A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Ghastly, or Valkyrie.

Several hours later Lovegate had been transferred to a mental hospital for sorcerors and the investigation of her office had begun. Considered too close to the case to be objective Skulduggery and I lounged in Ghastly's office, following the proceedings with lazy interest. I was about suggest a training session to Skulduggery when an official came in and Ghastly escorted us out. "Wait here." He instructed, stepping back inside his office and pulling the door closed.

Several minutes later the official left, and Ghastly ordered us back in. Skulduggery sat patiently while Ghastly put on water for tea. He sat a mug of it in front of me and took his own to stare out the window, his back to us. I knew he was upset and I figured I knew why, but I let him speak. "Lovegate is dead." He said angrily.

"How?" Skulduggery's voice was sharp.

"She managed to hide some of her herbs in those skirts. When she asked the rookie conducting her search to avert her gaze-"

"We know she is dead?" I asked. Both men stared at me. "She could be faking it, there are herbs she could use, and slip out of the morgue later."

Ghastly nodded, took out his mobile. He turned back to us when the conversation was over. "This day just keeps getting better. Apparently it was her day to meet inexperienced people. Her body was mislabeled and incinerated by accident."

"That sounds a little too convenient." Skulduggery said. "Though I suppose DNA will prove if it is her or not, that takes time. I don't like the idea of someone who hates my partner so much possibly being at large."

"Oh, it gets better." Ghastly said. "We traced the box and contents, the order for the skeleton as well. I'll give you three guesses who was behind it."

Skulduggery cursed. It had been our only lead and it came from the hands of a spiteful madwoman.

"I thought as much." I said, and he turned to look at me. "She had way too much fun bringing that up. In fact it was the first thing she talked about. It's what let me know something was wrong, really. She couldn't hide the excitement in her voice." Skulduggery winced, but remained silent. I continued. "When we found out who she was, I couldn't figure out why she just didn't poison me, but of course she was afraid of what you'd do to her. No, she wanted me to kill myself so she'd be blameless, it's how she works. She was hoping the stunt she pulled and her ministrations after would break me."

"What, how?" Ghastly asked, frowning.

"She was hoping the possibility of Skulduggery dying on this case would make me open up to her."

"I gather it didn't work." Skulduggery said, amused.

I looked at him and laughed. "How many times have you given me the 'when I'm dead I'll be past caring' speech? That came to my mind the instant she went on about it."

He smiled at me. "That's my girl." Skulduggery looked at Ghastly. "If we're of no further use-" Ghastly waved us out.

Skulduggery was pleased with himself as we rode back to his house. "I'm thinking we've earned the day off today, what say you?"

"Of course. Did you have anything in mind?"

"No, the day is ours, to do with as we wish. I could drop you at Gordon's if you want me to of course." There was a careful note in his voice.

"And have to pick me up fifteen minutes later when your mobile rings with a case update? That's not even practical."

"Ah, you're a practical woman now, are you? That's a new one on me, but if you insist, I suppose I can suffer through another day of you at my side, even if you do annoy me at times."

"You enthusiasm overwhelms me, and I annoy you all the time. It's in my job description."

"I thought as much, and a very good job you do of it too. Unless you're staying because you feel sorry for me, seeing as how I am a skeleton and therefore can't possibly have anything to do to entertain myself."

"You annoy me, that's how you entertain yourself."

"True. How about if I pick up several papers and we indulge ourselves by doing nothing at all?"

"I give you an hour before you crack, But I'm game if you are."

Skulduggery smiled at me. "I, my dear, have the patience of a saint. Let's make a contest of it. First one to break ranks and show boredom has to admit who the superior detective is."

"Deal."

Skulduggery agreed I could have coffee, and getting up for more wasn't cheating. I agreed he could get up to turn the radio off and on. We settled in with our papers. I was half way into the first article on the front page when I felt him staring at me. I spoke without looking up. "Want something, Skulduggery?"

"Oh no, I just think this is rather unfair, I do read the paper on a daily basis. I've never seen you pick one up." I continued reading. I wasn't even a paragraph in when he spoke again. "It's OK if you want to quit, you know."

"You're bored already, aren't you?"

"No, not at all."

I resumed reading. His paper rustled. He spoke. "Do you need some coffee? I'll get you some fresh if you like."

I laughed. "Mmm."

"Is that a 'yes'?"

"That's a we're both really bored, so I declare a draw." I put down my paper and looked at him. He tilted his head to the side. I continued. "But I can't think of a single thing I do want to do."

"I can't either. Well there is one thing."

"What?"

"Let me smash your ring with a hammer. It would be lots of fun."

"What if I need the shadows when the bad man shows up?"

"You'll be Surging soon. You'll need to choose." I looked at him for a long moment, then took off the ring and tossed it to him. He caught it one-handed, a shocked look on his skeletal face. Skulduggery hadn't expected me to give it to him. He held the ring with distaste. I thought he'd go off and smash it, but he looked at me thoughtfully. "Why now, after all our arguments, would you just let me smash it?"

I shrugged. "You're my partner and you are right. I do have to chose, so I choose Elemental."

"Why?"

"It's more useful for one, Necromancy has a lot of drawbacks. There's a reason most practitioners hide in temples. Two, I've never met a Necromancer I could trust. Three, well, I've never liked it. But it's what I thought I needed to get you back home."

