The rest of the carriage ride was filled with silence and idle chatter. Ciel and I discussed my family in bits and pieces, but the majority of the ride was dedicated to staring out the windows without speaking. Once we returned home, I found out that I'd be staying in the same room as Finnian and Bardroy, as well as the silent chap whose name is something like Tamaki? No. That's not right. Takuma? No… Tanaka. Is that right? It sounds right. I'll stick with that until told otherwise.

Any-fix, I'm now staying in the same room as them. I do wish that I had been given my own room. I'm not a male so staying in a room with one while being unwed is quite against social and private protocol. There's a reason why, back in the late 18th century, women would be kept in sacks whilst talking with the one courting them! That way they couldn't get up to any mischief. It's stupid of me to be thinking this way though. I am a boy to them.

It was awkward for me to say the least, but I made it through the night and woke up at the normal time this morning –dawn. The woman who raised me, Elise, always told me to go to bed late and wake up early. She said that in this aspect, I would always win because I'd always be aware. Honestly, I think that strategy is idiotic, but because she made my mind believe dawn was the appropriate time to wake, I have always woken at that time. After she left, however –and never came back! –I moved back into the house and fell asleep earlier. Yet, because she took me in at the age of five and brought me up accordingly, I am able to live a minimum amount of sleep. And food. Elise didn't like to eat.

I say this because she found food disgusting and didn't understand how I could possibly eat it. Whenever I was hungry, she would tell me to go and get my own food from the forest. Because of this, I like to say that I'm a master when it comes to wild herbs. While I can't grow anything whatsoever, I am able to tell what's edible or not.

For breakfast this morning, I had rummaged through the kitchen, finding an apple before devouring it.

That's enough for me.

After the other servants had been awoken as well, everything was chaos as we tried to prepare for my cousin's arrival –starting with an early morning letter sent by Garret through a Personal Pigeon. Or a PP as we call them. They are basically scientifically enhanced birds that fly at the speed of sound; therefore, they get to places fast. The letter contained my cousin's neat scrawl as he informed Ciel of the plan:

Hello, young Phantomhive.

I am displeased to announce our arrival at your home today. It is against protocol to meet without a proper amount of time in between. Because of this, I am deeply sorry. I cannot, however, go against Eleanor's ideals on her birthday. That would be very rude. I must also inform you of that my children are rambunctious in a… curious way. Ask Sam if you have any questions.

Garret Greensvitch.

After receiving this letter, Ciel had everyone prepare in a hurry. This wasn't the best idea.

Bardroy was banned from the kitchens, Finnian destroyed the garden, and Mey-Rin almost broke the windows when she slipped down the stairs and made the mop go flying. Luckily, Sebastian was there to catch it. Tanaka didn't do anything. Sebastian ended up having to fix just about everything, with my help. I volunteered to cook since my family is very "rambunctious" and only like food cooked to a certain "perfection". Therefore, I had to do this work.

"Sebastian," I had asked, "Would you require my assistance in the kitchen? My family is of a peculiar sort and taste and will only eat food prepared by another member of the family."

Sebastian looked up from what he was doing and nodded at me, "If you would, Sam. Please have the meal prepared by noon." I left, heading towards the kitchen –I now know where it is located - and began preparing the ingredients for the Greensvitch's favorite dish, one without a name. It's basically two loaves of wheat bread with honey roasted ham, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes set in a specific pattern. Bread on the top of the tray, forming the sides of an obtuse triangle, the meat stacked in the middle, tomatoes –sliced evenly –framing around the top of the pork, cheese set in even amounts on the right and the left -20 pieces to be exact –and the lettuce on the bottom, spread out like a fan.

It's an artistic design and one that's easy to prepare.

However, they like their ham browned, bread burnt, cheese melted into a sticky semi-solid, the lettuce must be dried and the tomatoes cold.

They also don't like it when their food's cooked simultaneously, so I'll have to prepare it separately –which will take a lot of time. Time that I do not possess at the moment. I shook my head, setting the bread in on a tray to and set it in the oven, before taking out the lettuce and setting it in its special placement on the tray to dry. I knew at that particular moment I would fail. Then, I set my eyes on the holy of all holies –although I didn't know it at the time. I picked it up, tilting it this way and that, not understanding what it was.

