Work Text:
Pray God you can cope
I stand outside this woman's work
This woman's world
Ooh, it's hard on the man
Now his part is over
Now starts the craft of the father
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I should be crying, but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking
Of all those things I should've said
That I never said
All the things we should've done
That we never did
All the things I should've given
But I didn't
Oh, darling, make it go
Make it go away
Give me these moments back
Give them back to me
Give me that little kiss
Give me your hand
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I should be crying, but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking
Of all the things we should've said
That were never said
All the things we should've done
That we never did
All the things that you needed from me
All the things that you wanted for me
All the things I should've given
But I didn't
Oh, darling, make it go away
Just make it go away now
The lights of the hospital corridor were the louder than his heartbeat, he was standing outside the emergency room, clad in hospital scrubs. There had been no warning signs of anything going wrong. They had made the choice along with Penelope's OB to do an elective c-section due to how big the twins were measuring. They had planned everything they could think of. The nursery, the birth plan. The home. It was all planned, until it wasn't.
Pray God you can cope
I stand outside this woman's work
This woman's world
Colin stood watching as yet another person ran into the operating room, he stood like a statue hoping and praying. That was his entire world in one small operating room, Penelope and their babies. That was it. He felt a hand on his back and jerked his head to see his Mum and Dad standing there and despite everything he couldn't cry. His mum took his arm and walked him towards the small waiting area. He felt something at his back as they walked but didn't realized until he sat down that his dad had taken off the hospital gown he had been wearing, Eloise moved over to kneel in front of him, her hands picking up his foot and taking the booties off. Colin just watched, like he knew things were happening around him, but he couldn't speak. He knew it would be ok, prayed it would be ok. It had to be ok, he ran his hand through his hair , the mass of brown curls already tousled beyond anything resembling ok. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Penelope's rings, she had been wearing them on a necklace since her hands had swollen, he looked at the rings.
Ooh, it's hard on the man
Now his part is over
Now starts the craft of the father
I know you have a little life in you yet
The memories flooded, unbidden of their life, he saw it all. The first time he met her, the fiery 13 year old, who not only could hold her own with Eloise but with him and the rest of the Bridgerton clan, he was pretty sure he was already half in love with her that first day. She came into the house like a ball of sunshine, talking to Eloise as if they had known each other their entire lives, she had shared her afternoon snack with him when he had gotten home from secondary school and he was hooked. Yea he had loved her then, with all the maturity a 16 year old can muster but he did. Not that he was smart enough to realize it then. HE wants to say they were childhood sweethearts but he can't, he can't because he wasn't ready at 16 to admit he was in love, much less in love with Penelope, which was the truth but he wasn't ready. So he Colined it up the best he could.
I know you have a lot of strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I should be crying, but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking
Of all those things I should've said
That I never said
All the things we should've done
That we never did
All the things I should've given
But I didn't
It was her 23rd birthday when he got the courage, nothing grand or fancy that had been her idea, however with the Bridgerton's grand and fancy was the name of the game, they did nothing in half measures, including drinking. Colin stood at the bar watching, he was always watching her, she mesmerized him. Like a moth to a flame, he circled her always, she is everything he spent the past ten years looking for, hell if he was honest she was everything he had always wanted, since he was little. She was his entire world. Colin watched as she stood with Kate and Daphne, laughing at something one of them had said. Her hair was shining in the lights of the bar, she looked so amazing. The deep burgundy of her dress made her cream complexion look like a statue. Colin felt the thunk of a glass next to his hand. He looked up and saw Phillip standing next to him, a small smirk on his face. Phillip only nodded and grabbing the shot he downed it quickly, turning the glass upside down on the bar, he drew in a deep breath feeling the alcohol calming his nerves.
'Don't think just do it, stop thinking so much.' Colin thought as he began to walk towards her. He moved through the crowd of the bar, darting around people, in and out until he was next to her. He stood staring down at her, watching as the question came into her eyes. The question. He didn't want her to speak so he did the one thing he had been dying to do for 10 years. He licked his lips, his eyes never leaving the bright blue of hers. The question still in her eyes. One hand carressing her arm, until he reached her check, his thumb stroking over her cheek. “Col” was all he heard before he crashed his mouth to hers. The question was answered finally. 'Does she feel the same.' The answer was yes.
