Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Chapter 26

Waking up Friday morning, one of two days before they returned to Ireland, Valkyrie rushed out of bed, got dressed and put some cream on the bruises on her face and neck. The swelling was gone, thankfully, but that had now turned yellow and green with red marks dotting in them and the veins around the area were often throbbing painfully. The bruise itself didn't hurt much though and she was able to kiss her pretty girlfriend so, with something akin to a skip, she left her room to get breakfast.

Skulduggery, Ghastly, Dexter and Tanith were already up drinking tea or in Skulduggery's case, reading the Irish newspaper from his phone whilst consulting an English paper as his phone slowly loaded articles. They didn't have as many food options in their hotel apartment, but they did have her favourite cereal, coco-pops, so she poured herself a drink and the food and sat down to excitedly eat it.

"Someone's in a rush," Tanith said cheekily. "Another hot date?"

"Yep," she said with her mouth full. "I see you don't."

Her sister grinned. "But who says I don't?"

Behind her, Panda looked up slowly at Tanith and then sharply at Valkyrie, indicating to find out what exactly Tanith meant. Hiding a smirk, Valkyrie drank from her glass and continued the conversation. "Can I know who with?"

"He's tall, blonde and pretty," Tanith said. "I've known him a while. Know the parents too."

Valkyrie did smirk now. "Sounds serious."

"We're friends I suppose. Bit of a love-hate relationship you know. We're going monster hunting," she said. "I'll be back before our flight."

"You sure about that?"

"Pack my case if I'm not here tomorrow night, will you?" Tanith said, laughter shining in her eyes. "Have fun on your date Cub."

Tanith left, and Panda watched her go with something like panic. Lucky for him, she didn't turn and see his desperate look but Valkyrie, and of course the staring men, watched her hips sway right out the door. She turned back to Panda when the door locked behind Tanith.

"Told you," she sang.

"I made the dress," he muttered, burying his blushing face into his tea.

"Did you give it to her?" Wolf asked, smirking with Valkyrie.

"Not yet," he growled before sighing. "This is a fool's quest."

"Good job you're a fool then," Valkyrie said encouragingly. "Send her a note or something. Tanith doesn't do fancy. She'd run through a mud field if you put steak on the other side."

He smiled to himself and Valkyrie noticed his eyes wash over as his thoughts went to some gutter or another. Shaking her head, she finished her food and washed it up, thinking about what she wanted to do for the day. It was the hot season in England, mid-July, so she'd put on shorts and t-shirt but looking at Nadia come into the kitchen, she felt somewhat overdressed. Nadia had, somehow, smuggled itty-bitty shorts passed her mother's censoring and paired it with a crop top and only a lightweight, oversized knit top Valkyrie and everyone else could see through to her smooth skin.

"Well, that was clean," Wolf said, taking the wet bowl from Valkyrie's hand right before it fell to the ground.

She snapped out of it and slapped her brother's arm before drying her hands and turning to her grinning girlfriend.

"I thought we'd go out today," she said casually.

"Oh?" Nadia said, scrolling through her phone.

"Maybe get a train to Covent Garden, then see if there's a show we could watch this evening, and tomorrow we could go to Camden Town?" Valkyrie suggested.

"Mm, that would be nice." Nadia looked up at Valkyrie slowly, put her spoon down and laced her fingers together as if they were in a meeting.

Valkyrie sighed and put her hands on the table, leaning forwards and over Nadia. "Nadia," she said, smiling in spite of herself. "Would you please go on a date with me?"

"I'll think about it."

Valkyrie grinned and ran around the table, chasing the girl out her chair, and around the table, almost knocking the paper out of Crow's hands and then over into the living area. Valkyrie almost grabbed the girl, making her shriek.

"Stop it!" Nadia laughed, putting her hands up. "Don't you dare do it!"

Valkyrie waited a moment for Nadia to start laughing and then ran at her, picking her up over her shoulder and running around the sofa. "I'm bigger than you, you can't stop me!" She shouted mockingly, spinning around faster and faster. "I'll rule the world and you will be eternally dizzy!"

