I woke up alone in bed. I guess sex with Sebastian wore me out more than I thought. Then again, I was still recovering from a cambion pregnancy and birth and becoming immortal. I thought immortality was supposed to take care of that.

"Mommy!" I heard a little pair of feet slapping across the wood floor. Sure enough, my baby girl was walking. Running even! Marcelina sprinted to my bedside.

"Good morning, sweetheart," I picked her up and put her on the bed, "Where's your father?"

"I don't know," she cuddled up to me. It amazed me how much she's grown in a week.

"Does he know what you can do yet?" I asked.

"No," she shook her head, her little black ringlets bouncing with every move.

"Come on," I got up, "Let's go find him and show him."

"Ok!"

It was impossible not to instantly fall head over heels in love with this child. She was too perfect. I pulled myself out of bed and put Marcelina back down. Her tiny hand wrapped around my finger, turning my heart into mush. Just born the other day and she's already walking. And with an extensive vocabulary as well. My little over achiever.

"Sebastian!" I called out into the halls of our house.

"Where is he, Mommy?" Marcelina looked up at me with her big, sparkly, red eyes, "Where is Daddy?"

"I'm sure he's around somewhere," I assured, starting to worry myself, "If he's not here, I know exactly where he is. Sebastian!"

Silence.

I walked into the kitchen with Marcelina and he was nowhere to be found. Her eyes started to water, "Mommy, where's Daddy…?"

"Don't worry, baby," I picked up my daughter, cradling her against my chest, "I know where Daddy is. Come on. You and I need to get dressed first."

"Ok…"

Marcelina looked so defeated. So sad that her father wasn't there when she woke up. I couldn't let that happen. I got her dressed, then myself, and the two of us took a walk. It was so nice that I didn't have to carry her from our house to the manor. She was almost too heavy for me to carry. Doing that for an entire mile would've been hell.

As soon as we got to the front door of Phantomhive Manor, I picked Marcelina up and sat her on my hip and knocked. I knew Ciel was home. He never went anywhere unless it was for business and the current crime rate in London was at an all time low. And if there was something going on, he would've sent Sebastian first.

"Lumi!" Mey-Rin answered the door, "What are you doing here?"

"Hi, Mey-Rin," I wrapped my free arm around her, "I'm looking for my husband. He wasn't home when we got up. You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?"

"I think he's upstairs with Master," she thought it over, "I'm sure they'd both be thrilled to see you, they would!"

"Probably," I missed her. I missed Mey-Rin's infectious energy. I sat down on the stairs, exhausted from the walk.

"Mommy," Marcelina kept her voice down, "Is it ok for me to talk…?"

"It's perfectly fine," I sat her on my lap, "You can say and do whatever you want within reason."

"Lumi?" Sebastian's voice melted in my ear, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to show you something," I beamed, putting our daughter on the floor, "Go ahead, Marcy. Walk to Daddy."

A little wobbly at first, but once she got her balance, Marcelina ran at a dead sprint toward her father. He scooped her up in his arms, holding her tight, "I'm so proud of you, darling. Not surprised, but proud."

"I did good, didn't I, Daddy?" she beamed.

"Yes, you did," Sebastian kissed her forehead, "You did very well. Thank you, Marcelina."

"You're welcome!"

"Now," he put her down, "I have work to do for the young master."

"Where is he?" I asked, "I miss Ciel."

"In his study."

"Can I come, too, Mommy?" Marcelina was already halfway up the stairs.

"Sure, sweetheart," I allowed, "Come on."

"You," Sebastian grabbed me around my waist, kissing me gently, "I will see later."

"That was the plan," I smiled, blushing a little.

"Eww…" Marcelina sang out, "I don't want to see you and Daddy suckling faces, Mommy…"

I couldn't help but laugh hysterically, "Oh, Marcy…I'm sorry. We'll never do it again."

"Good," she pouted, sitting down on the stairs.

"She has to be yours," Sebastian teased.

"She's yours, too," I pointed out, "Like it or not."

"I guess."

"Daddy!" Marcelina whined, "I thought you loved me."

"Of course I do," Sebastian assured, "Merely teasing you, Marcelina."

I helped her the rest of the way up the stairs and she ran into Ciel's study. I loved that little girl more than life itself, but she definitely had more energy that I did at this time of day.

