"Oh, my baby! I missed you so much!" After ambushing the couple with a hug, she singled out Lucy. Glancing at the man who had alone called her this morning, she had seen why Lucy had fallen in love with this one. "Ooh, he's a keeper Lucy. Nice and handsome, and quite ta gentleman!"
"Mum! " Lucy said with an exasperated sigh. She pulled out of the hug.

"Now who is this, Lucy. It ain't polite ta leave a stranger un-introduced," Lucy's mom continued. Lucy was at a loss for words, looking to Alfendi for help. Extending his arm, he smiled at the woman.

"My name is Alfendi Layton, ma'am. I can now see where Lucy gets all of her beauty from," he said smoothly.

"Ah, Alfendi, did you say? It's nice ta finally meet you, and know your real name. I wos really startin' ta think your name was actually 'Prof.'" At this Lucy blushed a deep pink under her make-up.

"Quite, honestly, ma'am, I'm not even a professor. That would be my father. My title is as Inspector." Laughing, a hearty laugh, Lucy's mother ushered the young couple into the den of the prairie-style home.

Around ten at night, Lucy was nodding off on the Prof's shoulder, vaguely aware of her mum's stories focusing on her childhood as she slowly slipped into sleep. At first, it had started off with Lucy trying to hide her blush in his mahogany ponytail. Every so often, Lucy would feel Al's shoulders rise and fall with laughter, hearing him chuckled slightly as her eyelids drooped. His laughter has become her lullaby, his heartbeat serving as the rhythm. The last thing in Lucy's memory was the feeling of being weightless as the Prof carried her to her room.

Alfendi had never felt so comfortable around a family member, even if it wasn't his. Lucy's mum was so kind, and had the same fierce and bubbly personality that he saw in her daughter. After many stories that Lucy had warned him not to listen to, the assistant had finally fallen asleep on the Prof's shoulder.
"There she goes again," laughed Lucy's mother. "Tha' would be an ol' trait of Lucy's. Before my husband got sick, a little version of her would curl up against her father, and wait for him to think she were asleep, and have him carry her of to bed." Getting the hint, he scooped the Detective Constable into his arms in one fluid motion. His honey eyes shone with peace as Al looked onto the sleeping girl.
"I'll be right back, ma'am," he said devilishly. As her daughter's boyfriend left the room, Ms. Baker could've sworn his hair had changed color…

As Alfendi carried the snoozing Lucy, he struggled with his split personality. Both sides loved the girl so much, and his other side had slipped out, right in front of her mum. A pang of remorse shot through him, even the darker side of Alfendi felt it. Hopefully, he had carried off Lucy fast enough that she noticed his hair, the tell-tale sign of the personality change inside him. Upon arrival of Lucy's room, Al turned around hoping to shove the door open with his back. Slowly, the door clicked open, granting the duo access to Lucy's room.

Unlike most girl's rooms, Lucy had designed everything her own way. Each wall was a different color, one crimson, and another cream. The other walls were pictures, one painted, the other a wall of pure blackboard for chalk. Settling Lucy down under the covers, Alfendi took a closer look at the writing on the wall. Apart from the colored walls, he started inspecting the paint mural opposite the bed. Some of the pictures looked to be painted as early as three, and progressed on from there. Beginning the black boarded wall were much more detailed images, the most recent from what must've been her Christmas visit. In the center was a checklist. It had several scribble marks on it, but some of them had large checks next to them, the most prominent being a huge red check along side 'Get a job at the Scotland Yard.'

Other drawings included Lucy in different uniforms of the Scotland Yard, all up to the last one. In it, Lucy had drawn herself in an over sized lab-coat, her hands covered by the too long sleeves. Underneath was a baggy red and blue sweater, followed by a navy blue trousers that hung way below the hip. Her hair was missing the signature hat, which had been replaced by a short ponytail. Lucy had drawn her face in a fit of giggles, as though she hadn't planned on wearing the outfit. Alfendi laughed softly to himself, realizing how ridiculous Lucy would look in his clothes. Putting his hand against the chalk drawing, he realized that this drawing couldn't be smudged. Retracting his hand, the Prof came upon one final drawing.

The man depicted was himself, but not quite. His hair was crimson, indicating that it was his true side. However, the one always loose strand of hair that rested atop his head was a placid purple. It was as if Lucy had taken a photo right as he changed, but he rest of the drawing showed that he was happy, like both sides had merged into one Alfendi.

Lucy was making noise in her sleep, alerting the Prof to know something was up. Seeing that the girl was only reaching out for something to cuddle, Al handed the restless Lucy a teddy bear. Wishing that it could be him instead of the stuffed toy, he planted a quick kiss on her forehead, and made his way into the hallway. Shutting the door behind him, Alfendi made his way to where Lucy's mom was waiting.

Returning to the den, it was Ms. Baker who restarted the conversation.

"So, Alfendi, dear. Wot are you really doin' 'ere. It's evident tat you really love my Lucy, but tha's not all is it?" Al blushed. Like Lucy, her mom could see right through him. Placing his hand though his hair, the Prof's stomach was doing back flips inside him. Nervously, words formed in his mind.

"I hate to be so bland, but I really love your daughter, ma'am."

"Please dear. Call me Lea," Ms. Baker interrupted. "But please, continue."

"I-I don't know if Lucy told you, but I suffer from split personality disorder." From the look on her face, Alfendi knew that this was new news. "My other self, well he can be a tad rowdy and rash in decisions. To most people, I scare them away when he comes out, but not Lucy. She came in not knowing a thing about it, not even a warning from a co-worker. Instead of running away, Lucy took it upon herself to really get me through some tough times. Did you know she even cleared my name of murder?" His actual self had come out during all the rambling, his hair a deep maroon. "I found my self starting to love her, both sides of me. And now, after two years of knowing your daughter, I-I came to ask you for your blessing." Pulling out a black velvet box, Alfendi opened it to reveal a ring.