Well I now give you the next chapter all ready to go :D It might be awhile before chapter 3, freaky out over college over-workload 0_o But that's another story and you're here for a Hellsing story so here we are.
I thank Evanescently for the beta read once more and for getting a correct Roamnian translation :3 I'd also like to thank DarkSideoftheLight, Soul93, and Morana for reviewing the first chapter and to those who have already story alerted Legacy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hellsing really wish I did though :p
~+*Order II, A Second Chance*+~
"Love is just a chemical, no matter the origin. We give it meaning by choice."
―Eleanor Lamb, Bioshock 2
"What about Samantha?"
"No."
"Robin?"
"No, I don't think so"
"Well…"
"Seras, I appreciate your help but I really don't know about some of those names," Integra said, cradling her newborn child in her arms as it slept.
"I know this is something to think on Integra, however, it has been only a day or so since her birth," Alucard spoke up; from when the child was born into the world, he had not left their side. "Besides, while Master is recovering, perhaps you could assist Walter in more trying tasks, such as preparations for our child's home, Police Girl," he smirked, letting loose a toothy grin.
"But Master! This is important too!" Seras whined, like a child whose toy was unexpectedly taken away. "And I'll get to work on the nursery…just after knowing her name."
He sighed at her stubbornness, it being both a positive and negative part of her personality.
"You should think of some names too, Master, after all, you're her father. You should help out," Seras smiled.
"Very well," the No-Life King stated, looking to the small bundle, then back to Master and Servant.
"Ophelia, perhaps?"
"No."
"Annabelle?"
"Definitely not."
"Elizabeth?"
"No, but perhaps something starting with an 'E'. Emilia, Eleanor…"
"Erika? Ebony?"
"It just doesn't sound right."
"Master, you realize I only know so many names, and this isn't quite my area of expertise."
"Elizabetha," the Police said aloud, halting their conversation as there was a moment of silence. "It sounds like a pretty name."
At first, they were both paused in thought and looking at each other and then at the enfant. Integra turned to Alucard, speaking to the vampire through their mental link.
"Does she know about-?"
"No, I don't doubt the Police Girl is intelligent, but I find it hard to believe she would know that. I believe it is simple coincidence."
"Do you like that name?"
The elder Nosferatu paused, almost holding back his answer.
She continued, "It's alright to say yes, I know how deeply and dear she was to you…"
"Yes, it is a beautiful name -one that recalls innocent, tender memories…"
He retracted from their mental conversation and they knew that was the name they had been looking for.
"Elizabetha Hellsing," he said, the velvety sound of the two words leaving his lips. Integra also nodded in approval; once he loved a woman by that name, and now he would cherish a daughter with that title.
Seras was right, it did sound beautiful…
Their attention was then drawn to the baby as she yawned, awakening from her long slumber. She began squinting and lifted her eyelids for the first time. It was astonishing; usually a child's eyes didn't open for at least some days after birth. But that made it ever the more remarkable.
Just as those before her, the young Elizabetha's eyes wide for the world to see possessed the sapphire blue eyes that all the previous descendants of Abraham van Helsing had over a century ago. It was quite funny how Abraham's greatest nemesis had produced a child with his descendant who now held her child close. But there was an obvious difference to indicate that altering heritage. As the baby looked on, meeting her mother's gaze, Integra's own eyes widened slightly in surprise and resumed a warm gaze.
"Alucard, look at her eyes. Do you see something?"
In curiosity, he looked down upon his child's face, the irises were indeed that familiar blue, but he looked closer and noticed a small yet notable change. Within the sapphires were speckles of green -the color of shimmering emeralds within the irises. It was a green that did not belong to Integra's family, but his.
"She has both of our eyes…" Integra said, happily recalling when she saw her lover's eyes that same emerald shade where shimmering red now stood.
"Indeed she does, comoara mea, and she is ever the more beautiful…"
~+*3 weeks later*+~
After another six days in the medical wing and after the surgery, Dr. Trevelian pronounced Integra ready for action. Beforehand, Elizabetha's room was in the stage of preparation; it was a mere two doors from her mother's combined office and bedroom. Before the birth, they -mostly eager Seras- purchased the necessary furniture, such as a white crib and matching dresser, and they had kept the walls the basic gray they were originally. As they wanted to keep it neutral until knowing the child's gender, after all, if she were a boy it would be rather strange having pink walls. But the parents would have none of that color in her nursery. Instead, as Integra recovered, they began painting the walls a soft, lavender tone and soon after purchasing matching sheets and lining for the crib.
Though when they first left medical, for a while the crib was temporarily moved to Integra's room for obvious reasons. After 2 weeks passed, she was then moved to her new lodgings across the hall. So far, Elizabetha was perfectly healthy: she ate properly, her sleep patterns were normal, and, of course, the four switched between diaper days -Alucard having the worst luck at it.
