#Sophie maid-of-honour Beckett

[hopepaigeturner]

Benophie: "Wait a minute. Are you jealous?"

Here it is! The final request from anon (other than part 2 of my Bhaji and Burrito one-shot if anyone still wants it--still haven't settled on a name yet--any ideas?).

5. "Wait a minute. Are you jealous?"

Benedict leant against the wall, eyes pinned on Sophie Beckett laughing on the far side of the tent, her green bridesmaid dress making her look like a fairytale dryad.

They had met at Kate and Anthony’s engagement party last year. On that night she had worn a shimmering silver dress and stayed by one another the entire night As the bells chimed midnight they had shared a kiss on the terrace like giddy teenage lovers.

Then followed Bridgerton family brunch where Kate took Benedict aside and told him, in no uncertain terms, that Sophie was off-limits so they could avoid messy wedding drama between the maid of honour and best man. Benedict had wished to scoff until Kate added that Sophie had recently recovered from some severe ‘heartbreak’ and Benedict had remembered Antony rushing out one night because Kate’s best friend needed to be ‘rescued’. So reluctantly he had agreed.

But that Friday he had been invited to the pub as a group of four and spent the entire evening talking and laughing with Sophie. That night had ended with Sophie pushing him up against the wall outside the toilets and kissing him until he could barely remember his own name; followed by a tense, discreet exit to rendezvous at Sophie’s flat.

And then it sort of…continued; the pair hooking up whenever he flew in from a photo shoot or she returned from a book tour, their conflicting schedules never allowing anything permanent to take root; both of them pretending that each goodbye was easier, not torturously harder, than the one before; both of them ignoring the spike of jealousy when the other posted a picture with someone—after all their agreement had never been exclusive.

And then the wedding and all its rigmarole had rolled around; the family parties; the joint hen and stag do; afternoons of calming down the bride and groom; running errands together or cooking together.

Now Benedict wanted more, so much more than confessions and connection during pillow talk or afterglow beatifications. He selfishly wanted every part of her and started rehearsing love declarations in his mind.

Then, at the rehearsal dinner her ‘date’ had waltzed through the door and into her arms.

Who on earth was Theo Sharpe?

Sophie had made no mention of him in the last few weeks, not even on the nights when she would moan Benedict’s name in the sweetest cadences.

But there she was, an arm linked around his as they talked to his sister, Eloise. He and Eloise seemed to be energetically conversing while Sophie merely looked on with an amused smile. But Benedict had seen all the little things throughout the day, such as Kate’s comment about them being a ‘cute couple’. Also how she had held his pinky whenever she could, or when she had flushed prettily at the table at the pertinent questions.

Benedict could barely take it, sipping his wine a lot faster than usual, constantly watching the couple—gosh, just the word made him shiver. And worst of all—Theo had not asked Sophie to dance. Not even when Ella Fitgerald’s mellow voice rang out around the ballroom. He noticed Sophie looking around expectantly, smiling softly at her favourite song—the same song she would hum while running her fingers through his hair before drifting off to sleep. Theo Sharpe did not even seem to see Sophie’s reaction.

Benedict put down his glass and strode over to her.

“I believe it is customary for the bridesmaid and best man to dance?” he announced without preamble. The trio turned to him.

“I have never heard of such a rule,” Eloise teased, a glint in her eye. “Have you Theo?”

“Uh—I do not think I have –I cannot be sure these things—well, they—” Benedict’s eyes zeroed in on Sophie’s pinkie wrapping around Theo’s.

“Well, it is. Sophie?”

Sophie looked to Theo; Theo nodded. Benedict bristled.

Dream a little dream of me...

Benedict pulled Sophie into his arms and it just felt right, the same feeling he had on that terrace, or whenever she greeted him in the airport, or whenever he woke with her in his arms. Sophie just felt right as they swayed while Louis Jordan’s voice joined with Ella’s:

Stars fading but I linger on, dear Still craving your kiss…

Benedict pulled her closer.

I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear Just saying this…

“You know that was dreadfully rude,” she whispered.

“What?”

“Practically dragging me away from Theo.”

“This is your favourite song.”

“Yes.”

“And he had made no inclination to dance with you—anyone who knows you knows the significance of this song.”

The only voice of love that would accompany her as she worked on her hands and knees. A solace from the sharp words and bruises.

“They do,” she replied quietly. “Yes.”

Dream little dream of me...

“So, I had to dance with you—he wasn’t going to.”

“He’s a little nervous,” Sophie replied, and it irked him that she defended him so fiercely.

“Yes, I saw you holding his hand.”

“He gets anxiety, this is not necessarily his scene.”

“Well, he might be right about that—I’ve never seen him.”

“Why would you? It’s none of your business.”

“Really? Was it not my business the other night in bed? Or in the shower? Or over your vanity?”

“Stop it,” Sophie blushed.

“I’m sorry, but I’m just a little offended that over these last weeks, when you’ve practically spent every moment of every day with me, you never told me you had a boyfriend.”

“He’s not—” She halted, then cocked her head. “Wait a minute. Are you jealous?”

“Frustrated certainly—”

“You are! You are jealous.” Her eyes widened.

“Well, yes, I suppose I am—happy?” Benedict shot back.

“But why…why would you be jealous?”

Benedict heart snapped like a glowstick, his emotions flooding through him.

“Because I’m head over heels in love with you and have been for months. And I hate that we have had to sneak around when I want to spend the entire day holding your hand and kissing you and dancing with you—"

“Ben—"

“—and I should not be mad because it’s not as if I can be the man you deserve to be with. I don’t have a stable job or life, and you deserve that stability after all the heartbreak from your stepmother. I’m just a wayward second son with no merits other than some pretty pictures and my last name—”

“Benedict!”

Sophie’s heel came down on his toe.

“Ow!”

“Listen to me,” she hissed, “Theo’s my date.”

“I know.” He bit out.

“But he’s not my boyfriend—he’s my publisher.”

“What?”

“He’s my publisher. He’s self-made so all this high society stuff is really intimidating and he’s been on the edge of a panic attack the entire day. I invited him months ago when I felt particularly insecure, because you had all these beautiful, glamorous models around you and I’m the shameful bastard child who couldn’t even get her father to look at her, so how on earth could I keep your affection—”

Benedict kissed her, right there in the middle of the dancefloor, even though the song had ended.

Time slowed, noise muted, faded, overwhelmed by a sense of perfection.

Blissful serenity.

When they broke apart, Benedict kept her close so she could read the sincerity in his eyes.

“You’ve had my affection from the very moment we met, from our very first kiss and every moment after. No other woman has touched my lips or my heart since that moonlit night, because your mere scent, your mere breath, your mere presence sends my heart thundering and my mind spinning. You deserve to be loved Sophie, you are worthy of being loved and I am so sorry that I haven’t managed to convince you of that fact. But I love you. I just…I love you.”

Her eyes watered as she cupped his face with her hands.

“You are so much more than a second son Benedict—you are the man I love. The man who inspires my stories, my soul and my heart with his sincerity and kindness and talent.” She kissed him softly. “And if you must know, I mainly brought Theo so I could introduce him to Eloise.”

Benedict chuckled, the tenseness flowing out of his body.

“So, he shall not be returning to your room.”

“No, he wasn’t the guy I wished would return with me tonight.”

“Oh really—and who would that be?”

“Possibly my real boyfriend.”

Benedict’s heart stuttered.

“Are you sure?”

Sophie grinned.

“Absolutely—if that is—that is what you want.”

Benedict grinned back, before scooping her into his arms.

“Announcement!” he called, and the wedding party turned, but Benedict didn’t register any of their faces. “I would like to introduce you all to my girlfriend Sophie Beckett who I am head over heels in love with; body, heart and soul.”

“Benedict!” she gasped but her eyes shone brilliantly bright and full of love, love directed at him.

He had to have her.

“Thank you for listening—good night!” he called, and a couple choruses rose in response.

Then he carried her out of the room.

It was not until they had located Benedict’s bedroom door when Sophie cried,

“Ben, wait! I didn’t check in on Theo!”

Benedict grinned wolfishly.

“Trust me, he’s a clever boy he’ll work out where we’re going.”

*~*~*~*

Ngl, really enjoyed this one and could see me doing a couple drabbles if people want more.

Thanks for all the inspiration 🥰 🥰 

[silverhallow]

Not So Secret

Benophie Week Day 1: Wedding/Best Friend’s Brother/ “hey look at me, i’m yours. No one can change that” pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x Sophie Beckett Word Count: 2.6k Summary: It's Daphne's Wedding and a secret is about to be discovered… will it ruin the wedding or was it not so secret ever after all?

authors note: it's inspired by @bridgertonbabe's Harry Potter AU and Colin's reaction

Sophie hated keeping secrets. She really did. Especially from her best friends… but she had no idea how Daphne and Colin would take the news that she was dating their older brother Benedict.

She’d had a crush on him for years -  since she was about 11, if she was being honest with herself - and she’d always assumed that he’d only ever seen her as his brother and sister’s best friend and nothing more…

But all that had changed at Daphne and Simon’s joint Hen and Stag do…

Sophie had had one too many drinks and had been dancing with him. It had been quite charged as he’d wrapped his arms around her, let them stroke over her skin, and held her far too close to be decent in public.  As the song closed, Benedict had leaned in and been about to kiss her when Colin had drunkenly jumped on them, killing the moment.

