Work Text:
She'd already promised herself she'd quit the habit of opening TikTok when she gets insomnia. It's not good to be staring at her phone at 2 a.m., but Penelope doesn't want to do breathing exercises or relax every muscle in her body to sleep, so she opens the cursed app and scrolls through the videos.
Healthy cooking recipes, dubious reviews of books she read before everyone else, and hilarious falls, which she can't enjoy because she doesn't want to wake Eloise up with her laughter. She starts to get bored after a few minutes, until she finds a viral video with several million likes.
Penelope's immediately captivated by the girl's sweetness. She's 5'3", perfect body, short hair adorably tied back with a ribbon, and dressed in a white crop top and brown wool pants.
The girl from the video is standing in front of a boy who's a full head taller than her, quite handsome, with brown hair, killer arms, and both of them look completely in love —all straight out of a fairy tale. There's a reason they used the song I’m In Love with a Fairytale as the soundtrack.
It's the kind of video Penelope avoids, tired of seeing such beautiful, happy couples while she's stuck in a unrequited love for Colin "there are enough countries in the world to travel a lifetime" Bridgerton. It's not his fault he doesn't love her; in fact, she knows he holds her in high regard, as he never forgets to text her every day, give her longer hugs, and always smiles with joy when he calls her "the best friend in the entire universe."
That's the problem. Penelope is eternally and voluntarily in the friendzone. And watching videos like this only reinforces the idea that she'll never be up in the air, held by the safest arms in all of London, staring into Colin Bridgerton's lovely puppy-dog eyes in front of her.
But she is an avid masochist and watches again and again as the boy raises the girl's arms, along with one of her knees, takes a run-up and lifts her, treating her like a princess or a fairy, brushing their noses charmingly, both smiling as if they were in a stupid romantic comedy and that was the final scene where finally declare their love.
After giving that TikTok another thousand views (they should give her a commission), Penelope turns off her phone and goes to sleep, frustrated and in love, just like she's been for the past 16 years.
❤❤❤
"Yes, I saw that video. Hyacinth posted it to the alphabetical chat yesterday (with the eight Bridgerton siblings and Violet). Phillip liked it and asked if I wanted to recreate it. I threw an olive in his face," Eloise replied the next morning, when Penelope was showing her the infamous video using only 40% of her brain capacity. Another problem with sleeping so late.
"I thought it was a cute video, but it looked pretty fake." Hell was full of liars more skilled than Penelope, but the redhead didn't want to admit that she dreamed of recreating that video with her best friend's older brother.
"I think it's cheesy, but I doubt it's fake. The guy is drooling over her, lifting her with such devotion, and the way they look at each other while they spin around seems quite romantic to me. I would never make a fool of myself like that, but those guys are definitely in love."
Perfect, Eloise Bridgerton always knows how to rub in the lack of romance in Penelope's life, even though she doesn't realize it.
Penelope's next few days pass without any declarations of love that break the internet.
She has several manuscripts still to be edited, although it's a huge advantage to do so in home office. Not even the finest tailored suit can compete with the comfort of her shorts and a college sweatshirt stolen from Colin's closet, accompanied by a side ponytail that barely contains her red curls.
She tries to concentrate on the science fiction story with interplanetary dystopias and mineral warfare, but it takes a third cup of coffee to believe that a child has the solution to ending the war between extraterrestrial civilizations.
She gets up from her desk and puts a load in the coffee maker. While she waits, she checks her TikTok, opening the Saved tab and watching for the thousandth time the two lovers and their fairy tale. The comments like "you're so lucky" and "we should give them privacy" cheer her up a bit, even the comment "amiga, sal de ahí y déjame entrar" seemed hilarious when she translated it.
Her coffee was almost ready when the reception bell rang. The sequence was two beeps, one slow and three very fast, the rang all Bridgertons and their partners used on their visits. Penelope authorized entry without asking and looked for any cookies or tea for the surprise guest. It depended on whether it was one of the clan's sisters or wives, who usually drank Earl Grey like water, or one of the men, who were content to steal one of Eloise's bottles of imported beer.
