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Benedict knew he loved his wife and his entire family and the people working at the foundation knew how much he loved her but as he stood there in the spacious bathroom of Crake House, dressed in his ridiculous costume next to Michael Stirling, he knew he was never going to live this down in a million years.
“I cannot believe I let Fee talk me into this” Michael said grumbling as he tugged on the stupid wig as fancy dress costume Sophie had made him.
“I can’t believe it either” Benedict said with a grunt as he adjusted the Antlers at the top of his head “You have no excuse for signing up to this… I don’t have a leg to stand on given it’s my wife organising this'' he said, looking himself up and down “and I'm still a bit pissed at you being Kristoff!”
Michael chuckled as he pulled on the coat and boots “blame your brother for that one…”
“I had kind of gathered… I rather missed the reasoning behind it” Benedict asked as he pulled on the gloves which looked like hooves
“Well Fee told me that she asked Anthony, he was supposed to be Sven… but he outright refused… this is Fee and Kate’s revenge apparently” Michael said.
Benedict huffed. He had remembered Sophie telling him of the event and then about 10 weeks ago asking him… or telling him, he couldn’t really remember, she’d done a good job of distracting him from her request.
~*~
Sophie had come squealing into the house, Charlie had been sleeping on Benedict’s chest “Ben!” she cried out excitedly as the door closed behind her “ben! Where are you??”
“In the living room but shush, Charlie is sleeping” he replied quietly.
Sophie walked in to see their 6 month old son nestled on his father’s chest sleeping soundly as Benedict was watching the F1 practice on the TV.
Arthur, their golden retriever wagged his tail excitedly from the spot on the sofa at Benedict’s feet, since Charlie had arrived whenever he took a nap, Arthur sat and watched guarding his little brother with diligence and didn't bark when his little charge was sleeping.
“Oh don’t you all look sweet” she said quietly, ducking down and kissing Benedict’s forehead lightly so as not to jostle their son. “How has he been?”
“He’s been fine Soph, you were gone like 4 hours, I can manage our son you know…” he teased her
“I know but it was my first day back and I was just… nervous, it's the first time I've left him” she said
Benedict nodded and squeezed his wife’s hand “I know my love, but what did you want to tell me, you sounded excited”
“Oh right yes” she said shrugging off her jacket and sitting opposite her husband “I’ve got the planning and details sorted for the Children's Summer event!”
“Oh that’s wonderful, it was such a big hit last year…” Benedict said with a smile.
“You’ll help won’t you? All the staff are dressing up…” she said, a sweet and innocent smile on her face which never failed to make his heart sing.
“For you my love, anything” he said, not realising how much he was going to learn to regret that decision…
He had watched Sophie over the next two months making costumes. When she had said they were doing Frozen and Kate had asked to be Elsa, Benedict has assumed he would be Kristoff and Sophie would be Anna… the two girls were as close as sisters anyway and he had seen the baby Olaf costume’s Sophie had been making and the dog shaped ones however when two weeks later she huffing about Anthony he had not expected everything to change when he had come in from a shoot.
“Your brother is ruining this entire children’s party!” she said over-dramatically as she stirred the pot of sauce on the hob with Arthur dogging Sophie’s every footstep in case of fallen scraps of food.
“Which one… you are going to have to be more specific my love” he grinned as he kissed the blonde locks on the top of his wife’s head and scratched Arthur’s ear and took a seat. “Where is Charlie?”
“With your mother for the evening, she’s going to drop him off later… but Your OLDER brother” she said with an exasperated sigh.
Benedict tried not to be suspicious that Sophie had given Charlie to his mother on a midweek evening but he couldn't’ help but wonder what is wife was planning
“That would not surprise me, but pray tell, what has he done?” Benedict asked
“It’s what he is NOT doing that is the issue, he is refusing to join in and dress up” Sophie said with a pout on her lips as she turned around.
“Has Kate…?” Benedict asked
“She’s promised all sorts but given that she’s pregnant, he just rolled his eyes and told her it wasn’t happening and something about his dead body…”
Benedict chuckled
“It’s not funny Benedict!” Sophie said “I've had to completely change around what we are doing”
“So not Frozen anymore…?” he asked
“Well…” she said, turning the stove off and turning to face her husband “no, we’re still doing that…” she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief and Benedict felt his stomach swoop. He knew he was in trouble, in two ways as he felt the tightening in his pants as Sophie walked towards him, swaying her hips in a seductive manner.
