Chapter 1

He watched with a diligent, cobalt eye that held a slight glisten to them that was only reserved to when he looked your way. You trailed after Finny, laughing joyously when the blonde showed you the blooming flowers. Clasping your hands together in delight you turn your face toward him ever so slightly, charming him unknowingly with eyes that mirrored Ciel's. Your brother's gentle smile soured, turning into a pensive scowl as he remembers not too long ago the situation the both of you were in after your parent's death. He hid his mouth with his palm, looking off into the distance.

"What is the matter young master?" Sebastian doesn't tear his own eyes from you. "Isn't this what you wanted? She's happy. Not remembering a thing from the incident."

Ciel hums, not feeling up to answering the demon he had entered a contract with. That fateful night when they were beaten and tortured he never wanted you to remember any of that. How much pain you were in and how scared you were as you howled next to him. He cried for you as you had received most of the damage being a girl had subjected you to. Touching you all over the place with their filthy minds and hands. Once Sebastian arrived he begged the demon to erase her memory of that night. Losing their parents was traumatizing alone.

You notice a perturbed Ciel on the veranda overlooking the gardens. Frowning you grab a few flowers and bound over to him and Sebastian. "Ciel!"

He jolts, startled by your sudden closeness. "Yes (y/n)?" To which you kiss his cheek with your full lips, anything to erase that forlorn expression from your darling brother's young face. Face flaring up in a blush you laugh loudly at his expense and hand him a few flowers.

"For you my dear Ciel." Turning to Sebastian you hold up the stem of a large blooming flower that hue matched that of his eyes. "And for you Sebastian."

"Why thank you my lady." Sebastian grins and bows after gingerly taking the flower from your hand. "Although they pale in comparison to you."

Quite unladylike you snort and shake your head. "Always brimming with compliments, Sebastian."

"Only for you my lady."

Ciel groans. "Knock it off."

There's a taunting mirth in his smile when he glances at your brother. "As you wish young master." His long legs stride over to the other side of the small white metal table that separated the chairs and motions for you to take a seat. "Sit here my lady and I'll fetch you and your brother some tea."

You beam up at him with a thank you and happily plop down on the comfortable chair while pushing down the puffiness of your dress skirt. Ciel is still blushing, flowers gripped tightly in his hands while keeping his concentration on Finny who ventures up a ladder to prune the branches of a rather overgrown tree.

"Aren't you happy that Elizabeth is coming tomorrow?"

Huffing he supports his chin on his palm, putting his elbow on the arm rest.

Cheeks filling with air as you puffed them out you lean back against the support of the chair. "She's your fiancee Ciel and our cousin. You should be nicer to her."

"I'm plenty nice." his voice is laced with annoyance at the mere thought of the shrill girl that he was betrothed to. "She's simply bothersome."

"She just loves you." You try and defend her. There's a hint of sadness that you try to squash but can't. "She's always loved you. I wish I had someone like that. But. . . Mother and father died before they could select a groom for me. As male heir of the Phantomhive family they were more focused on your future."

"(y/n) that's not true. They loved you. And who knows, even if they had selected a groom for you he may not have loved you." Ciel suddenly realizes the incorrect way he had phrased that. Your eyes darken. "No, I mean. . . I'm sure he could've grown to love you. Who wouldn't. What I meant was in arranged marriages like this it wouldn't be uncommon if there was no love between you two. . ." Heart racing hearing himself babble like a complete fool Ciel averts his eyes from you. Before he can stop himself he blurts out "After all no one will love you as much as I do."

A boisterous laugh rips through your entire body.

"Stop it. It's not funny." Ciel hisses and straightens up while you hold onto your stomach and lean over with bouts of laughter.

"Of course! How can I be so foolish." You wheeze in between and let out the last of your giggles. "No one can love me as much as my brother does."

He loved the way your eyes glossed over with tears induced by your hysterics. The flush it gave your face. In a pout Ciel crosses his arms and flicks his visible eye away from you. "And don't you ever forget that. Any boy who even wishes to be in the same vicinity as you must have my approval."

"Yes yes." You nod your head with each 'yes'. "Hell hath no fury like a Ciel scorned."

"Now you're just making fun of me."

"Oh don't be like that dearest brother of mine."

*

"OH CIEL!!" A screeching chirp had you making a large green slash on your canvas and your brother breaking his pencil. Sebastian closes his instructional book and sighs.

"Elizabeth is here. . ."

"We heard. . ." Ciel glares at the door, hearing the loud echoing of her shoes clicking against the hardwood floor as she searched for you and Ciel. With a slight whimper at your destroyed painting you set aside your palette and brush and get up to greet Lizzy who soon bursts into the room like a storm of havoc.

"Lady Elizabeth, it's always a pleasure to see you." Sebastian smiles at the bouncing blonde in way too much pink.

