Time seems to stand still. Nothing exists except for her, the man that stands on his knees in front of her and the box with the ring that he is holding in his hand. The diamond that sits at the top of the ring is glimmering and she can not tear her gaze from it. She can not help but wonder how much it had cost but quickly bats that thought away from her since she knows that money doesn't matter to Skulduggery.

How long has he been walking around with that in his pocket? How many times has he been thinking about if he should propose to me to then change his mind? Valkyrie thought while she continued to stare at the ring in Skulduggery's hands.

Valkyrie felt how tears of happiness started to build in her eyes and she let them flow freely. She managed to tear her gaze from the ring and instead let it wander up to Skulduggery's eyes. In his blue eyes she saw his love for her, and it made her body fill with warmth. She gives Skulduggery a smile and nods, afraid that her voice won't hold if she tries to speak.

"Was that a yes, Valkyrie?" Skulduggery asks and leans his head in that way that he always does, which makes Valkyrie smile even more.

"Yes, Skulduggery. Yes, I want to marry you!"

Skulduggery smiles big and picks up the ring from the box. He puts the ring on Valkyrie's left ring finger before he lays his arms around her waist and push her against his own body. "You have just made me the happiest living skeleton in the world, Valkyrie."

"Shut up and kiss me, mister Pleasant."

"As my future wife commands."

Their lips met at first in a slow and tender kiss, but that soon turned into a deeper tongue kiss. They pushed towards each other, and Skulduggery let his hands wander along Valkyrie's waist, back, shoulders and breasts. He could feel how Valkyrie shivered from his touch and couldn't stop a smile from spreading across his lips between their kisses.

"You like it when I touch you, right, Valkyrie?" Skulduggery whispered and bit Valkyrie's lower lip.

"Oh… Yes…" Valkyrie moaned.

"How much?"

"I can never get enough of you, Skulduggery…"

Skulduggery laughed and abandoned Valkyrie's lips, letting his lips find their way down to her neck instead. He gave it small, feather-light kisses, then let the tip of his tongue caress Valkyrie's neck.

"God, Skulduggery!" Valkyrie whispered as she both moaned and grunted, both at the same time.

"You know I do everything to please you, Valkyrie. When you feel pleasure, I feel pleasure."

Valkyrie grabbed Skulduggery's chin and forced his face up so she could look him in the eyes. "I love you, Skulduggery Pleasant."

"And I love you, Valkyrie Cain. Until the end."

"Until the end…" Valkyrie whispered and kissed Skulduggery again, but this time it wasn't a kiss full of lust, but a kiss that she hoped conveyed all the love she felt for Skulduggery.

It didn't matter that she knew Skulduggery knew how much she loved him and he her, she still had a need to show him exactly how much. She was nothing without him and he was nothing without her. So, it would continue to remain as long as they both lived and not for the first time Valkyrie hoped it would be for many hundreds of years more.

They continued to kiss for a while until Valkyrie felt her lips begin to swell and she reluctantly pulled away from Skulduggery. She looked into his blue eyes again and gave him a warm smile. "As much as I would like to continue kissing you, unfortunately my lips think we should take a break."

"It's a real shame, Valkyrie, but I can understand them. After all, I am an extremely good kisser, and I am impressed that you managed to last this long."

"Now you're just mean, Skulduggery."

"Me, mean? How can you say such a thing about me? Me who is the most caring person in the world. Everyone loves me, they just don't know it."

Valkyrie laughed and gave Skulduggery one last kiss before letting her gaze wander down to the ring on her ring finger. She couldn't believe that Skulduggery had proposed to her! That she would get to spend the rest of her life with him as "Mrs Pleasant." Would she keep her taken last name, Cain, or settle for just Pleasant?

"Skulduggery?"

"Yes, my dear?"

"When we get married, I think I want to keep my taken surname. So, my name would be Valkyrie Cain Pleasant. Are you okay with that?"

"Why wouldn't I be? After all, Cain is a part of you and I would never ask you to remove a part of yourself, Valkyrie."

