A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Gordon, Ghastly, Tanith, Erskine, Tesseract, Dex, Anton, Tipstaff, Jack or Saracen. Loquacious, Laura, Reba, Charles, Melody and Tanny (daughter) are still all my OCs, though. Thanks go out to Aislinn Riddle for the fave.
A few weeks had passed and we were settled in at home. Loquacious turned out to love the solitary life and had returned home, and after glomming on to us for the first week the children had at last returned to Uncle Gordon's mansion. Skulduggery, of course, was being very attentive, and I wondered if he'd ever be back to normal after his revelation.
I looked at him over breakfast one morning. "I never thought of it, but it was hard on you, wasn't it? Knowing who I was and having to watch me grow up?" I asked and his shoulders sagged in relief. So that's what has been bothering him. I thought. He gave me a fragile smile.
"Indeed. When I realized who you were, that it just wasn't me being rather more insane than usual, it bothered me to no end. I felt a tremendous sense of guilt for having dragged you back into magic, back to my side. I wanted to let you go, to make you go, but I couldn't."
I arched an eyebrow at him and went to straddle his lap. "Since when do I listen to anything you say, Detective?" I asked with a grin.
"Point taken, but you aren't angry at me?" He asked tilting his head. When he was sure I wasn't he buried his skull in my neck, pressing his nasal cavity in and drawing in air, I yelped and he pulled back with a serene look on his skeletal features. He knew how to fight dirty, I'd give him that. I initiated a searing kiss and when we at last parted I swore what passed for his eyes were crossed.
"Bad, skeleton detective, bad." I teased and he grinned. "You know, Skulduggery," I continued, "I have a gift for you. Consider it an early anniversary present." He sat up slightly straighter, his smile growing. "Care to take a guess?" I teased.
"I can't imagine anything better than getting to hold you," He murmured, settling his hands on either side of my waist, "so you'll," he kissed me, "have to," another kiss, "tell me." He sat back with a satisfied grin and I knew I was grinning stupidly in return. Skulduggery's kisses still left my dizzy after two decades of marriage.
I leaned back slightly and smiled, caressing his skull and earning a low growl of desire. "Well, do you remember wanting to open our own detective agency?" I asked and he nodded. "You still want to?" I teased and he nodded again. "Well, good Because as of this morning you and I are the sole members of the Pleasant Detective Agency." I said with a grin. I stood up and fished the papers Erskine had signed out of my pocket and handed them to him.
Skulduggery looked at them, then at me in wonder. "But- How?"
"I shadow-walked there this morning while you were still meditating. You didn't think I'd just got up and dressed early for no good reason, did you?" I asked with a grin.
"You clever woman, you. I didn't suspect a thing. But Erskine just agreed?"
I sat back down to finish my breakfast and coffee before answering, making sure several kisses from an adoring husband were thrown in for good measure. "Yes, he did. He wants us to drive out there to meet him after we've had breakfast. He wants to congratulate us, I think." That was all it took for Skulduggery to inhale the rest of his food and to encourage me to do the same.
At the Sanctuary Erskine rose from his desk and greeted us warmly. "Valkyrie, Skulduggery! I'm glad you both came in. How is the life of a detective free from Sanctuary interference treating you?" He asked I smiled and Skulduggery grinned wickedly in reply. He was free to use all the excessive force he wanted to now and I knew he was looking forward to it.
Laura was also there, and she came up and grabbed me in a hug. "We thought we'd have a party in the office to celebrate. Both your freedom and ours." She said, gesturing for us to sit.
"Pardon?" Skulduggery asked and Erskine grinned before answering.
"Signing those papers to make you private detectives was my last act as Grand Mage of the Irish Sanctuary. And before you two protest, Dex and Saracen will still be here. Besides, the new Grand Mage was elected by the old one, so I think you'll like him." There was a teasing note in his voice. Before I could reply the office door opened and Dexter and Saracen entered, flanking the new Grand Mage.
"It can't be." Skulduggery said faintly.
"That's a reflection, isn't it?" I asked and Erskine laughed as the new Grand Mage favored me with a smile.
"Valkyrie, good to see you as always." He said, holding out his arms for a hug. I gave him one my mind reeling and he smiled down at me. "I have a wife to care for now, and if your offer still stands-" He didn't have to ask twice. I touched Anton Shudder gently on the temples, grinning stupidly as I did so.
