A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Tesseract, Anton or Jack. Chapter is from Cain's point of view. The events Cain refers to took place in the one shot The American.
I felt butterflies in the stomach I didn't have. Melody Rotunda had become first my partner, then my friend, then my girlfriend, and she was more amazing and beautiful to me as each day passed. Just last night she had agreed to marry me and I fretted. Would she be wearing the ring I'd given her when I'd given her my heart as well?
I bowed my head and my shoulders slumped. How could she love me after I'd judged her so badly the day we met? Having the ability to read thoughts she'd know everything I thought about her, but still saved my life. A gentle rap on the window brought my head up and she smiled at me, her beautiful curly blond hair framing her equally beautiful face. I pushed the button and the window whirred down. Melody set her hands on the window seal, the ring I'd given her throwing back the sunlight from it's slivery surface, and leaned in for our good morning kiss.
The heart I didn't have spun and danced in my ribcage. How could I possibly be so lucky as to have such an amazing fiancee? "Hello, beautiful." I murmured. dazed when we at last parted and she giggled and walked around the car to get in, but I held up my hand so I could get out and get her door, mentally kicking myself for not going to her door, but she was as fiercely independent as mom was, and I knew she liked proving she wasn't clingy or needful. Still. "I should have been at your door for you, sorry." I said and she actually laughed.
"Cain, I asked you to pick me up at the flower shop, remember? Honey, we're not in front of my apartment building." She said with a grin, as we got settled in the car, then she was gently stroking my jaw in a way that made me dizzy. She could see through the illusion of my necklace and she liked what she saw. I tried not to let it go to my skull, but it was hard. I blushed even harder, feeling suddenly shy.
"Breakfast?" I asked, blushing furiously and her smile became tender.
"Yes, please. Cain, you know I love you and it was very brave of you to propose last night. I didn't sleep much, thinking you might, well, have second thoughts. But I can see now you don't. Your wearing your ring. Thank you."
I gasped and glanced over. "Never! Any man who wouldn't want you as his wife would have to be insane. That's it, I'm carrying two guns, just like dad, so I can shoot all the men who are going to try and steal you away from me." I said, nodding firmly and drawing a sweet smile from her. I adored Melody. She made me feel good about myself in a way none of the other girls or women who acted interested ever did. The either had a sick obsession with dad and wanted me as a substitute or wanted a freak. Melody adored me as a man, and I tried every day to live up to that love. "We've had some good adventures, haven't we?" I asked as I drove and she nodded, then held up a finger as her mobile rang. She answered it, and I could hear the high, excited sound of my sister's voice.
"It's Valkyrie, I'll put her on speaker." Melody said as she did, then my sister's hyper voice broke into the car, making me smile.
"Oh my God, Cain!" She burbled into the mobile, then her melodious purr filled the car and I couldn't help but purr in response. As skeletons she and I had a special connection, it worked with dad as well and it wasn't just about being family. And I knew exactly what her purr meant. She was engaged.
"OK, big bro, yes and yes! Yes, we're engaged. And yes, Jack agreed to come back to the Sanctuary!"
"That's wonderful news! And I don't have to say a word, do I?" I asked and she giggled.
"Congratulations, Val." Melody said warmly. "You're getting a good man, I hope you know that." My heart melted at her words. Despite how cruelly a lot of people treated her for not being the bikini model they expected as dad would put it, it hadn't made her bitter. Melody had a tender heart and she cared about everyone she met until they gave her a reason to do otherwise.
We chatted a bit more and rang off. Melody knew I was near hyperventilating even if I was a skeleton. Jack had always been closer to me than my own family and loosing him had nearly killed me. I still didn't know why he had left and as I parked in front of the diner we liked Melody touched my hand gently. "We aren't seeing everything here, Cain. But we both know that many people didn't leave willingly. I smell blackmail. I have no idea what changed and how they are all coming back now, but please, forgive and forget, for me?"
"But he left me!" I said, tears stinging my eye sockets.
"Think. Would he ever willingly leave you, ever? Something happened, from what you tell me Jack's whole world revolved around you, and the Sanguines loved all of you and you loved them. Someone made them go away, they had to. So please, if you're hurt or angry, let's get in a good sparring session at the Sanctuary, but don't say something you'll regret."
