A/N: I don't own Anton, Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Ghastly or Billy-Ray.

I was all settled in and had watched some TV and figured I could go out exploring the hotel a little more. Not the guest rooms of course, but the changes fascinated me. I was approaching the front desk where Anton was busy with a guest. I saw who was checking in and stopped dead in my tracks. Billy-Ray.

I was going to turn on my heel and run back to my room when Billy-Ray spotted me. "Well hello, l'il darlin', don't tell me you're staying here." He leered at me and Anton answered, his voice cold.

"Miss Cain is a personal friend and employee of the Midnight Hotel. If you so much as look at her wrong I'll throw you out of the hotel in Antarctica, understood?" Billy-Ray gulped and nodded then finished signing in. He retreated up the stairs quickly, not daring to look at me. I sighed.

"You know, that's going to be the normal reaction from most of your guests, Anton. Skulduggery and I have made a lot of enemies. Are you sure you want me here? I don't want you stressed out when they all react that badly."

Anton shook his head. "Billy-Ray had proved to be vindictive towards you in the past and I'll keep an eye on him, but most of my guests will behave as if you're not even there. They just want asylum, Valkyrie, to be left in peace. Is your room all right?" He asked.

"Yes, it's wonderful, Anton, honestly. I'm just used to pacing to be truthful. I'm sure Billy-Ray will behave this time. He only gets into trouble when he's sure there's nobody bigger or stronger than he is around."

"Well said." Anton nodded. "Feel free to explore and Valkyrie? If a guests asks you to go anywhere with them or look at anything, don't. They all already know you have my protection but some of them are a tad unstable." I nodded.

"I'll be careful. Can I get you anything while I'm up? Coffee?" Anton shook his head no and I wandered into the common room looking for a good book. I was surprised at the range of titles then mentally kicked myself. Spending so much time in the Sanctuary I'd forgotten that most mages would rather read a good book by a best-selling author than anything on magic. We learned by doing, not reading, after all.

I picked an Alex Cross mystery and headed back to my room. I wasn't used to the luxury of downtime to be honest. Even when we didn't have a case I tended to be on high alert since a case could come at any minute. So it didn't take long for me to fall asleep when I made the mistake of curling up in bed to read.

I woke a few hours later, slightly groggy. I wanted Billy-Ray gone, especially when he was traveling alone. That did not bode well since the last I'd heard of him he and a Remnant-possessed Tanith were getting married. I tried remember if I'd seen a wedding band and realized I hadn't. Trouble in paradise?

The was a knock at my door, then Anton's soft voice. "Are you about ready for dinner, Valkyrie?"

"Uh, one second please, Anton." I said getting out of bed to look at myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess and I hurriedly combed it back into place. I didn't look great having fallen asleep in my clothes but I guessed I looked OK for dinner with my employer.

I met Anton in the hall and he smiled at me gently. "I thought you might fall asleep. Getting away from your cases will do you good for a while, I think. You deserve a vacation. Shall we?" He asked and proffered his arm and I took it, trying not to blush.

Anton was a handsome man and the aura of mystery he carried only made him more attractive to me. He seemed to be everywhere at once in the Midnight Hotel, a place I was starting to love dearly.

We walked to the kitchen where dinner was already set out for us. I wondered how Anton kept guests out of his kitchen then remembered none of them wanted to tangle with him. As quiet and gentle as he was, he was a fierce fighter and his Gist was even more fierce, delighting in destroying his enemies. Maybe that's why I'm love with him. I thought as Anton got my chair and I thanked him politely. We both had a dark side we'd integrated into us and could use as a weapon. I turned my attention to Anton as he seated himself. "Thank you, Anton. I can't say that anyone's ever made me dinner before."

Anton smiled, a look of slight disbelief on his face. "Not even Skulduggery?" I laughed in reply.

"Skulduggery would burn the house down if you let him cook. Cold Pop Tarts are the best he can manage, or those little bowls of cereal. That's it."

Anton looked wistful as he replied. "And yet you're the best of friends, anyone can see that. I want that for myself one day, a friend I can be that close to. It must be wonderful."

"It is, most of the time." I admitted. "But we fight like any two friends would and then it is terrible. He usually wins because I can't stand to see him sulk." Anton laughed.

