A/N: I don't own Ghastly, Valkyrie, Skulduggery or Erskine. Ah, fluffy alert, Val acts kinda ooc.
Valkyrie woke up with a smile on her face and stretched lazily, then snuggled back into the warmth of the bed. Last night had felt like a magical dream and she was sure once she opened her eyes she'd see the mansion around her. Men like Ghastly weren't real. They couldn't be. He'd taken her out dancing and to dinner, then had the sweetest surprise and gift waiting back at the shop for her.
Did he even realize how romantic it had been? How touched she was that he cared enough not only to make her gifts like the jeans, but to set up a romantic setting in the privacy of his shop? He didn't need to flaunt what he did for her and she loved that about him. She'd been so touched by the way he'd saved the Twelve Beverage and shared it with her and plated up dessert. He was everything she wanted in a man and she was sure that when she opened her eyes she'd have to face the reality of her own bed, though she could have sworn she'd fallen asleep in his arms.
But when she opened her eyes she was in the small back room of his shop. She sat up and saw the jeans and a fresh top neatly folded and placed to one side waiting for her and had to blink back happy tears. Because the were sitting on top of a small chest of drawers. It wasn't pretty, in fact it was pretty beat up, but her clothes she'd left here when she'd stayed before were all neatly put away. This was her room now she realized.
She stared at the pitcher of water, bowl and wash cloth on top of the battered chest of drawers beside her clothes until she remembered seeing them in a movie once. They were for washing up with if she remembered right. The had to be because there was soap as well and a fluffy towel. She washed up, thankful the water was still warm and realizing he'd gone to all this trouble because he respected her privacy.
And letting her use his shower would have seemed not good enough or proper to him she realized, remembering what he'd said last night. Because she had woken up, just for a tiny bit as he tenderly put her to bed. Valkyrie had asked to go upstairs with him and he'd gently refused her. "Things are different between us, Valkyrie. If you slept in the same bed I couldn't promise to control myself and I don't want it to be like that between us. I want something more. I only want to be with you when you're ready. I love you."
There was a gentle knock at her door as she dressed. "Valkyrie, are you up? I have breakfast ready."
"I'm up and thank you." She called out as she finished running a brush through her hair.
"For what?" He sounded startled and she went to open the door. He smiled at her uncertainly and she smiled back, then kissed him good morning. He seemed startled by the kiss, like he didn't deserve it. Like he expected her to reject him after what he'd said last night. Ghastly pulled back to protest her affections. "But Valkyrie, I don't deserve-"
"Hush. Yes, you do. Do you realize how rare a man you are, Ghastly Bespoke?" She asked, looping her arms around his neck. "You love me enough to wait, do you have any idea how rare that is? And everything you've given me, I can't thank you enough." She kissed him chastely and grinned and at last he smiled back happily.
"I thought I'd scared you by admitting I wanted to be with you last night and I came down to apologize to be honest." He said, and she laughed.
"You just get more amazing every day, Ghastly. You have nothing to apologize for. You love me enough to wait. You were honest with me. And now you've made me breakfast. Your mother taught you well." She praised and he blushed and laughed.
Ghastly escorted her upstairs and Valkyrie gasped with delight. There were flowers on the table between their plates. True, they were artifical, but she didn't care, that just meant they'd be beautiful forever. "Ghastly, thank you! And you know you don't have to try so hard, right? I know you love me." He just smiled and got her chair for her.
"I hope it's OK, pancakes and eggs are the best I can manage." He said sitting himself and her heart softened.
"Ghastly, they're wonderful and you heated the syrup. Thank you and I mean that. I don't expect you to cook for me every day, you know. I can get something at the corner grocery, it's no big deal." He shook his head in response.
"Didn't Skulduggery always cook for you?" He asked. And at one time she would have laughed and said something snarky about Skulduggery's abysmal cooking skills. But Ghastly had helped her realize something, Skulduggery had been incredibly brave opening himself up to her, and if cold cereal and Pop Tarts were all the bachelor skeleton could manage she should be thankful he'd managed them.
"Yeah, yeah he did. He always managed something." She said gently, smiling fondly as she thought of him and hoping he was enjoying America and his friends.
