By the fourth day of her return, Sofia was slowly starting to speak in full sentences again.

Well sort of. Anything with I still troubled her.

At the moment, however, she stared at herself in the mirror. Wanting to dress herself that morning, she giggled as she twirled in a yellow gown.

"I pretty! Amber will like this," Sofia smiled.

On the previous day, during their family picnic, she had a panic attack seeing a wagon. Amber, being the closest to her, managed to calm her down as the wagon turned out to one of James' toys he left out accidentally.

Even so it was a trigger. Toy or not.

James apologized but Sofia had slapped him before bursting into tears, not meaning to hurt him.

Trying to forget that memory, Sofia giggled as she wiggled her toes.

She liked the feeling of her bare feet on the ground even if they were more prone to getting dirt on them.

But Miranda and Roland allowed her to lack shoes as part of her healing process, not wanting to rush her.

They wanted her to focus on her recovery from Boswell's cruelty.

That wasn't easy to do when Sofia could still remember his callous attitude towards her despite not seeing the magician since he got arrested in front of her.

As she played with her hair, Sofia frowned upon hearing Hildegard's voice.

She could also hear Amber yelling to give her privacy and smiled.

She stepped out of her closet quietly, only to feel Hildegard grab her roughly by the arm.

"Let go of me!" Sofia yelled.

Hildegard shook her head. "Sofia, were you that stupid enough to get yourself kidnapped?" She ignored the fear in the younger girl's eyes. "Well?"

"I not stupid. Mr. Boswell took me against my will. Considering that everyone, including your daddy according to Mommy and Daddy, searched everywhere for me, you'd be more considerate about my situation."

"I'd be more considerate if you weren't acting like an idiot right now. What did Boswell do? Drop you on that watermelon head of yours?"

"Hildegard, leave her alone. Sofia's traumatized enough without you making it worse!" Amber growled.

"Do I care? It's her fault Daddy spent money for two weeks on her idiocy!" Hildegard hissed, nudging Sofia's stomach. "If Sofia had been intelligent enough, we'd still be friends."

Amber took her sister's hand, seeing her close to tears.

She knew it wasn't the pain getting to Sofia but Hildegard's words of cruelty.

"Is that a new gown?" Amber smiled in an attempt to cheer her up.

"I think so," Sofia sniffed. "I not remember."

"It's okay if you don't remember and don't listen to Hildy. She's just upset that you're getting all the attention."

"Really? Me getting attention?"

Amber nodded, holding back a giggle. "It's part of your recovery remember? Like our talk about the wagon yesterday."

"It won't hurt me. It can't hurt me," Sofia smiled. "It doesn't have hands or arms."

"You're scared of a wagon?"Hildegard scoffed.

"She was in one for two weeks Hildegard. All alone. By herself with no contact except for her rabbit and that magician's dove. Can you at least have sympathy for that?" Amber questioned.

"I'm afraid I can not Amber. It's your sister's naivety that got her where she is now."

"Then I afraid you need to leave," Sofia muttered. "If you can't be nice to me or acknowledge sympathy for me then be lucky Freezenberg is an ally at all." Angered blues stared at stunned browns. "I bid you adieu. Now get out."

"Your sister invited me," Hildegard acknowledged.

"Then it's best that she takes you outside before I get mad. I say bad words when I mad. Do you want that Hildy?"

Hildegard was stunned by the tone in the cheerful and innocent younger princess' voice.

It felt almost as cold as the air in Freezenberg.

" It's best you go Hildegard," Amber agreed. "Though you started it and are worth blaming, don't hate Sofia. She's been through so much and her emotional state is fragile right now."

For once in her life, Hildegard didn't argue. The look in Sofia's eyes were petrifying.

When she left, Amber squeezed Sofia's hand, seeing her burst into tears.

"You're not a bad girl," Amber shushed. "You're hurt and that's not your fault."

She only got a nod in response.

...

After the disaster with Hildegard that morning, Sofia was coloring while Amber and James played a round of chess.

She giggled at James' groan of defeat before going back to her drawing.

Since Constable Miles petrified her, having a similar body structure closer to Boswell's didn't help, he and Roland had suggested she draw her trauma until she was ready to talk about it.

Which was what she did as Amber and James gave her gentle glances.

"Is that supposed to be Boswell?" James asked.

Sofia nodded, holding up the drawing. "He smoked a lot so I include his cigar."

"Did his smoke ever get in your face?" Amber asked softly, putting down her chess piece.

Sofia nodded, putting down her drawing.

"Only when he held me against him," she confessed. "The smell was so foul that I coughed a lot."

"Was that often?" James growled.

"No. That was only when he wanted... Wanted to control me and force me to be good. If I step out of line, he'd take away a privilege. The only privilege he never took away was me doing my business in the woods."

