Do not own! Not mine!

Flora's POV:

"You are now in an extremely committed relationship with the King Fanger himself, and he will probably slaughter anyone that tries to harm you. Did I miss anything?"

"Method in my madness, oh grasshopper."

"I hate dogs, chocolate, and people taller than me. You are none of those things, so you're a good friend from the ground up."

"Romance is for people who can't rely on themselves to get through life."

"Catholics."

"See? You've had your answer, now go away. She wants him, and she's going to get him."

BANG

"JAY!" I jolted upright, only to be gently held down by a pair of hands with soft white gloves. "Shhh…it's okay. It's okay. Breath, breath. I'm here." I tearfully looked up, seeing I was safely cradled in Alucard's lap and he was the one holding me down, wrapping my arms around his neck and crying silently as he petted my hair, murmuring. My tears eventually ran out though, and he pulled me away as I sat up, sniffling and wiping the back of my hand across my eyes. "I'm okay." He raised an eyebrow, stroking my bangs out of my eyes and giving me a look. I bit my lip and looked down, only for him to gently kiss my forehead. "I'm proud to see you're trying to deal with it. My brave little one." he crooned, nuzzling me gently as I managed a tiny smile and nuzzled back.

Soon my arms were wrapped around his neck and his were gently pushing me in the small of my back, his slightly cold tongue gently stroking over mine as I smiled happily, trying to kiss back, only for his nimble tongue to bat mine away and his fangs to carefully press against my lips, warning me to hold still as I pouted and let him dominate over me, shyly playing with his hair instead. He finally let me breath, smiling in the almost strange way he did, when it was not sadistic or cruel or mad, but simply happy, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "There. Now I can believe you if you said you were feeling better." he said smugly, and I stuck my tongue at him, only to squeak and yank it back in my mouth as he nipped it warningly. He grinned at me widely, and in answer I crossly folded my arms, turning away from him.

I squeaked as his powerful hands merely turned me to face him again, squirming around in his lap as he constantly turned me back to face him, trying desperately not to giggle as he openly chuckled, smirking at me as I was once again turned to face him, finally giving up and leaning against his chest as I laughed, feeling him bounce me with his laughter as well as his cold hands settled protectively over my back, feeling…happy. This was the part of relationships Jay always had thought worth it. "Ahem." I jumped, feeling Alucard's hard chin smack into my skull as I yelped, whipping around to see Heinkel staring at the two of us, looking a mixture of horrified and curious. The pain was soothed away as Alucard laid a hand on top of my head, rubbing a little, making me sigh in relief as I wiggled around to face her. "Yeah? Did you want something?" I asked as politely as I could, and she licked her lips, somehow managing to do it around the cigarette stuck in her mouth.

"I…uh…" She seemed utterly, completely, and totally scandalized by our little scene, and I took the time to look around where we had ended up. My eyes widened as I saw the chapel where Maxwell had met us in the very beginning of this long, endless trip, and I craned my neck to look at Alucard, worried. He patted my head smugly. 'It's nothing to me sweet. Although you should've seen their faces when I carried you in…I believe the expression is "jaw-dropping"?' I giggled. 'Close enough.' I replied, turning to face Heinkel again as she sucked in a deep breath, letting it out as a nicotine fume. "The other one. That…butler. Where is she? I want to give her my congratulations for getting you two out with that insane scheme. You saved a lot of my comrades." she asked calmly, and I froze, my heart breaking all over again as Alucard's arms wrapped around me from behind. "She-" I stopped him, gripping his wrists as I swallowed around the lump in my throat. "N-no. I can tell her." I stuttered, and he paused, but sighed and tugged his hands against my stomach in encouragement to go on as Heinkel froze, her grey-green eyes wary, sensing the portent of what I was about to say.

"J-Jay got shot by the vampire that was controlling all the other ones. H-he was aiming for me and she blocked the b-bullet." I managed to choke, bowing my head as Alucard tugged me up in his lap, closer to him, crooning softly as he nuzzled my throat, calming my frazzled nerves as I gave a tiny sigh and leaned into him, battling through the vise around my heart until I could swallow without choking on a lump, feeling my eyes sting with tears. Heinkel turned away, smoke from the fag in her mouth swirling in a gentle circle. I jumped as her fist slammed into the wall, the plaster cracking, hearing her start to curse in Latin as I stared at her, surprised. Alucard absently rubbed gentle circles on my temple with his fingertips, humming to himself. 'She had a force of personality that people like the Iscariots respect little one, especially in a child as young as she was. Also, despite her best efforts, she looks and acts too much like the "innocent" people they are charged to protect.' he explained gently, and I nodded, pressing my lips together again as I tried to keep from crying.

***Time Skip***

I snuggled a little closer to Alucard, feeling his arms tighten around my back instinctively as I nuzzled against his shoulder. My soft breathing seemed so strange as I sat in his lap, not feeling his chest move beneath me at all as my own body rose and fell, like I was cuddling with a statue. The illusion would change as he shifted, his arms tightening or his knees shifting, but it still was there. And he was slightly cold too, not uncomfortably, but enough to make it noticeable as my own body's warmth slowly soaked through his duster, then his skin, making him less like a statue and more like…well…him. I felt his body shift under mine suddenly, then pause. A blanket suddenly draped over my shoulders, and I looked up at him in shock, only for him to hush me and lower my head again so I rested on his shoulder, my eyes slipping closed obediently. 'You need to rest and regain you strength. It'll be okay, I promise I'll wake you up when we reach England.' His voice echoed softly in my head, and I nodded sleepily, closing my eyes as I felt him turn his head to look at me, a thrum of affection tingling down the bond as his arm snuggled me just a little closer, then relaxed, looping comfortably over my waist as I smiled sleepily, breathing him in as I drifted off to sleep.

Integra's POV:

I watched in shock as Flora fell asleep in Alucard's lap, my vampire smiling down at her fondly as she did so. It still utterly shocked me to see him express so much affection, even like this, just a smile and a cuddle. The vampire I knew would never have let her into his lap, much less put her there himself, and even if ordered to allow it, would have simply because a stiff, uncaring statue until she left, like a robot. Alucard just simply did not show affection, even though I knew he was fond of both Seras and myself in his own irritating way, he just didn't. Once or twice, when she had truly done him proud, he had ruffled her hair, and he instantly took grievance at any insult to myself, but other than that, he simply showed no attachment to either of us. I shuddered to think of what might happen if she was harmed in any way.

"You work yourself too much, my master."

I blinked sharply, turning my head a little to see him watching me quietly, his arm still curled around her waist, his left hand tenderly cradling the back of her head. His eyes were calm, but slightly concerned. I frowned. "Pardon?" I asked stiffly, and he smirked slightly, shifting a little to cradle my heir's body easier. "You are far too busy all the time. It's her birthday the day after tomorrow, did you know?" I blinked guiltily. I didn't. "I was not aware, no. What are you trying to say?" I snapped, and he looked down at Flora fondly, ruffling her hair a little gently. "She wants to see you there, of course. You're her surrogate aunt, don't forget. All the family she has on this continent." he said seriously, his face stern as he looked back up at me. I glared at him, crossing my legs. "Fine, I'll come to whatever festivities you've planned for her." I snapped grumpily, and he chuckled, lifting Flora a little as he crossed his legs. "Thank you master. It will mean a lot to her." he said sincerely, and I caught a glint of deeper emotion in his eyes, one that made me look away, feeling guilty for how grudging my cooperation was as he closed his eyes, laying his head on Flora's shoulder and closing his eyes as a faint, happy rumble reached my ears.