Chapter X

It went downhill, for Valkyrie at least, when Dexter and Erskine were talking with her about Skulduggery.

"We were in a German village, and that was where it happened."

Valkyrie looked at Dexter expectantly. "Where what happened?"

"Where he met Elysia. I remember, she was like China. She was poised, elegant, and the very definition of beautiful. Skulduggery couldn't take his eyes off her. He fell into a ditch!" Dexter laughed so hard he didn't notice Valkyrie not joining in.

"Skulduggery, he likes elegant women?"

Dexter smirked. "And how! All things fine and elegant, that him!" Dexter found himself thirsty and went for a drink. Erskine laughed.

He glanced at drinks selection for the night. "Interesting…"

Valkyrie blinked a couple of times and then glanced at Erskine. "What is?"

"Oh nothing. I'm just surprised that Skulduggery was willing to serve that."

"Serve what?" She was starting to get annoyed.

Erskine laughed. "He hates beer. Hates it with all his heart, or would have, if he still had one."

Valkyrie blinked. She hadn't known. He hadn't even mentioned it once during the planning. "Why?"

Erskine shrugged. "I think he picked it up from his wife. Elysia hated beer as well."

Valkyrie nodded, murmured some random farewell and walked away. She knew Skulduggery for 13 years. She could read him better than anyone, present or past. However, she knew nothing about his preferences. She knew nothing of his favorites things. Well, she knew a few, but clearly not as much as his…former wife had. She kept saying former over and over again, trying to make herself believe it.

"Something wrong, dear?"

She gasped. "Oh! You startled me. No, everything's fine." She smiled at him. She swallowed. "Skul, would you call me poised? Like China?"

Skullduggery laughed. "You're very graceful, but you're not poised." He grazed his teeth against her temple. "What's wrong?" He sounded concerned.

She blinked. "Nothing. Nothing's wrong." She smiled at him and spoke again. "Let's get everyone ready for dinner."

He nodded. They walked out together.

"Everyone!" No one heard her. She turned to Gordon. "Cut the music."

He did. Everyone stopped and looked around. Valkyrie smiled. "Excellent. Now, dinner is ready. The table is assigned seating. Everyone behave. Anton Shudder is our bouncer for the night." Skulduggery chuckled. Anton smiled. He had dressed up too, which had surprised Skulduggery and a lot of others. He was dressed as John Smith.

The dinner went well. The food selection was perfect. Valkyrie smiled at a job well done. When the last guest had left she sighed in relief and slumped against the door.

She wrapped her arms around Skulduggery's neck. "Let's not do that again, hmm?"

"What about the reception for the wedding."

She groaned. "Let's elope."

He laughed and scooped her up in his arms. She glanced at the mess. "The mess? The dishes?"

"The cleaners are coming tomorrow. Let them do it."

She frowned. "I didn't order any cleaners."

Skul tilted his head in a smirk. "I did." She sighed in happiness and leaned her head against his shoulder and started humming the song that he had sung to her earlier. It had been a popular song for dancing back when he was flesh. She liked the melody.

"I love the ring, darling." She admired the ring and he carried her up the stairs. He laughed.

"I'm glad you do."

She jolted as a realization came to her. "China! Did she give you-?"

"Yes she did."

She kissed him. "What's it about?"

He sighed. "When we're in our room."

She nodded. They past the study. "Goodnight Uncle!"

They heard him say goodnight. Skulduggery laughed quietly.

She smacked his arm slightly. "Stop!"

He laughed even harder. Kicking the door closed, he plopped her down on the bed. Her dress hoop poofed up into her face, causing him to laugh harder. She cursed. "How did they bloody wear these things?! I could barely sit down at dinner!"

Skulduggery shook his head. "I haven't the foggiest." He stood up from the bed and started removing his tie. He became serious quickly.

"This second option of getting flesh…" He shook his head. "It's almost as impossible as the first one was. You remember that book that Gordon wrote. The one about the fountain of youth."

