~10 Years Later
She was dressed in a simple yet fancy red dress, which was decorated with golden flowers about the hem, and a moss green cloak, which ultimately brought out both the red of the dress and the brown of her hair. Her hair was down and with waves, beautiful in its own way, though hair being pulled up in a bun of sorts was more in style.
The moon hung high in the sky, and the night air was chilly. Kathryn was fine within her cloak, but still shivered occasionally from the breeze, which would ever so often filter through the pores of the cotton in her sleeves. Sebastian noticed this after a while and pulled her closer to him, wrapping a good portion of his own black cloak around her and raising his own body heat so that she would feel warmer.
She sighed comfortably and leaned her head into his chest, nestling close as they continued walking, enjoying both the warmth and smell of her significant other as they enjoyed the brisk night air. Everything around the town was serene and empty, besides the occasional guard which would be out on patrol. The happened across a small bridge and leaned on the sides, staring out into a small canal which shimmered black, reflecting the stars of the night sky upon its clammy surface.
And there Sebastian was, holding her in his arms as the pair gazed out towards a beautiful night sky, finding warmth in one another. Sebastian looked down at the human girl in his arms and sighed. She was looking so beautiful in that moment. She always looked beautiful.
He knew she would die one day, as all humans did. They spent their days now going on long walks and holding one another in comfortable silence. Kathryn was still as beautiful as she ever was, though she had gained a good ten years on her. As Sebastian had told her, he would alter his appearance ever so often to fit into their age and make it look as if he did so naturally.
A young girl was currently being watched over by the nanny at their house, which wasn't a mansion but a mere commoner's house, which Kathryn paid for all on her own (except for when she had taken a maternity leave and Sebastian had to conjure money literally out of thin air). The girl was not a human, but something like his mother would be if she chose not to assume a human form.
Sebastian had discovered that during his walk with her, he had always truly loved her- all of her. Even her human form. At the time, he didn't want to fall in love with a human, for he found himself "better" than that, but Kathryn, with her effeminate charm and good company persuaded him otherwise.
Kathryn was next to him, her smile bringing out a faint wrinkle on her cheek, as it always brought out the best in him. She turned to him.
"It's not always this quiet," She said, leaning in and kissing him on the lips. He grinned and kissed her back.
"I've been missing these alone moments. Elaine seems rowdier than ever these days- something I believe she gets from her mother."
She narrowed her eyes, but her smile was playful. "Oh, really? And what did she get from her father?"
His grin broadened. "Why… my dashing good looks and charm. Many schoolmates are already quite attracted to her already. She is ideal, after all." Kathryn rolled her eyes. He seemed to sweep her up and down within his gaze, and he gave her a teasing grin. "But, I do believe she gets her good nature from you."
"Suck up," she giggled.
~8 Years Earlier
Kathryn beamed down at her pure white wedding dress. It was long and frilly, but also kept her figure very visible. She looked from the hem, which was silk and layered, and her gaze travelled up to her midsection where the corset lay just under the gleaming and hard shell that clung to her curves and ribs. She looked up, all the way up, and saw the silver necklace which she never took of hanging limply above her breast. There was a large diamond in its center. Her hair had been curled to perfection, where part of her bangs hung just over her eyebrows and framing the side of her face.
She sighed as she peeked down the hall, where her groom was waiting with his suit on, waiting patiently for her to come. Within the isles were not family, but friends. Friends she had made. Sebastian seemed to be chatting with one of his friends, a man named Tanaka. He was elderly and infirm, and would most likely meet the end of his days soon. It was the old head butler of the Phantomhive estate. It would seem that the man knew not who Sebastian really was, or really used to be, but remained his friend through it all. After the manor was abandoned by the old lord, he spent the rest of his days in a retirement facility, where he would sip tea and pass time leisurely and happily. Sebastian found him again and invited him, knowing that his memory was gone and all he would recall were the happy times. He had taken out the memory of the Phantomhive family. Tanaka didn't suspect anything due to his old age, and his memory loss seemed to have no effect on the man.
Kathryn looked to the right isle closest to where she would stand. Three women sat there, bickering excitedly and happily gazed at Sebastian. Kathryn had gotten a job as a maid, and Sebastian had taken on the job of being a butler yet again to help aid in supporting the family. They were getting by well in the world.
She sighed and leaned on the wall, too nervous to budge. At times like this, she missed her family. Her father should have been there to give her away on her wedding day. Her mother should have been helping her with the dress. Instead, a couple of unknown maids were the ones to fit the dress onto her, and it was a man named Agni, another one of Sebastian's old friends, who would be the best man. But she would have to walk down the aisle by herself. Although there was Lady Elizabeth, who had come by after the invitation from Sebastian. She had been so relieved that he was still around that she hadn't questioned his sudden reappearance. She was one of Kathryn's bridesmaids.
