A/N: Hi, friends! I'm really, really, really, really sorry about the inconsistent posting schedule. Writer's block hasn't done me much for favors and getting back in the swing of things proved to be more difficult that I previously surmised. You, my dear reader…Yes, you. The one sitting in front of your computer/tablet/phone/what have you. You're more than welcome to shoot me suggestions. I mean, it wouldn't be the first time I've used a suggestion from the comments or (if you're more shy) the private messages. I promise I won't bite. We can be buddies! Now, I'll be a lamb and shut up, so you can enjoy what I've written for you.

I had seen Lizzie's folders of her wedding plans. When I had said yes to Sebastian, I didn't realize how much of an undertaking this was going to be. Granted, I wouldn't have much for invitations. I didn't have very many family members left alive. My father. An uncle. A few cousins. And it's not like Sebastian had any family alive. Unless he had some estranged relative somewhere.

As much as I was going to hate to say this, I was going to need some help. And lots of it. Sebastian had enough on his plate, taking care of Ciel. Only four people knew about our engagement: Sebastian, Ciel, my father, and me. Telling Elizabeth would be almost irresponsible and messy.

"Excuse me, Mistress," a young, mousy girl stood in my doorway, "I need to change the bedding."

"Sure," I got off the bed, "Mey-Rin, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," she jumped. Skittish, little thing, "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Relax," I insisted, "I'm of no nobility, no rank. Just a simple commoner passing through."

"Oh…" Mey-Rin sat on the bed, "I'm so sorry, Mistress. Do forgive me."

"Mey-Rin," I settled her, "It's Lumi. You don't need to call me Mistress."

"Did you need me for something, Lumi?" she asked again, still a tad spooked.

"I need some help wedding planning," I threw myself on the bed, "I didn't realize how miserable this was going to make me."

"Who's getting married?" Mey-Rin asked.

"I am…"

"Congratulations!" she squealed, "What's his name? How did he propose?!"

"This is kind of a secret, Mey-Rin," I drilled into her head, "You can't tell anyone."

"I'll swear on my life, I will!" Mey-Rin pledged.

"Ok…" I moved in closer, "His name is Sebastian. He proposed to me by a beautiful waterfall a couple weeks ago…"

"Sebastian…" Mey-Rin though for a moment, "Our Sebastian?"

"Yes," I nodded, "The very one."

"Oh, goodness!" I thought Mey-Rin was going to have a heart attack, "You lucky girl!"

"Thank you," I smiled, "He is rather cute, isn't he?"

"I couldn't," Mey-Rin squeaked, "I couldn't talk about Sebastian like that. He's my superior…"

"Come on, Mey-Rin," I pushed, "You can tell me. I'm his fiancée. I completely understand how you feel."

"Well," she blushed, "He is…I'd have to be completely blind not to see that."

"See?" I nudged her, "There's nothing wrong with harmless fantasy."

"You said you needed me to help with the wedding plans?" Mey-Rin put us back on track.

"Yes," I got my head back, "I had a color scheme in mind, but it's not exactly a traditional color scheme."

"Oh?" she chirped, "What were you thinking?"

"Black…" I thought.

"That's crazy!" Mey-Rin shot me down, "How could you have black at a wedding? Black is more of a funeral color!"

I was already dying. Mortally, anyway, "I told you it wasn't exactly traditional. Black, burgundy, dark purple…"

"Interesting color palette, Lumi," she praised, "But I can't see why you'd want it so dark."

"Just a preference," I shrugged. In a way, it was a funeral. And I wanted it to be like a funeral, "Dark colors…White lilies…White candles lighting the aisle…We need to take a trip."

"We?"

"Yes. We," I got up, "Sebastian can't know."

"A secret trip?" Mey-Rin started to get excited, "Really?"

"Is there someone else that can drive the coach?" I wondered.

"Where are we going?"

"I need to go shopping," I slipped my shoes on, "But I think we should make a quick stop at the Midford estate."

"What for?"

"I can't leave Lady Elizabeth out of this," I let out a heavy sigh, "I'd feel too guilty."

"Leave her out of what?" Sebastian joined us.

"Nothing," I played it off, "It's just that Lizzie and I have become such good friends, as have Mey-Rin and me. I thought the three of us should do something together."

"And what would you be doing?" he asked. Sebastian was starting to sound like a concerned father. It was kind of heartwarming, but terrifying all the same.

"Just enjoying each other's company," I lied smoothly.

"Will you be needing the coach?" Sebastian offered.

"Yes, we will."

"Shall we then?" he gave me his arm.

"Aren't you busy?" I started to sweat.

"I can take a few hours out of my day," Sebastian said, "It's no trouble."

"I didn't say we would be going now," I covered, "Honestly, Sebastian. You worry about me too much."

"Lumi," he squirmed, "Not the place for that."

"Why?" I flirted, "Because of Mey-Rin? She knows about us, darling. She was actually helping me plan our wedding."

"Mey-Rin," Sebastian turned more serious than usual.

"Yes, Sebastian?" Mey-Rin stuttered nervously.

"Need I tell you what will happen if you breathe a word of this to any of the other house staff?"

