Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The one thing Rebecca hadn’t expected when Ted had called her at 2am on a Friday night was,

“Hey, Boss, now I don’t intend to interrupt your beauty sleep but…there’s a dangerous gas leak on our street. Can I, uh, come stay with you?” 

At first, Rebecca laughed. It seemed like a lame excuse for Ted to come see her in the middle of the night. But when she was met with silence she sat up in her bed, her whole demeanor taking a sharp shift. “Oh. Oh, yes, of course, Ted. Please, don’t waste any more time there.” 

“Thanks, Boss. You’re sweeter than sugar, spice, and everything nice. We’ll be there in a jiffy.” 

We’ll.

Surely that was a misspeak on Ted’s part.

Rebecca’s brows furrowed. What would you have done if he had been calling for… well, what you thought he had been calling for? Politely turn him away? Make him realize how ridiculous that sounded by slapping some sense into him the next time they came face to face? Awkwardly have him over for a drink to discuss why on earth he thought that would be an appropriate idea? She was his boss, for God’s sake. 

But he was leaving… 

She could take him into her bed, hold onto his ears, and take a magic carpet ride - as Sassy would so elegantly put it. If he was leaving then no harm, no foul. 

Not like you have any underlying feelings of jealousy when it comes to those two, she thought. 

Most definitely didn’t want to tell off Sass when she was giving the nitty gritty details of their sexual escapades, in her own office, no less. Not at all. Not…at…all. 

“Ted!” Rebecca exclaimed upon opening the door. “Glad you made it all right… oh.” Jane and Beard appeared from the fogged darkness, stopping just behind Ted. We’ll be there soon. 

Not a misspeak. 

“Oh,” Ted echoed as he looked back at Beard and Jane, and their many bags. “I hope the extended invite was okay. It’s the whole darn street. Couldn’t leave my buddy and his baby to get gassed out.”

“No, of course not. Please, come in! Welcome to my home, I’ll uh… show you to the guest rooms. You all must be knackered.” 

The owner of the home gave a brief tour from what they could see as they ascended the stairs. She was quick to guide Beard and Jane to a room at the end of the hall, furthest from her own. 

“Thanks, boss lady.” Jane raised a mischievous brow as she grinned. Beard nodded his thanks silently, his hand above Jane’s head on the door. The door which he was eager to close as soon as Ted and Rebecca turned their backs. 

Rebecca shuddered as she led her remaining guest down the hallway, passing by a few doors on the way, before turning to one. “I apologize it’s quite a walk from Beard’s room. But all the others are - well, they have purpose. An office, an at-home gym, the room my mother stays in when she comes. She’s left plenty of things here over the years, I don’t imagine you’re comfortable sharing a space with all her bits and bobbles. And… I figured the distance wouldn’t be an unwelcome thing, considering the looks on their faces just now.” 

“That’s a good call, Saul.” 

She smiled softly. “Sleep well, Ted.” She turned to head to her room. 

“Wait-“ A warm hand grasped at her arm. A look of shock subsided into confusion as she mulled over his expression. His lips formed a thin line that hid just beneath his mustache, his brows furrowed. “Thank you for letting us stay… I know you’re angry at me for wanting to leave and all… I just - you didn’t have to let us stay, I really appreciate it.” Before she could object, Ted pulled her into a hug.

They had only hugged on two occasions, after the fundraiser and once in celebration. Okay, maybe another time or two. Briefly. They were quite evenly matched in terms of height… and strength - which was a surprise to her. He didn’t look like he was hiding much under his usual polyester sweaters. 

At first, she tensed, then slowly relaxed into his embrace. “Ted, I’m not angry with you… I’m upset you’re leaving, yes. We just had one of the best seasons and the…” A sigh escaped her. “Well, the boys love you… I love yo…ur commitment to the team.”

He hummed and rested his chin on her shoulder. “It was a good couple years, wasn’t it?” 

“It was nice while it lasted.” She agreed quietly. 

A long beat passed, the two of them embraced still. Hesitantly, Rebecca shifted her arms to his sides, and gently patted his ribs. When he didn’t loosen his grip, she muttered a quiet ‘ okay, well-’ and gave a curt nod. Ted still didn't move. 

Her lips curled in before she could find the courage to break his grip. “Ted.”

“Right, sorry.” He relented, releasing the woman. “Been a while since I had a proper hug.”

An awkward nod seemed too rude on its own, so she threw in a muttered, “Not a problem, Ted.”

“Hey, Boss,” He smiled softly at her, his eyes wandered her face. “Y’know, you look different without that makeup on.” 

Shit.  

