Hi all! I doubt many will read this, but as I was going through my computer I found an old fanfiction I wrote. I can't get into the account anymore, but I was able to read it and, I'll be honest, I'm surprised anyone read it back then. The spelling errors alone are jarring, but it seems quite juvenile now. If any are interested my original work was called 'Welcome to The Family' published back in 2014. I promptly dropped the fan fiction, being young and unable to finish it, but it's still up on the site to read. It's attached to another account though so good luck finding it. I do still enjoy some of the chapter in the middle, but overall you can tell I was too timid to publish anything with gumption. Anyways, I decided that during quarantine I was in dire need of a distraction and decided to take a few elements that I enjoyed from the original work I wrote, as well as some others I've read over the years. I haven't written in many years, so I apologise if it's not the best. But I endeavour to at least complete this one a little more. I do hope you all enjoy this first chapter, and I I'll upload the next one soon. Ciao x

Chapter 1. The Letter

Sir Integra held the delicate letter between her gloved fingers. Sir Penwood, an old family friend and fellow member of the Round Table had written to her. The flowing and elegant handwriting failed to disguise the ugly reality of the letter's contents. Pressing her lips together in frustration, she crumpled the letter into her fist and threw it down into the ashtray. Pulling her lighter from her desk drawer, she lit a cigar; glaring down at the offending stationary. Smoke pooled in her lungs as she drank deeply from the cigar.

Walter, her ever faithful retainer, had been occupied with laying out her evening tea and looked up at the noise.

"Not good news I presume, Sir?" he asked, the barest hint of sarcasm edging his words. His face offered no indication of amusement when Integra looked, but she was sure she heard a level of entertainment in his voice. He had to know what was in the letter when he handed it to her that morning. Sir Penwood was one of the few members of the Round Table that she had a personal connection with. He had acted as her godfather and guardian upon her father's death and helped her ascension to the Hellsing organisations helm. He was one of the few who could write to her on personal matters such as this.

"No". Her reply short and biting, with no attempt to hide her irritation. As she spoke the smoke danced upwards from her lips and dissipated out towards the ceiling. "I have received another letter from Sir Penwood concerning my marital status and lack of an heir." She let the sentence hang in the air, like a dead rat, as she tapped the ashes of her cigar over the letter, singing the edges of the expensive stationary. "I've been told that it's time for a husband." She paused taking a long drag of her cigar. "Apparently the entire round table is becoming concerned at my lack of progression in the marriage department." She spat the words out as though they stung her mouth. Pushing away from her desk she stood and turned towards the large window behind her desk, her movements sharp and impulsive.

"Indeed…" Walter murmured, a knowing smile gracing his lips. "It seems as though this is an issue you can no longer ignore, Sir Integra" he placed two mall china cups on saucers and pored tea into both. His own he took with milk and a single sugar cube. The other he made strong with a slice of fresh lemon floating in the cup. He watched as Integra continued to bristle in agitation, as she watched the sunset, its orange light reflecting off her round glasses. It had not been the first letter of this kind that had arrived at the house of Hellsing, but they had been coming with more frequency and fervour in recent months. All had been either ignored or responded to with the same approximate answer. 'Bugger off'.

After receiving one too many of these letters, Sir Penwood had arrived at the mansion itself, along with a few other comity members to pressure the heiress into considering her options. The arguments had been long and were dreadfully loud. The older members, Sir Ions and Sir Walsh had been the most adamant for Integra to marry a selected young nobleman of their choice. Sir Shelby Penwood, and his son Sir William Penwood had taken a more moderate stance, pleading only that she consider attending social functions in order to meet someone. But Sir Integra had been adamant in her refusal to marry at all. Walter shuddered to remember how the shouting matches had woken the vampires from their daily slumber and drawn them to defend their shared master from the verbal assault. Guns had been pulled and more than one nasty thing had been said. It had taken Walter's best dinner service and diplomatic skills to find any semblance of equanimity between the parties concerned.

Pushing the memory back, he approached his boss, both hot beverages in hand, offering her one. She glanced at him from the side of her eye, before placing her still lit cigar in the ashtray and taking her own cup. She watched as the still lit end burnt a hole through the letter and smiled at the petty destruction.

