Chapter Fourteen
Eight months
"Only one month to go. It won't be long now girls, Mommy will get to hold you and love you soon enough."
Sofia smiled to herself, patting her baby bump as she looked at the bassinets. Light beige with sky blue lace for Anya and lavender with fuchsia lace for Lorelei just as she had requested from Cedric so she wouldn't mix them up.
She hated being on bed rest, especially on a beautiful spring day in March, but knew it was only temporary until the girls were born. On the bright side, Hugo was back in her life and despite his exhausted nature once returning from his father weeks before, he still wanted to help her.
Oh did she appreciate the help sometimes but he didn't need to wait on her twenty four seven. But he insisted though Sofia thought it was so Hugo could feel the girls kick while they still could.
"I see you've been up for awhile," Cedric smiled as he came into the room. "I'm surprised Hugo isn't with you today."
"James took him out for a guys day," Sofia smiled. "That gives me a chance to be alone with these two. Especially with how much they keep kicking lately."
"That's how Queen Lorelei was before Amber and James were born. If Roland was away, she enjoyed her alone time with them."
"Speaking of Lorelei, her and Anya have caused me to be a little clumsy lately. Remember last week? I was giving Corban a bottle and then bam! I spill milk on my maternity dress."
"That was a little funny," Cedric smirked.
"Not funny to a hungry ten month old baby brother," Sofia frowned. "That was his morning bottle Mr. Cedric!"
Cedric nodded in remembrance. While he had to fetch another bottle of fresh milk, having been Sofia's escort that morning, the sorcerer had to smile as she had calmed down Corban by making animal noises and singing a kitty song.
"But you calmed him down and acted motherly towards him," Cedric smiled.
"It's too bad my 'practice' wants to start standing up on his own," Sofia sighed. "Sometimes I wish Corban was still the baby he was when I first learned that I was pregnant."
"Now you know how I felt when you went through your potassium. All I craved was the eight-year-old who would barge into my workshop unannounced."
"Was I that bad Mr. Cedric?"
"I know you only wanted to help me, but there were times when I needed to be alone to do my work," Cedric admitted. "I know you could have helped me, but you weren't as experienced in potion making as you are now. I wanted to concentrate on what I was doing, and I didn't want anything to happen to you, or have something spill on you."
"I remember something did spill on me," Sofia reminded him, "The lizard potion."
"Yes, but fortunately I was able to change you back...both times. And I know you spilled it on yourself intentionally when I did that magic show for King Magnus!"
"I'll have you know that was to help you Mr. Cedric."
"In that case, I'm glad you did," Cedric smiled, helping her up. "Now is there anything you need help with?"
Sofia shrugged, a playful smile on her lips. "Being escorted to the secret garden? I've never gotten a chance to fully introduce it to the girls with everyone watching me like a hawk."
"Of course. I could use a change of scenery myself, and we both know your secret garden gives you a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity."
"Which I'll need for a while. And I might even introduce the girls to my secret garden when they have a temper tantrum or if they need to calm down for any reason."
"That's a wonderful idea," Cedric smiled. "If you want, I could also conjure some toys that would always be ready for them when they're out there."
"That is a good idea," Sofia smiled.
Taking her hand, Cedric escorted Sofia out of the room and reached the hallway before Amber had bumped into Sofia's baby bump.
She apologized to Sofia with a smile, cooing to Anya and Lorelei before Sofia and Cedric continued their walk outside of the castle.
Sofia let out a sigh of relief upon feeling the warm spring air on her face. It was better than being cooped up in bed rest all day.
Anya and Lorelei seemed to agree, kicking up a storm.
"You're enjoying their kicking while it lasts aren't you?" Cedric smirked.
"Next month it'll be painful Mr. Cedric!" Sofia pouted playfully. "Why can't I enjoy it?"
"I suppose you're right. Of course, I've never had anything like this happen to me, but Cordelia did share some stories of when she was pregnant with Callista, and she hated it when she had to stay in bed too."
