If you guys care about why this is late AGAIN I'll explain at the bottom.

The rest of the day was torture for Ciel. He was worried and tired and cranky. It'd have been better if he had something to do. Paperwork didn't count. Instead it was just him, Sebastian and the four other incompetent servants. Even those four were keeping surprisingly quiet. Normally that'd be great but now Ciel had nothing to distract him from his worries and anxieties. Maybe he'd invite over a certain red-haired shinigami for amusement. Watching his butler struggle would be just the thing he needed.

But how was he to go about contacting him? Ciel sighed, what else could he do? He rested his elbow on the table and pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting off an incoming headache. He heard soft knocks at his door, followed by a, "My lord?" from his ever faithful butler.

"Come in."

Sebastian walked in and stopped in his tracks, "My lord? Is everything alright?" he sounded quite startled, a new tone for him.

"Yes. Why wouldn't it be? What did you come in here for?" Ciel snapped.

Ignoring his question Sebastian said, "Forgive my saying, but you look a little… pale."

"I'm exhausted, Sebastian! Now what do you want?"

"My lord, would you like to lie down for a while?"

Suddenly Ciel felt awkward and averted his eyes, "No, I- I can't. I'm sorry for snapping. Just- wh-what do you need?"

Sebastian walked forward and touched Ciel's cheek with his gloved fingers. The gesture was comforting and fatherly and Ciel was stunned, "W-What are you…"

"Young master, I regret to inform you Lady Elizabeth is here. If you don't feel well, maybe it would be for the best if I sent her home." Sebastian knew Ciel's feelings towards his fiancé, he thought of her simply as an annoying sister, "She seems to be especially full of energy today so it would be best if you were as well."

Ciel sighed and pushed Sebastian's hand away, turning his head away. This would be a welcome distraction but was he ready? "No, it- it's fine. I'll go see her."

Sebastian pulled his hand away and bowed, "Yes, my lord. She is waiting in the parlor when you are ready."

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Let's go."

The demon straightened and led Ciel through the intricate maze of corridors. On the way, in a hallway, Ciel caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror.

God, I really do look terribly pale. I'm sure Elizabeth won't notice.

Despite what he just thought, Ciel found himself pinching his cheeks, trying to work some color back into them. Sebastian noticed this and questioned, "My lord, if you don't mind my asking, what are you doing exactly?"

Ciel jumped and blushed furiously, "N-Nothing, Sebastian. I was just… nothing." He cringed at the wave of heat that overtook him, reddening his face. At least he wasn't as pale though, "L-Let's just go." Ciel strode past his butler. When he noticed Sebastian wasn't following he turned around, "Sebastian? Let's go."

"I apologize, young master, but we're here already."

"Wha-?" Ciel looked at the door by Sebastian and recognized it as the parlor door, "O-Oh. Okay then." Ciel quickly walked back to Sebastian's side, eyes looking at the floor.

Now the only thing I have to worry about is Elizabeth thinking I have a fever.

Ciel took a deep breath and tried to gather his wits before opening the door. He saw his fiancé sitting alone on a loveseat with her annoying maid, Paula sitting across from her.

Elizabeth looked up and her face brightened considerably, "CIEL!" She jumped up and ran towards her future husband.

Her shrill voice rang in his ears and he felt the breath pushed out of his lungs as Elizabeth pulled him into a rib-cracking hug, "L-Lady Elizabeth- Please."

Elizabeth pulled away and shoved Ciel lightly, "Silly, I told you, call me Lizzie! No need to be so formal!" She pulled him closer again and Ciel was once again reminded of the time he had to wear a corset for the Jack the Ripper case, "Se-bas-tian," Ciel could hardly breathe.

He heard Sebastian shift behind him and saw his gloved hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. She looked up and said, "Hi Sebastian! How are you?"

Sebastian smiled, "I am doing well, Lady Elizabeth, thank you, although I'm not sure I can say the same for my young master. He seems to be feeling a little woozy as of late. If you could be so kind as to release him…"

"Oh!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she let go of Ciel, "Ciel, are you not feeling well? Why didn't you tell me? What's wrong?"

Ciel doubled over, panting , trying to catch his breath. Elizabeth sure had gotten stronger, "It- it's nothing- I-I'm just a- a little… t-tired, is all. Don't- don't worry, Lizzie."

Elizabeth clapped at the use of her nickname, "Oh, that's good Ciel! I'm so glad you're alright. But," she placed her hands on her slim hips and looked at him sternly, "You must be getting more sleep, understand me? Sebastian," she looked up at the butler standing his master's side, patting his back lightly to help his recover his breathe, "Promise me you'll make sure Ciel gets more sleep."

