I'm sorry I haven't updated in forever! This is a really short chapter because I mostly wanted to let you know I'm still alive and I haven't ditched the story. I have school and work and other art projects that I've been doing so this kind of got shoved on the back burner, but don't worry. There is still more story to be had and I'm excited about where things are going.

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The Party

Cat stepped out the back door that led out to the soldiers barracks. She looked at the long house they used for target practice and then over to the one they used for sleeping quarters. Neither one looked like much was going on inside. She trudged down the path and slowly opened the barrack door. Noise exploded out like a nuclear bomb and she slammed the door shut again.

"It's completely sound proof…," she rubbed the ear that had taken most of the blast. She stood looking around for a moment feeling a little awkward. Parties were really not her thing. She did not fit in with the bouncing noisy people that went to them. Just as she began to consider turning back to the house and going to the library the door swung open and admitted the beastly noise once again.

"Cat! What are you doing standing out 'ere! Come in love!" Pip grabbed her arm before she could say anything and dragged her into the barracks.

The long room had been cleared. All of the bunk beds and tables were shoved against the far end and one table had been set in the middle against a wall and was set up with speakers and an old record player. A young soldier was standing behind the table and looking through records. Other soldiers were yelling and throwing streamer back and forth, making sure all of the rafters were sufficiently covered.

"Is this a children's party?" Cat smirked at him. He was standing proudly with his hands on his hips and looking around at the room.

"A children's party…no! No, it's a going away party. Where 'ave you been? We've been planning all week and 'oping to get a good chance and now we 'ave it and you don't even know what's going on," he shoved her head and ruffled her hair.

"Yeah, alright alright, who's going away then?" she slapped his hand away from her and threw a light punch at his face.

"Seras of course! My Christ Poppet you really 'ave no idea of anyzing going on around you. She's going back to 'er job in South America. She should be 'ere soon. I zink she is just 'aving a last chat wiz Mister Alucard. 'E's ze one who made 'er into a vampire you know? I zink she missed 'im a lot while she was gone. Maybe 'e missed 'er too, who knows? Vampires are 'ard to understand, almost as 'ard as women! Now you go outside by ze corner of ze 'ouse and when Sir 'Ellsing and 'er date pull away and you see Walter 'ead off you come and yell the all clear. It won't be too long now Poppet. We're going to 'ave a 'ell of a time," he opened the door again and gave her a brisk shove outside. As soon as the door snapped shut the music was gone and things were eerily silent.

Cat walked over to the house and peaked around the corner just enough to see the back of a black car sitting in the driveway. She plopped down onto the grass and slumped against the wall. She sighed and twirled a piece of her hair.

What could Seras and Alucard be talking about? She did not think that Alucard was one for reminiscing, but maybe since Seras was his own fledgling it was different. She tried to think about what the soldier had told her on the way to the last mission, but she was too bothered. Alucard had barley spoken to her since then and she had not even acted odd in the slightest. After she had gotten up the next day she was fine absolutely fine and here everyone was making a big deal about it. Even Alucard who was supposed to be the one constant in her life. Never changing and always predictable and unpredictable at the same time. How was she supposed to keep up a state of normal mental health when so many things in this place were far from normal? Visiting vampire spawn from South America, missions full of things that made no sense at all, moody vampires who could not make up their minds about anything.

Cat found herself wondering if Alucard liked her. She pinched her arm as a punishment for thinking something so childish. The Hellsing household was not high school and Alucard was not a boy that sat behind her and smacked her in the back of the head with a book every once in a while. He was a vampire who was hundreds of years old and who had probably killed thousands of people and things. Monsters did not fall for humans. And humans should not fall in love with monsters no matter how charming or handsome or powerful or strong or protecting or…. She smacked her head against the wall of the house and drove all wandering thoughts out of it.

"You should no better by now Katherine," she said aloud to herself to make the point more clear.

She stood up and peaked around the corner again. She could see Integra getting into the car. She was wearing a dress that came down to her knee. Her hair was swept up into a knot that was held in place by some chopsticks. She looked very nice and Cat was relieved to see she was not scowling. Alex got into the drivers seat of the car and they pulled out of the driveway and down the street. Soon after she saw Walter come out the front door carrying a bicycle. He set it down at the bottom of the steps and hopped on. She giggled as he pedaled off sitting very upright like the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz when she was still the mean lady who wanted to kill Toto. She waited until he was around the corner and then turned around to go back to the barracks. When she was half way there she saw Seras step out the back door and walk towards them as well. She took a deep breath and readied herself for a night of awkward dancing and even more awkward conversation.

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