First of all, I have to admit that I am not a native speaker, so there might be a few mistakes, but if you write me a message to tell me about them, I will correct them as soon as possible.

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

Pros and Cons

Professor Hershel Layton sat at the desk in his office and sighed. He was supposed to read a book about Mesopotamian architecture for next week's lecture, but instead, he stared at an almost empty sheet of paper with the simple heading: Emmy. Of course, there was nothing simple about that word or the woman behind it. His assistant had such an overwhelming presence in his thoughts that he couldn't focus. When she was in the room, he had to refrain from staring at her constantly, and when she wasn't, he kept wondering if she was alright. He sighed once more, then took his pen. Here comes nothing, he thought as he started writing the words pros and cons in a large table. Let's start with the arguments against pursuing a relationship with the wonderful Emmy Altava.

First of all, she is my assistant. A work relationship can only have problems, not to mention all of the gossip. Second point, she can sometimes have a bit of a temper though honestly, I don't mind seeing her emotional. She did betray Luke and me, even if for a short time, that hurt. Hershel had forgiven her, naturally, but there was a sting in his heart every time he remembered. At least he could convince her to stay as his assistant and make her believe that she was indeed worthy.

When no more negative aspects came into his mind, he started with the pro side which went considerably faster though he wrote more points.

Emmy is kind, strong, intelligent, lively, beautiful. She is also very good with Luke and other people we meet on our adventures. Oh, yes, she's not afraid despite all the dangers we've faced together. He sighed again.

"What you're doing there, professor?"

Hershel was sure he received a heart attack. He turned so quickly around that his neck hurt. "E-Emmy! I didn't hear you come in."

"I can see that," she chuckled. "You were too focused on this." She snatched the paper from the desk before he could intervene.

"Oh, Emmy, please don't!"

Emmy started reading. "What's this?" she mumbled. "Pro: kind, strong, intelligent, lively, beautiful, good with Luke, brave. Con: assistant, gossip, temper, betrayal." She looked at him with wide eyes. "Professor, what's this list?"

Hershel took a breath but had no idea what to say.

"Are you... are you deciding if you still want me as your assistant?" she quietly asked.

"What? No, no, that's not it."

"But you wrote betrayal." Her voice broke. "I thought I was forgiven."

"You are. Of course, you are." Hershel didn't know how to ease her mind without telling her the truth.

"Clearly not if you still write it for my cons," she scoffed. Tears formed in her eyes. She placed the paper back on the professor's desk without looking at the man. "Don't worry." Her voice had lost all emotions. "I'll hand in my resignation first thing in the morning."

Hershel stared at her. "What... no! Emmy!"

She was almost at the door.

"Emmy, wait!"

Her hand on the handle halted. "What?"

"Emmy, you misunderstand. This list..." He took a deep breath. "This list is for deciding if I should try and pursue a relationship with you."

"A relationship?" She turned around at him swiftly. "But... but... you..."

"I love you, Emmy," he said. If she was willing to leave him, she needed the truth. "Have been for a while actually. But I'm not sure if it's proper."

"Because I betrayed you."

"No, no! Because we work together."

"Then why did you write in on your list?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted. He knew he shouldn't have, but it was still there.

"Hershel."

He stared at her. It was the first time she had used his first name.

She looked at him intensely and took a step forward. "Hershel, I can only pursue a relationship with you if you have totally forgiven me."

He blinked. "You mean... you?"

A smile escaped her mouth. "Yes. I love you, too. Have for a while actually."

"And you don't mind that we work together, and people might talk?"

"I don't care about anything you've written on your stupid list except for the last word. Are you still angry with me that I betrayed you?"

His heart was stricken. Was he? "I forgave you."

"That does not answer my question." She now stood right in front of him.

Hershel looked into her brown eyes, a fire burning beneath worry. And now that he allowed himself to keep gazing into her eyes, he saw that it had always been there, right from their first car ride in his Layton mobile to Misthallery: her love for him. And in that moment, he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and protect her forever.

He smiled when the burden lifted from his heart. "No, Emmy, I'm not angry with you." He turned to his desk, took his pen, and crossed off the word betrayal.

"You really mean it?"

He saw that her hands were shaking and took them gently in his hands. "Emmy Altava, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"

She smiled and nodded, then she flung her arms around him and sobbed against his chest.

He held her firmly in his arms and let his own tears silently stream down his cheeks. He knew that they both needed to finally let go of the past and embrace the future. A shared future.

When her sobs had ebbed away and her breaths calmed, he kissed the top of her head and released his hold on her.

She shyly smiled up at him. "Are we good?"

"Yes," he smiled. "We are very good."

She wiped away her tears, then kissed his cheek.

He could only stare at this wonderful young woman who wanted to spend so much time with him.

She kissed his cheek again, then her lips found his and he instantly kissed her back. They had both held back for so many months, that this was long overdue.

It was difficult to stop, but he was still a gentleman. "I know a wonderful Italian restaurant around the corner," he panted, his forehead leaning against hers.

"That sounds wonderful." She took his hand and when Hershel closed the office door behind him, he knew they had left all of their burdens behind.

THE END.