A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Ghastly, Skulduggery or Ryan.
Valkyrie was excited to see Skulduggery again and gathered him into a hug before inviting him into the shop to meet the kitten. He crooned softly when he saw his paws. "What's his name?" He asked.
"We had one person offer Clueless and another person thought Garfield would be nice since he's an orange tabby. I thought Garfield as well since all he does is sleep and eat. He's a total Vegemite junkie." Valkyrie said fondly.
"Garfield it is then. Though I think Skulduggery would be wonderful name." He said, his voice dreamy. He titled his head so she knew he was teasing, but she could read his grin anyhow. Ghastly shook his head at the pair and Valkyrie smiled at him then returned Garfield to his bed.
The men chatted a few minutes as Valkyrie refilled the electric kettle and then she and Skulduggery were off to lunch so Ghastly could work on the dress and have some alone time. Skulduggery looked over at her when they were in the Bentley and something finally clicked. "You're back to your old disguise." She said, rather awed.
"Seatbelt and yes. Took you long enough, but yes. I got rid of the façade. To tell you the truth I always found it a tad disturbing. At least people don't ask me now if I'm a burn victim. There are better ones of course, but I rather like being a skeleton." She knew he was hinting for compliments and since Ghastly had mellowed her out, she obliged him.
"I like you better this way too. Much more handsome. Did you mean what you said on the phone-" She paused, not wanting to force him to say something he didn't truly feel for her. But having Skulduggery for a father would be wonderful.
"Indeed I did. Which is why I'm abducting you for the day. Ghastly already knows. I want to take you to the diner we took Ryan to, all right?" He asked and she nodded. "And as your father I'm pleased with who you've picked, I really am, Valkyrie. Ghastly will do everything in his power to take care of you. He looks at you like you're the eight wonder of the world and to him, you are. To me you're just a really annoying partner." He teased and she laughed.
"And you're stuck with me the whole day, lucky you." She said dryly, then went on more gently. "I missed you, you know. Why wouldn't you take me?" He glanced over at her. She could tell he was debating whether or not to lie to her but he sighed at long last as his gloved hands tightened on the steering wheel.
"I've done things I'm not proud of, Valkyrie. You know that. And every so often my past catches up with me. I didn't want you involved. I used to be a cold man before I met you, ruthless. I didn't want you seeing that side of me. I've always loved you as your friend, your partner. I- I didn't want you thinking less of me." He said, his velvety voice sad.
"I'd never think anything less of you. You're my best friend, you know that." She rested a hand on his shoulder and sensed his smile behind the disguise. When they at last arrived at the diner he seemed younger, more relaxed. He was even cheerful and she realized that Skulduggery depended on her a lot more that she'd ever thought he did. The great Skeleton Detective might act independent, but he's been waiting for her approval, he'd needed her to accept him just as he was, the good and the bad of him. "I feel the same way, you know." She said after giving her order.
Her Coke came and she sipped at it. "But you've always stood by me and I'll need you more than ever now. I have no idea what to do with a baby."
He sat up straighter, clearly surprised. "But you had your sister, didn't you help out with her?"
"My parents did most of the work. I think about stuff like that, about all the hard work a baby will be and I get frightened, what if I'm not good enough? What if I can't raise a baby?" She felt his expression soften as he took her hand.
"You are good enough, Valkyrie. And your fears show me how much you've grown up. It's sensible to worry about raising your own baby. Besides, you two can wait, you know. You have Garfield now and he can be your training wheels of sorts. And I'll always be close by. I'm retiring, but I think you knew that." Valkyrie smiled in relief. She wanted to ask him to move in, she'd missed him terribly, but how? He was a proud man and would refuse charity as he might see it. Besides, he adored his home.
"I'm happy, sad too. We won't see each other very often now." She admitted and he patted her hand before withdrawing his hands.
"Nonsense, I'm talented at everything I do, remember?" He said cheerfully. "Ghastly needs some help in the shop and he's even got an extra sewing machine ready. Normally I'd rather he made my clothes, but that is the burden of his recent success which I understand you have something to do with. I'll be moving in, as your third partner. Can't say I'll be silent though." He teased and she laughed.
"All I did was buy some material." She said but Skulduggery wouldn't be put off and she worried that his usual sarcastic jabs were coming, but they didn't.
"You also designed a charming line of purses, Ghastly even sent me pictures. He's proud of you, Valkyrie. Extremely proud. It does a man good to have a wife and helpmate he can take pride in. Of course when she comes complete with such an amazing father how can the man refuse?" She sensed his grin and smiled in return. Skulduggery adored her, there was no mistaking that.
She relaxed and as she ate they caught up, Skulduggery watching her eat as usual. Somehow she didn't mind, it was as close as he could get to eating and he seemed to enjoy himself. So she was utterly surprised when a gloved hand snaked out and Skulduggery took a fry, which disappeared so quickly behind the disguise that she didn't see the movement.
She watched, fascinated, he was actually chewing. But it wasn't possible, and with a skeleton where on Earth would it go? He swallowed, then removed the disguise, a huge grin on his stunningly handsome face. "You did it! You went and got a full body façade. Oh my God. Has Ghastly seen it?" Skulduggery shook his head cheerfully.
