A/N: I don't own Skulduggery Tanith, Ghastly, Cleavers, Gibbs, or Valkyrie. That would be slavery and I'm an abolitionist through and through. Val is still 24 and the story is still in her POV.

Skulduggery sat in the Bentley and cut off the engine. He seemed a bit nervous about something, as if he had a question he wanted to ask and was afraid of the answer. He cleared his throat nervously, staring hard at the steering wheel. "Valkyrie?"

"Yes, Skulduggery?"

"Do you like me? As a friend I mean?"

"Of course I like you as a friend. Why wouldn't I?"

"Just asking. I am your best friend, right?" He turned his head to look at me.

"Of course you are. What's this about?" I asked gently.

"I just, well, I've had a lot of friends, but never a best one, I think."

"Well, you'll find one, some day." I assured him.

"You're my best friend, haven't I ever told you that?"

"You may have."

"Right then. Let's get inside before I ask any more foolish questions."

"It was a good question. I appreciate you caring enough to ask."

"Valkyrie Cain showing appreciation. As I live and breathe."

"Let's go inside, you're starting to annoy me." He made an amused sound and we walked inside. Neither of us ever did too well with free time, so it was going to be an interesting afternoon. Skulduggery put on coffee and I went into the living room, flipping on the TV. Skulduggery joined me, handing me the mug. He'd removed his hat and gloves again, and this time just looped one arm around my shoulder. I pretended not to notice, but caught his sideways glance when I didn't relax into him.

So I settled in closer to him, hearing a slight sigh of relief on his part. I wanted in the worst way to crack a joke about moving too fast, but bit my tongue. "You know, I've been staring at this thing for twenty minutes and have no idea what's on, Skulduggery." I nodded towards the TV.

"Precisely why I never watch."

"Well some shows are good. 'American Ninja Warrior' is hilarious."

"Yes, it sounds like it." He said dryly. He adjusted himself, looping his arm more securely around my shoulders and bringing his rib cage to brush up against mine. I managed to not spill my coffee by some miracle.

"You'd love it. Stupid people getting hurt on an obstacle course."

"Sounds delightful." His fingers brushed my arm, very casually as if by accident. But Skulduggery never did anything my accident.

"Well there are the good ones, and it is pretty awesome to see them make it through."

"Mmm." This time the hand caressed my arm. I shifted slightly to lean more into him. He obliged me by bringing his other arm around me as well, the hand coming up briefly to caress my cheek before settling chastely on his other arm. I tilted my head upwards slightly, bumping his jaw gently with the top of my head. Skulduggery ran his jaw along the top on my head, then I felt him kiss me gently, his teeth lingering for just a moment. He mobile rang, and we both jumped. I sat up and away so he could answer.

He rang off shaking his head. "The crime scene has been cleared. We'll be able to go look for ourselves now. Well armour on, duty calls." He got up, collecting his hat and gloves. I knew he was ready to pretend nothing happened and considered Uncle Gordon's advice. Reading his posture I knew he didn't want me to say a word.

"You should wear your trench coat, Skulduggery. Nothing scary about the two of us dressed the same."

"Shouldn't I just? But it's a tad warm out, as amusing as that idea is."

He grabbed his scarf and we were off, me donning the armour before getting in.

"Seatbelt."

"Don't I always?"

"The day I don't tell you, you'll forget and end up through the windscreen."

"I'm dead. I don't think it will do much harm."

"You could be deader if you keep thinking like that."

"Yes, boss, and deader isn't a word."

"It isn't?" He asked, pulling onto the road smoothly.

"No. Trust me, I'm a writer we know these things."

"Speaking of which, how goes it?"

"Not well."

"Writer's block?"

"There's this pesky killer, see?"

"Ah, that will do it. I might start writing some day."

"You should. You love to talk. It's the same exact thing, only on paper. You can go on forever if you like."

"That does sound like fun, but I never have any good ideas."

"Then use your bad ones and make them good."

"Mmm. Do you think Ghastly is serious about Tanith?"

"Of course, and she's serious about him too."

"How can you tell?"

"Because she told me, not in so many words, but a girl can tell."

"Woman, and I suppose you can. Think he knows?"

"I doubt it, men never do."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Skulduggery. I came from a large family, remember? Plenty of weddings, and the man always had this look of wonder on his face like he couldn't believe the bride showed up."

"Charming, that. How did the brides look?"

"Smug, and they knew the men were lucky too."

"Now that's just mean."

"Says a man."

He made a miffed sound. "I can't see how any of the women in your family ever got married with an attitude like that."

"Neither can we. Just lucky I guess. Though I should be speaking in past tense, shouldn't I?"

"Nonsense. They will always be your family. Just not one you can see, that's all. Remember you have a lovely magical family that adores you."

"Lucky me."

"That hurt."

