A/N Well this is it folks. Enjoy!

Chapter 10:

The four friends left the Sanctuary just as the alarms went off, laughing and joking as if the last two years hadn't gone by at all. Tanith kept close to Ghastly all the way out of the Sanctuary, as if she was afraid that he might disappear again if she didn't. Valkyrie looked behind them.

"What do you suppose that is?" she asked curiously.

"That, dear Valkyrie, is the sound of a criminal escaping," Tanith replied, and she had a pretty good idea of which criminal.

"We should have told them about his power," Skulduggery muttered, but even he was slightly amused. Ghastly frowned.

"His power?" he echoed, also curious.

"Billy-Ray Sanguine has the power to tunnel through walls and through the ground," Tanith informed him, looking up. She smiled at him. "That's that 'mole' thing I was telling you about."

"Oh," Ghastly said looking down at her, amused. Tanith looked away. Though she hated to admit it, she was kind of glad that he was free. It didn't seem right, a bright new future with Ghastly, but without Billy-Ray Sanguine to fight and flirt with. She knew it was wrong thinking that, but she knew herself that she cared more for Ghastly than she could ever care for Sanguine.

Valkyrie was looking at Ghastly now, like she was wondering if he was really there or not.

"So what was it like, Ghastly?" she asked, still just as curious as they neared the Bentley, which was just down the street. "Being a statue, I mean?"

"It was like..." Ghastly mused for a moment, trying to find the right words. "It was like being in a deep, dreamless sleep, and then waking to find that you've slept for 24 hours straight. An entire day, gone."

"But in your case it was a whole two years, gone," Tanith pointed out, looking up at him.

Ghastly looked down at her and smiled that crooked smile,"I'll have to make up for that then."

Tanith grinned broadly and linked his arm playfully.

Skulduggery looked across Valkyrie to the two of them. They looked so wonderfully, deliriously happy together. Skulduggery couldn't be happier for either of them. Finally, Tanith had gotten her Prince Charming, and Ghastly had found the woman of his dreams. Tanith seemed so bright and cheerful and her pretty face was practically glowing in the streetlight, and Ghastly was more free and youthful than Skulduggery had ever seen him. He wished them the best and happiest of days together.

"We're all going to have to make up for it," Skulduggery added, looking at his friend. "You've missed yet another apocalypse, Ghastly. That just won't do."

"I'm a humble tailor Skulduggery. All I'm concerned with is getting back to my shop..."

Tanith couldn't keep the smile off her face or the happiness from bubbling inside her as she walked. They past an alleyway and she looked into it lazily, that smile still on her face, and she almost dropped her guard. In the shadow of the alley, leaning against the wall next to some dustbins, was Sanguine. He saw her looking at him, and grinned, his shades back on. Then he sank slowly into the ground.

Tanith let go of Ghastly's arm and pretended to feel a vibration in her pocket, slipping her hand inside her coat.

"You guys go on to the Bentley," she told the three of them, meeting their eyes and putting on a smile. "I'm just going to take a call."

"Sure," Skulduggery said with a nod. "We'll wait for you." The three of them moved on ahead. She saw Ghastly look over his shoulder as they walked on, and she smiled at him. He smiled back. Then she pretended to check her phone as she stepped into the alleyway.

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"Sanguine," she hissed, slipping the phone back into her pocket and walked deeper into the alley, looking around. "Sanguine, are you here?"

Tanith turned around, facing the mouth of the alley and frowning, but then from up behind her, popped the Texan from under the rough asphalt.

"You called, pretty lady?"

Tanith spun around and faced him. He was still smiling at her, arms folded and blonde hair as tousled as her own. Sanguine took her in. Man, she was hot. She was more than hot. She was...exquisite. That blonde hair, that leather, that body...she was completely perfect. First time he saw her, when she wore that leather and fought him in that alleyway, he had trouble containing himself. God, what he wouldn't give to...but she was too good for him. She thought of him a a criminal and a psycho, and that cut him deeper than that sword of hers ever could.

