Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow~

The first legitimate snowfall of the winter for little ol' me :3 I love the snow. There's so many fun weapons you can create out of it ;)

beebistar: It was a typo actually. Thanks for pointing it out :D And sadly, there will be no Alois :( I couldn't find a way to work him into the story with everything that was going on and the fact that Ciel isn't around to have his soul be fought over by Claude and Sebby. I loved that little blonde sociopath too… I feel like he and Sam would have been BFFs- conspiring against Claude and causing chaos… that, or she would wring his neck :P

This chapter's longer than usual… though I personally think that it's kind of boring :P Lots and lots of talking.

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"I have a terrible dilemma…"

"Do tell~"

Sam sighed and rested her chin in the palm of her hand.

"I named Claude after a story my brother told me… what am I supposed to name these demons?"

Sebastian sighed, the Undertaker cackled, and Claude stayed dead silent as usual.

"Sam, I doubt that they will listen to any name you give them. Human names don't tend to appeal to demons."

"Says you," she scoffed, turning to face the grey haired reaper standing at the other end of the room. She jabbed a thumb in Sebastian's direction. "He's a perfect example of changing a name. His name used to be Malphas. I liked Sebastian Michaelis much better."

"I can see why you prefer it. It's much more pleasant to say~"

"I know, right?"

Sebastian sighed, eyebrow twitching lightly.

"Sam, my name is still Malphas. You simply call me 'Sebastian' because you wish to."

"So? I wish to call the demons from the fifth layer all sorts of nifty names too."

"Sam."

"You are not winning this argument. I am naming them, and that's final."

"The argument wasn't whether or not you could name them. It was over the fact that they would not respond to the names you gave to them."

"…I'm still naming them."

Sebastian sighed.

"You're impossible."

"So I've been told," Sam grinned, resting her head on his shoulder. "But you still love me~"

"So I've been told."

Sam frowned sourly at him as he smirked down at her. She glared up at him for a few moments before turning back to face the Undertaker.

"When are the lovely little demons going to show up-"

There was a knock on the door and Sam sighed.

"I'll get it… Jeesh. People have really good timing lately."

Sam stood up, stretching idly for a moment, before walking to the door. She pulled it open and stared out into the street. She blinked once. Twice.

"Uhm… Hello?"

Someone cleared their throat in annoyance and Sam glanced down. Again, she blinked slowly. Her lips trembled for a moment before she burst out laughing.

"This is why I hate humans."

"I know, right?"

"They're so damn obnoxious."

Sam wiped a tear from her eye and glanced back down at the three multicolored toads sitting at the door.

"You three just made my life. I'm serious."

If toads could roll their eyes, than these amphibians certainly were doing just that. They hopped inside the building, each hitting the ground with a squishy sounding thwack. Sam turned to Sebastian with an amused grin.

"What's with demons and small animals? I mean, come on. Spiders and toads? What are you? A hamster?"

"First of all," one of the toads-the faded, yellow one-croaked, "spiders are arachnids, dumb ass, not animals."

Sam knelt down.

"One, Arachnids are still animals. Two, if you're trying to insult me, it's not working."

"Would you rather I appear in my true form of a monstrous creature sent straight from the depths of Hell?" the toad spat.

"Sure. Why not?"

"I'd rip you apart like a pig at the slaughter, you stupid brat," it hissed.

"Bring it on, toadie," Sam grinned.

Sebastian sighed and stepped forward, moving in between them. He sent Sam a light glare of reprimand.

"Sam, it'd be best not to infuriate them. You need their approval, remember?"

"Right. Sorry."

Sebastian turned to the three toads. Their heads dipped lightly in what Sam guessed was respect. He nodded curtly at them and they looked back up at him. Sam glared down at the toad who had been mouthing off at her.Two seconds ago, it was spitting fire and threatening to gut me. Now, it's sucking up. Sebastian must be a pretty powerful demon.

"Alecto. Megaera. Tisiphone."

"Hello, Malphas," the largest toad-a dark purple, wart covered, blob-greeted.

"At the moment, my name is Sebastian."

"And shall be forever~" Sam chimed in. The yellow toad snorted but ducked her head when Sebastian's firm gaze flickered in her direction. The strawberry blonde focused on the purple toad. "So… what is it exactly that you guys are testing me on?"

"Nothing really," Sebastian answered for them. "They simply have to approve of you."

"Well, that's stupid."

"Tell me about it," the yellow one scowled. "We had to come all this way just to give you a freaking stamp of approval." She turned to her two companions. "Why couldn't she have just come to us like all the others? What makes her so damn special?" she fumed.

"Calm down, Alecto," the purple toad sighed. "Malphas….Sebastian requested it personally."

