Simon

Simon knew his genes did have a chance when he married into Daphne's family. His kids were all Bridgerton from the moment they were born. Simon didn’t even think infants and toddlers could fight, but Augie and Bel proved him wrong. Caro had somehow argued with Bel before she could form a sentence. Violet had assured them that the bickering would eventually stop when they got older.

It had not.

It had somehow gotten worse since David was born eight months ago. 

“It’s my turn to hold him!”

“I only had him for five minutes.”

Simon looked up from the dishes he was putting in the dishwasher to see Bel and Caro arguing about who could hold David in the living room armchair. Daphne wiped down the counters behind him and let out a breathy laugh, which Simon returned. Poor David looked resigned to the argument happening above his head.

“Girls, don’t yell near your brother. His ears can’t handle it.”

“Sorry, Dad.” They said in unison before glaring at each other.

“It’s my turn!” Caro hissed.

“No, it’s not.” Bel hissed in reply.

Simon sighed. At least they stopped yelling.

“He doesn’t want either one of you to hold him. I’m holding him. I’m the oldest.” Augie said from the floor and plucked his brother from Bel’s hands. “Besides, I’m his favorite.”

“You are not!” Bel yelled.

“Belinda,” Daphne said.

“Sorry, Mum.” Bel glanced at him before turning back to Augie who was holding David and making faces. David frowned back at him.

“He can’t have favorites yet. He’s too little.” Caro pointed out correctly.

“He can and it’s me,” Augie said.

“It’s me!”

“Not it’s not.”

“Yes, it is!” 

Augie and Bel went back and forth, and Simon started the dishwasher. He and Daphne walked over to the kids, ready to separate them, when David let out a scream, and all the older kids winced.

“How about I hold him?” Daphne said and grabbed David from Augie’s hands. David took one look at Daphne and beamed at her.

“Oh, I’m happy to see you too, love.” Daphne cooed and kissed his cheek. She turned toward Simon and whispered. “I’m going to put him to bed.”

“Sounds good.” Simon kissed him on the head. David looked at him before snuggling into Daphne’s neck.

“You know, he reminds me of you right now?”

Simon quirked an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

“Yeah. I’m his favorite.”

Simon smiled. 

Kate

Kate loved that Neddy and Miles were thick as thieves and fiercely protective of each other. They reminded her of Anthony and herself in that sense. However, getting them to separate long enough to go anywhere took them an extra thirty minutes. Anthony told her once that getting all eight of them out to do the food shopping took three hours. Every day Kate wonders how Violet did it without going insane.

Despite looking more like her, her boys are mostly Bridgertons in hyphenated name and spirit. They bickered to show affection and loved to know what was going on with the rest of the family. 

They were so very competitive - all of them were. Kate usually didn’t mind except the boys were in a phase of deciding that everything was a competition. Who could run to the car fastest? Who could eat breakfast the fastest? Who could stay awake the longest? Who could scare Appa when he comes out of his office first? Who could get their baby sister in Amma’s belly to kick first?

Kate and Anthony had been forced into the roles of referee and coach, swapping positions depending on who the boys thought knew more at the moment. Right now, Kate was the referee for the race from the bench to the big tree and back.

“Amma, tell Miles I was faster.”

“No Amma, I was faster right?”

Both boys looked up at Kate who glanced at Anthony’s grinning face as he sat next to her on the bench. They took the boys to the park near Bridgeton House to get some of the racing out of their system before Sunday Brunch. Kate doesn’t think it is going to work. 

“I think it was a tie,” Kate responded.

“We’re going again,” Neddy said and the boys took off.

“You can’t keep telling them it’s a tie,” Anthony said. “They aren’t going to believe you.”

“They are too young to be this competitive with each other.” 

“It’s the Bridgerton way,” Anthony said as the boys ran back up.

“Now?” Neddy asked.

Kate shrugged. “Still a tie.” 

“Nooo.” They both moaned out.

“Appa? What do you think?” Neddy asked.

Anthony frowned and rubbed his chin. “I think I could beat you both.”

Anthony took off running away from the bench and the boys ran after him. Kate laughed as her boys reached the tree at the same time before turning back and Anthony’s eyes bugged out as Neddy and Miles ran ahead of him and beat him back to Kate.

“Amma, we beat Appa!” Miles yelled.

