Thunderbird
- A Benedict Bridgerton Story -
Part 1
„ELOISE YOU MUST MAKE HASTE!", Sofia shouts.
It has been five years since Colin brought his little guest from Turkey and Sofia is at her best health now. Yet, she's still living with the Bridgertons, who happily acceped her as a part of the family. A lot of things happened in these five years - Daphne, Anthony, and Colin married, Benedict got accepted to - and left - Art school, Eloise, Francesca and Sofia made her debuts in society and managed to stay ummarried (although it looks like Fran might celebrate an engagement soon).
Right now, everyone is preparing to leave, because the Bridgertons (and Sofia) are invited to spend a few days with the Duke and Duchess of Hastings. Daphne just gave birth to a little girl, Amelia, and Simon wants the family to meet her.
Everyone is ready to part, Eloise is the only one who did not arrive outside yet.
„Sofia!", Anthony warns her, but Sofia can see that he tries to hide a smile, „Bridgerton ladies don't scream like that."
„Good thing that I am not a Bridgerton", Sofia answers.
„You would be... if you agreed on marrying me", Benedict whispers and Sofia shrieks a little bit in surprise. She was not prepared to be this near to him. As an answer, she just laughs at him and says „Well, now that my favourite Bridgerton, Colin, is married, it has to be either you or Gregory, I'm afraid."
„Are Colin and Pen already here?", Eloise asks, as she storms outside.
„Yes they are", Colin replies with the wildest grin. He is holding his wife tight and making sure that she's next to him. Colin was taking extra care of his wife since they found out that she was with child. Penelope didn't seem to mind the overly protective atittudes of her husband at all. „We even brought our own carriage."
„How thoughtful of you", Violet comments , „I was afraid that we would not fit into the two that Anthony has organized for the travel."
„Well, we would, if Anthony and his wife wouldn't produce so many babies", Benedict comments. Sofia, who is still the nearest to him, hits him on his arm: „You can't say that, Ben! They are married and in love and can have as many babies as they wish"
„Also", Kate adds, „didn't plan to have three children in three years. How could I know that Baby no. 2 and Baby no. 3 were going to be twins?"
„And I really think that you, as a Bridgerton, shouldn't talk about having too many children", Penelope adds, making everyone laugh.
„You're a Bridgerton now, too, Pen", Benedict reminds her, „I can't wait to see how many children you are going to give our family." That comment is making Penelope blush.
„Maybe you should stop talking about our children and rather start... producing your own", Colin mocks his Brother, „after you marry a respectable young lady of course", he adds after he sees his mother's face.
Sofia giggles and Anthony, who was originally planning to warn her, joins in.
„You know, they have a point", Violet tells Benedict, „you need a family of your own."
One of the reasons why El, Fran (and Sofia) are yet to be married, is because Violet Bridgerton focused more on her second eldest son than her daughters in the past two seasons. The fact that one of her children is over 30 and still unmarried is giving her headaches. And of course, Violet is not blind. She totally knows what - or who - makes Benedict loose interest in any possible lady to marry. But other than her son, Violet is also not too blind to see that his feelings towards Sofia are probably never to be returned. Sofia, who has become like a fifth daughter to Violet over the years, clearly cares for Benedict and they definitely come along, but something appears to be stopping her from falling in love with Benedict, or maybe she is just not interested at all. The most tragic part of this story is... out of all her children, Benedict is definetly in love the most. Yes, Daphne and Simon are happy together and of course is Anthony absolutely crazy for his wife, and even Colin loves Penelope in a way Violet would have never guessed, but none of them looks at their significant other in that exact way that Benedict is facing Sofia.
„Who is going to travel in which carriage?" Hyacinth asks. She is tired of standing around and waiting.
„Sofia, El and I travel with Colin and Penelope", Benedict immediately decides, „The viscount and the viscountess and their lovely children can have a carriage on their own, leaving the last one for mama, Greg, Fran and you, Hyacinth."
Franesca is clearly about to contradict, and Violet doesn't seem to happy as well, but Benedict has already started to push Sofia and Eloise into their carriage and Colin, who was totally fine with his companions, starts helping his wife to climb into the carriage as well.
„Ben, can you help me with our carriage?", Anthony asks. Benedict, who was just about to step a foot into the carriage (in order to secure a place next to Sofia), reluctantly steps back and goes to help his brother.
„You can't do that", Anthony immediately whispers to him.
„I haven't even started doing anything yet"
„I don't mean that", Anthony impatiently points at the stuff Benedict had wanted to carry to the carriage , forgetting for a few seconds that they have servants for these kind of activities.
„You can't marry Sofia."
Benedict freezes in the middle of his movement. „Why?", he simply asks.
„Do you remember what big of an scandal it was, when Colin came back from his travel, with this mysterious girl next to him? A girl that was so extremely hurt, that everyone was wondering what might have happened to her? People were talking, Benedict. They assumed that Colin had taken his mistress to us and let her live with us. We all stood up against these ridiculous gossip, showed everyone that we accepted Sofia as part of the family and even managed to make up her reputation, so that she gained some suitors. If you get engaged to her, the girl we all call our sister now.. people will talk again. You can't marry a girl that's literally living with us already."
„You are married to your former fiancé's sister!", Benedict shouts, „Daphne married the duke after you found some in very inappropriate actions. Colin married a girl he claimed to be his friend for years, a girl who happens to be his former fiancé's cousin! You all falling in love and doing crazy things is okay, but I am not allowed to fall in love with a young lady just because people might gossip?"
„Is.. is she at least returning your affections?", Anthony finally asks, giving in. He hates when someone uses the Kate was your former fiancé's sister card.
„No... maybe.. I don't know. I am trying to confess to her, but she is only laughing at me or ignoring it."
„Wait a little longer.. when we are with Daphne and Simon, you might find a time to ask her alone, in a proper way." Just like that, the Viscount pulls out a ring out of his pockets, „give her that."
Benedict looks at the ring in shock for a fee seconds, but then starts to grin widely. „Annie, Annie, Annie.. were you planning on accepting Sofia as your sister-in-law for a long time now?"
„If you ever call me Annie ever again, I might reconsider my decision", Anthony says, but he is smiling back at his brother.
