"What are you doing here?" I heard Ciel worry halfway down the hall, "Why is there a child in here?"

"Hi, Ciel," I turned the corner to find my daughter on his lap, refusing to move, "Marcelina, get down."

"Ok, Mommy," Marcelina jumped down from Ciel's lap and was back at my side.

"That's Marcelina?" Ciel gasped, "Wasn't she just born a week ago?"

"Yes," I chuckled a little to myself, "They grow up fast."

"I'm pretty sure babies aren't walking and talking at only a week old," Ciel assumed.

"Look at her eyes, Ciel," I told, sending Marcelina back to him, "Do those look familiar?"

"They're the same as Sebastian's," Ciel looked closely at them, "So, she's part demon as well?"

"Half demon, half human," I clarified, "She's a cambion."

"Mommy," Marcelina asked, "What's a cambion?"

"Just a big word for how special you are," I sat on the floor with her, "Why don't you go play in the library? I need to talk to Uncle Ciel for a minute."

"Ok!"

Marcelina scurried out of the room and left Ciel and me to talk. I could still hear everything she was doing, so I knew she'd be ok. And I'm sure Sebastian would be around to keep an eye on her.

"Lumi," Ciel spoke softly, "How is she the way she is?"

"You know about Sebastian turning me, right?" I wondered.

"Yes."

"So, you know what she is…"

"No."

"She's a cambion," I reiterated, "She has an accelerated growth rate. She'll grow like a demon baby until she's about the size of a ten year old."

"It still blows my mind," Ciel shook his head, "You just told me about Marcelina a few months ago."

"She's my little fallen angel," I hid a smile, "And she's perfect. Absolutely perfect."

"I understand now," he agreed, "Do you remember what you told me when you announced your pregnancy?"

"About?"

"How I had to keep an eye on Lizzie," Ciel giggled a bit to himself, "Because once she had her hands on that little girl, she's going to want babies of our own?"

"Yes," I heard her going through the books down the hall, "What about it?"

"I don't think we have her to worry about," he admitted, "I wouldn't mind progeny of my own. Someone to carry on the Phantomhive name."

"Ciel," I awed, "Are you the one getting baby fever?"

"No one said that," Ciel immediately jumped on the defensive, "No one used those words. I'm just saying it may be nice. And if you tell Elizabeth, I will do everything in my power to kill you."

"Can't do that," I smirked, "For one, I'm immortal. And I'm sure if you even tried in the slightest, you'd have Sebastian to deal with. Sebastian would end you for me."

"He wouldn't dare."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"Sebastian!" Ciel called out. Not two seconds later, his butler was at his side.

"You call for me, sir?" he asked, "Did you need something?"

"I need you to settle an argument," Ciel explained, "If you had to kill someone for me, would you?"

"Of course, sir."

"What if it was Lumi?"

Sebastian froze. Completely still. Ciel had him stunned. When he came back to Earth, he finally spoke, "You're putting me in a tight spot, my lord. If you were to order me, I'd have no choice. However, she is immortal now, so I wouldn't be able to kill her. If you don't mind me asking, what would your reasoning be for killing Lumi?"

"Never mind that," Ciel started turning a light shade of red.

"On the same token," I chimed in, "If I were to ask you nicely to kill Ciel, would you do it?"

"Absolutely not," Sebastian put his foot down, "I love you, Lumi, and I know better. You couldn't ask me to kill someone on a whim."

"So, I'd have to do it myself?"

"Please don't," he begged, "Don't kill him."

"I wouldn't," I assured, putting my hand to my husband's face, "Unless he gave me reason."

"I don't see him ever giving you a good enough reason to warrant death," Sebastian looked over at his meek, mild mannered master, "Isn't that right, my lord?"

"Why would I want Lumi to kill me?" Ciel squeaked.

"If that would be all then, sir," Sebastian said, "Is there anything else you need from me?"

"OH BLOODY HELL!" I heard in my head. The scream hit me like a brick.

"Sebastian," I winced, "You might want to go downstairs and check on Bard. I have a feeling he may have burned himself."

"I heard it, too," he agreed, bowing out.

"I didn't hear anything," Ciel gave me a look.

"Acute hearing," I explained, "Perk of being immortal. All my senses are heightened."

"I almost envy you…" he let out a heavy sigh, "But I wouldn't want to be immortal. I'd want to die one day. I wouldn't want to see Lizzie grow old by my side and die while I lived on. Or our children. I'd have no reason to keep living."

