Skulduggery Pleasant Chapter 25

Skulduggery was driving through Dublin again, just wanting to see her again. He knew how Chione felt and how difficult it was to stay away from someone that you love. He stopped outside of her house. She looked out of the window and smiled. He stared up at her. Not that she would know how he felt anyway, he was a skeleton, you could never tell his expression. Valkyrie came down from her window and sat in the front seat.
"Hey partner," She beamed, "Where are we off to?"
"Just your uncle's house to help him with the decorations and such."
"Ah good, I'm great at decorations."
"You are?"
"No, not really."
"Thought not, neither am I, so we're the two least likely people for the job."
"Chione would be better at it. We should ask her to help tomorrow. Then the day after we'll have a girl's  day out and get ready before the ball in the evening."
"Good plan. So where do we go now then?"
"How about we go to a Christmas market? I've never been to one..."
"Alright, we could get presents for each other there. Although, there is a perfectly good stick over there I could wrap up for you."
She laughs and smacks his arm gently. He would have smiled if he had his façade on.
"You can't get me it, you told me what it is now, you're meant to surprise me."
"Damn, you're right...My plan is ruined."
"Just go" She chuckled.
He would have smiled if he could. He started the car and set off through the city to the Dublin city centre which had a big Christmas fair around it. They wandered around, looking at all the stalls. Valkyrie took as many samples of the food as she could stomach. Skulduggery won her a big fluffy penguin toy at a shooting game. He was fairly proud of himself, even though he was one of the best shots of the Dead Men. One of seven.
"I feel ill, but this has been so much fun, thank you Skulduggery." Valkyrie chirped.
He had to admit, he done good.
"You're welcome." He checked his watch. 9pm, they had spent all evening there. He glances down at her as he was driving, she looked tired...
"Do you want to go back to your house or stay at mine tonight? Bearing in mind it's easier to get to Chione's from mine."
"Yeah...i'll just go to yours." She murmured as she rubbed her eyes. He nodded and quickly drove to his house..
"Why are you driving so fast?" she asked.
"Because you're tired and it's been a long day."
"Yeah...you're right, even though I was at home it went on forever. Then this evening flew by."
"Time flies when you're having fun. That statement is scarily accurate for this evening."
"You enjoyed yourself?," she asked sleepily, "I'm glad, we don't have normal days out like this...like ever. We should do it more often."
"I'll see to it that we do."
They got to the house and Valkyrie stumbled out of the car. Skulduggery went around and picked her up. He carried her upstairs and gently placed her in the bedroom he had for her.
"Don't you think I'm a bit too old for that Skulduggery?"
"No, you're still as light as a feather, and Ghastly still carries me to bed when I get tired" He said jokingly.
She laughed "Thanks"
"I was lying, you're getting fat. Especially with all the free samples you ate."
"Owch...I couldn't help it, they all looked amazing, and they did offer..."
He chuckled. "You'll never be too heavy for me to carry and you could hardly walk yourself you're so tired. He threw the penguin plushie at her.
"Yeah..." She hugged the penguin
"So you're too big for me to carry you to bed but not too old for a giant fluffy penguin?"
"Correct"
"Fair enough."
He sat on the edge of her bed and placed the cover over her.
"They smell nice"
"Well, I had them washed for you recently."
He leaned down and pressed his finger to his collarbone then kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, Valkyrie."
"Goodnight, Skulduggery."
He got up and went to the door. He watched her close her eyes then turned the light off. She looked so pretty when she slept. He walked downstairs and found the bottle of perfume he sprayed on the covers when he washed them. He was going to give her a proper present this year. She liked the smell of it, so he would buy another and give it to her at Christmas, the dance. She always gave him the best gifts. He loved wearing his skull cufflinks. 'Daisy' it was called. He wondered what she would wear at the dance, she hadn't told him yet, she normally does before events. He sat down and looked around his living room. He needed a picture of her somewhere, even if he was in it with her. Maybe that's another gift idea...give her a picture of them together with a nice frame, one for her and one for himself. Good idea. He looked back at his life without her. It was so boring, and so lonely. He was filled with hate, it was through his bones. But she stopped that. She helped him out of a bad, dark place. In fact, she's done it on more than one occasion. And him for her too. That's why they're so perfect together...as partners...