Work Text:
Keeley had to work late. It wasn’t completely unexpected, it’s just that today it fucked up Roy’s plans. He had asked if she could try to be home early, though he was cognisant of her need for hyper-focus whilst setting up her new business. She hadn’t been kidding about slaving away, but unlike her expectations of being locked in a dark room, she’d actually been busier attending meetings and running around town. She had to find an office location and was scouring the city for the right space. She’d also been at the VC’s beck and call for in-person meetings to discuss expectations, long-term growth and financial plans, and timelines for gaining clients. You name it, they wanted her there.
But today, Roy had wanted to spoil her, especially because he didn’t get his chance to do so by going to Marbella. After a heart-to-heart discussion where he explained to her that he had no interest in going on holiday alone, and where she warned him that she wouldn’t be the most attentive partner, he decided to postpone and shrink Marbella to three weeks, so that Phoebe and his sister could join him for part of it. Who knows? Maybe by that time Keeley could squeeze in a couple of days to visit. However, he wanted to be home with her, especially today, and had prepared the main floor and bedroom as a surprise, going overboard with flowers, tea lights with Keeley’s favourite scent, twinkling lights draped throughout the main floor, mood music and, of course, chicken cordon bleu and tiramisu. He knew what she liked, and he made sure everything was perfect.
It had been a year since his last game as a footballer but more importantly, it was a year since she’d walked into the locker room and comforted him, a year since he knew as horrible as the end of his career was, he’d found someone who made the rest of his life worth living. He found he could love and trust for the first time, because he found someone full of love and unquestionably trustworthy.
He wanted to celebrate her, let her know how thankful he was that she’d entered his life. But as luck would have it, Keeley was swamped and had a strategy meeting that ran late into the evening. She texted him that they’d had take-away in the boardroom so he ate alone, tidied up the dishes and put the left-overs in the fridge. His plans were ruined.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keeley’s day had been insane, and she felt like shit for more reasons than one. She was sure Roy would be a mess inside; it was the anniversary of the last time he’d played football. She knew that it still stung, and as much as he loved his new role, there were times she could tell he still itched to get out on the pitch to create plays, take control, and use his clever footwork to dominate… okay, maybe also use his fists and head to dominate, but she didn’t really want to think about that part.
Instead of being with him for this tough, end-of-career anniversary, she hadn't been in contact with Roy all day, and was up to her eyeballs with property managers, accountants and business executives discussing rental fees and inclusions, communications strategies, mapping out market segments and determining financials on a quarterly and yearly basis. Keeley had never experienced such intense meetings before and found the limited margin of error between success and failure stressful. Not to mention, she’d never done so much maths ever.
Worst of all, it had fucked up her plans to spend as much time as possible with Roy that day . He'd even asked for her to come home early. She was sure that was his way to say he needed her. She’d wanted to skive off midday, but that had been out of the question. Now, after a bad night’s sleep pre-worrying about his day, buckets of coffee, greasy take-away, and numbers spinning in her brain, she’d developed a splitting headache. Thankfully, they'd ironed out most of the details in her meeting, and the accountants were satisfied in taking on the remainder of the work tomorrow. She could sleep in and work from home all day.
She texted Roy as she left:
On my way home. Miss u, babe. Hope ur ok. Sorry I wasn’t home sooner. Today was shit and my head hurts from all the numbers. xx
Roy's response was immediate.
No worries, babe. See you soon. xx
Ten minutes later, Keeley opened her door to Roy with a bottle of champagne in one hand and a box of paracetamol in the other.
“Oi. Which is it?” he asked gently.
Keeley’s mouth quivered as she stood before Roy whose face was full of concern. “Unfortunately, paracetamol please,” she answered as she fell into his open, if full, arms. “I love you so much.”
She climbed onto him, closing her eyes, clinging to his torso in a koala hug as he walked back into the kitchen to empty his hands, pour her a glass of water, and open the box, all while she remained wrapped around him. She was being pathetic but didn’t care. She was taking full advantage of her strong, manly man.
Finally finishing his tasks, he wrapped his solid arms around her fully, enveloping her in as much love as he could muster. Keeley kept her eyes closed, soaking up his care and concern. “You’re so, so good, babe. This was such a rubbish day and all I wanted was to be here with you, to comfort and support you tonight.”
“Wha? Wha’dya mean?” he asked, pulling back to see her face.
Looking straight into his eyes she said, “You know why. It’s been a year since your last game. Don’t lie. I know it’s on your mind.”
He pulled her away and she reluctantly stood on her own, not taking her eyes off his. He gently kissed her forehead, nose and lips, then stared back with a small smile.
“Open wide,” he ordered, popped the pills in her mouth and made her take a sip before he answered her. “Kind of see it as a year since you were there for me like no one’s ever been. A year since my eyes opened to the rest of my life.”
