Integra stirred and opened her eyes, only to see Enrico standing in the doorway pointing a rifle at her. Instinctively she reached under her pillow and rolled off her bed. Except her "pillow" was straw with no weapon and her "bed" was a low cot which threw off her roll and left her sprawled in an awkward position on the cold stone floor. Blinking she flailed her arm and grabbed the cot to keep from falling over, her left leg tucked under her and her right stretched out before her, giving Enrico an unexpectedly improper look of Integra's thighs.

Lowering the rifle Enrico narrowed his eyes bemused.

"What are you doing?" he asked her trying to contain the smile twitching at the corners of his mouth as he approached her his arm extended.

Looking up at him Integra tried to cover up with one hand as she attempted to right herself. "I was trying to protect myself." she explained her voice straining with effort, though her condition made righting herself rather difficult and she was forced to take Enrico's hand.

Leaning on the rifle as though it were a cane Enrico smirked, "You know my dear Integra, it really would make moving so much easier for you if you did not wear such Victorian attire." he said giving her full dress another once more.

Running a hand through her hair Integra huffed slightly, "It isn't Victorian, it's just formal, and I never planned to go hiking in it." she said, then looking down at her ankle length clothes, the hem was dirty and strained with dirt and mud she sighed. "Though you have a point. . ."

Enrico made a soft sound of agreement but didn't comment further while Integra furrowed her brow slightly before nodding. "I can alter it though, if there is a knife in the other room." she used her chin to gesture at Enrico's rifle, "Maybe where you found that?"

Arching a brow Enrico took a knee and lifted his right pant leg revealing a hunting knife sheathed to his lower leg. "No need to look." he said pulling it out and offered it to Integra as though presenting a gift. Surprised, yet not surprised, Integra gingerly took the blade from his hand with a slight sigh.

"Enrico, you are a fountain of incessant surprises." she said to the Catholic who took the comment as a compliment.

"Well my dear, surprises are all a man in my position has left to entertain himself."

"Oh? And here I thought you found hunting the Popes enemies as your only joy." Integra said with a laugh, "Now I am going to the other room, you will stay here."
Frowning Enrico stood. "Why?"

Pausing at the door Integra turned giving Enrico a disconcerted look, "Because a lady has a right to some privacy." she said before leaving Enrico alone.

Exhaling hard Enrico threw up his arms in defeat, "A right to privacy. What is she going to do, clean herself with the blade?" he asked out loud in Italian and after a moment of consideration he decided that he'd rather not know and sat on the cot to clean the rifle he had found.

-xxxx-

"You better not be lying Cat." A tall, black haired woman, dressed in the uniform of a German SS-Officer growled as she trudged through the powdery snow of the mountains. Her long hair whipped with every gust of wind, while the metal frames of her glasses felt as though they were threatening to freeze to the ridge of her nose. She went by the name of Rip Van Winkle because of her seemingly ageless state and also because she remembered absolutely nothing of her past life. All she knew was that she was the first successful human to vampire created of the Third Reich, and the men who changed her whisked her away from Germany in 1945. Since then Rip had lived fully under their care, the doctor who played with her and other patients, and a Major who, other than being a raving lunatic, sometimes showed affection towards her. It wasn't an easy life, on the run, moving from country to country, continent to continent, always one step ahead of those who hunted them all but Rip didn't complain. For one she had nowhere to go, and two even if she did escape she'd never had a "normal" life in any case.

"Why would I lie?" came a cheerful reply from behind her, the voice sickly sweet to her ears.

"Because-" Rip said turning to face the annoying creature who, ever since his creation, found great pleasure in tormenting her, yet found only empty space. Sighing when she heard the giggle behind her again she turned, slower now, to face the cat eared male happily bouncing on the balls of his feet. How can someone so short be such a huge annoyance. . . Rip thought before she leaned down and flicked the catboy's nose.

"Because you are a cat." she said, pleased with his reaction, "and cats are very sneaky creatures."

Glaring at her Schrodinger rubbed his nose and twitched his ears in anger.

"I am not a cat. I am a boy, nay I am a man." he straightened himself to stand taller. "The doctor said I have already turned 18." he smiled showing his catlike canines.

Licking her own fangs with annoyance Rip wondered for a moment if Schrodinger's blood would taste animal or human, then decided not to experiment in any case.

"In cat years Schro. That makes you a child in human years." she smirked at his shocked expression and pushed past him.