Giggling, Valkyrie threw the older girl onto the sofa and collapsed on the floor beside her. Nadia, tears running down her face, rolled off the sofa right on top of Valkyrie, flattening the girl to the floor.

"Nadia, you bitch!" Valkyrie got out, making Nadia break down laughing even more. After a moment to get her breath back, Valkyrie ended up laughing too until Nadia leaned over and kissed her sloppily on the mouth. Slowly, the world faded from view and Valkyrie's hands went to Nadia's waist, feeling little bits of her warm skin through the holey fabric, their mouths moving together slowly, tongues joining the frame for just a moment before Nadia was lifted right off of Valkyrie.

"Hey!" Valkyrie exclaimed, seeing Panda and Snake had pulled her girlfriend up by grabbing an arm each. Nadia was flushed but didn't seem entirely embarrassed, and Valkyrie tried to copy. "That wasn't very nice."

"Not on the floor," Panda said tiredly. "It's unseemly."

Valkyrie got up and glared as Nadia sorted out her top. "We'll see if I help you again." Panda's eyes widened but she ignored him and turned on Snake. "What's your excuse?"

"It's the floor," he said, pretending innocence. "Poor Nadia here deserves more."

Valkyrie rolled her eyes and let Nadia go back to her food, getting herself ready, mainly her hair that had been messed up rolling around, and they left early to get the most of the twenty-five or more degree weather while they could. They chatted about some of the things they wanted to do in London on the train to Covent Garden. Being such a beautiful day, the underground was hot and humid, leaving both of them breathing in deeply when they finally left the station.

Grabbing Nadia's hand, Valkyrie smiled at her and pulled her down the street towards the shops. They looked everywhere, laughing and chatting, talking about everything they would buy in the future, how they wanted their future homes and lives to be, most of which being lavish. She found herself watching Nadia fondly as she was told about the different things Nadia would do to her family home if it were hers, about the awful chandelier Valkyrie had heard ranted about at least a thousand times and the place Nadia wanted a pond to write at.

"I just don't know though," Nadia said suddenly, pulling herself away from her imaginary house and Valkyrie from admiring her. "My parents are so desperate to make me earn all my own money, which I want to do, I want independence, but I also sort of want all the materialistic things right now too."

Valkyrie grinned. "We're all like that I think. We all want love and comfort and just the necessities so long as we have our families, but wouldn't everything be so much nicer with the materialistic bits too? I think so. I suppose I'm quite lucky. My dad's business was passed to Gordon when dad died, the same with the family business as Gordon was in a position to take it as he is older than other family members, and he ran them right up until his death."

"What about now?" Nadia asked curiously.

"They run in trust," she said, frowning. "Or I think that's what it's called. I don't need to do a thing until I'm eighteen although I might not have to after. I can pay someone to continue running them for me if I want, and I almost definitely will. It's how Gordon got that mansion and all the other places. I should take you to France actually. It's a really nice place although I haven't gone for a few years."

Nadia grinned. "I did always wonder where Gordon got the money. I mean, he was a great writer but still just an author."

"Yeah, he didn't tell anyone he had the family business. Everyone is still wondering who has it. A few cousins won't take to each other because they think each other has it. No one's willing to get involved to say who does or doesn't have it for fear of backlash. Honestly, it's a blessing they don't know because I'm already in the bad books with a lot of them because I got everything from Gordon who not only earnt a lot on his own but also got all the money from his grandparents who owned the business. You'd think they'd have clicked he had it when he got all their assets but no."

"He sounded kind of flashy, even when I spoke with his Echo stone. They probably thought he'd say if he had it."

"Yeah, I guess. Oh, they have crepes!"

Their time in Covent Garden was wonderful and they binged on as much food as they could stuff in their mouths. When it finally came to find a show, they were exhausted but were excited to see 'A Mouse Trap.' It was a great play, and they held hands and watched with joy.

"Oh, I'm really glad we didn't see that with Skul or the others," Nadia said when they got out, grinning despite the chill in the evening air. "He'd have ruined it before we sat down."

"He's an idiot sometimes."

