Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Penelope stood at the steps of Aubrey Hall, wondering how long it had been since she last knocked on those doors. Almost seven years, she realized.

Here she was back in England after seven years of wandering from place to place.

Penelope had started working for a charity organization that helped children around the world. Although her job mainly involved writing grant proposals to secure funding, she loved moving to different cities and being on the ground, being near the work herself.

She never stayed in one city for more than three months. It had simply been easier to leave everything behind besides the belongings that were confined in her luggage. She had traveled to quiet towns, made friends with locals, eaten and written outdoors. The moment a place began to feel too familiar, she packed up and moved on. For seven years she had lived through fleeting connections and temporary comforts.

But she had come back for her best friend’s wedding. She couldn’t say no to Eloise.

Throughout Penelope’s years abroad, Eloise had visited her often; they had stayed in touch through calls and messages. When Eloise told her she was getting married and asked Penelope to be her bridesmaid, Penelope had agreed without hesitation.

They discussed the logistics and planned everything while Penelope was still in Rastoke, Croatia. The plan was for her to arrive in time for Eloise’s hen do, a week before the wedding. So she packed her bags, booked an Airbnb, and returned.

And now she stood here, at the doors of Aubrey Hall, listening to the laughter and commotion inside, her hand hovering mid-air, wondering whether to knock.

She knocked on the door, hearing Eloise shout, “I'll open it, this must be…”

Then the door opened, and Eloise screamed in glee. “Pen!”

Eloise threw herself into Penelope’s arms with the tightest hug. Penelope laughed as she heard Hyacinth shriek and Daphne scream before they all joined the two into one big group hug.

When the three girls eventually released her, Penelope looked around to see Violet's eyes watering with her arms opened as Penelope went to her embrace. “My little girl, I am so proud of you.”

Penelope barely held the tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Violet, thank you!”

She looked around the room and greeted Kate and Sophie. They both pulled her into a friendly hug, while smiling at the Bridgerton sisters' antics. She had attended their weddings and seen them through many video calls whenever she was chatting to Eloise or Colin. 

Francessa came crossing from the living room arms wide open and pulled Penelope in for a hug. Then she turned around to introduce the girl next to her. “I want you to meet Michaela, my girlfriend,” Fran said, smiling.

Penelope’s face lit up as she turned to Michaela. “Hey! Fran and El have told me so much about you.”

They all settled back into the living room, laughing and chatting, asking Penelope about her work and the places she had visited. The atmosphere felt familiar and sweet, though tinged with a little sadness as she listened to all the stories she had missed back home. Still, she could see the pride in their eyes when she spoke about her job, and it warmed her heart to know they still considered her one of their own.

After the meal, most of the Bridgerton girls pushed Eloise to go out so they could set up their night. Laughing, Eloise said, “Okay, if I’m being pushed out, I’m taking Pen with me!” Before the girls could reply, she grabbed Penelope’s hand and led her outside, each of them holding a drink. “I want some time alone with you,” she said with a smile.

They walked as if guided by muscle memory, heading toward the small hill where they used to lie together. Stretching out on the grass, just like old times, they both sighed contentedly. It was one of those rare good English summer days, warm and the ground dry beneath them.

“I’ve missed you, El,” Penelope said softly. “I can’t believe you are getting married. Phil has really managed it.” She smiled.

Eloise smiled. “It feels weird, I always thought I would stay single forever. We would end up in a cottage somewhere with our books.”

“At least now the cottage will only have one library, not two. I would be able to invite you to visit me there,” Penelope said, smiling warmly.

They both laughed about their ridiculous thoughts of the future, gazing up at the stars.

“It has been a while, Pen. How does it feel being back ?” Eloise asked softly.

Penelope looked up at the sky. “I don’t know, El. I came back for one day and spent it with some of my favourite people. I’m not sure how it’ll be after staying for a whole week. I’ve never stayed this long in England in such a long time.”

Eloise looked at her. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”

Penelope knew where Eloise was heading and grinned. “Well, I was planning to buy something for a little boy I know and maybe spend the day with him and his father.”

