Chapter Text
The Etsy Shop Around the Corner
Part Twenty-Five: Etsy Redux
THREE YEARS LATER…
Benedict Bridgerton woke to a fully grown German Shepherd sitting on his chest.
“I miss when you were a puppy,” Benedict growled at the intruder.
Biscuit barked and jumped off the bed.
“Alright, alright, I am getting up,” Benedict threw off the covers and sat up. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he gazed at the framed photo collage on the wall.
The cutesy picture of Sophie and Benedict from their Etsy marketing campaign photoshoot. A picture of Sophie and Sophie T Beckett from the book release event. Sophie and Francesca’s vacation to China where they went to the giant palace set that all historical royal C-Dramas were filmed in. Benedict as champion of the 2025 Annual Pall Mall game. Benedict holding his newborn nephew, David Colin Basset. Sophie and Benedict when they attended the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano. Sophie and Benedict when one of Benedict’s paintings was displayed at the MET in New York. And of course, there were more pictures than not with Biscuit at every stage of growth from puppy to the handsome man he was now.
Biscuit barked and nudged Benedict with his head, whimpering slightly.
“Okay, okay,” Benedict laughed. “I’ll take you for a walk. Has Mum already gone to work?”
Racing around to Sophie’s side of the bed, Biscuit jumped up and barked.
Life had been good for Benedict and Sophie over the past three years. After about six months of dating, Sophie relented and moved in with Benedict. They had argued thoroughly, and Sophie still had her little Honda Civic, though would upgrade when it finally crapped out.
Their careers were on track, Benedict having pieces in multiple galleries and museums in England, New York, Italy, and Australia. Sophie had become a successful event planner, having struck out on her own only three months previous. But with all the connections she had made over the years, she had enough business to have immediately booked up for the next three years. Hyacinth was her assistant and the girls worked as a wonderful team.
Over the years, Sophie had relaxed a lot on Benedict supporting her financially, and their paychecks currently went into a joint bank account, though they did keep small portions of their finances separate. Not that there was any risk of breaking up, they were as in love as they were at the start and their relationship stronger than ever. In fact, Benedict was hoping to take it even further.
“Hey, Biscuit come here,” Benedict beckoned him to the dresser. “Look what I’ve got.”
Wrapped up in a bundle of socks, stuck at the back of his underwear drawer, Benedict produced a small blue velvet box. He opened it to show Biscuit a dazzling diamond ring.
“Ethically sourced and everything,” Benedict laughed as Biscuit sniffed the ring. “Do you think Mum will like it?”
Biscuit barked.
“Thanks, Buddy,” Benedict ruffled Biscuit’s ears, pressed a kiss to the top of his furry head, and put the ring away. “Alright. Walk time.”
“Benedict? I’m home,” Sophie called as she entered the apartment.
Immediately Biscuit came racing up, woofing, and jumping on her to muss her elegant black suit dress.
“Yes, Buddy, I’m home,” Sophie laughed. “Did you have a good day with Daddy?”
Biscuit woofed, tail wagging frantically.
“Good,” Sophie smiled. “Benedict?”
“In the office!” Benedict’s voice came from down the hall.
Sophie put away this year’s traditional birthday gift from Daphne of a Kate Spade purse – this year a black leather handbag – hung up her suit jacket and came into the office. Benedict was concentrated on the Photoshop invitation on the screen.
“Hey you,” Sophie hugged him around the shoulders and kissed his cheek. “I’m home.”
“And I’m glad,” Benedict hit save and then gave her a proper kiss. “How was the wedding? I thought you would be home much later.”
“Oh, you know Debling, he doesn’t like a fuss. It had a small guest list and ended quite early. But it was beautiful and intimate. Cressida made a lovely bride. I think he’s brought out a wonderful side of her. I’m proud she went no contact with her parents.”
“I still can’t believe that Eloise was her maid of honour.”
“What I can’t believe is that Penelope is still friends with her after that.”
“Well, she can’t really escape us Bridgertons, can she?” Benedict glanced at the computer screen, “I’ve got those Easter Brunch invitations done for Mum. What do you think?”
Sophie rested her chin on his shoulder, “It’s lovely. But I don’t see why she has to have invitations.”