“You did!” Kate smiled and looked at Anthony’s face. He was warring between being proud that the boys won and annoyed that he lost.

“Appa, you are a slow runner,” Neddy said and Kate laughed out loud.

“Appa is a slow runner.” Kate agreed and smiled at Anthony. He fought a laugh of his own and his eyes sparkled at her.

“So we’ve decided to gloat about beating Appa?”

“It’s the Sharma way,” Kate replied.

Penelope

Penelope was used to being around Bridgerton noise. You don’t grow up as Eloise’s best friend and marry Colin and expect quiet. Most noise just faded into the background for her at this point.  She had been writing so long in the chaos that she could write chapters of her book in the living room while her children and niblings bounced around her and screamed. Colin was his mother’s son and loved having a full house, always inviting his siblings and her sisters to drop the kids off for Cousin Friend time. If her house wasn’t full with Bridgerton (or Featherington) offspring, then she was at an in-law’s house surrounded in chaos. She had once done her book edits during Bel’s third birthday and still was mentally present enough to enjoy herself.

Yet, today was a rare day when no one was over and her children had left her alone for most of the day. Colin had offered to take them with him to get dinner but Penelope could see how he needed some quiet time after being the primary parent for the afternoon. 

Penelope should be concerned at the arguing her two very opinionated children were doing but there were no sounds of anything breaking, she was almost done with her chapter, and the words were pouring out of her.

“Mummy, are you busy?”

Penelope looked up from her laptop to see Thomas standing by her chair with wide eyes. He had the same look Colin always got before he interrupted her.

“I’m writing, sweetheart. What’s wrong?”

Thomas twisted his mouth - thinking if he should interrupt her or not. “Jane isn’t sharing.”

Penelope nodded, saved her work, and followed Thomas to the living room to see Jane sitting on the couch, with a box of biscuits behind her back, reading the picture book she just got from their library trip that morning.

“Jane? Love?”

“He already had most of the box!” Jane called out.

“So? Mummy said you had to share.”

“You didn’t share with me!”

“I’m hungry!”

“I am too!”

Penelope took the box off the couch. “How about both of you stop eating biscuits and wait until Papa gets home with the takeaway.”

“But I’m hungry now, Mummy,” Thomas whined and collapsed on the floor in a dramatic huff. Penelope ignored him and looked at Jane who shrugged and went back in her book.

Pen shook the box, surprised at how light it was, and put it back in the pantry. She heard Colin unlocking the door.

“Hello Family!” he cheered and the kids rushed over to hug him.

“Papa, did you get Indian this time?” Thomas asked, already peeking in the bags.

“Is it spicy? Thomas can’t do that.”

“Yes, I can.”

“No, you can’t.”

Colin looked at Penelope and pursed his lips at her so he wouldn’t laugh. She turned away to hide her grin.

“Let Papa get the food out; go wash your hands,” Pen said and the kids ran off.

“Were they good?”

“As good as they can be.”

“So only minimum fighting.”

“They ate most of the cinnamon biscuits.”

Colin huffed. “I wanted some of those. They are like vacuums.”

Pen smiled as she pulled plates from the cabinet. “They get it honest.”

Colin grinned. “They are their Papa’s babies.”

“Mummy, Can I tell you about my book?” Jane ran back into the kitchen.

“Yes. Is it good?” Pen asked and Jane nodded, climbing into her seat.

“Are we talking about our books? I picked good books this morning too.” Thomas asked as he got in his.

“Me first,” Jane said as Colin put her plate of food in front of her.

“They are their Mummy’s babies too,” Colin muttered behind her.

Pen grinned.

Gareth

George and Isabella were just like their mother. They were fearless, gregarious, and nosy as hell. Unfortunately, they have the exact brand of Bridgerton nosy that Hy got which is a desire to know everything about everything. All Gareth wanted to do was wrap Hy’s birthday gift in peace but now he is being interrogated about it.

“What are you doing?” George asked.

“Wrapping Mum’s gift.”

He nodded. “Is it a gift for her or all of us?” He asked. 

Gareth looked up from his wrapping paper and stared at his children. The gift was several records that Hy had been eyeing for her collection. The kids thought Hy listened to “old people's music”.

“It’s just for her.”

“So you don’t have a gift for Mum that we can all like?” Isabella asked.