I nodded, looking at her in awe. Sometimes having an older fiancee was a wonderful thing. I didn't always listen because I sometimes felt that as the man I should lead, but I appreciated Melody's hard-earned wisdom. She never spoke about a family or friends and I got the strongest sense that every time she did make friends she expected them snatched away. "You're right. The last thing Jack needs is rejected. He'd go away and we'd never see him again. I've just missed him so much. Not that you aren't a wonderful partner, of course." I added and she smiled warmly.
Movement in the diner caught her eye and she grinned. "News travels fast, I get to meet the parents." She teased. The mouth I didn't have went dry. Mom and dad loved her and they looked happy as we entered, but I was still nervous. Mom got up and hugged Melody tightly. Surprised, but pleased, Melody returned the embrace then shook hands with father.
"We heard from Valkyrie." Mom said.
"And we took the liberty of ordering a feast, I insist." Dad said. "It isn't every day both my children get engaged. Though, Melody, I want to know, whatever made you have an engagement ring ready?"
"I love Cain, you both know that, and I think men deserve an engagement ring. Why do you ask?" She asked, clearly puzzled and dad held up his gloved hand, his engagement ring clearly visible.
"I was carrying it around for him for a while." Mom said with a smile. "I got it for him one Christmas at a little shop. No one ever told you?"
"No. I know this will sound crazy, but the store I bought it from wasn't there the next day. I just assumed your magical communities ran that way. I swear I didn't know and I had no idea we'd bought matching rings." She said, and she was right, we had. Two silver skulls, both imbued with magic to fit the wearer. I'd picked out one with beautiful blue gemstone eyes for Melody and she'd gotten me one with fiery red eyes.
"Maybe it's a sign, like our rings were." Mom suggested and dad nodded. They had taken having rings for one another as a good sign, though if I recalled correctly dad had asked for his because mom felt too shy to give it to him.
Melody and I had both laughed when the ring she got me matched mine. "You know, I can't really recall anything about that store." I admitted. "And I would like to know why you chose red eyes, dearheart." I teased and Melody grinned.
"Because they suit you. I swear your eyes glow when you're angry and you know what I mean." She said and I felt flattered. What I had in place of eyes was invisible to most people, except maybe mom if she went Darquesse. But Melody met my gaze quite often and I found it endearing.
Our meal came and Melody tilted her head up, clearing sensing something. She concentrated then nodded to herself and went back to eating. Dad and mom were instantly locked in on her, waiting for a revelation but she just smiled sweetly at them. I wondered if it had something to do with Jack, and she nodded. Despite the necklace she wore to block her abilities she seemed to pick up on my thoughts easily.
"Melody, it's OK if you share." I said, but she shook her head.
"This is between you and Jack, Cain. Someone threatened to tell you something so he went away- It isn't my place, sorry. Besides, your sister shadow-walked him here, so he can tell you himself." I turned and looked out the window, she was right. Springheeled Jack was looking at me, utter misery etched on his handsome features.
I excused myself and went out to meet him. "Cain." He said, seeming to expect me to lash out.
"Jack!" I said, and I couldn't help but hug him like I used to when I was a little skeleton. His arms went around me protectively like they always did. All too soon though he was drawing back, his gaze mournful.
"You might not want to hug old Jack, not when you find out why he went away." He said sadly, pulling back. "But you deserve to know. I- Do you remember the night I left?" He asked and I nodded.
"Yes, we'd been on a case together at last and had just has solved it. We sat down on a park bench. The bad guy had upset me, so you let me cuddle into you like I used to."
"Right you are." He said, smiling briefly as he took his top hat off and ran his fingers through his shaggy black hair. "Well, I came close to telling you I was leaving that night, and couldn't. I'm- I'm married, Cain." He said, the stress of telling me showing on his face.
"That's wonderful news!" I exclaimed and tried to hug him again, but he held me off.
"Cain, do you remember Charles? You met him when you were little, and maybe a time or so after at the diner Reba runs." He said gravely and I nodded, confused. "He's- He's the one I married. Only came back to tell you that, Cain. I've always loved you like a friend, as my best friend. You and I never became partners when you were little but your parents were kind enough not to tell you. No one told you and no one judged me, but I hardly felt it proper me bein' your partner when people might say things, terrible things."
I couldn't stand it any more, I hugged my best friend fiercely. "I love you too, Jack! And it doesn't matter to me who you marry, just so long as you love him. You do love him, right?" I asked, holding his hands and Jack smiled gently, then nodded.
