#philioise

When Colin announced he wanted to go out for his birthday everyone had agreed, he was 26, Daphne had agreed to come but she wouldn’t be drinking as she was pregnant, no one had expected what Colin had ultimately decided.

Colin had said that he’d booked a room so they had some privacy, he’s just said it was a cocktail bar so when all the adult Bridgerton’s rocked up at the address in Soho he had given… they all groaned.

Karaoke Box…

Every single one of them could remember what happened the last time they’d ended up in a karaoke bar…

Penelope who had been trying to get the location of her boyfriend’s birthday event from him for the last month, with no succuess, blushed furiously at the memory of Kate’s Hen Do and how they’d met the boys who’d gone out for “quiet” drinks… and the absolute carnage that had come about as a result of Michael and his bloody whiskey…

It had been a bloody good night Penelope had to admit, and the results when she’d gone back to Colin’s had been mind blowing…. And she couldn’t help but wonder if he was after a repeat performance.

“Colin really…?” Kate had grumbled at him as they all met outside the bar.

Colin just beamed in his usual jovial way “what. I happen to know this bar makes some of the best cocktails in London, has some of the best snacks which we all know is key on a good night out… and the fact it is a karaoke bar is just a happy coincidence.” he smirked.

Colin gave all the rest of the men a knowing grin which caused Daphne to blush, cradling her swollen stomach she followed her sisters, and future sisters in law inside, who were all blushing furiously.

All of the men gave Colin an appreciative high five as they went in.

Penelope wasn’t really comfortable singing in public, she didn’t have the confidence that Kate seemed to ooze, she’d always been in the shadows, even at home, even to this day, 6 months in, her mother still can’t believe that she, Penelope Featherington, is dating Colin Bridgerton…

The only reason she’d been on the microphone that night, was cause Kate and Sophie who were incredibly drunk, along with Daphne, had dragged her and Francesca up on stage in front of 50 or so people and they’d belted out Spice Girls, Wannabe… it had been one of the best moments of Penelope’s life.

She and Eloise at school had been the odd balls, the ones who sat at the back of the room, who were never picked for teams, well Eloise was but she usually just refused to play if Penelope wasn’t, unless it was hockey, or archery… but that night, she’d felt like one of the cool girls, like she belong and that she finally had sisters who loved her and appreciated her for who she was…

She was free to be herself when she was with the Bridgerton women, they accepted her, they loved her and it’s probably why she felt more comfortable in her own skin.

Colin helped, Colin really helped her self confidence, he loved her curves, in fact he loved them. He didn’t care if she thought she was fat, she was perfect for him and told her regularly how perfect she was for him. She didn’t see herself that way, she was starting to see her own self worth, he’d compared her to a shorter Christina Henedrix and it had given her confidence.

It took four rounds of drinks and 3 rounds of shots to get everyone tipsy enough to start singing.

The women, sober Daphne included, had gotten up and sung Sister sledge’s “are family” to start of the evening.

Colin got up with Michael and they sang “sexy and I know it” and both had to be stopped by Francesca and Penelope from stripping their tops off as they sang..

After a few whiskey’s Anthony had gotten up and sung “Can’t take my eyes off you” from Frankie Valli and turned Kate into a puddle and a flushing mess.

But then she got up and sang “Hate That I Love You” which had Daphne and Sophie laughing, Sophie so much she fell off her chair.

Penelope and Colin had gotten up and sung “I got you Babe” together and much to Colin’s annoyance Penelope had gotten up and Sung “You’re the one that I want” with Michael. Francesca had cackled her way through it.

Daphne was sat filming every single one of the performances, cackling as she secretly added shots of vodka to everyone’s drink.

She’d had to threaten a drunk Simon with pain of death if he got up.

Daphne had giggled and gagged her way through Benedict’s performance of “Your Body is a Wonderland” which Sophie had blushed and fanned herself the entire way through and being a little more drunk than the rest, the two of them disappeared for Eloise and Francesca’s rather dramatic drunken performance of “Wind Beneath my wings”

Phillip, Eloise’s new boyfriend just looked on in amusement wondering what the hell he was involved with as Anthony, Benedict and Colin all stood up and crooned their way through “Can’t help falling in love” to which Sophie, Kate and Penelope had all stared, mouth’s open, visible heart eyes clearly on their face… literally couldn’t stop the grins on their faces.

