Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Professor Layton franchise

Chapter 8 The final day

The next morning Emmy awoke with a warm, fuzzy feeling in her stomach. The night before had been unexpectedly wonderful. After her little kiss of appreciation, the professor reciprocated with one of a deeper sentiment. She sighed contently and moved from out under the blankets to the window. Flora turned around and looked at Emmy with a surprised and slightly sleepy look on her face.

''You're up early.'' She said while stifling a yawn.

Emmy opened the curtains and revelled in the warm rays of sunshine seeping in. She felt like she had been blessed by some sort of azran goddess.

''Just had a lovely sleep, that's all.''

She heard Flora giggle softly and blushed. She had told her what happened when she returned to her room last night, with a red face. Flora had already been curious about what happened on the mountain and demanded she tell her everything. Emmy was glad to be able to share her feelings with the girl. She was important to Hershel after all.

Emmy opened the window door and stepped outside on the balcony. She was going to have to get used to calling him by his first name. He had insisted on it yesterday evening. She leaned on the balustrade and enjoyed the view across the mountainside. Her mind drifted back to yesterday evening, where they had finally been able to talk about their feelings.

The kiss was everything she had dreamed of. His hand had guided her towards him, cupping her chin in the gentlest way. His eyes were half-lidded, filled with an emotion she hadn't seen from him before. When their lips touched again, she felt like she was floating. His lips were warm and soft. She heard him hum deep in his throat, which shook her core. When they parted, she felt a sense of disappointment. She missed his warmth and wanted more, but before she could demand another kiss, the professor had taken her hands in his. He had looked at her with an amazingly handsome smile. He told her he wanted to tell her how he had started to develop feelings for her in the last couple of days.

She had told him the same. They laughed at their cluelessness. Emmy knew her feelings were something a little more deep rooted than just a couple of days and had told him about the years of admiration and respect she felt for him. How that admiration and respect had turned into something more. How she had always wanted him to hold her close, but was forever unsure how to process those feelings. After their day on the beach, it felt like everything had sped up 110%. Her uncertain feelings had become certain, her desire to be close to him had become unbearable.

He had laughed when she reminisced about the kiss they shared in front of the fire pit. He told her how he thought she would never look at him in that light. He told her how he thought she felt like she made a mistake by kissing him. This explained his reaction the next day by the roller coaster. He had blushed when he explained that he realised he had been in love with her when she was seated on the edge of the pool. It felt so good to hear him say that. To hear him say he was also in love with her. The night ended too soon to her liking after that. He had thanked her for everything and bid her a good night.

It wasn't until she had returned to her own hotel room, that she realised she had dropped her precious stone. The little stone that made her heart flutter. She was sure she had it during her thank you kiss. She decided to retrace her steps after they had had breakfast. Flora had gotten up in the meantime and joined her on the balcony.

''So, are you guys boyfriend girlfriend now or…?'' She asked.

''Cheeky little runt.'' Emmy thought.

She wasn't officially asked, but she supposed they were together now, even if that meant saying something as embarrassing as boyfriend girlfriend.

''Only if you start calling me mama.'' Emmy remarked with a grin.

Flora responded with a big laugh. They continued getting ready for the day. Emmy had started getting dressed when she spotted several bruises from the day before. She hadn't noticed how sore her body actually was. The fall down had been pretty extreme, but the adrenaline and excitement from her interactions with the professor had dulled the pain so far. She sat back down on the bed and placed her fingers against the temples on her head. Her headache was resurfacing as well.

''Emmy…? Are you alright?'' A concerned Flora asked.

She bent down on her knees to look at Emmy.

''Maybe you should stay at the hotel today?''

Emmy sighed. She was right. She was not looking forward to the plane ride home tomorrow, so another day of rest might be a good plan. Today's planning consisted of shopping, which was something Emmy never really enjoyed anyway.

''The professor will probably also stay at the hotel, so maybe you could join him after breakfast?'' Flora said with a smirk.

Emmy looked up at her grinning roommate and poked her finger against Flora's shoulder to cause her to fall back on her bottom. Flora laughed at the playful gesture and got back up to finish getting ready. Emmy got up from the bed as well and waited for Flora to join her in the hallway. Down in the breakfasthall, everyone except Hershel had already joined their usual table.

''Good morning everyone.'' Emmy greeted the gang pleasantly.

''Good morning Em! How are you feeling?'' Randall asked excitedly.

