Hi everyone, sorry for the delay on updating, the new chapter would have been up last night but the document manager decided not to work....anyway, its up now and thats the main thing :) Also this new chapter is quite long :) it would have been longer still as I'd already come up with the next part, but its easier to do it in two parts. Also I have a bit of a treat as I have just finished a new sketch of Belle and Abe which I have uploaded, so check out my display picture and let me know what you think :)

In relation to the new sketch I also wanted to say that I have recently created and account on Deviant art, as I thought it would be nice to submit the sketches I have done and so you can all see it in the original sizing too, so if you have an account do leave me a comment on there or just let me know what you think :) I have about 4 to upload at the moment but there will be more going on there.

Anyway, enjoy & review thankyou!

Three am…a time of night when all should have been quiet and most asleep…something which evaded Red, Blue, Liz and Belle as a gleaming silver Mercedes came onto the main road at an even speed. 'I don't get why the hell it's our problem at three in the morning if the FBI can't handle a bloody case on their own…the only reason a guy should be awoken at this time is for a snack or by the kids…' Hellboy grumbled his rant going unheard by Liz who had fallen asleep in the back with him, Belle and Abe riding up front.

'You're very quiet,' Abe said softly to Belle as Red took a break from his ranting, 'what are you thinking about?'

'What we're going to be up against mainly…' she replied, her response only just rising above the wind that blew over them.

'Would you prefer me to drive?' Abe offered knowing how weary she was, her tired expression still lingering in her features,

'It's alright; it's only a five to ten minute drive…'

'Well the sooner we get in the quicker we get out, and I swear whatever the hell it is that got me out of bed at three am is seriously gonna be sorry,' Hellboy said dangerously, Belle only half listening now as she drove down the road, her mind elsewhere. 'Something is on your mind isn't it?' Abe asked softly in her mind,

'I thought you didn't listen to my thoughts?' Belle responded her eyes still on the road though a slight smile now touched her lips.

'I wasn't, I'm just aware of you more than any other…the way I care for you seems to make it even stronger. So am I right in saying something is wrong?'

'Yes…I was going to ask to talk to you when it was a more reasonable hour…'

'Certainly' he acquiesced, Belle glancing at him and smiling as she took his hand for a moment before making the turn off. Pulling up amongst the other FBI cars Red –after gently waking Liz- was the first to get out of the car as he strode towards Manning irritably.

'Oh dear…' Belle voiced locking the car and following Red, Abe and Liz at her side,

'Look Manning do you have any idea what time it is…?'

'Yes, because I was called out just like you. I am in just a foul mood and I am very stressed so if you want to take your anger out on someone than take it out on Fentran.'

'With pleasure,' Hellboy said darkly cracking his knuckles and about to ask for him when Belle intervened,

'Come on H.B you don't want to start a fight like this, you want to get home quickly right? After all the children won't want you to be away for long,' she remarked, knowing this would make him stop. The news of a mission had come quickly that morning by phone call, and Myers had arrived shortly after to watch over Cedric and Aurora while they were gone.

'Let's make this a quick date then shall we?' Hellboy suggested, no calmer than he had been before, the group syncing up there locators and heading towards the building they had been called too. 'Perfect place for a horror movie,' Hellboy remarked at the graveyard surrounding, Belle's grimace at area as they passed through the gate making her falter.

'It's okay,' Abe encouraged,

'So much darkness lingers here…' Belle breathed, Abe sensing the same presence as she did,

'Red, it will be difficult to locate the entity tonight I fear,' he said H.B turning to them and rolling his eyes,

'Come on Abe, these things come after us as much as we go after them, it's not exactly gonna hide from us is it?'

'Strategically speaking though isn't it better to know where you're meant to be wary of…' Abe began

'Ah you think too much Abe,' Hellboy said dismissively, though as they progressed farther inward the FBI closing the gates behind them. 'Besides by these guys' standards if it's dangerous we get locked in with it, so I don't think it's gonna be exactly timid.'

'I don't think that's helping,' Liz said, her voice just as on edge as Belle's.

'Oh come on girls it's just a bone yard besides it helped us back when Rasputin & Kroenen was our primary targets,' Hellboy remarked, Liz remembering the time and placing a hand on Hellboy's arm when something ran past at a fast speed. Holding his arm out to hold Liz back, Red loaded his gun, as everyone manoeuvred. Making the first step, Belle ran forward flipping lightly over the creature to give herself a fair placement, Abe and Red moving to bring them in a diamond shape, the group surrounding the entity with some ease.

