Everything Has Changed Now

Chapter 14 - Starting over with faith and love

Chapter Summary: After reconciling, Penelope and Colin move to a new chapter in their wedded life.

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Notes:

I know I have been quite tardy in this chapter but I travelled to an international country for the first time and it required preparation and I was so tired after returning.

I have made sure I wrote a quite lengthy chapter so you can enjoy and make up for the lateness.

WARNING: This chapter contains smut (explicit)- if you do not wish to read it you can skip it, I have added the smut paragraphs with a long distance at the start and the end so those who do not wish to read it can skip it.

ENJOY! Hope you like this Polin HEA ;)

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Back from the beach, they both felt replenished. It was already time for dinner and they were both hungry, the fresh air at the sea made them famished. Prior to getting ready to move to the dinner table, Colin proceeds to ask Pen where he should sleep or rather stay since they had not had the time to discuss the same earlier this evening in the rush to head to the beach to not miss the splendid sunset.

Hesitating and unsure whether she was ready to have him with her in her bedchamber, he chooses to respect her privacy even if they were reconciled and living together. He nervously knocks on her bedchamber door. Penelope had not yet changed her clothes and was herself considering meeting him.

"Colin! What are you doing outside and knocking? Surely you can come in at any time, do not hesitate!" Pen offering him a large smile made him feel undoubtedly welcomed as if it was his own home. "I was looking for you." Colin's voice sounded timid which alarmed Penelope slightly. She replies in the most reassuring tone. "What's the matter? Is everything alright?" She wants to ensure that Colin is feeling comfortable.

"I wanted to ask you, Pen. Ummm since we have not had the time to discuss it. Where should I...ummm...sleep...I mean... stay??" His expression conveys desperation awaiting an answer from her telling him to stay with her nonetheless he also appears confused as he was aware they had just reconciled. "Oh!" Penelope averts her gaze briefly. "I was just about to come to you for this, Colin." He stares at her confusedly, unable to predict her response.

Blinking her twinkling eyes and with a radiant smile, Pen confidently responds. "With me, of course." It then dawns on her that they never actually slept together as a couple. It was not possible before they got married and when they were finally spouses, they never shared a bed or even a room, he rather slept on the settee all the time.

Upon that realisation her smile faded and with Colin still staring at her without any response, Penelope lowers her gaze and adds with a quieter tone while fiddling with her fingers. "Oh. I...ummm...unless you want to sleep somewhere else of course. We do have another bedchamber, it's smaller but you will be...comfortable." She looks back at Colin as she utters the last word.

In her mind she is thinking of her husband to be more 'comfortable with her instead' so would she, however it was obviously not just her choice. Penelope studies Colin's expression as she awaits his reply.

Colin then slowly approaches her and subsequently takes her hands in his. "I want to be with you Pen, wherever you are, if you're fine with that. I will be comfortable where you are." Pen remarks that Colin's voice sounded soft and sincere, her lips curved in a smile as she responds, "This is what I have always wanted Colin, but since you never..." she then pauses before continuing, her smile fading. "I thought you would not want to because back there you...before, you...we never..." It felt painful for her to be able to continue her sentence, too hurt to say those words, too scared she might bring bad memories from their past, not wanting to break again what they had just mended.