A/N: I don't own, Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Caelan, Fletcher, China, Ghastly, Tanith, Billy-Ray, Finbar, Lord Vile, Anton or Tipstaff. Ye Ye is my OC though. Val is still 24, story is still in her POV. Thanks to everyone who has stayed around this long. The trip wouldn't have been as fun without you.

The next morning Skulduggery had me up bright and early, a cheerful smile on his skeletal features. "Well, good morning, Valkyrie! Ready for our last day as an unmarried couple?" He chirruped. "Come downstairs and I'll make you coffee. Well, us coffee." He seemed to blink and hovered over me, looking serenely happy.

I sat up as memories of the night before came flooding back. "Skulduggery, last night, did you, you are Lord Vile?"

He nodded happily. "Oh yes, last night did indeed happen, my most loyal combat accessory. But the important thing to remember is that I'm all right now, and that shouldn't happen again. I think. Well, your shower isn't going to take itself, so off you go, then coffee." He left humming to himself and I just shrugged and got out of bed.

I'd always known he was a little crazy, well, a LOT crazy, but never in a harmful way, at least not towards me. Skulduggery never failed to be sweet and kind if I excluded the rare bad temper, and if he was triggered every so often into turning back into Lord Vile, I could learn to live with it. He'd make a wonderful husband, of that much I was sure as I showered.

Everything I was doing I was doing for the last time as a single woman, and a mixture of wanting to savour each moment, and rush through it on to the next danced in my belly. I wanted to be going to be married right that instant, but I knew I could wait. Thankfully it would be a small wedding, only the four of us. There would also be no boring reception, and after that I had no idea what Skulduggery had planned, or even if he had a plan. He had a wonderful way of just taking off on a random adventure at times. A youthful quality I found highly appealing, and one he was well aware of my attraction towards.

Skulduggery was often serious with others, unless I was with him and he figured too long had gone on between then and the last time he'd entertained me. Then he would do whatever he could to make me laugh, saying things so crazy I just had to, at least I thought he did it to make me laugh. I shrugged and smiled as I got dressed. I knew he loved me and that was enough for me.

Fear of China or any other rival had melted away like a spring snow after how attentive he'd been last night. he'd assured me he had all sorts of wonders to show me, and I believed him. Skulduggery wasn't given to lying, and least not to me about important things. OK, he lied all the time, but his megawatt smile as I entered the kitchen that morning made them all worth it. He held out his arms, his grin broadening and I went to him happily. Skulduggery kissed me, a wild mixture of emotions tumbling through me at the feeling of his teeth against my lips. I wrapped my arms around him, taking in the scent of him. Wool and bone, now mixed with the heady scent of cologne.

Skulduggery wrapped his arms around me, deepening the kiss, then at the tilt of his head the radio came on. That was new. 'Here Comes My Baby' by the Tremeloes came on. I had to laugh even as I kissed him, and Skulduggery made an amused sound as he pulled back at last.

"Skulduggery Pleasant, I thought you hated popular music."

"No not all of it, not really. Some of it is good, at least if it reminds me of you, at any rate. That song came on the radio once, during a stakeout years ago. I'd sent you out of the Bentley for something I wanted, and it started to play as you returned."

"Then it hit me, how very much I wanted you to be mine, though I think it was daylight, but the song still fit. You were certainly beautiful that day, that much I do remember. Well, drink your coffee and if you could spare some for a poor thirsty skeleton it would be much appreciated."

"I never thought I'd hear you say that, to be honest. Are you really thirsty?"

"Well, I want coffee, and it is strange, but I can feel it absorb, and it seems to go down through my bones and just be gone. I like the feeling, and before you ask, it just wouldn't be any fun if you didn't give it to me, though I may have graduated to a spoonful at a time."

So we sat there at the table, Skulduggery making happy sounds and chirrups as he managed several spoonfuls then was satisfied. I sincerely hoped I wasn't hurting him, but he seemed OK. He wasn't going soft in the bones or anything, and he certainly seemed to not be harmed. It was our last morning as a unmarried couple, so I didn't mind indulging him.

I usually didn't, since he would have this happy look on his skeletal features, one of pure joy every time I shared something with him. Skulduggery had a playful personality that almost shone off of him, and the reason we got along so well is that I didn't mind playing along. I could be dour and silent a lot of the time, but not with him. Skulduggery liked to make me laugh, as if he was singlehandedly beating back the darkness that could take me over, and of course he was.

