Work Text:
Roy and Keeley couldn’t take their eyes off each other. Yes, it was their wedding day. Yes, they both looked mad fit. However, the two looked as if the bloom of a new romance had freshly opened, they’d just been swept off their feet, struck by lighting and hit by love at first sight; all the clichés all at once. You could almost see animated hearts and stars above their heads.
If everyone else in the room didn’t love them so much, it would have been sickening. If everyone else didn’t know how rare it was to see Roy’s openly happy, affectionate face, they might have turned away. But they weren’t sickened, they were fascinated, and they all smiled approvingly. These two deserved all the happiness they gave each other and everyone was sharing in their joy, just as everyone should on a wedding day.
Ed, the band leader, called to the starry-eyed couple. He felt the wedding reception was in real danger of losing the guests of honour to their own devices in their honeymoon suite, and it was time he interrupted them for the first dance before they snuck away.
“Roy n’ Keeley!!! Save it for after the party n’ park yourselves in middle of the floor to start your first proper dance as a married couple!”
“Oi, Roy, I think we need to behave,” Keeley bit her lip, realizing she had a duty to perform as the bride even if she preferred to snuggle close to her new husband.
“Never,” he answered with a growl, kissing her bare neck seductively, caring not one jot for the wolf-whistles it produced from the AFC Richmond boys. He took his time, breathing in her scent, tasting her skin, before stepping back. Finally, holding out her hand, he led her gracefully to the dance floor as if presenting the star of the show. Roy Kent may not have liked this kind of attention, but Keeley did, and he knew how to shine the light on her in a moment like this. It was easy. It’s all he ever wanted to do.
The lights were dimmed and the spotlight focused on the happy couple as they turned back to each other to waltz. Roy held one of Keeley’s hands in his and rested the other at her waist, more formally than people would have anticipated. Keeley held in her amusement. Looking down at her as the music started, their bodies immediately softened and whatever space had been between them was gone, their innate magnetism taking over.
Ed crooned appropriately as the two lovers once again got lost in each other’s eyes. Soon, Roy moved their clasped hands to his lips, kissing Keeley’s hand softly and resting it onto his chest, over his heart. Keeley’s other hand then moved to cup his face softly, blinking as she noticed his eyes fill up, her eyes reacting in kind. Her heart nearly burst at his open tears, and she slowly wiped one away with her thumb as it escaped to his cheek.
He leaned into her, lightly kissing her forehead and brushing her lips with his ever-so-gently, watching her face practically glow from his attention. Roy had never seen her look more beautiful or happier, and everyone they loved were witnesses to how lucky he was to have her in his arms.
Rebecca watched from the side of the dance floor in awe. She was ecstatic for her friends and truly moved by their love. They were perfect together, in that they were both enthralled by the other, flaws and all. She knew Keeley constantly giggled over Roy’s idiosyncrasies, and Roy would sigh and roll his eyes at Keeley's antics, but with a smirk appearing shortly afterwards. What a gift. But as happy as she was for them, observing all their tenderness and commitment as they danced left her insides raw. It hurt. Badly. She remembered looking at Rupert like that on her wedding day. It had all been a lie, a mirage, a fantasy, and she had been as gullible as all the other women in his life, mistakenly believing he had put her on a pedestal. What damage he did to her! She may have worked through much of it, but the doubt in ever finding true love was still firmly rooted in her soul. The smile plastered on her face for Keeley and Roy disguised the tears streaming down her cheeks. They weren’t for their happiness; they were for her pain.
Ted had been watching the couple in awe. He knew from the moment he first saw them alone together, chatting in the hallway of AFC Richmond, that there was something special about them, between them. He wouldn’t say their love story was easy, he knew they’d each had their issues, their walls, their personal demons, but there was never any doubt in his mind the two were destined for the long haul. They’d worked them out and grown together in a way that he admired. If he and Michelle could have been that honest from the beginning, maybe… but no. He wouldn’t think like that, because they weren’t that honest. They did not admit their demons. They were not as equally or as deeply invested as Roy and Keeley had made themselves from the start. There were no do-overs and he had laid that chapter of his life to rest.
Ted noticed Rebecca’s profile and intuitively knew that she needed someone. There was more to her smile than she was letting on and he figured as happy as she was for her friends, like him, she was also reflecting on her own failed marriage. He quietly approached her. “Pretty amazing, aren’t they?”