And not to be outdone, Michael stood up and crooned “All of Me” at Francesca who turned into a withering mess.

Kate and Sophie got up, both very unsteady on their feet and and belted out “i’ll be there for you” together and danced around the room like idiots.

Eloise then dragged her brother’s and two sister’s up and they all performed “ABC” by the Jackson 5, to which had the Spouses howling as they had a full dance routine to go along with it. Michael had to hold onto Sophie as she was laughing so hard at the dance moves. Simon was desperately trying to hold the camera still.

Everyone was shook as Eloise and Penelope got up and performed “Low” together, Phillip and Colin’s mouth dropped as they watched their respective girlfriends dropping low, gyrating on each other, Kate whistled, Sophie cheered, Daphne covered her face and Francesca howled laughing.

Anthony and Benedict both blinked and turned back to their drinks in shock.

However… The finale of the night came, when a very drunk, bleary eyed Colin stood up and proclaimed to Penelope “this is for you babe…” and proceeded to sing Fat Bottomed Girls.

Colin knew it was a favourite song of Penelope’s and he had seen her and Eloise singing it and dancing to it countless times in clubs, it was one of her favourite songs when she was doing Zumba in his front room and usually led to him dragging her off to do a different form of exercise.

Anthony gaped at his younger brother for a moment as Colin began singing and dancing around, Eloise stood on her seat next to Phillip and began belting it out alongside him, even Phillip stood and joined in the singing after much coercion from Eloise.

Benedict who seemed barely conscious was holding onto Sophie who was in his lap and they seemingly were singing along as well.

Michael and Francesca started singing as well and Kate was too busy cackling with laughter.

Daphne who had started filming, dropped her phone in shock as Penelope, who was very drunk at this point, seemed to forget all her cares and worries got up and started dancing with Colin as he sung

“Across the water, across the land

I've seen every blue eyed floozy on the way

But their beauty and their style

Went kind of smooth after a while

Take me to them naughty ladies every time”

And Penelope started Gyrating of Colin. As he finished and Penelope turned around and wrapped her arms tightly around him, pressing her lips to his, it seemed to trigger the “yep it’s hometime” as everyone, despite being very drunk all saw Colin’s hands on Penelope’s bottom.

The couples all seemed to rather quickly flee the room after this and pile into taxi’s giggling. Daphne grinning wildly at the stacks of blackmail videos she had of her siblings and inlaws…

As Colin and Penelope stayed wrapped in each other’s arms before Colin picked her up, threw her over the shoulder giving her bottom a spank as he carried her drunkenly through the bar into a taxi and back to his place…

When Eloise had learned from the Twins that her husband had never celebrated his birthday she had been scandalised.

The twins only knew it was their fathers birthday because of the staff.

August 25th and she knew he would be 30… that was a big thing for man she was sure of it.

She had a week to go but Eloise when a woman on a mission knew what she was doing and what she was about.

Her tenacity and sometime single mindedness working wonders as she planned and prepared everything,

The twins were eager to be involved and when Eloise had suggested inviting Benedict and Sophie and having their boys to play with well the twins were ecstatic.

Eloise broached the subject over dinner a few days before, trying her best to keep it ever so casual.

“Phillip” she’d said, desperately hoping she didn’t give anything anyway

“Eloise?” He said with a smile, he was sure his wife was up to something but up to what, he had no idea.

The twins had been exceptionally well behaved these last few weeks and he was sure it was bribes…

“I was thinking of inviting Sophie and Benedict to dinner next week” Eloise said with a soft smile

“Of course dear, what day were you thinking?” He asked

“Wednesday?” She asked, hoping her tone was casual and light.

