A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Tanith, Billy-Ray, Erskine, Anton, Ghastly, China, Tesseract, Erskine, Saracen, Dexter or Darquesse. I figure it was high time poor Ghastly came into his own, so this chapter is from his point of view. So yes, lots of lovely Ghanith for you! Yeah, the one pair I suck at, lucky you.

I knew very well we had interrupted a romantic evening for Valkyrie and Skulduggery, but frankly I didn't care. I loved my daughter and best friend as much as I loved my beautiful wife and it was a father's perogative to want to see his daughter anyhow. Now with us all being retired as Elders I didn't expect too many visits at my shop.

I watched Valkyrie embrace Tanith and the two explored the cottage, giggling like young girls. I loved seeming them together. Tanith needed a friend. Well, she needed a playmate. Over two decades of marriage had done nothing to make her more sedate and I was wondering how to broach the subject to the girls when Tanith turned to me and my breath caught like it always did.

"You two ought to start making plans now." I managed as Tanith's eyes caught mine. "You need a friend to go out with, you both do." I murmured as she came in close, making me as dizzy as she always did. Tanith gave me a crooked grin then was snuggling into me and at times like that I wondered if I hadn't gone insane and had two of the world's best and most indulgent friends. I expected to wake up one day and find out she was still with Billy-Ray, still possessed, and I had gone completely insane and been put in the nicest institution my friends could find. Tanith of course read my mind and smiled up at me gently her hand softly touching my face.

I smiled down at her then reluctantly left her warmth to seat Valkyrie and Skulduggery and serve up our hot drinks. It soothed me. Well, making tea soothed me more but they drank coffee and I'd learned to indulge them outside of my office and shop. But even as we sat and chatted my mind was filled with Tanith and our future together. Our children were grown now and we were alone again as it should be.

We didn't keep our friends long since I wanted alone time as much as they did and I sighed happily as I closed the door on them at last. Tanith looked at me, giving me a wicked grin. "Don't you start." I said. "I'm an old man, I need my beauty sleep." I mock groaned and she laughed and we walked towards one another, my heart beating faster as it always did. It was tempered with the sorrow of knowing that I'd leave her behind some day, and again she read my thoughts, pulling me into a searing kiss then standing back to look at me thoughtfully.

"Ghastly, if we could, would you like to stay with Skulduggery and Valkyrie? To stay the same age as we are now, I mean? We could, you know, she offered." I felt dumbstruck. Valkyrie had done far too much as it was for me, and still she wanted to do more. She'd broken my jinx removing my scars and broken the jinx over our son. Now she was offering to keep us young forever, but I shook my head sadly.

"I love you all more than anything, but outliving our children? I couldn't Tanith. Please don't ask me to."

"They'd be included. Cain and Val are immortal as it is so Valkyrie knows what it is like to have a future of thousands of years ahead with them. Valkyrie wouldn't expect us to do without the twins. Only, obviously we can't tell anyone else." She said and I nodded.

"I don't know, Tanith and I'm sorry to disappoint you. No, I do know. My answer has to be no. It would just hurt too much to loose the other Dead Men to loose everyone else, even mages. I'm sorry. But that doesn't mean you can't choose it if you like." I said gently and her eyes filled with tears. My heart broke but I just didn't see the point in living forever if it meant we lost everyone we loved.

I was holding Tanith in bed later, thinking about the offer. She was strongly attached to Valkyrie and I knew she wanted us all to be with them, but where would it end? Would the Dead Men be left out? Their future spouses or lovers? Their children? Once word got out, and I knew it would when so many people didn't age as a group would we have the right to refuse others? I didn't like the idea of playing God, it made me uneasy.

But I didn't like the idea of dying and leaving Tanith behind either. Or the children. I closed my eyes, praying for a sign, some sort of guidance. Tanith shifted in bed and opened up her eyes to smile at me. "Can't sleep?" She asked, stroking my bare chest slowly.

"No." I admitted. "You know I'd give this to you if I could but it feels wrong, Tanith. Where would it end? Would we have a right to refuse anyone who asked?"

"It isn't our power, it is Valkyrie's. She'd already decided we'd have to be it. She knew we couldn't accept but she offered anyhow. It's spooky sometimes how she just knows things ahead of time." Tanith admitted, snuggling in close and I reveled in the feeling of her warmth against my bare flesh.

"Are you forgetting she is also Darquesse?" I asked gently. "It isn't the natural way of things for people, even for magical people. I think it is wonderful that Valkyrie and her family have it but I also think the day with come centuries from now when they find a way to find their graves like the rest of us. Don't you remember "Highlander"? We can be lonely enough as it is with centuries to live, can you imagine living forever? Could you really want that?"

