AN: I have absolutely no excuse to justify how long it took to update this besides... well, I was lazy. It's my fault for not having planned the whole thing from the start. I've also been pretty unproductive on the creative side and have been consuming more than actually making. On unrelated news, though, I've also re-written the first chapter of Fondness and made it something new, if you're curious, so this is like a double update.
Also, thanks a lot for the follows and alerts! It means a lot to me to know that people are interested in my stuff! :)
Last but not least, with some of these "obligatory" developments out of the way, I can focus more of the fic on pregnancy and character interactions shenanigans, which was the whole point from the start. I also messed up the chronology in the original version of this chapter, so I came back to (try to) fix it; it came out a little forced, but it was the best I could to avoid having to rewrite the whole thing.
Anyway, enjoy!
#
Chapter 3
Walter rolled his eyes as Pip made another disgruntled sound.
"I should not have to remind you, captain, that your task is a lot more important than your personal amusement."
The Frenchman clicked his tongue.
"I can't believe I won't be here to see it."
"There's nothing funny about this," Integra put her hand on her forehead, feeling another dizzy spell coming. Seras approached the director and wrapped an arm around her frame, before having her hands gently pushed away with a reassuring "I'm fine". The draculina pouted at being dismissed, and Integra couldn't help but smile at her.
"You'll be here, mon cher!" The mercenary suddenly perked up. He crossed the small distance between them and put his hands on the police girl's shoulders, squeezing them just a little bit. "You can take a picture of the old men's faces when the boss breaks the news!"
He contorted his face as Seras grabbed at his wrists with a little more force than necessary.
"This is serious, Pip! We have no idea how they're going to react to it!"
The Frenchman opened his mouth to reply but Walter interrupted him.
"What we do know is that it is time for you to leave, captain."
Pip rubbed his wrists unenthusiastically and sighed. He hated feeling left out of something entertaining, especially if it promised so many laughs. He looked outside the window to confirm the rest of the Geese were already packing up and gathering near the cars.
"Alright, alright, I get it… I'll be off, then." He tipped his hat to the group and began making his way towards the door, stopping before exiting to congratulate Integra again. She half-smiled in response, the dizziness building up.
"Speaking of leaving," the butler announced, looking at his watch, "we should be on our way to see doctor Amelia as well, princess."
Another visit to her doctor; this time a bureaucratic one, which would mostly involve going through documents together. Still, Integra felt a strange sting on her throat and her heartbeat accelerated. She gripped the paper sheets tightly, remembering it hadn't been long since she last had a cup of wine, and even less longer since she last had raw fish for dinner. Her mind flooded with pure dread. What if she had hurt the baby? What if it was born ill because she hadn't taken proper care of herself? What if she had already condemned this pregnancy? What if-
"I still can't believe you're pregnant!" Seras' cheerful tone interrupted her train of anxious thoughts. "We're going to have a tiny Miss Integra walking around the mansion!" She smiled with reddened cheeks, picturing a miniature version of the director running away from her mother.
"Or a tiny Alucard," Walter smirked. He tried hard to imagine the vampire as a baby but that proved itself to be too much for his imagination, and it took great effort from his part to contain his amusement. Hearing her master's name, Seras took a deep, unnecessary breath, and announced.
"Ah, I should congratulate my master properly! Excuse me!" She bowed at them and rushed towards the basement.
The butler shook his head, his grin still adorning his face. The police officer did turn out as a positive addition to the agency, after all. He looked at his charge, to see her staring absent-mindedly at the direction Seras had taken. His expression softened and he put his hand on her shoulder, breaking her focus.
"Are you ready, miss?"
Integra was brought back to Earth. She blinked a few times, and took a deep sigh, trying to control her racing heart.
"Yes. Let's go."
#
The stony steps emitted a dull sound as Seras slowed down her pace and walked through the hallways towards her master's chambers. When Integra broke them the news, she had been too excited to congratulate her masters like a normal person, and had blurted out a mess of jumbled words. Although both of them had appreciated the gesture, the draculina couldn't get over how awkward it had been, and thought it needed an adequate delivery.
The adrenaline rush she had felt before subsided as her mind began drifting into imagination territory. She wondered if the baby would be a mixture of its parents, or maybe gravitate towards one of them.
Perhaps it would look like her master and have his lady's temperament. A small shiver cruised through her back: her thoughts crafted a very demanding, authoritarian mini Alucard, maybe even a bit of a tyrant. She shook her head, reprimanding herself for thinking badly of the Hellsing director. Maybe Integra hadn't been like that as a kid, and had turned so fierce due to her chaotic upbringing. She made a mental note to ask Walter about it.
