A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Erskine, Tanith, Ghastly, Billy-Ray, Springheeled Jack, Finbar Wrong, Tipstaff, Lord Vile, Darquesse or Valkyrie. Val is still 24, story is still in her POV.

Skulduggery had taken the roads at such breakneck speeds it was a miracle we weren't arrested. As he drove he took out his mobile and dialed, his whole body tense. His call was answered and he barked into the mobile. "Erskine! You're closer to Ghastly's get over there now! That's an order! Billy-Ray is on the loose." He snapped the mobile shut and I didn't say a word.

I saw now why men followed him into battle. He took command instantly when he needed to, his ruthless streak coming out. If Billy-Ray did show up and tried to take Tanith it could easily end in bloodshed, and I knew I wouldn't stop Skulduggery either. He was a force of nature when he was this angry, and the best his allies could do was to get out of his way.

When we arrived at Ghastly's shop, Erskine already there. He and Ghastly were looking to Skulduggery for orders, and he certainly felt free to give them. The leader of the Dead Men had assumed his natural leadership again, and no one dared questioned his right to do so. "What are you two doing with her on the ground floor? Get her upstairs, now!" Skulduggery barked. Tanith looked up in surprise from hugging me in greeting, and I hustled her up the stairs, the Dead Men following. I squeezed Tanith's arm gently. Both to assure her it was still Skulduggery, and to keep her quiet. He was in no mood to be challenged.

I had just gotten her settled into a chair in her and Ghastly's apartment when Skulduggery again began issuing orders. "Valkyrie!"

I jumped at his sharp tone. "Yes, Skulduggery?"

He tossed me his mobile. "Finbar Wrong is in my directory. Call him, see if he can pick up the movements of Billy-ray, you'd had better ask about Springheeled Jack while you're at it." He snapped out the command.

"Yes, Sir." I said quickly, not out of defiance, but because his sheer tone commanded respect. Skulduggery, who had shed his disguise, turned his head sharply in my direction and leveled an angry look at me. "Sorry, Skulduggery." I said, turning away to search his mobile for Finbar's number.

"Ghastly, you're with me. Erskine, stay here with Tanith and try and make yourself useful." Skulduggery ordered, disappearing into another room with Ghastly.

I was scrolling through Skulduggery's vast directory when Erskine spoke up. "He gets like that on the battlefield, I'm sorry either of you had to see that."

I just laughed softly. "Erskine, his men are in danger, the woman he is going to marry is in danger, the woman who is going to marry one of his men is in danger of being kidnapped if not killed outright, and she is with child. He's currently reliving every man he ever lost on the battlefield, every lost partner, losing his wife and child. We're lucky he isn't out shooting people in the streets."

Erskine had nothing to say to that. He busied himself making a fire and finding a blanket for Tanith. I knew he'd been attracted to her at one time, so I kept a watchful eye on him as I at last found Finbar's number and dialed. His cheerful voice came on the line. "Hey, Skulman, to what do I owe the pleasure? Wait, this isn't him, this is what's-her-name, Valkyrie. What do you need, want to speak to the old lady?"

"Would you be able to find two people for us, Finbar? We need to know where Billy-Ray Sanguine and Springheeled Jack are."

"No problemo, little lady, I can tell you that without a map. The Texas fellah is near where you are right now, giving off a strong dose of hate and obsession if you know what I mean. The other one followed him, but Billy-Ray doesn't know it. You be careful and call me if you need anything else, have Skulman give you my number."

I rang off just as Skulduggery and Ghastly reentered the room. Skulduggery seemed calmer, and of course Ghastly had managed to make strong tea for everyone, though he shot me a bemused look when he handed me a mug.

Skulduggery motioned me into the kitchen and I followed him, not missing the adorable sight of Ghastly moving Tanith to the couch and wrapping his arms around her, one hand protectively covering her abdomen and the twins. Skulduggery looked at me, his expression contrite. "I apologize, Valkyrie, you aren't one of my men, and this isn't the battlefield, it just feels like it. I hate being helpless and that makes twice now at least that you caught something I should have."

