A/N: A bit of a warning for this chapter... close your eyes if you don't like nakedness! XP

"What did you just say?" Asked the Elf, her oddly beautiful features creasing into a frown. Abe stared at the pail woman, unable to make his brain function properly. She seemed to be equally confused, but there was no recognition in her eyes, nothing that told him she recognised him.

"...N-Nuala?" he stuttered below his breath, feeling his heart freeze over slowly with shock. He reached out his mind to her, asking subconsciously to be allowed access to her thoughts. A small sharp pain flared in his head, telling him he was less than welcome. Taken aback by the gesture that made him even more confused than he was moments ago, he didn't try it again.

"You know Nuala?" She questioned, suddenly looking extremely happy, even existed. Her eyes brightened up and she leaned forwards like an eager child waiting to hear more of a fairytale. Abe took a moment to study her features, the creamy whites and gold's of her skin, the amber gaze that stared back at him with equal curiosity. Then he noticed something, something that gave him an equal mix of disappointment and relief. The delicate black scar that had spread its way across Nuala's face was not there. Whoever this was, it wasn't the princess.

"Yes," said Blue finally. The corners of her brownish coloured lips turned upwards into a wide grin.

"Did she send you?" Now she was standing up, brushing down her long green dress. He went quiet again, considering how much she looked like the dead princess, how she moved like her, sounded like h-

"Nuala is dead?" Abe looked her in the eye again, as he to pulled himself up onto his feet. With a sad nod, he confirmed what her mind had read off him. She brought a hand up to her mouth in shock, the news forcing tears to rim her eyes. She blinked a few times, allowing the pearl like drops to fall down her cheeks, but she wiped them away with a fleeting hand. Abe was at a loss of what to do, so he just stood there, waiting for the Elf to harness her emotions. When she stopped crying, Blue decided it was okay for him to speak. Quietly, as if his words might hurt her in some way if he said them loud enough, he asked,

"What is your name?" She looked back to him, smiling weakly through her saddened features.

"I am River," she told him, bowing her head, "And you are Abraham Sapien. You love Nuala, and I'm so sorry," though she didn't mean any harm by those words, they struck Abe quit hard. It was most likely down to the fact she had said it out of the blue to him, and how casual her voice seemed. Then there was the other thing that hit him suddenly... he wasn't in love with Nuala anymore, though his heart would always carry her, it belonged to someone else. "Of course!" chirped River suddenly, making Abe jump. She took a delicate leap over the small hole Taya had fallen down, landing beside him without a sound.

"I will lead you to your friend," she reassured him and set off immediately. After a few seconds of watching her back slowly walk away from him, he spun around and peered into the dark of the hole.

"Don't worry Taya, I'll be there soon," he yelled down to her before racing after the fast moving Elf woman. Taya bit her lip as she clicked the torch on and off, not bothering to reply. She knew how much Abe had loved Nuala, and if this new Elf was anything like her look alike, she might have to start worrying.

"Wow," breathed Liz, marvelling at the beautiful four post bed in her temporary room, "this is amazing!"

Hellboy was taking off the old dusty sheets that covered the mattress, ready to replace them with the ones sat by his feet. He paused and looked up at his girlfriend, who was tracing the patterns calved into the wood with a finger. He chuckled deeply before he continued tearing off the blankets,

"It is," he agreed. Liz walked around the room, taking her time to examine every shelf and desk, a smile lightening her tired features. River appeared at the door way, her arms laden with bedding and fresh pillows. She wandered in, placing the items down on the table closest to her before slowly approaching Liz. The fire starter hadn't met the Elf yet, but when Red told her she looked exactly like Nuala he wasn't joking in the slightest. It was like seeing a ghost – well she was, but that was beside the point.

"Hello," said Liz, offering out a hand to the pail woman. The Elf took it gladly and shook it. Her grip was strong, considering how frail she looked.

"Welcome, I hope this room is to your liking?" she replied, letting go of her hand and letting her own fall to her side. Hellboy joined the pair, taking his girlfriend under one of his arms, resting it across her shoulders. Liz smiled and nodded quickly,

"It's lovely, perfect in fact. We can't thank you enough for your hospitality," Red grunted in agreement, smiling at their new host.

