Lullaby

The look on Dr. Trevelian's face was priceless. It was an odd mixture of disbelief tinged with a hint of embarrassment. His patient, the honourable and most serious Sir Integra Windgates Fairbrook Hellsing has just asked him a rather personal, sincere question that he quite couldn't answer. His eyes met with the woman's in silence.

"Well, Doctor, what is your opinion on the matter- how soon should it take?"

The man, well educated in his field in both the United Kingdom and abroad, whom had saved countless lives over his career was dumb-struck. After all, he was used to getting questions about living patients, not deceased ones-well, technically deceased ones, or was that technically alive...he opened his mouth to give an answer, but in good faith he could reply only in silence. He turned to his colleague, Dr. Amanda Seward.

"Sir Hellsing, I believe that Dr. Seward is by far more equipped to deal with you in such matters- I will leave you with the best of luck and in her capable hands." With that, the good doctor left to grab a hot lunch and a cold, stiff drink. The two women were left alone. The Seward family had long been linked to the Hellsing Organization basically from day one, when Integra's great-grandfather had bound the 'Unspeakable Horror'. Generation after generation had healed and experimented, tested and researched along side of Abraham's kin, so the questions Sir Hellsing possessed did not phase Dr. Seward in the least. Strange illnesses, ungodly symptoms, and mysterious marks were as common to the physician as chicken pox. The added benefit was that Amanda was one of the few people Integra had been acquainted with throughout childhood and their companionship had even continued into her university years, so the comfort of familiarity made her feel at ease. Dr. Seward smiled at the woman and clicked her pen, brown eyes sparkling with eagerness.

"Well, shall we get down to brass tacks, then?", she quipped. "Basically you want to know if and when your 'husband' can get you pregnant, minus the fact that said 'husband' is a bit unusual....Am I right, Sir Hellsing?"

"Yes."

Dr. Seward pulled out a manila folder filled with photocopies, a weather-worn manuscript and what looked like parchment cracking with age. Gently she pulled on a pair of tortoise- shell reading glasses and began to skim over the files.

"As we know, technically speaking, a vampire is a 'dead' being , incapable of reproduction according to popular myth-the creature is 'sterile' and has not the capability to reproduce- shows you what the bloody hell they know.... as you and I are privy to more intimate knowledge then the average horror movie fan, we know that vampires are able to regenerate, re-establish energy through their consumption of blood, and in fact reproduce with human females. With that said, this makes the matter of your family planning really no different than any other woman coming in to prepare herself for potential motherhood." She paused for a moment and studied her patient's body language; Integra seemed to relax a little.

"That's good.... ," the Knight began to reply, "but my concerns also lies with just what exactly will our child be like- what strengths and weaknesses will be present? According to some of the studies I've come across, the children don't survive through infancy, or horrible mutations take place." Integra's posture stiffened with this information, but the doctor continued with a calming smile and held up a rather ragged looking paper, marred with time and dull grey with age.

"Well according to this 14th century manuscript from Bello-Russia, perhaps one of the most detailed and well described doctrine of its day- or any age, in my opinion, the dahmpyre would be a rather strong, hearty creature, able to grow into a healthy child and beyond. There's documentation from journals and one-on-one accounts that the offspring will be more human than monster and capable of using its blended abilities to the fullest. There will be some issues, of course- dealing with bright, direct sunlight, dietary needs that will include great quantities of blood, but for the most part, the child should be able to thrive and prosper. After all, nurture comes into play here just as much as nature....hell, if it didn't my kids would be the Antichrists. " She passed the documents over to the woman who scanned them with a determined air.

"These are quite impressive- where on Earth did you find them?"

"What- you Hellsings think that you're the only ones with the impressive information on ghouls and nasties? Please, I got an entire upstairs and basement library, you should come over and trade notes one day." Integra smiled, feeling better.

"I think right now, we should just start the preliminary actions that I would tell any woman to start doing- eat healthy, get more sleep, invest in relaxation, stop or at least cut back the smoking, and start taking prenatal vitamins. When was the last cycle of your pill?"

"About two days ago."

"When will you be due for your period and how long do you run ?"

