A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Ghastly, Tanith, Erskine or Saracen. Thanks go out to RedIvySparrow for the fave, follow and review, and to mysteryHuntress and Blufox03 for reviewing.

Valkyrie had put on her dress and shoes, done her hair and makeup, and was checking herself out in the bathroom mirror when a velvety voice came through the closed door. "You're late."

Smiling to herself, she opened the door. "I'm beautiful, I'm allowed to be late." She said and sensed his smile. She stepped out to admire him. "That's the same suit? You look even better than last time. Uh, I mean..." She flushed and trailed off, but Skulduggery just chuckled and adjusted his white scarf around his face and donned his sunglasses.

He offered her his arm and she took it, then he was walking her out to the Bentley and Valkyrie felt distinctly giddy. Skulduggery was her date! And everyone had known, except her. She repressed a giggle when he got her door and Skulduggery looked amused. "Seatelt." He said as he got in and she complied. "Are you excited to be going?"

"Of course, it's just strange, all our friends knowing before I did."

"Ah, that. Well, there's a good reason for that."

"Which is?"

"I am four centuries older, Valkyrie, and they care about you. Dating rules are rather different for mages than everyone else, but still..."

"It's different because we were partners for a long time first?" She asked.

"It is. For Dex or any of the others, they never knew you that young. It wouldn't be unheard of for them to date someone your age. But as we've had such a complicated relationship I didn't want to add to by mistaking all your claims to love me for the real thing if it wasn't."

"Ah." Valkyrie said, unsure now if they were on a date now or not. Was this his "Let's just be friends." speech? "Would you mind me dating Dex?" She asked and the Bentley swerved slightly.

"I'd shoot him, you're my girl."

"Just so we're clear." She said and he smiled at her.

They picked up Ghastly and Tanith, Ghastly's van being in the shop, and went on to the mansion to find it transformed. The ballroom she never fussed with was once again sparkling and far more opulent than usual and as the four friends entered heads turned. "We're famous." Ghastly said, amused.

"They're all staring at Val." Tanith corrected.

"No, they're not." Valkyrie protested.

"Yes, they are." Skulduggery put in.

"Oh God. What's wrong? Is it my makeup, it's my makeup isn't it? Or my hair?" She asked but he drew her out onto the dance floor ignoring her list of worries.

"It's how very beautiful you are." Skulduggery purred, wrapping his arm around her and drawing her into a waltz. They swayed, Valkyrie glad they had practised. Skulduggery had lowered his scarf, and tucked away his sunglasses, and although it didn't seem possible, his expression seemed soft as he gazed down at her.

Valkyrie met his gaze, staring deep into his hollow eye sockets, getting lost in him, and everything else was just gone. There was only her and Skulduggery as he waltzed her around the floor. Valkyrie found herself smiling, and as the music ended she thought Skulduggery was going to kiss her, but he merely took her hand to lead her to the nearest table. "Coffee?" He asked and Valkyrie nodded as a waiter came over.

"I still can't believe we're here, and dancing together." She said as the waiter bustled off and returned with two coffees.

"Well, now we're sitting."

"Skulduggery!"

He laughed. "You know what I mean. I can't either, to be honest. I never thought I'd date someone so, so..."

"Beautiful?"

"I was going to say annoying, and short." He said and she punched him in the arm. Hard.

"Ow!" He whined, and Erskine walking towards them, laughed.

"True love, that." He said, smiling at the couple. "Dex didn't even come, he's too brokenhearted." Erskine said, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Sorry we all were in on something and didn't tell you, Val."

"It's OK. I'm just glad you all were happy for us. You are all happy for us, right?"

"Would you really care if we weren't?"

"Not really."

"That's our girl. Well, I have buxom women to pretend to love." He winked at the pair and Valkyrie snorted in response. She turned her attention to Skulduggery, who was looking at her thoughtfully.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing."

"It's never nothing. Skulduggery, if this is one of those times you let me walk around with something wrong with my outfit because you find it hilarious..."

"No, I was just thinking it's a pity we're sitting here drinking coffee, when the music is starting again." This time she swore she saw his smile as he extended his gloved hand and led her back out onto the dance floor.

They danced closer this time, Skulduggery's sturdy ribs pressed into her as they moved, and his gloved hand was defintely slightly lower than before. Valkyrie felt slightly giddy, but kept her feet under her, even when Skulduggery twirled her away suddenly spun her back into his skeletal embrace just as quickly.

They kept moving and Valkyrie thought she heard applause as she bent her head back to look up at him and Skulduggery dipped his head to kiss her.

Um, I had too much caffeine? Yes, let's blame the coffee this chapter.