A/N: I don't own Darquesse, Anton, Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Erskine, Gordon, Dex, Tanith, Ghastly or Saracen.

The day of my son's birth had arrived at last. And as the book had promised, it was painless, something to do with the utter adoration a Gist had for his or her mother, and their canniness, even at birth. And when he was at last put in my arms it was like time stopped. There was no mistaking my baby was a Gist. He had black orbs for eyes that gazed at me soulfully and when he opened his tiny mouth in a sleepy yawn I saw the sharp teeth.

Wee talons graced his hands, hands that batted at my shadows playfully. Shadows that he promptly bit when I let him capture one. None of the staff dared to hold him after that, but Anton did. And as his son cuddled into him to sleep serenely I smiled at Anton, pleased with our son. But sleep was claiming me as well, and although I could hear Anton's voice, I couldn't make out his words as darkness settled over me like a comforting blanket.

I woke up in Anton's arms, and at the sight of who was holding my baby I froze. But Erskine just looked at me and smiled. "Grand Mage's privilege to see all the best babies. I made a fool of myself, Darquesse, and I apologize. If you'd ever take me back I'd be the brother you and Tanith never had, I swear. I've changed. I wasn't even attracted to you, not that way. It's just that I'm so lonely, Darquesse. I don't have what all the other Dead Men seem to get so easily and it's driving me crazy. Please, give me a second chance."

I watched him carefully. Our son wasn't biting him, and the book has said a Gist knew friend from foe by sheer instinct. And I could see by the tender way that he held our little one that he was lonely. Terribly lonely and seeing all the other Dead Men settling down with spouses and children must have devastated the fun-loving playboy.

I nudged Anton who got up and regarded Erskine thoughtfully. "Well, our son hasn't attacked you, that's a point in your favour. And you're the only one here other than the rest of our family to hold him, so yes, you have your second chance if Darquesse agrees."

"Darquesse agrees." I said and Erskine thanked us both profusely, then put my little one in my arms.

"What's his name?" He asked and I smiled down at my tiny one.

"Anton." I said, caressing my baby's cheek and staring into his wonderful black eyes. "He's my little Anton."

"Sweetheart, are you sure you don't want Desmond?" Anton offered gently.

"The next one will be Desmond, this is my little Anton. My own little Gist." I said, wrapping my baby in my shadows and never wanting to let him go.

And so, Erskine, having won little Anton's trust was given a second chance and he proved to be a warm and loving brother to me, and a doting uncle to all the children. And our family accepted little Anton with joy.

"You're planning on many more, aren't you?" Ghastly asked with a smile as he cradled our baby in one strong arm and I nodded.

"Yeah, Dad, I am." I said and Tanith squealed happily then groaned as she shifted, her own baby weighing heavily on her. She took little Anton into her arms and smiled at him.

"He's so gentle." She said, and it was true. Thankfully the only thing little Anton liked biting was any shadowy plaything I made him. With people he trusted he was docile. More or less. But he took an instant dislike to anyone who feared him and would growl a warning before biting. Then he'd squeal happily and I'd do my best not to laugh.

Anton would laugh and point out they got what they deserved. And as his Gist half joined me with our children on the couch in the common room one night, he agreed. He worked his way out of Anton's chest, then hovered over his son, crooning with delight. "Very handsome." He rasped. "Is my wife pleased?" He asked, and he looked blissful at my nod.

But more joyful still when he got to hold his son and play with Sable briefly. His visits were always too brief, the only bittersweet part of our marriage, and as Anton would reopen his eyes he'd smile gently at me. "I know, sweetheart. Sometimes I regret having you make a total conversion to my dark half impossible, but I do appreciate the time I get with you. It is enough for you, isn't it?" He asked and even my dark heart melted. I couldn't bear to see Anton sad, not ever.

"Of course it is, sweetheart." I assured him. Abby joined us and I knew by her round eyes that she'd seen the Gist half of Anton at last. He sighed. We hadn't tried to shield her, but his Gist half was still a Gist and we'd worried an encounter might turn into a disaster.

"Does it hurt? To do that, I mean?" She asked, cuddling into Anton's lap.

"No, sweetheart, it doesn't hurt. You could have come forward, you know, it's still me." He said and she nodded, still wide-eyed. I looked at my little sister carefully. She was a brave girl, she didn't fear anything most of the time, so it wasn't Anton bothering her.

"Abbs, what is it?" I asked and she shook her head no. She wasn't telling, then it all came out in a rush.

"There's a storm coming, I just know it, and I'm scared. There was a bad storm when-" Anton hushed her, cradling her into his arms. Dad showed up in the doorway, looking guilt-stricken.

"How about a camp out, Abby?" I offered, tapping her playfully with a tendril of shadow. "Hot dogs over the fire and everything?" I commenced to tickle and she giggled, batting at my shadows. Boy, have you gone soft. I told myself, but I didn't care. My little sister was happy again, and running off to get the rest of our crazy family in on the fun.

Dad smiled at me gratefully. "You're very good with your sister. Of course, from what I hear she's practice for your growing brood." He said, sitting down and cocking his head at me curiously. I nodded. Anton wanted a large family and so did I. Hopefully it would be a family that pulled together as our blended family did, and not apart, but time would tell.

That evening all of our family was roasting hot dogs on the fire. Or marshmallows. Saracen was making coco for Abby and Dexter was playing peekaboo with Sable and I knew we were all absurdly tame. But we'd earned it, hadn't we? We'd seen enough wars and adventures. We deserved this.

Erskine was talking with Ghastly and Dad while mom sat with Tanith and I. Uncle Gordon was watching everything with interest and when he caught my eye I carried his Echo Stone into the kitchen, leaving our baby with Mom. "I'm proud of you, Darquesse. You've brought together as fine a family as any, you have children of your own, and you're happily married. I was afraid it might not happen, you know, that you'd take after me."

"Mm. Anton outstrategized me. He had marriage in mind the whole time. Valkyrie was dimly aware each time he'd move his time frame, but he knew I'd notice. The trail partnership wasn't supposed to be until everyone was gone, then the wedding was supposed to be a long way off, he's very canny, that one. The whole time he had a plan in place and not even I sensed it."

"So you married me, because I outwitted you?" Anton asked from the doorway, sounding vastly amused.

"You knew it would make me curious, bring me to the surface. That since were both warriors I'd need to know what your endgame was."

"You. But you know that now, don't you?" He asked, coming to wrap his arms around me.

Uncle Gordon just shook his head, smiling. "So you two had an entire courtship based on war. That's romantic, that's what that is."

"We're Dead Men, we find it very romantic." Anton said and I couldn't have agreed more.

Aw, a happy ending! I know, right? As always, comments are welcome.