A/N: I don't own Skulduggery or Valkyrie. Valkyrie is still 24, still her POV. I know, this is really long. But I wanted to give them a sweet holiday of sorts.

Skulduggery was quiet when we got back in the Bentley. He sat with his gloved hands on the steering wheel. I could tell something was upsetting him, but I didn't dare say a word. I just had to go and mention his family didn't I? Stupid, Valkyrie, just plain stupid. I told myself angrily. As if he didn't live with the need to see them every day.

The thought caused a sharp pang in my heart. Yes, I was in love with him. But I knew he still loved his wife and child. I knew if he could he'd be with them. The strange thing was, I wanted him to be with them too. It was then I realized I could never tell him I loved him, ever again. That it wouldn't be fair to either of us. If I could go back in time and save his family, save him, I would have. I'd have given up every single day by his side just to see all the pain of the ensuing years lifted from him.

I felt a gloved hand touch my shoulder. I looked over. Skulduggery looked as sad as I was. He went to remove his hand, seemed to change his mind and left it, looking at me for permission. I nodded. "Valkyrie?" His velvety voice was soft, sad.

"Yes, Skulduggery?"

"This anger you are feeling, do you really think it is the way you should go? I saw you that first night. Yes, you reveled in the battle, but there was joy on your face. The pure joy of a true warrior. Lord Vile never felt that. He never fought for good, he didn't really care which side he was on, as long as he got to kill people, but I assure you he never fought to save a comrade. Do you know what it felt like? To the small part of me that was left to turn on the side I'd fought and died for?"

I let him talk, he needed to. "I needed you to save me from Lord Vile, do you remember? You had to fight me to save the Death Bringer. Lord Vile is me, no matter how much I pretend he isn't. I don't want to see you going down the same path. I don't want to loose you to the anger." He was silent for a moment, then continued. "I don't know what Madam Lovegate told you about the armour, but I do know she'd never tell you to embrace hate. It isn't what I want for you. Please, trust me on this. Find some way to fight like you did the night I first saw you. I was so proud of you then. You looked- You looked amazing."

He squeezed my shoulder, but left his hand there. "What did she tell you?" I thought I had imagined the words, his voice was so soft. He looked at me, and I could see the pleading written in his features. If he'd been a man of flesh and blood, he would have been crying. It was almost too much to take. Skulduggery Pleasant never cried. Ever.

"She told me to find the part of me that wore the armour that night. The good part of me. If I can just find that part again-"

"Yes?" His wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I knew it was as close to physical affection as he dared to go.

"If I can find that part again, I can fight like I did that night. You're right I did feel joy, because I was fighting for a just cause. Nothing you ever did, nothing any of you ever did gave the Sanctuary a right to abandon you like that. My God, Skulduggery, Ghastly is one of the Elders and they just threw him away."

"I know. We knew we were on our own. But I did hold out hope." I looked at him. He smiled. "I knew you'd come for me. I knew you'd find a way in and you'd rescue me. Not much of a hero, am I? Needing rescued all the time like that?"

"You are my hero, Skulduggery. I wouldn't have fought to save you if you weren't. I did what I knew you would do for me." He gave my shoulder a brief squeeze and withdrew his arm at last. We drove home in companionable silence.

At Skulduggery's house he seemed reluctant to part company. I knew he wasn't going to ask me to sleep on the couch. He was ever the gentleman and now he was caught between my adulthood and his need to be proper. So it was up to me. "Skulduggery, is it OK if I sleep down here tonight? I might want to get up and eat later or something."

"Of course, you want some more coffee? I think there's some left."

We wandered into the kitchen and he poured a mug once it heated. It was the consistency of tar and tasted divine. He was watching me drink. He often watched me eat or drink, he'd said once it brought him happiness. I smiled at him. I could tell he was lonely. I guessed lonely for his wife. Somehow it didn't bother me now. I was willing to let it be OK. I'd never had a problem with him loving her before, I'd rather hoped he'd continue loving her if we ever married.

But I'd never got the courage up to ask why he didn't have paintings of them like the hero did in the old stories I used to read by Edgar Allen Poe. I was thinking of 'The Raven' and smiling when he spoke. "What's making you so happy?"

"I was thinking of a poem I used to read."

He titled his head, his expression looked dubious, like he was trying hard not to laugh. "You read poetry? Valkyrie Cain reads poetry? Will wonders never cease?"

"I do a lot of things you don't know about. You didn't know about the Sinatra. I also read, and write." I cringed inwardly. Now he'd really think I had no life outside of our partnership. And he'd be right too. But he seemed to excited to notice.

"Write what?" He asked.

"Stories mostly." I shrugged. hoping he'd loose interest. I'd forgotten about his dream to be a writer one day.