"Three days from now, and it lasts for about four, five days."

"Are you ready to go cold turkey and start, as her Majesty would put it- 'God's Grand Work for Women'?" she asked with a smirk. Sir Hellsing looked down for a moment and exhaled, passing back the ancient texts.

"Actually-one more pack, please. I just want to have another month to put my house in order....and perhaps to smoke just a bit more- I do have some preliminary meetings with the Catholic Services Bureau, and that will come in handy." Dr. Seward laughed and handed her the photocopies of the mentioned records followed by a prescription for vitamins.

"You should start taking those daily with food in place of whatever vitamins you're on now." she suggested. For a moment, Amanda studied her patient. "I must say, while usually I don't put the two words together in your company, you do seem to be more at ease, Sir Hellsing,"

"I do?" the woman questioned.

"Apparently, married life is treating you well." A small smile crept up on Integra's features.

"Thank you- and how is your family doing?" The doctor tossed her cloud of dark, russet hair and took of her glasses with a snap.

"Mum is doing fine, the twins are turning six, and I'm getting divorced in July."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. This has been coming for a while, and I should have seen it. Apparently, Jonathan was never comfortable with being with a strong woman." Integra rose and extended her hand

"I must be going, but thank you for the extended research and I do extend my best wishes. I do remember your mum fondly, and while I've only seen pictures of the girls, I'm sure they're lovely." Dr. Seward countered with a small, strained grin.

"Thank you...Integra. Perhaps we should see each other more often. I know we're both busy, but if you would like to get together..."

"That would be possible, you can always call or e-mail me . May is going to be hectic, but I'm sure that we can arrange something in the near future."

"Besides, it would be nice to meet your, 'other half ' before we have our consultation." A silence passed between the two women for a beat.

"Sir Hellsing, what do you think your predecessor, or mine, would say about the situation?" Integra arched a brow and smirked.

"That it usually takes a woman's touch to get the job done right."

Elsewhere-

Downtown London

"You have got to be kidding me...." the Frenchman quipped. "Almost 1,100 Euros for that." He held the ring up to the light and examined the piece; the bridge seemed weak, the prongs too thin and the stone was a garish red.

"Hell, I've seen better-looking things down in the bazaars in Morocco...," he thought. This couldn't be right- the piece of junk had to be only 110 in stead of 1,100.....also, while at first he thought that the ruby would be a lovely complement to his mignonette's eyes, perhaps anything that reminded the girl of blood would be a bad idea....Pip sighed and placed the piece down. While money wasn't exactly the problem, he couldn't find exactly what he wanted. There were trays upon trays of sparkling rings; some were engraved with vines and leaves, the most delicate and intricate metal workings he'd seen. Others were replicas of famous pieces throughout history. Stone settings dazzled the eyes; their colours ranged from the clearest diamonds which radiated with their own inner fire, to emeralds that rivaled fresh, spring grass, and pale, pink pearls that glowed luminescent. He sighed- there were too many choices, not to mention, Seras was not exactly in a 'gentle' line of work- three-quarters of these lovely things would be destroyed within a few months of her ownership. He needed something sturdy, strong, and stable.

"Um Sir," the clerk, a young man of about twenty with a tight, pinched look to his face and a baggy suit clad on his body. "Are you going to look at any other pieces today?" There was an impatience to his tone that Pip wanted to beat out of him. Little sot probably wanted to go to lunch and wished to shoo him along for a quick sale.... too damn bad. This was a once-in-a-lifetime thing and for once, The Captain did not want to rush things. His eye glanced over to a less decorative case where the pieces seemed more functional than fashionable.

"My wife-to-be is in the military." the man carefully stated,"She really needs something that can take a licking and keep on tickin' so to speak."

The sot released a small, false laugh, and Pip repressed the urge to smack him. A simple, yet solid- looking band accented with a deep, blue sapphire caught his attention.

"Hoy-what about this? Is it silver?"

"No, everything in that case is either titanium, white gold or steel, but Sir, wouldn't you rather stick to this case and the ones you've been looking at? Those rings aren't as....."

"Expensive?", the Frenchman piped up. The clerk's face soured a bit.