At that moment, Penelope's phone buzzed with a call from her best friend, perhaps letting her know that one of her relatives was on the way to pick up something.
"That idiot is on his way," the voice of the fifth Bridgerton said before Penelope could properly greet her. "I don't know what he's up to, but Anthony received a notification from his lawyer, and Gregory said his location was near our building. You can give him the leftovers from yesterday's Chinese food, but I'll kill him if he drinks my beer."
It took Penelope a while to register the warning when someone knocked on the apartment door.
"Wait, I didn't understand who's coming." Penelope held the phone with one hand, put it on speakerphone and opened the door, revealing the protagonist of her most romantic dreams.
He looked agitated, his burly chest heaving. His travel bag was about to fall off and his suitcase was scuffed at the bottom.
"Colin's coming to our apartment. He hasn't commented on the family chat for a couple of days, and now he's showing up in London like a complete idiot."
"Bye, El." Colin took the phone from Penelope, taking advantage of the fact that the redhead was shocked by his arrival, and hung up on his impertinent sister. "Hi, Pen. Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you. Is it okay if I come in?"
Penelope had never seen Colin so insecure about going into her apartment. He used to fall asleep on the couch from time to time, after eating her chips and using her Netflix account. She stepped aside, and the most handsome man in the world walked in, almost trembling.
Trying to recover the situation, Penelope went to the kitchen, poured him a glass of water, and opened a package of chocolate chip cookies, his favorite. She placed them on the counter and looked at him with the calmest smile she could muster.
Colin nodded and gulped down the water, ignoring the cookies. Penelope was scared beyond belief.
The air felt thick, and the only thing playing was "I'm In Love With a Fairytale."
Colin looked down at Penelope's phone, which he was still holding, and saw the video. His expression was strangely methodical, as if it wasn't just a simple display of love between two people, but a master plan to storm Parliament.
Penelope didn't know what to say to him, but she never thought she'd hear Colin's next words.
"Do you want to do it?"
The air in Penelope's lungs turned into ice, cold and heavy in her chest. She blinked several times, trying to get her brain working, but it must have taken too long, because Colin spoke nervously.
"This mid-air turn, I mean." He held her phone in the air, the screen turned towards her so she could see the happy couple from the video.
Penelope assumed the novel on her desk was astonishing, with its extremely detailed descriptions of wormhole travel, because there was no other explanation for Colin Bridgerton standing in her kitchen, holding her phone, asking her if she wanted to fly in his arms in the most romantic maneuver she'd ever seen.
She swallowed a huge gulp and closed her mouth, which had drooped since she'd seen him in the doorway. She nodded and moved slowly, afraid that her steps through the interdimensional void would expel her into space if she stepped wrong on the carpet.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Colin as he followed her movements, just as scared as she was. She turned and faced him. Their height difference felt so imposing, picturing herself as a defenseless dandelion and he as a construction crane ready to destroy her childhood playground. The Featherington drama ran through her veins!
They stared at each other for a few seconds, until he placed her cell phone on the counter, lowered both hands to his sides, and began walking slowly towards her.
His denim-blue eyes shone, wide open and fixed on her, as if there were no other soul on Earth. Penelope didn't even see his hands lift her arms; she only felt every nerve in her body exposed under his touch.
Colin's gaze was almost heavenly, erasing the past, present, and future of Penelope's life. No more doubts, fears or joys, just two eyes of the most remarkable shade of blue in the universe, watching her for the rest of eternity.
When Colin's face leaned slightly forward, Penelope felt the strongest anticipation of her entire life. That second between waiting and acting stabbed into her heart like a harpoon. When his hand placed itself on the back of her knee and began to lift it, Penelope was already reciting the promises to give her body, soul and mind to that man, as long as he kept his gaze fixed on hers.
Colin straightened again and his breath reached Penelope's face like a sweet, loving spring breeze. Her optician was going to scold her for not blinking, but she'd be damned if she lost even a moment of his gaze. The moment he took a step back, Penelope felt the harpoon tearing her heart, as if all that movement was meant just to destroy her. Another step back and she got a better look at Colin's face, his lips parted in a state of fearful anticipation, flushed all the way to his neck and ears, a light layer of sweat on his forehead.