She stood taller, and looked deep into the shades of his glasses, her gorgeous face serious.

"I should turn you in, you know that?" she stated, looking at him with those hard, cat-like eyes.

"You should, but you won't," Sanguine replied, smiling more softly. Tanith stared at him for a moment, then couldn't help giving him a small smile herself.

"No. I won't."

"There we go."

Tanith dropped the smile and looked at him, like she was trying to read his mind. She stared at him intensely, not angry or wary, but curious.

"Why'd you do it?" she asked softly. He cocked his head.

"Do what, darlin'?" he asked innocently with a grin.

"In there, we did you stick up for me? Why did you lie to Bliss for me?"

"Technically it wasn't lyin'," Sanguine pointed out, stepping toward her. "You hadn't told me the real reason that you were in there tonight, so I just gave him my first guess. Which, now I think of it, couldn't really be true considerin' I travelled through the ground to get into that place."

Tanith struggled for a reply to that. "Yeah...but you came through that wall. In the corridor, you bashed into me..."

"An' that corridor was underground."

"Oh." Tanith stood there, stuck. Sanguine looked at her, that grin growing wider.

"I ain't gonna tell nobody," he told her softly, and she looked at him.

"Why though?" she asked. "And why didn't you tell them in there as well?"

"Well 'cause..." Sanguine struggled for a moment, then replied slowly. "'Cause you're pretty..."

Tanith raised and eyebrow and smirked, while Sanguine grinned and continued.

"An' also...because I knew your friend, Mr Ghastly, had just got outta the slammer...an' it seemed unfair that the night you get him back, you get thrown in."

Tanith's eyes widened and Sanguine smiled at her knowingly.

"He's not..." she replied hastily. "He's just...my friend, you know, we're not...together."

Sanguine smirked. "Keep tellin' yourself that, darlin'."

Tanith looked at him, then smiled, glancing at the ground. "Thank you," she said softly, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. "Thank you, for that."

"Hey, don't mention it. After all, you still owe me."

"Oh really?" Tanith said with a laugh, looking up again. Her eyes took on that hard look again. "Well, next time I'm not going to be so flexible."

"Oh, an' I was looking forward to next time." Sanguine pouted and stepped closer. Tanith held her ground. "We will meet again soon, you know. Me you, the kid, the dead guy..."

"And Ghastly," Tanith finished.

"An' Ghastly," Sanguine agreed, almost reluctantly, his smile dropping. Tanith frowned as she noticed this. He looked...unhappy, even if it was hard to tell because of the glasses. She had seen him angry before, nervous, but never unhappy. It was like he was a different person for a few short moments. After a moment that wicked smile was back, as was Sanguine.

"Until then, pretty lady." He leaned forward then, and ever so slowly, kissed her softly on the cheek. This time, instead of flinching away and yelling, she let him. When he stepped back she raised an eyebrow and he grinned.

He took one last look at her, up and down, then sighed. He turned his back to her and before the ground began to crumble, she heard him mumble, "Lucky guy."

Then, Billy-Ray Sanguine disappeared under the earth.

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In the Bentley, the team laughed and joked about the times Ghastly had missed. Tanith was slowly letting her encounter with Sanguine seep into the back of her mind.

"So, Baron Vengeous escaped from prison?" Ghastly confirmed as they told him about their last, big, end of the world adventure.

"Yup, he did," Valkyrie told him. "And then tried to take over the world, bring the Faceless Ones back, and revive the Grotesquery."

"Then we killed him," Skulduggery added. "Well, Valkyrie set him on fire, I shot him and the Grotesquery broke his neck."

"So it was a team effort?" Ghastly asked with raised eyebrows.

"Oi, what about me?" Tanith exclaimed.

"Well, you and Mr Bliss had your action together then you were knocked unconsious," Valkyrie told her, leaning around from her spot in the front seat to poke Tanith in the chest. "Some friend you are! You missed me killing the Grotesquery! You missed me kicking Sanguine in the crotch!"

