The Passage Of Time: Chapter One...

Okay ladies and gents, I've been working on something really special and it's finally ready for release! I bring to you a FURTHER SEQUEL of Wistful Kisses and From The Ashes We Rise many years after originally writing them! I hope y'all are ready to revisit our favourite pair along with my OC's from the other stories. If you haven't read the other two mentioned above this one won't make sense! Today I give you not one, not two, but FOUR chapters to start you off!


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Eyren looked up at his mother from across the table, tearing himself away from the book in his gloved hands when he felt her eyes on him.

"What?" he asked.

"What? Are you kidding me? You know what." Valkyrie arched an eyebrow at her son.

"Do I?" he asked, raising an eyebrow right back.

"This angsty teenager crap is getting on my nerves. Tell me what the hell you've done to your hair!" She tapped her fingers rhythmically against the breakfast bar.

"I cut it. I'm not an angsty teenager, physically I'm at least twenty."

"Your hair was lovely," she muttered, frowning again at the new style. It was longer on top, swept into a messy side part and shorter around the back and sides. It had a slight wave and it was soft and shiny under the kitchen lights. It suited him, and with the quality of China's ethereal beauty added he was almost too perfect to look at. "Aunt Tanith likes it."

"She would, she was the one who cut it!" Valkyrie's annoyance surged again. It wasn't that his hair looked bad, it was that it made him look older. Years ago his childhood had been snatched from him just days after he was born. Eyren Pleasant was supposed to be a ten year old boy. Instead an adult sat opposite her, leafing quietly through one of Gordon's books.

"Does it look bad?" He looked up with a hint of the innocence he so briefly possessed and her anger ebbed away.

"No," she sighed. "It looks nice, I just wish you wouldn't grow up so fast. You look like a grown man."

"I am a grown man," he replied, closing the book and setting it down. He rose from his seat and rounded the breakfast bar to stand in front of her, taking her hands in his. He was as tall as his father, standing more than a head above her.

"You're supposed to be my boy."

"I'll always be your boy." He pulled her into a hug, resting his cheek against the top of her head. "I'm just a little different to everyone else."

"I know." She sighed and touched his cheek gently. "And I love you. I just get a little sad every now and then."

"You don't need to be sad for me." He reached up to touch the hand resting against his cheek. The leather of his glove was surprisingly cool against her skin. "I like my life. And I love you and dad. I feel and look like an adult, and that's not a bad thing. I can still appreciate everything I have, you just have to let me adjust the only way I know how. Can you do that?"

"Anything for you," she said immediately. "Just give me a little warning next time, okay?"

"I will." He pulled her in for another hug as Skulduggery entered the kitchen behind him.

"You," Valkyrie growled, narrowing her eyes and rounding on him. The skeleton froze. "Did you forget to tell me something?"

"Oh dear."

"Oh dear is right." Skulduggery turned and ducked back out the door, but Valkyrie sent a lasso of shadows after him. He struggled at first, but then he sagged and allowed himself to be towed back to her. Eyren watched the interaction with a bemused expression, staying well out of the way. "You knew Tanith was going to cut his hair."

"I might have heard something about it," her husband answered warily.

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I was hoping you'd direct your anger at Tanith and assume I didn't know."

"So you're a coward?"

"When facing demigods and other maniacs? No. But telling you that your best friend is planning on cutting our son's hair without your permission? Absolutely." She grabbed his tie, pulling his face closer.

"If you forget to tell me anything else you're sleeping on the sofa for a month," she said, scowling at him.

"But you forgive me for now?" His head tilted innocently, his velvet smooth voice worming its way under her skin. She sighed.

"Yeah, I guess so." He nodded and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

"I knew you couldn't stay mad at me."

"Idiot," she muttered, but she couldn't help her grin. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Eyren watching them with a smile on his face. Valkyrie had seen that look before.

"I want what you have," he said suddenly. Their heads swivelled to him.

"You're ten. No way," she said instantly.

"Physically he's twenty, and he's intelligent enough to rival mages that have been around for centuries," Skulduggery countered.

"You've only just been forgiven and you want to jump back into my bad books already?" Valkyrie asked, arching an eyebrow at her husband. "Are you that eager to sleep on the sofa?"

