A/N: I don't own Ghastly, Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Erskine, Tipstaff, Tanith, Billy-Ray, Darquesse or Anton. Liam is my OC, though.

I got into Erskine's car, a sleek black Mustang convertible that oozed sexy charm, feeling my heart skip a beat. I reached over for his door, thankful I'd remembered to wear perfume. Well, thankful Skulduggery had insisted I wear some. My eyes caught a photo of a small boy taped to the dashboard, and Erskine noticed my glance as he got in. He smiled at me. "You'll meet him some day if you like. That's Liam. He lives with the other orphans. He's a brave little guy, orphanages are a terrible place to be. I should know." He said softly and I looked at him as he drove.

I looked at him and smiled gently. "I know we were planning on lunch for just the two of us, but if you picked up take away would they let you see him for a few hours? Or do the battle axes who run the place demand advance notice?"

Erskine's face lit up with pure joy. "I'm a favoured patron, so I can see him wherever I like. Are you sure, Val? You see, I once told him if I EVER brought a woman with me she'd be, well-"

"The woman who will marry you and help you bust him out of that nightmare? Yes, I'm sure." Erskine put an arm around me in response.

"I'll owe you a romantic dinner then. I think the technical term for these places is a halfway house, but they're terrible."

"I know. I do. My great grandfather grew up in one. Nobody ever wanted him. He felt like it was his fault but so many families want a pet, not a child. That's what happened to you, isn't it? I'm so sorry, Erskine."

He smiled bravely, blinking back tears. "It's all right, Val, it really is. You want me, and if you're serious, you want Liam too. He's dreamed of escaping that place for years. I think he's an Elemental like you. Hard to tell though, he's so shy about things." We picked up take away from a fast food place. Not exactly nutritious, but it was a favourite food and rare treat for Liam, who at the ripe old age of six had been in a home for magical orphans since he was an infant.

We pulled up to the home at last. Although every possible care was taken and the house mother was actually warm and friendly with us and the kids, you knew they all needed and wanted a family for their very own. Liam tackled Erskine, who lifted him off the ground and into a massive hug. I watched in utter awe. I was clearly getting to watch a father and son. The matron touched my arm softly. "Those two are insuperable, my dear. I hope Liam takes to you so-" She didn't get to finish.

As soon as Liam was set down he made a beeline for me, tackling me with all the love inside of his tiny body. "Mom!" That one word melted my heart and I picked him up and held him close. He buried his head in my shoulder and I stroked his head in affection.

I wondered for a nanosecond how I could go from wanting to be free for centuries to 'play the field' as I'd once told Skulduggery, to wanting Erksine and Liam both in my life, but realized it was because they both loved me and I needed them both. I happily carried Liam outside and he inhaled his food then half of mine and part of Erskine's. He talked excitedly about his lessons, about the friends he had made, about them possibly getting a turtle for a house pet.

Erskine seemed charmed. The matron motioned to me. "We do not normally do this, and by normally, I mean never, but Liam is a special case, and by special I mean were not sure he's entirely human, therefore he isn't up for adoption, which Mr. Ravel is well aware of. That said? Those two both come to tears every time they part, if you both want him he's yours."

I hugged her tightly in thanks and she went to pack his bag. I went back to the table. "Hey, Liam. How would you like to sleep somewhere different tonight, and for every night for the rest of your life for as long as you like?" I described the mansion to him and his eyes lit up. He ran off to help pack his bag after Erskine nodded.

Erskine seemed to fight back tears. I knew he was afraid things were moving too fast and that I'd change my mind. He looked at me. "You're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Of course, you have to come with him for the first few nights, but he deserves the run of the place, he'll love it, and I'll love having you both there. I'm not abandoning either of you, ever. Of course, there goes and romantic notions you had for the day." I teased and he blushed deeply.

"What is Skulduggery going to say when you move out?" He asked, amused.

"Skulduggery is moving in for the time being, so is Ghastly. I just sense something up ahead. I don't know what, but we'll all be safer together. Besides, I know for a fact Ghastly's building has been condemned."

Erskine winced. "I had no idea. I kept trying to get him to leave. Why don't you ring them both? Your Grand Mage isn't feeling very brave at the moment." I grinned and did, getting delighted responses from both men once they heard Liam was involved.

The rest of the day had passed in a blur, and everyone was delighted to go to Uncle Gordon's that night. Skulduggery had made absolutely sure there was no way for Liam to get down to the caves, and after that he was allowed to roam at will. I pulled Ghastly aside. "Look, something is coming and I could use you both moving in. To tell you the truth this mansion gives me the creeps when I'm alone." He smiled gently and accepted.

"You know, Val, you've changed, and for the better. A son, a soon-to-be-husband. You're still getting the dress and I can move what little I have over tomorrow. We found another teleporter and he'll move everything over for me if that is fine with you."

I hugged him tightly. "You know it is, dad. Of course you get to spoil Liam as well, both of you, I insist."

He grinned. Somebody had managed to order take away, and Uncle Gordon was brought down to hear about all his new roommates. He was delighted, especially with Liam. We were all content and cozy in the living room when my mobile rang. Tipstaff.

I answered in surprise. "Tipstaff? Is everything all right?"

"Oh, I hope so my dear. The American Sanctuary just rang. A certain Texan and his female companion broke out of their gaol. They believe they are headed for Ireland. I don't know why, but Tanith seemed obsessed with finding you."

I knew exactly why and my heart fell. The Remnant inside her wanted Darquesse to come out and play, but I'd managed to integrate her into me once I'd stopped pretending she was another person. I sighed.

"Can you contact Anton Shudder at the Midnight Hotel? We'll need him, and a soul catcher."

"All right, my dear. But after four days..."

"Oh, I'm not going to coax it out, I'm going to rip it out." I growled softly and we rang off.

Everyone was looking at me. I knew an explanation might cost me half of my family, or maybe even all of it. But they'd heard what I said and none of the men present were fools. "Billy-Ray and Tanith escaped the American Sanctuary gaol. They're coming here, for me, or rather, for Darquesse. I was, I am Darquesse, but I integrated the parts of me a while ago."

I paused and when no one spoke I continued. "I am tired of being hunted like an animal, of hearing people dream of the day I die. I can't help what happened to me, but I recall a Remnant started all of this by reaching into my mind. I'll do everything I can to spare Tanith's life, I will, but this Remnant has lived in her for long enough. I can rip it out, I know I can. I don't blame you if you all leave, but I refuse to be hunted or have any more innocent people die so I can remain in hiding. If that Remnant wants Darquesse, it will get her." I ended in a growl and stared at the men.

Erskine tilted his head at me. "We all wondered when you were going to come forward. I agree, you can't hide any longer, at least not from us. You're save with us, Val. Nobody here is going to betray you."

I looked at Ghastly. I knew he'd been interested in Tanith, but he shrugged. "One, I'm spoken for. Two, the thing isn't Tanith, and three, yes, I'd love to see it pay for everything it's done." The tension in the room broke and we all relaxed, but we knew the batlle would be coming soon.

Yeah, I'm well aware Landy is going to destroy my plot when book eight comes out in a few months, but this IS fanfiction.