The funniest thing about the TOBS to me personally is that, my partner is a huge Doctor Who fan. And last Sunday we were discussing the cancellation of the Christmas special for Doctor Who and now TOBS is getting one. When I told him about it he laughed. His Christmas gift was cancelled but mine came early it looks like.
good day to everyone and mary bennet especially for she is so dearly loved by the weird anxious and socially awkward girls who never felt like fitting in
finals are two weeks away. i have one rough draft due tomorrow and one final essay due as well. i have a 50 page reading for a history of policing class. i am overwhelmed.
But at the same time, Iâm trying to remember that these were the days I used to long for when I thought that a life away from the humanities was what I needed to have for the sake of my family. There was a time when I wouldâve done anything to feel this kind of stress.
Iâm trying to hold ungratefulness and gratefulness at the same time.
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Relationship: Ted Lasso x Rebecca Welton
Chapter Rating: Explicit - 18+
Summary: Ted hires one Rebecca Welton as Henryâs new piano teacher.
Chapter length: 9.6k
VI.
~TL~
Itâs an unseasonably warm day in London, and Ted had to stop by his apartment to trade in his khaki pants for navy khaki shorts that heâs tucked his white polo into.
Now, he and Rebecca are walking hand in hand down the sidewalk, her yoga bag slung over his shoulder, dusty pink mat sticking out the top.
Heâs not used to seeing her in such casual clothes. Her ponytail is high, and dances with her gait, and the elaborate strappings of her black sports bra are still a little visible through her light white jacket. Her high-waisted yoga pants match her mat and also make her butt look really good.Â
She looks beautiful, and he told her so â or at least a variation â after every article of clothing she added to the ensemble.
âYou can come if you want, itâs very beginner-friendly,â Rebecca says.
âI donât think me doinâ yoga is somethinâ you, or anyone for that matter, should be subjected to seeinâ,â Ted chuckles.
âJust a little downward dog?â Rebecca teases, affectionately giving his ass a little tap before lacing her fingers back in his.
Ted chuckles and shakes his head, cheeks a shade pinker than before.
âAbsolutely not,â he says, smiling at her. âSâall fun and games âtil I have to stand back up.â
Rebecca laughs and tugs him a little closer to plant a kiss on his shoulder just before they stop in front of a yoga studio with a bright pink neon KJ sign.
âThanks for walking with me,â Rebecca smiles, leaning in to kiss him.
The kiss is slow and gentle, and it flows into a few more. Ted smiles against her lips as it occurs to him that itâs the first time theyâve kissed in public. Or rather, it occurs to him that she wants to be seen kissing him.
âOi!â A loud voice pierces through Ted, and Rebecca pulls away with a chuckle.Â
Standing in front of them is a short, very brightly dressed, very blonde woman.
âRebecca Welton, I have been trying to get a kiss from you for years, and here you are just handing them out on the street?!â she says, a playful look of betrayal on her face.
âKeeley,â Rebecca chuckles, sliding her hand up to Tedâs shoulder. âThis is Ted.â
âPleasure to meet you,â Ted says, holding his hand out to Keeley. âAnd donât worry, Iâve been forewarned âbout whatâll happen if I hurt her.â
âGood,â Keeley smiles, seemingly over her betrayal as he gives his hand a firm shake. âBecause I may be small, but I am not opposed to violence.â
Ted chuckles before he sees Keeleyâs not smiling anymore, and he straightens up, glancing nervously at Rebecca, who gives him an itâs out of my hands look.
Keeley holds his gaze for what feels like an entire minute before she breaks into a huge smile and catches Ted very off guard, undecided of what he should do with his face.
âOh my god, heâs adorable,â Keeley laughs, Rebecca joining in.
âIsnât he?â Rebecca smiles adoringly at Ted with a gentle rub of his shoulder.
He decides itâs probably safe to smile again now, though he does so a little hesitantly.
âAlright, see you in there, babes,â Keeley says to Rebecca. âAre you joining?â
Ted shakes his head.
âItâs for our benefit, apparently,â Rebecca chuckles.
Keeley gives a little laugh before she heads for the entrance, greeting a few other people as they arrive at the studio.
Ted slides Rebeccaâs bag off his shoulder and hands it to her, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.
âSee you tomorrow,â he whispers. âUnless Iâm really needinâ a kiss, in which case Iâll see be seeinâ you later.â
Rebecca smiles, squeezing his hand as she says, âYou know where to find me.â
Ted spends most of the day running errands, restocking Henryâs snacks, and prepping some of his meals for next week.Â
He times his grocery store run so heâs passing by Rebeccaâs between two of her lessons, an iced coffee in hand for her because sheâd been craving one this morning. Heâs rewarded with another generous tip for his efforts.
He doesnât get to come by for dinner because Rebecca has a monthly meeting about the apartments she owns â sheâd spent much of the morning grumbling about it â and he doesnât stay over tonight because Rebecca said her Thursday night unwindings are still something she wants to keep for herself for now.
Tedâs quite alright with that, and had wholeheartedly agreed on the importance of time to themselves.
He sends her an early goodnight text when she gets home from her meeting, and she sends one in return before a little purple Rebecca has notifications silenced appears at the bottom of the thread.
He imagines her playing soft melodies on the piano, or up to her neck in bubbles with a book in hand. He imagines her curled up on the couch, fluffy slippers on, a mug of chamomile warm between her palms. He imagines all the things she told him she likes to do when sheâs alone. All the things that make her feel calm.
Ted does his own sort of version of that, which is to say he cracks open a beer, stretches out on his couch, and watches reruns of Friday Night Lights.
On Friday morning, Ted is met with the discovery that if he doesnât spend an entire week drinking and eating takeout, then he doesnât have to clean up after a week of drinking and eating takeout, which is good for a lot of reasons.
Instead, he gets to spend a leisurely day baking Rebeccaâs biscuits and brownies, setting aside some to be able to drop more off for her on other days this week.
He shows up early to Henryâs school, as though thatâll somehow get him out of class earlier and, in turn, get him to Rebeccaâs earlier. It doesnât.Â
âWhatâs the hurry, Dad?â Henry asks.Â
Tedâs pace down the sidewalk is just a step faster than usual, and the poor kid is stuck somewhere between a speedwalk and a jog before Ted slows down.