Alecto huffed and turned to the other toad, a green blob who had yet to say a word.

"Well, let's get this over with. What do you think of this brat, Megaera?"

"My name is Sam," the strawberry blonde growled.

"Like I give a fucking sh…" Alecto trailed off, backing away slightly under Sebastian's frustrated glare.

"She is my mate, Alecto. I suggest you learn to keep your insults to a minimum."

"Yes. Please accept my apology," she murmured bowing her head.

"You didn't apologize at all! All you did was grovel to him!" Sam fumed. She brushed off Sebastian's annoyed look and scowled icily down at the toad. "Are all the freaking demons in Hell going to treat me like this?"

"Miss?"

Sam's glare wavered and she glanced over at the green toad, Megaera.

"Yes?"

"Please excuse my sister. She's extremely temperamental towards everyone, not just you. It's in her nature," Megaera explained softly. Sam bit her lip and let out a heavy sigh.

"Are there other demons… like her in that sense, then?"

"Yes," Tisiphone answered. "And even if they are not, you should still be prepared for some form of resentment from many."

"Because I was born human? Is it taboo or something?" Sam frowned.

"Not exactly," the purple toad elaborated. "There have been many cases where a human had been selected as a demon's soul mate, believe me, there are more than I dare to count… It's simply that Sebastian is of a higher rank than any before him that have fallen into that predicament. If you'd found one another when he was perhaps a few hundred years younger, there would be hardly any problem."

Sam deflated slightly.

"Oh…"

The toad sighed.

"Think of it simply as a person of very low class in your world falling in love with and marrying a lord. It's frowned upon by many members of the upper-class, but there are those who will approve and those who will simply not care."

"Okay. That makes sense."

"Can we just approve of her and leave, already?" Alecto scowled. Sam's eyebrow twitched upward in annoyance.

"Oh, please do. Either way, I'll see you in Hell."

"Please. Do you know how many times I've heard that?" the demoness scoffed. "You better hope that you don't see me in Hell. I'd gladly kick your ass all the way back up to the first layer."

"And I'd gladly sick Sebastian on you."

Alecto winced and looked honestly terrified. Sam frowned lightly and turned to Sebastian.

"Are you really that scary?"

He shrugged.

Sam sighed and turned back to the toads.

"Well… uh… let the approving… begin?" she smiled, gesturing awkwardly with her hand.

"I approve," Megaera smiled… well… as much as a toad could smiled.

"I approve," Alecto ground out bitterly.

"I do not approve."

Alecto turned on her sister with wide eyes.

"You've got to be kidding me!" she hissed. "You approve of everyone. Why do you have to turn down the most freaking annoying one?"

The purple toad looked almost smug.

"You know the law. If two out of three accept, then within the next five hours the being wishing to attain access to layers below the fifth will have another chance to receive approval from the one who denied them. I would like to get to know her a bit better in that time."

"You have got to be kidding me," Alecto blanched. "You turned her down so that you could talk to her?"

"Yes."

Sam glanced between the arguing toads, confused. She turned to Sebastian.

"What's going on?" she whispered.

"It appears that you've attracted Tisiphone's interest," he smirked.

"…Is that a good thing?"

"Yes."

"Ah. Okay then." She paused. "You know… I don't think that I'll name these demons. I like the names they came with."

Sebastian rolled his eyes.

Sam sat back down on the coffin she'd been perched on earlier and continued to watch the female demons argue. Well… Alecto was doing all the arguing. Tisiphone only stared calmly back at her.

Sebastian sat down next to her after a moment and Sam rested against him, starting to feel bored. He wrapped an arm lightly around her waist and she tilted her head to peer up at him.

"How long will this go on for?"

"Alecto is the demon of unceasing anger, so it could be quite a while."

"Great," she drawled.

Sebastian chuckled lightly and rested his chin on her shoulder, burying his nose into her hair.

"They remind me of us a bit."

"Hmm? How?"

"The way that they argue. You would always scream at me until you no longer could..."

"…and you would do nothing but look down at me with that stupid smirk."

"Exactly."

Sam laughed. She looked over to the corner of the room where the Undertaker and Claude had been standing when the three demons had appeared. She frowned. The pair was nowhere in sight. She glanced back at Sebastian.

"Where are the Undertaker and Mister Stick Up His Ass?"

"Claude has no reason to be here for this and I doubt he would stay in the same room with us on his own accord. He's probably off hunting. As for the Undertaker… who knows?"

Sam sighed and turned back to the three toads.

Alecto was still spouting off.

The strawberry blonde frowned.

"Okay. This is getting a bit ridiculous."

