First of all, I have to admit that I am not a native speaker, so there might be a few mistakes, but if you were so kind as to write me a message to tell me of them, I would immediately correct them.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Level 5, and I don't earn my money with these stories.

This story was mostly written during the National Novel Writing Month 2021.

Back in Monte d'Or

Professor Layton smiled when he saw the manor again. He remembered the last time he had been here and how good it was to see Angela again (he had been too guilty because of Randall's death that he had never contacted her). He was glad all of that was forgiven now.

"It's as grand as I remember it," Luke smiled. The once small boy had just turned 16 last week, but he still enjoyed being the professor's assistant.

Hershel nodded. It was great to be back in Monte d'Or, the city that never slept, but it was also full of bittersweet memories. The last time he had been here, Emmy had still been by his side...

They rang the doorbell and a moment later a beaming Angela opened it.

"Hershel! Luke!" she cried and hugged them both. "It's been too long."

"Yes," Hershel smiled.

"And Luke, you've grown so much!"

The boy – young adult almost – grinned proudly.

"It's so good to have you back in our city."

Though Randall and Angela had visited Hershel in London a few times, this was the first time they were back in Monte d'Or since the Miracle Mask incident. Hershel couldn't deny that he had tried to avoid all places that reminded him too much of his gone assistant. But she was everywhere, and every morning he entered his office in the university he sighed when he found it empty.

The house was buzzing with people. Since many guests came from outside of Monte d'Or and had arrived a night earlier, tonight was an unofficial pre-wedding party.

New guests arrived and Hershel and Luke went further into the mansion. Hershel noticed that he knew a few people from their adventure, but before he had the chance to speak with them, –

"Hershel!" Randall gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "About time. I was beginning to think you weren't coming because I didn't make you my best man."

"Not at all," Hershel smiled. "Henry is far more deserving than me."

"And Luke? How's school?" In the last years, Randall had become some kind of cool uncle for the boy. When they started talking about Luke's ideas after school with which Hershel was quite familiar, he droned out their voices and looked around. He liked the mansion; the interior design was marvellous and the people of Monte d'Or enjoyable people.

Suddenly a large part of yellow caught his vision and when he focused on it, he detected a woman in a knee-long yellow dress. Her long brown hair hung over her shoulders, and she raised her glass with an elegant hand to her mouth. It was then that he saw her face and his heart skipped a beat. "Emmy?" he whispered shocked.

The woman turned her face and there was no mistake: it was Emmy.

Hershel almost stumbled to her, too shocked to look where he was going.

"Emmy?"

The woman turned to him, and her eyes widened. Then her surprise turned into a dazzling smile. "Professor!" she exclaimed and hugged him fiercely.

Hershel put his arms around her and pressed her shortly against him before releasing her again. Oh, how he had missed her.

"It's so great to see you again!" she beamed.

"And you," he grinned.

"Yes, Angela and Randall were kind enough to invite me."

They were indeed.

The two of them kept smiling at each other and Hershel had no idea what to say next. He wanted to tell her how badly he had missed her, but it seemed desperate. Luckily, he was saved by Luke.

"Emmy!" The boy flung around her neck.

"Hey there, Second Assistant. You've grown so much; I can't believe it!" Her gaze fell back to Hershel. "And you're still with the professor."

Luke grinned. "I lived in America for a few years, but didn't like it there at all, so my parents allowed me to stay with the professor and Flora."

"Who's Flora?" Emmy wondered.

"My adopted daughter," Hershel said.

"Oh." It was clear she wasn't sure how to take that. "I'd like to hear the story of that one day."

Hershel gave her a smile.

"Is she here today?" Emmy asked and looked around.

"Flora doesn't like large gatherings of people," Luke exclaimed. "Especially if she doesn't know the people, so she stayed home."

Hershel still couldn't believe that she was an adult now.

"How have you been?" Hershel asked, desperate for as much time with his former assistant as possible.

"Good, good," Emmy smiled but it wasn't genuine. "And you?"

"The same."

"I read about your adventure with 'Future London'."

"Ah." Even after years, thinking about Claire hurt. "Well, yes…"

Thankfully, Luke caught on and started telling the story from the adventurous point of view, not mentioning Claire once.

The three of them had moved to a free sofa when the tale became longer, Emmy sitting between the men and looking from one to the other in disbelief.

"Wow," she said in the end. "I wish I could've seen that."

"You were dearly missed," Hershel said in a low voice.

Emmy looked at him with a sad smile. "I would have given anything to be with you."