"I guess it's a good thing that my husband and my daughter are immortal, too," I listened to my little fallen angel's giggle in the library, "I really should be going, though."

"No!" Ciel snapped, "I mean, stay."

"I have other things to be doing today, Ciel," I got up.

"Lumi," he stopped me, "Please. Stay and have a drink with me. It's not like you can get drunk, right?"

"That's very true," I nodded, "Unless Sebastian made a trip to hell and got me something. He told me about some sort of wine from hell that's not intended for mortals and it's incredible."

"Probably demon blood," Ciel figured.

"No," I shook my head, "I've had demon blood. Wouldn't really recommend it, flavor wise. Effect wise, I would very much recommend to someone. The feeling is incredible. Crashing from it is hell, but the high is amazing."

"I wouldn't know," he said, pouring his brandy, "I've never had it."

"If I were a demon," I admitted, "I'd give you some. Sebastian would probably tear me limb from limb, but as long as we kept it our little secret."

"No, thank you," Ciel passed, "I know about the crash from demon blood. Sebastian told me about it when you were going through it. It sounded awful."

"It was rough," I agreed, "But I got over it."

Then, it hit me. Ciel never wanted to talk this much unless he was having a drink. And he was nursing that brandy pretty well. He was stalling. He wanted to keep me here. I knew something was suspicious. Ever since this morning. Sebastian wouldn't have left without saying goodbye to me. This wasn't a casual visit to the manor.

It was a trap.

What for, I wasn't sure, but I knew from the bottom of my heart it was for me.

"Hey, Ciel," I asked, "Do you have a calendar handy?"

"Right here," he slid his desk blotter toward me. Fortunately, Ciel had every day that had passed marked meticulously with an X. And I realized what today's date was.

Son of a bitch. It's my birthday.

"Ciel," I didn't break my concentration, staring at the date, "Do you know what today is?"

"I do."

"Why am I here?" I cut to the chase.

"Because you were looking for Sebastian," he assumed, "Right?"

"That's right," I brushed him off, "And I wanted to show him Marcelina's new trick. Marcy!"

I listened closely for the pitter patter of her little feet scampering across the hardwood. Soon enough, my daughter was on my lap, looking up at me with the same blood red eyes her father gave me, "We're not leaving yet, are we, Mommy?"

"You don't want to go?" I gave her a look.

"I was reading in Uncle Ciel's library," she told, "And there was a really big, really old book in there that said all kinds of things about cambions."

"Ciel," I cut her off, "What's she talking about?"

"Marcelina," Ciel spoke softly to her, "I want you to stay out of my library for now, alright?"

"Why?" she whined, jumping up onto Ciel, "I like your library!"

"I know," he agreed, "It's my favorite room in the house, too. But some of the books aren't meant for you to read yet. I'm just as afraid of your mother as I am your father if you were to read the wrong one. Some of those books are on demons and the right combination of Latin could be very painful for not only you, but your father as well."

"Ok…" Marcelina looked so defeated. I couldn't stand to see my little girl so upset. All she wanted to do was learn more about what she is. I can't really fault her for that.

"Marcelina," I told, "If you wanted to know more about cambions, all you had to do was ask. Now, I want you to go wait downstairs. I'll be down in a minute."

"Am I in trouble?"

"No, baby," I kissed her forehead, "Go wait downstairs. I just need to talk to Uncle Ciel for a moment."

"Ok," Marcelina jumped down from Ciel's lap and left us alone.

"Wow, Ciel," I awed, "I never expected in a million years that you'd be good with kids."

"She's different," he confessed, "She could tear me to pieces if she so desired. She's no ordinary little girl."

"No, she's not," I beamed, "I'll see you later."

"How do you know?"

"Call it a hunch."

"I can't," Ciel stopped me, "I'm so sorry, Lumi. I may be staking my future marriage on this, but I know what today is and-"

"My lord," Sebastian cut him off, "Lady Elizabeth is here for you."

"Thank you, Sebastian," Ciel fell back in his chair, a wave of relief crashing over him.

"Lumi!" Lizzie came squealing in, wrapping her arms around me.

"Hi, Lizzie," I tried wiggling out of her embrace, but to no avail. I don't give Lizzie enough credit. She's definitely stronger than she looks, "Marcelina! Come here!"