Rebecca sniffed and quickly brushed away any evidence of tears. “Yes…they are.”
“Hey, what’s this? What’s wrong?” Ted’s face crumpled in concern, not fooled for a second that her emotions weren’t conflicted.
She turned to him, about to cover for her self-reflection and making the beautiful moment about her woes, but his face was so genuinely concerned, interested and gentle … she couldn’t lie. Ted had shared his troubles with her, had convinced her to seek therapy to help deal with her pain; he deserved her honesty. Most importantly, she wanted to share it with him. She knew he’d understand. He always did.
“Oh, Ted. The way Roy looks at Keeley? I want that. Why isn’t it me?” Rebecca’s lips pressed together harshly holding back a sob. Admitting it out loud may have been healthy, but damn, if it didn’t hurt like hell.
For a moment, Ted was taken aback. “You telling me, you have feelin’s for Roy?”
Rebecca shook her head and laughed through her tears. Ted could always lighten her mood, especially with his silly conclusions. “What? No, Ted!”
She smiled, lifting her hand to her mouth to hold in a chuckle that could just as easily come out as that hidden sob. She took a moment to swallow the lump and explain, the sadness in her eyes evident. “I thought when I got married that’s exactly what I had and I was utterly and completely fooled. It was all a lie. I know it’s a lot to ask, I mean, Keeley is probably the easiest person on the planet to love, but why don’t I deserve someone who honestly looks at me the way Roy looks at Keeley?”
“Course, you deserve it. I believe everyone deserves it, even if everyone ain’t so lucky to have Roy Kent gazing in their eyes,” he winked and managed to eke out another smile from her. “But come on now, Rebecca, you’re a 11 out of 10. Smart, gorgeous, great at all you do and you’ve got buckets of love to give. Only a matter of time before that love is poured right back on you.”
She looked directly into his eyes, so warm and kind, so open and honest, and for a split second something clicked, something deep and rich and beautiful, and it took her breath away. Literally. You could hear the intake. But the moment was dashed by Ed, the band leader, interrupting her thoughts. “Right! Tha’ was luvely, wasn’t it? Wha’ a couple! Never thought I’d see Roy Kent so soft. Amazing what luv can do, innit? Christ, I’ve put my foot in it now. Roy’s about to come up on stage n’ kill me, I’m sure of it. Better get the rest of the wedding party up here for a dance to distract ‘im, and then the rest of you lot can join in aftah.”
The moment lost, Ted motioned to Rebecca. “Guess he means us. After you, maid of honour.”
Though flustered with the sudden whirlwind of her emotions, Rebecca did as Rebecca always did; she nodded, gave her face a brush with both her hands, took a deep breath, adjusted her impressive posture and smiled. She was a pro at facing the music that way.
To anyone observant enough to notice, Ted led her to the dance floor in a remarkably similar way to how Roy had led Keeley only moments before, admiring Rebecca’s grace and knowing she was the star of the pair. They fell into a comfortable embrace as they began to dance; they were naturals together, though they each looked around at various attendees to smile and nod, even wave, both hesitant to face the other so intimately. The music, however, seemed to be pushing them to do otherwise.
🎶 So many years gone, still I remember
How did I ever let my heart believe
In one who never gave enough to me
And so many years gone, love that was so wrong
Whatever may have happened in that moment was interrupted, as Keeley and Roy danced up to them. Unsurprisingly, Keeley had taken the lead away from Roy to get to them. She beamed at her friend and winked. “So chuffed you caught the bouquet, Rebecca!”
Rebecca rolled her eyes, glancing to Roy and Ted briefly, but not long enough for any meaningful glances.
“Keeley,” she began in a withering voice, “I caught it because you stood right next to me and practically threw it directly in my hands.”
“Sometimes I need to help fate move a little faster, yeah?” Keeley shrugged, looking from Rebecca to Ted and back again.
“Right, let them dance, babe. I want you to myself,” Roy interrupted, as much to relieve Ted and Rebecca from Keeley’s meddling as for himself.
“Iss not like you won’t have me for the rest of your life,” Keeley countered, smiling.
“I’m fucking greedy like that, aren’t I? Won’t apologize for it either,” Roy said, pulling her away while his lips immediately focused on a spot on her neck yet again.
