Work Text:
9:40
“I’m leaving.” He said, Rebecca looked at him not knowing if he is joking, and if he is, it’s a really bad joke.
“You’re… you’re leaving? When, for how long, why?” She started panicking, was it something she did? “Hey, Rebecca listen.. we’re gonna win the whole thing, and I’ll say my goodbye, hell.. I have a son back in the states.. I- I can’t just abandon him..” Henry, she forgot about Henry in this whole scenario. “I’m sorry, I know it’ll be a lot for you, find a new manager and everything…” she doesn’t want another manager, she wants Ted. “I’m sure Beard will stay, I mean he has Jane here after all.”she has tears in her eyes, she needs to go, he can’t see her like this, she needs her amour back up.
So she leaves, without saying anything. She can hear Ted calling out for her, saying her name. She walks away, she is scared, he is leaving, and she can’t do anything.
That evening Rebecca laid on her couch in her mother’s lap, crying like she has never done before, not even when she found out that her husband was cheating on her, or when she was told she’ll never be able to become a Mother.
“Sausage… do you want to talk about it?” Her mother asks. “Ted… h-he… he is leaving, he is fucking leaving and I’m going to be alone again.. I don’t want to be alone mum..” her mothers heart broke seeing her daughter like this. “You never told me, you had such strong feelings towards Ted, honey.” Rebecca’s head shot up. “What do you mean?” Deborah looks at her daughter, not knowing if she is joking or being serious. “You’re in love with him darling, thats why it hurts so much.”
Ted was talking to Michelle, they finally got around, started co-parenting pretty good.
“So you’re leaving because Dottie told you Henry misses you? Ted, he loves England, loves your Job, he is sad that he can’t see you in person everyday, but why are you giving everything up you’ve built in England? Henry will be sad if he finds out you quit at Richmond…”
“I’m abandoning my son Michelle..” She can see the guilt in his eyes. “You’re not doing such thing Ted. Don’t listen what Dottie say’s Ted, I think she misses you more over here in Kansas than Henry does to be honest. You know he always says that I can’t think that he will ever call Jake Dad, or do real ‘Dad’ stuff with him, just because he is my boyfriend… He loves you so much Ted, he asks me when he can fly out to see you and when he can see Rebecca again, just think about what you would take away from him and from yourself..”
Ted is surprised. “He asks about R’becca?” She nods “Of course he does, he thinks she is pretty amazing, you know.. besides, wouldn’t you miss Rebecca too? And don’t lie to me, I know it’s non of my business but Ted, are you really leaving the woman you love?”
That let something inside of him free. “I-..” he couldn’t say anything. In love? With Rebecca? Oh…
and suddenly everything made sense.
The next day, he learned that Rebecca didn’t come to work today. Keeley stormed into his office being furious, he has never seen her like that.
“Why are you doing this Ted?! I get you want to be with Henry, but can’t custody agreements be arranged. And why are you doing this to Rebecca, fuck Ted, have you checked your phone yet?” He hasn’t, he takes a look, eyes wide open now.
10 missed calls from Rebecca “aka Da Boss”
15 new messages from Rebecca “aka Da Boss”
1 new voice mail from Rebecca “aka Da Boss”
“Do you by any chance know how fucking heartbroken she is? For fucks sake she was crying in Deborah’s arms yesterday.. Ted I know you’re a good person, you’re one of my closest friends, and I love you, but Rebecca is my best friend, I would do anything for her. Please Ted, don’t hurt our girl… she’s been trough enough, but now, as I excepted she blames herself for you leaving…” His heart broke at this exact moment, Rebecca was sad, because of him… he needed to fix this.
“Do you think it’s a bad idea to go talk to her now?” Keeley looked at him. “I don’t, but I’m sure Deborah does… she was so mad when she called me, she is at Rebecca’s, fuck, Rebecca hasn’t left her room for I don’t know, at least 24 hours..”
He needed to fix it.
he knew he did.
She didn’t come to the match a few days later. The press wondered, asked for a comment, sick, that’s all they got. She is sure she will regret it in a few hours already, she watched from home, she just couldn’t get herself out of bed… she was lost and going just felt wrong.
