Thanks for clicking into my fanfic :)

I used to write Skulduggery Pleasant fanfic a few years ago, but somebody I knew found my account and read my stories, and kind of insulted them a lot. I lost a bit of confidence in them and deleted my account, but I'm back :) I do miss my old fanfic, it had about sixty chapters and got really good feedback, but I'm going to start again!

Thanks for giving it a chance, hope you guys enjoy :) And don't forget to leave a review, thanks! :)

Chapter 1: Their Realisation

Twenty, Valkyrie thought, I never thought I'd get to see this day for myself.

She took a moment to appreciate everything around her as she slipped into the deep red cocktail dress she had bought with her mum earlier that week. For the first time in a long while, she was happy. Just over a year ago, Skulduggery had lured Darquesse into a reinforced accelerator. It had destroyed the link to the magic Darquesse provided and nearly killed her. Several months ago she had woken up from a coma, and it took a couple of weeks for her magic to return. The first person she had woken up to see was Skulduggery; it had been the happiest moment of her life. She felt normal, with no crazy voice in the back of her mind. A lot of crying and hugging had followed. Her reflection had learnt to be content with being around Valkyrie's family while she was out with Skulduggery, Valkyrie wasn't exactly happy about this arrangement but she needed to keep everything secret from her family until she knew what to do and she knew the reflection would keep her family safe no matter what.

For now though, she was forgetting about every bit of drama and heading out to a nightclub in Dublin to enjoy a normal night with her friends who she hadn't seen in quite some time.

"Mum?" She called, examining herself in the mirror. Her long black hair was styled in waves and her makeup was simple, yet effective.

"Yes?" Her mother called from downstairs.

"I need your opinion." She replied while turning and looking from different angles.

Then she heard that velvet voice that she loved so much from her window.

"Well I think you look dashing."

She grinned and turned around, seeing Skulduggery perched on her window sill.

"Why thank you-"

Just as she was finishing her sentence her mother entered the room and Skulduggery vanished from the window.

"Ah Steph you look gorgeous. Your dad is going to comment on those knees being visible though, be warned." Her mother chuckled and left the room.

Valkyrie made sure her mother was gone and crossed her bedroom to the window and peered out. Skulduggery rose from the garden to sit on her window sill once again.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather escort me to arrest Howard Crow? Apparently he's a bit of nervous wreck and might be prone to sobbing. It might be entertaining." Skulduggery said, his voice was full of amusement.

"And waste this dress? I think I can handle one night of being normal thank you very much. There will be more hysterical criminals who we can point and laugh at." Valkyrie grinned, leaning against the window.

"As long as you're sure. I'll call you tomorrow then." Skulduggery dropped from the window.

"See you tomorrow." Valkyrie whispered to him.

"Valkyrie?"

"Yes?"

"Happy birthday. You look... Lovely."

She had never heard him sound so hesitant before. She smiled and she waved, closing the window and drawing her curtains.

As expected, her father had followed her to the front door while giving her a lecture on how bad the cold was for the circulation in her knees and how she should wear sturdy pants, so she wouldn't lose her legs. Valkyrie had laughed and left the house.

All of her friends were delighted to see her; they hugged and caught up on all the gossip. Valkyrie more so just listening to their gossip, unless they wanted to hear about the latest criminals that she had arrested, she was keeping her mouth thoroughly shut.

As the night progressed, Valkyrie was starting to get very drunk. She made her way to the bar to get a glass of water. As she turned to walk away from the bar, she walked straight into a man who looked to be in his late thirties. He gave her a creepy smile and she could smell stale cigarette smoke off him. He looked her up and down and moved closer.

"Well hello there." His voice rumbled in her ear, his hand went for her hip.

Valkyrie grabbed his wrist and twisted it hard, he hissed in pain. She smiled sweetly, so not to grab any attention.

"Touch me again, and I'll break it."

She thrust him away from her as he glared at her. Side stepping around him, she made her way back to the table and made sure a fake grin was put in place. She checked her phone; it was two o' clock in the morning. If she was going to be able to hunt criminals with Skulduggery tomorrow morning, she'd better go home and get some rest.

"Ladies," She announced, her speech slightly slurred, "I'm afraid it's time for me to depart. Up early for work tomorrow, but we will definitely have to do this again soon."

She had told them she was working with her dad for the year, and that her college place was differed until next year.

