She had made herself at home, sitting quietly on the red-velvet couch with her arms crossed. Integra was merely waiting for Dio to finish up with his boys.

...Speaking of those boys, the Hellsing would have never imagined that Dio had kids… and the ones that were this grew no less. The elder of the two looked at least eight… maybe ten even and the younger was at least four…

Here I thought he was incapable of love… She mused to herself, watching as Dio knelt to his younger son's size. Try as she might, she couldn't help how winning he looked consoling his son. Dio seemed like an actual normal caring person for once, something Integra swore she'd never see. I suppose truth is stranger than fiction…

Dio ruffled Giorno's hair with a blank face on. "Daddy is busy. You and your brother must head to bed now."

"Why?" Diego immediately snapped back, turning tail to his father. "So you can see her frilly knickers!?"

As Dio gasped at his elder son's comment, he could feel Integra's fierce blue eyes pierce into the back of his skull. "Diego!"

"...Or do you intend to grope her knockers, father?" Diego asked nonchalantly, eyeing his father carefully for an answer. "Perhaps its her arse you've gotten horny f-"

Diego yelped as he felt his father's closed fist punched the back of his head. Giorno said nothing for a moment before yanking the leg of his father's tights.

"...Muda, what are knockers?" Giorno asked.

"T-they're… um…" Dio floundered, unsure of what to say. Honestly, why did these sorts of things only happen to him? His sons couldn't just be good little boys and head to sleep, could they? No. They had to be awake during the time he came home and it also happened to be when he had brought her back. He had nearly forgotten about Diego's knowledge of his "affairs" with the women he brought home.

...The boy was far smarter than your average ten-year-old. That reptilian side aided him in smelling bullshit from a mile away…

"Nothing!" Dio sighed, patting both boys' backs as the coaxed them upstairs.

Dio let out a small surprised shriek once he saw his elder son's swinging tail, mainly because his guests would most likely freak the hell out just by seeing it. Quickly, the vampire stood behind his elder son, shoving him towards the stairs. Integra stood watching, an amused grin curving onto her face.

Quite the surprise indeed…

Integra, now thoroughly amused, took to following Dio and his boys, curious as to how he'd get them to sleep. Every step of the way, Giorno would look back at her, confused as to why she had so much interest in them.

"...Is she your friend, Muda?" Giorno asked, glancing back up at his father.

Dio floundered a bit for the answer. What actually was Integra to him? A friend? A rival? A childhood sweetheart that he never quite got over? He honestly didn't know.

"...A partner." The words were chosen carefully. Had it been any other woman, then Dio would have indeed answered friend (A "friend" with benefits counts, doesn't it?), but this was Integra.

They've known each other since they were kids, for better and for worse.

Diego scoffed at his statement, but Giorno's sparkled with wonder as he glanced backwards once more at the woman. She seemed… stoic. He couldn't read anything from her expression alone, something that troubled the young boy.

"Are you still partners, Muda?" The boy asked, looking at his father's uncertain gaze.

That's what I want to know, Giorno. Thought the vampire, feeling Integra's gaze on him intensify. He was sure that she was just as confused about the relationship as he was, and for good reason. The two of them never got along as children, yet, they valued each other's company.

It made no damn sense.

"Yes, Gio. We're still… close." Were they? Dio didn't know. It had been four years since the last time they saw each other and even then, the feelings between them weren't exactly clear. He knew for a fact that he was lacking something when she left, but he'd be damned if he ever told her that. Giving her any sort of inch would lead to her running a damn marathon with it. Close or not, she was still the only person that gave him copious amounts of sass and could get away with it. Wit was her greatest weapon behind stoicism… "She and I have been partners for a long time."

"Acquaintances."

Dio and his boys stopped in the hallway, the vampire in question turning to face the woman. "I'm sorry?"

