Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

     "So?" 

     "So, what?" Ted asked. "I drop everything, come with you to London, and I-I just write about y'all?" Ted's brows furrowed; his hands knit tightly under his chin. 

     "You wouldn't be writing about us; you'd be writing whatever your middle-aged brain can come up with for that book of yours." Beard stared straight through his friend. But, yeah, that's it. I don't think I missed anything," Beard answered, tapping his fingers on the Mahagony table. Ted was so engrossed with the information that he missed Beard's comment about him being middle-aged. 

     "What about my deadline? I can't miss that again...And-and my family?" Ted doesn't want to miss out on his family; he can't. He knows precisely what an absent parent does to a kid, but honestly, he couldn't care less about the stupid deadline. 

     "Ted," Beard's voice was stern. "This place has nothing left to give you." Ted's back straightened, his grip on his beer tightening enough for his knuckles to turn off white. His friend's words were sinking in quickly. "Ted Lasso has given Kansas everything he has, but now he's not getting anything in return. It's time to go somewhere else," There was a slight pause. "There is nothing wrong with it." Beard never let his gaze go, staring so intently at Ted that he swore he might spontaneously combust. 

     "Give me 24 hours, and I'll have an answer." Was all Ted could choke out. However, Beard was satisfied with the response and took his beer into his hand. 

     "To new beginnings?" Beard held up the bottle towards Ted. 

     "You could say that." Ted met Beard's bottle with his own, and the clink from the glasses sent him a small wave of comfort. They tapped the glasses against the table and finished their drinks swiftly. 

     "I know what I'm asking is crazy," Beard started again, letting the alcohol settle in his stomach. But I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't think it would be worth it—for both of us." Beard stood from his side of the booth, straightening his jacket. Maybe it's time the two of us let go of this place." 

     Ted looked down at his empty bottle, his head feeling just as empty. Beard's words reverberated in his mind so loud he swore they were echoing through the rest of the crowded bar. When he looked back up, Beard was gone, and a crumpled 20 was left for his tab. Ted let out a heavy breath before fishing cash out of his wallet and placing it on top of Beard's. 

-

     When Ted called Beard 14 hours later to let him know he had considered his offer, he didn't think things would have fallen into place so quickly. One minute, he said, "Okay," and the next, he was on a redeye across the pond. It took about a week to get things underway. The ease with which Michelle agreed to this excursion had him under the impression it wasn't the first time she'd heard of this idea. She later clarified that Beard had had her in the loop with this idea since it had crossed his mind a year earlier before everything started to go downhill with them. 

     So, without hesitation or delay, he packed clothing into bags and spent as much time as possible with his little boy. Henry and Ted fell asleep in pillow forts built themselves, watching old reruns of TV shows most of that week. He spent more money on Legos than he cares to say, but the memories he'll hold forever in his mind make up for the small dent in his wallet. The last night approached like an oncoming train, and it was spent with Henry tucked between Ted and Michelle per their son's request. As Ted lay in his bed, together with his soon-to-be ex-wife and his son, lying halfway across his chest, he couldn't help but feel like maybe he was making the wrong choice. Yet, he knew that couldn't be any farther from the truth. 

     Michelle originally asked for space, saying she needed time to 'reevaluate' and 'really consider what she wants.' Ted, of course, agreed because if he wasn't making her happy, he shouldn't force her to be unhappy. He wanted to be the one to make her happy, though. He wanted to be the one she held in this moment, telling him that being so far would crush her to pieces. He needed to stay for her, their son, and their family. That's not what happened, though; it made him a little bitter for the first time. A feeling he's almost unaccustomed to but not something he's never felt. If she loved him this wouldn't be so easy for her, letting him go shouldn't be this easy. It is, though, when the heavy realization sets in. This is her way of letting him go. 

     As Henry lies sleeping on his chest, Michelle is beside him, unmoving aside from turning a page in her book. Ted makes one thing sure in his brain. He will do something. It might not be about his impending divorce or even the novel he's supposed to be putting out in precisely 365 days, but he will accomplish something, and it will be something he wants. He reminded himself that he needed to believe just a tiny bit for any of that to happen.  

     So, as he stepped off the plane with Beard in tow, asking about a cookie Ted may or may not have eaten, he kept his head high and his thoughts as clear as possible. He was starting something new, something fresh and exciting, something he hadn't done since Henry was born. A small ache pulled at his heart, though. He knew how much Henry would love every single sight he's seeing right now. He already missed him. 

