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You'll hear the music fill the air.
Colin hurriedly hops off his father's car, not waiting for any instructions. He is too excited and distacted by her favorite redhead, Penelope. Right from the gates, he can see her back facing the willow tree with his sisters.
He is preparing to greet her with his most charming smile and sweetest voice until he heard what seems to be a sob. Is she crying? He approaches the girls and kneels beside Penelope. He now realized that she is hugging her legs, curled up like a baby while crying her eyes out. "Pen."
Penelope sniffs and slowly raises her head, the familiad voice tinged with worry already soothes her. "Colin."
Colin is quick to pull her into an embrace, making sure the seven-year old girl can safely cry. "What happened?"
Eloise raises a brow. "Really, Penelope? Of all the people, it is Colin's hug you accepted?"
Daphne elbows Eloise and glares at her. "It is where her comfort lies."
"Agwee." Five-year old Francesca whispered.
Colin rolls his eyes, annoyed. For a nine-year old boy, his patience is stretched to the maximum. "I need to know what happened."
Penelope burries her face on Colin's chest, wiping her tears and snot with his shirt. "Ma... Mama." She replies in between sobs.
Daphne pouts, she is getting emotional at the scene. "Portia ruined our plans!"
"How?" Colin rubs Penelope's back, curious about the whole story.
Eloise plops herself beside Colin. "Remember our plans for halloween?"
Colin nods. "Ah... You'll be like the movie.. Inside Out?"
"Twew!" Francesca confrims.
"But things have changed, Colin." Daphne sighs. "Right when our costumes are done! Mama will not allow more changes!"
"This is Portia's fault!" Eloise screams. "That meanie!"
"El!" Daphne tries to pacify her sister, she sublty points at Penelope to remind her that Portia is still her mother.
Penelope lifts her head, pouting as she looks at Colin. "Mama decided I would be a princess."
"You are a princess." Colin pushes all the stray curls away from Penelope's face. "Always."
Penelope shakes her head. "It is another yellow dress, Colin!" She groans, mortified. "A ballgown, a fluffy, fluffy, yellow dress!"
Colin chuckles, he plants a wet kiss on her forehead. "It will be alright, Princess Penelope."
Eloise snorts. "What? Will your pirate costune save Penelope? Perhaps save her from drowning in layers!"
Colin continues to rub Penelope's back. "Do not worry, Pen. I shall make sure that you will not be alone."
You make it easier when life gets hard.
"Promise?" Penelope hiccups, she is still sad about her costume but Colin's words has never been more true.
"Promise." Colin nods in reassurance.
___________________________________________
Colin runs to the library, only to find his brothers and Papa preparing their matching pirate costume. "Papa... brothers."
Edmund was quick to look at Colin. "Yes, my boy?" Anthony looks at Ben, urging him to be attentive.
"Can I..." He gulps. Here it goes. "Can I change my costume?"
"What?" Anthony frowns, stopping midway of patching a pirate hat. "Ben and I already got dreadlocks!"
"The pirate is all for you." Benedict adds. "What is it, Col?"
Colin felt like he was six again as shame eats him alive, he takes a deep breath and squares his shoulder. "Please? For Penelope."
"Penelope?" Edmund hides the smile that threatens to show. Warmth fills his chest as he understood what is happening.
"Portia is dressing her up as a fluffy yellow princess." Colin explains. "I figured... I can be his partner instead."
"As who then?" Anthony asks.
"Aha!" Benedict claps. "Beast!" He laughs. "Beauty and the beast!"
Anthony looks at his brother. "You got that from the yellow dress?"
Edmund chuckles. "Colin always say that Penelope reads like Belle."
"Yes, but he also believes her hair is like the onses fitting a mermaid." Anthony argues.
"Is there a yellow dress there, Ant?" Benedict teases.
Colin clears his throat. "I promise to pay for this fault... thru service of course."
"Right, start with my-" Benedict got cut off by Edmund.
"It is alright, Colin. But you do know we are quite occupied with house decorations and stuff." Edmund explains.
"It is alright, Papa. I shall do it." Colin replied.
___________________________________________
Alone in his room, Colin replays the video again and again. He is trying to understand how can he create a makeshift horn for his Beast costume.
Knock. knock. knock.
Three knocking raps on the door caught his attention, and before he could react, his brothers barges in.
"Oh." Colin blinks.
Anthony gently throws the supplies on Colin's bed, an array of craft materials. "I think this is enough."