He started humming after coffee, then tilted his head and looked at me. "How would you like breakfast out, Detective Cain? I'm thinking we go to Ye Ye's on such an auspicious occasion, but it is up to you."

I grinned, delighted. "That sounds wonderful, Detective Pleasant. Then the rest of the day is yours to plan as you see fit." He grinned hugely, and I could tell he was blushing in his own way. He was cute when he blushed.

Ye Ye was delighted to see us, giggling slightly when Skulduggery explained it was our wedding day. So he made a breakfast the likes of which I don't think was seen outside an Emperor's table in centuries, joining us to eat.

For the briefest, and I mean briefest of moments, he showed us his true eyes, and the ghostly outline of horns could be seen. His nails lengthened and his clothes changed. But he was simply showing us we had his blessing in his own way. Skulduggery didn't seem surprised in the least, and after the reveal was quite happy to take off his disguise and sample the Chinese repast before us. Ye Ye watched me feed him morsels and give him spoonfuls of tea, delighted.

"It is good to see such a sweet wife who will tend to her husband's needs." He managed in English. I turned to him blinking and realized he was using some sort of magic to speak to me directly. He apparently understood and could speak English just fine, but the magical translation carried the meaning of words and phrases only he knew the meaning of.

We all savoured the seemingly endless dishes of soup, dumplings, and other delicacies. Noodles so fine I wondered if he spun they out of thin air, and special desserts since he would not be at the wedding. He gave us his blessing, and allowed us to see, if only in our minds his magnificent true form. Now I knew why Chinese dragons had been venerated as gods. He was magnificent to behold, so huge as to only be called godly, with a beautiful serpentine body and scales of the purest jade green that refracted back the light.

His beard and whiskers were gold, and the pearl underneath his chin had a luster and life all its own. His horns looks as soft as velvet but I knew they were as hard as iron, and his eyes blazed, though his massive maw was open in delight and goodwill. Ye Ye breathed a golden perfumed mist on us, then the vision was gone and he was shepherding us to the door. We stepped outside and looked back to wave goodbye, but he and the entire contents of the restaurant were gone. Skulduggery looked at me and smiled. "I've said there weren't many real gods, I never said they're weren't any."

Skulduggery was content as we got back into the Bentley, suggesting a leisurely drive and I readily agreed. He turned on the radio and relaxed as he drove, looking over at me every so often. We even had the windows open to drink in the cool morning air, and the day seemed perfect. "You know, I honestly didn't think we'd ever be getting married, Valkyrie. I couldn't have imagined that you'd have said 'yes' in a million years. Don't think for a moment that I don't realize how lucky I am. Why do you think I got rid of the facade anyhow? I couldn't stand the idea of having anything on me that woman gave me, not when I wanted to be with you. Sorry I was in such a bad mood that day and so hard on you."

"It's fine, Skulduggery. Really. You had a lot to go through, having seen me first with Fletcher, then with Caelan. For what it is worth, I honestly didn't love Fletcher. The minute I told him I did I regretted it, because I knew how he took it. I should have sent him away sooner, but I kept thinking maybe something would happen, that I'd suddenly become a nice person and able to love him. Then Caelan came along, and he frightened me, but I figured I could handle him. I didn't want either one as a boyfriend but they just wouldn't listen and I didn't know what to do."

"It's OK, Valkyrie, I understand, no explanation needed." Skulduggery said gently and I knew he trusted me, but he had to hear the rest of it.

"Skulduggery, I swear to you I wasn't in love with either one of them. When I realized how dangerous Caelan was I kept expecting you to show up and rescue me like you always do, but you didn't. You didn't and I had to call on the one man who hated me for help. He saved me but he made sure to twist the knife that much deeper."

I could feel him wince beneath his disguise. "Because I was off sulking, having learned the truth about China. I could have lost you, all because of that woman. God, Valkyrie, I'm so sorry. I promise you anything I ever felt for that woman died a long time ago, and she's not a threat to you. I'm loyal, Valkyrie. I wouldn't be marrying you if you weren't the woman I wanted."

