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Chapter Text

It was a warm, but beautiful day. Rebecca Welton admired the blue sky peppered with fluffy white clouds and took stock of the people coming in and out of the enormous house she herself had just walked through. She was at a political mixer, or rather, a very easy job interview that she was going to turn down before she was even offered the job. A job that she would succeed at. A job she did not want because of a complicated history.

Yet, she still showed.

She showed up in a black jumpsuit and a very large black hat that she was sure made her stand out like a sore thumb ready for a funeral instead of the launch of a political campaign. She showed up with nearly 2 decades of political work in her back pocket, in the United States and in England thanks to her father who was an Ambassador to England once upon a time and a very influential politician when she was older. He got meetings with heads of state that ‘regular’ people couldn’t.

Not that Rebecca ever tried really, but she knew that the name Welton held weight. Could get her into any door she desired to be opened. It was a shame she closed one of the most significant ones of her life.

“Rebecca!” She heard a voice shout with a bit of surprise.

Keeley Jones was making her way to Rebecca, carefully navigating the white back steps in her impressively high heels. She reached for Rebecca and kissed her on the cheek.

“I didn’t think you were coming.”

“Wasn’t planning on it,” Rebecca shrugged. “But who can turn down a free day of food and wine?”

“Do you want a tour or do you know the lay of the land?”

Rebecca eyed the young woman who had turned her attention to the crowd that were milling around the tables. An event tent was at the end of the property, on the other side of the path her and Keeley stood at – with tables scattered. She was sure, on the other side of the pool a small stage was probably up. But the man of the hour didn’t need a stage, nor did he need a microphone. He commanded every and all crowds with the gentle power he brought.

“Why don’t you tell me why I’m here,” Rebecca hedged, reaching for a glass of champagne off a passing tray. “Why was I flown first class from London to Kansas City?”

“Right,” Keeley said, righting herself. “You are being offered the job of Campaign Manager.”

“No.”

Exasperated, Keeley sighed and then moaned. “Why not? You’ve been itching for a job like this!”

“With the right person!”

Once upon a time, there was a time when the person didn’t matter. It was whether she could spin a story, a campaign, that she believed in. There was a time when she let herself get swept up in the romance of campaigning. Of meeting the throngs of people who just wanted their voice heard. Relishing in the high of the day and falling into the bed of a man who was ready to dispose of her. And did. Publicly.

It was why she was here, really. At this mansion on a hill in Kansas. Seeking information about a job she didn’t want but needed. A job she didn’t need but wanted because of who it was. She was going to let herself get temporarily swept up in it.

Long enough to cash in on the never-ending food and alcohol.

“What’s wrong with him?” Keeley asked. “He is right up the alley of all these people who are willing to throw money at him. I think people have!”

That wasn’t the problem.

Rebecca took her hat off and pressed her hand to her forehead. She bit her lip and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes, let them readjust to the bright sun, she sighed. Let the air out and counted to ten before she let her eyes fall back on Keeley again.

“Things have changed,” Rebecca said carefully.

“Name me one thing.”

Before Rebecca could open her mouth, something breaking within the house caught her attention. She put the hat back on and when Keeley left to go inside, Rebecca took that as her cue to join the fray.

Faces were familiar to her. From years ago, and from the recent jobs she had done. If she took the job, which she still wasn’t sure she was, she needed to know who was going to work with. Who she had to be aware of. The world was small when it came to politics. Very small.

“Rebecca.” A voice behind her called.

It wasn’t the voice she was expecting. That would have been too soon. She wasn’t even sure he had noticed her. He was still at the center of a very important conversation, it looked like. A conversation he continued to hold.

“Terry.”

The thing about political circles is when you find yours it’s hard to get out of it. You can leave, but you’re always allowed to come back. It’s weird really. No matter how much hurt and devastation – the door is always open.

“Keeley told me you were coming.”

“And yet I didn’t know I was,” she shrugged. “Spur of the moment idea.”

“You get a lot of those?”

“Not recently,” she admitted.

The man next to her was dressed in black. A suit with a colored blouse and sunglasses perched on his nose. The serious expression he normally wore placed on his face. Rebecca knew Terry Beard was watching. That was his gift. He knew everything and was always one step ahead.

“For the record,” Beard started. “If you plan on sticking around, you answer to me and you answer to Roy.”

“What about – “

“You answer to me. And you answer to Roy.”

All she could do was nod. Say nothing and nod.

Another thing about political circles and finding yours, you know the people very well when you try and escape. You know that the tone they use – the one Terry used on her just now – meant there was no more room for arguing. Not that she really had a place to, but she knew he could handle it.

“Another thing,” Beard said. “If you take this – your campaign manager. He’s got a son.”

“I know.”

With that Beard nodded and left. She took a deep breath and drowned a glass of champagne that was passing by and then sought out food. She let herself get roped up into various conversations. Conversation rates between the dollar and the pound; thanks to her father, she learned to dislike, but admire Economics. She was roped into various conversations about policy and public transportation and how the man they were all there to celebrate could effectively change all that if he was elected to the highest office in the land.

Rebecca could offer her two cents here and there, but simply smiled for the most part. Listened as the former and current Congress people banter back and forth. Up and coming politicians of local offices seek advice and counsel. This was what she liked. This is what she missed. Just the back and forth of it all. The stillness is what scared her, filled her up with dread and possibilities of wrongdoing. Even when it was the right thing. Safe.

“Excuse me,” she said to no one in particular, but wanted to be polite.

Rebecca lost track of time and found herself feeling warm. So, she escaped into the large house where people were milling around. It was of the hour that people were saying their goodbyes and telling each other they’ll see them on Monday. Rebecca smiled and shook her head, seeking out the kitchen for a glass of water.

Finding the large room, she also found a young woman and a young boy. The boy was sitting on the counter, tears in his eyes and when Rebecca entered the room both pairs of eyes landed on her. Immediately she knew who the boy was. He had the same chocolate brown warmth in his eyes as his father did. Does, she would imagine.

“Oh, thank god,” the young woman said, looking up at Rebecca. “You work here, right? I mean – for the campaign. He fell on the front steps and banged up his knee and I don’t know what to do.”

Rebecca smirked as she thought of some smart remark, but she simply shook her head. “I can do it.”

“Really?”

“It’s just a scratch, right Henry?”

The little boy nodded and when the two women switched places, the younger one fleeing the room almost comically, Henry started to well up again.

“I don’t think it’s just a scratch.”

Rebecca surveyed the knee. It was red and sore. But when kids are little, a band aid for even the simplest thing gives them a sense of protection.

Rebecca hummed as she peeled apart the band-aid.

Those things are called plasters? Do they get plastered?

A small smile grew at the corner of her lip – the memory hitting her suddenly. The little boy in front of her held his breath in anticipation. She gently touched the space above the red spot and brushed her thumb over it before placing the strip of adhesive onto his knee. When she pulled back, the little boy let his breath out and smiled at her.

“All better?”

The boy nodded and swung his legs.

“It doesn’t even hurt!”

Rebecca smiled at that and helped Henry off the counter. If his father were to walk in, she didn’t know how he’d react to his kid sitting on a counter. Once upon a time, he didn’t mind it. At least not when she sat up on a counter.

“Alright,” Rebecca said, patting him on the back. “Off you go. And stay away from those front steps.”

Letting the boy run around unsupervised was probably not the smartest idea, but if he knew the grounds and knew his father’s rules, then he would be fine. There were so many people milling around now anyway, he wouldn’t get far if he did step out of the front of the house.

Her back was to the entrance, the glass cool against her lips when she heard him. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A faint smile appeared and was quickly replaced by thin lips and a hopefully stoic expression.

When Rebecca turned around to face her past and now present, Ted Lasso stood with his hands in the pockets of his navy blue suit and a gentle smile. His face was tinged in pink, probably from the sun, his eyes bright and shiny, full of hope and admiration. Tired too, from the looks of it.

