Saving Prince James: A James and Sofia Love Story

Set in an alternate universe, James is now 20 and usurped his father as king and conquered every kingdom to create an empire, but he has lived his years as a lonely king with only power and wealth to keep him company. When Cedric summons a banished Sofia, 18, to the castle to secretly save the kingdoms and James, something stirs in James's heart the moment he sees a grown and blossomed Sofia. Can a banished princess save the kingdoms and can a ruthless prince find his way into the heart of a princess he once lost?

Chapter 5: James's Guilt

James

James felt a small, tender hand was on his shoulder gently trying to shake him awake, but he didn't want to wake up from his long needed nap. After finishing all of the paperwork he pushed off earlier today just so that he could see Sofia, he was so tired that he slept right in his cushioned seat in the royal library.

"James…. James…." James vaguely heard his name being called by someone with a sweet, angelic voice.

But James wouldn't have it and grumbled some incoherent response for whoever to just let him sleep some more.

"James, come on. Wake up," said the person, clearly impatient for him to wake up. "James, it's almost dinnertime."

Just let me have five more minutes of sleep, James thought and probably mumbled aloud. I finally had a nice dream in months.

And his mind wandered back to his peaceful dream, trying to remember what happened in his dream. But when that failed him, he was only left with the fact that Sofia hadn't appeared not once throughout the entire thing. There was no crying Sofia haunting him. It was all simply a random dream, and, like all dreams, he soon forgot what it was all about and simply enjoyed that he didn't wake up with guilt and fear drenched all over him.

He just wanted to relish how refreshed he feels in having the first normal rest he's had in a long time and he welcomed the fact that he didn't remember the dream. Normally, his dreams are nightmares that would haunt him night and day, but if he can't recall this dream, then maybe it probably meant that things were turning around for him.

He then heard some rustling of papers on the table in front of him and remembered all of the paperwork he did.

After he joyfully finished his conversation with Sofia, James remembered how he happily skipped into the library and saw each massive pile of documents and sitting for hours on end until he finished reading over and signing the papers. Even though he was high on a cloud from his conversation with Sofia, James's smile faltered a little from all of the paperwork and working for so long. When he did finish, it was still several hours before dinner and he was so tired, that he wanted to close his eyes just for a bit and rest. So he simply just laid his head back and awkwardly slept in his chair. Next thing he knew, he was happily dreaming and didn't wanted it to end.

James suddenly felt a warm hand on his cheek and instinctively pushed towards it, liking how pleasant it felt against his skin.

"James?" he heard again. He liked how the voice sounded worried, as if they cared about him.

Wanting to see the face of the lovely voice, James forced his eyes open and was stunned to see Sofia's beautiful face above his. And he couldn't do or say anything but stare at her incredibly blue eyes and he saw that she had small lighter blue flakes in the center of her bright eyes. She was so close to him, nearly nose to nose and he could feel her warmth reach him.

Then he noticed her lips and the sudden need from earlier today returned to him. James still didn't understand why, but he wanted so badly to just lean in and touch her lips with his. The mystery of how her lips might feel on his made his curiosity and need grow even more.

He didn't know how long they stayed like that, just staring at each other in a moment that belonged to only the two of them.

She's so beautiful, James thought and gently placed his hand over where hers was on his cheek.

But the moment his hand was over hers, she quickly pulled away and disappeared from his field of vision.

"Sorry," Sofia quietly said, her voice was still loud in the quiet library.

"It's alright." James said as he sat upright, stretching out his aching back from his sleeping position.

His cheek felt cold from where her hand was and he misses her warmth when she was so close to him. Now she just feels so far away, even though she was still close enough for him to reach out to.

"What are you doing here?" His voice sounded raspy to his ears as he ran his hands though his hair, wanting to look decent to Sofia and fix whatever mess his hair might seem like to her.

"I… um… I had some time to spare before dinner," she stumbled as her cheeks appeared to be red, like she was embarrassed about something. "So I…. So I thought I might grab a book to read… for a… um… a while."

James couldn't help but smile at how cute Sofia looked, red cheeked and embarrassed. Compared to his fierce warrior from earlier, this flustered version of Sofia was something else entirely. He liked seeing this side of her and knowing that after all these years, Sofia still had her clumsy and bashful moments.

Then she did the one thing that completely cleared all thoughts from his mind. She bit her lips.

