affections. I'd worked so hard for that moment. I thought I would study, but the books upon the subject were vast and many strangely..conservative. Then Apollo's husband offered advice and I gladly took it."

"Hey, it's me. I'm not just going to kick you out of the date. I wanted to be there with you really badly for a long time."

"As did I."

The streetlights left an unearthly glow about his silver hair. Though everything went wrong, Ema couldn't help thinking that it wasn't so bad.

"You know, scientific studies have theorized that kissing contains proteins that advertise our immune function genes, and through tasting another person's saliva, you'd be testing their genome to see if it was compatible with your own. Pretty neat, eh?"

"How fascinating. The wonders of science never cease," he said.

He didn't take the bait. Sometimes, he was just too polite for his own good.

Ema looked up at him through her lashes. "Want to test my genome and see if we're DNA compatible?"

"I can already say without a certain of a doubt that we are deeply compatible," he said.

Ema puffed out her cheeks. "You know, if you don't kiss me, I'm going to drag you down and I might rip your coat."

"I'd have to take the mending bill out of your paycheck," he said.

"It'd be worth it," Ema said.

He bent down to meet her lips. All the awkwardness faded away at the contact. She reached up and caught his brocade frock coat in her hands tightly to pull him closer. This time, they were perfectly in tandem. She moaned against him, and let go, only to run her hand down his chest. God, she liked what she felt.

When she drew back, a look of pure awe came over his face. She could only imagine how starry eyed she looked.

She laughed. "You-- you look like the time I got you to try some Matcha ice cream. You called it what-- sublime?"

"...it was as sweet as I had imagined." He let out a relieved sigh. "It took the patience of a monk to keep from kissing you all those other times. Even then, I couldn't even fathom how sweet it would be. Truly, I have tasted a glimpse of paradise this day."

"Like in the bathroom then? Or there on the bed? Or in the reception? Or on the plane back? It wasn't just me looking too deeply into things? Seriously, it was getting ridiculous!"

"No, you are not mistaken. It took years of meditation, deprivation and a large amount of self control to keep myself from telling you of my feelings so many times. And even then, I didn't always manage to. I had to touch you in some way, even if I could not speak of how I felt."

Carrying her, doing her hair, massaging her feet, his hand at her back as he guided her away… he'd managed to keep physical contact with her even if they hadn't ended up making out in that bathroom like she'd wanted. All that time, he'd wanted to kiss her as much as she'd wanted to kiss him.

"I'd say our DNA is pretty compatible," Ema said. "Though I kind of already knew that."

"You used your scientific equipment to tell? The advances of science never fail to astound."

"No, not quite. It's not really something I could tell a holy man."

During that first flight to Khura'in, Ema had been in that pre-period hormone spike, something she only realized when they hit a layover that made the whole trip take eighteen hours. Despite the fact that they'd both been shower-free for almost a day, she'd spent that entire flight wanting to bury her face against his chest, rip that collar down and lick his neck to leave a mark where no one could see. It'd been pretty awkward, though kind of scientifically fascinating to see the reaction from pheromones up close.

The other way of testing proteins and attraction? Sweat and pheromones.

"Your view of monks is always so curious. Seemingly sexless, celibate, even intensely prudish."

"That's just how they are over where I am," she said.

He brushed her cheek with his fingers. "Khura'inese orders of monks vary, but mine resembles none of those things."

She leaned into his touch. "Good. That'd make it a bit awkward."

"I am gladdened that nothing went wrong with this first kiss, at least… though that could not be said of our first date."

"Wait… is this your first kiss?" Ema said.

He nodded. "There was no time for such things. I had to break mother free, then Rayfa, and then I was Queen Ga'ran's pawn... But when I met you, suddenly instead accepting my fate, I became selfish. I only wanted to spend more time with you and feel that warmth and hope. I wanted to believe in everything I knew I would never have. I no longer resigned myself to giving my life up for the country. I wanted more. I wanted you."

"Wanting to be happy isn't selfish. None of that you mentioned is even remotely selfish. Being forced to be a martyr is fucked up, and I hate her for doing that to you," Ema said.

"It was… addicting. Such warmth as I had never felt. My heart raced the very first moment you smiled at me. I had never felt anything like that before. In truth, I had lost almost all feeling at that point. Resigned entirely to my fate. You made me believe again."

"That's dopamine!" Ema said brightly. "When we fall in love, our brain calls for more dopamine. It's the same brain patterns as someone taking drugs. You literally were addicted to me."

He shook his head and laughed softly. "I do so adore you. I know this is early according to your customs, but I cannot hold back any longer. Life is promised to no one, and I do not want to go into the Twilight Realm having never told you this."

"I wouldn't want you to. Nah--- Pros....I don't know what to call you now. Am I supposed to call you Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, or Nahyuta, while we're on the field? Should I alternate it? And technically right now we're both on a date and a case, so that makes it even more confusing."

"Hmm. Perhaps some things are best saved for the bedroom."

Her face turned rosy. "What?! I can't believe you, a holy man, said that!"

He chuckled. "Khura'inese monks are not celibate, Ema. Far from it."

"Let's just say I'm pretty thankful for that," Ema said.

"I should teach you about the ecstatic orders at some time."

"You're telling me there's sexy monks?"

He leaned in closer. His lips grazed her ear. Her lips parted and she felt a shudder of pleasure run through her. "No, though I could join if I wished. Even if I did not join that order, I could show you their practices at some time. Though they are quite… acrobatic."

Damn, she never thought her monk boss could be a freak in bed. But she was totally getting a lot of evidence to imply he could be. Just what she needed, another reason to utterly adore the guy.

"Though I've digressed. You may call me whatever you wish. Even 'His Ephemeral Holiness' if you become too sleep deprived, and your skies turn cloudy."

Ema puffed out her cheeks. "You weren't supposed to know about that one."

He bent down and kissed her forehead. "I know many things."

And yeah, maybe there'd been a disaster or two (or twelve) on their first date, but the ending was perfect. The last thing she wanted was for the night to end just yet.

"Hey, Nahyuta. You wanna watch Forensic Files with me? I'll need to unwind a bit before bed. We can consider it part of the date."

"I would love to."

Maybe they'd go farther, or maybe they'd pass out in front of the television, and it'd add yet another to her list of slept with him but not 'slept' with him. Either way she'd wake up with him again, and it'd be a win in her eyes.

*

One month later.

After they closed the case (the cook did it, for the record) they were back in Khura'in. Except there wasn't a whole lot of time for dates-- or anything else but rebuilding Khura'in.

It wasn't like she didn't know what she was getting in for, and thought it would be all Snackoos and roses. But even she didn't think it would be this grueling. Queen Ga'ran had really fucked over the country, and it wasn't enough that she was the only forensic scientist in the whole place, she had to convince the other detectives that she wasn't being blasphemous by doing basic scientific things.

And having Prosecutor Gavin around constantly certainly wasn't helping her mood.

Even though Nahyuta was constantly busy, he did everything in his power to spend the little bit of time together they had. She'd come to work and find flowers on her desk, a new sweet, and a kind note. As for actual dates? Those got fit in-between everything. And not in a sexy way, either. Usually it ended up with them sleeping together without really 'sleeping' together.

And today? Today had been brutal. Three fights with Prosecutor Gavin and nearly a spat with the fellow detectives until she was crying in the evidence room from sheer frustration level brutal. She knew Nahyuta was doing his best, but there were so many ways she could offend this culture, and half of them weren't even intentional. She was still learning the (intensely complex) language, and English wasn't that common. No surprise; Queen Ga'ran had done everything to control the populace. And she'd done it under the guise of 'nationalism.'

And Queen Ga'ran's indoctrination and propaganda had been so hard-wired into the people that it was so difficult to get them to change. Even as they reviled her name like a slur, they still kept on with some of her more subtle teachings.

Fifteen minutes to twelve and Ema got a text. Technically, she wasn't allowed to snack and bring her phone in on lab situations. But she'd set a special alert just for him.

Ema peeled off her gloves, and washed her hands down in sanitizer before she got anywhere near her phone. Though there was this insistent rush to find that message. Every text from him was as delicious a feeling as the first chocolatey taste of a Snackoo in her mouth.

She was done processing the evidence anyways. Anything more would just be her playing with all the toys Nahyuta invested in, and testing any DNA she could find just to get the rush of science!