"What the hell is this?" I wondered out loud, the profanity slipping off my tongue in the confusion.

"Oh, it's me flamethrower," Bardroy's voice came from outside as he walked past, carrying a crate of what might have been new china, "It speeds up cooking when I'm in a crunch."

I nodded at him, watching as the man went on his way again. I wonder… I set myself out with the task of trying to turn the flamethrower on. If it helped Bard cook, it would certainly help me as well. But for the life of me, I just couldn't figure out how to get the bloody thing on! At least until Finnian happened to come by.

"Oh! Hi Sam! Do you want some help with that?" Finny asked, running in. He was very excited. Since he had made Sebastian have to fix his mess, he was in a slightly depressed funk. I don't think he likes to fail.

"Do you know how to turn it on?"

"Yes! I had to learn the operating mechanisms the last time Bard burned the kitchen. That way I can turn it off the next time!"

"Do you think I should use it?" at this point, nervousness was gnawing at my belly. I looked at the device with distrust, "I've never used one before."

Finnian shrugged, "Bard's the cook, not me, so I wouldn't know."

I bit my lip, looking at the to see that it was already 11:25. "I'll use it. What's the worst that can happen?" I handed it over and he held it up in front of him.

"Okay! You just turn this knob to turn it on and off, this one to change the amount of fire coming out, and this one to increase or decrease the temperature!" he pointed at each respective knob and handed it back, "I have to go and see if there's anything I can do. Good luck!"

And he was gone.

I stared at the device's switches once more and put a slender finger on the one that I thought turned it off and on.

"Sam, are the preparations almost done?" Ciel asked as he had walked into the kitchen. I didn't act noble as I jumped and almost dropped the dangerous tool.

His blue eye stared at the thrower wearily, "Sam?"

I held it tightly, "What are you doing in here? I'd assume Sebastian would check on my progress."

"As you are my newest servant, I have come to be sure your hire is worth my efforts. You never answered my question. How are the preparations coming along?"

"They're… coming…" I answered with much hesitation. At that moment, I had not really done anything.

"Obviously, how near are they to being complete?"

"…Close…"I replied, my tone showing the lie. He sighed, sat in a ready chair and crossed his arms.

"Do it. Now," he commanded, his voice dark. I could understand why he was watching. As I am a new hire, my work ethic has not yet been shown. While I had completed the task he had set before me yesterday, I had not shown if I could keep to a boring task that didn't challenge my intellect. I put the device down.

"Heh…heh…" my hands shook slightly as I set the slabs of chopped meat on the tray. I grabbed the flamethrower again and stared blankly at the knobs. Ciel's unnerving gaze had made my mind go slightly fuzzy. While he's an annoying little brat, at the moment, I didn't want anything more than to prove myself to him. This looks like the right one… I turned the knob slightly, the muzzle of the hazardous object pointing up. A large jet of fire shot out, curling around me before I threw it down, switching to knob to off as I screeched:

"HOLY SAINTS!"

"Stop messing around," Ciel's cold voice highly contrasted with the now cooked meat. That fire was really hot!

"I'm not messing around! All the damned knobs look the same!"

"Sam…"

"Yeah?" I asked, turning around to face him, my scowl clearly present.

"Your head is on fire," he quickly walked over, threatening to take my cap off. I backed up, my calves and arse hitting the cold metal of the serving island. He continued to advance, a frown on his face. I could feel my own eyes widen in fear of what was to come if he found out my true identity. With this thought in mind, I had slammed my hands on the top of my head –as is my habit for keeping my hat on. This was, however, poor planning on my part. The searing pain and burned flesh probably wouldn't have occurred had I not gone with this reaction and just let him take my cap. However, I did, and now my hands will forever hate me. The pain cut through my palms like knives, it hurt abominably. I think I might have screeched –I'm not sure, the pain was the only thing on my mind at the moment –and possibly yelled a few profanities.

Ciel panicked, for reasons unknown to me, and lunged at my head, "Take that off you idiot!"

"Don't touch my head!" I cried out, my voice cracking into a higher octave before leveling out again in my male voice. I dodged his hands, turning to the side so I could dash off again. Which I did. I ran around the island to face a slightly frightened Ciel. While the fire had gotten smaller due to my run and the continuous patting, it was still there.

