Chapter 29: Danny POV

"He did what?" the Earl said. I paused and knocked on the door, opened it slowly and slide inside the study. I closed the door quietly and faced the two men, the Earl shaking his head and sitting behind his desk. Sebastian stood beside a table with teas and sweets. He looked at me and gave a small smile.

"Earl? You asked for me to come?" I ventured, stepping closer to his desk.

"Sebastian has told me about this new deal that seemed to have happened behind all our backs. He has also asked me about something rather, well, personal," he said, looking at Sebastian as he was handed his tea. "But, that aside, the matter seems to be the very thing that will affect you."

I accepted the tea offered and sat in one of the high back chairs. I looked between them again. "Oh?"

"Your former… employment with the Reapers seem to continue to linger. Their fingers in your life, at least. All this nonsense of new Demons and creating them is above my very, still, Human brain to fathom, but just like the world I police as the King's Watchdog, each has their own rules." He paused and sipped at his tea and went on. "What I am trying to get at is that you will be a powerful Demon and need to be guided. I don't trust easily, and as much as I don't trust Sebastian at times," he shot a look at the Butler, "but there seems to be a shift in the direction that my Demon seems to want to go."

I nodded, slowly, not sure I wanted to tip my hand on how much Sebastian and I had talked about, well, us. For a day Sebastian was not around, the Earl simply said he had sent him to do some work, and would be back. The servants had seemed cautiously happy about Sebastian not being in the house for most of the day. I felt agitated not knowing where he was. What if I broke down and needed to be calmed? What if my fever came back and I had to be helped? But I was fine and eagerly welcomed him when he came to my room, his eyes dancing with questions, speculations, and I sat on the bed, listening.

The Earl looked at Sebastian and Sebastian looked back at him. I looked between the two men and imagined I was watching a tennis match. I waited for one to speak and sighed. I would be waiting an eternity, which, two of the three of us would be around for.

"Maybe I can shed light on the situation?" Two pairs of eyes swiveled toward me. Ah, well, I was in command, now, so I took a deep breath. "For the past months as I have been moving from being a Reaper to a Demon, I have experienced some… changes. Some are expected, and others are rather… very new." I closed my eyes and realized that I wasn't making any sense. "Mister Sebastian made me aware that my, as you put it, former employer added a few extras to my request when my paperwork suddenly shifted to the Demon side. It was a surprise, but, well…" I shook my head. This was not going well at all. "I need Sebastian at my side to help me through this."

The Earl's eyebrow rose a bit and then settled as he picked up his tea cup and casually held it toward Sebastian to refill, his eyes not leaving mine. After it was full, he brought it to his lips and I tried to read the seemingly emotionless eye that was on me. It was rather unsettling to have one eye covered and the other one so bright and piercing.

"So, it seems you both are requesting the other to stay."

I looked at Sebastian and he simply stood there, as if frozen, as per usual. "It seems so, my Lord," he finally said.

"And are you going to gush into overly theatrics on how he grounds you and how he will protect me, but can't seem to focus on even that when he can't share some time with you?"

I blushed. "I am not sure what he told you."

"Oh, at least he is polite and not listens in on conversations," the Earl muttered. I supposed that prior to Mey-Rin fetching me, the two already had conversations on personal matters. "Sebastian has offered some rather interesting suggestions regarding our own arrangement," he began after a moment. "It seems that you have become something of value to him. I… I understand that Demons do not move in the same circles, ethically and morally, as Humans, but, should things… progress, I do ask that there is decorum for the sake of Lizzie, my son, and the staff."

My cheeks were burning and I felt as if I was getting permission from my father to even talk to the local butcher's son, let alone court him. I took in a deep breath and reminded myself that to him, to everyone, I was a man, and indeed, a relationship of any kind, would appear to be improper. Scandalous. Sinful. Damned.

"I understand," was all I managed to choke out.

Another knock came and the door opened a little. The Lady Phantomhive came in and smiled, a hat in her hand. "Oh, am I interrupting anything?"

The Earl shifted and stood, smiling amicably and shook his head. "No, my dear. Just a bit of smoothing out of details of while Sebastian and I leave. Mr. Hyde's input in getting Vincent ready for his first trip with us in a few weeks has helped tremendously." He smiled at me and I smiled back. "Now, I must leave, I owe my lovely wife a meal and a show in London."

He walked around the desk and paused beside me. "Whatever else may be, I do thank you for giving us our son back," he said, emotion lacing his voice for a moment. "You have been a comfort to us both because of your sacrifice."

I nodded and stood, trailing behind the pair as they kissed Vincent on the cheek and reminded him to not give any of us a hard time. He nodded, his black hair swinging, and Lady Phantomhive brushed it out of his face and clucked. Vincent simply shook his head and laughed, smiles on all their faces as they left. I turned to Sebastian and he was looking at the young master, and then slowly met my gaze. His eyes were calm and he took my hand in his. I pulled back, but he held firm.

"My dear, please, no one is going to see us. I want to hold your hand, please?"

His voice was soft and I simply nodded. I stepped up to him and put my head near his shoulder and sighed. "Nothing is easy is it?" I whispered. His chuckle reverberated through him and I heard him sigh again.

"But this is only a moment to us. Your troubles now, your worries - our worries - will be gone. Mere memories to be replayed in times when we can laugh about it. The Master will protect you, as I protect him and you."

"From what? What do you think will happen?"

He pulled back and I looked up at him, feeling his gloved hand bush over my neck and cupping my cheek. "So many wonderful things, and terrible things. But, they are the natural order of things."

I leaned into his kiss, getting lost in the smooth curve of his lips, in the warmth of his fingers, and the way he seemed to breath in once more as we parted. I pulled him down once more by his collar and found my back against the wall, his fingers in my hair and his body molding into mine. I welcomed the sudden possessive kisses and the way his arms wound around my body, accenting my curves and my feminine body. I dragged his lips across mine and he turned my head, kissed my jaw and down to my neck, biting lightly. I was moaning. I was panting. I slid my hands down his back, around the front, under his tails and I was bold. I grabbed him. I grabbed his behind and gasped as he brought his left hand down and did the same, his right hand firmly keeping my neck open for him to kiss, lick, nip.

My world exploded and burned again. The feelings of heat came from around me, and in me, and I struggled to stay upright, to stay focused, to stay in the moment.

"Danny!"

My eyes fluttered open and I was laying down, looking up at Sebastian, whose eyes were now laced with concern. I heard footfalls and soon another face appeared - the young Master was kneeling beside me, his eyes threatening to well with tears.

"Mr. Hyde! Are you hurt?" he asked with a small tremble.

"Mr. Hyde simply needs to eat, I think," Sebastian said. "He told me he was feeling rather faint before he collapsed. He is quite okay, young Master."

He looked at Sebastian and nodded a bit. "I'll get Mey-Rin to bring up some apple tarts. You bring him to his bed," he said, finally sitting back.

I smiled; he sounded so commanding in his tone, so ready to take charge as the only Phantomhive in the residence. I reached out a hand as Sebastian scooped me up. "I am fine, Vincent," I said, using his given name. "Thank you for your concern. Very well done."

He stood a bit straighter and beamed at me, pride in his face. He nodded again and raced down the hall, his task too urgent to mind that running was frowned upon in the house. I leaned into Sebastian and he chuckled.

"I think you have won one Phantomhive's heart."

"The only one I need to know I have is yours," I said, my guard down, my mind open, and a sudden tiredness sweeping over me.

"And it is yours, my Lady," he answered, as he gently carried me up the stairs and then settled me into my bed, as I was already half asleep when Mey-Rin came in with a tray of apple tarts.