Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Solomon – Raven

Corrival – Pa

Chapter 89

"I hate this," Valkyrie said from her place of the floor. A heatwave had rolled into Ireland unexpectedly and it was making Valkyrie melt. Which was why she was on the wood floors spread eagle in shorts and a bikini bra. Her family knew about her scars and it was too hot to do anything else - Tanith had seen them a bunch anyway.

The others were better suited to the weather, but Tanith claimed it was just pregnancy that got her on the floor chewing ice and equally melty. She'd even gotten a haircut to help, a chop that left it level with her shoulders, shorter than Valkyrie's now.

"I hate it more. And I'm hungry," Tanith groaned.

"You're always hungry," Valkyrie muttered. She wanted to shuffle out of the way of a beam of light slowly making its way towards her, but she was stuck to the floor by her own sweat. "We need a swimming pool."

"I don't want to go out."

"Get the others to do it."

"They're not here."

The girls groaned.

"If we get naps now, we can go buy ice cream tonight," Tanith said, a little hope in her voice. "We could ride my bike."

"You're not allowed to drive, but I agree with the ice cream," Valkyrie smiled.

"You can drive it."

"That's illegal."

"So?"

Well, put like that… that evening, she and Tanith got into something a little more covering but not much because it was still disgustingly hot and donned their helmets.

Valkyrie drove them out into town for ice cream. She rode for a long time and Tanith didn't seem to mind because she was out of the house away from the men, so Valkyrie took her own time driving around to her favourite ice cream place. It was next to the Pizza Hut she, Nadia, Tanith, Wolf and Fletcher had once gone to, and although she wished she was with Nadia, it was nice to go out at all.

"I love this place," Tanith grinned, taking her helmet off. Putting the keys in her pocket, Valkyrie followed the pregnant lady in. Tanith had worn a crop top – one of Valkyrie's – and some shorts that showed off her middle. She knew Tanith shouldn't be far enough along for her to see, but she could have sworn there was the tiniest little bump on her tummy. Probably all the eating and sitting around she'd been forced to do.

Valkyrie had switched into shorts that were a little longer to hide the thigh scars and a flowy top that covered the other scars. The ankle ones were on show, but she was getting more than comfortable with those ones because no one ever looked that far down. And the one's on her forearms weren't so bad really, and no one seemed to notice them either. They nearly looked like birthmarks, or that's what Valkyrie liked to think if she ever saw someone glancing at her. At worst, it looked like she'd done them to herself and while that didn't thrill her, it was better than looking like she'd been tortured.

"Same. I already know what I want." They put their helmets under their arms and tilted on their hips at the same time. They really acted like siblings and it made them very happy. They were taken to a table by the front in a massive booth by a teenage boy, maybe fifteen, who blushed the whole time. He kept asking them questions about literally anything and Tanith had to smile sweetly and ask him to get her a drink before he'd go.

"Boys," Valkyrie smiled.

"Idiots, the lot of them," Tanith said. "You've got the right idea, I think. Keep away from them."

"It's helped by all the dads I've had. I grew up hearing how silly dad Desmond is, Gordon was always weird, Crow's strange and now I have Solomon, kind of. And you know what? Solomon's the only normal one!"

Tanith laughed. "He doesn't even count yet! They haven't even officially said anything, so it might not be true."

"They are."

"Doesn't count yet." Valkyrie's phone buzzed and she looked at it. She put it away disappointedly. "Still not the one?"

"No," she said. She was hoping that maybe, just maybe, she might get a text from her ex, assuming she had a phone. "I might send her a letter when it gets to summer break. I just don't know if her parents will let her see it or not."

"I hope so. You're a good girl, and so's Nadia. I bet if she'd been allowed to see more of you while all that was going on, she would have been brave enough to stand up to them a little more."

"She's just being a good daughter. She doesn't want to lose her parents, who would? She thought it would go back to them being really close and she'd make friends and just have to deal with not being with me. She didn't realise what it would be like. But I don't want to think of that now. I want ice cream."

"Good thought. And that looks like ours now," Tanith grinned, her tongue poking out excitedly. The ice creams sundaes were massive, bigger than they should have been, and the teen boy looked really happy with himself. He put them in front of them. "Thank you!" Tanith said excitedly.

"Thanks," Valkyrie laughed, looking at Tanith dig in with more enthusiasm than she'd had all day. "Again, you're not meant to go food crazy for a few more months."

"I'm just trying really hard," Tanith said with a mouthful of strawberries and whipped cream. "This is so fucking good."

Valkyrie shook her head and had a spoonful of her own. "Alright. I need to know, what's your guess on the sex?"

"I don't really know. I had another scan recently, and everything was healthy, so I don't really care," Tanith said. At Valkyrie's questioning look, she continued. "The scan was just because I had a tiny bit of spotting and the nurses wanted to check everything because of before. It's all good. And I can inform you that I asked specifically about twins since you got your brothers so worked up about the idea, and they said it's just one. Which we already knew but I had to prove it to them."

"Good for the birthing, I guess. But if you had the option, and you literally had to pick male or female, what would you pick?"

