A/N: I don't own Jack, Darquesse or Valkyrie.

I hadn't even closed the door to the mansion when Jack was bundling me into a tight embrace and covering my face with happy kisses. He knew, somehow he just knew that I needed him, that I'd chosen him and not the world. I considered my options even as the comforting warmth of his body drew me in. I had to shift back, for him, for the baby. For although as Darquesse I could have mimicked everything about my new form I knew it wasn't the same to Jack or the baby.

I had to grow up, I realized. And stop being a spoiled brat. I loved Jack more than anything and I had to let go of what other people would think of me being with him once and for all. I let the change come and he gripped me tighter still, though mindful of his tremendous strength. "I love you, Jack. I'm so sorry for the terrible wife I've been." Jack cut off any further apology with a searing kiss that left me breathless and somehow his top hat got knocked to the floor.

I ran my fingers through his wild black hair, not wanting to let go, ever. At last we did part and he rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed. He shivered and if he expected me to retreat again and I touched his face. "Jack, I do love you, I adore you. I haven't been a good wife, and don't you dare protest, but I'll be better if you'll have me, I swear I will." He made his high, whining sound he made when he was afraid and I bundled him into me tightly.

"You mean it poppet? I can trust you? I know I'm ugly-" I touched his face, the face that to me was handsome and perfect and my heart melted for my husband. How could I have been so cruel to him? So stupidly superficial and blind to what a handsome man he really was?

"I do. God, Jack, I know you don't have a reason to trust me, but I swear I love you. I'm sorry I've treated you the way I've had, for holding back. I'm petty, Jack. I'm vain, but I can change. I will, for you, for our baby. Speaking of which, where is he?" I asked and he led me without a word to the living room where our little one was bundled up in front of the fireplace. I picked him up and he clung to me, nuzzling in deeply.

Jack held us both on the sofa and I realized how arrogant I'd been. He was the wronged party, he would decide if he stayed. At last he laughed and I looked at him in surprise. "We've had some rough times, haven't we, poppet? But we'll both do better, I'll tell you that right now. " He held up a hand to cut off my protest. "In that book it said I'd be naturally repulsive to you at times, it can't be helped. Think it was meant to keep the species from crossin'." He cuddled me in and I couldn't believe the generous man I'd married or how large and forgiving his heart was.

"I was being a spoiled brat, Jack, and you know it. But you've always been too sweet-natured for your own good." I said and he laughed. "I meant with me." I said and he giggled that high-pitched giggle he had. "Time for a hunt?" He shook his head happily.

"Naw, just strikes me as funny, it does. And you were a brat, but I don't mind much. So long as you're nicer from now on. I need you here with me, Valkyrie. All the time, not just sometimes. All right?" I nodded and snuggled into him, content.

And I kept my word to Jack. We debated as a family if we should move back to America, but Jack was now free to return to London and one look into those pleading eyes and I and the rest of the family joined him. We found a decent enough place, and settled into a routine. I knew to let Jack go with our father when he needed to, and the baby was growing by leaps and bounds.

Jack was an affectionate, indulgent father to our young Jack, watching over him with fatherly pride. He'd look at me every so often and I knew he was relaxing, letting go of the past and truly trusting me, and I was realizing just how lucky I'd been. "How is my handsome Jack today?" I'd croon to him and he'd duck his head and grin that manic grin, blushing furiously.

Jack kept bringing home lunch or dinner from his travels, and we were sitting down one day when I noticed his quiet mood. "What's the matter?" I asked, taking his hand in mine and he looked at our hands for the longest time.

"Nothin', poppet. I just- Why don't we go out together more often?" He asked and I looked at him, surprised. Jack hated being at ground level with people, he hated even going out in daylight if it could be helped. But he was changing now, and he was looking at me pleadingly, seeking assurance that I'd meant what I said.

"I honestly thought you liked the alone time, Jack. And with the baby I've just been staying at home more often. But we'll go out as often as you like, it would do him good to see the sights." I said, and Jack grinned, clearly pleased.

"Cor! I knew I only had to ask. I need to be more forward with you. Wait, I didn't mean that how it sounded." I smiled gently and he relaxed. Jack was mindful of his words lately and seemingly unhappy with his thick accent. I found it charming though it was true a lot of people didn't. But I didn't care what they though, not anymore.

