Work Text:
Friday evening:
Penelope was nervous. She looked in the mirror for what felt like the hundredth time. She wore a dark green cocktail dress and black high heels. She had tied her hair into a ponytail with a black bow. She had applied natural makeup. She had only darkened her eyes and applied a red lipstick.
When she heard a soft knock at the door, she was startled. She took a deep breath. 'Heavens, Penelope, pull yourself together. It's dinner with your best friend," she reminded herself. But it was more, it was their first real date. She couldn't have been happier. And yet she was as excited as on the first day of school.
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Colin had confessed to her two days ago that he had fallen in love with her. They had been with his family at their ancestral home Aubrey Hall and had celebrated his mother's birthday. Violet Bridgerton had become a widow far too early. Her children had given her support after the death of her husband. That's why she celebrated every birthday extensively with her children and close friends. Penelope also belonged to this circle. She had met Colin when he had fallen off his horse in the park because of her hat. This coincidence led to the introduction of Daphne and Lady Bridgerton and finally to Eloise, her best friend. From that day on, she was a guest of the Bridgerton’s almost every day. She built a close friendship with Eloise and Colin. Eloise sometimes had her problems sharing her best friend with her elder brother.
Now Eloise had her Philip and was overjoyed. Penelope fell by the wayside a bit, but of course she could understand her friend. When you found the right man, you wanted to spend time with him. And so, she spent more time with Colin again. He had returned from a long journey. Usually, he went out partying with his friends afterwards and also brought home a new flame from time to time. But this time he had returned changed. He was strangely quiet and preferred to spend an evening with her in her apartment or at his place, usually with her.
She had been in love with him since he had fallen into the puddle in front of her. But it had always been clear to her that he would never fall in love with her. She was Penelope Featherington, youngest daughter of Baron Featherington, who was fatally wounded in a robbery when Penelope was fourteen years old. She grew up with her mother and two older sisters. But she did not fit into her mother's "ideal image" at all, she was 1.55 m tall, had a stocky figure and reddish-brown hair. She loved to read and write. She had fulfilled her dream after school, studied literature and now works as an editor at Danbury Books.
That evening she was sitting on a bench in the rose garden of Aubrey Hall, looking up at the starry sky. She felt Colin come to her and sit down next to her. How she knew it was him she could never explain, she just knew it.
"Hey, I've got your jacket here. I thought you might need it. It's gotten fresh," he whispered and put the jacket around her shoulders. But he kept his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Penelope laid her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Colin. I have completely forgotten the time. What time is it?" she asked softly.
"Almost eleven. Hyacinth and Gregory are already in bed. I thought I was looking for you. I think we should go then," he said and looked at the stars.
"I don't want to go back to London," she whispered. "It's so quiet here. Very different from the city."
"Yes, I feel the same way. And yet I wouldn't want to miss the city. Just like you Pen." he smiled. And he was right. It was nice in the countryside, but at some point, she still missed the city.
"Then let's go. It's getting late and you want to go to bed at some point." Penelope got up, albeit reluctantly. Colin too, he grabbed her hand and they walked up to the main house, hand in hand. None of his siblings thought about the sight, they were Pen and Colin, Colin and Pen. So, they were simple, best friends and inseparable. They said goodbye to his family and then made their way back to the city in his car. When Colin parked the car near the apartment complex in Penelope's apartment, he seemed nervous.
Penelope took her handbag. Colin had gotten out and opened the door for her. "You don't have to come along. It's late. You should go home," she said and looked at him. But he shook his head. "I'll take you up."
When they arrived at her apartment door, Penelope noticed that he was unusually quiet. "What's wrong, Colin?" she asked as she unlocked the door. He followed her into the apartment and closed the door. She put her handbag on the coat rack and hung up her jacket before turning to him.
He looked at her intensely. "Colin?" she asked and took a step towards him. He looked at her. Penelope noticed his gaze and she suddenly didn't feel so comfortable in her skin anymore.
But Colin also took a step towards her. They were now close to each other. Penelope didn't really know what to make of this when Colin put a hand on her cheek. She looked at him questioningly, and suddenly he leaned towards her and kissed her. She didn't know what was happening to her and remained motionless. Colin Bridgerton kissed her. Was the world just coming to an end?
Colin broke away from her and looked at her sadly. He lowered his shoulders. "Sorry Pen. I didn't want to..." he wanted to turn away from her. But she instinctively grabbed his hand and held him back.
"What didn't you want?" she whispered. She tried to understand what had just happened here. "I shouldn't have kissed you. I should have known that you don't feel that way about me," he whispered.