She had forgotten that she answered the door without makeup, her damp hair limp at her cheeks, and in her pajamas.

With a forced smile, one of quiet insecurity and sudden awareness of how she was being perceived, she gave a nod. “Oh… well, it’s not often I wear any at half 2 in the morning.” 

“No, I suppose not. Meaning no offense, I mean - well, I meant that you look nice. Different. Different is great. Y’know, they say variety is the spice of life. I know you gotta get all gussied up for the big wigs,” He made a wild gesture above his head, “being the owner and all. But-”

She held up her hand to silence him. “Thank you, Coach Lasso. I appreciate the sentiment.” 

“Anyway, you uh, you look nice, is all. Goodnight, Boss.” Ted gave a wave before turning into his temporary room and closing the door behind himself. 

Rebecca let out a deep breath she had absentmindedly been holding. Now not only did she have to grieve a friend leaving, but she had to grieve while he was sleeping in her home. In the next room over. And he’s being complimentary, to top it all off. 

She hung up her robe, kicked her slippers under her bed, and crawled back beneath the covers.

Though she had to be awake in just a few hours to get ready for work, she couldn’t manage to shut her eyes. She laid awake staring at her ceiling, hands folded over her stomach. 

She tried every trick she could think of without leaving the comfort of her bed. Still nothing, not even a yawn. Fuck. It was useless to continue to try. She might as well write some emails to send at a more appropriate hour of the day - she didn’t need others knowing she was restless. Propping herself up in her bed, she pulled her readers onto her face and squinted at her blindingly bright phone screen. 

She drafted email after email, answering stupid question after stupid question. Denying interviews after their latest loss. Ignoring emails about Rupert and his newest lusty scandal. Sometimes she grew tired of being the boss. 

An offer on selling shares of the club. Again? Even after a heavy loss, people were so desperate to- 

A knock at her door pulls her from her thoughts. If it was Beard or Jane, or worse, Beard and Jane, she would suffocate herself. Another sigh as she wrapped her robe around herself before answering the door. 

“Ted…” She breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Rebecca, I… I can’t leave London without doing what I’ve wanted to do for a while now.”

Her brows furrowed. “You already saw Big Ben and posed with a Royal Guard. What more could you possibly want?” She chuckled quietly. 

“I’m ‘bout to look real silly if you haven’t been thinkin’ what I’ve been thinkin’.” 

Before she could question what he meant, Ted leaned in. He gave her plenty of time to object, to pull away or stop him from making a fool of himself. But she couldn’t. Or, rather, didn’t want to. He pressed his lips to hers gently. His mustache was scratchy and there was a nervous waver to his breath, but his lips were soft. 

He started to move away, his brows furrowed in uncertainty. But Rebecca pulled him closer, reassuring him that this was something she wanted. Desperately . 

She moaned into his mouth, walking him backwards into her room, her fingers gripping onto his shirt. The room that once nipped icily at her skin now burned hot, the space between their bodies a growing furnace. 

Rebecca slipped her tongue between his teeth, wrenching them apart, maneuvering him like it was her job. His jaw malleable in her hand, molded to her wants - her needs. Their mouths didn’t clash or fight, but instead danced a delicate dance. Desperate, sure, but it was a dance nonetheless. It felt familiar, like it had been rehearsed with others but never each other. 

Heated skin pressed against the cooled surface of the wall. At first, a shock, but then a relief from the inferno that raged within them both. With a sharp inhale, she suppressed a shudder. 

The room, quiet and calm, nearly buzzed with their mixed emotions. Anxiety, excitement, a hint of giddy naughtiness. It pulsed through them, pounding in their ears. Their wild eyes met before flitting away, raking over one another in silence. 

Rebecca itched to say something, her lips formed beginnings of words before they died off and she decided on another. 

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” Ted nodded slightly, his lips pursed. “Oh.” He echoed. 

A sheepish smile etched itself onto her face, her fingers trembled against his chest. Neither dared to speak more than that, unwilling to scare the moment away. To get in their heads about the moment instead of just letting it be. 

He drew her lips back to his; the connection desperate, hungry, and beyond what she had thought he was capable of. She imagined - yes, she had imagined it, shut up. She imagined him softer, more gentle and sheepish despite his usual enthusiastic demeanor. 

Delicate hands grasped at his waist, and urged him towards her bed. Of course Rebecca had envisioned how Ted might look spread out against her pristine cream colored bedspread, among other things. But now that he laid there, staring up at her with those big hazel eyes, she couldn’t help but think this was a mistake… He was too kind, too pure for a one-night stand before going back to the life he knew before. Thousands of kilometers away from her. 

