Wonder
twenty two years old
Rated T. Nothing overt, but past-tense sex is implied. .

"It's snowing," Sofia said from the window. She had wrapped herself in a sheet and the early morning light outlined her lithe frame within the fabric. With her hair a tangled, tumbling mess down her back, she was the most beautiful sight Cedric had ever seen.

"I love it when it snows on Wassalia," he said nostalgically from the bed, pulling the quilt tighter around himself as he sat up.

Sofia turned and smiled at him, beaming. "Me, too."

Cedric opened his arms in a welcoming gesture and Sofia shuffled back into bed, nestling into him. The scent of her muddled with his was almost too much for him to believe as she molded her body against his. She let out a little hum of contentment and Cedric tried not to shudder as her ice-cold toes brushed against his legs. He pulled her closer and buried his nose into her hair and breathed in deeply, using all of his senses as he tried to memorize this moment. They stayed like that for a while, watching the snow paint the castle grounds white.

"I was hoping - wondering, that is, just wondering what your plans were tonight. This evening. After the candle lighting and the gift exchange with your family. I wouldn't want to take you away from your obligations. Not that your family is an obligation! Families can be sometimes, I know that more than most, which you know already, but even with a great relationship with your family, the things they expect of you can be exhausting on some level. The holidays can make that worse. Or better! Sometimes they make it better, lost in the nostalgia of things."

"Cedric," he could hear the smile in her voice as she pressed her hand against his chest, rescuing him from his own nervous babbling. "I would love to spend the night with you."

Lips brushed against his shoulder and Cedric felt relief wash through him. He kissed her forehead in return and pressed his back against the headboard with Sofia tucked in beside him. He let his fingers run up and down her bare arm, delighting in the pleasure of touching her bare skin.

"What time is it, anyway?" he asked, idly.

"Past eight bells."

"Sofia!" Cedric's body stiffened with anxiety. "You aren't in your bed. The entire castle is bound to be looking for you!"

"Oh, please. I'm more responsible than that. I left a note."

"A note saying what, exactly?"

"That I would be spending the night in your tower and will likely send for breakfast from within it."

"Sofia!" Cedric pushed back so he could look directly at her. Her face was alight with mischief, but honesty was reading in her eyes. He pushed back his hair, pressing his hand to his forehead. "Merlin, Sofia! I'm surprised there isn't an armed guard at the door."

"There could be," she shrugged. "But I enchanted the door when I woke up this morning. Anyone who knocks on it is struck with a sudden need to find and adopt a kitten."

A nervous laugh escaped from Cedric before Sofia gently pressed her hands against his chest and settled them both back against the headboard. And then she kissed him until he forgot that he even had a door.

.

.

A/N: This had about 8000 errors that I tried to go back and fix. I'm officially letting it go now, though. Errors be damned.
Presumptuous little thing, isn't she? ;) A slightly holiday-themed piece of fluff for your Wednesday. I am *still* fighting a cold, going on a month now, with a concert in two days. Ugh. Riches Chapter 12 is well on its way. I'm still fiddling with about a 400 word section that is driving me nuts, so I thought something cheerful like this might help me along. :)