Benedict opens a foldable table and places the take out bags from different places, all Colin's favorite. "Sustenance secured." He claps. "Lets get started."
"You'll help?" Colin beams.
Anthony playfully hits Colin's nape. "Yes, but no kissing Penelope."
"Ouch!" Benedict winks.
___________________________________________
Violet squats to level with Penelope. "Oh you are so pretty, love." She touches her hair.
"Am I, Mama?" Penelope pouts. Portia did not lie when she said the dress was fluffy and yellow. It was almost unrecognizable as Belle, save it for the accessories and fixings made by Violet and the girls.
"Of course, dearest." Violet kisses her cheek. "Colin will let you know for sure."
"Thank you, Mama." Penelope blushes. She turns but her blush turns a deeper shade of red as she watches Colin walks towards her. He is sporting an intricate Beast costume while being escorted by three pirates.
"Beast!" Penelope squeals. "You are Beast, Colin!"
"Yeah." Colin blushes, thankful that the mask covers his face.
Penelope surprised everyone by running towards Colin, throwing herself on him. "Oh Colin!"
Colin catches Penelope and lifts her off the ground. "Told you, princess."
"Thank you." Penelope steals a peck on his lips.
Colin bit his lower lip then looks at Anthony. "Not counted, she kissed me." Penelope giggles while every Bridgerton laughs.
Eloise emerges from the kitchen with a huff. "Are we going or what?"
"Ahhhhh." Benedict clicks his tongue. "Are you in character as Anger or are you just Eloise?"
"Both." Colin and Penelope replies in unison.
Colin puts Penelope down, fixing the skirt of her gown. "Before we go..." Colin grabs the flower from his coat, he places it on Penelope's ear. "Now we can go."
Penelope links her arm around Colin. She may not need to shout treat or trick, she already got the treat.
You'll hear the music fill the air.
I'll put a flower in your hair.
"Mama." Agatha pouts, looking more like Colin than Penelope.
"Oh. Sorry love." Penelope smiles, her reminiscing cut short by her demanding toddler.
"Pwease?" Agatha put her palms together as a plea.
"Yes, Mommy. Pleaaaase?" Colin's arms are suddenly around her waist, hugging her tight. "She can walk and talk now, darling."
Penelope tilts her head to look at Colin. Her husband of four years and her three-year old daughter are convincing her that this year is the perfect year to have Agatha's first trick or treat. "Are we sure? I am afraid to dress her up, love."
"You are not your mother." Colin whispers and plants a kiss on her cheek. "Despite her being nice now, I know you are worried you might end up like her in terms of style."
Penelope snorts. "Colin, Agatha is dressed up in mostly yellow and orange... we are her."
"For good reasons!" Colin rolls his eyes. "It suits her, suits her hair."
"You mean the only thing she got from me?" Penelope laughs.
"Jury's out on this lil one." Colin gently rubs Penelope's swollen belly, a baby due at the last bend of winter.
Penelope leans againts Colin's hug. "What would she wear then?"
"Belle!" Agatha screams while clapping. "Papa, show 'em!"
Colin laughs. "She saw our Beauty and the Beast pictures."
"Did she now?" Penelope raises a brow.
"Don't be jealous, Mama. You'll be Belle next year." Colin kisses her exposed shoulder. "Agatha is pleased to be a substitute."
"Next yeaw, I am teacup!" Agatha exclaims.
___________________________________________
Penelope rubs her belly while staring out their big living room window. The late stage of pregnancy makes it dificult for her to walk, thus, she decided to skip halloween this year. A smile crosses her face as she watches Colin and Agatha walks out of their driveway.
Colin is wearing a buffed Beast with an inflated props as his bodice while Agatha sports a yellow dress exactly as she wore when she was a kid. Penelope giggles as Agatha slowly walks with her high-heeled shoe, she suspects they are singing as they walk.
Penelope's walkie-talkie then proved the suspicion when Agatha and Colin's voice echoed through the room.
"This Aggie. Copy." The little girl giggles.
"Listen to us, Mama." Colin speaks thru his walkie-talkie.
"Do you hear me? I'm talking to you."
"Acwos the watew.. acwoss the deep bwue ocean."
"Under the open sky, oh my, baby, I'm trying." Colin chuckles.
Penelope felt the baby kicks, making his presence known. Maybe he is happy as well. She silently thanked her Mama for making bad fashion decisions back then as it ended her up with Colin. Lucky she's in love with her best friend.