I stand in front of the giant double doors of Phantomhive manor, I have been back now for a week, and I have been feeling so out of it. Finally, I was somewhere I knew I belonged. I told Ciel I was back, after he told me about the Elizabeth Midford ordeal, I was even worse. He told me that he would be happier with me than he ever would be with Elizabeth. He knew of my powers that in my eleven-month absence I learned to control. Finally I swallowed my fear and grabbed the door banger as I was about to knock the door flew open.

"Hello young miss; you must be the Rose, whom the one Master Ciel won't stop talking about." Sebastian says.

"Yes hello I'm Rosalie although you may call me Rose, you must be Sebastian" I reply with a curtsy. He smiles at me and with a slight nod of the head; he begins to walk up the stairs.

"Well come with me young Rose," he replies. I follow Sebastian to a room. "My Young Master is in here," he says with a bow. I walk up to the door and knock. I take a few deep breaths.

"Come in" Ciel calls. I open the door take a few steps in and close the door. I hold back and we stare at each other. His eyes brighten, but still no smile. "Rosie do you have any idea how much that this all means to me, it's been eleven long months since you went away,"

"Hello Ciel, you look good," he looks me up and down, no response instead he just pats a chair beside him. I nod and walk towards him slowly. I look at the seat of the big red chair, and then back at him

"Well aren't you going to sit down?" he asks. I smile and sit beside him. "Rosie,"

"Yes?"

"Is everything alright I feel some sort of tension, we both know each other it's not like we're strangers just meeting for the first time, what's wrong?"

"Ciel this is wrong you're engaged, to Lizzy,"

"I'm also thirteen, and I've known you my whole life,"

"And I'm eleven, but look Ciel you have to choose me or her you can make your own decisions unless Sebastian calls the shots."

"No I am in charge around here, and we both know what Sebastian actually is, oh and Sebastian is coming up with some tea soon, but Rosie I love you... You're the person I want to be with, but I don't think I can do anything about it I'm betrothed."

"Ciel who cares, you're the one who makes decisions and if you don't call Lizzy and say I wanna be less than friends or maybe even just friends than I'm afraid you leave me no choice I will have to do it. But I just want you to know I'm okay with whomever you choose, But Ciel don't go by your brain use your heart." I say. He swallows and picks up his phone. He dials Lizzy's number.

"Hello, No for once I want to talk to you, I have something to say, I know that it's Royal Protocol that I be with Lizzy but I just don't want to... I would not mind if Lizzy and I stayed friends but I do not wish to be married to her. I have, well how can I put this without sounding rude, I know that the girl sitting beside me wouldn't disrespect me or my property. I know that because she wouldn't do that, which I would never fly off the handle and she knows me more than Elizabeth I'm sorry but tell Elizabeth I have made my decision and there is no reason for us to be together, good bye." He says.

A sigh of relief falls over me, as he says those words with a cold hard tone I had never heard him use. As he hangs up his phone, he gives me a bright-eyed look still not a smile, I understand where he was coming from; I understand completely. Ciel's parents died when he was ten. They died in a house fire, just three years previous. We stared into each other's eyes and we embraced. When I felt Ciel's warm breath on my neck, I felt peaceful and calm.

"Thanks for choosing me Ciel it means so much," I say

"Anytime at least you have a since in style unlike Elizabeth, who likes anything that was pink. You won't redecorate my manor, or my servants, thank you Rosie" I smiled.

"No problem Ciel, and we both have our secrets don't we, I say. Ciel almost stops breathing.

"What are you talking about?" Ciel pushes away from me.

"You have Sebastian but I have Alastair," I move the hair from my eye. "Congratulations we're bound by the same curse he has stolen my soul but you've stolen my heart."

"Rosalie, why, why would you do that your parents died on their own they weren't murdered like mine."

