A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Erskine or Valkyrie. Oh, there is a hidden music reference this time. Old song by Cole Porter and that's the only hint you'll get. Spoilers.

It was my twenty seventh birthday and my worst nightmare was coming true. Someone was getting me up early. My mobile rang persistently and drug me up out of sleep at around dawn and I groaned when I saw the caller ID. Skulduggery. What did he want this early in the morning?

"Hello?" I croaked, making sure to sound as tired as possible. Maybe he'd take pity on me and let me go back to bed. Sleeping in. That's all I wanted for my birthday.

"Valkyrie! Good morning to you too." He replied, sounding annoyingly chipper. "I have wonderful news! We have a case, so I'll be there to pick you up in half an hour. Be ready."

"A case! Now? Did the Sanctuary blow up? Who could have possibly-" But Skulduggery broke through my complaints.

"Now, now, my dearest and most loyal combat accessory. Duty calls. You know there is no off time for a Sanctuary detective. Remember, be ready in thirty minutes." We rang off and I got up, wishing it was possible to kill him, just a little.

The rather violent part of "Skeleton Song" by Kate Nash came to me as I showered and I laughed. There were days I'd have loved to hit Skulduggery with a hammer. No, a jackhammer. He could be self-centered, showy, and egotistical. But he was also, without a doubt, my very best friend in the Universe and I was happy to be going out on a case with him.

At least Skulduggery won't make a big deal out of my birthday. I thought as I waited outside Uncle Gordon's mansion. He was unsentimental and felt shows of affection were undignified. The most he would do would be to give a snort of contempt if anyone at the Sanctuary did mention the day.

Skulduggery saw no need for gifts or cards. He was right of course. It was a day like any other. So what if I had become an adult in mortal eyes years ago? Big deal. In magical ones I had a century or so at least to go before hitting adulthood. I was thinking of this when the Bentley pulled up smoothly.

I got in, avoiding a small basket on the floor. I swore I smelled coffee and breakfast. But it couldn't be. Skulduggery couldn't manage anything better than cold Pop Tarts if pressed. I looked at him, my brain still clearing away the cobwebs of sleep and realized he was wearing his old disguise. "Skulduggery! Your façade, did you?"

"Indeed I did. Considering the odious female who gave it to me. Besides, it wasn't really me, was it? I'm much better looking." He said, pulling away from the mansion after watching me click my seatbelt in place. That was one thing I could say for him. Skulduggery was always careful with me.

Well, most of the time. Others times I swore he thought I was indestructible. I looked out the windscreen worriedly. "Skulduggery, we're going the wrong way for the Sanctuary."

"We're not going to the Sanctuary. I felt you could do with a bit of R and R on today of all days, so I'm taking you on a vacation." He said cheerfully. He caught my astonished look and laughed. "I've been planning this trip for some time, Valkyrie. You're bag is already packed and in the boot, so sit back and relax. You might want to open that basket you've been so obviously ignoring." He added.

I picked it up and found a thermos of hot coffee inside along with some take way. I looked at Skulduggery in confusion. He never fed me this well. "I knew you wouldn't have time for breakfast, so I got you something. And no, you don't have to hang out the window like a dog, just eat over the basket, please."

I nodded wondering where he'd even found a place that was open and served breakfast. Skulduggery just smiled at me through his disguise and reached over to turn the radio on. This is shaping up to be, I decided, a most unusual day.

We had driven for hours, Skulduggery stopping from time to time to stretch our legs and for lunch. I figured we were in the mountains, but had no idea where. Skulduggery had insisted I sleep part of the way, even covering me with a blanket and turning up the heater in the Bentley.

Now as I stretched he smiled at me from behind his disguise. "Ah, you're up. Good. We'll be there in an hour or so. In case you haven't guessed, this is your present. I hope you like it."

"Of course I do, Skulduggery. I love getting to spend time with you. The funny thing is I had a dream about this road."

"Hmm?" He asked, sounding intrigued.

"Last night, well, this morning. There should be a turn in a quarter of a kilometre, would you take it, please?" I asked, curious to see if it would match my dream.

"I don't see why not. We're not on a time schedule. Yes, here it is now. What, exactly, are we going to find at the end?" Skulduggery asked, casting a glance at me.

