Sebastian performed his duties perfectly while his thoughts strayed to other matters. When Ciel smiled, even if only for a split second, it had done something to him. He had, dare he say it, felt something. Something he had not felt in forever or at least since he was human which was so many years ago he had all but forgotten how feeling anything other than anger or malice felt. Though he had been told otherwise by fellow demons, he had grown to doubt a demon could feel anything but the darker emotions. Sebastian's heart had thudded quickly and he had felt a warmth inside unlike any other. Upon deep introspection which had taken the greater part of undecorating the entire mansion and fixing the grounds which Finny had been indisposed to do after thoroughly botching trimming the hedges earlier, he deduced the emotion to be happiness. Damn it all. He was…happy when Ciel smiled, especially when he knew it was because of something he had done or made in this case.

Sebastian sat down in his quarters once his work was complete, head in his hands at the irony. A demon, a high ranked one such as himself, happy when the human whose soul he was meant to devour, smiled. Sebastian decided he wished to see this look upon the young master's face more often and longer than just a fleeting moment. He knew it was wrong, but as long as Ciel didn't know what he was doing, maybe it would do the earl some good as well. He had clearly been stressed lately and could use a break.

Ciel did some paperwork in his study and requested he not be disturbed until Elizabeth's arrival. Sebastian's annoyance at the request was thoroughly masked. In the meantime, he cooked an 18 layered German style chocolate cake which he knew Ciel secretly adored. 'This is sure to make the young master happy.'

Elizabeth had arrived around 5:30, well before her stated time. Ciel sighed at the knock on his study door, assuming she had arrived early. He was correct in his assumptions for he was met with the sight of both a slightly miffed Sebastian and an ecstatic Elizabeth who jumped upon him squeezing his neck and upper body far too tightly. When she finally released him, Ciel formed words. "It's good to see you too, Elizabeth."

She pouted childishly and scoffed. "How many times do I have to tell you?! Call me Lizzie. Anyway, when are the other guests arriving? There is no one here yet, but your bothersome servants and stuffy butler." She shot said butler a disparaging look as if to say 'leave you are unneeded' but this wasn't her choice so he merely steeled an impassive look upon his features and made no move to go anywhere.

"My Lord has opted not to have multiple guests attend tonight. Maybe the two of you can do some activity together instead."

"What?! No party? But it's your birthday Ciel!" Lizzie all but screamed at him. "You have to smile and at least pretend to be happy."

'What an insensitive human.' Sebastian tried not to obviously grit his teeth. She was well aware of the significance of this date to him, yet she insisted on forcing him not to allow the day to pass without mention. She really was insufferable.

Ciel faked a happy look. "No matter! What would you like to do Elizabeth?"

The obviously fake smile caused Sebastian almost physical pain. His master deserved to be genuinely happy and actually smile, not to be forced into pretending.

"Well, since today isn't too cold, why don't we go out on the boat tonight?" She batted her eyes at Ciel.

"Young master?"

"That's fine, Sebastian, prepare the boat for the three of us." Ciel commanded.

Lizzie sniffed as she directed her attention to Ciel but her words were clearly directed at Sebastian. "I would prefer if we could go alone. It would be more romantic after all you are 18 today." She ran a hand along Ciel's face while he visibly stiffened and Sebastian did as well though no one noticed.

'I go nowhere without Sebastian and she bloody knows that! But I should acquiesce if for no other reason to keep up appearances.'

"Very well."

The boat was prepared and Lizzie was seated readily on board. Sebastian leaned down to whisper something in his master's ear. "Only call for me and I will come."

Ciel nodded whispering back. "Tell me something I don't know."

"Be careful, bochan." Sebastian said before drawing away.

'What?' This was different. He sat with Elizabeth sending her yet another fake smile. Sebastian never expressed true concern. Was this a ploy? Or did he know of his secret feelings? This day couldn't get any worse.

The man rowing the boat silently began rowing them out in the middle of the lake. Lizzie leaned against Ciel. "Isn't this simply perfect? So romantic! Plus, no servants to bother us."

"It is, isn't it." Ciel said but it was more of a statement than a question and lacked the appropriate feeling.

Lizzie drew away from Ciel after a few minutes. "Okay, cut the shit. Who is she?"

Ciel looked back at his blonde cousin thoroughly confused. "What are you talking about?"

She spat her next words, hardly caring what some commoner rower thought of her. "The girl who is really occupying your thoughts. Admit it, you could care less about me. I just want to know who she is so I can tell her to back off or else. You're my fiancé and no one, regardless of station can change that."

Ciel laughed mirthlessly. "There is no girl. I'm simply trying to be the person you want me to be."

Tears sprang to her eyes. "So you admit it? You just don't love me? Ciel how could you?"

