Disclaimer: Principal characters are owned by Mike Mignola and Dark Horse Publications for the comics, and by screenwriter/director Guillermo Del Toro and Universal Pictures for the motion pictures. Story is original. Hope very much that you enjoy and review!
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Beleaguered Tom Manning couldn't pinpoint just where to begin looking for his renegade freak agents. All four of them, for chrissakes! The last Manning had seen of Hellboy, he'd considered him doomed to die of his magical spear wound, right here in the Bureau's medical wing where no treatment could save him. Accordingly, the powers above Manning and his superior, Johann Krauss, had so decided, passing down the cold order to make no further efforts, and to restrain the demon agent, if necessary.

He couldn't imagine that Krauss would have had a willing hand in this insurrection. The high ranking ectoplasmic agent was far too upright, too dedicated to correct Bureau procedure to go this far off the rails. But it was no longer unthinkable that Abe Sapien, usually level-headed and of unfailing logical intellect, might have joined Hellboy in this. A certain elf princess, along with Mexican beer, seemed to have been throwing off the merman's perfect brain waves, or so his human agents reported on the night the elf prince speared Hellboy. A certain level of inebriation meant that Hellboy wasn't in best fighting form, either. Women! Manning's mental rant came to the fore. Who else but that thorny demon could be this reckless and flaunting of his authority? He was the ram who made things happen – but in spite of being seriously injured and near death, Hellboy was gone, too.

Manning's enforced hard-nosed position dictated that he should have put aside any sympathetic curiosity, and his closely held hopes that Hellboy's body could somehow surmount his injury and activate his remarkable demon ability to self heal. He shouldn't have been waiting tentatively outside of Hellboy's examination room, knowing that he was glaringly unhelpful. But now, he believed he was instead paying his hidden final respects from afar, as he found it difficult to hear Abe's declaration of failure, to witness Liz' distress as she leaned over Hellboy to comfort him. But not far from him, Johann Krauss looked in on the scene, as well. Tom hung his head – Professor Bruttenholm – this would have killed him all over, again.

Manning had felt certain from the beginning that this absurd inter species relationship could never last, that it was a disruption with the potential to throw the special team into chaos. But there was no discounting the bitter defiance that Liz had spat at him and Johann, when she discovered that nothing was to be done to save Hellboy. Manning realized too late that she had to have been the driving force behind the escape.

With Hellboy's condition becoming more dire by the hour, could he still have kidnapped Abe and Krauss, bent them to his will? Manning harboured suspicion, distrust and fear, that paranormal abilities beyond his understanding, had been put into action. None of them singly, could have secured the stolen aircraft away from headquarters. What the hell were they up to? And where were they? Having scrambled his own regular backup team and flight to County Antrim, northern Ireland, Manning thought he'd landed as close to the map destination as possible now, on the Giant's Causeway. But there was nothing here, to his eyes, except the North Atlantic Ocean at his back, empty meadows stretching far away from the cliffs, and a tall stand of rough, oddly rectangular rock.

...

Hellboy strode out the doorway of the stone Giant's cavernous belly at the head of the unique agent team, with his triumphant, brazen attitude intact. The hospitable Giant of the Causeway released them as easily as he had earlier welcomed the resident goblin blacksmith, seeking admittance for the four.

The first being Hellboy encountered under the wide open Irish sky, was newly arrived Tom Manning. For a fleeting amused instant, Hellboy watched the flustered director flapping his arms and shouting orders at his regular agents. Without express invitation to the underground, Tom would never have found Red's team. But it was all too good, even as Manning turned and staggered in open-mouthed shock at seeing him alive.

"I'm gonna be a father.." It was all too good. Hellboy brushed off any care that Manning had not one immediate question about the Golden Army. He refused to hear Manning accuse him of taking the Bureau aircraft. What did he know about anything? It was all too good.

"Liz wants my baby.." It was all too good to stay – with this outfit that passed him over to die, without any fight from this gutless wonder.

Nothing was going to level Red's impulsive assertion to cash it in - right now.

"Yeah, I quit! Suck it up!" He grinned into Manning's panicked face as he dumped his weighty duty belt and weapon into his arms. Two more special agents followed suit, giving notice of their resignations.

"My Liz – we're doing great."

Abe next stepped up, his speech short and to the point.

"Blue's acting like the worst thing in his life, didn't just happen. He's ready to crash and burn. We've gotta talk. When he's ready."

Hellboy's only second thought was to saunter back to Manning to retrieve his iconic cherished revolver, the Samaritan.

Last, Johann, with an opinion. Manning begged his help to stop the resignations, but was flabbergasted that the refined head of the ectoplasmic division would only utter crudely to him, "Suck my" – concluded in German.

