*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 17

UNFORGETTABLE

Cedric meandered through the meadows and along the lake side, the moon lighting his way; it's beams shimmering across the flowers like the crest of an ocean wave. The night was peaceful; filled with the song of crickets, frogs and the occasional owl for accompaniment. The meadow left Cedric to his thoughts as he wandered along the lakes edge. He shuffled his feet along, kicking up dirt as he went, his hands shoved deep into his trouser pockets, his shoulders hunched to fit his mood. I'm such a coward to abandon Sofia in there with Father being such a pompous ass. I really should excuse the both of us and head straight to the castle. He thought, glancing across the field towards his parent's cottage.

Psh, if only Mummy would let us. The woman really knows how to sink her claws in. No, she'd never let us leave at this hour. He conceded, giving his head a gently shake to and fro. I suppose we're stuck here, now. One night is all. I can manage that. They'll go to bed shortly and we will leave as soon as possible in the morning, ensuring that we will have little to no interactions with them. He nodded to himself, watching a cloud of fireflies flittering across the lake. Mummy's already picked up on plenty as it is. Last thing I need is for her to draw attention to our indiscretions right now. Roland would have me at the gallows or behind bars this time for certain. There's nothing Sofia could say to save me this time... It's not like I could waltz up to him and proclaim, 'Hey, I know we grew up together and I'm old enough to be her father, but I want to marry your youngest daughter.'

"Mushrooms, that makes me sound like a fucking pedophile." He muttered aloud, kicking a stone into the placid lake water with a splash. "I don't deserve her, she still so young, she could have anything or anyone she wanted out of life... Maybe Father is right..." He murmured to himself, staring out at the moons reflection on the water's still surface. Cedric sighed heavily, going back to his inner monologue trying to find the right solution to the problem at hand. He pulled a hand from his pockets and unbuttoned the topmost buttons of his shirt, feeling like it was smothering him, leaving it hang open to his breastbone in the cool night air. He returned his hand to his pocket and began pacing along the shore again.

"There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."

Cedric turned to find Sofia making her way across the meadow towards him, her pale figure seeming to glow in the dim moonlight. Her light-blue cotton dress billowed in the light breeze, creating an illusion of cascading, sparkling waves. He felt his breath catch in his throat. She didn't have to do anything; her mere presence had a staggering effect on him.

"S-Sofia...I-I-" he choked out, lost for words at her presence.

"I thought I was never going to find you." She stated, jogging up to his side. He stood there by the lake, his hands still shoved deeply into his pockets, his shirt wafting in the light breeze. She found the image rather pleasing to the eye and took a moment to assess his figure in the dim light. Again, she was struck by how handsome he really was; his pale skin almost iridescent in the moonlight, his silvery bangs shimmering like the water's surface, his tall frame outlined against the water behind him, and from this angle, with his weight shifted to one side, she noted the firm curve of the seat of his pants.

"I-I'm sorry. I... I needed..."

"Time alone?" She finished for him, gazing up into his dark brown eyes. He nodded and broke the eye contact she longed for, casting his eyes out at the lakes surface. "I understand..." She muttered, biting her lower lip nervously. "I'm sorry, Cedric. I know you didn't even want to come here today... and now where stuck here for the night. I-" she said wringing her hands at her waist.

"I envy how easily you can diffuse any situation thrown at you." he interjected, shaking his head lightly, ignoring her words. "The way you handled my Father..." He scoffed, shaking his head with more emphasis, and smiling gently at her. "Well, I could never hold a candle to that. I apologize for abandoning you in there..." He trailed off looking away from her again and out over the meadow. "I- I'm just a coward, Sofia."

"You shouldn't say such things. The Cedric I know is a wonderfully brave man. You've protected not only me, but the kingdom numerous times. Just because it's hard to stand up to your father doesn't make you a coward. It's hard for anyone to speak up against a family member. Especially someone as... overbearing as your father." She stated, taking hold of his arm caressing it in a comforting manner as she spoke. "Anyways, they've gone to bed and what's done is done. Time to move forward."

"Forward? How? That's all I've been thinking about the whole time I've been out here Sofia." He scoffed again, shrugging and knocking her hand off his arm.

She frowned at his action and sighed gently. "Do you remember when you substituted for my class at royal prep the first time?" She asked, twiddling with her fingers as she moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with the sorcerer. She gazed out over the lake, a soft smile on her countenance as she recalled the time in question. Cedric raised a curious eyebrow at the girl by his side. "You taught all of us to believe in ourselves and keep trying until we got the results we sought after. It's something I've always applied to every aspect of my life." Sofia continued as she closed the space between them, taking a position facing him, smoothing out the wrinkles in his shirt. "To never give up or give in if something seems daunting or impossible, just to try and try again with a different perspective until I get the results I want. That lesson was something I can apply even now." She stated, looking up to face him. "I'm not giving up just because the road ahead may seem difficult. Life should be an adventure, if it was always black and white, or the path clear, where would we find joy?"