Oh, darling, make it go
Make it go away
Give me these moments back
Give them back to me
Give me that little kiss
Give me your hand
The day he proposed was simultaneously the hardest and the best day of his life at that point, hard because all he wanted was to marry her. Their flat was cozy; cozy in a way that only comes from being truly home. He was a nervous wreck as he moved around the flat, doing anything he could to avoid walking into her office and dropping to his knees. He had planned it, a small intimate dinner, then a walk to their favorite park bench, he would propose there, he would give her everything in this world. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt she would say yes, but he just had to make it to that point. That point was 6 hours away and it was driving him mad. He was pacing a hole in the carpet, his hand in his pocket fidgeting with her ring box, or running along his face, running through his hair. He was pacing until the picture, the picture from the night in the bar, the night of her birthday almost a year ago, he had been so focused on the feel of her in his arms, he hadn't realized someone had captured that moment. That perfect moment of their first kiss until he got a text the next day. The picture was beautiful, her arms were wrapped around his neck, her body contoured to his, his body over hers, The love was evident, the hunger. It was all their. Colin stood looking at the picture and then moved to the rest of the pictures that covered the wall of their flat and it was clear. She was all he ever saw and ever wanted to see, nothing else in this world compared. Taking a deep breath he walked to her office, listened to make sure she wasn't on a call with her publisher and knock.
“Come in.” Her soft voice called out. Colin couldn't stop the smile that split his face if he tried. He gently opened the door, pushing in the small room. He saw her back first, her hair on top of her head, held up with a pencil. She turned in her chair to face him, Colin gasped silently at the sight of her. He had seen her like this a million times before but it was always the thing he wanted to see the most. She smiled immediately at the sight of him. Her eyes lighting up. “Hello handsome.” She said as her face lit up at the sight of him. Colin stepped into the room., before he could stop, before he could second guess, he knelt. HE watched Penelope's eyes went wide. “Babe, are you ok?” Penelope asked, raising her hand to place it on his cheek, he leaned into her touch like he always did. Nodding he reached into his pocket again. “I was going to do this tonight, but I need to do it now.” He watched as a thousand emotions crossed her face. “Penelope Anne, You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, I had this plan to take you out tonight and propose in our park, on our bench, but the more I thought about it. This is us, right here. The same two people we have always been, just together. I want to share this life with you. Everything, the ups the downs. The good days and the days when we question everything. You are my entire world, and I want to share the rest of my life with you. I know you always say you don't know what you did to deserve me, but sweetheart all you had to do was be you. Hell, I am still trying to figure out what I did to deserve you.” Colin watched as the tears flowed freely down her face. Colin felt his own tears, his face wet, his vision blurred.
“Please Penelope Anne Featherington, will you marry me?” Colin said his voice holding a slight tremble. He watched her face for an answer, and he watched the emotions, love, hope, devotion. Eternity crosses her face and she nodded. “Yes, yes Colin. I will marry you.” Colin's face split into a smile as he grabbed her face, pulling her to him. His lips latching onto hers. Their bodies melting into each other. Their laughs echoed off the office wall. Colin's thumbs wiping away her tears. Colin moved back for a second, looking down at her hand, he reached down and grabbed the ring box off the floor where he had dropped it on the floor and opening, he pulled the ring out, he tossed the box behind him somewhere. Taking her hand, he placed a kiss on it as he slipped the diamond, sapphire and aquamarine ring on her finger. The center stone was a diamond, but the stones surrounding it were sapphire and aquamarine, the color matching their eyes. Colin kissed the ring as it rested on her hand. “I love you Mrs. Bridgerton.” looking up into her eyes, tears threatening to fall again. “I love you Mr. Bridgerton.”
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I should be crying, but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking
Colin watched her walk down the aisle, the light from the candles illuminating her, the deep fall colors of the flowers held in her hand making her look like a wood nymph, Colin felt a tap on his shoulder he looked back to see Benedict standing there with a handkerchief in his hand. Colin nodded and took it, wiping away his tears. He knew he would cry again. They were here, finally after all this time. Here.
The wedding was a blur, the only thing Colin remembered was when they were pronounced Husband and wife. “Hi, Mrs. Bridgerton.” he said taking her face in his hand. “Hi, Mr. Bridgerton.” Colin couldn't believe it, They were here. They moved back down the aisle.
The reception was a huge party, drinks, family friends. Colin watched her as she danced with his dad, as he danced with his mum. They were here finally. 12 years later. Here.
