Oct 13, 2024
Polinween Week 2 - "What's A Little Fur Between Friends" A Polin Beauty and the Beast AU. Because THAT 2x04 scene was a BATB Roman Empire, ADMIT IT!
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Polinween Week 2 - "What's A Little Fur Between Friends" A Polin Beauty and the Beast AU. Because THAT 2x04 scene was a BATB Roman Empire, ADMIT IT!
Pen and Colin’s Halloween Scare-A-Thon
by: GleefullyPolin
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Summary:
Oct 6 – Oct 12 What’s a little fur between friends
Colin and Pen compete in scaring each other on Halloween, Colin wins every year, but this year Pen is determined to beat him, leading to surprising revelations.
PYEWACKET - Chapter 4 (A Polin Fic)
Read it from the beginning on AO3 or here
Complete
Penelope is in love with Colin.
Colin is in love with Penelope.
Both think that their love is unrequited and don't want to act upon their feelings in case it ruins their friendship.
Enter, Pyewacket...
My submission for Polinween Week 2 - 'What's a Little Fur Between Friends'
Pairing: Colin/Penelope
Rating: Mature for this chapter
Bridgerton Modern AU
Chapter 4 - …Company’s Coming
Penelope splashed some cold water on her face and patted it down with a towel careful not to ruin any of her make-up.
She could hear the music playing loudly beyond her bathroom door gripped the edge of the basin as she took a deep calming breath. She’d give herself a few more minutes before heading back out, she decided.
A lot had happened over the past couple of days. The final edits for her book had taken longer than she’d anticipated, mainly because they’d kept being returned with further ‘suggestions’. She knew it was Fife’s petty revenge for her dumping her glass of wine on him, but it had to be done and now, finally, her book was complete.
To add to that, her boiler had gone wrong and she’d had to get that dealt with very quickly.
Her mother had called. Enough said there.
And throughout it all, there had been Colin.
Dear, sweet, love of her life, frustratingly contradictory, Colin.
The day after he’d told her that their kiss had meant something to him, she’d spent half the time editing and half the time distracted just thinking about him. About that kiss. About how she really wanted to tell him that she felt the same - but found herself too scared to do so.
What if she’d completely misread the signs?
Because, it was good that it meant something to him, right? They were friends. It’d be strange if it didn’t mean something. Whether it was the same something that she felt was another matter. One that she should really sit down and talk to him about.
Or maybe just text him.
She’d known he would be in meetings with his own publisher that day but apart from a brief ‘good luck with your editing’ message, she’d not heard from him.
And so, she’d typed out and then deleted, ‘It meant something to me, too, Colin,’ so many times that day that she’d lost count.
She’d just sent another edit off to Fife and typed out that sentence yet again, when Pye had literally taken the decision out of her hands.
He’d jumped up on her desk and knocked the phone out of her hands then laid down on it. It wasn’t until she’d been able to move him off that she’d realised, to her horror, that her message had been sent.
And read.
She’d not been quite sure what response she’d expected to get from him, but the perfunctory, ‘Good’, he’d eventually sent back, really hadn’t been it.
She hadn’t heard from him again until that evening. A short message asking if she were still working. Unfortunately, she had been, Fife seemingly determined to ask for changes up until her deadline.
The following day she’d had to get an engineer in to fix her boiler and when that was done, she’d gone to get some last minute shopping for her party. As she’d been putting it away, Colin had called.
She’d answered a little cautiously but, whether he’d realised or not, it didn’t come through over the phone in his voice. His really, quite overbright voice as he’d invited her out to join him and some of his siblings for a drink at the pub.
Her desire to see him had really outweighed any potential for awkwardness and so she’d accepted. If it’d felt weird at any point, then she could have just talked to Eloise or her sister, Francesca. But it hadn’t been. The evening had been wonderfully, perfectly, aggravatingly…normal.
Sure, Colin had laughed at her jokes a little louder than others – normal. Certainly, the only seat left by the time she’d got there was next to Colin as they all crammed around a table not nearly big enough for the eight of them – normal. And, yes, okay, he did put his arm around the back of her chair and lean into her a little bit while they were sat closely together – but that was normal for them too…
Their chatter had been friendly. Light. Easy. Normal.
So much so that by the time he’d walked her to her door, while Eloise and Phillip had waited for him in their shared taxi, she’d been caught completely off guard when he’d finally spoken about it.
“Thank you for your text,” he’d said with a small smile. Then he’d taken in a noticeable breath and exhaled before adding softly, “I think we need to talk, don’t you? Maybe after your party tomorrow? When everyone’s gone. Just you and me.”
Penelope had stared back at him while her heart raced. It hadn’t even occurred to her to suggest another time. Another day. She’d simply nodded her agreement, then he’d grinned, leaned forward and pressed a gentle, lingering kiss to her cheek before he’d turned on his heel and left.
She’d had a surprisingly good night’s rest after that, all things considered, once she’d finally fallen asleep.
And, even better, she’d started the day with a message from Colin. It was only to say that he, Eloise and Phillip would be over earlier that evening, but it had still made her heart miss when she’d seen his name come up. They would be bringing extra booze and some spooky themed cupcakes that Eloise had ordered from Danbury’s especially.
The anticipation of seeing him had grown throughout the day. She’d had her hair and nails done then picked up her costume for that evening from a local party hire shop.
She’d decided on a witch’s outfit and she wasn’t even going to kid herself that it was for any other reason than because Colin had suggested it all those months ago. Although when she’d put it on, she didn’t think it could be classed as ‘sexy’.
The black dress fitted well, the satiny material hugging her curves lovingly. The neckline was a little lower than she normally wore, showing some cleavage but the skirt fell to her ankles. It certainly wasn’t the mini skirted, boob revealing attire that he’d likely envisioned when he’d made the quip, but that just wasn’t her.
Leaving off the hat, she had, instead, pulled back one side of her hair with a slide decorated with a large glittery back spider.
She’d then applied a dusting of eye shadow for a smoky look, added some black mascara and finished off with a bright red glossy lipstick. Satisfied with her appearance, she’d gone downstairs and fed Pye.
Shortly after, Colin, Eloise and Phillip had arrived.
Eloise had decided on a Poison Ivy costume and looked amazing. Phillip had come as a gardener.
“He’s going to have a dig around in my patch later,” Eloise had said earning a groan of dismay from her brother.
And Colin…well, Colin had turned up dressed as a cross between Mr Darcy and a pirate.
He’d walked in holding a case of John Smith’s bitter, wearing a long brown greatcoat that swirled around his legs and all the breath had left her body for a moment.
She’d never had any inclination whatsoever to write a period romance but seeing him dressed like that suddenly sent her mind, and other parts, into overdrive.
“Wow,” he’d breathed as soon as he’d set eyes upon her. He’d dumped the beer on the kitchen counter then walked straight over to her and grabbed her hand. She’d let out a surprised giggle as he’d twirled her around and grinned up at him when she faced him once more. “You look just…wow,” he’d repeated earnestly, his gaze appreciative as it’d run slowly down, then back up her body.
She’d felt her cheeks grow warm at his compliment and had then given his own outfit a lingering look. From his ruffled bright white shirt, his grey patterned waistcoat and matching plain grey cravat to his form fitting trousers and long boots, he looked like he’d walked out of a regency fantasy novel. The greatcoat he’d topped it off with had given his ensemble a piratical air that had set off all kinds of inappropriate ‘walking his plank’ jokes whirling around in her mind.
“Thanks. So do you,” she’d finally settled on.
He’d grinned and leaned in towards her a moment.
“Wait, I haven’t shown you the best bit.”
He’d stepped back then and done his own quick spin, the coat swirling out and around him like a cape. It’d been clear from his delighted laugh that he loved it and Penelope had too. She’d already outlined at least three different stories in her head inspired by the coat alone.
A sudden knock on the door startled her out of her reverie and brought her rushing back to the present. Then she heard Colin’s concerned voice, muffled through the door.
“Pen? Are you okay?”
Not really.
Not at all, to be honest.
Because, of all the things on Penelope’s list of what could possibly go wrong at her party, Fife turning up unannounced and uninvited would have been at the
bottom. In fact, it wouldn’t have even made the list because she hadn’t thought he could be more of a complete twat than he’d already been.
Clearly, she’d underestimated him.
And Cressida, bloody, Cowper.
The Cowper’s ran the publishing house that Penelope had signed with three years ago. As such, she had sent the family an invite as a common courtesy. She should have known that Cressida would attend and want to cause trouble.
An editor herself, she’d refused to work with Penelope as she’d deemed her books ‘sentimental drivel’ and she only dealt with ‘serious authors’. Penelope didn’t care. In fact, she was pleased. To appreciate her writing, you’d need a heart and it was clear from the outset that Cressida didn’t actually possess one.
And so, she’d had a different editor for each of her books so far. That wasn’t a reflection on her or her writing, though, it was just that no one ever stayed that long at Cowper Publishing.
Except Fife. He’d been there years and had been tasked with editing her last book.
And it was her last book, she’d realised with sudden conviction as she’d stared at the obnoxious man who had been standing far too close and talking more to her breasts, than her. Not ever, of course. Just for Cowper Publishing.
She’d been dallying over signing the new book deal they’d offered her, but now her decision was made. She’d had other offers and it was time that she seriously considered them.
She’d managed to get away from Fife when Pye had accidentally knocked over one of the many brooms decorating the place. It had landed with quite a smack on his injured hand, causing him to jerk back and cry out in pain. He was in a sling for a sprained wrist sustained from a minor car accident he’d had the night they’d met for dinner. Something had run out in front of him causing him to swerve, apparently, and he’d put his car into a lamp post. The fact that he probably shouldn’t have been driving due to the amount of wine he’d drunk that night, seemed to have escaped the man. And worse, he’d decided it was all Penelope’s fault, somehow, for leaving him embarrassed like that in the restaurant. She really hadn’t followed his logic, she’d just been pleased to escape his drunken rambling.
“Penelope!”
Colin’s voice came again. Louder. Urgent and followed by more knocking.
“I’m fine. I’ll be right out.”
She gave her make-up one last quick check then turned and opened the door. Colin stood just on the other side, filling up the doorway. He’d taken his cravat off she noted absently as he ran a concerned glance over her and then seemed to relax a little.
“You sure you’re okay?” he queried. She nodded and then his expression hardened, anger evident in his tone even as he kept his voice low. “He’s gone. Eloise told me who he was, so I showed him out.”
Penelope’s eyes widened.
“Showed him out?” she repeated dubiously.
“Politely, but firmly,” Colin assured her before taking her hand and tugging her along behind him as he led her back downstairs to her party. “He was lucky. El was on her way to him, but I stopped her, otherwise it would have been carnage.”
Penelope let out a little giggle at that and felt some of her tension ease. She truly had the best friends. She stopped walking and gave his hand squeeze. He stopped too and turned to give her a questioning look.
“Thank you,” she said with a tremulous smile.
Colin took a step closer and grasped her other hand as well. He shook his head as though he didn’t quite understand.
“You don’t have to thank me, Pen. I’ll always look out for you.”
He looked so sincere, so earnest and made the statement as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Perhaps it was for him. Perhaps she was just starting the realise that. Believe it, even.
“What the hell was that dickhead doing here?”
Colin felt Penelope jump at the sound of his sister’s voice and knew the moment was ruined. She’d just been looking at him in a way he’d only dreamed of, so when she quickly pulled her hands away, he was disappointed, but not wholly surprised.
“Cressida Cowper brought him as her ‘date’,” she replied unhappily.
“I should’ve known,” Eloise declared with a derisive snort. “She’s been a nasty bit of work ever since you signed with them.”
“Yeah.” Penelope took in a breath and exhaled slowly as she looked at the throng of people still partying. “I suppose I’d better find her and tell her that her ‘boyfriend’ has left.”
