Author's Note: Again, contains slight spoilers for the first and third game from the Professor layton series... Please enjoy:

"Flora are you alright?"

Luke ran out of the car, straight to her, right through the huge snow sea on the ground. As he arrived Flora, he found her on her knees, face in her hands and crying bitterly. All what she did, was running of. Running away from reality. Luke couldn't get the meaning out of her reaction... only standing there, he suddenly felt a strong hand on his shoulder.

"Luke, let me talk to her."

"But..."

Hershel shook his head, telling him that he wouldn't understand what's going on, even though he already was sixteen. He'll always be a little child in his heart...

At Layton's Apartment:

"Flora...May I come in?"

Nodding in her pillow, she sobbed along. Her entire head was already red and totally wet from her salty tears. The professor stepped into her little room, as he sat on the edge of her blue bed. Placing a hand on her back, she immediately turned around and faced him.

"Please, could you just hold me... Dad?"

That was the first time she ever called him dad... It made him so happy inside, that she finally saw him as a father, which he always wanted to be.
Widening his arms, Flora slipped closer to him, embracing Hershel around his waste, as he carefully held her head near to his chest.

"Dear, what happened when I left you?"

"Clive happened..."

Saying his name, felt like knifes cutting all over her injured heart.. Silently a few tears rolled down her cheeks, while she listened to his steady heartbeat.

"I see. But what's upsetting you so much?"

"It was the best afternoon I ever had. I've gained a new friend... and also fell in love with him."
Burying her face in his orange shirt, she tried to hide her shame. And also didn't wanted to see his reaction on this. Hershel was merely speechless.

"We baked fresh bread, watched movies, talked the whole time.. till I've asked him, what I always wanted to know, but never dared to ask."

Hershel still didn't spoke about it. The word Love hurts him as much as she probably is and even more. After his real Love passed away...

"I've asked him, how a kiss feels like..."

"Why didn't you just questioned me? I seriously think that's normal and not weird at all. Now it's just complicated... he kissed you, hasn't he?"

He said softly, while he closed his eyes, smelling her beautiful, brown hair. Flora knew that he would understand her... but now he was a bit too informed about it all.

"Yes, he has. And it was just like, how he described it: full of emotions. Clive kissed me with all his heart... I felt it."

Smiling, Hershel tilted his head down to his right and looked at the lady in his strong arms. He wiped the tears away, which drew lines over her smooth skin and said:

"Don't be so unhappy, dear. He'll be back in twenty days. And if you want, I could arrange a call for you. I'm sure, Clive get's a few minutes, to speak with you."

"You would do that? God... thank you so much."

A weak smile adorned her face, as she wiped the rest of her tears away. But she was still sad... Perhaps those guards punished Clive for the delay. Or even worse... he got more days or months to serve, because of her.

"Hershel? Wait!"

He nearly walked out of her chamber, wanting to search the phone in the living room, but stopped promptly, when he heard her delicate voice. Pacing to him, she tightly hugged him, surprising Hershel.

"Thank you so much. So glad you've found me..."

Smiling, he retorted her comment with a kiss on her forehead and went out of the room. Flora awaited the phone eagerly, while she sat on her blue bed... the color reminded her so much of Clive and Luke, so that she always could sleep very well, with them near to her. Then a worried Hershel returned, with the phone in his hand. She snatched it out of his grip and spoke, after he left her alone.

"Flora... How are you?"

Clive sounded, as if it was hard to talk for him... whispering sounds from the background were audible, saying:

"Five minutes. Not a second longer. You understand!"

"Yes, Sir..."

"Clive, what's wrong... you sound so weak."

"I have to serve five more days... and I've a black eye.. and you're not going out of my head. Hate myself for kissing you..."

Her world broke down: everything she imagined became true. More days to serve, punishment and... the kiss? Why did he regret it? She was tearing up again, losing her relaxed mood and returning to her old state.

"You can't be serious... You repent it so bad? Was it just a game for you?"

"No, no. Don't get me wrong! Please, Flora listen... shh. I just didn't wanted to come in and destroy your life. I don't want to make you sad or anything similar to that."

Her body was trembling so hard, as he said what he thought about it. Flora's heart fell apart, knowing that he wants to undo what happened...

"You stole my heart, Clive! You've hurt me with saying that. Since the day I've met you, I thought you were the one. I really though Luke was destined for me... and you were his future self. I started to flirt with you, tried to be close to you. But when Hershel told me that you were just an Impersonator, my head said that I should forget you, erase all my feelings at once. I could for a moment.. till you returned. Then the kiss I..."

