Chapter 10: His Daughter, Visiting.

Hey, new chapter for you guys! It seems a little short but the next chapter is going to be an intense one, so please stay tuned for that! A little Ciel-centric, but I enjoyed including him more. Please let me know what you think!

It had been a week now since baby Arthur had been born, and the Phantomhive household was surprisingly calm. Visitors had come here and there, and then on Tuesday, Prince Soma and Agni had burst through the front doors of the mansion and had rushed upstairs to bombard Ciel with what seemed like millions of attempted hugs and "Little Ciel, all grown up and a father now!" comments from the eccentric prince and his faithful butler. Sebastian had been quick to calm them down with the offer of a relaxed afternoon of tea and cakes followed by dinner later that evening, lest Soma wake the small, blonde baby nestled soundly in the Earl's arms.

His offer had been gladly taken by the Indian prince and his butler, and as Prince Soma was chiding Ciel on how he was the person to turn to if he needed any advice on raising the baby.

"After all, I grew up surrounded by siblings back at home!" Soma said cheerfully, reclining on the plush chair on the far side of Ciel's study. Ciel had raised an eyebrow at him, before dropping his gaze down to the cooing baby in his arms. Sebastian entered the study, Elizabeth and January in tow. January offered a small smile to the Indian men in the room, having never seen them before. Elizabeth greeted the two men cheerfully, making her way over to Ciel.

"My two loves, snuggled together in the study!" Elizabeth spoke softly, her emerald eyes fixated on the cherub cradled in a fluffy blanket in his father's arms. Ciel left a gentle kiss on her cheek as she reached down for the baby, taking him into her own arms and holding Arthur against her chest.

Ciel had remembered being a teenager, and finding Elizabeth to be almost insufferable. Her loud, over the top behaviour had been off-putting to him, and dare he say, he would dread her visits whenever they were imminent. However, he was a man now; and he loved this woman with the depths of his heart. She had grown out of her childish pigtails and huge skirts and ruffles, she had matured into a beautiful woman who was intelligent, admirable and an excellent wife; and most certainly the envy of Ciel's business rivals. Their newborn son had turned Ciel's world entirely upside down, and he would never admit to anyone that he preferred it this way. Ciel understood now, why his parents had let him crawl into bed with them when there was a storm, why his mother had teared up when his asthma made him bedridden, and the pride his father had felt when he watched him play happily with Lizzie in the gardens. A father's love was like no other, and if there was one thing Ciel would sell his soul a second time for, it would be to protect the sleeping babe held tightly in his wife's arms.

My parents… An ache formed in Ciel's heart at the very thought of the pair. They would have loved Arthur so much, he was sure of it.

"Hey, Ciel! Who's this pretty lady you've been hiding from us?!" Soma's strong accent rang across the room and Ciel was snapped away from his deep thoughts. A scowl formed on Ciel's face as he glanced across the room, seeing the Indian prince standing at January's side, an arm draped across her small shoulders. A nervous smile was etched onto her face, despite her inability to relax. Elizabeth looked up from the bundle in her arms, noticing how awkward January looked. She giggled lightly as she approached the two.

"My apologies! I thought Ciel would have introduced you to each other!" Elizabeth stood parallel to the pair. "This is my cousin, Lady January Huxley! She is one of my closest friends, so she's been staying with us throughout my pregnancy." Soma grinned, pulling January into a strong hug.

"A cousin of Lizzie?! You will be my little cousin then too!"* January hugged him back, a confused look across her face. Surely this was indecent of a prince?

Indecent is relentlessly fucking your cousin's demon butler behind closed doors. She reminded herself, fighting the blush that dared to crawl up her neck at the very thought of her hell-sent lover.

"Beg my pardon sir, but you haven't told me who you are…" January said meekly, and Soma's eyes widened as he released her from his vice-like grip.

"I am so sorry, my lady! I am prince Soma Asman Kadar, the prince of Bengal!" He offered her a heroic stance, his hands on his hips and his chest puffed out. January smiled a genuine smile at him this time, influenced by the man's radiating positivity. She stuck her hand out, and he shook it happily.

