Good evening, I hope your all okay and welcome to Chapter 25 of my Hellboy fanfic. Funny how it's Chapter 25 and the theme is Christmas ^_^ not long now to wait until the festive season...but first Halloween and for those in America Thanksgiving :)

Anyway I hope you all enjoy, my music for inspiration was "The Call" By The Celtic Women, which is a group of singers who I was introduced to by a friend on fanfiction, they're very calming to listen to whilst writing. So anyway it helped set the mood for this particular chapter :)

Enjoy and review, thankyou!

'So...remind me how many Christmas trees ya parents said they'd send over?' Hellboy questioned with a raised brow.

'Well I can assure you I didn't ask for this many,' Belle responded, looking in front of them at the twelve large trees that stood in front of the main doors.

'Is Christmas a big thing to your family by chance?'

'You could say so,' she nodded with a weak smile, 'don't worry though, I'll have them come and remove some of them tomorrow...'

'Now I never said that,' Hellboy returned,

'But I thought-'

'Well it's our first Christmas in the place, so may as well go all out if we're gonna do it right,' he grinned, Liz agreeing with him.

'Would be nice to have some light in the place...like HB said, we don't often have much reason to celebrate...but we're certainly going to when these two come along,' she remarked rubbing her bump with some affection.

'I honestly didn't expect this though,' Belle remarked, 'looks like I have more decorations to get than I thought,' she continued.

'Perhaps you should go in and get some rest,' Abe suggested calmly, 'you still seem a little shaken,' he noted, Hellboy telling Abe to see that she got to bed, not allowing Belle to argue in seeing how tired she was. Abe also was in full agreement it seemed as he led her carefully inside the house, it being apparent how much he cared about her wellbeing. Though as the FBI agents made sure they had everything they needed, the team made to leave when Hellboy stopped them before they go anywhere.

'Hey. Hold up speedy. You guys owe me money,' Hellboy remarked,

'For what...? There were no vampires...'

'Vampire bats...' Hellboy cut in, 'we got attacked by a load of them...so pay up.'

'But they're not-'

'Abe, don't the name "vampire bats" come from the legend of a vampire?' Hellboy cut in, Abe coming back outside for a moment as he thought over the question.

'Technically speaking yes but...'

'See, even Abe agrees, pay up,' he said expectantly, the Agent's begrudgingly putting in their agreed wagers and paying a cheerful Hellboy, the group then leaving quickly in their cars before he could get anything else out of them.

'So what are we going to do with all these Christmas trees?' Liz questioned, now looking back to the row of pines that stood in front of the steps leading up to their front doors.

'We'll leave it for now babe...it's late and I need some sleep...I'll get them in, in a few hours...' he shrugged, the three of them walking in the house, though Abe felt as if someone was watching them, the merman turning slightly to look behind them, though with nothing in visible sight he instead retreated into the house trying to shake off the feeling as they all went to get some rest...

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

As Red got up that morning he went upstairs, feeling the need for some coffee. Yet as he walked past the open living room a confused expression came to his tired eyes as he back tracked. Looking into the room, Hellboy found Belle there, lay on the sofa fast asleep, Red shaking his head with a slight smile he left the room returning with a coffee and a drink for Belle, putting it on the side table as he sat across from her, taking a sip of his coffee before remarking calmly,

'Ya know, people traditionally use beds for sleeping,' Hellboy grinned, Belle stirring slightly as she looked up to him with a slight smile.

'Sorry...'

'Don't apologise, it's not a bad thing, was just wondering how ya came too fall asleep up here,' Hellboy questioned, Belle sitting up slightly as she spoke.

'I had a nightmare again and I didn't want to wake Abe...' she explained quietly, 'I can be a little startled if I've had a bad dream...' Hellboy considering what she said before asking her plainly,

'How often do you have these nightmares then?'

'It depends really...if something bad is going to happen, I get them quite frequently...they're not always bad dreams though...I just don't always understand them. Then other times nightmares never disturb me...'

'Do you ever see anything come true?'

'Sometimes,' she nodded, 'I foresaw meeting Abe, though that wasn't a bad thing...' she mused with a soft smile, Hellboy raising an eyebrow with a slight grin. 'May I ask you something?'

'Sure?' he responded, not expecting what belle was about to ask.

'Who was Princess Nuala?' she questioned softly, looking into Hellboy's golden eyes as he sighed.

