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Wright Anything Agency.
It had been a long time since Miles had stood in front of this familiar door, and back then it had been emblazoned with a much more dignified sounding name.
A lot had changed in eight months, enough that Miles had reluctantly agreed to Phoenix’s desperate request.
“Please, Miles,” Phoenix had begged. “Please. All Truce wants is a Christmas with her family.”
“I’ve met her only once,” Miles had reminded him. “She is a lovely girl, but I would not go so far as to declare myself her family.”
“That’s harsh.”
“It’s not meant out of spite, just truth. I hardly know Trucy, and so I don’t believe I’ve earned that title yet. Maya or Pearl would be better suited to fill that role.”
“Maya and Pearls are doing Christmas together in Kurain with Franziska. And besides, Trucy knows we’re together, and she knows I love you. That’s enough for her. She wants you here for Christmas with us more than anything I could possibly put under the tree.”
When Miles was quiet, Phoenix added gently, “I know you hate Christmas. You don’t even have to pretend to like it very much. You can just let her talk at you, and that’ll be fine.”
“I’m not going to fly over 14 hours to Los Angeles just to feign interest in your daughter, Phoenix.”
“Miles, I…”
“You’re correct. I hate Christmas. But I know what it’s like to be a child missing a father during this season. I can at least do this much for her. With no pretenses.”
“I don’t think you know what this’ll mean to her.”
“As much as it will mean to you, I imagine. I’ll book my flights when we get off the phone, and I’ll see you in two weeks. I have some work to finish if I’m to take a holiday back to America, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Okay. Don’t work too hard.”
“There is no such thing.”
“There is too. But I’m not really feeling like objecting right now. I’ll talk to you soon. I love you, Miles.”
“I love you too, Phoenix.”
Now, as Miles found himself on the threshold, he was wondering if this was truly a good idea.
He hated this holiday, he had no idea how to interact with a child of Trucy’s age...and he could hardly bring himself to look Phoenix in the eye until he successfully found a way to overturn his disbarment. He, Franziska, and Gumshoe had been working tirelessly for months, but to absolutely no avail.
This could only go poorly.
But he resisted the urge to head right back to the airport and knocked instead.
After a long wait — it was early in the morning, Miles doubted they were out of bed yet — he could hear the sound of running footsteps from inside, and then the door was flung open.
“Mr. Miles!”
Trucy stood at the door, her previously pink clothes replaced with otherwise-identical blue ones, bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement. Her eyes shone with joy as she beamed up at him.
Miles offered what he hoped was a warm enough smile and said, “Er, hello, Trucy. There’s no need to be formal; you may just call me Miles.”
“Okay!” Trucy smiled. She turned to call back into the apartment, “Daddy, Miles is here!”
There was the sound of something falling over from a distant room before Phoenix ran into view. “Miles! You made it!”
“Have I ever not attended something I’ve committed to?” Miles asked skeptically.
“I meant that your flights didn’t get delayed, but go ahead, be a jerk,” Phoenix shook his head with fond exasperation. He slid around Trucy to hug Miles and press a kiss to his cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“It’s good to see you,” Miles agreed.
“Well, c’mon, Truce. How about you help Miles get his stuff inside? He had a really long flight, he’s probably tired,” Phoenix said. “I’m gonna go start breakfast.”
“Okay!” Trucy agreed, grabbing Miles’ suitcase and pulling it inside as Phoenix headed to the kitchen. Miles winced at how roughly she handled it; there were a number of carefully packed, very fragile gifts inside. If they made it safely to America only to be broken at their destination, he would be more than a little irritated.
Perhaps he was as much of a Scrooge as Phoenix fondly accused him of being, or perhaps that was just the jetlag talking.
As soon as Miles walked inside Trucy all but tackled him with a hug, mumbling into his chest, “Daddy told me you had to work really hard to finish all your stuff so you could be here. I’m sorry you had to work so hard, but I’m really happy you’re here. And Daddy is too. I think he’s been even more excited than I was. He misses you a lot.”
Miles awkwardly patted her back. “It was no trouble, Trucy. Your father told me how important this was to you. And it has been quite a while since I’ve seen him. I missed him too.”