Another step and now they were more than a meter apart, thanks to his long legs. Penelope's dreams seemed to be burning inside her mind, but she was still unable to move. Another step and Colin placed both feet together near the edge of the counter, his fingers wiggling wildly.
Penelope was ready to beg him not to be cruel to her heart, but instead she said three words she never imagined saying to Colin Bridgerton.
❤❤❤
A faint "I love you" pierced the air of the room and reached Colin like a spark of fire that ignited his soul in milliseconds. His eyes never left those pools of crystal-clear water that always brought him back home and he felt a strong tug pulling his guts. It was his heart calling to hers, like a string tightening, refusing to separate them.
Colin was no fool, and he knew he'd had feelings for Penelope Featherington since he was a teenager, but never thought he'd have the courage to unleash them, or that they would be so powerful.
He spent years traveling, collecting quite interesting experiences for his blog with thousands of followers, but kept the best anecdotes and thoughts in a notebook dedicated only to her, writing how the sunrise paled compared to her hair, how the sea water looked plain next to her eyes, how the nights felt cold without her embrace, and how his mind imagined her holding his hand at every stop.
Over the past few months, he was convinced his heart would burst with every message and meme Penelope sent him, so he thought of ways to convince her to see him as a potential romantic partner and not just her boring childhood friend.
He considered inviting her on a trip, using his Valentine's Day blog as a pretext for a romantic getaway, or even sending her some of his writing every morning and night, to win her over from afar so that she'd agree to go out with him upon his return.
But once Hyacinth shared a simple TikTok video where a guy is fortunate enough to pick up his lovely girlfriend and spin her around like she's a priceless treasure, Colin knew he wanted that. No trip to Caribbean beaches or 1 a.m. texts could compare to holding Penelope in his arms, wearing comfy couples' pajamas after a night of watching romantic movies on her Netflix profile.
Colin wanted a home with her, a life with her, and he knew it was time to return to London. He apologized to his team for interrupting his tour and assured them he'd give them a proper explanation when he had time, but right now his priority was being with Penelope. He finished his most urgent tasks and booked a flight.
As he packed his bags, his mind ran through various speeches and pleas to convince the goddess he called his best friend to allow him to love her.
On the ride to the airport, he looked for tips on how to declare his love, but none of them seemed authentic. The only video that stayed with him was that couple, holding each other with the strength of pure, wonderful love. During the flight, he imagined Penelope in his arms, spinning her around in the air like the fairy she was, her curls fanning out like flames and her laughter as a heavenly melody that brought mortals to their knees.
He didn't answer any messages from his family and tried to keep things light with Pen, sending a meme or two a day, nothing incriminating that said, "I love you like crazy, please love me back."
When he landed in London, he had a message from Anthony asking why his agent had sent a copy of the termination agreement (for future reference, don't list your older brother as legal representative), and the family chat was exploding with questions about why his location indicated he was back in England.
He decided not to answer and focus on seeing Pen. He knew she'd be working at home, possibly on her third cup of coffee, and that Eloise wouldn't be there to interrupt the loving speech his insides were begging to be released.
He arrived at the building, rang his family's code beep, and when the authorization to enter sounded, he began reviewing all the things he loved about Penelope Featherington. Her smile, her beauty, her kindness, her wisdom, her sense of humor, the touch of her hands when she massages his hair to relax him after a long flight, the understanding in her eyes when no one else understands him, the sweet hug she gives him every time she says goodbye to him at the airport and the even more emotional hug he receives when he returns to her.
When he reached her door, his heart was pounding in his chest, ready to burst out and give himself completely to Pen.
The moment he saw her, his mind went blank and only had the willpower to silence his silly sister on speakerphone. The following events passed like a mist before his eyes, but still was able to see his best friend, dressed in his college sweatshirt that looked a thousand times better on her and short sleep shorts. It was what he'd always dreamed of and he'd give his money, soul and even his last name to be able to love her forever, or just for a second—whatever she wanted to give him.