She looked at him questioningly again. "Colin, what are you talking about?"
He looked at her sadly. "Of the fact that you... that you don't feel for me as I do for you." Colin looked down.
Penelope swallowed. "And what exactly do you feel about me?" she felt herself getting nervous. Could it be that he...
He looked up and into her eyes. Her blue eyes looked at him imploringly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I've fallen in love with you, Pen," there he had said it. Now she could tear his heart out or not. He looked into her eyes again. She looked at him and seemed to be looking for something.
"Colin... we are friends," she whispered.
She didn't feel the same as he did, he should have known. He had made an idiot of himself. How should he deal with it now? He would lose her, his best friend. He felt tears welling up in his eyes. He was not ashamed of it. And yet he made a complete fool of himself here, he also felt the anger rising in him.
"I know Pen... excuse me..."
"But I wish that we are more than just friends Colin," she interrupted him and looked at him with a smile. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes.
"Really?" he asked her again to make sure he had understood her correctly. She nodded and now puts her hand on his cheek and stood on tiptoe to give him a kiss. But Colin grabbed her waist, lifted her up and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss passionately. When they finally parted, they were both breathing heavily and smiling happily.
"And now?" she asked softly. His arms were tightly wrapped around her, and she had her head resting on his chest. His head rested on the top of her head.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I think I should go home. We both have to work tomorrow." his voice sounded dejected, but he was right. As much as she wished that he could stay here with her. She had an appointment tomorrow morning and he also had to go to the office on time.
"I have to go to Oxford tomorrow for one night. I'm giving a lecture at the university. But what do you think, shall we go out to dinner together the day after tomorrow evening?" he asked, embarrassed. They had known each other for half an eternity and now it felt completely new when he asked the question.
"You mean a date?" she asked softly. He broke away from her and looked her in the eyes. He nodded. A smile spread across her face.
"Okay," she whispered. She couldn't believe it all yet.
"Okay, then I'll take care of the restaurant, and I'll pick you up on Friday at 7.p.m.?" he asked. She nodded and looked at him penetratingly. "I can't really believe that." she whispered and Colin grinned. "Neither do I, but it's true." he leaned over to her again and gave her a tender kiss.
"You should drive now," she whispered. "Even though I wish you could stay." He nodded, his apartment was still a good twenty minutes away and he still had to pack his suitcase. She followed him to the door and gave him a kiss. "Good night, Colin," she whispered.
"Good night, Pen, I'll call you tomorrow?" he asked, she nodded. "Drive carefully and write when you get home." she smiled at him, watched him as he walked down the hallway and down the stairs.
She closed the door, leaned against it, and closed her eyes. That had just really happened. Colin had kissed her and said he had fallen in love with her? She took her phone, went to the bedroom and put it on her bed, then turned off the lights in the living room and went to her bathroom. When she finished there and came into the bedroom, she saw that the display lit up.
Colin had reported that he was home. She answered him and lay down on her bed.
‘I wish you were here’ she wrote and snuggled under her blanket, then she buried her face in the pillow and screamed with joy.
Her phone vibrated. ‘I'd like to be with you too❤️’
Penelope looked at the news with wide eyes. ‘I miss you 😔 ‘ she answered. She turned off the light.
Then came his reply `I miss you Pen😒' and 'Can't wait to see you💕’
She smiled; her heart jumped a little. ‘I can hardly wait for Friday!❤️’
‘My suitcase is packed; I'm in bed now’ he wrote and Penelope had to smile.
'I'm already in bed' She replied, unable to get the thought out of her head of how it would feel if he were here.
‘Oh my God, I should try to sleep now, although I can't get the image of you in your bed out of my head 💭’ Her cheeks turned slightly pink at his words.
‘Sleep well Colin 💭😘❤️’
'You don't know what you're doing to me, Pen. Good night, my beauty 😘❤️`
Penelope smiled as she fell asleep. She was looking forward to tomorrow when he called her, but she was even more looking forward to Friday. Colin also slept blissfully in his bed that night, full of anticipation for the coming Friday.
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Friday evening:
Penelope went to the door and opened it. Colin stood in front of her with a bouquet of lilies, her favourite flowers. An embarrassed grin on his lips.
"Good evening, Pen," he said softly. She stepped aside so that he could enter. He handed her the flowers. "Thank you, Colin. You didn't have to do that." she smiled timidly at him as she took the flowers off. "They are beautiful." Penelope went into the kitchen to put the flowers in a vase.
Colin followed her. "Pen, you look stunning." She turned to him. "Thank you." Both don't seem to know what to say. It was absurd.
