It's after the Gala and Ronald wakes to find himself in William's apartment, he can't remember how he got there however he remembers every act of the night before. He wakes to find a very different William.

Alex is back at work and the office is busy as designers prepare for Valentines Day and last minute Christmas Ads. However Alex is struggling with a slogan is it because she honestly is unsure of how to finish it or something more?

What does Ronald find in William's apartment?

Why does Claude sympathize with Alex?

Just who is Claude's savior?

I hope you enjoy,

~The Dark Ringmaster

P.s. I do not own Kuroshitsuji.

Chapter 39: Love's Challenges

Ronald opened his eyes and stretched he could smell something sweet from the other side of the room. He slowly sat up and stretched his blond hair was a complete mess and he felt a chill. Ronald was confused for a moment until he realized he wasn't wearing anything. He blushed and covered himself with the blanket as he looked around nervously for his trousers. He became even more frantic when he realized he wasn't even in his apartment, the night before was a complete blur. His head throbbed and he began to wonder how much champagne he had downed. "Oh man, Sempai is going to kill me," he moaned as he looked for his glasses only to hear a low chuckle. He froze and was about to say something when he felt something cool slip onto his nose. His eyes adjusted and he found himself looking at a gentle and smiling William. His hair was a mess and he was standing in a sweater and jeans.

Ronald looked about for a moment and noticed his hedge trimmer sitting in it's case on chest by the closet. He had been in William's apartment before, however he didn't notice how different it was from the office. It was so much more relaxed and there was color, it wasn't as dimly lit and seemed to be warm in comparison. "How many times must I ask you not to call me that?" asked William. Ronald looked at William and noticed he was sitting on the edge of the bed with a forest green coffee mug in one hand and a navy blue one in the other. He looked just like a normal lover in the morning and Ronald blushed, which caused the older shinigami to chuckle. William smiled and pressed a kiss to Ronald's lips, it was light but made Ronald ache for more. He blushed again and William handed him the navy blue mug, it was warm and Ronald could tell it had just been brewed. "Thank you," he said and slowly took a sip. "Breakfast will be finished soon," he said after a moment and noticed how Ronald was still looking for his clothing. He pointed to a chair in the opposite corner of the room which had a garment bag draped over it, "I had it sent to the cleaners, you can barrow one of my shirts," he said. Ronald slowly got out of bed, he took the sheet with him and slowly slipped into his trousers. William opened the closet door and pulled out a maroon sweater, he smiled and placed it on the bed. "Wear that for now," he said. Ronald watched William's back as he walked back into the kitchen.

Ronald picked up the soft wool sweater and slowly inhaled the scent of William's after shave. He smiled giddily as he slipped into it, it seemed to hang loosely on him and he felt as though it had swallowed him. He sighed and muttered, "I don't feel like much of a man when I put this on." He rolled the sleeves up and wondered if this is what Sebastian felt like in Claude's clothing. He was well aware of the relationship the two demons shared. He sighed and slowly walked out of the large bedroom and realized William's apartment was much larger than his own, there were three other rooms, a living room, dining room, and a kitchen which was rather large. He could hear the sizzle of eggs in a pan and smell the various spices William was cooking with. Ronald nervously rounded the corner to find William standing in a black apron cooking an omelet and toast. He turned and said, "Oh it will take a few more minutes." Ronald nodded and walked into the living room. It was immaculately clean and he noticed a photo of a young woman and a little girl with a black ribbon over the corner. His breath caught when he saw William dancing with the little girl standing on his toes. Ronald hesitantly picked up the crystal frame and noticed the smile which had curled William's lips. He looked so happy, as his little girl stood on his toes. She was rather beautiful; she had William's hair and cheek bones, but her mother's nose, lips and round eyes. Ronald found himself staring at the woman who was clapping and clearly counting as the pair danced. It was such a happy memory, "So this is why you were crying," whispered Ronald before he placed the frame on the table.

