Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Solomon – Raven

Chapter 80

The first week of being a Necromancy student was tiring but eye-opening.

The tight, strict schedule opened Valkyrie's eyes to the wonder of basic organisation, better time management and honestly, it made her feel like a different person. She spent a good half hour one evening tidying her temporary room and spent the time thinking of how to make her own room more manageable, and even went as far as to write down ways to do that. She enjoyed the idea of an always clean room so much, she admitted her lack of skill to Militsa who, after laughing at her, helped her write down a few more things she could do to help herself. It was a strange thing to get excited about, and she knew that, but a manageable room would be a blessing.

Other than learning some general life skills, she was also keeping up with the class. She quickly learnt which Mentor's liked what, who she could talk with and who she couldn't push the buttons of, and also began to make some headway with her classmates. She could sit down without being glared at now. And she was even able to finish a book a day, making her a little less different to them. It was all the little things that made a difference, Valkyrie knew.

Raven was proud of her and had told her, that Wednesday morning, that he had a meeting with the High Priest about her alongside a few Mentors. She was a little nervous, but she knew she had done well. She had done a mock test with the others and had been rated forty-seven per cent knowledgeable on grade twelve content despite only being at that level for a handful of days.

She'd surprised herself and Raven as she hadn't thought she'd been trying to learn. But it all went towards convincing the High Priest she could not only stay but also be allowed to go visit Tanith.

She would find out the next day, unfortunately, so Wednesday had to be spent working as usual. It threw her off to suddenly have something happening outside the dark walls. It reminded her of the oppression.

Lunch was the second high point of the day, the first being Raven in the mornings, made all the sweeter by a new, strange seating arrangement. The two classes, that being her own and Militsa's, had deemed the two of them unworthy and had pushed more space between themselves, so Valkyrie and Militsa could sit properly next to each other to talk. It also meant the plates couldn't be passed down as quickly from then on, so they could have more food. They'd grinned and giggled like little schoolgirls all of lunch.

The next high point was when a classmate that hated her guts fell flat on his face.

Then was dinner and more Militsa. Then library study, also spent with Militsa, where they studied hard and then ran off to the old staffroom for tea and gossip.

That part of the day was one of Valkyrie's favourites.

The conflicting feelings were not.

Militsa blushed. "Valkyrie?" She asked her, snapping Valkyrie back to attention. "You alright? You looked a little spaced out."

"I was just thinking over the week," she smiled into her tea, thinking more of those conflicting feelings. "And us."

Militsa licked her lips nervously and sat a little closer to Valkyrie. "Will you tell me what you're thinking?"

Valkyrie swallowed, trying to not let her nerves get the better of her. She shrugged. "I guess just how we've become friends. And how we're spending a lot of time getting to know each other."

Militsa nodded. "I was thinking of that yesterday."

"How do you feel about it?"

She hesitated. "I'm not sure."

That surprised Valkyrie. She'd been pretty forward in her actions towards Valkyrie in terms of liking her company, flirting and she certainly blushed a lot. Perhaps Valkyrie had been too hopeful. "In what way?"

"In that, I'm four years older than you," Militsa said, brushing hair behind her ear. "I mean, there has to be a rule against a fifteen and nineteen-year-old being, err, together, right?"

Valkyrie thought about it. "Probably," she conceded slowly. "But I'm not sure that's quite the same in the magic community. I mean, we live for hundreds of years. Ages aren't the same."

"Yes, but an adult and minor still can't date," Militsa said.

Valkyrie nodded. "Yes, that's true. But I don't think nineteen is necessarily considered an adult. Since mages live so long, you just aren't considered a real adult, so to speak. You're nineteen. It's legal age in Ireland but it's not considered real."

Militsa considered her words. "I know you're right, but I just can't shake the feeling off."

Valkyrie took a deep breath. "The thing is, I'm not exactly in a position to be in a real relationship right now." She saw Militsa sag a little and bit her lip. "But I do want to continue what we're doing."

"But you don't really like me," Militsa said sadly.

"That's not true," Valkyrie said quickly, louder than she meant to. She lowered her voice a little at Militsa's shocked face. "I just – look, I really love my ex-girlfriend. I'm utterly in love with her. But she broke up with me last September."

"So you're single?" Militsa asked slowly.

"Yes. But I'm not sure if I want to get back with her or not. She was kind of pressured to break up with me, and I'm just trying to work out if I want to try and work us out or if I'd rather not since she chose pressure over me, because I really, really adore her but she said she wouldn't do it and she did and it's been hurting me for months. I don't know what to do."

Militsa nodded. There was a frown on her face, and it made Valkyrie realise Militsa had really nice eyebrows. Her head was not in the right place. "What do you think you'll do?"

Valkyrie shrugged. "I don't know yet. My brother Anton said I need to just do things and eventually, I'll just know exactly what I want. It's why I decided to come here. And my brother Dexter said I should see someone else, just a little bit, to make me less, I don't know, unhappy. I suppose that's why I met you."