"I do. Sorry I wouldn't tell you sooner, but I couldn't bear the thought of loosin' you. It was a surprise on both of us, it was, but we had an instant connection, like. Then, I'll stay, but only if I know I'll still have my friend, and poppet. But she already knows and brought us here. Beat you back to the table, she did." He tilted his head and I saw Valkyrie attempting to hug Melody to death.
I tilted my head and Jack walked in with me, diverting me by the elbow to a table in a shadowy area. A man I only faintly remembered sat there, but there was no forgetting his charm or kindness. He wore a necklace like mine, but I saw easily through the illusion to the gentle expression beneath. He held Jack for a moment in greeting, then turned his gaze on me. "Hello, Cain." Charles said warmly. "I can't believe how much you've grown. I take it Jack's told you, so now you know." He said gently and I nodded feeling tears well up in my eye sockets.
"I think it's wonderful you both found someone. Would you like to meet Melody?" I asked and they nodded. The staff didn't mind us joining tables and Charles immediately grabbed Melody in a bear hug.
"Mel! Thought it was you! So all the traitors were shipped to Ireland, were we?" He teased and she laughed. "We were in the same group during the war." He explained to the table as they resumed their seats. "Mel is the one who saved my life, and drug me off the battlefield. I'm ashamed to say I wasn't grateful."
Melody just smiled and patted his hand. "Water under the bridge, OK? No harm done." Jack looked at her for the longest time, then smiled shyly at last.
"You saved him? Just like that?" He asked.
Melody shrugged. "Of course. Why not? Besides I wasn't ever in much danger. It isn't like I'm a hero or anything."
Charles snorted. "No, never any danger. That's why you were on your deathbed after that. You're not immortal, Mel. You did something, absorbed some of the attack. I know you did." She gave him a small smile and shrugged again. Melody was intensely private, and she hid her injuries well. Dad, seeming to sense she disliked talking about the war as much as he did gently changed the subject.
"It's good to see you out and about, Charles, and married. Do you two have a place picked out?" He asked and both men looked rather vague. I realized then they had nowhere to go. Of course they didn't.
"You can stay at the mansion as long as you want." I offered and Jack looked surprised. I looked away, embarrassed, hoping I hadn't offended him somehow by assuming he'd want more time with me. "It's more or less mine and Val's now, so, if you don't mind?" I looked at Val and she was on the edge of purring, instead she gave one of her happy squeaks of approval.
Dad nodded his approval as well and the men seemed still. Dad sighed. "Jack, if you don't tell him at last, I will." He said and Jack looked ready to bolt. Dad grabbed his hand firmly and looked at me. "Jack's always seen you as his own son, Cain. We never told you to respect his wishes, but I think it is high time you knew."
"Jack." I said softly. We went back outside together, ignoring the curious stares and found a quiet place to talk. "Jack." I repeated and he looked near tears. He was trembling as if he expected me to reject him. I knew why. It wasn't a fear that I'd judge the crimes he'd committed, or even that ignorant, shallow people found him too ugly to look at. It was because he'd come out to me, and he'd been afraid, terrified all these years of being a gay man who wanted a son of his own to love and nurture. "Jack, I'd be honoured to have you as a father, any young man would." I said, and he drew me tightly to him, making a high, frightened whining sound of grief and fear.
"You don't know how hard it was, Cain. Loving you like my own son and never tellin' you. Your father insisted I should, but he doesn't understand. I'm a monster, I know that's what I am. I have no right to a son of my own."
Tears filled my eye sockets and I held him tightly. "You're not a monster, all right, dad?" I asked, daring to refer to him as my father and feeling a reassuring pat from him in reply. "I mean it." I aid as we parted. "You've never been a monster, ever. That you've found a husband who find you handsome and adores you should tell you that."
Jack smiled, then broke into a grin. He nodded and we walked back in. "You're both moving in, right?" Val asked and at his quick glance to Charles then nod she did one of her happy squeaks, then blushed.
"Where's Tesseract?" I asked and she smiled slightly and blushed again. It turned out that he was fast asleep in his trailer. I knew Val was too frightened to ask him to move in and even more frightened to move in with him. We both needed a talk with mom since being kept away from our future spouses when not working was making us miserable.
