A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery or Anton.

Anton smiled at me as Skulduggery got up to pay our bill. We were staying a while with coffee, but she always liked to have her bills settled quickly. I was watching her, not even realizing I was when he spoke. "Not that it is any of our business, but Skulduggery is like a sister to all of the Dead Men and we were wondering-"

I glanced back at him and blushed faintly. "If I'm serious? I know I'm a bit young, and thank all of you for not pointing that out, but I'd marry her tomorrow if I could. And it is your business, you all care about her."

"About both of you." Anton corrected as Skulduggery rejoined us.

"Hmm? What interesting bit of information did I miss?" She asked, head tilted. Skulduggery was as curious as ten cats, but I knew it was too soon to mention marriage to her. The last thing I wanted to do was scare her off.

But there was something about her gaze behind her sunglasses. It was softer than usual, almost yielding and Skulduggery, bless her, was usually about as yielding as a brick wall. "The Dead Men, good brothers and friends that they are, are curious about us. They want to make sure I'm treating their sister right." I said grinning and she dipped her skull, blushing.

"Really now, Valkyrie." She waved a hand. We stayed and chatted until Anton was due back at the Midnight Hotel. The German teleporter walked in and the two left together. Skulduggery looked at me, head tilted. She seemed about to say something, then held out her hand for mine.

I took her hand and she led me out to the Bentley silently. She seemed sad, and I wasn't sure why. I got her door and when she got in I touched her shoulder gently. "Skulduggery, what is it? You know I love you. The Dead Men were just worried for you, that should make you happy. I'm not going anywhere, ever." She nodded and put the Bentley into drive silently. "Skulduggery, do you really want to know what Anton asked?" I asked gently and she nodded.

"He asked if I was serious about you, and I am, Skulduggery. I'm in love with you. I don't want to frighten you off, but I'd marry you tomorrow if I could." Skulduggery coasted to the side of the road and parked, looking intently at me.

"You're not just saying that?" She asked, and I realized she was frightened.

"No, I'm not. Do you know how hard it is not to kiss you as often as I'd like? Not to hold you whenever I feel like it? I've been careful, I've held back because I'm terrified I'll loose you." Skulduggery made a soft sound, then brought a gloved hand up to caress my cheek. I kissed her palm then burrowed into her hand the best I could, craving affection. She rarely held me, didn't even kiss me that often now that I thought of it and I wondered if she regretted having me move in. She withdrew her hand and put the Bentley into drive and I settled back, miserable.

Skulduggery was silent as we pulled up to her house and she said nothing as she helped me out, barely touching me. So, it was over then. I'd scared her good and she needed a way out. She held the door for me, then left me to myself murmuring a quiet goodnight. I went to my room, my heart shattered in a thousand pieces. What happened to the woman who loved me? I thought sadly. I didn't even undress just tried to lay on my bed in the dark and let sleep claim me.

But my thoughts wouldn't stop racing. I'd leave in the morning. I'd have to. I knew I should have kept my mouth shut. I cursed myself and finally drifted into an uneasy sleep, only to wake hours later. It seemed late and the house was silent. But I heard something. A sound I couldn't quite make out. I rose suddenly, frightened that one of Skulduggery's numerous enemies might be prowling inside her home even now. I edged towards the door and could hear the sound more clearly. It was a woman, weeping.

Was Skulduggery crying? I opened the door and followed the sound to the hat room. She was crying. I'd never heard her cry before and the sound broke my heart. She sounded like she was in mourning. I paused by the closed door, then opened it gently. Skulduggery was sitting in front of a dressing table I'd never seen before, dressed in the dress she'd worn for my birthday. Only now there was no wig. She had her face buried in her hands and her sobs shook her entire frame.

I couldn't bear to see her in such pain. "Skulduggery." I breathed and she looked up, then turned her head away, tried to cover up her bare arms.

"Please, Valkyrie. Don't look at me. Please."

I went to her, touching her gently. "Why wouldn't I look at you? You're beautiful to me." I tilted her skull up, seeing the pain written on her skeletal features. She shook her head sadly.

"I'm ugly, Valkyrie, I'm a hideous skeleton and that's all I'll ever be."

Tears came to me eyes. "Don't you realize how beautiful you are to me? How beautiful you've always been to me? You're the most amazing woman in the world to me, Skulduggery, and I mean that."

She pulled away, shaking her head. "I'm not a woman, I'm a skeleton, and you're lying if you tell me anyone can tell the difference between me and a male display model hanging in a lab somewhere." She said bitterly.

"I can. You have a sweeter face, for one thing. Your bones are more delicate, more elegant. Your hips are a dead giveaway. You have a woman's hips, Skulduggery, and well, these no mistaking you've had children."

She looked up, startled. "What?"

"When I rescued you. Well, when I failed to rescue you from the Faceless Ones. Your clothes were hanging off you. You have a woman's body, trust me, and you have scars on your hips only women get. Unless men have started having babies."

"But I don't have any hair."

"Lots of women don't have hair."

"I don't have a chest."

"Of course you, do, it's right here." I touched her ribcage gently. "Plenty of women don't have breasts, Skulduggery. And do you know what? They are loved, and adored, and treasured. The outside isn't what makes you a woman."

"I can't give you children."

"I'd hate to break it to you, but no woman on the planet can. Please, Skulduggery, I love you, but-"

"But what?"

"If you can't accept that I find you beautiful and desirable, that I love you for who you are, then there's no hope for us."

"Then maybe you should go, because I'll never accept it." She said, turning away. I tried touching her, but she jerked away. I left the room, left her house, and returned to Uncle Gordon's mansion. It was over and I wondered what to do with the rest of my life when I'd built my life around her.

Into each life, a little rain must fall.