Genma: Happy holidays to all of my readers.

Alucard: *Wears Santa hat* Aren't you forgetting something…?

Genma: Oh, yes. I am in no way claiming ownership to the series Hellsing. The manga belongs to Kouta Hirano, the anime to Gonzo studios, and the OVA series to Geneon animation.

Alucard: Very good. My Christmas gift to you will be not shooting you right here.

Genma: Meh, good enough. Enjoy the show.

Order I – The Invitation

From a far corner of the Hellsing manor, Sir Integra's attention was drawn from her paperwork as a nearby grandfather clock began to chime, signalling the coming of another hour. Listening, the Protestant Knight heard the clock chime eight times before ceasing the noise, returning to its rhythmic ticking sound. "Bloody hell, have I really been here this long?"

Turning to her own window, she could see that the darkness had rolled in outside, made only more apparent from the falling whit flakes of snow December; one of the most beautiful and pristine of months, and yet one Sir Integra loathed. Being jolted from her thoughts by a knocking at her office door, she turned and instructed, "Enter," before her retainer Walter opened up the door.

"Good evening Sir Integra," Walter began, walking in while carrying a silver tray with tea, scones and clotted cream. Placing the tray on an open section of her desk, he bowed at the woman's thankful nod before saying, "If I may Sir Integra, perhaps you should retire for the evening; or in the very least stop to rest for an hour or so. You have been working non-stop since this morning, and I fear this stress load is simply no good for your health."

"Neither is all this pastry you insist on bringing me," Integra responded as she took the orange, smouldering end of an old burnt-out of what was once a full cigar into the glass ashtray beside her, while Walter poured tea into a ceramic cup. "I just want to get my work completed." Taking a sip of the tea, she placed the cup and its saucer beside her ashtray and added, "Besides, if I put off completing paperwork, or so much as cut back to doing just four or five reports per day, I will have an even bigger mess of papers come the end of the month. I'd rather get the worst of it done before the month is up."

Standing facing the window, Walter placed his hand to his chin as he thought about her answer; he then responded in a pondering voice with, "Hm… yes, I suppose that's true. I also suppose with the approaching holiday and all its related festivities, that it would provide a good reason to get through tiresome work at a fast pace."

Nodding, Sir Integra took a cream-buttered scone from the tray and took a small bite before adding, "Yes; but more importantly, because of these silly festivities the Round Table meetings have been giving a noticeably small load of paperwork for the past few weeks." T a sip from the teacup on her desk, she also added, "Oddly enough, reports of attacks have been rather low as of recent as well. Given this abundance of extra time, it seems prudent to catch up on back-logged work." Looking up at her butler accusing, she asked, "Why are you suddenly so concerned about me taking some time off anyway, Walter?"

Instead of answering the personal question, the butler simply pulled out a small envelope from his breast pocket and handed it to the woman. "This letter came for you in the mail this morning, Sir Integra. I suspect it must have been misplaced at some point." Integra took out her letter opener from her top drawer and sliced the top open while Walter added, "I did not open the parcel, but I think we both know what it says inside."

Gaining a look of sheer bitterness, Integra tossed the unopened document to the floor. "Absolutely not. Tell them I decline the invitation, the same as any other year. You'd think they'd have learned by now that inviting me to these things is utterly pointless."

Walter picked up, opened and then looked over the discarded letter. "Hmm," the elderly man said as he cleared his throat, "Sir Integra, I am not one to force something on you, but I would ask that you reconsider this. It seems that those in attendance are not simply our fellow Knights of the Round Table this year; it will be their escorts as well."

Sighing, the suit-clad woman stood up from the desk and said in a defeated tone, "I just don't go to these subjective parties, Walter." When it seemed as though Walter would respond, Integra raised a hand to silence him. "Meetings with those men are dreadful enough; but honestly, having to engage in conversation with them, not to mention dance, is simply out of the question." she retorted, not taking her eyes off the scattered paper before her.

