OK this is the chapter when 'dad' is revealed. You may have already guessed it but for those who don't know read on! FYI there is no baby in this story... yet just so you know when you get to the car bit

Again Derek Landy owns SP and characters and Ramil I borrowed from Julia Golding's book 'Dragonfly' so she owns him but I own Cynnamon and the idea!

Chapter 2: The Past

"Jeez what a welcome." She said and smiled.

"C-Cynnamon?" Ghastly got out, eventually and sunk back into his seat on the sofa. "What are you doing here?"

"Again what a welcome do I still not get that hug?" Ghastly stood up, walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"I thought you were dead," he whispered

"If you keep hugging me like this I will be," She said sounding like she couldn't breathe. He let go of her and looked as if he couldn't believe she was there, which he couldn't.

"Um dad? Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"

"Oh sorry. Well obviously you know Skulduggery," he said and Skulduggery gave her a quick hug.

"This is Tanith Low. My fiancé." Tanith shook her hand and sat back down on the sofa.

"And this is Valkyrie Cain. Skulduggery's best friend, partner and fiancé. Tanith, Valkyrie this is my daughter Cynnamon Lepor."

"Pleased to meet you." Valkyrie said breaking the silence.

"Ah Valkyrie Cain. It's great to meet you. I've hear all about you and Skully here solving crimes and saving the earth. You are very lucky to be marrying him."

"Cynnamon? You still didn't answer Ghastly." Skulduggery said "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd pop by see you all. It has been a few centuries since I last saw you."

"OK I'll rephrase that. How are you still alive? We saw that explosion in your village and there were no survivors."

Cynnamon looked at the floor. "I- um- I wasn't in the village when the bomb went off." She said in a voice so quiet it didn't sound like hers.

"Ramil got me out of the village before it had a chance to blow me up."

"Ramil? Ramil Renn? The teleporter?" Ghastly asked.

"Yes Ramil Renn the teleporter dad who else?" She snapped.

"He came to me. Said he heard the Serpine had placed a bomb in one of our food carts and got me to leave. He said he would go back for mum but as soon as he arrived back at the village it exploded." She had a tear in her eye and Valkyrie walked over to her and put an arm around her.

"I tried to find you dad but I couldn't. For a moment I thought that you might have gone back to the village and been in their when the bomb went off but then I though, he wouldn't be there, there's no reason for him to be back yet. But here you are running your own shop. And I see you gave Valkyrie the same designed coat as me. Cool."

Ghastly didn't say anything for a moment. And when he did it was nothing to do with what they had just talked about.

"So how did you find me now?"

"Me and an old friend have been watching you. But I never thought about actually coming to talk to you again. But I was being chased by some vampires and needed somewhere to hide. Didn't think you'd mind. They'll leave soon don't worry."

"Vampires? There's vampires outside?" skulduggery asked in a worried voice.

"Yeah why is that a problem?"

"Um. I don't know. My Bentley's outside and I would appreciate it if you kind of didn't lead straight to this street."

"Um well considering they were right behind me I kind of did. Only they wouldn't come in because they knew you were in here. Where are you going?" She asked as Skulduggery was walking out, Valkyrie following him.

"To check on my baby," he said

"There's a baby in the car?" She asked discombobulated (that means confused (praise to KrazyKimmy for telling me about it)).

"No Cynnamon. He's talking about the car," Valkyrie assured her.

"Oh," She said

"CYNNAMON LEPOR GET OUT HERE NOW!" Skulduggery shouted. She and Valkyrie walked outside to find Skulduggery standing next, what should have been, the Bentley. It was completely destroyed. All the windows were shattered, all the paintwork was scratched you couldn't see its original colour, the tires were all punctured, the bonnet had smoke pouring out of it, all the seats were torn apart and finally it was turned upside down.

"Do you have any idea how much this thing costs Cynnamon? A lot. And it costs more to get it repaired as constant as I do. But to top it all off I'm going to have Valkyrie nagging at me again over the fact that I'll get another horrible or disgusting replacement car that she wouldn't be caught dead in! And I said all that with one breath so I think I better breathe now,"

"So am I paying for the damages?" Cynnamon asked.

"Yes and next time you get chased by vampires do not run towards my car!"