"Don't be silly," the Elf cooed, but a sad expression slid across her face, "I couldn't let you and your team camp out in the desert – the days are hot and the nights are freezing," she rubbed her wrist nervously, "Besides, it's nice to have some company... that isn't trying to destroy all of humanity that is..." A slightly awkward silence fell over the three. Liz felt so sorry for River, she'd been down in the depths of the earth for hundreds of years, with only Soultar to ease her loneliness now. Apparently her and Blue had already discussed her situation with Red. The demon was mildly concerned about Golem popping up and giving them a surprise visit, but he concluded that it could work to their advantage if he did. They had also learned who River used to be to the 'Evil genius', about how she looked after him, about the old doctor.

They used to live here together a few years ago, before Soultar got sick of playing happy families and opted for the more 'rebellious' path. The Doctor had worked hard along with Golem and the Elf to create a home here. The cave was already built to house an entire kingdom before they started their work, re-doing the bed rooms, creating a place to cook and refurnishing the old bath house. River was more than happy to share her home with the team, but Liz was slightly suspicious, only because Red had told her that Abe couldn't read her mind and Taya had mumbled something about not getting any emotion readings off her. She supposed it was because the Elf was dead, but that made her even more nervous.

"Yeah," said Hellboy, drawing the attention of both the women, "Were gonna have to have a chat about your friend River," The Elf pursed her lips,

"Well, can it wait? I have to show Abraham and his partner to their room, and all the other agents you have with you," Red was about to protest when Liz gave the woman a slight nod. River bowed her thanks and flew out of the room, the topic of Soultar not being one she enjoyed even thinking about, little own talking about.

Liz giggled, sounding a little more girly than Red was used to,

"Did you hear what she said?" she asked, looking up to Red and giving him a playful grin. Hellboy shrugged and shook his head. "She said 'Abraham and his partner,' do you think their official now?" HB laughed and kiss Liz on the lips,

"For Abe's sake, I sure hope so."

Meanwhile, Abe and Johann were fiddling around with the old electrical wires, trying to get some lights on. So far they were using torches to light their way around, along with a few lanterns and candles that River had given them. They worked in silence, apart from the odd 'whoosh' noise from Kraus's strange suit. They were making progress, all be it slowly. Blue was fixing together a few new wires when Johann decided to speak, making Abe practically jump out of his skin,

"Your thinking about her, aren't you?" For a second, Blue didn't answer, mostly because he didn't know what he was thinking about.

"Who?" he asked as innocently as he could. Kraus stopped what he was doing and faced Blue, who tried his hardest to continue his work.

"Nuala, and zi Elf girl," Abe clipped two wires together, causing a sudden burst of light to explode from the bulbs above them.

"There, all done," he chimed and got to his feet. Johann shook his head,

"Abe, you must be careful. I am far from physic, but I see zhat Taya is tip-toeing around River and you," though Blue had also noticed this, he decided not to comment. Yes, he was lost in the silly memories that him and Nuala shared, and yes, he did enjoy Rivers company, though it did un-nerve him slightly. She was almost the perfect copy of the princess and the sort time they had spent together reminded him of his lost love. Taya was being notably quiet, and Abe didn't know what to do to assure her of his loyalty to her. Even though it had only been a few hours since she had taken a tumble down a hole and the Elf had come to her rescue, he sensed the instant dislike to River she possessed.

"I don't know what to do Johann," he confessed finally. The ghost had also got to his feet and he stood a few meters away. He was willing to listen to Abe's troubles, mostly because he too had lost a woman that was very dear to him a long time ago, but as of yet, he hadn't got a chance to find that kind of love again. He wasn't about to let Abe throw it away because Taya was feeling a little jealous.

"Talk to her later, she vill listen, because she loves you."

"Erm, excuse me?" Taya jumped at the tiny voice that invaded her thoughts. She glanced up from the book she was reading, suppressed to see River looking down at her. The cat swallowed, before rising an eyebrow at the Elf's quizzical stare. In response, River smiled, but Taya felt like her returning grin looked as fake as it felt.

"Yeah?" she asked, returning her eyes to the pages she had been reading. She scanned for her place while the Elf continued, paying little attention to her words,

"I would like to show you and Abraham to your room, do you know where he is?" Taya felt her teeth clench slightly, out of mild irritation. Neither her or Blue had announced anything about their relationship, so that meant the Elf had read one of their minds.

"No," was all she said. River frowned at her harsh tone, but wasn't taken too aback by it. She knew that the woman didn't like her too much and she also understood why, but she was so glad of any company, she could hardly care if it hated her or not.

