Before Elaine had left for the global trip to find Azran eggs, she had called her family home and got her mother. While her mother had (somewhat reluctantly) did not try to keep Elaine from going after 'returning' from her previous kidnapping. However, when Elaine mentioned Desmond (keeping out certain details such as him being Descole), her mother had made her promise to bring him over for dinner.

Since they would be heading to Germany soon to look into an interesting mystery, Elaine felt it was only right to do the dinner first, adventure after.

Elaine wasn't sure how Desmond truly felt about it all. She suspected that despite accepting to go and even buying a small bouquet of flowers as a present for her mother, he might have actually been a bit nervous. She knew he never got on with the parents of his previous wife, Lucy. Mainly because they looked down on him. Maybe because of that, he wanted to try and get on with her family. That, Elaine could truly appreciate.

The couple considered bringing Johanna with them, but thought it would be best just to introduce Desmond now, bring up Johanna, and maybe bring her on a second or third visit. Assuming there was one that is.

"Are you sure you're not nervous?" Elaine asked as they walked through Marigold, the small village her family moved to from France when she was fifteen. They had just arrived ten minutes ago that evening after getting a taxi from the train station.

"Of course not," Desmond said calmly. "What would make you think that?"

"You're clutching those daffodils like it's a lifeline." Elaine glanced down to the extremely tight grip Desmond had on the bouquet of her mother's favourite flowers. On Elaine's remark, the group loosened.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "I guess I'm just… anxious about how this night will go."

"I'm sure it'll be find," Elaine assured, giving him a light squeeze on his shoulder. "Papa and Philippe might give be a little 'ard since I'm their daughter, but mum saw your picture in one of the articles in my office and is fairly eager to meet you." Elaine frowned, as her cousin came to mind. "Although, we might need to worry about Madeline recognising you."

"If Layton didn't, I think it'll be safe to say Madeline won't." Elaine had to admit, he had a point. She probably should question how Professor Layton didn't, but in all fairness, she never thought Desmond Sycamore or Jean Descole were the same when she saw Desmond's picture on the back of one of his articles, after spending a year with Descole.

"Well… 'Ere we are," Elaine said as they stopped outside her parents' home. The house was made of tan coloured brick, with ivy crawling up the walls as colourful flowers decorating the sides of the pathway to the front door and the driveway, more flowers decorating the front garden. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Descole said as they walked once more, going up the pathway and once at the white painted front door, pressed the bell. This wasn't actually the first time he had been here. He came here in disguise, mainly to mess with Elaine, after Ambrosia and before kidnapping her the second time.

"Just remember, as far as they know, Desmond Sycamore rescued me from Jean Descole."

After footsteps were heard, the door was opened by Elaine's mother. She looked a great deal like Elaine, even having the same light brown hair as Elaine although there were a couple of grey hairs at her roots, and while Elaine had blue eyes, her mother had grey. There was also a light sign of age in her face, being around her late fifties.

"Elaine!" Elaine's smiling mother immediately pulled her into an extremely tight hug. Elaine didn't fight it and hugged back. She had missed this. Her mother's hugs. "I'm so glad you're 'ome."

"Me too, mum," Elaine murmured before they pulled apart and gestured to Desmond. "Mum, this is Desmond."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hawthorne," said Desmond, giving a charming smile as he held out the bouquet he brought. "Your lovely daughter mentioned you liked daffodils, so I thought I'd bring some."

Elaine's mother looked at Desmond, her smile faltering as she looked as Desmond with slight awe.

"I knew you were 'andsome, but you're even 'andsomer in person," she said in a tone to match her expression. Desmond's smile turned a little sheepish.

"Oh, well… Thank-."

"Come 'ere!" The next thing he knew, Elaine mother wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Grinning to herself. "I want to 'ug the wonderful, 'andsome man who rescued my daughter!" Descole looked surprised, and he was. This certainly was not what he had expected. But still, if Elaine's mother liked him (even if she had made him feel slightly uncomfortable) then why complain?

After letting him go, Elaine mother accepted the daffodils.

"Merci, Desmond. Now, come in, come in. Both of you," she said as she let Elaine step inside first, before slyly grinning as she glanced down as Desmond soon joined. "Get that cute rear inside~."

Smack.

While it had been light (well, sort of…), it was enough to make Desmond tense, a bright red colour coming to his cheeks.

Did… Did Elaine's mother just slap his rear?

"I'll just put these on the dining table," said Mrs. Hawthorne as she walked through a doorway leading into said room. Elaine bit her lip to keep herself from laughing at Desmond's expression. "Would either of you like some tea? Coffee?"

"I'll 'ave some, mum."

"M-me as well, Mrs. Hawthorne," Desmond replied. Adjusting his glasses as he waited for his blushing face to subside.

"No, 'Mrs. Hawthorne', from you, mister." Elaine's mother poked her head back out from the doorway. "It makes me sound old. Call me Anne."

"Yes, of course. If you insist. Anne."

"So, where are the others?" Elaine asked when they went into the spotlessly clean kitchen. Well, it was almost spotless. There were some bits of cut food on the counter, leftover over from the currently cooking dinner.

"Your father's picking Madeline up from the train station. She was going to bring 'Enry Ledore with 'er but 'e's not well at the moment, and Philippe went out to pick up some milk, and some sugar so 'e should be back soon." Anne replied as she started getting cups and tea bags out. That done, she then looked over to them. "Are you okay with roast beef with a horseradish crust?"

"Oui."

"Yes."