Tanith laughed aloud and as the Bentley made a swift turn left she fell sideways and onto Ghastly. He grunted then looked down at her as she leaned on his chest for a moment, hands pressed against the fabric of his shirt. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other for a sweet moment. Then Skulduggery ruined it by asking,

"So should I drop you to your apartment, Tanith."

Tanith cringed and, reluctantly, pushed herself upright. "Yeah, I guess."

Ghastly frowned. "You have an apartment?"

"Yeah," Valkyrie piped up, still leaning over the front seat. "It's in China's tenemant building, and frankly, it's a shit-hole."

"It is not a shit-hole, Val," Tanith insisted irritably.

"It is a shit-hole."

"It is not a shit-hole, I did it up."

"It is a shit-hole."

"I am never letting them see 'In Bruges' again," Skulduggery muttered. Ghastly had no idea what the hell they were talking about, but he was just happy to be here, with them, and looked regretfully at the girl who had just fallen onto his chest.

"So you have to go, Tanith?" he asked sadly. "You sure you don't want to come over to my place and,um, help...check it out."

Tanith looked into his deep blue eyes. She did want to come over, she really did. But tonight had just been too mad and frankly, she was exhausted. She wasn't physically drained, so much as emotionally drained. She needed a good night's sleep, though going over to 'check his place out' was a very tempting offer (even if he didn't mean for it to come out the way it did) and she was sure she was now in for pleasant dreams. She gave Ghastly a warm smile.

"You can be sure that I'll come over tomorrow," Tanith said sincerely, "When you've sorted the place out. For tonight though I...just need to get to bed."

"No problem," Ghastly said with a nod. He understood that, even if he really didn't want to see her go. But she said she would be over tomorrow. He had that to look forward to. Skulduggery eventually pulled onto the dirty street where China's tenemant building was situated. He parked at the corner next to the curb to let Tanith out.

Tanith looked at them all, then at Ghastly. "Well, I'd better go."

"Yeah, I'll..see you tomorrow, I guess," he said with a bashful grin.

"Okay." Tanith flushed and turned to open the car door and got out.

"See you," Ghastly called out softly before she shut it. Tanith looked down at him, and smiled.

"See you," she said, and closed the door softly, heading towards to building. Ghastly sat there and looked at his knees for a moment. Valkyrie sat back into the front seat properly and looked ahead. But Skulduggery looked in his mirror to gaze at his friend, wondering what he was thinking. He waited a moment, then just as he started the Bentley again Ghastly slid over and put his hand on the handle.

"Hey Skul do you mind waiting for a moment?" he asked getting out of the car. He couldn't let her just go. Not even until tomorrow. There was too much he had to say, after making the mistake of waiting that night, two years ago. There was something he needed to do, to know. He looked it at Skulduggery and Skulduggery looked at him.

"No problem, my friend," he replied softly. "Take as much time as you need."

Ghastly smiled and thanked him, and just as he was about to leave Skulduggery called out, "Oh, and Ghastly?"

"Yeah Skul?"

Skulduggery looked at him and nodded, "Good luck."

Ghastly nodded back, looking at his friend, knowing that there was an understanding there. "Thanks Skul."

Ghastly closed the door softly and headed off. Skulduggery leant his head back against the driver's seat, full of hope and wishes for the two friends he both loved, and sighed. "Finally."

Valkyrie looked at him and frowned. What the hell was that all about? She really didn't have a clue of what was going on with those three.

"What?" she asked her partner slowly with a frown. Skulduggery merely chuckled, hoping that outside, things were finally starting to look up for his friend.

"What?!"

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"Tanith!" Ghastly called jogging up the street to meet her. Tanith wheeled around, absolutely delighted.

"Ghastly," she greeted as he jogged to her side. She wrapped her leather jacket tighter around herself, not really realising she was doing it.

"Mind if I...walk you to your door?" Ghastly asked like the gentleman he was.

Tanith smiled to herself and shrugged. "Sure."

"Okay." They walked together slowly in silence for a few moments, occasionally glancing at each other and smiling like a couple of shy teenagers. Then Ghastly cleared his throat, kind of awkwardly.

