Good evening, and welcome to my new fanfic "Hellboy III the Angel's of Life and Death", this is not my first Hellboy fanfic, it is simply a new one after the recent completion of my other Hellboy fanfic "Life and Love a New Beginning." I really hope you enjoy it, I have uploaded chapters one and two so you will meet most of the characters in these two chapters. For my reviewers who read "Life and Love a New Beginning" you'll know I update weekly, and well as this one has been announced now for over six months, I'm very keen to see what you all think.

This first chapter follows straight after the ending of Hellboy II..

Life is so fragile…so precious that most learn to value every moment. But for one person that was never going to be easy…Walking from the scene where moments ago Abraham Sapien had seen his new friend Princess Nuala kill herself to save those trapped in the room, the merman found it hard to see how to react. Her actions had been selfless…and it broke Abe's heart to see her die before him. Leaving the hidden temple where the golden army resided, Abe had found he was unable to speak much…his only words being his statement that he was quitting from the Bureau of paranormal research and defence. Looking down at his hands, Abe pulled on his gloves, covering them over in black leather. Time...Sometimes it can seem like time is on your side, and others you feel like it's against you. For Liz and Abe as they'd travelled to the Scottish countryside time had been of the element, but what they hadn't realised was that time had fast been limiting two lives that day resulting in the tragic and mournful loss...Seeing Hellboy and Liz Sherman going on in front of them, Abe tried his best to hold himself together. Though his return only led to Abe slowly falling apart…

Abe's POV

As we departed the chamber of the golden army, I had at first called my comrades, initially thinking to catch up. But then suddenly silence filled the atmosphere and I found myself unable to intrude on their moment. It had been the first few moments that Hellboy had, had alone with Liz since discovering he was going to be a Father. I couldn't help but wonder what life would be like for us now. We had quit the FBI so easily...though we were all so fixated on what we wanted. The FBI had taken a big part of our lives. Thanks to them we had been forced to live in secrecy, to put ourselves in danger for the benefit of others. But while I was certain that it wouldn't be our last encounter with the FBI, I had, at that point never wanted to endure another mission again.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Everything was in darkness...the lights which had lit up the home where the team were staying in temporarily had gone out. Abe had assured Hellboy and Liz he would be fine without them waiting up for him. It wasn't the first time he had gone out alone just spending hours thinking...reflecting over what had happened. He found it so difficult, having to cope with the fact he felt like it were all his fault. If he hadn't given Nuada the crown piece, the Golden Army would never have been awakened. Hellboy wouldn't have fought in a bitter battle with the Prince, and just maybe Nuala wouldn't have had to sacrifice herself. No. Princess Nuala had known all along that her purpose as Nuada's twin was to stop him from destroying mankind. Though until that moment, she couldn't have understood how...until it had finally become clear to her. After seeing it in her thoughts during her final moments, Abe had remembered feeling the lightness of her form in his arms turn to the cold stone figure which would soon fade into dust...just as Prince Nuada had.

'Hey.' Being brought from his reverie, Abe looked up from the grassy bank he sat on to see Hellboy beside him.

'Good evening Red.'

'I was wondering how much longer you were going to be out here,' he said, 'I'm surprised you even heard me; you haven't exactly been focused lately.'

'I'm sorry...' he began, Hellboy sighing as he sat beside his best friend.

'Ya don't need to apologise to me, I know what it's like to feel so much pain that you don't know what to do with yourself.'

'Maybe this is why the memories of my life before being found in that tank were better forgotten...if there was pain, perhaps I just wasn't meant to remember that,' Abe replied reflectively.

'Abe, we all have stuff we'd like to forget. Hurt we wish we'd never felt. It is possible to forget it, when you come to appreciate what you still have.'

'It's just so difficult,'

'Don't blame yourself Abe. You did nothing wrong.'

'But I did nothing right either.'

'Yes you did. You made that lady's last minutes bearable, you helped her even though she put a knife to your throat and ensured that she received some help from the BPRD.'

'I know I did but-'

'Blue,' Hellboy cut across him...'you did all you could, I'm not saying you can't be sad about this, all I'm saying is that in my experience, I know now what's important to me. I've got a girlfriend who thinks that I'm the best man she's ever known, which means well-I don't know how I can even explain what it means to me...I have two kids on the way, and even though I am petrified, at the same time I guess this is how Father sometimes felt. But as well as that I have a best friend, who puts up with me on a daily basis...even though he annoyingly reads my mind...' Smiling weakly at Hellboy, Abe looked back to the evening sky, the fact he had Liz and Red there for him something of comfort to him, during this time. Though it was then that he brought up a subject none of the three had really discussed.

'You're thinking we should return to Connecticut,' he said calmly, Hellboy muttering about mind-reading before responding.