It must be a mom's job to know because she steered us both home with her and dad. Luckily Melody understood and we agreed to meet for dinner that night. As soon as mom had us in their office, having banished dad, we both lost it, and were clinging to her like the frightened skeletons we were.
Maybe some people might think we'd want our father to give us advice, but, as much as we loved him, his advice about important things was usually rubbish. Mom calmed us, making coffee for us all. "You're frightened about your wedding nights, aren't you?" She asked.
"We've never-" I said lamely and Val squeaked plaintively and clung tighter to mom.
"It's OK, you know." She said gently as she scooped me into her arms as well. "I never either. And if you really, truly love the people you marry, you'll find a way to show them, ok?"
"Mom! Gross!" Valkyrie complained and mom laughed.
"But we're skeletons and, well-" I faltered.
"I'm a skeleton." Dad's voice drifted to us from the doorway. "And I can give you all sorts of useful advice that will give you mental images to scar you the rest of your life. But your mother is right. You will find a way, both of you." He said, walking over to take us from mom and hold us close.
"You want to know when you can start living together, don't you?" He asked gently and we both nodded meekly. "Now is fine by us, and whether you wait to consummate or not is up to you." Mom burst out laughing and we couldn't leave the office fast enough. I have no idea what she thought was so funny.
Valkyrie and I were only too happy to spend the rest of the day together. We'd both agreed to wait and see how our future spouses felt. We were both very young and we were both very scared that suggesting living together might be taken the wrong way. When we at last parted we agreed to update one another. Melody of course knew something was wrong as soon as I picked her up for dinner. "What's the matter?" She asked as we settled into our table at the restaurant. I shrugged, then decided I could tell her part of the truth.
"Val's having trouble that's all. She isn't ready for anything, but she's frustrated waiting for Tesseract to ask her to move in with him. Or to at least park the trailer near the mansion." I sighed.
"Then she has to ask. I'm not being mean, Cain. Tesseract is older and he might be frightened to make the first move. And he might be afraid if the do move in and sleep together that there will be no reason to marry him. He's different, he just might be afraid that if they aren't married and he fails to please her-" She shrugged and broke off.
"But Val's not ready for anything." I protested.
"Does he know that?" She asked gently. "Has she told him what she'd like right now? And if this is you way of asking, yes, I'll move in, but to my own room thank you kindly. I'm not ready for anything either, Cain. And I don't want to mess up what we have."
I felt joy flood through me, but also a shiver of fear. "You do want to marry me, right?" I asked.
"Of course I do, sweetheart. But I also want to wait for our wedding night. I'm a virgin and I just want to wait, OK?" I nodded, slightly dizzy. I'd never had thought that she wasn't experienced. She looked at me in concern. I wanted to say something, to reassure her I had the nobelest of intentions, but the very thought that I'd be the first lover she'd ever had made me dizzier still. I couldn't do it, I couldn't ruin her. She deserved to be with someone whole, someone normal. These thoughts raced through my mind and suddenly the world went black.
I cam to in Melody's sheltering arms as she carried me into the mansion. I was mortified and sure she wouldn't want me now, but Valkyrie directed her to my bedroom and she tenderly put me under the covers and tucked me in. I tried to protest, but I felt too weak to move. Valkyrie appeared over Melody's shoulder and Melody left us alone. Valkyrie looked at me and I heard a soft sigh come from her.
She sat on the edge of the bed and peered at me. "The good news is Melody works fast. Tess is here for me, though we've agreed he'll stay in the RV. I'd like to sleep in there, but he admitted he's worried things will go too far, he wants to wait, for my sake. I told him the truth, that I was a virgin." She said shyly, blushing and dipping her skull.
"I fainted. Melody told me the truth, and I fainted. What kind of man faints?" I asked miserably. "She doesn't want me now, does she?"
"Big bro, she got you here. She carried you here, she is outside the door waiting to see if you are OK. Would she do any of that if she didn't love you?"
"But I fainted."
Melody who had joined us, looked amused. "Sweetie, I've seen men get sick on women when they find out. It's a lot of stress on you." She said soothingly. She helped me sit up and handed me a cup of coffee, pretty much our solution to everything.
"Gross!" Valkyrie whined, then giggled. "Really?" She asked, clearly wanting in on all the good gossip.
