Work Text:
ONE
They started like a lot of relationships do - with a whisper and not a bang. With a casual notice across the room. With a smile that lasted a bit too long when they were introduced to each other. With a giggle at a joke that could have been funnier. With a nervous hand straightening through hair, trying to look as polished as possible for each other.
They were all the sort of interactions that were usually unnoticed by everyone else besides the couple involved. And these interactions would have remained unnoticed if Colin wasn’t laser focused on Penelope’s every move.
Not that it mattered. She hadn’t looked at him once since she walked into the pub. Not when he had smiled at her in greeting, faltering only when she walked away to Eloise’s side. Not when he had tried to approach her at the bar and she had turned away to the restroom. Not even when he accidentally dropped his plate of chips, so focused on Penelope that he hadn’t noticed the bar top was about six inches farther away than he thought.
Colin knew he had messed up and that the second her name had left Fife’s lips, he should have punched him speechless. But he did not do that and had actually done much worse when he laughed that awful, cloying chuckle at Fife’s comments about that chubby bird eyeing him up. Or when he had put on his best facade and added a cruel never going to happen to the laughter of those complete idiots. Even now, months later, that scene haunted his nightmares when they were not otherwise preoccupied by the look on Penelope’s face when he had turned around to see her standing right behind them.
Colin had done the right thing, of course, and apologized. Groveled really. And Penelope had technically forgiven him. At least she said the words. But she also had not talked to him since then. Never responded to his long emails during his travels except to say “Sounds like a blast. Must run!” Left his texts on read or sent back the most perfunctory of responses. Largely ignored him in person except when she was absolutely forced to interact with him.
That Colin was taking Penelope’s cold shoulder worse than a break-up remained unnoticed by everyone except every Bridgerton who shook their heads at him sympathetically behind his back.
And now, she was flirting with some tall, blonde idiot at Colin’s welcome home party.
Colin did not even want to go to this pub. He wanted a quiet night in with his family and Penelope so he could corner Penelope, fall to his knees and beg her to speak to him again. For some reason, he was outvoted and everyone came to this pub instead.
Now that he thought about it, this was actually the worst night of his life so far, only each night before it was the competition.
Only tonight, his night got much worse when he finally made it home to his stale, barely-decorated executive apartment that Anthony had found for him. Colin shoved off his pants in frustration and landed heavily on his too-firm couch, beer sloshing around in his belly and head, when he finally noticed the notification on his phone.
Penelope Featherington and Alfred Debling are now friends
Briefly shocked before recovering, Colin furiously tapped away at the notification, willing it to open faster, and there he was. The tall, blonde man at the bar. Penelope’s new friend.
Colin clicked on his name and a picture of the man - Alfred Debling - appeared on his screen. He was outside in the snow, smiling with eyes crinkled against the sun. Holding a penguin stuffie up to the camera. Like a complete and utter fool.
Colin scrolled through the profile. He was a Professor of Zoology at University College London. He had a birthday recently because his profile was filled with birthday messages from people calling him “mate” and “chum.” They had mutual friends. Eloise Bridgerton??? Colin gaped at his traitorous sister’s name before he remembered she was dating a lecturer at UCL. Is that why Alfred Debling was at the pub tonight? Because of Pippa? Colin knew there was something wrong with Pippa besides her interest in Eloise.
It was past 3:00 a.m. and Colin felt the heartburn of beer and soggy chips. His stomach hurt. His head hurt. His heart hurt. He needed to go to bed and let a night of restless sleep pull him through to the next day. He did not need to do what he did next. But he did it anyway.
He opened a new browser on his phone and entered Alfred Debling’s name into the search bar. An hour later, he dropped his phone in exhaustion and, if he was being honest with himself, depression.
Alfred Debling was the Jodrell Professor of Zoology while Colin was a glorified influencer. Debling, no, Professor Debling, had done his undergraduate studies at Oxford a few years after Colin had, except unlike Colin, he got in on his merit and his academics, having come from a middle class living from the residential outskirts of Bristol. And unlike Colin, he had finished Oxford instead of faffing off a year away from a degree. He had spent years doing a postdoc at various renowned institutions Colin had only heard of when forced to attend a gala or benefit. He had probably been at one of the events, forced to mingle with the likes of Colin and his family in exchange for research funds. He had written numerous articles about the evolutionary lineage of birds. Colin couldn’t even find it in himself to make fun of this man’s chosen passion because what was his? Finding the best five best beaches you can bike to?