'I knew this was gonna come up sometime...' he remarked with heaviness in his voice. 'I gotta admit; I didn't get to know the Princess that well. It was Abe who found her. We'd been dealing with some entities that had been let loose by her brother. Though it turned out he was after his sister as she had the last piece of a crown which, when put together, could awaken the golden army.'

'The golden army...?' Belle responded in slight confusion.

'Yeah; indestructible mechanical things...They'd been used in a fight between the creatures of magic and humans. But were stopped when the crown was taken apart...Anyway, while the Princess's brother was after her, she came to stay with us at the BPRD, an' well, like I said Abe knew her better than me and Liz, but they got pretty close really quickly. Long story short, Abe tried to save Nuala's life when she was kidnapped by Nuada by giving up the last crown piece. But she killed herself, knowing that through some link they shared that it would kill her brother too and stop his attempts at destroying every human he could. Though somehow despite all that she still loved her brother...' he said thoughtfully.

'I saw her die in my dream...' Belle uttered without looking up, Hellboy understanding how much that had scared her as he came over and sat beside her.

'Yeah I knew ya had seen something...don't be scared though Belle...we ain't gonna let anything happen to ya...'

'Did Abe love her? Nuala I mean...' Belle asked, her eyes showing something Hellboy couldn't decipher, though he answered her honestly.

'Abe...he never really experienced love before. He's good with books, advice, anythin' logical ya throw at him he can usually do. But he'd never felt feelings like he did with the Princess. He fell for her. I knew that...but I think it'll take someone else to show him how love feels. Though I guess now ya know why he acts so down sometimes. Either way he lost a friend; and that's hard for anyone to handle...' Hellboy remarked, Belle thinking how unbearable it must have been, knowing how she couldn't honestly even consider losing one of her friends. 'Anyway, get back to bed Belle, you need some sleep and to be honest so do I...damn jetlag,' he grumbled, Belle nodding as she stood up and went to go back to her room, thinking about what Hellboy had told her, it lingering in her thoughts as she tried to fall asleep once again...

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Waking up some time later, Belle was unaware that Hellboy, Liz and Abe were already awake and up, Hellboy having managed to pull in all the pine trees as Belle discovered upon finding a large tree stood now in the corner of her room ready to be decorated. The rest however had been spread around the house ready to get ready for the impending holidays. Though as Belle took a look at her phone for the first time that day, she noted all the missed calls she had from her parents and Dale...

'Oh no...' she breathed, knowing that she was in for a long day.

'So come on babe, what do you think?'

'No Red, we are not having any more cats,' Liz sighed, 'we have about fifty as it is, no more.'

'But babe...'

'Don't call me babe,' Liz returned in frustration as she walked into the living room, 'right now I am very stressed and carrying your two unborn children who are getting heavier by the day, so I suggest you don't stress me out anymore otherwise you will find yourself sleeping on the sofa.'

'Well I'd have to make more room, Belle was sleeping in the living room this morning,' Hellboy replied, drawing Liz from her argumentative state as she questioned why Belle would be sleeping upstairs. 'Nightmares apparently, don't think she wanted to wake Abe up,' he answered, Liz looking at Hellboy as if she were thinking the same as him when Abe came into the room with them unaware of what had been said.

Though as Hellboy, Liz and Abe sat down in the living room to admire the rather large tree that had been provided for it, the three of them beginning to discuss the Romanian mission they had embarked on when they heard Belle. Evidently being on the phone though, it was quick to tell she could barely get a word in as she tried to reason with a clearly frustrated Dale...

'I know...I just...yes, I know how worried you must have been but I'm fine honestly. I was in Romania and...No, I'm serious Dale,' she sighed, 'I know and I appreciate you not saying anything to my Dad or Mum...yes...'

'Huh, sounds like her friends a little frustrated,' Hellboy remarked, Liz listening quietly as Belle finally got off the phone and took a moment out in the hallway before walking into the living room.

'Dale not happy?' Hellboy suggested,

'No,' she returned wistfully, 'he was worried that he couldn't get hold of me after the other day and putting it plainly I don't think I'm forgiven yet,' Belle remarked quietly.

'Don't worry Belle,' Abe told her calmly, 'like anyone, he worries for your safety.'

'Seems like that's all anybody does lately,' she returned, her tone somewhat dull as she sat on the arm of the sofa.