Sophie had excused herself and gone outside, her heart aching and racing at the same time as she’d slumped against the wall, cursing Colin for interrupting them and knowing at the same time it was probably for the best. After all, she was just his younger sibling's best friend, and he’d just been caught up in the moment.

Or so she’d thought.

He’d come outside not two minutes after she had, and without saying a word, he just walked over, pulled her close, and kissed her. She’d been too stunned to do anything for a moment, and before she could respond, he pulled away...

“I’ve been wanting to do that for ages,” Benedict admitted, and as he was about to apologise for it, Sophie yanked him back to her and kissed him back.

She’d gone home with him after that, and for the last 3 months, they’d been sneaking around behind Daphne and Colin’s back, it had been Benedict who suggested that he walk Sophie down the aisle since Sophie was maid of honour. Anthony was giving Daphne away and was also acting as Best Man, so Benedict offered to do it instead of Anthony.

Colin had argued that he should be the one to walk Sophie down since she was their best friend, but Daphne had said it made more sense as Benedict was the next in age to Anthony and was therefore deputising as best man for the aisle walk and as a result, Colin was to walk down with Eloise.

They’d been cautious for 3 months, not letting anyone know, sneaking around and trying to be discreet, and sharing night after night together. Sophie felt like she had been on cloud nine, though she hated keeping it from her best friends, and she didn’t want to upset Daphne or Colin before the wedding.

She suspected that Daphne wouldn’t take it too badly given she was marrying Anthony’s best friend… but Colin… He was a loose cannon, and he’d been pissed when Daphne had briefly dated his other best friend, Fredrick…

The morning of the wedding came around and Sophie had woken in Benedict’s bed. He told Daphne that he would pick Sophie up and bring her to the family home so the two of them arriving together wouldn’t be a surprise.

“I’ve brought you some breakfast and coffee. It’s going to be a long day, so I figured we’d need it,” he grinned at his girlfriend as she pulled the duvet up over her bare breasts.

“Thank you,” she smiled sleepily. “I am pretty tired. Someone kept me up late,” she teased.

“I didn’t hear you complaining,” he smirked as he climbed back into the bed next to her, dropped a kiss on her lips, and placed the tray between them.

“Well, it’s not every day I get told someone is in love with me…” she returned, laying her head on his shoulder

“Is it not? Well, I think I shall have to change that,” he said gently, moving her so he could stare into her moss green eyes: “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she replied, leaning in and kissing him gently.

“We are going to have to figure out how to tell my siblings, though… I don’t want to hide anymore.” Benedict said honestly and gave her a serious look.

Sophie nodded, “I know…” After all, it had been her reluctance to say anything before the wedding, “it’s just… I’m just a bit worried about how they’re going to react,” she admitted as she turned her gaze away.

“Hey, Look at me… I’m yours. No one is going to change that. Not in the least my twin brother and sister… besides, I have a feeling they won’t care,” Benedict grinned

“Ben… you saw what Colin did to Fredrick… and what Anthony did to Simon…”

“That was different…” Benedict said with a shrug as he started on his bacon sandwich

“How?” Sophie asked, rolling her eyes

“Well, Anthony walked in on Simon and Daph naked…” Benedict chuckled

“Well yeah, I guess that would cause any of you to go nuts…”  Sophie admitted, “But Colin hardly walked in on Daph and Fred”

“No, but he did see Fredrick snogging Cressida the day after he found out about Fred and Daph… and saw him with Rosamund the day before.”

“HE DID WHAT?” Sophie said, outraged.

“Yeah, Daph had told him about Fred the day before… she told you the next day, which is when Colin saw Fred with Cressida… so he punched him. Quite rightly as well,” Benedict explained

Sophie just blinked. “How… How did I not know about this?”

“Daph didn’t want you to know, especially since the witch's apprentice was involved…” Benedict said. “So they agreed between them not to say anything. She didn’t want you freaking out”

Sophie just stared at the breakfast in shock “oh…” was all she could say.

Benedict kissed her cheek.

“everything will be okay, I promise… and besides, my mother has final approval on all couples, and she was the one who gave me a shove to act on my feelings for you, so she’ll be thrilled…”

Sophie’s mouth dropped open, which caused Benedict to grin. Before she could say anything more, he silenced and distracted her with a kiss.

Several hours later, the wedding was over, and everyone was getting ready for the evening reception. Sophie had caught the bouquet and gone a bright red shade as Benedict gave her a subtle wink, and she’d run inside to compose herself.

Benedict barely had any time with Sophie since they arrived at Aubrey Hall for the wedding other than when they were walking down the aisle together.

So when everyone was milling around and with his family suitably distracted, he walked over to Sophie and, with the pretence of grabbing a drink, whispered in her ear: “Meet me on the private terrace…”

Then he quickly disappeared.

Sophie excused herself from her conversation with Anthony’s girlfriend Kate, who smirked knowingly,  as she left to meet Benedict. The moment she’d stepped onto the balcony of the private terrace, he’d wrapped his arms around her.

“You look so beautiful,” he smiled “The silver looks amazing on you.”

Sophie beamed “You scrub up well yourself… I’ll never forget the first time I saw you in a suit…”

Benedict laughed “Oh, I know, you spilled your juice all over yourself” 

Sophie went bright red “I thought you hadn’t seen that…”

“Nope, I just pretended not to notice, it was very cute, but you were only 12 and looked like 9 or something,” he teased

Sophie scowled, and Benedict laughed “I jest, my love, but seeing you dressed like this… reminds me of seeing you in your Prom dress, then seeing you again at 18, dressed up for your sixth form formal with Daph… made me realise how beautiful a woman you were growing into… and when you came back from France… it was my turn to spill my drink all over me” he admitted

“You did?” Sophie asked, shocked.

“Yes, after my mother told me it was you… because I was so shocked at how beautiful you’d become, I dropped my glass of wine down myself in shock,” he admitted, his cheeks becoming red. “I suspect it’s when my mother realised that perhaps I had feelings for you. Or was starting to develop them… I’m not sure.”

“Oh, Benedict,” she sighed as she leaned into him and pressed her cheek into his chest.

“If only I’d had the courage to tell you this, this could have been our wedding,” he said softly. “rather than two years of dancing around it…”

“I don’t think I’d have believed you if you told me then… I still have trouble believing it now… it feels like it’s a dream, as if I’m going to wake up and none of this would be true,” she admitted.

“Shall I prove to you that you’re not dreaming?” he asked as he pinched her hip

“Oww…. that was mean,” she pouted, rubbing her hip.

Benedict grinned for a second “Just proving this is real…” he said before pulling her back into his arms and kissing her, his hands snaking around her back, holding her close.

His hands were just slipping upwards to cup her breasts when the doors of the terrace flew open. “Ben? Are you-… BEN??? SOPHIE?! WHAT THE FUCK?!” came Colin’s voice, and both Benedict and Sophie jumped apart in shock.

The colour had drained from Colin’s face, “We… we can explain,” Benedict said, looking at his brother earnestly.

“Explain what?! That you are messing around with my best friend?!” he yelled at his brother, drawing himself up to his full height in an attempt to look threatening.

“We’re not messing around Colin… I am serious about this… about her,” Benedict said honestly.

Colin shook his head “No… No… You… you can’t. You don’t!” he muttered while grabbing his hair and walking around in circles.

“What’s all the racket?! Colin, I thought you were looking for Benedict for some photos?” Daphne asked as she walked into the room leading to the terrace, with Violet and Anthony behind her.

“I was!! Him… sophie… snogging?! Groping!!!” He stammered, pointing at Sophie and Benedict who were standing there blinking.

“And what’s the big deal?” Daphne asked, “Kate and Anthony were just in the closet…”

“BUT- IT- SHE’S OUR BEST FRIEND!!” Colin squeaked.

“And? Just cause she’s our friend doesn’t mean she can’t date Benedict,” Daphne said calmly “They’ve been dating for a while…”

“Wait… how… How… how did you know?!” Sophie asked, finding her voice and looked out from behind Benedict’s back, shocked at Daphne’s revelation.

“We all knew, dear… or I assumed we all did… it would appear Colin did not… we assumed you’d tell us in your own time,” Violet said with a bright smile.

“How did you all know?” Benedict asked “I thought we were being careful…”

“I saw you snogging outside the pub… Simon saw you and Ben getting into a taxi back to his…” Daphne explained.

“I saw Sophie’s baking apron in your flat… and her Converse at your front door… and some erm… undergarments on the ceiling light in your flat…” Anthony admitted.

“I saw you sneaking out of Sophie’s office,” Kate said grinning.

Sophie and Benedict blinked, Sophie went a delicate shade of red, which only went more red when Violet explained, “I erm… overheard you after the rehearsal dinner in Benedict’s room here.”

“Eloise and Hyacinth found out when they stole Benedict’s phone and saw the messages you’d been sending one another. We bribed them not to say anything as we assumed you weren’t ready to tell us,” Anthony said, “but they ended up telling Fran and Greg anyway…”

“So I was the only one who didn’t…?” Colin asked, outraged. “Why did no one tell me!?”

“Colin, you overreact at everything” Daphne sighed, “and besides, I assumed you knew since we both were at Sophie’s when she did a terrible job of trying to hide Benedict’s clothes in her car. No one else we know rowed for Cambridge…” 

Colin blinked and just stared

“Why did no one say anything to us?” Benedict asked

“Ben… you asked to walk Sophie down the aisle instead of Colin… we assumed that was you telling us” Violet smiled, exasperated with her son.