"Well, there you go. I can manage, Val, trust me. I like cooking for two better anyhow." He said with a reassuring smile as he took her hand and she found herself smiling back. "I wanted to know if you'd like to go shopping with me later. Nothing exciting, I'm afraid, just fabric." She looked at him, saw the hope in his eyes. He was trusting her. Trusting her to be interested in what he did, to not look down on him because he was a tailor.
"Are you kidding? I'd love to go!" She said and he grinned, clearly relieved. "Seriously, I've always wanted to see where magical fabric comes from and how it is made." He laughed and grinned.
"That's easy, it starts out as normal fabric, Valkyrie, most of it, it just gets treated with magical solutions. Heavier clothes like the protective ones I make you use fully magical fabric but most of it is just treated. Ah, you thought there were magical looms and a whole secret world involved, did you? So did I to be honest, and my father was a magical tailor before me." He laughed softly.
"You wouldn't believe how hard they have to work to even make solutions though, Valkyrie. It's quite fascinating. They are working on new ones, new materials I want to look at today. The magic they are trying to work in would be amazing if it works. Imagine clothing that could not only absorb attacks like yours does, but deflect that energy back at your attacker instantaneously." He grinned clearly excited.
Valkyrie looked at him and made a decision. "You know, Ghastly, as much wealth as I was left, it won't last forever. So if you'd have me, I'd like to become a business partner with you, invest in materials like that. They sound hideously expensive, but you've got a good business, so I know you'd do wonderful things with it."
He looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time, but the smile he rewarded her with made her heart sing. "I'd like that a lot, Valkyrie. Truth be told I've been wanting someone to be a partner, to invest so I can expand for a long time, but I don't want to be beholden to a bank. And I know you. You've seen how a business works from your father so you know there will be slow times."
"I do, but when you can expand business will pick up, trust me. There will still be slow times, but you don't have to worry about that from now on." When Ghastly smiled this time he looked like the centuries had rolled back for him and she got a glimpse of the young man who'd befriended Skulduggery. And as if he knew she was thinking about her, her mobile rang and it was Skulduggery. She went to step away to take the call but Ghastly shook his head and poured her more tea after removing their plates. She made a mental note to get him a new electric kettle for the shop as well.
"Hey, Skulduggery, how's America? Enjoying your friends?" She asked cheerfully and surprised them both. Ghastly had to be mellowing her out.
"Fine, actually. I might be staying a few more weeks to be honest. I've missed my friends more than you can imagine." She realized it was a code and he was actually on a case. A case she had to pretend she wasn't aware of because it would be just like Erskine to spy on his own detectives. Trust no one, right?
"That's great, actually. Too bad I couldn't meet them." She said, offering to come.
"I don't think they'd like you much, to be honest." He said and she knew it was too dangerous and sent up a prayer for his safety. Skulduggery continued. "So, I got a call earlier. Seems you gave a certain Elder a wonderful date last night. Things are serious, aren't they?"
"Yes, yes they are." She said and they both knew she wanted to tell him everything but he knew enough from Ghastly. Besides if the bad guys were listening in it would be better if they didn't know exactly were she was or where she was going. Ghastly was watching her closely. She knew he'd picked up that Skulduggery was in danger. "Are you surprised?" She asked and Skulduggery chuckled into her ear.
"Yes , I am, actually. I never expected my two best friends to fall in love. You'll do me a favour and stick close to him, right?" He wanted her there then, she just hoped Ghastly would agree to more time with her than they had both planned on.
"Yes, of course. My, look at the time. Why don't you go annoy your friends before it gets too late." She said, meaning to be careful. "I'd come and meet them, but you know how dark I can get with some people. Especially when I don't like them much." Sure a kid would know she just offered to go Darquesse on the enemy, but it would buy Skulduggery breathing room at least if people were listening and she was sure they were. They rang off, Skulduggery promising to call if he wanted her to meet his friends. Valkyrie collected herself, shutting the case and her worries off to one side like Skulduggery had taught her and smiled over at Ghastly. "So, who wants to go shopping?" She asked brightly.
So did not expect that. I know, Val was a bit ooc, but what are you gonna do?