"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." -A.A. Milne
Ciel thanked the nurse as he stood and waddled over to his wheel chair. Sebastian smiled over his delicate shoulders and thanked her as well before he turned and pushed Ciel out of the room.
Ciel looked up at him, "I am homeless now, you know. I'll need a place to rent out for a while." He bit his thumb and winked.
Sebastian smirked and licked his lips, "I don't know if you can afford me. It'll cost you an arm and a leg...as well as everything in between."
"So my feet are out of the question?" Ciel laughed.
"I'll charge you extra for feet action, darling." Sebastian whispered in his ear, making Ciel quiver under his breath.
"Do I honestly need this chair? I can walk on my own you know." Ciel said as he waved a hand off to the side.
Sebastian didn't miss a beat. He kept marching toward the elevator and swiftly maneuvered himself around the chair and pressed the button for the ground floor in one fluid motion. He leaned over Ciel as the doors closed, "Remember that time I locked you in the elevator with me?"
Ciel smiled, "Fondly, but I also remember how you tricked me with that key and stole my first kiss."
Sebastian laughed lightly, "I did more than that."
Ciel gave a weak laugh, "Yes, well, if I didn't love you as much as I do, I would be quite upset with you."
"I'll make it up to you." Sebastian said with a more serious tone.
Ciel stopped and then said, "You've done more than repaid me for that, but I want you to know that I don't regret it."
Sebastian bit his lip, but composed himself when the elevator queued them to leave. He waited for the doors to open just enough and he squeezed Ciel through, making a straight path to the parking lot.
Ciel moved his thumbs around in his lap and looked around the lobby area, "You know, I thought Claude did care for me, but now I realize he was using me; he only thought of Alois." He smiled and pressed a hand to his stomach, "Oh well, that's all over now. Sebastian, I'm glad you made it out okay. Grell was pretty much-"
He was cut off when he felt something wet hit his shoulder, "Oh please! Don't tell me you're drooling already." He reached his left hand over to his right shoulder to wipe off whatever was wet. Ciel looked down at his hand.
"Blood? Sebastian, are you sure you're ready to leave?" He looked up at his lover's face.
Sebastian was staring down blankly at his face in return, blood pouring out of his mouth.
Ciel screamed and tried to leave the chair so he could find help, but Sebastian started walking faster and faster. Soon, Ciel felt a hard push and looked back to see Sebastian had collapsed face down on the concrete.
He grabbed the arms of his wheelchair and tried to wait for it to stop, but he continued on out into the parking lot before finally stopping. He waited a few seconds before trying to stand up, and once he was up he was wobbly. He fell to the ground hard and tried to look around for help.
"Is someone there?! I need help! Sebastian is-" He couldn't finish his sentence because he suddenly noticed a car speeding towards him. He screamed and threw his arms up in defense.
He could hear the car closing in on him when suddenly he woke with a start in the hospital room again. Panting, he looked around his dimly lit room and tried to piece together everything that just happened when a wave of relief washed over him.
"It was only a dream...well, nightmare. Nothing new." He looked over at the bed next to his and found it to be occupied.
"Sebastian?" Ciel called out softly and reached out, but it was no use. There was no response and he didn't want to get his hopes up too high just in case it wasn't him. He looked around and shortly found his water jug close by. After taking in half of its contents, he looked around for a clock.
It was after 4 am, so he knew daylight would be approaching, and with daylight came more activity in the hospital, which meant he could shake the feeling of being utterly alone...again. His back started throbbing, so he tried turning over on his right side, toward the patient in the bed next to him and toward the door.
"Maybe I'll have some answers with the daylight." He whispered to himself before closing his eyes and falling into a deep sleep.
Ciel woke and noted that the bed next to him was empty again. He sighed and looked back over at the clock before rolling over completely on his back, then stared at the ceiling until the patterns on the tiles began to mesh together. It was nearly noon and he felt disgusted that he slept so late. A noise caught his attention just as he was closing his eyes; the toilet in the room flushed. He stared over at the bed and moved his hands around, searching for the remote without looking away from that side of the room, then finally grabbed it and pressed the button to call the nurse.