"Who was chasing you anyway?" Tanith asked as she and Ghastly walked out to join them. It was the first thing she had said to Cynnamon.

"Dusk and his minions." Cynnamon said.

"Has he got a grudge on you?" Valkyrie asked

"A big one,"

"Yeah he's famous for those."

"I know,"

"So Skulduggery are we walking home or getting a taxi?"

"We'll get a taxi, get the repair shop to get the car and then get the replacement car, and I'll ask for a decent one this time," He said.

After Valkyrie and Skulduggery went back to Gordon's mansion (thought it's hers she still said it was his) and Tanith had gone back to her apartment (she hadn't moved in with him yet) Ghastly sat down with Cynnamon to talk to her properly.

"Cynnamon. Why didn't you ever come back and look for me?"

"I don't know dad. I just thought that maybe you wouldn't want me anymore. Thought that maybe I was some imposter and felt you and Skulduggery would interrogate me,"

"You know I would never do that. Not to you. Don't forget you have that unique mark that nobody knows about."

"Yeah the one that only I will have not even shape shifters can get to appear and they're professionals and being other people," she laughed and he laughed

"And anyway I knew it was you. You have the sparkle in your left eye. Just like you mother. I'm glad you got her looks instead of mine." He said

"Dad it's not that bad. Anyway people don't care about what you look like. Mum didn't and neither does that Tanith chick."

"What do you know about Tanith?"

"Nothing. I saw the way she was looking at you when I walked in. Even though you didn't tell her anything about me she looked apologetic as if she understood it was a sensitive subject. Dad I'm glad you're happy and settled down again. The war was a hard time for everyone. Look at Skulduggery. Losing Awenita the way he did. And he's moved on as well."

"Don't forget Mariposa. She was very special to him just like you are to me. Anyway tell me more about how you escaped the village."

"OK. But don't be mad..."

A few centuries ago (in the war):

Cynnamon Lepor and Mariposa were running through the village trying to get to Awenita Kefiruh. Nefarian Serpine was on the move again and this time he was going to attack Skulduggery Pleasant in the worst way. To kill his wife and daughter before he had a chance to stop him. They were nearly back to Mariposa's house when Cynnamon was pulled into the alley round the corner with a hand over her mouth. She froze but when she heard whose voice it was she calmed.

"Don't fight Cynnamon it's me," Ramil Renn said. Cynnamon loved Ramil to bits. He was tall with black curly hair. He had dark eyes that any girl could get lost in as she would gaze into them. He wore his stable clothes as he had been caring for his father horses that morning when he saw the most horrible sight.

"Cynnamon I need to talk to you,"

"What is it? I need to go back Mariposa and warn her mum that Serpine was coming to get them."

"Cynnamon do you trust me?"

"Of course I do. Why what's going on now?"

"I know you don't like it but you need to let me teleport you out of village."

"What? Why?"

"I saw Serpine sneaking into the village but he had a bomb and hid it in one of the food carts. It could go off at any moment and I want you to let me get you out of here."

"A bomb?" Cynnamon nearly collapsed but Ramil supported her. "He's trying to blow us all up?"

"That is what a bomb normally does yes,"

"You've been hanging with my dad and Skulduggery for too long. But what about everyone else? What about my mum? Surely you can get her out too?"

"Yes I will try but now I want get you out,"

"Ramil I can't. You have no idea how guilty I'll feel leaving everyone in the village if that bomb went off." She was nearly crying and that's when she and Ramil heard it. The piercing scream that she recognised immediately and turned to find Mariposa being dragged along by the hair by Serpine while Awenita was being dragged along unconscious and she nearly screamed herself but Ramil clasped a hand over her mouth again.

"If I'm going to save you and your mum let me get you out now because I bet he'll set that bomb off as soon as he's left the village," he whispered in her ear. Reluctantly she nodded. She blinked and when she opened her eyes she was in the woodland around the village and when she looked out she could see that some buildings were burning.

"Hurry Ramil go and get my mum. Then I've got to find my dad."

Just as Ramil disappeared she heard the loud bang and when she looked over to the village again it wasn't there anymore. She screamed in horror. Everybody she ever loved, her friends her family, her mother were dead.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" she screamed as she clutched her stomach and fell to the ground only to curl up into a ball. She cried and cried until she could cry no more.

