Before setting his one eye on the bundle that was currently swaddled lovingly in his arms, Earl Ciel Phantomhive believed he would never feel affection again.

That month had destroyed him, painted his body in black tar that clung to his frame like a second skin, squeezing and choking until every drop of saccharine sweetness was spent and nothing but the empty shell remained. Though the years had worn away the wounds that decorated his pale flesh, anger still burned hot and bright in his veins and hatred wormed its merry way into his hardened heart, now black as coal.

And yet, when looking down upon two wide cerulean eyes identical to his own, the Earl found it difficult not to smile.

The boy let out an infantine gurgle and clutched at the offending corner of blanket tucked gently around his face, opening and closing tiny fingers as if testing their ability. Ciel watched, entirely awestruck as the child squirmed and giggled, blinking those beautiful eyes and melting his father's heart.

Ciel's own eyes tore themselves away from his precious load to look at his wife reclining exhaustedly in their bed. Elizabeth smiled softly, the morning sun illuminating golden hair and glistening sweat on her brow. No words were spoken, but the expression of wonder on the Earl's face was enough. Ciel gazed back down at the boy, marvelling once more at the resemblance between them.

The blue eyes were his, but he had his mother's nose and curly golden hair that caught the light of the rising sun filtering in through the wide windows. His pudgy cheeks were rosy and dotted with freckles and rosebud lips puckered each time his tiny tongue darted out.

Ciel's heartbeat thrummed in his ears and he suddenly felt hot and uncomfortable in his own skin. Taking a few steps away from the bed, he approached the cradle they had set up in the room and carefully set the child down in the sea of plush blankets that lined the bottom and sides of the wooden structure.

"Alexis Midford Phantomhive"

His own voice startled him.

"My father's name…"

The hoarse whisper of his wife reached his ears from across the room.

"Yes, it seems only proper. Your father was a good man, our son will have big shoes to fill."

The smile that erupted on the tired woman's face lit up the room better than the sun.

Ciel crossed the room and stopped at her side, kneeling down beside the bed and taking her hand in his.

"He will be Alexis Midford Phantomhive and he will have only the best in this world. No harm will ever come to him, of that I will make sure."

Elizabeth smiled again.

"And he will have the best father to protect him."

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A/N: Hola, long time no see! Just thought I'd write this bit of fluff. I'm thinking of making this a little series, a couple snapshots into the later life of the Phantomhives (and of course, I will eventually include everyone's favourite demon butler). Hope you enjoyed! Feel free to leave a review, thanks for reading!

Wordsmith8