He looked down, seemingly not wanting to meet my eyes. I felt sorry for him then, seeing just how much fear he had to be feeling at the prospect of loosing anyone else. "Skulduggery, you're a man. You couldn't have forseen this in a million years." He looked at me, his head tilted curiously, and I continued. "Men expect a man to learn his lesson, to be a man about it, and to leave a woman alone after she shows no interest, correct?" He nodded. "Well, women expect differently. We're taught by our mothers and other older women that men can be dangerous, and that certain kinds of men will kill you if they can't have you. We're taught that under the worst circumstances a woman becomes little more than prey to that type of man."

"Oh, Valkyrie!" Was all Skulduggery could manage before folding me into his arms. He held me for the longest time, and I stroked his back gently. He was a good man, a wonderful man, he just was never going to be able to think of everything. I let him know what Finbar had had to say and he nodded silently. When he'd collected himself we returned to the others, and they all seemed relieved to see him much calmer. Skulduggery sat on another sofa with me, Erskine taking a chair in the middle. He was silent, but I knew what the Grand Mage was thinking.

He wasn't so much worried about the case, but shocked over the sight before him. Ghastly, a man who tried repeatedly to be rid of his scars held the woman who loved him and was carrying his children. Skulduggery had wrapped his arm protectively around me, free of the disguise when in certain company. But our handsome and elegant Grand Mage sat alone. I could tell he was pondering the unfairness of life and teased him. "What's the matter, Erskine? Didn't even one zombie give you her number?" Ghastly snorted and Skulduggery grinned, while the Grand Mage pulled a long face.

"I always knew I'd get old and loose my looks." He mock sobbed, then turned to me grinning. He was about to say something when we all heard panting and the padding of canine feet. Cú Sídhe simply appeared, his massive jaws open in a friendly smile.

Everyone else froze, but Skulduggery and I got up to greet our old friend. "Cú Sídhe!" I said happily, wrapping my arms around the huge canine's neck. I rubbed his red-lined ears and stared into his glowing red eyes adoringly. Skulduggery crouched down, also rubbing his head, and fussed and prattled to him in a purring Gaelic I couldn't follow.

Cú Sídhe closed his eyes in canine ecstacy, whining happily, his massive tail beating in the carpet. We got up, returning to the couch and he woofed gently to us before padding over to Tanith. She cooed to him, stroking his gleaming white coat, telling him what a good and fine doggie his was.

"That's no dog. That's a Cú Sídhe." Erskine put in quietly, still clearly fearful in Cú Sídhe's presence. Cú Sídhe just looked at him and rolled his red eyes, and gave an annoyed grunt, before turning back to lavish attention on Tanith.

"Meet Cú Sídhe, Tanith." Skulduggery said happily. "He's as good a friend and guardian as you could ever desire. I think he's here to help us." Cú Sídhe looked over his shoulder and nodded his massive head.

Ghastly put out a strong hand and patted Cú Sídhe. "That was you I saw in the street last night, wasn't it? You were driving the zombies away from me." He paused and I knew he wanted to thank Cú Sídhe, but had the good sense not to do it out loud.

"If you feed him, he'll love you forever, dad." I offered, and Ghastly smiled his thanks at me. Cú Sídhe wasn't interested in eating right then though, and settled himself in by Tanith's side. He looked over and I could almost hear his thoughts as his glowing red eyes found mine. Did I understand he was protecting her because she was my family, and that he'd soon be home for good with me and Skulduggery? I nodded, and he smiled, causally mentioning we could use our own fireplace more often in a final thought, and wouldn't it be wonderful to roast another hare on it?

We had kept vigil all night, because we knew Billy-Ray was close. Poor Tanith even had to have me accompany her if she got up, but since it was a girl thing anyhow it wasn't too bad. At least it got us away from the over protective males that were starting to grate on our nerves. This was mate guarding at its finest on their parts, and I was surprised our respective mates weren't sitting on us like I'd once seen a male meerkat do on TV.

The thought that his mate bit him and chased him off in frustration made me smile. I wondered if the boys would give us time to go do something fun together and doubted it. But Billy-Ray being nearby made us all tense. Now Tanith and I were catching some free time in the kitchen idly discussing going out for breakfast. We were both weary, we all were. So weary that I knew our magic would barely work, if at all. "Well, we can at least ask if they'll take us out to eat." Tanith said cheerfully. "After being cooped up together all night, I'm sure we deserve breakfast out before heading to the Sanctuary."

