A/N: I don't own Skulduggery or Valkyrie, but Sam and Cat are my OCs. Thanks go out to Myalarne Phoenix for the follow.
The women stopped dead, unsure of what to do, but their waitress, bringing their food order, waved them over. "Your friends said to tell you they will be right back." She said helpfully and Cat nodded as they sat down. She was starting to remember Sam now, starting to remember all about him. And as the men returned and she caught sight of him, the memories put themselves neatly in order.
She rose and caught Sam in a hug, a silent apology for ever doubting him and he seemed to understand from the comforting hug he gave her in response, but it was the kiss he gave her when they sat back down, sweet and understanding, that made Cat realize that he knew she'd remembered how they had met. She turned to Valkyrie, her lips twitching into a smile at the look of shock on her friend's face.
"You want to hear a story? Once upon a time a detective was investigating an old abandoned mansion in the South. It was on a perfect night too. The light of the full moon streaming in the large windows, the scent of flowers from the overgrown garden outside scenting the air, and all around her she saw evidence of great wealth and perfect taste in decorating the mansion with only the finest things."
They began to eat their burgers and fries and Cat continued. "And as she came into the main hall there hung a portrait of the gentleman who'd owned the house centuries before. She instantly fell in love with the handsome gentleman, dressed in white who reminded her exactly of what a Kentucky Cornel should be. For he seemed like a kind man, and to her he was a hero."
Sam picked up the story. "And she spoke to the painting, told the gentleman how handsome he was, called him Cornel, told him how beautiful his home was. She especially admired that beneath all that wealth and show was part of the Underground Railroad, her real aim of the investigation. And she was so kind to be there, to want to help the troubled spirits left behind, that the gentleman in question, a shade himself, fell in love with her."
Cat smiled at him and finished their tale. "A friend of theirs was also present, as she always was. And when the investigation turned tragic she united the pair, granting the gentleman a little while longer on the earth."
Valkyrie nodded as they finished and Cat supposed it made sense to her. Skulduggery had come back himself, Sam had just had a little help. She wondered for a moment how she could have forgotten that night, how she could have thought they had went in as partners, but she knew very well why. Sam wanted to be as human as possible for her, as alive as possible. He hadn't wanted her to remember that he was a shade walking around in what she hoped were his own bones.
Not that two of us at this table have room to comment. She thought dryly as the friends moved on to other topics. Still, now that she remembered she wondered if it would change things. She'd told Valkyrie that Sam had been given a little while longer on the earth. Does that mean, she wondered uneasily, that his time is running out?
Thought you might enjoy a cliffy.