The twins glanced at each other in pure horror. That did explain why she panicked over the word earn but they never thought she had to have privileges for basic necessities.

No wonder their little sister had asked Baileywick the previous day if her eating was a privilege.

Boswell had brainwashed her into thinking it was one.

"Sofia, there's no earning privileges here," Amber assured. She moved her chair closer to Sofia's. "You don't have to ask if you're allowed to do anything and it won't be taken away if you do something on accident."

Sofia nodded but felt tears forming in her eyes. "If I bad girl will Mommy and Daddy take me back to the wagon?"

"Sof no. Why would they do that when they know you're scared?" James stroked her hair as Amber wiped away her tears. "That might have been Boswell's way of discipline but Mom and Dad wouldn't do something like that. You might get grounded or desert taken but they'd never do anything to you like that magician did."

"You mean that?" Sofia hiccuped.

Amber squeezed her hand, stroking it with her fingers. "We do." She glanced down at the drawing in disgust. "James can burn this for you."

"No. Constable Miles and Daddy said to draw until I ready to talk about my trauma."

"You just did with us," James reminded her.

"I did." Sofia brightened before slouching in her chair. "But I not want people to see me as a broken princess or be like Hildegard."

"Sofia, all one hundred thirty eight kingdoms were looking for you. Mostly our allies but they never stopped and the village held a vigil for you. You should've seen the gifts they left! The dolls alone would put Hildy's collection to shame!" Amber laughed.

"We'll show you them when you're ready Sof," James promised. "Now if you and Amber excuse me, I need to get something."

Sofia was baffled. What did he mean?

Amber noticed and to change the subject, asked about the gap in her mouth.

Sofia blushed, realizing she forgot about her baby tooth in the excitement of her freedom.

"Mother said your baby tooth was in one of your pockets," Amber recalled. "Along with some money but the maids took them out before washing your riding pants."

"The money was for a snack if I got hungry while looking for Clover," Sofia admitted. "If I hadn't been busy then we wouldn't be here now."

"Sofia, don't blame yourself. What happened wasn't your fault."

"I talk back to Mr. Boswell! I threat to get the guards and Daddy! I got myself kidnapped and no one else is to blame!"

"No you didn't. Boswell was a monster. Don't blame yourself," Amber shushed.

Sofia blinked back tears just as James came back with a familiar object in his hands.

Her riding hat.

She thought it had been forgotten.

"The guards found it the day you went missing," James explained. "I was told to keep it in your room but I kept your hat for myself because I missed you."

"I miss you too," Sofia smiled.

"We all did," Amber agreed.

She giggled as Sofia placed the riding hat on her head. It clashed with her gown but neither sister seemed to care.

When they had settled down, James cleared the chess board so the sisters could have a turn.

Sofia, having only witnessed the activity once before, didn't win but she didn't mind.

Fun, no matter the length, was something she thought she'd never have again.

"You ready to give Dad that drawing Sof?" James asked.

Sofia looked hesitant but nodded. "Will it be used when I testify?"

"I'm not sure. That's up for Dad to decide."

Sofia nodded, hesitantly following James to Roland's study.

"Daddy's going to need to heal from what happened just as much as you are," Amber assured. "Out of all of us, he was the most worried about you."

"He worried day and night about you Sof," James added. "Dad wasn't as affected by your kidnapping like Mom was but every guard we had searched for you because Dad requested it."

Sofia was speechless. She never imagined bringing her parents sorrow over what Boswell did.

She slumped her shoulders as she and the twins opened the door to Roland's study.

They watched as he looked up from his paperwork, giving them a gentle smile.

"Sorry to intrude on your work," Sofia apologized.

"You don't need to apologize. I was just finishing up some documents," Roland smiled. He noticed the drawing clutched in her hand. "Is that for Constable Miles and I?"

"We were going to burn it," James admitted. "But Sof said you needed it."

"James!" Amber scolded.

"It's okay Amber. To be honest, I would've done the same thing!" Roland chuckled.

"Does Mr. Boswell make you mad?" Sofia asked quietly.

Roland got out of his chair and knelt down to her level, smiling at seeing her riding hat back to its original owner.

Sofia felt his hand touch her face, nearly flinching in the process.

"Yes he does," Roland confessed. "I'm mad at him for taking you away from us, for using your rabbit as a ploy to take you, and especially for hurting you physically and emotionally. That I'll never get over."

"But you're not mad at Sof right?" James guessed.

"Exactly James. Your sister was the victim in all this. That monster ravaged her trust in men in a span of two weeks because of his savagery."

"We'll help Sofia recover. No matter how long it takes," Amber promised.

"Amber no. It's all my fault anyway," Sofia sighed. "Daddy, when Mr. Boswell had Clover, I threatened him by getting the guards and you. I wouldn't be broke if I been a good girl."