He heard a cabinet door open and he looked at a wedding picture of the pair, William looked just as handsome in the photo as he had the night before. He was clad in a well fitted tail coat with a silver vest and silver cravat. A pocket watch hung around his waist and he was wearing white satin gloves. He looked at his wife happily and pressed a kiss to her cheek gingerly. She was giggling, he cheeks were a light rose, her lips were parted and Ronald noted her strait teeth. She had almond colored hair and her glasses were small rimless ones, her nose was small and curved, with a pair of full lips. Her eyes were rather large and he noticed how beautifully her face curved. William certainly had a beautiful wife, her snow white veil fell over her back, there were white roses tucked in it and he spotted a blue butterfly. Her dress was old fashioned yet beautiful, it was snow white with lace. He sighed and felt a little stab as he looked at the affection in their eyes. They looked so perfect for each other.

He heard another rattle and realized it was the silver wear drawer opening; Ronald placed the picture back on the table and walked into the kitchen; to find William setting his place. "Ah I would have helped you," he said quickly. William shook his head as he took a seat at the island in the middle of the room. He smiled and responded, "Don't worry about it I wanted to." Ronald smiled and picked up the fork which William had set out, the omelet looked perfect and he sighed. Ronald couldn't cook to save his soul, yet William made an omelet look easy. The texture was perfect and he commented, "Perfect." William smiled and replied, "I'm glad." It wasn't the same smile as the photos however it was better than all the others he had shown Ronald. It was better than not smiling at all. William took a sip of coffee and Ronald watched as William lowered the mug from his lips. He smiled and began to wonder if he would ever see the same smile that was in the photos.

Alex leaned back in her seat at her desk and released a heavy sigh. It had been a week since the gala, it had gone exceptionally. In fact it went over so well that she was book till the end of the year with orders for a variety of advertisements and themes. They were asking for everything from dark and sinful to bright and sweet. Sebastian had been running around gathering contracts and even Jodi and Allen were working hard on orders. It seemed that after the gala the entire firm had received so much exposure that the pair were also pointed out. Jodi was running to shoot after shoot and Allen was dealing with the issues involving different color schemes. Alex barely saw Sebastian or Claude, they both hit the ground running after the event. There was only on poster which she was struggling with and it was valentines day next year. It wasn't unusual for a firm to have posters and other advertisements done in advanced, in fact it was common practice. Like models wore winter clothing in the summer and summer clothing in the winter, graphic designers were rushing. There were very few Christmas designs she had left to do and was drowning in Valentines day. She held the stylus for her tabled in her fingers and slipped her hand through her hair. It had been a week since that incident with Rin, she could remembered it clearly and clenched her shirt. "I have to become stronger," she muttered as she slowly got out of her chair.

She looked over to see Jodi arguing about the layout because it was impossible to see the back of the corset and the fact that a thong shouldn't have been paired with it. "Oh please, no woman would wear a thong and a corset together, that's just torture. Nothing's more unattractive and uncomfortable than a length of fabric ridding up your ass and giving you a wedgie. Its bad enough you squeezed her into the corset, which isn't fitted properly. She's practically falling out of the top," said Jodi angrily. Alex snickered, she was probably the only woman alive, who wasn't a tart, which could say that over the phone to a male designer. She drummed her fingers against the table and replied, "I'm just saying to pair it with something more appropriate." She sighed and placed her hand on her forehead; Alex slowly walked in and looked at the image. Jodi was defiantly right and then she had a strange idea, she tapped Jodi on the shoulder and pointed to another pair and whispered, "Flip." Jodi's eyes narrowed and then she gave it some thought, she smiled and grabbed a sketch pad. Alex was always amazed at how fast Jodi could bang out a drawing; she added cuffs and then changed the panties and heels. "Okay try swapping the panties on the corset to those on number 28, then add cuffs and change the heels from hooker heels to ankle boots. Add a dangling necklace and mess with her hair a little, she should be good," said Jodi. There was silence and she listened intently, "Wonderful when can I have those images?" she asked. She pulled out her planner and returned to her usual pace; Alex smiled and took this as her cue to leave. She watched as Allen banged out his 20th advertisement, he was on a roll and she could tell he wasn't about to let up.