"You got that from the 'sorcerer's secret'?" He chuckled, raising his eyebrow again. "You give me too much credit, as always. I'm not someone who inspires or makes life an adventure." He scoffed, shaking his head, looking away from her again.

"I think that's something left for others to decide." She declared, raising her hand to his cheek. "Now are you going to stop putting yourself down and listen to what I have to say? I've been waiting to say this to you since that first afternoon I arrived at Vivian's."

Cedric's heart skipped a beat, it became hard to swallow as he looked down at the beautiful girl before him. "I-I..." He stuttered, eyes downcast. "Sof-"

"Shush" she interjected, placing her dainty finger over his lips to silence him. "Just let me get this off my chest, please?" Cedric closed his eyes at her touch. Her soft skin pressed against his lips sent wild fantasies through his mind. He sighed pushing his thoughts away, and slowly nodded. Sofia smiled softly up at him before beginning her speech. "Do you remember the day you found out I was the storykeeper?"

"...Yes..." He nodded, curious what it had to do with anything at the moment.

"Well, for me, I think that was the first time that I really saw how much you cared about me. Well, I saw it in a different light." she began, slipping his hands from his pockets and clasping them between her own. "I was fifteen then and over the years I've tried denying the feelings I've had for you. I was afraid I would ruin our friendship, and that was something I was determined to never lose. You mean so much to me..." She said barely above a whisper, holding his hands tighter. "And when I accepted the role as ambassador, I thought it would do me good to distance myself from you before I made a fool of myself and lost your friendship forever." She said tossing her curls from side to side gently. "I wrote you so many letters while I was away... a whole trunk full actually..." She shrugged, turning her eyes to the dirt and forget-me-nots at their feet letting his hands drop from hers.

"A whole trunk full? Really?" He asked, running his hand through his hair, a small grin spreading over his countenance. "I never received anything..."

Sofia nodded turning her eyes up to his. "I was so afraid that you wouldn't return my feelings... so I never sent them..." She trailed off, her eyes darting away from his, quickly fixating on his chest instead.

"I see." He nodded with a frown. "Well, I never gave you any reason to think otherwise be-"

"Please, let me finish Cedric. There's so much more I need to say..." She implored, her hands finding purchase on his chest. He blinked a few times at her touch, his breath stilled as her fingertips grazed his bare skin, igniting a fire within his groin. His eyes closed and rolled backward at the feelings cascading over him. He was not used to her initiating such contact, let alone having her cut him off, in fact, normally it was the other way around. He swallowed hard and exhaled slowly. When he had regained his composure he nodded for her to continue.

"When I returned home I was petrified to see you again... My feelings for you hadn't changed... I actually turned down quite a few proposals over the last year because I couldn't imagine moving away and leaving you... It was hard enough to travel abroad for a year..." She said, her voice almost trembling. She swallowed hard and continued her monologue. "I kept myself as busy as possible but I always found my thoughts returning to you somehow; wondering what you would think about this kingdom or that, how you would enjoy meeting some of the Masters I met, hearing their tales... Like when we met Merlin for the first time." She paused a moment to giggle at the recollection. "No matter what I did... No matter how busy I was... there was always a hint of you in everything I did. I missed you terribly..." She whispered, pressing her forehead against his bare chest, clasping his shirt tightly between her fingers.

Cedric stood there silently taking in the passionate woman before him. She had never been so open with him before, and he certainly had never been so forthright with her. He held her close; his left hand resting on the small of her back, his right hand caressing her cheek before entwining his fingers in her hair and pressing her head to his chest. He pressed his lips to the top of her head and allowed her aroma of berries and lilac to fog his senses.

"I was so happy that day I returned and found you in the tower... It was like old times, nothing had changed." She confided in him, turning her eyes up to his. "...Then... When... When..." She bit her lip and looked down again, hiding her face from him. "You protected me..." She whispered. "You were there for me when all I needed was a friend, you held me when I cried, you comforted me the way no one else could. You made me laugh when I needed it the most. You filled me with courage when I couldn't find it myself. And... I realized how meaningless life would be if I couldn't spend it with you." She lamented, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace, burrowing her head into his shoulder. He could feel her nails digging into his back, but ignored it allowing her to finish saying what she had kept bottled up for so long. " So, when I saw Vivian the other day she..." Sofia sniffled, pulling back from his frame again to look him directly in the face. "She made me realize that I would never be able to live with myself if I didn't tell you how I truly felt." She said shaking her head lightly back and forth tossing her curls as she did so. Cedric let his free hand come to rest on her hip, keeping her from backing further away from him.

