A/N: I Don't own Skulduggery, Ghastly, Tanith, Gordon, or Valkyrie. Tanas and Leap are still my boys though. Val is still 24.

The next morning I awoke well rested. I was laying there wondering if our case files would be in, when Skulduggery appeared in the bedroom doorway. I noted he had on a black suit, one I'd never seen before, and a crisp white shirt. The black tie he wore wasn't his usual style and the whole outfit while stylish, seemed different from his normal self. He had on a black fedora as well, tilted back on his head.

Skulduggery titled his head to look at me, arms folded. "Still abed, on such a fine morning?"

"Yes. Has anyone every told you how much you resemble Frank Sinatra? Because you do, in that suit."

He made one of his delighted chirruping sounds, and I swear he squeezed his non-existent eyes shut in pleasure. "You say the nicest things in the morning, Valkyrie. But our case files await us, so please get up and ready. I'll grab you a coffee and something on the way."

"Just coffee's fine. It's too early in the morning to be hanging out of the Bentley like a dog."

"You don't have to hang out the window. I can give you five minutes to eat in the parking lot. I'm sure you can find a curb to sit on."

"You're serious, aren't you?"

"Of course I am. Now get dressed quickly. I'll expect you down stairs in fifteen minutes, so hurry." He turned and left, and I took out my instant bad mood on a rapid shower and dressing. It felt like I was ripping out my hair as I angrily brushed it after, but it was better than punching him. Skulduggery just couldn't help placing the Bentley above everything else at times and this was one of those times.

But then it clicked why he had dressed the way he did. He looked like Frank Sinatra because I'd seen a photo somewhere of Sinatra in a suit just like that. Maybe with the Rat Pack or on stage but entire outfit was his effort to please me. He'd remembered I liked Sinatra, even though most men wouldn't have. I felt my heart melt for him all over again.

I displaced the water from my hair the best I could, leaving it slightly damp so I wouldn't over dry it, and managed to be downstairs in ten minutes. Skulduggery met me at the foot of the stairs with a hug, and I wrapped my own arms around him tightly in response. He kissed the top my my head, then ruffled my hair slightly. He stepped back displacing a little more water until my hair was perfectly dry, but had more body than usual. I made a mental note to get him to do it more often, wondering how I'd ever been so blind to him as a man as to let him dry all of me after a shower.

In the Bentley Skulduggery was chipper, and he sat on the curb with me as I scarfed down a quick breakfast. "You know it's nice to be out this early in the morning with you, Valkyrie. We should do this more often."

"I'd like that. Maybe I could make something the night before and take it with us."

"That would work. A park would be much nicer than this parking lot, I think. Finished already? Good. We have a case to get to then. Tally-ho."

"Going hunting, are we?" I asked amused, though excited by his infectious cheer nonetheless. I rose and followed him to the Bentley getting in.

"Of course we are, my dearest combat accessory. But we get to arrest our foxes."

"The fox in the stocks?"

"Clever, that."

Ghastly looked up as we entered his office then did a double take. "Good Lord, Skulduggery, you look exactly like Sinatra." Skulduggery made an affirmative sound that sounded suspiciously like a purr, then nodded happily. Ghastly shook his head then gathered the two case files he had for us. "I had an endless amount of fun convincing them to get two copies to us, I swear the whole Sanctuary is grinding to a halt." He grumbled as Skulduggery stepped forward to take them.

"Sit." Ghastly said. He looked at me. "Tea?" I nodded and sat, wondering what exactly was going on. Normally Ghastly couldn't wait to get us out of his office. I noticed Tanith's absence and cringed inwardly. Now I could see he hadn't slept and I worried it wasn't just the case keeping him up. When he glanced distractedly towards the sofa then winced I knew something had happened. I realized too that's why he wanted us there, but he wasn't going to say anything unless I asked.

"Ghastly, how bad was it?" Skulduggery spoke first, his voice gentle.

Ghastly shook his head. "I don't think I'm the right man for her. She said things."

He looked over at me, his eyes silently asking me to call anyhow. I nodded and dialed Tanith's number.

"Hey, sis what's up?" Her voice sounded forced.

"Nothing much. How's Ghastly?" I asked.

"Oh, he's fine. He was just here a little while ago."

"Really?"

"No, not really. Look we had an argument. I don't think you'd understand, about adult things. He just won't move fast enough."

I snorted. "Been drinking Lovegate's tea? Because you don't sound like yourself."

"Yes, I do." She retorted.

"No, you don't. This is EXACTLY how you sounded the last time you drank her tea."

"I did not."

"Then repeat the last thing you said to him to me." I said calmly.

"You're not moving fast enough, maybe I better find a man who can use what God gave- Oh, God, did I seriously say something like that to him?"

"Oh, yes, you did."

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to!"

"I'm not the one you should apologize to."

"But he won't take my call, not after what I said. Oh God."

"You sound like a character in a bad romance novel. He's sitting right here, wondering just what he did wrong, when you and I both know he did nothing wrong. You're lucky he's such a gentleman, Tanith. He respects you, he loves you, don't you get that?"