“I can do it,” Colin offered quickly.
“No, it should be me,” Penelope told him, determination colouring her voice.
Colin nodded and stepped aside as she headed off to find Cressida. Every part of him wanted to follow her and tell that bloody woman where to go himself but he held back and watched her instead.
She moved with purpose and from where he stood with Eloise and Phillip, he could see that she’d found Cressida in the kitchen. The blonde woman was obviously unhappy and the nasty, condescending look on her face had Colin shuffling his feet with the desire to go and intervene.
“Penelope will be fine,” Eloise assured him confidently. “I think she’s been wanting to say a few things to that woman for a while now.”
Once again, Colin was aware that he wasn’t privy to the problems that Penelope had been having with her publisher’s. It rankled him to think that he hadn’t been around for her more.
But that was going to change now.
He’d spent the last couple of days alternating between meetings about his new book and looking at houses. The lease was coming to an end on his flat and he’d decided to buy instead. He was finally going to put down some roots and stop travelling quite so much. He couldn’t wait to tell Penelope. It was just one of the many things he wanted to talk to her about later that evening.
“I know she’ll be fine, but that doesn’t stop me wanting to go and help,” he muttered back sourly.
Eloise looked at him and smiled.
“The fact that you aren’t, will mean far more to her than you going in all White Knight on her, you know that, right?”
Colin glanced at her and nodded. He did know. Still didn’t stop the urge though. An urge that grew the more Cressida got into Penelope’s face saying something that clearly made the red-head’s head drop.
And then he saw Pyewacket jump up onto the kitchen counter by the side of the two women.
“Perhaps someone should’ve given him that memo,” he commented dryly, then winced as he saw the cat swipe out at Cressida.
Her resulting shriek as the blonde clutched at her arm was very satisfying. She went to retaliate but Pye arched his back and hissed causing her to step back instead. They saw Penelope pick him up and hold him to her as she pointed Cressida to the door.
“Told you he was her bloody bodyguard,” Eloise said with a smug smile. Then she turned to Colin and shook her head, eyes narrowing. “I still don’t get why he’s okay with you though.”
Colin shrugged and gave her a sardonic smile.
“Maybe he just likes me.”
Eloise scoffed at that.
“You could be right,” Phillip offered from her side. “Or maybe he knows that your feelings are sincere.”
“Oh, don’t tell me that you’ve bought into this ridiculousness, Phillip?” Colin groaned. “You’re a scientist for God’s sake.”
“Scientist or not, I just know that cat is odd.”
Colin couldn’t argue with that and nor did he want to as Penelope was heading their way carrying Pye.
“Oh God, did you see what happened?” she asked worriedly as soon as she joined them.
“Nothing more than that cow deserved,” said Eloise then gave Pye a little rub behind the ears and cooed, “What a good boy.”
“El, he drew blood! She was threatening all sorts.”
“Over a scratch?” Eloise scoffed. “If I’d been there, she would’ve had worse than that to moan about.”
Penelope looked at her then let out a sudden laugh. The tension visibly drained from her face and she shook her head.
“At least she’s gone,” she sighed in relief, “and soon I won’t have anything more to do with her or that rotten company. I’ve decided to change publishers.”
“So you should! You’re too bloody good for them anyway,” Colin told her crossly.
He was fuming about Cressida and now didn’t feel quite so bad about seeing Fife out the way he did. He hadn’t lied, exactly. He had been polite – very polite. He just hadn’t mentioned that while he’d pleasantly asked the prat to leave, he’d also been dragging him through the house and then shoved him out of the door. There had been a tiny part of him that had worried he might have put Penelope in an awkward position, but he’d been prepared to deal with it himself should the need arise. But now it didn’t matter. She was leaving anyway.
“You know I don’t like to agree with Colin, but this time he’s absolutely right,” Eloise concurred with a nod.
“The world must be ending,” Penelope quipped.
The women and Phillip began to laugh and Colin felt his bad humour evaporate as he joined in with them.
Annoyed by the jostling, Pye wriggled to be let go and Penelope put him down gently on the floor. When she straightened, Eloise and Phillip were gone and Colin was holding out his hand to her with a grin.
“Why don’t we take that amazing dress of yours for a spin on the dancefloor?”
Her eyes widened and she glanced down at herself before looking back up at him.
“Okay.”
There was a breathless quality to her voice that sent a little thrill around his body. She placed her hand in his and he weaved his way through the small number of people that were bopping away to a well-known eighties tune. Just as they found themselves some space, the music changed and a slow song came on.
“Perfect timing,” Colin murmured.
He pulled her into his arms and let out a sigh of contentment as they began to sway to the music. She ran her hands slowly up his chest until they rested on his shoulders and his arms tightened around her waist, pulling her even more flush against him. She felt so warm, so soft, so right. Like she’d been born to fit against him so perfectly. He stared deep into her crystal blue eyes and swore his heart was beating so loud that she must be able to hear it. His gaze dropped to her mouth and her lips parted. He heard her breathe his name and suddenly it was just the two of them as the music faded away. He glanced into her eyes once more and she tilted her head up invitingly before he slowly started to lean down towards her…
“Penelope! I need your help. You have to tell me who she is.”
Colin froze then looked up with a frown as their surroundings came sharply back into focus.
“Benedict,” he gritted out angrily.
“I know. I know, I’m sorry, but this is rather urgent, brother,” Benedict snapped back.
“It better be,” he groused unhappily.
Then he took a moment to actually look at his brother and realised that he really was in quite a state. He’d arrived dressed as Zorro but his mask was gone and his normally perfect hair was a mess as though he’d been raking his hands through it. His eyes were panicked and constantly darting around the room. There was a palpable air of agitation about him that felt wrong coming from one who was normally so laid-back. Concern replaced annoyance and as Penelope moved out of his embrace, he gripped the older man’s arm to try and ground him.
“Who are you talking about?” Penelope asked.
“The woman in the silver dress. Dark hair, gorgeous brown eyes, mask. We were talking out in the garden, had an amazing kiss and then she said she needed to go to the ladies room and didn’t come back. I need to find her, Penelope. What’s her name?”
“I don’t know,” she replied apologetically, “I thought she came with someone. I’ve never seen her before.”
Concern ebbed away and annoyance flooded back as Colin let go of his brother’s arm. He interrupted them just because some woman had ditched him?
“I think if she left without giving you her name, you should probably take it for the hint it is,” he told him irately.
“I swear it wasn’t like that,” Benedict refuted. “I know this sounds crazy but…I think she could be the one, you know? That kiss…,” he paused, lost in the memory it seemed, “that kiss was everything. And she was funny and clever and she liked me too. I’m certain that she did.”
Colin had glanced at Penelope when Benedict had spoken of the kiss and she’d smiled at him then looked away. It seemed he wasn’t the only one in his family to have been similarly affected by a kiss.
“Maybe she didn’t feel well and had to leave,” Penelope suggested.
Benedict nodded but still didn’t seem that appeased.
“Thanks. I think I’m going to go too. It’s been a lovely party, Penelope.”
He gave her a brief peck on the cheek and Colin a nod, then turned and walked away.
“Well, I never thought I’d see the day,” Colin mused as they stared after him.
“Me either,” Penelope agreed in disbelief. She glanced over at him and then let out a sigh. “I’d better go mingle. Maybe I can find out who the mystery woman is at the same time.”
Colin nodded and watched her walk off. He headed into the kitchen area and got himself a drink. Leaning against the kitchen counter, his gaze followed her as she moved around the room chatting to her friends. Pyewacket jumped up beside him and he absently fussed the cat as continued to watch Penelope.
None of her family had come. That wasn’t a surprise really. A couple of her old editors had turned up which was nice. Naturally some of his siblings had come. Apart from Eloise and Benedict, Francesca and Hyacinth had also turned up.
She laughed at something someone said and he felt his blood heat up. She looked so beautiful. Her fiery hair a stark contrast to the black dress that clung snugly to every damn curve. It had felt so silky under his fingers when they’d danced that he’d had a hard time not running his hands all over her.
He shifted slightly as his own body reacted to his wayward thoughts and he did his best to shut them down. They needed to talk. Before anything else, that was the most important thing. And as much as he’d like to do all kinds of delectable things to her, that would wait until they were both ready. Well, until Penelope was ready because he’d been sitting at that station for a long time.
An hour and half later the party was winding down and the last of her guests were leaving.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Eloise had whispered in his ear as she’d hugged him goodbye.
“That doesn’t leave much,” he’d retorted dryly.
“Exactly.”
She given him and wink and grin over Penelope’s shoulder as she’d hugged her too and then she and Phillip had left.
Once Colin and Penelope were alone, she turned the music off and the silence it left behind was weirdly more deafening than the throbbing beat mere seconds before.
They’d stared at each other for a moment but now that the time had come for their talk, Colin felt unsure how to begin. A look of disappointment flickered across her face and then she looked away and started to clean up. He watched as she methodically picked up dirty paper plates and used plastic glasses and took them over to the kitchen. She got out a large bin bag and shook it out, the sound of the rustling plastic overly loud in the quiet house.
Colin bent and grabbed a few of the used glasses and plates near him and walked over to throw them in the bag as well. As he drew near, Pye stepped out to rub against his legs and he stumbled over him, just about keeping upright.
“Nearly went,” he commented with a laugh and the tension between them eased as she joined in.
“Shall I put the kettle on?” she asked once he’d dumped his rubbish in the bag. “We can finish tidying and then sit down with a nice cup of tea and talk. If you still want to, that is?”
“Yes, I want to. Of course I want to,” he assured her with a fervent nod.
She smiled then turned to fill the kettle and switched it on. While it heated up, they continued to work but each time he got near to her, Pye would invariably be around his feet. He stumbled over him twice more, to his growing frustration and Penelope’s delighted amusement, before the cat got so entangled around his ankles that he finally felt himself fall.
He let out a cry of surprise and Penelope immediately rushed forward to stop him, but she was too late. The weight of his forward momentum took her down with him and they landed on the floor with a combined ‘oof’ with Colin sprawled on top of her, rubbish scattered everywhere.
“Christ, sorry,” he muttered apologetically as he pulled his head back to look down at her.
Penelope couldn’t help herself and began to laugh. The whole situation was ridiculous and if she didn’t know better, she’d swear that Pye had been getting in his way on purpose.
After a moment, he joined in her laughter and she briefly relished the feel of his body on hers before he pushed up on his hands in order to stand. Beyond him she could see Pye sitting on top of the kitchen counter, watching them, but he suddenly got up as Colin moved. Realising what he was going to do, she opened her mouth to warn him but it was too late. Pye leapt off the counter and Colin let out a startled ‘oh’ as the cat landed square in middle of his shoulders, pushing his him back down towards her.
Their lips grazed and suddenly laughter was the last thing on her mind. He stilled and drew in a sharp breath as he stared down at her intently. For a moment she thought…hoped he might kiss her, but to her frustration, he suddenly blinked and, with another mumbled apology, went to move away again.
This time, she didn’t let him.
She brought her hand up and cupped the back of his head, her fingers sinking into his soft hair. Their hot breaths mingled, deepening as desire took hold. For a moment he hovered above her, dark blue eyes questioning and then she pulled him down and touched her lips to his.
If their kiss at Christmas had been a spark, then this was the flame.
Colin groaned, his hand coming up to delve into her silky curls, cushioning her head from the tiled floor as their lips met in a feverish exchange. Penelope tore her mouth away from his, breathing hard as she stared at him. His eyes were so dark they were almost black, glazed from desire. Her heart stuttered at the sight.
“What’s wrong?” he rasped.
“Bedroom. Now.”
Colin didn’t need telling twice. He quickly stood then grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. Then he was kissing her again as they stumbled over to the stairs and started to make their way up, still clinging to each other. Halfway up Penelope suddenly found herself lifted into his arms and carried the rest of the way to the top.
