A/N: The continuation arrives! I haven nothing to say up here, so... go read!

Title: Rose Painted Red

Author: liketolaugh

Rating: T

Pairings: Ciel/Elizabeth, Vincent/Rachel

Genre: Family/Supernatural

Warnings: AU

Summary: What if Ciel's parents lived? What if he still made the deal with the demon? Why, everything would really be quite different... Follow-up to Even So.

Disclaimer: Sadly, Black Butler is not mine.


Light spilled into the room as the curtains were pulled open. Ciel stirred slightly, shielding his face from the onslaught of light. A voice cut through his sleepy daze, making him open his eyes to look over.

"Young Master, it is time to wake up."

Ciel yawned and sat up slowly, half-listening as Sebastian told him what was for breakfast that day. He nodded along and Sebastian quickly finished with, "On the side, I have prepared toast, scones, and pain de champagne. Which would you like?"

Predictably, Ciel answered, "A scone." He yawned again as Sebastian began to dress him, neat and swift as usual. "What is going on today?"

"In the morning, you will meet with Professor Hughes. Then later…"

Ciel listened as Sebastian laid out the day's schedule, but finished with the statement that there would be some time to run about, even with the day's paperwork accounted for. Ciel smiled widely and nodded in acknowledgement.

Sebastian finished dressing Ciel by tying off the bowtie at his neck. He straightened up just in time for Ciel to tear past him, heading straight for the study. Sebastian shook his head slowly and walked after him at a more moderate pace.

Ciel, after his classes, had, as usual, chosen to work on his paperwork in the same room as Vincent, both filling out paperwork silently. Rachel, off to the side, kept half an eye on her two boys, reading a book in peace. Eventually, though, Vincent broke the comfortable silence.

"Tanaka."

The response was immediate. "Master Vincent?"

"Mr. Chlaus called earlier. He has retrieved what I asked for and will arrive just after six. I expect the manor to be well prepared to receive him."

"Of course, Master Vincent."

Ciel paused, a small smile creeping over his face. Uncle Chlaus was coming! "Sebastian."

The implied order was quickly understood and rapidly acknowledged. "Yes, my lord."

He turned with a soft swish and followed Tanaka out the door. Tanaka quickly took charge, sending Finny, Mey-rin, and Bard off to do their tasks while he himself went off to set up the table. Sebastian was left to manage the dinner and do any task he set himself to – the care of Ciel's favorite Sterling Silver roses came to mind. He had ordered Finny to stay clear of them after he killed them the first time, causing Ciel to sulk until they had been regrown.

He finished setting out the ingredients for the meal and went outside to the back gardens, leaving the front and courtyard to Finny. He finished everything around five, with only an hour remaining until Chlaus arrived.

He returned to the house, only to find the servants clustered just outside the kitchen, looking extremely anxious. Tanaka, holding a cup of green tea, was standing over them, looking disapproving.

He reached them in three long strides. In seconds, red eyes took in the three servants' work.

From here, the courtyard was clearly visible, but held not a hint of green anywhere. The kitchen door hung open, revealing a hunk of unrecognizable, charred meat. And at their feet, smashed china lay scattered across the ground.

Sebastian looked up to meet their eyes and smiled. It was not a kind smile.

Behind him, the door swung open again.

"Oh, no!"

Startled out of their breathless anticipation of the yelling, the five servants whirled toward the door. Their ears had not deceived them.

Ciel's visible eye flickered between the three disasters. Dead courtyard. Smashed china. Charred meat. Courtyard. China. Meat. Courtyard. China. Meat. With each round, his cerulean gaze grew that little bit more distressed, and the three servants grew paler, waiting for the axe to fall.

Finally, Ciel burst out, "Uncle Chlaus is going to be so disappointed!"

The trio gasped together, the horrified sound escaping their throats in unison. Ciel ran over to Sebastian and grabbed onto his sleeve, tugging lightly. He looked up at him, tilting his head back so that watery blue met wary crimson. He looked ready to cry, and the servants started to wail, offering explanations and apologies, to no avail, for it was still Sebastian that Ciel spoke to. "Sebastian… you can fix it, can't you?"

Sebastian smirked softly down at him, and it disguised the slight concern in his eyes. "Of course I can, Young Master."

They both knew it hadn't really been a question. It had been an order. Fix this now. Implicit, of course, as most of Ciel's orders were.

His response, in turn, had also been a mere implication. Yes, my lord.

Ciel released Sebastian's sleeve and half-turned to look at the servants. "Please be careful!"

With that, he darted off, door shutting behind him with a sharp 'click'.

Instantly, the servants were moving again. Finny, Mey-rin, and Bard started scrambling back and forth doing nothing in particular, except perhaps fretting. Sebastian ignored them, thinking hard.

"Sebastian."

Tanaka's voice broke into his thoughts and he looked up. Tanaka offered him his cup of tea.

Sebastian's eyes widened and he fair snatched the cup out of Tanaka's hand. "Quiet down, you three," he ordered the servants. He held up the cup of Japanese green tea. "We'll make do with this."

