A/N Originally, I was going to call this Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but then I tried to look up what the equivalent of Hollywood would be in the U.K. and it didn't work for this. But then I vaguely remembered the first line of the aforementioned Oscar-winning movie was something similar. After a quick check, I learned it was "Once Upon a Time," so I kept it short and just went with it.
"Pen, we need your help," Colin pleaded. Penelope had never been able to resist this man in her life. But she would still put up a token protest.
"Colin, you've already cast me as the antagonist, and now you want me to sing too?" Penelope said, acting like she didn't want to do it.
"Antagonist is harsh; you're the fairy godmother," Colin said.
"Yeah, the one keeping the main couple apart!" Penelope said, even though she knew she'd already decided to do it.
"Please, Penelope. This will be the song that ties the whole movie together. We're trying to combat the sequel curse here."
"Ugh, fine. I'll do it. What song are you thinking about?" She asked.
"Okay, you can change it if you don't want to do it," Colin said.
"Just tell me what you're thinking of," Penelope asked.
"Holding Out for a Hero," Colin tried not to smile. Penelope was a massive Bonnie Tyler fan.
"Colin, you know that's my go-to karaoke song."
"All I'm hearing is that you know all the words."
"You want to ruin my karaoke song?"
"It's not ruining it if you absolutely smash it!"
"You're lucky that I love you." Penelope sighed. She knew that he wouldn't pick up on her true meaning.
"Yes! Let's tackle the song first." Colin let out his gigantic grin.
"Oh, no! That has to be the last thing that I record."
Technically, the movie was right up Penelope's alley. But at the same time, it was not at all what she would usually do. On the one hand, it was a comedy, and it was challenging. On the other hand, it was an animation (which was not exactly her thing), she literally only had a week to record it (and add a song on top of it). Ugh - this was going to be a whole thing.
At least Penelope could sing. Holding Out for a Hero was her karaoke song for a reason. Not everyone could sing - and not everyone could sing this song - well. Penelope didn't just sing the song well; she killed it.
Thankfully, Penelope wasn't an A-List celebrity that would get her swarmed at karaoke. Well, not yet.
However, the Bridgertons were in a class of their own. Everyone knew the incredible love story of the James Bond actor of the past generation falling for an extra on the set - and then going on to have eight children (almost a scandal in itself for how many they had). Unfortunately, tragedy struck and Edmund was suddenly taken from the world in a terrible accident.
Eloise had even mentioned that directors had approached their family about making a documentary about it. She had asked whether "Go to Hell" would be an appropriate response. Penelope recommended a strong "Piss off," and Colin tended to go with "Screw you," instead. Penelope knew that each of the siblings had their own preferred version - though they kept any and all requests away from Violet.
Yet, everyone in the family went into the industry. Nearly all of them started as actors - except for Eloise and Hyacinth (though Colin and Gregory both decided to stop acting despite their successful careers).
Penelope first met Eloise early on in their careers. Eloise had joined the improv skit show that Penelope was on to learn more about the behind-the-scenes elements across a variety of shows. All while Eloise was searching for the perfect project to direct. They became fast friends. Though it was a skit show, Penelope had spent time writing the scenes that kicked off a skit. As she and Eloise became fast friends, Penelope even shared some of her other work with Eloise.
Eloise was inspired. She ended up writing her own work and a year later, Eloise had a script that she was ready to direct. At this point, Colin had fully made the switch from acting to producing (though it would take Gregory another three years to do so as well).
At the afterparty of Eloise's directing debut, Eloise forced Penelope to meet all the Bridgertongs. Penelope was extremely intimidated. Then, the whole family had the audacity to be kind. Colin Bridgerton was even charming her!
Over time, Penelope and Colin had become friends. Through repeated exposure, Penelope had been able to tone down her crush. Penelope ended up helping both Eloise in her transition to director and Colin in his transition from an actor who occasionally produces to become a full-time producer. They both helped Penelope as she took a chance to leave the improv skit show and start her own comedy show.
Years later, here they were. Colin was producing a sequel to an Oscar-winning animation, and Penelope was starring in it. Penelope had thrived in the comedy space. Her show took off and it became a hit. Though, she felt that she had conquered it and wanted to chase something new. This led to her taking on a few too many projects - both on screen and in the theater.
With her crazy schedule, Penelope only had one week to devote to this role. Colin had promised they'd be able to make it work. Plus, she could never say no to spending more time with him (even if she had to cut short a trip home to do it, but with her mother that was more of a blessing than a curse).
"You owe me drinks - lots of them," Penelope said.
"Love, if this goes the way I think it will, I'll buy you a house." Colin threw his arm around her shoulders, steering her toward the recording booth. "Now get in there."
Penelope sighed and did as she was told. Though Penelope was a comedienne, this role required her to play the villain seriously. Taking a deep breath to center herself, she focused and got to work.
Whether it was because Penelope was a professional or because she was spending time with Colin, the three days flew by. Penelope powered through her lines and had so much fun working with Colin, she was almost done.
"Incredible! You smashed it as always, Penelope." Colin said from outside the booth at the end of the third day. "We just have two scenes left and then the song."
"I might need to make you my agent if you keep bringing me projects like this. It has been so fun." Penelope admitted. She left the booth and fell onto the couch. Sprawling out, she put her feet on the cushion.
"Budge up," Colin patted her shoes. She lifted them, and Colin slid into the space between her feet and the couch. Pulling her feet onto his lap, Colin stared at her with twinkling eyes.
"What?" She threw her arm over her face - cutting off her vision of him and his gorgeous green eyes.
"You're incredible."
"I know."
"Don't get cocky," Colin said and hit her thigh lightly.
Penelope just laughed.
"Hey, look at me," He said seriously.
"What's up?" She removed her arm from her head and looked at him. At the serious look on his face, she sat up and moved her feet to the ground.
"I love you," He said.
"I know," Penelope was confused. "I love you too."
"No, Pen," Colin groaned. "I'm in love with you."
"Oh, I'm in love with you too," Penelope said smiling, not missing a beat in responding.
"Pen, you didn't even think about it," Colin said with a slight frown.
"Yeah, I don't need to. I figured it out years ago. I've been waiting for you to catch up." Penelope scooted closer to him until there was little to no space between the two of them.
"Wait, what?" He was so confused. He looked so cute.
Penelope couldn't stop herself from giving him a quick and light kiss.
"Pen, are you telling me that I've been working myself up for months for no reason? If you've felt like this, why didn't you say anything?"
"You weren't ready, love." Penelope paused. "I wasn't sure when you would be ready. Now, do you want to keep debating whether or not I'm in love with you - which I will win - or do you want to kiss me?"
Well, when she put it like that … there was no contest. Colin kissed her.
When the sequel finally came out, it beat the budget and then some - it even made more than the first film. Clearly, it broke the sequel curse. Penelope's musical number was regarded as one of the best songs in a film by many critics. Plus, Penelope won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Villain.
Penelope maintains the best result of the movie was that it pushed her husband to finally make a move.
A/N Okay, so we all know the "she falls first, he falls harder," but how about she falls first and doesn't run and hide once he catches up and falls too? Sorry, the backstory got away from me. There was going to be a whole bit about the Bridgerton film dynasty - with Hyacinth and Eloise as directors, Anthony, Benedict, Daphne, and Francesca as actors, and finally Gregory and Colin as producers. But, this already spiraled out of control. (I know nothing about acting/Hollywood/recording studios/schedules, but according to Wikipedia, Jennifer Saunders wrapped up her role in four days #Legend)