“Oh… but… so… no one… you don’t mind?” Sophie asked her question more towards Daphne and Colin.

“I don’t, I am thrilled! We always talked about being sisters! Why do you think I threw my bouquet directly at you” she grinned." If Ben asks you to marry him, we'll be sisters truly! It’s the best wedding present!” Daphne said as she pushed Colin out of the way and hugged Sophie, who had turned beetroot at the marriage comment, tightly.

Sophie looked towards Colin, who scowled, “I am not thrilled about it… Ben’s got a horrible track with relationships… he’ll break your heart”

“I won’t,” Benedict said “I love her, Col, I have for ages… it’s why Tilley, Tessa and Gen didn’t work out… they weren’t Sophie…”

“No, you haven’t. You’re just saying it,” Colin huffed like a child who was being told he wouldn’t get his favourite dinner.

“He’s not Colin,” Violet said. “He might not have known it at the time, but he definitely started developing or realising his feelings when Sophie returned from her apprenticeship in France…” 

Benedict nodded in agreement with his mother “It’s true, Col, I am sorry you’ve had to find out this way, but it’s true… since then… I didn’t think she returned my affections… it’s why I tried to move on…” he explained.

“But… but…” Colin stammered

“We were trying to work out how to tell you, Colin. I’m sorry you found us like this, but we were going to tell you…” Sophie said earnestly.

Colin just blinked and looked around “and no one else has an issue with this?”

Everyone shook their head “Hyacinth’s desperate to celebrate that Sophie’ll one day be our sister in earnest…” Anthony explained. “I think you’re the only one with a problem”

“I…I… I Don’t… I just… she’s my best friend. I don’t want her hurt,” Colin said.

“I am not going to hurt her, Col, I promise,” Benedict said “I love her. She’s it for me…” 

Sophie beamed, tears forming in her eyes as she went red “Really?” she asked.

He nodded “I’d marry you tomorrow if I could”

“Oh…” Sophie said as Colin gawked, not sure if he was about to rage again or throw up.

“Really?” he asked.

Benedict nodded. “But I do not wish to steal Daph’s thunder, and it’s only been three months…”

“No eloping, please!” Violet said, doing a bad job of hiding her laughter.

Anthony laughed. “Hyacinth would murder them.”

Colin sighed: “Fine… I guess… I guess I'll tolerate this… but I swear, Ben… if you hurt her…”

“There will be a long line of people ready to kill me…” Benedict said, “Daph at the front I’d imagine”

“Yes… and now this is sorted… can we please go take family photos?” Daphne said, linking arms with Sophie. “And you my dear sister-to-be, will be in them.”

Sophie couldn’t help but smile as she knew it was pointless to argue with her, and as they walked back into the main room for a few more photos, she tried to apologise to Daphne about how they’d been discovered.

“Nonsense. Like I said, I've known for ages, and it’s the best wedding present ever. My best friend is dating my big brother! We'll truly be aunts to each other’s babies!” Daphne said brightly as they all gathered for the family photos.

“Don’t worry, Daph. I plan on giving mother a run for her money with the number of babies,” he chuckled. Sophie just gasped and spluttered but was unable to reply. Her face was a picture—literally and figuratively, as it was the picture that Benedict chose out of the wedding photos to hang proudly in the living room of his home—the home that Sophie moved into the day after the wedding, and where, six months later, he asked Sophie to marry him.

[newtonsheffield]

Have you got anything from the Bridgerton Wives club for Sophie’s Hen Party? 😁

Y’all love the Bridgerton Wives Club huh? I mean honestly, sameeeeeee. I just feel like it would... a really good time, drunk Karaoke, Kate refusing to admit her tolerance for alcohol has changed since she had children, Lucy leaving explicit voicemails for Gregory, Penelope very drunk trying desperately to hold intellectual conversation with the other patrons, and Sophie dancing wildly in the corner... to no music. Anyway should we see how Sophie’s Bachelorette party went? I think we should

“Kate, please. Please no strippers.” Sophie had begged Benedict’s sister in law a week ago. Kate Bridgerton had looked at her with a sly little smirk on her face which in the 3 years Sophie had known Kate, had come to signify that Sophie was about to get in rather a lot of trouble. 

“Sophie, I just had a baby, and so did Daph, don’t you want to give us something nice to look at?” Kate had said, shouting the last part over her shoulder to her husband who tutted loudly. “You weren’t complaining about the view last night!” Anthony called back as he set a bowl of cereal in front of their eldest son Edmund. Tutting to himself, Sophie felt the corners of her lips tilt upwards at the comfortable back and forth, as Kate rolled her eyes Anthony turned to his son and said  “Your Mummy really is-”

“Kate Bridgerton Sex Goddess!” Edmund parroted back, interrupting his father. Laughter burst from Sophie’s chest in disbelief at the 2 year old’s statement. Kate made a choked noise, turning on her husband who was laughing so hard tears were welling in his eyes “Anthony! I told you to change your phone contact! You’re going to traumatise our child!” Sophie had snuck out thinking privately that this argument could wait for another day.

And so here Sophie Beckett stood, 10 weeks before she was supposed to become Sophie Bridgerton, her head in her hands as a man dressed as Jack from titanic gyrated around her. Well, stood was a bold term, she was swaying quite a lot really. She’d said to Kate that she just wanted a quiet night out, Just some drinks with the girls Kate had scoffed and said  “What kind of maid of honour would I be if I allowed that?”  It really had started off that way though. Sophie had arrived with Benedict’s entire slew of sister’s including a freshly 18 Hyacinth, and sister in laws and the newly minted Edwina Bagwell and they’d been shepherded to a private function room. And then the drinking had started. 

Kate had apparently lost all ability to pace herself when it came to alcohol, and additionally, was unwilling to admit that her tolerance may have changed slightly. Within an hour Kate was firing up the Karaoke machine and leaving voicemails for Anthony that were becoming so explicit a waitress dropped her tray of drinks in surprise. Kate and Daphne appeared to be looking around at vases measuring the size of them against Daphne’s purse as though they could steal one. Edwina had sidled past Sophie muttering “Jesus fucking christ why is drunk Kate such a kleptomaniac?! Jesus christ she’s somebodies Mother now.” 

Penelope had had five shots of tequila in quick succession and was valiantly attempting intellectual conversation with an equally drunk Francesca though the conversation seemed to have devolved into a conversation about how good Michael Stirling was in bed. Very by the sound of Frankie’s account. A pregnant Eloise was sitting nearby looking very flushed at the account and had taken to fanning herself with a cocktail menu.

Lucy, whose presentation was usually so perfect, held out a little longer than the rest though she had bowed to pressure from Hyacinth, done several shots and was currently doing a handstand on the bar in a very impressive display. 

Sophie herself had been dancing in the corner to Kate’s rendition of We Belong Together by Mariah Carey (she was desperately attempting to fit SophieandBenedict in where timing only allowed We) when the stripper had arrived.  “Sophie! Jack’s here to paint you like a french girl!” Lucy had called, doing a front flip off the bar in an impressive display of drunken acrobatics. Hyacinth had hooted and thrust Sophie into a chair who could feel herself blushing Scarlet. 

By the end of the night Sophie had to admit, as she was driven home by Matthew Bagwell who was desperately trying not to swerve the car as his wife whispered in his ear, it was a rare man who could do a strip tease to My Heart Will Go On   

[silverhallow]

Strangers All At Once: Leave me Slowly

Strangers All At Once Masterpost Prev | Next

Pairing: Sophie Beckett x Benedict Bridgerton

Summary: Sophie is preparing to come face to face once again with the entire Bridgerton family...

Two heartbeats, never in time Two lovers over enemy lines I know we're broken but don't wanna believe it You're so close to saying the words Way past the point of any return It's such a shame and I don't wanna believe it Oh, if I could go back to that evening we met Trembling hands as I'd ask for your number again You saw me different then Oh, when I held your heart in my hand So, if you're gonna leave me Just leave me slowly

Warnings: Little bit of swearing Word Count: 2.4k Author's Note: this is going to be an angsty and yearning story... and a big ass misunderstanding. it can also be found on AO3 here

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Four weeks after Benedict had called in to visit Sophie at The Cottage cafe, they’d fallen into a routine and a strange sort of friendship. They laughed and joked like they’d used to, messaging often and it felt comforting. There was even a bit of flirting going on and Sophie couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps he did feel differently about her now.

Kate and Anthony had set their wedding date and had decided to marry at Aubrey Hall and rather than waiting too long they’d decided to marry before the end of the summer which meant there was not much time to get everything prepared and Violet was planning the wedding with Kate’s step mother Mary and they’d decided to have a big dinner at Aubrey Hall to plan everything and as Sophie was both maid of honour and making the cake and arranging the catering, they’d insisted Sophie come.

Sophie had felt sick about the idea of confronting Benedict’s family, she had no idea what he’d told them when they split. Kate had told her that Benedict had been heartbroken when they’d split and Sophie had just brushed it off as lies, assuming that Kate thought it was what she’d wanted to hear.