'Come on Belle, cheer up, could be worse, you could have to deal with Manning like we do today. Gotta call to go to the damn BPRD...'

'Really?' Belle responded in surprise, 'why?'

'After a mission as big as the one in Romania we're always required to go for a briefing,' Abe explained. 'Though as Liz will be staying here you don't need to join us,'

'Yeah, so make the most of it seen as we're getting the fun afternoon with Manning,' Hellboy remarked, the two men standing up as a black Mercedes pulled around the corner.

'Take care,' Liz remarked, kissing Hellboy tenderly, Abe and Hellboy leaving swiftly in the hopes of a quick return.

Though from the moment they had left, Liz soon turned to Belle. 'Okay,' she said decisively. 'We are gonna go and get some decorations, you're going to tell me what's wrong and this afternoon I expect to see just what you're really like at Christmas, cause a girl that has twelve or more Christmas trees in her home must be festive. Besides, you're the one who's supposed to be happy, so I expect to see better from you,' she remarked, Belle laughing weakly as she was taken out. Though as she explained her worries to Liz after her bad dreams, Liz was sympathetic, having understand how nightmares could haunt you through her own experiences. Yet as Belle continued to talk about seeing Princess Nuala and the Prince Nuada, Liz gave a different light on it.

'You may not think it Belle, but you've made an impact on Abe...I don't think he'd have found things as easy if you hadn't been there for him. You might not have known about what went on with Prince Nuada and Princess Nuala, but I think you helped take his mind off everything. If anything I'm glad you came to us not just because of that, but because you made me see that it's better to have a good outlook on life no matter what the dangers surrounding us, rather than to worry about it constantly. So don't worry so much about these dreams, because I'm not going to let anything happen to you that easily and HB and Abe certainly aren't,' she assured Belle. As she looked at Liz, Belle was surprised by all that she had, not expecting this as they got into central Connecticut.

'Now come on, show me how on earth you manage to keep yourself so happy usually, I need it to be honest cause being pregnant is starting to get a little irritating,' Liz admitted, Belle laughing as she nodded, finally starting to show her natural flair as they got inside the mall.

'Well, if we're going to do this right I'm about to break the bank on decorations alone, so first how about we sort out colour schemes? I also need to get some presents today, I'm so far behind on my shopping,' Belle noted, Liz watching as Belle quickly regained her cheerful demeanour, Liz finding that she was enjoying herself as they picked out lights, tinsel, baubles and even presents ready for Christmas. Though at the BPRD the tensions were only growing...

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

'I swear to god Manning, do you have no idea on how to manage a team?' Hellboy started in an irritated tone, 'I am not leaving it to your men to watch over Belle, what's the point? A monkey could do a better job,'

'Belle Lucivia is under federal protection and as the head of the BPRD it is my decision as to who watches over her. It has already been made clear by Belle that she refuses to miss her graded performance this week at her high school, so it is up to me to arrange suitable security measures, and you're not it.'

'Agent Manning, this really is not fair,' Abe cut in as he tried to reason with their former boss, 'Belle has been placed under our protection, yet you seem to intervene constantly and surely this puts her at more of a risk,' he tried to insist, Johann also being in Manning's office with them, though their other former boss remained silent as they spoke.

'I'm sorry Abraham but my mind is made up. Belle will have other FBI agents to escort her for Tuesday night; you will only be responsible for waiting for her to return home is that understood?' he returned, Hellboy and Abe exchanging glances with a slight frown as they turned back to Manning who gathered the files on his desk.

'Belle Lucivia is a valuable asset to the FBI, her Father is a very influential man and as such it is important she is kept safe. Her parents will be present at her performance on Tuesday, so it is even more vital we make a good impression.'

'At what gain to you?' Abe questioned, 'money? Because I am quite certain Belle would be unhappy if she knew that was the case,' he remarked, Manning knowing full well the merman could read Manning's thoughts and knowing it would be best to dismiss them.

'As I said, her safety is the priority. I have given my orders and they stand as they are. I do not want you going against them, this is a serious matter, and as much as you think I play on it, Belle's life could be in grave danger, and I'm sure you as her protectors would not want anything to happen to her,' he concluded, rendering them silent as they finally left after Abe's encouragement that Hellboy say no more, both leaving in a rather irritated manner, though upon walking out of the office, Johann made his start on Manning, questioning his motives and being unsatisfied by the responses. Though Abe wasn't far wrong in guessing what Manning was thinking in trying to be so close to Harold Lucivia.

