I'm back with part two! And Happy 135th Birhtday to Ciel! xD Thanks BloodlyCherryBlossom for reviewing! :D
Edit: It says updated the 13th, but where I am it's after midnight, so it's the 14th. Just sayin.
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"Well, great, now everyone's here." Ciel rolled his eyes. "Someone want to fetch Lau? And Prince Soma? Who else am I forgetting?"
"Actually…" Sebastian cocked his head to the side.
"Sebastian…" Ciel growled in a threatening tone.
"Everyone in the mansion and Lady Elizabeth continually wish for your happiness, so I invited some friends to help you celebrate the holidays…it's best to be with company during the holidays, right, bocchan?" Sebastian smiled.
"We just celebrated my birthday—you invited these idiots! And of all people to celebrate Christmas with, you invited the UNDERTAKER!" Ciel exploded. The Undertaker let out an odd snort at the mention of his name.
"Well, it started out with just Lady Elizabeth…" Sebastian tried to recall his process. "And then I noticed some paperwork of some business you had completed with Lau, speaking of which, where is he? And then I figured I'd invite Agni and Prince Soma, because Soma would throw a fit if he weren't invited…but, they aren't here yet either…" Sebastian puzzled.
"JUST INVITE THE BLOODY QUEEN OF ENGLAND TOO WHY DON'T YOU?" Ciel roared. Sebastian inhaled, about to reply, but Ciel cut him off. "Okay, please, don't! Just how'd these idiots get here?" Ciel hissed.
"Word gets out, Earl." Alois laughed.
"Who did you hear this from?" Ciel was strangling the hem of his jacket as he shot daggers with his eyes at Alois.
"Hmm…it was…Viscount Druitt, if I remember." Alois recalled, nonchalantly.
"What?" Ciel exclaimed, his eyes grew with anger.
"We're here!" Prince Soma burst into the room. Ciel nearly burst screaming at the two. Soma looked frightened of the angered Earl. "What is going on? I thought this was a holiday party!" Soma exclaimed, who looked festive and dressed for the holidays.
"You—I guess you were an invited guest, unlike the rest of these people. Where did you hear about it from?" Ciel swung his finger towards Grell. He gulped, pointing his finger towards the Undertaker. "Okay, where'd you hear about it, Undertaker?" Ciel demanded.
"The Viscount loves to gossip…eheheeehee!" The Undertaker giggled.
"Why on earth was the Viscount visiting you?" Ciel interrogated.
"I get lonely during the holidays, too you know. Nobody thinks of the poor Undertaker during the holidays…though, people don't stop dying…" the Undertaker chuckled. "The Viscount felt the need to inform me of your party."
"So, where did the Viscount—?"
"Happy Christmas, everyone!" Druitt burst through the door. Lau and Ran Mao followed behind him.
"VISCOUNT!" Ciel exclaimed.
"Ah!" the Visvount screamed. "I didn't realize I was so late, I'm so sorry! Don't punish me!" Lau and Ran Mao slipped past the argument and took a seat to watch the show.
"I'm not angry because you're late!" Ciel shouted. "I'm angry because you're a bloody party crasher! Where'd you hear of this party?"
"Ahaha," Druitt laughed nervously, "I-It was L-Lady Elizabeth!"
"What?" Ciel groaned, turning to his fiancée, then back to the Viscount. "If you're only pushing blame, it isn't going to—"
"Aha!" Elizabeth nervously giggled. Ciel slowly turned back to Elizabeth. "That's right! A couple weeks ago you visited our manor and I told you when you asked about Ciel!" Elizabeth sighed. "I'm sorry," Elizabeth apologized to Ciel.
"Well, I suppose nothing can be done now I suppose…" Ciel tried to relax the tension in his shoulders that had been building up and sighed.
"Aw, bocchan can't be angry at his betrothed now, can he?" Bard patted his young master on the head.
"Shut up. You still look ridiculous." Ciel growled.
"Not any more," Bard shed his antler headdress and placed it on Ciel's head.
"Ohoho, I didn't know this was a costume party!" the Viscount exclaimed eyeing Sebatian's Saint Nicholas outfit, accompanied by Claude's reindeer costume, Meirin and Finny's elf outfits and now Ciel's new antler's that decorated his head.