'What is it?' Liz asked, as they watched carefully the creature having the and features of a bull with bull though its eyes glowed red, two black and deadly sharp horns directing toward each of them in turn as it circled itself.

'An ancient beast that is clear, the markings indicate its aged body…alike a Taurus…' Blue remarked, Belle watching carefully as it decided its first move.

'Liz!' she suddenly exclaimed, her fire wielding friend on alert as the beast charged towards her, Red about to shoot when trying to use her flames to stop it, Liz was knocked aside, her dark hair covering her face as she fell toward the hard ground.

'Okay three in the morning is one thing, but now you've really pissed me off!' Hellboy said in anger flinging up his gun and directed it in one swift motion pulling the trigger without hesitation. Watching as it kicked and flailed, Hellboy quickly realised it were now coming toward him, Belle taking a chance and managing to come between them, her backward dive bringing her back across the ground, her heels bringing up the ground beneath her as she held onto her solid posture.

Turning from one to the other, Belle successfully confusing it with her equally matched pace, Abe was given a chance to help Liz up, ensuring she was okay before following Belle's example, bringing himself between Hellboy and Belle with enough time to get back and into a different position. 'That's the weakness, its mind can only hold so much in order to attack, all this creature knows is to charge and attack,'

'Sounds like me on a bad day,' Hellboy grumbled going in a straight forward collision with the bull, dragging it down and wrestling to pin it down, firing a gun shot in the air to make his point made. Yet the sound triggered an emotion in Belle…the hurt and pain from the day she had been trying to forget she felt that she was almost reliving… 'Got it, well that was easy enough…I swear the FBI are becoming worse by the day…' he grumbled, 'that was child's play, you did good though Belle, don't think you could have gotten any closer.'

'Yeah…' she breathed, not entirely aware of the conversation as the FBI agents gathered the entity binding it tightly as they heaved it into the trucks.

'Manning,' Hellboy said nodding as they passed, the agent looking exasperated at the swift exit they had made, though again Belle only came out of her reverie as they reached the car, with Abe gently taking the keys from her hand.

Allowing Abe to drive, Belle soon fell asleep in the front seat of the car, still saying very little in the beginning of the ride home, making Red and Liz wary of her despite Hellboy's interest in his fiancé. 'You're sure you okay?'

'You ask me that one more time Red and you won't be…I'm fine, really,' she assured him, pressing her lips against his to silence him, Hellboy finally relaxing making Abe chuckle lightly. Though as he looked back to Belle, his expression became smoother as he placed his hand gently on hers, feeling the swirl of emotions that was in her mind presently even as she slept so lightly. Arriving at the bureau which sat in complete darkness, with only dim lights from within, the friends were grateful to get in and go back to bed, Abe not disturbing Belle and carrying her to her room, 'goodnight' he muttered in his thoughts to Liz and Red, the pair nodding as they returned it, Red asking if Abe thought Belle would be okay, Blue looking from her delicately sleeping form to them and nodding with a slight smile. Carrying Belle to her room, she did not stir at all, even as he lay her in bed, bringing the duvet over her with care and kissing her soft lips before going into his room to get some more sleep himself…

The following morning, Belle had awoken early, wondering now how many times she had fallen asleep on the others, feeling guilty knowing that they wouldn't disturb her. 'Good morning,' Abe said looking in through the doorway,

'Mm...good morning,' she said with a smile yawning a little, 'did you carry me to my room again?'

'It was no problem,' he said dismissively, Belle tilting her head with a slight smile as if she should have known better.

'Are you okay?' Abe asked sitting with Belle on her bed,

'I'm just…I think it was shock really…' she said slowly, now more alert and knowing what Abe meant; seeing it in his thoughts. 'The last few days I've spent looking through and getting too involved in the life of my father portrayed through his file…just trying to find answers…trying to see the side of his life I was never told of…I think it's just made me emotional, but last night it scared me…'

'It was my fault for encouraging you to come in…I shouldn't have even encouraged you to drive, or to join us last night. I just wanted you to have the choice rather than to be told you'd be better off staying at home where it was safe.'

'I know, I saw in your mind that you were uncomfortable by my presence whilst we were there…'

'Only because I was concerned for you…'

'It wasn't your fault Abe, no entities are safe, we know that…' she said closing the space between them and laying her head in his lap as she continued to talk, Abe responding as he rested his arm over her waist, his hand playing idly with her long, soft hair. 'You mentioned earlier that you would like to talk…would you still prefer to wait?'

