A/N: I don't own Skulduggery or Valkyrie. Val is still 24, story is still in her point of view. Special thanks go out to all my readers. Sorry to take so long to upload this chapter.

Skulduggery strolled into the autopsy room a short time later, a pleased smile on his face. I could tell he thought Tanith going green had been funny, and he tilted his head attentively, as Doctor Morgagni brought him up to speed.

"Your partner would make a wonderful pathologist, Detective Pleasant. She spotted a most intriguing mass tucked away between the brain and brainstem. If I didn't know any better I'd say it had been magically put there, but we shall see. Perhaps it was organic, something we haven't seen yet in humans because we normally don't live that long. Wonderful find. I think I'll make the dissection of the brain itself if you two are ready."

We both nodded and the pathologist proceeded, but found nothing else of note. We thanked him for his time and left, Skulduggery happily humming to himself.

"Since when did you get so brave around dead people?" He teased.

"I'm around you every day, Skulduggery."

"Now that was mean, but I forgive you. Because I know that what you really meant to say was that you missed me."

"We weren't even apart that long." I grumbled. Skulduggery just stared at me and I relented. "Fine. I missed you, happy now?"

Skulduggery made one of his happy chirrups and drew me into his arms. "Of course I'm happy, Valkyrie. I missed you too. Ghastly gets boring fast."

"So does Tanith. Lord, we're terrible friends, aren't we?"

"On the contrary, we're the very best of friends. Oh, I see what you mean. Well, Ghastly wasn't any fun. He won't tell me a single thing about your dress, and he didn't react kindly to me hinting he should work faster."

I stopped to look at Skulduggery. "You know he doesn't like to be rushed. Exactly what did you say to him?"

"Only that he should get the dress finished today, and then we could have the wedding tonight."

I blinked. "He got mad over that?"

"Well, I did say it was rather unfair of him to make me keep his daughter waiting."

"Skulduggery! You did not! Please tell me you didn't."

"I did, since I'm fairly certain he hasn't kept Tanith waiting."

"God, you're terrible. But that would explain her blushing so much. But I'm surprised she didn't mention anything."

"Oh he told her not to. He told me the same thing, but you are my most loyal combat accessory so I get to tell you everything."

"Skullduggery. I don't know what I'm going to do with you, I honestly don't. Should we meet with the detectives?"

"Look at you being proactive and taking co-lead of the case. I'm proud of you, Valkyrie, I truly am. You went to the autopsy on your own, knowing we needed a pair of eyes there. I need to yell at our detectives for not thinking of that first."

"Skulduggery, they are already afraid of you!"

"As well they should be. I'm a very dangerous man, but you're safe with me." He said, looping a friendly arm around my shoulders.

"Get your hands off my daughter, Skulduggery!" A menacing voice growled behind us. I jumped, but then so did Skulduggery. Ghastly walked up between us putting an arm around each of us. He was smiling, clearly amused at Skulduggery's reaction. "How would my two favourite detectives like some busy work?" He asked, grinning.

"Not at all?" Skulduggery tried, hopefully.

Ghastly snorted. "Too bad, you're getting it. There was briefcase found in the park, luckily we got to it before the civilians. Chock-ful of papers and other fun things for you to read through. I think someone's been sneaking reports to the killer, or was. But I need eyes on it, so I thought of you two. I had it sent to your room so you two can get cozy while you read. Not too cozy though, Skulduggery, or I am going for the bone accents on the dress."

Skulduggery sniffed in indignation and Ghastly just laughed.

We had the fireplace lit and Skulduggery leaned against the stone front while he read, grumbling slightly, then turning to swat the fireplace with the papers he was reading. "Is there something wrong, Skulduggery?" I asked.

"No, no, nothing at all. This fireplace is just making my back sore, so I hit it. Not that you care about your partner's back."

I shook my head. "Come here, you big baby." Skulduggery came over, presenting his back, he looked at me, giving a running commentary while I rubbed his sore bones.

"The ribs first, Valkyrie, they're sorest. You're so lucky to have something nice to cover yours with. Mine hurt, and the cold got into them too. I bet I'll catch cold and die now, you just watch."

"If you start sneezing I'll take you to the doctor, Skulduggery." I growled.

"No, no I'll have you tend to me. Which is why I'll die, of course. You're terrible at caring for people. I've had better back rubs from China." I hauled off and smacked him a good one to the back of the skull, and he yelped in pain. "That was a joke, a joke! You didn't have to hit me. What's wrong with you today? You either love me or you're hitting me."