"A graveyard, if it is the same as in my dream." I said and I heard him grunt softly in reply.

"If it is you had a vision, not a dream. You've never been here before, at least not with me at any rate."

"I've never been to the mountains ever, to be honest. Well, maybe once with you on a case. There it is! Weird. Can we look around? I just want to show myself it was only a dream." Skulduggery stared at me for the longest time.

"Did something bad happen in this dream, Valkyrie?" He asked at last, quietly.

"No, something good. But it couldn't possibly happen. Still, I want to be sure. Please?" He nodded and we got out, Skulduggery leading the way, gun drawn.

"For all we know you were lured here using some sort of magic. Stay behind me." I listened, letting him lead and we walked through the graveyard. It was old, sadly neglected in some areas, and clearly for magical people unless mortals were also Taking names. Though I figured the birth and death dates alone were a giveaway. I had no idea cemeteries existed for us. How couldn't a mortal find them and ask questions?

"Skulduggery?" I began and he knew what I was thinking.

"The place is warded. Mortals wouldn't have even seen the turn off or if they did they wouldn't see the real tombstones. Now would you mind telling me what happened in your dream?"

I was about to reply when the wail of a baby reached us. We both froze. "That." I said, pointing to the direction of the cry, a large black baby carrier resting in the shade of a tree.

Skulduggery kept his gun drawn and edged closer. "It could still be a trap, be careful, Valkyrie." He hissed as I walked closer. "What if it is a bomb?" He growled, clearly frustrated I was that close as I hesitated to draw back the black mesh covering the carrier.

"Well, it is moving, Skulduggery, and I think it is a baby. Oh." I said, drawing aside the mesh. Inside, dressed in black pajamas complete with an embroidered skull on them was indeed a baby. A skeletal baby. I stared at him, my heart melting and I wanted to nestle him against me in the worst way.

He stared back lovingly then started waving his arms to be picked up, tiny skeletal hands grasping the air. I cooed softly, unable to help myself and lifted him out gently. He nestled into my chest, making a slight murmuring sound, talking to himself sleepily. There was a note with him I handed to Skulduggery, then I began to stroke the tiny skull and talk to the baby gently.

"Please take care of our son. We know if you followed the dream and have found him, you are the right person to care for him. He won't be any trouble." Skulduggery read out loud.

I sighed. "I wish I could, little guy, honest. And don't you look at me like that." The baby skeleton giggled and squirmed, doing his best to look adorable. It was working. I wanted to keep him in the worst way. Even more when a tiny hand squeezed my finger tightly.

I looked at Skulduggery. "Sorry, Skulduggery. I guess we have to turn around now and take him to the Sanctuary."

"Nonsense. This doesn't change our plans in the least. A day or so won't make the least bit of difference, beside as the paper says, he is yours. It's as good a contract as any."

"What?" I asked, returning the baby to the carrier, tucking him in gently. "You're kidding, right?"

"No. We can't exactly go through mortal courts, now can we? You were chosen by his parents, Valkyrie. He's all yours, if you want him that is. Strange they didn't name him."

We carried the baby back with us, Skulduggery making sure his carrier was secure before we started. "You could name him Skulduggery." He offered helpfully.

"Then he couldn't have Skulduggery as a Taken name." I countered, amused.

"Nonsense. He'd just change his last name or add one or what have you. Yes, Skulduggery's a wonderful baby name come to think of it. Think how inspired he'd be, knowing you named him after me."

I shook my head wondering exactly what I was expected to do with a baby.

Skulduggery escorted me into the room carrying in our luggage while I brought in the baby. "I got double beds in one room. It was all they had left and I didn't think you'd mind." He commented, setting the luggage down. "Do you want a rest or are you ready to go out for some dinner and to see a few shops?"

I looked at him. "With a baby?" I asked, not wanting to add the panic he would set off in mortals.

"Of course with the baby, we can't just leave him here. It isn't as if mortals will see the real him anyhow. Didn't he have a necklace of some sort?" Skulduggery asked going over to the carrier and lifting the baby out to hold him securely against his chest. "Yes, he does, coloured beads. Horrid gift for a baby. Ah, they're enchanted, that's why. People won't see him, Valkyrie." He said the last so quietly that I got off the bed and hugged him.

