Author: Holy crap! I did it! I made another chapter! Whoo! I had this chapter half done, then I decided to completely rewrite it which turned out to be a very good idea, because now it is longer!

Ciel: -angry humming-

Author: ehehehe, on with the show?

The scariest thing about distance, is that you don't know whether they will miss you or forget you. - Unknown.

Author: Please review, my kittens~!

Ciel's small fingers with sharp nails dug into the flesh of the arm-chair he sat upon. He gasped and kept so still it was almost remarkable. But he still violently twitched every so often. His father, Vincent, kneeled in front of him, his casted leg on his father's knee and his carving knife in hand.

"Ciel, just relax!" Vincent chastised his shivering son, who just shook his head violently. The knife, however, slipped under the folds of Ciel's cast with ease and began carefully sawing its way down the boy's leg, to his heel, despite Ciel's restless fidgeting.

Vincent eventually pulled the blade away and set it to the ground beside him. He gripped the cast, his fingers digging into the sawed out crack behind his son's leg and began pulling it apart with a few grunts of effort. At last, the cast broke apart into two pieces, but also fling Vincent back onto his bottom in surprise when it had broken apart.

Ciel groaned in pleasure, wiggling his stiff as ever toes at the new-found freedom he had. His leg was finally free from the accursed cast and as such, he rose immediately to his feet and carefully began walking around, but also limp a bit to ease up on his leg so he wouldn't break it all of a sudden again.

Vincent waved his hand in front of his face, gagging and gasping for air.

"Good heavens, Ciel! That smells awful!" Vincent complained. Ciel smirked and hobbled over to his father, leaning on his good leg and sticking his stinky foot out.

"Get a good whiff of two months without touching water, old man!" Ciel laughed. Vincent gagged, his face turning a sickening green before he fled out the door of the small cabin.

"What did you expect it to smell like?! Were you expecting roses and spring water?!" Ciel called after him. Vincent had left the door open and there was a rather large storm going on outside.

"Dad, come back inside! You'll get sick if you stay out here!" Ciel shouted, hobbling over to the door. The winds howled and ice and snow stung Ciel's face and cheeks, even from his place inside the warm cabin. His father, he could faintly see, was not five yards from the cabin.

"Wash up first!" Vincent called to him. Ciel frowned, rolling his eyes and hobbled to the corner where a rag in room-temperature water filled bucket sat. He sat on the small stool that was there and grabbed the wet rag and began washing the leg. He got any dirt and grime that had made its way inside the cast from all of Ciel's activities to wash away and made sure to clean in between his toes.

It had been about two months at least since the incident that lead to Ciel being found by his father. Winter was now in full-throttle, trapping Vincent and Ciel inside the cabin until the storms let up enough. Ciel hadn't been complaining, of course. Vincent had introduced him to the small make-shift colony inside the woods that welcomed him with warm arms.

They taught him many things, along with the basis of survival and quite a few things that would be handy, living out in the forest.

Vincent came in at last, sitting on the other side of the open stove and huddled close to it, his hands out to defrost himself.

"That's why you don't go out in snowstorms. " Ciel scolded, dipping his foot in warm water of the bucket.

Vincent muttered to himself a higher pitch version of his son's scolding but said nothing to Ciel, who merely rolled his eyes at his father's immature response.

"Brandon said the storm will let up tomorrow. " Vincent said after a few moments of silence.

"Brandon's full of crap," Ciel shot at him. "He also said bathing in aloe, honey, and clovers would give you good luck. And you made me try it out and now my skin is soft as a baby's rear but I'm not lucky. " Ciel continued, huffing.

" Well, at least it got you to bathe. " Vincent shrugged, rubbing his arms to warm them up.

"Well, at least my skin is like a girl's. " Ciel said in Vincent's tone of voice. Vincent rolled his eyes as Ciel dried his leg off. He pulled his long pants over his leg, grabbing a boot from by the stove and pulling it onto his leg. He sighed in relief at the feeling of being symmetrical again.

He picked up the bucket and went outside a little to dump the water out. He threw it in the air and began scooping snow into the bucket. He walked back inside, shutting and locking the door behind and placed the bucket back by the stove in the corner.

Ciel had not had any nightmares and just sweet dreams of the best memories as his dreams. He was in the prime of his life, or so he told himself. He didn't think about the family he left at the kingdom. He had completely and utterly forgotten about them. He had his father and due to that, the others had escaped his mind completely.

