Good evening everyone! I meant to upload this chapter last night but I wasn't feeling too well so I decided to finish it today...Anyway I hope you all enjoy, this will see Belle's preparations for leaving home, and the thoughts of Hellboy, Abe and Liz as they also prepare for her arrival...

Enjoy and review, thankyou!

It had been nearly two weeks since the events at Fairfield's high school, and at the home where Hellboy, Liz and Abe resided things had been busy in recent days as they ensured that everything was ready for the new arrival. It had been on the Thursday that Liz was preparing a room for her when Hellboy came and stood in the door frame watching her silently for a moment before speaking. 'So what do you reckon she's gonna be like?'

'I have no idea Red...I really don't,' she replied laying out some folded towels before crossing the fairly large room and opening the curtains.

'You regret agreeing to this?' he then suggested, Liz turning to him and sitting on the window ledge.

'I don't know HB. I just...I wondered whether the FBI really want to help this girl, or whether it's just a way of forcing themselves back into our lives. I didn't want that to happen...' she sighed, Hellboy coming into the room and joining his girlfriend.

'Come on babe,' he said putting his arm around her, 'Abe would have sense anything like that without even trying. So it's gotta be genuine...'

'I guess so...I just don't want things to go wrong now...'

'They won't cause I'm not about to let them. By the way, have you seen Brother Blue?'

'He's in his tank...do you think he'll mind this new girl being in the room next to him? I know he's said it's alright...' she remarked,

'Yeah...I know Abe's still finding everything harder than usual, but he's done well.' It was true to say however that Abe had been even more contained within his thoughts lately, ever since that mission in central Connecticut. Though Hellboy and Liz knew it had taken a lot for him to join them that day.

'Well I hope she has a sense of humour in any case,' Red grinned,

'I think an open mind would be more the phrase,' Abe remarked walking into the room with a book in hand,

'I don't think Manning would allow her to stay with us if he thought she'd tell everyone who we are,' Liz remarked thoughtfully, Abe considering this for a moment.

'Yeah but you forget babe, he's also not exactly preparing her for it...it's not like he's the one who's gonna tell her who she's gonna be staying with. She's gotta see us to believe us anyway...though I don't see the problem myself,' he smirked, Liz rolling her eyes at him making him laugh as he then put a hand against Liz's neck, leaning in and capturing her lips for a moment.

'I do have things to do,' she said as they broke off, Hellboy raising an eyebrow as he remarked simply,

'You can take a break,' before picking her up and carrying her to the door, 'I'll come in to see ya later Brother Blue,' he smirked,

'Of course Red,' Abe said with a slight smile, hearing them talking rather flirtatiously, making him chuckle a little, though looking into the guest room himself, Abe sighed, wondering just what this new arrival would bring...

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

'So is that everything dear?' Glenna asked coming into her daughter's room to take the last of her cases downstairs, Belle sitting on the edge of her bed and stroking Chance as she nodded slightly.

'Yes it is...' she responded,

'What is it darling?' she asked sitting next to her daughter,

'I just...I wish Chance could have come with me...It will be lonely without him...' she sighed softly, Glenna wondering how she could comfort Belle when she simply didn't want her daughter to have to leave.

'It will only be for a little while dear...it's just a precaution to keep you safe...'

'I know...but all the same I'll miss you all,' she said sadly.

'Well you have tonight and tomorrow morning yet sweetheart...'

'Thankyou,' Belle remarked gently, Glenna smiling at her daughter before getting up and moving some of the cases out of the room, still unsure whether she and Harold were really doing the right thing...

Though once alone Belle went and stood out by the balcony, taking in the evening light and the pretty view of the gardens. Everything had been settled in regards to her new home which the Agent and friend of Belle's father having assured Harold that it was perfectly suitable for her. Returning into her room though, Belle knelt down to Chance as he came and sat in front of her, the way he had watched her pack in preparation for leaving telling him that something was clearly not right. Though it was on that evening that Dale had also called round, it was a Friday night and she had been grateful to know that she wouldn't be seeing Liam tonight despite the fact that his family had made arrangements to visit that night. So opening the door to her close friend, Belle stood aside to let him in and decided it would be best to go up to her room where he couldn't see her cases or discover anything from her parents. 'Are you okay Belle? You seem a little quiet tonight...' Dale remarked as they sat watching a film, his companion simply nodding, unsure of how to tell him that she wasn't going to be at home when he called in the mornings. Belle knew Dale had been worried about her since the events at the school, having seen her home afterwards and staying with her until her parents returned off their flight. It had certainly caused considerable panic amongst the students, and many had been worried for Belle, their thoughts seeming to cloud her mind though she tried to block it as best she could, finding it almost overwhelming at the time. 'Listen...I was wondering if you wanted to maybe go for lunch or something tomorrow?' Dale then remarked, Belle glancing up to him with a slight smile.