"Lady January Grace Huxley. Pleased to meet you." Soma introduced his butler Agni, who had bowed to January graciously. Elizabeth watched on, her heart swollen with happiness. Ciel remained seated by his desk, a letter in his hand.

"I'm so happy everyone is getting along so well!" Elizabeth said happily, bouncing Arthur gently. For the continuation of the afternoon, everyone had decided to leave Ciel to continue with his work alone and they headed downstairs into the small sitting room at the back of the manor to enjoy afternoon tea together. The afternoon went by quickly, and soon enough they were all sat at the dining table - Ciel included - waiting for dinner to be served. Sebastian brought out everyone's meals, and the table was quiet until Soma spoke up.

"Ciel, what are you going to do to celebrate the birth of your son?" Soma inquired, his eyebrow raised and a spoonful of curry making its way towards his mouth. Ciel furrowed his brow, unsure what the prince was implying.

"What do you mean? Is there something I am supposed to do?" He glanced at Lizzie, whose arms were now free that the baby had been put to bed, and she looked just as confused as him. Soma registered that they were confused, and placed his spoon on the table.

"Well, you are a very important man Ciel, and so is your new family! Surely you will want to celebrate that?" He stated, and Lizzie's eyes sparkled at his words. She smiled and clapped her hands together, an idea striking her.

"A ball! We must throw a ball, Ciel!" She exclaimed gleefully, and Soma nodded his head in excited agreement. January lifted her head from her food, and immediately locked eyes with Sebastian, who had seemingly already been gazing at her from behind Ciel. A ball meant inviting family, and she had no intentions of seeing her family anytime sooner than she needed to.

"Hmm, I see." Ciel said plainly, holding his spoon loosely in his hand as he swirled it around in the curry on his plate. Sebastian watched him, a playful smirking watching him playing with his food much like he did when he was a child. Ciel suddenly averted his gaze to Lizzie, who was still smiling at Soma. "If you'd like to throw a ball, I shall arrange for it to happen next week." Ciel said, smiling slightly at her. Lizzie's face lit up with euphoria, and she clapped her hands together.

"Oh, thank you Ciel, this will be so wonderful!" She squealed. Lizzie turned her attention to her dark haired cousin, who was sat next to the Indian prince. "January, can I count on you to invite your family as soon as possible?" January inwardly sagged at her words. She forced a bright smile on her face, nodding her head happily. Lizzie grinned at her, before turning her attention to Sebastian.

"Sebastian, I need you to arrange for January to travel to her home to tell everyone the news. I'd like it arranged by tomorrow, if possible please." Sebastian turned to Ciel, who had remained quiet throughout the discussion. Ciel glanced up at him, and nodded in agreement with his wife.

"Arrange it for tomorrow morning Sebastian. You may escort the lady there and back." Ciel stated, spooning one more bite of curry into his mouth before standing from his seat and announcing his retirement for the night. Soma bid the Earl goodnight, before heading off to his guest room with Agni. Lizzie followed soon after, and it was just Sebastian and January.

"Well, it looks like it's just us again for an hour or so tomorrow." Sebastian purred into her ear, leaning down into the crook of her neck and placing a gentle kiss there. January smirked at him as his hand slid down past her collar bone and to her breast, his gloved hand squeezing it gently.

"Sebastian, one of the servants could walk in any minute now, you can always meet me later…" She started, and he pulled away from her chuckling lightly. As he straightened up, Mey-Rin came into the room and began to collect the plates from the table. January stood up, bidding both of them goodnight before making her way back to her room.

I don't know why I bid him goodnight, I know he'll be seeing me much later. She thought to herself a she made her way quietly down the long hall, eventually reaching her room. Opening the door quickly and shutting it behind her with a soft click, she kicked off her shoes and sat down at the desk on the far side of her room.

I have to see him tomorrow… a scowl formed on her face as she thought of her vile brother. January let out a sigh of frustration before getting up and throwing herself onto the bed, frustration coursing through her veins.

Do it for Lizzie. She'd be distraught if she knew what happened between Cassius and you. She'd think you a whore. January chided herself, frustration hanging heavily in the air as she lay on her bed, awaiting her demon lover to come and make her forget all her worries.

Do it for Lizzie.