Alfendi reluctantly put a hand to his chest. His heart was still beating - thank God. How many times had his life been put in danger in the last few days? He'd lost count. Pushing a hand behind his head, he lifted his body up, still overcome by a stinging drowsiness, and looked around at wherever his drip would allow him.

"Alfendi, my boy! Thank goodness you're alive!"

"W-What... Father!"

Before he could dodge away, Layton's arms were around his shoulders. He attempted to prise them off, almost with anger due to how his father had been kidnapped, after so many years of being an epic adventurer, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. After all of that struggling, it felt like a breath of fresh air to him. Like he needed it to fund his lungs.

"Thank goodness you're alive, Dad," Al answered, taking in deep breaths. "I've been on a wild goose chase looking for you."

The professor chuckled to himself, bemused. "Aha, I'm sorry you've had to do that. But I'm proud of your puzzle solving skills, my boy. They're truly something even I can admire." A

l folded his arms and rolled his eyes. Even when his son was stuck in a hospital bed, Hershel Layton had to bring up puzzles. "Thanks, but don't get all soppy on me. Just... What happened to you?"


"It was awfully strange. I was driving Flora back to her hometown when the Laytonmobile got hjacked. I thought the tire had burst, but then, an eccentric group of masked figures smashed the windows and dragged Flora and I out of the car. The last thing I heard was Flora screaming before I was knocked unconscious. I had felt so hopeless, not being able to help her.

Eventually, we were put in a cell together. The villains began pestering me about you, Alfendi - they wanted information that I could not provide, so they kept us both in their grasp for a while. They knew that my disappearance would lure you to Gelebham, and thus, they could act their revenge out on you."

"But, of course," the professor breathed, clutching the rim of his hat and smiling, "you fooled the bunch of them, Alfendi, and saved your old father. For that, I am forever in your debt."

Al laughed. "Well, geez, Dad - you should be! But I'm not the one you should be thanking."

...

"WE'RE BAAAAACCK!"

"Ack!"

Alfendi almost jumped out of his skin when he heard her strong Yorkshire accent bouncing off of the walls. She paraded in, like she was part of a marching band, with Emmy and Flora being dragged behind her. Clearly they weren't used to Lucy's antics. Al smirked.

Lucy Baker. You little teaser.

"H-Hey, Professor!" Emmy waved at the top-hatted man, who, with happy eyes, waved back at her. He tipped his hat and smiled.

"I see you've met my trusty assistant, Alfendi. Emmy, I believe we have some catching up to do, hm?"

Oh yeah. Al gazed back and forth between the pair of them. These two haven't seen each other in years. How could I have forgotten?

Alfendi Layton and Emmy Altava - partners in (solving) crime. Hershel Layton and Emmy Altava - partners in (years of) time. It made Alfendi happy to think that it was him who'd brought them back together after so many years apart. Emmy was bound to have lots of stories about scooter-crashing, photo-taking, baddie-bashing adventures, and, of course, Al knew quite well that his father had many stories too he'd love to tell over a cup of tea and some scones.

The room was silent now. Layton was still sat on Al's bedside, but he was stroking his chin, an expression of mystery playing on his face. "Say," he murmured, "this whole event reminds me of a puzz-"

"DOCTOR?! Can I go home yet?!"


"And the girl and her brother lived happily ever after."

Flora carefully shut the book, leaving Alfendi rolling under his covers, groaning."Thank God it's finished. Such a petty little tale. Annoying."

"Don't be like that!" Flora stammered. "You used to love me reading to you when you were younger."

Yeah, Al thought, when I was younger.

The last few days had been eventful for them both. They had returned to London safe and sound, but Al had to stay in his father's care for a while. (Which sadly meant no pizza delivery...) It seemed like it had been forever since the inspector had been in his company. Then there was Emmy, too, who had come back to stay with them and catch up with Mr. Layton. Whilst she and Alfendi were two very different characters, when they came together, they were a pretty good team.

Finally, Al could chill in his jammies - or so he thought.

Oh God.

That smell.

Al curses spiraled under the blanket when he saw Flora return with a pizza. If only it was delivery pizza, he would have been immensely happier, as Al had had some of the "Reinhold special" before, and the results on his stomach had been pretty catastrophic...

...But that's a story for another day.


NOT COMPLETE YET. 2 extra chapters are in progression!