'I'd love to Dale...but I'm afraid I'll be busy all weekend,' she replied softly.

'Well maybe next week then?' he amended thoughtfully,

'Yes...' she smiled, 'of course...'

Belle hadn't found the heart to tell Dale that night that she'd be leaving the next day. But she was at least grateful to know that she couldn't be going too far if she was still able to go to school each day...Once alone and sat in bed for the night however, Belle had then seen her Mother and Father who came in and sit with her. As they promised Belle that everything would be alright, following her assurance that they didn't have to worry about her, Glenna kissed her daughter on the forehead affectionately, Harold then hugging her close before finally they left her to fall into gentle slumber, finding it hard to believe herself that she had nothing to worry about...

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Meanwhile across the other side of the city on the outskirts, Abe was looking out into the night, thinking about the girl he had met...he didn't know why she stayed in his mind...maybe it was worry that she may have said something of her encounter...or maybe it was something else...the way she trusted him...though of course she had little option. But it wasn't that which made him think...it was the way she had genuinely trusted him...in light of his appearance...As he then walked farther into his room, going up to the higher level of the room in order to get to his tank, he considered how he had never even discovered her name...

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Waking up the following morning, Belle lay in bed for a little while, the time being early in the Lucivia household, with no one else being up as of yet. Though Belle soon sat up, knowing she wanted to make the most of her morning...so getting up and sitting at her dressing table, Belle gathered her long hair and drew it up into a French twist, before going to her wardrobe which had considerably thinned. Looking through for a moment, Belle then chose a knee length purple dress that had a cowl neck with light gatherings on the skirt, giving it a sweeping effect, with skin toned tights and deep purple court shoes of the same shade as her dress. After then getting a high necked coat, Belle left it on the bed and walked out onto her balcony. It was a cold morning and though not too grey overhead, there seemed to be a cool breeze in the air that pulled at her curtains from inside, Belle hearing her name being called as she walked into the room, seeing her Father waiting for her.

'Agent Manning will be here in a few hours...would you like something to eat?'

'Yes please,' she responded softly, Harold about to leave when she then asked gently,

'Please may I take Chance out after breakfast...I won't be long...I promise,' she requested, Harold putting an arm around his daughter as he told her that she was very welcome to.

Though walking downstairs with her Father, Belle knew he was torn in his mind wondering whether they had made the right decision in what they were doing, whilst another part of him was truly confident that they were... Yet Belle put it out of her mind during the morning, simply trying to make the best of it. But even with all this on her mind, she still hadn't forgotten the man who had saved her life...his unique features so unusual she had been unsure whether it was safe to go with him or not...but she knew that he wouldn't hurt her...he had wanted to help and she'd never gotten the chance to thank him for that...

Later that morning after returning from her walk with Chance, Belle had spent the rest of her time with her Mother and Father, only going upstairs to collect her phone. Though it was while she was up in her room that she heard a car engine and looked outside, seeing a black Alfa Romeo drive up through the gardens and around by the entrance, Belle walked down the long staircase just as Harold and Glenna opened the doors to see a man walk in with two others behind him. 'Good morning,' Agent Manning greeted

'Tom,' Harold nodded,

'Is she ready to go?'

'I am...' Belle replied quietly, this drawing the attention from those in the hallway to her, Manning greeting her politely.

'Miss. Lucivia...?'

'Good morning Agent Manning,' she responded, walking over to her parents as her cases and bags were taken from the hallway to be put in the back of the car, two others having followed up and also waiting for them to leave.

'Which is the car that will require transporting?' one of the two men asked that had come in with Agent Manning.

'The silver Mercedes,' Harold answered, Belle taking the keys from her bag and handing them to him, as he assured her the car would be taken over later that day..

'Is it a manual or automatic?'

'Automatic,' she answered lightly. When Belle had been taught to drive at the age of sixteen, she had been taught in a manual car, thinking it important to know how to drive with manual in order to make either an option when she had passed her test. Though since passing Belle had found a preference in automatic cars, and had been delighted in finding her Mercedes parked in the driveway on the morning of her eighteenth birthday, with an azure blue ribbon crossing over the bonnet and open roof.

'Take care of yourself darling,' Glenna said emotionally, taking her daughter in her arms as she tried to compose herself. 'I know that you'll be okay, and we'll be seeing you again soon enough for your birthday...' she remarked, Belle forgetting just how soon it was...three weeks...