"Sorry. I've never been big on having a family, to be honest."

"You've never been big on being all that close to people."

"I'm close to you, and Tanith."

"Poor Ghastly gets left out in the cold, does he?"

"He's not a man you can be close to. He's Gibbs without all the warmth and charm."

"He's who?"

"Never mind."

"No, if your calling him a rude name, I want to know about it."

"Gibbs is a compliment, trust me."

"We'll just see about that." Skulduggery muttered darkly as we pulled up beside the hospital and got out.

Ghastly was waiting for us, a grin on his face over Skulduggery's clear agitation. "What's wrong now?" He asked, clearly amused.

"I told him you were Gibbs without all the warmth and charm." I said before Skulduggery could tattle.

Ghastly laughed, shaking his head. "What warmth and charm?"

"Exactly." I grinned.

I could feel Skulduggery's frown even with the disguise. "So... You're not insulted?"

"To be compared to Leroy Jethro Gibbs? Not at all. I admire the man. I should start giving out Gibbs slaps, it would boost morale."

"Pardon?" Skulduggery asked, lost.

"You need to start watching TV Skulduggery." Ghastly said with a sigh. "It's a show, 'NCIS'. Well, let's get to it then." We followed Ghastly inside, coming into the morgue which had been emptied of staff for our visit. Ghastly cursed. If there had been a crime scene it was gone now.

"Can we get trace?" I asked hopefully.

"I doubt it. Can you see anything, Skulduggery?"

"I'm leaving this to Valkyrie." He said, then turned to me. "You know what to do."

I nodded letting my dead senses shift. Before me lay a horrific ghostly show of footprints and blood splatters. I could taste the blood in my mouth, it was revolting. "He made the kill here, from the blood patterns. That there is blood shows there's something wrong. No, not their blood- Good God, Skulduggery. He grabbed a technician who shouldn't have been here."

"I know. At least we know now what he's been eating. What else?"

"He's loosing power fast. He wants to retreat. He's going to, I don't know where, a cave, I think. It's where he's been living."

"Caves, where?" Ghastly asked.

"Sorry, I can't tell. But it looks like a park of some sort. It's close by, most people aren't even aware of the caves. He slips in and out easily at night. That's all I see, sorry."

"So we're looking for a park with a cave system people just happen to not notice?" Ghastly asked doubtfully.

I shrugged. "I think he's been shielding it for a long time. I get the sense he can go dormant for long periods at a time. He wants to go dormant again, he'll hole himself up with his victim, then sleep. He knows the magic he was trying won't work, he's abandoned his plans."

Skulduggery nodded. "But let's not assume he will, Valkyrie. So far he's proved extremely unstable. We need to find those caves and arrest him, but it will take planning. We'll need maps of the system, exits, that sort of thing."

"Not just the two of you." Ghastly said firmly. "I'll gather the team together at the Sanctuary, find you additional help. As far as we know this is a trap, and he wants us to walk right into it."

"Agreed." Skulduggery said with a nod. "Do you want us to head to the Sanctuary then?"

"No, not yet. I have to deal with the officials first before anything gets done. I don't even know if they will give me the extra manpower."

"Very well, come on then, Valkyrie I get to teach you the fine are of 'hurry up and wait'. We adored it during the war."

Ghastly groaned. "Don't remind me, this is worse than war. At least we got to shoot people back then."

"Cheer up, Ghastly, we may get there yet." Skulduggery said brightly. Ghastly just sighed again and we left him there to his thoughts.

Evening settled in as we headed back towards Skulduggery's house. He'd stopped at a fish and chips place, making sure to buy his usual amount of food for me. Which meant several day's worth. The smell was heavenly, and I didn't mind him placing the bags at my feet. My armour was back off and the warmth of the bags was heavenly. "I'll get you coffee at home. Those flimsy cups of soda look like a disaster waiting to happen." Skulduggery said and I sensed his smile.

"They often are." I agreed. I'd noticed he said home, and felt happy, but didn't mention it. We got there and he went to make coffee, setting the bags in front of me on the table. "You should become a barista." I teased.

"And wear one of those silly aprons? No, thank you. Besides the very idea of waiting on people and taking their money is repellent. You at least, have the good courtesy not to thank me."

"I've never understood why you don't like that."

"Because it's emotional mush, that's why. People get far too excited and thank people for doing their jobs, it's disgusting."

"Ghastly never thanks us."

"He knows better."

"Ah, that explains it. I haven't had fish and chips in ages. What did you get me?"

"Cod, I think. Most likely mislabeled mystery fish."

"I love mystery fish, it tastes like chicken."

"Seriously?"

"Yes that's the wonderful thing with fast food, it all tastes alike."

"Statements like that make me glad I no longer need to eat." Skulduggery said dryly.

"I'm a twenty-first century kind of girl. We adapt and survive."

