A/N: Here is my second story about the Skulduggery Pleasant series. I originally planned on starting a series of one-shots when I finished my first story. Then I thought about something I'd like to add to the story and wanted this chapter to be the first one-shot. Well, and then I got a pretty good idea by Libertied Insanity and suddenly the storyline started to grow in my mind. Thank you for that :)

So, thanks to her this will be a sequel to "The Reflection". I think that can be read on its own as well.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, no one but Derek Landy owns the characters.

Here is the first chapter, enjoy!

And please review, constructive criticism welcome :)

For a moment, there was silence when Ghastly had finished explaining to Gordon what happened.

"That's... that's terrible", he managed at last. "What are you going to do about this?"

"The Grand Mage here wants us to hold back and do nothing", Skulduggery replied angrily, but didn't raise his voice because he didn't want to wake the sleeping beauty across the room.

Gordon looked at Erskine quizzically. He surely had a plan. I mean, my niece got nearly killed, he wouldn't just stand back and do nothing, would he?

The Grand Mage sighed. "The Sanctuary is already informed", he explained. "They have sent Cleavers to find them."

"Cleavers won't be able to stop Tanith Low", Skulduggery objected.

There were voices, people talking, when Valkyrie woke up. At first, she didn't understand what was spoken. But she knew who was speaking. She would have recognized this voice everywhere.

"Skulduggery?", she croaked and opened her eyes to find herself in Gordon's study in his arm chair. Someone had fixed her arm, she noticed.

When Valkyrie said his name, Skulduggery was immediately by her side.

Of course, Ghastly knew how his friend felt about that girl, but he was quite sure that he hadn't told her that yet.

"Valkyrie, are you all right?" he asked.

"I am. Stop worrying, that doesn't suit you", she teased.

"It does. Everything suits me", he reassured her and she grinned, happy that she could lift his bad mood for a short while.

She stood up from the chair wanting to join the others and suddenly her and Skulduggery were very close. Valkyrie looked up to him and their eyes/ eye sockets met. From the angle of his skull she could tell that he'd noticed, too. He raised his hand and brushed a strand of hair out of her face, his gloved fingers lingering on her cheek for a moment.

Someone cleared his throat and they jumped apart. Valkyrie blushed when she realized the other men were watching them. Due to the fact of being a skeleton, Skulduggery couldn't blush and even if he did, nobody would notice. This was one of the rare times he was glad to be a skeleton.

"Um, I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but there is something I have to say", Erskine said, knowing very well he was interrupting.

Valkyrie's blush deepened and she turned her face away, hoping no one would notice.

"Yeah, I had something to say as well", Skulduggery muttered to himself.

He turned around to face his friends.

Gordon was obviously amused about their embarrassment and he didn't even try to hide his grin.

Ghastly and Erskine thought that was quite funny as well, but Erskine was slightly annoyed, too.

"So,like I wanted to elaborate before someone" he glared at Skulduggery, "got distracted, the Cleavers are supposed to find them in the first place. As soon as they do so, they have to inform the Sanctuary and wait for orders. The Sanctuary then sends backup to arrest the bad guys." Skulduggery wanted to protest at that, but Erskine simply raised his voice and went on.

"The "backup" of course will be Skulduggery and Valkyrie and whoever they want to take along as well because you would go anyway and admittedly, you two are the best for this job we have. And now, Skulduggery, you may complain."

He grinned when Skulduggery stayed silent. There was now way around it, his plan was brilliant and even the great Detective had to admit that.

"Since that's all set up now -", Gordon started and looked meaningfully at Ghastly and Erskine.

Erskine got the point first. "Um, yeah. I'm sorry, Val, but I have to go to the Sanctuary, explain things and stuff. Ghastly?"

"Yes, I'm coming with you", he said reluctantly.

They said goodbye and left shortly thereafter.

Skulduggery turned around to Valkyrie and stepped a little closer. He took her hands in his when he started to speak. "Now that we are alone, there is something- "

Gordon cleared his throat. "I'm still here you know. Just saying."

Skulduggery sighed. He hadn't expected the most difficult part of telling Valkyrie how he felt would actually be to be alone with her.

Apparently annoyed, he turned around to see Gordon floating nearby the bookshelf that was the entry to his secret room.

When he saw Skulduggery's expression he held his hands up.

"Okay, okay, I see that my company is not wanted here. Although this is my study, I'll leave you two alone then."

And without another word he simply floated through the closed secret door and an awkward silence followed.

Skulduggery was still staring at the point Gordon had disappeared seconds ago.

"Um, Skulduggery?" Valkyrie tried to catch his attention by snapping her fingers in front of his face.

"Sorry", he muttered. "I was just thinking about... never mind." Then he took a deep breath and took her hands in his for a second time.

"What I wanted to tell you.." he trailed off. When he started again, he sounded insecure. "You know, at first I didn't plan to say anything, because I thought it would be impossible for someone to like me in that way. Especially for someone as beautiful and amazing and smart as you are. And I was scared that you would find out like Gordon and Ghastly did and -"

Before he could start babbling, Valkyrie decided to cut this short. She grabbed his shirt to pull him closer and pressed her lips on his teeth.

He relaxed immediately and from the small movements he made, she could tell that he was kissing her back.

She pulled back and grinned at him. "I love you, too."

"Finally", said a voice behind them. "I knew it!"

"Gordon!", Valkyrie and Skulduggery exclaimed at the same time.

"You know, in a way I was expecting this", Skulduggery sighed.

"Yeah, I mean, it's Gordon we are talking about."

They looked at each other. "Any idea how to harm a ghost?"

Yeah, I know there was not much plot in here. But now that's all set up, there will be more action in the next one, promise :)

Anyway, tell me what you think of it :)