"Why not break up the argument then, Sam?" he suggested.

"How would I do that? It's not like I could just walk over, pick Alecto up, and throw her to the other end of the room."

Sebastian smirked and Sam's brow furrowed.

"I can?"

His smirk widened and he turned to peer at the demonesses.

"Why not?"

"Uh… because she would slaughter me? Murder me where I stood?"

"Perhaps."

Sam sighed and removed Sebastian's arm from her waist. She stood and stretched.

"Here goes nothing."

She walked over to the three and cleared her throat. Alecto continued to screech. Sam frowned and cleared her throat again.

"Uhm… excuse me?"

Megaera and Tisiphone turned to peer up at her but Alecto simply continued to ignore her. Sam twitched, eyes narrowing. She felt anger claw at her gut. If Alecto would so easily submit to Sebastian, than she should listen to Sam as well. She was his mate! She disserved to receive some ounce of respect!

"HEY! Shut up, already!"

Alecto closed her mouth with a snap and turned on Sam with an infuriated snarl.

"What?" she hissed.

"…Uhm…" Sam bit her lip. "I actually didn't think this part out… I just wanted to get you to stop arguing. It's obnoxious."

Alecto scowled.

"I see why Zepar dislikes you."

"Zepar?" Sam frowned.

"Claude," Sebastian filled in.

"Ah. Claude. Well, I don't like him that much either, so that's fine by me."

Tisiphone chuckled.

"Either way, Sam. Ignoring my sister's reaction to you, do you mind if I talk to you for a bit? I'll gladly grant you access to the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth layers, but I'd like to get to know you a bit first."

"Oh, sure. Why not? I've never had a conversation with a female demon before… but… can you turn into a person? It's feels really weird to sit and talk with a toad," Sam laughed awkwardly, rubbing her arm.

"Of course." Tisiphone glanced at her sisters. "We don't have the chance to visit the surface often. Feel free to enjoy yourselves. Hunt a bit." She focused on Alecto. "Burn off some steam."

The two nodded and, with a final sour look from Alecto, vanished into thin air.

Sam turned to Sebastian.

"You have to teach me how to do that."

He chuckled and stood.

"I will," he promised. "For now, I'll head back to our room to pack and hire a carriage to take us to your parents for our," he smirked, "engagement party."

Sam gulped.

"Don't remind me."

"I'm still anxious to see you in your dress."

"Again… don't remind me."

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"So… what's it like in Hell?"

"What's it like on Earth?"

Sam's brow furrowed as Tisiphone ran a hand through her freshly grown, long, black hair. The demoness had gladly shed her toad form for that of a busty, human, female. If not for the fact that her eyes shone an ominous purple in the dim light of the Undertaker's shop, Sam would have easily mistaken her for a completely regular human.

"What do you mean?"

"My point is that describing life on Earth is as strange for you as describing Hell is for me. You can't sum up all of Earth in a few sentences just as you cannot do the same for Hell."

"I see…" Sam frowned, resting her chin in the palms of her hands. "So… what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Just general things I suppose," she smiled. "How did you meet Sebastian?"

"I was in a town called Houndsworth and Sebastian was there with Ciel… uhm… That's who he was contracted to," Sam explained. "He almost ran me over actually."

Tisiphone chuckled.

"Interesting…" The demoness leaned forward and Sam dead panned when she saw her nose twitch.

"Are you… sniffing me?"

"You haven't mated yet," Tisiphone murmured, looking shocked. Sam's mouth hung open lightly as she blushed beat red.

"Wh-What does that matter? And how the heck do you know that?" she spluttered.

"His scent is all over you," she sighed, "yet it's not entirely permanent. Malphas was always possessive of anything that belonged to him… souls and various material treasures alike… I'm simply shocked that he hasn't mated you yet."

"Well," Sam flushed, wringing her hands awkwardly in her lap, "it's because I don't… want to…yet."

Tisiphone arched an eyebrow in question.

"Oh? Why not? He's very attractive, isn't he?"

"Well, yes, he is," Sam admitted, face heating even more. "But that's not the only thing that should matter when it comes to…"

"To having sex?" the demoness questioned. Sam nodded, her entire face on fire. "You love him, don't you?"

"Uhm… yes. Very much so."

"He loves you?"

"I'm pretty sure… Yes. He does."

"Then why wait?" Tisiphone questioned. She paused for a moment, looking almost thoughtful. "I'm terribly sorry if this conversation is awkward for you. I'm just curious about how your mind works. A demon would never even bother to question an intimate relationship. It's hard for me to grasp why you're so hesitant."

Sam remained silent for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip in thought.

"Well… do you have a soul mate?"

"Every demon has a soul mate."