Trucy let him go and beamed up at him, bouncing in excitement again. “Daddy and I got you presents! They’re under the tree! Well, Daddy said we couldn’t afford a tree this year, so they’re under Ms. Mia’s plant! Daddy calls him Charley. We put lights on him and everything!”
Miles knew things had been hard for them, but not that hard. Phoenix had nonchalantly brushed off Miles’ concern for their finances the last time they had discussed it, though he hadn’t protested the money Miles transferred to his account. Miles suspected it was a combination of shame and a desire to keep up appearances for Trucy that prompted it, and if Trucy’s cheerfulness as she relayed such heartbreaking news was anything to go by, Phoenix had been successful.
“Did you bring us any presents?” Trucy asked as she and Miles walked towards the kitchen.
“Truce, we talked about this,” Phoenix scolded.
“Sorry,” Trucy mumbled.
“It’s alright,” Miles said. “I did. I unfortunately haven’t had a chance to wrap them, though.”
He also kept absolutely nothing like Christmas decorations in his flat, so buying paper had seemed like a waste. Nor did he know how to do much beyond put a gift in a bag.
“We have some paper you can use,” Phoenix said. “Truce and I can be good and not peek while you wrap stuff, right, baby girl?”
Trucy nodded. “That means we get a surprise! I like surprises.”
Miles tried to smile. “I can do that after breakfast. The food on my flight was terrible, so I’m rather hungry.”
As if on cue, Phoenix set down some pancakes and eggs in front of him with a mischievous smile. “Well, hopefully Casa de Wright can satisfy Miles Edgeworth’s refined palate.”
Miles frowned fondly, making Phoenix laugh.
When all three were settled with their food, Trucy asked, “So what do you do for Christmas, Miles? Since this is my first Christmas with Daddy, we want to start family traditions!”
Both Miles and Phoenix winced at the question before Miles said, “I...er...don’t.”
“Don’t what?” Trucy asked.
“Celebrate,” Miles said.
Was he being too honest? She was still young, younger even than he was when his father died. This time of year still held some magic for children her age, and after everything she had been through, perhaps lying was kinder.
“Why?”
Before Phoenix could chide her for pressing him, Miles said, “I...well...have some...bad memories from this time of year. That’s all.”
He paused and quickly added, “But I am happy to help you and your father celebrate.”
“But isn’t that why you’re here? So we can make happy memories?” Trucy asked through a mouthful of pancakes. When Phoenix frowned at her, she quickly swallowed and went on, “It’s like a first Christmas for you too! We can make up our traditions together!”
“Something like that,” Phoenix smiled. “Whaddya think, Truce? Pancakes and eggs for our traditional breakfast?”
Trucy’s face fell a little. “Um...okay. But your eggs are kinda runny, Daddy. Can Miles make them next year?”
Miles couldn’t bite back his snort at that, earning a sour look from Phoenix. Immediately though that look turned mischievous again as Phoenix said, “Well, if you and Miles are going to be mean, I’m not going to invite him next year.”
“That’s not fair!” Trucy pouted.
“I have a key, Phoenix. I’m perfectly capable of letting myself in should you decline to invite me,” Miles said with fond exasperation.
He paused, realizing what he had implied, but the wide smiles on Phoenix and Trucy’s faces couldn’t help but make him smile too.
Perhaps there were worse things than spending the worst part of the year with such loving people.
It was several hours later, just in time for the Steel Samurai Christmas Special, by the time Miles was done watching videos on how to wrap gifts and cursing profusely at how the paper tore if the scissors weren’t held just so.
Franziska would probably injure herself laughing at his inelegant, crooked attempts at clean lines and neat folds, but thankfully, she wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow with Maya and Pearl. That was plenty of time to re-wrap their gifts with Phoenix’s help, and he doubted Phoenix and Trucy particularly cared what their gifts looked like.
Trucy was over the moon when he suggested watching the special, much to Phoenix’s chagrin. As the opening credits rolled she excitedly told them how her Aunt Maya had introduced her to the show, and how it was her favorite show, and how she’d even gotten to meet the Steel Samurai himself once, and how nice he had been despite how scary he looked.