She’d clearly remembered what she’d heard him saying that fateful night, she knew he wasn’t heartbroken but if he’d told his family that he was…

Then she dreaded meeting them. It was why she’d avoided every invite Kate had sent her way over the last two years and she’d even missed the engagement party but now she knew she had no choice.

Benedict had texted her to tell her that his mother expected her there, Kate had messaged her and when she’d replied to them both saying she wasn’t sure if she’d be free, Kate told her under no uncertain terms she had to be there and Benedict had replied: “mum said if you don’t come, she’ll come to the cafe and drag you there herself… I can give you a lift if you want?”

Sophie had pondered this but figured if she took her own car it would be easier to get away if things were getting out of hand. She knew she’d done the right thing two years ago, she’d left him before he could leave her so she had no idea why she was so terrified of his family.

3 months was barely anything, she must have been another in a long line of women that he’d introduced to his family but still, depending on what he told them… 

She knew it was going to be a rough evening so she’d declined the offer of a lift, promised to be there but vowed she’d find a reason to make a quick escape.

Benedict had been a little disappointed that Sophie had said she’d make her own way to Aubrey Hall but he had a feeling he knew that she’d want a quick escape route and assumed that was why she was taking her own car.

It had taken him two days to convince both his mother and two of his younger sisters, all of whom had adored Sophie in the short period of time they were together to be civil to her. Violet had seen the state Benedict had gotten himself in after the split but he’d never gone into details as to why she’d left or what she’d said as she’d left.

He barely understood it, the way he’d come home to find her things packed as she said  “it’s better this way. It never works out in the end and I’m just saving you a job”

Saving him a job? He’d been planning to ask her to move in properly, planning to ask her to marry him, to tell her that he loved her and to hell with it being too soon… it was far from the truth that he’d wanted to split up with her but now…

They were just two heartbeats that never seemed to be in time with one another, two lovers that seemed to end up over enemy lines… though he had been heart broken he’d never hated her and that was what he’d told his mother and sisters.

It had been that information that had made them promise to behave and be nice to Sophie.

Everyone was already at Aubrey Hall and Benedict was nervously pacing around the hallway, waiting for Sophie to arrive when his mother walked down “are you sure she’s actually going to come?” Violet asked

“Yes mother, she promised me she’d be here” he said

“She’s made promises before…”

“Mother…” Benedict said warningly

“Ben, I meant what i said, i will be polite, i will be a gracious host but I am first and foremost your mother and I do not want to see you hurt again” Violet said

“You don’t need to worry about that” Benedict said dismissively

“Do I not? Ben, you’ve spent four weeks messaging her, talking about her… I know you’re drawing again… I know you. I know your heart never left her… so just… be careful. I am not sure I can put you back together again” Violet said, placing a hand on his elbow.

“Mother, there is nothing going on between us. Just… leave it okay. I am a big boy, I know what I am doing. She might still be the most beautiful woman i’ve ever met and I miss her, I am pragmatic and i know it’s pointless” Benedict said in a tone that suggested he wanted to end the subject and thankfully his phone just vibrated and a message from Sophie appeared to say she was five minutes out and he walked off towards the garage to go meet her.

Violet sighed as she watched her son leave, she had always suspected there was more to the break up than he’d let on. Sophie had gushed only two days prior to their break up about how happy Ben made her and how she thought she loved him, so the break up had been a shock for her as it had been him and she’d wondered if Benedict had done something to upset her. They’d been at Aubrey Hall for the week with Anthony and the rest of the family for Benedict’s birthday.

It was the day after they’d gone home that Benedict had turned up at Number 5 saying it was over and it had never made sense to her.

She never wanted to think badly of her children but she knew that he had in the past had overlapping girlfriends but the fact he’d brought Sophie to meet his family and he’d never done that before and she had practically moved in with him had made her think, like Anthony had changed his ways when he met Kate… that Benedict had found the one.

Violet walked away towards the living room where the rest of her children were gathered and vowed that by the time Anthony and Kate married, that she would find out the truth. If she had to enlist Eloise and Hyacinth in her mission then she would.

~*~

Sophie had decided to make a peace offering before coming to Aubrey Hall. She knew the Bridgerton appetite well. The way to most of their hearts was through their stomachs.

Over the last few months since she’d opened the cafe and made Kate promise not to tell the Bridgerton’s she owned the place. She knew Francesca and Eloise would often come into the cafe, so she’d often hide in the back of the cafe and pretend she wasn’t there, and made Michael and Phillip promise not to say anything about her owning the place. Colin had come in once or twice with Penelope and Sophie had had to take drastic action to hide in the walk-in fridge to avoid them.

She knew they loved cake and sweet treats and she remembered that Violet was partial to her scones so she’d spent the entire day before the meal baking and making treats in the back of the cafe as Michael had teased her

“You know most people wouldn’t go through this much effort for an ex-boyfriend’s family” he’d teased as he watched Sophie mixing sugar and butter together for her cake.

“True but considering said family is going to be my best friend's family… and I am maid of honour, I can’t just rock up empty handed. I have no idea what Benedict said to them about our break up but I can assure you it wouldn’t have been pretty and I will be the villain of the piece so i need some sort of peace offering” she said

Phillip had rolled his eyes “You could just tell them the truth about it all” 

“Not you as well!” Sophie groaned “when I agreed to let you both come work with me it wasn’t for your therapist skills and sorry but neither of you are qualified to give me relationship advice” 

Michael grinned “actually i’d rather think we’re both well positioned to give you advice on the Bridgerton’s” 

Sophie rolled her eyes,  “just because you both flirt with Fran and El when they come in doesn’t make you experts and besides, you pretty much fuck anything with a pulse and have never had a relationship that lasts longer than a weekend so have never been in a position like this and Phil, no offense but you knocked up the first girl you had sex with and now have twins and haven’t had a relationship since… so neither of you… can talk” 

Michael and Phillip exchanged a look and when Phillip went to open his mouth to say something Michael shook his head and gave him a look that told him to keep his mouth shut, Sophie didn’t need to know the truth, she’d find out soon enough but he didn’t want the surprise to be ruined.

“Fair enough but still, this seems a bit overboard”

“You’ve seen how the Bridgerton’s eat. This is light compared to usual. And besides it’s a few wedding cake samples at the same time so i’m killing two birds with one stone but I do need a favour from one of you…”

“What sort of favour…?” Phillip asked

“Nothing awful, I just… if things are a bit… tense, if i text you with an SOS I need one of you to call me with a cafe related emergency so I can make a get away…” she asked

Michael burst out laughing “absolutely not. This is your bed boss. Lie in it… though i am sure if you asked Benedict to join you, he would”

“Fuck you. Phillip? Will you do it?”

“No. he’s right about it, you need to face them, you’re going to be part of the wedding party you can’t keep escaping, Kate would kill you and besides, I have it on the best authority that they’ve all promised to be on their best behaviour”

Sophie missed the last part of his sentence as she growled “i hate you both”

“No you don’t. But seriously, you know if you just told them the truth about it all, I am sure Ben would forgive you, as would the rest of the Bridgerton’s and you could have him back. I know you miss him” Michael said

Sophie rolled her eyes “I do not miss him” she lied

Michael and Phillip both snorted. They knew that most of the art work on the walls were Benedict’s, Eloise had recognised one of the paintings. Michael knew that the place was named after the home they’d talked about… but neither of them had said anything but now they could see they were pushing their luck and decided to leave it. 

They’d find a way to interfere at some point, it seemed stupid that Sophie was so reluctant to do anything especially now the evil bitch was dead… but they knew that Sophie was a stubborn mule when she wanted to be so they decided it was safer, and not worth losing their jobs over, so remained silent.

Sophie wished it was as simple as they made it seem and that it was just because of Araminta but the words she’d overheard Benedict telling Anthony would haunt her forever, she’d been so close to finding heaven on earth, she’d thought she’d found the other half of her soul.

Her mind kept going back to that evening that they’d met, how he saw her differently then, how he’d seen her in a way no one else had and the way, with trembling hands she’d asked for his number and he’d invited her home…

It didn’t matter anymore. She couldn’t go back to the start, to try again. It wasn’t something that could be restarted, she couldn’t go back and undo what she did. 

She left, she’d left quickly because there was no way she could have hung around and waited for him to leave her… she could have left slowly, she could have had one more night, one more dance around the kitchen and held him one for one more night, savouring that last moment, that last memory that would have to last her a lifetime.

She was lonely, she’d never say it but she was lonelier now than she’d ever been when she was with her step mother. She’d known and tasted happiness, she’d thought she’d been loved… she thought for the first time in her life she was experiencing what it was to be loved and wanted and it had all been a lie…

That was why, that was the real reason… not just because Araminta threatened her… she’d planned to tell him, to find a way to get past it… but when she’d heard…

She shook her head, she didn’t want to relive that… even though she was going back to the place she’d felt her heart break… where she’d lost everything she’d ever wanted… that was the real reason she wanted the escape. 

If it all became too much for her, she wanted a way out… but to tell Michael and Phillip the truth would make her feel vulnerable. More vulnerable than she ever wanted to be again…

It was why she didn’t date anymore. She didn’t want to be hurt. She never wanted to feel that level of pain again but little did she know as she drove up the drive into Aubrey Hall, that the pain she’d felt then… was all going to come flooding back.

