Wow it's been a while since I updated, good evening ladies and gentlemen...I must apologise for my delays, but with it being Mothers Day here in the UK last week I had to do a lot of preparations for that.

I have also had other things on, but this longer chapter should hopefully make up for it :) Please enjoy and review, thankyou!

As Belle sat with Dale and told him everything that afternoon, she was forced to admit everything she had known throughout the past few months. Though her most recent discovery was kept to herself…while she remained unsure as to whether it was real or not, she felt unable to talk about it.

'So this isn't a permanent thing?' Dale questioned, Belle shaking her head as she leant back.

'No, I'll be back to normal in a couple of weeks…well…back to how I was before anyway…' she remarked, looking at the soft golden scales that glistened in the light.

'You know you can't keep on like this…'

'What do you mean?'

'Belle you are a free spirit, and look at you, your trapped in this place with no freedom. No chance to do what you want…I mean…Belle why did you try and keep all this from me…from your friends…your family?' Dale questioned as he sat with Belle, her temporary transformation leaving her sitting with her fins still in the water. Though as the young blonde looked up at him with sad eyes, she couldn't help but sigh as she gazed at her reflection in the water.

'Dale…being sworn to secrecy leaves you with little choice when you know the danger you're in could impact the people that you love…You have no idea how much I hate the fact I couldn't come to you,' she remarked with desperation. 'All I've wanted is for things to go back to normal. But they can't…I know that now…all I can do is make things right. This won't end until something is done…and I have to be the one to do it.'

Looking into her eyes, Dale sighed as he put his arms around her, Belle being brought into his chest as he sighed, 'why do you have to be so difficult woman?' Though as Belle could hear his heart steadily beating, she could not feel from him the thoughts he was emitting at that moment…Though as she sat back and looked down to see Abe walking in with Hellboy, a smile touched her lips, her eyes gazing upon him with such fondness…something Dale didn't miss as he watched her.

'I never saw him before…' he uttered, 'was he with you the day that I met Hellboy?'

'No…' she returned softly, 'he's been very caring though since I've been here…he's like you in a sense, just wants me to be safe and happy.'

'Belle, it didn't take this for me to want that…you have no idea just how much your loved by the people around you…just promise me you'll remember that…'

'Dale…'

'Promise me,' he returned, 'because if you ever feel lost in what to do, I want that to be the one thing that reminds you what you mean to us.' Looking at Dale, she wondered what he was thinking, a rare occurrence for her…but she knew there was something behind what he was saying. Even though she couldn't decipher it…Yet as he took his hands in hers, Belle found herself unable to look away from the deep meaningful look in his eyes, one that he held for her, and only her.

'I promise…'

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

With the next two weeks that passed, whilst Belle was coming to the end of her temporary transformed state, Liz was taken ill, and with the twins so nearly due, it was important for her to be monitored by both the FBI medical team and Abe.

'Tell me honestly Blue, how's she doing?' Hellboy asked is best friend with concern as they left Liz to sleep one evening, the merman putting a hand on his shoulder as he offered him some reassurance.

'She's weak…you said she had an episode last night?'

'Minor one…yeah, just started to panic in her sleep, and before ya know it I woke up with a flaming duvet,' he remarked with little humour in his voice. 'I don't get it Abe; she hasn't had anything like that in years…'

'Perhaps the pregnancy is making her more sensitive to her pyrokinesis…the children are fine though…no change…Just Liz's high temperature and her minimal energy.'

'She can barely get out of bed,' Hellboy returned, clearly worried as he stood in the doorframe.

Looking over at Liz as she lay in there bed, she was pale, her face almost white against her obsidian hair…and even as she slept, it was clear that something was disturbing her in her sleep…unnerving her…making her restless. Yet despite her health being in a satisfactory condition other than her consistently high temperature, it was evident that she was feeling so much worse than the tests were showing.

