A/N: I still don't own Anton, Valkyrie or Skulduggery.

Anton opened the front door for me and gave a small bow. "Welcome once more to the Midnight Hotel, Valkyrie Cain." He said his smile welcoming and gentle and I blushed mightily.

"Thank you, Anton. I'm honoured to be here." I managed and he smiled in reply. I walked in seeing the hotel for the first time in years. Everything seemed the same. The front desk, the small back room, the stairs up to the guest rooms on the second and third floors. I started for the stairs, assuming my room would be up with the rest, but Anton stopped me with a gentle hand on my elbow. "You'll be on the first floor with me, Valkyrie, I hope you don't mind." I shook my head no and he led the way into the back room opening a door on the back wall that was hidden from view unless you were in the room.

It led to a short hall with two doors. "The one to the left is yours, I hope you like it." Anton said, pulling a key out of his black suit jacket and unlocking the door. He flicked on a light and I gasped in wonder as I stepped inside. The walls were a soft dove grey that set off the large ebony bed with a headboard that threw back the light softly. Black bedclothes and pillows graced the bed and it looked inviting.

There was a sleek onyx dresser with an immense silvered mirror with an ornate design, and a writing desk and chair in deepest ebon. Even the curtains were a comforting sable. Anton set my bags down and I noticed the rug was the same velvety black as the midnight sky. The soft white ceiling balanced the room, the ornate white glass fixture giving off an inviting glow. It was, in other words, the room of my dreams.

"Anton, this is beautiful! Are you sure you don't want this for guests instead?" I asked, noting that the materials and furniture were far more opulent than anywhere else in the hotel. He smiled, pleased with my reaction.

"No, this is for you, Valkyrie. for as long as you'll be here and any time you wish to return. I have something for you, I'll be back monetarily. Please, explore." He said, giving a gesture to the room. I found a generous walk in closet that I put my bags in and noticed that there was indeed a fair sized flatscreen that descended from the ceiling at the touch of a button. I whistled in appreciation. You didn't need to be a detective to know this room had been custom built.

There was also two nightstands flanking the bed, and a small table with two chairs and a coffee maker on a stand beside it. A door beside the dresser led into an opulent bath done in ebony and greys and I wondered for a moment if Anton had given me his own room, but everything here was clearly brand new. It smelled of newness and the cool air coming from the air conditioner in the window.

My mind was whirling. What kind of man did this for a friend, for an employee for the summer? Even if the materials had been handed to him and I highly doubted that, it was still a lot of opulence to give anyone, ever. I walked over to admire the mirror and caught Anton's reflection in it as he returned, a small wrapped package in his hands.

"I thought you might be missing home once we start moving, so I got you something." He said, his voice soft and handed me the package is elegantly tapered fingers brushing against mine for the briefest second, giving me a small electrical charge through my body. I managed to thank him, then unwrapped the black tissue paper to reveal a black and white photograph in an ornate silver frame. I stared at it in silent wonder, feeling a smile creep onto my face.

The photo was of Skulduggery and me walking down a street together. It must have been windy because his trench coat and scarf were being blown black and he was holding his hat with a gloved hand, his skull cocked to one side attentively. I was looking up at him, my hair blowing softly in the wind and it was clear we were happy to be together, laughing over something. "Where did you even get this? It's wonderful, Anton. I didn't think there were any photos of Skulduggery, to be honest."

Anton smiled. "I have my ways. I told you once I'd heard a lot about you, what I didn't tell you was that it mostly came from Skulduggery. The man adores talking about you. More than he does talking about himself." He added, the slightest hint of a smile in his voice.

"I believe everything you said but the last part." I replied, setting the frame down carefully on the dresser. "Thanks you so much, Anton. You're right, I will miss him. Until the first time he rings me. Oh, I left my charger at home."

"In one of your bags, I believe. Skulduggery said to tell you the mansion needs better wards and locks. He took the liberty of getting what you needed early this morning. You slept through everything." He smiled, clearly amused.

