I'm In Love with Sof!
Chapter 2: The Gift
Summary: Prince James has been having strange thoughts about Princess Sofia lately. Eventually he realizes that he's fallen in love with her, but knowing they can never be he struggles to keep from acting on his feelings. It gets harder and harder for him to do so as the days go by, and the more he's around her, the stronger his feelings become. Meanwhile, Amber and her friends struggle to find love and Ruby and Jade compete for Prince James's affection.
/*StF*/
It was early the next morning in the Kingdom of Enchancia and the sun was just beginning to rise. Inside the bedroom of Prince James, he, Princess Sofia, and Clover lay in his bed sound asleep. Well, two of them were sound asleep anyway; Prince James was wide awake and laying on his side watching his sister sleep with a soft smile on his face.
He'd been watching her for the past twenty minutes or so now. He knew he should stop but he just couldn't help himself. She was just so beautiful when she was sleeping that she put Princess Aurora to shame.
He frowned.
He was such a creep! What kind of brother stares at his sister when she was sleeping?! He was so ashamed of himself yet he still couldn't bring himself to look away.
He noticed movement at the foot of his bed and forced himself to look away from Sofia to see what it was. It was Sofia's pet rabbit Clover, whom he had completely forgotten had slept in the room with them last night, stretching his legs and yawning. Once he was done and fully awake he looked straight at him.
"Good morning Clover." He whispered to the rabbit with a smile on his face so he wouldn't wake Sofia.
"Morning Prince James." Clover said returning the boy's greeting although to James it only sounded like squeaks and sniffing.
He focused his attention back on the sleeping Sofia. Sometime during the time he had looked away from her she had opened her mouth slightly and had begun to snore softly. His eyes immediately zeroed in on her lips. They were small yet full and he bet they would feel so soft and smooth against his ow…
God what was wrong with him?! Did he really just think about kissing Sof?! She's your sister man get it together!
She began to stir and he watched as she slowly opened her eyes and sat up, stretching and yawning as she did so.
Clover hopped up to her and began to squeak and sniff.
"Good morning Sofia!" Clover happily greeted his best friend/owner with a smile.
He watched as Sofia smiled sleepily down at the little rabbit and scratched him behind the ears.
"Good morning Clover." She said to him.
It would appear she hadn't noticed him yet so he decided to make himself known to her.
"Morning Sof."
Sofia quickly turned to him and let out a squeak of surprise.
"J-James, what are you doing in my room and in my bed?!" She questioned him with wide eyes as she backed herself against the wall.
"Sof, relax. First of all, this is my bedroom and my bed, second of all, don't you remember last night at all?"
He watched as she looked around and he saw her visibly calm down as she realized that she was indeed in his room and that he was telling the truth.
"I remember now James sorry about freaking out like that. I'm just waking up you know and my brain's still foggy." Sofia apologized to him with a blush of embarrassment on her face as she moved away from the wall and closer to him again.
"It's fine, no need to apologize. Did you sleep well?"
"I did, I'm still sleepy actually." She answered him with a laugh as she yawned cutely.
James shook his head while frowning.
No, it wasn't cute at all!
"You can go back to sleep if you want to."
"I think I will but I'm going to head back to my own room and sleep in my own bed. Baileywick will be making his rounds soon and it just wouldn't do to have him see us sleeping in the same bed together. It's improper for a prince and princess you know even if we are siblings." Sofia said with a smile as she climbed over him and placed her feet on the floor standing up.
"I understand." James said hoping he was doing a good job of hiding his disappointment from her.
She slipped her shoes on and turned to Clover holding her arms out to him and he immediately hopped into them.
James smirked.
Lucky rabbit!
"See you a little later on at breakfast James and I thank you for allowing me to sleep with you last night."
She leaned down and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek before she righted herself, turned around, and headed toward his bedroom door.
James blushed.
Did she really have to phrase it that way?!
Once she was gone he placed his left hand on his left cheek where she'd kissed him.
He grinned as he fell back onto the mattress the back of his head landing on a pillow.
He'd thought right. Her lips were indeed soft and smooth.
James closed his eyes and quickly went back to sleep with a soft smile on his face.