'You heard the conversation with Johann then?'

'Yes, a house has been prepared for us in Connecticut, courtesy of the FBI,'

'Well those weren't quite the words I used when he told me...' Hellboy replied trailing off. 'What do you think of it?'

'I don't know,' he sighed, 'something is drawing me back to Connecticut but I don't know what it is...I've had so many dreams which are giving off different messages showing me similar things but none of them seem to have a definitive link. All I know is that upon being awoken within that chamber in Washington...since then Connecticut has been the only place I suppose I could think of as a home. Despite the difficulties with the FBI, they will only follow whenever they need us...wherever we are. They're based all over America, and each country has a similar formation which they use to contact the FBI. Regardless though Red, we cannot stay here, we do not know this place too well, and the only memories of it have not been pleasant.'

'Yeah,' Red sighed, 'I guess so, so what do we do? Go back in a couple of weeks?'

'It would be for the best, it allows things to calm down between both sides. I don't believe any of us are ready for facing the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence yet...'

Though it was as Hellboy agreed Abe suggested he go inside and rejoin Liz. 'She's wondering where you are I'm certain,'

'Nah, she'll know I'm here with you, I reckon the only thing she'll be worrying about is if I get you drunk again,' he grinned.

'You told her?'

'No, though I think she will have worked it out, after all Brother Blue, it's not often you nearly spill a big secret when she probably told you not too,' he responded, Abe understanding what he meant.

'I wanted you to know, but it wasn't my place to say-'

'Its fine, I don't think your rationality versus Liz's flames was much of a match,' he grinned, 'I'm the fireproof one, remember?' Abe nodding slightly as Hellboy sat back. 'Well I ain't leaving you out here on your own this time, otherwise I know you'll be out here all night, and I can be just as stubborn,' he smirked sitting back, Abe expecting just as much and finally standing up, casting one last glance to the night-time sky before heading inside with his best friend beside him a hand resting on Abe's shoulder...

3 months on…

Hellboy's POV

Returning to the Connecticut hadn't been exactly what I'd had in mind. I'd promised Liz we could live anywhere she wanted...but we still had some unfinished business to take care of. Father had founded the BPRD at my "home town"...it wasn't something I could just ignore. We had to go back. To make arrangements and future plans, but as we journeyed back from Scotland, I knew that we weren't returning back the same people. Liz was going to become a Mother...I was going to become a Father and Abe...well; he just wasn't the same.

Though the day we went back a lot had been changed.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~

After the car dropped them off, being provided by the FBI, it became clear what their intentions were as they overlooked the newly decorated outer layer of the building.

'You think they're trying to compensate for something?' Hellboy grinned as he, Liz and Abe walked through the doors that led into their new home, however it wasn't a cold marble hallway which greeted them as the old bureau had with a desk at the end and numerous hidden pathways that led to lower and high floors. Now the hallway was a grand and tall entrance into their new home. A wine coloured red carpet lined the floors, with the wallpaper a perfect contrast being the palest of creams. Stepping through the mansion like home, the three friends looked around, Abe being the only one too distant to take in much of the detail. The intricate detail on the highly arched ceilings was something quite extraordinary, with three to four rooms leading off on each side of the Hallway; they found that each room had been elegantly furbished with thought taken to it all. Even as they walked through to the back, looking over the tiered gardens that overlooked a beautiful and delicate landscape, they found that it seemed almost...too perfect...surreal

Though this home was in a desolate area much like the bureau had been, it place was considerably more peaceful...relaxing...there was no tension. Yet it did run through their minds that this could have been down to some of the Agents that Red, Liz and Abe had worked with who had been more favourable towards them than others, though despite that, it gave the three friends a lot to consider.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~

'So what do you think Liz?' Hellboy asked as they took in the appearance of their new master bedroom which had undergone a large refurbishment.

'It's all...nice...' she replied admittedly, finding the modern interior with no clutter quite refreshing...but not lived in. The fact that no cats were yet in the room, making it seem stranger still. That was when she brought her attention to Hellboy's expression. Seeing into his golden eyes, Liz could tell what he was thinking about. 'We don't have to leave Connecticut yet...' she remarked, Red glancing over to her and initially shaking his head as he sat down on the edge of their king sized bed.

'I promised you whatever you wanted...wherever you wanted to live-'

'For now this is what I want. You spent most of your life growing up with Professor Broom and your home was in Connecticut more than anywhere else. I think you need this...and it would be a shame to leave all of this untouched,' she breathed as she sat down beside him.

'You're really okay to stay here for a while?'

'As long as you need,' she responded confidently, running her hand of his leg in a comforting motion.

