"My goodness, look at you, what wonderful costumes, come little ones. Tell me about them." Ann requested smiling at her grandchildren. Rachel bounced excitedly in place.
"Can I be first brothers and sisters, oh please?" she pleaded.
"Yes sister you can go first, you are a sister, dad says it is nice to let girls go first."Vincent replied.
"Oh brothers, you are so nice to me, thank you."the young princess stood before the queen.
"Grandmother, I am such a happy thing, can you see, my long pretty ears and my hat, I am a tea time bunny!" Rachel exclaimed, showing off her pink rabbit outfit, complete with ears and black top hat. Ann chuckled warmly.
"How wonderful, very clever sweetie." She praised.
"My Daddy made it, but this is my Mommy's hat, daddy fixed it so it could stay on me. Grandfather, Aunt Bethy, do you like it?"
"Oh yes Niece Rachel, you are a good tea time bunny,." the slightly older demonling gave her a hug.
"That was very kind of your parents to do such a thing for you young one. I wish I could have been so giving when my sons were your age, I indeed like your costume, well done." The king said in his deep voice, Rachel gave a small courtesy before returning to her parents.
"Who will be next sister, you can pick."Evian offered as Rachel sat down beside her mother.
"I will pick..."She paused, turning to Ciel. "Mommy, it is hard to pick one brother or sister, I love them lots, will they be sad?"
"No Rachel, you're not going to make anyone sad."
"Okay, then I pick Brother Rowan."
"Thank you sister."Rowan stood up , standing in front of his family.
"I'm all dressed up, I'm something very happy. Do you see my sword, don't worry, it is not a real one, it is just a toy. I have a big hat too." Rowan grinned showing off the cardboard sword tied onto his waist.
"I see it, you're a wonderful pirate." Ann praised, Rowan reached into his pocket, pulling out an eye patch.
"Mum doesn't need it anymore, he said it would be okay. Mum is very nice. Arrr!"Ciel and Sebastian grinned.
"Now it is Brother Vincent's turn."Vincent thanked his brother.
"I wanted to be scary, Grandmother, Grandfather and Aunt Bethy, it is so fun to be scary, that is why I am this, do you know what I am being?"Vincent wore a black jacket , a white tea towel was draped over his arm neatly. He grinned, showing off his tiny fangs.
"Are you a waiter?"the king asked, clearly confused.
"No, try again, it is okay to not guess right. I still love you Grandfather."
"I am very pleased to hear that. You must tell us young Vincent, what is your costume?"
"I know, I do!" Beth cried excitedly. "You are being my big brother, from the stories!"
"Yes, it is my turn to be dad, I am dad when he was mommy's Cynna. Dad said he was scary sometimes. I like to pretend, Mommy would be too scary to be." the Michaelis children nodded in agreement.
"It is your turn now brother Evian, you can show them now."Evian took his brother's place in front of the family.
"I wanted to be grandfather, but I do not have funny feet or funny things on my head. I am something else. " he gestured to his orange sweater and green hat.
"I am a pumpkin, Mama and Dad said it is okay. Dad make my green hat from one of Mama's old coats. Mama gives us so many things. Grandfather, Mama is so nice, I am sorry you are unhappy with him. Can I hug Grandmother and Aunt Bethy please?" The king sighed and offered an inviting gesture to the small demonling.
"Ciel dear, you must show us the girls. Have you dressed them as anything this year?"Ann asked. Ciel moved to the stroller and lifted a growling Angelina from it. He held her close to him as she wiggled and grasped for him.
"There now Angel, I've got you. Do you want to see your Grandmother?" Angelina snuggled into her mother, sobbing softly.
"Mommy's here little one, everything's fine now. Be still love there's no need to cry. Mommy loves you very much."Ciel walked slowly over to his mother-in-law, continuing to comfort the distraught child. Once they were in front of her, the Queen smiled and gave a small wave.
"Hello darling, Grandmother loves you." the young girl raised her head, her crimson eyes meeting her mother's blue ones.
"M-Meemee, nana."She said laying her head back down and grasping his jacket once more.
"I'm sorry Ann, she's been like this most of the \day, she slept on the way here, I thought that would help her."
"It's alright dear, she is only a baby, she needs her mother more than anything at this age, especially since she's-well given her genes shall we say. You haven't much choice when it comes to genetics I'm afraid. Poor dear."Ann said sympathetically.
"My...yee?"Lenora toddled slowly over to Ciel, She looked up at Angelina silently for a moment before turning to the Queen and raising her arms above her head.
"Naveen, Alois, do you mind?"Ann asked smiling down at Lenora who was making small grasping motions.
"It's fine with me."Alois said handing Cayden to Naveen.
"Grandfather?"Rowan called, tilting his head slightly.
"Yes Rowan?"
"What will we do today, it is nighttime now. It's too dark to play get you."
"That's true, but we do have lanterns. I thought perhaps with your mother's permission, we could make some jack-o-lanterns and your grandmother and I could share stories of your father when he was a demonling your age." Rowan grinned.
"Mum, can we, I want to do those things, can we have scary, Grandfather stories?"
"Absolutely no scary stories. I won't have you children up all night for the next month." Ciel said sternly.
"Ciel dear one, it worked out fine before." Sebastian placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Right, Rachel was scared that her cat would disappear and Rowan thought that a deranged, winged teddy bear was going to come and throw him and Lovey off a bridge."
"I did my best to make that story as child friendly as possible."Sebastian argued.
"And what a fantastic job you made of it, Evian figured it out and was terrified of Michael for weeks."
"In my defense-"
"You have no defense. They're not old enough. You shouldn't have brought up those stories in the first place. You might as well have told our little ones about the time you decided it would be a great idea to-"
"That was something else entirely. I would never be so cruel as to tell that one, even if I did happen to change a certain someone into the most beautiful, soft,-"
"Shut up, Sebastian." The Michaelis children giggled.
"Oh, so the young master returns. So nice to see you again my lord." Sebastian grinned, bowing, Ciel rolled his eyes.
"Silly Daddy, Mommy is not a master, he is our mommy. You are not a Cynna anymore. Did you do that when you worked there?"Rachel grabbed her father's hand.
"Yes dear one."
"why do you call Mommy young master sometimes?"
"Because Rachel dear, sometimes, as much as I love your mother, he gets to be cranky, just as my dear young master was. Ah such memories."
"You're silly Big brother."Beth declared with a grin
"Can I please go look at the pumpkins Daddy, there are so many."
"Yes Rachel, but stay in sight,"
"Yay!" The young princess cried, skipping off to have a look.
"Dad, Mommy, how will we make the jack-lanterns?"Vincent asked curiously.
"Well, first we'll pick a pumpkin and then-" The explanation was cut short by a blood curdling shriek from Rachel. Instantly, Ciel handed Angelina to Alois and he, Sebastian and the Michaelis sons rushed off in her direction just in time to see the shadowy figure rise from the ground and begin slowly crawling forward on all fours ready to reach out to little Rachel.