Upstairs, Vincent passed by a window. Though deep in thought, holding absently onto Ciel's hand, he wasn't so deep in thought that he didn't notice the state of the courtyard. He froze, eyes on the dead lawn. "Damn," he cursed quietly.

He felt small fingers squeeze his and looked down to see Ciel smiling cheekily, but confidently up at him. "Sebastian will take care of it," he said in a voice that left no room for doubt.

Vincent frowned, looking a little uncertain. Ciel just looked back to the front, smiling as contently as if the problem had been solved already.

And sure enough, by the time Vincent – now with Rachel as well as Ciel – walked past the window again on the way to greet Chlaus, the courtyard, while still with limited greenery, looked beautiful. Vincent relaxed a little.

Of course, Ciel had forgotten to mention the charred meat and smashed tea sets.

But his parents didn't need to know about that, Ciel thought as he looked down the road, focusing on the carriage rumbling toward them, with his eyes shining in anticipation. Vincent was standing just behind him, smiling slightly, and with Rachel beside him.

Finally, the carriage ground to a halt and Chlaus stepped out, looking cheerful as always. He barely had time to look around before he was jumped on, and he laughed heartily. "Hello to you to, Ciel!"

A muffled "Uncle Chlaus!" came from somewhere by his left ear.

He heard a low chuckle and soft laughter heading toward him, and felt an arm swing around his shoulders. He looked up. "Buona sera, Vincent! Have you been well?"

Vincent smiled. "I've been very well indeed. And yourself?"

"Fine, fine," Chlaus brushed off. "And you, Rachel? Have you been keeping your husband in line?"

Rachel smiled warmly, ignoring Vincent's playful indignant look. "Naturally."

"And Ciel!" With difficulty, he pried the boy off his shoulder and smiled at him, holding him off the ground with ease while he struggled indignantly. "Have you perhaps grown a bit taller?"

Ciel slumped, startling Chlaus with the sudden dead weight, and causing the man to drop him. Ciel landed on his feet. "No," he muttered unhappily.

Together, they started to move toward the house. As they went in, the servants bowed in unison. "Welcome, Mr. Chlaus."

Chlaus gaped. "Oh-hoh… Oh, my. You've really cleaned up this manor house."

It was true. The toys that had once lain scattered about the entrance hall were gone, the wood shining like it was newly waxed (which it was) and not a speck of dust to be found anywhere. Ciel smiled a little to himself. Yes, he thought Sebastian had done quite well.

"We have been expecting you, Mister Chlaus," Tanaka told him as Finny went up to the man to take his things.

"Tanaka," greeted Chlaus. "It's been a long time. I see you've taken on new staff." He plopped his hat on Finny's head.

"I am certain there is much you wish to discuss with the master and his family," Tanaka added, opening a door. "Dinner will be ready soon, so please follow me to the courtyard."

Chlaus frowned. "The courtyard?"

Sebastian stepped in. "The Young Master wished to entertain you for all the trouble you experienced on this family's behalf during your journey, sir." He smiled. "I hope you find our efforts most agreeable."

"Ciel, what are you trying to do?" worried Rachel.

Ciel shrugged. "I did tell Daddy that Sebastian would fix it. I just didn't say how."

"Please make yourself at home," Tanaka added, opening the door to the courtyard.

Chlaus looked delighted by the smooth simplicity of the stone garden, dotted here and there by flowers. "Prodigioso!" he exclaimed.

"This is a Japanese stone garden," Sebastian explained, escorting him to the table. He pulled out the chair for Chlaus to sit in and the man looked around, marveling at the style of the garden.

"Tea has been prepared," Tanaka added, moving to stand beside Chlaus and allowing Sebastian to return to Ciel, who was sitting to Vincent's left, while Rachel sat at his right. Vincent himself was, of course, seated at the head of the table. "Excuse me," he added, pouring some tea into one of his Japanese cups.

"Even the tea is Japanese," Chlaus noted with delight. "I see you're particular about the details."

"I took little part in this," denied Tanaka, smiling. "As it was Young Master Ciel who requested that we entertain you, Mister Sebastian, his personal butler, took it upon himself to take charge in this affair."

Chlaus laughed. "I think I can look forward to dinner as well!"

Ciel heard a faint rustling in some of the flowers and frowned at them, wondering if there was some creature or other hiding. But then he spotted the servants hiding among them in the creature's place, heads nearly poking out, and he smiled cheekily. They ducked back, but not before Ciel saw their embarrassed looks.

Vincent leaned forward slightly, eyes on Chlaus, and he didn't notice when Rachel gave Ciel a slightly puzzled look. He just smiled, and Vincent spoke to Chlaus. "So… I take it you have what I asked for."

Chlaus smiled lightly. "I have brought it, as promised."

He slid a small box across the table. Vincent took it, tucking it into his pocket, as Chlaus continued, "Here is the game you wanted." He smirked. "It isn't widely available in Italy, so it was quite troublesome to procure it."

"So you have mentioned," chuckled Vincent.

"More than once, from what I hear," finished Rachel with a chortle.

"Of course," returned Chlaus, chuckling. "The king gives his servant a fitting reward for his efforts, after all!"

Vincent chuckled. "With luck, this game won't be so tiresome as the last."

