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Measuring a Year

Summary:

2024 through several group chats in the Sharma-Bridgerton/Baek-Bridgerton/Bridgerton/Basset/Bridgerton/Stirling/Bridgerton/St. Clair family.

Chapter 1: January: Dr. Quendt’s ABC Letter Biscuits

Summary:

Members: Ant, Ben Colin, Daphne, El, Fran, Greg, and Hy

Chapter Text

Daphne: Okay. No one panic.

 

Ant: I’m getting dressed.

 

Colin: I’ll meet you there.

 

Ant: 👍🏻

 

Daphne: Wait.

Daphne: Fran, what does Mum want us to do?

 

Fran: We’re all being asked to come over. 

Fran: No in-laws. Just us.

 

El: It’s early.

 

Ben: El.

 

El: I’m just saying.

 

Hy: Can this be an afternoon thing?

 

Fran: I missed morning snuggles because of this so no.

 

Hy: Fine.

 

Greg: She’s going to call everyone.

Greg: Act surprised.


 

Ant: It’s too soon.

 

Greg: They’ve been dating for what? Two years?

 

Hy: I thought you approved?

 

Ant: Of dating!

Ant: Not getting married.

 

Daphne: Mum doesn’t need your approval.

 

El: Is she going to change her name?

 

Fran: Probably not. 

Fran: She’s too established.

 

Colin: He should have asked us first.

 

Ben: Agreed.

 

Ant: I’m calling him for a meeting.

 

Daphne: When?

 

Ant: Next week.

 

Greg: An everyone meeting?

 

Ant: I am aware of the logistics.

Ant: And that some of you don’t feel as passionate.

 

Fran: If you set a meeting, I’ll go.

 

Ant: You will?

 

Fran: I agree he should have asked us first.

 

El: 🤯

 

Daphne: Set the meeting, Ant.

 

Ant: I’ll keep you posted.


 

Ant: Invite is out.

 

Colin: We’re doing it at BG?

Colin: I figured we’d get lunch.

 

Ant: Everyone can expense a delivery.

 

Colin: Thank you!


 

Ben: He’s too charming.

 

Colin: Stay strong!


 

Daphne: I can’t argue with a spur of the moment proposal.

 

El: So we get mad at Mum for saying yes?

 

Daphne: No.

Daphne: Mum deserves to be happy.

 

Ant: We make her happy.

 

Greg: We shouldn’t be the only source of her happiness.

 

Ant: The kids too.

 

Ben: Lot of pressure you are putting on Charlie’s little shoulders, Ant.

 

Hy: They look so happy, though.

 

El: Mum hasn’t smiled like that in a while.


 

Ant: So what do we do?

 

Colin: Mum said they aren’t telling anyone just yet.

 

Daphne: That’s good. We can table this for now.

 

Ant: Fine.

 

Daphne: What are your other halves saying?

 

Ant: We aren’t telling them.

 

Daphne: We aren’t?

 

Ant: They are not announcing just yet anyway.

Ant: No one tells.

 

Colin: Are you serious?

 

Ant: I’m invoking my Dad card.

 

El: Rude, Ant.

 

Ant: I don’t use it. 

Ant: You know I don’t.

 

Ben: Alright, Ant. Calm down.

Ben: We won’t tell.


 

Ant: I want confirmation from everyone.

 

Hy: I won’t tell.

 

Greg: Fran was on speakerphone.

 

Ant: Fran?

 

Fran: Neither of us will tell.

 

Ant: Thank you.

 

Daphne: I won’t tell anyone.

 

Ben: Not telling.

 

Colin: My lips are zipped.

 

El: I won’t tell Cress.

 

Greg: I’m not saying anything.

 

Ant: Great. 

 

Colin: No pleasure doing business?

 

Ant: Not for this.


 

Daphne: Hy. El. Which one of you stole my jacket?

 

El: I don’t like your clothes.

 

Hy: It was El.

 

Ant: This should be in the sister chat.

 

Hy: Fran will murder us.

 

Daphne: She’s deep in her composition.

Daphne: Simon can’t even go over for lego.

 

El: The Sister chat is the only one she currently doesn't have muted.

 

Colin: So you come in here?

 

Ant: She mutes this chat?

Ant: I thought she stopped that after Andrew.

 

Colin: Give Daph her jacket back, Hy.

 

Hy: I don’t have it.

 

Daphne: She mutes most chats.

Daphne: I think only you and I can get around the muting.

 

El: No I can.

El: See?

 

Hy: Wait, the green one?

