A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Ghastly, Gracious, Skulduggery, or Erskine. Chapter is from Val's POV.

Valkyrie woke up in a warm, feathery soft bed and smiled sleepily. Something had changed after Ghastly had held her to him in the van, they had a deeper connection now. A level of trust so great that Ghastly had admitted he missed her at night and dared to trust himself to bring her upstairs to his apartment. And now he was still sleeping beside her, his expression angelic in the early morning light. A little too angelic and as Valkyrie cuddled into his warmth he broke into a grin. "You big faker." She mock scolded and he opened those amazing blue eyes to look at her, his expression amused.

"Got you over here though, didn't I?" He whispered softly as he wrapped a sheltering arm around her and she giggled and blushed slightly. Ghastly was playful lately, teasing her, and she realized he must have been like this as a much younger man and she was happy to bring this side out in him.

"What do you want for breakfast?" She asked sleepily. "Bacon? Eggs?"

"Mmm, sounds good, but I'll cook. I love doing things for you. Why don't you get the mysterious book out you brought back and beguile me while I cook, OK?" He asked with a happy smile and she nodded. They'd agreed she'd still change and wash up in her room, Ghastly wanting to be sure they weren't overly tempted before they were married and Valkyrie knew not to press things. She actually thought it was sweet he was insisting on waiting.

She wasn't a child anymore. She knew herself that it was tempting to be with him before they were married, but he insisted they savour this time together. That waiting was what was making this relationship so special, making it more then them just satisfying curiosity or desire. So she washed up and changed quickly and managed to arrive back at the kitchen with the book just as Ghastly was getting started. Just the cover drew a happy response. "Aww, Valkyrie, that's so sweet, planning ahead, are we?" He asked with a smile and she blushed and nodded.

"Twenty-four easy to sew decorations and toys for your little one." She read the back cover and he smiled. She knew Ghastly was eager to have children. But so was she. "Aww, look, Ghastly! I had a little octopus like this when I was little." She held up the book and he smiled at the whimsical patchwork creation.

"You're going to make a wonderful mother, Valkyrie. Your first instinct is to create, not buy. You're such an amazing woman." He said softly and she smiled at him. Ghastly patted a stool beside him and handed her a mug of tea when she settled in, then got back to their breakfast. "I went over those bags with a fine tooth comb, Val, there are no mistakes. You're gifted." She blushed.

"But I can't sew by hand." She protested.

"I'll teach you. Now if we have a boy, I insist you make that." He pointed to a rather silly-looking spider and she grinned. It was made from a fabric with long fibers coming from it and was too cute for words.

"It's a deal. But a girl gets a stuffed snake. No, don't roll your eyes, Ghastly. I used to win them at carnivals when I was little. They're great fun."

"Snakes in Ireland." He muttered, but gave her a gentle smile to show he was teasing. "Everything's ready all at once, you're my good luck charm." He said and leaned forward to kiss her, Valkyrie obliged him happily, giggling into the kiss.

Ghastly led her to the table then set down their plates. He looked pleased with her and himself, especially when he knew there would be children. He smiled at her. "I'll be starting on your wedding dress soon. Well, as soon as Erskine quits hyperventilating and gives us a date he can marry us. You are OK with getting married at the Sanctuary?"

"I'm fine." Valkyrie said, reaching for his hand. "You know I'm looking forward to getting married there. It will be wonderful if all of the Dead Men can attend. Wait, did I just say something nice about them? Am I actually happy about seeing them? They're the most annoying brothers any girl ever had." She mock groused and Ghastly laughed.

"They love you, Val. I know they're all a little excited-" He paused and smiled. "But they do want what is best for you. Which is why they've been annoying me with calls about the wedding. Their little sister is getting married and their inner wedding planners come out. You can handle the next call."

"Nope, I have toys to sew." She waved the book at him and he laughed. She obliged him after breakfast going over the designs in the book with him as they cuddled together on the couch. She craned her head to look at him. "You're actually interested?" Honest?" She asked and he nodded.

"I was thinking- No, never mind." He looked away, seeming slightly uncomfortable. It still surprised her that the big man could be so shy and unsure of himself.

"No, what?"

"I was thinking, well- You know I'll be making their clothes but I was hoping you'd let me make at least one or two or the toys as well. But I had something else in mind. Never mind." He shook his head. "Modern is best." At her gentle insistence he took her to the shop and showed her his designs. They were sweet, and more Victorian than modern.

"Ghastly, they're beautiful." She breathed, looking at the intricate dolls he had designed on paper and he smiled shyly.

"I always wanted to design something for a son or daughter. You wouldn't mind, honestly?"

"No, I wouldn't. Honestly. It's rare for a man to have the talent to make his children something. You should be proud you can create such beautiful things."

"Mmm. Like you're proud of the purses? Toys are just something I don't think I'd be good at, but I will do my best. I'll make you proud of me."