She smiled. "You think it's fate?"

"I don't believe in fate. But it's definitely a happy coincidence. I'd like to spend time with you like I would if my ex didn't exist, but I don't love you. I think you're beautiful, kind, fun and really attractive, but I don't want to pretend like I want to be your girlfriend when I don't exactly know what I want myself. I just don't want to make it seem like just because I'm not sure that I'll suddenly want to be with you. Not because you're not good enough, because I do like you, but because I don't want to stay in the Temple, for one, and also because I can't forget Nadia. I'm going to need a lot longer than this even if I decide not to try again with her."

Militsa nodded. "I understand."

"You do?"

"I do. I don't like it, but I understand," she said, a sad but considerate look on her face. "I kind of hoped we could be a thing, so thank you for telling me the truth."

Valkyrie hesitated. "Can I give you a hug?"

Militsa said nothing for a moment. "You said you didn't want a relationship."

"I want a friendship at the least, and I've made you upset. That calls for a hug. But if you don't want to, that's okay too."

Militsa hugged Valkyrie, innocently enough at first, but then Valkyrie felt her smile against her cheek and she lowered her head into Valkyrie's neck and she jumped onto Valkyrie's lap. Valkyrie grunted under the sudden weight, but after adjusting a little, she was alright.

And it felt damn good to have someone on her lap.

She held Militsa tightly, almost possessively, for long minutes, breathing the smell of her hair and skin. It was a subtle scent of warmth and books, but it had something personal in it that made it Militsa. She found herself comparing Militsa and Nadia once more, noticing how she felt Militsa was a comfort smell while Nadia was so different from anything else she knew, was so intoxicating and beautiful even in smell that poor Militsa was honestly nothing in comparison to Nadia.

But right there and then, Militsa was with her and Nadia wasn't. So Valkyrie ran her hand up and down Militsa's back and breathed her in.

.*****.

"Are you ready?" Raven asked.

"Very," Valkyrie said seriously. They were making their way up and out of the Temple to meet with Tanith for her first ever ultrasound scan. The two of them were very excited.

Panda was too but he was more stressed than anything as far as Valkyrie could work out from her and Tanith's texting in the evenings.

Raven just smiled and led her up to the doors. There, they paused and looked at each other in the sun, breathing in the fresh air with gratitude.

"I'll see you in a few hours," Valkyrie said, moving in for a hug.

He hugged her back tightly. She was loving his hugs. She'd gotten a few in now and they were almost as good as Wolf's. "I know. Stay safe and have fun."

"Sure thing, Dad," she grinned sassily. He blushed a little but grinned massively and waved at her as she ran for the white van parked at the curb.

Tanith jumped out the van as she came up and wrapped her arms around Valkyrie as they squealed. Valkyrie was so excited she even picked Tanith up and twirled her around.

"It's so good to see you," Valkyrie grinned.

"You too," Tanith said. "And I'm pretty sure you grew again."

"No, I didn't."

"I think you did. Do your trousers still fit?"

"Yeah."

Tanith hummed in disapproval.

"You sound like a real mum," Valkyrie said as they got in the back of the van.

"I am a real mum," Tanith laughed, and then laughed some more because it was so weird.

"Hi Ghastly," Valkyrie said, waving at him.

He waved into the mirror. "Hey, Cub. How's the Temple treating you?"

"It's been good. I, err, made a friend," she said, blushing.

Tanith gasped dramatically. "You have a girlfriend."

"I do not have a girlfriend," Valkyrie quickly and perhaps a little harshly. Panda raised a non-existent eyebrow at her in the mirror as they set off. "She's just a friend. We haven't so much as kissed."

"Ah," Tanith said knowingly. "She's a pet."

"She's not a pet either," Valkyrie grumbled. "She's just my friend."

"That's you'd like to bang," Tanith said knowingly.

Valkyrie held in her laugh. "That I'd like to get to know."

"And then bang," Panda said with a grin in the front seat.

"And that's what got you both here," Valkyrie said sweetly.

"What, in a van?" Tanith asked, getting a packet of crisps out from Valkyrie didn't know where.

Valkyrie just rolled her eyes. They chatted about the set up for the baby's room and how Tanith and Panda were part-time living together in their new, joint room as well. It seemed to be working out nicely and they were spending at least four nights a week sleeping together now as well as going on lots of dates and Tanith was helping in Panda's shops most days also, helping them grow together as a couple before they suddenly had the baby and were expected to work seamlessly.

She was impressed they had worked so hard to make a plan. Of course, Tanith was only three and a bit months pregnant, so they had lots more time.

Valkyrie really hoped they stayed together. Not just for her niece or nephew, but because she thought the two of them were adorable.

