Elena shrugged and didn't meet Pip's eyes as he tried to see into hers.

"I started being able to do things at school...I tested some stuff out...what does it matter anyway? I'm helping you"

"But what exactly did you do to me?" Pip wasn't convinced. This girl, this woman, just dragged painful memories from his mind and then sent them away as if it were nothing.

"All I did was slightly alter your brain's reaction to these memories. You'll only associate pain with them if you want to feel pain" Pip took it all in and sat quietly on the bed unsure on what he was supposed to do next.

"Thank you" He muttered more to himself than anything. Elena shrugged and started playing with a strand of hair.

"I knew this kid back at school who was into witchcraft and stuff and he taught me a few simple spells to get me by" She lied. There was nothing simple about what she had just done and Pip was thinking along the same lines. Before he could reply a yawn escaped him and Elena suddenly remembered where she was. A blush crept along her cheeks as she backed away to the bedroom door.

"You should get some sleep the...uh...procedure really takes it out of the...patient" Pip was about to stand up and thank the girl properly but she was out of the door and in the hallway before Pip even moved. He lay back down and thought hard about past events and to his surprise he felt no pain. He smiled to himself and closed his eye, getting a good sleep in for the first time in a long time.

(****************)

It had been a couple of days and the excitement of Elena returning had died down. Elena had met Pip's men and they had been polite, to her face at least, and her mother had spent a little time catching up with her daughter. But work was still work and Elena understood that her mother would be busy – that nothing would change. But Elena was getting bored. There were no young people in the manor and her mother wouldn't let her leave without an escort. Elena was sitting out near the training field watching the mercenaries train when a shadow flew in front of her. She looked up and raised her eyebrows at the largest pair of breasts she had ever seen. Behind the breasts, however, were a pair of nervous blue eyes and a little waving hand.

"Uhm...hello...I'm Seras Victoria" Elena remembered Pip's memories and instantly disliked the girl stood beside her.

"Oh. You're the other vampire?" Seras nodded and gave a small smile. Elena didn't return it.

"Do you mind if I sit? There's never been another girl in the manor other than Sir Integra..." Elena contemplated saying no to her but thought that'd be too rude; I mean she didn't even know the girl and she seemed okay enough. Elena forced a smile and gestured beside herself. Seras let out a relieved breath and sat.

"Thank you" Elena nodded and continued to watch the men train. Pip was leading them in push ups and Elena couldn't help notice how well built Pip looked without a shirt on. Seras gave an awkward cough and Elena looked at her from the corner of her eye.

"If it's making you uncomfortable sitting here then I suggest you leave" Seras gave her a surprised look and frowned at the floor, absentmindedly pulling up pieces of grass.

"Pip and I...we had a thing. It didn't end well and it just makes me feel weird seeing him every day. I guess I'll just have to get over it huh?"

"From what I heard he gave you his heart and you destroyed it" Elena's words were like a slap in the face and Seras stared wide-eyed as Elena stared daggers.

"I know what it feels like to love someone you can never have and it hurts like hell. Do you even know what you did, Seras? You gave him hope. You let him have that kiss, let him believe he might have something worth fighting for, and then you ripped it all away from him" Elena was seething. Seras didn't understand why Elena cared so much but she knew it would be a bad idea to stay. The blonde stood and frowned.

"I don't know what I said to offend you but quite frankly you haven't been here, you don't know the story" And then she left. Elena snorted and rolled her eyes – what a pathetic excuse! She leaned back on her elbows and turned her face to what little sun there was and tried to relax...at least until she felt a pair of eyes on her. Without opening her eyes Elena let out a sigh and addressed her new sunbathing companion.

"I hope you've been looking after Bas" Alucard frowned in confusion – who the hell was Bas? Actually how had the girl known he was there? Police girl hadn't even noticed him. Alucard sat beside Elena and she rolled her head to look at him.

"Bas?"

"Yeah...the beautiful dog you let me play with as a kid. I distinctly remember telling you to look after her" Alucard scrunched his nose in distaste at the memory and the name Elena had given the hound.

"And Bas is short for?" Elena sat up straight and raised an eyebrow.

"Bas? Short for Baskerville? Honestly you've never seen a connection? I could picture Bas on the moorlands terrorising passers-by" Elena smiled to herself and Alucard wondered if the girl was truly mad. She had not screamed in terror at the sight of the hellhound and had actually gone as far as to play and name it! He showed off his fangs in a grin in an attempt to unnerve Elena.