Neither Phoenix nor Miles felt inclined to mention that Miles had once attempted to put the Steel Samurai in prison, and very nearly succeeded.
During commercial breaks, Trucy would run to her room and back to produce the presents her various ‘aunts and uncles’ had already given her. Larry had apparently made her a picture book of herself as a magician, a stunningly well-written and illustrated little story.
Before Miles could comment on how Larry’s ability to finally get his life together was a Christmas miracle in its own right, Trucy mentioned how confused she was at how many special someones Larry had had and why he didn’t have them very long.
Phoenix had just shook his head fondly while Miles tried and failed to suppress another snort.
Gumshoe — who had been dubbed Uncle Gummy by Trucy — and Maggey had gotten her an enormous bag of Christmas candy, which she ate throughout the movie until Phoenix took it away and warned her he’d have no sympathy if she got sick from too much sugar.
Apparently Gumshoe and Maggey had also gotten engaged the previous day, which seemed to be an equally exciting Christmas gift to Trucy. Miles made a mental note to congratulate Gumshoe the next time they spoke, and perhaps mail the happy couple a check to help with their upcoming wedding expenses.
God knew he had been responsible, in his fits of anger and frustration, for that poor man missing out on a not-insubstantial amount of money. It was high time he do something to help him out after everything Gumshoe had done for him.
Perhaps he wasn’t as much of a Scrooge as Phoenix had accused him of being.
As Trucy proudly showed off more gifts, though, his initial anxiety resurfaced.
Yes, he was enjoying the day far more than he expected. Trucy’s joy was infectious, and being able to sit beside Phoenix with their hands intertwined was a gift in its own right. Interacting with Trucy felt easier, if still a little awkward — the first time he had seen her, she had been crying most of their meeting, and dealing with a sobbing child filled him with nearly as much paralyzing fear as an earthquake.
But showing affection...that was another matter entirely.
Phoenix was used to it by now and loved him for it anyway. Being able to say ‘I love you’ without turning crimson was an enormous improvement, nearly as major as Miles letting Phoenix hold his hand in public.
But receiving gifts still flustered him, and giving them was a nightmare. He wasn’t as keenly in tune with others’ emotions as Phoenix — and apparently Trucy as well — was. He knew Phoenix well enough by now to be able to predict what he would enjoy, though his disbarment had made it somewhat harder.
A child, though? Miles hadn’t celebrated a great deal of Christmases as a child, at least, ones he was old enough to recall. Given that he had only met Trucy once, he had flailed for ideas even with Phoenix’s aid.
Hopefully what he had decided on would live up to the rest she had received.
Trucy’s bright voice pulled him from his thoughts as the credits on the movie finished rolling. “Can we watch more movies?”
“What do you want to watch?” Phoenix asked. “The only one I’m going to say no to is Harry Potter. I know he does magic, and I know there’s a Christmas scene, but I think we’ve watched that movie enough this month.”
“But Daddy…”
“No is no, Truce. Besides. I don’t think Miles would like it much.”
“Fiiiiine,” Trucy pouted. “Well...um...what about the Grinch? Or Home Alone?”
“Whaddya think, Miles?” Phoenix asked. “I think we can fit in a few movies before dinner, and we can do presents after that. Does that sound good?”
“That sounds agreeable enough,” Miles agreed. “Although if the both of you intend on staying in your pajamas all day, I wouldn’t mind changing first. I’ve been wearing this suit for almost 24 hours. It’s becoming rather uncomfortable.”
“I still have the pajamas you forgot here last time you visited,” Phoenix said. “They’re in my dresser.”
“I’ve been looking for those. You didn’t feel the need to tell me you had them?”
Phoenix’s smile was fond. “They smell like you. Sometimes I’d pull them out when I really missed you. Felt like you were here.”
Instead of the disgust Miles expected to see on Trucy’s face, he saw a smile nearly as big as her father’s. She really did know just how much Phoenix loved him, didn’t she? She was clearly a sensitive girl...no wonder she had considered him family after just one awkward meeting.
“Theft is theft, Phoenix,” Miles said, albeit with a smile.
“You’ve got me. Put me away, Your Honor, it was a crime of passion,” Phoenix grinned. “Go get changed. I’ll make you some more tea and Truce can decide which movie to start with.”
