A/N: Hello, everyone! I apologize for the wait! Here is the next chapter!

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The early morning light filtering through the windows of Oxford library brought Walter a sense of nostalgia for the times he used to dust the manor's library. Of course, Oxford didn't have books on demonology and alchemy, but the sentiment was still the same.

Perhaps that was why Walter had taken to spending his mornings there.

Just him, a half-blind librarian, and walls upon walls of dusty books.

Plucking a book about silk producers off the shelf, Walter flipped through the chapters until he reached the one about spiders. Just because he was technically on leave didn't mean that he would stop weapon making. Spider silk could withstand temperatures up to 140°C, and its tensile strength was 75% higher than the copper he currently used for his wires. It would take some trial and error, but perhaps he could weave fragments of spider silk into his wires for better performance.

'After all,' Walter chuckled before peeking over at the cart nearby, the multiple eyes of six imprisoned black widows staring back him. 'The university has more research specimen than it knows what to do with.'

He placed the book down next to the spider cages and was about to move to the next aisle when the librarian called him over to their desk.

"Your House Fellow came by to give you a letter." They squinted at Walter through their thick spectacles and waved the envelope back and forth. "I guess the poor lad knew you wouldn't be in your dorm, despite it being six in the morning when any reasonable student would be asleep."

"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Walter recited, plucking the letter from their hand. "Besides, I prefer the quiet than the inane prattle of my classmates."

"You are too young to become a secluded hermit like me." The librarian gave a raspy chuckle. "Enjoy your youth before old age zaps that pretty face away."

"I'll keep that in mind." Walter scoffed, strutting back over to his book/spider cart and flipping over the letter to see who the sender was.

The sight of Olivia's handwriting brought a genuine smile to his face, and he tore the envelope open like a child on Christmas morning.

Dearest Walter,

I hope this letter finds you well. At the time of writing this, I am in Florence, Italy. However, by the time my words will reach you, I will have already returned home to the manor.

I have so much I want to tell you, but I don't know where to begin. I suppose I should start with the reason I went on this journey in the first place. Walter, I saw my family again. And I saw Martha too! Anyone else would say it was just a dream, but you know as well as I do that supernatural forces surround us. They were beautiful, Walter. I still carry my regrets, and it would be unrealistic to think my burdens could vanish. But, my heart has never felt so clear and light. I truly feel reborn, Walter. In fact, I felt so reborn that I went on a shopping spree in Budapest! It is rare we are able to act our age, so I may have gone overboard a little. But I did find a cute blue dress with polka dots that reminded me of you. When I am able to get some color film, I will send you a picture. Hopefully you are saving all the photos I send instead of throwing them away. And I would like to have some photos of you in return so I don't forget how you look. Hopefully you won't change too much over four years because if you hit another growth spurt, I am going to start wearing high heels permanently.

How is school? I hope you have made some friends by now, however—if I can be selfish for a moment—I hope those Oxford boys know that the role of your best friend has already been taken by me. I hope you still have the doll I made for you close by. Think of me whenever you look at it, and try not to injure it when you are annoyed. Winter will be coming soon, so I will send you a muffler with my next letter. I'll even make it your favorite color: dark blue.

Hey, just because you got into a prestigious university doesn't mean I plan to stop 'mothering' you.

So study hard and hurry back home so we can be the dynamic duo that strikes fear into the hearts of all creation again.

And…..when you return home, there is something I must tell you. It is nothing dangerous, but you deserve to hear it from me in person.

I love you, Walter.

I hope you know that.

Your place in my heart is big enough to cover the Earth twice, and the bracelets you crafted for me never fail to give me courage.

I realize my words don't make sense and are succeeding in only making you anxious, but it is how I feel.

I love you and miss you greatly.

Please be safe, Walter, and I await the day you return home to us.

Sincerely, Olivia Emese Song.

Walter's eyes lingered on the last few sentences, attempting to string together what on Earth Olivia wanted to say that was too important for a letter. And…why did she sound like she was apologizing when she said how much she loved him? And then, for some damning reason, Alucard's cocky smirk flashed through his mind, and Walter almost tore the letter in half.

"What the hell…..?! Don't tell me it has to do with him!" He re-read the letter multiple times before involuntarily looking out the window with an apprehensive expression. "Olivia?"

"I want each of you to do two laps around the track before we—." A prickling sensation swept down Olivia's spine, and she whirled around to stare up at the awakening sky.

She had changed out of her ball gown and into a pair of jeans and a black button-up shirt; her expensive dresses stored away for someday. Now, she stood before sixty new cadets as a newly promoted lieutenant with Sic Parvis Magna and her quiver strapped to her hip.

"Lieutenant Song?" One of the cadets piped up, snapping Olivia out of her daze. "Are you alright?"

"I….I am fine." Her hand immediately went to her bracelets. "I just thought I heard someone call my name…."

"Are you sur—?"

