"Do you really have to go mama?" Evian asked in tears as Ciel cuddled the seven year old.
"I'm afraid so. You'll have Tanaka, and Finny and Cynna to care for you."
"I like them, but they aren't you or dad."
"I know, I'm so sorry my precious little ones, I love all four of you so much." Ciel gave each child a hug.
"We love you too, we'll miss you!" The child cried.
"I'll miss you too. "
"Mommy, you won't forget-"
"To come home to us?" Vincent finished his sister's thought.
"Absolutelt not. I could never forget something like that. You four are very precious to us. Don't you ever forget that." Sebastian appeared in the doorway as Ciel gave each child a second hug, this one slightly tighter.
"Couldn't we go too Mum, please so we don't have to be sad?" Rowan pleaded, his deep red eyes staring into Ciel's.
"No Rowan, not this time, maybe when you're all a little older."
"How old?" Vincent asked curiously.
"Older than your grandfather, father and Tanaka's ages added together." Vincent crossed his arms over his chest angrily.
"We won't ever get to go." He said.
"Ciel, we are nearly ready." Sebastian called reluctantly.
"Alright, I'm coming." The children's eyes filled with fresh tears as Sebastian made his way over to them, he knelt on the floor.
"My children, I expect each of you to behave yourselves, just as your grandfather is counting on your mother and myself, we must count on you to act as you would if we were here."
"Yes, we promise." The unison answer came.
"I mean it Rachel and Vincent, no tricks, no frightening Finny, no terrorizing Cynna and this castle had better still be standing when we return or there shall be very severe punishments, I will not tolerate such behavior."
"Yes dad." The twins said bowing their heads. Sebastian smiled and held out his arms.
"Come here all of you, it is time for us to go." All four Michaelis children allowed their father to embrace them.
"I love you my little ones, very much. We will be back as soon as possible."
"We love you too. Hurry back." Rowan requested.
"We will." Sebastian stood up and sighed. He would miss his children. Just before leaving, Sebastian and Ciel stopped in front of the three stationed in the house.
"Thank you, I cannot tell you how much it means to us to know they will be cared for."
"Come home to us safely masters" Cynna said bowing his head.
"We shall, I have every confidence in the guard."
"We'll miss you, be careful." Finny waved as Sebastian and Ciel left. Rachel turned to her brothers.
"Don't cry sister dear, we are here for you." Rowan comforted.
"Come young masters and young mistress, we will have nap time and then we shall all visit the play room and have a good time." Cynna said ushering them toward the stairs. Vincent opened his mouth to protest but Evian shook his head.
"We should listen to Cynna, mama and dad will not be happy if we don't." He said with a sideways glance . The twins exchanged glances as well and Rowan understood. They allowed the butler and Finny to tuck them in once they got to the room.
"I know you miss your parents, but think of how much fun we'll have together, we can play in the courtyard and maybe we could even-" Cynna put his hand on the younger servant.
"Easy Finny. We must not overdo it. They will never get to sleep if we fill their heads with such busy thoughts."
"Right. Sweet dreams little masters and mistress." Finny smiled as they left the children to sleep.
Once Evian was sure they were gone, he sat up and threw off the covers.
"Now what Brother?" Rowan asked with great interest.
"Well, last time mama went off on his own, he needed help coming back, I think he will need us there, even if he doesn't know it."
"Oh no, we couldn't, Cynna and Finny will catch us and we will be in trouble."
"Don't forget Tanaka." Vincent reminded her.
"Tanaka just drinks his tea, he won't notice. They might need our help."
"Evian, dad is there, he would look after mum." Rowan reasoned.
"He is right, mommy will be safe."
"That's what we thought before remember, anyway, grandfather needs us. It could take more than six people to do this. It's going to be fine-"
"Until mum and dad find us and send us back, I don't want to know what dad will do."
"It's okay, we won't let them see us until we are too far away to come back. We have to hurry, they might still be outside, sometimes it takes a while for everyone to put everything on there."
"If we get caught-" Rachel began fearfully.
"Don't worry, mama will not let dad do anything to us." Evian promised.
"Are you sure Evian?" Rowan grabbed his favorite stuffed bear.
"We can't take much, no sister, only one." Rachel was attempting to take an harmful of toys with her.
"Vincent, are you ready?" The younger demon nodded holding up his tiger. Bitter Rabbit was already in Evian's hand.
"I think se have the important things, oh we better take jackets, Mama always tells us to."
"Yes, we should get one, it might be cold in the adventure, we do not want to be cold." Rachel confirmed. Each child grabbed a jacket and made their way silently through the upstairs corridor and to the steps before sneaking passed Finny who was preparing to do the yard work.
"At this rate we aren't going to get anywhere." Ciel complained as he watched Alois attempt to tie the luggage to the carriage only to slip off and land in Naveen's arms.
"Sorry." Alois said not looking into Naveen's eyes.
"No, you shouldn't be sorry, I'm just happy I could help." Alois blushed as Naveen set him down.
"Everything's up there." The blonde boy told them.
"With all the time we wasted out here, I could have spent more time with my children." Ciel growled.
"Well, we are ready now, everyone inside the carriages please." Sebastian instructed as he climbed in next to Ciel. Within minutes, they were on their way.
"Do you think they're real?" Naveen asked.
"I haven't a clue, no I don't."
"No idea, Sebastian and the young master asked us to be here, 's good enough for me." Bard pulled a cigarette from his pocket and placed it in his mouth.
"Damn" he exclaimed in frustration.
"What's wrong?" Mey-Rin asked.
"No matches."
Sebastian stared out the window, his thoughts were with his parents.
"If they exist, we'll find them, I promise." Ciel leaned forward and placed his hand on top of his Mate's.
"I hope so, I don't know what I would do if father-"
"It's best not to think that now. Let's just focus on our job, It's going to be a long journey by ship, it will give us time to look over the rest of the papers Ann gave us. It's going to be alright."
"Of course, you are with me, how can it not be alright, with you at my side, we will prevail."