“The family is so big now, it just makes sense rather than chase everyone with text message chains.”
“I suppose.”
He spun his chair around and gave that debonair grin he was famous for.
“Wear something pretty for me that day?”
Sophie laughed, “We’ll see.”
He gave a teasing pouty lip, and she couldn’t help but kiss it.
“You look beautiful,” Benedict murmured, inhaling the perfume on her neck, an intoxicating scent he bought her for Christmas. “God, I missed you today.”
“Oh yeah?” Sophie groaned as her nipped at her earlobe. “How much?”
Hands encircled her body and slid down the back of her dress and unhooked her bra.
She gasped, “Oh! That much.”
“Sophie,” Benedict murmured.
She smirked and grabbed an elastic from a ball of rubber bands on his desk. Pulling her hair into a ponytail, she dropped to her knees and oh so slowly undid his fly. His cock popped out of the opening, still somewhat soft but eager.
Making eye contact, Sophie expertly licked the underside of it. She loved the way he would groan, his slamming shut and head thrown back in pleasure. The feeling of it growing hot and hard in her fist. She licked and sucked in the expert way she had perfected over three years, obscene noises filling the office from both parties.
She was gently sucking his balls when Benedict suddenly leaned forward to pull down her dress and expose her breasts. They were the beautiful pert handfuls that he had loved and pleasured so reverently over the past three years. He pulled her forward, and Sophie gave a chirp of excitement, knowing what he wanted. Leaning forward, she lined her breasts up on either side of his cock and gently cushioned it. He began thrusting and let out another throaty groan as he fucked her breasts. He loved the softness, the friction, the way she would flick her own nipples as she held her breasts in place, and the way she would bend her head down to let the tip of his shaft thrust up into her mouth.
“Fuck, Sophie,” Benedict cried out. “I’m going to cum.”
She took it as her sign to stop and he gave a disappointed groan. But he needed the time to calm down, so he enjoyed the sight of her laying back on the floor, shimmying out of her panties – though still keeping her dress bunched up around her waist – and she fingered herself as a show for him. It took everything Benedict had not to stroke himself and finish himself off, but he watched with heavy breath and lidded eyes. He directed her on how to touch herself, how fast to thrust, when to curl her finger inside, when to swipe her clit. She almost come undone under his direction, but he would not give her release.
“Stop,” he commanded.
She did with a whimper. Sophie looked a mess on the floor, hair ruffled, clothing bunched around her waist, skin hot and flush, and the wetness dripping between her legs as crazed eyes begged him for release.
“Come here,” Benedict order. “Come and fuck me.”
Sophie scrambled up into his lap and lowered herself on his hard, wanting cock. They cried out as they came together as one flesh, and Sophie began to ride him. He panted as she grasped his shoulders, nails digging into his flesh as she dragged her cunt up and down his cock. Benedict pulled her down so he filled her completely. She moaned and let him help her with a tight grip on her hips.
Leaning forward, he took a nipple into his mouth, making her cry out as his fingers slid down to caress her clit.
“Benedict. Oh Benedict!” she moaned his name as she rode him. Sophie could feel it building inside of her, the tension growing taught like a rope until finally…
Release.
She cried out and collapsed upon him. Beneath her, Benedict gave a few move thrusts up into her, her walls tight around his cock until they milked his essence from him. Sophie loved feeling him hot and slick inside her, dripping out as he withdrew his cock that rested softly against her belly.
The Benedict chuckled.
“I love welcome homes.”
“Soph, you coming?” Benedict called from the front door.
Sophie checked over her appearance once more in the mirror: a white sundress with delicate flowers splayed over it. She still couldn’t fully stomach designer pieces, so everything she bought was an sale, second hand from Daphne, Kate, and Francesca, or from a Nordstrom Rack when she had visited the States.
“Just a sec!” Sophie dabbed on a touch of perfume. “You got the baskets?”
It had been a tradition since Sophie’s first Easter with the family that she and Benedict got each of the kids a small, but custom Easter basket of a toy and chocolate.
“Yep, though I think Biscuit might eat them if you don’t hurry up.”
“Ok, coming!”
