She hugged Danny goodbye and left. She opened the front door and standing there, leaning against the doorframe, looking down at his shoes was Skulduggery Pleasant in his perfect black suit and matching hat.
"It's been a while" he said in his deep voice, a voice that Valkyrie had missed. He looked up at her and she knew he would have been smiling. She smiled back and pulled him into a hug, resting her head on his shoulder.
"It's been too long, I've missed you, you know" Valkyrie sighed.
"Who wouldn't miss me?" he mocked and she just laughed quietly. Skulduggery pulled away from the hug noticing Danny stood behind Valkyrie. "Who's this?" he asked, cocking his head to one side.
"Skulduggery this is Danny, Danny this is Skulduggery Pleasant" she explained, stepping back. Danny just stared in amazement, he was exactly like Valkyrie had described him, a walking, talking skeleton. "Danny has helped me these past years, bringing me things and supplying me food and other necessities" she explained.
"Well then, thank you Danny for looking after her." Skulduggery said offering his hand and Danny shook it. After more good byes and thank you's they left, leaving Danny in his shop doorway, looking out into the night. As they turned the corner, a small smile crept over Valkyries face as she saw the Bentley, freshly polished. She slid into the passenger seat and found that the seat hadn't been moved. It was still in the position she left it in over 5 years ago, Skulduggery had left everything the same.
They drove off in silence before Skulduggery sighed. "what's wrong" Valkyrie asked looking at him rather confused.
"This Danny person, has anything been going on between you two?" he asked, this shocked Valkyrie completely, "no why?" she said, sounding confused. "it doesn't matter right now, anyway what would you like to do it's been a few years since we last saw each other." He asked changing the subject however Valkyrie knew there was something else. "I'm sure Tanith would love to see you again."
"Your right" she sighed "but I would rather spend a night at your house watching movies, ya know like just us two." She trailed off, what had she just suggested?! Her and Skulduggery alone watching movies on the couch… oh no what was he going to say what… her internal monologue was cut off by Skulduggery's voice, "I would love that" and from then on they remained in silence until they were inside Skulduggery's house. Nothing had changed, her room he had made for her and the kitchen and bathroom, all that he had done for her was still there. She walked into the main living room and slumped onto the couch while skulduggery chose a horror movie. Soon after he joined her on the couch, putting his arm around her as she cuddled into his side. They had only been watching it for a few minutes before Skulduggery paused it and pulled his arm away and stood up "What are you doing?" she asked, confused and annoyed.
"Valkyrie," he started slowly, "that night before I threw Ravel into the accelerator, you said something to me, do you remember that?"
"yes, I said I couldn't live without you"
"you also said something else, something that I have been thinking about ever since, wondering if you meant it" he continued but Valkyrie just looked at him in confusion so he continued, "you said you loved me" he finished, and it all came flooding back. The desperation in her voice the thoughts going through her head all came back as if it had just happened and all she could do was look at down in shock, a small tear rolling down her cheek. She sat there for a moment before she felt a hand under her chin lifting her head up, she was looking at Skulduggery, he had his façade activated and she was looking into his soft brown eyes. And then he kissed her, his warm lips on hers, she tended up in shock then relaxed and melted into the kiss.
Skulduggery pulled away and looked away then walked into the kitchen, his head down mumbling something. Valkyrie got up and followed him, when she got to the kitchen he was already sat down, his head in his hands, his façade off and his back to her. She walked over to him silently and placed a hand on his back, he jumped up and spun around "I'm sorry, I didn't know what I was doing, I thought maybe…" but he was stopped by Valkyrie placing a finger on his teeth and then she leaned in and kissed him again, his teeth were cold and hard but it felt good to her. She felt his façade flow over him and the teeth were replaced with soft lips. She felt his arms wrap around her waist, pulling her even closer as the kiss deepened. His tongue brushed against her bottom lip, begging for entry and soon their tongues were wrestling each other, it just felt so right.
They broke apart and just looked into each other's eyes, breathless. "It is true," Valkyrie breathed, "I love you" a small smile played across her face. Skulduggery smiled a small smile and a single tear rolled down his cheek. "What's wrong" she asked, wiping it away with her thumb. "I never imagined that my beautiful, gorgeous partner would feel the same about me" he trailed off and he pulled her into a hug, sighing and then just looked at her.