Skulduggery was already in bed when Valkyrie was getting ready in the bathroom.

"You know how Lauren is turning 13 in a couple of weeks, babe?" Valkyrie asked as she took off her make-up.

"unfortunately,yes" He had his hands behind his head and looking the ceiling.

"Why unfortunately?"

"Because I remember when you became a teenager"

"Ahhh wonderful days" She walked out of the bathroom and over to their bed.

"No they were horrible days! All the mood swings!"

"It wasn't as bad as when I was pregnant"

"No but at the start of being pregnant you were super horny!" She laughed as she got in next to him. She kissed him.

"Anyway back to the subject. Can we plan a surprise party for her?"

"No!"

"Why not?" She whined

"Because..." She realised something and smiled

"You don't have a reason do you?"

"No" He whispered and dipped his head

"So can we?"

"Your not going to stop until I saw yes are you?"

"No"

"Okay but not too big"

"Thanks hun" She lent over and started to kiss him.

Next morning...

Valkyrie was woken up by Josh getting in the middle of the bed.

"What's up hun?"

"Nothing mum, I wanted to come talk to you guys. Lauren is annoying me" They heard a shout from down the hall something like 'Josh I'm going to kill you!'

"What have you done?" She asked

"I may have text James that she fancies him" Valkyrie put her head in her hands as Skulduggery chuckled.

"I love you, son, but I think you will need to hide from Lauren for about 2 weeks from now" Skulduggery said.

"Go, on. Go get ready for school" Josh jumped of the bed and ran down the hall. Valkyrie turned to her husband.

"I don't want to get up yet"

"Don't then, we don't have to be in work for.." He looked over to the clock. 7:13. "two hours." he turned over and kissed her.

"Harley and Josh are walking to school and Lauren is getting a lift from Alysha's mum so we don't have to take them" She laughed and threw her arms around his neck. Her was hovering over her while kissing her neck when there came a knock at the door. Skulduggery groaned and rolled over.

"Come in" Valkyrie called.

"Muuuuummm, Lauren is threatening to kill me with a knife from downstairs!" Josh opened the door.

"Lauren stop threatening your brother!" Skulduggery shouted.

"Arghhhhh I'm going to school!" She stomped down stairs and slammed the front door.

"Okay Josh let's make a deal" He sat on the end of their bed. Valkyrie sat up while Skulduggery just rolled his face against the pillow. Valkyrie adjusted the covers around the chest.

"No annoying your sister until after her birthday next week"

"What do I get?"

"Ummm I'll take you to the cinema and your dad will your homework for a week" Skulduggery's head snapped up

"What!?"

She patted his back "Don't worry I'll get Crux to do it" He settled back down into the pillow. Valkyrie turned back to her son

"Deal?" She put her hand out

"Deal" And shook it.

"Harley is probably waiting for you go on" He ran out the room and slammed the front door behind him.

"Where were we?" Skulduggery pulled Valkyrie back and started to kiss her again.

Later that day at the Sanctuary...

Skulduggery was sitting behind his desk, filling in some paperwork. Valkyrie was upside down on the sofa on the right of the room. Ghastly and Ravel walked into the office.

"Skul we have a new-" Ghastly paused as he looked over at the girl upside down "Valkyrie what are you doing?"

"I'm bored. Paperwork is boring!"

"Just ignore her, guys, she's in a weird mood" Skulduggery said as he looked up. He laughed at both of the men frowning at her.

"Anyway we have a new case for you" Valkyrie suddenly had a smile on her face. She got up and lent against the desk.

Ravel continued "Her name is Summer Light" At that he passed Valkyrie the folder

"Summer Light really?" She passed the folder to her husband.

"Yep, really. She has killed 2 sanctuary agents in Ireland"

"Okay where was she last seen?" Asked Skulduggery

"Ummmm" Ghastly looked at Valkyrie "Haggard" Valkyrie went white and cursed

"Okay we'll go round there as soon as possible" Skulduggery put folder down. Ghastly and Ravel both smiled and left.

"Okay let's go check it out" He stood up and picked up his jacket. Valkyrie threw him the Bentley keys. He caught them with one hand. They walked out the office and locked the door. Valkyrie opened the folder while they walked down the corridor.

"What do you think she's doing in Haggard?"

"probably nothing to do with your parents"

"Oh shit! I forgot my gun in the office" He passed her the keys

"I'll meet you at the Bentley" She kissed him quickly and ran back up the corridor. She opened the door and walked over to the desk. Her gun was in the second draw. Skulduggery and her had matching guns with their codes scratched off. Even though Skulduggery has his revolver he keeps a pistol m9 spare in his draw. But Valkyrie only has one gun a pistol m9. On the barrel of both guns the words 'until the end' were engraved. She walked out the office soon enough she was at the reception desk.

"Val!" She turned around to face Tanith running up to her.

"Hey Tanith" She caught the younger girl in a hug.

"So I heard it was Lauren's 13th birthday next week" She separated from Valkyrie and carried on walking with her.

"Yes Tanith I have already spoken with Skulduggery and we've agreed to have a surprise party for her"

"Yay!" She started jumping up and down "Can I help plan?"

"Yes you can" She smiled.

"Tanith have you had a coke today?" They looked round to find Ghastly walking towards

"Yeah!" She ran up to him and jumped. Good job Ghastly was strong because any normal man would have fallen to the floor. He just grunted and caught her.

"I'll see you guys later we got a bad guy to catch!" Valkyrie waved at them and carried onto the Bentley

"Hey you took ages"

"Yeah got caught up with Tanith" Skulduggery started the car towards Haggard