Just a little short, cute story to wish you all a Merry Christmas! Hope you all will have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones :)

"You look uncomfortable."

"I'm never uncomfortable. I am always calm and relaxed."

"You say so? How is it that you have difficulty standing still and the few times you have stood still, your leg has bobbed up and down?"

Skulduggery Pleasant turned his skull towards his partner Valkyrie Cain. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and one leg swung over the other. He looked relaxed, as if he wanted to prove to Valkyrie that what she had just said was wrong.

"That might have worked when I was a kid and stupid, Skulduggery, but not now. I am much older and much wiser than I was back then."

"You're both right and wrong there, Valkyrie. You're older, but I don't know if you've become particularly wiser."

Valkyrie raised an eyebrow and looked questioningly at Skulduggery. "Are you saying I'm stupid?"

"I didn't say that, just that you haven't gotten that much wiser in the years I've known you."

The corners of Valkyrie's mouth drooped, and her brows drew together in an angry frown between her eyes. She put her hands on her hips and leaned into Skulduggery. "I'm not stupid!"

Skulduggery also leaned closer to Valkyrie. "I would never call you stupid, Valkyrie. It's just that you can't measure up to me."

Now Valkyrie had clenched her fists, and they were no longer resting on her hips but hanging from her legs. "If it weren't for the fact that I know I can't beat you in a fight, I'd beat you black and blue right here and now, Skulduggery."

"Why are you so feisty, Valkyrie? Today is a day where you should be happy and enjoy the time off you have been given."

"It was you who started it! How about you say something nice to me instead? Like, for example, how beautiful I am or how good I look in my Christmas dress?"

"You are always beautiful Valkyrie. I thought you knew I think that."

Valkyrie couldn't help but smile, even if it was just a very small smile. "So be it, but it's one thing to know and another to hear it, especially considering I don't wear dresses very often."

"You are very beautiful in that dress, Valkyrie. You should wear red more often, it suits you."

Valkyrie felt her cheeks heat up and she was forced to look away. She let her gaze sweep over the ballroom of her home, Grimwood House, which she had decorated for Christmas in honour of the day. She had invited her family and friends to celebrate Christmas at her house, with the reason that she wanted to use her ballroom. The last time it was used had been at the Requiem ball over 10 years ago.

She saw her parents Melissa and Desmond talking to Dexter and Ghastly, her little sister Alice dancing with Tanith, Melissa and Fletcher discussing their students at Corrival Academy and China and the brothers Omen and Auger Darkly at the long table set with Christmas food.

"Our friends look like they're having a good time," Valkyrie said, feeling her chest heat up at the sight of the people she cared about so much.

Skulduggery wrapped one arm around Valkyrie's waist and pressed her against his bony chest. Valkyrie rested her head against Skulduggery's shoulder and closed her eyes before letting her arms wrap around Skulduggery. She pressed herself closer to him and neither of them said anything, just enjoying the feeling their pressed bodies gave them.

A calm song began to play, and Valkyrie opened her eyes. She saw how many, but not all, of her guests got on the dance floor and started dancing. Her parents, Ghastly and Tanith, Fletcher and Melissa and Dexter and China.

"Shall we dance?" Skulduggery asked, holding out his hand.

Valkyrie looked up at Skulduggery and smiled. She took his hand and let him lead her out onto the dance floor. Once there, Skulduggery put his other hand around Valkyrie's waist and pulled her close. Valkyrie placed her free hand on Skulduggery's shoulder and let Skulduggery lead her around the dance floor. She was aware of two things: how close their bodies were to each other and how her guests followed them both with their eyes.

She couldn't care less what they thought and felt right now. The only thing that existed in her consciousness right now was her and Skulduggery. They had danced together several times over the years, but this was the first time they danced together on Christmas Eve, which made this dance special.

Just as the song was coming to an end, Skulduggery spun Valkyrie around and when she was facing him again, he dipped her so deep that her hair touched the floor. Valkyrie hadn't let go of Skulduggery's black eye sockets with her gaze once during the dance and she could see on him that if he had had lips, he would be smiling big by now.

"Valkyrie, look up."

Valkyrie did as she was told and what she saw up on the ceiling made her heart start pounding hard in her chest. She let her gaze once again meet Skulduggery's black eye sockets before whispering "A mistletoe…"

Skulduggery pulled her up until her face was only a few inches from his skull. "You know what you usually do under a mistletoe, don't you?" he whispered in her ear.

Valkyrie shivered as Skulduggery's velvety voice whispered those eleven words. She could do nothing but nod. For a few seconds neither of them moved, just looking into each other's eyes. Time seemed to stand still, and Valkyrie forgot that they were surrounded by loved ones. The only thing that existed here and now was her and Skulduggery.

They leaned forward at the same time and the moment Valkyrie's human lips touched Skulduggery's teeth; Valkyrie closed her eyes. She wrapped her arms around Skulduggery's neck and pressed herself hard against his bony body. Skulduggery tightened his grip on Valkyrie's waist and pressed his teeth harder against Valkyrie's lips.

Neither of them knew how long they stood like that, pressed together and holding each other in their arms, but when they finally separated, Valkyrie realized how quiet it was around them both. She didn't dare look around for fear of what she would see on the faces of her family and friends, instead she concentrated entirely on Skulduggery.

Applauses erupted around them, and Valkyrie heard Dexter yell "Finally!" before laughter and cheers erupted around them. Valkyrie laughed with relief and gave Skulduggery another kiss before whispering "Merry Christmas, Skulduggery."

"Merry Christmas, Valkyrie," Skulduggery whispered back before grabbing her neck and pressing her lips to his teeth a third time.