"No…" she quivered.

"Sebastian," I scolded, "There was no need to threaten Mey-Rin."

"We need to keep our personal affairs private," he explained, "Our business is no one else's business."

"As true as that is," I went on, "It's still no reason to go threatening her."

Sebastian thought it over for a moment, shooting glances at the hyperventilating maid in the corner, "I guess you're right. My sincere apologies, Mey-Rin. Just don't tell anyone, please."

"I won't!" Mey-Rin assured, "I won't tell another soul!"

"See?" I glared up at my fiancé, "I told you that you don't have to threaten her."

"You really do bring out the best in me," Sebastian smiled softly, "don't you, Ms. Olivier?"

"That's what I'm here for," I stood up on my tiptoes, kissing his cheek, "Now, Mey-Rin and I have work to do. Did you need me for something?"

"I had a moment to myself," he said, "Thought I'd check on you."

"Alive and well," I beamed, "Now, out."

"Fine," Sebastian let me go, "I'll be back to check on you later."

"Can't wait."

"Thank you," Mey-Rin smiled a bit after Sebastian closed the door behind him, "For defending me."

"We're friends now, Mey-Rin," I clarified, "You would do the same for me."

"I'm actually a bit scared of him," she chuckled, "There's something about him…Something different."

"Yes, there is," I sighed dreamily, "That's why I'm marrying him…We'll have to sneak out of here. Tell me there's someone else other than Sebastian that can drive the coach."

"Leave it to me!" Mey-Rin gave me a salute, "I'm sure I can find someone."

"Thanks, Mey-Rin," I gave her a hug, "You're the best. It's kind of nice to have a friend that's…for lack of a better word, normal. No royalty, no title, no pressure."

"Glad I could help," she said, "Now, Baldroy owes me a favor. I'm sure he'll drive the coach for us."

"I should probably check with Ciel to make sure it's ok that I take you along with me," I thought out loud, "You are kind of on his payroll."

"I'm sure the Master wouldn't mind…" Mey-Rin sang, "But checking wouldn't hurt either."

"You ask your favor. I'll talk to Ciel. Meet in the foyer in ten minutes."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Mey-Rin and I went our separate ways and I went into Ciel's study. I expected him to be sitting at his desk, but to no avail. Odd…I guess I'd have go to looking then. Not in the garden. Not in his room. Not in the library…At least I didn't think so. I got down on my knees in front of the secret door and knocked, "Ciel…? Ciel, are you down there?"

"Lumi…?" I heard a voice on the other side and the door opened, "What are you doing down here?"

"Looking for you," I crawled into the hidden nook that smelled of brandy, "Ciel…are you ok?"

"Fine…" he hiccupped, "Why?"

"Are you…" I looked into his glassed over eye, "Are you drunk?"

"I might be a bit…"

"It's barely one o'clock," I pointed out, "I'm not even that bad."

"I've been hiding from my responsibilities," Ciel slurred, "I thought I'd give that commoner's way of self medicating a try."

"What's got you in a drunken stupor this early in the day?" I worried.

"My profits have dropped," he told, "My fiancée's possibly insane. I have no time to myself anymore."

"Oh, Ciel…" I wrapped my arms around him, "What if I told you that I was about to go get your fiancée right now and take her off your hands for a while?"

"Really?" he gasped, "You mean it?"

"Yes," I cradled him, "And your maid, too, if you don't mind."

"Mey-Rin?" Ciel gave me a look, "What would you need Mey-Rin for?"

"Why not?" Ciel was drunk enough to do just about anything and believe everything. My subconscious told me that taking advantage of that was wrong, but maybe the fact that I've been around a demon too much had finally taken over.

"I suppose your right," Ciel put his head on my shoulder, "Go ahead. Hey! If you want, put any and all expenses of the day on the estate account."

"Thank you," I cradled him, "And just one more thing…"

"You're not taking my butler, too, are you?"

"No, actually," I shook my head, "I need you to keep this from Sebastian. He doesn't know that I'm going out. I'm doing some shopping for my wedding dress and it's bad luck for him to see."

"I won't tell," Ciel promised.

"And I need you to keep him busy," I begged, "Distract him as much as humanly possible."

"I can do that!" he chirped, "Lumi, while you're out, I need you to do me a favor."

"What is it?"

Ciel pushed his empty decanter toward me, "I'm all out of brandy…"

"I'll get you more," I giggled a little to myself, "If you end up developing cirrhosis, don't point fingers at me."

"Thank you, Lumi," he smiled up at me. I know he was drunk, but it was still nice to see. I understood why Lizzie loved it so much.

"You're welcome," I crawled out of the hole, "I should be back in a couple hours or so."

"I have to wait that long for more brandy?" Ciel whined.

"Gives you a chance to sober up."

I left my favorite drunk earl in his secret nook and met up with Mey-Rin in the foyer with a rather attractive gentleman following close behind. The more I thought about this, the more I got excited. But also a tad guilty. I was going behind Sebastian's back…But it'd be worth it in the end, right?

"Are you ready?" Mey-Rin chirped, possibly more excited than me.

