I was called evil and cheeky for that last chapter, which only made me grin. I tried not to leave you hanging on the edge of that cliff for long though!

The old truck rattles down the road, both occupants silent. One caught up in the chaos her life had become, the older respecting that her new friend needed time to work out the situation on her own. The poor girl had her life turned upside down on her and the choices she was having to make no one could really help her.

"Do you need to stop anywhere before I take you home?"

Integra shifts her attention to Alina then shakes her head slightly, "No, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I really don't mind taking you wherever you need to go."

Integra sighs, "I just want to go home."

"Well, we'll be there in a few minutes."

"No, not the farmhouse...home. I want to pretend I'm just a child again and run out to the hidden grove in the garden to hide from the world with just my vampire to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. Which is so pathetic."

Alina smiles slightly, "No it's not. We all have those moments no matter how old we are. I would have given nearly anything to be back in Romania and tucked away safely in my father's arms last night. That one thing I'm not willing to give up is what keeps me going, though."

"Your daughter?"

"Yeah, she means everything to me."

Integra was starting to understand the older woman's views and how much alike the two of them were. She'd had plenty of time to think about the events from yesterday and her lack of guilt over it all. It was their choice to come the states to bother her and her family, they could have just left them alone. No matter where they go they were going to be hunted...and not because they had done anything wrong, but only because they weren't human. Looking at it from the other side of the line humans were quite the arrogant lot. Alina's suggestion to unite the monsters was starting to look rather appealing.

Integra isn't really surprised to find Walter lounging in the porch swing with a cup of tea balanced on the arm of the swing and a book in his hands when the truck pulls up to the house. She hadn't given it much thought before, but it was strange to see the man that had once been a father figure for her look so young. She hops down from the truck and walks up onto the porch, smiling faintly when Walter sits up and offers the space beside him to sit. Part of her just wants to literally crawl under the bed to sleep, but her nerves are still far to frazzled to get any real rest. So she sits down beside him.

"So how did it go?" Walter asks as he pulls a blood pack out of his vest where it had been left to warm and offers it to her.

Integra frowns slightly but accepts the offer, "These should be saved for Seras."

"Seras is fine, she fed well yesterday. You on the other hand did not."

Integra smiles slightly and carefully cuts off part of the tube connected to the pack with a sharpened nail, "Still looking out for me, hm? And thank you for warming it."

"Always."

"Well, if Margaret ever decides to remarry I've found her perfect match with that loon of a doctor."

Walter chuckles quietly, he knew Integra was trying to dodge the question and for now he'd let her, "The world may not survive that match up."

The bit of amusement fades from her features, "The world may not survive Alucard and I." Her hand drifts to splay out over her stomach, the half empty pack forgotten as her eyes focus on the weathered boards of the porch, "Alina said something to me last night that...is rather tempting. You've never hesitated to tell me if you thought I was doing something foolish so I need that advice now."

Walter listens quietly as Integra recalls the story and her thoughts on the way back home. It was no wonder the girl was so unsettled and for a moment he wants to dice Alina up for putting even more on Integra's shoulders, but after a moment of consideration he can see what the old wolf was doing. She was showing Integra another option besides cowing down to the men who never did respect her.

He picks up his now cool cup of tea and stares at the liquid inside for a moment, "If you were looking for me to tell you if it was right or wrong I'll have to disappoint you."

"No, that isn't it..."

"Now if you were looking for me to support the decision you know you're going to make then you have it. You protect yourself and," His eyes drift down to her hand that's still covering her stomach, causing the girl to fidget uncomfortably, then raises his gaze back to her eyes, "those you care about. That is what is important."

Integra nods slightly, "I need you to find us safe passage back to London. No matter what I decide I'm still not leaving David behind with them. I won't let him suffer anymore than he already has because of us."

"I'll work on that while you get some rest. Just in case you might want to know Alucard is in the attic."

A pang of guilt stabs at her again as she makes her way inside the house then down the hall to where the ladder to the attic is located.

The attic is dusty and boxes from the previous owners still clutter the space. She can't see him for the boxes, but the footprints in the dust covered floor gives away his hiding space. As quietly as she can she picks her way between the clutter till she sees him curled up in a corner on an old quilt he most likely dug out of one of the boxes. He's sleeping, but the crease in his brow suggests it's not a peaceful sleep. She sits down behind him and reaches out to run her fingers through his hair, smiling slightly when his face relaxes.

Leaning down she lightly presses her lips against his temple as she murmurs his name.

Ruby red eyes full of shame turn to look at her and she can't help but sigh. If anyone should be ashamed of themselves it was her. She was selfish and hadn't been treating him like a proper mate.

"I'm still a bit upset you didn't tell me it was possible, but that doesn't excuse my behaviour. I'm so sorry, I've been acting like such a spoiled child."

Alucard sighs and turns over onto his back to see her better, "I made a mistake turning you, I never should have talked you into it."

Integra frowns slightly, the comment stung more than she was willing to admit, "Do you really believe that? Not counting the chaos last night do you believe it was a mistake?"

The first thing that comes to mind for him was running through the forest with her. It had felt so right even to her. He starts to answer her but with the small smile gracing her lips he knew she was thinking of the same night.

Integra leans down and lightly brushes her lips against his, "It's not always going to be perfect. I have more to adjust to than I thought, but I will. There's something you should know."