"I'm not exactly confined to the bed, you know."
"I know, but you know what I mean," Cedric agreed. "Not being able to do what you normally do, and staying in one spot all the time can drive anyone mad!"
"It certainly has with me. Now do you see why I wanted to go to my secret garden?" Sofia smirked.
Cedric chuckled, putting a free hand on her baby bump. "I see what you mean Sofia." The two stopped towards the door of the secret garden and the sorcerer smiled. "I believe you left it unlocked the last time you were here because of morning sickness I believe."
"That must have been the reason. I actually don't remember."
"It doesn't matter. But I'd come here sometimes and see how things were going along while you were resting. Cordelia and I would also do some gardening, getting rid of some of the weeds around the flowers, raking up any leaves that fell, that sort of thing."
Sofia smiled. "Thank you!" She looked over at a tree, seeing something she hadn't noticed before. "And that is..."
Cedric smiled as he showed her the wind chimes he strung up. "Cordy used to have a set of wind chimes she'd use when she needed to relax if something was making her feel stressed. She thought you could use something like that too."
Sofia smiled, feeling Anya kick. "I think I'll need it after the girls are born. And perhaps every moment after."
Cedric chuckled, helping her sit down and lean against the tree as Sofia kicked off her shoes, allowing her bare feet to breathe. It felt nice to get out of the castle without someone worrying over her or demanding her to stay in bed rest every five minutes.
Sofia blushed as her head came in contact on Cedric's shoulder. That was something she had dreamed about during her subsided teacher crush she had on him when her hormones first started acting up.
She was only thirteen back then and hadn't known any better.
Cedric noticed her blush and laughed.
"Don't worry about a thing, Sofia," he smiled. "If you need me to act as a pillow for you, that's what I'll do for you."
Sofia smiled as she leaned against Cedric's shoulder. "Thank you for everything you've done," she murmured.
"Of course," Cedric said as he conjured a blanket for her and wrapped it around her shoulders. "I said I'd be there for you every step of the way, and I meant every word."
"So you'll be there when it's time?"
"Even if it's in the middle of the night, I'll be there."
"I know you will, Mr. Cedric," Sofia smiled. She nudged him playfully. "I can't imagine who's hand I'll squeeze the hardest during labor more than yours."
"Not even Hugo's?" Cedric smirked.
"Actually I've been wanting to talk to Mom and Dad about it but I wanna drop the engagement. I love Hugo but there's my life and the girls. I wanna spend the first year of their lives with them as much as possible, not plan a wedding or stress myself over Hugo traveling from here to his kingdom and back. But most of all, I wanna spend my time with you Mr. Cedric like we used too."
"And does Hugo know about this?"
"No, but I think he agrees that we're not quite ready to get married," Sofia admitted. "He only proposed to me so I wouldn't be alone raising the girls, even though everyone in the castle's going to be helping me. He also wanted to prove to both of us that he could be a good stepfather to Lorelei and Anya. We really do love each other, and we've agreed to get married a little later down the road, when we're both ready."
"That sounds like a plan, but you know Hugo will be by your side whenever you need him," Cedric agreed.
"I know," Sofia muttered, stretching out her legs so her feet could feel the grass. "But he won't be around all the time to help."
"And you're worried about what people will say when it'll be just you and the girls?"
"A little. I don't want Anya and Lorelei to view me as a mommy who brought shame to their auntie and grandpa and grandma because of their birth."
"That won't happen," Cedric assured her. "We've all been telling you that what happened to you was not your fault. We're all going to help you raise Lorelei and Anastasia, and we know Hugo still wants to help you whenever he's here with you."
"I know," Sofia sighed. "It's just hard for me to handle all this right now."
Cedric nodded sympathetically. "You want to scream your frustrations out right now?"
Sofia chuckled at the offer. "Thank you Mr. Cedric but I'll be doing that while in labor with two little girls inside me fighting to see who goes out first."
"It'll be Anastasia. Hasn't she been kicking the most lately?"
