A/N: I don't own Skulduggery or Valkyrie. Val is still in his 20s and the story is still in his POV. This chapter is a little later in the day than the last one.

Skulduggery and I were having fun at the theme park and looking for our suspects. We didn't even have any clues except that magical activity was going on and the Sanctuary was scrambling to cover it up. Now we were on a haunted mill ride, and it suddenly stopped in the middle of a dark tunnel, our coffin-shaped boat bobbing in the black waters.

Skulduggery looped an arm around me protectively and I could feel the lips of his façade brush my ear. "Stay alert, but act interested in making out. Something's wrong. Remember, no magic, no matter what the bad guys do." I nodded. I cuddled into Skulduggery the best I could and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I drew him down into a kiss, keeping my eyes trained on a thin slit of light behind him.

"Doorway." I murmured as I trailed kisses from his ear to his chin. "Behind you."

"I know," he murmured back, kissing my neck in between his words. "and we're being watched." The boat was suddenly rammed hard from behind, but it was only the chain-driven ride kicking back into gear. Still, I clutched at Skulduggery, not having to pretend very hard to have been frightened.

We emerged to see the sun was setting and all the lights were coming on it the park. It was magical and rather sweet, so we decided to stop for a while to eat and compare notes. We grabbed a heaping mound of fries, some hot dogs and cold drinks, then settled in on a bench to eat.

"Tell me that was just the ride kicking in." I said and Skulduggery nodded, then smiled at me. It took a few seconds, but everything clicked into place. "There is no case, is there?" I asked, delighted at the idea, and his smile broadened into a grin.

Skulduggery looked at me fondly, taking my hand in his. "No, no case. But I thought you could do with the excitement of thinking we had a case. Honestly? It was Ghastly who rang earlier. He and Erskine want to meet us for lunch tomorrow." He paused to finish off his hot dog and snag a few fries. "To tell you the truth, Val, I wanted to reward you for all the monotony you put up with on our last case. I know stakeouts where we sit there for hours on end aren't exactly enthralling. And we made the arrest without a decent fight breaking out." He said with a wistful sigh.

"Thanks, and I mean it, Skulduggery. It was sweet of you to bring me here, and you're right, I did like the excitement of thinking we were on a case. I especially liked the part where we were making out as a cover." I teased and he grinned at me. We left the park shortly after, and I fell asleep in the Bentley, cuddled up into his shoulder.

Skulduggery shook me awake when we were home. "Here we are, my sleeping prince. There may actually be something in the fridge if you're hungry and want to stay up a bit. We don't meet the men until later tomorrow afternoon." I nodded happily. It touched me that Skulduggery liked spending time with me because I knew he didn't let people that close easily. I dug out our leftovers and worked on them as Skulduggery saw to the coffee.

He fished our rings out of his pocket, handing me mine and slipping his on, staring at it for the longest time. He looked up at me at last, then deactivated his façade to draw me into a lingering kiss. "I can't thank you enough for the ring, Val, and I mean it. I've never known anyone like you before. You care about me, you always think of things no one else would. It's good to know you love me that much." His voice trembled slightly and I held him to me tightly.

Skulduggery was an enigma. I knew he could suddenly go back to being arrogant and aloof, but lately he'd been sweet and kind towards me. I decided to bring up something neither of us had dared mention, hoping it wouldn't break his good mood. "I'm glad you still love them, you know." I said and he gave me a fragile smile. "I mean it, Skulduggery. It means a lot to me that you are loyal to people who you loved so deeply and still do."

He nodded, and went to get our coffee. I was frightened I'd said the wrong thing, but as I set down our leftovers he sighed shakily. "I miss them, you know. I always will. And before you ask, I love you more than I loved my husband. I suppose that sounds terrible, doesn't it?"

I took his hand in mine gently. "No, it doesn't, Skulduggery. If something ever happened to me you'd find love again, I'd want you to. And if you loved that person more than me I'd be happy for you." I said gently and he nodded shakily. "Look, does it make me a bad person that I love you more than any other man I've ever met?" I asked and he shook his head. "Well, all right then." I said, hoping I hadn't just opened a rift between us.

The next morning I couldn't find Skulduggery and my heart iced over. Great, stupid, you just had to say something about his family, didn't you? I chided myself. But then the front door was opening and he was coming in, take away bags and coffee precariously balanced in one arm, and a flower bouquet in the other.

"You're up!" He said, happily. Skulduggery put the food and drinks on the counter and showed the flowers to me shyly. "I meant to give you breakfast in bed. I still can if you go up and wait for me."

"Are you joining me?" I asked and he nodded happily. Maybe it was silly of us, but up I went, and soon Skulduggery arrived with two trays, one stacked neatly above the other, the flowers in a crystal vase on the top one. He set it before me, then got himself settled in on the other side, looking at me for permission first. I nodded happily.

"We have to do this more often." He said happily as we dug into our breakfasts. "I thought about what you said last night and for a long time I wondered if I wasn't still trapped with the Faceless Ones and dreaming. I never thought I'd meet a man who understood, who'd realize those feelings don't go away, ever. Thank you, Val, and I mean it."

"You're welcome, Skulduggery. And I meant it. Part of the reason I love you is how loyal you are. Don't wince. I know you were seeing a lot of people at the time you met your husband, and now your advice about learning a lesson no other way makes sense." I said and he nodded.

"A lot of men do, and we aren't bad men. I just tended to tell everyone we were exclusive." He shrugged. "But that isn't what is happening here, Val. I love you and I'll be loyal to you, I just ask for the same consideration in return." I nodded and we finished our breakfast, lingering over our coffee and just enjoying being together.

The day seemed to fly by in each other's company and soon we were getting ready. Skulduggery stopped me as I went to change into jeans and a decent polo shirt. "Wear this for me, please." He said, handing me one of the familiar parcels from Ghastly's shop and I nodded. I went to my room and opened it, staring at the suit inside.

The cut was different from anything Skulduggery would wear, tailored to make me look as gentlemanly as possible, and the fabric was clearly protective, but it was clear the suit has cost money. A lot of money. I felt tears prick my eyes and got changed, staring into the mirror and not recognizing myself in a good suit.

Skulduggery met me downstairs with an appreciative whistle. "You're getting more suits. Not that I don't like your usual clothes, but, Val- I have no words." He took my hand and turned me around admiringly at the bottom of the stairs.

"I'd tell you that you look better, but that is a given, right?" I asked and he pulled his skull back in surprise.

"Never." He said, sweeping me into his arms for a kiss.

Fluffier and fluffier. Remember comments do help, hope you enjoyed it!