'Well everything is in the car, we should get going,' Manning then remarked, seeing Belle's distinctive eyes in the light as she then turned to him, this puzzling the Agent as she walked towards the entrance to her home, Belle picking up on the question in his mind before he asked it.

'Er is she wearing...?'

'They're not contacts,' Belle remarked with a slight smile, only too used to that somewhat repetitive question in reference to her unique eye colour.

'Right, well...we shall keep you informed of any developments and there will be monitoring from the FBI of your home too, in order to help with any other...appearances...' Manning had remarked carefully...Harold and Glenna thanking him before watching their daughter get into the back seat of the car and out of sight behind the one sided glass...Chance coming and whining in the doorway, knowing that it wasn't just a normal trip that his mistress was taking...

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

As Belle sat quietly in the car, which drove around to her new home, Manning wasn't sure of just how to comfort her…he knew that she wasn't happy to leave her home, her willingness to go only being in the hope that her parents would at least be safe. She now knew that she was in danger…but she had no idea of the extent of it, something which made Manning pity the young lady. She was the picture of innocence, someone who didn't seem capable of hurting anyone intentionally, and here she was...a victim of someone's evil plans, forced to leave her home for her own safety. Clearing his throat Belle looked up slightly, leaving the reverie she had been in, 'while you are staying here, we will be here to pick you up in good time for school, we will then collect you when your lessons are over.'

'Can I not drive myself? I know my car is being transported and I don't want to make things difficult…'

'You wouldn't be, your protection is assured with us,' Manning replied with confidence, 'if you wish to drive yourself, you may do so, though to begin with I would strongly recommend you allow us to take you there and back, it's just as a precaution.' Saying nothing further, Belle nodded and settled back to looking out into the passing landscape, Manning sighing as he turned his attention back to the direction they were going in.

After a few more minutes, Manning spoke up again, his tone more serious, 'we're here.' Looking out of the window, Belle saw a large stately home, the gardens wide set and going on for about half a minute once they passed the gates. The house stood quite tall, the marble steps leading up to a very tall doorway which the agent pulled up outside of. Getting out of the car, Belle felt a cold wind pass through the atmosphere making her shudder a little. Watching as her cases were lifted from the car, Belle looked back to the marble steps that led up towards the tall front doors, her saddened eyes shining. 'Those you'll be residing with are out just to let you know Belle. They should have been here....but as they insisted they had something that they wanted to see too…anyway they left you a set of keys with me,' he said handing her the ring with a solitary, silver key. Going up the stairs and opening the lock, Belle heard the various metal clicking and moving in place to open the tall doors, still noting the slight distaste Agent Manning seemed to have when talking of those she would be staying with. Walking inside as the two FBI agents who had accompanied Manning joined her and put her bags down, they constantly watched the graceful young lady as she looked around the hallway with some curiosity. 'I hope you find this home to your liking...'

'It's...lovely...thankyou for all you're doing...'

'It's no problem, though I may add that those you're going to be staying with...well you'll no doubt gather your own opinions on them but...'

'They're very trustworthy people,' another Agent concluded, Manning looking to him before nodding slightly.

'Yes well...I'm sure you'll see for yourself soon enough. But if you should have any problems, then call this number...it will put you through to the bureau...'

'For Paranormal Research and Defence?' she muttered slightly confused as she read it on the card, Manning clearing his throat, as Belle's senses seemed to pick up on something that she wasn't being told, though with little chance to learn of it, Manning quickly explained that she would be required to be ready for collecting on Monday morning in order to get her to her scheduled lessons on time.

'Is everything clear?'

'Yes,' Belle nodded, 'May I ask...how long it will be before I meet the people I'm staying with?'

'I don't know, I gave up trying to keep track of them, just tell them when they get here that I want to speak with them about leaving a key and a note in my office about ten minutes before I had to leave this morning,' he said irritably, Belle thinking she'd pass on the message in a more polite manner when Manning and the other two Agents then taking their leave, Belle being left to look around her new home, waiting for the return of those who would be soon watching over her...Belle having no idea who she was about to meet...

Another cliffhanger lol, which my readers from "Life and Love A New Beginning" know I do tend to use a lot ^_^ lol, so what will happen when Hellboy, Abe and Liz return and meet Belle Lucivia at long last, or for Abe, discovering who the girl he saved really is? So much to come in this new story! I will be updating soon :)

I hope you enjoyed and please review, it is always appreciated... I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Goodnight!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x