Weakened Link

Summary: A powerful enemy has its sights set on separating Cedric and Sofia, whom it considers too powerful due to their bond. It plans to infiltrate the past and eliminate the princess, but what it doesn't count on is the powerful ties between the alternate realms, and the partners' sheer will to protect each other at all costs. (Collab with MarionetteJ2X)

Disclaimer: I don't own the show. Nana, Tanya, and the Abstruse Realm and its inhabitants all belong to MarionetteJ2X. The Absentia Realm and its inhabitants belong to Mr. Shortman92. Any other OCs you see, including Angel, Corbin and Alamea, belong to me.

A/N: Surprise! Here's an unplanned (for once) extra chapter full of fluff. Enjoy! 😊

Chapter 6: Strengthened Link

The evening of discovering the engagement between CeCe and Sofie, Cedric made his way to Sofia's room and knocked quietly on her bedroom door, surprising the princess as he placed a finger to her lips and smiled at her.

"Care to take a walk with me?" he asked gently. "It won't be long; I promise."

Sofia blinked as he dropped his hand, and she turned to see that Nana and Tanya were fast asleep under the covers, both completely at ease with their mouths slightly open and each with a massive case of bedhead to prove how completely exhausted they were. She laughed lightly before shutting her door and looking back at her partner, smiling up at him. "Sure." She sighed happily as he reached out and grasped her hand, entwining his fingers with hers, before guiding her down the hallway.

The night sky was as opaque and deep as ever, bespattered with twinkling stars and the curious glowing moon, which was full and luminous that evening. Small lightning bugs flittered around the courtyard, highlighting soft blooms as they lazily floated by. The wind stirred ever so slightly, rustling the full trees and rippling the water in the fountain.

The partners' footsteps fell in sync with each other, the clacking of their shoes against the gravel a familiar and grounding noise to keep them peaceful and aware of their surroundings.

"How have you been feeling?" Cedric finally asked after a few minutes of silence between them, which he felt had gone on too long. He'd wanted nothing more than to just talk to her, and now seemed like as good a time as any to do so. Plus, he was genuinely concerned and truthfully longed to check on her after the recent experience with Zarova.

"Stronger," she assured him with a small nod, though whether it was a nod for him or for herself, she wasn't entirely sure. "I haven't had any spells, nightmares, weak moments, or anything since all that stuff happened. But to be honest, I'm scared to say that out loud, because fate or whatever has a habit of trying to prove me wrong…" She frowned thoughtfully. "You know, kind of like… Don't get too excited, and then you won't be as disappointed if something bad happens…"

Cedric reached up with his free hand and tilted her chin up so that she could look him in the eye, and he smiled kindly toward her. "And here I thought I was usually the pessimistic one…"

Sofia sighed as he trailed his hand to her cheek, and she leaned into his touch. "More like… I guess I'm being cautiously realistic… I want to be optimistic again, Cedric, but I'm going to need things to calm down significantly before I can allow myself to feel like that again."

He could feel a little fragment chip from his heart when she said that. Sofia was supposed to be his bright light in the darkness, his positivity when he was down or despairing, and his assurance that everything was going to be all right. Or really, she'd already been that for him. She'd always been that for him. Maybe now, it was his turn to be that for her. He kept his hand against her cheek and brushed his thumb just under her eye, admiring how soft her skin was there. And…was she blushing? His fingertips could feel the tinge of warmth from her cheek, but he didn't mention it. Instead, he chose a different thing to focus on: making her feel better. "It's all right to be hopeful, Sofia. You're the one who taught me that having hope is a good thing. It may not solve all of our problems, but it sure makes things more bearable when times get tough."

"Cedric…" She sighed as he lowered his hand, and she took advantage of that movement and hugged him instead, her head resting on his chest and her hands smoothing the fabric of his robe against his back, the familiar feeling of the texture beneath her fingers and the aroma of his warm scent (cookies and magic, as always) overwhelming her in the best way possible. When his arms enclosed around her, his right hand playfully tugging at her braid, she relaxed even more.

"There's nothing wrong with keeping a positive and hopeful mindset while also being a bit cautious, due to very real danger we will soon face. We just need to stay focused, because that actually makes us stronger in the end. Every link in our chain—you, me, the girls, our family, our friends—every single bond makes us stronger." He smiled as she hummed lightly, a sound of agreement, and he gazed at her sincerely when she glanced up at him. "What is it you always told me? We're stronger together, right?"

Sofia nodded, a bright smile filling her features. "Right." She shivered a bit as the wind picked up, and she snuggled back into his embrace once more. "Did it have to be a walk outside with the temperature dropping like this though?"

He chuckled, whispering into her ear, "It was not only more peaceful, but it got you back into my arms again."

She felt her cheeks warming even more as she dared to stare up at her partner. "C-Cedric?"

Cedric just smiled at her, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Let's get back inside, my darling. Just in case the girls wake up and wonder where you are." He began to move, but he noticed that Sofia wasn't doing the same. He blinked down at her. "Sofia?"

Sofia cleared her throat before nodding. "R-Right, yeah… Yeah, let's…get back inside." He had taken her hand again to guide her back toward the castle, but she quietly asked, "Could you…hold me again, Cedric?"

Without stopping to respond, and with no hesitation at all, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, walking against the unforgiving wind with his favorite person, back into the warm and welcoming entrance of the castle, even as the night waxed on.

The end (again!)