"Thank you for always being so understanding."

"Anything to make you happy."

Valkyrie smiled even more and hugged Skulduggery tightly. "Every day I get to spend with you is all the happiness I need. Especially now that I know you also want to spend the rest of your life with me."

"Why wouldn't I want that? No day is the same with you. I'm never bored when I'm with you. You make me feel alive, Valkyrie."

"Please continue."

Skulduggery laughed. "I'm beginning to think my vanity has finally started to rub off on you. What do you want me to tell you? That you are the most beautiful person I know? That I am happy knowing that you want to be with me and want to touch me even though I am only made of bones? That I still can't understand that you're mine even though we've been a couple for three years and even though you just said yes to becoming my wife? That I could die again to protect you and our unborn child?"

Valkyrie felt tears of joy roll down her cheeks. Skulduggery kissed them away one by one. "Oh, Skulduggery…" was all she got out, but she knew Skulduggery knew exactly how she felt just by those two words.

"Sch, don't say anything. I know."

Valkyrie smiled, giving Skulduggery another kiss before looking down at the ring again. She let her fingers slowly caress it. It was white with little blue spots here and there and was about the size of a macadamia nut. She loved it and even though she probably would have loved the ring no matter what it looked like; she couldn't help being a little extra happy that Skulduggery had gone to such trouble for her.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it. It is perfect, just like you."

Skulduggery smiled before caressing Valkyrie's stomach. "Our child will also be absolutely perfect. You will be an amazing mother, Valkyrie."

"Thanks. I will do my absolute best so that our child will have as good an upbringing as me and my sister had."

"And it will get that too."

Valkyrie was about to answer when her phone rang. She looked at the screen and couldn't help but grin when she saw who it was. "Tanith is calling. She's going to go crazy when she sees the ring!"

"Don't make her wait too long. You know how she gets when you don't answer within three signals."

Valkyrie did as she was told. The moment she said, "Hey Tanith!" she got a sigh of relief from the receiver.

"I thought something had happened to you when you didn't answer! Are you okay? Has something happened?"

"You can safely say that. Do you have Ghastly nearby? He'll want to hear what me and Skulduggery have to say."

"He's here next to me. I'm just going to turn on the speaker so…"

"No, start video call instead!"

There was silence for a few seconds before Tanith answered. "Okay, sure… Wait a minute." Valkyrie's screen went black for a second or so before Tanith's face became visible on her screen. Behind her, Valkyrie could glimpse Ghastly who looked as surprised as Tanith at her wish.

Skulduggery sat down next to her and waved at their friends with a big grin on his face. Valkyrie knew he couldn't wait to see how they would react when they heard the two happy news.

"Hey, Skulduggery! How unusual to see you with skin! That face suits you."

"Hello Tanith, Ghastly. Thanks for the compliment."

"What was it you wanted to tell?" asked Ghastly who had leaned forward towards the screen by resting his chin on Tanith's shoulder.

Valkyrie smiled widely and began by placing her hand over her stomach. "I have decided to keep the child."

Tanith let out a loud squeal of joy while jumping up and down in joy, causing Ghastly to quickly back away to avoid a shoulder to the face. When Tanith calmed down, he leaned forward again and smiled.

"Now I feel I can congratulate you both properly. How do you feel about this Skulduggery? It must be a little overwhelming."

"It is, but I'm also grateful for the chance to be a father once more."

"Do you know what gender it is?" Tanith asked with a big grin on her face.

"No and I don't want to know either," Valkyrie replied. "For me, the gender doesn't matter, the main thing is that the child is healthy."

"You are quite right, Valkyrie," Ghastly said. "I also don't want to know the gender of our baby and Tanith is a bit mad at me for that, but she has accepted it because she knows she wouldn't be able to keep quiet for the next six months that are left of the pregnancy."

Valkyrie laughed and looked at Skulduggery. She raised an eyebrow while nodding towards the phone. Should you or I tell?

Skulduggery cleared his throat. "That wasn't the only thing we had to tell."