"That sounds exactly like Skulduggery. Any time he didn't get his way in the war he'd sulk. We men would ignore him of course, but you've gotten him spoiled. He knows it too, Valkyrie. I couldn't believe it when he agreed to let you come for the summer."

I grinned at Anton. "Knowing him, he's up to something. This is all part of his master plan. Of course his master plans are usually rubbish so I wouldn't worry too much." Anton laughed again, and I realized I'd been trying to make him laugh.

He looked at me thoughtfully. "Valkyrie, and forgive me for asking this, but why would you want to work at the Sanctuary?"

"Honestly? I don't, Anton. But ever since Skulduggery saved my life the night I was attacked I've spent more time in the world of magic than anywhere else. So I lost my family, but I found a new one. I don't like or trust a Sanctuary any more than you do, but there are people there that are family to me and I'd have no excuse to see them otherwise. Of course I'll thank you not to repeat that. I have them fooled into thinking I'd leave at a moment's notice and don't like them much." I grinned so he could tell I was joking and he smiled.

We'd finished dinner and Anton was escorting me back to my room when Billy-Ray was coming down the stairs. He'd clearly missed Anton by my side because he whipped off his sunglasses to glare at me. "You're a dead woman, Cain." He hissed.

"Can I help you with something, Mr. Sanguine?" Anton asked and Billy-Ray face went white. Anton was looking at him with an expression on his face like a cat that sees a bird just out of reach. A bird that it badly wants to kill and is content to know will make a fatal mistake eventually. Billy-Ray shook his head and retreated up the stairs so quickly that he stumbled.

Anton continued to look upwards thoughtfully. "There's no rule against threats, but if he so much as touches you, tell me. I'll be more than happy to make him leave." He turned his glance back to me. "I know it must be hard for you to understand but I believe in asylum. No offense meant, but you are no longer a Sanctuary Detective as long as you stay. Well good night, Valkyrie, I must man the front desk. You may arise whenever you wish tomorrow and work at your own pace. Sweet dreams." He turned to the desk and I murmured a good night to him and went to my room.

I did understand in a way, but all the same I'd wished he'd kicked Billy-Ray out before I fought one of his guests and he kicked me out. But I couldn't fight back, could I? It would hurt both Anton and the Midnight Hotel and I didn't want that to happen, ever. I just hope Billy-Ray didn't manage to kill me.

The days passed uneventfully enough. As we kept odd hours from one another I didn't see Anton that much and it suited me just fine. If anything being there had made me fall deeper in love with him, and that of course made me careless. I'd already learned to ignore his guests so I didn't even bother to turn as one stepped into the common room late one night.

It was late and I figured he couldn't sleep either. I didn't realize who it was until a booted foot smashed into my ribs, knocking me to the floor. I brought up my arms to shield myself, refusing to fight. I knew Anton's rules, but so did Billy-Ray. He was kicking and punching me with abandon, cursing me for everything I'd ever done to him.

He suddenly stopped and steeped back, a terrible smile on his face. I watched in horror as Billy-Ray drew his straight razor out of his pocket. "I promised myself I'd kill you if I ever got the chance, and here it is. You laid out on a pretty platter for me an' all. Prepare to die, Cain."

"Sanguine." We both looked over to see Anton striding towards us. "You are no longer a guest in this hotel." Billy-Ray backed up with a snarl, ready to strike with his razor. "Yeah, well supposin' I don't agree with that there theory, what're you gonna do about it? Hmm?"

"This." Anton said. Then his head tilted back and he curled his hands into fists. His Gist started to emerge from his chest, a hyper aggressive double with sharp teeth and nails on its hands that looked like talons. The black eyes locked onto Billy-Ray and it snarled in hatred and flew at him, the connection to Anton streaking out behind it. The Gist grabbed the wrist below hand that held the razor and easily crushed it then raked him across the face and drawing blood. Billy-Ray howled in pain, his sunglasses shattering with the force of the blow. This just seemed to enrage the Gist more as it tossed him across the room to crash into a wall.

The Gist was close behind and it swooped down to throw him again, this time into the stone front of the fireplace, knocking him out cold. Anton was struggling to reel it back in before it could kill Billy-Ray and the Gist howled and raged, fighting the whole way. For a moment it locked its black eyes onto mine seeming to plead for understanding, then it was gone once more. I rushed to Anton who was shaking and pale. He had sunk to his knees and the sight of him so weak terrified me. "Don't worry about me. Get that man out of my hotel." He managed faintly.