Her eyes widened at his words, and suddenly the view of the kitchen table came into her periphery vision. Up until that point, she’d been laser-focused on Roy. Glancing around, she raised her hands to her mouth as she let out a gasp. She was shocked to see the first floor transformed – the flowers, twinkling lights and candles, then suddenly the sound of soft music and smell of her favourite fragrance came into her consciousness and surrounded her. It was the rose-petal bath all over again, but on a grander scale.
“Oh my god,” she said breathily while her eyes got blurry from tears. She blinked them away and they rolled down her cheeks. She hardly noticed them as she walked into the living room and took it all in. Roy followed and turned her around to wipe away the tears. “Don’t cry, babe. Iss’a good thing.”
“I know,” Keeley managed, her voice trembling.
“You’re knackered. You need sleep. Come on, I’ll bring you to bed.”
“No! I mean. Let me enjoy all this. Thought you’d find your memories so hard today. Never expected this… iss really beautiful, Roy.”
“Alright. I’ll take your jacket,” he said gently, and then removing it, added, “Want something to drink? Eat?”
“Think I’ll just wait for the meds to kick in,” Keeley answered. “You sure you’re not upset? Sad?”
“Me? No. Just wished we could’ve been together tonight.” Roy lifted her to the sofa, arranged himself first with his back to the armrest, and tucking her between his legs, reached for the throw to snuggle her in. As she leaned back against him for support, he began to rub her neck and shoulders, kissing them gently.
After he’d unknotted the kinks with his thorough hands, she let out a moan and asked rhetorically, “Wha’ have I ever done to deserve you?”
Roy chuckled sardonically. “I ask that question ‘bout you every day.”
“Stop, babe. Look around. I thought you’d be gutted today, but all this? It’s mental, yeah?”
Roy wrapped his arms around her from behind and pressed his lips to her ear. “Keeley,” his voice was serious. “This past year? You’ve made me happy when I should’ve felt like utter shite. This… this is nothing.”
Keeley turned and leaned against the sofa so she could face him. “Come on, Roy. After you retired, you weren’t happy, admit it. Even with me around. You had a wretched time. It broke my heart. You know iss true.”
“Part o’me, maybe. Yeah. Funny how the worst fucking time of your life can happen during the happiest fucking time of your life. Not even the first time tha’s happened to me.” Roy stopped. Keeley knew she’d need to prompt him to continue. He didn’t share difficult feelings easily.
“Go on. Explain.”
Roy groaned inwardly but gave in to her request. When did he not? “When we won the Champions League in Chelsea, I was angry at the world. Had football, but nothing else. Wasn’t close to my teammates or anyone really – but it felt fucking great to have a dream come true. For that, I was on top o’the world. Now, I’m too old and my knees are fucked and it still kills me not to play sometimes, but then I have you to come home to, and none of the other shit matters. You’re worth more than just a game. Never been happier.”
He shrugged at his admission, but his dark eyes were unwavering. He meant every word.
Keeley’s eyes had filled with tears again. She may have been mentally exhausted from the day, but she’d stay awake all night to listen to Roy when he opened up to her and shared his emotions. He always wanted to appear invincible to the world, so it felt like a gift when he admitted his struggles. And for his admissions to be about her? Nothing could be better. She reached over to stroke and cup his cheek. What could she say? Only the truth. “Can’t even began to tell you how much you mean to me. I’ve never been happier either, babe. But remember, give credit to yourself too. I may have pushed, but you could’ve pushed back. Kind of your style, yeah? Instead, you knew better and got yourself back in the game.”
“But I needed a push. No one else would’ve done that but you. So, let me take care of you, let me thank you. Just lie here. I’ll always have your back.” He winked and his eyes crinkled with the warmth of his smile and Keeley felt a warm rush consume her body.
She rested her head against him again and, sooner than she expected, nodded off to sleep. He stroked her golden hair, inhaled the sweet scent of her perfume and watched her sleep peacefully for a half-hour or so. He’d noticed she was restless the night prior so he was content to just lie there all night if it meant she would get a good night’s sleep. Carefully, he shifted to get more comfortable, but it wasn’t careful enough. She stirred, blinking her eyes open and a soft smile spread across her face. “Was I out long?”
“Half-hour, maybe.” He stroked her arm absently.
“Oi. Your body must be on pins and needles. Here, let me get up.”
“No! Let me.”
Rising, Roy stretched his arms to her, and she wrapped herself around him again as he lifted her upstairs. Oh, the world saw him as angry and loud, but to her, in moments like this, he was her safe harbour, the calm to her storm, and she would fight anyone who tried to say otherwise.
As he laid her down and started to undress her for bed, she grasped his hands and gazed up at him with bright, adoring eyes. “Happy Rest of Your Life Day, babe.”
“It is now that you’re here. Hope we always get to celebrate it together.”
He kissed her hands tenderly, then calmly returned to helping her change. Keeley could have reacted with shock at the deeper meaning of his words, Roy could have look worried about overstepping expectations, but they both let the moment stand on its own. There may have been a promise of things to come inside their hearts, but they both just wanted to live in the moment, a simple, tender end-of-the-night ritual together after a hard day.
They had each other to care for, and that was more than enough.