Angels in the Snow
Summary: It's Wassailia again, and despite all the wonderful gifts, there's only one thing Sofia needs to make it a perfect holiday.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OCs (Corban, Alamea, and Angel). Nana and Tanya belong to MarionetteJ2X. Everyone and everything else belong to Craig Gerber.
A/N: Hey, everyone! Happy Wassailia! Merry Christmas! (Even if this isn't necessarily posted during the holiday season, haha). There is a lot of fluff going on in this story, so brace yourself. And honestly, it's about time, right? 😊
*Story*
Wassailia… It was always a season of love, hope, and family. This Wassailia was no different in that regard, but it quite obviously wasn't the same as it always was. Aside from Alamea having her first birthday in a few days, there were also new couples celebrating.
James, interestingly enough, had taken over his twin's original duty of stringing up all the mistletoe in as many places he could, with hopes of catching Vivian under it. He'd been unsuccessful so far, but he wasn't giving up. It was only mid-afternoon, and the festivities were barely getting started, so he had time. Actually, he had a bit of an ulterior motive as well: he really wanted to catch Cedric and Sofia under it.
Strangely, ever since the princess's scrape with death a few months ago, she and Cedric hadn't been nearly as open with their relationship as they had been before that time. It was possible that they just wanted to continue developing their relationship privately and quietly, or maybe they were scared to be open about their relationship if potential evildoers might take advantage of that knowledge, but they deserved more than that. They barely even acted moderately affectionate when around the others anymore, which was definitely strange, because even before they'd gotten together, they at least always held hands or linked arms. They weren't even doing that publicly these days.
And now, he happened to be leaning against a sofa in the main common room and managed to catch a glimpse of the couple sitting near the tree, sliding a few gifts under it together. He smirked and narrowed his eyes as Sofia's hand brushed against Cedric's, a gentle smile forming on both their faces before they turned their attention instead to Nana and Tanya. "Hmm… This could be interesting…"
"I rather like the outfits you've chosen for the girls this year, Sofia," Cedric told the princess as he nodded toward Nana and Tanya, who were both wearing new long-sleeved dresses. Tanya's was a dark blue crushed velvet, with black lace embroidery on the hem, and Nana's was red and white, with little strawberries stitched into the skirt. He chuckled as they heard his comment, and each spun around, allowing the skirt portion of their dresses to flare out and bounce around their white stocking-clad legs. "They both look so adorable…"
Sofia laughed, especially as Nana stumbled from spinning too much and fell into her sister, who caught her. "I'm glad you agree. Amber had suggested going with matching outfits for them, but I thought it would be better if they each wore something unique to their own style."
"And I couldn't help but notice that you decided to wear the early Wassailia gift I gave you…" His smile turned a bit mischievous as she blushed modestly, and he leaned forward, whispering, "You look stunning."
She smiled shyly at his words. He'd had a habit of making sorceress outfits for her for a few years now, but this one was certainly more festive than the others, given the occasion. Her robe-dress was a shimmery royal purple with silver trim along the hem of the skirt and the ends of her long sleeves. Throughout the fabric was a bit of silver glitter that reflected off the firelight in the hearth, making it appear more magical. The collar had silver snowflake designs meticulously melded into the fabric, so delicate looking that they almost appeared to be real snowflakes. "I'm glad you made it…" She giggled as he brushed one finger over her cheek. "But then again, I'm grateful for anything you make or do for me."
"Are you still trying to catch them under the mistletoe?" Amber asked pointedly, smirking as her brother jumped and yelped, like a child caught spying (although, technically, most of that was accurate). She folded her arms, her gold shoe, matching her extravagant golden gown with diamond-encrusted patterns throughout, tapping on the floor. "James…"
"W-Well, heh…" He grinned sheepishly as he stood up a bit straighter, tugging at his cravat nervously. It was white to offset the deep red and black outfit he'd chosen for the occasion. "Actually, Amber, I was originally only putting up so many to get Vivian to kiss me."
The future queen snickered. "That's the only way your future wife will kiss you now, huh? If you ensnare her with a holiday tradition?"
"N-No! She actually likes kissing me, thank you very much!" He folded his arms, realizing how ridiculous his counterargument was. "Besides, you did the same thing once upon a time, sis. Don't even try to deny it."
Amber smirked, shaking her head as her hands dropped to her hips. "James, I put up a few. You put up thirty-seven! Violet counted! She said that Chef Andre ended up under a sprig with poor Marcie, and she passed out from nervousness."
He scoffed, apparently overlooking (or ignoring) her comment about Chef Andre and Marcie. "Oh, don't even try that with me. A 'few?' You had about sixty! You're no better than I am…" He then mimicked her smirk, nodding toward Cedric and Sofia, who were sitting next to each other, talking quietly. "Okay, to be honest… I'm trying to get them to kiss."
"What?" She blinked. "Why, James? What is your fascination with their relationship all of a sudden?"
"Do you notice that they don't show too much affection in public anymore?" He frowned. "Ever since all that other stuff happened, especially Sofia dying and then getting her soul back… They haven't really been the same Cedric and Sofia. Like, they're getting around to being themselves, but maybe they need a little push."