The click of a lighter filled the silence as Integra brought out a large cigar. In truth, she wasn't intending to continue smoking. It was honestly just a habit at this point, one that Jonathan went ballistic over. But considering the situation at hand, Integra was going to need something to take her mind off of what she was about to say.

"I do business with partners." She stated flatly, continuing forwards while tucking the lighter away. "You and I have a bit more history than that, Dio."

At that, Dio turned away, a small smirk curled onto his face. But of course he meant more to her than that. He was Dio after all.

"Right then, acquaintances it is." He corrected, nudging Giorno and Diego into their room. "Just know that she's… not… how do I put this…"

"Not a whore?" Diego spat, eyeing his father evenly.

Dio's eyes narrowed at Diego, ready to slap him for his impudence, but Integra's cackle from behind stopped his dead in his tracks.

"Most certainly not, dear boy." She chuckled. "I don't know how many of those types of women have been in and out of this household, but I for one don't represent that sort of degeneracy. If Dio does pursue a life of frivolity with women often, that's his business." With a puff of her cigar, Integra grinned in an amused sort of way. Figures that Dio would have multiple "wives" (or playthings, to be honest). "I've far more respect for myself than to indulge in such a thing." With a mischievous grin towards Dio, the Hellsing twirled the cigar in her hands. "Besides, the only whore around here is Dio. He's always been promiscuous, even when he was young."

Out of sheer annoyance, Dio's eyebrow twitched. Vanilla Ice seethed in the background.

"How dare you?!" He screeched, stomping closer towards Hellsing. "You'd call lord Dio a man whore?"

"Yes." Integra said pointedly. "After all, he certainly dresses like one, does he not?"

This time, Dio's mouth twitched, the annoyance within him rising. However, he rose his hand, preventing Vanilla Ice from racing forwards and slashing the woman's neck.

"...Hmph." It was… refreshing though. As children, they jabbed each other verbally all the time and this was no different. Still though, she just had to get that last cheap shot in, didn't she? The vampire returned an evil sort of grin towards the woman. "Really? Our childhood suggests otherwise, dear Integra."

"Which part, Dio?" She countered, grin growing more and more smug, all the more intent to hide her insults with a sugared look (or as much as one as she could manage). "I may recall it a bit differently than what you're trying to insinuate to your poor boys." Integra rose an eyebrow at Dio, smirking a bit more only when his gaze faltered. He knew exactly what she was talking about with that statement. "Lying in front of your boys no less… You really haven't changed, have you Dio?"

"...And you still are just as good at running your mouth as when we were kids, sir Hellsing." The vampire shot back with a tone of finality. He didn't want to continue that conversation, if only to prevent her from bringing up the past, their childhood, old memories that… well, he'd rather not dwell on. Besides, Integra's knowledge of his childhood meant that she knew of his lesser moments, embarrassments that he'd rather not have Giorno know, let alone Diego. Lord knows he'd run with as much as Integra gave him. "We've both kept some of our childish antics from the past. Let's leave it at that."

Integra's grin faltered a bit, mostly because Dio was ruining her fun. His youngest son however, Integra noticed staring at her with distinct curiosity. In truth, Giorno was fascinated by Integra, mainly because she knew Dio long before any of the others in the house knew him, maybe even longer than Mr. Pucci did.

"...D-did you come to visit muda?" He peeped.

Integra balked at the question. "More like I was told to come here."

The little boy's eyes sparkled. Dio usually had people coming to him, not the other way around. This lady… was special… "...Muda told you to come?"

"He'd be more upset if I refused."

"Wow…"

Dio took a moment to gaze at his youngest son, only to regret it instantly. He knew that look. Giorno wanted to know more about her, about their previous… "friendship", about everything.

He would never allow him to do it. It was better that Giorno never knew the truth… not that there was anything to hide.

"Come on, Giorno." Dio said, yanking the child's arm. "Bed. Now."

