Title: Family Matters
Author: DhampyrX2
Genre: X-over
Series: Impure Souls
Rating: PG-13, just to be safe
Summary: Xander has hidden family. Xander discovers them. Xander's life gets turned upside down in a way that will hopefully help everyone evolve a bit.
Timeframe: After Graduation, but before the College crap starts.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Don't sue me, I'm poor.
Alucard, who had been thoroughly entertained as Alexander and Seras flirted with each other unintentionally. Of course neither understood just what kinds of auric impulses and pheromones they were releasing around one another to smooth their own inhibitions. Not that he intended to enlighten them about them. Seras could certainly do with a paramour to further her development, and Alexander needed some time away from Slayers before he finished developing his inferiority complex.
The No Life King's mirth evaporated as he saw Elizabeth's actions through his link to the Police Girl. How /dare/ she attack Alex like that?! She should have known enough from their confrontations with Adrian to know her place when it came to his descendants.
No, little Liz knew better than to come after Alex like that, Belmont blood in his veins or not. There was another hand in this, one that was sending him a message. Alucard was certain of it.
"But whom would stoop to resurrecting my wayward niece? The Millennium group perhaps? Iscariot certainly wouldn't stoop to the use of vampires. Maybe a disgruntled minion of mine from Castlevania?" he mused aloud.
He shook his head in irritation as he concluded, "Regardless, once I am free to do so, /I/ will resurrect the child if her benefactors have not already done so. She needs to learn the importance of family, and her place in the real pecking order." His voice was dark and the ensuing laughter made everyone in the house, save Walter, shiver uncontrollably.
As for the Angel of Death, he just looked up from the expense reports Seras had sent them and shook his head. Alucard was equally angry and entertained. Some poor fool was going to die in the near future.
Dinner ended up becoming an early breakfast, as it was after five a.m. by the time Seras and Xander packed up, moved to a new hotel two towns over, unpacked, and showered.
They settled into their seats at the hotel restaurant with their food. Not that Xander was all that interested in food with all that was on his mind, or that Seras needed solid food. It was just a cover and comfort to aid their conversation.
"Thanks again for the save, Seras. I'd have been toast without you." Xander said with a heartfelt smile that only grew at his dining companions little smile in return.
"It wasn't that big. You would have handled it yourself eventually, I'm certain. You tore through those ghouls better than anyone I've seen short of Master, Walter, or Sir Integra." she responded shyly.
Xander smirked wryly as he commented, "I think you forgot to include yourself in that list, Vicky. You tore through them like they were tissue paper."
He was surprised when she looked down shame-faced at his compliment. "I...I'm sorry you had to see me like that. It's just that...she was going for you, and those blasted animals were trying to stop me an'...I'm sorry." she said as she looked at the table, close to tears.
"Hey, now. None of that. There's no need to get so sad. Bottom line, we're here, they're dust. I call that being ahead of the game. It doesn't mean anything to me how we came out ahead, just that Miss psycho crazy lady didn't kill us." he soothed.
"b..bu...but it's not right. Sometimes I can just feel my humanity slippin' away. How long until I end up a monster like that Bartley woman?" she asked piteously a she looked up at him with silent tears falling from her eyes.
"Seras, a friend once told me, the first rule of Slaying is 'don't die.' Once you manage that, the rest is just small stuff. Now, until yesterday I couldn't hope to relate to the vampiric side of stuff, but I can relate to being afraid of becoming a monster. If you ever met my step dad you'd understand what I meant. And I can tell you this. You'll become a monster the day you give up on yourself. As long as you keep trying to be better than that, you will be." Xander counseled.
"You really think so?" the vampiress asked in a voice reminiscent of a frightened little girl.
"I know it. I'd be a useless drunken waste if it wasn't true." Xander said with a disturbingly firm conviction that proved a part of him still feared that fate.
"You'd never end up like that!" Seras replied aghast.
"Don't be so sure. I've seen how it can happen. Tony wasn't so bad a father when I was little. He just slipped farther and farther from the tine I was about six or so, until by the time I was eight he was...that. And since I got all this high blood, minus the Hellsing, from Mom I can't rely on that to save me. She's just as bad." Xander countered with a bitter grin over his cup of coffee.
