Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to my newest chapter. Since my last update I have both done my trip to Scotland and since moved in with my boyfriend up here in Scotland, who is also now my fiancé after a beautiful proposal at the end of October :) So it's been a busy few weeks settling in, but I've finally gotten started with continuing with the chapters I had been working on. So here is my newest update :)

Please enjoy and if you take a moment at the end to review, thankyou very much!

As minutes turned to hours; Abe had found it difficult to sleep upon seeing the blonde clairvoyant sleeping on his sofa, memories flooding back from the past few months. The last time he had seen her, the last night she had spent with him, albeit a memory that haunted him. She had been so frail, so weak…it despaired him to think of the way she had hung so limp in his arms. If it hadn't been for her jagged breath, it was almost as if…No…he couldn't contemplate such a thing, though he had been unable to escape the horrors of his dreams. The vivid projections of his innermost fears coming to life before his eyes when he was at his most vulnerable, in an unconscious state of sleep, the thoughts leading him to wonder of Belle's dreams.

Looking down upon Belle, he pondered silently over how much she had dealt with in her time away from them. Had she been happier without them? Was it selfish for a small part of him to hope that she had missed him and that was why she was here before him? Or was she here to say goodbye? The latter leaving him with a sudden sensation of fear.

…What have I done? He questioned in remorse, swimming in a slow, lithe motion down towards the glass, as close as he could be from the confinements of the glass. Though as he pressed his hand against the cool, clear surface, Abe found himself closing his eyes and allowing himself to search Belle's thoughts…her fears…her dreams…her feelings…such a mixture of feelings, as she turned slightly on the leather sofa, he could sense and understand the feelings she held. Though as he searched deeper, uncovering her feelings for him, he felt a rush course throughout his body, the quickening pulse, the race of his heart, his gills expanding and his body yearning, aching…for her. 'Belle…' he murmured aloud, opening his eyes upon seeing the pain he had caused with renewed emotion. The love, the pain…all that she felt, he had now seen it and felt it too…and he wanted it to end.

Upon deciding that he couldn't wait for her to awaken, Abe lifted himself out of the water and dried off quickly, though as he went to descend the stairs, he found Belle already opening her eyes to look at him, her expression one of sympathy and sadness. She couldn't deny the quickening beat of her heart, the impulse to run and throw her arms around him, yet she remained on the sofa, the distance and silence between them being almost unbearable.

'Abe…' Belle uttered quietly; her tone depicting a mixture of emotions as she sat up wearily, still feeling the impact of the exhaustion, Belle was torn in knowing how to handle the situation. 'I'm sorry; I shouldn't have been here,' she began.

'No; please,' Abe implored, coming down to her, Belle being taken by surprise as he walked straight to her and enveloped her in his arms. 'Please…' he repeated, 'never apologise.' Feeling the cool touch of his otherwise soft skin, Belle put her arms around him, finally submitting herself as tears began to spark in her eyes.

'Damn it Abe…' she uttered ruefully, wanting so much to be mad with him, to be angry…yet she couldn't express herself, though she tried. Feeling her pain; Abe held onto her more tightly, though in trying to break away her defences, Belle pulled away, needing so much to escape.

'I can't do this Abe, not now, please, just let me go,' she whispered quietly, every fibre in her body screaming against it, though she continued to ignore it.

Standing up; Belle felt the harsh effects of her trip as she swayed slightly. Steadying herself on the arm rest, Abe was instantly at her side asking her if she was okay. 'I'm fine; over exhaustion.'

'Belle, please, I know how much I've hurt you. But please allow me to explain, I know how you feel…please…don't leave…' he finished with such sadness in his voice as his remorseful blue eyes met hers. Staring into the depths of his eyes, Belle glanced away as she blinked back the tears, wondering how she could muster the strength to keep away from him. Shaking her head wistfully, she stated 'you don't know how it feels. You have no idea…' before leaving the room and Abe behind. Leaving the merman she loved. Alone.

'But…I felt it….' he whispered, knowing no one was there to listen.

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

Going back to her own room, Belle went immediately to the bathroom, not caring that it was half six in the morning and turned the shower on. Locking the door behind her; she felt able to hide away, to cry and to let out all of her emotions. Why was this so hard? She knew how Abe felt, but she didn't know why. Why did he avoid her? Abandon her when she needed him? She didn't understand any of it. She had believed from the start he had avoided her…but then…upon finding a way in, she found a man who understood her, because he had the same gift. She found a man who appreciated her as a young lady and treated her with just as much respect as he did admiration. Yet when she needed him to support her most in her decision to leave for a while; a decision that was intended to keep him safe as well as her other loved ones, he failed her. So why did she want so much to be in his arms? To feel the safety of his embrace, to hear his heartbeat and to experience those feelings that she had only felt since being with him.

