Augie and Belinda Basset

Fran is running late. Rehearsals were long, and traffic was a bear. It’s as if Londoners forget how to drive every time the weather turns. She knocks on the door and rubs her hands together—she needs to find her gloves this weekend.

Daphne opens the door for Fran, looking surprisingly relaxed. Fran has never had a calm babysitting experience with Daphne. She worries to the point where Simon would rather go out alone than torture someone from the family with Daphne’s excessive texting. Unfortunately, they can't miss Agatha Danbury’s annual shareholders dinner tonight. Also, unfortunately, Fran drew the short straw in the group of babysitting siblings.

Daphne pulls her into a hug before shutting the door. “There you are. Michaela beat you here.”

Fran furrows her eyebrows. “ Michaela? Michaela Stirling? Is John here?”

“No. She said something about John outsourcing the job to her. But she had Kate vouch for her babysitting. Which I appreciate.”

Despite being with John for three years, Fran hasn’t seen Michaela very much. She’s John’s older cousin, and practically his big sister and idol, and all of his childhood stories have her getting him in trouble, yet Fran can count on one hand the number of times she’s spoken to Michaela in person, let alone the times they have been together alone. They primarily text and call. Michaela works a job that requires a lot of travel, according to John. She’s rarely in the UK, and it’s even rarer for her to be in London. 

Michaela has only met her family twice, and one of those times, she only caught names before she had to catch her train. Fran can’t even remember if Michaela has even met Daphne’s kids. And here she was babysitting on one of the few days she was in London. Fran lets Daphne hang up her coat and bag. “Well, It’ll be nice to see her.”

“I bet. I didn’t even know she knew where we lived. John didn’t call you?”

Fran shakes her head before pulling out her phone and seeing John’s lone text of Can’t make it. Mike’s on the way.

He’s been doing this a lot lately regarding Bridgerton family obligations. Fran understands that her family is a lot to get used to, and she is not one to spend all of her time with her family like Anthony or Eloise. She wants him to get to know them and her family to like John for himself instead of liking him because of Fran or his connection to Kate. John just doesn’t seem like he wants to get to know them.

Fran puts her phone back, determined not to let her annoyance with John overshadow her time with her niece and nephew.

“Bel has been fed and should let you put her down in about two hours. Augie has dinner in the fridge, and he gets 30 minutes of Disney Plus, then two books.”

Fran nods through Daphne’s usual spiel before Daphne sighs and checks the time. “I’m running late, but I want to say bye to the kids again.”

Fran follows Daphne to the playroom to see a very elaborate Hot Wheel track going over furniture and books and winding around a very patient Belinda sitting in her baby seat. In the corner, Augie and Michaela are giggling and snapping tracks together.

Fran sees Daphne gape in shock, and Fran has to agree. Augie takes after his father when it comes to talking, and here he is, chattering with ease with Michaela, who he has met maybe once.

“Mummy’s leaving, sweetheart,” Daphne calls out after bending over and kissing Belinda on the head.

Augie looks up and runs over to Daphne, and gives her a drive-by hug before running back to his work.

“Well, I can see you are busy.” Daphne laughs. “You guys have fun.”

“I’ll call you if anything happens. Enjoy the night.” Fran says. Daphne kisses her cheek and gives Michaela a wave.

-

The first 90 minutes go well. Fran gets some prime Belinda cuddles while Augie and Michaela test their race track and then ask Fran her thoughts.

“Do you like it, Aunt Fran?”

“I love it, Augie. I’m sure Mummy and Daddy will, too.”

Augie’s grin is half of his face.

“I think it’s dinner time, dude,” Michaela whispers, and Augie nods, running to the kitchen.

“Hands, Augustus Caesar. Hands.” Michaela calls out.

Fran laughs when she hears Augie change course to the bathroom.

“I feel like I didn’t get to say hello to you,” Michaela says. “How was your day?”

Fran pulls her hair out of Belinda’s fist. “Hi. It was good. Thanks for doing this with me.”

“No problem. I’m having a blast. Can’t remember the last time I built a Hot Wheel track instead of using them to hit John.”

Fran walks with Michaela to the kitchen and sees Augie already sitting at the counter. Belinda yawns on her shoulder.

“Give her here. You feed our future F1 driver. I’ll get the little miss to drop off.”

Fran reluctantly gives her niece over. “Are you sure? I’ve never seen you hold a baby.”

Michaela grins while kissing Belinda’s head. “I love babies. And babies love me.”

Fran has to admit that Michaela is correct. Babies do love her. While Fran gets Augie’s dinner plated and talks to him about his preschool day, Michaela paces around the kitchen, whispering and rocking Belinda until she is snoozing and drooling on Michaela’s shoulder.