"Technically I don't sleep. And I do have a point." Skulduggery turned to his son. "You don't normally have time for anything other than books. What changed your mind?" he asked seriously.

"I watch you two together sometimes and I get jealous." He folded his arms across his chest. "I don't look or feel like a child. I've absorbed knowledge and experience not only from Notorious Grimm, but also from Darquesse and Lord Vile as well. And that's in addition to the countless others I've come into contact with over the course of my life so far. I know that I'm technically ten years old, but physically and mentally I'm much older. I look at you both and I feel lonely sometimes." Valkyrie saw the sadness in his eyes and felt her gut twist.

"Have you met someone already?" Skulduggery cocked his head as he spoke. Eyren considered his answer, watching them with bright brown eyes before replying.

"No. But I'd like to." He smiled and Valkyrie's heart splintered for the thousandth time. Her boy, her beautiful baby, even with all his knowledge and power, was still so very young. But he was smart and he was so different to a normal child. She knew that; she had to let him grow up the way he felt was right.

"Alright," she sighed. "Alright, I'm sorry. I shouldn't yell at you for wanting to grow up." She forced a smile onto her face. "Your hair looks nice. You're a wonderful young man and I don't give you enough credit. Whoever you settle down with in future will be a lucky person."

"You look as excellent as I did when I had flesh," Skulduggery agreed. Eyren's grin was wide and beautiful.

"What're you so happy about?" Art asked as he wandered into the kitchen with a book tucked under his arm. He nudged Eyren as he walked by, mirroring his grin.

"Nothing," Eyren replied. "Mum likes my hair."

"Does she?" Art's eyebrows rose in surprise. "There was me thinking you'd go a bit insane over it."

"Oh, she did," Skulduggery answered.

"Big time," Val agreed. "But I know I can be a nut job so I said sorry."

"It was all very noble," Skulduggery agreed.

"Goon," she muttered, but she couldn't help her smile.

"Emma and I were thinking of going out," Art continued, grabbing a water from the fridge. "Fletcher is coming with us so there'll be no walking the streets. Can Eyren come?" The young man looked at his father with a spark of excitement.

"You're sure there'll be no wandering around?" Skulduggery asked.

"Certain."

"I don't see why not then," the skeleton answered.

"Really? You're sure?" Eyren asked, barely concealing his excitement.

"You want us to let you live your life, right?" Val grinned, forcing down her worry. "If you want to go you can, just make sure you take your phone." Eyren kissed her cheek tenderly and hugged his father before turning to Art. "Where are you going?"

"China's library."

"I've wanted to go there since it was moved from the mansion. You're sure you don't mind me coming?"

"Not at all. China complains every time we visit that she misses you. She'll be over the moon to see you."

"I'll go find a jacket," he answered. The bounce in his step made Valkyrie's heart squeeze even as it ached.

"Are we doing the right thing?" she asked Skulduggery when Art had left.

"Who knows?" he answered. "There's never been a child like him before and it's highly unlikely that there'll ever be one again." The skeleton cocked his head and pulled her closer. "He isn't going alone, he's smarter than both of us and he's been trained to fight by the best of us."

"I still worry." She chewed her lip anxiously.

"So do I, but all parents do." He tipped his head lower to kiss her gently. "He has more power than both of us put together and he keeps a better lid on it. He'll be fine, Valkyrie." She sighed and nodded, laying her cheek against his chest.

"I know. I just wish he wouldn't grow up so fast."

"Unfortunately that was taken out of our hands. It's up to him to make the right choices now. We just need to be there when he needs us." His head tilted and she sensed his smile. "Failing that, one of my nick of time rescues should do the trick."

"Well that's true," she snorted. "I've lost count of how many times you showed up just as someone was trying to kill me."

"Exactly. Stop worrying so much." She smiled and let him kiss her again as Alice and Tanith walked through the door.

"Gross, get a room," Alice teased, wrinkling her nose.

"You never listen when I say that to you and Fletcher," Val retorted.

"Yeah but I'm not a figure of authority," her sister shot back. Tanith snorted.

"If you think Val has ever been a successful authority figure for you then my name is Gregory," she chuckled, resting her hand on the sword at her hip.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Alice narrowed her eyes at the older blonde.

"It means you never listen to me when you're supposed to," Val explained. "What are you two doing in anyway? I thought you were training for the day."