They gazed into each other's eyes until they heard a knife clinking against a glass.

Randall and Angela stood in the middle of the living room, he with his arm around her.

"Dear friends," Randall said and smiled. "For years I have dreamed about this weekend, since when I was in high school and Angela my first and only girlfriend."

The people chuckled while Angela blushed.

Randall's smile turned sad. "Then there was my tragic accident, followed by many years in which I didn't even remember my one true love. And when I finally did again, I was convinced she had been taken from me." There was a grave pause before he grinned again. "But in the end, everything was well and here we are now."

Hershel looked at Emmy and they shared a remembering look: the Masked Gentleman case had been one of their last adventures, unfortunately.

"Now," Randall continued, "my soon-to-be-wife wishes to dance so I will oblige at once."

The furniture of the grand living room was pushed to the sides and music started to play from an old gramophone. "Come join us if you want to," Randall grinned before he had only eyes for his Angela.

Hershel watched the pair dancing closely and staring dreamingly into each other's eyes. He was sure that they would have danced like this at their graduation ball if Randall hadn't gone missing.

It wasn't even a minute before a pretty girl stood in front of Luke and asked him to dance.

The teenager grinned widely and led her to the dance floor like the gentleman he had become.

Hershel smiled.

"He's grown so much," Emmy beamed, now both watching the boy dance. "I can't believe it has been eight years."

Hershel sighed deeply. Yes, eight years without any sign of his former assistant, and not a single day had gone by without him thinking of her.

"Hey," she asked worriedly and put her hand on his arm. "What's wrong?"

He stared at her hand, then shook his head and stood up. "Nothing," he mumbled and went outside.

The fresh air of the night felt good, and he was glad there was no one else in the garden.

It felt strange to see Emmy again. His heart pounded as hard as it had all these years ago whenever she smiled at him or touched him or was just nearby. But then she had betrayed him and left him, and it still hurt. He had begged the universe to make his feelings for her go away, but not even seeing Claire again had helped. It just made him feel guilty. And suddenly she was here again, and he wished to never let go of her again.

"Are you okay?"

Hershel spun around to where Emmy was cautiously drawing nearer, her face worried. He sighed and tried a reassuring smile. "Of course."

Her expression didn't change. "Hershel," she said and came to stand in front of him. "Don't forget that I know you. What's wrong?"

He stared at her and only one question emerged: "Where have you been all those years?"

She flinched and her eyes darted away from him. "Everywhere," she replied vaguely. "Nowhere. Doesn't matter."

"Of course, it does," he said, anger rising in him. "Since you left, there wasn't a single day where I haven't wondered where you were, and worried about you." He took a shaky breath.

"I'm sorry," she said, tears in her eyes. "I didn't want to leave, but I had to. I just couldn't live with myself, after what I did. How could I've still been your assistant?"

"You have always been more than my assistant."

"I know."

He sighed. "I just don't know how to act around you."

"Why don't we talk?" She looked around and then pointed to a garden bench.

Hershel nodded and they made their way to the bench.

They remained silent for a moment, not sure how to start. Then Emmy began. "At first I travelled the world. I was in Russia, China, Australia, and a long time in the States. I think I just wanted to forget everything and ran away, but of course that didn't work." She gave him a sad smile and he admired how mature she had become. "Then the last three years I lived in Dublin and worked as a bouncer for a club."

Hershel looked at her worriedly. A club was no place for a lady like her, no matter her fighting skills.

"I know," she sighed, "but it was okay, and most people were nice to me."

"And then?"

She shrugged. "I got the wedding invitation, packed my bags and came here. I've been living in the hotel the last two weeks."

"You left Dublin, just like that?"

"There was nothing to keep me. And to be honest," she glanced at him, "I had hoped to get a reason to come back to London."

"Emmy," he sighed, "you were always welcome."

Her eyes teared. "I wasn't sure, after what I'd done." She was starting to cry so Hershel put his arms around her and tried to comfort her.

Emmy put her head against him and sobbed while muttering her apologies.

"Shh," Hershel made. "You were forgiven a long time ago."

She continued to cry, and he continued to comfort her until she calmed down. When she was quiet, they stayed in their embrace, simply enjoying the other.

Finally, Emmy sighed and sat up again. She wiped over her face, then gave Hershel a smile. "Thanks."

"Of course."

"I guess we should go back inside. Luke might be wondering where we are."

"Yes," he agreed though he wanted to stay with her. It wasn't often that she opened to him.