"That does not sound right. . ." Schrodinger muttered looking over himself. "I look more human than cat, and then I must be human . . ." Or am I? And what is a year anyway? Frowning Schrodinger rubbed his temples as his ears twitched in annoyance. Time, space, years and age seemed like such arbitrary things to him, why would any year matter for the sake of maturity. Shaking his head Schrodinger turned and tapped Rip on the shoulder, who had by then walked several feet away from him, without him noticing or caring.

"What is a cat year?" he asked.

Jumping slightly Rip inhaled deeply, "He's going to give me a heart attack one day. . ." she said quietly, shaking her head, and turned to face Schrodinger again. "What?"

Frowning in deep thought Schrodinger looked up at her, "Cat years? What are cat years? Or regular years? What's the difference?"

Blinking Rip furrowed her brow, "Well a year is when the earth goes around the sun once." she said using her two forefingers to represent the rotation. "A cat year is-"

"Wait wait wait." Schrodinger cut in waving away her explanation, "You mean to say that the earth and the sun effect our ages!?" He stared up at her, his green eyes wide with confusion. "How?"

Caught off guard by his outburst Rib wet her lips, "No, the earth and the sun don't cause us to age. That is what we use to count the time. One year is one rotation. See."

Schrodinger frowned, rubbing his chin, "I think so. . . " he nodded. "Counting the time is what makes us age." he suddenly grinned. "And if we count time differently we will age differently!" he said grinning widely.

"What? No-" Rip tried to interject but the catboy cut her off.

"In that case I count myself as 25, an adult man." he smiled and nodded before pointing an accusing finger at her. "Now you must respect me as a grown man and give me a piggy back ride."

Rip stared at his smiling face before carefully took taking off her glasses to run a hand over her face, "Why would a grown man want a piggy back ride" she sighed.

"Because I am tired of walking." Schrodinger said, suddenly appearing on her shoulders, his hands clinging to her head, his legs hanging down over her chest like straps.

Slipping on her glasses Rip looked down at the ground defeated. "Says the one who doesn't have to walk at all. . ."

"Hey, you insisted I walk because you can't jump around like me. That means you have to carry me."

"Right." she said taking hold of Schrodinger's ankles so he wouldn't fall, not that he could, and started on towards the old church where he promised she'd find some more soldiers for the Major's vampire army.

-xxxx-

Walter stepped into the cafe attached to the main hotel in the village and scanned the interior. The dining area was large enough to accommodate several tables and booths with comfort, with one bar against the wall where all manner of drinks and food were on display. As he walked in the heat from the large fireplace installed in the wall opposite to the bar brought a smile to his face as he removed the heavy overcoat from his shoulders. Hanging it on the coat rack Walter noted the Bishop sitting at a booth in the far corner with a cup of espresso and a newspaper before him. Nodding in return the Catholic went back to reading his paper. Walter first went to the bar and ordered a cup of strong English Breakfast before going to join Bishop Szfortsa.

"May I join you?" he asked as he slipped into the seat opposite the Catholic.

Looking up from the paper the Bishop pushed his glasses up to the ridge of his nose and smiled politely. "Seems you already have." he said slowly.

Shrugging at the younger official Walter seeped his tea, bobbing the bag in the steaming water. "In moments like these I believe we can forgo formalities. Hopefully you agree."

Chuckling Szfortsa took a sip of his espresso, "Seems rather un-English of you." he said.

"Oh, it must be my ancient Scottish blood." Walter answered with a wink, causing the Italian to furrow a brow.

"I'm afraid I do not understand."

"Ah. . . it is a joke."

The Bishop gave off a sound, seemingly vexed by the statement. "Yes, the famous English 'wit'." he said with a nod. "Is there something you needed?"

Raising a brow of his own at the question Walter took a sip from his tea, then folded his hands on the table and leaned forward.

"Actually yes, I would like to know where you took Seras last night and if you had a plan. To save your beloved Enrico."

The Bishop paused and pushed the paper aside. "Enrico is neither mine, nor is he beloved, he is an Archbishop of the Church and leader of the most powerful intelligence organization in the world. Saving him is imperative to our Church's health and world stability."

"One of the most powerful." Walter corrected with a smile to which Szfortsa set the English mean with a steady gaze.

"Regardless." he said evenly, "To loose him would be a loss for us but a major loss for you."

Now Walter tilted his head, "How so?" he asked biting back his chargin.

"Enrico can be easily convinced to choose peace instead of war, another may not be so easily moved from the path of war as he." Szfortsa set the cup down "Something you may not understand is that the Organization you represent has been a bone in the throat of the Church for several decades and there are many who would like nothing more than to crush you into powder, and to turn your men into ash. Without Enrico to steady the hand of the drum beaters such a reality may occur."