"You always make me proud of you. If the dolls are even a tenth this good the children will adore them. The poor things haven't been born yet and we're already expecting so much out of them. Besides, after nine months of utter misery and the birth you may only get one." She teased. Ghastly blushed in response as if he just realized he'd be the one to get her pregnant and Valkyrie smiled fondly at him.

He wanted to work on her dress, but wanted it to be a surprise, so he told her to go ring the Dead Men and get them out of the way for a while and she did, back in their apartment. Each one it seemed knew more about weddings than anyone on the planet and Valkyrie patiently listened to their advice. She has thought men couldn't care less about the wedding day but they seemed to be conspiring to make a big event of the day.

At last she called Gracious for a sanity break and he laughed. "You two could always elope, you know. Fine tradition. But yes, Val, men dream at getting a crack at planning a wedding. Usually the woman takes over and that is that. You seem very laid back about it. Shouldn't you be freaking out over place settings and invitations?"

"Oh, no. Not you too, Gracious. I was counting on you to be the one man I know who wasn't excited. I thought most well-adjusted adults hated attending weddings."

"Name one well-adjusted Dead Man."

"Point taken. Are you two coming?"

"I dunno, Valkyrie. There may be monsters to hunt or a convention to attend. George Lucas may show up at my house and ask me to dinner, you never know." He teased.

Valkyrie laughed and they rang off. She was excited about getting married, but she figured she had to know the strangest men on the planet. They wanted to help. Ghastly was right, their inner wedding planners were coming out in full force. Her mobile rang. Skulduggery. "If you talk about table linens I'll shoot you with your own gun." She growled and he laughed.

"Now there's the grouchy, anti-social partner I know and love. Your brothers are getting the best of you, are they?"

"Yes, and why? Men aren't supposed to care about these things." She asked, exasperated.

"Of course we care, we just tend to fuss over the man. We feel excited for him, or sense his impending doom depending on the woman. Poor Ghastly, he's so young." He mock sobbed into the phone and she laughed.

"Moron." She said fondly. "I wish you were here. Your friends are keeping you away too long."

"Oh, them. I'm finished with them and on my way back, ahem."

"I'm glad, I thought maybe this was the time you wouldn't come back." She said softly and he chuckled.

"I'm already dead, Valkyrie. And most of your brothers will no doubt join me if they keep annoying you two, so I'll see what I can do. You do know this is your big day, right?"

"Our big day, and I don't want a fuss. Oh God, what if Ghastly does?"

"Then you let him have it. He loves you, Valkyrie and if he has always dreamed of a big wedding you let him have it. I understand you two have been discussing babies. You do know he is going to be a doting father right?" She heard the wistfulness in his voice.

"And you better be the doting uncle. I'm serious, Skulduggery. If you survived raising me you can handle a baby."

"I did raise you, didn't I?" His voice was soft, gentle. "I think that's the kindest thing you've ever said to me, Valkyrie Cain. I'll be home soon, don't wait up." They said their goodbyes and Valkyrie closed her mobile. She was stunned. Was that what he had wanted all these years? For her to see him as a father? She hadn't even thought he'd notice the remark, but he had. She'd never really though about how she felt for Skulduggery.

He was her hero, but he knew that. He was also her best friend and he knew that too. As much as she loved and adored Ghastly nobody could ever replace Skulduggery in her heart. She wanted to go ask Ghastly, but of course he wouldn't want her in the shop at the moment. She wondered if Erskine would know. He was the one Dead Man she hadn't called after all. Erskine picked up on the first ring, pleased to hear from her. "Hello, Valkyrie. I assume you know Skulduggery's coming home. So which of your annoying brothers do you want me to have arrested?" He teased and she laughed.

"Being Grand Mage has gone to your head. Has Skulduggery ever said anything to you about me? He knows about us wanting children and well-"

She heard soft laugher. "So he told you at last did he? Or he's letting you guess. The man feels fatherly towards you, Valkyrie. A lot like a playmate too of course, but Skulduggery is about two-years-old in his maturity level. He just never told you because he was afraid you wouldn't want him. Seeing as how he is a skeleton."

"He's an idiot." Valkyrie managed, her eyes misting up. She could think of no better father on the planet. Or any man she would want more. She loved her own father dearly, but Skulduggery had been the one to raise her, to shelter her, and push her forwards at times. To nag, and be annoying and frustrate her to tears. To let her fight her own battles so she'd become strong enough to stand on her own two feet. She blinked and managed to ring off, Erskine making soothing sounds about how she could tell Skulduggery herself soon enough.

She heard Ghastly's voice from the foot of the stairs. "How about we go out to lunch sweetheart? We both could use the break." She went down to him happily and he looked concerned to see the tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?" He asked and when she told him about Skulduggery he smiled.

"You found out at last then, good for both of you and I mean that. The man's been lonely for centuries, Val. Don't be surprised if he takes it into his head to move in and hover. And before you ask it will be up to you if he wants to." He took her into his arms and hugged her tightly, then they went to the van together, content to know that soon Skulduggery, her real father when she thought about it, would be home.

Your daily quotient of cute. There are fifty kittens having a party in my office. Balloons and streamers and everything.