Images shifted as the police girl advanced, and then reformed as a tiny version of Integra, with her master's personality. She stopped for a bit to cringe at the thought. If this came to be, the Hellsing household would have to contend with two snarky, rather unhinged bastards, more than just occasionally violent. She pinched her cheeks for, again, conjuring a negative opinion of one of her superiors.
She resumed her journey after punishing herself. "Hm… Maybe it will be a bit of both," she thought after a while, but couldn't decide if this would be a good or a bad outcome. In a last-ditch effort, her mind considered that maybe the kid could potentially have a personality of its own, and only inherit its parents' better traits.
She passed through her own quarters and stopped at her door. Alucard never really visited her, but it was somewhat comforting to know he was nearby. She stared at the doorknob and chuckled to herself.
"I guess it'll be just me, now…"
Her brows furrowed at that strange, melancholic thought. She shook her head and resumed her walk, finally arriving at the heavy steel door. Seras raised a hand to knock on it but something was off. Only now she realized that the inferior levels felt strangely peaceful, nowhere near as cold or intimidating as they usually were; Alucard's mere presence was enough to create an oppressive atmosphere.
"What is going on?" She found herself incapable of finding a decent explanation. Pressing her ear against the metal, she thought she could hear some mumbling coming from inside. Unsure of what was happening, she cautiously knocked on the door.
#
Alucard's shadows waved lazily in the partial darkness of his chambers. One of his hands held the ultrasound scan, the first picture of his firstborn. His red eyes were relaxed but fixated on that peculiar, yet fascinating image. His other hand rested on the handle of his throne, where he was nearly sprawled. His long curly hair pooled around his shoulders, cascading down his frame like an overcoat.
"Maybe you'll have this mane as well, my prince," he whispered to the slightly crumpled piece of paper. It didn't respond, preserving the silence in the room.
He brushed the print with his thumb, as if it could indirectly caress his baby. His eyebrows furrowed a little, and he stared at the embryo more attentively. He couldn't quite understand where these new emotions were coming from. Way back when, he was certain there was nothing left of him, until Integra came along and warmth erupted from his core. He had spent countless nights trying to figure it out, and why things were changing.
The count shifted on his throne and wondered, his child still a mystery to him. "This is something else," he thought to himself. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to remember his previous experiences with positive, overwhelming feelings, but those memories evaded him. He knew he had been married, he knew he had had children, he knew he had had lovers, every book about his life confirmed these events had happened to him.
He just couldn't remember if he had ever deeply loved them.
The ultrasound scan brought his attention back, and he relaxed. "Things will be different now," he decided. He was to be a father again, and that notion filled him with indescribable fervor. A devious thought permeated his mind and he parted his lips, allowing his tongue to lick at his fangs and around his mouth, its tip brushing against his mustache.
"We'll see if you are adept at feeding," he whispered with a smile, as if telling the picture a naughty secret. "I'll even share your mother's blood with you, my boy."
He thought he heard small knocks on the door. Alucard's pointy grin softened, as he imagined his son growing up. He rested an elbow on his throne, and turned the piece of paper a little to the side, trying to decipher how that tube evolved into a human being. From that point on it was easy to envision the changes: the child was fed, ran around a lot, and-
Knock knock knock.
Moments passed with no answer. Eventually, on the other side, Seras heard a guttural tone commanding her to come in. She could identify the voice as belonging to her master, but the accent threw her off for a second. Struggling to keep her composure, she slowly pushed the door open and almost immediately closed it behind her.
"Good evening, master!" She saluted with surprisingly contained enthusiasm.
Alucard barely moved his head to the side. Still, he acknowledged the draculina's presence with a small smile.
"Good evening, police girl."
Seras' brows furrowed at her master's appearance, and realized that was the reason why his way of speaking was a little different. The officer's amusement began cooling off. She slightly shifted from side to side, considering how to do this.
Despite sir Integra's apparent coldness, she had always been very receptive of Seras' warmer disposition, even going to the point of initiating contact on her own. The police girl usually felt comfortable being affectionate and cheerful around the director, so it had been easy to react to the news with overt joy.
Unfortunately, this wasn't Integra. This was her master, and, when it came to the draculina, Alucard could be demanding and sometimes a little heartless, even though she knew deep down he truly liked her. She also knew, however, that acting like a fool could potentially either upset or bore him, and she certainly had no intentions of just blurting out clumsy compliments again.
Still, this was meant to be a joyous occasion, and Seras couldn't pretend she wasn't excited about it. Despite everything people said about him and his nature, her master would be a dad!