Leaning back into the shower as the water cascaded down her back, its welcoming warmth caressing her shoulders, Belle let out a soft sigh. It had been the first night in weeks that she had slept so peacefully and she just wanted to return to that slumber. Dreamless, contented…even if it were just to prolong what was due to be a long day for a little while longer. Belle felt like she needed the rest, her tears becoming lost under the stream of water as she washed her face carefully, a small whimpering attracting her attention as the clairvoyant instantly recognised the sound. Smiling softly and getting out at the sound, Belle dried off and pulled on her bathrobe that had been left on the back of the door, before going out to find Chance lay across the door. Waiting for his mistress to emerge, her loyal Samoyed sat up instantly upon hearing the door handle and began to nuzzle her hand appreciatively, making Belle smile as she knelt down to him. 'I'm here boy,' she cooed softly, 'I'm here…'

Stroking his mane of fur, Chance rubbed his head lovingly into her hand, enjoying the attention and only too willingly following her to the bed where she slipped under the duvet cover and drifted into a deep, resounding sleep. Watching his mistress fall asleep and feeling assured that they were in a safe place, Chance leapt up lightly on the bed beside her and curled up close, remaining with her for the rest of those early hours. Loyal and protective…

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

'Abe; you're up early,' Liz remarked in surprise, the pyrokinetic being sat in the living room with a cup of black coffee in hand with neither the twins nor Hellboy to be seen.

'Did you know?' he began, only confusing Liz further.

'That Belle was home?' she offered; trying to make some sense of the clearly distressed merman before her.

'She was sleeping on the sofa in the library, but when she woke up, she could hardly look at me. She left Liz, what do I do?'

'Calm down Abe; breathe,' Liz responded, emphasising the latter term as she sat up.

'I am breathing. I have to breathe to survive. Not like you perhaps, but I don't see-'

'Abe! Stop.' Interrupting him, Liz stood up and pulled Abe over to the window. 'Look; you see that?' Gesturing to the glistening silver Mercedes in the weak light that sat dormant in the rain… 'She's not gone anywhere. Nor will she. When I say breathe I mean relax, sit down and think about this logically.' Sitting down with Abe on the sofa, Liz took a moment before continuing with her point. 'Listen to me; Belle got back to Connecticut in the middle of the night and she didn't even go home to her parents. The first place she came was here,' Liz explained, 'if she slept in the library it's a good thing. It tells you that she feels safe, she wouldn't have fallen asleep if she didn't.'

'But she could hardly look at me. She pushed me away when I tried to be near her.' Looking at Liz as he searched for guidance, she sighed and shook her head as she took his hands.

'Belle will only be like that because, to her, you gave up.'

'I distanced myself because I thought I was giving her a better life…'

'I know what you did Abe. You did exactly the same as what I did. I fought with my wish of being normal and accepting the life I had. I didn't want to give Red a chance because I was afraid…afraid that if I took it I was admitting to myself that this was the life I had to live. I found it hard enough to love myself, let alone let anyone else in. I convinced myself while I had this problem…this "gift" as some people seem to see it, that I wasn't worth anything. Not until I could fix it…make myself a better person. But you can't change who you are Abe; and you shouldn't want too. Belle fell for you because you're a nice guy who is the only guy she wants when times are tough. She shares common ground with you and she isn't afraid of what she can do. Not like I was. You both have a unique gift. You saved her life once Abe.'

Reminding Abe of all he had done for her; Liz put her hand on Abe's cheek, bringing him to look at her. 'I'm with Red thanks to you, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have given him that chance. Your problem is you're so wrapped up in someone else's opinion that you've forgotten what counts. Belle didn't have to come here; but she did. That tells me she doesn't want to give up yet. She has a lot to deal with; she's probably hardly slept for weeks. I know because that was me. I still get nightmares sometimes. When you had a normal life; then get it all taken away from you, it becomes hard to get through. She hasn't always had a choice Abe, with the FBI, being under so much surveillance…but when she did get a choice…she chose you.' Looking into Liz's eyes with understanding, Abe finally found the answer to the question that had played on his mind for so long.

'Don't let this one go Abe. You make her happy, just like you didn't stop thinking about her every day she was gone. I don't need to be a mind-reader to know that.' Watching Liz with a resigned gaze, knowing she was right, Abe took a breath and asked her the only question he had left.