Hell, this is complicated, she thought to herself. But how horrible it would be to deny ourselves this little pleasure.

Ted noticed her hesitation, his thick brows quirking up to show his understanding. Though he himself showed hesitation. Were they really doing this? Heck, it was something he wanted, but here? Now? Why couldn’t they have done this months, or better yet, years ago? 

A deep breath, and, of course, Rebecca’s curious eyes, was all the confidence boost he needed to remove his shirt. Without much thought to where it might land, he tossed it over his shoulder. His phone soon followed suit, a speedy removal was necessary, so she didn’t get prodded with it sticking out against his thigh. 

She was quick to straddle his thighs, her robe abandoned on the floor, her weight pressed into him deliciously. Her thighs bracketed him near perfectly, locking him in place. His fingers grazed along her knees that brushed against his sides. The silk felt nice against his skin, soft like her. 

Rebecca ran her fingers across his chest. God, he was pale. A light dusting of hair along his chest and his lower abdomen, the hair a dark blonde. He surprised her with his physique, toned arms and chest, with a bit of a softer stomach. 

“Ted, I-“

“Can’t compare to you.” He laughed. “Those arms. Man, they could take me out like that iceberg took out the Titanic.” He gave her bicep a squeeze. 

She put a finger up to his lips. “No more analogies, please. Just use your mouth for something better.”

“Can do, Cindy Lou.” He spoke around her finger, and grimaced as she raised her brow at him. “My bad.” 

Gently, he moved her hand and kissed her palm before beckoning her down with a soft tug of her wrist. He kissed her deeply, his hands brushing her back. He dragged her shirt upwards, the silk gliding along her skin. He debated leaving it on her so he didn’t have to break their kiss. 

But he didn’t need to. She did it for him. 

Or rather, she started to, but swiftly froze upon hearing Ted’s phone ring. Rod Stewart’s Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? 

It rang out in the silent room as Sassy’s face illuminated it. 

The woman on top of him stared at the phone as it rang, her bottom lip tucked between her teeth. She inhaled deeply before letting it out steadily. When she did speak next it was hardly above a whisper. “Ted, I think you should go.” 

“Rebecca-“

“Go.” She said, much more stern this time. 

He sat up as Rebecca swung her leg over him and stood. “Rebecca, seriously, it’s not like that.”

“I don’t care what it’s like; I want you to get your mustached fucking face out of my bedroom now! And turn off that fucking ringtone, you bellend!” 

Ted’s eyes widened. It had been some time since he was at the receiving end of her wrath. He was quick to grab his shirt and his phone. He silenced it and shoved it back into his pocket. “I’m sorr-“

“Excellent, you can leave now.” With arms crossed over her chest, she gestured to the door. 

Without another word Ted evacuated the room, his head hung low. 

Rebecca waited until she heard his door close to curse under her breath. The fire bubbled up within her, jealousy clawing at her neck. She paced wildly before catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair mussed, her face red and wrinkled with anger, tears brimming in her eyes. 

Calm down, you are not a little girl. You are an adult, this is not some teenage romance, she told herself.

She crashed back into her bed, burying her face into the pillow, resisting the urge to scream into it. 

In and out. Deep breaths in and out. Just breathe, Rebecca. Just breathe and talk with him about it tomorrow. 

Actually,
Fuck this. Sassy always took everything good from me.

Chapter Text

“Morning, Rebecca.” 

“Morning, Ted.” 

The man sauntered into her kitchen and pointed at an unattended mug. Rebecca gave only a slight nod, indicating it was for him. She drew her own up to her lips, sipping it slowly, willing the caffeine to enter her bloodstream as swiftly as possible. 

Ted gave his cup a sniff, delighted to be greeted by coffee and not tea. That brown leaf water would be the death of him, he knew it in his heart. He took a long drink before he locked eyes with the woman across from him. 

“So, do you-” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “You know, do you wanna talk about it?” 

Rebecca looked down, the contents of her mug suddenly very interesting. She toyed with the rim, her lip, anything to delay her answer. “I’m not really ready to talk about it yet.” She spared him a glance, though she couldn’t bring herself to look him in the face. 

“So… we’re not gonna talk ‘bout it? Just ignore what happened? What I said?” A small sigh left him, his brows pulled together. He wasn’t angry, but he sure was confused. 

“I think it’s best that we do, Ted. You… you’re leaving. It would leave things more difficult than they need to be, yes?” 

He pulled his lips into a thin line and nodded slowly. “Yeah… yeah I guess that’s right.” 

“I’m glad you agree then…” She stood, a sense of finality to the conversation. 

“Boss, wait a second.”

“Yes, Coach Lasso?”

