A/N: There are a ton of drabbles on here, and I wanted to contribute because I love this series too. I don't remember where the flowers thing came from, but I thought it was a cool idea so I decided to run with it. All the drabbles will feature Skulduggery and Valkyrie, with special appearances by other characters from the series, and since I support Valduggery (when Val is older), there will be some of that. One more note; Valkyrie's age will be stated at the beginning, so please read and review!

Valkyrie/Stephanie: age 12

A pink rose is for friendship, a sunflower for adoration…

Skulduggery glanced over and watched Stephanie's head loll forward, then snap back up. Her eyelids fluttered and she'd watch the streetlights for a moment, then they would drift closed and she'd fight sleep again. Finally, she gave up her struggle and her head dropped against her seat. Her lips parted, and her dark hair fell forward into her eyes, her bangs quivering when she exhaled.

The light flashed red, and Skulduggery eased onto the brake and turned toward her again. She sighed in her sleep, and his perpetual grin widened almost imperceptibly; she was actually kind of cute with her eyes closed and her mouth shut.

He shrugged out of his overcoat and draped it across her still form and, after a few more moments of watching her, extended a gloved hand to gently nudge her head onto his shoulder. Without the padding of his overcoat he realized his shoulder would be hard and sharp on her head, but Stephanie didn't seem to mind as she snuggled closer.

He sighed as the light flicked green and he stepped on the gas. What was he getting himself into? He had no reason, no right to drag this innocent girl into his dangerous world of magic and intrigue, even if that was what she wanted.

Then again, he thought, glancing down at Stephanie's face, that's why I like her. Maybe that was why he hadn't protested too much when she had instigated herself as his partner.

Stephanie shifted against his arm, and he dropped his attention to her again. His heart melted as her lips curled up in a small smile and she sighed again.

He loved this girl. Not like he'd loved his Ardelle or anything, but like a little sister or a daughter. Stephanie was witty and clever and kind, not to mention quite pretty for a girl of twelve.

But she had her faults. Stephanie was annoying and obnoxious, far too straightforward for her own good, and she ran headfirst into danger without thinking. He learned all these things right after he met her because Gordon hated to mention his favorite niece's flaws.

Skulduggery shook his head slightly. This was far too much to be thinking about just because Stephanie looked cute when she was sleeping. Finally, her house came into view and he pulled up and turned the car off.

He didn't want to wake her. She'd been through enough that night; she deserved a little sleep. He moved his shoulder and her head fell lightly into his lap, then he reached around and got a grip on her legs. Carefully, he pulled her out of the car and slid his arms around her. The warmth from her body seeped into his bones as he strode up to the house, displaced the air around his feet and rose to land lightly on the roof. He flipped the latch on the outside of the window, stepped through, and laid her gently on the bed.

Then he sighed again. He really ought to get a pet or something.

age 12