“Miles.”
Miles jerked awake, blinking hard as he tried to orient himself.
After a moment he became aware of Phoenix just in front of him, smiling from where he precariously sat on the edge of the coffee table. “Hey, sleepyhead.”
“What time is it?” Miles asked blearily.
“7:30. Truce and I figured you needed the sleep, so we took the liberty of ordering dinner while you napped. It just got here,” Phoenix said.
“I hope you took the liberty of using my credit card,” Miles said, rubbing his eyes. “I certainly have the money to spare.”
Phoenix rubbed his head sheepishly. “Yeah, but not on purpose. Truce accidentally grabbed your wallet since it was next to mine. I’d already confirmed the order on the app before she realized the card had your name on it.”
“Good,” Miles said. “What did you order?”
“Chinese food. Nothing else is open today. Truce and I got our usual junk. Don’t worry, I got you wonton soup and chicken with broccoli, like you always get,” Phoenix said.
“You know me so well,” Miles smiled.
“I’ve just missed you,” Phoenix smiled back, though his eyes were sad. “I’ve almost added the stuff you order a bunch of times when Truce and I get something, if it’s a place we’ve gone together. You’ve been in Germany for a long time, and it still feels weird without you here.”
“I’ll come back. I promise you that,” Miles said gently. “I have business there that requires my attention. I have...one thing I need to do above all else. And then I’ll come back.”
Phoenix looked curious at that, but Trucy’s call of, “Daddy! Miles! Our food’s gonna get cold!” stopped him.
“Coming, baby girl!” Phoenix called. “Miles is still waking up from his nap.”
Miles rubbed his eyes one more time, yawned, and got up to follow Phoenix into the kitchen.
Trucy had carefully set out plates and silverware for them and was struggling to reach the glasses in the cabinet by the time they walked in. She smiled at Miles and asked, “Did you have a good nap?”
“Yes,” Miles nodded. “I travel often, but I unfortunately am still susceptible to jetlag. I’m sorry I fell asleep while we were spending time together.”
“That’s okay! Daddy and I took naps too. We never get up that early,” Trucy said. “Christmas naps are an important part of Christmas!”
“So’s dinner,” Phoenix said. “Thanks for getting the plates and stuff, kiddo.”
Dinner was...edible.
Miles wouldn’t pretend it was the best Chinese food he had ever eaten. He couldn’t even say it was mediocre. The only time he had eaten worse was when he and Gumshoe had pulled an all-nighter back when they were hopeful Phoenix’s disbarment would be easily overturned. Gumshoe had fallen asleep standing up, so the detective had taken the liberty of ordering food for the both of them to keep them awake.
It had certainly woken Miles up, given that he had nearly thrown up later that night.
But Phoenix and Trucy enjoyed the food, so perhaps he could too.
Trucy all but inhaled her food and sat practically vibrating with anticipation in her seat as Miles and Phoenix ate. The moment Miles took his last bite, she finally burst out, “Can we open presents now? Please?”
“Let Miles finish eating,” Phoenix scolded gently.
“I’m done,” Miles said, setting his fork down. “Shall we, Trucy?”
She was halfway to the door before realizing both men were still sitting, so she pulled Miles from his chair and dragged him with her to the front office, where their humble little display sat. The plant Mia had apparently named Charley did indeed have a sad little string of lights wrapped around it, an old rug wrapped around its pot like a tree skirt.
A surprisingly large pile of presents sat beneath it, some from Phoenix and Trucy to each other, a few to Maya, Pearl, and even a particularly pristine one for Franziska.
The sight of Phoenix and Trucy’s gifts to him, sitting besides his to them, made his chest feel just a little bit tight.
He hadn’t felt this happy on Christmas Day since the last one he had had with his father, almost twenty years ago.
“Who wants to open them first?” Phoenix asked as he sat down beside them on the floor.
“You should open mine!” Trucy exclaimed, picking up a small box and all but throwing it at Phoenix.
“Okay, okay, calm down,” Phoenix laughed, tearing into the paper.