"Well she has gotten more excited lately. Last night, she kicked me because she heard Amber talking to me."
"Well, I think we know who's going to be tagging along after your sister, while Lorelei's going to join your brother in singing around the castle!" Cedric smiled.
"Oh, Mr. Cedric!" Sofia giggled. "We all know they'll like their own things. Or their interests will change as they get older."
"True. But how are you feeling?"
"Better than I have in days."
"I can see that," Cedric smiled. "When you were younger, you used to do that all the time and on days after it rained, you'd come in here and splash around in the mud until I had to get you."
"Was it because you were worried for me?" Sofia smiled.
"Worried would be your father. You would look at me and beg for a few more minutes in your muddy dress."
Sofia smiled as they sat and listened to the birds singing in the trees. This was nice, to be able to sit down with her mentor for a little while and have a little break from everything.
"You're going to be just fine," Cedric smiled as he shot a few sparkles out of his wand for her.
"And I can't wait to see the girls try to catch those!" Sofia smiled as she reached up to try and catch one herself.
"And if they start to cry, I'll shoot some more to calm them down."
"Those sparkles can cheer any kid up. Including me. Remember my first month in the castle?"
"Oh yes," Cedric smiled. "The week after your welcome ball, you came to me crying in the middle of the night and as much as it annoyed me to be woken up in the middle of the night, I did have a soft spot for crying children. Even after having to clean her nightgown with a stain removal spell."
"I guess the nightmare I had that night was bad," Sofia blushed.
"It could happen to anyone," Cedric shrugged. "The sparkle spell was one of the first ones my father taught me and Cordelia when we got our first wands, and we'd use it to calm each other down when we were sad or angry...although I don't know why it didn't work following the incident." He smiled as Sofia hugged him.
"It doesn't matter, Mr. Cedric," Sofia smiled. "Ms. Cordelia forgave you for that, and now that you're friends again, that's all that counts. Speaking of Ms. Cordelia, I can't wait for her and Callista to meet Lorelei and Anya!"
"Oh, Cordy will spoil the girls rotten, there's no doubt about that," Cedric smirked. "But of course we'll have to watch Callista when she's around them; you know how excitable she gets. She'll want to carry the girls around and play with them every chance she gets!"
"Oh I say she's gotten better over the years," Sofia smirked. "But I see what you mean. She got excited over Corban after he was born. I can't imagine how she'll feel over twins!"
Cedric smirked, patting her baby bump. "Pretty much the same. Just doubled."
"How did they react when you told them about the pregnancy?"
"You want me to be honest don't you?"
"Don't I always?" Sofia smiled.
"Well...like Mummy was when we first told her and Father about it, Cordy was ecstatic," Cedric smirked. "She started conjuring all kinds of dresses for...well, for Anastasia, which I made a second copy of, since there's now a Lorelei rather than a Birk."
"That's okay, and maybe there'll be a Birk later on in the future. But what about Callista?"
"As I said, we'll have to keep an eye on Callista while she's around the babies. She can be a little...excitable around new people, and when she learns there are two new babies in the castle, she'll want to play with them every chance she gets!"
"But at least Mr. Goodwyn and Ms. Winifred are excited about this, right?" Sofia continued. "We saw them at the baby shower, and we talked to them about the potion ingredients."
"They are. Father certainly changed his tune when he saw you with Prince Corban," Cedric smiled. "Though when I last talked to them, he seemed rather excited to see the twins once they were born."
"Everyone's always excited around babies Mr. Cedric," Sofia smiled before feeling a hard kick from Lorelei. "Oh! Guess the girls are hungry."
"In that case, here you go," Cedric smiled, conjuring not just a plate of fly cakes and chocolate covered strawberries, but also a plate of sandwiches and a pitcher of juice, along with a few bags of chips and some glasses.
Sofia smiled as she bit into a chocolate covered strawberry and felt another kick. "Thanks, Mr. Cedric, and Lorelei thanks you too!"
