Happy New Year!

This was a spontaneous fic! I had nothing planned to write for New Year, but decided the last minute to make a short, cute fic for it.

I hope you guys enjoy.

Oxford Not Brogues

Ancient Heart

Seras was nearly five months into being a vampire. While she was, at first, disappointed in the life she had chosen, it eventually grew on her. She still wasn't entirely comfortable drinking the blood, but she was getting better at it. Just today she had half a bag, which was better than nothing, as her master would say. It was a very slow process, slower than her master was hoping, but she was growing stronger by each week. Though, there was still a lot she needed to learn. Alucard and Sebastian were somewhat eager to teach her new things, but recently her master had become rather distant. Within these last two weeks, her Sire has been locking himself in his dungeon more and more. Without her master present, Sebastian didn't feel it was appropriate to mentor her on his own, which resulted in him distancing himself from her as well. Needless to say, Seras was more than concerned by their weird behavior, but decided not to push anything in case she infuriated them. Surely when they were ready, they would train her, right?

Christmas came and went, and the day came when the humans prepared for the annual New Year's Eve party. All day long, Seras curiously watched the humans decorate the ballroom with gold and silver streamers and ribbons, balloons, and several signs that spelled out "Happy New Year" in gold and black lettering. The cooks prepared different meals, appetizers, and desserts, and servants filled the empty tables in the ballroom with all these delicious foods. A DJ was setting up in the very back of the room and testing the volume on the speakers. It all looked so welcoming to Seras. She was never one for parties, but it actually looked kind of fun. The entire manor was practically antsy, like children at school ready for Christmas break. Everyone couldn't wait to unwind and just have a fun time at the party. Well, almost everyone. For what felt like the billionth time, Seras looked around for her mentors but didn't see them. She hasn't seen either of them since last night. They had gone on a mission with her, barely spoke two words to her, and then disappeared. What was with them?

For a while, Seras had been looking forward to this New Year's Eve party, but hours later when she finally stepped foot into that noisy ballroom, she felt extremely out of place. It wasn't that she didn't feel welcomed, quite the opposite really. People struck up a conversation with her, some guys attempted to flirt with her before she would shut them down, and others asked if she would kiss them at midnight. Seras kept a smile on her face and politely conversed with people and rejected those who tried anything. But pleasantries didn't keep her from feeling that something was off. Something was missing and she wouldn't feel at ease and actually enjoy the party until she figured out what was missing. She repeatedly scanned the room, looking over tons of faces, but didn't really find what she was looking for.

Sir Integra kept to herself mostly. She stood near the wall in the back, close to the DJ. She merely just watched her employees, soldiers, and colleagues have fun while she smoked on an expensive cigar. Pip was hanging out with some of his soldiers while they flirted with a few girls that were down from accounting. Walter was tidying up the food table, gathering any empty cups or removing empty platters and plates. Even though he had been instructed to take a break and just have fun, he ignored those orders and proceeded to work. Sebastian was practically bouncing everywhere. Seras had seen him doing dozens of different things for the past two hours. First he had a small, polite conversation with Integra before he decided to mingle with some guests and offer them refreshments. Then he left for quite some time to help the cooks in the kitchen prepare more food. He was now currently helping Walter keep things clean while others had fun. Once more, Seras looked around the room but still felt like something was missing. Where was her master?

The small blonde gently bit down on her bottom lip, minding her fangs. Her blue irises bounced around once more to look for her master. When she still couldn't find him, Seras slowly started to make her way across the room. She managed to squeeze her way through the groups of humans towards the table of food. Sebastian must have sensed her presence because he stopped what he was doing and stiffened like someone just threw an ice cold bucket of water over him.

"Sebastian?" Seras spoke with a small, polite smile. Immediately, the demon turned, managing to accidentally knock a wine glass off the table. Seras and Sebastian winced when the glass shattered on the floor. The little vampire blinked stupidly at him before she glanced down at the mess at their feet. She was absolutely bewildered that the demon actually let that happen. Didn't he have amazing reflexes? Her brows furrowed together and she glanced up at one of her mentors, looking uncertain and even concerned. The demon pretended not to notice the mess and only focused on her.

"I'll go get a broom." Walter sighed.

"Sorry," Seras murmured to the weary butler as he walked away.

"It's alright. It wasn't your fault." Walter replied with a slight smirk on his lips. Aggravated by that comment, the demon sighed and lowered his head. His temple throbbed, but he kept cool.

"What was it that you needed, Miss. Victoria?" Sebastian asked in a cold tone. He reopened his eyes to look at her. His brown orbs were hard and unwelcoming. The girl shuddered and instinctively took a step back. Instantly when seeing how that look affected her, his eyes toned down and a calmness overtook that cold demeanor. "Sorry," The demon was quick to apologize.

