Do not own! Not mine!
Alucard's POV:
I stroked her gently, marveling at her affection for me. I would never leave her side, I knew that now. No matter what she did, what path she took, I would always watch over her, comfort her, protect her, nurture her. She would be my little human "fledgling", my pupil and child. And…perhaps...more? My hand smoothed a lock of hair away from her sleeping face, and she nuzzled into it, mumbling happily. My lips twitched upwards in a fond smile. I always would take care of my little one. Always. But... what if I lost control again? That look of true fear upon Flora's face, the one that had jolted me out of my fog, what if I scared her again? I knew she was virgin, but what if I lost control to that point...she would never be the same again. I would have betrayed her trust in the ultimate way possible. I kissed her forehead gently to reassure myself. No. I would never let myself go that far. She mewled happily, turning her face up to me and somehow edging closer on my chest. I nuzzled her gently, soothing her sleeping form so she could relax. She burrowed into my embrace, snuggling as close to my body as physically possible, drifting deeper into slumber. Her warm, slow breath washed against my jugular, tickling the skin slightly every time she breathed out. I swallowed hard, my hunger spiking again. NO. I shook my head, focusing on her innocence, her trusting face, her peaceful breathing, the comfort she took from merely being near me, her vulnerability, until the huger faded, reluctantly, but still going. I nuzzled her in victory, feeling almost as content as I ever had.
Flora's POV:
I fidgeted nervously, my dress swishing around my ankles. A gloved hand rested on my knee, and I saw Alucard lean forward. "You look beautiful." he crooned in my ear, and I managed a smile. "That's just about the only thing I'm NOT worried about!" I hissed back, and he chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "You mustn't look bad for the queen." he whispered, kissing my cheek lovingly. I nuzzled his shoulder, feeling his cold arm wrap around my waist. We waited a little more, just content to cuddle together, and then Alucard straightened. We edged away from each other slightly, and guards came in to take us to her. Alucard walked behind me like the bodyguard he was supposed to be, and I felt his shadows squeeze my hand once in reassurance, withdrawing before any humans could see. I nervously sat down from the most recognized world power, my heart thumping in my chest. She was talking, and I hurriedly started to pay attention.
"Always so nice to see a Hellsing on social business. Well, let's get down to it. How are you liking your stay here?" I nodded slowly. "It's nice..." I said hesitantly, flicking a glance at Alucard. He saw my agitation and gave me the barest hint of a reassuring smile, watching the humans in the room sharply. She patted my knee, smiling at me, but Alucard's smiles always seemed so much better. "Don't be so tense. Are you single, or paired up? I found that significant others have a way of soothing you. Perhaps we can bring him next time." I flicked a glance at Alucard, who looked in agony at the thought of loosing me, as he surely would if she found out. "I...uh..." I mumbled, glancing back at her quickly. She smiled, waiting. 'Alucard! I don't know what to tell her! What do I do?' I wailed, trying to link my mind with his. He didn't answer. I darted a glance at him again, and he gritted his teeth, closing his eyes and nodding once. He probably knew the consequences of lying to the Queen better than I did. I took a deep breath. "Yes." I said, squeezing my watering eyes closed. "Oh, wonderful. You are the last Hellsing with blood pure enough to command Alucard, so the sooner we get you settled down the better." I but my lip, not answering. She looked at me, frowning slightly. "Is something wrong child?" she asked worriedly, and I nodded a little.
"It's just..." I glanced at Alucard gain, but this time I could not look away. His red eyes seared into mine, brimming with deep emotion. A hint of a tear dared to gather at the corner of my eye. The Queen gave a little gasp, but for us there was nothing but the agony of being apart again so soon after we had gotten back together. "Him!? My dear, he's not only a vampire he's one who would gladly kill every last human in England! Why on earth do you think he would care about you? Alucard, what do you have to say for yourself?" Her voice managed to filter into our little bubble, and Alucard turned to her. "I have no excuses. I have no explanation. I only ask that you do not be too harsh on her. She does not deserve it." he whispered, flicking a soulful glance at me, and then looking back down. The Queen sighed. "Flora, I'm sorry, but there is no choice for us. I think it would be best for you both if you went back to the 'States. It was wonderful to have you here." It took about five seconds for her words to sink in, and when they did it hit me like a shockwave. I was numb, so numb they were able to drag me all the way to the car and strap me in before I could start struggling. "Alucard!" I screamed, pounding my fists on the car window. He stood on the pavement, eyes shadowed with loss and pain. Tears were streaming down my face, and I could barely string two words together.