He shook his head, trying to be sympathetic. "It's not you Eliz-Lizzie. I'll be as honest with you as I can. After what I lived through, I find it hard to care about anyone in that way. I do care about you as family, but romantically I cannot live up to your expectations." Before she could butt in he finished compassionately.

"But I can assure you, that unless fate intervenes, I will marry you and you will want for nothing. I will also refrain from interfering with any personal business you have so that at least one of us can be truly happy."

She stared at him angrily despite his attempts at kindness.

Ciel was clearly sorry, the emotion was obvious not just in his dark blue eye but in his expression and body language as well. "I'm sorry, Lizzie. I wish things had been different, but what has been lost cannot be regained."

Elizabeth was beyond the point of thinking rationally now. "Damn you Ciel! I hate you!" She screamed at him.

The rower looked embarrassed and continued at his task, trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible. 'Why do I have this job again? Nobles are freaking crazy.'

Ciel stood up. "Just try and understand. Maybe if things were different."

She shook her head standing up as well. "Shut the fuck up! Just shut up! I don't want to hear another word come out of your mouth. I hate you." With that final statement she shoved him roughly in the chest, forgetting they were out on a boat in the middle of a lake in late December.

Ciel lost his balance and fell into the icy lake water.

Lizzie pulled at her hair in anger, but then realized what she had done. "Ciel! I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. Where'd you go?!"

The rower and she were now staring desperately into the night trying to see him in the darkened waters.

Ciel was under the icy water trying to keep breathing. He had learned how to swim, but admittedly wasn't very strong and with the current tonight it would have hardly mattered. He realized he couldn't resurface. This was the end. 'I'm sorry mother, father, Aunt Ann. I wasn't able to avenge you. I wasn't able to exact my revenge. Sebastian, I was so close to feeling something for you I hate I couldn't tell you. I-" And all thoughts were gone.

Sebastian was there in seconds once he felt Ciel's distress. 'I knew it! I knew something bad would happen. I shouldn't have allowed him to go.' When he got to the boat, Lizzie was in tears and the rowman looked panicked. "He's under the water he is. We can't find him."

Wordlessly, Sebastian plunged under the water. He couldn't feel Ciel through the contract and that thought alone made his heart race. Finally, he saw the boy, floating lifelessly under the freezing water. He grabbed him and resurfaced without another moment to spare.

"Ciel!" Lizzie screamed.

Sebastian laid Ciel on the boat's floor carefully, then pressed his ear to his chest. 'No heartbeat and he's not breathing. That much is obvious. This isn't good.'

He began trying to resuscitate Ciel. He pressed on his chest firmly but he didn't have to look to notice his hands were shaking. He then brought his lips to Ciel's and breathed air into the unconscious boy's body.

'Still nothing. Not even after these attempts.' Sebastian knew he shouldn't. He should just let the boy go, his soul would still have delicious flavor and one couldn't fault him for it wasn't his fault the contract would end prematurely.

'No. I won't let him die. I don't want him to die. I don't want Ciel to die.' The thought scared Sebastian as much as his next action. He breathed into Ciel again, but this time using some of his demonic energy, not caring what Elizabeth or the rower saw at this point. All he cared about now was Ciel. Ciel sat up and coughed copious amounts of water up. His face unhealthily pale as he wheezed weakly. "Sebastian?"

"Don't speak, young master. I must return him home to keep him from catching cold. Lady Elizabeth, we have something to discuss back at the mansion."

And the butler was gone.

The rowman was positively creeped out. "How did that guy leave so fast? For that matter how did he even get here?"

Elizabeth wiped her eyes not justifying his reasonable questions with a response. 'He knows. I don't know how but he knows exactly what happened. I could tell by those devilish red eyes.'

Elizabeth's eyes widened and she was truly frightened. 'Sebastian has brown eyes.' She kept thinking to herself, but tonight they sure as hell weren't. They were red, like a demon's. But is that even possible? She shuddered now and it wasn't from the cold.

While Sebastian ran with Ciel cradled in his arms, he laid a hand against the smaller boy's chest so he could feel his heartbeat. What he had done tonight had been risky. Ciel seemed to be fine, just freezing cold and exhausted for he didn't stir during his bath or while being tucked in. However, as he turned to leave, the contract on his hand pulsed. Ciel appeared to be asleep still, but apparently he had summoned him while in his dream. 'Sebastian, stay with me.' It seemed to stay. Sebastian touched his shoulder gently sending him his response. 'I have business to attend to but I will be back shortly, bochan.'

Sebastian walked out to confront Elizabeth. 'It will surely be an exercise in self control not to tear her limb from limb.'

A/N: So what do you all think?