"No, I'm sorry for bothering you." She quickly responded with a light wave of her hand. Amusement seeped into the demon's eyes and a smirk slipped onto his perfect lips.

"It's really alright, Miss. Victoria." The demon snickered. "How can I help you?"

"I was just wondering why my master isn't at the party." Seras murmured nervously. She took a quick scan around the room for the final time, but she still didn't see her master anywhere. Sebastian's smirk faltered slightly.

"Alucard is never particularly in a good mood around this time of the year." Sebastian told her.

"Really?" The little vampire exclaimed softly. "How come?"

"It's a new year." The demon responded, as if that alone was enough to explain it all to her.

"So?" She questioned with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Perhaps you haven't realized that your master is quite old." Sebastian laughed softly.

"I know, I know." Seras answered. "He's Dracula; he's super old."

"He's five hundred and sixty-eight years old." The demon told her carefully. The girl's eyes practically bulged right out of her head.

"What?!" She exclaimed loudly, alerting a couple of humans that were nearby. "He's five hundred and sixty-eight?!" She never realized that he was that old!

"Yes," Sebastian chuckled with a nod. "New Year's tends to remind your master that he…" The demon trailed off and lowered his gaze. Was he uncomfortable discussing this with her? Seras waited a few seconds for him to finish that sentence.

"Reminds him that he is what?" The Draculina asked after a long moment of silence. His eyes flickered back up to meet her gaze.

"That he is still alive and living in this hell." The demon answered with a casual shrug. The girl's eyes widened even further and her mouth fell open in utter shock. Silence droned on between them for a good few seconds before she finally said anything.

"What?" Was all she was capable of saying. Walter returned with a broom and pan. Automatically, the demon helped the butler by taking those items from him. Seras' eyes followed Sebastian as he knelt down to start sweeping the glass right into the pan. Walter returned to cleaning up the table by gathering dirty glasses and empty plates. The little vampire quickly knelt down to try and help the demon. She grabbed the dust pan to steady it while he swept up the glass. "What do you mean by that?" Seras asked in a whisper.

"Just what I said." Sebastian responded. "The new year reminds him that he's still alive…" He was interrupted before he could finish for a second time.

"But living is like…hell for him?" Seras questioned him.

"Well, of course, Miss. Victoria." The demon snickered. "The man has been alive for over five hundred years and hasn't been able to die. Wouldn't you consider that hell or does the life of immortality really appeal that much to you?"

"It doesn't," The little vampire responded. "I just never imagined that…Master would feel that way." Her heart was racing in her chest from the very thought of how her master feels. She couldn't understand it. Her master was tired of living? Did he regret becoming a vampire? Did he hate being a monster? Was that why he was always so excited to battle Father Anderson? Was he hoping that one of these days the Father will be able to kill him? It made her heart sink more in her chest. How could her master feel that way? He always seemed so cheerful…If she could truly call that maniacal grin cheerful. He was always teasing and cracking jokes. Was all of that just a coverup to hide his true feelings?

"Wait another few centuries and you'll feel the same." Sebastian added before he rose back to his full height. Seras followed him into a standing position. She held the dust pan full of glass, but was too preoccupied with her master's feelings to notice that the demon was trying to take the pan from her. "At the beginning of every year, he hides away in his room and doesn't emerge until we're a few days into January." He then pointed at the pan when she refused to hand it to him. "May I have that?" Subconsciously, Seras handed it off to him. "Thank you." The girl looked so torn up. She was pale in the face and her eyes held such panic. He could hear that her heart was racing. It truly astounded Sebastian the way she was responding to this information. Did Alucard really mean that much to her? He felt a surge of jealousy. His gaze lowered to glower at the shards of glass. Did she care about him as much as she cared for Alucard?

"Seras," The demon found himself speaking before he knew it. His eyes flickered back up to look at her. She still looked very panicked, but her gaze was back on him now. "Humans have a…certain tradition on New Year's." The Police Girl didn't catch on, but the butler did. Walter perked up and looked at the demon as if he would murder him on the spot. "Perhaps you would like to partake in this tradition with…" He was immediately interrupted by that damn butler. Walter swooped in with a false polite smile.

"Miss. Victoria, may I have a word with Sebastian alone?" He asked, earning such a dark, malevolent look from Sebastian. The girl's brows furrowed together as she looked between both men.

"Sure," She muttered and hesitantly walked away. Immediately, the polite smile faltered and the butler turned to give the taller man such a piercing look.

"Do not go there." Walter warned him.