Sebastian paused his actions long enough to bow in Elizabeth's direction, "Yes, my lady. I give you my word as a Phantomhive butler that your fiancée will get the right amount of rest."

"Yay!" Elizabeth clapped again, "Ciel, don't worry. Between me and Sebastian and Paula, you'll be feeling better in no time! Now, go to your room and lie down, this instant!" She giggled at her stern voice, "I'll be up to read you a story in a minute, okay?"

By this time, Ciel had regained most of his breathe, though his ribs felt slightly bruised and it hurt to breath, "Lizzie, I assure you, I'm fine. I can't very well leave you here after you've come all this way."

"Aww! I'm so glad you care about me so much! But you can leave, if it'll make you feel better. We have the rest of our lives together so you can go rest now and we'll spend lots of time together later!"

Oh Lizzie. If only you knew how little time I have left.

Ciel sighed in defeat. Elizabeth wouldn't let this one go easily, "Fine, I'll rest for an hour, and then we'll spend time together okay? I promise."

Elizabeth clapped, "I'll read you a story, okay? Let's go!" She then attempted to rip Ciel's wrist clean off his arm and drag him down the hall.

"L-Lizzie! Please, I-"

Suddenly she was stopped by Sebastian, who somehow had appeared in front of her. She ran into him and Ciel ran into her.

Elizabeth looked at him surprised, "Sebastian, I thought you were…" her voice trailed off as she gestured behind her.

In a single movement, Sebastian had Ciel cradled in his arms like a baby, "Lady Elizabeth, I personally thank you for caring for the young master so, but I assure you I can take it from here. I will have some refreshments sent to the parlor and perhaps I'll have Finny take you around the gardens. We have some particularly vibrant pink dahlias I think you'll enjoy."

Ciel interrupted, "Lizzie, I would hate to have you do something you wouldn't enjoy or something that would bore you. I promise I'll rest easier knowing you are happy." He played the right card; Elizabeth would offer little resistance now.

"Aww, Ciel, you're so cute! If there is anything I can ever do to help you I'll do it always! So I'll do this for you okay?"

"Thank you Lizzie, I'll be up soon, thanks again for caring about me. I love you."

Elizabeth giggled and a light blush covered her cheeks, "I love you too, Ciel."

Sebastian bowed a little bit and made a hasty retreat.

"Sebastian, what's your problem? You seem eager to get away."

Sebastian jumped a little, "N-Nothing, my lord. I just want to get you to bed as soon as possible. I don't want you getting sick."

Did Sebastian just… stutter?

"I have no intention on sleeping, Sebastian. You should have realized this. I can't."

"Of course you can, young master. Why ever wouldn't you be able to?"

Ciel was rather uncomfortable, how was he supposed to say this? Besides, Sebastian already knows why, he just doesn't remember, "Y-You remember, Sebastian."

Sebastian smiled down at the small figure in his arms, "But this time, my lord, I'll be with you."

This shocked Ciel into silence, they were going to do this already? "But- but I'm not ready!" he protested, "Is it really a great idea to-"

"Shhh, you needn't do anything, young master. Don't worry; I'll take care of everything."

Despite this, Ciel worried. What should it feel like to have Sebastian inside his dreams? Because he knew they would come back. They always did.

Before he knew it, the two of them were back in Ciel's room and he had been changed into his nightshirt. He weakly protested once more, "Sebastian, really I'm fine. Actually, I lied; I'm not really that tired," his own body betrayed him by yawning so he tried another angle, "Besides, don't you have other duties to attend to?"

"As your butler, my first priority is your well-being. Please, allow me to do this, it pains me to see you like this."

Yeah, right. Like you could ever care.

Too tired to deny it or protest any more, Ciel allowed Sebastian to lay him down and pull the covers over him. The demon pulled a seat over to sit by Ciel's bedside, "Just relax and allow yourself to fall asleep. Let me take care of everything. There's nothing to be afraid of, I promise."

Ciel wasn't nervous about falling asleep or not being able to, but what would happen when he did. But Sebastian's words served to soothe him and he was almost asleep within seconds. His fears still wouldn't allow himself to shut down completely but when he felt a gloved hand stroking his hair, he felt instantly at peace. Sebastian would do everything and would try his best to eradicate the dreams forever. Sebastian would help him, Sebastian would help him, Sebastian would help-

Ciel instantly dropped off into a deep sleep and before he knew it, he was dreaming.