Fran puts Augie’s dish in the dishwasher and sends him off to change for bed before really focusing and hearing Michaela hum.

“Are you humming Wannabe ?”

“Yes. Lindy is all about girl power. She fussed when I started with the Backstreet Boys.”

Fran smiles. “Daph is going to be devastated. She loved the Backstreet Boys.”

Michaela swallows a chuckle. “Poor Daph.”

-

Fran ends her night watching an episode of Young Jedi Adventures with Augie and Michaela before standing in the doorway and listening to Michaela talk lightsabers with him instead of reading. Fran grins when she sees Augie fall asleep mid-sentence. Seeing this side of Michaela makes her understand why John gushes about her so much. This side makes it easy to love her.

“We’ll pick this up later,” Michaela whispers before tucking him in.

They sneak out of the room, and Fran is pouring them a cup of tea each when Daphne and Simon make it home.

“Oh, they’re both asleep?” Daphne asks.

“Went down easy peasy,” Michaela confirms.

“He didn’t try to bargain for more books, did he?” Simon asks.

“We talked about lightsabers, actually,” Michaela notes. “I had a book in my hand and everything.”

Daphne and Simon look at each other in shock.

“We left the track up in the playroom. Augie wants to show you guys tomorrow how it works.” Fran adds. “Oh, and Lindy hates the Backstreet Boys.”

“Okay.” Daphne blinks at them in shock. “well, thank you both for babysitting. Michaela, did you drive?”

“Flew in like Mary Poppins.” Daphne and Simon laugh.

“I’ll give her a ride home, Daph,” Fran says.

“Much appreciated.” Michaela smiles.

Edmund II and Miles Bridgerton

Fran can't decide whether watching her oldest brother’s sons two months after a breakup is a good choice or not. On the one hand, this was something she was going to do with John, so that stings, but on the other hand, getting some unconditional love from Neddy and Miles is a very nice incentive to get out of the house.

She’s also going to see Michaela again. She hasn’t seen her since Christmas when she was out of town when John broke up with her. Fran had worried that Michaela would vanish from her life once she and John were done, but she hadn’t. Michaela had just sent a text saying, "We’re still friends, kid. See you soon." And that was that.

Fran walks into the family house to see Kate talking Michaela’s ear off about what to expect. She can hear Anthony yelling at Neddy to put his pants back on.

Fran gives Miles a wave as he hangs upside down in Michaela’s arms, and he giggles before waving back. Kate is not giggling.

“Hey Kate,” Fran says.

Kate gives her a wave and takes a breath.

“Kate, we’ll be fine,” Michaela says. “I’m pretty safe. You know that.”

Kate nods. “You are.”

“I’m not going to drop-” Michaela fakes like she is going to drop Miles, who howls with laughter while Kate reaches for him. Michaela swings him upright and on her hip. “He’s precious cargo. They both are.”

Kate just punches Michaela in the shoulder.

“No hit, Amma,” Miles replies.

“Yeah, no hit, Amma.” Michaela parrots.

“Just-nothing dangerous,” Kate whispers. 

“I’m off the clock. I don’t even have a phone right now.” Michaela assures her.

Fran frowns and wants to ask, but she feels a force run into her side and looks down to see Neddy hugging her waist. “Hi, Neddy.”

“Hi, Aunt Fran.”

“Numbers are on the fridge. Fran, you know where everything is.” Anthony says between kisses for Miles and Neddy. “Come on, babe, we’re running late.”

Kate gives the boys kisses herself before staring down Michaela. Michaela winks back.

Fran and Neddy wave goodbye, and the door shuts.

“So, what should we do first?” Fran asks.

-

First, the boys were determined to build a pillow fort, which Fran and Michaela indulged them in and built. Then, it was time for snacks and a movie - Iron Man - which Fran fast-forwarded through the not-kid-appropriate parts while Michaela joked about how silly Aunt Fran was. By the time Robert Downey Jr. outs himself, Miles was asleep on her lap, and Neddy was nodding off on Michaela’s.

“So, are we afraid to move them?” Michaela whispers.

Fran nods. “How have you been?”

“Busy. Hoping to be here for a while, though. How about you? Heard you have a concert soon.”

“Yes.”

“First time headlining?”

“Yes.”

“Send me the dates. I’ll come.”

“Really? Even if you are busy.”

“Never too busy for you, Fran,” Michaela whispers back.

“I never asked you because John made it seem like I shouldn’t. What exactly do you do for a living?”

Michaela frowns. “I technically can’t say.”

