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“Happy Birthday Hy!” Penelope cheered as the younger girl launched herself at her seconds after answering the door,
“Thank you, Penelope” she beamed, “Nice to see you too, Alfie” Hyacinth added with significantly less enthusiasm.
“Happy Birthday, Hyacinth” he smiled genially.
“Come in, come in, nearly everyone is here”
Today was Hyacinth Bridgerton’s 17th Birthday; she had spent the last three months planning every second of it, from the food to the music to the decoration and everything in between.
The goal of the day? Make everyone bend to her will, because who could refuse the birthday girl?
Anthony had already bought her a new phone, although she couldn’t feel all that bad about that one, he had offered. She had managed to convince Francesca to learn a substantial amount of Taylor Swift to be played during the party. Benedict had finally given in and agreed to teach her to paint in his studio, despite her ‘chaotic nature’, The sister-in-laws had promised her a spa weekend. For Eloise, she knew better than to try to convince her to do anything. But next up on her list was Penelope.
She wasn’t completely unreasonable. Hyacinth gave her half an hour to say hello to everyone, grab some food and a glass of wine before she cornered her.
“Ohhhhh Penelope” she called out in a sing-songy voice,
“Yes, Hyacinth” she said, already knowing something was coming,
“Did you know it is my birthday?” she said innocently
“You mean the banners and the balloons aren’t normally here? Hmm?” Penelope grinned,
“Well…I was hoping you would grant me one of my birthday wishes”
“You are playing dirty with that” she said with a raised eyebrow and a subtle air of approval.
“I thought it was clever” she shrugged, “but anyway…I need you to help me film a TikTok”
“Is that it?” Penelope said sceptically,
“I was hoping you would be in it…please…”
One thing that Penelope always found difficult was saying no to Bridgerton number eight. She had met her for the first time when she was two days old, and immediately had everyone in the vicinity wrapped around her little finger. Not to say it wasn’t deserved, Penelope mused. Hyacinth was incredibly kind, outgoing, and passionate, and Penelope could say with the utmost confidence that Hyacinth Bridgerton was one of her most favourite people in the world.
“Fine?”
“Wait, really?” She beamed,
“Yes, Hy” she smiled, “what are we doing?”
“Here…let me show you”
“Anthony?” Hyacinth said to get his attention, phone already recording when Penelope slipped in the side and went to hug him. He did look confused, but he set down the beer bottle he had in his hand and hugged her tightly without reservation.
“Everything ok?” He asked, and Penelope nodded,
“Thank you!” Hyacinth beamed, speeding off to find her next victim.
“It’s her birthday, I have been roped in…”
“Say no more” he laughed, with a shake of the head, “Good luck with whatever she is doing”
“Benedict is in the kitchen” Hyacinth informed her, pushing her into the room,
He was just grabbing a glass from the cupboard when he saw her,
“Hey, Pen”, he smiled,
When she put her arms out and hugged him, his smile got even wider, and he let out a laugh, tightening his arms around her and lifting her into the air, making Penelope let out a little squeal. Then they both burst into laughter.
“Oh, this is going exactly how I wanted it to” Hyacinth clapped, “This is gold!”
“Do I want to know?” He asked, turning to Penelope,
“Probably not”
He nodded and followed them back into the garden,
“Alfie?” Hyacinth said, taking a much different approach to the others, “I was wondering if you would mind being part of my birthday video. It would mean so much to me”
Philip bit his lip in an attempt to stifle his laughter. He, who was well used to his girlfriend’s sister’s antics, knew she was on a guilt trip, but Alfie was too in the dark to know any better.
“Oh…erm…ok, if you want me in it”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She beamed,
“What do I need to do?” He asked,
“Just pretend the camera isn’t there, do what you would normally do”
He nodded, sending a slight look of help to Phil for support.
Penelope walked over to her boyfriend, arms outstretched and hugged him. One arm came around her, the other was still leaning against the wall he was standing near,
“Sorry about this” she whispered to him,
“It’s fine” he said with a small smile,
“And cut!” Hyacinth said, “Perfect, thank you for your contribution”
“I hope we are nearly finished” Penelope laughed,
“Almost!”
