A/N: I don't own Ghastly, Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Darquesse or Erskine.
Valkyrie felt like singing, and she did and she moved about the cottage early the next day. She could tell Darquesse was gone for good, and now she was strong enough to fight full grown mages on their own terms, no more hiding behind Skulduggery or the other Dead Men should another war come. She didn't like to think another war would ever come, but she knew it would. She banished her dark thoughts at the sight of Odie and Garfield wrestling happily on the rug.
The greeted her with soft barks and loud purrs as she came over to them. "First a walk on the beach for you both, them grooming, then breakfast, OK?" She asked and the pets wiggled happily. She'd just gotten the harnesses snapped onto the leashes when Ghastly joined her.
"Taking the kids for a walk? Good, I'll join you if you like." He offered and she nodded handing him Odie's lead. She loved the pup dearly, but she knew the young Kelpie was the delight of both men and didn't mind sharing her affections. The dog after all had a heart of gold like all dogs and would make sure to have plenty of time for Valkyrie later. Soon they were walking along the beach and Garfield, true to his nature found a prize for Valkyrie.
A bit of driftwood had come onto the beach, a tiny, kitten-sized stick and he drug it back to her proudly, his chest puffed out and tail held high. Valkyrie smiled and praised him. "Garfield, thank you, it's what I always wanted. That's so sweet of you." She praised him, pocketing the love offering and rubbing his head. He purred loudly, delighted she'd liked his gift.
Odie, clearly knowing a good thing when she saw it, fetched a small bit of driftwood herself and took it to Ghastly and he smiled and praised her, thanking her for the gift. "What a clever girl you are, Odie, thank you. Did you see that, Val? She learned just by watching. She has a good heart too, to be so generous."
Valkyrie nodded, pleased with their furry kids and Ghastly's loving reaction. They picked up and cradled the fur children in the special front pouch carriers Ghastly had designed and brought along and continued walking, holding hands. "I'm glad it was you I married, Ghastly. Real animal lovers are rare and you're great with the kids." She said. He just smiled and blushed but she went on. "I mean it, you've been patient, even when they've gotten into things and made messes."
"Well, they're animals, honey. They don't know it isn't OK. They live in a wonderful world where money has no meaning and things are just fine after they've been chewed on. You know they love us and would never willingly do anything to hurt us. They're just exploring like children always do. Beside if people can't handle pets doing these things I shiver to think of them around children." He bundled her in close and Valkyrie smiled up at him.
Ghastly was a good man. A tender man with those he loved even if he showed his opponents no mercy, but that was as it should be. He'd fought in wars where there was no choice. He'd taught Valkyrie, just as Skulduggery had that sometimes, even if they didn't enjoy it, they had to fight, to protect not only mortals but other mages as well. Because the fact was, relatively few mages could fight.
They were back at the cottage just in time to be greeted by an excited Skulduggery. "Beautiful day, isn't it? Look what came!" He said excitedly and led them to a wooden gift crate filled with all sorts of treasures. Freshly baked bread, preserved meats and cheeses, it looked like there was even black pudding. Valkyrie had never had it before but from the men's pleased reactions she assumed it was good. There were jams and cookies and other things as well including coffee and tea and Valkyrie, mindful of such things, wondered who would leave such a generous gift.
Ghastly found the note. "It's from the elderly couple that owns the cottage. They welcome all of us, the kids included and want us to feel free to stop by and see them later." He smiled softly clearly happy with the idea and they all agreed a visit was the least they could do for such generous hosts.
They had a wonderful breakfast, Skulduggery having found eggs, fresh milk and other goodies left on the doorstep as well. He grinned as he cooked. "I've never in all my life been greeted this well, Valkyrie. I'm traveling with you two more often. If you'll have me."
"Of course we will." She and Ghastly said in unison. Valkyrie went on. "I mean it, dad. I love having you here and being retired is fun to be honest. But we'll still do training, right?"
"Of course, I taught you well. Just because we are retired doesn't mean trouble won't find us. Besides you know Erskine. He'll get himself and the Sanctuary into a royal mess from time to time and insist we come in. Well get to ruffle all sorts of feathers." He chuckled and plated up breakfast for them while Valkyrie saw to the Vegemite and kibble for the kids. The vet had no problem with the spread though he highly doubted it was the wondrous cure-all Valkyrie saw it as.
Garfield after all didn't wobble or totter so much anymore, but walked strong and surefooted despite his mangled paws and Odie was filling out nicely. Both kids had nice glossy fur and bright shiny eyes, and Valkyrie was pleased with them. She knew her own baby would be a lot more work, but she felt ready.
Now with Skulduggery around she and Ghastly could count on an experienced father to help them. After breakfast Skulduggery tilted his head and she walked outside with him. "Started in on my grandkids yet?" He asked teasingly and she blushed. "I'm teasing, Val, You just Surged. I know it will take a while before you are a hundred percent. I just know babies are important to you both. Told you you'd want your own some day." He wrapped a loving arm around her. "If your mom were still here she'd approve, you know." Valkyrie smiled and nodded. Somehow Skulduggery had decided that she really was his child, but she didn't mind. She'd had to give up her own family, so it was comforting.
