#george/bertha

[arwenlalaith]

Have the Heart (to Break Yours) (Ch. 3/7)

Ship: Bertha Russell/George Russell

Summary: They've been playing chicken with 'enough is enough' for far too long - since the night of the opera, perhaps longer. Sooner or later, they will have to make a decision.

Day 3: Eight Hours for What You Will

Word Count: 758

Author's Note: This was also written for the @gildedagecreatorscotillion, but real life kinda got in the way of my intention to write the whole thing in advance... It's what I'll call an 'off-shoot' of my fic Save Some Forgiveness for Me - basically, I'm going to keep writing the original following the path of the show, this will be sort of an alternate universe which breaks off following S2.

AN2: I don't know whether the Imperial Ballet toured at this point, but that's a rabbit-hole for future me to burrow into. If YOU know, please share.

When Bertha awoke, she couldn’t quite remember where she was and it took her a few moments upon opening her eyes to recognize her surroundings. “G-George?” she stammered, propping herself up on her elbows.

She couldn’t quite remember the night before, but she found it very difficult to believe that she and George had patched things up enough that they’d fallen into bed together over the course of a few hours.

Immediately, he was at her side and his appearance was just dishevelled enough for her to discern that he’d spent the night on the chaise lounge. That, in addition to the fact that she remained in her nightgown, suggested that her assumptions were correct. Which then begged the question: why?

Before she can begin to vocalize the thought, though, her stomach lurched and she knew she was going to be sick. Immediately, George was at her side, holding back her hair as she vomited the meagre contents of her stomach.

“I’ve never felt this ill in my life,” she groaned as he helped her settle back in bed. He couldn’t help but think that she looked alarmingly pale against the rich red of his sheets. She seemed to read his mind in that moment because he’d no sooner had the thought than she was scolding, “Don’t even think about calling Dr. Miller.”

“Bertha...” he started to argue, “I don’t think it overly cautious of me to want you to seek medical attention after you fainted.”

She was quick to argue, “Fainted is putting it rather dramatically. I merely swooned.” He seemed like he would have liked to argue the matter, but ultimately decided not to. “I suppose Larry and Gladys are both in a tizzy over the matter as well?” she asked, set to be cross about something else.

“I wouldn’t know,” he said. When she raised a brow in question, he explained, “I gently suggested they both get out of the house for the day. I imagine right now they’re enjoying the Imperial Ballet’s performance of La Bayadère.”

Raising a brow, she said dryly, “I suppose you mean Larry has found yet another excuse for him to whisk Miss Brook away from prying eyes.”

He couldn’t help but grin, just a little, given the very real veracity of her words. “You remember what it’s like to be young and in love, don’t you?”

“Which are you suggesting I no longer am?” she asked and it was almost a joke. Almost. But just as quickly as the ghost of a smile crossed her lips, it had vanished. Things between them were still so raw...

He doesn’t answer that, not that she was really expecting him to.

“I will concede,” she said at length, “That if I don’t feel entirely well tomorrow, then you may call the doctor.” It was more a concession borne of a desire to placate him than any actual giving in to him – and they both knew it – but they both pretended like it wasn’t.

“I’ll give you eight hours,” he bargained, though it came off significantly gruffer than he’d intended.

Several moments of brittle silence followed. It wasn’t in either of their nature to stay silent, but they were in uncharted waters here. Ultimately, though, she didn’t disagree, which could have meant everything and nothing.

When the silence stretched on to the point of discomfort and she could no longer stand the blistering cold that had settled between them, she turned away from his gaze. “Perhaps it would be best if I returned to my room...”

A beat.

Then, in a small voice, “Stay.” She looked up at him, unsure what it was she’d find in his eyes, but seeking something...reassurance or, perhaps, some sign that he still loved her.

In the next moment – and she couldn’t have said with perfect confidence how exactly – she found herself in a crushing embrace. She could scarcely breathe for the strength of it, but she certainly wasn’t going to complain when it was the most affection he’d shown her in weeks.