"With all due respect, Walter, but perhaps you should be minding your own affairs." Sebastian suggested. "Seras is a big girl. She can take care of herself. She doesn't need someone managing her relationships."

"I know that she can handle herself. I've seen her take care of Bernadotte whenever he tried getting too friendly with her." The butler responded. "But with you and Alucard, she looks at you both through rose colored glasses. She is incredibly innocent and doesn't see that you're trying to make a move on her. I don't want you to end up breaking her heart."

"I won't break her heart." The demon corrected him.

"What are your true intentions then?" Walter questioned, acting very much like an overprotective father or even grandfather.

"I know that I don't want to hurt her." Sebastian replied.

"Then what are you doing?" The butler asked. "What are your feelings for Miss. Victoria?"

"I am unsure." The demon answered. "I would've liked to explore these unknown feelings a little more, but you so rudely interrupted my conversation with Miss. Victoria."

"I just don't want her to end up hurt, and that is your speciality, Sebastian. Hurting people, rather it's intentional or not. If you have needs, then find another woman to play with. Leave Seras alone. And you can relay this message to Alucard. Don't think I haven't noticed the way he's been looking at her since he brought her to the manor." Walter responded before he finally walked away, leaving the demon in absolute peace. Sebastian sighed as he removed his pocket watch to see what time it was. It was eleven forty-six. He had fourteen minutes until midnight. Within that time, he had to persuade Seras that kissing him at midnight was a good idea. He snapped his pocket watch shut and looked up. His eyes flickered around the room in search of the little vampire. After several seconds of not finding her, his brows furrowed together in confusion. Where did Seras go?

The little vampire stood outside her master's room at the bottom of the stairs in the cold, dark hall. The iron door before her was large, a little rusty, and probably ice cold to the touch. She stood there for a long minute, contemplating if she should be there or not. If her master wasn't in a good mood, then wouldn't it be wise to stay away from him until he cools down? Or should she be there for her master to let him know that…someone was there for him and that someone cared? Did he even care that she cared about him? He was so cold and distant normally, and she was just a fledgling; a low, pathetic creature in his eyes. Did she have any right as his servant to invade his privacy just to check up on him? Seras was so entirely confused. She didn't know what would get her into trouble with him. But should getting into trouble really concern her right now when her master is suffering mentally? Yes, Alucard was…scary and he probably would punish her harshly, but that shouldn't matter at a time like this. She'll accept any punishment he had to offer her. Right now, she just needed to make sure that her master was alright.

Taking a deep breath, Seras finally reached out to grab the cold handle. Using a fraction of her strength, she pushed that heavy door open, causing it to squeal in protest. Old tracks of scratches lined the floor from years of the metal door dragging across the bricks. The little vampire's eyes adjusted to the dark; her orbs glowing a brilliant blue as they flickered around her master's room. At the other end of the large, empty room, was her master sitting upon his throne. His back was straight, his leg crossed over the other, his arms pressed firmly to the arm rests as his hands hung limply off the end of it, and his head was lowered slightly. His hair hung freely in his face, making it hard for her to see the expression on his face. Currently, his glasses rested on top of the small, square table beside him while his hat hung from one of the two posts on his throne.

At first, her Sire didn't move a muscle. His curious Childe blinked several times before taking a single step into his room. She had never been in his room before and it was super rare seeing him without his glasses and fedora. Seras took this chance to fully admire her Sire without those extra accessories. It was a real shame she couldn't see his face at this angle, but this didn't keep her from staring. His hair was a lot messier than she thought it was. Without that hat in the way, his hair looked really full and…even soft. It curved mostly to the left, and even though it looked messy, it was very…alluring and, dare she say, kind of sexy. The look suited him rather well. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to run her fingers through that black mass of gorgeous hair. Was it as soft as it looked? An amusing thought then crossed the Draculina that made her snicker under her breath. Did her master shampoo and use conditioner in his hair every night? An even more amusing thought and image then came. Did he blow dry his hair to make it so soft? Seras had to place a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing at that mental image. If Alucard ever found out she was thinking such things, he probably would punish her…after probably laughing with her. Seras took another step forward closer towards her master. That small action caused Alucard to stir. He lifted his head with a soft groan and looked up with a tired look in his old eyes. He stared at her for a moment or two, as if he was trying to remember where he was and who she was. Nervously, his fledgling held her hands behind her back and gave him a small, shy smile.