"Well, I'll go and find him, care to join me?" She said, already heading to the door. Taya was about to say no, but then realised she wanted to keep an eye on them, which struck her as very wrong. She trusted Abe, but not the Elf. Slamming her book shut, she replaced it in the shelf she had found it in, and headed out of the small libry she had found whilst exploring. She had also stumbled upon the bath house and what looked like a throne room. Whoever used to live here, they were important.

They found Abe, Johann and Ed investigating the kitchen. It was a big space, with a huge stove built into the rock and a few large surfaces to prepare food. From the ceiling hung pots and pans, and stuck to the cupboard doors were herbs and spices. The evidence of life in the place was startling, old newspapers lay on the impressive dining table, along with dusty glasses and plates. She could almost imagine Golem and River and the doctor she had mentioned sitting around it... though when she added the sphinx to that mix, she almost laughed at the comical image.

Right now though, it was Abe, Johann and Ed sitting around the table, having some sort of conversation about how Abe had never eaten an Oreo. She giggled at Blues almost distraught features while Ed blabbed on about how the Fish-Man hadn't lived until he tried it, though he looked very unconvinced. Taya wondered how exactly they had gotten onto this topic, thinking about how completely random it is in the situation they were in. She thought that maybe it had something to do with the sudden feeling of confidence that had spread through the team. Not only did they have Soultar on the run... None of the agents seemed to be getting harassed by a hormonal, angry Liz since they hadn't been back t the BPRD. Everything felt better... one way or another.

Abe spotted Taya and River entering the room, and gave his cat girl a warm smile, glad that someone had come along to break up the strange conversation he seemed to be trapped in. He was mildly surprised that she was standing so close to the Elf and not hitting anything, but happy to. Just behind them as they walked to the table, Liz and Red wandered into the room. Hellboy was carrying the egg that had been put in his possession by the dead dragon, earning odd glanced from everyone in the room, apart from Liz who looked like she was used to it already. Ever since the death of the mother dragon, he never let the egg far from his sight. Like Taya, it was also a secret... they thought it best that Manning didn't find out that they had gained a pet dragon, for its own sake.

Abe saw the way Liz was walking – even though she was heavily pregnant, it seems less laboured that usual, like some kind of weight had been removed from her shoulders. Of course, Red looked happier to, even though he was carrying an egg that was very nearly the same size of him. He lay it down on the floor almost lovingly, before he pulled out a chair for Liz to sit on. Blue thought that maybe Hellboy had gotten ever so slightly attached to the shell, which made him laugh to himself.

"Hey guys," said Red as he sat down. He glanced around the table to see the strange looks he was getting and paused mid sit, like he was expecting them to throw something at him. "What?" he asked, "I got something in my teeth?" Johann shook his transparent head with a slight chuckle,

"You seem to be quite affectionate towards zhat, egg," he said, nodding towards the shell. Hellboy finished sitting and shrugged his huge shoulders.

"It's a baby," he said in a defensive tone, then lay a hand on Liz's rounded stomach, "Just like the babies in here," the fire starter gave him a sceptical look and Hellboy quickly corrected himself, "Well maybe not just like, but any baby needs some love," Liz seemed warmed by this statement and gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek, before laying her hand on top of his that still cupped her stomach.

"Next you'll be singing it lullabies Red," said Taya, throwing him a joking smile.

Abe watched as she breezed past the table, towards the cupboards on the wall. She gave him half a smile as she did so, reassuring him that she wasn't really angry with him... or upset. River also walked further into the room, but stopped to face the entire table, like she was about to announce something, but she stayed quiet, silently running her eyes over everyone.

"Is it just me," started Taya, opening a cupboard, "Or is everyone else sick of rations?" Abe shifted himself in his chair to get a better view or the cat girl as everyone mumbled their agreement. She was stretching up to reach the top shelf, were an old looking book lay on its side. She was about to climb up onto the surface when Abe got up and strolled towards her, plucking down the book with little effort and handing it to her. He smiled at her as he passed it over, and she gave him a thanking smile in returnee, before wrinkling her nose to stop a sneeze as the dust rose up to meet her. Abe laughed at her face and watering eyes as she opened the book, amused by how cute she'd looked.

"Who puts a book in the kitchen cupboard?" she mumbled to herself, then after scanning the first page she noticed the mention of cookies, brownies and ginger bread men. "Oh, it's a recopy book," but something was disturbing her... she recognised it, or more the writing that was inside of it. All of it had been hand written, like someone had taken all the recipes they liked and put them together in one place.

