Summary: You and Daniel share a brief moment together before reality pulls you apart. Now, you're looking for something and he just may be the perfect person to help
Word Count: 907
A/N: I just binged all of Hotel Costiera in one sitting and had the best time!!! And with the main character being who he is, I just had to write this down afterwards. Hope you enjoy!
You knew what you were getting yourself into when you signed up to join the Marines.
Long days working. Short nights trying to recover. And absolutely no slack given.
But with its burdens came its benefits.
You have never felt the overwhelming sense of camaraderie that envelops you as you serve alongside your brothers and sisters in arms.
They were your family. People you would gladly die for. And you knew they would not hesitate to do the same.
This was never more clear then when you got back to base after your last mission.
The brass at the top had been overzealous and jumped the gun on some intelligence they had received. Having sent your team directly into the line of fire, it was only by the grace of a higher power that you all made it out relatively unscathed.
Still, you took the time to find a secluded area once you were back on base and pressed your back firmly against the wall as you let out a deep sigh while sagging against it.
Days like this were tough, but you simply had to find the mental fortitude to keep going.
You just closed your eyes to figure out how you were going to do that when the answer came in the form of an unexpected arrival.
“I thought I might find you in here.” said De Luca as he cautiously approached.
“Yeah, I just needed a minute.” You replied after reopening your eyes.
After nodding, he wondered aloud if you wanted to be left alone.
“Come on, Danny. You know being in your presence is my most favorite pastime of all. I’m not going to give it up now.” You replied with a tired playfulness.
Pushing yourself off the wall, you turned to face him head-on as he laughed and said,
“Good, cause I was coming to check on you. You alright?”
“I’m fine.” You say a little too quickly.
As doubt spreads across his face, he asks again.
“You sure? Cause that looked like a pretty close call back there.”
Appreciating the consideration, you tried to reassure him as you responded.
“I’m fine. Really! Nothing’s broken. Nothing’s bleeding. There’s no need to be worried, so why does it matter?”
Your fellow Marine’s jaw ticked as you tried to dismiss his concerns. And his eyes became more determined when he replied with,
“It matters because you almost died today. It matters because had you died, I would’ve never gotten the chance to do this.”
His hands were suddenly cradling your head and they swiftly brought you lips to his in a fiery kiss you did not expect.
But you were more than happy to respond in kind.
After slowly pulling away from each other a moment later, you shared bashful grins as you teased him.
“Are you trying to tell me, after all these years, that you like me?”
Huffing a laugh, Daniel rolled his eyes before saying,
“I am trying to tell you, after all these years, that we are inevitable.”
Leaning in to peck your lips one more time, he finished with,
“It was only a matter of time really.”
Breaking into another bright smile at his declaration, you were about to respond to him when you both heard the sound of his last name being called around the corner.
“Hey, De Luca! Someone needs to talk to you.”
“Be right there!” He called back before his eyes found yours again.
“Can we talk later?” He asked.
Nodding, you understandingly said,
“Sure.”
He gave you one last smile and then made his way out.
You lingered by yourself for a few more minutes before deciding you would get some food from the mess hall.
You were only halfway there when a sudden commotion caught your attention. Making your way over to the where everyone was crowding in order to witness the spectacle yourself, you were more than surprised to see the man you had just kissed wearing an enraged expression on his face as he was being pulled away by two different officers from an unconscious person laid out on the floor.
“What happened?” You ask to no one in particular, but the person closest to you responds.
“De Luca just knocked out a three-star general! No way he’s coming back from that.”
And as you watch his retreating figure, you have the heartbreaking realization that ‘later’ may never come.
Several Months Later
After leaving such a demanding job, you were glad you had enough saved up to go on a dream vacation by yourself. It was more of a sabbatical really, with you just taking some time to unwind and build up your strength in order to start your search again.
You had just walked up to the arrival desk at the beautiful hotel based on the Amalfi Coast when you heard the most unexpected voice.
“Is that the goddess Athena?”
Recognizing your old nickname from your days in the service, you can’t help but to turn around to see the one addressing you as such.
Surprise takes over you as you come face to face with the person who had meant so much to you.
“Daniel De Luca. As I live and breathe.”
You said with a contented smile.
And as you stood apart from each other, just as you had all those months ago, you were struck by the sudden idea that this vacation may not go as planned.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
Chapter Summary: Confrontation
Word Count: 1,120
A/N: Not sure if anyone is still reading this story, but I figured I'd publish the last chapter I wrote. Hope you enjoy!
You were more annoyed than you were nervous to see your Uncle stood not ten feet in front of you.
You were supposed to be wrapped up in wedded bliss, not dealing with unwanted relatives.
“I just wanted to congratulate the happy couple in person.”
Was the unconvincing statement that followed your Uncle’s rude greeting.
“I do not recall sending you an invitation.”
Was your cold reply.
“No, I read all about your fast nuptials in the papers. I suppose Lady Whistledown was correct when she predicted wedding bells around the corner—”
“Have care for how you speak to my wife, sir.”
Anthony strongly interjected. Taking a protective stance in front of you, he continued by saying,
“We may have just been wed but I still demand you respect this lady in my presence.”
The look on the older gentleman’s face showed he was impressed by the defence that came to your aid.
With a superior attitude, he said,
“So, I suppose you are the Viscount the columns mentioned?”
“I am her husband, Lord Bridgerton.”
Your Uncle looked your husband up and down as if he was comparing their sizes and you could tell when he realized he had the disadvantage.
Your intrusive relative was older, but there was no doubting that Anthony was stronger in every sense of the word.
It touched your heart to see his willingness to defend you. But still, you placed a gloved hand against his foreman and took a step forward to stand by his side.
“Thank you, darling. But I can handle him.”
“Oh really?” your Uncle chimed in. “How can you live with yourself knowing you have deprived your innocent cousin of what naturally belongs to him?”
“My father’s will said otherwise, dear sir. And as of this morning, the law says everything I have will now be shared between my husband and I. You have lost.”
“I know you only did this to hurt me!” Your Uncle exclaimed. You and your husband each took a step back as he locked eyes with Anthony and said,
“Did she tell you why she truly married you? Did she tell you who she truly is??”
Concerned by the crazed look in his eyes, you clutched at the Viscount’s shoulder as you heatedly responded,
“I hide nothing from my husband!”
Scoffing as if the very words were hard to believe, your Uncle continued with his questions.
“Did she tell you the women in her family are mad as hatters? Just look at her Aunt! Completely off her rocker after our son was born. Thus, I had no choice but to send her to an asylum. It is a shame pneumonia took her, but it was better for everyone that she was confined away.”
Unable to help the horrified expression on your face, your voice was quiet as you said,
“You kill your wife with your callous indifference and wonder why I married with such haste? I did it to be safe from you.” Grabbing your husband’s hand and interlocking your fingers with his, you finished by confidently declaring,
“And I do not regret my choice.”
Slapping his hands together and excitedly pointing your way, your Uncle vehemently addressed the Viscount as he said,
“You see? She is just using you! You should lock her up as I would have done.” Turning to face you, he spat out, “You may have kept your father’s fortune but you will not be able to escape justice!”
He unexpectedly stumbled backwards as Anthony pushed his hand into the other man’s chest.
Your Uncle was shocked into silence at the use of physical force and could only stare as your husband started to say with a touch of aggression,
“You are standing too close to my wife, sir.”
The Viscount simply adjusted the cufflink on his offending hand as he smoothly continued.
“I have already reminded you once to speak to her with respect and I will not remind you again. Be assured, I am using her just as much as she is using me because I am in love with her and refuse to be parted from her from here on out.”
“What?” you quietly gasped, but Anthony only went on uninterrupted.
“If she had to marry me to escape your evil clutches then I am glad I was there to be a saving grace.”
Squeezing your hand, he said,
“I will show her the care that she was deprived of all her life. I will cherish her like the woman she is, and I will never be so heartless in sending her anywhere! She is my wife, and she will remain at my side.”
Both you and your Uncle stared at your husband in shock, and you could only let out a breathless,
“My darling…”
Before you heard the sound of your mother’s voice from behind.
“What are you doing here?!”
She scathingly asked as she left the carriage stopped behind your own and took in your unwanted intruder.
Your Uncle looked like he was about to have another go at all of you until an unexpected arrival prevented him from doing so.
“Father, please! Hold your tongue.”
The sight of your cousin stopped everyone in their tracks as he worked on pacifying your Uncle.
“I told you no good would come from this. You should have listened when I told you I do not want the money!”
“It is your birthright!” Your Uncle exclaimed.
“It does not matter to me!” Your cousin passionately replied.
His father took in the face of his pleading son and the faces of those around him as he noticed he was outnumbered and let out a drawn, defeated sigh.
“You will never be a happy as you could have been.”
Was all he sneered to his son before he stalked off.
Your cousin then turned with a small and bashful smile on his face as he said,
“My apologies for that. My father has gone a bit overboard since I declared I wanted to dedicate my life to the clergy, but I promise he will not be bothering you again.”
He shook hands with the Viscount and shared a brief smile with you before saying his goodbyes and following after his father.
Your mother turned to the both of you and quickly asked,
“Are you two alright?”
You hurried to reassure her as you said,
“Yes, we are fine. We will see you inside.”
Nodding, the dowager Countess went to the decor as your turned to face the Viscount.
“Did you mean it?”
Your eyes searched his as he quietly replied,
“Every word.”
And after a brief moment, there was no resisting the pull you felt to bring your lips to his.
TAG POLICY: If you wish to be tagged in this story, you will be required to leave a comment for each chapter you are tagged in. A comment is considered to be any kind of feedback you can give about my story (a detail you noticed, a conversation you liked, a scene you enjoyed, etc.). Please do not ask to be tagged if you are unwilling to follow this rule. If you do ask to be tagged, and fail to follow this rule, you will lose access to my story. Please note: Comments that are made up entirely of emojis or key smashes do not count. Leave a thumbs up (👍) in your tag request to let me know you have read and agree to this policy in order to be added.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
You were in a trance as you made your little squares on the carpeted floor above the ballroom.
The lovely music continued to serenade you both as you moved back and forth, to and from.
You are sure you would have danced through the whole song in silence had your inexperience not caused you to accidentally step on your partner’s toes.
“My deepest apologies!”