"That's what they wanted everyone to think, but I know different I know the truth and I know they wouldn't do anything of the sort they couldn't not on that day not on any day. I saw my Nanny die just in the push of a button and I will prove it. I will have my revenge, even if I die trying, I hope that you're behind me the whole time Ciel,"

"I am I promise I will stand behind you all the way, forever till the end I won't leave your side I'm stuck to you like Alastair, I'm behind you all the way. My dearest Rose." He says.

"Look what I did wasn't wrong Ciel it was my choice whether I want my soul or not, once you have lost something there's no way to get it back. Ciel what I did isn't different from what you did is it?" As I finish Sebastian walks in. Your afternoon tea, I'll assume that the meeting is going quite well," Sebastian says, glancing at us, who were once again embracing.

"Oh yes it is and thank you Sebastian have you met Alastair you two might know each other," I say with a smile. Sebastian stares at me and back at Ciel, as they both turn to me they hear a slight knocking at the door.

"Come in Alastair," I say sweetly. A tall man walks in, resembling Sebastian in one way only, being the way he dresses. Alastair, a tall darkly dressed butler with dark orange hair, dressed in a long tailcoat, with black dress pants and white gloves. He stands next to me. "Boy's this is Alastair, my butler, my protector, the only father figure I have in my life now... But that's beside the point, Alastair this is Sebastian, and Ciel." I say.

"Hello as my young Mistress has just said I am under contract much like you young Ciel, but who with?" Alastair said with a slight bow.

"I am Sebastian, a demon who is only made to protect my young Master here." Sebastian says. I look at Ciel and grabbed his hand and ran into his study, I turned around and saw Ciel actually smiling I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Ciel, you... you're smiling," I whisper.

"You bring out the best of me, thank you Rosalinda,"

I could not help but blush when Ciel had said that looked at him. "Thank you Ciel." I say.

"Do you want something to cover your eye, I'm sure everyone will be excited your back I know I was when Sebastian told me that you would be here, you've been gone so long, and I can't believe that you're home, after of course what happened." He whispers.

I sit down at a chair in front of his desk. "Yes what happened, Mother and Father, I can't believe it myself either. I can't get myself to ever believe what happened." I paused. "Just a week ago I got back. I have been gone for almost a year; I hoped that they would clean up my manor. This was not a mistake. My parents would never take their own lives, I just know they would not and especially not on that day. Ciel I know what you mean by I'll never have another happy birthday again, but this year it might be good, Ciel We're one in the same neither have souls, and we both have our dirty little secrets. For that, I love you." I say.

"Yes perhaps we are one in the same we've sold our souls, and we both have people in our lives who would risk their own health and safety just to keep us safe, our butlers, Alastair, and Sebastian our protectors; who will keep us safe if we so demand it, they will risk their own lives to save us. Sebastian is like a dog in a way, a loyal companion who's there with you until the end whether it be mine or his." Ciel grins.

"Young master are you ready for tea before you and your special guest, have dinner?" he asks.

"What do you think Sebastian, of course we will," Ciel replies.

"And I'm assuming Lady Rose, will take tea as well?"

"Yes Sebastian, and please don't assume things you might not always have the right answer." I chime in.

"Okay young mistress, how do you take it?" Sebastian asks.

"Talk to Alastair he knows how I take it," I say politely.

"Yes Lady Rose." He says as he walks out of the room. I smile at Ciel and when he gives me that devilish grin, which is when I knew that I very well made his day.

"I've never heard anyone talk to Sebastian the way you did well except me of course but he was so calm and collected. "Congratulations you're becoming a very devilish person Rosie." Ciel says, with his boyish charm. I look at Ciel and he sighs.

"What's wrong Ciel? Did I do something wrong?" I ask.

"I'm so sorry that I can't smile for you have no idea how much I hate it, it isn't fair, I could make you so much happier if I could just smile. I'm so sorry Rosie but I just can't, it's as if I've forgotten how, I'm sorry." Ciel says.

