Emmy Altava, was one of those very few, very rare people, whom actually did appreciate a good surprise.

She liked excitement, and adored to experience and see new things. She liked it better when being on the run, with things happening to the left and right, and surprises at every corner, then she liked ordinary house life, that would in fact, make her quite restless.

Still though, with all that being said, nothing.. absolutely nothing, could have prepared Emmy for the sight that met her, when she knocked on a well known apartment door in London.

She was just on a short visit to town, due to a case that had been handed to her, and then of cause, couldn't help herself but look up the professor. Even though she hadn't given a word about it before, her trip to London had been quite sudden after-all.

Every-thing had looked so familiar, the building, the bronze name-plate, even the door knocker on the door, why it almost seemed like nothing had changed at all.

That was until the door opened and Emmy were greeted by two children looking at her.

A young pretty girl, in a yellow dress and her brown hair tied up in a bow, and a younger bow with flaming red hair, a peculiar thin build, and wearing a striped blouse that seemed way to big for him, making the all-ready small boy, look even smaller as he basically disappeared into the get-up.

"Erh.." Emmy blinked. "Hallo there." She looked at them. "I'm looking for a, professor Layton." She told. "He, he is still living here right?" she asked.

That made the younger boy snort. "Of cause he does, can't you read?" he asked, gesturing at the bronze name-plate beside the door.

"Al!" the girl lectured, then she turned to Emmy. "Yes Miss, of cause he does. I'm afraid the professor is at work right now, but he should be back in around an hour." She told.

"Oh, I see." Emmy blinked, then looked at the children, trying to figure what to say next.

"Do you want to come in and wait for him?" The girl finally asked. "I can make you some tea while you wait."

Emmy smiled lightly. "That would be very appreciated." She told. "Is Luke here then?" she asked.

"Oh no." The girl shook her head. "He moved to America over two years ago with his parents, he was here visiting a few months back though, you know him?" she asked.

"America?" Emmy asked stunned. "How sad, I had hoped to see him to." She then admitted. "Well I suppose it was a bit much to hope for that he would still be here." She then admitted in a slight head-shake.

"So you do know him?" The girl asked.

"Yes quite!" Emmy smiled "I used to be the professors assistant, I solved a good number of cases with the good professors and Luke." She told.

"OOOOH!" the girl realised. "You are Emmy aren't you! Luke told so much about you!" she cheered. "Please, come in, come in!" she asked, opening the door wide, letting an amused Emmy step in.

"I'm Flora Reinhold." The girl at last presented herself in a kind voice. "The professors ward."

"Ward." Emmy blinked. "How exciting, if I know the professor right, there must be quite the story about that. And who would you might be?" she asked the red-haired boy in a kind smile.

"Alfendi Layton." Alfendi told shortly, having stuffed his hands down in his pocket as his eyes squinted at Emmy.

"Oh, family of the professor are you?" Emmy asked in a warm smile, bowing down to get closer to the boy, holding her hands on her knees. "Is he your uncle, or how do you relate?"

"He's my father." Alfendi shortly stated, making Emmy absolutely silence as she stunned looked at Alfendi.

For a moment there was silence, dead silence, as Emmy looked at Alfendi, and Alfendi looked back in a challenging gaze.

"Excuse me what?" Emmy asked.

Alfendi though, didn't respond, just kept squinting his eyes at her.

"Adopted." Flora then cleared up. "The professor adopted Al."

"Oh.." Emmy realised. "OOOH!" she then laughed as she stood up. "Thank goodness, I almost got concerned there. I just thought, well I haven't been gone for that long have I?" she asked amused. "Well, I am very pleased the meet the both of you." She then smiled, looking at them. "You must have so many stories to tell! Being the ward and son of the professor, it must be very exciting, you must tell me every-thing." She asked. "I was always told I attracted trouble, but quite frankly, nothing quite compares with being on a case with the professor." She sighed deeply. "Nothing has been quite as interesting." She amused shook her head.

"Oh, so you like trouble do you?" Alfendi asked in a smirk, now looking intrigued at Emmy.

"Well, if you can keep a secret." Emmy sighed deeply. "Yes! It is my greatest weakness! I do so enjoy being in the middle of it all." She told. "Why shy away when the adventure calls! Lets solve that puzzle, as I like to say!"