They took the train back to their hotel, stopping at a restaurant for dinner and eating with just a quiet chatter about the play, too tired from the activity to do much else. They slept well that night – Tanith wasn't back yet and Panda was wandering around looking flustered and irritated – and come morning, they were giddy with excitement to see the city again. Panda was quiet but at least wasn't sulking too much.

"I got all my money," Nadia said, "and I sorted what clothes can be thrown away, so I can get anything I want!"

"God's sake," Valkyrie muttered as she ate her breakfast. "It's just Camden Town."

"Have you been before?" Nadia frowned, sitting next to her. She'd eaten already, too excited to sightsee. "I thought maybe we could see the National History Museum before we go."

Valkyrie groaned. "A museum? That'll be boring."

Nadia glared at her. "Well, you're taking me out and I want to see it."

"Well if I'm taking you out, don't I get to choose?"

"No way," Nadia said resolutely. "Come on, I want to get there before the crowds."

Valkyrie sighed but did as her girlfriend requested and they left right after Valkyrie did her teeth, being nagged the whole time to hurry and ended up running to the station before their train left. The beauty of the underground, Valkyrie conceded to herself, was that she could go absolutely anywhere almost immediately, and it wasn't long until they were in line to the Museum. They went through the random search – Valkyrie got searched while Nadia laughed and left her there – and then onwards to the exhibits.

Valkyrie was in awe of the structure of the whale on the ceiling and the ice age animals, barely taking in Nadia's disappointment of not seeing the dinosaur skeleton. It was a thousand times more imposing to see the giant sea creature in its full size than just the idea of it on television or pictures. Taking Nadia's hand, Valkyrie led them to the taxidermy birds and other little creatures.

"Cheer up," Valkyrie whispered to her. It wasn't too crowded but most of those around them were little kids, making the girls look down at where, or rather who on, they were stepping. "Maybe I can take you to see Sue in New York one day."

"I've never been to New York," Nadia said. "But why are you whispering?"

"No reason."

"Valkyrie…" She said warningly.

"Alright, alright," Valkyrie said, rolling her eyes. "I just had an idea. But it's a secret. I can't tell you."

Nadia studied her for a moment but then let it pass. "Fine. But you're getting lunch."

"Yeah, yeah, like all the other meals," she said, bumping their hips together. "This is strangely pretty you know."

"It is," Nadia replied, looking at the large, dead birds. "They still look regal. I wonder how they stop rotting in taxidermy."

"But it's just skin and feathers?" Valkyrie questioned.

"I know, but skin rots."

"Leather doesn't."

"I suppose," the older girl conceded.

They wandered through the building for hours, getting an expensive lunch in the café before they moved back to the trains and made a sweaty trip over to Camden Town. It was a much longer walk down than Valkyrie had expected, and she applied some sunscreen as she went, passing it over to Nadia while she rubbed it in.

"Why are you using factor fifty?" Nadia laughed. "You look like a ghost."

Valkyrie stuck her tongue out at her. "Don't make me hug you."

"Don't you dare," Nadia warned, facing the sunscreen at her threateningly. "I don't want weird marks on my clothes."

"It could be worse," Valkyrie grinned.

"Don't do that either. Whatever you're thinking."

Valkyrie laughed and pulled her down the street, finally finding the stalls Tanith told her about. The shop fronts were amazing in themselves, but it was getting lost in the stalls, in the madness of the people going in and out that brought the atmosphere the girls were loving. They looked over the wares on sale and the possibly stolen items from some of the dodgier people. It was fun though, and they tried almost every food they found, getting orange juice, Japanese noodles, pick&mix sweeties, pizza the size of their head, salads with fruits they'd never heard of. They were too stuffed to get dinner, giving them more time to wander hand in hand.

Valkyrie bought silver and bronze jewellery, a band shirt, a new skirt, a phone case and some hair ribbons Nadia encouraged her to get because she thought it would be adorable to see Valkyrie with a bow in her hair. Nadia spent all of her money getting some complimentary necklaces and rings to Valkyrie's choices but all in gold, a dress, makeup, and orange shawl, then ended the date by getting them ice creams.

"I enjoyed that," she said, leaning on Valkyrie's shoulder as they walked back to their hotel in the evening sun. It was getting cold and she'd already put the shawl to use.