"Police Girl." The elder vampire whispered once his sleepiness melted away. He sat up a little straighter on his throne and shifted, but didn't get up. "What are you doing here?" He asked, his tone changing completely. It was back to being deep and commanding instead of lethargic sounding. "Shouldn't you be at the party?" A frown formed on the girl's lips while she stared at him with a thoughtful look in her eyes. She didn't appear to be offended by the tone he was using with her. Instead, she looked understanding, which took him by surprise. Normally, that tone of voice made her flinch. He stared at his fledgling for a long while and she stared right back. What was she even doing here? He had to wonder. Surely she would rather be up top celebrating with the humans than be in a cold, dark dungeon with him. Yet, his fledgling continued to surprise him. How did she always leave him guessing? She was so unpredictable, which was more than peculiar because the girl was practically an open book.

"Master," Seras whispered then. Alucard narrowed his eyes on the small blonde who lost all confidence to look at him. Her gaze lowered to stare at the floor. Such timidness shone in her dark blue eyes while she smiled bashfully. There was a faint blush on her cheeks that only intrigued him more. What was going through that head of hers?

"Police Girl," Alucard responded once more, hoping she would finish what she had to say. What did she have to say to him that she came all this way just to tell him?

"I'm glad that you're my master." The little vampire told him. The No Life King only sat there and blinked at the girl who still stared at her feet. He looked unfazed by what she said, but in reality he was quite pleased while simultaneously being confused. Where was this coming from? Why was she telling him this? Had his Childe snuck a few sips of wine or champagne? Was she intoxicated? By the smell of it, she hasn't had a sip of alcohol. She was quite sober, but was speaking from the heart. "I know…life can be…extremely hard." His Childe proceeded, looking so entirely embarrassed that she was giving him a pep talk. "And unwelcomed feelings and thoughts can…appear in your head…but…it's alright." Her face was only becoming redder the more she tried talking to him. It was quite clear to him that she has never done this before. And even though what she was saying wasn't exactly making him feel better, he couldn't help but grin at his precious fledgling. Alucard leaned forward in his chair to hear what else his amusing Draculina had to say to him. "I know that…I'm just a fledgling…but…I'm here…for you." Hearing this completely threw him off. The grin fell from his lips and his eyes widened a little. "You've lived a long life, I know and, maybe it's insensitive or selfish of me to say, but…I like having you…around. I'm…glad that you're here, Master. Please…don't do anything…drastic."

She talked as if he was going to commit suicide. It was physically impossible for him to commit suicide. Indeed he has attempted to be killed in battle on several occasions, trying desperately to find the perfect opponent who will put him permanently in his grave. But, thus far, he has had no luck. How does the Police Girl know this though? What happened exactly at that party that she was now trying to talk him down? He didn't know if he should laugh at this ridiculous nonsense or…be touched that his Childe evidently cared about him. Alucard was only capable of just sitting there. He stared at his fledgling in astonishment, unable to take his eyes off of her for a second. His mind was racing and he was absolutely speechless. The girl lifted her head to finally look back at him. Even though his eyes were on her, he wasn't able to fully focus on her. All of his thoughts and feelings were scrambled together. He tried deciphering everything that had happened within these last few minutes, but no matter how many times he played it out through his head, he just couldn't understand her.

Didn't she hate him? Wasn't she terrified to even be near him? That's what he thought originally. He thought Seras despised him for turning her into this monster. He thought she would hold a grudge over him for the rest of eternity. And even though she struggled to drink the blood, he believed that one of these days she would drink his blood just so she could escape him; that she would avoid him until their final days on this earth. All he saw in the future was the same thing he'd seen for the last few centuries: a desolate future, an empty existence, a meaningless life, etc. Could it be that he was wrong? While this existence was still unbearable, maybe it can be…tolerable? His eyes flickered down his Draculina's body several times as he fell deeper into those thoughts. If Seras didn't hate him, if she actually appreciated his company and looked up to him as a master, did that mean…she would stay? In the future, would she still…be around? Will she still want to see and talk to him? Would she visit him? Would she greet him with that warm smile and those beautiful eyes?

Sebastian had always been a companion of Alucard's. The two got along well, ever since the demon had transformed him into his atrocious thing. But even the demon's company hadn't been enough to silence those desires of wanting this existence to come to an end. Alucard has wanted nothing more but to cease all those chaotic thoughts and feelings, all the pain, and just completely shut down. He wanted to look death in the face one last time and know for a fact that it would be for the final time. While the need to perish was still residing deep inside of him, it had briefly been forgotten when seeing that round, soft face in a little village called Cheddar. Without any second thought, Alucard had taken Seras, transformed her into this soulless monster, dragged her right into his dark world where eventually she'll want to die as much as he did. And while now he was regretful for doing such a thing to her, he was still…happy to have her there beside him.

