I’ve always imagined Benophie’s first child taking first steps and everyone, the uncles, aunts, etc competing to see who they’ll walk to. I would love to see a fic (I know you wrote a fic in your 100 days that Benedict wanted Charles to say Mama first as a way of Sophie to be chosen but also I’m loling at this press run and Luke showing a competitive side)
Okay so i've tweaked this a bit so it's the viral walk to favourite aunt/uncle thing... i hope you don't mind...
Sunday lunch at Bridgerton House was loud in the way it always was when all eight siblings were home.
Which was to say: chaotic.
Anthony was trying and failing to maintain order at the head of the table while Kate laughed into her wineglass beside him. Gregory and Hyacinth were arguing over roast potatoes. Colin was halfway through telling an unnecessarily dramatic story to Penelope, who looked torn between affection and second-hand embarrassment. Eloise and Phillip were deep in some bizarre conversation about mushrooms. Francesca and Michaela sat shoulder-to-shoulder in comfortable quiet, occasionally exchanging looks that said these people are insane.
And in the middle of it all sat Charlie Bridgerton in his highchair, cheeks sticky with gravy and curls wild from his nap.
Sophie was wiping his hands when Benedict looked up from his phone with sudden delight.
“Oh,” he said. “We should do that thing.”
Anthony narrowed his eyes immediately. “Whenever you say that sentence, it ends badly.”
“The walking thing!” Benedict insisted. “The viral one. Where you line everyone up and see who the baby walks to.”
“Oh, this is excellent,” Colin declared.
Penelope laughed. “You all realise he may simply sit down halfway there.”
“He absolutely got Benedict’s dramatic tendencies,” Kate said dryly.
Benedict ignored them all, already scooping Charlie from the highchair. “Come along, darling boy. Time for science.”
“That is not science,” Phillip muttered.
Within minutes the drawing room had been transformed into what Eloise called “a deeply biased athletic event.”
Everyone lined up across the far side of the room.
On the carpet in the middle of the room sat Charlie Bridgerton, curls tousled from his nap and his stuffed fox clutched tightly in his tiny fist.
The stuffed fox Phillip Crane had brought him.
A month ago when he first met little Charlie and gifted it to him,
Which was apparently enough to alter the course of history.
Sophie sat behind Charlie on the floor, smoothing down his little jumper while Benedict hovered beside them like an anxious stage father.
“He’s never had this many people yelling at him before,” Sophie laughed.
“That’s not true,” Gregory said. “Family charades.”
“All right,” Benedict announced. “No cheating. No bribery. No moving closer to him.”
Everyone looked immediately at Colin.
“I haven’t done anything.”
“You have biscuits in your pockets,” Penelope said.
“They are emergency biscuits.”
Violet pressed her lips together, visibly trying not to laugh already.
“Ready, darling?” Sophie asked Charlie softly.
Charlie blinked up at her.
Then he pushed himself onto unsteady feet.
The entire room collectively lost its mind.
“Oh my God, look at him standing,” Daphne whispered emotionally.
“He’s literally been standing for days, and you’ve got two kids yourself… you’ve seen this in action…” Eloise replied.
“Yes but every time feels important.”
Charlie looked at the long line of waiting relatives.
Anthony crouched slightly, arms out. “Come to the head of the family, Charlie.”
Kate snorted. “If you say that to a child again I may divorce you.”
“Come to Auntie Hyacinth!” Hyacinth called dramatically. “I’m the fun one!”
“You taught him how to throw mashed potato,” Benedict reminded her.
“Charlie,” Colin called smoothly, opening his arms. “Come to Uncle Colin and I shall teach you piracy, adventure, and how to become devastatingly charming.”
Penelope muttered, “Please do not teach him any of those things.”
Simon simply lifted an eyebrow at the entire spectacle.
Francesca and Michaela sat quietly side-by-side, smiling softly.
Phillip looked deeply uncomfortable about being included at all.
And then Charlie started walking.
The room went silent except for occasional gasps every time he nearly toppled over.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Sophie whispered.
Benedict looked seconds from crying again like he did the first time he saw his son walking.
Charlie was tottering towards Anthony for a moment but then veered left suddenly, straight toward Phillip.
There was a beat of utter silence.
Phillip blinked. “...What?”
Charlie made it to the final step and collapsed happily against Phillip’s knees, proudly waving the stuffed fox and squeaked “Ox!!!”
“ABSOLUTELY NOT,” Colin cried.
Anthony stared in outrage. “He’s met him twice.”
“TWICE,” Gregory repeated.
Eloise burst into hysterical laughter, nearly falling sideways. “OH THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.”
Phillip looked bewildered as he carefully picked Charlie up. “Well… hello.”
