Les Misérables

Summary: After studying about the dark past of surrounding kingdoms, Tanya asks Cedric and Sofia if any other kingdom ever had the same level of darkness. This leads to a very unexpected story, filled with despair, hope, severed and forged bonds, and preventable demise. Read Me a Story format! (Takes place 5 years after my season 5 stories)

Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First. I own Corban and some other OCs mentioned here. MarionetteJ2X owns Tanya and Nana.

Chapter 9: Starshine and Moon Fade

Roland had rented a house outside the city limits, so he was close enough to venture into the city if necessary, but far enough from the line that he felt safe. He and Amber had settled in nicely, though there was a bit of tension between them. Obviously, Amber was flustered about being swept away from Desmond so quickly after having just met him, but she clearly didn't understand his reasoning behind it. Yet, he couldn't tell her it was due to his former prison overseer possibly recognizing him and taking him away again. So, he let the tension lie.

Additionally, Roland also didn't realize that Merlin was already gone. Otherwise, he likely would have packed them up and headed back to their current homestead. As it was, the former mayor was penning his ideas down to pass along to the leaders of Zodia, as a way of pleading his case on behalf of Merlin. Granted, this was more of a formality than anything, but he was seriously hoping he didn't have to cross paths with any official. For where they were, Baileywick was, and he didn't want to do deal with that. Perhaps in a few days he'd be ready…?

Amber was lying on a sofa in front of a fire, reminiscing about her brief interaction with Desmond. A longing smile stretched over her face, her mind distant as she sighed softly, staring into the flames before her. She'd told Roland of her meeting with the boy, though she hadn't received the support she'd hoped to get when encountering (possibly) a potential love interest. She chalked it up to his overprotective nature, but still… She wanted his approval.

"Don't lose yourself to a fantasy, Amber," Roland warned her gently, still penning his letter. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she turned to him, frowning. "Best not to let your imagination run away with you."

"There's nothing wrong with imagining a life with someone besides you, Daddy." She immediately regretted her words when she saw his pen still, his face sullen. "I… I'm sorry, Daddy. I—"

"Remember this, my darling," the man began, interrupting her apology. "I gave up a lot to rescue you from the Wilkinsons, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I've done what I can to protect you and care for you, and while I can understand that you long for more, I just don't understand why, for now, I can't be enough for you."

Amber stood, moving over to where he sat at his desk, and she pulled another chair up beside him, sitting and placing her hand over his. "Daddy, I'll always love you and need you. You may not be my birth father, but you've given me a life I never would have dreamed of. I just don't know a lot about my past, but I also don't know much about yours… I wish you'd fill in those gaps and stop being so secretive about everything."

It was insinuated that Amber had a form of trauma-based amnesia regarding her early life, and even some parts of her stay with the Wilkinsons, but it was likely her brain's way of blocking out some of the darker moments of her life. In a way, she was grateful she didn't remember as much as she could have, but it also aggravated her. She wanted to understand her life, her losses, and how everything fit together… But Roland was always so hesitant to grant her that wish.

"Just know that I only mean to keep your life as simple and happy as I possibly can, Amber." He carefully brushed her hand away, but he reached up to her, cupping her chin. "After all, the truth is overrated. Trust me." He lowered his hand to his pen, trying to decide whether it was worth his effort to continue writing the letter.

Amber felt mildly defeated by Roland's habit of sweeping the issue under the rug, like he always did, so she sighed and stood. "Excuse me, Daddy." She left from the living room through the back door and into a garden area, where she found numerous plants growing, even some vines sneaking up the fence that separated the house from the rest of the world.

Roland sighed, raking his free hand through his hair. He was lost on how to handle Amber's newfound curiosity. "I miss the little girl she used to be," he mumbled, shaking his head. "Lorelei… I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't answer her questions, but… I don't want her to suffer by knowing the truth…"

Outside the house, Sofia was leading Desmond around, heading directly toward the same garden where Amber was currently sitting, pruning some of the flowers that were in bloom. She had listened to his giddy chatter the whole way, each word carving deeper into her already broken heart.

"She's like a beam of light, Sofia," Desmond informed her, not realizing that Sofia was already very aware of Amber. "A warmth in the cold. A radiant being. An angel, even…"

"What if she rejects you?" Sofia asked, perhaps a little too tersely. She noticed the hurt expression on her friend's face, and instead of making things worse, she decided to at least nurse his wounds (even though he'd never do the same for her). "I mean… Well, at least there are other girls around who probably like you. They may even love you," she added playfully, tapping him on the nose, which caused him to laugh and her to giggle. She'd made him smile, at least… "Honestly, Desmond, if this Amber girl denies you, just come to me. I'll never reject you."

