Well, here it is. We've done it boyzzzzzzzzzz

this is the longest chapter by far. brace yourselves I had wayyyy too much fun with this

Today had been a… ridiculous day, to say the least. Even by Wright Anything Agency standards.

If Mr. Wright was on-edge usually, that was nothing compared to what he was now. He was pacing back and forth, nearly in hysterics at the altar, sweating and tearing up and who knew what else. He was thankfully being rather quiet about it, but judging by the odd types of people showing up in the audience, they probably already knew he was going to lose it at some point. Apollo could hear Mr. Wright talking to himself softly, and was too polite to listen to anything other than a phrase he caught on accident.

"What if he leaves again?"

Apollo wasn't really sure what it meant, and he didn't want to pry. "Hey," he interrupted, and Mr. Wright looked up at him with widened eyes. "Today's gonna be perfect. You said so yesterday, and you're always Wright."

The pun caused Apollo physical pain to say, but Mr. Wright laughed weakly. According to Trucy, last night he'd stayed up and talked to himself in the mirror until Trucy dragged him to sleep. "If Apollo can get confidence by talking to himself in the mirror, so can I!" He'd reportedly said.

If it weren't his wedding day, Apollo would have fought him for belittling the Chords of Steel in such a way.

"He loves you," Apollo said, "I'm sure of that."

It was true. Mr. Wright and Mr. Edgeworth had something you didn't see very often, something that, according to them, had fought its way through continents of separation and years of confusion. They'd certainly known each other for a long time, and they had this perfect partnership where they could predict each other's every move, moving as one through everything. It was inspiring. There was a selfish part of Apollo that was jealous, and he found himself wishing that years later, him and Klavier would be the same way.

Apollo remembered Klavier at that point, and given him a small wave from his spot on the altar. His boyfriend gave a hearty wave back, seated in the first row in the sea of chairs, between a chirpy looking girl with short brown hair and glasses and Lamirior. That guest in particular had baffled Apollo and Trucy, but Mr. Wright had insisted and Mr. Edgeworth didn't seem to mind. Mr. Wright had developed a troubling habit of winking at Apollo and Trucy whenever she came up in conversation, and Apollo was quite honestly terrified of anything that might happen. Mr. Wright's plans were usually terrifying.

As for Klavier, well, he might not like wearing them in court, but he looked amazing in a suit. It also didn't hurt that he could afford very nice ones, fitting him in the best way possible. The black was a nice background to his tan skin, and he'd unbuttoned it enough to show off his collarbones in a move Apollo was sure would drive him nuts.

It was a little weird seeing everyone clean up, actually, with Mr. Wright in a suit that rivaled his days in court and Trucy in a sweeping blue dress. She was a flower girl; along with a girl in a pink dress Mr. Wright had called Pearls. Her hair honestly made Apollo hungry, it reminded him too much of a pretzel.

She and her cousin were actually staying with Mr. Wright, and Apollo had been there to pick them up. Her cousin was taller, with darker hair that hung in two bangs and a topknot. She'd taken one look at Mr. Wright and Mr. Edgeworth and shouted, "I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT ALL ALONG! NICK, YOU OWE ME FIVE BUCKS AND A BURGER!"

Her name was Maya, if Apollo was remembering correctly, and she'd taken up Trucy's habit of calling him Polly- which he needed to stop them from doing, by the way, because Klavier had also threatened to adopt it- and proclaimed at the sight of Apollo that "Nick, I like this one. Good job."

She was also a Gavinners fan, apparently, and generally a huge Klavier Gavin fan altogether, judging by how she'd shrieked when he came by to visit the Agency one day. Her excitement about his and Mr. Wrights' friendship was only topped by her excitement when she found out that Apollo and him were dating- because then she could ask for an autograph, right? That'd be ok, right Nick?

The ceremony had gone off without a hitch, thank goodness, because they'd taken an absurd amount of tries in the rehearsal to get it right. It was a little odd, though, the longer Apollo stood up there, the more abnormal he felt. Apollo actually felt weird up on the altar, standing next to Mr. Wright and Edgeworths' lifelong friends and family. He felt out of place, equally new and the only sane person there. When he told Mr. Wright to replace him, Mr. Wright had simply patted his back, telling him that he belonged more than he knew- in the creepy, cryptic way Mr. Wright usually talked to people.

