So this little story kind of just grabs me and keeps me coming back. So as I work on other stories, I am also coming back to this cute little family. This comes after "How We Feel," "How We Feel, Too," and continues the thread of couples finding themselves and individuals finding their place. It kind of focuses back on Mey-Rin and Sebastian (you're welcome) and also some of the next generation of kids/relationships.

So quick stats I thought was funny... the number of kids are almost even with the number of adults at Phantomhive Manor.

This arc is set seven years AFTER How We Feel, Too.

Mey-Rin turned the corner and placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders, startling her.

"MUM!"

"No. I said no. And I mean no," Mey-Rin said. "Dear we have too much to lose if you just leave now."

"I am only going into the village. I'll go with Vincent! I can also take Lucian if he is a bother," Glorey said, sliding her eyes up to meet her mother's. "Please? You and father are always leaving with Uncle Ciel and Auntie Lizzie told me there is a new dress shop in the village…"

"Your mother said no," Sebastian said, now coming around the corner as well. "And you need to abide by her rules. Life is better when you obey her." He smiled at Mey-Rin and Mey-Rin smiled back. "Now, go and make sure Vincent and Lucian are not playing with Uncle Baldroy and his new… toys."

Glorey sighed and wrenched away from her mother's touch. "Fine."

"Glorey…" Sebastian barely growled.

His daughter slid her eyes up to meet his and she bit her lip and dropped her head. "Yes, father. Sorry, mother."

And she turned and moved down to the back stairs, leaving Mey-Rin and her husband and lover, Sebastian, standing in the now empty second floor hallway of the Phantomhive Manor.

"I swear she was just born," Sebastian muttered, wrapping his arms around Mey-Rin. "How did we get a moody, almost teenager?"

"Time has gone by, my love." Mey-Rn leaned back and kissed him softly. "And time for me to look in on Lady Phantomhive."

"She is fine."

"I know, but she likes to be looked after."

"You can always tell her you sensed she was fine."

"And I can always tell her about being a partial demon? Her husband's soul belongs to my husband?"

"Now you take it too far, my Mistress," he said, kissing her again. "Ah, Cassie is almost home. I am sure Baldroy and Robin will be delighted to have her back for a few weeks."

Mey-Rin turned in her husband's arms and sighed, placing her head on his shoulder and simply listened to his breathing. They had three children now, Glorey who was approaching 10, Lucian who was 8, and Sara who was 3. Mey-Rin was human, but had half her soul stitched to Sebastian, a Demon, allowing them to spend eternity together and have a hard fought for family. A dangerous family, for their children were all born partial or whole demons. They had traded Glorey's demons soul for Mey-Rin's heart, which had been stolen at one point by the Father of Hell, and had made Glorey purely human. Lucian was still rather innocent, but with a full demon's soul, and Sara was a giggling child who also had a good portion of humanity in her, but her Demon-marked soul was something that her parents watched, along with the other Fallen who were protecting the children.

"My love," Sebastian said at last. "I shall see you tonight - I fear we will be heading to London sooner than we thought." Mey-Rin shifted and heard the voices below. "The Queen has sent her Secretaries to fetch the Master. I will demand it is quick. I do miss having you in my arms at night."

They untangled and Mey-Rin laced her fingers into his and they walked down the stairs. "How in the world will we keep Glorey safe? She has become more reckless and determined these days," she mused. It had been a common theme of their bedtime talks.

"Shh… we have protectors if we need to use them. Perhaps a bit of free will isn't going to be so bad."

"But they are out there - waiting for her to be out and found. She can be tempted and taken!"

Sebastian pulled his wife into a corner and kissed her soundly. "My lover. She came from your womb. She is of your flesh. Of course she is daring, of course she is reckless. But she is also of my loins as well - no matter her soul is pure Human as the Masters. She is a Demon's daughter, and we have trained her - are training her - to know she is in danger when she leaves our protection." He slide his arms around her. "And we have other duties to attend to. The Master needs me, Cassie is almost here, our children - and the Phantomhives - are safe. We, my love, are safe."

Mey-Rin pulled away and sighed. "For now."

Sebastian's fingers glided up her back and watched as she shivered at the intimate contact. "Yes, for now. And for now, we shall continue on as we need too. Tonight, however, would you meet me upstairs?"

"We can't leave the kids alone!"

"We can afford one night to do just that. I need you my sweet love," he added as he pulled her again into his body and nuzzled her neck. Mey-Rin panted at the touch and turned her gaze to his. "I need you badly."

"Yes, Mister Sebastian."

Sebastian groaned as he and his wife parted and he walked, focusing back in on his Master, who was in the study, talking to the Charles'.

"Ah, good, Sebastian," Ciel Phantomhive said as Sebastian set the tea set down and poured three cups. "We need to sip quickly and get to London. Our Queen beacons."

"Yes, my lord," Sebastian said swiftly. "Shall I leave and ready the carriage?"

"Yes, and do see who is coming up the lane," he added as the Master of the Manor turned from the wide picture window. "We can't afford any delays."

"I believe it is Miss Cassie, m'lord."

"Ah, well, I assume there will be a feast when we return to welcome her?"

"Of course, I will make sure there is one."

Ciel smiled tightly at Sebastian whose own lips twitched. The man was good at giving near impossible tasks to his less than human Butler and Maid. Sebastian took his leave and zipped down to the kitchens, pulling out a roast and writing a note to his wife, before bounding out to the Charles' carriage and waiting. As Ciel and the Grey's came out of the Manor, another carriage pulled up and Sebastian went to open the door.

"Miss Cassie," he said, holding her hand as she stepped out. "We are glad to have you back for a while."

"Oh Mister Sebastian! I am so happy to be back as well. Wales is pretty at this time of the year, but I had to come back and see mother and Bard - and check up on Asel and Caleb. Handfuls still?"

Sebastian smiled. It was a few years after Lucian was born that Robin and Bard had unexpectedly announced they were pregnant, and nine months later delivered twins. Lady Phantomhive also had another child, Suzanna, a year later, keeping the staff on their toes with more children then adults populating the home.

"Of course, Miss Cassie," he smiled. He was about to close the door when someone shifted and he turned an alarmed eye on the two who appeared next. He looked at Cassie. "Companions?"

"Oh, sorry! Yes, this is Davis - Mister Davis - he is one of my former tutors at school, and his son, Garon."

Sebastian stepped back and the two slid out. Davis was in his mid 30s, and Garon looked to be about Glorey's age. Sebastian bit back a snarl at the two; they were not previously announced and only slightly welcomed visitors, even if they had come with Cassie. Davis smiled and slide a hand over Cassie's back, and Sebastian caught the glean of pride flicker in the mans' eye. He was communicating that Cassie was more then just a former student to him.

"Welcome to Phantomhive Manor," Sebastian said. He glanced back to where Ciel and the Charles' were getting into the carriage. "I do apologize, I was about to accompany my Master into town. The rest of the staff will be waiting for you."

"Where are my parents?" Cassie asked.

"Ah… back gardens I believe. Finnian is with them," he added and turned and eyed the Manor's bricks, wishing he could see through them to locate his partner. Something was very wrong - evil even - with the two who suddenly came into their already guarded lives.

"Sebastian?" the Earl asked as the Demon paused and closed the door.

"It is nothing, my lord," he replied and mounted the box beside the driver. "I pray it is nothing."