TBO: This is my first time writing a fanfic for Kuroshitsuji! Hope that you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of its original characters.

It was another terribly silent night.

I despised these nights most of all. Since these nights were the most frightening.

There was nothing that could block out all the screams, whimpers, and cries at night.

There was nothing that could distract me as I lay on the big stained bed, bare to the chilly winds.

There was nothing that could distract me from the ugly monsters that usually hid under my bed, that now hovered over my defenseless body.

There was nothing but silenced screams, whimpers, and cries that night.

Elizabeth Midford

"Ouch!"

The blonde haired twelve year old girl blinked rapidly, and quietly wore as the needle in her hand pierced her finger. She set down the needle and thread gently in her lap and examined the injury. A small drip of blood rolled down her slim finger and she stared blankly at it.

"Lady Elizabeth!"

The young noble almost jumped out of her chair, and her emerald eyes glanced at the door to her room. Sighing, she set down the knitting kit on a nearby table, and she nibbled on her finger, making her way towards the door, quickly and gracefully. The long blue dress with white frills that she had on did not make walking any easier, and the white laced choker on her neck was a tad too tight. But, she didn't mind the discomfort, not anymore.

Grabbing the door knob of the door, she slowly opened the door, unsurprising at who was there waiting for her.

"Lady Elizabeth!" A pair of slender arms encircled her petite figure, and a warm body pressed against her. Based on the brown hair that tickled her nose and the slightly mature voice, Elizabeth had been right about who had come to visit her.

"Paula..." She said in some sort of greeting, as she pulled away from the energetic brunette maid. Paula smiled widely, a very sad smile, and she held up her two signature bells in both hands.

"Jingle, jingle, jingle, M'lady." Paula lowered her hands to her sides, and glanced down at her mistress with worry. "M'lady, everyone is worried about your health. For the past few days you've locked yourself in your room and you barely eat anything." Paula put her bells away in her pockets, and reached to take Elizabeth's cold hands.

Elizabeth forced a small smile onto her pink lips, and allowed her hands to be held by the older woman. "There is no need to worry, I'm perfectly fine." Her face had lowered slightly, and she broke eye contact with the energetic maid. "It's just that I need some time to readjust to everything is all." She whispered.

Paula slowly loosened her grasp on her Mistress' hands, and lightly touched her face with the palm of her gloved hand, and looked into her large green stoic eyes. She pressed her lips firmly together.

"How do you cope?"

How do I cope?

Elizabeth almost found it funny. How God could take away her loved ones so easily under her nose. How her world could easily be set aflame and destroyed before her very on eyes. She wanted to laugh at Paula's unusual question.

But, she didn't.

Elizabeth reached for the conveniently sized teddy bear that sat on her wooden desk, and she picked it up. She then dropped it in the older woman's hands. Paula looked at it, in surprise, before her cheeks flushed.

"Oh, how cute!" She swooned as she examined the doll thoroughly. "Oh, isn't this the teddy bear that was bought for you on your tenth birthday?" Paula inquired. It was a teddy bear with silver fur that had flowery designs, and blue buttons for eyes. Its snout and mouth were sewed on. It wore a simple back and white sailor uniform without the hat.

Elizabeth nodded, and Paula smiled contently.

"I made some changes to the bear. It helps me clear my mind." Elizabeth said in a small voice, as she sat at the small desk. Paula sat the doll down on the desk and then suddenly flinched at something.

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What is it?"

Paula lifted the teddy bear up to her face, and her mouth slightly parted at the sight. Blinking a few times, the maid glanced back at her Mistress with a sheepish smile.

"Sorry, for a second there I almost didn't notice the slight tear in it's face." Paula explained, quickly placing the bear on the desk. Elizabeth blinked and then grabbed a needle that had been lying around the desk lamp.

"It's always falling off. The eye just doesn't want to stay on..." Paula watched as her young mistress worked diligently with sewing the teddy bear back to its original state. She slowly backed away to the door, and grabbed the knob with her white gloved hands.

"M'Lady."

Elizabeth's blonde head raised and she looked quizzically at the maid. Paula smiled at her, and twisted the knob. "I'm sure that Lord Ciel would have loved to know that even after his death, you still cared deeply for him." Paula stated honestly,

The noble girl's fingers stopped working and her emerald eyes slightly widened.

Paula opened the door slowly, and turned her body away from her. "But, please. Go easy on yourself. At this rate, you'll get sick by pushing your body so hard." Elizabeth's eyes watered in sadness, but no tears fell down her cheeks.

The funeral of the Phantomhives had only been a few days ago. Ever since then, Elizabeth was shrouded in her own room of sorrow and pain.

Ciel, her best friend.

Ciel, her fiancee.

Ciel, who was now buried in a casket underground and far from her.

Ciel, who was now alone.

Ciel, who would forever be alone.

"M'lady."

Elizabeth's green eyes snapped open, and she wiped absently at her pale flushed cheeks. Paula stood in the hallway, with her bells in hand. She smiled with her teeth exposed and shook the bells. Paula prayed that her once cheerful Mistress would return, so she shook the bells in hope to at least put a smile on her lady's face.

"Jingle, jingle, jingle."

"Remember to always smile."

Elizabeth heard Paula's hushed words before she closed the door and frowned sadly to herself. How could she smile at a time of anguish as this? How could she smile with a heavy heart at the very thought of her best friend's face? Feeling at a loss, and frustrated at her own thinking, Elizabeth Midford decided that it would be for the best if she retired to bed early.

That night, Elizabeth went to sleep teary eyed, and snuggling tightly against her teddy bear. She didn't notice as its right blue button loosened and fell off its face; leaving it with only one blue button for an eye on its left.

TBO-Well...I think that this was OK, for a beginning anyway.

Paula: R&R! Jingle, jingle, jingle!

TBO- Yes, please. So Paula could stop shaking those things so much!