A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Tanith, Ghastly, Erskine, Anton or Dexter.
A few days later we were up early, packing the car. We were going on vacation already, a surprise from Skulduggery to me. "And it gets better, Valkyrie. Guess who else is coming?" He asked as we stowed the last of the bags in the boot of the Bentley.
"Uh, Tanith and Ghastly?" I asked, and he nodded then looked at me expectantly. "Wait, everyone is coming?" I asked excitedly and he nodded.
"We've all missed you, Val. Skeletons detectives included." He said, his voice wavering slightly. I grabbed him in a tight hug and felt his arms go around me.
"You don't have to be such a tough guy, Dad. You can ask for a hug, you know." I said fondly. He nodded happily as we parted and soon we had the family in the car. I didn't really mind sitting in the back with Abby, she worshiped me and I knew from what had happened to her in the past she felt safer with a big sister to protect her.
She grinned at me as she got in. "Dad said we can stop for breakfast out. And take our time to eat for once." She said excitedly. I nodded. He was a lot more lax on getting anywhere without bad guys to chase or daughters to rescue. "Can I get pancakes?" She asked. "And you get something else and we can share, please?" She asked and I nodded happily.
"Well see what they have and we'll pick some nice things, OK?" I asked and she nodded. I never thought dad was made of money. Bentley and good suits aside I hoped they'd have something we could share now that he had four people to feed.
Dad seemed to read my mind. "You girls order anything you like. The Sanctuary's newest Elder is good for it."
"Really? You took the job?" I asked excitedly and he nodded. Ghastly had offered it to him so he could settle down with our family and I'd approved. Dad needed to be there for them now, and we both knew with me being an adult I'd either find another partner or work alone.
"Are you still going to be a detective, Sis?" Abby asked and I shrugged.
"Maybe, we'll see. Erskine gave me three months off to think things over and adjust to being back. So my little sister and I are on summer vacation." I said and she giggled.
"You hear that, Heather?" Dad asked as we pulled up to a low slung red-bricked restaurant with white flower boxes in the window. "Our girls have bonded." They exchanged smiles then beamed back at us. He was right, I realized as we got out. We had bonded. We sat next to one another in the booth, trying to figure out what to order.
There was a buffet, but there was also a kid's meal that came with a bag filled with a little activity pad, crayons, a cookie and other goodies. "You get that. I'll sneak you stuff off the buffet." I whispered, holding up my menu for us to hide behind.
"OK." She whispered back. And so we did. Abby offered to share her coloring book with me, so in between buffet trips I helped her color in a unicorn and princess.
"Are unicorns real?" She asked and I shrugged. I knew trolls were real, and we'd seen things that looked like dragons on a case once. Mom assured us they were and that they loved clover and clever little girls. That made Abby happy and soon we were on the road, her treat bag bulging with the crackers, jelly packets and a bun she'd swiped off the table.
I'd been allowed a to go box strangely enough, and we had, much to my surprise, drinks from dad at a gas station, and with all our to go boxes we had a car picnic as he drove. I asked him to stop at a dollar store selling summer things and he obliged. "Five minutes, we promise." I said.
And it took three to grab swim fins and a mask and snorkel for Abby, dad tailing us in and getting her one of those swim noodles and a small-sized boogie board as well. Abby looked like she's won the lottery and hugged me fiercely. "Thanks, Sis." Then another hug for dad and we were off.
Mom smiled at me over the back of her seat. "That was sweet of you, Valkyrie." She said and I blushed. It was no big deal. Abby was my sister and who else could I spoil?
Dad and mom even turned the radio on, regaling us girls by singing and it was nice actually. Goofy family stuff I didn't think I'd get to do anymore. So I didn't even notice when we'd drove out into the country and pulled up in front of a hotel. The Midnight Hotel. I looked at it in awe. "But the beach?" I asked, getting out.
"Our transportation and accommodations once there. Hey, Val." Ghastly said, coming up to meet us. "We're all here now, so Anton will get us underway. Let me help you with the bags, sweetie." He offered. I nodded, watching Tanith lead Abby in a hyper bouncing dance. "Fast friends." Ghastly said, his lips twitching and I nodded, grinning.