“Heard you were here.”

“Hi Ted,” Rebecca greeted, setting down her glass.

Five years together. Five years of history. Five years of separation and following each other across the country through articles and media postings.

“Heard you’re looking for a job.”

Rebecca shrugged. “Trying to see if it’s worth it.”

Ted smirked, nodded, ran a hand over his mouth, fingers scratching at the beard on his face. Then his hand was back in his pocket and he was moving towards her.

“You want to hear my plan on family values? How to fix the economy? Transportation? The debt ceiling?”

With every speech topic he moved closer. Close enough now that she was face to face with him. The animated way he rattled them off caused her to smile. To bite her bottom lip and shake her head. He always could make her smile.

“How about public health issues?” Rebecca said, swallowing hard. “Forgiving someone for making a mistake.”

“Forgave them a long time ago,” he nodded. “That's why you’re here.”

His index finger gently connected with her nose, causing her face to scrunch up and she laughed. A sound that was so foreign to her and yet the only way he could bring out of her.

Ted stepped back with a smug grin on his face. They brought in the big guns to seal the deal. He brushed his hair back, settling his hand at the base of his neck and looked at her.

“You’re going to have to sign some documents or whatever. Beard has them. Just in case you feel like leavin’ on a jet plane again.”
“And if I don’t?”

She didn’t mean for it to sound so much like a challenge, but she watched as the tone set something across Ted’s face. He stood straighter suddenly and more determined.

“Then you might as well leave right now.” Ted said. “I’ll even buy you your plane ticket out of here. Go back to London and your cushy independent life and just pretend that didn’t happen.”

“Because that worked so well the first time,” she said in response, stepping up to him now.

He knew her well enough to know that she wouldn’t back down.

“Five years is a long time to wait.”

“I didn’t want to hurry.” she replied, an eyebrow raised. “Beard is?”

“Upstairs and to the left.” Ted said. “Good to have you back, Rebecca.”

She hummed as she left him alone in the kitchen, finding the stairs easy enough.

Every step was a second, day, week, month and year all rolled up into one. The days she hated herself for leaving him. For trying to fool herself into believing Rupert. For trying to salvage a campaign that was only hurting her reputation than helping it. For giving up a life she still so desperately wishes she could have.

She took a deep breath in as she took hold of the golden knob that led to the room she heard Beard in. Two voices joined him and they quieted when she pushed the door open.

“Rebecca, this is Annie Martin and Patrick O’Donohugh.” Beard introduced.

When Rebecca stared down at the documents, she felt like she wanted to cry suddenly. The weight on her chest was suddenly so heavy. It’s importance - the importance - of this moment was weighing her down.

What are you? Chicken? Welton Consulting has a nice ring to it.

She picked up the pen, flipped to the last page, knowing that this was - apparently - a standard NDA contract. She filled out her name, the date, and when she looked up at Beard when it came to ‘DUTIES ON CAMPAIGN’ he nodded at her. With a quick scrawl she wrote - ‘Campaign Manager’ and then signed her name.
Beard handed Patrick a pen and he signed it under her name as a witness.

“Miss Welton, my name is Annie Martin and I’m going to be with you throughout this campaign. Mr. Lasso has a -”

As Annie went on, Rebecca lowered herself in the empty chair and just watched as Beard took her in. He was always quiet and yet so loud as his brain worked for him to say a few words. Pointed and meaningful words. He was never a fan of saying too much, when a few words will do.

They had 12 stops in nearly that many days. There was going to be a lot of flying, ground transportation, and handshaking. She was handed a notebook of all of Ted’s previous speeches and she realized, as people began to come and go from the room, it had begun.

She got to work. She was brought water, food and then when she was done it was taken away. Replaced with a plate of fruit that she snacked on. It was dark before she knew it and Annie was in the doorway peaking her head in.

“Miss Welton,” she called, getting Rebecca’s attention. “Mr. Lasso wanted me to inform you that the room at the end of the hall will be yours this evening.”

“The room at the end -”

“Of the hall, has your things. We checked you out of the hotel you were staying in and brought your things here.”

Rebecca looked at Beard who was gathering his things up, purposely not looking at her. It was when the room was cleared, Annie gone, that he finally looked up.

“How long have my things been in there?”

“Oh,” he shrugged. “What is time?”

She let out a laugh and he stood. Notebooks and speeches in his hand, a pencil tucked between his thumb and the black surface of his book.

“Welcome back, Rebecca,” Beard said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

She gave him a small smile. It felt good to be mixed up in planning weeks of campaigning. Getting the lowdown, the poll numbers, figuring out areas that can be worked out and worked on. Communities that needed to be checked in on and not necessarily persuaded.

She was thinking about their community center appearance tomorrow when she stepped into the room at the end of the hall. She was beginning to feel tired.

But the sight of her room made her stop. Made her hold her fist to her chest. Regret instantly filling her chest and remorse.

I would give you a thousand roses just because. Just to see you smile.

In the center of her dresser, a note and a vase of a dozen gorgeous red roses. She read the note and held it close.

She collapsed into bed with it, not wanting to let it get too far. In case it was a dream. A reminder that she did, in fact, screw up. But she was missed and she was being welcomed back with open arms. A second chance to start over.

Rebecca Welton fell asleep to the faint smell of a memory that seemed to have been embedded into the pillows. A smell that she would seek night after night for months, falling asleep to it.

She would eventually learn that the room she was asleep in was Ted’s and he moved out of it for her. And eventually, when she wasn’t so brain fogged about the campaign and debating with herself if she was worth being forgiven, she’d realize that was their room, once upon a time.

Chapter Text

It had been a whirlwind six days for Rebecca. By choice, Rebecca was up before the sun. She had come to find that where Ted’s team had essentially set up shop was called The Chateau. They had been in the middle of a heated argument, the first morning, when she walked into the kitchen to get tea. They were all arguing over the name, what to refer to when talking to each other and referring to it when they had to come back to headquarters. It was a security issue and also something to give to the press. The room had gone quiet and she had bit back a laugh when someone asked why they couldn’t just refer to it as Headquarters.

“Why not just call it the Racetrack?” Rebecca questioned, her back against the stove, and a warm cup of tea in her hands.

That sent everyone into a whirlwind of conversation and now, as she stands in the basking sun of a field that was turned into a makeshift rally point, she could hear staffers wondering about when they could get back to the Racetrack. When she first suggested it there were questions about whether or not it would poll well, whether people would understand what they meant, things that she had to start caring about.

Rebecca stood off to the side of a set of bleachers, her arms crossed against her chest, when she felt someone step up behind her. It was Beard. She didn’t need to look over her shoulder to know who, but she did anyway, giving him a raised eyebrow in welcome.

“Speeches are better,” he commented.

It wasn’t that the speeches before were bad, but they were not great. Out of touch a bit. The usual flair Ted had when giving speeches had been missing. She noticed that in her first dozen speeches she watched in the first two days. She had spent a lot of time simply listening to Ted talk; not much for the substance, but for the tone. To hear how he said certain lines and how he used his charisma to his advantage.

Rebecca hummed in agreement. “You should tell Keeley that.”

“She knows it.”

There was a smattering of applause and Rebecca caught sight of Keeley with a notebook and a pen, jotting something down. There was a small smile on the young woman’s face. She knew the line was good.

Rebecca turned her attention back to the podium and watched as Ted waxed poetic about some story from when he was in high school. If she focused and paid attention she would realize it hadn’t been a story she had heard before. Instead she was focused on his hands.

When they were just starting to get to know each other, Ted dismissed the hand in the pocket thing as something he did when he was nervous. She figured out he was lying about two months later when he had a panic attack in the office and she had to shove him into a bathroom stall and run water so no one heard him gasping for breath. So now that he was doing it, she was interested. Interested to see if he had gotten help as he once promised.

