A/N: I made a mistake in the last chapter. Since Constance Dove died in Unwound Future (which is, honestly, a much better reason for her not to be able to watch Clive) she couldn't be sick. Sorry about that. I don't own Layton and co.
Clive was listening intently to the story of Luke's most recent adventure with Professor Layton. It turns out, one of the guards had stolen the artifact and knew the museum well enough to not leave any clues. When Luke was finished, they discussed the details of Clive's release from prison. "I'm not sure, Luke. I don't want to be a burden on you or the Professor," Clive looked down, worried. "Of course you aren't! Besides you don't really have a choice. I mean, where else could you go? And there is no way I'm letting you stay here!" Luke affirmed. "But…" Clive tried to protest but Luke was right, he didn't have any other options. "Then it's settled. You're getting out at the beginning of my summer break so I'll be here to help you settle in. I have to go now, but I'll see you then!" Luke grinned as he got up to leave. "Thank you," Clive replied with a small smile.
Clive couldn't help smiling when he saw Professor Layton, Flora, and Luke waiting for him. Clive collected his few things and rushed to meet the group. "Professor!" He called, "It's been so long." "Yes, my boy," Layton said, smiling, "And from what Luke has told me you have been trying very hard to change your ways. I want to offer you something that I'm afraid I couldn't when we parted all those years ago: My forgiveness." "And you have mine too!" Flora added. "Thank you two so much," Clive struggled not to cry, "And it's wonderful to see you again, Luke!" "Likewise," Luke replied, "Now let's get you home." Home, Clive thought.
The Professor had decided that they would all go out to eat together to celebrate Clive's release. Honestly, Clive didn't remember most of it. He had been exhausted and overwhelmed the whole time. He received a few weird glances from people who remembered what he had done all those years ago, but since he was with the Professor, no one said anything. The next day, Clive began settling in. He was staying in a guest room right next to Flora's room. Layton and Luke both had rooms downstairs. He was busy unpacking the possessions they had retrieved from Constance Dove's old house, where Clive had been living before he built 'Future London,' when he heard a knock and Luke stuck his head in. "Flora asked me to get some things for dinner tonight. I was wondering if you wanted to come and get lunch first?" Luke inquired. Clive nodded, "Just give me a moment." Luke grinned and went to wait by the door. Clive put on his hat and shoes and went to meet Luke.
As they walked to the restaurant, Clive noticed how much Luke had changed. Luke had grown into a confident and tall young man, in fact Luke was only a little shorter than Clive. Clive smiled as he noticed the blue cap that Luke had always worn, still perched upon Luke's head. Clive himself had not changed much except to look more troubled and slightly less confident than he had before. Clive stopped for a moment reflecting on Luke's appearance. He had become so much, handsomer, Clive thought. Luke looked back, "Is something wrong?" "Nothing at all," Clive said with a slight blush. "Then come on. I'm hungry and in case you haven't heard, I have a legendary appetite!" Luke remarked stretching his hand out to Clive. Clive took his hand and didn't let go until they were at the restaurant.
At the restaurant Luke inquired what Clive planned to do now that he was out of prison. "Hmm…" Clive replied, thinking, "Well I enjoyed being a journalist before, I guess eventually I'd like to go back to doing that. It would be hard to do that right now, however." "I suppose that's true, given you still have to be constantly supervised," Luke chewed thoughtfully on his food. "I've been kept practicing though. With nothing else to do I wrote all the time in prison. Well, I wrote and thought of puzzles to tell you." Luke smiled as he remembered some of the more stumping puzzles Clive had come up with.
Luke was reading the list Flora had given him searching the store for each ingredient she had asked for. Clive was standing behind Luke with his hands in his pockets when Luke said, "You're in for a treat tonight, Flora's cooking is the best!" "Really? What's she making?" "I'm not sure. But it's sure to be great," Luke said hiding a smirk. Suddenly a voice called out, "Hey! That guy, he's the terrorist that tried to destroy London!" Suddenly the whole store was staring at Clive. Voices whispered, "Did he really try to destroy London?" "What a horrible person!" "Isn't that the boy that's always with Professor Layton?" "What's he doing with that criminal?" Luke was about to try and reassure Clive when he turned and saw Clive run out of the store. Dropping all the groceries, Luke ran out behind him. Luke lost sight of Clive but following the accounts of civilians along the way, he followed Clive to a bridge nearby.
"Clive! You can't run away like that. Constant supervision, remember?" "I'm sorry Luke," Clive was wiping away tears. Luke sighed, "Don't let what they say bother you. They're all wrong." "No they're not! I tried to destroy London! I'm a horrible person and you'd all be better off without me!" "What you did was wrong. There is no denying that. But Clive, you're trying to change! You have changed! You have to stop blaming yourself and start forgiving yourself." Clive looked away, "I don't get how you can believe in me. Everyone else, including me, just sees a psychotic criminal!" Then Clive started sobbing uncontrollably. Luke led him to a bench and sat with him as Clive clung to Luke's arm and continued crying. Luke tried to think of something to say but coming up with nothing he held Clive close instead. After a while Clive fell asleep from exhaustion. Luke wiped the tears from the sleeping boy's face and stood up. He lifted Clive on his back. It was a little difficult since Clive was slightly bigger but Luke carried him all the way back home.
Upon entering the townhouse, Luke heard Flora making dinner in the kitchen. "Did you get the ingredients?" Flora called. "I'm afraid there were some… complications," Luke admitted. Professor Layton looked up from his book and Flora turned from her cooking and gasped. "What happened?" Flora asked. "We ran into some sons-of-bitches at the store. He cried until he was too exhausted to continue," Luke replied with a grimace. "Now Luke, a gentleman doesn't…" "I know Professor 'a gentleman doesn't curse' but Professor, they were." Layton sighed, "Well, why don't we let Clive get some rest before dinner." Luke went and laid Clive on his bed and returned and recalled the events of the day to Layton and Flora.
Clive awoke to Flora shaking him gently. "It's time for dinner sleepyhead," Flora cooed. The two of them walked to the table together and Clive sat between Luke and Layton. Looking at the food, Clive noticed it looked odd. However, Luke had told him it would be great so he took a large mouthful. Flora watched him expectantly. "So, do you like it?" She eagerly asked. "It's… great," He replied. He glared at Luke who smirked back. It most certainly was not great.