MERRY CHRISTMAS AND ALL THAT.

Sorry, this is really OOC.


Valkyrie leaned back in her chair, thinking of nothing in particular. Her mother busied herself in the kitchen, whilst her father entertained Alison in front of the Christmas tree. Valkyrie looked at them all with glazed eyes. Her mother found out about her involvement with the magical industry. She found out about her life of thrill and deduction. She found out about Skulduggery. Her mother forbid Valkyrie to ever return to that part of her, banning her from ever seeing Skulduggery in the process.

She sat in silence, watching the snow drift slowly to the ground, only visible through the street lamps orange glow.

Silent night, Holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child

Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace.

She went to bed deliberately early to stop the feeling of loneliness over-riding her completely. She slept with dreams of her skeleton roaming around in her head, until something disturbed her slumber. Her eyes snapped open when she heard something.

Silent night, holy night

Shepard's quake at the sight

Glory's stream from Heavens afar

Heavenly hosts sing halleluiah

Christ the saviour is born

Christ the saviour is born

Valkyrie rolled onto her side to check the time, when she heard the noise again.

Tap, tap, tap.

Valkyrie frowned to herself and sat up on her bed, looking out of the window next to it. Through the darkness, she could just make out a figure perched on her window-ledge.

Skulduggery Pleasant.

She stared at him, wanting to let him in. She reached for the latch, but Skulduggery quickly shook his head and gestured downstairs. Valkyrie paused and then nodded, realising what he meant. Her parents were still awake downstairs and if they heard anything from Valkyries room, who knows what might happen.

Silent night Holy night

Son of God, loves pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus lord at thy birth

Jesus lord at thy birth

They looked at each other in silence, before Skulduggery waved gingerly at her. Valkyrie laughed quietly. He tilted his head and held up his hands, forming a heart. She smiled and copied him. Snow was settling on the rim of Skulduggerys hat as he reached down beside him, grabbing his notebook. He turned it towards Valkyrie.

'I miss you.' He wrote.

Valkyrie sighed affectionately. 'I miss you too.' She mouthed.

He flipped over the page and started scribbling in furiously. He spun it round once again.

'Merry Christmas.'

Valkyrie grinned and followed his lead, grabbing a notebook and pen.

'You've got snow all over your hat.' She wrote.

Skulduggery immediately shook his skull, snow falling off his hat.

Valkyrie laughed.

'Stupid skeleton.'

'Thanks.' Skulduggery wrote back.

'Merry Xmas to you too.'

Skulduggery reached behind him and produced a wrapped present. He waved it at her. Valkyrie looked at him sympathetically.

'I didn't you get you anything.' She wrote.

He shrugged. 'Don't mind.'

She bit her lip and eased the window open slowly, just enough for it not to creek. Skulduggery slipped the present in the gap, catching onto her hand for a millisecond. She smiled and closed the window. It thudded a little too loudly for her liking. She whipped her head round, panicking at the thought of her parents hearing. Nothing. Valkyrie sighed in relief and looked down at the present in her hand. She carefully opened the wrapping paper, trying to make as little noise as possible. Inside were dozens of red paper hearts. They fluttered to the ground as she examined the presents; a copy of Romeo and Juliet and a pair of black glittering heeled shoes.

Valkyrie stared up at the skeleton with utter awe on her face. 'Skulduggery...' She mouthed.

He dipped his head, as if to say "you're welcome."

She walked closer towards the window. Skulduggery hesitated, and then pressed a hand against the glass of the window. Valkyrie looked at it, and then did the same, pressing her hand on his.

Silent night, Holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child

Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace...

Skulduggery and Valkyrie pressed their foreheads together over the glass pane. Valkyrie closed her eyes as they stung with despair. Skulduggery looked at her and tilted his head, as if frowning at the tears. He picked up his notebook.

'What's wrong?' He wrote.

Valkyrie closed her hand slightly over the glass. 'I really, really miss you...' She mouthed, feeling unbelievably weak and pathetic.

Skulduggery raised a hand and attempted to wipe the tears away through the window.

'Steph? Are you alright up there?' Valkyrie heard her mother call. Valkyrie looked round-thankfully no one was standing at her door.

'Yeah, I'm, um...I'm just going to sleep...again.'

'Night then.'

'Yup.'

She looked back at the window, but Skulduggery wasn't there anymore. She frowned and looked down at her garden, to see him slipping away silently. He looked back at her window, holding up his notebook.

'I love you.'

Valkyrie felt the breath catch in her throat as she drew a heart on the window. His shoulders sagged, his only way of showing that he was sighing affectionately, and waved up at her. She waved back and stepped away, sliding into bed.

Sleep in heavenly peace.