He had an almost alarming weight gain since he came to his father's side. He was much more muscular, much taller as well, and filled his father's clothes more than he did when he arrived. Sure, they were like two sizes too big but at least he couldn't ruin them as easily by tripping over them. He was up to his father's shoulders now and his body had turned a little feminine. His hips had grown out a little due to weight gain and he had more of a delicate hourglass shape now that his father would constantly tease him for.

His hair was much longer, fuller and shinier, growing to his shoulders. It was softer than before, like cotton almost. He quickly had found use of his time and learned many things during his time here, along with the fact that his father owed him some money from the more than a few poker games they had when times were a little slow.

Ciel finally collapsed onto the bed they shared, shoving the boots off and rolled towards the wall. He crawled under the covers like a caterpillar and got comfortable. He wanted a little more sleep before he had to make dinner. His father picked up the small block of wood on the table and his knife, beginning to whittle as he warmed himself by the fire, ignoring most of the sounds his son made as he slept.

Ciel opened his eyes in surprise and looked around. He was in the Void that Pure made for him oh so long ago. He looked around, confused. He hadn't used it all since he came here, finding no use for it now. It was still as beautiful as the first time he saw it though.

The entire area as far as his eyes could see was shades of blue from a light to a dark, like the sky was turning into night. White bubbles, like little twinkling stars or fireflies floated around, in the air, or was hiding in the liquid floor below Ciel.

That was different. Ciel kneeled and pressed his fingers against the surface. The water rippled, moving his image in disarray before it stilled as his hand moved away again. Below the water was a mirror of sorts, his image had stayed still in that, only to follow the ripples of water. He rose to his feet, looking around before he walked forward, the water making small noises below him.

"Ci-!" A voice. He looked around at the half call of his name. It was cut off and scratchy, like someone was having trouble speaking. He gasped softly as a bubble swirled past him. He was distract momentarily by it, pushing his finger on it. It was soft and broke apart instantly into a millions other white bubbles.

They swirled around him almost playfully and he smiled softly.

"Ciel-!" Pure. Ciel looked around, searching for the familiar white guardian. He was nowhere in his sights. He frowned, looking confused. Before Ciel saw white move below him

He looked down and saw Pure kneeled beyond the glass flooring below him. It was upside down, like the world Pure was in was right side up. Ciel stared at the Guardian. He looked tired, older perhaps? His image was disoriented and scratchy as he banged on the glass flooring but the most it did was make the water ripple a little more. Ciel felt that Pure was using all of his strength to open it.

Pure's image was jagged, like a screen with not enough connection and he didn't seem completely there. The sight looked odd but Ciel wouldn't freak out about it.

"Ciel!" Pure's voice was muffled, like it was underwater. He moved some and his image was clearer below the surface of the water. Ciel kneeled to get a closer look at his old friend. He stared into the frantic yellow eyes before a frown traced his lips.

There was no point in contacting him now. They had abandoned him. They had given up in him completely, not looking for him hardly at all. He had thought about them. For a whole week before the conclusion was made and accepted. Ciel was alone. Alone but not completely. He had his father and the friends they made here in the woods.

It had been two months. Two months and they just now found him? Ciel sighed and frowned again. He couldn't go looking for them because the storm started and they were cut off. It made Ciel's heart hurt.

"Ciel!" Pure shouted again as Ciel stood up slowly. His eyes darken as he stared into the pure being's golden eyes. As his eyes darken, so did the environment around him. The blue faded to dangerous colors of red and black and the white bubbles turned gray.

Pure's eyes widen and he looked around where Ciel was, looking almost terrified. Ciel turned around from Pure and began walking away.

"Ciel, don't-! We-you-! Alois-him-he-loves! Sebastian-wedding!" Pure's voice was cut out and he seemed to be trying to follow him but it was no use. Ciel did pause though.

Wedding.

He looked down at his left hand. It always felt lighter when he looked at it. And his heart felt heavier. Ciel sighed, his eyes softening and the world around him responding back to the regular colors.

"He's better off without me. " Ciel murmured. He blinked. His eyes widen slightly, hearing a terrified scream from Pure. He turned around and looked in the reflection water. Pure was in pain. He was hurting. Ciel blinked again and Pure screeched again, pounding harder against the glass. It cracked under the force and Ciel became afraid.

He bended his knees and launched himself up in a strong jump upwards as he blinked again for the last time. Just as he blinked, Pure broke the glass and it shattered. He reached for Ciel but the boy was already gone.

