It's been a little while, but I got sick and it sucked and I watched sooo much anime that I got uninterested in this for a good bit, but it's okay! I'm back now! I typed this up today and I'm not too happy with the results, but it has practically been a month. . So I am trying to type up an additional chapter right now so that it'll be ready for next time and mhm. Sorry for the wait!

"You look really cute today, you know." Nicholas smiled charmingly at Natasha, who blushed prettily. Her black hair was in an elaborate bun on her head, with loose tendrils framing her face. "That dress is nice on you." The full-sleeved, long dress was a lavender number and relatively plain. The bodice was lined with dark purple thread and had a heavy skirt. Its style was more inclined towards the changing weather.

"Thanks," Natasha murmured, not one used to earning compliments.

As soon as Sebastian showed Nicholas to a vacant guest room, the farthest one away from Natasha, he immediately grabbed the boy by the throat and held him up against a wall. "Care to explain why you're here?" he smiled politely.

"W-What's going o-on Pops?" Nicholas struggled, trying to release himself from the older demon's grip.

Natasha scoffed, "Daddy, put him down, please. I'll be in a lot of trouble if he doesn't go home in perfect health. Besides, he's supposed to be my husband someday, too! I'll be very angry if he dies before then!"

"But why is he your betrothed, eh?" Sebastian asked, trying to sound sweet, for her sake. "I thought your mother wanted you to fall in. . Ugh, love. . On your own accord and get mated to whoever that was because it was your decision!" His red eyes narrowed at Nicholas and he questioned her thoroughly, "You couldn't possibly like this wretch, could you? Honey, you could do so much better than this little weasel!"

Her face scrunched up and immediately, she shook her head. "No way! Our marriage is purely political and for the sake of maintaining a friendly relationship with the Clairs, but mostly to appease the crowds! There was a disagreement between our grandparents and it was a really stupid one, but someone suggested the betrothal and that was that. Nicholas is my friend, but that's as far as it goes. I don't plan on having any sort of romantic relationship with him, even after our marriage is over. Besides, it's only for a year and then I don't ever have to deal with him ever again if I don't want to."

"That hurts, Natasha!" Nicholas whined, rubbing his neck. "I think you're really pretty and we could totally fall in love with each other if we tried!"

She shook her head again, "But when you fall in love, you're not supposed to try! Makayla said it happens gradually, without either person noticing."

"What was the disagreement about?" Sebastian asked, feeling somewhat relieved that Natasha wasn't actually in love with anyone just yet. "How bad was it?"

"Well, you know how at court everyone is about having kids and stuff," Natasha began, twiddling her thumbs.

Nicholas sighed. "Basically, since Scarlett and Evangeline have yet to be mated, some rumors are going around that some children, your daughters specifically, are infertile and cannot contribute to your family line. As for my family, they think James isn't aggressive enough to dominate a mate, since he has none. So it was proposed that since our families are the ones having problems, that we should work together to produce a new line."

"Which is why I think the whole situation is stupid! As soon as Nicholas and I are 'of age', we're supposed to prove that there's nothing wrong with our bodies, get married and have a baby! I don't see why it has to be me, specifically, but Mom insisted on it, so here we are now," Natasha hissed. Her cheeks were flushed an angry red and her hands were shaking.

"I totally and completely agree!" Nicholas voiced out. "Since James has a problem, apparently I do, too! I don't get why they didn't choose him and Scarlett for the little test, but hey-I can't complain too bad or be so ungrateful." He smirked at Natasha, "I mean, any child I have would be very handsome, and now that Natasha's supposed to be their mother. ." He grinned.

Sebastian growled a warning to the overzealous teen. "Don't get your hopes up. There's more than a century and a half until she is of age. There's still quite some time left to dismiss this idiotic situation, and I don't intend for her to make the same mistake as her sister."

Nicholas frowned, "You mean Makayla? She seems happy enough, though. I guess she could've been stronger than she is now and- Oh! I get why we have to be older!"

"You really barely realized it, Nicholas?" Natasha groaned. "An idiot. My mother paired me off to an idiot! You're so lucky that we grew up together, or else I wouldn't stand for this."