Ted and Rebecca both laughed, watching them, but not yet ready to chat with each other. They knew something had changed between them. Ted had seen it in her eyes, that moment of realization. He wanted to see it again; the song, the moment, the feeling of love in the room was pushing him to act. So he turned to her, intently staring at her stunning face, in a way she couldn’t ignore forever. This woman had given him a chance to coach a team light years above his league. He was now going to take a chance on this woman who, in his mind, was also light years above his league.
🎶 You were my one more chance I never thought I'd find
You were the one romance
I've always known in my mind
No one will ever touch me more
And I only hope that in return
I might have saved the best of me for you… 🎶
Rebecca was so affected by the feeling of Ted’s heated gaze on her, and the words of the song, that she knew if she turned to face him now, there was no going back. Was that so bad? No. It wasn’t bad at all. She knew, she finally needed to be brave enough. She looked his way, and her question from moments before, if she would ever deserve to be looked at with that kind of love, was answered. His eyes were soft and questioning, but also immeasurably gentle, loving and yet still passionate. She felt adored – revered even – by his gaze. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, the only indication of her intentions was the quivering of her lower lip, trying to form words, and not being able to grasp what needed to be said. Using the English language, any language, in that moment, felt too basic to express the depth of her love, the astounding strength of feeling, she finally acknowledged existed inside her about Ted.
It had been all there. Right in front of her, all along. She could chastise herself for not noticing, but she knew, her heart hadn’t been ready. Her mind had been too cluttered, first, with hurt and revenge, then with an attempt to control the depths of her love with men who weren’t enough. Finally, with Ted and Dr. Sharon's help, she focused on giving her love in a non-romantic way, finding joy in the game and the growth of feelings for a team that had become her family; she, their mama bear. All of this led to her being satisfied in her sense of self, accepting her flaws and knowing that she was loveable, even if it wasn’t the romantic love she craved.
But there he was. Ted. The catalyst. The biscuit-baking, silly American who hoodwinked her with his earnestness and charmed that mama bear into handing over her club, before she’d even realized she was a mama bear, and that what she did out of foolishness ended up being for the better rather than for worse because of that man. He was soft and strong, kind and smart, handsome and goofy, funny and deep, unfailingly forgiving and loyal. In a word: wonderful.
And he loved her. It was written all over his face. She felt it in his embrace as they danced. She sensed it in the air between them. Was it the romance of the moment? Yes. But it wasn’t forced. It was needed. Seeing Roy and Keeley so happy, so open, so willing to expose their love so unabashedly to each other and to all, made Ted and Rebecca realize that they needed to be courageous. They needed to take that leap or else risk losing the one person who had filled their life with meaning, not just by falling in love, but by showing them there was more to life than romantic love, that they could be happy with themselves, and that they weren’t too much or not enough. They were just right. Just right for each other.
“Ted,” Rebecca said, as breathy as a Southern belle smitten by a gentleman suitor. She almost laughed under her breath at the thought. She needed to give him more, though, and she stated fervently, “I do… I do have buckets of love to give.”
He smiled, his eyes warm and understanding as she looked at him straight on, her face soft and inviting, and her eyes sparkling with love and emotion and tears. “I do, too,” he answered confidently, his smouldering gaze dropping down to her two perfect lips while unconsciously licking his own.
Neither contemplated the repercussions as they leaned into each other. Neither heard Keeley’s gasp as their lips brushed together. Neither saw Isaac stop mid-sentence, stretching his arms out to team players to announce, “The gaffer’s snogging!” Neither saw Beard’s knowing nod and folded arms while their arms wended their way around each other’s bodies, and neither heard Roy’s chuckle as Ted’s hand climbed underneath Rebecca’s hair and Rebecca’s hand moved dangerously close to Ted’s arse.
Even if they had, they wouldn’t have cared. They were sharing their truth. It wasn’t going to change whether other people knew or not. Both had finally awakened to what they’d kept hidden, even from themselves, emotions that were now unleashed and unrestrained. They had been in denial, not allowing themselves to feel, unknowingly afraid of finding something so right, finding love with someone already deeply embedded in their lives, someone they already trusted and appreciated. But now. Now there was no going back and whatever the repercussions, they’d face them together.
They had no need for worry. There was no better place for them to share. Their family surrounded them and approved, and it felt like coming home.