Fran doesn’t know what to say to that. There aren’t many jobs one can do where you can’t say what you do. Is Michaela a Michelin critic or something?

“Does it require eating at a lot of restaurants? Because Colin would be jealous.”

“Unfortunately, no,” Michaela responds.

“Aunt Mike?” Fran and Michaela look down to see a sleepy Neddy looking up.

“Yeah, Ned?”

“Tell me a story about you and Amma?”

“Oh, alright. Let me think.”

Fran smiles and listens to Michaela tell Ned a story about Michaela moving from South Africa to India and meeting Kate, about how they went riding on horses and learning to dance. How they even ended up in a Bollywood movie once. Neddy had looked enraptured, and Fran was too.

When Neddy slips off back to sleep, Fran looks at Michaela and tilts her head. “Was that true?”

“Entirely. There is a picture from the film set.”

Fran grins. “I think I saw it on her desk.”

Michaela scowls. “I look terrible in that picture.”

“That’s why I keep it.” Fran and Michaela look out the fort to see Anthony and Kate squatting at the entrance.

“How were they?” Anthony asks.

“Perfect angels,” Fran replies.

“How are they your children?” Michaela asks.

“Shut up,” Kate whispers as she reaches for Miles.

“Not nice, Amma,” Miles mumbles out before going back to sleep.

Michaela laughs, waking up Neddy before he reaches for his dad. “That kid is all you.”

“I hope you get the same.” Kate smiles back.

Fran scoots out of the fort with Michaela and stretches. 

“Are you guys staying the night?”

Fran looks at Michaela, who shrugs.

“Yeah, thanks, Ant.”

Thomas Bridgerton

“Hello?” Fran yells out into Aubrey Hall, pulling her duffle bag strap off the door handle. She knows she isn’t the only one here with Colin’s car outside, too. She is excited to see her family again. It had been months of touring and a small residence in Edinburgh since she saw them last. She was ready to be back in the chaos. Fran had a plan to reevaluate her life while relaxing at Aubrey Hall. She wants children. Staying away from her family for over a year solidified that she would like a family of her own. 

She doesn’t want to do it alone, but there is no relationship on the horizon for her. She hasn’t dated since John, despite Kate, Sophie, Pen, Colin, Eloise, and Daphne pushing her towards putting herself out there. She hasn’t found anyone that she wants to spend time with.  The closest person is Michaela, but they are only friends. Granted, friends have a tension between them that grows every time they are in each other’s presence. They were on the precipice of something, but Fran couldn’t figure it out.

“Hey!” Fran is wrapped in Colin and Thomas’s hug before she can respond. Thomas gives her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

“Hi, Tommy!”

“Aunt Fran, Aunt Mike is here!”

“That’s awesome!” Fran responds and looks at her brother in confusion. Colin puts his son down, and Thomas runs off. “I thought she wasn’t coming.”

“She called Pen, and Pen called me. Speaking of, I’m supposed to be on my way to the train station to get her and El. Can you keep an eye on Thomas?”

“Oh, Michaela-”

“Michaela is currently in a knee brace, so she can’t move too fast.”

Fran fumbles with her car keys and drops them. “What?”

“Yeah, just. Maybe don’t yell at her right now? She said she might take her pain meds, so she’ll be a bit loopy.”

“Eloise would tell me it’s the perfect time to yell at her.”

Colin snickers. “She wants to talk to you. Give her time.”

Fran sighs. “Fine. Go.”

Colin kisses her cheek. “You’re the best, Fran.” He leaves before she can change her mind.

Fran takes her bags up to her room and freshens up. She knows she is procrastinating this meeting, which makes no sense because she needs to have some alone time with Michaela. If only to see if she can figure out what is going on between them.

Fran makes her way down to the Kid’s Den, as it was called when she was young. There, on the large sectional, is Michaela, left leg stretched out on the chaise end with her crutches on the floor. On the ottoman next to her is Thomas, who is putting a crown on her head.

“And now, you have to ask for tea,” he says.

“Oh, right. Of course.” Michaela clears her throat and adopts a very posh English accent. “Lord Thomas, may I have a spot of tea, sir?”

“Yes, you may, Your Majesty.” Thomas says and pours some “tea” into Michaela’s tea cup. He looks up. “Aunt Fran, come have tea with us.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting.” Fran settles down on the couch cushion next to her. Thomas puts a teacup in her hand.

“Here you are, Your Majesty.” 

“Is Aunt Fran a queen too?”

Thomas nods. “You’re both queens. Daddy says all ladies are queens.”

“Daddy isn’t wrong there.” Michaela agrees.

“I’m going to get some biscuits,” Thomas says, then runs off.

