A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Anton, Erskine, Dexter, Larrikin, Ghastly, Saracen or Dex.
I found Anton in the massive garage Erskine had in his mountain lodge. There were plenty of cars to choose from, but Anton took the most sedate one. I didn't mind, and as he got my door for me I thanked him for rescuing me from Erskine.
"My pleasure." He said.
Anton told me as we drove down the mountain to a small town that the Dead Men had reunions at the lodge every so often. As we parked in front of the bookstore he looked at me. "You know, seeing you with Dexter today reminded me of how Larrikin used to bedevil me. So, thank you for that." He smiled gently then escorted me inside.
As Anton browsed I wandered to the attached coffee area and looked at the menu, debating. When Anton joined me, he turned down my offer of coffee as Skulduggery had said he would. "How about lattes instead, Valkyrie? My treat, and something chocolate." I happily agreed, and soon we were sitting down to split a decadent chocolate bombe.
"Again you have my thanks. One of the few things I dislike about the Midnight Hotel is that there's never time for things like this." He gestured around us. We lingered and I had to good sense to thank him for the trip to town when we got back.
Ghastly found me almost instantly and drug me into the kitchen to help with dinner. "Camp out food, but would you look at this place?" He gestured and I nodded. There was a huge indoor grill to cook on, and soon we had hot dogs going. I knew very well Ghastly was being nosy when he spoke again. "So. You went into town, huh?"
"Yes, I did." I agreed, smiling.
"With Anton."
"Yes-"
"Mm."
"What "Mm."?"
"Nothing, nothing." He said teasingly and I flushed.
"Stop it, it was Anton, Ghastly. Now had it been Saracen-"
"Had it been Saracen, I'd have protected your virtue, Val!" Dex declared, laughing as he joined us. "I would have gone with you and fought him most fiercely." He picked up a hot dog for an imaginary sword and waved it around wildly. He then ate it and broke into a giggling fit.
"I sometimes have trouble believing you're an adult, Dex." Ghastly said dryly.
Dex just giggled then leaned in to whisper to me. "So how'd that hot date go?" He asked, elbowing me in the ribs. He winked, then took off laughing before Ghastly could hit him with the tea towel. I realized then I was trapped with crazy men for the next two weeks. Lucky me indeed.
Bad, Dex, bad! Reviews help greatly, you know.
