Disclaimer: I do not own Phoenix Wright or the characters. They belong to Capcom…yep real generic disclaimer.

A/N: This takes place BEFORE the time-skip between T&T and AJ.

Ema tugged at the leash, urging Missile to follow.

Ema wondered how she got into this situation. Her answer was simple. She had simply asked Lana if there was anything that she could do now that would give her a better chance of receiving a job as a scientific investigator once she returns from college. Her answer was to volunteer for odd jobs to help out some of the officers. So when Ema walked into the Police Station and asked for a random errand, what did she get? She got the task of walking a puppy.

Ema tugged again. This time Missile quit sniffing at the snail and followed her.

For the past two weeks, Ema had taken about a half hour out of each one of her days to walk this puppy. She could be studying about chemical reactions, or math formulas, or biological compositions; but no, a dog needed to piddle.

Ema mentally scolded herself. Why was she being so emotional lately? She hoped it was just a passing thought. She should be grateful that she has a chance to at least make some sort of mark. A few good deeds here and there and the bigwigs will be so impressed by her that surely they'll remember her in a few years time.

Ema saw Missile walk over to a patch of grass. The puppy paced for a few seconds before getting into position. Ema fitted her hands with rubber gloves and grabbed a plastic baggie from her pocket. After the dog was finished with its business, Ema placed the waste material in the baggie and disposed of it in a nearby public trash can.

Missile looked up at Ema, tail wagging and mouth panting. 'Well, at least the puppy's cute' Ema thought to herself.

Suddenly Missile perked up. The dog faced down the street and started yipping. Before Ema realized it, Missile had managed to drag Ema several yards towards a figure with his back towards them. Missile seemed to recognize this person, and Ema somehow couldn't remove this nagging feeling that she did too.

The figure turned towards Ema, obviously alarmed at the barking of the canine. Ema nearly gasped when she realized who it was. She mentally slapped herself, how could she have not recognized him earlier? The hair alone should have given it away.

Phoenix Wright knelt down to pet the energetic young dog that bounded around his legs. He noticed the person on the other end of the leash and greeted her. "Hey Ema. How have you been?"

Ema blushed slightly and replied "Oh I've been doing ok." She tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach.

"So what are you doing with Missile here?" Phoenix inquired.

"Oh, just volunteering" Ema explained adding a slight nervous laugh at the end.

"Oh, I see. Well I hope you have a nice day" Phoenix said turning to leave.

Ema couldn't let this chance pass her by. There was no telling when she would see him again. He wasn't exactly someone she ran into every now and then. If she didn't tell him now she may not be able to tell him again for a while.

"W-wait." She started, her face completely flushed. "I-I want to tell you something."

Phoenix stopped mid-turn. He faced her paying full attention.

"I want to tell you, that I'm really grateful for what you did" she began.

"What I did?" Phoenix asked.

"Before you freed my sister, our relationship was at its breaking point. I was seriously considering moving in with one of my distant relatives. She was so cold at times that it was almost painful to be in the same room with her."

Phoenix nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"But, you mended our relationship. Thanks to you, I have a sister again. You brought the light back into my life. But that's not all."

Phoenix's face showed puzzled look at this.

"I want to be honest with you. I enjoyed those three days that we spent researching the case. Well, that is to say…I enjoyed spending that time with you…and…" Ema was unable to find the words to express her feelings.

But she soon found that she could not speak any words anyway, for in the next moment her lips were cut off by Phoenix's. Ema was shocked, but did not resist. After a few moments Phoenix separated the kiss and spoke.

"I know what you're trying to say. Before I met you I was in my own depression. I was in a rut, turning down cases just because I wasn't up to it. But you saved me. I feel the same way about you."