“George...” she managed to whisper and it was almost a plea, though neither of them was entirely certain for what.

“I know,” he replied, in spite of that. “I know.” Even now, further apart than they’ve ever been, he can’t help but love her – fully and completely, maddeningly so – even if he thinks sometimes it would be easier if he didn’t...but he didn’t have the heart to wish that on himself.

[eloiscbridgerton]

GEORGE AND BERTHA RUSSELL The Gilded Age (2022–)

[mydaylight]

THE GILDED AGE (2022- ) | George and Bertha Russell + art

Couple in the Drawing Room | Carlo Stratta Unknown title | Vladimir Pervuninsky Romeo and Juliet | Frank Dicksee Dance in the Country | Pierre Auguste Renoir Finally Alone | Edoardo Tofano

[madisoncounty]

Winning in business and winning in society are linked. THE RUSSELLS in the SEASON 3 TEASER

[elssbethtascioni]

The Gilded Age (2022–present) 1x01 - Never the New

[nancy-drewdles]

THE GILDED AGE (2022 - ) - Bertha and George Russell | 1.03 "Face the Music" - Marian Brook and Larry Russell | 2.08 "In Terms of Winning and Losing"

[jack-abbot]

"I hope you're pleased to see me." "Very. For several reasons."

— BERTHA & GEORGE RUSSELL in The Gilded Age, 2x02, "Some Sort of Trick" (2023)

[fandomhopper-shit]

Masterlist

❤️- Fluff 💙- Platonic ❤️‍🩹- Angst With Fluffy Ending 🫂- Comfort ✨- Slight Smut 🎆- Smut 🛌- Angst 😂 - Crack fic 👍🏾- Top Reader 👎🏾- Bottom Reader ✊🏾- Switch Reader 💬- Requests

Clarisse La Rue x Reader One Shots

My Warrior Princess (Daughter Of Hercules)❤️✨❤️‍🩹

Un Poco Loco (Hispanic Daughter Of Aphrodite)❤️✨

Wild Child (Daughter Of Lycan)🫂😂✊🏾✨

Royally F**ked (Royal Daughter Of Athena)😂❤️

Fuzzy Babies (Daughter Of Aristaeus)❤️❤️❤️‍🩹✨

Annabeth Chase x Reader One Shots

Coming Soon . . .

Regina George x Reader One Shots

Teacher's Pet (Church Mouse Reader)❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹👎🏾🫂 pt1 pt2

East Side (Childhood Friend Reader)❤️‍🩹👍🏾✨

Ms Steal Your Girl (Badass Reader)👍🏾❤️🎇

Outrunning Karma (Criminal Reader)🛌👍🏾🎇

So This Is Love (Shetty Reader)🫂🫂❤️

Karen Shetty x Reader One Shots

Coming Soon. . .

Hope Mikaelson x Reader One Shots

I shot Cupid (Angel Reader)🫂🫂❤️

Little Red Riding Hood (Werewolf Reader)❤️💙🫂

Lizzie Saltzman x Reader One Shots

Coming Soon . . .

Quinn Fabray x Reader One Shots

Coming Soon. . . .

Santana Lopez x Reader One Shots

Coming Soon. . .

Uliana x Reader One Shots

Coming Soon. . .

Bridget Hearts x Reader One Shots

Heart For Hearts (Pitch Black Reader)

Mal Bertha x Reader One Shots

Coming Soon. . .

Evie Grimhilde x Reader One Shots

Coming Soon. . .

Bonnie Bennet X Reader One Shots

Coming Soon. . .

Katherine Pierce X Reader One Shots

Coming Soon. . .

[cassi0pei4]

"How would your character's save each other's contacts?" asks Verizon.

[wytchisle]

I'm to accept the end of my world, with the sky crashing to earth in flames. Don't you care at all?