Tanith smiled. "I don't care!"

"Well, what names do you like in the least?"

She thought about it. "I kind of like the classic names, like maybe Grace or Mia, or else I want something really girly like Kamilla or Emma or Rachel."

"So, you want a girl, right?"

She paused as she chewed another strawberry. "I can see why you'd think that." Valkyrie started to laugh. "But I do have boys' names too!"

"And what are they?"

"I like Tom."

"Just Tom?"

"Yes."

"I think this is a little one sided. I'm on the boy side by the way. I think it'll be a boy and I second the name Tom, it's adorable and although there are lots of them, it's kind of classic. There's always been Tom's around."

"I thought that too, but I told Ghastly and he shot it down. He said every Tom he's met in his whole life has been a bully and refuses to call him that. And then Dexter said he found a cat the other day called Tom."

"Was it a cute cat?"

"I don't know, I wasn't there. Ghastly wants to call the baby Harrison."

"I don't like that one," she said.

"Me either," Tanith agreed. "But I can't think of anything else. I mean, they'll pick a new one in a few years, but I need something good to tell them off with. I can't scream Harrison too many times because it's too long. And I can't call him Harry or he'll get called Harry Potter. Especially if he's born with scars, can you imagine the name calling? We need something nice."

"You have plenty of time," she smiled.

They made good work on their ice creams and were able to finish but couldn't move after. They didn't want to ride the bike straight away, so they ordered a drink each and decided to let themselves settle. Valkyrie got up to go to the loo.

It was a nice ice cream place, with a little crazy golf course out the back for little ones and families, and as Valkyrie walked, she thought she saw a familiar face. She looked outside, searching for it, but didn't see it again amid all the families and people walking around and a kid in the middle of it all throwing a tantrum because he wasn't allowed to hit the golf ball that he was, in fact, allowed to hit. She went to the toilet.

It was only one bathroom for the whole building, a mix gender family bathroom with room for any type of person, which was a nice thought, Valkyrie mused as she washed her hands, until you had twenty families in the place and all the kids needed to pee and there was only one changing table and one toilet. Those thoughts came from talking about the baby, but it was also true.

She unlocked the door and pulled it open, expecting to be barrelled down by kids. Instead, she saw someone else.

Her heart jumped in that way that only love could make happen as she looked at the young woman. Her heart rate tripled. Her stomach had butterflies. Her knees shook a little. She had to swallow. God, this woman was perfect.

"Hey," Valkyrie said.

Nadia's voice cracked as she looked up at Valkyrie. "Hi."

"You look incredible," Valkyrie whispered, her eyes never leaving Nadia's face. Her memories and the pictures did no justice. Her face had darkened in the Indian sun and her cheekbones stuck out more, not just from her weight loss which was shown by the bagginess of the dress Valkyrie had seen her in before, but because she had matured. Dare she think it, but Nadia was more beautiful than before.

Nadia ducked her head embarrassedly. "Thanks. You look…. Um, good."

"Thanks," she said uncertainly. "Would you like to talk? Just a little, I need to know how you've been."

Nadia's hands came together and she started picking under her nail harshly, probably hurting herself in the process. She wanted badly to take those hands in her own. "I don't know."

"Do you need a drink? I don't mind what we do," she said more quietly, feeling the panic well up. Did she not want Valkyrie? Had her feelings changed? That was okay, kind of, but she needed to at least know.

"Can I think about it? I need to–"

"Oh, yeah," Valkyrie said quickly, getting out the way of the toilet. "I'll get you a drink. What do you want?"

"I have one. Just a second," Nadia said and closed the door.

Valkyrie deflated and quickly ran to Tanith, almost killing a child. "Nadia's here, imma talk to her."

She wasn't sure if Tanith heard, because she ran back to the bathroom and stood at the end of the hallway away from the toilet door – she didn't want to look creepy just standing there waiting – and waited. Nadia took her time and she hoped the girl was okay. Hopefully she was plucking up the courage to tell Valkyrie what she felt.

It took over five minutes for her to hear the flush of the toilet and she was left standing for five more before the door was gently unlocked and Nadia poked her head out. She looked surprised to see Valkyrie was still there.

"Hey," Valkyrie said, jumping her on toes. She stopped, not wanting to be stupid. "Would you like to go for a walk?"

"I'm not allowed," Nadia said quietly, her head down again.

"We don't need to go far. Just outside the door where it's quiet. I promise," Valkyrie said.

Nadia took a long moment to think. "I'd like that. And some water."

Valkyrie nodded and they walked together. Nadia was looking around nervously so they walked quickly and Valkyrie reached over the booth and took Tanith's water before she took a sip. She was nearly shouted out but then she saw Nadia and smiled instead. Nadia didn't even see Tanith because she was looking at the ice cream list and Valkyrie more than anything wanted to get her something nice.

They'd definitely get caught then, though, so she wanted to talk first. She led them outside and gave her the glass. She sipped it a few times.

"Thank you. I didn't see you get it."