"So," he began, hands in pockets, "That Sanguine guy. Who was he?"

"Urgh," Tanith groaned with a roll of her eyes. "Just some nut-job that worked for Vengeous last year. Complete psycho. Honestly, his best friend is that razor."

"Seems to like you though," Ghastly mumbled quietly. Tanith turned to him as he stared at the ground. She bit her lip.

"Yeah," she said with a laugh, "Seems to like trying to kill me."

"And he's not bad looking either," he said, even lower.

Tanith actually scoffed. "Yeah, sorry, but I'm more into guys with eyes, myself."

Ghastly chuckled, seeming like himself again now. He looked at her, that crooked smile back again.

"So I guess that means Skulduggery's off your list too, then?" he said

Tanith looked away for a moment, thinking about that, considering how much Skulduggery had helped her in the last two years. Then she smiled softly.

"Skulduggery...Skulduggery's a sweet heart, he really is, but...I only think of him as a friend, you know? Plus there's the whole...skeletal thing. I think that relationship would hit a dead end."

Ghastly laughed as they stopped in front of the steps to the tenemant building. "Well, admittedly, I'm glad," he said, smiling. Then he looked down at his shoes again. Tanith stood in front of him. "I, um, I also wanted to say thank you."

"Thank you?" Tanith asked with a laugh. "For what?"

"Well for..." He looked into her dark green eyes. God, she was just as beautiful, if not more, as she had been the last time he had seen her. That same dark eye-make-up, that same small beauty mark under her left eye, the same raspberry lips...

"For being there, when I transformed," he told her with a shrug, "Instead of just that American toe-rag."

Tanith laughed, "That's silly. You're thanking me for being there by accident?"

Ghastly deflated slightly, frowning. "Well, yes."

Tanith looked at him, still smiling softly. She coughed. "Well, I should be thanking you," she told him coquettishly. He smiled.

"Should you?" he asked. "You don't have to..."

"Oh yes I do," Tanith insisted. "I want to thank you. I was in...an awkward position with Sanguine and you got me out of it. Thank you." She looked into his wonderful blue eyes as he smiled at her and heart felt fit to burst. She blushed and looked to the ground with a small grin as she added.

"So much."

"Don't mention it," Ghastly said with a slight chuckle. "Anything for a damsel in distress."

And suddenly, it was like the little lovebird fluttering around in Tanith's head was shot by a AK-47, and the smile froze on her face. "What?" she asked dangerously.

Ghastly looked at her, then chuckled, not fully understanding the seriousness of his folly.

"Oh, well, you know what I mean. Since I had to save you..."

"Er, you did not have to save me," Tanith told him dangerously, her smile dropping. "And I wasn't in distress!" Ghastly blinked at her.

"Um, yes, you were," Ghastly said slowly. "Sanguine had his razor pressed against your throat..."

"Yeah, well, I could have taken care of him myself," Tanith insisted, flustered. "I've been stuck in worse locks than that in the past..."

"Well excuse me if I wanted to stop Sanguine from slitting open your throat," Ghastly responded, becoming angry now, as well as confused. "All I said was that..."

"That what? I was a little girly waiting to be rescued?"

"What? No! I-"

"Do I look like a bloody princess to you?"

"No, I...what are we arguing for?"

"Nothing, Mr Bespoke," Tanith said, raking a hand through her blonde curls and looking at him dangerously. "We're arguing about nothing, of course not."

"With a final glare, Tanith stormed up the steps. For a moment Ghastly was about to let her go, but then with a heavy sigh he called up to her.

"Tanith!" She whipped around to see him storming up towards her. She faced him as he reached her and he stopped. She looked at his confused, ruined face and sighed, closing her eyes.

"Look, Ghastly," she began, apparently calming down and raising her hands. "I don't want...to leave you tonight, being angry and pissed off with you."

"Good," Ghastly said with a nod. "That's not what I want either."

"Okay," Tanith said. "But I don't want any excuses or bullshit either. Just...say you're sorry and we'll call it quits."

That did it. Ghastly frowned. "Apologize?"