Ted’s voice was even, which was a step up from before. He stayed focused and on topic, smiling a little bit when he got to a point in his story where the audience laughed. But she noticed his shoulders were high. His body canted towards the podium, leaning into it a little bit so he could rest. That made her stand up straighter. Made her more aware of his movement. Or lack thereof, rather.

Rebecca suddenly found herself coming up with different ways to get him off the stage. First was Henry, the second his mother, and the rest was campaign related. Phone calls or messages. Something and anything to get him away from that microphone. She was willing to throw herself at him just to get him off the stage.

Before she could step away, the audience was on her feet and giving Ted a thunderous applause. It snapped her out of her head and she followed Beard. Ted took his hands out of his pockets and to the untrained eye, the simple movement of him flexing his fingers would have gone unnoticed. Not to her. She itched to reach out to him, to thread her fingers with his. Better yet, she wanted to let his fingers rest against her wrist, so he could feel her pulse. That worked once.

Instead he waved at the audience, the people who were there to see him and he walked off stage. Down the few short steps to where Rebecca, Beard, and an intern were waiting. The intern held out an open bottle of water and Ted took it.

“How did it go?” Ted's question, pointed more so for Beard, who simply shrugged. “Thought I was losing them at one point.”

“The seniors found you interesting,” Beard said, taking papers from another intern who Rebcca thought was named Sarah.

“What did you think?” Ted asked, tossing the water bottle into a trash case, and this time focusing his question on Rebecca.

They had begun to move towards a series of cars that had pulled up. From the passenger side, an agent got out and opened the door for Ted to simply slide in. She would go in the second car with Keeley. Instead of getting in the car, Ted stopped, turning his back to the inside of the car.

“I thought it was fine,” she told him. “The speeches are getting better.”

“Less dull?”

“You couldn’t make anything dull, even if you tried,” she replied. “This one may have been too long, which is why the senior citizens probably stopped listening. You’re regaining your footing. The press will be back on your side in no time.”

Ted rapped his knuckles on the top of the car, throwing a smile to the young man who was holding onto the door. “Thanks Ollie.”

The young man nodded as Ted slid in.

Ted took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. He was still feeling a bit off - shaking on the inside for whatever reason. He granted himself a second to observe Rebecca. Rebecca was just standing there, taking in the scenery or whatever she was doing - but just waiting.Waiting for him to make a move, he thought.

“Ride with me,” Ted said, waving her in. “I have some ideas I want to bounce off of you.”

The look she gave him - even through her sunglasses - was stunned. She had gotten so accustomed to being behind him, to being on the outside, that being offered this was like a gift. He told her he forgave her, but she didn’t believe him. He could hear her walking around upstairs in the wee hours of the morning, before the sun came up, getting her day started. While he was lounging around in comfortable clothes, she was wearing suits and blouses ready to face the day in professional armor.

It was impressive, if not a little sad. It was her armor. The one thing she had a handle on.

“They want me to date,” Ted said, once the car was moving. “They think it’ll get my numbers up.”

“They’re not wrong,” she said, pulling the seatbelt across her body, clicking it in. “It gets you out besides just the campaign trail. If they’re smart it won’t look like you’re neglecting Henry either.”

“You think that’s what they’ll say?”

“Who knows what they’ll say,” she said, honestly. “But you have to prepare for it to be one thing or the other.”

He hummed in some sort of agreement as the car began to pull away and the lights started to flash. His hands were beginning to itch and burn. She was so close and yet -

“That’s why we brought you in,” Ted admitted. “To make me some kind of a family man.”

Ted watched as Rebecca kept her eyes on her phone, scrolling from one message to the next. He watched as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth - a tell from the past that he hadn’t forgotten about. He smirked as he refocused his attention out the window. He knew she heard him.

“I think Keeley was ready to draw up a list of places for us to go.”

He was met with more silence. She pulled her lip further in.

“Told her to look up wedding venues instead.”

He saw in the reflection the way her head snapped up. It was then that he turned with a small grin on his face.

“What?”

“Good to see you’re still with me,” Ted smirked. “The campaign wants me to date. And apparently they want me to date you.”

“We already dated.”

“Technically, we slept together more than we went out, but that’s semantics,” Ted waved. “I told them to give you a minute or two to settle in. Then they were free to hit you with life changing things.”

“As if coming to work for this campaign wasn’t life changing enough.”

“It is when you’ve got a kid involved.”

They had lapsed into silence. He let his mind drift off to a time when Henry was a baby and Ted was rocking him in a chair, humming some song that the boy seemed to like. Michelle was downstairs, on the phone with her Mom. He didn’t know she was sharing with her mom that she was going to be leaving them, signing off her parental rights to Ted, and disappearing into the night.

A simple - I’m sorry - was left on the kitchen counter and that was that.

A year later he was approached to run for office.

A year after that he saw Rebecca in the news; she was getting married. And as quickly as that news was announced, it was plastered everywhere that she wasn’t because her soon to be husband was caught with his pants down.

“You’re awfully quiet for a man who makes a living off of talking,” she commented. “Was that all you wanted to tell me?”

“Just thinking,” Ted said.

And now Rebecca was here. Sitting next to him. A seat away. Where he could just stretch across and grab hold of her fingers. Hold them.

“Don’t think too hard,” she quipped.

He let his gaze fall upon her and gosh she was gorgeous.

Ted tilted his head back, closing his eyes and let his hand rest between the seats. Giving her the opportunity to take it or not. The latter is more likely.

“I thought about it,” Ted said. “When they told me they brought you in. That you were comin’. What it would be like to be the man to really date Rebecca Welton. And then it got me thinking about the restaurants, and the parks, and the little lakes we have around here. Then it got me to thinkin’ ‘bout Henry and where we could take him. Next thing I know the sun was up and a few hours later you were standin’ in the backyard looking gorgeous as ever.”

Before she was able to say anything, as if he timed it, they were pulling up to the house. Through the window, they could see Henry at the door, in the arms of Sarah, the nanny the team hired.

“Okay,” she said softly; so soft she didn’t know if he heard her.

Ted looked at her with a sense of hope, one that made her start to smile. And then the door was open and Ted was getting out. Through her window, she watched as Henry made a bee line for Ted, who effortlessly swept him up and tossed him into the air. Settling Henry on his hip, he turned back to Rebecca, who was stepping out of the car. Ted smiled at her and when she returned it, he saw the flicker of something in her eyes. Sadness maybe.

The rest of the afternoon was spent upstairs. He had enough time that Ted could spend a couple hours with Henry before the boy went to bed. So, it was bath time, and then a few books before the boy fell asleep. Ted drug a hand down his face, covering his eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath.

The last week had been insane. Rebecca had been a fluke, really. He didn’t think Keeley had been completely honest with him when she told him that Rebecca had been coming. Or that she was in the States at all. Her name was circled and Keeley liked the idea. That afternoon, after hours of thinking what kind of life they could have, when he was talking to the owner of the little farming society that someone told him he had to schmooze, he felt her before he saw her. She wasn’t hard to miss in her statuesque posture, in that black jumpsuit and hat. He wanted to go say hello, tear himself away, but that voice was nagging at him not to.

Then someone mentioned Henry being hurt. And he thought Jane had been with him, but when he stepped into the hallway and saw Rebecca - his heart stuttered and his brain stopped functioning. She had that effect. Always had.

“Ted?”

Ted dropped his hand and saw Rebecca standing in the doorway. She held a soft smile, one he remembered a long time ago that was special for him. He realized it was also a bit sad, mixed with sympathy and apology.

Ted kissed Henry’s forehead and stepped out into the hall, leaving the door open just enough to let the hallway light in.

“He ain’t too fond of the dark,” Ted shrugged.

“Neither are you, if I remember right,” she smiled. “You have a phone call. No one wanted to come up here and bother you.”

“Let me guess, you pulled the short straw?”

“Was volunteered, actually,” she informed him, leaning back against the opposite wall. “Beard’s personal request.”

“He still thinks I’m crazy,” Ted shrugged, “letting you come back.”

