Author's Note:

Before you decide to read ahead at the stories I have posted, a warning: I am a very self-indulgent, self-insert author. In fact, 99.9% of my fics include my self-insert and I'm proud of it. So, if you feel like you can endure it, please proceed!

But please remember: this and every other story that I have written was produced out of pure boredom/fun/crack or just because I felt like it. Therefore, it is NOT perfect. I am not a professional. I cannot guarantee that the grammar is spot on or that you'll enjoy it. But if you decide to stick around for the ride? I appreciate it. But I am, (repeat I am) an amateur writer.

I do hope however; I can entertain you for a couple of hours and maybe get a laugh or two outta ya? I really appreciate all the support you all have given me over the years and I'll continue to try and update when I can.

So, thanks! Thanks a bundle!

ALSO

I do not own any part of Sofia the First. Just the characters, Heather and Rye Matthews.

Much Love.

"Tall, dark and beautiful, he's complicated, he's irrational but I hope someday you'll take me away and save the day, yeah. Something in his deep brown eyes has me sayin' he's not all bad like his reputation and I can't hear one single word they say, and you'll leave, got places to be and I'll be OK. I always forget to tell you I love you, I loved you from the very first day."- Superman, Taylor Swift.

Powder Keg

Chapter One

The sensation of weight leaving the right side of the bed made her stir. The creaking of the older bedframe was a familiar and comforting sound, one that tempted her to fall back to sleep. But she couldn't, not here. With a grunt and sigh, Heather pushed her lazy body up from the mattress and turned over. With her eyes still fluttering away her z's, she adjusted her focus until her lover came into full view.

Still seated on the bed and in his underwear Cedric the Sorcerer pushed back the short hairs that hung over his eyes. He groaned and muttered something she couldn't understand under his breath. Was he tired? Probably but then again, he always seemed tired. It also didn't help that messing around in bed last night kept them up past their bedtime.

"I don't wanna get up." Heather spoke up finally, drawing the sheet up and over her head.

She could almost picture her beloved rolling his dark eyes. "We all need to wake up eventually. Especially you since you should have left more than an hour ago."

An hour ago?! Then what time was it?! The castle maid threw the thin bed sheets from her torso and sat up right, eyes landing on the magic man once again. "What time is it?"

The man she had come to love over the last few months glanced away from the wall and to the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. With a grunt, he straightened out his back and stretched rather casually before responding, "Quarter after ten."

"Agh!" Heather threw her hands into her hair and pushed back the bushy locks that stood straight on her scalp. "No! You coulda woken me up earlier. Geez, everyone's probably wondering where I am."

"Oh," He turned his chin to his right shoulder, shooting her a narrowed stare. "And it's my job to wake you up now? After the assault of punches and kicks you gave me last night?"

She pouted, "You know I can't help that."

"And it's not my fault you insist on coming down here in the middle of the night." Cedric lifted his hand to his chest and pressed his open palm against his collarbone. "Or the fact that you keep it a secret from everyone."

The short haired woman felt her bottom lip protrude even further even as her brows hung heavy on her forehead. "Hey, do you want everyone knowing about our relationship? You know things would get really awkward."

"And just what 'relationship' are you talking about? We don't share anything in common." He said in a frank tone, one that sent shivers down her spine.

Oh ouch. She should have seen that one coming, since he'd always been an evil jerk. Why she cared about everything he did and worshiped everything he said was beyond her but even the fact that he talked this way was something she didn't want to lose. Damn, she had it bad. He had to be saying shit like that just to piss her off; he couldn't really mean it, could he?

No one was that cruel. Especially not him. She knew that, she'd seen that.

"Don't be a jerk." Heather moaned, stretching across the bed and wrapping her arms around his smaller waist. She buried her nose in his back and sighed. "You want me here; you'd get bored without me."

"I'd get a lot more work done if you weren't around."