"She takes up too much of our time. Let's talk about someone we like better. Tipstaff, for instance." I said, grinning at Skulduggery.

He laughed. "Well it is good having him back, and there's one man who's never going to steal another man's wife. Plus there's the fact that he can't stand you. You have a way of making friends wherever you go, Valkyrie. I've taught you well."

My mobile rang and I got it out. Ghastly. I smiled then answered. "Hey, dad. What's up?"

"Nothing much. Are you ready for tonight?"

"As ready as I'll ever be. Is Tanith annoying you and making demands for strange food yet?"

He laughed. "Not yet, but give her time. We'll be gone most of the day, so I wanted you to know the shop will be empty until four or five at least. We will be here for six of course."

"Great, we'll be out most of the day ourselves, we'll be there for six then. See you then." We rang off and I looked at Skulduggery.

"I like this family. No stupid parties or reception, no spending our wedding day apart. A quick ceremony and they we're free to go."

"That's romantic, that is." He teased.

"Romance is overrated, Skulduggery. It only works out in movies and fan fiction." He snorted and turned up the radio, and we cruised for hours, just enjoying our freedom and being together. 'Cruisin'' came on the radio, Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis sounding sweet together, and I just grinned and leaned back, enjoying the day. Of course there''s a wise old saying that when things are going perfectly we should worry, and if there isn't, there should be.

We were turning around, staring towards Ghastly's that evening when a chill came over me, and it wasn't from the open window. It felt like someone had walked over my grave, and that made me think of the ground, and all the disgusting things that could come out of it. One thing from Texas in particular. I looked at Skulduggery. "Billy-Ray is safely tucked away in a cell, isn't he?"

"Of course, he was cuffed and put in a cell. Oh, cuffs can't hold him, can they? Oh dear. But the jail would have informed us if he escaped." He nodded but we were both worried. I called the Sanctuary, unable to remember in my panic where Billy-Ray had even ended up. I got put in touch with a guard who grumbled then agreed to go check his cell, taking his mobile with him.

I heard a rumbling sound and the man shouted, then the mobile being picked up, and something metallic being tapped against it. A voice came on that stopped my blood cold. "Hello, little darlin'. You and I have some unfinished business left, but I'm gonna go crash a weddin' right now, well, before a weddin' I guess. That sound you heard? That's my beloved blade, and I'm gonna get a lot of use out of it, when I cut me up two brides. You all keep in touch now, you hear?" He laughed, then the line went dead.

Skulduggery had cursed. It was still daylight so we couldn't fly. I dialed Ghastly, letting him know to avoid the shop.

"How did he even know what was happening?" Ghastly growled in exasperation.

"He isn't stupid, dad. He could have been part way into the same room and we'd have never seem him. It would be just like Billy-Ray to sneak around and spy on people. That or he has a friend who talks too much."

Ghastly cursed. "Well, we're still going on with the wedding, Billy-Ray or no Billy-Ray. Where do you two think is safest? I'll abduct the priest if I have to and stop long enough for the clothes."

Skulduggery grabbed my mobile. "No, he'll be waiting for you, Ghastly! Don't worry about the clothes. Yes, I know, I know. Fine, fine. You two go someplace safe, don't even tell us where it is. I'll stop by the shop with Valkyrie. He wants revenge, but he wants Tanith more. He won't risk getting hurt and loosing her again. He's demented, but loyal." He rang off and we soon arrived at the shop, my heart pounding. I'd made the mistake of thinking Billy-Ray was a joke once, and I'd had his hands around my throat before I knew it. I still bore the scar from his razor and although he was ordered to give it to me, I wanted to even the score. Skulduggery found the clothes, and put them in the boot of the Bentley, then we were off.

"What are you thinking?" I asked.

"I'm thinking Billy-Ray is a lot smarter than we give him credit for. Could he hack your tracers, use them to find us?"

"He doesn't need to. The stupid Sanctuary added a feature to issued mobiles to let callers know where the person they want is. It wouldn't work if a civilian used the phone, but him? He only has look up whomever he wants to find. Great, he'll know where everyone is. But why do that? He can't travel miles underground. He's going to need a way to get around somehow."

"Like a Sanctuary van?" Skulduggery asked, and I looked up in time to see one looming up in the rear view mirror, Billy-Ray at the wheel. He looked demented, but still managed a cheerful wave seconds before he rammed us.