They won, Richmond won 5-1. They won the whole fucking thing. Ted was happy, but there wasn’t anything he wanted to do more than having Rebecca in his arms right now. He wanted to win for her, he hopes she is proud. He gets to grab a beer with the boys and coaches. One beer turned to 4, and more… it ended up with him being slightly drunk.
And before he knew it, he was in front of Rebecca’s house, not seeing her mother’s car, assuming she was alone right now. It was almost 2am, he didn’t know that, so he rang and waited.
Rebecca couldn’t sleep, but was surprised to hear the doorbell at 2am. She got out of bed, not really having much strength, but at least trying.
When she opened the door and saw Ted standing in front of her, it took everything in her not to completely break down.
she could see that he was drunk, and it broke her.
“R’becca we need to talk…” he slurred his words, she saw the hurt in his eyes, the regret.
“You’re in no condition to talk right now. Get in, crash on my couch, drink some water and sober up, then we can talk.”
He laid on the couch for a minute before he heard a crash coming from the kitchen. Suddenly being very aware of everything.
“Fuck…” Rebecca was standing there, surrounded by water and broken glass. “Hey R’becca.. let me help you..” she cried immediately. She was hurt, he knew it, he knew by being here with her he made it worse. After he cleaned and helped her to get into the living room, he broke the awkward silence that was surrounding them.
“Rebecca we need to talk… I don’t wanna hurt you even more…” she scoffed lightly. “Ted I can’t force you to stay in Richmond, Henry is your son, I get it… I just… I love you Ted, and it’s probably unfair of me to say that now, right before you’re about to leave, but Ted.. I think you deserved to know the truth… I- you said I changed your life, but have you ever thought about how you’ve changed mine? You did… you saved me Ted.. you saved the real Rebecca, you made me realize that I’m worthy of love.. I was so scared to tell you that… but you deserve to know that.. and I know, I can’t- I don’t expect anything from you, you don’t owe me shit Ted… I’m just so scared, without you I felt less alone, of course I have Sass and Keeley, but they aren’t… you..” she was fully crying at this point, just looking at him. “Ted… I don’t want to be alone again…”
His heart ache. It was worse than he thought. She just admitted her love for him, and here he was, leaving her. He didn’t know what to say..
“I’m sorry Rebecca, I’m sorry for hurting you, for leaving you and for not being brave enough to love you the way you deserve it.”
She knew immediately what he meant with that.
“I think it’s better if you leave now, or just… sleep, get sober enough and then leave… good night Ted”
“Becca… please, don’t make this even harder..” she looked at him, suddenly feeling very angry. “Making it harder?! For whom?! You?! Are you joking, like is this actually a fucking joke? Do you really think this is easy for me? Don’t I get a say in how I want to treat this situation? You’re the one leaving, Ted…”
Those words hit him right where where he needed them to be.
“You’re right… i’m leaving, because I have a son, a son Rebecca, I can’t just leave him be, and miss his father, my father fucking shot himself, I don’t want my son to think I’d ever do this, or that I don’t love him, I don’t want him to have to wonder if I’ll ever be coming home.”
He was furious.
”but you will never know how that feels, because you’re not a Mother.”
Too much, he said too much, this is her breaking point.
“Out, fucking out with you. I never want to see you again, Lasso. Don’t you dare say something like that to me! You have no right, and I swear on my deepest wish to become a Mother, I will never forgive you, for what you just said”
That’s it. Three years of friendship, and possible love. Gone.
Sadness turns into hate and Love into bitterness.
Two weeks later Ted leaves.
5 Years Later
Ted was once again in Richmond, visiting with Henry, Beard was excited to see him again after 5 years (even if he’d never openly show it)
sitting in the pub and having a face-to-face conversation with Beard felt good.
“so how’s life been treating you?” Beard asks. Ted hesitates. “Well… yea- uh pretty good I’d say…” That’s everything, but not true.
