Wow. I have been such a bad updater, it's...It's quite frankly appalling. I cannot apologise enough, guys. Bottom line, I've had plenty of ideas, I just for the life of me cannot develop them. But it's currently 2:40 am and I'm ready to write. Once again, guys, I am so, so sorry. I love you all and continue to get a case of hyper-active butterflies in my stomach when I read all your lovely reviews c: This is part two of my ridiculously long songfic, and a fresh start for my writing. Hopefully you enjoy the madness that will ensue. Also, most fics will be set after KoTW now. This one especially is largely KoTW based. Good damn, that book is both heartbreaking and even more feels-y, and yet again full of more of Skul and Val's soul-mate-y-ness...So it was pretty much perfect. The first song chosen for this fic is a song that matches the plot, but the other two are ones to listen to whilst reading, which can both be found on Youtube.

Chapter 153- I Will Wait-Mumford & Sons / Middle Of The Hill-Josh Pyke/ Listen-Andie

Valkyrie Cain lay in her bed in the house on Cemetery Road and stared at the ceiling, chewing on her lip. She was tired. So tired. The bags under her eyes had never been more prominent and her whole body ached, but she felt too wired to even close her eyes. Two words took the stage at the forefront of her mind and wouldn't leave. I would.

Valkyrie hadn't spoken to Skulduggery on the topic of the containment of Darquesse since the whole Argeddion affair was over and done with. As well as the fact Valkyrie's stomach twisted every time she thought of the fact Skulduggery would give up the rest of his days to watch over Valkyrie, they simply hadn't had the time to talk. Sanctuarys across the world were on tenterhooks. They were undoubtedly on the brink of war, which was leaving everyone in the magical community on edge and Skulduggery and Valkyrie had been kept on their toes to say the least, trying to aid Ghastly and Ravel in keeping things together, but everyone knew it was only delaying the inevitable.

The rustling of pages could be heard from down the hall, where Skulduggery was sifting through a myriad of paperwork. He had bustled Valkyrie off to bed an hour ago after she'd fallen asleep upright, as she'd leafed through official-looking Sanctuary documents which meant nothing to her even in her half-asleep state or otherwise.

But now she lay wide awake, hoping sleep would take her soon so she wouldn't have to be left alone with just her thoughts for company, which wasn't very good company at all in Valkyrie's opinion. Eventually, Valkyrie scrambled out of bed and crept from her room into the main living room, where Skulduggery was standing with his back to her, searching through books from one of the many bookcases. He looked round when she came in, and watched her as she made her way over to face him, standing in a confrontational stance.

"Valkyrie,-" Valkyrie held up her hand to silence him.

"Skulduggery. I need to ask you something."

Skulduggery tilted his head to the side and folded his arms. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to the elbows. Valkyrie glanced briefly at the exposed bone, and felt a sudden swell of affection for her skeleton detective.

"What's wrong?" Skulduggery asked, taking in Valkyrie's glazed over eyes, her eyebrows furrowed in thought. Her big, brown eyes flicked up to meet his sockets.

"Nothing. I just...Right. Okay. In Switzerland, yeah?"

"...Yes...?"

Valkyrie deliberated how to word the next part, and then, "Okay, bugger this. You said you'd spend the rest of your life watching over me."

A slight pause, then, "Nonsense, Valkyrie, how can I spend the rest of my life watching over you when-"

"Skulduggery. I'm being serious."

Skulduggery looked at her for a moment. "Yes. I did say that."

"Did you mean it?"

Skulduggery looked at her again as if searching for something, and then in one step closed the distance between them and placed his hands on Valkyrie's shoulders.

"Of course I did."

Valkyrie blinked at him. Oh, god, she willed silently, please don't cry. "Right. I...Right. See, I just- Uhm..." Valkyrie felt tears well up and clumsily swiped a hand across her eyes, dropping her head to avoid Skulduggery's gaze.

"Valkyrie," Skulduggery murmured, sounding a mixture of shocked and sympathetic. "What's wrong?" He took her wrists and pulled her gently into a hug.

Valkyrie mentally kicked herself for getting so bloody emotional over nothing, but her internal self-condemnation did nothing to quell the tears that were currently saturating Skulduggery's shirt. Skulduggery placed her head to his shoulder and stroked a hand down her hair comfortingly and Valkyrie wrapped her arms around him and allowed the tears to spill out. Maybe a good cry would prevent a full-blown mental breakdown that she felt was due any day now.

"Valkyrie," Skulduggery crooned, rocking her gently, "What's up? What's wrong?"

"I don't bloody know." Valkyrie sobbed, burying her head into Skulduggery's shoulder, "I just...It's n-not fair on you. Having to waste your life watching over m-me. We won't even be able to t-talk when I'm...being kept like Argeddion. You'll h-have a practically dead girl for company and...and I don't want that for you. I just want to save you, and save my family, but you shouldn't have to look after me when I'm...I'm shut down. And it's so hard because I don't want to be shut down, I want to be with you and my mum and dad and Alice." Valkyrie sniffed and took a calming breath before continuing, "I just want to p-protect you all but how c-can I when it's me you need protecting from?" Valkyrie took a deep shuddering breath and choked back another sob. "I just want...If I have to...to be shut d-down and contained like...Argeddion then I don't want to drag you down with me."

Skulduggery was silent for a long time, as Valkyrie shook from the aftershock of her crying, her face hidden in his shoulder. Then, quietly, he said, "After all these years, Valkyrie Cain, of me dragging you everywhere, dragging you into life threatening situations daily, tipping your life upside down and being to blame for you witnessing things no one should ever witness...You think you're the one dragging me down? Valkyrie, wherever you go, I go. I don't think you realise how much you...You pulled me up from a very dark place, Valkyrie. This strong-minded twelve year old girl with dark hair and confidence to rival mine marched into my life, took my hat hostage and became my partner and best friend. If the only way to stop Darquesse is to contain you, I will gladly spend my days with you, Valkyrie Cain. You say I'll only have a practically dead girl for company? You've spent the last six years in the company of a dead man, so it's only fair I return the favour. Do you think I could face going on as normal knowing you're locked up somewhere? You have never disappointed me, Valkyrie, and you never will. I will never leave your side, no matter what. If it means the only person I'll know for the rest of my days is you, so be it. It's practically that way anyway." Valkyrie looked up, and Skulduggery pressed his forehead to hers. "You and I, Valkyrie, until the end. Whenever that may be."

Valkyrie stared into the blackness that was Skulduggery's eye sockets, and wondered how anyone ever thought him heartless.

"Until the end?"

Skulduggery pulled her to him again and patter her back soothingly.

"Until the end, Miss Cain. I'm too clever to go before then, and you're too pretty."

Valkyrie smiled and laughed shakily, wiping her hand across her eyes again. "And here was me thinking you were terrible at speeches."

Skulduggery nodded into her hair. "I'm good at them when it matters."

Valkyrie hummed in agreement and sighed.

"Hey, Skul?"

"Hmmm?"

"I am pretty."

Skulduggery let out an exhale as a quiet laugh and hugged Valkyrie tighter. "I know."

Apologies for it being ramble-y and out of character! It'll take me a while to get back into the swing of things.