A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Ghastly, Lord Vile, or Valkyrie. Lordy yes, Val is still 24, and the story is still in her POV. WARNING: Major Valduggery and Vilkyrie ahead.

"Skulduggery!" I laughed, pushing him away at long last. He just gave a contented purr and nuzzled into me before peeling me away from the Bentley and opening the door. I got in, giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek, and leaned over to open his door for him. Skulduggery got in, gazing at me contentedly, not even bothering to put the key in the ignition. I could feel his grin broaden under his disguise. He leaned forward, kissing me again, but with more control this time. He pulled away at last, gazing at me wistfully.

"Why did we agree to wait until we're married again?"

"It was your idea, Skulduggery, and I think you're having way too much fun teasing me with it."

"True, true. Very well, we'll wait. Seatbelt." He gave me a sideways glance as he put the Bentley into drive. "I'm honestly not all that interested, to tell you the truth."

I complied, but couldn't resist teasing him in return as we drove back towards home. "I bet Lord Vile wouldn't make me wait." Skulduggery made a high, tight sound and nearly drove the Bentley off the road.

"Not funny." He growled when I burst out laughing.

"I'll be sure to behave during training tonight." I teased further.

He just growled in response and clutched the steering wheel in a death grip. When he could at last speak I could tell it was between clenched teeth. "I swear Valkyrie, if you don't behave for the rest of the day, there will be no training session."

"How are you going to manage that when I only have to touch you in my armour for Lord Vile to appear, hmm?"

"You'll never see that armour again if you don't behave." He growled.

"OK, I'll behave. For now."

"Valkyrie!"

"Sorry, I'm only teasing. How come it's OK when you do it?"

"Because I'm better at it, that's why. This is where I once again remind you we do have a vast age difference."

"I know, but you'll grow up some day, Skulduggery. There's always hope."

He looked over at me as we pulled up to our house, and I could sense a faint smile on his face. "You never take anything seriously. So I've taught you well. But still-"

"If you want to know the truth, Skulduggery, your age is one of the things that makes you attractive to me."

"Really now." He purred. "Exactly how attractive does it make me?" He leaned towards me, the heady sent of his cologne doing terrible things to me. One gloved hand was on my waist when my mobile rang, causing Skulduggery to jump, slamming his head on the roof of the car. He cursed, backing off and getting out as I checked who it was. Ghastly.

"Hi, dad." I said getting out. I swore Skulduggery rolled the eyes he didn't have at the interruption, but he trudged dutifully to the front door letting me in as Ghastly talked.

"Is my daughter behaving?" He teased.

"Always. You know Skulduggery never let's me have any fun." Skulduggery snorted rudely in response, but said nothing.

"I can only imagine. But I wanted to let you know I've started working on your dress. It should be ready in several weeks at most. Provided of course you two don't have another fight and break up again."

"That's great, and no, no more fighting, I swear."

We talked a few more minutes and I rang off, following Skulduggery into the kitchen where he already had coffee going. It was late afternoon now and I could feel his anticipation for the evening's training session.

"You do know tonight's training session will be serious, right? Lord Vile doesn't intend to let you go into battle if you aren't fully prepared, and I wouldn't challenge him on it, if I were you."

"I know that Skulduggery. Just knowing one of us might not come back- Vile isn't going to have to give me any motivation if he-" I looked away, not wanting to state the obvious. Even Lord Vile could die in that cave, and we both knew it.

Skulduggery came over to me, holding me close. "He doesn't intend to die, you know. Nor does he intend for you to die. Though he may try to kill you himself if you don't take you training seriously." I laughed, cuddling into him.

"Skulduggery?"

"Mmm?"

