A/N: Oh gods, it's been far too long! Life and so much got in the way and now we finally have a new series and this has become quite AU. Which is exactly what I intended for it anyway, so that's not really a big problem. Chronicles may be on hold until s3 is over, however, while I make sure it doesn't interfere with overall plot plans. I am planning to write s3 compliant fic, so that'll be interesting to see. So, yes, enjoy!

Life at the Hellsing mansion was not exactly anything that could be called a perfect place to bring up children. It could be considered even worse when the children in question were two vampire-werewolf hybrids, both of whom were under 10, and seemed to have an endless supply of energy and special habit of turning up exactly where they shouldn't be at any point in time. Barry and Jack were, to put not to fine a point on it, entirely bored with their new home and wanted to have some fun. It didn't help that they couldn't play with Vlad here – he was always locked up in a room with that Selene lady. He couldn't be their big brother, but he wasn't exactly being the Grand High Vampire either.

On the wall of their new bedroom – and neither party was happy about having to share, Vlad never made them share – was a long list of the many, many places they weren't allowed to go. Also on this list were the staff members assigned to looking after them at any one point; Gabrielle had proven herself a fast favourite, but one of the newer researchers with the organisations – a Liberty Gates – had also managed to win favour with the pair. Sergeant Mark Jones, however, was nothing but a stinky blood-bag who treated them like they were kids.

The biggest problem with the Hellsing mansion, really, was that it didn't smell right. It was too clean, and there was too much silver and the hint of garlic in the air. Barry had long past the point where he would seek help if he woke up in the middle of the night; Magda always had been good at pressing out traits she didn't like; but Jack was smaller, and younger, and the unfamiliar smells just made it all worse. He didn't wake up often, and most of the time Barry woke up with him and was able to keep him company, but he was prone to awful nightmares. Occasionally when he woke up, he would hear yelling, and gun-shots, and he couldn't help but hide under his cover, clutching the Batman soft toy as tightly as he could manage.

One night, however, Jack went looking for help.

It had been relatively routine patrol – roughly three months after they had relocated and roughly two months after Vlad had press-ganged his way into the patrols – but that didn't make the Dracula any happier. Robin winced at the yelling.

"They were just trying to make a new life for themselves!" Vlad snarled, glaring at the back of the young woman who led the Hellsing organisation, as they stormed through the doors into the office.

"By snacking on an innocent couple?" Selene shot back. She was still dressed in her hunting leathers, and there was still that faint coppery tinge of blood in the air. "Call me odd, but that rather seems like falling into old familiar habits," she snapped, whirling round to glare Vlad directly in the eyes. "Or am I 'seeing what I want to see' again?" Ah, so this was a re-tread of a fairly old argument.

"Vlad, maybe you should just-" Robin tried to cut in, but he was ignored.

"The couple were known vampire sympathisers, they offer blood!" Vlad sighed heavily, not tearing his eyes away from Selene's. "Not all of vampire-kind is out to kill all you breathers. A lot of us like you, you're like little meals-to-go in fetching colours," there was a hint of a smirk on his face. "Mind you, wouldn't like to try your blood, it'd probably turn to dust in the mouth."

The cracking noise Selene's palm made against Vlad's cheek rang out in the hall. Vlad snarled back, loudly, but didn't move and Robin moved quickly between the pair.

"That's enough!" he said, holding up hands to keep them both apart. "No, really, it's enough. You two are meant to be working together, not-"

"Vlad?"

The voice was tiny, but Vlad's head snapped round, and within a blink of an eye he was over, kneeling down beside Jack. The boy's face was wet, and a hand rubbed at an eye sleepily, as another clutched around the favoured Batman toy. "I had a bad dream." It was the only explanation needed. Jack was picked up, balanced on Vlad's hip, as he moved in, clinging on to his older brother. "The slayers were after Mum and Dad … went after you too."

"Hey, Smurf," Vlad said softly, "you don't need to worry about me," he smiled slightly, but looked over Jack's head, locking eyes with Selene once more. "I'm more than a match for any Slayer that comes my way." Jack sniffed loudly, clearly not assured by this.

"What about Mum and Dad?" he asked balefully, eyes wide. Vlad gave a look, and ruffled his hair lightly.

"Dad is over 600 years old, he knows how to avoid Slayers," Vlad said. "And your Mum is smarter than him." Jack sniffled again, and curled his head into his brother's shoulder. Vlad placed a hand on the back of Jack's head, shooting a brief glare at Selene before looking directly at Robin. "I'll take him back to his room, get him settled. Can you...?"

"I'll warm a drink for him," Robin said, stepping closer to check on Jack himself. The small hybrid look round at Robin for a minute, before looking back at Vlad.

"An' Robin?" he asked, sincerely. "No Slayer'll take Robin away, right?" Vlad and Robin exchanged glances. That was new. Jack reached over to Robin. "'Cause, Robin's ours, okay? We're not loosing him," Robin found himself carrying the small boy, as he clung tightly to his shirt front. "Nope, I'll bite them first."

"It's okay, Smurf, I'm not going anywhere," he reassured him. There was a noise of approval, as Jack burrowed himself against Robin, his breathing evening out as his eyes shut. After a moment. "So, I guess I'll get him settled?"

"I'll bring along some milk or something," Vlad agreed. Robin nodded, and turned away with Jack. Vlad watched for a minute or two, before turning back to Selene. Most of his rage from earlier was gone, misplace slightly by the confusion his youngest brother had caused, but it didn't take long for him to remember what it was that they had been arguing about. "See what I mean? Under your stake without questioning method? You're going to leave someone like Smurf without his family."

"Not all vampires live in family units," Selene said, but her voice held a note of brief doubt. She gave an irritable sigh. "Get your brother a drink. You'll find warm milk works the best, and Gabby bought them curly straws. It'll mean he won't scald himself," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. There was a silence before she spoke again. "Now, if you don't mind. I have work to do. This organisation does have people to answer to, after all."

"How is the Royal Family?" Vlad's tone held a bitter humour. Selene glared, and walked off to her office. He went off to make Jack's milk. Robin joined him in the kitchen less than 10 minutes later. "He asleep then?"

"They both are, Barry woke up as I was putting him down," he explained, grabbing a mug to make tea. "Vlad, what Smurf was saying, I don't expect you to..."

"Smurf's right." Vlad said. "You're family, Robin. You're protected." Robin gave a very dry smirk.

"Only 'cause life without me is so not worth living."