"Who are the one's making these accusations on my family lineage?" Sebastian asked, cracking his knuckles. "I'll be sure to pay them a polite visit."

"They were just some stupid rumors," Natasha reasoned. "Nobody knows where they started initially, but still. . They got around and that's not good. Our families are known for being perfect. If the king were to hear that not one, but two noble families were having issues, we'd be in for hell.

"The king?" Sebastian laughed, "That poor excuse for a demon wouldn't give us hell for that sort of thing-"

Nicholas frowned, "You shouldn't speak of things you have minimum knowledge on, Sebastian. I realize you were childhood friends and everything, but recently he's become very brutal. A man criticized how how he was handling the situation with the rouges and the poor guy was gutted right then and there."

"There have been weird things concerning the king." Natasha sighed, "He's been asking my sisters to join him at court for business, but they refuse to even visit. I'm sure it's irritating him a lot, especially if he has to spend time writing letters, just for my sisters to burn them. I don't see why they can't help him, he is our ruler for the next couple of years."

Sebastian got an unpleasant feeling in his stomach, "What kind of business?" he asked, with stony-like face.

"The kind of business that Natasha will be invited to when she's of age," Nicholas growled. "He's pretty gutsy about who he picks, too. Charlotte, my mother, Scarlett, Evangeline, my twin cousins, the list is almost endless." His hands balled into fists, "Everyone figures that he's trying to use the power he has left to do whatever the hell he wants, before his term is over, but King Edward is becoming a problem. If he keeps this up, I'm sure he'll eventually be assassinated, no doubt about it."

"Where has Lucy been? His so-called beloved mate?" Sebastian demanded. "That woman is the least frivolous, most possessive person I know! She wouldn't allow Edward to spare a mere glance at other women. It's not probable that she'd let this slide!"

Natasha looked away, "Supposedly he had her executed, although there is no absolute proof. She's been gone for a few months now, but usually she goes on extended vacations anyway. The king always goes with her, but he's been cooped up inside the castle this whole time. If Lucy is dead, we can't do much about it, besides prove who killed her."

Nicholas groaned, "And accusing the king of murdering his wife is treason, so the investigation wouldn't be a fair one either way."

Sebastian put his palm on his cheek and sighed, "What the hell has been going on without me, hmm? Well, no matter. It's about time for brunch with the young master."

"Natasha and I can go get him," Nicholas piped up. "Consider this small favor in account to Scarlett and James." He then looped his arm with his demon fiancee's and spoke, "Lead the way!"

Natasha lead him through various hallways and eventually stopped in front of the large door, which led directly into the library. Without a second glance at his companion, Nicholas marched inside to stand in front of Ciel. "You're still not done with that stupid homework?!" he exclaimed.

The Earl glared upwards from the papers on his desk. "I finished that a few minutes after you left, this kind of homework is slightly different." He frowned, "Didn't I give you permission to act as my guest? Why are you in here and with that especially?" His blue eye flickered to Natasha, who shrugged.

"We're here to tell you that brunch will be served outside. Today is going to be the last sunny day we're going to have in a while," Natasha explained, after seeing his eye narrow, specifically at her. "C'mon, Ciel! Don't be a stick in the mud."

"I am not," he argued. "Unlike you, I don't slack off."

"In any case, I don't think we were introduced properly," Nicholas chuckled. He extend a hand toward the earl and smiled happily, "The names Nicholas Clair. Thanks for being all hospitable and everything, considering I broke part of your house, uh . ."

"Ciel Phantomhive," the navy-haired teen answered, shaking the demon's hand. "Don't worry about the damage," he grinned eerily. "Sebastian will fix it by dinner."

xx

"How long will you be staying with us, Lord Nicholas?" Sebastian asked, serving him a plate filled with decorative cookies and small sandwiches. "You family will be missing you."

Nicholas scratched the back of his head and said with a grin, "Until my brother catches up to me, I guess. Ma says I'm like a shadow in the dark, so it'll take him a while to find me."