"She hasn't even noticed you've been gone. No-one has actually, save your mother" Elena's smile dropped slightly and Alucard allowed himself an internal triumphant smile.

"Can I see her? I've missed her" Alucard saw how much the girl meant her words and for some insane reason he let her reunite with the hellhound. He didn't tell Elena to close her eyes, as he had done when she was younger, and she watched in awe as Alucard used his magic to summon the beast. When the shadows retracted slightly to reveal a large black hound Elena held out her arms and waited. The hound gave a low growl and bared it's teeth in warning yet Elena kept her arms outstretched. Bas sniffed the air and suddenly her posture changed to a wagging tail and a raised head. The hound let out a great bark of joy at seeing her old friend again and leapt straight into Elena's waiting arms. Alucard watched in fascination as the pair played as if they had never been separated and realised how interesting he found Integra's daughter. She didn't fear the hound...she didn't fear him...This was something Alucard wasn't used to. Elena let out a joyous laugh as Bas eagerly licked her face and Alucard noticed the sound of men panting had slowed to a stop. He turned slightly to find that Pip and his men had stopped training to watch in horror as Elena rolled around with a beast that haunted some of their nightmares.

"You have an audience" Elena pushed Bas off her and looked to see that she did indeed have an audience. She blushed and patted Bas on the head.

"I bet that's something they don't see every day" Alucard almost chuckled. Almost. He still had some dignity left.

"Your mother summons me. Time to say goodbye" Elena looked sad at the thought of Bas leaving and the hound gave a whimper at her master. However, Elena knew Bas was no normal dog and had to go when Alucard did. So she gave the hound a hug and a quick kiss before saying her goodbye.

"Don't be a stranger" Bas gave her one final lick before disappearing into the shadows along with Alucard. Shortly after she heard someone approach her.

"What the hell was that?" She stood and rolled her eyes.

"You seem to say that whenever you see me" Pip didn't smile and instead pointed to where Alucard had left.

"You do know that thing has killed thousands of people! And I'm not talking about the vampire" Elena felt very defensive about her beloved Bas and crossed her arms.

"I've known that 'thing' since I was five and she's never hurt me. Maybe monsters are just selective with whom they place their trust" Pip stared at the girl and came to the conclusion that she must be mad. He ran a hand down his face and shook his head.

"Just be careful okay? A girl as pretty as you – it would be a shame to lose you to a beast"

"Oh I bet you use that line on all the pretty girls" Pip laughed and Elena though on how lovely that sound was.

"If only the pretty girls had your spirit" Elena rolled her eyes and gave Pip a flirtatious smile.

"I do hope you realise that your flirting with your boss' daughter" Pip shrugged his shoulders and gestured towards his men.

"Rather me than them" Elena nodded in agreement and cleared her throat.

"I uh met Seras earlier..." Pip's eye darkened and he lit up a cigarette.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. She seems..." Elena couldn't find the right word.

"In denial? Cold? Passive?" Elena noticed the venom in his voice.

"I was going to go with 'fake' but those will do fine" Pip shook his head and sighed. He knew he shouldn't say such things about his ex-love but she had hurt him. Badly. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to pay more attention to Elena? As the thought entered his head Elena stretched her arms above her head and unknowingly pushed her breasts out towards the Frenchman. Oh yeah he should definitively pay more attention to her. As she finished her stretch she gave Pip a wink and began to back away.

"Gotta love you and leave you I'm afraid – got business to take care of" She turned around before Pip could reply and left him standing on his own. In truth the flirting and the topless man had begun to make her feel as if being home wasn't so bad...but she knew that couldn't happen. When she felt she was away from anyone that could be watching her she pulled a phone from her pocket and opened a chat in text.

I miss you... It didn't take long for her to get a reply.

I miss you too...I'll be in London on Saturday, think you can make it?

A bit short notice isn't it? I'll try

I'll be waiting – you know where.

Elena gave her phone a quick kiss and set about thinking of a plan to convince her mother to let her out. Worst case scenario she would have to try and sneak out...Elena snorted. Yeah because that'd be easy!

A/N;

Sorry this one's short! At a bit of a block on how to get from A to B but I'll try and do an update weekly! Thank you for the reviews, especially that eager one :p, and the favourites! Until next time xxx