“I don’t think he’s much of a fan,” she admitted. “He doesn’t want to see you hurt.”

Beard was there for all of it. The morning after Rebecca left, the morning Michelle left - he took Henry to the zoo when the boy turned 3 because Ted needed to talk to someone that wasn’t his mother, Beard, Henry, or the stuffed animals that littered his house. It was around then that he decided maybe running was a good idea. He could help people get what they wanted. Help people survive the life they have. Provide support and perhaps a solution to a problem.

“He’s a good guy.”

Rebecca hummed and looked to the end of the hall. “Don’t forget you have your call.”

“I’ll call them back in the morning,” Ted shrugged. “The second you left to come find me, I’m sure Beard told them just that.”

“Then why send me out?”

Ted tilted his head and smirked. She dropped her head, the short curls falling into her face. He liked seeing her this way - a bit flustered and embarrassed. Right. They wanted them to date. She shook her head, rubbing at her forehead.

“Hey Rebecca,” Ted said, his voice low. “You just say the word and I’ll drop it. What if we were crazy and tried the datin’ on the campaign idea? What if we -”

When he pushed away from the wall, and put himself in front of her, he realized then and maybe had stowed it away to the far parts of his brain, but he was just a bit taller than she was when she was shoeless. It made her seem smaller, despite being so tall.

“Ted, I really hurt you.”

“And you’ve been forgiven.” Ted reminded her. “Told you that last week.”

“I still don’t quite believe you.”

“Have I ever lied to you before?”

When she shook her head, he caught her chin with his crooked index finger. He sucked in a breath and caught her gaze. She was terrified and his pulse that was starting to sound in his ears was making his own fears known. But god if he didn’t love her. Whole heartedly loved her then and didn’t think he was any less in love with her now. Plus, she had already said okay.

A soft, “Daddy?” came from the bedroom behind Ted and it was his turn to give her an apologetic look.

“I’ll be right back.”

Slipping away from her was painful. He got Henry back to sleep with another short story, a glass of water, and another quick kiss to his forehead.

When Ted stepped back out into the hallway, Rebecca was gone. He wasn’t surprised, and wasn't even disappointed. The feeling that settled within him was expectancy. He didn’t really expect her to still be there when he came back. He knew she wasn’t far though - he could still smell her perfume.

He heard her down the hall. The gentle click of the door closing caused him to smile.

She wasn’t far. Not anymore.

Chapter Text

The price of getting older is that sleeping in uncomfortable positions is no longer easy. There was a time when Rebecca was able to sleep sitting up for a few hours, a neck pillow or shoulder and she’d be fine. Now, it’s uncomfortable to find an angle that doesn’t twinge a muscle in her back or her shoulders. As she woke, having been tapped by someone, she made a mental note to book a massage at whatever hotel Sandy managed to find.

When she blinked her eyes awake it was to Ted hovering over her. She hissed at the shot of pain that curled around her side and moaned as she tried to straighten up.

“What time is it?”

“Two in the morning,” Ted said, nearly cheerfully. “Go take my bunk. I’ll sit out here.”

“You’re the one who has a speech in the morning,” Rebecca argued, her voice sounding more awake than she felt. “I’ll be okay.”

“You looked uncomfortable.”

Rebecca shrugged a shoulder and she bit back the pain from doing that. Beyond the curtain was a good bed. A bed big enough for two. Ted made sure of it in case Henry wanted to crawl in with him. Not that she was planning on inviting Ted to join her but she -

“Rebecca, honestly, take the bed,” he said. “Mary printed out a couple of speeches I want to go over and can’t do it if I’ve got the lights turned off.”

Rebecca knew she couldn’t argue with him. He wasn’t going to be sleeping any time soon and he would regret that later. But he never did sleep well on planes, which made her wonder why he fought so hard for the flight anyway. She might force him to take a nap after lunch.

She was thinking of the schedule around lunch, when she could pencil him in a thirty minute power nap, when she fell asleep. She dreamt - that much she was sure of - but woke with a start. A slight gasp and then a rush of adrenaline at the realization she was in a bed that wasn’t hers, her head resting on a pillow that smelled like Ted. When she checked her watch she dropped her head back. She only slept two hours. They were going to be landing soon, she figured; breakfast was at some local restaurant that was a set up for small business consumers.

She pulled herself out of bed, pushed herself out of the little room. A small smile graced her lips at the sight of Ted asleep, his head dropped forward, the speeches he was looking at, scattered to the floor.

When they were together, the first time, when no one knew what they were doing, she would tease him that he was an easy sleeper. That he could honestly sleep wherever, as long as he was comfortable. Comfort, he had told her, could be found anywhere.

“Ted,” she hummed now, trying to wake him.

The other element of a sleeping Ted was that when he was asleep, waking him was not easy. He would startle. The motion of someone nudging him, or tapping him, or snapping in his ear brought memories back and it made him jump.

Against her better judgment, with no one to bear witness, she reached out and brushed the unruly tendril that she once said was part of his charm, and pushed it aside, brushing his forehead with the pad of her thumb. Against his cheek, she tried too, putting pressure against his jaw.

“Ted.” she tried again.

A morning when they were in the middle of some god forsaken country, she woke him just like this. Gentle but firm, not wanting to startle him. She surmised then that he was childlike in sleep, gentle and soft. His face was at ease. When he woke up, he smiled at her without opening his eyes, capturing and kissing the inside of her wrist.

So it was no surprise really, that he did the same now. A memory, she figured replaying for him as it was for her. But he didn’t press his lips to her wrist, letting his eyes flutter open instead. She watched as there was a flicker - ever the briefest flicker - of confusion until she smiled wider and leaned back into his chair.

“Hey,” he said, letting her hand go. “What time is it?”

“A little past four,” she said. “We slept a few hours.”

“Is Henry awake?”

“I don’t think so,” she said. “No one climbed in with me.”

“All you gotta do is ask,” he quipped, winking at her and before she could say anything, the cabin was busy.

Rebecca was handed an update to the schedule, Beard was rattling off information about the small restaurant they were going to and about ten minutes before they were expected to land, Ted went to wake up Henry.

It was the second week of being up in the air - a constant stream of back and forth - ping ponging across the country that Rebecca finally asked why. He wasn’t sleeping. And when Beard shrugged it off, she finally snapped.

“I’m tired, Beard,” she groaned, pressing her fingers into her forehead. “If he’s not sleeping, I’m not sleeping and do you know how exhausting that is?”

“He’s not sleeping?”

“We’ve been on a plane for nine out of the last fourteen days,” she remarked. “How many speeches has he gone off on? How many stops did you think he’d fight you on?”

“Shit.”

“He’s not sleeping,” she said again.

Beard started to pace the small room they were in. A small table was in the middle so it was like watching a caged animal. When he stopped, a hand to his chin, he gave her a curious look.

“If he’s not sleeping, then why aren’t you sleeping?”

She gave him a challenging eyebrow - she didn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t want to say it’s because she’s worried about him. Or worried that the resurfacing of feelings was going to come back and bite her in the ass. Plus, if they’re supposed to be together, then it wouldn’t be a surprise that the man she was supposed to be sharing a bed with wasn’t sleeping. She didn’t want to tell him that she didn’t mind not sleeping because if they were awake, alone, and together, then that was enough.

At least for now.

“We need him off the plane,” she said firmly. “If you want him to get anywhere, this needs to change.”

Beard seemed to have gotten the message, because he nodded. He dropped down into one of the chairs and sighed.

“He tell you about the latest and greatest idea the interns had?”

“Depends on which one that is,” she said, taking her own seat.

“They want Ted to date.”

“I did hear about that, yes,” she said, leaning back into the chair. “Do you think it’s a smart choice?”

Beard shrugged. “Not my decision.”

“I think it would be good for him,” she says, almost carefully. “He needs to be out more.”

“Rebecca - “

“I’m not really allowed to have a say in this Terry, not anymore.”