Leaning back Walter seemed unimpressed. "The same can be said of Integra. Why truth be told Hellsing almost fell into the hands of the most unstable person I have ever known but thanks to the young Heiress such a reality didn't come to pass."

The Bishop smiled now, "Oh do not play games with me Mr. Dornez, I know full well your organization is a monarchy, from father to child and over again." he leaned forward now his eyes burning with passionate vindication. "I also know that Integra is the last in the line of Hellsing, and without an heir the organization shall fall apart."

Hearing this Walter laugh, loud and long causing the Bishop to frown in confusion. "I see no reason to laugh." the Catholic said. "It is terrible news for you."

Calming himself Water wipe a tear from his eye and shook his head, "It is even worse news for you." he shook his head, "Don't you understand that without Integra, Alucard will go free, released from the binds he had to the heirs of Van Helsing who defeated him?"

The Bishop leaned back. Swallowing he shifted uncomfortably, "No matter. We shall destroy him as we have destroyed others."

"You certainly may, but the cost will be quite high. It is in your best interest that Integra lives and sires a child in her lifetime."

Silent now the Bishop turned his gaze to the window, going over what he just learned. If Walter was correct than the situation was most dire, more so than he'd ever thought.

"Very well. I will accept what you say, but we must consider the possibility that your failure to protect your Englishwoman has already caused her demise. We will need the help of Hellsing to bring down the monster you keep chained in your cellars if such a situation has come to pass."

Walter shrugged, "I am just a lowly butler, such questions can hardly be answered by someone of my rank." he said with a small smirk, "Though I think I can assure that the Convention of Twelve is not suicidal, if worst comes to worst we may be able to work together. Just know this, the moment Integra dies is the moment Alucard will burst from his cage and rampage. The very fact he is still safely tucked away is proof enough that Integra is alive."

Sighing in annoyance the Bishop inhaled deeply, "I have to say your archaic ways of blood lines and family names will be the death of your nation. Especially if that fish woman must have a child. . ."

Giving the Bishop a look between amusement and shock Walter held back another laugh, "What a way to describe such a strong and beautiful young woman. You shock me Bishop."

Pursing his lips now the Bishop nodded, "I accept that I was a little harsh, but if she is so beautiful why is she unmarried still?"

Walter shrugged, "That is beyond my expertise. Modern women these days and all that."

Szfortsa grunted, "Seems very irresponsible with that ticking monster in her house."

Walter raised his brows in agreement as he drank his tea, "Quite but again it is beyond my duties and expertise. I only protect her."

"Then maybe you must consider her love life as part of that protection." Szfortsa said before taking another sip.

Giving the Bishop another befuddled look Walter sighed, "You Catholics are very confusing to me."

"And you Anglicans return the favor." The Bishop took up his paper and gave him a friendlier smile. "But I shall set that aside today. And to answer your first question, Miss Seras Victoria and I have been able to find a guide last night. This man knows the mountains and he will assist us." Szfortsa glanced at the clock on the wall. "He he should be here in about twenty minutes. If he's sober."

Walter stared at the Bishop, then decided his sanity wasn't worth it and pulled out the puzzles from the man's newspaper.

-xxxx-

Inside the hostel Seras threw open the curtains to the sole window in the room and was disappointed by the utterly grey stain of the glass she found behind them. So dirty was it that the light of the sun came through as a dull evening light, instead of the brightness of the morning she expected

"Gee," she muttered running a finger over the grime of the window, a combination of dust, dirt, and grime from cigarette smoke. "You'd think someone would clean this once in a while."

"Why would they." Heinkle muttered covering her head with the thin blanket the bed came with. "Its a den for unfortunates like us."

Turning her head Seras shrugged, " I don't know, don't they want their guests to feel comfortable? I know I would."

From under the covers Heinkle shrugged, "The only guests they get are drunken young students too poor to care." she said. "And men who want to fornicate with whores. Windows are hardly their concern.

"Oh now that's just slander. You don't know who would stop here. We did."

Heinkle rolled over and lowered the covers slightly, revealing her eyes and nose to the vampire. "Trust me. I know. Only students too poor to pay for a good hotel will stay here and the reason they are too poor is because they spent all their money on beer and sausage. Same with the men with whores."

Leaning against the window Seras crossed her arms, "And how would you know this?"

Heinkle furrowed her brows, "Because I used to be one." she said and rolled over again causing Seras to slowly grin.

"The student or the whore?"

Heinkle glared at the vampire over her shoulder but didn't elaborate further.