/*StF*/
"Good morning everyone!" Sofia happily greeted her family as she entered the royal dining room for breakfast later that morning.
"Good morning dear." Queen Miranda greeted her daughter with a smile.
"Good morning my darling daughter!" King Roland boisterously greeted his younger daughter with a smile. He was quite the morning person it would seem.
"Morning Sofia." Princess Amber sleepily greeted her sister as she stifled a yawn.
"We've already said our good mornings but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to say them again. Good morning Sof." James greeted her with a smile.
"Good morning James." Sofia said with a giggle as she took her seat, which was between his and her mother's.
King Roland and Queen Miranda looked at each other with smiles on their faces. They were glad that even after all of these years James and Sofia were still so close.
"James are you eating soup for breakfast?!" Amber, who was sitting on the other side of him, asked with a disgusted look on her face as she finally noticed what was in his bowl.
"I am. Sof worked hard to make it for me so I would feel better and I'm going to eat every bite of it. It's delicious, and it works too, because I have way more energy today than I did yesterday. I'm not at 100% yet but I know if I keeping eating Sof's soup I will be in no time." James said to Amber as he turned to her and placed a spoonful of the soup into his mouth to prove his point.
"I'm really glad my soup helped you feel better James but are you sure you want to eat it for breakfast? I won't be mad if you ate something else instead and maybe ate the soup later on for lunch or something." Sofia said gently with an understanding look on her face.
"I want to eat your soup for breakfast Sof and I don't care what anyone else thinks about it." He said to his younger sister as he looked pointedly at Amber who rolled her eyes at him.
Sofia nodded and didn't push the subject anymore.
"So what plans do you three have on this lovely Saturday?" King Roland asked his children as he looked at all three of them.
"Princess Hildegard and Princess Clio will be visiting me today sometime around noon so we'll be socializing here at the castle today." Amber answered her father.
"I'm going into the village today to visit Ruby, Jade, Lucinda, and a few of my other friends from the village." Sofia explained with a smile.
"Would you mind if I tagged along Sof?" James asked looking at her.
"You know I don't. Everyone will be happy to see you." Sofia said with a smile.
Over the years James has taken to going with Sofia when she goes to the village. He didn't go every time she went but he went whenever he could.
"Well I think it's wonderful that you've taken such an interest in Dunwiddie James and have made friends with your subjects. That's a very princely quality you have there." Queen Miranda praised her son as she smiled at him.
"Right you are Miranda! Those are the qualities of a king in the making my son! I'm proud of you!" King Roland agreed with his wife as he smiled proudly James.
"Thanks mom and dad." James said with a pleased look on his face.
"Amber, I know you probably have a full day planned with Princess Hildegard and Princess Clio but you guys are more than welcome to join us too. The more the merrier!" Sofia told her sister with a smile on her face.
Amber simply nodded.
The door to the dining room opened and Baileywick entered.
"Your majesties, your first meeting of the day will take place in ten minutes. It's imperative that you both head to the conference room immediately."
He left soon after.
King Roland and Queen Miranda stood up and after they said their goodbyes to their children and wished them a good day they left the dining room.
"I'm going to leave too. I've got to make sure Clover's eaten and get things ready for the trip to the village." Sofia explained to her siblings as she stood up and headed toward the exit.
"You want me to meet you in front of the castle like usual?" James asked her retreating figure.
"Yes, and we're leaving at noon." She replied before she opened the door and left the dining room closing it behind her.
That left James and Amber in the dining room alone.
This was the perfect opportunity for Amber to see how her twin felt about Clio.
"So, James, how do you feel about my best friends?"
"Why would you ask me that all of a sudden? It seems strange even for you."
"Just answer the question!" Amber said annoyed.
"I don't really have an opinion on Princesses Hildegard and Clio to be honest with you Amber. They're just two girls that you hangout with who I bet are probably just as annoying as you are." James said with a shrug before he went back to eating his soup that was starting to grow cold.
"That's it?! That's all you think of them?!" Amber asked shocked.
"Yeah, I mean they're best friends with you so I imagine they share some, if not all, of your annoying qualities."
"Ok fine, but what is your opinion on their outward appearance?"
