A/N: I do not own Sofia The First.
The little princess coming up to his tower had become such a common sight, that Cedric hardly payed it any mind any more. Save for a mild annoyance. But overtime that sentiment switched to fondness as he started to realize he wasn't quite so bothered by her little visits as he initially led himself to believe. Finding instead that they were more akin to little bright spots in his rather dreary life.
Who knew they would eventually fill his whole world with sunshine.
However, sadly it seemed those visits were not to last. It started out small enough. The girl finding herself more and more preoccupied with what he'd later learned were Story Keeper, and Protector duties. Then there was of course her secondary schooling. Which necessitated that she stay away from home for extended periods of time...
It was alright though. Even if they were fewer and farther between now. She still visited him, and they were still friends; and with his improved confidence he had even opted to join her on her grounds, so to speak. The gardens, the ballroom... surprisingly during a few of her missions even; after Roland had coincidentally sent him to deal with the same problems she had also been tasked with by her fellow protectors.
Yes, it seemed that their friendship was only fated to grow stronger.
And yet...over the years, there was born a fear. One which had only grown stronger as Sofia had changed from a girl into a young woman. A fear that the little knocks he had come to know so well, and cadences of "Mr. Cedric" or rather just "Cedric" as she'd come to call him in her adulthood, would one day be a distant memory. That the day would come that he would no longer be graced with her beautiful smile, delightful company, and healing warmth.
The fear that her next visit to his tower, would in fact be her last...
That's silly! he tried to assure himself. She would never stop being his friend. She would never leave him...
But he also knew, her staying in the castle for the rest of her life was not realistic, (and neither was him for that matter). After all, though he'd grown up here with Roland, Cordelia, and Matilda. When adulthood came, only two of them had remained because they both had duties that bound them to this place; and while the future Queen Amber certainly held ambitions of her little sister remaining with her as the kingdom's advisor. There was no gaurantee of that. Especially if Sofia found a beau in one of the princes that were such a frequent part of her life, and moved to his kingdom.
That thought in particular made his blood boil. That she would be stole away from him by some... prince!
But that was only natural wasn't it. A princess belonged with a prince. So it would only be fitting that one day her prince charming would come to rescue her from the sorcerer's tower.
But, if he was the villain in this, wasn't it also just as natural that he play his own role accordingly. After all, the dragon never gives up his prize without a fight. So shouldn't he use all his endeavors to keep her here with him? By his side always!...
"Cedric?..."
Her voice snapped him out of his dark thoughts, upon which he realized he'd embraced her from behind. Squeezing tight as if loathed to let her go; and though he couldn't see her expression from this angle, he was sure there must have been a confused look on her face.
He gasped, dropping his arms and stepping back. Allowing her to turn and give him that expected bewildered look.
What had he been thinking?! He couldn't do that to Sofia! Rather he wouldn't do it to her. True, villainy had been a path he'd once walked. But that was no longer the man he was, nor the man he wanted to be; and if he truly cared for her, he shouldn't even deign to entertain such thoughts...
"F..Forgive me Sofia," he stuttered out. Hardly taking into consideration that she likely had no idea what he was even apologizing for.
"No, it's alright," her puzzled look now changing to one of concern. Putting a hand to his face. "But, why exactly are you apologizing?"
Cedric nearly flinched at her touch, but didn't pull away. Instead wanting to savor her kindness for all he could. Especially if it was all he could ever hope to receive.
He wanted to tell her everything. Every emotion he kept hidden in his heart. He knew he could. They'd grown closer and more open with each other over the years; and he knew she wouldn't condemn him for them, even if she didn't reciprocate.
Even so, he feared it would be wrong to burden her with such things...
The fervent look in her eyes however, seemed to pull the words right out of him.
"I..I don't want you to leave.." he finally started.
"Leave?" she blinked in confusion. "But Cedric, I'm not going anywhere." The wheels turning in her head as she tried to figure what he meant. "Well, I mean I'll have to leave your tower at some point today. But I can come back tomorrow if you want."
