A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Ghastly, Erskine or Tipstaff. I have to apologize, the story just sort of up and wandered into a T rating all on it's own.

After our steaks arrived Ghastly smiled at me. "So, Val, how long have you two been dating? I want all the gossip."

I exchanged glances with Skulduggery and he answered. "We didn't date, well, there was yesterday at the theme park, but I just knew."

"Wait? What?" Erskine asked and Skulduggery flashed him a charming smile.

"I knew I was in love with Val for some time, that he was the one. So of course I proposed. I wanted him for my husband and I usually get what I want." He smiled again and I was actually pleased. Skulduggery was aggressive, but that's what I loved about him. He glanced at me and continued. "If you hadn't fell asleep in my arms the other night I never would have proposed, of course."

Erskine choked on his coffee. "He what?" He asked, tears streaming from his eyes while Ghastly patted his back soothingly.

"Not that way." I said, blushing. "On the couch, geez." Then I realized that didn't sound innocent either. "How long have you known?" I asked looking at Skulduggery who seemed vastly amused.

"Since the year you turned twenty-one, though I'm well aware how creepy that sounds. But I just knew, and for you I assume you wanted to marry me before that, hmm?" He purred and I blushed.

Luckily Ghastly found the whole thing amusing as well. "We've been seeing each other for what, two weeks? So we have no room to talk. But we knew how we felt before this. I'm happy for you two, and Val is a grown man, Erskine, don't be so prudish." Erskine and I both blushed.

There was more good-natured teasing and Ghastly suggested Erskine and Skulduggery go look at the really fascinating art out in the hall of the pub by the coatroom. When we were alone he smiled at me gently. "Tipstaff isn't the only one who feels like your father, Val. I don't want to step in where I'm not wanted, but you do know what to expect on your wedding night, right?" He asked gently and I nodded. "Good, and if you want me to talk to Skulduggery about anything-" I shook my head, flushing. It was sweet he cared, honestly.

"I'll be OK, dad. We haven't had that discussion or went that far yet, but I trust Skulduggery not to hurt me. He loves me too much to do something like that." Ghastly nodded and I was thankful he was so protective. I'd heard horror stories about me who thought they found Mr. Right and ended up in the hospital and I was glad Skulduggery wasn't like that.

Skulduggery seemed to sense my thoughts as the men returned and he escorted me out to the Bentley. After we were on our way he looked over at me. "So you survived The Talk. That's good. I won't hurt you, Val. I don't know what other men have treated you like, but I won't, ever." He said and I realized he might be as afraid as I was though for very different reasons.

I nodded. "This is really embarrassing and awkward but I've never done anything with anyone, I'm not even sure of what I like or don't like." I admitted, then promptly buried my face in my hands. But it was better to know if we'd be happy together as full lovers now rather than after we got married.

"Oh." Skulduggery said, sounding surprised. "Then- We can play it by ear. Don't look frightened, Val. You couldn't possibly disappoint me, all right?" He asked and I smiled faintly in reply. And that was it. I knew we'd be OK no matter how terrified out of my mind I might be. I loved Skulduggery and wanted to make him happy, and I'd experimented on my own, obviously, I just had no idea if I'd be any good at the real thing.

We were cuddled up on the couch that night, vaguely paying attention to the TV. Skulduggery had deactivated his façade and was nuzzling into me. "Mmm, I have a great idea. Why don't I meditate in your room tonight, hmm? In a chair, of course." He said, wrapping his arms tighter around me.

"I wouldn't care if you slept on the bed, Skulduggery." I said and he chuckled faintly.

"I know you wouldn't, but there are at least three men who would kill me if I did." We got off the couch and headed up, a sudden rumble of thunder making me jump, then, of course, the power had to go out. "Easy, Val." Skulduggery soothed, guiding me up the rest of the way. There was a chair in my room already, but Skulduggery didn't bother with it. He snapped his fingers, drawing a spark, then a flame.

He used the flame to find the emergency candles he had stored in my dresser then looked at me after putting them in holders around my room. "I haven't taught you this yet, but watch. There's a spell in place, all you have to do is gesture." He did and the candles lit up, easing my fears. Skulduggery came back to sit on the bed and tilted his skull thoughtfully at me. "Don't tell your assorted fathers." He said, then laid down beside me, drawing me into his bony embrace.

I latched on, jumping slightly as another rumble of thunder passed over. Skulduggery tilted my head up to look at him. "Shh, hush." He soothed, then pressed his teeth to my lips. Maybe it was fear, but I returned the kiss with interest, my arms tightening around him and I realized I was afraid he'd let go and leave me there alone, lit candles or no lit candles.

Skulduggery drew back slightly. "Shh, Val, it's all right." He stroked my face softly. "I'm not leaving you alone tonight, or any night after this. Shh. We don't have to rush things, all right? Just relax into me." He soothed and I nodded, trembling in his arms. I usually didn't mind the dark or storms but somehow it reminded me of my claustrophobia that night and I don't think I needed to tell Skulduggery how terrified I was.

But then he titled my head up and he activated the façade. "No, don't protest, it's all right, Val. Sweetheart, come here." He said, pulling me closer. I closed my eyes as his lips found mine, and felt myself relax into his secure embrace. Skulduggery kissed me deeply, then he was trailing kisses down my neck in a way that made me laugh.

He grinned up at me, then shifted so that I was flat on my back and he was on his side. I watched his face soften in the candlelight as he ran a comforting hand up and down my arm. "What is it? You aren't afraid of getting married, are you?" He asked, placing kisses on my shoulder, then trailing his way up my neck to capture my lips with his. I sighed into the kiss then met his gaze when he pulled back to look at me.

"No, I'm excited about being married, Skulduggery. You're the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I just don't see what you see in me. What do I possibly have to offer you?" I asked and he sat up, surprised.

"You're my best friend for starters, Val." He said, helping me sit up. "And you're a lot braver than you think you are. Do you think any other man at that table Surged alone? And I know it isn't the storm bothering you either. You think I'm going to do one of my disappearing acts, don't you?" He asked gently and I nodded.

"Well, I won't. I don't like people seeing my weaknesses, Val. The times I've disappeared are times when I didn't know what I was going to do next. But do you know something? I'd have felt a lot better if I'd had admitted how much I wanted you to be there with me, to hold me. Even I get scared, Val." I looked at him in surprise.

He smiled, then continued. "This is stressful on both of us, because we've been together over a decade, yet you were terribly young when we met and you're still terribly young. Do I feel guilty over that? Yes, I do. But I couldn't help falling in love with you, and no, you aren't some trophy husband or midlife crisis either. I love you, Val. You can't imagine what you have to offer? You've given me everything I could want in a man and so much more. That's what you have to offer." He said, then drew me into a lingering kiss.

I drowsed peacefully that night, wrapped in the safe harbour of his arms and as the candles at last flickered out one by one and the storm settled in overhead I wasn't afraid. I knew now that he planned to stay that he was willing to work out any problems and realistically we both knew they would crop up from time to time. But it was his willingness to show me his vulnerable side that let me know how much he truly loved me and it comforted me like no show of strength ever would have.

Aw, well kinda fluffy. Let me know if you want more!