~Hellsing: St Patrick's day~

~Chapter 3: No more~

It was becoming late evening and he was thoroughly exhausted. Anderson had had a difficult day, not just with Heinkel and Maxwell, but with the other kids. Some had gotten into fights, some had to be taken to the sick room and one had managed to get their head stuck in the banister railings again. Luckily for Alex, there was one last thing to do.

Almost on schedule, he walked towards his room, expecting the disruption any minute.

"Vater Anderson, Vater Anderson!" A voice behind him called and he sighed, turning around and seeing the familiar face of one of his 'children.'

"Ay' Heinkel...don't tell me...Yumiko?" Anderson smiled down at her and read her expression.

"Ja! This time it vasn't her fault! One of the boys flipped her skirt und Yumie punched him! He deserved it but now, I can't even tempt her out with a muffin I made! Come on!" Heinkel grabbed at his hand and pulled as hard as she could, Anderson immediately going into a jog to keep up with her fast pace. He knew exactly where he was going.

Third floor, second corridor, third door on the right. The small closet that no one used any more and right at the back, a small crawl space in the wall. He walked slowly in and sat down beside the hole, no one coming in and shutting the door to give the two privacy. He leaned his head in the hole and smiled warmly at the small figure crouched in there.

"Hello Yumiko." He said and leaned his head against the wall, observing the frail and small girl who looked ready to shrink away into the shadows.

Yumiko raised her head slightly and looked at him with her sad expression, her eyes slowly closing from tiredness.

"You know, I reckon in a couple of years, you'll be far too big to fit in this hole any more. Of course, you'll still be little Yumiko to me." He leaned his hand in a little closer and held it open for her.

She observed it and sniffed away the last of her tears, rubbing her eyes on her arm.

"You have two choices," he looked at her with a cheeky friendly smile, "one: we can stay in here all night and talk or two: we can go to your room and talk and eat and then you can sleep in your lovely bed. I don't mind staying with you, but I'm sure you and Yumie will both agree that the hole is a bit cramped."

He chuckled and encouraged Yumiko with his warm and loving eyes. The eyes that could switch easily.

Yumiko' face broke ever so slightly as she fought the urge to smile, but couldn't help but give him a quick grin. She leaned forward and took his hand, her tiny hand almost fitting completely in his palm as he helped pull her out.

She pouted and held open her arms when he went to walk away without picking her up first, Anderson couldn't help but chuckle at her innocence. He held her up in his arms and allowed her to rest on one of his shoulders, knowing she needed a good nights sleep more than anything.

He gently laid her on her bed and tucked her in, signalling to Heinkel to keep an eye on her tonight.

He planted one last kiss on her forehead (and a jealous Heinkel') and slowly walked out of the room, casting one last glance through the crack in the door at his two favourite girls as he finally closed the mahogany doors.

"No more tears." He whispered against the closed doors and smiled as he walked towards his room, watching the pale moonlight spill in through the windows and onto the cream rug under his feet, illuminating his way.

Anderson reached his room and shut the door behind him, knowing he was going to have another peaceful night. He'd been given a blessed week without anything going on in the outside world for him to investigate. He'd been given the precious time he needed to spend with himself, his God and his children.

Anderson sat down in his chair, his notes all finished and work all completed. It had been another ordinary day

Anderson couldn't help but chuckle as he noticed the date on the calendar and carefully sipped his cup of tea (mixed with some special 'medicine') to calm his nerves.

"Happy St. Patrick's day old man." He whispered to himself and smiled, another ordinary and special day having passed him by yet again, as his chaotic and wonderful life overtook everything and the days blended into one great memory for him.