Natasha scoffed, "If that's the case, then you'll be on your way home before the sun sets." She turned to Sebastian and asked, "You remember James, don't you Daddy? Lord Malcolm's eldest son, the really tall one that Scarlett likes."

Sebastian nodded, "His moody firstborn, who has been my firstborn's love interest since birth? It's hard to not remember him, I mean we just spoke about him and Nicholas mentioned something about Scarle-." He frowned and stared Natasha directly in the eyes, "He hasn't made a move on your sister has he?"

"Pfft! As if he had the balls for it," Nicholas laughed, before she even had the chance to answer. "He gets so nervous whenever she's around, it's hilarious! Poor Scarlett thinks something's wrong with her." He pursed his lips and seriously explained, "Jamie wants your permission before anyone else's to court your daughter, Sebastian. You weren't around when he realized that he's head over heels in love with her, so he hasn't gotten around to asking."

"In that case, " the demon smiled brightly at Nicholas and in turn, Nicholas smiled back, with eyes just as bright and hopeful. "He can't have it," Sebastian replied kindly, though his face showed anything but kindness. "Just how you are being denied access to my child's hand, by me."

"I wasn't asking him for permission," Nicholas sighed, stretching. "So Ciel," he smiled, changing the topic. "Your Natasha's master, do you feel honored?"

The navy-haired boy nodded, taking a sip of his tea. Today, it was mint. "I suppose so, although she won't acknowledge it."

Currently, the trio was having their brunch outside in the backyard. "He is my boss, got it?" Natasha grumbled, taking a harsh bite of a chocolate cookie. "There is not one person in this whole world that I would ever call 'master'. It's degrading."

"But how are you going to get food when you're older?" Nicholas argued, "Unless you find yourself a mate who's willing to do the work of two demons and hand you souls on a silver platter, you'll starve."

She shrugged, "Souls are only a necessity for the ancient demons who are too old to survive on regular food. By that time comes, I'm sure we'll have found a new means of sustenance."

"You hear that, Sebastian? She called you ancient," Ciel laughed.

The butler merely smiled and poured them all some more tea. "If I may," he began, "Not all demons have to be ancient to survive off of souls. Some are stronger than others and thus, to keep up their strength they need the fortitude of a human soul."

"So how old are you then?" Natasha asked.

Nicholas couldn't be bothered to hear Sebastian's answer and instead said loud, "Hey, Ciel? You're in a contract with Sebastian, right?"

"Hmm?" Ciel replied, a slightly puzzled look on his face. "Yes, that is correct. What's your question?"

"Well, aren't you scared to be around a demon like him, his daughter, and me? I mean, we could all attack you right now, if we really wanted to. Contracts are more of a formality, if anything. Doesn't that bother you?" Nicholas asked, bewilderment clear as day on his face.

Ciel smirked, "I suppose anyone else would be shitting their pants right now, but I have no fear at all. Sebastian has endured being at my beck and call for more than two years now and in those two years my soul has grown more to his taste with each passing day. I'll be at my peek when my goal is complete. You wouldn't eat a bloody, uncooked piece of meat, would you?"

"I could, but I'd prefer not to," Nicholas laughed. "Alright, alright. You fearless bastard, I won't try to taunt you anymore. I can't help, but wonder what kind of demon you would be."

"That's true," Natasha mumbled. "Would you be like my father, the kind who asks permission to have your soul, or like the rouges who feast upon unsuspecting victims?"

Ciel shrugged, "Who cares? You shouldn't waste your time thinking about things like that."

"So what are we doing after this?" Nicholas asked. "I was hoping to have an extensive report on Natasha's living conditions before going home. I didn't tell anyone I was coming and, well. . I'll be in a lot of trouble if I return with nothing."

A deep, masculine voice growled heavily into the atmosphere, "THAT IS MY LINE, YOU LITTLE SHIT! I'M GOING HOME WITH YOUR DEAD BODY!"

Again, sorry for the wait. I'm pretty tired right now, so I didn't bother to proofread this AT ALL, so if there's something that is TOO out of whack, please give me a heads up. Thanks!