Chapter Text
Ted maintained a near-perfect calm until he hung up the phone. His manner was cool and collected, his responses thoughtful and polite and balanced between near-genuine delight, and curiosity. He was perfectly Ted, smiling and nodding, regardless that the person on the other end couldn’t see him.
But Beard could see the tension radiating off his friend in waves. Where others paced as panic set in, more often than not, Ted stood stock still. Where others voices started to shake or warble, Ted’s became calm.
He was like a duck on a pond.
“Change of Christmas plans?” Beard questioned, as the phone was placed face down on the desk surface and Ted’s hands were set on his hips, a deep breath of air being blown out from his lips as his shoulders sagged.
“Well, hot dog egg nog.”
Beard’s eyes nearly touched the brim of his cap. “Excuse me?”
“Lasso Christmas, party of three just became a party of ten with nowhere to go.”
Beard contemplated him with his mouth pressed into a long, thin line. “That’s a hell of a pickle.”
***
Ted dashed up the stairs two at a time. He could feel his heart thudding against his ribs as he skipped up the landing, spun around the corner with his hand gripping the banister and came to an abrupt halt in the doorway - cheeks flushed, eyes wide, breathless - when he noticed Higgins sitting opposite Rebecca at her desk.
“Ted!” Rebecca greeted, shifting in her chair with a cheery smile; broad and beautiful and lighting up her eyes like polished peridot, catching the afternoon light.
“Hey, boss,” He smiled back, albeit shakily. He’d been hoping to catch her on her own. He wasn’t ever disappointed to see Higgins, but he’d made his way to her office in a rush, in a conundrum; in a near all-out panic, and he needed her insight or maybe just her hands on his skin, anything that would soothe the worry that had latched to his bones. “Hig Newton, always a pleasure,” he gestured over his shoulder. “I can just.”
Rebecca held up a hand to stop him. “No, Ted, it’s alright, we’re almost done.”
She continued discussing what she had been when he’d burst in, something about a spread-sheet and the fifth tab and a budget discrepancy they needed to clear up. And he just stood there, hands in his pockets, staring at a couple of biscuit crumbs sitting on the corner of the coffee table, completely oblivious to how her eyes kept drifting to him.
“Actually, Leslie,” Rebecca’s tone changed a little and Ted’s ears pricked up. He turned his head. “It’s getting late, we can finish up this discussion tomorrow.”
“Certainly.”
Ted scuffed his Nikes across the carpet a couple of times as Higgins gathered up his iPad, stuffed his papers back into a manila folder and shuffled his different coloured pens into a bundle in his fist, along with his phone; balancing it all precariously as he bid them a goodnight.
“Ted?” Rebecca questioned, standing up and moving around to meet him on the other side of the desk. Ted didn’t move, just stood there, hands in his pockets beside the coffee table, worry set between his brows as he studied her. She was wearing the fawn dress today, the pretty one with the little bits of white at the collar; fitted to every dip and curve of her body, making her look ethereal and beautiful. He loved that dress, loved how it made her appear soft when she wore her hair out and curly like it was.
She took a step towards him, and his eyes caught on the light reflecting off her patent beige pumps before he shifted and his eyes shot across the room, stepping away from her outstretched hand as he began to pace.
“Are you alright, Ted?” She sounded so worried that he froze and looked back into her eyes.
“Sorry,” He breathed out. “Yes,” Darn it, he was an idiot, of course she’d assume the worst when she was the only one that could see his panic attacks coming before he could. “No,” He shook his head. “I’m okay, I’m not going to have a panic attack, that’s not what this is.”
Her shoulders slumped and she let out a breathy laugh. “Good, you had me worried there.”
“Sorry.”
“So what’s wrong, then?” She questioned, taking another step until they were within reach of each other, in the middle of her office, his eyeline just slightly lower than hers.
“I’ve got a bit of a logistical dilemma.” He turned on his heel and started to pace back and forth between the gold-plated bookshelf and the coffee table with Rebecca standing stock-still in the middle of the room, watching him. He pressed his fingers to his brow, still doing his best to work the math out in his head and failing. Algebra wasn’t really his thing. Heck, he wasn’t even sure if algebra was the right math to help him with this particular pickle.
“Okay.”
“I just got off the phone with my Mom.” He glanced at her, scoping out her reaction. Impassive. He breathed out his nose and paced some more. “As you know, she’s headed over here with Henry for the holidays.”
