"I don't understand why you wanted me to come to this other dimension. It seems fairly boring" China Sorrows sighed. Valkyrie rolled her eyes, and if Skulduggery had eyes he probably would have too. "You're part of the team now, and your sigils are very useful", Valkyrie said. "So you're using me? I thought that you enjoyed my company." China dead-panned. This dimension was newly discovered and very similar to the world in which the three came from. Disturbingly similar. In fact, they were now walking down a street in an almost identical Haggard to the one they knew. Valkyrie was greatly perturbed by the situation.

Suddenly a brown haired teenage girl with oddly familiar icey blue eyes, burst out of one of the houses. She was very beautiful but seething with anger. "I can't believe you Dad!" She yelled. She turned and looked toward them. "Val! Why did you tell Dad that I'm dating Fletcher? You promised!" Valkyrie blinked. What was happening? Was this girl her friend in this world? Why was she dating Fletcher? And who was her Dad? "And you too Mam! How could you?!" The girl continued hysterically. All three turned to see who the girl's mother was. But there was no one around. Skulduggery spoke up. "I'm sorry, but we don't know you, we've come from- far away. I'm Skulduggery Pleasant, and this-" the girl cut him off.

" You are not Skulduggery Pleasant." She stated. China looked at the girl carefully. "Who are you?" She asked. "Ahh, your daughter? What are you playing at Mam?" The girl laughed. China almost fainted. Valkyrie was very tempted to join the girl in her laughter. This was amazing! In this world, China was a mother, and married it seemed. But who was this girl's father? Valkyrie wanted to know that more than ever. "Alexia Jargon! Come back here this moment!" A male voice called, coming closer by the second until it's owner was visable at the doorway. He was tall, thin but muscular -as though he did a lot of punching-, sallow skinned, had dreamy brown eyes and brown hair identical in hue to Alexia.

"No." China whispered. Skulduggery reached for the air to steady himself. Valkyrie looked at her companions in wonder. Did they know this man? Alexia smirked. "This is my Dad, Skulduggery Pleasant."

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After the Skelton Skulduggery had explained the situation, Alexia and Human Skulduggery brought the group inside. Valkyrie was overjoyed to discover that the China and Skulduggery of this dimension were a married couple with three children. Alexia Jargon was the eldest, followed by Jason Austere (apparently an ironic surname), and then Regina Oust. Alexia was quick to point out that Valkyrie was currently going out with this Jason character. To mortals the family's surname was McSharry - because Human Skulduggery liked that name.

They were all seated around the kitchen table when a car could be heard pulling up outside the house. It was a red Bentley, much to Skelton Skulduggery's chagrin. In it sat a sunglassed China Sorrows (or Mrs China McSharry). She exited the stylish car and sauntered into the house. Our China looked at her doppelganger, glad that in a world where she was a mother of three she still had an impeccable dress sense. As China McSharry took off her sunglasses she opened her mouth. "Oh. I'm sitting at the table drinking coffee. How odd. With a skeleton no less. And Valkyrie. Skulduggery darling, what happened?" She said softly.

Human Skulduggery walked over to his wife and gave her a quick kiss. Both Skeleton Skulduggery and Our China squirmed uncomfortably. "They are from a different dimension. Interestingly, the skeleton is me." Human Skulduggery sighed. Other China narrowed her eyes. "There had been some report of strange magic at the Sanctuary. Dimension shunting was not one of the possible causes we had supposed. Then again, that Tanith Low was in charge. If she wasn't married to Ghastly I would have fired her long ago." Valkyrie rose her eyebrows. "Tanith and Ghastly are married?" Alexia nodded. "You went out with their son too. Until Billy Ray Sanguine killed him."

"Oh." Valkyrie replied, feeling quite uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Other China and Human Skulduggery were canoodling by the fridge when a very traumatic vision just walked in the door. A girl, dressed in pink jeans, brown ugg boots, a One Direction pink hoodie, and holding a pink iPhone, strolled inside. She was chewing gum and wore a lot of makeup. Her dark hair was in a messy bun and her brown eyes spectacled. Our China began to laugh. So did Skeleton Skulduggery. This was unbelievable. Valkyrie was frozen in shock. The pink clad girl stared at them. "What's going on? Is that, is that- me? What am I wearing!" She squealed. One thing was very clear. The Valkyrie Cain of this world was very different from the one we know.

"Oh. Oh my goodness. No way. Skulduggery, we have to go back." Our Valkyrie said slowly. Both Skulduggerys looked up and Other China shook her head. "You're not going anywhere. Not until we know more about the dimension that you come from. How did you manage to be a living skeleton, for one thing?" Alexia bit her lip. "I don't know Mam. Do we really need all this stuff about another dimension? Whatever happened to that Skulduggery, probably won't happen to Dad anyway." Human Skulduggery agreed. Other China remained unsure. She gripped her husband's arm tightly and leaned into his chest. He hugged her close. Our China resisted the urge to vomit.

"I think they should stay one night. And then we'll see." Other China decided. Human Skulduggery kissed her hair. "Okay. But Bliss and the gang are coming to stay, so unless our counterparts are also a couple, someone will have to stay somewhere else." Our China and Skeleton Skulduggery were quick to deny a coupling. " I don't sleep. I can just sit down here all night, or go for a walk or something." Skeleton Skulduggery explained. "Are you sure?" Other China asked. Skeleton Skulduggery nodded. "That's settled then. Is there anywhere you would like to go? There has to be some reason for your visit" Human Skulduggery said. Our Valkyrie tore her eyes from the horror of her likeness, "We just wanted to check the place out. But we'd like to go to the Sanctuary."

Other China took some milk out of the fridge. "Well I'm not going back to work." She stated blandly. Human Skulduggery glanced at his wife, she glared at him. "I'm afraid I can't accompany you."he said. It was clear enough who was the boss in that relationship. Our China and Skeleton Skulduggery exchanged looks. "If you give us directions to the Sanctuary we can find our way." Skeleton Skulduggery said. Our China twisted a piece of her hair. "I might stay here. Read." Her eyes were on the book shelves in the living room. "Well I'm not staying a second longer with that freak" Our Valkyrie exclaimed, already standing up.

Human Skulduggery tossed some car keys to Alexia. "You take them." He said. Alexia sighed. "Do I have to?" Her father nodded. "Yes, you have to." Pink Valkyrie looked up from her phone. "Do I have to go? Where is Jason?" Alexia rolled her eyes. "Upstairs like he always is." Pink Valkyrie rushed upstairs without another word. "Come on then" Alexia breathed and led the way out to the green Toyota Yaris that they had managed to miss upon entering. "Off we go." Skeleton Skulduggery muttered as they drove away.

Our China watched them leave and wandered over to the book shelf. She selected a book and slumped gracefully into the beanbag next to her. She began to read.