So I was going to do a story about the introduction of Cedric's sister into the realm of the show because I just really want to play around with her, but then I got a new idea I just couldn't get rid of. This story still features his sister, but instead of introducing her into the time period of the show I decided to do a story of both her and Cedric's childhood. I hope everyone enjoys!

Existence is such a fragile thing. All it takes is one moment of weakness and it can be taken away. Just as easily it can be born. She was conceived this very way. It wasn't intentional, they weren't ready, especially not for her, but the best things in life never are planned. For three years she ran around, a rose kissed with magic. One of a kind. Until there came another onto the scene, a wholly unwanted guest. "Why?" Charlette sticks her lips out in a pout and crosses her arms.

Winifred chuckles. "Because Charlie darling, we loved you so much we wanted another." She strokes her daughter's cheek.

Charlette huffs and takes a quick step back. "Well I don't want 'em." She shoves her nose in the air and her dark brown curls bounce. "I want to be the only one. That way I'll always be the best and get all of everything." She gives one firm nod and the bright yellow bow situated in her hair slips forward, the ribbon falling in front of her eyes.

Winifred can't help but grin from ear to ear even as she shakes her head. "Neither of you will be any better or worse than the other, Charlie. You'll both be my little sorcerers." She reaches out and straightens her daughter's bow and brushes the ribbon from her face.

"Sorceress." Charlette corrects automatically. "Daddy says a girl who uses magic is a sorceress, mom. A sorcerer is what daddy is."

"That's right sweetheart," Goodwin says as he makes his presence known. "These things are important."

Charlette beams up at him. "Daddy!" Her little yellow dress swishes back and forth as she skips over to where he stands in the doorway. She throws her arms around him. "Didja have fun at work today daddy?"

Goodwin chuckles as he runs his hand over her head. "Yes, m'dear. In fact," He holds up a finger. "I saved the king's life for the fifth time today…or was it the sixth…?" He laughs. "I've saved the king's life so many times I forget."

Charlette giggles. "The king must think you're the best." She hops back a space.

"I don't know about the best. But I am quite close with King Roland."

Winifred rolls her eyes. "Modest as always dear." She smiles as she sweeps across the room to her husband.

Goodwin returns her smile. "Good to see you too Winifred." He leans over and lays a kiss on her lips.

Charlette looks back and forth between them. It causes a swell of happiness within her, but it also brings reality crashing back down on her. "Daddy," She scowls. "Why do you want another kid?" She crosses her arms.

Goodwin catches Winifred's eye and knows instantly that this has been brought up once already. "For you, m'dear."

Charlette makes a face. "Me?"

He nods. "But of course Charlette. I wouldn't want you all alone so much. With me always with the king and your mother out dealing in herbs you'll need someone to keep you company. And wouldn't a little brother or sister be the perfect companion?" He wraps his arm around his wife as he smiles down at his daughter.

Charlette frowns and her brows knit together as she contemplates the idea. "A sister…?" She taps her chin. "Well…as long as she isn't as good at magic as me."

Goodwin bursts out laughing. "You know we can't control that. You'll just have to practice even harder so that you can be the greatest sorceress in all the land. Maybe even better than me."

"Better than you?" Charlette's blue eyes spark with life. "Oh, but daddy, no one could ever be better than you."

"You never know m'dear. You could one day be Charlette the Sensational."

"Uh-huh!" She nods fervently and clenches her fists. "Definitely! I'll be better than everyone in the land – especially my sister. And I'll be the king's next sorceress."

Winifred looks back and forth between them. She frowns. "Or, it could be a boy you know." She knows that is what Goodwin really wants anyway – a son to follow in his footsteps. Even though he'd never say it out loud, especially not to Charlette.

Charlette narrows her eyes and sticks her lips out in a pout. "Nope." She gives her head one sharp jerk. "It'll be a little sister. That way we'll like all the same things."

Winifred simply smiles and shakes her head. "We'll see Charlie." She pats her daughter on the head. She lays a hand over her bulging stomach with the other hand. "It won't be long now."

…

For a while she forgets – a long while – but eventually she is forced to face the reality of another child in her parents' lives. Her mother gives birth on a rainy day in July. The house overflows with tension that day. Charlette stands uselessly by, feeling like a shadow as her father paces all over the tiny room. She watches his every move, especially in his expression. She has never seen him so flustered and completely beside himself. Not even all the instances of the king's life being in jeopardy were able to work him up this terribly. And she has to wonder – did her birth do the same?

It feels like days before the tension is dispelled even though it can't have been more than a few hours. Her father walks out into the main room with a broad grin on his face. "Come Charlette." He holds out a hand to her. "Come see your new brother."

Charlette stiffens. She glares at his offering. "Brother?" She huffs. "But I don't want one of those. You and mother will like him more because he's a boy and he'll get to be the king's new sorcerer. No girl has ever gotten to be before."

Goodwin chuckles. "Nonsense." He steps toward her. "Just because it's never happened doesn't mean it never will." He bends down to her level. "It's about skill and competence darling." He runs his fingers along her cheek. "Not gender."

Charlette leans into his touch and a smile wiggles its way onto her lips. "Ok, daddy." She hooks onto his arm. "I'll just be better then." He skips toward her parent's room.

Goodwin belly laughs. "Indeed." He lets her tug him along.

Once they enter Charlette releases her father and scurries to the side of the bed closest to her mother. She grips the bed and leans far forward until she is directly over the tiny mass in her mother's arms.

Winifred smiles softly at her daughter. "Charlie, meet your new brother – little Cedric." She tilts her arms ever so slightly so that the baby's face is fully visible to Charlette.

"Ceedric…?" She tests the word out on her lips. "I guess it's ok."

Winifred chuckles. "I'm glad you think so."

Charlette peers down at Cedric's unusually pale face. It is peaceful – unlike any little person she has ever seen. She hums thoughtfully to herself as she subconsciously nods. "I wanted a sister…" She reaches slowly out and pokes his squishy cheek. "But a brother won't be so bad I don't guess." She swings her legs idly.

Goodwin comes up behind her and lifts her from her precarious position on the bed. "You'll love him m'dear."

Charlette squeaks as he grabs her, but she goes along with it.

Goodwin settles next to Winifred and places Charlette in his lap. "He'll be your best friend."

Charlette frowns, glances upward, then finally smiles. "Ok. He'll be my helper." She runs her hand over Cedric's thin layer of hair. "Little Ceedric."

What do you think? Do you like the start? And yes I chose the name Charlette for her. I hope you like the name. I have a particular affinity for it. And in case it wasn't obvious enough, each chapter will be named after a color. I have no idea how long this will stretch, pretty much any moment I imagine for his childhood with Charlette will be stuck in here, in chronological order of course.

Oh, and I would like to know something. I can't get the image of them living in a cottage like in mystic meadows out of my head. It obviously wouldn't be mystic meadows, but I figure they would live in an area that is a lot like it only closer to the castle. What do you think? Please review!