"Let's face it, I've never really been like the other princesses," she scoffed, wiping tears from her eyes. "I'm not royal by birth, I don't have to pass on the bloodline like James and Amber... I can do what I want, and be with... whom I choose to be with..." She stated, her hands resting on his chest again, slipping beneath the fabric this time. It sent chills down Cedric's spine, covering his body in bumps like gooseflesh. His breath caught in his chest again. His groin ached for her. "Aunt Tilly gave up the crown for a life full of adventure, to be herself and find love on her own terms... Now she's found Sir Bartelby and they're living a happy life full of adventure together... And there's no reason why we can't as well..." Sofia choked out, her voice almost ragged from her lengthy and passionate speech. Her nails began to dig into his chest as she stared up at him. New tears formed in the corners of her bright blue eyes as she looked up at him with longing.

Cedric smiled softly down at the princess, wiping her tears away with the thumb of his right hand as the left pulled her form to his. He caressed her cheek, pushing an auburn lock from her face as he did so. He weaved his fingers into the hair at the base of her neck and tipped his head down to press his lips against hers. He felt her breath still as he kissed her softly in the moonlight. He kept it a simple chaste kiss to test the waters, not knowing if Sofia had any experiences being intimate, in any sense of the word. When he began to pull away he felt her fingers twist into the loose material of his shirt and her free arm snake up his chest and find purchase in the hair at the base of his neck. She pulled him back to her and pressed her body against his, wanting to meld their bodies together. He kissed her again, his tongue roaming over her bottom lip as his hand slipped lower on her back, pressing her hips to his. Her lips parted with a soft moan begging him to deepen their kiss.

As he moved to entwine their bodies further Cedric was stuck with a hard blow to his side, sending him tumbling backward into the dirt and wildflowers. Startled Sofia took a few timid steps backward, confused at the situation. Cedric lay amongst the flowers, immobilized, gasping for air; what little breath he had left after their passionate kiss was pushed from his lungs from the force of his impact.

"Goodwyn! Stop this instant! Don't you dare hurt Ceddykins!" Winnifred yelled from across the meadow, chasing after her husband as he stormed his way towards Sofia and Cedric. Cedric, who was still sprawled on top of the flowers, coughed harshly as he tried forcing air into his lungs. Sofia rushed to his side ignoring the shouting that was becoming louder as Cedric's parents quickly approched.

"Cedric! Are you okay?" She cried, pulling him into her lap. Cedric shook his head, still coughing violently, and pushed Sofia behind him as he forced himself to sit up.

"Go back to the house Winnifred!" Goodwyn shouted over his shoulder to his wife as he advanced towards his son, his wand brandished before him. Cedric choked out a dry cough again as he pushed himself up into a standing position, his arm poised out to protect Sofia as she poked her head out from behind him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" Cedric barked out. "You could have hit her! Have you finally gone and lost your fucking mind?" Cedric fumed, his chest heaving in and out, his shirt now ripped and torn in multiple locations.

"Me?! I'm not the one with my hands all over the princess! What the hell are you thinking Cedric?! She's not but a child! A royal! Do you want to hang for treason?!" Goodwyn bellowed back at his son, his wand squared at Cedric's chest.

"I'm not a child!" Sofia yelled, stepping out from behind Cedric, glaring at the older man. "I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions," she continued, pushing Cedric's arm aside, stepping between the two men. "And I would hope that everyone would respect that. And as for mine and Cedric's relationship, that is no-ones business but our own. Furthermore," she stated, wagging her finger at the man before her. "I might be a royal but I am not royal by birth; whom I choose to spend my life with is entirely my decision and no one will dictate how I live my life but me!" She declared, stamping her foot into the ground for emphasis.

"Your father would not approve of this, Princess." He hissed at Sofia before turning and almost growling at his son. "And neither do I, Cedric! You shall put an end to... this" he seethed, motioning toward his son and princess. "At once!" Cedric stood there enraged and in shock; his hands balled into fists by his sides, his teeth clenched. Sofia, furious at the elderly man before her, pulled her wand from her skirts, uttered a spell and in a cloud of purple smoke disappeared.

Cedric blinked a few times startled by Sofia's actions, then gathered himself to his full height and marched over to his father. Towering over Goodwyn he jabbed his finger into his father's chest. "My personal life is none of your concern." He growled through bared teeth. "I might not have lived up to your expectations Father, but she appreciates me and accepts who I am; the good and the bad." He bellowed, his eyes glistening in the moonlight, tears in the corners of his eyes. "First and foremost," he choked out. "Sofia is my best friend and if she chooses me over all those princes, well, I must be doing something right then." Cedric scoffed, pulling away from his father. Goodwyn stood rooted to his spot, his mouth agape that his son finally had grown a backbone. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have to track down my apprentice." He finished, straightening out his shirt and vest, stalking off to look for Sofia.

"Cedric this isn't over, get back here!" Goodwyn roared, snapping out of his daze taking a few steps towards his son.

"We are most certainly done, Father." Cedric seethed over his shoulder before disappearing in a cloud of green smoke.