But your new friend made it easy to laugh off your mistake as he said with a chuckle,
“No harm done, madam. I assure you.”
As he looked into your eyes with suppressed humor in his, you could not stop yourself from letting out a laugh yourself,
You both stopped your waltz as you took a moment to get recomposed. The young man across from you took notice of your apprehensive joy as you said with a bright grin on your face,
“Despite my novice performance, I am glad I at least tried it. My father would have never allowed me to do such a thing.”
Hearing that reminded Anthony of the words he had heard earlier when he made his way to the second level of the house. He remembered you mentioning something about a condition of yours making your father think you were ineligible for marriage.
An odd sentiment and one that left him rather curious to learn more.
“And why is that?” The heir to the viscountcy asked, “Would he object so very much to you being here unchaperoned?”
Surprised by the suggestion, you did not even think as you disagreed and said,
“No, I was referring to my talking to a stranger. I have never done so before.”
But the more you said, the more questions Anthony had.
“How can that be? You look almost of age. Surely you have met other people in your lifetime.”
You turned away from him with a bashful smile on your face as you responded.
“My parents say that I am not normal, and society would not understand a creature such as myself. Therefore, they keep me hidden away so that I am doomed to the life of a spinster since that is all I am apparently capable of achieving.”
Starting to comprehend your situation a little better, the eldest Bridgerton was genuine as he said,
“I may not know you well, but I do know enough to believe your forced seclusion will not prevent you from marrying.”
“But how can you be so sure? I have never socialized before, and I am quite convinced I will scare you off any moment now.”
With an amused huff, Anthony slowly reached for your gloved hand and raised it to his lips. Planting a soft kiss on the back of it, he looked into your eyes in order to reassuringly say,
“I promise, you will not frighten me away. And I am sure because you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.”
And you could not deny the warm feeling that suddenly swept over you as were pinned into place by his sincere gaze.
___________________________
You were brought back to the present day by the loud, echoing voice of the archbishop stood in front of you within the church.
As you took a glance to your right at your fiancé, you could not help but wonder if he meant what he had said all those years ago on the night you met.
In fact, as your wedding pressed forward, you became more and more curious about the mindset of your husband-to-be.
There was no doubting the true nobility of a man who would sacrifice himself so that your reputation would not be ruined.
In the days leading up to your speedy matrimony, courtesy of a special license, you were mainly unsure about how to express your gratitude. Over the last week, you and the Viscount had encountered each other a few times as your Mamas planned the spontaneous event, and all you could manage in that time was saying hello and goodbye.
Talking to him used to feel so easy, but with you feeling like he had fallen on his sword to protect your honor, you were now feeling terribly guilty.
And that guilt led to some admitted awkwardness.
“My lady?”
Blinking back to attention, you looked at the priest as he repeated himself.
“Do you take Lord Bridgerton to be your husband?”
Realizing you had missed your original cue, you were quick to say,
“Yes, I do.”
As the archbishop smiled, he then proudly pronounced you man and wife to those gathered in the pews for your wedding.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
You felt yourself freeze for a moment before turning to face Anthony. For the first time in days, you raised your gaze to his as he lifted the lace veil from your face.
There was so much to be said, and no time to speak before his lips were on yours in the most delicate of kisses.
He slowly pulled back, and his eyes spoke volumes as the applause of your audience pulled you away from one another.
You took his arm as he escorted you down the aisle, but you each paused at the first row.
You, so you could quickly hug the Countess.
Him, so he could receive a maternal kiss of pride to the cheek from his mother.
“You are Viscountess Bridgerton now,” Your Mama whispered into your ear as you embraced. “May you always be happy, my beautiful daughter.”
Pulling back with a teary smile, you thanked her as you returned to your husband’s side. You both made your way out and into the carriage waiting for you in front of the church.
And for the first time since the ball last week, you and the Viscount were alone.
You realized this as the door closed and you were stuck staring at one another across the way in the confined space.
A few more moments of this passed before you abruptly broke the silence.
“I am sorry!”
Anthony looked confused as he asked,
“What are you apologizing for?”
You felt the horses pull off in the direction of your home for the wedding breakfast as you answered.
“You were forced to marry me because I could not control my attack. I am so sorry for the regrets you must feel being tied to someone like me.”
Without hesitation, your husband swiftly reached across the aisle to grab your hand in his as he imploringly said,
“I have no regrets! I promised you when we met that you would not frighten me away and I meant it. I spent years looking for you and I could not be more grateful that we are now tied together for the rest of our lives.”
Soothingly stroking your wrist with his thumb, he continued by reverently saying with a kind smile,
“What an absolute privilege.”
Feeling reassured in the best way, you squeezed your husband’s hand in gratitude for his words and smiled when he squeezed back.
“We have arrived, my Lord.”
Said the chauffeur as he got down from the driver’s seat.
Helping you out of the carriage, Anthony went back to holding your hand once you were both upright on the sidewalk.
He made it a point to stare into your eyes as he brushed a kiss to your knuckles, and you felt flutters in your stomach at the obvious show of affection.
You would have stayed in your own little world had it not been for the sound of a condescending voice coming from the stoop.
“Hello, niece.”
Turning, you immediately felt your heart drop at the sight of your Uncle unexpectedly standing in front of your house.
TAG POLICY: If you wish to be tagged in this story, you will be required to leave a comment for each chapter you are tagged in. A comment is considered to be any kind of feedback you can give about my story (a detail you noticed, a conversation you liked, a scene you enjoyed, etc.). Please do not ask to be tagged if you are unwilling to follow this rule. If you do ask to be tagged, and fail to follow this rule, you will lose access to my story. Please note: Comments that are made up entirely of emojis or key smashes do not count. Leave a thumbs up (👍) in your tag request to let me know you have read and agree to this policy in order to be added.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
The clock kept ticking away in the background as you sat in your drawing room the day after the party.
You were seated on one of the decorated couches as you tried to read your novel. As it neared teatime, you could not help but to wonder if the Viscount would keep his word from last night and join you.
With your mind bouncing between hoping he showed up and hoping he stayed away, you were not sure which you preferred.
If he showed up and your mother learned of his presence, there was no telling what she would say upon catching the two of you together again.
But on the other hand, you could not deny the disappointment you would feel if he stayed away.
As your mind continued to flitter back and forth, you were startled out of your thoughts when the door to the drawing room was abruptly thrown open.
“Have you seen this?” Said your mother as she stormed in.
“Seen what?”
Was your perplexed reply.
Throwing the pamphlet in her hand down on the coffee table only helped to emphasize how upset she currently was.
“This week’s Lady Whistledown! It mentions you.”
Picking the piece of paper up and skimming the paragraphs, you replied after you encountered your name.
“She reports that I seemed to have had a good time with Viscount Bridgerton at last night’s ball and wonders if there is to be a wedding soon.”
Putting the pamphlet back down, you looked to your mother with confusion on your face.
“So what? She is just speculating. It is a gossip column, it means nothing.”
Stressing your name to you, the Countess was serious as she said,
“It means everything, my dear. It means someone saw you on the balcony with the Viscount. It means that she wonders about a wedding because she knows that otherwise, you will be a ruined girl if this gets out and you two are not already married.”
Unwilling to believe the severity of the situation, you tried to say,
“Mama, I am sure it is not that serious—”
“Not that serious?” Your mother interjected, “My darling, if your Uncle gets hold of this, he could use it to send you to an asylum!”
Her voice echoed your reality off the walls as your butler suddenly entered the room and formally announced,
“Lord Bridgerton, ma’am.”
Sucking in a breath as you froze in place, you both watched as Anthony walked into the room with a solemn expression on his face.
He properly bowed towards each of you before stiffly turning to your mother in order to ask,
“Her Uncle will do what?”
Apparently shocked into silence, neither of you knew how to answer his question. So he followed up with,
“I gather my actions last night have led to some dire consequences for your daughter, and I am here to rectify that. But I cannot help if I do not have all of the facts. So please, pray tell, what is going on?”
Seeing that your Mama was unwilling to spill your secrets, you felt it best to do so yourself.
“My Uncle has threatened to challenge my father’s will on the basis that I am not mentally fit enough for the responsibilities of my inheritance. He wants me sent to an asylum and stripped of all I was left.”
Resting his hands on his hips as he took in this news, the Viscount had to inquire,
“And does he have any evidence to back his claim?”
Swallowing thickly, you had no choice but to confess,
“Since my parents kept me secluded most of my life, he is using this as proof of my unfit state.”
“But why did your parents seclude you?”
Turning to the Countess instead, he asked her directly.
“Why did you hide your daughter away?”
Heaving a deep sigh, your mother then gave a reply,
“When you know your child is different, you take steps to keep them protected from the world.”
Looking your way as if to ask for permission, she continued after you nodded and gave her the go-ahead.
“My daughter has a condition. No physician we employed could tell us what it was, so we learned how to get through it as a family. Keeping her away from the public was the only way we knew how to ensure her safety.”
Looking at the floor, all Anthony could say was,
“I see.”
And allowed a few moments of silence to pass afterwards.
Then, he said the most unexpected thing.
“Countess, while I admire what you have tried to do, I fear you have underestimated your daughter. She is the most extraordinary person I know, and I would not change one thing about her. Condition or not.”
Turning to lock eyes with you, he finished with,
“That is why I would like to ask for her hand in marriage.”
Hearing this, you could not help but to immediately gasp out,
“What?”
Walking over to you in order to take your other hand in his, he said,
“Your mother is right. My actions last night were careless with your reputation and I refuse to let it be destroyed when I can do something to prevent it.”
“But my Lord, we still hardly know each other. Why would you want to marry me?”
“Because, I have been searching for you for years and I will not let anything happen to you now that I have found you again. If we marry, your Uncle will not have any grounds to stand on since you will legally be my wife. He will have no right to send you anywhere because I will not allow it.”
You looked over his shoulder at your mother, who was watching the exchange, as she gave a silent nod of approval knowing you had no other choice. You looked back at the Viscount as you weighed how you were going to reply. Then you opened your mouth and gave your response.