“Right…” he said, gulping slightly, as Sophie reached him, her hands threading into his hair, his head right in the middle of her ample cleavage.
“You know how much you love me…” Sophie said, her voice practically a purr as she scratched his head with her nails, Benedict’s brain was barely listening as he stared at her breasts and felt the blood in his body all rushing in one direction.
“Y…yes” he stammered, trying to pay attention.
“And you love me so much you’ll do anything for me…” She said, her lips trailing lightly over his cheek towards his ear, her words practically a purr.
Benedict shifted uncomfortably in his seat and nodded “uh huh…” he said, her scent filled his nostrils as his hands rested on her waist tugging her closer to him.
“Will you let me change our costumes…” she whispered, her lips brushing against his.
Benedict groaned and nodded, not really realising what he was agreeing to as Sophie’s lips crashed against his for a moment in a passionate embrace before she tossed the dog a bone and said “Arthur… bed”
Arthur grabbed his bone from the floor, his tail wagging and ran off to his bed to devour the treat as Benedict grabbed his wife and Sophie thanked him for his compliance in the best way possible…on top of the kitchen table.
It was 2 months later when he saw the costume that Sophie had made for him, that he realised he had walked right into her trap and whilst he felt like he looked ridiculous, he was pretty sure it had been worth it, even if they did have to get a new kitchen table afterwards from breaking it.
Sophie had wandered into the bedroom the night before the event, as he had just taken Arthur for his bedtime walk as Sophie had tended to Charlie and put him into bed. “I have your costume to try on” she said a little nervously. Benedict noticed she looked a little pale and wondered why but was distracted by the bag and carrier bag that she had in her hand.
“Right… what is it? Am I still Kristoff?” he asked.
Sophie shifted and shook her head “erm… no…” she said feeling a little guilty
“Huh since when?” he asked
“I told you… Anthony wouldn’t dress up… so we’ve had to change around…” Sophie said
“Okay so who are you now? You better not be Anna if I'm not Kristoff…” he said
“No… I've swapped with Kate…” she said as she took a breath “so… you know how Anthony was going to be Sven…”
“No… no… please Soph… come on don’t do this to me… please don’t tell me…” he said with a groan
“Please…” She said, pouting prettily at him “I've had Poppy made Arthur and Newton matching costumes… please babe” she said.
Benedict shook his head “you didn’t tell me!”
“I did… i mean i didn’t outright tell you but you said you would wear anything for me” she reminded him.
“When?” he asked confused.
“The night we broke the table…” she said, as she started to unfasten her top.
Benedict blinked and gasped “you… you…”
Sophie shrugged and whipped her top off and walked over to him clad only in her bra and jeans “I what darling…” she asked seductively.
“You distracted me and I…” He said staring down at her breasts
“You mean like this…?” she said with a wicked grin, taking a step back and dropping her jeans.
“Yes!” he said
“Well…” she grinned, her hands trailing lightly over her breasts “if you agree… try your costume on… you can have whatever you want…” she said.
Benedict grumbled “you don’t play fair”
Sophie grinned “I am a Bridgerton am I not? Now costume first… sex after” she grinned.
Benedict grumbled and got up and tried on his ridiculous costume which had the oddest effect on his wife as she practically tore it off him and when they passed out that night, Benedict hadn’t felt about the prospect of the party the following week.
But now he was standing next to Michael, the reindeer costume on and the antlers atop his head and his face painted… he honestly wondered if perhaps he was a little too obsessed with his wife.
Sophie came into the room, her silver gown floating around her and her blonde curls lightened to the point they were practically white, and she looked every inch the ice queen from the much loved children show and Benedict slapped Michael’s head as he wolf whistled at Sophie.
“That’s my wife…” he scolded
“She was my mate first…”
“Can you two stop…” Sophie said, “we’re nearly ready” she said as she adjusted Benedict’s alters and pressed a gentle kiss to his nose.
Michael rolled his eyes “and where is Anna?”
