It had been two weeks since Beko and Video had rescued them at Hollowpoint from certain doom.  Two weeks since she agreed to work for Beko and she had moved into the hotel.  Her things in storage, a hodgepodge of needed items and wanted ones, she was still something of a vagabond.  Not yet home in any real way.

Alucard visited with her daily.  Sometimes only briefly, popping by to bring food, other times they spent evenings together talking or gambling but mostly they avoided anything of what they'd shared in Detroit and Philly.  Aurora supposed it was for the best and never pushed on the matter.  However, after her first real date with Silvio, she thought it was time to have some serious discussions.  Not because she intended to be with Silvio, that was obviously not happening... but because she was able to kiss him and NOT think about Billy.  Things were changing.  She was changing.  And, now that she'd made decisions, it was time to have a frank talk with him.

She planned for him to meet her at a park.  She brought bagged sandwiches to eat and figured they'd walk and talk about how life was treating them.  She wasn't sure where the night would go, but she knew that of all the people she had left in this world, Alucard meant the most to her next to her own blood kin.  There was no one else she wanted to share the big decisions of her life with than him.

Oscar pulled the car into the parking lot just outside the city park.  Desert flowers, sparse trees, and land which was watered regularly to make it stay green made this place a wonder.  She liked it very much.  Shadowed by Charlie she wandered into the park to find where Alucard was waiting for her.

Alucard,

My boy, I set everything up. These papers are what your'e going to need to fill out, and take to the king.  With this, and the ceremony, it will make you a Lord.  You'll be a noble, and you'll take on my name boy.  You'll offically be a Hellsing, Alucard Alexander Hellsing, you will be one of us.   This is the least I can do for you, and what you have done for myself and Integra.   

I know how you feel about ceremonies and upper echelon, but do this for me son.  Take the title of Lord and rule over Hellsing estates, take your place along side Integra.  

I am proud of you,

Arthur

Alucard reread the note from the late Lord Hellsing before he slipped it back into its small leather case, with the rest of the paperwork he finished filling out.  He'd finally made the decision to go back to England and take his place among the British nobility.  With Integra gone, this was his only chance left to pick up a family name, so he was going to take it.  He hated the idea of leaving Aurora behind, especially what happened to those he cared about the last time he took off to England. 

He slid the case under his arm, and made his way to the park that Rora had indicated she wanted to meet up at.  It was a beautiful park, the green was a relief from the dank desert landscape he was finding as he looked for a more permanent home for himself.  He missed the forests he found in Detroit and Philly, but he knew he would soon feel more at home in the desert climate. 

He quietly sat on a bench as he waited for Aurora to show up, wondering how the hell he was going to tell her about why he was going back to England. He had no idea why the idea of him being nobility was embarrassing to him, he just preferred being an average joe.  He had no cares for the fancier things in life, all the excess he made financially he gave to the shelter and school he had opened in Detroit. 

His eyes light up, and a broad smile crossed his face when he saw her approaching him.  He stood up and walked to meet her,  giving her a light, friendly kiss to her cheek.

"You look good today.  How are you doing my Twin Iris?"

She kissed his cheeks.  "I'm good.  Maybe for the first time in weeks, I'm really good." She sat down on a park bench and offered him one of her sandwiches.

"I mean, things aren't perfect or normal yet, but good is better than bad so I'll take it."  She took a bite of her sandwich.  After swallowing she kept on, "I've had some pretty big things happen and I've made some decisions and I was sorta hoping that today maybe we could... talk about some of the things I've decided on... but first, how have you been?  How are you holding up?"

Alucard beamed at her,  as he took the sandwich from her, hearing her say that things were good and that she was good for the first time in weeks, it warmed his heart.   He took a bite and swallowed before playfully teasing her, "It's about time you bring me some food."

He sat for a brief moment and enjoyed the sun on his face, the slight breeze, and the company at his side.   "I'm doing pretty good, I think.  Finding a house has been more difficult than I anticipated.  I'm thinking I might just find a place and fix it up myself.  I, uh, have something I want to tell you as well.  I don't even know where or how to begin with it." 