Alucard reaches up to hold the back of her neck as he leans up slightly and lightly kisses her, "And that is?"

Integra let's out a pleased sigh, "First off I'm cold and you need to fix that."

Alucard laughs and gently pulls her down beside him as he rolls over onto his side, wrapping his arms around her when she presses closer to him.

Integra closes her eyes as she tucks her head under his chin. He felt so warm compared to her. Course he most likely took more than his fill last night. He always was a bit of a glutton. The sound of his slow but steady heartbeat and his comforting scent nearly lulls her off to sleep.

"Integra?"

"Hm? ...oh!" A faint smile curls her lips. She had been so nervous and terrified waiting on the results, but now there was a sense of pride and happiness. Maybe she could do this after all, "You're going to be a father."

The sudden jolt of excitement coming from him draws a laugh from her. She suddenly finds herself pressed onto her back with her shirt tail pulled up and Alucard with his cheek pressed against her stomach. She smiles and runs her fingers through his hair, "Thought you'd be happy about that."

"I thought you didn't want to be a mother."

"I didn't but I won't kill an innocent and that's not fair to you. I know how much you adore children. I'm just afraid I won't be a good mother at all."

"You'll be fantastic. Hush now, get some rest."

He doesn't have to tell her twice. Sheer exhaustion and the comfort of being close to her mate quickly lulls her to sleep.

x*x

Walter leans back in his chair and reaches up to rub his eyes. He had spent hours trying to find a secure airline, then finally gave up and got in contact with the Wild Geese. Needless to say they were happy to know Seras was doing well and excited to see her again. Speaking of his little draculina, he had yet to see her and she was usually awake before the sun went down.

Pushing away from the desk he stands up and heads down the hall to their room. The bed is empty and risking a quick peek into her coffin it's empty as well. It wasn't like her to wander off without at least saying hi to him. He pulls the ring he had found at the antique shop out of his vest pocket. He had cleaned it up, but somehow it still looked old. It was just a simple gold band with a small transitional cut diamond, but his Seras wasn't the type for overly flashy things...unless it was a gun. He chuckles quietly to himself at the thought of proposing with a gun and stuffs the ring back into his vest pocket as he walks out of the room.

A few minutes later finds him standing some distance from the lake watching the moonlight reflect off spiky blonde hair.

"I know you're there, sneaky angel."

Walter smiles slightly at the teasing tone and closes the distance, wrapping his arms around her waist when he stops behind her, "What are you doing out here?"

Seras relaxes back against as she lays her arms over his, "Just thinking...mostly about Integra's outburst over possibly being pregnant. For the first time I actually wanted to hit her."

Walter raises his eyebrows at the confession, "Whatever for?"

"I was just so insanely jealous that she can have babies, but was horrified by it! Which was stupid because I never gave any thought to having kids till recently."

"And you don't think you can?"

"Alucard said it takes a strong bloodline."

"You are one of his."

"Yeah, but I was nothing special. I'm not noble blood or anything like that."

Walter can't help but laugh and gently turns the little draculina in his arms to look at her, "You silly girl! If you were nothing special he never would have turned you. He knew you would be more than just a simple vampire and he was right. So cast those thoughts out of your mind...along with your urge to hit Integra, you're still far stronger than her."

Seras blushes slightly and lightly swats his chest, "It was just for a moment and I would never actually hit her! I was just wound up is all."

Walter smirks slightly, "Yes, I remember."

Her cheeks turn an even brighter shade of pink, "You're horrible!"

"And here I was worried you'd be upset over killing those soldiers, silly me."

Ruby eyes blaze as she pushes away from him. She reaches up to run a hand back through her hair as she paces in front of him, "I almost wish they were turned to ghouls so I could kill them again."

"Well now..."

"Call me a monster if you want, I don't care! They killed innocent people just to get to us. There was no reason for such actions! I finally understand what Alucard meant back in Rio. I thought he was just a monster for killing that swat team, they were just humans. But human...doesn't mean innocent."

Walter chuckles and shakes his head slightly, "I would never call you a monster." He reaches out to catch her wrist then pulls her closer to him. Reaching up to gently catch her cheeks he leans down and kisses her.

Seras let's out a pleased sigh and reaches up to hold onto his vest as she leans up into the kiss, her previous rant forgotten.

Walter smiles faintly as he pulls back to look at her, "You are such an amazing woman. You know we're going back to London right?"

"And I can't wait to give those old coots a good thrashing for hurting David. I kinda liked him."

"Well, something I need to say before we go."

Serbs blinks when Walter kneels in front of her, "What are you do-"

She's struck silent as she watches him pull the ring from his vest pocket then take her hand and slide the ring onto her finger.

"Seras Victoria, will you marry me?"

Her mouths works uselessly for a moment before she lets out a very girlish squeal, "Yes!"

"Damn, Police Girl, you'll wake the dead making a racket like that!"

Serbs grins as she rushes over to show Alucard the ring, completely ignoring the old nickname, "I'm going to get married!" She rushes back over to Walter and nearly knocks him off his feet as she pouches him in a hug, gaining a laugh from the elder vampire.

"Well congratulations! Just came down here to make sure you were alright and Integra needed to speak with Walter about the arrangements."

Walter nods slightly, "We'll be there shortly."