A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Saracen or Skulduggery.
We got back in the car, Saracen smiling at me. I thought I had seen someone out of the corner of my eye, but dismissed it. I wished I hadn't when we entered a wooded area and the engine promptly died. Saracen got out to look under the bonnet and I half expected he was pretending to be doing something when it got way too quiet. I realized then I had seen a man, but it couldn't have been who I thought it was.
He was dead, truly dead this time and not coming back. But the bonnet suddenly slammed and it wasn't Saracen peering through the windscreen at me. The man before me was dressed in an immaculately tailored suit and matching fedora, he tilted his head in a cheery grin as he waved a gloved hand at me.
I was either dreaming or insane, but I waved back. I got out, finally noticing Saracen sitting on the ground beside the man, looking as dazed as I felt. "Skulduggery?" I asked, not daring to believe he was actually in front of me. He nodded cheerfully.
"You should really make sure people are dead before you bury them. I've fallen apart before, remember?" He asked holding out his arms. I ran to him and hugged him tightly.
"But I fixed you last time."
"And I fixed myself the first time. I was almost going to leave this time, then I saw what you'd been given for a new partner." He said brightly.
"Stupid skeleton." I said fondly as he cuddled me closer. Saracen got up and looked at us with a sigh.
"If he's protecting you from me, I guess that means-" He put a hand on my shoulder and started to shake me. He shook me again and I realized I'd fallen asleep. I blushed, embarrassed.
"We're here." Saracen said gently. "You're cute when you talk in your sleep. It's OK if you're dreaming he's come back, you know. It's healthy. I've seen him places, heard his voice and when I run to meet him it isn't him. We all miss him, Val. You don't have to handle it alone."
He bundled me into him and although I tried not to, the tears came. I had never been in love with Skulduggery, I never would be, but I missed my best friend terribly. That Saracen understood and wasn't jealous told me he was a better man than I gave him credit for. I'd always thought he was just a sleazeball, but he was being understanding and compassionate.
Saracen just held me, he didn't try to kiss me or take advantage, he just bundled me into him, stroking my hair tenderly. I felt moisture touch me and looked up and realized he was crying too. He smiled at me. "What? Men aren't allowed to cry, Val?" I laughed and hugged him tightly.
And something changed between us. I couldn't put it into words exactly, but it was like becoming actual best friends. because he'd been open with me, and I'd been open with him, and neither one of us did that easily. We got ourselves together and Saracen escorted me into the cozy inn he'd driven us to, and I realized without him saying a word that he'd changed his original plans and we were there to start over.
Aw. Even I thought that was cute.