"No?" Ghastly looked suspicious. "What have you come up with, Skulduggery?"

Skulduggery didn't answer, instead holding up Valkyrie's left hand. As the ring came into view, Valkyrie saw Ghastly raise both eyebrows in surprise and Tanith gape. There was silence for a few long seconds before Tanith started crying with joy and Ghastly gave them a warm smile. "You sly fox!"

"My God, Valkyrie! That ring is divine! It is so beautiful! You are one lucky woman, you! I have to be your bridesmaid!"

"Of course, Tanith. Did you really think I would let anyone else get that honour besides you and my little sister?"

Tanith squealed with joy and gave Valkyrie a blow kiss. Valkyrie couldn't help but laugh. Skulduggery opened his mouth to say something, but Tanith got ahead of him.

"Have you given any thought to the theme of the wedding? I know exactly what would suit you two! What music you should have, how the tables should be laid, what food should be served. Even what underwear would make Skulduggery drop his jaw on the wedding night," Tanith said, winking at Valkyrie.

Valkyrie laughed so hard that tears began to form in her eyes and when she saw Skulduggery's shocked expression, she laughed so hard she fell off the couch on which she was sitting. "Tanith, stop! You will embarrass Skulduggery to death!"

Ghastly and Tanith laughed as well and Skulduggery cleared his throat before saying, "Thanks for the words, Tanith, but I don't think Valkyrie has thought much about the wedding yet. She still has a child to bear before we get married, after all."

"Besides, it was only around half an hour since he proposed," Valkyrie added, sitting back on the couch. "But I will absolutely let you have full rein Tanith when we have a date to give you."

"That's all I ask for! God, what news you brought! I can't wait until our babies are born! Do you understand how much fun we will have together? And the best thing is that we will experience it at the same time with our best friend! What more could you want?"

"Nothing." Valkyrie smiled. "Not to be rude, but I really need to go to the bathroom and then I think it's about time for me to call my parents and tell them the good news."

"Of course, little sister! I suspect they will be overjoyed when they hear the news! You must tell me how they reacted and what they said after you spoke to them. I especially can't wait to hear how your father reacted," Tanith replied with a wink.

Valkyrie laughed. "I will, Tanith. Take care now and we'll see you again soon. Love you."

"And I love you. Goodbye Skulduggery! Now make sure to take extra loving care of Valkyrie, she will need all the rest she can get."

"Don't worry, Tanith. It's not the first time I've been around a pregnant woman. Goodbye Ghastly." Skulduggery nodded at his best friend and received a similar nod back.

The call ended and Valkyrie stood up from the sofa. She stretched before going into the bathroom where she relieved herself before picking up the phone again and dialling her mother's number. As the signals went through, Valkyrie felt herself start to get nervous. How would her parents react to the news? Especially over the fact that they were going to be the grandparents of a child whose father was a living skeleton.

"Melissa," her mother answered.

"Hi mom! How is everyone?" Valkyrie asked.

"Stephanie, sweetheart, how nice to hear your voice! With us, everything is fine. How about you and Skulduggery? It has been a few days since we last spoke. You haven't run into trouble, have you?"

"Nothing life-threatening anyway."

Her mother was silent for a few seconds before answering in a suspicious voice. "Steph, is there something you want to tell me and dad?"

"That's why I'm calling mom. Can I and Skulduggery come over? Preferably as soon as possible. We have some things we would need to discuss with you."

"Now you're worrying me sweetheart. Why can't you just tell me over the phone? We can use facetime."

"This is something I want to tell you face to face, Mom."

"Okay, if you say so. Your father will be home from work in half an hour. You can come over in an hour if that suits you. Alice just got home from school if you want her to come too."

"Perfect mum. See you in an hour then. Love you all."

"And we you, sweety. See you soon."

Valkyrie hung up and took a deep breath that she held in her lungs for a few seconds before letting the air out again in a long exhale. She felt a hand on her shoulder pushing it before two arms wrapped around her in an embrace. She leaned back against Skulduggery's body and let him embrace her. "Are you nervous?"

