I AM SO SORRY FOR NO UPLOADS. SO, SO SORRY, I LOVE YOU ALL.

Christmas Tree- Lady GaGa.

December 16th. It was freezing. Valkyrie literally ran to Skulduggery's front door to escape into the heat. She jammed the key in the lock and shouldered the door opening, collapsing into the warmth of Skulduggery's house. Skulduggery came in behind her and shut the door to keep in the heat, as Valkyrie shrugged out of her coat and dropped it in a heap on the floor.

"Tea?" Skulduggery asked, as he hung up his scarf and hat on one of his numerous hat stands.

"Please."

Valkyrie went into the living room in search for a blanket to curl up in, and stopped dead in her tracks. In the corner of the room, stood a large glittering Christmas tree. Strings of lights encircled the it, and it was a real one, too, as Valkyrie could smell the glorious pine smell she always associated with Christmas. Shining baubles hung from the branches, red, white, silver, green and gold, and Valkyrie couldn't help but grin.

"And before you start complaining," Skulduggery remarked from right behind her, "I've left some decorations for you to put on."

Valkyrie beamed at him. "Good, I couldn't bear to think you'd decorated the tree without me. It looks beautiful, though..."

"It was nothing," Skulduggery said gruffly, shifting where he stood. "I just supposed...The place could do with being brightened up a bit, what with Christmas and all that..."

Valkyrie nodded thoughtfully.

"Anyway, the rest of the decorations?" Skulduggery said brightly, clapping his hands together and striding in that eternally graceful way of his to the tree, from under which he pulled out a box of decorations and pressed them into Valkyrie's arms.

"Right, see that snowman?" Skulduggery said, pulling a glass snowman out of the box. "Put it on that branch just there..."

Valkyrie, with raised eyebrows, set down the box and took the snowman off him, and put it on the desired branch. "Please don't tell me you're giving me instructions on how to decorate a Christmas tree..."

"Nonsense, just giving you a gentle nudge towards doing the right thing...Although my expertise input never hurt anyone, did it now?"

"And if it did, you managed to ignore it and remain sure that you're simply amazing?"

"Exactly."

The following half hour was spent with Skulduggery handing Valkyrie decorations and directing her to each branch. Valkyrie didn't complain about being bossed about, though. She could tell Skulduggery was enjoying himself, as was she, and that made her smile to herself as they decorated the tree and chatted away.

"There," Valkyrie sighed happily, putting her hands on her hips and stepping back, "I think that's it. It's really nice."

"I'm glad you like it. Oh, I left you this, too..." Skulduggery strode over to a desk against the wall and opened the top drawer. He took something out, and turned to present a glittering gold star to Valkyrie.

Valkyrie held it carefully in her hands and stared up at Skulduggery for moment.

"Well, go put it on, then," Skulduggery said, gesturing to the lavish tree before them.

Valkyrie, almost ceremoniously, stretched on her tip toes to place the star on the very tip of the tree.

"There," She said happily, standing back to admire her handiwork. Skulduggery came to stand beside her and nodded.

"Certainly makes things more festive..."

Valkyrie inhaled deeply. "I love the smell of pine trees."

"It's far better than that artificial tree nonsense nowadays..."

"Agreed." Valkyrie rolled her head to look at him, "Thanks, by the way," she said softly, bumping him lightly with her shoulder.

Skulduggery nudged her back and said nothing.

"So, what about that tea, eh?" Valkyrie grinned after a moment, tearing her eyes from the tree and going over to loll on the sofa.

"Absolutely," Skulduggery nodded. Just as he left the room, he turned back and looked at Valkyrie as she pulled a blanket over her lap. "You know, that was my first time decorating a tree in nearly two hundred years..."

Valkyrie gaped. "Seriously?"

"Seriously. I must admit...I've missed the whole Christmas lark a tiny bit..." He made to leave the room again, and then once more stopped dead and looked back at her. "Don't tell anyone that."

Valkyrie laughed.

"I'm not promising anything. It'll be something to hold against you in future."

"Sometimes I wonder why I keep you around..."

"So we can decorate Christmas trees together."

"Yes, that would be it."

"That, and I'm just an amazing person in general and an asset to your reputation."

"I think you've been inhaling too much of that pine smell."

"Shut up and go make me my tea."

Skulduggery laughed loudly and left the room, whistling "Good King Wenceslas", and Valkyrie rolled her eyes fondly.

Sometimes she really did love Skulduggery.