Listening carefully to each word she said, Clive shed a big tear. Its way went down his cheeks, passed his right mouth corner and ended on the cable of the phone.

"I don't know what to say..."

His voice cracked in the middle, as he felt that a lump came in his throat. At that point he just wanted to be alone, without the guard behind him and without his thoughts. They're literally killing him.

"Sorry, I really should stop talking..."

"No, don't. Please, don't hang up. I'm just overwhelmed. Sad and happy at the same time, don't know how to react either."

A smile appeared in her face. The situation wasn't hopeless anymore... perhaps he retorted her feelings. Maybe he wouldn't, but it was worth to wait and see. Twenty-five days and they'll finally meet again.

"I can't sleep the next three weeks, you're aware of that, are you?"

"Just forget me, for a time."

"As if it was so easy to do that. I already told you... and I meant it."

"I won't be easy to sit here, not thinking about you too. I tell you, it's like the walls are tumbling in, when you're all on your own in a black cell."

"Wish, you could be here."

Not even Clive could cheer her up. She exactly knew that the next weeks would be awful and just depressing, knowing that she can't have contact with him. And also Luke will bother her, till she has to admit that she isn't in love with him. Hershel has to calm Luke down and so on. What a single kiss changes...

"Time's over, Dove! Hand it over."

"Need to go... Goodbye, my dear."

"Bye."

The loud 'beeps' appeared, as the guard quickly hung up. This is it... Now she had to live a nightmare, full of sadness... hopefully it'll pass fast.

A new school week started: it was Monday and it rained massively. The snow turned into puddles and huge seas, which flowed down the street. Flora went with Luke to school, avoiding to speak with him. He always asked what happened, why she was so upset and what Clive had to do with it, but she just didn't answered. It was too hard for her to talk about it... Those days seemed so long. The teacher were already worried about her, and her bad grades. She couldn't think about something else than Clive... Sometimes she even forget to eat or sleep. Hershel didn't missed that of course and gave her a sick note for a week. These seven days were the last one's till Clive would return. She was so glad that she could recover a bit. Trying to sleep she merely dreamed of him and their wonderful time together. Through this week, she got better: Flora finally gained some weight and read a whole roman, just to get her thoughts off him. She succeed! The tip helped, which Luke gave her. He now knew what was going on and wasn't sad at all. Fortunately!

"Clive?"

Flora woke up at five a.m and the first thing she screamed was his name. She heard something that awakened her. But it was merely a squirrel, which searched for nuts deep under the snow layer and came to catch some air. It scratched the window from outside, making an ugly noise.

"Do you wanna come inside, squirrel?"

It scratched along, like a dog did, who wanted the door to be opened.

'Luke will be happy to see you, cute ,little thing...',She thought, as she grabbed the tiny pet and brought it inside. Carefully, stroking over its fur, she went out of her chamber. Politely she knocked on Luke's wooden door. Shortly after, he came out and wondered:

"Good morning, Flora. Ou! Hey, buddy how are you?"

"Here, take it. I'll go and drink some tea with Hershel. Would you join us?"

"Of course, I will! There's nothing better, than a fresh cup of tea early in the morning."

Flora laughed sweetly, as she walked to the living room, taking Luke and his new animal friend with her.

"Ah, I barely could remember your gorgeous laughter, dear."

Layton said, and filled two mugs for his 'children'.

"Oh, You know, why. Just one hour and he'll be here."

Both males smiled, but Luke's was a forced one. Somehow it felt, like he lost her. Now that he'll be here, Clive will always be around her and make her happier than she ever was. Sadly, Luke couldn't do that...

'Stay strong, I'll have to get it over with'"Here, eat a bun, dear."

"I can't. I'm too nervous. May I go and dress myself up?"

Hershel totally understood her behavior and allowed it to her. She ran off immediately, causing him to chuckle.

"Will we go with her, Professor?"

"Oh no. Give her a bit time and she'll come back."

"Okay..."

Luke wasn't very excited about it all, but he was happy for her.

"White, or blue? Hmm... Definitely white."

Flora had at least every clothing piece on she possessed, until she decided to wear a simple, white dress, which reached to her knees and added red lips to that. She pulled out her new lipstick and cautiously drew the 'pain' over her full lips. What was still missing was a pair of black, opaque stockings and black shoes. Over all she looked stunning.

"Here I come..."

