#but now im 25 and have a completed 100K+ word fic

[weepingfromacedartree]

Ten Milestones: Epilogue

Hi friends! The epilogue is live!!!

Still can't quite believe this is the end... But thank you to everyone who has been following along on this story. Appreciate you all 💛💛💛

Epilogue

One Year Later: April 26th, 2024

Relationship Status: Engaged

꙳

Yesterday

In the end, neither Colin nor Penelope felt the need to rush down to the court house immediately after becoming engaged. For both of them, the promise of forever was enough.

(For a year, at least.)

Tonight was the wedding rehearsal — which, knowing their respective families, was just as chaotic as one could expect from such an affair. Both Colin and Penelope vastly prefer the more intimate (albeit similarly chaotic) afterparty currently being held in their honour. 

In a secluded library at the family home on Grosvenor Street, all Bridgerton siblings and spouses are gathered.

By the door, Kate is offering Gregory advice on law school (far more helpful than Anthony’s advice, by Gregory’s account). By the window, Benedict, Sophie, and Eloise are discussing plans for tomorrow’s afterparty. On the settee, Daphne and Simon are flirting — like they always do on nights like this (seven years into their marriage). In the corner, Francesca and Anthony are discussing a certain bet in extremely hushed tones. On the couch in the center of the room, Hyacinth is interrogating the bride and groom on the details of their union. She asks one particular question that appears to cut through all other mini conversations in the room.

“Penelope — how did my brother trick you into marrying him, anyway?” 

Her question had been asked in jest, but in response, Penelope cannot help but admit…

“There actually was some trickery involved in his proposal.” 

With one arm wrapped around his fiancée’s shoulders, Colin blushes.

“‘Trickery’ is a strong wo—”

“Ooh,” Sophie cuts in, already taking a seat next to Hyacinth. “Do tell.” 

Colin and Penelope do tell. They tell the others all about the little game they played to determine their future together.

“And you were successful?” Hyacinth asks in disbelief. “You did everything a couple should do while just friends?”

“Best friends,” Colin clarifies, much to Eloise’s chagrin. “But yes.”

“And what requirements were on that list of yours?” asks Anthony. “Living together?”

“Yes, actually.” 

Anthony squints at his younger brother from across the room.

“You two lived together before you started dating?” 

“Yes. Penelope lived with me for a month during lockdown.”

“That doesn’t cou—”

“Shh, Ant,” Colin interrupts. “I nearly have her down the aisle. Don’t mess this up for me now.” 

As Penelope starts to giggle, Daphne smiles and clears her throat from over on the settee. 

“What about discussing your dreams for the future? That would certainly be on my list.”

“Yes,” answers Penelope. “That was one of the first we crossed off.” 

“Hmmm,” Benedict hums dramatically. “Almost like you two should have married a long, long time ago.” 

As the others chuckle, Colin simply smiles and asks, “And what would be on your list, Ben?” 

“Oh, I don’t know…” Benedict’s eyes dart around the room before eventually settling on: “Surviving a trip to Ikea. That one’s vital, actually.” 

Sophie nods emphatically at this. “Was Ikea on your list?” she asks the engaged pair. 

“No,” Colin answers with a shrug. He then turns to Daphne and (defensively) continues, “But Daph — you’re happily married and have never stepped foot in an Ikea in your life. Right?”

“I’ve been to Ikea,” Daphne claims, just as defensive as her brother. “Of course I’ve been to Ikea!”

“Babe. I’ve never been to I—”

“Shh,” Daphne interrupts, laughing as she leans into her husband’s shoulder. “What’s on your list, babe?”

Simon considers the question momentarily, then smirks. 

“Befriending the family.” 

“Jesus Christ,” Anthony mutters inaudibly from the other side of the room. Louder, Hyacinth adds…

“Well, that’s easy. I’ve always preferred Penelope to Colin.” 

“Hey!” Colin shoots out while Penelope continues to giggle incessantly. It takes her a minute to catch her breath and ask the others what milestones are on their hypothetical lists. 

On Francesca’s: “Having the ‘kids’ conversation.” (Check.)

On Sophie’s: “Finding ways to make each other laugh.” (Check.)

On Kate’s: “Making your relationship a priority.” (Check.)

On Eloise’s: “With our family? Surviving a week at Aubrey Hall with your sanity intact.” (Check.)

On Gregory’s: “Adopting a pet.” (Check.) (Technically.)

On Hyacinth’s: “I don’t know. A hall pass?” (Unchecked.) (Thank god.)

That last response is met with such a loud chorus of boos that Violet — who had been searching for the group for the last hour — is finally able to locate them on the third floor. She bursts into the library just as Hyacinth exclaims, “What?! That’s what engaged people do before they get married, right? You know — to get it out of their systems?”