“Oh yes.” She responded and Ted stopped pacing, looking at her with a soft smile gracing the corners of his lips. Rebecca was nervous; had been since his mother had assured she’d accompany Henry over for the holidays. She and Ted had only been together for three months at the time, and it was just shy of six months now. Keeley knew about them, mostly, though they hadn’t actually told her and by association and the way Roy growled under his breath when they were in the pub together as a group and Ted’s hand brushed any part of Rebecca, they’d assumed Roy knew as well.
It was fairly safe to say the all-knowing Coach Beard was aware something was afoot, too.
But they weren’t public, they weren’t even technically not a secret yet and Rebecca had paled at the concept of meeting his mother. But they’d come to grips with it; mostly because Ted had refused to not see her outside of work for a whole two weeks, just because his mother was in town.
The plan was that he’d meet his mother and Henry at the airport, they’d do some sight-seeing, have dinner in his little apartment, go and see a show in the West End, and then he’d sit her down after Henry went to bed and he’d tell her - ’oh mom, by the way, I’ve got a girlfriend, her name’s Rebecca and we’re going to Christmas Eve dinner with her, tomorrow night.’.
Foolproof, a soft-opener - let her get her bearings before dropping a new potential daughter-in-law directly in her lap. They were happy with the plan, they’d played it out scenario by scenario on his living room couch with Lust Conquers All playing on mute in the background, her bare feet in his hands and her head tipped back on the arm of the couch, looking at the ceiling and wondering what Mrs Shipley was doing that made a scraping sound across the floor.
“Well, there’s been a change of plans.”
“Oh?” Her expression was still impressively impassive. Not a glimpse of a single thing showing through - no worry, no fear, no joy. She was waiting on him. And gosh, he could kiss her for it.
“Yeah, ah,” He couldn’t hold back the twitching. He twisted his hands together in front of him. “So, apparently,” He let out a shaky, nervous laugh and shrugged his shoulders dramatically. “Apparently they’re not coming alone.”
Their eyes met, and Ted noticed how hers, pretty and green, were absent that touch of a sparkle he loved because the sun was going down and she was facing away from the windows.
“Okay.”
“It’s funny really.” He scrubbed at the back of his neck with an open palm.
“Is it?”
“Oh yeah, I mean,” He took two steps to the left of her, then spun around and took four steps to the right, then spun back around. “I just have to work out how to fit ten people in my tiny apartment. No biggie.”
Rebecca’s eyes bugged. “What?”
“Gosh darn, when I say it out loud like that, they take up even more space.”
“Ted,” Rebecca stepped towards him, grabbing for his wrists in both of her hands, holding them still between them. “I need you to take a deep breath and tell me what the hell is going on.”
He did as instructed, breathing in deeply with his eyes set on her’s before letting the breath out between them with a little nod, calming himself to explain. “So my Aunt, Uncle, my cousin and his family, are all coming along for the ride.” He took another deep breath before adding. “It’s a Lasso Family Christmas, apparently.”
“Oh,”
Ted studied her face. There was a little line between her brows, her lips pressed a touch tighter together and though she seemed calm, her shoulders were pulled just a little closer to her neck.
“I’m gonna need a little more than that, Rebecca.” He’d hoped for his voice to come out smoother, but he could hear the worry there so there was no doubt that she would have as well.
“I don’t know what to say. It’s good isn’t it?” She questioned. “Aren’t you excited to see them?”
“Oh, heck, Rebecca, of course I am.” He grinned, this time, genuinely. He didn’t want her to get him wrong, the worry wasn’t exactly over who was coming. “My Aunt Ruth, she’s a spitfire and my Uncle Bert, gosh, he’s a crack up. And Artie,” He nodded, gesturing with his fingers as if counting cousins in his head. “He’s probably my favourite cousin and his wife Jessie, man, she’s a knockout,” He blanched, suddenly holding up his hands to forestall Rebecca’s response at how the words had come out. “Oh man, I didn’t mean, heck, Rebecca, I mean, she’s real great, I didn’t, I don’t,”
Rebecca smiled and reached out, the feel of her fingers against his cheek, calming his nerves enough to stop the words tumbling out of him.
“I know what you meant, Ted.” Of course she did, because she got him. Hell, he was just the luckiest guy in the world. He made a mental note to tell her that more often.