"Burning it won't stop him sending more, ma'am" Walter reprimanded, taking a sip from his cup. He revelled in the sweet warm taste.

"No, but it makes me feel better" she sniped back. She felt a twinge of guilt at the elderly retainers disapproving look, and took a sip of her tea. "Do you really think it is as urgent as they say it is?" she queried, in an attempt to smooth over the awkwardness.

"I am not omniscient; I cannot see when exactly what is necessary and what is not." Walter kept his voice jovial. His answer was ruder than would have traditionally been allowed, but his long standing relationship with the woman had earnt him a level of familiarity that others did not have. "But I understand their concern. It has been nearly ten years since Incognito's attack on London. Ten years since Miss Seras joined us. You are nearly thirty now" he took a sip of his tea and smiled at the dissatisfied grunt that came from Sir Integra.

"Am aware of my age Walter" she murmured in warning

"Of course, Sir, I meant no offence. Only I meant to say that as a woman you are not so fortunate as to be able to have children as late as a man in your position would." He licked his lips in apprehension, aware that discussing a ladies age was an impolite subject. "I am certain that the Round Table's primary concern is the producing of an heir to lead the Hellsing organisation. You have done so well these past years it'd be a shame to lose your family's expertise, I'm sure." he watched the ghost of a smile on Integra's face, quickly hidden behind the fine china of the teacup as she took a sip.

"Flattery Walter?" her voice rang with mirth at his suggestion.

"A little, but not strictly untrue either" he chuckled slightly before taking a more serious tone. "I suppose they are looking to secure the bindings of Alucard and Seras also. They are too powerful to be allowed to roam free". Walters face displayed a small mix of sympathy in the glistening of his eyes. Integra watched the old man by her side, and wondered how much he truly did pity the midians of the house. He, above all held the closest relationship with them both. He had fought alongside Alucard on battlefields, before she was even out of nappies. He was also friendly with Seras, perhaps not as much as her fellow soldiers were, but certainly more than herself. She wondered if he pitied them because they were condemned to eternal servitude, or eternal damnation in hell should they die in it.

"I suppose that's a good enough reason" was all she could mutter, a frown gracing her own features. "But marriage Walter. Can you really see me doing that? Motherhood too. I don't think I'd even know how. My whole life and all I've known is battle and carnage. Soldiers and bloodshed. That's already a lot to ask a partner to enter into, never mind a child"

"I agree Miss. Your father felt the same when he married, and I felt something similar when he died, and you were left on your own." The retainer's eyes became glassy as he recalled old memories, a gentle smile on his face once again. "You were such a small baby, your father thought you would shatter in his arms. Your mother, god rest her soul, had delivered you so early he hadn't even had time to come to terms with your arrival. But you were so strong, and as you grew up you only got stronger." He turned to integra with a smile in place. "I admit that I have always hoped to see what kind of child you would one day have. But I fear I am too old for that now" he released a small laugh and turned to the window briefly, catching Integra's face in the reflection.

"Walter…I-I'm sorry.."

"Oh, come now Integra" he waved his hand as if to dispel her thoughts of guilt. "I do not say this to upset you, I am merely reflecting upon my own age, that is all. I am over seventy now, such thoughts are allowed to elderly'

"You are not that old, Walter" Integra took their empty cups and placed them on the desk behind her. By now the sun was halfway set, her cigar had gone out and the evening was setting in. She knew the vampires would awaken soon; she hadn't even eaten her dinner yet. The day seemed to get away from her faster and faster these days.

"Perhaps not" he replied "but nonetheless, I would be happy to attend your wedding, should you have one. Although you may need to choose a groom fast if you want me to be there" his tone once again took on a sarcastic lilt and a wicked smile ran over his features

"You're not going anywhere" snark coloured her own words as she picked up her cigar and held it to her lips before lighting it. She took a long drag, letting the smoke fill her lungs and thought briefly on her situation. She turned away, and blew the smoke out in a long tendril. "I shall choose a husband" she said with an exhausted tone. "I agree, it is about time. Although I am not sure where I will find one. Hard to find people who think 'queens warrior' a suitable occupation for wife and child these days"

"Don't forget your pet vampires"

"Oh God, if only I could Walter. If only I could"