A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Gordon or Valkyrie. Val is still 24, story is still her pov.

Not long after I could feel sleep starting to claim me, and Skulduggery gently nudged me with his elbow. "You need to get to bed, go on now."

"All right, are you going to meditate?" I was trying to avoid the awkward question of him meditating in the same room with me. Being able to kiss him now was wonderful, but it also drained any innocence out of the question. I was in no hurry to move things along, but I didn't want to go two steps back either.

"Of course I am. There's a chair in the room if you don't mind the company."

"Not at all, I'd rather have you there with me."

"Then it's settled. By the time you've had your bath I'll have gotten settled in for the night, agreed?"

"Agreed." I said and kissed him chastely. Skulduggery grinned at me, clearly pleased with himself. I went up to the bath, much more relaxed in one sense. So I had kissed him, admitted I loved him, and that was a good thing, a grand thing even. But it also meant having the courage to continue that relationship, and that bit worried me. Could we still remain friends? Would our friends remain our friends? I guessed it didn't matter since I didn't want to go back to not kissing him, best friend and partner or not.

I wondered if Tanith ever got this nervous. She'd confided in me sure, but she had that swagger and cocky grin that said she took life in her stride. I didn't want to mention anything to her just yet. Skulduggery had backed down on kissing me before, not that I blamed him. Him saying he loved me, well, he might go back on that as well.

I got out and put on my oversized football jersey that swept down to almost my knees. I opened the door and went out to the bedroom. The bed had been turned down and a cup of coffee was awaiting me. Skulduggery, true to his word had drug a chair close to the bed. His long legs were stretched out, his feet propped up on the bed. His skull was tilted down and his hands were folded on his chest. I got into bed and sipped the coffee slowly.

I felt the air shift ever so slightly and turned to look at Skulduggery. His head was up and he was watching me. I gave him a smile, reminded myself firmly that this was my partner and friend first, whatever else he might be had to come second. "Coffee's good?" He asked.

"Yes, excellent."

"Good, good. It feels like today went on forever, doesn't it?" He mused.

"Yes, it does. Are you warm enough?"

"Hmm? I'm OK."

"That means no. Come on then." I patted the bed and he stiffened.

"Valkyrie, that is hardly appropriate, considering."

"Considering you're my partner or considering you're my best friend? You deserve better than a chair anyhow."

"Bet you won't say that the first time I make you mad." He grumbled, but he got in.

"Mind if I read a while?"

"Be my guest. I suppose coffee isn't the best thing to serve you at night."

"No, I often read in bed. Bad habit, but fun. You should relax a little. You look like you're in traction."

"Sorry, but as I said this is hardly appropriate."

"Said the fully dressed man."

"Point taken, but still..."

"Relax, Skulduggery. I have no interest in hurrying things along, and you're too smart to."

"You think so, do you?"

"Behave or I'll box you one."

"I'm telling the Sanctuary you said that."

"Before or after you tell them where we were at the time?"

"I hate you."

"That's the spirit."

"That's my line."

"I know, but you steal all of mine, so we're even." Skulduggery relaxed at last into the bed and I reached over and shut off the light. He didn't need to know I rarely if ever read in bed. If he had known how nervous I was he wouldn't have stayed, and I wanted him to. I was just about to drowse off when I sensed by the shifting air currents that his head was turning. I felt his hand came up and brush my cheek.

"Behave."

"I am." He purred, coming closer. I stretched and relaxed into the pillows once more, closing my eyes. I felt him come closer still, then a bony arm wrapped around me. I heard a soft sigh, and felt him bury his head in my shoulder. I slowly stroked his skull and he nuzzled deeper. It tickled, making me grin into the darkness. We fell asleep that way and it was wonderful.

The next morning I found him in the kitchen. He brushed his teeth against my cheek in an affectionate greeting, then drew me into an embrace. His teeth found my lips and his gloved hand cradled the back of my head. I felt his other arm tighten and heard him sigh. I wrapped my own arms around him, wishing I never had to let go. He let go of me at last reluctantly, ruffling my hair and gazing at me fondly.

"Sleep well?" He asked, his velvety voice a contented purr.

"You know I did, and you?"

"Extremely well. Though for the first five minutes after I woke up I lay there thinking I was still dreaming. What a rotten time to have a case to get to." He grumbled.