'What can I do?'

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

Going to the upper level of the house later that morning; Belle was intending to slip past unnoticed, figuring it was the best option until she knew for definite what would happen in regards to her protection with the bureau. But no such luck.

'Hey Tinks; where do ya think you're going?' Turning around in the hallway to see Hellboy grinning at her broadly, she was pulled into a tight hug that left her slightly breathless upon release.

'I've got some things to sort out today and I just-'

'Have you had breakfast?' he interrupted, folding his arms expectantly.

'No…I was going to get something later.'

'Oh no…You're eating now woman. No complaining. I haven't had breakfast yet so I'll see you right. Plus I'm sure the mutt will be hungry. An' I don't want him thinking one of my cats is a light snack.'

'Chance is not a mutt…what is your problem with dogs? You'll love Chance when you get to know him. I'm sure of it.'

'I dunno about that Tinks…'

'You will,' she smiled, Hellboy shaking his head when he suddenly turned in surprise, finding a kitten clinging onto the end of his tail. Scowling slightly he picked the meowing bundle up by the scruff of its neck and lifted it up in front of him. 'Little bugger keeps doing that,' he remarked. 'My tail is NOT a toy, got that fur ball?' he added, Belle cocking her head to the side slightly while trying to stifle a giggle as she tried to keep her tone serious.

'Another one?'

'Hey, I don't control what they do when I don't watch them. Though for the record they were all healthy and there's six of the little fluff balls wandering around,' he grinned, Belle shaking her head with a smile, knowing how he doted on them.

Handing her the kitten as he steered her into the kitchen, Hellboy seemed impressed with himself at making Belle smile so much, the clairvoyant holding the bundle of black fur, his blue eyes prominent and curious as Belle held him up to her face. As the kitten extended its paw, brushing its pads lightly down her nose Belle felt another brushing against her legs and knelt down to Chance, the dog sniffing carefully at the kitten. Watching him shake his head in surprise as Chance blew air onto his face he then lowered his face and nuzzled his head gently against the Samoyed, Belle's dog sitting patiently as the kitten purred contently.

Though as Hellboy watched, about to make a comment, Belle's phone rang, the clairvoyant handing the kitten back to him as she took the call.

'Hey…yeah…yes I'm home. Yes I promise I'll come and- no. I'm fine, really. I just have some things to take care of…Yes I have and no I don't want help with it, I have more than enough money to cover it. I just agree with my Uncle's recommendation. I do need to get something which is more suited to my current situation. Besides the car I have currently is common knowledge…I know, I just…I have to go, I really need to go and see Agent Manning to speak with him about all this. Just please trust in me, I love you and I'll speak to you soon. Be safe.'

'Who was that?' Failing at sounding nonchalant, Belle glanced up as she put her phone in her coat pocket.

'My mother. .My Uncle told her I was travelling back to Connecticut; I had an escort for some of the journey in another car.' Seeing the relief flicker in his golden eyes, Belle sighed softly, knowing what was coming next. She knew Hellboy wanted her to be with Abe and to give him the benefit of the doubt. But the truth was; she didn't know how. How to trust him; how to believe that she wasn't going to get hurt, something that Hellboy was also well aware of, but a subject that she couldn't talk about, knowing he could walk in at any moment.

'Listen; I really have to go, I promise you I will eat something while I'm out and if I don't you can cook for me when I get back.'

'You are coming back right?' he responded, Belle seeing something in his eyes she hadn't never recalled seeing before, a look that spoke to her beyond anything he could possibly say.

'Red; you're like the big brother I never had…a best friend I never expected to make. At the start you convinced me to come inside and give you all a chance. A decision I have never once regretted. I'm here now…and I'm here for a reason. I just don't want to put any of you in unnecessary danger because of me.' Wrapping her in a hug that was careful not to leave her struggling for air, Hellboy felt a pang of emotion at her words…she saw him as a sibling…an older brother. A role that he treasured more than she could know…in all his life with Professor Broom, Hellboy had always hoped for a family, brothers and sisters…people like him. But he realised in those few words that family did not always mean being related by blood or even looking alike. It reminded him that family means the people who care for you; who will never leave your side, especially when times are hard and who would even lay down their life for you, if it meant you could see another day…

I hope you all enjoyed. There's lots to come and I'm giving away no clues! Thankyou so much to all who have taken the time to read as always :) New update will be coming soon!

But for now it's thank-you and goodnight!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x