Hans Gunche and Pip Bernadotte stood silently in the hall outside Silvia's room. Hans stood with his hands in his pockets and staring at the opposite wall while Pip pulled uncomfortably at his shirt collar. He hated wearing Tuxedo's. Tonight was a formal party at the Hellsing mansion to try to promote civil relations between Hellsing and Iscariot. This meant wearing a tux. They were standing across form Silvia's door, waiting for her and Ulrica to finish getting dressed. They had been standing there for more than half an hour, mostly because Ulrica was being difficult. She hated wearing formal clothes more than Pip did. "But Silvia!" they heard the werewolf protest. "I don't see why I need to wear heels! Why can't I wear my combat boots? This damned dress is long enough!" Pip chuckled, imagining the pretty woman wearing combat boots under a formal dress. It sounded like something she would do. Hans simply rolled his eyes, knowing all to well how difficult she could be. He stole a sidelong glance at Pip, who was getting amusement out of his younger sister's stubbornness. He did not like the French mercenary hired by Sir Integra. He especially did not like that man's attachment to Ulrica. Hans saw the way his face always brightened whenever she walked into the room, or how he always had a smile for her. He saw the way he stared at her when he thought no one was looking. Hans did not like it. Ulrica was his baby sister, and he was very protective of her. And what Hans disliked as much as Pip's attachment to his sister, was Ulrica's attachment to the French man. She was forever hugging him and laughing at his bad and often crude jokes. She loved to steal his hat and run off with it, forcing the French man to play Hide and Seek. Not that Pip didn't enjoy every minute of it. It seemed that she had a special look reserved only for that man. She would smile a certain way and her eyes would brighten. She would play with his braid and play hit him, the two harassing each other until they ended up a tangle of limbs on the floor, wrestling and tickling and laughing. Hans had no problem with his baby sister being friends with the man, but even a blind man could see that there was more than friendship felt between the two. Not that either one would admit it. Hans was snapped from his thoughts by the bedroom door opening. Silvia walked out, wearing a beautiful midnight blue off the shoulder evening gown and a proud smile. Her soft red hair was pulled up into a bun and she wore an elegant diamond necklace. Hans' eyes softened and a small smile formed on his face. It was no mystery that Hans was immensely fond of the woman. "Well boys," she said. "I did my best, and I have to say that it looks pretty good. You might not even recognize your little sister, Hans." Silvia chuckled. She then turned around and poked her head into the room. "Come on, 'Rica." She said. "You look fine."

"Well I feel like an idiot! I can barely walk in these shoes and the makeup you put on me makes my face feel heavy!"

"Too bad!" Silvia said. "Now come on. The sooner you come out the sooner this will be over and you can go put your regular clothes back on."

A heavy sigh was heard from the room and then footsteps approached the door. Then, to the surprise of no one, Ulrica practically tripped out of the room. "Damn." She whispered under her breath, straightening herself up and smoothing out her skirt. Once he got a good look at her, Pip's mouth hung open and he blinked several times. Ulrica was wearing a simple, strapless black floor length evening gown that shimmered when she moved. Her long black hair was in loose curls and held back from her face by a silver clip in the shape of a butterfly. She wore a necklace similar to Silvia's and both girls wore similar diamond earrings. Ulrica looked to the side and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "See?" Silvia said. "You look pretty." Ulrica just groaned and rolled her eyes. Looking at Pip, she saw that he was staring at her with his mouth open. Rolling her eyes again, she walked over to him and using her hand, pushed his jaw back up. "You shouldn't leave your mouth hanging open, Frenchie." She said, using one of her nicknames for him. "You'll catch flies that way." Pip chuckled and removed his chin from her hand. "My bad, Mon Cheri." He said. "Just not used to seeing you in a dress."

"Well, you don't look to bad in that monkey suit, either."

"If you two are finished flirting, could we please go? 'Teggie will yell at us if were late."