Universe: Ultimate

Characters: Pip, Seras

Relationship: Seras/Pip

This time. This time, he had done his homework.

No garlic. No running water. No holy water. No holy silver. No seeds. No beans. No grains. No collections of any small objects anywhere near their immediate vicinity.

Pip had eaten his dinner beforehand. He'd brushed his teeth until his gums bled. He'd picked a spot they could visit without having to cross any rivers—low-key, but then he'd seen what happened whenever he tried to do something fancy. This time, this time he was going to get it right.

"It's been so long since I got to do this!" Seras whispered excitedly as they settled into their seats at the back of the darkened theater, and Pip didn't even try to hide his grin. He knew how much Seras still sometimes missed her human life. He also knew she could no longer walk about in the sunlight, or enjoy human food. So, he'd put in an effort to track down something she could still enjoy.

"My pleasure is yours, ma chere. It was no trouble at all."

It had been plenty of trouble. He'd spent weeks in the Hellsing library, sacrificing day off after day off to read up on vampires. The second they'd walked through the door, he'd quickly interposed his own body between Seras and the popcorn machine, before drawing her attention quickly to the posters on the wall and asking her to pick the film—the last thing he needed was to spend his night explaining to every passing stranger why his date was spending her night in the theater lobby obsessively counting popcorn.

Of course, Seras didn't need to know how much effort he'd put in.

It paid off. Though the film that she'd chosen honestly bored him, if Pip had been going out to entertain himself, he wouldn't have chosen the movies. They left the theater arm in arm, chatting easily about everything and nothing.

Back to the manor, and his heart was pounding. As far as this date was concerned, their night was over, and the only question left was: would they be going their separate ways, or… staying together? It was far too early for Seras to go back to her coffin, but not too early at all for him to seek his bed.

They'd reached his quarters. The door was open, but he didn't go in. They stood outside and looked at each other. "Well…" he said.

"Well…" she replied. He'd never realized before that a vampire could blush.

"Do you…?"

"Should I…?"

If that wasn't an indication that a girl wasn't ready to go her own way, he didn't know what was. Grinning, Pip pushed the door wider. Still blushing, Seras put her hand in his. Gently, he began to pull her into the room…

"Oof!"

He blinked. Seras's face was turned to the side, her cheek flattened as if she'd pressed her face up against a glass wall. At least he'd tugged her gently, otherwise she might have ended up with a broken nose and wouldn't that be fun, but still—!

Think, Pip, think! Seras had already backed off, rubbing a confused hand over her face while Pip wracked his brain trying to figure out what exactly was going on. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers.

"My apologies, ma chere. I got caught up in the moment." Once again, he held out a hand. "You're invited."

Somewhat more cautiously this time, Seras put her hand in his. Her eyes scrunched shut as he pulled her forward, but this time, she passed through the door without incident. When she settled into his arms, she blinked, looking surprised that she'd actually made it over the threshold.

Pip chuckled. "What did I tell you? I've been doing my homework."

"You certainly have." Seras tucked her head beneath his chin, and right at that moment Pip thought that whatever happened next, all of the aggravation would have been worth it.

A/N: And DONE!

I know that this series wasn't always my best writing, but my best writing was never the point. The point was to get myself writing again, and to have fun, and in that I think I succeeded. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, whether it was to offer a differing opinion or simply to say you enjoyed it. With luck, I will be working on something longer (not to mention more serious) at some point in the future.