It started off like always, Ciel was running around his manor, which was flaming away and crumbling around him, "Sebastian? Sebastian! Sebastian! Where are you? SEBASTIAN!" A nearby wall almost collapsed on top of him and the chandelier fell in front of him, shattering into a million pieces. The dust and smoke almost choked Ciel.

What? Nothing's different. Where- where is-

"S-Sebastian!" he choked out, "Where- are you?

"Is that-? Is it really-? Ciel Phantomhive?" Ciel heard the voice from behind him. He whirled around to find the person the familiar voice belonged to. But it was smoky and fiery and Ciel couldn't see anything. He finally was able to see a dark silhouette in the smoke. It came towards him and he could make out his arch-enemy, Alois Trancy, the blonde earl who wears booty shorts. (A/N which I honestly love. Alois is nuts.)

Sebastian! You- you promised!

"Ciel Phantomhive, finally! You are mine at last! Sebastian, get him! Make Ciel Phantomhive mine!"

"Yes, my lord."

Sebastian! You traitor! I thought-

This was where Ciel usually woke up, he never got any farther. He just assumed he died or something. But this time, he stayed alive long enough to see a taller figure approach him from behind the blonde earl.

"Se-bastian?"

Alois grinned triumphantly, "Sebastian is mine, you hear? Mine! He doesn't care for you; he only wants you for your soul! Sebastian actually cares about me. Me, you hear? He is mine! Mine! Mine! Mine and mine alone!" he laughed maniacally before his face turned serious and his voice lowered dramatically, "Just like you will be. Sebastian!" he barked, "You have your orders! Get me Ciel Phantomhive!"

Sebastian bowed again, "Yes, my lord."

What is Sebastian doing? I thought- I thought that… you said… what are you doing?

As Sebastian slowly approached him, Ciel knew he had to wake up. He began pinching himself in a futile attempt. His feet were stuck to the floor and he couldn't move. Sebastian knelt down in front of him and placed his hands on his shoulders. Ciel heard Alois' maniacal laugh in the background. He was starting to hyperventilate. "S-Sebas-"His voice fled him as he was choked by smoke. Ciel squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn't have to look at his supposed butler.

This isn't supposed to happen! What do I do? I- I- I can't-

"Ciel."

"Huh?"

"Ciel, open your eyes."

Ciel's eyes snapped open. What was happening? Sebastian was helping Trancy wasn't he? Why was his voice so comforting? He saw Sebastian's bright red eyes watching his own mismatched ones with his own non-patronizing version of tenderness.

"Ciel, I can only say this once and I have to say this quickly, I am still your butler, I am still your pawn, and I am yours to command. I was forced to do this, it was for your own good, but all you have to do is call me back. That's all you ever had to do. I have never, would never and will never abandon you.

I have to… what?

"H-How, Sebastian? How do I-?"

"How have you always called me?"

How have I-? I can't think, Sebastian, just tell me!

"Sebastian, I don't know! This is an order! Tell me how!"

Sebastian was silent.

"Sebastian Michaelis, I want you to tell me how to call you now!

"Yes, my lord," Sebastian stood up and smiled down at the small earl, not the blonde one.

After a moment, Ciel asked angrily, "What kind of answer was that? I gave you an order, I demand that you…"

Oh. That's how.

"Ever since that day, my name has become what had bound us, other than contract. My name is now my entire life, I am Sebastian Michaelis and Sebastian Michaelis is yours forever."

"Sebastian, I-"

"Shh, Ciel, it's alright, I'm here now." Sebastian knelt down and held his arms out. Ciel didn't hesitate to leap into them, "But, Sebastian, what about-?"

"He's gone now. You have nothing to worry about."

"But- but- but-"

"Shush, Ciel, I told you, nothing will hurt you anymore."

"S-Sebastian, I want to go home now."

Sebastian nodded,

"Of course, my lord."

Why this is late: No internet whatsoever, long car rides, no internet again, another long car ride, no laptop, too busy swimming, not feeling well, then a short bout of writer's block. Hopefully this won't happen again.

Another super long car ride tomorrow, last one for a LONG TIME. I'll type through most of that, after I finish my homework. Just know that I love you guys to bits and I don't know what I would do if no one reads this. I can't express this enough. And I don't know what I'd do if people though I ditched this story. I haven't ditched anything or anyone and I have half-written chapter for all of my things I just can't finish them. It's SUPER HARD. But I spent such a long time writing this, hoping people can forgive me AGAIN, for this being so late. But now, it's super late and I'm exhausted. So I'm going to bed. I'll worry about this in the morning. Please understand how much I love you and your support. It's probably the awesome-est thing in my life. I'll get all dramatic later, I'm going to bed. 'Night guys!