"I need you to be very well behaved tonight. My mother is having a party and she was kind enough to invite everyone as guests. I'm implementing the zero tolerance policy we spoke of earlier. You get one warning and one only. There will be no second chances and Ciel will not save you if you misbehave. Further more, your consequence will be worse than you can imagine, am I clear?" Sebastian said sternly.
"Crystal sir!" Mey-Rin, Bard and Finny said in unison.
"Excellent, you are excused to make yourselves presentable." He continued before leaving the room and journeying down the hall where Ciel was helping Evian and Vincent get into their new outfits.
"Dad, did you come to see how nice we are for grandmother's party?" Vincent asked tugging at his navy blue jacket. Sebastian smiled bending down to straighten the crown on his son's head.
"You look perfect my sons. Your grandparents will be thrilled." He turned to Evian who grinned proudly at his father.
"I am excited, this is my very first grown up grandmother party, this is such a happy thing!' He cried.
"You look so grown up indeed with your black suit my dear Evian.
"Mama said that too. Cousin Lizzy does not like it because it is not pretty colors but I like it."
"Though it is always a good idea to be respectful of your elders, and especially your mother and other family members, you are also allowed within reason of course to have your own opinion of what to wear. Your cousin Elizabeth means well." Sebastian explained.
"Ciel, if you like I can take over and you can get ready." Ciel stood up and nodded.
"Rowan might need you and Lizzy's helping Rachel. Angelina and Kathryn need to be taken care of as well. Both of them are still sleeping, I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible." He said allowing his mate to kiss him.
"I'll take care of everything." Sebastian vowed. He watched Ciel disappear into their room.
"Dad, will there be others like us?" Vincent took his father's hand.
"If you mean children of your age group, then yes. We can talk about that when everyone is ready.
"Dad, can Mama Bunny come too?" Evian asked hopefully. Sebastian rested a hand on the young demon's shoulder and knelt down to his level.
"I'm sorry Evian, not this time. I know how much you love Mama Bunny but he might get lost if you do, he's much safer here where Pluto and the kittens can look after him."
"I would cry very much, you gave me Mama Bunny." Evian said sadly.
"Yes I did, when you were an infant."
"I scared Mama with him."
"Well, I wouldn't say he was afraid, I think it was more of a shock than anything." Sebastian patted his son's head affectionately.
"Mama loved me anyway."
"That's right he does. Just because you shock someone doesn't mean they will stop loving you."
"That is good because he is our mommy. Mommies are not supposed to not love their babies." Vincent added.
"No they're not, but you are all very fortunate to have your mother, some demons are not so lucky. Always remember that." Sebastian told them.
"Now then, we just have to wait until everyone else is ready.
"Dad?" Vincent called looking up at his father.
"Yes Vincent?"
"You look funny with a crown." He said seriously.
"Brother Vincent, that is not very nice." Evian whispered.
"I suppose I must look a bit strange to you, I don't wear it often."
"Daddy, look how pretty I am, I picked the red one Madam Red got me,do you seethe pretty black bow?" Rachel pointed to the ribbon around her waist.
"It's lovely Rachel,one day you will have to wear it for her." The princess giggled and twirled happily .
"Where is mommy, is he staying home?" Rachel inquired.
"No, your mother is getting ready. It won't take long."
"Can we please play with puppy while we wait and take him with us, maybe he will have fun too."
"Rachel,Pluto doesn't understand parties and the ones given by your grandparents are very formal. If Pluto came too,he would not behave and ruin everything."
"Mommy likes him."
"Yes he does but that doesn't change the outcome of taking him along."
"poor puppy the children sighed.
"Dad?" Rowan called from the next room, his voice showed his distress.
"I'll be there in a minute Rowan." Sebastian called back. "Children, I would like you to sit down while I help your brother."
"Okay." The voices said in unison as they did exactly as they were told. Sebastian stood up and made his way to his son.
Sebastian found Rowan sitting on his bed in his blue suit,he stared down at the floor with his hands folded in his lap.
"Rowan, what's the matter?"Sebastian knelt beside the boy.
"I'll have to be with the other babies that are not us. I want to be with you and mum."
"I know that it can be difficult to get used to others, your mother and I aren't fond of these gatherings ourselves, we have to meet with everyone and talk to them all night."
"What do you talk about?'