I smiled and dug some fish and chips out of the fridge for breakfast. "Now, now. You know we have fun on all of our cases. Annoying the bad guys before arresting them is great fun."

He grinned. "I like punching them better, but annoying works too."

"I'm going to say what you're to much of a gentleman to, Skulduggery. We don't tell Tanith or Ghastly anything until we're both ready."

"You read my mind. Not that I'd mind having them know, I'm proud to have you with me. But-"

"But if things don't work out we'll never hear the end of it. Plus, who needs a lecture from Ghastly?"

"Exactly. I should call in to see what progress has been made." I nodded and he walked off, grunting at whomever was on the other end of the mobile. He was gone long enough for me to finish and sit back with my coffee. When he returned he looked pleased.

"It seems good things come to those who wait. There is indeed a nearby park, for the hospital of all things, and there is indeed an underground warren of caves. No way in or out though, but our boy found a way."

"Take this the right way, and don't be offended, Skulduggery, but I'd like to send Lord Vile in after him. I wanted to fight Vile as Darquesse and he still batted me around. Sorry, but he makes a lasting impression."

To my surprise Skulduggery smiled. "I'd thought of that actually. If I thought for one instant I could control myself and be Vile, yet not loose myself to his hate, I would. I don't know how traces of him worked their way into your armour though." He paused, considering. "OK, I do know. We sometimes have to admit to ourselves who we are and he is me. But the part of me I can't control. I don't know how you get him to listen."

"I'd say something noble, but when I realized he was being a typical male and not listening, I gave him a beat down. I thought you were arrogant, but he assumes I'm just going to roll forward and kill everything in my path because he would. That makes me hate him, and I don't want to hate him."

Skulduggery got me more coffee, and sat listening. He was good at that, I had to admit, so I continued. "When I was Darquesse I knew exactly how he felt, and in a way I was worse. For all his bad points Vile can reason, I couldn't. If he hadn't been restraining himself he'd have killed me in an instant. That made me respect him. For all the horror stories, for all the things he did, he had reasons, his own logic. Even Vile had limits, I didn't."

Skulduggery patted my hand. "You saw, and I can't believe I'm telling you this, an older, wiser Lord Vile. In his younger days he'd have just killed you in an instant and as the Death Bringer he knew how. But he liked you in his own way. Wanted to see what you were. That doesn't mean he wouldn't kill you, but he enjoyed himself with you in a dark way. You were the challenge he'd wanted to find for a long time."

"You like me even when you want to kill me, that's rather sweet of you, Skulduggery."

"And you liked me, even though as Darquesse you could have ripped me to shreds. Then again I am charming and irresistible so I can see why."

"Humble, you forgot humble."

Skulduggery waved a lazy hand. "I'll be humble when I run out of drive and skill, which I never will. Besides I'd look horrid in sackcloth and ashes. Well no, maybe I would look good-"

"That's for mourning, Skulduggery."

"I know, people who are humble should mourn because they let their pride die." I shook my head. Sometimes there were just no words to answer him with.

We both wanted to get back to training and so we found ourselves in the field. Skulduggery watched me touch the armour, but didn't instantly attack. I tilted my head at him. He snorted with laughter. "I'm sorry, but having kissed you, well, this is just creepy."

"What did you say, Skulduggery?" I growled.

"Well you look like a man now, don't you? It makes my skin crawl."

I felt what passed for my eyes narrow. "Are you backpedaling again?" I growled

"No, not in the slightest. You're just giving me the creeps right now. But then you Necromancers are always creepy."

I lost my temper, tried to throw shadows at him, and realized belatedly that it was a trick. Skulduggery was on me in an instant, pinning me to the ground. "Gotcha." He purred.

"That was a rotten trick."

"But it worked. My! You have a temper on you. You'd be a lot prettier out of this armour you know." His hands come up and tapped my jaws, but the armour refused to budge.

"Ha!" I laughed. "Besides, what makes you think I forgive you insulting me?"

"Because you love me?"

"You hope."

"Come on then, armour off." I sighed and touched my jaws, the armour came away, fell to the side. Skulduggery pressed his teeth to my lips, but chastely this time, then helped me to stand. He looked at me grinning. "That was training, even if it was short, so I won, didn't I?"

I gaped at him. "Skulduggery, if you're saying you were nice to me to win-"

"Not in the least. I taunted you to win and you fell for it. Getting to kiss you, well, that just added to the victory."