And Alfendi smirked. "Then I guess you'll be really happy." He told.

"Oh?" Emmy asked.

"The reason why the professors is late is because we are kind of caught up in a case." Flora then admitted. "And a very puzzling one at that, both Al and the professor are all high about it, we'll be going to West-minster as soon as the professor comes to investigate the latter we got."

"Oh how exciting!" Emmy exclaimed at ones clasping her hands together. "And how perfect!"

"What's this?" A gentlmans voice sounded from the hall-way, and they all turned around to see the professor standing in the door with his case in his hands. "Emmy? Is that you? Why what a surprise." He greeted.

"OH PROFESSOR!" Emmy cheered jumping up in the air. "I hear we are going to west-minster now!" she smiled all over her face.

"We?" Layton asked.

"The professor needs his assistant! At least for this case, I got a feeling!" Emmy stated and then blinked pointing at him. "And that is that." She beamed.

"Well.." Layton looked at her, then amused shook his head. "Not that I have much of a choice, do I?" he asked. "Alfendi, Flora, get your things, the sooner we get there the better." He told. "Not all puzzles will just wait around."

"YES PROFESSOR!" "YES FATHER!" the two children yelled, then spoon around, and bolted into their rooms, presumable to get their things.

Leaving Emmy back looking amused at Layton. "A ward and a son?" she questioned.

"Yes well." Layton smiled a little embarrassed.

"I'm very happy for you professor." Emmy told. "I have been a little concerned about you, but it's good to see that you really are not alone." She told. "They seem like some very good kids." She told.

"They are." Layton nodded in a warm smile. "And very intelligent to, but you'll see that for yourself I gather." He commented.

"I'm sure you have a lot of reasons to be proud of them." Emmy smiled happily. "Even if Alfendi seems a little rude." She commented.

"Yes well." Layton smiled a little embarrassed. "He is a boy, who had has his problems, and still have some difficulties he has to overcome." He then told. "But, he is a good boy." He finally told.

"Well of cause he is!" Emmy exclaimed. "He is a Layton, isn't he?" she asked. "And that has to mean, he is pretty special." She grinned teasingly, blinking at Layton. "This is going to be so much fun, I can tell." She then beamed.


A big thunder clash sounded from the out-side, making all the guests in the Layton apartment huddle together in front of the window, trying to look over each others shoulders to get a glimpse of the out-side.

"Wow." Lucy blinked looking at the strong rain, swirling through the street due to the strong wind, and the thunder occasionally lighting up the sky, sending big sounds of the thunder clasps through the street. "What a storm." She looked wide-eyed at it.

"Boy I'm glad I made it here before it became that bad." Emmy as well looked wide-eyed at it. "No one should be out in that weather!"

"I can't even remember the last time we had a storm this bad." Luke commented looking out. "No one should be out in this weather, that looks really dangerous."

That made Flora look down.

"Flora?" Luke asked.

"I hope Al is all-right." Flora muttered. "I mean, at least he could call or some-thing."

"Al can handle himself, I'm sure he'll be fine." Layton told, even though he also seemed worried. "Lucy, what kind of crime scene was he supposed to investigate?" he asked.

"I actually don't have the details." Lucy then admitted. "He just got the file, got all excited, even turned Potty in less than a second, and then he bolted." She admitted.

"Al." Emmy shook her head, then smiled amused.

"What?" Flora asked.

"Well, that kind of behaviour is so much like Al!" Emmy pointed out. "Our Al! The old Al! It's kind of delightful." She smiled. "Honestly, I can't wait till I see him!" she told folding her hands together. "I hope he comes."

Lucy blinked at them. "Wait, none of you have seen Potty Prof?" she asked.

"Why do you think we were all so eager to be here?" Flora asked.

"Al has been so difficult to contact lately." Luke muttered. "The only reason I knew any-thing was up, was because the professor told me."

"And Luke told me." Flora told.

"And Flora told me." Emmy as well conquered.

"So you have not even talked to the Prof?" Lucy asked, then she rolled her eyes. "Well that's just typical, I should give him an earful." She muttered.

"Please come soon." Flora then whispered with closed eyes and folded hands. "I so want to see you Al! I so hope that it's true, please Al, come home."


