Author's note: I didn't forget you guys! This chapter just took a while because I had to shuffle some parts that were cut from last chapter into here, and there were sections of a later chapter that made more sense here, and well... It was a whole deal. I think we're about due for some pre-plan flashbacks, though I don't know if that will be next chapter or just coming up soon.

Also, shameless plug for Isolation: I accidentally posted the newest chapter tonight without making sure the 24 hours had passed, so if anyone who's reading that is also reading this, chapter 4 is out but the updates for it are broken.


Her mother was sitting beside her, doing her best to pretend she was occupied with a crossword puzzle, as Sofia sipped a small cup of apple juice carefully, reluctant to upset her stomach again. There had been little by way of conversation since she had her blood draw, and she was sure it was due to Margaret being just as nervous about the results as she was.

It took over an hour for the doctor to return, offering apologies and an explanation that their lab was backed up at the moment. After some friendly chatter, his smile faded, and he sat down on the only other chair in the room, looking Sofia over seriously.

"I have the notes from the doctor who admitted you, and I have to ask you some questions." He began, speaking softly to her, like he was trying not to frighten a wild animal. "You told him you've never even kissed a boy. If that wasn't the truth, I really need you to be honest with me now." Sofia shook her head, unable to comprehend why he was asking her about this embarrassing topic again.

"I really haven't." She insisted as firmly as possible, looking to her mother for help convincing him.

"Sofia, I need to ask you this: Do you feel safe at home?" This was getting scary, and all she wanted was for him to leave. She opened her mouth to tell him as much, but wasn't given the chance.

"What is all this about?" Margaret demanded, jumping to her feet. The man sighed, shifting his gaze back and forth between mother and daughter.

"The pregnancy test came back positive." He announced, handing a sheet of paper to the woman so she could see the results for herself. "We also confirmed Sofia's claims about her blood type. There's no way that she's your husband's daughter."

"Everything you're saying is impossible!" Sofia fumed, unable to hold in the whirlwind of emotions coursing through her.

"A social worker will be by after lunchtime to talk to Sofia. It's standard procedure." He excused himself, completely ignoring Sofia's outburst.

Sofia was fed up with this hospital and their 'standard procedures'. The doctors hid behind the term, as if it somehow justified ruining her life. Because of them, her parents were being suspected of things too horrible to even dedicate thought to, and her dad was now convinced Sofia belonged to someone else. As bad as both of those things were, Sofia could hardly concentrate on them, considering the other news.

And then, there was him. She shifted her focus to the man that sat beside her bed, doing the same crossword puzzle her mother had abandoned earlier in the day, waiting quietly for her to acknowledge his existence. He'd stormed out of her room earlier, only to return minutes later and set the sandwich he'd brought back on the table, where it still sat untouched. It seemed he wouldn't be pushed away as easily as she'd thought. He glanced up, meeting her eyes, and Sofia did her best to pretend she'd merely been reading a sign on the wall behind him, though she was fairly certain he could see the way she blushed over being caught staring.

"Thank you." She whispered, catching his eye again. "For not leaving me alone here, I mean."

"So, she speaks." Cedric muttered softly. Sofia nodded, feeling bad for not breaching the stillness earlier. "Well, don't. You're distracting me. I'm trying to think of a five-lettered noun for 'an insolent, petulant girl'." Sofia frowned to herself, wondering if she knew such a word. Her mind hit upon an answer, and she let out an indignant huff.

"You mean 'Sofia'? You're being sarcastic, now?" Her annoyance faded away when he chuckled, bobbing his head to confirm her suspicions. "I'm sorry I was rude, earlier. It's just been a very rough day."

"Do you want to talk about it?" He set the paper and pen aside on the cart to signal that she had his full attention, but Sofia shook her head.

Even if she wanted to, he was the very last person in all the world she could tell about that. How could she? She'd gone to sleep the night, or rather early morning, before harboring childish fantasies that she might somehow have a future with a grown man she'd only just met. If he knew what she found out today, he'd want nothing to do with her. Her parents' marriage, her normal life, her childhood... In the blink of an eye, every facet of her life had been destroyed. She saw no good reason to drag the handsome stranger, with his boyish charm and unexpectedly sweet nature, into her mess.

"What I said to you before was out of line. I was just frustrated." He apologized, his eyes sweeping over her in search of something, though she wasn't quite certain what it could be.

"It's fine. I mean, you don't have to care... We hardly know each other." She mumbled, her mind still on her other troubles.

"True." He sat forward in his chair, studying her again. Though she preferred the times when his eyes smiled softly at her, she had to admit that these intense gazes, where they flickered with an emotion completely foreign to her, were also compelling. "You remind me of a girl I used to know, a very long time ago. Except that I was much better at cheering her up."

"Did you love her?" Sofia asked, though she was reasonably certain she didn't want to know the answer.

He leaned back, letting his head drop over the back of the seat, and she traced the line of his jaw down his neck and to the bit of collarbone visible above the neckline of his work clothes. He hasn't been home to change. It finally dawned on her during the long lull in conversation. He really has been here the whole time.

"More than anything." The words stung, though she told herself that they shouldn't.

"What happened?" She pressed against her better judgement.

"Tell me why your upset, first." He bargained, shuffling himself upright again.

"I won't." Sofia refused, reaching across the wheeled cart to steal the twice-neglected puzzle, eager for a distraction.

"Then we'll both guard our secrets." Cedric conceded, shrugging his shoulders. "You really should eat."

...