The way her pearly white teeth pierced onto her apple red lips that made him go mad for her. James just wanted to take her into his arms and feel how soft she might be, to just have her melt against him and see how her body would fit together with his when he embraced her.

He didn't even hear what she was saying, all he did was watch as her lips moved to form words but none of them reached his minds as the only thing that filled his thoughts was her and her mouth.

"James?" she said, snapping him out of his thoughts and looking at him with her blue eyes.

"Sorry. What?" James felt his own cheeks burn, embarrassed by his thoughts about Sofia.

"I asked why you were sleeping in the library."

"Oh," James said as he stood up from his chair and stretched some more, "I was just tired after finishing all of the paperwork Baileywick gave to me, so I just slept in my seat."

"Why didn't you go to your room?" she responded to him as she headed towards the many bookshelves and skimmed the titles. She didn't sound like she was flustered anymore and seemed relax as she looked through the books.

James simply stood where he was as he watched her, enjoying how enchanting she looked and hearing the small taps of her heels. She still wore her purple satin dress from earlier and looked the same except that she appeared to have on some blush and lipstick. Her hair was let loose from their up-do from earlier and flowed behind her in silky waves. He liked how the light from the room made her skin look like porcelain, as if she was this fragile doll that needed to be handled with care.

Dammit! Stop gawking at her! James thought. She's your sister! Stop it!

But despite all of his self-scolding thoughts, he couldn't help himself. He continued to fight the urge to reach out to her and hold her tight against him.

"I was just too tired to walk back to my room to sleep," James shrugged, his eyes never leaving her. "What are you looking for?"

"Nothing in particular, just anything short and interesting to pass the time until dinner," Sofia said over her shoulder as she walked up the bookshelf latter. "Ooh! This one looks good, Lord Earnest by William Wilde," and she began to flip through the book while still standing on the latter.

"That one is no good," James said as he walked closer to her and leaned on the nearby table corner. "Boring as hell, it's about some guy who whines about his life throughout the entire novel."

"You read this book?" Sofia looked down at him with a bit of disbelief, like she couldn't see him holding a book and reading for fun. A part of him could understand her shock because when they were younger all James would want to do was play and jump around. He never wanted to read for fun, and he always hated having to just sit down and look at words for hours.

But after he ascended the throne, he found himself doing just that on some days. Besides exercising, reading was the other thing that kept his mind busy and kept the dark recesses of his mind away. And for five years, James developed both his mind and body ideally. He has read nearly the entire royal library and can give intelligent discussions about each book if asked to.

"Don't act so shocked," he said jokingly, "I can read you know."

"Yes, I know that you can read," Sofia laughed, "but, if I remember correctly, you never wanted to read."

"Well, in my free time, I want to read." James cleverly responded with a smile. "And to answer your last question, I did read that book and most of the books in here."

"Really now?" Sofia said amusingly with an arched brow. "Then how about this book?" She held up a book titled, The Test of Wit.

"It's alright, if you like reading about some old guy with no filter talking to each guest at his daughter's wedding. It's actually a pretty funny read, if I think about it."

"Alright then, I guess I'll take this one into consideration." She placed it under one arm and continued to search through the massive book collection.

James just watched as she moved on the latter from one end of the bookshelf to the other, glancing and grabbing each book that interested her. He noticed that each novel she snagged off of the shelves were complex and thought-provoking.

"I didn't figure for you to like that type of book genre," James commented, liking how they've become relaxed and casual with one another. Almost like how it was before, where everything was easy and simple between them.

"What do you mean?" Sofia asked as she turned around on the latter and sat on a step, hugging a few more books in her arms.

"All of the books you have in your hands were all written and narrated by some old geezer and all of the plots are complicated and convoluted. Most of them have so many entanglements that it's hard to decipher what happened and the ending is most likely not going to make any sense to you."

"I like that," Sofia said bluntly. "I like it when a book makes me think and their plots are intricate and perplexing."

And before he knew it, they were exchanging ideas and opinions of what types of books they prefer. They discussed all of the novels they've read over the years and what had the best and worst plot lines. James and Sofia even had a fun time talking about which characteristics made the best heroes and heroines, and they had intelligent discussions about which characters of their favorite books and novels was better. He even learned that Sofia read more books than him back on their countryside estate, and even read most of the same novels as him.

The two just bonded for the remaining time until dinner, as if they were rekindling their old relationship. They laughed and joked like they were kids again and nothing bad happened.