"Terrified. What will they think of you being the father? I am so afraid that they will not want anything to do with the baby because they will be afraid that there will be something wrong with it. I know it's stupid of me to think like that, but the thoughts still swim around in my head like unwelcome guests."

"You have every right to be worried, Valkyrie, no matter how irrational that fear is."

"You are right as usual. We will meet them in an hour at their house."

"Perfect. Then I'll have time to make you think about other things for a little while…" Skulduggery whispered in Valkyrie's ear before letting his hands caress Valkyrie's body warm.

The drive to her parents' house passed in silence, but Valkyrie didn't mind. That gave her enough time to gather her thoughts and figure out how to break the news to her parents. She knew that the best thing would be to just tell everything directly, because otherwise there was a risk that she would start babbling. It was a bad habit she had when she was nervous.

Skulduggery parked the Bentley next to her father's car in the driveway before activating his façade, in case anyone walked or drove by in the few seconds it would take them to walk from the driveway to the front door. He knocked on the door and Valkyrie felt the butterflies that had started to form in her stomach on the way here now begin to flutter around like a whirlwind. She felt dry in the mouth and weak in the legs.

Get it together! It's your parents you're going to visit! You have nothing to worry about. They love you and will support you no matter what you tell them.

It was her father who opened the door. When he saw Valkyrie, his face lit up in a big smile and he gave her a big hug. "Stephanie! I heard from your mother that you had something important to tell us." He turned to Skulduggery, furrowing his brows and looking suspiciously at the unknown man standing on his steps. "And who are you?"

"Good afternoon, Desmond."

"Skulduggery? Have you become human again?!"

"No, this is one of my façades that I use when I'm out around humans."

"Yes exactly! I had completely forgotten you had one. I'm so used to seeing you without eyes, nose, mouth, ears. Because you are a living skeleton that is." Desmond looked thoughtful for a few seconds. "So, I could have walked or driven past you several times over the years and not known it was you?"

"It's happened a few times, yes."

"Dad, can we come in? It's cold outside and I'd really like to tell you what I came here for before I turn into an icicle."

"Of course, Steph. Just come in. Your mother and Alice are sitting in the living room." Desmond moved aside so Valkyrie and Skulduggery could enter. "That being said, I just want to point out that you would make a very beautiful icicle."

Valkyrie laughed at her father before walking into the living room. Her mother and little sister were sitting on the couch but stood up when she and Skulduggery entered the room. "Stephanie, Skulduggery, so nice to see you. Long-time no see. I understand you're busy, but can't you come and visit a little more often, Stephanie?"

Valkyrie smiled and gave her mother a hug. "I'll try to find a few more gaps in my tight schedule, Mom. Hello, sister." Valkyrie walked up to Alice and gave her a tight hug. "How is school going?"

"You always ask that, you bore! It is as usual." Alice smiled before turning to Skulduggery. "Hey, Skul! Why do you have a human face on you?"

"Because I didn't want to show my true self to your neighbours. It would probably be quite difficult for your parents to try to explain away how it is that a living, talking and walking skeleton wanders around your house."

Alice laughed. "You're right. I think you should take it off now. I like you more when you are yourself."

Skulduggery did as Alice asked him. As soon as the fake face disappeared back into the tattoo, Alice nodded contentedly. "Much better. Now that that's settled, maybe we can move on to what you came here for. I know you didn't come here just to check on us. Mom told me that you both have something important to share that Stephanie didn't want to say over the phone."

"I think you will want to sit down for this. The two things Skulduggery and I have to tell you will probably shock you a little."

"Now you have to tell me! I will soon die of curiosity!" Alice said, sitting down on the sofa between her parents with wide eyes and an expectant look on her face.

Valkyrie took a deep breath before closing her hand around Skulduggery's. "Well... Earlier today me and Skulduggery were at Synecdoche's for a medical check-up. The reason I went there was because I've been sick and dizzy on and off for a few weeks. After she examined me, it turned out that…"

"Are you going to say what I think you're going to say, Stephanie?" her mother asked in a calm voice, giving Valkyrie the strength to be able to say the three words she never thought she would say to her parents while they were alive.