"Uuurghhh…" A grown-up, red-haired, young Alfendi was groaning as his hair was slammed into the table, and he didn't seem like he wanted to get up.

Flora couldn't help it, she chuckled down in her hand. "Trouble with the case Al?" she asked. "Is it to difficult for you?" she asked in a teasing voice.

Making Alfendi lift his head and squinted his eyes off her, then snorted. "I'll find him! If it's going to be the last thing I do! Dammit!" he hissed standing up, looking like he was almost about to kick away a chair. "This has been the most interesting case for months! The patterns! The intriquies! Such a clever boy and I had him! I had him right where I wanted him! And then he just disappears like that! How's that even possible!?"

Hilda chuckled down in her hand as she stood behind Al. "Calm down Al, we are not even on duty! You are here to relax, so relax." She suggested.

"Hmpf!" Alfendi snorted sitting back with crossed arms and a deep pout on his lip. "We should be working, the trail is getting colder all the time while we are here." He muttered annoyed.

"Alfendi, you said it yourself." Hershel comented as he sat on the other side of the table. "You've run into a dead end, even if you were at the office, you would be stuck. So perhaps, getting it on a distance and relax a bit, is just what you need."

"Hah, you can say that all you want." Justin, another one of Alfendis colleagues and friends laughed. "It's not like it's going to help."

They were all out-side at a garden party, the grass was green, the sun was shining warmly, there was served tea and biscuits.

It was just a little informal gathering. Hershel Layton, Flora, Luke, Emmy, Alfendi and Alfendis two friends from his work, Hilda and Justin was the only one there out in the sun, the only whom didn't seem to enjoy so much.. was Alfendi.

The rest though, was mostly just amused by his continual pouting and complaining.

"Oh Al." Emmy chuckled as she laid her hands on his shoulder from behind, and smiling leaned her head on Alfendis. Making Alfendi jolt, and then almost fall down.

"EMMY!" he exclaimed, making Emmy chuckle.

"Personal space! Have you ever heard of that!?" Alfendi asked in a big snort standing up, and then straightened out his white coat.

Luke as well looked very amused as he sat back, leaning over the table. "Apparently not." He commented.

"Al, you'll get him." Hilda then told in a warm voice, stepping closer to him. "I'm sure of it, the jigsaw murder will appear again, and you'll get him." She smiled, then reached for his coat, to straighten it for him. "You always do, get them in the end." She told looking up at him.

For a moment Alfendi looked at Hilda standing so close to him, then at last snorted as he rolled his eyes. "Well of cause I will!" he stated. "This is just a slight bump in the road is all! But Christ, is this annoying!" he hissed.

"Alfendi, languet." Hershel sighed deeply lifting a tea-cup in his hand.

"Sorry." Alfendi mumbled rolling his eyes.

"I am quite sure though." Hershel then smiled. "You'll get him, just have a little patience."

And Alfendi rolled his eyes, stuffing his hands in his pocket, before suddenly Rosa, Hershels house-maid, came out. "Alfendi, there's a phone-call for you." She told.

And Alfendi sighed deeply. "Thank you Rosa, I'll come right away." He muttered, walking with the maid inside.

Hilda amused shook her head. "So impatient, will he ever change?" she asked.

Flora though, smiled amused. "You like him though, don't you?" she asked.

"Wha-what!?" Hilda asked deeply surprised, then blushed.

"You like him!" Flora chuckled. "Temper and every-thing!"

"Well I.." Hilda blushed deeply, sweeping a strain of hair away from her face. "He has his moments." She then finally admitted biting her lips. "And, he does have a sort of passion, doesn't he?" she asked.

Flora smiled widely. "He's a lot of fun to be around." She then told.

Just as Alfendi came running out again, and he looked wild! His eyes were shining, his mouth was split in a wide grin. "HILDA! JUSTIN!" he shouted at his two friends.

"Alfendi?" Hilda asked.

"WE GOT A NEW LEAD!" Alfendi exclaimed. "And it's burning hot! YES!" he grinned, then grabbed Hildas hand and swung her around. "Isn't it wonderful!"

"Does this mean you'll be leaving all-ready?" Hershel asked in a slight sigh.

