A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Tanith, Ghastly, Skulduggery, Meritorious or Anton. This is set in a different world from the novels where things played out much differently. Val is still in her 20s, story is still in her POV.
We walked out onto the street and I gasped in wonder. It was the street from my dreams, exactly, down to the charming houses and Halloween decorations. I watched people walking by dress in blue uniforms, another group wore grey. I looked at Tanith. "Where are we?" I asked.
"Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. You are going to love this place, Valkyrie, I swear. I found the most charming bed and breakfast-" My mobile rang, cutting her off and I fished it out of my pocket, answering without a thought. I could still be on call, so could she, vacation and time off or not.
"Hello?" I asked. A warm voice answered, a warm, loving voice that instantly let me know things were serious if he called. Grand Mage Meritorious might have mellowed to the point where treated me like a beloved granddaughter, but he never rang me if it wasn't important.
"Valkyrie? How are you enjoying your vacation? Alas, no time for you to answer. Look at your pendants. You'll see the centers now have half a gem each. Press them." I did and Tanith followed suit. "Done? Good. Now join the halves. It will take you to the land of the dead. Hurry, American Sanctuary agents are closing in." I didn't even ask how he knew, he always knew everything. We joined the pendants and in a flash were in the land of the dead.
At least I thought we were. Honestly it looked exactly the same as the street we'd just left. Then I saw Ghastly and Skulduggery walking towards us and I knew we were there. Tanith made a sound between a laugh and a cry as they approached and I smiled at her. "Go to him." I said, but she shook her head and grabbed my hand instead. The men reached us, both smiling. Skulduggery titled his head at me, clearly grinning.
"Not even a hug for an old friend?" He asked. "I see how it is." He teased and I laughed and stepped forward to hug him. We were still friends, best friends, even if I was still angry at him for dying on me. Ghastly gathered me up in a tight hug next, and I thought he'd never let go.
"I've missed you, Val." He said, at last letting go and smiling at me fondly. He smiled at Tanith who was keeping a polite distance. "I'm happy you two are together, Tanith. So is Skulduggery. We've got rooms for you at a bed and breakfast we're staying at." He took Skulduggery's hand then and I tried not to snort laughter at the shock on Tanith's face.
"Surprise!" Skulduggery said cheerfully. I did laugh then as Tanith let Ghastly gather her into a hug. An amused Skulduggery continued. "What are the chances of four bis staying at the same B and B? Come along then, we'll buy you girls lunch and get you settled in."
"What about your wife and kid?" I asked as we walked along and he laughed.
"The dead watch the living, remember? It was either my being homicidal or my being in love with Ghastly but they disowned me. Ah, well. But my wife moved on anyhow. Took up with a lady potter." He said, holding the gate open that led to the most charming B and B I'd ever seen.
We went in to have our bags checked and I took one look at the proprietor and caught him in a massive hug. "Anton, it's so good to see you again!"
I am so not planning the pairings, they are just coming out (you can read that however you want) the way they are.