“Well it’s just, my apartment is enough for us.” He gestured between them and the touch of pink that dusted across her cheeks made him smile. “And I’d worked out a good balance with the bed and a trundle in the living room to keep my Mom, Henry and I out of each other’s hair. But seven more people, I just,” His shoulders slumped again on a deep breath. “No one would be comfortable, we’d be right on top of each other. But I also can’t put them up in a hotel for Christmas, I mean if I have to, yeah okay. But like,” He looked up into her eyes. “Can you think of some way I could tetris my whole family into that place?”
Rebecca blinked at him. “No, I can’t.”
“Aw man.” He flung his arms in the air and stepped around the coffee table, dropping into the couch in defeat. Slumping back against the cushions and setting his eyes on Rebecca. She was still standing in the middle of the room, her shoulders tight and her eyes set on the frame of the door. His head tilted a little, as he watched her chewing on the corner of her lip. “What?” He questioned and she turned to him quickly, blinking.
“Oh, nothing.” She moved over to him, demurely taking a seat by his side and resting her hand on his knee. Absently and without really thinking about it, his hand found the small of her back, habitually drawing little circles on her spine with his fingertip. She still looked contemplative and it was making his chest feel a little tight. He was suddenly petrified she was going to revert back to the idea of putting a cork in their relationship for a whole two weeks and he had to be honest, even if it was just to himself, the idea made him queasy. “But,”
She stopped; looking down at the same biscuit crumbs on the corner of the coffee table that had caught his eye earlier.
“What?”
She blinked at him. “What?”
“You said ‘but’.”
“I did?”
“Rebecca.”
“Yes, I did, didn’t I?” Her eyes shifted between him and the crumbs a couple of times before she twisted in her seat to face him more directly. “Come and stay with me.”
“What, and leave them all in the apartment to fight over a bed I’m fairly certain isn’t even quite a double?” He snorted a laugh and Rebecca chuckled, melodiously, gripping his knee a little.
“No, all of you. Ted,” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I have seven bedrooms.”
“Seven?!” He coughed. “Since when? I thought you only had five.” He started to count on his fingers and Rebecca giggled.
“The attic has two rooms.”
“You don’t say.”
She nodded, smiling and Ted slowly sat up, edging forward until they were both perched on the edge of the couch. He reached out for her, curling his fingers around hers in her lap, offering her a warm, comforting smile.
“I can’t ask you to do that, Rebecca.”
“You didn’t ask.”
“It’s way too much, my family,” He took a deep breath with mirth dancing in his eyes. “Well, they’re a lot like me, actually.”
“Charming?” She questioned with a smirk
“Obnoxious, loud, overbearing.”
“Ted, you’re none of those things.” She squeezed his hand, reaching out to press her palm to his cheek. “You’re kind and funny and generous and I adore you.” She leaned forward, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips before pulling back with a smile, conscious that the door was still wide open. “If they’re even in the slightest measure like you, or like Henry, I’ll adore them too.”
Ted looked up at her, feeling the warmth spread through his cheeks as he studied her, in complete awe of this woman he couldn’t in a million years imagine deserving. “You adore Henry?”
“Of course I do.” That declaration was going to sustain him for quite some time, he was sure of it.
“My mom doesn’t know how to shut up.”
Rebecca stood up from the couch with a smile and turned towards her desk.
“My Uncle Bert can burp the alphabet.” Rebecca glanced over her shoulder with a disbelieving frown as she continued on her path. “And my cousin’s kids,” He stood up, following her, as though he was trying to talk her down from the cliff she’d perched herself on with her offer. “They all have last names for first names.”
He waived his hand triumphantly, like that news would change her mind.
Rebecca laughed, pressing her laptop closed. He watched her as she grabbed her phone and her handbag and turned on her heel, heading towards the door. She untangled her coat from the tree and stepped out of the office, gesturing for him to follow.
“It’s a whole Christmas, with Lassos times ten, Rebecca.” He frowned, following her out and watching her pull the door closed. “You don’t have to.”
“I was going to meet your Mum anyway, Ted.” She smiled, making her way down the stairs.
“Yeah, but I was gonna serve that up in doses, you know, a little bit at dinner, then maybe some time on Christmas day. And she’s just one Lasso, the best one, honestly, except for Henry. This is almost the whole football team of Lassos.” He tilted his head.
“Sounds wonderful.” She smirked, nudging his shoulder as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Sounds like a circus.” He clarified.