Of all the things we should've said
That were never said
All the things we should've done
That we never did
All the things that you needed from me
All the things that you wanted for me
All the things I should've given
But I didn't
The honeymoon, the honey moon, the night their babies were conceived. The wedding had been 24 hours ago and they were currently strolling through the streets of a small coastal Grecian town, he couldn't stop touching her, kissing her, he never wanted to stop. They made it halfway through dinner before lust slammed into him. The sun was setting behind her, they were sitting at a beautiful cliff side restaurant, the sound of the waves crashing surrounding them. Colin watched as the light was hitting her in the perfect angle. The light blue dress she was wearing setting off her peaches and cream complexion. Colin gasped, watching her every movement. Colin raised his hand and spoke in Greek to the waiter, quickly paying for their dinner and grabbing her hand along with the bottle of wine. He hadn't spoken since they left the table, but he could feel the emotions coming off her. They made it back to their hotel room, Colin opening the door as quickly as his shaking hands would allow. Penelope own small hand coming to rest on top of his. Their eyes colliding as he looked down at her. Her smile a soothing balm. The door opened and Colin guided her inside. The click of the door loud as he placed the bottle on the table sitting by the door. Colin took her hand again and led her to the bed, He placed a gently kiss on her lips. The passion between them ignited. Clothes flew. Colin groaned as she stroked his already hard cock. The moment was perfect. He worshiped her body he sunk into her. Their bodies moved in sync. His hands touching wherever he could . Penelope's hands grabbing his ass, pulling him deeper into him. The sweat on their skin, the taste of her mouth, the feel of her body wrapped around him. The feel of sinking into her wet heat.
The noises were obscene as he bottomed out in her. His tongue trailing over her ear, his hips slamming into her. “I love you wife, I love you so fucking much.” Colin moaned out as he grabbed her legs and pulled them so they rested on his shoulders. “Colin, fuck I love you so much!” Penelope wailed as her first orgasm made her entire body tremble. Colin kept moving, Thoughts all the thoughts flying out of his head but one. Colin stopped moving, watching her, her skin damp with sweat, flushed all over, he had always loved making her blush, it had been an amazing discovery that she blushed everywhere. Colin moved her leg back down to the bed leaning over her, taking her mouth again. Penelope's hand moving to his hair. “Wife?” Colin said, nuzzling her nose with his.”Hmmm?” She said, still floating back down from her first orgasm. “I want to ask you something?” Colin said, still buried in her not moving. Her beautiful blue eyes opened, looking at him. “Yes?” Colin took a deep breath. “I want, I want.”Another deep breath, Penelope's hand moving to his cheek, he leaned into it as always. “Colin, give me a baby.” Colin's eyes flew open. He should have known, she always knew what he was thinking, feeling. They fit. That was the night. That amazing night spent wrapped around each other, never stopping for long, just long enough to eat and finally drink the wine. They didn't leave the bed until Colin felt secure they were pregnant and he was right, he was right.
Oh, darling, make it go away
Just make it go away now
The lights around him were too bright, even though it was the middle of the night, he didn't hear anything anyone was saying, he looked at her rings, his own ring shining on his finger. He moved his thumb along it. The metal warm from his skin. He felt a hand and saw his twin sitting next to him. She didn't speak, Daphne watched him, tears streaming down her face. He looked up at a loud noise, The doctor was saying something. Something was wrong, something was right. Colin stood and walked towards him. The doctor took his arm and he led him down the hallway. He heard words, blood loss, firming up. She can.
This one statement snapped him out of his stupor. She can.
The doctor led him down the hallway to a room. Colin knocked lightly and stepped inside. He moved into the dimly lit room. He saw her, she was there, after all this time still there. Colin moved quietly towards her, taking care not to wake her. He sat down by the bed. He took her hand kissing it, the tears flowing finally. She was here, he didn't remember falling asleep, but he did. He woke to someone touching his hair. He came to slowly, the world forming around him. He smelled the hospital before his eyes opened. He jolted out of the fog, looking up at her. Her face was calm and serene, her eyes were blue, hair was red. He felt the tears again.”Hi Mr. Bridgerton.” She said as she watched him, “Hi, Mrs. Bridgerton.” Colin felt the hot tears behind his eyes. There was a knock at the door. A nurse came in, pushing a small bundle in a bassinet, followed by a second. Colin watched. They were here, all of them were here. He moved to gently sit on the edge of the bed, careful to not shake the bed. The nurse handed the first baby to Penelope, the light blue of the cap indicating a boy. The second nurse handed Colin the second smaller bundle indicating a girl. They were here, finally here. Colin felt the tears slip again. Finally, here.
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I should be crying, but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking.