Author's Note: Special thanks to SuirenShinju for letting me brain dump all over her, and for coming up with a much better title than I ever could have.
"Morning!" Sofia the Sweet called out to her housemate and Master Sorcerer as he entered the kitchen, though she was quite aware that it was well past mid day. After living in the cottage together for nearly six months, she was accustomed to his late nights and even later mornings.
"'Lo, poppet." Cedric replied, his voice gruff and thick with sleep. Stepping closely behind her, he reached out a hand to deftly sneak a piece of bacon out of the cooling cast-iron skillet she stood in front of, his other arm snaking around her narrow middle to embrace her loosely. Sofia leaned back against him and let out a 'hmm', relishing in the sound of one of the many endearments he'd taken to calling her since she'd passed her sorcery exams and renounced her title as princess.
"Are you off to the palace now?" Sofia questioned. Cedric nodded while he chewed his bacon, then swallowed the mouthful.
"I can stay for breakfast, so long as I take the fast way." He answered, magically producing his wand, though she needed no visual demonstration of what he considered the 'fast way' to be. Sofia craned her neck to pout up at the sorcerer.
"I wish you could stay here, Master Cedric. We live together, yet I feel like I hardly see you at all." She stated plaintively. Cedric brushed his hand across the russet hair atop her head.
"No whinging, pet. Training the new Royal Sorceress is one of the terms of my early retirement." He reminded her for what felt like the millionth time.
Sofia's eyes darted towards the doorway to the main room, where she had already prepared the chess set in hopes that he'd be able to stay home today. She sighed and dished out some eggs and what was left from Cedric's bacon, not interested in eating any of the meat herself. Cedric took the plate and headed through the arch.
"Lissy is already perfectly capable of her duties. I don't see why you-" She started up again, following him to the table with her own plate.
"If it were up to me, I'd stay. You know that, right?" Cedric cut her off, then peered at her as they sat down to eat. Sofia knew this perfectly well, but that didn't mean she had to accept the way things were.
"He's just trying to keep you away." She insisted before taking a bite of her eggs.
"I know it. But your father's still the king, and I'm still bound by his commands." Cedric reached across the table to clasp her hand, meeting her bright azure eyes with his rich amber ones. "I'll return as soon as I can." He promised her sincerely.
Sofia let out a small groan and opened her mouth to say something, but she was interrupted by a loud knock at the door. She hurried to answer it, already knowing who was on the other side, though she wasn't expecting this call for another few days.
"It's Mrs Drayton." The witch outside informed Sofia, pushing past to get inside the house.
When she spotted Cedric, she strutted over and casually stole a strip of bacon from his plate, making a show of biting into it.
"I was planning on eating that." He protested, shooting an annoyed glare at the raven haired young woman.
"You should, it's quite tasty." She retorted with a wide grin.
"Lucy, be serious. How long?" Sofia demanded, hastily untying her lilac apron.
"Cheeky heathen." Cedric grumbled out, eating his sole remaining strip of meat. Lucinda stuck her tongue out at him before returning her attention to Sofia.
"Sybil's contractions aren't even five minutes apart yet. It could very well go until nightfall." She answered, making a pass at Cedric's eggs only to be thwarted by the light swat of his gloved hand against her own.
"Buuuut~" Sofia dragged out, prompting the good witch to get on with it already.
"I think the baby's upside down." Lucinda told her, the witch's expression now serious. Sofia's eyes widened. She'd been afraid this would happen after Sybil's last exam, but hoped the baby would turn in time.
"Alright, go back. Do all the sifting and massage you can. Get his head down. I'll be along as soon as I can." Sofia commanded, trusting the witch to handle the situation until her arrival.
"Finish your breakfast, first. It's going to be a long day." Lucinda said, leaving to fly back to the village.
"Turns out you have something to do today after all." Cedric mused as Sofia sat back down and began to eat again.
"I suppose so." She agreed between bites.
"Alright, I'm off. Convince Sybil to name him Cedric, won't you, love?" He smirked as he bent to wrap an arm around Sofia's waist and gave her a tight squeeze.
"You say that every time it's a boy." She pointed out, rolling her eyes at him.
"And one of these times, a mum will actually do it." He shot back with a lopsided grin before transporting out of the cottage, leaving a cloud of bright green smoke in his stead.
Sofia glanced over at the readied chess set and gave another slight sigh, then quickly finished her breakfast. She returned to her chambers and changed out of her plum bustle gown and into a practical black dress that was more suited to the task of the day. Tying on her white skirt apron, she passed through the main room and into the workshop she and Cedric shared, gathering all the herbs she knew would be required by Mrs Drayton. Finally, she grabbed a bottle of ether, then packed everything into her tan satchel. She took her broom from its home near the door and gave one last, wistful glance around the cottage before locking it up and taking off.
It was a good fifteen minutes before she landed gracefully in the field outside of Dunwiddie. Lily was awaiting her arrival, ready to brief her on the situation immediately.
"Has he turned, yet?" Sofia inquired after greeting her friend. Lily shook her head.
"Not yet, Sofia. There's something else..." The blonde witch began hesitantly. Sofia pinched the bridge of her nose, one of many quirks she'd accidentally picked up from her Master Sorcerer in the last decade since they'd met.
"Of course there is. Out with it." Sofia demanded, speeding up her pace through the village.
"Her water's broken." Lily reported, doing her best to match Sofia's strides.
"Already?" Sofia demanded, watching as Lily nodded her confirmation.
"Before the contractions started." Lily added, knowing her companion wouldn't be pleased with this news. Sofia let out a groan.
"By the gods!" Sofia spat out, annoyed that Lucinda had failed to mention this important detail. "Go to the charmacy. Buy colloidal silver, oregano oil, garlic, and oxgall." Sofia commanded, double checking the list in her head to make sure she hadn't missed anything.
"Right, I'll meet you there as soon as I'm done." Lily promised, spinning on her heels to head off in the other direction.