Walter had been hearing random thumps that seemed to be coming from the attic for the past ten minutes but didn't think much of it since it was most likely Alucard prowling out of boredom. The vampire had been extremely restless ever since Integra had decided to go to a private boarding school this year. Every holiday break Alucard would wait at the driveway like an eager puppy waiting for its master to return, the mood around the mansion would improve the moment Integra stepped out of the car. November was a dark month. Integra had decided to stay at the school and hadn't really said why. To say Alucard fell into a foul mood would be understating it. While the boss was away the pranksters would play and they had learned in the past that Alucard was the prankster to beat. Walter had warned them to leave the vampire alone this time, but there's always some jackass that doesn't understand or chooses to ignore that Dracula in a bad mood could be quite dangerous. The near impaling got the point across rather quickly. The mood around the mansion didn't improve until last week when Integra called to let them know she would be coming home for christmas.

A loud bang jerks his attention away from his book and he stares up at the ceiling. Just what the devil was that vampire doing? He was reluctant to give up his chair, but he probably did need to go see what Alucard was doing. With a sigh he marks his place and sets the book aside as he stands up. When he reaches the attic it looked like a cyclone had tore through it.

"What in the world are you doing?"

A dark shaggy head pops up from the middle of the dusty boxes with a wild grin, "Looking for a christmas present!"

Walter raises an eyebrow, "A Christmas present?"

"Yes, for Interga."

Walter carefully picks his way through the jumbled maze of boxes and old furniture. He really did need to clean this place out sometime, "So you're going to give her something out of the attic?"

Alucard scowls as he turns his attention back to rummaging through a rather ragged looking box, "Not like I get a paycheck so I can buy her anything and what do I own that I could give her? A coffin and a gun! Not even my dear master can have my coffin and the gun...well, she'd love the gun but one time firing it and she wouldn't have a hand left."

Walter flinches slightly, "Point well made, old friend."

Alucard suddenly goes still as he uncovers several balls of yarn. So many different colors, it reminded him of the bag of jelly beans Integra had gotten once. Disgusting little pellets! "Doesn't this stuff belong to you, Angel?"

Walter hums slightly and crouches down to shift through the yarn till he uncovers the bundle of knitting needles, "Yes, a hobby I picked up during my college days to keep from going out of my mind with boredom." He could tell by the look in the vampire's eyes that he'd figured out what he was going to do and hated himself for what he was about to do, "Alucard, perhaps you shouldn't be getting so excited for her return."

"And why would you say something like that?"

"She's bringing a friend...a boy."

Alucard was a near impossible man to read, but Walter had known the vampire long enough to pick up on the little things that would give away whatever emotion he was going through. Like the hesitant fingers on a fluffy ball of scarlet yarn and the darkening of his eyes, he was hurt.

"She's only fifteen, much too young to even be considering a boy."

Walter chuckles quietly, "Says the man who was subtly trying to court her himself."

Alucard scoffs and turns his attention back to the ball of yarn in his hand for a moment before looking up at Walter, "Can you teach me how to knit a scarf?"

Walter couldn't help but smirk, "Ah the great Alucard asking to be taught how to knit. This is truly priceless!"

"Don't make me knock that smirk off your face."

"I'd like to see you try."

With the grin that spread across the vampire's face he knew he was going to regret baiting him.

The cook scowls up at the ceiling, rather fed up with the constant racket. Never failed that everytime the master of the house was away that damnable vampire thought he owned the place! Well enough was enough! Smacking the ladle down on the table she marches out of the kitchen to the attic. Throwing the hatch open she pokes her head up through the opening. The place was wrecked! There was another loud thump and a grunt close by.

"What in bloody hell is going on up here?!" She shouts as she reaches out to push a box out of the way then wished she hadn't. She didn't know exactly what she had been expecting to find, but the butler straddling the vampire with their clothes ripped in various places was not it! "Oh good Lord..."

Walter looked horrified and Alucard was grinning like a maniac.

"Damn it, Angel, I told you to be gentle with me since it was my first time!"

Alucard hears the cook gasp then a prayer for their souls as she makes a hasty exit. His laughter is ended in a yelp as a gloved fist connects with his nose, painfully crushing it.

"That hurt!"

"It'll take months for the gay jokes and rumors to stop once she tells someone what she thinks she saw!"

Alucard grins again, "Wouldn't be the first time someone's thought you were getting a little frisky with me." That only served to get him punched again. "Would you stop that?!"

Walter grumbles incoherently as he moves off the snickering vampire, then lands a rather forceful kick to Alucard's side after standing up, "You're nothing but trouble."