âSorry, bud,â Ted says. âAll the sun this weekâs just got me all energized.â
Henry seems to find that a satisfying enough answer, and rambles on about his week to Ted on the way home, including an animated retelling of an epic game of dodgeball in gym class that makes Ted laugh, and also makes him have to tug Henry away from the street once or twice.
He gives Henry an extra yogurt drink with his snack when they get home. A novelty usually reserved for special occasions.
âWhatâs this for?â Henry asks, eyes wide with excitement.Â
âDunno,â Ted smiles, shrugging. âFeels like a good week for it.â
âThanks, Dad!â
ââCourse, kiddo.â Ted smiles, ruffling his sonâs hair as he goes to pack up his music bag.
When Henry finishes eating, they make their way across the Green, Ted listening intently to the boy recount another story from this week; some drama surrounding leaf forts at recess that Ted has trouble following the political landscape of.
His lips start to curl up a little before the door is even open.
âHey, sweetââ Ted stops himself, swirling the word around instead to, ââSweet to see you again, Rebecca.â
Rebecca holds back a chuckle, though he can see it in her eyes.
âHi Ted,â she smiles and looks down at Henry. âHenry. Very sweet to see you both.â
Henry seems oblivious to Tedâs almost slip-up, and also seems to enjoy the use of the word âsweet.â
âSweet to see you too, Rebecca!â he exclaims, hurrying inside her front door.
Rebecca gives Ted a teasing raise of her brows, and Ted tries and fails to bite back a smile.
Henry is already halfway down the hall, and Ted hooks his pinky around Rebeccaâs, leaning over to whisper in her ear.
âYou look pretty.â
She really does. A greenish-blue blouse with a built-in scarf neckline that hangs down to her thighs, and her black dress pants are as high and tight around the waist as ever.
âThank you,â she whispers back. âYou look very handsome.â
Ted smiles and resists the urge to kiss her quickly, even just on the shoulder.
Their hands drop away from each otherâs as Henry turns into the piano room, and when Ted gets to the doorway, heâs briefly plagued by flashes of memories of Rebeccaâs dress up around her hips, her thighs around his head, and the taste of her on his tongue.
It thankfully doesnât last long as Rebecca slides the door shut, lips puckered for an air kiss that leaves Ted smiling like a dork in the hall.
He takes his usual spot on the bench, leaning back against the wall as he listens in on the bits and pieces he can pick up.
There are a few rounds of Claire de Lune, and he hears an exchange of high fives and Rebecca congratulating Henry on it before telling him they can pick a new song to start now.
Then there are a few rough run-throughs of FĂŒr Elise, full of playful giggles from Henry and corrections and encouragement from Rebecca.
Then thereâs Let it Be. Tedâs heard it a lot since Henry started practicing it two weeks ago, often singing long, but itâs different now. Smoother, and itâs never had her voice before.
Tedâs head tips back against the wall, and he closes his eyes and lets it wash over him.
He decides he needs to hear the unmuffled version, so he stands and gently slides the door open. Rebecca glances back at him and smiles, and he gives an apologetic raise of his hand.
âSorry,â he whispers. âJust had to get a better listen.â
Henryâs playing stops, and he turns around to look at Ted, smiling widely.
âDoesnât she have a pretty voice, Dad?â he exclaims.
Ted takes a seat on an ottoman in the corner, elbows on his knees.
Heâs never seen Rebecca in her teaching setting before. Sheâs sitting on a stool next to the piano, back straight as an arrow, one leg crossed elegantly over the other. Sheâs a picture-perfect definition of grace.
âCome on, Henry,â she says. âThink your dad wants a performance from us.â
Henry nods enthusiastically, repositioning himself, sitting up straighter and laying his fingers on the starting notes.
Rebecca gives him a quiet countdown before he starts, and Tedâs eyes donât waver from them once.
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
They sing together, Rebeccaâs voice a little louder, fuller than Henry's, who sounds so happy to be singing along, itâs somehow better than if he were any good.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And when the broken-hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
There are giggles, mostly from Henry, and Rebecca never looks back at Ted, too busy enjoying herself with his son. He likes it better this way, just a fly on the wall as he watches Henry be just as comfortable with Rebecca as he is.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be, be
And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shinin' until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
Tedâs eyes are just a little wet as they finish, watching them high-five excitedly and congratulate one another on the piece as Ted gives them a solo standing ovation.
âHeck, that was just, wow,â he smiles at them. âWhen are yâall goinâ on tour? Gonna need tickets to every date.â
Henry laughs, and Rebecca gives him a warm smile as she stands.Â
âYouâre going to have to find a new song to play, Henry,â she says. âSounds like youâre getting too good with this one, nothing more for me to teach you.â
Henry rambles off a list of about fifteen songs before deciding heâll mull it over and have it picked for next week.
Ted leans against the wall at the doorway as Henry packs his things, and runs his fingers through the kidâs hair when he wanders back out into the hall.
Before Rebecca can follow, Ted stops her with an arm around her waist, pulling her in for a quick but deep kiss.
âYouâre so incredible, sweetheart,â he mutters.
âHappy we got to show off for you,â she smiles.
âMissed you last night. Hope you had an extra relaxinâ evenin'.â His hands slide to her back, pulling her a little closer.
âIt was lovely,â she whispers, giving him another chaste kiss. âI missed you, too.â
âDad?â Henry calls from down the hall.
Rebecca just about kills Ted with a kiss to his neck, and he clears his throat before answering. âTwo seconds, kiddo, just had to give Rebecca her biscuits.â
âOkie dokie.â
Ted hears Henryâs footsteps continue their way to the front door, and he pulls the little box of biscuits from his pockets.
âIâll come by sometime when heâs at school next week,â Ted whispers.
Rebecca nods, slipping the box from his hand as she leans in for another kiss. She pulls back and wipes the lipstick from the corner of his mouth with the pad of her thumb, letting it drag across more of his lip than necessary.Â
He manages to let her go, and they both head to the front door.