"We're behaving pretty badly, Pen," he finally said and laughed. She couldn't help but laugh along. "You're right."
Colin came up to her and took her in his arms. It felt so familiar and yet so new. "Let's just let it come to us," he said quietly and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him and nodded. "Will I get a real kiss?" she asked. He leaned over to her. "Of course," he breathed and pressed his lips to hers.
And he gave her a real kiss. Penelope's heart began to beat faster, and she felt that he felt the same. His arms tightened around her. Her arms, which she had placed around his waist, pulled him closer to her. But Colin broke his lips from hers. He looked into her face and smiled.
"Let's go," he whispered as he pulled away from her and took her hand. She took her handbag from the wardrobe and pulled the door shut behind her.
Arm in arm, Penelope and Colin left the building. The cool evening air welcomed them.
Penelope looked up at Colin curiously. "Where are we going, Colin?" she asked excitedly.
Colin only gave her a mischievous grin and replied mysteriously: "Let yourself be surprised." His eyes sparkled as they walked down the street.
Penelope pulled him a little closer to her and whispered, "You've never made a secret of it."
Colin gave her a sideways glance and said with a quiet laugh, "But we weren't a couple then." His words made Penelope blush.
She looked up at him. Colin noticed her hesitation and smiled encouragingly. "Pen, you don't need to blush."
Penelope struggled for words for a moment before she quietly confessed: "It just sounds so unfamiliar. That we are a couple."
Colin stopped for a moment, looked her in the eye and asked gently, "But not unpleasant?"
She immediately shook her head. "No, not at all. But I guess I'll have to get used to you leaving me in the dark if you want to surprise me."
"Oh yes, you should get used to that." he laughed. She rolled her eyes playfully. After fifteen minutes, Colin turned into a side street, and they were standing in front of an Italian restaurant 'Giannino'.
Colin smiled at her and said, "I know how much you like Italian. So, I thought it would be perfect for our first date." She loved Italian food. And of course, Colin knew that exactly. His attention to her preferences made her blush a little more, because she felt how much he was trying to get her. It was obvious that Colin had thought about making this moment special for her.
She looked at him, and she realized again how special Colin was. He was the perfect man in her eyes, because he knew her so well that she sometimes had the feeling that he could read her mind.
Penelope smiled and her nervousness slowly turned into anticipation. She grabbed Colin's hand, felt the warmth of his touch and knew that this would be the evening that changed everything for them, for the better. They entered the restaurant together.
The maître led them to a table for two in a small crescent-shaped alcove a little away from the main room of the restaurant. The shape allowed them to sit next to each other; the oval table offered enough space to eat comfortably and still be close to each other.
Penelope sat down on the bench and Colin sat down next to her. The waiter handed a card to both of them.
"What may I bring you to drink?" he asked politely.
"A bottle Pinot Grigio and water please," Colin said, he didn't have to ask Penelope. It was her favourite wine. How often had they sat on his balcony in the summer, talked and emptied a bottle.
"And antipasti and bruschetta to go with it, please," Penelope added. Colin smiled, he knew that she had to eat something with the wine, otherwise it immediately got into her head.
The waiter nodded and left, leaving Colin and Penelope alone for a brief moment. Seizing the opportunity, Colin shifted closer to her, gently slipping his arm around her waist and drawing her in. He pressed a tender kiss to her lips, and Penelope responded, returning his affection just as softly.
When he broke away from her, he asked as if in passing. "What do you want to eat?" She dared to say 'you', but she didn't.
She took the card and opened it. After going through the menu, she said, "I'll take the fettuccine giannino. And you?"
Colin had also studied the map in detail. "Paccheri seafood with pasta." He put the card aside and took her hand. He interlaced his fingers with hers. "Pen..." he began, but at that moment the waiter came to the table with the appetizer and drinks. After Colin tasted the wine, the waiter poured it. He took the order for the main course and left them both alone again.
Colin had held her hand the whole time. Now he gave her all his attention. "Pen, thank you for being here with me," he said softly and looked at her. His eyes studied her face. As he would see her for the first time.
He knew her but tonight was a new beginning for their relationship. It was their first official date.
He hadn't said anything to anyone in his family. He knew that if he had done so, he would not have been able to save himself from good advice. His mother and siblings liked, loved Penelope like a sister, with his mother he was almost sure that Penelope was like a daughter to her. And he also knew that once everyone knew and he screwed up, his family would rather reject him than Penelope.