"It isn't!" Ciel groaned taking the antlers off. "I'm just subjected to this stupidity!" he waved the antlers in the air.
"Aw, Ciel! You were so cute! Put them back on!" Elizabeth squealed.
"No," Ciel glared at her. "Anyway, weren't we supposed to decorate the tree?" Ciel changed the subject. "Now that all these idiots showed up, they can help."
"Bocchan, they probably don't appreciate being called—" Sebastian started.
"If they show up to my manor I can call them what I want!" Ciel hissed.
"Yes, my Lord." Sebastian nodded his head.
"Now, go get those decorations!" Ciel demanded of the servants. The snapped to attention and hurried out of the room. Meirin clumsily tripped on her way out. "Sebastian, go with them and make sure the decorations make it all back in one piece." Ciel glanced at Meirin, rubbing his temples.
"Of course," Sebastian nodded and swept out of the room after them. Ciel sighed. All this anger probably wasn't good for his health. Alois had picked up the antler head decoration, put it on and pranced around the room pulling Claude around with him. Ciel messaged his temples and Elizabeth rested a hand on his shoulder.
"This wasn't exactly the holiday you were expecting?" Elizabeth smiled.
"Ahah, no." Ciel returned the smile, taking her hand and sitting on the couch. She followed suit and sat with him on the sofa. "I actually hadn't been thinking of the holidays at all, until everyone showed up insisting on celebrating them with me." Ciel admitted.
"I had said something to you at your birthday about them!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "And you had to have been considering the business for your company during these months…" Elizabeth gave him a sly look. Ciel sighed, and nodded. She knew him too well. "It's okay to take a break during the holidays and spend some time with us," Elizabeth squeezed his hand.
"Yeah, Ciel. Spend time with us. You know how much I miss you during the rest of the year." Alois grabbed his face with a tender caress from behind the coach. Ciel growled, whipping around to face Alois.
"I'M TEN SECONDS AWAY FROM KICKING YOU OUT." Ciel shouted, which happened to also be right into Elizabeth's ears.
"Ciel…" Elizabeth covered her ears.
"But I want to help decorate your tree." Alois pouted putting his face next to Ciel's ear. Ciel squeezed his eyes shut and put his hands over Elizabeth's which still covered her ears before screaming, "CLAUDE FAUSTUS, CONTROL YOUR MASTER."
"A-Ah, yes…" Claude awkwardly grabbed Alois' shoulder.
"Don't you dare listen to him!" Alois slapped his butler's hand off of his shoulder. "He isn't your master, I am!"
The door opened again as Sebastian gracefully sailed through, followed by the rest of the servants.
"Thank God," Ciel sighed as he stood. Elizabeth jumped up after him.
"I'll set the decorations here, bocchan." Sebastian placed the boxes next to the tree. Elizabeth excitedly opened the first box.
"Careful! There are breakable things in those boxes, Lizzie!" Ciel sighed.
"Oh, settle down. You don't think I'm delicate enough?" Lizzie teased him. Ciel blushed and folded his arms. She shifted through the box pulling out ribbons and bows. Then she went to the next box, and opened it revealing candles and holders to place in the tree. Elizabeth turned to the next box.
"What, exactly are you looking for?" Ciel asked as everyone watched the girl set to work on the boxes.
"Ornaments!" Elizabeth pulled the box lid away on the third one, which revealed beautiful blue and silver baubles and glass ornaments.
"What are in these boxes over here?" Alois lifted up the lid to peek.
"More ornaments?" Prince Soma also couldn't help his curiosity.
"Don't break things!" Ciel commanded, with an extremely paranoid look on his face.
"We aren't!" Alois and Soma both exclaimed.
"It looks as if these ornaments are from your company, am I right Earl?" Lau came over to take a look at the ornaments. He fingered an ornament and spotted the Funtom brand the toy ornament.
"Yes, they are limited edition holiday products. It's not as if my company has to stop making money because it's the holidays." Ciel snapped at his guests. "And of course I want a sample of my own product," Ciel grabbed the ornament out of Lau's hand.
"So when's dinner, Earl?" Lau asked the irritated boy.
"You missed it, I apologize. Now, instead of thinking about food, can you help decorate the tree or are Lizzie and I going to have to do all the work?" Ciel snapped at Lau.