Our other brothers joined him in his request and it was a given I'd help Laura. We all got settled with drinks a rather frazzled looking Tipstaff saw to, and Erskine spoke again. "I know, you both think it's a joke, but it isn't. Anton will be keeping the programs you two implemented to help people and the protective services like detectives, but huge parts will just be gone."
"Still, Anton, the Grand Mage." Skulduggery said faintly and I rubbed his back.
Anton laughed. "It was all Tanith's idea, my wife, not the mother. I think she's still in shock as well. But as Grand Mage I can greatly decrease the Sanctuary's power to interfere, and still offer asylum to people. The Midnight Hotel will go through some alterations, of course, and my wife is pleased with the idea, so I'm content."
"Wait, wife?" I asked and he smiled clearly pleased with himself.
"We were in Jamaica and it just happened. We found a local priest and got married on the beach." He shrugged. "Ghastly wants to kill us both of course since he'd been waiting ages to design her dress. It didn't help that his son eloped at the same time to marry."
"No, it didn't." A powerful voice rumbled from the doorway and Ghastly and Tanith joined us. Ghastly gave me a long-suffering glance. "My grandchildren are going to wait for wedding clothes and like it." He growled and I nodded.
"Little Val can't wait, you know that dad. And Cain as well. How is the suit for Tesseract coming?" I asked and he beamed.
"Beautifully, actually. Val, I've been meaning to ask you, couldn't you do anything for him like you did for me?" He asked and I nodded.
"In a little while, our brothers just accepted." I indicated the other Dead Men and he grinned.
"Good!" He said, sounding pleased. We lingered for a few hours, visiting. As far as I knew I had extended the lifespans of every man in the room by thousands of years. And I knew that if they had all accepted it meant something was up.
Skulduggery seemed to think the same thing, only he didn't let good manners get in his way. "What are you all up to, why the sudden acceptance of Valkyrie's offer?" He asked.
Erskine smiled. "I'll field that one. We want the chance to learn, Skulduggery, to grow in power as a force for good." He said, taking Laura's hand. "We also want jobs, I don't suppose you two are hiring?" He looked at us eagerly.
Skulduggery smiled. "Let me ask my founding partner." He said then turned to me and tilted his head.
"Founding partner says yes." I said, smiling. We were up to an agency of four and I had no idea how we would manage to pay our friends, but Anton had that covered too.
"My first act as Grand Mage is funding your enterprise. I intend to encourage a lot more people like you two to do things privately that the Sanctuary does now. " Tipstaff looked ready to faint and when Anton swiveled his head towards him he let out a faint squeak. Anton grinned wickedly. "It's also my last. There was a meeting and it's been agreed that there will no longer be a Sanctuary." Tipstaff swooned.
I didn't bother asking what meeting but just went to the window at Anton's urging. He went to a small clock on the mantle and when he turned something inside the Sanctuary was tranformed. "Anton, you're a genius!" I enthused, and he was. Instead seeing the Sanctuary I watched as the whole building merged with the Midnight Hotel, becoming a gigantic version of it inside and out.
Anton came up behind me, smiling. "Detectives, I welcome you to the new Midnight Hotel." He said with a gentle smile. Tipstaff, who'd just come round fainted again.
Anton explained that the idea had been worked on for years in secret. Even with all the changes we had made the Sanctuary was still too powerful and often hated. And now with it gone and the Midnight Hotel as a powerful new ally, we could travel for free the rest of our lives. "Provided of course, you agree to take on partners of my choosing." Anton said. I turned to see them enter and thought I had to be dreaming.
Both our children and their soon-to-be spouses were coming towards us, sacks of take away in tow. Val squeaked happily when she saw me and ran up to me, throwing herself into my arms, and Cain almost knocked Skulduggery over. I smiled. So much for them being off and independent. I thought fondly. But both Tesseract and Melody seemed content with the idea, though I honestly wondered when our new agency would stop growing. Ghastly and Tanith had joined as well, but the more the merrier, I hoped.
Skulduggery seemed to feel as dazed as I did and he drew me out into the hall as the others got the food ready. "Am I still back with the Faceless Ones?" He asked and I hugged him tightly.