"And you think mistletoe will solve the problem?" She laughed. "And people say that I'm the romantic one…"
"I just want them to be happy, Amber," the prince sighed. "Sofia dying and then coming back to life after Cedric and I had to retrieve her soul, and then them being attacked by their evil counterparts, and then Sofia being possessed during Halloween… I mean, good grief, I'm surprised they're not too traumatized. Plus, who knows what all else they've gone through the last several years? There's a lot they don't tell us, you know…"
"I know, James." She smiled gently. "But they're Cedric and Sofia. They handle things differently from us. And that's okay. Just give them some time, and when it's right, they'll be back to themselves."
"Maybe you're right." He sighed, smiling softly at his sister. "Thanks, Amber…"
"You're welcome." She gestured toward the other side of the room, where Vivian happened to be standing under some mistletoe while taking a cookie off one of the plates on the long table. "I think someone needs your attention."
He grinned. "I'm on it!" He took off, nearly tripping over his own feet as he did.
Amber snickered as her brother grabbed his fiancée, pointed upward, and then pulled her into a loving kiss. "Boys…" She giggled before looking back at her sister and the sorcerer. "Hmm… They just need some time…"
After a while, everyone gathered and began opening gifts. The kids got lots of new toys to play with and books to read. Alamea got a new dress for both Wassailia and her first birthday coming up.
Sofia smiled as she opened a box from Nana and Tanya, marveling at the soft feel of the plush rabbit with the yellow bowtie that was similar to Cedric's. "Aww, girls… He's so adorable!"
"We modeled him after Clover," Tanya explained with a bright smile. "We made him with a spell that Calista taught us."
"Thank you both." The princess leaned over and kissed both girls on their foreheads, making each one smile. "And I hope you both liked your dresses. Your Gramma Miranda and I tried to make sure they looked like your style."
Tanya nodded, holding up her new long black dress with silver and magenta accents throughout. "I think it is quite nice, Mama! I enjoy the color scheme."
Nana nodded, grinning at her little pink dress with yellow polka dots scattered across the fabric. She cuddled it, seeming rather pleased with her gift.
"I'm glad." She smiled, happy with their responses.
The girls then began giggling about something, and Cedric smiled, asking, "What's so funny, you two?"
Tanya got her laughter under control before looking from her little sister to her parents. "Nothing, Papa. Nana just told me that she still needs to give someone his gift." She giggled again, and so did Nana, both covering their mouths as they did.
The partners exchanged knowing smiles, each thinking the same thing: 'His?'
Sofia turned to her girls, and sighed, though she was still smiling. "All right. You girls run along. Can't keep him waiting for his gift all night." She laughed as the girls nodded and hurried off to—she presumed—grab whatever gift they were referring to, though she couldn't recall Nana working on anything recently… She glanced at her partner, sighing. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to get you anything really thoughtful this year like I always do…" She passed him a heavy dark purple blanket that seemed to have imagery of his and her magical power streams scattered throughout the fabric: green mixed with lavender. "It's been…kind of a rough, weird…" She smiled thoughtfully, recalling their confession on Morea Mountain. "But…ah-mazing year…"
Cedric chuckled. "I'm well aware, my love… Honestly, I'd be satisfied just being with you every day. That's the best gift you could ever give me…" He stood, wrapping the blanket around his shoulders, smiling as it fell down to his feet, and then reached out to pull Sofia to her feet. "I've got something for you too. Come on."
She blinked, curiously taking his offered hand and following him out of the common room.
"Aw," James sighed, disappointed, getting Vivian's attention as he watched his friend and sister leave. "They were so close!" He looked up, seeing that the sprig of mistletoe had been about two feet away from where they'd been sitting. "That stinks…"
Vivian laughed. "You really outdid yourself, James… What happens if the wrong people end up under there?"
He shrugged. "It's not my rule. It's the rule of the mistletoe." He grinned mischievously as he watched Baileywick walk over to the table to pick up a plate of cheese and crackers, Violet following closely behind him. "Ah-hah!"
Violet blinked upon hearing the prince's shout of victory. "Everything okay, Prince James?" she wondered, staring at the young man with a bewildered expression.
"Oh, of course, Violet. But I think things are about to get a whole lot better for you guys too." He smirked. "Look up."
Baileywick cautiously glanced upward before flushing heavily and shaking his head. "I have avoided that wretched plant all these years," he complained. "And you mean to tell me that now, because of some silly tradition, I have to…" He couldn't even finish that sentence.
Violet smiled at him, blushing a bit herself as she fiddled with her braid. "You don't…have to kiss me, Mr. Baileywick," she reminded him. "It's just a silly superstition, after all."
"I don't know, Violet," Amber laughed as Desmond brought her a cup of cider and stood next to her, Alamea asleep in her father's arms. "Everyone I know who's kissed under the mistletoe has ended up in a relationship or even married." She nudged her husband to prove a point, snickering as he blushed but nodded. "And you know, you and Baileywick are kind of cute together!"
The former steward cleared his throat. "P-Princess Amber, Violet and I are friends…"
"For now," James teased. "We'll see what happens after you kiss. Trust me." He winked toward Vivian. "A kiss can change a lot of things."