A few moments later, a nurse came into the room, "Yes, Ciel? What can I do for you? Oh! And I almost forgot to mention, the doctor will be here today around 2 o'clock to discuss your treatment and release date."
Ciel nodded and quietly asked, "Who is in the bathroom there?"
"Your roommate, Ciel. Is there a problem?" The nurse gave a worried look.
"Do I know this person?" Ciel asked, still staring at the other side of the room.
She shrugged her shoulders, "The nurse last night didn't give any details. He was transferred in here as our shifts were switching, but he should be out before long. Can I get you anything?"
Ciel didn't respond at first, "What happened to him?"
"That's confidential. So, if you don't need anything else..." she slowly turned, making sure Ciel didn't need anything else, then left the room.
Ciel began to breathe softly, as if a single gust of air from his lungs would dispel the illusion, that another person, possibly Sebastian, was less than ten feet away from him. He could hear the sink running, and then he heard the gentle creak of the handles as the water was shut off, but everything fell silent. He held his breath as he waited for the next sounds of movement from the bathroom, it seemed like hours had passed before he heard the lid from what he assumed was the trash bin close.
He still held his breath even though his chest was on fire and watched the door to the bathroom with wide eyes. The knob slowly turned and he heard the click from the lock, so he closed his eyes as tight as he possibly could. He heard the door creak open completely and then whoever occupied the bathroom started out.
He could tell they were on crutches from the "clack, shoo" they made as they moved closer to his side.
'Probably entering their bed from the left.' Ciel thought to himself while his eyes were closed.
The person stopped and Ciel thought about opening his eyes, but he didn't want to feel the wave of disappointment wash over him if it wasn't Sebastian.
'I'm not ready to be hurt again.' He thought to himself, still holding his eyes closed as tightly as possible.
"Ciel?" A familiar, but hoarse, voice called out.
His eyes flew open and immediately began to water, "S-Sebastian?"
Sebastian dropped his crutches and hobbled over to Ciel's bed, immediately sitting down next to him, "I'm so glad you're okay!" He took as much of him as possible into his arms.
"Sebastian I...I thought you were killed! I didn't know who was in the room with me! They wouldn't tell me who it was, and I couldn't stand the thought of it being anyone else but you!" Ciel called out into Sebastian's chest.
He held Ciel tightly in his arms for five solid minutes before he loosened enough to look into his eyes.
"I'm here now. How are you feeling? Is your medicine working?" Sebastian asked in a soft, low voice as he stroked Ciel's cheek.
Ciel nodded and looked once at Sebastian's lips, then back into his eyes, and in that instant Sebastian knew what he wanted. He leaned in slowly and kissed Ciel's dry, but yearning lips. He eagerly returned the favor and put his small arms around Sebastian to pull him closer.
Sebastian pulled back first, "You need to rest. I want you to sleep easy; I'm not going anywhere." He stroked his lover's hair.
Ciel clutched at the hospital gown Sebastian was wearing, "I've slept enough. I want you to be here with me." He moved over in the bed to make room for Sebastian.
Sebastian smiled at this innocent but astounding action, "Okay. I'll stay here next to you. We've spent enough time apart." He leaned over on his left side so that he was facing away from his bed and looking at Ciel.
Ciel licked his lips, "I missed that taste. You know how it is, right? When we kiss I can taste you on me."
Sebastian gave no other response than a light laugh and he continued to stroke Ciel's cheek. Ciel closed his eyes and enjoyed his soft touch. The warmth of his hand seemed to warm his entire body, and fearing sleep, he opened his eyes.
"What happened to you?" Ciel asked, snuggling closer to his lover and clinging to his clothes as if he would vanish.
Sebastian moved his hand along Ciel's clenched fists and kissed his forehead, "Ciel, you don't need to hold onto me so tightly anymore. I'm not going any further than my bedside just in case one of the nurses doesn't like me being here with you." He felt his lover's grip loosen and he decided to fill their empty spaces with his own fingers. "I'll tell you everything once you're more stable. For now, I just want to look at you."