People were pulling me back, and I struggled against their clutching hands. I was sobbing his name over and over, like it would stop this from happening. A single red track inched down his cheek, the only tear he would ever allow. 'My little one...' he crooned, and I sagged, tears spilling from my eyes and overflowing down my cheeks, finally silent. 'I love you so much. And I'm sorry...sorry I hurt you so. I would give anything for you to be happy, anything for one of your rare little smiles. Don't be hurt over me. I'm not worth it.' The car started moving, and he inclined his head once in farewell. My heart was no longer whole in my chest; it had shattered into a million pieces, all screaming, all sobbing. I was back in the cold cloud of numb, silent and unmoving, tears streaming down my face and dripping into my lap. Loss and pain was all my mind could register. Someone opened the door, and I was helped out, but I pulled away as soon as I was standing. We walked to the gates, and I saw the register. "California, boarding" My mind snapped. I wasn't going home. I WAS home. I broke and ran, ducking under clutching hands and streaking for the way out.
3rd Person POV:
Flora was inside the parking lot, still running for the exit. She had lost her helpers, and security for the moment, but she wasn't safe yet. No, she was no safe at all. A horn sounded, and she skidded to a stop, seeing a bright light flare up into her vision. She was impacted, bones breaking and blood spurting, hurling her back into the concrete wall, lungs expelling in a scream. The car skidded to a stop, horror-struck driver quickly getting out and kneeling at her side. He yanked out a cell phone and called 911, sweating with fear.
Alucard paced, unshed blood tears threatening to spill over his cheeks, coming so thick and fast he was having trouble absorbing them all. Flora had become so close to him and the Hellsing's he could FEEL her agony, loss, pain, grief, and despair swirling around in her mind, clashing in jangling rhythm to his. Suddenly the intense, blinding head pain that signaled a Hellsing life was in danger brought him to his knees. He got up instantly, phasing to Integra's office to see her calmly working at her papers. His heart stopped. That meant only one thing. FLORA. "What?" she asked, a little less harshly than usual. He mutely held out his hands, letting her see the pulsing binding gloves. Her mouth dropped open, and her face paled. "Get her now! What are you waiting for!? Family safety takes presidency over the Queen's orders any day!" she snarled, and he was instantly gone. He arrived at a hospital, and his heart, already contracted, squeezed tighter. He heard sirens and an ambulance hurled around the corner, screeching to a stop below him. A stretcher was pulled out of the back, and Flora lay there, blood collected on her temple and limbs at angles that only meant broken bones.
He strode forward, starting to push the humans aside. "Hey, she's in critical condition, you can't just barge in and-" a medic protested, and he turned, snarling at him ferociously, letting his red eyes and fangs show prominently. The man scurried away, and he bent down, gently stroking Flora's brow. With a touch he absorbed the blood drying on her face, cleaning her off as best he could and ignoring the squawking humans. "Little one..." he murmured, kissing her forehead. "Wake up my little master." he urged her, gripping her shoulder gently. No answer. Panic clouded his mind. 'Flora! Little one, wake up!' he screamed in her mind, but received no answer. He followed the medics silently, keeping his hand on her shoulder at all times as they wheeled her into the operating room. A doctor was there, mask already up. "Who are you?" he asked sharply, getting some scalpels ready. "A...friend." Alucard snapped absently, eyes not leaving Flora's face. "Unless your family, out." The doctor said brusquely, yanking Flora's shirt up. Alucard backed away, but did not leave. "For god's sake man, at least turn around!" he snapped, as the nurses removed her pants.
Alucard reluctantly turned. He did not wait one second more than absolutely necessary to give Flora her decency, red eyes boring holes into the medical staff as they bustled around her, plastic sheet covering her mangled body. Knives grated against the metal and sliced through her flesh, making him grit his teeth. Needles sunk into her soft white skin, causing him to hiss quietly. Blood dripped from her wounds, making him lick his lips. They were healing her. They had to be healing her. He had to believe they were fixing her. His eyes burned into her closed lids, searing gaze fixed, unblinking, on her vulnerable face, covered by a plastic mask that dipped slightly for every faint, shallow breath. Every half second it took for her to exhale, his heart jumped, pulsing with fear that she had finally given in. Every second was an hour. Every breath was an eternity.