“Sure you do,” Beard said. “You’re here. Still obviously in love with him if you’re just fine spending god knows how many late night hours with him. And putting yourself through this special brand of hell.”

“I left - “

“And you came back,” Beard said. “This dating thing isn’t going to work.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s not going to be able to fall in love with any of them.”

“Give the man a chance.” Rebecca said, offended on Ted’s behalf.

“Ted isn’t the kind of guy to love and be done when he gets his heartbroken, Rebecca.” Beard said. “He’s tried to date but it always ends up with him, a couple beers and the same revelation.”

“What would that be?”

“None of them are you.”

A knock on the door had her up and out of her chair. She found refuge in the bathroom to get her breathing under control. To tamper down any emotion that would make - that would - she gasped for air and brushed aside the falling tears. Her chest hurt. A knock on the door had her whining, then it opened and she was met with a concerned looking Ted.

“Fuck,” she gasped, as he closed the door.

She was not having a panic attack in the air. There was no way that was happening right now. She couldn’t get Beard’s voice out of her head. It was turning into a taunt. A laugh. Mean.

“Rebecca,” she heard Ted say.

Then he put his hands on her thighs and she wanted to curl further into herself. To get him to stop touching her because it burned in a way that brought everything back. She wanted to curl herself up in his lap, to cry on his shoulder, to let him hum in her ear the way he used to do when she would have a row with her mother.

“Rebecca.”

She shook her head, trying to get the stream of thoughts to stop and it was his hands on her neck. Thumbs at her jaw. His eyes aligned with hers. He was saying something and she couldn’t make it out, but she was starting to take deep breaths. She could feel her heart relaxing within the confines of her chest.

“Hey there,” he said, when she was cleared of her fog. “That took a little long.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No - hey,” Ted said, adjusting himself into a better crouched position in this cramped cabin of a bathroom. “No apologies necessary. You want to tell me what happened?”

She shook her head. “I can’t tell you.”

“Rebecca.”

“I just - “

Another knock and she whimpered. Ted stood, his hands still on her and for a brief moment - a stolen moment that he created - pressed his lips against her forehead before pulling back.

On the other side of the door was Beard.

“Henry is looking for you.”

Ted nodded, leaving the bathroom with a last glance at Rebecca, who gave him a watery smile and a slight nod. Permission for him to leave.

When Rebecca stood, it was on shaky legs. She gripped the bar, regaining her center, and leveled her gaze on Beard.

“Rebecca I’m sorry.”

“Ted told me about the plan,” She told him. “What he didn’t tell you was that I said okay. You’re right, I’m in love with him. But I still hurt him and I need - time.”

Beard nodded and she pushed past him.

That night, when everyone went to bed, Ted was sitting in a chair close to the bed. The curtain was pulled back just enough and Rebecca peaked her head in. He nodded - giving her permission this time - and she laid herself down and went to bed.

To Beard’s credit, they did cut back on the flying and Ted was starting to look better. They spent a lot of time in a bus, which had a singular bed that Ted occupied with Henry while Rebecca and Beard took bunks. The rest of the team were in another bus.

He stayed quiet around her, for which she was, at times, grateful. Rebecca didn’t need his words of wisdom, or how she should navigate this new relationship. When he did talk to her, it was one or two words that were pointed and simply about Ted and Ted’s schedule and speeches; she took them with a promise of giving them back with notes.

It was a morning when Rebecca was walking the grounds of their hotel, searching for coffee, when the cover of a paper caught her attention. She tilted her head at it, immediately recognizing Ted’s shape, but curious at who he was with. A brunette she came to realize. A big beaming smile on her face with Ted looking equally as happy. The jealousy and anger flared up in her chest long enough for it bewitch her mind. She bought a copy of the paper, a coffee, and a pastry before going back to their floor.

Closed fist she pounded on Beard’s door. She didn’t care how loud it was. She would wake up the whole floor if it got Terry Beard to open up is god damn -

“Are you out of your mind?” She practically yelled when the door flew open and Beard stood in the frame.

“Come on in,” he said to her passing form.

“What is this?” Rebecca asked. “I tell you I agreed to the plan and you let him do this anyway?”

Terry didn’t even glance at the paper, which only seemed to irritate Rebecca more.

“You were so eager to tell me this wouldn’t work and yet this is happening anyway! He has a child, Terry. Henry will see all of this one day because some one will have bought this and saved it and use it against him.”

“Rebecca.”

“And where was this on the schedule? There was no version of the many schedules that were reworked this week that had this outing on it.”

“Rebecca,” Beard tried again, but not getting through.

“Was that because you were hiding it from me? Before you found out I agreed? Because if you brought me in as some sort of -”

“Rebecca!” Beard tried yet again, his voice a little louder, more forceful, effectively getting her to stop.

Beard tilted his head towards the open door, where she could see the back of Henry’s head. He was asleep. Her eyes filled with tears and she looked at Beard.

“Henry had a nightmare in the middle of the night,” he softly explained. “Ted brought him over. He ran down to grab some coffee.”

“I was just at the cart. I didn’t see him.”

“Probably just missed him.”

“I do,” she said, sadly, tilting her head. “I did.”

The door opened and there was Ted, a tray of coffee and a bag of pastries. “I didn’t know what we were in the mood for so I - oh. Hey look who’s here!”

Rebecca smiled at that, laughing a little. She held up her own coffee and pastry, indicating she was set.

“I should go,” she said, nodding to Beard and Ted. “Sorry for waking you, Terry.”

“Not a problem,” he shrugged. “But you should stay.”

“I think I’ve already overstayed my welcome,” she said. “I’ll see you two later.”

It was hours later when Ted caught up with her at the end of another hotel hallway. His fingers wrapped around her wrist, pulling her into the small alcove and pressing her up against the wall. The space was large enough for them to be separated but he was mad. She could feel it all morning, all day. It was in the way he spoke at the rally. His voice was tense but happy. He was always happy for people.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” she lied.

“Rebecca.”

“God I wish people would just stop saying my name that way,” she pressed. “Like I’ve done something wrong. You all sound like my bloody parents.”

“Look at me,” he said, a tone she hasn’t heard in a long time. “Reb - Becca, look at me.”

At the nickname that only he was allowed to utter, she did. The name that fell off his lips more times that she could count in a way that lit her spine on fire.

“You’re allowed to be bothered by the idea of me dating someone else. You’re allowed to be upset at me being displayed in a magazine like a prized animal.”

“No I’m not.”

“You are,” he said, pressing her. “You also don’t have to hide the fact that you have panic attacks over it.”

“That wasn’t what - “

“Beard isn’t wrong,” Ted interrupted. “He’s right on the money as he usually is.”

Her eyes started to water. The warmth of him was starting to seep into her bones. The tenderness unraveling her tight muscles.

“You can’t tell me that Ted,” she said, her voice starting to waver. “I don’t deserve it.”

“I can’t get you out of my head, Rebecca,” he told her. “You are a permanent fixture up there. You’re scared, I get it. I’m scared too. But if you start runnin’ again I’m going to trip you.”

She let out a choked laugh.

“And you’re always sayin that all I gotta do is ask, right?” Ted asked. “Before, when I wanted something you said all I gotta do is ask.”

She nodded.

“So I’m asking,” Ted said. “Beard tried to talk me out of it but I don’t know anyone else who could take care of me.”

She let him catch his breath, to look into his eyes and see he was absolutely serious. This was what he wanted. And she was terrified but couldn’t comprehend any reason why not to do this. To try it. And if she failed again, she wouldn’t know what to do with herself. So she pledged to herself to not just try but be. Be the best for him.

“So I’m asking you, Rebecca, this is my plan. I want you to be my other half in this. Run with me.”

Rebecca nodded, not trusting her voice and then she felt like she was going to shatter. He took her in his arms and she felt everything settle into place. She wrapped her arms around his back and when she felt his breath against her neck, like he used to do when he hugged her, she tightened her hold.

