"There is too much water Mama, how can there be so much?" Evian asked looking over the railing curiously.
"It's the ocean, It's made of water." Ciel explained.
"Will we be there soon?" Rachel tugged on Ciel's jacket.
"Yes Rachel, we aren't that far now, your father said we should be there by morning."
"Dad is smart, he will know, right mommy?"
"Yes, he's been there before, he would know more about it than I would."
"No one knows more about anything than you mum, you always know where everything is and how to find it, you even know how to make us feel better when we are sad!" Rowan said grabbing onto his mother's hand and looking up at him.
"Thank you Rowan." The young demon smiled.
"Mama?" Evian took hold of his free hand and he felt the twins wrap their arms around his legs.
"You are the best mother ever, we love you very much!" They said in unison.
"I love all of you too. You four are the most wonderful children any mother could have. You should learn to listen when you're told to do something but I understand why you did it."
"Then you will not punish us when we get home?" Rowan asked hopefully.
"You're still going to be in trouble when we get home, but that doesn't mean your father and I love you any less." The children sighed.
A woman passed behind them holding a baby, the infant began to cry catching the attention of the Michaelis children.
"Look mommy, a baby!" Rachel said happily.
"It's little, why does it cry?"
"Does it not like its mommy?" The children wondered out loud.
"I'm sure the baby loves her, they cry for different reasons, so their family knows they need something. All babies do that."
"can we get a baby mommy, I'll help take care of her." Rachel pleaded.
"Absolutely not."
"Please, we will be nice and play with him."
"No Vincent, it will be a girl baby, all babies are, right mommy?"
"No, where did you hear that?"
"All the babies are wearing dresses, the boys on this boat are big like Rowan." Ciel sighed, it was going to be a very long journey.
"Mum?"
"What Rowan?"
"Where do you get babies from?"
"Right now we have other things to worry about." Ciel said hoping to avoid the question.
"Like making Grandfather better?" Vincent suggested.
"Yes, he's very ill."
"I will help him feel better mommy, when I do not feel good, you give me hugs and I am happy. I will give him lots of hugs and then it will all be fine." Rachel offered.
"I wish it was that easy."
"Cousin Ciel, might I speak with you?" Naveen called out. Ciel saw that he was carrying a book in his hands.
"What is it?"
"I have been reading about the people in Egypt, I believe that the stone's location, if it exists would be inside with the pharaoh, grave robbers were common and they would want to protect something that powerful, only a king would possess it, there could be a place inside with the mummy that-"
"But...mommy isn't inside, this is mommy." Vincent pointed to Ciel.
"No young Prince, I am talking about a mummy, not your mother."
"But mommy is a mommy!"
"A mummy is different, it is someone who lived a very long time ago but is no longer living and was wrapped in bandages." Naveen explained patiently.
"Was the mummy hurt, their children must be so sad!"
"No, The mummy is not-"
"Maybe they should give their mommy hugs and they will feel better!" Rachel said.
"Children?"
"Yes?" Four small voices responded.
"Let's go find your father, I'm sure he would love to explain to you what a mummy is."
"But we have you, we know what a mommy-"
"Mummy, It's a mummy, your father will explain when we find him."
"Will dad play?" Evian asked.
"You'll have to ask him.
"I still think we should get a baby mommy."
"We're not getting one. Four is quite enough." Ciel said sternly.
"Dad would let us get one." Vincent frowned.
"Well then let your father 'get it for you, but until then, no."
"When we arrive, we will have no choice but to-"
"Dad!" Four sets of arms wrapped around Sebastian.
"My dear children, you saw me not an hour ago and yet you act as if I have been away from you for a number of years." He hugged each of them.
"Children have little to no sense of time, five minutes is too long. Shut up Sebastian." Ciel glared at his mate having noticed the smirk on his face.
"I haven't said a word dearest."
"You were going to, I know you."
"I was merely thinking that it sounds similar to-"
"Finish that comment and you'll be swimming the rest of the way, and when we get back, you will find yourself spending the following month with Grell, twenty-four hours a day." The smirk vanished from the demon's face.
"You couldn't possibly be so cruel to the father of your children."
"Would you like to test that theory?"
"I'm sure it would bother you much more to be away from me, you will call for me by the end of the first day and tell me how much you miss me." Sebastian said confidently.
"Will I, or are you just saying that because within five minutes of being away, you'll be kneeling outside our door asking me to let you come back because you can't live without me and you miss the children?" Sebastian bowed his head in defeat. The Royal guards chuckled softly.
