A/N: Thank you all so much for the lovely favs/follows/and reviews! I love them all so much!
And I changed the profile picture to reflect Olivia's new appearance (this artwork was done before Olivia got her scar and her hand was possessed so I will have that added when I commission the next artist. Or if you guys want, you are always welcome to draw fanart for this fic~. *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* *does the Electric Slide* *belts out 'Welcome to the Jungle' by Guns n' Roses*)
But please look at my tumblr blog: theloveandthedead to see the artwork better and to see the things mentioned in this chapter! The corresponding artwork is tagged with 'Chapter 34'.
Anyways, please enjoy this chapter and I welcome all new and returning readers! :D
"Wait a minute…" Arthur wheezed, his eyes bloodshot and his hair and suit disheveled. "You….want to do….what?"
It was the day following the celebration ball at the palace, and Arthur was nursing a massive hangover. His head was pounding, his throat was dry, and the last thing he needed was for Olivia to barge into his office at 8 am and throw the curtains open, engulfing the room in excruciating sunlight.
"I said I would like to go back to Hungary." Olivia repeated, back in uniform and clasping her gloved hands in front of her. "I will leave on the same day Walter leaves for Oxford, and I promise to be gone for only a month."
"….What?"
"You have been awaiting my decision, correct? Well this is what I want to do, Sir Hellsing."
"….What?"
"Consider my 'pilgrimage' as payment for my part in the war." She bowed and marched back to the office door. "Now, I am off to brew some peppermint tea for your hangover."
Then she 'accidentally' slammed the door behind her, adding another layer of pain to Arthur's migraine.
"…..I guess I deserve that." He groaned, slumping over onto his desk. "The debt has been repaid." Then he made a gun with his fingers and pressed his pointer finger to his temple, muttering a feeble "Bang!" before letting his arm flop back onto the desk. "Thank fucking God."
The months following the ball weren't all that different from the months preceding it, yet none of the Hellsing Company could deny the air was a bit lighter.
Olivia made an effort to be more approachable, while Walter stopped locking himself away in his 'dungeon' and resumed his duties alongside Olivia; the soldiers heaved a sigh of relief to eat Walter's divine cooking once again.
Olivia's eyes were dull at times and Walter's eyes clouded over occasionally, but it seemed the two teenagers were trying their best to look to the future and make the best of the remaining time they had together.
They had grown up together after all, and in the Hellsing Organization, companionship was difficult to find, much less maintain.
Especially for ten years.
"Aren't you afraid?" Olivia, now 18-years old, whispered as she turned on her side to face Walter, faintly making out his profile in the moonlight. "Being surrounded by so many people and living in an unfamiliar environment?"
"Why the hell would I be afraid?" Walter, now 16-years old, replied curtly, keeping his eyes closed with his arms nestled beneath his head. "It is university, not death row."
"I guess you're right." Olivia sighed, curling into the fetal position and staring up at the ceiling of their blanket fort with a perturbed expression. "It has been years since I've been in school; I guess all I can remember about it is being afraid people wouldn't like me."
It was the night before their respective departures, and Olivia had asked Walter if he wanted to have a sleepover with her in the estate's drawing room.
He agreed, and the two of them fashioned a fort from their sheets, pillows, and blankets. Olivia made Walter a batch of candied figs, and Walter brought out his violin so he could play for Olivia.
It was a scene reminiscent of their innocent childhood days, and maybe, in a way, they were trying to recapture that feeling of bliss before parting ways.
But in the end, the two of them turned in early, and Olivia found herself trying to memorize Walter's face in the dim moonlight.
His voice may have gotten deeper and his facial features were becoming more defined, but in Olivia's eyes, she would always see that little boy. No matter what, Walter would always be her little brother, her friend, and her partner.
Olivia never had to be without him for a day, how could she be without him for four years?
"You better come back to me safely." She extended her left hand out and brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "I'll never forgive you if you leave me behind."
"Jesus Christ, woman! I will, I will!" Walter swatted her hand away and glared at her with tired eyes. "I promise to be by your side until we are old, senile, and leave dust instead of fingerprints! Now let me sleep or I am banishing you from my 'kingdom'!"
Olivia just gaped at him for a moment before a large grin broke out across her face and the fort was soon filled with the sound of her laughter.
"The fuck?" Walter's expression was a mixture of bemusement and exasperation as he watched tears stream down her grinning face. "What is so funny?!"
"Y-Y-Your 'kingdom'?!" She cackled, her abdomen and cheeks aching. "I can bring your 'kingdom' down by pulling one clothes peg!"
"Oh shut up!" Walter rolled his eyes and threw a spare pillow at her face. "Go ahead, laugh yourself into a fucking coma. I'm going to sleep."
As her giggle fit gradually subsided, Olivia wiped her eyes while rubbing her abdomen.
It felt like years since she had laughed so freely, and Olivia hoped she would be able to recapture this feeling on her journey back home.
But every journey requires a first step, so Olivia decided believing in Walter's promise would be her first step.
After all, what reason would he have to leave her behind?
"Thank you, Walter." She hummed, snuggling back under her comforter with a tiny smile still on her face. "Sleep well."
