A/N - I'm sorry this took so fucking long but it's here now. Do you know what day it is? Huh? It's the one YEAR anniversary of this fic! Holy hell how did that happen? Please enjoy this chapter.

"Is this where you got kidnapped?"

Sebastian took a careful look around in the Victorian-Gothic boutique. By the look of the price tags, it was obvious that only someone who was nearly as rich as Ciel Phantomhive could afford to shop here on a regular basis.

Ciel nodded in response, browsing through the racks. "Yup, that happened right here. Did you know that Alois can take the form of a dog? Isn't that interesting?"

"Why do you think a canine? Did Alois like them a lot?" Sebastian asked in response, wondering what Ciel's take on the matter was. It didn't seem like the Alois of the past to become such an animal, but that boy was unpredictable more than anything.

He received a shrug in return. "You knew him better than I did, right? Like, you knew how he was in the past and all. But I guess I had more contact with him than, say, a butler would." Ciel reached up and knocked a jacket off a hook, his height preventing him from getting it in a convenient way. "Alois was alway energetic and bouncy. He got attached easily and he had a hard time of letting people go. I guess he's like a dog in that manner. Friendly and such. But that was only one side of him - the other half being underhanded and devious. That isn't like a dog at all."

"I would have guessed a bird or something of the like. A dog… just doesn't seem to fit."

Ciel shrugged again. "He must have had his reasons for it. That's something that we'll never really know."

He disappeared into the back, his loyalty to the store allowing him free range throughout the space. Ciel returned with several more items, simply holding them up to his chest with a satisfied nod.

Sebastian watched as Ciel purchased the items, making small chat with the clerk (his name tag said Violet). The CEO was promoting Funtom's new line of clothing, although it hardly needed emphasis to further its success. He followed Ciel out of the store and offered to take his bags. There was a slight nod and then most of the weight was transferred to him.

He didn't mind - it was nostalgic to carry all those bags. To glance behind and see that slight smile that only appeared when the two of them were together was truly wonderful. A blessing, nearly, and Sebastian knew that from the past and the present.

Either way, he was beginning to feel indecisive, which was a bad thing. Sebastian couldn't afford to hesitate when it came to making the decision, or else all would fall apart. All of this had taken such a long time to put in motion. Waiting for the earl's soul to be reborn. Molding him. Making sure he was safe. Taking care of the damned company. Silently supervising lady Elizabeth's children.

The children.

Sebastian pondered that for a bit, the implications sinking in. He had forgotten about that. The last few days he had let Ciel take him, enjoying the CEO's body too much to regain his former position.

In fact, he had forgotten his entire goal of doing such a thing. Now, that it had crossed his mind, he wondered if he had succeeded.

A thing like that, with any other creature, would take a long time. But he was a demon and that had a large effect on the process. If he had been successful in those days, then the results would begin to show.

Today or tomorrow, he guessed.

And it was fine, Sebastian decided. It gave him just a little more time with the present Ciel. But it did press into his time for the resurrection of the earl Phantomhive. He snickered at that, receiving a sideways glance from Ciel. He would have to do the operation sooner rather than later, and that was fine.

It never worked.

He had tried it in the past with the earl, just once and for a different purpose, and it had nearly broke him to see that tiny frail thing that was part of both of them. It couldn't survive. Not enough genes or compatibility between the two… species.

Either way, he had different plans for this one and it would serve his purposes, provided that it had worked.

It had to happen, again. No matter how much temporary heartbreak it caused, it would lead to a much better conclusion if events went his way.

Ciel sighed. Sebastian was so deep in thought right now, which seemed to be a common occurrence these days. He had asked him a question three times now and had gotten the same nonsensical answer of a nod and a slight 'hm'. Something that, to be frank, didn't help him at all.

He gave another huff of air, wondering if kicking the demon would get his attention. They were walking down the mall, towards the other side (again), and he was more than ready to go home - his feet tired and sore. Ciel glowered at the tall, dark-haired man. It was hard to be mad at him, though, with that slight (cute) smirk on his face, and his tousled hair. Charming, to say the least, but still… annoying.

His legs hurt. His arms hurt from a few bags that he had insisted on carrying himself. And his head hurt too, for whatever reason. Ciel spotted a bench and rushed towards it, sitting down without hesitation. He let out a big sigh and noting that the demon hadn't stopped, lifted his leg into the air and gave a mighty kick to his ass with his heeled boot.

Immediately, Sebastian snapped out of his reverie and glowered at the offending person. Ciel shrugged.

"You weren't paying attention to me."

Sebastian sighed and sat down next to the other male, setting some of the bags down so he could slip an arm around him. "My apologies. I got lost in my thoughts."

Ciel leaned into the embrace, snuggling up against Sebastian's chest. "You sure did. This is the most talking we've done since I was in that boutique."

He winced. "I'm really sorry."

Ciel rolled his eyes. "It's fine. You probably have lots of things to think about, being a demon and all. Anyway, I'm tired and I want to go home. Let's head back to the car."

"Alright." Sebastian nodded. "Do you have any other plans for the day?"

"Not really."

"I'll carry you if you want."

Ciel flushed. "No, thanks. That's a little embarrassing and besides, I have too many bags for you to hold and to carry me at the same time."

"I could do it," grumbled Sebastian, "but if you insist."

He leaned over and tilted his head and pressed his lips to Ciel's. Through his hand, pressed to the smaller male's back, Sebastian could feel his muscles relax as Ciel leaned into the kiss, tiny hands clutching at his shirt. Lips pressed together hard, Sebastian unable to help himself from nipping at the smaller ones.