"The Earl, doing work!" Lau laughed to himself. "No, go ahead, by all means. Knock yourself out."
"Don't worry, Ciel! We'll help you! Will you teach us about this ceremony of decorating a tree? In India we have nothing like the sort. We celebrate Pancha Ganapati—"
"Bless you!" Elizabeth squeaked.
"No, no…it's a holiday we have in India, Pancha Ganapati—"
"Allergies? Sebastian, are you hiding cats in here? I told you I don't want a cat for the holidays, I'm allergic! And you can't have them either! So get rid of them!" Ciel scolded his butler.
"Yes…my Lord." Sebastian muttered miserably, as he left the room.
"Sorry about that. As you were saying?" Ciel asked.
"I'm not sneezing! It's a festival, in India that we celebrate in December!" Soma exclaimed. "We give gifts and eat lots of food and stuff! But the tree tradition is new to me…"
"Sebastian, I'm sure you know the history. Inform Prince Soma and Agni of the Christmas tree tradition." Ciel ordered Sebastian as he organized the decorations with Elizabeth. Ciel froze when he didn't hear a response.
"You just sent him to go get rid of cats that apparently have no link to Prince Soma's nonexistent allergies." Lau smirked.
"Well, he's always hiding them anyway! It's a damn wonder why I'm always miserable!" Ciel snapped. Sebastian returned with a depressed look moments later.
"You needed me?" Sebastian asked.
"Do you know the history of the Christmas Tree? Explain it to Soma." Ciel ordered.
"I'm sure you've heard enough to explain to Prince Soma, but I suppose it can't be helped." Sebastian sighed, entering his tutor mode. "I believe it started some couple hundred years ago in Germany, though it was only recently made popular by our Queen Victoria and the tradition spread through Great Britain, Europe and even to America, earlier this century."
"It's just a tree…" Soma shrugged as he looked through the boxes more.
"Prince Soma, do not be rude!" Agni hissed. "Don't disrespect their traditions."
"It's a symbol," Ciel sighed, unraveling the ribbon around the tree. "Sebastian, if you will," Ciel indicated to the top portion of the tree that he could not reach. Sebastian smiled at his young master as he finished wrapping the ribbon around the tree.
"Now are you all going to help decorate or what?" Ciel invited his guests. The room buzzed as everyone came to the tree to grab what ornaments they could to help with.
"Sebaschan~ let me use your back so I can reach higher!" Grell tried to latch onto Sebastian.
"There are plenty of places you can reach," Sebastian indicated.
"Fine! But promise me that I get to put the star on top and you get to hold me up!" Grell swooned. Sebastian sighed as he ignored Grell's command.
"Ciel," Elizabeth called after hanging up an ornament. Ciel looked up from his work.
"I got you a Christmas present…I want you to open it now." Elizabeth turned to Paula who had been observing the entire evening like a theatrical production. "Did you bring Ciel's gift?"
"Ah, yes, milady!" Paula nodded, proffering a small box from the folds of her dress.
"It's not another 'cute' ring, or something ridiculous is it?" Ciel asked as he took it from her.
"Ciel~…just open it please!" Elizabeth sighed. Ciel smirked as he pulled the bow off and opened the box to reveal two new eye patches. He looked up at her questioningly.
"This one is new because I never see you take that one off…I figure it must get dirty…and you'll need a new one…and this one…" Elizabeth pulled out the one underneath it. "Is for the holidays!" It was a red plaid patch with white lace around the edge.
"Lizzie…" Ciel growled.
"Can you try it on? For me?" Elizabeth asked. "I'll help you—"
"That's quite alright. You don't need too…bocchan also got you a gift. Why don't you open it while I fix this adorable eye patch on him?" Sebastian asked.
"You got me a gift?" Elizabeth squealed in delight.
"Er…" Ciel glanced at Sebastian.
"This thing looks ridiculous."
"It doesn't look bad. Not bad, for your first time."
"What am I going to do with it anyway…? Hrm…maybe I'll just give it to Lizzie for Christmas. She'll think it was 'cute' or something."
"It isn't just something from the company, is it?" Elizabeth asked, imitating Ciel's condescending voice.