Ouch number two. Geez, what crawled up his butt this morning? He didn't have to be so harsh and honest about it! It wasn't like she didn't already know this. After all, crawling into his bed every odd night had to distract him. Of course, it took him away from his work when she came bearing 'gifts'.

Her arms unhooked from his hips and she pulled her face away from him. "What's wrong with you?" She asked in a less than caring tone, one that no doubt set his fire even hotter.

"Honestly," He pushed off the bed and stood. "You think you didn't know this side of me after we first met. Isn't it something you've become used to yet? You think with all the time you spend following and chasing me you'd be accustom to it."

What was that supposed to mean?! "I guess I forgot." Her fingers clenched the fitted bed sheet beneath her. "Fine then. Forget it, I won't bother you again."

He turned to fully face her and crossed his thin arms over his bare chest. He proceeded to shoot her a look of sarcastic uncertainty, like he wanted to test her theory of leaving him be. "Right."

Her eyes burned as she pushed off the mattress and stood on the opposite side of the bed. What was there to say now? What a wonderful way to start off the morning. And of course, this morning was probably more important than any other too. It wasn't like today was some ordinary day; it was supposed to be special.

Should he know that? No. No because she hadn't told him what the date symbolized but should he be that rude on a daily basis? Then again maybe she'd said something that upset him the night before. Either that or she kneed him in the crotch sometime during her sleep and didn't remember. Should she give him the benefit of the doubt and let him have a bad day? Sure, but it still stung to do so.

Letting it go, all those mean words, was always harder to do than it sounded.

Heather looked to the ground and soon found the maid's uniform she's shed the evening before. She wasted no time in looking at him or even speaking to him as she redressed herself. Pulling her thin dress up and over her shoulder, buttoning the back up and tying a loosely fitted bow around her waist. She'd fix it later. She just needed to be presentable enough to get to bedroom for the time being.

"So, you're going to protest without a word?" He spoke even as she slipped her shoes over her cold feet. "This is new."

She clenched her jaw even as her head swam with things she could say in reply. If he was going to be a bully she was going to ignore him. And once she was dressed she stood up right, straightened out her dress for the last time and finally turned her attention his way. She looked to him, bottom lip trembling in the slightest and hands fisted at her sides. Should she at least say good bye?

"See you around." She spun away from the man she still adored more than any other and headed up the staircase she'd fleeted down hours earlier.

Whether he said something or not she wasn't sure, she was just on a mission to leave his quarters. Her heels clipped and clomped as she made a mad dash into the front of his small room and bypassed the large raven sleeping in his cage. The bird shook himself awake as she whizzed through and even cawed at her as she slammed the heavy door shut.

I'm done chasing his skirt.

XoXoX

The scent of fresh clothes, while it didn't take away all the hurt, made her feel better. Heather tightened the bow around her waist before leaving the safety of her bedroom. Ugh why did she have to work today of all days and after such a huge fight?!

Well, it wasn't really huge and it wasn't really a fight per se…

It still stung though! No one could tell her otherwise even the voice in her head! Of course, she would have to wait until after work to spill all the beans to Rye. At least she was living in the castle now and she had quick access to her. If she was still living away things would be ten times worse. Maybe her older sister could shed some light on the situation and make her feel all better.

The librarian never seemed to fail at that.

It was just going to take all of her strength to not cry throughout the day whenever the stupid sorcerer came to mind. And if she had to see him, oh geez that would be terrible. Gah! What if it was her turn to change his bed sheets? After they spent the night rolling in them together too! No way! She couldn't not after this morning!

"And just what 'relationship' are you talking about? We don't share anything in common."

Hmmmm. The fact that they were intimate wasn't something they 'had in common'? It seemed to think it was fine last night and the many nights before hand. Damn fool. He'd better have a good excuse for why he was acting this way and then maybe she'd forgive him. Maybe. He was always known for his rude quips but shit, this one was bad.

And on her birthday of all things!