“Much quicker like this,” he’d managed to get out between fervent kisses.
Penelope moaned her agreement and opened the door once they made it to her room. He put her down on her feet they parted only long enough to pull at each others clothing, disrobing swiftly.
Soon they were only left in their underwear and Colin captured her lips again as he walked her backwards and onto the bed. She pulled him on top of her and revelled in the way he shuddered as she ran her hands over his shoulders and down his back. Cradled between her thighs she could feel how hard and hot he was for her already and her hips bucked up of their own accord, straining to get closer. He gasped at the contact, then trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses along her jaw and down her neck. She moaned as his hand cupped her breast and lightly squeezed.
It wasn’t enough.
She pushed lightly at his chest and he immediately moved back, his harsh breaths punctuating the air.
“Want to feel all of you,” she told him urgently.
He grunted a response then reached around to unclip her bra as she propped herself on her elbows.
“So bloody beautiful,” he murmured, flinging the undergarment aside.
He kissed her again, his hand moving back to her breast as she lay back down on the bed.
Penelope groaned and arched her back more firmly into his touch as he ran his thumb over her nipple sending sparks of desire straight to her core.
It still wasn’t enough. She wanted more. She wanted everything. And she didn’t want to wait.
“Make love to me, Colin,” she demanded when he broke away from her lips to take a breath. “Please.”
He let out a soft rumble of laughter, the soft hairs on his chest creating a delightful friction that set her skin on fire.
“Well, I know it’s been a while for me, but I thought I already was.”
Penelope’s eyes widened at that comment, but she decided to file that away for later.
“No, I mean now. I don’t want to wait.”
She rocked her hips against him again and he moaned.
“But I want to make this good for you, Pen,” he said gruffly, grinding against her lightly as he nuzzled her neck. “Want to make sure you’re ready.”
“God, Colin, I’ve been ready for you every time you’ve walked into the room for the last ten years,” she gasped out as he ground against her hitting just the right spot.
He stilled and his head snapped up to look at her in shock.
“Ten years?” he repeated faintly. He shook his head. “Pen…”
She stopped him talking with a hard kiss and hooked her thumbs in the waistband of his underwear, tugging them down over his backside.
He tore his mouth away from her and finished taking them off, then brushed her hands aside to quickly take her briefs off as well. His gaze was hot as it roamed over her nakedness and he couldn’t help but smile when he saw her staring at him with the same heated ardour. He slowly crawled back up her body with a smirk then she suddenly saw his smile fade and eyes widen in realisation.
“Oh, bloody hell, I don’t have a condom with me!”
It was a half groan, half whine and in another circumstance, Penelope would’ve laughed. But not tonight.
“I have,” she told him.
He let out a sigh of relief and sat back on his haunches as she leaned over to her bedside cabinet and opened the middle drawer. She reached in, then pulled out a handful of brightly coloured packets and dumped them on top of the cabinet.
There was a beat of silence as he stared at the small pile.
“That’s quite a haul you have there, Penelope,” he finally muttered, sounding slightly aggrieved.
“Philippa’s hen night. She gave us all a goody bag,” she explained.
“Oh. Right.”
“Do you want to pick one or shall I?” she asked, pointing at the packets.
He gave her a nod and she grabbed the nearest one then handed it to him. He used his teeth to rip it open and raised a brow as he pulled the condom out.
“Flavoured,” he remarked in surprise.
Before he could roll it on, Penelope deftly took it out of his hands, her lips curving up into a seductive smile. She’d once written a scene in one of her books that she’d always wanted to try out but had never had a partner she’d felt like doing it with – until now. Keeping eye contact, she reached out and curled her fingers around the long, rigid length of him. His breath stuttered as she slowly moved her hand up and then down again, feeling him harden even further.
He uttered her name on a moan and, still holding his gaze, she raised the condom to her mouth and pressed the tip of her tongue to the end of it before putting the whole thing in her mouth.
Colin drew in a sharp breath and watched intently as she held him steady then opened her mouth over the tip of him and used her lips and tongue to roll the condom on in one smooth move.
“Jesus,” he exhaled on a long shuddering breath.
She slid back up his length and captured his gaze once more as she slowly ran her tongue over her pink lips.
“Mmm,” she hummed with a small smile, “Strawberry.”
Colin let out a strangled moan and lunged forward, crashing his lips to hers in a searing kiss as he pushed her back onto the bed.
She matched his passion kiss for kiss and touch for touch. And when he finally, finally entered her, it was as though nothing else existed in the world except for him.
Propped up on his elbows, he moved slowly at first, thrusting in and out, hips rolling as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Searing heat and desire swirled through her, growing stronger and stronger as he picked up the pace. The air was punctuated with the mingled sounds of their desire as Colin moved faster, harder, deeper, pushing her relentlessly towards her peak. His breathing grew harsh. He was getting close; she could tell by the way the muscles of his shoulders were tightening. Could see his pulse was hammering at the base of his throat. And she was right there with him. Pleasure radiating through her body as she chased her release, so tantalisingly close but just out of reach. Then suddenly, he wound an arm around her waist and tilted her bottom up. He drove into her deeply, the new angle allowing him to hit that sweet spot inside her and she called out his name as her orgasm unexpectedly raced through her body in wave after wave of ecstasy.
He followed soon after, his low groan ragged as he gave one last powerful thrust, his release pulsing inside her. His body shuddered. Finally spent, his arms gave way and collapsed on top of her with a sigh of satisfaction.
As their breathing calmed down, Penelope wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the feeling of him pressing her to the mattress.
“Wow, that was…” she began, then shook her head unable to formulate the words for what had just happened between them.
“Yeah, it was.” Colin raised his head and smiled down at her before capturing her lips in a tender kiss. When they broke apart all the feelings he’d been keeping at bay for months came tumbling out in one simple, heartfelt sentence. “I love you.”
She drew in a sharp breath and he could see the shine of tears in her eyes as she replied just as ardently, “I love you, Colin. I always have.”
His heart missed a beat at her declaration and he grinned, revelling in the words he’d longed to hear. He kissed her again, an affirmation of their feelings and then he pulled back a little and gestured down at himself regretfully. “I’d better go and take care of this.”
She reluctantly let him go and when he returned, he slid back into bed and let out a hum of contentment when she immediately cuddled up to him. He rested his head upon the top of hers, the scent of her floral shampoo filling his nostrils as he pulled her a little closer to him.
Despite how swiftly everything had happened between them that evening, he knew that they still had a lot to talk about. She felt so soft and warm in his arms though, that he decided it could wait until the morning.
Still, there was that one thing…
“So…ten years, huh?” he murmured as he toyed with one of her fiery curls. “That’s a long time.”
She was running her fingers through the springy hair on his chest in soothing, circular pattern and paused at his words. Then she laughed and dropped a kiss on his shoulder before resuming.
“An embarrassingly long time,” she agreed.
He huffed out a snort of annoyance, directed at himself.
“I can’t believe I didn’t see it.”
“You weren’t looking,” she replied with a shrug, “and I was very good at hiding it.”
To his dismay, he realised that she was right on both counts. And it bothered him that he’d been to blind to her for so long. He placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head up so he could look at her.
“I truly am sorry, Pen,” he told her earnestly.
She gazed back at him, her brow furrowing slightly in consternation.
“Don’t be. We’re here now, aren’t we? Everything is fine.”
“Yes, but we…”
“If it makes you feel any better, I can think of a few ways you can make it up to me,” she cut in to his objection with a flirty smile.
Her nail grazed his nipple sending little sparks of awareness through his body as her hand then started trailing down his chest, over his stomach and further still.
“Oh, really?” he asked, then let out a gasp as her hand found its destination.
“Yes, really,” she said, her smile widening into a full-on grin. “And it might even involve that coat you had on this evening.”
He chuckled, even as his body responded readily to her touch.
“As long as you’re the one who’s going to be wearing it,” he replied, already envisioning her laying beneath him with his coat and her mass of glossy red curls splayed out around her. He grabbed her talented hand and gently removed it from his person then nudged her over onto her back. “But first, I’ve got ten years to make up for, so I’d better get started.”
With a wicked grin, he moved down the bed to settle between her thighs and soon they were lost in each other once again.
Outside the bedroom door, Pyewacket got up and sauntered down the hallway, his tail flicking from side to side. His job now was done. They were together and everything else would be down to them.
He ran down the stairs and headed out of the cat flap and into the night. He would miss Penelope he realised as he trotted along the pavement. And he knew she’d miss him. Maybe there was something he could do about that. He’d see if Danbury could help. There were times that she proved to him that she did still possess a heart after all.
The next morning Penelope and Colin came downstairs to see a small black kitten waiting for them by Pye’s food bowl.
Looking at each other in confusion, Penelope picked it up just as Colin saw a note laying on the table.
“I have to go now but here’s something to remember me by,” he read aloud. He stared at her in shock, his brain not wanting to comprehend what was in front of his very eyes. “What the hell?”
“I always knew there was something special about Pye,” Penelope said, seemingly completely unfazed as she fussed their new addition.
“But, Pen…”
“Don’t you see? So many things make sense now, Colin,” she interrupted firmly. “He obviously came to me for a reason and I think that reason was you…well, us, and now we’re together he can leave.”
Try as he may, Colin couldn’t come up with anything remotely plausible to contradict what she’d said and so he just sighed in defeat. All that really mattered was that he and Penelope were together now. Whether there had been some weird, and dear God he hated even entertaining the idea, magical help along the way, was neither here nor there. He was certain they would have got there on their own.
Eventually.
His gut flipped just thinking of all the time he’d already wasted and how they might still be at an impasse if Pye hadn’t cleared his way of other men.
Or if they hadn’t got stuck together in her utility room.
Or if he hadn’t tripped him up the night before…
Bloody hell.
“Come on, let’s get this little fella something to eat,” he muttered, turning away to find some biscuits.
“We’ll have to buy her some kitten food,” Penelope told him, “and give her a name.”
“Do you have any ideas what you want to call her?” he asked, giving the kitten a scratch behind her tiny ears.
“Well, I thought we’d think of one together since she’s ours,” she replied a little hesitantly.
“Ours?” he repeated, liking the sound of that.
“Well, yes…I mean, I thought…after last night…you know, what with your lease coming up for renewal and everything…you could maybe…”
Oh.
Oh.
He still hadn’t told her that he’d been looking at houses. He hadn’t told her anything really. Not about his plans for his future…or theirs, hopefully.
Suddenly she shook her head and took a step backwards. A blush bloomed upon her cheeks as she began to apologise. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed…”
Realising he hadn’t said anything, Colin grabbed her shoulders and leaned down to look right into her eyes.
“Yes, you should assume. I love you, Pen,” he told her tenderly. She gave him a small smile and he continued,” Look, let’s go and get this little one some food then grab breakfast somewhere and decide on a name for her, okay? Then we can come back here and sit down and talk things through. Like, really talk. About the past, our future, just everything. And then I’m going to take you back upstairs and we’re going to spend the rest of the day and night in bed. How does that sound?”
“I think that that sounds like a very good plan,” she replied happily.
He nodded. He did too.
“Good, you grab your keys, I’ll lock the cat flap and we’ll go.”
She did exactly that and they headed out hand in hand, in love and both looking forward to their future.
In a small bakery a couple of miles across town, Agatha Danbury sat in her makeshift office going over her accounts. The soft squeak of the door caught her attention and she looked up in time to see Pyewacket enter the room.
“Did they like their present?” she asked as he jumped up beside her on the desk.
He let out a meow and she nodded in satisfaction.
“Good. Now, I have your next task ready.”
Pye let out a string of mew’s and chirrups that even to a layman’s ear could be discerned as angry.