I put one hand up to his cheek. "Ciel I don't care about that, you know that I don't so much have changed in the eleven months I've been missing. The eleven months I will never get back, the eleven months in hell, so no Ciel I can't do anything about my parents, or Dawn but I do know one thing, I will get my revenge, and with that I need you, Alastair and Sebastian's help." I cried. "Ciel listen to me, I can't live without you, no matter what you say or do, I don't care that you can't smile, I just don't care Ciel just look into my eyes and tell me I'm lying Ciel do it I wouldn't lie to you Ciel I just wouldn't." Ciel grabbed my shoulders, and pulled me into my chest, I began to cry. I was so frustrated, I didn't know what else to do we both just stood there I felt a strange wetness forming on my shoulders, that was when I felt Ciel's shuddered breaths against me.

"I believe you and I promise to always stand by your side as long as you stay by mine, nothing can break us apart nothing... from this day forward we are one in the same, Rose Clark and Ciel Phantomhive, Rose Phantomhive... Now I like the sound of that." I gave him another hug.

"As do I great Lord Phantomhive. As do I" I say. Sebastian and Alastair step foot into the study where they see Ciel and I stand facing each other but in front of the window. We both turn and stare out into the late morning. Sebastian clears his throat to get our attention. Turning at the same moment, we both sit down beside each other behind Ciel's desk. Both butlers pour the tea into the two separate cups. Alastair passes me mine as Sebastian passes Ciel's his.

"Thank you Alastair,"

"And thank you Sebastian," We thank our butlers and they both walk out.

"Ciel, can I try a little bit of your tea I'll let you try mine by I prefer my tea a bit stronger than most tea drinkers so Ciel you might not like it."

"Sure, why not it couldn't hurt could it?" We turn towards each other and switch teacups when we both took a sip and spat it out.

"That's disgusting Rosalie what's in that?"

"Speak for yourself Ciel this is putrid yuck," I exclaimed. We both took our teas back and began to drink our own. We sat in silence listening to the muffled sounds of tweeting birds.

"Young Mistress, a letter came for you I don't know from who but it seems urgent!" Alastair says.

"You may enter Alastair," I call. Alastair made his way through the door and made his way to the desk. "You say you don't know who it's from, well hand it over and let me read it." I say. "And that's an order."

"Yes young mistress, here it is." Alastair handed it to me. I opened it, slowly; and began to read it.

Young Lady Rose so long I have had to watch in the shadows all this time. I can remember the day you were born even though I was not there. Rosalie have I ever once told you how beautiful you've become. Your shimmering blonde hair, so wavy and so beautiful I would do anything to have your color and not mine. You are so wonderful in every way; you used to smile so much now you never do, it's almost as if you have forgotten how. When you came home from being gone so long, I couldn't believe how much you have changed. From the day, you ran out of the door of the Clark manor from the day you came back. I will get you young Rose I will hunt you down I will kill you the same way I killed your mother and father you will join them in the afterlife have rotten life until I find you look around every corner look down ever alley, I'll be there waiting for you at the end you will die, die, die! I read.

"Oh my god, Ciel what does this mean? I'm so scared now!" I cry.

"Don't worry my young mistress; I won't let anyone touch you not until you want me to." Alastair replies.

"See you have Alastair to protect you, you don't have to worry about a thing you have Alastair you'll be fine." Ciel wraps his arms around me. "You'll be fine Rose,"

"Thanks Ciel" I sigh. Sebastian approaches the desk to stand beside Alastair.

"Young master it is time for dinner, are you both ready?"

"Yes we will have out diner in the main hall, is that alright with you Rosalie?"

"Yes Ciel, that is alright." I say blankly. We walk out of the room Ciel and I arm in arm and we walk down the stairs, I was so scared someone wanted me dead for one reason only, but who was it who could it be? I could not keep these questions out of my head throughout dinner. My eyes blank without expression, I was as blank as all the dolls in my room. After dinner Ciel and I went back to his study, we both sat down at his chessboard.

"Do you remember how to play?" he asked. I sat there with a blank expression on my face. "Rosalie, do you remember how to play chess? Ciel asked once more. I still sat there blankly. Ciel pushed away from the board and walked over to me. "Please Rosie, answer me, please." He says crouching down. I turn towards Ciel and then look back down.

