A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Ghastly or Skulduggery.
Ghastly couldn't have been more pleased with his life if he tried. The dress was finished, Skulduggery had settled in nicely, and the man made a wonderful partner to them both. Valkyrie somehow managed to balance her attention between the three men in her life, and all of them, Garfield included, were content. She'd also changed dramatically, but so had Skulduggery. The two no longer had the endless arguments they used to have, but worked together to create stunning designs on the purses.
Skulduggery was at his table now, finishing drawing a design free hand, a talent Valkyrie lacked, but appreciated in him. "What do you both think?" He asked holding it up and Ghastly went with Valkyrie to admire the design. "I'm thinking we do this design in the vivid red and peacock blue material on the clutch purses. Those are our number one seller." He said and they both nodded.
"I think having you both here has saved the business. We've gotten such handsome returns already it's amazing." Ghastly said and the pair smiled up at him.
"Need us to do any work now?" Valkyrie asked, tilting her head the same way Skulduggery did and Ghastly smiled at the unconscious habit.
"No, let's break for lunch. We're an hour ahead at least. Come on, I'll make us all steak." The former detectives perked up at his words and trailed him up the stairs. Ghastly smiled to himself. He'd gotten up late last night to put together a surprise, but he didn't want to tell them what it was. He grinned to himself, knowing that Garfield, tucked securely in Skulduggery's sheltering arms should love it too.
He insisted his friends sit and turned the electric kettle on for tea and coffee. He got out his cast iron skillet and the steaks he'd marinated. Ghastly got the steamer bag of vegetables out of the freezer and soon had the iron pan hot and ready for the steak. He microwaved the vegetables then cooked the steaks, watching his audience sit on the edge of their chairs, not talking. "Either you two are starving or this smells good." He teased.
"Both!" They answered in unison. Valkyrie got out the garlic bread she'd made that morning at Ghastly's request and he heated it in the pan when the steaks were finished. When everything was ready he served them watching carefully as they tried the steak.
"Ghastly, this is amazing. What kind of marinade did you use?" Valkyrie asked as she watched him give some tiny bits of steak to Garfield.
"Soy sauce and Vegemite. You wanted to see what I could do with it, remember?" He grinned then laughed when she grabbed him in a hug of thanks.
"She's right, it's wonderful, Ghastly. So is your garlic bread, sweetheart." Skulduggery said, praising them both. They were a family now, the best possible kind since they'd chosen one another. Ghastly smiled at them both. He knew most people would laugh at the idea of a scarred former boxer and a skeleton living with a beautiful young woman who lavished attention on them both, but miracles did happen.
"Will you teach me to cook?" Skulduggery asked. "I want to impress my daughter." He said, patting Valkyrie's hand and Ghastly was touched to see her smile at him. Because he knew Skulduggery was completely tame now, he trusted Valkyrie completely and was being gentle with her and considerate.
"Of course, every father should get to impress his daughter." Ghastly said, smiling. They lingered over their tea and coffee, Ghastly enjoying the time together. When they worked they often had to isolate themselves into their own little worlds to concentrate so this was a time for his to rejuvenate, to bask in their love. But he led them back downstairs at last. He was the envy of all tailors, they all were and he knew it.
Valkyrie seemed to read his thoughts. "I stopped by Tom's yesterday and got a lock on the new material. It will be worth it to watch our competition pull their hair out." She said with a grin.
"You didn't!" Skulduggery said, clearly delighted. "But of course you did. I'm ruthless and I taught you well. It will teach them not to shoot us death glares in the streets." He looked smug and Ghastly exchanged smiles with him. They hadn't wanted Valkyrie to worry, but Skulduggery had made the magical security so tight on the building that people only got in if they belonged there. They not only had the priceless material in the back that now allowed Ghastly to charge princely sums, but a lock on the new one.
True, it would only slow the competition down a little. There were other men who made magical fabric besides Tom Snip, but he was the best and was backordered for months, so he was only too happy to give his favourite customers a lock on anything they desired. "You two are something else. I never had the wherewithal to do this before, thank you." He gestured towards the back room, now brimming with new material and the new expensive dress forms and other goodies he'd needed and been able to order at long last.
"You took us both in. We're only too happy to throw our fortunes in with yours." Valkyrie said and Skulduggery nodded. He'd invested just as much as Valkyrie and now they could have worked around the clock with the amount of orders they had. Luckily their customers were loyal and would wait. The bell rang and they all paused and looked up, but no one entered. Skulduggery shot them both a glance. It could be an elderly customer perhaps, or it could be trouble, Ghastly knew Skulduggery expected the latter as he got up and edged around the doorway. He came back carrying a small ball of fur that may or may have not been a dog.
He held it out and Ghastly examined the puppy. It looked far too small to be away from the mother and was even whimpering and making suckling motions. He sighed. They really didn't have time to raise a puppy. They truly didn't need anything that could barrel through the shop when full grown and run into customers. "Can you drive him to the vet, Skulduggery? Maybe they can find him a good home." Ghastly suggested.