Tanith was all of three-years-old in her personality, some days a mature four. She didn't act like a baby or anything, just hyper and excited over life like it was still a big adventure to her. She bounced along with us, then followed us in. Anton met us inside, smiling warmly. I'd forgotten how warm his smile could be, and as he took my bags I tried hard not to grin goofily at him.
"You've been missed." He said, gathering me into an impromptu hug, and I hugged him back, not wanting to let go. I didn't think I'd ever love him, but he was one of my sweetest and most loyal friends so I didn't want to hurt him, either. But as we parted and he took my hands in his I did feel something, though I wasn't sure what.
Anton stepped away, took the rest of our bags, and led us to a downstairs room. When he'd opened it, Abby squealed in delight and ran to her bed. There on the pillow was a plush black horse with a ribbon and a gift card attached. "Your own Midnight, compliments of the Midnight Hotel." She read excitedly, then made a beeline for him and hugged him tightly.
It made me smile to see him be so nice to her. And I thanked him as we went back out to the Bentley to get her new swimgear. "That was sweet of you, thank you." I said.
"No need, she's a very sweet little girl, and she reminds me of her sister. Who at last paid me back and rode to my rescue." He teased. I blushed then laughed. Maybe this vacation will let us get to know one another better. I thought.
Abby was getting to see the wonders of the Midnight Hotel for the first time, and it was fun to watch her decide what to do. She didn't take everything there for granted like an adult would. She loved to read and loved sitting in the common room, but she loved how the hotel could travel even more, and as soon as we arrived at the beach she was running back to our room to change.
I followed her, hoping Anton would take time off from his hotel duties and wondered if a chore chart for the next few weeks would help. We couldn't take advantage of him and I wanted him to have fun for once. I changed into the black swimsuit Ghastly had made me, but put on trainers, a tee-shirt and shorts. "Aren't you going in?" Abby asked, puzzled.
"I will. But I'm so fair-skinned I have to cover up. Does mom have suntan lotion for you?" I asked and she nodded, then was buzzing out our now open door, having seen dad walk by. He waved to me then took her hand. By the time I reached the door, they were outside, walking down a path the men had made to the beach.
I sensed someone behind me and turned to see Anton, keys in hand. "You father volunteered you to help me with a grocery run, I'm afraid." He said, with a faint smile. I knew he expected me to say no, to invite a grinning Dexter or Erskine who were both obviously hanging around just to see if I'd go.
"I'd love to." I said and he brightened. "Do we have a list?" I asked and he took it out and handed it to me. It looked like enough food to feed an army, but with that many guests, I figured we'd need it. As we buckled in I looked at him. "How about a kapers chart?" I asked and he looked surprised.
"Nonsense, you're my guests-" He trailed off as he put the car into drive. "But it would help." He admitted. He smiled at me, and I smiled back, taking in that he'd tied his long, glossy black hair back for once, and his suit seemed new. It was black like most of his suits were, I think, but it suited him, covering his tall muscular frame in a way that advertised he was a warrior first and whatever else he was second.
I blinked, wondering why I'd even thought of that. "You can put on the radio if you like." He said, and I knew he was trying for small talk.
"Thanks." I said. Then looked at him. "How are we fitting everything we need into a Beetle?" I asked and he chuckled.
"Trust me, there's a way. I appreciate you coming, Val. I know it's a family vacation and a time to catch up with us, but I know you had other offers." I nodded.
"I did, but I don't want parties with strangers, though if I knew it meant seeing all my brothers in swim trunks I might have had second thoughts." I said and we both laughed. "It's strange, seeing grown men I'm used to being in suits hanging out in swim trunks, playing Frisbee and grilling in summer shorts, but nice too. It reminds me we're all human, not just Dead Men."
"Good." Anton said. "Because your father cheerfully volunteered me to make a sand castle with Abby when we get back, so you'll get to see me model swimwear as well." Anton teased and I tried not to blush.
Note: Kapers is a word we used in Girl Scouts for chores or KP. Which is Kitchen Police in the US Army. Oh, and to go boxes are what we also take leftovers away in here in the US. Let me know if you want more!