"If it meant having you and the kids with me, yes! I love you, Ghastly! Why should I have to loose you to old age? Why should I have to die and leave our children orphans after? I know you don't want to hear it, but I'll never be done living, there will always be more to do and see, more adventures to have. You're far too young yourself to feel the way you do, to be ready to crawl into your grave. What happened to you?" She asked and I shrugged helplessly, not really knowing.

"To tell you the truth I want it very badly, but I'd feel guilty about having it." I admitted at long last and she sat up to look at me squarely. People often mistook Tanith for the village idiot because she could act silly and carefree but there was nothing stupid about the eyes that locked on to mine.

"Give up magic then. You've always hated it. Go on then and give it up."

"We need magic to be able to defeat people who'd harm mortals, you know that."

"Really? And it would be terrible to have immortality to take the fight to the vamps and other creatures, wouldn't it? Think of it, Ghastly. We'd be on equal footing with them as far as immortality goes. That might not matter to most creatures, but vampires? You know it would disturb them on so many levels. Think of the magic we'd master as time passed. In time we might be strong enough to go up against witches and Warlocks as easily as we do other mages. We wouldn't just protect mortals but other mages as well."

I thought about it, she had a point. As it was we were simply too young as powerful as we were to not be easily defeated by a lot of creatures, vampires included. If Tanith's theory was right we'd be a powerful force for good. I looked at her, hesitating. "What did she say about bringing in the rest of the Dead Men?" I asked.

"That it would be up to each of them to join us or not. But we are the first she is giving the offer to. She loves us and besides Skulduggery and her kids she has no other family, you know that. Besides Tanith and Ghastly are great children. This might be just what they need. They've been so withdrawn lately."

"You know exactly why. They fell in love with their childhood playmates, or at least they thought they did. And Cain is off with Melody and Val with Tesseract. They're hurting. But they love them as friends as well, they'll recover. All right. We'll have thousands of years to regret our choices if we're wrong I suppose." I said fondly and Tanith drew me into a lingering kiss of gratitude.

I drew her on top of me, reveling in her curves, in her utter sweetness as she wrapped her arms around my neck. I ran my fingers through her hair, then I was exploring with my hands, gently, reverently. Every time felt like the first time I'd ever held her and deep inside I was profoundly grateful that we'd have endless time for moments like this.

Valkyrie's squeal of delight the next morning nearly deafened me, but I was glad to see her happy. She came to look at both of us, made a gesture in the air in front of me and nodded to herself, seemingly satisfied. She repeated the process with Tanith, then the two were both making those annoying squeals and hugging each other excitedly. I escaped to the front porch with Skulduggery. "That was it?"

"Oh, she added the gestures for your benefit, but yes. As soon as you agreed it was done. She's that good. She's not all-powerful mind you and it may be this doesn't make her or anyone she helps immortal, but she has such a good heart to be willing to try." He said fondly. I stared at my best friend, realizing that in many ways he loved Valkyrie more deeply than he'd ever loved before. He supported her even when he thought she might fail. That was a change since all he used to do was openly mock and torment her. I mentioned it and he grimaced.

"It's getting harder to tease her as the years go by. We'll always have the banter, sometimes, but it isn't any fun to torment her anymore. But she doesn't do it to me either. I guess the kids made us soft." He chuckled slightly, then smiled openly as Valkyrie joined him. Skulduggery kissed her then they walked arm in arm back to their cottage, heads tilted towards one another. They were closer than some couples that had centuries on them and I wondered if they knew how lucky they were.

Tanith joined me handing me a steaming mug of tea. "That's my job, but thank you." I said, drinking deeply and feeling the warmth flood through my body. I didn't feel any different but Tanith has sensed something. I didn't discount it either. Women had a sense men just didn't possess when it came to magic.

"She did it for the kids as well, calling them up first. She's been the best aunty ever. Apparently she knows something about one of the twins and I think it involved dating but she was sworn to secrecy. She's keeping it too." Tanith giggled slightly. I smiled at her relieved at the news then looked down as my mobile rang. It was our daughter and I grinned. It had to be her news.

"Hello, Tanith." I said, wondering for the umpteenth time why our children had insisted on Taking their own names. It was flattering but odd.

"Hi, dad! Aunty Val just called. She is so amazing! Anyhow I know she isn't going to tell you or mom so I will. I'm seeing someone!" She enthused.

