A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Erskine, Ghastly, Anton, Skulduggery, Dexter, Saracen, Gracious, Corrival, Hopeless, Larrikin or Donegan.
I woke up the next morning feeling terrible. I felt like I'd been drugged and worried that one of the bad guys had replaced a Dead Man without our knowing about it. But the moment I looked at the gathered men, I knew. They had done it and on purpose, for my own good. "Why?" I groaned.
"Because we love you." Erskine said gently. Ghastly helped me sit up and I looked at them all. Each of my brothers looked worried and Anton looked so remorseful as he settled in beside me, that my heart melted. In fact they all looked so forlorn that I forgave them instantly. "Coffee and something to eat would be lovely." I said faintly and Skulduggery got up with a nod.
"Coffee it is, and pumpkin pie. Don't ask how, but the the bad guys are dead and that's all you need to know."
"All of them?" I asked and Anton nodded.
"Yes, Valkyrie. You mean everything to me, you know you do." He stroked my face tenderly, his gaze gentle. "You are everything to all of us, we knew you'd go off on your own, so we did instead. You were well-hidden if the worst came to worst, but you weren't going with us."
"How long was I out?"
"Two days. There's a hidden room that functions much like a gaol cell, you were in no danger there and Mr. Weems was keeping watch over you."
"Two days? Are all of you all right?" I asked worriedly and he nodded. "Sweetheart, I'm serious? Who's hurt?"
"None of us, honestly, Val." Dexter said cheerfully. "And no more questions, OK?" He asked, smiling and I knew then without even Saracen touching minds with me what had happened. Every Dead Man had went, for lack of a better word, feral.
"Thank you. I mean that, all of you, you're right, I would have went out alone." I said, accepting some leaves from Anton with a grateful nod and I laughed as he nuzzled me gently. "You're my family, it's my job to protect you. No offense, but what did you give me?"
Saracen smiled. "A very mild sedative, and I mean mild, Valkyrie. You should have been awake an hour or so after we left. But well, the room sensed what we didn't, and since it was designed to protect you-" He broke off with a proud grin and Anton gathered me into his arms.
"You're pregnant, sweetheart. The room knew long before any doctor could because it was designed to know and provide for you no matter what. So it kept you asleep and out of harm's way until we returned."
"I'm pregnant? Are you sure?" I asked happily and he nodded proudly.
"You are and I'm sure." Anton said, his smile tender as he gazed down at me. "You're my wife, having my child." His voice was filled with wonder and it broke my heart to think of any woman turning such a sweet, gentle man down.
Skulduggery returned with coffee and pie for me and set them down like an offering, then gathered me into a hug. "They've told you, have they?" He asked softly then smiled. "I'm happy for you, Valkyrie, for both of you. I told you you'd have your own children some day." He teased.
And that was the start of the men doing things for me, half of then feeling take away was best, and half insisting on cooking, and most of them trying to keep me on the couch or following me. Somehow it wasn't annoying and I knew they were excited about the baby and worried about me. I looked longingly at some doughnuts Gracious had brought in and he grinned. "Go on then, Val. You're allowed to gain weight and if my mom was right you'll want what you need naturally."
Corrival grinned at me. "It's why women get odd cravings, Valkyrie. Like pickles and ice cream."
"Gross!" I complained and he just laughed. Mr. Weems came in, singing and chattering excitedly to me as he pranced about then with a graceful leap he was cuddled into my side, happily accepting bits of doughnut.
"Oh, thank you, Valkyrie! I was the one who kept watch over you. Somehow the room healed me, and oh, I just knew you were pregnant, a baby, how exciting!" His happy voice sounded in my head. "A baby! A baby for me to help take care of, you will let me help, won't you?" He asked, his eyes shining with devotion and I nodded.
The baby, I realized was going to bring about a lot of changes.
There was a serious discussion about what was going to happen with some of the Dead Men. Erskine, Ghastly and Skulduggery were all staying and if the Sanctuary was going to rebuild it would have to do so without them. Corrival, Hopeless and Larkin however had no homes and no money to speak of, and without a Sanctuary, no place to go to be honest.
Gracious and Donegan promptly took them on as partners and the men left us when we returned to Ireland. "I'll miss you Valkyrie." Gracious said, pulling me into a final hug, then they were gone promising to stay in touch. Dexter and Saracen left as well and Skulduggery looked at those of us remaining.
"How about lunch out?" He offered. "Same place we went out with Anton?" He added and we were all happy to go. Ghastly and Erskine were there now to help us eat the appetizer platter, which meant there would be no leftovers, but we didn't mind.