"Do you see my right hand?" Olivia brandished her cursed arm outward, noticing how some cadets recoiled in disgust. "This is what happens when you slack on the battlefield. As soldiers of Hellsing, you do not have the luxury of making mistakes nor will you receive the adoration the typical soldier receives. Regardless, your duty is to protect Her Majesty's country by the orders of Sir Arthur Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing! Do all of your understand?!"

"Yes, Lieutenant!" The cadets saluted her in unison.

"Then we will start off today's training with two laps around the track before putting each of you through a proficiency test to gauge your strengths and weaknesses." Olivia twirled Sic Parvis Magna off her back and slammed it against the ground. "BEGIN!"

Once upon a time, Olivia feared the other Hellsing soldiers and worried they would judge her based on her age and heritage. But now that she was their superior officer and interacted with them on a daily basis, Olivia found her fears to be for naught.

She discovered a majority of the soldiers had pasts similar to hers, while some came from a lineage of Hellsing soldiers. However, whether they were from different cultures or social classes, everyone wore the same uniform and fought for a common goal. So Olivia intended to make them strong, and teach them that the life of a soldier would be ridden with burdens and heartache. But she also wanted to teach them that, despite how horrible and pointless it may seem at times, life was precious and regrets would only serve to keep them from living.

In turn, the cadets respected Olivia's teachings and knew the wisdom she possessed came from experience. They also appreciated how she talked to them as individuals than as a group of soldiers. The Hellsing Organization was the liminal zone between life and death, yet Olivia's words and actions distorted the foreboding manor into a semblance of a home.

However, the cadets couldn't help but wonder a few things about their first class lieutenant.

"I know Sergeant Pollard told us during orientation that one of the top soldiers in Hellsing was a young woman, but I didn't know she was still a teenager." One of the cadets piped up while he and the others waited at the training grounds one morning for Olivia's arrival. "It is kind of surreal to have someone a decade my junior as my superior officer."

The others murmured in agreement, and one by one voiced their opinions.

"Yeah, Lieutenant Song's appearance doesn't match her reputation. To be honest, I thought she would be scarier from how the veteran soldiers described her."

"I know! I heard she murdered a mother and a son in cold blood just because the husband was responsible for the late Mrs. Hellsing's death. Kind of hypocritical for her to teach us to value life when she killed innocent people, don't you think?"

"We have no right to judge her; we all have blood on our hands. Besides, Lieutenant Song was 14 when it happened. I'm sure it weighs heavily upon her soul, which is why she teaches us to value life without regrets."

"I heard that her personality changed completely after that, and she became very secluded and callous when she was bright and bubbly before. Hey, maybe that is why her right hand looks like something out of a horror film."

"Well, it explains why she went on that month long vacation. But Lieutenant Song seems fine now. She is firm and serious when training us, but off the field, she is really sweet and warm."

"Thank goodness for that! I heard her partner—the other ace soldier—is a real pain in the ass. And he is younger than Lieutenant Song! What is with Sir Hellsing and hiring a bunch of kids?"

"He is called the 'Angel of Death' right?"

"Yup, that is Walter C. Dornez. Heard he is away at Oxford right now." A ginger haired cadet responded, adjusting his training vest as he felt a random chill sweep across the grounds. "Hey, guys, do you think he is Lieutenant Song's husband?"

"Lieutenant Song is married?!"

"We have been training with her for three months now, and you haven't noticed the ring on her finger?"

"I don't know. That ring looks too expensive and elegant for a young lad to pick out. I think she is married to someone old—."

An arrow zipped by the cadets, and all went dead silent as they turned to find Olivia with her bow drawn and a menacing shadow over her eyes.

"If you have time to gossip, then I guess we can move onto the next level of training." She strung up another arrow and aimed at the group. "Let's see how well you lot can dodge my arrows."

The cadets stammered out apologies before breaking out into a cold sweat when Olivia smiled suddenly.

"I accept your apologies. I trust this will not happen again, gentlemen." She lowered her bow and pointed to the shooting range across the lawn. "I expect to see all of you practicing over there in the next twenty seconds. Understood?"

"Yes, Lieutenant!" They all saluted.

"…..Well? Get your asses moving." Olivia strung her arrow up again. "Or do you need some 'gentle persuasion'?"

The cadets left a cloud of dust in their wake, and Olivia sighed as she lowered her bow.

"Perhaps my next lesson is to teach them not to gossip in the open like that. If I had been a few seconds late, Hellsing would be in need of more recruits." Olivia smiled softly and gazed down at the flowing shadows at her feet. "It is just idle gossip, Alucard. No need to 'defend my honor' over something trivial."

"If it is so trivial," Alucard's airy voice caressed her ears, his shadows wrapping around her legs and shoulders. "Why are you clenching your fists so fiercely?"

Olivia immediately unclenched her fists and stared at the nail indentions on her palms, her smile all but gone.

