Note: Long ass note at the end x^x So be prepared!

From that night on the murders stopped, and the queen was content. Now that that was out of the way Ciel found himself able to focus on the wedding, which pleased Elizabeth greatly. She had made a habit out of coming to visit him each evening in her nightgown and talk about the wedding. She was often shooing Sebastian away, which clearly irritated the butler to no extent. Ciel found things slowly slipping back into the normal.

It was nearing their wedding day, and Ciel was sitting in silence and checking off the guest list for the millionth time, unable to believe how many people would be attending. The rains had long since passed, and everything seemed eternally bright nowadays.

There was a light tap on the door and Ciel called for them to come in. Sebastian, as expected entered, regal as ever, especially since Frances had managed to get him to trim back his hair, even if just a bit.

"My lord, I just thought I'd bring you tea a bit early, seeing as you missed breakfast." Ciel looked up, immediately lost in the bloody red pools of Sebastian's eyes. They were so painfully gorgeous, and Ciel wished he could just stare at them all day.

"Very well," he said, looking back down at his papers. Sebastian set a tray of food in front of him, which was politely ignored.

"Is something wrong, my lord?" Sebastian gently caught Ciel's face and turned it up toward his. Ciel would have liked to tell himself he saw concern in those eyes, but knew that fooling himself in such a way would be masochistic.

Ciel couldn't find the strength to pull away. Seeing as he had been spending nearly all day and all night keeping Elizabeth company he hadn't had a chance to be this close to Sebastian in a long time. The demon's fingers were cold through his gloves, making Ciel shiver. The warmest thing about him was those eyes, which were hard as rubies. Ciel knew that Sebastian was planning to kiss him, but didn't want it. Instead, nearly climbing over his desk, he wrapped his arms around Sebastian's neck and pulled him close, his face buried in Sebastian's shoulder. Sebastian seemed a bit surprised at first, but slowly returned the hug, kissing the top of Ciel's head affectionately.

It's not real affection, Ciel thought bitterly. He considered pulling away, but decided, It may be an act… but I might as well enjoy the show.

"Do you love me?"

"Of course, my lord. You are the only thing in my world."

Ciel's heart nearly stopped, and he was overcome with more emotion than he had felt all at once in a long time. He wanted to cry. "Sebastian," he said softly, "I don't want to get married."

Sebastian's hands were making hypnotic circles on his back and Ciel pressed himself tighter, needing to be closer. "I… I'd rather just be with you, and not have anyone interrupt or tell me it's wrong." He dug his fingers into Sebastian's back, knotting the dark cloth of his coat in his fingers. "I love you… Sebastian…"

"And I love you, my lord." Ciel could hear restrained laughter, but desperately ignored it.

"Sebastian…?"

"Yes, my lord?"

Ciel didn't know what to say, so just buried himself in Sebastian, as if nothing else existed.

"This is an exceptional and sudden change of character," Sebastian said. "You've never done this. Not even when you were a child facing death. But now as a man facing marriage… I suppose it's true what they say."

He's a monster. Ciel would never be able to deny that. "It's not that. I'm just tired of the kissing. That's all that ever happens and it's dull. And before you ask, I'm not asking for more intimacy. I want less."

"Would you like things to go back to the way they were before?" Sebastian asked, his hand stopping its circling.

"No!" Ciel's voice cracked, and he held Sebastian closer as if he might try and leave. "I mean… No. I don't."

"Then what do you want?"

A relationship. I want you to love me like you're supposed to. Like Lizzie does. He couldn't say that. But he supposed he didn't need to."

"How do you intend to do that?" Sebastian whispered, sounding so gentle that Ciel thought… for just a second…

No. Of course not.

Ciel couldn't think of an answer.

"If we were to be the last two people on Earth…" Sebastian's voice was musing, almost whimsical.

"Don't be absurd," Ciel said.

"I'm not. You obviously underestimate my power."

Ciel scoffed. "I never said you couldn't do it. But I know you won't. It wouldn't benefit you in any way, and in fact would leave you at a disadvantage."

Sebastian laughed, pulling his fingers through Ciel's hair. "I wouldn't be so sure, my lord."

The words made Ciel's skin prickle.

There was another soft laugh and Sebastian kissed Ciel's head softly. "I love you, my lord."

Ciel had never regretted an order more than he did now.

Note: Shooooort chapter. At least the next one will be longer (if I remember correctly) and it's only a day wait! There's some seriously OOCness in this =.=; I tried really, really hard to keep it, erm, believable, but the idea of Ciel crying into Sebastian's shoulder like that is kinda strange, ne? I think when I wrote this I'd been taking a break from reading some Loveless fanfiction (speaking of which, has anyone read Promise yet?) and we all know what a little uke Ritsuka is. But whatever. It's posted and done with. Anyway, I really wanted to thank you all for the super amazing reviews and all the story alerts and faves and, most amazingly, author alerts! /group hugs readers. I love you guys, an I never expected there to be so many of you. It's really amazing to get to read all of your compliments and reviews and everything. And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to come talk to me at PerpletheZombie . tumblr . com or PerpletheZombie . deviantart . com (no spaces, of course) And I'll do a mass reply in the Notes of chapter fifteen, answering any questions you have left here for me. So I guess that's it - and remember, next chapter is Sunday! Remember to review!