"Yes, but...will you be back every tomorrow?" his voice soft, and croaking despite himself.
Her eyes widened, understanding starting to dawn on her. "Cedric?..." came the whispered response, and he realized he'd said too much.
He pulled away from her, shaking his head. "Ne...never mind! You..you should probably join your family for supper now," turning back to his potions. He couldn't bother her with this. She was a young beautiful woman with her whole life ahead of her. More importantly, she was his dear friend; and she deserved every bit of happiness the world had to offer. Even if it meant removing him from the picture one day...
"Cedric wait," she called, grabbing a hold of his hand.
Lately the sorcerer's tower had become one of the Sofia's favorite places to spend her free time. Initially drawn to it years ago by her fascination for magic, but being that she now surrounded herself constantly with magic on account of her chosen professions, it had instead become more of a place of refuge. Where she could find a moment of solace from all the expectations the world held for her.
But, that was actually only partly why she sought out this place. After all, if a moment of peace was all she craved, then a day spent in her secret garden would have been far more efficient.
In reality though her attraction to the tower had always been less about the magic and the place itself; and much more about the man who resided within it's walls.
She'd always admired Cedric. First being drawn to him as a little girl for his sorcery abilities; she later became even more enamored with him for his kindness and support. True, later on she learned that at first said kindness had actually been more pretended. But as time passed on it gradually grew more genuine until soon there was no guile in him at all.
Admiration from afar turned into true friendship, and that friendship over time grew. Until the princess realized it had taken shape in a most unexpected yet beautiful way...
Cedric stared back at her, a pained expression peaking out through his visage. He looked so vulnerable. Though he had developed the habit of putting on a callous front, she had long ago learned that he was in fact quite sensitive.
She looked in his eyes. Trying to gauge what he was thinking. What he had meant by every tomorrow. Could he possibly?
"Cedric..." she coaxed softly. Her grip on his arm loosening as she moved her hands to softly grasp his. "What's wrong?"
Oh please don't ask me that princess! Searching around as if for some distraction. He already wanted so desperately to tell her all he felt, and if she asked so sweetly...
"Please, Cedric,"
That did him in. He let out a long sigh, certain these words would be his doom. But perhaps it was better to get it over with...
"I just...I can't bear the thought that one day, I won't see you again." Seeing her puzzled expression, he tried to explain. "That one day, your visits to me will cease. I know in the past I acted like you coming in here was nothing more than a nuisance. But even then, I think it was a lifeline for me..."
She was silent, listening patiently to all that he had to say. He should probably stop here, but seemed unable to. Or rather, he thought as his thumb stroked her hands, he didn't want to...
"Sofia, you mean more to me than...anything in this world...and, while I thought I was satisfied with your friendship. Lately I've come to realize that..I think that I...that I might actually in fact
...love you..."
Those final words whispering out of him, like on a gentle breeze.
He heard her let out a tiny gasp, and breathed a sigh of relief. Somehow it actually was better to let it all out. His only regret being that he'd troubled her.
But perhaps now at least, he could move on from all this. He could...
His train of thought was suddenly silenced, when he felt gentle hands on both his cheeks. The princess looking up at him with half lidded eyes as she brought her face closer to his.
For a single instant, time lasted an eternity. Then her lips finally connected with his. Kissing him with all the gentleness, yet fervor she could muster.
His eyes widened with shock. What was going on?! He'd just confessed his selfish love to the princess, and she was kissing him?!
He relaxed soon however, eyes closing as he adjusted to deepen the kiss. Holding her in closer.
At last they pulled away, breathless. Butterflies swimming in Sofia's stomach. A part of her worried she'd been too rash. But she'd just been so elated to hear that he loved her that...
"I love you too," she said simply. Eyes staring up adoringly at him. Just as she had so many times before.
It took him a moment, still trying to process everything. When at last a soft smile found it's way onto his features. He embraced her tightly, and she answered in return. The two of them swaying gently in each others arms as night descended upon the tower.