'No, I'd like to talk about it now…if you're okay with that?'

'Of course,' he replied, unaware of the topic Belle wanted to discuss as she averted his eyes for a moment before looking back as she asked quietly,

'Are you happy…being with me…?'

'Yes, of course, you know how much I love and cherish you…do you not feel the same?'

'Yes, I just…we haven't really told anyone about it,' she responded softly, Abe now smiling as he began to understand what she was getting at, 'I mean Red and Liz know but I wanted to make it feel that there was a definite "us" out of the bureau.'

'If that is what you wish then I have no objection, in all honesty I had wanted the same, but I was hesitant to ask…'

'Why?' Belle queried, watching his wistful gaze

'Being with someone like me…with someone who looks as I do, I believed you may not wish for others to know…' At this point Abe paused as Belle sat up, her hands against his chest as he supported her around the waist so she was now comfortable in his lap. 'I love you for who you are,' she in a soft voice, Abe resting his forehead against hers, 'and that's not going to change, I want people to know how much I love you,'

'As do I, though for you I was just concerned,' he sighed running his hand through her hair.

'You shouldn't,' Belle soothed, her arms now around his neck as she kissed him softly.

'Good morning,' Hellboy greeted cheerfully coming in; looking from one to the other with a wide grin, knowing he'd interrupted them.

'Good morning,' they greeted in unison Belle sitting properly in Abe's lap now as they faced him. 'knocking would have been nice,' Belle said laughing,

'Yeah…you were awake I know it, I can be discreet,' he said the phrasing becoming more comical whenever he tried to include it. 'Anyway the FBI have been on the phone and any minute now…' he said pausing to hear the siren going off down the corridor, 'the alarms gonna go off,' he concluded, 'but we're not leaving till after breakfast, you two coming?' he asked in questioning, Belle already getting up as Hellboy informed them.

'I'm surprised you're alright with it?'

'Yeah well, I'd like to tell them my opinion of last night in person,' he said continuing to smirk.

'Does Manning have the paperwork?' Abe asked following Belle as Liz also came in the room,

'Yeah they dunno what it is though this time…Fentran called it in. Which gives me chance to have a word…or a fist…' he remarked putting an arm around his girlfriend.

'Belle…'

'You wanted me to come and see to the children with you?' she asked seeing it on the surface of her thoughts,

'Yes, Aurora's been crying since about five am this morning and I just don't know whats wrong…' Liz said concerned,

'I'll come and see if there's any reason for it present in her mind,' Belle assured her, wanting to see to Aurora quickly, sensing Liz's initial worrying.

'I could come if you like Liz?' Abe offered,

'Its alright, I think Red wanted to talk to you,' she said leaving the room again to allow Hellboy to talk,

'So what was that?' Red asked grinning widely,

'Nothing just a quiet morning together...'

'Looked a bit more than that,' Hellboy smirked, Abe being more thoughtful on the subject,

'It was just good to see her perk up…Belle's only trying to lighten things Red and just seeing her smile made me feel so much easier.'

'Yeah, listen Abe…all the stuff for the wedding came up again last night,' Hellboy said uncomfortably rubbing against the back of his neck,

'How are the plans coming?' Abe queried, Hellboy looking at his best friend sceptically,

'Be realistic Abe, the most I've had to do with the wedding is the proposal and the guest list…but that's beside the point. Look I wanted to know…if…if you'd be best man? There I asked it…'

'Naturally, why did you doubt my answer?'

'I didn't, I just didn't like asking it, I purposefully kept it on my mind hoping you'd take the hint,'

'I thought I wasn't allowed to go into your mind?'

'Well it was a good way of finding out that you don't,' Hellboy said more cheerfully. As they reached the main hallway, Johann approached them keenly,

'Good morning Agent Abe Sapien, Agent Hellboy,'

'Morning,' Hellboy remarked nonchalantly,

'Good morning,' Abe said politely, the pair about to go into the dining room when Johann stopped them.

'I thought zere was an alarm zat the FBI zent? Avaiting your services…'

'Yeah, though its breakfast time and unlike some we were up at three am this morning,' Hellboy said, his tone annoyed,

'I just zink it vould be better to tackle ze problem first don't you?'

'…and we will, after we've eaten,' Hellboy countered ending the short lived argument as he strode into the dining room.

