The young woman with the dark hair stood on the porch for the first time in five years, trying to maintain even breathing despite the racing beat of her heart. With a shaking hand, she reached up and knocked on the door in front of her. A few moments later it swung open to reveal a little girl about six years of age behind it, and the sight of the girl made the young woman's breath hitch. She stared at the little girl, eyes wide.

"Hello," the girl said sweetly, but the young woman was too shocked to respond.

"Alice," came a woman's voice from inside. "What did I tell you about answering the door." The woman came into view behind Alice, and when she caught sight of the young woman, Melissa Edgley stopped dead in her tracks. "Desmond," she called, not moving from where she stood or looking away from the door. The young woman could hear footsteps approaching from another room.

"What is it?" he asked his wife as he walked into the entry way. He looked over to the open door to see the young woman standing there, and joined his wife in staring.

"Stephanie," Melissa said in awe. "Sorry—Valkyrie," she corrected herself.

"It's okay," Valkyrie Cain replied, hands still trembling as she slid them into her pockets. "You can call me Stephanie."

"You—you don't look any different," her father stammered and she noticed that his hair had begun to gray in spots. "You look like you just left yesterday."
She shrugged. "Magic will do that."

"Yeah, of course," he breathed. They all stayed where they were—except Alice who had wandered into the other room—until finally her mum rushed forward and enveloped her in a hug.

"You're back," her mum said as her dad came over too, wrapping an arm around each of them.

"I'm back," she said, relieved.

They both let her go, but didn't take their eyes off of her.

"Are you—are you staying?" her mum asked, stammering with nerves.

"Yeah," she said. "I'm living in Gordon's house." She had already taken over some of her stuff and visited with her late uncle*, who had agreed that the house was hers and she had every right to live there if she wanted.

"Where were you all this time?" her dad asked. "You just picked up and left. You didn't even say goodbye, you just left a note that said not to worry."

"After everything that happened five years ago, I—I just needed to get away for a while." She didn't add that the reason that she needed to get away was because she couldn't forgive herself for everything that she had done. She also omitted that "everything that happened" included killing Alice.

"Would you like to come in? Have some tea?" her mum asked hopefully, crossing her arms over her body.

"Yeah, that would be nice," she said.

Valkyrie told them about how she had gone to America and what happened with Danny as they made tea. They all ended up on the couch in the living room, each of them with a mug of tea, even Alice had a plastic cup of juice, though her mum sent her upstairs to play after Valkyrie warned them the story about Danny had a few unpleasant bits.

"What about that Skulduggery Pleasant?" her mum asked. "Have you seen him since you got back?"

"Yeah," she answered, looking at all the Alice toys that were scattered around the room. "He picked me up when I decided I was ready to come back."

"He checked in on us occasionally while you were gone," her dad said. "I don't think he wanted us to know, but I would sometimes see that odd car of his drive past the house." She smiled a bit at the thought of the Bentley.

"Did he know where you went? Was he okay with it?" her mum asked.

"He knew. I don't think he was very happy that I decided to leave, but he understood why I needed to."

"Do you think you'll come back?" Skulduggery had asked when Valkyrie told him when she was leaving. He hadn't sounded angry, he had sounded calm and collected, though she could tell he didn't want her to go.

"I don't know, yet," she had admitted. "I hope so."

He had been there for one final goodbye when Fletcher teleported her away, even after she insisted it wasn't necessary.

In the pocket of her trousers, her mobile began to ring. She looked at the screen. "That's him now. I should take this." Her parents looked a bit concerned but didn't say anything, so Valkyrie walked into the kitchen and pressed the accept button on her phone.

"Hey," she said.

"Have you seen them?" Skulduggery asked on the other end.

"Yeah, I'm at the house right now."
"How are they taking it?"

"Pretty good I think. I mean, as well as they could be expected to after I was basically dead to them for five years. They mainly just seem shocked."
"They'll be okay," he paused. He was almost hesitant as he added "I know you just got there, but if you're up for it, we have a case."

"Already?" she asked.

"Another of Mevolent's followers, probably not anything big, but… Can you meet me at the pier in ten minutes?"

"Sir, yes sir," she mocked, hanging up her phone.

Valkyrie walked back out into the living room, where her parents sat, their eyes following her as she walked into the room.

"I have to go," she told them. "I'm meeting Skulduggery, but I'll be back. Probably not today, but soon."
They both looked at her, concern in their eyes.

"I promise," she said. "I love you," she added with sincerity.

"We love you, too, Steph," her mum said.

"Be careful," her dad said, standing up.

"Always," she told them, and hugged them once more. As she walked down to the pier, she glanced back at the house. Her parents stood in the front window, watching her leave.

Next to the pier sat a 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental, with a thin man in a suit leaning against it, his sunglasses and scarf covering his face.

"What happened to the façade?" she asked, leaning on her arms against the other side of the car as the man turned to face her.

"I just like to mix things up every once in a while," Skulduggery replied.

"Really?" she asked incredulously.

"Really."

"It got messed up and China was too busy to fix it, wasn't she?"

His head drooped a little. "Yes." China was still Grand Mage of the Sanctuary, which made her the longest lasting Grand Mage since Eachan Meritorious.

Valkyrie opened the passenger door and climbed into the car, glad to be in the beautiful car once again. Skulduggery got into the other side and started the engine.

"Where are we going?" Valkyrie asked as Skulduggery pulled away from the pier.

"Somewhere really fun."

"By somewhere really fun you mean..?"

"Somewhere not fun at all, and most likely very dangerous."

"Finally," she grinned.

*Low-key forgot Gordon was wiped from the echo stone, so just gonna pretend that never happened. Okay? Okay.