Something New (Companion to "Green")
nineteen years old

Winifred materialized through the portrait into Cedric's tower. She was wrapped in a winter cloak and her cheeks had a girlish tinge of pink from cold. She brushed mittened hands over her shoulders, snow falling from the heavy wool and melting before it hit the ground. "Sofia! Dear! I wasn't expecting a call. I ran straight in. Is everything - "

The matronly woman stopped bustling about in place and tentatively reached out to Sofia before drawing her hand to her mouth. She reached out again as she spoke. "Oh my dear..." a smile startling to curl her lips upward. Her fingers brushed across Sofia's lower abdomen before she realized what she was doing. She looked up at Sofi; her mouth was gaping slightly open, her own hand absently wandering up to touch Winifred's at her stomach.

"I thought...I wasn't sure…"

"Mummy? Is that you?" Cedric called from out of sight. Sofia snapped her mouth closed and brought her hand to her side.

"Just a minute, Ceddy," she called back in the sort of practiced sing-song tone that only mothers can have with their children. "Mummy's talking!"

Cedric mumbled something in response that was too low and too far away to understand, but likely contained an admonishment of the neverending perils of two women speaking together regardless of his rather urgent need for medicinal attention."

"Does he know?"

Sofia shook her head. "I only - just today - I wasn't -"

"And it's my Ceddy's?"

Sofia instantly blushed and that was enough answer for Winifred. She stepped forward and cupped Sofia's cheek in her hand. "Oh you darling girl," she said in whisper of awe and endearment. At Winifred's touch and her words, Sofia immediately felt warm and comforted; like coming in out of the cold and being greeted by a warm fire, a warm drink, and a good book. She sighed and leaned into Winifred's hand and Winifred's face immediately filled with concern.

"What is it, dear?"

"Mummy!" Cedric called again, more insistent.

"Just a minute, Ceddy!" Winnifred called back, more sternly. She nodded at Sofia to continue.

"We aren't married, Mrs. Winifred -"

"Mum. You'll call me mum." She could barely contain her smile. Sofia returned it, if a little sadly.

"Mum," she confirmed the change. "It'll be scandal."

Winifred's smile faded slightly. No matter the marital circumstances, a baby conceived of love was a beautiful thing. She knew that the Royals had their own rather backward perspectives a bit too tied into their idea of what the "right" order of things was, but she had never counted Sofia among those who thought first of position and then of everything else.

"Things are going so well. I would hate - I mean, I wouldn't want…." Sofia noticed the fall of Winifred's face. It was enough to spur her to quickly finish a sentence. "I would hate for some political scandal to inhibit Cedric's rising position in the wizarding world."

Her doubts assuaged, Winifred cupped Sofia's face with both of her mittened hands and kissed her firmly on the forehead. "Oh you sweet, sweet girl."

"...What's going on?" Cedric had joined them, his steps slow. His good hand was gingerly supporting his injured one as he gave the two women a curious look. "What political scandal? And why are you kissing her head like that, Mummy? Sofia, are you well?"

Winifred shifted to stand slightly behind Sofia, her hands supportively on the Princess's shoulders. "Ceddy, Sofia has something to tell you."

Sofia's eyes widened as she stared up at Cedric. She bit her lip. She had barely put any thought into this announcement, but telling Cedric with his mother behind her was certainly not in any of the scenarios she had imagined. Winifred squeezed her shoulders encouragingly. Sofia's mouth felt dry. Words wouldn't come. The silence between the three seemed to last approximately ten years.

"...yes?" Cedric tried to ease the awkward silence.

"I'm pregnant," Sofia immediately answered, her words running together in her nervousness.

Cedric blinked once, turned, and walked away.

Sofia shook her head, startled, and didn't have a chance to form any other thoughts before Winifred was storming after Cedric.

"I did not raise you to behave in this way, young man," she raged at him, following him as he rummaged through a few drawers in the back rooms of his tower, neglecting his raw hand. He found want he was looking for and walked back to Sofia, his mother yelling behind him all the while.

Cedric took Sofia's hand in his, dexterous fingers maneuvering to place a ring at the top of Sofia's ring finger. HIs mother instantly quieted and Sofia felt her breath catch. Cedric stared into her eyes, composed despite the pain at the corners of his gaze.

"I was waiting for the right moment. The right sunrise, the right full moon. The right permissions, the right place. I could never settle on the right idea and I realized that was because everything is right, everything is better, with you beside me. And now, this news…" he smiled, the expression unable to be contained. "Would you marry me, Sofia?"

Winifred practically squeaked. Sofia, her eyes glassy with unshed tears, nodded, and Cedric slid the ring on her finger. His good hand wrapped around her waist, drawing her to him and kissing her.

"Now," he said, his smile infectious, "could someone please, please heal my hand?"

.

.

A/N: Ask and sometimes ye shall receive!
Yes, yes she's pregnant.
If this was a bigger story, I might have played with a bigger secret (not that pregnancy isn't a big secret!). Maybe something just more action/adventure/exciting if I was to expand this into a chapter story. But it's a drabble and it's fluffy and damnit, the world needs some fluff. I apologize for nothing.

P.s. - married folks, do you remember what was said to you during the proposal? I was so overwhelmed that I can't remember anything except that the end went…

Luke: *says a lot of lovely things that I can't remember. Opens ring box* Will you marry me?
Me: You opened the box ((he always said he wouldn't open the box until I said yes so I said yes to the man, not the ring))
Luke: *uncomfortable/nervous laughter* Yes. I opened the box. So what's your answer?
Me: Oh! Yes!

*lots of happy kissing in the rain at the Washington Monument. Some applause. Both of our families emerge from who-knows-where taking lots of pictures and cheering*

But zero recollection of anything he said before the box was opened. Oh well :)