Disclaimer: Standard I don't own Hellsing, yadda yadda yadda, bladda bladda bladda.

A/N: Go ahead and flame. I don't care anymore, I just want reviews. And if you did review my last chapter, GOOD ON YA! I'm finally posting the second and third chapters. The reason it took so long was because I had exams. SORRY! Once again, if there's anything confusing, tell me and I'll fix it or explain it or whatever! ENJOY!

Chapter 2

A New Face

I've bee working here for a few months now, watching summer melting into fall, and now fall into winter. We had our first snow last weekend. My soul rejoiced; it's been so long since I've seen snow.

My new chores aren't as hard as they once seemed. I've gotten quite a handle on them now. Sewing is my favourite, since I could do it before, and cooking is my least. It's no problem to do it, but I just have no patience for anything like that. I've already almost worn a hole in the floor from all the pacing I do. Cleaning I don't like, but I don't dislike it either.

I'm currently sitting in my room, on my bed mending one of the dresses I bought; I think it was the third day I was here. The skirt must have caught on something yesterday when I was shoveling the walk. Mr. Kutcher has a cold, so I volunteered to shovel. It was actually a lot of fun, and I got to go outside into the fresh air.

I look up from the skirt at the dresser across the room. A very small pile of letters from home is sitting on it. Mr. Kutcher just about died laughing when he saw the German writing. Luckily, he has finally stopped laughing at my accent. I wonder if he finally realized it annoys me? I muse.

There is a ringing coming from downstairs. It's the dinner bell. I get up and set the dress down on my bed with the thought I'll finish mending it later.

As I walk down the long hallway towards the stairs, guests in the boarding house are also heading down to the dining room. There are actually quite a few; more then there were in the summer, anyways.

I go down the stairs and head for the kitchen. A few more guests are walking to the dining room. I pick up my pace; Mrs. Kutcher will need help serving everyone. I reach the kitchen door, push it open, and enter the warm room.

"There yeh are Ria, I was beginnen' ta wonder." Mrs. Kutcher is bent over the stove.

"You should have called my. I completely forgot." I really did. I think I went into a daze.

"Well, pay it no mind. Git over here and start carryin' this stuff out ta the table." I put on an apron, pick up a plate of potatoes, and carry it out to the table in the dining room.

Many of the guests I know, or have seen before in town. A few I know have just gotten off the train, but in the corner there is a man I've never seen before. He has dark hair, and… brown eyes it looks like, but they're so light they almost seem… red. He nods to me and I realize I've been staring. I can feel myself blushing as I quickly turn away and place the potatoes on the table. Quickly, maybe too quickly, I walk back to the kitchen, and push inside.

Mrs. Kutcher is now holding a large plate of meat, and she walks past me into the dining room. I pick up another plate of food and follow her this time avoiding glancing in the direction of the stranger. I was frightfully rude to stare at him so long. I'm also a little embarrassed to be looking at a young man, when I'm still not entirely over the death of my husband.

I walk in and out of the kitchen a few more times, until the food is finally all set out on the table, and enter the kitchen yet again to eat my meal on the tiny table with Mrs. Kutcher. It's a relief to eat with the Kutchers because they talk so much, so I don't feel that I have to say anything, except small replies to the questions they sometimes fire at me.

The moment I sit at the table, Mrs. Kutcher starts her normal chatter. I try to listen, I really do, but my mind has a tendency to wander…… Kind of like it's doing now! Focus Ria, focus! I mentally yell at myself.

"So, what do ya think o' him?"

"Sorry… who?"

"Mr. Nosferat o' course. Didn' ya see him in the dining room? He certainly saw you. Don' think I was him take his eyes off you the whole time you was in the dining room. He comes from, oh where was it, Boston originally, but he works at a ranch now. Actually it's 'bout a days ride here. So back to my question, what do ya think o' him?" I ponder my reply carefully.

"I don't really know him, so I can't quite say vat I think." There, that should be a safe reply.

"Well then, maybe ya'll get to know him better soon. Got quite a strange first name, he has. I hear his family is originally from Transylvania, or what-not. He's quite the gentleman, ya know, had good upbringing. But, I wonder what he's doin' comin' here to a place like this after Boston? Maybe…" I start to tune her out as I digest all she has told me so far. Was he really staring at me?

I eat the rest of the meal in silence, listening to Mrs. Kutcher's babbling.

After the meal it's time to clean up the dishes from the dining room. I rise from my seat slowly, dreading to go back into the dining room, where I'm sure that man will be looking at me.

"If ya want ya can start on the dishes an' I'll go get the stuff from the dining room." I spin around and stare at her. Is she serious? She's smiling. "Well, git goin'. There's a bunch."

I smile gratefully and head for the sink. As I wash, Mrs. Kutcher comes in and out, carrying various dishes. She finishes clearing the table and comes to dry the dishes. Her endless babbling starts up again, and once again I listen silently.

I finish the dishes, take my leave, and head for the door leading to the hallway. I open it, and walk head-long into something. I look up and realize with a shock that that something turned out to be someone. I'm staring right into the brownish-red eyes of the man from the dining room!

"My apologies." He has a deep, yet flat voice. I'm still standing, muted, looking up at him. He smirks, turns down the hallway, and walks away.

I'm still standing, eyes wide. He's a lot taller then I thought.

A/N: Guess who just entered the story! PLEASE KEEP READING! I'M BEGGING YOU! Just kiddin'! Do what you like, but please R&R!