Skulduggery woke when he heard screaming. He straightaway jumped out of the bed to see Valkyrie being carried out by some very familiar looking men. He ran out but ghastly and shudder pushed him back.

"We need to talk to you and Valkyrie needs a break from you."

"She sure seemed to agree." Skulduggery said sceptically.

"She's fine." Shudder said calmly.

"Now. What happened with the elders?" ghastly asked pushing skulduggery onto one of the chairs.

Skulduggery sighed, "Fine…."

By the end they looked horrified.

"He said that?"

"How can she hate herself?"

"I wish I knew. Whatever happened she remembers it."

"And she hates herself for it."

Valkyrie's PoV

She felt hands grab her and pull her out of bed. Valkyrie screamed as she was carried out of the room only stopping when she saw who was carrying her. Dexter vex grinned at her from her feet and Larkin was leaning over her head.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she hissed.

"We're kidnapping you!" Saracen said happily.

"Well I can SEE that! Why the hell are you kidnapping me?"

"We have decided that you are in need of some time away from skulduggery." Dexter said. Hopeless appeared beside Dexter and nodded.

"And it couldn't wait until the morning?"

"Nope!"

She sighed. "Can you put me down? I won't legit anyways. By the looks of it you've put guards up."

They looked at each other but nodded and put her down.

"Did any of you think to bring clothes for me or am I to go around in these?"

Saracen smiled and handed her a black jacket, jeans, and a t-shirt.

"Shoes?"

Larkin shrugged, "We'll get some. Somewhere."

Valkyrie sighed and let them drag her around Italy for one mad night.

Next paragraph. (Skul's PoV)

The next morning Valkyrie stumbled into her room to see Ghastly, Anton and skulduggery all sitting in the armchairs asleep. They must have been waiting for her to get back. She smiled and grabbed three blankets. She laid one on Anton, one on Ghastly, moved to the last armchair and curled up on it with her own blanket.

Back to general PoV

The three men woke (Skulduggery woke from his meditative state) with blankets around them and Valkyrie curled up in the last armchair. There was a snore and they looked over to see Larkin sleeping on the couch and Saracen, Hopeless and Dexter in a jumble on the bed. There was a muffled moan and Valkyrie shot straight up out of her chair. The jolt made Larkin fall off the couch and kick the bed making the other three tumble off the side.

"Oww what happened?" Dexter moaned from under the other two.

"Valkyrie stood up."

"Uh guys why are you here?" Valkyrie asked looking at the men lying on the ground.

"Oh you see Larkin went into his room first but there wasn't anyone there so we checked ghastly's room and he wasn't there and we poked in here and saw you put blankets around you two and go onto the last armchair. Larkin convinced us to sleep in here like a sleep over so he took the couch cause 'he's a taken man and can't be seen in bed with 2 other men'." Hopeless said sitting on the bed.

"Don't forget the part where Valkyrie managed to knock all of us off the bed." Saracen grumbled.

Ghastly smiled at Valkyrie, "Thank you."

She waved her hand dismissively standing and walking to the bathroom. Before she could get there Larkin charged at her throwing her onto the bed and slamming the bathroom door closed.

"Larkin get out of my bathroom now! Use your own!" she yelled banging the door with her fist.

There was a quiet knock and skulduggery opened the door to see one very worried Venom standing there.

"I saw all your doors open and heard shouting…" he started before catching a glimpse of Valkyrie hitting the bathroom door, Dexter lying on the ground, Saracen sitting beside him poking his stomach, hopeless sitting on the bed using his foot to poke Dexter. Ghastly and Anton were sitting on the armchairs watching as Dexter squirmed and Valkyrie screamed something about having his own bathroom.

Valkyrie turned, saw venom and grinned.

"Hi venom! They couldn't stand the thought of being without me so we had a sleepover!"

There was an agreement from inside the bathroom and Valkyrie turned and yelled, "Larkin Venom's here! Get your bathroom-stealing arse out here! He hasn't got a hug yet!"

There was another yell and Valkyrie jumped back to allow Larkin to charge straight for Venom. Larkin jumped the tall mage, his light ginger hair soaring out behind him and wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug.

"Guys little help?"

Anton smiled and shook his head. "If we leave him there he'll tire himself out."

"Please? Valkyrie?"

Valkyrie grinned but said, "Can I have a hug…."

Larkin let go of venom, who quickly backed away from him, and turned to Valkyrie.

"If you catch me."

Larkin let out a war cry and ran at her. Valkyrie flipped landing on the bed and jumped off pushing Hopeless in his way.

"Is this how they practice?" venom asked Anton moving just as Valkyrie streaked past.

"Sometimes they keep adding until the chased is caught. I don't really know what age they are."

Venom nodded sadly.

There was a screech and they looked over at Larkin who was pinned on the ground by a tired looking Valkyrie.

"Is there a reason you're here venom? Not that it isn't lovely to see you."

"Ah yes! Well you see the others were wondering when you would like to head out but by the look of it you haven't slept and will probably need another day?"

Ghastly opened his mouth but Valkyrie jumped him clamping her hand over his mouth.

"If you wouldn't mind venom. These idiots thought kidnapping me in the middle of the night was a good idea."

