Originally I was just going to make this a oneshot like all of my other Cedfia stories, but then I decided it would be better if I split it up into a few. It won't be too terribly long, it will just take a little longer to finish, with a chapter every couple of days. This chapter is probably the shortest, but it's a necessary set up. Enjoy!

The night is deep, but splintered with blinding colors of red, yellow, purple, orange, and even green as fireworks explode in the sky. Cheers erupt from the girls in the Buttercup troop and the other wizards around the area. Sofia isn't with any of them though. She sits atop a log with Cedric by her side. Normally he would be out there, conjuring the beautiful spectacle in the sky. But not tonight. His father is in charge of the entertainment, allowing Cedric the rare opportunity to relax.

Sofia though, she isn't completely relaxed. She watches the sky as it erupts in rainbows and the colors shift to create animated pictures of bunnies, birds, and eventually of Mr. Goodwin himself, but her attention isn't wholly captured. She glances over at Cedric and smiles as she watches his face light up at the spectacle. It's not something that happens every day after all.

Cedric bobs his head and taps his fingers to a soundless song. Ever since going to the Blazing Palisades he finds himself doing this more and more often, especially when he's happy. He stares on at the dazzling display in the sky, completely oblivious of Sofia's gaze on him.

Sofia chews on her lip. She picks at her fingernails as a question dances on her lips. She hates to interrupt his bliss, but she's been waiting for the right moment all day and she sees now that chance isn't going to come on its own. She has to make it. So with a sigh she twists around and says, "Mr. Cedric."

Cedric blinks and his focus on the event in the sky is broken. "Hm?" He tilts his head and looks down at her. "What is it princess?"

Sofia smiles, but it is strained. "Do you like me?"

Cedric starts. He raises a brow. "What?" He frowns.

Sofia shrugs. "Do you like me?" She holds her breath and clenches her hands around the fabric of her uniform.

Cedric stares for a long moment and then he chuckles. "Oh, princess." He waves away her words. "You say the oddest things sometimes." He smirks.

Sofia sticks her lip out in a pout. "I mean it Mr. Cedric." She looks hard at him. "Do you like me?"

Cedric's amusement falters and his brows furrow. "Of course Sofia."

Sofia smiles and lets out a breath. Her shoulders relax and her hands unfurl. "Ok."

Cedric narrows his eyes and leans inches from her face. "Why?"

Sofia giggles. "It's nothing." She pats him on the head. She twists so she is once again facing forward. She turns her gaze up on the sky. "Just a question."

Cedric huffs. He straightens and mimics her. Still, he can't go back to the way he was before. He crosses his arms. The tune in his head is lost and he can't focus on anything but the strangeness of Sofia's question. What was that about? But there is no answer.

Sofia peeks at him from the corner of her eye. She frowns. She feels terrible for ruining his good time. She scoots closer. "I like you too." She leans her head against him.

Cedric starts and tears his gaze from the sky to look upon her. He sighs and smiles. He runs a hand over her head. "I know." Oh well. He doesn't need an answer anyway.

So there's the set up. There will probably be five chapters. We'll see how that goes. I hope you enjoy where this story goes as much as I do. Please review!