[silverhallow]

Strangers All At Once: Before You Go

Strangers All At Once Masterpost

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Pairing: Sophie Beckett x Benedict Bridgerton

Summary: Sophie sees Violet for the first time in two years... and finds herself right back at square one

When you hurt under the surface Like troubled water running cold Well, time can heal, but this won't So, before you go, was there something I could've said to make your heart beat better? If only I'd have known you had a storm to weather So, before you go, was there something I could've said to make it all stop hurting? It kills me how your mind can make you feel so worthless So, before you go

As Sophie pulled into the garage she felt her heart ache. The memories of her last visit had come roaring back in a flash and she had to admit to herself as she climbed out of her car, how she wished everything had turned out differently.

She missed Benedict. She couldn’t help but wonder if there was anything she could have done to make his heart beat differently for her, to make him love her the way she’d loved… the way she still loved him.

She did well hiding her hurt whenever he was around, but she had always been good at hiding her hurt.

The hurt she felt under the surface, how she’d always felt unwanted. Unloved. A burden.

She knew time was supposed to heal but this… the way her heart ached for Benedict still, she knew it wouldn’t pass. She’d thought it had but the last four weeks had proven to her one thing…

She’d never moved on. She couldn’t help but hope… hope that perhaps he did want her now… but she knew it was just a ridiculous pipe dream. She shouldn’t let herself get her hopes up as it was just going to come crashing down.

“This is a bad idea” she muttered to herself as she looked around the garage, her eyes falling on Benedict’s motorbike and she closed her eyes, pain in her heart as more memories washed over her.

Was every corner of this house going to bring back memories?

“I can’t do this…” she muttered to herself but she knew Kate would never forgive her if she left so she just sighed again she knew it was stupid, it was a stupid idea all of it.

It was stupid to have come back to England, stupid to have agreed to be Kate’s maid of honour, stupid to have said she can put everything behind her…

“Stupid stupid girl” she muttered as she made her way to the boot of her car to get the cakes and her treats out of the car but she’d been in her own world she’d not heard Benedict’s footsteps appearing

“Who is stupid? Not you surely…” he said, a lopsided smirk on his face and Sophie let out a shriek in shock as she whirled around.

“Fucking hell give a girl some warning” she glared, thankfully her anger at him sneaking up on her seemed to make her heart beat faster rather than ache at how handsome he looked and how much she just wanted to run into his arms and kiss him. 

“Sorry but it’s not like I'm light on my feet, and you always had the hearing of a bat Soph… my appearance in here shouldn’t have given you that much of a shock, were you actually calling yourself stupid?” he asked

Sophie blinked, he had a point, she’d always said he was like his own herd of elephants when he walked around the flat “erm. Yes…” she said as she just blinked at him, her anger starting to abate a little as she felt the butterflies start in her stomach.

“Why?” he asked looking confused

“Just… erm… too much food” she lied, there was no point in telling him the truth, he didn’t care, he wouldn’t care so it just seemed like a logical response when she opened her boot and showed him the three huge trays and three cake tins.

“Jesus christ Soph… you didn’t have to bring anything!” he said, shaking his head but was secretly pleased that she’d brought treats for them.

“Well the cake tins are wedding cake samples and there was no way I was facing your family after everything without food” she said. She saw Benedict freeze for a moment and her own heart seemed to stop.

After everything… 

It was the first time either of them had even suggested or hinted at their past, Benedict knew she’d worried about his family, he’d never actually told them anything other than they’d broken up.

“Erm…” he said awkwardly for a moment, his brain searching for a safe topic “want a hand carrying that up?” he asked

“Yes please” Sophie said, relief flooding her bones as the moment passed, he didn’t mention it, she wasn’t going to bring it up again.

Benedict smiled at her, a weak smile but it was still a smile and he took the larger containers and led her through the house.

He’d spoken to a few of his siblings about behaving, Anthony had told them that Sophie was Kate’s maid of honour and he knew that most of their siblings were furious with Sophie for leaving Benedict but they loved Kate and didn’t want to upset her so promised to play nice.

Sophie felt sick as they made their way through the house towards the kitchen and as they entered the kitchen and she saw Violet standing there, Sophie wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

“Oh there you are Ben! Oh… and Sophie, you actually came” she said, her voice holding an edge of coldness that Benedict didn’t like and he scowled at his mother.

“Mum, I told you she was literally pulling in, I went to help her as I figured she’d have brought some cakes or something and she has…” Benedict said.

“Oh thats… lovely” Violet said instantly feeling a bit like a heel as she saw the green twinge to Sophie’s face as she looked down at her feet, clearly embarrassed and a bit of shame swirled in Violet that she’d not even managed to give the younger girl a warm… or at least warmish greeting when she’d promised Benedict that she would.

“It… it’s nothing major just… I remembered some of everyone’s favourites and brought some cake samples for the wedding cake” Sophie said down at her feet, not wanting to look up at the Bridgerton matriarch.

Violet blinked at her, making family favourites seemed a bit odd, especially as an ex-girlfriend and it made her feel a little more warmly towards her, it was a really lovely gesture and she wondered if perhaps she’d misinterpreted what was going on. “Ben your brother was looking for you, leave those here, me and Sophie can sort it out but you best go see him before he starts storming around the house like an angry pigeon” Violet said to Benedict, wanting a moment alone with Sophie.

Sophie looked up at Benedict a little panicked, and Benedict looked at his mother “Mum?” he said, his word had a world of meaning behind it and Violet just smiled

“It’s okay, I am not going to bite I promise” she said and Benedict sighed and just nodded.

“I won't be long” he said to Sophie and before Sophie could say or do anything, Benedict had left and Sophie felt like she wanted to puke.

“You don’t need to look so worried Sophie, I just wanted to apologise for being so cold when you came in, that was not fair of me. You are a friend of Kate’s afterall and whilst I don’t know what happened between you and Benedict two years ago… It was very nice of you to make these treats and to come out here. I know it can’t be easy” she said softly placing a hand on the younger woman’s shoulder and giving it a maternal squeeze

Sophie swallowed and blinked a bit confused at the fact Benedict had clearly not said anything about their break up, which considering he once told her that he told his mother everything… made her wonder if perhaps tonight might not be so bad after all.

Sophie gave Benedict’s mother a small smile “well considering it’s what I do best, it seemed like the right thing to do and besides I was making the wedding cake tasters, it just kept me busy” she smiled.

Violet returned the smile and wondered if perhaps there had been more to the break up than either of them let on and that her son perhaps was the one at the fault more than Sophie, “I was sorry to hear about your step-mother” Violet said as they started to put the baked goods on plates

Sophie snorted “really? I was under the impression you didn’t like her” Sophie replied with an odd look on her face.

“Well… I erm… didn’t… but it seemed like the right thing to say give she was your family” Violet said

Sophie rolled her eyes “she wasn’t, or at least in her eyes I wasn’t family so I guess I never saw her as family either. She spent the last few years trying to get my father’s money off me. He’d left it to me in the will and she spent a few years threatening me with lawsuits, ruining my life and anyone connected with me” Sophie continued without thinking. “I think she thought she’d be able to get me to cave and give her everything by threatening…” her eyes widened as she realised she was about to let slip that Araminta had threatened to ruin Benedict. That she’d said she would ruin his career, that she’d have Rosamund say he’d touched her inappropriately during a photoshoot, or something like that.

“Me” she finished weakly but she saw the pitying look on Violet’s face, and the curious look that made her wonder if perhaps Violet had suspected more than she let on.

“I see” she said “well then I guess i am not sorry for your loss” she added 

“No but I did feel for Posy a bit but she’s thriving since her mother died and Rosamund… well last i heard she was trying to find herself a sugar daddy or something” Sophie continued, grateful her little slip up hadn’t been noticed as she kept talking, “and it’s nice not having her belittle me at every chance. She didn’t approve of what I was doing with my father’s money and company”

Violet wanted to keep her talking, she felt like she was starting to understand more and more about Sophie and she had to wonder if perhaps her step mother had done more than just belittle her and if it had been Benedict that Sophie had been about to say and vowed she was going to talk to Kate. Kate knew Sophie from before she’d been with Benedict and she might be able to shed a bit more light on Sophie’s background but she knew they had to go in with the food before they got interrupted  “Perhaps we should get this food into the rest of them. Colin will be salivating if Benedict has told him.”

Sophie nodded and thanked God that she wasn’t going to be subject to any more questions from Violet as she’d already let slip more than she’d meant to but Violet was so much like Benedict and so maternal that she couldn’t help but open up.

She followed Violet through the house and once she spotted Kate, Sophie felt herself relax a bit more and as Benedict smiled and Sophie took a seat next to Benedict… she felt like perhaps the next few weeks wouldn’t be so hard.

That was until after dinner. 

Sophie had helped Violet clearing up and was out of the room and had been making her way back in when she heard raised voices “Ben, you’re out of your mind even letting her next to you” Daphne’s voice had said “she left you!”

“Daph, nothing is going on, where just friends”

“Friends don’t look at each other like that” Colin said

“Really because that’s how you and Penelope look at one another” Kate said with a smirk that Sophie couldn’t see “but sophie and Benedict have nothing and no one to answer to, if they wanna start dating again”

“We’re not dating” Benedict said

Sophie missed Colin’s comment as she felt her heart breaking a little bit at Benedict’s truth about their situation. They weren’t dating.