"Yup, really. Your brother did just fine. It's normal when a man loves a woman for him to be frightened and stressed out over the wedding night just as much as we are." Val nodded and I waved them both out for girl talk. I knew she had questions she'd rather have Melody answer than anyone else, and despite the coffee I was sleepy.
Tesseract entered and I sensed his smiled behind his mask, but I knew it was friendly. "She frightened you, didn't she? My little Valkyrie terrified me when she told me. But they chose us, we have to remember that."
"But, what if I hurt her?" I asked, truly frightened I would.
"We can be gentle when we need to be, Cain. We are men, not animals. You are waiting for your wedding night to be special, yes?" He asked and I nodded. "There. You see? You will not hurt her any more than I will hurt my little Valkyrie. Your father already gave me a rather frightening speech." He grinned and I groaned in embarrassment.
"Are you going to be happy with her, Tesseract? It's none of my business, but without a full body facade- Sorry, I just want my sister happy." I looked down and he made a soothing noise.
"Not all women can, Cain. Not all men can, but if they are loved it makes no difference. We will adapt, as you will. I do not wish to give you a reason to hit me, but I'd rather be with your sister than any other woman in the world." He looked amused and I groaned and looked away. He laughed softly and told me to take care and went out. Soon the events of the day caught up with me and I drifted off to sleep.
The next day Melody shook me awake gently, having a breakfast tray ready for me. Two, in fact, so she could eat with me and I obliged her by scooting over. "Mel, you didn't have to cook." I protested. She kissed me gently then smiled softly at me.
"Yes, I did. No one told your parents yet and I don't think we need to. You're a sweet man to care, Cain. And I mean that. Some men would just take advantage or not think anything of it. You're very sweet, but that's why I love you." She said and I felt myself blushing.
"I just don't want to hurt you, Mel. It scares me, the idea of hurting you. I love you so much-" I broke off and she rubbed my back soothingly then talked me into trying the truly excellent eggs Benedict.
"You have to teach me this recipe, I insist. I want to return the favor and soon." I said and she smiled shyly.
"I already had an audience with your sister. She's insisting we spend girly time together and I love it. I've really never had any close friends before. I've always been bigger and well, girls and women can be shallow or befriend you from pity, and I didn't want that." She shrugged off her bad memories and smiled at me. "We girls are going shopping today and out to lunch and whatnot. I think we are meeting your mom so she can threaten me within an inch of my life." She laughed gently, but I didn't see what was so funny.
"Why would she threaten you?" I asked, moving on to some truly excellent berries in cream.
"Cain, honey, you're famous, and you come from a wealthy family. She just wants to be sure I don't have hidden motives and I love her for that. She's just being a good mom, Cain. You are her baby and she will always want to protect you." I nodded not having much to say to that. The women in my life seemed determined to protect me and I honestly didn't mind.
Melody soon left when a purring Valkyrie coaxed her out for the day, and I pitied her since she was letting Valkyrie drive. I'd only done it once and swore it was a religious experience. At least I remembered praying a lot that we wouldn't crash. Tesseract was in the kitchen waiting for me and he smiled to see me up.
"Your father is moving in today and I volunteered us to help. Some good physical work will cure what ails you." He said and I could hear the amusement in his voice. "Don't worry, it will help me as well, Cain." He gave me a manly pat with one of his massive hands and I had no idea how he didn't knock me down. We took his RV to collect Jack and Charles and we all decided to make a day of it as well.
It was nice, since I rarely got time to hang out with other men. Sure there was dad and Ghastly, but this was different. My mobile rang and I saw it was the younger Ghastly. I hesitated to answer, since I thought he might still want to kill me for not dating Tanith. "Hello?" I asked tentatively.
"Hey, congrats bro, and I mean it. I'm happy you two are getting married. Tanith couldn't be happier about Anton and I have Calico Jane so it all worked out. I'm really sorry for how I reacted when you weren't interested. Still friends?" He asked hopefully.
"You know it. If you aren't busy why don't you come over to the mansion? Just us guys all day long." I said and he jumped at the chance. Soon his van pulled up and we got to spend the rest of the day bonding with the other men. To someone who was so willingly isolated as I'd made myself at times, it was wonderful.
So there you have it, the requested chapter from Cain's POV. Hopefully back to Val and Skul and some more spice next chapter. As always, reviews help greatly and are much appreciated.