Hello Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to chapter three of Hellboy III - The Prophecy. Once again, I thank my lovely readers for their patience in these updates. But I am enjoying finding my grounding again for regular updates.

I love December and Christmas. I have officially unleashed Narnia in my household once again this year! What better way to celebrate than with lots of beautiful decorations, twinkling lights and lovely gifts to make your loved ones smile?

Anyway! I am utterly swamped with orders on my store so far this month and we're only two days in. But as I won't be working on those orders until tonight, I figured now was the time to knuckle down and continue working on some new chapters!

Please enjoy and review!

Before they knew it Hellboy and Liz's honeymoon seemed to have flown by. Though while it had been nice to have the house to themselves, with the two children to look after, Belle was feeling somewhat relieved that their parents would be home the following day. She loved her Godchildren dearly, but they were not like most children their age, given their parents genes. She also had a feeling Abe would be relieved to have Hellboy and Liz home, he had spent several days fretting that he wasn't good with children following his unsuccessful attempts at keeping them entertained. Though Belle loved to watch him with them. It touched her heart to see him being so watchful and careful with them. Tucking them in the night before their parents were due home, Belle crept over to the door quietly having read them a bedtime story, and looked back on their peaceful sleeping faces with a gentle smile.

'It will be good to see Hellboy and Liz tomorrow,' Belle uttered softly, looking in on the sleeping twins that she had just tucked in.

'Cedric and Aurora have really missed them.'

'I'm sure that they have missed their children just as much,' Abe breathed softly into her ear, putting his arms around her waist and resting his chin in the nape of her neck. She had felt his presence behind her, long before hearing his footsteps.

'They enjoy their bedtime stories so much,' Belle mused, glancing at the book she had been reading to them.

'Hellboy told me that his Father used to read this same book to him.'

'Yes,' Abe nodded, recalling fleeting memories of Professor Broom from the cover of the old book.

'Still, I have to say it will be nice to see them both. I don't think I've felt so tired since all the wedding preparations,' Belle breathed, leaning back into her fiancé's embrace.

Straightening her posture, Belle pulled the door closed and the pair walked back to their room, a monitor in hand to watch over the little ones.

'Does Manning still want you to visit the board of directors tomorrow?' Abe questioned, seeing Belle tense a little at his question.

'He can't hurt us now…' he added softly, taking her hand in his.

'I know,' she agreed, though her expression remained troubled.

Returning to their room, Belle's hand parted from Abe's as she made her way to the desk where her MacBook sat and beside it, a few files of reports. Collecting them and settling on the sofa facing Abe's tank, Belle began to review the reports she had been asked to look over by Agent Manning.

Recalling the details of the past few months, Belle began to write her own account, ensuring to mention those who had been helpful in bringing the case to a close. Glancing up at Abe after a while, Belle noticed the way that he seemed unfocused on his books, the pages remaining unturned for some time.

Observing him silently for a few minutes and realising how distracted he appeared to be, Belle sent over her preliminary report and closed down her laptop.

'Abe?' she offered softly, standing up and walking over to the tank.

'Oh, um…I was just…' he began, looking startled as though she had woken him.

'It's okay,' she smiled, brushing her hair back as she studied his eyes.

'Something's been bothering you. You've been quiet all day.'

Looking into her eyes, Abe's skin began to darken with evident embarrassment. She couldn't help but tilt her head slightly at his reaction. He didn't often get so embarrassed around her now. But it made her smile all the same.

'Talk to me,' she suggested, placing her hand on the glass with an encouraging expression. Watching him head for the surface, Belle followed alongside him, noting the way his lithe body moved through the water with a serene grace. Kneeling on the edge and smoothing out her knee length skirt, Belle looked into the cool waters reflection as Abe dried himself with a towel, his expression still somewhat shy as he sat beside her.

'Belle, I…' he began, seemingly losing his nerve as he sighed softly, his gills expanding a little when Belle took his hand.

'What is it?' she asked, searching his blue eyes as Abe realised hers were now filled with concern.

'I never thought I would find love…I didn't even truly understand it for a long time. But I wanted too…I wanted to know how Hellboy and Liz felt towards each other and what kept pulling them towards each other, despite all the problems they both suffered with. But then well, I got a chance to see it and lost it within a moment. I never thought I was destined to get over the pain I felt…but then, I met you…someone who I came to realise that I loved more than I ever thought anyone could love another. But most of all…you loved me back.'

Smiling at him as she placed her hand on his, Abe appeared to become more flustered by his own words.

'I never understood how powerful love is. I never knew that even after all this time that I could still find myself feeling closer to you and loving you more with every day that passes.'

'So why do you seem so unhappy about Hellboy and Liz coming home?' Belle asked in confusion.