âWell done as always, Henry,â she smiles as she opens the door.
âThanks, Rebecca! Iâll see you next week!â Henry replies.
âSee you next week.â
Ted brushes his hand around Rebeccaâs waist as he walks by her, smiling at her again as he follows Henry out the door.
Mae sets down their drinks on the table, giving Ted a knowing glance. She knows exactly why heâd only been in the once since last Friday.Â
âGood week, boys?â she asks, mostly to Ted.
âAmazing!â Henry pipes in first.
âBest one in a while, Iâd say,â Ted smiles.
Mae winks at him as she leaves, and Ted pretends not to see it as he grabs a sip of his beer.
âHey, kiddo?â Ted asks.
âYeah?â Henry says.
âYou know that one day, your mom and I might end up beinâ with other people, right?âÂ
Ted knows that Michelle has dated one or two guys since the divorce, but no one ever made it to the introduce to Henry stage of things.
âI know,â Henry says simply. âBut that doesnât change you being my dad and mom being my mom.â
âNo,â Ted smiles. âCourse it doesnât. Just wanted to make sure you remember that even if your mom and I end up with other folks, youâre always gonna be our number one priority.â
âI know, Dad,â Henry nods, brushing a milk moustache from his top lip. âDo you have a girlfriend?â
Ted pauses, not entirely sure how to answer that. He shouldâve seen it coming, but it catches him by surprise.
âUhâŠâ he hesitates. âJust been thinkinâ âbout maybe havinâ one, yeah.â
Itâs not really a lie, because Ted and Rebecca had agreed that they were just âthis,â and saying yes right now would lead to a whole lot of follow-ups that Ted would have a hard time answering without revealing everything.
âThatâd be cool. She has to like LEGO, though,â Henry says simply.
âOkay,â Ted chuckles. âIâll keep that in mind. Any other good ideas?â
âYou know whoâs really nice?âÂ
Ted has an idea, yeah.
âWhoâs that, bud?â
âRebecca. And sheâs really pretty, too,â Henry says.
Ted lets out a sharp exhale, smiling as he nods.
âYeah. She is really nice, and sheâs very pretty,â Ted agrees.
âYou should ask her to go get ice cream with you. Thatâs what Kevin did when he liked Rachel.â
âYeah?â Ted asks, chuckling lightly. âAnd howâd that go for them?â
âReally good!â Henry smiles. âThey hold hands at recess sometimes now.â
âWhoa, that does sound pretty nice,â Ted smiles.
He likes Henryâs middle-school view of romance. Ice cream and hand-holding. He especially likes it because it does actually sound like a pretty great way to spend time with Rebecca.Â
âYou should do it then! I think sheâd say yes, she always smiles when I talk about you.â
âDoes she now?â Tedâs smile widens.Â
âMmhm,â Henry nods. âNext week I could tell her how funny you are, and how you make really good pizzas.â
âI think thatâd be very helpful, kiddo, thank you. Everyone needs a good wingman.â
Henry grins, âAnd then when we go back, you can ask her to get ice cream!â
âSounds like a plan,â Ted smiles and clinks his glass to Henryâs.
When their fish and chips arrive, Henry gives Ted more romantic advice. Things like âif you bring snacks that come in packs of two, you always have one to share,â and âyou have to do things she likes, not just things you like.â
âIs that why youâre playinâ soccer on Tuesdays?â Ted asks playfully.
âNo,â Henry says, blushing a deep red.
âMmm, sure, okay,â Ted says, stealing a fry from Henry. âSounds like someone else might need to pop the ice cream question is all Iâm sayinâ.â
âDad!â He manages to turn even darker red. âSheâs the fastest girl in our class, thereâs no way sheâd say yes.â
âHey,â Ted says, pointing a finger at Henry. âIf you think Iâm good enough to be askinâ Rebecca for ice cream, youâre good enough to be askinâ anyone you want.â
Henry thinks about it for a second, pursing his lips. âMaybe.â
âIâll take that for now,â Ted says, pushing Henryâs basket of fries a little closer to him.
Henry and Ted spend the evening playing Fortnite and watching baseball until they pass out on the couch; something thatâs not nearly as nice on Tedâs back as it once was.
He sneaks off to the kitchen, pulling out his phone.
[8:03 AM]
Morning Rebecca đ
Sorry didnât text last night
Me and Henry had an accidental sleepover on the couch đđŽ
He doesnât expect a response yet as he gets to work making breakfast, a very groggy Henry joining him just as the eggs are done frying.
Henry watched Notting Hill last week and is committed to visiting as many of the places from the movie today as they can, and Ted was very on board with that, so they hurry through breakfast as fast as they can and get out the door.
His phone dings just as theyâre getting back above ground.
[9:37 AM]
Sounds like a perfect night đ
Have a good weekend, Ted xx
You too đ
âAlright, kiddo, where are we thinkinâ first?â he asks, hand on Henryâs shoulders as they look around the street.
Ted curls into bed, and the phone rings twice before she picks up.
âHi, Ted,â she says softly.
âHey, sweetheart,â he whispers.Â
âHenry asleep?â she asks.
âYeah. And Iâm close behind, just wanted to hear your voice today.â
âFine by me.â He can hear her smile. âGood day?â
âVery. Wandered âround Nottinâ Hill, then stopped by Kensington Palace on the way home.â
âHow was it?â
âLoved Nottinâ Hill, but I think he was disappointed by the lack of turrets at Kensington.â Rebecca chuckles softly on the other end of the line. âLead us to a very lengthy discussion about the differences between castles and palaces,â Ted adds.
âAnd?â
âWe came to the conclusion that castles are way cooler,â Ted chuckles.
He debates telling her about his conversation with Henry last night, but decides heâd much rather keep it all under wraps, keeping the young innocence of it alive in the spirit of a not-so-secret crush. And he doesnât want to spoil the surprise of wingman Henry that heâs certain Rebecca will enjoy.
âYou have a good day?â he asks.