"So, Beardo, where is the rest of the crew? The last time I checked, you aren't a one-person show." Ted mused as they waited for their luggage in an attempt to rid his mind of his family halfway across the world. 

"Well, this tour didn't exactly age well with some of the guys, you know, cause of the..." Beard motioned with his hands, and Ted nodded. The whole situation is insane and excruciatingly long. "So the record label is giving me a backup band to borrow. A group of guys who know how to do their thing." 

Beard could be a one-person show if he wanted to be. Besides the times when Ted would help him with the lyrical side of things and occasionally offer a hand with the keys, Beard composed and produced all of his music. He originally recorded every instrument on the track, which was great when it came to the songs themselves, but that made it difficult to perform live since he was only one person. That resulted in Beard having a few people audition so he could finally perform live, and the rest is what led them here. 

"Well, as long as they can play better than I drive here, then we'll be good as gold, won't we?" Ted beamed at Beard. 

"I also told them you're my manager." Beard kept his gaze straight ahead and away from Ted. 

"You did what?" Ted pretended to spit out imaginary water. "I'm just kidding. I read the entire contract you forcefully made me sign for the year. I knew what I was getting into." Ted paused as he picked up his bags from the steel carousel. "Just tell me the next time you're gonna change my job on me, okay?" 

"Loud and clear." 

"The one thing I didn't catch is who you're opening for." 

"Oh, that? Some big shot, Rebecca Welton." Ted sputtered for real, this time, eyes gone wide. 

"The Rebecca Welton? As in, sponsors charity banquets with Elton John and headlines every huge award show ever?" Beard nodded slowly as if the words spilling out his mouth meant little to nothing. Ted cleared his throat and fixed his bag on his shoulder. "So, what are you playing then? Her smooth and upbeat music makes you feel like you moonwalked back into the 80s in the best way possible." Ted did the moonwalk in the demonstration to make sure he was being clear. "And y'all, nothing against it, are pretty out there." Ted waved his hand from his forehead to reach as tall as he could. "She's so ABBA, and what you've put out is more Frank Zappa if Muffin Man was the only song he produced." Beard stared at Ted for a moment, his face blank. 

"Remember when we went to Ohio to watch the solar eclipse?" Beard asked, turning away from Ted to begin the walk out of the airport. 

"Oh yeah! We played brownie roulette, but you forgot to put normal brownies, so we both got so high that we stayed on the hill until 3 am. We were there hours after that eclipse was done, huh?" Ted looks up into the London clouds, reminiscing about the memory. 

"Alright, Beardo, what we got here?" Ted asked, rubbing his hands together at the plate before us. 

"Well, we have about 2 hours until this eclipse and a tray full of goods, if you know what I mean." 

Of course, Ted knew what he meant. Ted had lost a bet to Beard two months prior, and roulette was the price he was to pay. Ted had never really liked drugs of any sort; the only one having tried was pot, and that was an accident. He was grateful the trend where people rolled joints like cigarettes were practically over, but the one mix-up had him forever against smoking of any kind. He didn't want to take the risk, but Beard insisted that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Experiencing the eclipse under the influence of earth's greenest good has to be the most enlightening thing you'll ever do." And that's practically all the convincing it took. Beard promised to make it roulette style, though, half regular and half infused. Ted vaguely remembers Beard mentioning something about leaving it up to the universe at that point and that fate would decide how it would go. 

That was until Beard forgot to split the batch and mention anything about it. When something was mentioned, they were each three brownies deep, staring up into the post-eclipse sky with glasses that looked as if they had just walked out of a classic 3D showing. The moment had passed hours prior, but neither Beard nor Ted could get themselves off the grass. 

"You want to write a song?"

"Remember what we did?" Ted was pulled from memory at the question, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking between Beard and the Scenery. 

"Yeah, you packed all your instruments into your truck with an amp and a generator. We wrote some pretty good stuff then, didn't we?" Ted started to ramble. "I remembered listening to the demos a week later with the lyrics I wrote on top, and I couldn't stop thinking about how it felt like we were transported to an Electric Light Orchestra concert." 

"Bingo." Ted's eyes widened at the same time as Beards', and his last sentence finally made sense.  

"Bingo!" Ted shouted a little too loudly. The Two shared a moment of excitement, jumping into each other and then apologizing to passersby. 

