Wassailia Caress

Summary: On Wassailia Eve, after the children are all asleep, Cedric confesses to Sofia that he hasn't gotten her a gift this year due to all the chaos. Sofia echoes the comment, assuring him that she has all she needs. Wanting to adhere to some form of tradition anyway, Cedric gives Sofia a different kind of gift: one delicately planned and best unwrapped behind closed doors. (Note: Takes place after "Segue")

Disclaimer: I own Serena and any other OC I have previously created. Nana and Tanya belong to MarionetteJ2X. Craig Gerber owns the show and all the other characters.

A/N: An early unplanned Wassailia story? Yeah, that sounds about right these days. Regardless of what some people may say, I will continue to write for this couple when I feel the inspiration, because they are so endearing and have such wonderful stories to tell. To me, their bond and friendship are so pure, and that makes the relationship that I've explored with them even more wonderful. Not everyone will agree, but that's just how I personally feel. That being said, this is for all my fellow Cedfia shippers and for the people who have continued to support me the last several years. Y'all mean the world to me. Happy Wassailia! Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! And for my dear friend Deth, happy early birthday! :) Aqua

*Story*

December 18 already seemed like such a long time ago, though in reality, it had only been a few days since little Serena was born. She was a surprisingly cooperative baby: sleeping when her parents put her in Camden's crib, resting peacefully in the arms of any family member or friend who held her, and nursing without any issue. For all the trauma and negative experiences Sofia had gone through to see her daughter into the world, Serena was seemingly unscathed: a precious, soft, gentle orb of light in an unpredictable world.

Cedric, dressed warmly in his plum-colored long-sleeved button-down shirt and matching pants, waved his wand to dim the lanterns in the bedroom as he approached the bed he and Sofia shared. The princess was already under the covers, her hair loose and spilling over the side of the mattress, pooling in swirling waves on the floor. She seemed exhausted, which wouldn't be altogether surprising. Giving birth just a matter of days ago after enduring quite the stressful last few months, especially the events with Greeneyes… It was a wonder she wasn't more absent and mentally, emotionally, and physically marred than she already was.

He set the wand aside onto the bedside table and removed his gloves before sliding under the covers. He smiled as he turned to face his wife, who sleepily blinked up at him, and he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Serena is asleep in her crib."

"Thanks, Cedric," she murmured softly as she sat up slightly, the covers shifting a bit, revealing her night attire: a simple loosely-tied robe that managed to drape itself over her legs, the silky fabric a pleasant feeling any time she moved. Her amulet rested in its usual place, the metal exterior on the back warming against her skin the longer it stayed there. She sighed, lifting a hand to caress her husband's cheek, an apologetic smile on her lips. "I'm sorry I passed out on you… I've just been so tired lately."

"I can't possibly imagine why," he joked softly, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles, making her giggle in response. "Are you going to be up for the Wassailia party tomorrow?"

"I think so, but…" She sighed, frowning. "Cedric, with everything going on recently, I didn't even get anybody any gifts this year… I feel terrible."

"Not to worry. I took care of the girls' and other children's gifts for you, and I'm quite sure the others will understand. You were a bit preoccupied recently…" He lowered their hands to the bed, his fingers entwining with hers.

"I…didn't get you anything either…" She sighed. "Our first Wassailia as a married couple and parents, and I couldn't even do this one traditional thing. I'm already falling behind as a wife and mother."

Cedric leaned forward and kissed her, all the while gently guiding her to lie against the pillows beneath her head. He lifted one hand and placed it on her abdomen, mostly covered by the robe but also partially exposed, his fingers just barely brushing her skin, the warmth exchanged between them a pleasant sensation. Seeing he had her attention, he broke the kiss and smiled at her, caressing her nose with his, making her smile in return. "You've given me some of my favorite gifts since we met, my darling, but nothing can compare with the gift of our little dove… Serena is the best Wassailia gift I could ever ask for, and the fact that you are still here with me, after all the struggles and hardships this year… That just makes everything even better. I don't need wrapped items to know how much you care. You've more than proven that."