He was awake now and sat up.

He rubbed his eyes, sighing. Maybe he was being too harsh. After all, he had been with them for so long and just to stop caring like that was actually pretty harsh. Ciel sighed tiredly, deciding he'd think about it later.

"Dad, get some deer. I'm going to make dinner now. " Ciel called out, thinking his father was asleep in his armchair.

"Gahh..."

"Hm?" Ciel murmured as he rubbed his eyes and looked up. He glanced down on the floor and the color drained from his face at what he saw. His father laid on the floor, spread out with nails to his wrists, hands, ankles and feet, blood pooling around him. A large railroad spike laid in his throat, coming from the flesh of his Adam's apple. Above him, kneeled over and inspecting his work, was Dark.

He looked very satisfied with himself as his tongue ran over his lips hungrily before those coal-burning eyes looked up and locked onto Ciel's ocean blue eyes.

"Wake up, mortal. "

Ciel screamed loudly, bolting up in the bed. He was trapped in the covers and frantically kicked around and eventually fell off the bed, chest first. Ciel hastily clawed his legs free from the accursed sheets and jumped onto the bare bed. He was drenched in a cold sweat, his heart pounding in his ears and chest. He pressed a hand over his chest, pressing his lips together tightly and looked at the other side of the wall.

"Ciel?" Vincent called, looking behind him, his dark brown eyes holding confusion as he had watched the entire act when his son had screamed. He stood up, putting the half-finished figurine and knife on the small table where they ate their suppers on. He seated himself next to Ciel as the boy moved to swing his legs over the side of the bed.

Ciel put his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands as Vincent sat down, patting his son's back comfortingly.

"Are you alright?" Vincent asked worryingly, though judging by the situation, he had a clue to what it had been.

"Damn immortals," Ciel murmured annoyingly as his frantic heart finally started calming down. He rubbed his eyes annoyingly, getting the sleep out of his eyes. "They are such headaches..."

Vincent sighed, patting Ciel's back firmly. "Perhaps they are trying to get your attention to something important?" Vincent suggested, trying to be helpful.

Ciel scoffed and rolled his eyes so hard, they ached from it. He shot a glare at his father before he stood up and stomped over to the mini kitchen.

"Well, whatever it is they want, they most certainly can get someone else to do it for them. It's been two months since I talked or seen them and they just now contact me? Sorry, but I don't play like that. I'm going to make dinner. " Ciel snapped out, his voice obviously showing he was hurt by this but also very angry.

Vincent scooted back on the bed, till his back hit the wall and he leaned against it. He watched his son move around as if he had never had the cast on, giving a soft sigh. He didn't bother offering words of advice. Ciel was not in the mood, that much was obvious, and why waste his breath if his son wasn't even going to listen to reason?

Vincent knew Pure and Dark, as well as the Prince had anything less but given up on Ciel. He had received reports of the trio wandering in the corners of the woods, calling Ciel's name. Of course, he never told his son this. Ciel was healing. He didn't want to stress him with such news.

Let the boy believe want he wants to believe. When he is healed, I will tell him, Vincent thought, scratching the back of his head.

He himself had even seen Sebastian during one of the harshest storms. He had been helping one of his friends with some traps and he saw the Prince, hardly bundled, with a lantern and calling his son's name into the wind. But the wind would not be kind and deliver the Prince's message to him. Vincent had only seen the Prince faintly before he headed back to the cabin.

He had also spotted Dark, on the clear nights, flying over the forest, watching it. Even from the high distance the demon had, Vincent could still see those coal-burning eyes of his, glowing as he looked over the forest. Vincent shivered at the memory, feeling threatened by the demon's appearance. That was three weeks ago. He hadn't told Ciel either of these occasions as a means to protect him.

Ciel was still so weak. He was hurting. He looked sad whenever they didn't do anything for an hour or so. When he would just sit on the bed, his knees to his chest and his arms around his legs. He looked sad and deep in thought. He often looked ready to cry.

Vincent wanted his son stronger before relaying the information. Stronger mentally and physically. Sure, Ciel was plenty strong but Vincent wasn't sure how Ciel would react if Sebastian would suddenly appear at the door. He often thought of the reactions. Would he cry? Scream? Demand the Prince to leave? Heck, he even thought Ciel might stab him!

Vincent frowned in his thoughts, his slender eyebrows scrunching together. What if this wasn't the right way to protect Ciel? He shook his head, his much darker cobalt bangs falling out in front of his eyes.