Ciel sighed happily, "I know the feeling." He squeezed Sebastian's hand and gazed into his eyes as if he was seeing them for the first time.
"Are you still moving in with me?" Sebastian asked in a soft voice.
Ciel's smile faded slightly, "If you'll have someone as needy as me. I'm a nuisance to everyone, even Claude."
Sebastian said lightly, "Shh. Don't talk like that. I'm thinking of selling my house and moving away from here. I want to leave this town and everyone in it. It holds nothing but bad memories for both of us."
Ciel's eyebrows raised, "Oh? Somewhere far away where they don't know us? Next thing I know you'll be asking me to play housewife or something equally ridiculous! Why not just stay where we are?" He bit his lip. The thought of moving away frightened him because he was afraid of being left alone.
"The home-base of my company is in America, and it would be more convenient for me to move there anyway. Plus it wouldn't hurt you to play housewife since I work so hard for you." Sebastian playfully leaned on Ciel's shoulder and batted his eyelashes.
Ciel blushed, "America, huh? Where in America?"
"California is where we are going to move. Ciel, I want you to be happy about this too, and I'm only suggesting California because it's where my company is located." Sebastian said with a slight hesitation in his voice.
"Any other reasoning behind this? Is it the seafood?" Ciel had another thought in mind, but knew he couldn't possibly be thinking the same thing.
"Same-sex marriage is now legal there, so we will be recognized in society. We won't have to hide our love for each other." Sebastian raised up and put his forehead against Ciel's with his eyes closed. "I love you so much it's smothering me. Even now I want to kiss you, touch you, make love to you, and it's all I can do to hold back. You mean the world to me!" He squeezed Ciel's hand lightly.
Ciel felt the lump forming in his throat, "I don't know what to say."
"Say yes." Sebastian said without moving.
Ciel nodded and Sebastian kissed him hard on the lips without looking away or even opening his eyes. Ciel was drowning in a sea of love, stress, warmth, medicine, and cologne. He licked his lips after they broke the kiss and he placed his small head on Sebastian's strong shoulder.
Ciel opened his eyes after what seemed like five minutes and yawned, "What time is it?" He rubbed his cheek on Sebastian's shoulder.
"You've been asleep for a little over an hour. No big deal. The doctor isn't even here yet." Sebastian said with a smile on his face while he rubbed his cheek on Ciel's head.
Ciel frowned, "Why did you let me sleep in the first place? I told you I had slept enough."
"Not enough for my standards. I didn't mind, though. I love watching you sleep." Sebastian cooed.
Ciel smiled and gave a weak laugh, "When will my doctor be here? The nurse said around 2 o'clock."
"It's just after 1 o'clock now, so within the hour." Sebastian released Ciel's hand and wrapped his big arm around the small body next to his.
Ciel smiled into his chest, "I want to move to America with you, but not California. I'm not sure if I could handle the weather."
"I'll go anywhere for you. I just want you to stay with me." Sebastian frowned and kissed Ciel's forehead.
"What are you talking about? Of course I'll stay with you." Ciel pressed his chest in concern.
"I haven't been the best to you in the past. I practically raped you in the beginning, forcing you to do things with me when I knew you weren't ready." Sebastian hiccuped and covered his mouth. "I can't look at myself without seeing your pained face." He gasped and held his breath.
"What is wrong with you?" Ciel nudged him, "Look at me."
Sebastian uncovered his face, his eyes were red and swollen already.
"I want you to know that you have changed my life completely, and I can't forgive you for that because there is nothing to forgive. You saved me in ways I never knew possible and in ways I didn't think would ever work. I will never let anyone else touch me the way you do and I know I will never love anyone else more than I love you in this moment. You mean everything to me. Quite literally, you are the reason I am still breathing." Ciel's small hand grasped at Sebastian's gown.
Sebastian grabbed Ciel's hand and smiled through his tears, "I can't believe I'm marrying someone like you. You aren't the only one who was saved, you know. I can't imagine ever going a day without you."
Ciel hiccuped and burped then grabbed his stomach, "Ugh, I have heartburn."