TAG POLICY: If you wish to be tagged in this story, you will be required to leave a comment for each chapter you are tagged in. A comment is considered to be any kind of feedback you can give about my story (a detail you noticed, a conversation you liked, a scene you enjoyed, etc.). Please do not ask to be tagged if you are unwilling to follow this rule. If you do ask to be tagged, and fail to follow this rule, you will lose access to my story. Please note: Comments that are made up entirely of emojis or key smashes do not count. Leave a thumbs up (👍) in your tag request to let me know you have read and agree to this policy in order to be added.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
You asked with more than a hint of incredulousness.
Breaking into a kind smile, the seemingly handsome stranger across from you replied,
“Yes. That is what I said.”
Without thinking, you pointed out,
“But, we are not acquainted.”
“My father is a Viscount and I live in the house next door.”
Giving you a look of encouragement as you realized he was your neighbor, he finished with,
“There! Now we are better acquainted.”
Unable to stop the smile from tugging at your lips regarding his cheekiness, your response was one of truth as you confessed,
“Good sir, while I appreciate the invitation, I unfortunately have never danced before. So I am afraid I will not make a good partner.”
With a note of surprise, the gentleman across from you merely extended his hand out as he said,
“Well, that is easily remedied. Come, I will teach you.”
While you hesitated a moment as you weighed the pros and cons of your next move, you ultimately decided to take his hand.
As he pulled you closer, you immediately began to feel unsure of yourself since you did not know what to do next.
Having never thought you to be capable of even having a conversation with the opposite sex, your father never hired instructors to teach you the proper ways of moving along to music.
Seeing you pause, your partner glided one of his hands down the length of your arm in order to grab the hand he was not already holding.
After lifting it to his shoulder, he then placed his hand against your waist.
As the music playing below hit the next chorus, he led you a step back, to the side, pulled you forward, then took another step with you to the right.
You perfectly repeated each move over and over again, and were making small squares on the carpeted floor of the passageway overlooking the rest of the ball.
It was so effortless that you had to wonder if all dancing was this easy, or if it simply depended on your partner.
As you looked down and smiled at your newfound ability, the one leading you took notice and said,
“Your waltz is wonderful. You are a natural.”
When your smile only widened at the compliment, you knew to say,
“Thank you, kind sir.”
As you gazed into the eyes hidden behind the mask.
~ ~ ~
“So, I suppose this means tonight is not the first time we have danced together.”
A light chuckle accompanied the Viscount’s reply.
“No, I suppose it is not.”
You continued to stare at one another as you finally had to accept that this was happening.
You each turned to face the garden, and the silence would have continued had it not been for the person standing next to you.
“You know, I looked for you.” He quietly said.
When you looked his way with poorly concealed shock at his admission, he only continued.
“After that night. I searched everywhere for a mere glimpse of you. For any piece of information. But no one seemed to know who you were. It was like chasing a ghost. So I was left to wonder about the girl I had met only once, for years.”
Looking down over the railing, he finished with,
“And now that I have finally found you again, I am not certain I can believe this is real.”
Thinking on how to reply for a moment, your response was one of humor as you chose to say,
“Well, I can assure you that I am not a ghost. Very real in fact.”
After huffing a laugh, the Viscount turned to face you and said,
“And I am Anthony. Pleased to meet you again.”
Sharing your name as well with your own small laugh, you then asked,
“But why were you searching for me? I did nothing special on the night we met.”
Anthony gave his response while shaking his head in disagreement.
“On the contrary. As I said earlier tonight, you made quite an impression on me. I wanted to get to know more about you.”
Hesitating for the briefest of seconds, he followed up his previous statement with,
“In fact, that wish of mine has not changed. I still would like to get to know you. Only if you are agreeable, of course.”
Flattery filled you as you understood what he meant.
Having always wondered what happened to the boy you met at your parents’ ball all those years ago, it took no time at all for you to begin nodding your head and say,
“I am indeed agreeable. Come to the house tomorrow for tea. Perhaps we could talk then?”
The relief hit him hard as you gave your consent to his friendly proposal of becoming better acquainted, and he happily replied,
“I should be delighted to do so.”
But you had no time to appreciate what he had said as you then heard the sound of your mother’s voice sharply saying your name from the terrace doorway.
“Dearest! What are you doing out here?”
Feeling like you had been caught doing something you were not supposed to, you quickly stepped away from the Viscount as you said,
“Nothing, Mama! I needed some air, and Lord Bridgerton was just making sure I was alright.”
She considered your story as her eyes bounced between the both of you before saying,
“We are leaving.”
“But Mother—”
“But nothing! You are out here. With a man. Unchaperoned. Let us pray no one has seen you two. Come, we must leave at once.”
Defeated by her logic, you turned with regret in your eyes and said,
“Good evening, Lord Bridgerton. I had a wonderful time.”
Before following your mother’s instructions and making your way over to her.
As you exited the balcony back into the party, you heard Anthony quietly say,
“Good evening, my Lady.”
Then the doors closed, and your Mama began leading you to the carriages.
“You are not to go near that man again. Do you understand?”
Said the Countess as the horses finally pulled off.
And you had no idea how to tell her that you had no intention of following that order.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
The music continued to play on and you and the Viscount continued to dance along to it.
As you passed by other couples presently on the floor, your partner chose to speak.
“I want to offer my sincere apologies for my behavior. I never meant to offend, I just think my mouth gets away with me sometimes.”
He then followed up by admitting with a slight chuckle,
“And you make me nervous.”
As the surprise showed on your face at such a statement, you returned your gaze to your neighbor’s as you said,
“Me? I mean nothing, what could I have possibly done to make you nervous?”
With a reassuring smile, Anthony said,
“That is simply not true, you mean a great deal. That is why you remind me of someone I met once before.”
“Oh really?” You said with humor in your voice, “And what makes you draw such a comparison?”
Giving a fond smile of remembrance, your partner responded with,
“She was direct, like you. And please believe I mean that in the best way possible.”
Letting out a small laugh at the supposed compliment, you could not help asking,
“And what did this person do that left such an impression?”
Looking down as he huffed out a smile himself, the Viscount then shocked you into a state of disbelief when he replied by saying,
“She actually kissed me the first time we met. It was during a masquerade ball five years ago and I never got her name. So I was unable to find her again despite my best efforts to do so.”
So caught up in your astonishment, you missed a step of the dance and unintentionally bumped into your partner.
Stumbling a little as you both came to a stop, you rushed to say with a hint of nerves,
“Please forgive me!”
Your mind raced as you tried to process the new information you had just learned and your sudden silence caused the Viscount immediate concern.
“My lady, are you alright?”
“Yes!”
You responded with an affirmative nod of your head.
Needing to confirm if this was truly happening, you had no choice but to quietly ask as you stood still on the dance floor,
“Do you have a small scar on your left wrist?”
Perplexed by such a random question, Anthony drew his brows together as he said,
“Pardon?”
Trying not to let those nerves get to you, you repeated yourself more firmly.
“A scar! Do you have one on your left wrist?”
Unsure of where you were going with this, your neighbor hesitatingly responded with,
“Um…yes? I got it when I—”
“—When you fell off a horse as a child.”
You unexpectedly interrupted.
Now feeling a touch of astonishment himself, Anthony went on to say with amazement,
“Yes, that is correct! How did you know that?”
But you could not answer as you finally realized who the person in front of you was.
Letting out an unintended gasp that seemed to startle your partner, you quickly said,
“Please excuse me, I need to get some air.”
And gave a brief curtsy before hurriedly making your way to the terrace doors without waiting for a reply.
Racing onto the garden’s secluded overlooking-balcony, you rushed to lean against the edge as you struggled to take in a breath.
Having slammed your hands down the moment you got there, your grip was tight against the railing as you tried and failed to compose yourself.
Oh, not here.
Not now!
But you had no say in the matter as your body betrayed you by succumbing to the attack brought on by your sudden anxieties.
Your chest continued to heave and tears began to well in your eyes at your inability to suck in any air.
You were a panting mess, unsure of what to do other than wait out this misery, when the call of your name cut through the otherwise quiet night.
“Your Ladyship? Is there anything I can do to help?”
But the voice of the Viscount was the last thing you wanted to hear.
“N-no, thank you. Give me a moment and I will be f-fine.”
But the Viscount ignored your wishes and joined you at the balcony’s edge anyway.
In an attempt not to startle you further, Anthony slowly covered one of your gloved hands with his own.
Surprised, you looked his way as he calmly said,
“Tell me five things you can see.”
Unsure of what he meant, you replied with,
“I am s-sorry?”
Turning to you with kind eyes, he simply repeated himself.
“Look around and tell me five things you can see.”
Not currently in a state of mind to argue, you simply complied.
“I-I see my shaking hands. I see the beautiful balcony we are standing on. I see you in all of your finery, the flowered garden, and the twinkling night sky.”
“Good. Now tell me four things you can touch or is touching you.”
Still confused, but able to focus a little better now, you said,
“Um, I am touching the rail. My feet are touching the ground. My dress is touching my body, and you are touching my hand.”
After taking that hand comfortingly in his grasp, he continued,
“Great. Then go ahead and tell me three things you can hear.”
Finally able to take in your first deep breath, you went on to say,
“I, uh, I can hear the music from the party, the sound of people talking, and the sound of your voice next to me.”
Taking notice of your slowly shifting demeanor, he kept going.
“Excellent! Now, two things you can smell.”
Having to think about this one a bit more, you did not even notice how easy it was to inhale before you replied,
“I smell the roses in the garden and whatever scent you are currently wearing.”
With a proud smile, Anthony said,
“You are doing amazing. Now finally, tell me one thing you can taste.”
Closing your eyes and pondering on the flavor in your mouth, you decided to answer with,
“I can taste the champagne I had earlier.”
And after not hearing any more strange requests come through, you returned your gaze to his and were surprised to see such contentment in them after what just occurred.
“Why do you stare at me like that?”
You curiously asked.
“Because you are no longer in the throws of your attack, and that makes me happy.”
That is when it struck you that you were no longer struggling to breathe.
That is when it also struck you that he was the reason you were able to do so.
In all the years you had been plagued with these anxiety-inducing spells, not once were you able to calm yourself as quickly as he had been able to.
Astounded, you asked,
“How did you know how to do that?”
Giving a brief smile, then raising your still-held hand up to his lips so that he may place a kiss on the back of your covered knuckles, your rescuer went on to astonish you some more when he said,
“I looked up how to help with such a problem after you told me you suffered from these attacks on the day we met all those years ago. I am glad to see my time researching was not done in vain.”