They stood up and went inside where the couples were still dancing, Luke among them. He was grinning happily at his partner who laughed amiably.

They got food and drinks, talked with their hosts and other guests, even spoke a few words with Henry who was as stiff as ever. Everything seemed as if they were friends again but they both still felt the tension between them.

After the party Hershel, Luke, and Emmy went to the hotel together since the three of them were staying there.

"And besides, a gentleman shouldn't let a lady walk alone through the night."

"I can handle myself," Emmy insisted.

"I know," Hershel smiled, "but I still like protecting you."

Emmy tried to hide her blush behind her long hair.

When they had arrived at the hotel, Luke said goodnight and went into his room, leaving Emmy and Hershel alone in the corridor.

"Well then," Hershel cleared his throat. "It was great seeing you again."

"It was," she smiled, her cheeks reddening.

Hershel opened his mouth to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. He couldn't just tell her how much she meant to him. She would find it absurd or ridiculous or embarrassing. They maybe could be friends but nothing more.

For a moment she tried to say something as well, then she smiled at him, stepped forward and kissed his cheek. "Good night," she whispered and with one long last look she went into her room

Hershel was dumbfounded. Then he started grinning and went to his room.


The next morning was so stressful, there was no time for talking with Emmy. As Randall's best man, Hershel was with his friend the whole morning. Though the groom wasn't getting any cold feet (he had waited over a decade for his Angela), his thoughts were constantly switching between being overconfident ("I'm going to be the best husband there ever was!") and self-doubts ("Angela deserves someone better than me. Someone who doesn't leave her for an adventure!"). Hershel tried to counsel his friend as best as possible.

When Hershel was able to stand at the altar of the church beside Randall, the wedding band for Angela in his hand, he finally had time to look for Emmy. He found her in the first row next to Luke, smiling at whatever the teenager was telling her. When she lifted her eyes and her gaze met Hershel's, she beamed at him with so much adoration that Hershel slightly blushed but mirrored her smile.

The ceremony was beautiful, and no one could deny what a perfect couple Randall and Angela were. Hershel was so happy to be finally able to see this moment, after he had seen his two best friends fall in love with each other and keep their love even when Randall had been gone for so many years, presumably dead. But throughout the beautiful words, his gaze often wandered to Emmy who always gave him a smile that made his stomach flutter. He almost missed his cue as a ring giver because he was so entranced with his former assistant.

When the ceremony ended and the happy couple had kissed and were leaving down the aisle, Hershel slowly followed them. He was delighted when Emmy planted herself next to him so that they too left the church like a couple. He carefully reached out to her and let his fingers graze hers.

She grabbed his hand firmly and intertwined their fingers.

Hershel looked at her surprised and found her smiling shyly up at him. He squeezed her hand and caressed it with his thumb. It felt absolutely perfect.

The wedding reception was held in the Manor since it was already the most extravagant yet intimate location in Monte d'Or. Angela and Randall thanked their guests for this wonderful wedding, everyone toasted the happy couple, and they opened the buffet and danced the first dance.

All through this Emmy hadn't left Hershel's side and whenever they could they held hands.

Luke saw them during Randall's speech and lifted his eyebrows at the professor who shrugged and smiled which made Luke give him the thumbs up. Hershel was more relieved than he had thought that his apprentice was approving.

When more couples entered the dancing area, he immediately turned towards Emmy. "Would you like to dance?"

"Very much," she beamed at him, and he led her to the dance floor.

They fitted perfectly together as if they had danced their whole life together and he never wanted this moment to end, his Emmy in his arms, her smile just for him.

"Hershel?" she suddenly said and looked worried.

"What is it, my dear?"

"I'd like to stay with you," she said quietly, almost inaudibly over the music. "May I come with you back to London?"

"Oh my dear, dear Emmy," he said and hugged her close to him, the dance forgotten.

She pressed her arms around him, and he put his cheek onto her soft hair.

"Of course, you can come with me. I don't ever want to part with you again."

"Me neither," she sighed, then she looked up at him, their faces close. "I love you, you know."

It was the scene he had been dreaming about these last years and yet, hearing her finally say the words was better than ever imagined. He didn't know if he should laugh or cry when he replied: "I love you too."

And before she could change her mind, he kissed her. He didn't notice the people around them stopping to dance and cheering at them, or Luke whistling with his fingers, or Randall telling his wife that she owed him 10 bucks because he had won their bet. There were only Hershel and Emmy in the world at this moment and they didn't need anyone or anything. They were finally together and never wanted to part again.

THE END.