"And at last, we are on the same page." Beard sighed. 

"Hey, be lucky we're readin' the same book." 

-

"Rebecca, with all due respect, what were you thinking?" Higgins stood before Rebecca, his glasses practically falling from his face.

"Whatever do you mean by that statement?" She asked, taking a sip of tea and setting it back onto the saucer. 

"Oh, you know, this! The random underground funk band from America you have opening for your European leg of the tour!" Rebecca said nothing as she clacked away on her keyboard. Higgins sat frantically before her, wiping his hands over his face. "I know you're going after Rupert-" The glare Rebecca shot him was icy, but he carried on. "But don't forget about the image this leaves on you, not just him." Rebecca paused, meeting his gaze, which was much softer this time. 

"Higgins," She started shutting her laptop slowly. "I quite literally don't give a fuck right now about any image," She kept her eyes on him. "I don't even know what mine is anymore anyway." She said the last part quietly, more to herself if anything. 

"Life is all about reinvention," Higgins started, standing from the chair as he patted his trousers of imaginary dust. "Luckily for you it can happen whenever you want it to, you just need to invite it in." Rebecca found herself rolling her eyes at the sentiment.

"We meet them today, Higgins. Why did you wait so long to get that off your chest?" 

"Well, I just got around to hearing some of their songs. They aren't bad, not by any means." Higgins paused, wringing his hands together. 

"So if they aren't bad, what's the issue?" She already knew the issue and wanted to hear it from him. 

"How do I put this? I feel as if this situation would be the equivalent of KISS opening for Beethoven. Equally wonderful in their own ways, they just don't sound right together, that's all." 

"But this is a time for reinvention, is it not?" Rebecca knew what she was doing when pigeonholing Higgins to his own words. 

"That it is..." he drags slowly. Well, we meet them at your studio later today. I'm excited about this reinvention." Skepticism pours from his lips, but Rebecca chooses to ignore it, taking a dramatic sip of her tea. 

"As am I, Higgins." 

Chapter Text

“You nervous?” Ted asked, staring up at what had to be the tallest building in London. The wind whipped at the pair, causing ted’s post flight hair to flop every which way.

“Nope.” Beard popped the ‘p’, his hands crossed at his chest. “You?” Ted sucked in a heavy breath. Besides hearing his own blood rushing through his ears and the absolute riot happening in his head, he’s okay. 

“Yup.” Ted mimicked Beard in the annunciation. Beard hummed next to him, silence falling over them once again. 

“You’re being quiet.” Beard slowly pulled his glasses from his face and perched them on the top of his head. “Your mouths usually running thirty miles a minute.” 

“Oh, you know I’m just savin’ up my energy. I got some good stuff cooking up here believe it or not.” Ted put a finger to his temple with a smile hoping it would be enough for now. Beard didn’t press, just took a deep breath of his own before fixing his gaze back on the building. 

“We should go in.”

”Yeah,” Ted drawled, looking around haphazardly. “People probably think we shouldn’t be here, I don’t know what their loitering laws are.” Ted clapped a steady hand to Beards back, turning towards the building once more before the two of them made their way inside. 

The inside looked like any high-end office building, save for the platinum and gold records hung sporadically along the walls and the numerous lyrics written neatly on the walls. Business attire was worn by certain people, but most of the crowd dawned simple street wear. Ted relaxed a bit, knowing he wasn’t underdressed in a sweater and khakis. 

“Oh my god!” A shrill, yet familiar voice echoed across the lobby. “Is that Ted Lasso?” Ted turned to find none other than Keeley Jones. 

“Holy smokes! Well, if it isn’t the huntress herself!” Keeley wasted no time crossing the lobby and pulling Ted into a tight hug. “How’ve you been sweetheart?” 

“Much better now than I’ve ever been thanks to those killer songs we wrote together! I got was number 10 on the UK charts for weeks!” She pulled away her smile bright as ever. “What the bloody hell are you doing here in London? Last I checked you lived across the pond in some made up wizard of oz town!” Beard and Ted both couldn’t help but let a light laugh escape their lips. 

“First of all, Kansas is real! Just because it’s not a country, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” Talking with Keeley was nice, it was comforting to be able to talk with someone so simply after not having spoken in about a year. “As to why we’re here, Beardo and his band are opening for none other than Miss Rebecca Walton. In his stand in manager for the time being.” 

