Sebastian stood by the gates to the Phantomhive Manor as he awaited his guest. He had received a message that Grell would be coming to visit tonight, just as they bargained. Over this week, he had been sub-consciously pondering about the reaper and trying to place her somewhere in his mind that was relatively pleasant but not aggravating. He was still rather skeptical about what he'd seen. Was his inner-demon truly telling him he desired Grell out of lust or hunger? Was the shinigami not what he thought to be?
With a sigh, he opened the gates as he spotted the red-head from afar, albeit confused as he furrowed his brow. This person approaching him was indeed a redhead like the shinigami. However, they were nothing like Grell. His eyes had not been fooling him after all; Grell was a female as his heart desired. A soft smirk played upon his lips. The young deity nearly skipped along the path, still feeling so content in her new body. After living in such misery for so long, she felt as though she'd never come down from the high her new form brought her.
"And what have you gotten yourself into now?" the demon inquired as she skipped up to him with her baby, "Corsets? Glamour?"
"Iie, Sebby," Grell giggled back, her voice more feminine and light as she stood before him, "Undertaker-kun gave me a potion to give me mommy milk and it made me the lady I was meant to be!"
"And Sebell?" he looked down the infant in her arms, "She is but an infant again?"
"Yep!" Grell giggled, nuzzling the child happily, "In fact, that's why I wanted to come by. I wanted to thank you for saving my sweet little Sebell for me...Even if you DID kidnap her before..."
"There is no need or reason to thank me. What I did I did out of my own necessity...Despite the disappointment it was," the demon scolded calmly, "Would you like to come view the garden? It is rather lovely this evening and our time together is short,"
"Ne? Sebas-chan wants to spend time with ME now?" she giggled, "How ironic, ne Sebby?"
"We had made a deal, I did want you to visit for the sole purpose of checking up on Sebell," he told her, leading her into the gardens, "I trust the little one is much better?"
Grell chortled knowingly.
"Yes, she's doing very well," she answered, tickling Sebell's chin.
Sebastian chose his words carefully, "Would you mind if I held the child?"
"Sebby won't run off with her, will he?" Grell scolded playfully.
"She is an infant, Grell," Sebastian retorted seriously.
"She was still an infant when you took her too," Grell frowned, casting him a dark look, "The only difference was her body."
Sebastian sighed, "Yes, that is true. But I am bound from taking her. May I hold her in that case?"
"I suppose," Grell sighed, gently holding Sebell to him. The infant cooed, pouting up at him cutely. The demon chuckled softly, she was cute, and he decided to take back his earliest opinion of her.
"Sebby?" Grell spoke up in a teasing tone, "Are you admiring how adorable my little Sebell is?"
"Perhaps," he told her, gently squeezing one of her little feet as he had the image of a kitten enter his mind. Sebell giggled and jerked her feet somewhat, her feet were quite ticklish.
"Aww!" Grell cried, tickling Sebell's tummy a bit, "My baby's so adorable!"
"Quite," the demon sighed, gently placing the infant back in her mother's arms. For a moment, he admired Grell, simply entranced as he recalled the form lingering behind those restraining clothes. Grell didn't seem to notice as she smiled down at her baby, kissing her cheeks and playing with her tiny hands as she held the infant securely in one arm. A smirk played upon his lips and his mind conquered the perfect way to end Grell's romance with the vampire, albeit more pleasure on his part.
Grell sighed blissfully, interrupting his thoughts.
"I should really get home," she shrugged, "I bet Sebell misses her daddy anyway..."
The demon sighed, "I am certain of that as well. Now that I know your child is well there is no further reason for you to stay,"
"Nice to know you're being so courteous this time," Grell smirked coyly as she began walking away. The demon smirked as she left the Manor, indeed, he had been very courteous. What kind of butler though would leave a guest, unattended? He had hardly shown Grell the time he was obliged too by this contract. Turning, he mulled over the plot forming in his mind.
Nancy smiled softly as she examined each apple in her hand, holding her baby girl against her chest as she shopped for groceries. So far, she had all the vegetables she needed, now she was finding the fruit and she was very anal about the organic foods she picked. They had to appear fresh and smell fresh, no bruising or sign of decay could be seen, so she was very careful when examined the items in the market. Tzipporah was interested as well; her big hazel eyes stared between her mother and the fruit she was holding in her hands.
