"Valkyrie," Skulduggery said. "Why does Scorch always stay here?"

Valkyrie looked up from where she sat on the floor in one of his living rooms, play tug-of-war with a squeaky toy with Scorch. "Because he likes it here, don't you Scorchie?"

Scorch looked up and dropped the toy. "Yeah! Besides, this is my home, right?"

Skulduggery cocked his head. "Valkyrie, did you ever introduce Scorch to your house and your family?"

"No," Valkyrie sighed.

Scorch looked confused. "You have a different family?"

"Yes, my mom, dad and my little sister, Alice."

He gawked. "And you didn't tell me?"

"It's only because I didn't know how my parents were going to react when I told them that we had to keep him!"

"Well you should have told them before Scorch grew up and lost his cuteness." Skulduggery crossed his arms over his chest.

"Hey! I'm still cute."

"Quiet Scorch, this doesn't involve you." Valkyrie said.

Scorch harrumphed.

"Valkyrie. You need to introduce Scorch to your family tonight." Skulduggery said.

Valkyrie sighed. "Okay."

That Night…..

"Hi mom, hi dad." Valkyrie called as she walked into the living room. Her mother was sitting on the couch with Alice and her father was on the floor.

Valkyrie raised an eyebrow. "Why are you on the floor?"

"Well," her dad said. "I was trying to do yoga but gave up after a few seconds and couldn't get up. So I am staying down here until further notice."

"Or until he actually wants to get up." Her mother muttered.

"Hey!"

Valkyrie rolled her eyes. "So, you're saying he would probably only get up if I said I brought a new boyfriend home?"

"Whoa, what boyfriend?" Her father jumped to his feet.

"See," her mum said.

Valkyrie nodded. "You were correct. Any way I have a question for you."

"What is it sweetie?"

"Can I have a dog?"

"Why would you want to? You already have a little sister. Plus I'm afraid a dog would hurt her."

Valkyrie nodded. "Well remember when you told me I was going to a have a little sister? And you pretended that she was a new pet? Well I want an actual pet."

Her mum sighed. "I don't know, Desmond tell her."

"I don't know. Now where's the new boyfriend?"

Valkyrie rolled her eyes.

"Besides, what kind of dog would we get?"

Valkyrie grinned. "Easy."

She walked out of the room and when she came back in, she had Scorch on the end of a leash.

Her mother's eyes widened and her father gawked.

"Honey, isn't that dog a little too big?" Her mother asked, looking Scorch over.

"Well he'd be perfect if any more escaped convicts break into our house and try to kill me."

Her dad walked slowly up to Scorch. "Stephanie, I hope you are kidding that this is your new boyfriend."

Both Valkyrie and her mother face-palmed.

"No dad that is not my new boyfriend."

"Oh good."

"This I my new dog Scorch."

"You already named him?" Her mother asked.

"Yeah," Valkyrie said sheepishly.

"Well," her mother looked thoughtful. Scorch whined and went up to her and licked her on the cheek, his eyes huge and hopeful. "Okay."

Scorch leaped into the air, tail wagging. Valkyrie knew he was having a lot of trouble not saying anything. Luckily she had made it very clear not to talk, eat at the table or do anything that would show he wasn't an actual dog.

Her father was still uncertain. "I don't know Stephanie, having a dog is a lot of work. You have feed him, pet him, rub his belly, take him for walks, keep him out of your mother's flower beds…."

"Don't worry, he's perfectly trained. Watch." Valkyrie turned to Scorch. "Scorch, sit."

He sat.

"Roll over."

He rolled over.

"Play dead."

Scorch flopped over, eyes googley and his tongue sticking out.

Her father laughed. "I should bring him to 'take your pet to work day' at my office, that trick will really show up everyone. Especially Eric Wilkerson with that fancy 'pure-breed' dog of his."

Valkyrie grinned. "So I can keep him?"

"Yes."

"Yay!"

"Uh, why hasn't Scorch gotten up yet?"

"Because I haven't told him too. Scorch, up."

Scorch jumped onto all four paws and looked at them happily. He ran over and licked her father on the face.

Her dad laughed again and patted him in the head.

Scorch scampered back over to Valkyrie and sat down next to her. "Good boy Scorchie. You get to sleep in my room tonight!"

Scorch's eyes went huge and Valkyrie knew exactly what he would say. "You have a room?!"

She just laughed at him. "Yes, yes I do. Now come on I need to get some homework done so that I don't get detention tomorrow."