âMmhm,â she hums. âKeeley came over for a while, just left actually. She thinks youâre a sweetheart, by the way.â
âYeah?â Ted smiles. âShe got that in a minute?â
âThink it took me less time,â Rebecca says softly. âAnd I may have told her stories.â
âTales of my charminâ exploits?â
âSomething like that,â she chuckles.
âWell, Iâll have to make sure to keep workinâ on âem then.â
On Sunday, Ted and Henry venture to LEGOLand for a delightfully exhausting day that leaves them both out cold by nine.
The weather cools again by Monday morning, and Ted tucks himself into a navy puffer over his sweater to walk Henry to school, fidgeting with the little pink box in his pocket.
Rebecca looks cozy when she opens the door, a deep emerald-green pyjama set with white trim thatâs just about the softest thing heâs ever felt as he slides his hands around her.
âHi,â she whispers with a smile, shutting her door behind him as her arms wrap around his neck.
âHey,â he mutters, trailing kisses up the column of her neck to her lips. âNot interruptinâ anythinâ am I?â
âMm-mm,â she hums against his lips. âJust having tea.â
âBrought these.â Ted keeps kissing her as he slips the box from his pocket.
âOn a Monday?â Rebecca asks playfully, kissing his cheek down to his jaw before pulling back enough to grab the box.
âMmhm.â He noses along the underside of her jaw before kissing just below her ear.
Heâs never been quite as infatuated with touching and kissing someone as he is with her. Heâs completely incapable of keeping his hands off her. Thankfully, she seems just as obsessed with him.
He keeps his hands on her waist as she turns to head back into the kitchen, kissing the back of her neck as she sits down at the counter.
âSmell so good,â he mutters, nipping at her earlobe.
She chuckles softly, leaning back against him as she takes a bite of her tea-soaked biscuit. He slides his hands around to her stomach, one thumb stretched up between her breasts as he keeps kissing her neck, drawing beautiful little breaths from her lips.
âGood weekend, sweetheart?â he whispers, making his way around to the other side of her neck.
âMmhm,â Rebecca sighs, tilting her head to give Ted better access as she sips her tea.
He warms up quickly, letting go of her only to shrug the puffer of his shoulders before his arms are around her again, hands sliding down to her thighs as his chest presses flush to her back.
âThought about you last night,â Ted murmurs against the skin of her neck, her pulse dancing just below the surface where he bites gently. ââBout how beautiful you are. How much I love havinâ my hands on you.â
She lets out a needy sigh as he slides one hand higher, ghosting between her thighs before climbing up, staying above the soft fabric as he squeezes her breast.
She slides her empty mug and half-eaten biscuits away as her head falls back against Tedâs shoulder, his name breathless on her lips as he nips her jaw.
âGot a real good trick for wakinâ up if you want,â he whispers, the hand on her thigh spreading her open an inch, then another.
~RW~
Rebecca is beautifully trapped somewhere between the slow waking of a Monday morning and the arousal pulsing through her entire body right now.
His lips have run out of skin to find on her neck, and her body is humming with electricity as his hands glide over her without ever making it below the fabric of her pyjamas.
âHowâs that sound, sweetheart?â he whispers in her ear, squeezing her tit and thigh with equal, perfect pressure.
âGood,â she breaths, holding his head against her with fingers tangled in his hair.
âYeah?â he smiles, gently tugging at her earlobe with his teeth.
âYes. Please.â
âOkay,â he whispers, kissing the corner of her jaw. âYouâve just gotta stay relaxed for me then, Rebecca. Lemme take care of you.â
Rebecca nods, biting her lip as his hand climbs up her thigh, the fabric of her pants doing nothing to lessen the feel of his fingertips ghosting over her clit.
Her thighs tense and close, body arching back against him as she feels his lips curl against her neck, the slow swipe of his tongue, and the feel of his mouth closing over her skin in a wet kiss.
âThatâs not very relaxed,â he whispers, running his hand back down her thigh, away from where she wants it, and drawing a tiny whine from her lips.
He lifts her up off the stool, nudging it aside before heâs pressed fully against her. The hand on her breast slides up to her jaw, keeping her pulled back against him as his feet land between hers, sliding them apart so her legs canât shut when the heel of his palm presses over her clit.
âThere we go, thatâs easier now, isnât it?â he whispers between kisses below her ear.
She moans as he grabs her cunt, still not giving her the satisfaction of dipping below the fabric.
âTed,â she pleads, making his breath hitch when she presses her ass back against his bulge.
âEasy there, sweetheart,â he says, nipping her neck just a little harder. âItâs Monday, gotta wake up slowly.â
Her fingers curl tighter into his hair, her other hand reaching for the edge of the counter even though heâs pretty much holding her up as his fingers start tracing circles over her clit, too lightly for her to do anything but whine.
âBet itâd feel better if I was touchinâ you properly, wouldnât it?â Ted teases.Â
Heâs infuriatingly hot right now.
âMmhm,â she nods, swallowing hard as his hand creeps up towards her waistband.
âI think I can help with that.â
His hand finally slips below her pyjamas, and the first press of his finger to her clit just about buckles her knees.
Her next breath comes sharper, a little moan escaping at the first slow circle he traces.
âThere we go, thatâs better, isnât it?â Ted murmurs.
He keeps his hand on her jaw, tilting her head towards his to catch her lips in a heated kiss as he keeps slowly rubbing her clit.
He nips at her bottom lip when she moans and struggles to kiss him back, smiling as his lips trail back to the corner of her jaw.
She gasps when his hand slides back up her body, but before she can complain, heâs coaxing her mouth open with two fingers and slipping them between her lips.
She groans around them, sucking them deeper as she watches his awestruck expression, a sloppy smile spreading across his lips.
She sucks him in past the first knuckle, and then the second, twirling her tongue around them. His breathing shallows as he watches her, but he doesnât look quite as hungry as sheâd expect from him right now, and not in a bad way. In a very, very good way.
He looks utterly devoted to her pleasure, the tunnel vision evident in his wide pupils and the twitch of his lips when she moans around his thick digits. Sheâs not sure she could ever get used to how much he gets off on making her feel good.
âLittle more,â he whispers, pressing his fingers a hair deeper. âMake sure itâll be nice and easy.â
Itâd already be nice and easy for him.
