Disclaimer: Sadly, I have not come into the possesion of any of Derek Landy's creations, including Skulduggery Pleasant. We're all saddened by this, I am sure. I still own my mistakes and Anita.

3-Never Too Late

Skulduggery woke in a hospital bed. At first, he didn't remember anything, but when the pain hit, uneasiness filled him. Something had happened. Something…bad. He realized that he was staring at the ceiling, and turned his head.

Valkyrie sat next to the bed, looking worried. Skulduggery lifted and arm to his head, only to realize that he was tied down.

"Sorry about that," she started, "but you wouldn't stop thrashing about. You fell twice before I would let Kenspeckle strap you down, though."

A dry chuckle escaped his teeth, and he nodded. "Understandable," he muttered.

And then the memories hit.

;

The gun fell, turning toward the girl and moving so, so slowly. As it hit, the runes all glowed a bright blue, suddenly popping into existence where before there had been only untouched metal. The blue pulsed, spiraling toward the barrel and the lead bullet leaving it. Then there was just her scream and the pain it caused, him screaming his remorse, and her blood. It spread in a pool, and he lay in it, unable to move, as a darkness claimed him…

;

It was August 16th. The girl he held in his arms had red hair, and no glasses, but it was Anita all the same. She sobbed and sobbed, and finally told him why. Her race, the Nafar, was extinct. The Hunters had killed them, and now there was nothing left. Suddenly, he hated them. They had caused her this much pain, murdered her mother and then let her blame herself for the death of her people.

;

The joy when she heard of the camp lifted his heart. So she wasn't the last Nafar, after all. Her eyes shone with a light that had been dulled for what had been, to him, one year. To her, it had been a century. Suddenly her understood this torture that she lived with, always outside of time, never home, never able to live, always wishing she was somewhere else…

When her joy shifted to a determined fury, he knew the Nafar would soon be freed, and he couldn't help but admire the woman he had grown to love. If only she would allow for herself to believe that she was as magnificent as she actually was…but no, she had done terrible things, too, and he understood how hard it was to move past that.

;

With a cry, he broke out of the memories, and he realized he had been straining against his bonds. Valkyrie's hand lay gently on his arm, her eyes gentle and worried.

"I'm fine," he told her, seeing the question in her eyes.

He noticed the deep breathing that was over by his side because it suddenly stopped with a deep inhale. Whoever was in the bed to his left was awake. Kenspeckle, too, noticed, bustling over immediately.

"The bullet's out, and the wound is healing, but you should rest, for now," he told them.

"Oh. That's good. That's very good. You did that well, I'm sure. By the way, I'm pleased to meet you—you are Kenspeckle Grouse, I presume? I thought so. I'm…Anita. Anita Heathers," she said.

Skulduggery gasped. So she was alive! He turned to see her, and the relief he felt was almost solid. If it was any stronger, he felt sure that the others would be able to taste it in the air.

His bonds fell away, and he slid smoothly out of bed. There was no hurry, not anymore. If she was alive, then everything was alright. As he approached the bed, Anita turned her head, a warm smile spreading across her face as soon as she saw him. Then she seemed to remember, and her face drew tight, her eyes filling with pain.

"Hello," Skulduggery said. She nodded, but still seemed tight. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry I shot you. It was accidental."

She smiled again, and the betrayal drained from her eyes again, as she replied, "Obviously, you didn't. Otherwise the runes would have activated and…" she gestured to her stomach, continuing, "I wouldn't be here, now would I? Plus, even if I had, your gun would be out right now."

Skulduggery sat, his hand reaching out to stroke her face. Her eyes closed as his finger brushed her cheek. "I never wanted to hurt you…I just…didn't remember, or didn't realize, I don't know…"

Valkyrie walked up behind them slowly, saying, "Well, at least he finally admitted that he was wrong about something. I've been trying to get him to do something like this for months."

Skulduggery leaned in, pressing his teeth against her forehead gently. He didn't remember it all, not yet, and he still didn't feel for her as he had, but there were remnants of the past there for him to know. He had loved her. In a way, he still did. And the pain in her eyes showed that Anita had never forgotten.

Eventually, he hoped to ease that pain away.

"So, Kenspeckle," Anita started, "When can I start to move about?"

"Well…" he started, "there was a lot of cloth in the wound, and it seemed a bit reluctant to heal, but you were asleep for a couple of days."

"How long, Kenspeckle?" Skulduggery insisted.

"Give it an hour. Only ginger movements—no running, no fighting. Don't stress the wound," Kenspeckle warned.

"Sir, yes, sir," Anita said, raising a mocking eyebrow. Kenspeckle grimaced before shuffling off, muttering something about having more work to do than he could afford and young people these days.

Skulduggery just sat there, and eventually Valkyrie pulled up a chair next to him, all three easing their way into conversation.

A/N: So, a new update! Wa-ha-ha! And I see I've been getting some hits. And a few visitors. Thanks to all 8 of you! I hope you guys like it. A lot of Americans, I see, unless my friend is just checking on all of the computers she comes across. Ah, well, either way. And hi to you Canadians and Australians. How is it?

I hope to soon get British readers. Or Irish. Irish! Ha...that is one part of the story that is true. I do like Irish things. Love them, really. Maybe that's why I'm writing this...

Ok! There will soon be some Death Note-y action. As is: the next chapter. So keep reading, and, since I know I have readers, make sure to review! Please? With a cherry on top?

Oh, and if you have friends in Ireland ( 3 ) or England or Germany, don't feel shy-go ahead and just recommend this. If you think it's recommendable.

And I see you guys have been checking for updates. So I've grabbed your attention. Now just a second while I go and find a real brainsucker.

Oh, and this will be set mainly after Death Bringer, but there will be some changes. For example:Kenspeckle. I say no more for those of you who haven't finished the series.

And now I will stop bothering you. :P

Just REVIEW! PLEASE!