"I wish they could, Skulduggery, he's rather handsome." Skulduggery grinned, his cheerfulness returning.

"Well of course he is, he looks a lot like me, don't you think? I could be his father for all anyone knew." He said the last bit wistfully, setting the baby back in the carrier.

"Of course you could, Skulduggery. I'll need help anyhow, you know that, and I know you'd be a good influence."

Skulduggery managed to look shocked. "I'd be nothing of the kind. Would I, Skulduggery? See? He likes the name. That's what I'm calling him." He grinned at me and adjusted his disguise and we were off.

Skulduggery seemed to take his potential role rather seriously. He left the carrier in the car and held the baby in the shops, murmuring to him gently, even rocking him. Mortals smiled to see that strange man with the swathed baby, but didn't bother the pair.

After several shops we had dinner, the baby in the carrier in between us. Looking around I realized we weren't in any restaurant meant for mortals, unless mortals were now growing scales and horns. Skulduggery caught my glance and seemed amused. "When people are old enough they can pass as mortal that's how great their power is, we can't even sense it. We're in a magical community, but they all seem like mortals, don't they? Doubtless the baby's parents are from here, perhaps watching us now." He said thoughtfully, his gaze scanning the room from behind his sunglasses.

"I thought of that. I thought afterwards that had to be nearby watching us. Nobody that cared enough to adopt out a baby would just dump him somewhere and hope for the best. But why adopt him out?" I asked.

"I don't know. I made a few calls while you were poking about the shops. Erskine says the baby is yours free and clear so no worries there. But he is tracking down the parents. I'd like to know they aren't coming back after you for some sort of compensation, Valkyrie."

I nodded. I was far from a trillioniaress, but having inherited the mansion and a good amount of money could make me an easy target. A baby, especially one I'd bonded to could be used against me by unscrupulous parents.

Later that night we were stretched out on the first bed on our sides, Skulduggery propped up on one elbow to peer down at the baby over my shoulder, one arm slung around me protectively. We still hadn't named him, thought Skulduggery had offered his name several more times.

I was stroking a wee cheekbone when Skulduggery spoke, putting a hand on my shoulder. "You know, I didn't just bring you up here for a vacation, though that is your gift. I wanted to ask you something, but since I could never give you children I hesitated. But now that you have the child I could never give you-" He trailed off, and I felt the hand move off my shoulder.

I craned my neck up so I could look at him. His question lingered on his skeletal features, in his hollow eye sockets. But I could tell it would kill him to ask, because he was sure I'd refuse him.

"You know, Skulduggery, most men would assume if I loved a baby skeleton from the moment I first saw him that a skeleton husband would be just fine." Skulduggery stared at me blankly. "Of course I want to marry you, and well done you. I had no idea how you felt, ever. But then if you had to ask, you had no idea how I felt either." I swore he blushed.

"You're sure?" He asked gently. I nodded and he kissed me, the barest brush of teeth to lips. "We'll have the Sanctuary in an uproar when we get back. I just need you to promise me one thing, Valkyrie. From this moment on neither you or the baby leaves my side. You come home with me after this, both of you, by me always."

I hugged him tight then sat up, being mindful of the baby. Skulduggery scooped him up gently. "I did poorly by my first family, but I'll do right by you, both of you, I swear it. I love you as I've loved no other woman, Valkyrie Cain. And I love this small one as my son already. As long as you assure me you'll both be with me always-"

"Of course, Skulduggery, I was hoping you'd ask. We're a family now. We have a son, as strange as it feels to say that considering he's only been ours for a few hours. But I'm never leaving your side, ever again."

"Good, because it's been terrible these last several months not having you by my side night and day." I smiled and Skulduggery returned our son to his carrier.

We feel asleep that night with Skulduggery's arms wrapped around me, but chastely. We were after all, both fully clothed. In the morning he greeted me with a kiss on the forehead. "Good morning, Valkyrie. I made you coffee. Erskine did some checking and found the parents. We can go see them in a bit if you like, but first breakfast."

He produced a take away box seemingly out of thin air and I ate as I watched him play with our son. Hopefully our son. What if the parents wanted him back?

OK, I'm leaving this as a cliffhanger.