What Polin Fanfiction Portrays Penelope’S Insecurities About Colin’S Travels?

As someone who adores diving into the world of 'Polin' fanfiction, I’ve come across countless stories that delve into Penelope Featherington’s insecurities regarding Colin Bridgerton’s travels. One that stands out is 'The Maps We Draw' by a talented writer on Archive of Our Own. This fic explores Penelope’s internal struggles with Colin’s constant wanderlust, painting her as someone who fears being left behind—both physically and emotionally. The narrative digs into her quiet jealousy of the places he sees and the people he meets, contrasting it with her own seemingly mundane life in London. The author does a brilliant job of showing how Penelope’s love for Colin is tangled up in her fear that he’ll never truly see her as more than a friend, especially when the world offers him so much more. The story uses letters as a device, with Penelope writing unsent drafts filled with longing and self-doubt, while Colin’s replies are breezy and oblivious, deepening her sense of isolation.
Another gem is 'Wanderlust and Wallflowers' on FanFiction.net, where Penelope’s insecurity manifests in her vivid imagination. She constantly pictures Colin falling for exotic women abroad, each more captivating than the last, while she remains the 'invisible' wallflower. The fic cleverly parallels her secret identity as Lady Whistledown, showing how her sharp observations of others don’t translate to confidence in herself. The turning point comes when Colin returns with a journal full of sketches—none of landscapes or strangers, but of her, drawn from memory. It’s a poignant moment that flips her fears on their head, though the journey there is deliciously angsty. The writer nails Penelope’s voice, blending humor and heartache in a way that feels true to the character.
For a darker take, 'Anchorless' on Wattpad delves into Penelope’s anxiety as Colin’s travels grow longer and his letters fewer. She begins to question whether his absence is intentional, spiraling into paranoia that he’s discovered her Lady Whistledown secret and is distancing himself. The story weaves in flashbacks of their childhood, highlighting how Colin’s spontaneity always left her feeling unsettled, even as she admired it. The climax involves a confrontation where Penelope accuses him of using travel as an escape—from responsibility, from her—only for Colin to reveal he’s been searching for a place to call home, realizing too late that it was always with her. The raw emotion in this fic makes it unforgettable, especially for fans who love flawed, human portrayals of these characters.