"Sorry father." Alfendi told, him, but couldn't even keep back his wide beam. "I'll make it up to you! Tonight the jigsaw killer will be caught! And tomorrow we'll celebrate!" he exclaimed happily. "It'll be my treat." He stated, rubbing his hands, looking out in the air with glee.

"Well, all-right then." Flora them muttered. "I guess you'll have to be going then." She told.

"Don't sound like that, you'll be seeing me tomorrow all-ready." Alfendi snorted, then bowed down to give Flora little kiss on the side of her head, the kind of brotherly affection family would give.

Who would have thought, Alfendi the youngest of them all, was now definitely the tallest of them, taler than both Luke and the professor, and still just as thin, but you wouldn't be able to see that at him at that moment, he was shining like a sun as he stood back. "See you all tomorrow then!" he blinked at them, before he pulled Hilda and Justin with him. "COME ON COME ON!" he hissed in a impatient voice. "We are busy! Forebodium castle is waiting!"


They did all get to see Alfendi the next day as he had promised, but he didn't get to see them, because the first thing Herhsel heard in the morning, as the phone called and he picked it up, was that Alfendi had been mortally wounded and was in the hospital.

And there Alfendi laid, in bed, his bright red hair, falling down over his pall face and his closed eyes, that just wouldn't open, no matter how Flora cried and pleaded, no matter who talked to his un-moving body.

And as he did finally open his eyes.. every-thing was different, it didn't just magically turn better.

Alfendi got back on his job, but the suspeciouns he had shared with Luke proved to only be to true, first Alfendi was promoted to Inspector, which technically should be a good thing, but it became pretty obvious it was only done so they could move Alfendi down into tbe basement, giving him 'his own mystery' department as they liked to call it.

Except, they had swept Alfendi away to the same place as all the embarrassing things no one wanted to talk about, all the unwanted things.

The cases no one could solve, and people had given up on, the cases that had no glory in them, because they seemed impossible.

And of cause, a police didn't want to admit that there were cases they couldn't solve.

At first, this seemed like a sad thing, Alfendi having both figuratively and literately being moved to the basement.

The police force having done the best to sweep Alfendi under the carpet so no one had to see him, hear him or talk about him.

Though as it turned out, giving Alfendi this department, was the biggest favour they could have done for him.

Alfendi was now given all the impossible cases, all the cases no one else could figure. Which meant, actually challenging cases! And he could do what he wanted with them, because no one else cared, no one would even question his strange motives, requests or questions.

And then suddenly, the cases every-body else had started to give up on, because they were supposedly 'Unsolvable' …. Were being solved!

One case after the other, of cause no one wanted to acknowledge Alfendi for it, but he didn't mind at all! He had his interesting cases and the freedom to do what he wanted! It was to good to be true, and in truth.. it was.

People were still uncomfortable around Alfendi, he was the odd creature living in the basement, and the rumours about him having killed a man, became a quite popular ghost story, the other police people used to scare new recruits with.

Those whom had known Alfendi before his coma were still worried, he was like the invisible man, going silently through the building, minding his own business. Not that loud, frustrated, passionate person they knew.

It was a very unwary atmosphere when-ever Alfendi moved out of his own office, he was their private unwary ghost, or absurd creation, what-ever you liked to call it.

And that's how it was, for four years, Alfendi alone in his little basement office with his cases, until suddenly one day. A freshmen right out of police school came to the yard.

She had only barely gotten through her exams and probably shouldn't even be there, as did her name precede her, and people all-ready knew she was supposed to be a loud mouthed Scottish girl, with little sense of order and a lack of discipline.

No-body wanted to take her in, no-body at all. So Lucy Baker, was basically rubbed off on Alfendi Layton, send to the place where you send all the things you don't want to talk about, to the basement, the little office where the unsolvable cases were put.. the mystery room.


Inside of the Layton apartment, the warm light was shining, but out-side.. it was pitch black.

The storm would not die down, and the rain was hammering on both the roof and the windows, the thunder stroke, and lighted up the sky.

"Seems like some-thing out of a horror novel doesn't it?" Lucy asked a little bit jokingly.

"Yes." Emmy responded silently, though she looked quite worried as she looked out of the window.

"Careful, suddenly the monster will barge in the door and eat us all!" Luke grinned, making Flora exclaim.