"No, no! I made it just for you!" Ciel smiled as he turned to Sebastian. He shut his eyes as Sebastian untied his old eye patch. He shivered a little at Sebastian's touch as he tied the other eye patch on.
"A homemade gift?" Elizabeth became more excited.
"There was nothing good at Harrods when I went shopping this year, so…" Ciel told her. Sebastian smirked at his lie. She pulled the paper out of the bag and laughed. Ciel turned around to see her reaction. In her hands she held a small stuffed figure, which held small resemblance to Ciel, though a resemblance nonetheless.
"Wh-What is this?" she shook with laughter.
"Do you think it's ridiculous looking?" Ciel sighed.
"Ah! Your eye patch!" Elizabeth squealed lightly touching his face under his eye patch. Ciel smiled taking her hand, which held the doll.
"It was my first attempt at sewing, so I apologize for the poor quality. But this way you can always have a little bit of me with you." Ciel closed her hand around the doll.
"Thank you, Ciel!" Elizabeth wrapped her hands around his neck.
"Whoops!" Sebastian dove to grab the glass ornament that fell from the Trancy's hand. "Ugh, Sebastian!" Alois shouted wobbling a little as he kneeled on Claude's shoulders. Ciel turned around with a glare.
"I believe you dropped this, Master Trancy." Sebastian offered the ornament back to Alois.
"Am I not giving you enough attention, Alois?" Ciel sneered.
"Yeah, stop ignoring us and spend time with your guests, Ciel!" Soma exclaimed.
"Stop it! He's sharing a beautiful romantic moment with his fiancée!" Druitt exclaimed. He then went off on his usual poetic rants about Ciel and Elizabeth. Ciel grimaced trying to ignore the Viscount.
"Come on, let's finish up decorating the tree…" Ciel sighed. "Then, Sebastian, can we have tea and dessert up here?"
"Of course, I'll go make preparations." Sebastian bowed before exiting the drawing room. Ciel inspected the tree as the decorations were being completed.
"Where do you keep the matches, Ciel? I want to light the candles on the tree." Alois asked excitedly.
"I don't think that's a good idea…" Ciel nervously stuttered at the thought of Alois in control of fire.
"You better let a mature man, handle something like this. Where are these fire sticks?" Soma asked, eagerly wanting to help the Earl.
"No…" Ciel rubbed his temples.
"Dear God, can't leave you children alone or you want to start playing with fire, don't you?" Bard stepped forward. "Allow me."
"Ugh, I can hardly trust you with fire…" Ciel sighed.
"It's only natural for a servant of Phantomhive to do something as simple as this…isn't that what Sebastian always says?" Bard smirked as he pulled out a matchbox from a pocket within his chef's outfit. Bard began to carefully light the candles on the tree. As he lit the tree the guests stood quietly in awe. Sebastian quietly snuck back into the room and as Bard finished Sebastian announced tea. Sebastian carefully counted the amount of teacups and saucers along with the amount of dessert to serve. Everyone took a seat, barely managing to fit on the sofas, even though some of the servants and the butlers didn't take tea and stood.
"This is delicious!" Elizabeth sang as she took a bit into the holiday ginger cake that Sebastian had prepared.
"This is the perfect way to end the evening! The delicious taste of ginger mixed with the smooth icing! The way the taste mixes in my mouth—I'm a gingerbread man in a gingerbread house!" Viscount exclaimed.
"What the hell are you on…" Ciel muttered.
"I'm pretty sure that he's trying to—" Elizabeth started.
"Don't even start…" Ciel sighed.
"What's a gingerbread house?" Soma asked.
"We'll make one tomorrow." Ciel nonchalantly promised.
"Really?" Soma got excited.
"No." Ciel cleaned off his plate. "Sebastian, it's late. Have you prepared rooms for all of our guests?"
"There was a slight increase in our expected number of guests but I have been able to prepare the correct number of rooms." Sebastian bowed.
"CAN I SHARE YOUR ROOM, SEBAS-CHAN?" Grell asked loudly as he sprang from his seat.
"No," Sebastian replied shortly.
"He probably put you in the furthest room from his room." Ciel smirked at the shinigami.
"Why you snot nosed little brat!" Grell pulled at Ciel's face.