On their way to Bridgerton House, they picked up Hyacinth and Gareth who had recently moved into their own apartment. Gareth’s father had completely cut him off from the family funds and Hyacinth wanted to prove herself, so they both worked two jobs to pay their bills.
Of course, Agatha Danbury owned their apartment and rented it to them – completely furnished – at a deep discount, but that was besides the point.
They picked up anti-car Eloise who almost exclusively used public transport and campaigned for better bike lanes. That said, now dating single father Phillip Crane, she had to make some concessions and was known to hop in the front seat of Phillip’s electric car when they had Amanda and Oliver around. Otherwise, the pair would typically ride their bikes to Bridgerton House.
“No Phillip or the kids today?” Sophie asked as Eloise buckled in next to her sister – Hyacinth crammed in the middle.
“Marina traded Phillip Easter for Halloween,” she shrugged. “We’ll get them at Christmas so it’s only fair. How was Church?”
The tone was teasing. Everyone knew that Sophie and Benedict weren’t particularly religious, but Hugh insisted they at least attend Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Eve service at his church. Benedict had spent most of the service that morning doodling on the back of the church program, improving on the design of the stain glass windows.
It was a bit of a crowded car with the five humans and one full sided German Shepherd. Whatever mutt mix Biscuit was, it seemed to have only made him bigger than a standard German Shepherd. It was quite funny seeing him run around with his best friend, little corgi Newton.
If regular Bridgerton Sunday Brunch was excessive, the Easter Brunch was ungodly. At least there were more people invited that day than usual to justify the excess. It also meant that Anthony and Kate had to bribe their neighbors for all the street parking as well as a few borrowed driveways. Hence, everyone tried carpooling as much as possible.
Phillip Crane pulled up from dropping off the kids at the same time as Benedict did, and Eloise was happy to go in on the arm of her boyfriend.
“I still can’t believe she’s dating a guy with kids,” Gareth murmured to Hyacinth.
Hyacinth just shook her head and helped Benedict unload the basket out of the truck, slipping in a £20 note in each basket with a sticker that read From Auntie H.
“Aunt Sophie!” Belinda raced up to the group when they came through the door. Over the past three years the relationship between Sophie and Belinda had only grown stronger until Sophie was firmly in the position of Favorite Aunt to Kate’s annoyance. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Sophie hugged her tight. She glanced over to see that Violet Bridgerton had also come to greet the group. Oddly, as Benedict and his mother hugged, they seemed to be whispering something and shooting furtive looks at Sophie. “Mum, it’s good to see you.”
Violet had burst into tears when a year into dating Benedict, Sophie asked if she could call Violet “Mum.” Sophie thought it only made sense as Posy – who had also been adopted by the Bridgertons – had started calling Violet “Mum” a month earlier. Though she would never admit it, everyone knew that Sophie was Violet’s favorite daughter-in-law, even if Benedict hadn’t bothered to pop the question yet.
At that moment, Portia Featherington came into the living room, “Oh good. Sophie and Hyacinth are here. I wanted to talk about the colour palette of Felicity’s bridal shower.”
“Come now, Portia,” Violet chuckled. “The girls are off the clock. You can call them tomorrow and discuss whatever you want for Felicity’s shower. It’s still a few months away.”
Gareth leaned into Hyacinth, “She just doesn’t want you to bill for the time.”
She muttered back, “If she thinks she as the mother of the bride gets more say than me as Maid of Honour and official event planner, she’s got another thing coming.”
Sophie – who had overheard the conversation – shook her head. Frankly, she thought that Felicity and Geoffrey were a bit too young to get married, but it wasn’t her business to judge her clients’ reasons for engaging her services.
Besides, the Whistledown fandom was losing its mind that the Featherdale pairing was getting married after they could no longer thirst for a Polin wedding.
“Shall we to the garden?” Violet asked, nearly getting knocked over by Biscuit when Benedict let him off the leash.
Everyone agreed and began to migrate, but Benedict grabbed Belinda by the arm.
“I have a special job for you,” he grinned.