'I…oh it's silly really…'

'Abe,' she encouraged, touching his cheek and gazing at him with a warm expression.

'You entrusted me with something so important, and I now find myself turning to be close to you…Right now that's okay…I don't want to lose this…But you've been so worried about the review tomorrow, I didn't want to make you feel concerned…I just wanted to make you feel happier,' he uttered, holding her hands more tightly as he looked down nervously.

'Oh Abe,' Belle responded, realising exactly what he was implying.

'Hellboy and Liz coming home isn't going to change anything. I love you and I love our relationship. I know we've taken a long time to get to this stage, but we've gone through an awful lot and I'm happy that we're here now. No matter what happens, being with you is all I'll ever need,' she said gently, watching Abe take one of her hands and kiss the back of it softly. Shifting her position slightly so that she was in his lap, Abe brushed his lips against hers.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Upon their return the next day, Hellboy and Liz stepped out of the car to find Abe and Belle holding their two children.

'Hey,' Liz smiled brightly, taking Aurora from Belle's arms as Hellboy clapped Abe on the back.

'Good to see ya Blue. Come here Tinks,' he grinned, pulling Belle into a tight hug and looking over her when his eyes fell on the ring that sparkled on her finger.

'Hang on…what's this?' he said holding up her hand as Belle and Abe exchanged a glance and smile.

'We were going to wait until we got inside to tell you,' Abe responded, putting an arm around Belle's waist when the pair were enveloped in Hellboy's arms.

'Father would be so proud of ya Brother Blue. We need to celebrate!' he beamed, 'and you know what this means? Another stag do!'

'Red…' Liz admonished playfully, handing her daughter to her new husband as she embraced Belle and Abe congratulating them.

'Abe when did you propose?'

'Ah, well, just after you left for your honeymoon,' he admitted shyly, Belle smiling at the darkening blush that played on his cheeks.

'Well come on then, we can go inside, have some coffee to wake up after that flight and you can tell us everything,' Liz encouraged, the group of friends going inside and catching up until the time came for Belle to drive to the bureau…

Following Hellboy and Liz's return, Belle found herself at the Connecticut Bureau some hours later to give her account of her encounters with Agent Fentran before a board of FBI officials. Then men before her including Agent Manning, who offered her an encouraging expression as she joined them. The others were older than Manning, though they observed her with a combination of curiosity and seriousness. Sitting before them, Belle was offered a glass of water as she handed them her written statement. Walking through her account of events, the Agents took notes and occasionally questioned her.

'Do you believe you acted with the best of your abilities?'

'Yes,'

'Do you believe that during the course of events, the FBI agents involved handled the matter in a professional manner?'

'Yes, I do,' she nodded, hearing thoughts of relief from Manning when she became distracted by another statement.

'You will of course understand that Harold Lucivia is being pursued at this time in connection with Agent Fentran's death.'

Glancing into the eyes of the board official who had spoken with such a stern conviction, you noticed a flicker of something in his dark eyes. Apprehension?

'Whether or not you deem my Father a danger, he saved my life and the lives of many other agents who are under your employment. If you choose to believe that he deserves punishment for such a thing, then that is your opinion.'

'You disagree? What if he were to harm civilians in his…condition?'

'A condition that was imparted on him by Fentran and one that he could not control. Agent Jameson, my family was tore apart by what your corrupted Agent did to us. I have no idea where my Father is or my Mother for that matter. I have no idea if I will ever see them again,' she remarked with resignation in her violet eyes.

'But I hope you rest easy in the knowledge that you are judging the wrong man for this. I came here today because I wanted to make it known that the people you perceive as monsters is entirely inaccurate. You might think I'm someone to fear…or Hellboy, or Liz or Abraham. The agents who have worked with us at the BPRD did all in their power to assist us and I can assure you, we hold them in high regard for the things they have done for us.'

'Miss. Lucivia…'

'I appreciate that you must be thorough. But if you are hoping for a reaction from me, then you're sadly mistaken. Perhaps you want to try those tactics with Hellboy. From what I've heard, he isn't often subjected to this kind of questioning. Unless you have anything more viable to say, I believe I am done. Agent Fentran was, I hope, a poor reflection on the agents outside of the BPRD and I hope you enjoy your return to Washington, agents. Agent Manning,' she added with a courteous nod in his direction, before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

Breathing a sigh as she walked around the corner, Belle leant against the wall and ran a hand through her blonde hair. Enduring the thoughts of those agents had been difficult. She knew that she had said all that needed to be expressed. So why did she still feel like a weight rested heavily on her shoulders?

'Miss. Lucivia?'
Glancing in the direction of the voice, Belle straightened up as she was approached by Agent Kraus, wearing a new suit following the breakage of his last one in the fight with Fentran.