"I am pregnant."

It was dead quiet in the room. Desmond stared at his daughter with his mouth agape, while her sister had a big grin on her face and her mother smiled. Alice was the first to move. She stood up and ran over to her older sister and gave her such a tight hug that Valkyrie thought she was going to break a rib or two. "Am I going to be an aunt?!"

"Yes, Alice," Skulduggery replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Congratulations."

"Why are you congratulating me, Skulduggery? I am the one that should congratulate you! You're going to be a father!" Alice let go of Valkyrie and hugged Skulduggery instead. "How does it feel? Do you think the baby will look like Valkyrie or will it have some traits of you from when you were human? How does it feel to be a father again after several hundred years?"

Skulduggery laughed as he hugged Alice back. "Slow down with the questions. How will I have time to answer them if you keep asking new ones?"

Alice laughed again. She jumped up and down on the floor where she stood. "Sorry, but I'm just so happy! I'm going to be an aunt at the age of 17! I thought I'd have to wait until I was at least 30 or maybe closer to 40 before Valkyrie decided it was time."

Melissa stood up and walked over to her daughter. She hugged Valkyrie and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Congratulations sweetheart. I know you've talked about wanting to wait longer before having a family, but you should know that you're never really ready for children. I was terrified as I was carrying you and imagined all sorts of horrible scenarios that could happen, but I needn't have worried. That thing called maternal instinct exists for a reason."

"Thank you, mom. It feels good to have someone to talk to who has raised two children of her own. I know that if I need help, you are there with advice."

"Obviously. That's what a mother is for, after all. To be there for their children."

Now Desmond had managed to snap out of the shock and cleared his throat. He walked over to Skulduggery and held out his hand. "I guess I'll have to congratulate you, Skulduggery. Even if there are parts of you that I don't understand or like, Valkyrie has chosen you as her partner and that's something I, as a father, have to accept. You make my daughter happy and that's all I ask for. I also hope that you will take responsibility for this child. It is not easy to raise a child, especially if the child in question is a daughter. Believe me, I know as I have raised two daughters myself."

"I think you've forgotten Desmond that I once had a daughter hundreds of years ago that was taken from me. Maybe I didn't get to have her with me for that long, but the time I got with her I got to learn a thing or two. I've also been up to a lot of kids since I came back from the dead, so you don't have to worry about me being inexperienced."

Desmond cleared his throat again and nodded. His cheeks had taken on a light pink colour. "Yes, exactly, it was that small detail, yes... As long as you give your word that you will support Valkyrie throughout this process, I am not going to oppose this."

"You have my word." Skulduggery placed his hand over where his heart would have been if he had been a human with flesh and blood.

"Thanks." Desmond turned to his daughter. "Congratulations, sweetheart." He gave Valkyrie a hug.

"How can this even be possible?" Alice asked looking at Skulduggery. "You don't have a human body so how have you been able to get Valkyrie pregnant? By magic?"

"My façade tattoos give me a fully functioning body so Valkyrie has become pregnant in the normal way. Sorry if that disappoints you, Alice."

Alice shrugged. "It doesn't matter how it happened, I'm just as happy."

Valkyrie smiled at her family, feeling the nervousness that had built up within her slowly ebb away. She had always known deep down that her family would be delighted at the news. That they would support her regardless of what she had done, been involved in or would be involved in. They were her family after all and family always stands up for each other, at least if your family name is Edgley.

She looked up at Skulduggery who tilted his head in that way that meant he was smiling. He took her hand in his and squeezed it. "We have one more thing we would like to tell you. Valkyrie, do you want to show?"

Valkyrie smiled and raised her free hand. She turned it so her family could see the ring on her ring finger. "Skulduggery proposed to me earlier today. We'll get married after the baby is born and I'll get to be Mrs. Pleasant."

Chapter 5 – Planning

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