He was a bit surprised when, after he set his cup down, Seras reached across the table and gave his hand a comforting squeeze. He idly wondered if the warmth he felt from her grip was just a part of the type of vampire she was, or if it was because he had the same breed of blood in his veins. After a moment to revel in the simple comfort of her touch, he decided he didn't care either way.
"How about we make each other a little promise, then? I won't let you fall into that trap, and you'll help keep me out of mine." Seras suggested with a grin.
"I think I'd like that." Xander replied seriously.
From there breakfast was a much more pleasant experience as they planned out the details for a flight two days from then from a private airstrip in San Francisco. The White Knight was not very surprised that the arrangement for his passport was already settled.
Once Breakfast was done, Seras and Xander took a walk in a local park to unwind from the earlier battle. They walked arm in arm, appearing to be a perfectly normal couple to the casual observer, minus the mirror shades Seras was wearing one the sun had began to rise.
"Well, I have to say that minus the crazy relatives, that I'm really glad to have met you, Seras. Although I am kind of worried about getting my car back. We kind of left it in Oxnard." he said with a grin.
"No worries, Xander. I had it paid off and arranged to have it sent to a storage garage once it's done the day I tracked you down as a show of good faith. Although, it needed a bit more work than you thought. The engine was mostly rotted out. Still, it will be right as rain when you get back." She said with an impish grin.
"Thanks, Kitten." Xander said in his best Drusilla impersonation.
"I never should have told you about my unit callin' me that at Cheddar." she said ruefully, even as she giggled. "Although it was a funny coincidence that a revenant vampiress gave you the same handle."
"Yeah, well, Dru's full of surprises." Xander added pleasantly.
"I can imagine." Seras responded.
They walked in companionable silence for several minutes, just enjoying each other's company. "Xander, I have to agree with what you said earlier." Seras said out of the blue.
"Hmm?" Xander asked.
"I'm glad to have met you, too." Seras clarified shyly, as she moved in to gently kiss his cheek.
Whether it was fate, chance, or a carefully contrived plot device, Xander heard a sound off to the side at the same time and turned right into the kiss. Their lips met tentatively, but instincts deep inside them both quickly deepened the kiss into something far more meaningful. For those few scant seconds they were lost in each other's embrace, the pair felt a peace that had eluded them both for a very long time.
It was the improper whistle of a passing jogger than finally broke their connection, as both sprang back with deep blushes.
"Sorry!" Xander said frantically. I hear something, and then...and I Sorry!" Xander babbled, his mind still a bit frazzled.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I was going for your cheek an then you turned and I didn't mean to offend you..." Seras babbled at the same time.
It took a couple of seconds for each to register the words the other spewed. Once they did, they both broke out into slightly embarrassed and slightly relieved laughter. "How we just say that that just happened and I'll settle for my first thought, which was...Wow." Xander suggested with a half grin.
"I think I can agree with that. Wow seems to sum it up nicely." Seras responded shyly.
Xander's smile only grew at the vampiress' reaction, as he offered his arm and said, "Then shall we continue our stroll, Miss Seras Victoria?"
Seras smiled charmingly as she took his hand and replied, "I'd be delighted."
In a cell in the Tower of London, another Hellsing heir and another vampire were having a conversation that was not nearly as sweet.
"Let me review this, Alucard." Integra commented icily. "Your niece, the long destroyed Countess Elizabeth Bartley, has been resurrected and has attacked Officer Victoria and Alexander in America?"
"Indeed Master. Although they dispatched both her, and the lion's share of her ghouls, with impressive efficiency." Alucard replied with a hint of pride in his voice.
"And just how did Elizabeth return to her relative approximation of life?" Integra asked.
"I wish I knew, Master. With these seals that bind me to your family's will, I lack the power needed to feel out for every connection I had to my many servants and allies. I was as surprised as anyone to learn of her return. And I was hardly pleased to find her attacking the children." Alucard answered, his voice growing dark at the end.
"Yes, it would seem out of character for her to so openly attack one of your get without your permission." Seras responded in her customary monotone.