Either way, it was all worth it to see Mr. Wright tearing up at the vows. Apollo wished he had a picture, because he was sure no one would believe him unless they saw it with their own eyes. He was pretty sure Mr. Edgeworth had cried too, and the large guy with the hair spiked on one side and tape on his face was bawling like the world was ending. And Trucy sniffled a little, which Apollo was holding over her head forever.

Apollo had been kind of nervous for the reception, he didn't like parties very much and he wasn't much good at them. He did enjoy the speeches, though, mainly because Trucy had taken the microphone and told the story of the new couple's engagement- the punch line of which was Mr. Wright forgetting his painstakingly-written speech and simply quoting the Steel Samurai. The sobbing man from earlier- Detective Dick Gumshoe, it seemed- also tried to give a speech, but he was slightly incomprehensible, so people just ended up clapping when they assumed he was done.

Apollo was actually very hungry by the end of it; he'd missed most of the food when he'd realized that the guy laughing very hard at the Steel Samurai proposal story was actually Will Powers. How did Mr. Wright even know him?! Why was he at Mr. Wright's wedding? Who knew, but why did it matter when Apollo could get his autograph? And a few pictures? And some behind the scenes knowledge? And skip dinner to talk with him for forever?

By the time Apollo was done harassing Will Powers, he'd looked around the room to see everybody mingling. He'd missed most of dinner, but he wasn't hungry enough to go get something. Maybe he'd steal something off of Klavier's plate later.

Trucy was seated at a table close to him, talking to a tall, thin woman in a short black dress that contrasted nicely with her silvery blue hair. The woman was downing a lot of what Apollo hoped wasn't alcohol. Trucy whispered to Apollo as he passed by, explaining that Mr. Edgeworth hadn't let her bring her whip past the door. Apollo felt slightly terrified, and prayed to whatever god that was listening that Trucy was talking about that ancient dance move from 2015.

Mr. Wright and Edgeworth- what name were they going by, anyways? Were they the Edgeworths or the Wrights or the Edgewrights or what?- were talking to Maya and Pearls, the former of which hanging onto Mr. Wright's arm laughing at some joke he'd just told. Mr. Wright exchanged a look with Mr. Edgeworth, before they began laughing themselves.

Apollo's first thought had been to go to Klavier, but he didn't really want to shove his way through the crowd around him. Klavier was a popular attraction, seated at a piano and playing his greatest hits, dedicating every song to "his gorgeous boyfriend, Apollo"- which was grating, by the way, especially since half of the songs he was playing weren't even love songs.

The big guy from earlier, Gumshoe, was still crying, except now the brunette girl with glasses was trying to cheer him up. Trucy had left for the bathroom, leaving the whip-less woman with a blonde woman with glasses who nearly resembled a female Kristoph to Apollo. Ema was seated next to a girl with tall hair held in place by what looked like a key, explaining something with such gusto it had to be scientific. The tall guy with orange hair was leaning in to a woman in red skin-tight motorcycle gear, complete with wheel earrings, who Apollo remembered vividly for arriving to the parking lot popping a wheelie like it was nothing. Klavier's eyes had lit up at the sight, and Apollo instantly said no, absolutely not. You would fall off of your hog and break it.

Apollo didn't know what to do now. He looked back to Mr. Wright and Edgeworth and regretted it, as he apparently started hallucinating- or at least, he assumed so, because that was the only explanation that gelled with what he was seeing now. Just how the hell had Maya grown a foot and changed her facial structure in one minute?

Mr. Wright laughed at Apollo's expression, waving him over. Finally, something to do. "C'mon, Apollo, you need to meet the Chief."

Maya- was it even Maya? Apollo didn't know, Mr. Wright had never referred to her as the Chief before- well, whoever it was, she responded. "This is your subordinate?"

"Yup. He carried the Wright Anything Agency, for a while." Mr. Wright said proudly, clapping Apollo on the shoulder. Apollo held out his hand awkwardly. This weirdness was why he hated parties- although, people didn't usually change shapes on him.

"Uh, hi. Apollo Justice." he said, and she seemed amused by his unsteadiness. She shook his hand nevertheless, smiling.

"I'm Mia Fey, Phoenix's former boss." She tilted her head, surveying his face. Apollo had never been too good at hiding shock, and to be honest, he was rather shocked right now. He was pretty sure this was Maya, but he'd been through so many names and faces lately he wouldn't be surprised if he'd mixed up a few. He hoped he hadn't slipped and called her Maya.