Ema, please meet me within my office. I have something for you.

Just give me a few minutes. I'll be right there.

Ema brushed back her hair out of her face and managed a smile past the fatigue. At least her face wasn't all tear-splotched anymore. The day was almost done and at least it could get better. These past cold cases had been pushing them to their very limit, and dates kept being pushed back further and further. They hadn't even had time to watch Forensic Files together. Not like she had a backlog; the show had ended years ago and she'd watched them all before, but they were her comfort viewing. She enjoyed sharing something so important-- something that had, in fact, helped lead her towards forensic science as opposed to being a lab worker in some clinical trial somewhere.

Also, it was really hard to stream anything from Netflix on Khura'in's spotty, inconsistent internet, which was a shame because she seriously wanted to binge Making A Murderer with Nahyuta.

She locked up the lab for the night and headed out towards his office. She let out a gasp as she came into the scene. His desk had been moved back slightly to allow for a temporary table to be moved in. At the empty seat, a plate of noodles with thick red-orange sauce (Curry?) was laid out.

"You work very hard. And we haven't had time so I thought now we should make some."

Ema remained quiet. He tilted his head. His gaze turned concerned. "Did I make a mistake with your culture? If I have made a faux pas, I sincerely apologize."

"No, it's just--I had a bad day."

"It will not be long until midnight. I will endeavor to make tomorrow much better for you. Ema… thank you for all your hard work. I know this is a burden, but thank you for helping me shoulder it. I know I could not do this without you, and I am deeply grateful for your presence in my life."

She let out a sigh and shook her head. How could he do it? How could he just make everything better with just a few words?

"Is something the matter?"

She meant to say exactly this. But somehow, what came out was entirely different than she meant.

"It's not just that everything's difficult-- it is --the truth is, I really, really, really like you, okay! And sometimes it's kind of scary how much I do."

As she said the words, she realized it really had been an issue. One that she really hadn't been dealing with due to all the work-related stress. Who on earth felt a worry coming over her new, great relationship with worries that she might get her heart broken? An idiot like her, who'd been through the worst in life, that's who.

"We already exchanged these words," Nahyuta said slowly. "Or is there some level of 'like' and 'love' I did not find within my studies?"

"It's just-- I keep falling and falling for you. And I should be basking in this new relationship goodness, but a part of me keeps thinking that if I like you too much, if I like you more than me, and it'll break and I'll go back to that bad place I was in years ago. And I really don't want to break up with you."

She ducked her head, unable to meet his intense green-eyed gaze. "I don't want to even think about things like 'we might break up' because it hurts. I like you that much. I don't want to think about how complicated a relationship like ours is, and sometimes I do. And then I get moody and thinking that wouldn't you just want someone easier? Somebody who knows the Khura'inese word for 'soup' because it's their first language, and doesn't accidentally order soap at a restaurant?"

"Ema, dear. We both laughed at that."

She twisted the noodles with her fork and shoved it in her mouth in one bite. The sweet and spicy taste slightly calmed her.

"It's just scary sometimes. And everything is so much harder than it should be. Not being with you, that's wonderful, but sometimes it feels too wonderful. Like the bottom is going to fall out anytime soon. Because I think back and realized it's all you. That my life would be cold and dark without you, that you're taking up this space of boss and boyfriend and really--you've become my closest friend. You're the one I call in an emergency, the one I tell all my show happenings to and you listen even if you don't know. The one I always go to weddings with, my favorite date and favorite number in my phone. And to lose all that--I can't even fathom that kind of sadness. And I'm being stupid again because I was really happy to hear from you and come in here and suddenly I'm feeling sad for something that hasn't come and hopefully never will come. I guess this awful day dredged up some worries I haven't even been facing lately."

He held out his hand. She reached out. He kissed the back of her hand. It was such a grand, courtly gesture.

"Ema, my love, I cannot promise you that death will not come. I've seen far too many loved ones claimed to the Twilight Realm. But I will promise that I will spend every day with you I can manage. And that being with you will cause me such happiness, every single moment, even the difficult ones. And I can only hope that I can make you even half as happy as you make me."

"Honestly, I'm just up too late and full of bad thoughts and ruining this lovely date you made for me. I should go sleep it off, before I make a mistake and get fired for it."

"Ema… you don't value yourself, do you?"

Somehow, he'd seen through it all.

She stared down at the setting he'd made such care to make for her.

"I was the golden child. I was in the 96 percentile, I had a three-point-nine GPA. And none of that meant anything when I hit college. I failed and failed and failed. And even though I made it, sometimes I run into people who passed on their first time and it stings. I was supposed to be good at science. That was my thing, you know? But Organic Chemistry and the math was so difficult, it was so soul-crushing at times. I can't really say I'm a smart person after taking dozens of times to get past it. So many people pass on their first try and… I didn't."

She shook her head.

"And sometimes... I feel like I could lose it all. Because sometimes everything just goes bad. You come home from school and find out your sister is being hauled away by the police. My luck is awful. I can't just… trust that it's going to change and this happiness is going to stay, you know?"

"Come here," he said softly.

"Look, I'm a mess. And I'm tired so maybe I'm not making any sense. I spilled this sauce down my shirt. I'll get it on you."

"Then I will wash it. It is no matter. Come here."

Ema rose up from her seat and came to him. She curled up on his lap.

His fingers gently stroked through her hair. "It would be most improper and imprudent to say to a new coworker, one who even answers to you something like 'your smile made me believe there could be hope in the world again' or 'I never thought I could feel this kind of warmth towards anyways. when I am around you I do not think of the inevitably of my fate. I had almost lost sight that there could be beauty in the world when I met you. I had given up, resigned myself."

She glanced up. "What? You mean from the very start?"

"This is what I have been telling you all along. You seem to brush it off, and not realize just how important you were to me, from the very beginning. My appreciation of you as a professional and you as a woman is intertwined. If I were to be honest, from the very first moment I met you."

"You're saying you literally fell in love with me at first sight? This is some Disney level shit," Ema said.

"Everything about you challenged what I had accepted. That this life would always be cruel to me, that I was locked in fate-- karma --and would pay for my sins, and that my life was nothing but a sacrifice for the law. Really, from the first instant we met, things began to change for me."

"I can't believe I'm saying some kind of romantic tripe like love at first sight is real, but I was totally into you from the first time I laid eyes on you. So maybe I wasn't in love, but I would've gone out if you asked me. Like, without even a single thought I would've said yes. I guess, you could say I felt a real connection. Pheromones, I guess. That's the scientific version. We just had such chemistry! And it's not just that. We've got work chemistry, relationship chemistry and friend chemistry."

Which only left sexual chemistry. Between work and Nahyuta's long and drawn out courtship, they hadn't done much than some kissing and dates which hadn't gone that far.

He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. "Never doubt my feelings for you. Because there are two sure things within this world: the law and my feelings for you. And please do not speak poorly of yourself. Simply because you faced hardships does not make you ignorant. You have such a bright, lively mind. And I admire your determination. You inspired me then, and you inspire me now."

His lips tasted faintly sweet, and a bit spicy. When he kissed her, it was sensual in a way that it hadn't been before. The table dug into her back. She ground her hips against him, and let out a soft moan. It was only the sound of the glasses clinking sharply together that made her draw back. Really, this was not the best place to be making out.

Of course, she'd snarfed down her food. Still, having to stop making out to clean up broken dishes would be a real mood breaker.

"We could take off a few minutes from work?" Ema said.

"Certainly more than a few," he said.

He kissed her again.

*

Ema stirred as she felt a soft bush against her skin. "Ema, my dear. It's time to wake up. I cannot delay anymore."

He sat on the bed, fully dressed in his gilded frock coat. Ema sleepily reached out for him. She caught his long braid in her fingers and twirled it about her fingers.

"I slept in?"

"I rearranged the witnesses so you could sleep a little more, and called a small recess for lunch. However, the cross examination will be soon. You were up quite late, and then...we were up late."

She stretched out and let out a long yawn.

"How do you go on so little sleep? If I pulled all nighters like you did, I'd become a serial killer."

"Then I must ensure that you get extra sleep. It would be most irksome to have to stop our date because I had to prosecute you."

The blanket fell forward. She reached up to embrace him, and stole a kiss at his jaw. As she moved to kiss his mouth, she pulled back.

