Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Solomon – Raven

Chapter 62

Valkyrie didn't hear from Nadia for three days, and by then Valkyrie had had enough. It was obvious that Nadia's parents had taken away her phone and probably all other means of communicating with Valkyrie, and she hated she couldn't talk to her after their last time seeing each other.

Over those three days, Valkyrie had had lessons with Corrival to ease her pain but hadn't had the energy to go into the caves to help with clearing them of monsters.

She barely looked at or spoke to the other visitors. She was just too occupied in her mind worrying about Nadia, stressing over Nadia's parents and fretting about their future. It was all-consuming. She spent all her time training by herself, sleeping or being spoken to about all sorts of things by Corrival.

On the upside, they had gained a closer relationship. While the Dead Men liked to have a sister with sass and attitude and enough strength to give as hard as they gave, Corrival was much more paternal. He enjoyed having Valkyrie tucked under his wing delicately and babying her whilst also getting her to do all the 'traditional roles of a young woman' three or more hundred years ago.

He would talk to her about strategy, tactics and criminal psychology while she baked a cake, and then she'd sit at the table drinking hot chocolate and eating all day as he encouraged her childish nature and taught her. It was different, and Valkyrie definitely felt the power he liked to have by being in control of the conversation, but it wasn't a control he wanted to manipulate over her, so it was easy for her to relax and just listen and do what she was told. It was better than thinking.

But by that third day, she was ready to do something. She lay in bed that morning thinking it over and decided exactly what needed to be done. It was a cold, rainy day and with a check of her phone, she knew there was meant to be bad storms all day, thunder and lightning beginning in the night. Perfect.

Valkyrie started her day simply, going for the workout she had been for the last three days in solitude, then taking her shower and using that time to shave as much of her body as she possibly could. Getting out the shower, she wiped some steam off the glass and looked herself naked in the mirror.

Carefully, she preened and prettied herself up, cleaning anything she could and covering over the rest with creams, perfumes and makeups. Her nails were painted, she tweezers a few missed hairs and her eyebrows, and applied a very light mask of makeup on her face, just enough to make her feel extra confident but nothing that would run in the rain.

She dried her hair and played around with it in all sorts of updos and plaits before settling for down and natural, dipping into a pot of Tanith's incredibly expensive hair oil she'd kill Valkyrie for touching and putting some in her hair to make it softer than ever.

Almost two hours since she went in the bathroom, she was ready, standing amid a mountain of products, naked and more confident than ever in the mirror.

She cleaned the room a little and wrapped up in a towel to go to her room and straight to her clothes. What to wear? There was what she usually would – a pair of super, super tight jeans, or perhaps a pair of tiny shorts. But Nadia had seen all those things in pictures now. What to do?

In the end, she just went causal and chose some black jeans and a red button up shirt with a black spaghetti top beneath. But that was for later – for then she stuck on whatever and tied her silky hair out her face and ran down the hall and down to the kitchen where most of the Dead Men and their friends were crowded in drinking coffee and getting lunch.

"What are you so excited for?" Snake asked her, sipping his coffee.

"I'm getting ready," she said, pulling out the recipe book. She flicked through it quickly, finding a chocolate chip biscuit recipe she wanted. "Do we have any bars of chocolate left?"

Wolf snorted from his place next to the cupboard. "Chocolate? Have you seen the kitchen? I'd be impressed if we have potatoes left."

Valkyrie glanced at Bear as she started pulling the other things she needed out the baking cupboard. He shook his head. "No chocolate. We have raisins."

She grimaced as she searched out the baking powder. "Raisin biscuits give me trust issues. I need chocolate."

"What for?" Snake asked.

"Biscuits," Weasel said quickly.

"I like biscuits," Snake said hopefully.

"Not for you," she snapped, pushing him out the way and starting a cup of coffee for herself. "I'm seeing Nadia. I'm going to the shop."

There was a chorus of noise, all 'aww' and whooping. She ignored them, checking the battery on the weighing scales. She stood and made a list on the notebook of what she needed to buy. It took a few minutes, but she soon had it and ripped the page off.

"I'll take you," Bear said, coming up beside her silently.

Valkyrie nodded and grabbed her cup of coffee, blowing it quickly.

"I want to come too!" Snake said. "I want biscuits now!"

"I wouldn't mind the trip," Aurora said from her seat. "I need a few things."

"I don't have much time," Valkyrie said uncertainly.

"We have plenty," Bear said soothingly.

"Well, I want to come too," Wolf said, pushing off the side. "Let's go before anyone else does."

Valkyrie nodded and they left in one of the cars, driving down to the local supermarket. Valkyrie went ahead and got her basket and started collecting everything she needed for visiting Nadia. She got candles, plastic baby pink plates, a big picnic basket, some beautiful new cutlery – completely unnecessary but Valkyrie liked being overkill – some fruits, lots of chocolate and some other foods.

She finished it looking around for presents because that was the whole point of the visit. Proving she was the best girlfriend in the universe.

When she had all the things she wanted as well as some she didn't but knew Nadia would love, she went to the checkout line. She spotted Aurora and went over to her.

"Hi," she said, balancing her basket and the overflow in her arms.

"Oh my God," Aurora said, eyes widening at Valkyrie. "You sure you've got enough?"