"I'm so sorry Ciel I'm just a little bit tiered you see. In those eleven months, I was gone, I lived in Hell. My own personal Hell, you know what I mean when I say that, what you lived, I lived for eleven months I will never be in peace never will I be able to close my eyes peacefully. Never, not even knowing that I have Alastair, I can never fully live in peace not now" I paused. "Not ever,"

"Wow Rosie, I've never thought about things like this, I guess you are right some people dread having to go to sleep at night now I understand why some people don't want to sleep; even though they have loyal people who would take a bullet for you any day. You have the kind of person who would risk his or her own lives to save you. I understand where you are coming from exactly, you can trust Alastair with your life I trust Sebastian to not break our contract you should do the same, but I didn't at first but I do now, and remember Rosie, I will always take a bullet for you I promise I would never lie to you. You just mean too much to me and I do not want to lose you, you're my queen and I am your king. We are all just pieces of the grand game of life. You can grab it by the reigns and play or you can sit back and be played like a pawn. I prefer to play my own games not be played, you are the only one in my game who are not a pawn everyone else is." Ciel replies.

"Ciel that means so much and yes I do remember how to play chess." I smirk. "How could one forget how it's like normal people, you can never forget how to smile, most people remember how to smile but it's people like us who have gone through so much emotional pain that they forget, they forget how to smile."

Ciel just looks at me, sits down across from me, and smirks.

"Well white plays first," He says. We sit there for an hour and play chess.

"Well Ciel looks like you have yourself in a very bad position, I have you surrounded, last time I checked that would be," I paused. "Checkmate." Ciel's eyes widen.

"What how? How did you beat me you used to be terrible at Chess what happened? How did you get so good, I don't understand," Ciel cried.

"Finally my first time I've played Chess in eleven months, I don't know how I got so good Ciel, why don't you guess because I am not sure how."

"This doesn't make sense Rose."

"You're telling me." we heard knocking at the door to Ciel's study, "Lady Rosalie someone is at the door, claiming her name is Lilly F. Pritchard, Should I let her in?" Sebastian asks. I look at Ciel, and he gives me a weird look.

"Ciel, that's my cousin," I said. Ciel looks at the tears forming in my eyes

"Oh alright, let's go let Lilly in." Ciel exclaims. We push away from the chessboard and walk out the door, as we step out of the room we walk down the hall and begin down the hall. I see my cousin standing there beside Alastair, Lilly here we are after only eleven short months we stand before each other, both were born into richer families mine, the better of the two, maybe it was you, maybe you were the one who killed my mother, father, and my Nanny, Dawn. Enlighten me what all do you know about Mother and Father's death. If you killed them I will, I repeat I will kill you! I thought

"Oh Rose, it's been far too long I've missed you where have you been all this time, We have so much catching up to do" Lilly beams.

"Hell." I frowned. "That is where I've been, the past eleven months Hell." She put her hand over her mouth as if she gasped. She looked at me with worried eyes.

"What happened to your eye, you have an eye patch, why?" She asked

"Look I'm fine the way I am if I showed you what was under this you wouldn't like it I can absolutely guarantee that, I know you wouldn't like it, not one bit." I declared.

"I'm your cousin you should tell me!"

"I don't care about that; you are not going to see what's under that eye-patch so give it up Lilly!"

"Rosalie, what happened to you? You never acted like that before. What happened you are not even smiling anymore? You always used to smile."

"People grow up I've learned that maybe you should as well, it's better to grow up at a younger age I've found that out in Hell, my living hell for eleven months I was truly in a place where Hell would have been a blessing so pardon me when I say I have forgotten how to smile. All this time, every single moment of my life, I have lived and died. I am almost twelve, I have seen more bloodshed, and pain and agony than any child should have seen in their whole lifetime. Still I stand tall and in the name of Clark's before me. From my father, to my grandfather, and his grandfathers before him I stand tall in the name of the Clark's. I will not give up I will not let go of my hatred and sorrow, and I will play this game like no one has ever seen!" I cry out.