This was home.

Chapter Text

The rollout of their relationship started slowly. Almost painfully slow. It started in shambles really. Rebecca was seen with a friend from the old days, laughing and smiling, which was caught and spread, insinuating she was already moving on. That she had found a new love; Keeley had her go on a few coffee dates with a man named John Wingsnight and the press had a time with that, beyond just his name.

Not that Ted enjoyed it because really, she came home to him every night. They were just starting to fall asleep in the same bed again. The press, thankfully, hadn’t been made aware of Ted and Rebecca’s relationship, but they were very much aware of Rebecca and John.

It was startling to see John walk around the house, through the backyard talking with the staff. It wasn’t right. Rebecca knew that but there was an event and when she saddled up to him, heard the faint click of a camera somewhere, she knew this is what she had to be doing. At the moment.

What Rebecca didn’t expect was Henry to come running out of the house - the boy was supposed to be down for a nap - and launched himself at her. She laughed as she lifted him up onto her hip, running her fingers through his hair. Ted was right behind him, but that didn’t matter anymore. Not when the cameras were clicking and photos were being taken and suddenly she could see the headlines and shook her head. When she tried to set Henry down, to avoid more photos, he only held tighter.

“Sorry,” she muttered to John and to the woman he was talking to. “He doesn’t want to be let down.”

“It’s alright,” John laughed. “Sometimes a boy just wants his mother.”

And that was the headline that was plastered over the next set of papers, because a reporter found John at his car and asked him what he had said, according to a phone call that would come the next morning. Thankfully, the photos they would print was when Henry set his head down on her shoulder, away from the camera and his hair was long enough to cover his eyes.

Eventually Rebecca was able to pass Henry off to Ted who had an apology dancing in his eyes. She shook her head and took John by the arm, pulling him into the house. John was simply smiling at her.

“Is this where you tell me you had a good time and you’ll catch me later?” John quipped.

“Something like that,” she murmured. “I’m sorry. This is just - my life is here. Anywhere else is not - I don’t know what that looks like.”

“And you don’t want to try to see what that looks like with me?”

Rebecca shook her head, looking down at her shoes for a brief moment. “It won’t - I can’t. After all, what was it you said? A boy needs his mother.”

The truth was on her lips, but they couldn’t have that spread. Not yet. Looking back at the moment, she was glad she hadn’t.

“And you love him.” John said, as if it just donned on him. “Alright well. Huh. I have this.”

When John reached into his pocket, she held her breath. It had been three weeks since they saw each other, publicly and in the press. A little over a month and a half privately thanks to Keeley. No way was he proposing to her now. When he pulled out an envelope she let the breath out.

“I was going to give this to Ted, but you’re here, so.”

It was a check for the campaign which she would have to give to Andrea. Rebecca simply thanked John, pressed a parting kiss to his cheek and watched as he walked out of the house and down towards his car. When she closed the door and turned, pressing herself against the door, the check pressed against her chest, she let herself close her eyes.

Her chest was pounding in her chest and she could figure out why. Breathing was fine, she wasn’t panicking. She was trying to quiet her heart when she heard a pair of heels making their way towards her.

“Where did John go?” Keeley asked.

“Home, to a bar, somewhere that wasn’t here.”

“Did you kick him out?”

“Not really,” Rebecca shrugged. “He gave me a check that I have to give to Andrea.”

“Wait - what the hell just happened Rebecca?”

As they walked through the house trying to find Andrea, the campaign financier, Rebecca explained what happened outside. They found Andrea, Rebecca handed off the check and then she started to look for Ted. Someone mentioned a nap for Henry, someone also may have mentioned dinner - but outside was where Ted was not.

“You want Ted to date,” she said, turning to Keeley. “So you bring me in and then when I’m found in public, with a friend from the old days, you think - let’s have her date him! Make up your mind, love.”

It was another three days before Keeley got another great idea to throw Rebecca out into the public limelight of dating.

“Please just do this for me,” Keeley pleaded, looking at Rebecca from the edge of the woman’s bed. “It’s not completely ridiculous.”

“It is since I’m going to be seen,” Rebecca sighed. “He’s the one who is on screen. I am not.”

“You’re just as important as he is.”

“The nuclear codes don’t think so,” she quipped, running a hand down the soft material of her dress.

Her dress was a lilac purple dress that bunched at the waist, cinched with a white belt. It was perfect for the weather, for the dinner, but she didn’t want to seem like she was being too much. She was already going to be taller than Ted in heels and she knew people whispered.

“He’s not proposing marriage, Rebecca,” Keeley sighed, laying back on the bed, talking up towards the ceiling. “He’s just asked you to very publicly date him and then maybe possibly, eventually, one day marry him.”

“And you’re not worried that if he asked me tonight I would say yes?” she shrugged, turning so her profile was in one half of the mirror and Keeley’s shocked face in the other.

It was a benefit dinner for unhoused children that they went to. A dinner where Ted shook the hands of investors and Rebecca made small talk with their wives. They posed on the carpet, together and apart. Posed together in the ballroom, but Ted did that with a lot of other people. The press couldn’t get enough of him. Which was good and bad. Good because it was going to get his numbers up, bad because the people in the press who didn’t like him could take him down.

Like the sniveling Ernie Lounds who Rebecca noticed more than once that evening.

It was when Ted asked her to dance that anxiety filled her body. Briefly though because the touch to her back was gentle enough that she could pretend it didn’t exist. She took his offered hand and she rose to meet him. He guided her out onto the floor, having her lead them and expertly rolled her into him, having her end up nearly chest to chest with him.

“Hi,” he said, a smile on his lips as the jazz band played a slow song.

“Hi,” she replied, smiling back, not being able to help it.

“Photos are out,” Ted muttered in her ear. “The press is saying some things.”

“Anything to worry about?”

Anxiety filled her. But Ted tightened his hand, his arm, and pulled her impossibly closer to her as he knew.

“Some good things,” he promised.

When she woke the next morning, the space next to her was empty. She had the brief recollection of Ted’s phone ringing in the middle of the night - or maybe it was early morning - and he answered it. So she let herself bask in the sunlight peering through the blinds. She reached for her phone, ignored the onslaught of text messages and opened the link that had been sent by Keeley.

The first images made her smile. The photos from gala, the red carpet. They looked happy. They looked good. Then, as she scrolled, she began to read.
Unnamed sources claiming that Rebecca had been brought in to be Ted’s mistress. Someone to get the edge off with. That made her sit up in bed. Unnamed sources giving this publication the exact date she joined the team and she swallowed hard at the photo of her holding Henry, blurry from afar, over Ted’s shoulder, but it was her.

She pulled on her robe, shoved her phone in the pocket and went in search of someone with answers. She could hear Ted talking at the end of the hall, on the first floor, where most of the team meetings were held.

“Good things?” she questioned, shoving the door open, holding up her phone. “These are not good things.”

Ted, surprised, stood up and reached for her. “They’re just unnamed sources, honey.”

Rebecca’s mouth dropped open slightly, not just at the name he gave her, but the way he said, they’re just unnamed sources. Dismissing it.

“You know what I think of unnamed sources,Ted. I don’t. They were splattered all over every magazine in London announcing my relationship with Rupert. Then the end of it with Rupert. Unnamed sources put information about me in those papers my mother had to call me about and see if they were true. So no, I don’t think highly about unnamed sources. If someone comes to me and says an unnamed source one more time, I’m going to walk away.”

“What did they say?” Beard questioned.

“Who?”

“The unnamed source.”

Ted pulled out the thin magazine and flipped to the page. “Rebecca Welton, a flirty and fun woman,seen above, is in fact dating Ted Lasso, according to unnamed sources. She came to London out of boredom and depravity. Unfortunate, the sources added, since she seems like a good time who the campaign has a hard time firing. Maybe that's why they gave her the role of the first mistress, letting Lasso get his rocks off to manage the stress of running for office.”

