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Ten-year old Colin had just got back from school. By default, he went straight to his room to change, his usual next agenda is to find where his crush is - eight-year old Penelope Featherington.
He went straight to the family room but the girls were not there. He walks aimlessly around the house, hoping to catch a glimpse of the redhead. Finally, it dawn on him that they may be at the gardens.
Colin went straight to the girls who are under the willow tree, waving his box of chocolates. "Let me join!"
Penelope was already looking at Colin before he even reached them, at a young age she is already certain of one thing, she loves Colin.
"Of course, Colin!" Penelope giggles.
"But we all have roles already!" Eloise protests.
Daphne hums. "He can be our Papa!"
"Cool!" Francesca exclaims.
"Can I be your Mama?" Penelope blurts out before she could even think, too bad but Colin is already blushing.
"I like that." Colin answered.
"Well obviously." Eloise rolls her eyes. "Your the only non-Bridgerton!"
Colin smiles. "I'm glad to be your husband."
Penelope nods. "Glad to be your wife."
"Help her cook then!" Eloise shouts while she pretends to source for produce with Francesca. Daphne, on the other hand, is taking care of Hyacinth.
"Who moved the wooden kitchen here?" Colin asks.
"Ant and Ben." Penelope whispered, they were cutting and washing the leaves and fruits from the gardens.
"Oh . Thats good."
"Let us get some plates from the cupboard." Penelope orders.
"Sure." Colin followed her close, maybe too close that when Penelope opened the cabinet, it hits Colin's face.
"Ugh!" Colin groans, the knob hitting him stings. If he will be honest, he almost want to cry.
"Oh no!" Penelope panics, she puts down the plates and cups Colin's face. She could see that the tip of his nose is red.
"I. am... fine." Colin fight back the tears that threatens to fall.
"You are not." Penelope said indignantly. She rubs his nose with her thumb, her hands still cupping his face.
"I'll make it better." Penelope said before she tiptoed and kissed his nose. "There.. there"
Colin was frozen in place, did he just got kissed by Penelope? His stomach felt weird.
Penelop blushed, she finally kissed him! Her handsome crush.
"Kiss makes it better?" Colin asks.
"Uhmm.. Yes." Penelope nods. "Violet said so to Eloise."
"I see." Colin smiles with a new weapon in mind.
___________________________________________
They were all in the kitchen when it happened. Mrs. Wilson was handing everyone their slice of cake and a packet of juice.
Colin knew Benedict was busy with his phone and would not notice him, he purposedly walks to him until his drink was pourned onto him.
"Ben!" Colin acted surprise.
"Oh shit! Sorry bro." Benedict placed his glass on the counter and grabs a washcloth. What surprised him is that his little sister, Penelope, is already tending to Colin.
Penelope is wiping Colin's chest, he took off his shirt and lets her clean off the stickiness.
"Are you hurt?" She asks.
"A bit. It is cold." Colin pouts.
Penelope did what Benedict was not ready to see, she kissed his chest.
Colin physically shivered, blushing all the way to his chest. "Oh."
"Are you well now?"
Colin nods. "Ye.. yes, Pen."
Penelope blushed too. "Go dress up, I will save you some food, Colin."
"Thanks, Pen!" Colin kissed her cheek and ran upstairs.
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The third time was something Colin did not planned. Anthony and Benedict were teaching him to fence at the gardens while the girls were once again under the tree playing dolls.
Colin was keeping up with his older brothers in the start. However, he grew distracted while admiring Penelope in her pink dress.
Anthony delivered a fast swipe at him, making him fall on his ass. The fall was quite abrupt that even the brothers shouted. "Colin!"
Colin felt his ass hit the ground and it hurts, he lays on the grass with the pain.
Penelope immediately ran to him. "Colin!"
Anthony and Benedict backed off, watching the two.
"Are you hurt?" Penelope asks.
"Yes, Pen." He nods. "Here." He points to his whole arm.
Penelope raised his hand then kissed his palm, then his wrist, before kissing his shoulder. "Can you sit?"
"Yes." Colin acted dramatically, his brother whistles, knowing what he is doing.
Penelope kisses his cheek. "Let us go inside? I shall help you eat and we should just watch tv."
"That is nice, Pen." He smiles.
"I can massage your bum bum." She grins.
___________________________________________
The fourth time was actually a heroic act.
They were at Clara's birthday party, he heard Cressida plotting something to hurt Penelope once again. Because of that, Colin acted vigilant and never left Penelope's side.
It was time for the piñata and it was Cressida's turn. Colin observed that she is dangerously close to Penelope.
Cressida swipes the plastic bat a little to high that Colin realized what will happen, he ran to Penelope and hugged her tight just in time for Cressida's hit.
The bat hits Colin's back but it was Penelope who squealed. "Coliiiin!"
Colin felt the impact and it truly hurts. He could, however, not cry as Penelope is already crying.
"Oh Colin!" She cries and rubs his back.
"I am well." Colin bites the inside of his cheek to hide the pain.
There was a commotion of parents and brothers but the two were at their own bubble.
Penelope sniffs while she comforts Colin. "My hero." She kissed his cheek then peppered his face with kisses.
It was a good day for Colin.
___________________________________________
The fifth one was the last and most chaotic instance. Fortunately for them, it led them to the best decision of their lives.
Colin and Penelope were walking on the sidewalk, they were from a bookstore trip and enroute to the Bridgerton house.
Penelope's shoe lace untangles and Colin had to kneel and tie them back. As he was kneeling, they both saw an unfamiliar white van.
The white van stopped at the house across the street, the door suddenly opens and a man in jumpsuit went out. He abruptly grabbed Edwina from the sidewalk and brings her inside the van.
Penelope gasps. "Oh no."
"Pen... We need to run." Colin declares, he stood up and grabbed Penelope's hand. The two ran for their life.
Benedict despise what Anthony is putting him through. His big brother is crazy in love with their neighbot Kate. First he agrees to paint their yacht at the dock so now they were wearing a jumpsuit and safty goggles. Next, they were tasked to pick up her little sister Edwina from their family home.
As Anthony was picking up the kid, Benedict saw Colin and Penelope across the street. He blew his horns but was surprised that the duo ran fast.
"Why are they running?" Anthony asks while strapping Edwina on the car seat.
"I do not know." Benedict chase them, beeping while he does.
Colin held on Penelope tighter, they stumbled and scraped their knee. They had to stop. "Pen!"
"Aaw! Colin!" Penelope cries.
Anthony opens the car door making Colin agitated.
Colin grabs Penelope and carried her on his back. They ran into an alley and hid.
Benedict blows his horn again. "Lets go, Ant. Let them be."
"Fine." Anthony hops on again and the brothers drove away.
Colin and Penelope were catching their breaths.
"That was close." Colin said.
"I was soooo afraid." Penelope hugs Colin.
"I got you, Pen." He rubs her back. "I love you."
"You do?" Penelope looks at him.
"Yes. When we grow up, I will marry you." He declares.
"I like that." Penelope cups his face. "My hero, my love." She tip toed and kissed his lips.
Colin's knee is bleeding, but his heart is soaring in happiness. This is Penelope, his new home.