'I love you babe, and the two who are sat listening to our conversation no doubt.' Smiling as she leant back into his soft leather coat, Liz sighed contently. She had always felt safe in Hellboy's arms, the way she could simply become lost in just his large coat a comfort to her.

'I love you Red...wherever we are. But what do you think that Abe will say?'

'From what he's said, I think he'd be alright staying here...I dunno, he feels there's something here that's brought him back, and since he said it, I can see his point...maybe it's how after every mission this was the place we always returned too...but whatever it is, I agree with him.' Listening as Red spoke; Liz could understand how they both felt, the emotions that they had all experienced over the past few weeks she knew would still affect them for some time to come yet...

~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Meanwhile as Abe sat down on the black leather sofa opposing his new tank, he looked around. The room itself was somewhat similar to the professors office in how it had been designed, clearly having the thoughts of Abe coming to live there in mind. Though this room was considerably more spacious, having a spiral staircase next to the tank on its right hand side which rose up beside it, leading to a strip of flooring that moved around the back of it and along the edge until it curved around the back wall leading to another spiral staircase in gold. While the walls seemed to be lined with mahogany bookcases that were edged in gold, the centre left wall remained clear with the exception of a beautifully unique fireplace, the twists of silver curling in an upward motion like this pillars around a silver half-spherical surface where the edges rounded up slightly, cupping the flames which burned delicately lighting the room brightly. Yet as Blue stood and walked over to the numerous bookshelves that rose as high as the ceiling around the room, his gloves traced over the empty shelves where books awaited to be put. Looking to the back of the room where windows lined the wall unlike his previous home where no windows had been present. Though perhaps the most different aspect of this new room was the back left corner that seemed to stretch out into a circular side room, a large bed that was overlaid with bedding, cushions and faux fur throws all a pure shade of white with richly assented gold. That area of the room also had the benefit of a beautiful view, allowing Abe to see the surrounding landscapes.

Though within the hour as the group had come back together to discuss their newly proposed home, Hellboy, Abe and Liz weren't given much time to consider as the doorbell rang, the same thought running through every mind...Manning.

'Good morning Hellboy, Liz, Abe,' Manning greeted quite passively walking past them as Red opened the door, Abe hearing in his thoughts the Agent's planned excuse of "they weren't living there yet" if he was questioned on simply coming straight in. Yet truth be told, none of the three thought to do so...knowing better of it. 'I'm guessing the new highly priced decor is to your liking,' Manning remarked with clear disdain at the cost.

'Yeah, though in case ya hadn't noticed we don't take bribes,' Hellboy answered as they followed him into the dining room where Manning put down his files before turning to face them.

'Look the FBI...has no choice in stopping you from quitting,'

'...and zey von't...in a straightforvard vay zat iz,' spoke out another strongly accented voice, the three looking up to see Johann come in behind Agent Manning and bidding them a good day.

'Yeah...morning,' Hellboy replied, Manning clearing his throat as he returned to the topic.

'But we strongly urge that you reconsider...I mean there are entities still out there...lives still at risk.'

'Yeah and that's not our problem anymore. The only reason we're here is because my Father brought me to this place when I was growing up. It was as close to a home as I got. But just 'cause we're possibly staying here doesn't mean we've changed our minds. Now as you know where the door is I suggest you use it before I show you how it works.'

Looking at Hellboy for a moment, Manning turned to Abe and Liz in an appeal to them, but to no avail as he and Johann were ushered out, Agent Krauss acting much more

'He's not going to give up easily,' Liz remarked voicing what they were all aware of.

'Yeah but Manning's not much of a problem. He's not in any position to tell us what to do,'

'I presume the rest of our belongings are being delivered today?' Abe mentioned as they went into the living room, hearing a car engine sounding outside as it gradually died out.

'Yeah, I'll be glad to have my cats back; I dunno what I was thinking having them kept at the local pet care services.'

'Well having the FBI take care of them wouldn't have really worked, especially if they were redesigning the place. I mean you could have asked John but he's in the Antarctic.'

'Well in any case it'll be good to have them back,' Red responded clearly eager to get off the topic, making Liz smile as she rolled her eyes.

'I'll be quite glad to have my books and classical music back,' Abe said thoughtfully, 'I do find my music rather soothing...'

'Yeah even your non-classical stuff has an effect on you, wouldn't ya say?' Hellboy grinned, the chagrin crossing Abe's expression making him laugh as Liz went on, not picking up on what they were talking about...

Yet it was that night after unpacking some of his favourite novels and books, that Abe set four up, thinking he would start to read them before falling asleep. But it was that night's dream which would soon reflect on his reality more than Abe could ever have anticipated.

I really hoped you all enjoyed the first chapter, and the second, please do review, it's much appreciated!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x