Allen sighed and picked up the phone, "Artistry, this is Allen," he answered coolly, his stylus still trailed across the tablet. He paused and went to his Mac, "I see well that fabric is impossible to keep clean and it will stain, I suggest a different fabric," he said as he picked up a booklet of fabric. Usually the designers were good about this stuff, however there were occasions which the graphic designer had to step in. "Perhaps cotton," he said after a moment and he nodded, his stylus traveled across the tablet and Alex sighed. Allen's glasses slid down his nose and he sighed as he pushed them up. As always Allen was absorbed in his work.

She continued through the hallway and wandered into the break room, sitting on the counter by the sink was a coffee maker and she sighed. Everyone had been so busy no one had a change to make more of it. She slowly pulled the container from the cabinet and was quick to scoop out ten tablespoons of coffee into the filter. There was a click behind her as the door opened she looked over her shoulder to see an exhausted Sebastian enter. He looked a little surprised, "Oh!" he said quickly. Alex smiled and nodded, she was exhausted however the work kept her mind from wandering. "You're making coffee?" he asked curiously, his eyes were locked on the filter which Alex slipped into the coffee maker. "Yeah, we ran out when I went to get a cup," she replied. Sebastian opened the cabinet above the sink and pulled two mugs, one black and the other white. "So you came for coffee too," she commented as she turned the coffee maker on. Sebastian looked over at her and noticed the bags under her eyes, "You seem tired," he commented. Alex sighed and took a seat at one of the tables. Sebastian leaned against the sink and crossed his arms. "You don't look much better," she commented, her voice was uncharacteristically cool and Sebastian closed his eyes and sighed. "That Gala drummed up a huge demand for their firm," he said. Alex nodded and leaned on the table, Sebastian's eyes flickered open and he noticed something was eating away at her. She was upset about what had happened with Rin, however she refused to talk about the incident. It had been a week and yet she still said nothing.

This concerned him, she was pushing them away when both Claude and himself had worked hard to pry her heart open. He noticed how her fingers traced a design on the table and he watched as she closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. A single finger seemed to flow across the table top, it etched and invisible line which could never be erased from her memory. The smell of coffee filled the room and he stared as her finger stopped drawing the one line and moved to something else. It was as though he was watching her create only there was no evidence of it. She sighed and opened her eyes, her fingers knit themselves in her hair and she tugged at it with frustration. "What's wrong?" asked Sebastian as he took a seat across from her. He had enough of waiting for her to talk.

Alex looked at him and finally asked, "If you could receive anything on Valentines Day what would it be?" Sebastian was confused and then realized she was talking about and advertisement. "What does Sterling want?" he asked after a moment. She sighed and leaned on the palm of her hand. "A new love knot," she replied. Sebastian noticed her irritation and thought that some how Rin had been factored into this. Thought for a moment and then he remembered a line Claude used to say when he was shopping for gifts for Sebastian, "Lipstick for a kiss, a dress for an affair," he whispered. Alex looked at him for a moment. She smiled and whispered, "A knot for our," she paused and started looking for the right word. Sebastian watched as she searched for it and then said, "A knot for a promise." She paused and looked at him and he said, "Lipstick for a kiss, a dress for an affair, and a knot for our promise." Somehow the words sounded sweeter as they rolled off Sebastian's tongue. She paused and then wondered what it sounded like when Claude said it. "Now how do we go about this?" asked Sebastian and Alex snapped back to reality. She sighed and thought for a moment, "This is a Valentines day design right?" he asked after a moment. Alex nodded and Sebastian looked displeased, "I think it's more suitable for Christmas, isn't Sterling's Love Knot premiering on Christmas?" he asked. Alex froze and pulled out her cell phone, he was right if it sounded something more delightful for a couple at Christmas time. "Yes it does," she replied. Sebastian grabbed his phone and dialed Arnold Sterling's number. The smell of coffee filled the room and she walked over to the coffee maker and poured two cups.