Tanith looked up at him. "Yes," she said slowly. "For what you said."

Ghastly looked at her, and laughed. "I'm not going to apologize."

Tanith glared at him. "What?"

"I'm not going to apologize, Tanith," he said with good-humour. "You're joking, right?"

"Oh, I am not joking, Ghastly, not one bit. Why won't you apologize?"

"Because I don't know what I'm supposed to apologize for!"

Um, being a sexist prick, maybe?, Tanith thought to herslf. She realised that her mouth was hanging open. What the hell happened to the sweet, sensitive, intelligent fellow she had known two years ago? But you didn't know him, an evil little voice in her head whispered, and Tanith felt a lump in her throat. It wasn't that he was a bad guy, but he was being...pig-headed. Was he always this way?

"You know what?" she flared, "Just forget it. Goodnight."

She stormed up the steps again. Ghastly looked at her as she reached the top step. Was she always this tempermental, he wondered. She had seemed...a little head-strong and independant two years ago, but now she was just...impossible. He called to her again and she stopped on the top step. Tanith turned. He was three steps below her and staring up in bewilderment, his blue eyes tired looking.

"Why are you being so argumentative?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm being arguementative?" Tanith fumed, gesturing to herself.

"Yes, you are," Ghastly flared back, marching up towards her. Tanith didn't move. When he reached the top step they stood in front of each other for a moment in heated silence. Ghastly continued to stare as if confused.

"Do you have to pick a fight about absolutely everything?" he asked finally.

"Yes, I do, Ghastly," Tanith insisted. Even when she spat it, he loved how she said his name in that adorable Cockney accent.

"That's just how I survive. Especially if I've just after been insulted!"

"Insulted? How the hell have insulted you?"

"You called me a damsel in distress!"

"How is that insulting?"

"Because it's sexist!"

"Well, I'm not a sexist guy, Tanith," Ghastly insisted, stepping closer. She stood her ground. "And you should know that about me."

"Well, why should I? We've only known each other, technically, for two days, Ghastly! Forget the fact that you've been a statue for two years, forget all that time that's past. We have only spoken, fought together, fought each other, laughed, chatted, done all those things, in two days! Not two years!"

"Right, I get that," Ghastly said tensely, pursing his lips.

"Right, so, just apologize."

"I'm not going to apologize for something that I didn't mean to do, okay? And I didn't mean to insult you!"

"Right," Tanith said with a stiff nod. "So apologize."

"No."

Tanith let out a laugh and looked away. "Oh, my, God." She looked back at him, and glared again. "You have to be the most stubborn man I have ever met!"

"And you have to be the most argumentative woman I've ever met," Ghastly countered, stepping towards her angrily.

"Some people would call it passionate," Tanith sneered.

"God, I missed two years of this?" Ghastly muttered rolling his eyes.

"Yes, you did Ghastly," Tanith fumed. "But you know what, this is me. If you're not happy with that then forget two years. You get leave me for the rest of your life if you want!"

"Oh really?"

"Really!"

And with that, Ghastly took Tanith's face in his hands, pulled her towards him and kissed her full on the mouth.

A hundred thousand fireworks should have exploded over Dublin city at that moment, illuminating the already dazzling starry sky, and the crumbling tenemant could have been a magnificent palace. Or at least, that's how Ghastly Bespoke felt, as he kissed the lips of the woman he loved. He had never been kissed by a girl before, he had never kissed one, and he could never have imagined it feeling like this. He could only think of Tanith and the feel of her lips on his. He could only think of how much he loved her, and how he never wanted to leave her again. He looked forward to the times ahead, to the battles in the future, because there would always be battles and struggles. There would always be adventures to undertake. More than anything however, he looked forward to times like these, where he could kiss Tanith's soft red lips again and again.

Tanith Low gripped Ghastly's strong arms as he kissed her. After getting over the initial shock of it, she let herself sink into the feeling of his cut lips, so firm and sure, upon her own. Her fingertips dug into his biceps and she was sure she was hurting him, but neither of them seemed to care. Suddenly though, there was a sharp shooting pain on the small of her back, and her mind was disturbed by images flashing behind her closed lids...