The mortal maternity place they were using, a private one in the countryside halfway between Gordon's and Dublin centre, was warm and pretty, with a big, flowery garden, a wood fence and large windows. It had a small communal dining area and a large living area for expectant and new mothers. It was honestly really lovely, and if Valkyrie had been pregnant, she'd have felt as comfortable with the place as Tanith obviously was. She wondered vaguely how much it was costing them. Well, likely how much it was costing Ghastly seeing as how Tanith made very little money from her job and tutoring Valkyrie.

"Miss Low?" A middle-aged woman asked kindly as they walked in. "It's so lovely to see you again, we have the room ready for your scan. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"I'd love one actually," Tanith said, suddenly intense. "And some biscuits if you have any."

"Oh of course," the lady said with a laugh. She sounded genuine and nice. Valkyrie knew why Panda was paying the surly hefty price tag at least. "Oh, and Mr Bespoke, it is nice to meet you. And who are you, Miss…?"

"Valerie Edgley," Valkyrie said with a slight stutter. "I'm Tanith's half-sister."

"Oh, it is lovely to meet you, Miss Edgley. You must be as excited as the new parents," she smiled. "Would either of you like a cupper too?"

Valkyrie and Panda both said yes and the nice lady went off to do that while the three of them sat down. A mother with a newborn was there, her head back with a relaxed look on her face as she breastfed, only opening her eyes when her phone buzzed. Whatever it said made her smile.

"This place is great," Valkyrie said quietly to Panda who she was sitting next to. Him and Tanith were holding hands, Tanith's other one on her stomach.

"It is," he said back. "Tanith will get a private room for the birth, and we're allowed a bunch of people in the room if we want, and all our brothers can wait in here."

"And my other family," Tanith piped up. "They still exist, remember?"

"I remember."

"Have you told them yet?" Valkyrie asked.

"No," Tanith said, shrugging. "I'll tell them soon, but I don't want them to freak out yet. I want to send the ultrasound pictures."

Valkyrie grinned evilly. "I bet your brother will beat up Panda."

"No, he won't," Tanith argued. "But he would win in a fight."

Panda looked concerned.

"Miss Low?" The lady said, coming into the living area. "Do you want to come this way? I took your teas to the scan room."

The three of them followed her to a nice, spacious room with the scanning equipment in as well as a table with their drinks and a big plate of biscuits. Tanith got straight onto the bed and blew on her tea a few times before putting it down and taking on the snacks.

"How have you been, Miss Low? Has there been any more spotting or discharge?" The nurse asked, putting on gloves.

"Everything's fine now," Tanith assured her. "Our family doctor helped me before I came here."

"That is good," she nodded. "And now about the fatigue?"

"Still awful."

She nodded some more. "It's to be expected. You said you were very active, and did you say you were doing professional fighting? At any rate, whatever it was wasn't for a pregnant woman, no matter how much we preach we aren't delicate during pregnancy. The fatigue will be a mix of generally being busy, stress, and physical exertion in a time your body is working extra to begin growing the baby. It all adds up, you see. Could you sit back for me? There we go, I'm going to put this gel on you and it'll be a little cold."

The nurse did just that and Tanith didn't so much as flinch at the cold. They all started staring at the screen as the woman, who Valkyrie assumed was also a midwife but could have been a doctor or nurse, she never had said, started running the scan prob over Tanith abdomen.

It took a few moments and some twists, but soon the woman was smiling. "There we are." Valkyrie didn't know what she was looking at. It was all black and grey fuzz. She started pointing. "Right here is the baby. See, it has a little head, and that's the start of its legs."

All at once the image took shape and she stared at it in awe, little tears pricking her eyes. That was a real, live baby, inside of Tanith's belly. It had a head! A torso! Itty-bitty legs! A teeny baby butt! It was perfect and Valkyrie felt her heart lurch for the baby.

She smiled as a tear went down her cheek and she acknowledged the fact she'd give her life for this baby and it didn't even have toes yet.

She looked at Tanith to see her reaction, but her sister and Panda were holding hands and looking at each other. Tanith was grinning, her eyes watery, but Panda was opening sobbing on Tanith's hand.

"It's not every day I get to see the Daddy crying too," the nurse-midwife person said kindly.

"Thank you," Panda whispered through his tears. "She's so beautiful."

Tanith laughed softly and stroked his head. "We don't even know the sex yet."

He sobbed louder and nodded, simply overcome with joy. She caught Tanith's eye over his head and grinned, a tear falling down Tanith's cheek.

It's a baby!

On a separate note, I'm sorry I haven't been updating as much. A second heatwave is in the UK and it is generally 30 degrees at all times and the north will be getting up to 37. I don't do well in heat. All I can think of is all these things I want to write but I just can't get it done because I'm so hot, I keep getting migraines, I must drink ten litres a day (no joke) and I always feel like jelly in this weather. I just can't concentrate to write basically! So I'm not gone. It's still happening. Just slower because my brain is slower. And that is why I have 20 chapters ahead, though I am getting into those because of not writing etc as I just said. All a part of my cunning plan, see? I hope the rest of you stay cool, wish me some nicer weather! :)