"I really hope so," she grumbled. "I know she'll love it though."

"I'd hope so," Aurora laughed, taking the wrapping paper to help Valkyrie. "What's your big plan then?"

"I'm still working on it," Valkyrie said, the line moving up enough for Valkyrie to put some of her things on the thing. She had no idea what it was called. She was too old to ask now, she just had to call it the thing. It moved slowly as the other person's stuff was slowly scanned and packed. Valkyrie sighed impatiently. "I have no idea, to be honest. This could be a really bad idea."

"Well, the Dead Men are known for their bad idea's. Looks like you've learnt quite a bit from them," Aurora smirked. "In fact, I bet you've learnt a lot. Tell me, what's it like living with them?"

"The Dead Men? Eventful, I suppose. But it's sort of normal. Not as mega exciting as people expect. Usually there's less stuff going on and the house is very quiet and we're all out doing our own things. We only see each other in the morning and at dinner, maybe for a movie, the rest of the time we're all split up. Some people think we're joined at the hip all the time."

"So no crazy sex parties?"

Valkyrie raised an eyebrow at her.

"There's just been some wild rumours, is all," Aurora said with another little laugh. Valkyrie could see how Tanith had been drawn to the woman.

"Well, that's not true. I bet none of them are, actually. Are there any other fun ones?"

"Well, there's a rumour you and Skulduggery are an item," Aurora said with an eye roll. "Not many people believe it, but they say it anyway. There are a few saying they spotted Saracen and Dexter at it again, but what's new there?"

"At it again?" Valkyrie asked incredulously.

"Did you not know?" Aurora asked as a young man packed her bag. "It's always been a rumour those two have been together, they've been casually on and off since they met. It's just the gossip mill trying to find out which one of those they're in."

"I knew it was a rumour, but I didn't realise it was real."

"Yeah! You have to keep up to date," Aurora said, getting her card out. "You need to tell me all the details about you and your girl."

"I will," Valkyrie said, rolling her eyes. Her things started going through the till and soon enough all the bags were packed and she had paid, and a steep pay at that, and she and Aurora went to the front to wait for the others. "It's really not that interesting though."

"I know all the starting bits like how you met," Aurora said. "Everyone does. But I want to know the details."

"Well, ask me and I'll see if I can tell you."

"Did you two really have sex for the first time is the Sanctuary staff room?"

Valkyrie snorted and started laughing. "Is this really what people spread rumours about? No, that's not true."

Aurora grinned. "I thought so. What about the one about having sex in the Irish Grand Mage's office?"

"Not a chance."

"In the locker room?"

"No. Is there other questions?"

"Let's see," she pretended to think. "No. But I'd like to know all the cute things."

"Cute things?"

"Yeah. Like, why are you spending almost two hundred euros on the fly for her if you haven't even spoken to her in three days?"

"I love her."

"You're too young."

"I'm too young for love?"

"You barely know it yet," she said, looking at Valkyrie curiously. "Why do you think you love her? Don't you want to explore?"

"I know I love her. And not particularly. I'm happy with Nadia. I know what I want and I intend to keep it," Valkyrie said, looking around for Bear, Snake and Wolf. They were checking out now. Valkyrie could see Snake was holding an armful of different packets of biscuits. "Why wouldn't I know?"

She shrugged. "You need to know lots of things first. People don't just jump into it."

"Maybe I want to," she retorted. "Maybe other people don't want to do that but that's not me."

"Maybe," Aurora said, unconvinced.

Valkyrie shrugged her off, deciding to not pay attention to Aurora's pessimism.

A few moments later the others were ready and they were driving back, Snake eating his biscuits in obvious child-like delight and Wolf taking some when he was busy telling the others how good they were. Back at the house, the kitchen had been cleaned up for her and the sides were easy for her to get the food out and get to work.

She made as much of Nadia's favourite foods as she could, including biscuits, chocolate strawberries and bacon Valkyrie intended to warm up later with her fire magic. How she'd get it to Nadia without it either being ruined or soaked through or both, she didn't know.

"You really haven't thought this through," Aurora said from the table with the others. Valkyrie could see why Tanith broke up with her.

"I like to live on blind luck, hope and prayers," Valkyrie muttered, putting the cooled biscuits in plastic boxes. She still needed to work out how to get everything to fit in the picnic basket. And get changed. How was she going to stay dry? This is going to be interesting, she decided.

Hehehehe I love when I get to write Valkyrie being all cute! I'd love for any of you guys to follow this story to see exactly who is doing that, and also so you always know when I upload. Once again, I am super busy this weekend. Friday I'm out all day, Saturday is the same plus I'm doing my first dress shop! And Sunday is a small engagement party. And then Monday I go back to my own flat, so I'll be busy then too but hopefully from then on it should be one a day without fault. Sorry to all of you that are checking every day and I've not posted in the last few days, I've been busy but said nothing. I got my braces off and got retainers yesterday for those of you wondering. I hate them. At any rate, the posts are coming, so if I don't do anything for a few days, don't panic! ;)

KiedisXI - I thought you'd be happy with the grand finale that was killing Caelan, and thank you on the title praise. I am very proud of that one. As for Nadia... you'll have to hang on and see what happens to her. (And they eat frogs in France, though I don't know why not toads)