“We don’t buy you gifts on your birthday for all of us,” Gareth replied.

Isabella shrugged.

“What is it?” George asked.

“A surprise for Mum.”

“We won’t tell Mum,” George said and Gareth could tell he believed himself. 

“I may have a surprise that we all will like.” Gareth needed to add that to his to-do list.

Isabella looked skeptical. “Is it a puppy?”

“No.” He added yelling at Michaela to his to-do list as well. Ever since she said yes to the twins, all the kids have been asking for a puppy. 

“I think Mum would want a puppy.” George returned. Gareth knows Hy would love a puppy. He wants to hold firm on this but he can feel his resolve slipping.

“Did she say that?” Gareth asked and his kids glanced at each other before nodding. “I’ll think about it.”

“Okay, Dad,” George said with a shrug and walked towards the sound of the side door opening. 

Gareth finished his work while Isabella watched.

“Daddy,” Isabella said.

“Yeah?”

“Will Mummy be sad if we don’t get her a puppy?”

“No.”

“But we have to get her the best gift. We’re her family.”

Gareth smiled. “She’s going to love whatever you get her.”

“What did you get me?” Hy asked and Gareth looked up to see her back from the shops with George hugging her around her waist.

“A surprise.” Gareth grinned.

“We want to get you a puppy, Mummy but Daddy said he’ll think about it,” Isabella replied. “I think it would be good for us.”

“Is that so?” Hy asked and raised an eyebrow at Gareth. He shrugged. 

“It will teach us how to be grown up,” George mumbled. “We’ll take care of it. You just need to help.”

“And it would make us all very happy,” Isabella added.

Hy laughed. “We’ll think about it.”

The kids nod and walk off.

“Did they just present an argument for a puppy?”

“Like they were in a court of law,” Hy said and grinned. “I can see it now. St. Clair and Associates.”

Gareth chuckled. He could too.

Michaela

Michaela thought she was saved from her house being a Bridgerton house. She had hoped the Stirling DNA in them would completely take over and she would have children who didn’t sow chaos everywhere. She couldn’t be too mad because it had canceled out a lot of Bridgerton traits. Her little lad and lasses didn’t constantly bicker. They didn’t fight to be the main focus of their attention and they weren’t super competitive. According to Fran, their children were just regular Bridgerton chaotic.

Michaela had finished writing notes for her current patients for her sessions tomorrow, the kids were home for a week before their summer music program, and Fran was shut up in her soundproofed music space working on a composition before their afternoon of family fun at the shops. 

All they had to do was sit down and eat lunch and somehow it became a fight to get her children to listen and focus. Michaela stood in the dining room arguing with Andrew about his Legos all over the dining room table while he clutched his Lego piano. Margo and Helena ran around the dining room table playing some game only they knew the rules of. Reis, the new puppy, trotted back and forth.

“Hel. Go. Go wash your hands. Drew, please clean this up.”

“I want Mummy to see it first!” Andrew yelled. Michaela gave him the look. “Sorry, Umama.”

“I didn’t say she couldn’t see it. I said you need to clean up the extras.” Michaela replied. “Go, stop touching Mummy’s keyboard.”

Margo stopped tapping on Fran’s travel keyboard, currently set up in the dining room - to join her sister in the bathroom.

“But that’s part of the build.”

“Legos all over my table are not part of the build. I downloaded the instructions, remember?”

Andrew huffed and stamped his foot.

“It’s the background so Mummy can see what bricks I used.”

Michaela heard too much splashing. “Girls, are we washing hands or playing?”

The water shut off.

“Mummy has to see what I used.” Andrew insisted.

“We need space to eat lunch.” 

“But-”

“What if we moved them to the coffee table?”

Michaela watched Andrew twist his mouth in thought when she heard something fall. Several dog toys spilled into view.

“I’m okay!” Helena yelled.

“She’s not bleeding, Umama!” Margo added.

Michaela sighed again and Reis pulled on her pant leg as if to guide her to help the twins.

The sound of Fran’s room opening and closing caused her children and the dog to pause for one blessed moment. Fran walked into the dining room and looked at the mess around them.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Mummy!” Margo yelled. The girls ran and hugged her. Andrew joined the hug as well.

 “Andrew made a mess.” Margo tattled.

“It’s my project for you, Mummy.”

“Umama said to clean up!” Helena yelled.