“What is going on here?” Violet asks from the doorway. 

“Nothing mum,” several of her children claim all at once. When she appears unconvinced, Gregory explains, “We’re just making sure Penelope and Colin are ready to get married tomorrow.”

At this, Violet chuckles. 

“I’ve been waiting twenty years for this wedding. What could there possibly be left to discuss?” 

The group explains the game one final time. When asked what milestone would be on her list, Violet smiles and answers, “Falling in love. Everything after that is just… extra.” 

Still standing in the doorway, Violet glances around the library. Her smile deepens as she looks to each of the wonderful, happy faces looking back at her. To Kate and Anthony. To Francesca and Eloise. To Simon and Daphne. To Gregory and Hyacinth. To Benedict and Sophie. To Colin and Penelope. 

“Well,” she sighs contentedly. “It’s quite late. If any of you wish to be prepared for tomorrow, I suggest breaking up this party and getting some sleep.”

“Mum has a point,” Benedict admits, looking down at his watch. It’s 11:53. “We should separate the bride and groom before midnight strikes. Bad luck and all.” 

Most of the room agrees and, thus, begin saying their goodbyes for the night. They stand from their spots, gather their belongings, and empty into the halls in separate directions. Not Colin, though. He feels too sure of everything tonight to bother worrying about “luck” for a single moment. 

Gregory is last to leave. He gives Penelope a sidelong hug in the doorway before disappearing down the hall, which is when Colin finally stands from his spot on the couch. As he treads forward, he hears Eloise call out “You coming Pen?” somewhere out of sight; he reaches past Penelope and shuts the door before she can answer. 

“Is everything okay?”

“No,” he says, leaning down and laying a kiss on his fiancée’s lips. “Everything is perfect.” 

When she breaks away from him, there’s a smile plastered on her face. 

“You heard your brother,” she murmurs through taught lips. “It’s bad luck for us to see each other after midnight.”

Colin spares a single second to glance down at his watch. It’s 11:58.

“Time is a construct. And I’m still jet lagged from our last trip, so if you think about it —”

“That was a month ago,” Penelope giggles. “And last time I checked, Berlin is an hour ahead of London.” 

“Exactly. Why bother running off now, if we’ve already tempted fate by an hour?” 

Colin leans in for another kiss, but Penelope just barely manages to push past her temptations and pull her head back an inch. 

“Let’s continue this in the morning.” 

Rising onto the balls of her feet (and pulling him down a few inches for good measure), Penelope places a single chaste kiss upon her fiancé’s lips. Colin doesn’t think he’s ever tasted anything sweeter. 

“Goodnight, Colin.” 

“Night, Pen.” 

꙳ ꙳ ꙳

Today

They married at St. Bride’s Church this morning. It was sunny and warm and perfect. They recited their vows in a magnificent cathedral. They took portraits in front of a spire that resembles a wedding cake. They travelled in a little white car from Fleet Street to Mayfair, where hundreds of people are currently celebrating their union in an opulent white wedding hall. 

It’s not so sunny anymore, Colin realises while gazing out the nearest window. It’s the first time in hours that he’s taken note of the weather outside. (It also happens to be the first time in hours that Penelope is out of his view — gone to the loo with Francesca in tow.) 

The night is nearly done. Family portraits have been taken. Toasts have been toasted. The first dance has been witnessed. But even noting the time, the skies outside are quite dark. From where he stands by the window, Colin can practically hear the phantom sounds of thunder at a distance. 

“Question, mate,” says a distinctly Scottish voice behind him. After blinking several times, Colin turns to find Michael Stirling staring back at him. 

“Hmm?”

“Is that your sister —” He discreetly points one finger towards Eloise on the dance floor. “— who has been dancing with Phillip Crane all night?”

Colin is suddenly overcome by such a distinct wave of hubris that he barely registers the strange way in which Michael emphasised the word “Crane.” He does manage to ask how Michael knows Phillip, though; Colin only met him last year while self-sequestered in Kent. 

Michael mumbles something about playing football against his brother during uni, then inquires about Phillip and Eloise’s apparent connection again. 

“That was my doing, actually,” Colin gloats.

“That so?”

“Yeah. While Pen and I were putting together the seating charts, I had a bit of an epiphany and sorted him next to El. Now look at them.” 

He nods towards the couple on the edge of the dance floor. Colin has never seen his sister look so pleased while partaking in “a voluntary act of public humiliation.” (Her words.)

“I’m practically cupid.” 