Yet what Abe went without saying to Hellboy was that the birth would be a difficult one…he knew it would be…Hellboy's demonic side would have had some effect on the twins within Liz's womb. The question was, how demanding would they be on their mother in those first moments of life? An epidural would be necessary…he knew that much…but something else was wrong. In checking her over, Abe discovered Liz was having nightmares again, but vivid…highly visual…and ones that she was unlikely to forget.

'It's like when I was a child all over again…' she sighed, 'I don't know what it is Abe…it all started again one night last week and I haven't been the same since…I keep waking up feeling like I'm practically going to burst into flames, but so far nothing's happened…I'm just afraid I'll have woke up and another fire will have started,' she admitted with fear in her eyes.

'It's okay…' Abe soothed, putting a hand on hers and feeling the fearful emotions that emitted so strongly from her. 'It will be over soon…I promise you…it will be okay…' Though as he rubbed his thumb softly over her hand, he could see the images from her past that haunted her so…knowing just how much they had affected her in the past…

Thinking through this conversation he had only had with Liz a week prior, he couldn't help but hope that Liz was strong enough to get past these nightmares for a second time…the news of spontaneous fires throughout the city not going amiss, though with her under strong observation, they knew it was nothing to do with the pyrokinetic.

As Abe joined Belle late one evening however, Belle could see how tired he was…he had spent days using his breathing apparatus constantly to remain comfortable during his observations of Liz. Yet with only a few hours' sleep and little submersion in water, Belle could tell how drained he had become.

'Abe…?' she murmured quietly, seeing how even that startled him from his thoughts as he finally looked up to her.

'You're awake…and at such a late hour…' he mused, glancing to the time, though Belle shook her head.

'It doesn't matter; I wanted to know that you had slept tonight instead of going without it to do research for me...' she remarked in concern. 'You're over-exhausting yourself when you need a break.'

'It'll be back to normal soon enough,' Abe assured her, 'it's just important that as soon as Liz goes into labour she has everything available for her…she needs to be comfortable.'

'I understand…it's been hard seeing her like this,' Belle remarked, 'I just hate the thought of Liz being so ill…let alone you…' she offered, Abe looking up at her before finally realising what was bothering her as he put down the books he was holding.

Coming up to sit with her, Abe took Belle's hands in his as he then cupped the left side of her face.

'I'm sorry Belle…I know I've left you to deal with a lot of this on your own and I wish it hadn't happened like this. Everything seems to be hitting at once, and it's hard to handle it all…'

'You don't have too…' she soothed, 'you don't need to worry about me Abe…we share it…okay?' Shaking his head at her, Abe couldn't quite believe how strong Belle could be sometimes…she seemed to take such weights on her shoulders, yet she still always came out smiling. Though as she rested her forehead against his, Belle found Abe brushing his lips against hers, the moment undisturbed as he took her in his arms, Belle feeling safe, contented and warm in his arms as the kiss became more passionate…

Yet as she was pulled more into Abe's lap, Belle's hands began to trace over the leather jacket he wore which was already unzipped, her hands trailing the indentations in his body…the muscle that rippled across his chest. Lean, pure muscle…

Smiling into the kiss as she felt Abe tremble slightly at her touch, she broke it off looking into his eyes with her eyelashes fluttering lightly upon her eyes opening. 'That's all I need right now…a reason to smile…' she remarked softly, pulling him in the water with a giggle and enjoying a night alone with Abe…the merman appreciating every moment with her and realising just how much she was starting to mean to him…the emotions he was feeling being unlike anything he had ever felt before…

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

Meanwhile, back at Stony Point, Ruxandra wandered restlessly, unable to sleep in her room that night. There were too many nightmares to haunt her…too much pain that could easily be uncovered in her conscious mind. Yet even as she passed through the aged stone chambers, lightness in her pace as she moved through the dimly lit corridors, she was still slightly startled by the sound of chains hitting the floor. Though following a swift composure of her features, Ruxandra walked to the barred chamber where a weak figure lay up against the back wall. Chains bore at his wrists and ankles, holding the injured creature down. Seeing the damaged and discoloured wings that shielded his body, Ruxandra studied him quietly for a moment, noticing how he made no movement.

