Alexa and her father were driving again. Speeding way past the speed limits. Alexa didn't understand how her father had gotten a car so quickly after just arriving. Alexa was seated in the back right next to her mother who was still dead out, Alexa was beginning to worry that the bullet had done more damage then they thought.

Alexa stopped those thoughts, Her mother was one of the most powerful mages she had ever seen. She would get though this. Alexa thought.

Then as If Xena heard her daughters thoughts her eyes flashed open. Alexa gasped.

"Mum?" Alexa asked quietly and Xena looked at her with a scowl on her face.

"Where's the bastard?" She hissed.

Alexa blinked "You mean Timmy? Oh he's dead".

"Good to see your awake darlin" Hex called into the back seat. Xena gracefully climbed into the front seat and gave her husband a peck on the cheek.

"What did I miss out on?" She asked.

"We haven't been able to track down your brother. But we found someone who might know him" He confirmed and Xena raised an eyebrow.

"And who might this be?"

"Valkyrie Cain"

"Hmm never heard of her"

"We tracked down her location and where heading there now" Hex said, sounding like a secret agent. They drove along the streets of Dublin until arriving to a mansion. The sight before them made Xena slightly angry. There was a girl with black hair on her knee's with a knife stuck in her shoulder. Skulduggery her older brother was standing besides her and had a knife pointed at him, The girl holding the knife had blond hair and was smirking.

Xena was out of the car in a flash and her body was covered in red energy. She twisted her wrist and a invisible force knocked the blond girl of her feet.

"Leave him alone!" Xena hissed, her voice cold as ice. The blond woman looked up and her eyes went wide with horror. Xena's body glowed with red energy. Xena pulled her hand into a fist and twisted it lightly. A sickening crack came from Rose torso and she was flung into the wall. She dropped to the ground unconscious.

Valkyrie ran towards Raven and helped her up, before Dusk picked her up bridle style. and helped her up seeing as how Skulduggery couldn't. He seemed to busy looking at the new woman.

Xena's eyes stung with tears. Her brother!. Her kind, caring over protective brother was only standing a few miles away from her.

(Flashback)

"Xena?" Skulduggery asked. Walking though there back yard looking for his little sister.

"Xena where are you?" He called out while ducking under a low tree brunch. He heard a sob from high above ground and looked up. His eight year old sister was high in the tree. Hanging onto the tree trunk for her dear life.

"Xena? What are you doing?" He asked worried. Xena looked down at her eighteen year old brother and Skulduggery saw that she had been crying.

"N-nothing" She stuttered and squeezed her eyes shut. Skulduggery sighed.

"Where those kids picking on you again?" He asked kindly. The only respond he got was a nod.

"Why didn't you come and get me?"

"I wanted to be strong…just like you!" She sobbed. Skulduggery slightly smirked. He spread his arms out in front of him and looked up.

"Xena I want you to jump down okay?" She shook her head and Skulduggery sighed.

"Come on Xena I'll catch you I promise" He said truthfully. Xena looked into his eyes and nodded. She hesitated when she let go of the trunk. She went to jump when her foot slipped and she started falling towards the ground. Before her body came in contact with the hard ground a pair of strong arms caught her.

"See I told you" He said and clutched her close to him and carried her into the house.

(end of flashback)

Before Skulduggery could even register the fact that his sister wasn't dead, she was already in his arms. Skulduggery would of cried if he could of. He hug her tight afraid to let go.

"Xena" Skulduggery whispered.

"Skulduggery" She simply said. Hex smiled. Happy to see his old friend again. Skulduggery use to be Hex's neighbour that's how he met Xena, they use to be the best of friends.

"How?, how is this happening I thought you were dead!" Skulduggery asked. Xena slightly pulled back to look into her brother's empty eye sockets.

"I'll explain later" Skulduggery hugged her again.

"Skulduggery Pleasant" Hex said with a grin walking up to his old friend.

"Hex Storm?" Skulduggery said happily. The two friends hugged and Xena smiled. Skulduggery suddenly realised something and even though he wanted to talk with his sister he had to check on another important person in his life. He walked inside with the storm family following him and they walked into the lounge room. Raven was laid out on the couch. There was a patch of blood of wear she had been resting.

"Raven" Skulduggery asked with concern and kneeled down beside her resting figure.

"Hi" She said weakly. Dusk had pulled out the knife and handed it to Skulduggery.

"It had been dipped in poison" Dusk said. Skulduggery clenched the knife in his hand.

"We must get her to kenspeckle!" He said and went to pick up Raven but she stopped him.

"No. just wait a while" She whispered to him. Then shadows started to come out of the knife wound and pull the skin back together. Everyone watched in amazement as Ravens powers healed her. The shadows faded away and nothing was left but a small scar.

"See all better" She said with a grin and Skulduggery helped her stand. Raven's gaze turned towards the Storm family and she smiled before looking at Skulduggery.

"And who are these wonderful people?" Raven asked him. Skulduggery looked at everyone and did a mouth less smile.

"Everyone this is my sister and her family Xena Storm" Raven grinned and Valkyrie's mouth dropped. Dusk seemed the same as he didn't know much about Skulduggery's path.

"I think introductions are in order" Hex advised and Raven smiled. Skulduggery stood proudly.

"This is Valkyrie Cain, partner in crime" Valkyrie stepped forward and shook all there hands.

"Let me warn you though she is quite the stubborn one" Valkyrie hit Skulduggery's arm playfully.

"Am sure you all know Dusk, don't worry his good" Dusk didn't shake anyone's hand but nodded in greeting. Skulduggery placed his arm around Ravens waist.

"This is Raven Shadows" Raven being Raven of course hugged everybody warmly and smiled.

"Well as you already know, Xena is my sister and this is her husband Hex storm-" Skulduggery paused when he finally notice Alexa.

"Alexa?" Skulduggery asked. Alexa's hair turned a light pink showing she was shy and she blushed. Skulduggery slightly opened his arms asking for a hug and Alexa gave her uncle a hug. She broke the hug and smiled at everyone else. There was a slight hissing noise and Ravens pet snake Viper appeared on top of the couch. Raven offered the snake her arm and is climbed up.

"Cant forget about Viper" Raven said. Everyone sat down in the lounge room and Skulduggery slightly leaned forward.

"Ok now that introductions are over, begin your story" Skulduggery asked. Xena looked at her husband who grabbed her hand before she said.

"Where do you want me to start?"

TA DA finally i have a new chapter! about time aye? ;DDD