Her eyelids flutter at the feeling of his fingers fully seated in her mouth, just shy of touching her throat.
He slowly pulls his fingers back out, kissing the string of spit off her lips as he slides his hand back into her pants.
He pulls back just enough for her to see his eyes as his two fingers glide between her wet lips, a smile spreading across his face when he feels just how ready she is.
Itâs quiet and their breathing syncs, slower, steadier as his slips two fingertips inside her, Rebeccaâs jaw dropping at the stretch.
Tedâs eyes go hazy too, and he doesnât say anything as he sinks them deeper, slowlyyyy making his way to the last knuckle, palm pressed against her clit.
Itâs overwhelming, even with just fingers, to finally have Ted inside her. He lets her settle, lets her relax, and his eyes flick between hers at the first curl of his fingers, eyes widening when her breath catches.
âSo wet, baby,â he whispers. Rebecca smiles at the softness of his words despite the content, the gentleness with which he calls her baby.
She just nods, eyebrows flicking up with a sharp gasp as he curls his fingers again.
Thereâs no teasing edge left to him, just a gentle undoing. A slow curl of his fingers with every pump of his hand, and his thumb finds her clit.
His eyes never leave hers once, and he keeps her steady on her feet, responding to every signal she sends him as if sheâs conducting an orchestra of one.
He whispers soft praises, letting her know how good she looks, how good she feels, and she talks her through it when her eyes clamp shut and she tightens around his fingers. A slow build that crescendoes like a wave washing over her with shaking legs and choked breaths.
Before sheâs even quite processed it, Ted is dropping to his knees, pulling her waistband down, and burying his face in her pussy.
Heâs careful not to overstimulate her, a hand on each ass cheek to keep her spread, lapping at her until nothing is wasted. She loves how obsessed he is with tasting her for the sake of tasting. Like this is just the most logical way of cleaning her up.
He plants sloppy, wet kisses over her curves as he stands, pulling her pants back up with him.
He turns her to face him, kissing her hard, pressing her back against the counter and letting her taste herself on his tongue until theyâre both panting and breathless and heâs burying his face in the crook of her neck.
âFeelinâ awake now?â he whispers playfully.
She feels very awake now, and lighter, too. Much better than just a little caffeine boost.
Rebecca unburies him from her neck, running her fingers through his hair and smiling before pulling him in for a soft kiss.
âMmhm,â she hums. âCome watch me get ready?â
âYes, maâam,â he smiles and nods, lacing his fingers in hers.
She leads him upstairs, backing him against the bed until he sits and she stands between his legs.
He starts slowly unbuttoning her shirt right away, his eyes following his hands as they make their way down until her top slips off her shoulders and falls to the ground.
Ted takes a moment to kiss his way up her stomach and suck each nipple into a peak, drawing a breathy chuckle from Rebecca.
âCanât help it,â he mumbles against the skin between her breasts, smiling against her.
Ted helps her get changed, tucking her blouse into her skirt that he zips up, kissing her shoulders as he does. He sits on the edge of her bath as he watches her style her hair and mascara her lashes.
Then she walks him downstairs, kisses him goodbye, and he wanders home.Â
He calls her briefly at night, voice tired on the other end of the line, already half asleep by the time he whispers âgoodnightâ to her.
On Tuesday, sheâs politely instructed not to have breakfast, and he shows up with biscuits again and walks her to the cafe around the corner. Then he brings her back home, and they share a quick snog â which he tells her is a funny word â in the foyer before heâs on his way again.
On Wednesday, he brings her lunch again, another sandwich, but accompanied by a chicken noodle soup today, and a little box of biscuits that Rebecca is starting to grow rather attached to.
On Thursday, he comes by as sheâs having tea, bends her over the armrest of her couch, and eats her out until sheâs wide awake and trembling. And this time, he doesnât just bring one little pink box, but two. The second holds a bath bomb for her to use as she unwinds that evening. It smells like lavender, and he tells her itâs supposed to be relaxing, and it very much is.
On Friday, he doesnât make it by during the day â something about cleaning â and Henry pulls a pink box out of his backpack when he shows up on her doorstep that afternoon.
âI heard a lot about you today,â Rebecca smiles as Ted opens the door to his flat.
âGood things, I hope,â Ted says, planting a kiss on her cheek.
âVery good. Heard lots about how funny you are and what amazing pizzas you make,â she chuckles, wrapping her arms around him.
âMm. Whatever he told you, sâall true.â Ted smiles against her neck, brushing her moustache against her sensitive skin before his lips find hers.
âHe seems to be trying very hard to make me like you,â she whispers between airy kisses.
âIs it workinâ?â Ted teases.
âMmhm,â she hums against his lips. âThough Iâll have to judge those pizzas myself someday.â
âHow âbout tomorrow?â he asks. âJust come over whenever your lessons are done.â
âI think I can manage that,â she smiles, kissing him once more. âWant to go grab a drink?â
âThought youâd never ask.â
Thereâs a pint and a gin and tonic sitting side by side, waiting for them at the end of the bar.
Ted slips Rebeccaâs jacket off her shoulders, draping it over the back of her stool as she slides in, and his hand stays on the small of her back as he takes his own seat.
âHowâd you know?â Ted chuckles as Mae comes to greet them.
âI may be getting old, but my eyes havenât conked out on me yet,â she replies.
Ted and Rebecca both laugh, and she reaches over to rest her hand on his thigh under the bar. He glances over as she does, eyes dipping to her lips for a second before he looks back at Mae.
âKnew something was up after the first time he met you,â Mae adds. âHad that look in his eye.â
Ted looks over at Rebecca again, cheeks pinking as she rubs his leg.
âYeah, thatâs the one,â Mae says. âAnd then youâre showing up not a month later.â She nods to Rebecca. âWhich is even faster than I thought heâd manage.â
âHey!â Ted protests.
âMeant that as a compliment, love, most people wouldnâtâve managed at all,â Mae explains, and Rebecca rolls her eyes.
âI told you I didnât do it for him,â Rebecca argues lightly.