"Oops. Morning breath," she said.

He gave her a close-mouthed kiss, anyways.

"Just give me a few, okay? I really need to wash up before I get out there. I smell like you… in more than one way. I'm sure my hair's a mess, too."

"I brought you breakfast… and some new clothes."

The last thing Ema needed to do was show up in court wearing yesterday's clothes, all wrinkled and stained with food and smelling of the same strong incense he burned every day as part of his monk duties.

(A very specific scent, which any Khura'inese person would know in an instant. Which would be embarrassing, but not exactly a surprise as pretty much every person in Khura'in was convinced they'd been sleeping together months before they even went on a single date.)

"Oh, thanks! And, um, I'm sorry I ruined our date last night."

"Ruined? Ema, you spoke your mind. Your forthrightness is one reason I love you. You've gone through a lot. Traveling, helping the regime change of Khura'in, moving to an entirely different country, learning our language and our ways. It is not a deep wonder that you would have misgivings, and fears."

"It's just-- I like you so much! So there's so much to lose if we-- you know."

"I cannot promise a happy future. But I can promise that I do everything within my power to keep your love. I cannot fathom a world where I do not love you. It seems unreal, an impossibility. You have changed my life so much."

"Hey... Nahyuta… I love you. Listen, I'm going to be saying this a lot, okay? I don't want the last words I ever say to you to be mean. The last thing I said before the police came for Lana was how awful she was for eating my cookies and milk-- my after school snack. I felt so bad after that. I got lucky that she was acquitted, though she still did some jail time. Still, I have a sharp tongue and it's a problem sometimes." Ema glanced down. "And I don't ever want to feel that way with you. You understand, right?"

He returned to her side and bent down to kiss her forehead.

"The last words I told my father was that he was foul and putrid criminal and would be judged for his sins for eight hundred thousand years. I had to say it. The guards were watching. If I faltered then in my role, the case would be taken from me. I would lose even more control. I would be forced to watch Queen Ga'ran execute him. At least with this, I thought I could offer him something. Save him somehow."

She reached out to hold him closer. The kind of tragedy Nahyuta had experienced was so overwhelming that she couldn't use words to describe it.

"I love you, Ema. I'll say it a thousand times a day or more, every time I so much as leave the room if this is what you wish. Even if we fight, we must never part on truly bad terms."

Ema smiled. "I knew you'd understand."

"Now, I must reluctantly take my leave. Know that I want nothing more than to be here with you. But at least there is the comfort that you will be there soon." His fingers brushed through her hair. "Though keeping my mind upon the case will require quite a bit of self-control."

"Think of it as good training," Ema teased. She stretched, and the blanket fell down to her "Training on hard mode, emphasis on the hard."

She leaned up to steal one last close-mouthed kiss. "Let me get in a shower and grab some food. It'll take fifteen minutes, tops," Ema said.

With one last wink, she pulled back the covers, grabbed her clothes, and headed in for a shower.

*

Nahyuta had upgraded the castle (from indoor plumbing to an attempt at heating, though the cold still seemed to find its way through the cracks) and begun the lengthy process of importing things from L.A. here. Ema closed her eyes under the warm water, and remembered.

Last night had proven they had every single level of chemistry there was. Every day she fell a little more. There was a sudden spike of danger, until she understood why the word falling in love was used. Every day of her life felt like a trust fall.

But with him, the danger seemed worth it. She'd cross the damn Pacific Ocean, move up her entire life just to stay with him. And even if it got difficult, she'd manage it.

"Variety is the spice of life, eh?" she told herself. She chuckled. Emphasis on the spice.

It was only then she noticed that she'd had curry in her hair and he'd slept with her anyways. He'd even said she was beautiful… during dinner and later. All the while she had a whole streak of food in her hair. Talk about a keeper.

Six months later.
Ema hadn't been out on an official date in longer than she could remember. They got food between processed evidence and files, stole kisses in the storeroom and his prayer chambers, and made use of every fifteen minute recess. Because of this, every single day felt a bit like a date.

Then again, considering how their first date had gone, this could be sort of an improvement. Nahyuta no longer relied on anyone else's misguided guidance, thankfully.

But here they were, in an actual restaurant all the way in Zheng Fa. She'd tagged along at his diplomatic mission, and between it all, there was finally some time for themselves. They'd certainly made good use of his deluxe diplomatic hotel room last night. Ema was torn between seeing the sights and going straight back to that gorgeous huge tub--this time, she didn't intend to be alone.

Nahyuta was lost in thought, his face entirely hidden behind the menu. On one hand, it was a shame she couldn't see him and appreciate how well he filled out that suit, and the way his silvery braid hung down his back. On the other, it meant she'd actually get to eat before she headed back to his hotel room.

Ema had dressed for the occasion, pulling out a low-cut black cocktail dress with a rather loose skirt--good for easy access if they didn't make it to the bed again.

The place was entirely more fancy than she was accustomed to. She could bet that none of the patrons here had fingerprint dust on their lab coats. Hell, they probably didn't even have lab coats.

According to her data, it was near to that sweet spot where all the engagements popped up. She was still caught between incredulity that there was almost enough to write a paper on how catching bouquets really did have a connection to a spree of weddings.

But the data hadn't lied. Almost followed this path, and the biggest connection was how they'd caught the bouquet. Maybe it was a placebo effect, where the superstition made them seek out a mate more strongly on a subconscious level.

Or maybe, like the spirit channeling, it was an undeniable fact yet to be explained by science.

The restaurant was bustling and extremely modern. It had sleek white metal decor, and boasted the best views of the city. And it certainly lived up to that. The view from the large windows was breathtaking and stunning. She could see passing cars by them, and the streetlights cutting through the dark.

A black-clad waiter came near and left a tall flute of champagne before her. She hadn't even ordered yet, but she wasn't about to turn down free alcohol. Ema gasped, a hand clutched to her cheek as she saw through the amber bubbling liquid something inside. A ring. She'd never expect such a typical-- even classic --move from him. But it made sense in the end. It was just like a scene from a movie.

"Nahyuta...! You-- this is very sudden! Of course I'll marry you!"

He calmly lowered the menu and glanced down.

"Considering that we haven't even made an order yet, I believe that belongs to the man over there," he said.

She looked back to see a man three seats behind them, with a desperate look as she touched the glass of champagne. A waiter hurriedly took the glass over, with several muttered apologies.

Ema hid her red cheeks behind the menu.

"Well, I sure made a fool of myself. Just pretend the last few minutes never happened, okay? We'll just go back to figuring out what to eat," Ema said.

And then what? Like she could just go back to being normal after she'd humiliated herself like that. Well, she'd handled far more embarrassing points, but still.

"I would marry you in a second," he said softly.

Ema peeked out from behind the shield of her menu. "Really?"

"I would never joke about such a thing," he said.

"Well, we've certainly been to enough other weddings. It's our turn already."

"Hmmm... I don't see the engagement special on the menu," Nahyuta said.

Ema rolled her eyes. "Nahyuta."

He reached out to cover her hand with his. "Even though I personally spend most of my day wishing to ask you to spend the rest of you life with me, I thought you would want to court for longer. You Americans court for very long periods of time. Some for five years or more. By comparison, us Khura'inese court for only a shorter period. A year, at most. Less if they are more passionate."

"Actually, not all of us do that. Sometimes it's only a year, or a couple years. And if you count all that time you spent not confessing to me because of weddings, it's way longer. Maybe more if we count the time working together. Heh… maybe that'd be stretching it too far."

"No, you're correct. I loved you, even then. Even then, the time spent with you made it abundantly clear that I wanted to spend every second of the rest of my life by your side. As both your partner and deepest love. As soon as we're done here, then there is something I've been meaning to give you. " He smiled, and opened up the menu again. "Now, which entree were you thinking? If you have any questions, I promise I can provide a more accurate translation than that app of yours."

"This curry would be sweet, right? I think I read that character as 'Mango' right?" Ema said.

"Yes, it's Khura'inese style. Be sure to ask for it su'ee't. Supaise obscures the flavor of the fruit, and may make you breathe flames like a dragon that lies within the pit within the thousand hells of Bahlgilpo'kon."

"You should write Yelp reviews," Ema said.

"There's more culture shared between Zheng Fa than I'd thought. I mean, Khura'in is so withdrawn. You go there and the world feels so far away."