"Forgive me Sir Integra, but if I might state that we all must endure thing we'd rather not do. If I may speak freely, but I believe it would probably be in your interest to think about this decision. For it seems not only the Council of Twelve and their guests will be there." Walter said, continuing to study the invitation.

Integra sighed, "No, they are not the only ones in attendance. Members of the Royal Family shall be there, as well as Her Majesty personally. I just hope they don't invite that worthless bitch Camilla."

"It would not look so good for the Hellsing family's reputation if they rejected an invitation from the Queen," Walter responded, trying his hardest to sell Sir Integra on the idea." We're already on shaky ground for keeping vampires and foreign mercenaries as it is; the last thing we want is to seem as though we hold ourselves higher than Her Majesty."

"No; we certainly wouldn't want to appear that way to our reigning Monarch, now would we?" the ominous voice of Integra's dark servant resonated as Integra's shadow elongated from her feet up along the wall. As the shadow became a red mass, the form of Alucard appeared from it and he told her, "Besides, come now Master; I think it sounds like lot of fun."

Giving an annoyed look to the No-Life King, Integra flatly told him, "You should know by now it's rude to eavesdrop on another person's conversation, Alucard. Especially if you then interject yourself."

The vampire then stepped outwards from the wall, walking towards Integra while giving his Cheshire cat grin and exposing his fangs "I know, Master. But I was already on my way here, and simply overheard your conversation as I came in."

Integra found that hard to believe; but still she responded to him. "Well, since you overheard us, you're well aware of the fact that I will not be in attendance."

Alucard tilted his head, peeking at the invitation on the desk from behind his crimson sunglasses. "And why ever not? I would think you would go there just to show them you're not afraid of a little socializing; after all, it is the season of giving if I'm correct. Why not give those stuffy old men a real surprise?"

"I have too much work to do for this organization, which you contribute to in no small part," Integra told him, sitting back down behind the desk. "I have no time for such trivial matters, and am too old for menial fun." Integra stopped her long tirade at this point, finally looking her servant in the eye.

"Hmph.. that's a truly absurd argument Master," Alucard scoffed, crossing his arms. "There is never a time in your life when you're too old for a little fun and amusement. I happen to be a good example; as was your father. Even Walter over here still finds time to unwind and enjoy himself occasionally." To this comment, Walter simply nodded.

Integra knew she had little choice and was running out of excuses. If she did not stop this argument soon, Alucard would completely discover her real issue with going. The woman gave a sigh as she put her pen down. "Fine. I will accept the invitation. But I am doing this for the organization and the Hellsing name; not because you'be done anything to convince me otherwise."

Walter bowed after this statement, interjecting with, "Very well then. I shall go and inform the Round Table members that that you shall be in attendance." With that the butler walked out, leaving Master and Servant alone in the awkward silence.

"Now why did you really come in?" Integra asked the red clad vampire, standing back up from her half-finished desk with her teacup in her hand.

"Hm?" Alucard asked in amusement, leaning against a wall with his left foot.

"You said earlier that you came in for some other reason, unrelated to this matter," She smirked, trying to catch her pet in a lie. "What was it exactly; because you never told me earlier?"

"I wanted to give you something." Alucard simply responded, pointing his white-glowed finger at the young Hellsing woman's desk something materialized onto it. It was a white, rectangular box held closed with black lace ribbon. Integra carefully unwrapped it and then removed the lid, and her eyes lit up upon seeing the box's contents. Flasing her servant a smile, she asked him, "You knew I'd say yes didn't you?"

"And surely you didn't think I'd let you go through the hassle looking for one of those?" Alucard retorted, watching Integra's reaction to what he had given her.

Integra looked back to the invitation again. "I suppose now the only thing I need is an escort."

"It is not necessary for you to go with one, but it would be a better idea than facing those dirty old men alone." Alucard shrugged, thinking about and loathing the idea of one of those old suits eying Integra.

"Perhaps, if it sounds so entertaining to you, then you would be the one to escort me to this event." she asked, looking into her servant's red, inhuman eyes. In response, Alucard got down on one knee, as he bowed to his Master respectfully.