"How will this work? Was Lord Vile aware of your ring? Does he consider me-"

"Yes, and yes. It is still me, Valkyrie, just the side of me I'd rather not admit to. So yes, I'm well aware you will be my bride when I wear my armour, and you can't imagine how that fuels my rage when I think of somebody daring to hurt you." He paused, then continued reluctantly. "Your refusing to leave only increased Vile's, my, attachment to you. He might feel love, but considering the abomination he is he doesn't expect it in return. But you must always remember he is, I am, still Lord Vile. When I am completely out of control, when you see Vile at his darkest, I make no promises how he will react to you."

"But he wants to train me, Skulduggery."

"He's also a homicidal maniac who wants a partner in crime, and he's very well aware you won't stand in his way. I just can't guarantee that Vile won't react badly if he kills the killer and has no target left for his rage. Hopefully he will assist with the cave spirit after that, but I just don't trust him, Valkyrie, and neither should you. I don't even like the idea of him training you tonight, to be honest."

I could see the fear in his eye sockets, could feel it in the skeletal hands that gripped me.

"I have part of Vile in me remember? If I do have to defend myself he's going to regret building me so well."

"I think he already does. Ah, coffee's ready. Go have a seat in the living room, I'll be in shortly." I went in and put on the TV, not really seeing the program. It seemed to be taking Skulduggery forever to bring the coffee and I felt the hair on the back of my neck creep up. I flicked off the set just as a figure stepped into the room, clearly reflected by the TV screen. Lord Vile.

I got up and went to him respectfully, knowing he couldn't be in any decent mood after what I'd told Skulduggery, because everything Skulduggery took comfort in would not please Vile at all. He was staring at me hard from behind the eyeslits of his visor.

"What did you expect me to tell him, the truth?" I asked, and his shoulders relaxed, but only slightly. he tilted his head at me, then brought up one hand, massing his shadows. Something was wrong, I walked backwards and Vile followed, then shot his shadows forward at me spearing me in the chest, right through my protective clothing. This couldn't be happening. He held me on the shadow's point and walked forward, his gauntleted hands coming up to grab my shoulders, shaking me, Shaking me harder, then I was awake and Skulduggery was looking at me, frightened.

"Valkyrie! You wouldn't wake up, I was so worried." He bundled me into him, shaking in fright. I held him. This didn't seem real either. Skulduggery never over-reacted. His shaking increased and I realized they were tremors. He made a high whining noise as he literally started to shake apart. I knew then I was trapped in a nightmare. But nightmares are shadowy things so I followed the threads of the nightmare back to the source, striking with deadly intent.

I awoke suddenly, to see Skulduggery glance at me in surprise as he handed my my coffee. "Falling asleep on the job, are we? Vile won't be thrilled with you but I guess you needed the rest. Have a lie down after your coffee if you like, I'll meditate with you."

I nodded, drinking my coffee, knowing Skulduggery knew something was wrong, but was waiting for me to tell him. "Nightmare." I mumbled.

"Ah. But you managed to awaken yourself."

"Yes, I just struck back using my shadows, nightmares are made of shadows. I think I managed to wound the killer somehow, though that may just be wishful thinking."

Skulduggery smiled in deepest pleasure, and I knew I saw a hint of Lord Vile in his wicked delight too. "Let's hope your right, my loyal combat accessory."

Skulduggery laid down beside me and I wasn't sure to how ask him what I wanted to, so I just did. "Skulduggery?"

"Mmm?" He murmured sleepily.

"Did Vile ever meditate?"

"Not that I'm aware of, why?"

"Nothing just that, well, Vile would be more than happy to use his shadows if the killer attacked him in meditation."

Skulduggery sat up slightly and stared hard at me. "Are you saying I'm incapable of defending myself, Valkyrie?"

"No! I just don't want the killer getting to you. You already said you couldn't wake up this morning. I'm just worried about you, that's all."

"Of course. I apologize. I just didn't like the idea of you seeing me as weak, as a lesser man that Vile. But you said you used your shadows, so I'll be aware of what to do. Don't worry, Valkyrie, now that I'm aware of what to do I can be Lord Vile in my dream if I have to." He grasped my hand, squeezing it reassuringly before placing his teeth on my cheek ever so briefly. We fell asleep holding hands, and I didn't dream.

