Unforeseen Consequences (Lovely Thyme and HaliBug)

[HaliBug]

"If you trust Claude and think that going by yourself is a safe decision, then I will trust you," Vincent told Sebastian after a moment of thought. "I think it would be a good idea to have someone go with you, but I will let you make that decision on your own and will respect that decision." Vincent paused for another moment.

"But if you make another decision like that without telling me, I will have a much worse punishment in store for you than a spanking. Understand?" Vincent asked with a raised eyebrow. Physically, what he had planned wasn’t any worse. It was emotionally worse.

"Sweets?" Ciel perked up happily after he had been taken off the toilet and helped to be redressed. He was looking forward to telling his parents what he had done so he could get plenty of sweets!

"You're right, I haven't given any piggy back rides to any little boys in a while," Bart replied with a laugh, pulling Callen up after he had climbed off the toilet and putting him on his back. Ciel clung to Bart's leg while he took them to the main hall. Bart wanted to bring them outside, but with Ciel's health, he didn’t think it would be a good idea without asking their parents, so he settled for the main hall.

"How about a super hero ride?" Bart suggested. He had Ciel release his leg, taking Callen and running around the room with the middle brother held up in the air in his arms.

[Lovely Thyme]

"Yes, Vincent," Sebastian obeyed softly. He had to admit that he was interested in just what Vincent had planned if he were to disobey, but the threat of earning something worse than a terrible spanking kept the pregnant demon from wanting to push his mate any further. Instead. he settled for taking one of Vincent's hands in his and looking up at the man through his lashes.

"I'll help get the boys ready tomorrow morning feed them their breakfast, and then we can send my parents to watch them while you...give me my spanking before I leave for Claude's house. That way, if you need to, we can spend some time alone before I leave so that you can scent mark me or anything you plan on doing. Does that sound all right?"

Callen squeaked when he was suddenly taken from the ground and lifted high onto Bart's back. He held on as tightly as he could without hurting his older brother and giggled wildly as he was carried around the hall. He wondered if piggy back rides from Vincent would be even more exhilarating. Vincent was taller and could go faster. After a few laps, Callen gave Bart a squeeze, not wanting Ciel to feel left out, and cried, "Ciel's turn! Ciel's turn!"

[HaliBug]

"Now you're getting the right idea," Vincent spoke with a chuckle. He held Sebastian close, kissing him lightly on the forehead. "I will take my time with you and make sure Claude knows exactly who you belong to."

"Alright, alright, Ciel's turn," Bart said, placing Callen down. Ciel perked up a bit before Bart lifted him up, doing the same with the youngest. Ciel's eyes widened as he was thrown around the room. Bart stopped when Sebastian and Vincent returned from the study to go find them.

"Mummy! Daddy!" Ciel squeaked, noticing his parents first. Bart put him down and Ciel ran to Sebastian. "Mummy, I went potty!"

[Lovely Thyme]

"Congratulations, my love! I knew you could do it. My big boy," Sebastian cooed as he fell to is knees and hugged Ciel close. He peppered the little boy's face with kisses and then stood with Ciel in his arms so Vincent could praise him too.

"I think someone is going to get extra dessert after dinner for being such a big boy. Would you like to go to the kitchens and request it? You get to decide tonight." It was only fitting that they let Ciel go all out with the dessert after such a large accomplishment. Without even needing an answer, he walked down the stairs into the kitchens and brought Ciel straight to Bard.

Callen was extremely happy for his baby brother. He always felt bad when he saw Ciel struggling with things that normal children his age had already mastered, so he would be Ciel's biggest fan...He did feel left out when Sebastian suddenly carried Ciel off, though. Callen pouted at not being praised, but mostly because he felt Sebastian was always so wrapped up in Ciel.

The middle child moved to Vincent and raised his arms up to be lifted. When he was in his father's arms, he rested his head sadly on Vincent's shoulder and told the man, "I want Mummy. How come Mummy doesn't play with me and Bart?"

[HaliBug]

"Your mummy is right; you're such a big boy now," Vincent praised Ciel. He thought his youngest would never get the hang of potty training, but it seemed that things were finally looking up for them. Hopefully the new baby wouldn’t case a set-back in potty training for Ciel.

"Yes, mommy," Ciel answered excitedly when Sebastian asked if he would like to go to the kitchens and request the dessert he wanted. He was in for a big treat, just like Callen said!

Vincent smiled as he watched Sebastian carry Ciel away, turning to Callen and lifting his middle child when he requested to be held. Vincent was surprised when Callen seemed sad and asked about Sebastian.

"Well, love, mummy has to take care of Ciel because he's smaller," Vincent explained to Callen. "You and Bart are big boys and don't need mummy as much as Ciel does. Do you understand?"

[Lovely Thyme]

Callen nodded sadly in understanding. He knew Ciel needed a lot more attention than even him, and they really weren't too far apart in age physically. Callen supposed that Ciel was even younger mentally, though. His baby brother needed to be watched constantly to make sure he wasn't getting hurt or sick, or just getting into things he shouldn't. But it was still upsetting to Callen that he and Bart were always left to Vincent while Sebastian took care of Ciel.