Everyone was already present. Daphne and Simon were chatting with Anthony. Kate was with Frederich, Edwina, and the new baby, Kapoor. The four Featherington sisters seemed to be arguing over something while Harry, Albion, and Geoffrey awkwardly made small chat. Colin was attacking the snack table, gobbling up all of the famous Danbury shortbread. Gregory was tending to his girlfriend Lucy, who was looking a bit pale from her morning sickness of their “Oops Baby.” Francesca was laughing with Michaela, both still wearing a black armband for poor late John, now gone two years. Agatha Danbury was holding court in the deck chairs as she chatted with Mary beside her, the spot on the other side clear where Violet had evidently been sitting. Newton and Biscuit were chasing each other in the grass. Marcus Danbury was playing with Violet’s youngest grandchild, still a little self conscious that the toddler called him “Grandpa” despite having moved in with Violet a year previous. Hugh and Posy were trailing in behind the newly arrived group, having finally freshened up after church. And all the kids were racing about, hopped up on the excess amount of chocolate they had already consumed.
Sophie couldn’t help but smile at this amazing group of family and friends she had earned.
Because earned it is what she had done. She was one of them in every respect there was.
“Sophie!” Colin brightened at seeing her arrive. He greeted her with a hug, “Happy Easter!”
“Happy Easter,” she echoed. “How are you doing?”
“Oh great. Everything is fantastic. You know the channel just hit 10 million subscribers? We’re shooting the Diamond Play button reveal video this week.”
“That’s great. I’m proud of Penelope.”
“Not as proud as I am.”
“I’m not fighting you for that title,” Sophie grinned. “I don’t think anyone is.”
Colin chuckled, reaching up to scratch his face causing the sun to glint off his wedding ring, “The internet doesn’t call me ‘Colin My Wife Bridgerton’ for no reason.”
It had been almost two years since that happy drunken night when Penelope and Colin shared a kiss, realized their feelings, …and then shared something a little more. Everyone was ecstatic when the video “Polin is Canon!” dropped, though Violet had chided her son to at least text her about things like this rather than learning via a Twitter notification.
Of course, it was a good thing that they had gotten together so quickly, because seven weeks after the video dropped Penelope had to post another video, this one called “Polin is Having a Baby!”
Thankfully this time Colin and Penelope had invited their mothers to dinner to share the news before dropping the video.
Hearing a familiar babble, Colin’s head instinctually turned towards his one-year-old son, Thomas, playing with Grandpa Marcus.
As Penelope had vowed, her pregnancy and baby were not a point of focus of her channel, and for the most part they did not feature Thomas at all on the channel. In fact, the plan was not to even reveal his name to the public until Portia one day posted a picture on Instagram of her and her grandson captioned “Me and Baby Thomas.”
Colin had hit the damn roof.
“Yeah, life is going pretty good,” Colin mused. “Although, both our cars are currently in the shop. I was thinking maybe I could borrow your Civic for a few days?”
“We have been over this, Colin,” Sophie said sternly, “you are absolutely never getting into my car ever again.”
At Penelope’s bachelorette party – she and Colin had the wedding after the baby was born – a few drinks too many were had by Penelope and it all came out. Everyone knew that Colin and Penelope had conceived their son from a drunken hookup, but it was then that Penelope revealed that they had hooked up in the backseat of Sophie’s Civic that Colin was borrowing while she and Francesca were vacationing in China.
Needless to say, Colin wasn’t allowed near her car with a ten foot pole ever again.
“Why don’t you ask Daphne to borrow her car?” Sophie suggested. “She does have three.”
“You need to borrow my car?” Daphne’s voice suddenly came as she joined the group.
Sophie looked at Colin in annoyance, “He’s trying to borrow my Civic.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t put Thomas in that, Colin. It’s over twenty years old,” Daphne said.
“Hey!” Sophie scowled.
“Come on, Sophie, it’s not like it doesn’t constantly break down these days. She’s on her last legs. Honestly, if it’s a money thing, let me take care of it. Let me buy you a new car for an Easter gift.
Sophie just stared at her almost sister-in-law, “Daphne, that is the most insane thing anyone has ever said to me, and I'm including 'let me pay you to pretend to run an Etsy shop.'"
Daphne just shrugged.
Across the lawn, Benedict smiled as he drank his mimosa. He loved watching Sophie with his family. She was such a perfect fit and he knew he had made the right choice.