''Pretty good, besides a headache and some minor bruising. Will the profe...Hershel join us later?''

Randall raised his eyebrow at her little slip up. He was used to Emmy calling his close friend 'the professor', finding it normal considering her job. He surmised something good had probably happened.

''I think he was ordered to stay in his room by the doctor today. Perhaps you can be so kind as to bring him his breakfast after you're done? He suggested.

Emmy's cheeks heated up. She wanted to see him. She nodded and walked off to the buffet. Randall continued to follow her with his eyes, causing Angela to elbow him.

''Something up with Emmy?'' She whispered in his ear.

Randall turned and smiled at her. ''I believe we have some development.''

Clark curiously listened in on their conversation. It had been their plan all along after all.

''I can't believe our plan worked.'' He whispered across the table with a hand to the side of his face. ''Now we have to wait for them to tell us about…'' Clark was cut off when Emmy had hurriedly walked back to the table with two trays of breakfast.

She sat down and started engulfing the food on one plate faster than they had ever seen her eat. Before they could ask her what this was about she had already finished and started cleaning up. The other tray was scooped up quickly and a slightly heavy breathing Emmy gave them one last smile before she turned around and walked to the staircase at a fast pace. She had almost completely disappeared from sight, when she suddenly realised something and turned back. She returned to the table with a blush.

''I'll be staying at the hotel today by the way so don't wait for me i'm going to the professo...Hershel now anyway alright see you later have fun!''

She was gone again before they could answer.

''So Flora, did she tell you anything?'' Luke asked.

He had been awfully quiet so far, mostly because he was still worried for the professor and Emmy. Yesterday gave him quite the scare. Flora nodded with vigor and started telling them bits and pieces of the story Emmy had told her. She didn't tell them everything, since she wanted to leave that to the couple themselves, but she enjoyed telling them what she could.

Emmy in the meantime had reached the door in which she had stood the night before. Her heart was racing a million miles an hour and the nerves surged through her body. He was probably hungry and she should really just knock. What was she so nervous for anyway? She mentally shook her head and huffed out the breath she had been holding.

''Come on Emmy.'' she whispered and knocked on the door.

It took a moment for him to answer, but thankfully a clear ''Come in.'' could be heard after some time. Emmy opened the door and pushed her way in.

''Good morning.'' she said cheerfully. ''Your breakfast my liege.''

The professor chuckled and beckoned her to come in. ''Good morning my dear. Did you sleep well?'' He asked.

A gentleman as always. Emmy nodded and placed the tray on his bedside table. The professor was laying on top of the bed with a pillow under his injured ankle. Emmy took a closer look and could see the swelling had already gone down and the color was returning to normal.

''Have you tried to walk?'' she asked.

''Yes and it went quite well. It was a little painful at first but Clark was here earlier to offer some support. After a few steps I was able to walk on my own.''

''That's good.'' Emmy had walked back over to the side of the bed where she had sat the evening before. The spot where they had kissed. She could feel her face flush when she took a seat next to him.

''I'll be staying at the hotel today, so I figured we could spend the day...together?'' She looked up at him with hope in her eyes.

''That would be wonderful.'' The professor's gaze softened and he took a hold of her hand.

They stared at each other for a while and Emmy noticed the professor was getting closer. She could feel herself getting flustered and quickly removed her hand. She turned around, got the breakfast she had left there earlier from the bedside table and pushed it on top of his lap. The professor was surprised by her sudden movements.

''Eat up before it gets cold.''

She turned her face away from him and scolded herself on the inside.

''Yes...thank you…'' He responded, still confused by her behaviour and picked up the utensils on the tray.

What was she doing? Didn't she want to be kissed by him? She didn't have to worry about her feelings anymore, right? He had reciprocated them after all. They are together now. Wait...were they? They certainly haven't established it yet. Maybe that was what was bothering her. She waited patiently for him to finish his breakfast before she would breach the topic. He hummed contently when he took a sip from his tea.

He was confused but not worried in the slightest. He was sure they could talk about it after what had happened last night. He had never really been able to talk to anyone that openly before. After he finished his breakfast, he thanked Emmy for her kindness and put the tray aside. She had nodded with a timid smile with her eyes still averted from him.

''Professor...can I ask a silly question?''

''Hershel my dear.''

''Oh right, apologies, uhm...so Hershel?'' The blush on her cheeks was deepening in color.

''Of course you may Emmy. There is no such thing as a silly question.''