3.02 - What the Papers Say THE GILDED AGE (2022-)

[elatedbird]

They’re so in love it makes me sick

[arwenlalaith]

Love You 'til Tomorrow (Ch. 1/7)

Ship: Bertha Russell/George Russell

Summary: One of their bitterest fights had been over Charlotte's headstone - back when there still had been hope she might one day return. Now that she's buried beneath it, it doesn't seem to matter much. Nothing does anymore.

Day 1: "Let the circus begin"

Word Count: 600

Author's Note: This was written for the @gildedagecreatorscotillion, but real life kinda got in the way of my intention to write the whole thing in advance... It's what I'll call an 'off-shoot' of my fic Save Some Forgiveness for Me - basically, I'm going to keep writing the original following the path of the show, this will be sort of an alternate universe which breaks off following S2.

George was surprisingly devoid of fight over the next week.

Bertha knew he’d already intuited the deal she’d made, had anticipated a knock-down, drag-out fight following the opera and, when none had ensued, she’d simply assumed he was allowing her one night in which to languish in her victory.

The expected argument never came, though, and it was starting to grate on her...

She knew she should be grateful, as things between them most certainly could have gotten very rocky, very quickly, but there was a fight hanging in the air and she craved the release of having said fight. (That’s not to say that things had necessarily been peaceable, per se...afterall, neither of them was particularly known for keeping their tempers – and tongues – in check.)

She burst into George’s study, hackles raised, only to find a strange tableau laid out before her: George, their lawyer, and the Pinkerton man they’d bought and paid for, all hunched over the desk looking grave. None of the men seemed to notice her presence, in spite of the dramatic flourish with which she’d entered.

“I don’t see that we have any choice,” George said at last, thumping his fist down on the desk. In spite of the emphatic gesture, he sounded...weary, perhaps even desolate. Like all the fight had gone out of him, leaving only bone-deep exhaustion. “We’ll have to give them what they want.”

“A-are you quite certain?” the lawyer stammered, which surprised Bertha as he’d always been an unflappable, if downright stony man, so if he seemed unsure to the point of stuttering, this must truly be a risky venture.

George said nothing at first. He sank down into his chair as if he could suddenly feel the weight of the world on his shoulders and remained gravely silent for a long time. (It wasn’t news to Bertha that he carried an immense burden – perhaps even more than he’d ever let on – but there’s something about seeing him look so utterly encumbered by this latest development that shakes her to her very core...) Then, with all the gravity of a man headed to the gallows, he vowed, “If there’s even the slightest chance it’s the real Charlotte, I’m bringing her home.”

“What?” Bertha breathlessly choked out before she even knew she was going to speak. She stood rooted to the spot, struggling to breathe – this couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t. She refused to believe that someone might take advantage of their grief in this way...the alternative, though, was to believe that, against all odds, they’d buried an imposter.

Immediately, she had the three men’s attention...and none of them seemed entirely prepared for her to have found out the truth this way. George was quick to move to her side, instinctively seeking out her hand (in spite of how far apart they may have been emotionally, he can’t help his instinct to protect her from all life’s cruelties), but she’s loathe to let him reassure her. “Tell me the truth,” she demanded in a tone that very much reminded him that he was still on thin ice after the fallout from Turner’s revelation, “Have they found her?”

“I believe so,” he answered.

She studied him intently, searching for any kind of tell. “But they want something?” she asked, when she found nothing in his expression that might lead her to believe him to be lying.

He nodded.

“Money?”

He nodded again.

And, though she felt very much like Isaac Van Amburgh about to enter the lions’ cage, she had no choice but to hold her head high and face the oncoming circus.

[mydaylight]

Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector as BERTHA AND GEORGE RUSSELL

THE GILDED AGE (2022- ) | 3.02 "What the Papers Say"

[madisoncounty]

Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell The Gilded Age — Season 3 Teaser

[elssbethtascioni]

Period Drama Appreciation 2024 ↳ Day 4: favorite relationship

Bertha & George + ao3 tags THE GILDED AGE (2022-present)

[violet-bridgerton]

Bertha and George Russell

in Season 2 of The Gilded Age