"Johann, we hammered it, you and me. You can stand with me, anytime."

Manning was left alone, floundering. How could the BPRD continue to exist without Hellboy, Liz Sherman, and Abe Sapien?

His own past blathering threats to 'put an end to this freak show', clammily haunted him as he stood rooted to the spot, clutching armfuls of their surrendered official equipment.

How could they be of the same mind, all at once? His head swivelled as he watched them walk away over the grassy acreage, ignoring his desperate calls. This clear skied, beautiful day was turning into the worst of his career. Had Manning not been so disconcerted, he might have observed the seated stone Giant turning gently to see where all the little creatures had gone.

And Manning couldn't have divined the life changing conversation happening between Liz and Hellboy, off together on their own path. He brought to mind that he'd called the big, brash agent, 'freak' and 'monster', to his face. Done it once. Regretted it instantly. In the distance, that demon appeared happily excited, with arms gesticulating high and wide.

Then Manning dropped his burden to the ground and stared at the heap of Bureau field equipment, letting his brain shake loose from its meanderings to his downfall. Were they going to stay right here in County Antrim, with nothing but the clothes on their backs? No – he'd offer them a flight back to New Jersey. They would have to come to their senses, at least to consider what valuables they'd left in their headquarters homes. What would these freaks do, without their jobs, without the support of the BPRD? More for his self preservation, how was he to explain to the FBI why the unique agents had quit en masse on his watch? With an uncertain hope rising, he saw Hellboy and Liz slowly walking back in his direction.

It took a lot of fast talking, proposals and promises, but to Manning's relief, the agents saw reason in a temporary return to Section 51, though none had taken back their resignations. Not yet. There were two planes to return home. The director had arrived in a larger transport, bringing fresh pilots. As two of the pilots headed outside to board the commandeered craft, the remaining pilots and regular agents hustled away to the cockpit area, anxious to leave Manning alone with the special four. He felt nowhere near as much of a boss, as outnumbered. What to say? He hadn't after arrival, taken a minute to show concern for any of them. Plainly, as they sank into their seats, no one seemed to have any interest in speaking to him.

Abraham, downcast and solitary, gave his back to all. There was nothing to be read in the non-face of eerily silent Johann Krauss.

Looking over at Hellboy, Manning saw him huddled with Liz, his hovering, engrossed posture and the concealment of his coat, so obviously meant to shut out any intrusion. They were heads together, cosily close in their adjoining seats, and Manning glimpsed a kind of coy smile that he'd never before seen on Liz – some secret going on between them...everybody was keeping secrets from him.

"We're having two babies," Red whispered in amazed wonderment, for the fifth time.

"That's how Abe read me," Liz answered indulgently, also for the fifth time.

"Can you feel them yet?" he asked, fondly tracing his finger along the metal curve and cross of her choker adornment.

"Their cells have been dividing for just three weeks. Our babies are hardly visible."

"But I see them," Red smiled, closing his eyes. "They'll be smart, like you -"

"And big like you, and maybe not as red. Hey, I'm new at this, too, Lover. I don't know all the answers."

"I just like to hear you tell me," he murmured, his eyes more than golden with excited pride.

Manning's official abandonment of Hellboy had left him smeared under the special agents' disdain, and kicked out of all the loops. And it didn't help when he took a chance at regaining some professional consideration, with his poorly timed approach at Hellboy's back.

"Uh, Hellboy," he ventured, "I have to ask -"

"Not now, Manning," came the gruff answer, sounding muffled against his woman's lips.

"I'm glad to see you've recovered, and I want to hear about the army, how it all ended."

Without a turn toward the speaker, Red gave a derisive shrug. "Sure, you are. Ask Abe!"

Manning reversed his steps, preparing to accost Abraham.

Then the lovers' eyes snapped open with the same chill of realization – what Hellboy had just let slip was thoughtlessly cruel. He rocketed from his seat, exclaiming, "Brother! Damn!"

Manning only just saved himself from being knocked flat in the aisle. Hellboy was now beside the sorrowful merman, his hand on his shoulder as they walked into the privacy of a bulkhead recess.

"Blue," he began, contrite, "I had no right, I-"

"You have the right," Abe sighed sadly. "I very nearly put an end to the world we know, to you and your future with Liz – endangered the future of all humans, only because I needed to care for her."

"The princess." Red spoke gently to his friend's grief. "She was – too brave to let herself live."

"Too loving," choked Abe, unable to speak another word for his anguish.