Valkyrie left them to it after saying her goodbyes and went outside to get a taxi. The bouncers nodded to her curtly as she left, she rounded the corner to the taxi lane. Empty. Why did the taxi lane have to be empty? She swore and stood back against the wall, waiting for one to pull up. The street was deserted and she was starting to feel uncomfortable, standing here in a mini dress with no one around her. She glanced across the street and saw a familiar black car, she squinted her eyes and-

"Hello again sweetheart. That was some stunt you pulled in the club." Said a voice in her ear as a hand flew over her mouth and another around her waist, her arms secured on either side.

"You're not so though now are you, out here all by yourself?" He slurred, she felt spittle on the left side of her face.

Her thoughts were muddled and her body felt heavy. Damn alcohol, she thought to herself. She couldn't help but panic. She struggled against him as he dragged her back into an alleyway. She took a deep breath through her nose and suddenly slammed her head back into his. She didn't hear the sound of his nose breaking, and his grip tightened, so she must have got his cheek. Damn. Her head spun and her eyes were unfocused. Her eyes started to sting. The man removed his hold on her mouth and went to her thigh; Valkyrie whimpered slightly, his hand slowly moving upwards-

And then something collided with them. Valkyrie glimpsed a man in an exquisitely tailored suit, relief flooded through her as tears streamed down her face. She had been attacked many of times, but never had she been the victim of sexual assault. That was something she was not used to. That and alcohol was a bad and emotional mix.

Skulduggery hit the man again and again. Valkyrie could almost feel the rage coming from him as he slammed the man into the wall and punched him. The man's face and shirt was drenched in blood from his nose and nasty gash on his forehead.

"Skulduggery!" Valkyrie called as a warning, hugging herself as comfort.

He stopped mid-punch, released his grip on the man's shirt and froze for a few seconds; the man sunk down on the ground and fell sideways, coughing and spluttering into the ground. Skulduggery shook his head, as if to clear it, and knelt down beside the man. Through the blood and coughing, he started to nod his head vigorously. Satisfied, Skulduggery got back to his feet and walked towards Valkyrie. She was shaking slightly and her eyes were still streaming uncontrollably. Her moods seemed to be particularly erratic sometimes after waking up from a coma.

Skulduggery murmured soothing things into her ear as he put an arm around her shoulder and led her back out onto the street and towards the Bentley. As they were driving, Skulduggery kept glancing quickly at her and then back at the front window. She didn't even question where they were going.

They pulled up outside Skulduggery's house. He quickly came around to the passenger side and helped her out, his arm around her waist as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I think I drank a tad much." She mumbled, allowing herself to be practically carried to his front door.

She heard him chuckle slightly as he opened the front door and led her to the couch. She flopped down and awkwardly kicked off her heels. She heard the kettle boiling from the kitchen and in a few minutes, Skulduggery was giving her a cup of tea. She took a small sip, it was strong but sugary. Just the way she liked it.

"Are you alright?" He asked finally, sitting down beside her.

She nodded slowly, not sure whether it was the alcohol making her act crazy or just her own uneven personality she had developed. She really hoped it was the alcohol.

"You didn't want to stop hitting him, I couldn't help but notice." She stated, taking another sip of her tea.

After a few moments of silence, Skulduggery spoke.

"Well, he did assault you. I wasn't letting him away with that. You should get some sleep." He made to get up from the couch but Valkyrie caught his arm and looked up at him.

"Can you stay?" She asked, and then she mentally kicked herself.

Like he would. He's probably laughing at how weak you look right now. She thought to herself.

To her surprise, Skulduggery slowly lowered himself back into the couch. Throwing caution to the wind, Valkyrie snuggled up to him with her head resting on his chest. After a moment's hesitation, Skulduggery slowly moved his arms around her and gently rested his head on top of hers.

Valkyrie tilted her chin up towards his face and kissed him on the cheek. Then she realised what she had just done and cursed herself. Before she died from embarrassment, Valkyrie was almost positive she heard him let out a contented sigh as his arms tightened slightly around her; she smiled and closed her eyes. This was where she belonged. Little did she know, Skulduggery was thinking the exact same thing.

Thanks for reading guys! :) I'm still a bit rusty with writing, feel free to give constructive criticism! :)

And please review, let me know if I should continue and whatnot!

Already working on the next chapter :)

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