Work Text:
Colin Bridgerton paid the uber driver extra then the normal price since it’s so late in the night almost morning.
Grabbed his luggage from the trunk and hurriedly ran to his front door. He fumbled putting the key into the lock but once it was in he quietly opened the door and gently closed it behind him.
He noticed the pile of shoes by the front door and added his to the bunch and left his suitcases there as well.
Walking into the living room he could see toys galore all over the place, some blankets and burp cloths.
Chuckling Colin smiled at the chaos, he missed this while he was away.
Wanting one less thing for his wife to have to do when she wakes up tomorrow he starts cleaning the living room, putting everything into their respective places. He folded all the blankets and put them into the storage ottoman.
He walked into the kitchen and noticed some dirty dishes in the sink. Without a second thought he started running some warm water, grabbed a sponge and started washing the bottles and dirty plates.
Walking out of the kitchen he noticed some artwork scattered on the kitchen table and decided to move them to his office so they wouldn’t get destroyed during breakfast.
First he checked on Agatha and Jane, he carefully opened the door and could see the nightlight for Jane was still on but the two twin sized beds were empty.
He went across the hall to Georgie and Thomas’s room.
It was a disaster, toy trucks and books scattered about, clothes hanging off bed posts. And Colin is pretty sure he saw mudd on some of the sheets.
Colin also notes that they must have recently convinced Penelope to buy some glow in the dark dino stickers.
But once again the boys aren't sleeping in their bunk beds.
Colin scratched his head, he’s pretty sure his oldest kids should be in bed.
Maybe they are at a friend's house, I didn’t exactly tell Pen I was going to be home early. Colin realizes.
Closing the bedroom door to the disaster room, Colin headed to his and Pen’s bedroom to change clothes and crawl into bed with his wife.
Colin was asked to go on a book tour for two weeks to promote his new novel coming out soon, he immediately told them he couldn’t. He couldn’t be apart from his wife and kids for that long. Especially since Penelope just recently gave birth to their fifth child, a healthy baby girl.
But somehow Penelope convinced him, hell she practically helped pack his bags.
“Go on your tour, We will always be here, it's not like we’re going anywhere. Have fun. I can handle the kids. And If I can’t I'll ship them off to your mother.” Penelope smirks.
He still fought tooth and nail to stay home, but Pen insisted.
So after a week of his tour he told his publicist he’s done, he’s going home to be with his wife and their children.
So he hopped on the train and here he was earlier than promised.
Colin quietly opened the master bedroom’s door to hear heavy snoring.
His wife didn’t snore. He knew because he watched her sleep sometimes.
He also noticed some kid's movie was playing on the wide screen tv.
When he turns towards his bed his heart melts.
Penelope was asleep in the middle of the bed, with their newborn Betty on her chest, Agatha nestled against Pen’s neck, Thomas was on her left arm, Jane and Georgie were snoring loudly on opposite sides of Penelope’s stomach.
He missed moments like this.
He hated the fact that the book tour cost him to be part of the family snuggles.
Colin then pulled his phone out of his pocket and using the light from the television took multiple pictures of this sweet moment. He made sure the flash was off. He didn’t want to wake anyone.
Grabbing a pillow and a throw blanket, Colin made a little spot on the floor next to the bed.
Colin fell asleep quickly.
He didn’t even feel his wife’s tender kiss to his cheek.
But he did awaken to his favorite breakfast.
“Welcome home daddy.” The children tackled him when he walked into the dining room.
Penelope smiled and kissed her husband’s cheek.
“Welcome home Darling.”