"That's wonderful, who is it?" I asked, happy for her.

"Not saying yet, but Ghastly says it is OK to let you know he is seeing someone too. We're going out on a double date tonight. Well, enjoy the vaycay, gotta run!" She rang off before I could stop her and I smiled. I kew Tanith was wondering who she was seeing. Well there were plenty of young men for her to choose from. Likely one of the boys from Roarhaven or someplace else.

Tanith's mobile rang and she answered and I knew it had to be Ghastly. The twins could almost be counted on to do the same thing. But he was a lot more generous with his information because Tanith rang off, looking distinctly amused. "Our children have dates for the night. Calico Jane for one."

"What? Oh God, no. She's crazier than both her parents put together. Besides I thought she left with Billy-Ray and Calamity." Tanith shook her head.

"Nope, and shes not crazy, she's a good girl. She's coaxing our son back into the world of the living, you know. It broke his heart have so many of the detectives leave. Mine too." She admitted and I was surprised but shelved it for later.

"And who did our daughter find to date?" I asked and she grinned. Because she I knew that grin she knew I'd go crazy. But that was my daughter we were talking about. A young woman in her twenties on a date with a mage who could be decades older. "How bad is it?" I asked faintly and Tanith laughed. "This is my daughter I don't know how you can find it funny." I said in exasperation and she smiled.

"Well good news first, it isn't Erskine, Saracen or Dexter."

"That is good news. Wait, what's the bad news? No, I don't think my heart can take it." I said, taking a long draught of my tea and her face softened.

"She told me before she liked him when she met him and it is high time they both started dating so no fussing from you all right?"

"Fine, fine. Who is it?"

"Anton."

"Wait. What? Anton doesn't date. He's never dated. In all the time I've known the man he's never dated. The man has all the romance of a tree stump. My poor child, she'll be bored to tears. And that Gist! Oh Lord."

Tanith looked at me squarely. "My daughter is in love, Ghastly Bespoke. She managed to get our from under pining away for Cain so don't you dare mess this up for her, understand?" He eyes glinted and I nodded.

"Fair enough. It was just a shock. I just never thought I'd see the day Anton dated, ever. He's the kind of man who didn't even look up when China walked into a room."

"Neither did you, remember? I think his Gist kept him immune like your scars did for you. Besides, let's not make this into something it's not. You remember how we were at that age? Four weeks from now they will be dating other people."

"If that long." I said with a grin and relaxed. We were moving on the morning. Leaving the snug little cottages to Skulduggery and Valkyrie. Tanith wanted luxury and I intended to give it to her.

We were packed and on the road within minutes and she looked at me excitedly. "Where are we going? You wouldn't say."

"Trust me, you'll like it. I might be a quiet man but I did find certain things I loved during my boxing career so that's all I'm saying. Tanith nodded then commenced to fiddle with the radio. I didn't mind I just blocked out her choice in music if I didn't like it. Boxing and the war had taught me that skill and although I loved Tanith dearly I needed it with her.

Something truly disturbing came on and Tanith squealed and started dancing in her seat. "What is that noise?" I asked, wincing.

"Gwen Stefani!" She aid before staring to sing along.

"Gwen? She doesn't sound holy." I growled. Then another woman started singing, well more like shouting. That's all it sounded like. Something about being rich girls. I think. I was getting old. I was sure of it. Music hadn't really changed that much since the sixteen hundreds. And it never had been about talent. I'd heard plenty of terrible singers in my time and these girls weren't that bad. Just too loud for my taste.

Tanith looked over at me, batting her eyelashes. "Would you make me an outfit like they wear in the video, pleeease?" She begged sweetly.

I raised my eyebrows. "What kind of outfit?" I asked and she dug out her mobile and flicked through it finding a photo she wanted. She showed it to me and I almost wrecked the van staring. I could see exactly what Tanith would look like dressed like that. Tanith just howled with laughter.

"So you'll make it then?" She purred and I nodded, unable to speak. I'd forgotten just how very wicked she could be when she wanted her way. And it make my heart sing that she thought I was worth it.

Tanith's reaction to the private suite I'd booked us on the top floor of the hotel was priceless. Of course the opulence of the suite may have had something to do with it. That and the fact that it took up the entire top floor of the hotel had her squealing in delight, running from one wonder to the next. I watched her, pleased I could still surprise her. "Do you like it?" I asked joining her by the floor to ceiling windows for the breath-taking view.

