AN. Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all your reviews. I've decided I'll have one more chapter before the ball because some wanted the ball chapter next and others wanted to know what happened to Lightning etc. so I hope you like this chapter. :)

Skulduggery's POV

Time, Valkyrie and I sit in the parlour looking at my parents who are standing in front of us. No body speaks.

"Is this about Lightning?" Time asks.

"Yes," Mother starts, "Thank you Time. You of course all know what happened, and to make sure he does not try to hurt anyone else we have locked him in his room which is now magic bound. He cannot use his powers to get out." I take Valkyrie's hand. My mind goes back to the night before were we held each other and her comforting me as I sobbed. I cried once again today, I can't help it. The thought of losing her drives me insane.

"However", Father cuts with a firm voice, "this does not mean he is not still dangerous. None of you can go near his room unless you are just passing by it to get to another, understood?"

We all nod, "Good, you may go about your day now." Father and Mother walk off.

"I must go," Valkyrie stands up, "I didn't get much sleep last night, I'm just going to rest and I shall be back down in an hour or two." She smiles at me and kisses my cheek and walks off.

Time turns to me, "Are you two attending the ball together?"

I nod, "Yes, we are. Are you bringing anyone, brother?"

We stand up and walk out to the garden as we talk. He nod, "Yes actually, Miss China Sorrows."

I growl, "You know she is only going with you because I didn't ask and I'll be there, do you not?"

"I do know that but I will make sure she stays away from you and Valkyrie."

"Good, thank you brother…," I hesitate, "That would be excellent actually, you see, I'm planning on proposing to Valkyrie and I would hate for China to ruin it."

Time grins, "A proposal you say? Well then I'll most certainly keep her away."

I then hit him with a series of questions, … "Do you think she will say yes?"… "What if she says no?"… "Do you think she loves me back?"

He covers my mouth, "Dear God man, slow down! And to answer your questions, Yes, she will says yes, she will not say no and yes she loves you too, that is obvious."

I nod and sigh when he takes his hand away from my mouth, "Thank you Time. I'm just very nervous."

"I can tell," he puts a hand on my arm, "but do not be Skulduggery, she loves you and will except."

Oh God I hope so.

Valkyrie's POV

I come down later that evening have dinner with just Time once again and find Skulduggery in the garden. I walk up and sit beside him, "Hello." He looks up at me and smiles widely.

"Hello Valkyrie"

"I missed you at dinner."

"I'm sorry I wasn't all that hungry, did you rest well?"

"Yes, thank you, I did."

"Excellent!" he exclaims and stands up holding out his hand to me, "Would you like to go for a walk?"

I take his hand smiling, "I would love to." We start walking around aimlessly. "I'm really looking forward to dancing with tomorrow, Skulduggery."

"As am I, my dear Valkyrie." We stop near the pond and just look at each other. He steps closer to me, "Valkyrie, I would like to ask you something."

"Yes, Skulduggery?"

"Well you see Valkyrie, I lo-," before he can finish something lands on top of me, a cat. In a moment of surprise I take a step back as it jumps of me and runs away but as I step back my foot slips and the next thing I know I'm in the pond. For a pond it's surprisingly deep.

I try to swim back up to the edge but the dress is weighing me down, making it harder to swim or breath.

I start thrashing, trying my hardest to get up to the top, my lungs burning. As my vision starts to blur hear a splash and feel strong arms around me. Then I feel a gust of wind hitting my face and I realise Skulduggery is holding me to him tightly and above the water. I take a deep breath and begin gasping and coughing. I hold onto him tightly and bury my face in his chest.

"Good God Valkyrie," Skulduggery whispers into my hair, "Are you alright?"

When I finally calm down I look up at him and nod, "Yes, thank you Skulduggery." He strokes my cheek and kisses my forehead, and then my cheeks. I look deep into his eyes and slowly lean my face closer to his, he does the same. I close my eyes and whisper his name.

As our lips are about to touch I hear Time, "Valkyrie! Skulduggery! Are you both alright?" we pull away blushing and sighing.

Skulduggery's POV

Damn that Time. I was so close to kissing her, that's all I've been able to think about since I laid eyes on her. And that damn cat, almost killing her and interrupting my proposal.

Time helps us out of the pond, I go to my room to get dressed for bed and Valkyrie goes to her room to get dressed also.

Valkyrie's POV

I reach my room and walk in, thinking of the almost kiss. When I'm inside and I light the candle, I see Time standing in the middle of the room. But it's not the Time that just helped us out of the pond a minute ago, it's the Time who sent me here, from the future.

He smiles, "Hello, Valkyrie."

"Hello, Time. I see your past self spoke to you."

He nods, "Yes, he mentioned that you fear you're changing the future and that you don't belong here," I just nod and he says gently, "Well don't, trust me when I say you do belong here. Oh and also, if you're faced with a decision were your heart is telling you differently from your mind, go with your heart. Goodbye Valkyrie," he smiles and just like that he's gone. What did he mean by that whole heart thing?

I get ready for bed and go into Skulduggery's room. He is lying in the bed in the darkness. I crawl in beside him and kiss his cheek, "Goodnight Skulduggery."

He pulls me to him, "Goodnight Valkyrie."

I fall asleep smiling, dreaming of dancing with Skulduggery at the ball.

A few hours later…

I wake up, I feel his lips brush against my ear, his breath against my neck. Skulduggery is still asleep beside me so I know all too well who it is.

"You'll be mine" with that he's gone and in a flash I'm sitting up and looking around for him.

Him being Lightning…

How did he get out?

AN. So there we go! I hope your excited for the Ball chapter, I know I am! I hope you liked this chapter, please R&R. Until next time. :)