A/N: I don't own Springheeled Jack, Skulduggery or Valkyrie. Val is about 22 here. Enjoy!

Jack and I were together in my room a few weeks later. It was odd living in a hotel room, but nice since I was by him. Jack had proposed in his own way, and I was wearing the ring he'd presented me with, and since it was engraved for me, I assumed he'd actually bought it. Jack wasn't a thief, and he wasn't given to plundering corpses but I had no Earthly idea how he made money to live on, other than killing people. He must have been working, just discreet enough for me not to notice.

The ring itself was touching. Two entwined bands of silver, one with black diamonds, the other with white. Black for his beloved night sky, white for the stars in it, for he assured me I was as precious to him as his freedom and the night itself.

Jack had pounced on my playfully, sending me backwards with a giggle, landing on top of me on the bed. He grinned down at me, making pleased sounds, holding my hands gently to the side while me proceeded to work his lips on my neck, biting ever so gently, in a way that drew gasps from me. "Jack, let me up, no fair." I gasped.

I heard a gun cock in response, then a familiar velvety voice. "You heard the young lady, let her up, Jack. I won't tell you a second time. Valkyrie, are you all right? Did this monster drug you?"

Skulduggery tried to come forward, but Jack rose planting himself protectively in front of me. "Clear off, mate. She's with me willingly, she is. I don't want no trouble with you, but you aren't takin' her away from here."

"Skulduggery, for God's sake, don't shoot him. I'm with him willingly. What do you think he did, abducted me? Me, of all people?"

Skulduggery sighed and holstered his gun then looked at me. "Why him of all people, Valkyrie? I mean honestly, I'd have been happier if you'd have picked Billy-Ray."

Jack growled, there was no love lost between the two men.

"Skulduggery! Be nice for once. Jack's been nothing but kind to me. I chose to come to London with him. I chose to quit the Sanctuary, I don't see why you haven't quit."

"I have." He admitted, sitting down on the opposite bed. "Let's just say they were talking 'excessive force this' and 'manslaughter charges' that. I had to leave Ireland, to be honest. I was hoping my dearest combat accessory might like to flee Europe with me. "

Jack sat down beside me, not saying a word at first. He just stared at Skulduggery like he thought he was crazy to even ask me to do such a thing. "Here now, she's engaged, she is. She's to be married, she is. Though we may have to be leavin' London in a bit." He turned to me with a sheepish grin. "Sorry, poppet, but some people- Well, old Jack's got himself in a bit of a fix, but it should work out in the end, nothin' for you to worry about."

"Where we're you thinking of going?" I asked.

"America." Both men said in unison. I swear Skulduggery smiled as he tilted his head at Jack, and Jack's own grin back was massive. America, it seemed, it would be.

For reasons neither man cared to explain they felt travelling by ship would be less noticeable, and we soon had all the false IDs and documents we'd need and were at sea. Jack would pace the deck at night, and I'd walk with him at times. He was miserable with no rooftops to roam and I knew he missed London. I'd hold him whenever I could, but he didn't look well. His hair lost its lustre, and he was loosing weight. He didn't like the food any more than I did, but that wasn't it. The man was homesick, even though he knew home meant a prison cell for hundreds of years.

I kept as close to him as possible, and although Jack adored me, I could see I wasn't enough. I wondered if he regretted our engagement, but didn't dare ask him for the truth. We were sharing a cabin with twin beds, but it was hardly romantic. Jack kept to his side of the room, hardly answering when spoken to. Skulduggery was just as miserable, and when he visited, the two men would just sit at the table gloomily, not saying a word. I'd given up on trying to convince them that the whole thing was a grand adventure.

"Where are we going once we get there? New York City?" I asked, trying to draw the men out.

Jack looked horrified. "Never, poppet. A place like that isn't safe even for a gent like me. No, I though more of a wooded area, I didn't mind it as much, bein' there with you."

Skulduggery nodded his agreement. "We have to avoid large cities, so I agree with Jack, I'll make arrangements. We've both agreed we should all stick together. Jack and I are wanted men, and you wouldn't fare too well being our traveling companion, Valkyrie, they'd slap cuffs on you for some trumped up charge. Well, I have things to do, so a good night to you both."

"G'night." Jack responded. For he had lovely manners, most of the time. He looked at me, a new light in his eyes. "I'll get you alone at some point in those woods, poppet." He rose, and came to me, a grin growing on his face, his eyes dancing. I rose to meet him, but he pushed me back down gently, then onto the bed.

"Now where were we, when he interrupted us in London, poppet?" Jack asked, holding my hands at my sides ever so gently, while his lips and teeth worked on my neck. I shivered, and he rolled over, pulling me on top of him, his lips seeking mine.

He'd freed my hands, and I now ran one through his shaggy black hair while the other held his head gently. I returned his kiss, smiling into it as I thought that a few short months ago we'd have been fighting. Jack adjusted his own lips, accommodating me, and his hands skimmed up and down my sides, coming to rest on my back. Jack pulled back at long last, breathless, sighing contentedly. "Know what we need poppet?" He asked.

"What's that, Jack?"

"A paper and some supper. Order what you like. I'll go get us a paper. Coffee?" I nodded and shifted off his delicious warmth so he could sit up and put on his shoes. He could wear them, and he did everywhere outside our cabin, though it was clear he wasn't thrilled with them. He left and I picked up the phone, a sudden idea coming to my head.

Instead of just ordering I asked to talk to the chef, he came on, sounding disgruntled. "Hello? Got a problem with my cookin', do you?"

I couldn't place the accent, but I still sighed in relief. I knew it was English at least. "Not at all. I was just wondering if you could send up a proper fish and chips?"