James couldn't remember the last time he laughed or talked this much to anyone in a long time, and he liked seeing and hearing Sofia's laugh with him. Her laugh was like hearing gentle water running down a bank of rocks, splashing and rippling. It was refreshing to hear and he didn't want it to stop.

If it was up to him, he would never leave this library and try to keep this perfect moment between them forever.

"James," Sofia said, looking out of the window into the dark night, "I think it's best if we start making our way to the dining room."

"Yeah, I think you're right." James walked over to Sofia and held a hand out to help her down from the latter where she still sat.

When she placed her hand into his, James liked how small her hands were, like they were gentle little gems that were made just for his hands to hold. They molded to fit perfectly into his hands.

James couldn't help but notice how her hand felt just a little callused against his hand. It was still soft nonetheless, but there was still toughness to her hand's touch, something he didn't notice earlier when she had it on his cheek. Her small hand held a gentle roughness to it, like she held years' worth of hard work and sweat in her hands.

And he felt a pang in his chest when he was reminded that it was his fault that her hands are worn like this. He banished them, he stripped them of any help, and he left them all alone to fend for themselves. It was his entire fault. She had to work and sweat and hurt her hands because he exiled her away when she should have been here and taken care of like the beautiful princess she was.

When Sofia made it down the latter, James didn't move from his spot. He just stood there, holding her hand as tightly as his chest felt and staring down at their hands together.

"James?" he heard Sofia say.

"Sofia," James said, still focused on their hands. "Your hands are a bit callused."

"Oh," Sofia said and attempted to take back her hand but James's wouldn't let her go and held on even tighter. "That's from all of the gardening and farm work Amber and I did back at the estate. Why?"

He didn't respond, but instead held up both of her hands palms up for him to see how rough each was. And his chest felt even tighter than it already was when he saw how her other hand looked the same as the one in his.

"James?" he heard again.

And without saying a word, he leaned down and kissed both of her callused palms. It was as if his body moved on its own and decided that a kiss on her palms would somehow heal all of the blisters and calluses on her hands.

Looking back up into her wide eyes, he calmly and honestly said, "I'm sorry, Sof. Your hands should never be callused and I promise to you that it won't be any more."

Sofia just stared at him with big eyes and her mouth just slightly opened, so James just continued on. "Sof, I am so sorry you ever had your hands hurt from working so hard. I can tell that it was probably blistered and it hurt like hell…. You don't know how sorry I am…."

Sofia didn't say a word and just looked at him, as if she was trying to read into him again, but for James, he hated how he couldn't read anything in her expression.

She then pulled her hands away and said quietly, "it's alright James."

His heart panged painfully again when he watched as she walked towards the door, believing she hates him for everything he did to her and the family.

But she stopped midway and turned around, relief filling his heart when he saw a small but beautiful smile on her face and heard, "aren't you coming James?"

And dinner, with Amber and Sofia to fill the normally quiet and lonely dining room, was still fairly awkward but enjoyable. James just ate and listened to Amber and Sofia talk about their day and occasionally asked questions about their businesses back in the countryside. In return, they would ask questions about Enchancia's politics and economy.

Their conversation was strained and forced, but James still liked it either way. It was good to have someone to talk to as he ate. On most days, he was always alone and isolated from everyone in the castle. No one would willingly talk to him unless it was about tasks or issues around the kingdoms, but with Sofia and Amber here, it was nice to have other people here to chat with.

Amber mostly chatted with Sofia, and James understood why. She still hated him for everything and openly resented him for having her cut off from all royal privileges for five years. Throughout dinner, he heard her angry snorts and he didn't even have to look at her to feel her spiteful glares. And Sofia had to navigate her conversation with Amber towards James just to include him, but Amber wouldn't have it. Whenever he could comment on anything in their chat, Amber would go silent and refuse to continue their discussion, and then would start another conversation with Sofia.

Things remained the same as they sat in the family room after dinner. Amber would only talk to Sofia and then Sofia would have to try to include James into their conversation, which would only make Amber end that conversation and create new one with Sofia. Then the cycle would start all over again.

Nothing changed much throughout their time in the family room, but James didn't really care because he liked having their presence around. It wasn't harmonious but it was collective and he liked hearing their voices as they have tea and sat around. Having their little chatter and banter fill the silence around the room was a welcome for James as he sat back with a contented smile.