And now this Professor of fucking Zoology was clearly interested in Penelope. Penelope who was the youngest society writer to work at Vogue UK. Penelope who had secretly authored and published a best-selling fictional account of high society while simultaneously taking honors literature and psychology courses at university and balancing her family’s spiral into scandal and bankruptcy. Penelope, whose book and articles had pulled her family out of the trenches. Of course, Colin realized glumly, of course she was interested in Alfred Debling.
Colin managed to pull the trash can to him just in time as he retched into a garbage can that still had a price tag sticker.
TWO
Anthony made it no secret that he stressed about his family. Even when every Bridgerton was at their best, he worried about them. And despite public appearances, the Bridgertons were rarely at their best. Privileged lives aside, every single one of them seemed afflicted by the type of personal demons that kept Anthony awake most nights. It was only after Kate came into his life that he was able to let go, let people live their own lives with a stroke of her hand across his furrowed brow.
Sometimes though, his siblings’ worries still got through and Anthony worked on doing what he did best, finding solutions. When Benedict’s always loose-handed dabbling in drugs and liquor reached worrying, near daily levels, Anthony discretely looked into private rehabilitation centers. When Daphne and Simon went through that extended cold spell, Anthony made inquiries of several renowned couples therapists.
Stresses aside, Anthony was a fixer. Which is why his inability to fix Colin was driving him mad.
Colin had always been a particular worry for Anthony. Sure, Benedict had chosen a life off the beaten path too but he seemed to find purpose and a life in his art world. Colin, on the other hand, seemed to be floundering. Was he a travel influencer? When he had been stuck in London for months, refusing to travel?
Ordinarily, Anthony knew he should have been delighted at Colin being around. Colin had a unique ability to charm everyone in the room and to bring his particular sunlight to every get-together. But not the Colin of late who had spent the last several months, scowling into the bottom of a half empty pint. Attempts to draw him into conversation were usually left one-sided. To make things worse, Colin was not even keeping his depression at home alone. He insisted on being at every event and gala, sad-faced and dour. Just last week, Kate made the mistake of sitting Colin next to bright, bubbly Edwina at their baby shower. Even with her endless positivity, Edwina faltered when describing the event to her husband, Matthew Bagwell.
Anthony was not an idiot. He was often described as stubborn and admittedly refused to see what was right in front of him (whatever, Kate!) but he was no idiot. He knew the only time Colin looked out of his sad, empty beer was when Penelope Featherington walked into a room.
In a lighter moment recently, Anthony and Benedict had commented that it was ironic that after years of watching Penelope gaze after Colin, now Colin was the one gazing after her. Only Penelope wasn’t looking at Colin anymore. And to make it worse, she had Albie with her. Or Alfred, whatever his name was.
It went the same way every time Colin and Penelope were at the same event. Colin would stare into his empty glass until Penelope arrived and then he would briefly, happily light up. But then either Penelope would ignore him or worse, Alfred showed up. Then Colin spent the rest of the day looking like he was on the verge of tears while everyone tried to pretend he was not on the verge of tears. It was exhausting.
Anthony had wanted to intervene ages ago but Kate had stopped him, making comments under her breath that Colin needed to figure this out on his own.
But now Anthony could wait no longer. Not when he received his weekly credit report check that Colin’s credit had dropped drastically low and that he had pulled a large amount of money out of his account as a cash withdrawal. Imagining his little brother being extorted by some criminal enterprise, Anthony had put on his best Viscount voice and summoned Colin to Bridgerton House for an immediate and urgent meeting.
Channeling what he thought the head of the family should look like in this moment, Anthony immediately deflated when Colin walked in, head down, skin sallow and face drawn. Anthony sighed and against his better judgment, poured a small glass of scotch for Colin.
Anthony led Colin over to the deep couch and sat down.
“What happened?” he asked Colin. Did Anthony mean what happened to the money? Or what happened to Colin? Anthony did not really know but would take any answer.
Colin took a deep breath and looked up, meeting Anthony’s worry with his own sad eyes. And he confessed.
It was not drugs. It was not pornography. It was worse. He had hired someone claiming to be a dark web private investigator who searched for all the hidden flaws and red flags for a subject that would not be accessible through proper, legal channels.
Anthony rubbed his face. What kind of world had Colin gotten into? Was he into organized crime? God, was someone after him? Did Anthony need to hire security? It would have to be round the lock obviously. Anthony was spiraling so hard and fast that he almost missed the subject of Colin’s foray into the dark web.
“Alfred Debling!?” Anthony sputtered incredulously. “What in the hell are you doing searching for Alfred Debling on the dark web?”