"politics, anything that as the royal family needs to know and anything else that might be brought up by the nobles."
"That doesn't sound fun dad."
"It's not, but it's necessary."Sebastian told him.
"What if the other ones don't like me?"Rowan lifted his head to meet his father's gaze.
"Rowan, the children you're going to meet tonight are very different than you and your siblings. Some will be very mean, others will be very quiet and not speak at all. Your mother taught each of you love and how to care. The noble children may not understand this, if they are mean it's because for the most part demons don't get such wonderful lessons and they don't know any better. I need you to understand that because you must try to get used to it from outsiders as long as you have family,it doesn't matter what those children say because you'll come home to a place where there is so much love for you that they will probably never have. So please be kind but that doesn't mean if they put their hands on you that you should let them, come find your mother or myself."
"I don't want to go."
"You want to see your grandparents?" Rowan nodded.
"Then you should join us, you know how your grandmother loves to cuddle with you. I'll make you a promise, If you will try, ten minutes after we arrive, I'll have your mother check on you and if you still want to come with us you may." Rowan nodded and raised his arms to Sebastian who lifted him up and carried him from the room.
"Dad, will uncle Mordred by there?" The boy asked, Sebastian sighed heavily.
"Unfortunately,yes."
"Dad?" Sebastian turned his head to his son.
"Yes?"
"If uncle Mordred tries to hurt mum, I'm going to pull his face off and hit him with it." Rowan said seriously.
"I wouldn't blame you in the least Rowan, in fact should he be foolish enough to do so, I'll help you."
"I love Mum."
"I know you do son, your mother loves you too just as I do."
"Is it okay to not like Uncle Mordred?"
"Of course, but right now we must be on our way." Sebastian took Rowan to join his brothers and sister.
"Where is Mum and our babies?"Rowan asked after being lowered onto the chair.
"Getting ready to go, stay there and I'll see if your mother needs help." Sebastian left the room and made his way to his and Ciel's bedroom. He found the door closed.
"Ciel, is everything alright?" He called through the door.
"Come in here." Ciel called back. Sebastian opened the door to find his mate holding Angelina close to his chest. The infant was growling and sobbing softly. Kathryn lay calmly in her cradle.
"Can you dress Kathryn while I try to get Angelina to calm down?"
"Of course, is our little angel alright?" Sebastian asked turning to Kathryn who smiled up at him.
"I think so. She's just frustrated. She tries so hard not to get angry and she can't help it, I hope she grows out of it, as a mother it's hard to see her go through this." Ciel said rocking her in his arms.
"I know it is, mothers tend to feel for their children and although fathers also feel a certain amount of concern, it truly is the mother that knows how to make things better."Sebastian proceeded to dress Kathryn and lift her into his arms.
Kathryn immediately turned her attention to her twin, pointing at her.
"Na na na!" She said sharply.
"My little Kathryn, we must be tolerant of what your sister can't control. Instead of being angry yourself, try being nice with her." Sebastian stroked the child's hair affectionately.
"Ni... Ni...ni...ni." She cooed as he father continued.
"Yes, nice. Come let's try it." He walked closer to Ciel and Angelina, allowing Kathryn to reach out to her sister and softly pat the girl's head.
"Ni...ni...ni." She repeated turned to her sister. The girl's red eyes still full of tears.
"N-Ni?" She asked sniffling. Kathryn smiled.
"Ni!" She replied excitedly. Angelina rested her head on Ciel's chest once more, this time tapping him softly.
"Ni...Ni...Ni." She cooed.
"That's right, nice. Angelina, be nice with your mother." Sebastian encouraged causing the child to continue.
"Good girl Angel,mommy's here." Ciel soothed.
"Now then, are we ready?" Sebastian asked.
"Na, na, na." Angelina replied before Ciel could answer.
"Is that right little one, tell me why not."Angelina reached out to her father and after being held in his free arm, she placed her palm on Sebastian's cheek tapping him softly. She gazed into his eyes.
"Ni." She said. Sebastian kissed her forehead.
"Daddy is very proud of you. Come now, we shouldn't be late." The older demon exited the too followed by Ciel. Though Ciel knew it was important for the children to learn how to socialize with others in their age group, he found himself feeling apprehensive about the event, he never knew what to expect from the children when they were placed in a new situation, he would just have to hope for the best.