I kissed the back of his skull tenderly, wrapping my arms around him. "I thought you were serious." I said quietly.

He turned, his head titled in sympathy. He seemed to smile wryly. "I wasn't, you know. I never touched the woman, nor did she touch me."

"But you loved her."

"Everyone loves China, at first. Then you get to know her."

"Sorry, Skulduggery, she's just the pretty girl who steals all the guys in the room to prove she can. I have actual nightmares about her surfacing again and taking you from me. I know that is stupid, considering what she's done to you, but that doesn't make them any less real when I'm going through them."

"Oh, Valkyrie, when will you trust me when I tell you that you have no rivals? Not China, not someone from my past, not someone from now or the future either."

"You forgot alternate Universes."

"For God's sake, there is no one else. Who scared you this badly?" He asked, taking me in his arms.

"Nobody."

"No, you're actually trembling. Valkyrie, what are you so afraid of, are you afraid I'll leave you? That isn't happening either, despite my need to make dramatic exits and have a royal sulk."

"You might not come back one day, Skulduggery. But we have a case to get to." I pushed away, suddenly finding the papers I was supposed to be reading real interesting. Skulduggery tugged them gently out of my hands.

"Valkyrie, I am in love with you. I can't imagine my life without you. Please trust me to catch you if you fall, because I think that's what your really afraid to do, to trust me. I know my need to go off alone at times frightens you, but I swear it doesn't mean I'll be unfaithful or ever leave you, just trust me."

I couldn't face him, because he was right. I was terrified to trust him. But Skulduggery wasn't about to take 'no' for an answer. "I trust you not to go out with strange vampires or boys with stupid hair." He teased.

"Skulduggery, what am I going to do with you?"

"Love me, but as you will recall, Valkyrie, I answered that question before. You're memory isn't going already is it? You're so young." He gasped dramatically, bringing his gloved hands to his teeth.

"Very funny, smart guy. But we do have a case to get to."

"Not until you tell me you trust me, Valkyrie. I need you to trust me if we're going to be together."

"Skulduggery-"

"That isn't an answer, or is it?" He asked, hurt.

"Skulduggery, could the cave spirit be doing this? You and I never doubted each other, ever. Of course I trust you. I don't know where these doubts are coming from, but they make me want to shoot somebody."

"Now now, my dearest combat accessory, violence is never the answer."

"Violence is your only answer, Skulduggery."

"Is not."

"Said the three year old."

"If I'm three you aren't even born yet in comparison, therefore I win."

"Your logic astounds me."

"Wait until our wedding night, then you'll be astounded."

"Skulduggery!"

"Valkyrie!" He mimicked. "Now we have a case to get to, if you're done holding up the investigation."

"Skulduggery!"

"Just admit you've lost the battle and give up on the war, Valkyrie. I'm always going to be right."

"You're always going to be annoying. I ought to remove your jaw so you'll at least stop taking."

"I wouldn't bet on it."

Our detectives proved remarkably clever at hiding from us, reporting directly to Ghastly that they had no updates, and taking off running full tilt if they spotted Skulduggery. It didn't help matters any when he removed his gloves and started chasing one, opening his jaws in mock threat. I suppose I should have scolded him, but I was too busy laughing at his antics.

Skulduggery came back to me happily, tiring of the game. "Did you see that, Valkyrie? I'm a very scary man, aren't I?" He sounded pleased with himself, and I knew he enjoyed the detectives thinking he was crazy. I also knew he was a little crazy, well a lot crazy, but in a good way.

Skulduggery tilted his head and cooed at me, pleased I was still laughing. Had he been a living man I'd have sworn he'd been drunk since that morning, but I wouldn't have minded to be honest. I loved Skulduggery, and if having fun chasing our detectives made him happy, who was I to judge him? I giggled as he cuddled me close, then he was chasing me, a look of utter delight on his face as we raced through the Sanctuary up to our room. Once inside he pounced towards me, using the air to propel both of us back to the bed, pinning me under him. He mock-growled, snapping his teeth at me, then fell onto his side in helpless laughter.

"Before you ask, Valkyrie, no, I am not drunk. I'm just so very happy to have lived, to have the train miss me and get a second chance with you. Well, OK, technically I am dead, but I think you know what I mean."