Mia Fey could probably tell he was confused, because she explained. "Currently I'm in the body of my younger sister, Maya."

Oh, that made sense.

Wait, what?

Apollo must have been still making a face, because Mr. Wright continued. "She's the master of Kurain. You've heard of their channeling technique, right?"

So… he hadn't mixed up the names, Mia was just possessing Maya- he hoped that was the right way around, why did their names sound so similar?

Apollo felt himself nodding, but he could only squeak at Mia. "You're dead?"

Mia raised an eyebrow at Mr. Wright. "Bright, isn't he? Sensitive, too."

"Sorry," Apollo said quickly, though Mr. Wright was laughing.

"Go easy on him, Mia. He takes everything too seriously." Mr. Wright gave him a harmless shove, and Apollo rolled his eyes. Classic Mr. Wright.

Mia was smiling again now, and it reached her eyes. She looked really happy. "Well, I'm glad you're back, Phoenix. Congratulations to you two, by the way. Nice meeting you, Apollo." She winked at Apollo.

Mia looked back at Mr. Wright one more time before she began changing, looking undeniably content. "I'm proud of you, Phoenix."

Her voice became higher by the end, and before long she'd morphed back into Maya. She grinned, clapping her hands together. "She was really happy to see you, huh Nick?"

Mr. Wright was smiling as genuinely as Mia had been, and he nodded. Apollo was pretty sure there were tears in his eyes again. "Yes, she was. Could you possibly do another channeling, very quickly?"

Maya's face scrunched up. "I dunno, Nick, it depends."

"It's very important." Mr. Wright leaned down to whisper into Maya's ear, and her eyes grew wide.

"Oh yeah, of course! That's really sweet of you, Nick." Maya almost sounded surprised at how thoughtful Mr. Wright was apparently being, and Apollo snorted in agreement. Mr. Wright stuck out his tongue at him.

Maya changed again, and Apollo was sure in that moment that he'd never be used to it. Mr. Wright and Edgeworth didn't seem fazed, but it was so undeniably weird to Apollo. Almost creepy, in a way.

Mr. Wright took Mr. Edgeworth's hands, nodding his head over at Maya and smiling kindly towards her once she'd stopped changing. "Hi, Gregory."

Mr. Edgeworth's face changed completely, eyes widening in shock as he looked over to Mr. Wright. "Phoenix-!"

Mr. Wright nodded, and Mr. Edgeworth looked like he was going to start crying any minute then. He threw himself at Mr. Wright, hugging him so tightly it looked as though Mr. Wright was suffocating. Mr. Wright was apparently fine, though, patting Mr. Edgeworth's back and smiling.

Mr. Edgeworth sniffled, as he pulled away from Phoenix, and Apollo began backing away slowly. He wasn't very adept at social cues, but he knew enough to be aware he was intruding on a very private moment. If he was correct, Mr. Wright had just channeled Mr. Edgeworth's dad for their wedding reception- and wow, was that far more thoughtful than Apollo had thought Mr. Wright capable of.

Apollo took another look around the room. Of the people he knew, nothing had really changed- Klavier was playing My Boyfriend is the Prosecution's Witness, Trucy was doing the macarena with Pearls, and how was Gumshoe not dehydrated, at this point?!

Apollo decided to go to the bathroom, and left the room to wander around the lobby for a bit. He found himself heading up the stairs, modern-looking ones that almost seemed unstable with how minimalistic they were. During the rehearsals he'd also taken a break, when the tall guy with orange hair had dropped Mr. Edgeworth's ring and everybody was looking for it for the 7th time. He'd gone upstairs, and found a balcony with a nice view where he could be alone. It wasn't like anyone would follow him there. Mr. Wright had specified that all necessary functions were to be contained to the first floor, though for what reasons Apollo couldn't really tell. He'd half-heard Trucy hissing something about elevators the first time it had been mentioned, but he didn't really know what they had to do with anything.

The view was even nicer at night, when the sun wasn't beating down and the moon had room to shine. It was untouchably peaceful, and silent except for the occasional sound of traffic.

"I hope today hasn't taken too much out of you,"

Apollo turned, to see someone entering the balcony. Apparently, Klavier had gotten bored of playing the piano- that, or the tall guy with orange hair had begun asking him for romance advice again.

"I'm pretty resilient," Apollo reassured him, and Klavier laughed as he took a seat on the floor next to him. Klavier glanced over at the bouquet next to Apollo, and Apollo blushed.

