*Just a friendly disclaimer. I don't own any rights to Sofia the First. Sofia the First and the characters herein is/are the property of Disney and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter 6

THE NEARNESS OF YOU

Sofia worked on the potions over the next hour, adding ingredients and stirring when the recipe called for it. She had almost forgotten the terror that occurred earlier in the night. Cedric had managed to ease her mind, and she now saw him in a new light. His normal bitterness had melted away, which was a very rare occurrence indeed, and she saw a tenderness in him that she hadn't seen often before. He had let the walls down and let her in; something she thought maybe only his mother could do. He had put himself at risk to aid her, then comfort her, when only days before had set up clear boundaries for them. The majority of her thoughts, for the hour, were reflective of Cedric in this new light.

I guess it's been close to an hour, I better wake him before he gets angry. She quietly made her way down the spiral staircase, into his bedchamber. It was place she had really never seen, so she paused a moment allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She looked around the room; it was very Cedric indeed. She smiled to herself. The room was simplistic, excluding the numerous bookshelves and random piles of books strewn about. She tiptoed over to his bed.

Awww, he was so tired he didn't even take his shoes off. It looks like he just tossed off his robe, laid down and passed out. Poor Cedric. She thought looking him over in the moonlight. He looks so peaceful, I can't wake him up yet, I'll let him sleep until I get the potions are done, I think they only have another hour or so left anyway. She gently reached down and slid his bangs from his face. He does look rather handsome, the way the moonlight reflects off his bangs... she shook her head as if to clear the thoughts from her mind, and stealthily made her exit. She paused a moment at the curtain, to glance back over her shoulder at the sleeping man, and smiled at him. Now back to work.

She worked into the wee hours of the morning to complete the potions and clean up the workshop. She hoped that he would be happy to wake up to her work. She walked over to the window and looked outside, it was still dark but the sunrise wouldn't be too far off. I better wake him up now that I'm done. Again she stole her way into his room and eased beside his bed. He was snoring softly, and it made her smile once more. She admired his form as he slept, and thought of how easily he had lifted her up and onto the desk. His scrawny structure was deceiving, he was strong for his size. Suddenly Sofia felt her face flush and her chest grow tight. Were these sudden feelings ones that people associated with love? Or was it her lack of sleep, as well, that made her mind and body act so strangely. She sat down on the floor beside his bed and laid her head on the edge. Just a few minutes, that's all I need, to collect myself. She thought as her eyelids fluttered and she drifted off to sleep.

Cedric stirred from his slumber and stretched out fully. Oh, how much better he felt already. He turned his head to look out the window and blinked a few times. Daylight? Daylight! Merlins Mushrooms. He thought sitting straight up in bed, ready to bound out of the room and give that girl a piece of his mind.

"Mmm...Cedric..."

Huh? What was that? He looked around the room and did a double take. He raised his eyebrow and shook his head. Poseidon's pumpkins, what on earth is she doing in my bedchambers?

"Zzzzz... Ced...ric..."

Wait, was that my name...she's dreaming about me?

Sofia mumbled Cedric's name more clearly then suddenly clutched the sheet beneath her with a death grip. Her face contorted as if in pain. "No...off...stop...Hu...go." Her breathing became labored. She's having a night terror; reliving the things that no good price did to her. "Ple...ase.." Her body shifted slightly on the edge of the bed.He reached out to wake her. "Ced...ric..."He knew it wasn't right, she was hurting, but it pleased him to hear her say his name in her sleep.

He leaned down toward her and gently shook her shoulder. "Sofia... Sofia wake up." Startled she sat up, knocking his hand off her shoulder in the process and her eyes darted around the room. Her breaths came in short, strained gasps. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "Sofia, it's okay. Look at me." He said softly, gently turning her head to face him. Her breathing slowed as the realization of where she was came over her. "You were having a nightmare. You're okay, you're safe." He ran his hand through her disheveled hair.

Sofia blinked a few times staring into his warm brown eyes, then launched herself at him, knocking them both back onto the bed. She held him close, wanting to melt into him, wanting the pain and memories from the previous night to disappear. She cried softly into his chest, digging her fingers into his vest. He laid there confused and stiff with shock. Her hair brushed his neck, and wafted the sweet smell of lilac and berries over him.

