A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Davina, or Skulduggery. Here Val is in her late 30's, Darquesse and Lord Vile are both dead (because it helps the plot) and she is still partnered with Skulduggery. Skulduggery got rid of his façade (also because it helps the plot). POV is Valkyrie's. Spoilers, obviously.

I woke up in Gordon's mansion as I had done for over a decade. It had been two weeks since I'd seen Skulduggery, and if I could help it, it would be two weeks more. About eight criminals in a row had sneered something suggestive to me about him, and I just couldn't take one more go of it. Ghastly had called, so had Tanith. They were both doing well and raising a baby, but had some concerns over me. Fletcher Renn would have likely married as well, but fell alongside countless others in what people were calling the Final Battle. As if any war, I thought bitterly, was the final one.

Skulduggery was avoiding me as well since our last arrest. Perhaps he'd seen something in my face that day, heard my gasp, or not. I think it was me saying "What in the blinking blue blazes is that supposed to mean?" to the latest leering creep that upset him. I forget he's such an overly proper gentleman at times. Or maybe when I snarled that Skulduggery was old enough to be my great grandfather several times over. Or the comment about not being into necrophilia, but I was having a bad day that day.

He'd been rigid and silent the whole way home. Not even saying goodbye when I got out. Now, thanks to having to fake my own death I had no family to go talk to except for Uncle Gordon. Who of course pointed out I've been snappish around Skulduggery for weeks, and should have apologized. I had apologized, but apparently not well enough.

I mean this is Skulduggery we're talking about. He'd made it clear in subtle ways over the years that I might be his partner and best friend, but that is as far as it went. I didn't figure my venting on a creep would upset him one way or another. It wasn't as if he loved me in return. But now I was alone. I couldn't bear to call him, not if he were that offended. Not after my first and only call was met with stony silence. I picked up my copy of 'Misery' by Steven King. I felt just like the protagonist; trapped by my stupid words.

I was about half way through when I heard a slight tap on my window. No it couldn't be. I looked over, and there was Skulduggery, perched on the sill, head cocked to one side. He was dressed all in black for once, and looked good. No he looked fantastic, I'd missed him so much. I went and opened the window. He stepped in looking at me with an expression I've never seen before on his face. His eyeless sockets bore into me. It made me nervous, so I ducked my head.

"Aren't you going to say you're happy to see me? I did come all this way to see you." He asked, his velvety voice washing over me.

I was startled, he did come all this way, either leaving his disguise in the car or not bothering with it. I looked at him more closely. After several decades I could tell he'd gotten here as fast as possible. But why rush now after two weeks apart? He was waiting for me to say something, anything. But my mouth felt dry. Facing him now scared me more than an enemy we'd ever faced together.

"I'm sorry, Skulduggery, I really am. But eight perps in a row using the same dig? I just couldn't take it anymore. I mean it was bad enough when Davina did it when I was a teenager. But now? Now it's just insulting."

Skulduggery snorted. "Because I'm old enough to be your grandfather several times over, or your sensible abhorrence of necrophilia?"

I surprised myself with the truth. "Be cause I'm almost forty, Skulduggery, even if I do look like I'm eighteen. Pointing out that I'm not, well, normal for my age is sensitive. Not that I want to get married or anything, but I hate the assumption there's something wrong with me if I'm not."

"I shall alert the presses immediately." He said dryly, going over to lounge on my bed. He folded his arms behind his head and peered at me intently.

"You like my new look? I understand black makes you look younger." I realized with a start he'd pocketed his gloves, he never does that. He was smiling at me, looking rather pleased with himself. What, exactly, was he up to? I realized he did want a response and my continued gaping silence was amusing him to no end.

"You look great, Skulduggery. Black suits you."

"Ah, black suits me me because I'm dead, does it?" He was having way too much fun with this, he was most certainly up to something. I went over and sat beside him.

"No it suits you because you are an attractive man, as you always point out, and should dress well." I struggled mightily to keep the heat from rising to my cheeks.

"But I'm a skeleton, Valkyrie." He purred. This was too much. I wondered if he'd managed to get drunk somehow. Skulduggery Pleasant was never this nice.

"It isn't as if," he continued, "you find that sort of thing attractive. Pity, since I know full well you've wanted to kiss me for years." He brought one bony hand to fold over mine. I closed my eyes, this couldn't be happening.

I felt him move, but still couldn't bring myself to open my eyes. Was he having fun with me? Carrying one of his jokes too far? Then I felt his teeth press to my lips and one hand grasp me gently around the waist, the other caressing my hair. When I could open my eyes at last, he was wearing his usual smug expression. "Told you I was right." He boasted. "Of course, I didn't tell you I've wanted that for years as well. Now about the necrophilia-"

I hit him with a pillow before he could say anything else.

Those two are so cute together!