Additionally, Grell's oneshots were removed due to several complaints, and I will thank you not to bring it up, because it's a very sore subject.

Thank you for understanding, and do enjoy my outdated writing.

You were walking by the Thames when you saw him: the Queen's Guard Dog, Ciel Phantomhive. Quickly, almost too quickly, you thought, you dashed behind a building and observed him, quietly taking everything about him into account. He walked with a cane. Did he need it? He wore a black eyepatch across his right eye. It must impair his vision. He walked with a black-haired butler trailing behind him. The butler must be distracted.

You saw them looking your way, and you swiftly flattened your back against the alleyway you hid in; this was a dangerous game: far too dangerous for your liking, but you didn't have much choice; if you were to survive, you would have to do exactly as your employer told you.

Even so, you were shaking; something about that pair put you off. And you soon learned the reason why as two white gloved hands harshly clenched your own, pinning you up against the wall.

"What would you like me to do with her, my young lord?" the black haired man with crimson eyes asked, and your gaze darted to the boy who had somehow, miraculously come to stand at the entrance to the alleyway.

"What exactly did you mean by 'vile intentions'?" Ciel asked, both his voice and speech sounding overly sophisticated.

"I'm afraid I do not know the specifics, only that it would lead to injury and most likely death," the man replied smoothly. "Well, little lady? Will you tell my young lord what you had planned, or must I force you?" You snorted; you were no stranger to this phrase.

"I was hired to kill the Earl Ciel Phantomhive," you proclaimed proudly. "And if you think you've stopped me, you're dead wrong." You dislocated your wrist in doing so, but you freed your hand from the man's grip, your fingers instantly curling around one of the many concealed knives on your person.

Before the man with black hair could think to react, you threw the knife with pinpoint accuracy, straight for the boy's heart. You were triumphant until you realized the knife had been blocked by the annoying butler, his devilish lips curled into a smirk.

"Would you like me to give this back?" he questioned slyly, playing with the knife between his fingers, meanwhile slamming you harder against the wall, this time by the throat. You were honestly surprised you hadn't started coughing up blood.

"Wait. Don't kill her yet," Ciel spoke, and you cracked one eye open from your pained squint to look at the earl. "She's not an ordinary assassin. What's your name?"

You opened your mouth to reply, but not having enough air to breathe, you blacked out.

<><><>

"You were too harsh on her, Sebastian!"

"I was merely protecting you, my lord."

"Stop spouting nonsense!"

"Fufu. My, my, young master. You do not normally react this strongly to someone."

"Shut up!"

Your eyes opened slowly, only catching a fuming marine-haired boy walking out of the room as you were faced with disconcerting red eyes once again.

"I see you have awakened, little lady," the silken voice from before said, and you shot up.

"Where have you brought me, demon?" you growled, earning a chuckle from the older man.

"You are quite perceptive, little lady. You have been brought to the Phantomhive Estate for treatment since your wrist was dislocated and your back is quite badly bruised."

"Whose fault do you think that is?" you muttered, pushing the butler out of the way as you stood. "I can care for my own wounds, thank you very much. I am not helpless, unlike the ladies and lords of high society." the man chuckled.

"I apologize, but," the butler grabbed your wrist. "I cannot allow you to do that, as my master has ordered me to keep you here until he learns your name—"

"It's F/N," you interrupted bluntly.

"And confirms whether or not you are what he suspects you are." Your eyes narrow at the butler, but you say nothing. "He would like to meet with you as soon as is possible, so if you would please make yourself presentable—"

"I'm plenty presentable, demon. Take me to him so that I can get this over with." The man's grip tightened on your wrist, his smile making you think he was only barely containing immense irritation.

"My dear little lady," Somehow, those four words sounded extremely foul coming from the perfect butler's mouth. "I am of course speaking of wearing a dress." You growled.

"Have it your way, Sebastian. Pick one for me and get out." the butler paused, indicating to you that what you'd heard in your sleep was indeed his name, before he smiled, and still clutching your wrist, walked over to a tall wardrobe, and opened it to reveal many complex and colorful dresses.

"What is your favorite color?" Sebastian asked, picking through the dresses, all the while keeping a watchful eye on his captive, who was only waiting for the chance to escape.

"F/C." He smiled and picked out a complex F/C dress, one that, like all the others, was meant for pompous ladies trying to impress everyone around them.

"I can respect the fact that you try to do everything yourself," Sebastian began as he folded the dress over your arm. "However, if you attempt to escape, be prepared to face the consequences of that choice, no matter what they may be." With that, the butler left you alone with the dress and two options.