But he also knew that he would do everything he could to make it work with her. In the past, he had a few relationships that he thought, okay, this could be something for a lifetime. But it always turned out quickly that these women bored him. They always wanted the same thing, to go out with him, after all, he was a Bridgerton. Celebrate with him and go to bed with him. But he could not talk to them. A cozy evening on the couch was too ordinary for them. A good book to read, a waste of time. And cooking together is too exhausting.
He did these things to Penelope, even during his relationships, and every one of his girlfriends had criticized him for it. After all, he wasn't with Penelope. He reassured each of the women that Pen was his best friend and that they didn't have to worry. But over time, he also realized that he preferred to spend time with her than with the woman he was with at the time.
And then he was no longer looking for a woman. Colin had taken a longer break and travelled through Europe. When he finally returned, after Eloise had found her Philip, he simply spent his free time only with Penelope or his family. And he began to dream of her. At first it confused him, but then he felt that he needed her closeness more and more, until that evening two days ago when he could finally confess to her. He loved her, perhaps he had always done so. He didn't know, but he knew he had to tell her. And she reciprocated his feelings; he hadn't expected that.
"Colin, I can't think of a place I'd rather be than by your side," she whispered and squeezed his hand. He looked at her face and his gaze fell on her lips; he had to kiss her. Penelope put a hand on his neck and pulled him to her. "I love you," she whispered as they parted. Colin put his forehead against hers. "And I love you."
His stomach growled. Penelope had to laugh. "How romantic." He grinned. "I was so excited that I couldn't eat anything today," he defended himself. Penelope grabbed a bruschetta and held it out to Colin. "I can't let you starve," she grinned and Colin bit into the morsel with relish. Penelope ate the rest and watched him look at her. "Do I have a crumb on my face?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Do you know how sexy you are by eating?" he whispered. Most of the women he was with hardly ate. Always diet and not a gram too much. He loved food and so did Penelope. She always said that she weighed too much, but no she was just right. He loved every ounce of her. Only in this way she was perfect.
"Colin, please don't say..."
"I mean it Pen, you're so sexy, eating, reading, cooking... in everything you do... how blind have I been all these years?" he had to smile again when she opened her mouth. But he put a finger on her lips.
"You can't convince me of anything else," he whispered. He grabbed a fork and skewered a piece of cheese, which he brought to her mouth. She ate it with relish, and then she did the same to him, holding a piece of cheese in front of his mouth.
They enjoyed the appetizer, the wine and their conversations. Time flew by, the main course came. They did not run out of things to talk about. When the waiter cleared the plates and asked if they would like to order dessert, they both replied "A tiramisù." they announced themselves and laughed. The waiter grinned.
"One and two spoons?" he asked and they nodded.
Penelope looked at Colin and her voice was little more than a whisper as she said, "It's uncanny how well we know each other?" Her words floated between them and made the mood even more intimate.
Colin smiled softly, grabbed her hand and interlaced his fingers with hers. "Yes, it is," he replied softly, his eyes resting on her intertwined hands.
"But ... isn't that exactly what you're looking for, Pen? The person who knows you and still loves you unconditionally? Despite the mistakes and idiosyncrasies? With which you can imagine everything?" At that moment, they both realized how unique their connection was – shaped by deep understanding and genuine love that endured even each other's small weaknesses and idiosyncrasies.
She paused for a moment to think. Of course, it was exactly what she longed for – what everyone is looking for: a love that is sweet as a tender kiss, hot as a passionate fire and yet light and carefree as a summer's day.
A relationship that lasts both in complete silence and in lively conversations, in which words sometimes seem completely superfluous and then are used again in abundance. This special connection that works without much explanation but also offers space for countless shared thoughts. It was precisely this love that she had been looking for – and found.
Penelope smiled and gently stroked the back of Colin's hand. The candles on the table cast a warm light on her face and made her eyes shine even more.
"You're everything I wanted you to be, Colin. Since I saw you for the first time." she looked him in the eyes.
"Pen?"
"No Colin, I fell in love with you when you fell off your horse. And I've always known that you'd never love me like that. Maybe you'd never see me like that. And now we're sitting here. You're so, sexy and charming, I mean you always are, but you're flirting with me! I simply didn't expect that you could feel this way for me. I have always wished for only this and now it seems to be becoming real. Colin... I'm overjoyed. But are you sure? That you want me?"
"Pen! I am absolutely sure, in my whole life, I have wanted nothing as much as you! Now and in the future..." he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "I was such an idiot in the past. I hurt you so much. Please let me make amends." She looked into his eyes; she simply nodded and kissed him tenderly.