Having Seras here…made everything better. He couldn't identify his feelings for her. She was most definitely precious to him and he would protect her at all costs. But…could he truly say that he loved her? He was unsure. It had been centuries since he last felt love for anything. He had been positive those feelings had long ago died on him. But maybe he was wrong? It was hard to say. All he knew was that he cherished Seras' company; craved it even because she managed to take away all of that pain he felt. He felt so entirely soothed in her presence. She always brought a grin to his face and was capable of making him laugh. But with the deep belief that she hated his guts, he figured that feeling wouldn't last. He kept envisioning that endless future of a lonely existence, over and over again. He couldn't get it out of his head. And then the new year came about and…he found himself locked away in his dungeon, just like he did every time around this time of the year.

However, this year was different. His new fledgling sought out his company and attempted to comfort him. She informed him that she wanted him here with her. And now, quite suddenly, he was picturing a different future. It was…warm, unlike the cold feeling he normally got when picturing ahead. All he could see was her face, and he couldn't be more pleased. If that's what the future held, he supposed he could endure this existence for a little while longer. At least, until that beautiful woman was taken from him. Then he can go back to wanting to die and hopefully, maybe his wish will finally be granted. But until then, he wanted to enjoy the future with Seras in it. Alucard was so entirely absorbed in these thoughts that he didn't notice that his Childe was on the move. Seras enclosed the space between them and thoroughly stunned her master further.

That gorgeous, little troublemaker cupped her master's face and leaned in to kiss him directly on the mouth. All those thoughts that had been jumbled up in his head suddenly stopped as his mind went blank. His eyes became so large in his head that he looked like a dumbfounded cartoon character. His body went limp with that simple kiss and his heart raced in excitement. When was the last time he felt his heart beat so wildly in his chest like this? Unfortunately, her lips didn't linger long. After about three to five seconds, she pulled away to finally look at him. There was a dreamy kind of look in her perfect eyes and a beautiful, small smile on her face. He realized then that the kiss was only supposed to be friendly and nothing romantic. But that didn't stop him from feeling something bubble in the pit of his stomach. Seras ran her thumbs across his cheek bones while she stared so deep into his eyes. He marveled at the way she can look him in the eye without being afraid. He adored that about her.

"Forgive me for that, Master." Seras whispered then. "I just wanted you to have a good start to the new year." The smile on her face grew. "Maybe this year will be better." She was only given silence in return. Her master's eyes flickered about her face, not stopping once. He occasionally looked her back in the eye, but would then glance down at her lips. He could still feel the softness upon his very own lips. He was eager to share another kiss with her. "I know it's not midnight yet, but Happy New Year, Master."

"Happy New Year," Alucard found himself whispering back to her. Something sparked in the young girl's eyes and her smile became all the more loving and warm. Instinctively, the elder vampire pulled his Draculina into his lap. That small, impulsive action startled both of them. The girl's smile slipped from her face and her eyes widened slightly in shock. Alucard didn't stop there though. He cautiously wrapped his arm around her waist and then stopped to see what she would do. The blush on his fledgling's cheeks darkened.

"Master?" Seras whispered, but she was instantly silenced when her master leaned back in to kiss her. The little vampire squeaked and her eyes snapped shut. His strong lips pressed into hers, filling her stomach with butterflies and making her heart pitter patter out of control. Before the kiss could last for a second longer, the confused girl pushed her master away gently. "Master!" The girl softly exclaimed and cracked open her eyes to look at him. The man looked utterly dazed as he stared at her. His lips were parted as he panted softly under his breath. The two stared at each other for a long few seconds before they both dove in to crush their lips to each other's. They formed a scorching kiss that left them both breathless. Alucard wrapped his arms around his little Draculina and pressed her to his body to keep this fiery kiss going. Seras anxiously fisted his coat and shifted her head to deepen that splendid kiss. It curled her toes and made her question any feelings she had for her master that she may or may not have been hiding. Once more, before things could intensify between them, Alucard and Seras both parted.

"Master?" His curious Childe whispered as she innocently covered her mouth with a hand. "I wasn't…I didn't mean…" Her voice became softer slowly as her face reddened. "Thank you," She whispered then. Such a large grin swept across Alucard's face and he couldn't help but bark with laughter at her comment.

"Thank you?" He repeated through chuckles.

"For the kiss." Seras responded as she shyly cowered on his lap. Their faces were still so close. She couldn't move far enough back because his arm kept her locked against his body. "It was nice. Thank you…for it."