"It would be a pleasure and an honor, Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing." The Nosferatu said before standing upright. "I suppose I'll go tell the Police Girl the good news."

Integra raised an amused eyebrow at his mention of the fledgling vampire in a conversation where she otherwise would not have come up. "She knows about the party then, does she?"

"She looked so disappointed when I told her parties weren't your thing. I suppose now she'll have a little bit more of a smile to go on that face of hers."

Integra let out a small chuckle at Alucard's statement. "Off you go then." Upon being given the instruction, Alucard slowly sank into his own shadow and dissolved through the floor, leaving Integra alone in her office.

~*+Down in the sublevels of the Hellsing Manor+*~

Seras lay in her chambers, sound asleep in her coffin and dead to the world so to speak. Blissfully unconscious and deep in sleep, the enfant vampire was unsuspecting to, and unaware of, the elder vampire, her sire, coming her way. Entering the room as crimson mist, Alucard materialized and then sat on the lid of her casket, tapping the top.

"Police Girl, wake up," the Master vampire said to the coffin and fledgling situated inside. After two minutes of utter silence and no result, Alucard said to himself, 'You know what?' concentrated on entering the blonde's dreaming mind.

'Hey Police Girl! Wake up!' Alucard demanded, continuing with his pestering. He was determined to get a result no matter how long it took. 'Police Girl, Police Girl, Police Gir…' Alucard stopped as he plopped on the stone floor after the tired fledgling removed the coffin's lid, unaware of who was on it.

"Ugh, God, what time is it?" She asked the air as she checked her wrist watch. It seemed that it was already 8:30 p.m., long past when she usually got up.

"I believe you slept, in Police Girl," the dark voice piped up with from beneath the overturned coffin lid, on the floor where he was situated.

Seras' eyes widen in shock upon seeing that she had pinned her master to the floor. "M-Master? I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were here, gosh I'm so sorry." She squeaked to the red fedora poking up as she moved the oak lid away.

"Think nothing of it Police Girl; it was nothing at all," Alucard replied, dusting himself off after rising from the ground.

"Does Sir Integra need us for an assignment?" The fledgling asked worriedly, worried she was holding up the entire squad.

"No, but she does have to do with why I'm here." Alucard began, sneering as he took off his glasses. "You remember how I mentioned that Christmas party she was invi-"

"Did she say yes?" The cheery vampire asked as she cut off her master, an enthusiastic smile on her face.

Alucard smirked at the young girl's excitement. Even after all the things this job had forced upon her, she was still a vibrant young ball of energy and optimism. She was almost like a young child, which made her even more like a daughter not just to Alucard, but to all of Hellsing. "Why yes she did, actually."

Seras' eyes widened so far they looked like they would tear from the tension on her skin. "Oh that's great! Will you be going too, Master?"

Alucard chuckled at the question. "Of course; I am to be her escort at the party. Someone needs to keep those filthy, old hands off My Master," he added, now taking on a more protective tone; but also easily shaking it off as he continued. "As well…" He started, "After a bit more discussion, I'm also to inform you that you are invited as one of Sir Hellsing's guests."

Seras gasped. She had not been to a Christmas party since the tenth grade; but this was something else entirely. "Really? You're not joking about this, are you Master?"

Alucard patted her blonde head, "Why would I jest about that?"

"This is amazing!" Seras cheered, raising her hands to the air. "I've never been to a fancy party before, with dancing and so many people and…" Seras trailed off. "Um, Master…?"

"Yes?" Alucard inquired, knowing his Draculina was about to ask him something important to her.

"Do you think Sir Integra would be okay with me bringing someone along as a guest?" She asked shyly.

"I don't see why not, depending on your ideal guest. Who did you have in mind?" The Nosferatu asked, curious of the answer Seras gave.

"Well I was thinking of bringing the captain along, if it were alright. He'd love to see a party like this just as much as I would, I'm certain."

"Ah yes, the French Mercenary with the eye patch…" Alucard reflected, putting his hand to his chin as he tried to remember the man's name and failed. "…What's his name again?"

