diff --git a/bzGraflow.js b/bzGraflow.js
index 551d653..95234b8 100644
--- a/bzGraflow.js
+++ b/bzGraflow.js
@@ -729,6 +729,8 @@ class BZgraflow extends Buildoz{
         if(orientation=='horizontal'){
             const fakeNodeHeight = 10
             const parentsY = {}
+            const nodeY = {}
+            const nodeX = {}
             let x = gapx
             for(const [idx, layer] of layers.entries()){
                 let wMax = this.getMaxWidth(layer)
@@ -771,17 +773,32 @@ class BZgraflow extends Buildoz{
                         placedY = y
                         this.addFakeNode(nid, x, y, wMax*0.75, fakeNodeHeight)
                         this.moveNode(nid, x, y, orientation, tween, null, token)
-                        if((align == 'parent') && (nid in parents) && (parents[nid][0] in parentsY)) {
-                            parentsY[parents[nid][0]] += gapy + fakeNodeHeight
-                        } else {
-                            y += gapy + fakeNodeHeight
-                        }
+                        // Never increment parentsY for fake nodes: they're placeholders and must not disalign real children
                         y = Math.max(y, placedY + gapy + fakeNodeHeight)
                     }
                     parentsY[nid] = placedY
+                    nodeY[nid] = placedY
+                    nodeX[nid] = x
                 }
                 x += wMax + gapx
             }
+            // Correct parent positions: when fake nodes pushed children down, align parents with their first real child
+            if(align == 'parent'){
+                for(let idx = 1; idx < layers.length; idx++){
+                    const layer = layers[idx]
+                    const prevLayer = layers[idx - 1]
+                    for(const pid of prevLayer){
+                        if(pid.startsWith('longLinkPlaceHolder_')) continue
+                        const firstRealChild = layer.find(nid =>
+                            !nid.startsWith('longLinkPlaceHolder_') && nid in parents && parents[nid][0] === pid
+                        )
+                        if(firstRealChild && nodeY[pid] !== nodeY[firstRealChild]){
+                            this.moveNode(pid, nodeX[pid], nodeY[firstRealChild], orientation, tween, null, token)
+                            nodeY[pid] = nodeY[firstRealChild]
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
         } else if(orientation=='vertical'){
             const fakeNodeWidth = 10
             let y = gapy