...Ghastly cracking his knuckles and her unsheathing her sword, preparing to fight again...

...Her crying out in pain, falling into Ghastly's open arms, as he promised to take care of her...

...A dark room at night. The two of them, lovers, sharing whispers and kisses...

...A church with a stain glass window, Ghastly staring at her adoringly, Tanith with tears in her eyes, something like petals raining down upon them...

...Tanith, ill-looking in a hospital bed but smiling, Ghastly by her side, both of them looking ready to burst with joy as they gaze at a baby being placed into Tanith's arms, blonde curls, blue eyes...

...And that pain, on the small of her back, bringing with it the smell of the sea and a distant whisper calling "Tanith"...

Ghastly took his hands and lips away, taking a gasp as he did. Tanith gasped too. His hands remained a couple of inchs from her face, and her hands stayed on his arms. They raised their heads at the same time, to look at each other in bewilderment.

Ghastly looked into Tanith's almond shaped green eyes. Tanith looked into Ghastly's warm blue eyes.

"Wow," he said simply and softly.

"Yeah, wow," Tanith breathed, trying to read his eyes. Then, she gave the only reaction she could think of at that moment.

She slapped him.

Ghastly cried out as his head jerked to the side. Tanith stormed into the tenemant building and slammed the door. Ghastly stood there with a hand pressed against his burning red cheek, trying to believe what the hell had just happened, and then began walking down the steps, trying not to stumble.

He smiled. He had kissed her. He had kissed Tanith Low! And she had kissed him back, he was sure of it. He was inexperienced in this kind of thing, for sure, but he knew what he had felt. She kissed him back. So at the bottom of the steps he was still grinning, and was on a sudden high, so he called up.

"So I'll see you tomorrow then, Miss Low?"

To his delight, the tenemant's doors flew open and Tanith stormed out again, staying on the top steps and glaring down at him, bold and blonde and beautiful.

"Oh you had better believe it, Mr Bespoke," she replied, apparently furious. "And another thing. I want to make this perfectly clear. Two years ago you suggested that we become partners. Remember that?"

"How could I forget?" Ghastly responded, grinning.

"Well whatever you meant, I looked forward to that. I had that in my head ad hoped that we had a...future, ahead of us. But then you changed and that was crushed. So now that you're back I want you to make a pact with me. From now on, say Skulduggery calls you or Valkyrie calls me, looking for help, we will contact each other and we will go into battle together. Alright? Because I don't want to be left out of anything and I'm sure you don't want to either. But not just that."

She looked at him, her eyes wide and dark.

"I want it to be the four of us. Together, fighting til the end. So I want to fight with you Ghastly. Will you fight with me?"

Ghastly looked at her, his smile soft, his eyes blue and understanding.

"Yes," he told her. "Yes Tanith, I'll fight with you."

"Good," she said with a nod, the ghost of a smile on the corner of her mouth. "Okay then. So tomorrow, at your place?"

Ghastly laughed. "Tomorrow at my place. You know, you're more than just a pretty face, Tanith."

Tanith's eyes went hard again, but she couldn't wipe the smile off her lips. "So are you, Mr Bespoke. So are you."

And with that Tanith turned and stepped back into the building, slamming the doors closed. Ghastly looked at the spot where she had just been, and whooped, punching the air.

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"Ghastly and Tanith?" Valkyrie exclaimed incredulously, staring at Skulduggery with her mouth open.

"Indeed," Skulduggery replied, leaning back.

"Ghastly and Tanith, though?"

"Yes, Valkyrie," Skulduggery said, beginning to wonder if it really was a good idea telling her.

Valkyrie looked at her knees, trying to let it sink in. "That's...that's so..."

"What?"

"Well..." Valkyrie looked slightly uncomfortable, shifting in her seat. "I'm sorry, it's just...weird."

"Don't you like Ghastly?" Skulduggery asked with a cock of his head.

"What? Of course I do, it's just..."