When I awoke at last night had fallen. Skulduggery was still beside me, his skeletal arms wrapped around me. I thought he was still meditating, but his teeth found my lips is the dark, pressing down gently but firmly. I was startled, but I returned his affection, looping an arm around his lower ribs and stroking his skull. He shifted with a slight growl, drawing me on top of him, his hands roving up and down my sides.

"Valkyrie." He breathed, his hands grasping my ribs. His teeth found my neck, and his nipped trails up and down. "Valkyrie, why are we waiting?" I could hear the desperation in his voice, and fully intended to stop waiting then and there. I lowered my head down to his neck, tracing the bones with a finger before kissing and nipping each one in turn. Skulduggery gave a sharp gasp, then pulled away.

"No, no, my apologies, we wait." His voice was rough and he sounded upset over leading me as far as he had. I didn't want to wait, I was tired of waiting, but I said nothing. There was training to get to, after all. I sighed and sat up, intending to rise, but Skulduggery grasped me from behind. "Call your armour to you." He breathed in my ear. I did, feeling it flow over me, feeling the power flow through me. Skulduggery didn't let go, only gripped me more firmly before speaking again. "Now call mine to me."

I was sure I had to be dreaming, but I reached for him, grasping the arms that held me, allowing the touch of his body against my armour to help me in sending him his own. Then it wasn't Skulduggery grasping me in the dark anymore, it was Vile. I let my dead senses flow forward, I could see into the darkness now, and see as well as feel Lord Vile's shadows swirling around us both, trapping mine, drawing me closer. His shadows swirled and gathered, then we were shadow-walking, Vile rising smoothly even as we did, taking me with him.

I didn't recognize where we were at first. Then realized we were in the training field. I made no move away from Vile, too stunned to move. This was much farther than he should have been able to shadow-walk. As always he seemed to read my thoughts and turned me to face him, head tilted in amusement. He backed several paces away and I knew our training would begin.

But instead of reaching out with his shadows, he held me with his visored gaze, willing me to at long last draw upon my anger, his own rising and coiling. I didn't even hesitate though I knew I should. I allowed the anger to come forth as it had against the killer, to build and grow as it had so many times in the armour.

I felt the anger take over, the almost blinding desire to kill fill me to overflowing. I snarled, wanting a target, wanting something, someone to kill just so I could. I didn't care at that point who it was. I looked at Vile, feeling to last vestiges of self-control slipping. In mere seconds, I knew, he would be the target of my endless hate. Then his visored gaze caught mine, holding it, willing me to temper my rage, to see beyond the immediate target in front of me, to think of the killer. He was setting me free to attack and kill from there if I was able.

He taught me to follow the night to seek the cave from where we were. His power and shadows led my own through the night and I could see the cave, could almost see the killer in my mind's eye. We attacked in concert, but they defended themselves at once. I noted they weren't fighting back, only defending and redoubled my efforts, but as hard as we tried, and we were both attacking with abandon at this point, their defenses held. We were simply too far for a kill, though some of our shadows did seem to break through and slash them.

I felt Vile draw me back, his own anger cooling, him willing mine to calm as well. Then I was aware of the field again, and Vile standing close to me, staring at me intently. I could feel his pleasure, his exultation at the attack. His shadows started to lengthen and reached me, snaking up my armoured body, finding the area at my jaws where I touched my armour, and for him, for his shadowy touch, it fell away. He approached, his gaze delighted behind his vizor.

I should have been afraid, I should have been terrified that Vile built weaknesses into my armour he could exploit, but it only made sense to me. I stood calmly and let him come, returning his steady gaze, but not challenging him. Vile didn't seem to be in a mood to be challenged. He stopped a few paces from me, titling his head in amusement, waiting for me to say something. "That was fun, you should let me off the leash more often." I said, going with the truth.