Cedric smiled as he poured himself some juice. "Any time, my dear," After he took a bite of one of the sandwiches, he continued, "I also talked to my father about testing the girls for potion ingredient reactions. He said we'll wait until after their debut ball before we test them. That way, we won't have to worry about it for too much longer."
"Good idea. Though I'll have to distract Anya with the snowman plush Hildegard gave me and Lorelei well I don't know what I'll distract her with."
"You'll just have to see what she claims as hers first."
"Now that I think about it, Lorelei will probably enjoy the strawberry plush Amber gave me for Wassalia as a joke gift," Sofia smiled.
"I can't imagine why," Cedric smirked. "Every time you have one, she always kicks."
"When James heard about how much she appears to like that strawberry plush, he started looking for strawberry-themed songs!"
"And he'll have to find snowman-themed songs for Anastasia, won't he? Although I certainly can't complain; I do enjoy listening to him sing through my crystal ball."
"I wondered why you're always looking through your crystal ball into James' room," Sofia smirked. "You like hearing him sing as much as everyone in the castle!"
"Indeed," Cedric smiled. "Even when he sang behind a closed door, I watched him, and when I accompanied him, I had my door open."
"So it was kind of like having him sing with his door open."
"I guess you can say it was like that."
"Couldn't we just stay here the rest of the day?" Sofia suggested as she wiped her face with a napkin. "It's better than being cooped up in bed."
"You know you'll have to go back in eventually," Cedric teased. He frowned, noticing a familiar pout she used to give him when she was younger. "Oh no. That may have worked when you were eight and muddy but not now."
"It was worth a shot," Sofia smirked.
"Indeed," Cedric smirked as he led her back inside.
"There you are!" they heard Roland's voice when they came back in. "Sofia, you should be resting."
"Don't worry, your majesty; she only had a case of castle fever," Cedric assured him. "We only stayed out a few minutes."
Roland smiled. He remembered how much Lorelei had hated being cooped up when she was pregnant, and she was always insisting that they go out for a few minutes every day, even on the days when she was supposed to be on bedrest.
"We only stayed out for a few minutes," Sofia echoed with a smile. "I got to stretch out my legs and we had a small lunch."
"That does explain your lack of shoes," Roland noticed with a gently took Sofia's free hand in his. "I only want what's best for you. I don't want what happened to Lorelei, not your Lorelei, to happen to you."
"I know Dad. But do you know how difficult it is to think of middle names while on bed rest?"
"Still thinking of one for Anya aren't you?"
"Maybe I'll take James up on his earlier idea and use Birkette," Sofia giggled as she remembered the conversation she had with James on the day she decided on Lorelei's name.
Roland smirked as he remembered hearing Sofia laughing at the idea. "No, I know you wanted the name Birk if you were having a boy, and perhaps you'll get to use it in the future, but maybe you'll think of something down the road."
"I actually have been thinking of something," Sofia admitted. She looked over at Cedric. "I was actually playing with the idea of the middle name of Winifred, if that's okay with you, Mr. Cedric?"
"Anastasia Winifred," Cedric smiled. "It's beautiful, Sofia, and I'm sure Mummy would be honored to know that she's her namesake!"
"Anastasia Winifred and Lorelei Amberina," Roland smiled, putting a hand on Sofia's baby bump. "Two beautiful names for two beautiful little girls."
"Save that for when they're born Rollie," Miranda smiled, carrying a squirming Corban in her arms.
"Ya!" Corban giggled, reaching out for Sofia.
"And of course we have to tell Prince James about this, so he can start thinking up ideas on how to use the girls in his stories," Cedric added, knowing that James used people's middle names as his characters' first names in his stories.
"Save it for when the girls are a little older, Cedric," Roland smirked. "He's only started using Corban in his stories, and he's made it so he only goes on adventures with everyone's plush friends! Isn't that right, Mr. Alistair?"
"Ya!" Corban squealed.
"Dad! Corban only understands the kitties!" Sofia giggled, gently taking her little brother in her arms. "Right Corban?"
