Author's note: I do not own Hellsing or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge using list theta. Theme 1: Waking Dreams. This set in Integra's twenty-first year of running Hellsing. Warning: this is AU and there is use of deus ex machina in this chapter.

Take Her In Your Arms

It was Avery who brought the subject up. Integra would have never given it a second thought. She had always understood the bonds between herself and Alucard, and there had never really been a need to publicly acknowledge them. However, Avery had a class assignment to bring in a wedding photograph of her parents, and it was brought to her attention that her parents were not married. It didn't make much of a difference to her, but she didn't have anything to bring in for class, and that was bothering her.

The eight year old had wandered into her mother's office and climbed into the chair that Alucard normally occupied. She studied her mother for a few minutes before speaking.

"Do vampires have weddings? It would be almost silly if they did. After all, the bond between mated vampires is fairly similar to the one of master and fledgling. Something like a ceremony to bind them together when they all ready are is a little redundant."

Integra set aside her pen and steepled her fingers together, considering her daughter. "What brought this on?"

Avery shrugged. "We're supposed to bring in a wedding picture of our parents. I don't have one because my parents are vampires and are not married. You weren't married when you were human either though."

"That's true enough." Integra smiled. "There probably would have been complications if I asked a priest to marry me to a vampire. Is that a problem for you?"

Her daughter echoed the smile. "In terms of normal things, no. In terms of school, yes, because I don't have something to bring in and I can't figure out an excuse that wouldn't cause uncomfortable questions."

"When is the assignment due?"

"Next week on Thursday, so I've got some time to figure it out."

"I think we can come up with something." Integra reached for her pen again, and Avery took this as a sign that the conversation was over. She left the office humming softly to herself.

Integra's focus turned back to her paperwork, and the matter was relegated to the back of her mind. However, she did mention it to Alucard. He was amused by the idea. He pulled her into his lap with a smirk.

"It makes no difference to me. Of course," he leered down at her, "it would mean that we would have to have a wedding night. That could be rather rewarding."

She snarled at him. That only caused his smirk to widen. Integra had taken to life as a vampire quite easily, and despite submitting to Alucard in that matter, they constantly were locked in a battle of wills. That had not changed at all. However, the consequences of winning or losing had changed somewhat.

In the end, they opted for more than just a staged photograph. Seras was the one who had come up with the idea. Despite her embracing of her new life, the police girl was still a romantic at heart. There was a small, private celebration on the grounds under a full moon. Alucard wore his normal attire, sans hat and glasses though Integra herself wore an elegant ivory gown with her hair pinned up for a change. When Integra looked back, she realized that the date had been the anniversary of that afternoon in the mansion's basement when she had stumbled upon Alucard in an attempt to escape her uncle. It seemed rather fitting.

When the assignment came due the next week, Avery brought in a glossy black and white photo of her parents in the moonlight. Her parents had always looked good together, but the picture they presented, hands clasped under the full moon, was truly stunning. Seras had caught them just before a kiss.

Avery held up a black and white photo when her turn came to present to the class. "These are my parents. They met when my mother was thirteen."