Cedric watched Sofia sleep, debating between staying by her side and returning to Merlin's flat. He was hesitant to leave her alone in the hospital, but he needed answers, the sort that could only come from his long time friend. Reluctantly, he left her room, using signs to find his way to the front desk.

"I need to hire a carriage." He informed a receptionist, who seemed rather annoyed by his request. She stared at him for a long minute before letting out a sigh.

"If you need a cab, there are phones and a list of numbers on the wall over there." She pointed, then returned to her computer. Cedric eyed the row of metal boxes warily, but ultimately concluded that the woman would be no further help.

It wasn't difficult to deduce that the numbers on the wall matched the ones on the 'phone', but try as he might, he couldn't get the things to work.

"What is it, now?" She groaned with annoyance when he returned.

"I pressed the numbers, but nothing's happening." He explained impatiently.

"Did you put a coin in?" Cedric shook his head, and the woman rolled her eyes at him. "They're pay phones. You have to put a coin in."

"I don't have any coins, only this paper money." He pulled a bill out of his pocket for emphasis, but she didn't bother to look at it.

"Coin machines are next to the vending machines." She waved him away.

"Can't you just hire a... 'cab' for me?" He demanded, stifling a groan as she shook her head again. He could clearly see that she had her own phone right next to her on the desk. Grumbling, he stomped off in the direction of the vending machines, where he traded his paper money for several silver coins.

...

It was late when he arrived at Merlin's flat, but he was determined to talk to the older sorcerer, so he turned the key and marched in, finding his friend asleep on the pull-out sofa.

"Merlin, wake up." He shook the man's shoulder, interrupting his slumber.

"Cedric... Where have you been? I was starting to get worried about you." Cedric nearly explained the entire situation, but stopped himself.

"It's a long story." He replied instead. "Do you know why my wand isn't working?" Cedric produced the useless tool from one of his deep pockets, holding it out to Merlin for inspection.

"I tried to warn you, you know. Magic doesn't exist in this time." Cedric's eyes grew wide as the implications settled in. Without magic, he couldn't restore Sofia's memories. Not only that, but...

"How the devil are we supposed to return?" He fretted, but Merlin chuckled, patting his arm reassuringly. He stood and crossed the room, digging through a chest until he found what he was seeking. Returning, he held up a bottle of swirling, iridescent blue gel.

"With this. You know what it is, don't you?" Cedric nodded solemnly, unable to tear his gaze from the object.

"Stolen magic." He practically whispered, finally shooting an astounded glance at Merlin.

"Don't look so distressed. I promise, the sorcerer this came from earned his punishment." Merlin swished the liquid around, frowning at the bottle. "Unfortunately, I had to use quite a bit to get Sofia her false life. There's only enough to get us back, and not even that if you wait too much longer."

"You mean, because she's... You knew?" Cedric stood, trying to process this new information. "You knew and you didn't say anything?" Merlin held his hands up defensively, then patted the mattress for Cedric to sit back down.

"I told you, I was trying to, but you were being so damned stubborn. I couldn't get you to sit still and listen for even a moment." Merlin accused, and Cedric searched his memory, hitting upon the times he was too busy charging blindly ahead to stop and listen to his elder. Something else occurred to him, too.

"I'm such an idiot! Sofia, that's why she was so upset earlier." He ran a hand down his face, letting out a deep groan. "She's in the hospital, they must have run the test. Why didn't she say as much?" He jumped back up, making a break for the door.

"Cedric, do you really intend to run off wildly again? Sofia's condition won't change, you know, but there's more we should discuss..." Cedric stopped in his tracks, deciding it would be prudent to hear the man out properly. "For instance, whoever the child's father is. I'm sure you didn't intend to separate them, but he must be worried sick, and I've already explained that I can't return to the exact same time, which means Sofia will still have been missing by the time we get back. What do you plan to do about that?"

Cedric's face flushed, and he found himself unable to meet the old man's eyes. "He is." Was all he could muster. "Worried sick, I mean."

Merlin's aged features registered his shock perfectly as he sank back onto the thin mattress, and Cedric steeled himself for what he knew was coming.

"I-I need you to tell me that I'm... misunderstanding things." He muttered, running his hands through his long silver beard. "Tell me that you are not the... That your relationship with Sofia is purely professional."

"It isn't." He knew the risks, the hell he could face back in Enchancia when everything was said and done. He was just too tired of lying to care anymore.

"Setting aside your age and station, you are her Master Sorcerer! What you're implying is strictly forbidden on every. single. level." Merlin's voice rose, and Cedric shut his eyes, trying to keep his cool. "Do you want it to be your magic swirling around in that bottle next? Or Sofia's?"

"Would you do that to me, old friend?" He quizzed, opening his eyes again to peer at the other sorcerer. "Could you bring yourself to do that to her?"

"Of course not!" He spat out, back on his feet with a quickness that was surprising given his age. "I'm not the only one who can cast such a spell, and you know that. You've had your run-ins with the high council before."

"Then what do you suggest I do? Not all of us can just alter time." Merlin scratched the spot on his head where his hat usually rested, pondering these words.

"Time... That's it. We go back to before and-" Cedric was not even willing to entertain that train of thought.

"Absolutely not! That's not a... a botched spell or a slight misstep. That's a child you're talking about." Merlin froze, looking every bit as horrified as Cedric felt.

"You're right. Of course, that would be unthinkable." He crossed the room and rested an apologetic hand on Cedric's shoulder. "Cedric, what could you have possibly been thinking?"

"I love her." He admitted it as plainly as possible, unable to offer any other explanation. "I love her in ways I never believed myself to be capable of."