He nodded. "The countries have a long and complicated past. One that has unfortunately been exacerbated by Queen Ga'ran. There have been battles of borders, issues of leadership, and yet we have much shared history. In the past, there were even queens who took consorts of Zheng Fa lineage. Many of us share blood, and yet the cultures are so divided, even divisive. I wish to mend these bonds and forge ahead for a modern Khura'in that does not forget our past."

"If anyone can manage it, it's you," she said.

He took her hand and squeezed it, gently. Really, every minute she'd ever spent with him was just an escalation of knowing he was right for her. As much as she scientifically had to question the concept of 'the one' she knew he was the one and had for so damn long.

*

Ema slung her bag over her shoulder as she disembarked.

"You said it would be sweet," Ema said.

"I didn't realize you were so sensitive to spicy cuisine," he said.

At least it'd been better when he'd ordered some coconut milk to go with it.

Ema puffed out her cheeks. "That wasn't spicy, that was like licking the corners of hell. If there was any sugar, my tastebuds were burnt off and I couldn't taste it."

He smiled. "It seems I am rubbing off on you."

"Hap'piraki, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi!" Ahlbi suddenly froze as he realized his mistake. His little dog, Sha'do, jumped out of his bag, and he tried to capture the squirming bag.

"Oh-- I'm supposed to call you Prince Regent Prosecutor Sahdmadhi now! I'm so sorry!"

"That's one hell of a mouthful. And he didn't even get your title of Abbott," Ema said.

"Do not worry yourself. Like the seasons, this title is temporary. Soon it will pass to Princess Rayfa. However, you should not forget any titles with her. For she has a bit of a temper."

Which was putting it mildly. Rayfa had matured, but her mercurial temper still remained strong as ever. But at least she wasn't as prone to executions as her aunt.

As they walked towards the palace, many of the people openly stared at them. Some with devotion towards their regent, other with unabashed interest. Ema had started to get used to this. Everyone else wanted a piece of him.

In sight of the grand temple, he held out his hand.

"Did you learn to teleport? You said you would get it here… or did you have it all along, and you just wanted to propose here?"

"Mother gave this to me when we started dating. She then told me that I wasn't a fool for acting on my feelings sooner. I thought it was left at the castle, but apparently she went to the trouble to plunder it from the safe to put it in my things and 'gently remind me.'"

Ema chuckled. "She's been pretty open about her feelings on that."

He smiled. "That she has."

At least she wouldn't have an evil mother-in-laws that hated her.

The ring fit perfectly without any resizing. The silver band had a pattern of small flat stones that made a lotus. She held it up to the light. She'd never been one for big, flashy rings with big diamonds. The last thing she wanted was something to get caught up in her gloves, and rip them when she was trying to work. And she certainly didn't want to worry about losing or having her ring stolen every time she had to take it off.

If it still got in the way, she could always wear it around her neck.

The middle seemed to be a diamond, but the sides had a faint iridescent glow. Moonstone, maybe? It almost looked like mother of pearl inlay, but it was a pretty landlocked country for shell jewelry. Maybe it was imported in and then smelted down. Or maybe the Khura'inese had their own type of stone, which Nahyuta would surely teach her all about.

"In my culture, we do not get on one knee, for neither husband or wife should be above or below each other."

"Well, we can spend time on our knees, and sometimes one of us is going to be above each other-- but we should probably keep it to the bedroom. Or at least your office when the door is locked," Ema said.

He chuckled. "You're always so brazen, so utterly audacious, and with such biting wit."

"Most people think that's a flaw," Ema said.

"Then most people are wrong," Nahyuta said.

He brought her palm to his lips and kissed it. "Ema, you taught me how to live again. You brought the light back into my life, and the thought of losing you would be endless winter. If fate allows, and I am lucky enough to wake beside you every day, I will truly have a happy life at last."

"I love you too, you nerd," Ema said.

*

Three months later.

Ema started to get a hang of why the term bridezilla was coined and why brides always seemed so stressed.

Figuring out things like cake choices, booking venues, physically fighting someone for a preferred day in mortal combat-- winner take all, getting the dress of her dreams and not spending 20k through it was way harder than Ema had ever suspected.

No wonder Prosecutor von Karma spent her wedding whipping everyone in sight. If Prosecutor Gavin one more time remarked that they'd be relatives now, she was going to start a mimicking Prosecutor von Karma in a way that would put the fear of God in anyone who crossed her path.

Because Ema's stresses were doubled. It wasn't just choosing a venue, it was choosing a continent. Every single choice had to be split down not just what kind of cake icing to get, but what culture would win out.

And frankly, as much as she loved him, Nahyuta's habit of shutting down whenever there was even the slightest conflict and hiding his feelings was not helping.

She caught him in his office, with a book in hand. Ema locked the door behind her as she came in.

"What ails you, Ema, my love?"

"I'll never insult anyone about wedding planning again. This is rough! Especially on top of all that work..."

"I did not realize that planning a wedding would be such an exhausting affair."

"Tell me about it! Neither did I! I never knew why those brides were so strung out. Now I sure know."

"What are you reading?"

"An archive of the marriage traditions of yore."

She peered over his shoulder-- which was only possible because he was sitting. He had quite a bit of height on her, and Ema loved it. While the script was beautiful, but Ema couldn't see a single word she recognized. She'd been working so hard, and it felt like a punch to the gut.

"I can't even make it out," she said and let out a sigh.

He glanced up from his scroll, but sad nothing.

Ema puffed out her cheeks. "Look, I'm trying as hard as I can, but this language is difficult, okay! I'm trying so hard and I have to do double the work for things which would be simple back in America!"

He carefully closed the scroll.

"I would not worry. This is a very difficult form of Khura'inese to understand. And, indeed, there was a study that deemed Khura'inese the most difficult language to learn within the world. The language is largely unchanged-- though these date back to a particularly difficult form of the language prior to the 1500s. This particular one is from the 1200s and earlier. You can definitely see the Zheng Fa influence in the period."

Just her luck. Of all the languages to learn, she had to go and find the hardest.

"I would like to make an easier version of the language for foreign visitors and workers. I was inspired by the Japanese language. They took inspiration from Zheng Fa language, and eventually two other alphabets were formed, katakana-- which is usually used for foreign words --and hiragana. At times, there were furigana which made the kanji much easier to read. If I could make something similar, perhaps reading these scrolls would not be such a trial for you."

"You'd create a whole language just for me?"

He smiled. "Of course. Though it would be useful for Khura'in as a modern country."

"Oh, of course."

"But… mainly for you."

A rush of warmth filled her. God, he'd even change the language for her. No one had ever been as giving, as kind, and utterly incredible a boyfriend as him. She never had a moment of wondering if she should break up even in her most jittery, verging on bridezilla moments, because Ema knew damn well this was the person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

"Move the scroll would you? I don't want to squash it."

She sat in his lap and rested her back against his chest. He wrapped his arms tight about her in a way which instantly made her feel so intimately loved and protected. His chin rested on the top of her head.

Ema let out a long breath. "I guess that's not just it. I know we can get through this. But you've got to actually talk to me. You keep being evasive and shutting down. And I know, I know, she did that to you and I'm going to hate her forever for being such a piece of human garbage that terrorized the entire country and tortured her family for God knows what reason. But I'm not going to suddenly break up with you because you want buttercream frosting. So just-- don't pull away, okay? I'll wait out the fear until it passes and we can keep talking."

His grip tightened on her slightly. "The truth is, from what I learned from your culture, the wedding day is 'your day.' I was simply allowing you to make the choices, and conceding to your wishes."

"You're my husband; I want to hear what you want. I don't want to look back and one of us being passive aggressive about how the day would've been perfect except some tradition got forgotten and that put a damper on it all."

"I want you to be happy."

"And I'll be happy if you're happy as well with the results. Look, I've been studying up and don't want to just ignore your culture in this wedding, but blending it makes me wonder if it's like-- putting pizza and ice cream in a blender. Both are good separate, but put them together and it's just a yucky incoherent mess. I'm not trying to insult Khura'inese culture when I say that. I'm just not sure how to blend this or how much to add. Because some things that make complete sense to you seem incomprehensible to me, even when I've been here a while."

"You learned some of our customs while I was busy ruling the country?"

