Notes: I will be posting a new chapter every week, until I finish writing and then I'll post two chapters every week. This story will be separated into two parts, chapters 1-15 being part one and chapter 16-30 being part two. Be sure to check out my deviantart (.com) for updates, teasers, and links.

Warnings: Character death, violence/gore, implied sex, kissing, minor language

Part One Genre: Romance/Drama

Part One Summary: Ciel and Elizabeth's wedding is nearing and all Ciel wants is for things to pass smoothly and without a hitch. However that seems impossible.

And without ado... Part One, Chapter One of "That Butler, Beautiful Chaos"

In this tragedy that has become my life this monster is all I have left.

Each night he acts as if his wrongdoings were in the right as he settles me into bed as he's done since I was a child. I dismiss him quietly and somehow manage to hide my tears until I'm sure he's left the room and cry myself to sleep.

His beauty eluded me… I let myself become tangled into his web and now we are both forced to pay.

This monster… he is chaos personified.

But he is a beautiful chaos indeed.

Ciel Phantomhive sat at his desk pretending to file papers (as he often did) and nibbled on chocolate cake, his tea ignored and going cold. There were flames crackling in the fire place and paired with the pattering of rain on the window it made an ominous wintry atmosphere in the study. Despite the fire Ciel couldn't help but feel a chill.

Getting bored with the paperwork Ciel set it aside and put his full focus on his the cake, which he was sure would never become boring. Even now as he was nearing his eighteenth birthday he was still a child at heart when it came to sweets.

He was licking the last of the frosting off his fingers when there was a tap on the door. He glanced up, wondering what that butler of his could want now.

"Come in," he called, wiping his hands on his trousers.

It wasn't Sebastian who entered, but Mey Rin, who poked her head through a crack in the door, her glasses fractured. "Er… Master, I have a note to deliver. It's from the Midfords, regarding the wedding and your birthday… You see… they're on their way over and plan to stay here until the wedding-"

"What?" Ciel was on his feet instantly. "Bring me the note. I have to see this for myself."

Mey Rin flinched when Ciel shouted, but didn't hesitate much longer and scrambled over to hand the letter to Ciel, who dismissed her before unfolding the note and examining it carefully.

Dearest Ciel,

As we all know, it's nearing you're birthday and that means the marriage of you and our dearest daughter Elizabeth. We hope you don't mind but we've taken the liberty to organize the majority of the ceremony ourselves. It will be held at your manor next month when the weather has cleared up. We're assuming that you wouldn't protest against our staying there until then? We want to make sure Elizabeth will be prepared to live at the manor with you, but, seeing as you aren't wedded yet, it would be improper for her to stay there alone.

We look forward to seeing you.

Uncle Alexis Leon Midford and Aunt Frances Midford

Ciel had known the date of the nearing wedding for months now, but had stubbornly kept brushing it off as unimportant. Now that Elizabeth and her parents were coming to stay with him for a whole month in preparation ignoring it wasn't much of an option.

He stared at the letter for a long time, trying to figure out everything required to prepare for the event. Bedrooms would have to be made up for guests; the garden would have to be redone for the wedding; he would surely have to buy Elizabeth's wedding dress along with his own attire for the occasion.

Ciel slumped back in his chair, his head in his hands. It was going to be a long, long month.

.

Sebastian was already ahead of everything, having cleaned up two extra bedrooms for Elizabeth and her parents and had already decided on the full menu for the month to come. He would tend to the garden himself as soon as the rain let up to be sure that Finny wouldn't destroy it as he so often did. He was on the phone with a tailor when the bell rang for his assistance in the study. He smoothly ended the call and was on his way upstairs in seconds.

He didn't bother to knock as he entered the study; Ciel knew he was coming.

"Yes, my lord? You called for me?"

Ciel was still staring at the letter, annoyance clear. "Isn't there some way to prevent this?" he asked. "Any way at all?"

Sebastian chuckled. "I suppose if something were to happen to you or Lady Elizabeth then the wedding would have to be called off, but I'm sure you wouldn't want to take things that far, my lord."

Ciel slammed the paper down on his desk. "Not the wedding, you moron, the Midfords' visit! I can't say I'm pleased about the wedding, but I'm not in any way prepared for a month's company… especially from those three."