It had worked when Vincent had left. Angelina had to keep Ciel alive for the chance to get the home and Pure. If Vincent had been around, Ciel wouldn't be. But it also damaged Ciel badly. In the end, Vincent reasoned, it was the best decision. Ciel and Sebastian still met for Pure and Dark to be reawaken and Ciel was stronger in the end. Ciel was always strong.

"Dinner's ready!" His son's voice called out to him, erupting his conflicting thoughts. He looked up at Ciel, who was smirking and holding two plates of food. Vincent grinned and got off the bed.

His decision was the right, he decided. The right one for Ciel.

Dinner passed without any trouble. Vincent cleaned the dishes and they had blueberry jam on toast for desert. Though Ciel gave a little lip for not being use to going this long without sweets, it was a nice desert. They played cards for a few hours.

"A royal flush~" Ciel cooed, spreading his cards out on the table. Vincent slammed his fist against the table, shaking the wobbly wooden table and knocking down the tower of wood chips in the middle of the table.

"Damn it!" Vincent swore out, baring his teeth. Ciel busted a gut, rolling backwards on the floor, holding his stomach as he laughed.

Knock knock knock

The knock was demanding, almost feverish. Ciel instantly grabbed a hunting knife, sliding it closer him. Vincent slowly got to his feet, reaching above the mantle of the door, grabbing shotgun. He pulled it down and unlatched the door before pushing it open.

"Dee! Why, hello there, old friend! What brings you to my neck of the woods? Next time announce if you're coming, I almost shot you!" Vincent chuckled, pulled the gun back on the mantle above the door frame.

A man with black hair and dark eyes. He wore an old military uniform and seemed to keep himself at high standards, despite the circumstances. He was covered in snow and looked very displeased.

"Ciel, this is a friend of mine from my days back at school. Diedrich, this is my son, Ciel. " Vincent said, slapping a hand on the back of man's shoulder. Ciel gave his father a look as he closed the door but he rose to his feet anyway.

"How do you do?" Ciel tilted his head to the side, smirking as he shook hands with Diedrich.

"Evening. " Diedrich said, pulling his hat off and batting the snow off it. E sighed and turned to Vincent. "There's been reports that the storm will clear up at least three days from now, if not by tomorrow. Some of us are planning to go back to the kingdom. Will you be coming?"

Vincent looked surprised. "Why, those cowards! We've spent dozens of winters out here! What makes this one any different?" Vincent asked, frowning and his eyes hardening.

"Vincent, this one is the strongest winter I have ever seen out here. There's almost a constant storm blowing. Animals are freezing to death, we can't hunt, nothing to scavenge. If this keeps up, we'll starve out here. That or freeze to death. " Diedrich spoke officially, his eyes sharpening at Vincent.

"Ciel and I are doing well. We have extra food. Would you like to take some back to your family?" Diedrich paused, looking away. Ciel smirked a little as he shuffled the cards. The guy was the type who didn't want to ask for anything, because of his pride.

"I'll get you some, hold on. " Vincent went over to the cupboard and began preparing somethings. Diedrich awkwardly stood there before Ciel began dishing out cards.

"Oi, old man, wanna see how much change I can beat off you?" Ciel smirked, twirling a wood chip on his finger. Diedrich glared at Ciel and sat down at the table.

"I hardly believe you can beat me at cards. " Ciel grinned, fanning his cards out.

"Then let's play~"

"Son of a bitch!" Diedrich swore, slamming his fist agains the table. Ciel laughed, turning over on the floor, holding his stomach. Diedrich currently owed him fifty dollars in cash.

"Don't feel too bad, Dee. He beat me pretty bad too. " Vincent said, handing Diedrich a basket.

"Dad, you owe me over a hundred. He's lucky. " Ciel chuckled out, sitting up. Diedrich got to his feet and glanced at Ciel before back at Vincent.

"He definitely is your son. " Diedrich muttered as he put his hat on. "Thanks for the food. " he quickly exited the cabin before Vincent could question what he meant.

"Now that I got my money's worth, let's get some sleep. " Cie, laughed, standing up. Vincent sighed, shaking his head before smacking the back of his boy's head.

"Ow, hey! What was that for!?" Ciel demanded. Vincent simply shook his head.

"You know what. " He responded. He pulled off his coat and such and Ciel followed suit.