"Not unless I'm with you. But I know what you mean. I haven't the foggiest idea where we will even set up our offices." I admitted, wondering if we shouldn't have planned further ahead, but Skulduggery just shrugged happily.
"Let's play it by ear, shall we?" He asked and I agreed.
The day just kept giving us more change. It was a good thing Skulduggery and I had bags packed and in the Bentley for emergencies as Anton had us pull in the newly formed parking garage. We were going with him when the Midnight Hotel moved. Back in his office Val came and cuddled with me on the couch. "Isn't this exciting, mom?" She asked, her eye sockets practically shining.
"It is. How's your dress coming along, sweetie?" I asked and she pulled out her mobile to show me the design. I sucked in my breath. My daughter was going to be beautiful. Ghastly, well aware we were oohing over his work, spoke up.
"The children both want to be married in my shop, like you were. A double wedding for them as well of course, I hope you two aren't angry with me for agreeing without asking you first." I shook my head no and Skulduggery gave a lazy wave.
"They're adults, Ghastly. And this is their wedding, not ours. I don't intend to interfere and neither does Valkyrie." He paused to accept a take away container from Cain, who handed me one as well. "Thank you, Cain. Speaking of my progeny, whoever taught you to be this sneaky?" He tilted his head indicating our new partners. "That's right, me." He finished, pleased with himself and Cain looked pleased to have made him happy.
After lunch we found the room Anton had assigned us, Skulduggery bringing up our bags. "I swear I only knew Erskine had signed papers, not about anything else." I said as we settled in. "Our friends are a bunch of sneaks." I muttered and he laughed.
"Coffee?" He offered and I nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. You don't think we're rushing things, do you? I had planned on it being us two at first. Now we'll have to share all the good cases." He teased.
"I don't know." I admitted. "I was an Elder but it will be different now giving orders, unless you want to do that all yourself."
"Oh, no, my dear. We're in this together. It is a shock having the Sanctuary gone, but a good one, I think. Anton was right, it was too powerful. And now with the troublemakers out of the way he's kept the best people. I'm thankful he kept the cooks." He said, nodding to himself.
Then the room started to fade away and I realized I'd been dreaming. I woke up with Skulduggery beside me, his chin propped on my shoulder. "Morning." He whispered in my ear, his velvety voice turning my insides to mush.
"Mmm, morning, Skulduggery. I just had the most wonderful dream. I don't suppose I can go back to sleep?" I asked and he shifted so that his surprisingly bare ribs brushed against me.
"I don't know, can you?" He purred, his skeletal hands roaming in a way that made me shiver. And that's when I woke up for the second time. I sat up with a sigh. Skulduggery wasn't in bed beside me, but I could hear him and the children bustling around downstairs and smell coffee and bacon being made.
Of course, today is the day we are taking the kids and spouses to Ghastly's shop for fittings.
I grinned to myself as I went to my shower. Ghastly was so good he never did fittings, but it was more of a chance for Val and Cain to feel special. That, and his kids had indeed ran off to get married, so that much of the dreams was true.
Downstairs Val ran to me and glommed on with one of her happy squeaks, squeezing shut what passed for her eyes. I held her tightly and Skulduggery looked at us and sniffed in feigned offense. "Oh, I see how it is. We men have to go eat outside in the RV, but you girls eat here. Fine, be that way." He couldn't keep the teasing note out of his voice and Val sassed him by rattling her bones at him. Skulduggery gasped in mock shock, then came over to kiss us both on the cheek.
"Mmm. Coffee and breakfast are ready for you, ladies, enjoy. Why don't we all meet up later this afternoon for lunch?" He asked and I nodded. Skulduggery left with Cain and Melody ushered me to my chair, Melody insisting on serving everyone. I was glad to have the help since I didn't know how Val would react to seeing herself in the dress for the first time.
She adored girly things, but a wedding dress was special, and I was worried about a girly melt-down in Ghastly's shop. I sighed inwardly and hoped she knew that to me and everyone else who mattered she was very beautiful. I looked at them both as Melody at last joined us with her own plate. "Are you ladies ready for your big day?" I asked and Val giggled. Melody blushed and smiled.
"Mom, what was your fitting day like? Was it special?" Val asked dreamily. I saw no reason to tell her that there hadn't been any and that on the day of the wedding itself one of her favorite people had died while trying to kill me.