I blushed slightly and Anton gestured me towards the door. "I'll give you a tour then you can get settled in. No work for today, a holiday for you. A rare one, I'm quite the taskmaster." He said teasingly.

I followed him back out into the room that was his office. "If you ever can't find me, chances are I'm here. But you'll be spending a lot of time in a less glamorous room, I'm afraid." Anton said and led the way out into the common room then to a room beside the kitchen.

Anton took a key on a silver chain out of his pocket and handed it to me. "Yours, to be on your person at all times, even when you shower, never leave it in the door or anywhere else, always around your neck if you please." He said and I nodded. I unlocked the door and stared at the dusty, poorly lit room. There were boxes and boxes of papers, old hotel ledgers and other papers stacked on shelves and spilling out of boxes.

I looked at Anton in dismay. "But your office is so neat!" I protested and he smiled serenely. Now I knew why. I closed and locked the door putting the chain around my neck and followed Anton on a tour of the hotel.

He showed me the common room library, the kitchen, storage areas and a room he'd added to keep up with guest demands. A small kitchenette of sorts with snack machines and other vending machines and a microwave and ice machine. I belatedly remembered the ice bucket in my room and kicked myself for not making the connection. "Anton, exactly how do electrical appliances run without electric?" I asked and he smiled.

"We have magical scientists to thank for that. I'll be making more changes as time goes on. Would you like to see the guest rooms?" He asked and I nodded, earning a pleased smile. The Midnight Hotel was Anton's pride and joy, and it was clear he was taking great pleasure in showing it off to me.

After we'd seen a guest room which confirmed my suspicions that my room was far more luxurious he led the way back to the common room. "Thank you for coming, Valkyrie, and I mean that. It's hard for me to find people I or my Gist don't frighten." He said, his expression slightly sad.

I wanted to hug him in the worst way and tell him that it was all right, but settled for sitting on the couch with him instead. "Then people are foolish. I've seen your Gist, Anton. He's kind of cute." I said, grinning and Anton dipped his head slightly, blushing. "Besides," I went on, so he knew I wasn't trying to be mean, "you're the kindest and gentlest man I've ever met. You're about as lethal as a kitten if people aren't starting trouble in your hotel."

Anton smiled softly at me. "Most people act like I'm some kind of monster, but you never have. You've always worried about me after I let the gist out. You're willing to protect me at a time like that and I like that about you. I think the Gist likes you too as much as he can like anything."

"I like him too, he protects you. He's part of you. Do you spend much time here, with your guests?" I asked, tilting my head slightly to indicate the room.

"Sometimes, but I have my office and a small living room both our rooms connect to. The nice thing about magic is I don't need a contractor to add rooms as I please. I want you to be comfortable here, Valkyrie. Well, thus ends your tour. The guests will be arriving back soon enough. Why don't you get settled in and we can have dinner later tonight? I took the liberty of putting our leftovers in the fridge and there is plenty there."

I nodded and Anton walked me back to my room. "Thanks again, Anton, and I mean that. Everything you've done, thank you." He smiled and for a moment I thought he was going to hug me again, but he merely pushed open the door for me and handed me my key.

I went in, and locked the door then sat on the bed as tremors started to run through me. I was determined to be the best friend he'd ever had but at the same time I loved him so much I couldn't think straight in his presence. Be patient. I told myself. You spend enough time with him you'll get bored like you always do and there will be no more love.

I nodded to myself even as the thought brought tears to my eyes. But why was I crying? Once my love for him died out, and it had to just be a stupid crush, I'd be able to be a far better friend that the girl with the stupid and shameful fixation on him. I sighed thinking of an old series of films I'd seen. I was like the teenage heroine, Gidget, going crazy over her Moondoggie, the older, wiser surfer. Great. I thought. Gidget Goes Midnight Hotel. Wouldn't Anton be thrilled?

Yeah I know, not much action but there are tons of things for you to think about. Why go to all the expense for a friend you've seen rarely or a summer employee?