Chapter 7: What is it?

A/N: Thank you for all of your great reviews! I can't explain it, but I am in a Valduggery mood. I guess I could upload a couple of chapters today for you! I don't have anything better to do :| Enjoy

Valkyrie couldn't wait to get this thing out of her belly. She was lounging on the couch in the living room trying to watch TV, but the bugger kept kicking her really hard. She had been channel surfing and stuffing potato chips into her mouth when Skulduggery came out of his office.

"Had enough chips, Val?" he chuckled as he sat down beside her.

Valkyrie snuggled up into his side, but shot him a cold glare.

"Shut up, Skul. You have no idea how much pain I'm in. Also, I am having cravings! I wouldn't normally eat this much! Are you kidding?" Valkyrie finished with a punch to her husband's shoulder.

"Ow…that's abuse, Val," Skulduggery whined rubbing his shoulder.

Valkyrie sighed and muttered, "Get over it."

As the couple got settled in watching some vampire show, Skulduggery's mobile rang. He looked down at who was calling: Ghastly. He sighed and stood up, leaving Val's arms. He didn't need her to throw another tantrum if he was called in today.

"Hello?" Skulduggery called, leaning against his desk.

"Hello, Skulduggery. There is a case for you down here. I know how you feel about leaving Val, but I don't think it's the brightest idea to have her tag along. One kick to the stomach and you know what could happen. Now, get here as soon as possible so I can give you some files."

"Ok, Ghastly. I'll bring Val to the sanctuary so she can at least be with Tanith. I'm glad you found a cure for that remnant, by the way. Less abuse hurled towards me from Val."

Ghastly chuckled as the two friends said their goodbyes, and Skulduggery snapped the mobile shut. He sighed and strode into the living room, ready to attempt getting Valkyrie off that couch. He leaned against the wall and watched as Valkyrie looked up at him with a curious glance.

"What's going on now, Skul?" she asked flinching as she sat up.

"Well, we, rather I, have a case. So if you could get off the couch that would be great. I'm dropping you off at the sanctuary so you don't do anything dangerous. Ok?"

Valkyrie sighed and rubbed her blossoming stomach. It had been a long eight and a half months, and the baby was due soon.

Skulduggery helped Valkyrie off of the couch and donned his disguise. The two walked out of their home and made their way to the Bentley. This is going to be a long ride, Skulduggery thought as he opened her door. Valkyrie slid in, and Skulduggery hopped in beside her waiting for her first complaint.

"Hello, Val!" Tanith screeched as she enveloped her best friend and sister into a big bear hug.

"Hey, Tanith," Val replied returning the hug.

Ghastly walked off with Skulduggery, after waving to the women, to retrieve the case files. Although Valkyrie completely agreed she shouldn't put her and the baby in danger on this one, she felt terrible that Skulduggery would be doing it alone. Tanith could see the pain written on her best friend's face and squeezed her into another hug.

"Hey, Skul has been doing this before he met you. Don't worry about it. Instead, worry about what you're going to name that baby. I want to help, of course."

Valkyrie smiled at Tanith's enthusiasm towards the situation and agreed to an hour of figuring out what to name the baby.

"I don't know, Tanith. Should we be doing this without Skul? He is the father…"

"Pfft! Knowing Skul, he probably wants to name it after himself. You know he has a huge ego, Val."

Valkyrie laughed because she knew this was true and replied, "Yeah, we've had this talk. First I asked, 'Skul, what do you want to name it if it's a boy?' And his response was: 'Val, you already know my answer: Skulduggery.' I knew he wasn't joking so I asked a different question. 'Skul, what if it's a girl?' You should have seen the look he gave me. He was like, 'Well girls can be named Skulduggery too, you know.'"

Valkyrie and Tanith broke out into fits of laughter at the egotistical skeleton. A girl named Skulduggery? That was hilarious.

"Well, Val, I wouldn't enjoy calling my niece 'Skulduggery', but if it was a boy I would understand. Any other names—WAIT! This name's priceless!" Tanith shrieked with a devilish tone in her laughter.

Valkyrie face palmed and waited for the dumb response that was about to emit from her best friend's mouth. Tanith laughed at Valkyrie's reaction.

"You know, Val, our favorite animated movie is The Nightmare before Christmas."

Valkyrie's head shot up and she glared at the thought.

"Really, Tanith? You want me to name my kid Jack?"