“Ok, be back soon” she said, leaning up to kiss Alfie’s cheek before he went back to talking to Phil.
“Where is that idiot?” Hyacinth muttered under her breath, “Oh there” she pointed and the head over to the food table,
“Greg! Stop flirting,” the young woman he was chatting with giggled, then swiftly made an exit,
“Hyacinth, I swear to God,” then looked to Penelope, “I am sorry about her dragging you about”
“It really is fine” she shrugged,
“Right, Penelope, off you go”
“What?” Greg said, half laughing, when Penelope went up and hugged him, he just gave Hyacinth a knowing look, then did hug her back,
“Thanks, Greggy” Penelope winked, reaching up to ruffle his hair.
“Only for you, Pen, if it were Hy, I would have run away” he chuckled.
“Hey!”
“It’s true”
“I’m going to run to the bathroom. I’ll be back in a second, then we can finish whatever you need”
“Sure thing” Hyacinth smiled, as Penelope disappeared into the house.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you're doing” Greg whispered in her ear,
“I don’t know what you're talking about”
“Just one last one and then we are done”
“Oh, good” Penelope sighed, “and do I get to see the finished product before it gets released to the world?”
“Nope” she grinned, “One last one, Colin is in the living room, go”
Hyacinth started recording while they were still in the hall,
Penelope entered the room where Colin was sitting in conversation with Violet and Edmund. The second she appeared in the doorway, his attention dropped from his parents and landed all on her as he jumped up from where he was sitting,
“Pen” he smiled, she stayed silent like she had done with the others, and just opened her arms out to him. He beamed at her, took her hands and pulled her to him. One hand slid around her waist, the other at her back. His chin rested on his shoulder, eyes closed. After a few seconds, Penelope went to pull away, but his arms just got tighter until they were both laughing. They pulled back, Colin asking some questions that couldn’t be heard on the video. His arms still around her waist, and Penelope’s hands on his upper arms.
Hyacinth smiled,
“Perfect”
Later that evening
Comments on HyBridge08 latest post:
@Maisie3838: Oh my god if it is not number 5 I’ll die!!!!!
@daisyscrolls: No because why am I crying at the last one
@user34756200399472: Who are these people?
@rach0002: I would let any of them hug me anytime they want 🤭 🤭
@PianoFran: Oh Hyacinth what have you done! 😅
@Jackie: The way he looks at her!
@Sammythepoodle: SWOOONNN!!!!!!!
@hopefullofit: Number 3 looks like he hates his life
@daisyscrolls: @hopefullofit He didn’t even stand up
@charliecooks87736: @hopefullofit He might not know her - we don’t know people will do anything for a few views
@MamaViolet: This is just lovely, dear xx
@GreggyB: Didn’t even get a tag thanks Hy
@halfawakehannah: Ok hear me out
#1 - Brother or kind of brother (they don’t look alike at all)
#2 - Friend, don’t get a romantic vibe, he seems fun though
#3 - Neighbour??? I literally don’t get an ounce of personality off him (sorry 😬)
#4 - He is giving off serious annoying little brother/cousin vibes
#5 - literally the only option. Like how could he not be!!!
@user4438200133232: @halfawakehannah 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯
@goforgina: @halfawakehannah yeah, number 4 is too young. 3 could have a little crush; he did smile at her. But 5, if they aren’t already married, they are going to be
@halfawakehannah: @goforgina no wedding ring on either of them 🤭
@BenPaints: @ColBridgeTravels have you seen this? 😏
@literallylucy: everyone hating on #4, he looks like a sweetheart to me
@GreggyB: @literallylucy why hellloooooo 😉
@DanniH33: recommendations where I can find a man who hugs like 5??? Plsss🙏🙏🙏
@Jackie: @DanniH33 let me know if you find out
The next morning at Penelope’s Flat
“Hey! Alfie, come in” she smiled, stepping back out of the doorway.