Vile shook in silent laughter, obviously delighted.

"I don't suppose we can go after them right now, can we?" I asked, trying my sweetest smile on him. Vile shook his head, still clearly amused. I was well aware I was a pet to him, and that he could kill me easily, no matter how hopeful Skulduggery was that he couldn't. He closed the distance, his gaze softer now, as if he was looking at his favoured hunting dog.

He brought a gauntleted hand up, running it through my hair. I've never liked having my hair touched, hated it, really, but it was OK when he did it, better than OK. Great actually. I closed my eyes and couldn't restrain myself from pressing my head up to meet his touch, and I thought I heard him make a pleased sound.

I opened my eyes in surprise, and he put the other hand securely on my waist, the fingers flexing until he found a purchase the pleased him. Vile was much clearer in his intent than Skulduggery ever was, much less concerned about restraint. I bit my lip to keep from yelping in surprise as the other hand left my hair and traveled down to the small of my back, finding the exact spot he seemed to know about without ever having been told.

My hands went up automatically coming to rest on his chest, and I gritted my teeth so I wouldn't whimper out loud. Vile pressed me forward, flush to him and the icy cold would have made me collapse if he hadn't been holding me so tightly. He bent his head down, and I needed no encouragement to meet his kiss, the icy-cold armour searing itself onto my lips, causing my heart to surge dangerously in response. Then his shadows rose, embracing us both, and we were back home.

Vile backed away, tilted his head to me as his shadows swirled up around him and was gone.

Skulduggery sauntered into the house about fifteen minutes later, leading me to our office. "Good evening Valkyrie. I trust you enjoyed your training session." He chirruped. I nodded, trying not to smile too broadly. Skulduggery was happiest pretending Vile was a completely different person and that worked fine for me, so long as he never tried to kill me in a jealous rage.

"I've called Ghastly." He said happily, setting the coffee pot on and turning on the radio. "He isn't exactly thrilled Vile 'let you off the leash' as you put it, but your attack in your dream, and then your attack in concert with Vile must have down something, because there was a massive power surge in the park even civilians felt, then nothing. I think the two of you did a lot of work for one night, and Vile built you much better than he realized." Skulduggery sat, rifled through his files, then looked over at me, pleased. "We don't make notes about this part of the case, as a matter of fact our files are to 'disappear'. So enjoy looking at them if you like, I feel like reading if you don't mind. Ah, your coffee, there you go."

He served me then sat down contentedly resuming 'The Gentleman Detective' where he'd left off. I shrugged and sipped my coffee. There was never any telling how he'd react to anything, and I wondered briefly if we'd really destroy our files, but I knew we had to. I had Skulduggery to protect, after all, and Ghastly. I cleared my throat holding the files over the metal trash bin before drawing flames into my other hand. He looked up and nodded happily. The flames consumed the files leaving behind only light ashy paper.

I sat back down, relaxing and listening to the soft music that poured into the room. Skulduggery was making soft sounds of appreciation as he read, and the sight of him enjoying himself made me happy. He not only remembered what Vile did this time, he was pleased with what Vile did. I closed my eyes briefly, relaxing back into my chair. We might be four days out, but it felt like we had the upper hand. We'd proven that even at a vast distance Vile and I could strike to the point of causing pain, we'd even wounded our attackers.

So I had some rare time off if even only for several hours. I considered getting out my music player, but the music Skulduggery had on honestly wasn't bad. Mostly instrumental jazz, and I think I recognized I was fairly surprised when 'Moanin'' by Charles Mingus came on that he didn't bolt out of his chair, but he seemed lost in the novel.

I tried really hard to remind myself jazz was music, sort of. I just appreciated music with lyrics in general and though I was well aware the song was saying something I had no idea what it was. Skulduggery lifted his skull, clearly listening. He looked faintly surprised, then turned back to his book with a grunt. I was surprised a man who swore to only love American music from the 30s to the 50s could listen to it, let alone appreciate it. Of course people always assumed he meant popular music, and I'd never seen anything make him cringe faster that popular music from those eras.