“She’s coming, she was dealing with an Olaf meltdown…” Sophie said
“And where is our Olaf?” Benedict asked
“With your mother. Medium Sven needed a quick walk and Little Sven was chasing” Sophie said “and will you just stand still” she said to her husband who was readjusting his costume, the tail irritating him and he grumbled as Michael laughed.
“Shut up” Benedict scowled at Michael “do I really have to wear this Soph, I feel ridiculous” he said
Sophie walked over to him, pressed a gentle kiss on his lips and smiled “yes… yes you do”
Benedict sighed “come on… let us get this over with then.” he said and let Michael lead them from the dressing rooms through Crake House to the ballroom which was filled with nearly 100 children for the most exhausting afternoon of his life.
Anthony had been furious when he realised that Benedict and Sophie had swapped costumes and Kate came out dressed as Anna, her baby bump obvious to the world and teased her husband when Michael was stood next to her with the children who were asking about it “yes… we are very excited” she said, laughing as she watched the vein on her husband’s head throb.
Cecilia whispered to her “he’s going to murder you, you do realise that?”
Kate laughed “oh he wouldn’t dare and it is his own fault” she said as she kissed Michael’s cheek “go see Frannie. i’m going to go see my husband before he kills someone”
Michael blinked at her. He and Fran had only just started seeing one another, he had waited and waited, being unsure that his feelings had been reciprocated and given their age difference he had waited and he had fought back when she had finally told him last month that she liked him. Sophie had been the one to encourage him to go for it and as far as he was aware she was the only who knew… or so he had thought.
Kate just winked at him and wandered off and he realised Sophie must have told her but as he looked over at his petite friend who was placing his godson on Benedict’s shoulders and smiled. He should have known and with a smile he walked off to find Francesca.
Sophie glanced over and he waved at her and she waved back but then turned her attention to her son “No…No Charlie, leave daddy’s antlers” she said as Charlie’s squealed “PAPAP!”
And succeeded in half pulling them off Benedict’s head. Benedict looked up at his son who had one hand in his hair, the other on the antlers and Sophie burst out giggling.
“What?” Benedict said, looking at his wife with an amused look.
“I’ve never seen someone look so ridiculous and so cute at the same time” she replied with a look of love.
“Cute?” he asked
“Yes, you have our son on your shoulders and he’s loving everything, and you make the cutest reindeer…” there was disgruntled bark from Arthur who was sitting at Sophie’s feet and she chuckled as she scratched his ear “yes you look adorable too… but your daddy… well he’s the best” she said leaning forward and kissing her husband “and seeing you with all the kids… it’s just… it’s made me realise how lucky I am and how much I love you” she said softly.
Charlie squealed as Benedict blushed “I’m the lucky one” he said trying not to wince as Charlie yanked his hair. “I love you too” he said as Sophie pressed another gentle kiss to his lips.
“I was going to wait til later… but I've got a surprise…” she said as she went into her bag
Benedict looked confused at her “a surprise?”
Sophie nodded as she took a present out of her bag and handed it to her husband and lifted Charlie from her husband’s shoulders as Benedict opened the present and Sophie took off the top layer of his costume and doing the same with Arthur who was sitting nice with a treat with both baby and dog facing Benedict who was lifting the new-born baby Olaf onesie from the box and blinking at the writing that said “Little snowman…?”
His eyes moved up and he saw Charlie’s top that said “ Big Snowman ” and Sophie pointed down at the dog and saw the words on the dog’s back “Snowpup"
Sophie, fighting back tears as she said, gesturing to her stomach as she lifted the front of her dress and revealed the words "snowman in progress" as she said, her voice catching "do you want to build a snowman?"
“You… you’re…” he stammered, tears forming in his eyes.
Sophie nodded “about 10 weeks…” she said and Benedict threw himself forward and kissed his wife.
“God I love you… I love you so much… i love you all” he said, gently placing a hand on her stomach as Charlie squealed “BUVA!”
“Yes my little prince… you’re going to be a big brother!” Sophie said, tears in her eyes
Benedict stood there with his arms around his wife and son, their dog between them and he didn’t care that he looked ridiculous, he didn’t care that he looked like a reindeer and his face paint was smudged from tears.
It was worth it. The broken table had been worth it and the ribbing he got from his siblings was worth it. He had his Queen, his little prince and their furry prince… and soon they would add another.
What more could he want…?