A/N: I don't own Jack, Valkyrie, Sabine, Skulduggery, Tanith or Ghastly.
I came to in degrees, keeping my eyes closed. I was pretty sure I was dead. But by reading the air currents around me there were people around me, even one above me which didn't make much sense. I kept my eyes closed, my breathing even. I seemed to be in a bed in a small room. The people seemed to be talking quietly, keeping vigil. I was dimly aware of something small and warm pressed up against me. There was also the distinctive smell of fish and chips. Apparently when people died they ended up in England.
I opened my eyes and looked up, seeing a pair of well-formed feet curled into the headboard of my bed. The sharp nails seemed to dig into the surface and the legs the feet were attached to jutted out above me. "Jack?" I asked, my voice barely about a croak and instantly he'd flipped himself down to land holding the railings of the bed, and hung above me, grinning manically. His lips found mine gently, then he pulled back to perch on one rail, grinning at me.
"Missed you, poppet. Knew smellin' something you liked would have you up quick. And havin' your family here, of course." He nodded at the rest of the room and I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Skulduggery and Ghastly leaned against one wall, Tanith crouched on the wall beside Ghastly and Sarah sat at Skulduggery's side. Dad and mum had the chairs and uncle was peering at me closely. The warm bundle cooed and I realized my son had been brought to see me.
I looked down at him and smiled. "How'd you get here, little one?" I asked caressing his face.
"Jack went into mourning the instant you left, Valkyrie." Skulduggery said. "We tracked you down to the Sanctuary and before you get excited nobody in this room is wanted for anything. And even if we were, we wouldn't have stayed away."
"But Sabine?" I asked and it was Jack who answered.
"She isn't my beloved moon, love, and she never will be. You are. You are my chosen mate. I got a look in the Sanctuary library, far as they'd let me. You couldn't have had my child if you weren't the right one."
"Oh." I said. "Then we have a species?" I asked. He nodded and came down onto the bed his eyes seeking permission.
"Human, offshoot of course." He said, nuzzling into my neck. "I'm quite handsome, so far as the males of the line go, at any rate. Our family is the last of us. I couldn't be without you, poppet, even if you were the wrong one. Wouldn't even look at Sabine when they brought her."
"He wouldn't." Skulduggery agreed. "The man was putting professional mourners to shame. According to the book Jack found he wouldn't have realized you were a potential mate until you hit maturity. And also of course, he had to hit maturity as well. He was barely mature at the time he met Sabine." I ignored the loaded sarcasm.
"Aw, Jack, sweetheart." I said ruffling his shaggy hair and he giggled, nuzzling into me. "Then I am your chosen one. It was very brave of you to come here." I said gently and we both knew what I meant. Jack was seen as such an oddity some people wanted him kept in a zoo. Tanith had I think, and I looked over at her sharply. She smiled an apology at me then looked away. After a while my family had me up and Jack was feeding me. He stayed near me possessively, lingering after everyone else had left.
At last he laid down for the night on the floor, there being no other beds for him. I looked at him in pity, remembering my own days on the floor in another hospital with a jacket under my head. It was a terrible way to keep a vigil. "Jack, sweetheart, come on." I said and patted the bed. He looked up and joined me.
I cradled him into me. "You'll be well enough to go home soon, poppet." He said gently. "That is, if you want to come home. I didn't want to ask you in front of the others, but do you love me? Was mum right? Is there somethin' missin' for you?"
"Is there for you?" I countered and we were both silent for a long time. At last I answered him. "What is it I don't give you, Jack? How am I not good enough?"
"I was goin' to ask you the same thing, poppet." He said, tears in his voice and he wrapped his arms around me tightly and we both wept. How could we be so in love and feel like something was missing?
"I feel like I'm cursed." I said dully to Skulduggery as he helped me into the Bentley. The rest of the family was in a hotel somewhere and he was driving me to Gordon's mansion.
"You're not cursed, Valkyrie. Just spoiled. I blame myself. You want to be with a man the world admires, that's why we were such good partners. But had I been despised and an outcast like Jack? You wouldn't have even looked at me. And don't you dare compare my enemies to how the world at large treats Jack, it isn't fair and it isn't right. How many people do you think would support Sarah being with me? I'm a skeleton, Valkyrie, but she accepts it, she loves me for it. Can you say the same thing about Jack?" He sounded angry and I was surprised. I'd always thought he'd disliked Jack, and I realized he was right. I did judge Jack on how others saw him.
"What can I do?" I asked and he sighed.
"You do know I'm not always going to be here, right? You have to decide on your own. I'm going to give you some advice, and I swear that if it ever leaves the Bentley I will shoot you. Follow your heart." I clapped a hand over my mouth to stop my sudden laughter and Skulduggery glared at me. "Last time I give you advice." He growled.
"Sorry. And you're right, I am spoiled. I am superficial. Some days I look at Jack and I'm in love with him so much it hurts. And then I start thinking of how- Oh my God, I start thinking of how unpopular he is. I sound like the mean girls in high school. What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing you can't change. Jack worships you, Valkyrie. But he feels you holding back. If you want him and your baby I'd go inside and get them if I were you." He said pulling up in front of the mansion.
"What?" I said stupidly and he sighed.
"We're home now, no need to flee Ireland. Sarah and I will have my old home your parents left for parts unknown and Jack? He's in there, waiting for you to come home."
"How do I make up to him for how I've treated him?" I asked.
"You don't. You move forward. You learn from your mistakes. You know your flaws now and I wish I could help you overcome them, but frankly I don't have any." He said smugly and I hugged him tightly before getting out.
"I'll miss my best friend."
"And your best friend misses his wife. For God's sake woman, go get your husband." Skulduggery said gruffly and I left the Bentley, ready to face my new life and family.
Much better, I think. I had wanted to change this, but I think Valkyrie's flaws make her more human. We all know she loves good-looking men and yes, she really did love Jack. But she has that flaw of superficiality that could end a relationship with just about anyone. Hope you liked it!