Elaine planned to talk to Desmond in private, and she didn't really want anyone else to know about it. It wouldn't really do to talk about what she had in mind with others present, and she certainly didn't want to give Emmy any more reasons to try and tease her about Desmond. Her plan was to either pretend to fall asleep on hope Desmond would remain last, or wait until everyone had gone to bed and then knock on Desmond's bedroom door.

With the former, there would be a low risk of being caught in discussion (or possible fight), especially since the Bostonius was currently on auto-pilot. The latter, more so. She could just wait and see who goes.

Luke was the first to go to bed, along with Johanna (Desmond briefly leaving the room to make sure Johanna did go to bed), then with Aurora slowly beginning to feel tired, Emmy decided to bring her to her bed before going asleep her. Raymond had already gone to bed, leaving it at just Elaine, Desmond and Professor Layton. Though he too was just heading off now.

"I'll see you both in the morning then. Goodnight." They both returned the Professor's goodnight before he left for the room he shared with Luke.

"Not tired?" Desmond asked Elaine.

"Not really." In truth, she just wanted to curl up in bed and sleep. But now she could ask without being overheard. "I was just wondering something." Desmond groaned as he rubbed his face.

"Somehow I feel this will end up in an argument," he muttered. Elaine ignored that and continued on.

"I was just wondering what exactly you 'ave in mind for Azran Legacy?" Desmond tensed, a fist instinctively clenching tight enough to turn his knuckles white.

"… What do you think?" he asked quietly. It didn't sound mocking, as though the answer should be obvious. He just seemed a little curious about what Elaine thought.

"I doubt it's anything like world domination," she said dryly. "You don't really seem to be the type of person who would be interested in that sort of thing."

"And you would be right," Desmond said as he began to slowly relax again. "While 'tempting' it would be to have the whole world grovelling at my feet, being declared King with you as my Queen and Johanna the Princess, it would become boring rather fast. Not to mention I would have to deal with everyone's problems." Desmond wrinkled his nose in disdain at that. "Not exactly as appealing as one would think. Plus there would no doubt be a rise of assassins to kill us."

"You would want me as Queen?" Elaine asked. It was slightly amusing really, and a little flattering.

"King Desmond and Queen Elaine has a nice ring, doesn't it?" Elaine lightly chuckled as she shuck her head.

"I suppose, but then politics would be involved, and I would rather stick to my father's rule in regards to politics."

"And that rule is…?"

"It's all evil."

"I think I'm inclined to agree with him." Elaine was smiling, but quickly frowned.

"We're straying away from my question." Desmond sighed.

"Why? Why do you feel the need to know?"

"Curiosity, for one," Elaine explained, giving a small shrug. "Plus it would hurt to know just 'ow bad things will go near the end."

"Things will not go bad. Not if I have anything to say about it."

"I'll ask something else then. 'Ow exactly do you know the Professeur's parents."

"The cause is not something I would like to discuss," he answered, his tone slightly cold. "Can't you ask me normal questions like normal lovers do? Like… birthdays, or favourite music."

"You kidnapped me. Twice," Elaine retorted bluntly. "'Ow are we meant to be normal?"

"You may have a point." Desmond didn't look too pleased to admit this. "But we both knew that neither of us was going to change too much because of it when we started."

"Exactly. And I'm being 'stubborn' as some people would say." Giving a disgruntled sigh, Desmond said,

"I am not in the mode to argue right now, Elaine. Could we please just move on to something else?" Elaine considered it.

"Maybe. But it still doesn't change a lot of things. I know you 'ave secrets, and maybe I am wrong to be curious about them. But I think I've known you long enough to say that I find it odd that you would call the Professeur's parents for 'im to say goodbye to. If I didn't know your stance on murder that would 'ave set up red flags for me." Elaine paused for a moment. "Maybe I can't guess what that debt is, but it must be important."

"Elaine," Desmond said calmly, though with some frustration on his tone. "Please. I would really appreciate it if we could change the subject." Elaine frowned to herself. Maybe she was pushing too hard. Especially after a day like this. It really couldn't hurt to just let go this one time. She could just try to find out later anyway. Preferably when they weren't as stressed.

"Fine. I'm sorry. We'll talk about something else." Elaine folded her arms before adding quickly, "I'm not letting go of it. I'll ask later."

"That, I'm sadly fully aware of already," Desmond said dryly.

"Good. So, what's our first destination?"

"We'll be heading towards a jungle, to a place I believe is called Phong Gi."