"Where do your ideas come from? How does one write?"

I smiled. "You get an idea for a story in your head and it won't let you alone. You have to write it down or it will fill your mind until you can't think of anything else. The ideas just come into your head, you don't have to go looking for them."

He nodded. We really didn't talk about much of anything that night, but it was special all the same. When I at last stretched out on the couch, he only hesitated a moment before slipping into his meditation chair. I knew the level of trust he was showing by doing that, and the thought comforted me. I had no nightmares that night. Only dreams of running along endless rooftops in my armour, Skulduggery running at my side.

In the morning he had coffee ready. Breakfast too. Well doughnuts were close enough. I secretly loved how hard he tried when it came to feeding me, but his choices seemed to be random. Skulduggery Pleasant seemed absolutely clueless as to what to feed anybody, and I found it sweetly endearing. We drove out to the field after breakfast. He was silent all morning, but it seemed to be a relaxed, happy silence. He turned to me as we parked. "Now you are sure about this, Valkyrie?"

I nodded. "Yes, but can you give me a moment before you bat me around? It will just take a second, but I need to feel how I did that night."

We got out, and he titled his head before answering. "He won't give you a second, you know that. I'd like you to try and be instantly ready. I know it's scary, and I know for some reason you find it hard to wear that armour in front of me, but please try, Valkyrie. For me."

I walked to the boot, stared down at the armour. Skulduggery still held the tiny key remote in his hand. I knew he'd close the boot without a word if I asked. But I had to do this. I had to let my love for him to take over. The love and joy I felt running to his rescue. Because more than anything, he was my best friend in the whole wide world.

I felt my heart flood with warmth and I reached out, touching the armour. Instantly it was on and I flung my hand out, sweeping Skulduggery back several yards into the tall weeds. He went down, a surprised look etched on his skeletal features. He got up, came at me, both fists flaming. I let him come, put up a shield of air by mere gesture and watched his blows rain off of it ineffectively. I reached out giving the merest tap and it knocked him back again. He wavered, then stood. I could tell he was getting angry.

I grinned, forgetting he could see my expression. He dropped suddenly to the ground, touched the earth and it buckled underneath me. I rose into the air, but he rode a wave of undulating earth into me, sending us both crashing to the ground. I grabbed him, tried to flip him off by his shoulders. But he twisted, catlike, as soon as I gripped him, and flipped me up over him, to land with a heavy thud. I hit him with a fist of shadows, and he staggered back.

I arose, took out my sword. I advanced, slashing at him, but he deflected each blow with the air. I moved faster, swung harder, but Skulduggery was faster still. We blurred as I tried to strike him all over, but he wouldn't open his defenses. Then he was on the attack, shooting flames at me. One hit the sword and it glowed red hot. I threw it from me, hissing in pain. I drew my Peacemakers and opened fire. My agile and strong skeletal thumbs cocking the hammers back effortlessly and quickly.

The guns roared, but he still deflected any damage with his air shield. I holstered the guns and in that instant he was on me, a dizzying blur of elbows, knees, and kicks. Blows rained over my body and I couldn't get my defenses up. I shoved back against the air gaining distance. That's when he flung a hand towards me, and a bolt of electricity struck me in the chest. I felt the armour lock up, and he once again closed the distance, raining kicks and blows upon me. But the armour and clothing were holding up this time. I didn't feel the blows.

Still, I had to stop him somehow. I dropped to my knees and fell backwards, shooting my legs out to sweep him to the ground. But he evaded, almost dancing as he kept just ahead of my blow. He looked like he was laughing, at least he was enjoying himself. Then I remembered how much Skulduggery hated getting wet. I tilted my head as I splayed out my hand, and water slammed into him from all sides. I kept it coming, drenching him and making his suit stick to his skeletal body. I increased it through sheer willpower and his feet shot out from under him, and he went down hard. I didn't relent.

As I leaned over him electricity shot from his hands and the whole mess of electrifed water exploded outwards, causing my armour to stiffen again. Then he twisted his hand, bringing the fingers together in a fist. The water froze solid over the armour. I crashed to the ground, several inches of ice covering me. I could still see the smug smile on his face as he sauntered over, his clothes already dry. I managed to heat my armour by willing flames to the surface, then shook, breaking free of the ice.

Skulduggery made no move to attack, just stood grinning broadly at me, hands stuffed in his pockets, as I brushed the last of the ice off my armour. "You know you beat a girl." My voice was my own again. Yay.

"But I still beat you. You did much better than last time, though. Now you get to find the car keys." I shrugged and gestured towards the weeds he'd fallen into, the keys flew into my hand, or would have in he hadn't snatched them out of the air.