Tanith only gave a smug smile and nodded in reply. She knew Val thought it was a genius idea, and that inside, she really loved the name. Skulduggery may not be so ecstatic about the name, but he could get over it. Tanith really had faith in the name, and could picture the Pleasant family. Valkyrie, Skulduggery, and Jack Pleasant. It had a ring to it, of course.

"Hello, Tanith! You there?" Valkyrie called waving a hand in front of the blonde's face.

"Oh, yeah, just thinking."

After their next fifteen minutes of discussion, they came up with the names Jack and Victoria. They were perfect names with rings to them, and even Skulduggery himself couldn't deny that. Although, maybe Valkyrie should have told Tanith there was a chance the baby maybe a skeleton. Knowing she couldn't forgive herself if she didn't warn her in advance, Valkyrie sighed and mustered the courage to tell her.

"Tanith?"

"Yes?"

Tanith saw the nervousness in Valkyrie's eyes and facial expression. Something was eating at her. Something she just had to get out of her system, other than the baby of course.

"Well…how should I put this?"

"What is it, Val?"

Valkyrie took a deep breath and laid a hand on her large stomach. She looked up at Tanith and took another breath.

"This baby," Valkyrie pointed to her stomach, "may be a skeleton…A living one just like Skul."

Valkyrie waited for the horrified expression to make its way across Tanith's face, but nothing of the sort did. Tanith just squeaked with delight and clapped her hands, while Valkyrie shot a confused her way.

"No screams of shock or anything? You're glad it might be a skeleton?" Valkyrie was so confused.

"Val, if it's a skeleton, that's even more perfect! The name Jack would be sooo adorable!" Tanith squealed with delight, clasping her best friend's hand.

Valkyrie laughed at the thought of a miniature version of Skulduggery, then face palmed.

"Oh god, Tanith. This baby might have Skulduggery's ego…"

There was a shuffle from the other side of the room as Skulduggery stepped into view, holding a ton of files.

"And what, may I ask, is so bad about my ego?" he asked stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Valkyrie blushed and looked at the floor. Tanith just giggled like a maniac as she threw herself back into the couch. Skulduggery tapped his foot as he waited for one of the two women to make a response.

"Weeeelll….Skul, we were discussing baby names while you and Ghastly got the files. And where, I'd like to know, is Ghastly?" Valkyrie asked looking behind Skulduggery for the tailor.

Skulduggery walked over and sat down straightening his maroon colored tie.

"Poor Ghastly is being pestered by Tipstaff. Something about paperwork I believe. Fun, right?"

Valkyrie gave a sad laugh and put her head in her hands.

"Poor Ghastly is right."

Skulduggery suddenly looked up at Val with confusion.

"Wait, you and the giggling maniac over there were discussing baby names?" he asked watching Valkyrie's face turn crimson.

"Well, yeah. We were bored I guess," she replied, her face still heating up.

"May I ask what you came up with?" Skulduggery leaned forward, his 'facial' expression serious.

There was another burst of laughter from Tanith, as she threw herself on the floor. Skulduggery looked at Valkyrie for help as he gestured to the woman rolling on the floor in laughter. Tanith suddenly spoke, stuttering due to her continuous laughter.

"I-if it's a b-boy we c-came up with…w-wait for it! J-Jack!" Tanith struggled to continue as her laughter reached new heights.

Skulduggery face palmed at why Tanith had chosen that name, but admired the creativity behind it. He actually like the name to be honest. Tanith grasped her side as she finished her thoughts.

"A-and if it's a g-girl, Val picked V-Victoria. Whew…there we go. No more laughing for me! Ow…it hurts."

Skulduggery stared at Tanith as she finished recollecting herself and sat back down on the couch leaning against Val. Valkyrie face palmed at Tanith's little laughing fit, and looked back at Skulduggery rolling her eyes.

"Sorry about her, Skul," Valkyrie elbowed Tanith, "but what do you think about the names?"

Skulduggery chuckled and sighed as he reached for Val's hand. He tilted his head at her and smiled.

"Those names are quite perfect, I must say, Val."

Valkyrie smiled as her husband gave her a warm hug, Tanith groaning in the background.

"Get a room!" she yelled swatting the couple in the head.

Did you enjoy? I hope so...Poor Tanith witnessing all of that Valduggery fluffiness! What will the baby be? A shout out to anyone who reviews and gets it correct.