I do not own Professor Layton or any of it's characters

Chapter 1

Back to America

Three months had passed since Luke had come back to London and moved to the Professor's. After a little while, Luke had become his old self again and the most important thing he wasn't alone anymore he had the Professor, who had almost become his legal father. There still some formalities with the adoption paper and actually Luke was about to become a 17-year-old young man and so he didn't really needed a legal guardian but the Professor wanted to do and even he was too proud to admit he Luke wanted it, too. But at first the Professor wanted to get a better impression of how life had been treating Luke, in the year where he had to live on the american streets. So both of them were about to enter the plane that should take them to America.

:"Luke. Come now my boy. They are starting to board the plane.", the Professor had to scream a little because Luke was still in the airport's CD-shop.

:"Coming!", Luke said loudly, while walking fast out of the shop carrying his suitcase.

While standing in the boarding line Luke's face was getting pale. As pale as snow. And of course the Professor noticed that.

:"Are you alright my boy? You're looking rather pale.", he stated, while putting a hand on Luke right shoulder.

The sudden touch broke Luke's thoughts. But then he relaxed and answered:

"No.. no. I'm okay."

:"Are you sure my boy?. Remember we don't have to do this. It's okay if you need a little more time to return to America. I can understand that.", the Professor said comforting

If the Professor only knew what was really on Luke's mind. Well the truth was, since his parents died, Luke was afraid of highs. He wasn't able to go through bridges and then he wasn't even able to climb on mountains. Luke had no problem with visiting America, but he had a big problem with taking the plane to go there.

:"No really. Honestly. I'm okay with this. I kind of missed America and I'm looking forward to show you all those interesting places.", Luke responded

:"Very well then,",the began and continued after they had showed their boarding cards to the stewardess,"What else is on your mind?"

There Luke refused to answer and just changed the subject.

:"Oh it's nothing. Do you know what you would like to see first, when we arrive in America?"

:"Luke...", the Professor said in a threatening tone,"What is going on?"

:"Really nothing. Can't we just-!"Luke froze when he realized he had the window seat. "Oh no" He thought. Luke had to sit on the window side the whole flight. He had to look at the ground all this time... This was bad. Luke began to shiver a little bit. Until he finally took a step forward to sit down but then a hand appeared on his back.

:"It's okay Luke. I'm here you don't have to be afraid and maybe we could switch places? What do you think, my boy?", the Professor said.

Of course he knew what was going on. Maybe Luke behaved too predictable.

:"T-Thanks.", Luke answered and kind of relieved.

:"You're welcome my boy.", he said, while taking a seat at the window and Luke sat down next to him.

:"Well, I guess we have a lot of time until we start. Is there probably a puzzle on your mind?", The Professor asked

:"No. Unfortunately not. But I would like to read my novel. If you don't mind."

:"Of course I do not mind. Go ahead."

Luke took out his novel and began to read, while the Professor followed all the instructions the stewardess showed until he fall asleep.

The Professor woke up again, when something was gripping his arm very tightly. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was that the plane was rolling, very very fast. Then he turned his head and saw Luke. His face : pale, his eyes : wide open and his hand : gripping the Professor's arm. On the one hand the Professor was thankful to see that Luke hadn't grown up so much and was acting like a child in some situation but on the other hand it would have been better if Luke would lose a bit of his grip.

The Professor did the first thing that came to his mind. With his other hand he reached out for Luke arm, the one he was using to cling to the Professor, and held it soft enough to calm Luke and made him also turn around.

:"Luke, it's okay. Nothing is going to happen.", The Professor said softly

Luke lost a bit of his grip and calmed himself. Until the Plane was in the air and the flight was tolerable, Luke held on the Professor's coat and the Professor hold on Luke's arm to comfort him. But when the stewardess said

:"You're allowed to move, now"

Luke let go of the Professor and turned around, trying not to show how embarrassed he was by behaving like a little child.

:"It's okay my boy. Everyone is scared sometimes.", the Professor said and making Luke turning even more red.

But at last both of them smiled and began to read again. Well Luke read something while the Professor was inventing knew puzzles.

:"Luke?... My boy?... Wake up. We have arrived.", the Professor said after a while.

Luke woke up very slowly. He couldn't believe he had fallen asleep and he was shocked when he realized that he was leaning onto something, or better said someone.

:"Oh god!", Luke said by getting up very quickly. He had slept by leaning on the Professor shoulder. Why had Luke to do this embarrassing things all the time. He began to apologize:

:"I'm so sorry. Oh my. How long was I asleep?.", Luke sounded almost hyperventilating.

:"My boy. It's alright, don't panic. I suggest you had very long nap. Did you ever noticed that you're talking in your sleep.", the Professor said laughing a little and making Luke blush.

:"No..", Luke said, hoping that he didn't say something embarrassing," I'm sorry."

:"There is no need to apologize my boy. But probably we should leave now. We have less time than you think."

Both of them began to pack up their things quickly and took the next train to the village, where had to live. And when they arrived the Professor was shocked of what he saw. Luke was showing him his ... well, his home. A kind of small house builded of cartons in a dirty alley.

:"My word!", the Professor said stunned, "This is where you had to live, the last year?"

:"Yes.", answered a very ashamed Luke.

:"Oh Luke. My boy, this is terrible. I would have never allowed this."

:"I know. But it wasn't that bad.", Luke calmed the Professor a bit.

:"Well, I think I saw enough for today. Maybe we should go to check in the hotel I rented?", the Professor suggested

:"Yes, maybe that would be better.", Luke said smiling

The Professor and Luke head to the hotel and made themselves ready for bed. But there was something on Luke's mind.

What could he have said in his sleep in the plane and was there the opportunity that he would do it again...