Disclaimer: I do not own Bridgerton or any of its characters. Anything you may recognize belongs to Julia Quinn and any other original creators.

"Mama!"

Kate looked up from the garden as her four-year-old son ran up to her. "What is it?" She asked as she bent down to his level. She noticed that he was holding something in his hands. "Can you show me?"

Edmund nodded and then opened up his hands revealing a bumblebee. "Isn't it cool?"

"A bee?" Kate frowned, looking from the bee to her son's face. "Did you pick it up?"

Edmund shook his head. "I was going to pick a flower and then it crawled on my hand," He smiled innocently. "I think it likes me,"

Kate looked closely as the bee crawled around her son's hand. She was surprised the insect had not felt threatened, and at the same time, she couldn't help but be amused. Then a moment later it flapped its wings and then flew away.

"Bye!" Edmund waved as the bee flew away. "It'll come back later…" He added turning to his mother with an excitable grin.

"And if it does, you must leave it be," Kate told him. "Bees don't typically like to be bothered,"

"But it landed on me," Edmund pointed out.

"If one does, you must be gentle," Kate cautioned.

"I wouldn't hurt it," Edmund said. "Not if it wants to be friends,"

"Even if you are not intending to hurt it, if you aren't careful, it may feel like you are," Kate tried to explain in a way that her son would understand, but without scaring him. She did not want Edmund to fear bees like Anthony does, but she also wanted to keep him from getting stung. There was no telling if he would inherit his grandfather's allergy or not. "If the bee gets scared, even if you aren't trying to scare it, it might try to defend itself…"

"Would it hurt?" Edmund asked.

"It would," Kate answered honestly.

"I don't want it to hurt me," Edmund frowned.

"And that is why you mustn't bother them," Kate urged. "And if one lands on you, don't try to swat it away,"

"Because that would make it mad?"

"It might," Kate nodded.

"Okay…" Edmund understood what his mother was saying. "Can I still play in the garden?"

"Of course, my love," Kate said.

"And they won't get mad if I watch them, will they?"

"No," Kate answered, "I would think not,"

"I like watching them on the flowers!" Edmund went back to the part of the garden where the hyacinths were growing. He sat a few feet away and watched as the bees flew from flower to flower in fascination. Kate watched from the other side and couldn't help but think about how it would have gone if he had shown his father the bumblebee.

A couple of weeks later, Kate was taking a walk-through Hyde Park with Anthony and their son. It had been raining frequently over the last couple of weeks and once the sun finally came out, they both thought some fresh air would be good for all of them. While Edmund ran off where a few other children were playing, both the viscount and his wife sat down on a bench to watch him play.

"We haven't had an afternoon like this in a while," Kate pointed out as Anthony put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him.

"I believe you are right," Anthony nodded as he placed a kiss on her temple and took in her scent of fresh lilies.

"Your duties have kept you busy,"

"I am never too busy for you," Anthony said.

"Is that so?" Kate asked. "Do you plan to make it up to me tonight?"

"I could make it up to you right now,"

"Anthony!" Kate laughed.

"We could go back to the house right now," Anthony would make it happen if Kate desired it. "Just say the word, my lady,"

"Edmund is having fun," Kate reminded him. "You know how much he likes to be outside and I do not wish to spoil his fun,"

Anthony looked over and watched as his son ran over to the big tree. "He does appear to be enjoying himself," He certainly wasn't going to spoil his fun. "I guess we better get comfortable," He wrapped both of his arms around Kate and placed his head against hers, placing a small kiss behind her ear.

"I think we could stay here a while," Kate said.

"I, as well," Anthony agreed. He couldn't think of a better way to enjoy the afternoon. Being out in the warmth of the sun, being able to smell the lilies in bloom, and all while holding his wife and watching his son play; it was blissful. And Anthony was certain that there couldn't be anything that could ruin that.

"Daddy!"

Anthony turned his attention towards his son as Edmund came running over with something in his hands. "What do you have there?"

Kate looked over and suddenly felt anxious, having a feeling of what their son was holding. Oh gods, tell me I'm wrong…

Edmund opened his hands, revealing a bumblebee in his palm, and then suddenly, Anthony went as white as a sheet.

"Edmund…" Kate sighed. It had to be a bee… "What did I tell you about messing with the bees?"

"But Mama, he can't fly," Edmund carefully brought his hands closer to his parents so they could see the bee up close. "There's something wrong with his wing," The bumblebee's wings moved, but it did not fly from Edmund's hands. "He could have got hurt if I left him," He got closer to his father and Anthony tried as hard as he could to inch away.

"I see," Kate looked from Edmund to Anthony, and then back. "Perhaps, you should keep him safe,"

"Daddy…" Edmund frowned, taking notice of his father's paleness and how his eyes were wide and locked onto the bee in his hands. "What's wrong?"

Anthony could not speak at first. All he could do was stare at the creature in his son's hands like it were going to attack him if he moved. He felt Kate grab his hand and squeeze, which gave him the strength to clear his throat and force a smile. "I'm alright, Edmund,"

Edmund didn't believe his father and then managed to catch on quickly as his father's eyes were still locked on the bee. "Don't be scared, Daddy," Edmund sat next to him and held out his hands in front of his father. "See? He's friendly,"

Anthony could feel himself sweating and he forced himself to nod. "He's a very friendly bee…"

"If you're gentle, you could hold him…" Edmund said.

Please no… Anthony thought.

"Edmund, what did I tell you about bees?" Kate said, making sure to keep her voice calm to not startle Edmund or the bumblebee. "You can't just be picking up bees,"

Edmund frowned. "But this one isn't busy,"

"Edmund…" Kate sighed.

"This one is hurt," Edmund continued. "If I didn't help it, it would die and I didn't want it to die…"

I kind of wish this one was dead… Anthony thought.

"Well, you know, if you put him somewhere safe, I bet that another bee from his family will come help him and take him home," Kate suggested. "You can put him on that hyacinth over there,"

"Will his family find him there?" Edmund asked.

Kate nodded. "And he'll have plenty of food while he waits,"

"Okay…" Edmund slowly walked over the hyacinths so he could safely place the bumblebee down.

Anthony exhaled shakily as his son took the bee away. He looked to his wife as Kate slipped an arm around him. "Our son likes bees?"

"He does," Kate nodded. "Very much so," Kate chuckled slightly as she placed a kiss on Anthony's forehead.

Anthony leaned into his wife and then frowned. "Why did it have to be bees?"

A/N: It has been a long time, hasn't it? It has been a long hectic summer and not one full of writing like I hoped. But I did find my love for Bridgerton, and this is my first stint in the fandom. I got the plot bunny about Anthony having a son who loves bees, and I had to run with it.

Please don't forget to review.