"…..How can they know what does and does not weigh heavily upon my soul?" She uttered, recalling how she smashed Francesca's face in with a hammer, and how she forced Toby to witness his parents' murders before shooting him between the eyes. "That is nobody's concern but mine." Then Olivia sighed and closed her eyes. "You should hurry and retract your shadows before Sir Hellsing sees. I don't want him to get angry with you."

"I am not technically breaking my master's orders. I was told to stay in the dungeon, but he never said anything about my shadows."

Olivia could perfectly envision Alucard's triumphant smirk, and she laughed before kissing one of his tendrils.

"Hurry along to your room, you are distracting me from my job."

"But I am bored. Won't you visit my dungeon tonight and entertain me?"

"Don't I visit you every night without fail?" She kissed his shadows again before rushing to join the cadets, leaving Alucard's shadows to vanishing into the grass.

"It is a date then."

Besides her duties with the recruits, Olivia visited Alucard every night for fencing lessons. It was something reminiscent of her younger days when she was still unaware of his true nature and he was learning to open his heart to her.

However, since their return to the manor, Sir Hellsing had become dedicated to keeping them as far apart as possible. Olivia knew Arthur did not trust Alucard completely, but his mild distrust had rapidly evolved into full on paranoia. She wanted to remind him of Alucard's unwavering loyalty to the Hellsing organization, but she had a feeling her words would only serve to escalate his behavior.

Still, that didn't stop her from sneaking down to the dungeons whenever Sir Hellsing's back was turned. Nothing—not even her lord's erratic behavior—would keep her from seeing her husband.

With stealth honed over years of practice, Olivia scurried down the dungeon staircase with two rapiers and a satchel thrown over her shoulder as the candles came to life in time with her steps.

The sight of Alucard sitting on his throne greeted her sights, and Olivia felt the day's burdens lift at the sight of his trademark grin.

"Are you going to come and give your husband a kiss?" He held a hand out to her while resting his cheek on the other.

"Are you going to stand up so your wife can kick your ass?" Olivia retorted, tossing a rapier at him and flinging the satchel to the side.

"Oooh, a challenge!" Alucard stood tall, his hat, glass, and coats disappearing into smoke. "En garde then, draga mea."

"I'm not leaving here until I beat you fair and square!" Olivia declared, getting into an offensive position. "Match start!"

[Ten minutes later]

"So I take it you'll be spending the night?" Alucard nudged Olivia's curled up form with his foot, cackling at the death glare she aimed at him. "You know I am never one to shy away from a challenge, not even from my own wife."

"But did you really have to go all out?" Olivia crawled to her knees, blood gushing from her nose and down her chin. "In case you've forgotten, I cannot walk on the fucking ceiling and spring out of the ground like some morbid Jack-in-the-Box. Getting cabin fever, regale meu?"

"As I am in the 'doghouse', you are my only source of fun." Alucard knelt in front of her and gently cradled her face in his hands. "So forgive me if I get rough."

"Or you just wanted a snack, and you can never ask for one like a normal husband." Olivia blushed with a wrinkled nose as Alucard licked the blood off her face.

"A 'normal' husband you say." He nipped at her nose, earning a squeal from her. "Where is the fun in that?"

"A normal husband would be nice and all," Olivia bumped their foreheads together with a grin. "But you are right. Where is the fun in that?"

Both laughed before gazing into the other's eyes, the warmth brought forth simply by being in their love's presence blooming within their chests.

"So, now that the 'lesson' is over, what have you brought to entertain with me today?" Alucard swept the hair out of her eyes, his gloves dissolving off his hands. "Another rousing game of chess?"

"Maybe. But first," Olivia reached out and grasped the bottom of his cravat. "Allow me to give my husband a proper kiss first."

Alucard was more than happy to comply, already leaning in before she could finish her sentence. However, just before their lips touched, Olivia leaned back with a cheeky grin. With a growl, he dived in once more, only for Olivia to move back at the last second.

"Will you deny me my desire?" He dropped his head against her neck, nipping at her clavicle while his hands crept up her waist. "Such cruelty is unlike you, my darling."

"Consider it revenge for almost slicing my nose off." She laughed, nudging his head up so she could kiss him properly. "No need to pout. What kind of king sulks like a child?"

"The kind that has a queen who fuels his desires but leaves him unsatisfied." His hair grew longer as their lips danced together at a slow yet impassioned rhythm while their hands explored the familiar dips of the other's body.

The satchel containing a worn chess board and a deck of cards went ignored for the next hour.

Since the end of the war, there was little to no vampire activity in the country. And if there was, the mission was given to other soldiers since fighting lowly vampires was considered below Olivia's status.

So to occupy her free time, Olivia decided to take up cooking and Korean classes. She knew the basics of the language, but as her father's living legacy, she wanted to keep that part of his heritage alive. And she also wanted to become a better cook so the soldiers would finally shut up about how Walter's food was better.

In truth, Olivia had spent the better part of her adolescence in a dark state of mind, and she wanted to make up for lost time by learning all she could—by living her life to the fullest!