"And don't you agree, considering that he's just a little younger than I am, that it's time he found someone?"

"Well, yeah, but..."

"And that Tanith, a beautiful girl but one who also keeps bothering you on Saturday nights, should find a boyfriend?"

"Yes, of course, but...it's weird, okay? I mean, they're both friends of mine and we all have to fight crime together so...I just find it weird, them getting together."

"But if they're both happier because of it, aren't you willing to grin and bear it?" Skulduggery asked softly. Valkyrie thought about that one for a moment, then sighed.

"Yes," she replied quietly. Skulduggery gave a satisfied 'hmph' and looked forward.

"Well then, we have to respect their choices. And it may not change everything. They will still be willing to join us on adventures and such if they do become an item. And I think they'll both be more cheerful because of it."

"I guess you're right," Valkyrie agreed, her voice slightly brighter. "And if they're both happier then that has to be a good thing. So..." She paused and Skulduggery looked at her to see her giving him a cheeky smirk.

"What do you think's keeping them?" she asked cheekily. Skulduggery looked at her and after a moment chuckled.

"Oh, I think we can guess," he said, and both grinned, happy at the moment. Then Ghastly opened the back door and both spun around to look at him.

"Hello, Ghastly," Valkyrie greeted shamelessly, with a grin and Skulduggery shook his head. Ghastly sat in the backseat with a huge grin on his own face.

"Hello Valkyrie," he greeted cheerfully, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back on the top of the back seat.

"So, um..." Valkyrie pretended to muse, sneaking a glance at Skul. "What took you so long? I thought you were just saying goodnight."

"Oh, I was," Ghastly muttered secretively. Skulduggery looked at him in his front mirror and noticed that one side of Ghastly's face was absolutely scarlet.

"Ghastly," he began, warily "What happened to your face? It's bright red."

"She slapped me," Ghastly replied, sounded absolutely ecstatic about the news. Valkyrie raised her eyebrows.

"She slapped you?" she exclaimed, sounding puzzled. "Why'd she do that?"

"Is she still coming over tomorrow?" Sklduggery asked, turning around.

"Oh, she is," his friend replied dreamily. "For the moment though, can we drive? Sorry but I'm feeling...absolutely jacked."

Valkyrie looked at Skulduggery. Skulduggery looked at Valkyrie, and gave her a shrug. Valkyrie looked from him to Ghastly to him again, then nodded, sitting back. Skulduggery started the Bentley and they were off. Both he and Valkyrie were very cofused, they knew that, but they supposed they would find out tomorrow how the happy couple were. For now though, they knew that the evening must have gone exceedingly well for at least one of the love-birds, who sat in the back seat, looking like the happiest man on earth, albeit the tiredest. At least his dreams would be sweet tonight, after two years without any.

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Tanith stomped up the stairs of the tenemant building as quickly as she could, not encountering anyone as she went, red in the face and her hair a mess. Thank goodness she didn't meet China, she probably would have thrown her down the staircase. Tanith reached her apartment and after rooting out her keys, swung it open then shut the door.

Tanith leant with her back against it. She found she was breathing deeply, deeper than she did after any fight or battle. She licked her lips and then she felt it. The tingle was still there for the feel of Ghastly's. He kissed her. Ghastly had kissed her! Maybe just to shut her up and he sure did that alright but still. He kissed her. Tanith smiled and bit her bottom lip, trying to get rid of her grin. Then she slunk into her bedroom, closed her eyes and thought of Ghastly's lips, his eyes, his voice, of more than just a pretty face.

A/N: Well that's it! That's the end on MTJAPF! I just want to say that I ended it this way, because I think Ghastly and Tanith are so much more fun as fueding friends than a love-struck two of them are complete opposites, and though opposites attract, they also annoy the hell out of each other. So now, though they are still both crazy about each other, both are too proud to admit it. That's love for ya. I have plenty of Tanith and Ghastly fics and arguements and drabbles for the future, with some Fletcher and Sanguine thrown in. Until then, I bid you, good day :D

Love from K xxx