When I get home ⊹ ♡ ݁₊ ˎˊ˗
After a long tough rehearsal day, Ringo just wants to get home and spend time with his beloved wife
Fandom: The Beatles, Ringo Starr
Type: SMAU / Chatfic / Oneshot
Pairing: Ringo Starr x Fem Reader
Tags: fluff, established relationship, married Ringo x reader, clingy Ringo (kinda), Paul's cameo, so to speak
Warnings: brief mention of self-esteem issues
Note: procrastinated the chats for days but the text inspired me and I did it in one night🫠 loved creating this!
(English isn't my first language so sorry for the mistakes!)
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A little while later you finished cooking. You're already plating his dinner on the kitchen counter when you suddenly hear the creak of the front door opening in the living room. Finally home. Ringo hangs his coat on the rack and drops his bag on the floor (a bad habit you scold him for every chance you get). He hangs the keys in their place and makes his way inside the house.
You don't bother going out of the kitchen because you know perfectly how he's going to find you.
-God it smells amazing in here where's the person responsible for this?- he says walking into the kitchen inhaling dramatically, as if he wanted to swallow the entire scent of the warm food smell filling the space.
-Oh I'm not sure, it must be that new air freshener you bought last week. Nice right?- you answer playfully as you open your arms.
Ringo walks right up to you and wraps you in a big, tight hug. He squeezes a little too hard but you don’t say a word.
He's been away from home a lot (not his fault of course), but he beats himself up over not getting to spend as much time with you as he'd like. You only see each other at night and it's not even every night, since lately he's been getting in at ungodly hours when you're already asleep, and leaving early when you're still knocked out. You miss him and he misses you. Having him this close again after days feels so good that his bone crushing hugs are the least of your concerns right now.
You both share a short sweet kiss and pull back just a little, but he still hasn't loosened his grip.
-Welcome home sweetheart- your eyes don't leave his. They look tired. Exhausted. But with a faint glimmer that doesn't show up very often.
-So happy to be here- the tenderness on his face just spills right out of him. He isn't lying.
-Come on, go get your pajamas on and wash your hands you don't want your food getting cold
-Oh the food can wait, we can stay like this a little longer- he pulls you back in wrapping you up in the hug again.
You laugh at his answer and give him a few gentle pats on the back.
-We can do this later darling, right now I want you to eat. Didn't you just tell me you were starving?
-Yeah but with you around I even forget I'm hungry
-Alright that's enough babe- you try to gently wiggle your way out of his arms -go get changed and have dinner
-Yes sir!- he finally releases you and does a dorky little military salute. You laugh at the gesture and give him a light shove on the shoulder. He laughs too and heads off to your shared bedroom.
When Ringo comes back you're no longer in the kitchen. He sees you in the dining room already sitting down, and on the table the single plate of food you made with so much love just for him. A tired smile spreads across his face at the sight.
-Come on don't just stand there or I'm eating this myself
-You know I wouldn't mind if you did- he says laughing, half joking half serious, as he takes a seat.
He takes a bite of the food and immediately turns to you with clear astonishment but stays quiet.
-What? Too much salt?- you ask reading his silence. You're even ready to get up and fix it but he grabs your wrist.
-This is the best thing I've ever tasted in my life
You let out a breath of relief.
-Jeez Richie you scared me
-I'm sorry- he says before taking another bite, and another, and another -sorry.. hmm... it's just so good
-That's what homemade food tastes like when you've spent an entire week eating takeout- you shake your head keeping a smile you can't hide.
-I don't wanna sound like a broken record love but seriously, you didn't have to do this
-We already talked about this
-But look at the time!- he points one hand at the wall clock in the living room -it really wasn't necessary for you to get up just to cook when you should be sleeping and...
-...Yes?- that last bite went down harder than any of the others.
-I didn't do it because it was necessary or not. Nor out of obligation. I did it because I wanted to. Because I love you. You're my husband and I'll always want the best for you. And if spending at least 15 minutes a day with my husband means staying up until 3 in the morning making him dinner then that's what I'll do. Do you understand?
With every word that left your mouth Ringo's expression grew softer and softer. And there they are, those sad puppy eyes that have had you falling for him all these years. Sometimes it's hard not to crumble when he looks at you like that. He just captivates you.
-I understand, love- he reaches one hand out to hold yours, stroking the back of it with his thumb -and I'm more grateful than you could possibly know. I… I've been busy
-I know that. I'm not blaming you for it- you bring your other hand to his face, gently caressing his cheek and brushing a few strands of hair away from his forehead -it's your job and I'm sure you're doing amazingly, so let me spoil you a little. I know you miss this too- you give his hand one last squeeze before guiding it back to his plate so he can keep eating. He does without another word and you just watch him.
It isn't the first time something like this has happened. Since you met him you've known that Ringo struggles to receive affection. It breaks your heart to hear him be hard on himself. But over time you've learned how to show him he's worthy of love. Through your actions and every other way, you show him you care.
You keep watching him as he stays focused on his food, listening to his comments about how his day went. He asks about yours too, but you don't give many details so the conversation doesn't drift away from him. This time you want all the attention to be on him.
Even though he's tired Ringo never stops giving you that soft, warm smile that's so completely his. You could literally look and listen to him all night.
-And guess what happened next!? When Paul came back he found the coffee spilled all over the floor!
-No way! what did he say?!
-He just started looking at all of us but we all looked the other way like nobody saw anything!- he finishes between laughs making you catch the laughter too.
It's late for your usual sleeping schedule and you both know it, but right now that's the last thing on your mind. Quality time with him is priceless and if that means sacrificing some sleep, you'll do it gladly because it's him. It's simply him.
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Video from Pinterest and the audio is edited entirely by me (the kinks mention! I love them)
Credits dividers: pixopix, starrliqhtt
