"Luke!" Flora shouted, shaking me, "Luke, wake up!"

I shot up. "Whatsa matter? Is the house on fire?"

"No, of course not!"

"Then what's so important?" I asked, ready to fall back onto my pillow. Before Flora had unceremoniously woken me up, I had been in the middle of a very important dream: me skydiving off of Emmy's plane while eating ten pies at once.

"It's the Professor's birthday!"

"Oh no," I moaned, smacking my forehead, "That's even worse!"

"How is the Professor's birthday worse than a fire?"

"No, not the fire! It's just that," I motioned for her to come closer, "I completely forgot."

"YOU FORGOT PROFESSOR LAYTON'S BIRTHDAY?"

"Could you speak a little louder? I don't think they heard you IN JAPAN! And yes…but I have an excuse!"

"You were paying more attention on beating his house of cards record, weren't you?"

"And I had homework!"

She smirked, "Of course."

"Well, why were you so shocked?"

"Uh," she began, "I just assumed the Professor's trusted apprentice wouldn't forget his birthday. And well…I sorta, kinda, maybe…also forgot."

"YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE PROFESSOR'S BIRTHDAY?"

She winced, "Yes, okay? Now we're even."

"Then…what do you suppose we should do?" I asked. Even I, the apprentice of the great Professor Layton, was stumped by this predicament. I just couldn't bear to admit that my house of cards had become more important than his birthday.

After a moment of silence, Flora snapped her fingers, "I got it!" She whispered her idea into my ear.

"That just might work! I'll just need the phone and you're wallet!"

"I don't have any money!"

"Okay…Then I'll need the phone and the Professor's wallet!"

"My!" the Professor said, walking in on me and Flora sitting at the kitchen table, dressed and eating breakfast, "You two seem quite alert this fine morning!" We both exchanged small smiles.

"We decided to get up a bit early this morning. You see, we're meeting some friends in about fifteen minutes." I replied.

He raised an eyebrow, "Oh, is that so? Are you sure there's nothing else…more important today, perhaps?"

"I don't think so," Flora said, "But we need a ride. Mind giving us one?"

He stared at us for a moment, and then sighed. "Well…I suppose. I'll get dressed." He began to walk away, then turned back to us, "You two are positive nothing else's happening today?"

"We're sure!" we both said in unison. He sighed again and left.

"Nice job! He believed it!"

Flora smiled, "I have to say, this was a pretty good plan."

"All right! Let's be off!" Professor Layton called, grabbing the keys to the Laytonmobile and headed for the door, me and Flora following behind.

We soon arrived at the house, and Flora, the Professor and I made our way inside.

"Are you two sure anybody's home?"

"Of course," Flora replied, "but let's turn on the lights and make sure."

He nodded and flipped a switch…

"SURPRISE!"

The Professor blinked, looking around the room at all the familiar faces, friends we had made along our crazy journeys. "You two…" he turned to us, smiling, tears in his eyes.

"Happy Birthday, Professor Layton." I gave him a hug, and so did Flora.

"This…this is the best gift I could have asked for," he smiled, "Thank you!"

I shrugged, "Oh, it was nothing! It's not like this was some last-minute thing because we forgot you're birthday or anything!"

He gave me a puzzled look, and Flora elbowed me in the ribs. "Oof! I mean, let's go and Celebrate, Professor!" And with that, we happily walked in.

A/N: This whole 600 word concept was something I thought up out-of-the-blue one day.

There's more to come, but until then, a review would be lovely.

~Lizz