 

El: FRAN

 

Daphne: Yes.

 

Hy: Sorry. I’ll bring it to brunch.

Hy: El has the brown one you’ve been looking for.

 

El: Hy!

 

Daphne: El!

 

El: I’ll bring it to brunch.


 

Daphne: Told you El.

Daphne: FRAN

 

Ant: FRAN


 

Ant: Okay wow. 

Ant: I’m texting Michaela.


 

Ant: Someone text Michaela.

 

Daphne: She has you muted?

 

Ant: She yelled at me to leave Fran alone.

 

Ben: 😂

Ben: I’ll text Michaela.


 

Ben: Fran wants to know what you want.

 

Ant: She needs to come in here and ask that herself.

 

Ben: BTW

Ben: Greg also mutes this chat.

 

Ant: NO ONE SHOULD BE MUTING THE BIG CHAT.

 

Ben: I do sometimes. 

Ben: When I’m working.

 

Daphne: Same.

 

El: I just set my whole phone to DND at work now.

 

Ant: Greg? Fran?

 

Greg: What’s up?

 

Ant: You mute this chat?

 

Greg: You can get around it.

 

Ant: And Fran?

 

Greg: Fran.

 

Fran: Yeah?

 

Ant: Greg is the alarm?

 

Fran: He won’t call me for anything dumb.

Fran: Also Daph, El has some of your jeans.

Fran: Hy has some of your shirts.

Fran: El, Hy has your black jacket.

Fran: Hy, Daphne has that dress you’ve been looking for.

Fran: I’ve muted the sister chat. Have at it.

 

Daphne: Are you serious right now?

 

Ant: SISTER CHAT.

 

El: Fine.

 

Fran: I unmuted the big chat, Ant.

Fran: Don’t make me regret it.

 

Ant: We’ll do our best.


 

Ant: Which one of you gave Neddy sweets?

 

Colin: Sorry.

 

Ant: Seriously?

Ant: I’m telling Kate.

 

Colin: No. Don’t.

 

Ant: Too late.

 

Daphne: Wait, was that you with Augie and Bel too?

 

Colin: No comment.

 

Daphne: Colin.

 

Ant: Kate told Simon.

 

Colin: Why are you guys like this?!

 

Fran: Seriously?

 

Ant: Sorry. We’re moving it.


 

Hy: Ant.

 

Ant: What?

 

Greg: I didn’t say anything. 

Greg: Gareth got there all by himself.

 

Ant: I’m staying out of it.

 

Fran: Take this to The Sequel chat.

 

El: I don’t have that muted!

 

Fran: Then mute it.

 

El: Done. Have fun kids.

 

Hy: Fine.


 

Ben: Why is my supply order opened?

 

Daphne: That was yours?

Daphne: Why are you sending things to Mum's?

 

Ben: I do that so Sophie doesn’t have to walk the box to my shed.

 

Daphne: I thought it was my stuff.

 

Ben: It had my name on it!

Ben: Why are you sending things to Mum’s?

 

Daphne: It’s easier to pick up from the office

Daphne: Also it’s a surprise for Simon.

 

Fran: FF chat.

Fran: Now.

 

Ben: Sorry.

 

Daphne: Sorry Fran.


 

Ant: Fran are you working?

 

Fran: I’m on a break.

 

Ant: Good.

Ant: Are these moods because of the Secret?

 

Daphne: No. I was looking for my jacket.

 

Ben: I was mad about my stuff.

Ben: But Daph did a great job organizing it.

 

Daphne: Thanks.

 

Hy: I’m not mad at Greg anymore.

 

Greg: Oh good.

 

Hy: But it’s hard not talking about the secret!

Hy: I want to talk about it.

 

Ant: Talk to us.

 

Hy: I want to talk to someone else.

Hy: Michaela is the only in-law who knows.

Hy: Right?

 

Fran: No.

 

Hy: Fran please.

 

Fran: I will ask. 


 

Fran: Only Hy.

 

Hy: Thank you.

 

Fran: And she says you get one conversation a month.

 

Hy:  I’ll take it.


 

El: Fran?

 

Fran: Having Andrew time.

 

El: 👍🏻

El: One of your spawn got Cress sick.

 

Colin: Spawn?

 

El: It was probably Thomas.

 

Colin: He is fine.

 

El: She only held Thomas and Andrew recently.

El: Andrew doesn’t get sick.

 

Greg: He has a runny nose right now.

 

El: He does?

 

Greg: Fran mentioned it when I watched him yesterday.

 

Fran: He has a small cold.