Sebastian looked down at his stomach, "You do need the nurse?"
Ciel nodded, and Sebastian kissed his forehead delicately before he turned to grab his crutches.
"Oh dear, it seems I've kicked them under my bed over there. Hold on." He leaned over the bed to see if he could somehow reach them without getting up, but it was no use.
Sebastian sighed hard and sat up straight in the bed, turned, then tried to stand with all his weight on his good foot. His hand slipped on a wrinkle in the bedsheets and he fell forward into the floor, landing with a hard thud.
"Ah!" He called out in pain.
Ciel gasped, "Let me call the nurse!" He scrambled to find the remote but Sebastian waved a hand.
"It was just unexpected is all. No need to panic." He leaned forward and grabbed a crutch.
He stood, wearily, and leaned on his crutch. He didn't bother to grab the other as he was only stepping out into the hall to call the nurse.
"Sebastian, are you all right?" Ciel asked from the bed.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me." Sebastian took a large step over toward the door just as a nurse turned to enter.
"Oh! I'm sorry, sir. I just came in to tell Ciel about the doctor." She smiled and moved around Sebastian.
He also turned and followed her over to Ciel's bed. "He also needs some water."
She nodded, "Okay. Ciel, the doctor just called and said he couldn't make it in today, so now you have two options. I understand you just collapsed out of dehydration and malnutrition, but there is also the problem with your medication." She moved around the bed and shook his drip bag and wrote some things down on her clipboard. "This medication can only be taken two ways: through a shot or this drip. You may choose whichever you wish, but if you choose to continue the drip we will have to keep you here. Now, if you can walk and choose to take the shots then you are free to leave, but if you have trouble getting around by yourself, then you may stay here and take either." She smiled, "Understand?"
Ciel nodded, "May I try walking?"
She nodded, "Of course, just let me get another nurse so that both sides are covered." She turned and left the room.
Sebastian smiled, "This is looking good! My right foot is injured, but I can drive with the left." He shuffled around so that he could sit on his own bed, "I'll be able to give you your shots and you can help me work with my feet...we can help each other heal."
"Physically and emotionally. But, why would you need to drive? Isn't your car completely totaled?" Ciel added with a smile.
"I have another car." Sebastian cooed.
The nurses returned, "All right Ciel! Let's see if you can stand up, okay?"
Ciel nodded and moved so that his legs were over the side of the bed, but he could go no further because of his drip.
The nurse from earlier came around to stand next to Ciel while the other nurse grabbed his drip and moved it around the bed, "There, now, you should have enough room to move. On the count of three we will stand you up."
"I don't need to be counted out like a child." He grabbed their hands and moved off the bed by himself.
He stood on shaky legs, but soon gained his balance. Ciel took a few steps forward and then turned to walk around his own bed, "See? I think I've gained all my strength back."
The nurses nodded, "All right, let's just get this drip off you." The larger one grabbed Ciel's hand, holding the tape steady, and removed the needle quickly while the other nurse had a band-aid ready and quickly placed it over the opening.
"All right, Ciel, I want you to try and walk around as much as you can, but don't over-do it. I'll prepare your medicine myself and come back in a few minutes to show you how to use it."
Ciel replied, "Also, he needs to know how to give it because he will be living with me."
She nodded, "He needs some caring himself, dear. Well, I'll be back in a while with your medicine," she turned to Sebastian, "And I'll need to check you out too."
Sebastian nodded, "All right, but I'd prefer it if Ciel isn't in here for that."
"All right. I'll see you two in a few." She left with the other nurse in tow.
"Why don't you want me to know?" Ciel asked as he moved over to Sebastian.
Sebastian put his hands up cautiously, "Don't overwork yourself."
Ciel frowned, "Don't you trust me?"
"It's not like that! I don't want you to worry about me in your weakened condition." Sebastian said in a low voice.
Ciel crossed his arms, "Weakened condition? I can walk just fine, and it's not like I can hide anything from you anyway, so I expect the same of you."
"I'm afraid it will have to wait." Sebastian shuffled his legs and smoothed out a few wrinkles in his hospital gown.