And as he got ready for bed, all James could think about was how things remained simple and light as things made their way into the night. Like there was a hope for a new start, where he could reunite the family and things could actually get better from here.

But things didn't stay that way for him as he closed his eyes and a nightmare began.

James was sitting on the floor next to Sofia's legs with his back against the sofa. Looking around him, he saw almost his entire family relaxing in the family room. It was night out and he could hear the crackle of the wood in the fireplace. Amber was playing the harp with their Aunt Tilly, their melody giving off a happy and serene atmosphere. Sofia and their mother was sitting on the sofa above him, embroidering some small handkerchiefs. Sir Bartleby, their new uncle, sat across from him on the low coffee table concentrating on the cards in his hands, obviously trying to see a way to beat the fifteen-year-old across from him in a game of cards.

Everything looked so similar to him, like it was déjà vu. The happy environment, the smiles and laughs, it all rang a bell in him somewhere but James just doesn't remember what it was.

Then it hit him.

No! James screamed, but no sound came out of his mouth.

He was reliving the night he killed his father.

For so long, he hasn't thought about that that night. Not once throughout the entire five years he was on the throne, James never revisited that night because he didn't want to think about how he wasn't in control of his own actions. Everything from that night was a blur, he remembered how his vision was a bit fogged, as if he was sleepwalking and had no control over his body. But he still remembered every action he made and every feeling he felt from that night.

He knew he wasn't himself but he couldn't help it, it was like someone else was controlling him and his mind. He recalled a voice telling him what to do and it fueled something in him to take action.

And just like that night, James felt a sudden anger and rage overcome him and took control of his body. That same voice in his head told him to get up and leave the room. He could hear himself mumble an excuse to the bathroom, but it wasn't James that said it. It was some creature inside of him that possessed his body and made him do everything.

To this day, he still doesn't understand where that emotion and voice came from and how it made him slaughter nearly half of his family in one night.

No matter how hard James tried to stop his legs and regain control, his body wouldn't budge and continued down the hallway towards his father's study. Along the way, James remembered that there was a metal armor and how he took the sword from its handle. He could vaguely hear the scrapping of the sword on the floor as he dragged it behind him. There was no one in the hallway, which only made it easier for him to barge into his father's study and watch as his eyes widen as James calmly walked towards him, the sword hidden behind his back.

James saw that his father's mouth moved as if asking him a question, but he didn't hear any sounds or words from him. It was like the voice in his head muffled his ears with the pounding rage he felt.

Soon, everything began to move too quickly.

James heard the voice hiss at him to rush towards his father, sword out in front of him and attack. Hard.

And no matter how hard his mind kept trying to stop his body, James was too weak to do anything and the voice in his head was stronger than him.

James cried out to stop, that he didn't want this, but the anger and fury in his body told him otherwise. It compelled him to feel that hurting his father was the only way to ease the pain he felt from his betrayal. That it was his father's fault for his mother's death, she killed herself because his father had an affair. And he had the audacity to have James's and Amber's memories erased.

His father was scum. He was trash. He deserved to rot in hell.

Stop! Please! James mentally screamed.

But the voice wouldn't have it and hissed back, you know he has to pay….

All James could do was watch as his body charged towards his father.

Luckily, his father managed to swiftly dodge his attack and grab at the sword on his desk. And in one swift movement, his father removed the sword's protective case and block James's strike.

Shoving James away, Roland's mouth moved again to say something but James was unable to hear it.

Attack! The voice hissed. Kill him!

And again, his body moved in full force, swinging and slashing at him with the sword. Roland was able to deflect most of James's attacks but still gained cuts and wounds on his chest and face. Despite being controlled, James felt the sting of his father's sword cut his flesh as their fight continued on.

Then his father left one side unguarded and James's body managed to disarms him. The sword landed with a loud crash on the floor in the now silent room and the two men stood there staring at each other, both trying to catch their breath from their intense duel.

Dad! James screamed again, Dad! This isn't me! Something's controlling me!

James tried everything in his power to get that message over to his father, from trying to regain his body to telling him through his eyes.

Please dad!

And then James saw some recognition flash in his father's eyes. It was there and hope filled James, his father always knew just what to do to fix any situation. He was the king.

But it was all short lived because the next thing he knew, his father was sprawled on the floor in a pool of his own blood.

