11. Growing up
Until that day, Layton hadn't realized that his kids were growing up. Scratch that, they weren't his kids. None of them were. Still he felt a strong sense of fatherly over- protectiveness. Maybe that's why he reacted so strongly to what he'd just seen.
He hadn't meant to see, but he simply had to ask if Luke wanted to hear his new puzzle. Instead he walked in on Luke and Flora kissing.
They didn't know he was there, so he had to deal with the disgust and horror of it on his own.
"Kids…" Layton mumbled as he walked down the hallway.
He heard music floating from the girl's bedroom. Katarina must be practicing again, Layton thought to himself. He noticed that the boy's bedroom door was open. He could hear Clive humming along to the music softly. No doubt they liked each other, even if they wanted to strangle each other sometimes.
He couldn't help but notice that they weren't kids anymore. Katarina, Clive and Emmy were old enough to live on their own. (Why they didn't, the professor didn't know.) Flora and Luke were already teenagers.
I don't know how you can stand having a herd of children with you at all times, Don Paolo had once told him. I'm a Good Samaritan. Emmy is my assistant, Clive doesn't have any parents and neither does Flora, Katarina's family thinks she's a disgrace except for her grandfather, bless his heart, and Luke really needs a father figure, was his reply. If they weren't related anyway, what could be the harm in a few romantic thoughts?
The professor kept walking down the long hallway. He could hear Flora giggling with Luke, and Katarina scolding Clive for listening in on her without telling her.
On the other hand, this means I'm getting old too! Layton thought in horror.
A/N: I'm sorry if this isn't as funny as the other stories, but I need to let my romantic side have a turn too. Since I'm running out of ideas, I'm willing to take requests as long as they aren't TOO extreme. I know some of you readers out there have twisted imaginations. REVIEW PLZ. KTHXBAI!