Ciel licked his lips and blew out air, "What do you want me to do, beg? You can forget it!" He walked over to the window with his back turned.
"Ciel, please don't be upset. I promise I'll tell you everything once we are settled at home and comfortable. I can't have you getting upset in here because they may want to keep you." Sebastian called out as he placed a worried hand over his eyes.
Ciel looked over his shoulder, "I don't like secrets. My whole life is full of nothing but secrets and empty promises...and I thought you were different. It's like I can't think clearly when you're holding me."
"Ciel, please, just calm down and trust me. I am telling the truth when I say it must wait until we leave. I don't want to be separated from you any longer than necessary." Sebastian cooed as he wiped down his face with his hand.
Ciel laughed, "It's the only move I can make. I have no choice but to trust you because I owe you so much more than I could ever repay in a lifetime."
Sebastian smiled, "Do this one thing for me and I'll consider us even."
Ciel smiled, "Then I won't feel obligated to stay with you."
Sebastian was silent, but could see Ciel's reflection in the window and saw that he was smiling, "You nearly fooled me."
"I have to give you a hard time somehow. The anticipation is killing me." Ciel gave a weak laugh.
Sebastian smiled, "All in good time. I love you."
"I love you too." Ciel smiled and looked down, trying to hide the tears in his eyes. He hiccuped lightly and wiped a hand over his eyes.
Sebastian looked up as the small nurse entered. She turned and faced Sebastian, "Okay, he needs to take this in his back twice a day for two weeks. He can't be walking too far, he can't lift anything heavier than a gallon jug, can't be in any kind of strenuous activity, sex included, and must get plenty of rest as well as fresh air. Try to keep as much dust away as possible and try to let in as much fresh air as you can. No perfumes, no smoking, no strong scented soaps, and absolutely no contact with anything feline or anything that has been in contact with the dander. Got it?" She smiled.
Sebastian nodded, "He's in good hands, madam." He flashed a brilliant smile at her and she blushed.
"Right, well, come over here Ciel." She said in his direction.
Ciel turned and walked slowly over to her. She lifted his shirt and pointed out the spots where Sebastian needed to inject the medication.
"Here in these four spots only, and you must rotate them each day. In other words, never give them to him in the same spot in one day, or on the same side. So, if you give him the injection on the top left in the morning, it needs to be bottom right in the evening, got it?" She said while pointing.
"I need to make sure it's between his ribs, right? It needs to get close to the lung, I assume." Sebastian said while looking over Ciel's small back.
She nodded, "Yes. Of course. Ciel, I'll need you to go into the hall and wait on the other nurse so that you can finish up your tests."
Ciel nodded, walked over and smooched Sebastian's cheek, and left without saying another word.
The nurse waited and listened to his small footsteps retreat before she began, "You know this looks bad on you, right? Not asking about the passenger and all."
"It was a mistake on my part, but I can assure you my life was in danger and that was the only suitable solution." Sebastian said with a grim tone.
The nurse frowned, "I'm still waiting on the police to give me their report so that I may clear you to leave with him. Is there anything I should hear from you first?"
"He had a gun to my head, and I have no license to carry one. The police should find it close to the scene and that will prove my situation without Grell's input." He said without breaking eye contact.
The nurse sighed, "Are you sure you're mentally stable? You killed someone and refuse therapy."
Sebastian shrugged, "I was defending myself as well as Ciel. He's the only person I care about in this whole world, and I believe if you were in my situation and it was your children or husband on the line you would feel the same."
"How do you intend to care for him now that your ankle is shattered? You know you'll be put up on bed rest for over six months, and he's too weak to carry anything heavier than a dinner tray." She asked with a slight pang of guilt and worry in her voice.
"I can give him his medication from bed and he can bring me food. I work from my laptop so leaving bed won't be necessary, I bring home six figures a month so bills are no issue, and we are more than capable of helping each other heal emotionally and physically. I understand your concern for your patients, but we are different from all the others."
"Right, because you have each other," she stated flatly. "I'll call the police station to see if they've heard anything and if you're clear I'll have you two ready to leave."