She nodded. "He wrote that the fountain, in order to work, had to take a life to give a life." She paled. "Is that the same for this spell?"

Skulduggery nodded. "I don't know who it should be. I don't even know if I want to do this to someone. To become human at the cost of a person's life. That's one more death that I don't want to have on my conscience."

She nodded. "I understand."

He looked at her. Surprise was evident in his stance. "You do?"

She nodded. "Of course. Why would you think that I wouldn't?"

He shrugged. "Elysia was always so black and white on things. She would have called nonsense and said 'just do it.'"

Valkyrie ground her teeth. "I'm not Elysia."

Skulduggery picked up on that tone. He turned quickly. "What have people been saying tonight? That's reason you were upset this whole night, wasn't it?" He had always been in tune with Valkyrie's thoughts and emotions. There was a bond that they shared.

She sighed. "Erskine started comparing my food selection to what Elysia would have chosen. Dexter started comparing me to what Elysia was like. China later came to me and made a few innocuous comments about how Elysia would have worn a different style of dress for her engagement. Even Ghastly commented on how Elysia was your life's hope during the war, the only reason you kept on fighting. How you worshipped her." Valkyrie didn't notice until now how tightly her fists were clenched. She heaved a sigh. "Ignore me, Skul. I'm not myself right now." She didn't feel like starting an argument, not with Skulduggery. Not about this. She felt too insecure. She despised feeling insecure.

Skulduggery walked over to her slowly. He crouched down so they could look at each other face to face. "I love Valkyrie Cain. I love you. Elysia is dead. I grieve her death, yes, but I love you! I would have chosen you over her, actually."

Valkyrie snapped her head up and stared at him. "What?" She whispered.

He tilted his head in a smile. "She was a strong woman, yes. She loved me dearly, yes. I loved her extremely much, but we were never close. We were never as close as you and I are."

Valkyrie gave a small sob and threw herself into his arms. He chuckled. "You poor girl. Tonight was suppose to be a lovely evening for you, and it turned out to be hell." He pressed his teeth against her neck. "I'm sorry."

She sniffled. "Don't be." She pulled away and stared at him. "I love you. These words have become so trite and commonplace, but I mean every single ounce of feeling and emotion in them. I love you. I will always love you…"

""To the very end."" Skulduggery spoke in unison with her. They kissed.

She sniffed but got serious again. "So, are you planning on doing it?"

He shook his head. "The chance of it failing is too high. I…the only reason I want my body back is because of you. If I die, then that sort of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?"

She smiled. "I agree. I'd rather you mostly dead than completely dead."

He cocked his head at her. "You know…that's not exactly reassuring."

She grinned at him. "Really? I had meant to give you encouragement."

He shook his head sadly. "What ever happened to that young, little girl who always hung on my every word and obeyed my wishes?"

Valkyrie laughed and kicked her feet up. "She never existed!"

Skulduggery grabbed her ankles and flipped Valkyrie over her head and off the bed.

Valkyrie screamed and then took off after him, chasing him all through the house. They finally quieted down because Gordon screamed at them to 'STOP ALL THAT RACKET! SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO GET SOME WRITING DONE!'

They snickered and giggled like a young couple.

Skulduggery finished taking of his suit. He looked over at Valkyrie. "Something wrong dear? You're still wearing your corset."

She turned to him. "I can't get it off!" She stomped her foot.

He laughed.

"Stop laughing at my pain!"

He didn't stop, but he did help her remove it. She gave him a thank you kiss and reached for her nightgown.

He pulled her hand away from it and pulled her into bed. "You're not going to need that." She gulped and then kissed him.

Hey guys! I'm going to update this story every Thursday from now on. I'm currently running out of chapters that I had written ahead of time. I'm going to try and start writing more. However, I might have to put a hold on the story when I do. Of course, this will be a little while in coming, so don't worry about it now. I'm just giving you guys a heads up.

Thanks for reviewing!

Ink…