Abe saw the almost shocked expression creep across Taya's face, and felt everyone's eyes on the couple. Everyone sensed that there was something wrong, but River was the first to speak,

"Yes," she said, walking over to where they stood, "It's Doctor Hawkins book, he brought it from his home for when he stayed here, with us," Abe's eyes flicked to the Elf, his fast brain instantly connecting Taya to the name. He then looked back to the cat, who was running a delicate finger over the writing.

"I thought... I mean, I knew it was possible that it was the same doctor... but I never knew my dad was... evil," She snuffed, a small tear dripping down to the paper of the book, smudging the neat writing that lay there. Abe wanted to hold her, but felt some kind of anger burning off her. He knew he should have stopped River from saying anything when he was the look on her face, but he was to slow,

"It is you!" she exclaimed happily, "Oh, my dear Taya! I thought I saw his sole in your eyes, but I was so unsure!" The Elf almost reached out to hug her, but Abe placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. River gave him an odd glance, but returned her attention to the cat girl, "Your father wasn't evil, He was the best man I have ever known," she tried to sooth, but that seemed to make her even madder.

"Shut up," she spat venomously, slamming the book shut. River looked slightly pained, and took a step back, "You know my father better than I do? " she was crying now, properly, not just shedding stray tears, "So your one of the people that stole him away when I was little? One of the people he worked with? One of the people he decided was worth more time than his own daughter?" Blue instinctively placed himself between the two woman when Taya lunged forwards slightly, and she gave him a disgusted look, before reaching up and squeezing the space between her eyes with a thumb and finger.

"Ok," she said, trying to calm herself and her shaking voice, "I...I need to...to take a shower," she decided, placing the book on the counter and walking away. Abe reached out a hand to her back, but stopped, knowing that she needed to walk away from this. He swallowed hard, before looking to River over his shoulder. She gave him a thankful but sad smile,

"It was my fault," she said, laying a hand on his back, "I should not have sounded so enthusiastic. I just thought that she might remember me, but apparently, she does not."

Abe turned around to face her, but looked over to the team. They were watching him in a stunned silence, like they were expecting something from him. Then Red said,

"Wow," and the awkward quiet was broken, and filled by a cascade of questions. After a few minutes, Red got everyone to stop harassing Abe and River, and they all sat at the dining table, all equally confused.

"She didn't know that her father was working with Golem," said Abe, tapping his fingers on the dark wood of the table impatiently, "I do understand her reaction," River, who was sat next to him, nodded,

"I just don't understand how she cannot remember us. Soultar used to always spend time playing with her when she was a toddler, and I was like a mother from the moment she was born. The Doctor always brought her here with him when he could, but knew that she needed a normal life...well as normal as possible with her mutations," She said sadly. Abe was quite annoyed at the use of the word 'mutations' and River read that off him immediately. "You mean you don't know?" she asked, glancing around the entire team. Blue gave her a confused look, "Of course you wouldn't, how could you?" she continued.

"Her father... did something to her mother when she was pregnant with Taya, something that changed the baby in its early development. That's why both of her parents were normal, whereas Taya... well, as you can see, she's different," before anyone could get bad ideas about Mr Hawkins, she quickly explained, "Taya would have died otherwise... It's all very complicated, and I'm no scientist, but there was something wrong with her and Elric knew that his baby wouldn't live without help."

The table shared some confused looks, but they believed the Elf. Ed felt very out of place, knowing that he wasn't in the 'inner circle' and most of what everyone was saying made no sense to him. Besides, he was only a messenger boy, and the only reason he was still there was because Liz wanted to make sure he didn't blab to Manning.

"I'm sure the kid will be okay..." said Red, trying to reassure Blue more than anything, "She just needs time," River smiled at the demon, before looking back to the fish man,

"Sweet Abraham," she started, putting a hand on his shoulder, "You must tell her that her father didn't know Soultar would turn our like he has, none of us did," Abe blinked a few times,

"But I-"

"Please, he was a good man, don't let her believe otherwise." The expectant looks he was getting told him he had little choice,

"Okay, where's the bath house?"

The shower room was a large complex, and looked more like a swimming pool. In the main room there was three large, circular pools, making a kind of triangular shape together. The floor was covered in mosaics of mermaids and fish, dolphins and sea creatures, all beautiful blues and purples. On either sides of the giant room were pillars in a neat row, holding up the old balcony above him. To the right of him, he could see the door that lead to the shower. He swallowed.