The waiter interrupted them as he brought the dessert. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" he asked, already knowing the answer at the sight of his guests.
"Please, the bill." Colin said without taking his eyes off Penelope. The waiter nodded and walked away. Colin looked at her with dark eyes. He grabbed one of the spoons, took some of the tiramisù and held the spoon to her mouth. She kept her eyes on his as she ate the dessert. She moaned. "Oh, that's so good," she whispered. Colin watched her fascinated.
She also handed him a spoonful. The dessert tasted delicious, but Colin could only think about how her lips tasted. He leaned over to her. But she put her finger on his lips and carefully pushed him back. "We should finish eating and then leave," she said and looked deep into his eyes. He nodded. Finally, after the plate was emptied, the waiter stepped up to the table and gave Colin the bill, he paid and held out his hand to Penelope, which she immediately grabbed.
"Have a nice evening," the waiter wished, thanking Colin for his generous tip. But this did not interest him at all. He only saw Penelope, his Pen. They left the restaurant, hand in hand. Colin pulled her to him and kissed her; it took her breath away.
"Take me home, Colin," she breathed softly. Without hesitation, Colin put his arm protectively around her waist. Penelope snuggled up to him and wrapped her arm tightly around his body. They walked through the cool night, leaning close together, and Colin single-mindedly chose the shortest route to her apartment complex.
Arriving in front of the apartment door, Penelope frantically searched her bag for the key. Meanwhile, she felt Colin's lips nestling gently against her neck – his tenderness didn't make it any easier for her to concentrate. "Damn!" she exclaimed as the keys slipped out of her hand in excitement and landed clinking on the floor.
Colin laughed softly, bent down and picked up the keys. "Are you nervous, Pen?" he whispered to her. He unlocked the door and opened it with an inviting gesture. He let Penelope enter first.
As soon as Penelope entered the apartment, she paused for a moment and turned to Colin. With a challenging look and a mischievous smile, she gazed at him. "So, now you're staying?!" She watched him intently. There was a palpable tension in the air. Her words were an invitation, and her expression betrayed her eager anticipation of Colin's response.
Colin looked at her. Actually, he should really leave; after all, you shouldn't stay overnight on a first date. But that was Pen, his Pen, his best friend. And he wanted to be with her. He felt it very clearly, and when he looked into her eyes, he saw that she wished he would stay. With a quiet smile, he took a step towards her and whispered, "If you want, I'll stay." Penelope returned his smile, her hand gently caressing his arm.
Colin stepped very close to her, and for a moment they just stood there, absorbed in each other's gaze. The world outside was forgotten. Penelope slammed the front door of her apartment shut.
She smiled and pulled Colin by the sleeve deeper into the apartment until they stood together in the soft light of the moon in her living room.
Colin gently ran his fingers over her cheek and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I've always wanted to be with you, Pen," he said quietly. Penelope returned his gaze, took a step closer and kissed him tenderly. She felt the security that only he could give her and knew at that moment that she had made the right decision.
She grabbed Colin's hand and pulled him towards her bedroom. When they were at the door, Colin paused. She turned to him. "Is everything okay, Colin?" she whispered. She looked him in the eye. Did he have reservations after all? Did he not want all this after all?
He did not move. Nor had he said anything. "Colin, we don't have to, if you change your mind," she said, looked at the floor, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "It's okay, if you want to leave, forget it..." but she could not speak any further. Since Colin had put his hands around her cheeks and lifted her head. He kissed her. Firmly and left no doubt that he didn't want to leave.
Colin looked deep into Penelope's eyes, his voice trembling slightly. "Pen, I don't want to leave. But I just realized that if we go through that door, there's no way back for me." He took a step towards her, his hands resting gently on her arms. "I'll never let you go again. And I want to know if you want that too – the two of us, forever?" His eyes sought her gaze.
Penelope looked into Colin's eyes—those bright blue eyes in which she lost herself again and again. A loving smile flitted across her face as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him gently. As her tears ran inexorably down her cheeks, Colin immediately felt that they were tears of joy. In a low voice, Penelope whispered, "I never wanted anything else."
Colin didn't let go of her gaze, grabbed the doorknob and opened the door with a gentle smile. In a spontaneous movement, he lifted Penelope into his arms like a bride on her wedding night. Surprised but happy, she wrapped her arms around his neck and began to laugh. "Colin, what are you doing?" she asked, giggling. He returned her gaze, kissed her and answered: "I've always wanted to do that."
Laughing and full of happiness, Colin carried her to the bed. With his foot he pushed the door behind him, which closed softly.