Every throb of that fragile, delicate human heart that he could have, if he wished, crushed easily in the palm of his hand, was an eon. She could not die. My beloved Flora could not become undead. I would never be able to sink my fangs into her throat and rip out her humanity, extinguishing her vibrant soul in a torrent of eternal darkness. I knew now I would be unable to drag her down to hell, curse her forever, damn her to immortality and make her my fledgling. Not my beloved Flora...not her...He gave an almost inaudible moan of torment, clenching and unclenching his fists. His eyes were locked on her face, unable to look away. Hours...decades...centuries... millennia...EONS later, he saw the doctors move away. He immediately stepped forward, ignoring everything around him, sliding a hand under Flora's head and elevating her, pressing her against his chest. "We did the best we could. She has to work it out herself now. You should get some rest." the first doctor said, gripping his shoulder slightly before stumbling out the door with the others, exhaustion etched in their posture. He blinked after them. Sleep? With Flora like this, unconscious and in pain? Leave her to struggle against death alone, nobody at her side? No. NO. He cradled her, kissing the top of her head. She had lived alone. She would not die alone. She would not wake up alone.
He nuzzled her, listening to the soothing blips of her heart tracker, the electronic bleeps that meant she was still alive, still with him. He remained like that all night, holding her and waiting, watching. Morning came with no changes. A tug on the seals reminded him of Integra's need for him. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the tug, which became a pull, then a pain, then agony. He pressed his face to her hair, inhaling her scent. He didn't care if he was torn apart by countermanding orders. Flora would see his face the instant she woke, and know she was safe. That was all that mattered. The pain was dulling his mind, so when the nurses came in he hissed at them, before remembering they were there to help Flora and standing aside. His gaze did not waver from her sleeping face, ignoring the world around him. They finished puttering around and he moved back, sitting at the foot of her bed and rubbing her hand gently. The door slammed open, and Integra stormed in, rage radiating from her pores. He barely registered her presence. "Alucard, your devotion is appreciated but you simply cannot drop everything and run to her side, we need you in the field and-" He snarled at her, shocking her into silence and then turning back to Flora, stroking her face gently. "Shhh, little one, shhh...I will not leave you...I made a promise..." he crooned softly, and Integra blinked, just barely catching his words. 'He really loved her...' She mused, biting her lip.
Flora whined, and he froze, hope flashing briefly into his face. She twitched, then her face crumpled and she arched, writhing in pain. Alucard was instantly over her, hands gently pinning her wrists to the mattress and holding her legs down by his hips. "Hush little one. Just relax, be strong, I am here..." he cooed, nuzzling her, and she flinched, but relaxed a little, her features softening. He kissed her forehead lightly, letting go and moving back to the foot of her bed and resuming his waiting stance. Integra watched in silence, trying very hard not to let the couple's connection soften her iron heart. "I...Alucard, you can't-" she tried, and his head whipped around. "Master...PLEASE..." he croaked, looking back down at Flora and kissing her forehead again. "Just... just until she wakes up. Please..." he whispered hoarsely, glancing back up at her desperately. She gritted her teeth. "Alright. Until she wakes up." she said heavily, turning to go back home.
The next few days, Alucard did not sleep or drink. He was always on Flora's bed, in the corner, somewhere in her hospital room. His eyes never left her sleeping face. He was stroking her hand absently, just rubbing his gloved fingers across her silky soft skin, thumb tracing circles on her palm, quietly basking in her presence and life, when a whisper of sound made him glance up. Her eyes were still closed, but her free hand had slid across her stomach, holding one of the stitched wounds gingerly. "Flora..." he whispered desperately, squeezing her hand gently. "A...alu...c-card..." she whimpered, fingers twitching back as a tear slid down her cheek. He kissed it away, holding her close against him. "Oh my precious little one..." he murmured, resting his chin on the top of her head, hands rubbing her back carefully. "Never do that again. Never scare me like that ever again." he whispered, pressing his lips to her hair and closing his eyes as he rocked her gently. "O...okay..." she mumbled against his throat, soft lips brushing against his skin, breathe tickling him slightly. He smiled silently, a simple happy smile, leaning back so she could lie down and possibly sleep, if she so wished. Her whim was his commandment, her desires his gospel. All she had to do was ask, and he would provide.