Before Roland or the twins could say anything, she ran out the room in tears, dropping the drawing in the process.

"I'll get her. Amber, you stay here with Dad. Sof couldn't have gone far," James muttered.

Amber nodded, turning to Roland with slumped shoulders.

She felt his arms around her before looking up at him with tearful eyes.

"It's not her fault. It will never be her fault," Roland shushed. "Sofia doesn't comprehend that right now but one day she will."

"I just want my sister back," Amber sniffed. "I hate seeing her so scared and unsure about if anything she does won't be taken if she makes a mistake. Can't we just hang that bastard now?!"

"Language young lady."

"Sorry Daddy. It just slipped."

"I don't blame you for feeling how you are but profanity isn't proper behavior," Roland smirked.

"Baileywick would have my head on a platter if he knew I said something I shouldn't!" Amber laughed.

Her laugh was genuine and Roland had missed it.

How could one man's actions affect all his children?

It was true Roland hadn't known James' feelings about the situation but if it was anything like Amber's, he wouldn't be at fault.

Miranda was jealous.

No that wasn't right. She knew Sofia needed Roland at the moment when bloodcurdling screams of "Daddy" had reached their bedroom.

Morosely was more like it.

She carried Sofia for nine months, gave birth to her, and raised her for the first eight years of her life but Miranda had her daughter's ability to trust Roland to consider.

Lacking her corset, she waited for Roland to return and was about to fall asleep when the door opened.

"It took a little longer than expected but she's asleep," Roland smiled.

"How was she?" Miranda wondered.

"Hysterical and refused to look at me at first. But as I calmed her down, Sofia slowly started to open up."

"I'm guessing her nightmare involved Boswell?"

Roland nodded, taking off his slippers before sitting on his side of the bed. "She dreamt that he took her away again."

"That son of a bitch. How dare he traumatize our daughter like that!" Miranda growled.

Being a late sailor's wife, she'd learned her fair share of obscenities over the years but instead of getting a shocked look from Roland, it was instead sympathetic.

"What took so long is that I had to clean her up after she wet the bed," Roland confessed. "Sofia was so scared that I'd laugh at her that she started crying and only a song of her favorite animal could cheer her up."

"A song about a butterfly I presume?" Miranda chuckled.

Roland laughed, kissing her cheek. "Lucky guess honey."

"Rollie, Sofia's my little girl. How's that a lucky guess?"

The married couple didn't speak much after that, praying that their youngest wouldn't wake up in the next hour.

When she hadn't, Miranda felt herself beginning to fell asleep until hearing the bed creak.

Roland was wondering around the room, preoccupied with his thoughts.

"Sofia I'm so sorry. I..I failed to protect you," he mumbled.

Miranda got up and walked towards him, putting a hand on his trembling shoulder.

"Rollie, none of us expected this to happen. You didn't fail Sofia," She assured.

"She trusted me Miranda. She trusted me and that monster ravaged it in two weeks. How can I just sit there and let our daughter go through her own personal hell when that bastard's got the luxury of being in the dungeon until Garrick, Victoria, Maxim, and Darcy get their children to recall what they witnessed him doing to her?!" Roland yelled. "How am I supposed to live with that?! Nothing will heal Sofia until he's rotting in the deepest pit of hell!"

"I feel the same way but getting frustrated over it won't help Sofia transition from the traumatized little girl she is now," Miranda muttered. She let go of Roland's shoulder and took his hand. "When we got married, we agreed to always put the children first and I'll be damned if we're letting that go now."

"You're right Miranda. But every time I look into her eyes, I feel like I could've done something more."

"You are doing something more Roland. When she first came home, she was scared to death. She couldn't even trust you. It's been four days since then and she's slowly trusting some of the staff that aren't Baileywick or Cedric because you three were nice to her."

"Not to mention her speaking's improved," Roland added. "We know now that it was intentional and Sofia didn't know how to act upon being rescued."

Miranda nodded with a smile. "Sofia's improving slowly. She's not completely there but she's trying." She brushed a lock of hair away from his face. "Neither are we. We're getting used to a little girl who hides in the corner if someone raises their voice or whimpers over a dark room. If that's an obstacle we have to face until Boswell's execution then so be it."

They exchanged a kiss on the lips before going back to their sides of the bed.

"Miranda, Sofia gave me a drawing she made of Boswell today," Roland muttered. "We don't know if it'll be used when she testifies but it'll be something."

"That's great Rollie," Miranda yawned.

"Yes it is. I love you."

"I love you too. Now please get some sleep."

Roland was asleep the moment his head came in contact with the pillow.

And for once since her rescue, dreamed of his youngest daughter's happiness instead of the trauma caused by her kidnapping.