Beard stood after a moment of silence, reached over for the sharpie and walked out of the room. Exchanging glances, Ted and Rebecca followed, nearly catching up to Beard who was practically running through the house. He shoved open the back door that led to the patio area, and nearly ripped the door off its hinges, startling the aides in the area.

“You two,” Beard said, snapping his fingers at the two young aides named Ben and Tom, in the back of the room. “When you talk to the press and decide to make yourself unnamed sources, be less obvious.”

“What?” Tom questioned, amused.

“Another tip. When you decide you have something to say, be a fucking man about it and sign your name to it.”

Beard ripped a sheet of paper from the printer in the corner, scribbled a note down and pushed it against Tom’s chest. Tom looked down, read the note, and looked up, fuming.

“I can sue - we can sue you for this. This is emotional - “

“Sue me.” Beard said. “Find me a lawyer who will take kindly to you bad mouthing the future first lady.”

“So it’s true then?” Ben said, rising. “The campaign really brought her down to make her the first -”

“I would watch what comes out of your mouth next,” Beard said, stepping up to them.

The silence was palpable. A pin could drop and be the loudest thing in the room.

“Ben and Tom,” Ted called, getting everyone’s attention.

Rebecca was standing behind Ted, enough to pull him back if the moment required it. His hands were in his pockets, shoulders down - this wasn’t stressing him out the way she thought it would. When she did manage to touch him, gently between the shoulders, she felt the vibration under his skin. He was angry.

“Gather your things and get out of here,” Ted went on, his voice even. “Find a new campaign, if you need letters of rec, send them my way.”

Rebecca smiled a bit at that, knowing that he meant it. The boys on the other end looked at each other incredulously.

“Fuck you,” Tom spat, turning to Ben. “Come on.”

Tom shoved the paper back into Beard’s chest, grabbing their jackets on the way out. As they made their way through the room, towards Ted, Ted stood back, pulling Rebecca behind him gently. She went, knowing he wasn’t doing it to demean her. She was going to let him protect her this time.

The two men walked out - straight down the hall, opening and slamming the door behind them. The room was still quiet. Rebecca moved out from behind him, squeezing his arm as she entered the room that seemingly no longer was riddled with potential danger.

Beard went to Ted, handing him the note in which he wrote ‘You’re Fired - Beard’. Ted folded it up and shoved it into his pocket.

“We need to talk to Keeley and see if they’re running a printed version of that and have it stopped” Ted questioned.

“What do we have as leverage?”

“My fucking kid,” Ted growled. “He’s in one of those pictures.”

“Done,” Beard nodded, pulling out his phone and typing a quick message. “Also, wanted to let you know - those two idiots - they’re working for Nate.”

The thing that Ted had always liked about Rebecca was that despite her cool demeanor, she was very warm towards people. She knew how to interact with them. So as Ted watched her make her way around the room, he tried to school his features. He begged the universe not to have Rebecca look at him. She would know immediately something was wrong.

“How many more?”

“I’m working on it,” Beard nodded.

Ted nodded and stepped out into the hallway, where staff were lingering and trying to look innocent. Keeley was at the end of the hallway, her phone pressed against her ear. Ted reached behind him, his hand slipping into Rebecca’s and pulling her out into the hallway with him. He held tight. She gripped hard too, giving him a look and they both took a deep breath. It wasn’t official, but it was now. For the press. For the team. A little bit for them too.

He leaned over to press a kiss to her temple, murmuring - “I have to tell you something.” - before pulling back and glancing at the team who started to clap.

“Alright alright,” he said waving, getting a light laugh out of Rebecca. “Our friends from The Temple gave us a delightful advanced copy - Keeley is trying to get it from running - but in the meantime, if anyone asks - the campaign doesn’t comment on the personal life of the candidate.”

The room nodded, understanding.

“Now the day has only begun and we have a schedule to keep,” Ted said, waving. “Go grab something to eat and we can meet back here in - “

“Twenty minutes,” Beard said, arms crossed against his chest.

“Alright,” Ted said. “You heard the man. See you in twenty minutes.”

The room clears out and all that’s left are Ted, Rebecca and Beard. Ted’s hands migrate into the pockets of his sleep pants and Rebecca puts her own hands into the pocket of her robe.

“Let me talk to Rebecca for a second, yeah?” Ted asked of Beard.

“I’ll go check on Henry.”
When the room was empty and it was just them - Ted took a look at Rebecca. He took a deep breath and let it all out. How Nate worked for Ted at the very beginning of the campaign. How Nate had brought on a small team of people and it was when Nate left that people started to whisper. That Nate’s little company of friends was being privately funded. That the unnamed sources were most likely Tom and Ben because they were brought on by Nate. Nate who was earning money from -

“Rupert,” she sighed, lowering herself down onto the arm of the chair. “How long have you known about the Rupert connection?”

“About twenty minutes before you walked into the backyard.”

“Okay,” she nodded, taking another deep breath. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“Couldn’t risk tempting the universe,” he shrugged. “Plus, I - I wanted to give you the right information.”

“Okay,” she said again.

Before she was able to say anything else, the tiny pitter patter of feet came down the hallway. Rebecca rose from the seat and waited for Henry. Henry launched himself at Ted and Ted effortlessly lifted him. The little boy giggled and just as Ted was whispering something in his ear ready to take him out of the room, Henry leaned for Rebecca. Arms out for her, wanting her to take him; which she did and took him out of the room, leaving Ted.

Ted dropped himself onto the arm of the chair, Rebecca previously occupied and took a deep breath. Rupert was such a sore subject and just hoped he didn’t fumble the bag.

"Ted, are you coming?" He heard Rebecca call down the hallway.

With a smile, Ted rose and left, joining her and his son. Maybe he didn't fumble the bag after all.

Chapter Text

There was something about sleeping alone that Rebecca had gotten used to. There was an expanse of bed that she was able to claim as her own. There was no need to worry about crossing the middle and breaking the plane. There was no need to check the empty space next to her because she knew that she had been the one to occupy it. Now though, now that she was sharing a bed with someone again from time to time, when she woke, Rebecca did seek out the person. She sought out Ted to see if he was still next to her, asleep or awake, it didn’t matter. She was starting to get used to the comfort that he brought her.

There was a memory of falling asleep next to Ted, his arm wrapped around her waist, as their heads shared a pillow. Yet, when she woke, she was on her back and the arm around her waist belonged to a smaller Lasso. She curled her arm, the one being utilized as a pillow, and brought the boy closer to her. To where she was laying pretty much on top of her and just basked in his warmth. He hadn’t been feeling well lately and was extra clingy. 

The darkness outside of her window indicated it was early - too early for anyone to really be awake. She moaned, dropping her head back to her pillow. It had been a month or so now of sharing a bed with Ted, on and off. It wasn’t a secret that her and Ted were sharing a bed. They had yet to participate in the activities most of the staff thought they were. They spent time getting close to it but laughing it off and letting their anxieties get the best of them. Instead, they’d fall into bed, pull the covers over their heads and act like children. Whispering secrets before falling into a pattern of kisses and falling asleep in each other’s arms. 

With Henry in bed with her - with them - had become more common. Again, due to illness and the tossing and turning, nightmares that had been plaguing him. Scary monsters one night. Big rumbles another. Ted must have had a bout of insomnia and went to check on him, bringing him into sleep. Rebecca brought her free arm up and covered her face, just about to lull herself back to sleep when she heard the soft steps at the door. A soft smile bloomed on her face, she tried to hide in Henry’s hair as the door opened. 

When the bed didn’t dip, she opened her eyes and found Ted kneeling next to her side of the bed. 

“Hey,” he whispered.

“Hi,” she returned, running her fingers through his hair, cupping his face.

“I’ve got something to ask you,” Ted said, his voice soft and serious. 

