The When and the How
Chapter 1: Doomed
Disclaimer: Don't own. Writing for fun.
A/N: New Chapter. Hope you like it.
Sofia stood just inside the door of her room, listening to the sounds of the castle settling in for the night. The party had gone well past midnight and had only recently ended. She was waiting to sneak away to Cedric's workshop. She owed him an apology. She got swept away in the moment.
She had always thought him handsome since the first day she met him. She had quickly developed a crush on him. After the incident with the Order of the WAND she had begun to see him in a new light. She'd always believed that adults had all the answers but Cedric was different. He wasn't evil like he believed he was just deeply hurt and alone.
She became fiercely protective of him after that and, barring that one moment of doubt on the cliff side over Grimhilda's crown, unwavering in her support. She was sure if she attempted to explain her feeling to anyone they would laugh at her. She was still a child. What could she possibly know of romantic love? And yet she knew that's what her feelings towards Cedric had become.
When dancing with him that evening she'd allowed herself the brief notion that he might return her feelings. She had wanted so badly to kiss him. The day had been long and full of harrowing moments where she'd thought she might die without Cedric ever knowing just how much she cared for him.
After his less-than-graceful exit in an effort to avoid her advances reality crashed back down. Of course he cared for her but not in a romantic way. She was a child after all. Cedric's taste in women was… the only time she had ever seen him take an interest in anyone had been when Ms. Nettle had posed as Sasha. About the only thing Sofia could glean from that minuscule sample size was that he wasn't interested in children.
And even if his feelings towards her went beyond friendship, she knew he would never act on them. She had heard on more than one occasion Cedric, her parents and Baileywick discussing goings on in distant kingdoms.
There had been the eleven-year-old princess who had run off with an adult stable hand. The tutor who had been hired to teach a nine-year-old princess who had been found by the chamber maid fondling the girl. The little prince who had gotten his governess pregnant. And so many others.
She had heard Cedric refer to those people who engaged in such acts with children as monsters, undeserving of any punishment less than being beaten, dragged through the streets to the gallows and hung. It was one of the few things her father and Baileywick had always agreed with him on, even before Grimhilda's crown had brought about Cedric and Roland's reconciliation.
Her attempting to kiss the sorcerer must have terrified him. That he might be perceived as one of those monsters he despised even if he wasn't the one making advances. She hadn't been thinking of those things when she had tried to kiss him.
Silence fell in the hallway outside her room. She opened the door and crept out. She owed Cedric an apology and it couldn't wait until morning.
XXX
She found the door to his workshop unlocked which was unusual. When she didn't find him inside she began to worry. She glanced down the stairs that led to his bedroom. She blushed as the thought of walking in on him as he prepared for bed came to her mind. She banished it quickly. She was here to make amends for her impulsive behavior, not make things worse.
She tiptoed down the stairs nonetheless. She wanted to know he was safe above all else. If he was in his bedroom she would simply tiptoe away and leave an apology note on his work table. She reached the door and listened but heard nothing. Ever so carefully she pushed the door open to peak. Moonlight from the window provided just enough illumination to let her see that he wasn't inside.
She returned to the workshop proper, her concern only growing. She stood at the work table, pondering what she should do when a flash of light startled her.
"Goodnight Mummy," Cedric called over his shoulder as he emerged from the portrait. Upon turning and seeing Sofia he nearly stumbled back the way he had come.
Sofia grabbed him and pulled him into a tight hug "You're alright," she breathed a sigh of relief.
Cedric eventually managed to extricate himself from her iron grip "Of course I am," his voice took on that old familiar note of annoyance as he stared down at her "What are you doing here so late?"
Though it had been some months since she'd had to handle grumpy-Cedric his attitude didn't phase her "I came to apologize," she said simply.
He softened a bit at that "For what?" he questioned, taking a seat.
"For tonight," she began "When I tried to kiss you."
"Oh."
"I didn't really give it much thought-"
"That part was obvious," he cut in snarkily.
"I shouldn't have tried to do that… with so many people around," she grinned devilishly.
Before Cedric had fully grasped the meaning behind her words she had pounced, pressing her lips to his in a sweet and chased kiss. She pulled away, looking quite proud of herself and giggling at the look on his face.
Cedric stared in stunned silence. Words completely and utterly failed him. It was bad enough that she had to kiss him but why did he have to enjoy it? The softness and warmth of her lips. Why? Why did he secretly wish she would kiss him again?
Sofia watched him with concern. She picked up one of his hands and held it in both of hers "You're a good man Mr. Cedric and no one will ever find out that I kissed you tonight." Sofia turned and skipped out of the workshop
Cedric heard muffled giggling from his parents' portrait and was suddenly overcome with a powerful urge to hide. His mother appeared and he groaned.
"That was adorable," Winifred grinned.
Cedric rolled his eyes before letting his head fall back "I'm doomed."