"My billing information should be in the paperwork with Ciel's medication bill. Oh! And ask them if they have recovered my phone, if you don't mind." Sebastian said with a smile and a wink.
The nurse rolled her eyes and left without another word.
'I thought she was the nice one.' Sebastian thought as he looked over to Ciel's bed.
There was nothing there that belonged to Ciel other than a used mug for water. He frowned at the thought of welcoming Ciel into his life with nothing, not even the clothes on his own back. As he was nearing the fine surface of sadness and pity, he felt a deep stir of happiness. He was also leaving without anything. A new house would be empty; no furniture, no clothes, no appliances, and nothing to remind them of a time when they were apart. This was the perfect opportunity for the both of them to start clean.
He looked around for his phone, but then remembered it was lost in the wreck. He sighed and nervously tapped his fingers on his leg while waiting for someone to return. He looked down at this ankle and tried to move his toes, without success.
"I can't tell him about Grell. Not yet, especially with people like that nurse hanging over my head. Once we're out of here, I'll have a taxi take us home where I will be able to contact my agent, and from there I'll have him put my house on the market. While that's working, I'll have Ciel's passport made and buy him some clothes, and then we can sit down together and look for a house in America!" He tried to whisper to himself, but was carried away in a fury of emotions and practically yelled the last part.
"You all right, Sebastian?" Ciel asked from the doorway.
Shocked, he stood with his crutches, "What did they say about your tests? Are you cleared to leave?"
Ciel nodded and walked closer, "What did she say about you?"
"Nothing important. She should be back any moment to clear me." He smiled.
"I'll go ask." Ciel said and immediately turned and left.
"Wait! I'm sure she's busy, Ciel!" Sebastian tried to rush off after him, but he fumbled with his crutches such that he dropped them both and couldn't quite get them in time.
Ciel approached the desk, "I want to know when Sebastian will be cleared to leave."
The nurse looked up at him and put up a finger to indicate she was on the phone. He signed and leaned on the desk, angrily tapping his fingers.
She rolled her eyes, "I see. So he's all clear? Uh-huh, yes. Yes. Okay." She hung up the phone and looked up at Ciel, "Tell Sebastian his phone was broken, but he's all clear. I'll be right with you so that you can sign this release form and then we'll wheel you out. Shall I call a taxi?"
"If you don't mind." Ciel said as he walked back toward the room, "Sebastian? You're all clear, but your phone is broken."
He clicked his tongue, "That's a shame. I really liked that phone. Oh well. May we leave now?"
"No. Just some more paper work and then we'll be free."
"Good. I need a hot bath...and of course warm water for my ankle." Sebastian said with a smile, moving closer to Ciel.
Ciel blushed, "Oh stop it. We're in public."
Sebastian wrapped an arm around his slender waist, "Not public enough." He leaned down and kissed his ear.
Ciel trembled, "Not here! I'm only in this gown, Sebastian." He clutched Sebastian's gown for some support.
"You think I won't have the same problem as you?" He leaned closer to the boy so that his hardness was pressed against his body.
Ciel blushed, "Oh my...oh gosh...I..." Ciel stammered, unable to think clearly.
The sound of approaching footsteps made them separate only slightly. The nurse walked in with a wheelchair, "Who is riding."
"He is." Both Ciel and Sebastian said in unison.
"Great, we don't need it then. I'll need you to sign these two forms. They basically state that you are feeling well enough to leave and are healthy enough for us to discharge you. It also states that you are fully aware of your after care and that you will need no further assistance with your general healthcare regarding this incident unless it is something beyond your control. Sign there at the bottom and initial over there to agree and I'll get you two out of here." She winked and handed them each a clipboard.
Sebastian signed his, initialed, and waited for Ciel to finish before handing them both over to the nurse.
"Great! Any other questions?" She looked at them both in the eyes.
"Where will I be able to pick up Ciel's medication?" He asked.
"I have it right over here at my desk. The first two doses are already filled so you'll need to use those as reference for when you need to give it out yourself. Anything else?"
"No, that will be all, thank you." Sebastian smiled.