"I was going to say, 'feminine' sir." Pip snorted a laugh,

"Trust me, she's feminine enough on her own- she's got a pair on her that would put your eyes out." The boy flushed and that made Pip's grin only burst wider. He tapped on the glass."So how 'bout you open up this here case and let's see what we can do."

About forty minutes and a little bickering later, the mercenary walked out of Bill's, Barnard's and Brindle's with a little, blue bag and a big, beaming smile. He had found something that was perfect for every aspect of his girl and under his budget by about three hundred Euros. He struck up a cigarette and wondered why these wankers didn't use the Pound like every other shop in town, but then again, currency was currency and they perhaps did more of their business with other Europeans rather than the Britts. No matter- mission was accomplished Now, all he had to do was survive the second 'interview' with the Unholy In-law as he liked to put it and continue forwards. He inhaled deep and enjoyed the smoke filtering up through his nose. He was beginning to cut back on his cancer sticks, much to his dismay, but to his fiancee's delight.

"I'd like to have you around until you're an old, grizzled man." she stated one day. "I've been telling Chris, Lord Andrew, and even Sir Hellsing to cut back- it's very bad for your health- it'll kill you, you know...." Pip smiled and found it quite amusing that the one who technically didn't have to breath herself was concerned about everyone's lungs. Damn good girl- he still paused every now and then to wonder why in God's name she had chosen him. No matter-he was a lucky son of a bitch and so far his luck hadn't run out yet. Now, if he could just keep his run of good fortune while convincing Alucard to give his blessing, then he could quit smoking ....

Elsewhere-

Hyde Park, London

Deep in an underbrush, off to the side of the main walkway in Hyde Park, a small hole could be seen. To the outside world, it looked like a common rabbit hole, nothing extraordinary, nothing unusual. However, if one was to go deep, scrape away the dirt and rotting leaves, something else lay beneath the open area. Down a good ten or twelve feet was a passageway, perhaps once a sewer line or piping from an earlier time. If you could stand the stench and the claustrophobic space, you could travel down further leading you to an open area that resembled a cave, or if one was more inclined to a more morbid fascination, a tomb. Three shapes shifted in the darkness.

"So, you're not in then, are you?", a husky feminine tone questioned

"No, I merely came to warn you, I want no part of this."

"You're still in love with him, aren't you?", another lighter voice inquired.

"Of course, I will never deny that, so I consider your request a clash of interests- I cannot join you."

"But we miss you, sister..." the deeper of the women's voices pleaded.

"No...."

"We love you, brother..." the lighter voice professed. There was a low, frustrated growl.

"I cannot, I will NOT. I have not come all the way from Bucharest to slay my master, nor his kin." There was a low hiss.

"Don't you care- if his bastard survives or comes into being, this could be the end for all of us Mika, you included."

"Fine, I'll take my chances. Now, I have said my piece and I will take my leave."

"Please, be reasonable- remember, if this is how you want to leave us, the next time we meet-" the little voice pleaded.

"Yes, we will be quite at odds with each other. I understand. I bid you well and goodbye. However, how could you stoop so low..... Sulama would be heartbroken, so disappointed in the lot of you." A vicious snarl ripped from the darkness.

"Don't ever mention that fool, that traitor! "

"Oh, what a way to speak of the dead! At least she was loyal."

"Mika- shut up...you're not even a bride, just one of his fledglings-his personal whore...." laughter resounded in the small, dark cavern, rising and booming.

"I may be that, but dear sister, at least I'm free to go where I want and do as I please. Goodbye, and remember, the next time we meet, I'll get your heads." A great gnashing of teeth was heard and a clicking of claws against the dust and stone.

"She's gone mad...." the small voice woefully declared.

"If she's not with us, then she's against us..... now enough of this calamity- get some rest, the sun's still up." A whine rose up.

"But she scares me- how can I sleep now?"

"Shh, I'll hold you for a while. Don't think about her. Just think about the night- the air warm and soft, the glow of the moonlight on the trees and the scent of fresh water from the pond...." the voice trailed off low and soothing," and that of the blood split on the ground."