Fran rolls the teacup in her hands.

“Careful. Tom said the tea is very hot.” Michaela smirks.

Fran fights the smile, trying to appear, then gives up. She points to her knee.“How did that happen?”

“Car accident. Was a bit touch and go, but I’m alright.”

Fran finally takes a good look at Michaela, and her heart sinks. She has stitches in her hairline and a thin scar on her eyebrow. Her left hand is in a soft cast, too.  Before she can stop herself, Fran grabs her face and looks her over.

“Fran. I’m fine.” 

Fran shakes her head and blinks back her tears. At that moment, she thinks about the fact that she had been mad at her and Michaela almost wasn't alive. She could have been gone, and Fran wouldn’t be able to talk to her about her rehearsals, hear about Michaela’s travels, or even spend time babysitting her niece and nephews.

“Francesca.”

Fran’s eyes lock on Michaela’s.

“I’m okay,” Michaela whispers.

Fran launches herself in Michaela’s arms.

“Little banged up, but it could have been a lot worse,” she whispers. Fran shakes her head and lets the tears run down Michaela’s hoodie. Oh. She was in love with her. That was the feeling. 

It felt different this time.

“We need to talk,” Fran whispers.

“I’d like that,” Michaela responds. They sit in the hug for a while before Thomas comes back with the biscuit package, one already in his mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

Fran looks at him and laughs, wiping her tears away. He looks just like Colin at that very moment.

“We’ve been waiting so long for the biscuits. Queen Fran got very hungry.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry, Your Majesty.” Thomas hands over the biscuits. Fran takes one. 

“Thank you, Lord Thomas. It is much appreciated.”

“Yes, Thank you, Lord Thomas. Do pour yourself some tea and join us.”

Thomas nods and grabs his cup. “What should we talk about?”

“Why, tell us the gossip in your school? What are the people doing?” Michaela asks.

Thomas thinks. “Billy Archer brought a frog in, and it hopped around the room.

“How interesting,” Fran responds. “How did your teacher take it?”

“She was so mad. But we all laughed because no one could catch it. What about you, Aunt Mike? What’s happening in your neck? That’s what you asked Daddy, right?”

“My neck of the woods?”

“Yeah, what’s happening in your neck of the woods?”

“Well, here is where everyone is.” 

They all turn to see Pen standing in the doorway.

“Momma. Come join the tea party!” Thomas yells out.

“I will. Do you want to come invite Aunt El, too?”

“And Daddy.” Thomas pulls Pen out of the room. Fran and Michaela wave goodbye.

“What is going on in your neck of the woods?” Fran asks. 

Michaela smiles. “Well, I’m retired for one thing.”

Charles Bridgerton

My Cottage is lovely. The view out here on the back deck is gorgeous, and she gets why Ben and Sophie set up back here to paint. She wants to play back here for hours.

She looks at Michaela’s peaceful face and smiles. The quiet is good for them both. Fran would love to live out in the middle of nowhere, but she does have to work with the orchestra, and Michaela likes for them to see John and her aunt at least once a month. 

Fran feels Michaela’s hand grab hers, and she gives a squeeze. They leave tomorrow to go back to London and the newly redecorated townhouse. Michaela had taken the lead on that, only asking Fran for her opinions on certain design elements. She had claimed that she wanted to not add more stress on Fran, but she thinks Michaela is bored. Retirement doesn’t suit her.

When she was recovering, it was a perfect backdrop to allow her to reintegrate into the Stirlings and get to know the Bridgertons better. It allowed their tiny spark of a relationship to grow into a roaring fire. Now, all is well, and Michaela is restless. She doesn’t say it, but she is. “We should get up and help them with dinner,” Michaela mumbles out.

“They said they had it. We’re guests.”

“We’ve been sleeping here for two weeks.”

“We’ll pay them back somehow, don’t worry.”

The deck door opens behind them, and Fran glances to see Charlie holding chalk and padding to them. He’s almost 18 months old and possibly Fran’s favorite nephew because he doesn’t want to jump on her back and wrestle.

“Hey Chuck, what’s shaking?” Michaela asks.

“Draw.” He hands her a piece of chalk.

Michaela shrugs and moves herself from her chair to the deck floor. “What are we drawing?”

“Mummy.”

“Excellent choice.”

Fran leans back and watches them draw Sophie. A soft smile sits on her face as she watches Michaela whisper to Charlie and sees him grin and laugh. 

The idea of kids has been on the back burner for a while. They’ve talked about it but more in the abstract than a concrete plan. Fran doesn’t think it’s something she wants to bring up today, but soon. Maybe once Michaela finds something to do with herself.