Alucard tilts his head back to watch Walter climb down the stairs as he rubs his bruised ribs, "So, will you teach me?"

"Bring the stuff down."

The two men decided on settling in the library for the lesson since apparently everyone else on the estate was allergic to reading a book. Alucard caught on to the basics fast enough that Walter returned to his reading, leaving the vampire to his project.

"How long will this take?"

Walter glances up from his book then shrugs slightly, "Depends on how fast you are and how much time you spend on it. Careful though, get in too big of a hurry and you'll just botch it up."

"I'm not going to get this done in time for Christmas..."

Walter smiles slightly, it was amusing and adorable at the same time to watch Alucard fret over Integra so much. The girl had him wrapped around her little finger and didn't even know it. "Well, instead of sending you out I could accompany the soldiers till you get your project finished. I could use a little time away from the mansion anyway."

Alucard chuckles, "For once I'm just hoping it stays quiet till after she goes back to school."

"That would be nice. I'll pick you up some wrapping paper tomorrow."

The days that followed were mostly quiet even inside the mansion, their resident troublemaker was keeping himself busy. Walter really didn't think Alucard would stick with it, but the scarf was coming along rather well with only a few dropped stitches here and there. Walter kept himself busy getting the decorations put up what time he wasn't in the library talking with Alucard until the scarf was finally finished, wrapped, and placed under the tree with the rest of the presents that had been sent. With nothing left to distract him the gifts became Alucard's new target.

"Uh oh, from Margaret Penwood to Integra Hellsing. I bet I know what that is and what's going to happen to it. Oh look, one from Islands to our dear Walter."

"Heavy or not?"

Alucard picks up the package and gently shakes it, "Has a bit of weight to it."

"Scotch then."

"Who the hell is Sebastian and why is he sending Integra a present?!"

"That would be the friend she's bringing with her, he sent his gift ahead."

"Can I burn it?"

"No, and leave the presents alone, I need to go pick up Integra and her friend from the train station."

Walter wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if the package had burst into flames as he was walking out with the way Alucard was glaring at it.

Alucard walks out to wait at the driveway, he could feel that his master was close and her growing excitement. At least she was still excited to be coming home and he couldn't help but smile as the rolls pulled past the gate, she was finally home. His smile only grew wider as the car stops and Integra steps out.

"Welcome home, ma-...Integra."

Well, he almost screwed that up! Walter had warned him days ago to not call her master in front of the boy, but the times he had called her by name before now could be counted on one hand with fingers to spare.

She only smiled as she walked past him, "It's good to be home."

She always hugged him when she came home. What was going on? He almost growled at himself, he really was becoming some lovestruck fool!

"Hey, you there in the ridiculous red coat!"

Alucard raises an eyebrow as he turns his attention away from Integra retreating into the mansion to the boy standing beside the car. Everything about him screamed money from his polished black leather shoes to the perfectly combed hair. Alucard hated him already; his master better not be serious about this boy.

"And what do you want?"

"Get my luggage."

Walter holds his breath as he watches the vampire close the distance between himself and their guest. This could go very badly, but Alucard had promised Integra he would behave and he'd never known Alucard to go back on his word with anyone.

Alucard just smiles and reaches into the trunk to pick up the suit case, but before the satisfied boy can move away from the car Alucard drops the suitcase on his foot.

Walter cringes slightly at the pained yell and quickly falls into step beside the vampire as they head inside.

"A little bit childish don't you think?"

Alucard grins slightly, "It just slipped out of my grasp. I guess I should have worn different gloves."

Walter chuckles and shakes his head slightly, "I guess you just better hope Integra buys that."

"I said I would behave, never said I would wait on him."

Thankfully Sebastian wisely kept his mouth shut about the incident while Walter prepared the teenagers some lunch, since the cook was no where to be found. He had kind of expected that to happen and no surprise that Integra noticed the missing cook.

"Walter, did you give the cook the day off?"

The aging butler sighs, "No, there was a bit of a misunderstanding...if you can call it that. I'll explain later. Either way she appears to have quit without any notice."

Integra hums slightly and turns her attention to the grilled cheese Walter sets in front of her. Whatever happened with the cook could wait, she had heaven on a plate in front of her right now! No one could make a grilled cheese sandwich like her butler. Extra cheese, diced onions, just the right amount of butter on the bread and browned to perfection. Her companion obviously didn't share her taste, he was picking at the sandwich like Walter had set a dead rat in front of him.

"Something wrong with your sandwich?"

Sebastian jerks his head up to look at her then smiles, "No, not at all, just letting it cool."

