A/N sorry to everyone that read this chapter before, the website added code into the text and I didn't realise, it should all be sorted. Thanks everyone for letting me know!

TW for depression and panic attacks!

They had been home for six months and in those six months, they had recovered greatly. Hugo was no longer wheelchair-bound and they both began gaining control of their bodies. Flashbacks became less and less and they both smiled more. Unfortunately, they both had to see a therapist. That was where Sofia was currently. She hated therapy with all her being, hated it more than she hated Axel, which was a lot. She didn't want to talk about her feelings, she didn't want to have to relive every scar and yell. She wanted to forget, which unfortunately Mrs White didn't get. The young woman insisted on weekly therapy sessions and refused to let Sofia miss a session. They usually sat in the living room, today however was different. Today Mrs White took Sofia to the ice rink.

It was strange being back near ice after so long, she wanted to say she missed it but honestly the thought of skating now scared her.

"Mrs White, what are we doing here?" Sofia asked. The therapist smiled at the princess warmly.

"You see Sofia before you left you were an avid ice dancer as was Hugo. You say you want to move on, the only way to do that is to confront the thing that scares you most. If you can cross this ice I will tell your doctors that you no longer need to see me." Sofia looked at the black-haired woman, perplexed. That was it? That was all she had to do?. Sofia smiled and walked closer to the ice with steely determination, she was going to prove she was fine.

She took the ice shoes White had given her and took a step forward. The sound of metal hitting ice reverbed around the rink.

They were skating, laughing as they enjoyed each other's company.

Then a larger step.

Sofia saw them first, two men clad in black, weapons at the ready. Sofia screamed.

She was halfway across the rink now and spared a glance backwards, Mrs White gave her a thumbs up.

Hugo spun around shock on his face. He didn't get a chance to speak as one of the men came up behind him. He grabbed Hugo around the neck, Hugo began kicking, his skates chipping the ice.

"Sofia, Run"

Her legs started trembling, she regretted going on the ice now.

Sofia stood, frozen before getting an idea. She skated away from the scene and grabbed one of the hockey sticks that had been left before proceeding to beat the men with it.

Just two more steps and she'd be there.

One of the men lunged for her, swearing. Sofia stumbled back as the man grabbed her necklace and fell.

Sofia looked back to find that Mrs White wasn't there and started to panic, she was vulnerable on the ice. What if they come back?.

Sofia skated to Hugo, tears running down her face, she had to get them out of there. He was struggling to breathe but used his breath to beg her to go. She couldn't leave him, quickly she hooked his arm around her shoulders and pulled him up.

Turning back, she took one more step.

One of the men skated in front of her, snarling, she tried skating backwards only to feel a heavy object hit her skull as everything went black.

She jumped onto the ground, dry heaving. Quickly she took off the ice shoes and threw them onto the ice, hearing them bounce off the ground. Pulling her leg up to her chest she started sobbing, a hand lay on her shoulder making her jump.

"You did it Sofia, I'm proud of you" Mrs White said. Sofia jumped up and stumbled back

"Get away from me!"
"What?"
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Sofia screamed. Mrs White took a step back, terror written on her face. Sofia never got angry ever.

"You think that walking across ice will fix me? It won't! You are so stupid! I want to forget, why won't you let me forget?" her voice broke and she fell to the floor, a silence descending upon the two. The silence was broken by the roar of

"What is going on?" Mrs White paled and tried to defend herself, saying she thought it would help Sofia.

"You think this is helping? Sofia come on, let me take you inside and get you warm!" the voice said softly. Sofia nodded and followed him back inside, sending a glare to the woman left in the snow.

Cedric's room hadn't changed much in the few years she had been gone; it still was a mess with potions laying haphazardly everywhere. Sofia studied the place intrigued; it was good to know some things were still the same.

"Sofia?" he said. Sofia looked up

"Would you be okay if I used magic to dry you? You'll stay fully clothed" Sofia nodded and a second later she was bone dry, Cedric then handed her some tea. She looked at him suspiciously.

"It's okay Sofia, it's just a herbal remedy to calm nerves if you want I can drink some so you know it's not poisoned or anything" he offered. Sofia nodded shyly and Cedric took a sip, satisfied Sofia then took the cup and downed it. She placed the cup on the side and watched the sorcerer.

He busied about, cleaning and adding ingredients to different potions. Sofia was confused, why wasn't he trying to analyse her? That's what everyone else did. Still, it was nice having some form of peace. As she continued to watch him she realised that Cedric was adding the wrong ingredient, fighting the urge to stay quiet she decided to tell him.

"Uh, Mr Cedric… you need the red flower not the yellow, the yellow turns it explosive!" she said timidly. Cedric checked the recipe and smiled when he realised that Sofia was indeed, correct.

"Thank you Princess" Sofia scoffed.

"Hmm I'm not much of a princess" Cedric turned around; his heart broke at the defeated look on Sofia's face. He opened the door and sat down near Sofia but far enough away that if she got scared she could leave.

"Of course, you're a princess Sofia!" Sofia clenched her fists.

"No, I'm not, I'm broken Mr Cedric. Everyone keeps asking how I'm doing but the truth is I don't know!. Hugo has started spending time with James at the insistence of Mr Smith. I know I should be happy, and I am! Hugo finally has someone he can talk to… I guess. Mum and dad keep making things easier for me and Amber no longer pities the way I dress whilst James spends all his time hunting for Axel or hanging with Hugo. I feel numb Mr Cedric, I want it to stop. I want to feel something other than a dark numbness" She could feel the nail enter her skin as she ranted. Cedric blinked, shocked.

"Sofia is it okay if I come closer?" he asked. Sofia beckoned him forward and Cedric placed a hand on hers.

"Sofia it sounds like you have something called depression, do you know what that is?." She shook her head and Cedric took a deep breath.

"Depression can happen to anyone regardless of what had happened to them. It would make sense you're suffering after what you have gone through. Depression is an illness that you can't see, it makes you feel empty inside, like you'll never experience joy again. It can make you angry or confused and sometimes depression makes you mix up your feelings. It can make you very tired. The thing is though Sofia with the right help Depression can be kept away, it'll never go away I'm afraid, but you can learn to live with it."

Sofia didn't want to admit it but that felt an awful like how she felt since being home. It scared her to think that something was causing the feeling of sheer hopelessness.

"How do you keep it away then?" Cedric scrunched up his face.

"You won't like it, but you have to talk to people, really talk and be open. You can also exercise; it releases something called endorphins which is kind of like the brains happy juice. In severe cases, I can make remedies to calm you but they are the last resort, medication is lifelong Sofia." Sofia pondered what her friend said, she didn't want to talk to a therapist, she didn't like Mrs White, the woman was stupid. Suddenly she had an idea.

"Mr Cedric, can I talk to you about my issues? I trust you and maybe we can invite Hugo? I know he isn't fond of Mr Smith." Cedric thought over her offer and replied with a bargain.

"I'm not a therapist Sofia but you can help me out as my apprentice and talk to me, free of judgement if you see a therapist once a fortnight and do some form of exercise." Sofia wanted to argue but knew she had no choice.

"Deal" she said, holding her hand out. Cedric took it and shook

"Deal"

That night Sofia went to bed, at peace for the first time in months.