Charlie immediately shoved the fox into his chest.
Violet laughed openly now, her hand over her mouth. “Oh that is precious.”
“It’s the fox,” Benedict groaned. “The fox has betrayed you all.”
Phillip, meanwhile, looked so quietly touched that even Anthony stopped complaining for a moment.
“Again!” Hyacinth demanded instantly. “Reset him. We need rankings.”
“Rankings?” Daphne echoed.
“Yes. This is now a tournament.”
And somehow nobody objected, which Sophie had to admit wasn’t overly shocked at, the Bridgerton’s were nothing if not competitive, she was just more shocked they didn’t think to go get the rest of the kids from the playroom and do it with them all.
Charlie was gently returned to the middle of the carpet.
This time he looked far more confident, wobbling immediately toward Hyacinth.
“Yes!” she shouted, scooping him up triumphantly. “Vindication!”
“You are encouraging him toward chaos,” Anthony said.
Charlie practically toddled into her lap without hesitation.
Kate melted instantly, kissing his cheek while he giggled.
Anthony looked smug for approximately three seconds until Charlie turned directly away from him afterward.
“Oh no,” Benedict whispered.
Anthony straightened as Charlie slowly made his way toward him next, determination all over his tiny face.
“There we are,” Anthony said confidently, lifting him into his arms. “Excellent instincts.”
“Anthony,” Eloise deadpanned, “he also tried to eat a candle this morning.”
Anthony ignored her entirely. “Clearly he recognises leadership.”
Kate laughed so hard she had to lean against Violet’s chair.
Charlie wandered over mostly because she was sitting cross-legged on the floor instead of crouching normally.
“Hello, my little menace,” she greeted fondly as he grabbed onto her sleeve. “You’ve caused irreparable damage already.”
“He really has,” Colin muttered darkly.
Daphne’s turn made Violet visibly emotional.
Charlie toddled toward her with complete trust, and Daphne gathered him close immediately, rocking him instinctively while Simon smiled beside her.
“Oh, darling boy,” Violet murmured softly.
Francesca was quiet and gentle as Charlie simply leaned against her knees until she lifted him into her lap.
Michaela got a huge grin and immediate grabby hands for her bracelets.
“Well hello there,” Michaela laughed. “You’ve got expensive taste already.”
Penelope’s turn nearly ended in tears because Charlie reached her and instantly buried his face in her chest.
“She gives him sweets… and clearly has fun pillows…,” Eloise said knowingly.
“It is absolutely true,” Colin replied.
Simon’s turn was calm and solid, Charlie reached him, patted his arm thoughtfully, then settled happily against his chest like they had reached some silent agreement.
Gregory, when it was his turn, got laughter from his youngest nephew.
Actual shrieking baby laughter because he made a ridiculous face and pretended to fall over before Charlie even reached him.
“Yes!” Gregory cheered. “Finally someone appreciates physical comedy.”
And then, only Colin remained.
The room immediately became unbearable.
Colin dropped dramatically to his knees. “Charles Richard Bridgerton. Son of my beloved brother. We have a bond… How could you do this to me??”
Charlie stared at him blankly
Colin pressed a hand to his chest. “I am your fun uncle.”
“Debatable,” Anthony said.
“I taught him pirate noises!”
“You frightened him with pirate noises,” Sophie corrected.
Penelope was already laughing too hard to help.
“Come here, darling boy,” Colin pleaded. “Come to Uncle Colin.”
Charlie blinked and looked at him and then sat down.
The room erupted so violently Violet had tears streaming down her face.
“Oh this is cruel,” Kate gasped between laughs.
“DEVASTATING,” Hyacinth shouted.
Colin looked genuinely wounded. “Charlie.”
Then slowly, very slowly, to the point it was painful to watch as he pushed himself back up.
“One step,” Gregory narrated dramatically.
“Another step,” Benedict whispered.
Colin looked like he was witnessing a religious experience.
Finally Charlie stumbled directly into his arms.
“YES!” Colin cried triumphantly, lifting him high. “I KNEW IT. Favourite uncle Colin prevails!”
And then Charlie immediately leaned around him toward Penelope with grabby hands.
Penelope burst into laughter.
Anthony physically bent over.
Eloise actually slid off the sofa laughing.
Violet wiped tears from her eyes. “Oh my poor Colin.”
Colin stared at Charlie in betrayal. “You used me to reach Penelope?”
Charlie patted his cheek lovingly.
“ip,” he announced proudly.
Across the room Benedict absolutely beamed.
And Colin sighed deeply. “Right. Fine. I accept being second favourite.”
“Not even close… not even second to last,” Eloise said instantly.
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