Chapter 2: 15 years ago
"Stephanie you look beautiful darling." Melissa Edgley commented to her daughter on her wedding day.
"Thanks mum. You OK dad?" Stephanie asked.
"I just can't believe I'm about to walk my own daughter down the aisle. You look incredible, amazing, beautiful. No words can explain how wonderful you look today Steph," replied Desmond Edgley, father of the bride. His daughter walked over to him and wiped the tear from his eye.
"I'll go and sit down and give you two some space," said her mum and left the room before they could reply.
Stephanie Edgley (or Valkyrie Cain as she normally goes by now) was about to get married to the most wonderful man she had ever met. Her dress was white and strapless with a corset back, and had a full skirt that swept along the floor. Sequins were sewn on one side of the top half of her dress in flower shapes and just above the skirt. The bouquet had white roses this a single red one in the middle. Her long dark hair was wavy with half of her hair in a high ponytail and she had a tiara with ruby coloured jewels to match her ruby engagement ring. Her veil started from her tiara and trailed behind her for about 30cm.
Valkyrie's bridesmaid's, Tanith Low & china Sorrows, walked in just as Melissa walked out.
"Come on it's time," said Tanith sorting out the back of her dress and veil. Desmond stood next to Valkyrie while China and Tanith picked up their bouquets of red roses, to match their red dresses, and all four of them walked out of the door, Valkyrie and Desmond arm in arm and Tanith and China following.
The groom was standing there, human for the rest of his life now, smiling down at her. Skulduggery Pleasant was wearing a suit made by his best and oldest friend Ghastly Bespoke. Black suit with a crisp white shirt with a red bow tie and waistcoat. His shoes shined as they were polished 2 hours before the wedding. His hair was beautiful to Valkyrie. Smooth and black like hers, only hers was normally long and straight. His hair was naturally short and had curls that suited him really well. Today, however, he had it straight and looked incredible, Valkyrie thought.
Oh my God she is beautiful. How did I get so lucky? He thought.
How on Earth did I get someone like him to be my husband? She thought.
The ceremony lasted about 20 minutes. They said their vows and kissed each other to have everyone cheer. Valkyrie's parents threw confetti as they walked outside to their car to go to the wedding reception. They didn't hire a car. Skulduggery said not to. He said to let an old friend drive them there in Skulduggery's 1954 Bentley R-Type continental. Ghastly put white ribbons on it and now it looks like their wedding car. But Valkyrie insisted on hiring a driver as she would want to talk to him alone on the way to their wedding reception so they did.
"Valkyrie Cai- Pleasant, did I tell how beautiful you look today?" Skulduggery asked. She put her arms around him and leaned her head against his chest listening to that sweet heartbeat he's had for a year now.
"You just did. Did I tell you how handsome you look? Ghastly done a good job on your suit,"
"Yes he did. He could have made you your dress too you know. It wouldn't of cost you a penny."
"I know I just thought it would be nice to buy it with my mum instead of getting discounts all the time. And plus I didn't want anyone to see it until today. And Ghastly's your best man so how do I know he wouldn't of told you if you started begging to know what it looks like?"
"He wouldn't. He's stubborn like that. You are too." She looked up into his eye's
"If it wasn't our wedding day you would get a slap for that you know."
"I know. That's I'm going to try and get as many… debates like that today. I can say what I like and you won't slap me for it."
"Carry on and I might change my mind about that."
"I know you will. That's your problem babe. You can never make up your mind."
"Keep going and I will. That's I will make up my mind and I'll slap you." Valkyrie spoke flirty this time.
"I know you will. That's why I'm going to stop right now." He leaned his head down to kiss her.
"Skulduggery?"
"Yes Valkyrie?"
"Do you mind if we quickly stop off at the Hibernian cinema? I need to talk to Kenspeckle about something,"
"We could but can't it wait? Or is it important?"
"I really need to talk to him now. It's important,"
"OK then." Skulduggery asked the driver to stop off at the Hibernian cinema and Valkyrie went inside. Skulduggery followed but she was so fast by the time he walked through the screen and into the lab Valkyrie had already gone into the medical bay. The Professor's assistant Clarabelle came out the office and saw him.
"Hi Skulduggery. Shouldn't you be at your wedding reception or waiting for Valkyrie?"
"We were just stopping by. We off in a minute. Where is Valkyrie and the Professor?"
"They went into the medical bay. Valkyrie wants Kenspeckle to check something. They'll be out in a minute." Then the double doors opened and Valkyrie and Kenspeckle walked out.
"Everything OK Valkyrie?" He asked. Valkyrie was smiling widely.
"Yes. I'm fine. Let's go. Thanks Kenspeckle."
"That's OK dear. Come back every now and then so I check up on you." Kenspeckle replied.
"I will. Come on babe."
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
"In the car. Let's go."
They walked back out to the Bentley arm in arm and when they were settled in their seats again Valkyrie told her what was going on. Skulduggery was so happy he started crying happiness. When they arrived they ate dinner and socialised with their guests. Then the speeches came up. Ghastly went first as the best man and talked about how well he'd known Skulduggery and how wonderful his new bride was and embarrassed Skulduggery a bit. Valkyrie's dad went second and talked about how proud of Valkyrie he was and told everyone some stories about her growing up and what a lucky man Skulduggery was. Fletcher Renn then thought it would be funny and stand up and say that he loved Valkyrie so much he wants her to marry him, but he had drunk a few drinks by this time so no-one took any notice. Finally it was Skulduggery's turn.
"I've known Stephanie for two years now. She was twenty-one and is the most beautiful person I've ever met. I've loved her for these past two years and I will for the rest of our lives," He gave a long speech about how they got to know each other and how they met hoping it sounds convincing to her parents and everyone else who doesn't know about their secret. The truth is they've known each other a lot long than two years. It's more like eleven years when Valkyrie was only twelve. A lot has happened between them since they first met and it's actually the complete opposite to what Skulduggery said in his speech. He finished his speech with and announcement.
"On the way here I discovered something amazing. My beautiful, loving new wife Stephanie Pleasant and I are going to have a baby!"
And with that every gasped and gave a big cheer for the new happy couple.
