Cute Valduggery fluff :)

Oh, just a couple of notices, I have a Deviantart account now, my name on there is Sabrina-Sparrow and you can find the link to my page on my profile :) Also! I have a twitter account now, so feel free to follow and tweet me, my name is Starkid_Sparrow :)

Now, enjoy the story :)

Valkyrie stood at the edge of the shore, the waves barely missing the tips of her converse, just waiting. Waiting for him. He was late – as usual – but she didn't mind, she had the sunset to keep her occupied. The sun was melting away into the ocean, painting the sky and water an array of crimsons and burnt oranges, making a smile form on Valkyrie's lips every time she looked at it.

He snuck up behind her and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her into an embrace from behind. He nuzzled his skull into her soft, dark hair.

"Boo." He murmured in his gloriously velvety voice.

The biggest, silliest grin spread across her lips. "I knew you were there."

"No you didn't."

"I did."

"Liar."

She turned around so she was facing him. She put her hands on his torso and pressed against him as much as she could. "You're lucky I even showed up, I was very, very busy. Only Skulduggery Pleasant would have the audacity to summon me here at this hour when I am clearly so very, very busy!"

He tilted his skull at her, locking his arms tightly around her waist. "What exactly where you doing that was keeping you so very, very busy?"

"Actually I was watching Sherlock – but that in itself is nearly impossible to tear myself away from."

"Even for me?" He asked in a way that made Valkyrie think he would have been grinning at her if he could.

"Hmm, well, maybe you are the only exception."

"I better be, I have a surprise for you."

Valkyrie beamed at him. "What is it?"

"Well, you see, now I don't know if I should give it to you or not. Seeing as you are just so busy, you might not have the time to open it."

"I promised I will take some time off from my busy schedule to open this one present, and then it's straight back to work… well, back to Sherlock."

He laughed and bowed his forehead to hers so they were touching. Cold, smooth bone against soft warm skin. "Okay then, I'll give it to you. But first you need to close your eyes."

She smiled and closed her eyes, doing as she was told. Skulduggery stepped away from her and just took a moment to look at her – to truly admire her beauty. She was tall and slender, but he knew all too well that under that flawless, fair skin were toned, built muscles. She was still young and carefree – only twenty five and she always wore the most perfect smile. Her long, sleek, black hair blew around her gorgeous face as she stood there with her dark eyes closed.

He fished around inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a little square Tiffanies box. He reached for her hands and placed the box in them, closing his bony hands around hers.

"Before you open your eyes." He said softly. "You should know that I've had this for a very long time, I've just been waiting for the right time to give it to you. Okay, okay, go on, open your eyes."

Valkyrie opened her eyes and looked down at their hands. Skulduggery took his hands away and Valkyrie opened up her hands to see the little blue, velvet box resting in her palms.

"Oh my God…" She murmured, eye's wide and awestruck.

"Now," Skulduggery said. "Before you open it, there is a little story behind it. Do you remember that one Christmas where I wouldn't let you have your present because you gave me mine late?"

"Yes, I brought you a hairbrush."

"Well, this is the present I wouldn't let you have back then. At the time it was just a token of friendship, but I kept it over the years, waiting for another time when it would serve some use. Before I knew it, friendship turned to something more. I fell head-over-heels madly in love with you, and suddenly this little present had a purpose again. I just had to wait for the right time to give it to you." He reached a gloved hand to her face and brushed his fingertips across her cheekbone. "But I can't wait any longer. This is yours. It belongs to you, and I want you to have it, even if you don't feel quite the same way as I do."

"I love you Skulduggery." She said simply. "I am in love with you."

"In that case…" He ran his hand through her hair once before letting it drop to his side. "Open it."

She looked down at the little box, entertaining it between her fingers. Slowly she opened it and gasped. Looking up at her was a dazzling diamond ring in a white gold setting.

"Oh… God…" She breathed.

"All those years ago," Skulduggery said, "it was purely just a way of me saying thank you to you for being such a good friend to me." He took the ring from the box. "But now… well, my intentions are much, much, more different."

Slowly, he got down onto one knee.

"Oh my God…" Valkyrie whispered, dropping the empty box.

Skulduggery looked up at her with his big, empty eye sockets and held the ring out to her. "Valkyrie Cain, would you do me the extreme honour of being my wife, so that I can spend the rest of our lives showing you just how much I love you?"

Valkyrie knew it was coming from the moment he had gotten down on one knee, but the words still shocked her, and she clapped both of her shaking hands over her mouth. She realised she was crying – tears streaming down her face. She couldn't even speak, she could only nod.

"Really?" Skulduggery asked, sounding surprised. "Really? You'll marry me?"

"Of course I will!" She choked out.

Skulduggery laughed, almost in disbelief, and took her hand in his, sliding the ring on her finger. He jumped up and pulled her into a tight embrace letting her cry happy tears against his chest. Looking down at her, he put a finger under her chin and tilted her face upwards so that she was looking at him.

"Hey," he looked at her, "I love you, okay?"

"I love you too."

She activated his façade and pulled him into a tender kiss, the first kiss of many that were to come.

I hope you liked it :)

xoxo