"You're welcome." Alucard purred. She definitely achieved her goal and made him feel better. Perhaps better than she intended. Subconsciously, the elder vampire glanced down at his groin. His pants were currently straining around a large bulge and, thankfully, his Draculina hadn't taken notice of it. He made sure to keep her off of his erection because he didn't want to scare her. The kiss was enough for tonight. If these feelings for each other remained, perhaps another day they can explore it in a more…physical way. Alucard's eyes trailed back up his Draculina's body. For the first time, he truly admired her beauty. The grin on his face shifted to predatory and sensual. He purred as he ran his hand up and down her back. "Let's attend the party together." Seras immediately perked up on his lap.

"Really?!" She exclaimed and her eyes lit up. "You…want to go…to the party? It won't bother you?"

"Why would it bother me?" Alucard chuckled.

"Because you hate New Year's Eve." Seras responded.

"I do," Her master agreed with a nod of his head. "But attending a party won't be entirely terrible." The grin on his face widened. "Especially if my fledgling offers me another kiss at the stroke of midnight." His Draculina smiled bashfully while blushing like a schoolgirl. She even giggled like one.

"Sure," She whispered.

Sebastian stood seething in the rowdy ballroom. He glowered at the groups of humans that danced and were merry as they waited eagerly for midnight so they could kiss their partners. His eyes burned a hellish red while he searched the room for the Police Girl for a final time. Where was she?! If Walter hadn't interrupted, he probably would be preparing to kiss her at midnight! Sighing deeply through his nose, the demon removed his pocket watch to once more look at the time. It was now eleven fifty-seven.

"Three minutes to midnight and Seras is nowhere in sight." Sebastian whispered to himself. His eyes filled with such disappointment. He snapped the watch shut and slid it back into his pocket. The demon has never felt so wounded in his life. He was well aware that Seras had no acknowledgment of what he wanted or of his feelings. But he couldn't help but feel like he was being rejected by her. Why hasn't she returned to the party? Was she avoiding him? Did she know that he was going to ask her for a kiss at midnight? Sebastian felt two familiar presences enter the room. His eyes immediately flickered over to the entrance to find Alucard and Seras stroll in together. While there was a good few inches between them, it was more than obvious to Michaelis that something happened between them. They were both so giddy and grinning from ear to ear. Jealousy boiled inside of the demon. His eyes flared a darker red and he scowled. So, Alucard was taking Seras for himself? He figured that the elder vampire had developed some sort of feelings for his fledgling. He was just hoping that Alucard was too dense to acknowledge those feelings and do anything about it.

"Damn it," Sebastian snarled. There was no way in hell he was going to let Alucard have her without a fight. Without a single moment of thought, the demon stalked across that room right towards the small blonde. He didn't care if her master was with her or not. He completely ignored the elder vampire's existence and forced a pleasant smile onto his face. "Miss. Victoria," Sebastian spoke, nearly spooking the girl right out of her skin. She jumped before turning her head to look up at him. When seeing who it was, she smiled politely and gave a friendly little wave.

"Oh, hi, Sebastian." She practically purred.

"I deeply apologize that Walter interrupted our conversation earlier." The demon spoke in a velvety voice, hoping to allure the girl in some way. He could feel Alucard's eyes trained on him, but he still refused to acknowledge the No Life King's presence. "Do you mind if we speak privately so we can finish that discussion?" Seras opened her mouth to answer, but was never given the chance.

"You need to speak in private?" Alucard snickered. "Why? Are you afraid that I'll overhear something, Michaelis?"

"It would be nice if we spoke in private." Sebastian added without taking his eyes off of the little Draculina. Seras looked slightly uncomfortable as she glanced between her two mentors. Alucard looked highly amused with that large grin on his face. And Sebastian was clearly hiding his frustration behind a fake smirk. It was a little unsettling the kind of tension that was building up between the two males. But honestly, it felt like all of the hostility came from Sebastian alone.

"Sebastian, is everything alright?" Seras asked in concern.

"Everything is fine. Why do you ask?" He chuckled, though she was able to tell that he wasn't amused in the slightest.

"You're acting strange." She whispered. The smirk was gone from the demon's face now and the clear frustration settled in his eyes. She was starting to feel a little nervous and even acted cautiously by taking a step back. Was a fight about to break out?

"I was hoping to ask you something." Sebastian whispered as his eyes trailed over her carefully. He could see that she was starting to act defensively; she was scared of him. It stung to see her like this in his presence. Perhaps tonight wasn't a good night to make any advances if she was scared of him. "Nevermind, though. I'm sorry for bothering you." With a polite nod, the demon walked away.

"Sebas-" Seras was interrupted when Alucard gently gripped her wrist and pulled her closer.

"Is it really not that obvious to you, Police Girl?" Alucard chuckled. The little vampire turned her head to look up at her master curiously.

