A/N: So, I was reading over chp.7 of ABNAM, and I noticed I messed up and said Ciel was about to go on summer break at one point. I planned it so they moved in the manor in mid to late September. The beginning of this chapter starts sometime in October and ends in November.

Thanks to Raverlynn for beta-ing.

XxxxxxX

Despite what I initially thought, it took a bit of time for my master to become himself again. When the boy first put on the ring, I expected for my master to take him over completely. Instead, it seemed as though they were merging together. My first master's thoughts and personality seemed to be taking over, while the boy kept his own memories. I could not wait for the memories of his previous life to return to him. I felt as though I had waited long enough for my master.

To my joy, he became much more compliant when I tried to assist him. He no longer made me turn around when he dressed himself. Instead, he now allowed me the simple duty of changing his clothes. The first time I attempted it, I thought for sure that he would push me away, but he stood still and waited patiently. I suppressed a smile. It was nice to be useful again.

I knew that my old master was getting stronger when the boy actually allowed me to bathe him. He let me groom him as if I had been dong it all his life. With my help, he looked tidier than ever.

The formal, if not somewhat cold, personality of my old master began to surface. He no longer smiled as much. He spent more time to himself, mostly only talking to me. I could tell he still cared for his parents as any child would, but he no longer showed them a great deal of affection, as if such displays were beneath him.

Fortunately, he seemed to have ceased communication with those two vagrants he called "friends". Although, they seemed to not react well to this. My master told me what had occurred one day after he returned from school. He walked into his room with a small huff, dumping his bag and jacket by the door. He kicked his shoes off by the bed and flopped backwards onto it.

"Is something troubling you, young master?" I asked as I went to place his belongings in their proper place.

"I had a...confrontation of sorts, today," he groaned.

"What happened, sir?" I inquired as I placed his bag on the ottoman by his bed and went to retrieve his shoes.

"Those two idiots approached me after school was over," he said. "They wanted to know why I have been 'avoiding' them."

"And what did you say?" I asked. This was a good chance to see how much of my master had taken over in this matter.

"I simply told them that I no longer required their company. They didn't take very well to that. Alois actually had the gall to lay hands on me."

"Lay hands on you, sir?" I echoed. That brat had actually dared to harm my master. Oh, he was lucky he was nowhere near the grounds. "Do you want retribution for this?"

"No, I'd rather just forget about it," he replied. "Besides, can you even leave the grounds? I don't think he would come back here anytime soon."

"You know, I've never actually tried to leave here before," I answered. "I do not know if I'm capable of leaving."

"Hm," was all he said in reply. I supposed that this conversation was over.

XxxxxxxX

The next month passed by pleasantly. The young master let me care for him whenever it was possible. His parents always left him to his own business in the morning, so I was always able to prepare him breakfast, and sometimes lunch. He no longer thanked me, but as my master he should not be expected to. I could tell he enjoyed my cooking, though.

He would allow me to help him with his school work if he needed it. I was even able to persuade him to let me tutor him in areas such as history, Latin, and music. I myself always excelled in those areas, and I was a strict but efficient teacher.

Life seemed to return to how it once was. It was simply me and my master, going about our business as usual. But that changed on day in November. The young master's extended family was planning a vacation, and they wanted to celebrate his birthday early. I suppose it was kind of them to want to celebrate, but I also thought it was arrogant to move his birthday party up just to suit their own needs. But my master did not seem to mind this too much. I wondered if this was a common occurrence.

He did, however, seem to mind the fact that they were celebrating at all. He voiced his complaints to me as I dressed him in a nice gray suit with bits of brown on the front of the jacket and ends of the sleeves.

"I don't even want to celebrate," he grumbled. "Ever since we visited that room, the thought of my birthday just makes me think of this place burning down. And I am not in the mood to deal with my aunt and cousins."

"Now, now, young master, don't fret," I soothed. This was a scene I was quite familiar with. My master used to make it every year. "They are your family. It won't be that bad."

"Probably," he sighed. "But my cousins can be a bit...overbearing. I'm afraid that I might lose my temper."

"I'm sure that you can stay composed, my lord," I said with a smile. "Just remember, they are guests in your home." The Phantomhives were always known for their hospitality, after all.

"I suppose you're right," he said as he put on his ring. I smiled softly when I saw that. I believed that the more he wore the ring, the more my master would come out. It also helped that the boy wore it quite well.

I followed him as he went downstairs to greet his family. My eyes widened in surprise when he was tackled by a young lady in a bright pink dress. She looked...familiar. Ah! It didn't take me long to remember. She greatly resembled my master's fiancée, Lady Elizabeth. I supposed it was only natural that she should have descendants that resembled her.

Happy early birthday, Ciel!" she squealed. I had most definitely not missed that voice.

"Hello, Elizabeth," he greeted quietly.

"Oh, what's with this 'Elizabeth' stuff?" she whined. "You always call me Lizzie! And what's with that suit? It's not cute at all. It's very drab!"

"I rather like this suit," he said, making a point of staying polite and dignified.

These descendants were also as inappropriate as her, as her mother pointed out. "Elizabeth!" she snapped. "Don't insult him like that! Especially not at his birthday party!"

Really, insulting my master's dress like that. The nerve. If I didn't know better, I'd say she was raised in a barn.