“It doesn’t matter what it looks like. It was 3 months two years ago. It meant nothing. If she means nothing to me she should mean nothing to you! She’s Kate’s friend, so we have no choice but to be nice to her” Benedict snapped and it felt like a punch in the gut for Sophie.

The little flickers of hope she’d felt as they’d been teasing and joking over dinner, the easy way they seemed to fall back into how things had been, the little glances and even at one point the way he’d dropped his hand beneath the table and squeezed it… everything came crashing down and she felt the tears prinkle her eyes as her heart broke once again…

Twice he’d shattered her heart, twice in this very place… as she stood in the same place as last time, only this time…

She wasn’t alone.

Violet had just appeared and heard Benedict’s outburst and she saw the pain on Sophie’s face, the way her heart seemed to break in front of her and she knew there and then that there was more to the break up than anyone knew and that Sophie wasn’t over it.

She smiled sadly at the young girl “if you want to leave… i’ll tell them you had a bakery emergency” she said gently, almost motherly and Sophie just nodded and without so much of a word…

She watched as Sophie fled, and wondered if she’d ever see the young girl again once the wedding was done and how she was going to slap her son silly if he’d been the one to cause the break up the first time around and if he was about to lose her again for a second time…

[hopepaigeturner]

An Offer From and Avid Reader: 'Bridgerton No.2' & 'The Maid'

So as a fandom we all know the whole ‘Sophie sees Benedict as Benedict not Bridgerton no.2’. And I do love that, but also, I think it is slept on a little how Benedict does the same for Sophie.

The crumbs are there in the book, but I think the show could really highlight how Benedict is the first one to see, know and love Sophie. Not Sophie-illegitimate-child-Beckett. Not Sophie-the-maid-Beckett but just Sophie. Benedict loves every iteration of Sophie. And more importantly, Sophie never has to prove herself to Benedict.

Once again it would mean not merely treating Sophie’s trauma as a drama device but allowing that storyline to actually develop…

One could argue that due to Sophie’s upbringing, Sophie has this subconscious desire to prove her worth. Some researchers argue that as individuals, particularly children, we strive for ‘positive regard’. AKA, we crave validation/love about our achievements from a caregiver. And this could be the reason why Sophie is so clever, polite and ‘meek’—because she tried to do anything and everything to get her father to smile at her, for her father to believe that she was worthy of being his true daughter.

And yes, Araminta abused her, but initially, due to her very young age, I suspect that Sophie still tried to please her and prove she was worth being Araminta’s daughter by being the perfect submissive daughter and sister.

Then if you combine this with Araminta’s emotional abuse, tearing into Sophie’s self-esteem, coupled with Araminta neglecting Sophie’s very existence—all of this would set Sophie is a vicious cycle.

 She feels unworthy-->tries to gain validation--> Does not receive validation-->unworthiness deepens--> increases effort for validation…over and over again. A downward spiral that the show could emphasise in flashbacks and when she arrives at Bridgerton house…

Not only does Sophie try and be the perfect maid for the Bridgertons, because she is terrified of being punished, but also because she feels the need to prove herself worthy. Especially, because she did not earn her place—Benedict pushed her into it.

Therefore, throughout her entire life, Sophie has put on a mask, a persona—the perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the perfect maid—all to please others rather than express her true self.

And then we have Benedict.

Benedict who fell in love when Sophie wore a silver dress, on a night when Sophie was nothing but herself.

Benedict who fell in love when she walked around in breeches and connected through poetry, art, comfort and loss at My Cottage. Even when she mocked him, scolded him and argued with him about the correct way to chop an onion or his opinion on the working class. A time where Sophie was allowed to be herself—even encouraged to be so.

Benedict who fell in love with her even when she returned to London and they became Sophie-the maid and Benedict-the-gentleman.

Benedict who she actively had to discourage from pursuing her. Benedict who went out of his way to prove to her his worth—not the other way around.

And then (in my S4 version of sofa scene), she reveals her past in a shouting match, showing (in her opinion) all the ugly, horrid things about her. And, unlike everyone else in her entire life, Benedict steps towards her not away from her and says…

“You are Sophie. You are a woman who is kind and compassionate even after a life of hardship that would bow or break the strongest of men. You are a woman who stands by her convictions no matter how many people try and sway you, no matter how many lashes you endure, nor whether the other road is easier. You, Sophie Beckett, are brilliant in mind, heart and soul. I am inspired by you; I am humbled by you, and I am honoured to be in your presence and awed by every facet of your being. That is who you are, Sophie….That is who you are to me, Sophie.”

Benedict still loves her and has always loved her—the Sophie who likes to make up stories, who likes swimming in lakes and cares deeply about others—just as she loves him, Benedict, who has the soul of an artist, hates Byron, and will spend his soul to ensure the people he loves are cared for.

Sophie has never had to actively try with Benedict, not to gain his respect, companionship or love.

So…while yes, Sophie is the first one to see Benedict as more than Bridgerton no.2., Benedict is also the first one to see Sophie as just Sophie, not Beckett, not Gunningworth, not Penwood. Just Sophie.

And if the show manages to capture that…well, I’ll be like...

[silverhallow]

One Kiss

There are moments in a person’s life when they realise everything they’ve ever known has changed, moments that leave you shaking in your own skin and questioning everything you’ve ever known.

These moments can hit you like a lightning bolt, or they sneak up on you carefully over years…

For Benedict Bridgerton it was both.

Since the age of 11 he’d been best friends with Sophie Beckett, he’d been there for her when her father died, she’d been there for him when his father had died. They had been inseparable.

They’d even gone to the same University, had the same friends, all of whom had a betting pool on how long it would take before Benedict and Sophie realised they were in love with one another.

But as their time at University came and went, they still hadn’t worked it out and both were still very much single.

Their friends around them were getting married, having babies and here they were, still sitting in the corner of the wedding and christenings giggling away together like they were the only two people in the world.

They had relationships, they dated other people but everytime it ended the same way “we can’t compete with them!” People didn’t understand just how close Sophie and Benedict were, how they were such good friends and in their 13 years of friendship, had never so much as shared a drunk snog.

They were the first and last person they thought about before they went to bed, the person whom they sent their silly memes and shared inside jokes but whenever anyone asked them “When are you two finally going to get together?” their answer was always the same…

“We’re just friends”

They were more than friends, they were always more than just friends but they were less than a couple.

They spent time with one another when they weren’t at work, Sophie was a newly qualified paediatrics nurse, Benedict a photographer and artist so whenever Sophie was off shift they’d hang out together, they had their own flats but whenever Sophie had time off, they’d be together.

They’d been maid of honour and best man at Kate and Anthony’s wedding, they were both Godparents to baby Edmund. 

They were the only two who didn’t see themselves as a couple… much to the fury of everyone else.

They’d been set up on bad blind dates, hoping that they’d realise that they were perfect for one another but it hadn’t seemed to work.

But then fate decided to intervene.

Sophie had been on a double back to back nightshift and ended up working overtime and cancelled on Benedict as she was taking care of a patient that had come in as an Emergency.

She’d text him to cancel but promised she’d come around once she was off shift, Benedict had had a few drinks in her absence and sent a message just to say “I miss you tonight”

He always missed her when they were apart and he knew how much her job meant to her and how much she wanted to help children.

He hadn’t expected her to appear at about 3am, tears falling down her face as she looked older than he ever remembered as he opened the door, bleary eyed and confused as to what she was doing but the moment he saw her tears, he ushered her into his flat and just hugged her.

“What happened?” he asked as he pulled her into his living room, his arms still around her, holding her into his bare chest.

It wasn’t a new sight for Sophie, Benedict in just his boxer shorts, but his arms were her comfort. Whenever she’d had a bad shift she’d gone for a hug and a glass of wine and everything was good but this was a first for her.

Her first lost patient.

“She… she died” she sobbed into Benedict’s chest “they told me there was nothing I could do. But I tried… she was so little… i tried”

“Oh sweetheart,” Benedict said, just holding her close, stroking her hair. Sophie cared so much about each and every one of her patients and it was what made her such a good nurse. She cared about everyone, it was one of the things that made her his favourite person.

Despite all the shit she went through with her stepmother, the abuse she’d suffered she was still sunshine personified, she was the light in his darkness and when he fell into his pits of misery and depression over his art, she was the one to drag him out of it.

She’d bring him food, clean his flat and kick his arse and he’d carry back on. She’d been there for him when Tessa had cheated on him and left him and he’d been thinking it was a serious relationship.

She always made him feel better and now was his turn to return the sentiment. He just held her as she cried into him. 

He’d learned that the head nurse had sent her home after the little girl had passed, in her mumbled words he’d heard something about a police statement, he didn’t know for certain what was going on because he could barely understand a word she said.

He just held her, let her babble and just provided her with the comfort she was after until she fell asleep in his arms.

Once he’d felt her go still in his arms, he scooped her back up and carried her into his spare room and tucked her into bed, kissed her temple, put a glass of water next to her bed for when she woke up as he knew from experience that a Sophie that cried herself to sleep, would wake up dehydrated and he made his way back to bed.

It was nearly 5am but he thankfully had nothing on tomorrow, he was editing some of his latest photoshoot but that was it and he had a long deadline on it as it was for his own exhibition.

When he woke back up it was nearly 10am and he was surprised to see Sophie was still sleeping, so he made a start on some breakfast, knowing she’d be starving.

