*Just a friendly disclaimer. I don't own any rights to Sofia the First. Sofia the First and the characters herein is/are the property of Disney and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

CHAPTER 10

EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY

Cedric looked down at the envelope in his hands and shook his head. He had the notion to rip it to shreds then and there. I can't believe the pure audacity of that prince to even think about Sofia, let alone contact her. He thought running his fingers over the envelope's red seal. This is just another tactic for him to hurt her, that bastard. Cedric felt the anger rise up within him; never in his life had he hated someone so much. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, doing his best to calm himself.

"Are you really going to give that to the Princess?" Wormwood asked flying over and landing on Cedric's shoulder.

"I have to Wormwood." He sighed running a his hand through his hair in frustration. "As much as I'd like to destroy it and it's author, I cannot. Furthermore, Sofia would never forgive me for keeping it from her. It's her decision to open it or not. I cannot protect her from everything, as much as I would like, she has to be allowed to find her own resolve."

"Damn your newfound morals. The old Cedric would have set it ablaze already." The raven pouted flying back to his perch.

"Yes, well, you're right the old me would have without a second thought, but I'm not the same man I used to be Wormwood. The princess has changed a lot of things around here, myself included." He sighed, tossing the letter down on his desk as he collapsed into his chair. He leaned on his elbow and held his chin in thought for a few minutes. After a while in deep thought he stood up and stated "I suppose I ought to wake her up now... Get this over with."

"Have fun with that. I'm going to go find some lunch." Wormwood scoffed, flying off before Cedric could utter a word.

"Blasted raven! What a good friend you turned out to be, you gossipmonger!" He yelled out the window, shaking his fist at the raven as he flew away. "Damn bird." He muttered pulling himself back into the tower, straightening his shirt and vest. He peeked over his shoulder realizing he had just yelled loud enough to wake the princess. He didn't see or hear her stirring, so he gathered the letter off of his desk and quietly made his way into the study. He looked down on the sleeping girl and smiled unknowingly.

He tossed the envelope onto the end-table and kneeled down in front of the chair. Hesitantly he reached up and gently ran his fingers through her hair, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. How I wish I didn't have to hide these feelings from her... How I'd love to touch her this way while she was awake... to have her want my caresses, even. He thought to himself as he traced his fingertips over her earlobe down to the hollow of her neck, barely touching her skin.

Sofia watched through her lush lashes as Cedric caressed her gently; the man entranced and unaware that she was actually awake. His eyes found the amulet of avalor resting in its rightful place, but his fingers didn't make contact with the gem, instead they slowly traced up her clavicle to her shoulder. She heard a soft sigh as Cedric let his hand fall away from her as he began to rise to his feet.

Wanting to take advantage of the moment Sofia fluttered her eyes open, made sure to make eye contact with the man, and mumbled his name sleepily. He smiled softly and sunk back down to his knees so that he was level with her again. She stretched her limbs, drawing her feet out from under her and out past Cedric, only now noticing the quilt covering her. She ran her fingers over the soft cotton patches and smiled at him. "Your family quilt..." She mumbled studying the intricate patches on cover, her fingertips pausing on a beautiful block that looked like a sketch. It was black ink on a white background; featuring a picturesque scene from the perspective of someone looking skyward into gothic tree branches with a lone raven flying through the center. "This one... It's yours isn't it?" She asked looking up at him tenderly. He smiled back and nodded his head, his fingers grazing over hers as he ran them over the patch.

"However did you know?" He asked sarcastically meeting her gaze with soulful eyes.

"It's beautiful Cedric." She mumbled looking back down to the quilt, tracing the tree branches with her fingertips. "Did you draw it?"

He confirmed her thought with a simple "I did." She felt his eyes still on her and blushed slightly. She gently laced their fingers together over the patch.

"I didn't know you could draw like that. You truly are Cedric the Sensational!"

"You're the only one to have ever thought that Princess." He said diverting his attention to their interlaced fingers.

"Nonsense, you're the most ah-mazing sorcerer I know! This just proves my point even further. Makes me wonder what other talents you've kept hidden from me." She said giving him a coy wink. He gave her a soft smile in return.

"It's always been a hobby of mine since I was a lad." He explained, pulling his fingers from her grasp and resting them tip to tip with hers. "But in recent years I just haven't have the time to sketch anything. I should show you some of my field journals from school if you like this. There's a fair amount of botanical and wildlife sketches in those."

"Really?" She asked slipping their fingers together again. " I'd love to see them!" She said giving his hand a firm squeeze. "But I've never seen any of your journals around here before. And I've looked at every book in the tower at some point."