"I've been asking Beh'leeb and Ahlbi and yes, even Queen Amara. Though I can never tell if hers are teasing me or not." Ema puffed out her cheeks at that.

"Likely. She does love to jest."

"I tried the archives, but I would've needed your help to translate and I wanted it to be a surprise that I could understand so many customs."

"It always touches me when you strive to learn more about my country. I know that my country is deeply ritualistic in ways which are foreign to you."

"I mean, you'd do the same for me," Ema said.

Except, usually when Nahyuta tried to learn her culture, it ended up in some utterly hilarious straight faced reciting of a meme. And she would have to explain that YOLO was not, in fact, a sacred art of seeking enlightenment via taking intense risks, and in fact just people being idiots.

"Okay, it'd feel weird to wear a Khura'inese wedding dress. I know I have dual citizenship now and have for a while, but it still doesn't feel like it's mine. I'd rather just go with the traditional white ones. I mean, it feels different than being lent a dress from your mother for a ball or something."

"If you feel that way, then I respect it. Though I'd love to at least see you in one, even if you do not walk down the aisle in it."

She looked up at him. "Something tells me I won't be wearing that wedding dress for long."

He chuckled. "You are astute as always."

"What about keeping the traditional coat that covers the bridal gown? I do not want to get a chill."

"The one of brocade? I saw those, they're actually really pretty."

"Anyways, the garter toss is icky and I don't want it. I don't really have enough people to ask to be my bridesmaids… maybe I'll settle for just one or two. Nobody invited me to be their bridesmaid, anyways. So it'd be awkward inviting them to be mine."

"Ema, love, I would be happy as happy with a small ceremony before a judge as with a large one. As long as my family is here, and you are before me, I would be happy."

He continued in a lower tone, "At least, what of my family is left."

"We're in Khura'in where people are always talking about how the dead just comes to visit. This isn't the end."

"...I can hardly believe my little scientist, always a skeptic, is saying such a thing."

"Well, what do you expect! I'm marrying a monk whose part of a royal family with spirit channelers. And though I've tried, I can't disprove it. Even though some stubborn part of me feels like it's unscientific, I'll have to slot it among those things like when scientists discover that a species that isn't endangered actually is."

He kissed her head. "Thank you."

They were so different, and yet they somehow meshed so well. (In more than one way!) Somehow, she needed just the wedding to reflect that.

"So, what about… both?" Ema said.

"Both?"

"We'll just combine the cultures where we can. I'll find a way to make it work. Is there anything you really want?"

"Actually… there is one thing that has been weighing upon my mind."

"I knew it," Ema said.

"A procession of monks is a tradition, especially among those of my order. To refuse this tradition would be a snub, a slight against those I have nothing but fondness and respect for, and could be considered a stain upon my rule. However, I did not believe that this would be a desirable aspect to your wedding and have been trying to find a way to bring up this conversation."

"Well, it's our wedding. And the last thing I want is you getting ostracized because you thought I wouldn't like orange at my wedding. Besides, I like monks enough to marry one."

He chuckled. "Something I'm ever grateful for."

"Ema, this seems a burden upon you. Would it help if I offered some assistance on the traditions? You can teach me more about your traditions as we go. And...if it is too stressful, we could postpone it. It is not as if we must rush to the altar because you are with child."

"The thing is, I want to be married to you. Not just because I'm going to literally regret it for the rest of my life if I let you go, but because I like you and want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"I feel much the same. I am not a jealous man by nature, but at the same time I wish for nothing more than for every person to see the ring upon your finger and know you are mine."

"Maybe a little more. It'd suck to have a wedding in the middle of winter, and the spring is so temperamental. A summer wedding, then," she said.

He kissed the top of her head.

"You aren't making any input," she said.

"I was distracted by the thought of you with flowers in your hair… and the honeymoon."

"That's a good idea, actually. We could get in our practice for the honeymoon. Do some nice rehearsing right here in your office."

He chuckled. "Ema, my love, you have the most brazen and wonderful ideas."

Good thing she'd locked the door behind her when she'd come in.

Six months later.

This time, everyone else got to enjoy the wonders of being airsick, jetlagged, layovers, and dealing with expensive airplane food. They'd finally found a way to mix their cultures with this wedding. With her traditional white wedding gown and a buffet of both Khura'inese and some of her favorite American treats, too.

Ema slipped into the brocade coat. It had a lining of soft yak fur, which was a whole lot better than it sounded. She might remove it just to show how cute her sleeveless dress was, but even in a summer wedding, the morning was still a bit chilly.

White flowers were woven into a braid, which surrounded her like a crown. She'd chosen a mid-length veil. Any longer and Sha'do would surely try and play tug of war with it. It had flecks of gold, because in the end, she kind of wanted to match.

Ema really did look like a princess now, with the magnificent dress that billowed out in shades of white and gold.

Also? She totally won. Their wedding dresses or wedding suits may have been nice enough, but hers was unforgettable.

Her sister's expression was closed off as she stood at the door. She wore the kind of dress someone would wear to a funeral. Or a staff meeting back at her precinct.

"Are you ready?" Lana said.

Ema grinned. "Honestly? I can't wait."

"I can't say I understand this. It was all so sudden," Lana said.

"Sudden? It's been ages since I moved, sis, and we've been dating a long time. It's not like we headed straight to Vegas and got drunk married," Ema said.

"It was an mountainous Asian country, for heaven's sake." She shook her head. "Even if you had chemistry, it seemed so many hurdles for you two. And yet you both made it this far. In truth, I didn't think you'd last."

"Jeez, thanks for the vote of confidence, sis. Yeah, it wasn't easy. But he was here, and learning the culture was really interesting. I'm going to be doing a lot of that once we finally get our honeymoon and start traveling and solving cases again. We'll be jetsetting all across the world, and even end up in L.A. Again sometimes."

Lana twisted her red scarf between her fingers. "You grew up so fast. And I missed so much of you because of the time in prison, and in the prosecutor's office," Lana shook her head. "So everything feels so fast to me."

Ema took a few steps closer. "Lana, you did the best you could."

Lana sighed. "You'll be a princess now, I suppose. Just like that nickname Dad used to give you. I certainly didn't foresee this happening a few years ago. I guess I'll have to start calling you 'your highness.'"

Ema laughed. "Who would? If somebody told me the love of my life would be a monk prosecutor who also happens to be the long lost royalty of a country in Asia that also features some kind of ouija board antics on steroids, I'd tell them they had waaay too much time on their hands. But here I am. Anyways, it's more in name only. I think I actually only count as regent consort. Considering that I can't do the spirit-channeling thing, I have no claim to the throne, nor would I want it."

Ema puffed out her cheeks. "Listen, it's not like I'm being sent away to Mars. We'll still talk and I'll still visit you. It's a wedding, not a funeral, so cheer up already."

"You're right. I'd never want to ruin your big day. Of course you seem happy with him." Lana came closer, and pulled her sister into a soft embrace. "It's just that I worry about you. I always do, and I always will. Nothing's going to change that."

Lana had been forced to take the role of big sister and both parents when she wasn't even that old and still grieving their mother and father's death. So, Ema gave her plenty of leeway with all her wariness, and worries.

"It's all going to be great from here on. You'll see," Ema said.

"I hope so," Lana said.

*

She caught sight of Larry and Maya on the way to the wedding. Really, Larry wasn't the first guy she wanted seeing her in a dress this great. Not that he had eyes for anyone but Maya these days. He had his daughter balanced on his hip, and one arm around his wife, who already was very, very pregnant. Ema wouldn't be surprised if she had twins. Though she hoped not. The law hadn't had good experiences with twins in the past.

Larry had his daughter balanced on his hip. "Who's the cutest girl in the entire world!"

Maya's daughter let out a little happy cry.

"That's my cutie cutie!" Larry let out another set of coos, which made his little girl make more of happy gurgles.

The kid had his eyes, and a big bright smile which could've come from either of them. For the sake of everyone in the universe, Ema fervently hoped that all the kids took on after Maya's side of the family in terms of well, everything.

Maya tapped her stomach. "I'm going to need a snack break soon."

"Another one?" Ema said incredulously. "Y-you just had one… and I'm not talking about snack breaks. I'd never snackshame someone. I take those all the time."

Maya chuckled. "There's some things he's really forgetful about."