Eloise sighed and smiled. “They’d both love that. I still don’t know how you managed to capture that little boy’s heart in just two days.”

Penelope smiled sadly. “When Colin came knocking on my door on my first day in Thessaloniki, Leo needed company while Colin was dealing with the aftermath of his separation from Contessa. Colin was so stressed, so I ended up taking Leo out for the two days. We ended up spending time exploring the new town together. He’s such a bright boy.”

Eloise nodded. “When Colin called me and said he’d been kicked out of the house with Leo and didn’t know where to go, I reminded him that you’d just moved to Greece. He hung up so quickly. I think he saw you as a lifeline.”

Penelope paused, wondering how things had unfolded, how much Colin had confided in his family, and just how badly things had gone with Contessa. “I think he didn’t want to take Leo to a hotel,” she said softly. “He wanted a house, a home, to soften the transition. He drove six hours with a three-year-old just to get to my place.”

Eloise replied, “You were amazing to support him during that time. I’m sure he was grateful. When he came back, Leo couldn’t stop talking about you. ‘Auntie Pen did this, Auntie Pen did that.’ It was so cute, borderline obsessive. But I guess anyone who knows you would love you like that.”

Penelope laughed at her best friend’s teasing, though her heart tugged at the thought of how much she meant to Leo. She always made sure to call him and send gifts to London. She had really wanted to visit them both, but every time she mentioned it to Colin, he would quickly dismiss the idea. She didn’t know why, but she often wondered if those small moments, those fragile kisses they had shared over the years, had made it hard for them to stay within the lines. It always seemed that whenever life brought them close, they ended up kissing. And yet, it never went further. Eloise looked at her with a furrowed brow. “Where did you go, Pen?”

Penelope sighed. “Down memory lane, this house, this garden, have seen a lot from us.”

Suddenly they heard Daphne and Hyacinth shouting out of the patio door. “The bride is needed inside!”

Both girls looked at each other and started walking toward the house. The music was loud, and a couple of shirtless waiters were busy making cocktails at the bar. A disco ball hung in the middle of the big living room, and Eloise squealed as the girls placed a tiara on her head with the word Bride written across the top.

Penelope asked as she looked at the girls who definitely had a couple of drinks while they were out, “Where’s Violet?”

Daphne laughed and replied, “I think she saw the plans and decided she’d rather go back to her home.”

The girls started dancing, and Penelope joined them. As laughter and drinks filled the room, Penelope decided that if she wanted to stick to her plans for tomorrow, she’d better stop drinking after her first cocktail. She discreetly went to the waiter and asked to have her drinks switched to mocktails. All the girls were planning to stay the night at the house, but Pen didn’t want to be hungover with her plans for the next day.

After a couple of hours of dancing and drinks, they all collapsed onto the couches just as the waiters danced for them. It was a fitting end to their night; filled with laughter and not-so-innocent jokes. Eventually, they all stumbled off to their rooms, too drunk to be coherent. Penelope, having saved herself from that fate, stayed behind long enough to close up after the waiters-turned-dancers left for the evening, then went to her room to sleep it off, setting her alarm for the early morning.

She went into her room and laid on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind drifted to how the last two times she’d seen Colin in the flesh had ended—with them making out. It was a ridiculous thought to have, especially since she was planning to see him tomorrow.

But being here, in Aubrey Hall, stirred too many memories. She found herself thinking of their moment under the willow tree, their goodbye kiss before he set off to travel the world and she began her job with the U.N. They had agreed that one kiss would be their farewell, a harmless way to mark the end of a chapter. Yet that kiss had ruined her for anyone else.

She sighed, remembering that other time. Colin had come to her with Leo, weighed down by the burden of a failing marriage. He had confessed how unhealthy things had become with Contessa, how her unexpected pregnancy had pushed them into a marriage built on obligation rather than love. He was so vulnerable, and though she knew the marriage had been a result of circumstance, the toxic thoughts swirling in Colin’s mind back then had been overwhelming.

The night before his morning flight to London with Leo, Penelope had leaned into him again, sharing a soft, lingering kiss. His response had been just as tender and vulnerable, a quiet confirmation of how much they meant to each other. But, as always, life had other plans.