"A jungle? That does sound like a good place to start this adventure," Elaine said with a small grin. "Maybe we'll find ruins. That would be nice. Or at the very least, some sort of ancient relic."

"Maybe. But if the egg isn't in such a place and we do find it, I don't think we would have the time, given what our main task is." Desmond shuck his head, though he was smiling lightly. "Maybe if you're a good puppy, we'll see when all this is over."

"Oui, because I'm a puppy looking for rewards." Elaine rolled her eyes while Desmond chuckled.

"I already knew that, dear. But thank you for confirming it."

"I was being sarcastic!"

"So you say," Desmond said before he stood up to sit closer to Elaine, and then pulled her onto his lap. He placed a small kiss against Elaine's cheek, twirling some of her hair around his finger.

"Tell me. Were your pet names for Lucy this infuriating?" Desmond's finger slowed slightly before resuming its usual speed.

"I liked to call her 'lily' sometimes. They were her favourite flowers along with forget-me-nots. She used to buy a bunch at least once a month to put on the dining table."

"I suppose I can see the reason. I'm sure it suited 'er well."

"Indeed it did as far as I'm concerned," agreed Desmond. He kissed the top of her head. "But still… As much as I miss my lily, I do like having my puppy here with me.

"I'm 'appy to 'ear that then. Now all you 'ave to do is keep that charm for when you do come to my parents' 'ouse for dinner, and they won't 'ave a reason to 'ate you," Elaine told him. A lightly teasing smile on her face.

"I suppose I'll have to since you're so adamant about that," Desmond sighed. "Just don't tell them it was me who stole you away. I fear it will become unpleasant then, regardless of what happens before."

"Stole me away?" Elaine questioned, giving him a look. "Don't you mean kidnapped? Abducted?"

"I thought saying I, 'stole you away' sounded more… romantic, in a way." Elaine thought it over and shuck her head in disagreement.

"No, that wouldn't work. That would imply we 'ad a 'love at first sight' thing, but 'ardly did, did we?"

"If what we did have is love, it would be rather twisted," Desmond agreed. "But that doesn't mean we can't try to make it sound better."

"It won't change a thing," Elaine countered. Desmond scoffed but didn't bother responding to that statement. Instead, he said,

"You know, I'm actually quite surprised you didn't say anything about Bloom to Layton. I would have thought you would have."

"I considered it," Elaine admitted, giving an indifferent shrug. "But when I thought some more on it, I realised that it would be for the best if that incident with Bloom in the Reunion Inn remained with few people as possible."

"Because of your pride?" Desmond guessed.

"Well… That too, maybe," Elaine said grudgingly. "But I thought if I did bring it up, the Professor might feel guilty about letting me go at the Inn. Besides, 'e 'ad the evidence against Bloom in the end, and assuming Scotland Yard does its job, Targent will follow also."

"That thinking isn't very bright. I think you just didn't want to look like the damsel in distress you are." Elaine shot a glare towards Desmond's smirking face.

"I managed to get away from you on that Spectre-bot in Misthallery, didn't I? And if my eyes weren't so covered, I could 'ave gotten away from you afterwards as well."

"Explain Ambrosia and Monte d'Or then?"

"I don't know how to steer a boat let alone a submarine, and you 'ad my cousin 'ostage." Desmond gave a small humming sound but didn't say anymore on the subject.

"… We should get going to bed ourselves. You'll keep on an eye on Johanna, won't you?"

"Of course I will," Elaine assured Desmond as she got off his lap. "She's probably asleep by now anyway."

"I know but… I'll just go with you to check on her first."

At Elaine and Johanna's room, Desmond had entered first. Looking over at Johanna's bed, Elaine saw that (as she suspected) Johanna was indeed asleep. Sleeping soundly while she held her teddy bear Sha Sha under one arm. Desmond had a light smile on his face when he knelt down to kiss her on the forehead before standing up again.

"… Goodnight." Desmond walked over to Elaine and placed a kiss against her forehead.

"Bonne nuit," Elaine murmured back as he left, closing the door behind him. Elaine looked to the sleeping Johanna who had yet to shift in her bed and smiled at the little girl. Elaine walked to Johanna's bedside and patted her head lightly before she went to sleep herself.

As I said, here is your chapter for today. I hope you like.

Also, I'm thinking of setting up an Ask. FM account for Elaine so you guys can ask her (and perhaps other Professor Layton characters, or even me if you want) any question you want. It's turned out alright when I did it for one of my other characters from one of my other stories, so I figured it could work here as well. Anyone interested?