Agni was a good man that had no idea what precisely had happened to Ciel Phantomhive, nor who he was. He was a butler to Prince Soma, a man whom the two had to invite despite Sebastian's irritation. Soma was sitting somewhere in the back, bawling his eyes out and making a huge scene.
Once the news got out that Sebastian was alive after mysteriously disappearing for a few months, quite a few unexpected characters had popped up. A man called the Undertaker, for one, was a character Kathryn still couldn't quite decipher. Regardless of how much history he seemed to share with Sebastian, it didn't seem at all like the man held any bad regards towards either of them. As Kathryn continued looking about, she realized that she was being watched by the very same man, who happened to be sitting in the very back of the row quietly, almost as if he weren't there in the first place.
Kathryn quickly stepped away from where she was, a little bit worried he would come after her. She was well aware of Grim Reapers now, as Sebastian had himself gone already and bound up a man named Grell Sutcliff, informing that he would kill any of his friends if they allowed the red-haired freak into her ceremony. Sebastian didn't like taking risks.
"My, you look lovely, dear," said a cracking voice. Kathryn turned towards the source, and nearly fainted at the sight of the Undertaker, who was as a matter of fact standing directly behind her. She sighed and lifted a shaky hand to her head, wiping away some of the sweat.
"Thank you. But I do hope you know you're not supposed to see me in my dress before I leave…"
The Undertaker chuckled. "Of course I know. But I figured it wouldn't exactly affect your luck very much if I did, seeing you've braved enough already. Now tell me- why are you ever so hesitant to go and marry him?"
Kathryn sighed and looked down. "I… I don't know. I love Sebastian with all my heart, and feel that I can do this, but… I worry for the future; what will happen once I give him my hand in marriage? What will become of him when I pass on- I am a human now, after all."
The Undertaker smiled gently, something that was new for him. "You'll turn into your true form, of course. It's how you've been around so long- you've died and made the conscious decision to become how you are."
"Why?"
He chuckled. "Why did you make the choice? I know not. But from what Sebastian told me, you did it to help humanity, not knowing your love was looking for you all this time. I think your influence has gotten him this far- you'll make it even further, I guarantee it."
"Does he know?"
"Most likely. In fact, we spoke about it when he invited me personally. I asked him why he hadn't decided to kill you."
Her lips were pressed tight. "What did he say?"
"He said you were perfect in any form you took, and he would be willing to be with you in whatever form you chose- that he would wait for you to come to your true form. He said that he loved you no matter what you look like."
She nodded slowly, and relaxed her breathing a bit. "He's waited for me so long. He's been there for me from the moment I came here until now, being vigilant and understanding. Treating me as a true gentleman should. And he's never once hesitated. And yet, here I am, hesitating to give myself away to the man I love for such a stupid reason…"
"And what reason could you possibly have for hesitating?"
Kathryn stood up straight and sighed. "It's embarrassing."
A wry smile tugged the corner of Undertaker's lips. "Do tell."
Red blood rushed to Kathryn's face, and her skin burned warm. "It may be not because of the wedding in itself, but what will happen… tonight. Afterwards…"
His jaw dropped open, and a large laugh erupted from his throat, and he rocked back on his heels and let himself loose, causing the entire church to go deathly silent. Sebastian deadpanned from where he stood, recognizing the sonic laugh as soon as it came.
Undertaker shook and tears wet his cheeks, and still chuckling, placed a cold hand on Kathryn's shoulders, and she grimaced at the long black nails upon his hand. "You won't be feeling the same way as soon as you begin, my dear. NOW!" he gently pulled her to his side and placed her arm in the crook of his, and grinned at her from under his frosty white bangs. He was wearing a black suit, but still had on his ridiculous hat.
"May I give you away?"
A tear gathered in the corner of Kathryn's eye, and she smiled at him. "You would take the place of my father?"
He nodded solemnly. "Of course. I now consider you my daughter- I've already gotten to know you well enough. I would be honored to do so."
She gave him a small nod, and with her heart beating frantically in her chest, she turned the corner and came into the main room, where she immediately saw dozens of eyes staring at her, as well as a pair of crimson ones, offering an immediate wave of affection and warmth.
Music on an organ began to play, a classic chime that she knew well, and she began to walk down.
She came up the stairs, and the Undertaker shared a look with Sebastian, nodded once, gave her a crooked smile, and seated himself in a nearby chair.