After a moment Nancy placed the apple in her basket (which hung from the arm she was holding her baby in) and then proceeded to examine another one. Tzipporah giggled cutely, reaching for her mama and the fruit she held. Nancy smiled softly at her baby and kissed her cheek before turning to place the fruit in the basket and pay for her purchase. Soon after she had paid she made to turn to another fruit cart when a familiar voice caught her attention.
"Well, good-day, Mrs. Rothen," the demon butler greeted with his usual smile.
"O-Oh," Nancy turned to him, "Good-day."
"I'm glad I found you," Sebastian purred, "I have a request."
"Okay...and what would that be...?" Nancy asked.
"I would like for you to arrange it so I can get Grell alone," Sebastian told her, looking around the market in disinterest. He brought his eyes back to Nancy who looked at him with a somewhat perplexed reflection.
"For what purpose?" she asked, "I know I owe you a favor par our contract, but I am curious. Did Grell NOT do as you asked?"
"She did," Sebastian replied, "But this is a different reason."
"I see," Nancy looked uneasy for a moment, "What do you want?"
"I want you to arrange it so," he chose his next words with a devious smirk, "Grell will make love to me as if I were her vampire."
"I-I could NEVER do that to Seba!" she hissed, "How could you EVER ask me to have Grell commit such adultery?"
"Adultery is intentional," Sebastian smirked deviously, "If Grell believes it is her vampire she is making love to, it'll be albeit more amusing."
"I refuse," Nancy snarled softly at him as to not draw a scene, "You have no reason of deep love or passion to even ask such a thing!"
"Ah, but I DO have your favor," he retorted, "The favor I want you to grant me is very simple. Of course, if you still refuse, I can always give their little brat her illness back..."
Nancy eyes sunk to the ground, her head starting to ache from thinking about this. She couldn't do this to Seba, she couldn't make it so Grell laid with the demon...Well, of course she could, but she knew she'd hurt Seba if they ever found out about it! Sebastian watched her carefully, waiting almost impatiently.
"C-Can you tell me why you want to lie with Grell?" Nancy asked, "I'd rather hear it from your lips then your mind."
"There is no reason for me to explain myself to you," Sebastian retorted, "That is not part of the favor you are to grant me."
Nancy bowed her head, "How would we pull it off? I take it Grell must be alone but the others in my company might that find that suspicious."
"I am way ahead of you," Sebastian snickered, "In a few days time a festival will arrive in town, I know Grell will be eager to attend with her family. The second night you shall go with your family and Seba, but make Grell tired enough to sleep through the festival's evening hours. At ten that evening you will signal me that Grell is alone and I shall do the rest."
"I...I suppose I have no other option..." she sighed back.
"Good," the demon smirked, "Consider our contract complete then."
Nancy didn't reply as he turned to leave. She felt so horrible, so horrible, for agreeing to this! Oh, Seba would be so heartbroken if he knew! Then again, perhaps it was just a minor sacrifice? Surely if Grell knew that it would secure Sebell's health for quite some time she'd forgive her, ne? Sebell meant so much to the couple, and now that she was a baby, she doubted her body could tolerate such an ailment as long as her teenaged one did. She sighed sadly. Hopefully, Grell would be smart enough to know it was not Seba when the time came.
Grell cooed playfully at her child as they strolled through the streets of London. The winter weather was coming in so it was a bit chilly, but it was nothing to break the warmth of their clothing. Despite the chill though, the sun shined brightly onto the streets, reflecting off of a few water puddles that produced the allure of gold. Since Sebell was new to sunlight, and the winter was pushing in, the shinigami mother decided to get just the healthy amount of sunlight for the infant before the late autumn withdrew. Sebell nuzzled her mama sleepily, the bright sunlight making her close her eyes instinctively and thereby making her feel a bit sleepy.
"Aw, don't go to sleep yet honey!" Grell pouted, "It's so nice out!"
"Maaa..." the child whined as her mother gently shook her little body in her arms.