The nurse left to retrieve the medication and Sebastian went to follow her.
"Don't you want to use the chair?" Ciel asked.
"No. I'm all right with these. Just stay by my side in case I fall." He smiled.
"I don't know if I could catch you, but I hope you feel better knowing that I would try." Ciel said as he reached up and gave him a peck on the cheek.
[a few months later]
"Whoa! It's even bigger than I first thought! The pictures don't do this place justice." Ciel walked through the double doors of their new lakeside house in northeastern Maine.
Sebastian carried in the last box and placed it on top of a pile of other boxes before wiping his brow, "I know. It might be too large for just the two of us to fill, but I'm sure we'll manage like always."
He barely finished before Ciel had his small arms around his waist, "It's perfect! We can fill it with our possessions and laughter and smells from cooking and everything that makes couples...well, couples."
Sebastian smiled and wrapped his arms around Ciel's shoulders, "Of course! I'm so glad I had the movers deliver these items instead of having them shipped. I'm sure they would have left them out in the weather because the doors were still locked."
Ciel moved back, "Why do we have all these boxes anyway? We didn't have a fourth of this stuff when we left Japan!"
Sebastian smiled, "I ordered some things for us so we wouldn't be living like peasants when we arrived."
Ciel laughed, "Peasants? Don't make it seem like we are so low just because we decided to start all over."
Sebastian smiled, "Are you able to start unpacking in the kitchen? I have a bunch of silverware in a box in there."
"Sure! Why don't you start on sorting our clothes upstairs in the bedroom?" Ciel asked and pecked him on the cheek.
"All right. Yell if you need anything." Sebastian smiled and walked over to the stairway. As soon as he reached the top he pumped his fist, 'Yes! Now I can set up the surprise!' He thought as he ran into the bedroom.
He looked around and decided the decorations he had put in place were perfect, and then went looking around the head of the bed for the small box he placed there earlier, opened it to check for its contents, then tucked it into his pocket before standing and dusting off his pants. He stepped into the adjoining bathroom and adjusted his hair and shirt so that it was perfect, then walked back into the bedroom. Sebastian looked around and quickly found the large black case he had hidden earlier in the closet, cleared this throat, and opened it.
"Ciel! Come here! I have something to show you!" He yelled and quickly removed the contents and kicked the case under the bed.
He heard the small footsteps come up the stairs, "What?" Ciel called from the hallway, "Are you okay?"
He rounded the corner and gasped. Sebastian was holding a guitar and he stood next to the bed which had been decorated with red and white rose petals, "What is going on? What is all this?" He asked, but gave a light laugh while holding his chest.
"Ciel, 'If ever there is a tomorrow when we're not together...there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think, but the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you.'"
"Sebastian...that was...beautiful, but what are you doing? We have boxes to unpack." He reached out and stepped forward, but Sebastian put up a hand.
"A. A. Milne is one of the greatest English poets in history, and I feel that he said it better than I. Ciel, I want you to know how much you truly mean to me." He smiled and got down on one knee, "I'm going to play a song for you."
He took a breath, plucked a few strings, then began:
"In a perfect world, one we've never known, we would never need to face the world alone." He opened his eyes so that he could look at Ciel.
"They can have the world. We'll create our own! I may not be brave, or strong, or smart, but somewhere in my secret heart I know love will find a way. Anywhere I go, I'm home if you are there beside me. Like dark turning into day, somehow we'll come through, now that I've found you, love will find a way." He closed his eyes again, but noticed Ciel's were watering.
"I was so afraid, now I realize: love is never wrong, and so it never dies. There's a perfect world shining in your eyes. And if only they could feel it too, the happiness I feel with you they'd know love will find a way. Anywhere we go, we're home if we are there together. Like dark turning into day, somehow we'll come through, now that I've found you love will find a way. I know love will find a way."
He placed the guitar aside, "'Promise you won't forget me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred.'"
Ciel hiccuped and walked over to Sebastian, falling to his knees and hugging him, "'How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.'"