She didn't even get a chance to tell him, not after that assault of words on her conscious. Maybe if she had stopped to tell him he would have reacted differently. But what difference would that had really made? After all what he said was his feelings right? Why would he care if it was her birthday or not?

She should have just whacked him in the noggin! That would have taught him a lesson or two—

"Heather?"

Oh! The maid shook her head left and right before reality set back in. Her eyes were drawn downward to see the smallest princess in the castle speaking to her. Okay time to smile and play this whole thing off like it was nothing. Had Sofia knew that she was brokenhearted over someone or something the questions would start and then she'd have to tell her every gut wrenching detail.

"Yes?" The older woman forced a smile that made her cheeks hurt.

"Are you okay? You look like you've been crying." The younger girl looked devastated at the fact that she may have been crying. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, nothing!" She sniffled, bringing her index finger to her tear duct and feeling for any excess puffiness that might have been brought on by minutes of intense crying. "I'm fine."

Her tiny features tightened, was it that obvious that she was lying through her teeth? "Are you sure? Because if something's bothering you, you can tell me. You might feel better if you talk about it."

The maid clenched her jaw and proceeded to grind her molars together. Should she just spill? It was obvious that Sofia knew something was wrong. Maybe she didn't have to be completely honest, after all these were adult issues, but she could at least know the half of it. Besides, maybe she'd get some sympathy points if she said it was her birthday, which of course was the truth.

"It's just," Heather began, her heart pounding away and tears threatening to make a return. "It's kinda my birthday."

"Is it?!" The princess let out a small squeal, throwing her tiny pale hands over her lips. "And you didn't tell anyone? No wonder you're upset. I'm sorry Heather."

Her heart sunk. She didn't mean to make Sofia, of all people, feel guilty about not knowing, it wasn't like she could just assume any day of the year, particularly this one, was her b-day. "I'm okay, really. It's not like you're supposed to know or anything."

"I don't think anyone should ever have to cry on their birthday," Sofia went on, "Can I make it up to you? It's the least I can do. You're always so helpful around here."

A fierce flush hit her cheeks while her eyes averted elsewhere. Damn, that wasn't really necessary! Of course, the 'sympathy points' were nice, verbally but she didn't need anything done in her name to make up for the fact that Cedric the Stupid fucked up her day. If Sofia knew the truth, she might feel a tad different.

"No, no! That's alright. I'm good, I don't really need anything. I…"

"Please," Sofia cupped her little hands in front of her chest. "Maybe a dinner or something a special one? Maybe your favorite?"

Free food? Just for her? And it would be her favorite? Maybe milking this for a big longer wouldn't be a terrible idea. After all, this was Enchancia's best and most famous chefs at her will! They could make her enough plates of sausage, potatoes and corn to last her the entire night! She could eat until her stomach burst and then forget about the idiot who broke her heart. For as long as the impending stomach would last for anyway. Then the next day she would return to normal.

It wouldn't be too bad to be treated like royalty for one dinner, right?

And it is your birthday after all. Treat yo 'self.

"That wouldn't be too much to ask, would it?" She asked, feeling as though she was shrinking twice in size with every word.

"Not at all!" Sofia beamed at the chance to make her happy. "Let me talk to my dad and we'll get everything set! I promise it will be the best dinner ever!"

"Sofia," The blush on her cheeks grew heavier. "Thanks a lot. That would really make me happy. I appreciate it."

"Not a problem, really." The tiny purple heiress reached forward and took the maid by the hand. "I'm sorry the first half of your day was kind of rotten but we'll make up for it. I promise."

Milking this situation for free food wasn't a sin, was it? Again, it wasn't like she was lying about today being her birthday. But with that thought and true, why did this feel wrong? Dare she call this moment a precursor to something terrible?

But what was the worst that could happen; after all it was just a friendly dinner between her and the royal family. Nothing extravagant. She wouldn't ask for much, food-wise. Just a few plump kielbasas, roasted potatoes and buttered corn! Peasant food at the most for the king and his family.

Everything was going to be just fine.

Chapter End.