“Did I tell you I got a job?” Michaela blurts out.

“Are you talking to me or Charlie?” Fran asks.

“You. Chuck doesn’t know what a job is. Lucky lad. Right, Chuck?”

Charlie nods as he concentrates on Sophie’s hair? Her dress? Fran isn’t sure.

“Well, what are you doing?”

“Watching people work in buildings.”

“Oh, well, that sounds…” Fran trails off. That sounds very vague, like Michaela’s last job. It’s perfect for her.

Michaela smiles up at her. “I can get into more detail. But you need to swear never to tell anyone. Not even Eloise.”

Fran leans in. “Okay.”

Michaela looks around. “Now?”

“Who’s he going to tell?”

Michaela sighs. “Alright, so the new gig is a security escort. I watch uncleared workers in restricted areas. I get paid six figures to sit around on my phone for 8 hours.”

Fran nods. “Right, because you have clearance to be in those restricted areas.”

Michaela winks. “I always knew you were smart.”

Fran feels the gears in her head turning. “And you have the clearance because you worked at…?”

“A government agency that I am not allowed to talk about.”

“Holy shit.” Fran turns to see Benedict and Sophie standing behind them. “So you’re like James Bond?” Ben asks. 

Michaela shakes her head. “James Bond is wildly inaccurate.”

Sophie swats him. “I’m sorry, Michaela. We obviously won’t say anything.”

Michaela sighs. “ If you have good wine, I could be persuaded to tell you all some very redacted stories.”

Ben runs back into the house. “Let me go check the stash we stole from Ant.”

Margo Stirling 

It’s Fran’s birthday, and she woke up alone in bed at 8 AM, not being drooled on by either of the ladies in her life. It’s an interesting change, but she can appreciate the rest. She feels the other side of her bed, and it’s cool and already made up. Fran spots her robe on the edge of the bed and smiles.

When she makes it downstairs, she smells coffee and hears Beyonce playing in the kitchen. When she turns the corner, Fran sees a Mother/Daughter duet of Love on Top, including the key changes. Fran smiles and watches. 

Their two-year-old Margo is all Michaela: gorgeous dark skin, adorable dimples, and a smirk that screams mischievous. She was a manifestation of Kate’s wish for Michaela all those years ago, and Fran could kiss her in thanks.

When her concert ends, Fran claps, and Michaela turns in the frilly apron her mother gave them as a wedding gift, and Margo giggles on her hip. 

Michaela waves her spatula at Fran. “See, I told you Mum was coming down. She was sleeping.”

Margo just huffs at her and flings her head at Michaela’s shoulder.

“Yeah. Yeah. What do we say?”

“Happy Birthday, Mummy!” Margo yells out.

Fran scoops Margo into her arms. “Thank you!”

“Happy Birthday, Aunt El!”

Michaela laughs. “That’s later, Go.”

“We’ll call her later, sweetheart.” Fran kisses Margo’s head. Then Fran looks at what Michaela is making or mangling. “Is that a pancake?”

“Practice one. The first one is always sh-bad.”

Fran smirks at the save before looking around at the feast Michaela made: eggs, bacon, fruit. “Are we expecting people?”

“God, no. I had to beg your sister not to ‘surprise’ you.”

“Which one?”

“The oldest one.”

Fran nods. “Yeah, I already vetoed that.”

“Which I told her. They think we don’t talk to each other, Go. Can you believe it?” Michaela looks back and grins at them. “It’s silly.”

Margo shakes her head with a grin. “Silly.”

“Yes, silly Aunt Daph.”

“I will pay you to make her say that tonight.”

“Baby, I’ll do it for free.”

Fran laughs and kisses Michaela. “Can I do anything?”

“Nope, hand me the baby back. Get a coffee. Have a piece of bacon. Relax.”

Fran shakes her head and clutches Margo, who squawks at her. “I’d like to keep the baby.”

Michaela shrugs before saving the pancake, trying to burn itself. “Fine. Then have some breakfast. I’ve got to rethink my pancake strategy.”

“Or, I can cook the pancakes like I always do. I’ll even give up, Margo.”

Michaela just hands over the spatula. Then, she takes Margo and twirls her around. 

“B’fast.” Margo points.

“Yes, my liege.”

Fran saves the pancakes and watches how Michaela expertly moves Margo around the kitchen, making her a plate while avoiding her putting her hands in the food, and somehow doesn’t upset their emotional child.

Fran, a plate of pancakes in hand, joins her little family and smiles.

“What?” Michaela asks as she tries to cut Margo’s pancake and block her little hands.

“This is the best birthday.”

Michaela raises an eyebrow. “It’s just started.”

“I know.”