Limits of Perfection

Chapter: 13

Imperfect Words

Author's note: Okay…you know the drill. I don't own Phoenix Wright games or characters…and if I did, I'd be swimming in my own pool of money (which would be shaped like a dollar bill!) But I DO own Marty Cruss, Guido, and Herr Wilhelm Volker. Another A.N: This chapter has something I like to call 'translations'. You know...what people really mean when they say something? Anything that is bold AND italicized are Miles' translations...and anything just simply italicized are Franziska's translations...don't worry, you'll know when it happens! It's pretty obvious.

AND NOW...ONTO THE STORY!

I can't find the words,
Can't get out the phrases.
Just when he needed love
Did I sing his praises?
Where did the words go
When I was before him?
Why couldn't I show all the love that my heart felt toward him!
I adored him,
God reward him!
I can't find the words.
- The Words Reprise from Anne of Green Gables.

He had been shot.

That's what the doctors told Franziska...that he had been shot...but he would live.

They all came to visit him...despite the fact that he was unconscious for quite some time after he was in stable condition. Scruffy...Phoenix and his two little "assistant" girls...even that judge who had requested that he take a vacation...they all...they all cared. And when he awoke, they all crowded around him...while she stood in the background, leaning against a wall. She pretended not to care in the least...

But how she really felt about Miles Edgeworth...she couldn't define yet...

Date: April 3

Time: 5:30 PM

Place: Apartment Complex: Miles Edgeworth's Apartment

She placed the key in the door and turned it. The heavy door swung open and she listened to it creak...and then listened to the silence that followed. It felt...it felt so empty without Miles...next to her, talking to her about the case she had prosecuted today...or talking about how idiotic Phoenix and Maya had acted in the burger joint...or just putting his arm around her shoulders and asking her what she preferred for dinner... Shaking these thoughts from her mind, Franziska walked inside and closed the door behind her. She placed her purse on the dining room table, and just stood inside, still...motionless...before she turned to look down the hallway and began walking.

Franziska knocked on the door to Miles' room before entering. Now she realized why he had come in with such a heartbroken look on his face every morning when she had been injured. Sitting propped up in bed, Miles looked so unimaginably helpless to Franziska...though she wouldn't show it. Franziska had insisted he keep his shirt off, so that if blood seeped through from the wound, she'd be able to tell and either call the doctor or bandage it herself. He looked up at her through half-drugged eyes, as his pain medication was a rather high dosage, which in turn made him drowsy. She couldn't bare to look him straight in the face for long. She sat on the edge of the bed, close to him, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles in her knee length dress.

"So...the case went well today. I...I really think that I have Wright beaten this time." she stated, trying to produce more confidence in her that wasn't really there. "...There are quite a few people who miss you...even that annoying Maya Fey was asking when you would be back in commission when she wasn't taking enormous bites of one of the largest burgers I've ever seen...Even Scruffy was cooperating with the case today...no slip ups..." Franziska turned slightly to look at Miles, who continued to be silent. She sighed, realizing that she had just been rambling on for the past several minutes, and turned away.

"...Almost...like déjà vu...huh?" Miles asked softly after a while, his voice cutting through the air and startling Franziska a tad bit. "W-what do you mean?" Franziska asked, still not looking in his direction. "...well...just a little while ago...it was you laying on a bed, injured...with me watching over you." Miles replied. "Only you don't have temporary amnesia." Franziska stated bitterly. With her retort, awkward and tense silence fell in the room...and she cursed herself inwardly for even speaking. Though she was sure Miles knew she was chiding him for acting so recklessly! ...so why did she feel so low for speaking to him this way? This was...it was one of many times that he had flung himself out in front to protect her...from anything...her father...the press...a run in with Gumshoe when she was in a bad mood...a gun... She felt ungrateful...

"...you didn't have to..." she murmured softly, breaking the silence. "Have to...what?" Miles questioned, sitting up just a little straighter. "...what you did...how you ended up like this...I could have handled him...you wouldn't have to-" "Franziska..." Miles stopped her ramblings with the call of her name and the touch of his hand. Still with her back towards him, her face burned a bright crimson red, and she was glad he couldn't see. Silence filled the room again.

Miles looked at Franziska and tried to shake off the sleepiness that his medicine was causing. If...if he spoke to her any more...and told her something crucial...he didn't want her to believe that this was all sleep induced. He cleared his throat. He wanted to sound like he was awake and he though he would mean every word that he said...his condition would make it sound like he didn't. He squeezed her hand just a little bit...and then gathered up the courage from...well...he wasn't sure where this sudden burst of courage came from...but it was his...and it was now or never.

"Franziska..."
I have something to tell you...

"Yes?"
I know.

"Do you remember me?"
I'm stalling...

"Of course."
I know.

"...are you sure?"
I'm really stalling.

"Absolutely."
I know.

"...I...that's good."
My heart would be broken into tiny shattering fragments if you had forgotten me.

"Yes it is."
I know.

"...Franziska..."
Well, here goes nothing...

"Yes Miles?"
Stop stalling, Miles.

"...I hope you'll stay here...and continue to be a prosecutor in America. You just seem...so far away when you're in Germany...and I don't mean literally...Even if you can't beat Phoenix Wright...Even if I can't beat Phoenix Wright...you'll still be perfect to me...even if you still hate me like you always say that you do."
...I...I love you...

"...I suppose I could stay for a while...but I will not be subjected to Phoenix Wright marring my perfect record and forcing me into such public humiliation."
...I know...and...

Franziska finally turned and looked at Miles, with a confident smile on her face that seemed to radiate and fill the entire room. "After all, I am a von Karma. A von Karma is perfect."
...I think I might too...

A.N.: Well it's been a fun ride! I always enjoy typing up stories when I get good inspiration! A BIG thank you to all of my reviewers and readers. All of the reviews were so helpful! You all really helped out and kept me going when I felt as though I had writer's block. Thank you, thank you, thank you! If any of you want another fanfic written, let me know! I would love to write another one...but some times I lack the inspiration.

Auf Weidersehn!

Tchuss!

And Farewell for now!