Yet as she raised a hand to put to one of the bars, another voice spoke out…Ruxandra knowing it only too well as she continued pass the cell, passing a fleeting glance into one of the other chambers where the absent FBI Agent lay unconscious, prisoner to Rasputin and captured by her. Though as she silently got closer to the room at the end of the hall, Ruxandra finally made sense of what she could hear. Rasputin was uttering a prayer…it may have been in his native language but Ruxandra could understand it easily.

He spoke of his loyalty to the Ogdru-Jahad…The Seven Gods of Chaos…his disappointment at his inability to resurrect Ilsa Haupstein…his former loyal aid and lover. She knew of his desires to bring her back to life. Though the very thought left her almost seething with anger. She knew Rasputin did not hold the same view of her as he did of Ilsa. Yet she struggled to push him away. His hold on her was tight…binding, yet she refused to even try and fight it.

In his hands; she was submissive.

Looking down as she inhaled deeply, Ruxandra's head shot up at the sound of quiet movements from within. Watching with a steady gaze, Ruxandra stood tall with no less than strong composure as Rasputin came to the door of his bed chamber, observing her for a moment, his dark eyes pouring into hers. Yet as he stood aside, silently permitting her entrance, Ruxandra paused before finally stepping forward, Rasputin running cold fingertips across her cheek as he proceeded to close the door.

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

Four am. A time when most were sleeping peacefully…undisturbed…but for Liz, the pyrokinetic couldn't be anything further from that. She had found herself feeling so drained and weak, like her pyrokinesis had forced itself from her body…yet no flames showed themselves…It was like an extreme heat…worse than anything she had ever felt. That was the moment the contractions began…

Sitting up in shock, Liz put a hand on her stomach, her breathing heavy and uneven as she gasped for Hellboy to wake up.

'Red…Red…' she said breathlessly, feeling like flames were going to appear at her hands at any moment.

'Mm…just five more minutes baby…'

'RED!' she yelled startling Hellboy awake as he looked up and saw the anxiety in her features. Getting up swiftly, Hellboy was at her side, still fully dressed from when he had fallen asleep as he picked up the phone and told Liz to stay calm whilst he rang for the medical team within the Connecticut Bureau.

Though it wasn't long before, having woken Abe up as well, that Liz was being attended too, the labour starting off better than the merman had predicted as he kept continual watch over her. But they knew she would need to be taken to hospital in order for the medical supplies necessary to be there if they were needed.

'Red, I need you to go and get Belle, she'll be okay out of the water for a little while, I'll keep Liz calm and hopefully if we can leave quickly we should be at the hospital within half an hour…' he remarked, seeing how Hellboy was clearly unnerved by the situation though he finally nodded and took off out of the room after giving Liz a quick peck and assuring her that he would be back as soon as he could.

'Red? Wait what's going on?' Belle exclaimed as Hellboy came into Abe's room, the startled clairvoyant having risen to the surface and clearly been attempting to try and get out of the pool of water herself when the demon had come in.

'Liz is going into labour, I'm gonna be a dad and I'm in need of a stiff drink…' he began coming up the stairs to her as Belle swam across to him.

'Hellboy relax…'

'Yeah, try getting me drunk first Belle, might help…' he remarked, scooping her out of the water easily and setting her down so that Belle could put on a wrap over skirt to keep her tail warmer out of the water.

'Is she being taken to the hospital?'

'Yeah…Abe reckons its taking too much of a chance with a home birth and right now I'd trust his opinion with my life…' Hellboy remarked, Belle watching him with concern as he carried her easily down the stairs and out into the hallway.

'Liz…' Belle breathed, seeing the pyrokinetic being taken out by paramedics to a private ambulance. Seeing her friend looking so pale as she was rushed out with Abe following her, Belle found herself at a loss for words as she was carried outside.