Corban squealed, patting her baby bump, giggling as he felt Anya and Lorelei kick. He knew Sofia couldn't hold him all the time, taking a rare opportunity to lay his head on her chest.
A few tears went down Sofia's cheeks at the action before she wiped them away.
"It won't be long until Lorelei and Anya are doing that," Cedric smiled, handing her a handkerchief.
"And when I'm not holding them, I can hold Corban," Sofia sniffled, but she smiled at the idea.
"And Corban's been wonderful practice for you," Miranda agreed.
"You help me too, when I give him a late night bottle. We talk a little, but I'm mostly telling you I'm okay, or I apologize for waking you up in the middle of the night."
"You don't have to apologize. Sofia, you know I want to help you, and I volunteered to do late night feedings for the girls when they're born."
"I know but I'll be the mommy. Except what if I do it wrong? What if there's something wrong with the girls after they're born?" Sofia bit her lip, taking a shaky breath. "What if something happens to me?"
"What do you mean?" Miranda wondered, stroking her hair.
"I don't know. I'm just so scared for next month."
"Every new mom is Sofia. I was when you were born."
"You mean you won't mind if you're the first thing I scream out when I'm in labor?" Sofia sniffed.
"I was screaming for my mother when I was in labor with you," Miranda revealed.
"And I recall Lorelei screaming for her mother when she was in labor with Amber and James," Roland agreed. "It's perfectly normal to want your mother by your side when you give birth, from what I've heard about it...I wouldn't know..."
"Oh, Rollie. But he's right. We'll both be right by your side when it happens."
Sofia sighed in relief, looking down as Corban babbled and stared at the amulet.
"No doubt the girls will do that too," Cedric smiled. "Babies are easily distracted by shiny objects."
"Wouldn't I know it Cedric?" Amber smiled, coming into the room. "Corban loves my jewelry and tiaras." She smiled, nudging Sofia gently. "I thought you had taken some time to yourself. I tried to find you this morning for nursery extensions."
"Amber, the nursery is fine as it is," Sofia smirked. "If you want to dress something up, do the bassinets."
"I will! Anastasia and Lorelei are going to love them!"
"Speaking of Anya, she's got a middle name now. Winifred, after Cedric's mother."
"Anastasia Winifred," Amber smiled. "Sofia, that's beautiful!"
"Not as beautiful as Amberina?" Sofia smiled.
Amber laughed, feeling Lorelei kick in agreement. Lorelei wasn't even born yet and already it seemed like she'd follow in her footsteps a little bit.
"Now, Lorelei, don't be jealous," Amber smiled. "Your sister has a pretty name just like you!"
"Oh, Amber," Sofia smiled.
"She's not wrong," Miranda smiled, placing a hand on Sofia's baby bump. "Lorelei, both you and Anya have pretty names. There's no reason to be jealous."
"Speaking of names, a certain princess better be back in bed and her escort better get her back there before Baileywick starts a search party," Roland teased.
"Okay," Sofia sighed in mock defeat. She looked around her secret garden one last time, then at Cedric. "Same time next week?"
"We'll see when next week comes!" Cedric chuckled.
…
"I see you had an interesting day with Cedric."
Sofia looked up from the book she was reading, seeing brown eyes look at her.
"James, it was just to get me away before I developed castle fever," Sofia smiled.
"True. You always hated being cooped up in bed," James smirked. "Though according to Hugo, is it true you're breaking off your engagement?"
"Yes. Hugo and I do want to get married, but not right now. I'm going to have enough stress when the girls are born. I don't need to be planning a wedding on top of raising two babies."
"That's okay. Hugo told me the same thing while we were out. I'm just glad that you're not as upset as he thought you'd be."
"He still wants to help me with the girls, and we both agreed that he can still do that," Sofia agreed. "And we agreed that we will get married when the girls are a little older."
"When they're two? Three? Four? Maybe five?" James teased.
"We haven't decided on the age yet."
"But when you do, you'll have two adorable flower girls."
"And you'll be my best man I promise," Sofia smirked. "I don't think Mr. Cedric would be willing to do it."
