*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.

~ A special shout out to my two Beta readers: Mr. Shortman92 and lilactime for their time and dedication to helping me with this story. It certainly helps to have friends who support you and give time out of their busy lives, to see your work flourish. :) With their help this Cedfia piece will surely surpass what I thought it would be originally.

~Also I now have a tumblr, it is dedicated to Cedfia and fanfiction writing. I've posted the pictures I've drawn of my pairing for this story there, if you want to see berriestart-lilacsweet tumblr

CHAPTER 8

NIGHT AND DAY

Sofia looked around the table one last time, her eyes meeting Cedric's soulful gaze. She felt the blood rush to her face and quickly turned her attention to her mother. Miranda gave Sofia a gentle nod dismissing the princess and the sorcerer from any further proceedings. Sofia nodded and curtsied; bidding the prince and his father goodbye, while Cedric quietly slipped away. Sofia shut the doors behind her, all the while feeling Hugo's eyes bore into her. She ignored the feeling, letting out a sigh of relief as she leaned back into the giant doors. She closed her eyes and realized how tired she really was.

"Good job Princess. You're quite the dignitary now."

Startled Sofia's eyes flew open, her hand absent-mindedly clutching her amulet. "Good grief Cedric, are you trying to give me a heart attack?" She watched as his eyes trailed down to see her fingers wrapped tightly around the amulet of Avalor. She saw the hurt in his face that her action caused; his eyes diverted to the floor between them, he clenched his teeth, and he gripped his wand tighter. "Cedric..." She sighed removing her hand from the jewel attempting to close the gap between them. Cedric put out his hand to stop her and stepped back from her slightly.

"You still don't trust me..." He said barely audible, bringing his eyes to meet hers, the pain she inflicted very evident in his eyes.

"Cedric... It's not like that. You know it." His eyes drifted to the jewel, then away again. "Cedric, it has nothing to do with you... I just... it's a habit. I don't even realize I do it half the time." She sighed, his eyes still avoided her. "After years of protecting the amulet's secrets from just about every being who crossed my path, it's just instinctual now to protect it when I'm startled." She slipped her hand around his cheek and turned his face to hers. "Cedric, I trust you more than anyone else I know." She clasped his hand in her free one and placed it over the amulet. "If this iswhat you really wanted, you would have taken it a long time ago..." She let go of his hand, allowing itto hover above her breasts, his fingertips resting on the sparkling jewel. "You love me too much to take it, anyway." His eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed and met her gaze. Come again? He thought. Did she just say what I thought she said? His lips parted to speak. Gently she placed her finger over his lips to still him. "I have no reason to ever doubt you." She finished peering up into his eyes.

Cedric felt his breath get caught in his throat, he was sure his cheeks were flushed. He exhaled softly, lowered his hand and nodded. Sofia smiled at him, sliding her hand from his cheek down to his chest. "I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions, Princess." He apologized wrapping his hand around hers.

"It's fine Cedric. Now, if you don't mind, I'd very much like a cup of chamomile tea while relaxing in your comfy chair. " She stated smoothing out the wrinkles in his vest. "Please, Ceddy?" She winked up at him. Cedric rolled his eyes and chuckled, offering her his arm. Sofia laced her arm with his and laid her head against his shoulder as they walked. "Thank you for always being there for me Cedric. If you hadn't been in there... I don't know if I could have done it, honestly."

Cedric tilted his head and rested it against hers. The moment was bittersweet; he adored her admiration for him, even though it stemmed from a painful event for her. He felt his heart breaking again. "What good would I be if I wasn't there for my favorite apprentice?"

She looked up at him, gave a giggle and said "I'm your only apprentice Cedric."

"Minor formality..." He brushed off, waving his hand in the air, letting his voice trail off before adding "Favorite Princess then?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

She gave him a smirk and sarcastically replied "I suppose that's better, considering you do know quite a few..." He patted her hand on his arm and laughed. They made their way through the stone halls, not a word passing between them, only the sound of their steps echoing off the stone. He noticed, as they walked to his tower, that she still wore the dress he had conjured for her the previous night. The corners of his mouth upturned ever so slightly.

It pleased him that she hadn't opted to change into one of her princess dresses. The frills and ruffles never really suited her. He thought looking her over from the corner of his eye as they neared his tower. Far too much natural beauty to be hidden in ridiculous ball gowns. Although, that dress last night... that was something else. Something about Sofia using magic to make that dress set a fire in his belly. His chest constricted as he remembered how the lavender glow emitted from her to fill the room, making her pale skin glisten in the darkness.

Absentmindedly he cleared his throat, mentally pushing down the arousal coming over him, prompting a curious look from Sofia. He pretended not to notice, preoccupying himself with finding the towers key in the deep folds of his robe. They ascended the stone stairs together, just as they had the previous night, Cedric internally beating himself up over his newfound feelings for the princess. Sofia dropped her hand from his arm and stepped to the side, allowing him to open the large wooden door to his workshop. He put the key in the lock and turned it; hearing the familiar "Clink" of welcoming he stood to the side and allowed Sofia to enter. He admired her form as she sauntered across the workshop.

"Would you like some tea as well?" She asked opening the door to the towers turret; which she had transformed, some years ago, into a study.

He quietly shut the door behind him, hung his robe on the coat rack, and paused for a moment before answering. "As long as you're not experimenting with it this time."

"What you don't like my teas?" She asked as she removed the porcelain teapot from the mantle.

"Well..." He said shrugging as he followed her into the study, lighting the fire with a flick of his wand.

"Hmm... Well, during my travels, I found some new teas and ingredients to try." She replied magically filling the pot with hot water. "I take it you don't want to be my guinea pig anymore?"

"That depends."

"Meaning?" She asked as she looked through the various teas and herbs in the shelving beside the fireplace.