I cuddled up to him. "We keep up running around the Sanctuary terrorizing people and even Ghastly will fire us, Skulduggery."

"Let him! We'll go into business ourselves and answer to no one." He sat up, cocking his head at me. "I rather like that idea, we've proven we can do well on our own. What do you think?"

"I'd like that a lot, Skulduggery. You'd also be free to use lethal force again, and don't tell me you didn't used to. I've heard about what a holy terror you were."

"How much did you hear?"

"You're the one who told me about beating information out of people. Why do you think I've done it?"

"Then I've taught you well, Valkyrie, and I mean that. Sometimes for the greater good one must do evil. It takes a special kind of person to do that and not give into the hate, the temptation to unleash violence on everyone you meet." He paused, considering. "I frighten people, as well I should. Because people don't want men like me around in everyday life. Oh, they want me to rescue them, to keep the bad man away from them, but as a friend or lover? Never. You can't imagine how lonely I've been, waiting for someone like you, Valkyrie."

"You've never judged me, even if I do recall a scolding about false arrests, but now that I understand you thought it was you I was yelling at, I forgive you. Provided you can accept that there might also be the stray body here and there around Ireland, then I'll be completely happy."

"Skulduggery, I once tore the throat out of a cave monster with my teeth. My teeth! I'm in no position to judge you. I still remember the way Ghastly and Tanith looked at me when I clawed the Hollow Man open with my bare hands. I got the feeling they were both disapproved, but when all else fails, I'll fight like an animal."

"Skulduggery chuckled. "Mmm. Tanith has told me more than once that she's glad your on our side. So am I, Valkyrie. You are a lioness, a valkyrie, the winged warrior taking the worthy slain to paradise, where you shall feast me, and serve me ale, and be my lover for all eternity."

He looked at me, and I swore he was cross-eyed, but that wasn't possible. I grinned hugely at him, rolling over to nestle on top of him. "Well, you've got the dead part down pat, Skulduggery. If the cave cooperates we'll see about the warrior part."

"Don't you mean Lord Vile will see about it?" His voice was slightly tense. I knew at that moment what I had to do, what I had to give up because my getting what I desired would kill him.

I stroked his skull gently before speaking. "I love you, Skulduggery, you. You have your shadows as your own self, you needn't be Lord Vile ever again if you don't want to. I'm guessing that even if you do put on the armour it will still be you, the real you. You're a whole man again, Skulduggery, and I'm never letting go of you."

Skulduggery and I play fought the entire day, sending a shrieking Tipstaff running for cover when we decided to use him for fireball target practice. "He screams like a girl!" Skulduggery laughed.

"He runs like one too." I said agreeably.

"Hey! I'm a girl and I don't run like that." I turned to see Tanith. She was clearly enjoying the shrieks that continued to come from Ghastly's office as we approached, and his roaring laugher only added to her amusement. We entered to find Erskine there as well, laughing so hard tears were coming from his eyes.

Tipstaff ran up to him, still screaming like a peacock. "Do something, Grand Mage, arrest these two- These two lunatics!" He pointed a trembling finger at us, but didn't dare look in our direction.

Skulduggery roared at the top of his nonexistent lungs, taking a menacing step forward and Tipstaff fainted. Erskine just shook his head in amusement. "This is like the old days, Skulduggery. When the Dead Men fought alongside each other. I seem to remember you liking to scare men like Tipstaff then too."

Erskine turned to me, his eyes dancing. "You should have seen him, Valkyrie. There was this one rather annoying official we had to report to, and he was scared witless of Skulduggery, who of course would take every chance he had to pounce on him out of nowhere. I still remember the day the man resigned. Happiest day of my life."

"You can't forget the agent from the foreign Sanctuary, Erskine." Ghastly said. "You would have loved it, Valkyrie. Skulduggery managed to chase the man up a telephone pole and refused to let him come down. Every time he so much as twitched Skulduggery would snap his teeth together."

Skulduggery nodded happily. " I kept him up there too until he apologized for being so annoying. Do I have the permission of the Grand Mage and our only current Elder to chase Tipstaff whenever I please?"

"Yes! Maybe he'll quit." Ghastly said. Erskine agreed, and I didn't feel the least bit sorry for Tipstaff. For as much as he fussed and fawned, there was a sneakiness to his character that made me dislike him. In fact, I couldn't think of a single person at the Sanctuary who did like him. He was a whining, sneaky, disloyal sort of man who would kick you when you were down and we all knew it.

