A/N: I don't own Valkyrie or Skulduggery. There be fluff ahead.
The following morning the storm had passed and Skulduggery was in a cheerful mood, almost silly. "Morning, Val. How about we make pancakes for breakfast?" He asked. "And bacon and eggs, and whatever else you'd like." I happily agreed. He nuzzled into me and I giggled.
"Skulduggery, that tickles. And good morning to you too." I said and he happily nuzzled in again. I got up and got a shower and he met me in the kitchen, his façade activated and a cup of hot coffee already ready for me in his hand. "Thanks, and I mean that." I said, cuddling into him after setting my coffee aside.
Skulduggery grinned at me. "Nothing's too good for you, Valkyrie. You should know that already." He said, brushing my hair back softly. In one deft move he had it bunched behind me, then somehow had the black ribbon securing it. "Neatness counts." He murmured, then grinned as he pulled out two aprons from behind his back.
His was pinstriped, like a lot of his good suits, and mine was of the same material as my suit, which he'd insisted I wear for him. There were even faux pockets and they looked very GQ. I hugged him in thanks again. "You're going to spoil me." I said and he laughed.
"Nonsense. I'm getting to make up for all the times I wanted to give you things I knew you would love. For all the times I wanted to tell you I loved you and didn't dare to." He said brightly as he pulled away and we got everything out to cook. And we had fun. Skulduggery even put the radio on, and grinned at me as we worked.
And soon we'd cooked up heaps of fluffy pancakes, eggs, bacon, and since Skulduggery wanted it, sausage. We sat down to eat and he grinned at me devilishly. "Since it isn't like either one of us can gain weight, how about we put whipped cream on our pancakes?" He asked.
I laughed, but I was happy to do it. And Skulduggery was silly over breakfast, like he had been when we first met. "Look, Val. The horrible bacon monster is coming for you. I'd eat him if I were you." He said, grinning as he walked a piece of bacon he'd given whipped cream hair and eyes over to my plate.
I laughed and ate it happily, then decorated one of the sausages. We both had the same thought and the same moment and were wheezing laughter as I passed it over. "You don't have to eat that." I said helplessly and I swore he blushed.
"Nonsense. I'm just glad I made patties and not something else." We both broke into a giggling fit like immature schoolboys, but I liked loved that part of Skulduggery. He's say the nastiest thing possible, use the worst humour, and somehow it was more sweet than anything.
We cleaned up after breakfast, then Skulduggery decided we should drive to a local park with a picnic basket we could enjoy later. We picked up take away on the way, tucking it into the basket, and made the park in good time. We strolled for a while, arm in arm, enjoying the sight of other couples as they pushed strollers, hung out on blankets, or kissed for the first time.
We sat on a bench, watching the swans float by. We decided to picnic there, idly tossing bits of French bread to a clearly mated pair. It was sweet watching as the one male would push bits of bread over to the other. Skulduggery murmured in appreciation. "You see? It's universal, wanting to take care of someone." He said, smiling gently at me. He kissed me softly, making me blush and giggle. Skulduggery chuckled and insisted I let him load my plate up for me. We ate slowly, enjoying the beautiful day, then moved under a tree, using the blanket we'd packed. Skulduggery put his arms around me and I leaned back into his warm embrace.
"Man, I'm full." I said and he snorted softly.
"You should be. I don't even have a belly and I can feel it stretching. Did we really split an entire pie?"
"And everything else we ate, but it was fun. Do you think it will always be like this? Us being so happy to be together, I mean?" I asked.
"If we want it to be and we work at it, of course. How would you like another walk around the park or a canoe ride?" He offered and I nodded excitedly. I was still dazed. It was as if Skulduggery was making up for everything we could never do together before. And as if he had a million things he'd always planned on doing with me and was delighted to get to do them at last.
He manned the oars of our canoe, telling me to sit back and enjoy the music pouring out of the tiny radio he'd brought along. I did, admiring how graceful Skulduggery looked as he rowed. He grinned at me happily. "I'm rather good at this for my first time, aren't I?" He asked.
"You are. First time? I thought you'd done this before." I said and he laughed.
"No, can't say as I have. But it's enjoyable, isn't it?" Let's drift for a while, shall we?" He asked, pulling the oars in and I happily agreed. Skulduggery smiled as we settled in. "I think our bonded pair followed us." He said, and I turned slightly to see they had.
They greeted us like friendly neighbors then put on a beautiful courtship display. Then then looked at us expectantly. I didn't get what they wanted, but Skulduggery did. "I think they want me to kiss you." He said, drawing me into his arms.
I gave in to his sweet kiss, all too happy to be with him. As we parted he looked at me fondly. "Tell me you're over any wedding jitters you might have had." He said hopefully.
"Completely." I assured him. "I can't wait until we're like that." I said, nodding at the swans who had drifted closer. They almost looked as if they understood we'd bonded, and as if they found us as adorable as we found them.
I know, short, but you got to admit that was fluffy. Oh, my God. I just had a thought. Val and Skul in a club dancing. Let me know if you want more.