“There’s nothing negative about him on the internet, Ant. He’s a fucking saint. He’s smart. He’s successful. He’s ambitious. He’s a good friend. He cannot be all of these things. There must be something wrong with him!”
Anthony stared at Colin in shock as he attempted to explain why in the hell he was searching for the most vanilla, basic beige man Anthony had ever known on the dark web.
“I thought, there has to be something about him out there. Something Pen does not know about. Something she ought to know about.” Colin rambled.
Anthony gaped at him. “And…and did you find something?”
Colin sighed and looked down again. “I mean…He has an uncle in Bristol who was cited for driving under the influence and he has a cousin there who voted for Brexit…but I also don’t think he speaks to that part of the family…”
Anthony could not help himself. He barked out a laugh so loud that Colin jumped. And he did not stop laughing even when Colin shoved him hard against the couch.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Anthony managed between laughs, “despite appearances, I am not laughing at you.”
Colin scowled at him.
Anthony tried to rein it in. He needed to keep it together. “You have to understand. I thought you were about to be kidnapped by a gang. But instead you’re just googling Alfred fucking Debling.” Anthony couldn’t help it. He burst into laughter again.
Colin made to stand up and storm out but Anthony pulled him back down.
“Okay, okay. Look. I’m better now. I’m sorry. I’ll stop.” Anthony took a deep breath. “But why are you going to this effort about Alfred Debling?”
“Because Pen should know who she’s really with. He cannot be so perfect. There has to be something wrong with him.”
Anthony considered Colin’s explanation. “Mmm, that’s nice. But I don’t think that’s right.”
Colin looked confused. “It’s not?”
“No, that’s not why you’re looking into him.”
“Okay,” Colin sat back and crossed his arms, “why don’t you tell me why I’m looking into him if you know so much?”
“It’s because you’re in love with Penelope.”
Colin gaped at him.
“And before you deny it, it’s obvious. I mean, you -“
“I love Pen.”
“Right and like I said, before you deny it- wait, what?”
“You’re right. You’re completely right. I’m in love with Pen. This is why I feel like someone is pulling out my heart. Why I feel like Alfred Debling is pulling out my heart. It’s because I love her.”
“Okay…this conversation is going a lot better than I thought it would.”
“I need to tell her. Where is she? Is she with Eloise? I need to -“
“Wait. Wait. Wait. You cannot tell her yet.”
“Are you out of your mind? She is with that human penguin. At any moment, Alfred Debling is going to propose to her when he realizes what a prize he has. As a matter of fact, do you think I could get into the family vault before I talk to Pen?”
“No, no. No! You are not talking to Penelope now and you are certainly not proposing to her now.”
“But -“
“Colin, please know that I say this with a deep and irrevocable love for you but look at yourself. You are a mess. And you have been a mess with Penelope. If you reveal it all to her now, she will not believe you. You need to get yourself together first.”
“Oh god. You’re right.”
“Of course, I’m right. I am always right.”
“You thought I was going to get kidnapped by the mob.”
“You spent an ungodly amount of money searching the dark web about Alfred Debling. Which is worse?”
“Fair.”
And for the first time in months, Anthony saw the glimmers of his brother return. God, he hoped Colin could pull himself together in time for Penelope. He did not want to see what waited for Colin on the other side if Penelope rejected him. And while Anthony had every confidence in his brother, he knew he needed to endure a conversation with Edwina’s deeply pedantic husband, Matthew Bagwell. Anthony vaguely remembered him bringing up some type of fellowship about birds sponsored by his institution the last time they were over for dinner…
THREE
When push came to shove came to Anthony thinking he was going to get kidnapped by the mob, Colin was surpassingly efficient in getting his act together.
He stopped drinking. He stopped moping (at least outwardly). He stopped glowering at everyone (well, except at Alfred Debling).
And he started showing up for Pen. He did not scatter when she brushed him off initially. He did not hide away with his tail tucked between his legs when she scowled at him. But more importantly, he actually apologized for what had happened with Fife.
Not for Penelope overhearing something she shouldn’t have. Not for acting like one of the boys with the boys. But for saying something cruel about someone he cared about. For saying something untrue.
Penelope had blinked rapidly at this admission, at his insistence that what he had said about how he and Penelope were never going to happen was untrue.
“You mean, it could theoretically happen. Like if an asteroid hit the earth and we were the only two humans left to…erm, repopulate, then -“
“No,” Colin shook his head firmly. He held Penelope’s incredulous look. “No. It’s not true. If an asteroid hit the earth and we were the only two left, well…then lucky me that it’s you…” he trailed off softly.