Ciel opened his eyes, noticing that they were attracting some attention. He pulled away slowly, a disappointed noise coming from Sebastian. The demon's eyes glimmered for a moment before his hand moved slowly from his back.

"Shall we go?"

Ciel nodded and they began to gather up the bags. Sebastian smiled as he helped Ciel to his feet, brushing some lint off his chest. They had parked at the opposite end of the mall and as inconvenient and tiring as it was, Ciel still enjoyed walking with Sebastian, his hand surrounded by the much larger one. Again, he marveled at how perfectly his fingers fit in between Sebastian's, the demon's long, slender fingers nearly reaching his wrist.

He shivered momentarily and looked up to find that they had made it to the car. He raised an eyebrow at Sebastian.

"Did you teleport us?"

Sebastian chuckled. "Guilty as charged. You seem rather tired and I thought it would be best to get you to the car as soon as possible. Would you like to snuggle when we get home?"

"Yes, please." Ciel nodded. "I'm going to put away all my purchases as well."

"Alright." Sebastian took his bags and began to load them into the trunk. "Are you replacing some of the things you lost in the fire?"

"Uh huh." Ciel nodded. "I know I have a lot of clothes and such, but I still lost some things that I want back."

The demon shut the trunk, opening the passenger door for Ciel before he slid into the driver's seat. Ciel leaned against the window, watching the scenery fly by as Sebastian drove. He desperately wanted to make the pun that Sebastian drove like a demon but he really didn't. Sebastian was a careful but quick driver, crimson eyes darting from side to side as he watched for zig-zagging drivers and pedestrians. Every so often, his eyes would slit and glow slightly pink as he jerked the wheel to avoid something. Those were the only times he had to brace himself and when he did, Sebastian would smirk over at him with a little flash of his fangs. He'd look back to the road and snicker slightly, waiting for another opportunity to bother Ciel.

"Is that necessary?" He asked, after the third time of bracing himself and hanging onto the handle for dear life.

"Well, we are in New York, love."

"That doesn't mean you have to follow the stereotype though..."

Ciel gave a sigh of relief as they finally parked and exited the car, gathering all the bags together. He noticed Sebastian frown - likely the demon still wished to carry him. They entered the lobby and waited for an elevator. Ciel waved at Mandy (who was on the phone) and was rewarded with a smile. They entered the elevator - it was an empty one to his relief.

Ciel collapsed onto a couch with a loud groan. Sebastian set his bags down and smirked.

"Tired?"

"Very much so."

He squirmed slightly as Sebastian picked him up (the demon's desire to hold the younger male being fulfilled) and carried him into the bedroom. Ciel didn't protest, wrapping his arms about Sebastian's neck because he knew, despite the fact that Sebastian was a demon, it was more comfortable for the both of them.

Ciel sighed as Sebastian set him down on the bed, crawling under the sheets besides him. The older man settled into the sheets with a louder sigh of relief than usual,which was interesting. Ciel ignored that, settling on top of the older (really old, in fact) man as if he were some sort of cat, his weight settled firmly on the demon's torso. He smiled down at him, resting his chin on his hand.

He didn't expect the loud grunt and the unhappy squirming, a reaction that made him frown.

"What's wrong?" He received a smile that was most certainly faked or at least forced.

"You're on my stomach."

So? Ciel didn't see why that was a problem, but he moved upwards per Sebastian's request. The demon let out a short breath and Ciel gave him a curious look.

"Are you alright?"

Sebastian nodded. "Of course. Nothing's wrong."

The demon's words were reassuring enough for Ciel and he turned his mind to other matters - for one, admiring how handsome Sebastian really was. He was enticing, entrancing, and otherworldly (which he really was) with those crimson eyes and pitch-black hair and that seemingly-permanent smirk that was always on those lips.

Ciel knew it was all fake, of course. Sebastian wasn't a real human and so his appearance had been modified to be ideal. He wondered, sometimes, what his real form was.

Disgusting.

Unclean.

Abomination.

Well, the angel had said that and her opinion would be different but Ciel still wondered. Either way, it was the obvious bits he enjoyed. The aforementioned eyes, of course, but he also loved Sebastian's hands.

He took one of them in his own, admiring the smooth white skin and the slender fingers with those perfectly manicured black nails. To any human, they looked like they were simply painted. Ciel knew better.

But what he liked the most, and he knew that Sebastian felt the same way about his eye, was the contract mark. The sign of their ties to each other that stretched across time itself. The sigil of Sebastian's power and the mark of a demon. To a human, Ciel was sure that it just looked like an eccentric tattoo. Again, it was more than that.

Sebastian noticed the small grin pass over Ciel's face as his stomach turned uncomfortably.

"What is it?"

"You're just so handsome."

Sebastian grinned. "Thank you."

Ciel rolled his eyes. "It was an honest complement and your inflated ego and stupid grin makes it silly."

"Sorry."

He sighed at the insincere complement. "Hey, you're really squirmy tonight. Are you feeling okay?"

"Well…" No, no he wasn't feeling okay and it wasn't even morning. Sebastian pushed Ciel off of him, suddenly, running towards the bathroom for the second time in a matter of weeks, the door slamming violently behind him.

Ciel stared after the demon, not inclined to chase after him this time. "What the fuck?"

A/N - Okay so there's that. Sorry it's not super long or anything. I just started college so everything's hectic. But I'm on a schedule now, so updates will be more frequent. Hopefully.

In the meantime, stay tuned for other short fics and stuff!

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