She, of course, apologized. His parents chose that moment to come into the room. They greeted one another and then went into the dining room. I was a bit disappointed that I had no hand in preparing the meal, but I supposed I could make him something special on his actual birthday. I dutifully stood by his chair, making sure to keep my presence hidden. I barely listened to the guests' chatter about their up and coming trip. I tried to focus on what sort of birthday cake my master would like. Chocolate, perhaps? Or maybe vanilla with strawberries.

I was brought out of my musings by my master's mother. Rachel, I believed was her name. "Ciel, where on earth did you get that ring?" she asked her son. I was wondering when somebody would notice it.

"I discovered this whilst exploring the house a few months ago," he lied. Not the best explanation, but it would do. It wasn't a complete lie, after all. "After doing some research, I learned that this ring has been in our family for generations. I thought that it was only fit to wear it."

"Ooh, it's so pretty!" that Elizabeth girl cried. To my shock, she had the gall to snatch it right off his thumb. Did this girl have no sense? This family really must have fallen from nobility in order to act so rudely. "Is this a real diamond? It matches your eyes-"

"Give it back!" my master immediately demanded. It was good to see him taking authority over the situation. I knew that he already had an attachment to the ring. I'm sure that my old master also did not want it gone, for obvious reasons.

His family seemed surprised by this outburst. "Ciel-" the girl started.

"Don't just take things without permission!" he yelled. "Don't you have any sense? Give it back now!" It was odd how much our thoughts were in sync, sometimes.

"Why are you being so mean to me?" she yelled back. "I just wanted to look at it! Alois and Soma were right, you've changed! I don't like you anymore! Here, take your damned ring!"

My eyes widened as the little brat threw the ring to the ground, shattering the band and a few small pieces of the stone. Time seemed to stop for a moment as a deep panic invaded my senses. How could I allow this to happen? What was going to happen to my master? Was this going to harm him in some way?

From the corner of my eye, I noticed my master start to raise his hand. I instantly knew that he meant to strike her. As angry as he was, I could not allow this. He did have an image to uphold. I quickly moved to still his arm. That seemed to bring him out of his anger. He sighed and went to pick up the remnants of the ring. I gathered the bits of the stone that he did not see.

"Excuse me," he said quietly. He left for his room, not noticing the surprised and angry looks his relatives were giving him.

He sat heavily on his bed and looked sadly at the shattered pieces of his prized possession. I went to his side and gently took them from him.

"You've grown very attached to this, haven't you?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. I was about to tell him that I could repair it when I heard someone approaching. I decided to make myself scarce for the time being.

It was the young master's parents who came into the room. By the looks on their faces, they were not pleased with what had transpired downstairs. I began to feel anxious on my lord's behalf. I had never seen him disciplined by anyone other than myself.

"Ciel, we need to talk," his father, Vincent, I believe, said with authority. He was what I always imagined my master would grow up to be. Kind and approachable when the situation called for it, but intimidating and every bit "in charge" when he wanted to be.

"About what?" my master asked, sounding petulant to my ears.

Evidently, his father agreed that this was the wrong thing to say, for he snapped ""What do you mean 'about what'? For starters, how about that little stunt you pulled down there? How could you treat Lizzie like that?"

"She broke a precious family heirloom in a fit of childish rage," my master said, sounding indifferent. "Was I just supposed to smile and look the other way?" Ah, exactly what I would expect my lord to say.

His father did not share my sentiments. Or about his son's view on things. "She was just looking at it!" Vincent yelled. She did far more than that, sir, I wanted to say. "You didn't have to snap at her like that! You even made her cry!"

I could tell my master wanted to make some sort of snide remark. But decided against it. "Fine, I'll go apologize if it makes her feel better," he offered. Oh, dear. It was high time he learned that acting like an angry child would get him nowhere.

"They already left," his mother told him. "Poor Lizzie was crying her eyes out. Frances thought it was best to take her home. And you will call her and apologize tomorrow." My, that girl's theatrics had quite an effect on her family.

"Why should I have to apologize?" my master demanded. "I told you that I didn't even want them over in the first place."

"They're your family and they should be able to see you on your birthday!" Vincent shouted. "Honestly, why are you being such a brat?"

"That's something else we've been wanting to talk about, darling," Rachel said. "It seems that ever since we've moved here, your attitude has changed completely. You've just grown so distant and mean. Tell us, when was the last time you've talked to your friends?" I must admit, I was wondering when they were going to address the changes in their son. I was beginning to think they were dense.

"I do not have friends," he said in an even tone. "I do not require them."

"What are you saying? That you don't need other people?" his father demanded. "All you ever do is hang around the house. You never talk to anyone, you never call anyone, and you never go out unless we make you. Why are you so reclusive?" It seems that they did not like the boy's new views on life. But I did not care. Friends would just hold my master back. All he needed was his own cunning and myself to look out for him.

"I find that solitude suits me quite well," he replied. "I prefer to be alone."

"Darling, you never acted like this until we moved here," his mother observed. "And that's why we've decided that we're moving back into our old house in London. This is something your father and I have already discussed numerous times. We think that it will help you open up again."

For the second time that night, time seemed to freeze. They were leaving? No, no, I would not allow this! I was a butler. I could not be without a master. Or as I should say, I could not be without this master.

"You think the house has anything to do with this?" he asked. "No, it is simply me. You can either accept that or not."

"Enough!" his father snapped. "We're moving out in four days. Start packing!"

I glared at their backs as they walked away. That sounded like a threat against my lord. But I had other issues to attend to.