Penelope was woken up when her alarm sounded. She turned it off and slowly began getting ready for the day. She was quietly excited to go visit them. Although they knew she would be coming, she decided to start early. After a quick shower and dressing, she tiptoed around the house, knowing that everyone was probably still sleeping off the previous night’s celebrations. Before leaving, she quickly left a message on the kitchen table.

She drove toward the outskirts of London, to the area where she knew Colin had moved to. Her first stop was a large toy shop, where she picked out several Lego sets for Leo, along with a couple of children’s books. Then she drove to the address Colin had given her a year ago, when he’d first moved. Pulling into the driveway, she glanced at the clock and realized it wasn’t even 9:30 yet.

She wondered if she was too eager, perhaps arriving too early, but before she could change her mind, she remembered Colin once complaining that Leo always woke him up at dawn and that their mornings never started late. Smiling at the thought, she gathered her courage, stepped out of the car, and walked up to the house to knock on the door.

She waited in front of the house, listening for the little boy’s excited voice shouting, “Daddy, Daddy! Do you think that’s Auntie Pen?”

Colin’s voice came, a touch cautious. “Leo, I told you, Auntie Pen will be coming later today. She’s busy and might have had a late night. We just need to be a bit patient.”

Leo replied quickly, “I’m sure she’ll come to see me soon! She likes spending time with me, she tells me that every time.”

As Colin opened the door, he started, “Leo, please, I don’t want to spend the whole morning talking about when…” He stopped mid-sentence as he saw Pen smiling brightly at him. “Pen!” he exclaimed.

The door swung open to reveal Colin with loose joggers and a tight, obviously sleeping t-shirt and Leo in his pyjamas. Leo let out a squeal of delight when he saw the person he’d been waiting for and threw himself into her arms. Pen dropped to her knees to catch him.

“My favourite boy,” she said warmly.

She looked up to see Colin’s eyes full of appreciation and something else she couldn’t quite place. He reached out a hand to help her up after bearing the weight of a five-year-old. She smiled politely, took his hand, and said, “Hey, Col.”

Leo’s attention quickly shifted to the bags in her hand. “Auntie Pen, what did you get from the toy shop?”

Colin, feeling a bit uneasy at how forward Leo was, said, “Leo, what did we say about asking people questions like that?”

Penelope smiled at Leo. “Oh, Leo, these are just some things I got for you. Do you want to take them inside?”

Leo eagerly grabbed the bag from her and dashed toward the living room. Colin called after him, trying to rein in his son’s unstoppable energy. “Leo, please don’t open anything until we come in!”

“Yes, Daddy!” Leo shouted back without even turning around.

Penelope laughed at Colin and gave his arm a quick squeeze as he sighed, rubbing his temple with his other hand. “Don’t worry, Col. It’s all okay,” she said gently.

He looked at her, and again there was that expression in his eyes, something she still couldn’t name. “Oh, Pen,” he said quietly, “it’s good to see you in the flesh.” He simply wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her head against his chest. They stood like that longer than they probably should have.

Then Leo’s voice broke the moment. “Auntie Pen! Daddy! Can I please open up my presents? Please, please, please!”

Leo beamed up at them, his face lit with the widest smile and the most exaggerated puppy-dog eyes.

Colin quickly released Pen, straightening up and switching to his “dad” voice. “Can we please finish our breakfast first and change into our daytime clothes? Then we can ask Auntie Pen, okay?”

Leo turned to Pen, still smiling, trying to nudge her for backup. Pen laughed softly. “We both have to listen to your dad, right?”

Leo sighed in mock defeat, then seemed to decide it was best to listen this time. “I’m full from breakfast already! I’ll go change quickly!” he called, running up the stairs.

“Don’t forget to brush your teeth!” Colin shouted after him.

“Yes, yes!” came the muffled reply.

Colin shook his head at his son’s antics, then smiled at Pen. “Coffee? Breakfast?”

“Coffee sounds perfect,” she said, walking beside him as he guided her toward the kitchen.

She glanced around as they entered. The remnants of breakfast with a boy were obvious, a big bowl of cereal without milk, a cup of milk next to it, and a half-eaten bagel on another plate.