"TAKE IT OFF! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL YOURSELF!" he yelled at me as he began to chase me around the island.

"I'd rather see Saint Peter at the gates of Heaven than let you take off my cap!" I stopped to look around, trying to find something to put out the fire with –only to be run into by Ciel.

"You idiot!" he chastised as my head went straight into the water basin. He got off of me and stood back a bit as I pulled my head out of the liquid, my hands on my hat so that it wouldn't slip off. I felt around, making sure that my long hair wasn't showing before saying:

"What the hell?"

Ciel breathed a sigh of relief, noting that my head was no longer ablaze before sitting down again. I followed him and looked at what I still had left to do.

"Use the stove next time," he told me.

"How does Bardroy do that?" I muttered to myself in amazement. The way he never catches himself on fire is so awe-inspiring.

"He doesn't. Sebastian typically has to put out one kitchen fire per day."

His response surprised me. First of all, I thought I was being quiet enough so he couldn't hear me and secondly, I didn't know Bardroy set the kitchen on fire. Isn't he the chef?

"I feel accomplished then. I only set myself on fire," was my response. I went back to work, placing the ham and now burnt loaves of bread in their specific spot on the serving tray.

"Just hurry," he snapped, I could almost feel him look from the clock back to me. He sighed in annoyance as I took my time, trying not to rush the preparations. If it wasn't exactly perfect, then the Greensvitch's wouldn't eat it.

"Yes, let me send heat waves from my mind, into the food and magically cook it," my tone was sarcastic as I rolled my eyes, setting the cheesy crackers in the oven before starting on the tomatoes.

"Don't get smart with me, Sam. Just have it done in the next twenty minutes," the chair made a scooting nose and I listened to his feet leave the room, fading away.

I sighed, "Great. I just made my boss angry."

So that adventure is what currently brings us here, standing outside of the mansion to wait for the Greensvitch's plus one Hunt's arrival.

"Sebastian, when are they to arrive?" Ciel questioned impatiently, "I'm very busy and require their presence immediately, if they are to come at all."

"They should be here soon, young master," Sebastian told him, his red eyes fixed on the boy. The predatory look in his eyes made my stomach clench with a strange sense of deja-vu.

"Samuel," Ciel turned to me, "Lord Greensvitch mentioned in his letter that his children are rambunctious, but that "rambunctious" isn't a good adjective to describe them. Explain his meaning."

I frowned, keeping my gaze on the road, "My family is strange in many ways, Phantomhive. Each one of us has our own specific quirk. Take Addison for example –she'll be coming today. She has a strange obsession with the color purple, and will, no doubt, try and turn everything here that color. Arianna hates everything that isn't herself, so she'll be very rude. Audrey… she… well… I won't go into that. Hopefully, she won't do what she normally does."

I paused, allowing him to take in the information while I myself worried about Audrey. It's hard to admit it in my mind what she likes to do. She's just so strange, and since it involves me specifically… it's even worse.

"Hm, what about the others? You mentioned last night that they had 10 children."

My mouth twitched as I thought of Audrey before I continued, "Ann believes that she's royalty, Aldora thinks she's a cat, so she'll most likely rub against your leg. Blake, Brody, and Brandon only speak to each other, and they address themselves as "B". Charlie and Carlisle don't speak much, think they can read minds, and they mostly say "We're twins!" "Twin powers activate!" and "We can read your mind!". Eleanor has many strange quirks as well, those being that she's obsessed with cats, wears one on her head, and runs into walls. Please excuse their rowdy behavior when they come."

His eyebrow went up of its own accord as I spoke. "The parents seemed normal enough when I spoke with them."

"Yes," I agreed, "Garret and Charmaine are very normal indeed. Some readers may even call them Marysue and Garystu."

"Wait, what did you just say?" he asked, "I didn't hear anything after you said they were normal."

I went back in time, yet, I couldn't recall. "I have no idea."

Ciel had a perplexed look on his face before shaking his head, "Anyways, by being acquaintances with Lord Greensvitch and Lady Greensvitch, I am unable to believe the children are so queer."