Walter said nothing, waiting for Olivia's breathing to even out before turning on his side to face her.
"It has been ages since I heard you laugh." He whispered, gazing at her sleeping face until he had every feature committed to memory. "I'd forgotten how beautiful it was."
When Olivia asked him to have a sleepover with her, he knew she would try to turn it into a final goodbye, and he didn't want to hear it.
He didn't want to hear Olivia say how much she would miss him or how he needed to come back to her and Hellsing safely.
It just made the transmitter in his suitcase all the more jarring to think about.
The previous night, Walter had finally received his first message from the Doktor. After deciphering the code, he learned the Major and his Millennium group had fled to South America with—surprise, surprise—the help of the Vatican. Additionally, the Doktor had also ordered Walter to disclose any intel he had on Hellsing, including the weaknesses of its top operatives.
And Walter did.
He disclosed everything Sir Hellsing had trusted him with and promised to continue disclosing more as the years went on. But when he came to Olivia, he hesitated for a moment.
But only for a moment.
("I wouldn't worry about Olivia Emese Song, Doktor.")
Walter grasped Olivia's left hand in his right and pressed a kiss to her knuckles over and over.
"I love you, Olivia."
("Oh, and why is that, Walter?")
"I love you."
("Because….")
"I love you so much."
("Because?")
"I love you, I love you, I love you."
("My betrayal alone will be enough to kill her.")
"I love you...my Olivia."
Yet, as he kissed her knuckles one last time, Walter wasn't sure if he was trying to console Olivia or himself.
The platforms of Paddington Station were as busy as ever, and even with half of the tracks under repair from the war, there were hundreds of people buzzing about.
And there, standing in the heart of it all between Track 3 and 4, was Arthur and his prized soldiers.
Arthur didn't think of himself as an emotional man, but at the sight of his prodigies standing before him as young adults, he began to feel a little misty eyed.
Walter looked the part of a fresh college student, wearing a pair of jeans with a red striped t-shirt and a navy blue blazer, and Olivia looked ever the part of an elegant young lady wearing an off-shoulder white gown with loose, baggy sleeves, a pair of lace white gloves, and a white floppy brim hat.
'It seems just like yesterday they were playing tag in the gardens…' But Arthur quickly waved the thought away and cleared his throat, assuming his role as the Iron Hearted Director. "I want both of you to remember that even if you are not on Hellsing grounds, you still represent the Organization. If you see anything suspicious, give me a call and I will take care of it. And—."
"We will miss you too, Sir Hellsing." Olivia butted in, her face completely blank before smiling gently. "We both promise to keep in contact."
Another first step—making peace with Sir Hellsing.
"Stop your worrying and head home before you start blubbering." Walter laughed, stubbing out his cigarette with his heel and holding his hand out. "I'll be home soon, Sir Hellsing. Thank you for this opportunity."
"I'll be back in a month." Olivia grasped the edges of her gown and curtsied with her head bowed. "Be in good health and spirits until my return, my Lord."
Fire spread across his scarred wrist, and all Arthur could do to keep from crying was shake Walter's hand and clasp Olivia on the shoulder.
"Come back safely, you two." Arthur bit his lip, his eyes stinging and his pulse racing. "That is an order you cannot refuse."
"Yes, sir." They replied in unison, saluting their master as he marched away with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders trembling.
'When we meet again, Sir Hellsing,' Olivia glanced down at her gloved right hand and curled it into a fist. 'I want to be able to forgive you and myself. I sincerely wish for that…'
"Well, the porters have finished loading up my luggage." Walter muttered, turning to face Olivia with his arms crossed. "So…I guess this is it."
"Yeah…maybe when I get back I can sneak away to come see you, but women aren't allowed into your dorms. So," Olivia took Walter's hand in hers and placed something soft in the palm of his hand. "I guess this will have to do for now."
It was a crocheted rabbit doll with a muffler, a pair of blue boots, and a flower dress to match.
"What the hell is this?" He scoffed, sneering down at the doll like it had personally offended him.
"I don't expect you to parade it around campus!" Olivia fired back, aggrieved by the way Walter was scrutinizing her hard work. "Toss it under your bed or lock it in a drawer if you think it is hideous, but…I hope you will look at it once in a while and think of me…" Her voice trailed off as she wrapped her arms around her waist and averted her eyes, her green irises dulling slightly.
"…..As if I would forget about you." Walter grabbed Olivia by the shoulders and yanked her into his arms. "I'll place the damn thing on my desk, and I'll imagine your annoying voice coming from it whenever I'm studying."
"Hehe, thank you, Walter." She kissed him on the cheek before drawing back so they were face to face. "I appreciate that."
Something flashed in Walter's eyes and within seconds, he had his lips pressed against hers, their teeth clanging together from the sudden impact.
"OUCH!" Olivia yelped, shoving him away and rubbing her mouth. "What was that for?!"
"Just returning the favor." Walter smiled, and Olivia felt uneasy as she noticed a hint of sadness laced in his tone.
"What do you mea—?"
"The train will be leaving soon." Walter interjected, bending down to pick up his carry-on bag and slung it over his shoulder. "You should hurry up and board before you get left behind."