"I'm keeping them," he said, fingering the string around them, "I kinda want to remember today."

It had been a good day, after all. It certainly wasn't one Apollo was forgetting anytime soon, or probably ever. How many times did you get to see your annoying boss/sort-of-father-figure get married, anyways?

"Looks like you're getting married soon," Klavier quipped, looking over at the flowers next to Apollo. Come to think of it, that was the tradition, wasn't it? Whoever caught the bride's bouquet was getting married next, right? Nevermind that the couple in question had thrown it together, and Apollo hadn't as much caught it as he had been smacked in the face as a victim of a very bad throw. But never mind that, in the face of tradition- and in the glorious face of Klavier Gavin, come to think of it.

"Wish you'd told me, schatz," Klavier knocked his shoulder into Apollo's, laughing, and Apollo made a face and rubbed it in mock pain. Although... he'd never really thought about marrying Klavier before. Which was odd, because it felt like it should have come up before.

They'd been accepted back as a couple with a raised eyebrow for most, which kind of did make sense: at this point, they were another celebrity couple who'd broken up and gotten together. The Wrights and Edgeworth were markedly happy to have them back together, and Ema made some begrudging remark about how Apollo would hopefully absorb Klavier's foppishness. Apollo had researched how to make their relationship the best for Klavier, and they'd been stable for far longer than anyone could have predicted. They didn't fight very often, and when they did, they apologized within minutes. Ema described it as disgusting idealistic behavior, but Apollo didn't think so. He didn't like being mad at Klavier.

Apollo had moved in with Klavier quite quickly, and if he was to be believed, there was a noticeable improvement with Klavier. He slept through the nights more often, and Apollo cracked down on his alcohol intake- which was kind of ridiculous for anyone, especially someone in his state. Needless to say, Apollo was helping- and Klavier was unspeakably grateful. So he didn't speak, and Apollo found he could be very convincing without saying a word- hint hint, nudge nudge, wink wink.

And yet... through their domestic life together, the little kisses by the door and the late night dinners and mornings where he woke up in Klavier's arms, Apollo had never really thought about marriage. It seemed obvious, now that he thought of it. He made a promise to himself to get on that, and definitely ask Trucy for engagement ring advice. It seemed like she knew what she was doing.

"You're being quiet," Klavier noted, hand shifting to cover Apollo's. "Are you... would you consider it?"

Apollo looked up at him, nodding with a smile. Yes. He definitely would, and now he was certain he'd propose soon. The months together hadn't done anything to diminish his giddy love for Klavier, and Klavier was still very much in love with him, too. Getting married at this point only made sense.

Klavier matched his smile, though his was growing in that shiny way that meant he knew something Apollo didn't. Apollo couldn't think what that was, especially in this situation, unless he was- oh damn, he was getting down on one knee.

"Well then, Apollo Justice," Klavier began, drawing a box out of his pocket- had he been carrying that around the whole time? For how long? "Will you marry me?"

He was actually doing it. This was actually happening. The wind was cold enough for Apollo not to need to pinch himself, and Klavier's smile was glittering like the stars around them. Apollo could see a flicker of worry in his eyes, and he realized he'd been gaping at Klavier for awhile.

"Y-yes! Absolutely! Yes, Klavier, yes!" Apollo couldn't stop himself from yelling, and he threw himself at Klavier to kiss him. Unfortunately, it turned out that balancing on one knee wasn't the most stable, and Klavier fell onto his back, with Apollo toppling on top of him.

Apollo kissed him hard before he could catch his breath, tangling his fingers through Klavier's hair. He only stopped when Klavier was laughing too hard to continue, and his chest was knocking into Apollo's. He started talking the moment Apollo pulled away.

"Aren't you supposed to put the ring on, first?" He laughed, and Apollo blushed. He'd really wanted to kiss Klavier in that moment.

"The ring isn't what I'm after here." Apollo said, sitting up a little. He started playing with Klavier's hair, framing his face with blonde curls.

Klavier leaned his cheek into Apollo's hand. "Ach, a good thing, too, because I've dropped it."

Apollo leaned in to kiss his nose, an act that would have made Ema hiss (he knew this from experience), and moved off of Klavier. A pity he'd dropped the ring, Apollo had been quite comfortable there, with his legs around Klavier's waist.

Klavier sat up. "Schieße, it's dark, it'll be hard to find now. Sorry, schatz."