"Bon," Anne chirped before she grabbed the kettle to fill water into it. "I wasn't sure whether or not it would be a good choice, but compared to some of the other meals I 'ad in mind, I thought it would be the most suitable."

"I'm sure it will be delightful, Anne."

"Of course it will. Mum's a great cook," Elaine said with a light smirk. "I would be surprised if you didn't like it."

"Flattery won't win your way with me, young lady. That only works for your father."

When tea was ready, Anne had poured the cups for Elaine and Desmond and herself at the kitchen table, before she went to check that dinner wasn't burning.

"Elaine," Desmond whispered to her. "Is… Is it normal for your mother to, erm…"

"Spank men's bottoms? Oui. She's done that to four of my previous boyfriends, so don't worry. I did warn you she was a pervert," Elaine answered as she added a little more sugar to her tea.

"I know, but I didn't think she would actually display it."

"Don't worry. She doesn't intend stealing you from me, she just does it for fun." Elaine glanced back to her mother for a moment, making sure she was still out of earshot. "It's not as bad as the one or two things she says to papa. In front of me, Philippe or Madeline."

Creak…

"Home, mum!" called a male, French voice.

"In the kitchen. Elaine's here along with-."

Footsteps could be heard walking swiftly and Elaine's older brother came in. He still had a mop of dark held back in a stubby ponytail with a stubbly beard. He had all but slammed the milk and sugar on the counter in his rush and nearly ran to Elaine's side before picking her up from her chair in a bear hug.

"Missed you a lot, Ellie," Philippe said, grinning a goofy grin as Elaine laughed and hugged back.

"Missed you too, Philippe," Elaine kissed the top of his forehead before her brother let her down, and then gestured to Desmond. "Anyway, this is Desmond."

The moment Philippe let his eyes fall on Desmond, gone was his goofy grin and joy in his eyes. He just frowned and stared at the archaeologist with a half lidded glare. Elaine cringed a bit. Damn, over protectiveness of Philippe! He always did this with her and Madeline's boyfriends!

"Bonjour," Philippe said dryly, holding a hand out. "J'ai l'intention de vous nuire si vous nuire à ma soeur." Ah, yes… One of Philippe's ways of trying to annoy or confuse boyfriends. Speaking in nothing but French for the first day at least. Desmond though must have seen it, or something else at least, as he gave a light smirk and shuck his hand.

"Et je n'ai pas l'intention de lui nuire," he replied back. At least he knew enough French to understand Philippe. Philippe actually looked a little disappointed that his usually tactic wouldn't work this time. But he quickly changed the subject.

"So, you were the guy who saved my little sister from that Descole bastard?" Elaine almost snorted at that. She could only imagine how Philippe would react if he knew he had actually called Descole that to his face.

"Well, I suppose I did in a way."

Philippe stared down at Desmond for a few moments. A stare that was actually making Desmond a little uncomfortable, even if he wasn't showing it. Then, suddenly, Philippe bent down and gripped Desmond in a hug, catching Elaine and Desmond by surprise.

"Thank you." Philippe said bluntly. Desmond looked a bit unsure how to respond though. This act just seemed out of nowhere.

"Well… You're welcome, then," Desmond said in a slightly confused tone. Slowly moving his arms thinking he had to return the hug. Awkward as it may be.

"Don't hug back."

"Alright then."

Well… That saved that, Desmond supposed. Now all he had to do was meet the father and re-meet Madeline in a way that does not involve kidnapping and identity theft.

Creak…

"Anne, I'm back with Madie."

Speak of the devil…

Elaine's father was around the same age of his life. His grey hair had once been the same dark colour of Philippe's but he still retained the blue eyes Elaine had. Madeline looked similar to Elaine, but was distinctive by her pale blonde hair and dark grey eyes.

"Ah, there's my princess!" Elaine's father was affectionate with her as Philippe and he wasted no time in picking her up in a hug and planting multiple kisses on her head. When breaking away, Madeline had pulled Elaine into a tight hug as well.

"Oh, I don't get a hug or kiss you mean man?" Anne scoffed, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she walked over behind Desmond's chair and hugged him from behind. "At least Elaine's boyfriend was kind enough to bring my favourite flowers~." Desmond smiled sheepishly as Mr. Hawthorne looked down at him. His smile had dropped but if he had any sort of instant dislike of him, he didn't show it like Philippe. Instead, he just held a hand out as he gave half a smile.

"Nice to meet you."

"You as well, sir," Desmond replied back before taking his hand.

The handshake lasted a little longer than it should have. Maybe because of Mr. Hawthorne's attempts to practically crush his hand in the hand shake, which failed because unlike Elaine's previous boyfriends, Desmond actually had the firmest handshake of them all and was stronger in comparison to those boys. Well, at least from Elaine's memories that was how she remembered it.

But so far, Desmond had at least managed to charm her mother (not that he had to do much there), Philippe might have had at least a mild respect for him, Mr. Hawthorne (Christophe) might have been on the fence and Madeline… Well, she had given Desmond a bit of a funny look for a split second. For a moment there, Elaine was scared Madeline recognised him. However, she had shaken his hand and was polite towards him.

Now they just had to get through the actual dinner.

Just the prologue out, and I got five reviews already! I'm touched. To answer questions, I was planning on fitting Emmy in at some point, maybe Bronev too. Not too sure about the Professor and I don't think so much for Luke. And yes, Johanna will appear. Dessy would kill me if I didn't add her.

Descole: Damn straight I would.

Shit!