It's been a while, sorry, I had exams and stupid stuff like that.

Skulduggery Pleasant walked through the late Gordon Edgleys mansion, trying to find Valkyrie in the maze of corridors. He heard a chorus of laughs, and followed it to find Valkyrie, Fletcher, Ghastly, Tanith, Erskine and China in a circle on the floor, an empty wine bottle in the centre.

Skulduggery leaned against the doorframe, arms folded.

'Well, you're all obviously drunk.' Valkyrie looked up at him.

'It's my 22nd birthday, they're allowed.'

He shrugged.

'What are you all doing?' Tanith looked at him and grinned.

'Snog spin!' She slurred, swallowing down the last of her drink. Skulduggery tilted his head slightly.

'What's that?'

'Well, you spin a bottle, and whoever it lands on, you have to kiss.' Ghastly explained, 'you joining in?'

'No.' Skulduggery replied. Valkyrie frowned.

'Yes you are.'

'I really can't-'

'Pleeeeeeaase? It is my birthday.' He hesitated, and sighed.

'Fine.' He said quietly, sitting himself on the floor next to Ghastly. Tanith nodded and looked at China.

'It's your go!' She sang, giving the bottle a sharp spin. After a few turns, it came to a slow stop, pointing at Erskine. He and China looked at each other.

'Shall we?' She cooed.

He swallowed. 'Very well.' China shuffled towards him, kissing him gently. The rest of them clapped and whooped in delight, as China parted finally and scooted back towards her place in the circle.

'You two would make a good couple!' Valkyrie remarked.

'We would.' Erskine said, a little dazed.

'My go!' Fletcher piped up, spinning the bottle. It passed each person, before stopping directly in front...of Skulduggery. They stared at each other.

'Spin again.' The skeleton said quickly. Tanith let out a breathy 'ooh.'

'Can you not handle it Skully?' He ground his teeth together.

'No, I just-'

'Are you not man enough?'

'But I-'

'Oh dear, poor Skul can't handle it!'

'Yes I can!'

'Prove it.' Skulduggery looked at her, looked at the bottle, and then at Fletcher. He sighed and stood up on his knees, as did Fletcher.

'So...'

'So...' Skulduggery shook his skull slightly.

'I am so going to regret this.' He said, before grabbing Fletchers face and pulling it towards his, kissing him squarely on the mouth. The rest of them cheered even louder than before, squealing and clapping. Skulduggery hung on for as long as he could cope, before pushing Fletcher away, almost falling over in the process. The cheering continued, as Skulduggery straightened his tie and nodded to himself.

'I need a bloody drink.' He said huskily, Fletcher sniffed and handed him a bottle of beer. He took it and activated his facade, downing the contents in one go.

'Whoa; take it easy!' Ghastly said. Skulduggery dropped the empty bottle by his side.

'I have no regrets.'

'Ghastly, it's your go.' Erskine said. He nodded and span the bottle. It slowed; pointing at Tanith. He looked at her and blushed.

'Um, Tanith?' She looked at him.

'Ya?' He pointed at the bottle.

'It's you and me.' She looked at the bottle and her eyes widened in realization.

'Oh! Right!' She said.

'So, are we-?'

'Sure!' She shuffled over to him. He hesitated.

'I...'

'Come on! Kissy-kissy!' She squealed, leaning towards him, eyes closed, lips puckered. He sighed, and kissed her quickly. She giggled, yawned, and passed out. He blinked his eyes open and swallowed visibly, cradling her in his arms.

'Right.' He said quietly, picking her up and resting her on the sofa.

'I should...um...' He said, not really sure what to do. He looked at her, smiled slightly, and brushed some loose hair behind her ear. Fletcher coughed loudly. Ghastly jumped slightly.

'Are we disturbing anything?' Fletcher asked. Ghastly shook his head.

'No, not at all.' He muttered, before turning to him.

'I better get going.'

Valkyrie frowned.

'Why?'

'I should be, um, making dresses.'

'No, please stay.'

'I can't-I have to get going.'

'Please-one more spin?' He sighed and nodded.

'Okay, hurry up then.' He agreed, sitting back down in the circle.

'My go!' Valkyrie said, spinning the bottle. It passed each person at lightning speed, before coming to a slow stop, in front of Skulduggery Pleasant. They looked at each other. Valkyries mouth went dry.

'Oh.'

'Mm.' China looked at them.

'Well go on then!' He hesitated.

'I...I...'

'What are you waiting for?' Erskine said.

'I don't think-'

'Go on!' Skulduggery looked back at Valkyrie, sighed inwardly and stood up, walking out of the room. He kept walking till he reached outside. He breathed in the cold night air, hands clasped together in front of his mouth, deep in thought.

'Skulduggery!' He heard Valkyrie call, her footsteps nearing him outside. He shook his head and walked towards the Bentley, hands slipping into his pockets. He heard Valkyrie running after him. 'Slow down!' He stopped walking, still with his back to her.

'Sorry; I need to go.'

'You don't have to kiss me if you don't want to.' He whipped round to look at her.

'Of course i do,' he said huskily, 'I just can't bring myself to.'

'...What do you mean?'

'I mean I love you, I adore you, I-' He bit his lip and turned away, walking towards the Bentley once more. Valkyrie sighed.

'If you love me, then let me love you back!' Skulduggery stopped in his tracks, slowly turning towards her.

'What?' She walked towards him, inches away.

'I love you too, Skulduggery.' He looked into her eyes, his face a mask of seriousness.

'You're drunk, you don't mean it.'

'I haven't had anything to drink, and you've only had one beer; we both know what we're saying and we're meaning it.'

'But I'm a ske-'

'Does it matter to me? Has it ever mattered to me?'

'No, but-'

'Then just give in to yourself-if this is my birthday party, then I dare you, I dare you Skulduggery Pleasant, to love me.' He stared at her, a small smile growing slowly on his face.

'How can I say no to that?' He said, leaning forward and kissing her gently, the kiss that the two of them had been waiting for for far too long. They parted, Skulduggery holding her close.

'Happy birthday, Valkyrie Cain.' Sh smiled and rested her head on his chest.

'Thank you.'