Slowly, Giorno did as his father said, his gaze shrinking back towards his and Diego's shared room. Diego, still visibly mad, took his little brother's arm, glaring daggers at his father as they both passed by. Dio stood in the room, imposing as ever, hands on his hips as both children went back into their respective beds. Dio sighed as the two got comfy.

"Comfy?" He inquired.

Giorno nodded, his little head peeking out of the sheets. Diego turned over with an audible "Hmph!" as he turned over, giving his father his back. Dio ignored his older son (honestly, he was such a bothersome little louse!) and smiled. At the very least, Giorno answered, and that just meant that they were okay enough to sleep.

"Good." With a sharp pivot on his heel, Dio began to walk out of the room. Now that his boys were asleep, maybe he and Sir Hellsing could catch up. Even if she didn't have any innate desire to pray at him for what he's been doing all these years, he did. He wanted to carefully peel away each layer of her four year absence from his life. Hell, it was to a point where she wasn't even keeping close contact with JoJo… not that he cared. He just would have hoped to hear more about her in this time, not just the fabled Hellsing name being thrown across alleyways and legal areas. As fate would have it, he would finally be able to discern truth from fiction, whether or not the Hellsing name was synonymous with death, destruction, mayhem, and everything else he's heard. "Well then, goodni-"

"Wait!"

At the sound of his younger son's shrill cry, Dio turned back only to see that Giorno was sitting up right, reaching for him in his bed.

"You forgot the goodnight kiss, muda!" The child said with a pout.

A chuckle erupted from Integra's mouth, causing Dio to tense. He turned back only to see her shamelessly chuckling. Dio returned the gesture with an especially hostile "Tch!" in her direction. Still, Dio knew that the best way to avert this problem was to give Giorno what he wanted, despite looking soft while he did it. Diego, who had noticed his dad's discomfort, rose up slightly.

This woman's opinion of him mattered? Well, that's a first…

A chaste, quick, and hesitant kiss was what Giorno received on his forehead, but the child was happy with it nonetheless.

"Goodnight, muda."

"Yes. Yes." Dio said, trying his best not to lose face at how smug Integra must look behind him. "Goodnight, Giorno. Sleep well."

"What about my kiss?" Came Diego's whiny inquiry.

Dio glared at his elder son, to which Diego's smirk widened. He knew what was going on here. That had to be it. Diego scarcely asked for such things from him. He was just enjoying his discomfort, the little bastard… But still, he had to do it. If it would get them both to sleep and out of this room quicker, he'd do it.

He sure as hell wouldn't like it though…

A hollow kiss was placed on the child's forehead. By the time Dio pulled away, Diego was grinning ear to ear. The vampire had half a mind to hit him, but decided ultimately against that. That may have very well been what Diego was after…

"Goodnight, father~" Diego sneered, snuggling into his bed.

Diageo simply glared at his son, teeth clenched to prevent himself from yelling. "Good. Night. Diego."

With that, Dio pivoted on his heels, stalking out of the room. Giorno watched as the door closed behind him. Then, when Dio was completely gone, he looked over at Diego, who was already looking in his direction.

"..." Diego said nothing, instead waiting for Giorno's response.

The little boy had the smallest blush on his face as he smiled. "I like muda's friend, Deego."

And there it was. Diego smirked and sighed. He figured as much… "I had a hunch that you would."

The moment Dio closed the door, Integra began to slowly clap for him, drawing even more of his ire.

"Quite the parent, now aren't you, muda?"

"We are not talking about that right now." Dio deadpanned, more than annoyed that she couldn't just leave it alone. "I called you here to catch up on your four year departure."

Integra frowned. "Catching up involves how you got such adorable boys, yes?"

"No." Dio snapped.

Integra's gaze never ceased. Dio sighed.

"That's a long story I'd rather not get into right now…" The vampire sighed.

"...You couldn't keep it in your pants and as a direct result, they were born?" Integra guessed, cocking her head to the side. "There. Now, how close was that to the truth?"

"You're absolutely insufferable…"