“Shut up!” She practically shouted, then profusely apologized for the disturbance to the employees who were in ear shot. “No way you two are the blokes she was telling me about! We’re going to see her right now; fuck how could she not tell me!” Beard and Ted shared a look, Ted still beaming earning a slight shrug from Beard.  

“Lead the way.” Was all Ted could get out before they were being dragged into an elevator and going up a countless number of floors. 

On the ascent, Ted and Keeley took the time to catch up. Keeley took the wheel in most of the chatter, explaining how after her album dropped, she found the love of her life in a classic rock cover artist named Roy Kent. Keeley subtly asked about Michelle and upon hearing about the divorce, quickly and profusely apologized for bringing it up. Of course, Ted just waved it off as he always does. 

“It is what it is.” He spoke. “I did what I could, and unfortunately it wasn’t enough.” 

“Wow.” Keeley breathed as the elevator dinged and the doors opened in front of them. “That’s deep, keep that in your back pocket for another song, yeah?” 

The three made their way out of the elevator and into the foyer. Ted takes in the differences between this floor and the lower lobby. The lighting was softer making the space feel much more welcoming and relaxing. There were pictures of older artists with their names signed rather extravagantly on the posts. Soft jazz played through the overhead speakers, but not so loud where people couldn’t chat or focus on a project. It was the perfect environment for creativity and Ted, for the first time in almost a year, felt the spike of inspiration pooling deep within himself. 

He fished his small notebook out of his back pocket, pulling the pen off the spiral spine. He clicked it open and began taking note of all the things surrounding him. The flow of ample chatter overtops an instrumental track, the soft smelled of fresh linen and old paperbacks, the way their feet made no noise as they trudged along the red and gold carpet. He could feel it, and he knew Beard could too. There was a buzz here they didn’t quite get back in Kansas, an energy so unknowingly suffocating it pulls them both into a chokehold. Beard is in his element here, taking in the rows of studio spaces behind large glass panes, countless instruments and technologies galore behind every single door and all of it was to create music. 

Ted always found something so fulfilling when he created something. Whether it be his novels or the songs he has the honor of helping people write, he always walks away with his heart full and head clear. He never cared about any of it being anything bigger than he intended his pieces to be. An outlet. He never began a work or sat behind his piano because it's what made him money, he did it because it made him happy. At least that's what he thought. Now the idea of sitting at a table with his laptop to write a book he can't seem to relate to anymore seems a little too much. He was in a total funk before Keeley reached out to him, claiming she couldn't get the right words for her songs. He's extremely grateful for the moment of clarity, for the moments to truly let his passions flow through him. He could write what he wanted, and if Keeley didn't like it, they tried again. There was no pressure to fit some kind of mold, there was no impending deadline either. He truly enjoyed the work he got to do with her, and it tugs at his heart that it can't be something he does all the time. 

"I promise you; she is not as scary as you think." Keeley started, stopping in front of a set of double doors at the end of the long hall. Ted and Beard looked to each other, then slowly back at Keeley, then once again to each other. "Oh, stop it! You'll be fine." And with that, with no other hesitations or reserve, she flew through the double doors. 

"Rebecca! Guess who I found." She said while dropping her purse on the first available ledge. 

"If it's the man for the plumbing tell him he needs to go three floors down." A melodic voice called from inside the room sounding farther away. The pair followed Keeley into the double doors and let them shut behind them. 

It was clear they were in some sort of studio suite. It was twice the size of the smaller spaces they could see on the walk there. There was a full recording booth with a decent number of different instruments, both electric and acoustic. Along with the outside booth was a sound board with a number of chairs around it. The area they were in though seemed to be more of a lounge area, a small desk pushed against the wall with white leather couches and a coffee table. 

"No silly, I found your opening act!" Keeley chirped. At the mention of them, Rebecca dropped the stack of papers she was holding and finally turned to face them. 

"You could have started with that, Love." Rebecca tried to keep her voice low. A smile immediately painted her face as she made her way to them. 

"Howdy," Ted put his hand out for her to shake. "Ted Lasso, Beards Manager-"

"And songwriter." Beard interrupted. 

"And songwriter. This one here is Beard, of course, the talents galore." 

"It is so wonderful to finally meet you both face to face!" 

"Pleasures ours Ms. Welton." Rebecca scrunched her nose and waved her hands at the formality. 

