Stephanie: ...You posted a new story yesterday.

Point? Anyway, I wanted to do a dark Layton fic at some point, and I read The Godfather-

Stephanie: You only read the first part!

I don't own the Layton series!

"At the end of the day, the goals are simple: safety and security."

~Jodi Rell

"Ah, Clark-my dear friend. It has been a while, no?" Layton greeted as he rose from his chair, then turned to the woman beside his friend. "And this must be Brenda, your lovely wife."

Brenda kept her expression neutral as she nodded and adjusted her grip on the bundle in her arms. "Thank you, Sir. I am glad I'm known by a man as high as yourself."

Layton nodded and turned back to his friend. "I hear you have gotten into a bit of trouble lately with Targent. I understand you hate being in another man's debt and therefore ask for favors. However, due to your undying loyalty towards me for all these years, I shall still help you in any way I can."

Clark nodded and looked over at his wife. "We both are mostly concerned for the safety of our son."

"Of course-I understand the need to protect one's kin, especially the younger ones." Layton leaned back against his desk and focused his gaze on the now-moving bundle in Brenda's arms. "How old is he now? Four, five months? Traveling with a child is no easy feat-especially when escaping."

"What are you getting at?" Brenda asked while tightening her grip on her child ever-so-slightly.

"I can get you out of Targent's reach, but traveling with an infant would surely cause discovery," Layton answered as he sat down in the chair behind his desk. "There is something we could do, though-I could take Luke in for you. That way, he will be guaranteed safety, and you two will be able to escape the grasp of Targent."

Brenda stepped away from Layton at the suggestion. "W-What? How c-"

"We accept."

"Clark!"

Clark turned to his wife and put his hands on her shoulders. "We both agreed that Luke's safety was our number one priority. If we took him with us..."

"I can assure you, Brenda-Clare and I will take the utmost care of Luke," Layton said as he walked over. "And I never break a promise."

Brenda screwed her eyes shut and tightened her grip on Luke. "You're asking a mother to give up her child," she whispered before pressing her lips against the boy's forehead, then reluctantly handing him off to Layton. "But his safety comes first..."

And thus, Luke's fate with the Layton family was sealed.

A/N: *stretches arms over head* Well, that was fun. Review!