"Pip. Pip Bernadotte," Seras chimed in. "I mean… if he looked presentable and wanted to come, of course. I wouldn't try and embarrass Sir Integra or anything."

Alucard looked down at her, an intrigued smirk on his face. "I don't see any problem with that; and I think as long Integra knows you want to bring someone it should be fine."

"I think I'll go ask him now then," Seras said and began levitating up to the ceiling, starting to slide straight through using her abilities.

"Oh? And what is this?" Alucard asked aloud, incredulous to the sight before him. "My fledgling isn't using the stairs. It seems you finally started testing what you're truly capable of, Seras Victoria."

Seras went red, slightly embarrassed at such a comment from him. "T-Thank you Master; and yes, I have been practicing."

"And I'm proud," Alucard smirked as the Police Girl disappeared. "Though I doubt she's so skilled as to master it just yet. This should be amusing…" With that the red vampire disappeared as well, off to attend to whatever matters he could think of while Seras attended to her own matters.

*+~Meanwhile~+*

Up in the mercenaries' barracks, the guns for hire were going through their usual routine when there was no action; nothing as exciting as battle. Many of the troops decided to test their trigger fingers and went to the shooting range outside. A few lingered in the room, one was taking a nap, three were playing cards in the corner and the leader of this miniature army, Captain Pip Bernadotte was just sitting on his cot, reading a novel.

"Hm, I didn't know vampires could do that…" The mercenary said quietly to himself, pondering how he didn't know that bit of info since he worked with two of them.

"Didn't know we could do what?" A feminine voice squeaked from the ground level, getting the man's attention instantly. The Captain set down his book and jumped from his cot, having been utterly shaken by a disembodied voice speaking to him out of nowhere.

"Mignonette, that you?" Pip asked, taking a slight step back and hearing a light squeak in her voice.

"Meep! Be careful where you step!" The voice came again. Pip turned around and finally looked down and saw the Police Girl, or at least the top half of her. The rest seemed to be… stuck in the floor?

"Eh, vat are you doing zere Miss Victoria?" The confused mercenary asked the VERY petite blond.

"Well," she said in an embarrassed tone as she scratched her head, "I tried going through the sublevels up to here, and it didn't really work out as I planned."

"I can zee zat," Pip said, taking in the sight before something occurred to him. "Wait… why were you coming up 'ere?"

Seras immediately blushed. "O-Oh. Well, uh, I was hoping to ask you something."

Pip crouched down to the Police Girl's level to speak to her. "And what would that be Mignonette?"

Seras felt really nervous by this point. "Oh, this was a stupid idea. What if he doesn't like those kind of parties and says no? Or what if he already has plans?" She thought nervously.

"Umm, Miss Victoria? You wanted to say something…" The one eyed man looked at her confused., anticipating an answer.

"Oh ya, sorry about that," Seras responded, rubbing the back of her head. "Well, Sir Integra was invited to this Christmas party and she said Master and I could go. A-And I wanted to know if maybe you wanted to go…with me?"

The Frenchman paused, looking almost surprised from the question. "Really? You want to invite me to one of those kind of things?"

"Well I mean if you already have plans it's oka-"

"Non, non, ce n'est pas quelque chose comme ca," Pip started, immediately smacking himself in the face because he knew Seras couldn't speak French. Looking at the confused girl, he said again, "It's nothing like that. What I meant was, I was just slightly surprised, no one's ever invited me to a fancy party before. I'd be happy to go with you, Mignonette."

Seras smiled gleefully at this. "Oh that's great! I'll go and tell Sir Integra you're coming," she said as she struggled trying to faze.

Pip's eyes went wide as he tried holding back a smile. "Mignonette? Do you know what room is under our quarters?"

Seras paused as she looked up, nervous about what she was about to say. "Um no? What?"

Pip told her flatly, "The mercenaries' locker room."

And in a few weeks, Integra would have to put in orders for repairs. A large hole between the change rooms and barracks had been made by an unknown cause.