"LUKE! Don't be silly!" Flora told in a biting tongue. "What kind of monster would come here?" she asked.

"What indeed?" Lucy asked, just in time for a big thunder pang to sound out-side, and in the next moment, the door in the entrance was slammed open, making every-body sit up straight.

"Argh!" Flora squeaked frightnedin. "Some-ones at the door!" she stated the obvious, in a shivering lip.

Lucy as well swallowed, as she looked towards the entrance, and then suddenly, a young man appeared.

A young, tall, thin man, dripping to the bone in water, it looked like he had just crawled out of a swimming pool or some-thing, his flaming red hair plasted to his face, and water-drops continuously falling on the floor, and his face expression was deeply annoyed as he grumbled. "Sorry I'm late father." he muttered, running a hand through his soaked hair. "I.." then Alfendis eyes lifted an he looked at the house party. "Oh." He blinked at them. "I'm sorry, did I miss a memo?" he asked sarcasticly in a slight frown, looking at them with pretty calculating eyes.

For a moment there was silence, then both Flora, Luke and Emmy all stood up. "AL!" they all exclaimed, and hurried towards the young man.

"Al, look at you, you're soaking wet!" Emmy exclaimed.

"Gee Emmy, I hadn't noticed." Alfendi replied in a deeply sarcastic voice, squinting his eyes at her, as if it was some-how her fault that he had apparently forgotten to bring an umbrella.

"AL!" Flora exclaimed. "Your hair is red!"

Alfendi blinked. "It is?" he asked, then pulled down a strain in front of his eyes, then shrugged. "I hadn't really noticed." He then told in a nonchalant shrug letting go.

"Al." Luke chuckled amused shaking his head. "How are you?" he asked.

"Right now?" Alfendi asked slightly annoyed. "I'm cold, soaked to the bone and everyone are being really noisy. I'm a ray of sunshine isn't that obvious?" He asked in a snort, and then sneezed. "ATCHU!"

"Al for christ's sake!" Emmy exclaimed. "You need to get dry! Come on, we need you out of that clothes!" she told grabbing his arm, pulling him out.

"E-Emmy!" Alfendi objected. "I can handle myself!" he exclaimed.

"Sure." Emmy told in a slight roll of her eyes. "Professor, you have a dress-robe right?" she asked over her shoulder.

"In my closet, on the hanger." Hershel nodded.

"Come on then Alfendi!" Emmy exclaimed pulling him out.

"Emmy!" Alfendi complained, but didn't have much choice in the matter, as he was soon out of sight.

Flora and Luke though, whom was left back, looked beyond overjoyed.

"It's him, it's really him!" Flora cheered. "Old Al! only Al would be like that!" she cheered. "Oh I'm so happy." She sniffed, wiping away a tear.

"Hm." Luke as well smiled. "Did you know that professor?" he asked Hershel, in a slight smile.

"I only saw it shortly myself, but yes." Layton smiled deeply appreciatively. "it's quite remarkable isn't it?" he asked.

"And we have you to thank!" Flora stated turning to Lucy giving her a big hug. "Thank you, thank you!"

Lucy blinked surprised, then padded Flora on the back. "That's.. okay. Honestly I have no idea what I did." She told as Flora let go, smiling at her, just in time for Alfendi to return, now wearing a dark red dress-robe, and towelling his read hair with a white towel.

Emmy standing beside him smiling.

"What are you even doing here any-way?" Alfendi at last asked Emmy as he looked questioning at her. "Shouldn't people be home in a storm like this." He asked, as he put the towel down on his shoulders. "It doesn't seem like father to accidently make a double arrangement." he commented then turned to Layton. "And father, if you're going to tell me you've started to grown senile then let me say it at ones, i'm not believing that for a second."

Layton though sighed amused. "I do truly wish I could say any of these people came to see me." He told. "But the truth apparently is they all got a wind you would be here, and came to see you." He informed.

"Professor!" Flora objected, lightly hitting the professor on the arm. "Of cause we are very happy to see you to!"

"Quite." Emmy nodded sitting down again. "You are both quite difficult to get a hold on!" she stated. "It can become quite bothersome some-times." She complained.

Lucy though chuckled down in her hand. "Just come to our office one day, he spends more time there than he does at home." She told.

