Cedric was anxiously pacing the halls of the palace's medical ward. He wanted to be more excited for the birth of his first child, but his mind was consumed with worry for his wife who'd been in labor for over thirty hours. He'd been continually shoed out by the midwife for bringing more stress than needed into the delivery room. He understood, but also questioned how anyone could not be stressed by bringing a new person into the world. There was so much risk involved, both for the mother and the baby, he was lucky he was still on his feet, which was why he continued pacing. He knew if he sat down, he was likely to fester into a full blown panic attack.

"I know first ones tend to take long, but isn't this getting a bit too long?" Cedric asked aloud, not particularly toward the other guests awaiting the birth, more to the universe and the powers that be.

"Cedric, calm down," Winifred set down her magical knitting to parent.

"Sofia took her time coming into the world," Miranda added, helping the other grandmother-to-be wind up the ball of yarn. "It stands to reason so would her first child."

"Yes, but she's been in labor for so long… She must be exhausted."

"Oh yes, she'll be quite tired," Winifred nodded.

"But she has no choice. Her body will find the strength. I know it's nerve-wracking Cedric, but you have to find your calm," Miranda smiled up at him, extending her sympathy. She was worried about Sofia too, but knew her daughter was in the best hands.

Cedric paused his pacing and took a deep breath, trying to let go of what he couldn't control and put his faith in the midwife. It was easier said than done.

Nine months ago on their first wedding anniversary, he'd been so wonderfully relaxed, enjoying a weekend of languid lovemaking to keep out the winter chill. They'd bundled up under the comforter and watched the snow fall out his window, unaware there was a third witness to the scene until his birthday a few weeks later.

Sofia was all smiles and kept placing her hands around her middle. He guessed what she was going to say before she said it, but kept his mouth shut as she announced she was pregnant, and still he was shocked to hear it. He was going to be a father.

The weeks passed so slowly it seemed those first few months, the subtle swell to Sofia's stomach barely noticeable. At times he wondered if she was really pregnant, but come spring, there was a telltale bump she could no longer obscure with heavy winter clothes and so it was time to tell friends and family that they were indeed expecting. His own parents were elated, while Sofia's were more reserved – though happy for their daughter, there was still some awkwardness between him and the king and queen.

Summer was exhausting, both from the hot weather and Sofia's growing restlessness. She wanted to be doing things, but the midwife had forbidden most of her usual activities and there were only so many books that she could curl up with at a time. Cedric knew he annoyed her by not even letting her go on longer walks alone, but he worried, and to his credit, her feet were always more swollen on the days she didn't listen to him, but he never rubbed it in, merely massaged and tended to her as best he could in the supportive role of father-to-be. He was going to do this right. His only hope was that their first was a daughter, not a son who'd immediately have pressures placed upon him as soon as he was out of his mother's womb like he'd been. No, a little girl would suit them just fine. Another little princess to love and adore.

He'd been deep in recollection when the cries of a newborn finally echoed through the wing, immediately perking him up and rushing him past the grandmothers to enter the delivery room.

"Your grace, have some patience," the midwife scolded over the baby's cries as she took it to be washed and bundled.

"Sofia!" Cedric rushed to his wife's side and took hold of her hands. The poor woman looked exhausted, propped upright with many pillows and drenched in sweat, her copper hair a mess despite its being pulled back into a bun.

"I'm alright, Cedric," she smiled weakly. "Just unimaginably tired."

"That's why it's called 'labor', love," he gave a relieved smirk and kissed her forehead.

"Aye," the midwife agreed as she came back to the couple with a freshly bundled babe quietly resting in her arms. "Don't help that this wee one was a might stubborn."

Sofia extended her arms for the baby and the midwife placed it carefully into the new mother's embrace, receiving a quick serious of kisses to its small head.

"Ya have yerselves a son, your grace," she smiled and stepped back to have a tidy up of her things while the family bonded.

"A little boy," Sofia beamed, happy with whatever she'd given birth to, and kissed the baby again. "Oh, Cedric, we have a son."

It was a good thing Sofia repeated it because Cedric once again was having trouble taking in such information. He knew the odds were fifty-fifty, and not that he wasn't happy with a son, but… but none of his worries concerned him the moment Sofia passed the boy into Cedric's arms and he held him for the first time. "He's perfect."