Sometimes he wished his father was still around to meet her. Edmund would have loved Sophie.
“So,” Posy’s voice came beside him, “today’s the big day?”
“Not so loud,” Benedict looked around cautiously. “I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”
“Fair enough,” Posy shrugged, drinking her pineapple prosecco mimosa. “How are you feeling? Nervous?”
“Not as nervous as when I asked you for your blessing. You weirdly put me through the ringer for that.”
“I still think I should have made you complete three quests like in a fairy tale, but I couldn’t put up with Hugh going on about how it was unrealistic, mean, and how would you even come up with quests.”
“I thank God every day that you found Hugh to balance you out.”
“And he literally thanks God every day that Sophie found you to balance her out.” Posy smiled sincerely, “I’m serious, Benedict. I’m so happy that you entered into our lives. You’ve made things so much the better for it.”
“No,” he smiled longingly at Sophie, “she made me a better man. And I’m excited to start my life with her fully and truly.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Let’s put this plan into motion?”
And Benedict grinned.
The Grandchild Easter Egg Hunt was an annual tradition born from the days of the Bridgerton Children Easter Egg Hunt. Plastic eggs were hidden all over the house after everyone arrived, and the children would be let loose to find as many as possible.
Of course, as it was Anthony and Kate doing the hiding, some of the eggs would be straight up ridiculous. Daphne still ranted about the one hid in the grandfather clock, and Simon still cracked up about the one hidden in the fridge in the carton of real eggs.
There was a prize for who could find the most eggs, and with literally 300 eggs hidden, none of the grandchildren could really say it was unfair. Most of the time, the kids would clock out at about 200 eggs altogether.
Inside each egg was a small toy, chocolate, or slip of paper with the name of a bigger prize like a Blu-Ray or a stuffed animal or a sleepover party. Of course, as some children would find a lot more than others, when the kids were distracted to play other games, Anthony and Simon would slip more prizes into the baskets of those who found less, and everyone would pretend that all the kids found the same amount.
Sharing was a big thing emphasized that day, so the children were expected to share their treats with each other and the grown up. It wasn’t unusual for a child to race up to an Aunt or Uncle with a plastic egg and offer them it.
So, Sophie thought nothing of when Belinda came up to her in the middle of chatting with Benedict with a plastic pink egg.
“Here, Aunt Sophie,” Belinda held out the egg. “This one is for you.”
Peering casually at the somewhat transparent egg, she could see a slip of paper inside. That always meant a big ticket treat and the adults tended to leave those for the children.
“That’s alright, Sweetie,” Sophie smiled. “You keep that for yourself.”
“But,” Belinda looked helplessly at Benedict, “Uncle Ben said that-”
“Why don’t you take that treat from Belinda?” Benedict suggested, trying not to show his shaking hands. “I think you’ll enjoy it more than her.”
Sophie frowned but opened the egg. It was just a simple scrap of paper. She didn’t even notice the gasps all around her as she unfolded the paper.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
Instantly Sophie’s eyes flew to Benedict, but he was gone from his chair.
Now instead he was knelt on the ground, holding open a ring box to her with the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.
“Sophia Maria Beckett,” Benedict began, “you and I have had the most insane adventure I could have ever imagined. It was a story filled with nonsense and hijinks. At any time, you could have walked away from this insane offer from a gentleman, but you didn’t. You stayed and you chose to love me. I don’t believe I chose to love you. I just did. From the moment I first saw you in that Starbucks- No. From that first comment on my Reddit post, my heart was yours. I sincerely believe that you are my soulmate, my other half, and that everything I had ever done in life was all to bring me to you. These past three years have been the best of my life. I promised you eternity and now I want to follow through on that promise. Sophie Beckett, will you marry me?”
With tears glittering in her eyes, Sophie whispered, “Yes!”
He shot to his feet and grabbed her into a hug, a hug that she eagerly returned, weeping into his shoulder. All around them, tears flowed and hands clapped, everyone overjoyed for Benedict and Sophie to finally join in marriage.
And that night, a new template was posted to What’s the Buzz?
To think it all started with Daphne’s baby shower.
The End