"Yes, it was. You know your grandfather. Speaking of which, I'll thank you both to drink all the tea he foists on you. He knows I'm a lost cause." I grinned and they both laughed. Skulduggery and I both enjoyed coffee more. It wasn't like we never drank tea, we just didn't make a habit of it.
Val hesitated, then spoke again. "You- Do you both like Tess?" She asked worriedly and my heart broke for my daughter. Mel made soothing sounds and rubbed Val's back gently and I knew she had to wonder if she too, were welcome.
"Of course we do, sweetheart. You're getting a wonderful husband in Tesseract. I never have to worry about you when you're with him, I know he worships you. Besides, mommy already threatened the man and he didn't run away so he's a keeper." Val squeaked in dismay and I took her skeletal hand. "Sweetie, you're my daughter, it's my job to make sure any man who wants to marry you is worthy of you. And don't feel bad, Val. Ask Melody what I threatened to do to her if my helpless baby ever tells me she mistreated him." I teased.
That broke the tension. Val snorted and Melody howled with laughter. I smiled at her, glad she was part of the family now. I knew very well I'd spoiled Skulduggery rotten but I could handle him that way and enjoyed his arrogance. Cain would be indulged too, but she would still keep him in line like I did with Skulduggery and the honestly both needed it.
Breakfast over, we went out to Melody's van. She'd agreed to drive since Val liked to drive in the imaginary lane only she could see and we all wanted to get there in one piece. Val was content to ride shotgun and I sat in the back hoping both women would be happy with what they saw that afternoon.
As the two young brides got dressed in the back Ghastly entertained me. "Tea?" He offered and I nodded, then told him about the dream. He looked thoughtful when I mentioned Tesseract. "Are you offering?" He asked at last.
"No, and not to be cruel, either, dad. Tesseract is far too old to be my son, but I love him for loving Val. If he asks, I'll help. It wouldn't be fair or right to force it on him, though I never gave you a choice, did I?"
Ghastly rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, Valkyrie. He'll be real heartbroken if he can get out of that mask and live like everyone else. But are you strong enough yet?" He asked.
"I think so. I just don't want him to think that-" I trailed off helplessly and he came around his desk to hug me.
"I know." He said gently. "But he knows he's loved and accepted as he is. I wouldn't offer, he's too proud to accept, just do it. For what it is worth he talked to me earlier, wanting to know how I'd gotten rid of my scars. I told him I'd found a cure, but was vague. The man wants freedom, Val." I smiled in relief and cleared my mind as Skulduggery had taught me to years ago. I thought of how as Darquesse I'd shattered curses before and let my mind drift out to Tesseract.
I had to be extremely careful. I didn't want his disease to migrate or get worse, but I found the root at last, a seething, pulsing thing. I knew I could trust him to keep a secret, so I eradicated the disease, healed the flesh and safely deactivated the mask, thanking the heavens that he was currently in his RV with the other men. I drew back into myself and opened my eyes in time to see two very shy young women emerging from the back room, an extremely proud Tanith leading them to me.
"You ladies both look amazing!" I said, and they did. Melody's dress accented her generous curves and showed off her true beauty. It had cascading fountains of ruffles, tasteful sweeps of fabric and a trailing gown that fanned out just so and suited her perfectly. She was shaking, but looked radiant. "Turn around, both of you, please." I encouraged and they did.
I walked up to my little Valkyrie, a stunning vision in white. Creamy white lace, ruffles and roses cascaded down the front of her dress and pleats only added to and celebrated her height and slim profile. The dress was cut so perfectly that the cleavage that did show only accented the beauty of her delicate bones. I felt tears in my eyes as I looked at her, too proud to speak. Val was crying too and I could dimly hear Tanith reassuring Ghastly that we were crying happy tears as I hugged both women tightly to me.
"I mean it, you both look amazing." I whispered fiercely. "I'll be the proudest woman at the wedding, proud of both you beautiful young women." I said before releasing them. My mobile rang and I stepped away. Skulduggery.
"Yes, dearheart?" I answered innocently and he snorted in reply.
"That was a generous thing you did and somebody figured it out before anyone else and wants to thank you." I heard the emotion in his voice and agreed, the mobile was handed over and Tesseract's voice came on the line.
