A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Tanith, or Valkyrie. Skulduggery no longer has a facade because it helps the story. Val is about 22. Bonus points for anyone who can name the show the title is the theme song to.
I hadn't talked to Skulduggery Pleasant in two days. He'd told me he didn't love me, and it hurt. So I was very angry with him. I ignored his repeated call and texts. Finally on the morning of the third day, my mobile rang. Tanith.
"Valkyrie? Do you have any idea where Skulduggery is?" She sounded upset and immediately ice formed in my stomach. What if he had been calling for help? How could I just abandon him like that?
"No, why? Is something wrong?"
"He called Ghastly last night, frantic. You wouldn't answer his calls or texts. He was so upset, Valkyrie, he didn't know what to do."
"Did he tell you why I wasn't answering?" I asked, failing to keep the anger out of my voice.
"Yes, but he needs you! What kind of friend are you? Do you think I wouldn't stand by Ghastly tomorrow if he didn't love me anymore?" She was angry now.
"But he does love you, doesn't he? I'm sure Skulduggery will show up. He's just having a grand sulk because he didn't get his way." I said, bitterly.
"And you're not?" Tanith shot back. "He needs to be with you every day, you know that. Two days away and he couldn't take it anymore. You're his best fried, Valkyrie! Skulduggery depends on you to help make sense of the world. He's got the Bentley, that's all he would say."
"I still care about him Tanith, you know I do. But I wouldn't even know where to begin looking."
"We hoped he was at your house, to be honest."
I looked out the window pane in the front door. There stood the Bentley.
"The Bentley's outside, I just looked. I didn't see Skulduggery but he can't be far. I'll go find him."
Tanith thanked me and rang off. I sighed, hesitating. Even if I did find him what was there to say? That I was really angry and hoped he'd drop dead? That wouldn't help much. Then I remembered Tanith saying he needed me and my heart softened. I gathered myself and opened the door.
As I approached I noticed the light frost on The Bentley and deduced it had been parked there all night. But where was Skulduggery? I went around to the driver's side window and saw him. Curled up in the fetal position on the front seats, a look of utter misery etched on his skeletal features.
I realized he'd meditated there all night in the cold to be as near me as possible, and felt tears come to my eyes. Tanith was right, I wasn't being a vary good friend. I tapped on the glass gently and his skull craned up to look at me. A look of wonder crossed his skeletal face, and he sat up to placed his gloved hands beseechingly against the glass.
I put my hands against the cold glass, matching his, and he opened the door to greet me. He was trembling all over, a bewildered look on his face. He hugged me then, as if he thought he'd never see me again, and I could feel his tremors.
"I thought I lost you!" He whispered, brokenly.
"No, no, no." I soothed, rubbing his back and rocking him gently. "You'll never loose me. I'm so very sorry, Skulduggery. Please come inside, it's far too cold for you to he out here."
He made no reply, but let me lead him into the house. I helped him sit down on the couch and realized he was in shock. Not knowing what else to do, I wrapped him in a blanket and sat with him, rubbing his back and holding his hand.
"I lost my best friend." He said dully.
"Never, Skulduggery! Yes, it hurt when you said you didn't love me, but you will never loose me. I'm so sorry, I had no idea you needed to be near me every day. I'd have never ignored you if I knew. It just hurt, it still does, but I'm here with you now and I promise I'm never leaving you alone for an instant if that's what you want."
He turned and looked at me sadly. "But you don't love me anymore as a friend, you don't want me here."
I took his face in both hands before speaking. "I will always be your friend, Skulduggery Pleasant. Your best friend, and yes, I still love you as a friend. You're my best friend, my partner and I don't want to loose you, please forgive me."
I bundled him into a hug them and felt him relax slightly. His arms went around me and he gave me a fierce hug.
"I missed you so much, Valkyrie."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"I wish I could love you the way you want me to, but I just don't feel that way."
"It's OK, Skulduggery. Shh. If you were the one for me you'd love me back, that's how it works, I think."
He pulled away, smiling. "Yes, I think so too. I'm glad we're still friends. I just can't seem to function or be happy if you aren't close to me."
"I know, Skulduggery. You have the same effect on me. I've been miserable and alone for the past two days. I haven't even eaten, come to think of it."
"Would you let a best friend take you to breakfast?" He asked, tilting his head.
"After me abandoning you like that, you want to take me to breakfast?"
"We're best friends aren't we? It isn't like you haven't tried to sulk me to death before." He teased.
"Oh, Skulduggery. Yes, I'll go to breakfast with you."
We did go to breakfast that day, and for every day after that I never left his side. Two hundred years later and we are still partners and best friends. Skulduggery never did fall in love with me, but I learned to love him as my friend and partner, and somehow that was enough.