"We'll find it." Apollo bent down, running his hands along the floor. "It couldn't have gone far... Got it!"

Apollo held up a small box in triumph, and Klavier made a motion for him to open it. Apollo sat back down next to Klavier, leaning into his boyfri- fiancée's shoulder. It felt good, calling him that.

"Wow," Apollo breathed, when he saw the ring. He couldn't help himself. It was gorgeous, with a silvery-gold band and a few diamonds, small ones clustering around a gigantic one. "Klavier, you really didn't have to-"

Klavier smiled, leaning in and kissing his forehead. "I did, schatz. Put it on, I want to see it on you now."

Apollo took it out of the box carefully, they'd already lost it once and he was not losing it again. It also didn't help that the thing probably costed more than he'd ever made.

He was slipping it onto his finger, when he felt a groove rubbing against his hand. "Uh, Klavier, I think we scratched it. I'm so-"

Apollo paused, in the midst of turning the ring over to inspect the scratch. He could see it clearly enough in the light from the building behind them, and it turned out it wasn't scratched. It was engraved.

I love you.

Klavier was blushing faintly in the light, looking down. "Ach. I know it's cheesy and overdone, but I couldn't help myself."

Apollo loved it. He slipped the ring onto his finger, smiling at it before leaning over to kiss Klavier's cheek. "I love you, too."

Klavier slipped an arm around Apollo, and Apollo let his head fall to rest on Klavier's shoulder. He always felt so secure with Klavier holding him like this, like nothing could go wrong in the world.

Klavier started talking again. "Thank you, Apollo. Thank you for staying, and for making me stay."

"Thank you for letting me do all that," Apollo said quietly. He didn't deserve all of the credit here. "I know it's hard."

"It's easier, with you." Klavier said equally quietly, a message for Apollo's ears only. It wasn't exactly a secret, but Klavier needed Apollo to know.

They'd been away from the party for a suspiciously long time, but Apollo couldn't bring himself to care. It was warm in Klavier's embrace, with a hand on his waist and a shoulder under his cheek. Klavier's hair was brushing against his face, and it had the perfumey scent it always did when it had just been washed.

The stars were glittering around them, and Apollo had to hand it to Klavier. This was a perfectly romantic place for a proposal, intimate and personal and altogether wonderful. He supposed it was very Klavier of him. At first glance, one would assume a flashy, loud proposal- but really, Klavier was just a sentimental dork.

"Ready to go back?" Klavier asked, lips moving against Apollo's hair. Apollo wanted to shake his head, but they couldn't stay out here forever. Also, he was sure the others would give them no mercy if they didn't tell them about the engagement immediately.

"Sure," Apollo said, and he took the hand Klavier was offering to pull himself up. Klavier took his hand and helped him back to the building, going down the stairs hand in hand and holding the door to the room open, following Apollo back inside.

"Polly! Klavier!"

Trucy bounded towards them instantly, looking enthralled. "Where were you two? You were gone for ages."

Apollo sputtered a little, mumbling and stumbling and altogether unable to say anything other than strangled sounds. He could feel himself getting red in the face, and Klavier simply held his hand up to show Trucy the ring.

Trucy's jaw dropped, and her eyes lit up. "Oh my- you two are actually-?"

Apollo nodded, still blushing, and Trucy squealed and grabbed the two of them in a gigantic hug, hopping up and down. "Polly and Klavier are getting married! Polly and Klavier are getting married!"

Any other day Apollo would have been miffed, but to be honest, he was internally jumping up and down screaming Klavier and I are getting married! Klavier and I are getting married!

It still felt too good to be true. He, Apollo Justice, was getting married to the Klavier Gavin. Those months, their love… it was all going to be forever, now. Or however long celebrity marriages usually lasted.

"Daddy!" Trucy yelled, waving Mr. Wright over. "You've gotta come see this!"

Mr. Wright came over surprisingly quickly, for the groom, and his facial reaction was surprisingly similar to Trucy's. "Whoa. You two are-?" He pointed to Klavier, and then to Apollo. Klavier nodded, and Mr. Wright high fived him.

"Congratulations, you two! Also, Gavin, this is unacceptable," he said, inspecting Apollo's ring, "you're completely showing me up. Not all of us are rock stars, you know."

Klavier shrugged, smirking. "Ach, but I am, Herr Wright."

Mr. Wright tilted his head, thinking it over. "All right, fair enough."