As the meaning sunk in, Ema felt sheer horror and revulsion fill her. Which was horrifying in so many ways, considering his past history. Whatever, you didn't marry him. His dick will never get anyyyywhere near you. was the only mantra which let her sleep at night.

Plus, Ema was pretty sure the way Larry looked at her, it wasn't just that glow of love and the guy had some kind of fetish for pregnant women. Then again, given that it was Larry, anything was possible.

Whatever, you're not marrying him! she reminded herself again. You're marrying Nahyuta today and it's going to be amazing and you're going to be amazingly happy and fuck like bunnies on the daily. Just you wait.

"We're gonna name this one Misty," Maya said. "Oh, and I've got a wedding present for you," Maya said. She smiled mischievously. "An early one."

"You asked for me, Ms. Maya?" Nahyuta said.

"Oh, there you are. Just in time," Maya said.

Rayfa wore her ceremonial robes, and Nahyuta wore a suit that made her want to peel it right off him. Ema had to keep reminding herself that the wedding night wasn't just a snack she could sneak in another room before the ceremony.

Tempting, though.

On one hand, superstitions were stupid and largely unscientific. Ema didn't need protection from evil spirits or the evil eye- Dahlia Hawthrone notwithstanding.

On the other hand, considering what had happened their first date, the last thing she needed was something ruining their freaking wedding

Nahyuta's mouth formed a little o, as he was left speechless at the sight of her. Finally, he smiled, filled with such tenderness and yes-- even awe. And Ema shut her mouth, because bad luck was stupid and unscientific and the look on his face was worth it.

Maya glowed, a deep, bright white, and in moments, Dhurke Sahdmadhi stood beaming down. He towered over Ema, and even Nahyuta himself. Rayfa barely came up to his chest.

"Looks like I came just in time for the party." He burst out laughing. "Oh, there's my daughter. You've gotten so much bigger than I saw you last."

"Hello...." Rayfa's face turned red. "F-f-ath....you!"

"It's good to see you again, kiddo. I didn't get to spend much time with you when I was alive-- sorry about that, but once your spirit channeling kicks in, we can have all kinds of adventures together," Dhurke said.

Her cheeks burned. "Y-you...Nincompoop!"

She whirled around and rushed off down the hall.

Dhurke scratched his chin. "I guess it wouldn't be much of father-daughter time. Guess I'll have to get Amara to do it. Anyways, look at you, little Yuty is getting married."

Nahyuta was unable to speak. Dhurke had been channeled several times, but Nahyuta had never stayed. He really could be the king of avoiding uncomfortable experiences.

"Father..."

"Get over here already!"

Dhurke tried to pull him into a hug, but found it difficult to actually reach him. Not only had Maya's hair remained, but her large baby bump.

Dhurke laughed. "It's like I've got a beer belly. I guess I got to experience old age after all."

"So that's your bride, huh? I always figured you'd marry that girl from the way from the way you looked at her. One look and I figured I'd be here for your wedding day. I thought I'd be alive. Call me a fool, but I really thought I'd get through it." Dhurke laughed.

"I have a name," Ema muttered.

Dhurke laughed again. "And what a spirited one she is, too."

"Father… that is no joking matter. We miss you so..."

"You've had way too much on your shoulders for far too long, and you've taken even more rebuilding this place. Just know, I never hated you for even a second. I knew what you had to do. Even if I had to lie a little to Apollo to protect Rayfa, just like you did."

"Yes..."

"And I'll always be here. Just ask your mother to call me back. Even if it's just a visit."

"I have one concern... wouldn't you worry about the baby? Ahem, Maya's baby, that is," Nahyuta said.

"It doesn't seem to bother her at all. Maybe because she gained the spirit-channeling as well," Dhurke said.

"Well, as long as no one is harmed," Nahyuta said.

A song rose up. Different song than Here Comes The Bride, with the sound of monks chanting.

"Well, it's time. I'll go find Amara and get a seat over there. See you at the end, Nahyuta."

He took her hand and they walked down the aisle.

As they walked down that long aisle, bowed monks wrapped in bright orange robes rose as she passed. She caught sight of Phoenix, and the rest of the Wright Anything Agency. Athena gave her a peace sign. Ema smiled, and gave them a little nod.

The robed Magister stood just before the temple and the bower of flowers. His usually stern and wizened face turned into a smile at the sight of them. His colorful robes were covered with a furn outer cloak to keep out any chilly mountain air.

Even in the summer, it still could be remarkably cold in Khura'in.

"Today, two lives have come together. To share the burden of pain and the weight of joy--"

Before he could continue, a gunshot cut through the crowd. A gasp rose up, and everyone turned towards the sound.

A shriek cut through the room. "I'm innocent!"

Ema whirled around so fast that her veil whipped around her face. "Are you kidding me?"

She should've known better than to think she could make it through her wedding day without something going wrong. But she'd stupidly thought it'd be something simple like broken glass or a lost shoe.

Datz stumbled out from the temple. His shirt was covered in red. She hoped like hell that it was just some kind of fruit related problem. But as the armed guards caught him, that dispelled any chance the day could go on without any other interruption and it would be revealed as a big prank.

"Datz, you didn't. Not on Nahyuta's wedding day," Dhurke said.

"Sorry, boss," Datz said. "I'm totally innocent, though."

"Urgh. One day, one day without murder, that's all I asked!" Ema clutched tight to her bouquet of white flowers. "Dammit, Datz! Not on my wedding day! Now I'll have to cut it short just so I can go clean up that crime scene!"

An objection rang out.

Prosecutor Gavin pointed towards her. His many rings caught the light. He snapped his fingers, like there was a beat no one else could hear.

"Fräulein, there's no need to stop the party," Prosecutor Gavin said.

Apollo grinned, and pulled at his tie. "There's dozens of lawyers, prosecutors, and detectives here. We've got it covered."

Ema put her hand on her hip. "For the record, it's Princess Consort Ema Sahdmadhi-Skye to you. Not 'Fräulein detective.' Show some respect."

She looked back to the Magister officiating them. "I'm not gonna let Prosecutor Gavin steal the show on my wedding day. Besides, I packed my equipment, just in case."

Ema pulled her gloves and luminol that she'd stored in her bouquet.

Nahyuta calmly turned towards the Magister.

"Magister, please continue the ceremony. Ema is so utterly hardworking and brilliant, one of these prosecutors is bound to try and steal her with promises of a better salary and better equipment. And that is something I cannot abide by."

"Nahyuta..."

"I wish to remain by your side for all of this life, and pray we meet again in every other life."

"I do!" Ema burst out.

"Detective Skye, the vows," the Magister said.

"I forgot them, and the English ones kind of suck. Loving sure, but worshiping and obeying? Maybe only in the sexy way... though I'm down with the sickness and health, richer and poorer, until death does us part thing. And I really do," Ema said. "I mean, really. I've been waiting for this for a long time."

He gripped her hand in his.

"I take you as my wife, my equal, and the breath within me for as long as I live. And when death claims us, I hope to meet you within other lives."

"Ditto!"

The Khura'inese side of the crowd looked to each other in confusion.

"In her language, that means she agrees," Nahyuta said.

"Ah yes, this 'ditto' is good," said one of the monks behind her.

"It is like a mantra and good for meditation."

One closed his eyes and started a hum of diiiiitoooooo.

Ema couldn't help but let out a little giggle.

Ema knew how her nights would go. Watching Forensic Files, going over crime scenes together and one day, even traveling around the world to solve all kinds of cases together.

And that was only the G-rated version.

"It's officially forever. There's no getting rid of me now," Ema said.

"I can think of nothing that would make me happier," he said.

As they kissed, a shower of white petals rained down over them. Cheers rang up. And it was pretty damn perfect. (Well, except for the murder.)

Ema Skye-Sahdmadhi sure had a really nice ring to it.

"While we must postpone your reception for a short while, there is still enough time to throw your bouquet, is there not? Or do you wish to keep all the weddings to yourself?" Nahyuta said.

"Nah, it's time to share the wealth."

She'd already made sure to empty all her extras (including the back of Snackoos she'd shoved down there) before she tossed it. The last thing she needed was to bean somebody in the face with a jar of expensive fingerprint powder.

They adjourned to the reception area, and it was a bit bittersweet to see the beautiful cake and buffet left untouched for now.