"I would like to speak to Arnold Sterling, it's Sebastian Michaelis from Artistry," he said, his voice was filled with its typical formality. Alex placed the black mug in front of Sebastian and kept the white one. "Yes we have a question, the Love Knot premiers this Christmas however you have the poster to be designed for Valentines day, so which event will the poster be displayed?" he asked. Alex pulled a sheet of paper and scratched down the lines hastily before she forgot them. "Oh so it is for Christmas," said Sebastian, "Well it's a good thing I called." Alex scratched down the change and she ran out of the break room with the piece of paper in hand. In moments she was drawing roughs of the layout and decided it would be cute to do something heart warming. She drew a pair of models hugging one another with the necklace around her neck, he was whispering something in her ear and she was giggling. Alex sketched the dress and then added red lipstick. She slowly wrote the lines above and heard a clear voice behind her, "You really have no idea what's going on around you while you work," Sebastian commented. Alex looked up to find that the floor was empty and the lights had gone out. She looked at the clock and realized that she had spent all that time drawing the models and the advertisement. "Ah," she said in shock and looked up at him. He snickered and held his hand out for the drawing, she heard the sound of the door open and noticed Claude walking out of the darkness. His jacket was over his shoulder, his shirt sleeves were rolled up and his hand slipped through his curly black hair. He honestly had the presence of a model, "So this is where my raven has roosted," he commented.

Sebastian looked over at him and smirked, "I see the spider has come to invade his hideaway," he replied playfully. Claude grinned and looked at an exhausted Graphic Designer, "Did you get hit by a truck?" he asked bluntly. Alex jumped to her feet and playfully punch him in the stomach, which hurt her hand more than it had him. "You jerk!" she shouted and Sebastian sighed. He began to wonder if Claude simply liked seeing her get that angry, even though it was rather cute. "What I just made and observation," said Claude defensibly and Alex punched him again. "Well you look like you were thrown from an airplane without a parachute," she shouted. Claude laughed and poked at the bags under her eyes, "Ah and you could pass off as a raccoon," he commented. Sebastian looked at the pair and noticed that Alex was desperately trying to get at Claude, who simply placed a hand on her head and held her still. He sighed and asked, "What color is the dress?" Alex stopped trying to get at Claude and walked over to Sebastian. "I was planning on a cheerful red," she said as she pointed at the dress. Sebastian nodded and closed his eyes for a moment. Claude looked over his shoulder at the drawing and noticed the lines. "Lipstick for a Kiss, a Dress for and Affair, and a Knot for my Promise to you," he said and looked at the pair. As a lawyer it was tempting to tease them about copywriting, since he had always said it, however he noticed the effort which had gone into it and it transformed from something sensual to something affectionate.

Alex sighed and took her black readers off, Sebastian and Claude had grown accustomed to the sight of them. She ran her fingers through her hair and pushed it back in place. "Are you alright?" he asked. She looked up at him and noticed he was actually concerned, Sebastian's red eyes were locked on her and she sighed. "I'm okay, a little upset but okay," she replied. Sebastian placed the pad on her desk and Claude leaned on the wall, he sighed and pointed to the chair, "Sit," he commanded. Alex was about to question him until she realized he wasn't in the mood to argue. Sebastian noticed the look in Claude's eyes and smiled, he knew just where Claude was going. "Guess how many tries it took me to find my raven," he said after a moment, he was looking at the carpet bellow his feet. Alex was silent and she noticed a smile of amusement curl Sebastian's lips.