“Yes, yes, I know you usually have a break but I believe you will need the whole year for this one to be fulfilled,” she explained curtly.
There was another tirade from the black cat and she let out a sigh, suddenly feeling very tired of it all.
“Herman, if you do this successfully, I promise you it will be your last one. I’ll break the spell and you can go, hopefully with having learned something in a meantime,” she told him archly.
Pye closed his mouth and eyed the witch warily. She could understand his doubt. They’d been doing this a good many years, but she had seen the change in her husband and hoped it would continue once the curse was lifted.
Finally, he mewed and she beckoned him over.
“I’ll need to make some changes as the person you’re going to help already knows what you look like,” she divulged.
He blinked in surprise then closed his eyes as she ran her hands over his head and along his back. The shiny black fur shed like leaves falling from a tree to reveal a silver tabby stripe underneath.
“There, all done. What do you think?” she asked, holding up a compact mirror she’d had lying on the desk.
Pye opened his eyes and blinked at his reflection. His eyes were still the same mesmeric green, but the silver tones softened them somewhat. Still, he could work with it.
She shut the compact with a snap and patted him none too gently on the head.
“Her name is Sophie, but you’ll need to find her which will be tricky. I believe she’s in the Mayfair area but won’t be as you expect. The one she’s meant to be with is the person you already know but, as always, I’ll leave that to you to work out who it is,” she explained in her quickfire way. “You have a year, Herman. One year. Good luck. I think you’ll need it.”
With that she went back to her accounts and Pye jumped off the desk.
He’d find her, make no mistake. The promise of finally ending this curse was all the incentive he needed.
Leaving the bakery, he let out a cheerful meow and, with a flick of his silver tail, he headed off in the direction of Mayfair.
THE END
Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. A shiver ran down her spine, and she slowly lifted her head, hastily wiping at her tear-streaked cheeks. Her vision was blurry, but then she saw it—two shiny brown eyes staring at her intently from just a few feet away.
Startled, Penelope scrambled back, her heart racing in fear. But as her eyes focused, she realized it wasn’t a person at all. It was a golden retriever, sitting calmly in front of her, its eyes full of curiosity.
The dog tilted its head, almost as if it was studying her, then took a cautious step back when Penelope moved. It sat down on its haunches, watching her quietly, as though waiting for her to make the next move.
Penelope’s fear slowly ebbed away, replaced by disbelief. She wiped the rest of her tears away with the back of her hand and took a deep breath. "Where did you come from?" she whispered, more to herself than the dog.
The golden retriever’s ears perked up, and it wagged its tail, as if pleased by her attention.
Penelope let out a small laugh, despite everything. "You’re not going to make fun of me too, are you?" she said softly, her voice trembling. The dog simply tilted its head again, giving her a look that almost seemed... understanding.
"I'm lost, boy. Do you know how to get back to the camp?" Penelope asked softly, her voice still shaky from her tears.
The golden retriever barked once in response, as if understanding her perfectly. He turned and started running towards the left, weaving between the trees with surprising speed. Penelope, still feeling a bit dazed, didn't immediately follow. The dog stopped, looked back, and with a bound, returned to her side. Gently, he tugged at the hem of her flared pants with his mouth, his tail wagging insistently.
Penelope couldn’t help but laugh. "Alright, alright, I’m coming," she said, her spirits lifting just a little. She followed the dog through the woods, letting him guide her as if he had done this a hundred times before.
Read more on AO3:
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Pyewacket
Penelope is in love with Colin.
Colin is in love with Penelope.
Both think that their love is unrequited and don't want to act upon their feelings in case it ruins their friendship
Enter, Pyewacket...
Read from the beginning on AO3 or Tumblr
Chapter 1, 2
My submission for Polinween Week 2 - 'What's a Little Fur Between Friends'
Bridgerton Modern AU
Rating: General for now
Chapter 2 – Back Home
Colin dropped his suitcase and rucksack on the floor of his room then flopped face first onto the bed with an appreciative groan.
It was good to be back…but he was absolutely shattered.
He’d worked his backside off trying to pack in everything he’d needed for his book into a matter of weeks instead of months. His reward for such a feat was being able to return home four days before Penelope’s Halloween party.
He had hoped to return sooner, but there had been delays in travel due to bad weather and times he just couldn’t change his itinerary.
Still, he was here now and that’s all that mattered.
Without even taking his jacket off, he let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. A quick nap is all he needed…
The quick nap ended up being a few hours long. He woke up feeling rested, but starving.
Checking his phone, he realised it was much later than he’d thought and quickly got up. He had arranged to meet with Eloise and his brother, Benedict, at a local pub that evening and he was going to be late.
He quickly showered and changed then headed out. Walking briskly, it took him a little over fifteen minutes to get there and as soon as he entered the bar area, his siblings both waved at him from a table near the back.
“Brother! Thank you for gracing us with your presence,” Benedict jibed amicably as soon as he approached them.
“Don’t start,” Colin retorted good-naturedly. He gave his older brother a quick hug before turning to do the same with Eloise and then sat down. “Not until I’ve had something to eat at least.”
Benedict pushed a pint of Guinness towards him and grinned.
“Drink up, we’ve already ordered food. Got you the steak and kidney pie, it should be here soon.”
“Thank God,” he said meaningfully before taking a generous mouthful of his drink.
“And while we’re waiting, you can tell us what’s going on with you and Penelope,” Eloise piped up with a knowing smirk.
Colin choked a little on his drink and put his glass down with a thud, the black liquid sloshing up the sides.
“What do you mean?” he asked guardedly.
“Oh, come on, Colin, we’re not stupid,” his sister scoffed.
“That’s a matter of opinion,” he murmured dubiously.
Eloise ignored him and held her hand up as she started listing off all the reasons, tapping a different finger each time.
“You’ve been in contact with her every day…”
“Not every day…” he objected half-heartedly.
“You sent her that cat ornament that looks exactly like Pye…”
“That was a birthday present and pure coincidence,” he dismissed.
“I’m not talking about that one and you know it,” she told him.
Oh God.
“Well, she really liked the first one...” he mumbled and took another drink.
He wasn’t about to tell them that he’d also bought Penelope back yet another blackcat trinket.
“And you’re home nearly two months early!” she concluded triumphantly.
“I’ve simply got all the information I needed for my book,” he pointed out trying to sound nonchalant even though he could feel a tell-tale heat begin to warm his cheeks.
He’d put that down to the alcohol if asked.
“When have you ever come home early, Colin?” Benedict questioned wryly, taking up the mantle of inquisitor. “Usually, you’re late or don’t even come back at all just because something else took your fancy.”
Colin frowned, feeling slightly annoyed at that interpretation.
“I…”
“No, he only stays away when Pen has a boyfriend,” Eloise interjected helpfully.
“Ah yes, that’s true,” Benedict agreed with a nod.
“No, it isn’t,” Colin protested, his frown deepening.
But it was – and he was starting to feel far from comfortable that they’d apparently noticed it as well. He didn’t want them ruining everything by hinting things like that to Penelope. He wanted to see her first before he made any kind of admission. Sending messages to each other and talking over the odd facetime call didn’t really help when he was trying to gauge if his feelings could be in any way reciprocated. If they were, then he’d happily announce his love for the world to hear – if they weren’t…well, his siblings clearly didn’t any need any further ammunition.
“You won’t mind that she’s on a date tonight then.”
Eloise’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he stared at her in surprise.
“I thought she was meeting with her editor this evening?”
“She is,” his sister clarified with a brief smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “For dinner at a swanky new restaurant in town. Very businesslike.”
Colin felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Put like that, it didn’t sound as though their meeting was purely about her new book and yet, Penelope hadn’t told him that it was anything more. He’d only spoken to her the day before – surely she would’ve said something?
“Penelope has no interest in Fife,” he asserted, more to appease himself than anything.
“She doesn’t,” Eloise agreed. He relaxed at that confirmation, then immediately tensed again when his sister added, “but he’s interested in her and he’s been pushing for more lately. So much so that she’s asked for a new editor once this book is finished.”
Colin was stunned, angry and upset in equal measure, each emotion warring to be expressed. Stunned that all this had been happening and he had no idea. Angry that Fife wasn’t taking no for an answer and ‘pushing’, whatever the hell that meant. And upset because he had spoken to her almost daily and she clearly hadn’t wanted to tell him – he’d believed they were closer than that.
It was the anger that eventually won out.
“What restaurant are they at?” he asked abruptly.
“It’s fine, Pen’s going to message me when she gets home,” Eloise told him, ignoring his question. “Any problems before then and she said she’ll call. It’s all under control, don’t worry.”
Don’t worry? Of course he was going to worry. He hated the thought that Penelope might be put in an impossible position by that arse.
“Ah, here’s our food,” Benedict observed, giving their waitress an appreciative smile as she placed plates down in front of them.
Colin picked up his knife and fork and stared at his pie, wondering where his appetite had gone. He’d been starving not five minutes previous and now his stomach felt like lead.
“Your food will get cold,” Eloise pointed out as he continued to sit there.
He looked at her blankly, his whole body seemingly a whirl of feelings that made his head spin – and then Benedict decided to add confusion into the already unsettling mix.
“You know, even if Penelope did take Fife back to her place for whatever reason, he’d never make it past Pyewacket.”
“Oh yes!” his sister agreed with a laugh. “That cat is like a guard dog when it comes to Pen.”
Colin looked between the two of them and started to think he must still be asleep and all this some weird, horrible dream. Penelope was having dinner with a lech, and they were sitting here completely unbothered, yammering on about a cat?
What alternate nightmare universe had he stumbled back into?
His cutlery made a stark clanging sound as he dropped them and they bounced off the edge of his plate, drawing their attention.
“What bloody hell is going on here?” he demanded, his voice full of irate frustration. “Are you two just winding me up? First all that about Fife and now some nonsense about the cat.”
His siblings stared back at him in surprise.
“No. No wind up,” Benedict assured him, shaking his head. “Fife is a dick and Pye is oddly protective of Penelope.”
“It’s true,” Eloise concurred. “Pye seems to dislike anyone that’s interested in her. It’s like he can sense it or something. Don’t know if it’s a jealousy thing but he really didn’t like Alfie. He scratched him a couple of times, put a dead mouse in his bag and crapped in one of his shoes.”
“That just shows good judge of character,” Colin muttered derisively.
His siblings both nodded and laughed at that. At least he wasn’t alone in his dislike of Albert.
“And then there was poor Jack,” Benedict said, his amusement increasing.
“Oh yes, Pen told me you set her up on a date,” Colin cut in unhappily, glaring at his brother.
Benedict held up his hands in mock surrender but couldn’t wipe the mirth from his face.
“It wasn’t really a date. He was the brother of a woman who was doing some modelling for me. Penelope was at my studio when he dropped his sister off and they started chatting. They’d both just come out of relationship’s and I thought it’d be nice if we all continued talking over dinner. It was perfectly harmless,” he explained reasonably. Colin gave him an incredulous look, which seemed to amuse his brother even more. “Anyway, we all,” he emphasised, with a nod, before continuing, “went back to Pen’s place after for a coffee and Pye wouldn’t let the poor guy even sit next to her on the couch. Kept hissing at him whenever he tried. In the end, Pen picked him up and put him outside but as soon as Jack sat down, Pye just came out of nowhere and jumped straight onto his lap…claws out.”
Colin winced at that and squirmed a little in his seat as Benedict began to laugh in earnest at the memory.
“I can’t wait to see what he does to you,” Eloise chimed in with a grin.
Colin rolled his eyes at her and picked up his knife and fork again. He refused to take the bait. Even so, as he finally started to eat, he was uncomfortably aware that Pye had unsettled him a few times over calls, although he’d never admit that out loud. He was always with Penelope, staring at him over her shoulder or sitting on her lap. His eyes seemed to transfix him at times, almost as though searching for…something and weirdly, Colin, more often than not, felt as though he came up lacking.