Klavier opened his mouth to say something, but Trucy's hand closed around his wrist and she began dragging him off. "C'mon, Klavier, we've gotta dance now!"

Klavier laughed. "Achtung, fräulien, I'm coming, I'm coming!"

He waved helplessly to Apollo, who snickered and waved back. Trucy could be quite the destructive force of nature when she wanted to be.

"Oh, Apollo." Mr. Wright said as though he'd just remembered something, pointing at his ring again. "Don't let Ron see it. I've had to beat him back from Edgeworth's with a stick."

"Ron? As in, Delite? As in, Mask Demasque?" Apollo could hear his jaw hit the floor. How the hell did Mr. Wright even know all these people? He really got around, didn't he?

"Yep. Kay Faraday is here too, but unless your engagement ring helps uncover some scandal, you're probably safe from her," Mr. Wright chuckled, patting Apollo on the back and leaving. Apollo could see Mr. Edgeworth waving from across the room, pointing to a gigantic mass on the dance floor and yelling "You have to see this, Wright!"

Apollo hadn't been left along for more than a minute before he felt someone tapping on his shoulder, and he whipped around to see who it was.

"Polly, will you dance with me?" Trucy asked. Wait, wasn't she dancing with Klavier? How had things changed so quickly? Apollo had only looked away for a second!

Trucy noticed Apollo's look, and explained, gesturing over to the other side of the room, the part Mr. Edgeworth had been pointing at. "Klavier's gone over to the dark side."

Klavier had gone to what was apparently a gigantic conga line, headed by Maya Fey, who was newly back in control of her body. Mr. Wright and Edgeworth were taking pictures of it now and giggling uncontrollably, zooming in on the powder-blue haired whip-less woman who apparently had been talked out of drowning her sorrows- that, or the more likely option, drowning her sorrows had lead to this.

Apollo snickered at the sight, and Klavier waved to him from somewhere in the middle of it. Yeah right, he wasn't doing the conga line. "Sure, Trucy."

Apollo had been taught to dance by Klavier on a rainy day a while ago, when Klavier was making fun of his dancing skills at the party that had landed them in this mess. It turned out that Apollo actually wasn't half bad, but he didn't feel like putting in the effort necessary to learn- unless he could just sway in circles in their living room, with Klavier's hands on his waist. That, he had to admit, was very nice.

Trucy took one of Apollo's hands, and his other clasped her shoulder. They rocked back and forth, as comfortably as two people in their situation could.

"How are you?" Apollo asked, and Trucy beamed.

"This is so great, Polly! Both of my dads are super happy now, and now you and Klavier are too." Trucy chirped, as they rotated slowly.

Apollo found himself smiling, he couldn't help it. Trucy's view of the world might be a little simplistic, but it was sweet enough to make up for it. She was right, though, because Mr. Wright and Edgeworth couldn't stop beaming at the mere sight of each other. He was pretty sure Mr. Wright was the happiest he'd ever been in his entire life.

Apollo and Trucy made their way around the floor, past the abandoned tables and Gumshoe, arriving back at Mr. Wright and Edgeworth before long. Mr. Wright was still giggling.

"She's really drunk, isn't she?" Mr. Wright was holding up his cell phone, taking a video of the conga line. "I think she's legitimately enjoying herself- yep, she's had a lot of alcohol."

Mr. Edgeworth was laughing too, but he made an attempt to stop- or at least slow down- Mr. Wright. "Goodness gracious, Wright, she'll kill you for this later- and I am not going to testify for you."

"Blackmail, Miles, blackmail! That's why I'm taking this! If she's my sister-in-law, I'm gonna need some way to dodge that whip." Mr. Wright reasoned, zooming in on his camera. Apollo drove Trucy and him away, this sounded like the last thing he ever wanted to be involved in.

"Hey Polly?" Trucy began talking again.

"Yeah?"

"You and Klaviers' house… it's big, right?" Trucy asked, and Apollo nodded.

"Huge."

"Ok, good. Daddy said I was staying with you two if Auntie Franziska was being… problematic, I think was the word he used." Trucy informed him. Well, that was quite something to spring on Apollo on the last second.

"What? We weren't your first choice?" Apollo teased, stepping lightly on her toes.

"Ow, Polly! And it wasn't my choice; Daddy said he wanted Auntie Franziska to like me so she'd like him! Him and Dad keep on talking about a whip… you don't think they're talking about a whip whip, do you?"