Sebastian smirked. "I'm afraid you'll just have to endure. It'll be a good chance to prove yourself as Elizabeth's husband-to-be, and that's a bit of a requirement seeing as Lady Midford still looks upon you as a child."

"And while they're here how do you intend I go about working? I know we don't have anything at the moment but at any time the queen may come up with something." He leaned back in his chair. "I don't want dinner tonight," he continued, without waiting for a response. "Make sure everything is prepared for the Midfords' visit before they arrive."

Sebastian nodded. "Will that be all, my lord?"

"No. Make me tea and deliver it to my room. I'm going to bed early tonight."

.

Ciel hated it when Sebastian lingered, taking time to pick up discarded papers and empty plates and cups before leaving. Ciel knew Sebastian was aware of what he tried so hard to make a secret; that damn demon was aware of everything that went on in Ciel's head. He made it apparent, too, often teasing him in the most discreet and subtle ways so that no one else would notice. Cleverly he never addressed it, though.

"Would you get out of here already?" Ciel growled. "Just leave it or get it later!"

Sebastian was balancing a stack of papers and a bowl in one hand and a tea set in the other. Somehow he would still manage to hold the door open, though. "Ah. My apologies, my lord." He smiled. "I suppose I'll take my leave now." He started to bow, and Ciel had had enough. He lobbed an ink well at the Sebastian's head, which the butler caught in a tea cup before turning and leaving the study.

Ciel stared after him for a long time. The only sound was the crackling of the fire and the rain outside. Feeling cranky he pushed everything from his desk onto the floor, spilling another ink well and knowing that the wax for seals would surely be stuck in the rug, just to give his butler an extra chore. Lucky for Sebastian the Midfords were on their way, otherwise he might have considered setting the house on fire.

To save himself from having to let Sebastian undress him, Ciel changed himself into his nightclothes and climbed into bed, plucking the book he wasn't really reading off of his nightstand and trying to relax.

He was interrupted before long, however. Sebastian entered with a tray of tea and a small snack, looking a bit annoyed. He offered the tray to Ciel, who scowled at it. "I told you I only want tea. I'm not hungry."

Sebastian's mouth twitched. "But my lord, it's unhealthy for you to not eat and, though it's unlikely, we must do our best to try and help you grow a bit more."

"Are you disobeying me?" Ciel hissed. "Do I really have to order you to listen to me when I say I don't want it?"

"No, my lord," he said, setting the tray on the nightstand. "If you'll allow me, the buttons on your shirt are uneven." He leaned forward to draw back the blankets, but Ciel slapped his hand away.

"Leave it, Sebastian," he said coldly, though his voice was a bit shaky.

Sebastian only stared at him for a moment. "Ah… my apologies." His thin lips curled into a smirk as he watched Ciel, who looked back at him with what most people would see as pure hatred, but what the demon saw as much more.

Without another word Sebastian turned to exit, leaving only a cup of tea for the Earl. He paused, however, halfway out the door. "If you want something from me, my lord, all you have to do is ask." He glanced back at Ciel, smiling in an unearthly way, his fangs bared. "Do remember that."

And then he was gone.

.

It was early the next morning when Sebastian woke Ciel in the same manner as always; gentle shaking and murmurs of, "Good morning, my lord." As Sebastian dressed him Ciel couldn't help but wonder when his voice had become so hypnotizing and calming, his hands a source of eternal comfort.

Lost in his thoughts, Ciel almost didn't notice when Sebastian handed him a sealed envelope from the queen.

"My lord? Did you hear me?"

Ciel blinked, looking at the envelope. "Er… What was that, Sebastian?"

The butler smirked. "This arrived late last night after you'd gone to bed. It seemed urgent but I knew it wouldn't be wise to wake you."

Ciel sat down on his bed and cracked the seal with his fingernail, knowing it was improper but not caring. He unfolded the letter and read it carefully. Supposedly young expecting mothers had been murdered brutally while their husbands were at work or asleep.

"Her Majesty seems very distressed about this," Ciel said. "I suppose we should look into this immediately. Let's go now before the Midfords arrive."

"What about breakfast, my lord?"

"I'll be fine. Let's hurry."

Sebastian sighed. "No dinner and now you're skipping breakfast. Are you alright, my lord?"

Ciel scowled. "I'm perfectly fine. Now let's go."