A rumbling noise was heard, accompanied by the squeaking of wheels as a purple carriage came into view. The carriage was being pulled by a team of dyed purple horses and the driver was wearing a purple top hat, overcoat and pants. I'm sure he was wearing plum shoes as well.

"So they're taking Addison's carriage. How… fitting," I mused to myself as it drove up, stopping in front of us. The driver got off, coming around and opened the door. Then, as if by magic, twelve nobles unloaded themselves from the small car.

The firsts to reveal themselves were Addison and Eleanor. Addison's wavy black hair contrasted with her pale skin and gray eyes. She was wearing a lavender bodice that gave her deep curves, and a dark violet skirt, complete with black embroidered skulls and white embroidered roses. It was a very gothic design. Eleanor on the other hand had light golden hair and warm brown eyes. She was wearing a pink top piece with a pretty black skirt. In her hand –something that was mirrored by Addison –she carried a black, lacy umbrella for shade against the sun. Surprisingly, Fezzik was nowhere to be seen. He's usually always at her side.

"Sam!" Eleanor shouted, running forward with Addison by her side, "It's so good to see you!" Eleanor then rubbed her face against my arm before enveloping me in a hug. She was slightly taller than I was, standing at five feet and one inch.

"Hello, Eleanor," I replied coolly before embracing her back, "We haven't spoken in ages."

She let me go and went to stand beside Addison who was gazing around Ciel's home with a thoughtful expression on her face. I turned back to the carriage in time to see Arianna and Audrey come out. Arianna had her slick black hair cut in a bob, while Audrey's was long and curly, hanging to her waist. The two were a pair, no doubt –with Arianna's frown and icy gray gaze and Audrey's never ending grin and warm gray orbs. Arianna was cloaked in all black, while Audrey wore a dazzling white embroidered gown. The two were complete opposites, like the sun and the moon.

Ann and Aldora came out next. Aldora wore a gown with a mixture of browns while Ann's dress was a deep emerald, one that matched my eyes. If I were able to dress according to my gender, I believe that I'd wear green as well. Ann's hair was pulled into a side braid and Aldora's was put in a side ponytail. The triplets filed out next, black bangs swept to the left, and blue-gray eyes only for each other, as if no one else existed. They each wore different shades of green. Blake wore a light, almost yellow shade on his vest, Brody wore a dark shade, that was slightly lighter than my eyes, and Brandon wore an almost black color.

The next group to appear was the twins, Charlie and Carlisle. Charlie's shirt tails were un-tucked, while Carlisle's was neatly pressed into the waist line of his pants. Charlie's blonde hair looked disheveled, like he had just woken from a fitful slumber –Carlisle's was combed to perfection. After them came the proud parents.

Garret resembled his daughters, with neat black hair and gray eyes, while Charmaine had light blonde hair and bright blue eyes, matching her youngest sons. Garret was dressed neatly, pants pressed into straight lines. His wife was the same, both properly stoic as they stepped from the car.

"Greetings Phantomhive," Charmaine told him, putting out a delicately gloved hand, "I am pleased to speak with you once more."

"Lady Greensvitch," he responded accordingly, "I, as well, am pleased to be in your presence again."

"Good afternoon, young Lord," Garret greeted, giving Ciel a firm handshake, "As I have said before, I am sincerely apologetic for my present behavior."

"While more of a warning would have been appreciated, I am glad to have you as company, Lord Greensvitch," Ciel replied in a polite manor.

Garret cleared his throat then gestured to his children, "Allow me to introduce my offspring. They are Addison, Arianna, Audrey, Anna, Aldora, Blake, Brody, Brandon, Charles, and Carlisle. This is Eleanor. She is staying with my family to learn my medical trade."

"I am pleased to meet you all," Ciel said, casting me a look.

They all nodded before Addison burst out.

"PURPLE!"

"You just screamed in my ear, brat!" Arianna growled, hitting Addison on the arm.

"So, Sam, have you had any romance lately?" Audrey asked, sauntering over to where I stood.

"Hey B, pass the garden hoe!" Blake called out.

"You got it, B!" Brandon responded.

"No way, man! Pass it to me, B!" Brody snapped, snarling at Blake.

"Hell no! I want it thrown at me!" Blake hissed back.