Her Korean teacher constantly picked on her because her Hungarian accent made proper pronunciation difficult, but that just made her study harder, and her cooking instructor called her right hand a 'health hazard' and was hesitant in taking her on as a student, but she worked hard to prove her capabilities regardless of her scars.

And, as the months flew by, Olivia's pronunciation improved and the soldiers began to marvel at her culinary skills without comparing them to Walter's.

Eventually a year flew by and Olivia prepared herself for a very special celebration—her and Alucard's wedding anniversary.

As a child, Olivia never envisioned herself marrying young, yet here she was at 19, a first class vampire hunter who was—ironically—married to the Vampire King. She couldn't help but chuckle as she applied her red lipstick at her vanity, double checking to make sure nothing was smeared.

For her outfit of choice, Olivia was wearing a sleeveless, lace white dress, red heels that matched her lipstick, and to top it all off, a veil. Perhaps she was over-romanticizing the occasion, but Olivia could only spend a maximum of twenty minutes with Alucard as of late so she figured she could indulge a little.

Once she was sure her make-up and outfit were perfect, Olivia grabbed the wine bottle hidden behind her vanity and crept towards the dungeon.

Sir Hellsing was fast asleep by now, so there was little chance of her getting caught. Due to her accomplishments over the past year with the recruits and the favorable results brought about from her training, the Round Table called for Olivia to be promoted to Lieutenant General which only meant more work for her. And when she wasn't working, she was at her classes. And when she wasn't working or at her classes, Sir Hellsing had her at his side as his bodyguard.

This meant little to no time for Alucard.

After making sure the coast was clear, Olivia hurried down the dungeon stairway and into Alucard's room only to find a surprise awaiting her.

"Well aren't you a vision?" Alucard rose from his throne, wearing the same burgundy button up and black dress pants he wore the night of their wedding.

"Looks who's talking." Olivia blushed, the sight of Alucard in normal clothes still flustering her after a year.

They met half-way in the heart of the room and Alucard lifted her veil, that rare enamored expression on his face.

"Happy Anniversary, Alucard." Olivia lifted up the wine bottle. "I got in contact with the supplier of your wine and had him mix some of my blood into this batch. I hope you like it."

"You spoil me." Alucard took the bottle in one hand and grasped her chin with the other. "The color red truly becomes you, my dear. It is a pity you don't wear it more often."

"Really? Thank y—." Her gratitude was silence as he yanked her in for a bruising kiss that smeared her lipstick across both their lips. "H-Hey! What was that for?!"

"Your lipstick looked like it needed some fixing." He answered with a mischievous grin as he moved to place the wine bottle on his side table.

Since it was the first time in a week they had been together, Olivia decided to let it slide and instead clasped her hands behind her back as she bounced on her heels.

"So~" Olivia cooed, putting on an innocent face. "Where is my present?"

"Tell me what you desire and it shall be done." Alucard pressed a lock of her hair to his lips. "Use me as you will."

Olivia tapped her finger against her lips, feigning deep thought, before taking a seat on his throne and crossing her legs.

"Massage my feet then." She lifted up her right foot.

Alucard's smile widened as he knelt before her and gingerly slipped her heel off, inhaling deeply as he pressed a kiss to the superficial vein on top of her ankle bone.

"As you wish, regina mea."

Olivia sighed in utter bliss as Alucard worked his magic, the hours of running around after cadets and tending to Sir Hellsing fading away in a warm glow.

When he was finished with her right foot, he moved onto her left.

"Feeling better?" He chuckled as he moved to her left foot, giving it the same treatment as before.

"Much." She hummed, her eyes fluttering open when he started massaging her legs. "Oh, a full treatment I see?"

"I intend to make my wife as satisfied as possible." He kissed the proximal side of her knee while never breaking eye contact with her. "While pleasuring myself as well."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, my love. The night is still young." She crooked her finger at him with a sly grin. "Now let me thank you for the lovely massage."

Alucard eagerly braced his hands on both armrests of his throne as Olivia grasped his face between her hands and peppered his face and neck with kisses that left lipstick prints behind.

"Marks I will wear proudly." He purred into her ear, and Olivia laughed as she caressed his cheek with the back of her hand.

"How is that you get more handsome every time I see you?"

"Flattery will get you everywhere." He leaned back and ran a finger down her neck to the puncture wound above her breast. "Speaking of which, I must congratulate you on your promotion, Lieutenant General Song."

"About time you came to congratulate me." She teased, sticking her tongue out.

"Ooh, getting cocky are we?" Alucard pinned her against the throne with a cunning smirk and his eyes glowing maroon red. "How about we have a match then? I wish to evaluate your skills myself."

Olivia laughed and placed her bare foot on his chest to ease him back into a crouching position, her cheeks flaring red when he moaned at the action.

"A duel with a king? I can think of no higher honor."

Two rapiers materialized in Alucard's hands, and he offered one to her with his head bowed.

"Your weapon, Miss Song."

"That is 'Lieutenant General' to you." Olivia rose from the throne and removed the veil from her hair. "Call me by the wrong title again and you will see what happens when you push my buttons."