"….Alright." Olivia nodded, rubbing her right wrist out of habit. "Safe travels, Walter."
She looked like she wanted to say more but settled for turning on her heel and waltzing towards her train, tracing her lips with her finger.
"Olivia!" Walter called out, and she turned around just in time to see a box tied with a ribbon flying in her direction. She caught it with ease and gazed up to find Walter standing in the entrance of the boarding cart.
"Open it when you get inside your cabin." Then he held up the doll she made for him and waved it from side to side. "See you soon, my Olivia."
The conductor slammed the door shut before he could say anything else, but Olivia knew what he was going to say next anyways.
"I love you too, Walter." She sighed, clutching the box to her chest and boarding the passenger cart of her train, nodding to the porter who greeted her and directed her towards her cabin.
Olivia stared down at the box, curious about why Walter didn't give it to her earlier, and as she stood in front of her cabin, she decided to find out.
Slowly untying the ribbon, Olivia popped open the box's lid and nearly fell back as she discovered the contents within.
Three, beautifully hand crafted silver bracelets greeted her eyes with a note reading: You better not let these get destroyed too.
Her bracelets.
He had made her bracelets again.
"Walter…" She gasped, slipping the three bracelets onto her right wrist, feeling the familiar cool touch of silver through her gloves. "Thank you…Thank you so much."
Sliding her cabin door open, Olivia was so preoccupied with the bracelets that she didn't notice a large box sitting in the middle of the room and ended up falling flat on her face.
"What the—?!" Olivia pulled herself up on her knees and crawled over to the mysterious box. "Whose luggage is this?! It isn't mine."
However, she quickly noticed the shape of the box and ripped off the cover sheet to discover it was, in fact, Alucard's coffin.
'Why am I not surprised?' She groaned, placing the sheet back over the coffin just as someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?"
"Ms. Song?" came the voice of the First Class Conductor. "May I come in? I found your son."
Now that surprised her.
"My son?" She scrambled to her feet and slammed open the cabin door. "What do you mean my—?"
It was surreal to see that frightened 8-year old boy from that night standing in front of her with a cheeky grin and crimson eyes, yet there he was, wearing a pair of black trousers, a white button up, a red bow tie, and his gloves of course.
"My….son…." Olivia wheezed, clinging to the door frame for support. "My son?"
"Yes, ma'am," The conductor coughed, wondering if there was a mistake on Olivia's passport since she was far too young to have a child that big. "I found him larking around the dining cart. Please keep a better eye on your son, Ms. So—I mean, Mrs. Song."
"Y-Yes, I apologize for the inconvenience." Olivia bowed and moved to the side, glaring down at Alucard and pointing into the cabin. "Inside. Now."
"Yes, mamă!" Alucard grinned, skipping into the cabin as Olivia shut the door behind him with a vexed expression.
'A Hungarian teenager with a Romanian son.' The conductor mused as he trekked down the hallway with his hands clasped behind his back. 'Curiouser and curiouser, indeed.'
"Explain yourself." Olivia stood in front of a seated Alucard with her hands on her hips while he simply swung his feet back and forth like a carefree child.
"Isn't it obvious?" He replied, his voice reverting back to its usual deep, husky tone. "The war may be over but the countries are still fighting their individual battles."
"I realize that." Olivia pointed to her suitcase in the tray above them. "I packed plenty of spare arrows and bullets for such occasions."
"Ah, but you are a fetching, single young woman, traveling alone." He retorted, wagging his finger in that arrogant manner of his. "However, no one will harm you if you have a child with you."
"….Whose idea was this?"
"Sir Hellsing's of course. But," Alucard gestured to his child form, his voice now as the young Romanian prince of past. "Taking on this form was my idea."
"So Sir Hellsing has ordered you to be by my side until I return home." Olivia sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration.
"That is right."
"And you will be in this form the entire time."
"That is the plan."
"Hmph." Olivia crossed her arms and leered down at him. "And do you know what I think of that?"
"What—?"
Suddenly he was yanked out of his seat and into Olivia's arms who embraced him with all her might while spinning around the room.
"Finally," She giggled, drawing back to take in his confused expression. "I can finally do as I desperately wished on that night six years ago." Then she kissed his forehead before rubbing her nose against his. "I guess I wouldn't mind some company while embarking on this journey. Let's enjoy this adventure together then, shall we?"
"As you wish, mamă." Alucard chuckled, resting his hands on her cheeks and closing his eyes, savoring the embrace.
"…..That is going to take some getting used to." Olivia confessed, closing her eyes as well as she swayed back and forth. 'At least he is using a younger voice instead of his normal one.'
A/N: Did You Know?: Walter and Olivia first met 30 chapters ago! Lol! Anyways, you can see Olivia's dress, artwork of little Alucard (not mine), and the bunny Olivia made for Walter on my tumblr blog! Now it is time for Olivia and Alucard to have some wacky adventures on 'The Magical Mystery Tour'! It won't be so magical though since this is after WW2 and they will run into some issues.
Anyways, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and please leave a review! I love them so much!
Thank you again for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter! :D