a/n: I do not own Trinity Blood

Alessandro was always prepared for impoverished conditions, but the ghetto always seemed to hit him hard. Especially now, when he was forced to analyze the situation with his other senses instead of his eyes. The smell, sounds, and the taste in the air...it assaulted his mind in ways that it hadn't previous.

It was his first time traveling in public as a normal person. He wasn't supposed to be pope, he wasn't even supposed to be anyone important. Vanessa had dressed him in a tunic, breeches, long coat, and dark boots. Honestly, he had no idea what he looked like, but fashion was never a big deal for him. He had uniforms, and he always had servants and a valet to pick his clothes out for him. Vanessa had even given him a cane in order to find his way, and figure that the disguise of a blind man was probably even better.

The vampires in the ghetto would have remembered him as a scared child, but Alessandra had no idea what to expect this time.

"Stop standing there like an idiot," Vanessa tugged his arm, "Honestly, you're suppose to be blind. Blind people don't gawk."

He managed to catch himself before toppling down the platform and making an even bigger idiot out of himself. Trusting Vanessa to lead him down the hallway wasn't that hard, since he trusted her implicitly in everything else.

"The ghetto has improved since I was here last," Alessandro smiled, "I am happy."

"It because of Queen Esther. When she learned about the place, she set aside funds especially for construction and supplies to be given. She has been down here herself many. Despite this, there are still many areas that need help, but every little bit is making it better."

"Esther sees that improving the human and Methuselah relations as very important."

"We are grateful to have a ruler such as she," Vanessa sighed, "As much as it gauls me to say it. Damn Terrans."

Alessandro chuckled, "I'm a Terran, too, but you seem okay with me."

She was glad that he couldn't see her blush. Vanessa would have rather been staked out in the sun and roasted than admit the real reason why she rescued him, or the fact that she was happy to see him when she thought she would never see him again. Between the war with the Contra Mundi, the betrayal of Mary Spencer, and the work of trying to improve the ghetto, Vanessa hardly even left the capital city of Albion.

"Yes, well, don't get too comfy with the idea. One wrong move and I'll kick your ass, pope or not."

Alessandro chuckled, "I'm sure."

Ion was healed by the next day. He left the infirmary, thankful that he didn't have to lay there like an invalid any longer. With a clean uniform, dinner of blood and scones, and after a full night of rest, he was ready to face anything. The doctor had declared him fit and he was ready for duty. All he needed, was to go back to his quarters, and retrieve his log book. There was inventory of the weapons system that needed doing, and he only had three hours before he had to report for training. Even with the war on, his sensei insisted that he keep a his training schedule.

He greeted helm-officer Mr. Sura, exchanged a quick greeting to find out what had happened in the meantime, and promised to meet him in the mess hall later for dinner. Punching his code into the lock, the door to his quarters whisked open and closed behind him.

He was greeted with Esther. She had just come out of the shower, and wore nothing but a bra and panties. A towel was wrapped around her shoulders, and she was in the process of slipping socks on her feet. The ship had provided her with a temporary uniform because her clothes had been destroyed by the attack.

"Ah," Ion felt his face burn, and Esther shrieked as she pulled the towel off her shoulders to hold in front of her. He instantly turned his back to her.

"What are you doing?" she yelped, "I'm getting dressed! Didn't you think to knock first since you told me to stay here?"

"I forgot!" he stuttered, "I-I'm sorry. I was j-just coming to get my-"

"Get out!"

"I'm sorry! I-"

He reached for the door and a rogue thought passed through his mind. Something that Seth, Lady Vradica, had mentioned years ago.

It is forbidden for a Methuselah to love a Terran.

Who said it was forbidden? Biologically, the only difference was that a Methuselah lived longer and survived on blood. He was stronger, he was a different species all together, but he was still a man. Ion Fortuna loved her, and he had faced that fact years ago. The love that he had for Esther Blanchett seemed like a bland infatuation compared to what he held for her now. Watching her run her country, dealing with world problems that even the seasoned politician would have tried to avoid.

She was magnificent.

"Kakka?" her voice shook slightly.

"I told you to call me Ion."

Esther gasped as he turned to face her again. Before, he was like a child, but now...

Now, he very much was not a child.

She took a few steps back as he moved towards her, "Kakka-" she felt her legs tap the bed, "Wait-"

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her towards him. The towel that she held fell, and Esther found herself pressed against his chest. He nuzzled her hair, his nose brushing the top of her ear.

"I was so afraid, when we were in that building, and they were attacking us," he whispered, "I was so afraid. If something had happened to you, I don't know what I would have done."

"I-It's alright," she trembled, "You were the one that was injured, the one who did the work to rescue us. If-"

"You don't understand, Esther, I-"

He barely managed to stop himself from confessing to her. It would ruin everything. Esther would be horrified, and then she would never speak to him ever again. Ion held her more tightly, the thought of never seeing her again alarming him. No, he would do anything to see her. Even hide his own feelings.

"Kakka-"

"Ion. Say it."

"But-"

His lips slowly moved over her cheek, and she could feel his warm breath over her face. His skin was so soft, and his whole body was like a brick wall. What had Father Nightroad been training him in all this time? He still had the same red eyes and pale hair, slightly mussed as it was, but he was taller and different. Stifling and overwhelming, and she didn't know what else.