"No. He'll have enough on his plate getting Anya and Lorelei settled," James joked.
"And you'll have to play the girls songs to keep them quiet, in addition to being the best man."
"Best man and piano player? Ah, multi-tasking!"
"Oh, James," Sofia smirked. "But I'm positive the girls will love any song you play for them!"
"Nothing but the best for my nieces!" James grinned.
He laughed, feeling Anya and Lorelei kick happily at the sound of his voice.
Sofia smiled softly upon feeling the movement, putting the book she had been reading down for easier movement as she stretched her arms.
"I only hope none of them get their father's personality," Sofia confessed. "I just want the girls to be my little angels. Even if people will consider them a disgrace."
"That won't happen," James assured her, "Mom always says that if people don't understand why this happened to you, it's their problem, not yours. And don't you remember some of the cards you got after Stirling was executed?"
Sofia nodded, and she smiled at the memory. Several people who had been in attendance at the execution had written her letters of support after they heard what Stirling had done. A few of the shopkeepers in the village had even enclosed gift cards to their stores for her. "I know there were a lot of letters saying that they supported me," she said at last, "But there were still one or two that said it was my fault that this happened."
"But at least we threw those letters away," James smirked. "We're only keeping the letters of support for you."
Sofia nodded, remembering she had put the letters of support in one of her drawers.
Some of the letters had drawings from some of the senders' children on a separate piece of paper as Sofia watched James take out one of the letters and drawings from the drawer they were in.
"The people who wrote these letters all support you," James continued. "Some of them offer tips on how to raise the girls, and they invite you to come for tea and learn what else you could do."
"I might take them up on their offers," Sofia smiled. "Of course, hopefully I'll be off bedrest by then, and I can thank them in person."
"We'll see when the time comes," Miranda agreed. "Some people might agree with the ideas we've already shared, but other people might have their own thoughts."
"That's true. But I wouldn't mind more advice as a first time mom."
"Knowing whoever you visit, they'll be cooing over the girls."
"Or spoiling them," Sofia smiled. "Anya and Lorelei will be the most spoiled babies in the whole kingdom!"
"But at least they'll be loved and respected," Miranda smiled. "The people know what happened, since you shouted it at Stirling before he was executed, and plenty of people showed you support there too."
Sofia smiled a little. She remembered Hugo leading her away so she wouldn't have to watch as Stirling was executed, but as they walked off, she felt several people patting her on the back and shoulders, and she even felt some people hug her. She even heard their whispers of support before she started crying when they reached the edge of the crowd.
The whispers had come to a halt but the support never stopped as the crowd had become quiet and let her cry softly in peace.
Sofia looked back at the memory with a widened smile, starting to yawn.
"If you're this tired now, imagine how tired you'll be when the girls are born," James smirked.
"Very funny James. I've gotten experience by being woken up by Corban," Sofia teased. "And the girls kicking."
"They just can't wait to come out and say hi to their future best friend," James smiled. "Isn't that right, Corban?"
"Ya!" Corban giggled.
"Now how did you get in here?" Miranda cooed, taking him in her arms.
Corban squealed, pointing to the door that James had left ajar.
"You crawled huh?" Sofia smiled, stroking his hair. "Did you hear us and decided to crawl inside?"
Corban giggled, clapping his hands, then resting his head on Sofia's shoulder. "Ma ma!"
"That's right Corban! One more month and then I'll be a ma ma."
"And you'll be a wonderful ma ma," Miranda smiled.
"I hope you're right," Sofia murmured as her smile faded a little.
"Sof you've been practicing for eight months! How can you not be a wonderful mom?" James wondered.
Corban didn't understand what he had meant but took his head off Sofia's shoulder, patting her baby bump. He liked the way it moved, giggling as Anya and Lorelei kicked.
"Enjoy it while you can, Corban," Sofia smiled. "One more month and then your new friends will be here!"
"And we'll all be happy to see them when they do come," Miranda smiled.