"You mean you want me to tell you if I think they're hot or not?"
Amber nodded.
"Well, both Princess Hildegard and Princess Clio are pretty I suppose. I've never really looked at them in that way though, especially Hildegard because of how Zandar feels about her and because they're friends of yours and I just imagine them to be clones of you and how can I be attracted to that? I'm not an idiot Amber. You're only asking me these questions because either Hildegard or Clio has a crush on me. Which one of them is it?"
She hadn't planned on revealing to James that Clio was interested in him so soon. She had only planned to get his opinion of her but he'd picked now of all times to be smart so she had no choice but to tell him the truth.
"Clio's the one that has a crush on you James."
"Princess Clio huh? Interesting." James said as he stood up finally finished with his soup.
Amber stood up as well.
"Do you think you'd be willing to take her on a date?"
"Give me some time to think about it." James said to her before he left the dining room.
Amber left soon after in search of Baileywick to make sure everything was prepared for when Hildegard and Clio arrived.
She smiled.
At least she'd have some good news for Clio.
/*StF*/
It was now just before noon and both Sofia and Amber stood in front of the castle, Sofia waiting on James, and Amber awaiting the arrival of Hildegard and Clio.
Two flying carriages were spotted in the distance and about a minute later the flying horses, coachmen, and carriages landed in front of the steps to the castle.
The coachmen opened the doors to the carriages and helped their respective princesses get out of them.
"Amber!" Both Princess Hildegard and Princess Clio happily greeted their friend as they ran up to her.
"Hildy, Clio, it's good to see you ladies again." Amber said returning their greeting as she smiled at them.
"Hello Princess Hildegard, Princess Clio. I do apologize for not coming to your party Hildegard and I hope you…"
"Hello Sofia and there's no need for you to apologize to me. Amber explained things to me during the party yesterday. All is forgiven." Princess Hildegard said cutting her off as she smiled slightly at her.
"Hello Sofia and might I ask why on earth you are dressed in those commoner clothes?" Princess Clio said returning her greeting before she questioned her about her appearance.
"Oh, well I'm going into the village today to visit Ruby, Jade, and a few of my other friends from Dunwiddie. I didn't want to go dressed like a princess so they would be comfortable around me and treat me just like anyone else. I mean at this point they're all comfortable around me, no matter how I'm dressed, but I still feel better dressed in simpler clothing when I visit them." Sofia explained to Clio.
"Sof I am so sorry I'm late!" James apologized out of breath as he ran out of the front doors of the castle and down the steps coming to a stop just before Sofia.
He bent over with his hands on his knees and attempted to catch his breath.
"It's fine James. You're only a few minutes late anyway."
"Since when have you had those commoner clothes James?" Amber asked her brother confused.
"I bought them for him the last time I visited the village. He asked me to do so." Sofia explained since she could see he was still winded and most likely found it difficult to talk.
James nodded.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box handing it to Sofia.
"James what's this?" Sofia asked as she looked at the box and then at James in confusion.
"It's a gift…it's my way of saying thank you for staying with me last night and keeping me company. It—It meant a lot to me." James explained not as winded as he was before as he stood up straight once again and smiled at her.
"James I can't accept this. I…"
"Please Sof. It would make me very happy if you did." James said as he looked at Sofia with big sad eyes and stuck out his bottom lip.
Sofia laughed.
"Curse you James for using my puppy dog face against me! Fine I'll accept your gift."
James grinned.
He watched with baited breath as Sofia slowly lifted the lid of the box up and gasped.
"James where on earth did you get this?!"
"I got it from the Royal Jewel Room."
"Did you ask mom and dad if it was okay?"
"Yeah, that's why I was late getting here because I was busy tracking them down so I could get permission. The more important question Sofia is do you like my gift or not?"
"I love it but don't you think it's a bit much?"
"Nothing is too much when it comes to you Sof!" James said as he took the box from her and reached inside pulling out a ring with a gold band and blue sapphire in the center.
Amber, Hildegard, and Clio gasped.
"So beautiful!" Hildegard and Clio said in awe as they stared at the piece of jewelry with wide eyes.