"Then you don't see Elemental magic as weaker? You don't see me as weak?" His velvety voice was curious.

"No, I don't. You are the most powerful Elemental I've ever known. You're also the best fighter, and deadly with a gun in your hand. You're the best Detective the Sanctuary has ever had, and they know it. God, Skulduggery, if it weren't for you I wouldn't even be here to have this conversation. I've seen you as a lot of things, but weak was never one of them."

"You're sure about this?"

"Yes, Skulduggery, I'm sure." He placed the ring on the coffee table, touching it until I could hear the metal groan. Skulduggery was using his earth power to manipulate the metal, something I didn't think was even possible. He clutched it in his fist, held it tightly, then opened his hand and showed me the shattered ring.

I thought him shattering the ring would lead to instant training, but he shook his head. "No, I promised, today is the day we indulge ourselves. I got to smash your ring, which, by the way, was immensely fun, and now we are free to do something even more fun, though that will honestly be the highlight for me."

"What could be more fun that seeing my partner show two abilities I didn't even know existed in the last several days. Electricity, Skulduggery?"

"I wondered when you'd be in awe of me. Yes, it is a natural element like anything else that occurs in nature. If it is natural a good Elemental can tap into it. A perfect Elemental like myself can do anything he likes with it."

"Except learn humility."

"Humility is to be reserved for those with no natural talents, Valkyrie. I have plenty of natural talent, therefore I don't need to be humble."

"Lord, and the ring?"

"The ring was made out of elements from within the Earth, but I've found I can manipulate metals as well."

"You were going to teach me all this when?"

"After your Surge."

"Ah, so then today I could sit around and watch TV and eat take away since there's nothing better to do?"

"Of course. Or you could tell me how Lovegate's death makes you feel."

"Happy, actually. I only met my great grandmother once, but I liked her Skulduggery. She was in love with my great grandfather, and she didn't care what he looked like. Well scratch that, she loved him for what he looked like, and that petty, spiteful old biddy- Sorry."

"No don't be sorry Valkyrie, that's your family and you should love them. I'm sorry there isn't anything to be found in the Sanctuary library about it. Have you checked Gordon's?"

"No, not actually."

"Then there's something to do today, research." Skulduggery said, happily.

"That was the shortest day off in the history of the world, Skulduggery."

"True, but it was nice while it lasted."

At Gordon's Skulduggery chatted with my uncle while I prowled the bookshelf of his private study. There was nothing there about the armour or even our family, but I could sense the two men wanted privacy. I'd shut the door to the study when my mobile rang. Tanith.

"Hey sis, what's up?" I asked.

"You'll never believe what Ghastly did."

"Um, OK."

"He got rid of the tattoos China gave him! Now we have a matched set."

"You're kidding!"

"No! He showed me they're gone. I'm so happy, Valkyrie you can't belive how much better it is to kiss him without them."

"Aww. That's so sweet. I'm happy for you, both of you. You both deserve to be with someone you love."

"So do you."

"Well, I am-"

"Oh, right, sorry."

"No, don't be. I haven't seen him this happy in years, Tanith. Making my best friend happy matters more to me than anything else right now, except maybe solving the case."

"You are a good friend to him."

"I know."

"Oh, Ghastly just walked in, I've got to go." The line went dead and I pocketed my mobile.

I walked out to my uncle's study and both men jumped guiltily. "Don't get up all at once." I growled, good naturedly. "I'm going to get some coffee downstairs."

They both remained silent watching me cross the room. I shook my head and went down to the kitchen. I knew Skulduggery was talking about me again, but why? I sighed, wishing not for the first time that men came with instruction booklets. I took my coffee into the living room and flipped on the TV. It felt strange being here. It was my home, but being here usually meant being without Skulduggery. I knew the time was coming when I'd have to return home alone.

I couldn't just move in with him after all. Nor could he move in with me, not that I would have minded. He had his own world. A world filled with people his own age that I could never reach him in. I thought back to the night of the ball. Him dancing with China, the rather obvious attraction between them. His getting rid of the tattoos had been a Pyrrhic victory for me at best, because I knew he had to love her. Then one of the Dead Men had hinted of other women, and I just stood there, knowing I loved him even back then, with a polite smile on my face. God, these thoughts were depressing.

I flipped the TV around, searching for a movie, a show, anything to cheer me up. Nothing caught my interest. An old movie caught my eye. James Cagney. Had no idea what it was, but he was a gangster. I was enjoying it, cheering him on, when I realized Skulduggery was in the room.

"Did I just hear you say 'shoot those dirty rat coppers', Valkyrie?"

I felt the heat rise to my face. Skulduggery just looked at me and I hurriedly flipped off the set.

"I leave you alone for five minutes and you go to the Dark Side. I see how it is. I was going to suggest I take you to lunch, but if you have a sudden urge to shoot Johnny Law, and that would be me by the way, frankly, I'm afraid to."

I laughed and went to walk around him, but he caught me in a hug. "If you became a gun moll I think I'd become a criminal just to make you happy."

I smiled into his shoulder and hugged him back. "I know, and if you become a criminal kingpin I'll be your gun moll, agreed?" I felt him nod, then he released me. I smiled fondly at him and we walked to the front door together. I realized then that maybe not understanding men was what made them so appealing, most of the time.