"Me too," Valkyrie murmured, smiling slightly. "It was a good weekend."

Nadia yawned. "I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight. And the rest of the week."

"Wait a moment." Valkyrie stopped them just outside the building complex and pulled Nadia to her tightly.

Nadia smiled up at her and licked her lips. "I've really enjoyed this week," she said quietly, eyes bright in the moonlight. "It's going to be so weird staying away from you again."

"It's the summer now though, we'll have more time together," Valkyrie whispered, kissing her nose. "Like you said we could."

"It just won't be the same as this though. I like seeing you in the morning and kissing you before bed. Even if we slept separately forever I want to do at least that."

Valkyrie kissed her cheek and slowly down to her mouth, speaking only when she got to the very corner. "We will one day. You can move in with me and I'll give you anything you want. You can do anything you want so long as you see me in the morning and kiss me before bed."

Gently, Valkyrie pressed her lips to Nadia's and the world could have fallen apart around them and they'd have never noticed. Nadia reached up and wrapped her arms around Valkyrie's neck, standing on her toes to kiss her more fully. Their tongues started playing for dominance, pushing and twisting, and Valkyrie's hands drifted down to Nadia's ass, squeezing her. Nadia giggled, and Valkyrie bit the girl's lip, kissed her again and let her hands drift up under Nadia's loose top, stoking the soft skin there. She jolted forwards at the touch of Valkyrie's cold hands but as they warmed up, Nadia held Valkyrie tighter in the kiss, gaining more control and pressing Valkyrie against the wall. Almost immediately Valkyrie was gasping and letting out a low moan as Nadia pressed her hands against her bare, uncovered stomach, travelling up, up and cupping Valkyrie's bra covered breasts beneath the crop top.

"I love you Valkyrie," Nadia whispered into her mouth, kissing her before she could reply, kneading her breasts.

"Ahem," someone said.

Slowly, she removed her hands and sighed loudly. "Go away Tanith," Nadia said, resting her face in Valkyrie's neck. "I swear your family is everywhere."

Valkyrie giggled quietly behind her girlfriend, seeing Tanith and her 'weekend date' Panda had been stressing about – Tanith's brother. "Hi Tanith. Hi Tanith's brother."

"Hey. But please," he said, waving happily. He looked like Tanith's twin rather than a brother twenty years older than his sister, with blonde wavy hair, grey eyes and a cheeky smile. Still, he was a foot taller, lacking a sword and wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans. They both looked as if they'd been fighting as their hair was messed up and they had dust and mud splattered all over. "Don't stop for us."

Tanith elbowed him in the ribs, making his grin grow, but Tanith just rolled her eyes. "We should probably put them out of their misery."

"You mean telling them your hot date is your brother?" Valkyrie asked. "Or letting them see our dishevelled looks?"

She snorted. "I'll decide when I see them."

Tanith hugged her brother tightly, telling him goodbye, and the girls waved him off. They went into the building together though Valkyrie did wish she and Nadia could have stayed out a while longer to make out.

"So, had a good weekend girls?" Tanith asked.

"Yeah," Nadia said, giving Tanith the rundown of what they had done. "It was a good weekend."

Valkyrie nodded. "What about you? You look like you had fun."

She laughed. "Oh, yeah, it was good. I even ran into Aurora Jane, an American girl I dated once. It was nice seeing her again."

Valkyrie gave her the side eye. "I thought you were trying for Panda?"

"Oh, I am," Tanith nodded. "But it was still nice to talk to her. Flirt a little. We're just friends. I doubt we'd cope to date again, we didn't the first time after all."

Valkyrie nodded. "I hope this makes him hurry up. It's painful to watch a grown, successful man blush and ask a thirteen-year-old for dating advice."

Tanith and Nadia laughed as they stepped into the living room of their apartment. All the Dead Men were sitting around, mostly smirking and watching Panda who was fidgeting and pointedly not looking at them. The girls looked at each other, shook their heads, and went to bed.

Ta-da! They are so cute :D We're moving to book three as of next chapter, just for a time check, should you be wondering.