"Remind me why I love you."

"Because I'm perfect." I sighed and he continued. "I've also figured out something for us to do today, research. It would never occur to you to look there, but I'm sure Gordon has something useful on that cave system, he almost always does. Except on your armour of course. Because, I assume, he finds it boring."

"Skulduggery-"

"Now, now, my dearest combat accessory, temper, temper. You need to be more peaceful like me." He took the armour from me and put it in the boot, and we got in. Skulduggery turned to me, grinning broadly. "You're fun to tease, and have I ever told you how beautiful you are when you're angry?"

"Shut up and drive, Skulduggery!" I snapped.

He made an amused sound, checking his disguise in the rear view mirror. I could sense the Cheshire grin forming on his features. He turned to me. "I'll only say this once, because you know I don't like talking about myself, but you are the most lucky woman in the world to have me, I hope you know that."

"If you ever want me to kiss you again, just shut up and drive, Skulduggery." He chortled happily and put the Bentley in drive, heading for Gordon's house.

We arrived, Skulduggery humming a waltz rather loudly to a point of being annoying. But he grabbed me in the foyer and twirled me around, making me laugh. "See? You can dance, and well too. You should let me teach you, it'll be fun." He said brightly.

I cuddled into him, feeling his arms wrap around me. "You're cute when you're ebullient, you know that?" I asked.

He pressed his forehead into mine, his eye sockets staring at me happily. "You make me ebullient. Shall we go tell Gordon the good news?"

"That we're here for research?"

He laughed. "I was thinking he'd be good to tell about recent developments. He isn't going to judge us, you know."

"He better not because I have excellent taste in men."

"But I have far better taste in women."

"True, but then you always were better at everything." I teased.

"Huh, there's no way to back out of that one for me is there? Oh yes there is: the student has surpassed the master. There you are, the one thing you are better at than me."

"Fixing horse races?"

"Very funny, I meant-"

"You can't say it, can you?"

"Yes I can, you're better at being annoying." I laughed and we went up the stairs together. I entered Uncle Gordon's study first, and veered off for his private study, grinning at him as I went. He grinned back, pleased with himself for having figured out the truth long before Skulduggery had said anything. I clicked the door closed behind me, and shook with laugher. I could only imagine the look on Skulduggery's face when he figured out Gordon already knew. I figured I would give them a few minutes and meandered amongst the artefacts and library of rarities before finding the book we needed.

I emerged to see Skulduggery looking rather pleased with himself. My uncle looked at me the tiniest tilt of my head letting me know he'd feigned surprise. "So, Skulduggery tells me there have been some interesting developments between you two. It's about time."

I walked over, gazing at him fondly. Even though he wasn't really my true Uncle Gordon, I'd called Echo Gordon that for years now. He'd always been there for me, never judging me. Now he was happy for me. He did his level best to hug me, stopping right before he would have went through me.

"I've already told him if he doesn't treat you well he's answering to me. But if you don't treat him well-"

"I know, we'll both behave. More or less." I said with a grin.

"Good, good. Don't you have some coffee to make downstairs? I would like a few more minutes to say suitably threatening things to him."

"We came for this." I showed him the book on the cave system. "What can you tell us the book can't?"

"Ah, the rather magical and dodgy cave system. Unlike the one below this mansion it has no entrances I'm afraid, and for good reason. There's no monsters, but there is the disturbing habit of the cave to just-"

"Yes?" I asked.

"It sounds stupid, but the cave eats people. It turns those it doesn't eat into slaves of sorts who go out and bring more people back to feed it."

"That does sound stupid." Skulduggery agreed. "How can a cave eat people?"

"Oh, not with teeth and jaws, but it takes the essence right out of them. If your killer is hiding in those cave he's either 'feeding' it, if you like, and knows it, or he has no idea of the danger he is in."

"That would explain almost everything." Skulduggery said. "Not his killings of course, but his deviation from a set pattern, that he appears to be aging and losing power at last. Tricky question, Gordon, but what would happen if this cave managed to eat a god?"

"I imagine it would use his powers to lure in people from the world above, or find a way to go to them. It is alive in a sense, so would use that power to its best advantage. Calling on the weak first, to buildup reserves, I'd think."

"And it just happens to be under a hospital." I sighed. This case just kept getting better and better.