'It's good to see you Johann,' Belle greeted with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

'I heard zat you vould be here today giving your statement to the bureau.'

'Yes,' she nodded

'You seem troubled,' he remarked. 'My wife used to toy vith her wedding ring whenever she was stressed. It was like an anchor to keep her from becoming lost in vhatever concerned her.'

Realising that she had been idly moving her engagement ring between her thumb and forefinger, Belle dropped her gaze as she smiled sadly.

'Do you miss her?' she asked softly.

'Incredibly…' he admitted, 'but like all pains in this world, they do get better with time.'

'They will kill my Father if they find him, won't they?'

'I don't believe you have anything to worry about just yet,' Johann ensured her, suggesting she walk with him.

'Hellboy told me you quit the bureau…why did you come back?'

Noting his silence for a moment, Belle waited patiently, not prying into his thoughts as the glass sphere moved in her direction.

'There is something at work vhich the bureau are keeping a close eye on. If it is vat ve believe, then it greatly affects Hellboy. Though we have not yet confirmed it. Manning requested my assistance due to the nature of the potential danger at hand.'

'Hellboy?' Belle responded, looking at Johann with concern in her eyes as he turned to face her and offered her the chance to go into a secured room.

'Miss. Belle…tell me, vat do you know of Hellboy's history?'

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Two Months Later…

While Abe studied some old manuscripts in the library one evening, Belle had felt a little restless and decided to practise her self defence training. Since the incident in Abe's old room, she had become determined to learn how to better defend herself. Though Abe was still watchful of her.

'I'll be okay…I don't want to distract your work,' she smiled, kissing Abe sweetly before moving to leave the room when he took her hand and kissed it gently.

'Take care of yourself,'

'I will,' she smiled, leaving the room and going upstairs. They had recently converted one of the spare rooms into something of a gym with a large open area in the centre. Belle had been practising with her abilities and combining them with fighting techniques to help better her defence. Focusing prominently, Belle had been in there for a little over half an hour when Hellboy walked to the door, seeing Belle pick up on his presence as she turned to face him, dropping her hands and lowering her stance.

'You're getting better,' Hellboy commented, his tone impressed as he walked into the spacious room, seeing Belle smile as she looked up to him.

'I didn't disturb you did I?' she asked softly, seeing Hellboy pull on his long overcoat.

'Nah. Liz and I just had a bit of a…'

'Disagreement?'

'Yeah,' he agreed, breathing a deep sigh and glancing in Belle's direction.

'Don't suppose ya feel like taking a walk?'

'Sure,' Belle nodded, 'I'll just get a coat.'

Belle and Abe were both well aware that Hellboy and Liz's relationship could be fiery and when they argued, it was best to stay clear of them. Though lately, the tension had become somewhat apparent between them.

Walking outside into the dark night, Belle waited for Hellboy to talk, knowing it best to let him open up in his own time as they took a stroll away from their home.

'I get why Liz is mad…I just don't know what to say to make it right,' he sighed, taking out a cigar and lighting it. Though upon catching Belle's expression his eyes softened.

'Yeah I know…'

'What's been going on?' Belle asked

'Liz wants me to cut off the BPRD completely. Move away, start anew. But it's just not as easy as she's making it out to be.'

'You know…you've quit twice now and yet you've still gone on missions…we all have.'

'This life…chasing monsters, fighting them. It's been my whole life. I don't know anything else. But I know Liz would give anything for us to have a normal life. I mean…why do you do it? Why do you opt into all this?'

'Because this is how I met my family, my fiancé…I can use what I can do to help people. it scares me sometimes, but I won't leave if it means keeping Abe safe…if it means giving Aurora and Cedric a safer world to grow up in and others their age. Then this is worth it,' Belle smiled.

Observing her with a thoughtful expression, Hellboy put an arm around Belle's shoulders.

'Ya know, Father would've liked you a lot,' Hellboy grinned.

'I would have loved to meet him,' Belle agreed, 'perhaps you feel drawn to the legacy your Father left behind. He was the director before he…passed away…wasn't he?'

'Yeah…you're right.'

'Listen; you need to talk to Liz about this. If she knew, I know she'd understand. You're married now and you have two children. I know you have both come through an awful lot on your own. So I know you can work through anything together with that strength combined.'

'Thanks Tinks, I really owe ya one,' Hellboy responded appreciatively. Though as they walked back towards the house, they were entirely unaware of the dangers that were only getting closer…

Thank you so much for reading! I hope I will be able to update again before Christmas. But if not, Merry Christmas to you all. Thank you to my lovely readers for bearing with me on these updates and for everyone who has reviewed so far. It means so much and I hope that you enjoyed it!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x