A/N: 8000% inspired by Jessibelle811's Bits and Pieces Chapter 10: The Second Task. It flew into my head as soon as I finished reading and it wouldn't leave me alone until I got it down on paper. Also, I was scrambling for a boy name and picked Sofia's birth father. Seems like a viable option for her (at least, I'm pretty sure her birth dad's name is Birk. I can't remember exactly and don't feel like looking it up sooooo...) :)
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Window
twenty seven years old
"But I don't want to practice!"
Sofia paused in her walk in the gardens and fought back a sigh. Her son was giving his usual dissent for his piano lessons. Piano lessons that he had asked for, she liked to point out to him. But after not finding instant success, as he did in so many things, Birk had grown frustrated and was starting to take it out on the instructor. At which point, the instructor had asked that a chaperone, preferable one of his parents, be present at each lesson until he, shall we say, remembered the expectations of behavior that came along side of his position in life. He wasn't in immediate line to the throne, like his cousins, but he was still a little Royal.
"You must, Birk." came her husband's voice from deeper in the room. Sofia positioned herself so she could see into the room through the window left ajar. She could see Cedric on the couch, his nose buried down into his book. She couldn't see her son, no doubt slumping on the piano bench with his exasperated teacher on a stool beside him. She could only see the back of the grand piano, but she could certainly hear his complaints.
But why, father?!"
"Because," he said distantly, absorbed in his book.
"Because why?"
"Because you asked for the lessons."
"Well I don't want them any longer." Sofia could practically hear his arms crossing against his little chest.
"You made a commitment, son. You need to complete this series of lessons and then we can discuss whether or not you will continue on the piano. Though," he closed his book, keeping his page marked with one finger. His eyes had that endearing little twinkle to them. "I think you should."
"...why?" This request was finally less demanding, if not a little more suspicious.
"Because someday, you might want to impress someone with a special, hidden skill. And even though it's been years, maybe even decades since you sat at the piano, some impertinent person may demand your attentions. And she'll inadvertently set you up to be wildly embarrassed in a public display and you'll need to do something impressive that she and no one else expects. And so you'll think that you want to surprise her, though you can't figure out exactly why. And you'll have a piano brought into the ballroom in front of far too many people. And you'll sit down at it and play and sing for her pleasure and accidentally-on-purpose win her heart."
Cedric's eyes were no longer staring at his son. They were locked with Sofia's as she lingered by the window. She smiled at him, closed lipped and a little smug. But her eyes were warm and filled with love. He really would never let her live it down, not that she had any regrets.
"...Ew. I definitely don't want to keep practicing, now."
Cedric let out a laugh and shook his head. "Sit up straight, Birk. Get through this semester of learning and then we'll talk." He opened his book again and sat back in the comfort of the couch as Birk let out a heavy sigh and began to plunk at the ivory keys again.