Stupid people getting murdered on her wedding day.

Of those invited, almost all her friends had gotten hitched. Only Trucy, the girls she'd brought along, and some members of the Khura'inese staff were left. Armie Buff was at the edge of the crowd. Her drone flew across the temple with a loud whir, and brought back snacks for her and her new fathers.

"It'll be a few more years before you get to catch those," Phoenix said.

"I would rather catch hands with the enemy, private!"

"Just keep thinking that. For a little longer, at least," Phoenix said.

"If you keep adopting them, you'll be too busy to be sad for long about one of them growing up," Maya teased.

"Don't give him ideas," Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth said.

"All right, it's time. Get ready!"

Ema stepped out onto the dance floor (which she should've been having her first dance as a married pair by now) and took aim. She tossed the bouquet high into the air. Trucy leapt up and caught it, above the attempt of two bunny girl magicians.

"I'm going to be the starring performer at Trucy's wedding!" Betty burst out.

"Betty, we're a double act," Bonny said.

Betty slammed her shoulder against Bonny. "I'm the star at Trucy's wedding! It's about to be a solo act if you don't shut your mouth!"

Trucy laughed. "Girls, girls, there's room for everyone," Trucy said.

"Good luck, Phoenix!" Ema called out.

Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth patted Phoenix's shoulder. "They have to grow up sometime."

Phoenix let out a sigh. "She used to be so small."

Maya laughed. "Don't worry, Nick! I'm sure you'll adopt about twenty more orphans before the season is over. You're in for a really busy household!"

"Don't remind me. He keeps bringing dogs home. The most mangy creatures imaginable. He says he's 'fostering' them, but he can never bring himself to let anyone else take them home. The last one ate my favorite cravat."

"You say that like you didn't personally pay to have Chaco's coat groomed, and then bought her a bed," Phoenix said.

"The alternative was her sleeping with us. You already let her get in the bad habit of sleeping in the bedroom! Anymore and she'd get in the bed and interrupt our..." He cleared his throat. "Important sleeping schedule. If my sleeping schedule is disrupted, then the entire day will be off and I will suffer undue frustration throughout the day."

If she was hearing it right, Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth used spreadsheets and a day planner to schedule all his sex. Which was a level of order which was actually pretty impressive, now that she thought about it.

But Ema preferred the locked doors and the stolen kisses over the crime scene, as chaotic as they were.

"Aww, somebody's dealing with empty nest syndrome," Maya said.

"Considering the paperwork for adopting Armie Buff has finally gone through, I wouldn't worry about that," Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth said. "We've been fostering her for quite some time before that."

"And of course, the new members of the Wright Anything Agency. The latest trainee lawyer admitted he had nowhere to go for the holidays, and Wright nearly adopted him then and there!"

Phoenix gave a sheepish smile. After all, his husband knew him too well.

*

Ema headed back and changed out of her dress, and back into some capris, a blouse and a lab coat. She didn't even bother taking the flowers out of her hair, so white petals trailed as she went. The dress hadn't even been on for a couple of hours. At least it hadn't gotten stained with cake. Still, she'd been kind of hoping that she'd be helped out of this dress at the end of a great day filled with dancing, cake eating and you know, marrying.

At least she'd managed to get that last part finished, even if a murder interrupted it.

Ema wrinkled her nose as she tied the bow at her neck (inspired by Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth's peerless fashion sense.) One day for herself, that was all she asked. Okay, she also demanded a happy forever, and lots of great snacks at the wedding, but the world owed her, dammit.

She headed out to the crime scene, which had to be right next to her wedding, no less. Right where the guests came in, the guard lay in a pool of his own blood. One gunshot to the chest.

Not even the inherent awesomeness of science could put a damper on her mood.

"Maggey Byrd-Gumshoe-- I didn't see you there."

Though of course, Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth had brought him along. Apparently Maggey and Gumshoe were now a package deal, and she was often seen tripping on crime scenes she worked with Gumshoe. Maybe Gumshoe had actually gotten a raise, because Maggey's outfit was a little less dumpster prom and actually looked like it might've come off the clearance rack from Walmart.

"I'm really sorry about before!"

Ema tried to think back. When had she ever interacted with Maggey before the wedding? She'd already been fired twice over by the time Ema got into the force. Maggey tripped from job to job, leaving a wake of broken things where she went.

"About what?"

"I should've known that my bad luck would rub off onto my bouquet. You caught it and fell like that-- I felt awful!"

"Oh, no, no. I've got plenty of bad luck of my own. Or I did. It's all changing today!"

Never mind the crime scene right in her wedding.

"I'm sorry that I accidentally ruined your reception. I seriously should've bought more expensive shoes that didn't break immediately. Though it meant Nahyuta and I got together."

Maggey sighed. "My heels broke soon after. I nearly tripped into traffic! Thankfully, Dick caught me before I ever hit the pavement, or pushed somebody into the path of an incoming car."

"Maybe your bad luck is just needing to spend more money on better shoes," Ema said.

"You think? Maybe I'll give it a try. It sure would be nice to not have a trail of bodies and broken dreams everywhere I go..."

Ema laughed awkwardly. "Maybe there's a better way to phrase that."

"Oh, Dick is calling me. I'm glad you aren't angry at me, and thank you for allowing me to come to your wedding!" Maggey smiled brightly. "We'll have that case solved in no time."

Ema had nightmarish visions of Maggey accidentally tracking mud (or worse) into her crime scene. "Actually, you were a guard, right? Why don't you go guard the buffet table and make sure that nobody steals anything?"

Maggey gave her a salute. "I'll be right on it! Right after I go see my darling."

Maggey left off towards her husband, and Ema brushed her hair out of her face. Speaking of buffet tables, her stomach let out a growl.

"I wish I'd grabbed a piece of cake before I came out here. I ran out of Snackoos," Ema muttered to herself.

"Ema."

Nahyuta had remained in his suit. Then again, he wouldn't be knee deep in the crime scene taking samples, either. His hair was tied into a slightly more messy knot, after the stress of the day it was no wonder.

Ema's eyes widened, as he handed over a silvery bag of her favorite treats.

"If you need more, I always keep them within the Prosecutor's office, in the event of a snack-related emergency," he said.

Ema let out a sigh. "I don't see me getting any time to go down there, considering somebody had to go get killed on today of all days. I already had to change out of my dress. I thought you'd be the one to take it off once the reception was over. Now the reception won't even happen," she said.

"Once the case adjourns tonight, then put on the dress again. And we could have the reception once Datz is cleared," Nahyuta said.

"You think it'll go that fast?" Ema said.

"With so many people at work, the putrid culprit will surely be caught soon," Nahyuta said.

"Wow, They're being all lovey-dovey!" Trucy said.

Athena ran her fingers through her long ponytail. "I know, isn't it cute?"

Ema puffed out her cheeks. "Hey! It's my wedding day, I'm allowed to be as lovey-dovey as I want. I should at least get that."

Apollo let out a long sigh and gave her a longsuffering glance. "Don't tell me you're going to spend even more of the time flirting with each other in court," Apollo said.

"Don't you even start! You have nothing to say about flirting in court. For years you and Prosecutor Gavin flirted so much I had to snackoo Prosecutor Gavin just to get him to put his head back in the cases. I swear, he walked into walls when you'd pass by. Then he'd play it off like he just meant to run into that wall. It was embarrassing."

Apollo blushed, and rubbed his hand through his dark hair.

"From what Herr Forehead here says, you and Herr Monk were little better."

"For the record, I didn't walk into a single wall." She may have nearly punched one during a certain time when she thought he'd been stolen away, she may have tripped, but she still had something.

"Trucy, you must get used to us being 'lovey dovey' as you put it. For I intend to treasure this woman for the entirety of my life and beyond. And Apollo?" Nahyuta smiled. "I must agree with my lovely wife."

His wife had such a nice ring to it. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "I must leave your side for now. But I will join you tonight."

"Can't wait," Ema said.

*

She stood by Nahyuta as the Divination Seance played, first for the prosecutor to view. Though some attempts were made to mimic Datz' style, the culprit was obviously not him. It was a clumsy, desperate attempt to ruin her day that was easily seen through.
Combined with the fingerprints she'd lifted off of the made the case go even more quickly.