My mobile rang. "Hello, Detective Cain! Well looky here, these Sanctuary mobiles go right to a useful directory and you all are in it. I can call anybody I like, but I really wanted to call you. Do you know how very much I hate you? How long I'm gonna make you suffer? But don't you worry about the menfolk none, I'm fixin' to let them live a spell. Ain't nothin' worse than loosing the woman you love." He gave a groan of anguish, then continued. "Do you have any idea how much I love her? Do you? What gave you the RIGHT to take her from me? How dare you take my little darlin' away from me? She's all I had in this here world and you all just had to go and rip her away from me."

He was crying, and for a moment my heart softened. Then he continued. "That's why you're gonna suffer, girl, you're gonna suffer real good." The line went dead and I watched him dump the mobile on the empty seat beside him. He glanced over at the empty seat, sobs starting to wrack him, not paying any attention, and suddenly Skulduggery slammed on the brakes, hard, gesturing, cocooning the car in a ball of air as the Bentley ground to a halt.

The van ploughed into the back on the Bentley, hitting the shield of air, but it held, and Billy-Ray was thrown through the windscreen of the van, the glass lacerating his face, his body, leaving him a bloody, semiconscious mess. We were safe, though when we got out I was still wary. The Bentley was fine, but Billy-Ray was not. He was bleeding profusely. Even someone as bad as him, as unrepentantly evil didn't deserve to die like this. He wheezed as we approached, blood starting to bubble up into his mouth at every breath.

His sunglasses had been knocked off, and his hollow eyes sockets looked at me mournfully as I walked closer, not daring to go within arm's reach. He laughed, a horrible sound, the looked at me. "I only wanted her back, I only wanted her to love me. Kiss the bride for me, will you?" He laughed again, a sad, lost sound, then fell silent and lay still. I could see the life leave him, and Skulduggery and I stood in mournful silence, waiting for a Sanctuary van to show up and take the body away. They came, and for reasons I understood the instant he did it, Skulduggery gently lifted Billy-Ray's broken body onto the stretcher.

I collected his straight razor and sunglasses, tucked his beloved blade into his pocket, and put the sunglasses on him. Everyone was mournful, respectful. In death all the cruelty had left Billy-Ray's face and he looked as he should have in life. I watched as they pulled the sheet over him, then loaded his body into the van. We stayed for some time after the van left, and I looked towards Skulduggery. "I don't understand it. He was a terrible man. He would have killed Tanith, and me. But I still feel terrible that he's dead. I'm starting to cry, for him of all people. What's wrong with me, Skulduggery?"

I started to cry harder and he held me. "You're human, Valkyrie, and there's nothing wrong with that. Nobody deserves to die. Did he belong in a cell or a place where he couldn't hurt somebody? Certainly. But that? No, not even Billy-Ray deserved that. You're crying because as terrible as he was, you still cared for him as any human would care for another in danger. You're crying because he wasn't loved and he won't be missed, and that is the worst fate that can befall any of us." It took a while, but we managed to get into the Bentley at last, and drove off in silence.

When we reached Tanith and Ghastly at the shop at long last it was well past six. I hugged her tight, leading her away from the men. "Are you OK?" I asked gently.

She started to cry softly. "I'm brave, I fight men like him, but I was frightened he was going to take me back. I hated what that Remnant made me do. Oh God, do you think he had it, was it loose?"

"No, it's OK. We checked with Anton at the Midnight Hotel. It's still tucked safely away with the rest of them. There's no shame in being scared, sis. I was terrified of him when he was chasing us." I neglected to tell her I'd cried over him. It wouldn't have helped things.

Tanith nodded. "I wasn't even frightened for me. But if he had hurt Ghastly or the babies-"

"I know. I know. But we have a wedding to attend, and the only person who would've crashed it is dead and gone, so let's get dressed, hmm?" She nodded happily and we went off to the side room of the shop, helping each other get ready. Tanith had a silky white dress, sleeveless, that managed to hug her every curve. It was pleated, and the effect was beautiful, making her look seductive yet every inch a bride, and the skirt, slightly gathered on one side to heighten the beauty of the dress, flared out at the bottom to trail after her. She looked lovely and radiant.

