October 23rd
Home of Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth
10 P.M.

Phoenix held Miles' hand tightly as they walked, hand in hand, to his car from the restaurant, laughing and talking about a hundred different things as they did so.

Their evening out at Miles' favorite French restaurant, La Belle, had been a splendid affair and both men had enjoyed themselves immensely, even Phoenix who wasn't a big fan of French cuisine which surprised him somewhat. They had exchanged gifts earlier in the evening before they went out to dinner and, since it was still early in the evening, they decided to take in a movie at the Stardust Cinema.

I'm very glad that Miles had had to work later than usual this evening, he thought to himself, a lopsided grin spreading over his face, since it gave me the time I needed to prepare my special surprise. He leaned over to kiss Miles' lips before buckling his seat belt. I can't WAIT until we get home!

"You seem in an especially good mood this evening, Phoenix," Miles remarked on the way home, a smirk gracing his lips, glancing at Phoenix from the corner of his eye.

Phoenix started for a moment and then shrugged, grinning mischievously. "It's simply the day." He looked over at his lover and smiled, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder before retracting his hand. "I really enjoyed our evening out, Miles." His voice was quiet. "Thank you."

Miles blushed, a pleased smile spreading across his face. "I did, as well. Happy anniversary, Phoenix."

"Happy anniversary to you too, Miles."

They sat in companionable silence the rest of the way, each thinking their own private thoughts until they arrived home. Miles turned off the headlights and then the motor, taking the keys out of the ignition and nodding at Phoenix as they got out of the car, shutting their respective doors behind them.

He turned, walking up the sidewalk leading to the front door and Phoenix stayed back, saying that he had forgotten something in the backseat and needed to retrieve it.

Miles looked at him oddly but didn't say another word as he continued on his way up the front steps until he arrived at the door. He fished in his pocket for the house keys unlocked the door and stepped inside, taking off his black trench-coat and hanging it up on the peg beside the door. Phoenix came bustling in soon after, closing it behind him and locking it.

"Did you get what you were looking for?" he asked curiously, noting a lack of anything in his hands which made him wonder why he'd gone back to the car in the first place.

Phoenix nodded as he shrugged out of his jacket and hung it up on the peg beside his, walking past him on the way to the kitchen. "I did."

Miles' eyes narrowed as he watched Phoenix bustling about, wondering what he was up to but shrugged it off as he went over to he granite island to make some coffee.

Phoenix excused himself a moment, disappearing into the foyer and Miles again couldn't help but wonder what he was up to.

He's acting rather strangely this evening. He bit his lip as he crossed his arms over his chest, his index finger tapping the inside of his arm. What on earth is he doing?

"Phoenix?" he called out into the darkness of the foyer beyond a few minutes later.

"Yes?" Phoenix's response was soft, and somewhat muffled, but he could still hear him as he opened the top of the coffee maker, put in a paper filter and added two tablespoons of ground coffee before he closed the lid, pressing the switch at the bottom to "ON."

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Preparing."

Miles' eyebrow rose.

"'Preparing'?" He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back against the island as the coffee maker sputtered into life "Preparing for what?"

"You'll see."

Oh, for... Miles sighed and shook his head but made no other comment as he craned his neck over his shoulder, watching as the dark liquid pouring from the spout into the glass carafe underneath.

After a few minutes more of silence, Miles heard Phoenix walking into the dim light that came from the kitchen, stopping underneath the arch that separated the living room form the kitchen, a pleased grin on his face. It was very clear to Miles that he had something up his sleeve but he really didn't have a clue as to what that might be and he was genuinely curious as to the reason behind it.

"If you'll come out back, into the backyard, I have a surprise for you."

"Oh?"

Phoenix nodded, extending his hand. "Will you come with me?"

Miles' eyebrow raised further. "But I just started making a pot of coffee."

"It'll keep. Please Miles; it really is important."

"Oh, all right." Miles gave in with an exasperated sigh, taking Phoenix's hand in his own. His lover's face lit up as he did so and he grinned as he tugged gently on his hand, stepping backward slowly, Miles following.