He relaxed instantly as the aroma overtook his senses, and wrapped his arms around her, patting her back softly. "I-It'll be alright, D-Dear. It'll just t-take some time." He took in a deep breath and cradled her head to his chest. "Meanwhile, I'll do my best to help." He declared stroking her hair. He felt her breathing slow and her arms loosen from around his neck. He stared up at the ceiling, trying to focus on controlling himself. He was sure she could feel his heart pounding and willed himself to calm its beat. She pushed herself up onto her elbows so that her face hovered above him. Slowly they made eye contact, gazing tenderly at one another.

She studied his face, and saw the years had barely aged him at all. Suddenly it occurred to her that didn't care if they were separated in age, or status; she knew she was falling in love with him. Her mother was a peasant and still married the King; why couldn't she marry who she wanted then? She didn't have royal blood to pass on, why should it matter who she chose to spend her life with? Would it be allowed? She felt in her heart that he must feel the same way; she looked back on the years and saw how their friendship had blossom into best of friends. Would he see it the same way though? He was almost twice her age, would he ever see her for more than a child? He was so gentle with her over the last few hours, so tender and caring, surely that signified that he might possibly care for her more than he should. She made up her mind, she would find out. She wouldn't outright ask him, for fear of ruining the relationship they did have, but slowly she would test the waters and see how he truly felt about her.

She leaned down and gently planted a kiss on his forehead, and returned her head to his chest. "Thank you, Cedric. I couldn't ask for anyone better to be by my side." Cedric's heart skipped a beat as her lips grazed his forehead. Again he felt as if it would burst out of his chest. She laid there in his arms content for what seemed like eternity. Both of them fighting the impulse to test the waters then and there.

"I... I'm glad you feel that way Princess." He finally uttered no more than a whisper. She smiled and held him tighter. "And as much as I'd enjoy staying in bed all day, I have a potion to check on since somebody didn't wake me up..."

"Oops." She said lifting herself up to see his face.

"And don't you think your family might be missing you at the moment? It's morning now." He said pointing out the window.

"Merlin's mushrooms!" She said sitting upright, straddling him, looking out at the morning sky. She's picked up my euphemisms. He thought happily, the corners of his mouth turning up. "I only meant to rest my eyes a few minutes..."

"You? What happened to waking me up after an hour? You let me sleep all night. Now I'll have to redo the potions again." He said running his hands over his face in frustration.

"Oh, no you won't. I finished those and had time to clean up." She said sliding off of him, straightening out her dress. She held out her hand and helped him off the bed. "I came in to wake you... but you were sleeping so well... I couldn't bring myself to wake you just then." She said watching him stretch. "So I finished everything on my own, then came in to get you. I guess I sat down and just dozed off..." He raised an eyebrow at her as he straightened out his clothes. He didn't bother putting on his robe and Sofia thought how attractive he looked when he wasn't drowned in his wizard wear.

"Alright, let's check your work before I send you off." he said leading her out of his bedchamber. He pulled back the curtain and stood there in shock. "You weren't kidding when you said you cleaned up..." He said looking around the room with wide eyes.

She stood there blushing. "Well, I wanted to do something nice for you, I know it's not much but..."

"Sofia..." He let out a soft sigh as he turned to her. "You don't have to do anything for me... but nonetheless thank you. It certainly needed a good clean. I suppose without my apprentice to help, things do get pretty cluttered up." She giggled and shook her head. He has no idea how bad it was.

"I bottled the potions and left them on your desk."

He nodded and made his way over to examine them. He held them up to the light, checking their color; he uncorked them both and wafted them under his nose; and he gave them a slight swirl in their vials to inspect their viscosity. "Well, they seem to be alright."

"Just alright?" She said a disappointed look on her face. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well, no... they're more than alright. I'd venture to say they're perfect."

"Really?" She beamed.

"As they should be, you are my apprentice after all." He replied with a smirk. It was devilishly handsome she thought. "Alright, enough chit-chat, I best get you back before they wonder where you are. Ready?"

"Umm, no wait, I have to get my gown. You don't want someone coming in and seeing it laying around, do you?" She teased grabbing up the bundle from the chair.

"You wicked, wicked girl." He said scowling at her. She snickered as she passed by him.

"I'm ready." She said planting herself in front of him.

"Remember you might feel slightly sick for a few minutes, try not to move around until you regain your balance."

She nodded. "Right. I'll see you later?" She dared to ask. His eyes softened, he glanced away for a moment. He waved his wand in the air and began to fade from her view.

"Invariably, Princess." echoed as she reappeared in her own bedchamber. She closed her eyes and took a moment like he suggested to regain her equilibrium. She then tossed the gown onto her bed and stood in front of the vanity. She smiled; his words repeating in her ear.