His struggle with the tape on the box was ferocious enough that Miles fetched his Swiss army knife for Phoenix. Once the box was finally open, Phoenix pulled out what was inside, his eyes immediately welling with tears as his lips began to tremble.
It was a lovingly knitted sky blue beanie, the word ‘Papa’ in pink near the bottom edge. Phoenix managed, “Did you make this, Truce?”
“Sometimes I get worried when you’re at work really late, and I can’t sleep,” Trucy admitted, fidgeting with her hair. “So I’ve been working on that when I haven’t been able to sleep.”
Phoenix put the hat on and pulled Trucy into a tight hug. “I love it. You’re a really good kid, you know that?”
“I love you, Daddy,” Trucy said into Phoenix’s chest.
“Love you too, baby girl.”
She let Phoenix go and settled herself back on the floor before asking, “Um...who wants to go next?”
“Here, kiddo, you gave me my present. Open yours,” Phoenix suggested, handing Trucy a box similar in size to the one she gave him.
Trucy shredded the paper and pulled the box open without even needing Miles’ knife, squealing in delight at the contents. “These cards are so pretty, Daddy!”
She pulled a pack of playing cards from the box, a swirling red-and-blue design on one side and stylized suits and numbers on the other. Phoenix smiled and prompted, “And?”
Trucy’s excited shriek made Miles wince. “Are those…!?”
The second item in the box made Miles do a double-take. They were ugly, frilly, blue-with-pink-hearts patterned...panties?
“I can start working on the magic panties trick now!” Trucy exclaimed. “Daddy, these are so perfect! They’re so frilly and ugly! I love them so much!”
Phoenix laughed as Trucy tackled him with a hug. “Merry Christmas, Truce. I’m glad you like them.”
Magic...panties?
Phoenix must have seen the confusion on Miles’ face, because he laughed again and said, “Don’t think too hard about it.”
“I’ll do my best impression of you, then,” Miles replied archly, earning a scowl.
“Um, can I open your present, Miles?” Trucy asked.
Miles’ heart skipped a beat. Phoenix knew his daughter so well — he had gotten her exactly the perfect gift. Miles was hardly confident she would even like it...he wasn’t certain he wanted his gift to immediately follow Phoenix’s.
But he couldn’t say no to that pleading look, so he nodded.
She picked up the box and kindly commented, “You did a really good job wrapping it,” before tearing the wrapping apart.
Miles forced himself to breathe as Trucy opened the box.
The momentary silence was excruciating, before Trucy finally asked, “Are these chocolates? They’re so pretty.”
Not quite a squeal of excitement, but not an indication of disgust, either.
“Yes. Switzerland is very famous for their chocolates,” Miles nodded.
“Don’t you live in Germany?”
“The countries are very close together in Europe. It was just a short trip to go get those for you,” Miles explained. “Your father told me you like to use playing cards in your magic tricks, so I had them make them in the shape of the card suits for you.”
“They look so pretty I don’t want to eat them…” Trucy said, regarding the elegant box in awe.
Miles smiled. “Once you have one I’m certain you’ll change your mind. They’re from one of the best chocolatiers in Switzerland, so they’ll taste even better than they look.”
“I want you and Daddy to try them, too!” Trucy smiled. “Even though Daddy took Uncle Gummy’s candy away.”
Phoenix laughed and ruffled her hair. “You’d eaten a lot of that, honey. And don’t eat this all at one time, okay?”
“Don’t take too long, though,” Miles said, earning a ferocious glare from Phoenix. “These were made yesterday, and they don’t have any preservatives in them. They’ll only last a few days.”
“See? Miles agrees with me!” Trucy exclaimed.
“I don’t think he’s trying to say to eat them all at once,” Phoenix shook his head. He shot Miles a pointed look and asked, “Right, Miles?”
“No, certainly not. They’re rather rich,” Miles said obligingly.
“Well, we can have some of them once we’re a little less full from dinner. What else did Miles get you, Truce? There’s something else in the box,” Phoenix said.
Trucy carefully picked up the second gift in the box, a delicately carved wooden box, and opened it. Her eyes widened and she asked, “What is this? It’s really pretty too.”
“It’s a chess set. Your father said you like puzzles and games, and chess is both,” Miles said. “The pieces are made out of glass. It was made in the Black Forest in Germany.”