"But, what I said, he won't talk to me."

"Let's test your theory." I handed my mobile to Ghastly, motioning for Skulduggery to join me in the hall. He didn't have to be told they needed privacy. I heard Ghastly talking softly into the mobile as I gently closed the door.

I looked over at Skulduggery, and he looked away. "I think something's wrong with her, Skulduggery. Something was in that potion, it had to be. We need to get a Sanctuary doctor to look at her, or somebody who might know what she was given."

He nodded. "But you aren't acting like that. Ghastly told me what she said. I agree it must be the potion, but it still hurt him."

"He loves her, Skulduggery. He's hurt right now, but he'll forgive her, and once she's well again they can start over."

"Mmm. You aren't, you don't-"

"Waiting for you will be worth it, Mister." He smiled at me and held out his arms to be held. I went to him, enjoying the feeling of his ribs pressed up against me. We parted and the door opened. Ghastly had a faint smile on his face as he handed back my mobile. He had tea waiting for me and I accepted it as we sat.

From his continued smile I figured things were on the mend, but I knew it was a private conversation. He looked at us then gestured to the files Skulduggery still held. "There's not much, I'm afraid. But that's all we have. We know know that the hearts came from the body of the other victim. He took something from the ex-detective like he did before, and I think Skulduggery was right. We found, well, bite marks."

Skulduggery nodded. "The longer he spends in that cave, the more of his essence it takes over. It leaves him just enough to live, but as it consumes it replaces what he was with what it needs. Something driven to consume life like itself, because he does need to eat."

"We knew that before, Skulduggery. What makes it any different now?" Ghastly asked.

"The cave is aware." Skulduggery said. "It's using him to bring itself victims. But it can't read his mind or his memories or it wouldn't be luring the Sanctuary, from what we know it likes to hide, to attack by surprise. Our killer, what's left of his personality is rebelling in a sense. Defying what the cave would instinctively avoid to lure us in. He knows he's dying, and he wants one last chance at us. I suggest we don't give it to him. He may attack the cave in frustration, I'm almost sure he will. He still has some of his power perhaps enough to weaken it before his death. That would give us the advantage."

Ghastly agreed. "There's no way to send anyone in there without them getting killed, that's why the killer wants us there. He's choosing to stay to lure us in, so I'd say he's killing himself. I'm certainly not letting anyone from this Sanctuary near that cave. The wards we put up are still in effect, so we don't have to worry about civilians wandering too close. Well then, we're finished here. Skulduggery, could you wait outside a moment, please? I need to talk to Valkyrie."

"Of course." Skulduggery said. Ghastly waited until he was out in the hall and motioned me over to his desk, a broad smile appearing on his face. He took out a sheet of paper and handed it to me. On it he had sketched a wedding dress, perfect in every detail.

"Mine?"

"You like it?"

"Ghastly, I love it!"

"Good. But not a word to Skulduggery, no matter how much he whines and annoys you. Hopefully I can get started on it tonight if no new crises develop. How are you holding up, otherwise?"

"I'm great actually. Having Skulduggery with me helps a lot. It helps knowing you're there for me too."

Ghastly smiled. "I always wanted a daughter as pretty as you. So now I have one. I'm serious, I want you to consider me your father and feel free to come to me if you need me, all right?"

"I think I always have. I always wanted you for a father. I just never said anything."

Ghastly's face softened, and he came around the desk to me. He gave me a brief hug. "I'm serious now, Valkyrie. If you ever need anything, you call me. Or if Skulduggery does something you don't understand, or any reason at all, you call me."

"All right, dad." At that Ghastly hugged me again, ruffling my hair fondly.

"That's right, and don't you forget it."

Skulduggery looked at me expectantly as we drove home. "Well, what did Ghastly want?"

"Father daughter stuff. He's excited about the wedding."

"He's more excited to be giving away his daughter."

"True. I called him dad and he just about hugged me to death."

"Good. He deserves to be happy, and so do you. He's needed a daughter for a long time, he always wanted children. You need a father in you life, for good, I hope."

"Of course for good. Ghastly's always been like a father to me. Even the first day he met me he tried to protect me, though I didn't appreciate it at the time. But even after that, he's always looked after me. He WAS my father when you were gone. He just never dared to ask me to call him that."

"He didn't ask you now either, I'll wager."

"No, he never would. But I could tell he'd been waiting for me to call him dad and to mean it for a long time. I'm proud to have him for a father, Skulduggery, really." Skulduggery smiled and we drove the rest of the way home in silence.

We were idly thinking about training that afternoon when my mobile rang. Tanith. "Hey sis, I dropped the boxes off at Gordon's mansion, but where are you?"

"You have to ask?"

"Ooh, right. Well I wanted to let you know I'm going into the Sanctuary right now. I'll see the doctors there."

"I'm glad. Do you want me to come in and be with you?"

"No, Ghastly will be with me. No offense but-"

"All things considered, you two should do this together."

"Yes. Well, got to go, but remember the boxes are here. Bye." We rang off and I frowned to myself. I knew Tanith thought she had ruined things with Ghastly, and right then and there I wished we had a right track her. I trusted her to tell the truth, but I knew what it was like to want to cut and run too.

