"Be good and help Lizzy with the babies. Don't fight with each other and when Lizzy says bedtime, that means stay in your own beds and try to sleep. Mey-Rin, Finny and Tanaka will be feeding you while we're gone. Alois said he'd bring Lenora and Luca to play with you too. You can send Cynna down to your grandparents if you want to play with your aunt, I've already asked your 'd be happy to see you." Ciel told the children as he stood in the doorway waiting for Sebastian.

"It will be alright Mama, I will help. Have a happy time with Dad. We love you." Evian said with a smile.

"I love you too."

"Mommy, will Grandma Rachel and grandpa Vincent still visit and hug us?"

"Of course they will Rachel. They love you very much."

"I like to be loved Mommy, it is so happy!" Rachel cried jumping up and down. Ciel turn his attention to Lizzy.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked.

"Yes,go have a lovely time." The young girl encouraged.

"If Angelina acts up, don't try to handle it yourself, she's started scratching and hitting. Ask one of the servants for help. If the older children misbehave, you can send them to their rooms for a bit. They can have a little snack,but don't let them find the chocolate, they're sneaky, they started taking after Sebastian, they wait for you to turn away and take it-"

"Ciel my love, we need to go." Sebastian said joining them, he knelt down, in his hands he held the calendar.

"As promised, I've written down the day your mother and I will return to you."He pointed to the date which now showed the words Mommy and daddy come home ' written neatly in the space.

"One...six, Mommy and daddy will come home and hug us on the one six day." Rachel announced.

"That's sixteen Rachel dear." Sebastian corrected gently.

"Sixteen,is that a lot Daddy, it sounds like lots and lots." The young princess pouted.

"Only seven days. That's not long at all."

"Then you will come home and mommy will cuddle us and pat our tiny heads and make our tiny hearts happy, and you will read...and...and" Sebastian chuckled warmly.

"Yes, all of that my dear one." He stroked her black hair softly causing her to giggle.

"Now, Lizzy, remember if Angelina needs-"

"Ciel, you worry far too much." Sebastian shook his head.

"Is that it, or do you not worry enough?"

"whatever the case may be, we must be off." Sebastian gave each child a hug and stood to walk out the door. The children crowded around their mother, wrapping the arms around him.

"We love you Mama, be happy. We will be waiting for you to come home and hug us. We are going to miss you and dad, but we will be okay because Cousin Lizzy is here."Evian said as Ciel patted his back.

"Mommy, please bring me a new baby sister, it would be such a happy thing."

"Rachel Ann, what are we going to do with you?"

"Hug me and love me forever and ever!" She exclaimed.

"Do not forget to have happiness with dad mommy!" Vincent said.

"Don't forget to come home soon!" Rowan added.

"My little ones, you're so grown up...stop it." The children giggled.

"Come on now, you've said goodbye, now we really must be-"

"You're sure you want me to go, I can just-"

"Na, Na." Angelina and Kathryn said in unison waving to their parents.

"I love you all very much and I'll see you soon. Behave, and don't forget to - what the hell are you doing?" Ciel cried as Sebastian lifted him into his arms.

"Stopping you from stalling any longer." Sebastian replied making his way to the carriage waiting for them.

"You can't just pick me up and carry me off while I'm talking to my children!"

"I just did, we must be off now. I know this is difficult for you but if you waste anymore time, we won't be going at all, then I'm not going to be able to do everything I had planned." Sebastian turned and smiled at Lizzy.

"Thank you again for taking care of them, we certainly appreciate it. Say goodbye to your mother children.

"Bye, Bye!" The tiny voices responded.

"I love you very much!" Ciel called.

"We love you too!" Sebastian carefully put Ciel in the carriage and they began their journey.

"Well, that went better than I thought, you children really kept it together and -" Lizzy's praise was lost in a sea of deep sobs as the children began rubbing their eyes and coughing through tears.

"M-Mommy will b-be a-away forever!" Rachel shrieked. Lizzy'sheart was breaking as she tried to calm the youngest girls.

"Come on now little ones, it's okay. Your parents will come home. I've known your mother all his life and-"

"Cousin Lizzy, are we bad?" Rowan sniffled.

"Oh Rowan, of course not. You were all very brave for your mother. It's okay to be sad, but how about we listen to a story, that could help."

"W-Will y-you make voices l-like daddy?"

"I'll try. Come on now, let's see what we can find." Lizzy led the sobbing children into the library where she hoped she could calm them. It broke her heart to see the children cry.~~~~~~~~

"Are you sure we should be doing this, they seemed alright but i just have this feeling, a mother's intuition is never wrong and I think-"

"Ciel, my dearest love, relax. Our children have been without us for the same length of time before. They survived and will this time as well, I promise you. You need to learn to be less of a mother on occasion."

"No possible. Being a mother is a constant job, one that I take seriously and I need to know that they really are alright." Sebastian took Ciel's hand and looked into his eyes, he placed his free hand on his mate's cheek.

"Do you trust me?" He asked gently.

"Yes, but-"

"I would never take you from the children if I thought they couldn't handle it. They aren't alone." A moment of silence passed.

"You think I'm a loon don't you?" Ciel asked. Sebastian smiled softly pulling Ciel into his arms and holding him tight.

"No. I think you're one hell of a mother who doesn't know how to let go because you're love for your children is stronger than any force in this world. That kind of caring is rare among our kind,and i couldn't be more grateful for the love and devotion you have for not only our beautiful children, but for me as well. Ciel rested his head on Sebastian's chest, he listened quietly to his mate's soothing heartbeat.

"I love you very much Ciel, never forget that." Ciel cuddled into him contentedly.

"I love you too, Sebastian. Thank you for all this."

"My Ciel, if I couldn't do such things for you, what sort of mate would I be?"