The agents turned to a faint approaching footfall. Liz. Very close she came, searching their suffering faces with dark, achingly soulful eyes. There was no mistaking the agony about to burst. She opened her arms wide, and the men leaned into the rescue and comfort of her compassion. Abe dropped his face to her shoulder, held her gratefully, and let his broken heart release in shattering sobs.

"Nuala, my Love! My sweet lost princess! The only wish of my heart was to take you away, to keep you forever safe, and to hope that you would love me, too. I've not lost my friends, dear Love, though I betrayed them horribly to make my dream come true. Your principles could not have approved of what I did, even had I saved you – but nothing mattered – nothing but you, alive and whole, in my arms. Every second of our final moments together, I will never forget, dear Nuala, though they bleed out my heart..."

With deep shared sorrow constricting his chest and gripping his throat, Hellboy pressed his lined brow into her hair. He circled his arms to surround Abe and Liz, relieved beyond words to welcome her earth-mother intervention. And he let his mind rail at the shreds of his own unfinished rancour...

"Get out of our heads, Nuada! Your batcrap-crazy, lying elf ass is stone dead! I'm not your killer. For your sister, I didn't kill you. I turned my back on you. I know better. Combat 101. Fight me like a man, and maybe you live...maybe. I hate your sneaky, dead guts! I know where you were coming from, but you put my woman and my friend through a world of hurt! Think you know it all?! I'm one of the good guys. Humans can go ahead and tire of me. I have everything, hear that? everything I want. Your sister was the best of you. If I wasn't near my lady, I'd burn your ears off, good! Go to hell!"

Abe seemed loathe to raise his head from the warm cocoon of his friends. He'd absorbed every word of Red's mental tirade, loud and clear, and the biting rigour of it jogged Abe, a little, from his broken mindset. Now he heard Liz as her arm gave him a pull around his back, a signal that her thoughts were open willingly to him.

"He knows! Red knows I've conceived! The secret belongs to all of us, now, but if you hadn't known so early – Abe, it saved his life! The Angel of Death herself, removed the spear blade and healed him. Did you see? Red was unconscious, and didn't hear her tell me, 'Give him a reason to live'. And I was able to make him hear it, give him the strongest reason to live for his own fatherhood, because of you! The way he fought today – it was all for his reason to live. And Abe, if you've read from me what the Angel predicted, I don't want Red to know what I heard, please! If he ever has to know, I'll do it..."

Abe had listened in stillness, except for a slight trembling. He raised his head, blinked rapidly, and seized Liz again in embrace.

"Thank you, Liz. Thank you! Red! – Can you both ever forgive me?"

"Done," Hellboy whispered, smiling down into the cluster of their heads, "and don't ask again."

Having noted Hellboy and Abe, then Liz, taking refuge together, Johann had discreetly moved out of sight to afford them privacy. Liz had taken a second to acknowledge it, receiving his slight nod. It would always remain part of her that Johann's hand in the 'mutiny', belonged to the web that now bound the four together. Spurred on by his past tragic loss, he understood the gift of love, and had given all that he could bring to bear, to keep Hellboy and Liz from being separated by death.

...

"Dr. Krauss," Manning appealed, hoping that the ectoplasmic spirit would consent to a conversation. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the others somberly emerge from hiding and take their seats together.

"No friends, Dr. Manning?" Johann's helmet tilted in invitation. "Do sit."

"Look, I have friends," Manning began inauspiciously. "You can't know how much my job, those agents, demand of me."

"You must know yourself, but I haf come to know you, in just a few days."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Manning bridled.

"How qvickly you embrace ze vorst conclusion, mein Herr," Johann drew out, sarcastically.

"Hellboy's told me that."

"And for someone you respect so little, you find he iss correct?"

"Respect, I've tried. "I've had to settle for working in fear of him," Manning admitted sourly.

"Only some hours ago, agent Hellboy and I alone, fought indestructible mechanical soldiers – in ze Golden Army chamber. It vas miraculous that ve survived. Agent Hellboy discovered how to render ze army of forty-nine hundred, dormant, forever."

"Impressive," Manning nodded, eyes on his knees. "Fought all of them?"

"Un-imagin-able!" Johann chewed through the word as if enunciating to a moron. "I find it unforgivable zat you haf made no enqviry into ze condition of any agent, nor – taken interest in ze hardship of ze mission."

"There was no authorized mission, a stolen aircraft, and then they all quit, the minute they saw me!" Manning cried in his defence.

"It vas a rising to ze occasion!" Johann voiced a most demon-like angry growl through his mouthpiece. "And vith zat, your human vorld iss saved!"

Johann's vehemence and truth was a painful surprise. Manning's ideal Johann was gone.