Two guests who'd wandered down to see what was going on grabbed Billy-Ray and tossed him outside shortly before midnight. The hotel moved on, leaving Billy-Ray behind. I managed to help Anton to stand, then took him to his room. He was shaking so badly he couldn't use his key so I did, putting it back in his pocket then helping him to a chair using the light from the hall to navigate.

I found the light switch then closed and locked the door. Anton was pale and trembling. Sweat covered his body and plastered his shirt to him. I was terrified he was going to die right in front of me. "Anton- What can I do? How can I help?"

"I'll be fine, Valkyrie. But I would appreciate it if you stayed until I recovered." I nodded. The room was almost a double to mine so it wasn't hard to find a glass of water and a damp wash cloth. I set the water beside him and wiped the sweat from his face. Anton closed his eyes and smiled his thanks, too weary to speak.

I returned the washcloth to the bath then went and sat beside Anton. His colour was returning and he wasn't trembling quite so badly, but it was clear he was in no condition to fight. "Thank you, Anton. To be truthful I expected you to just punch him like last time." Anton looked amused.

He seemed unsure of himself then spoke. "What about you? That had to hurt, being attacked like that." I shook my head and explained that I'd been lucky enough to be wearing the protective clothing Ghastly had made me.

"I was going to look for something to read then go outside, just for a minute. So I had the jacket on. I'll be sore, but he didn't break anything."

"Why on Earth didn't you fight back?"

"I would have made you look bad, Anton, you know I would have. I figured he'd get bored and wander away eventually. Not my best plan ever, but in my defense I think he may have kicked me in the head." I smiled at him and he grimaced.

"Next time a guest attacks you, you have my permission to fight back. I never meant for you not to defend yourself. You're lucky he didn't manage to kill you." He sighed. "I think Ill be fine now Valkyrie. Thank you for staying." I nodded and let myself out, wishing him a good night.

I wondered as I got into bed what I was doing there. At times Anton was friendly and open, but tonight, even though he'd saved my life I had the feeling again of him not liking me much. Something about his tone that had let me know he wanted me to leave, I guessed. I sighed, trying very hard not to cry and wondering when we'd next be in Ireland again. I wanted very badly to be home once more, far away from the Midnight Hotel and Anton. It was clear that he didn't love me and I wasn't going to be much use to him if all I did was cause trouble. I fell asleep hoping I'd wake in Ireland.

In the morning I was trying to avoid Anton. He was in his office on his mobile and I waited just outside the door hoping he's ring off and go out to the front desk so I could slink by unnoticed. I could only hear snatches of his conversation I wasn't really listening until I heard him mention my name.

"No, Valkyrie doesn't know how I feel, Skulduggery, and you're not to tell her. Can you seriously imagine any woman ever-" He cut off suddenly then resumed. "Yes, I know what you think she feels, but I think I know the woman I'm in love with more than you think I do. Valkyrie can never know I love her, and that's the end of it."

I retreated back down the hall as his conversation continued. He was in love with me! It was all I could do not to call Skulduggery, but of course Skulduggery was talking to Anton at the moment so it would have to wait. I made sure I looked decent in the mirror and was turning to go back out when there was a soft knock at my door. "Valkyrie? Are you up yet?" Anton called in and I went to open the door. He smiled gently at me and I felt my heart lurch.

"I thought you might like to get out of the hotel for a while. I need to make a supply run for the vending machines if you'd care to join me." I nodded and he escorted outside to a waiting car. It was a light blue compact and I had no idea how it had gotten there. "You haven't seen the entire hotel yet." He said amused. "I do have to keep my own transportation since we can only set down in the middle of nowhere."

Anton got my door for me and I thanked him then leant over to get his. He seemed taken with the gesture. Anton looked at me every so often as he drove, his smile gentle. "Thank you for staying last night, Valkyrie it was kind of you."

I nodded, gathering up my courage to speak. "Skulduggery thought letting me come to the Midnight Hotel would cured me of what ailed me. He was fairly sure working with you would make me fall out of love with you. So far it hasn't happened." Anton looked at me, a delighted grin creeping onto his face, then pulled over. Ever so gently he drew me into his arms and I felt him kiss me at last. The kiss was everything I'd thought it be, and so much more. He was tender, considerate, and I was only too happy to return his affections.