"How can I not though?" He chuckled, tapping their blades together as they circled each other. "Your manner of speech grows more arousing every day. Your mission to seduce me is producing favorable results."

"This is what happens when a wife is kept from her husband. All modesty is thrown to the wind."

They halted in unison before charging forward, the sound of their blades clashing together echoing throughout the dungeon.

A year of training cadets coupled with her own private training had served Olivia well, and her reflexes and strength had improved vastly. If she kept training as she currently was, Olivia would soon prove his equal in battle.

But until then, Alucard enjoyed how she kept him on his toes and how her swordsmanship was more calm and calculated than erratic and sloppy like before.

'How is it that you get more beautiful every time I see you?'

Their blades clashed together and both pushed against the other with a grin, their face inches apart.

"Happy Anniversary, Olivia." Alucard whispered, dipping her back and closing the distance between them.

"Happy Anniversary, Alucard." Olivia smiled into the kiss. "Here is to many more years together."

"Dornez! Turn the damn lamp off!" Mikael leered at Walter's back from under his covers. "It is 3 in the fucking morning. Go to the library if you are going to be a fucking nerd!"

"Library is closed so fuck off or go sleep in the yard." Walter didn't even turn his back to reply, studying the notes on his desk with great intensity.

"Prick." Mikael flung the blanket over his head and turned his back away from Walter's desk.

Once his roommate was quiet, Walter flipped over his notes to reveal the schematics for a new gun.

A semi-automatic magnum pistol to be precise.

It used the Browning short recoil mechanism, and inspiration of its design had been taken from WWI pistols. The gun's most defining feature would be its long slide which would counteract the weapon's heavy recoil with its weight. The barrel would be 10 inches long, and Walter planned to finish it with titanium nitride to give it a golden color.

The gun, in its completion, would be too heavy for the normal human to wield.

However, this gun wasn't meant for a human.

Satisfied with the blueprints, Walter signed the bottom with: Hellsing ARMS 000001-.454 Casull Auto.

The university did not have all the materials he needed, but Walter could create a prototype to save for him and to send to the Doktor. After all, if Millennium wanted to create vampires that could match up to Alucard, they would need to know that type of weapon he was using.

And who better to get that information from than the person who created the weapon?

'When I present the real deal to Alucard, I'm sure he'll want to take it for a spin.' Walter smirked as he placed the blueprints in his desk's secret compartment. 'But what will Sir Hellsing think of that?'

He reached out to flick off the lamp light when his eyes drifted to the doll and photos on his dresser top.

Olivia continued to send him letters once a month, yet she never again mentioned this secret of hers. His curiosity grew with the passing months, and he tried to pry answers out of her in his own letters yet she never answered his questions.

And Alucard's face continued to flash through his mind time and time again, mocking him like a cat with a mouse.

A knot formed in his chest, and Walter anxiously awaited his graduation so he could return to Hellsing and reclaim his place as the "Angel of Death" and Olivia's partner.

"When I return, you better have answers ready." Walter murmured before flicking the light off and submerging the room into darkness.

As Lieutenant General and Sir Hellsing's bodyguard, Olivia accompanied Arthur to all his meetings, yet she was never allowed to be with him during Round Table meetings.

It irked her slightly because Olivia had not seen Sir Islands since the Warsaw Operation, and she wished to speak to him again at least once.

But she had no reason to seek him out since she worked under Sir Hellsing, so she hoped there would come a day when their paths would cross.

Such an opportunity came along three years after her odyssey.

It was a cloudy November evening and Olivia was strolling down the street when she heard a familiar voice call out her name.

"Ms. Olivia, is that you?"

She turned around to find Sir Islands standing a few feet away, holding an umbrella above his head with a brown parcel nestled under his arm

"Sir Islands!" Olivia gasped, rushing over to him with a radiant grin. "It has been ages!"

"Indeed it has." He smiled softly, noting how much she had changed since he last saw her. Olivia was no longer a child, but a 21 year old woman with a decorated military background. Her fashion sense had also evolved into that of a sophisticated woman of the times: long sleeve, white button-up, a high waist black skirt that reached mid-thigh, nylon stockings, black heels, and a wedding ri—.

Sir Islands did a double take at the ruby and diamond ring nestled on her left hand, wondering how the hell he missed the news of her apparent wedding.

"Sir Islands?" Olivia placed a hand on his shoulder, concern etched across her face. "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes, I'm fine." Sir Island mentally scolded himself for getting distracted. "I just realized how long it has been since our last meeting. You have grown into a beautiful young woman, Ms. Olivia."

"Thank you." Olivia giggled, rubbing the back of her neck bashfully. "And you haven't aged a day, Sir Islands. You are as handsome as ever."

"That is very kind of you to say." He chuckled, glad her tendency to give full hearted compliments hadn't dulled away with age. "May I ask why you are out so late in the evening?"

