A/N: I don't own Skulduggery or Valkyrie. In the turnabout is fair play department Val is 40 and gets to become a guy this time, and yes this is still Valduggery. So if men being in love or gay marriage upsets you, leave now. Gay marriage is now legal in the Republic of Ireland to save you checking. So I'm relaunching the series sort as a look at what once was, Ah, this was my first gay fanfic ever, so be nice.


I'd been in the horrific explosion that nearly cost me my life, but the Sanctuary doctors were able to bring me back. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens the magic that healed me couldn't change the rather cruel and unfair result of the explosion, mainly that I'd went in the abandoned factory female and came out a male.

Doctors explained that that was what happened when young female investigators got caught in the fallout of such an explosion. The magic of the underground lab had been used to produce the much wanted and very much illegal magical sex-changes so many female sorcerors sought out. I had been sent in because I empathized with the women and wanted the magical surgeries to be legal. Nobody had expected for the doctors to leave behind a trap designed to change any detectives who wandered into it or the explosion, but I was all better now.

Ghastly, I dimly remembered, had seen me on the stretcher and had thoughtfully sent clothes over to match my new body. Skulduggery had been out of Ireland but was due to pick me up that day. I dressed in my new suit, admiring myself. I was handsome, I'd admit that. I had a more square cut to my jaw now and my eyes were still brown. I'd been offered a haircut, but had opted to keep it long until I could decide on my own what I wanted. I pulled it back now and considered the effect in the mirror, frowning.

A doctor came in, clearing his throat. "Well young man, Detective Pleasant will be here for you soon. I've been elected to tell you, for rather obvious reasons, that your marriage is no longer valid. I'm sorry." I looked at him realization dawning. He was a man who loved a man himself. How could he know, just by looking at me? Well, duh. If I knew by looking at him... Did this make me gay now? I supposed it did and pocketed my wedding ring before walking out to wait for the Bentley in the warm Irish sunshine.


Skulduggery had been alerted to my condition so he showed no surprise when a young man got in his car. "Seatbelt." He said automatically. I clicked it and repressed a sigh. He used to automatically kiss me when I got in too. Now he sat rather rigidly, refusing to look at me. He said nothing the entire way home, and once there walked inside without so much as a backwards glance or offering to take my luggage. Man's world my right eye.

I took my luggage to our bedroom, and sat down on the bed wearily. I just wanted to sleep for a week. Skulduggery stood in the doorframe, arms crossed. "I've moved my things out, of course. I'll have another bed brought in eventually but for now my meditation chair is good enough. If you're hungry find yourself something in the kitchen."

I made sure he was gone and got up to close the door. I went back and sat on the bed, weeping. I knew men were never supposed to cry, but I figured having the man you were in love with stop loving you qualified as a time it was OK to cry. I was still shaking with silent tears when I felt a skeletal hand touch my shoulder gently. "What on Earth are you crying for?" Skulduggery asked, clear puzzlement on his skeletal features.

"What am I crying for?" I repeated dully, hating the new rich deepness of my voice. "In a short space of time I've gone from being a woman to a man, my marriage is over, and the only man I've ever been in love with or will ever love no longer loves me. I think I have plenty to cry about."

Shock appeared on his features, and I stood up quickly. "I think it's best if I move back to Gordon's. There's no use in either of us pretending you still feel the same way for me. You wouldn't even look at me when I got in the Bentley, Skulduggery. I'm sorry this happened, and I'm even sorrier I had to turn out to be a gay man, but I can't just stop loving you or wanting to be with you."

He said nothing in return so I pushed by him. "I'll call a taxi. It was nice knowing you, Skulduggery, take care of yourself." I walked to the door, but a skeletal hand on my shoulder stopped me.

"Valkyrie, please, wait."

I shook my head, refusing to turn around. "There's nothing you can possibly say, Skulduggery."

"When you got in the car not wearing your ring, Valkyrie, I thought you didn't want me."

I turned, stupefied. "What?" I asked horrified that I'd hurt him that badly. He reached up a skeletal hand, tentatively touching my cheek and I held it there. I felt my heart pounding in my chest as he stepped closer. I hadn't gained any height in my change, so he still tilted my head back slightly before bringing his teeth down on my mouth. I wrapped my arms around him, reveling in the feel of him and he deepened the kiss, his arms wrapping tightly around me. Then his hands were caressing me, just as they used to, and I thought I'd die of gratitude right then and there.

"Skulduggery." I said, pushing him away gently. "You know we aren't married any longer. I don't want to do something you'll regret, I'm a man, I'm not changing back, there is no cure."

He shrugged, hands stuffed in his pockets, something I still found very appealing. "We would never have been married to most people, Valkyrie. I am a skeleton, you know."

"Yes, who up until now had been straight."

"More or less."

"I see."

"I thought you might. You appeal to me, it doesn't matter if you're male or female, I love you, Valkyrie. When I heard and realized nothing had changed, that I'd happily adapt I realized you would be the first man I could potentially be attracted to, and I was, the instant you got in the Bentley." He paused to sit on the bed patting it so I would join him.

"I just didn't know how you would react, knowing that I desired you as one man desires another man. So I elected to say nothing, which clearly was a mistake. Though need I remind you you did get in the Bentley not wearing your ring."

"You're not wearing yours either, Skulduggery." I growled.

"Right. Because I figured the rather handsome young man before me would have no use for me still wanting to be his husband."

"Then you're completely insane."

"Am I now?" He asked, leaning in to kiss me again. I returned his kiss fully, slightly disappointed when he pulled away, but his words were worth it. "As far as I'm concerned," he placed a gentle kiss on my neck, "we're still married. If you'll have me that is. This would be the perfect excuse to run screaming in revulsion from me, you know."

I smiled, drawing him into my embrace, reminding myself to temper my embrace before I inadvertently hurt him with my new strength. He seemed to melt into my arms and I liked it just fine. "I feel the same way, Skulduggery Pleasant. As far as I'm concerned we'll never stop being married." He kissed me again, and I could feel I was truly home at last, with my husband at my side.


Hope you liked it. I know, I know, A little clunky but it was my first gay fanfic from way back and starting with Val female and making her male made it kind of hard for me to get into my gay guy mindset. So hopefully you wonderful gay guys out there liked it!