Stepping out of her room with a grand smirk on her face, she made an echo with her shoes, which were clicking through the whole gear. Luke and Hershel stood up, seeing a delicate silhouette.

"Flora! Don't you want to say goodbye?"

Slowly turning, around she disclosed the secret about her looks. It blew their minds:

"You're unbelievably beautiful! How lucky Clive is..."

"Aww. Luke but I love you too."

Supper happy, she walked towards him and embraced Luke, turning his cheeks into red ones. In front of her, she saw Hershel, who was so proud to be her 'father'. He smiled all over his face, saying:

"Now go dear, he probably wants to see you."

Letting go off Luke, Flora went back to Hershel, hugging him quickly and strutted permanently out of Layton's apartment...

"Excuse me miss, Is this the way to the Londoner Prison?"

The old lady was quiet surprised that a young woman like her asked that, but despite that, she still answered:

"Yes, it is."

"Thank you very much! Have a nice day."

A few minutes past, while she walked to the jail's entrance, awaiting Clive to be released.

'Am I late?... god. This suspense's killing me... what can I do?'

Flora was so excited about the meeting, every second that flew away made her even more nervous. If that was possible...
Then the longed for moment happened: the gates to the prison opened and only released one guy. Her guy! Clive stood on the other side of the street, eying the stunning girl in awe. He didn't dared to walk up to her, neither did she. Flora was just so happy, she couldn't hold it anymore! She ignored the traffic jam on the streets and merely ran over the red lights. Laughing, she already extended her arms for an embracement she never gave before. As she finitely arrived the other side, she became slower and slower, stopping with her walk promptly. Now Clive faced her and searched for her petite hand. She couldn't describe the feeling, when he touched her skin softly and looked deep into her hazel-brown eyes. It was a whole mixture of: happiness, love, speechlessness, relieve, lust, desire and a million words more.

"I missed you so much..."

Clive was interrupted by Floras sudden mood change. After he said what he thought, he fondly cupped her cheek. Closing her eyes, she shed a tear of happiness and just enjoyed the warmness of his hand. Stroking it with his thumb away, Clive pulled her into an embrace. The world around them wasn't important anymore. All their problems flew away, when they've placed their arms around each other. Both closed their eyes with a smile on the lips and snuggled themselves even closer up to the other. Sighing loudly, Clive broke the hug after a minute.

"Did I told you, that you look absolutely mind blowing? Wow..."

"Aww... thank you. Glad you like it."

"You're blushing..."

Smirking at her, he made her cheeks even redder...

"You teaser!"

Flora said and playfully punched him in his upper arm. Only laughing, he retorted:

"Okay, okay. I'll stop it. Now, let's go home. It's freezing."

Nodding, she linked her hand in his and walked all the way back, eventually meeting the old lady again, who winked at Flora happily...

"Hello Professor! Good to see you again. Hi Luke."

The door opened and took the attention of Layton and his apprentice immediately. Clive and Flora stood extremely near, next to each other, hiding their hands behind his back. Hershel smiled and welcomed Clive warmly, saying:

"Good morning! Do you..."

"... want a cup of delicious tea? Yes, please. I smell it already."

Smiling, Layton disappeared in the kitchen, leaving Luke in front of the pair. He firstly was quiet jealous of Clive, but her apple shaped birthmark shinned the whole time, which made him secure that she was the right guy.

"I have to admit, you look perfect together: The tall handsome guy, who looks fairly
much like myself and the beautiful girl in a white gown. And pay attention to her golden apple. It hasn't stopped shinning, since you're with her, hasn't it?"

"I feel when it's shinning and no, it hasn't stopped yet."

Her glimpse hung always on Clive's eyes, while she spoke about it. Luke sighed and said:

"Group hug, please!"

His wish was their command! A thin and a strong arm was placed around Luke's neck: They all laughed at once, as Hershel walked in with a tablet of filled mugs.

"Tea time, everyone!"

"Oh, Flora. There's still something I wanted to ask you, since you're so fancy dressed... Would you, Professor, mind if I'll take your daughter out?"

Putting the heavy tablet on the table he responded:

"MY daughter... well, of course. Take care of her."

"Can't wait... My first Date..."

Author's Note: Soo I really got obsessed with this chapter, that i couldn't stop writing :) Hope you'll like it. Please R&R for the sequel and tell me what you like/ think about it. It's gonna be a quiet a short story with about five chapters. In the next one, something's going to happen though... Thanks for reading :D