Not a second passes before Colin is hit by a sudden realisation. Just as Michael opens his mouth to voice aloud whatever sarcastic quip is currently on his tongue, he continues…

“I saw you dancing with Francesca quite a few times this evening.”

When Michael keeps his mouth notably shut in response to this, Colin suppresses a smirk and asks, “You two came here together, right?” 

“As friends,” Michael clarifies, only after several additional seconds of silence. The indignation in his tone is not lost on (or foreign to) Colin.

“You know… Penelope and I went to Benedict’s wedding together. As ‘friends.’”

Again, the other man waits before responding. Just when Colin is tempted to open his own mouth and drop some unsubtle metaphor about sitting in traffic, Michael chuckles before continuing…

“Sorry. I just realised something quite funny. Hilarious, even.” When Colin raises an eyebrow, he explains, “If your attempts at matchmaking Eloise and Crane are successful, you will also be successful in making your ex-girlfriend an official part of the family.” 

Colin’s smirk drops, suddenly smacked by confusion. 

“You know,” Michael continues, patting him on the shoulder in one dismissive blow. “You should really be more careful about who you invite to be an in-law.”

When Michael begins to step away, Colin turns to follow. He’s about to ask what the hell he was talking about, but that question gets lodged in the back of his throat when he spots something out of the corner of his eye. 

His wife. 

Penelope has been his wife for several hours. Colin has been ready for her to be his wife for several months. (Years, even.) But the weight of that word — wife — hits him squarely in the chest, even now.

He watches as she steps down the staircase with her skirt in her hands. As she continues chatting with Francesca. As she weaves through the crowd. As she meets his eye and a smile lights up her already bright face.  

Colin watches his wife with a tender fire in his chest. He starts to lean down, led by an undying desire to have her close to him. But before he can wrap his arms around her, Penelope reaches out, seizes his hand, and pulls him in a new direction. Towards the nearest exit, specifically.

“Sorry,” she laughs as they step onto the terrace. It’s empty — likely due to the brisk night air and imminent rain. “It was getting a bit crowded in there, I think.” 

“I think so, too,” Colin murmurs, finally leaning down to place a kiss against her lips. “How long until we can kick them all out?” He kisses her again. “Or simply save ourselves and flee.” 

Penelope laughs again as she tilts her chin down and to the side. She presses her body against his and he wraps an arm around hers. He pulls her in as close as he can get her.

“Not yet,” she mumbles into his shoulder. “But soon.”

Without having to ask, Colin and Penelope fall into a sort of dance — a routine that has solidified and evolved over all these years. Their bodies sway to the music as it drifts in from the ballroom. Their fingers intertwine like they were made to fit together. Their chests are so close that he can feel her heart beating through the flimsy fabric of his shirt. 

It’s perfect. All of it. 

“Was today everything you hoped it would be?” Colin asks, his voice quiet enough that it’s nearly drowned out by the rain in the distance. Nearly. 

“Today was perfect.” She extracts her head from his shoulder to look up at him. She’s smiling. “But I think I’m ready for it to be over. I’m ready for what comes next.”

Colin almost says something in response to that, but after some consideration, he doesn’t feel the need. Penelope summed it all up too perfectly. 

Instead of talking, he momentarily pulls his wife away from him and spins her around. She laughs. So does he. They keep time to the rain, for the music has grown too faint for them to rely on. They dance a little while longer, even as the downpour quickens and raindrops start pelting into them sideways. 

Colin is more aware than ever before that he has his heart in his hands and against his chest. He knows he isn’t letting go.

꙳ ꙳ ꙳

Tomorrow

The sun is just beginning to rise over London. The sky is maroon, but it will be blue again soon enough. With her head resting on Colin’s shoulder, Penelope keeps her eyes trained on the massive window ahead of her. She watches as twilight bleeds into daybreak. As red turns to pink. Pink to orange. Orange to yellow. 

When the first sliver of blue appears in the sky, she lifts her head and looks into her husband’s eyes. He looks tired (for obvious reasons), but also happy. 

“I forgot to tell you something yesterday.”

“Oh yeah?” Colin smirks. “Something you forgot to mention in your vows?”

“No. Something Gregory let slip.” 

“Dear god.” He runs a hand across his brow before tentatively asking, “What?” 

“Apparently your siblings had a betting pool on the date of our wedding. They started it back at Kate and Anthony’s wedding.” 

Over the course of about ten seconds, Penelope watches as several emotions cross Colin’s face. Intrigue turns to disbelief. Disbelief to indignation. Indignation to resigned acceptance.

“Of course they did,” he mutters. “Who won?”

“Anthony. He beat Benedict by a few weeks.”