<><><>

"So, Ciel Phantomhive," you began, staring into his deep blue eye, trying to read him like you read books. Unfortunately for you, the boy showed no emotion that you could exploit. "Why exactly do you want to keep me around?" Your hand strayed to your corset, which felt as if it was going to kill you; Sebastian had not been joking about the consequences.

"Well first, I want to know who hired you." You paused.

"I suppose there's no harm since I'll probably be fired anyway. Luther Love."

"And what is your name. Your full name." You sighed.

"F/N M/N 2M/N L/N. Freelance assassin." Ciel stood up, startled.

"The L/N's? But they're..."

"I was disowned, alright?!" you snarled, also standing. You were sick and tired of people talking about your supposedly 'noble' family who were so utterly perfect.

"Disowned?!" Ciel asked, his voice seeming undecided between incredulity and anger.

"That's right! You grew up with loving parents, I didn't! They hated me from the very beginning as if I didn't even deserve to be born. Meanwhile, my siblings, older and younger than me, get everything. Everything." Before you knew it, you were crying, frustrated and tired tears rapidly streaming from your face, making Ciel feel guilty, but you weren't done. "I could work hard, oh yes, but no one would acknowledge me. Not me, the mistake. And that wasn't the end of it either. By the time I was ten, they decided they just plain hated me and threw me out, saying I had no claim to the family. It sucks, you know?" More tears. "And if that wasn't enough, I have to go through some sort of torture from that stupid demon butler and talk to you, embarrassing myself by breaking down and telling you my whole life story!"

Ciel sat back in his chair and picked up the tea cup that had been sitting there, waiting to cool.

"It is true that I had loving parents, F/N L/N," he said, looking at you over the rim of his cup before he took a small sip. "But mine were killed in a fire three years ago, just as yours disowned you. In addition, I was kidnapped by a human trafficker and sold to a cult to be a sacrifice. I do not think you have embarrassed yourself, nor do I think your life is pathetic. For one as old as I, I find it impressive that you have been able to survive this long, and without help from a demonic servant no less. So I would like to ask you something, F/N M/N 2M/N L/N."

"Which is?" you questioned cautiously, glad that your voice refused to waver.

"Become my fiance."

"WHAT?!" You stood back up, slamming your hands down on the desk.

"It won't be permanent, F/N. But I need a suitable person to pretend to be my fiance. I want mine to be safe, and she won't be with me. If I must break her heart to do so, then so be it." Your head was spinning; you'd never been asked to even pretend to be someone's fiance. Not only that, but you had no idea what love was, only that Ciel made your heart feel strange.

"If it will get me out of here, then I shall do as you ask, Ciel Phantomhive."

<><><>

"What?" Elizabeth asked tearfully of Ciel.

"I said I fell in love with a different woman, Elizabeth. F/N, come over here, please." You obediently walked over to Ciel, politely curtsying as you had been taught.

"Hello, Elizabeth Midford. My name is F/N M/N, and I am Ciel's new fiance." Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears again as she stared at me.

"Do you love him back?" she asked.

As practiced, you replied, "Why yes, of course." Elizabeth sighed and nodded.

"Paula, let's go home," she murmured vacantly to her upset maid.

"Well, it wasn't terribly convincing, but you have managed to deceive Miss Elizabeth," a familiar voice drawled.

"Shut up, Sebastian," you grumbled. "Can I leave now? I've fulfilled my end of the bargain." Ciel had not moved, nor had he even glanced at you while you were playing your part. It gave you the same feeling you had felt when your parents ignored you, but you didn't acknowledge the feeling.

"No," Ciel said, walking towards the dining hall. "To make this an effective ruse, you're going to have to pretend a bit longer, F/N. We'll discuss the details over dinner." You tiredly harrumphed and followed Ciel, wondering if dessert would be as good as it had been yesterday; you really didn't trust that butler.

<><><>

After the lengthy, and quite frankly boring, discussion about how long you would have to be Ciel's fiance, you retired for the day, glad for some sleep. But after a few hours of that precious sleep, you woke up again, a habit you had picked up from having to frequently sleep in alleys.

Sighing, you slipped on a jacket and opened your door to wander the halls of the manor. Yes, you'd been told not to do precisely this, but you had a bit of a rebellious personality. It wasn't long before you were completely lost.

So, you curiously began to try doors, finding that many of them were not locked. Behind each door, there was something different: a drawing room, a study, a bathroom—the list went on. But one door was different from the others.

Someone was in there.

Your curiosity reaching its peak, you cautiously walked into the large and extravagant room, watching a form turn under heavy covers. You crept closer, realizing that the head of hair you were staring at belonged to only one person: Ciel.

Unable to help yourself, you sat on the edge of the boy's bed, marveling at his child-like face, for once appearing his age. Suddenly, that face tensed in pain, and you found you hated that pained face. Carefully and hesitantly, you placed your hand on his cheek, wondering if your warm hand would make his cold expression melt a little.