"Really, now!" complained Chlaus halfheartedly. "A family such a yours completes games so easily. So enough, you'll be asking for another one!"

"Of course," smiled Vincent. "It is quite enjoyable to play a game with your family."

"And quite a family it is," murmured Chlaus.

"If you will excuse my intrusion," Tanaka interrupted. "Dinner is served."

Tanaka stepped back, allowing Sebastian to take charge again. Sebastian explained, "On the menu is our chef Baldroy's Gyuu-Tataki-Don."

Vincent, Rachel, and Chlaus froze. Don?

Ciel, though, just kept smiling. Sebastian had it under control, he knew. He always did.

Tanaka silently set the bowl down in front of Chlaus, who stared at it. "This is… dinner? I was expecting a Kyoto-style full-course meal or something…"

Rachel gave Ciel a Look, that look a mother gives her child when demanding explanation, and Ciel just put a hush-hush finger on his lips and winked at her. The effect was somewhat lost when only one eye was visible, but the sentiment was there.

Vincent's full attention was on the other end of the table, where Sebastian was practically sparkling as he spoke to Chlaus. "Mister Chlaus, did you know…?"

All four occupants of the table unconsciously leaned forward in interest.

"Donburi has been used in Japan from ancient times as a feast to express gratitude to laborers. A dish given as a treat to a person who has rendered great service… that is donburi!"

As he spoke, he brandished the bowl of donburi dramatically and passionately, though never once did he let a single grain of rice fall. He quickly calmed and continued, "Houhan, a court dish for which the masses yearned, is said to be the origin of donburi. Furthermore… I thought Mister Chlaus' palate might have grown tired of elaborate dishes, and so I planned this meal so that you might eat the choicest meat simply."

For a moment, Chlaus just looked dazed, and Ciel worried that Sebastian had broken him. Then he began to laugh.

"Vincent! This is great! You never fail to surprise me!"

Vincent smiled.

"A lot of the fellows in this business lack a sense of humor," Chlaus continued. "But I see you haven't yet lost yours."

Vincent laughed. "I certainly hope not!"

Chlaus turned to Sebastian. "I didn't know the Japanese donburi had such history behind it. You really are quite the intellectual."

Sebastian bowed. "Most kind of you, sir." That reminded him… He would have to clean the study later.

Chlaus smiled. "As you said, I've grown weary of full-flavored Italian dishes. Thank you."

"I also selected an Italian wine to suit your taste, sir," added Sebastian, gesturing to the cart Mey-rin was standing behind.

There was an awkward pause in which nothing happened. Then Sebastian cleared his throat. "Mey-rin."

"Y-yes?" stuttered Mey-rin, a fixed smile on her face.

Sebastian leaned very close to her and hissed in her ear, "Stop standing there and pour the man a glass of wine!"

Mey-rin lurched forward with the wine bottle, swaying, with her face bright red. She tipped the bottle forward.

It missed the glass.

Vincent, Rachel, and Ciel froze as wine poured onto the tablecloth. Ciel whipped around to look wide-eyed at Sebastian. Do something! Sebastian looked back at him.

The next moment, Sebastian had whipped the tablecloth clean off the table, catching every last drop of wine.

For a moment, everything seemed to hang, suspended. The cloth lingered in the air, the Phantomhives' expressions froze, and even the servants, still hidden among the flowers, had halted midmotion. Nothing moved.

Then Sebastian had the cloth folded over his arm and Chlaus opened his eyes. His mouth fell open. "O-oh! Where did the tablecloth go?"

Ciel was already smiling as if nothing had happened, and his parents both looked perfectly content as well, schooling their features expertly.

"There was a slight stain upon it," Vincent explained apologetically. "My son took it upon himself to have it taken away. Please do not trouble yourself with it."

Sebastian bowed low. "Excuse us for our grave discourtesy. Please relax and enjoy your meal."

"Your butler is most skilled, Ciel," complimented Chlaus.

Ciel laughed softly. "Skilled?" He smirked. "He did what was expected of him, nothing more."

Chlaus chuckled. "You're tough. But a talent like that would be hard to find, even if you looked all over Britain."

Which was why he hadn't looked in Britain. "I know."

"Of course, the real reason Ciel hired him is because he makes excellent sweets," teased Rachel. Ciel smiled.

Chlaus laughed. "In that case, I look forward to dessert as well!"

Sebastian moved away for a few minutes, but returned quickly with a charming smile. "Many apologies for having kept you waiting. Dessert is served."

The rest of the meal went quite well, in Ciel's opinion, and by the end of it, he was extremely pleased. Once Chlaus had left, Ciel wandered down into the servants' area. All three of them gave him a confused look.

"Young Master?" questioned Bard.

Ciel looked at them for a moment, and then smiled broadly. "Thank you for today. You all did very well."

Upstairs, Sebastian frowned, puzzled, as a thundering cheer rose up from below. He shook his head, though, and quickly dismissed it, moving on.


Hmm. That ended up more similar than I intended... I promise that stops soon! Now, I have little time to say anything, so I'll just say, please review! I have to go study for my AP test now... *shiver* Wish me luck!