"I don't know how to thank you. Not to seem ungrateful, but how is my bride?" He asked and I handed over the mobile with a smile. Val squeaked happily, excitedly burbling on about her dress, then she got silent and listened attentively. A few seconds later a look of awe came over her sweet skeletal features and she launched herself at me.
"Thank you, mom! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She said, digging her skull into my shoulder.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. Now why don't you ladies go change and we'll meet the men for lunch, OK?" I asked and she nodded with a grin. Ghastly smiled at me as they left with Tanith.
"Told you so." He said.
Ghastly and Tanith came with us, and we left to meet the men at Reba's. Luckily they had called ahead so we had the place just to ourselves. The men pulled in shortly after we got settled and I heard Val gasp as Tesseract got out of his RV. The giant of a man had changed and now was strikingly handsome. Poor Val started to tremble so hard that I could hear her bones rattle. "What if he doesn't love me anymore, mom? What is he just settled?" She asked. Before I could answer the men had entered and Val slid out of our booth to meet Tesseract.
I held my breath, fearing the worst. What if Tesseract had settled? What if Val no longer loved him now that the mask and aura of mystery was gone? Then he was drawing my daughter into his arms for a searing kiss and they were both crying happy tears. They parted and the older mage looked at me. "Thank you, for everything. But I have nothing to offer you in return." He shrugged helplessly.
"Just- Just take care of my daughter." I managed over the lump in my throat. Skulduggery, who had walked over to me helped me out of the booth and took me into his arms. He kissed me deeply, studiously ignoring the pleased murmurs we heard. He smiled gently at me when he pulled back. "It reminded me of our own wedding, and that was lovely, but now I'm starved and you simply must feed me." He said with a grin.
When we were all settled Reba came over. "Well, looks like congratulations is in order. I'll fix us up what you had the day Charles met Jack, this reminds me of that day, the happiest in his life. We'll be joining you of course." She gestured and the door locked and the shades were closed.
After she went into the back I looked at Tanith and we exchanged grins. "So, what are you getting the kids? It better be something expensive." I deadpanned and we laughed over the shocked gasps. Ghastly snorted, then came to the rescue.
"They're teasing. Would you kids like a look at your wedding cakes?" He offered as he handed his mobile to Val, she made her happy squeak and handed it to Cain.
"But how?" Val asked.
"We're making them." I assured her. "That vanilla cake you enjoy so much with buttercream frosting and a creamy pineapple filling for yours, Val." I said and I swear she licked her teeth. "And dark chocolate frosting on a Black Forest cake for you, Cain." I finished. He looked at me rather dreamily. "That is, if your spouses don't mind the skulls and roses motifs." I said with a smile, but Tesseract and Melody both looked rather misty-eyed.
At home that night I cuddled into Skulduggery with a happy sigh. "Mmm, that feels good." He murmured as he stroked my hair. I smiled into the darkness, knowing he'd see me. "You know," he continued, "I've been thinking about our future. Sooner or later the kids will be gone for good and it would be nice to have a hobby."
I sat up, clicking my fingers and summoning a flame to see him better. "You mean like our own detective agency?" I asked, excited about the idea, and he nodded as he sat up beside me, summoning his own flame. Then he smiled and at his gesture the lights came on.
"Coffee downstairs?" He asked hopefully and I nodded. Skulduggery continued when we were both seated at the kitchen table. "It would be just us two again. Ghastly might occasionally help, but I think the man wants more children, so I'm not dragging him or Tanith back into all the excitement and danger. I swear having kids aged those two." I heard the frown in his voice and smiled.
"This is going to sound strange, but were you going to call it the Pleasant Detective Agency?" I asked and at his surprised nod I told him about the dream. I was going to tell him more when my mobile rang and my heart iced over. I knew without checking that it was Val.
"Sweetie, what is it, what's wrong?" I asked and she couldn't answer, just sobbed helplessly. I cursed myself for helping Tesseract then. I was useless to anyone if my strongest magic was needed. At last she answered, still sobbing.
"Mom, it's Tess! He's been abducted!" She wailed. I felt the mobile drop out of my hand and stared at Skulduggery in horror.
"I think we have our first case." I said faintly.
What? Drama helps move a story along quite nicely. Comments do help you know and are most welcome.