His eyes glanced down at the leather case at his feet, then back to Aurora.  The thought of telling her was already making him feel embarrassed, he could feel the warmth on his face.  He chuckled a bit, "It's, uh, getting hot already..."

She tilted her head around the front of him so their amber eyes met.  Her dark hair hung around her face framing it like curtains upon the amber eyes that were the windows of her soul.  

"If you like,"  she said giving him a reassuring smile.  "I can start?"

He took a moment, and just stared into Aurora's eyes.  They way they mirrored his, her reassuring smile, comforted him.  He took his hand, and tucked a bit of Aurora's hair behind her ear.

"I can do this, it won't take long. I... I... don't think."   

He took a deep breath. "I'm not comfortable talking about this.  It's not me, not really.  But, I... I  have always said that I was just a servant, bodyguard, and soldier for the Hellsing family.  But Arthur... before he died... he... Fuck. Just, here." 

He placed the leather case in Aurora's lap, he gave her a moment to read through all the paperwork.  

"I'm going to head back to England, to take the dumb title of Lord... but more importantly, to take the Family name.  My plan was to just take the name when Integra and I got married, but when she passed, that was no longer an option.  And lets face it, who's gonna marry my crazy ass?"

He couldn't help but laugh.

"So I get to go all out of my element and become fucking British nobility... but I'll finally, actually... have a family name."  He looked back into the depths of her eyes, a somber happiness spread across his face. 

"That's..."  Aurora's smile faltered a second but then she brought it back.  "That's wonderful news Alucard.  I'm so happy for you.  Congratulations!  I've never known an actual Lord before!  Will I have to bow to you or call you Lord Hellsing now?"  

She laughed, only partially joking.

"You will come back to visit sometimes, won't you?"

He couldn't help but laugh. "Oh don't you dare bow to me or call me Lord Hellsing."

His tone softened, and he just kept smiling at her, "I am, and will remain, your Wild Card."

"Come back to visit? Oh, my Iris, you are not rid of me that easy.  The King himself couldn't prevent me from keeping my promises to you. You have me at your side until you tell me to piss off."

He let his hand gently caress her cheek. 

"I will come back to you." He thought for a moment, "Actually, if you want or are able, you could come with?  Laugh as your Twin Iris gets all embarrassed when the king hits on him.  Watch me all uncomfortable in a formal ceremony. Oggle at me in my service uniform.  It could be fun, well, for you anyways."  

Alucard grinned and genuinely laughed at the thought. 

"I would oggle you."  She said with a hint of flirtation in her voice. 

"But I can't come to England, not right now at least.  Not with all I've started today.  I've... I've got some big things - it's the stuff I wanted to talk to you about.  You see, I'm moving forward again.  I got my head on straight again.  I mean, I miss Billy, but I feel like I can see what life will be like without him now.  And, it's good."

She drew a breath.  "Of course, hearing your news... well, it um... maybe changes some things.  How about I start with the easy things.  I'm taking over my mom's businesses here in Vegas.  I'm looking for a house to buy.  I've brought the orphans to Vegas from Detroit and we're converting one of my mom's properties into an orphanage.  I'm naming it for Billy actually.  The Mastersimone Home for Children."

She sat up a bit straighter.  

"And... I'm going to adopt one of the children like I think Billy and I might have done if he was still here.  She's a little French girl named Brigitte."  She watched for his reaction.

He got a slightly confused looked on his face, "How does my new change things?" 

"That's brilliant about the Orphanage, I think Billy would be smiling down on that. I need to open up another school/shelter for homeless families here in Vegas as I did in Detroit."

He paused, and sat up straight, mirroring Aurora's posture. He smiled, "Adopting a little girl?  That's really sweet. So many kids could use the type of love you can give in their lives.  If there is anything I can do to help with the adoption process, let me know.   I'm fairly clueless as to babies, but I am pretty good with younger children, the shelter kids seem to like me at least."

Alucard gave Aurora a smile.  "London can wait, tell me how to help."

She reached out and touched his hand, looking down at it as she did it. 

"I wasn't going to ask you for help.  You've been an incredible help to me already, you helped me survive the unthinkable.  And I've figured out I can do anything I need to do all on my own."