"That's because Mummy kept them for me." He replied sliding his fingers from her grip and holding her hand in his instead. He ran his thumb in small circles over her ring finger, lost in thought.

"Wonderful! Now we have an excuse to go to Mystic Meadows!" She exclaimed, clasping her hands in front of her chest with joy. "It's been too long since I've seen your parents, I can't wait to tell them all the places I've been and all that I learned while I was away!"

Cedric rolled his eyes. "I believe you enjoy spending time with my parents more than I do."

"I just love your family Cedric! They're not at all as bad as you make them out to be."

"That's because you didn't grow up with them." He said dryly.

"Well, I'd very much like to see them. Can we go this weekend?"

"You won't let me hear the end of it if we don't..."

"You know me too well." she said giving him another wink and giggle.

"That I do Princesses." His sighed, rising to his feet, his heart filling with sorrow. He did know her too well; he knew her more intimately than anyone. And she knew him on a deeper level than anyone could imagine. She was his best (if not only) friend, next to Wormwood. Which was rather sad, considering his age and rank. His father thought he should know anyone and everyone because of his career. The ageing sorcerer had also dropped hints that his only son should have a talented sorceress for a wife by now, along with multiple children. Cedric had always shoved such thoughts to the back of his mind, insisting that he had too much work to do to have a family. But now, with such deep feelings for Sofia developing within him, he saw that he did indeed want a just that. He wanted her for his wife; to spend every day with her, to spend hours pouring over new spellbooks together, to hold her close in the middle of the night because she was assuredly his, to even be her guinea pig for her tea concoctions, to give her children because she would most certainly be a wonderful mother – he wanted it all.

Suddenly his life made no sense. Everything he had in life and had strived to attain didn't matter if he couldn't have her. But yet he knew deep down he could really never have her, even if she wanted him, it could never be. Roland would have my head on a platter if he ever found out that I harbor such feelings for Sofia. It doesn't matter how I feel or even how she feels; It just cannot be. I'm going to have to learn to shove such feelings aside.

"Cedric... are you okay?" Sofia's voice shook him from his thoughts and grounded him back into the abysmal reality at hand.

"What? Oh, yes, Princess, I'm fine. Just lost in thought. Ummm, here," he said picking up the letter from the table and handing it to her. "Your mother dropped this off for you. She wanted to be there when you opened it... but you were sleeping so we decided it was best to let you get some rest."

"What is it?"

"I suppose it's a written apology from that loathsome prince." He practically seethed. "That's why your mother wanted to be here when you read it. She said my presence would be adequate though. I will tell you however, I had the notice to set it ablaze after she left..." He said over his shoulder as he stood at the mantle, watching the fire dance. Sofia's lips turned up in a smile momentarily, he thought she was going to snicker at him, before it morphed into a frown.

"Maybe you should have." She replied barely above a whisper. It was very unlike Sofia to be so negative. Cedric couldn't blame her though, even someone as pure of heart as Sofia had to have their moments as well. Cedric sighed and bit his lip. He hated seeing her this way. Her rose colored glasses were broken and with it her very essence fractured. She was teetering on the edge; her innocent naivete on one side and the reality on the other.

"No matter what it contains, I'll be here for you Princess. Whatever you need of me." He told her placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She reached up and gave his hand a squeeze.

"Thank you, Cedric. I might as well get this over with." She exhaled, still hesitant to see what the envelope contained. Cedric gave her shoulder a quick squeeze again prompting her to break the seal and pull out the letter within. Cedric stalked over to the mantle again giving her privacy to read the note on her own. It was unmistakably written in Hugo's small, sloppy scrawl.

Dearest Sofia,

I don't know where to begin with this. There is nothing I can say to excuse my actions against you. I'm horrified and repulsed by my behavior last night and this morning. The Hugo you know wouldn't have acted in such a way. I took advantage of you and I'm sorry. I know it doesn't excuse things but Axel says he attributes my actions to the fact I was intoxicated. I must have had too much to drink and lost myself. I am truly sorry Sofia. I would never wish to harm you or anyone in any way.

I understand that you don't want to see me for a while, but I hope that by your birthday next month you'll have forgiven me and allow me to make it up to you. I've sworn off drinking anything alcoholic in the meantime. I promise I won't let you down if you only let me have the chance.

I'm sorry.

Please forgive me.

Hugo

Sofia read the note over twice before rolling her eyes and crumbling the paper in her hand.

"I knew I should have destroyed it when I had the chance." Cedric muttered watching her from the corner of his eye.