"Please, Rebecca is fine. Ms. Welton is my father." Her smile never left her lips. 

"If that is a joke, I love it," Ted paused. "If not, I cannot wait to unpack that with you." There was a silence as Rebecca's eyes flickered towards Keeley who only shrugged with a laugh. 

"Well behind me is Higgins, my current Agent." 

"Uh, current?" A man about the size of Rebecca with glasses perched lowly on his nose came up besides Rebecca. The three exchanged greetings and light banter. 

"So, Keeley," Rebecca started, pulling Ted and Higgins away from a conversation about sourdough bread and whether he found it disturbing (they both did). "How do you know Ted? Have you met before?" She motioned for everyone to take a seat and offered refreshments. Ted of course declined the offer for tea and stuck to water while Beard kindly took the cup that was offered to him. 

"Well, he is probably the entire reason my album turned out the way it did!" Ted looked away fighting the small smile that wanted to creep onto his face at the comment. Rebecca stared at her, begging her to continue. "You wouldn't believe the methods this guy uses! It was unlike any songwriting session I've ever had." 

"The way you say that sounds like more than just songwriting was happening." Higgins said from his spot, leaning against the desk. 

"Oh, piss off! You knew what I meant." Ted looked around, the confusion on the three out of five of the people made it clear they did not get what she meant. "It just wasn't the way I usually write music. He invited me out to a bar in Wichita while I was touring. He bought the bar out for the night so we could drink and have the piano there to ourselves. Then we drank and it almost felt like a therapy session?" She questioned the memory. "He just asked me to tell him what was on my mind and how I was feeling about certain things. He took my word vomit and turned it into something actually enjoyable that people relate to." 

"Aw shucks, Keeley. I'm flattered." Ted gave her a smile to which Keeley returned. 

"He's also fucking good at the piano! Why you're a writer and not a musician is totally beyond me." It was beyond him too, why he denies himself the happiness in the things he truly wants to pursue. 

"I didn't see that on your resume." Rebecca mused. 

"It's just a hobby." And that was the truth, music was just a hobby. It was never meant to be anything more. He knew what happened when you turned a career into something you love. Eventually the love gets chipped away by the hard reality of what it means to exist. You don't always get to write the things you want, nor do you get to choose how those things play out. Ted is at the mercy and will of the people around him and he knows that. 

"No, it's not." Beard interjected keeping his stare soft. Ted shot him a look of disbelief. 

"Well, I would love to hear what you plan on playing for the tour!" Rebecca stated, clasping her hands together. Ted and Beard once again slowly turned to face each other, before pounding their fists together and letting excited grins take over their faces.

"Lead the way!" 

-

Rebecca had a lot of reevaluating to do. Especially since the people she literally hired to mess up this whole thing now want to work with her on making it better. It turns her stomach upside down.

Upon entering the studio, Ted explained to Rebecca how they have original songs written that would match Rebeccas set list, compared to the things Beard has out on streaming platforms. 

"Oh, that's not necessary." She started. "I'm not going to make you do all of that." 

"No can do, boss," The nickname caught her off guard, but she let it slide. "We aren't gonna go out there and mess things up for you. We are what sets the stage for your performance and quite honestly, we wouldn't feel too good about ourselves knowing we messed that up for ya." Ted's eyes never left Rebeccas as he spoke, the genuine and soft nature in which he delivers leaves Rebecca feeling uneasy. Why does her performance even matter to him anyway? 

Keeley was way too excited next to Rebecca as they sat at the soundboard, headphones on so they could hear what was happening in the booth. 

"You know, I think you should let Ted help you write some songs." Keeley said, not taking her eyes off of Ted who was warming up at the grand piano in the corner. They could hear it faintly, as it wasn't currently connected to any amplifier or microphone. Rebecca sneaked a glance at her friend who continued to stay entranced. 

"And why should I do that?" 

"I can't really explain it." Keeley's voice was softer than it was before. "I was going through that really rough breakup with Jaime, and I couldn't write a song for the life of me. I had all of these feelings and things I wanted to say, but nothing I said seemed to make sense, nor did it pen very well." Rebecca remembers what Keeley was like during the breakup. She was so unsure of herself and the things she deserved and wanted to pursue. She remembers Keeley telling her she felt lost in her own head, and that resonated heavily with her. Ever since her divorce from Rupert, she has been struggling to find herself. She used to laugh at the little things and wore whatever she wanted because she wanted to. Now all she feels is scrutinized by not only the press and the tabloids, but by the people around her too. "Ted made it so easy to find what it was that I wanted to say. There was no judgment, like at all, he even went out of his way to tell me embarrassing stories of his childhood whenever things started to feel too heavy. Towards the end of it, even though he helped me, he made it clear that everything that was written came from me. That the feelings penned aren't just words I'm singing, but words I believe in too." 