Skulduggery caught my frown. "What's the matter?"

"Tanith said she is going to the Sanctuary for treatment, and Ghastly will be with her, but what I want right now is to activate the tracer on her bike."

"You think she lied?"

"No I think it is what she wants to do, but won't. I also know it is none of my business, right?"

"Since when has that ever stopped you before?"

"Point taken. Still, it isn't my place to interfere."

"Again, when has that ever stopped you before?"

"True. Still not my place though."

Skulduggery looked at me, exasperated. "You're her sister, it is very much your place to interfere, so do it." I nodded and activated the tracer, watching Tanith's path from my mobile, so far, so good, it seemed.

Skulduggery looked over, curious. "I thought we gave the mobile that reads the tracers to the Sanctuary?" He asked.

"We gave them the one Ghastly knew about. Ever after the Remnants I always make sure to have duplicate ways to trace things."

"Clever girl." He came to sit on the couch beside me attentively watching Tanith's progress. I could see his frown as the bike deviated from the course to go to the Sanctuary. From her new route she was headed away, running from help, and her problems with Ghastly. Call me a hypocrite, but I didn't like that one bit. I dialed her number, not liking the idea of her talking while driving, but I was giving her one last chance. To my surprise her progress slowed on the screen then stopped before she answered.

"What's up? I'm at the Sanctuary now."

"Great! Then you won't mind what will happen next a bit." I toggled the screen, activating a remote lock down of her engine, then sent a quick text with her location. I heard her curse as the purr died away. A few more curses, then she roared into the phone.

"What did you do to my BIKE?"

"How did I do anything to your bike, sis? Besides you're at the Sanctuary now with Ghastly, remember? Who, by the way, since you aren't far from there, will be with you shortly."

"You don't understand."

"I understand you need help, sis, and I'm going to make sure you get it, or Lovegate wins. You hate her, remember? Do you WANT her to win?"

"No, but I tried to run-"

"We all do, but now you can stand and fight. Get her good, sis." I heard the familiar rumble of Ghastly's van pulling up, and the sounds of Tanith getting in.

"When do I get my bike back?" She asked into the mobile.

"When you're cured."

"OK, but if anything happens to her-"

"I know. Ghastly can return for her later, and I'm holding her ransom until you're better. Deal?"

"Deal, and sis? Thanks."

"Don't mention it." We rang off and I sat quietly. She'd been on speaker so I could observe the screen and now Skulduggery craned his head towards me.

"You wanted to run? When?"

"The day you and Ghastly went off together and I had to pick you up, actually."

"A fine partner you are. But I ran off and became Lord Vile so I can hardly complain. The important thing is you stayed and I get to annoy you."

"That it is. Sorry."

"For what?"

"For wanting to run. It just seemed like a really good idea at the time."

Skulduggery pulled me close, stroking my hair gently. "It always does." He said.

Once Ghastly had called and assured us Tanith was getting treatment as he spoke and that her bike would be fine, we went to our office as Skulduggery insisted on calling it. "But this is your office, Skulduggery."

"Our office, in our home." He corrected, coming to stand in front of me. He took me in his arms and kissed me fiercely, leaving me dazed when he pulled away. "Our office." He repeated, a skeletal finger tracing my jawline. I pulled him in for another kiss and heard his throaty growl of pleasure when I started to stroke his skull. I pulled back, struck with an insight.

"Lord, you're bones are sensitive aren't they?"

"Yes." He growled, pulling me back in, his hands starting to roam restlessly up and down my body. I reached up under his jacket, tracing his sensitive ribs, feeling him jump slightly in surprise. He groaned in encouragement, then pushed me gently away.

"Tease." He said.

"You started it."

"True, but now I'm finishing it. Well, to our case files, then." We sat, and I took a few moments to let the effects of him wear off before opening my copy of the case file. We had very little to go on. The crime scene photographs, a terse statement from the coroner about the findings being preliminary, and the records of Detectives Tanas and Leap.

I looked at their photos and felt my heart lurch, but fought the emotions back down. Falling apart right now wouldn't help them. Finding their killer would. Of course I knew we had to investigate if they were tangled up in something as the blackmail notes had disappeared once again. "Skulduggery?"

"Hmm?"

"I'd like to take the lead on investigating Tanas and Leap."

"I have someone on it."

"Ah. Not trusting my objectivity, then?"

"No, not in the slightest. I need you by my side on the main part of the case. Which these deplorable files tell us precious little new about. I hope that cave DOES eat our killer, and he manages to kill it too. Would make our jobs a lot easier. I don't want to sound pushy, but it would be useful to see their effects-"

"Tanith dropped them off at Uncle Gordon's mansion."

"Your mansion. Well, if you don't mind, seeing as how they are now your property-"

"The case comes first Skulduggery. I never worried about hurting a victim's feeling before, I can't start now."

"Who taught you to be such a fine detective? That's right, me." He grinned, proud of himself and we headed back out to the Bentley.