"Depends on the face you make when you try it first." He teased, falling back into his red velvet armchair. Sofia shook her head and stuck her tongue out at him as she added the chamomile blend to the pot. "But, yes I'd like a cup please, Princess." He added stretching out in his chair. Even though he got a few hours of sleep last night he was still exhausted. He hoped to himself that Sofia didn't plan on staying long, so he could take a catnap. Sofia left the tea to brew and sat down on the floor beside him, her head and arms resting on the chair arm.

"I thought I said I wanted the chair this time..." She pouted up at him.

He sighed, just becoming comfortable. "There's more than one piece of furniture in here, why don't you sit on the chaise?"

"It's not the same." She said shaking her locks to and fro.

"Whatever do you mean it's not the same?" He yawned, closing his eyes trying to relax more. "It's the same set of furniture. It's just as comfy."

"Nope, not the same." She quipped. He opened one eye and raised an eyebrow at her. "I have my reasons for preferring the chair." She took a deep breath in through her nose. "It smells of musty old books, various herbs, and smoke." She ran her fingers along the velvet. "It reminds me of you."

He felt his cheeks flush and his chest constrict again. He closed his eyes and placed his hands behind his head. Trying to downplay his emotions Cedric sarcastically replied "So I smell old and of failure? Thank you for that Princess."

"Uh! Why would you say that?"

"Musty – old, smoke – failed potions. Easy enough connection."

"Cedric..." She sighed, standing up and looming over him, before turning to the tea on the mantle. "I really missed that smell while I was away..." She said while pouring the tea. Cedric opened his eyes and watched her as she spoke, feeling a tad guilty about turning her affectionate words into something unkind. "I'd get a whiff of some old manuscripts and instantly think of us sitting here studying or of you pouring through a potion book in the workshop... I went out to visit the villagers in a lot of towns and I'd smell the bonfires and remember you dutifully adding more wood to the coals under one of your potions... Or the fresh, crispness of harvest greens that smell like the potions closet...Isn't it funny how simple aromas can trigger such vivid memories?" She finished handing him his cup of tea and sitting down opposite him on the chaise. She pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her dress down to cover her legs. She sipped on her tea, looking out the window, her thoughts elsewhere.

Cedric's face was still flushed from her sentimental and intimate words. She enjoys my scent? I smell like dirty old books and smoke... and she likes it? Is that what she's saying? It took Cedric a moment to find the words he wanted but instead he settled for something simple. "I missed you too Sofia." She smiled over at him with a serene look on her face. It prompted him to confess what he was thinking. "When the lilac and berries bloomed last spring, I thought of you. I must confess I even dried some in the workshop, so the scent would linger, and forever smell like you were here with me."

"Really?" She said peering over her tea cup at him. He gave her a nod before taking a drink of his tea to calm his nerves. He watched as she grinned behind her cup, then turn her head to the window again. He lost track of how long they sat there enveloped in silence, Sofia staring out the window the whole time.

"Cedric?"

"Hmm?"

"Next time I have to go away, it won't be for so long, could you... would you go with me?" She asked not taking her eyes away from the window.

"Princess..." He started, sitting his tea cup on the arm of his chair.

"I mean, it could be beneficial for the kingdom for you to see the magic of other regions, right?"

"I...well, yes it could... but your father... Sofia he'd never allow it."

She sighed, still not looking his way. "It's not fair."

"Life isn't fair, Princess." He replied taking the last sip of his tea.

"I've traveled the world and acted far beyond my years, so Dad says; if so, why can't I make my own decisions about who I want by my side..."

By her side, again with that phrase... Cedric sighed, rising from his chair he sat his cup and saucer down on the mantle. "People would talk you know, more than they already do." He shoved his hands into his pants pockets and looked out the window with her. "The royal sorcerer, who is almost twice your age I might add, accompanying Enchancia's youngest princess in her world travels... A man whom, people already think, she is far too close to as it is...Not to mention a man who recently..." He paused looking for the right word. "threatened... a young royal in front of a large crowd of dignitaries. This is the man you want to accompany you on your excursion? I think your Father would be irate at the mere thought of it." He finished turning to face her.

Crestfallen she gazed up at him, sitting her teacup on the end table.

"You would though, if you were allowed." She more or less stated.

"You already know the answer to that."

"Cedric..."

"Yes, Princess... If circumstances were different." He replied softly.

She turned her head away from him and wiped away the tears that had welled up on her lashes. Cedric stood there awkwardly not knowing what to do or say. He decided to sit beside her and wrap his arm around her. She turned and buried her head in his chest wrapping him in a hug. "My place is in the shadows Dear, you though, belong in the light; but that doesn't mean I won't be there for you. After all, you can't have light without casting a few shadows..." He said stroking her hair, running his fingers through her soft curls. "As surely as the sun will set, the moon will rise. You can't have one without the other... Right?" She nuzzled into his chest more, nodding her head in agreement. He fails to realize how romantic that sounds, or perhaps he does know... either way it feels so right to be in his arms. Minutes passed before Sofia pulled away enough to look up to his face. There was so much welling up inside her that she wanted to tell him, but she couldn't find the right words.

"Do you mind if I stay here and read for a while?" She asked lamely.

"I-uh, well I suppose if you want to. I do have some work to see to, though."

"I won't get in your way. I just want some time to myself in a comfy chair." she winked at him causing him to laugh softly.

"Alright then, I'll check in on you when I'm done, my Apprentice." He said rising and making his way towards the workshop. Sofia nodded and slid into his chair. She tucked her feet underneath her and magically summoned a book from the shelf. She didn't really want to read, she was exhausted, but she didn't want to leave Cedric's tower either. She sighed, sinking deeper into the chair, and before she could even open the book she had drifted off to sleep.