The fact that she was watching that very TikTok video was a gift from fate. After moving and placing her in the right position, he was ready to lift her into his arms, a privilege he would cherish for a lifetime.
He lost himself in her eyes, hoping she would see how in love he was, and when the "I love you" fell from her lips, a blinding sense of hope filled his heart, with Penelope looking at him with the same devotion he only saw in his dreams.
This was the only chance, and he wasn't going to waste it. He mentally prepared his arms and legs, commanding them not to be clumsy and to give the best demonstration of agility. His fingers tingled, eager to feel her completely. His chest felt like a rampaging beast, demanding that its sole owner possess his entire heart.
He inhaled as deeply as he could, for this was the movement that would take him to heaven, but it must have taken too long, for Penelope's balanced posture, with her arms raised and leg lifted, faltered, just as her expression lost that magical devotion and filled with sadness.
Colin would hate himself if he let Penelope Featherington touch the ground, and would condemn himself to a life of misery if he allowed her to think he didn't love her. With all his determination, he advanced towards her, raising his arms as if they only existed to lift this marvelous woman.
He could see the surprise on her face, replacing every hint of sadness with a joy that lit up the room. The smile Pen gave him in that moment was the most precious sight any man would ever see, and he felt his own face fill with happiness.
He was inches away from reaching her, and it felt like he entered her halo of magic and color, the only mortal who could touch her in her fairy form.
It took a millisecond to hold her in his arms, but it felt like a lifetime well lived. He looked her hopeful eyes, her sweet flushed face, and felt the gentle breeze of her breath reach his lips. Colin was a lucky man, and he would never doubt it.
❤❤❤
Penelope nearly shattered with anguish in the few seconds that passed since she said "I Love You". She thought Colin would rip every hope from her, and her posture, which she had held surprisingly steady for a while, faltered with terror.
Now that Colin was near again, she saw only love in his gaze. Fate was forgiving and gave her the greatest gift of all, in the form of the wonderful third Bridgerton.
Her heart stopped as soon as she felt his hands lifting her up and was finally convinced it wasn't a dream. Colin looked at her with undeniable love, twirling her in the air, treating her like she was the most precious being in his life, and for a moment, she felt that way. She had always known she was worthy enough to love Colin, but for the first time, she felt worthy of being loved by him.
She didn't know how long she was in Colin's arms, or which of them closed the distance, but when their noses touched and their breaths merged, she was sure there was no turning back.
❤❤❤
It was a quiet morning in London when Colin Bridgerton kissed Penelope Featherington... And it was glorious. Her weight in his arms was like a feather, delicate and soft, made to torment him for the rest of his life.
Her lips were sweet and velvety, and he was only a man that couldn't help but pull her closer to his body, hoping the imprint of her kisses would remain forever on his mouth, because he knew there would never be a better kiss than hers.
He stopped spinning and focused on loving her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and massaged his hair, awakening an animal instinct in him. Penelope was a force of the universe, blinding, and omnipresent; his body was hers to destroy and mend, though he still had yet to declare his love for her out loud.
The lack of air separated them, and he opened his eyes. There she was, the mermaid of his fantasies, the princess of his quests, the fairy of his travels, and the woman of his life. He didn't wait any longer.
"I love you, Penelope. I love you morning, noon, and night. I love you from a distance, and I love you when you hold me in your arms. I loved you in our youth, and I beg you to let me love you until our last days. I came home because I no longer want to miss a single one of your days, and because my body needed to adore you the way you deserve. I love you, Pen".
❤❤❤
Four months later, that TikTok video had a new comment from user @ColinBridgertonTravels. "Thank you," it says. His siblings and mother liked it as soon as he commented, but there was another Like, from user @ItsPenBridge.
That account only has one post, a reel of wedding photos with Colin wearing a suit and lifting Pen in his arms, while she's wearing a beautiful white dress. It has the same song from the viral video and one comment from Eloise: “So cheesy, but I can't deny they're in love.”