Making Alfendi roll his eyes, then squinted at Lucy. "And what are you doing here?" he asked. "Couldn't wait till tomorrow?" he asked.

Lucy pouted. "You asked me to call your father remember!" she asked. "And his home were closer to our location than either the station or my own home, so it would just be quicker to come here myself, then he was nice enough to offer me tea and I said yes." She told.

"Fine, I see." Alfendi sighed deeply, then looked at the others. "Why are you all looking at me like that?" he asked. "You look like a bunch of blithering smiling idiots." He told, as true enough, every-body were just sitting, looking at him and beaming. And that didn't seem to sit to well with Alfendi as he took a step backwards almost as if to protect himself from all the unexplained smiling.

"Al, we are just happy to see you so well." Emmy smiled. "We havn't seen you like this for four years."

For a moment Alfendi looked at them trying to take in Emmy's words then he sighed. "Oh, I see." He sighed deeply, then finally sat down to, between Luke and Flora, towelling his hair again. "Well, I might as well tell you all right away. Apparently I have developed a split personality disorder, I change back and ford all the time. I am not always like this." He explained in a deep sigh. "So don't be all upset now if I change, it happens all the time. I'm an official nutcase with a diagnose and everything." He muttered leaning back pouting slightly, clearly also trying to avoid all the eyes on him. Potty or Placid, clearly Alfendi was never that big a fan of attention.

"True." Lucy nodded. "It's very normal for us now, Alfendi changes all the time without either of us thinking to much about it. All-though.." she hesitated. And Alfendis eyes looked at her. "You seem a lot more stable now than usual." She informed, making Alfendi lift an eye-brow. "What I mean.. You are Potty right now, but.. You are not shouting in the same way." She commented. "You seem.. Different, Potty Prof, but not quite Potty Prof.. a bit more balanced, and stable.. as I said before."

"Perhaps being in familiar, secure surroundings help Alfendi finding a better balance between his two personalities?" Luke suggested. "What do you say professor?" he asked.

"That is a theory." Layton nodded. "And, lets hope so, it would be nice to know that we can in fact help Alfendi."

Lucy shook her head, she had no doubt, that the next morning, Alfendi would be back to the switching back and ford.

But some-thing told her, that yes indeed, Alfendi would be stable for the rest of the night, as long as he was here, among these people whom knew him and he was allowed to be compleately himself with, without feeling stressed or pressured, but.. secure.

And even Alfendi smiled lightly then sighed deeply. "The doctor.. He said it should be possible to recover, but it's going to take a long time and pressure wont help in the slightest, in fact it'll probably have the opposit effect. It's just going to take the time it's going to take." he muttered annoyed.

"Don't worry about it Al." Flora assured. "There is no rush, what matters is that you're doing well and you're here with us now."

"Beside, really both personalities are just two parts of you." Luke pointed out. "It's not like you turn into a stranger just a... more exstreme version of yourself in either direction. It's still you though is what i'm trying to say."

"Alfendi." Layton sighed. "I think what we are trying to say is, the one thing that matters to us is if you're feeling well." he said. "Everyone is happy, because you seem to be feeling so much better, you're not hiding anymore but act like yourself. I for one, just want you to be happy. I think everyone in this room shares the sentiment."

And everyone nodded in agreement making Alfendi smile a little embarrased as his cheeks blushed nearly matching the red colour of his hair and he glanced away. "All of you." he breathed. "You've always been such bloody idiots!"

And they all chuckled amused in response.

"LETS HAVE A PICTURE!" Emmy then suddenly announced.

"Huh?" Luke blinked.

"It's so rare the entire Layton gang is together, this is worth a picture!" Emmy told, pulling out her camera, and started to fiddle with the auto-cap on it. "A picture of the Layton gang that is."

"Oh, should I take the picture then?" Lucy asked.

"don't be silly, you are a part of the Layton gang to now!" Emmy stated.

"I am?" Lucy asked deeply surprised.

"Yes! So just sit tight and smile at the camera!" Emmy asked, placing the camera on the table, and jumped backwards to the others. "Every Layton, say cheese!" She beamed, looking at the camera.

And they all did.. okay all except Alfendi, but even he was smiling a little amused.

And thus his face was preserved like that on the picture, the picture of the Laytons.

End.