He put a forkful of creamy mash into his mouth and gave himself a mental shake. He was being ridiculous. It was just a cat. Benedict and Eloise had got into his jet-lagged head with their absurd theory when he should be focussing on more important things – like what was happening with Fife.
His gaze flicked to his sister’s phone to see if any messages had flashed up. It was still early, but he hoped…
“Colin will be fine, Eloise,” Benedict dismissed airily, still grinning. “He and Penelope are just friends, right brother?”
The dark-haired man swallowed his food and shook his head.
“Can we not talk about something else?” he suggested wryly, determined to change the subject. “As odd as you both believe Pye’s behaviour to be, I think it’s even more bizarre that after years and years of decrying romance and anything vaguely associated with it, I hear that Eloise seems to actually be in a relationship.”
His sister immediately tensed beside him and he knew his ploy had worked.
Colin smirked as Eloise then proceeded to spend the next ten minutes denying anything and everything with even more vehemence than himself.
They finished dinner and had another round of drinks then decided to call it a night. Thankfully his siblings hadn’t returned to their previous teasing and he’d enjoyed the rest of the evening, bar one thing – Eloise still hadn’t heard from Penelope.
He glanced at his watch. It wasn’t that late, only ten o’clock, but surely she’d had enough time to have dinner and go home?
He stood beside his sister outside the pub as they waited for Benedict to go and get his car. His brother was taking Eloise home before heading back to his studio to finish off a commission that was due in a couple of days time.
A soft buzz had him turn his head and he saw his sister check her phone. Phillip had been texting her on and off throughout the evening so he was half expecting to be disappointed again but she looked up, suddenly, and smiled.
“She’s home.”
At bloody last.
“Good.” There must have been a wealth of meaning in his tone that he hadn’t accounted for because Eloise suddenly reached out and touched his arm. He gazed at her quizzically as she stared at him and the silence stretched out between them. “What is it?”
She seemed uncertain, which was unusual for Eloise, but then she clearly made her mind up to say what she wanted to say.
“Look, I know I’m probably the last person to give advice when it comes to love,” she began. Ignoring Colin’s huff of laughter and nod, she continued more determinedly, “but one thing I’ve learned is that lying to yourself about how you feel doesn’t make it go away.”
Colin sighed and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets.
“I’m not lying to myself, El,” he replied quietly, darting her a quick glance. “I know exactly how I feel.”
She looked confused at his admission.
“Then what’s stopping you telling her?”
Where to start? Their friendship being ruined for one – especially if she didn’t feel the same. And, in fact, did she feel the same? He hoped…he very much hoped that she did. But he wasn’t sure. Which in turn made him a coward because when push come to shove, would he actually be able to cross that line? He wasn’t sure about that either.
He looked at his sister again and she stared back at him expectantly, waiting for a response.
So, Colin did what he did best. He deflected with a joke.
“Pye, for one,” he quipped, summoning a bright smile. “From the tales you and Benedict told earlier, I’d be lucky to even make it through the door.”
Eloise shot him an exasperated glare.
“Colin, be serious,” she snapped in frustration.
“I am!” he exclaimed, his face a picture of innocence.
He was saved from any further discourse when Benedict’s classic, light blue, Jensen Interceptor purred to a halt in front of them.
Colin stepped forward and opened the door for his sister. She looked like she wanted to say more but finally huffed out sigh and clambered in.
“Are you sure you don’t want a lift?” Benedict asked, leaning over the centre console to see him.
Colin bent down and shook his head.
“No thanks, the walk will do me good,” he replied, before straightening up and taking a step back to close the passenger door with a slam.
He stood and gave a little wave as Benedict pulled away from the kerb then began the relatively short walk back to his flat. He’d only gone a few steps when his mobile buzzed. He took it out and smiled when he saw it was a message from Penelope.
It wasn’t long. Just a quick text to say that she hoped he was home safely from his trip and asking if he’d enjoyed his evening out with his family. There was also another apology for not being able to join them. An apology that he took as an opening to give her call because he really, really wanted to know what had happened at her dinner with Fife.
“Hi,” he greeted when she answered after a couple of rings, “I’m walking home so thought I’d call instead of messaging back.”
“Did you have a good night?” she asked.
Perfect opportunity.
“I did, thanks. How about you? Did you have a nice dinner?” he queried.
He tried to keep his voice light but even he heard the faint accusation colouring his tone.
So did Penelope, clearly, as there was a distinct pause before he heard her sigh heavily then ask shrewdly, “El told you, didn’t she?”
“She might have mentioned it,” he admitted cagily, noticing that she hadn’t actually answered his question.
“Oh, I bet she did,” Penelope chuckled. “I think she hates my editor more than I do.”
From the way she was speaking it didn’t seem as though anything untoward had happened that evening, so he was relieved at that. But still…
“Why didn’t you tell me you were having trouble with him, Pen?” he asked abruptly.
Because that’s what he really wanted to know, wasn’t it? Why, when they’d been in contact practically every day, hadn’t she confided in him?
“I didn’t see the point,” she replied, sounding a little confused. “What were you going to do? Jet back from Bali or wherever you were off to next and sort him out for me?”
She laughed and he wasn’t quite sure what irked him more - the genuine puzzlement in her voice at the thought of telling him, or her clear amusement at the idea that he might come back to help.
“Well, I guess we’ll never know now, since you never told me, will we?” he remarked dryly.
There was another slight pause and then she said softly, “Oh Colin, you’re not really upset about this, are you? I just didn’t want to worry you when it was all under control. He’s an annoyance but nothing I can’t handle, and tonight was the last I’ll see of him, thankfully.”
Now it was Colin’s turn to sigh.
She didn’t want to worry him.
Him.
And all the while, he had selfishly been concerned with his own hurt feelings.
Now who was the dick?
“Oh Pen, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything,” he told her apologetically. “I know you’re perfectly capable of dealing with prat’s like Fife yourself. You’re amazing.”
“I don’t know about that…” she began self-depreciatingly.
“Well, I do and you are,” he assured her firmly, then added lightly, “But, just know that now I’m back, if you are ever in need of any muscle…call Eloise. I’ll hold her coat.”
Her answering laugh warmed him and he grinned. They continued chatting throughout his walk home and long after he’d let himself into his flat and settled down on his couch. They talked about their upcoming books, his trip, the new restaurant she’d been to that evening – apparently the portions were small but the prices were high. Penelope admitted to having made herself some supper because she’d still been hungry when she’d got home.
She also, eventually, told him about Fife and his unsavoury comments. Colin was quite glad that he had been out of the country as he listened to her. He was certain he would have done something to the bastard had he been around and quite possibly ruined her contract with her publishers to boot. As it was, he merely interjected with the odd expletive as she talked, relieved that she would no longer had to deal with him.
“It’s getting late,” she finally said. “You must be so tired, you only got back today and I’m sitting here talking your ear off.”
He glanced at his watch and saw, to his surprise, that it was approaching one o’clock in the morning.
“Don’t worry, I have another,” he joked, reluctant to end their call despite the time.
“I could probably talk that one off too,” she laughed, then continued ruefully, “but my phone battery is low and El is coming over early tomorrow…well, this morning, to help me sort some things out for the party, so I’d better go.”
“Oh. I was going to suggest we get breakfast at that café near you,” he replied, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice. He’d really wanted to see her.
“You’re welcome to come here instead,” she offered after a beat.
“I’d love too,” he answered quickly. Probably a little too quickly he realised with a slight wince. “I’ll pick us up some pastries and coffee on the way over.”
“That sounds great,” she replied warmly. “I’ll see you later then.”
“Yeah, see you later, Pen.”
He ended the call and smiled to himself. He’d been really fed up when he’d found out that Penelope had had plans that evening. He’d been looking forward to seeing her again, but talking to her for so long instead had been an unexpectedly soothing balm to the worst of his despondency.
And at least he would get to see her in a few hours. True, his sister would be there so he wouldn’t be able to say much in regards to, well, anything really, but he was looking forward to it all the same.
He got up and switched off the light then headed into his bedroom in a decidedly happier frame of mind than he had been all day.
At her house, Penelope tucked the quilt more snugly around her body with a huge smile on her face. Actually hearing from Colin had been nice surprise. That he was in the same country and only a couple of miles away, made it feel even better.
The fact that she was in her bed while speaking to him made it more intimate, somehow, too. Like he was there with her, laying by her side.
Her whole body warmed at the thought.
She’d believed that she’d long given up hope in anything ever happening between them, but now, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed over the past couple of months. She didn’t know what exactly, but Colin seemed…different. It wasn’t what he said, but more how he said it that seemed to have altered.
A little bit more flirtatious. A little bit more innuendo. Things that could be taken lightly or to mean something more if she were only to pursue it.
But she never did. She found she wasn’t quite brave enough.
She turned on her side and switched off her bedside lamp.
Maybe it was all in her mind.
Maybe Alfie’s certainty about Colin’s feelings had seeped into the tiny part of her brain that so wanted it to be true, that she was reading far too much into everything he said and did.
But still…
He had sent another gift to her during his travels. A rather lovely cat figurine hand carved from bamboo and bespoke painted to look just like Pye. His note had said it was a thank you for ‘keeping him company’ while he was away.
She’d loved it and placed it on her mantlepiece next to her birthday gift from him. Then she’d picked up Pyewacket and took a selfie with him and the figures in the background. She’d sent it off to Colin who had replied with just one word - beautiful.
Naturally she’d spent a good couple of days wondering what that meant. The picture in general? Pye? Her?
She hadn’t acknowledged his comment. She’d just sent an inane message about sending photos when he got to his next location if he had the time. He’d sent back a thumbs up emoji and the status quo had returned.
Sort of.
And now she was going to finally see him again after all these months away. He seemed keen to see her too, didn’t he?
He certainly sounded like it.
She certainly hoped he did.
More than ever, she cursed Fife for arranging to meet the night that Colin had come back home. She’d tried to get him to change it, but he’d sworn he’d not been able to and, in the end, it had been a price she’d been willing to pay to be rid of the oaf for good.
And, heavens, did she pay.
The man had more arms than an octopus and each one had a horrible grabby hand attached. She’d got through dinner, just – although she could’ve sneezed more food than was presented on her plate. She’d refused dessert as they had concluded the official part of the evening and she’d wanted to leave. When he’d tried to touch her leg, again, she’d grabbed her glass of overpriced wine and poured it straight onto his lap. While he'd sat there spluttering in outrage, she’d told him exactly what he thought of him before walking out of the restaurant without looking back.
Odious man.
A sudden meow broke into her unhappy thoughts and she felt Pye jump up onto the bed. A few moments later he was in her face demanding attention.
“Where have you been, eh?” she wondered aloud. “Out visiting friends?”
He let out another mew as she gave him a quick fuss and then he settled down beside her.
He’d slipped out of the cat flap earlier after she’d come home from her meeting with Fife. She’d been angry and hungry and frustrated and had slammed about the place cursing the wretched human from here to kingdom come.
Pye had watched and listened but it wasn’t until the human who loved her had called, that he’d left. He knew speaking to Colin would make her happy.
He was no longer needed and there was something he had to do.
No one upset Penelope on his watch.
END CHAPTER 2
PYEWACKET - Chapter 2 -
(A Polin Fanfic)
Read it from the beginning on AO3 or here
Go to Ch. 3
Penelope is in love with Colin.
Colin is in love with Penelope.
Both think that their love is unrequited and don't want to act upon their feelings in case it ruins their friendship.
Enter, Pyewacket...
My submission for Polinween Week 2 - 'What's a Little Fur Between Friends'
Pairing: Colin/Penelope
Rating: Teen and Up
Bridgerton Modern AU
Chapter 2 - Back Home
Colin dropped his suitcase and rucksack on the floor of his room then flopped face first onto the bed with an appreciative groan.