"What are you talking about?" The Draculina asked with furrowed brows. Her master merely snickered and shook his head at her idiocy.

"Michaelis has feelings for you." He told her outright. Seras' eyes widened and she blinked at him several times in disbelief.

"What?" She whispered.

"He has formed a little crush on you, and he wanted to ask if you would share a kiss with him at midnight." Alucard further explained.

"How…How do you know?" Seras asked before she quickly looked around the room for the demon. But he was lost within the crowd; she was too short to see where he had gone. She couldn't believe what she was hearing! Sebastian liked her? What was going on tonight? She just got done kissing her master. It had started out friendly but then…became steamy. It was unknown exactly what that kiss meant to either of them. It was just a nice moment. But now she was learning that Sebastian supposedly liked her and wanted to kiss her at midnight? She just couldn't wrap her head around it!

"It is more than obvious, my dear." Her master responded with a light shrug. "For the last week he has been eyeing you. Honestly, it's amazing you have caught on yet."

"What do I…What do I do? What should I do?" Seras murmured as she lowered her gaze while she tried desperately to sort out her thoughts and feelings. Did she even want to start anything with Sebastian? She didn't exactly have feelings for the man…or demon. What if she kissed him and accidentally led him on? Or what if she kissed him and she liked it? What if she started to develop feelings for him in return?! What about Alucard in all of this?! What was going on between him and her?! "I'm so confused." She whispered under her breath as she combed her fingers through her hair.

"Seras, do you have feelings for him?" Alucard asked her.

"What?!" The little vampire exclaimed and she whipped her head around to look up at her master in bewilderment.

"Do you have feelings for him?" He repeated with such an amused look on his face. He was chuckling at her, but Seras ignored that since she was too busy panicking.

"I-I-I don't know." She admitted before she looked around the room for the demon again. A blush tainted her cheeks. "I…never actually…thought about it."

"Do you want to kiss him?" Alucard asked her then. Again, Seras' head snapped to the side to look up at her master.

"I'm going to kiss you at midnight!" She reminded him.

"Yes," Her master purred with a nod. "But what would be so wrong if you kissed him at midnight as well?" HIs Childe only looked more confused. Her eyes flickered around his face to see if he was joking or something. After a short moment of silence, she finally responded.

"What?" She muttered, utterly confused.

"Do you know the reason why people kiss at midnight?" Alucard questioned her.

"For…luck?" Seras questioned, looking uncertain. For years she had always thought that was the reason people kissed at midnight, but now her master was making her think otherwise. What was the real reason?

"Kissing someone who means something to you at midnight is the hope that the relationship will remain strong through the new year." Her master explained to her. "The first time you kissed me, you wanted to assure me that you will be there for me when I need you. You were attempting to strengthen our relationship." The elder vampire then glanced across the room. Unlike Seras, he could see over the crowd of humans and was able to spot the demon immediately. Michaelis was standing in the far back of the room near the balcony doors. His eyes were glowing a brilliant red, showing the wrath that wanted to break loose. The glass on the balcony doors was cracked from the demon's wrath, but nobody had taken notice of it yet. "Perhaps Michaelis wants that same reassurance. Perhaps he would like to feel that you and his relationship will strengthen, and that you're not afraid or hate him." Alucard then glanced back at his Childe. "Do you want to kiss him at midnight?" The little vampire nervously bit her bottom lip while she gazed up at her Sire.

"You…won't…mind?" She asked him. A part of felt guilty for ditching her master after she promised that she would kiss him at midnight. But now she was not only dreadfully worried about Sebastian, but she actually had a desire to…kiss him. It would be nice to assure both her mentors that she didn't hate or fear them, and that she wanted a more meaningful relationship. Whether that relationship was romantic or not was still questionable, but that wasn't the point.

"Not particularly, no." Alucard snickered.

"Oh," Seras whispered and her gaze lowered. Should she be upset that Alucard didn't mind after their small makeout session? God, she was so confused! Her master pinched her chin between his fingers and gingerly lifted her head. She met his gaze to see a warm look in his eyes.

"Don't look so disappointed, Police Girl." The elder vampire spoke softly. His grin showed off his razor sharp teeth. "Be patient. We have years to explore these new feelings." He then kissed her lightly on the lips. "Now go console the demon before he starts slaughtering Sir Integra's guests."

"Okay," The little vampire whispered. She then took a step back and flashed a small smile. "Point me in the right direction. I have no idea where he is." She giggled.

