A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Valkyrie or Erskine.

We'd just settled down in the living room, admiring our tree while Christmas specials played on TV. Skulduggery's arm was wrapped around my shoulders when there was a knock at the front door. "Are you expecting company?" I asked, startled, and she shook her head, then gestured for me to stay put and drew her gun out. I didn't listen of course and she turned to glare at me, then sighed and gestured for me to at least stay behind her. I nodded, clicking my fingers and summoning a fireball.

At her gesture the front door opened and we beheld a small basket with a baby inside swaddled in a blue blanket. We both just stood there staring. Skulduggery looked out into the night, seemed to decide it was safe to holster her gun and grabbed the basket bringing the baby in. "Who knows we're here?" I asked and she looked at me guiltily.

"Well, let's see, everyone at the Sanctuary, everyone in town, and anyone who could have followed us. But none, so far as I know, have extra babies on hand." She said then picked up the baby, crooning sweetly. I knew she'd already lost her heart. I also knew it was my place to say something sensible, but I couldn't as she rocked him gently. "Let's name him Nicky." Skulduggery said, looking at me eagerly.

"Nicky it is." I agreed. And so we had a baby. An astonishingly beautiful baby that was so perfect he looked otherworldly, with his healthy rosy cheeks and plumpness he looked almost elfin. "Well, let's get him in to see the tree, and his room and such. Funny how that century we were going to wait passed so quickly." I said amused and she looked dismayed. "I'm kidding. I'm not telling the Sanctuary if you don't. We wouldn't report a stray puppy, and he's about the same size."

"He is at that. Our little Nicky." She said, and the look on her face was worth adopting a million little Nickys even if there had been no tracks in the snow. And so he was named and we happily took him to see the tree and then we walked him into what would hopefully be his room, though we knew sooner or later guilt would make us report him. Even as Skulduggery put him in the crib and smiled down at him, her skeletal features soft and gentle, she spoke. "Make the call."

I nodded and rang Erskine. "Hello, Valkyrie! Are you two OK?"

"Sort of. What's the magical law about babies left on your doorstep?" I asked and he gasped delightedly.

"Magical law is simple, the baby was given to you by the parents or guardians. He or she is yours."

"Honestly?" I asked and Skulduggery looked up at the happiness in my voice.

"Honestly. You three go bond." We rang off and Skulduggery grinned at me, then came over to hug me tightly.

"Thank you, Valkyrie. For marrying me, and for the baby."

"Never thought I'd hear you say that. But we'll need so many things and all the stores are closed." She smiled softly and led me to a small cabinet in the baby's room. Clothes, diapers, formula, everything else we'd need as well. She clearly hadn't planned on waiting a century and I turned her to face me and kissed her gently. "You're the best Christmas present ever, you know that?" I asked and she dipped her head, blushing.

Nicky cooed and I went to him, picking him up gently. "How about some TV and tree, little man? Maybe a bottle and change too?" I asked, feeling him, but he felt dry. "Lord, I forgot about food for us, Skulduggery."

"In the boot of the Bentley, young lady. You park yourself on the couch with our bundle of joy and I'll see to things. Let me, please?" She asked and I nodded, smiling. I knew she loved doing for me and I'd let her, to a point.

Soon we were all in front of the TV, a well-fed Nicky sleeping in his bassinet and we were eating the world's most treasured wedding leftovers. Skulduggery looked at me, her expression soft. "I never thought I'd get to have Christmas again, thank you."

"I feel the same way. Why wouldn't you tell me you wanted to adopt?"

"I was afraid you wouldn't want to, and that I couldn't, because of how I look now." She said quietly and I touched her skeletal cheek gently.

"You look beautiful, Skulduggery. I see a beautiful woman, an amazing wife and a wonderful mother when I look at you. And Nicky took to you right away. Babies won't take a bottle from anyone they don't trust, you know that. The two of you were so sweet together." She smiled and I continued. "We named him after Nick Charles, didn't we?" I asked amused and she blushed and giggled shyly.

"I didn't think you knew who he was, but yes. Even I need heroes, Valkyrie."

"Can we name a daughter Nora?"

"I'll insist." We both laughed gently and cuddled up, bathing in the warmth and magic of the season.

Nicky was a wonderful baby, and that isn't just his mother talking. He had a way of sitting up, though he seemed far too small and young to and looking at us, a happy smile on his face. He cooed or made a sort of musical sound for attention, he never cried. I wondered if he was a real baby and Skulduggery watched as I carefully examined him during a bath.

