#I think that within the couples offered by the text Fanny and Edmund have the most chance for happiness

[themalhambird]

Mansfield Park: your OTP + a reunion hug/kiss after having been apart? 👀

“Edmund!” 

His name flies from Mrs Crawford’s lips with all the warmth and delight owing to an unexpected encounter with a- a very old, dear friend. A warm summer’s breeze stirs the air and the scent of roses wafts through Vauxhall Gardens as Fanny drops her husband’s arm and steps forward to greet her cousin-turned-brother-by-marriage. Mr. Bertram starts a little, and then sombre, shadowed eyes light with recognition and a genuine smile spreads across his face. “Fanny.” He takes her outstretched hand with a familial squeeze and

(They linger, for a split second too long, entirely unaware that they’ve done so and the whole world too, spins on oblivious. In the trees and bushes, the birds sing their mating calls)

then turns to shake the hand of his brother in law and friend. 

(If his smile becomes a little more forced than it used to be, on seeing Henry Crawford, neither man is aware.)

“Crawford.”

“Bertram!” Henry remarks cheerfully. “My sister dragged you to Town at last, did she? Well done, Mary.”

Mrs Bertram laughs, her eyes sparkling. “You know me, Henry. I always get my way at last.” She squeezes her husband’s elbow, or perhaps digs her nails into the flesh beneath his coat. Edmund’s expression turns a little blank, and Fanny stares at him with not a little sorrow and concern.

“It is good to see you,” she offers gently. “You were missed at Christmas.”

“I had a duty to Thornton Lacy.”

“Of course,” Fanny says; Mary’s lips tighten briefly. Christmas at Wimpole Street with Mr and Mrs Rushworth had been- something, Fanny supposed- neither awful nor good. She would have been glad of Edmund’s company. 

“Well, we are all together now,” Mary says, a little too brightly. “Shall we take a stroll together?” She moves away from her husband, and towards her brother- it is a rational enough move; they were always close and they have not seen each other for nearly a six-month. They go before, leaving Mrs Crawford and Mr Bertram to follow behind.  Fanny takes Edmund’s arm and he supports her weight, the smile returning a little to his face. 

“I have missed,” he says, “our walks in the shrubbery at Mansfield Park.”

“Yes,” Fanny agrees softly. “I have as well.”