Lean Horne came on singing 'Stormy Weather' and I felt my shoulders relax. I got up and left the office of course before Skulduggery had one more artist to relentlessly tease me about. I knew if he knew about having her music or anything by Eartha Kitt he'd never let me hear the end of it. It was good I supposed, he didn't know about the old record player and the rather warped 78s I'd collected. I wondered how much was my own personal taste and how much was just near-constant exposure to the era from him had dictated my taste. I supposed it was both, I slipped my headphones on, walking back into the room as the song ended, studiously ignoring the radio.

I was toggling through my music, I did have a lot of nice normal modern music to choose from, and I figured I needed something to combat the relaxed feeling running through my veins or Skulduggery would know something was up. I swear the music player had a mind of it's own. I tried for LMFAO, and hit shuffle instead of play so 'I Want to be Evil' by Eartha Kitt came on instead. I laughed, putting my head down on my folded arms, convulsing in helpless laughter.

I heard Skulduggery clear his throat, and his was looking at me over his book, I shook my head, still laughing, and switched my player off. He looked rather annoyed. "Cosmic humour." I said, and he left it at that, with a snort of contempt.

"If you want to play with that thing, go into the living room or something." He said, clearly annoyed. He turned back to his book and I did get up, strolling outside to look up into the night sky. How I wanted a full moon to gaze at, but the barest sliver of the dying moon hung in the sky. I didn't know why I felt that I had to hide this part of me from Skulduggery, especially when he'd asked me not to, and I could almost imagine the annoyed grunt Cú Sídhe would have given me for hiding. But I only trusted Skulduggery so far, some things were too important, too personal to let him see.

Music in a way was my lifeline, it helped me make sense of the world and some artists or songs I just wouldn't show my reaction to around him. It amused him, and frankly his amusement hurt even if he meant nothing wrong by it. Skulduggery was never going to be the type of man to nod and agree with everything I liked. He was insulting to the extreme whenever he had the chance.

I got my music player out, scrolling through it, looking for something to soothe me, I was way too upset, and for no good reason. I wanted the modern music I did like and used to annoy him, but that was going to help me right now. I needed something joyous. Of course. I shut off my music player and brought out my phone, going to a video site. I plugged in my headphones on the off chance that Skulduggery would come out and surprise me, and brought up the 'Ode an die Fruede' flashmob. I had to grin, it was amazing to see classical music effect people the way it did, it was a type of magic most sorcerors would envy.

As the music swelled and more members of the orchestra showed up I felt my misery melt away, not able to resist the urge to sing along, however softly. There was something noble in the song a pure celebration of nature by one of the greatest composers who had ever lived. The applause at the end was infectious and I couldn't help a little fist pump of appreciation. I made a mental note to go to Sabadell some day, preferably on my own or Skulduggery would never let me hear the end if it.

I shut my mobile and looked up, Skulduggery was standing in front of me, his hands stuffed in his pockets. He cocked his head to one side. Skulduggery offered a hand, helping me rise, a look of utter wonder on his face.

"Where on Earth did you learn to sing in German?" He asked, sounding utterly charmed. I shrugged, just relieved he wasn't teasing me about it, and made to walk past him. Skulduggery stopped me, his hands on my shoulders. "There's a lot about you I'll never know, isn't there?" He asked, the wonder still in his voice.

I grinned and nodded, going to walk on. But he stopped me again, with a questioning look, so I obligingly sat back down with him, and he looped one arm around me loosely as I played the video for him, enjoying the utter delight and rapture that came to his skeletal features. I had to admit that for a man that didn't own one classical album as far as I knew Skulduggery Pleasant had unknown depths to him.

Hope you liked it and if you haven't seen the 'Ode to Joy' flashmob you seriously need to check it out. There might be others but the one from Sabadell is wonderful.