But returning to calm delivery, Johann continued, "I cannot dismiss zat I did not initially object to Vashington's order regarding agent Hellboy. But, I found zat I could no longer be ze official who vould let such as him, die, merely for lack of action. Mein conscience iss completely clear on zat point."

"We had a great working partnership when you arrived at my headquarters! What happened, that you've changed this much?" Manning entreated.

"I don't hate you, Dr. Manning," Johann sidestepped, "should you haf been about to ask."

"I thought it might be something in the water," Manning grumbled to himself.

"You should haf taken note that I haf no need to drink, eat, sleep," Johann pointedly informed.

All conversation among the others had long been silenced as they listened to the irresistible exchange between the director and his former comrade.

"Now, please, Dr. Krauss," they heard a chastened Manning ask, "Would you tell me about the team, and the Golden Army?"

"And after," Johann added, "ze defeat of Prince Nuada himself, vas of large importance."

Abe couldn't help a cringe, then, until Liz caught his eye. No, the hurt would never go away. He excused himself to get a wet-down in his custom on board tub.

They managed to grab some sleep. Despite the single sized bunks provided, Hellboy and Liz occupied one together. Not especially comfortable, but good enough for the privacy.

Before all agents disembarked in New Jersey, Manning presented himself, motioning for their attention.

"I want you three to reconsider resigning the Bureau," he offered. "There could be some changes made -"

"I want my room, my shower, and my bed," interrupted Hellboy, "in that order. You can talk tomorrow."

...

"We're gonna have changes, all right. Lots to look after." Red and Liz contentedly peeled off all clothing in their big bathroom. Several of his cats took the opportunity to stretch out on the master's clothes.

"But not right now," yawned Liz, stepping into the shower stall. She moved to one side as Red joined her, and grabbed a bottle of body wash. Surveying her mate's large physique, she applied the gel to his wet skin. "You're all battered up," she murmured, circling her hands to lather up his back and shoulders.

"I feel good," he reassured, "for a lot of reasons."

As she turned to have him wash her back, he slid his soapy hands around to her flat belly, lovingly caressing. She covered his hands with hers and leaned against him. Something did change then, as Liz fell silent.

"Babe – say something," Red persuaded, wrapping her in his arms. "Whatever you need, I'll take care of it. I'll take care of everything." He breathed easier when she pushed her head back into his chest and looked up at him briefly.

"Now listen – I don't want you to get all nanny on me," Liz warned lightly, "but I didn't share our baby news with you, as soon as Abe told me." She felt Red's chin nuzzle the top of her head, and rest there. And she could envision that he might look a little hurt. But he waited.

"It was so huge for me, I had to let it settle into my head," Liz continued. "Because from the day I knew, I was praying not to lose them. My immune system hasn't rejected them -"

His core muscles clenched in anxious response against her back.

"Lose them? Liz, look at me! Is something wrong?" It seemed an eternity of the streaming shower's white noise, until she turned in his arms.

"Nothing's wrong, but it takes a little time to be sure."

Red pulled her in. "You scared me," he breathed, "I understand how scared you were, too." He smoothed the wet hair from her cheeks. "I do. It was a lot of weight on your mind."

Her lips curved up as he took her hand to lead her out of the shower. They dried each other quickly, as thoughts of their bed were closing in. Shifting over to Red's pillow, Liz wrapped her arms around his neck, as his encircled her waist.

"I can't help wishing," she said wistfully, "that Abe and Johann could find what we have."

"Yeah," he agreed. "We are the luckiest of all."

"What were our odds against having this night?" she wondered.

"Yesterday's odds?" he laughed, "I can't count that high. Chill, Babe. Kiss me - and keep it coming."

Liz stopped thinking for the moment, about tomorrow, about where they would go, what they would do without the Bureau. She kissed him and purred in his ear, "Our babies are living right here." Tender waves of warmth thrilled through Hellboy as Liz pressed his hand over her little womb.

...

In the midst of all odds, forces of courage and friendship had come at their time of most desperate need, to protect them and their love. First, Abe – so generous and kind, with his unerring powers of diagnosis. Then, Johann, whose human integrity was extended to the utmost as their ally in disaster and in battle.

Because Red's love for her was so strong, he had once sacrificed himself to the Other Side to retrieve her soul. However they had escaped or defeated dark powers and survived to this day, it was true that she, Abe and Hellboy, had each chosen the risk and promise of future apocalypse in exchange for the lives of the ones they loved.

Created by their love, another generation was about to be placed into their arms and hearts. In the end, love remained the strongest force of all – but the end, however it be fated to rest on their shoulders, was theirs to await.