She murmured to herself happily, nuzzling into him in such a cute, endearing fashion that he simply had to kiss those lips, bring her close and up in his arms. And he did, mouth meeting hers gently, lips pressing against her tenderly as she mewled in bliss, kissing him back. Oh god, how he loved her taste. The sweetness, how intoxicating it was. Her flavor was so much sweeter than anything he had ever tasted before. The kiss got deeper, more passionate, and he felt her slide down onto the mattress beneath him, muscles weakening. He immediately detached his mouth as she whined in protest, frowning slightly. "Little one, I do not wish to hurt you. Your body is still recovering." he crooned, propping her up in his arms. She leaned into his embrace, out of necessity as well as affection. He nuzzled her, reaching out and testing her health. His face lit up. She could come home with him. "Wait here, my little one. I will come back soon." he crooned, vanishing. He phased a four poster bed into a dark recess of his vaulted room, quickly phasing all of her possessions onto the floor, putting them out like she would have left them. Then he phased back, picking up his fragile human in his arms.
He was agonizingly careful, phasing her to his room, trying not to jostle his precious burden. She mewled happily, nuzzling him as he sat down, murmuring as he tugged his cravat off and laid it on her bedside table, collar falling open slightly. She leaned against him, and he carefully phased some normal clothes back on her, making her shiver in appreciation. It was a good look for her; one of his old white undershirts buttoned neatly up to her cleavage, grey pants giving her shapely legs a flattering appearance. They matched, a little. His vest was still on. So...his vest vanished, and now it was white against white, grey against grey. Her soft cheek rested on his bare chest, head pillowed in the hollow of his throat. It was a good feeling. A resting one. A safe one. An alien one. He had not felt this way with a woman since...ever. This aura of comfort and tranquility, so unlike the battlefields, so unlike his childhood, so unlike anything he had ever known before. Her slow breath washed against his skin, making the sensitive surface tingle. He sucked in a deep breath, trying futilely to ignore her warm skin, her sweet scent, her soothing pulse that was making something deep within his core churn with desire. No. NO.
His mind tried to find something that did not remind him of her, but all the thoughts swerved back to her, the memory of her soft, full chest under his hands, the slick tightness of her entrance around probing darkness, that tiny trickle of sweet juices that flowed past delving shadows. His manhood was begging for her, as he was rasping, trying to quell the urge, fingers tightening their grip. "Alucard..." he looked down, seeing her faltering gaze. "You're... rumbling." he blinked. Oh yes. He was growling a little, and her ear was pressed against his skin. "Hush little one. Go back to sleep." he crooned, pushing her head down a little and laying back. She whined in agreement, closing her eyes and starting to relax. "Shhhh..." he whispered against her ear, stroking her back in slow, rhythmic motions, hands caressing her slender spine. She snuggled into him more, turning her face up to him slightly as her still-fragile arms slid around him, hands interlocking just below his neck. He nuzzled her a little, kissing her lightly all across her upturned face and wrapping his arms around her firmly, and resting his chin on her soft hair.
Seras followed her master's aura to his room, banging on his door. No answer. She creaked it open, blinking. A four poster bed was tucked into the far corner, and most of Flora's possessions were scattered about that part of the huge vaulted room. She quietly approached, and smiled sadly to herself. Alucard and Flora lay together in the bed, arms around each other. She was so relaxed, head against Alucard's bared throat, breathing softly and evenly, a blissful smile on her sleeping face. His always rigid expression had dissolved, and a slight smile graced his lips, head resting on Flora's and arms wrapped protectively around her. 'They're madly in love, poor buggers.' She thought, wiping a bloody tear away. Alucard stirred slightly, opening an eye. 'Hush Police Girl. Your thoughts are deafening. Madly in love? The phrase falls far short. I love her with all my soul. My heart burns for her. I love her so much it is like a physical pain in my chest. She is everything to me.' Flora whined softly, nuzzling him in her sleep, and he immediately broke off, kissing her forehead and rocking her gently. She nodded and left them to snuggle, going to report to Sir Integra.
That's as much as she's given me for now. Wait for the next chapter, and before I can act smug, she hasn't given it to me either, so SHE NEEDS TO HURRY UP!