AUTHOR'S NOTE: I love you all so much! This is the very last chapter, and to celebrate my first story ever to come close to 200 reviews and over 40 alerts, I have put up my new story, Before It All, featuring Young Walter and Girlycard from Dawn. Give it a read! This has been amazing and thank you for all the support and patience.

Enjoy the last chapter and the AxIness!

Chapter 13

Integra dried her hair with a towel and put cool oil on her skin. She put on fresh, clean clothing and ointment on the cuts on her left hand. She wished she could have her right hand was better but that took time. For now, she was feeling better than she had in months.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw a growing bruise under her right eye the size of a quarter, where Alucard had struck her the night before. It was sensitive to touch but could be hidden with makeup, better than the black eye she had expected to find. She cleaned her glasses and exited the washroom.

Alucard sat on her bed.

Surprised, Integra stopped in her tracks. The vampire stood and approached her, his eyes downcast on her hands. She regarded him in wonderment as he picked up her hands, caressed them, and kissed them, one followed by the other.

"How could you hurt them, master?" he said. "Your beautiful hands, for the likes of me?"

Sneering, she pulled out of his grasp. "So you remember."

"Enough." His eyes followed her as she walked past him to her jacket laying on a chair by the bed. "How long?"

"Three weeks."

"You laid by my side…"

"For twenty-one days exactly." She shook the dust out of her jacket and put it on. "All part of duty, as you'd put it."

Strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Startled, Integra didn't struggle. She let him hold her in silence.

"Are you going to get emotional about it?" she asked, using the smug tone he had taken in the dungeons. "Your well-being is my responsibility. I did what I had to."

"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear.

"For what?"

"For causing you trouble."

"I've had more trouble than that."

"My only regret is not remembering the taste of your blood."

She chuckled. "I'm afraid that offer no longer stands."

He was smiling, she knew it. "That's alright."

"You can let go now," she said. "Gratitude accepted."

He did. She faced him. For a while they stayed that way, looking at each other with even gazes. Then he asked, "so what now?"

"Business as usual," she said, straightening her jacket. "Though I wouldn't mind knowing why the ordeal took place, if you are able to explain it."

Alucard looked away. "It's not easy to explain."

"So you do know."

"Somewhat," he nodded. "It was a bit embarrassing to have you see my worst dream."

"Was it real?"

"A long time ago, yes."

"Seemed like a bad spot you were in, a painful childhood."

"Pain fades."

"So why take the form that remembers it so well?"

Alucard smiled at her. It was a sad smile, one she never imagined seeing on him in her wildest dreams. "Pain overrides pain," he told her. "Sometimes opening up an old wound helps deal with the new one."

There was a tug at her heart. "What has hurt you so badly?"

"Do you remember what you said to me last night, Integra?"

"I said a lot of things."

"You said even though there is no room in your life for love…"

"…that I don't know how I will live without you." It was her turn to look away, trying to hide her blush. "Yes, I do remember."

"Did you mean it?"

She sighed. "Is there a point to this?"

"Yes."

"Fine, I did." Integra crossed her arms in exasperation. "I mean, I do. So what?"

"I just wanted to make sure," said her servant, "that the feeling was mutual. That night, I returned from a mission, and overheard you and Walter carrying on a certain conversation, and for the first time in my life since the dream you saw, I was afraid."

She met his eyes slowly. "You were afraid that I don't…"

"…see me as I see you."

"How do you see me?"

"If you can't tell," Alucard chuckled, "then I don't see how me telling you would help."

Integra opened her mouth, found no words, and closed it again. They stood in silence once more. Finally, Alucard bowed.

"I must retire for the day, master," he said formally, "if there is nothing else. I'm sure I'm not been presumptuous to assume that I am no longer invited in your bedroom."

Integra paused. "That is correct," she said, then added, "but if you have a bad dream, I'll consider making an exception."

THE END