"Oh, Sir Hellsing asked me to deliver some forms to Manchester Cathedral about a new set of blessed metals for the blacksmiths. What about yourself, Sir Islands?"

"I was picking up an order from the dressmaker." He gestured to the parcel under his arm. "It is a gift for my fiancé. Her birthday is coming up, so I thought I would purchase a new evening dress for her."

"Congratulations, Sir Islands!" Olivia clapped her hands together while bouncing on her heels. "I am thrilled you are finally getting married!"

"I should give my congratulations to you as well." Sir Islands stared at her ring once more. "Arthur failed to inform me of your wedding. If I had known, I would've sent a wedding present to you and your husband."

"Well," Olivia chuckled, scratching her cheek with averted eyes. "I got married without his permission, and he doesn't exactly approve of who I married so I can understand why he didn't tell you."

"Really? May I ask who—?"

"It is getting late, Sir Islands. May I escort you home?" Olivia interrupted him, a strained smile on her lips.

'Who on Earth could it be that Arthur would not inform me or Penwood?' Sir Islands wondered before he dropped the question for another time. "I appreciate the gesture, but it is I who should escort you home."

"Sir Islands, it is my duty to ensure the safety of the Round Table members. Besides, you and I both know that I am a First Class soldier for a reason."

The statement would sound boastful to anyone else, but Sir Islands knew she was only stating the truth.

"Very well." He nodded and moved so she stood under his umbrella as well. "My car is parked on the next block. Shall we?"

It was pitch black by the time they reached his car, and Sir Islands was about to bid her farewell when Olivia climbed into the passenger's seat.

"What are you—?"

"Allow me to escort you all the way home, Sir Islands. Your car may be made of steel but it is not impenetrable."

"But my house is—."

"Sir Islands, I am begging you!" Olivia pleaded, her voice cracking before she quickly composed herself. "….Please, Sir Islands. Let me do this."

"I abandoned everyone when they needed me the most." Olivia whispered as she stood in front of Martha's grave, the soil still freshly laid. "My parents, my brothers, and now Martha….What use am I, Sir Islands? Tell me."

"….If you insist." Sir Islands climbed into the driver's seat and started the ignition, spying Olivia unclenching her fists in his peripheral vision.

'I see. Your past still weighs heavily upon you, Olivia.' He thought as he pulled out of his parking space and drove away. 'You may look different on the outside, but you are still the same on the inside.'

The ride to his house was taken in silence, however when they were three blocks from their destination, Olivia suddenly leaned forward in her seat and stared at something in the side mirror.

"Ms. Oli—?"

"Sir Islands, I need you to speed up." She rolled down her window while never taking her eyes off the side mirror. "And do not stop until I tell you to."

Sir Islands complied without saying a word, catching on that something was amiss.

The wind zipped by them as the car went faster and faster until—!

"STOP!" Olivia bellowed, yanking something from her sleeves as the car jerked to a stop and a sickening squish filled the air.

Nearly banging his head on the steering wheel, Sir Islands took a moment to compose himself before slowly turning towards Olivia who was facing forward.

Her left arm was sticking out the window, and in her hand, she held one of her blessed arrows.

And, as Sir Islands leaned over, he discovered the arrow was embedded into the throat of a chocking vampire.

"Thank you for your co-operation, Sir Islands." Olivia smiled, the vampire crumbling to ash and dust as she tore the arrow out of its neck. "That is your house on the left, correct? Allow me to walk you to your door."

Sir Islands stared at her in stunned silence as she cleaned her arrow with a handkerchief, retracting his earlier belief that she was still the same on the inside.

She walked him all the way to his doorstep and did not leave until he had locked the door behind him.

Sir Islands watched her leave from his living room window, noticing how she walked without an ounce of fear for the night around her.

It was as if she had become one with the night itself.

And, as Sir Islands allowed the drape to fall back into place, he realized that maybe he didn't know Olivia as well as he thought.

"This is such bullshit!" Walter groaned, sitting on the windowsill in the empty common room with the phone nestled between his shoulder and cheek as he fiddled with the cigarette in his hand. "You have been having all the fun while I am stuck in this hellhole!"

"Hey!" Olivia laughed, sitting in the corner of the kitchen wrapped in a blanket while warming her feet over the heating vent. "You are in that 'hellhole' so you can obtain a very expensive piece of paper! Besides, I heard the Round Table will promote you upon your return."

"They never cared for us as soldiers before. Why the sudden change in mind?"

"I guess they realize how valuable we are and want to 'reward' us with titles and such."

"Is our pay still the same?"

"Yeah."

"Pricks."

Olivia buried her face into her arms to muffle her laughter. It was almost two in the morning, and this was first time Walter was able to get into direct contact with her without someone else listening in.

"Your voice sounds deeper." Olivia noted, flexing her toes as the heater roasted her feet. "I'm sure you have plenty of fans. Have you found a special someone yet?"

"You already know the answer to that question, Olivia."

The heater cut off, and she felt an icy chill engulf her body from her feet to her neck.