"I know, it's okay," Valkyrie said with a soft smile. "Tell me, how have you been? How was India?"

She shrugged, holding the glass in two hands. Her wrists were thin. "Really, really hot. But fine, I guess."

"Just fine?"

Nadia shrugged, looking at the glass.

She swallowed and gently put her hand on Nadia's elbow. When she wasn't pushed away, she slowly put her other one on Nadia's chin and pulled her face up to see her. "I want to see you. I haven't seen you in so long and you keep looking away."

Nadia bit her lip and looked down as soon as Valkyrie's hand was gone.

"Why won't you look at me?"

"I'm not allowed to talk to you," Nadia said again.

"You don't need to worry about that right now. It's just us," Valkyrie reassured her. "I want to see you smile. It's been so long. I've missed you so much, Nadia."

She saw the moment Nadia broke down. The glass slipped but Valkyrie caught it and put it on the ground and pulled her in for a hug. She wasn't hugged back, but Nadia did rest her head on her chest.

"Please don't cry. I never want you to cry," Valkyrie said soothingly. "What can I do, I'll do anything?"

She sniffed and whispered so quietly she almost didn't hear: "I broke up with you."

"I know," she said quietly, leaning down to her ear. "It's okay."

Nadia's arms wrapped around her, pressing their bodies together. Valkyrie breathed in her hair, her skin, all the exotic excitements and differences to herself burning into Valkyrie and filling her up. She loved this woman and she didn't want to lose her. Their bodies pressed together, and they probably got some looks from the families going in and out, but she couldn't do anything but hold her as she cried.

"I miss you," Nadia sobbed. "I love you so, so much."

"I love you too baby, more than anything," Valkyrie told her. "You believe me, don't you? I love you so much."

Nadia sniffed and pulled back, wiping her tears. "I'm sorry Val. I've done such bad things to you."

"Let's just talk," Valkyrie suggested. "It doesn't need to be tonight, but we need to talk, we can work things out."

"We can?"

"Of course. Or we can try anyway. Remember what I told you? We'll try every last thing we can to save us before we give up, and then it would be mutual and on our terms. So we'll try," Valkyrie grinned. Nadia smiled and wiped some more tears. That smile went away suddenly when she looked behind Valkyrie. Valkyrie turned, unconsciously keeping Nadia behind her. "Mr Vinay."

"Nadia, come inside, we're having a family night out," he said, staring darkly at Valkyrie. He looked a little darker too and she expected he'd stayed in India for a while when picking Nadia up. Or maybe he was so angry he was literally burning up. The look in his eyes was certainly furious.

Valkyrie felt Nadia move behind Valkyrie and she put a hand on the girl's belly, stopping her. She didn't seem as if she were trying to get passed anyway. "Me and Nadia need some time to talk."

He glared, baring his teeth. "My daughter has no business with a girl like you. Nadia, go inside. You're mother's worrying about you."

She felt Nadia put her face on Valkyrie's shoulder blade and her determination strengthened. "If she wants to talk, she can. She can be inside in ten minutes. She won't get hurt here."

He started to shake with rage. "Nadia you will get inside this instance or mark my words, I will put you over my knee and make you wish you were never born. You have three seconds."

Well, Nadia didn't like the sound of that any more than Valkyrie. Her stomach dropping, Nadia pulled away from her and slowly shuffled over, looking at her father nervously. He glared at her and she went into the building. When he thought she was gone, he turned back on Valkyrie, stalking over.

"How dare you try and be with her unaccompanied?"

"As I recalled, you've asked me twice to talk to Nadia, and now we are and you've stopped us. That doesn't seem exactly right, does it?" Valkyrie growled back.

He poked a finger into her neck hard enough she couldn't breathe properly. She pushed herself into it. "You stay away from her or I swear I will do everything in my power to end you. Stay. Away."

"Is that a threat, Mr Vinay? Because I have a pair of cuffs in my pocket and I'm not fucking scared of putting them on you. Do you have any idea how much the Elders don't like you right now? They know how horrid you've been. They won't be in your favour if I throw you in a cell for a week or two." He slapped her so quickly Valkyrie couldn't stop him, but she made sure not to move even though it stung, and it unnerved him. She looked back at him stonily. "I'd like you to know. When your daughter suddenly disappears, it's not because I've done anything to her. It'll be because she fucking left you for a life better than the one you're forcing her into. Do you slap her like that too?"

He spat in her face and turned quickly, throwing the ice cream places glass door open so hard it nearly smashed. Nadia was quick enough to hide from him, but when she had wiped the spit away, Valkyrie didn't see her either. Sneaky girl.

She went back to Tanith who looked concerned as she sipped her new glass of water. She'd left the other glass outside. She hoped someone brought it in. "We should go," Valkyrie said. Tanith looked ready to talk, but she shook her head. "Let me tell you later."

OOoooooooooooh! Exciting! And it was good to confirm finally that it was only one, though that doesn't mean you can stop suggesting names if you think of anything you like. I've been so excited to give this to you all, I want to hear what you think and how good you think it was in the reviews! :D