Vixey barely registered what Manning was saying as she sat in shock. She could feel a similar feeling coming from Abe and then all of a sudden she realized everyone was looking at her. "What?" Manning grumbled, " I said we'll need your skills especially on this mission. Honestly, am I talking for my health?" All of a sudden, Vixey didn't want to go on this mission. She remembered the triplets and something she read in the book Kain had left her about pregnancy. The first month is when she would be most vulnerable. After that her womb would have a protective shield covering it until the last month. "I cant go," she finally said. "Excuse me," Manning growled. "I said I cant go." "And just why not?" She looked at Abe, wanting to know if she should tell them. When he nodded, she sighed and said," I'm pregnant."

For a moment, no one said a word then HB was the first to break the silence. "Congrats blue! Just think we'll be parents together." Liz, Myers and Dr Broom were smiling but Manning wasn't. "How can you be pregnant? I thought I told you to knock off all that stuff." "And I told you that you can take those orders and shove them. It's my body and my choice and I will do what or who I want when I want, not because some human told me to. Now, after the first month, I can do pretty much anything you need me to do up until the 8th month. You have about a week or so til the first month is up so you can just sit on it until then. I can do all the research you want me too but right now, the physical stuff is out. If you don't like it, you can kiss my furry little butt." "Well I don't like it but I won't be kissing anything. I suppose I can wait a week for you to rejoin us. But you could at least go with us and do research." "Oh no, I know what will happen. I'll start off doing research and then something will happen and you're gonna go, they need you in there. Not gonna happen." "Fine, I give you my word that you will do research only. You wont even leave the truck," Manning sighed. "Fine, but if you go back on your word, the consequences will be great."

The ride to the site was a quiet one, mostly because all the conversation was done telepathically. *What a jerk. Who does Manning think he is, telling me what to do," Vixey thought angrily. *What kind of consequences were you talking about,* HB thought, knowing she could hear him. *My species takes a promise very seriously. If he purposely goes back on his word according to our laws he must be punished. But since he doesn't know our laws I would go easy on him,* she added at their worried looks. *Don't go too easy on him on my account,* Red smirked.

The mission was over soon after it started. A tribe of ancient priests were attempting to raise an unknown evil. Unknown, because, Liz burnt them all to a crisp before they could find out anything. They had burst in the temple and a fight had broken out. One of them had made this mistake of hitting Liz, triggering her powers and everything was reduced to ash. Manning berated them the whole way home and didn't stop once they were home. Vixey had sat there the whole time, not saying a word. A fact that Abe found very unsettling. Finally, she could take it no longer. "It doesn't matter that you stopped them from raising whatever evil it was, all that matters to him is that there's nothing left. Never mind that you all put your lives on the line and never mind that there were injuries. All he cares about is his flipping report."

Abe knew that flipping was not the F word she wanted to use and smiled a bit. "But at least we're all safe," he calmly said. "Yeah til the next time that damn alarm goes off. I can tell you that the next time it goes off this week, I'm staying home." Abe knew she was just angry and she probably would tag along next time. She always wanted to make sure after every mission that he wasn't hurt in any way. He liked having someone that cared that much about him. The idea of being a father was still fresh in his mind and it was still stunning. He could feel a similar feeling from her and knew it was her hormones that was making her so crabby. "Please calm down, it's not good for you or the babies," he pleaded. As Vixey whirled around to glare at him, she saw the concern in his eyes and her gaze softened. "I'm sorry Abe, I just- well Manning irritates the hell out of me anyway and this mission was one big cluster fu-, I mean crap shoot." Abe caught what she was about to say and chuckled. "I know it's frustrating. Why don't we take a nap and recharge out batteries."

A nap sounded good to her but then again, so did beating the crap out of Manning. But another feeling was stronger then all of it. "Food first, nap after. How's that sound?" "I am a bit hungry but I m afraid that's going to have to wait." Why, I'm not that tired," she said with a confuses look. "Because Manning's coming and he's not happy." "When is he happy? I don't really care about Manning right now." Abe sighed. "I know, me either but he will hound us until we see what he wants." As Manning caught up with them, Vixey rolled her eyes. "What is it that is so important that it cant wait until after I've had a nap?" "We're having a meeting to discuss everyone's recent behavior and I expect both of you to be there." "Well I expect a lot of things I know will never happen but I know you wont leave us alone. If we could get some food in the conference room it would save time." Manning sighed, "Alright, I will allow that." Vixey wanted so much to say something smart back to him about allowing things but she really wasn't in the mood to fight with him anymore. Abe caught this and smiled. "Shall we go then if that's all settled?"