“Ted.” Her tone no longer brooked an argument and Ted’s shoulders slumped, standing there in the hall beside her, the slump making his eyeline level with her throat instead of the tip of her nose, like usual.
“Well, if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” She gripped his arm comfortingly; the sweet touches and soft kisses left in her office where no one could see them. “Now, go grab your things, I’ll give you a lift home and we can work everything out.”
***
“You alright, honey bunch?” Ted questioned, looking over at Rebecca from where he had his shoulder rested against hers. They were standing at the arrivals gate at Heathrow; Ted’s elbows casually rested against the balustrade that separated arriving passengers from the friends and family that had come to greet them. Rebecca was right there beside him, her back ramrod straight and her gloved hands rested on the railing.
“Of course.” She lied.
She was so nervous she felt like she might throw up. She had on her sky blue coat, cinched tight at the waist, a thick scarf and a pair of cream coloured cashmere gloves. It was freezing outside, but the longer they waited, the more she started to feel like she was sweltering.
The decision had been made so quickly. She’d offered up her home, and laid their still very secret relationship out on a silver platter for his extended family to scrutinize. But the decision hadn’t been quick enough, apparently, because by the time they had things organized and he thought it was probably a good idea to call his Mum back and assure her the accommodations were sorted, he’d realized their flight would already be in the air.
So they were waiting at the terminal, Rebecca’s Range Rover in the parking lot, ready to ferry them back to her house for the holidays and Ted’s Mum still had no idea she even existed.
She tugged a little at her scarf, twisting her neck just a bit to try and cool her skin.
“Hey,” Ted reached over and gripped her hand, curling their fingers together as discreetly as he could - they were in a very public place, frequented by paparazzi - against the railing and tilting a little forward so he could see her face. “It’ll be fine. She’s gonna love you, honestly.”
“Ted,” She twitched. “I,”
She was cut off by the exuberant shout of ’Dad!’ coming from the doorway to arrivals, and Ted was suddenly under the railing and bolting for the little boy in an AFC Richmond hoodie a good two sizes too big, running towards him with outstretched arms. ’Yay! Helicopter!’ the little boy shouted, earning smiles and chuckles from all the people around them as Ted gleefully spun him on the spot.
Rebecca stayed where she was, almost frozen, just watching. She sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth and shifted in her louboutins, marveling at how Ted lit up at the sight of his son. What surprised her, was the way her fingers twitched and her heart pulled her to take a step, to move towards them, to be involved. She wanted that, more than anything. But she was too scared to take it.
When Ted stopped spinning and turned towards the doors, Rebecca noticed a stately looking woman in a soft grey trench coat with round, tortoiseshell glasses, grey hair and impeccable red lipstick for a woman who had just gotten off a ten hour flight. She found herself smiling as she watched Ted dip down to embrace her, before shifting around and taking over the cart laden with their luggage, making their way towards where she stood. Ted’s eyes were set on her, attempting to assure her with his smile.
“Ms Welton!” Henry exclaimed excitedly, bouncing on the spot and Rebecca blinked, surprised at being remembered. It had been more than a year since she’d seen Henry in person. “How come you’re here?”
“Oh, Henry buddy, you can call her Rebecca.” Ted corrected. “And she’s here to see you. And Grandma.”
“Oh?” The older woman questioned, with a touch of mirth in her eyes, glancing between Ted and Rebecca with a knowing smile, studying the younger woman who stood on the other side of the rail, twisting her hands together nervously.
“It’s lovely to meet you Mrs Lasso.” Rebecca tried for a warm and inviting smile. “And to see you again, Henry.” Keeley had told her once that her nervous smile made her look constipated, and that when she made a conscious effort to not look constipated when she was nervous, her smile just made her look like she had gas. She loved Keeley dearly, but she knew exactly who to blame for her smile-related self-consciousness.
“And you, dear.” The older woman grinned, impressing them all when she ducked down at the knees and dipped under the rail, popping up next to Rebecca. “Is it safe to assume you’re Theodore’s new girlfriend?”
Rebecca opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, glancing at Ted.
“Not exactly new.” Ted muttered and Rebecca blanched, worried how his mother would take the news they’d been together for nearly six months and he hadn’t told her about them.
But before she could contribute, Henry chimed in.
“Ms Welton owns Richmond!” He piped in and his grandmother just grinned up at Rebecca, craning her neck farther than Ted ever had to.