She rewarded me with a smouldering kiss, pressing the entire length of her body into mine in an effort to get closer and I reveled in the chance as I always did, making sure to be tender as I returned her kiss, minding my strength as I wrapped my arms around her waist, then settled my hands on her hips. This was my wife, the mother of my children and I'd always been tender with her but ever more so on that trip. "It's wonderful, where did you ever find it?" She asked as she cuddled into me, clearly enchanted.

"I have my ways. Are you sure you like it? You've only seen the view." I teased and she giggled.

"It's wonderful, Ghastly. It feels like we're on top of the world up here. But I'd love to see the rest of it, if you'd show me." She cooed and I was very glad I'd gotten rid of our bellhop with an extra large tip so I could do the honours. Tanith loved the living room that could have easily seated eight, and the library. There was even a fully stocked kitchen for her to admire, but what she loved most was the bedroom.

It took up about half the floor and had a built in jacuzzi, sauna and other amenities. It even had a giant flatscreen and leather couch to watch movies from and a fully stocked wine bar. I said a silent prayer of thanks that the Sanctuary was footing the bill at Erskine's insistence when Tanith found the chilled champagne he'd sent as a gift and the gourmet treats especially for Tanith. I wasn't jealous, I knew he'd been interested in her but I also knew he was deliriously happy to be married to Laura now.

Tanith looked at the champagne, the TV, which we could easily see from it, then at me hopefully and I smiled and nodded. I'd made us swimwear especially for this night and kept it hidden away and she squealed in delight when she got her swimsuit. I supposed it would be demure for her, but there was nothing demure about the way she filled it out and she knew it.

Tanith gave me a sultry smile as she approached the jacuzzi and I felt my heart quicken as she got in, cuddling right up next to me as we leaned back and let the steaming hot water soothe us as the powerful air jets eased away our tension. Somehow the TV got forgotten after we'd opened the champagne. But I didn't mind. We indulged slowly, Tanith sharing the box of chocolate dipped strawberries with me, insisting on feeding me and I'm sure I was grinning like an idiot but I couldn't help myself.

I took her in my arms and she smiled dreamily at me, her soft full lips dewy with champagne and she tasted so sweet as we kissed that I never wanted it to end. I pressed my mouth tenderly on hers and she met my efforts, teasing me into exploring like she always did, not that I needed much incentive but I always waited. I never wanted to just take anything from her. I wanted it to be a willing gift, and when she repeated the invitation I took it, fearing I'd pass out because it felt so right to be there with her, to be kissing her as only her husband should.

We parted and she smiled at me. "You know what would be great right now?" She asked and I imagined she was going to drain the Sanctuary coffers with an in-room massage.

"What?" I asked, still happy just to hear her voice.

"Let's go to bed." She said, a huge grin on her beautiful face and I didn't have to be asked twice.

Hours later we were drowsing, and I was thrilled at the feel of her silken skin against mine. It had been far too long since we'd made love like we had, far too long since I treated her like the center of my universe, and I was glad I'd retired. I needed to be with her like this more often before I lost her and I'd been terrified that my late hours and lack of enthusiasm for anything other than sleep some nights could have cost me my wife.

But she'd never strayed. True, she'd been in a foul mood until I did make love to her, but she'd never been unfaithful, ever. Tanith nuzzled into me, and I felt sleep overtake me. When I awoke it was morning and I was met with the welcome sight of her stretching lithely. She'd already showered and put tea on and I accepted a steaming cup from her with thanks as I sat up in bed. "Order up some breakfast if you like, I don't plan on leaving here today if I don't have to." I purred and she giggled.

I watched her order then she hopped into bed with me. "This is amazing. Not just the this place, but you. You're like you were when we first started dating." She said, cuddling in, our tea forgotten. "I've missed this, you know? Having time together in the morning, not having to rush off somewhere. It's wonderful."

"I've missed it too." I said, kissing her chastely then pulling away so I could shower. I would have happily invited her in but she was dressed and awaiting our breakfast and it was always something we could try later if we liked. I grinned stupidly to myself. This place inspired all sorts of indecent thoughts and I loved it. Tanith had breakfast and a paper waiting for me when I came out and she demurely kept her eyes glued to the flatscreen watching the local news while I dressed. I smiled, then escorted my lovely wife to breakfast, pulling out her chair for her and gently pushing it in when she was ready.

We ate slowly and it was wonderful to realize that work would never be breakfast conversation for us ever again. "You know, we should do this more often, Tanith. Not vacationing, we'll certainly do that, but just being together. But I also want you and Valkyrie to take time together. Speaking of which, since she and Skulduggery are still detectives I imagine we'll be getting invited to help every once in a while. Would you like that?" I asked, pouring her more tea and putting more eggs on her plate and she nodded looking at me dreamily.