It was good to be back…but he was absolutely shattered.
He’d worked his backside off trying to pack in everything he’d needed for his book into a matter of weeks instead of months. His reward for such a feat was being able to return home four days before Penelope’s Halloween party.
He had hoped to return sooner, but there had been delays in travel due to bad weather and times he just couldn’t change his itinerary.
Still, he was here now and that’s all that mattered.
Without even taking his jacket off, he let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. A quick nap is all he needed…
The quick nap ended up being a few hours long. He woke up feeling rested, but starving.
Checking his phone, he realised it was much later than he’d thought and quickly got up. He had arranged to meet with Eloise and his brother, Benedict, at a local pub that evening and he was going to be late.
He quickly showered and changed then headed out. Walking briskly, it took him a little over fifteen minutes to get there and as soon as he entered the bar area, his siblings both waved at him from a table near the back.
“Brother! Thank you for gracing us with your presence,” Benedict jibed amicably as soon as he approached them.
“Don’t start,” Colin retorted good-naturedly. He gave his older brother a quick hug before turning to do the same with Eloise and then sat down. “Not until I’ve had something to eat at least.”
Benedict pushed a pint of Guinness towards him and grinned.
“Drink up, we’ve already ordered food. Got you the steak and kidney pie, it should be here soon.”
“Thank God,” he said meaningfully before taking a generous mouthful of his drink.
“And while we’re waiting, you can tell us what’s going on with you and Penelope,” Eloise piped up with a knowing smirk.
Colin choked a little on his drink and put his glass down with a thud, the black liquid sloshing up the sides.
“What do you mean?” he asked guardedly.
“Oh, come on, Colin, we’re not stupid,” his sister scoffed.
“That’s a matter of opinion,” he murmured dubiously.
Eloise ignored him and held her hand up as she started listing off all the reasons, tapping a different finger each time.
“You’ve been in contact with her every day…”
“Not every day…” he objected half-heartedly.
“You sent her that cat ornament that looks exactly like Pye…”
“That was a birthday present and pure coincidence,” he dismissed.
“I’m not talking about that one and you know it,” she told him.
Oh God.
“Well, she really liked the first one...” he mumbled and took another drink.
He wasn’t about to tell them that he’d also bought Penelope back yet another black cat trinket.
“And you’re home nearly two months early!” she concluded triumphantly.
“I’ve simply got all the information I needed for my book,” he pointed out trying to sound nonchalant even though he could feel a tell-tale heat begin to warm his cheeks.
He’d put that down to the alcohol if asked.
“When have you ever come home early, Colin?” Benedict questioned wryly, taking up the mantle of inquisitor. “Usually, you’re late or don’t even come back at all just because something else took your fancy.”
Colin frowned, feeling slightly annoyed at that interpretation.
“I…”
“No, he only stays away when Pen has a boyfriend,” Eloise interjected helpfully.
“Ah yes, that’s true,” Benedict agreed with a nod.
“No, it isn’t,” Colin protested, his frown deepening.
But it was – and he was starting to feel far from comfortable that they’d apparently noticed it as well. He didn’t want them ruining everything by hinting things like that to Penelope. He wanted to see her first before he made any kind of admission. Sending messages to each other and talking over the odd facetime call didn’t really help when he was trying to gauge if his feelings could be in any way reciprocated. If they were, then he’d happily announce his love for the world to hear – if they weren’t…well, his siblings clearly didn’t any need any further ammunition.
“You won’t mind that she’s on a date tonight then.”
Eloise’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he stared at her in surprise.
“I thought she was meeting with her editor this evening?”
“She is,” his sister clarified with a brief smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “For dinner at a swanky new restaurant in town. Very businesslike.”
Colin felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Put like that, it didn’t sound as though their meeting was purely about her new book and yet, Penelope hadn’t told him that it was anything more. He’d only spoken to her the day before – surely she would’ve said something?
“Penelope has no interest in Fife,” he asserted, more to appease himself than anything.
“She doesn’t,” Eloise agreed. He relaxed at that confirmation, then immediately tensed again when his sister added, “but he’s interested in her and he’s been pushing for more lately. So much so that she’s asked for a new editor once this book is finished.”
Colin was stunned, angry and upset in equal measure, each emotion warring to be expressed. Stunned that all this had been happening and he had no idea. Angry that Fife wasn’t taking no for an answer and ‘pushing’, whatever the hell that meant. And upset because he had spoken to her almost daily and she clearly hadn’t wanted to tell him – he’d believed they were closer than that.
It was the anger that eventually won out.
“What restaurant are they at?” he asked abruptly.
“It’s fine, Pen’s going to message me when she gets home,” Eloise told him, ignoring his question. “Any problems before then and she said she’ll call. It’s all under control, don’t worry.”
Don’t worry? Of course he was going to worry. He hated the thought that Penelope might be put in an impossible position by that arse.
“Ah, here’s our food,” Benedict observed, giving their waitress an appreciative smile as she placed plates down in front of them.
Colin picked up his knife and fork and stared at his pie, wondering where his appetite had gone. He’d been starving not five minutes previous and now his stomach felt like lead.
“Your food will get cold,” Eloise pointed out as he continued to sit there.
He looked at her blankly, his whole body seemingly a whirl of feelings that made his head spin – and then Benedict decided to add confusion into the already unsettling mix.
“You know, even if Penelope did take Fife back to her place for whatever reason, he’d never make it past Pyewacket.”
“Oh yes!” his sister agreed with a laugh. “That cat is like a guard dog when it comes to Pen.”
Colin looked between the two of them and started to think he must still be asleep and all this some weird, horrible dream. Penelope was having dinner with a lech, and they were sitting here completely unbothered, yammering on about a cat?
What alternate nightmare universe had he stumbled back into?
His cutlery made a stark clanging sound as he dropped them and they bounced off the edge of his plate, drawing their attention.
“What bloody hell is going on here?” he demanded, his voice full of irate frustration. “Are you two just winding me up? First all that about Fife and now some nonsense about the cat.”
His siblings stared back at him in surprise.
“No. No wind up,” Benedict assured him, shaking his head. “Fife is a dick and Pye is oddly protective of Penelope.”
“It’s true,” Eloise concurred. “Pye seems to dislike anyone that’s interested in her. It’s like he can sense it or something. Don’t know if it’s a jealousy thing but he really didn’t like Alfie. He scratched him a couple of times, put a dead mouse in his bag and crapped in one of his shoes.”
“That just shows good judge of character,” Colin muttered derisively.
His siblings both nodded and laughed at that. At least he wasn’t alone in his dislike of Albert.
“And then there was poor Jack,” Benedict said, his amusement increasing.
“Oh yes, Pen told me you set her up on a date,” Colin cut in unhappily, glaring at his brother.
Benedict held up his hands in mock surrender but couldn’t wipe the mirth from his face.
“It wasn’t really a date. He was the brother of a woman who was doing some modelling for me. Penelope was at my studio when he dropped his sister off and they started chatting. They’d both just come out of relationship’s and I thought it’d be nice if we all continued talking over dinner. It was perfectly harmless,” he explained reasonably. Colin gave him an incredulous look, which seemed to amuse his brother even more. “Anyway, we all,” he emphasised, with a nod, before continuing, “went back to Pen’s place after for a coffee and Pye wouldn’t let the poor guy even sit next to her on the couch. Kept hissing at him whenever he tried. In the end, Pen picked him up and put him outside but as soon as Jack sat down, Pye just came out of nowhere and jumped straight onto his lap…claws out.”
Colin winced at that and squirmed a little in his seat as Benedict began to laugh in earnest at the memory.
“I can’t wait to see what he does to you,” Eloise chimed in with a grin.
Colin rolled his eyes at her and picked up his knife and fork again. He refused to take the bait. Even so, as he finally started to eat, he was uncomfortably aware that Pye had unsettled him a few times over calls, although he’d never admit that out loud. He was always with Penelope, staring at him over her shoulder or sitting on her lap. His eyes seemed to transfix him at times, almost as though searching for…something and weirdly, Colin, more often than not, felt as though he came up lacking.
He put a forkful of creamy mash into his mouth and gave himself a mental shake. He was being ridiculous. It was just a cat. Benedict and Eloise had got into his jet-lagged head with their absurd theory when he should be focussing on more important things – like what was happening with Fife.
His gaze flicked to his sister’s phone to see if any messages had flashed up. It was still early, but he hoped…
“Colin will be fine, Eloise,” Benedict dismissed airily, still grinning. “He and Penelope are just friends, right brother?”
The dark-haired man swallowed his food and shook his head.
“Can we not talk about something else?” he suggested wryly, determined to change the subject. “As odd as you both believe Pye’s behaviour to be, I think it’s even more bizarre that after years and years of decrying romance and anything vaguely associated with it, I hear that Eloise seems to actually be in a relationship.”
His sister immediately tensed beside him and he knew his ploy had worked.
Colin smirked as Eloise then proceeded to spend the next ten minutes denying anything and everything with even more vehemence than himself.
They finished dinner and had another round of drinks then decided to call it a night. Thankfully his siblings hadn’t returned to their previous teasing and he’d enjoyed the rest of the evening, bar one thing – Eloise still hadn’t heard from Penelope.
He glanced at his watch. It wasn’t that late, only ten o’clock, but surely she’d had enough time to have dinner and go home?
He stood beside his sister outside the pub as they waited for Benedict to go and get his car. His brother was taking Eloise home before heading back to his studio to finish off a commission that was due in a couple of days time.
A soft buzz had him turn his head and he saw his sister check her phone. Phillip had been texting her on and off throughout the evening so he was half expecting to be disappointed again but she looked up, suddenly, and smiled.
“She’s home.”
At bloody last.
“Good.” There must have been a wealth of meaning in his tone that he hadn’t accounted for because Eloise suddenly reached out and touched his arm. He gazed at her quizzically as she stared at him and the silence stretched out between them. “What is it?”
She seemed uncertain, which was unusual for Eloise, but then she clearly made her mind up to say what she wanted to say.
“Look, I know I’m probably the last person to give advice when it comes to love,” she began. Ignoring Colin’s huff of laughter and nod, she continued more determinedly, “but one thing I’ve learned is that lying to yourself about how you feel doesn’t make it go away.”
Colin sighed and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets.
“I’m not lying to myself, El,” he replied quietly, darting her a quick glance. “I know exactly how I feel.”
She looked confused at his admission.
“Then what’s stopping you telling her?”
Where to start? Their friendship being ruined for one – especially if she didn’t feel the same. And, in fact, did she feel the same? He hoped…he very much hoped that she did. But he wasn’t sure. Which in turn made him a coward because when push come to shove, would he actually be able to cross that line? He wasn’t sure about that either.
He looked at his sister again and she stared back at him expectantly, waiting for a response.
So, Colin did what he did best. He deflected with a joke.
“Pye, for one,” he quipped, summoning a bright smile. “From the tales you and Benedict told earlier, I’d be lucky to even make it through the door.”
Eloise shot him an exasperated glare.
“Colin, be serious,” she snapped in frustration.
“I am!” he exclaimed, his face a picture of innocence.
He was saved from any further discourse when Benedict’s classic, light blue, Jensen Interceptor purred to a halt in front of them.
Colin stepped forward and opened the door for his sister. She looked like she wanted to say more but finally huffed out sigh and clambered in.
“Are you sure you don’t want a lift?” Benedict asked, leaning over the centre console to see him.
Colin bent down and shook his head.
“No thanks, the walk will do me good,” he replied, before straightening up and taking a step back to close the passenger door with a slam.