"I assume it was meant as some kind of message or attack toward me. There are certainly easier Belmonts to exterminate, if that had truly been her intent. In fact I can think of no organization off of the top of my head with the exception of the Millennium group that would have the gall to attempt something like this." Alucard confided.
"I can think of at least two others. Your minions from Castlevania, that would hope to flush you out to either lead them again, or destroy you for your perceived betrayal of them. The Watcher's Council might attack him for interfering with their Slayers as well. Particularly if they recently discovered his bloodlines. They are far too proprietary with their resources, and would think nothing of coming after Alex to prevent the Slayer from 'defecting' to us."
"Those pompous dinosaurs have little, if any, chance of /facing/ a true vampire. Much less controlling Elizabeth enough to send her after the boy and the Police Girl." Alucard scoffed.
"I tend to agree, but all possibilities must be considered. They will, at the very least, become a concern when Alex's heritage becomes more public. I'm not ready to fully discount them yet." Integra replied languidly.
"Of course, Master." Alucard agreed solemnly. "If they do attack him, then can I assume that the orders will remain unchanged?" the vampire inquired with a mad grin of anticipation.
"You can. For over a century, they have remained unchanged. Search and Destroy. I will not have those amateurs interfering with my family, or the operation of the Royal Protestant Knights. They are allowed to operate in this country out of pure courtesy on our part. If they become ungrateful toward the source of that hospitality, then it shall be...revoked." she replied in a cold tone.
Alucard's only answer was a wider grin of anticipation.
"Is there anything else to report, Alucard?" Integra asked after a pause.
"Well, Seras and Alexander will fly back here within two days time. They are getting along splendidly, as anticipated..." he trailed off as his link relived the surprising kiss between the pair in vivid detail as Seras' feelings had become overwhelming to her.
Integra looked on in curiosity as Alucard trailed off and broke into a warm and wide smile. "What is it?" she asked, a bit put off at the sight of so open of emotion on her servant's face.
Alucard replied by replaying the kiss, feelings and all, in Integra's head telepathically. He was quite amused when she broke out into child like blush at the experience. "I've warned you about touching my mind like that without just cause and permission." she snapped as she tried to regain control of her facial capillaries.
"It was the only way I could really show you something like that without " Alucard responded calmly.
"Spying on a romantic liaison between your fledgling and my cousin isn't rude?" she asked archly.
"Not when it was sent because of how good the Police Girl was feeling. I wasn't in her mind at the time; that was just pure feedback that I was unprepared for. I've closed the link tighter to give them some privacy now." Alucard replied with a smile. "It appears my little girl is growing up," he added with his typical irreverent humor.
"Indeed." Integra agreed. "Do you intend to let that continue once they return?" she asked.
"Why wouldn't I? I can think of far worse choices for either of them. Slayers and French soldiers come to mind immediately." Alucard replied with his typical smile.
"Just see that it doesn't hinder their training." Integra ordered after a moment of contemplation.
"Well, now that that is settled, there is another matter to discuss." Alucard said leadingly.
"You already know my answer, Alucard." Integra snapped at him, knowing what he meant.
"I know best of all what dwells in your heart, Master. And if nothing else, the Police Girl proves that you will not loose yourself to the curse if you do not wish to. Why do you deny yourself what you deserve?" he asked intensely.
"I have too many responsibilities to deal with now. And a heritage that is the polar opposite of your pestering. What my desires might or might not be pale in comparison to that." she answered stiffly.
Alucard wanted to argue, pester, and wheedle further, but his heart just wasn't in it that night. Perhaps it was a residual of the all too human emotions he had felt from his fledgling. Perhaps it was the recent memories of his dear Lisa. Whatever it was though, he just didn't feel like pursuing it more at that moment.
"Very well. I will let it lie for tonight, Integra." he replied solemnly, eliciting a look of shock from the platinum blonde.
"Alucard?" she asked in mild confusion.
"Sleep well, my darling Master." he whispered in a tone he had not used with her since that first tumultuous year after she had released him, as he faded from her sight to apperate back top the Hellsing manor. It was far more tender and comforting that she thought him capable of as of late.
She watched where he had faded away fro several seconds, blinking owlishly, before shaking her head in consternation. "Damnable confusing vampire." she said ruefully to herself.
END PART 7