She was as bad as him when she was at work remembering to eat and if she’d stayed after the end of her shift, she’d probably not have eaten for a good few hours so she’d be starving.

By the time he’d finished cooking bacon and sausages, he saw a shadow appearing in the door and he had to suppress a chuckle.

The smell of cooked breakfast was always enough to lure Sophie out of her sleep, her blonde hair was a little mad and wild and she looked sheepish. “There is coffee on if you want a cup” he grinned at her.

He loved seeing Sophie like this, just woken up, in her natural state, he thought she was beautiful anyway but seeing her in such a way that not many people were privy to, to know she felt so comfortable around him that she didn’t immediately go and tidy herself up, made him feel happier than he could work out why.

“Thanks…” she said a little shyly as she walked over to the cafetiere and poured herself a coffee and sipped it “sorry about last night” she said softly, which made Benedict turn around and look at her like she was mad.

“Soph, you never have to apologise for just rocking up here unannounced, you are always welcome here no matter what and i’d have hated to know you went home after that last night and was alone” he said to her softly.

“That was why I didn’t go… I got in the car and was going to… but I just… I didn’t want to be alone and it just… it felt far too familiar you know… the little girl… she was 12 Ben… 12 years old…” she said sadly

“I know, people are awful but you did everything that you could and at least she knew some kindness before she parted” he said to her wrapping his arms around her again “she got to experience a beautiful soul and some love for once in her life” he said.

He’d managed in his more awake state as he was cooking breakfast able to wade through his tired brain to work out what Sophie had been saying to him the night before, he’d worked out what had happened and it had broken his heart.

Sophie smiled at him “thank you. I guess I needed to hear something like that… you really are so good to me” she said softly just staring at him.

“Anytime Soph” he said and he leaned in, to give her a kiss on the cheek as was something they’d usually do, it wasn’t unusual for them to kiss one anothers cheeks but at the same time, Sophie had been thinking the same thing and turned her head.

And instead of lips on cheek, it was lips on lips and they just seemed to linger for a moment longer than was usual.

Tingles and something hit him, it was something he’d never felt ever in his life and it almost felt like he’d just come alive, in that split second and then he panicked, realising he’d just kissed his best friend and jumped away from her.

“I’m… i’m so sorry” he stammered going bright red and wondering why his heart was hammering as Sophie just stared at him.

Her fingers moved to her lips as her own brain seemed to be catching up.

“Don’t… just… shut up” she said walking closer to him “shut up and kiss me again” she said again she she grabbed his shirt and dragged him bodily back down to her and without even thinking, his entire body reacted in a natural way, his lips moulded to hers and his arms wrapped around her back as their lips moved together.

It was like their bodies knew what their minds had been slow to catch up on, their hearts had known they were soulmates for years, it was why nothing worked with anyone else, it was why they compared every partner to the other without even realising.

When they needed air they pulled back and looked at one another, completely wonderstruck, wondering why they’d not done that before and they looked at one another, “I…”

“I know…” she replied, smiling at him before dragging him back to her lips.

They were no longer “just friends”, a lightning bolt moment, something that would have happened years ago but it just proved that one kiss was all it took, to change their lives forever.

[silverhallow]

Strangers All At Once: Prologue

Strangers All At Once Masterpost Prev | Next

Pairing: Sophie Beckett x Benedict Bridgerton

Summary: It had been two years since Sophie Beckett last saw Benedict Bridgerton, the day she walked out of his life without ever revealing the true reason for her departure. But now...

When Kate announces her engagement, Sophie is once again thrown into Benedict's path...

Both still bear the scars from their intense and tumultuous romance, each wrongly believing the other has moved on. They agree to set aside their past to help Kate and Anthony with their wedding...

But can they truly move on and become friends, or will the past prove too much, leaving them as strangers once more?

Warnings: None at the moment Word Count: 604 Author's Note: this is going to be an angsty and yearning story... and a big ass misunderstanding. it can also be found on AO3 here

“Kate… don’t… don’t say it please” Sophie begged her best friend

“Sorry soph…” Kate said looking back with sad eyes, she’d never really understood what happened and knew the moment she asked Sophie to be her maid of honour that the subject of best man was going to come up.

“Why can’t it be Simon?!” Sophie said almost wailed

“Because as much as Daphne and Simon are engaged and have a baby… Anthony still hasn’t forgiven him for sleeping with his sister… and Ben is closest to him out of all his siblings”

“Then ask Edwina… or someone else… why me?!” Sophie said looking for a way out

“Because you're my best friend. You were my friend first. You and Ben are the reason this wedding is happening. You introduced us and there is no one else I want as my maid of honour. Look I have no idea what the hell happened between you and Ben and caused you to break up but he’s prepared to put whatever happened aside and work together for the wedding and given you are the most pragmatic person I’ve met and I know you can compartmentalise like no one else… I figured you’d be able to put it aside unless you want to tell me what happened…” Kate said a little shortly. She hated that Sophie hadn’t told her why she and Benedict split. 

She’d been so sure they were on the verge of getting engaged when Benedict turned up on Saturday morning saying Sophie had left.

He’d never gone into details but Kate was sure even he didn’t know what had caused Sophie to up and leave.

Sophie had walked out and spent most of the last two years working in France and avoiding all social events, social gatherings and even missed Amelia’s christening.

Kate believed that Sophie was still hung up on Benedict and though she never outwardly asked about him by name, and the few times she had seen her best friend she’d seen her reaction when she casually mentioned Benedict had been on a date…

And she knew Benedict was still hung up on Sophie, she saw it in his art, in the music he wrote in his spare time and the fact he’d never managed more than one date with anyone since.

She knew they were perfect for one another and she just hoped that forcing them back together like this… could make them confront their past and make amends…

Sophie sighed, Kate would never understand why she did what she did. Why she’d left. Hell half the time she wasn’t even sure why she left but everytime she heard Kate talk about the Bridgerton’s it reminded her that they were a close knit family, they had only ever known love and devotion, she’d known what it was to be wanted…

“Kate it’s in the past, if… if he’s prepared to put the past behind him then I guess I can too.” Sophie finally said. She had years of practice putting on a happy face. She knew how to pretend,

She’d spent 20 years pretending before she met Benedict, and the two years after him, she pretended to be happy, to be content… but she knew the heartache.

She wished she’d never left, how she wished she’d been more courageous, wished she could have banished the Demons, wished she could have been stronger and fought but she supposed it had been for the best… after all she’d left before he could leave her…

So, if he could move on, if he could put it behind them, she was damn sure she could.

[silverhallow]

Strangers All At Once: The Pretender

Strangers All At Once Masterpost Prev | Next

Pairing: Sophie Beckett x Benedict Bridgerton

Summary: it's the first time Benedict and Sophie have met in two years...

I will be your shoulder to cry on I will make you laugh if you need I will play the part if you say so Yeah, I'll be anybody but me To tell you the truth, I'm a mess, I'm a fool You don't know that And you never will In my mind, it's instilled not to show that I spend almost all of my time Feeling like I'm falling even further behind And I know I'm so good at seeming Like I'm not on the edge of a knife I'm the pretender, what can I tell ya? Designed to deceive So tell me who you want me to be

lh7-us.googleusercontent.com

Warnings: None at the moment Word Count: 2.5k Author's Note: this is going to be an angsty and yearning story... and a big ass misunderstanding. it can also be found on AO3 here

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Benedict could feel his heart hammering in his throat, stomach and chest as he walked down the street, heading to the place he knew he’d see the face he’d been dreaming of for the last two years.

He’d tried to stop her leaving, but there was nothing he could do, nothing he say to change her mind. He’d gone to her home two weeks after the split hoping time would have made her see sense but all he found was an empty flat, Sophie was gone.

Kate had said she’d gone to France, she’d had some sort of falling out with her step mother and she’d left the country…

That was almost the last he’d heard…

Until Anthony had asked him to be the best man at his wedding

He hadn’t even thought for a moment that Sophie would be maid of honour but when he said Sophie had been back for 6 months and was opening  her own cafe… and Kate was asking her to be maid of honour… did Benedict feel everything coming rushing back.

The hurt he felt as she left.

The whole in his life since she’d been gone

His head and heart were a mess.

He’d drank far too much, he still drank too much… but Sophie had been his world. His heart. He’d told her things he’d never told another soul… 

He remembered everything about her, how they met, that night in the bar. The night he’d taken her home and she’d never left… until she left forever…

But now… 

Now… he’d seen her Instagram, he’d found her through Kate, saw the two handsome men that appeared regularly in her photos… Michael and Phillip… one of them had everything he’d ever wanted.

He knew that without Sophie his life had no meaning. She was the one. He’d been planning to ask her to marry him…

He had even found the ring.

The ring which still remained in his sock drawer… unable to face getting rid of it…

He was pathetic and he knew it.

Kate had rung him after she’d spoken to Sophie and she’d agreed to be her maid of honour and Benedict knew they’d have to see one another and he thought perhaps if he saw her before everything started, before the wedding plans then it would be easier.

He could pretend anyway.

He’d found the name of her cafe, The Cottage, on her posts and it had made his heart squeeze as it reminded him of her, of them, but he knew it was probably just wishful thinking but he knew that he had to see her.