Why did he have to remind her of how he felt, and how she would have to tell him she was married to Alucard? It would have been easier to tell him in her letters, but that would have been cowardly.

And Walter deserved better than that.

He deserved to hear it from her mouth, face-to-face.

"Don't go there, Walter. We have been over this before."

"That doesn't change how I feel." Walter took a long drag of his cigarette and rested his forehead against the cold window. "I miss you, Olivia."

"I miss you too, Walter." Olivia sighed, the chill rising to her face now. "Just one more year, and then we can be the dynamic duo again."

"And you will finally tell me this secret of yours?"

"…..Yes." Her head flopped back against the wall. "I will tell you everything when you return."

"Why are you so hesitant to tell me now? Am I not going to like it or something?"

"….That is up to you to decide."

"Damn it, Olivia! What is—?!"

"I do love you, Walter. I hope you know that." Olivia clung to her bracelets. "Your place in my heart is big enough to cover the Earth twice."

"I know." Walter snubbed out his cigarette and placed his hand on the dark blue muffler around his neck. "You've told me that before."

"So study hard and enjoy the rest of your time in university. And, when we meet again, I'll explain everything. I just…I just want you to know how much you mean to me. You were my first friend when I came to Hellsing, and I don't think I could've come this far without you by my side."

The way she was talking only served to unnerve Walter further, but he knew the only way to get his questions answered was to wait until next year.

"I will hurry and come back to you. So wait for me, you stupid girl."

Suddenly they were eight and six again, arguing and playing pranks on each other without a care in the world.

Olivia covered her mouth to muffle her sobs as she nodded, wishing they could've stayed carefree forever.

"Don't keep me waiting, you foul-mouthed brat."

Walter gave an airy laugh at that before pressing a kiss to the phone's mouth piece.

"I love you, Olivia. Goodnight."

The line cut off just as the heater kicked back on, and Olivia allowed the phone to fall from her hands as she buried her face into her knees.

Whether she waited four years or forty years, Olivia knew the results were going to be the same.

But she could still foolishly hope that Walter would be happy for her while knowing he had a permanent place in her heart.

It seemed, even at 21 years old, Olivia still believed she could influence things that were out of her control.

The day of Walter's return was an auspicious one with clear blue skies and a gentle breeze dancing across the grass.

And carried on that breeze was the sound of Olivia's voice.

Now 22 years old, she stood in the back of the manor, hanging sheets to dry on the clothes line while vocalizing to the tune of a bluebird's melody.

Just like the singer from her favorite radio program.

Butterflies were bombarding her stomach and she constantly felt like puking, so singing calmed her nerves.

Any minute now, Walter would return to the manor as a college graduate and to reclaim his position. And he would want answers from her, and she would have to give them to him.

Her voice growing louder, Olivia gazed down at her wedding ring and pressed it against her chest.

'Alucard, don't do anything to provoke Walter.' She closed her eyes, feeling his shadows caress her cheek. 'I want to handle this on my own.'

'I will try.'

'Alu—!'

'I jest. You have my word I will not ruffle Walter's feathers. Now,' She felt his thumb trace her bottom lip. 'Continue your song, porumbelul meu. It is rare you treat me to a lullaby.'

When the cab pulled up to the front of Hellsing manor, Walter didn't waste a second in getting out and taking in his home after four years.

He was now a 20 year old graduate with a degree, yet that scrap of paper didn't matter at the moment.

Removing his suitcase from the trunk and paying the cabbie, Walter marched up the pathway to the manor entrance, hearing the sounds of soldiers performing their drills in the distance and smelling the scent of gunpowder in the air.

At long last, he had finally returned to where he belonged.

"I have returned home, Sir Hellsing." Walter bowed at the waist in front of Arthur's desk. "I trust you have been well in my absence."

"More or less." Arthur smiled, rising to shake his hand. "Glad to have you back, Walter. Hellsing hasn't been the same without its 'Angel of Death'."

"I have some new ideas for weapons, if you would like to review them at your convenience. I also hope you have some missions lined up for me, Sir Hellsing."

"All in good time, Walter. First, why don't you greet your partner?" Arthur gestured to the window behind him. "She is out back hanging laundry."

"I shall go to her then." Walter repressed the urge to smile like a fool as he bowed and turned towards the exit. However, before he could lay a hand on the doorknob, Sir Hellsing spoke up again.

"Do not get angry at Olivia when she tells you her secret." He ordered, his hands clasped behind his back. "And I would like for you to keep a close eye on her from now on, so she doesn't fuel a fire that is better left burnt out."

"Sir?"

"You'll understand what I mean soon. Now go."

Arthur watched Walter leave before moving to the window and pushing aside the drapes, spotting Olivia hanging a sheet in the distance.

"The final hour has come, Olivia. Get ready."

Walter hastily made his way to the back of the manor, butterflies fluttering against his stomach at finally seeing Olivia again.