Abe was unsure to say the least. He could already feel the heat of the shower, see the steam flowing from the open doorway and creeping across the floor towards his feet. The air was stuffy, but in a pleasant way, laden with the soft smell of lavender and cinnamon. He spotted her clothes lying on the floor, crumpled in a line like she had taken them off as she went along, to impatient to wait for her shower. He got an image of her in his mind, lazily walking across the room, shedding her clothing like a flower would shed its petals. He didn't know if that thought was wrong for him to imagine, but in all honesty, he couldn't help it.

He followed this line of clothes to the doorway and stopped. Through the haze of warm mist, he could see her figure standing underneath the onslaught of hot water, her mid-length hair plastered to her back. She faced away from him, giving him the view of her well toned back and long, graceful legs. He found himself watching the silver streams of water slide their way down the soft curves of her body, making her skin gleam in the dull yellow light. She lifted her arms to shift the chestnut hair to one side of her neck, running a hand through it a few times absentmindedly.

Abe closed his eyes as he tried to regain control of his pulse... and his wandering mind. He swallowed hard before clearing his throat, deciding this was best done quickly, before he managed to do something stupid. After another second of hesitation, filled with strange thoughts that he was sure he wasn't supposed to be having, he spoke, very quietly,

"Taya?" his voice was full of questioning uncertainty, but also brimmed with a soft lulling concern. The cat jumped slightly, causing water to spray off her shoulders in a random splatter. Her head turned towards him as her hands instinctively covered her breasts, her dark, earthy gaze set into a soft frown. Blue waited for her to scream at him, or something along the same lines but she seemed to smile slightly at the sight of him. Blue felt his throat size up again, and his mind stumbled over words he couldn't say.

"Abe?" she said, slightly confused by his presents, "Is something the matter?" Though she seemed to be unfazed by him being there, he saw her cheeks darken ever so slightly, leaving them a creamy pink. Figuring that staring at her wasn't the best of ideas, he looked down to his feet, twiddling his fingers around each other in a mute apology,

"No...Well yes, I think. I don't know," he stopped and bit his lip, much like she did when she was confused or unsure; "I'm here to find that out." She tried her very best to look like she didn't know what he was talking about, but Abe saw right through the stubborn mask that hid her real thoughts. Though he knew her expression was hiding something, he couldn't challenge her, so they lapsed into an oddly needed quiet. That is, until Taya started to laugh, the noise making Abe look back to her smiling features.

"While I'm having a shower?" and before Blue had chance to organise his strange and jumbled thoughts, he was laughing to.

"I'm sorry, truly I am," he said, once again using his strange, flowing hand movements to get his feelings across, "It's just... I got the feeling I needed to do this now, before it got any worse," Taya stopped laughing then, or even smiling. He felt her mood darken and suddenly he longed to be closer to her, to comfort her.

She allowed a small squeal of surprise to escape her lips when Blue wrapped both of his strong arms around her body from behind, pressing her into him. She didn't dare breath for a few tense moments, the soft skin of his body heaving against her own as he took almost laboured breaths. Feeling a comforting warmth spread through her body, she relaxed in his embrace, letting herself lean on him gently. At this reaction, Abe let his cheek press against the back of her head, her wet hair sticking to him slightly. He breathed in the smell of her shampoo, recognising the reassuring sent instantly. He let out an unsure sigh,

"I know that you don't truly think your fathers evil. Tell me what the matter is Taya, please?" The Fish-Man reached out his webbed hand and rested it on one of her own, rubbing his thumb up and down soothingly.

"Nothing and everything," she said dryly as a chuckle caught in her throat. Blue held her a little tighter, enjoying the feeling of another's body so close to him. After a few seconds, she wriggled around in his grip, so she could look into his eyes. He held her gaze, far to aware of her naked body almost at one with his. "Don't worry Abe," she said, searching his eyes with her own, "everything will figure itself out..." He made a sound of agreement, not daring to speak. Something inside him was making his heart beat faster, making him want to get even closer to the woman he was holding in his arms. Water traced its way down her face, like thousands of little tears, but her eyes bore no sadness, they just shone with a sudden curiosity. She wanted to ask something, or tell him something, but she was holding back. He probed her mind, only for a second, but what he heard made little sense to him;

'What about us? I feel like everybody knows the people I love better than I do...'

He didn't dare ask her, knowing that she trusted him not to go rummaging around in her head, and the last thing he wanted right now was an argument. Not enjoying the silence they were now encased in and the tension that was building up inside of it, Abe searched for something to say.