“All of Richmond?” She smirked and Rebecca faltered, frowning, a little confused for a moment.
“AFC Richmond,” Ted chuckled as he maneuvered the cart. “The club.”
“Is that so, Rebecca? How impressive. I’d love to hear all about it.” She looped her arm around Rebecca’s and spun them towards the exit, not waiting for Ted or Henry to catch them up. “And please, it’s Catherine.”
Once in the car and on their way, they listened to Ted and Henry sitting in the back playing eye-spy and Rebecca was grateful to be driving, to have something to do with her hands and her eyes in the hope she could ignore any awkwardness between her and Catherine.
But to her surprise, and delight, really, Catherine’s questions weren’t as probing as she’d have expected. She should have known, really, had she given it proper thought. Ted said that his family, especially his mother, were like him. She was curious, that was all, not probing, not judgemental. She didn’t take one look at Rebecca and assume she hadn’t worked a day in her life. She asked about the club and the team, and what it was like working with Theodore. Rebecca noticed that Catherine didn’t shorten his name, and it amused her just a little, hearing him groan a touch whenever she said it.
“So, Rebecca, do you have family in London?” She questioned and Rebecca nodded, smiling.
“Yes, actually, I grew up in London. Not too far from Richmond.” She nodded. “My mother is still there, in the same house.”
“You’ll be fascinated by this, mom,” Ted leaned through the space between them, grinning, and Rebecca smiled as she noticed Catherine lean in his direction to hear him out. “Rebecca’s parents house was built in sixteen eighty-eight and it’s always belonged to her family.”
Catherine blinked up at her, a little in awe. “Is that true, dear?”
Rebecca made an ‘mhm’ sound, as she flicked her indicator and took a left turn.
“And her bedroom is still exactly the same as it was when she was fifteen.”
“Teeed!” Rebecca whined and Catherine chuckled, shoving Ted back in his seat to rejoin Henry.
“Don’t embarrass the poor girl, Teddy Bear.”
Rebecca snorted unattractively at the nickname and Ted kicked the back of her seat.
“Good lord, I haven’t been called a girl in millenia.” Rebecca laughed, earning her a fond smile when she glanced in Catherine’s direction.
“Sweetheart, if I’m young, you’re young.”
Rebecca laughed again. “Touche.”
“Oh this is a lovely area, is this the Richmond Green? Theodore, your place looks out onto the green doesn’t it?”
“It does, Mom, yeah.”
“Dad’s place has a huge oven that could fit like four turkeys in it, Grandma!” Henry exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. “And it’s blue.”
“Sounds wonderful, dear. We’ll have to pop one in there for Christmas dinner.” Rebecca could see Henry fist-pumping the air in the rear-view mirror.
“Oh, is this it?” Catherine questioned, as Rebecca pulled into the driveway. She was leaning forward, her chin practically on the dashboard, smiling up at the large house with wonder in her eyes. “It’s certainly lovely, and so big! I don’t know why we worried about the cousins coming.”
“This isn’t my place, Mom,” Ted commented, hopping out of the car and giving Henry’s hand a tug to help him down. Rebecca was already moving towards the front door, with her keys in hand, though she could still hear them. “It’s Rebecca’s.”
By the time Ted had helped Henry drag their bags out of the back of the car and into the house, Rebecca was already inside and had hung up her coat. “Oh, did we drag you away from work to collect us, Rebecca?” Catherine’s question made her frown, confused, as she took Catherine’s coat and hung it up on the rack next to hers, before leading the way into the kitchen.
“No, why?”
“Oh, it’s just, you look,”
Rebecca glanced down at her patent pumps and fitted navy blue dress. “Oh.”
“Rebecca always looks amazing, Ma.” Ted grinned, patting Rebecca’s hip as he passed her and rounded the kitchen counter to reach into one of the cabinets.
“I can imagine.”
Rebecca couldn’t fight the blush that enveloped her from her cheeks to her chest. Both at the intimate touch from Ted, right in front of his mother, and Catherine’s compliments.
She cleared her throat. “Do you have the same aversion to tea as your son, Catherine?”
“Oh no, I’d love a cup of tea, thank you.”
“And for you, Henry?” Rebecca addressed the little boy who had bounded through the kitchen, hopped up on one of the stools and was currently spinning on the spot. “Would you like a hot chocolate?”
