Hope you enjoy the new story!

Five Years Later

Valkyrie smiled sadly at Danny. She knew this was the last time she would ever see him again. He didn't want to be a part of that world. She didn't understand it, but she respected it. There was a knock on the door, and Valkyrie could see the distorted brim of a hat. Her heart leapt out of her chest as she threw the door open, jumping on Skulduggery and holding him there. He stood for a moment with his arms by his sides and then mumbled something about Valkyrie and her damn hugs, but Valkyrie didn't care as he wrapped his arms around her. She was shocked by how attracted she actually was to Skulduggery. He hadn't changed much. He still had thick, dark brown hair. He still had such piercing blue eyes that they made Valkyrie's knees weak when she looked into them. His jaw and cheekbones were pronounced, his body thin but lean. It was Skulduggery. It was her Skulduggery. He peered over her shoulder at Danny who was standing awkwardly by the door. Valkyrie smiled at him. "Goodbye, Danny." She said.
"Bye, Stephanie." He replied. Valkyrie followed Skulduggery out to his new hideous car. It was pink. She pointed this out.
"It's pink." She said. Skulduggery nodded and opened the door. "It is, yes." He said. He got in, and she got in too. "Why is it so..."
"Pink?" He offered.
"Well... Yeah."
"Good question. I don't really have an answer."
"This is ridiculous."
"It's good to have you back."
"This car is an abomination, Skulduggery."
"Oh how I've missed your complaining."
"I feel stupid."
"And you're sulking, my have I missed your sulking."
"I just... I feel like Barbie."
"I hardly doubt that Barbie could shoot lightning bolts, but alright."
Skulduggery started to drive. Valkyrie grinned.
"You're right... I am awesome."
"I don't recall saying that."
"You implied it."
"I didn't."
"You insinuated it."
"I did no such thing. Now, would you like Ezra or Fletcher to pick us up, or are you going to subject me to the menial task of flying again?"
"Ezra and Fletcher! I've missed them so much... I've missed you so much." Valkyrie said quietly.
"I missed you too."
"Skulduggery?"
"Mmm?"
"Do you all... Do you guys... want me back?" Valkyrie asked in a small voice. Skulduggery paused.
"I've wanted you back since the day you left." He said, so quietly it was almost a whisper. He looked at her briefly, then smiled, his eyes on the road.

Skulduggery had a meeting place arranged, and had asked both Fletcher and Ezra to meet them there. It was a nice retro diner. Ezra and Fletcher were waiting outside when the pink car pulled up. Valkyrie flung the door open as Ezra screeched and barrelled into her, both hugging so tightly. "Oh my god, please never leave again!" She said. She pulled back and Fletcher took her place. They both looked the same. Fletcher's hair was a little longer, which gave him more to work with when he styled his hair ridiculously. Ezra had cut her long golder hair short, it was just above her shoulders now. "Shall we?" Skulduggery asked, pointing to the diner that had a sign saying 'best milkshakes in the county'. "I will be the judge of that." Ezra said cheerfully. Valkyrie hadn't realised just how much she and missed everyone. She missed Fletcher's laid back attitude, and his hair, and how he was caring and kind. She had missed Ezra's chirpy voice and her odd quirks and her dramatic way of telling stories, with all the gestures and the funny voices. She had missed Skulduggery. My, she had missed Skulduggery. His velvet voice, his suits and hats, his jokes and nagging, his dry and ironic sense of humour. She had missed all of him. All of them, too. She hadn't allowed herself to think about them, about any of them, not Tanith or Dexter or China, none of them. But now the dam was failing, and she had to bite her lip to stop her from crying. Fletcher and Ezra weren't stupid. They took in the situation and excused themselves to go order for everyone. Skulduggery took Valkyrie's hand and intertwined his fingers with her's. Valkyrie's heart skipped a beat. His hand was cool in her's. She never wanted to let go. She never would. She would never leave them again. She thought it would be better, but it was worse. She will never forget Skulduggery's voice after he picked up the phone after the first ring, the sad, pleading voice as he said hello. She had done that to him. Ezra's tearful blue eyes as she hugged Valkyrie like she was scared that if she let go, Valkyrie would disappear. She had done that to her. Fletcher's sad smile that spoke a thousand words. Even though he was her ex, they were friends, great friends, and she had abandoned them. She had abandoned all of them. No matter how hard she tried, she could never erase that. "I'm sorry." She whispered. Skulduggery trailed his thumb over her hand, making her heart beat faster. "It's alright." He said. Ezra and Fletcher arrived, carrying two huge trays of food. There were burgers and fries and milkshakes and onion rings and slices of cake. They sat the trays down and sat in the booth, Fletcher closest to the window. "I like your hair, Ezzy." Valkyrie said, wanting to desperately lighten the mood. It worked. Ezra twirled a golden strand between her fingers, smirking. "Skulduggery's fault." She said.
"It wasn't." He said.
"Oh no, it was. You shot the fire ball."
"A Demon was attacking me, you should have moved."
"A Demon was on top of me!"
"It wasn't my fault."
"It was."
"It's been two years!" Fletcher said loudly. Ezra casually threw a fry at Skulduggery and he glared at her. It was moments like this that Valkyrie remembered they were actually brother and sister. Her heart panged as she thought of Alice. She didn't have a little sister anymore. Or parents. "Hey... What's wrong?" Skulduggery asked.
"I miss my parents..." Valkyrie said.
"We can go see them now, if you like. I know little Alice is dying to see you!" Ezra said. Valkyrie frowned at her. "They're dead." Valkyrie said, but she wasn't sure. Fletcher choked on the bite of burger in his mouth as Skulduggery's head whipped towards her. Ezra's brow was furrowed.
"Why on earth do you think that, Valkyrie?" Skulduggery asked.
"Darquesse... Darquesse destroyed them. Fletcher brought them back early, and before Darquesse left she... she destroyed to a building. It collapsed with them in it..."
"Is that why you left?"
"Well... yes... One of the main reasons."
"Oh, Val, no. They're fine. They weren't even hurt too badly. The building collapsed, but They weren't in it. Fletcher teleported them in, then teleported them straight back out. He thought it was safe." Ezra exclaimed.
"Yeah, I thought it was all clear, but it wasn't. I never left them though."
"Yes you did... you were beside me as the building collapsed..." Valkyrie tried, getting panicked and flustered.
"Darquesse's final trick. To make you think your family were dead. She knows you best. She knew you'd take off, knew you wouldn't tell me because I'd talk you out of it." Skulduggery said sadly. Guilt and embarrassment and hatred boiled inside of Valkyrie. "I've missed five years for nothing..." Valkyrie said quietly.
Ezra gave a weak smile. "Good thing you have plenty of time to catch up then, isn't it?" She asked, brushing a strand of gold hair behind her ear. Her sleeve dipped a bit, revealing an ugly green and blue ring of bruises. "Ez, your wrist?" Valkyrie pointed out. Ezra looked at her wrist, pulling her sleeve to cover it. She was biting her lip. She wasn't saying.
"Demons are after us, her. We've been trying to... eradicate them for the past five or so years." Skulduggery said, filling in the gap.
"Any leads?"
"Nope. Not a single one."
"This should be fun."
"Our line of work always is, Valkyrie."

Thanks for reading my lovely!