Pip cautiously surveyed the three operation grounds. Seras was already somewhere here. What several missions had taught him was that Seras was good at hiding and being where she needed to be. He still had no idea where she could be.

"three in the attic, one is looking out to the west." announced the overly cheerful vampire. "Tttttthhhere's two down stairs, both not moving." How she was setting this was beyond him. Pip generally had done idea of where she could be and that helped him find her. It didn't mean much, she could take care of herself, but if something happened he still wanted to know where she was.

"Alright keep an eye them, sending in delta and gamma teams" A few quick transmissions and the operation was on. Pip silently kept track of their progress. The waiting was always the worst. Some part of him would rather have been on the ground. There you knew what could go wrong. In command you began to see how little you actually did.

"Uhhh I think they noticed something. Distraction time!" Seras announced.

"Seras!" his stomach fell. He knew she was more than capable of handling herself. He knew that she was stronger and faster than anyone he'd ever known. It still terrified him. Evil laughter answered him.

"Distraction successful! They're not paying any attention at all!"

"Just watch out and didn't get hurt." her could feel his stomach being trampled by the unknown. Seras giggled her acknowledgement and she continued on with 'distracting' the targets. He didn't pretend to understand half of what she did. But he could imagine the consequences if something happened. Inch by inch the advance soldiers crept to the target. Pip felt hollow.

"Clear!" Seras chirped. Pip gave the go ahead.

A riot of noise. A flurry of motion. It was all over.

"Target silenced." Pip exhaled.

"Good job. Clean up team is in ten." He felt tension unwind around his chest and drop to the floor. His legs felt weak. The pressure that kept him going was gone. His chest was hollow. Pip fingers trembled. Seras cheered, eternally happy and joyful.

"Yaaay!"

Pip let out a long breath. Tonight wasn't over. There would be reports and documenting. All of which had to do too soon.

"Pip can you go over to that clearing off to the east? I wanna show you something." Seras chirped.

In a little while. The captain of the wild geese smiled. There were a lot of things he'd want mignonette to show him away from everyone else. Pip have out his orders to his man and walked away to meet Seras. It was dark. The house gave some light but it was still a struggle to see. Seras wouldn't have that problem. Even so pip knew he would have seen her by now. He cast around. His only company was a bird flying aimlessly about.

"mignonette?"

Uh yeah yeah just a second. Pip kept looking. Seras was very distinctive. Even if she was hiding behind a tree she'd still stick out. The nervousness in her voice bothered him the most. That didn't happen until something went incredibly wrong.

"Where are you?" Pip could hear the grumbling in his head, but no answer. He walked the edge of the clearing, nothing. "Are you alright?"

A pause. No. Something flew by Pip's face, a squeal

Help help help help help

Pip instinctively swatted at the bird. It ripped around his head as Seras kept crying out. He lashed out as he scanned the forest for the vampire. Nothing. Seras kept screaming help.

I changed into a bat and i can't change baaaaaaaack!

Pip stopped. The bird wasnt really. Seras the bat took the opportunity to land on his hand and continue crying. Pip looked askance at the crying blonde ball of fur on his hand. The absurdity of the situation was not lost on him.

"A-ah Mignonette?" Seras kept sobbing.

I worked so hard on this and you were going to be so impressed and I can't turn backkkkkkkkk…

Squeakkkkk

Pip crushed his lips together, trying very hard not to laugh.

I hide it weeks and you didn't notice so i could surprise you

Squeeeeaaaakkkkk

The mercenary did his absolute best to not laugh while the ball of yellow fuzz cried on his hand.

And I can't change back and nothing works and why isn't it working.

SqqqUUUeeaakkkkk!

A quick laugh escaped his lips. Seras noticed.

A-are you laughing at me!

squuuUUUUEEEEAAAAAKKKKK!

Pip finally lost, peals of laughter echoed in the dark forest.

Don't you dare laugh at me Pip!

SSSSSSSSSQQQQQQQQQQQQUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKK!

Her tiny fingers bit into his hands as the poor vampire shook in embarrassment and rage. Tears grew at the corners of her eyes. Pip tried to control himself, gwaffing at the hapless woman's situation. Seras's fur crawled as every chuckle stabbed her. Her face burned as all her plans turned to cinders before her. After a few moments Pip managed to control himself.

"Well mignonette, ha, if a princess can turn, ha ha, a frog into a prince with a kiss, ah ha, a mercenary can turn a bat into a vampire, heh." Seras's eyes bugled.

Pip….

Eeeeee

As his lips touched her fur a massive weight hit his arm and staggered under the impact. He wobbled back to balance and Seras stood before him, blushing hard. The undead woman twitched and op[ened her mouth, hoping to find the words. Pip grinned at her as she salvaged her dignity as best as she could. Red as an apple, the vampire gathered the tatters of her self-esteem, harrumphed and strode away.