…
A... dad. That word replayed in her mind for a while, and, suddenly, she felt her heart fill up with uncomfortable apprehension. Something whispered to her: he would have a little boy or a little… girl to look after now, and he and sir Integra would be a family.
Her trepidation abruptly disappeared and she shook her head. "What is this?" She tugged at the fabric of her uniform, feeling a troublesome, awkward sting in her chest. Realizing how strange that would appear, she quickly clasped her hands together and greeted her master with a big smile.
"I just wanted to congratulate you properly, master, so, uhm… Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!"
Alucard had to admit Seras really was an adorable thing, even when she behaved like an overly-enthusiastic child. This wasn't his preferred facet of her personality, though. Her darker, more vicious nature was a lot more interesting. Of course, him having a kid would not entice that cruel side to come out.
…
His reflections stopped on their tracks. A thought rushed through the darkest corners of his mind, as his vision went red and his grin disappeared. What would he do if it did come out, though? Something unpleasant... to protect him… But, protect him from who, really? He began curling his fingers around the handle of his throne, but the same pressure that instigated the sudden mood shift caused him to snap back in an instant.
He blinked a few times as his sight cleared. Where had that come from? He turned his head to properly stare at the draculina, furrowing his brows at her cocking her head to the side. "This is Seras," he reassured himself. "My family, my own blood".
His expression softened and he smiled back at her.
"Thank you, Seras. Again."
She nodded, putting her hands behind her back.
"I know it's going to be healthy and strong! I can't wait to see its cute face!"
The warlord chuckled and turned his attention back to the ultrasound scan.
"Me neither, police girl."
Seras sighed and observed her master. His gestures told her their conversation was over, but she couldn't help feeling curious about his behavior. He felt calm and collected, maybe even hopeful. She noticed the paper he was holding and realized what it was in an instant. Her gaze shifted and landed on the vampire, who eyed the image so tenderly.
A small shiver went down her spine, as she began feeling a little restless. She wanted to ask him to see it, to hold it herself. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped a smidge. She needed proof. For a brief moment, she felt the urge to run up to him and just take it, to look at it real close, to make sure it was there. He was staring at it with so much focus it was almost ridiculous. Maybe, if she was fast enough, she could easily get away with-
"Are you still standing there, police girl?"
She jumped in surprise at her master's voice. Her blurred vision recomposed itself and she immediately shifted her glance to Alucard's face. He was staring at her attentively, but she couldn't quite read his expression.
"Ah, sorry, I was distracted!" She gulped and began walking backwards, until she touched the metallic handle of the door. "Good evening, and congratulations again, master!" She told him, before leaving the room and quickly closing the door behind her.
She turned around to rest her back against the coldness of the wall. An involuntary instinct made her take an unnecessary sharp breath. She couldn't make out what had transpired. She slowly let the air out, trying in vain to collect her thoughts, and finally walked away, wondering when Pip would be back.
#
A couple of hours later, Walter opened the door to allow Integra inside. She had been chewing the same gum for quite some time now, and went straight to the visitor's restroom to throw it away, much to the butler's chagrin.
"This went better than expected, did it not, miss?" He asked her, placing the keys on a nearby counter.
The director nodded with tired eyes.
"It did. I felt weak on my knees for a while, but apparently there's nothing to worry about… At least, for now," she admitted, coming back to meet him.
"Amelia is a good doctor," he handed her the small package of chewing gum she had inadvertently left with him. "And a good friend. She'll keep a close eye on you."
Integra blushed, accepting the package. She couldn't remember when and why she had given it to Walter.
"If she were such a good friend, she wouldn't impose so many restrictions," she grimaced, remembering the final moments of their conversation, when the doctor advised her on all the things she could and could not do. It was good she had emailed those, too; Integra worried anything amiss could lead to potential disaster.
Walter smiled.
"It is for a good cause, after all."
He received a half-hearted nod in response. His princess looked tired, but, despite her worries, still very much herself. He wondered how the course of this pregnancy would affect her mood, but quickly pushed that thought to the back of his mind. He saw her walk away from him and begin climbing up the stairs.
Before she went any further, he inquired.
"Sir Irons and sir Penwood will be here shortly. Would you like something to eat before they arrive?"
She stopped to make a face and pressed hard against the cold handrail. All she wanted was to get out of these clothes and lie down on her bed for as many hours as she could get. Eating could be postponed, since there was no place for hunger in her mind: food was now associated with a dreadful feeling deep in her gut.
She let out a tired breath.
"I don't want to eat anything, honestly."