We left the office, nobody bothering to wake Tipstaff, and set off in search of dinner.

We ended back at the inn where, I was starting to suspect, the table had standing reservations for us. Since it was a place for sorcerors Skulduggery could shed his disguise there, and he happily tasted my coffee as well as the juice from my steak.

Ghastly watched him dab a skeletal finger in the steak juices again, shaking his head. "When did this start?"

"Just recently, Ghastly. I can taste again, and even though I'm not hungry, I do enjoy tasting things again. Valkyrie's been good enough to share her food with me, which is much appreciated by the way, Valkyrie, thank you."

"Uh, you're welcome."

Skulduggery blinked. "What on Earth is everyone staring at me for?"

Tanith and Ghastly looked away, leaving it to me to state the obvious. "You don't believe in 'thank you' remember?"

"But a man can change, Valkyrie, and I am thankful."

"Who are you, and what have you done with my partner?"

"I'm serious."

"I know you are. Is this Skulduggery thinking of sticking around? I think I like him better than the old one to be honest."

"Indeed he is. You know I could swear the liquid absorbs into my bones."

"That shouldn't be possible, should it?"

"No, it shouldn't, or I'd get waterlogged in the rain. It is almost, well, I can't be sure, but almost like eating in a way."

He happily took several more dabs of steak juice and several of coffee. Ghastly just stared at him.

"What?" Skulduggery asked.

"Nothing. I'm just glad you aren't touching my food, that's all."

I turned to Skulduggery with a wink. "Want to taste some steak, Skulduggery?" I asked. He happily obliged by opening his jaws wide and I pressed a forkful to his maxilla, then of course ate it myself. Ghastly turned an interesting shade of green, and Tanith just laughed at him.

Skulduggery and I were having no luck that evening with the reports and they all seemed to be tied to the earlier victims. Suddenly he looked at me.

"Valkyrie, who would have access to all these files?"

"I assume the mole the killer planted."

"Who else?"

"Anyone granted access, why?"

"Who could look at these files anytime, even request them and not be noticed?"

"Ghastly or Erskine, I guess."

"Who else?"

"There's Tipstaff, I guess. He could lie and say the Grand Mage wanted them."

"Exactly."

"Wait, you aren't saying Tipstaff is tied into this, are you?"

"No, I'm saying there is our leak. Whether knowingly or unknowingly he's been getting the information to the killer. Some of these reports are dated after the mole was found, or didn't you notice?"

"No, I didn't." I admitted.

"That's rather honest of you. Still I think he is our leak. If the cave spirit is controlling our emotions and forcing actions in a sense of two incredibly strong people, imagine what it could do with him."

"We better have proof before we say anything, Skulduggery. For all we know there's another mole and we don't know him or her."

"True. I'd thought I'd found a reason to get Tipstaff fired, too."

"You know, we are being rather unkind to the poor man. I'll admit I don't like him, Skulduggery, but that's because he seems sneaky. Also he hovers, and fusses, and whines. I'd feel better if I'd at least seen him use magic to defend himself today, but he just ran."

"That struck me as odd and a tad disturbing, Valkyrie. Administrators tend to be fairly powerful sorcerors, yet nobody even knows if he can do magic. I'm almost certain he has, but I can't recall him doing it."

"You know, Skulduggery, maybe the cave spirit is affecting us more than we thought. None of us are bullies, but we all ganged up on poor Tipstaff. I think we should go apologize."

"You're right, as always."

Tipstaff stiffened when he saw us approaching, and I swear he sneered faintly, but reminded myself he was under the same influence we were. "We're sorry." I said, and he blinked at me.

"What?"

"We're sorry, it's the case. We shouldn't have chased you, not if you weren't enjoying it."

"Enjoying it? You were throwing fireballs at me, Detective Cain. I can hardly see how I'd be expected to enjoy that."

"We expected you to fight back at some point, to be honest." Skulduggery admitted. "Sorry."

"Apologies accepted, Detectives. Can I get you anything? Something to do with the files that I took up to you?"

"Yes, we wanted to know, if you had any idea who could have taken them." Skulduggery said.

"That's easy." Tipstaff answered. "I did."

Whoa, Tipstaff is stealing now? I know I might be harsh towards him calling him a sneak, but I just dislike the man for some reason. So is he a bad guy who will end up in the gaol? Not even I know and I can't wait to find out.