Back to the present:

"There you go. Well the beginning of it." Cynnamon said.

"Well why not tell me the rest?"

"Because right now I'm tired. And I need time to remember."

"You've had a few centuries Cynnamon,"

"Exactly. A lot has happened in those few centuries and I need to remember what actually happened," She said and when she stood up and turned around she nearly bumped into the blonde haired boy who just appeared out of no-where. He didn't think much of it and went to talk to Ghastly.

"Ghastly, lock me up before I kill Rolanda!"

"What? Fletcher I'm kind of busy-"

"FLETCHER RENN I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" came a female voice from the door.

"What now Rolanda? I told you I didn't nick your bloody necklace!"

"Oh really then where's it gone? And why did you teleport away as quickly as possible?"

"To get away from your nagging face! Honestly you're always in mine and why would I nick something I bought for you?"

"Oh I don't know to get some money maybe!"

"Bloody hell Rolanda I'm a teleporter! I don't need money for anything!" He shouted

"Alright you two that's enough!" shouted Ghastly to stop the argument before it turned violent. Cynnamon stared at them.

"Right then what's going on with you two now?" Ghastly asked

"Well my very clever wife here has only gone and lost her bloody diamond necklace that I bought her for her birthday last week and now she's blaming me! Do you know how much a diamond necklace cost these days?" Fletcher explained

"Well apparently nothing for a teleporter as they prefer to steal everything you twat!" Rolanda said

"You see what I put up with Ghastly? I told you I saved up my money from my 'mortal' job and actually bought it this time."

"Yes that's what you say"

"Alright you two. I honestly don't know how the hell you thought you would make a good couple but the point is you are both 33 next week and I'm sure I've seen 5-year-olds handle a situation like this better than you two,"

"What are you saying Ghastly? That a 5-year-old accuses her boyfriend of stealing a diamond necklace and he doesn't make a fuss?" Fletcher asked

"No I'm saying I've seen 5-year-olds have a silly little argument and they sorted better than you two are! For Pete's sake act your age and not your shoe size! It was you Fletcher who said he didn't want to be like his parents and constantly arguing with your wife wasn't it?"

"Yes I guess so but how can I prove that I didn't steal her bloody necklace?"

"Excuse me Fletcher I am still here!" Rolanda cried.

"Yes unfortunately," And then Rolanda went to hit him when everything froze and no-one could move. Ghastly looked and saw it was Cynnamon.

"Are they always like this?" She asked

"Yes and unfortunately they come to me when there's a problem. OK solution Fletcher you stay here tonight and Rolanda go home and have another look for your necklace. Look everywhere. Even where you last took it," he said

"Um why is she the one who gets to go home?" Fletcher asked

"Because I said so," Then Cynnamon lets the spell go and Rolanda went home while Fletcher went upstairs to the guest room.

"Feel free to stay as well Cynnamon I've another spare room with clean clothes. Valkyrie stay's here sometimes and left some clothes here. I'm sure she won't mind you borrowing any."

"Thanks dad," she replied as she was walking up the stairs.

When Cynnamon was sleeping that night the nightmare came. Yes not a nightmare but the nightmare. She saw her mum's face and all her friends before they were blown up along with the entire village.

Back to the war:

Cynnamon laid there for a few hours and when she eventually stood up she was angry. She touched her birthmark, a small dark mark in the shape of a star located on the left side of her chest where her heart is.

Her mum and dad had said it was like a charm as it seemed to glow when she had some good luck. That's how she had picked her name, Cynnamon Lepor means Charm and it suited her perfectly.

She turned and ran deep into the woods in hope to find the most powerful sorcerers that lived there. She needed their help if she was going to kill Serpine as revenge for everyone. Yes she will!

The present:

She woke up suddenly. She didn't scream like you normally would when waking up from a nightmare. No she used all her scream three centuries ago which is what started the dreams. The sun was shining through the window and she got out of bed. She quickly got dressed in some black jeans and a red t-shirt with a picture of a bleeding heart. It was a good thing she was the same size as Valkyrie. As she walked down the stairs she could hear the muffled voices of Ghastly and Fletcher. They were, in the backroom of the shop, talking about her but not in the mean way in a Fletcher wants to know something about her way.

"Ghastly who is she?" he was asking.