"Where did you get that scar?" he asked, spotting the small silver streak just below her lip. If he was thinking straight, he wouldn't have asked that question he realised. Not after everything that she'd been through in her life. With an amused flicker in her eyes, she reached up and traced the hardly noticeable line,

"Glass, I think," Abe gave her a lob-sided smile before bringing his own finger up to repeat the gesture she had just made. It occurred to him suddenly that he loved these little things about her, the old battle scars, the cute freckles dotted around her back... the birth mark he had accidentally noticed on her bottom, that was in the shape of a splodge crescent moon. He grinned at that thought. He wanted to know every inch of her, but his bravery stopped at that thought.

He soon found his hand cupping her cheek, his other hand resting lightly on her back. She closed her eyes and pressed her face into his touch, begging silently for more of his soft affection. Her wet lips kissed his sensitive palm and despite the hot atmosphere shivers ran down his spine. Her thoughts told him so much of what she wanted, how she almost needed them to be together, right now, lost in each other. Abe truly whished he was a braver man, not ashamed of his own body, not afraid of her turning away in disgust. After a heavy, almost disappointed sigh, she tilted her head up to him, blinking away the water that streamed down her face,

"Can I ask you to do something for me Abe?"

Blue almost laughed at her pouting expression, but his heart felt like a lump of led in his chest. He would do anything for her, but for some reason... he was so afraid of doing something that seemed so natural. With a forced smile, he tilted his head at her,

"Of course, what is it?"

"Fetch me a towel?"

On the way to the bath house, River had told Abe where his and Taya's room was. It was conveniently placed right next door to the showers, so Blue could make used of the pools (Once the filter system was working again,) and so Taya didn't have far to wander in her towel. Abe had her clothes bundled up in his arms, following behind her closely with a distant smile on his face. It seemed like they had taken things a step further somehow – she wasn't freaked out that he'd seen her naked, or even been so close to her when she was, and that gave him a feeling of security. She didn't mind being intimate with him... it was him being intimate with her that stopped things happening. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he followed Taya into their room.

Inside, the first thing he noticed was the size of his new accommodation. Even though a huge, four post bed dominated the room, there was still a lot of space to move around. Taya seemed equally surprised and had stopped just before Abe did. To the left of the room was a dressing table and book shelves, and to the right there was a wardrobe, draws and a desk. The grey stone floor was covered mainly by a deep red rug that matched the drapes hanging from the posts of the bed. Candles on the wall were already burning and clean bed sheets had been laid out for them by River.

"Me likes," said Taya, smiling. Abe put her clothes into one of the draws before setting out to make the bed with the things provided. Taya watched him for a second, before closing the door to stop the draft chilling her more than it already had. She wandered to the bed and started to help Blue, but it soon became apparent that she wasn't very good at it. Abe watched her out of the corner of his eye, laughing at her every now and again. She seemed to be getting very frustrated with a pillow she was trying to case, but he was to amused by her struggle to offer help. When she had finally finished wrestling with it, she collapsed onto the bed, spreading her arms out like she wanted to take up as much room as possible.

"Your bags been brought here," Abe said lifting it from the floor by the wall.

"Pass it here," she said, sitting up. He did as she asked and watched as she rummaged around inside it. Liz had taken it from the BPRD when she and Ed went looking for her, knowing the cat would never return. Taya began to pull items out of it, searching for something. He saw the book that she had before, when she was up the tree, the bunny slippers with the silly faces, a few clothes and her PJ's.

"I'm gonna get ready for bed," she yawned, and moved to pull off her towel. Abe spun around out of common courtesy, though the gesture didn't make any sense to him anymore. After a few minutes she told him he could turn around and she was lying on the bed again, in the same pose as before. He let his eyes flick over her body, admiring every bit of her. He didn't see her smiling at his staring until it was far too late for him to cover it up. He felt his cheeks burning with embarrassment, but she just giggled and patted the bed beside her.

For the next hour, they lay together, staring at the ceiling and talking about everything and anything, their hands clamped together like they would never let go. Taya was finally drifting off into slumber when Red charged into the room and yelled, loud enough to wake the dead,

"I'm having a baby!"

A/N: Well then, I think Red's slightly confused(: Herm, personally, I didn't think this chapter needed an M rating, but there are some seriously fussy people out there, which is why I warned you at the start ^^ I know this chapter is everywhere with everyone, but I have been neglecting Hellboy and Liz's relationship... And poor Johann, I love that gas bag 3 More up soon my little duckies!! (Can you tell I'm in a random mood?)