Ted saw the article of Rebecca and her adopted daughter, Grace. Grace Welton, a walking ray of sunshine, Grace just turned four. Rebecca has adopted her a year after Ted left.
The next day Beard took him and Henry to visit the boys, Henry was especially excited to see Jamie.
“Hello Ted!” Keeley walked up to him, glowing with a huge baby bumb on her. “Hey Keels. How are ya!”
“Oh! I’m fantastic, you know I’m so happy that you’re here, have you met Gracie yet? She’s Rebecca’s daughter.”
He looked down at the four year old, she was smiling shyly. “are you mummy friend?” Grace said looking up to the man she has only seen on pictures.
“Gracie sweet pea. Where are you and aunt Keels?” Rebecca came around the corner, looking at Gracie, not noticing Ted. “Ah there you Ms Gracie! C’mon Nana is waiting, she is picking you up for Erica’s birthday party.” She looked up seeing Keeley, looking at the person Gracie talked to. Eyes widening.
“Mummy, Ted!” Her daughter knew who he was, of course she knew, Rebecca was always talking about Ted and showing her pictures of him with her or Henry. “Yes… yes baby, t-that’s Ted…”
“Saus- OH TED!” Deborah was now in the hallway too. Which only make it more awkward. “Oh mum, can you take Gracie, I uh…” she immediately understood what her daughter meant. “Bye mummy, see you tomorrow!” Rebecca smiled at her daughter. “Bye baby, have fun!” She kissed her daughter goodbye, right on the nose.
”Ted…” he immediately walked up to her office, giving Beard the ‘please have a look on henry’ face, he just nodded.
In her office, both just looked at each.
“So… anything new?” She asked, handing him over a glass of still water.
“Henry and I are moving here…” She looked surprised. “Oh.. that’s fantastic Ted!” He nodded then smiled. “Yea, he’s gonna spend the holidays and everything with Michelle though, but I’m really happy yea. He is older now, so we let him choose…” She wished this would’ve happened 5 years ago, now it’s too late.
They’ve lost their chance.
“I’m engaged.” She blurted out. “Oh…uh- is- is he nice to you?” Rebecca looked at Ted, tears in her eyes. “He is… and I love him.” It hurts, looking at Ted. “Then I’m happy for you R’becca, I am.”
It breaks her heart. “Why are you doing this… everything feels like it’s falling apart again, I feel like I just went 5 years back in time Ted…” He gave her a sad smile “I’m sorry Becca, just remember that I will always love you..here is uh, my new address and phone number. Just incase”
“I don’t need it Ted, I meant it when I said that I will never forgive you…do you even know how hurt I’ve been in the last 5 years, if it wouldn’t have been for Gracie I would probably just drink my problems away. I have a daughter and a soon-to-be husband, I’ve never been happier. And here you are turning my life upside down…”
“I should go…” he said quietly.
“Why Ted? Why?!..” a soft sob escaped Rebecca before she did something that shocked Ted.
She kissed him, a kiss filled with so much hurt, pain, sadness…and love. She couldn’t deny it, her love for Ted grew stronger over the years, she hoped she would forget while ‘moving on’ with another man.
“Becca we can’t…you’re engaged” He said, flinching.
“God…I’m so messed up…please Ted.. just go”
That’s what he did, and that was the last time he talked to Rebecca, avoiding her when they were at the same place, usually stealing a glance here or there.
His love for Rebecca continued, so when 6 months after his move back to Richmond he saw Wedding pictures of her and her new Husband in the press, it took everything in him not to completely freak out.
Rebecca regrets not taking a chance at being loved by Ted, she quickly realises her now husband is not that far away from being like Rupert, even if it’s unintentional. 9 months after being married, she is getting a divorce again. Why? He is maybe not so harsh in his words with Rupert, but she swore herself that no man will ever put a hand on her. So she left. For good.
Maybe Rebecca Welton and Ted Lasso weren’t meant to be together. Maybe they would get another chance someday, maybe not.
Rebecca’s focus is on Grace now, Ted’s on Henry.
And maybe, just maybe, will the future be on their side.