Her heart was aflutter as Sebastian turned to her once again, and their eyes locked. This was it. This was the day she had been waiting for all her life- the day she would find love and happiness, and begin a family. The day their sweet words and kisses all came together to lock them for eternity. He gave her a smile. This was unlike the rest.
As a preacher began reciting words and verses, they held one another in warm regards. He clutched her hand gently and sweetly, rubbing circles on the back of her hands with his thumbs in an attempt to calm her nerves. He could hear her heart beating within her chest rapidly.
She saw something within him before the end, something she would never forget. Something she had never seen before. A light had found its way within his irises, a gleam of purity. She would have made a comment on it, but simply smiled even wider, her heart calming even more. This gleam of good-this piece of him which could only be brought out within her presence- this was her goal. She was turning him towards the light. And he had already taken quite a few steps back towards it.
"Now, for your vows," said the preacher, nearly breathless from the speech which had in reality taken such a long time to deliver. Within their eyes, within their own little world, only seconds had passed.
"Kathryn," said Sebastian, taking a small, polite step towards her, looking at nothing else but into her very soul, sharing in this intimate moment. "From the first moment I saw you, you were to me what I had never seen before. You were purity. You were the light. I was… I was so confused. And you came in to save me. You came in to bring me back to where I belong- you came to do what no one else had ever once accomplished before. You are my soul, my one purpose in life. I used to think I was spending my life finding you. Only now do I realize… you were just around the corner. I never had to find you. You found me, through fate or God, or whoever brought us together; when you were ready, you came. I should have been more patient, and I made many mistakes. It was when we were both more matured, when we both knew what was ahead of us, that we were finally prepared to face one another. And I say this with all my heart, all my soul, all that I am: know that when I say that I love you, it brings forth so much more than a simple language can articulate. Know that a simple utterance such as "love" couldn't begin to grasp what I feel for you."
A tear trickled down the corner of her eye, and she bit her lip. She couldn't stop her smile from nearly breaking her face. She cleared her throat, and spoke.
"Sebastian. Without you, I would be incomplete. I would be nothing. I would have no purpose, and I would be barren and hollow. Once you came to me, once we met, I began to see that there was so much more to life than I had ever imagined. We've shared joy and pain, we've shared our moments of destruction and regrowth. You stood tall through it all, you stood strong and protective, loving and gentle. You've given me so much more than I ever could have possibly dreamed. When I see you, I quite honestly get flustered. How could someone be so perfect? I often think. How could someone think of me as their light, and yet shine so beautifully all their own? You say that I am your light. But please know that you are mine. You are my saving grace. I would be lost without you, lost in this world of darkness. You came to me and saved me time and time again. You are the thing that gives me such perfect insanity, I honestly can't possibly comprehend how strange the feeling is when I look at you. It's almost as if I'm trapped in a dream when I find myself lost in your beautiful eyes. And yet, I know this is not a dream. I know that you stand here before me as the perfect gentleman, the perfect husband, the perfect man I will always love. You are my purpose in life. You are the thing that keeps my heart still beating."
The crowd broke out into a large applause as he slipped a beautiful red diamond ring on her finger, and she placed the larger golden one on his. "You may kiss the bride," said the preacher, a large smile on his old and wrinkled face. Sebastian literally lifted her off her feet, and swung her around, settling her atop his feet. She leaned up and kissed him, closing her eyes in utter bliss and happiness.
~Two Years Earlier
"Daddy?" asked a little girl as her father tucked her into bed. Sebastian hovered over her, a tired smile on his face.
"Yes, Sweetie?"
The girl, who had long black hair and golden-brown doe eyes beamed up at him as she slipped under the covers. "Are you an angel?"
Sebastian paused and observed his daughter carefully. She didn't know yet what she was, nor what her parents truly were. "Whatever do you mean?"
She giggled. "You're always so gentle with me and Mommy, but you can lift some really heavy things. You're always so nice to everyone around you, and you're always reading me the bible. Mommy's just like you- you both are almost glowing compared to everyone else." Sebastian chuckled and kissed his daughter's forehead.
"Well, you see, I want to be one very badly. I want to repent for all my bad actions that I made when I was younger and so much more naïve- and I know I'll have to work very hard to do that. So, no, I'm no angel. But your mother is one. She's nothing short of a saint, someone who showed me how to change."
The little girl sighed contentedly. "You're an angel too- you just don't know it. I can see it, Daddy. I can see you glowing."
You COULD end here, because after this is just a bunch of one-shots. That's kind of why I put the quote up there. Basically, I introduce Kathryn and Sebastian's daughter after this, as well as her own little path of discovery. I wanted to add in more Black Butler characters in here, so I figured the wedding would solve that problem. You're also going to see some more of Lizzy later on.
