Dreaming of her past has never been the easiest thing in Valkyrie Cain's life. How much can a person take, reliving all the horrors of the war? She was sadly reminded of one of her father's demands.

"No." she whispered and shook her head. "No, no, no… I'm too young daddy. I'm not ready yet."

She jolted awake and shot out of bed. Tugging on her now dry clothes, she got to the window and opened it letting in some fresh air. The rain had passed leaving behind a fresh scent, but she couldn't get enough. She felt as if she was slowly suffocating to death so, making an abrupt decision, she jumped out the window and soared into the air, promising to return. She thought she could handle it, but she knew that she needed more time. She was proud of herself for at least initiating contact with Mr. Edgley. All that she needed was to talk to Skulduggery maybe he could help her… now if I were a Skeleton detective where would I be? "Maybe buried in the cemetery, hopefully resting in peace." A voice in her head answered. Stupid voice she cursed under her breath.

She came across a lone house sitting on top of a hill, on the edge of Cemetery Road.

Well the name says it all, he's a skeleton, and is too ego logistical for his own good, hence the humor in the name. Plus, he's lonely. And if I'm stupid enough not to realize that this is where he lives I can always appreciate his taste in classical cars, as a Bentley happens to be parked in the driveway.

She flew towards the house and discretely looked through the window, not making any sudden movements. She knew that reading the air was the oldest and most required skill in the book. Though, if he was living here long it meant that he would probably recognize where everything is. And since she was the newest and temporary addition to the house it meant that he's either distracted or he knows she was here and is playing a game where he won't suspect the trespasser but is hoping for a jolly good laugh that he think he would get in… 3…2…

Before the last second she jumped onto the roof and peered down where the skeleton detective was now scratching his head, and then read the air again for any disturbances, finding her once more. This time she backed up and waited for him to land beside her. And when he did it was her that did the laughing as he almost fell off the roof with shock.

"V-Valkyrie?"

She didn't answer but just continued laughing, this clutching her stomach as she laughed even harder at his putting face.

"Oh, Skulduggey! You really know how to make a woman laugh." She said, her laughter dying down.

"Where have you been?" he asked in a serious tone of voice. She could understand his anger, but wasn't in the mood for it right now, so she brushed his question aside with a wave of her hand.

"I came to settle the matter of my father's will. I figured it was the least I could do. I came to find you, but you were too involved with Guild I didn't really want to draw attention to myself. Now I need to get that piece of parchment form Guilds office and I need someone working there-"

He put his hand up, gesturing for her to stop talking. "May I please ask for a few mere moments to take in the fact that you are alive?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You always knew I was alive."

"It was never a fact."

"I remember you once saying that everything stored inside your head is true, what happened to that Skulduggery?"

"Probably in the same dimension as your answer is to 'WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN FOR THE PAST FOUR HUNDRED YEARS?!'"

"Ah, I'm afraid that such a dimension does not exist. And if the Skulduggery I once held a companionship with is no longer here then I see no reason to prolong my visit any further." She snapped.

"Do you know how much I suffered knowing you were dead Valkyrie? You just left shortly after my wife and child were murdered."

"It's not my fault my father didn't allow me to stay after he was crowned an elder!" she shot back.

"You could've called! Text! Anything! You were the grand mage's daughter! I doubt he left you in the middle of no where with nothing!"

"As a daughter to the Grand Mage I held certain responsibilities and was rarely offered any choice in what had to be done. And you bloody well know that fact better than any body!"

"I also knew you were never one to obey orders. You never listened to your father, except for the time when he gave me your hand! My fiancé gets killed in the middle of a war and four hundred years later I find out that not only is alive but she is very…" he paused then tilted his head, as if he had an idea of some sort.

Uh-oh, said the voice in her head.

(A/N: Gets a little steamy here.)

She was shocked when he wrapped an arm around her middle and pressed her closer to him. When he spoke next, his voice was filled with mischievous innocence.

"She is also very, very beautiful and available to be my date for the upcoming Relinqiem Ball."

And just like that, both of their raging tempers dulled down to none-existence. Her hands made their way up his arms and she laced her fingers round his neck, leaning into his embrace.

"I'm afraid I have plans on that day." She said in the same tone.

"I believe I failed to mention the details of the event, but please amuse me and tell me of these so-called plans of yours." He said, grazing his teeth on the side of her neck.

"… I'm afraid all of my coherent thoughts have skipped my mind at this present time." She struggled to say, biting down a moan as his hands started to wander.

"Will you accept the honor of being my escort to the Ball, Miss Cain?" he chuckled seductively, slipping a gloved hand under her shirt. He traced circles on her stomach; he watched as she started grinding against his leg and purred while nodding her head. He nipped the skin under him and felt her shudder. He grinned smugly to himself, he still had it… or not.

(End of steamy scene)

Then the words seemed to register in her brain. All of a sudden she snapped out of her stupor. She silently berated herself she will not let this predicament get the best of her.

"Impatient Skulduggery?" she asked tilting away a little.

"If you haven't yet noticed, I lack all the necessary organs your dirty little mind needs dear Valkyrie. So no, I'm in no hurry at all."

She smiled up at him, noting how they never left each others arms. This would be a grand opportunity to re-introduce herself to Ireland, she thought. If I don't do it soon I might as well sacrifice myself to Elder robes right this instant.

"I have an idea."

"Oh dear." He said looking down at her.

"When is the Ball?"