“Erm… you know what, I just-“ He laughed. It was fake and forced and, above all, obvious. “I forgot. You know how thoughts do that? Just leave the second you think you got a hold on them? Funny… funny how they do that. I’m sorry, you can- you can go.” 

She had managed to make it all the way to the other side of the island before she turned back to him. “I’ll miss you, Ted. I hope you know that.” 

“I-”

“Good morning!” Coach Beard bellowed, awfully chipper for the early hour. His tiny cropped shirt, that he had clearly hacked away at himself, and even tinier undergarments - a thong, she supposed she’d call it - were less than she ever wanted to see the man wearing. “Boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. What a night, what a night.” He laughed and whooped. He helped himself through her cabinets to find himself a vessel to hold his liquid of choice. 

The boss shielded her eyes from being assaulted by his visage any further. With a quiet mutter of a greeting, she fled the scene, only giving a moment of pause as she passed Jane in the hallway. She donned one of Rebecca’s blazers and belt as a makeshift dress. 

She really liked that blazer, it was a shame she was going to have to burn it. 

Fucking hell, it was going to be a long day.

*****

“Diamond Dogs, mount up!”

A series of howls, hollers, barks, and yips fill the space. All doors were shut and all surrounding areas quickly scoped before the attention fell to Ted. 

Roy sighed deeply before settling into the doorway, the last one to arrive, as per usual. “Fucking hell, what now? Better be something better than your fucking ex getting engaged.” 

“Or lack thereof.” Leslie chimed. He refused to let Ted live that one down, poking fun and bringing it up whenever he deemed necessary (even when it perhaps wasn’t necessary). 

“Exactly.” Beard leaned back in his chair, his feet kicked up on his desk. 

Ted took a moment to gather his thoughts, though they seemed to remain a jumbled mess no matter how he tried. “I - well, I’m sure you guys saw this from a mile away, but- I…” He paused. Stumped. “Y’know, we…” He stopped, then started once again. “Maybe I don't need to talk about it, actually.”

“Oh no, you don’t.” Beard shook his head. “You’ve got that scrunchy look on your face. You need to let it out.” 

“No, really, I’m feeling so much better, I don’t even need to talk about it. Just havin’ y’all here made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside - the power of friendship and all.” Ted smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. 

When he was met with nothing but blank, unbelieving stares, he sighed. With pursed lips he gave a final nod before mustering up the courage. 

“I think I’m falling for the boss. Well, fell…” He bit the inside of his lip and nodded. “Yeah, fell’s more like it - I’m in love with the boss.”

There was a long silence before Roy unsuccessfully stifled a laugh, a snort sneaking out. The others slowly trickled in with their chuckles and chortles. 

Ted rolled his eyes and slapped his hand across his desk. “I’m serious, y’all!” He did a swift sweep of the locker room and gym before turning back to the boys and lowering his voice to a stage whisper. “We kissed each other!” 

“What?!” Leslie and Nate screeched in unison. 

“When?” Beard scoffed. “You’ve hardly been in the same room alone since - well, since last night…” The idea dawned on him quickly, his eyes alight as he sat up straight in his chair, his feet landing on the ground. 

“Yeah, it was… it was last night. And I went and donked it up.”

Leslie raised a brow. “How? She, well, pardon my saying, she seems wildly uninterested in you.”

“Thank you, Higgins, I appreciate that honesty.”

Nate was quick to chime in, after being unusually quiet. “I actually thought that maybe, I don’t know, she was interested in someone else, even.” Ted would have to circle back to that one.

Roy raised his brows. “How did you fuck it up?”

“Sassy called me.” Crickets. “Y’know? Her best friend? Who I had some… relations with.”

“Oh, that Sassy.” Higgins nodded, his finger tapping his temple. “Yes, I remember now.”

Beard shook his head, knowingly. “Why’d she call you so late? If not for one thing,”

“Booty call.” Roy confirmed. 

“No, fellas. Not that. But that’s what Rebecca thought it was! She thought Sassy was calling me to get freaky. Maybe I should have changed her ringtone when we stopped seeing each other, but it’s just so darn catchy.” He leaned back in his chair with a sigh. 

Nate grimaced. “It was something terrible though, wasn’t it?”

Ted nodded slowly. “Provocative to say the least.” 

With his feet back up on his desk, the bill of his hat pulled down his forehead, Beard scoffed. “Classic miscommunication. Go upstairs and tell her the whole thing was one big mumble jumble mess.”

Leslie was quick to shake his head. “No no no. She’s far too angry with Ted for leaving in the first place. And just this morning, she told me to ‘fuck off with my stupid happiness’ and to ‘eat shit’ when I asked if she needed anything today.”

