The sun was beginning to rise above the horizon,birds sang their first song of the day. Inside the an elegant,medieval castle Ciel Michaelis slept peacefully at the moment,his mate Sebastian lay beside him holding him in his arms,taking advantage of the luxury of sleep as well. Neither one heard their bedroom door creak open,nor the footsteps and whispers.
"Mommy and daddy are napping brothers,they are silly." Rachel giggled softly.
"But Sister,we nap all the time." Vincent replied.
"Yes, but we are babies,mommy and daddy are big!"
"Shh, you will wake them up."
"I thought we wanted to brothers and sister." Rowan whispered.
"Not yet, we have to climb up and surprise them." The four Michaelis children nodded and climbed up on the bed and wiggled into the small space between Ciel and Sebastian.
"Mum?"Rowan whispered close to Ciel's ear. What he received no answer, he got on his knees and shook his mother softly.
"Mum, are you awake yet, I love you." He called tilting his head slightly. The other three giggled.
"Brother Rowan is so silly, if mommy was awake his eyes would be open and he would hug us." Rachel said.
"I'm not silly, I'm good!" Rowan shouted crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at his sister.
"Don't be sad Brother Rowan,Sister Rachel doesn't mean you are not good. You are very good, it is okay. We still love you." Evian patted Rowan's head lovingly and smiled causing his younger brother to grin as well.
Rachel pulled Rowan into a hug.
"I did not want to make you feel sad brother, I am sorry for not being a good big sister."
"No sister, You're the best big sister ever, I still love you,it's okay." Rowan replied hugging her back.
"Come Brother Rowan, I will show you how to wake up mommy." Rachel offered cheerfully. She and Rowan moved closer to their mother and Rachel reached out to him.
"Children, be gentle with your mother, it's been a difficult night." Sebastian told them.
"Oh no, my poor mommy, I will be a nice Rachel. It hurts my tiny heart when mommy is unhappy."
"I know princess, it hurts me as well." Sebastian replied before greeting the other children.
"It is today daddy, we are really big enough!" Rachel grinned.
"Yes. Your mother and I are proud of you all. You are sure to do very well."
"You will too dad, you and Mum are very smart, Grandfather and Grandmother will be happy. You can do it,we will love you lots even if you have a hard time. Learning is hard sometimes."
"I am so excited daddy,I am going to learn to be a big princess like Grandmother!" Rachel exclaimed.
"Your grandmother is Queen dear one." Sebastian said.
"Oh my, was she ever a princess daddy?"
"That's something you can ask her when we get there. At the moment, we must wake your mother, your grandfather doesn't approve of being late." Sebastian propped himself up on his elbow and leaned close to Ciel nuzzling the young demon.
"Ciel, the time has come to open your beautiful blue eyes,come now my love, our children are waiting for you."
"Yes Mommy, here we are, do you want to see?" Vincent asked. Sebastian smiled.
"Mum, we love you and want you to wake up now, I want to give you hugs." Rowan laid down and snuggled up to his mother.
"Cuddles please Mum, I would like some." The boy took his mother's hand and placed it on his head. Sebastian chuckled.
"My dear Rowan, your mother will most certainly cuddle with you once he's awake. He loves you all very much."
"Mama is good at loving us, he is the very best at giving cuddles." Evian added.
"Mother's usually are." Sebastian replied as Ciel finally woke.
"Hello Mommy, it is morning time now, today is the day we get to see Grandmother and Grandfather. I love Grandfather and grandmother even when grandfather is cranky."
"Rachel, your grandfather is always cranky." Ciel replied as Rowan tugged on his sleeve.
"Mum, Cuddles, I would like to be cuddled please?" He pleaded and Ciel was unable to refuse his child. He wrapped his arms around Rowan and held him close.
"But mommy, I like snuggles." Rachel frowned.
"Sister, I know you like Mama cuddles, but it is Brother Rowan's turn now. I will hug you if you want." Evian offered holding out his arms. The girl embraced her older brother immediately.
"snuggles, brother Evian, you are good at snuggles, It is not like Mommy but I am a happy Rachel now. Thank you very much."
"You are welcome Sister, I love you. "
"We love you Brother Evian!" The younger children cried. Evian grinned happily showing off his fangs. Ciel and Sebastian couldn't help but smile themselves.
"I love you too brothers and sister. I even love our babies even though they are not big enough to say it back yet."
"Well, I think the time has come to have some breakfast and then prepare ourselves to learn." Ciel sighed.
"I don't know why I have to be there." He complained.
"Because you my dear, are my mate and will one day rule at my side. It's vital that you understand your responsibilities and as you're taking over for Mother when the time comes, I-"
"Mommy will be Queen, yay mommy!" Rachel clapped.
"No Rachel, your mother will be considered king as well. He will still be expected to host certain events."
"Sebastian, couldn't I just-"
"no, the devil's mate must be more than just a beautiful demon who sits at their mate's side. I need you to be prepared in case something should happen and I am unable to handle the responsibility."
"Do you remember what I told your father when he was asking me all those questions before we were mates?"
"Yes, however, you accepted the title when you were pregnant with Evian-"
"So when the time was right the children would take your place not me. I have no desire to be king of anything, I just want my family, I couldn't care less about governing a bunch of demons."
"Ciel, please try to understand how important these lessons are, for all of us. That it's important to me that you're at my side, it would mean a great deal to me." Sebastian stroked Ciel's hair and kissed him softly.
"I want so much to show you off to the others, you are the most beautiful and amazing demon to ever exist and I have the honor of calling you my mate, you make me so proud, please,do this one thing for me and I shall make it up to you." Sebastian again began to nuzzle Ciel who was smiling . He put a hand on Sebastian's chest to stop him.
"Fine, but you owe me."
"Fair enough. We should get downstairs then."
"Take the children, I'll be down in five minutes." Ciel promised.
"Very well, but if you don't make an appearance within that time, I shall be forced to take the appropriate action."
"You don't scare me."
"I would hope not, however you will be very unhappy with what I send to get you."
"What exactly do you plan to send in here?"
"I shall take a short trip, you see, while we're out today, I've sent Lady Elizabeth shopping with Mey-Rin in London and this is the time of year when I'm sure your dear friends Soma and Agni are about, they would just love to see you again."
"I hate you." Ciel groaned.
"You wish you could. Remember, five minutes." Sebastian kissed him once more and got out of bed.
"Brother Evian, does Mommy really hate Daddy?" Rachel began to sob. Evian patted her shoulder.
"No Sister Rachel, mama loves dad very much sometimes mama and dad say things they do not mean,like when dad said he would send soma to get mama,dad would have come to check on him."
"That is good because my tiny heart would hurt bunches." Rachel said following her brothers from the room. Ciel groaned.
"This is going to be a long process."