Bridgerton One Shots

Colin Bridgerton-Make It Up To You: Augustine Pt.2

(Trigger Warning: Death)

It had been five years since the whole incident, Colin seemed to be unlucky in love. He tried again many times but nothing felt right. He had always compared them to a certain girl who he knew a lifetime ago....

"I am to tour the countries!" Colin announced to his family in the living room

"Have you not done that already brother?" Benedict said looking up from his book

"Yes but I feel I may have missed some of the wonders while I was abroad" he said

"So it has nothing to do with the fact that Ms.Windrow- our I am sorry Mrs.-" Anthony began to say with a smile

"No it has nothing to do with her." Colin suddenly became defensive "I just feel I may have missed some of the wonders."

"Wonders such as her face?" Benedict retorted which caused Anthony to laugh

"Boys! Leave Colin be" Violet scolded her eldest two boys "When are you to leave?"

"I am to leave tomorrow morning, I wish to leave as soon as possible so I may see everything I wish to before the beginning of next season"

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Meanwhile in Paris

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"We are here today to mourn the loss of a war hero, a friend, and a husband-"

Augustine was mourning the death of her husband. Though she knew him merely five years, she had grown to love him. However, she always had Colin on her mind. Memorizing his face had become a curse. She found herself comparing her now dead husband to him all of the time. Hell, Augustine was convinced she could find his face in every crowd...especially ones he was not in.

She was even thinking of him now. She knew it was wrong to be thinking of another man as they put hers into the ground. However, she could not help but wonder how he was doing. If he had been blessed with children, if he had been happy with marina, and if he had kept up his life of travel like he had wished.

She believed she would never know the answers, and tuned back in just in time for them to announce her as the next speaker.

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A couple months later....

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Colin Bridgerton found himself in Paris, France. He had stopped in a small bakery to eat. When he heard a voice that he could recognize anywhere speaking French.

"I will take two baguettes sir" Augustine said in French, when she heard a voice yell for her

"Augustine?!"

She turned around and made eye contact with Colin Bridgerton, a man she had never believed she would see again. She looked at him for only a second before turning around.

Colin ran over to her forgetting about his growing hunger.

"Augustine its me! Colin!"

She turned around "Im sorry sir, I believe you have the wrong person" she said in a fake heavy French accent and began to walk away

"Augustine" he ran in front of her "I know it is you! Please just look at me!"

She looked up at him and was greeted with the same face she had memorized all those years ago. Some features were different, he had sideburns, bags under her eyes, and his face had wrinkled just a bit with time.

Colin analyzed her face just the same. She was as beautiful as ever. Her face had aged like fine wine. The only difference was a small wrinkle by each of her eyes as if she had done nothing but smile since she had left London. This made him happy and saddened at the same time.

"Please sit down and have lunch with me, my treat?"

She looked at him and fell victim to his doe eyes.

'Fine" she sighed and followed him into the bakery

Colin gifted her one of the baguettes and bought her a sandwich. The lunch was awkward at first, they did not speak a word...they just exchanged glances, until Colin broke the silence.

"How was Paris treated you?"

She glanced up from her food

"It has treated me very well...how has London treated you?"

He sighed "It has treated me.....decently"

She nodded slowly as she finished her sandwich

"How is your husband?" He asked as he finished his food aswell

"He uh...He passed a few months ago"

Colin's eyes widened

"I'm so sorry Augustine"

She had a sour look on her face

"It is quite alright....I can only hope you at least have a good marriage with Ms- or I apologize, Mrs.Bridgerton. Last I heard you and Mariana were to be wed"

It was his turn t feel down

"We uh....we never got married. She had lied to me, she was with another man's child....that is why she had wished to marry me..."

Augustine did not know what to say

"I do apologize and would like to express my sympathy"

He bit his cheek

"It is alright...I do not believe we were right for each other anyway"

"Why do you say that" Augustine allowed these words to slip from her before she could even begin to think.

"Because Augustine...I have- I have not stopped thinking of you. I thought I knew what I wanted but I was wrong! I have found myself comparing every lady to you! Everyday you haunt my thoughts, my dreams, and my nightmares!-"

"Colin, I-"

"Augustine, please hear me out. The only thing I wish to do is make it up to you...that is why I am here in the first place. I have spent every hour of this journey planning what I would say...and what you would say when I saw your face again. I think what I am trying to convey Augustine...is that....I love you. And whether you accept this apology or not I will continue to love you. I will love you if I see you everyday and I will love you if your face never graces my eyes again-"

"Colin!" she stopped him in his tracks

He closed his mouth and stared at her

"It shattered my heart that night when I saw you with Ms.Thompson....even more so when I heard the news of your marriage. I believed if I left and found a husband, I would forget about you. But you too have found a way into my everyday. I have found you on the streets you do not roam, in every travel book I have read, and even in my late husband...Colin, I love you too and I have for quite some time. But do not think I shall merely forgive you in just one-"

Suddenly his lips were on hers and as if it was reflex she kissed him back.

When their lips separated, their noses were still together and Colin was leaned across the table.

"Come back to London with me...please-"

"I do not know if I can-" she responded cutting him off

"Please Augustine...allow me to spend everyday expressing my sorrowfulness" 

 when she looked into his eyes every reason she had for staying disappeared

"Do not make me regret this"

Colin's face lit up and he stood up and began to walk out

"Colin Bridgerton" she laughed and followed him "what are you doing?"

"What I should have done many many many years ago...Augustine Windrow, I never want you to slip away again...may I court you?"

She smiled "Of course."