"It is true my Ciel, I could not stand to be separated from you for that long, you are my everything and my children are more precious to me than life itself."
"That's so sweet!" Alois cooed.
"Yes, but it won't work, I'm immune to such charm." Ciel said. The children looked on with curiosity. Sebastian raised his eyes to look into Ciel's.
"I-I love you Ciel, please forgive my attempt at yet another joke at your expense, I am only trying to ease my own mind, you know how my father's health is weighing on me."
"I know, It's difficult, it would be for anyone, and I know you love me."
'And you've nothing to say in return?"
"Yes, Naveen wants to talk to you, and you have you explain you our little ones about a mummy, they seem to be a bit confused and so I told them that you would be happy to help them understand."
"Nothing else?"
"Yes, one more thing thing, I'm going back to our cabin since you have the children."
The guard looked at each other in shock, Ciel couldn't possibly be so cold at a time like this, could he?
"Ciel, you are breaking my heart dear one." Sebastian sighed.
"Yes, well that's what happens when you-" Ciel found himself being held closely.
"Perhaps you did not realize that I am pour my heart out to you." Sebastian turned his mate so that they were gazing into each other's eyes.
"No, I did."
"Come now, you cannot seriously be so... Cold hearted. I could lose my father, don't take my mate from me as well. Say it."
"No." Ciel said sternly, his eyes beginning to glow red, challenging his mate.
"I see, well then you,leave me no choice, you brought this on yourself Ciel, I cannot be held responsible for my actions." He picked Ciel up and nuzzled him softly. The former Earl allowed a smile to form.
"Alright fine."
"Will you say it?"
"Why should I?"
"Because if you refuse, I have ways of making you talk." Ciel rolled his eyes.
"Children, your mother is not being very nice, what shall we do with him?" Sebastian kneeled down still holding his mate. Evian giggled as placed a hand on his mother's head.
"Nice mama, you have to be nice." His actions were soon followed by his siblings, much to the confusion of the guard.
"Alright." Ciel laughed.
"I will say it again, I love you Ciel."
"I love you too... I suppose."
"I don't understand what just happened" Bard said.
"You know how the young master enjoys his games he does." Mey-Rin snickered.
"I win this one" Sebastian said triumphantly.
"No, you cheated, you used our children. That isn't fair."
"Is that it, or are you upset because I know how to play as well?" Rachel laughed.
"Mommy and Dad are funny!"
"You two are really...strange." Alois shook his head.
"Awe, Ciel wanted to make Sebastian feel better!" Luca cried out happily.
"It worked perfectly, thank you my love, a distraction is just what I needed."
"That changes things then, if it worked it means I win."
"So it would seem. I propose a draw."
"Just this once, because of the circumstance." Ciel agreed.
"Brother, what's that mean?" Luca asked.
"It means both Ciel and Sebastian win."
"Well, now that we've taken care of that, Naveen should tell you what he's found." Ciel said he waited for Sebastian to release him but he didn't.
"Go on Naveen." Sebastian encouraged.
"Well, I have been reading and to shorten the report, when we get there, our best chance to find it is probably buried inside the coffin with the mummy. They have hiding places everywhere, something that powerful would be placed where only the royal family could get it."
"Thank you Naveen, we will start there, with any luck, we shall find it."
"We will, we have a good group here, your father's going to be fine." Ciel said nuzzling Sebastian comfortingly.
"Of course, I will remain hopeful. We are very dedicated, it can only lead us to victory."
"Do not be sad Dad, we love you and so does mommy." Vincent said.
"I love all of you as well, everything will turn out for the best, even if it doesn't seem that way at times."
Ann sobbed quitely in the library, Sebastian had sent the three servants who had been charged with caring for the children, to help her in any way they could be useful.
"Excuse me my Queen, I thought you would like to know that the young Princess is being cared for and Tanaka is overseeing the remaining chores, they have asked that I express to you that they hope for the king's fast return to health and should you need anything-"
"Cynna, I- I have no idea what to do, my dear Sebastian is doing his best I know, I fear that maybe it is not possible. If they are just stories, if I sent them after objects that do not exist-"
"My Queen, you have done the right thing. Master Sebastian loves both of you dearly. You must not lose hope for the King, not when Master Sebastian and Master Ciel are on the case, they will not stop until they have completed the task. If they are out there, my masters will find them."
"Yes, you are right Cynna, together they can achieve many things, and the guards they have chosen seem very capable. I just hope they can find them."
"Even if the stones are legend and nothing more, my masters will find a way to save him, I would bet my life on it."