Sebastian reached into his pocket, "You never have to say goodbye to me, and here's something to prove it." He revealed a small box to Ciel, opened it, and exposed a simple band of gold.
Ciel glanced only for a moment, then buried his face in Sebastian's chest, "You have no idea how happy I am!" He sobbed lightly.
"I believe I could come close if you said yes." Sebastian replied, nearly choking on the lump in his throat.
"How can you be so calm?" Ciel hiccuped again and looked up into his eyes, "I'm a complete wreck right now."
"It's the most natural thing for me to do. I want to spend every waking moment with you, and every sleeping one. 'I think we dream so we don't have to be apart for so long. If we're in each other's dreams, we can be together all the time.'* Won't you be my dream?" Sebastian cooed.
"Of course I will." Ciel smiled.
"Forever and ever?" Sebastian asked.
"'Even longer.'"* Ciel said before kissing Sebastian and lacing his small fingers into his big ones.
[a few days later]
Ciel opened his eyes and held up his left had so that he could admire the simple band of gold. He threw the covers back and stood up, stretching before walking out and down the stairs, "Sebastian? Are you down here?"
"Yeah! I'm looking around on the internet for some of our friends." He replied, "I made some coffee. It's still hot."
"Thanks." He walked straight past Sebastian who was on a laptop in the living area and into the kitchen, grabbed a small white mug out of the cabinet, poured a cup of coffee, and returned to the living area and sat on the right side ofSebastian on the sofa.
"Have you found anyone from high school?" Ciel asked before taking a sip, "Why blonde roast?"
"It's delicious by itself, and yes I have! Everyone is on here." Sebastian shifted so that he could share the view with Ciel. "Soma started his own fashion company, and his girlfriend Mae-Rin is the face of his company. Alois is still living with Claude, but it says here that they moved to Osaka so that Alois could attend a different high school. William and Baldroy seem to have moved into a university dorm together, and it looks like Finnian and Ronald are there too, but they seem to be an item. Then, I clicked over here and Paula and Elizabeth have moved to California and was married just a few days ago." He shut the laptop and put an arm around Ciel, "Looks like everyone is happy."
Ciel cuddled up to him and sipped his coffee, "What about Grell? You still haven't told me what happened."
Sebastian frowned and leaned forward to place his mug on the coffee table, but felt his simple band of gold graze against the mug and smiled again, leaning back comfortably with Ciel's weight on him, "I did what I had to do to protect you."
"So I guess he didn't make it?" Ciel asked and took another sip of his coffee.
"Yeah. That's right." Sebastian squeezed Ciel slightly tighter and sipped his own drink.
Ciel sighed in relief, "Now I know I'll have you all to myself as long as I live."
Sebastian leaned his head back and let a wave of happiness wash over him.
"Hey, Sebastian?"
"Yes, Ciel?"
"'If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.'"
"Who is quoting Milne now?" Sebastian looked over and into his eyes, "I actually hate that quote."
"Why? It think it's beautiful."
"You would because you'd never have to be without me. If that actually happened, I would have to live one whole day without you, and I believe that is the worst punishment in the universe."
Ciel finished his coffee and placed the mug on the table in front of him, "I love you."
Sebastian nearly choked on his coffee, but managed, "I love you too."
Ciel sat up straight and kissed Sebastian's lips, "What do you like most about me?"
"Your skin."
"Why?"
"It's like the sand on the beach."
"I know. I need a different lotion."
"No, I mean, it's like the sand in that I find myself much like the ocean; always returning and finding something new to cherish. I live only to caress your skin and feel it pressed against mine."
Ciel smiled, "Beautiful."
Sebastian placed his mug on the table next to Ciel's, stood, and picked him up off the sofa.
"Where are you taking me?" Ciel giggled.
Sebastian laughed with him, "You know where this is going, sweetie."
Ciel threw his head back and laughed as Sebastian climbed the stairs.
Sebastian reached the bedroom door, walked in, and looked back behind him at the spacious view. For a moment he paused to take in the lake as the sunlight danced off it and into his eyes, filling him with superficial warmth, then he looked into Ciel's eyes that danced with laughter. He chuckled and continued into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him.