"Mhm," Sofia agreed, reclining back into her bed of pillows for a well deserved rest. "What'll we call him?"

"Oh, uh, right… Boys' names, Boys' names…" Cedric slowly paced the room with the baby as he thought. He and Sofia had discussed many names of course, but knew they'd have to wait to see their child to know which truly felt right, and now that he was here, no less than the greatest name would suit his son, Cedric decided. Not Cedric Junior, no, that would be cruel, but 'the greatest' born at the end of August, a month made entirely in glory of a Caesar. Now that would be a powerful name.

Augustus Maximilian, prince of Enchancia and heir to the position of Royal Sorcerer, was a delightful child, blessed with his mother's nature and curly copper hair. Few would have guessed he was Cedric's boy save the fact the current Royal Sorcerer totted the boy around frequently. Cedric took to fatherhood like a fish to water, his years of experience as an uncle paying off immediately when it came to tending to little Gus' needs.

Sofia was grateful she didn't feel overburdened as a new mother, but rather she wondered how much she should allow Cedric to dote. She knew he meant well and while he did keep to Gus' schedule, she wasn't sure having Cedric constantly bringing the baby to work was… safe. Luckily, they worked in the same tower, Sofia still adamant on getting her graduate degree from Hexley Hall as well as fulfilling her numerous magical and princess duties. She was actually busier than Cedric was so it made sense he looked after the baby, and if necessary, there were no shortage of servants able to babysit the little boy.

"He looks nothing like you," Wormwood said as he looked in on the squirmy six-month old in his portable carrier which just looked like a big basket to the raven.

"Yes, thank goodness," Cedric chuckled. "He takes after his mother."

"Then how do you know he's your offspring?" Wormwood asked.

"Wormy, I have no question he's my son."

The raven tilted his head curious to know how.

Cedric wheeled over on his stool and pointed into the basket at Gus' small, but pointy nose. "He has my nose."

"…He hardly has a nose at all," Wormwood noted.

Gus reached pudgy fingers up to grab Cedric's hand and squealed happily to have his father near.

"You are just all smiles, aren't you Gus?" Cedric cooed, letting the boy tug on his hand with some resistance until the baby abruptly let go and ended up smacking himself in the face with his own hand.

"Oh," Wormwood's eyes widened with enlightenment as Gus began to cry. "Yes, I see the likeness now."

Cedric shot the bird a glare as he picked up the baby to comfort him. Yes, Gus had a tendency to be a little clumsy. Inadvertently hitting himself with his toys when he got too excited about playtime. The upcoming dangers with his increasing mobility also made Cedric question how safe it'd be to keep bringing his son to work, but the idea of leaving him with a sitter just wouldn't do.

"He's not going to want to be still," Cedric told Sofia that night as he watched her nurse the hungry babe. "I fear the combination of my mischief and your adventurous nature is going to prove quite the challenge in the coming months."

"'Mischief'?" Sofia questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"What? Should I say, 'tendency toward evil' instead?"

"I'm sure it'll be fine. How much trouble could he could into?"

"Don't challenge the universe like that, Sofia," Cedric warned.

"Oh Cedric, you're being ridiculous. Why don't we just pick a nanny instead of complicating our work schedules more?"

"Because I don't want to miss anything," he said honestly as he stood at the side of her rocking chair and looked down at his two loves. "He's already this big after half a year. Pretty soon he'll be in school."

"Oh… I know…" Sofia sighed and stroked Gus' curls on the back of his head. "I feel like I'm missing out too."

As if sensing his parents were talking about him, Gus looked up at them and popped the nipple out of his mouth.

"Yes, we're talking about you," Sofia smiled, taking the clothing draped over her shoulder to wipe the dribble from his chin. "What do you think Gus? Do you want to go to work still with Mommy and Daddy or should we think about finding you a nanny?"

Gus blinked, blissfully unaware of what it was they were inquiring about. He simply smiled and snuggled his head against Sofia's breast.

"Oh, you're just like your father, snuggling in there to avoid the hard questions," Sofia giggled while Cedric blushed.

"I don't suppose there's room for me, is there?" Cedric asked, half joking.

"Nope," Sofia smiled, rocking the boy to sleep as he snuggled closer to his mother. He'd await their decision on a nanny tomorrow.