"Still, you should," he nodded at her. "Doctor Amelia said to sn-"
"Snack throughout the day, yes, I remember." She rolled her eyes and climbed down the stairs. The butler smiled and waited for her to catch up to him. "I just don't want to feel sick again."
He extended an arm, directing her to the small living room next to the kitchen.
"A light sandwich, then."
#
The room grew darker as the evening passed, but Integra felt no need to turn on any extra lights. The small blood stains in that string of dental floss were visible enough. She stepped on the pedal of her tiny trash can and disposed of the material with a frown. She couldn't remember her gums ever bleeding, but Amelia did warn her it might happen.
She turned back to the mirror and exposed her teeth, hoping her reflection would not show any red. During her inspection, she caught sight of a dark silhouette forming behind her, near her bed. She sighed, but hid a small smile; after finding out she was pregnant, Alucard's company had become more than just desired. Similarly to how she felt towards her butler, the vampire's presence brought her a strange sense of relief.
"Entering without permission again, servant?" She turned around to face him, his body now completely formed.
Alucard grinned, and answered in a low tone, as if afraid to wake somebody up.
"My apologies, master. I was just very eager to see you."
She walked towards him but moved to grab her coat from the bed. He watched her with renewed interest, thinking of what was to come. Two head members of the Convention would arrive in a few moments, completely unaware of the subject of their meeting. Despite how funny that encounter promised to be, Alucard hated to see his master suffer under the scrutiny of her older, more experienced partners.
"Are you worried, dearest?" He inquired, his amusement turned into slight concern.
Integra finished adjusting her clothes and slowly flipped her hair over the upper garment. She clicked her tongue and looked up at her vampire to see his eyes glinting. She huffed, predicting how this whole ordeal would develop.
"They have no say in this matter. I am not asking for permission, I am communicating an… important event."
Alucard smiled and cupped her cheek gently. He began drawing closer for a kiss, and she allowed his lips to touch hers. It was a small and brief contact, but Integra did not complain; she hadn't been feeling well for the past few minutes, and the vampire could see through her lies, as he felt her heart racing. His other hand searched for hers, and their fingers crossed in a small, reassuring gesture.
As he moved away, he cocked his head to the side with curiosity; his master was now smaking her tongue and swallowing nothing.
"Something wrong?"
"No," she told him nonchalantly. "I just keep getting this metal taste in my mouth."
The vampire's mischievous side took hold; he couldn't help but grin at that comment, and promptly suggested a solution.
"Perhaps a taste of a different nature would be more to your liking?" He asked, directing her hand to touch his groin.
Integra frowned at his dirty joke. She immediately grabbed at his cravat and slowly pushed him closer to her again. She whispered to his ear, almost hissing.
"Do you want this pregnancy to go well?"
His amused smirk at her reaction was accompanied by widened eyes. What kind of question was that?
"Of course, master."
She raised her voice a little.
"Then don't fucking vex me."
The director let go of her monster and moved past him, shutting the door to her bedroom behind her. Alucard stood there, staring at her bed. He eventually straightened himself and crossed his arms, trying his best not to laugh; having heard about how women felt during pregnancy, he wondered if this was an effect of hormones, or just every-day unadulterated Integra being herself. He eventually decided on the latter, and disappeared through the shadows.
#
The Hellsing household's living room felt warm and cozy, with the scent of tea permeating several of the living quarters. A small clicking sound was made as sir Penwood put his teacup down, motioning for Walter he was satisfied for the moment.
"Very good, Walter, one of the best brews I've ever tasted!"
"Delightful, yes," Sir Irons interjected, furrowing his brows at Integra. He eyed her suspiciously, noticing how little she had spoken and how much she had fidgeted in her seat. She had barely had any of her tea, either.
Penwood smiled and adjusted the napkin on his lap.
"Perhaps you still have some of those lovely cookies you baked last week?"
"We are not here for this, Shelby," the other man cut him before Walter could even say anything. He kept his eyes glued to the young woman next to them. Penwood nodded suddenly deflated, the prospect of having some of that homemade delight now miles away.
Sir Irons continued, his tone low but stern.
"Our time is not to be wasted. You call for us off-schedule and say it is an extremely important issue, however we have not been notified of events or emergencies." He crossed his arms. "I'd rather not be bothered for no reason, so what is this all about?"
Integra gulped and shifted her eyes towards Walter. The butler smiled at her discreetly, barely nodding to encourage her. She took a deep breath and sighed, causing sir Irons to raise an eyebrow and sir Penwood to grab firmly at his napkin.
Without stuttering, she announced.
"I'm pregnant."
#
AN: Original year: 2019.