“Thanks”
“Give me two seconds, I need to grab my cardigan”
“Penelope, wait, can we talk for a second?”
She frowned,
“Sure, I guess” she said, slowly sitting down on the sofa.
“That video, that Hyacinth made me do yesterday…”
“Well, she asked you, you said yes, she hardly forced her” Penelope frowned,
“Sure then…whatever” he bristled, “Did you know what it was for?”
“Yeah, it was some trend where you go up and hug all these people, and they have to guess the boyfriend. They were sweet. I didn’t see any harm in it when she asked”
“And have you seen her video?” He asked, seeming to get more annoyed by the second.
“No, I went to bed early. I didn’t even know she had posted it. I have barely looked at my phone this morning”
“Maybe you should…”
A couple of minutes later, Penelope had watched the video, then watched it again. Then read the comments. Her chest felt tight.
“So I suppose you see the problem”
“They are nobodies in a comment section, why does it even matter?” she said, sounding much more convincing than she expected, certainly more than she actually felt.
“Why does it matter?” He scoffed, “Because it is embarrassing, Penelope. You are my girlfriend, not his. Someone called me the neighbour”
“Christ Alfie, it isn’t that serious. I didn’t think you would care this much about a stupid trend”
“Are you cheating on me with him?” He said, and instantly saw the anger flare in her face, immediately regretted his words.
“How dare you!” She exploded, “of course I’m not, do you really think so little of me. Even on some other planet where I am maybe a terrible person, when would I have gotten the time? All my time not at work has been spent with you or El. Colin hasn’t even been here. I call him once a week, which you know about. I can’t believe you would think I would do that.”
“Sorry….sorry” he said, shaking his head, “I just got in my head. Of course you wouldn’t. I wasn’t thinking. That hug just got under my skin”
“Are you really annoyed at Colin? Or at yourself?” She spat,
“Excuse me?”
“Even Gregory hugged me better than you did” she said, more quietly this time, “Ant and Ben too. You didn’t even use both your arms”
“I didn’t know what it was”, he attempted to argue,
“Neither did the rest of them. Colin didn’t even know it was being recorded”
“Oh…”
“Yeah” she huffed,
They fell into silence,
“They think that you and Colin are together…the commenters”
“Well, we are not…clearly”
“But do you want to be?” Alfie said quietly, “Because Penelope, I think the reason I am so annoyed is that they are right. He looks like….”
Her heart was in her mouth,
“He looks like what…?” She whispered,
“That he is in love with you in a way I could never understand”
There was a knock on the door. They both turned towards it, and Alfie let out a humourless laugh,
“I think we both know who that is”
“I…we…”
“Penelope, of course it’s him. And I know what will happen if you open that door and we both end up standing here. You will have to pick, and I’m not at the top of your list. How far off am I?”
She looked to the floor, and he nodded to himself,
“I knew it”
“I never cheated on you, I never sent any text, photo, or phone call that was ever more than friendly” Penelope assured him,
“I know that, I am sorry I accused you of it earlier. It was wrong of me.” He sighed, “I don’t think we could go on like this. Even if I trusted you, I couldn’t trust him. Even if you don’t feel the same, he will always be in your life. But I know you do; it seems obvious now. ”
She nodded silently,
“I can’t blame you for it, some feelings cannot be helped. But I should definitely go. Goodbye Penelope”
He opened the door to the flat to find a slightly sweaty Colin Bridgerton, looking as if his entire world had just burst into colour for the first time.
“Alfie” he said breathlessly,
“Colin.” He gave a single nod in greeting. “I was just heading out.” Without another word, he stepped around Colin and into the hall.
“Pen?” He said, she was standing completely still in the middle of her living room, “What happened?”
“Alfie and I broke up”
“Over the video?” He said mildly panicked, “I can get Hy to take it down”
“No….I….it wasn’t really the video itself”
“It was me?” He asked, and her gaze shot to him.
