He felt her gently release from the kiss and opened his eyes to look at her again, not willing yet to release her from his arms. She looked at him with a gentle-half smile on her lips and then rested her head against his chest; she took a deep breath. The blue flames that had been simmering flicked out as she put her weight against him. She was exhausted. She didn't need to tell him. He carefully pulled the sheath Rasputin had covered her with around her shoulders and lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. He looked around expecting to see Myers sulking nearby, but the cavern was empty. He must have decided to wait outside. Hellboy couldn't help feeling smug about it, a childish male pride that Myers saw her kiss him seeped into his thoughts. But the feeling only lasted long enough to let what really happened sink in: Liz had kissed him. Liz. He had never dared to hope that any woman would ever look on him as anything less than a monster, and here in his arms was the only girl he'd ever known, ever loved. Without any fear, or hesitation, she had kissed him as though he was an ordinary man. He didn't think he could love her more, but for that he did. She wasn't completely asleep. A warm, pale hand slid up out of the sheath and around the back of his neck.

"Let's go home." She whispered.

Myers was leaning against the military cargo truck waiting on the gravel road just outside the cemetery. Several FBI agents waited as well, looks of surprise coming over their faces as they saw Hellboy approach bloodied, covered in monster entrails and cradling Liz in his arms.

"Ready?" Myers raised an eyebrow.

"If you think I'm climbing back into that crate, you've got another thing coming, Myers." He stated as he marched past him.

Myers nodded in agreement and fell in beside, and just a little behind, him. "She alright?"

"She's fine." He saw the other agents giving them sideways looks. The sheath had slid down to reveal her bare shoulder. Myers moved to adjust it.

"Must've been some kiss..." A dark haired agent mumbled under his breath.

Hellboy stopped in his tracks and turned.

"You."

The agent and Myers gave Red stunned, guilty looks. He kept his eyes on the other agent.

"Give me your sweater." Hellboy commanded.

The agent chuffed in disbelief. "You're kidding right?"

"What do you think?" Red lowered his voice. He wanted to slug this chump but stayed put; he didn't want to wake Liz.

"Do what he says." Tom Manning ordered, leaning out the driver's side of the truck. "And hurry up about it, Goreman."

Hellboy smirked. The agent looked uncertainly between Manning and Red, then pulled the black ribbed sweater over his head. He crossed his bare arms over his chest; the thin black tank he wore underneath did nothing to protect him from the winter cold.

"Gonna need your pants too there Goreman." Red added. Goreman glowered at him as he undid his belt and removed the black cargo's as well. Red and Yellow smiley-face boxers stood out against the blue-white canvas of the approaching winter dawn. "Myers, grab those for me, will ya?" Hellboy headed for the passenger side of the truck. Manning opened the door for him and he carefully climbed inside; Liz stirred but did not wake. Myer's handed the clothes to Red through the truck window.

"We'll rendezvous at the landing strip and debrief on the plane." Manning instructed Myers.

"I'm not riding with you?" He asked.

"Not unless you want to jump in the back." Manning replied.

"Fair enough. See you there." He stepped back from the truck.

Manning put his foot down and the truck lurched forward, snow and gravel groaned under the tires. The sky and snow covered earth were quiet blue with early morning sunlight. Liz shivered and snuggled closer to him for heat. Red rolled up the truck window and turned the heating vents on full. He adjusted the sheath back up to her chin and gently rubbed her back and shoulders with his smaller hand. He could feel her hand on his ribs, hugging herself against him. He should have been exhausted too, but with Liz so close to him, with Liz wanting to be close to him, he felt as though energy flowed through every part of him. He felt like he could do anything.

"How exactly did the young lady, uh, lose her clothing if you don't mind me asking?" Manning kept his eyes on the road.

"If you're implying that I-" Red was insulted at the insinuation and immediately defensive.

"It's a legitimate question Hellboy. She had clothes on the last time I saw her." Manning replied authoritatively.

Hellboy took a moment to respond. "I'm not sure exactly. We were all knocked out for a little while. When I came to Ole Raspy had her on a table wearing nothing but this. He must've needed her to be naked for the ritual to work..."

"Ritual?"

"I don't really want to talk about it right now Manning. Let's save it for the debriefing."

"Alright." Manning glanced at him, eyeing his ragged horns and his bloodied chest. Then looked to the black special forces fatigues that sat on the seat between them. "You going to tell me why I helped you strip that agent of more than just his dignity? His clothes will never fit you, you know."

"They're not for me, they're for Liz, smart guy." She was breathing steady and slow, in a deep slumber now.

"Uh Hellboy, there'll be extra fatigues on the plane."

"Really?" Red kept his eyes on the road, his expression nonchalant. "I didn't realize."

"Yeah, sure."