Pen looked at Colin. “You haven’t finished your breakfast…” Her eyes landed on the bagel.

He smiled. “Nah, that was Leo’s. We had a lot of different breakfast orders this morning.”

Pen chuckled at his answer, then met his eyes. “How have you been, Colin? How’s it going?”

Colin smiled a soft but sad smile. “I’m okay. He’s growing up and becoming an amazing boy. It’s been a journey”

Pen smiled as he grabbed the coffee mugs and started frothing the milk. “And how is work?”

Colin sighed. “It’s good, working with so many talented people around the world. I miss the traveling, though. I know I missed a lot of Leo’s early years, building this travel agency across Europe.” He swallowed before continuing. “When we had to come back, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to make it work. But it did. I’ve got some great people across Europe I can depend on. And now, I’m here for Leo.”

Pen asked the question she had never dared to ask over the phone. It always felt like something she needed to see his face for, to feel his answer, not just hear it. “Does she ever call? Did she reach out to Leo?”

Colin gave a sad smile, his voice tinged with bitterness. “No, she doesn't. Leo’s even stopped asking about her. He asks about you more than her.” His tone shifted, edged with mild annoyance. “He learned not to ask anymore. The last time he did, I gave him my phone so he could send her a message but she never replied. Now he doesn’t even try.”

Pen winced. “I’m sorry, Colin. I’m sure that sense of betrayal isn’t easy for either of you.”

“Yeah,” Colin said quietly. “It’s not. But you learn to live with it. I just want to make sure he knows he deserves love in his life. That’s all I aim for—making sure he knows he’s loved. And somehow, also teaching him discipline. Be a parent”

Pen smiled, eager to lift the mood as she heard the little boy’s footsteps thundering down the stairs. “I’m glad. Well, I’m looking forward to a day of chaos with my boys. I’ve heard stories about your fun days from El.”

Leo came thundering down to the kitchen before Colin even had a chance to answer Pen. A wide smile spread across Leo’s face as he ran up to her. As he got closer, Pen began to notice the funny little mistakes that came from a five-year-old dressing himself, his trousers were on backwards, with the back pockets facing the front. But fashion clearly wasn’t on Leo’s mind. He looked up at Pen with the biggest puppy eyes and pleaded, “Can I start one of the Lego sets now? PLEEEAAASE?”

Pen tried her best not to laugh at Leo’s sweet antics. She glanced over at Colin, who was watching Leo and looking at her, with a soft, slightly sad expression. When she caught his gaze, he smiled at her predicament.

“Leo,” Colin said gently, “how about you come with me to the bathroom so we can fix your trousers? Auntie Pen will finish brewing our coffee and meet us in the living room.”

Pen finished their coffee, pouring each a cup, as Colin guided Leo to the bathroom. A few minutes later, she carried the mugs into the living room just as Colin and Leo returned. Leo’s clothes now properly tucked in and his trousers the right way round. He ran straight to the floor, eagerly inspecting the Lego boxes spread out before him.

Pen took her coffee in hand and sat down on the floor next to Leo, who looked eager to open the biggest box in the collection spread around him. Colin moved about the room, bringing her a small table to set her coffee on before settling on the other side of Leo.

Leo began announcing, in a loud and excited voice, how many pieces were in each box, finally declaring the one with the biggest number the winner. He then turned to Pen and asked her to open it for him. Just as she was about to, Colin gave her a look that said he would take care of it. She smiled and passed the box to him.

Soon, the three of them found an easy rhythm together. Leo sifted through the bags and instruction sheets while Pen and Colin helped him find the right pieces or gave a gentle push when a stubborn brick wouldn’t fit.

A couple of hours passed as they became completely absorbed in the activity. When Leo finally finished the set, he immediately started asking to open another one. Colin, switching to his fatherly voice, said, “How about we go to the park with Auntie Pen? You could take your bike.”

Leo’s eyes lit up with happiness. “Yes! Would you like to see me on my bike, Auntie Pen?”

Pen smiled at the overly excited little boy. “Yes, I would love that.”