Title: Things I'll Never Say

Fandom: Kuroshitsuji

Pairing: Anne/Vincent

Theme: Secrets

Summary: Sometimes you can't have exactly what you want. But you can get close to it.

Warning: Spoilers

Chapter 1

The evening air was cool. Autumn's touch had descended upon England and left behind a world of wonderful colours. Bright golden and red leaves filled the air and blustered their way into every corner. Angelina found this time of year her absolute favourite, and would spend her free time leaning against window frames and balconies alike, watching the vibrant leaves dance their way around. She could lose herself in those moments, and often would not realize 'til an hour later how much time had passed.

In one of those situations now, the scarlet doctor stood in the heart of the Phantomhive gardens, her arms securely wrapped about herself and pulling her shawl firmly to her body. The flimsy material did not offer enough warmth to keep her from shivering in the breeze, but she ignored it for the most part, and simply enjoyed the scenery. She had come to visit Rachel only to find her sister thoroughly exhausted. You see, Ciel had been suffering from a chest cold, and Rachel was worried sick he would start showing signs of her own childhood ailments. Doing her best to sooth her sister's worries, she had relieved the woman of her sick child and sent her straight off to bed to sleep. Rachel had been reluctant, but eventually released the boy to his aunt's treatment. Angelina was a doctor, who better to trust?

It had taken a good hour to calm the child to sleep. Anne had stayed at the boy's bedside for over an hour before becoming convinced he would rest well. Informing the maid to keep a close eye on the boy and to send someone to fetch her immediately if anything happened, Anne had stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. Several minutes later, this is still where she remained, thoroughly engrossed in the enchanting evening. So much so, she hadn't heard the distant trot of a horse and carriage.

The only thing that did manage to draw her attention, or rather, startle her, was the gloved hand that lightly gripped her shoulder. Angelina jumped, and whirled around to face a laughing earl. Vincent seemed thoroughly amused by her reaction, and fixed the woman with a charming smile.

"Good evening, Angelina. I saw your carriage out front- have you been here long?" the Earl inquired politely. Angelina fixed her brother-in-law with a stern expression, a hand pressed to her chest. It took the woman a moment to find her voice, and she looked away to compose herself.

"Welcome home, Vincent. Two or three hours at the most," the woman murmured softly, tightening her fingers into the material of her shawl.

"That long?" He ventured, studying the woman. A bit of that time must have been spent outside, he reasoned. Her cheeks were already red from the chill in the air, and he watched her slender frame shiver slightly.

"I decided to say to keep an eye on Ciel, while Rachel rested. He finally settled down to sleep around half an hour ago." Angelina murmured softly, training her voice to remain calm. One on one conversations with Vincent were always very taxing for her. She was doing perfectly fine until a warm jacket was wrapped around her shoulders, and she could feel his hands rubbing up and down along her arms over it. His scent wafted around her from the jacket, and she turned back to look at him with a small smile. It was all she could do to keep her knees from buckling under that charming smirk of his. Thoughtful bastard.

"You need not get a cold yourself- who will look after those two then?" he teased her as he continued to warm up her body. Smiling softly as he noticed her leaning back into his administrations.

"You might have to look after them yourself," Angelina murmured, allowing her eyes to slide closed. For just this moment she would pretend, allowing herself the brief fantasy of his touch, and enjoying his presence a bit too much. When her eyes opened again, she realised that his hold had stilled, and his hands were still gripped lightly along her arms.

Slowly she lifted her gaze to look up at the man towering behind her. He met her gaze intently, and she blinked up at him slowly.

"Vincent?" she questioned, brow furrowing as she tried to decipher the intensity of his expression. "Is something-"

"Shhh." He hushed her, lifting one of his hands to cover her mouth. Startled she stiffened, until he drew the hand away and gestured into the garden. "Look." he whispered, drawing her attention towards the shrouded area of the garden. There a fawn stood, nibbling away on the expensive leaves of his geraniums. Angelina relaxed, trying to focus her attention on the deer instead of the man's hands, one of which still remained on her arm, and the other had fallen to rest on her shoulder. She swallowed, ignoring the burning sensation in her cheeks. "Life is so precious, wouldn't you agree?" Vincent murmured, not that Angelina was honestly listening. "To think, just this summer he was born, and now he ventures out on his own."