Integra let's it go, she had more important things to do, like savor her own sandwich. She only half listens to Sebastian's endless chattering, but didn't miss seeing him slip the sandwich into the trash before they left the kitchen.

"You should open your present before I leave!"

"What pres-" Before she can finish Sebastian shoves a box into her hands that was wrapped in bright green paper. She tears off the paper and opens the box to pull out an elaborate silk scarf.

"Just something to keep you warm."

It didn't look warm at all to her, but it did look expensive. His proud smile helped to back up that theory. She offers a smile and a polite thank you while no one but the butler notices the shadows silently drag the black wrapped box under the chair the vampire is sitting in.

While Integra retrieves the book she had bought Walter from her suitcase by the door Sebastian begins poking at the presents under the tree. He was turning out to be a rather annoying person now that they were away from school. Shame, he had been so charming the month before and not too bad to look at. She couldn't call him handsome, he still looked far to boyish for that and she lived with two perfect examples of the typical tall dark and handsome to compare him to.

"Wow, lot of gifts under here for Integra and even several for the butler." Sebastian turns to look at Alucard with a smug smile, he had finally found a way to get the bodyguard back for that stunt he pulled earlier, "Don't see any with your name on them. Not very well liked are you? It's bad when even your boss won't get you one of those hideous reindeer sweaters!" He laughs at his own remark, but the stony expression never faded from Alucard's face and the room was deathly silent aside from the crackle of the fire.

"Walter, would you mind escorting Sebastian to the nearest bus station?"

Sebastian spins around to face her, "What?! You can't be serious!"

"Oh, I'm very serious. You've done nothing but disrespect the people here and I'm tired of it."

She follows them to the door while rolling her eyes to the string of protest, she wasn't going to be making this mistake again. Before she closes the door Walter leans close to her ear and whispers.

"Look under the chair."

Her brow furrows in confusion, "Whatever for?"

"Just do it."

Shrugging she closes the door behind them and turns around to apologize to Alucard for her guest being so rude, but he was gone. With a sigh she walks over and kneels in the floor to look under the chair. It was too dark to see anything, forcing her to reach under the chair to find whatever Walter was going on about. Her fingertips struck something solid almost immediately, then she pulls the box out as she raises up. Solid black wrapping paper and a red ribbon, she remembered seeing this one in the pile earlier but why was it under the chair?

She couldn't help but smile as she reads the name tag.

"To my dear master. Merry Christmas."

She carefully removes the tag then tears the paper off the box. Lifting the lid off the box she begins to realize just why it had wound up under the chair. She pulls the scarf out of the box and stretches it out across her lap. It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't bad either. What it wasn't at all was a strip of silk some fool paid a couple hundred pounds for trying to impress her. She loosely wraps the scarf around her neck then presses her face into the soft fabric for a moment before standing up and heading down to the basement.

Alucard didn't look up from the book as the door hinges squealed in protest of being moved.

"Stole Walter's book I see."

He nods slightly, least she didn't sound upset, "He's in the middle of another one at the moment so I have time to read it before he comes looking for it."

"I'm sorry about Sebastian. What he said was uncalled for."

"Do you really think I care about what some spoiled child spouts off?"

"I suppose not." She was getting a little annoyed he was still staring at that damn book, "I should have sent that stupid scarf with him. Oh well, I'll toss it in the mail later."

"You'll wish you kept it later when your neck turns into an icicle."

Integra grins, "Oh, I have a better one. This one is softer, much warmer, and my favorite color."

His head snaps up at that then his eyes widen when he notices the scarf wrapped around her neck, "How did you..."

"Walter ratted you out and I'm glad he did, I love the scarf. One of the best presents I've ever gotten. Now you may not care what some spoiled child spouts off, but I didn't forget about you. I've spent the past two months wondering what in the world I could get a several hundred year old vampire for Christmas." She walks over to where he's sitting and motions for him to get up. As always he promptly obeys and she sits down in his chair, then points down at her feet, "Kneel."

Alucard kneels at her feet without a word as she pulls the razor blade from where she had tucked it behind her belt buckle.

"I finally figured out what would make the perfect gift." She rolls up her shirt sleeve then digs a corner of the razor blade into her arm, making a fairly deep but short cut. His blazing red eyes flicker from the bleeding cut on her arm to her face. Smiling slightly she offers her arm to him, "You always say that fresh virgin blood is the best, so here."

Leaning forward he stretches out his tongue to catch the stray rivulet of blood before fastening his lips over the cut, then closes his eyes with a moan.

Integra smiles again and reaches out with her free hand to run her fingers through his hair, "Merry Christmas, Alucard."