"Indeed it is. Why have I not seen it before?" Amber questioned her brother as she too stared at the ring.
"I don't know Amber. I spent two hours looking for the perfect piece of jewelry for Sof and I found that ring on the very top shelf. It wasn't even in the case with the other rings for some reason." James explained.
"What made that ring perfect for me James?" Sofia asked curious as to what his answer would be.
"Well, um, when I saw the sapphire it immediately reminded me of your eyes. You know because of how big, blue, and…beautiful it is." James explained to her while blushing as he stared down at his feet.
"Aww James thanks so much for the gift. I could do without it but since you went through all of that trouble I'll gladly accept it." Sofia said with a smile as she wrapped her arms around James's neck and hugged him tightly.
James wrapped his arms around her waist returning the hug just as tightly.
He reluctantly pulled away from her and taking her right hand in his he slipped the ring onto her ring finger.
Amber, Hildegard, and Clio immediately ran up to Sofia to get a better look at how the ring looked on her finger.
"It looks absolutely perfect on your finger Sofia." Princess Hildegard gushed as she smiled at Sofia.
Clio nodded.
"It really does. You're lucky Sofia. I wish I had a big brother as nice as James but alas all I have is an annoying little one."
Amber frowned.
James had never gotten her anything that nice as a gift, not even for their birthday, and she was his biological sister! That's the only time she got a gift from him, yet it wasn't even Sofia's birthday, and he'd gotten such a great gift for her just to say thank you! She didn't want to believe it but it really did seem like James liked Sofia more than he liked her, his twin sister, and she had to admit that it hurt.
"What do you think Amber?" Sofia asked her older sister as she held her hand up and wiggled her ring finger for emphasis.
"It's like it was made for your finger Sofia!" Amber told her with a weak smile on her face.
She knew it wasn't Sofia's fault but she was really angry with her at the moment. She'd never let her know that though.
Sofia smiled pleased that her older sister approved of the ring.
"Pardon the intrusion Prince James, Princess Sofia but it's a quarter past noon and we're running behind schedule." The coachman, who was taking them to Dunwiddie, spoke up as he bowed lowly to the royal siblings and Amber, Hildegard, and Clio as well.
"Very well Edmund we shall be in the carriage shortly." James replied.
Edmund bowed to him before he returned to his seat at the front of the carriage to wait once more for them.
"I didn't know you visited Dunwiddie with Sofia James." Clio said.
"Yeah, I don't go as often as she does but I go when I get some free time. I didn't have anything planned for today so I decided why not." James explained to her.
As he studied Clio's face he had to admit that she was quite attractive but she wasn't beautiful like So…
No James, don't even finish that thought!
What was wrong with him?! Lately just about all he thought about was Sofia!
"Princess Hildegard, Princess Clio you two are more than welcome to join us in the village today." Sofia said offering them a personal invitation.
"I'm not exactly dressed for the occasion Sofia but maybe another time." Princess Hildegard declined politely.
"It's the same for me too Sofia." Princess Clio said.
She'd definitely go the next time James went with Sofia. Perhaps it would give them a chance to get closer.
Sofia nodded.
"Are you ready my lady?" Prince James asked Sofia as he offered her his arm.
"Indeed I am good sir." Princess Sofia said as she locked an arm with his and allowed herself to be escorted to the carriage.
Amber, Hildegard, and Clio watched as James helped Sofia into the carriage before he closed the door and walked around to the other side and got in himself.
They watched as the carriage ascended into the air before it took off at a high speed toward the village of Dunwiddie.
"So, Amber, did you find out if Prince James likes me yet?!" Clio asked excited.
"You couldn't wait for them leave could you?" Hildegard asked with a roll of her eyes.
Amber just grinned.
She could always count on these girls to cheer her up when she was down.
"We'll talk about everything in the courtyard ladies. We'll be having afternoon tea there. Follow me."
She'd worry about James's favoritism of Sofia later.
Right now it was time for her to have fun with her best friends.
/*StF*/
Well that was Chapter 2! I hope you guys liked it just as much as the first chapter and that it wasn't too long of a wait. Once again review to let me know what you thought of the chapter. You can follow and/or favorite me as an author or my story if you haven't already too.