Prosecutor Gavin's hunch was right. (Something she'd said only about once in her entire life.) Datz was exonerated in hours, not days, and with so many prosecutors, detectives and lawyers on the case, the true culprit would surely be caught soon. But Ema could leave that to the police force. Right now, she had a party to get back to.

After that little interruption, Ema pulled back on her wedding dress and stepped out onto the floor. The reception was still set up for her.

Of all things, Aura had showed up at her wedding. She must've hitched a ride with Athena and Simon, though why, Ema couldn't fathom. Weddings didn't seem to be her scene.

She talked with Lana. Ema even caught sight of a rare smile on both of their lips.

Ema would have to ask her sister what was up later on.

Even more, near the buffet, she caught sight of her parents. Her hands fell to her sides at the sight, tinged with memory, except slightly different. Her father had the silvery hair of Amara, while her mother had the top-not of Pearl. She caught her breath. Somehow, they'd turned back time for her in this moment.

But before she could see them, Dhurke gave her a wave at the edge of the dance floor.

First, monks filled her wedding. Then the dead made a showing. Oh, and a murder.

One thing was for sure: it was an unforgettable day.

"There you are. Sorry about that interruption."

"It was annoying, but it's all over now," Ema said.

"I heard so much about you. Amara talks about you all the time. She said there was a custom called the father-daughter dance. It'd be a good point to catch up. I'll let your real dad take a turn in a minute, but I'd love to cut in and know my son's wife a bit more."

Ema could only gape. Okay, the Divination Seance was one thing, and Dhurke showing up for the wedding had been another, but to actually touch someone who had been channeled? Would his hands be cold? Would it feel weird?

"Uh, sure," Ema said.

Still, she took his hand. It was calloused, and dwarfed her own, and yet felt slightly cold. And they gently began to waltz around the room. He was a surprisingly good dancer. So that was where Dhurke got it.

"Thanks for taking good care of my son. He's had a hard lot in life. Harder than he ever deserved. He's a good kid. Real smart, and he reminds me so much of his mother sometimes. Stubborn as hell, and you can never tell what he's thinking. But, he smiles around you. I can see it, now. He seems so much calmer there by your side."

"I know, right? When I first met him it was so frustrating! I couldn't tell what was up with him! I couldn't stop thinking what he was thinking!"

Dhurke chuckled. "When I first saw Amara, I knew that was it for me. I'd been working as a street performer. She walked on by, and it wasn't before long, I took up the law. She was this riddle I wanted to solve. It was a good fit. I turned out a far better lawyer than street performer."

The first time she'd seen Nahyuta, she'd felt so-- happy afterwards. At first, she'd just attributed it to her situation. But every time she met him again in the halls, something wonderful lingered inside her. His beautiful smile, the way he'd complimented her work, and truly listened when she went on about, it all made her feel like finall she'd found something incredible with him.

At least she didn't walk into any walls. But she came closer than she'd ever admit.

And even when they fought--the first of many--it never felt like the end. He always found his way back to her.

"Yeah, I get what you mean. Nahyuta's the same. I couldn't figure him out at all. And it made me so made, but in a way I still wanted to find out everything. I wanted to know everything about him."

"...it's a shame we didn't really get a chance to meet before all this happened," Ema said sadly. "I mean, we met then but you were already..." She cleared her throat. It felt kind of rude to mention his death right in front of him.

"Tell me about it. I could've told you so many stories about when Yuty was a kid. Like the time he and Apollo went swimming, they'd get leeches stuck to their butts--"

Ema laughed. "He always gets so embarrassed when people bring that up."

"You think that's bad? You should hear the story about the shoe," he said.

"The shoe? That sounds interesting."

"I'll have to tell it to you sometime," Dhurke said. "But I don't have a lot of time. It's not the end. Remember, this is Khura'in! The dead are never very far away, and we often come to visit. I'll be back before you know it. But I think Maya needs a break. Wouldn't want to hurt her baby."

He let go of her hands, and suddenly, he faded. Maya opened her eyes, and smiled.

"He'll be back soon, I just really needed some burgers to refuel," she said.

"There's plenty of those-- Nahyuta made sure," Ema said.

"Good, channeling sure takes a lot out of you."

Larry quickly rushed in to support her.

"Maya, be careful."

"All I need is to refuel. Misty's going to be a top-tier spirit-channeler at this rate."

Larry lifted his arm up in a cheer. "I have the best girls in the woooorld~"

Okay, maybe he was halfway decent. Maya must've done some real making over to take him from the kind of guy who went to a wedding and tried to steal the bride to one to this dopey facebook dad who couldn't stop showing people pictures of his daughters and wife.

She turned, and found her parents there. Tears filled her eyes and she choked back a sob.

"I missed you, Ema-pemma," he said. She hadn't heard that nickname in so many years. There were many memories that Lana couldn't bear to touch.

"Dad.... Mom..."

"Oh, darling. No crying on your wedding day."

"But they're happy tears!"

Both of them hugged her, with skin faintly cold. She'd hoped, but never asked for a chance to see her parents again through one of the spirit channelers.

And now, she had the best wedding gift a girl could ask for.

Her dad took her hand and led her to the dance floor. She told him about her life until then. The hardships, the sorrow, and then the joy she'd found. There was so much that old photos didn't convey. Like the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, or the sound of his laugh. She'd clung to every memory, yet still some had started to fade away.

She'd never imagined that she'd have her parents here at her wedding day. Lightness filled up her heart like never before.

"I'm sorry about the accident, Ema-pemma. Your mother and I have been watching and missing you and Lana every single day." He let out a laugh. "I know I already said that, but it's true."

And they kept dancing, as she talked about the future, about the country she was helping rebuild.

"Somebody's waiting for you, and I think he's been waiting a long time," her father said.

Nahyuta stood at the corner of the dance floor. He looked so damn regal and gorgeous.

"I'll have to meet him sometime. I saw a bit of him when this-- all started. He seems like something else. I always called you my little princess, but I never knew you'd be one for real some day."

"Me neither, but I'm so, so, so happy about it." Ema took Nahyuta's hand. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I was busy gossiping with your dad, and then my dad."

"I heard," he said dryly.

"Leeches, huh?"

He let out a little sigh. "I will never be free from that story as long as I live."

"He seemed pretty eager to want to tell me all kinds of other childhood stories."

"So that is his revenge. Telling all my embarrassing secrets to my wife."

Wife, what a nice sound it had to it.

"You did this, didn't you?"

"With some input from my mother, yes," he said.

"Creating a whole language for me, bringing my parents back from the dead, I'm really going to have to work hard to top gifts like that," Ema said.

"Being with you is enough of a gift," he said.

And just like that, he'd found the words to make everything better.

She'd watched dreamily from the side for so many weddings, and it was finally her turn.

"Thank you for coming into my life, Ema," he said softly. "I am so glad fate has allowed me this one mercy of our paths crossing."

"Technically, it wasn't fate, but murder," Ema said.

"I cannot be thankful for something so putrid, but I am glad that we got to read the last rites of that lost soul together."

The air was filled with colorful prayer flags. He took her hand and slowly, they danced together. In his arms, she was no longer cold, even in Khura'in. And she couldn't wait to experience the rest of their lives together.


Author's note:

Well, that turned out longer than expected. Have some random notes about this fic. o/

Like almost all fics, I assumed this one would be 'about 20k.' It's funny, back in the day it was 'about 20k' but then it would turn out to be actually 30k but nowadays it's 'about 20k' and turns out to be almost 80k. Oops.

This fic started about April 2017, right after I finished the AA6 DLC. Like most of my fics, the beginning and ending came easily, it was the middle which I had to push through. In fact, there was a couple things which got changed completely along the way.

I vacillated between Simon/Athena and Athena/Junipier having a bi flower wedding for a looong time, even up until the last minute. (I multiship quite a bit in this fandom, in case you didn't notice lol.) Simon/Athena won over solely because I was so amused by the comment that he would gatecrash Athena's bachelorette party in a "sexy bird outfit."

(I do think I'll still write Athena/Juniper bi flower wedding at some point, though.)

The Klapollo chapter had to be completely rewritten. The Klavier/Apollo section was just completely overshadowed by a mischievous action of Queen Amara. Though I actually kept the section and one of these days you'll see the one where literally every single person think Nahyuta/Ema are married due to the actions of his mother.

Anyways, this was fun. Thanks for reading, everyone.