We headed out to find Erskine talking to the other men. He glanced at us apologetically. "I'm needed at the Sanctuary, ladies, sorry. But you can all take your time getting there, go out for something first. "

He nodded and left. Cú Sídhe yawned and stretched then looked at me. I knew he couldn't be seen with us, and playing invisible dog was beneath his dignity. He blinked out of sight with a nod. Tanith and I gazed adoringly at Skulduggery and Ghastly and the men sighed, agreeing to breakfast before work.

"We don't have any food left anyhow, sis." Tanith confided in me happily.

"Neither do we. Have you ever tried to get a man to go shopping?" I returned and we both laughed as the grumbling men followed us down the stairs. We were walking across the street to Ghastly's van when the ground erupted in front of us. Billy-Ray grabbed for Tanith, but I lashed him in the face with one of my shadows, knocking his sunglasses off, hitting the empty sockets beneath. The Texan howled with pain, and I hurried Tanith to the van.

"Get her out of here!" I yelled to Ghastly. He floored the van, Tanith barely getting to close the door. Skulduggery had been using the air to block Billy-Ray from attacking, but he went back underground. We both looked down uneasily. He erupted from the ground behind us, and we turned, both pushing back against the air to gain distance as he swung his straight razor. He hadn't recovered his sunglasses, and he looked at me, his hollow eye sockets alive with hatred.

"You, I'm gonna kill slowly." He hissed. He was advancing when a body dropped on his from above, sending Billy-Ray sprawling. I recognized the battered top hat, and just watched dumbfounded as Springheeled Jack leapt back easily, and a stunned Billy-Ray rose to meet him. Still woozy, Billy-Ray staggered forward, and got slashed across the face for his trouble, Jack's hardened nails making deep gouges. The Texan roared in pain and dropped to his knees. Skulduggery and I could at last move, and hurried forward, Skulduggery slapping cuffs on Billy-Ray.

I looked at Jack. "That makes three times you've helped me Jack, it seems to be getting to be a habit with you. Thank you, Jack."

Jack nodded, his smile hideous. "I've got issues with this one, poppet. Wanting to take another man's wife isn't cricket, is it? I might have lost my head, but old Jack doesn't hold grudges against the ladies. Besides, you were a right proper lady more than once, and old Jack likes you, he does." He touched the brim of his hat to me and was gone, onto the rooftops in one mighty leap.

Once Billy-Ray was tucked safely in a cell we met up with Tanith and Ghastly in Erskine's office. Tanith was amused to hear Jack had once again rescued me and she winked at Skulduggery. "I think he fancies her." She teased.

Skulduggery made a disgusted sound in reply and barely paid attention for the rest of our meeting with Erskine. The Grand Mage noticed and frowned at him but said nothing. I noticed and worried. I was the only one there who could really read his expression, and what I saw I didn't like.

The meeting ended and I realized I had no idea of what had gone on either. Tanith pulled me aside when we went into the hall, allowing the men to walk on ahead. "Did you hear anything Erskine said?" She asked and I shook my head no in reply. She sighed. "I'd yell at you, but I didn't either. Hopefully Ghastly heard something."

The men hadn't walked that far away and he turned and flushed guiltily. We all looked to Skulduggery who just shrugged. "Oh, I wouldn't worry. Erskine's used to not being listened to." He assured us.

Though even while he said this all three of them stared at me hopefully. Ghastly said they would meet me in his office and left it to me to go ask the Grand Mage what he said. I nodded and winced inwardly. The man creeped me out and I didn't like being alone with him, but duty called.

I knocked before reentering his office and Erskine looked up with a sigh. "None of you have any idea what I said, do you?" I shook my head no and he shrugged, waving me in.

"Grand Mage, I apologize, but if it is Sanctuary business we can't just be left to guess."

Erskine looked at me and shrugged again. "To be truthful I haven't the foggiest idea of what I said either. We do know that cave thing is dead, don't we? I suppose this is shock. We've all been through a lot, but we always keep going on no matter what. To tell you the truth Valkyrie, your Grand Mage could use a holiday, or a Valium."

