A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Erskine, Ghastly or her new partner either. Uh, Val is in her 20s, I guess. Spoilers. Reposting by reader request.

So much had happened in the last few weeks that I felt shaken up as I waited on the Sanctuary steps to meet my new partner. I'd gotten there early so I could think about all that had went on. Skulduggery had gotten his wife and child back, and although the reunited family was making noises about including me I wanted nothing to do with them. I wasn't doing it to be mean, but what Skulduggery and I had had was over.

I wondered idly who my new partner would be and felt butterflies dance in my stomach. There were plenty of older detectives at the Sanctuary, hot, older detectives. I smiled briefly, thinking of how Skulduggery would tell me to stop drooling, but I couldn't help it. Cute guys were made to be chased after and that's all there was to it.

But something told me it wasn't one of the detectives I knew well. Because when Erskine has showed Ghastly the data sheet on who would make my best partner, both men had sucked their cheeks in to keep from laughing, then smiled at me. All I knew was that he was the star detective of the Sanctuary at one time, had retired with honours, and was coming back into the field because duty called.

A little subcompact pulled up and the driver beckoned to me. I frowned. I had had my heart set on some foxy guy in a sports car, and this man seemed older from his outline. But with the tinted windows, it was hard to tell. As I approached I could hear classical music drifting from the radio and sighed. Great, I'm stuck with some old dinosaur. I grumbled to myself as I got my door and got in.

I got in and looked at my new partner and couldn't stop staring. I knew him. I blinked, taking in his rich black hair that cascaded down to his shoulders, his handsome face, and his piercing blue eyes that were currently making my heart flutter. Because there was something in them I'd never seen before. The former detective felt the thrill of the hunt and the effect was mesmerizing.

"Hello, Detective Cain." My new partner said in his rich, cultured voice. "I apologize that you didn't get to read my dossier, but we've time to get to know one another better. Shall we be off then?" He asked and I nodded dumbly, buckling myself in.

"Your copy of the case file is beside you." He said politely and I took it. He smiled warmly at me, and I realized I had years and years of tormenting the man to make up for. He'd been the Sanctuary punching bag, and Skulduggery and I had especially hated the man. He seemed to read my mind. "I bear you no ill will, Detective Cain. You clearly modeled yourself on Detective Pleasant's behaviour patterns. I can't say that I approve of your choice of role models, but perhaps our partnership will show you that politeness and civility will get you much further in this world. Agreed?"

"Agreed, Detective Tipstaff." I said faintly, then proceeded to read my case file.

Wheee, it's the story that readers will never ask for more of! Worst pairing evahs, yay! But if you actually want more, and let's face it, it would be fun watching Tipstaff and Val together, let me know.