'Ya know something Brother Blue, one of these days I'm gonna throw him so hard it might actually knock some sense into it.'

'I don't believe he has Belle's best interests at heart,' Abe agreed, 'but for now we can only act in a way we believe to be best for her,'

'You thinkin' what I am then?'

'You want us to go on Tuesday don't you?' Abe returned; Hellboy nodding as the merman considered it. He knew it would be a risk with so many people being there, though as they returned home, they found they had an evening ready to take their minds off it all...

As they returned that evening, Liz emerged from the kitchen, carrying dinner plates for the meal that night, quickly saying that Belle was in the living room finishing off the last touches to the tree and suggesting they go in there to wait for dinner. 'Hey Tinks, you in here?' Hellboy called, walking in to find Belle knelt down underneath the tree, plugging in the lights, Hellboy and Abe watching the large twelve foot tree light up brightly at her touch, the beautifully vivid colours of the fairy lights dancing against the baubles.

'What do you think?' she smiled standing up, looking at the bright colours upon the tree, it bringing such a warm feeling to her heart, something Abe and Hellboy also experienced but in a different way. For Hellboy it was the nostalgia of thinking how his Father used to decorate for Christmas, and for Abe it was the start of something new in seeing all these festivities.

'You did a good job Tinks; is this the only one done?'

'A couple are done, but I still have a few left to go,' Belle answered, now wearing a long cardigan over her outfit of a woollen top that hugged her figure lightly and a knee length skirt with black tights.

'Very good, though the star's a bit lopsided...' he grinned,

'It's not is it?' Belle answered standing back to look up with a slight frown, Hellboy chuckling at her response.

'Nah, it's not that bad,' he smirked, continuing to play on it.

'So the star doesn't look lop-sided?'

'Oh no…' Hellboy remarked knowing he was doing a good job in taunting her,

'Hmm…that means I need to get the ladder again now doesn't it?' she sighed looking up,

'Just get Abe to help you reach, he can lift you,' Red suggested, grinning at Abe who glanced at him with a slightly nervous expression.

'Would you mind?' Belle asked softly, with a gentle smile.

'I- erm, no, not at all,' he responded looking back to her, 'do you?'

'No,' she smiled, going over to the tree and half turning to him, when he put his hands on her waist. Lifting her light form easily, Belle feeling secure as she put her hands on his at first to steady herself when she reached forward to adjust the star, both of them blushing, with Abe's skin the darkest shade of blue… 'I think that's straight,' she remarked, moving her hands back to his as Hellboy looked in with a grin before turning back to Liz.

'Well I think its straight now,' he grinned, Liz laughing as they went back in the kitchen, leaving Belle and Abe.

'Yes,' he agreed, lowering her carefully.

'Thankyou,' she said shyly, the moment lasting as they both looked up to the tree…

Though as Belle took that moment alone with him, she looked back to Abe and asked him tentatively,

'Do you see her when you look at me?' Abe glancing to her and meeting Belle's serious expression, it being mixed with a wistful gaze, 'Princess Nuala I mean...' she added quietly, Abe finding it hard to know what to say to that when Hellboy and Liz returned to the living room, leaving her question unanswered. Though as Abe watched her quietly that evening, he began to question it himself and what exactly Belle meant to him, having been with them for so long. Yet he found it hard to understand what he felt towards the young clairvoyant, Belle also being confused about this as she sat on the floor by the tree that evening, seeming to find comfort in the tradition of the festive season, and glancing up to it occasionally, Abe seeing how it brought a smile to her face every time. Though as he carefully observed her, Abe found that he wanted her to be happy...yet he was unsure of what part he could really take in her life, his mind wandering as he thought back to what she had asked him. Did he see Nuala in her? Or was he starting to see her for who she was...and just how did the feelings for the two differ...?

Though as he murmured her name in his mind, he thought he saw her shift slightly, her eyes seeming to avert from the tree for a moment, before looking back to the star upon the tree once more...

Hmm, so Belle thinks Abe sees her as Nuala, but what does he really feel for Belle? and just what will Hellboy do to go against Manning?

So much more to come, romance, action, humour and danger isn't far behind...

I hope you all enjoyed! Please review, thankyou!

Goodnight!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x