I laughed. "You miss him, don't you? Tipstaff, I mean? We all do. I never though I'd say it but it's lonely here without him. The place is a mess, no offense meant. I thought he honestly did nothing, but he kept the place running. Please tell me were getting a new Administrator soon. No, don't tell me that, I want Tipstaff back. I'd give anything to hear him shrieking about using proper titles to address you right now."

"I do not shriek, Detective Cain." A fussy voice informed me from the doorway. I turned and Tipstaff was there, our old Tipstaff. Timid, hovering, overly-formal, and fussy Tipstaff. It was all I could do not to kiss the man then and there. He walked into the room, casting a disdainful look at the mess of papers the Grand Mage had made of his desk. "I'm gone for several days and nobody at this Sanctuary can tell me anything, disgraceful! Did anyone even think to look for a new Administrator? Of course not. It will take me weeks if not months to get this place in any decent order." His voice was as high and annoying as it ever was.

I grinned at him broadly and he sniffed at me. It was all I could do not to hug the man to pieces. "We missed you, Administrator." I said happily, he huffed and waved me out, and I happily left him to the work of getting the Sanctuary running again.

Tanith shrieked happily when I told her who was back. "Are you getting back to annoying him?" She teased.

I shrugged. "I like him now sis. I don't feel like annoying him, though that screechy voice of his makes me want to hit him. Plus he fusses like an old biddy and hovers, God I hate that man and he's only been back five minutes."

"I'm so very glad to see you are the fount of loving-kindness you've always been, Detective Cain. I wouldn't expect anything less of you." Tipstaff said, entering Ghastly's office unannounced. He looked at the thing's head in the corner and shrieked. "What is that?" He managed to squeak out.

"Oh, that? The last Administrator who looked at my daughter edgewise. But you wouldn't do that, would you, Tipstaff? Now was there something I can help you with? Because if there isn't I want you out of my office, now."

Tipstaff's eyes bugged out of his head and he turned heel and ran. Tanith looked after him confused. "It's like he doesn't remember the last several days at all."

"He doesn't." Skulduggery confirmed. We all looked at him and he continued. "What good is a secret weapon if he knows he is one? Something tripped Tipstaff off, made him into the killer he is at times. But his programming is so complete that when he isn't on a mission he reverts back to what you saw."

"He wasn't acting the night I saw him on the battlefield, he isn't acting now. He was programmed to be like this, to deactivate until he's needed again. He'll be the harmless if rather annoying Tipstaff we all love to hate from now on. Provided something doesn't trigger his training again, of course."

Ghastly rang me that evening with good news. "Your dress is finished. Obviously thanks to Billy-Ray returning we'd rather have the ceremony sooner rather than later. I know it is sudden, but how does tomorrow evening sound for you two?"

I looked over at Skulduggery and he grinned broadly at me. I nodded in agreement and spoke into my mobile. "Tomorrow evening sounds wonderful, dad. Your apartment or office?"

"The shop, actually. It will just be us four and the priest. I'm sorry to rush things like this. I already have clothes for myself and Skulduggery, and he has your rings, so we're all set. I'll see you tomorrow night then?"

"Of course, dad. We'll be there." I rang off and looked over at Skulduggery.

"You didn't tell me you hands rings picked out and bought already." I said, amused.

"Oh, I didn't? It must have slipped my mind." He smiled faintly at me. He held out his arms and I went to him gladly, stretching out above him on the back of the sofa to hold him in my arms.

"You know, Skulduggery. This is our very last night to tease one another. I wonder what terribly indecent things I can tempt you into doing tonight."

"Don't you even start. Your father would know and he would kill me. You are sure aren't you, Valkyrie? You can step away from all of this now and I won't judge you. You don't have to go through with marrying me if it isn't what you really want."

I looked at him. He was serious. "I'd marry you right now if I could, Skulduggery Pleasant, and what happened to us being married as far as your concerned?" I growled, giving him a punch in the arm.

"Ow. Elder abuse." He mock whined, grinning up and me devilishly. His arms shot up and somehow he'd flipped me through the air as he rose into a standing position, so I landed on my back on the couch, then he was on top on me, his grin wicked. "Now I have you right where I want you, Detective Cain. Hmm, on second thought I can do all sorts of things to you your father won't know about." He started nipping at my neck then, his hands roaming restlessly.