As Liz was put in the ambulance, Hellboy was soon to join her as he took hold of her hand, telling her he would never leave her side. 'You're gonna be okay babe, I promise you Liz…I won't let anything happen…'

'Red…'

'What is it? What do you need?' he asked her, Liz looking at him with desperate eyes as she asked him,

'Tell me you love me…please…' she implored, Hellboy looking at her in surprise, before cradling her in his arms as he whispered those same three words over and over again.

'I love you…'

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

'I hate not being behind the wheel,' Belle remarked with frustration as they arrived at the hospital, Hellboy finding the remark gave him something to smile about as they prepped Liz in one of the private wards before permitting him in.

'If it's any consolation I'd have had you drive,' he grinned, Belle considering the possibility of trying to drive with fins, though as Abe came to join her, Belle simply sighed as she rested her arms over his shoulders.

'I can't believe this happened tonight…'

'You're tellin' me,' Hellboy returned, 'I'm so glad I ain't a woman. Though come on then…you and Abe…' he smirked, 'give me something to keep me going here…'

'Okay, okay,' Belle offered with a smile, 'yes, you were right…'

'The one saying I never tire of hearing,' Hellboy said with a smug grin, Belle and Abe glancing to each other with a soft smile, though as Manning came for Hellboy, it was clear he was unnerved about the situation, hoping beyond all hope that Liz would pull through okay.

'Why don't you go with him Abe,' Belle remarked, 'I'll be okay here,' she encouraged, Abe realising that she was thinking the same as him, knowing Hellboy would need all the support he could get.

'I'll let you know as soon as we know anything,' Abe assured her, Belle nodding as she brushed her hand over his cheek before letting him go, being careful in the presence of so many Agents. Yet as minutes turned into hours, Belle found that it was going to be a long night.

'Red. I can't take this,' Liz cried, feeling in such agony as she tried to hold on to her consciousness. The pain of the labour had been so excruciating, but with her shaking so much, the epidural was becoming a dangerous option to take for fear of getting it in the wrong place.

'It's okay babe, I've got you,' he soothed, before turning to Abe with a completely different attitude. 'Can they not give her the damn injection already?' he growled impatiently, Abe shaking his head as he spoke up for the doctors.

'It's not that easy Red…if they get it in the wrong place; it could paralyse Liz from the waist down…'

'She's in agony Blue, ya have to do something,' Hellboy remarked, when the doctor announced it may be necessary for the final part of the labour. Though as the atmosphere remained tense, Abe keeping a trace of every movement whilst Liz cried out in agony, an epidural was finally given to her, relief coursing throughout her body…

Yet as the final moments of the birth came, Liz felt as if she were going to burst into flames, the pyrokinetic shutting her eyes in an attempt to repress it, the voices calling her name stopped her from blacking out. Opening her eyes to those around her in the room, Hellboy holding her hand as he reassured her, she also felt Abe's hand on her other shoulder, the merman squeezing it encouragingly as Liz finally felt like she could pull through. She wouldn't give into the flames that inhabited her body. Those around her were too important, too loved by her and in a flash…it was over.

Though, Liz wasn't the only one experiencing a fight, Belle finding it almost difficult to breathe as she rose to the surface, though as she went to pull herself up to try and get out of the tank as the panic from the other room suddenly sent a convulsion through the atmosphere. Though with the light glowing furiously from the necklace she wore, as Belle grasped at the edge of the tank, the tail fading from her waist as her legs returned, thoughts rushed to her mind so fast that she couldn't make sense of it, it sending Belle into a state of disorientation and light-headedness as she almost sank into the water, one of the Agents seeing her and holding her up as he asked her if she was okay. Yet the only thing she could hear was a voice in her mind unclear, though as quickly as it came, it had gone once again…

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

An hour later, Liz lifted a weak head from the hospital bed to see the door to her room open, with Abe carrying Belle inside, Hellboy being sat beside her as Belle was set down on the edge of the bed.

'How are you feeling?' she asked softly, putting a hand over Liz's free one, the pyrokinetic smiling weakly at her.