Colin lets out a single strained laugh, then rubs another hand across his eyes. 

“I knew we should have eloped last spring.” 

Penelope laughs, too. The air is light against her lips.

“You and I have very different recollections of our wedding planning process.”

Again, Colin laughs. He looks like he’s about to protest, but before he can, a voice blares through the intercom above. 

“Good morning, passengers. Flight 185 from London to Vienna is about to begin the boarding process. Please make your way to the gate.” 

With a light huff, Colin stands from his chair, grabs both of their carry-ons, then extends a hand towards his wife. As they make their way towards the gate together, he squeezes her palm once. 

“I don’t know if you’re aware,” he says, smirking down at her. “But I’m actually quite an experienced traveller.” 

“Oh.” She laughs. “Is that so?”

“Yes. An occupational hazard, really. I travel for work.”

“How exciting.” 

“It can be. Really depends on the company.” He squeezes her hand one more time before continuing, “You know… If you ever want to abandon real life for a couple of days and tag along, the door is always open.”

As they arrive at the gate and stand beside their fellow passengers, Penelope looks up at a face she knows so well. He still has those tired, happy eyes from daybreak. He still has that smile that made her stomach flutter as a child. He’s still Colin — but he’s her husband now, too. 

She almost makes another sarcastic comment. She thinks about calling him a dork. She considers abandoning words altogether and pulling him down for another kiss. But in the end, Penelope smiles up at her husband and says the truest words she holds in her heart. 

“I know.”

[valeriianz]

20 questions for fic writers!

tagged by @honeyteacakes <3 (and belatedly, @tharkuun haha)

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

25

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

400,576 (+ 100k extra from fics i've deleted/orphaned in the past few years haha rip)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

i am at the mercy of the hyperfixation, and currently it's The Sandman and Dreamling exclusively.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1) Salvation (How to Get Away With Murder) 2) The Red Witch (Good Omens) 3) Bolt in the Blue (The Sandman) 4) Let Me Down Easy (The Sandman) 5) Show Me (The Mandalorian)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

yes and no. i love that people take the time to show their appreciation for a fic and i always want to reply and show how much it means to me... but i have this bad habit of not replying to comments on say, older works or older chapters of a fic. idk why... im just not good at it lol BUT I LOVE AND APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE COMMENT, EVEN THE LITTLE ONES 💖💖

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

oh, Exit Wounds, for sure haha

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

im a sucker for happy endings so i'd say, everything else lol but particularly Almost Idyllic (The Song of Achilles) due to the build up and Salvation also, because of the events leading up to the ending.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not since my ff.net days haha.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

very occasionally. and nothing too wild (except for that dreamling butt plug one. that was. hmm.) but i typically enjoy writing first times.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

i do not.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

nope. though i have seen ideas/prompts used without credit. it doesn't bother me much.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

nope.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

once, The Red Witch (which btw has been discontinued, pls don't read it lol). it started off just me, then my editor jumped on maybe 5 chapters in once i realized they were much more versed in magick and fantasy than me.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

haha probably Zutara.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

ahhh haha... fuck. idk i want to say none. but my brain keeps whispering about the dreamling road trip au. i thought i had a plot but as i continue working on bitb and other little drabbles... ive realized i might've bitten off more than i can chew. and my only option is to completely sideline it until im done with bitb, or change the story (because right now the research i have to do for it is too much and y'all know how i am...) it sucks cos i do want to write it. but it's difficult when all my patience for research is already going into one fic (bitb).

16. What are your writing strengths?

dialogue and monologuing, probably.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

self 👏 motivation 👏 finding 👏 the 👏 urge 👏 to 👏 write (technically, it's tense. i flip between past and present tense constantly and at this point i just consider it one of my endearing qualities pfft)

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

i try to avoid it but when it happens i just use Google Translate and then toss a disclaimer that ive done my best (to which usually a commenter will helpfully correct me and then all is well)

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Inuyashaaaaa (Miroku/Sango omg). exchanging physical notebooks with my friends with fanfics we'd written in school lol

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

truly a tie between Savory & Sweet and Let Me Down Easy (at the moment). the restaurant au was so easy and fun to write (probably because i used to be in the industry) and i reread it a lot. the pacing is fast and i love how immediate Hob and Dream fall into each other haha. Let Me Down Easy was very similar. my major was Media Production in undergrad and although it's been a while since i've held a camera, it was fun putting myself back in that environment. also the angst and tension were just a blast to write and figure out.

(this was an excellent waste of time, thanks again!) tagged, if y'all want, @magnusbae @teejaystumbles @ml-nolan @tj-dragonblade @reallyintoscience @delta-pavonis @staroftheendless