Apollo looked over at Franziska, who had just noticed Mr. Wright videotaping her. Her face became scary as she walked over to them, and Mr. Wright immediately hid behind Mr. Edgeworth. Yeah, in Apollo's book, any woman who could be that intoxicated and walk that steadily on those heels was a woman to be feared and avoided.

"Well, I doubt they're talking about Cool Whip," Apollo quipped, still looking over at Franziska. She was really angry.

"Fräulein!" There was Klavier, walking towards them and leaning in with his hands on his hips. Were his teeth always this shiny? "Would you mind returning my fiancée to me, bitte?"

"Sure thing!" Trucy said, and Pearls' hands flew to her face in the background. She must have overheard them saying the word fiancée, according to Trucy; she was something of a hopeless romantic.

Klavier took Apollo's hand from Trucy and used his other to grab Apollo's waist, drawing him close seamlessly.

Apollo wasn't nearly as graceful as Klavier. Apollo stumbled into him, landing with his face planted into Klavier's chest.

"Could you stop doing that?!" Apollo groaned, face pressed into Klavier's chest. His dress shirt was frustratingly thin, and Apollo could feel the warmth of his skin underneath.

"Nein." This position must have been Klavier's goal all along, because he dropped his other hand to Apollo's back and swayed, gently. It was hard to deny him when he was content like this, so Apollo let it slide. Klavier was humming, following the tune of the music perfectly, and Apollo didn't even need to look up to know his eyes were closed. Klavier seemed perfectly happy now, holding his fiancée and rocking back and forth to the music.

Apollo wouldn't ruin it for the world.

Apollo found his eyes sliding shut too, and he thought to himself that he could probably fall asleep right here. This was how he usually fell asleep, head on Klavier's chest and trying to match his slowing breaths. Klavier was usually out like a light- this was new, according to him, and he decided it was due to Apollo- but Apollo usually lay awake for awhile, smiling into Klavier's chest. He couldn't believe it, sometimes- and especially now. He was sharing a bed and a house with Klavier, and now a name too. It felt right, like the final step to becoming their own family.

"Love you, Klavier," Apollo mumbled, nuzzling his head into Klavier's chest.

"Ich liebe dich, schatz." Klavier whispered back, and Apollo snorted. Leave it to Klavier to say it all in German- not that it was any less cheesy, that way.

Apollo would have been content to stay there all night, but he could hear Mr. Wright yelling something in the distance.

"Hey, Apollo! Trucy! And uh, I guess Klavier; you should probably come too, now that I think about it. Kids! Get over here!"

"Can he not call us 'kids'?" Apollo grumbled, moving off of Klavier begrudgingly. Klavier laughed.

"Come on, schatz, let's see what he wants," Klavier said, good-natured as ever. He offered a hand to Apollo, which Apollo took without a moment's hesitation. At least he'd face Mr. Wright's insanity with Klavier now.

Mr. Wright was standing near the table, with Mr. Edgeworth and… was that Lamirior? Were they going to find out why he'd invited her now? Apollo really hoped it wasn't anything insane, though knowing Mr. Wright, they were probably going to find out she was secretly a dinosaur or something.

Trucy skipped over, and Mr. Wright beckoned the three of them closer. He looked more unsure than Apollo had ever seen him before, and that made something in Apollo's stomach turn. What exactly was going on here?

"First off, I'm sorry for not telling you kids this sooner. Miles thought it was high time to do this, though, and when we contacted Thalassa, she agreed. So, uh," Mr. Wright rubbed the back of his neck, nervously, and Apollo could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Just what the hell was he planning here? "I don't quite know how to break it to you two. I guess I'll just go for it. Apollo, Trucy, meet your mother, Thalassa Gramarye."

What?!

Apollo dropped Klavier's hand. He… Apollo was an orphan, right? He didn't have a mother, his parents were dead- or at least, that's what he'd assumed all his life. He didn't know if it was better or worse that she was alive, only that he was confused out of his mind. He hoped Mr. Wright was playing a joke on him. This all was a joke, right?!

And Trucy… She was Trucy's mother, too? So that meant… Trucy was his sister- or half-sister, Mr. Wright hadn't said anything about fathers- but either way… Apollo looked over at Trucy, with what was probably a ridiculous look on his face. His sister… he was looking at his sister.