âNever said âforâ darling, just a little because of him,â Mae clarifies.Â
Rebecca canât argue with that, and Ted gives her waist a gentle squeeze.
âI do have a rule, though,â Mae says.
Rebecca nods as Ted raises his brows, lifting his pint to his lips.
âNo shagging in my toilets.â
Ted just about chokes, beer dribbling down his chin as he turns scarlet.
âMae!â Rebecca turns a little pink, too. She wasnât thinking about it before, but she definitely is now.
Mae just smiles at them, Ted coughing beside Rebecca as he wipes his mouth with a napkin.
âNever gets old, that one,â Mae chuckles to herself.
They spend hours at the pub, Mae telling Ted story after story about Rebecca as a teenager, Tedâs chin in his palm, elbow on the counter as he listens to each one. She pretends to be annoyed by it all, but she doesnât try very hard to stop it from happening. Especially not since Tedâs hand has crept down to the swell of her ass and his pinky has dipped under her waistband.
She feels similar to the way she felt in the story Mae is currently telling about the first time Rebecca got drunk here. Light, airy, a little sluggish.Â
~TL~
When Ted sees her order her fourth, he switches to water and tries to sneak her some, too. Heâs not trying to police her by any means, and he actually likes that he trusts him enough to let go like this with him around, but he also imagines that teaching piano tomorrow probably wouldnât feel great with a headache.
Besides, she took care of him when he was drunk the first time they met here.
When she comes back to him after her fifth round of karaoke â each of which has earned a standing ovation from him â her arm is heavier around his shoulders, and her lips sloppier against his jaw.
âHey, sweetheart,â he smiles, kissing her cheek as he hooks an arm around her waist. âYou just âbout ready to get home?â
She nods lazily, nipping at his neck.Â
âCan we go to yours?â Her words are a little slurred.Â
âWe can go wherever you want,â he whispers, grabbing her coat off the back of her stool.
âShame we canât fuck in the toilets,â she mutters, and Ted chuckles lightly.
âWonât be doinâ that anywhere tonight anyway, sweetheart,â Ted whispers, leading her to the door.
âBut youâre so fucking fit,â Rebecca whines.
He keeps his arm securely around her waist as they walk down the street.
âAnd you have such a nice cock,â she says.
âShh, sweetheart,â Ted's cheeks pink a little, and he looks around to see if anyone heard.Â
Rebecca quiets after that, but he doesnât think much of it until heâs setting her on his couch and her eyes are a little wet.
âHey,â he says, kneeling in front of her, eyes wide with worry. âYou okay, Rebecca? Somethinâ wrong? Feelinâ sick?â
âFine,â she says, as quiet as heâs ever heard her, and her eyes wonât meet his.
âRebecca,â he says softly, desperately searching her face for a hint.
She doesnât say anything more, jaw tight, and she blinks hard to keep tears back.
âRebecca, sweetheart, I can see somethinâs wrong,â Ted whispers. âI just wanna help.â
âI said Iâm fine,â she says shortly, and a lump forms in his throat.
âOkay,â he says, brows furrowed. âIâm gonna get you some water and a snack, is that okay?â
âDo what you want.â
Ted swallows hard and decides against reaching up to cup her cheek. Instead, he stands slowly, glancing back at her once, twice as he makes his way into the kitchen. He pours a glass of water and grabs a few different snacks from his cupboards and fridge, and goes back over to her.
She wipes a tear she thinks he doesnât see from her cheek, mascara a little smeared under her eyes as she straightens up. She looks stern, defensive almost, and it twists Tedâs stomach into knots.Â
He sets the snacks and water on the table and sits next to her on the couch, a painful distance between them.
âRebecca, please, we donât have to talk âbout anythinâ you donât want, but can youâ can you just tell me if itâs somethinâ I did,â he asks cautiously.Â
She doesnât say anything, just reaches for the glass of water and takes a healthy swig, which does make Ted feel a tiny bit better.
He sits quietly, anxiously, fingers drumming on his thighs as she picks away at the nuts and chips and makes her way through the glass of water. He counts his breaths, keeping himself as steady as he can. When she finishes the glass, he wordlessly fetches her another.
The silence stretches far longer than Ted hopes for before she finally speaks again. Sheâs not sober by any means yet, but sheâs steadier at least. Her first words catch him completely off guard.
âI embarrassed you.â Her tone is cool and distant.
Heâs not sure if itâs meant as an accusation or just a statement. Heâs not sure which feels worse.
âWhat?â is all he manages.
She turns her head to him, and her eyes are unlike anything heâs seen on her before. Not as steely as the rest of her defensive state, clearly fighting back whatever hurt sheâs trying to keep at bay.
âI got sloppy and embarrassed you. Itâs why you wanted to take me home.â
âRebeccaâŠâ his voice trails off, completely unsure of what to say.
He hesitantly shifts closer to her, and the clench of her jaw hits him square in the chest, so he doesnât move any closer.Â
âDarlinâ Iââ
âDonât call me that.â
Tedâs face does about ten different things as he tries to sort out what on earth is happening between them right now.
âIâm sorry,â he says, breathing a little shallower. âRebecca, I wasnât embarrassed. Not even a little bit. I just thought you might want to go homeâ Iâm sorry if Iââ
âYou told me to be quiet.â She hasnât wavered, not even a little.
âWhat?â he asks before he remembers. âNo! Rebeccaâ Rebecca, I wasnât embarrassed by what you said. I justâ I didnât think itâd be somethinâ you wanted people hearinâ, Iâm sorry.â
Rebecca studies him, still far too tense for Tedâs liking.
âCan you just save us both a lot of pain and tell me now if you donât like me drawing attention to myself?â she says simply. âDonât like that I spoke too loudly or that my tits are out?â
Tedâs heart just about breaks.
âRebecca, Iâ I love all those things. Got my attention most of all, and you know how much I love your voice, and how beautiful I think you are, donât you?â he replies quickly. âI loved seeinâ you havinâ fun. Seeinâ you trust me to let go like that. I just wanted to make sure you stayed safe. I didnât mean to make you feel like I was tryinâ to hide you, Rebecca. Never wanna hide you, never wanna hide that Iâm there with you.â
Ted can feel the familiar and unwelcome ache in his chest, but he manages to keep his breath settled. He canât afford to show that heâs hurting right now, because he knows sheâs not meaning to.