The voice stabbed his father through the chest and his father yelled in agony as James's body continued to pierce him over and over again until he was dead.

No! James screamed as he felt blood spatter over his face, watching as the light died in his father's eyes.

And the moment his father died, so did something in James.

Maybe it was his happiness, maybe it was his hope, or maybe it was his light. James didn't know, but what he did know for sure was that it wasn't the anger and fury in him. It continued to thrive that night.

Then he heard his uncle's voice, trying to tell him to drop his sword.

Looking over at him, James saw that near the door stood everyone else. Behind their mother's skirt, James recognized Sofia's brunette head bob up and saw how her eyes widen from what she saw. But it seemed that she didn't get much of a look by the way Aunt Tilly and their mother pulled Sofia and Amber away from the doorway.

With a clang, the sword dropped and he walked towards the door, into the hallway and away from the chaos that would soon ensue in that room.

Now behind the closed doors of his room, James fell to his knees and heaved, trying to get that sickening feeling out of his stomach. Tears and vomit spilled out of him as his mind spiraled out of control. While he could hear frantic footsteps and panic outside of his room, his own thoughts and mind was in its own fight with itself.

After losing track of how long he stayed on all fours, puking until he couldn't any longer, James heard pounding on his door and guards ordering for him to come out. When James couldn't bring himself to move a muscle, the doors were broken down and he turned to see spears and swords pointed at him.

We're not done yet, James. The voice returned and hissed again, go and take the crown. It's yours now. Take all the gold and jewels. Take Amber's tiaras and Sofia's amulet. Take everything!

Too mentally and physically weak to fight the voice, James gave up and let it control his body. He let the dark consume him that night and was compelled to slaughter everyone that approached him. And in one massive, bloody blur, James saw all of the guards fall to his feet. Even when his uncle and aunt tried to fight him that night, James recalled how easily they died at the point of his sword.

The voice in his head made him into a crimson killer, skilled at taking down everyone in his path. He remembered nothing but red everywhere, but this nightmare made it all vivid and realistic.

Take the crown! It cried. Take the throne!

Moving down the hallway towards the throne room, a brown head caught his attention. Turning his head towards the corner, James saw Sofia alone and scared.

Take the amulet!

Kneeling down to eyelevel with her, he saw fear and horror all over her face. She didn't move a muscle and looked like she could barely breathe. James felt a guilty pang in his chest, knowing that his little sister is scared because of him, and couldn't bring himself to take their father's gift from her. Not when she was like this, not in this kind of situation. Not ever.

I'm sorry, Sof. James tried to tell her in his eyes, but he knew it didn't reach her because of how far in the darkness he was.

Take it! Take it now!

But amazingly, this was the only time James didn't listen to the voice. He felt no compulsion to do as it said.

Gently, he reached out and touched her cheek with his bloodstained fingers. Seeing how he left a red streak on her face, he got up and left, never looking back. Behind him, he heard the chaos fill the hallway again.

Then everything around him fell away and turned dark the further away from the hallway he got.

Why didn't you take her amulet?! The voice yelled at him. You should have taken it!

No! James cried back, finding the strength in him to fight back. You already had me take everything, why do you want the amulet too?!

Because it belongs to us! To me!

No! It belongs to Sofia!

No it does not! It's power belongs to me!

You already have enough power! I've taken all of the kingdoms' power already! I control everything! You don't need Sofia's amulet!

Yes I do! It will give me enough to control the entire world! To control EVERYTHING!

No you don't! And I control things around here! Remembering that this was all just a dream, James tried to resist the voice's control on him. And this is just a dream! My dream! I control how it will end!

Oh you think so?! Fine! The voice snarled at him, you're correct that you are in control. You were in control the entire time. So look behind you at what you did.

Slowly, James turned around and saw a bloody body on the floor motionless. It was too small and petite to be his father's or any adult's body. Walking closer to it, he saw that it was a girl's body. Her body was dainty and looked frail, and all around her, there was blood that was still spilling out.

Then James saw the familiar sun kissed brunette hair and it was like someone hit him in the gut with a boulder.

SOFIA! James screamed and ran towards her as the voice began to laugh menacingly.

You did this, boy! You killed Sofia!

Falling onto his knees as he made his way to her, he held her in his arms and saw that it wasn't the small and young Sofia from that night. She appeared as the older and beautiful Sofia he saw earlier that night, the same Sofia that held a feisty and warrior strength in her eyes when she first arrived back at the castle. The one he wanted so badly to kiss and wrap his arms around, to feel her warmth and just gaze at the light in her eyes.