Fran: Cress probably got it from him.

 

El: Oh.

El: Is he okay?

 

Fran: He’s feeling better.

Fran: We already apologized to Cress.

 

El: Well, it’s fine. 

El: It happens.

 

Colin: Seriously?


 

Greg: Who told Mum about Lucy going dress shopping?

Greg: Daph? Hy?

 

Hy: No. She told us not to.

 

Daphne: I wouldn’t do that to her.

 

Colin: Sorry.

 

Greg: How do you even know?

 

Colin: Pen is going.

 

Greg: Why did you tell Mum?

 

Colin: I’m sorry.

Colin: It was an accident.

 

Greg: Was it?

 

Colin: What do you take me for?

 

Fran: Anthony.

 

Greg: Someone who likes to tell Mum everything.

 

Colin: Rude!

 

Ant: BridgerBoys.

 

Greg: Fine.

 

Ant: Go ahead and mute it.

Ant: Just check in occasionally.

 

Fran: 👍🏻


 

Colin: The vibe at brunch was bad.

 

Hy: Because Fran is pissed at all of us.

 

Ben: Which made Michaela pissed.

Ben: Which made the in-laws pissed at everyone but their spouse.

 

Daphne: Colin?

 

Colin: Yes?

 

Daphne: Are you making a statement or offering a solution?

 

Colin: A solution.

Colin: I would like to suggest we finally do our Sibling Sleepover Night

 

El: When did we decide to have one?

 

Greg: The summer.

 

Ben: We should have done this during the New Year.

Ben: It’s hard to get a night away.

 

Hy: Also I like sharing a bed with Gareth.

 

Greg: Eww.

 

Daphne: I get it Hy.

 

El: Where would we do this?

 

Ant: Kate is helping Edwina and Mary unpack next weekend.

Ant: She’s taking Neddy for Sharma time.

Ant: The house will be free.

 

Daphne: Tentative yes.

 

El: Yeah. I’m clear.

 

Greg: In.

Greg: Fran?

 

Colin: YES

 

Hy: Saturday night or Friday Night?

 

Ant: I would prefer Friday.

 

Hy: I can do that.


 

Fran: Yes to Friday.

Fran: Also all the chats are unmuted again.

 

Colin: 🎉

 

El: It’s in?

 

Fran: Yes.

 

Greg: Congrats!

 

Fran: Thank you.


 

Ben: Yes to Friday.

 

Daphne: Also yes to Friday.


 

Colin: Who is in charge of snacks for the sleepover?

 

Fran: Bring your own snacks.

 

Colin: Guys!

 

Greg: BYOS


 

Daphne: Are we doing matching pyjamas or a menu or something?

 

Ben: No?

 

El: Oh the Brother Nights must be boring.

 

Colin: You guys do matching pyjamas?

 

Hy: We do a theme for the whole night.

 

Colin: I knew you guys had more fun.


 

Greg: Are we watching movies or just talking?

 

El: I refuse to just talk all night with you lot.

El: We’re going to end up talking about Fran’s sex life and Daphne’s kids fighting.

 

Hy: Well, what movies are we watching?

 

Ant: I’ll pick.

 

Daphne: No.

 

Ben: Yeah no.

 

Fran: Everyone bring two movies.

 

Greg: 👍🏻


 

Colin: Are we carpooling or…

 

Hy: I will pick you up. Be ready when I get there.

 

Colin: 👍🏻


 

Daphne: Are we having drinks?

 

Ant: Some drinks. But not too many.

Ant: We’re all a bit too old for that now.

 

Ben: Speak for yourself.


 

Daphne: I got stuck on a call but I’m on my way.


 

Hy: Who is able to pick up Colin?

 

Colin: I’m coming right now!


 

Ant: I don’t know what that was between you two but figure it out!


 

Ant: Colin?

Ant: Eloise?


 

Fran: Eloise wants everyone to know that she is not talking to Colin for the foreseeable future.

 

Ben: She told me the same. 

Ben: Then he told me the same.

 

Daphne: He also told me the same.

 

Ant: 🤦🏻‍♂️


 

Greg: Brunch is awkward and now I’m mad at them.

 

Ant: No more fighting.

 

Ben: Does anyone know what the in-laws are doing?

 

Daphne: Cress and Pen are on it.

 

Ben: 👍🏻


 

Fran: I’ve been drafted in the Colin/Eloise war.

 

Hy: I’m sorry, Fran.

 

Fran: Save your sorries for after I ask Michaela to step in.

 

Ant: Michaela?