I gasped at the sensation, grabbing his shoulders, then stroking his skull as his continued his ministrations. Skulduggery started to growl, the sound deepening as his shadows started to swirl around him. They caressed me, reaching out icy cold tendrils that made me start and grab Skulduggery tightly. He laughed, getting up, his shadows retreating. "That's just a taste of what I have in store for you tomorrow night, my dear. I'll make your coffee now." Skulduggery looked down at me smugly. As usual he'd won. He sauntered off into the kitchen and I followed him, entranced.

"Wait, when you've used your shadows on me before they were warm."

He turned to grin broadly at me. "I told you I could do a lot of things, Valkyrie. Things you can't even imagine because I haven't shown them to you yet. But when you killed for me in that cave, I realized just how very much you adore me." I repressed a shiver. He almost never referred to himself and Lord Vile as the same person. But I nodded in agreement anyhow. The last things the world needed was Lord Vile running rampart because his lover spurned him.

"Well, of course I killed for you, why wouldn't I?" I was careful not to mention any names, not sure if he was now accepting the Lord Vile part of him or had at last completely lost his mind. Not that Skulduggery Pleasant was that far from lunacy on any given day. But that's why I'd fallen in love with him. He'd told me to embrace my inner lunatic once. Now I chose to embrace the lunatic in front of me, kissing him deeply, instigating the nightly ritual. Skulduggery embraced me, returning the kiss with a searing passion that burned icy cold, his shadows starting to swarm around us.

Then my entire body was cold in his icy embrace, and he deepened the kiss, his skeletal frame so icy cold. Icy cold that grew into sheer artic chill as his armour sprang up and around him, and now Lord Vile embraced me. His shadows swirled around us and he intensified the kiss, using his shadows to caress me while he held me tight against him. I returned his attentions feeling something was seriously wrong and it wasn't Lord Vile's icy embrace.

I pulled back to gaze at him and realized what was wrong. The gaze that held mine from behind the visor was cold and aware in a way it never was before. There was an intelligence in it, an intelligence I knew all too well. It hadn't been the Lord Vile part of his personality that had helped me kill the cave spirit. Skulduggery wasn't a separate person from Lord Vile, no matter how much he insisted he was. He'd tried to tell me the awful truth, to let me know it all along.

Skulduggery had never lost his memories from his days as Lord Vile because he was Lord Vile. Hiding for all these years in plain sight. Able to live quite nicely in the shadows in his own skull, waiting only for the day when he could feel complete and put his armour on once more. I sensed his smile behind his visor and he spoke. "I always knew you'd be the one to figure out the truth, Valkyrie Cain. But then you should know the truth because you never forgot what you did as Darquesse though you pretended to. I'd been wondering how you threw her off so completely and then you helped me understand."

"You are Darquesse. You've simply accepted the dark part of you and no longer needed the name to access your power. There's no shift in personality anymore because you choose for there to be none. The good part of you, the part you like simply devoured Darquesse one day, and you're the result. Flawless in every way, with unlimited power, my sweet destroyer of worlds, my beloved god-killer."

I trembled at the sound of his voice. "And you are my adored god-killer, the slayer of countless thousands on the battlefield, the one who could destroy the world if he so chose. You took what you needed from Lord Vile and you destroyed him, yet you are Lord Vile because you choose to be. All this time, you've been trying to tell me, been showing me. Your regaining your shadows should have been my first clue."

He laughed. "Because Skulduggery hates Necromancy with a passion, doesn't he? Or at least part of him does. Or did." Vile stepped back his armour melting away from him and Skulduggery stood before me once more. "I told you war never brings out the best of me, Valkyrie, and I didn't exaggerate. I'm not about to destroy the world because I simply have no interest in doing so. Nor am I going to ever soak the world with quite so much blood at one time ever again. But you needed to know the truth, my beloved Valkyrie Cain, my most deadly Darquesse. You realize now, you were whispering to yourself all along don't you?"

I nodded, then grinned. "We don't have to be afraid of anything or anyone ever again, do we? We're god-killers, Skulduggery."

Skulduggery returned my grin. "That we are, and better still tomorrow night we'll be married god-killers. Ah, your coffee's ready. Have a seat." I sat and enjoyed my coffee ever so often obliging Skulduggery with tastes on his maxilla.

Now THAT was fun! Don't hurry away just yet there is still the wedding to come.