'Tired…but okay…they're beautiful Belle…' she said tearfully, Belle seeing the cradle nearby as Hellboy reached in and lifted up a healthy baby boy, his skin a darker red than his father's though there were no demon appendages, his eyes being a bright shade of honey, his sister having the same eye colour, though her skin was the same ivory tone that Liz held. Yet as Hellboy handed Liz her son, she cradled him proudly in her arms.

'Belle…do you wanna hold her?' Hellboy offered, Belle looking up to him with surprise in her eyes before finally nodding and taking the tiny bundle from his arms

Feeling an instant sense of warmth as she held the baby in her arms, Belle showed such love in her amethyst eyes as the baby grasped her finger that Abe couldn't help but smile as he looked over her shoulder.

'It's times like this that make me understand why all we do is worth it,' Abe offered softly, no one in the room being able to disagree as the first morning light shone through the windows.

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

'You didn't need to do this today you know…' Belle remarked, Hellboy shaking his head as he sat back in the truck they were being transported in.

'…and let you two have all the fun? I don't think so Tinkerbelle,' Hellboy grinned, 'besides if I fuss over Liz anymore she might just kill me before she gets out of hospital,' he smirked.

'Well still…thankyou…'

'You know it's alright,' he returned, 'that's what we were hired to do, not that it's ever been a job to us,' he mused, Abe looking up to Belle as she recognised the familiar sensation of him entering her thoughts. Yet as the truck then slowed to a stop, Belle kept herself about water level, the transformation back already beginning as they got her into the sea water where Kyle and two other mermaids awaited her. Leading her and Abe beneath the surface, King Nereus stopped them halfway, suggesting that they hurry with the redeeming of Belle's temporary state.

Taking Belle's hand, Abe kept close to her, being wary of how quickly she would need to get to the surface once she was back to being a human. Belle wore a fitted midnight blue that clung to her figure with a deep purple skirt that covered most of her tail, ready for the return to being human, yet as Belle noticed a pair of dolphins swim beneath them, she noted how they seemed to be swimming away from something, yet the King distracted her trail of thought as he brought her to look at him.

'Are you ready Belle?' King Nereus asked, Belle nodding quietly as she floated silently before him.

'What is it child? Something is concerning you?' he remarked, Belle shaking her head, though her amethyst eyes said something different. Yet as the King observed her carefully, he then handed her a seashell on a golden chain… 'this is for you…wear it and you shall continue to be able to understand us and call for us should you need us…' he remarked, Belle looking up at him with an emotional expression as she nodded, the King placing it over her head, Belle, pulling her hair free so the chain could settle delicately around her neck. Yet it was only as the staff was raised, that Belle began to feel a difficulty in letting her gills breathe for her, a rush of water beginning to spin around her, Belle having a sharp intake of water, as the gills faded from her neck and healed, her legs reforming…

Though as Belle lifted her head, something shook the water, her eyes widening as the same whirlpool of water faded out, leaving Belle human and in need of breath…though as she was suddenly seized by both Kyle and Abe, King Nereus turned away from them and yelled something she could no longer understand. Though as the three of them broke the surface, Belle gasping for breath, Hellboy ran to the edge of the boat as underwater foliage shot up and bound her, dragging her back beneath the surface.

'Damn it,' he growled running and diving into the water, Abe having already gone back beneath with Kyle, though Abe found himself under the same fate as Belle, the pair being pulled into the depths.

'The door is unsealed!' Nereus called out, the merpeople swimming in an attempt to free them, though they were held back by the force of the water, it being controlled by a stronger; darker force.

Trying to breathe, it felt like she were going to choke as Belle was pulled into the darkness of the previously sealed cavern they had explored, the impact of such little oxygen in her lungs starting to take hold as she could see it all blacking out…the last thing that ran through her mind was Hellboy calling her name, then…nothing…

So lots going on and all in one chapter...not going to deny I am exhausted now! But none the less I hope you all enjoyed, even those of you that just hate my cliffhangers with a passion haha.

I will be updating again soon, thankyou for reading and goodnight!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x