Trucy picked up some of the pieces, marveling at them. “They’re so pretty. They look like animals!”
“I thought you might like animals more than the normal pieces. Normal pieces can look very similar until you’re familiar with them,” Miles nodded.
As Trucy continued to look at the pieces, Phoenix shook his head fondly. “She’s eight, Miles. Chess, really?”
“I was able to beat players four times my age when I was eight,” Miles said simply. “She’s a sharp girl. I’m certain she’ll catch on quickly. She can’t be any worse than you.”
“Okay, first of all, objection. Second of all, you’re the worst,” Phoenix scowled. “Don’t think I missed how your old chess set looked like you and me, and how you always had the red pieces cornering the blue ones.”
“Did I? I never realized it.”
“You’re too smart to pretend to be that stupid.”
“Will you teach me how to play, Miles? I don’t think Daddy knows how to,” Trucy said.
“No, he certainly does not. I’ll be happy to teach you,” Miles smiled.
“Jeez, be nice to me. It’s Christmas,” Phoenix sighed. “Open your present, you ingrate.”
Miles laughed and picked up the box Phoenix indicated.
Just as with the previous few boxes, two gifts lay nestled in the box. The first, larger object immediately caught Miles’ attention, and he forgot to even feign restraint as he snatched it out of the box.
It was a limited run, first-edition Steel Samurai figurine, made shortly after the release of the show. Only a few dozen had been made, and they sold online for thousands of dollars.
“Is this…?” Miles managed. There was no way it was real.
“A limited run, first-edition Magistrate Series Steel Samurai figurine released in 2016, the most highly coveted of collectors’ items?” Phoenix asked with a knowing smile. “One of only fifty made, all handmade and individually numbered?”
“How???”
“Will Powers had one, and when I mentioned I was looking for something cool for you for Christmas, he remembered he never actually got around to paying me for, y’know, saving his life,” Phoenix grinned. “He suggested it, since he didn’t really need it, and I figured it was a fair trade. I thought it would look nice in your office next to your other one.”
“Are you joking?” Miles demanded indignantly. “The figure that witch gave me is certainly magnificent, but nothing like this. That one is being relegated to the mantle in my flat. This will be in a place of honor in my office.”
“You’re such a nerd,” Phoenix laughed fondly. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Can I see it?” Trucy asked. “I’ll be really, really careful with it, I promise!”
“Of course,” Miles nodded, gently handing the figure to her. “I would never deny any appreciator of the series the opportunity to see something like this.”
As Trucy carefully examined it, Miles picked up the other object in the box, something small and flat and lovingly wrapped in tissue paper.
He unwrapped it and felt that tightness in his chest return.
It was a picture of Phoenix and Trucy, most likely taken by Maya if the expertly done portrait mode was anything to go by. Phoenix had Trucy in a playful headlock, ruffling her hair, and they were both laughing as Trucy was trying to extricate herself from Phoenix’s grip. The frame around the photo was elegant and understated, the crimson and gold a perfect match for his office.
“It’s not much. But I wanted you to have a little piece of LA over there in Berlin with you. Y’know, a reminder that you’ve got people here who love you a lot. I tried to pick a frame that would match what I remember your office looking like,” Phoenix said. “Maybe it can go on the shelf next to your Steel Samurai.”
“With how frustratingly stagnant my most important project has become, a reminder of what I’m working towards is both needed and appreciated,” Miles smiled. “I’ll need to rearrange my desk somewhat, but I would never relegate this to some dusty shelf. It should fit nicely next to the picture of my father.”
“None of your shelves have ever been dusty. Not even when we were kids.”
“True. But photographs of the people I love belong where I can see them.”
“You’re starting to sound like me,” Phoenix laughed as Trucy handed the figurine back to Miles. “Soon you’re going to start thinking like me, too, and then you’re screwed.”
“I certainly tried to think like you when I chose your gift. It’s nothing particularly large, but I do hope you enjoy it.”
Phoenix picked up the card addressed to him and teased, “If it fits in here, it’s definitely not large.”
He carefully opened the envelope, read the note Miles had written inside, and kissed Miles’ cheek. “You’re a sap.”