And that was when you realized this man knew that he was more than just your simple neighbor. This unexpected revelation consequently filled you with so much anticipation for the evening ahead, that you had no choice but to allow your own contented smile to grace your lips.
TAG POLICY: If you wish to be tagged in this story, you will be required to leave a comment for each chapter you are tagged in. A comment is considered to be any kind of feedback you can give about my story (a detail you noticed, a conversation you liked, a scene you enjoyed, etc.). Please do not ask to be tagged if you are unwilling to follow this rule. If you do ask to be tagged, and fail to follow this rule, you will lose access to my story. Please note: Comments that are made up entirely of emojis or key smashes do not count. Leave a thumbs up (👍) in your tag request to let me know you have read and agree to this policy in order to be added.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
It was an odd thing, officially getting ready for a ball.
Since you were required to do so in secret the last time you attended one, you were not aware that so much of the household staff was involved in the preparations.
From the housekeeper who had your attire cleaned, the butler who had received your invitation for the night, the ladysmaid that woke you for the day, and the housemaid who had drawn you a bath, you were beginning to understand that much went into a day like this.
After Sophie helped to dress you for the evening ahead, and then handed you your gloves to don for the night, you were left on your own within the walls of your bedroom. You looked at the reflection staring back at you in the mirror as a bundle of nerves started to overtake you.
A picture of elegance laid ahead, and there was no denying this. But that still did not prevent you from fearing the future that had yet to occur.
You watched yourself take in a calming breath and tried to alleviate your inner anxiety with the reminder that nothing would go wrong.
Before you could fall into the soothing cycle of repeating that phrase to yourself over and over again, your mother entered the room with a small, square box in her grasp.
As she neared you, she looked down and opened its lid in order to reveal the contents inside.
Trying your best not to gawk, you reverently reached your hand out to lightly touch the exquisite, diamond necklace nestled within as your mother began to say,
“Your father gave this to me on the first anniversary we ever shared. He told me it had been in his family for generations.”
Looking up to you with pride shining in her eyes, she continued.
“And so, it would mean a great deal if you were to wear it tonight. That way, no one will be able to doubt how brilliant my daughter is.”
Incredibly touched by her words, you gave a small nod accompanied by a watery smile as you received such an honor.
Turning to face the mirror once again so that she may lay the necklace across your collarbone, you then saw the maternal look of approval on your Mama’s face as she also took in your reflection.
“As long as you are yourself, you will be perfect.”
And with that final piece of advice, you both made your way to the carriage.
On your way to the party, it hit you how much your life had changed in a single week.
After receiving that letter from your Uncle, your mother had finally decided the time for rules had passed with your father.
Therefore, she came to the conclusion that the best way to prove your entitled relative wrong was to have you formally introduced to society. For if you were seen at a gathering every now and again, how could he claim you were a recluse?
Consequently, the orders to stay indoors went away.
Instead, your mother began encouraging you to step outside your usual confines in order to seek the attention of those known to the public, something you still were not used to.
As you entered the lively soiree, you were secretly glad your real first ball had at least prepared you for the grandeur of this one. You were about to make your way to the refreshment table with your Mama in toe when you were both intercepted by an annoyingly familiar face.
“Ah, your Ladyship! And the Countess, how lovely to see you both here.”
Said your handsome neighbor as he greeted you with poorly concealed delight.
“This is the perfect opportunity to introduce you to my mother, Violet Bridgerton, who has been dying to meet the two of you for some time now.”
Turning to the older woman standing at his side, you each gave a respectful bow to the dowager Viscountess and she gave one in return before opening her mouth to say,
“I was just telling Anthony how much I love what you have done with those flowers in front of your home. It makes our neighborhood much livelier in comparison.”
Your response was one of gratitude as you said,
“Thank you, but I must admit I cannot take the credit. The garden out front was all of Mama’s handiwork, not mine.”
Nodding with understanding, Lady Bridgerton then looked to your mother as she replied.
“Truly? Then I must ask the Countess if she will oblige me a moment of her time so that I may learn her secrets? Perhaps the children could share a dance while we talk?”
Feeling immediate panic at hearing her suggestion, you were forced to tamper it down after your Mama gave you an entreating look and said,
“Of course, Lady Bridgerton. I am certain my daughter will be safe in the hands of your son.”
Meaning that in more ways than you currently understood, you watched as they walked off together leaving you to take the already offered arm of the Viscount.
While he guided you to the dance floor you could not help but to let him know as a mere fact,
“I still do not like you.”
Smiling as if he was prepared for your barb, your partner for the upcoming waltz curiously responded with,
“And why is that? Have I caused such great offense with my ill-timed words during our last meeting?”
Without thinking of the impact of your response, you were unintentionally honest as you finally neared the open space.
“No, I think you are a man who is very careful about the words you use. That is how I know you meant what you said about my mother. That is also how I know that though you were a young boy when you inherited your station, you are now a grown man who does not know how to apologize when you are in the wrong.”
After taking your place apart from one another, you saw the now troubled expression on your partner’s face.
As the music began to play, you started to feel some unease about your apparent bluntness and decided to say,
“I am sorry, I meant no offense—”
“If anyone is to apologize, it should be me.”
He interjected while making eye contact with you.
“Especially when you are right.”
And it did not escape your attention that his close proximity had set your already frazzled nerves alight as you moved together to the sound of the orchestra dreamily playing in the background.
TAG POLICY: If you wish to be tagged in this story, you will be required to leave a comment for each chapter you are tagged in. A comment is considered to be any kind of feedback you can give about my story (a detail you noticed, a conversation you liked, a scene you enjoyed, etc.). Please do not ask to be tagged if you are unwilling to follow this rule. If you do ask to be tagged, and fail to follow this rule, you will lose access to my story. Please note: Comments that are made up entirely of emojis or key smashes do not count. Leave a thumbs up (👍) in your tag request to let me know you have read and agree to this policy in order to be added.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
Chapter Summary: Expectations
Word Count: 1,075
A/N: Shout out to @i-do-not-care-bear for their awesome comments! They inspired me to write chapter 5 :)
So preoccupied with the encounter you just had, you did not stop to think about what awaited you when you returned home.
Though you should have probably guessed your mother’s reaction would not be one that was pleased upon realizing you were gone, you were prevented from thinking about the potential consequences of your actions due to your latest interaction replaying over and over again in your head.
What had he meant by saying his behavior was anything but peculiar? If anything, the confusing feelings he just left you with proved his conduct was quite strange indeed!
The nerve of this man.
To disparage your mother’s name in one breath, then try to claim flattery in the next.
While you always conceded to the fact that you had grown up a little more different than most people, you were not so naive as to believe everything anyone said.
As you walked back through your front door, you were reminded of another time you took a basic stranger at their word all those years ago, and you refused to voluntarily get burned again for doing so.
But the memories stopped in their trek just as soon as you did when you finally walked over the threshold of the door and spotted your mother pacing in the foyer.
“Ah, there you two are. So it seems I will not have to send for the watchmen after all.”
Both you and Sophie paused in the doorway as you took in your mother’s words while she continued her uninterrupted walking back and forth.
After a few moments of tense silence, you finally turned to your lady’s maid and said,
“Why not put those flowers in some water? And after you have, you can be dismissed for the rest of the day.”
Nodding with a curtsy, Sophie went off to follow your instructions, thus leaving you alone with the dowager in the entrance hall.
Before she was completely out of view, you gestured toward the yellow bouquet in her hands and tentatively opened your mouth to say,
“Lord Bridgerton has bought you some flowers as an apology for his intrusion the other morning.”
“Has he? And what exactly have you brought to apologize for your impertinence today?”
She asked as she abruptly stopped her pacing in order to face you.
With a sigh, you tiredly breathed out,
“Mama…”
“Yes? Go on, I am listening.”
“Mother, please. I do not believe I am being rude or impertinent just because I left the house without informing you.”
Scoffing, the dowager Countess replied.
“Oh really? Your father and I raised you to follow the rules and what? Now that he is gone you think they do not apply anymore??”
In your frustration, your response was a little heated.
“I do follow the rules! You said if I wanted to go out, I must be accompanied by a chaperone. I was! So what more do you want from me?”
Unable to keep from snapping, your mother went on to say,
“I want you to understand the precariousness of our situation!”
In a pleading tone, you replied,
“But what do you mean by that?”
Heaving a heavy sigh of her own at seeing the plain confusion now on your face, you watched as your maternal figure took a moment to compose herself by raising one of her wrists to rest on her forehead.
After putting both hands back by her side, she walked over to you and led you both to sit on the bench that rested next to the closed front door.
Speaking in a grave voice, she said,
“Your father has done you a great service in leaving you the entirety of his estate. But in doing so, he has pitted you against your cousin, his sister’s son, who is now heir to your father’s title by law but not his lands or wealth according to the will. And his father, your Uncle, will not stand for it.”
Understanding began to dawn on you as she continued while holding your hands in hers.
“That is why he stormed out of the solicitor’s office at the reading of your father’s will. All the money and deeds of property he thought would be theirs, was now suddenly all of yours. And this was evidently too much to bear given his hasty exit.”
Avoiding your gaze, she swallowed as she pulled an envelope out of the pocket in her dress and then presented it to you.
“So I probably should have expected the letter I received today, but I am still abhored to know he is going to even consider doing such a thing.”
Becoming concerned at seeing the tears starting to well up in your mother’s eyes, you imploringly asked,
“What will he do, Mama?”
Taking in a shaky breath, the dowager Countess gave her regretful reply.
“Your Uncle is threatening to challenge the will on the basis that you are not mentally fit enough for the responsibilities of your inheritance.”
Indignantly gasping, you then went on to hastily open the offered letter in order to read the words for yourself.
And sure enough, written clear as day was his threat.
Struggling to understand what the implications would be should this threat be carried out, you worriedly found your mother’s gaze and said,
“But what evidence has he to make such a claim?”
As if just speaking the words hurt her, your mother responded.
“With your apparent reclusiveness being published in Lady Whistledown, he is claiming that this is proof of your unfit state.”
Scoffing because you simply could not believe what you were hearing, you asked,
“That is a gossip column, is it not? How does that even equate to evidence??”