Naturally, Trucy took it all in stride, running forwards to hug Thalassa with a strangled, disbelieving cry of "Mom?!" The resemblance was striking, when they hugged, placed right next to one another. Their hair was the same shade, a nice brown, and their faces were shaped similarly. They really looked like a family together.

Apollo hung back, staring and trying to take it all in. His mouth felt like a desert. The dryness was worse than any of the times around Klavier, worse than any time he'd tried to argue against Kristoph, worse than Apollo had ever had it before. It was as though his entire body had the water sucked out of it, like he hadn't even seen water in weeks. Trucy and Lamirior… Thalassa… they were his family? He had a family?

Trucy had always felt like his little sister, and Mr. Wright the odd, semi-estranged father, but he'd never thought that he might actually be related to them- however tangentially he had turned out to be related to Mr. Wright.

So that was why Lamirior was invited. That was why Apollo was standing at the altar and sitting at the front table of the reception. It all made sense now.

Mr. Wright had stepped forwards, ruffling Trucy's hair affectionately. Apollo was sure he could see tear tracks on Thalassa's face, as she held Trucy to her chest. Mr. Edgeworth's arm snaked around Mr. Wright, as he looked down at Trucy with a similar look on his face. They looked complete, all together as though time was standing still.

It felt odd. Apollo couldn't shake the feeling that he was supposed to be there too, but they looked perfect now. It felt too hard to move, it felt wrong to add himself into the picture as though he belonged. He never had, not really. Apollo's family had been no one for years, alone as an orphan until he'd managed to work his way out, and found what he thought was perfect- a job at the Gavin Law Offices, working with a man he trusted. Kristoph.

It wasn't easy to rebound from that betrayal. It hadn't been easy to admit that his only family was a sixteen-year-old magician and a hobo- and maybe an attractive German man named Piano. It hadn't been easy to accept that his only family, the only person to ever take him in when he was an orphan, when he was nothing- was a murderous, manipulative liar.

So looking at his mother and his sister hugging his adoptive fathers was a situation Apollo never imagined he'd be in, especially in the two months following Kristoph's incarceration. Apollo didn't feel like a part of anything, much less a part of a family. It went against everything Apollo had ever taught himself about the world that didn't seem to want him- a world that left him to figure things out for himself.

Thalasssa seemed to have realized that something was wrong, because she lifted her head from Trucy. She looked over at Apollo with eyes he'd only seen before in a mirror, staring back at him. His heart thumped painfully in his chest, and he opened his mouth to say something. No. He didn't belong.

Apollo suddenly felt something arm on his back, and he couldn't stop himself from making a weird noise and jumping.

Apollo jerked in place and looked around, only to see Klavier behind him, smiling warmly. Oh yeah, Klavier was here. Apollo had nearly forgotten.

His hand rested on Apollo's shoulder blade, and he had that smile that Apollo was going to wake up to every single day, that smile he was marrying him for. Klavier gently nudged him forwards, and Apollo noticed that Thalassa was extending an arm.

They wanted him to join.

Apollo looked back, and Klavier's eyes narrowed as though he wanted to say that he'd drag Apollo over there himself if he had to. Apollo reached for the hand on his back, and Klavier obligingly threaded his fingers through Apollos'. His smile was back, but smaller, more moral support than anything else now.

Judging by the look on his face, he wasn't expecting it when Apollo dragged him forwards. Apollo slung one arm around Thalassa, his mother, and the other around Klavier, his fiancée. The new titles felt odd to Apollo, but strangely right. You know, maybe he could be a part of this.

"Say cheese!" Maya Fey was suddenly standing over them, with a really expensive camera that most likely didn't belong to her, judging by the southern woman with a large afro who was grinding her teeth behind her.

It was easy to smile now. It looked easier for Klavier, too.

Apollo didn't really consider himself the sentimental sort, but the photo stayed on his and Klaviers' nightstand for the rest of their lives.

Whelp, there's the wedding. Written by someone with all of the inside knowledge of… having been to one wedding when she was 8. Yay?

I sincerely hope you enjoyed all of whatever this was, and thanks for making it all the way to the end ayyyy

So... now comes the question of what comes next. If anyone has any ideas about what they want to see (and yes, for anyone who's wondering, I have thought about a sequel before) then don't hesitate to tell me! At this point, I will probably start posting the oneshots I was writing in the breaks between chapters.

zvarri achtung baby objection you fool the autopsy is updated I'm fine!