To speak and just say hello… he had to be the one to make that first move or that’s at least what Kate had said…

So he’d dressed and set off that morning, heading to the cafe to see her. He hadn’t told her he was coming, or told Kate, this way she couldn’t avoid him and as he stood outside the quaint cafe, he took a deep breath, the smell of fresh bread and pastries filled his nostrils and almost instantly transported him back to the morning after their first night together and his heart squeezed and his heart was telling him this was a bad idea…

But with another breath he pushed open the door, and the smell was even more incredible inside and it felt warm and homely and it was so obviously Sophie inside that his heart ached even more but a deep Scottish twang broke him from his thoughts “can I help ya pal?”

Benedict blinked and jumped a little as he faced one of the two handsome faces he’d seen on Instagram and he had no idea which of the two men it was but he felt a twinge of disappointment that Sophie wasn’t there to greet him “I erm… I’m looking for Sophie?”

“Who's asking…” the man said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at him 

“I’m erm…” he started to say but he was cut off, he felt a little wave of magic, that nervousness and course of electricity he’d felt that first time he’d met Sophie and then he heard the clattering of a tray and a shocked 

“Benedict?!” And as he looked behind the Scotsman there she was, still as beautiful as he remembered, her blonde curls pulled into a ponytail, her moss green eyes bright from shock and her beautiful mouth just open in shock.

“As in…” the Scotsman asked and Sophie just nodded

“What… what… what are you doing here?” She said a little panicked

“I erm… came to see you. Kate told me about this place… and I thought maybe it would be a good idea to just… I dunno talk before all the wedding stuff starts?” He said wondering now at the way his heart was beating, the butterflies in his stomach where fluttering, the sweaty ness of his palms and the tell tale tug in his groin that told him he still desired and wanted this woman despite the way she mangled his heart.

“I… erm… I’m sort of… busy?” Sophie said hoping that Michael wouldn’t say something but he’d taken one look at the man in front of him, and from everything Sophie had told him about him, he knew none of it was a lie and he could see the way her eyes flared, her lips parted and he’d seen arousal and want in enough women to know and he knew his boss needed a break, needed to think for herself for a change and maybe… try and put her demons to bed and have another shot with this man now that the main obstacle was out of the way…

“I can sort this out Boss” Michael smirked,  “and Phillip is oot the back so he can help with the customers… go talk. I’ll bring over a brew”

“Michael, I can’t….”

“Yes you can, ya boss lady and in charge… go and let us boys take care of the rest I’m sure you’ve got loads to catch up on” he grinned wickedly and Sophie wanted to murder him on the spot knowing she had no escape now

“Okay erm… let me just put this down… erm… there is a table at the back?” She gestured towards the back of the cafe and Benedict nodded and silently thanked the Scotsman for helping him out to get her to talk to him, he assumed that he obviously wasn’t the boyfriend but the other one… Phillip must be it, as he trudged over to the back of the cafe.

Sophie wanted to die. Wanted the ground to swallow her whole as she’d spotted him. Looking every bit as handsome and beautiful as she remembered, the way he seemed to just ooze this debonair confidence, it had been what attracted her to him in the first place…

But for him to be here… in the cafe she’d opened, using the name of the home they’d joked about buying, My Cottage, as the inspiration for this place… 

She just hoped he didn’t pay too much attention to the artwork on the wall and she wanted to kill Michael,

He and Phillip had found out about Araminta… and part of the reason Sophie had left, she’d not shared the entire story as she’d thankfully passed out drunk before she’d spilled those details but they’d found out enough… but Sophie had never told either of them the other reason, the main reason why she left. She’d not told anyone.

And she knew Michael too well to know he was playing matchmaker. Or trying to.

But Sophie knew better, she knew Benedict would never have married her. He didn’t marry someone like her. She’d just been another notch on his bed posts and despite the fact she’d fallen in love with him he didn’t see a future. She knew that. She’d heard what he said that fateful day.

The day she was going to stand up to her stepmother. She’d planned to tell him her deepest darkest secrets… and it had backfired.

She’d let herself be vulnerable, she’d let herself believe for 100 glorious days that she was loved. That she was wanted… and it had been a lie.

But it was a lie and a dream she clung to and when she’d returned from France after Araminta died, free from the bullying and attempted lawsuits to get access to the funds that were rightfully Sophie’s, she’d decided to follow the dream she’d had all her life.

The dream she’d told Benedict about that he’d encouraged, heck even the spot she rented was only five doors down from the one he’d suggested…

And it had been with him in mind that she’d named this place. Hoping that their paths may cross one day and hoping they never saw one another again but as with most things in Sophie’s life… god hated her and decided that she’d had too much of a good thing and thrust her back in his path. Though truthfully it was less God’s interference and more Kate…

Nervously she removed her apron and made her way over to Benedict,

What the hell did one say to the person who broke your heart? To the person you walked away from saying “it’s better this way. It never works out in the end and I’m just saving you a job”

She schooled her face, like she used to as a child when Araminta started her abuse, hide her true feelings from the world with a mask. She’d always found it easy to pretend to be anybody but herself.

She was good at seeming like she’s not on the edge of a knife,lying to the world and to herself that she’s okay when inside she felt like a fraud, like a pretender…

She could pretend all over again. It was what she promised Kate after all…

“So… you wanted to talk?” Sophie said as she nervously took a seat, her fingers playing with the edge of her shirt 

“Erm… yeah… I… i erm…” Benedict started, he had no idea what to say to her. What did he even want to say?

Well he knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to know why she left, why she gave up on them, why she walked out of the door taking his heart and soul with him…

But that wasn’t putting the past behind them, pretending that everything was okay for the sake of Anthony and Kate “you look good” was what he finally said

“Oh.. thanks” Sophie replied, swallowing nervously “you do too… are… are you still painting?” She asked figuring it was a safe topic

“Not really, no” he responded. He’d not painted since Sophie had left, his muse had gone. Everything seemed fruitless and frivolous without her “just photography now mainly”

Sophie wanted to ask why, why he wasn’t painting but she suspected that she wouldn’t want to know the answer.

“Oh right.”

“You seemed to be doing well, this place looks like it’s really busy, I saw your following…”

“You looked me up?” Sophie asked surprised

“Kate told me you’d opened this place a few months back… but yeah I wasn’t sure where it was or anything and figured it was a safe place to talk and well… I dunno” he said 

“Tea and some of ya famous cookies boss lady” Michael said, swanning over, grinning like a cat in cream.

“How many times do i have to tell you not to call me boss lady” Sophie scowled

“Oh I know but it’s fun to see fury in your eyes” Michael smirked and dodged the slap he knew was coming, winked at Benedict and left.

“He’s insane” Sophie sighed

“And you hired him?” Benedict asked

“He’s insane but he’s a good worker and an old friend and his family business also supplies me with the whiskey I use for our whiskey creams, same with Phillip.” Sophie explained, Michael’s father and Uncle had known her father and Phillip and Sophie had met after the death of his father the year before Sophie lost her own father

It was all before Benedict, she’d lost contact a bit with them because of Araminta but when Sophie had left and come back to the country when Araminta died, Michael had reached out to her as the legitimate owner of the Penwood Pantry and Phillip was at Uni with Michael so it had all fallen together again.   

“Oh nice… I’m glad you still bake” Benedict said with a smile which snapped Sophie out of her reverie “you used to make the most amazing bakes”

“18 months in France helped but some things like the cookies are still the tried and tested methods” Sophie said gesturing to the milk cookies in front of them.

“Oh I remember Colin made himself sick eating a whole batch of them…” Benedict said reaching out and taking one

“Well he ate 24… it served him right!” Sophie said with a smile, feeling a wash of relief and ease washing over her.

Being able to talk and reminisce but not speak about them and their history was nice.

“And since they were for my birthday…”

“Yes, though thankfully he was too sick to eat the birthday cake…”

Benedict groaned as he remembered that cake. The chocolate and coffee ganache, the rum cake, was still to this day the best ever birthday cake he’d had and it had been a week before his world had come crashing down.

“Oh that was an incredible cake, so Colin not eating it was just a bonus” Benedict grinned.

He’d never actually told his brother that he’d found a frozen batch of cookies in his freezer and on his lowest moments over the last 2 years he’d put one in the oven and just remembered and pretended that Sophie was still there…

So as he took a bite of the cookie, it was like a hug, his heart swelled and he was hit by memories.

“Oh these are just as incredible as I remember” he said softly, his eyes locking with hers as they both were transported back to the morning after their first night together and Sophie had baked them cookies for breakfast.

“I’m glad you think so…” Sophie smiled. It was a soft smile and it didn’t quite reach her eyes which looked wistful and forlorn.

“Are you making the wedding cake?” He asked after he finished his cookie and a few moments of silence.

“Yes, I’d have been very upset given I’m a baker by trade if she went elsewhere…” Sophie smiled

Benedict laughed, “very true. Colin will be thrilled”

“Oh If he’s still a pig then I’m making an extra cake just for him so Kate gets to actually have some wedding cake…”

“Gregory is the same so it might not be a bad idea…” Benedict grinned “but if you want to make me one I’d not say no…”

Sophie laughed “I might be able to rustle you up something. We’re going to need to keep our energy up with everything they’re talking about for the wedding…”

Benedict smiled “well I look forward to working with you on it all” he said honestly and Sophie beamed at him and this time it reached her eyes. 

She didn’t have to pretend to be happy, she was pleased he’d popped in to see her, that they’d had this meeting. 

Maybe putting the past behind them wouldn’t be that hard…