Her jaw stays tight, but her eyes warm a little as she searches his face in silence.
âI think thereâs maybe somethinâ we need to talk about here, Rebecca, but am I wrong in thinkinâ you might want a minute for your head to clear up a lilâ more?â Ted asks softly. âAnd it doesnât have to be tonight. I can take you home if you want, or if you want a shower or somethinâ here, I can make us some food?â
Rebecca nods slowly. âIâll shower.â
Tedâs shoulders relax a little at that. He really didnât want to take her home and have to leave her alone tonight.
âOkay,â he nods. âIâll go get it runninâ for you.â
He doesnât kiss her cheek or forehead, but he canât resist reaching over to give her hand a light squeeze, and he relaxes a little more when she doesnât pull away.
He sets the shower a little cooler than usual, thinking it might help sober her up a little more, and he lays out a set of baggy boxers and pyjama pants for her to choose from on his bed, along with a t-shirt and hoodie.
He quickly changes into sweatpants and a t-shirt himself before he heads back out to the living room, relieved to see Rebecca has finished the second glass of water.
He gently rests a hand on her shoulder, brows furrowing again at the tension in it, but he keeps his voice soft and steady.
âItâs ready whenever you are, Rebecca. You just come back out here whenever you want. Iâll make some food. And if you just wanna stay in my room all night, thatâs alright, too. Iâll be out here, okay?â
Rebecca nods, still just a little too distant for Ted to settle any more, as she heads wordlessly to his room, shutting the door behind her. He knows deep down that itâs mostly just the alcohol, but he also knows that itâs not all just coming from nowhere. He wishes heâd asked more about her marriage earlier, because he has a feeling this has to do with it.
He stares at the door for a moment, hoping she might open it back up and tell him to join her, but she doesnât.
He putters in the kitchen, just making simple grilled cheeses if she wants to eat and topping up her water glass. Then he makes his way back to the couch. He tries not to be anxious as he waits, but he is. His fingers drum the couch cushions, and he glances down the hall what feels like every two seconds.
Eventually, he hears the water shut off, and then nothing for a while. He wonders if she simply curled up in his bed and passed out. It wouldnât be the worst thing, as long as sheâs safe.
What feels like another eternity passes before he hears the click of the door opening and the soft creaks of the hardwood as she walks to the living room.
The neckline of his grey hoodie is wet from her hair, and the hem falls just above the bottom of his baggy boxers, but he canât fully appreciate just how perfect she looks in his clothes. She looks more relaxed, at least, but thereâs still a sadness in her eyes that keeps him worried as she stands there looking at him.
âHe used to take me, or just send me, home when I embarrassed him,â she says.
She sounds clearer now, steadier, and a little warmer again, which he all takes as a good sign.
Ted pats the cushion of the couch hopefully, and she hesitates only a second before she sits next to him, not quite close enough to touch, but closer than before. He sets his hand between them, a welcome invitation for her to take when sheâs ready.
She doesnât look at him as she speaks, staring mostly at the coffee table.
âIf I drank too much, or spoke too loudly, or wore the wrong thing, said the wrong thing⊠I donât know, there were a hundred different reasons for it, but it always ended the same,â she explains. âHeâd always say, âDarling,â and he always used that name, and it never sounds nice when he uses it.â
Ted listens intently, his eyes locked on hers even though sheâs not looking at him as he takes it in. He knows heâd never used that pet name before, but heâd heard Mae use it, so he thought itâd be okay. It must sound different coming from her than from a partner.
âHeâd say âdarling, I think thatâs enoughâ or some variation,â Rebecca continues. âAnd then heâd look at his friends or whoever weâre with, and give them this appalling smile that was some sort of apology for my behaviour. And then heâd take me to the car, or to some other part of the house, and always with a hand on my back like a forced march.â
âIâm so sorry, Rebecca,â Ted says quietly.Â
She nods and offers him a short, slightly pained smile, but she does finally lace her fingers in his before she keeps talking, her eyes flicking to his occasionally now.
âI donât know if it was worse when he came home or when he just sent me on my own. Because Iâd either wind up with my tail between my legs like a guilty, scared fucking puppy when he got home, or Iâd spend a drive being spoken to like a child in detention.â
She pauses, closing her eyes with a deep breath.
âHe never yelled,â she says. âHe never yelled, and he never hit me. And I think thatâs why it took me so long to understand how fucking awful he wasâ is. He always knew how to say things⊠how to be charming in a way that made it just⊠so hard to explain to anyone, or even realize how cruel he is.â
Ted reaches up to wipe a tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb, shifting closer to her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He lets out a quiet breath of relief when she leans into him, resting her head against his shoulder.
âIâm so sorry you had to go through that, Rebecca,â he whispers, kissing the top of her head. âBut you got yourself out, and Iâm so proud of you.â
Rebecca nods, turning until her face is pressed to Tedâs chest, and his fingers comb through her hair as he holds her there, both of them taking long, deep breaths.
âI know youâd never do that,â she whispers. âIâm sorry Iââ
âHey, no,â Ted interrupts gently, tilting her head up to look at him. âNo apologizing for this, okay? None of this is your fault. Just somethinâ you carry with you, and sometimes it might come out, and now I know.â
Rebeccaâs eyes are wet again, but itâs a softer sadness than earlier, lips twitching almost to a smile.
âI was accusing you of things I know you werenât doing,â she says softly.
âYou werenât accusinâ me of anythinâ, sweetheart,â Ted says, gently brushing her hair back. âYou were just tryinâ to protect yourself, and your mind was maybe a little fuzzy. And thatâs okay. Sâlong as you know somewhere in that beautiful brain of yours that Iâm just tryinâ to keep you safe.â
Rebecca nods, blinking a tear away as her lips curl up a little more steadily.