“Yes please!” He shouted. “Do you have marshmallows?” He spun around again and Rebecca intentionally turned her back to him to ready the kettle, starting to feel woozy just watching him.
“I certainly do.”
“I’ll do this.” Ted smiled, resting his hand over hers on the handle of the kettle. “How about you show mom where her room is?”
“Really? I can do this, if you would prefer.”
“It’s your house, Rebecca, I’m sure mom would love the tour.”
“Okay.” She breathed out quietly, a little nervous, adjusting her skirt as she turned around on the spot. Henry was still spinning on the stool, but stopped abruptly with his head jerking to the side when Ted rested his hand on the backrest and gave him a stern look. “This way, Catherine.” She gestured; both women heading towards the stairs in the hall.
“So you and Theodore?” Catherine started, as Rebecca was three steps short of the top of the stairs. She pressed her eyes closed, gripping the railing. Perhaps she’d been a little too quick to assume there’d be no probing. “Have you been together long? He said your relationship wasn’t particularly new.”
“Oh, well,” Rebecca cleared her throat, stepping around the bannister to head down the hall. “We’ve been together for nearly six months, but as I’m sure you know, we’ve known each other since he moved here. I hired him, initially.”
“Oh yes, he did mention that.” There was a long quiet between them and Rebecca could just hear the older woman padding along behind her in her heels. “Actually, I don’t really know why I didn’t put it together before.” She grinned, meeting Rebecca’s eye as they stopped in the doorway to one of the guest rooms. “He’s talked about you so much. Since nearly the very beginning of this adventure.”
“He has?”
“Of course dear.” Catherine gripped her elbow with a smile. “It’s my own silly fault for not realizing he was hopelessly in love with you.”
***
“Oh my god, this is the best christmas tree ever!” Henry exclaimed, dropping down on his knees before the large tree in Rebecca’s living room, his eyes scanning over the stickers on each of the presents. “Ooh, this one’s for me!” He shouted, reaching for it, but Catherine stalled him with a firm ‘uh uh uh!’ and Henry slinked back, chastised.
“Sorry, Grandma.”
“It’s alright, Henry. Just remember your manners, you’re a guest in Rebecca’s house.”
“Oh, it’s,” Catherine cut off Rebecca’s reassurance that it was fine, with a firm expression and she pressed her lips closed, realizing she’d have been undermining Catherine’s point, had she finished that thought. “So, when does the rest of your family arrive?” Rebecca changed her angle, reaching for her cup of tea and hugging it in both hands as she sat on the edge of the couch, watching Henry with a little smile as he poked at the marshmallows in his hot chocolate with his index finger, watching them dip under the surface, then pop back up.
“Oh, they won’t arrive until the morning, they couldn’t get on the same flight as us.” She took a sip of her tea. “I was a little disappointed, but I’m glad of it now. Means we’ve had a chance to get to know each other a little, before the mayhem arrives.”
“Well,” Ted cleared his throat, offering Rebecca a quick wink before glancing at his mother, then Henry. “We’d better come up with some ideas to keep you two awake until a reasonable hour. There’s no jet-lag allowed at Christmas.”
“How about a game!” Henry declared and Ted pointed at him, eyes alight like it was the best idea he’d ever heard.
“What kinda game, bud?”
“I don’t know,” Henry turned to Rebecca. “Do you have any board games, Rebecca?”
She winced, before chewing on her bottom lip in thought. She didn’t really have board games. There was an antique chessboard in the study, the pieces so old Ted was terrified to touch it for fear the rooks would crumble into dust. She had a still sealed packet of Cards Against Humanity in the hall closet, but somehow considering it had been given to her by Isaac and Colin, giggling like schoolgirls, she could only imagine it was likely inappropriate for Henry.
“Oh, I have Monopoly!” She remembered triumphantly, feeling her cheeks flush at the fond look Ted offered her for her excitement. “Nora and I used to play.” She hopped up from the sofa, using Ted’s knee for support before dashing from the room with Henry hot on her heels. “It’s in here somewhere,” She muttered, pulling open the hall closet and pushing up on her tiptoes to reach the shelf right at the top.
“Can I be the dog piece? I love the dog piece.” Henry noted, bouncing on the balls of his feet behind her as she fumbled to reach the box she could see just a corner of. “Mom won’t let me get a dog. Have you ever had a dog, Rebecca?”
