So it seems I also forgot to add China into the Truth or Dare games and the fact that she left the mansion. From now on I'm trying to be more careful. I would blame it on being so busy with work but I'm going to blame it on my focus levels lately. Damn them -.- lol. And thanks to the reviewers for not seeming to mind that I made a mistake, I hope you can forgive me if I make any more :) Anyway here's a new chapter:

While Valkyrie was getting changed in the bedroom Skulduggery tried calling Tanith. It went straight to voicemail. He didn't want to try Simone because he would be interrupting their dinner but Tanith and Ghastly said they weren't really doing much. He decided to try Ghastly so he could hand the phone to Tanith but his phone was off. Skulduggery really didn't want to know what they were doing.

He heard the bedroom door open so he quickly shoved the phone in his pocket. He had already gotten changed into a different suit. It consisted of a white, button-up shirt, a grey vest and matching suit jacket and pants. His tie was a nice purple. Valkyrie wore a tight-fitting, black dress that stopped halfway down her thighs. She had a wide, black belt with a jewelled, silver buckle around her waist. She had shining, black, five-inch heels on as well. Her hair was left out and it was parted in the middle so the chocolate coloured waves stopped halfway down her back.

Skulduggery managed to gather himself by the time she looked up.

"Valkyrie Cain, a dress? Heels? Wow." His smart remark earned a punch and a laugh.

"Shut up. But do you like it?" She asked doing a half turn.

"Yes. You look beautiful." His tone was serious this time and Valkyrie blushed.

"Not too bad yourself." She said with a nod.

"It's not hard to make me look good. I could be wearing rags and still look great." He replied with a shrug.

"Ah and there's the ego I've been missing." She said as she walked past him and out the door.

It seemed to Valkyrie and Skulduggery that tonight wouldn't be such a quiet one. The drive there was actually a good time. Their conversations were entertaining.

"You really do look great though." Skulduggery said after laughing about something they'd said before.

Valkyrie shrugged. "I try."

"You don't need to try." Skulduggery mumbled but Valkyrie couldn't hear.

Skulduggery managed to get a park right in front of the Italian restaurant. He held a hand out to Valkyrie as she was getting out of the car and she took it. Once she was able to stand she swapped his hand for his arm. With their arms linked, they walked into the restaurant and they actually looked like a couple. It was good that Skulduggery seemed only a little older than Valkyrie though because otherwise it might have been weird for mortals to look at.

Now that they've had so many days off Valkyrie had to be exceptionally careful not to be seen by her family. Especially after the little incident years back with Beryl.

"What are you thinking?" Skulduggery asked after he saw Valkyrie staring at the floor.

"Just remembering things." She said as they sat at their table.

She unfolded the menu and took a glance but was more interested in looking at Skulduggery.

"You know everyone here probably thinks we're on a date." Skulduggery said and Valkyrie shrugged.

"I don't care."

"You don't care if people thought were... together?"

"No, they can think what they like. I don't need anyone to tell me who I can or cannot date. I'll date whoever I want." Valkyrie said hoping he saw the double-meaning to it.

"Hm." Was all he said.

"Can I take your order?" The waitress asked. She was a brunette with wavy hair like Valkyrie's but the waitress had blue eyes. She was very pretty and Valkyrie could tell she was checking out Skulduggery.

"Do you know what you want?" He asked gently. Valkyrie just nodded quickly even though she had no idea.

"I'll have the Mushroom Ravioli thanks." Valkyrie said quickly.

"I'll have the Chicken and Pasta dish thanks." Skulduggery grabbed their menus and handed them to the waitress and she was gone.

They'd lost conversation for a bit which was exactly what Valkyrie was afraid of. She looked around the restaurant and then her eyes bulged and she quickly reached over the table and slapped Skulduggery's arm.

"And that was for...?" Skulduggery asked confusedly.

"Sorry. Is that Wreath and Madame Mist?" Valkyrie whispered. At a booth just near them against the side of the wall they were having a very... private make out session.

"Hm, I think I've lost my appetite." Skulduggery said.

"Me too..." Valkyrie whispered.

"Do you want to go? I'm not sure if I can look at them while I'm eating." He asked.

"Sure." They stood and walked out the restaurant with their arms linked.

Five minutes later the waitress walked out with their food to an empty table.

XxXxX

Skulduggery parked the Bentley in his driveway in one smooth turn.

"You know even though this wasn't a date and if I was taking you back to your house, I would have walked you to your door and whatever." Skulduggery said.

"Sometimes you are just so cute." She replied with a smile and Skulduggery laughed.

"I'm guessing Simone is staying at Erskine's tonight..." Skulduggery said when he looked at the temporary bed set up on the floor of the lounge room.

"Yeah, I hope they both stay together for a while. It'll teach Erskine about commitment and it would be nice for Simone to stay here longer, maybe even permanently."

"I still can't believe you thought Simone and I were in love." Skulduggery laughed.

"That was embarrassing! Well in my defence you've been acting a little different lately and it seemed like the perfect explanation." Valkyrie looked up at Skulduggery and he was frozen. She walked forward until she was looking directly up at him. Even in heels she wasn't as tall as him but she was close. "Hello? Yeah, nice to know you listen to me these days." She said sarcastically. He looked down at her and it was then that Valkyrie realised how close their faces were. It almost felt electric.

"I don't give you enough credit when it comes to detective work." Skulduggery said. It took a while for Valkyrie to figure out what he meant.

"Wait so either it's just about you acting differently or you are in love." Skulduggery didn't answer. He turned his back on her and put his jacket on the back of the couch. "You're in love!" Valkyrie was happy for him even though she was sure it wasn't her. She was happy because even after the what he's been through with the murder of his family and all the torturous years of being a skeleton that he'd finally found love and as a proper human too.

Skulduggery shrugged. "It's a possibility." Valkyrie was grinning madly which made Skulduggery laugh. In the worst of times that one smile could make his day better. Skulduggery dropped onto the couch and sighed. "You know surprisingly I'm not even hungry considering we didn't get to eat."

"Yeah same, want to watch a movie?" Valkyrie asked. Skulduggery nodded and motioned for her to sit next to him as he flicked through the movie channels.

"Hm... Scream 2, Finding Nemo, Twilight..." Skulduggery said as he went down the screen.

"Leave Twilight on?" Valkyrie suggested. Skulduggery dropped the remote and settled into to watch.

Once the movie was up to the Baseball Scene, they were both fast asleep. Valkyrie had her arms wrapped around Skulduggery's torso and her head resting on his chest. The jacket he had slung over the back of the couch was put around her earlier that night when she'd drifted off. Skulduggery had one arm around her shoulders and the other hanging loosely by his side. His head shifted sideways almost sitting on top of Valkyrie's head.

XxXxX

Simone crept up to the front door while Erskine waited in the car for her to get her stuff. She grabbed the key from inside a plant and unlocked the door as quiet as possible. The TV was flashing colours in the dark room and she saw the two on the couch.
She figured they'd finally admitted their feelings for each other. She quickly grabbed one of her bags of clothes and quickly got out the door.

She dropped the key in the plant again and ran to the car. Little did she know someone was watching her vengeance on their mind...