"Bu...But Rose, don't you even care about anyone of your family that's still alive?"

"The only one's still alive is the Pritchard family, your father Lord Pritchard, my uncle, my mother's brother, just another man, a man who will live and who will die, he was an archeologist, for a museum in Paris. Your mother, my Aunt but unfortunately there were absolutely no blood relations. She was just another fashion designer reining from a very high status she designs for many people but only one that truly matters, her majesty the Queen. None of that matters to me. All I want now is revenge the sweet smell of revenge I will kill the ones who murdered my parents. They will pay for the Hell they put me through; but mainly, they will feel the hands of the devil upon their bodies, and they will go through everything I did I will not parish before I find justice in the world, and if not in the world maybe just in my life."

"We are important more than what you think Rose, sure we may never find the killers only because it was staged as if it were a mere accident. Now I have one thing to do and I was going to ask you for an early evening stroll. Maybe go to a store and buy you some more clothes because I am assuming that the clothes from last year don't fit you that well now do they? She asks. I stare at my older cousin fear in her sea foam green eyes, she was scared of me the idea that someone could have gone through so much in so little time. I have gone through so much in my whole life in the past year I've seen more than any military veteran should see in his whole life. Moreover, why is that, it is because of my family name, the family name that has been tainted by the bloody pits of hell itself. I will regain all strength and take down my hunters but before I can do that, I need help. I will need pawns, my bishop, my rook, my knights; I am the Queen of the great game of life, with Ciel as my King. I will not lose not with Sebastian Michaelis, Ciel Phantomhive, and Alastair Langstaff Cutler by my side I shall not lose.

As I approach her I realize there is no need be scared of her she did not send me that letter I don't know who sent me that letter but what I do know is that my cousin did not. I put my hand to her cheek and wrap my other arm around her waist.

"I mean no harm cousin, remember that, always. Whenever I do something wrong remember I know what I'm doing and I do mean no ham by it at all." I articulate. She nods and takes a few steps back. I draw my sword. "But the question is can you be trusted!"

"Yes malady I can I truly can I'll get you whatever you want, I promise I'll but it I can afford anything we should make plans tomorrow now please sheath your sword dear, besides it's not like you could kill your own flesh and blood, could you?" She asked, shakily.

"DON'T TAUNT ME" I charge at my cousin overflowing with rage, hatred, and sorrow. Alastair jumps in front of my blade and knocks it from my hands.

"Ro... Rose," Ciel grabs my shoulder. He pulls me into his chest I look up into his deep blue eyes. I snapped and began to sob.

"I'm so sorry Lilly I truly am. Everyone, I am so sorry, my whole life I have never thought my parents would die. Never had I thought." I took a pause. "I don't mean to fly off the handle sometimes and I believe that Sebastian, Ciel, and Alastair are the only ones who know that. It is just so hard to control myself I am angered by everything and everyone. I cannot help it; it has been like this ever since I came home. I know wonder, what if I were to never come back who could possibly miss me?" I sob. Ciel gathers me in his arms and then walks out the door.

"You never did know when to shut up did you Rosie?" Ciel asks as he wanders out into his carriage. "Sebastian your orders are to come bring Lady Rosalie to her manor," Ceil says passively.

"Thank you Ciel, thank you." I cry. Alastair and Sebastian sit outside and start on our way home. My sobs become shuddered breaths and those led me to find my new lullaby, Ciel's breathing, in and out. In and out. In and out. I quickly fall into a deep slumber as I lean on Ciel's shoulder. As I fall faster and faster into my slumber, my head becomes heavier and heavier and not I am unable to stop and my head falls into Ciel's lap, I awaken quickly.

"What's going on where am I? Ciel is that you?" I ask. Alastair opens the door with a smile he simply says, "Home, lovely isn't it?"