“Umama also said stop yelling!” Andrew yelled back.

Michaela rolled her eyes at Fran who smiled back.

Can we clean up some so we can have lunch?” Fran asked and Andrew nodded and put his Lego piano in her hands.

“I made you this.”

Fran smiled. “Thank you, Andrew. I love it.” Andrew beamed and immediately started cleaning up.

“Are you finished working Mummy?” Margo asked.

“I am.”

“Does it sound pretty?” Helena asked.

“I think so. I’ll let you hear it later,” Fran replied and the girls beamed. “Go put this on my desk for me, please.”

Helena and Margo nodded and took Fran’s newest piano with the puppy following behind them.

Michaela sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Only three more days.”

Fran laughed. “You are going to miss them not being here during the day. Like usual.”

Michaela shrugged. “Eventually. Right now, they are being loud Bridgertons.”

“I’m a Bridgerton.”

“You’re a Stirling.” Michaela countered.

Fran smiled and slung her arms around Michaela’s waist. Michaela kissed her neck.

“They are also Stirlings,” Fran whispered.

Michaela raised her eyebrow. “How so?”

“They immediately stopped what they were doing when I walked in the room.”

“You’re the sun in our galaxy, love. Of course, they would.” Michaela replied.

Fran grinned. "If I'm the sun. You're the moon."

“Gross,” Andrew muttered, and the girls yelled Eww behind them.

Michaela sighed as Fran’s body shook with laughter.

Sophie

Sophie’s oldest two sons were a handful. Charlie and Alex fought, screamed, and loved each other fiercely. Ben said several times how they reminded him of growing up with Anthony. She loved her two oldest boys and did see some of her mannerisms in them but they were also so Bridgerton. Even after loving Benedict for a decade and loving his family for just about as long - Sophie was still not used to all the chaos. 

Kate and Simon said she never would be.

Sometimes Sophie sat in her car when she got home from work to soak up just a minute of silence before she went into the house and tripped over a car track or found the boys eating mint ice cream out of the tub on the floor with Benedict as a pre-dinner snack.

When she got pregnant with William, Sophie had a quiet moment with Violet who gave her as many tips as she could about raising three Bridgerton boys close in age. It turns out Sophie didn’t need them all. Her youngest was very much her - sweet and quiet. 

Sophie was sitting in the living room, watching the boys draw and color while Ben worked on dinner. The boys had wanted to “help” and Ben almost lost his battle with his patience before Sophie suggested making drawings instead. 

Charlie and Alex were drawing and somehow made it a game to see who could be done first and arguing with each other about colors. Sophie was a bit confused about how they made this activity competitive but they weren’t bothering her husband so she just sat through it. Wills was near his brothers but not part of the noise, just quietly concentrating and politely asking for a color he needed.

“Eomma?”

She looked up to see her sweet Wills standing next to her chair. He had his paper in his hand.

“Yeah, bud?”

“Can I show you my picture?”

Sophie nodded and he thrust it in her hands. It was a drawing - a very well done drawing for the four-year-old of their family. She stood with Ben in the back while Charlie, Alex, and Wills were in the front. He had gotten the proportions right and the perspective. Charlie’s glasses were the right color and Wills’ depiction of Alex’s perpetually messy hair made her laugh. He had even drawn her wearing scrubs and Ben in his paint splattered clothes. “It’s beautiful, love.”
“You think so?” Sophie grinned at his question, having heard that from the other artist in the family thousands of times.

“I do. You drew us all so well.”

“Thank you. I wanted everyone to look pretty because I love you.”

“We look very pretty so I know you love us very much. Where do you think we should put it?”

Wills shrugged and Sophie grinned. “How about we ask Daddy?”

Wills nodded and took her hand as they walked into the kitchen.

Benedict looked up from his pot of spagbol and furrowed his eyebrows.

“What’s that?”

“Wills’ drawing.” Sophie showed it to Ben who looked amazed and impressed.

“This is amazing.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” Wills piped up.

“This should go on the fridge,” Ben said and Sophie nodded. She grabbed a magnet and put the picture up high enough so it wouldn’t get ripped or stained. Wills ran off to rejoin his brothers in the living room.

“Turns out he does have a bit of Bridgerton in him after all,” Benedict whispered.

Sophie nodded. “He got the best part.”

Ben beamed.