“You’re the one who kept my pajamas because you missed me.”
Phoenix rolled his eyes before picking up the three slips of paper in the card. The first two, a matching pair, made him smile fondly at Miles, but the third provoked an entirely different reaction.
His face went slack, his eyes widening before immediately filling with tears. Phoenix managed to choke out, “Miles, I can’t take this.”
“Turning down a gift is hardly in the Christmas spirit, Phoenix,” Miles chided.
“I...Miles, that’s too much.”
“It’s hardly enough.”
Phoenix lowered his voice so Trucy couldn’t hear and practically whimpered, “$25,000? Miles. That’s...that’s insane.”
“I have a car that costs four times as much. This is the absolute least I can do for someone I love. Had I thought you would accept more, I would have given it to you. Please promise me that if you need more, you won’t hesitate to let me know. I don’t want Trucy to have any more Christmases without a tree, or any fear of going hungry or without power. I only wish you had told me.”
“I don’t deserve you,” Phoenix mumbled, though he took Miles’ hand in his and squeezed it tightly.
“The same accusation has been leveled at me countless times,” Miles smiled wryly. “You may not feel you deserve it, or me. But I believe you do. And my opinion on that will never waver.”
“I love you,” Phoenix managed.
“And I love you.”
“What’re you whispering about?” Trucy demanded.
“Oh, boring grown-up stuff,” Phoenix smiled, tucking the check into his pocket and handing her the other contents of the card. “You’ll think Miles’ present to me is lame. But he did get the two of us something, and I think you’ll like that.”
Trucy took the two slips of paper, focusing on them very intently. “What does first class mean?”
“You know in movies when people have the really fancy seats on airplanes and they get all kinds of fancy food?” Phoenix asked. Trucy nodded. “That’s first class.”
“First class to Berlin,” Trucy read aloud. She looked up and cocked her head in thought. “Isn’t that where you live, Miles?”
“Yes, it is,” Miles nodded. “Berlin is the capital of Germany.”
“Are these tickets to visit you?” Trucy realized, her eyes widening.
“You’re even cleverer than your father,” Miles said, earning a giggle from Trucy. “These are vouchers for tickets, so you can use them whenever you would like to come visit me. I have a very nice apartment you can stay in, and we can go see whatever you would like to see and buy whatever souvenirs you would like to buy.”
“Really?” Trucy gasped. “You really mean it?”
“Of course I mean it. I never promise things I don’t mean. Your father can attest to that,” Miles said, smiling at Phoenix’s fond huff. “As long as you give me enough notice that I can finish my projects at work, you can visit for as long as you like.”
“I can’t wait!” Trucy exclaimed. “We can come visit you for your birthday!”
“That’s a nice idea, Truce,” Phoenix smiled. “How about you give Miles your present now, huh? I think it’s the last one left until we see Aunt Maya and Pearls and Franziska tomorrow.”
“Okay!” Trucy agreed. She picked up a surprisingly large box and handed it to him. “Open it! Open it! I hope you like it!”
“I’m sure I will,” Miles assured her.
Inside was a simple tea set, just a teapot, cup, and saucer. Curious, Miles picked it up to examine more closely.
Almost immediately his eyes burned with tears, and a few traitorous tears found the nerve to slide down his cheeks.
Trucy had clearly decorated these herself, the colors and patterns far too much like his taste to be a coincidence. She had done a painstaking job, the lines remarkably clean, the colors impressively bright. All three of the items in the little set matched perfectly, equal levels of exacting detail on each.
It took him a moment to notice the delicate little traces of blue in the patterns, most prominent on the saucer.
The same blue as the suit Phoenix once wore, and the same blue as the outfit Trucy now donned.
“Oh, shit,” Phoenix breathed. “Miles, are you crying? Are you okay?”
Trucy’s eyes went wide and welled with tears. “I’m sorry you don’t like it...I hoped you would…”
“I love it, Trucy,” Miles managed. “Very much so.”
“Then...why are you crying?”
Miles set down the teapot and brushed away his tears. “Do you remember how I told you I have a lot of bad memories from this time of year?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I haven’t had one this special in a very long time.”
Trucy hugged him tightly. “I love you.”