But every night as the Hellsing child slept soundly, a black mass crept into her room. Most times, Alucard merely watched her small body breathe in and out, listening to the occasional coo she let out in her sleep. Some nights, she would whimper or even cry out in urgency, usually she had to be changed or stay up for an hour or so but the majority was that she just wanted to be held. Fortunately, this night the young Hellsing slept like a log, lost in the comfort of her jumbled thoughts of a dream.
Silently, Alucard phased out of Elizabetha's room and walked silently down the hall. It was approximately 2 in the morning. The manor was so silent that as the vampire's riding boots clacked on the floor it was the loudest noise in the mansion through the halls. Finally, he entered another room, -for once, physically opening the door- and stepped inside, leaving the wooden door ajar.
He lit the lamp on the small end table, as he searched the shelves of books throughout Hellsing's written archives. His long gloved fingers then traced over a large mahogany book, allowing it to drop into his open hands.
He sat down in the high ivy green chair and turned the book to the ninth chapter, as he traced over the printed words page by page going over a page for some amount of time.
He sighed, his expression low and distraught.
"Should I have come back?" he asked to the yellowed pages, "Did I shamelessly hide from you like a coward? I know I have wronged you, I failed you both…"
Suddenly the door behind him made a faint creak.
"Whom did you fail?" Integra's voice asked as he turned to her. Her hair was messy and she wore a blue pajama tank top and matching bottoms.
"I was feeling energetic and heading to the library for a bit of light reading when I noticed someone beat me to the punch," her voice dropped to a whisper, seeing the pained look on the vampire's face.
"What's wrong, Alucard?" she walked over to him, her eyes focused on his.
"I couldn't help but think of them again, Integra, seeing them and replaying the moments I had with them through my mind. Yet, it feels incomplete; I shouldn't have left for that war," he mused, she unaware if he directed it to her or himself. Integra looked over his shoulder at the book left open on his lap. She then understood the source of his grief.
"I failed them as a father, and because of that they died…"
She walked in front of him, her hands lightly cupping his face, "It wasn't your fault. Mircea died of an unknown disease at the time. There was nothing you could have done…"
He clenched his teeth, "Vlad I could have saved; he should have lived to be an old man -older than when his father died. But instead, he was taken to Death too early, stabbed in the town square by a low life criminal that later took the throne -took MY SON'S place, as if nothing had transpired!" The vampire didn't realize he was crying until noticing his lady wipe the blood from his cheek.
"It was terrible what happened to him and it was unjust, but you did what you had to; some things are unavoidable…"
"I had searched for you and our sons for nearly 4 years, until I found only him. Many times, as I watched him go about life after sun set, I would carelessly expose myself in broad daylight just wishing to approach him face to face. But I felt…ashamed to. I had taught him to follow the cross as devoutly as I did. Perhaps it was not guilt but fear that he would resent me as the unholy creature I was. I had planned out a time to face up to that dread and reveal myself. At the time, I didn't care about how he would react, I just wanted to speak to my son."
He sighed deeply as black locks of hair spilled over the tops of his eyes.
"And then that assassin trudged through the crowd as he left mass. I, too, stepped out of the shadows step-by-step, the memories of holding him high when he was a child still fresh in my mind, but there he was -no longer a boy but a man. I was behind him now and my hand made contact with his shoulder and, almost confused, he turned toward me. That was when he looked down and we saw the blade that protruded from his abdomen. He collapsed in my arms as his body grew cold."
Alucard looked up at Integra; he now wore a different expression.
"But do you know what I saw? For a moment, just a brief moment as he cocked his head in my direction, I saw a glimmer in his eyes, just for a second, a glimmer, and I knew he recognized me."
He was laughing, as the blood proceeded to drip upon the wooden floorboards as he laughed and cried. She put her arms around him as he leaned on her bare shoulder.
"That proves you didn't fail them. You would have tried anything in your power to prevent their passing, and you would go so far as to reveal yourself to him when you feared the worst. That shows you were a good father, as you had a place for them in your heart," she stroked his long black hair, "I know you won't do the same with your daughter, with our daughter. She will have her father by her side as she grows up…"
He merely nodded as he understood her words. The past was in the past, and he did all he possibly could. With their newborn child, he was given another chance, if it were not proof enough. He had vowed to always protect them.
"She will, she will have both of us and the rest of our dysfunctional family," Alucard smiled playfully, his spirits brightening already.
"Perhaps we should focus on the present at the moment. In the meantime, you can escort me back to my quarters. I would rather not leave alone…" she smirked as well, perking the No-Life King's mood even more so, as, for the first time, he took in her night wear.
Bowing on one knee before his lady, "As you command, My Master," he said lustfully, proceeding to stand upright as the two retired to Integra's personal quarters…
Translations:
comoara mea – my treasure