In about two weeks, Ted was going to take Rebecca out to a restaurant on the road, the place already has been picked out. Large windows that the press could see in, a table not necessarily next to the windows, but close enough to that when Ted got down on one knee to propose, the cameras could catch it. Or at least part of it. 

It had been just the other day where she found him in the living room, talking softly to Henry, telling him how he wanted to propose. How he wanted to do it right and not scare her. He just didn’t know what or how she would react if he asked. When Rebecca found him, she kissed him and tried to cure his fears. 

“I love you,” she had told him. “And I love him. If that helps you any.” 

“We’re getting married,” Ted said, his voice thick. “Like soon. They want us to be married before election night.”

“Okay,” she said, slipping down onto his lap, careful so she didn’t jostle Henry. “Whatever you want.” 

The next morning, Rebecca had people in her office - she had an office now - and Keeley was trying to arrange the details of the proposal. Then eventually the wedding. As Keeley went over the details with the press, Ted had come in and sat in for the rest of the meeting. He was uncomfortable because this wasn’t his plan. This wasn’t his idea. He was going to pick out the ring, but the rest - the venue, the timing, the date - this wasn’t his plan. 

It was easy with Ted. It always has been. So now, looking at him, with her half awake and content to just slip her eyes closed knowing they would both be there - it was enough. And it hit her, as he looked at her with softness in his eyes and love, that she realized what it was that he was doing. 

“I love you,” he said, clear as day, sure and unwavering. “I love you and I want -”

“Do I need to sit up for this?”

“Nah,” he said, shaking his head. “You can’t disturb the prince.”

Ted reached over and brushed the hair on Henry’s head, earning a kiss to his wrist as Rebecca caught it. She smiled at him and let it drop, dropping her head back and turned to him.

“I wish - I wish I could have done this years ago,” Ted said, shaking his head. “But life got in the way, we went our separate ways.” 

“I would have - “

“Let me finish,” he said, pushing the hair from her face so he could see her. “I wanted to do this years ago. I knew I was going to marry you one day when I first met you. When you told me to shove it.”

“I did not,” she sighed. “You were being impatient.”

“You wouldn’t give me an answer.”

“It was because I was on the phone,” she recalled, laughing.

It was so easy to just be with Ted. God, this felt good. Henry whimpered, his hands tightening in Rebecca’s top, causing both adults to quiet. When Henry settled again, Ted continued.

“Regardless,” Ted rolled his eyes, sounding put out. “I knew. This was it for me.”

“What is this?” Rebecca asked. “What did you think about then?”

“You as my wife and our kid crawling into bed with us when he didn’t feel good,” he explained. “But I have a question for you.”

“What’s that?”

“Will you marry me?” 

There was no apprehension when she closed her eyes and let the relief settle over her. The smile that curled off her lips, like a perfect wave, filled up her whole face. She opened her eyes and saw the softness of Ted. The Ted from old and the Ted she had fallen and never fell out of love with.

“Yes.” The answer was clear, firm, and she was so sure of herself. 

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she nodded, a sleepy smile on her face.

Ted leaned forward and kissed the sleepy woman in bed. The sleepy woman that was going to be his wife soon, and by the grace of something, Henry’s mom. He just had to figure out how to make both things happen.

“Alright,” Ted pulled back, smoothing the blonde hair back away from her forehead. “Go back to sleep. I’ll wake you up in a bit.”

“You could join us,” she offered. 

“I could, but I’ve got a strategy meeting.” Ted shrugged. “I’ll be back in a bit. When the sun is brighter.”

A purple haze was starting to creep over the horizon. Peaks of orange trying to dance along it. She hummed when Ted stood, closing her eyes, letting the warmth of the moment wash over her. She was getting married. The last time someone proposed to her it was so busy. There was a lot of people congratulating her and all she had wanted was - not that it mattered anymore. But the feeling of loneliness settled in then, immediately, and she should have heeded that sooner rather than later. 

Now it was different. Now was a moment that belonged to them and no one else. Rebecca curled her arm around Henry, tighter than it was, letting the little boy puff his breath into her neck, slow and steady. She pressed her lips to his hair and inhaled the light scent of the cherry vanilla shampoo the boy had taken a liking too. She fell back asleep with a smile on her lips. Sure, she would have liked to have Ted crawl into bed with them, but she understood and accepted that he’d come back. Rupert never did. 

Rupert was not Ted. Ted was not Rupert. Two things Rebecca had to remind herself of in the two weeks following Ted’s early morning proposal. A proposal which resulted in a diamond necklace that she wore around her neck every day since. With her status changed, Rebecca had been pulled into more meetings. Security briefings mostly. Things she was allowed to do as a spouse, things she wasn’t allowed to do. The team was going to have her introduce Ted more often now, to get her face out there and to raise his popularity. To raise their popularity, a staffer quietly corrected, causing Rebecca to smile. 

The mantra of the two men not being similar was repeated in the car, quietly to herself as she waited for Ted to get off the phone. They were going to be going to a very busy restaurant, with a lot of people, the press had been given a heads up that they would want to be there, and there would be no questions after. A statement would be released. A statement that Keeley had been working on for the last two weeks after Ted and Rebecca quietly told her they were already engaged. 

“Hell, I’d like to be married before then too if we could,” Ted quipped one morning.

Rebecca had smiled knowing he was serious and to be fair, she wouldn’t have minded that either. Security issues stood in their way, preventing them from doing it. 

“Sorry about that,” Ted said, getting into the car with Rebecca.

She smiled at him and reached for his hand, squeezing it quickly before letting it go.

“You alright?” 

“Nervous, but I’ll be okay.”

“You already said yes,” Ted tilted his head. “You thinking about -”

“I won’t be saying no tonight,” Rebecca said. “I’m just thinking about the past, that’s all. This plan is a reminder of a time -”

“Hold that thought,” Ted said, pulling out his phone. “Beardo. Cut the press.”

“Ted -” Rebecca whispered.

“I don’t care,” Ted said into the phone. “Cut the press. Find us a new restaurant. Keeley is releasing a statement anyway. The press can be pissed all they want. I’ll call them all vultures in the morning if I have to.”

With that he hung up, shaking his head. He threw a small smile at Rebecca before tilting his head towards the driver.

“Hey Ollie,” Ted called. “We’re taking a detour, my good man.”

“Where to sir?”

“Not sure yet,” Ted said, looking at Rebecca. “Somewhere quiet. Peaceful and relaxing.”

“I know just the place.”

“He knows just the place,” Ted smirked at Rebecca as the middle divider went up and the car started to move. 

Two things were released in the morning paper. One was that Ted Lasso, after spending an evening at a unknown mom and pop restaurant, family owned, had proposed to Rebecca Welton, an England born political strategist. The second one Ted had broken to Rebecca gently. 

“At least we look good,” Ted shrugged, showing her the other paper again. She hummed into her tea, her eyes not going far from the second article. 

“He was on your mind last night, right?” Ted asked, pointing at the article. “That’s why you were nervous.”

She nodded and drank her tea. A sip. And then another when the words she tried to say got caught in her throat. The diamond of her new engagement ring clinked against the porcelain of her mug and she caught the light. It was simple, but statement worthy. She didn’t mind the largeness of the rock - not that it was huge, but a decent size - nor did she mind the fact that this was still their moment. And not the worlds. 

“I should have seen this coming,” was all Rebecca offered before sliding off her stool and going to the backyard. 

Ted followed her. Taking his own cup of coffee with him. “Rebecca. Talk to me.”

She turned her head, to look at him over his shoulder. Determination in her gaze. She shook her head and looked back out onto the horizon that was bright with a new hope for the day.

“We’re going to kick his ass,” she said plainly. “You are going to be elected and you are going to win.”

“We win.” Ted said, taking her hand, kissing the knuckles. “We.”

Rebecca nodded, understanding him. “We.” 

She kissed him soundly, loving pouring out of her body into this kiss. She loved him. And she was going to spend the next who knows how many months having the people fall in love with him too.