Angelina responded with a soft, "Yes, it is." Her thoughts, however, were not focused on the young fawn eating his way through hundreds of pounds. The woman's thoughts were focused on keeping herself calm and relaxed, trying to ignore the desire to just reach up and touch him, to make sure this was real, and his hands were still casually holding her. A part of her knew this was wrong, knew that Rachel would be distraught to find out about her thoughts. But Rachel had him didn't she? Angelina could be allowed her private dreams. Private as they were, they still managed to show on her face under his touch- and she had never felt it so prolonged before. It concerned her, what would bring him to become so physical? She doubted her own resistance if he continued to hold her.

Just as she was about to excuse herself, the fawn stiffened with its ears shooting forward with alarm. Anne followed its gaze to the side, but could see nothing. Her lips hadn't parted to inquire before she already knew. Like the wrath of heaven the sky opened up and the spell over them was broken by a cool mist of water. She turned in the same moment as Vincent pulled her arm lightly, and she stumbled into him with a meek 'ouff'.

The Earl chuckled softly while offering his arm and Anne shoved him aside weakly. Of course this did nothing to unbalance him, and she started off towards the manor with an embarrassed expression. There was no way she was getting drenched just to play his games. Vincent caught up with her easily, but it was not long before the two were sprinting in the downpour to reach the doors.

Once inside, they stood in puddles trying to wring the water from their clothes. "Well, now we're all going to be sick," Vincent murmured, brushing his bangs out of his eyes to look at Angelina as she laughed. The woman hadn't noticed his gaze, or the manner in which he trailed his eyes over her body. It was hard not to stare with that scarlet hair clinging along her flushed cheeks. He tried not to entertain the manner in which her dress was pressed against her figure. But even as a gentleman you weren't blind to a well endowed woman. Perhaps it was most shocking to realize how well Angelina had matured, because in his head she had still been that naive little child sulking in her father's garden. But this woman was no longer a teenager, and it was disturbing to find she had become such a temptress. Vincent looked away from the droplets caressing her skin and swallowed. No, none of this was Angelina's fault. She couldn't control what he thought. It was his own issue that he found her attractive-shamefully much more then Rachel. But it wasn't as if Rachel wasn't beautiful, she was. But her sister... Well. Angelina was clearly the most endowed. Ahem.

Trying to focus his attention on another topic, he called out for a few servants. Seconds later they were being whisked off in opposite directions. Vincent couldn't help but glance back towards the fleeting scarlet frame. When he turned around he was met with a frowning butler.

"Sir," Tanaka murmured, folding his arms over his chest.

"Yes..?" Vincent questioned, trying not be startled by the man's gaze.

"I know that look, Vincent," Tanaka voiced, the sound of disapproval ringing clear on his tongue. The Earl blinked, rather taken back by the reproach.

"I don't know to what you're referring," Vincent retorted, stepping around the butler and heading towards his room. Imagine. He knew that look. What was that suppose to mean? The look he had given Angelina? Vincent swallowed, and closed his eyes as be climbed the grand staircase. Yes, Vince. You had been gawking at her like you've never seen a female before. But in reality, he had never seen her before. Not that way.

His thoughts however were just that, thoughts. It did not mean he would act on them. He was married, and had a child, and Angelina was his sister-in-law. Surely she would be horrified to know his thoughts. He should be horrified to know his thoughts! Everything would be fine, Tanaka need not worry. It was just a passing realization. He was allowed to admire her, surely. Admiration was just a compliment.

Deciding that everything was fine and having convinced himself of such, Vincent stepped into his chambers slowly. The earl gazed over the sleeping form of his wife with a fond smile. She was so beautiful. Are you forcing yourself to think that? Vincent's mind mocked him, and he looked away with a frown as he allowed Tanaka to pull out a dry set of clothes for him. "Angelina, what have you done to me?" Vincent whispered softly to himself.

Author note: Well now, I've finally got off my lazy behind and started another story. This one may potentially have more chapters attached onto it. Depends on your reviews! Like it? Not too cheesy? Just corny enough for you? Tell me what you think.