A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Erskine, Tipstaff or Ghastly.

Skulduggery drew back from our kiss and activated his façade while still holding me, then drew me in again. His lips were incredibly soft and as he drew me deeper into the kiss, his hand bunching up my hair, I realized how deeply he loved and trusted me. I gently ran my fingers through his hair, wondering just how lucky one guy could get. We parted and he smiled gently at me. "I'm the lucky one, Val, always remember that." He said, then escorted me to the Bentley.

I smiled at him as we got in then buckled up at his murmur. I wondered what had happened to make a man who could be so artic at times so warm, and he seemed to read my thoughts. "We need a case, Val. So I can be my usual sarcastic self and you can see that it's still me. But I can't with you, not anymore. Please tell me that wasn't part of my appeal." He flicked his glance over to me as he drove.

"As much as I love you, not really. I know I haven't been myself either, but if we do go back to being sarcastic and bickering all day-" I shrugged happily, I expected it. In a strange way, it was how we showed one another affection. Skulduggery snorted.

"Good to see you have such high hopes for us, Val." He teased, but flashed me a smile to show he meant no harm. I nodded and tried to get comfortable. I shifted in my seat, unable to repress a slight whimper.

Skulduggery pulled over so fast I thought we were wrecking. "What's wrong, Val? And don't lie and tell me nothing."

I blinked. "It really is nothing. I'll man up." I said weakly and his gaze went soft.

"I don't know whoever taught you that, but suffering needlessly doesn't make you a man, Val. Admitting you need help does. Now, what's wrong?" He asked. I shook my head and he drew me into a lingering kiss. "Val, I can't protect you if you won't let me. Please, what is it?" He looked helpless and that scared me more than admitting I needed his help did.

I still shivered, frightened to show my weakness. My dad had been in the minority and married a woman, so he'd always overcompensated and I knew if I told Skulduggery what was wrong my dad would have been be ashamed of me, but it was Skulduggery I had to worry about pleasing now, not my father. He literally no longer knew I existed. "I was in a lot of pain last night. I didn't call you to come help because my dad told me once that a real man doesn't ask for help. I got a couple leaves, I made it through."

After several minutes of frantic questioning Skulduggery looked at me. "That's what's different about you, Val. I noticed it this morning, but more when you came down in the suit. Sweetheart, you've Surged." He said, utter awe in his voice.

After that he drove like I was extremely fragile and kept glancing at me. At the pub we were meeting the men at he insisted on coming around for me. I let him and the way he led me in let me know just how much danger I'd been in. He was on high alert, wanting to fight a danger that had already passed. Tipstaff was also there, and he grabbed me and steered me to the coatroom. "Let me borrow Val for a second, Skulduggery." He said and Skulduggery nodded. Tipstaff looked at me, then gently placed his hands on either side of my neck.

I felt healing energy go through me then felt better, more powerful then I'd ever felt in a long time. He grinned at me. "And let's see to your hair, dear. Not that it isn't striking down, but let's try something." He said and I nodded.

Tipstaff took a small jar of the hair cream he used out of his suit pocket and in a few minutes he had my long brown hair perfectly styled and tied back with one of the seemingly endless black ribbons he carried. I knew it had been the fashion for men centuries ago, so I smiled my thanks. When he pulled out the green bottle of hideously expensive cologne he always carried I tried to protest, but he insisted I let him apply some.

Finished he stepped back with a satisfied nod. "I knew something was up, call it manly intuition if you like. Now go out there and turn heads." He said proudly as he steered me to a mirror, his hands resting paternally on my shoulders. I was shocked to see the change in myself. I looked so different, yet the same. I was an actual man now, when had that happened?

"Thank you, Tipstaff." I said. not quite able to call him dad, not yet, at any rate. "Will you be joining us?" I asked and he smiled wistfully, but shook his head.

"No, dear. I have other things to attend to. But I just knew you'd Surged, don't ask me how." He blushed slightly and looked away. I drew him into a tight hug.

"Dads always know." I said softly and his arms went so tight around me I thought he'd put me in traction. He pulled away with a fond smile and nodded towards the dining room. I nodded my thanks again and went into the room, stopping when it fell silent and I realized most of the men were staring at me.

I walked to our table where Erskine and Ghastly were also staring. "Good Lord, you have Surged." Ghastly managed. He rose and took me into a hug, then carefully got me seated. Erskine was staring at me too.

"What's the big deal?" I asked and Skulduggery spoke up.

"Depending on if you Surge on your own or if you have people with you, it makes a difference. You fought through it on your own. It's far more dangerous and it marked you in a way mages can tell." Skulduggery spoke quietly. "Needless to say everyone at this table is extremely proud of you for being so brave and extremely guilty that we didn't know and weren't there. We could have lost you, Val, so you'll get fussed over and like it."

"You're a warrior now, Val, you'll be stronger than you would have been had you had help, but still-" Erskine said then shrugged. Even the waiter fussed over me and I realized that for the first time I could feel the magic of everyone in the room and I was a lot stronger than a lot of them.

I looked at Skulduggery after we'd placed our orders. "How do you get used to it? Knowing you could beat most of the men in a room senseless?" I asked and he grinned.

"With great power comes great responsibility." Skulduggery said and I was impressed. For a man I'd always assumed lived like a hermit he was up on his pop culture, more or less. "Seriously, knowing you can is like knowing you can afford something you always wanted. By the time you've saved up for it you don't want it any more. And thrashing a weaker man into submission isn't honourable, I've taught you that."

"Actually you said your family motto was: 'Go for the low blow.'" I teased and he grinned because he had said it, but I knew what he meant. That was for the bad guys, there was no sense in lording my power over the other men. I realized then I'd need them all to help me learn about being a man, grown up or not.

We fell to talking about this and that, and I could feel Erskine and Ghastly coming around to something. "We'd like a double wedding, Val." Ghastly said, smiling at me. "It wouldn't be for several months, I'd have to make all our tuxes and so on and so forth. Tipstaff already knows and he is getting caterers and florists and so on and so forth compiled." I looked at Skulduggery and we both nodded.

"Tipstaff is invited, right?" I asked "I mean, leaving my dad out would be sort of ungrateful, considering." I said and the men all looked pleased. I think they had known how he felt towards me, I think I had too, but him showing up and just knowing I'd needed him to heal me showed me how deep his bond was to me and I hoped some day I'd be a son he could be proud of.

Yeah, this story just took off on a random tangent. No idea why. Comments help!