"It's raining," Alice and Tanith said together.

"Babies," Valkyrie muttered. "I need to go see Gordon." She left the room before they could say anything else.

"What's up with her?" Tanith asked, watching her leave.

"Our ten year old adult son decided today that he wants to find himself a partner," Skulduggery answered. "Oh, and you cut his hair, which apparently she's mad at me for, but not you."

"Ah. Eyren wants to start dating. I bet that's weird for you."

"As you can imagine, Valkyrie is quite upset."

"But you're not?" Alice asked.

"Of course I am. He's my son." Skulduggery sighed and his head dipped. "But he wants to grow up and we have to let him. He's not a normal child. I'm not even sure he is a child anymore. All he lacks really is life experience."

"He killed a demigod and absorbed his powers after already absorbing the magic of both Darquesse and Lord Vile when he was like a week old. You can't get much more life experience than that," Tanith pointed out.

"I'm well aware of how powerful he is. What I mean is that since then he's been sheltered. He hasn't ever been outside the garden boundaries."

"He'll be fine, Skul." Tanith walked over and laid a hand on his bony arm. "Loosen the reigns a little at a time. He'll be grateful to you for trusting him."

"He's a smart kid," Alice agreed. "And he'll be even safer with Art and Emma, they're almost as smart as him and way more streetwise." She folded her arms across her chest. "The streets are safer now the Guard has managed to round up most of the rogue Vampires and get them settled back in their District."

"I know." Skulduggery straightened up and tipped his hat lower over his eye sockets. "If you don't mind, I'd like to talk about something else."

"Sure. Have you decided on Ghastly's offer yet?" Tanith asked. Alice leaned forward eagerly.

"I have."

"And?"

"My answer is the same as always. I'm a detective. I solve murders and punch bad people. That's my job and I'm happy with that." He slipped his revolver out of his jacket and checked the chamber was loaded before putting it away again. "Speaking of which, I'll need to get going to do exactly that very soon."

"Not so fast," Tanith argued. "Why don't you want to be an Elder? Erskine and Ghastly have been arguing about it since Madame Mist died ten years ago."

"It may have escaped your notice, but there are many people who don't like me."

"People didn't like Mist either," Alice answered.

"That's not the point."

"Can't you just say yes and be done with it?" Alice muttered, rolling her eyes.

"What part of I don't want to be an Elder don't you understand? I didn't want to be one before the Reckoning, I don't want to be one after the Reckoning and I won't want to be one one in the future." The skeleton folded his arms across his chest. "I much prefer getting into fights and arresting people." Alice pursed her lips as Tanith shook her head wearily.

"What about Art?" Alice asked.

"What about him?" Skulduggery cocked his head.

"Why doesn't Ghastly ask him? Having him as an Elder not only adds a powerful third player, it also shows the world that the Irish Sanctuary has forgiven him for his blood." Alice shrugged. "It makes sense to me."

"That...actually isn't a bad idea." The skeleton's head swivelled towards the door at the sound of approaching footsteps as he spoke.

"What's not a bad idea?" Art asked as he appeared in the doorway again. "Also Eyren can't find his phone."

"Has he checked Gordon's study? That's where I usually find it," Alice said.

"No, I'll tell him." He paused, turning his lamp like green eyes on Skulduggery. "What's not a bad idea?"

"Alice suggested you joining the Council of the Elders," the detective explained. Art blinked in surprise.

"When people recognise me they don't go 'Oh, there's that guy that got killed by his own dad'. People heckle me. They yell threats at me, Skulduggery."

"And if you were to join the Council you'd receive a formal pardon, which would publicly prove your innocence and make any ill behaviour towards you a crime punishable by law," the skeleton replied smoothly. "Think about it. I'll mention it to Ghastly so he can discuss it with Erskine."

"Uh..." Before Art could think of a response Skulduggery left the room. "I'm going to get elbowed into this aren't I?"

"Definitely," Tanith nodded. Art sagged.

"Crap."

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A/N: I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone that has read my work over the years. The reviews are always lovely to read and it makes me so happy to know that you all enjoy the things I've written. I've been through Wistful Kisses and From The Ashes We Rise and polished them up a bit. The story hasn't changed, but for any new readers it'll hopefully improve the quality a bit. Thank you again everyone!