Author's note: I decided to do a small ficlet until my writer's block passes. So much to do and I have yet to update my other stories. This one will be short and brief, four or five chapters perhaps. Not really a pairing for this, I guess it could be labelled mild AxI and AxS but romance is not what i am aiming for. I've also been wondering how I would fare in other genres and this is my first try lol.

Any spelling errors, minor or not, are accidental. I've re-checked just to be sure but even my knowledge of the English lnguage isn't that good. So if you do detect some errors, don't hesitate to tell me in your reviews. Good and bad commentary is always welcome. ^_^

I do not own Hellsing or its' characters and make no profit from these stories whatsoever.

She was tired, so tired. She didn't understand why. But her eyes refused to stay shut, she didn't want to rest. Looking around from her bed, she stared at the room she was in. It seemed vaguely familiar. Light poured in from the tall, elegant French windows on her left. The breeze made the light blue curtains dance. The room was, all in all, rather enormous and very tasteful. Not crowded by furniture and yet not too bare either.

There were a few lovely pieces of shining polished wood; an maple armoire, a dressing table, two square bedside tables on either side of the bed she resided in and a large, antique winged bookcase filled from top to bottom with many books. She also noticed that, if she leaned forwards enough, she could spot the top of a lovely wooden chest at the foot of her bed. Probably an antique too.

A knock sounded at the hard oak door far to her right.

She answered uncertainly, "C-come in." and an elderly man came bustling through the door, carrying a silver tray and a warm smile. The strong, delicious scent of tea wafted through the air, filling her nose delightfully. She glanced at the old man, now beside her bed setting the tray down on one of the bedside tables. He gingerly poured the sweet-smelling tea from a little teapot into a lovely porcelain cup.

She didn't understand this ritual of his. Why was he serving her tea? She was a stranger to him, wasn't she? And yet, here her brows knitted together in deep thought, even he seemed familiar as well. How odd. His crisp black vest, his prim posture. His eyes, so merry, creased with wrinkles. How did she know him?

Still watching him, she cocked her head to the side. He seemed so fragile though, his skin white as paper, his breath rattled in his throat from slight exhaustion. From the height of the windows and the view from outside, she'd guess she was on the second floor. His hands were knotted, worn and boney. But as they handed her the cup of steaming tea, they were enviously steady, not a tremble.

Even his hair was thinned a little, receding from the academic forehead, making it seem wider. His hair was pulled into a dignified and rather charming ponytail. It really suited him. Her eyes noted the salt and pepper grey of his hair still held streaks of rebelling black, and though it was thinned around his forehead, the rest of it seemed quite thick and had a very healthy shine.

"Here you are, I've brought your favourite, Sir Integra." He told her, still holding that warm smile. She blinked at him. He had called her 'Sir Integra'. Was that her name? It did sound right to her in her mind. He must've noticed her puzzled gaze and chuckled.

"Yes, that is your name." He said, still smiling. Then he pointed to himself as he sat beside her on the edge of the bed. "I am Walter, your retainer." He was still chuckling but it sounded a bit strained this time.

"Walter?" Yes, that sounded familiar too, felt so right as she said it. The man, Walter, nodded. He resumed pouring himself a cup of tea as well.

"Yes, I came into your service at age 14."

"I see."

Yes, she recalled something, but it was vague. A sharp pain throbbed at her temple and she jumped, massaging it with her free hand. Walter immediately set his cup aside and patted her back soothingly.

"It's alright if you cannot remember, I won't take offence." He chirped and she vaguely thought how eerie his good mood was.

A long passed between them. Both used the silence to calmly sip their tea, though she needed constant help. Her hands shook so hard that very little tea was left in her cup, and was instead spilled down her front, staining her pyjama top. She felt a bit ashamed but Walter paid no attention to it. He merely grabbed the linen napkin he had brought with the tray, cleaned up the liquid and them put it back, quick as a blink.

"I shall leave you to rest now." Walter said quietly and his hand gently petted hers. It was beyond servant-master relationship, she concluded. Were they close friends, lovers perhaps? She made a grimace when she thought that. Close friends sounded more at home then lovers, somehow she couldn't imagine being so intimate with this man.

A brief glimpse of a memory flashed through her mind. She, behind a desk, was signing some papers and Walter stood at her side. He wasn't as old as he was at present but at least his hair was a beautiful, shining midnight black. A monocle gleamed on his left eye.

"Walter." She whispered, watching him leave with bleak eyes. The butler merely smiled but a flash of pain shot across his face. "Do not worry, Sir Integra, I am here. Now sleep." And he shut the door softly. She stared at that door for a while, wondering if he would reappear again with his large smile. but he didn't. She wasn't sure what time it was but it felt too early for sleep. Unfortunately her body disagreed with her reasoning and she found herself yawining, suddenly feeling exhausted. Soon, she let her head fall against the pillows and sleep overtake her mind.

If only she could remember, was her last thought before darkness came in.

This was Integra's point of view. More shall be explained in the next chapters. I hope you found it intriguing. I'm uploading all the chapters at once since I've now got the time. I may also continue chapters for Mommy Seras And Daddy Alucard and The Darkest Hour. Contemplating it, actually but who knows? If I hit the right note, maybe I'll update one of those as well.

Ta-chan*_*