"Adrian, my son, I have made my decision. You are to marry Lady Eleanor in three months time. There is no room for argument, for I think she is the best one of all the young women to marry you," Lord Bartholomew told Adrian.

"Yes, Father," Adrian complied reluctantly, lowering his gaze to the floor. Adrian's father pat his son on the back.

"Don't look so down, son. You're getting married. It's a happy occasion," the Earl Taylor insisted. Adrian shrugged and stepped away from his father's desk.

"Excuse me," he whispered coldly, leaving his father's study. Adrian's father sighed and muttered,

"What am I going to do with that boy?"

I heard everything. As soon as Adrian left I slowly followed my sulking master to his room. I deliberately waited until he had shut the door to approach, and then knock.

"Come in," I barely heard my master's nearly inaudible voice when he answered so fraily. I opened the door, shutting and locking it behind me. I wound my arms around my master to comfort him.

"It will be okay," I whispered. "We have eternity, just like you told me one night. I may not always be beside you, but if you call for me, I'll be there." Adrian held me tightly and smiled. I smiled back, closing my eyes, and rubbing small circles into his back. He made a small sound and buried his face in my shoulder. I smiled, and chuckled softly. I bit my lip, thinking. Without realizing I had stopped my thumbs motion on Adrian's back, but he most certainly took notice to it right away.

"What's wrong, Ezekiel?" he murmured, pulling away from me.

"Nothing, I just realized something, and it has been weighing on my mind to an extent," I answered honestly, not wanting to lie to my master, even though that would probably be easier.

"What is it?" Adrian gently cupped my face with his hand, hesitation visible in his eyes.

"Well, I have felt like there has been something missing between us… I later came to realize that eventually I want a whole family as well, not only one other person," I whispered.

"We could could work something out, right? There has to be a way for us to figure it out, especially since you're a hybrid," my master inquired desperately.

"I would think so," I answered softly. Adrian let out a sigh of relief, brushing his thumb over my lips for permission. I kissed his thumb, moved it away, and kissed him softly on the lips. He smiled and quickly kissed back.

I remained in Adrian's room for the rest of the night, keeping everything I need for the morning close by so I could say I got up early to help Adrian get things prepared for the wedding. My master was still upset his father was requiring him to marry her, but it was easier for him knowing that I was still there for him. To be honest, I was upset as well, and quite jealous. Deep down I knew that there would never truly be a chance for us to live a normal life the way we want to. On the other hand though, I don't think that's what we want anyway. To me it seems that we want to live our lives the way we want, regardless of others, but that is irrelevant now. I helped my master arrive for Lady Eleanor to arrive once again so they could get to know each other before they married. I just hope the poor girl isn't too upset over the arranged marriage. It was quite obvious she had her eyes on someone else before meeting Adrian, but I doubt society gives her any say in the matter.

"Ezekiel?" Adrian murmured while I helped him with his new suit.

"Yes?" I answered, hugging him lightly.

"Do you think she'll be okay? I know I will because there is still a way for us without betraying her, but I'm not sure she will be alright. I may not love her, but that doesn't mean I am okay with seeing her hurt," Adrian bit his lip slightly.

"I'm not sure, I'll look into it. I have a feeling she won't be though," I sighed. Adrian looked at me sadly. I leaned my head against his. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, or mine either for that matter. It's our parents' faults," my master muttered under his breath with evident exasperation.

Unfortunately, Lady Eleanor did not take very well to the announcement of her marriage with Adrian, but that is what we expected. Adrian did admit they were on the same page, and his wish for them to have more power regarding who they were to spend the "rest of their lives with." That seemed to make her feel a bit better, knowing she was not alone, and she readily agreed with my master. Of course, Adrian's father and Lady Eleanor's parents did not acknowledge either teenagers' feelings, but that is something else all three of us expected.

Lady Eleanor finally left late that afternoon. Everything about these arranged marriages angered me, especially since this was my master being forced to marry some strange girl he hardly knew, while she doesn't want to marry him either! The Earl Phantomhive arrived with my father an hour after Lady Eleanor and her parents left, but Adrian retired extremely early, not wanting to interact with anyone at the moment. Or so he said. Adrian called me to his room anyway. As soon as I shut the door, Adrian pinned me to it, pressing his lips to mine.