Then the pup tried to stand and his heart broke. The poor thing only had three legs and he briefly wondered if they were being left broken animals out of spite or cruelty and touched his scars reflexively. Valkyrie came over to examine the pup gently and bit her lip. "She is a Kelpie. I'm guessing she's a working Kelpie and with that and three legs she'd be disqualified at a show. I like animals." She said with a shrug to his questioning glance. "Obviously this moron breeder can't tell a herding dog from a show dog. She's a cattle dog, so find her a good home. " She said gently handing the pup back. The puppy promptly started to howl, clearly missing her new mother's warmth.
Garfield answered in sympathy and Skulduggery exited with directions to the vet. Ghastly looked at Valkyrie. "You know we couldn't keep her, right?" He asked, trying to convince himself.
"I know that. Somebody must have seen Garfield and figured they could dump an unwanted pup here. At least they didn't have her gassed. And we couldn't have a dog that will get as big as she will in this shop. Besides a cattle dog would need lots of exercise." She said, sounding miserable.
"And it isn't like a cattle dog would guard the shop." He said, clinging to a slim thread of hope that she would guard the shop.
"She would. They're smart as whips. A properly trained Kelpie will do just about anything and they will protect those they love, but almost any dog would. They are a herding dog though, so it would mean plenty of walks or jogs and she would need plenty to do and customers hate dogs." She wound down and looked at him helplessly. They were already both attached but he knew if they kept the puppy first one then another animal would follow. Although it would be nice to have a companion to jog with him in the early morning.
Still, they sat at machines during the day, and God only knows what the dog might have done to a meditating Skulduggery. It wouldn't be a good life for the poor dog. They were both too upset to work well so he made them tea. "It will be all right, Valkyrie. I just feel sorry for the brothers and sisters. If they get cooped up in houses and destroy things it's the pound for them." He'd meant to cheer them both up but they winced instead.
"Well I always threatened to get a dog to bury Skulduggery so I'm sure he'd terrified of that puppy." Valkyrie said, clearly miserable.
"You didn't want to keep her?" He asked anxiously.
"No, no. We're way too busy for a dog. Besides some customers barely tolerate Garfield, Lord knows what they'd make of a dog."
"I think we're about to find out." Ghastly murmured and Valkyrie joined him at the shop window to see the Bentley pull up. Skulduggery got out with a box. He came in the shop and looked at them, looking ready to cry. "What is it?" Ghastly asked, alarmed.
"I want to keep her. The vet knows the breeder all too well. She's been arrested and she the rest of the puppies were seized but there was something wrong and they were all put down. This little girl- She won't get too much bigger, the vet thinks. She'll live a long life, as long as any dog, but she's stunted. She didn't get put down with the rest because I said she was ours. Can we keep her, please?" Tears glistened in the eyes of his façade and Ghastly felt for the man.
The pup squirmed and licked at Skulduggery's face, trying to comfort him. She was clearly smitten with her new daddy. In answer Ghastly looked at Valkyrie who came over and gently took the pup and set her down next to Garfield in his bed. The kitten got up, licked his new companion on the nose and went back to sleep, the puppy whined happily, then curled up beside him. "Garfield and Odie." Valkyrie said with a smile. And the pup did look like the cartoon dog with her floppy darker ears and golden body. But Valkyrie tilted her head thoughtfully.
Skulduggery looked at them both hopefully. "Looks like we have a dog." Ghastly said with a smile.
At dinner both the pets got licks of Vegemite and their kibble. Skulduggery, who had adopted Odie in his heart saw to her walking and cleaning up after her which surprised Ghastly. They all played with the animals after supper, then saw them into their cozy bed by the fire. Ghastly was exhausted but happy by the time they reached their bed. "I can't believe we adopted a puppy. And you said Kelpies are herding dogs? Where did you learn all this?"
"Dog shows from kennel clubs on TV. The working Kelpie isn't shown but I think she's prettier than any show dog. She will be good with us and if we have babies she will be wonderful. She just needs lots to do. She'd love to go jogging with you when she is old enough. That will burn off some of her energy at least." Valkyrie offered sleepily as she smuggled into his warmth.
"You're not disappointed? That Skulduggery and I wanted her?" He asked and she smiled up at him softly.
"Of course not. I loved Odie the instant I saw her. I just want to know who brought her here. Not the breeder and nobody bought one from what Skulduggery said. She couldn't have just appeared."
"She had an angel on her shoulder, I guess. I called the vet. She'd been thrown out into a trash heap. They found this out from the breeder herself. Someone must have rescued her and saw Garfield and hoped we'd adopt her. She'll have to go back when she's old enough to be spayed and for her shots, but he says she's a healthy pup. Older than she looks and ready for her kibble." He was fond of the puppy already and he looked forward to jogs with Odie. Three legs or not she was already playing with Garfield and running about quite well.
"I think she'll be good with the baby." Valkyrie managed before drifting off to sleep in his sheltering arms and Ghastly smiled at her. The trust she showed him meant everything to him. She knew he had a past, yet she took him at his word when he said they would wait. And he was learning to take her at her word and trust her to be there with him, always. Soon he joined her in sleep, to dream of a future when they'd have a son or daughter to play with Garfield and Odie. He smiled, even in his sleep, knowing that Valkyrie was going to be a wonderful mom.
But first of course they had a wedding to get to and even in his dreams he was looking forward to it.
Yes, Kelpies are real dogs. They are awesome cattle dogs from Australia and a good Kelpie can run right over the backs of the sheep she is herding. I will always go for a working dog over a show dog, but that's just me.