Ciel had been sitting in his bed for what seemed like eons. He didn't understand why Sebastian didn't come to wake him as he normally did, but he soon remembered when he heard the cries of his sister from down the hall. He sighed and pulled the blanket over his head. It was the weekend, so maybe Sebastian let him sleep in, or he was so busy with Mey-Rin that he forgot. The first thought seemed more probable and Ciel didn't want to think about the second one. He started to become worried about Sebastian ever since the ordeal with Claude. A month after everything happened, and Ciel became used to living with Sebastian again, he regretted the fact that he was not raised by him and not Claude. He was incensed when Sebastian finally told him the tale of his kidnapping and how he searched for him for years. He wondered how different he would have been had Sebastian as a father. Ciel had concluded after reuniting with him that Sebastian loved him dearly, and he loved Mey-Rin just as much. Maybe it had something to do with Grell hardly being around after her birth, but there was always that tone of undying love that Sebastian had while he soothed the newborn to sleep.

Ciel had been wrong about Sebastian.

And now here they were, with Ciel trying to divert his attention away from the high-pitched screams of his baby sister and the fact that Sebastian might not be okay. Eventually Sebastian's soft shushes were the only sounds coming from his room and Ciel exhaled. Good, the house would be quiet for another two hours. Then he wondered if Sebastian was tired. A demon he was, but even his had to be taking some toll on him.

"Are you really going to work now? I'm going to the shop today to buy groceries and I honestly don't think I'll be able to handle her outside. We've not taken her out, have we?"

Grell was still here, although not for long, judging by the conversation. Ciel wanted to know if Grell could hear the fatigue in Sebastian's voice or if he was ignoring it by choice. Ciel wanted to know why Sebastian accepted that date in the first place, why he let it get so far as to result in a child. He would have to ask Sebastian once Grell leaves.

"We haven't been outside with her since she was born, Bassy. Perhaps taking her with you will do her some good. Perhaps both of you leaving the house will do some good."

"I don't have much reason to go outdoors, Grell. Ciel will not be starting school for some time, and she's so colicky, Ciel was not like this when he was a baby."

"Because you took Ciel outside almost every day."

Ciel waited for Sebastian to respond, but nothing else was said. A minute passed before Grell said, "Go outside, take Mey-Rin with you to the shops. Trust me, Bassy, you've become something of a shut-in these days. Fresh air won't hurt and I must be off now."

Ciel's brows furrowed and he nearly popped out of the bed to defend Sebastian. He's been a shut-in because he needs help with the baby. He managed to restrain himself, maybe Grell meant well by that rather ignorant statement. He heard Grell give Sebastian a kiss, he was always loud when it came to doing anything "intimate" with him, much to Ciel's dismay.

"Goodbye my darling girl!"

His voice was closer when he shouted, "Ta-ta Ciel!"

Ciel rolled his eyes at the sound of his voice. He heard the front door close and waited a few more minutes before he rose from his comfortable position in bed. He used the bathroom and walked into Sebastian's room. Sebastian was standing next to Mey-Rin's crib, with his back to his son, watching the sleeping infant with a distant look.

"Good morning, Sebastian."

Sebastian turned around his eyes widened at the sight of his son standing in the doorway.

"…I forgot to wake you, how forgetful of me."

Ciel wished that he missed the sadness that lingered in Sebastian's voice. His eyes looked as alert as ever but he looked distracted, tired, melancholic. He shook his head. "It's no bother really, it is Saturday."

"It is, isn't it? Ah, I'm afraid I've lost track of the days." Ciel's brow rose. "It is of no matter now, what do you want for breakfast?"

Ciel had been craving Nutella crepes for some time, but he felt guilty asking Sebastian to even make that for him. He supposed that he could hold off for one more day.

"What cereal do we have?"

"Cereal? Ciel, I can make you breakfast, there is no need for you to eat cereal."

"I know, I just feel like eating cereal is all."

Sebastian's hands were held tight against each other and there was a look of apprehensiveness when Ciel spoke. However, Ciel couldn't help but hear the relief in his father's voice when he opted for cereal. Sebastian gave Mey-Rin one last check before following Ciel down the stairs and into the kitchen. Ciel saw Sebastian sink into the chair as he rummaged through the cabinets for a bowl and the cereal. He found a bowl and decided on Lucky Charms. After he fixed his bowl he sat across from Sebastian and ate quietly. Usually, Sebastian would think of a topic of conversation first, it was something that he tried to initiate as much as possible after they were free of Claude. Still he sat and said nothing. He wasn't even looking at Ciel, he had his face in his hands and would remove them every so often as if Mey-Rin were a timer that would ring at any moment. It wasn't until after Ciel washed his dishes that Sebastian said gently, "I have to make a run to the shops today, would you care to join me?"

"Where is Grell?"

"At his second home." Sebastian breathed. "I've no one to watch the baby so I must bring her with me."

Ciel turned his back to the kitchen sink to face his father. Sebastian picked up a piece of lint from the table and tossed it to the floor. "Grell believes that fresh air will do us good, and that I've become something of a recluse." He attempted to make light of an offensive comment, but he was weary and he sounded hurt.

"But you do not have to come with me if you don't want to. I won't be gone long."

"I'll come."

Sebastian's posture straightened and he tried to fight the feeling of gratefulness.

"We'll be off at around noon, to avoid the evening crowd."

"Sounds like a plan."

The conversation died down, but Sebastian looked like there was something he wanted to say. He kept it to himself and rose from the chair. "I'm going to make the list now, is there anything you want?"

"How are we on Nutella?"

"I'll buy another jar. You could have told me that you wanted Nutella crepes, Ciel." It wasn't a reprimand, Sebastian hardly ever did that, it sounded like exasperation.

"You had your hands full with Mey-Rin." It wasn't the whole reason, but Sebastian knew Ciel, and he smiled.

"I see."

That was all that was said for the morning.

When they went to the supermarket, Mey-Rin was wide-awake but she was thankfully in a good mood. She babbled and gurgled as Sebastian carted around in the supermarket. Ciel walked beside him patiently, grabbing the items off the list as Sebastian called them out. After about twenty minutes of shopping, Mey-Rin started to get fussy, which meant that they had to hurry and finish the list because there is nothing people hate more than a crying newborn. Ciel was sent to fetch the eggs and the milk while Sebastian picked up flour and sugar, all the while trying to hush the brewing cries of his week-old daughter.

"It's alright my love, we'll be done soon." He whispered to her. He found the flour he needed, and mixed with Mey-Rin's agitation, he failed to see the other shopper in front of him. Their carts clashed together, Sebastian immediately looked up at the shopper he crashed into. The man had nice brown skin, eyes that were slate and grey. The most notable thing about the man was his shockingly white hair. The man smiled kindly at Sebastian, something he was unused to. The man placed his right hand on his chest and bent forward a little.

"Forgive me, I did not mean to bump into you." In a rich Indian accent.

R&R Please!