He stood and gave a little wave as Benedict pulled away from the kerb then began the relatively short walk back to his flat. He’d only gone a few steps when his mobile buzzed. He took it out and smiled when he saw it was a message from Penelope.
It wasn’t long. Just a quick text to say that she hoped he was home safely from his trip and asking if he’d enjoyed his evening out with his family. There was also another apology for not being able to join them. An apology that he took as an opening to give her call because he really, really wanted to know what had happened at her dinner with Fife.
“Hi,” he greeted when she answered after a couple of rings, “I’m walking home so thought I’d call instead of messaging back.”
“Did you have a good night?” she asked.
Perfect opportunity.
“I did, thanks. How about you? Did you have a nice dinner?” he queried.
He tried to keep his voice light but even he heard the faint accusation colouring his tone.
So did Penelope, clearly, as there was a distinct pause before he heard her sigh heavily then ask shrewdly, “El told you, didn’t she?”
“She might have mentioned it,” he admitted cagily, noticing that she hadn’t actually answered his question.
“Oh, I bet she did,” Penelope chuckled. “I think she hates my editor more than I do.”
From the way she was speaking it didn’t seem as though anything untoward had happened that evening, so he was relieved at that. But still…
“Why didn’t you tell me you were having trouble with him, Pen?” he asked abruptly.
Because that’s what he really wanted to know, wasn’t it? Why, when they’d been in contact practically every day, hadn’t she confided in him?
“I didn’t see the point,” she replied, sounding a little confused. “What were you going to do? Jet back from Bali or wherever you were off to next and sort him out for me?”
She laughed and he wasn’t quite sure what irked him more - the genuine puzzlement in her voice at the thought of telling him, or her clear amusement at the idea that he might come back to help.
“Well, I guess we’ll never know now, since you never told me, will we?” he remarked dryly.
There was another slight pause and then she said softly, “Oh Colin, you’re not really upset about this, are you? I just didn’t want to worry you when it was all under control. He’s an annoyance but nothing I can’t handle, and tonight was the last I’ll see of him, thankfully.”
Now it was Colin’s turn to sigh.
She didn’t want to worry him.
Him.
And all the while, he had selfishly been concerned with his own hurt feelings.
Now who was the dick?
“Oh Pen, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything,” he told her apologetically. “I know you’re perfectly capable of dealing with prat’s like Fife yourself. You’re amazing.”
“I don’t know about that…” she began self-depreciatingly.
“Well, I do and you are,” he assured her firmly, then added lightly, “But, just know that now I’m back, if you are ever in need of any muscle…call Eloise. I’ll hold her coat.”
Her answering laugh warmed him and he grinned. They continued chatting throughout his walk home and long after he’d let himself into his flat and settled down on his couch. They talked about their upcoming books, his trip, the new restaurant she’d been to that evening – apparently the portions were small but the prices were high. Penelope admitted to having made herself some supper because she’d still been hungry when she’d got home.
She also, eventually, told him about Fife and his unsavoury comments. Colin was quite glad that he had been out of the country as he listened to her. He was certain he would have done something to the bastard had he been around and quite possibly ruined her contract with her publishers to boot. As it was, he merely interjected with the odd expletive as she talked, relieved that she would no longer had to deal with him.
“It’s getting late,” she finally said. “You must be so tired, you only got back today and I’m sitting here talking your ear off.”
He glanced at his watch and saw, to his surprise, that it was approaching one o’clock in the morning.
“Don’t worry, I have another,” he joked, reluctant to end their call despite the time.
“I could probably talk that one off too,” she laughed, then continued ruefully, “but my phone battery is low and El is coming over early tomorrow…well, this morning, to help me sort some things out for the party, so I’d better go.”
“Oh. I was going to suggest we get breakfast at that café near you,” he replied, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice. He’d really wanted to see her.
“You’re welcome to come here instead,” she offered after a beat.
“I’d love too,” he answered quickly. Probably a little too quickly he realised with a slight wince. “I’ll pick us up some pastries and coffee on the way over.”
“That sounds great,” she replied warmly. “I’ll see you later then.”
“Yeah, see you later, Pen.”
He ended the call and smiled to himself. He’d been really fed up when he’d found out that Penelope had had plans that evening. He’d been looking forward to seeing her again, but talking to her for so long instead had been an unexpectedly soothing balm to the worst of his despondency.
And at least he would get to see her in a few hours. True, his sister would be there so he wouldn’t be able to say much in regards to, well, anything really, but he was looking forward to it all the same.
He got up and switched off the light then headed into his bedroom in a decidedly happier frame of mind than he had been all day.
At her house, Penelope tucked the quilt more snugly around her body with a huge smile on her face. Actually hearing from Colin had been nice surprise. That he was in the same country and only a couple of miles away, made it feel even better.
The fact that she was in her bed while speaking to him made it more intimate, somehow, too. Like he was there with her, laying by her side.
Her whole body warmed at the thought.
She’d believed that she’d long given up hope in anything ever happening between them, but now, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed over the last few months. She didn’t know what exactly, but Colin seemed…different. It wasn’t what he said, but more how he said it that seemed to have altered.
A little bit more flirtatious. A little bit more innuendo. Things that could be taken lightly or to mean something more if she were only to pursue it.
But she never did. She found she wasn’t quite brave enough.
She turned on her side and switched off her bedside lamp.
Maybe it was all in her mind.
Maybe Alfie’s certainty about Colin’s feelings had seeped into the tiny part of her brain that so wanted it to be true, that she was reading far too much into everything he said and did.
But still…
He had sent another gift to her during his travels. A rather lovely cat figurine hand carved from bamboo and bespoke painted to look just like Pye. His note had said it was a thank you for ‘keeping him company’ while he was away.
She’d loved it and placed it on her mantlepiece next to her birthday gift from him. Then she’d picked up Pyewacket and took a selfie with him and the figures in the background. She’d sent it off to Colin who had replied with just one word - beautiful.
Naturally she’d spent a good couple of days wondering what that meant. The picture in general? Pye? Her?
She hadn’t acknowledged his comment. She’d just sent an inane message about sending photos when he got to his next location if he had the time. He’d sent back a thumbs up emoji and the status quo had returned.
Sort of.
And now she was going to finally see him again after all these months away. He seemed keen to see her too, didn’t he?
He certainly sounded like it.
She certainly hoped he did.
More than ever, she cursed Fife for arranging to meet the night that Colin had come back home. She’d tried to get him to change it, but he’d sworn he’d not been able to and, in the end, it had been a price she’d been willing to pay to be rid of the oaf for good.
And, heavens, did she pay.
The man had more arms than an octopus and each one had a horrible grabby hand attached. She’d got through dinner, just – although she could’ve sneezed more food than was presented on her plate. She’d refused dessert as they had concluded the official part of the evening and she’d wanted to leave. When he’d tried to touch her leg, again, she’d grabbed her glass of overpriced wine and poured it straight onto his lap. While he'd sat there spluttering in outrage, she’d told him exactly what she thought of him before walking out of the restaurant without looking back.
Odious man.
A sudden meow broke into her unhappy thoughts and she felt Pye jump up onto the bed. A few moments later he was in her face demanding attention.
“Where have you been, eh?” she wondered aloud. “Out visiting friends?”
He let out another mew as she gave him a quick fuss and then he settled down beside her.
He’d slipped out of the cat flap earlier after she’d come home from her meeting with Fife. She’d been angry and hungry and frustrated and had slammed about the place cursing the wretched human from here to kingdom come.
Pye had watched and listened but it wasn’t until the human who loved her had called, that he’d left. He knew speaking to Colin would make her happy.
He was no longer needed and there was something he had to do.
No one upset Penelope on his watch.
END CHAPTER 2
PYEWACKET - Chapter 1 -
(A Polin Fanfic)
Can also be read on AO3
Ch. 2, Ch. 3 & Ch. 4
Penelope is in love with Colin. Colin is in love with Penelope. Both think that their love is unrequited and don't want to act upon their feelings in case it ruins their friendship Enter, Pyewacket...
Bridgerton Modern AU
Pairing: Colin/Penelope
My submission for Polinween Week 2 - 'What's a Little Fur Between Friends'
Chapter 1 - Birthday Girl
It was on a warm, slightly humid, evening in late July that Penelope Featherington fell completely and utterly, head over heels, in love for the second time in her fairly young life.
He was a handsome boy, brimming with confidence and gorgeous green eyes that bordered on hypnotising. As soon as he’d sauntered in through the open back door of her modest, two-bedroom house, she’d known she was a goner.
She’d always loved cats.
Purring loudly, his black, glossy fur had tickled as he’d rubbed around her bare ankles before he’d jumped up and settled himself down on her old, comfy settee, like he’d lived there for years.
That had been a month ago. She’d put up notices, had him checked at the vets but with no microchip and nobody calling to claim him, he was now officially hers…or maybe she was officially his really.
Whatever way round it was, ‘Pyewacket’, as she’d named him, was here to stay.
“A pie-wotsit?” her friend, Eloise, had quipped with an incredulous laugh when Penelope had told her.
“It’s an old name for a witch’s familiar,” the redhead had explained. At Eloise’s blank look, she’d shrugged and added a little defensively, “Well, I like it.”
“It’s great, Pen, honestly,” Eloise had assured her with a grin. “I would’ve probably called him something boring like John, but Pye…”
“…wacket,” her friend had supplied helpfully when Eloise had trailed off with a frown.
“Yes, Pye, really suits him.”
Penelope had simply shook her head and smiled. She’d take that.
And now, to celebrate, she’d bought Pye a dark green collar with a little bell, a new catnip toy and a small tin of tuna. He ran over as soon as she opened the can and paced around her legs with the odd little mew as he waited impatiently for his treat. She placed his bowl on the stone tiled kitchen floor, then put the kettle on and herself a m ug of tea.
She’d just sat down with her steaming brew when her phone went off and she smiled when she saw the name that flashed up. No matter what continent he was on for work, he never forgot her birthday.
Ever.
“Hi Colin.” A loud rendition of ‘Happy Birthday to You’ came back at her and she laughed when he held the last ‘you’ for far longer than she thought was possible. “Thank you for reminding me I’m another year older, but sadly not any wiser,” she quipped when the singing had ended.
“Oh, that sounds rather ominous,” he replied, suddenly serious. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Of course,” she said in what she hoped was a dismissive tone.
Apparently, it wasn’t…
“Penelope, I know you. What’s happened? Is it your mum? What’s she said now?” he fired off, already getting angry on her behalf.
“No, it’s not mum - or Prudence or Philippa,” she added before her friend mentioned her sisters.
“Well, it’s something,” he prodded. Colin paused, but when Penelope didn’t speak, he asked flatly, “Is it Alan?”
Penelope sighed heavily and shook her head at his continuous propensity to get her boyfriend’s name wrong.
Well, ex-boyfriend now.
“It’s Alfie, Colin and yes, if you must know we broke up last week,” she told him unhappily.
“Switch to facetime,” he demanded suddenly.
“Colin…”
“Pen, switch to facetime. I want to see you so we can talk properly,” he told her firmly.
“I’m sure you have better things to do than listen to me having a moan,” she argued without any real heat, “and I thought you said were meant to be filming some secret lagoon today or something?”
“That’s later. So, I’m exactly where I want to be. Talking to you on facetime, Pen,” he retorted.
She tutted but pulled her phone away from her ear and saw that he had already made the call. She hit accept and his face came into view.
‘Well. Happy, fricking, birthday, to me,’ she thought, drinking in the sight of him.
From his chestnut brown hair – that was slightly too long and curling up at the ends in a way that made her fingers itch to reach through the screen and just tug – to his ridiculously deep blue eyes, lightly stubbled chin and golden tan.
He looked gorgeous…and of course he was shirtless.
Her gaze dropped briefly to his chest, skittering over the liberal covering of hair there. Dear God, if he only knew what that did to her, he’d probably wear a polo neck for the rest of his life.