Desmond chuckled, taking both of her hands and squeezing them. "Thank you, Sofia." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, causing her to pause and nearly stop breathing. "You're such a wonderful friend." He missed her look of disappointment as he released her hands and turned back to the garden. "There she is… Wish me luck." He hurried toward the fence without waiting to hear Sofia say anything in response.

"I doubt you'll need it," the auburn-haired girl lamented as she wrapped her arms around her small frame. "Not from me… Never from me…"

"Amber!"

Amber turned when she heard her name called, and she stood up from her flowerpot to face the fence. "Desmond?" She laughed, hurrying over to meet the boy, grasping his hands through the vined fence. "How did you find me?"

"Let's just say I had some help…" He smiled as she sighed happily. "I had to see you again. I hope to see you more in the future, if you'd like…"

"I'd love that, Desmond…"

Sofia had to turn from the clearly blossoming couple, because she wasn't sure how much more her heart could take from listening to their sweet discussion. "It's not like he was yours to love anyway, Sofia," she scolded herself, sniffling softly. "Get a grip… Having him as a friend is better than not having him at all. He's not in love with you. He's in love with…Amber… And you have to accept it." Telling herself the hard facts used to be easy, but not when it came to Desmond… She'd always held onto a shred of hope that she would eventually be able to confess her love to him, and he'd return it, but… She'd missed her chance, sadly. Now he'd never be hers.

Sofia gasped and turned as she heard a ruckus behind her, her eyes widening as she saw Nigel and some of his goons approaching. "No…" She looked back, realizing they were likely about to rob Roland's home. Desperately, she hurried over to her father, holding her arms out as she stopped before him and his followers. "Dad, no! Leave these people alone."

Nigel laughed, shoving his daughter aside. "Mind your place, Sofia. You know how this works. Steal from the rich to help the poor, right? Isn't that what those Merlin followers you cherish so much do too?"

"Not at the expense of families, Dad! Their mission is to stop the government, not normal people just trying to make a living!"

"Since when do I care about 'normal families,' girl? When is the last time our family was normal, anyway?" He gestured to the other men, telling them, "Come on. Leave her be."

"STOP!" Sofia screamed at the top of her lungs, alerting Roland, Amber, and Desmond in the process. She watched as Desmond released Amber's hands, and she hurried inside, while he ran around the back of the house. She'd barely managed to breathe a sigh of relief when she felt a heavy-handed slap connect with her face, the force knocking her to the ground. Looking up in astonishment, her hand cradling her face, she realized her own father had struck her. He might not have been the best parental figure growing up, but never once had he physically harmed her…until now. "Dad…?"

"You'll regret your actions, Sofia. Consider that a warning. And don't bother ever looking for me again, because this?" He gestured between them, implying their familial relationship. "It's over. Let's go!" He hurried away, leading the goons off, just as Desmond came back around the house and settled next to Sofia.

"Sofia?" Desmond asked worriedly, pulling her up and cradling her. He looked her over, noticing the red mark on her cheek. "Are you all right? Who did this to you?"

"I…" She paused, knowing that if she told him the truth, he'd look at her with more pity than usual. And worse, he might turn her family over to the police, which… She wasn't sure how to react to that. "I fell," she settled on, pointing at a loose rock. "I hit my face on that…"

Desmond frowned, noting the lack of additional dirt or scratches that would have been on her cheek if she'd indeed done what she said. But he could see the pleading expression on her face, so he let it go. "Can you stand?" Seeing her nod, he carefully helped her to her feet, holding onto her. He felt her shaking a bit, so he told her, "I'll hold onto you and get you back into the city. Don't let go of me."

Sofia hated the circumstances, but to feel his arms around her, even for her current situation, was amazing. It lifted a burden from her chest as she slumped a bit against his form, feeling his warmth flood her as he held her. "Never…"

Meanwhile, having heard Sofia's scream, Roland was on edge. He immediately concluded that Baileywick was probably nearby, exacting his form of 'justice' on some poor soul. After all, he was one to act first and ask questions later. What if he found the rented home where he and Amber were staying? He'd be arrested and never see his daughter again… Turning to see Amber enter the home from the garden area, he looked at her seriously. "Amber, begin packing your bags."

"Daddy, why?" she asked in dismay. "You… You haven't finished your business, and I just… We just got here, and…"

"We'll be leaving in a day or two," he told her, ignoring her previous words. "Don't ask questions. Just do as I tell you, please."

Amber, feeling disheartened, retreated to her room, locking the door behind her. She threw herself onto her bed, pulling her pillow tightly to her form, and she sobbed helplessly until the pull of exhaustion lulled her into a fitful sleep.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Standing on Promises