He shook his head. "You never cease to amaze me. Most people would whine and complain, but you laugh about it and rise above."

"I'm an old mall rat, we laugh at everything. We also eat food out of the bin on occasion."

"That's disgusting."

"I'm kidding."

"Thankfully. You never know what some sort of crazy person did to that food. Ah, here's the coffee. Eat your chicken-fish or whatever it is."

"This tastes like fish, and it is cod. See the nice white flesh?"

He nodded. "That mobile gave me a fright before."

"Me too."

"Of course that goes with being a detective, you're never really off duty."

"Too true. But I'm sure Ghastly plots to call when he knows we least expect it."

"I'm sure he does." I tried to sense if he wanted a comment about what had happened when his mobile rang. He cursed and got it out, stepping away from the table and into the hall. He came back in and sat down.

"They need us now?" I asked.

"Oh no, nothing like that. Ghastly's debating asking Tanith out to the movies, that's all."

"Oh. Want me to call her and have her suggest she asks to go?"

"Would you?" I nodded and called Tanith. I wouldn't tell her exactly why she should suggest the movies to Ghastly, but she agreed to suggest it. "Our good deed for the day done." I said, returning to my dinner.

"Indeed. That was kindly of you, by the way. Ghastly just needs a nudge in the right direction at times. But you're sure she is serious about him? I don't want him hurt."

"Skulduggery, she's waiting on him to say something."

"What? Why?"

"Because she's a girl and she wants him to approach her. It isn't fun the other way around, you know."

"I don't understand women, why not just tell him?"

"Like he's telling her?"

"But he doesn't know she's serious. It's been rough on him, he won't say, but I can tell." He busied himself with putting the boxes in the fridge, and I got my mobile out. Tanith answered on the first ring.

"What's up sis, Ghastly's coming soon."

"Hello to you too. Look, Ghastly's under the impression you're not serious, so you'd better tell him how you feel tonight. Picking the right movie would help, but he's a man so just tell him. They need hit over the head with everything."

"But I've been telling him by being with him. I don't understand men. This is his job."

"He's scared you'll say no or leave, you know that. Be gentle."

We rang off and I looked up to see Skulduggery looking at me, arms folded and head tilted. "That was lovely except for the part where you implied men are thick."

"Yes, but she's a woman. I needed to insult the man so she could feel good about approaching him instead. Now she doesn't feel he's not interested, see?"

"I think so. Your lock picks should be here soon, then we'll have lots of fun at your house opening locked doors."

"That sounds like fun, actually. I wish I knew anything I could teach you in exchange."

"You know lots of things I don't."

"Name five."

Well you write, there's one. You can cook, there's two."

"Three more."

"You can stunt drive, if your 180 was any indication."

"Two more."

"You've mastered the art of watching TV, I'm sure that's a skill."

"Shaky, but I'll allow it, one more."

"You just made Ghastly Bespoke the happiest man alive. That's most definitely a skill."

I smiled. "True, wonder if he will mellow out any."

"Ghastly? I doubt it. But it will be amusing to see if he does. Once he's sure she's serious out will come the gifts and flowers."

"I think she'd like a steak dinner more. Or for a Cleaver to be forced into practicing with her."

"I'll let him know. Should we be interfering like this?"

"Why not? Once their an item they'll close ranks and tell us nothing. Now's our only chance to help. As for what I know and you don't I'll teach you the fine art of TV watching right now, if you like."

"Yes, yes I would."

We settled into the couch, Skulduggery again removing his gloves. He put his arm around me and I willingly settled into him, feeling his rib cage pressed into my back, and this time when he brought the other arm around he rested his hand on mine. I felt his teeth brush the top of my head, then he contently rested his chin there. He shifted his skull and I could feel his forehead pressed into the crown of my head, then his teeth pressed in again, gently, several times in succession. His arms tightened and I shifted around to put mine just as tightly around him.

I was fairly sure my heart was going to beat out my my ribcage as he held me like that. He tilted my head up gently by the chin and his teeth found my lips. I felt the world slip away, and he deepened the kiss, drawing me up and closer still. When we at last parted, he looked pleasantly dazed. "That," he managed, "Is something I should have done a long time ago. I'm sorry I made you wait."

He pulled me in again, and when we parted he looked rather smug. "I knew you couldn't resist my charm. You may feel free to admit you love me any time now."

"Oh, Skulduggery."

"I see I've left you speechless. Well, well. But I expected nothing less of myself."

"I don't think anyone loves you quite as much as you love yourself, but I'll do my level best."

"That's my girl."

"I'll never step out on you either."

"Much appreciated."

"And if you ever step out on me, Mister," I grabbed his tie and pulled him close, "I've got two words for you: bone meal."

"My, what a violent soul you are, and yet I love you anyhow." This time when he kissed me we didn't part for a very long time.