Seeing the hesitation in your mother’s face, you promptingly said,
“Mama, what is it?”
Realizing there was no longer any way to keep this from you, the dowager Countess finally revealed,
“Because…making a recluse out of a woman deemed different is what they do to the women in your father’s family. Your grandfather did it with your grandmother when she lost her wits. He then warned your Uncle to do the same with your Aunt when something similar happened to her after the birth of their son."
And all you could remember in that moment was feeling your heart drop as your mother finished by saying,
“Child, he sent her to an asylum. And now, he wants to do the same to you.”
TAG POLICY: If you wish to be tagged in this story, you will be required to leave a comment for each chapter you are tagged in. A comment is considered to be any kind of feedback you can give about my story (a detail you noticed, a conversation you liked, a scene you enjoyed, etc.). Please do not ask to be tagged if you are unwilling to follow this rule. If you do ask to be tagged, and fail to follow this rule, you will lose access to my story. Please note: Comments that are made up entirely of emojis or key smashes do not count. Leave a thumbs up (👍) in your tag request to let me know you have read and agree to this policy in order to be added.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
You never did get an explanation for the tense scene you witnessed outside your house between the Viscount and your mother as the next few days passed.
Every time you tried to ask about it, your question was dodged and/or dismissed by the one you wanted answers from. The usual response given by the dowager Countess consisted of a message that essentially boiled down to:
“You will understand when you are older.”
You do not know how much longer your mother expected you to wait to understand these particular lessons given that you were well past the consenting age of marriage. In your mind, you were not sure how much more growing you could do.
Regardless, you still attempted to comprehend her reasoning for doing what she did, but this action of yours came to a halt once you realized she had gone from simply suggesting you not go out of the house to outright preventing you from doing so.
“What do you mean all of my dresses are currently being washed??” you exclaimed to your newly-promoted lady’s maid, Sophie, as you stood in front of an empty wardrobe.
“The dowager Countess asked that all of your clothes be cleaned for the upcoming week, my Lady.”
She responded with an unfortunateness in her tone that suggested she knew just how unfair this was to you.
“Then what am I supposed to wear?!”
You incredulously asked as you stared at where your clothes should be.
While you had not been expecting an answer, the friendship you had with the young lady standing behind you should have prepared you for the fact that she had a card up her sleeve.
“Your Ladyship, with the dowager asking for all your clothes to be cleaned, I thought it might be a good idea to mend that hole in your favorite day dress. Since I finished doing that last night, perhaps you could wear this dress today?”
Turning, you were surprised, but very pleased to see she was holding said dress out in front of her in an amicable fashion.
“Oh Sophie, thank you! I only wish I had some occasion to wear this fine print to if only to get out from under the thumb of my mother for a little while.”
Your maid’s expression took on a conspirative look as she handed you the hanger while saying,
“Well, your mother is currently going through the menus for the week with the chef, so maybe we might take in some fresh air on a walk outside. After all, they will be occupied with that for a while at least.”
Convinced by the reasoning of her logic, you agreed and then began the process of changing into your dress with the help of the brilliant Sophie.
Together, you were both able to sneak out the front door without being seen, and you began making your way to the town square.
Remembering the last occasion that had you two sneaking somewhere like this was at the ball your family hosted all those years ago, you felt a thrill of excitement as you finally tasted the freedom you had sought out all this time.
As one of your approved chaperones, Sophie followed and conversed with you as you explored store after store and vendor after vendor.
You had just gotten in line to buy some flowers from a street merchant when you unexpectedly heard your mother’s title being used by one of the gentlemen in front of you.
“I tell you Benedict, the claws on the dowager Countess were quite sharp. I am hoping these flowers will soon soften the blows she deals out.”
Unable to help your piqued curiosity, you could not refrain from asking the two in front of you,
“Excuse me, but are you referring to my Mama?”
Abruptly, you were met with the face of your intriguing neighbor and a man who beared a close resemblance to him.
As if stunned to see you, the one you were familiar with hesitantly said,
“Yes, I…was.”
Trying to recover, he followed up with,
“But I assure you, I meant my previous words as a compliment, not an insult.”
Narrowing your eyes a small bit, you responded with a touch of scathingness.
“Surely, that is to be decided by the person being discussed and not you.”
“I am sure that this particular person does not need to know they are being discussed. Nor do they need to know that you are out and about, would you not agree, madam?”
You could not tell if his tone was one of jest or if he was being naturally jovial, but what you did know was that your sense of justice would not let a potential offense to your mother stand regardless of your outing’s proper standing.
“Good sir, I would refrain from calling out other people’s behavior when your own can easily be construed as…peculiar.”
Raising a smirk at the fire he saw brewing in your eyes, Anthony forgot about your audience of Sophie and Benedict and took a small step your way.
“I promise you, my Lady, there is nothing peculiar about the way I behave in your presence.”
Truly unaware of how to respond to that particular remark, you took your own step back and decidedly said,
“I do not like you, Lord Bridgerton.”
This did little to bother him, and his smirk turned into a true grin as he devotingly replied,
“And I vow to change that, your Ladyship.”
Not sure what to make of this either, you were thankfully saved from responding when the flower vendor got hold of the Viscount’s attention now that it was his turn to select what he wanted.
“What can I get for you today?” asked the merchant.
Facing him, Anthony thought for a moment before saying,
“I will take a bouquet of yellow roses and a bouquet of pink ones as well.”
Handing over the flowers as Lord Bridgerton handed over his money, your neighbor then turned towards you with each bouquet in hand, only to present them both your way.
“If my understanding of the flower language is correct, then the pink roses are for you and the yellow ones are for your mother.”
You could not deny that you were positively affected by this kind move on the Viscount’s part, but you did not want to give him the satisfaction of knowing so as you directed him to hand the beautiful blooms over to your maid.
“I will see that they make it to some water at once. Good day, good sir.”
Wearing a satisfied expression, Lord Bridgerton simply replied with a happy,
TAG POLICY: If you wish to be tagged in this story, you will be required to leave a comment for each chapter you are tagged in. A comment is considered to be any kind of feedback you can give about my story (a detail you noticed, a conversation you liked, a scene you enjoyed, etc.). Please do not ask to be tagged if you are unwilling to follow this rule. If you do ask to be tagged, and fail to follow this rule, you will lose access to my story. Please note: Comments that are made up entirely of emojis or key smashes do not count. Leave a thumbs up (👍) in your tag request to let me know you have read and agree to this policy in order to be added.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
Chapter Summary: A dragon and a princess
Word Count: 1,116
A/N: If you have the time, don't forget to leave a comment below!
“And what has captured your attention so thoroughly, my son?” Asked the dowager Vicountess as she watched her eldest stare out the window of their home with much intensity.
So engrossed in his own musings, the young Lord Bridgerton jumped the slightest bit at the sound of his mother’s voice and then felt a dose of embarrassment as he registered the question.
Having now joined him by the window still, Violet Bridgerton was finally able to see what had caught his eye and could not help how pleased she was when she immediately put two and two together.
“Ah, so it is our newest neighbor that has demanded this much of your attention. I must say, she is certainly a sight for sore eyes.”
She teasingly finished as they both watched you direct those helping to move your furnishings into the house across the street from their view.
It had been a few days since you moved in, and this was the most Anthony had seen of you since your arrival.
He had hoped, after your original run-in, that there might be another opportunity for a chance encounter, but it seemed you rarely left the confines of your home.
While this had been mentioned in the minuscule tidbits of information shared by your new servants, it was the latest publishing of Lady Whistledown’s gossip column that had confirmed it and made him the most intrigued.
According to her reporting, you had just inherited almost the entirety of your father’s estate, thus making you a very wealthy heiress and owner of the house across the street. Any man worth his salt should be setting his cap at you, and a few had already tried during your minimal time here. But those attempts had yielded minimal results when those men had failed to get past the dowager Countess and did not even get to have an audience with you.
She was a dragon protecting her princess in the tower as Lady Whistledown had creatively put it, which made the Viscount all the more curious to find a way to overcome such an obstacle in order to talk to you once more.
As if reading his mind, his mother took one more conspiratorial glance his way before noting outloud,
“Hmm, I do not see this guardian anywhere about right now. I am sure that means it would be the perfect time for anyone interested in talking to her Ladyship to stop by and…”
But she never got a chance to finish as her son was already making his way to the door and across the street. She watched him go with a smile on her face before wondering how long it would take him to ask for his father’s betrothal ring.
Across the road, you were wrapping up a conversation with your housekeeper as you finished delegating out tasks related to your newly arrived furniture.
“...and once the maids have finished in the drawing room, please have the footmen lay down the new carpet.”
The older woman gave a nod of understanding before being dismissed with a bow.
You were about to follow her inside after taking one last glance around to make sure you had not missed anything when you heard the sound of a familiar voice behind you.
“I hope everything survived its journey from the countryside?”
Turning, you were surprised to find your handsome neighbor standing on the sidewalk with a casual but confident air about him.
After dipping in and out of a well-practiced curtsy, you gave a friendly,
“Good afternoon.”
That you were happy to say was reciprocated.
Wanting to give Lord Bridgerton an answer to his inquiry, you said,
“Yes, everything seems to have made it unscathed. I am very grateful.”
While you were happy with his unexpected presence, you were also curious as to what he was doing in front of your home.
The question must have been on your face because your neighbor then replied,
“I am glad to hear it. I was merely wondering if, as a gentleman, there was anything I could do to offer some assistance with your labors.”
Touched, your were honest in your response.
“My mother and I have almost finished sorting everything out with the help of our staff, but I very much appreciate your willingness to volunteer your efforts.”
At the mention of your apparent guardian, Anthony tried to come off as nonchalant as he asked,
“Ah yes, and where is the dowager Countess presently?”
Not really giving your answer much thought, you said,
“Last I heard, she was overseeing the dining room arrangements inside. But that was some time ago, so I am not sure if she is still—”
“You are quite correct darling, I am right here.”
You and Lord Bridgerton both seemed to give a small jump of fright at the unannounced newcomer.
Being the first to recover, you began to say by way of introduction,
“Greetings, Mama. This is Lord Brigderton, our neighbor. He was just stopping by to see if we needed any assistance.”
Your mother seemed to be deliberately taking her time as she gave the man across from you a slow onceover, before replying with an,
“Is that so?”