"Have you ever- I was told once that mages can come back. How come most don't?" She asked and he shrugged.
"I've wondered that myself. Your mother was a determined woman and swore if we were ever parted she'd return, and, I'll tell you this, because I know you'll believe me. But I've had dreams lately that she is going to return. Not just my wanting her back, Val, and I mean it, but she's coming back. Do you believe me?"
"I do. You know if she does come back, you might have to think of moving back to your old house. Living with us might not be what she wants and I'm OK with that. I want you happy, you deserve it." He nodded.
"When did you get so wise? I've thought of that, Valkyrie, and we'll play it by ear, but I know she'd love you. Your brother, well, he was adopted. We could never have children of our own. So, hopefully-" He bundled her in tightly and she held him. He didn't grieve but she knew his mind had to be whirling.
"Hey, it's OK, I'll never make you choose." She soothed. "now let's get back inside before Ghastly thinks we're preparing for a wake." He laughed and agreed to let Ghastly know as well. Ghastly listened patiently to Skulduggery's story and asked questions about his dreams.
"It's more than possible, Skulduggery. It's been said time doesn't pass the same way on the other side so she might not even know how much time has passed even though she's been keeping an eye on you. That said? You come to us with everything and I mean everything. This could be your wife returning and it could be a trap, but we all know that." Skulduggery nodded and they moved on to other subjects, mostly debating what time to visit their hosts.
They decided lunchtime would be good, they could always eat later, after all and Valkyrie wondered if they should take some kind of gift. Ghastly shrugged. "I don't think so, not yet at any rate. We're just getting to know them and we are paying guests. A thank you gift after we get home might be good of course. We'll think of something."
Their hosts proved to be a charming couple and mages themselves. As they were both over two thousand years old Valkyrie was surprised how refreshingly modern their snug cottage was. "You have a beautiful home." She told their hostess, Mina, who smiled and beckoned her into the kitchen.
"We can let the men talk for a bit. You know, we've been blessed, not all mages live as long as we have, but I wanted to assure you your young man is an extremely young man as far as mages go. He's hardly more than a child yet. I know that sounds strange to one as young as yourself, but the centuries change your view on things. And in a good way, I think."
"But he keeps calling himself old, all our friends do." Valkyrie said and her hostess nodded.
"We did the same thing at that age. It's hard in a way. You are old, because you outlive mortals by centuries, but yet, you are still a child compared to older mages. And older mages tend to hide themselves away. Patrick and I don't see the use in that. And for how long any of us can live," she paused and shrugged, "nobody knows. Usually the end comes in a war or a fight over something or other. Or rarely to disease like any mortal, but we tend, by and large to be hearty from our magic. Now then, let's get the treats out to the men. They never grow up you know, not really."
Valkyrie laughed, she liked Mina. The woman wore her age well not like some of the bitter elders she'd met. Magical age was still a mystery to Valkyrie. Some mages aged rapidly not living much longer than a mortal, some lived for centuries, some spanned thousands of years. She wondered if it was based on the type of magic or something more simple; the will to live in a world where so much around you changed. Even just the loss of her parents had thrown her for a loop she couldn't imagine the day when all the countries of the world might no longer be.
Patrick seemed to read her thoughts. "It isn't so bad you know, young one. Getting to live through civilizations rising and falling. It gives you perspective and really, people don't change. And the older and stronger you get the less you have to move. The mortal world just starts to flow around you as if you aren't even there."
"Really?" Valkyrie asked, interested.
"Indeed it does. You're all much to young to have seen it yet, but when you are around seven hundred or so the change starts to come. You will still interact with them, but it is as if you weren't quite real to them. I've often wondered if older mages are where the tales of other folk come from. We can't even be found if we don't want to be and we do it all just by being us, no effort on our part." Mina said.
"I've heard of that, I just never thought it was real." Ghastly said. "But what about today, with all our technology, all the bills we have to pay and so forth? We're in a magical community, but how do you cope?"
"We live off the grid, all the modern things like lights run by magic. We can't make food or other essentials appear, but if you save your money here and there you'll find you survive on amazingly little. Besides, you'll be fit and want to do some type of work at our age. You'll see." Patrick said and Ghastly seemed to relax.
"Just don't try and think of living how you are for the next several centuries, I think that's what gets to most mages. They are either terrified things will never change or scared they will." Mina advised and all three nodded. She paused to watch Garfield and Odie as they romped around with the resident ginger cat and Corgi. "And always keep animals by your side. They help, a lot. They give you the companionship you crave when you'd like to be rid of the whole magical community."
They all laughed. The truth was, mortals were interesting and it was hard to live outside of their world. True Valkyrie could always go to a movie or do whatever else she liked, but knowing that she couldn't have any close friends or see her family again bothered her. Still, she wouldn't have given up Ghastly for anything, her family included.
The visit was pleasant and they returned to their own cottage, Valkyrie lost in her own thoughts. She wondered now if they should wait to have children. They had the shop, the possibility of Skulduggery leaving if his wife did return and a million other things to deal with. But then Ghastly was looking at her the way he did, with infinite softness and tenderness and she knew she wanted children with him and the sooner the better.
Awww. Babies soon? Maybe!