That certainly made the moment even more special. Miles hugged her back and murmured, “I love you too, Trucy.”
“You guys are gonna make me cry.”
Trucy turned to glower at Phoenix. “Be nice and hug us!”
Phoenix dutifully obeyed. “I love you two. Even though Miles is snarky and Trucy talks back.”
“You are the most insufferable…” Miles started to sigh, prompting Phoenix to laugh and say, “The defense rests, Your Honor.”
He let them go, stretched, and said, “Alright, I’m old and tired. Let’s clean up all this paper and go to bed. If Franziska’s gonna be here tomorrow, we gotta be neat and up early.”
“She’ll be arriving with Maya. I highly doubt they’ll be here before eleven,” Miles laughed.
“Fair. Doesn’t change that I’m tired.”
They cleaned up the shredded paper and carefully set the gifts on the table where they couldn’t be knocked over or stepped on before dispersing to clean up for bed.
Phoenix was fast asleep by the time Miles finished brushing his teeth, drooling into his pillow and snoring at an impressive volume. Miles sighed fondly, mildly disappointed at his lack of good night kiss after nine months without, and sat on his side of the bed to plug in his phone and turn off the light.
“Um...Miles?”
Trucy was awkwardly hovering by the door, a little stuffed Blue Badger in her hand.
Miles made a note to burn the damn thing tomorrow and replace it with something less spine-chilling, but aloud he asked, “Yes, Trucy?”
Trucy bit her thumbnail nervously. “Um...I normally sleep in here with Daddy. I can’t sleep by myself. Um...can I sleep with you two?”
Given that her biological father had literally vanished on her, he could hardly blame the poor girl for needing to be sure her adoptive one wouldn’t disappear into thin air, either. Had he been raised in a home less prone to psychological torture after his father’s death, he likely would have done the same.
He certainly couldn’t force a girl he loved startlingly like a daughter sleep by herself on Christmas.
“Of course. It may be a little crowded, but we can certainly manage.”
Trucy smiled and crawled onto the bed, snuggling herself between Phoenix and Miles. When she was settled, as Miles flicked off the light and scrolled through his emails one last time, she said softly, “Miles?”
“Yes, Trucy?”
“I hope you liked today.”
“I did, very much.”
“Even though you had a really long flight? And had to have Daddy’s bad cooking? And watch kids' Christmas movies?”
“Yes, even despite all of that.”
“Even though you don’t like Christmas?”
“Sometimes, when you’re a lawyer or a prosecutor, you don’t have all the right evidence. And you get wrong ideas. You need people to help you find all the evidence and help you have the right ideas. That’s why we have both lawyers and prosecutors. Heaven knows your father and I have helped each other like that countless times.”
He paused, realized by Trucy’s silence that she hadn’t followed his point, and added, “And sometimes, you don’t have to be a lawyer to help people realize they have wrong ideas. Sometimes even marvelous little magicians can, too.”
“Um...I think I get it. Maybe.”
Trucy sounded less than convincing, so Miles went on, “I think it suffices to say that you and your father have somewhat changed my ideas about Christmas. I have much better evidence about it now.”
“Oh! I do get it now! I...um...I’m glad. I’m happy you’re happy today.”
“I am too. Now, let’s get some rest, Trucy. It’s getting late, and we want to get good sleep.”
“Okay. Especially since Miss Franziska is coming tomorrow.”
Miles couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, especially because she is visiting tomorrow.”
“Okay. Goodnight, Miles.”
“Goodnight.”
“Merry Christmas.”
Miles smiled, and for the first time, the words didn’t feel bitter on his tongue as he gently replied, “Merry Christmas, Trucy.”
She hummed happily before drifting off to sleep, her soft snores much gentler than her father’s.
Miles locked his phone and set it on the nightstand, closing his eyes for a moment before an idea came to him.
He picked the phone back up, scrolling to the app that managed his tickets, and found his tickets home, booked for the following night.
Or, they were, until he clicked the large red CANCEL button. Even as the app asked if he was certain he wanted to cancel, as the tickets were only partially refundable, he couldn’t help but smile.
He could afford to stay a few extra days.
After all, it was Christmas.