"He's over by the balcony doors." Alucard snickered as he gestured his head in the direction behind her. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Seras turned to face a crowd of clamorous, drunken humans that were having the time of their lives. She didn't mind them as she focused solely on one thing: Sebastian. Where was he? Carefully, the small blonde made her way through the crowd of rambunctious humans. They laughed and chattered. The sound would have been deafening to her, especially with the music blaring in the background. But everything was so…quiet. Everything went mute for her as her mind raced and her heart pounded in excitement. Her stomach felt weird, but she knew that she was just nervous. She kept taking deep breaths while her eyes bounced around in search of the man she would be kissing. She was going to kiss Sebastian! That was the loudest thought she was currently having. It kept replaying over and over again, making her heart go absolutely ballistic in her chest. Honestly, it felt like she was about to have a heart attack. And then she heard it, something that made her heart skip a beat.

"Ten!" The humans started counting down. Seras' eyes widened and she jumped. "Nine!" Midnight already?! Where had the night gone? "Eight!" The little vampire quickened her pace. She nearly tripped over some humans and accidentally pushed into some. "Seven!" God, where was he?! "Six!"

"Sebastian?!" Seras called out to him, hoping to receive a response. But the room was just too noisy! She could barely even hear herself think!

"Five!" The humans proceeded counting down. "Four!" Seras made it through the crowd, reaching the other side of the room. "Three!" Lifting her gaze, she found the man she was looking for. The demon stood by the balcony doors, looking so tense and fueled with rage. "Two!" He hadn't noticed her standing there. His fierce red eyes were glued to the floor. He looked like he was about to murder someone any second. "One!" Hearing that number lit a fire under the girl's ass. She lunged forward, knocking the demon right back. Sebastian grunted when he was pushed back against the balcony doors, managing to break the glass even further. But it didn't matter to him when he felt a soft pair of lips on his own. The demon's eyes widened in shock and he glanced down to find Seras kissing him. She had his face cupped in her delicate hands while she stood on the tips of her toes. Her petite form was pressed up against him. Her busty chest was crushed to his strong one. The second he realized who was kissing him, Sebastian snaked his arms around her and pulled her closer. He then returned the kiss, spicing it up instantly. Seras whimpered in his mouth before she tangled her fingers in his hair.

The room was rowdier than before. People cheered and celebrated the new year. The humans threw confetti up in the air, blew their blowouts and horns, and some people shared a steamy kiss. Even though everyone was so energetic and acting absolutely batty, such calmness and elation coursed through Sebastian and Seras. The kiss was comforting and so entirely peaceful that the humans didn't bother or ruin their kiss. The demon gingerly ran his hand up her body just so he could comb his fingers through her hair. It was an action he had been craving to do for months now. Such happiness swelled inside of him as he brushed her hair behind her ear. His fingers then moved from her ear to trace her face lovingly. The kiss was definitely better than he ever imagined it. Normally, he didn't particularly like kissing. It was too intimate for his taste. But Seras? He could kiss her all day and all night long. The little vampire was the one to end the kiss. Their lips smacked softly as she pulled away to look up at him. Such an innocent look shone in her eyes. But overall, she looked truly happy with the choice she made. Seras smiled up at him after licking over her lips.

"Happy New Year." She whispered to him. A warm smile crossed over the demon's face and he snickered under his breath. He couldn't stop his hand from moving. He proceeded to stroke his fingers over her cheek slowly, sensually while he stared deep into those ocean blue eyes.

"Happy New Year." Sebastian whispered in return. He then leaned back in to kiss those supple, warm lips. Unfortunately, their kiss ended far sooner than he would have liked because Seras couldn't keep from giggling. The demon couldn't help but chuckle at her adorableness. The Draculina jumped when someone wrapped their fingers around the back of her neck. Alucard gently turned her head so he could place a deep kiss on her mouth. Seras squeaked from the surprise visit. She probably would have let him go on kissing her, but sadly, her master stopped it after a few seconds.

"Mmm," Alucard hummed in consideration. Lust simmered in his dark red eyes while he stared down at his fledgling. "Happy New Year, Police Girl."

"Ha-Happy…New Year, Master." Seras muttered timidly. There was another dark blush on her cheeks as she smiled bashfully up at him. "I'm…really happy…that you both are in my life." She looked from Alucard to Sebastian, seeing the pleased look on their faces. "I hope that our relationship only gets stronger from here on out." That beautiful smile on her face widened a little further. "Now, if everyone is in a better mood, will…one of you offer me a dance?" She giggled sweetly.

"Only if you offer us another kiss." Alucard teased her, though he leaned down to make his lips more accessible to her. Seras laughed openly while she lightly shook her head at him.

"You're insatiable." His Draculina purred before she happily leaned up to kiss him on the lips.

The End

I hope you guys enjoyed! Happy New Year!

Oxford Not Brogues