"Guess what," Charlie and Carlisle said together, "We're twins."

"I'm a princess," Ann vainly told Finnian, "Bow to me peasant!"

"Meow, meow!" Aldora was now on her knees, crawling around Bardroy before rubbing against his legs, "Meow!"

"You want to know what would make your mansion look fantastic?" Addison asked. Without waiting for Ciel to respond, she screamed, "PURPLE! You! Driver-man-thing! Get the paint!"

With that, their servant sighed, slapping his forehead before getting a large can of paint from the carriage and brought it to his master.

"Here, Lady Addison," he said tiredly.

"Don't give it to me, butter-brain," Addison put her hands on her hips, "Pour it on the plants!"

"Yes, Lady Addison," he said once more before walking to the greenery.

"Hello, Sam, getting uglier day by day," Arianna's brisk voice called my attention to her. She sneered at me, "I don't know why anyone would want to marry you, damned little thing."

I just stared at her, "At least I'm not a pessimistic twat."

"Why you little-!"

Before she could do anything, Ann kicked Aldora in between us.

"As the ruler of this nation, I demand there be peace! NO FIGHTING!"

"Yes, Queen Dumb-arse," Arianna remarked drily, rolling her eyes.

Ann looked offended, "How dare you say that to your monarch! Off with her head! Guards! Guards! Where in the name of Saint Peter are my guards?"

"…Me…ow…" Aldora whimpered from where she laid on the ground. She held her stomach.

"PURPLE! It's such a beautiful color! Ah! I could just relish in it all day! But… there's not enough! Man-slave! More purple!"

"I prefer to be called "Man-servant", Lady Addison."

"I don't care what you want to be called! Give me my damned purple! Now!"

"Sam, the women in your family spew such profanity. That's not proper," Ciel commented from beside me, eyes wide as he watched what my cousins were doing.

"I apologize for their behavior, Ciel," I told him, "They're just very queer people."

"I know!" Blake shouted, "Let's play kill the man-slaves!"

"Yay!" Brody and Brandon shouted, jumping up and down as they clapped before running after a screaming Finnian.

"Finny!" Bardroy yelled, running off after them.

"Stop!" Ciel commanded, but his voice went unheard.

"Children!" Garret's loud and deep voice carried to everyone's ears. "Behave."

Ann pouted, her nose in the air, "I am behaving Daddy. They just won't listen to me."

All of the action ceased, Brody ran into Brandon, who fell into Blake, stopping the Troublesome Threesome in their tracks, Charles and Carlisle stopped trying to scare Mey-Rin, Arianna just stared at her father, Aldora sat up in a listening stance, Addison stopped painting the trees purple, and Audrey stopped trying to push Sebastian into me. She had been failing up to this point to move the mountain-like man.

"Behave, we are on another man's property. This is no way to act and against proper protocol! Stand up, backs straight and act coldly stoic like you're supposed to when visiting someone's home! Straighten your clothing, fix your hair, and for God's sake, Charlie, tuck in your shirt!" Garret chastised, before helping the eleven year old with the white fabric.

"I would… like to invite you all inside…" Ciel stammered, still shell-shocked from my relatives' mannerisms. I could tell that he didn't want them in his home, but social rules stated that he had to be a proper host –even if the guests are complete morons.

With that, we followed him inside.


This is the longest chapter I have written for this story. You're welcome! I hope you've enjoyed this installment.

A few notes in case you're confused.

Ciel freaked out about the fire because that's how his parents died. My beta thought it was fitting that he'd freak out if someone caught on fire right in front of him. Of course, I'm pretty sure anyone would panic if someone caught on fire whilst standing in front of them.

The children are in no way -behavior wise- associated with their parents. Garret and Charmaine are very high-class people who remain "Coldly Stoic" towards others in their social range. They don't believe in acting close with those who bear no relation to them -something that is unmirrored in their strange offspring. I have put a great deal of thought behind this chapter -although, I'm sad to say it's not my best work. I haven't been in a writing mood recently, but I thought that since I'd waited so long on the last update, I'd start pumping out chapters to make it up to you. I hope you've enjoyed, and I'd love it if you shared your thoughts and feelings with me about the family so far.

Please stay tuned for the next installment:

His Companion, Complications