They were only friends, after all. Something that she constantly had to remind herself of when her mind – or gaze – wandered off to their own little fantasies. It didn’t matter that she’d been in love with him for forever.
Well, years, anyway.
And honestly, she’d long since made peace with her unrequited feelings in regards to Colin Bridgerton.
Mostly.
He’d been out of the country for a couple of months now. Said he’d had an idea for a new book and had left with barely a few days notice.
She understood. Like him, she was a writer. Romance novels that sold surprisingly well, considering the lack of any real lasting relationships in her personal life to draw upon. Still, her books had ensured her bank balance was very healthy and when the writing bug bit, she knew you had to go with it, wherever it took you.
For Colin, that just happened to be the other side of the world more often than not. New places to see, new experiences to catalogue. He thrived on the adventure and it clearly showed…if his sun-kissed beach body was anything to go by. Not an ounce of fat anywhere from what she could see…
“So,” he said, drawing her attention back to their conversation. He had a small, sympathetic smile on his face and tilted his head slightly as he continued, “do you want to tell me what happened?”
Not really.
She certainly wasn’t going to tell him that Alfie had become very suspicious of her feelings for Colin and was oddly convinced that the love of her life also felt something back.
She’d quickly brushed that notion off as ridiculous but then, with impeccable timing, several messages had suddenly pinged through on her phone from Colin. It was merely a rundown of his day with some photos of things he thought she might like to see. For her, that was normal. For Alfie, not so much it seemed…not for a long while.
In the end, listening to his reasoning, even she had to begrudgingly admit that, from the outside, it had kind of undermined her argument.
And, to top it all off, Pye hadn’t liked him. Not one little bit.
“There’s nothing to tell. It just didn’t work out and he…we decided it would be better to end it,” she finally replied with a shrug.
Colin’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the truth of her words. He didn’t quite believe her but, at the same time, she didn’t seem particularly upset, so he reluctantly decided not to push the reasons why. He was just unaccountably pleased that the idiot was gone.
“Well, having never spoken to the guy, Pen, I can safely say that he’s a fool,” he told her wryly. He was rewarded with her laugh and grinned. “So, what are your plans for your birthday? Going out somewhere nice tonight?” he asked, changing the subject.
“No, not now. Alfie was taking me out for dinner, but I’m going to get a pizza in and open a bottle of wine instead,” she replied with a smile.
“Sounds like that that’ll be a far more interesting night,” he commented with a chuckle. “Is Eloise joining you? How is she? I haven’t spoken to her recently.”
“She’s good, but I haven’t told her about Alfie and me yet because she’d already made plans with Phillip for this evening,” she explained with a sigh. “I know she’d cancel on him just because it’s my birthday and I don’t want her to. He’s a nice guy and I think she really likes him.”
“Poor chap,” he commiserated with a huff of laughter. He loved his sister but she could be…difficult at times.
“She’s not that bad,” Penelope rebuked lightly.
Colin merely raised his eyebrows at that and they both shared a laugh.
“So, since El is busy, what about one of your other friends?” he asked, bringing the conversation back around to her. “You can’t be alone on your birthday, Pen.”
“Oh, I’m fine. It’s just another day at my age and, anyway, who says I’m going to be alone? I’ll have you know I’ll be spending the evening with a very handsome fellow,” she told him rather smugly.
On the other end of the call, Colin’s hand tightened around his phone as felt his stomach drop – and then churn unpleasantly. She’d met someone else already?
“Well, that was rather quick,” he muttered to himself.
“What was that?”
Colin’s eyes widened as he realised he’d spoken louder than he’d imagined and felt heat start to warm his cheeks.
She was staring at him with an expression that told him she wasn’t quite sure that she’d heard, what she thought she’d heard.
“Oh, uh, nothing, I just said that...um…I’m sure you could have your pick,” he covered relatively smoothly and even managed to summon a charming smile.
At least, he hoped it was charming because it felt like the skin on his face was so taut it might actually tear apart if he tried to force his mouth any wider.
Penelope regarded him for a couple of seconds longer then suddenly giggled.
“I’m pretty certain he picked me.” She glanced away for a moment then looked back at him happily and added, “Hang on, he’s just finished eating. I’ll go get him and introduce you.”
What?
He was there?
All this time?
Colin’s heart stuttered along with his words. In the end all he managed to get out was an odd, strangulated sound that really had more to do with the fact that Penelope had leaned forward to prop up her phone against something on the table. It had afforded him with such an appealing view of her ample chest that he’d been rendered momentarily speechless.
Good Lord, if she knew just how much she affected him, she’d be horrified. Rightly so. Friends didn’t ogle friends – even if one the friends desperately wished they could be more.
The sound of footsteps made him focus back on the screen. She was returning with her new…whatever. Shaking himself mentally, he tried to adopt a neutral expression so that he could at least appear to seem unbothered by this unexpected turn of events.
“Here he is,” Penelope gushed as she came back into view. She sat down on the settee with a big bundle of fur in her arms and turned him so that Colin could see his face. “Meet Pyewacket, the new addition to the Featherington household.”
Oh.
A cat.
If he hadn’t already realised awhile ago that he was in love with his friend, the ridiculous amount of relief that flooded through his system in that single moment would’ve been a huge wake-up call. Even for him.
He watched as Penelope stroked him, the cats back arching under her ministrations. Pyewacket was clearly enjoying all the attention and purred loudly as she scratched lightly behind first one ear, then the other.
Colin smiled a little at the obvious tenderness on her face as she fussed her new pet. He’d be a very happy man indeed if she ever looked at him like that.
Suddenly, Pye stopped purring and stared unwaveringly into the camera, directly at Colin. He wasn’t sure if he’d made a noise or had moved slightly, but whatever the reason, he’d definitely grabbed the cat’s attention and as he stared back, he was taken with how very green his eyes were…and how they seemed to pierce straight into his soul.
It was a distinctly unnerving feeling that had him clear his throat a little in discomfort. He tried to look away but couldn’t. Something held him captive, like an invisible hold and then, one blink, and it was gone.
Pye turned away and after circling in Penelope’s lap a couple of times, he settled down, seemingly falling into an instant sleep.
“Well,” Colin began, still trying to get his head around what had just happened, “he’s a handsome devil.” He forced a grin. “Great name. Witch’s familiar. Suits him.”
Penelope beamed and he relaxed a little.
“I guess that’s my outfit sorted for the Halloween party this year then,” she commented with a chuckle.
“Oh, you’re going as a sexy witch, huh?” he teased, his grin easier now. “Good thing I’ll be back in time. I very much look forward to seeing that costume on the night.”
Her eyes widened as a delicate blush stained her cheeks and he belatedly wondered if he’d overstepped - but needn’t have worried. She was apparently more surprised about him returning.
“You’re coming? Really? But…I thought you said we wouldn’t see you until Christmas?” she exclaimed in confusion.
“I did, but I’ve actually made much better progress than I thought I would, so I should only be gone a few more weeks,” he explained, keeping it vague.
In truth, he’d only just decided to return and it was primarily because her prat of a boyfriend was no longer around.
On screen her expression softened as she smiled.
“That news is probably the best present I could’ve had for my birthday,” she said sincerely. “It’ll be good to have you home again, Colin.”
Home.
Where the heart is...and his heart, he now knew, had always been hers.
“Pen…”
Before he could say anything more, there was a loud knock on his hotel room door.
“I’ll go and let you get that,” she said, picking up her phone.
He sighed and nodded. He wasn’t really sure what he’d been about to say anyway. Although the urge to blurt out his feelings had been strong, there was no way he was going to make that kind of declaration over a bloody facetime call. Penelope deserved so much better than that.
“I’ll be in touch,” he assured her instead, “and let me know when your real present turns up. I think you might like it.”
“Present? What present?” she asked perplexed. “Colin?”
“Happy birthday, Pen.”
Grinning, he gave her a wink and a little wave, then ended the call.
“Infuriating man,” she muttered as she tossed the phone down beside her on the settee.
Pye lifted his head and mewed softly as if in agreement.
“Exactly!” she replied with a curt nod.
Absently, she started to stroke his fur, her mind running over and over the unexpected phone call. After a few moments she let out a groan of frustration and moved Pye gently off her lap so that she could stand. She refused to waste any more time torturing herself by reading anything into Colin’s meaningless flirtations. He probably didn’t even realise he was doing it at this point. They’d known each other for so long it was second nature for him.
Picking up her now lukewarm mug of tea, she took it over to the sink and tipped it away. Flicking the switch on the kettle, she leaned back against the counter and waited for it to boil to make a fresh cup.
She’d just added a dash of milk when her doorbell rang. Answering the door, the postman handed over a small parcel that needed her signature. She duly complied and walked back into the kitchen where she placed the box on the counter.
She could see it was from Colin and a dart of anticipation rose within her as she carefully opened the parcel. After putting most of the packaging to one side, she found a note and a small ornament wrapped in tissue.
She opened the note and read it quickly.
‘For your birthday, Pen. I saw this and knew it belonged with you. Love Colin x’
Intrigued, she pulled off the tissue and stared at the beautifully carved wooden figurine in amazement.
It was of a cat. Seated with its tail curled around its paws. Black, of course, with deep green, painted eyes.
She let out a delighted laugh. What were the odds? He couldn’t have known about Pye because she knew that he hadn’t been in touch with any of his siblings recently. In fact, she was the one that tended to update them as Colin often spoke to her because she was always so interested in what he was doing.
“Look, it’s you!” she declared, turning to show Pye the ornament.
He was sat on one of the breakfast stools and eyed the figure a moment before leaning forward and giving it a cursory sniff. He pulled back and looked at her then let out a little chirrup.
“I agree, it is beautiful.”
Still giggling to herself over the uncanny coincidence, she went and got her phone from where it lay on the couch and quickly typed out a thank you message to Colin. He replied almost immediately saying she was welcome and that he was looking forward to seeing her in a few weeks.
Penelope sighed and sat down. Seeing her. Not simply looking forward to coming home, but to seeing her. And so was she. Looking forward to seeing him. More than she knew she should allow herself too really. She didn’t want get her hopes up anymore.
As if sensing her sudden sombre mood, Pyewacket jumped up beside her and reached out a paw, gently touching her arm. She gave him a scratch on the head and smiled a little sadly.
“Oh, Pye, all these years and I’m still such a fool for him,” she muttered with a shake of her head. “As if this time will be any different from all the other times he’s come home, right?”
He mewed a response and she turned her head to look at him in amazement. It was the damndest thing but she could have sworn that it sounded like, ‘yes’.
She suddenly laughed at the absurdity of the notion and gave him a little pat.
“Come on, let’s find your toy and have a play,” she said, dropping a kiss on the top of his silky head.
Pye regarded her a moment as she went off, then trailed after her, tail upright, the tip twitching slightly.
Humans were a funny lot, he decided. But he liked this one and he knew the other one did too. A lot.
And come All Hallow’s Eve, Pye was determined that she would know just how much the other one did as well.
Suddenly, her hand raised off of his stomach. She hesitated, her fingers already curling into a grasping motion. Her eyes flicked up to Colin’s. A pause. A question.
And then her hand wrapped around his throat.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Fic summary:
Colin Bridgerton had always wanted a dog.
Not that anything about Penelope reminded him of a dog. It was just that he was thinking about how excited he was to be married to his very best friend. And, to avoid making eye contact with Benedict lest he pull a face that made Colin go red, he allowed his mind to travel a little, and… well, he arrived at dogs.
But, to be sure, Penelope Featherington did not remind Colin of a dog.
Or, the one where Colin wants to take Penelope on an extended honeymoon, but Penelope keeps insisting she has to be home before the next full moon for some reason. (Werewolf!Pen AU)
Explicit, 2/3, 25k