'He iz still short tempered zen,' Johann said thoughtfully to Abe who didn't respond, 'vere is agent Belle zis morning?'

'She's just seeing to little Aurora, she should be up soon.'

'She is a very unique young lady vouldn't you agree?'

'The rarest and most delicate,' Abe said softly, Johann watching him for a moment when Liz joined them.

'Breakfast is ready…' she started when Belle too came upstairs carrying Aurora in her arms, the toddler looking very sleepy as she rubbed her eyes with the back of her palms.

'She's teething,' Belle said soothingly, handing her to Liz, 'did you bring Cedric up?'

'Yes Red will just be feeding him, thanks Belle,'

'Not at all,' she nodded following them in for breakfast and the start of a very long day.

Going to where they had been called out, Belle and Liz drove two separate cars to take them all –Johann joining them- Belle and Abe taking the Mercedes while Red and Liz rode with Johann. 'This feels like déjà vu…though continuing our conversation earlier,' Belle began taking opportunity of them being in the car alone, 'why didn't you ever ask me before?'

'I was genuinely concerned on how you felt about the matter. I wouldn't have pressured you into anything…and in light of recent times…'

'You've been there for me through everything, but you've done it so discreetly, I just want those I know to be able to see just how wonderful you are,' Belle remarked taking his hand and glancing over at him, seeing a smile upon his lips. After a twenty minute drive, the team finally arrived, Belle putting up the leather top as they went through the press and such at a fast pace avoiding being looked at, though the expensive car acquired its share of admirers. 'Where are we?' Red asked as they parked up at the back,

'Delocove Manor,' Belle answered simply, 'it's well known for the balls and elegant party's which are hosted here.'

'Well I have my own kind of party in mind,' H.B said grinning, as they got out, Fentran being there amongst the FBI, yelling orders at various agents, Myers being one of them.

'Hi,' he said sheepishly to Belle as he passed her quickly, the group syncing up their locators and bracing their guns when Abe turned to Belle perplexed. 'Do you sense a dark entity?'

'No, how strange…do you?'

'No…that's just my thought on the matter,' Abe said, 'I can sense something but it is by no means deadly…'

'Alright guys, in and out. Don't get caught you know the drill,' Manning told them,

'Yeah, we've been doing this for years, I think we know what we're doing,' Red said irritably, 'not that I don't see what you don't get about "I quit"'

'Drop it Hellboy, just get this over with,' Manning said in a hard tone, 'Fentran's in a bad enough mood as it is without you guys trying to give me a hard time, just go with it,' he hissed.

'Fine, fine,' Hellboy said airily walking in, the others following as the doors were slammed behind them.

'Courteous…' Belle remarked unimpressed by the FBI's attitudes with them that morning.

'You say it like you expected it,' H.B said some humour back in his voice. 'Well let's get this over with,' he said when a cry erupted from deep within the manor.

'It sounded like it was coming from the ballroom,' Belle muttered,

'Do you want to lead us the way then?' Hellboy asked, Belle nodding as she walked forwards cautiously, Abe at her side as they made their way down the highly arched hallways.

'I haven't been here in so many years,' Belle breathed slowly as they walked on, 'everything always was decorated to the finest detail, I remember it so well…' that was when another cry rang out. Stopping outside the ballroom doors, Belle brushed her hand against it, Abe doing the same as they both looked to one another, Liz looking between the two waiting for one to speak.

'Anything?'

'Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's a creature of mythology,' Blue remarked looking to Belle who nodded, 'but something seems…familiar…'

'Yeah, entity causing havoc, sounds familiar to me,' Hellboy said lightly,

'Shall we?' Blue suggested pushing open the door to see something lying in the middle of the room…

So what will they find? Will Hellboy have it out with Fentran or will there be a twist? :) to my readers who know me, they know what I'm like and how nothing will be quite so simple ;)

Please review and I've only really mentioned names before so I just wanted to properly thank my frequent reviewers.

"silverrain1312" you have been a great and inspirational friend and a fantastic reviewer, you've really stuck with the fanfic & I look forward to beta reading for you, thankyou! :)

"LadyAquanine73551" You always have very interesting theories and are very good at noticing any slight detail in my chapters, great to talk to and a great friend thankyou :)

"AngelProtectress" You have always left me reviews of support and have been with the fanfic since I first started pretty much thankyou :)

"Kim" one brilliant reviewer, and an awesome friend thankyou! :)

and everyone else you know who you are :)

Please review! One exeptionally long chapter lol :) I'll be updating soon xxx