"I should have let you Cedric. He's turned into such a liar! I can't believe I was ever nice to him." She groaned.

"It's in your nature to be kind to everyone Princess, even when they don't deserve it. No one could blame you for being angry with that abhorrent being, though. "

"I know... I just can't believe he has the nerve to say such things!" She said shaking the paper in her hand. Cedric raised an eyebrow at her, curious what the boy had said to anger the altruistic princess so.

"Here you read it, I can't bring myself to look at it again." She said shoving the paper at him.

"Are you sure you want me to read this?" He said hesitantly, his fingers finding their grip on the paper she thrust at his chest.

"Yes, Cedric. Tell me what you think." She replied gazing up into his eyes, waiting for his advice.

"I'd really rather not Sofia. It might prompt me to do something to him that I'll regret later." He said laying the paper down on the mantle.

She groaned and shoved her head against his chest. "He apologized and then tried using that he was intoxicated as an excuse, but I know he wasn't; I didn't smell a drop of alcohol on him! Then he had the gall to ask if he could come to my birthday ball and make it up to me! How could he propose such an idea? Does he really think I'm dumb enough to believe him?" Cedric patted her head and stoked her hair.

"He is vain and arrogant, thus he fails to realize you are not like the other princesses. You Sofia," he said taking her chin in his fingers, turning her head up to face him. "are more mature than most adults I know. You, Princess Sofia, are the most astute, kind, intelligent, talented woman I've ever met."

Sofia looked up into his eyes thinking to herself how raw and passionate his words sounded. Her gaze drifted down to his mouth. Her eyes studied his lips, her heart beat faster and the distance between then began to close. She felt her stomach in her throat, her head felt faint, her breath stilled. They were inches apart; he was leaning down to her as much as she was drifting up to him.

There was a loud rapping at the workshop door. Immediately Cedric pulled away and rushed toward the door, leaving Sofia stunned and disappointed. "What is it now?" he yelled as he yanked open the door.

"No need to raise your voice Cedric." The steward said matter of factly. "The king wants you to help out at the Dunwitty garden this week. The crop needs magically enhanced to sustain the village. Can you do that Cedric?"

Cedric groaned "What sort of question is that? Of course I can. It'll take a few days to brew the potion needed though. Meaning" he ranted on wagging his finger at the steward. "I need peace and quiet; which MEANS I'm not be disturbed until I'm done." And with his anger spent he promptly slammed the door in poor Baileywick's face, and stalked over to his desk. He pulled out his wand, gave it a flick and a book levitated down into his hand. He slumped into his chair and began flicking through its pages, looking for the magical plants potion he needed. His mind focused in on the book before him, trying his best to forget that Sofia was still there. I can't believe I almost kissed her! What was I thinking? Baileywick couldn't have come at a better time for once.

Suddenly he felt weight on his back and shoulders. "I think the potion you're looking for is in volume two." Sofia said leaning her breast against his back and draping her arms over his shoulders. He blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't daydreaming. She picked up his wand, gave it a flick and the book floated down to them. She laid the wand back down on the desk and opened the book to the correct page. "There, that's the one isn't it?" she asked still leaning against him.

Cedric cleared the lump from his throat "Yes, I do believe that's the one Princess."

"So, this will take you a few days to do?" she asked her chin resting on his shoulder.

"Two, three days max. Why do you ask?" he questioned her watching her from the corner of his eye.

"Oh I was thinking about paying Vivian a visit. You're going to be busy and, although I know I can talk to you about anything... there are just some things I need to talk about to another female. You understand right? You know how much I appreciate everything you do and have done for me Cedric. I just need some girl time is all."

"Of course, of course. Vivian... she's the one who played the mandolin at your birthday a few years ago right?"

"Mmhmm."

"She's not like the other Princesses either. Yes, she would be the best one to ask for advice. Have fun Dear." He said patting her hand on his chest.

Sofia smiled and hugged Cedric from behind. "Thank you Cedric. So when I get back we can still go to Mystic Meadows right?"

"Yes, if you get back in time we'll go."

Before Cedric realized what happened Sofia leaned down and placed a tender kiss on his cheek. "You're the best Cedric! See you when I get back." She yelled back over her shoulder as she excited the workshop. Cedric's fingers grazed over his cheek where she had kissed him. Why does she toy with me so? Can't she see how she vexes me? She wanted me to kiss her before Baileywick arrived, she was leaning in toward me. Will she tell that girl what has transpired between us?

He ran his hand through his hair and groaned. "I need a drink."