She let her fingers trace over the back of his hand, it wasn't sexual explicate but perhaps a bit intimate.

"But I might want your help in regards to my future wants..."  She let the word want linger heavily in the air. 

"I was... hurting in Detroit."  She looked up to his eyes.  "I wasn't where you're at and, I'm not 100% sure I'm there just yet either, but I feel like maybe... in time I could be?  It's just with these choices, this family I'm starting, the goals I have... that it might not be what you want for your future.  So, I wanted to tell you what I'm doing, what I'm planning... and to let you know that I'm sorry for how I hurt you in Detroit.  You... wanted to be with me and I just couldn't.  I hope you know that.  It had nothing to do with what I think about you and just, about how much pain I was in?"

He sat for a few moments, trying to process what he had just heard.  He searched the depths of her eyes, as he tried to come to terms with what he'd just heard.

"You have nothing to apologize for in Detroit.  I know why you couldn't be, and I understand.  As for what I want for my future? Family was definitely a hope and dream, I know I don't come across the type of person who may desire those things in their life... god I do." 

He glanced down at their hands, he took one of his fingers and very lightly ran it along her wrist. He took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled as his mind swirled.

"You don't have to be where I'm at 100% yet. I'm here, and I am willing to wait until you feel like you are."  His voice was soft, and understanding.  He leaned in and softly placed his lips to hers, kissing her for a brief moment. 

"Aurora, let me be the song that lets you dance again."

Aurora felt his lips and closed her eyes, a chill ran through her body.

She inhaled as he spoke and exhaled in a smile.

"When you get back from England,"  she said quietly.  "Let's... plan something?  You and me on a real date.  We can see where things go?"  She arched an eyebrow.

"If nothing else, it'll be a good time.  So... what do you say, Lord Hellsing?  Think you'd like to slum it with a single mother & mafia princess after you're done kissing the King's ass?" 

She gave him a playful wink.

His lips spread in a broad smile, the happiness he felt in his heart was evident across his face. 

"After I get back?  I will leave today if you are what I have waiting for me when I get home."

He looked into her eyes, letting his fingers lightly trace down her cheek before his thumb brushed over her lips.  A cocky grin now spread across his face.

"The only ass I will be kissing will be yours,  looks like I'm going to have to break the Kings' heart."

"Well, someone once told me that I should be buried with my ass in the air so that the best of our society would be found by future archeologists one day."  She chuckled.

"But you'll have to wait to find that out for sure."  she ate another bite of sandwich.  "Ideally, when you get back, I'll have figured out my housing and Brigitte will be living with me... hopefully I'll be settled into a routine.  Maybe this place will even be feeling like home by then."

She leaned over and kissed him again, enjoying the feel of it too much not to try it again.  When she pulled back her face was flush. 

"I like kissing you,"  she admitted, her hand touching the stubble on his cheek.  "We should do more of that when you get back too."

His fingertips lightly caressed down her shoulder and arm.  His eyes taking in every detail of her face.   He smiled at hearing her chuckle, he loved her smile and laugh.  "Well, I guess I will have to admire  your ass from afar then."

He sat for a moment, silent listening to her speak.  There were people, animals, and other noises around them but for him all there was the person he cared most about in all the world and this moment between them.  His past left him frequently feeling like he wasn't destined for happiness in his life, but he sat here and while there was still so much to figure out he couldn't help the small sliver of hope finding its way into his heart.

"When I get back, we'll have our real date.. and so much more. You, me, and Brigitte.  We can go to the zoo, fair, circus, or the parks... or all of it.  But," 

He paused and slid in closer to her.

"Do we have to..."

His fingers ran through her hair as they slid in behind the nape of her neck.

"Wait..."

His lips quickly kissed hers, before lingering over he lips.

"To kiss more?"

He smiled, "I like it too"

Aurora smiled.  

"No."  She kissed him again.

"We can do that a bit more I suppose, but just kisses... for now."  And she kissed him again.  "When you get back, we'll both want more and I'm not talking about circuses and fairs."

She giggled into his kisses.  

Alucard was no Billy, and at this moment, Aurora was starting to think that wasn't such a bad thing.