"All of them?"

"Except skulduggery but that's cause he was with me the whole time."

"The whole time?"

Valkyrie blushed but glared at him. "You're as bad as Larkin. But at least I can beat him up."

"And you can't beat me up?"

"No I can't beat up ELDER oak. I'd get arrested for attacking an elder."

"That's assuming you could beat me."

The others laughed and Venom glared.

"You don't think I could beat Valkyrie?!"

Valkyrie grinned. "I've trained with the best fighters since I was 12 and I know for a fact that elders aren't allowed hit people so you're rusty."

"We don't talk about that." Ghastly grumbled from his seat.

"Of course not Mr. Bespoke!"

Ghastly smiled. Shudder shook his head and the others laughed quietly.

"What?" Venom and ghastly asked confused.

Ghastly paused and looked over at Anton. "She did it again didn't she?"

He nodded. Valkyrie looked over at venom.

"So? Want to see if you can beat me?"

"Yeah. Why not?"

"Ok do you want to use magic?"

"Yes."

"What IS your magic?"

"I'm a Magiphage. I can take peoples magic and give things magic."

Valkyrie nodded. "Do I need to tell you mine?"

"Just a summery if you would."

"I can shoot white lightning, make bubbles of white energy, and see peoples magic and auras…"

Venom nodded. This is what he had heard.

"And I can go off like a nuke."

Venom froze. "What?"

"I can make a shield around me and it can grow disintegrating everything in its path. I don't plan on using it or anything! But you asked."

"You're a bomb."

"Please don't call me a bomb. It's quiet offensive."

There was a flash and venom saw Larkin put away his phone.

"I think that's one for global link." He said happily.

"Don't you dare."

"But your face! It was so cute!"

Anton put a hand to chest "I feel betrayed larkin. You wound me so."

Larkin jumped up, "Oh no darling! I could love no-one other than you!"

Venom watched this with a bemused look.

"What the hell just happened here?"

Larkin ignored him and turned to Valkyrie. "Valkyrie! You must defeat this man! This is a matter of honour!"

Valkyrie grinned and bowed low. "Of course! He shall rue the day he met us!"

"Why the hell are you nutters talking about honour?!"

Ghastly sighed and put his hand on venom's shoulder.

"All you need to know is that you have apparently insulted Larkin and Anton's honour. Larkin has declared that Valkyrie has to beat you and Valkyrie is now planning on beating you to a pulp."

"This doesn't sound good for me."

Dexter nodded from where he was STILL lying on the floor. "It's not. Valkyrie's very scary and she's mean. She knocked me off my seat."

"No she didn't." Shudder said slightly muffled by Larkin who was sitting on his lap.

Valkyrie grinned, "Can I go to the bathroom while you discus how mean I am or do I have to sit and listen?"

"Are you going to spar? Cause I'm getting bored!" hopeless whined.

"Oh god forbid you'd get bored!" Valkyrie said sarcasm lacing her voice.

Venom smirked. "That was such an Irish thing to say."

"That's because I'm Irish. Who thought it was a good idea to make you an elder?"

"I don't know but if you find out tell me."

Valkyrie grinned and got into a fight stance. "Ready?"

Venom jumped at her and she spun sending and full spinning kick into his chest. (That's a kickboxing spinning kick if anyone cares). He stumbled back and landed in an armchair. Valkyrie walked up and pointed her hand at him. It lit up and energy crackled between her fingers.

"Surrender or I shoot."

"Ok ok you win!"

Valkyrie grinned and stepped back but watched venom carefully.

"Thanks Val! Now I'm going to bed." Larkin said standing and grabbing shudders hand. "And you are coming with me."

Shudder stood and moved out of the room. "We will see you at five for dinner. Good night."

"Night!"

Valkyrie grabbed her bag and went into the bathroom.

When she came back she had her pyjamas on.

"All of you off. Now." She said to hopeless, Dexter and Saracen.

"Ah Val! You don't need the whole bed do you?"

"Yes. I do. Get off and go away. I'm too tired to let you bunk here."

Dexter and hopeless got up and shuffled to the door scowling. Saracen followed them yawning.

"Venom, I know your prides probably wounded but I'm very tired so please get out."

"That was practically fuzzy. I'd go before she gets properly grumpy." Ghastly warned.

"You too bespoke." She mumbled from where her face was buried in a pillow.

"I know. I know."

"Good night Valkyrie." Venom said walking out.

"Muf." She replied her head still buried.

"Sleep well." Ghastly ruffled her hair and followed venom.

Another muffled response came. He nodded to skulduggery and left.

Skulduggery walked to the bed and sat on the edge.

"You look very comfy."

"I do."

"Comfy enough to let me go poke around?"

"No. You'll annoy people and I won't be able to join in or watch."

"Well what will I do?"

"Cuddles." She said arms up in the air.

"Really? Cuddles?"

"That or go sit quietly in the corner."

Skulduggery laughed, picked her up and slid under the covers.

"Better?"

"Much. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

That's it! *Pant*. So hard. I have been working on this for ages! I am also working on a few others. Hope you enjoyed! ~Scarlet