Penelope stared at him, her eyes now unblinking, dropping briefly to his lips.
Colin took a breath. “”Being with you, Pen, would be…is…all that I -“
“And that’s one white wine spritz for you, Penelope,” interrupted Alfred Debling, with the worst timing. Couldn’t he tell that Colin was about to make a move on his girlfriend??
Through his customary glower at Alfred Debling, Colin noticed him shuffle closer to Penelope and wondered if perhaps he did know Colin was about to make a move.
Fortunately for everyone involved, the group was soon interrupted by Anthony who had curiously brought Edwina’s partner, Matthew Bagwell, to the pub. Every Bridgerton knew that Bagwell famously and often bored Anthony to tears so why he was at this pub was anyone’s guess..
“Albie!” Anthony boomed while clapping Alfred Debling roughly on the shoulder.
“It’s Alfre-“
“Have you met my brother-in-law, Matthew?” Anthony continued as if Alfred had not spoken. “He’s a researcher at Oxford and he was just telling me the other night at dinner about this issue he’s having about some pigeons.”
“Penguins,” interjected Matthew.
“Tomato, tomahto. And I thought I know just the man to help. So why don’t you,” Anthony put one arm around Alfred Debling’s shoulder, “and Bagwell come with me and let’s figure out if we can’t help you both square away your birds.” Anthony swung his other arm around Bagwell’s shoulder and led the two men away.
If Colin wasn’t so grateful about Anthony’s interruption, he would almost feel bad for the conversation Anthony was willingly exposing himself to. But Colin knew he was running on borrowed time. He was at a pub night with his siblings. If Alfred Debling wasn’t going to take Pen’s attention, any of his other siblings and siblings-in-laws would. He needed to make sure Pen understood him clearly.
Colin grabbed Penelope’s hand and pulled her closer to him at the bar. When she finally stood close enough that he could see clearly into her apprehensive blue eyes, he spoke.
“I’m sorry. I know I said that already but I want to say it again.”
Penelope held his gaze for a beat before she swallowed and nodded.
“I know. I know you’re sorry. And I hope, more than anything, that we can be friends again.”
Colin stepped minutely closer to Penelope. He held her gaze as hers widened slightly in alarm and…something promising.
“No,” he murmured, shaking his head.
Penelope’s brows furrowed slightly. “No? No, you don’t want to be friends?”
Colin’s eyes dropped to Penelope’s mouth and then back up to her eyes. He reached out and rubbed the hem of Penelope’s soft jumper between his fingers, pulling at it slightly.
“No, I don’t want to be just your friend.” Colin caught movement in his periphery and noticed Alfred Debling narrowing his eyes at whim.
Colin did not have much more time and he was not going to half ass this. He stepped back out of Penelope’s space, gratified when she nearly took a step forward to follow him.
Colin felt Penelope’s eyes on him from then on, even when Alfred Debling approached her again, talking as excitedly as his beigeness could manage about some inane topic. Even as they were leaving and Alfred Debling slipped his hand into hers, Colin felt Penelope watching him.
He could be patient. He could wait for her to realize he was worth it. But it turned out that he did not have to wait for long at all.
Two weeks later, sitting at his laptop on a quiet evening, Colin heard the ping of a new email and clicked over to his inbox. He clicked open the new message and skimmed over the contents like he did every time he received one of these alerts. But this time, his heart stopped as he read. Reading the words out loud to himself one more time, Colin hesitated only briefly before he grabbed his jacket and ran out of his apartment, leaving all his lights on and his laptop browser open to his inbox:
Subject: Google Alert - Alfred Debling
Daily Update
NEWS
2026 Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Fellowship Awarded to UCL Professor Alfred Debling
FOUR
Colin groaned in relief as he finally sat back at his desk and rested his head against the seat back for a minute. He closed his eyes for barely a minute before he heard a knock on the door.
Colin opened his eyes in time to see Greg pop his head in to the study, smile on his face.
“Oy. Aggie is down. Made me go through seven books but to her credit, she read six of them to me. Just checking to see if you needed anything before I pop off to meet the girls.”
Colin smiled tiredly at Greg and waved his arm at him.
“No, all good. Have fun. Make sure Pen drinks-“
“Yes, yes, yes, Grandpa,” Greg interrupted as he slipped his leather jacket on,”Everyone will hydrate. She’ll be back safe and sound later.”