Soon they both were in makeshift warm pajamas, lying in the bed in the dark. Ciel was sleeping at the end while his father was at the wall. Ciel curled up into a ball and opened his eyes, looking towards the stove at the other side of the room.

The fire cracked and snapped in its black cage, warming the single room with its heat. The storm howled and screamed outside, rattling the door every once and a while. Ciel listened faintly to the sound of his father snoring beside him before he sighed, his eyes lidding a bit.

He stopped breathing for a moment, freezing in movement. He could've sworn he heard someone- There it was again!

Ciel carefully swung his feet over the side of the bed and slipped into his boots. He got up and walked silently as a fox to the door. He unlatched it, pulling it open. Wind and snow needles stung his face but his father continued snoring. He stuck his head out into the dark forest. No light indicated that there was life in these woods.

He listened so hard, his ears hurt, trying to hear what he heard again. He stayed like that for almost ten minutes before he sighed. He closed the door, pulling the latch over it and went back to bed. He tugged his boots off and got back under the warm covers, snuggling into them to heat up his cool body.

He continued to do what he had been doing, staring into the embers of the fire for a while...until his eyes drooped...and he was asleep.

Ciel walked through the forest, in the distance was the Phantomhive manor. It was just the beginning of spring and though snow was still up to his ankles, he decided it was time to come back.

Ciel looked around before he finally entered a clearing. He stretched a moment before he noticed something at the end of the clearing. His eyes widen and he ran over to it. The color drained from his face, the whites of his eyes grew, making them bug out. A sweat broke out as his boots crunched against the snow, destroying the white landscape with his foot prints.

He stooped in front of a tree. He looked up at the strong branch on that tree. Tied to it, was a frozen dew covered rope. Hanging from that frozen rope was what almost made him threw up.

Alois, his face completely white and blue, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and the veins of his eyes bulging out, the rope burn clear on his neck and drool and blood coming from his frozen blood lips hanged there. Ice and snow hanged of his hair and certain parts of his body. He had been there throughout winter. And Ciel was the first to find him.

Ciel bolted up in the bed, sweat running down his neck and face. He panted harshly, his eyes watering with tears. He swallowed, gasping for air. He glanced at his father, who was still fast asleep beside him. Ciel waited a moment, to recapture his thoughts, his memories, his name.

He swallowed thickly before he got out of bed, this time with a different plan in mind. He got dressed, pulling on his coat and pants and laced up his boots. He unlatched the door and opened it, closing it behind him. He felt around in the dark up against the the side of the house.

He found a rope tied to the house, the other end to a barn. He grabbed the rope and followed it, it leading him to the barn in the dark. He opened the small barn doors and quickly got inside. He went over the furnace and put more logs in to get the heat up.

Ciel lit a lantern and looked around. Melody and Maxwell pawed at the dirt, looking at Ciel before snorting. They were two gorgeous horses that Vincent and Ciel owned. Ciel went to Maxwell's stall and opened it. He grabbed a hanging brush and began brushing Maxwell out, preparing him for something.

It wasn't until a little after dawn did his father finally found him.

By that time, Maxwell was ready for a trip, saddle on, hooves clean and he was itching to go. Ciel looked up at Vincent when he came into the barn and they stared at each other for a moment.

"Ciel, what are you doing?" Vincent asked, rubbing his eyes. Ciel looked at his feet before he swallowed thickly.

"I need to go back home. I need to check on Alois, Elizabeth, the servants, the manor. I want to make sure it's still there...besides...I think I've been out here long enough. " Ciel admitted, not daring to speak of his dream. He kept his gaze away from Vincent, afraid that he would not approve.

"I see. " Vincent said, crossing his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't try to stop me!" Ciel said firmly and in a huff. "I don't know if I'll come back anyway. "

"I wasn't planning to stop you. Come on and let's eat. Then you can help me with Melody. It's not a good idea to travel alone, I'll go with you. " Vincent said. Ciel's eyes widen before he smiled softly at his grinning father.

"Alright.." Ciel agreed, following his father out.

By the time they had both of the horses ready for the trip and plenty of food for the trip, it was already the beginnings of the afternoon. They set out at a trot, not wanting to over work the horses. They had a long trip ahead of them.

Brandon had been right. There was sun and the snow was melting. But this was anything less of the start of Spring.

Author's note: Hey there guys! Sorry, it's a little short. I tried to make as long as possible but for some reason it still feels short to me. I'll try to get the next one really long!

Love you guys, and thank you for sticking around this long for this story!

See ya later, Alligators!