The lord in question seemed to try to convince her of just that when he added,
“Yes, my mother raised me to always help a lady in need so I felt dutybound to ask.”
“Hmm.”
Was the only tepid response he received before your mother turned to you and said,
“Dearest, they have almost finished putting everything where it should be, so why don’t you go and do a quick walkthrough to make sure everything is alright.”
Unsure of where this sudden tension came from, you were glad to have a reason to excuse yourself from it.
“Of course, Mama.”
Giving a respectful bow in your neighbor’s direction, you said by way of departure,
“It was lovely to see you again, Lord Bridgerton.”
Giving a bow of his head back, he replied by saying,
“Likewise, your Ladyship.”
And soon it was just him and your mother watching you take your leave.
After a moment of this, the dowager Countess turned to look this young man in the eyes before speaking.
“We have more than enough servants to assist us in our endeavors. Perhaps it is time you returned to your side of the street?”
While he had been prepared for some pushback, he had not expected it to be delivered so fast and so bluntly.
With nothing left to say, he gave another bow and then turned to make his way back home.
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Series Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
Chapter Summary: Fast-forward
Word Count: 1,303
A/N: Don't forget to tell your mom 'Happy Mother's Day'!
Having spent the majority of your life under lock and key, this newly founded sensation of freedom felt more like a distant acquaintance rather than a familiar friend.
Though you had longed to get the smallest lick of liberty, you had not wanted it to come at such a high price.
While it was true that you and your father would have disagreements over your forced seclusion, it did not mean he was nevertheless a loving parent.
He would go above and beyond to find the latest invention or newest diversion to keep you entertained in various ways.
Of course, knowing how you operated, it always worked.
Your mind was made for crafting and solving puzzles, so any random trinket could easily keep you occupied for hours on end depending on the complexities of the item.
It was what you both bonded over most as you grew up with a father like yours.
So it was a devastating blow to have to realize another novelty would never come as you watched your father lay on his deathbed only months before.
Thinking back to that day, you remembered how curious it was that even though emotionally, you were numb as the agonizing reality set in, your body subconsciously knew it was a time for tears. They silently washed down your face as you physically mourned the man you both loved and resented.
As he lay dying, you would never forget the words he whispered that shifted your perspective of him from being your jailer…
“My sweet child.” He had said. “All these years, I have kept you hidden away from the world. And I know you have hated me for it.”
…to that of being your protector.
“And now, I believe it is time I told you why.”
You recalled as he began to tell his story with regret and love clear as day on his face.
After bestowing upon you a secret so monumental, it had the power to make your world spin off its axis, you remember watching as your father peacefully fell asleep, only to never wake again.
In the days that followed, the routine you had set and were used to living by since you were a child was overruled by the chaos that came with having a death in the family.
You and your mother had welcomed all sorts of acquaintances who had wanted to show their sympathies and wish you their condolences.
It was the most interacting with others you had ever done aside from that special night all those years ago. That being said, all of this socializing threw you for such a loop that most days, you found yourself drained and exhausted as evening arrived.
This was the first sign that your father’s death had meant a plethora of changes for your life.
Because now, you were no longer prevented from talking to people, and it presented the oddest feeling to not have to ask for permission in order to greet the strangers that entered your home.
Because now, your paternal figure was no longer there to grant it.
And as you stated earlier, freedom happens to be a peculiar experience when you are in no way familiar with it.
So those first few days were an adjustment to say the least.
But soon, those days turned into weeks. And those weeks turned into months.
And after everything had been legally finalized, you and your family gathered to hear the reading of the will to your father’s title and estate.
After you, your mother, your Uncle by marriage, and his only son — your cousin, had come together within the lawyer’s office, the ensuing outcome of the meeting had led to an explosive exit from your relatives that no one saw coming.
Either way, the consequences of your father’s final wishes had resulted in you and your mother ultimately agreeing it was in your best interest for you both to make your way to London in order for you to finally make your debut to society.
The idea thrilled and terrified you all at once.
You supposed this essential conflict was one last parting gift to make up for the way you had been raised and you were still debating on how grateful you should feel about that.
Regardless of your nerves, you bravely kept your head held high as you followed your mother into a carriage and began making your way to Town for the first time.
As the horses pulled to a stop outside your new London home, you were glad to say the weather of the city was agreeable as it matched your mood.
The more of the world you saw during your journey here, the more your fear turned into excitement. The brightly shining sun that greeted you as you stepped out of your carriage mirrored your new enthusiasm so well, you decided to take a moment to turn your face upwards and just bask for a moment at the partly-clouded, blue skies.
You could swear that your eyes had only been closed for a few seconds at most, but that was apparently enough time for you to collide with someone who had not noticed you standing on the sidewalk.
Feeling strong and steadying hands be placed on your back as you briefly stumbled to the side, you opened your eyes to a most handsome sight indeed.
“I beg your pardon, my Lady! I hope I did not hurt you?”
It took a moment of staring for you to comprehend that he was asking you a question. But once you realized, you rushed to say,
“Oh…oh! No, I am not hurt.”
With a touch of bashfulness, you continued.
“I hope you are also unharmed!”
You unthinkingly reached both hands out to touch his shoulders in order to check him this way and that before being informed by the man himself,
“I reassure you Madam,” he said with a slight chuckle at your genuine concern. “That I am quite well.”
Locking eyes and seeing the mirth still dancing in his, was when you were able to finally acknowledge that you may be a bit too close to a person you had literally just run into.
After dropping your hands, taking a small step back, and clearing your throat, you said with a sheepish smile,
“My apologies, I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
Touched by the sincerity in your voice, the strange man across from you gave an appreciative smile in return as he responded.
“I do not believe you have to apologize for that.”
Grateful for his reassurance, you both held the other’s gaze and would have gone on taking in the other’s face had it not been for your new housekeeper approaching.
“Ah, good afternoon, Lord Bridgerton. I see you have met her Ladyship here. Surely you two will become well acquainted as she has just moved into the property next door to yours on this very street with her mother, the Dowager Countess.”
The older woman had a professional and polite tone as she unofficially introduced the two of you.
The person you now knew to be ‘Lord Brigrerton’ was just as jovial as he replied,
“Certainly! I hope our families become well-acquainted indeed, ma’am.”
The man who had run into you less than two minutes ago then took your gloved hand, and pressed a kiss to the back of your knuckles while saying,
“Until we meet again, my Lady.”
After giving a respectful bow, he turned to finish his journey by taking the few steps needed to get inside the Bridgerton family home.
And while you had to force yourself not to watch his departure, you could not help but to wonder if all the men of London were just as charming as he was.
TAG POLICY: If you wish to be tagged in this story, you will be required to leave a comment for each chapter you are tagged in. A comment is considered to be any kind of feedback you can give about my story (a detail you noticed, a conversation you liked, a scene you enjoyed, etc.). Please do not ask to be tagged if you are unwilling to follow this rule. If you do ask to be tagged, and fail to follow this rule, you will lose access to my story. Please note: Comments that are made up entirely of emojis or key smashes do not count. Leave a thumbs up (👍) in your tag request to let me know you have read and agree to this policy in order to be added.
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As your harasser was still recovering on the floor from the Viscount’s hit, the only answer you received to your previously asked question was your mind flashing back to your wedding day during which your husband and his brother had shared a celebratory drink on the evening of.
It was after they had shared that drink that your brother-in-law took his auspicious leave and your husband went in search of his new wife.
You remembered wishing for an escape after he had found you, but you would never have suspected that it would be his own kin who would conspire to provide it for you.
Shocked beyond words, you watched as the Queen called for her guards to take away the pathetic drunk, brother, and excuse of a man whose actions had inadvertently altered the course of your own life.
There had been a minute silence after your harasser had been unceremoniously heaved up and dragged out with the doors slamming shut behind him and the guards before the Queen cleared her throat. Drawing the attention back to her, she said,
“Well, since that business is now concluded, onto the next issue.”
Finding your handsome rescuers eyes with her own, the Queen continued,
“Viscount Bridgerton, have you asked your question yet?”
Feeling a flash of confusion, you watched as Anthony shook his head ‘no’ with a now bashful look on his face at her Majesty’s inquiry. As an amused smirk grew on the Queen's lips, she proceeded to say with a raised brow and a touch of humored deliberation,
“Then what are you waiting for, young man?”
Briefly darting his eyes to you, the eldest Bridgerton's voice held a note of incredulousness as he responded to her Majesty with,
“Simply the right moment, your Royal Highness!”
Prompted by her love of drama, the Queen was only too happy to respond to that statement by saying,
“Well I have already given you my blessing, so it seems now is as good as time as any, would you not agree?”
With an unstoppable boyish grin, you watched as Anthony gave a singular nod to the Queen's unspoken command before directing his fond gaze towards you.
The contents of their discussion had all but left you in a state of confusion until everything fell into place the moment you saw the Viscount begin to kneel down on one knee.
Raising a hand to your mouth in an attempt to cover your surprised gasp at such an action, you astonishingly said with more emotion than you realized,
“Anthony! What are you doing??”
Pulling out his father's bethrothal ring, your rescuer looked up at you from his knelt position on the ground and teasingly said,
“I told you this was not a sacrifice I would mind making,”
Prior to taking your left hand in his.
Saying loudly enough for all to hear,
“Duchess, as the last of your line, I asked her Majesty-as your nearest relation by law-for her permission to ask for your hand in marriage.”
Even more surprised to hear such a revelation, you turned only to receive an encouraging and supportive nod from the Queen before your returned your attention to the Viscount as he continued,
“So my Lady, will you do me the greatest honor, and allow me to be your husband?”
Wanting to protect him from the troubles of your life more than anything, your first reply was a question you had to ask despite your audience,
“My Love, knowing what happened to my last one, are you sure this is a role you truly want?”
Without hesitation, Anthony’s reply was sincere as he said,
“I want to love and protect you for the rest of my life, so yes this is what I want if you want it too…”
And because that was simply all you were hoping to hear, you were unable to stop yourself from bursting with joy as you happily exclaimed,
“Yes! I want that more than anything! Yes! I will marry you!”
Unconcerned with those watching or with their applause at such a celebratory moment, you and the Viscount shared a kiss of truth and promise after he was back to his full height.