"Looking for the battery compartment?" She asked as she leaned against the doorframe. "I already checked. He's a real baby, I just can't believe how calm he is."

I blushed slightly then looked at her as I toweled him off gently. "Do you think his parents knew who we are? I mean, they didn't just pick a random cabin with a Bentley parked out front?"

"Would you?"

"Excellent point. I'll make us bacon, eggs and toast if you'll feed Nicky." I said and she took him with an adoring murmur. Skulduggery was wearing her façade and her lovely eyes misted up. "Hey, you're his mum full stop. And history is not going to repeat itself. If I ever see China again I'll-"

"Hush, the baby." Skulduggery said softly, cradling Nicky in and covering his ears the best she could.

"Right you are. Sorry, Nicky. Mummy just doesn't like some people, but she loves you." I said, not enjoying how gooey my voice got but I couldn't help it. He was too cute for words. I kissed him tenderly on the forehead and then went into the kitchen, Skulduggery following to feed Nicky. She was tender with him, cooing and murmuring softly as she fed him, and I knew he was her son as much as if he'd been born to her.

As I was preparing breakfast there was a knock on the door and I went to get it warily. We lived in the middle of nowhere partly to discourage visitors. But when I found Erskine and Tipstaff at the front door I let them in gladly. Skulduggery, who had slunk up silently behind me holstered her gun with a welcoming smile. "Thought I was going to get to shoot someone. Well, maybe next time." She said, sighing wistfully and the men came forward to hug us.

"You both look simply stunning. The country agrees with you, my dears." Tipstaff said gently, then handed over the two bouquets of flowers he'd brought. Skulduggery admired hers, then we all went back into the kitchen where Nicky had been tucked safely away, far from a possible fight.

"You boys hungry?" I asked and when they nodded I made extra as Skulduggery saw to our flowers, singing to herself. She showed off Nicky like the pround mother she was then we were all sitting down to a meal together. The men had admired Nicky as we lingered over coffee then Erskine spoke.

"I think the two of you know by now that Nicky is no ordinary baby. I've been contacted and we were asked to visit. If you agree to keep Nicky, to love him and raise him as your own, knowing he isn't human you are to take a bowl of milk and a loaf of bread outside now, then go to town with us and Nicky." He shrugged but Skulduggery was already seeing to the milk and I grabbed our freshly baked bread. We made up a tray for presentation and were met at the door by an eldery woman.

"Blessings on this house." She said, took the tray, then disappeared.

We kept the rest of our promise, going into town with the men and Nicky and our friends fussed mightily over him. Every mage who saw him knew he wasn't human, but they also knew the great honour that had been bestowed on us. Nicky was ours forever, he wouldn't be snatched away in the night, and Lord and Lady help anyone who ever tried to harm him.

We settled inside a cozy booth in the café after some light shopping with the men, Erskine and Tipstaff agreeing to stay the night and to share our good fortune and having been blessed with Nicky. Dylan and Brian joined us and we all celebrated. "Motherhood suits you both." Brian said wistfully.

"You'll have your own some day." I said, then exchanged a quick glance with Skulduggery and she nodded.

"And you're always welcome in our home, Nicky will need strong male role models as well." She said and they both looked pleased.

"You both as well, but you know that right?" I asked, looking at Tipstaff and Erskine and they smiled proudly.

We pulled up at the cabin, both of us gasping. A handsome new garage had been added and the craftsmanship was clearly not human. There was a touch to it, a goodwill gesture from the Good Folk that let me know almost every different race must have wanted represented in the celebration. And inside treasures like woven baskets, dresses, toys, jewelry. "Why all this? All we did was adopt a baby." I said, stunned.

"All I know is you are to NEVER say thanks. But teach Nicky well." Tipstaff said, touching a stack of books with reverence. They were the history of the Good Folk, but not the fantasy kind you find in bookstores, they'd been written by scholars among their own people and just a glance showed us the rich and noble heritage we'd have to teach him about.

"Baked bread at least once a week and I want milk to give too, we'll set up something elegant." Skulduggery said with a nod. We all agreed and at last our friends retired to their guest room, shaking their heads in wonder. As Skulduggery and I settled in, I wondered about our son and what wonders the future held in store for him.

Note: You can indeed leave gifts for the Good Folk, but you can never say thank you, or at least that is what I was taught. I'm not even sure why, other than they don't seem to like it much, but you can leave gifts outside as thanks, just don't say it out loud.