Chapter Text
Flashback
"You know what would be so funny?" Penelope said, already knowing this was going to hurt
"If we reenacted that scene from the movie last night. The one at the airport
Penelope woke up in a cold sweat.
Why, why, why had she suggested that? She asked herself, flopping back on the bed on the side that still smelled like Colin
Because you needed to tell him a voice in her head replied
The night before Colin left on his trip, Pen had a nightmare
In it, Colins plane had crashed and she had to identify the body
In her dream, he was mangled but still was very clearly Colin. His blue eyes lifeless and dead
All she could think about was how he didn't know
He didn't know that she loved him, that she had always loved him
But she couldn't tell him the truth
So, she did the next best thing and recited the love confession from the movie they watched together the night before.
And now, that stupid memory of her saying cheesy dialogue, is the last one she has of him before it all went to shit.
Before the accident
Before the "marriage"
She didn't know what they would do
She knew he didn't feel the same way about her.
Now they're friendship was completely ruined
Penelope just wanted to stay in bed all day, smelling his old hoodie, trying to memorise the scent before it fades.
And she probably would have, if there wasn't a manic pounding on the door
She opened the door, hair in a bun, no make up and in his oversized shirt
At the door, stood Colin, not looking much better
She wiped her teary eyes with the back of her hand quickly.
If there was any chance of them remaining friends, Colin couldn't see her cry
"Colin! Hi!" She said. Trying to hide her wet eyes with a cheery smile
Colin stared at her, eyes darting from her face to his hoodie on her chest
"You are so beautiful" He said, almost under his breath
They both froze looking at each other
"If you're hear to pick up your things, they're in the usual places." Penelope said not making eye contact.
"I figured you want to move out. I understand, I just hope we can still be friends"
"What? Pen, no!" Colin said moving further into the door, confused panic on his face
"I can move if that's easier. I supposed you and your soon-to-be fiancée would want the room-" Penelope continued, ignoring his outburst
"Pen, what fiancée? I don't have-"
"I hope she loves the ring, Colin" she said keeping her face away from him, so he couldn't see her cry " It's beautiful and she so so lucky"
"PEN, PLEASE, LISTEN TO ME!"
He had his hands on her shoulder, looking into her eyes
"Please, let's just go inside and talk"
Penelope had known and loved this man for many years.
If this was the end, she owed him at least a conversation
She was so beautiful, he could barely think
Colin had seen Penelope in many states.
He had seen her tired, angry, upset and happy
He had seen her in her pajamas,ballgown and, one time, an inflatable dinosaur costume.
And she looked beautiful every single time
Now here she stood, pajama shorts, messy hair and a hoodie, his hoodie.
And she was the most beautiful woman in the world
"Pen, I need you to understand, there is no other woman, there has never been another woman"
"Colin, its OK, I saw the ring, I just want you to be happy-"
"I am happy!" He interjected " but Pen, there aren't any other women." Oh God he was going to have to tell her "There have never been any other women"
He watched as she understood
"Oh" she said, undeniably surprised
"Yeah"
" So.... there were men?"
OK, not the reaction he was expecting
"Nope, no men" He said, waiting for this part of the conversation to be over
"Because, if there was, that would be fine, great even-"
"I AM A VIRGIN, PENELOPE" He said louder then he planned
Great, now Mrs Cowper upstairs was laughing at him He thought as he heard a faint chuckle coming from above him
"Ok, OK!" Pen said, holding her hands up in surrender, holding back a laugh "I believe you!"
They both looked at each other for a moment before bursting out in laughter
This could be enough Colin thought If I could hear her laugh like this every day, that could be enough
"Then who was the ring for?" Penelope asked between laughs "If there hasn't been anyone, who did you get it for?"
That sobered Colin up quickly
"Do you remember when we met?" He asked leading her to the sofa, not letting go of her hands once they've sat down
" You mean, when you hit me with your bike?"
"I was blinded by your yellow hat!"He said indignatly
He was rewarded with a giggle. The most beautiful sound he ever heard
"Anyways" He gave her a fake stern look, which got him another giggle" do you remember what you did after?"