The dark-haired princess rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.
"I quite agree," Desmond added, surprising the others. "However…" He laughed as they sighed, as if expecting that transitional word. "I don't think you should be pressured to kiss if you don't want to."
"Who said I didn't want to?" Violet asked before she could stop herself. She then blushed heavily, her hands flying to her mouth, as Baileywick glanced back at her in surprise. "I-I-I mean…"
"V-Violet," Baileywick began uncertainly. "D-Do you…um…?" He composed himself, straightening his jacket and cravat. "It would merely be…upholding tradition…" He then smiled gently at her as he took both of her hands. "If…you want to. I would never pressure anyone, especially one of my closest friends, into such a silly thing."
She stared at him for a few moments before finally smiling. "Lovin' you…isn't silly, Mr. Baileywick…" She released his hands before reaching up, sliding them into his neatly-styled hair, and then pressed her lips to his.
Baileywick barely had time to process her words. Had she just said that she loved him? He soon became aware of her lips on his own, and, automatically, he wrapped his arms around his dear friend, returning the gesture.
Miranda and Roland happened to see this take place and nearly fell over in shock. Baileywick and Violet were…kissing!
"Huh…" James grinned, shrugging. "Yeah, I totally saw that coming."
Baileywick caught his breath as Violet broke the kiss, smiling shyly up at him. "I think…you can drop my title now, Violet…" He laughed nervously, but it was obvious he was trying not to smile too much.
She nodded, smiling as well. "As you wish… Baileywick…"
Nigel and Cordelia happened to walk into the room just as that was said and did a double take.
"Wicky!" Nigel teased, grinning as he held onto Cordelia's hand. "You old devil! You didn't tell me you and Violet were courting!"
"W-We're not, Nigel," the former steward returned, feeling a bit overwhelmed and embarrassed. "It was…a kiss…"
"A nice kiss," Violet responded, giggling. "The best kiss I've ever had. Much better than the only other one I shared with a clumsy schoolboy named Jamison… Oh, but that was…quite a long time ago."
"Maybe you two need to talk," Miranda suggested, smiling at her friends.
Baileywick pondered the queen's words before smiling and taking the stewardess's hands again, placing a soft kiss to the back of each one. He caught her eye, noticing her pleased expression. "Maybe we do…"
The brunette could only nod, her smile never fading as he tugged her away to talk privately.
Outside, Cedric paused next to Sofia in the courtyard, the grounds clear as always, and the skies already dark with twinkling stars, despite it not even being seven o'clock yet. Though the temperature was certainly low, it wasn't low enough for snow. He knew that the princess had been disappointed to awaken to a snowless Wassailia, and he wanted to change that.
"Do you remember the first Wassailia gift I gave you?" Cedric asked, removing the blanket from his shoulders and wrapping it around his shivering partner instead. Seeing the warm smile on her face, he chuckled. "I think it's time I revisited that gift…"
"I'd love that, Cedric," she whispered, watching him wave his wand and producing a copious amount of snowflakes, which began falling to the ground and coating the surface. She giggled. "I'm so grateful for your magical miracles… It just didn't feel like Wassailia without the snow." She leaned forward, hugging him, draping part of the blanket around him as she did so. "Thank you…"
"You're welcome, my dear." He hummed thoughtfully as the snow clung to her hair, with a few stray ones falling onto her eyelashes as well. "Isn't that adorable?" He brushed one of the snowflakes off her cheek, smiling softly. "My lovely snow angel…"
"You're the angel, Cedric… You always try your best to…make Wassailia wonderful for me…" She grinned mischievously. "And actually, there is something I've always wanted to try, but I never got to since we weren't…you know." She leaned up, placing her hands behind his head and lowering his head a bit toward hers, and placed a warm, gentle kiss to his lips as the snow continued to fall. After a few seconds, she broke the kiss and giggled. "I've always wanted to kiss you in the snow."
He laughed. "You mean… You've always wanted to just kiss someone in the snow…?"
"No." She placed a hand on his chest, her eyes narrowing in a soft manner. "Just you."
"Sofia…" He paused, considering his options. They were alone. It was snowing. He had her full attention. Now would be a good time to…
"We should go inside," she told him, breaking his train of thought. "It's getting kind of cold out here…"
Resigning himself to waiting, as much as he really didn't want to, Cedric nodded at her reasoning. "Y-Yes… Let's get inside then."
"Cedric?" She frowned as he looked back at her. "Were you…going to say something?"
He smiled patiently, humming quietly, before kissing her cheek. "Just that…I love you, Sofia…"
She giggled, hugging him again. "I love you too, Cedric… Happy Wassailia."
"Hmm, Happy Wassailia, my darling." He grasped her left hand, thumb brushing over her ring finger. This time next Wassailia, he hoped to see another precious gem nestled next to her BerryBand… And if all went well during New Year next week…
He would.
In the meantime, they still had a few hours left before the Wassailia celebration would end, and there were sure to be a few more surprises before then…
The end (and Mr. Shortman92 has an extension of this story that will be on his own profile soon! 😊)