The years in between.

What if Colin and Penelope didn't get together until season 4...

Penelope Featherington has been in love with her best friends older brother, Colin Bridgerton, from the first moment she saw him in the mud.

For years she was content being his friend. But when Colin is set to marry her cousin, even after Penelope forced Marina to tell Colin the truth. Penelope knows her love for him, truly is unrequited.

Penelope puts her focus on her own debut, and her writing. For three seasons she puts her heart in a cage, never letting her mind cross to the fantasy of Colin Bridgerton.

Colin always saw Penelope as one of his dearest friends. But one night he was in bottom of a bottle and made another mistake when came to her.

Things shift when he is begging for forgiveness, and these new feelings grow when he sees his Pen step into the light and claim her name.

Penelope is given new responsibilities and the Bridgerton's are more than happy to help her with her new title, especially Colin.

But just as Colin realised his love, Penelope might marry another by the name of Lord Debling.

These two put each other through heartbreak, but they are also the only ones who can heal them. Will they finally be able to meet each other at the alter?

✧

This fanfic is focused on the years between the start of the show and them getting together. It is a slow burn.

I don't own these characters, obviously.