"Who's there?" Ciel asked blearily, and you quickly retracted your hand, lowering yourself so that your head wouldn't be visible at a glance if he looked over the side. "Funny... I thought F/N was in here for some reason..." he muttered. "Though my door is open..."

You kept your mouth shut, your breathing silent as you waited for him to lay down again and go back to sleep. "I must be imagining things; why would she come in here?" You then heard the rustle of covers as he settled, and his breathing calmed to a normal pace.

Using your chance, you carefully stood up and made your way to the door when there was a sudden, yet soft, hit to the back of your head. You looked back to see Ciel smirking at you. "Why hello there, F/N. Fancy meeting you here," Ciel spoke pleasantly, and you gulped. You had made a mistake, and it was probably going to cost you.

"H-Hello, Ciel," you stuttered, feeling your cheeks warm up in a hot blush of embarrassment.

"You thought I was asleep, didn't you?" You nodded, edging further out the door, but Ciel noticed and threw another pillow at your face.

Becoming a little ticked off, you picked up one of the pillows at your feet and threw it back at Ciel, and before you knew it, it turned into a pillow war, both of you laughing in a mess of pillows and "emergency ammunition" (i.e., the covers) on the floor. You couldn't remember the last time you'd laughed so hard, especially when Ciel had fallen off the bed, dragging all of his sheets with him and in the process burying him in all of his fancy blankets.

"F/N," Ciel spoke, his face turning serious. "I changed my mind. You may leave my manor if you truly want to." You brightened; you could leave? Really, leave? But you soon frowned—there was something in you that didn't want to leave here. You stood up, and without knowing why, you hugged Ciel. "Let go of me! Let go at once!"

"I really appreciate that you would let me leave, Ciel, but..." You hugged him tighter, but his protests became weaker. "I don't want to leave any more. I'm still not really sure why... but, my heart is telling me not to leave this place." Ciel's protests stopped entirely.

"Your heart?" he asked softly, and you nodded. "F/N, do you... like me?" You smiled.

"I don't know. I had fun for what seems like the first time in ages... and you make me... happy." Ciel hugged you back fiercely.

"Are you sure?"

"Why yes, of course," you mimicked yourself from a few hours earlier, though with a little more enthusiasm.

"Then..." Ciel murmured, his head resting on your shoulder. "Let me sleep here for just a little... I'm tired." You smiled again as he fell asleep on your shoulder, and you, tired yourself from your pillow fight, fell asleep with him among the blankets and pillows scattered on the floor. 

<><><>

Some time later, you woke up again, and the first thing you saw was Ciel's peaceful face, making you smile—he was cute when he slept. It was only a few moments later that you realized your 'fiance' was hugging you tightly, as if he were using you as a teddy bear.

Ciel, you're such a sweet little cinnamon roll, you thought with a slight chuckle before you paused as you heard the door creak open. Hurriedly, you closed your eyes, realizing this could be very very awkward if you were awake.

"I knew there was some sort of fight going on in here, but I'll be damned a second time..." Sebastian's voice mumbled, and you shut your eyes tighter. "You two really love giving me work, don't you? Like-souls, I suppose..."

A soft chuckle shortly followed, and you heard a lot of moving cloth before you felt the butler scoop you up with Ciel still hugging you. Sebastian then proceeded to pull the covers over both of you. What the he... "My young master, you really seem to enjoy sleeping with girls other than your fiance," Sebastian remarked with another slight laugh.

You're the one who put us in bed together! Just what the hell are you doing?! "Then again, I suppose you did tell me to finalize the paperwork to officially make F/N your fiance."

You had a hard time keeping your mouth shut.

Sebastian's footsteps faded slightly, and you heard what sounded like several more pillows being plopped onto the bed. The clicking of his shoes faded even more, and you were about to breathe a sigh of relief when you heard Sebastian's voice again, this time right next to your ear.

"By the way, my young lady," he whispered, and you would have bolted upright if not for Ciel still being asleep. "I can read your mind. I must say I have never heard my young master be referred to as 'a sweet little cinnamon roll'."

You covered your face with the blanket, feeling your face warm intensely, only making the butler walk away chuckling. "Ah, and one more thing..." Sebastian had paused at the doorway. "While I don't mind if you share the bed, I would prefer you wait until you're a few years older until you wreck it." Wait, was he talking about...

"Sebastian, shut the hell up," Ciel growled, surprisingly awake. Sebastian laughed again, obviously amused.

"Yes, my lord."

"Bastard," Ciel grumbled as he hugged you a bit tighter. "He woke me up and made unnecessary comments again... I hope he didn't wake her up..."

You decided not to say anything as Ciel got comfortable and went back to sleep.