Skulduggery agreed to wait in the main room while Valkyrie sipped her tea in the kitchen. Sharon had put her baby girl, Lani she told her, to bed in the other room. How she remembered nap time.

Sharon smiled again, "So what mess has Skulduggery gotten you into that you had to come for Finbars help?"

"Heh, would you believe we're hiding from the Sanctuary right now?"

"Something bad?"

"No, no just... needed some privacy."

"You two?"

"No! Not me and Skulduggery but... yeah me and Skulduggery but to talk privately about work and stuff but not that we need privacy to do that." Man, I screwed that up big time.

"Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."

Valkyrie looked up at her smile again. "What do you mean?"

"You and Skulduggery were," she put up her fingers like quotes, "talking privately about work."

"Thank you." It felt good knowing someone else knew but then again she didn't really know Sharon that well.

"No problem. I didn't tell my friends that I was with Finbar till after our child s first birthday. Did you guys just recently get together?"

"Yeah," Valkyrie sighed.

"Well it was bound to happen according to all of Finbars tales at least. We're not the slightest surprised."

"How did your friends react to the news of you and Finbar?"

"They were dumbfounded. Couldn't believe it. Said he would ruin my life."

Valkyrie felt the blood rush from her face.

"But I still love him very much. Gave me the best years." They both heard the door open in the main room. "Think he's home." Sharon stood up and walked to the front door as Valkyrie followed.

"Sharon sweetie," exclaimed Finbar holding his arms open for her. She gave him a tight hug.

Valkyrie stood next to Skulduggery who was sitting on a wooden chair reading an old paperback novel. "Guess you were wrong, Skulduggery." A few years back, she and Skulduggery had made a bet on how long Finbar's relationship with Sharon would last. Skulduggery didn't say very long.

"Yeah, you won." He patted her on the back.

She was about to smack Skulduggery on the back of his skull when Finbar handed her a bundle of clothes. She recognized one of her t-shirts.

"I didn't know what you wanted to wear," Finbar started, "So I grabbed a ranch of random stuff... you know."

She thanked him before she and Skulduggery walked over to one of the back rooms.

"You told her?" Skulduggery questioned Valkyrie when they were alone.

"She figured it out for your information."

"But your rambling made it obvious."

"She said she knew it was bound to happen anyway."

"And how would she know that if we just met her today?" He dropped the fur coat to the floor.

"Sharon said she heard it from Finbar." She dropped her robe to the floor.

"Then Finbar already figured it out as well." He began putting on his black suit.

"You underestimated Finbars intelligence." She slipped on a pair of black jeans and cream purple top.

"Hmm... do I?"

She turned to him but he didn't continue. "What's wrong?"

He sighed. She knew him too well. "Everything." He pulled on his coat.

Valkyrie bent down and opened up the Tame luminating the room. She walked up to him and gave him a hug. "Everything will be fine soon okay?"

"Define soon."

She reached up to kiss him. "I mean when all the cases are over and we can walk down the street holding hands without anyone judging us."

"That's going to be a while."

"That's why I'm here for you."

-------

SkulPoint of View

After having greeted himself to Finbars wife, he pulled the skinny father out into the hall for a quick chat. "Finbar, what do you thinks going on?"

"Sanctuary business I'm guessin'. Can't figure another reason for any other circumstance that includes this Sensitive." He pointed to himself.

"If anything of what I say to you comes out of this house-"

"Skul-man, you should know me by now. Your my, er, trusted acquaintance. Anything you need to tell stays in this pie hole."

"Good," Skulduggery nodded approvingly, "Then you should know that me Valkyrie are together now."

"Ah, congratulations man! Finally settling down?"

"No. I'm still working on cases and I'm one in particular that has me at a road block."

"Well, Skulduggo I'm ready for anything you can throw at me. I'm ready to defend my country!"

"I don't need you defend anything."

"That's cool too. So what? Some information need to be given?"

"I need to know if you know anyone that can access the Black Market."

"Oh man, are you arresting people associated with it?"

"Maybe, depends on the person."

"Right... okay man, I can help you. I can access the Black Market and I'm sure you'll find who ever you re looking for in there."

"You can get into the market?"

"Yeah, just don't arrest Sharon but I can get in because she helped me find it. Sharon used to work for the Black Market. I swear man, she used to."

"Don't worry Finbar, I'm not going to arrest you or Sharon."

"Thanks Skul-man."

"I need you to get us inside. Murders are being committed and we think it might be a money scheme."

"Yeah, yeah I'll get you in." The bell in the door rang for a client that walked into the store. "I'll be right back, Skul."

Skulduggery looked at his watch as Finbar left to greet his visitor. They didn't have much time. If they stay any longer, people would really start to get worried about their mysterious disappearance. That's when he heard the gun shot.

He dashed towards the main door and flung it open. He saw Finbar sprawled out on the floor, blood flowing from his chest and a group of black hooded men walked into the room, a man with one arm as their leader.

"The skeleton detective," the man grinned, "We meet at last."

"At last? I'm not sure if I know you. You related to Crux by any chance?" He looked down a Finbar.

"Obviously you don't recognize me."

"I've never seen anyone that looks like the likes of you. Maybe that old man who lives across the street from me." Skulduggery heard Valkyrie move behind him. He placed a gentle hand on her wrist to warn her.

"You were always one for jokes and petty insults... my brother."

More to come!