Elizabeth gasped, covering her mouth with a shaking hand. "C-Ciel?"
"Hello." He breathed.
Her green eyes were wide. "H-how? A ghost?"
He shook his head. "Not quite. Though I am dead…in a manner of speaking."
They stood, staring at each other in silence.
With a quick inhale she began to blurt out words. "H-How are you?"
"Quite fine."
She stared at him, "Your eyes are a different color."
"Yes. Demons have red eyes."
Her eyes went wide but she did not say anything. "So that's…" her voice trailed off.
"Yes." He affirmed.
She inhaled deeply, shaking her head, as though she were trying to piece everything together. She looked at the young man in front of her once more. "Um. I'm married now," she smiled, as though she had bumped into an old friend, "And I have three lovely boys. He's a kind man, my husband. He takes good care of me."
Ciel nodded. "So I see."
She stepped up to the boy, almost as though she wanted to touch him. The Young Earl began to chuckle wryly. "I am real, I assure you."
He did not protest as she hesitantly combed away his hair with her fingers, looking into his now burgundy eyes.
"I have been well," he said, noticing her expression, "You needn't worry about me."
She smiled weakly, "Yes, you were always quite capable of taking care of yourself." She paused for a moment, then scrunched up her features, "What of Sebastian? He left around the same time as you-"
She stopped her speech when she noticed the strain in his face. "I suppose some things are better left unexplained." She said quietly.
He exhaled. "It would be better that way, yes."
Silence held them together once again, before Ciel inhaled quickly. "You're glowing." He admitted.
Her eyes widened and then crinkled at the corners as she began to smile. "Thank you…I actually haven't told anyone yet…but I'm expecting."
This made Ciel's eyes widen in turn. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." She held her smile, touching her hand to her stomach tenderly. She looked up at him, "Will you…I mean…" she looked down, "I'll probably never see you again, will I?"
"It probably would be best if you didn't."
She nodded to show she understood. She bit her lip, brushing his hair out of his face again, and tenderly kissed his forehead. It was sweet, like a mother kissing a child. "I'm glad you came." She told him.
He nodded, and she began to cry once more.
He blinked. "Lizzie?"
"Forgive me," she patted her face, "I know you probably went through some trouble to see me, and I should be grateful enough for it. But…" she hesitated, unsure if she should continue. Ciel stared at her in silence, allowing her the time she needed to finish her sentence. "If I could ask of you one thing?"
He rested his hands on his cane. "Yes, what is it?"
She exhaled shakily, "Are you happy, Ciel?"
"As happy as a demon can be." He replied curtly.
She nodded. "I thought I'd die without ever seeing your smile…"
He smirked just then, shifting his cane to his left hand. "You silly woman," he shook his head, "I come back from the dead and all you want is a smile?"
She lowered her head, somewhat embarrassed. He stepped up to her, lifting her chin up with his fingers.
"Lizzie," he smiled at her, his eyes softening, "Promise you won't worry about me?"
She smiled back at the Young Earl, tears welling in her eyes. Images of their childhood flashed through her mind, when he would smile at her in that same manner almost every day. "I'll try." she breathed.
"I must get going now." He said, dropping his fingers.
"I understand."
He turned to leave, but she called out his name.
Her fingers went to the back of her neck, twiddling with what he believed to be a necklace. She pulled at the fine chain, collecting it in her hand, a small blue sapphire shining among the silver. He stared at the necklace, a present he had given her the birthday before his death.
"You've kept it all this time?"
"I've always loved you." she smiled weakly holding her hand out to him, "And I hope you'll take it. So you'll have something after I've passed."
He cringed. "I've never been one for sentimentalities."
"I know." She looked at him hopefully.
He extended his palm to her, and she dropped the necklace in his hand.
He couldn't help but stare at it, nostalgia dulling his senses once more. He closed his hand around the small piece of jewelry and inhaled deeply.
He nodded to the woman who would have been his wife. "Goodbye, Lizzie."
She smiled happily, her eyes moist from the tears that he knew she was holding in. "Until the next life, Ciel Phantomhive."
A/N: So I was convinced to continue this...and idk, I kinda like it. Hope you guys do too :) Happy reading~