After dinner and their amazing dessert that Ciel requested, Callen told Sebastian his worries. Sebastian felt terrible when Callen pointed out what he had been doing. For the rest of the night, Callen stayed in Sebastian's arms where he was cooed at and loved on just as Ciel was. Sebastian made sure not to leave Bart out either. He and Vincent swapped their parenting duties during their family time before bed, so Sebastian mainly cared for their older children while Vincent cared for Ciel even though they were all together.

Callen fell asleep in his mother's arms quickly and contently that night, and after he was out, Sebastian went to tuck Bart in. He didn't really tuck the teen in because they allowed Bart to stay up later, but he did speak to the child about how he was feeling in terms of being cared for equally by his new parents. After the check-in, Sebastian moved to his and Vincent's room where he threw himself under the covers, placed a pillow over his head and attempted to hold back tears. The demon felt as though he hadn't been doing anything as well as he thought he was.

[HaliBug]

Vincent sighed, whishing he could provide more for his other children. He knew they wanted more, but sometimes compromises had to be made. He hated thinking that his children spending time with their father instead of their mother was a compromise, and couldn’t bear the thought of Callen thinking he was losing out on his mother.

"Sebastian," Vincent began after the boys were put down to bed. He sat on the bed beside his mate, wanting to coax him out, but knowing that Sebastian was feeling horrible at the moment. "You've done nothing wrong. Everyone knows that Ciel needs more help because of his delays."

"How about we plan a day for you, Bart, and Callen?" Vincent suggested. "You three can go out to town, get some ice cream, and do anything the three of you want, without a chaperone, and I'll stay here with Ciel. They can get some mummy time and Ciel and I will have some daddy time. What do you think?"

[Lovely Thyme]

"I would like that." Sebastian's voice was muffled by the pillow he continued to hold over his head. It took him a little while longer to feel comfortable with leaving his hiding spot, but when he did, he was all cuddles. He wrapped himself around Vincent, forcing the man to lay in bed underneath him while he tried to make himself feel better. It worked well enough and soon there wasn't a threat of tears.

"Could we do it two days from now? I don't want to cut our time short because of meeting with Claude. I'll have the boys out through the evening." He knew Vincent wouldn't mind doing it, but he had to ask. His rear was still buzzing after his earlier reminder to ask permission. Sadly, the demon wasn't even able to hear his lover's response because he had fallen asleep. Vincent's scent and comfort surrounded him completely and he wasn't able to keep his eyes open.

The next morning, Sebastian woke before Vincent which was odd. When he looked around, he realized that his early night had meant an early morning. The sun wasn't even up when he slipped out of bed and moved to the kitchens in his nightgown to make himself some morning tea. The man was excited to start his day so that he could catch up with Claude, but he wouldn't wake anybody. Instead, he ended up moving to the library to read again as he waited. The man stupidly didn't turn on the fireplace, leaving himself slightly shivering in his skimpy nightgown in the large room with a book in his lap.

[HaliBug]

"I think we can plan that," Vincent replied, though looked down to find that Sebastian had already fallen asleep. He chuckled a bit; Sebastian always grew tired after becoming emotional, and with the baby, he was becoming more emotional more frequently. Vincent would make sure that his mate had nothing to fret over in just two days' time.

Sometime after Sebastian woke, Vincent noticed that there was no one in bed with him. He looked around for a moment, peering into the nursery to find that his children were sound asleep and Sebastian wasn't feeding any of the boys. It didn’t take long for Vincent to find Sebastian in the library, shivering.

"You know, love, it helps if you either cover up or start a fire," Vincent commented as he began to light a fire. "How is your reading going? Have you found out anything with the baby?" Vincent asked. There weren't many times that the two of them were able to be alone without their children and Vincent would take advantage of it for the moment.

[Lovely Thyme]

"I was too focused." The ex butler didn't look up from his current read as Vincent started a fire. Because the couch he was sitting on was so close to it, he immediately felt the heat from it and stopped shivering. Only when his body relaxed did he look up from behind the pages at his mate.

"My luck has been less than decent when it comes to finding information, unfortunately. I have a few pieces from each of the books I've read so far, but they only really confirm that my cursed illness is the cause of my body's odd insides. I'm sure I'll find something soon. These are the best texts on curses that money can buy. I had the absolute best tutoring growing up." Sebastian sighed and set the book down. He only had three more to read through out of his stack of ten that he had carried up from Hell, so there wasn't much left to go. He patted the spot next to him so that Vincent could sit down and then he cuddled up to the man again for more warmth, tucking his head under his lover's chin.

"You know, seeing Claude yesterday reminded me of what I left before forming a contract with Ciel. I came up here to be more independent and prove myself to everyone, but I sort of miss having suitors fawn over me and treat me like a precious jewel. It was exciting...until my father became fed up with the dominants that kept trying to sneak through my window. I wasn't allowed to leave the house for a week after he had almost tore one of their arms off. Every time I would leave, one of them would find me and have an easily persuade me to go off with them somewhere where no one would see us..." Sebastian closed his eyes as he reminisced. He was still quite young, even younger than Vincent in relative age. It made sense that he missed the excitement of freedom, but he truly loved his family and wouldn't give them up for anything in the world.