Down

"What's her name?" Cedric asked, his voice hovering just above a whisper. He had never held a baby before. He had never liked babies before. But this baby, with her goose down-like tuft of dark hair, had been screaming up until the moment her mother had eased her into his angular arms. Looking down at her somehow softened his hold into something more natural as he instinctively cradled her in his arms.

"I haven't named her," Cordelia answered from her bed, too weary to bicker and berate for which Cedric was grateful.

The baby wiggled her hand up to her mouth and started suckling on it. She made contented little coos and rested into Cedric with an infantile sigh. She embodied with word "pink" with her soft sounds and warm skin. Cedric couldn't help but smile at her. He wanted to move his hand to touch her but didn't dare shift away from how Cordelia had instructed he hold himself to hold the baby.

"Calista," Cedric said in an awed little exhale.

"What?" Cordelia pushed up on her elbows to sit up slightly in bed.

"What?" Cedric somehow found the will to break his gaze away from his perfect little niece, his expression most closely resembling a child caught in the act of stealing sweets.

"The name you just said, what was it?"

"I wasn't thinking," Cedric said, immediately defensive. "It just slipped out."

Cordelia sighed heavily, exhausted. "I'm not trying to pick a fight, Ceddy. I just want to hear the name you said again."

Cedric stared at his sister for a long, silent, considering minute.

"Calista."

"Calista," Cordelia replied, trying it out on her tongue. "What does it mean?"

Cedric looked down at the baby, smiling, unaware of the touch of pink that brushed across his cheeks as he fell in love. "Most beautiful."

A sob burst out of Cordelia. She immediately covered her mouth to swallow any more that followed. Cedric went to her side without hesitation, sitting on the edge of the bed and easily shifting to hold the baby in one arm so he could place a hand on Cordelia's shoulder. She welcomed his touch, sliding her shoulders under his sympathetic arm and pressing her head against his chest.

"Cordy…" Cedric held her as tightly as he could with one arm. Cordelia didn't cry, but her eyes were shut tight as she held to her brother. "Cordy what happened? Why didn't you tell anyone about this - about your pregnancy? Why didn't anyone know? Why did you call me instead of mother and father?"

Cordelia pressed back from Cedric and wiped a rebellious tear off her cheek. She reached over to take the baby back into her arms and traced the back of her finger across the baby's face. Cedric watched as Cordelia regained her self-assured composure. She presented him with a handshake smile.

"Thank you for coming, Cedric. I'm tired. Could you go and send for mother, please?"

Cedric slowly stood up. This moment had been the closest he had been to his sister in a decade, physically and emotionally, and she was pushing him away again. He looked at her, defeated, and nodded once.

"Of course, Cordelia. I'll go and fetch her myself."

He spared one last fond smile for the baby and turned to go. When he got to the door, her voice stopped him.

"Thank you, Ceddy. Calista and I both thank you."

Cedric, so stunned by Cordelia's words, barely had the strength to turn and face her. There was a glimmer of something sincere and loving behind her eyes, behind that curated mask she always wore. She gave him the smallest of nods and Cedric had to hold in the desire to skip out of the room.

.

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A/N:

I am *here* for positive brother/sister moments between these two. And as far as I know, the show hasn't really addressed Calista's parentage, so I thought I'd use that to my advantage here.

rough age math for this drabble: Cedric is 15ish years older than Sofia. Calista is 5ish years younger than Sofia. If Sofia is 10 in "Gone With the Wand" and Calista is 5, that means when Calista was born, Cedric was about 20.

Riches is in Beta phase. I hope to have it out to you by next week.