A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Ghastly, Erskine, Valkyrie, Anton, Darquesse or Tipstaff.
I looked over at Liam who had cuddled up on Erskine's lap. Would he be afraid of me now? I looked away with a sigh. Darquesse. I'd never wanted to be her, I still didn't. I had no fear of loosing control but so many people feared me. I was about to get up and go out for some air when a small warm body cuddled into my lap. "Mom? Is there something wrong with me? Is there a reason no one wanted me?" I almost laughed in relief. Children had strong priorities and he clearly couldn't care less about Darquesse. I cuddled him close kissing the top of his head before replying.
"No, Liam, there's nothing wrong with you and you have a family now, so you are wanted. You're like me, I guess. There's something special about you, about your magic and people can't handle special."
"Oh. I thought I did something bad." I laughed softly and cuddled him tight. Liam was the sweetest child imaginable, but there was something different about him. Not in a bad way either. He was sweet and that was it. Not too many men were truly sweet or gentle, not too many young boys either. Not that young boys are all hellions but there was something ethereal, otherworldly about Liam that melted my heart. I sensed we had about two weeks before the fun began if you could call a psychopath and a Remnant showing up fun, and that left our date night open.
Which, I mused as Liam got up to explore would now be rather different with a son in tow. But what could I have done? Left him in that place? I wasn't about to dump him someplace either just to go out. I caught Erskine staring at me and smiled titling my head. We went outside, walking slowly down the path away from the mansion. Erskine seemed nervous as he spoke. "Valkyrie, are you OK with all of this? With us being here, With Liam? With me?" He didn't just look nervous he looked terrified of being abandoned.
I pulled him close, kissing him and he returned the kiss gently, seeming to hesitate slightly. He pulled back, his question lingering in his eyes. "I'm more than OK, Erskine. Being Darquesse, well I know what kind of place people would lock me in if they didn't kill me outright. So I wasn't leaving Liam there one more moment. Having to stay there? Not having a real home? So not happening for him."
Erskine smiled and laughed. "I suppose you should have just as many fears, Val. I don't have a good reputation, but once I met Liam and we bonded my priorities changed. I wanted someone with me who would want him and I know there's something about him, it's the reason he wasn't adoptable. What did you do to get them to agree?"
"Uh, the matron just offered. I don't think she liked seeing either of you alone anymore. She knew it had to be horrible, never getting a family of his own. Besides, I think I know exactly what it is. I felt a kinship with Liam. I think he's descended from the Ancients, like I am, it would make sense."
Erskine nodded as we started back for the mansion. "You'll never know what this means to me, Valkyrie. Getting to have Liam here, coming together when you sensed something. You showed who your family was, pulling us close and it is much appreciated on my part. Are we still on for next Tuesday?" He teased and I laughed.
"We better be. Speaking of Liam, I suppose he and I will find all sorts of new ways to annoy you tomorrow." Erskine just smiled then kissed me a chaste goodnight as we reached the mansion.
Early the next morning I awoke, hoping Skulduggery wasn't fuming. I still didn't know how I'd gotten on the fast track to parenthood and marriage. Luckily he seemed delighted to see me when I found him in the kitchen putting away supplies from an early grocery run. "Good morning, you're up early, sleep well?" He asked.
"So-so. You're not mad at me are you, dad? Disappointed in me?"
Skulduggery pulled me into a hug. "Valkyrie, if things go as well as they should there will be two married couples, well as close as we can get at any rate. So no, I'm not angry. I'm pleased you're serious and settling down to tell the truth. Surprised, but pleased."
"Don't besmirch my daughter's good name, Skulduggery." Ghastly said, amused as he wandered into the kitchen. "Oh, the teleporter will be here in an hour or so with my things, Valkyrie. You still sure about this?"
"Yes, dad, I'm sure. I was hoping you'd settle in for good. I want you here and the place is secure as Fort Knox. I've already had it warded against a certain Texan." I said with a soft growl and he laughed.
"That's my girl. But what about once you're married?" He asked gently.
"I haven't discussed it with Erskine yet, but I want to live here and you are both always welcome. The place could be an entire apartment complex, and you know it is way too big for me."
"Sounds just fine to me, built in babysitters." Erskine said cheerfully as he walked in. "Who's making breakfast?" He asked. Everyone looked at Skulduggery and he sighed, but brightened considerably when Liam bounced into the room.
"Can we make blueberry pancakes? Please? I know how." So we all got treated to watching the rather adorable sight of Skulduggery and Liam working together, the pair bonding into fast friends. Skulduggery was wonderful with children and I felt fine leaving Liam with him if I ever had to.
I had to compliment them both the pancakes were wonderful. The odd thing was Liam had known how to make them. How many people let six-year-olds work with a hot griddle? "Liam, sweetheart, where did you learn to cook?" I asked and he grinned at me.
"I can watch people and know stuff. I don't know how. But nana, that was the lady who ran the house I was in, she made them once. So I know how now." I nodded. An Adept?
"That's a rare ability, little man." Ghastly said and Liam swelled with pride. Ghastly looked at me. "And I do mean rare. Some mortals have the talent of being shown a thing once, but he isn't even shown, he just watches. Not that I'd give him a needle and thread at his age, but I'm sure he could pick up any talent or magical ability just as easily."
Liam looked at me. "Is that why I'm special, Mom?" I nodded happily.
"You are. You can do anything you want, Liam, but when it comes to magic or things that are dangerous, you ask first, OK?" He nodded happily, already playing with a beat up toy car on the tabelcloth his breakfast having been inhaled in a nanosecond.
Work was wonderful that day and we did work, leaving Ghastly and Skulduggery at the mansion to get Ghastly's things settled in. Tipstaff, terrified at the prospect of his adopted sister or newest Sanctuary detective as he dubbed Liam being hurt, was making plans. We sat together on the couch and I realized why he was an Administrator. He knew how to get things done and had already contacted Anton who was on standby if we needed him and had taken liberties to reach out to the other Dead Men as well. I laughed softly, imagining all the Dead Men at the mansion. As it was I had three of them living there already.
After that Tipstaff was as good as an older brother as he knew how to be to Liam, bringing him food, making sure he was entertained and stayed in Erskine's office while we worked. He even took Liam in his lap and read to him until Liam fell asleep then bundled him up gently on the couch. "Let him rest, for now." Tipstaff advised softly, then was out the door gently shutting it behind him. I looked at Erskine who smiled and shrugged. Having something to do, being included for once has changed Tipstaff.
He'd been gentle and protective with Liam, not at all the hysterical man we were used to. I realized belatedly, that was why Tipstaff was usually hysterical. It was the only way the otherwise quiet man got attention. I did what paperwork I was able to help out with, happy to have something to do. We went to a late lunch at a local eatery with Skulduggery and Ghastly joining us, and I chose somewhere away from the counter. I already loved Liam dearly but understanding and being able to do something didn't mean I wanted a six-year-old alone in the kitchen at 2 AM trying to make something involving flames and sharp knives.
Liam for his part was content to watch everything that went on, absorbing all sorts of new skills. "Mom?" He asked, tugging my sleeve.
"What is it, Liam?" I asked gently.
"When the bad people come, they won't take me away, will they?" I bundled him tightly to me, not caring if we were in public.
"No, baby, they won't. I won't let them. You're my son now, Liam. Mine. And nobody takes my son away from me." I sounded confident but inside I wondered uneasily if I was right.
Wow, Val is truly bonding to Liam. It must be a shock, in a good way to have an instant family. But of course there is trouble on the way for said family and said trouble may strike when and where they aren't expected, unless of course more of the Dead Men show up.