"Just a few more minutes sweetie," Grell kissed her cheek.
"Oy, lady!" a man's voice scolded as a rather large beam narrowly missed Grell's head on its way up the pulley, "Watch where you're going!"
Grell sneered and rounded on the man, clutching Sebell securely.
"A man NEVER tells a lady what to do!" She snarled. She blinked once or twice when she caught sight of the sign he and a group of men were attempting to set up.
"Look, lady, if you wanna die before the Winter Festival, be my guest," he scoffed back, "But don't ruin the sign in doing so, it's a pain in the arse putting it up."
Grell did not pay attention as she read over the sign. The Winter Festival? A wide smile planted itself on her face; she hadn't been to one since...since she was human! There was always so much work as a shinigami, and now that she had her free time she began to think it would be a splendid idea to start winter off with some family fun! She smiled down at her baby.
"Oh, Sebell!" she giggled, "We must go tell daddy!"
"Paaa...?" Sebell cooed, still somewhat groggy.
"Hm mm!" Grell nodded, turning on her heel to head back to the cottage, "Oh, we must simply come tonight! It'll be so much fun! You and mommy can ride the ponies and daddy can win you a teddy! It'll be wonderful!"
Sebell cooed happily as she nuzzled her mama.
"Sebby~!" Grell cried in a sing song voice, "Mommy's home with our wittle baby!"
She heard a soft rustling from the bedroom as Seba started to stir.
"Grell?" Nancy entered the room, flour on her cheek from making dinner, "You sound so excited...Did something happen in town?"
"Ah! Yes!" Grell giggled, "Oh, where's Sebby! Sebby! Hurry love! I have such wonderful news!"
"He's upstairs," Nancy nodded, "I'll go get him, he's probably just getting up."
"No need," Seba yawned, smiling down the stairs at Grell, "I'm up...What is it Grell?"
"Ah! Sebby I saw something wonderful in town today!" she giggled back, "They're going to have a Winter Festival! Oh, doesn't that sound like fun?"
"A Winter Festival?" Seba furrowed his brow with a smile, "Well...yes...That does sound like fun. I've never been to one...Have you?"
"Mm hmm," Grell nodded, "Before I became a shinigami. Ah, they're ever so much fun!"
Seba smiled a tad wider, "When is it?"
"The sign said it started tonight!" Grell explained happily, "It'll be such a fun way to start of winter, especially for Sebell! Oh, we can ride the ponies and play games, maybe get our baby girl a teddy bear! Oh, shall we, shall we?"
"That sounds wonderful, Grell!" Seba smiled, "It'll be so much fun!"
"Oh yay!" Grell cheered, "I can hardly wait."
She turned to Nancy, "You are welcome too, and your little cherub!"
"Why thank you," Nancy giggled, "Seba's right, it sounds like it'll be a lot of fun."
"Oh goodie!" Grell set Sebell down in her playpen, where she lay sleepily on the padded floor, "I'll help with dinner! Then we'll enjoy it and head to the festival when the sun sets! Oh, I can hardly wait!"
Seba giggled; he so loved seeing Grell so happy.
Grell's eyes were alight with euphoria as her eyes skimmed the structures within the festival boundaries. There was a fence within held riding ponies, an ice-skating rink, many stands where prizes hung from nails should the game be won...Oh, she couldn't decide! Where to take her baby and lover first? Seba lagged behind her as he stared around in awe. Never before had he ever seen anything like this. It was all so new and bright and colorful. The only thing that compared were the white walls of Grell's home, which reflected so much light and retracted its glow to Grell's beautiful, red hair. These lights were technicolor though and quite attractive, in a way they were an artificial sun to him...As he could never enjoy the shades of daylight again. Grell glanced back at him and laughed softly.
"Sebby...Come on..." she smiled, "There's so much more to see..."
"Oh, but where to first?" Seba asked, turning to Nancy who had loaned Seba her stroller for the evening. She smiled and gently picked Sebell up out of it, who whined to be back at Tzipporah's side in the baby carriage, and gently handed her to her father.
"Try the ponies," Nancy suggested, "She'll love it."