"Yes, I am," I looked the man over, "I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting…"

"We haven't, Ms. Olivier," he bowed to me, "My name is Baldroy, ma'am, but you can call me Bard."

"You were the one that made my mother's dumplings…" I pieced it together, "Thank you…"

"As much as I'd love to be the one to take the credit," Bard said, taking a cigarette out of the pack, "I didn't. Sebastian told me I'd ruin them, so he made them himself."

I hid a slight smile, "And there's reason number two…"

"For what, ma'am?"

"Nothing," I shook it off, remembering Sebastian's threat to Mey-Rin, "We need to stop at the Midford estate as well to retrieve Lady Elizabeth. Mey-Rin, Ciel said that it's perfectly fine for you to accompany me."

"Yay!" Mey-Rin squealed, "Let's go!"

"Mey-Rin!" I scolded quietly, "Remember? This is supposed to be a secret. And Sebastian's hearing is ridiculously acute. We have to be quiet!"

"But won't Sebastian notice if there's a coach missing?" Bard asked.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," I said, "And if Sebastian gives you any problems about this, Bard, tell him to come talk to me. That should shut him up."

"Why?" Bard was a curious one…

"You'll see," I brushed him off, "Let's go before he finds out we're gone."

The three of us took our places in the coach and took off from the manor, heading for the Midford estate. My excitement started to turn to guilt. I didn't like going behind Sebastian's back…But this had to be done. If I would've told him I was leaving the manor today, he would've had to have tagged along and I can't go wedding dress shopping with him there! That's just silliness. I just hope Ciel can keep him occupied, so Sebastian doesn't go into his room and find me missing.

"Lumi!" Lizzie squeaked as soon as she got in the coach, "And Mey-Rin! What are we doing?"

"Hold on," I stuck my head out the window, "Bard…?"

"Yes, Mistress?" he chimed from the front.

"First of all," I reprimanded, "Don't call me Mistress. Only one person is allowed to call me that."

"My apologies."

"Now, everything you're about to hear," I told, "You never heard any of it."

"Yes, ma'am."

"One down…" I thought out loud, cringing the one left, "Lizzie…I don't want you to overreact to what I'm about to tell you."

"I won't," she promised.

"Ok," I braced myself, "I needed a couple of opinions for a wedding dress…"

"That's wonderful," Lizzie chirped, "Who's getting married?"

I showed her my ring, "I am."

"Lumi!" she sang, "Congratulations! I'm guessing Sebastian, right?"

"Of course," her excitement was contagious, "He proposed a couple weeks ago."

"Oh, this is fantastic!" Lizzie could hardly contain herself, "Have you set a date? Do you have any ideas?"

"A few," I played with my promise ring, just under my engagement ring, "Mey-Rin thinks they're silly, but I like them…"

"What were you thinking?" she asked.

"Dark colors," I explained, "Almost like a funeral…"

"But it's a wedding, Lumi!" Lizzie whined, "It's a happy occasion. Why would you want dark?"

"It's just what I want," I shrugged, "And knowing Sebastian and me, would we really have anything else?"

I couldn't wait. I really couldn't. I wanted all of the wedding planning done as soon as possible, so we could start our lives together. Eternity with Sebastian…Immortality…I wasn't sure how ready I'd be for that. I mean, I'd die…but I'd be reborn…? I was still having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I just needed something to distract me.

And what better distraction than big, beautiful, white dresses that I wasn't going to wear? Nearly impossible to find something in the area of bridal gowns in black. I could hear opposition from almost everyone in the back of my head. Lizzie saying it's ridiculous. Mey-Rin saying it's ridiculous. My father's voice even popped up! Don't do it, Lumi. You shouldn't be wearing black at a wedding.

Then, my father's voice turned into a different voice…One that was enough to stop me in mid-lacing. It melted through me, enveloping me like a warm blanket on a cold winter night. Like hot coffee down my throat on a fall morning.

"Ms. Olivier…" it spoke, "You're so beautiful. Such dark colors against your skin wouldn't do you any favors. Rich colors, yes, but black is too much for you. And it's not traditional…"

"When have we ever been traditional…?" I smiled to myself.

"What do you mean?" Lizzie wondered, giving me a look.

"Was that out loud…?" I got nervous, "Just thinking to myself."

"You heard him, didn't you?" Lizzie grinned, "You heard Sebastian in your head…"

"How could you tell…?"

"I did the same thing when I started dress shopping," she sat with me, "I heard Ciel saying if he liked it or not."

"So, I'm not going crazy?" I worried.

"No," Lizzie giggled, "You're fine. You just started planning, Lumi. Before you know it, it'll be the day…"

"You're not helping, Lizzie," I quivered.

"Don't worry about it so much, Lumi," Mey-Rin attempted to comfort me, "Once the planning is done, everything will fall into place and you and Sebastian will live happily ever after."

I liked thinking that way…Sebastian and me as a fairy tale. Kind of a darker fairy tale. Girl meets Earl. Girl falls for butler. Butler saves girl from having her uterus stolen. Butler takes care of girl. Butler falls for girl. Butler turns out to be a demon. Girl is surprisingly ok with it. Who hasn't heard that story a million times?