What on earth is he up to? Miles wondered as he was led through the darkened foyer and to the back door. His curiosity was eating him alive but Phoenix refused to enlighten him, sharking his head and saying only that it was a surprise.

They soon reached the back door and Phoenix stopped.

"Close your eyes."

Miles started. "What for?"

"Just do it. It's a surprise."

"So you've said."

Phoenix sighed. "Trust me, Miles, you'll really like it. I promise." Phoenix looked at him with puppy-dog eyes. "Please?"

Very well." Miles' voice held a note of annoyance in it but he did as he was asked and closed his eyes. He could feel Phoenix leading him forward, the sound of the door opening as they walked through it and the soft squeak as he closed it behind them.

He knew that they were outside since he could hear the peepers in the distance and once again curiosity arose to replace annoyance.

What is he doing? And why are we outside? Miles stumbled slightly as he tripped over a stone on the sidewalk in the backyard but Phoenix was there to help steady him and, once he was firmly on his feet, they proceeded onward. Curiouser and curiouser.

They walked for a few more steps before Phoenix stopped, leading him gently over toward what Miles thought was a chair since he was encouraging him to sit down which he did, slowly descending until he felt the cushion underneath him.

He could hear Phoenix doing something in the background and he couldn't help but wonder, for what seemed to be the one hundredth time this evening, exactly what it was he was doing. And why all the secrecy.

"You can open your eyes now." He heard Phoenix's voice say and he opened his eyes... and he gasped in surprise at what he saw around him: Strands of lavender lights were strung crisscrossed across the yard from one end to the other, twinkling white light in the middle of, casting a soft light over the table, the archway was decorated with red and white roses, two torches burning brightly on either side of it.

Oh... Miles' eyes widened as he looked down at the table: the lovely lace tablecloth covering it that he recognized, with some emotion, as being the one his late grandmother had had on the table in her home; crystal goblets were placed in front of blue willow china plates, linen napkins lying next to each plate with a silver fork, knife and spoon lying on top of it.

A small vase with a single red rose stood in the middle and he also noticed silver platters loaded with his favorite foods piled high on top, tendrils of steam twisting as they rose into the air: pasta, snow peas, Chicken Primavera and garlic breadsticks. A crisp garden salad, lovingly prepared in a blue ceramic serving bowl, lay nearest Miles, a small china bowl on top of each of their dinner plates and a bottle of apple cider stood cooling in a silver, ornate ice bucket on Phoenix's side of the table.

Miles looked up at Phoenix, so overcome that he could barely speak.

"Phoenix, I..." he began but had to stop, the words catching in his throat. He was overwhelmed with a plethora of emotions but the expression on his face spoke volumes.

"it was from our trip to that lovely bistro in New Orleans for our summer trip last year, remember?"

Miles nodded, swallowing hard, his hands shaking slightly.

"I...remember." His voice was soft.

Phoenix smiled, walking over to where he sat, leaning down, taking Miles' limp hand in his own and kissed his lips, feeling them tremble underneath his.

"Happy Anniversary,Miles." Phoenix's cerulean blue eyes shone with love as he leaned over for another kiss, squeezing Miles' hand affectionately, gazing deep into his eyes.

"Happy... Anniversary, Phoenix." His dark grey eyes misted as he pulled Phoenix over to him, holding him close, a soft sob of pure happiness emerging from his lips.

Phoenix smiled but made no reply as he settled himself comfortably onto Miles' lap, sitting sideways, his face shining as his hand slipped from Miles' and rose to cup the side of his face.

"Thank you." Miles' whisper was choked but happy.

Phoenix chuckled softly, rubbing the tip of his nose against his."You're welcome."

"I...love you, Phoenix," Miles whispered.

"I love you, too, Miles." His voice was husky as he quickly pressed his lips to his lover's, doing a thorough, proper job of it as the stars shone in the sky above.

.:FIN:.