Sighing Seras shook her head, "Sometime I wonder if you're just pretending to be angry or always upset."

"I am." Wolfe replied without explaining, again, which statement she was confirming.

Frowning again Seras picked up her travel bag and put it on the bed."Whatever. I'm going to shower." she said pulled out a towel and a spare set of clothes.

"Careful don't melt." Heinkle quipped as Seras passed her on her way out of the room towel in hand.

Seras rolled her eyes gritting her teeth, "That's for witches you dummy." she muttered and closed the door behind her.

-xxxx-

When Integra entered the small back room, after spending twenty minutes preparing her dress, Enrico looked up from the straw pillow his head was on and his eyes widened with surprise.

"Well how do I look?" Integra asked, taking a pose in the doorway, one hand on her hip, with the other resting at her side clutching a medical surgical bag. She was also extending her right leg forward.

Gaping at the sight before him Enrico sat up, he opened then closed his mouth, lost for words. And what could he say, when standing before him was the woman he had only ever seen dressed in the most Puritan fashion now stood before him in her altered dress. The hem had been shortened to rest just above the knee, exposing her shapely feminine legs, which his eyes were instantly drawn to, still in those lovely high heeled ankle boots. The rest of the outfit had been altered and changed to better fit with the length of the new dress, allowing her hips to be shaped by the fabric instead of hidden by it, while her waist and bust were accentuated to show a figure unlike any he'd ever seen on her. Blinking a few times he wondered if he was imagining the sight before him, then when he was sure it was real, he wondered if she had gone mad instead. The smile on her face though, made it clear to him that she had deliberatelychanged her outfit and that flustered him even more. Not to mention, how she was even able to do such work in this place escaped him completely but she had, to great effect.

Lifting an amused brow at his reaction Integra spun causing the hem to flourish out and expose even more of her legs and thighs to the Catholic sitting on the cot.

"Oh come now Enrico don't look at me like I'm a hideous wench. Just because I dress formally doesn't mean I'm not also a woman."

Flustered Enrico stood quickly shaking his head, "No please don't miss understand. I've just never seen you so . . . so . . ." he grasped for a word before Integra intersected her own.

"Attractive? Beautiful? Dare I say . . . Sexy?" She allowed herself to purr the last word and Enrico jumped.

"Yes. Wait, no. I . . . ." he pinched the ridge of his nose, a bright red blush coming to his face. "I mean. . .with all due respect to you as. . . a professional. . . that your new clothes give you a very feminine shape which I admit looks nice." He then closed his eyes and softly whispered to himself, "Don't think such thoughts Enrico, not those thoughts. . ."

Surprised, amused, and now slightly concerned by his boyish distress Integra carefully approached Enrico and placed both of her hands on his shoulders. "Enrico, you're starting to worry me. Are you afraid of women?"

Hearing this Enrico looked outraged. "What? Of course not! I've had many conquests during my youth." he smiled to himself as pride swelled slightly in his chest, "I was told that I am very talented in the bed by many a woman." He looked up at Integra's face still smiling, she returned a look of pleasant amusement.

"Right." she said doubtfully. "I don't think your reaction was that of a ladies man."

Enrico took hold of her wrists and moved her hands off of his shoulder his smile turning sarcastic, "This is because that life is behind me. I have sworn myself to the cloth and have buried such childish desires. It is simply that this new outfit has changed you completely. You're gone from stuffy English Lady Macbeth to beautiful Spanish Carmen."

Laughing now Integra shook her head, "I think you are becoming too flustered, or maybe, I am beautiful enough to wake those feelings again." she said playfully leaning down to tap his nose with her finger. "And that's ok. Since you are a man." To punctuate her point she gave him a playful kiss on the cheek.

Deflating slightly Enrico ran a hand through his hair, "Now that is unfair, using my biology against me, what a very womanly thing to do. Oh you are Carmen for sure." he shook his head before setting her with a long careful look. "But I must admit that it flatters you greatly."

"Maybe I should do it more often." Integra said sitting on her cot and crossing her legs, "I am not old enough to be a hag yet."

"Oh please Integra, you're too elegant to be a hag at any age." Enrico said quickly, causing Integra to smile pleasantly.

"Why thank you Enrico. I believe that is the nicest thing you have ever said to me. And I will say that despite all of your short comings, you are too passionate of a man to act like a little boy. It's beneath you."

Sighing Enrico leaned back on the cot, his eyes drawn once again to Integra's bare legs, her now framed hips and waist, and most shockingly her seemingly fuller bust. He knew he shouldn't be looking at her like that, but this was a new side to her, different on every level. He knew her intellect and wit very well, now he saw she had a physical form to match and it woke dormant feelings from his youth long ago forgotten.

