Luke and Flora were still in bed when Hershel called them to come downstairs.

"They probably didn't heard me"

He said, while he was placing the hot teapot on the wooden table. Breakfast was ready.

"Flora? We need to wake up… hey my dear… wake up."

His hand was on her slim shoulder, shaking her carefully. With a little sleepy smile she turned around, in the way too small bed.

"I know. I've heard the Professor. The breakfast's ready I guess."

Flora answered and sat up. He hugged her from behind and snuggled his way into her wavy hair.

"Aww… you're tickling me Luke!"

Now he used his hands to titillate her even more. She started to laugh so hard that everyone could hear her in the whole apartment.

"Luke"…

he was on top of her now and she was whimpering for mercy…

"Please stop it, I'm begging you!"

"Are you awake now?"

He asked cocky.

"Yes! Yes I am!"

After that he stopped and just looked at her. Luke was about to kiss her but then… suddenly the Door flew wide open.

"Luke! Go off of her! And what is going on here?"

Professor's voice wasn't angry at all; he just was shocked how he saw them there:
Flora was under him with her nightgown pulled up, a little bit higher than her knees were. This happened when Luke jumped up at her. His hair was disheveled and his blue shirt hung around his neck, even he didn't knew why? This position looked clearly miss understandable.

"You two are too young for these 'actions' ",

Hershel said stern, gazing down to the teens. Flora was sitting shyly in the corner of the bed, hugging her knees tightly. She hoped she didn't had to explain herself for the screaming and for her boisterous laughter.

"Professor? I just tickled her to wake up. And I also know that this looks awkward, but I didn't did something ungentlemanly."

He raised an eyebrow and laughed a bit at the expression in Luke's Face.

"This isn't funny!"

"No, I know, but I like to say that this is rather funny than what I've thought you were doing."

Hershel stood up and went to the door.

"Please fallow me down when you too are ready, changed."

They smiled both and stood up, searching for their pants and shirts. Professor gently closed the red door behind him and chuckled, while he said:

"kids nowadays"

Meanwhile in the room:

"Jesus, that was so close! A few seconds later I would of have kissed you. How could I explain that away?"

Luke asked, still looking out for his shirt.

"I don't know how, but somehow you would have convinced him, that we didn't did something in a se…"

Flora broke off her sentence, and just looked very disturbed about the word she wanted to use.

"You're right, dear."

He slightly smirked at her and started again:

"I see you're changed… so let's go down, I'm starving."

Luke took the hand of the gorgeous brunette and went downstairs.
As they saw the professor sipping appreciatively his morning tea, Luke let go off of her hand. He didn't wanted to show that they were really together.

"Oh gosh, this looks delicious!"

He said out loud as he pulled the chair out for Flora.

"It is indeed, Luke."

Hershel placed his tea cup on the little plate, which was on the table. Then he leaned forward on his elbow. Flora knew what he was going to do… or going to ask now. He already took a deep breath to ask, but she blurted out:

"You saw us two, yesterday night, right? Lying in the bed together…"

Nervously she stroked her curly hair, gazing to Luke too. He looked a bit shocked. How did she had the courage to tell him that, after all she was painfully shy.

"Yes I did. After I came back the lights still were on and I wondered where you two where. Then I saw you two, very closely against each other in his bed."

Professor chuckled slightly, looking across the table to one of Claire's pictures.

"Are you mad Professor?"

Luke was scared about what he was going to hear.

"Why should I be mad at you Luke? You two remind me a lot of me and Claire. I'm glad both of you found love."

Then he smiled at flora, while he looked at her glowing birthmark on her neck.

"What are you two doing when I'm away tonight?"

Hershel asked with making a hint of his date that he had then.

"I guess you've a date with Claire this evening. We are definitely going to the prom at school. Hope my dancing skills are good enough for it."

He blushed a bit red as he reminded the day they practiced and all what happened at the End of the Day. Luke reached for Floras hand under the table, and blinked at her.

"I'm excited; hope I'll look good in the dress I've picked out."
"You always are a stunning young beauty, my dear."

She didn't expected a compliment like this. Flora simply stood up, and hugged the professor tightly. Hershel had his cup of tea in his hand, but he spilled the half of it on the table. After he recognized that tea was all over the desk, he placed it down and hugged her back.

"Thank you. I'm so glad you've found me in st. mystere. I don't want to imagine what I would've had missed without you."

His arm was still wrapped around her as he said:

"You're welcome. I really don't want to destroy this moment but, you've nearly scalded my hand with your surprising hug."

"I'm so sorry… hold on, I'll bring you a cold, wet rag for your… uhhm… right hand"

His hand was quite rose, but not swollen.

"May I ask what you're planning for your date with her, Professor?"

Luke asked curious.

"Actually I wanted to make some kind of dinner on a little boat with her. She loves the sea, like I do. So I really hope she'll like my idea."

"Aww, how romantic is that?"

Flora commented from the kitchen sink.

"It is some sort of, but you never were a pirate, right?"

"No!"

But Hershel had to laugh, and continued:

"As a kid I dreamed to be one. First I wanted to be a Puzzle Master, which I am now. But always when I saw the ocean… I just wanted to jump into a huge pirate ship and sail away in the open sea."

Childlike he looked into his water glass and smiled slightly.

"I never thought about that so much. I mean… what I wanted to be in the future."

Flora said to that and pressed the soggy rag gently on his right hand. The professor made a cry of pain.

"That feels a lot better. Thank you ahh… very much."

He put his hand on hers and looked up at her. She then turned around and walked to Luke:

"Come on, let's get ready for the ball. I just can't wait."

She linked her arm into his and went to the stairs.

"I'd wish you fun"

Said Hershel while he was drinking the rest of the lukewarm tea.
Luke ran back to the prof. and whispered in his ear:

"Don't be shy… just kiss her!"

After that he went back to Flora and upstairs.
Professor was shocked…

'Why did he knew that… I never kissed her? I doesn't matter… I'll try my best to change that'