She throws her arms around you first in an anaconda-like death grip. "Oh (y/n)! I missed you so much! You must come visit me more often!" Then her emerald irises catch the sight of Ciel. You swore you saw hearts form in her eyes as she casts you aside to go after Ciel. Frame stiffening he anticipates the inevitable collision. Elizabeth literally hurls herself at him. She pulls away from him shortly after, hands still holding onto his upper arms. "You grew! When did this happen?!"

A headache already ebbed at his temples you decide to come to the rescue and gently steer her away. "Why don't we go into the parlor and catch up. Sebastian can whip us up some tea and pastries. Can't you Sebastian?"

"Whatever my lady desires." the charming devil winks at you before heading to the kitchen.

You catch Ciel mumbling "He needs to act more like a resigned butler. . ."

Having more patience than Ciel ever did, you listened with interest to Elizabeth rant on about what she had been up to since the last time you saw her; her attendant sitting next to her, all smiles as usual at her happy charge. Next to you Ciel barely feigns attention as he looks about the parlor with a bored expression, circling the pad of his index finger incessantly around the rim of his teacup. You send a sharp elbow into his side to wake him up. What a moody teenager he was proving to be. With a menacing glare at your expense he squares off his shoulders and faces a still chattering Elizabeth.

"Oh I wish the two of you could've been there!" She finishes off her story with a doleful sigh. "You would've enjoyed it."

"I'm sure we would've." You cheer her up with a smile. "It sounds lovely Lizzy."

"Oh!" She suddenly exclaims and turns toward Ciel. Her blush didn't escape your attention. "Ciel, there's something serious I need to discuss with you on behalf of my parents."

This raises his plummeting curiosity. "About what?"

"Our marriage of course!" Elizabeth chimes with delight. "I'll be turning 19 soon. My father thinks it's time that we plan our wedding."

"Wh-What?!" Abruptly your brother shoots out of his seat, panicked and seeming prepared to run like an animal in danger. "19 is still too young!"

"On the contrary, young master. There have been accounts of people marrying when they're still children." Sebastian's silky smooth purr comes in as he suddenly appears, refilling your empty cup from behind you. It sends a shiver down your arms at the closeness of his lips to your ear. You will your hands to still and not cause the cup to clatter against the delicate saucer. At your jitteriness, Sebastian chuckles. "Forgive me for startling you my lady."

"Yes! That's what father said!" Elizabeth goes on. "And I'm ready to take the title of Lady Phantomhive!"

"But that's (y/n)'s title!" he screeches and whips his head to look down at you.

"Calm down Ciel. This behaviour is unbecoming of you." You'd never seen him freak out so much. "You knew this was bound to happen. That title was never mine to keep anyway."

Paula senses the rising tension in your brother and nudges her lady. "Lady Elizabeth, perhaps we should retire for a while."

"What? Why? Ciel and I have a lot of planning to do!" the spoiled Lady of Midford pouts and pulls away from her maid. "Like the flowers, venue, date-"

"Paula is right Elizabeth. The suddenness of it all has flustered my master." your suave butler speaks up on behalf of Ciel. "Let it settle in and then we can begin discussing your nuptials."

She's about to protest until you stand up. "Take this time to rest and write down what you have in mind for the wedding. Making a list of what needs to be done will make this process go much easily." Your smile is comforting, convincing Elizabeth to follow Sebastian and Paula to her room. Leaving you alone in Ciel. "What the hell was that?"

"You know damn well I'm not ready to get married (y/n)." Teeth clenched he runs a hand through his coal black hair in aggravation. The large sapphire on his ring catching the light of the sun that streamed into the room through large bay windows. It was once so big that it could only fit his thumb. Now he wore it on his middle finger. You yourself had a small sapphire pendant that lay on the divot of your clavicle. The Phantomhive gem.

"I know. Marriage is a big step." you simper and catch his free hand in your own. "But this day was bound to happen. This is what father and mother wanted. They chose Elizabeth specifically for you. They knew she'd make you a perfect wife." Slowly you begin to swing your clasped hands to and fro. "This is the day Elizabeth has been dreaming of, Ciel. She loves you. She'll make you happy."

"Not as happy as you make me." Ciel finally settles down at the sensation of your touch. He's rendered helpless at your calming voice and caressing fingers.

"I bet she'll make you much happier. There are things she can do that I can't." You grin at finally getting your brother to regain his mild manner composure. "She'll give you the love that you need if you let her. And in doing so Elizabeth will also give you children! I can be an auntie!" Adding with a gleeful giggle at the thought of a little blue- or green- eyed child running around whom you could spoil rotten.

"You always sound far too grown up for your own good." Nonchalantly his thumb runs across the bumps of your knuckles.

"Girls are often far more mature than boys. That's why." you pleasantly produce a hum from your throat.

Chest swelling and deflating with the release of a sigh, Ciel resigns to his fate. "There's no getting out of this, is there?"

You purse your lips tightly together and shake your head. "I'm afraid not. But don't worry. You're making it out to be the end of the world. You'll find yourself enjoying married life. While I on the other hand become a spinster. Unless you decide to find me an eligible husband."

This time Ciel scoffs. "One dreadful thing at a time (y/n)."