"Mommy," Marcelina dredged in, "I thought you said we were leaving."

"Is that Marcelina?" Lizzie gasped.

"Yes, it is," Sebastian confirmed, his daughter scaling him, attaching herself at his shoulders, "What do you think you're doing, young lady?"

"Daddy!" Marcelina hugged him tight.

"She's showing affection, Sebastian," I told, finally getting Lizzie off me, "She does kind of like you."

"I see that…"

"Come here, kid," I peeled Marcelina off her father and sat her on my hip, "We should be off anyway."

"Where are we going, Mommy?" Marcelina asked.

"I have to stop by the office," I bounced her in my arms, "Say thank you to Uncle Ciel."

"Put me down! Put me down!" she wiggled out of my arms and slid down my leg, latching herself to the young earl, "Thank you, Uncle Ciel."

"You're welcome, Marcelina," Ciel shot a confused glance toward me, "What for?"

"I wouldn't be going to the office if it weren't for you," I smiled, "I wouldn't have that little one if it weren't for you. You, my dear Ciel Phantomhive, have given me the world and don't even realize it."

"Aww!" Lizzie squeaked, "Ciel!"

"Thanks, Lumi," Ciel whined as his fiancée snuggled around him, "Do you see what you've started?"

"You two could use more time together," I smirked, making Sebastian proud, "Especially after what you told me earlier."

"What did you tell her?" Lizzie jumped down his throat.

"And I'll take my bows," I took my daughter by her little hand and left Ciel to deal with his hysterical bride-to-be.

"You know," Sebastian pointed out, "That wasn't very nice, Mrs. Michaelis."

"If you sat on the same information I did," I took his arm, "You would've done the same thing."

"I am sitting on that same information," he clarified, "You forget I could hear him, too. Especially when it comes to him. The master and I are more connected than you and I and we share a child together. And it's only natural that he would, one day, want children with Lady Elizabeth."

"So, you're saying that was wrong of me?"

"Oh, no. I find it rather amusing, watching him dance."

"That's what I thought," I giggled to myself, "I'll be at the paper if you need me."

"Alright," Sebastian gave me a quick kiss out of Marcelina's eyeshot, "I love you."

"Te amo," I beamed, "I'll see you tonight."

"Say it again," he begged as his breathing grew heavier, "Say that again."

"Visam te nocte," I repeated in his vernacular, making him swoon.

And just like that, I left the manor, taking the coach and dear Baldroy with me. This would be Marcelina's first coach ride since we brought her home. It still felt like yesterday when we brought her home. Now, she's walking and talking and questioning who and what she is.

"Hey, Bard," I poked my head through the window, "If I ask you something, do you promise you'll give me an honest answer?"

"Of course," he agreed, "What's on your mind?"

"What's going on at the manor?" I wondered, "Everyone seems a bit skittish today."

"Nothing that I know of."

"Ok," I sat in the back and twiddled my thumbs until we got to the empty building where the paper was. Before I had my perverted boss thrown in jail. It still amazes me that Sebastian didn't kill him. Probably beat him within an inch of his life, though.

I wiped the layer of dust off my old desk. Granted, Jamison disgusted me, but there were a lot of good memories in this place. But this would no longer be my desk. My piece of the world.

I had the office. The nice, big office with the lovely view of London. Jamison's old office. I knew one thing. I needed to get this place disinfected. I felt like I was catching something just standing here.

"Mommy," Marcelina looked up at me, "What is this place?"

"It used to be a newspaper," I told, taking in the nostalgia, "I used to write for it until the editor was found to be disgusting. And now, with a little funding from Uncle Ciel, I can start it back up again."

"Wow," she looked around with extreme curiosity, "You worked here?"

"And I'll be working here again very soon," I told, "I'll be conducting some interviews today. I want you to stay in my office until I'm done, ok?"

"Why do I have to stay in your office?" Marcelina whined, "Why can't I help?"

"Because," I explained, "You don't know the first thing about running a newspaper. And some of the applicants used to work with me. They don't need to know I have a newborn the size of a ten year old and happens to be half demon."

"Can't we just lie to them?" she suggested, "We could tell them I'm your sister or something."

"And there's your demon half," I wrapped my arms around my daughter, "It's only for a little while, Marcy. I'll have Bard bring you some books."

"Big books…?"

"The thickest books he can find."