There was a whistle. "Cor, can't remember the last time I was asked for that. But you don't sound English. Got an English chappie with you, then? I see how it is. I'll do a right proper job of it, let me tell you, a right proper job. Have it up to you soon enough, missus." He chortled in pleasure and hung up, and I was surprised at a tap on the door.

Skulduggery entered. "I thought I'd have a little chat with you on Jack's behalf, and by chat I mean I'm going to speak and you're going to listen. First off, Jack doesn't feel he's nearly experienced enough as a man to please you as a lover, but whether he was with one woman or a hundred, may I remind you that men are never with women so that some woman in the future feels hurt and betrayed. Frankly, it never occurs to us that will meet the kind of woman will ever be that serious about."

"Secondly, I feel the two of you should marry as soon as possible. On the ship even, the captain would be happy to do it. Jack may be inexperienced, and devoted to your happiness, but he is sleeping in the same room with you, and I know he'd be happier if you two were married when the inevitable happens, and it will. Right then, that was a simply lovely craic we must do this again some time, Valkyrie."

He rose to leave. "A hundred women?" I asked.

He shrugged. "In Jack's case I doubt it was even ten, just look at the man. But London has a certain type of woman who will keep a man company, and I think you know what I mean. Well, the important thing to remember is that he's with you now, no one else." He doffed his hat to me and left, Jack returning shortly after, a paper and two coffees for us. Like me he drank either tea or coffee, and he was sticking to coffee on the ship since the tea was dreadful at the coffee shop.

"Ordered us some supper then, love?"

"Yes, I had a talk with the chef. He's sending up something special tonight. Good thing he's English because I think he'll do it well." Jack perked up at the news, but seemed content to wait and see what the meal would be. He cuddled me into him on the bed, reading one section of the paper while he gave me another.

"Skulduggery was here. You didn't ask him to drop by, did you, Jack?"

"Perhaps I did at that. What did he want, poppet?"

"He thinks we should get married on the ship. I agree if you do."

Jack's face was tender as he looked at me. "Yes, I had him talk to you, and yes, I want married now. The captain is willin' to marry us tomorrow. I want the world to know we're together, love. I don't want to keep away from you anymore either, but I can manage one more night out of respect for you."

I cuddled in closer, and he stroked my hair softly. "You're a true gentleman, Jack, you truly are. Tomorrow it is then."

Jack was about to respond when our supper arrived. The fish and chips looked lovely, and proper British tea had been brewed as well. Jack looked at me, his eyes shining with utter devotion. "How'd you remember, poppet?"

"You brought us fish and chips to a rooftop my first night in London, remember?"

Jack nodded happily. "I did, didn't I? He's a much better cook when he's makin' something he likes himself. I adore you, poppet, it was thoughtful of you to remember and ask."

"My pleasure, Jack. You're my fellah now, right?" He blushed slightly and nodded.

"Never thought I'd hear a woman say that to me, especially not one as beautiful as you. I wish I knew my past to tell you why, poppet. I guess I'm workin' class on account of my accent, though I can't recollect holdin' a job other then murderin' folks."

"A job's a job, Jack. Skulduggery wouldn't be fleeing with us if he didn't kill the occasional person. He'll never admit it, but it most likely was over me. I always knew he'd go over the edge one day. But you don't ever have to worry about him, Jack, he'd never hurt me."

"I know that poppet, we had a proper chat, we did. He'll be livin' with us on account of me needin' someone there with you at night. He liked it when you told him how I repaid your kindness but he wants to be there when I'm out at night, and I will be. I'm a creature of the night, love."

"I know that, Jack. That's one of the things I like about you. You and Skulduggery both love the night, though be forewarned, he can be an annoying morning person when the mood strikes him."

"I don't mind the occasional mornin', and it will be nice to have a man I can trust around to be social with." We fell into eating then, and Jack looked truly content as he sat with his tea afterwards. We talked for the longest time, barely noticing when our cart was picked up, then at long last found our respective beds. Sleep took me and I knew nothing until the morning.

The next evening under the light of the full moon we met the captain on deck. He was friendly, dressed in his best white uniform, and to his credit, he didn't even blink at Jack. Skulduggery of course did the honour of giving me away, and the ring Jack got me was simply amazing. A pearl set in sterling sliver, it fit into my engagement band perfectly. His own ring was a silver band set with rows of black and white diamonds. Jack looked rather faint, but he held up manfully.

He walked me back to our room, then picked me up and carried me across the threshold. I wrapped my arms around his neck, giving him a playful nip, and felt him shiver. Jack was looking into my eyes when a knock came at the door and we both sighed. I answered and Skulduggery doffed his hat to me. "Forgot to tell you, I've got a cabin all set for us in the mountains of some state or another. Vermont? Pennsylvania? But they're all the same anyhow. Enjoy your evening."

I shook my head and turned finding Jack directly behind me. "Now where were we, poppet? He took my hand, looking at my ring. "I adore you, poppet, I worship you. You are my night sky my beloved moon. You are also my precious poppet to be cared for and looked after."

"Jack, that's so sweet of you. You are my most precious Jack, my beloved Jack, my handsome Jack. There is no other man in this world for me except you, Jack. I love none other, I'll always remain loyal to you. All I want to do is to roam the night by your side, my most precious Jack." Jack grinned, then ever so gently took me in his arms and kissed me. That night I felt the warmth of him against me throughout the night, and I slept the sleep of the blessed.

I love these two together. Jack is big and strong enough to fight at Val's side come what may. But he's tender as a kitten with her. Aww.