Colin chuckled at him as he dashed out the door to meet Penelope and the rest of the Bridgerton women for their Ladies + Greg night out. Anthony, Benedict and Colin had bristled initially at the idea of Greg being involved and not them but the Bridgerton women had insisted on including their honorary sister much to Greg’s delight. As a penance, however, the traitor had to come over to one of the brothers’ houses to help get the kids to sleep before he met everyone out. Tonight was Colin’s turn.
In the quiet of the study, Colin turned to his baby monitor app and toggled the screen between Agatha, asleep in her new big girl bed while clutching a novel in her arms like a stuffie, and Thomas, butt up in the air as he snored lightly in his crib. Colin grinned at the sight of the kids and took a quick screenshot to send to Penelope.
Colin heard the ping of the text he sent through his laptop on the desk and another ping on his cellphone as Penelope quickly hearted the pictures and sent several heart emojis. Colin smiled and put his phone to the side as he turned to his laptop to work on his latest manuscript.
He minimized the screen of Penelope’s text messages open on his laptop and opened the Internet browser. During a younger and more insecure stage, when he was dating Marina, Colin would have hesitated at the open messages and perhaps even read them surreptitiously. It was how he found out about George after all. But now, married to Penelope for seven years and with two children asleep upstairs, Colin felt no desire to invade her privacy like that. He trusted Penelope in his bones, just like he knew she trusted him. Besides, he thought amusedly, half her messages were probably from him with the rest likely from Eloise.
Colin turned back to the browser on his laptop, which Penelope had been using earlier to check Instagram. It was still open and refreshed to the most recent posts on her feed. Which is why Colin was taken aback to see a picture of Alfred Debling on his screen.
Alfred was smiling at the camera and looked exhausted but not the kind of tired that suggested weariness. Colin recognized this kind of tiredness. He had seen it in his own eyes tonight as he looked up in the bathroom mirror tonight while rubbing some of Thomas’s nightly spit up off his shirt.
Alfred Debling looked happy. And the cause of his happiness was the little bundle he cradled on his shoulder on top of a familiar looking burp cloth.
Colin could barely make out the face of a pudgy baby in the picture but he could feel the phantom presence of his own son’s chubby cheek against his shoulder, sweet breath puffing in and out.
Alfred had posted this picture only a few minutes ago. The caption was simple, “Nights now.” Colin could see a few warm wishes and congratulations starting to populate the post.
Colin had not thought about Alfred Debling seriously in years. He knew Penelope still kept in touch with him and he knew that Alfred had likely blocked him on most social media. Penelope had referenced knowing about Alfred’s engagement and marriage from social media posts and Colin had seen none of these so he surmised that when he had literally stepped in this man’s relationship, Debling had rightly blamed Colin instead of Penelope.
Colin was honestly fine with it. He could not bring himself to feel bad at his actions, not when it had led him to Pen, Agatha and Thomas. And hopefully to later additions to their growing family.
Suddenly, awash with gratitude, Colin clicked on Alfred’s profile and switched over to the messages tab. He saw a sprinkling of messages back and forth between Alfred and Pen. Some “Congratulations!” from her and laughing emojis as he commented on a story of hers.
Before he could stop himself, Colin started typing.
“Congratulations, man. This is Colin, btw. I’m on Pen’s profile. Your baby looks beautiful and you look knackered but happy. All the best, CB”
He hit send and watched as the message quickly registered as “Read.”
Colin expected that to be it but he was surprised to see a bubble pop up indicating that Alfred was typing. The bubbles disappeared and then reappeared after a minute. Then a message:
“Thanks. I have to admit I’m pretty surprised to see your name.”
Colin typed back.
“I get it. No need to respond further. Just a congratulations for these wonderful days”
The bubbles popped up again.
“You too. You know, I was angry at you for the longest time. Now with this little guy in my arms, I can’t even remember what about.”
Colin smiled and took a leap.
“Honestly, I know. I’ve never done to someone what I did to you. And frankly, I cannot bring myself to give a damn.”
Surprisingly, Alfred reacted with a laughing emoji and a message.
“And I’m so glad you did that to me. Cheers”
Colin liked the message and closed out the window, recognizing the end of the conversation. Barely a minute later, he had a notification on his phone.
“Alfred Debling requested to follow you.”
Colin accepted the request and requested a follow back which must have been approved quickly because soon, Alfred’s life popped up on his screen. There, he could see his new baby, his wife’s pregnancy, their new house, his wedding surrounded by plenty of smiling faces.
And he finally understood the man.