Upon breaking apart, the bethrothal ring was placed on your finger and you were unable to stop your smile from beaming as the Queen joyously announced with excitement,
“Looks like we have a wedding to plan!”
And for the first time since all this started, you finally felt happy, loved, and safe.
Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
Summary: After being hidden away for most of your life due to a condition that doesn't even have a name yet, changing circumstances force your family to finally allow you to make your debut.
Word Count: 1,414
A/N: This idea has been on the back burner for a minute now, and it just seems right to finally get started on it as my blog has officially turned 12 years old today 🥳🥳!!! (And it's apparently been a year exactly since I've updated my Bridgerton Masterlist #that'smybad😬😅) So let's celebrate with a new story together :) Can't wait to hear what you think! #HappyMentalHealthAwarenessMonth!
Humoured shushes rang out from the three Bridgerton brothers as their carriage scurried up the driveway to their neighbor’s ball.
They reminded themselves to keep their voices low and their laughter muffled until they at least reached their secret, forbidden destination. Given that they were all slightly underage, their out-of-town parents had left strict instructions for them to avoid any evening parties since no one was available to chaperone.
Unfortunately for the Lord and Lady Bridgerton, their three eldest sons could not resist the temptation of attending the highly talked about Masquerade Ball given that all of the necessary pieces seemed to fall into place:
Their parents were on a trip to see some acquaintance or other get married.
Due to the time, the family’s governess had put the younger Bridgerton children to sleep ages ago.
Which meant all they needed to do was arrive with their faces covered by masks after sneaking out, which gave them the additional advantage of having their identities concealed should their parents become curious enough to ask around about who was in attendance tonight.
Of course, to no one’s surprise, the whole thing had been Colin’s idea.
But once he had convinced Benedict they should go, it was easy for them both to gang up against Anthony in order to persuade him to attend as well.
Convinced by the low probability of getting caught, and the glass of brandy one of his brother’s had put in his hand, the eldest Bridgerton son had requested their carriage and they were soon part of the group of many heading to their neighbor’s ballroom.
With Aubrey Hall’s estate bordering their host’s, it struck Anthony as odd that he knew very little about the family whose house he would soon be entering. From what he had gathered, the extravagantly beautiful, but empty estate had recently been let by a peer of good standing, his wife, and their only child — a daughter.
Aside from that, no one knew much else.
The room was already crowded with guests as more poured in, and Anthony supposed, having now entered the lively soiree with his brothers on either side of him, that their host’s elusiveness was the very reason most people showed up tonight.
And while he could understand their natural curiosity, he was only in attendance to watch over his rambunctious siblings more than anything else.
Or at least, that is what he thought he was doing until he took a glance to his left moments after entering the great hall only to see that Colin was no longer standing beside him.
Immediately turning to his right in order to ask Benedict if he had noticed where their younger brother had gone, Anthony was hit with the instant understanding that this whole night had been a set up once he saw the second-eldest Bridgerton had also disappeared without a word.
Letting out an exasperated sigh upon having such a realization, the eldest of the three decided to make his way to the refreshment table in order to enjoy some punch instead of searching out either of his accomplices.
With a drink in hand, the heir to one of England’s most reputable Viscountcies chose to look around the room in a futile attempt to spot one of his brothers. In not catching so much as a glimpse of either of them amongst all of the masked faces, Anthony annoyedly turned his gaze upwards to ask the heavens above to give him some patience.
But in doing so, Anthony found himself lucky enough to be the only one who seemed to notice the ethereal figure watching the party from the shadows of the halls above. Given the main gathering was confined to their host’s ballroom on the ground floor, he could not help but to wonder what this person was doing up there on the wrap-around balcony that overlooked the entire room.
The lady, whomever she may be, was clearly dressed for the ball with her elegant mask covering her face and matching her outfit, much like his.
However, even from this distance, he could infer from the strange beauty trying to go unnoticed that she watched the festivities with an unfamiliar, but obvious yearning in her countenance.
This made Anthony all the more curious when her observing gaze eventually fell upon him.
He watched as she seemed to realize someone had caught her in her observations, then hurriedly turned her face from the light in an attempt to conceal herself from his view and disappeared into the shadows above.
At that point, the future Viscount could no longer deny his immense intrigue. Seeking out the staircase that led to the second-level of the ballroom, he cautiously made his way down the dimly lit corridor to where he had last seen the entrancing figure that had unwittingly captured his attention.
Luckily, he knew he was heading in the right direction as his ears had picked up on the sounds of a hushed conversation taking place around the corner from him.
Not wanting to reveal himself before he was sure it was her, Anthony hesitated from making the turn and instead chose to conceal his presence behind the bend in order to listen in on what he was hearing.
“Goodness, Sophie,” You said with a hopeless sigh. “It bewilders me that my father will put all this effort into a party for mere strangers, yet he will not lift a single finger when it comes to my health. Instead, he has simply resigned himself to the belief that he will never have grandchildren because my condition ‘apparently’ renders me ineligible for marriage.”
Unsure of what to make of those opening words, the eldest Bridgerton son quietly pressed his back to the wall behind him and continued his eavesdropping as you let out a huff of frustration while your dearest friend responded to you.
“Oh lovely girl, most Earls would be so very glad to have a daughter as unique as yourself. It is his loss if he does not recognize how fortunate he is.”
It was then that Anthony took a chance to peek around the corner in order to catch the slightest glimpse of you.
You, in all of your finery for the evening, were giving who he presumed to be ‘Sophie’ a grateful smile as you amicably said,
“Thank you, you are a true friend.”
Before laying an appreciative, gloved hand on her shoulder.
Briefly hiding your expression from her view by glancing towards the party just getting started below, you took a fortifying breath as if steeling yourself against something. Then, after putting on an encouraging air, you turned back to face your kind companion with a convincing smile now on your face.
“Go down to the party, Sophie. I’ll be perfectly fine up here for now. You and I both know you do not have many opportunities for fun, so you should enjoy yourself tonight.”
Your friend seemed to consider your suggestion for a moment, and then apprehensively said,
“Only if you are sure, my Lady?”
After giving a confident nod, she returned your appreciative smile while bowing and began to make her departure.
It was when you thought no one was watching that you allowed your serene mask to slip into an expression that showed your true feelings of deep sadness. Having to hide yourself away as others had fun simply because your father had commanded it so, was not always an easy burden to bear.
Unwilling to allow the obvious emotions you felt to dwell any longer on your remarkable face, Anthony finally stepped around the corner into view and announced himself by clearing his throat.
You turned to face him with evident surprise at his entrance, and the heir to the Bridgerton viscountcy watched as your eyes widened in recognition at the sight of him (given that you had just seen him standing downstairs across the ball).
Raising his hands in a sign of peace and giving you a moment to show he meant no harm, Anthony began to say with a touch of nervous uncertainty,
“My apologies for disturbing you. Truly! It is just…”
He gave a brief pause as he contemplated how to continue, only to hear the following question come from his mouth.
“I was wondering if you might like to join me for a dance?”
And the air around you both seemed to shift into something unexpected as you contemplated your response in return.
TAG POLICY: If you wish to be tagged in this story, you will be required to leave a comment for each chapter you are tagged in. A comment is considered to be any kind of feedback you can give about my story (a detail you noticed, a conversation you liked, a scene you enjoyed, etc.). Please do not ask to be tagged if you are unwilling to follow this rule. If you do ask to be tagged, and fail to follow this rule, you will lose access to my story. Please note: Comments that are made up entirely of emojis or key smashes do not count. Leave a thumbs up (👍) in your tag request to let me know you have read and agree to this policy in order to be added.
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Sitting in silence, it took you a moment to finally react to the surprise you felt at the question you had just received.
“Uncle Wallace…I don’t understand.”
Raising his hands in a reassuring manner, your paternal figure began to say,
“Now, don’t worry because you’ll have plenty of time to decide…”
Then a proud smile slowly grew on his face as he continued.
“But I thought you should know that CFD reached out to your old station back in New York, and they heard nothing but good things about you. So, they’re pushing your application through.”
Letting out a small gasp, you couldn’t help but to ask with excitement,
“Really?!”
Giving a confirmatory nod, Chief said,
“Yes. They’ll let you finish your project first, but everything is in the works. And since I’m a man short on Truck, I wondered if you’d be interested in filling that spot? I could pull a few strings and get you placed here if you want.”
Honestly touched he’d even considered doing such a thing, your only response was an honored,
“You’d do that for me?”
The warmth from his expression was a pretty good indicator of answer, but still he replied,
“I told your father that I’d look after you. And I meant it.”
He decidedly finished.
Unable to hide the smile that formed on your lips at his words, you tried to rein in your emotions as you gave a grateful,
“Thank you, Chief.”
With a nod of his head, he concluded your meeting by saying,
“No problem. Just let me know once you’ve made a decision and I’ll get the paperwork started.”
Walking out of his office, you thanked him once again and began making a distracted trek through the firehouse. So caught up in your thoughts about your potential future, you weren’t paying attention as you rounded a corner and nearly ran into someone.
Catching yourself just in time to take an abrupt step back, you saw that you had managed to avoid another collision with your newest friend and confidant.
“Kelly!” You happily exclaimed as you took in his smiling face.
“Hey! I was just looking for you.”
This was a regular sentence you were used to hearing from Severide as he was always making sure you were alright. Certain parts of you couldn’t help but to feel flattered that a man such as himself kept taking the time to check in on you. Proving your point, he gestured toward the office with his head and asked,
“Is everything ok with Chief?”
“Yeah, he actually just gave me some great news!”
Was your enthused reply.
Trying not to become too excited, you recalled the Lieutenant’s first words and said,
“Wait, was there a reason you were looking for me?”
Since he had been seeking you out in the hopes of finally asking you out before your last shift ended at 51, Kelly didn’t mind delaying his inquiry for another few moments while he heard your news.
“I just had a question for you, but it can wait. What did Boden say?”
Your expression brightened as you gave your response.
“He’s offered me a permanent place here at 51!”
Severide’s reaction mimicked the one you had earlier when he let out a genuinely surprised,
“Wait, really??”
Nodding enthusiastically, you replied with,
“Yup! I’ll be on Truck 81!”
Just as happy to see you overjoyed, Kelly gave you an excited hug as he spun you around and said,
“That’s awesome! Congratulations!”
