Note: Filler and a bit of insight into Ciel's thoughts on the situation. If you really pay close attention, there's a couple pretty huge details in this... Let's so can find it, shall we? Anyway, I don't have much else to say on this chapter. It's short... there's only one more really long chapter in Part One, and then the first few chapters of Part Two are longer, but then they get really short. So just be prepared. But I guess that's all... Until next time, my dears; remember to review!

"My lord," Sebastian said, slipping silently into the office, "a letter has arrived for you. From the queen. Is seems she's upset that the murder case hasn't been resolved."

Ciel sighed. "This is bothersome. I don't have time to worry about this." He ran his fingers through his hair irritably. "Sebastian… Tend to this while I deal with the Midfords. Be quick – don't get sidetracked."

Sebastian bowed. "Yes, my lord," he said, turning to leave.

Ciel frowned. "Sebastian?"

He paused, glancing back. "Yes?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?" He didn't have to elaborate. Sebastian knew what he wanted. It made him feel a spoiled to ask for this sort of thing. However, though he wouldn't admit it, he didn't enjoy only being able to maintain this sort of relationship with Sebastian, but it was better than nothing and he was sure that it would lead to less heartbreak on his part.

Sebastian smirked. "That's not a very good idea, my lord. Lady Elizabeth is just outside." His eyes flashed, and Ciel felt his cheeks warm. "I love you, my lord."

Ciel didn't have time to reply before Sebastian left, letting in Lizzie, who seemed a bit deflated. Ciel hadn't really spoken to her since his birthday and wasn't anticipating the coming conversation.

"Can I help you with something?" he asked tiredly.

"I just wanted to ask you some things about the wedding. My father said that you should have some say in things, seeing as it is your wedding, too."

Ciel sighed. "Alright. What is it?"

"Well… What kind of flowers do you want to have?" she asked softly.

Ciel frowned. He honestly didn't care. "I don't know." He kept his eyes on his desk. "Orange blossoms, of course. And… roses. Red roses, like the one you gave me."

Lizzie blinked. "Really?"

Shrugging, Ciel said, "Why not. It's romantic and it would be sentimental, wouldn't it?" He paused. "And fitting, too, since our daughter will be named Rose." He left out the part about them matching Sebastian's eyes.

Lizzie's mouth curved into a cheerful smile. "Okay," she said. She came and leaned on Ciel's desk. "We should change the wedding invitations to white and red rather than white and gold, then."

"Of course. I'll tell Sebastian to get right on that."

Lizzie's smile faded a bit. "How long has Sebastian been serving you?" she asked softly.

"About seven years by now – maybe eight."

"Really…?" Lizzie's face had turned a dull shade of red. "Ciel, why don't you ever kiss me?"

Ciel was a bit taken aback. "Pardon?"

"You've never kissed me, Ciel. And… isn't that something you do when you love someone?"

"I… I suppose. But isn't it a bit improper? We aren't to be wedded for a month still." Improper. He nearly scoffed at his word choice, considering the request he'd just made of Sebastian.

"It would be romantic, wouldn't it? And no one would know."

Sebastian would. Ciel almost told himself that Sebastian would be upset about it, but the demon most definitely wouldn't care. He was simply an actor, no matter how good he was.

Ciel didn't tell her "no" fast enough, obviously, because she leaned forward over the desk, pressing her lips against his. For a moment he was surprised by how unpracticed it was, especially since the only person he'd kissed was Sebastian who was clearly very experienced and knew exactly what he was doing. He told himself quickly that this wasn't Sebastian, though.

When he realized he hadn't moved he panicked a bit. With Sebastian he didn't have to move, or do anything at all, really. But this was Elizabeth, who didn't seem to have a clue as to what she was doing. However, it was clear she was trying desperately to coax some sort of reaction from Ciel.

He tried to mimic Sebastian, lifting one hand to brush back Elizabeth's blond curls and cup her cheek while the other gripped the edge of his desk for support.

When he found that there was nothing else to do he drew back.

"How… You seem like you've done this before," Lizzie said softly.

Ciel's cheeks felt hot. "I suppose it's just instinct," he said.

Lizzie laughed softly. "I suppose." She placed her hand over his on her cheek, leaning into it. "I love you, Ciel. I'm sorry about what happened the other night."

"I should be the one apologizing," Ciel said. "I sort of lost my temper."

"Mh…" Elizabeth closed her eyes. "I spoke to Sebastian afterwards. He said that you've been stressed, and that you really do love me even if you don't show it."

Ciel frowned. That idiot, twisting his words around like that. But he supposed that he did save him by saying that, and for this he was grateful. "Of course I do," he said softly. "It's just hard, is all."

"I should have known better than to go falsely accusing you like that."

"It's fine, Elizabeth." Ciel said, pulling back his hand. "Don't concern yourself with it."

Elizabeth frowned. "But it's my job as your wife," she said. "It's my duty to worry about you."

"Not yet. Just relax. Everything will be fine." It wasn't exactly a lie.

Her smile returned, even if just slightly. She stepped back. "I suppose I should be going," she said. "I'll tell my mother about the flowers. I love you, Ciel." Then she disappeared back out of the door and Ciel took a moment to wonder; maybe Sebastian hadn't been twisting his words around, but had just been translating the things Ciel couldn't translate himself.

.

Fresh blood soaked through the bedding, the desperate gasps of the dying woman the only sound in the bedroom. Sebastian stood to the side, just watching.

"P-please… help me…" the woman choked, blood dripping down the corners of her mouth. "You… you can't let me die. My husband… my baby…"

Sebastian smirked. "I'm sorry ma'am, but I cannot do that. Your fate has been decided."

"You're… you're a monster… Can't you…" She was cut off by a fit of coughs.

"I won't deny it." He chuckled. "Sleep well." He started to leave, grabbing the note from the bedside table as he passed.

"W-wait… wait!" the woman choked. "Please…! Please save me!"

Sebastian rolled his eyes. Humans really were obnoxious beings.

That done he wandered into the living room and stopped at the fire. "I suppose we'll end this quickly, then," he said softly. The flames grew steadily, spreading from the fireplace and nipping at the floorboards, the extra wood beside it consumed in a matter of seconds. The flames spread like the plague, and Sebastian smiled. Mindless destruction was something that most demons looked down upon as childish, but maybe Ciel was wearing off on him. That done, his work here was finished.

.

"I believe I know who committed the most recent murder," Sebastian said as he offered Ciel his afternoon tea.

"Oh really?" He held his teacup near his mouth, but didn't drink. "End it. I don't want to hear of any more of these murders."

"You don't care to hear of the culprit?"

"No. He's obviously not worth my time, seeing as he can't even write properly and wastes away his time killing poor women without purpose." He sipped at his tea, glancing at Sebastian over the rim. "But not now… Elizabeth's gone, is she not?"

Ciel hated speaking like that, but if it was what he had to do to be close to Sebastian then he would.

"Yes, my lord."

When Sebastian kissed him all Ciel could think about was Elizabeth, and it was the perfect opposite of where he had been just a few hours ago. He felt so terribly dirty, but knew there was nothing he could do about it. This was just the way things were at the moment.

He sighed against Sebastian's mouth, trying hard to relax himself, pushing all thoughts of Elizabeth from his mind. Despite every mind trick that was played and each and every twisted word, it was Sebastian he loved, not Elizabeth. And in this moment of gentle kissing and soft whimpering, he knew it would never be any different.

His hands came up to wind themselves into Sebastian's silky black hair and touch his icy skin. It was so wrong. It was so, terribly wrong. But he didn't mind, at least not in that moment.