Philip raised a brow, the twins didn’t utter a peep, they knew what day it was but did Eloise? He’d never told her it was his birthday she would have no reason to know…

Was it just a coincidence? Having some of the family for a nice dinner could be good. He did enjoy his time with Benedict and Sophie and it had been a few weeks since they were last at My Cottage.

“Phillip?” Eloise asked, breaking him from his thoughts, clearly he hadn’t responded to her

“Oh sorry Eloise I was trying to work out what I had on next week but Wednesday sounds lovely I shall endeavour to be done in the greenhouse with plenty of time” he smiled as Eloise gave him a radiant smile.

He turned his attention back to his beef, completely missing the triumphant glance shared between wife and children

~*~

Wednesday came and for Phillip nothing was out the ordinary that morning.

He’d woken and began his day in his absolute favourite way… buried deep within Eloise, only this morning she’d been atop him and it was without a doubt one of his favourite ways to have his wife… as she moved powerfully above him… If that was all he received for his birthday… he would be a happy man.

She’s sent him off with a slap to his backside and a kiss to his cheek. He spent the morning in his greenhouse with a spring in his step and a huge smile on his face, whistling to himself as he worked with no idea what his devious wife was planning.

Eloise had a spring in her step as she worked. The twins were with their new nurse for the morning, they’d asked for art that morning and having been inspired by their new Uncle Benedict’s art and what He made for their aunt for birthday, supplies had been ordered and Benedict had sent them up willingly.

Eloise dread to think of the mess but would ensure the twins were anther before everyone arrived.

She’d written to her family to say it was Phillip’s birthday but that for this year anyway it would be a quiet one.

Some gifts from her family had arrived, Francesca and her new husband Michael even sent down some Scottish whiskey and Kilmartin Jam.

She assembled everything in the dining room, the final arrangements and decorations around and she was rather pleased with her work.

Closing the door she instructed Gunning not to let Sir Phillip into the dining room and he gave a nod of the head as Eloise turned up the stairs be sure the twins were ready.

Phillip bad already been up and the twins were bathed and were in the process of dressing

Eloise entered her shared chambers to find Philip just out of the bath. “The water should still be warm if you wish to bathe?” He said smiling at his wife who was letting her eyes roam over him appreciatively.

“I erm bathed this morning and managed to stay out of the mess the twins created” Eloise said with a smile as she walked through to her dressing room to change.

She had a ladies maid but as she was attending to Amanda and it was a change of dress Eloise decided she could manage alone.

“Yes they did make rather a lot of mess but refused to tell me what they were working on… said it was a surprise” Phillip said softly

Eloise grinned over the top of her screen at him “well that could have something to do with the fact it is your birthday today…” Eloise said simply

Phillip, who was in the process of pulling on his boots, dropped them with a clatter “what… how…?” He said, stammering in shock.

Eloise let him squirm as she fastened up the blue evening dress she’d purchased especially for today… she knew how much he liked it when she wore blue.

“The staff and the twins told me last month…” she said walking over to her husband wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders “it is something I rather thought you might have told me…”

Phillip swallowed nervously, he knew from the tone of her voice he wasn’t in trouble “I… I haven’t really ever celebrated them…” he admitted.

“I gathered… but it is your birthday after all and is bridgertons rather like a good birthday” she grinned running her hands through his hair

“Dear god they’re not all coming are they?” He said in mild panic

Eloise laughed

“No I didn’t want subject you to that… poor Sophie was beside herself for her first birthday as a Bridgerton and Charlie made a rather dramatic arrival a few days later” Eloise said “and she’d never had a birthday before either… but I thought just then and the boys… the rest have sent presents though” she smiled warmly.

Phillip carefully wrapped his arms around his wife “you are incredible you know that” he said warmly and his eyes staring at her with love and adoration

“I do recall you uttering those words this morning” she beamed at him

Phillip smiled “you didn’t have to do all this for me. just being with you is enough and more than I could have ever dreamed….”

Eloise returned his smile, pressing a hand to his cheek “I know. but I thought you deserved to have a nice birthday and as your wife it is my duty to make you happy”

Phillip pulled her carefully down and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle caress “i love you”