âI know.â She leans in and kisses Ted softly, cupping his cheek. âIâm sorry.â
âItâs okay,â he whispers, kissing her again. âJust glad youâre alright. Glad weâre alright.â
The next kiss lingers a little longer, and her fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt at his chest.
âYouâre so patient with me,â she whispers.
âEasiest thing in the world to be patient for, baby,â he smiles against her lips. âBesides, the first time we met there, you had to chase me down after I ran off with a panic attack, and then you stayed with me all night âtil I was okay again. So Iâm gonna do the same thing.â
âThank you, Ted.â
âAnythinâ you need,â he says, brushing his thumb over her cheek. âAnd Iâm sorry for not askinâ you âbout any of that stuff earlier. Youâre always knowinâ what to say âcause of what I told you âbout Michelle, and I shouldâve known what to say to you.â
Rebecca shakes her head, kissing him again. âIt probably wouldâve happened anyway, Ted. It wasnât your fault as much as it wasnât mine. And you did all the right things. Thank you.â
Ted nods, pulling her in for a big hug, arms wrapped tightly around her as he presses his lips to the top of her head.Â
Each breath they take settles Ted more and more until the weight of it all lifts off his shoulders, and heâs just holding her for the sake of holding her.
âWant any of that food, sweetheart?â he asks quietly. âMight be a lilâ cold, but could be good for that pretty tummy.â
Rebecca smiles and nods, pulling away from him with one last kiss.
The almost-room-temperature grilled cheeses are decidedly not great, but they laugh about it and eat them anyway, shoulder to shoulder on the couch and sharing a glass of water.
âWanna go get ready for bed?â Ted asks, stacking the plates and remaining snacks on the table. âIâll be there in a minute.â
Rebecca nods and pulls him in for a kiss before she heads back to his bedroom.
Ted heads to the kitchen, putting all the food back in their places and quickly doing the dishes.
Rebecca is just finishing brushing her teeth when he gets to his bathroom, and he plants a kiss on her cheek, hand sliding around her waist as they trade places.
When he steps back into the bedroom, Rebecca is in nothing but his baggy boxers in bed, sheets open for him. Heâs never seen anything as beautiful as she looks right now, every inch of her skin calling out to him.
He feels a familiar flutter in his chest. A welcome feeling. One he hasnât felt in years. Heâll keep it to himself for now. He doesnât want her to think heâs saying it just to comfort her. Thereâs no rush, and heâll just say it in different, quieter ways.
âYou look incredible,â he whispers.
She smiles softly at him, holding him in that adoring gaze of hers as he strips down to his boxers and crawls into bed with her.
He wraps his arms around her, pulling her against his chest with a hand on the back of her head as he kisses her hair.
~RW~
Rebecca nuzzles into his chest, planting a few soft kisses as she hugs him tighter.
âThank you for not letting me push you away,â she whispers.
âWerenât pushinâ me, sweetheart,â he mutters against her head. âYou just needed a moment. Nothinâ I canât handle.â
Rebecca nods as she kisses his chest again. A silent apology since she knows he wouldnât accept a verbal one right now.
She knows the alcohol is at fault for it, but it still scares her a little how quickly sheâd flipped into her guarded, cold persona sheâd created to protect herself near the end of her marriage. Ted hadnât been, nor has he ever been, anywhere even remotely close to what Rupert was, but sheâd slipped back there anyway.
He hadnât even told her to go home; heâd just asked if she wanted to, and let her pick the place. And he was right, she probably wouldnât have usually said quite so publicly how nice his cock is, and heâd been gentle and protective in trying to quiet her a little. And he didnât mean to upset her by calling her darling, and it sounded sweet as sugar coming from him.
âTed?â she whispers softly, tilting her head up to look at him.
âYeah?â he replies, gently brushing the hair off her forehead.
âI didnât scare you, did I?â
Ted shakes his head, leaning down to kiss her cheek. âNo, sweetheart. I was just a lilâ worried, is all. Never scared.â
Rebecca nods, shifting up the bed to kiss him properly.
It starts slow, Tedâs hand in her hair, the other on her waist, and then she deepens it, her tongue teasing against his lips before they part for her.
Then sheâs sliding her hand down between them, grazing the hair on his stomach on her way to the waistband of his boxers, but his hand slides from her waist to stop her.
She knows why he does. Itâs because Ted isnât him.Â
Ted doesnât need an apology, and he especially doesnât want one like this. She doesnât need to prove herself, doesnât need to prove how she feels about him. She knows that, but itâs hard to break a habit, unlearn something thatâs been so deeply conditioned into her.
Ted will help her. She knows he will.
He pulls her hand away, bringing it up to his chest instead, flattening her palm against the warm skin over his pecs. Silently telling her itâs still okay to touch him as he holds her face, hovering it just an inch or two from his own.
âNot tonight, okay, Rebecca?â he says gently. âWeâre gonna sleep this one off, and if itâs still what you wanna do when we wake up, baby, Iâm all over it.â
Rebecca nods, smiling softly as he brushes his thumbs over her cheeks.
âCâmere,â he whispers, pulling her down for slow, lingering kisses. âThis is all I need.â
She can definitely give him that. She loves giving him that. She loves how gently he loves her, if she could be so bold as to call it that. It certainly feels like that.
Sheâll keep it to herself for now. For a night when she hasnât been drinking, and hasnât been crying, and hasnât been a version of herself she thought sheâd rid herself of. Thereâs no rush. There never is with Ted.
Thereâs just endless patience and slow, lazy kisses. Thereâs his hands on her skin, in her hair, pulling her closer.
He doesnât wish her goodnight, tonight; instead, he curls up behind her and whispers, âIâll be right here when you wake up.â Because she canât push him away.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sherlock (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper
Characters: Molly Hooper, Sherlock Holmes
Additional Tags: Sherlolly - Freeform, Molly Hooper Appreciation Week, Fluff, Post-Episode: s04e03 The Final Problem
Summary:
For Day 2 of Molly Appreciation Week Summer 2021: âSummertime Bluesâ. Sherlock plans the perfect picnic. What could possibly go wrong?
"I asked ChatGPT" "I asked grok" well i asked the group of witches on the heath and they told me to beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife! Dismiss me. Enough.