I smiled slightly unsure. She looked like a woman who'd just fallen in love. And she was looking at me like that. Her husband of over two decades. Tanith smiled, reading my thoughts. "I think I'm falling in love with you all over again." She said sweetly and I felt my eyes mist up.

"I feel the same way. Tanith, I love you."

"I love you too, Ghastly." She said, smiling, and I blushed, ducking my head. I was behaving like a lovestruck schoolboy and I didn't much care. I felt I'd earned it. Not by providing for her and the children or being a faithful husband lover and friend. But I'd earned it because she loved me. She loved me, the tailor, the ex-boxer, not the Elder or the power the position had held and that made me fall in love with her all over again.

She was a wonderful wife, far better than I deserved and that she loved me every bit as much as I loved her meant more than anything to me. My mobile rang and I glanced at it, startled. I smiled seeing it was Valkyrie and answered. "Enjoying your second honeymoon, dad?" She asked cheerfully.

"Of course, and you?"

"Wonderful! Skulduggery and I are going fishing later. Did I mention what an awesome dad you are for finding new Elders? Because you are."

"Mm. Since the twins tell you everything how did their dates go last night?" I asked and Tanith leaned forward eagerly. "Hold on, putting you on speaker before Tanith mauls me for the phone." I said and Tanith grinned crookedly at me.

"I'm on speaker now? OK, both dates went extremely well. I think. Calico is definitely seeing Ghastly again if he has to break her door down to get to her which he won't because they're very much in love. How's the weather?"

"Don't tease. How did it go for Tanith and Anton?"

"He was quite the proper gentleman but alas your reputation proceeding you, or should I say Tanith. He never got closer than an arm's length the entire date. He hade it pretty clear that he enjoyed himself but, well, he couldn't imagine you approving, so he and the Midnight Hotel have moved on. Tanith's OK. He really was sweet and wonderful to her, everything she wanted in a man, but she's her daddy's girl. If you say no she'll listen." Valkyrie's voice was kind. She wasn't judging me. Everyone knew I didn't want any of the Dead Men dating any offspring of mine. But Tanith was glaring daggers at me now. Anton was a decent man and clearly he liked Tanith. She could have done far worse.

"I'm a terrible father, aren't I?" I asked and Valkyrie sighed.

"You're her father your allowed to be terrible and forbid her from seeing boys, or in this case men. I also got a call from Anton of course." She said, her voice gentle.

"And?" I asked.

"He and the Midnight Hotel will no longer be returning to Ireland until she's had a chance to forget him. Say a decade or so. Oh, Skulduggery's back with breakfast, got to go."

"Wait, Valkyrie. Do you think I should-" I paused at a loss for words.

"I think we should all stay out of it." She said gently. "If they are as in love as I think they are they won't be able to listen to common sense and he'll be back for her or she'll track him down, one of the two. If we interfere even to encourage them it might ruin everything. Let him rescue her, OK?" She asked and I agreed than rang off smiling.

Tanith looked at me, and then her eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. You want her to date Anton, don't you? All this protesting, that was all an act, wasn't it?"

I nodded happily. "One Anton is in on. He's serious about Tanith he has been since he met her last year. He's ready to marry her and the idea of being rescued by her knight in shining armour is something she's always shared with him. So I played the terrible father. Letting her think I couldn't stand the idea." I said and grinned.

My beautiful wife sighed and rolled her eyes at me. "You could have let me know. Or Valkyrie."

"Valkyrie knew, sweetheart, but I know you all too well. You'd have told her and if Tanith felt he was acceptable-"

"She wouldn't have chosen him." He namesake finished softly. "She takes after me too much. Thanks for not telling me then, you're right. But wait what was all that between you and Val about the Midnight Hotel and Anton not returning to Ireland?"

"Oh that." I paused to sip my tea. "You girls aren't the only ones to share a secret language. Val was letting me know our plan worked. Anton will be running the hotel on a regular schedule. He won't be returning to Ireland for days, not decades, mainly because Tanith is now his guest and he plans on proposing in that time frame." Tanith just stared at me openmouthed and I grinned back, happy to think that in that time we returned home she might have a wedding to plan.

Our Ghastly can be devious, I'll give him credit. Hope you liked it and if I get enough interest I shall continue with some more Skul Val next time I think. A case is just out or reach, teasing me, dang it. BTW, I personally hated this chapter. I just can't write Ghanith without it sounding stupid.

Note: Gwen is Welsh for white or holy.