"Uhm… okay then. Have you found your soul mate yet?"

"Yes. His name is Cithaeron."

"Ah. Okay. Uhm… wouldn't want a more close-knit relationship? One that doesn't revolve solely around sex?"

"We are very close and our relationship does not revolve around sex," she frowned. "I don't quite understand what you're trying to prove…"

Sam let out a heavy sigh.

"Forget it. It's impossible to explain."

"Even to yourself?"

Sam arched an eyebrow.

"What?"

"If it's impossible to explain to yourself, than there is obviously something flawed with that way of thinking. If you can explain it to yourself, than you should be able to explain it me as well."

Sam flushed.

"I did try to explain it. I want a to have a strong relationship that isn't based off of the time we spend in bed."

"Well, you obviously do have a very strong relationship. Why not move ahead and strengthen it? I'm sure Sebastian would be ecstatic if you agreed."

Sam sighed, depleted.

"I'm beginning to think that he set this whole thing up."

"Perhaps," Tisiphone grinned.

The strawberry blonde glanced down at the floor awkwardly for a few moments before looking back up at he purple eyes demoness.

"Why are you so nice to me? Well, maybe nice isn't the best word… Accepting. Alecto acted so hostile towards me, yet you seem fine with the fact that I was born a human."

Tisiphone smiled.

"My brother."

"Your brother?" Sam repeated.

"Yes. His name is Amphilochus. His soul mate was a human. Her name was Helen. He found her when he was young, so there wasn't much dispute over it."

"But, if your brother's soul mate was a human, wouldn't Alecto have accepted humans by now?" Sam asked.

Tisiphone sighed.

"Many demons have soul mates that are born human. After they turn into demons themselves, even they begin to forgot the species they were born into. Alecto was conceived after Helen arrived in Hell. She simply doesn't believe that her brother could mate to a human, so she only sees Helen as another demon."

"Oh…" Sam frowned.

"You shouldn't worry about it too much though. You will be accepted by almost every demon in time."

"…Even by Sebastian's family?" Sam asked hopefully.

"I've never personally met anyone in Sebastian's family other than himself, so I can't be certain."

The strawberry blonde pouted lightly.

"I'll make them like me."

Tisiphone laughed.

"I'm sure you will."

"I'm not going to let his family look down on him because they don't approve of me," she stated coldly.

"Very considerate of you… though you love Sebastian, so it's to be expected that you'd care for him," the demoness smiled. "…and on the topic of your love for him-"

"If you give me another lecture on my lack of a sex life, I swear-"

Tisiphone cut her off with an amused chuckle.

"Just think on it. He'd appreciate it more than you can possibly understand."

Sam sighed in defeat and looked awkwardly to the side, cheeks stained pink.

"I'll think about it."

Tisiphone patted her lightly on the head.

"Good girl… and remember this. If you should agree, you'll enjoy yourself just as much as him."

Sam scowled.

"Just approve me and get the Hell out of here already."

Tisiphone grinned.

"I approve."

The demoness vanished in a swirl of black and purple and Sam sighed, dropping back down on the coffin.

"My, my~ That was an interesting conversation~"

"UNDERTAKER?"

The grey haired reaper cackled, sticking his head out of one of the stray coffins lying around the room.

"I decided to take a small nap earlier only to wake to your lovely discussion~"

"Oh, Hell…"

"I think that your dearest Sebastian should hear about it, hmm? Don't you agree~"

"NO!" she shrieked.

"Hear about what, Sam?"

The strawberry blonde swiveled on her heel to see the demon standing behind her, one midnight black eyebrow arched in amusement.

"N-Nothing," she spluttered.

Sebastian grinned and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face into her neck.

"The carriage is ready for us. We should leave."

"Y-Yeah…" She felt his smirk pressed against her skin.

After a moment, he stepped back and took her hand. He turned to acknowledge the Undertaker with a curt nod of his head before leading Sam outside. The driver and carriage were waiting right outside the door.

Sebastian helped her step up into the compartment and closed the door after them.

Sam let out a heavy sigh and flopped back against the plush interior.

"What did you talk about?"

Sam frowned and turned to face the opposite side of the carriage, trying to hide her flaming face.

"Nothing important."

"Ah."

The two remained silent for a few moments before Sebastian cleared his throat lightly to get her attention. Sam glanced back at him and arched an eyebrow in question.

"What?"

"I'm glad to know that you'll 'think about it,'" he smirked.

Her eyes widened in horror.

"GAH!"

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And another chapter is done at last! Next week comes the dreaded engagement party. I'm super pumped to write it :3 Now, I am off to build a snow man.

See you all next week if midterms don't kill me first~