"Ah, okay..." Seba smiled down at Sebell, "Would you like that lovey? A fun pony ride with papa?"
"Paaa..." she cooed, smiling widely.
"A pony ride then!" he nodded, heading toward the ponies.
"Ne~!" Grell cried, "I wanna sit in Sebby's lap!"
"But it's Sebell turn," the vampire chided playfully. Grell pouted.
"Ah! No fair~!" she whined, "I wanna join you too!"
Seba chuckled, smiling shyly, "Maybe later...Daddy wants to spend time with his baby girl."
"Aw!" Grell smiled widely, "You're so sweet Sebby! I'm gonna go get something sweet, so Sebell can have her first fair candy when the ride's over! I'll be right back!"
"That sounds wonderful," Seba agreed.
"Can I get something for my Sebas-chan?" she asked. Seba shook his head.
"Grell is enough of a sweet treat for me," he explained with a sweet smile. Grell shivered sensually before skipping along to find a snack booth. Seba looked down at Sebell with a happy smile as he began walking to the ponies. Meanwhile, Nancy remained standing besides her husband, looking around in search of an activity for her and her daughter. Ivan sighed as he looked around.
"This is a waste of time..." he grumbled, trying to think of something else to complain about besides having to be seen in public with Seba.
"I know it is..." Nancy sighed, staring down at her daughter with a solemn, desensitized look.
"Then why did you come here?" Ivan asked.
"If I had loaned them the stroller alone you would've protested. Had I come along I know you would've had no protest..." Nancy told him. Ivan scoffed and glared at Seba.
"Look, you can go if you don't want to stay," Nancy told him softly.
"As much as I would love to leave, I do not want to just leave you," he sighed back.
"I'm not helpless, Ivan," Nancy's stronghold was beginning to fade.
"I am not implying that," Ivan retorted, "It is simply ungentlemanly for a man to leave his wife alone."
"It is also ungentlemanly to insult your wife's company," she told him softly yet firmly, "So please...At least pretend you're having fun."
"I will try..." Ivan sighed.
"Thank you," Nancy smiled, turning her attention to Tzipporah whose big eyes curiously scanned the sights around her. The child's mouth was slightly agape in awe as he looked about.
Nancy gently took her little baby's hand on her finger and kissed it, "Would you like to go ice-skating with mommy?"
Tzipporah giggled and clapped her hands excitedly.
"Is that wise, my love?" Ivan asked seriously, "That can be a very dangerous endeavor..."
"Oh come now," Nancy cooed, "It's Tzipporah's first winter festival, let her have some fun."
"Just be careful," Ivan told her earnestly.
"I will be," Nancy nodded, gently picking her baby up into her arms and cradling her. Tzipporah giggled as she held onto mama happily. As Nancy waited in line to receive her skates she began to feel envy...Envy for what Grell had; a loving husband and...a daughter made out of love...Had SHE not suffered enough? Why couldn't SHE have that? It simply wasn't fair, she'd done so much for the two...Why wasn't she able to be with Seba? Did he not see how she was suffering? Of course, she had a feeling that Seba wanted to see some kind of value in her marriage. That he didn't want to break up the union she had with Ivan. The boy had always been a bit naive as well. Perhaps he really couldn't notice? And he'd not been allowed near her for a long time until after he'd met Grell. How could she really expect him to leave the shinigami when she'd saved him and had given him the love he'd been deprived of?
She sounded selfish, she knew so...It was awful of her to think these thoughts. In Heaven, one day, they'd be together. She pouted a bit. Seba wasn't human anymore. He looked like he hadn't aged in the least since the incident with Ashbel when he became a vampire. How long would a vampire live? She could only hope she wouldn't wait long...Perhaps when she fulfilled the favor that demon demanded of her? It seemed so heartless, but perhaps if Seba found out he'd be hurt enough to leave Grell? To find out that the mother of his child had slept with another man? It would crush him, surely, but it could also motivate him to turn away from her in favor of a more 'faithful' lover. On her part, she'd have to try and remove herself from Ivan. Divorce was very tricky, and she didn't know if an annulment could be justified. Of course, she'd do whatever she could. She had to get away from him...no matter what.