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Clive could feel his heart beat into his throat as he patiently waited outside of the small house he had been calling home for a year now.
His black eyes were scanning the road, eager to see a car pass.
His left hand was tightly holding a small suitcase, while his right hand was nervously tipping back the blue fedora hat he had recently started wearing again.
That hat. It was the one he used to impersonate the future version of Luke.
Big Luke.
Finally, a familiar red car came into view and Clive's heart started racing even more as anxiety clung to him like a second skin.
The car finally stopped a few meters away from the house and, squinting, the young man could feel three figures stepping out of it.
A man, a child and a young girl.
Clive's smile blossomed on his lips.
Suddenly, he felt something hit his legs and stomach. He gasped in surprise, taking a few steps back to regain his balance.
He looked down, still shocked, heart now beating in slight fear.
Arms were tightly holding him.
His smile broadened at the sight of a light blue fedora hat. Light brown hair. The most adorable little boy clinging to his legs.
"Clive!" he shouted happily, snuggling his face in the other's stomach.
Clive giggled, quickly lifting the boy in his arms, letting the child cling to him.
"Little Luke!" he exclaimed, hugging him one armed.
Unexpectedly, his other arm was stolen too as a flur of pink cascaded on him too.
"Clive!" Oh, it was Flora.
The young man smiled too, quickly hugging back the girl, hearing her giggle happily.
Flora was always so determined and sweet, strong yet as delicate as a precious flower, with her pretty pink dress and bow in her hair.
He clutched both of them close, letting them clung to him as much as they wanted.
If in the past he would have been disgusted by such an open show of affection, he couldn't deny that now that little display had warmed his heart even more.
Then, he saw him.
Tall and clad in his brown coat, he was slowly approaching the three.
On his head, stayed his faithful brown top hat and his dark eyes were twinkling in happiness, a smile tugging his lips upward.
Clive was a bit surprised by him not repriming Luke for clinging to him like a baby koala. He almost expected the older man to say something on the lines of 'a gentleman needs to contain himself, especially in public'.
But nothing was said. Layton looked very happy to see him.
Clive grinned at him and gasped surprised when the older man hugged him too.
It was very brief, but in it he could sense all the love, warmth and affection he hadn't felt since his adoptive mother had died.
Clive's eyes teared up as he smiled.
He was finally gonna have a real family, after years of being alone in this unforgiving world.
"C'mon, son. Let's go" simply said Layton, a smile still showing in his voice, but also in his eyes.
Son. He still couldn't believe his ears.
Warmly, Clive nodded.
As Layton grabbed his suitcase, ready to put it in the Laytonmobile, Clive held one hand of each of his new siblings.
Siblings. He was finally becoming the big brother of such beautiful younglings.
And Hershel Layton, the best and kindest man on earth, had decided to make him part of his little family.
Clive was ready.