"Much too slow, Valkyrie." He teased, waving the keys before me. I shook my head, smiling. I reached up and touched my jaws, the armour coming away again. Instead of being tired as I expected I felt like I could run a marathon.

I returned the armour to the Bentley, gently shutting the boot. Skulduggery came forward, drew me into a happy embrace. "I'm very proud of you, you know. You did extremely well today, and I'm sure you'll do even better tomorrow." His hug tightened, and I hugged him back. Where was all this physical affection coming from?

We squandered the rest of the day listening to music and reading books. There really wasn't anything to do, although I idly supposed when he asked that I could go to Gordon's mansion for fresh clothes and some food for Skulduggery's kitchen. He nodded happily and we were soon there. He hesitated, seemingly unsure if he should follow me inside.

"Come on Skulduggery, you get to lift and carry heavy boxes. I understand you menfolk love that sort of thing." I teased and he laughed and trailed in behind me. I realized I hadn't seem him this happy in years, not since we first met. He must have been thinking the same thing, because he touched the front door fondly as we entered.

"Don't hurt my door, Skulduggery." I said, amused. He laughed. I suggested he go meet with Uncle Gordon while I got things ready. He happily agreed. I felt briefly that things were going too well then, but I shook the idea off. It was nice, if rather strange to see him so giddy. I put enough food in a cardboard box for at least a week, then grabbed a duffel bag from the hallway, already packed with fresh clothes. I walked up the stairs, intending to go to Gordon's old bedroom the fetch some books, but paused on hearing my uncle's laughter.

I wanted in the worst way to eavesdrop, but I respected Skulduggery and Uncle Gordon enough not to. I went on and collected the books. I came back, knocking at the door to Gordon's study.

"Come in, Valkyrie." Gordon called out.

I entered, noting that the change from his secret room to his study did him good at times. While he couldn't sit exactly, he did a good approximation of it in his chair. Skulduggery sat across the desk from him.

Skulduggery waved me lazily into the other chair. "Ready that fast?"

"Yes, but you two go ahead, you haven't had a proper visit for a long time." Skulduggery tilted his head in response, making an amused sound.

"You see what I mean, Gordon? She got in several good shots today and she's being nice now so I don't sue for abuse of a corpse."

I punched his arm lightly. He chuckled and I got up, leaving them to it.

Skulduggery was quiet on the drive back to his house, he looked at me several times, but said nothing. I could feel he had something to say and knew if I waited long enough he would. He made coffee without asking, then gestured me into his office.

I went to my desk, and he sat the mug down. He watched me drink. I'd noticed him watching me more closely lately. Along with the additional affection I assumed it was his way of showing relief that things had returned to normal. He was happy being best friends. I could tell. Skulduggery slouched against a bookcase, hat tilted down low over his head again. So, he wanted to talk but I had to make the first move. "Do we have any idea where the killer is hiding, Skulduggery? It would be nice to pick him up before he tries to kill you."

I saw him smile, but he said nothing. "How do you do that?" I asked.

He looked up. "How do I do what?"

"Change expressions like that."

"But I don't-" He paused, looked at me. "You can see me change expressions?" He sounded pleased, as if it were one more thing that made him more wonderful than everyone else. Still he was in a good mood, so I indulged him.

"Yes, Skulduggery, I can. You do everything everyone else does. You even blink, though I admit that one is new."

He blinked in response. "I do?"

"You haven't noticed it in the mirror?"

"Well, yes. But nobody has ever mentioned it before in over four hundred years."

"You're kidding."

"No no. I would have remembered so I could tell you. After all being my partner you have to know about my many talents."

"And you awe-inspiring humility."

He chirruped in response. That was also new. "I am rather wonderful, aren't I?" He asked. Part of me wanted to insult him as I usually would, but I sipped my coffee instead.

He seemed to read my mind. "That was your cue to insult me, Valkyrie." Skulduggery wandered over to sit on the corner of my desk. He tilted his head to look down at me, removed his hat and tossed it on his desk. Even without the armour I could appreciate how handsome his skeletal features were. But I knew not to say anything. He continued to stare at me.

"What?" I felt myself start to blush.

"You look different tonight. There's something about you. Oh, yes, that's it. You're the young lady who threw me in the weeds this morning. You were quite pleased about it too, I noticed. You looked like the first time I saw you in the armour. You were happy."

"Yes, and you're the man who froze the armour off me."

"Skeleton."

"Man."

"Skeleton."

"Man first. I win."

He snorted in amusement. "I let you win. Will you stay up and talk with me tonight, Valkyrie Cain?" I felt myself flush again, but nodded. We talked until the early morning hours, Skulduggery seeming to not get enough time with me. I fell asleep at last on the couch, and he meditated in his chair. Life was as perfect for us as it was going to be for a long time.