She grunted rather unladylike as she finally got hold of the tattered old box of Monopoly - circa 2010 -, before pulling it down, dusting off the top with the back of her sleeve and holding it out to the boy with a flourish.
“No, I never had a dog.” She frowned. “I’d have liked one though.” Henry stood in the hall holding the box as she closed the closet and turned him back around gently, with her hand on his shoulder, guiding him back to the living room. “I did have a rather obese cat named Cromwell, though, when I was about your age.”
Henry laughed.
“You can be the dog, if I can be the tophat and Dad can be the thimble.”
“Dad likes the race car though.”
“Three biscuits says I can make him choose the thimble.” She wagered and Henry looked up at her with wide, excited eyes. “Okay!”
***
Ted watched Rebecca from the bed, laying across it on his stomach with his arms wrapped around her pillow. He was still fully-dressed, but he enjoyed watching her take off all her layers before he even bothered with his. He watched her kick off her heels in the doorway to the closet, holding the frame of one of the cabinets to keep her steady before padding through the large room with bare feet as she tugged at the zipper down the side of her dress.
“My mom really likes you.” He commented, watching her with a smile as she glanced over her shoulder, shimmying out of her dress.
“You think so?” She tossed the dress over the ottoman, making her way through to the bathroom in just her underwear.
“Oh yeah,” He hopped up and followed along behind her, unbuckling his belt and kicking off his own shoes close to hers. By the time he made it to the bathroom to look over her shoulder and watch her removing her makeup, he had his sweater and his button-down off and had dropped his khakis across the ottoman with her dress, leaving him resting against the doorframe in just his white shirt, socks and boxers, his hair mussed from the quick strip. “I mean, she’d be nuts not to, but still.”
“Aren’t you a little biased?” She smirked at him in the mirror.
“Pfft, no.” Rebecca steadied him with a blank look. “Okay, fine, a little. But have you met you?”
Rebecca turned back around with her soft blonde curls framing her fresh, clean face. “Oh do shut up, Teddy Bear.” She grinned wickedly and Ted rolled his eyes dramatically.
“I’m not gonna live that one down, am I?”
Rebecca laughed. “Fuck no, Teddy Bear.”
“Rebecca,” He warned, playfully, as she poked at his belly.
“Are you ticklish, Teddy Bear?”
“Rebecca.”
“What are you going to do about it, Teddy Bear?” She teased, inching closer to him, her palms pressed to his stomach as she nibbled at his ear.
“Don’t start something you don’t want to finish with my Mom and son in the house.” He winked at her and Rebecca smirked, pushing against him until he fell back on the bed. She hopped up over him, straddling his waist, leaning over him to press a kiss to his lips. Ted reached out for her, his broad hands finding her waist and gripping firmly, his fingers blazing a trail along her skin until his hands cupped her breasts and squeezed through the soft lace of her bra.
Breathlessly, Rebecca pressed her lips to the shell of his ear and whispered. “Good thing I locked the door.”
“You’ll have to be quiet.”
“I’m not the talker.” She winked, rocking back, pressing her hips down, feeling the hard length of him pressing up into her core.
“No you’re not,” He hissed, steadying her movements with broad hands on her hips. “But I wasn’t talkin’ about talkin’.”
Rebecca groaned deep in her throat and Ted chuckled, releasing her hips and moving his hands up to cup her face. Her bright green eyes blinked down at him, her hair a little mussed up and her cheeks a touch flushed. “I love you.” He breathed out and Rebecca slumped against him, her chest falling against his as she tucked her head under his chin and breathed in deeply. Ted wrapped his arms around her, one hand pressed against her back and the other, woven into her hair. “Thank you, for inviting them. I mean, I know they’re not all here yet and I know you could well regret the decision once they’ve eaten everything in the house and caused your ears to bleed from all the talking and the questions and the off-key singing. But I really, really appreciate it, Rebecca.”
Rebecca lifted her head back up, shifting a little against him so she could look into his eyes. She reached out to smooth his hair, trailing her fingertips and long nails down his temples, across his brow, over the tip of his nose, until she reached his lips.
“I love you too, Ted. That’s why I won’t regret it.”
Before he could protest, she pressed her lips firmly to his, rocking against him once again and tugging at his shirt to get it off.
“Come on Teddy Bear, you keep me quiet.” She breathed against his lips and Ted shuddered at the sound of it.