Vixey had memorized every inch of this room as they sat waiting for the meeting to start. They were waiting on HB and Liz and Vixey had a pretty good idea why they were delayed. Manning was getting more and more impatient and just when he was about to blow his top, the missing couple strolled in the room with a very satisfied look on their faces. Liz caught Vixey's knowing smirk and the two women giggled. "If you two are finished carrying on like two school girls we can get on with this," Manning said gruffly. *He's just mad because he ain't getting any,* Vixey sent to Abe, Liz and HB. When Abe turned red and HB, Liz and Vixey started snickering loudly, Manning slammed his hand down on the table. "THAT IS ENOUGH! I am tired of everyone making a fool out of me." "From where I see it, you're doing a pretty good job of it all by yourself," Vixey said with a grin. Manning's face turned red and as he opened his mouth to yell, he was flung into the air by an unseen force before dropped carefully back in his seat. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT" "That was one of the triplets voicing his or her opinion," Vixey said as she patted her stomach. "Now you guys cut that out," she said with a smirk as she poked her belly. "If I can continue," Manning said, "without further interruptions, I have been informed that because of everyone's blatant ignorance of my orders that Washington is sending in a new agent to help over see things. I expect him here by the end of the day and I also expect every one to be there to greet him. That include you Fur Ball." "The name's Fuzzy and if I am taking a nap I wont be there. And I WILL get my nap in. If I don't, I wont be any good to anyone and I'll be a huge bitch to everyone." "Oh so you always miss your nap then," Clay joked. "Har har hardy har har. You're just so funny. Remind me to laugh tomorrow," Vixey said sarcastically. "Trust me, if I miss my nap, you'll be able to tell the difference." Before anyone else could say anything, she walked off. Abe shook his head at Clay and then hurried to catch up with her.

As they entered the library, Professor Broom was waiting for them. "Ah, I trust the meeting went well?" Noticing Vixey's glare, he chuckled and motioned to them to sit down. "As you know, your brother is occupyiong the tank we had origionally built for you. We are trying to get started on a tank for you, that is of course if you still want it. We're having trouble getting some materials." "You may call off the prjoect Professor," Abe said quietly, "I rather like Vixey where she is and unless she objects to it, I would like her to stay with me on a permanent basis." Abe turned to Vixey," would you stay with me?" Vixey's heart swelled. "Of course. I love being close to you Abe and I've never slept better then when I am in your arms." Abe felt her emotions and smiled as Professor Broom laid a hand on his shoulder. "That's good to hear. I trust Tom wasn't too thrilled with the mission?" "That's the understatement of the century Professor. This new agent has him in a tizzy and if he doesn't back off he's gonna find himself in more then that." The professor said nothing at this, only smiled. He knew how annoying Manning could be. "Well I suppose I shall leave you two in peace. If you need rest then rest and let me worry about Dr. Manning." As he walked out of the library he gave them a wink. "I wonder what that was all about," Abe said as he removed his respirator and prepared to dive in. "I don't know but I'm taking him up on his offer," Vixey said as she dove in and sank to the bottom. Within seconds Abe had joined her and wrapped his arms around her waist and within minutes, both were sound asleep.

Abe was awakened several hours later by someone tapping on the glass. He sleepily opened one eye to see Manning glaring at him. Behind him was an irritated looking Hellboy. Abe looked at Vixey sleeping soundly, a smile on her face, and carefully untangled himself before swimming to the top. As he dried off and headed down the stairs to the library, his eyes went wide. "I want her out here too," Manning grumbled. "If you want her, by all means dive in and get her. She is sleeping peacefully and I like my appendages where they are." Manning harrumphed before turning to the person beside him, or at least Abe thought he was a person. "Agent Sapien I would like you to meet Agent Johann Krauss." "Nice to meet you," Agent Krauss said extending his hand. "I'm assuming the 'her' you are referring to is the Fuzz Ball Dr. Manning was telling me about." "You are correct but I would not let her hear you call her that. Her nickname is Fuzzy and so far only Hellboy has gotten away with it. Her name is Vixey and, I think she's-, Abe said as he was cut off. "I think she's awake and pissed," came Vixey's irritated voice from the top of the stairs. Abe could see that she hasn't dried off completely and as she got to Manning, she shook her whole body like a dog would. Manning was completely drenched. "I told you that I didn't want my nap to be interrupted. "I want you to meet our new agent." "Johann Krauss. I got it. Nice to meet you. Some things you need to know. I'm pregnant with triplets, my temper is really elevated right now and you would do well as a general rule not to piss me off. If you need to know anything else about me before I finish my nap you can ask anyone other then Manning." As she left the library and headed off to find Liz, she could hear Manning stuttering an apology.