You let out a ‘thank you’ through your laughter while he set you back on the floor. Locking eyes again, you suddenly felt shy as you realized how close you two still were.
Kelly didn’t seem to mind the proximity as he continued staring your way. Clearing your throat and taking a deliberate step backwards, you diverted your sight to your hands when his gaze became too intense and asked by way of a distraction,
“So…uh…what was it you wanted to ask me?”
The Lieutenant only had time to smile with a touch of sheepishness as he said,
“Well, I was actually wondering if—”
Before the firehouse’s alarm cut him off overhead.
As the crossroads were announced, you could see the look of disappointment wash down Kelly’s face at being interrupted.
“Later, ok?”
You encouragingly said.
He threw a small boyish grin your way as he replied.
“Deal.”
Then you both hurried your way to your respective vehicles.
Arriving at the scene in Battalion 25, you followed behind the Chief and could see at least five cars were involved in the accident.
Three cars seemed to have hit each other in the middle of the intersection, and the other two must have been clipped since they were each facing the wrong way on opposite sides of the road essentially blocking off all traffic.
After taking in the sight, you raised your camera in order to take a picture of the firefighters and EMTs gathering around their Firehouse 51 leader as he began commanding them.
“Truck 81, work on getting those two cars out of the way and have someone on traffic control. Squad 3, looks like those three cars may have pinned the victims inside, so let’s get started with extraction. 61, split up and help 81 and Squad with anyone who needs medical attention. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”
With their orders now given, each member of Firehouse 51 got to work on helping those in need. As Gabby and Brett went from vehicle to vehicle checking on people, they were happy to say that there were no serious injuries to report. This just left Truck 81 to move the clipped cars while Squad 3 began to release their last trapped-in victim.
Given the excitement you’ve experienced at some of their other rescues, you’d decided this one was more on the mundane side as you snapped pic after pic.
But perhaps you had decided that a little too quickly since the sound of someone laying on their car horn filled the air.
“C’mon! Hurry it up already! I have to get to work!”
You only shot a brief glance at the annoyed driver shouting from his window at the firefighter on traffic control duty, Otis, while you made your way to shadow Squad 3 in the intersection. Though you concentrated on getting footage of the uniformed men as they extracted their final person, you could still hear the loud honking, the angry driver getting more belligerent, and the sound of Otis trying to de-escalate the situation.
You could only assume he hadn’t succeeded since, in a quick move, the agitated man jerked his steering wheel and car to the side in order to go around Brian and attempted to accelerate through the intersection at a dangerous speed.
So focused on the task at hand, you didn’t notice the car barreling your way until it was almost too late for you to do anything about it.
Bracing for impact, you found yourself completely caught off guard when you were tackled from the side rather than hit from the front. Rolling a few times after you hit the ground, you tentatively opened your eyes to see Kelly’s worried, blue gaze staring back your way as you laid beneath him.
“Are you ok??” He asked with concern while the speeding driver lost control and crashed into a nearby lamp post.
Taking inventory of your body after nearly being hit by a car, you nodded in affirmation and accepted Severide’s hands as he helped you up. Soon joined by Brett, they both led you over to the ambulance in order to get you checked out while CPD detained the reckless driver.
Turning to the Squad Lieutenant after being given a clean bill of health, you were sincere as you gratefully said,
“Thanks for having my back again, Kelly. If you ever need anything—”
But you were cutoff when he raised a single hand.
“I don’t need to be compensated in any way. I’m proud to protect Chicago’s finest.” He humbly responded, “But there is one question that I’d like the answer to…”
You curiously replied with a small smile on your face.
“And what question would that be?”
Matching your smile with his own, he said,
“I know now might not be the right time, but you could’ve been gone today without ever knowing how much I truly like you since I keep waiting for the right time, so I can’t keep this in any longer.”
As understanding started to hit you, he finished by asking with a note of shyness,
“Could I…possibly take you out on a date sometime?”
It took a moment to find the courage to meet your gaze again, but when he did, he saw that your expression had bloomed into one of complete joy. Now wearing a wide grin, you happily responded with,
“Of course, Kelly! I’d love to.”
And were glad when you received a wide grin from him in return.
A few weeks had passed since your night at the bar. In that time you were glad to say that your bond with those at 51 had only gotten stronger.
Of all of them, you had bonded the most with Kelly as he had invited you out to different places in Chicago on the days he was off shift. His reasoning being that it would be a good idea to relearn what it was like to live here, and you happily agreed since it got you out of the house.
While these outings had been unexpected, they were always fun as the two of you spent most of your time talking. The ease with which you could speak to him was something that caught you off guard, but was also a refreshing change of pace. You two would move from one topic to another after realizing how much you had in common.
Therefore, the conversations were rarely sparse.
And hanging out with Severide also had the additional bonus of making your integration into the firehouse family that much easier since the events he invited you to sometimes included his coworkers.
During shift hours, you tried to keep to your original word of staying to the sidelines as you worked with them, but they insistently went out of their way to include you during all the downtime at the house.
Whether that be for a meal or just for a little gossip, it didn’t matter. 51 saw you as one of their own and you felt the same way about them.
Truly appreciative of the effort they took to make you feel welcomed, you were even more determined to do our job of portraying them in the best possible light possible.
Having spent the last few shifts shadowing at your Uncle’s firehouse, you were sad to say your time with them was wrapping up. Soon, you would be moving on to get videos and shots of the other houses you had lined up for your project with the CFD. And since today was your last shift here, you were making the most of it by getting some shots of Squad 3 while they did drills on the concrete of the driveway.
“C’mon! Pick up the pace!” Called Severide as he watched his men move while he held a timer.
You were standing a few feet behind him with your camera in hand. Holding it up to your face so you could look through the eyepiece, you snapped pic after pic of Cruz, Capp, and Tony tying knots in a rope. They then used that rope to tie around Vargas who was on the ground playing the victim. Hulling him several feet to a backboard, all the men dropped the rope with relief once their Lieutenant checked his stopwatch and said,
“Good job, guys. Clean this stuff up, then head inside and get some water.”
Grateful for the break, his men went about following their orders and were soon making their way back into the firehouse with their training equipment in hand.
However, Severide lingered outside as he watched you look through the photos on your camera’s screen. Walking the few feet it took to close the distance between you both, the Squad leader waited till he was an arm’s length away from you in order to jokingly ask,
“Are you getting my good side?”
Smiling in amusement, you looked up from your camera and to his face as you responded in your own humorous tone,
“Is Kelly Severide admitting he has a bad one?”
Letting out a chuckle at your unexpected answer, Kelly was about to give his reply when you both heard your name being called from the firehouse.
Turning, you each saw Boden’s assistant standing in one of the doorways as she said,
“Chief wants to see you in his office.”
“Ok, thanks Connie!”
Was your appreciative response.
You caught eyes with Severide again as you made your departure by saying,
“I’ll catch you later?”
Nodding in agreement, he sincerely replied,
“I look forward to it.”
Smiling once more, you rotated around in order to follow Connie inside after you gave your own nod of affirmation.
Since Kelly’s eyes were focused on you as you walked away, he missed the approach of his best friend, Captain Matt Casey.
Clasping a firm hand down on the Lieutenant’s shoulder, Matt watched the Squad leader jump in surprise as he was brought back to reality.
Following Kelly’s line of vision with his own, Casey raised his brows at his friend while asking in a teasing manner,
“Is there something you wanna tell me?”
Given that all he could see was your retreating figure.
“No.”
Was the immediate response he received.
Embarrassed to be caught staring at you so blatantly, Severide shrugged off Casey’s offending hand and began making his own way to the apparatus floor in the hopes of avoiding the oncoming interrogation.
“Are you suuure?” Matt continued on in a low voice. “You’re absolutely sure there’s nothing you wanna tell me about you and Chief’s niece?!”
Spinning around with a quickness, Kelly hushed his friend before anyone had the chance to hear him.
“Shhh!!! It’s not like that!”
With an amused and smug expression, the truck Captain crossed his arms over his chest and knowingly asked,
“Then what is it like?”
Recognizing he was caught, the Squad leader let out a huff and decided to be honest.
“Look, it’s been awhile since she lived here, so I’ve been showing her around a bit while we’re off shift. We’ve gotten to know each other a little better and I like her. But it hasn’t gone any further than that.”
He finished while avoiding his friend’s eyes.
After studying the man for a moment, Matt couldn’t help but to allow the astonishment to grow on his face as he finally realized what was going on.
“Oh my god, Kelly Severide has a crush!”
He exclaimed with surprised amazement.
Immediately getting shushed again by Kelly all but confirmed his educated guess. But when he then whisper-shouted,
“Casey! Be quiet!”
While looking around to make sure no one had heard them, the Captain knew for a fact he was right.
“If you like her this much, why haven’t you asked her out already?”
Was Matt’s genuinely curious question after he too looked around and confirmed they were alone.
Letting out a sigh of defeat as he realized this topic wasn’t being dropped anytime soon, Severide exasperatedly just said,
“You think I don’t want to?? But like you said, she’s Boden’s niece. So that means she’s off-limits. And I gotta respect that.”
He dejectedly finished.
Looking at his suddenly disheartened friend, Casey thought over his reply before saying with encouragement,
“Y’know, since I respect your admiration for her, Boden probably would too. And today is her last day with us. So if your intentions are good, maybe you should just take a chance and ask her on a proper date. What do you have to lose?”
Kelly paused as he recognized his friend might be right, then finally said in resolution,
“I’ll think about it.”
And while those two wrapped up their conversation outside, you were just getting started with yours in Chief's office.
“So, I’ll cut right to the chase,” Boden began. “It has come to my attention that you submitted a recertification application to become a firefighter with the CFD. Is this correct?”
Surprised he was aware of this, you replied with a hesitant,
“Yes, Uncle Wallace…”
Staring your way with a serious look on his face, he then said,
“And is this something you’re determined to do?”
Unsure of where he was going with this, you only paused for a moment before giving a confident and determined,
“Yes, Chief. Once my contract is up, I will become a firefighter again.”
Boden gave a single nod at your answer. And after considering it for a second, he opened his mouth and asked the last question you ever expected to hear.
“Then how would you like to be a firefighter here at 51?”
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