"Ok," Marcelina pouted in my office chair, "I guess that's ok."

"Go out and ask him," I said, "I have to pull myself together and get situated."

"Ok," she jumped down and skipped outside. I could hear her begging Bard to bring her books and her criteria. Thick ones on the supernatural. Which worried me. I knew she was going to dig deeper on cambions. I had no problem with that, but it terrifies me that she'll end up learning more about herself than what she should. A normal, human baby throwing a tantrum is scary enough. A severely upset cambion with more power than angels or demons? That could start the apocalypse.

"Baldroy!" I yelled.

"Yes, Lumi?" Bard stuck his head in the door, "Something I can do for you?"

"Do not get her books on the supernatural," I demanded, "I cannot stress that enough. That's a world she doesn't need to see yet. Get her warm, fuzzy fairytales. If you bring her back supernatural books, I will leave Sebastian to deal with you."

"Yes, ma'am," he quivered, "Fairytales, not monsters."

"I wouldn't call all supernatural creatures monsters," I took slight offense to that, "But you have your orders. Go."

Bard left Marcelina and I at the office while he made a run to the bookstore. And my potential applicants came in. After a while, this whole interviewing thing got tedious and I was ready to throw myself out a second story window. Until one walked in that brightened my day.

"Lumi!" a familiar face threw her arms around me.

"Hi, Mary," I beamed, surrendering to her embrace, "It's been far too long."

"How are you?" she asked, "Keeping busy?"

"Oh, yes," I nodded, "Extremely. These days, it's hard not to be."

"I was kind of shocked to hear you would be the new editor!" Mary squeaked, "Whatever happened to Jamison?"

"He was beaten within an inch of his life," I growled, "Then, he was thrown in jail for sexual assault."

"My daddy's the one that put him away!" Marcelina's little voice chirped out from my office.

"Is he?" Mary turned her attention to her, "And what's your name, sweetheart?"

"Marcelina."

"It's lovely to meet you, Marcelina," she was in complete awe over her.

"Marcy," I turned her around, "Go back and wait in my office, ok? This is the last one."

"Ok," Marcelina went back to my office like she was told and closed the door behind her.

"Sorry about that," I apologized, "She gets bored easily."

"She's adorable!" Mary chimed, "Whose is she?"

"She's mine," I confessed, "While the paper was in ruin, I got married. And with him came her. Wouldn't trade either one of them for the world."

"Congratulations, darling!" she sang, "And her mother? What happened to her?"

"She died," I covered. Not entirely lying. I did die, but I came back.

"I guess you can relate," Mary sighed, "Poor girl lost her mother so young."

I could feel tears bubbling up in the back of my throat. I swallowed hard, "That was not your place, Mary. You had no right."

"I'm sorry," she apologized, "But you can't tell me you didn't see the parallel."

"Mary…"

"You're right," she bit her tongue, "Forgive me."

"Go," I requested, "I'll see you here on Monday."

"I got the job?" she gasped.

"Of course you did," I rolled my eyes, "I'll need a secretary."

"Thank you," Mary hugged me again, "And I am sorry about what I said. I'll see you Monday."

"It was good seeing you, Mary," I spoke softly, "Bye."

She gave me a nod and took off. I grabbed my daughter and did the same. As much as I loved being back in the office, I had to get out of there before any and all emotions came up. All I wanted to do was get back to the manor and spend the rest of the day with the people I loved. I pushed the front door open with Marcelina on my hip.

"SURPRISE!"

A/N: Hi, guys! I'm back! I feel like I have some explanations to make. First of all, I've been back from vacation for a week now. Wonderful, wonderful! Only one thing could've made it better, but certain things were out of my control and that couldn't happen, but I digress. I also won NaNoWriMo this year! And I will be posting that to Tumblr as soon as it's done. And yes. I started writing this chapter on my actual birthday, so I thought I'd make this one birthday themed. And the next one, too, in case you didn't piece that one together. As for posting schedule, I think I might be pissing some people off with this, but I'm going to be updating this on a weekly basis instead of daily. I may have already told you this, but just in case you forgot. So! Wednesdays will be Black Butler Day. However! I will be starting a new fandom TOMORROW (from when I post this) and I'll be posting to that every Thursday! I'm always taking requests, if there's something in particular your spazzy fan heart desires. Until next chapter, my loves, I'll see you later! xx