"Kakka."

"Ion," he whispered, "Damn it, Esther, please. Just say it once. Let me hear it."

He was begging, but he didn't even care.

Esther held her breath, feeling his mouth brush the corner of her lips. When he spoke, he mouth moved and caused a shiver down her spine. His hands were strong on her back, holding her steady. Tight enough were she couldn't get away, but not so that she didn't feel forced.

With a steady breath, Esther felt her hands tighten against his chest. She tried to gather her courage, and managed to find a little. In the barest sound, she finally said to him, "Ion."

His mouth covered hers.

She had never been kissed before, but it was an intriguing sensation. He didn't rush her, just the slight pressure of his lips against hers. She had no way of knowing this was the first time he had actually kissed anyone, beside the time that she was sleeping.

He followed his instincts, lightly pressing his lips to hers, his arms wrapping around her lower back. Her skin was so soft, soft like her lips. The heat that rushed through him was nothing like he ever felt. The rush that filled his mind pushed him on, telling him to follow his instincts. Esther fingers dug into his coat, holding him closer, and then he knew that he hadn't made a mistake.

Esther opened her mouth to breathe in, and all she found was that she breathed him in. His tongue inched out and touched her lips, and then plunged into her mouth. She couldn't stop the soft noise that leaked from her lips. One of his hands gripped her hip, the other moved to her face. He kissed her, and tried to tell her everything that he couldn't voice out loud. That he loved her with everything that he was, with everything that he ever would be.

The message alarmed beeped from the com unit.

Instead of jerking away, he slowly eased back, still holding her. Her forehead pressed into his throat, and she listening to his breathing. The com unit kept beeping, waiting for Ion to acknowledge the summon. One of his arms still holding her, he pressed the button.

"Fortuna here."

"You are being summoned to Father Abel's office," Sister Kate's voice came over the unit, "He says he has a new mission for you."

"Okay. Let him know I'll be there soon."

The screen shut off. Esther still had her head tipped back, and caught a glance of his eyes. They were glowing in the dimmed quarters, but instead of being scared, she found it fascinating. Touching his face, he smiled when she hesitantly touched his cheek.

"They glow when I'm..." his face flushed, "Interested."

"They're beautiful."

"I gotta go," he said, making no move to leave, "Father Nightroad will send someone after me."

She was still staring at him with such a look of wonder, that he couldn't help but dip his head and kiss her again. It was brief, followed by a smile. Esther watched as he stepped away from her, and then disappeared out of the door. The smile stayed on her face, even when she was done getting dressed, and even when she headed out to find Father Nightroad, the smile stayed.

Virgil Walsh was having a very bad day.

The palace was in an uproar, and there was nothing he could do about. It was nothing that could be fixed, except without the appearance of Queen Esther herself. Vanessa had just reported that Pope Alessandro was in protective custody, but they needed Esther back.

"There is a Germanicus battleship approaching Albion territory," Jane Jocelyn marched into the command center of the war room. Her thick Irish accent always managed to rub him the wrong way, "Those bastards think they can come and try and rub noses with us when-"

"I am well aware that the Oblivion is on our borders, Lieutenant General. So far, they haven't made any sort of aggressive movement towards Albion."

"So what, Walsh? They were the ones that just blew the shit out of the Vatican. I say we take our cannons, and shoot Mary Spencer right in the-"

"We do not want to start an international incident. We have an alliance with the Vatican, but we can not make a move until they do it first," he said. The helmsman told him the ship was hailing them, and Virgil sighed, "Put it onscreen."

Mary Spencer sat in the commander's chair on the Oblivion, and smiled on her face, "Virigil. It has been a long time."

"It has," he said, "I am told that your ship attacked the Vatican. You can not dock here. Albion has no alliance with Contra Mundi, and will never have one."

"You damn vampire," she sneered, "The vampires are moving to take the world."

"The Methuselah have no such plans. Contra Mundi-"

"Has only plans to rid the world of those who will not co-operate with the changing of the world order," Mary leaned back into the chair, "The Albion Ghetto. You are are harboring vampires. That is against the nature of the world."

"I am a Methuselah."

Mary glared at him, "Vampires go against the natural order of the world. Those that pray on the living blood of humans," she said, "We humans can simply no stand for it."

"I'm sorry you feel that way," Virgil told her, "But the queen-"

"The queen is weak, and nothing compared to the power I have. I will kill her and take the throne," she said, "And then Albion will rise into the kingdom it was meant to be."

"Whatever your intentions, Albion will consider your actions hostile from now out. Advance on these borders, and I will consider it an act of war."

"My, my," she said, smiling, "You are a little behind the times, Virgil. Contra Mundi has already declared war on the world."

"Of course," he said, nodding as if they were simply agreeing on what the weather was, "Understood."

He ended the transmission. It would be five hours until the Oblivion reached the main cities of Albion, and in the meantime, they had to evacuate the Ghetto. But where would they send the refugees? They needed somewhere to be safe from the war, somewhere other than Albion.

"Get me the Imperial Empress Vradica on the secure line. I must speak with her at once."