"So where do we go from here then?" Alois asked sitting down at the table across from Ciel.
"Sebastian's figuring that out now. This one's really got him puzzled." Ciel replied as he fed his children. Each one took their glass gratefully and offered their mother a hug in return.
"Thank you Mum, you're so nice. I think you're the nicest and best mum in the world. I'll give you a lot of hugs." Rowan said sitting his now empty glass down and latching onto Ciel.
"Thank you Rowan, that's very nice to say. Now when you've finished, it's bedtime and I don't want any arguments. Your father has a lot of work to do now and we shouldn't bother him." Ciel said sternly.
"Not even if we need goodnight hugs from you and daddy?"
"Not tonight princess. He has to figure out where we're going next, if we have no idea where the next stone is, it's not going to be helpful to your grandfather. We have to get back as soon as possible."
"Mama, do you think Grandfather is okay?" Evian asked, his voice full of concern for the king.
"Your grandmother's with him, I'm sure he's okay for now but we still have to find the stone."
"I can do it mommy, I can. I will find it and then we can take it back and make everything better again!" Rachel cried.
"Mommy, will we find them all for real?" Vincent asked fearfully.
"of course we will. We'll work together and Alois will help and Naveen will too. It'll be fine little ones."
"You are good at making us feel better Mama. We want to save Grandfather so he can be okay forever. We have to do it because if we do not do it, no one ever will and Grandfather will go away from us and- and -" Evian burst into tears and ran into Ciel's arms.
"It's alright Evian, we'll find them, your grandfather isn't going anywhere, your father and I won't let him." Ciel rubbed the child's back comfortingly.
"I am so afraid Mama, I will be extra good, I do not want him to go away from us and dad will be so sad and then we will cry forever and you will be sad because we are sad and-"
"Shh, I know you're worried but it'll be just fine,try to relax before you make yourself ill." Alois watched leaning into Naveen.
"If I ever have children, I hope I can be a good mother just like that." He said quietly. Naveen kissed his head.
"One day if you choose to have a demonling, you will without a doubt be an excellent mother."
"Do you think so?"
"Alois, you are capable of so much more than you realize." Naveen said.
"Cousin Naveen?" Rachel stood in front of them now tilting her head to one side.
"Yes Princess?" The older demon answered.
"Do you like Alois?"
"Yes, very much. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I love him." Rachel smiled showing her teeth.
"Are you going to marry him?" Both Alois and Naveen blushed.
"Well, I -I couldn't say, I mean -"
"Are you going to get a baby?"
"Rachel Ann, that's enough now." Ciel warned.
"Mommy, why did their faces get red, are they angry?" She walked back to her mother.
"No, you can't go asking those questions it's not nice, if they were going to get married or have a baby it would be for them to tell us not for us to ask."
"But getting a baby is a happy thing because they are tiny and nice to see and they are puffy."
"Puffy?"
"Oh yes, daddy said Uncle Mordred was a puffy baby."
"He didn't say puffy he said- that's not the point. It's time for bed." The children sighed but climbed into the large bed under the covers. Evian was still visibly upset by the situation.
Ciel kissed each child goodnight and tucked them in.
"Mama, will you stay please, I am so sad." Evian sniffled, Ciel lowered himself onto the edge of the bed.
"I'm not going anywhere Evian, try to sleep now."He said soothingly.
"I'll be right here until you fall asleep and then I'll check on your father."
"My Queen, I'm afraid that his majesty is not doing well in the least and as much as it might pain you, I must advise you to begin setting things in order. I'm so sorry." The healer said solemnly.
Ann wiped away her tears.
"How long will I have him?" Ann cast her gaze to the floor.
"It's very difficult to say my Queen, he is very weak and the illness is taking its toll on him rather quickly, however, he's holding his ground well and at the moment he seems unwilling to let himself go, that determination is encouraging."
"I understand, I thank you Healer, you are doing a great service to our family and I will see to it that you are rewarded for your trouble."
"It's no trouble, to service the King and Queen is my duty, I need to special thanks." The healer bowed his head. " I am dreadfully sorry that I can't do more for him."
"You mustn't be hard on yourself, I know you gave your best effort."Ann assured him gently.
"Was he awake?"
"Yes, when I left the room he was."
"Then I must go to him." She said entering the room.
Her mate was breathing shallowly and didn't notice her presence.
'Hurry my dears, for I fear that it may be too late ' she thought sitting down on the bed with a sigh. She hoped the king could hold on just a little bit longer.