It took a while longer to get me into the confection of lace and silk Ghastly had dreamed up for me, mainly because I was shaking so badly. It had a sweeping full skirt with layers of ruffles that somehow managed to look good on me, and delicate lace and beadwork on the chest and arms. The neck was high, decorated with more beadwork and the overall effect was stunning.

We helped each other into veils and white ankle high boots, both too nervous for any makeup or overly fussing with our hair. We knew to wait for the priest to come for us. I looked at Tanith from behind my veil. "Remind me again, why we're doing this and not just living in sin? I think I'm going to have a heart attack."

She laughed shakily. "Me too, sis. I think we're doing it because we have good men. You look beautiful by the way."

"So do you. Now it makes sense why the brides always cried and shook as they walked down the aisle, doesn't it?"

She nodded and there was a soft knock. Tanith answered and the priest stood before us smiling. "Two lovelier brides I've never seen, well your grooms await. If you will do an old man the honors, ladies, I will escort you to them."

He took on of us on each arm, and escorted us to the main area of the shop. Skulduggery turned, and I felt my breath catch. This was real, this was happening. He looked otherworldly in his tuxedo. Black and of a material I couldn't place, the sharp angles accentuated his masculinity. A white shirt glowed beneath the jacket, accented with a black bow tie, and a new black fedora completed the effect. He wore no disguise, nothing covered up his skeletal features and I was glad for it. The look he gave me was so infinitely tender it gave me the courage to step closer to him as the priest led us forward.

We turned slightly to see Ghastly holding Tanith's hand in his. He looked handsome in his tuxedo, and the look of absolute adoration in his face as he gazed at Tanith was worth having waited for this night. Tanith was looking at him too, and I could feel the love between them. Skulduggery gave a sigh of appreciation at the sight and I turned back to him. Then I was looking deep into his eye sockets from beneath my veil, his skeletal hand holding mine, the bare bones gently curled. We were saying words but I didn't know how, then he was slipping a ring on my finger, and lifting my veil.

He looked at me for the longest moment, then leaned forward, embracing me, drawing me to him, his teeth pressed to my lips, and he kissed me for the first time as my husband. The kiss was infinitely tender, and all too soon were were parting, then a confused and murmured conversation with the priest, and we were out the door, my mind still whirling.

Skulduggery helped me into the Bentley and I dimly remember to get his side and he smiled his thanks as he got in. I was still in a daze as I looked at him, my actual husband. My true husband, one a priest had married me to. Skulduggery dug his disguise out of the glove compartment, and put it on.

I blinked. "Skulduggery, the priest?"

"Finbar Wrong had a little conversation with him on the phone. He didn't see me, obviously. He didn't see Ghastly either, not really. He saw what he wanted to see, and I think it worked out quite well all around."

I nodded. "Does the bride get to know where she is going?"

"She does indeed. We're going on a trip, a long one. The Sanctuary can get by without us for a while. It will mean countless hours on the road, but I think you'll like where we end up. I'll stop for something to drink at some point, and food as well of course. I already plotted our course, and we'll be able to stop in about an hour and change out of these clothes and get you some coffee at least. Sound good?"

"Of course. Though I don't know if I ever want you out of that tuxedo. No, scratch that. You look exceedingly handsome in everything you wear."

"And you Valkyrie Cain are the most beautiful of women, no matter what you wear. Though if you ever start wearing a ratty robe and curlers I shall have to revolt."

"I like my hair the way it is, Skulduggery. Besides, I have plenty of silk robes to wear, when I feel like wearing anything." I purred.

The Bentley veered ever so slightly then stabilized. "Do not tease while I am driving, woman. Or you'll be sleeping alone on your wedding night."

"That would make two of us then, so go ahead and punish me."

"Terrible female."

"Uncivilized man."

Skulduggery flashed me a massive grin and cocked his hat down at a rakish angle. "That I am, my dear, and tonight you'll learn exactly how uncivilized I can be." I laughed in delight and we drove on into the endless night, content to be with one another at long last.

Well, there you have it. Fifty two chapters of what has been pure enjoyment for me. Of course there still are babies to come, and where are they going do you think, and what will happen next? If enough readers ask, the story can continue until it reaches a natural end. Or I'll leave it here, up to you.