She squinted her eyes, thinking
"I think I said something about how I read in a book that honey was used as an anti septic and then I smeared my honey sandwich over your face"
Oh yeah, she did do that Colin thought, laughing at the memory
"No I meant after that"
She smiled at him
"I said I would always be a soft place for you to land"
Colin nodded
"That was it for me"
Penelope tilted her head
"It was what?:
" That was the moment I fell in love with you"
Penelopes brain froze
The moment he WHAT
"I know how it sounds" He said, not making eye contact, but holding her hands tight " I didn't understand it at first either, and when I did, I waited for it fade away like everyone says first love does. But it... didn't. It grew with me, changed with me but I still love you as much, more, as I did when I was the boy who sat on the pavement covered in honey. I love you Pen"
Penelope stared at him.
This had to be a cruel prank or trick or their brains was still mess up from the accident
She was about to explain it to him, but instead something else came out of her mouth
"Colin, we're just friends"
He scoffed
"Come off it Pen. When have we ever just been friends? We live together, we spend all our time together, we have date nights and an anniversary of when we met for Christ's sake"
She shook her head, moving away from the sofa away from him
"This is just an after effect of the accident." She said pacing, not looking at him" our brains are messed up and you still think I'm your wife-"
"Do you remember the accident, Pen?" He was pretty calm for someone who had just confessed to a decades long love and been hit with "we're just friends"
She shook her head
"When we were on the road, I crawled on my belly to you, over broken glass. The paramedics found you in my arms. While we were waiting for them, I told you about the ring. How I bought it for you. How i was going to ask you to marry me" Penelopes breath hitched" that's why we thought we were married. Because, in that road, by the wreckage of the car, you said yes"
She said yes
The thought bounced around her head, hitting the corners like an old DVD lock screen as she stared at Colin
She had said yes
"I won't hold you to it" He said quietly, kicking his feet on the floor, avoiding eye contact "It wasn't the most romantic proposal in the world and we were both losing consciousness"
He looked up at her, tears in his eyes
"If you want me to go, I'll go. But I knew I loved you before the accident. And those hours where I thought you were mine and I was yours? They were the happiest of my life"
Penelope couldn't think, couldn't speak
Here was Colin, her roommate, her best friend, the love of her life, telling her he has loved her for decades
And she doesn't know what to do with it
"We haven't even been on a date" Penelope said after a stretch of silence
Well he thought That's it
He nodded his head, turned and walked to the door
He would send someone to grab his things
"Ask me'
Colin turned around, confused
"What?"
" Ask me on a date. We'll go out or stay in or whatever. I don't care. Once we've done that, ask me to marry you. Properly, this time, and I'll say yes"
She'll say yes
SHE'LL SAY YES!!!
Colin ran to her, picked her up into his arms and kissed her
It was just like the kiss at the airport, except better
Way better
This kiss meant something
They weren't actors playing parts with this kiss
They were Colin and Penelope. Madly in love
Well, he was. She hadn't said it yet
"Pen-" He pushed out in-between kisses "Pen, do you-"
"Yes I love you, I've loved you since the day we met." She was kissing down his neck, her legs wrapped around his hips "we can talk about it later. Right now, take me to bed"
Oh my god Colin thought Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, it's finally happening
"Are-are you sure Pen? "He managed between moans"i want to- to take out, romance you"
She stopped
"Colin, if you didn't want to do this-"
He stopped her
"Pen, I really, really want to do this, I just don't want you to think this is going too fast"
She gave him a dreamy smile before her hands started moving again
She was pulling at his collar, kissing further and futher down his chest
"We've practically been married for the last 3 year, Colin, you said so yourself. Now let me take my husband to bed"
Husband sent a shock through him. Causing his trousers to get tighter and tighter
Penelope unwrapped herself from him. Took his hand and started leading him to the bedroom
"Besides, I don't have sex on the first date. Before the first date? Well that's fair game"
Anthony sat outside Colin and Penelopes flat, tapping at his steering wheel
He was just about to go up, check on his little brother when he got a text
It was Colin
Or, at least, it came from Colins phone
Colin:Hey Anthony, it's Pen, Colins in the shower rn, but he told me you were waiting downstairs.
Colin: it might be best if you go home, me and Colin are still "talking"😉
Anthony dreaded to think what the girl who was essentially his little sister meant by "talking😉"
Colin: By the way, tell Violet to get some of her wedding magazines out. We're going to need them💍