It was odd, being down to just five of us, but we knew that life had to get back to normal for everyone. That said, we were eating listlessly. It wasn't that we weren't happy together, we knew we couldn't run the hotel and ferry everyone all over the world. I heard a commotion at the entrance of the restaurant and looked up to see our missing brothers descending on us. I'm sure everyone around us thought we'd been apart for years at our greetings. We sat back down, Skulduggery looking amused. "You just happened to show up here, did you?" He asked and our brothers grinned sheepishly.
"We've decided Val can't be left alone for the pregnancy." Gracious said. "We'll be paying guests, we're good for it."
"You'll be no such thing. I've been meaning to take a sabbatical and nine months sounds about right." Anton said, looping a loving arm around me. I kissed him chastely on the cheek as thanks and I knew from his gentle smile he understood. I loved these men, they were my family and nothing could replace having them with me.
We went shopping next, buying more than enough food, each man picking out what he liked and Anton and I would have naturally paid as they were our guests, but the men refused. "You two will have us underfoot for nine months, it's the least we can do." Gracious said and I realized they were using our charming friend on purpose since we couldn't refuse him anything.
Back home, and I realized it was home, we all settled in happily. I drew Anton aside. "Sweetheart, I love you for this, but can-" He hushed me with a lingering kiss.
"Yes, we can. I have more than enough saved up and we men agreed while you were away from the table to pool our resources, so we'll be well off for centuries if need be."
"I want in then." I said firmly.
"You will be if disaster strikes. You're our backup reserve, all right?" I nodded, happy I could provide some sort of safety net for our family.
The months rolled by and as they did the men became more doting and sweet. It was nearing Christmas, and the hotel looked festive with tasteful swags and wreaths the men had managed, and I had a tiny bundle of my own to look after. She blinked in wonder at all the lights and the tree most of all, and I held my tiny preemie to me. "Couldn't wait for Christmas, could you, sweet Abby?" I cooed to my daughter and she giggled.
Anton came in with her bottle and scooped Abby up tenderly. His eyes shone as he looked at our daughter. "She's beautiful, isn't she?" He asked and I smiled. And she was, with Anton's black hair and a mix of our features she was a beautiful baby.
"Yes, Anton, very beautiful, as beautiful as when you asked five minutes ago." I teased gently. "But she should be with such a handsome father." He blushed and I kissed him tenderly. Abby's arrival had only made us fall more deeply in love and I adored Anton more than ever.
I also enjoyed our lunatic brothers who had found ways to generate income still. Some would go off on missions and return and we did harbour a guest from time to time. All in all, life was idyllic. But I figured after all the wars and sorrow he'd seen, Anton had earned it. I still couldn't absorb how great a heart my husband had. He'd willingly let me go when I had lost my memory, had given up any chance at happiness because he valued my freedom and my giving my love to him freely more than anything. It also showed me how wise he was, because had he forced me to stay it would have ended in disaster.
I knew he'd come to terms with our age difference. It happened with mages, we weren't all that unusual, and we knew we had a loving foundation to our marriage. And now, as he turned to me with an infinitely gentle smile I knew what he wanted and needed most of all. I nodded, smiling and sat down with Abby. Anton sat beside us, relaxed and then his Gist started to emerge. But for once not in anger.
He smiled at me me, the floated forward, looking down at Abby as he'd done before. He touched her softly with the back of one hand then looked at me questioningly when she giggled in response and reached for him. I nodded and he kissed his daughter ever-so-gently, then kissed me and smiled softly, much as Anton's more peaceful side would. "I love you." He managed, his voice a gurgling rasp.
"I love you too, Anton." I said and his face lit up in response. I fed him gently with the prepared plate of steak tartar and he retreated without protest. Anton opened his eyes and smiled contentedly at me.
"So, you really have figured it out. Thank you for letting me see our daughter that way. I'd never harm her, you know that." I nodded, not mentioning that we'd dropped him for 'you' or 'I'.
"I know, and I know you love both of us, no matter what. We already know she has her own Gist. I thought they only came to mature mages."
"I think we are born with them. Some say they are our brothers or sisters, but we know the truth. They are our dark sides, everything evil that is in us, and yet, you've proven that I can respond to love and kindness, even at my worst."
"And you've done just as much for me, if not more, Anton. Just think, our first Christmas together. At least that I can remember." I teased and he laughed good naturedly.
"It is, and I can't tell you how long I've dreamt of it, Valkyrie." He said softly. I went to him willingly and he bundled both Abby and me into a banket so we could drowse in his warmth as we gazed into the roaring fire.
Finis. I wanted to end the story on a positive note since I think Anton deserves that much. Look at me, talking about fictional characters like they are real. Crazy much? Note: Abby means joy of the father but I was thinking more of NCIS Abby, ah, well. Hope you enjoyed it!