A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Dex, Ghastly, Tanith, Erskine or Anton. Or the Dead Men, obviously. Many thanks go out to Jcat for the review and partly inspiring the chapter, and to Blufox03 for reviewing.

The more Valkyrie thought about it after Skulduggery dropped her back at the mansion, the more she wanted to go to the ball. But with someone special. Not that Skulduggery wasn't special in his own way, but she'd given up on him loving her a long time ago. She sighed, knowing it would hurt his feelings, but she still wanted a cute guy to go with.

Her home phone rang and Valkyrie looked at it. Dex. "Hello, Dex." She said fondly when she'd answered. "You don't have to whine any more, I'm going."

"But I like whining." He whined in a goofy voice, making her giggle. "And by going you mean you're going with me, right pretty lady?" He teased and she laughed. Dex might have been the same age as Skulduggery but he was light years younger in personality and a born flirt.

And it was nice to be flirted with, even if it was just in fun. "Sorry, Dex, Skulduggery's taking me."

"As a date?" Dex's voice was a squeak of surprise.

"No, as his partner. He mentioned dancing, but I think he was being sarcastic, or joking."

"Well, until he's given you a corsage you're fair game. Tell me what time he's picking you up and I'll be there an hour earlier, a day even." Dex teased again and Valkyrie giggled and blushed. And that just made her blush more, but it was nice to be treated like a girl for once, well, like a woman at her age, and to have a man say he'd steal her away from Skulduggery.

"It's not prom, I don't think I get a flower of any kind."

"You do if you go with me."

Valkyrie paused. "You're serious, aren't you?" She asked.

"I am. It's the big event every Dead Man dreams of taking a date to. Ghastly's out of the running as he has Tanith, Anton's not attending, as usual, and Erskine knows if he glances at you sideways any of the rest of us will kill him. You're a decent girl, you deserve a date who won't maul you."

"Skulduggery certainly won't maul me."

"No, but really, I am the better dancer."

"This is the first time in ages I've seen him this happy, I'm sorry, but I can't break his heart, Dex." Valkyrie said and she heard a sigh from his end.

"Then he's a very lucky man. But think about it, Valkyrie. I'll be a fun date, you'll still be safe, but I'll treat you how a lady should be treated. You won't be going as my partner, but as my friend."

"I'd like that." She admitted. "But Skulduggery asked first, sorry, Dex." After some more harmless flirting and making her promise to think about it, Dex rang off, leaving Valkyrie feeling wistful.

Poor Val! All the guys who want to take her are either flirting or in the friend zone. Too bad Ryan isn't around, eh?