Hi! Sorry I havent updated in a while, I had so much writers block that it was ridiculous.

Valkyrie woke up to see Skulduggery-façade-less-already dressed in a usual suit and hat, sitting up in his bed opposite hers, reading.

'Oh no, there's a skeleton in that bed!' Valkyrie said. Skulduggery turned his skull to look at her.

'Boo.' He said unenthusiastically. She smiled at him and sat up slowly in her bed.

'What are we doing today?' She asked. He shrugged.

'You choose.' Valkyrie thought for a moment, and then nodded.

'I've got an idea.'

'Hm?'

'Let me get dressed, I'll meet you by the car.'

Skulduggery looked up from his thoughts to see Valkyrie wearing her usual jeans and T-shirt walking towards him, carrying a large canvas bag over one shoulder. Skulduggerys façade had, as usual, sandy-coloured hair and stubble, but his eyes were green. Valkyrie stopped in front of him and looked at him.

'Say something.'

'My name is Detective Skulduggery Christopher Pleasant, 406 years old. I live in Ireland, I drive a 1954 Bentley R-type continental retro-fitted with-' she waved her hand for him to stop talking.

'Yeah, okay, just checking.'

'For what?'

'Your façade always confuses me before you speak; I had to check if it was you.' He raised an eyebrow.

'Who else in the world would be so immaculately dressed?' She grinned.

'Who else would wear a full suit in Australia, in the summer, and who else would wear such a stupid hat?'

Valkyrie plucked Skulduggerys hat off his head and wore it, letting herself into the car. He folded his arms and looked at her.

'Miss Cain, you seem to have stolen my hat.'

'Ah, memories.' Skulduggery frowned slightly and let himself into the driver's seat, closing the door.

'Memories?'

'Yeah, remember when I first met you?'

'…You first saw me at your uncle's funeral.'

'Okay, second time I met you…'

'…The second time was just after the funeral at Gordon's mansion, when I first talked to you.' Valkyrie rolled her tongue in her mouth, irritated.

'Okay, third time I met you…'

'…Was at the reading of the will.'

'Ugh! Okay, the fourth time I met you, I stole your hat so I could come with you.'

'…Oh yeah.'

'And I've never looked back.'

'But you just did.' Valkyrie sat back in her seat.

'Never mind, Skul.' He shrugged and started the engine of the car.

'What's in that bag anyway?' She smiled coyly at him.

'When you get out of the car-park, turn right and keep going until you reach the sea.'

'Why?'

'Just drive.'

The Audi pulled up in a parking space not far off of the sea. Skulduggery braked the car and looked at Valkyrie.

'Swimming.'

'Not yet- it's too busy now, I was thinking of going when it was quieter,' she leaned closer towards him, dropping her voice to a husky whisper, 'when it's just us two.' Skulduggery raised his eyebrows leaned away from her slightly, swallowing.

'Um, okay, that, that sounds nice.' He said quickly. She smiled at him and sat back in her seat. Skulduggery coughed and straightened his tie.

'So, what shall we do in the mean-time?' Valkyrie asked. Skulduggery shrugged and scratched the back of his neck.

'I don't know-what do you want to do?' She sighed.

'Shall we just wander round a bit?' He nodded approvingly, and let himself out of the car.

Skulduggery and Valkyrie returned from exploring the sights of Australia to the beach. The new moon's light fell onto the water like silk, the beach deserted. Valkyrie and Skulduggery looked at the sea ahead of them.

'Did I mention that I didn't pack my trunks with me?' Skulduggery said quietly.

'I've got my swimming costume on underneath-just go in your boxers.' He smirked.

'It's a good thing that's it empty here.'

'Why?'

'Because I am going to strip in…' She laughed.

'3…'

'2…'

1…' They looked at each other, a smug smile forming on each other's faces.

'Go!' They shouted, and ran. Skulduggery tore off his suit whilst Valkyrie pulled off her shoes, socks, jeans and t-shirt. She jumped into the sea in her black swimming suit, squealing in the sudden rush of initial coldness hitting her stomach. Valkyrie turned round to see Skulduggery diving in after her, the water enveloping him. She waited a few seconds for him to emerge.

Nothing.

Valkyrie panicked and glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of him in the water surrounding her.

'Skulduggery?' She called. A few more painful seconds slipped past, and then Skulduggery emerged, tugging Valkyrie under with him. She screamed and slipped under water, spotting Skulduggery holding her hand. He displaced the water around them, making them able to open their eyes, breathe a little, and stay upright. Skulduggery smiled at Valkyrie, not letting go of her hand; she smiled back at him, pulling them both back to the surface. She went off to swim on her own, but felt someone stopping her. She turned back round.

'Skulduggery, you seem to have taken my hand hostage.' Skulduggery looked down at her hand he was holding onto and dropped it immediately.

'Sorry.'

'No, it's okay.' Skulduggery looked at her, a small smile creeping across his jaw. Valkyrie floated back towards him and rested her hands on his chest. He raised his eyebrows, but his hands found their way to her waist, keeping them both afloat.

'So…'

'Here we are.' Valkyrie laughed gently, hesitated, and kissed his cheek. Skulduggery blinked.

'Oh.'

'Yeah.'

'What was that for?' She looked at him, her dark eyes melting into his green eyes. She started swimming properly, leaving Skulduggery floating, thoughts surging around in his head.

Valkyrie and Skulduggery sat on the beach on a towel that Valkyrie had brought with them in the canvas bag. Skulduggery leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows, Valkyrie doing the same.

'Skulduggery?'

'Mm?'

'What were you and Ghastly talking about yesterday?'

'Just general things about the wedding.' She looked at him.

'I'm not stupid, Skul.' Skulduggery sighed and looked at his stomach.

'No, no you're not,' he hesitated, 'we were talking about how the flight was and all those things and…I told him that I…I…you know.'

'What?'

'…That I nearly…kissed you.' Valkyrie bit her lip.

'Ah.'

'And he was saying how I should apologise to you but I never did because I never had the chance and I guess I should say sorry now because I shouldn't have almost kissed you because you don't like me in that way and I'm sorry and you probably think I'm sick to have tried to kiss you and it's just as well that Tanith phoned you when you did and-' Valkyrie smiled, leaned forward and kissed him. Skulduggery raised his eyebrows, but found his eyes closing. Valkyrie parted from him. He blinked.

'Well, there goes my train of thought.' She laughed.

'Why do you think I did that?'

'To shut me up?'

'No.'

'To prove something that I would never understand?'

'No.' Skulduggery looked at her with those deep green eyes.

'…Is it…because you love me?' Valkyrie smiled gently.

'Yes.' He was silent for a while.

'Right.'

'Indeed.'

'Well, that's just as well because…I…love you too.' She tilted her head slightly.

'Is it okay if I kiss you again?'

'Be my guest.' Valkyrie smiled crookedly, leaned forward, and kissed him, one hand pressed against his chest, the other cupped around his neck. Skulduggery sighed gently and let one of his arms slide across her waist, pulling her a little closer to him.