"Please refrain from injuring the young master." Sebastian sighed.
"You're in love with him aren't you? Are you cheating on me?" Grell sobbed.
"There was never anything to cheat, now please, I must escort which ever guests are ready to retire to their rooms." Sebastian sighed, irritably.
"No need to escort me! I know where my room is!" Prince Soma boasted his knowledge of the mansion.
"Is anyone else ready to retire yet?" Sebastian offered. Lau, Ran Mao, the Viscount, Grell, the Undertaker and Elizabeth stood. Paula followed her Lady.
"Sorry, Ciel, I'm exhausted." Elizabeth sighed.
"No, you're right. You need your sleep. I'll probably be retiring as soon as Sebastian shows everyone to their rooms." Ciel explained with a small smile.
"Good night, Ciel."
"Good night, Lizzie."
"Bard, Meirin and Finny, can you help with taking our guests to their rooms?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes, sir!" they all agreed and broke into groups to guide their guests.
Ciel decided to wait until Sebastian had finished with his guests to ask him to prepare him for bed, because he was exhausted. He was so tired he almost didn't realize Alois and his butler were still in the room, now spread out on the sofa next to the armchair he was sitting in.
"Thanks for letting me stay, Ciel." Alois thanked him. Ciel snapped open his droopy eyes. A real thank you from the Trancy?
"Oh, yeah…your welcome. It is the holidays…" Ciel replied, repeating what he had heard the entire evening.
"But you have friends to celebrate with. Real friends who like you." Alois commented with jealously.
"Well, maybe if you didn't act so insane and possessive all the time I'd let you stay more often." Ciel shrugged.
"Really?" Alois perked up.
"Don't act like it's a good thing. It's not a problem you fix over night, Alois." Ciel sighed messaging his temples.
"But you'd like me then?" Alois asked, excitedly.
"Like isn't exactly the word I was looking for…" Ciel rolled his eyes. Alois jumped off the couch and seized Ciel around his neck, nearly straddling the boy.
"Alois!" Ciel uncomfortably shifted. Ciel sighed as he awkwardly patted the boy on the head as Alois clutched Ciel.
"I didn't realize I was interrupting…" Sebastian broke the awkward silence.
"You weren't. Show these idiots to their rooms, or whatever you're going to do with him." Ciel motioned to Claude.
"Of course," Sebastian bowed.
"Goodnight, Ciel!" Alois sang.
"Goodnight, Alois…" Ciel muttered, settling back into his armchair. The next thing he realized Sebastian was carrying him. He stirred a little bit realizing he had fallen asleep.
"I didn't mean to disturb you, but I will have to dress you for bed bocchan." Sebastian muttered quietly. Ciel clutched Sebastians coat and snuggled closer against his butler not wanting to wake up again. "Today was a long day, wasn't it?" Sebastian smiled at the young master in his arms. When they arrived at Ciel's room Sebastian rested Ciel on his bed. He carefully removed Ciel's clothes so as not to disturb his sleep. First his boots and stockings, then his trousers…Ciel really did not offer any help at all. Not as if he usually did, but if he were conscious it usually wasn't as difficult as his present unconscious state. Finally, he had been tousled enough that by the time Sebastian was buttoning up his nightshirt he was awake enough to crawl to his pillows and collapse as Sebastian pulled the comforter around him.
"Goodnight, bocchan." Sebastian smiled resting a hand on the side of Ciel's face before straightening up and turning to leave.
"Goodnight, Sebastian." Ciel muttered.
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Meh, I've got enough to continue into another chapther, but I think I'll end it here for now. I love the bit at the end with Sebastian and Ciel :3
Ugh, I had to do my bit of research for the Hindu holidays, and Christmas trees/decorations in the late 1800s, yes they seriously put candles in trees. It doesn't seem very safe to me. I hope the Undertaker wasn't terribly OOC, of course, what's IC for him? On that note I hope everyone wasn't totally OOC, I hate trying to get characters right the first time I try writing something. Just something I'll get used to I guess.
Also, I edited chapter one because my roommate informed me that caribou and reindeer are different. I had always thought they were the same...but apparently not.
Uhm, I thought there was something else but maybe not...
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ^^ Thanks for reviewing, favoriting and reading! :D