''Alright then….are we?...are you?'' she stuttered.

''Yes?''

''Are you my boyfriend?'' The last part of that sentence left her with her heart in her throat and a face as red as a tomato.

Hershel looked at her for a moment with a dumbstruck expression across his features. He certainly did not expect her to ask him that.

''I know it's stupid but I would really like to know where we are.'' Emmy had buried her face in her hands.

The professor had to suppress his laughter when he looked at his newly established girlfriend and reached out to take one of her hands.

''I am.''

Emmy looked through her finger and giggled when he placed a kiss on the hand he had taken away. She felt a wave of relief wash over her. She dashed forward and hugged him around his waist.

''Awesome.'' Emmy sighed as she felt his arm wrap around her to pull her closer to him.

She looked up to find him looking back at her as well. They closed in on each other and finally kissed again. The kiss didn't last for long however, because Emmy suddenly realised she still hadn't found the stone. She jumped up from the bed and looked around. She explained to her new boyfriend what she was doing while lifting up the covers on the bed.

''Shit where is it.'' She said while frantically searching around the room.

''Language dear.''

She squatted down to look under the bed where she found a small shine near the wall. With a triumphant ''Ha!'' she held the stone above her head.

The rest of the day was spent lounging around his room and on the balcony for some fresh air from time to time. They had entertained themselves with different puzzles, word riddles and fleeting kisses. The day felt like it had flown by when they heard a knock on the door. Emmy answered to find the gang outside in the hallway. They had been exploring the city for different shops and wanted to show them their haul. Everyone had also been so kind to buy them a few gifts as well, ranging from snacks for Emmy to strange spanish sliding puzzles for Hershel.

Flora had found a perfect necklace to put the daisy stone in. Luke kept teasing her by telling them how she was persistently looking around every jewelry shop and stall to find something to put the stone in. Emmy thanked her by giving her a big bear hug. The stone fitted perfectly into the open space on the necklace.

''I suppose we should give them the good news, shouldn't we Hershel?'' Emmy asked after everyone had shown off their trinkets.

''Yes let's.'' The professor cleared his throat. ''Emmy and I are officially together now.''

''Congratulations!'' Brenda said after a small pause.

No one was really surprised of course, but they all quickly congratulated them as well.

''Now we can have triple dates.'' Clark laughed.

''Hey what about us?'' Flora asked while gesturing to her and Luke.

''Well get yourself a partner Flora, then we will go on quadruple or quintuple dates.'' Clark winked at the young girl.

Everyone laughed at the interaction. It was already late in the evening when everyone had finally left to go to bed. They would leave pretty early the next morning for the airport and they did want to get some sleep at least before the plane ride. Emmy had joined Flora back to their room, which left the professor alone once again. They had tested his ankle just before they left the room to see if he could walk on his own and he seemed fine. The pain had thankfully almost completely gone away.

He stared up at the ceiling and thought about everything that had happened during his little holiday. Just a week ago he was swarming in work, relenting to even think about vacation as to not interrupt Clark and Brenda on their holiday. He thought about the first day here, when he was pleasantly surprised with Emmy's fresh look. He loved the way they had danced that evening, not thinking about a care in the world. He thought about the beach where she had once again surprised him with her appearance. A small blush formed on his cheeks when he tried to push away the ungentlemanly thoughts that popped into his mind.

Even if she was his girlfriend, that is no way to think about a lady. He thought about their little pretend boyfriend situation. How he liked to hold her so close he could smell her perfume, how her small touches affected him even then. He thought about their first kiss. The face she made after the fact still continued to make the butterflies in his stomach multiply. He thought about their awkward interaction at the roller coaster. What a fool he had been.

He thought about the hike. He had been so worried about her after the fall. He could honestly say he wouldn't know what to do if something worse had happened to her. There he had finally given her the stone. The small trinket he had been holding onto. She looked so happy when he told her he planned to give it to her. It was the reaction he had hoped for. And finally he thought about last night. About the kiss she had given him and the kiss he had given back. About the conversations they had until deep in the night.

It was no secret that she had consumed his every thought this entire vacation. But he was happy she did. Now they are together. He was not looking forward to the flight back to London but he was looking forward to his relationship with Emmy. It had been a vacation to remember.

Cliché ending much? Oh well it's a sappy love story anyway. Hope you enjoyed it! I'm aching to start my new story so sorry if this felt a little huried. Please let me know what you thought! I appreciate any feedback.