A small smirk appeared on her visage as she teased, "You didn't get anything for anyone either, did you?" Seeing his sheepish smile and shrug, she laughed quietly. "I guess we deserve a year off at least… The whole almost-dying thing, you having to rescue me, last year's trauma with Erine and my soul being captured… One year won't hurt."

"There you go. Besides, aside from Serena, Nana, and Tanya, I have you…" He gently tugged on the tie holding her robe loosely closed, allowing the fabric to give way and slide down either side of her body. Seeing her blush at his actions, he carefully caressed her abdomen, still mildly swollen after carrying their child the last several months. With his forefinger, he traced a few faint marks on her skin, likely brought on by childbirth, or perhaps residual scarring from the Greeneyes altercation. "And you're all I need… The gift that I wasn't expecting, but one who continues to make my life better every day, every waking moment…"

"Cedric…" She shivered as he placed a few kisses over her stomach, an area that had caused her a great deal of happiness and distress the last few months, clearly for very different reasons. When he trailed the kisses upward and focused instead on the faint scar just beneath her amulet, from the stab wound last year, she sighed, lifting a hand to his hair. It was still a sensitive topic, despite how far they'd come at this point. It was definitely a physical reminder of what could have been a rather different reality for both of them. In both cases, she'd almost died, but she wasn't sure who'd endured more trauma at this point: her for personally experiencing it, or him knowing that there was nothing he could do about it and easily could have lost her.

Cedric moved upward yet again, peppering her collarbone with soft kisses, and then moving to nuzzle her neck, his nose buried in her hair, which had a heavy scent of cinnamon now. Perhaps for the festive season? Finally, he shifted a bit and kissed her directly on her lips this time. He heard the princess moan in something akin to satisfaction as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. Feeling her reach out and unbutton a few buttons on his shirt, her hand curiously caressing his skin, he broke the kiss and looked at her cautiously. "Sofia… Are you sure? It's only been a few days since the baby…"

She shook her head. "I can't exactly…love you like that right now, but… I-If I could just…feel you with me…" She was blushing. Why was she blushing? They were married. They had excellent communication with what they enjoyed beyond emotional connections and more aligned with physical intimacy. Sure, some might call them boring or ordinary in their loving explorations, but it worked for them. Even still…

"I get it," he whispered, his tone just as loving and patient with her as always during moments like these. They had definitely come a long way from their first encounter several months ago, but it seemed they still had a ways to go with this specific experience. It was unique for all people, of course, so they weren't exactly the exception to some specific rule or anything. "I'm with you, Sofia…"

Sofia sat up and discarded her robe and undergarments onto the floor before helping the sorcerer disrobe himself. When they were both settled and relaxed, Cedric lying on his back now as Sofia lay atop him, her hair blanketing them almost protectively, she gently kissed his neck before giggling, the reverberations sending chills through his body.

"W-What's so funny?" he asked, trying his best to retain some level of self control as his princess caressed his bare side.

"I just realized… I guess we did kind of…unwrap our gifts." She grinned down at him as he snorted and rolled his eyes, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Dad will probably be glad it wasn't at the actual Wassailia party though. That probably would have been a little awkward."

"Just a tad," he responded, brushing his hands through her hair, his fingers lightly tracing her spine, eliciting a small gasp from her. He smiled as she offered him a playful glare. "Payback."

"I see." She leaned down and caressed his lips with hers, just ever so slightly, smiling as he sighed in what seemed to be frustration. "This is kind of fun."

Cedric took hold of her chin and smiled, finally pulling her down to kiss her properly. "Wormy was right," he mumbled shortly afterward. "You do have a mischievous side, though I dare say this particular type of mischievousness is rather…alluring."

Sofia grinned. "And only you get to see that side of me… Now and forever." She placed her hands on his chest and lowered to kiss him again, his arms wrapping securely around her. This was what she loved: being close to her beloved and wonderfully sensational sorcerer and husband. Physical intimacy of the more involved nature was amazing, of course, but there was something far more enticing, sweet, and delightful about just being together in the most natural state in the world.

And that's how they fell asleep that night: warm, safe, and wrapped in each other's arms, just like always… It was probably the second-best Wassailia gift they could have gotten that year: just being together, alone, and in love.

The end