Okay so it's options C with a wee bit of A thanks to fghdisj and Cranium mischief who reviewed. This chapter is for them, it's probably gonna be quite weird though coz that's what happens when you mix energy juice, cookies, chocolate, Irn Bru and gid times (empire biscuits tommy, you've got 3 now!) together, you get hyper. It's a fact. I'm probably going to have to include empire biscuits in this though, and then everyone will know what it means :DDD

CHAPTER 25:

Valkyrie was fed up. She was lonely, but Fletcher had really needed to take to take a shower; he could have knocked somebody out with his B.O. Hayley gave Ashley back to her. "You are free to leave after lunch. But don't forget to schedule a check-up for the children. I'll do that just now actually." She disappeared just before Fletcher reappeared. He came over to her and kissed her. "I've got news!" She arched an eyebrow. "Ghastly's gonna teach me to drive and Skulduggery's gonna buy me a car, of your choice."

"Why my choice?"

"He said he's keeping your Bentley that you ordered."

"It came! I can't believe he didn't tell me!"

"This is a boring subject, let us change it. Have you seen the video on youtube about the elephants?"

"I don't want to see an elephant ever again."

"Grump."

"I am not grumpy."

"Save a horse, ride a cowboy! Whut! Whut! Save a horse, ride a cowboy!"

"That song is ancient, and probably sung by insecure old men with only a tiny little dollop of hair sticking out the side of their head like a donkey's… What are you doing?"

"I am flexible. Oh oh wait, I am Fletchable!"

"And I'm disturbed."

Tanith ran around Skulduggery's house like a whirlwind, tiding and putting up decorations. Ghastly had agreed to help her but Skulduggery thought it was so they could practise some things kinky. He was very glad of an opportunity to leave the lovers and go to the hospital to pick up Valkyrie and the babies. He looked at the two Bentley's in his garage, his fingers traced the bodywork of his own Bentley, the smooth shape and the flawless craftsmanship that had gone into making the beautiful machine. It was so sleek, so shiny, memories flowed back into him at his touch, she was so special to him, the apple of hi eye.

Ghastly painted a hindu spot onto Tanith's forehead, she squealed and slapped the front of his trousers with glue, accidently spilling some on the floor. "What is that!" Skulduggery appeared at the door and pointed to the mess on the floor. "Uh, Ghastly got a bit exited."

"I didn't! What're you doing back so early anyway?"

"Forgot my handcuffs, don't trust you guys with them your way too kinky." Tanith laughed when she realised what he meant and Ghastly glared. "What! We've only been going out for like ten months or something. Actually that is quite a long time." Tanith smiled and eyed Ghastly up and down. "No eye raping him, Tanith. I'm going now and when I come back I want to find, no undies not being worn, no naked people, no unexplained gas explosions, no broken furniture or ornaments or household items, no sex toys lying around, no unexplained wetness's, no mess, no condoms wrappers, no handcuffs attached to bedposts, no bras or knickers hanging from my chandelier and I would like some more decorations hung up, and rooms decorated, you're doing a good job. Well done." He spun on his heel and walked out. A few minutes later car tyres squealed on the road and the Bentley disappeared from sight. Ghastly sighed and took a list from his pocket. "Well, that only leaves us two options. Be careful to hide evidence well and clear up after ourselves or get on with the decorations." He looked at Tanith who was grinning. "Let's try the first option first and very quickly do some of the latter before they come back." Ghastly nodded and pulled a spare pare or handcuffs out of a drawer. "I came prepared." He swung Tanith up in his arms and headed off in the direction of one of the rooms that didn't have to be decorated.

Valkyrie walked into Skulduggery's house, the biggest living room looked great, as did all the others. "Where are they?" She walked through the house and stopped outside a door, a strange noise could be heard coming from inside. "What's in here?" "Food, why?" Valkyrie shrugged.

"I can hear something. Something strange." Skulduggery put his finger where his lips should be, motioning for them to be silent. He counted down from three using his fingers and burst the door open, video camera in hand. Tanith screamed and used bottles of orange juice to cover herself up, Ghastly tried to un-cuff himself but he couldn't find the key. Fletcher appeared behind the door. "Kinky." Valkyrie laughed and they walked away, leaving Skulduggery to get a few good shots with his camera before coming to put the video on his computer before Ghastly seen or tried to destroy the camera. "This is being played at the next Sanctuary Officials meeting." Valkyrie laughed and went to get ready for the baby shower party.

Tanith came into Valkyrie's room, she was wearing pants and a towel to cover herself up. "Oi, Val. Where are you?" She heard the shower and walked into the en suite. Valkyrie had clothes laid out, a pair of jeans and a cute top. "What's up Tan?" "Ghastly made you a beautiful dress and you won't wear it? He'll be offended." She slipped the soft dress onto the coat hanger on the wall. "He made me a dress! But I think he'll be more offended If I hid all the condoms." Valkyrie laughed and stepped out the shower, she grabbed a towel and dried herself. "He would, so would I but we could always buy more." Valkyrie put the dress on and smiled at Tanith, who was wearing a mid-length light blue dress with embroidery at the top, it complimented her shape well and looked gorgeous. Valkyrie also wore a mid-length dress, well hers was more of a pinafore, it was tight at the top and had a skirt that ended just passed her knees and was creased like a kilt, it was also tartan like a kilt and a dark red. She wore a plain white t-shirt underneath but no shoes, it was only a baby shower so she probably wouldn't need shoes. She walked down the stairs to find Ghastly and Shudder locking all alcohol safely away in the hat room. "Hey Anton, when did you get here?"

"Five minutes ago. Congratulations by the way, I brought you presents. I've started the pile." She thanked him warmly and found Fletcher playing with Ashley. Darrell lay in her car seat and watched Valkyrie with big, brown eyes that made Valkyrie heart turn to butter and melt.

Guests arrives pretty much non-stop within the next hour and a half. Skulduggery's house was crowded. Valkyrie just sat on a bean bag and everyone seemed to surround her, asking questions, saying how cute the babies were, saying how nice she looked, saying congratulations. Valkyrie was getting bored, Fletcher came and handed her a bottle of juice. "Thanks, Fletch." Ghastly turned to Tanith, "Hey you want to go and get kinky in the hat room for half an hour, I'm sure nobody will miss us." "Yeah, I don't see why not. Let's bring some marshmallows and you an roast them."

"How? Oh yeah, magic." Tanith picked up a bag of marshmallows and followed Ghastly into the hat room, she was careful to lock the door behind them. "Let us play now. Mwahahahahahaha."

Valkyrie began to enjoy herself again when Fletcher took over answering questions, she went to look for Tanith because she needed a more enjoyable conversation. She walked around the house but when she reached the hat room a strong smell of burning reached her nostrils, the door was hot and smoke was billowing out from the sides of it. Inside someone could be heard moving about. "SKULDUGERY, FIRE! HELP!" She yelled before kicking down the door and going into the flames in search of her best friend.

Skulduggery heard her calls and ran in the direction her voice had come from. He seen the flames and ordered everybody out and told somebody to call the fire brigade, he heard Valkyrie and darted in after her. He stumbled through the smoke, eager flames licked at his coat and exposed bone but he ignored it. He found Tanith and Ghastly, he pulled them out before going back in for Valkyrie but all was silent. He kept searching, she'd had Ashley with her when she had entered the room. He heard the fire men and put his façade up.

Skulduggery was allowed back in once the fire was out, he darted into his hat room but there was no sign of Valkyrie or Ashley. He was about to leave when he seen it. Tell-tale cracks on the floor.

Dun dun duuuuuuun, not a very good cliff hanger but oh well… please review

Skylair xox