~+*A week later*+~

"Oh I hope Pip likes this," the Draculina said to herself, as she adjusted her red and white earrings. For the party, Seras was adorning a red silk dress, accommodated with white fur trim on the end and straps. She applied some dark red lipstick and a touch of black mascara on to her face. Checking the time as she looked for her shoes, she gasped out, "Oh! I should move along now or we'll be late."

As the blond picked up the pace, the captain was also freshening up for the special night. He wore a white blazer and black button up shirt, as well as white cargos and dress shoes and a new black eyepatch. He'd have to owe A LOT to one of his men that lent him the shoes and didn't say anything to the other troops.

"Not looking too bad there, Bernadotte," Alucard said, appearing behind the Frenchman. The vampire was now clad in a red smoking jacket, matching dress pants, black dress shoes and a black dress shirt, complete with cummerbund and frilled sleeves. His hair was neat and slicked, with his bangs falling over and concealing his right eye.

"Why thank you Mr. Alucard," Pip responded, taking in the vampire's appearance. "I must zay you're looking pretty sharp as well; but I suppose you 'have to be if you're the boss' escort tonight."

Alucard smirked at this comment. "I would think you'd want to look nice for this kind of formal occasion, and for what will be in store for us all."

"Oh, Monsieur. Alucard?" Pip started, getting the attention of the aristocratic Count.

"Hm?" Alucard hummed, waiting for Pip to relay something he clearly considered important to him.

"Mind if I ask you a favor?" he mercenary said in a very hushed way, hinting to Alucard that they be secretive.

Alucard seemed interested in the Frenchman's words. "That depends on what you had in mind."

"Well you zee, there will be alcohol at ze party, non? I said I'd see about snagging my men and I a bit of fine liquor as a sort of Christmas gift to the group, as it were, and was wondering if somehow you could… help us out."

Alucard smirked. "Well… I suppose I could lend you a hand in sneaking something back."

"Eh, thanks," Pip nodded, giving the vampire a thumbs-up.

With that the vampire disappeared as fast as he had appeared. "Oh yes," He chimed, poking his head out from the wall. "If you and the Police Girl are going to try anything, don't make too much noise." With that the chuckling Nosferatu went to check on the lady waiting in her office.

*+~Meanwhile~+*

"Damn it Walter, how do people where things like this so often?" Integra growled as Walter called to her from the other end of the door.

"I'll see what I can do Sir Integra," the retainer told her. But as Walter started walking toward the bedroom door, he heard a dark voice say something.

"Oh no need Walter," Alucard's voice said as he materialized into the room. "I believe I can give My Master the assistance she needs in this case."

"How nice of you to join us Alucard," Walter told the man. "Are the other two ready?"

"Yes, when we finish here we can head out. I believe you had it too loose was what the problem was Master," the elder vampire said, tightening the lace on the back of Integra's black dress.

"Well when I haven't adorned a dress for so many years, I get a little rusty on the procedure." Turning to face her servant, the Protestant knight immediately added, "They're far more uncomfortable than I remember."

"Understandable," Alucard mused, turning around to face his Master. Her long platinum blond hair had been let down and slightly curled, adding to the elegance that already adorned it. She wore a simple black dress that went a bit below her kneecaps and simple black heeled shoes, with a not so high heel.

"You look…simply extravagant tonight, Integra," Alucard told her with a stunned voice, drinking in her appearance.

Integra flashed Alucard a smile. "You're also looking very presentable, I see. I must say you clean up rather nicely for a creature of the night." Standing up, the woman made her way over to her red-clad servant, her own face matching with his flawlessly as their eyes locked.

Reaching and opening the door, Alucard then immediately extended his hand to let Integra follow. "Shall we?" he asked, awaiting the answer he knew his master would give him.

Integra, smiling from the act, reached forward and took the Nosferatu's hand in hers, letting him bring her forward. "Yes, we shall."

To be continued…

Genma: Credit to my partner and girlfriend Hellsingfan101 for the first draft of this chapter. Hope you enjoyed the read.

Jan: It's fucking mushy bullshit man!

Genma: *Produces Jackal, empties magazine into Jan's head.* Everyone's a critic. Chapter 2 tomorrow.