No, James whispered. Sof, I'm so sorry! I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

You wanted control, boy. And when you're in control, you're burdened with seeing just what you did. The voice laughed coldly at him and then it went silent, leaving James alone in the dark again.

Sof, James said through the tears as he wiped away a stray hair from her closed eyes. Sof….

When the agony was too much for him, James just screamed at the top of his lungs until no breath was left in him.

I want this dream to end! He screamed along, using every fiber in his body to force this nightmare to an end. It needs to end! Now!

Then, James's eyes were opened and, from the glow of the moonlight, James saw his familiar ceiling. Sweat was glued to his forehead and, as he sat up, he saw how much of it drenched his nightshirt.

A voice in the dark suddenly said, "James?"

Whipping his head around quickly, he saw Sofia sitting beside him on his massive bed. She was in a thin but modest sleeveless nightgown, and her hair was let down and flowed over her shoulder.

"Sofia?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I –" she started, but was cut off when James pulled her into a tight hug.

Images from his nightmare still haunted his mind. The bloody and brutal lifeless figure of Sofia in his arms kept on flashing before his eyes. Pictures of how her hands were cold to the touch, her cheeks were hollow and empty, and her lips were blue and bare. Everything about her was dead and it made his heart ache at the thought that he was responsible for it.

Remembering how cold her body felt in his arms, Sofia's body heat was a welcome as he held her even tighter against his body.

"You're alive," he said as he dug his face closer into her hair, trying to etch her lavender and vanilla scent into his mind, hoping that her scent might erase every horrible picture his nightmare gave him.

"Of course I am," she muffled, her face buried in his chest and he felt her hot breath as she said each word. "You saw me before we all went into our rooms."

"I thought you were dead," he said breathlessly, the voice's words repeating over and over in his head. "I was so sure you were dead…."

Since that night five years ago, James never heard from that voice ever again. This was the first time in years since he revisited that night and heard the voice again. James enjoying the silence in his head and loving the feeling of the control he has over his body.

"Okay, okay." Sofia soothed, taking her arms around him and rubbing his back. "It was just a nightmare, James."

He just melted against her touch and held her tighter to him, wanting to feel her even more and released the breath he didn't even realize he was holding.

"James, I'm fine."

But James didn't hear her as he crushed her closer to him, repeating, "you're alive, you're alive."

"James, look at me," she said firmly and pulled a little out of his arms to look at him in the eyes. "I'm fine. I'm alive and I'm fine."

Seeing her clearly now, he rested his forehead on hers and just welcomed how cool it felt against the sweat on his forehead. He didn't remove his hands from her waist.

"I'm fine," she whispered between them as she rested her hands on his chest.

As he calmed down and his fear and anxiety receded, James saw that they were only inches apart and if he were to just purse his lips up just a bit, their lips would touch.

But he knew this wasn't the time or place to do it, not now when he just came back from a horrible nightmare where he revisited the unspeakable night. So he pulled away and rested his head on his bed's cool backboard, and not ready to let her go just yet, he pulled Sofia with him so that she could sit close to him like they did when they were kids.

"Do you want to talk about your nightmare?" Sofia tentatively asked looking at him with her unblinking blue eyes. "Do you want me to go and get anybody?" Worry filled her eyes as she searched his eyes again for anything that might give her reason to get the palace doctor and nurse.

"No, no," he said, his hands tightening on her waist, as if that might stop her from leaving. "It's alright."

"James…" Sofia said again, he could hear the doubt in her voice.

"What are you doing in here anyway?" James said, wanting to change the subject.

"I was getting a drink of water from the kitchen when I passed by your room," she pointed to the glass of water on his nightstand. "I heard you cry out in your sleep and sort of ran in here."

"What time is it, anyway?" he asked, looking over at the clock next to his lamp, its arms pointing to a quarter past one in the morning.

"James –," Sofia began again.

"Sof, I don't want to talk about it just yet." James looked at her in the eyes, hoping that she would respect that he wasn't ready to tell her about his version of what happened that night and how his nightmare ended in her death. "I'll tell you when I'm ready, okay? Just not tonight."

Looking at him with the same, searching expression again, she responded politely, "okay."

