A/N: While I may have promised this chapter would be longer, it sort of depends how far imagination wants to push so if it seems short I apologize. When you're working on a hard plot that won't stop nagging at you...well you just have to try your best.

Royal Babysitters

Chapter 3: A Slow Start

Throughout the first few days Baileywick thought over Sofia's lecture and began to wonder if she and Roland were right. Was Cedric really giving up his evil desires and moving forward in his job as royal sorcerer? He had to wonder.

Over the years while he had the job as castle steward Baileywick always observed the children and put together in his mind facts about what he knew about them. For example, If one child blamed the other for something they didn't do then the man knew right away of who truly was to blame, after all character was something he had to rely on most about a person.

It had no doubt aided him well over the years but did he really know Cedric as well as he remembered him.

During the man's childhood he remembered Cedric trying to impress others with spells and potions to try and show how great he could be but it had always ended up in failure and punishment was always something he had to deal with if he did something unpleasing to the royal family. The incident no doubt was what began the unlucky start to the boy's reputation.

His teenage years were not that much different but there was a little bit of a change in his demeanor as he had his raven companion to encourage him on whatever he was doing. Sometimes the steward had wondered if the boy would go insane after so long of talking to his pet but if he really had been able to make conversations with the bird as though it had human qualities then he would have a guess that the bird had encouraged and even pushed Cedric into believing wrong could be right on many occasions. Last week's museum incident proved it after what Roland told him about the raven turning on his master.

The earlier adult years were very well remembered and fresh in the steward's mind. Like when both he and Roland took on their king and sorcerer roles as fate had planned for them but the close friendship he had with the prince was only a memory during those times and his only friends back then were Wormwood and the former queen.

Now, years later after Roland married Miranda things had started to change when the woman brought along her young daughter into the family and Sofia made a friendship with the man. It had been a slow start but somehow the sorcerer started to become better with his magic.

Even if Sofia had changed everything and helped Cedric with any problem he had with anybody it still did not changed the man's mind to try and take over Enchancia!

The steward glared as he remembered the man freezing him with his wand. He clutched the feather duster he had in his hand tight as he tried to keep his balance on the ladder and clear away any dust that was near the window frames.

The ladder wobbled a bit making the man gasp and cling to the ladder for dear life. He wished the castle staff was here to aid him in the usual cleaning duties but being under colds and flu's would have gotten the royal family sick. They all knew how strict he was on sickness and work.

The man closed his eyes and sighed. He might as well accept that castle was going to get really dirty once and a while because if he knew one thing, it was that he would not able to make the palace spotless with just few workers.

After trying his best to clean the window frames the man began to climb down the tall ladder but as he did so he felt the feather duster fly out of his hand and clean all the out of reach spots and corners.

"It's seems like you desperately need some magical help. I doubt King Roland would be very pleased when he hears you climbed up that tall ladder just to get some dust bunnies to leave the castle."

Looking down, he saw Cedric using his wand to control the duster. Sofia and Calista stood beside him with happy smiles on their faces.

"He's right Baileywick, maybe you can allow Mr. Cedric to handle the hard tasks with his magic. I think it really will put you back on schedule." Sofia suggested with a wink.

"Yeah, I bet if you're really nice to Uncle Cedy, he'll even lend you a magic spell or two to use in future cleaning emergencies." Calista added cutely making the sorcerer glare at the girl's statement.

"Don't even give the man such high hopes Calista, the last thing I need is a magical steward running around this castle. I 'll be cleaning this place as much as he is!" Cedric muttered as he floated the duster back to the steward's hands. "And as far as I am concerned I don't want to deal with magical mops and brooms, Merlin knows how much Yen Sid hated to to deal with that mishap."

"You won't have to to worry about that. I really don't like to try anything I'm not knowledgeable about." Baileywick answered as he imagined himself doing magic spells. "I hate be a person behind a mess."

"So will you allow Mr. Cedric to help?" Sofia asked in a pleading gesture.

After looking at the girls the man looked back up at the sorcerer "You wouldn't happen to have a spell to get rid of an old stain, do you?"

Cedric smirked "Lucky for for you I so happen to know one."

Now that the steward had allowed Cedric to help him and the staff with the cleaning duties Baileywick could see that Sofia had been right when she said it would help him to get back on schedule, why it had even given him the chance to have a snack. Perhaps Sofia and Roland were right and the sorcerer was turning away from from his evil desires.

Maybe he had been wrong about Cedric's character and personality. While he knew character was an important part to person's personality it made the steward realize the heart was the most important part to a person. The heart, after all held a person's true feelings, desires and so much more.

Perhaps, he needed to start looking at the heart of what Cedric was then and now. He needed to dig deep into the depths to find out who Cedric really is. He needed to do what Sofia did with Cedric five years ago and try to start being a friend. It was by doing that he would really be able to tell if Cedric had really changed.

Taking out his pocket watch Baileywick realized it was time to to start preparing lunch for the children.

"I'm glad we were able to get Baileywick back on schedule Uncle Cedy but I want to go outside and play now." Calista told the sorcerer. "So can I go out?"

"It's almost lunchtime, Calista. You won't have time to play and besides after lunch I believe you have a scheduled nap coming up." This made the little girl frown. How dare he mention the "N" word to her. Did he not realize she did not care for such things.

"But I don't want a nap." Calista wined.

"I have an idea," Baileywick said as he closed his pocket watch. "Since it is such a nice day how would a picnic outside sound?"

Great idea, Baileywick," Sofia praised "we could all use some fresh air and sun. I'll go get Amber and James." She then raced off.

"Wait for me, Sofia!" Calista called trying her best to keep up with the princess.

Once the girls were gone Cedric crossed his arms and and raised an eyebrow towards the steward. "Since when did you become an outdoor person?"

"Have you forgotten that I am a buttercup?" Baileywick asked which made Cedric almost burst into laughter from that question.

"How could I forget?" He asked "You had to fill in for that woman and we both accompanied the girls to to Mystic Meadows."

"Yes, I did." he answered "Of course, I believe you have started to become an outdoors person as well, thanks to the children. Am I correct?" The steward asked with a smirk. "I haven't forgotten the snowball you threw at me that day."

"Mention those horrible things Sofia calls 'fun lessons' and I'll have to bring up the time you were turned into a frog."

The steward gasped. "Who told you of that witch incident?"

"Sofia," Cedric answered. "But enough talk, I better go find the children. I still have to get Calista to nap and finish brewing that potion I have waiting for me up stairs."

"I'll have Chef Andre and the cooks prepare our picnic basket." Baileywick said. With that said both the sorcerer and steward went their seperate ways.

A/N: Well, that's the third chapter. My intentions for this chapter was for Baileywick point of view on Cedric. The idea was to figure out Cedric's motives but yet still be in the dark about the whole thing. I hope I tugged at some heartstrings. Please review!