"She's my daughter Fletcher and yes I think she's single. But you, my son, are not."

"Your son?"

"Yes well I see you as a son since you always come to me for advice. And I very much doubt Skulduggery would. Is he still trying to kill you?"

"I dumped Valkyrie what do you think? Of course he is but I can't stop thinking about that girl."

"She has a name,"

"Oh yeah what was it? You know since you never introduced us,"

"I didn't get a chance. You and Ro are arguing again!" Just the Cynnamon walked through the door. If this boy wanted to know stuff about her she wanted to tell him not her dad. Fletcher stood up and looked at her.

"Hello," he said

"Hi," she replied. "I'm Cynnamon. Cynnamon Lepor," she held out her hand and he shook it

"I'm Fletcher. Fletcher Renn." She stopped. Renn? She thought she'd heard that last night but she wasn't sure.

"Renn?" she looked away.

"Yes. Why what's wrong with it? Do I need to change it?" he looked around confused.

"No. Um please excuse me," she said and she turned around and ran out of the kitchen.

"Ghastly?" he asked

"Cynnamon used to have a love. He was your ancestor Fletcher. Ramil, she loved him to bits but he died back in the war when our village was blown up."

"Oh. So what do I do?"

"Give her time to come around but for right now I think maybe you should go home."

"Why what have I done now?"

"Nothing. It's just Rolanda called earlier while you were still in bed. She found her necklace. She left it round her sisters so now she wants to make up with you. But also because Tanith's coming over and I don't want you around."

"Cynnamon's gonna be here,"

"She's my daughter and she's got nowhere to go at the moment."

"But I'm like a son to you," he sighed

"Exactly, like a son. Not my actual son,"

"What else is it?"

"Skulduggery and Valkyrie are coming over then we're all going to the Sanctuary. It's Ravels birthday so he's having a party."

"And I'm not invited?"

"Quite frankly Fletcher we all find you annoying, and until you get a haircut no-one can take you seriously. Plus we didn't think you'd want to come since Skulduggery would be there."

"Point taken." Fletcher said just as they heard the bell at the door ringing to let them know someone was in the shop. A moment later Tanith, Skulduggery and Valkyrie were walking into the backroom.

"Hey Ghastly I was going to ride my bike but Skul and Val gave me a life to save me getting changed here..." Tanith was saying as she was walking but stopped when she noticed Fletcher with Valkyrie and Skulduggery following closely behind her.

"Fletcher?" Valkyrie asked, grabbing Skulduggery's arm to stop him going anywhere.

"Hey Val, Tan, Skul. How's it going?" He said casually.

"How dare you," Skulduggery said.

"How dare I what?"

"What are you doing here Fletcher?"

"Me and Ro had another argument and I had to spend the night here. Why is that a crime?"

"No but if you don't get out of here now I will commit one,"

"What is your problem Skul? You have been in a mood with me just because I dumped Valkyrie."

"It's not just that Fletcher. It's the fact that you leave her in a field with Vampires everywhere so she could have died. It's the fact you have never treated her with respect. It's the fact that you nearly got her killed several times ten years ago and to top it all off it's the fact that you get her pregnant when she's seventeen and force to get rid of it! I think you have made her life hell so you should leave right now!"

"Jeez calm down I was just leaving anyway!" and with that he vanished.

"Are you ever going to give him a break?" Valkyrie asked Skulduggery

"After what he did to you. No."

"But I told you I didn't want the baby anyway,"

"You know that's not true Valkyrie. I can see in your eye's you wanted that baby so much. But he forced you to get rid of it because he didn't want any responsibility."

"Yeah but I still think you're being too hard on him. We haven't seen him properly in ten years. I think it's time for a catch up,"

"And I think you're coming down with a fever," he said putting a hand to her forehead before she slapped it away and smiled.

Cynnamon came downstairs then and greeted them. Ghastly explained why she was wearing Valkyrie's clothes but Val didn't mind she was going to throw the t-shirt away anyway. And they all went to Ravels party. They all went back to Valkyrie and Skulduggery's that evening. The plan was to watch a film then Ghastly and Tanith would go back to Ghastly's but when they fell asleep on the sofa Skulduggery and Valkyrie decided to leave them.

Chapter 2: The Past