'Why the hell am I so nervous? Is it because I get to see Olivia again or is it because of this secret that Sir Hellsing is being so cryptic about? And what does he mean about keeping a close eye on Olivia? What the hell is this secret exactly?!'

As he neared the back of the manor, he came to a halt when he heard a familiar voice singing.

I wonder, I wonder, I wonder why

Each little bird has someone to sing to

Sweet things to a gay little love melody?

'Olivia!' Walter broke into a sprint, unable to hide the smile crawling across his face.

This song was from the fairy tale radio program "Sleeping Beauty", and he wasn't surprised this was her song of choice since Olivia loved fairy tales. And, interestingly, the song they danced to at the Royal Ball originated from this fairy tale.

I wonder, I wonder if my heart keeps singing

Will my song go winging to someone who'll find me

Her voice grew louder with every step, and Walter nearly threw himself around the back corner of the manor, finally reaching the laundry area.

And bring back a love song to me?

And there she was, standing with her back to him as the wind lightly tousled her hair and her apron fluttered in the breeze.

This wasn't a photograph or a dream but sweet reality.

'I'm home, Olivia.' He smiled, picking up a rock from the ground. 'Just as I promised."

Then, with the poise of a star baseball play, Walter flung the rock towards her with all his might.

And without a moment's hesitation, Olivia whipped out her pistol and shot the rock into pieces.

"Nice to see your reflexes haven't gone to shit." Walter snickered, watching Olivia's face morph from defensive to dumbfound.

The pistol fell to the ground as Olivia's hands covered her mouth and her eyes began to well up.

"W-Walter?"

"Obviously. Are you just going to stand there like an idiot or are you going to give me a proper welcome?" He held his arms out to her and smiled softly. "I've come back you, Olivia."

"Walter….." Olivia kicked the laundry basket aside and rushed towards him, her tears bubbling over and down her face. "Walter….Walter…..Walter!"

They crashed into each other and their rapturous laughter filled the air as they clung to each other.

"You are back! Oh God, Walter, you are back!" Olivia wailed, touching his face to make sure he was real. "And when did you get so handsome?! Someone kidnapped my baby faced Walter and replaced him with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome!"

His face was no longer round but angular, his hair had grown out, and he indeed hit another growth spurt, making him two inches taller than Olivia without heels.

"Did you just call me 'baby faced'?" Walter grabbed at her cheeks as she grabbed at his too, a mirror image of her childhood antics. "You weren't exactly Katherine Hepburn when I last saw you!"

"I said what I said!" Olivia retorted before giving him a playful punch to the chest. "Four years at one of Britain's top universities and you still talk like such a brat."

They erupted into laugher again before Walter crossed his arms and got right down to business.

"Alright. I am back home, and Sir Hellsing's welcome only served to fuel my curiosity. So, spill it. What do you need to tell me?"

Olivia's heart crashed to her stomach, and she wished Walter had waited a few more minutes so they could enjoy their reunion for a while longer.

"You get right to the point, don't you?" She sighed, taking a step back while trying to steady her heartrate. "But you are right. I owe you an explanation, so here it is."

Walter watched her fidget for a moment, his desire for answers outweighing his concern for her comfort level.

"When I left on that trip four years ago, I did not go by myself." Olivia took a deep breath before continuing, covering her left hand with her right. "Concerned for my safety, Sir Hellsing had someone accompany me. We didn't intend for it to happen, but over the course of that month, we grew closer and I realized how much this person meant to me. So much so that I…." Biting her lip, Olivia removed her right hand and lifted up her left to his eye level. "I married him, Walter."

At the sight of the ring on her finger, Walter felt like the wind had been knocked out of his chest, and he stumbled back as his heart pounded in his ears.

Olivia was….married?! She got married and she didn't tell him until now?! Why the fuck did she keep it from him?! Did it have to do with her—?!

Walter's throat became bone dry, and his ears rang violently as he began to connect the dots.

'No….Please don't tell me….!'

"The person who accompanied me on that trip….and the person who is also my husband…"

Olivia clutched her chest before saying the words that shattered the world around him.

"That person…is Alucard."

A/N: The full effect of Walter's reaction will be in the next chapter! But yes, Olivia and Walter are reunited and she has finally told him the big secret! And I imagine Walter in his 20s looks like how he did in Episode 9 of the OVA which we saw for all of two seconds before Alucard punched the puberty out of him. And the song Olivia is singing is from "Sleeping Beauty" which actually was released in 1959 and not 1950 so just ignore that detail. The song "I Wonder" is linked on my profile page. It is one of my favorite songs from the movie! And the song is also on the Spotify playlist! And the new cover art is how Olivia's new outfit looks like. This will be her default outfit for the rest of the fic. And her anniversary outfit and a better image of her default outfit will be on my tumblr blog.

Anways, prepare yourself for some action in the next chapter!

However, I will leave you with this question to ponder: If Olivia had married anyone else, would Walter's reaction still be the same?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review! I love them all and you all so much~!

Look forward to the next chapter! I'll see you then! :D