"I think, it is safe to say we have spent too much time together." Enrico said now. "It is starting to make us go soft."

Integra shrugged, "Maybe we should be a little softer then, if it means being friends. Maybe it would even allow us to survive being in the same room without lunging for the throat."

Chewing on that thought Enrico closed his eyes, "I think my dear Integra. I would enjoy that very much." he said with a nod.

A childishly sweet voice, heavily accented with German, suddenly broke through the silence from the ceiling catching Enrico by surprise.

"Oh how sweet! You two are starting to like each other."

Enrico opened his eyes and looked at Integra, but the Englishwoman had her gaze turned up and so Enrico followed suit. Blinking with surprise he saw a . . . creature sitting on the rafters. It looked mostly human, but it had very cat like ears which twitched ever so often and eyes bright green and also quite cat like, though there was enough human in them to fool an onlooker from a distance. Slowly standing Enrico wanted to call out to it but found himself at a loss for words. Then a loud crash from the other room caught his attention and he looked towards the door. It seemed that momentary distraction was all it took for the creature to jump down onto the floor, though the silence of his action was deafening.

"You are very lucky we arrived when we did then." the creature said suddenly sitting on the cot behind him. Spinning Enrico quickly backed away and only then did he notice that he left the his rifle next to the creature. Noting the glance the cat. . . boy. . .creature let out a very cat like laugh. "Oh don't be so foolish Mr. Archbishop." he said then he yelled something in German which Enrico couldn't catch.

Backing away slowly Enrico felt a cold sweat break out over his body.

"He knows who I am." he whispered to Integra once he was standing next to her.

The ears twitched and the green eyed gaze returned.

"Oh of course I know who you are." the creature said, "and I know her too. Nice to see you Lady Integra Hellsing." he said with mock respect in his tone.

Hearing her name spoken seemed to steel the Protestant woman and she stepped forward as if to challenge the cat creature.

"Who are you." she demanded, Enrico noticed her hand touching at her waist where her sword would surely hang though now she had nothing.

"Oh how rude of me, of course!" the cat creature jumped to his feet and bowed low.

"I am Schrodinger! A pleasure to meet you both."

To Enrico the name was only faintly familiar but it seemed Integra knew more about it's context because she let out a snort before commenting.
"A very punny name. . ."

The cat creature, or Schrodinger as he called himself, acknowledged her statement with nod, "The doctor is very cleaver." he said simply

"What doctor?" Enrico asked as evenly as he could though he noted that there was a quiver in his voice and he mentally kicked himself over it.

Schrodinger simply smiled as the door opened and a woman entered, dressed in a uniform Enrico had seen in school books and of course the Catholic records.

What in the world!?

The woman frowned at Schrodinger before speaking in English, her voice also accented in German. "Are you quite done playing with our captives?" she asked and when Schrodinger nodded she smiled and leveled her weapon, an automatic rifle at Enrico and Integra. "If you would be so kind we can get you two somewhere much more comfortable than this freezing storage house." she said in the same cheery tone the cat-Schrodinger spoke.

Enrico's hands balled into fists and he took a step forward, "Ah ah ah, don't be stupid Mr. Archbishop." the woman said, turning her weapon at him. "There is no point fighting, because if you try I will simply shoot you and take the woman, or better yet I'll shoot her and take you anyway."

Hearing this Enrico glanced at Integra, who stood stone faced, looking calm as ever and his anger faded. The woman was right, he couldn't do anything now. He had no weapons and whatever fighting he knew was pointless when faced with a rifle. More importantly, he admitted to himself, endangering Integra with his anger was wrong, both on a personal and professional level. He sighed and seeing his defeat the woman smiled.

"Smart boy." she said and snapped something to Schrodinger who quickly stood and picked up the rifle. Watching him though Enrico noted that the way he was handling the weapon showed he'd never held one in his life. That might be an advantage for me. If the chance comes. Though for now there was nothing left to do but follow these strange and terrible people to wherever they would lead them.

A/N: Dear and Patient Readers.

I great you once again and I thank you for putting up with my terrible update schedule. I hope my lag does not anger you all too much. But I am not giving up on this story. I hope the nature of the relationship that has started to open up between Integra and Enrico reads as natural and not forced. These two are fun to write individually but when they are together it becomes especially so, but I still don't want to make them seem out of character. I think they are not and I hope you agree. Thank you once again for reading this and I will see you with in my next update. Thank You.