"But don't leave just yet," he said quickly, afraid that she'll leave. "Just sit back and keep me company. Please." He didn't care if she could hear the need and desperation in his voice. As long as she stayed here with him, he would break his entire pride if it ensured her sitting here with him all night.

And it lifted his heart when he saw her simply sit back and rest her head on his shoulder, all without saying a word.

The two of them sat there at the head of his bed quietly, taking in the quiet, moonlit room and letting the serene and calm night roam between them. James felt the light yet heavy weight of Sofia's head on his shoulder and how her soft hair brushed his fingertips.

Then James heard Sofia sigh and quietly say, "How long has it been since we sat like this?"

Letting out a little laugh, James responded, "the last time I remember sitting here with you was when I was fourteen and got the flu. I was bedridden for almost three weeks."

"Oh yeah," Sofia giggled softly. "I remember. I kept hearing you whine about how no one would visit you in there because they didn't want to get themselves sick."

"Because almost everyone in the castle had some important business the next few weeks. They all avoided me like I was some horrid ogre."

Sofia let out a light, airy laugh. "Yeah. Dad and Mom had dignitary meetings, Amber had some important party to attend, Baileywick had a cousin's wedding coming up, and the staff had their own celebrations too."

"You were the only one without some business to go to and sat here with me every day for an entire week," James said, slowly placing his arm around her, careful not to disturb her head from his shoulder.

"Well, wasn't it flying derby championships that week too? I felt bad that you had to miss it."

"I still don't get why though. Didn't we win like three of the Flying Crowns together? You won five, remember?"

"Yeah," she said with another one of her cute laughs, "we were on a winning streak too, huh? We were a great team."

"You were on a winning streak." James stressed, remembering how she got Prince Hugo to turn around and teach him sportsmanship. "You even got Prince Hugo to respect you on the team, remember?"

And throughout the night, the two of them reminisced about their childhood and talked on and on until the break of dawn. From their good times at the castle to their years at Royal Prep, they laughed so hard at old jokes and pranks to the point of tears. James enjoyed remembering all of their fun adventures from when they were kids, from when everyone threw Baileywick a birthday party since he couldn't have a day off because everyone kept bothering him when he was about to leave to their crazy adventure to find the Hocus Crocus for their science project because Amber used it all up.

They talked and talked until James heard Sofia's soft even breathing when she didn't reply for a while. Looking over, he saw that she fell asleep.

Smiling to himself, James just sat still and stared at her. James tried to ingrain every detail of her beautiful face into his mind, right next to his memory of her lavender and vanilla scent. From her long dark lashes to how her lips still looked pink in the dark morning light and how her cheek looked chubby as she leaned against his shoulder.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, his rationality told him to go and carry this precious princess back to her bed. That she needed to be back in her own bed and securely tucked away from this crazy desire that stormed through his body.

But… there was that other part of his mind that made his desire for her to be in his bed erase the rational thoughts in his mind.

And so, very gently and as smoothly as he could, James lowered Sofia down onto the bed so that she was lying down and her head was on one of his pillows. Lying down beside her, James continued to memorize everything about her and tenderly stroked her cheek.

"It's funny how much you calm me down, Sof," James said extremely quietly, so that she wouldn't hear him. "You don't know how much I need you, how much you affect me and make me better. Everything about you is unprecedented. You have this miraculous ability to fix and solve everything around you with just one look."

Never breaking his gaze with her, he gently lifted his head to place a faint kiss on her forehead and before he broke away, he soundlessly whispered, "goodnight, Sofia."


Chapter five! Yay!

Again, I want to thank everyone who read and kept up with this series. I don't think I would have been able to continue with this if it weren't for everyone's great reviews and love.

Sorry this took a little longer to post, I had an overnight freshman orientation for my university and they wouldn't let me bring in my laptop to work on this chapter. So I was two days behind. I'm sorry. So to make up for the long delay, I made this chapter extra long and filled with good stuff.

Since I posted Sofia's POV chapter, I've been getting a lot of messages asking for James's own POV chapter, explaining his version of that night. And... well... Here it is! I also put in a lot more JamesXSofia moments because I love you all and your great feedback about them.

Read and comment please! Tell me what you guys all thought about James's version of that night and his moments with Sofia. Tell me what and who you all want to see later.

Thanks :)

PS. The book titles Sofia mentions in this chapter are all fake and I also changed the cover picture to something that I felt fit the story better.