"It took me centuries to find him," he replied, "before we met I wasn't interested in a relationship, I drifted aimlessly from lover to lover." He closed his eyes and pushed his glasses up his nose, "I didn't understand the concept of love; however I didn't want to always be a drifter. I slept with anyone who offered and didn't care," he said. His voice was distant and he gazed out the window at London. "Male, female it made little difference I just wanted to feel good, it wasn't until I met a maid named Lucie that I wanted to stay with someone. Lucie was Hannah's sister, the one who tried to kill me," he paused, Sebastian clenched his fist and Claude continued, "it started as a fling which changed into something more, she was a lovely sight with jet black hair and violet eyes. She had a hell of a personality though which made most fall for her. She started off as a Dutchess however after a power struggle she lost everything in one night." He looked at Sebastian, who nodded and then to Alex. "She was employed by Lord Lucifer and worked his palace in hell. At first she was reluctant however the pay proved to be higher than she perceived, so she decided to do the job. Later I joined her as a footman for the Lord; I worked for months to become the perfect footman to please her. Little did I know that she had been flirting with the lord's son." Claude paused and looked at her, "She was convinced that he could provide everything for her and that he loved her. She was attracted to his cruelty, and charm. She left me, I attempted to reason with her only to find myself standing in the Lord's office as he questioned who had gotten Lucie pregnant. Lucie claimed it was the Lord's son, while his son never touched her. He had heard of our previous engagement and asked if this was some form of power play." He looked at Alex his golden eyes were caught in the past as he recalled the next event, "I denied getting her pregnant and was fired on the spot and told to leave," he paused and looked at Sebastian, "No matter how hard I tried I couldn't find a job after that, I simply wandered into the forest with a broken heart. I even attempted suicide which is rather difficult."

Sebastian clenched his jaw and Alex noted his discomfort, "I had almost succeed if it wasn't for a silky smooth jet black feather which landed in my hand," said Claude. He looked at the palm of his hand as though the feather had still been there. His gaze softened and he continued, "I still couldn't find work, yet I never gave up, I persistently went searching for the feather's owner." He smiled softly and looked at Sebastian, "The one who saved me from myself," he said sweetly. Alex was at a loss for a moment and Claude said, "The point is, love finds you, you don't have to go looking for it, believe me." He looked at Sebastian and grinned, she noticed the pure love in the glances they exchanged, and she found herself envying their relationship. She sighed and looked at her shoes, "It just hurts," she whispered. Claude sighed and knelt on the floor in front of her, he placed a hand on her lap and then tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "It's never easy, then again if it were, do you think it would be worth it?" he asked. Alex smiled and nodded, somehow she understood what Claude meant and noticed the look in Sebastian's eyes. It was as though he was admiring the sight before him, a sweet Claude who was sympathetic and encouraging. He wasn't the same bossy and harsh demon he always acted in public and Alex realized soon enough that this face was the one Sebastian had fallen in love with.

"So the lesson is that there are plenty of fish in the sea?" she asked and Sebastian laughed as Claude frowned. "No it's that love comes with time," said Claude curtly as he stood up. Alex was laughing hysterically and Claude smiled after a moment and shook his head, at least she laughed. He paused and realized what he had just made her do, she laughed and it was such a sweet sound. He looked at Sebastian and then at the girl who was still giggling, he was shocked at first when he realized what he had just done. It was as if he were her father and he paused, he could remember the word she said on the beach in Rio. Parents, the word which seemed to have a beautiful ring, was what he had finally become. He smiled and asked, "So are you joining us for dinner or will you continue to eat take out?" Alex looked at him and shrugged, "What ever is more convenient I guess." Claude's eyes narrowed and he responded playfully, "Oh so it's down to convenience, you don't like us anymore?" Alex laughed and shook her head, Sebastian chuckled and said, "Well I don't know about you but I'm hungry." Alex nodded and fallowed them out quickly.