AN. Hey everyone! Thanks for all your reviews! I hope you like this next chapter. :)

Skulduggery's POV

"Father, I beg of you, please have someone watch him!"

I pace back and forth in my father's office in front of his desk, he leans forward and rests his elbows on the desk, "I have no reason to suspect Lightning is behind all this. I'm sorry Skulduggery."

"You have every reason to suspect him! Think about it father, he has motive and you know all too well what he is like when he wants something, and he wants Valkyrie."

I stop pacing and I place my hands on his desk and lean closer.

"Then why would he try to harm her the other night? And threaten her?"

"Well first he was jealous of our relationship so he lied to her saying I'll hurt her so she'd stay away from me. Then when that didn't work and we went on a picnic, he destroyed her room and put 'Stay away from Skulduggery' into her door with lightning. Then when she agree to staying with me and not him he threw the rock into the widow to get me, not her. She was staying on my side of the bed, but I let her have that side the other night."

He stays quiet for a moment, letting the information to settle in his mind, "Very well, I'll have someone keep and an I on him."

I sigh, "Thank you father."

We say our goodbyes and I leave to look for Valkyrie.

Valkyrie's POV

I walk through the garden looking at all the plants. I sit on a bench under the shade of the trees. I think about Skulduggery and the other night, it's really starting to concern me. Could Lightning really be doing this? Who else could it be? China? No it couldn't be her, she couldn't have known I'd be staying in Skulduggery's room.

That's when I hear someone calling me, "Valkyrie!" I turn my head to see Lightning running to me. I force a smile onto my face.

"Hello Lightning how are you?" he sits beside me.

"I am well thank you, and you?"

"I can't complain," we both chuckle and I watch him carefully.

He takes my hand and says seriously, "Valkyrie while we're alone, I must tell you something."

I nod and think 'By alone, you mean while Skulduggery isn't here.' I stay silent, waiting for him to finish.

"Valkyrie I, " he pauses and sighs, "Valkyrie I…I'm very fond of you. No more then fond I… I love you, and I would love it that if you felt the same, then we could go to the ball together?"

My eyes widen, I knew he had feelings for me but love me? I had no idea.

"Oh Lightning," I whisper, I have to let him down gently, "I'm so sorry but I… I don't feel the same… I mean yes I do love you but as a good friend or a brother. I'm so sorry, I would love it if we could still be friends."

I see his sadness slip away and anger replaces it, "This is because of Skulduggery is it not? You love him and not me." His grip on my hands tightens painfully.

I hiss as my hands ach, "Lightning… that hurts."

Dark clouds fill the sky, the wind becomes strong. I hear thunder and lightning strikes not far from us. He pushes me to the ground, "Am I not good enough for you? That is it isn't it?"

"Lightning please-," I start but he cuts me off.

"Isn't it?" he shouts.

He points to me and the lightning strikes closer to me. That's when I hear Skulduggery's voice, "Lightning no!"

As Lightning turns he's tackled to the ground. Skulduggery punches repeatedly and touch Skulduggery's arm gently, "Skulduggery stop."

He stops and looks at me, Lightning is now unconscious, "H-He was about to kill you Valkyrie. I could have lost you," he whispers. I see tears in his eyes, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close, burying his face in my neck. I hold him, stroking his hair, trying to sooth him.

Not long later Danger, Emerald and Time come. We tell them what happened the take Lightning off somewhere. I don't know where to.

Danger turns to Skulduggery and me, "You were right Skulduggery, it was Lightning, I'm sorry I didn't believe you. And Valkyrie, I'm sorry I didn't do anything to stop this."

I smile at him, "It's alright Danger, you didn't know."

He smiles sadly at me and walks off Emerald following close behind.

Later that night it is just Time and I who go have dinner, Skulduggery has been in his room all day and Danger and Emerald are with Lightning.

I've been thinking all day about Skulduggery, how I love him, how everyone else says he loves me, but what about his wife and child? I can't change the future.

"Time, I need you to send me back to the future," I say suddenly.

He stares at me sadly, "Don't you like it here?"

"I do I love it here, but I'm scared I may be changing the future. I can't tell you how or why but I am. I don't belong here."

"Valkyrie you do belong here. My future self has told me everything, about how how Skulduggery is a skeleton in the future, how it happened, everything. Trust me, dear Valkyrie, you belong here. And I can't send you back." Then he leaves and goes to bed. I stay sitting there. As happy as I am to stay here, what about Alice? And my parents? And everyone else.

I sigh and go upstairs to my room, I get into my nightgown and go into Skulduggery's room. He is dressed for bed but still up. He looks up at me as I come in, his eyes are red and puffy, he's been crying. I rush over to him, "Skulduggery what is it? What is wrong?" he pulls me to him.

"I can't help but think of what could have happened to you if I didn't get there in time." He sobs, I'm not used to seeing him show so much emotion.

I stroke his hair and soothe him like before.

"Go to sleep Skulduggery, I'll be right here the whole time." I blow out the candle.

He lies down, taking me with him, we fall asleep in each other's arm, my head is on his chest and his face is buried in my hair. I smile as I fall asleep.

This is where I belong.

AN. Awwwwwww! Haha. What do you think Lightning will do next? Also I was wondering would you like me to skip a few days to the ball or leave you waiting by puting up other chapters of the days before it? I love Valduggery so much. I hope you liked this chapter. Please R&R. until next time! :)