"Jack?"

"Mm?"

"Relax. I didn't marry you so you'd change yourself completely. There's nothing wrong with the way you speak."

"But it isn't the Queen's English, is it?"

"And being Irish, I just adore the queen." I said dryly and he giggled.

"Sorry, poppet. I forgot, honestly, I did. I just want to not sound so horrid when I speak, is all. I imagine I put people off." I imagined it was his homicidal nature and tendency to kill people for fun that put people off, but I patted his hand.

"Do you mind my accent, Jack?" I asked, putting on the thick accent I loved using on gullible tourists and he giggled. I laughed with him. "Honestly, Jack, you sound sweet. Tourists hear me and start asking if Kerry Gold cheese is really that wonderful. Stupid Americans." At that we both laughed.

Life was becoming richer for us and a day or so after found us racing along the rooftops, back and forth, ruling the night. That, after all was what Jack had meant. I'd left the baby with our parents, pointing out to Jack that he couldn't survive a fall like we could. And as it was, Jack was delighting in teaching me. "That's it, tuck in more, good!" He praised as I landed.

I was nowhere near as skilled as he was and the power felt strange. But we could leap and twist through the air like cats, as if gravity had no meaning for us. It made for a fighting style that was entirely different, and Jack was a lot smoother than I was, but he assured me my skills would grow in time. "Enough for tonight I think, poppet." He said patting the roof beside him and I settled in.

"You do know I'll be goin' off on a hunt soon." He said quietly, looking up at the moon.

"I know that, Jack. I trust you to come home after, you always have before. What's worrying you?" He shrugged, then turned to me.

"I miss you when I'm out, poppet." He said miserable, and I cuddled into him. "I know you ain't no killer, but you could admire me." So that what was bothering him. It was true I'd never seen him kill before, except for the vampire, and I knew Sabine had. I also knew only a fool would refuse him.

"Where and when?" I asked with a smile and Jack only smiled in returned, the lunacy the full moon brought on shining in his eyes.

Jack, it turned out, felt he was one of the good guys, so far as his choice of prey went. "Real rotters they are." He growled. "I'm doin' the world a service, me." I nodded in silent agreement. He was. We prowled the rooftops silently, our keener hearing and vision making it easy to isolate Jack's prey. I watched from the roof as he jumped down into the darkened alley.

As the man turned, knife in hand and caught Jack by surprise I heard a sharp howl, and I was off the roof with a snarl. I hit the man full-force, knocking him back, still snarling. I heard a deep growl beside me as Jack joined me. "Get back, poppet. He's mine, he is." Then he was on him again and Jack showed no mercy, raking with his hardened nails, biting, rending the man apart while he was still alive.

Jack looked wild, feral. I'd never seen him like this. Covered in blood and with a look in his eyes that let me know and rational part of him was gone. He turned to look at me when the man was dead, blood dripping from his mouth, snarling, panting, his eyes wild. "Go home, Valkyrie, you ain't goin' to like the next part."

"I'll go back to the roof, but no farther. You're vulnerable now." And he was, Jack was spent and wounded. I kept watch while he ate, doing my best to ignore the crunching of bones. We'd been sent a copy of the book and while Jack eating humans wasn't really cannibalism since we weren't really human, I had no desire to join him. At last he alit lightly by my side, having hid the body and I figured it was just as well I didn't know where. We traveled slower going home, Jack having feasted so much that he was slow and I knew that was dangerous.

But he seemed to be regaining control of himself and by the time he'd patted his back so I'd get on he was the Jack he usually was. "If you hadn't been there tonight, poppet, old Jack wouldn't be comin' home, he wouldn't. Don't know how he heard me."

"Should you be carrying me, Jack? You're injured." I said and slid back off as he walked. As it was he was moving far too slow to leap. Something was seriously wrong. He looked at me, frightened, then his eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out. Poison, it had to be. Someone had known Jack was back and his prey had been a trap. I'd have killed the man myself had I know that.

I wanted revenge, but Jack needed to be home first. I knew we had to flee London now. Too many people wanted Jack dead.

OMG, cliffy! Yeah, no one is reading, but still a cliffy!