 

Fran: As I am sure you are all aware the in-laws use me as a last resort when they don’t want to do things or to fix things.

 

Hy: What?

 

Daphne: They do?

 

Ben: They do.

 

Fran: I use Michaela’s psychology degree as a last resort to fix things.

Fran: I now have to ask her to mediate this conversation.

 

Ant: She’s a sex therapist.

Ant: I don’t foresee her being helpful here.

 

Fran: Her specialty is issues around sex.

Fran: She still had to take general psychology courses.

 

Greg: We need all the help we can get.

 

Ant: You have a point.

 

Daphne: She doesn’t use the degree with the in-laws?

 

Fran: Only in emergencies. 

Fran: She doesn’t like to use it with loved ones.

 

Ant: Michaela loves us?

 

Fran: No comment.

 

Greg: 😬

 

Ben: Come on!

 

Hy: I think Fran is trying to spare our feelings.

 

Fran: She doesn’t like to say it but yes.

 

Ben: Awww.

 

Hy: Well, sorry to Michaela.

 

Fran: I will pass along the message.


 

Daphne: When is this happening?

 

Fran: Saturday at 2.


 

Ben: Can she meet with them earlier?

 

Fran: I am not going to ask her to adapt her schedule for their idiocy.

 

Ben: It was just a question.

 

Ant: Ben. Fran.

 

Fran: Sorry. 

Fran: They are driving me nuts.

 

Ben: Forgiven.

Ben: Same.


 

Hy: I’m tired of being a go between those two.

 

Ant: You?

 

Hy: Ben and Fran quit. 

Hy: And they know not to bother Daph.

 

Greg: Why?

 

Hy: Simon.

 

Greg: Right.


 

Ant: Has anyone talked to Pen?

 

Ben: She’s annoyed.

 

Fran: Lucy and Gareth are on it.

 

Ant: 👍🏻


 

Daphne: Cress is at her wit’s end.

 

Fran: She can get in line.

 

Ben: Can it be earlier on Saturday?

 

Fran: I’m trying to see if she will change her plans with Gareth.

 

Hy: I will change the plans.


 

Fran: Saturday at 11

 

Daphne: What’s before 11?

 

Fran: Simon and Kate.

 

Ant: Let me try.


 

Fran: Saturday at 9.

 

Ben: Before 9?

 

Fran: Me and our son.

 

Ant: Saturday at 9 it is.


 

Daphne: Okay. Pen texted that it is going down now.

 

Ben: Where is she?

 

Daphne: In the yard with Cress and Thomas.

 

Hy: Andrew is in there with them?

 

Daphne: Pen and Cress offered to take him but Michaela said no.

 

Greg: Oh no.

 

Hy: She will murder them if he cries.


 

Fran: They’ve been here for 10 minutes and she looks like she wants to scream.

 

Ant: I empathize.

 

Daphne: Are you helping or just sitting there?

 

Fran: I was going to help but Michaela has taken over.

Fran: It’s something to watch.

 

Hy: Calm down.

 

Fran: I’ve never seen anyone get them to stop talking with the word no.

Fran: It’s so sexy.

 

Greg: CALM DOWN

 

Ben: Eloise shut up?

Ben: While fighting with Colin?!

 

Daphne: Well, maybe we should ask her to do this more often.

 

Fran: No.

Fran: She looks exhausted.


 

Ant: How is it going?

 

Fran: There have been tears.

 

Daphne: From who?

 

Fran: Colin and Eloise.

 

Hy: How?

 

Fran: Michaela made them cry when she mentioned Cress, Pen and Thomas.


 

Fran: They’re hugging.

Fran: I think we’re good.

 

Hy: 🙌🏻

 

Greg: So, what does Michaela want?

 

Fran: I’ll ask.


 

Fran: She has asked to never be pulled into a major Bridgerton fight again.

 

Ant: I can’t promise a never.

Ant: But she is the last person on my list.

 

Fran: She’ll take it.


 

Colin: Sorry everyone!

 

El: We are all good now!

 

Ben: Glad to hear it. 

 

Ant: I want this apology in person tomorrow.

 

Colin: What?

 

El: No. We apologized.

 

Greg: In person. 

 

Daphne: Mum included.

 

Colin: NO

 

Fran: I’m telling Michaela.

 

El: We’ll apologize tomorrow.

 

Hy: Thank you.


 

Ben: Just want to let the record reflect that those were weak apologies but we all have agreed to forgive you.

 

El: Thanks.

 

Colin: Yeah. Thanks.

 

Ben: But you owe everyone one favor now.