Roy sighed. “That’s a no-go, then. I’ll send in Keeley.”

“Good thinkin’, Abe Lincoln.” Ted snapped his fingers into a point in his direction and gave a half-hearted smile. 

“Don’t fucking call me that.”

Used to the rejection, he only hummed his resignation. “Right. Well that’s a fine idea, let’s run it.”

Without another word, Roy turned and walked out of the room, leaving the others. 

Nate hesitated, letting the quiet linger for only a beat or two. “So what song was it?”

There was a long pause while Ted chewed on the inside of his lip. “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy.”

“Oh good lord.” Higgins put his hand over his eyes. “Catchy? Yes. Stupid? Tremendously.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna… I’m gonna fix that lickity-split. Before it causes any more grief.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and did just that. No need for further embarrassment, ‘specially not while staying with his ex-wife and kid for a couple days. 

Beard gave a curt nod. “Good idea, Ted. Okay, Diamond Dogs, dismount.” He hopped to his feet and left towards the pitch. 

Higgins gave one half-hearted ‘bow-wow’ before he turned to leave as well.

Ted turned to Nate, the man, in return, looked down at his hands in his lap. “Now Nate, what did you mean by that?” 

“I’m sorry, I don’t recall. What did I- uhm, what?” He gave an innocent smile, clearly hoping Ted will drop the subject that he so carelessly brought up. 

“That thing about the boss liking someone else? Who? What’d ya hear?” 

Nate raised his greying brows, a hand to his chest. “Me? Oh, nothing. I just - I overheard some ‘girl-talk’ the other day. It was nothing, I don’t think.” 

“Nate, I’m no nosy Nancy but I’m gonna need a name.” 

“She didn’t know his name. Some Dutch man with a boat?” 

He certainly wished he hadn’t asked.

*****

Rebecca rolled her eyes at Keeley’s whine. She was in no mood for any sort of lecture, much less when it seemed this one was brewed up downstairs. 

The younger woman gestured wildly, though after each one her hands came back to slap down into her lap. “But you could have - he - you know how you feel about him - and… Rebecca, you and Ted-” 

“Would never work. He’s leaving. He doesn’t want to stay. He’s missing home and we are not it. We are not his home and we never were.” Rebecca sipped her tea, feigning an aloof air. 

“You shut up! He spent like three years around you breaking down your walls when no one else could, bringing you those stupidly delicious biscuits every day that he made by hand-”

“I don’t want to hear it. Really. I don’t. I don’t want to believe that he’s leaving, but that is his choice and we are going to be respectful of it because we don’t have another fucking option!” She slammed her cup down. “Fuck!”

“I’m sorry… He’s a twat for leaving us…” 

“Yes, he is.” She said matter-of-factly. She took a deep breath and opened her laptop. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to call my travel agent.” 

“Right, Bex… I’ll, uh, I’ll see you tomorrow. But do call me if you need anything.” Keeley grabbed her things and squeezed her way out of the room. Before she left, her fingers curled around the door, her head peeking back in. “Becca?” 

Rebecca couldn’t resist that sad little face. “Yes, darling?” She asked with a sigh. 

“Just remember that he helped you… When you were in need, whether you wanted him to or not.” 

Wordlessly, she nodded. Thankfully, Keeley closed the door in time for tears to well in Rebecca’s eyes. With a curse under her breath she buried her face in her hands. 

She breathed a deep sigh as she stood, pacing across the floor multiple times. By the ninth or tenth time, she lost her shoes. She needed to ground herself, and to consider Keeley’s words. She paced. She thought. She had her thumb nail rooted between her teeth before the shrill cry of a whistle caught her attention. 

Her feet carried her to the window, her hands came to rest on the cold metal encasing the glass pane. The boys gathered around the three coaches before they quickly dispersed among the field. She’d heard them rehearsing their ridiculous goodbye all week long after the coaches had all gone. She had to admit the idea was… sweet - better than the one Ted wanted to do for Doctor Fieldstone. 

Upon the general public hearing of Ted and Beard’s departure, the club had a wave of applicants before they’d even officially published the opening. Rebecca couldn’t bear to do it herself, having to coerce Leslie to post it in the end.

It meant things were official, that they were leaving - that he was leaving her. 

It meant one person who told her she’d ‘ never be alone as long as they had each other’ was leaving. She was going to be alone. Just as she feared. Just as Rupert said she would be if she left. Sure, she had Keeley and Leslie. Roy was becoming someone she could rely on. She was slowly on the mend with her mother and Florence. But he… 

He swore. He wasn’t supposed to leave.