"No, I wanted you to be the first to see it. The only problem is I seem to be eating a lot more than I remember. But I'm just a growing skeleton, so that's OK. And no, I've no idea where it goes." He waved to the waitress and ordered his own meal, and they spent the next several hours catching up as Skulduggery insisted they try half the menu.
When they at last left with a cardboard box full of leftovers and take away containers Valkyrie could hardly move. "Oof. That was a lot of food. But wonderful. You're a fun dad." She said and he grinned in response.
At home Skulduggery got a bag out of the boot then helped her carry in the leftovers. Garfield met them at the door, mewing happily. Toys Ghastly had obviously made him littered the hallway and Valkyrie smiled. She handed off the box of leftovers to Skulduggery who cheerfully took it upstairs singing to himself. Ghastly grinned at her and pulled her into a lingering kiss. "Looks like you two had a wonderful time. And it looks like we'll be having leftovers tonight, but that's fun too. I'm sorry we didn't tell you, but he wanted to surprise you so badly."
"That's fine, honestly." She said squeezing him tight. "And thanks for letting him move in. I know he can be a handful." She said, giving Ghastly a chaste kiss on the cheek and stroking his head fondly. "So, how was work?"
"The dress is almost finished, we had a few more sales and more orders in. We honestly do need the help. I just hope sewing runs in your family." He teased.
"Are you kidding? He can do anything he sets his mind to. He'll end up running the shop, you watch." She said and they both looked up as Skulduggery returned, bag in hand. He took it to the spare room then came back out and titled his head at them.
"Which one of you is going to teach me?" He asked and Ghastly looked at Valkyrie.
"Get him set up on the couch." He gestured towards his right. "We need twelve more blankets, I've already cut the material, all he has to do is whipstitch with the thread and needle for detailing. And I know you can do that." She nodded and showed Skulduggery a finished blanket then got him started. He took to it right away and after only one or two mistakes was working well enough to chat with her while she saw to the kettle and got a mug of hot tea for all three of them.
"Ah, tea. I bet it tastes better here. The stuff in America was nasty." He took a sip and nodded. "Much better. You know, this is relaxing. I see why you two enjoy it. Oh, I stopped by the mansion to see Gordon. Why wouldn't you tell me about the craft room?"
"I expected you to laugh to be honest. Are you sure you're all right? You're usually a lot more sarcastic than this." Valkyrie said uncertainly.
"Being retired has lifted the weight of the world off my shoulders, others can go to the rescue now, and by others I mean not us. Hate me all you want, but you're retired as well." He peered at her cautiously and she smiled. "You've got a family and a business now, Valkyrie. Speaking of which, your dear old dad took one of the leather wallets you tooled and there is precious little you can do about it." He grinned and she laughed.
Ghastly looked over. "If we weren't so busy that would be an amazing side for you. As it is you'll need to start in on more purses soon. I haven't worked with leather for ages, I miss that. I didn't notice anything like that." He admitted.
"She hid them behind the bookcase, quite the little cubbyhole back there. Have one." Skulduggery set down the finished blanket and drew out a wallet with a woodland scene carefully tooled into the leather. Valkyrie cringed.
"Not that one, the tooling isn't even and I nicked the corner." She protested but the men wouldn't be put off.
"You're comparing hand tooled leather goods to something mass produced on a machine, Valkyrie. It's hardly fair. No doubt you made do with whatever leather and tools the kits gave you, but I'm telling you this is excellent work. I make mistakes all the time. I'm just better at hiding them." Valkyrie stared at him in shock. He smiled. "There's no avoiding it, even I make mistakes. I just make adjustments and my customers never notice the difference. I can't afford to throw out a whole day's work for an honest mistake."
He looked at Skulduggery. "Valkyrie's still under the impression that I'm some sort of god of tailoring. I make mistakes, honey, we all do." He said turning back to her. "You should have seen some of the hideous suits I agreed to make during the disco era." He winced.
"Leisure suits." Skulduggery said and shivered with distaste. "It was the era when good taste went out the window. Made me wish I had eyes to gouge out." Valkyrie nodded. She remembered vaguely seeing them online.
"Right, something Brook would wear. Sort of. From the Straw Hat Pirates? Wait, no, more like Austin Powers I think."
"I have no idea who Brook is, but your marrying Ghastly, and absolutely forbidden to bring a swarmy little sod like that Austin Powers home." Skulduggery growled. "Those hideous clothes. Disgusting. Manky little git."
Valkyrie burst out laughing. Skulduggery was usually too much of a gentleman to say anything like that. "You didn't think he was charming?" She teased.
"No!" Both men said at once and she only laughed harder.
"But he's so sweet." She teased and they both glared at her, only making her laugh harder. "I'm teasing. He's a total creeper. Ew." Privately she didn't care either way, but obviously the man's appeal to so many women made both men in the room feel territorial. "You both much more handsome, and charming." She assured them and they settled down. Valkyrie hid her smile. Having two men to tease might be a lot of fun.
I figured Valkyrie needed a chance to tease the men, at least a little. And I honestly can't see either one of them liking Austin Powers.