“Yes”
“I’m sorry”
"I’m not, I don’t think,” she said back instantly, “I..erm…did you see the video?”
“I did”
“And what did you think?”
“That we Bridgertons are truly ourselves no matter where we go. Anthony, everyone’s older brother, the protector. Benedict, a free spirit who always looks for the fun in things. Even Gregory pretends to be cool, but secretly loves it.”
“And you? What are you?”
He swallowed thickly,
“Utterly in love with my best friend and unable to hide it for a second”
Her eyes misted,
“Phil?” She gave a wet chuckle,
Colin barked out a laugh,
“No…Phil isn’t my best friend”
“Me?” She said timidly,
“You” he nodded, taking a step closer,
“Are you sure?”
“I am, I have been for a while.” He said, “I was too afraid to say anything, and then you were with Alfie and…by that point I had lost you”
“You never lost me” she sniffed,
“No, I suppose you’re right” he conceded, “but you couldn’t be only mine any more, I don’t even know if I could have said that in the first place”
“Would you want me to be?” She asked, voice shaking,
“More than anything”
Her breath hitched,
“I came home; this was my last trip.”
“I didn’t know”
“No-one did, you are still the only one who knows now” he smiled softly, “I came home for you, even if I was only going to be the one who knew the real reason”
“And if your family asked?”
“I was going to make up a sudden fear of flying”
She laughed, “What a shame that would have been, maybe you just need someone to hold your hand during take off”
“Are you offering?”
“Yeah…I am”
“Good. Because anywhere I go now, I want you with me, if you want”
“I want” she said, this time she took the step forward so they were chest to chest, “Colin?”
“Yes?”
“Would you kiss me?”
“Yes, God, yes”
His lips brushed against hers, gentle at first. But the pent-up feelings for months or years or more burst free. It didn’t feel real and felt like the most natural thing in the world all at the same time. It was perfection concentrated into a single moment. Colin pulled back just enough to get a few words out, his forehead against hers, still locked in an embrace.
“I love you, Pen”
“Just in case it wasn’t clear…I love you too, Colin”
2 years later
“I don’t think this will work out like how you want it to, it is going to be so painfully obvious” Hyacinth urged Colin,
“It is perfect, we have to!”
“Whatever you say” she said with a shake of the head,
“You go first” Colin said, taking the phone out of her hand,
“Fine, hand me my niece” Colin handed over six-month-old Agatha to her aunt whilst keeping the phone camera fixed on them. The baby immediately grabbed her cheeks. Giggling as Hyacinth pretended to eat her little fists.
“Yeah, you might be right, my daughter may be far too cute and just like everyone too much for this to work”
“Yeah, Colin, that isn’t why the video won’t work”
Colin managed to go through the entire house of women, including his own mother before it was Penelope’s turn. This time, Hyacinth was back behind the camera,
Colin handed over Aggie to Penelope, and she let out an almighty squeal, kicking her legs in excitement. Penelope saw the enthusiastic face of her husband and her sister-in-law manning the camera once more, putting all the pieces together quickly.
“Colin…why?” She laughed,
“I thought it would be sweet”
“Well, it is, but there isn’t going to be any doubt as to who her mum is”
“She has been excited for everyone, not as much as you, but…”
“Colin” she said, holding Aggie up so their heads were level.
The same blue eyes shone back at him, the same red hair, chin, nose, cheeks.
“Ahh….I may have gotten a tad overexcited and overlooked the fact that she is your twin”
“Yep”
“Oops”
“We can still post it if you want” she offered, “we can call it as a ‘there is no chance you get this wrong’ version”
He grinned,
“And if nothing else, watch people lose their minds over the best baby in the world”
“That I can definitely get on board with” he grinned, “What do you think, Ags?”
She let out another squeal,
“I mean, we kind of do have a lot owed to that TikTok trend” Penelope laughed,
“And Hyacinth!” Hy said,
“And Hyacinth” they echoed
“I’m so glad she guilted me into it”
“So am I”