Rebecca couldn't find any words to follow. How was she supposed to believe that Keeley's' album all of that came from one night at a bar with a piano right in the center of it? She couldn't, so she won't. 

It’s especially hard to cope with since both Ted Lasso and the mysterious Beard seem to know a thing or two about making music. They’re versatile and can play just about any genre on command and they’re just waiting for hers. When Ted finally moved to the electric keyboard that was actually connected to the sound board, he said the two needed time to play together so she of course allowed it. She saw how Ted and Beard bounced between jazz and the blues in a game they invented called “baz” where Beard set the tempo via the drum set he was sat at while Ted improvised his own section to match. It was as entertaining as it was brilliant, the pair easily falling into matching rhythms switching whenever Beard felt like it. She found it hard to believe Ted was keeping up and what was worse was that he made it look easy.

Rebecca was finding it hard to look away and she found Keeley was just as entranced, her chatty expose shelled in utter bliss. She was enjoying the way Keeley would turn to her when Ted would pull of an impressive execution of the chromatic scale or the way his play style at the moment was through-composed. Keeley tapped Rebecca’s shoulder and motioned towards one of the buttons on the soundboard. It was the ‘record’ button, and Keeley pressed it. 

“Thee-oh-door, you are absolutely tickling those ivories.” Ted threw his head back and his laugh came loud and clear through their headphones. 

“They are so gonna thank me later.” Keeley drawled with a smirk. 

Usually, Rebecca would have made them get straight to the point of the meeting, asking them to play their set list and then ushering them away. She couldn’t though. She hasn’t heard music like this in a while. Music that moved her, the kind she feels in her chest and makes her forget about everything else for the moment. She also couldn’t feel upset at all, the banter between the two foreigners caused ripples of laughter to course through her and Keeley. It was a sound she hasn’t heard in quite a while. She was enjoying her time. So much so, she sent a text to Higgins, telling him he’d enjoy the display. She was right, he was into the studio promptly and the second he had headphones on, he was transported to the same place as them. He played the air cello, imagining himself and the things he could add with his own instrument. It was beautiful in every single way. 

“Alright, boss so here’s the deal,” Ted started removing one side of his headphones off his ears. “I’m gonna give you a number, one through four. I’m not telling you what it means you just gotta go with your gut on this one.” His smile beamed through the glass. Rebecca didn’t hesitate in her answer. 

“Four.” Beard and Ted shared a look. 

“Well look at that Beardo, just like old times!” 

“What does that-“Higgins held up a finger to stop Rebecca. 

“I think they’re about to play all the instruments for the song.” 

“How in the world would they do that? There’s only two of them.” Keeley asked. 

“It’s simple really!” Ted’s voice came loud. “Y’all got all the equipment we need; we’ll be just fine.” He assured. 

Rebecca, Keeley and Higgins all stared at each other in disbelief, this was the moment Rebecca was waiting for. She was waiting for them to prove to her that there was some sort of incompetence. Unfortunately, that never happened. 

Beards drumsticks slapped together three medical times before he began to play in intricate yet steady beat, full of snares and high hats. He played it for two twelve bar intervals before standing, his pass playing on a loop. Ted waited until the beginning of the measure to hop in on the keyboard. His smile was wide as his fingers danced across the keys. Beard went between a few other instruments, implementing a bass line and measures of an electric guitar. 

At the moment, the trio in the studio sat in complete and utter silence, save for the music playing through their headphones. The outside world had no idea of art being made inside the room, and Rebecca thought it was a waste that this wasn’t something already produced. Rebecca remembers Ted telling them how these were songs written previously and had stayed as a demo. Rebecca couldn’t deny what she was hearing was exactly what it meant to be a musician. Beard hasn’t even gotten to the lyrics yet, but the two have made their instruments sing enough already. She was confused upon finding herself excited to see what would come next. 

When heard finished up the bass line he took up the mic in the middle of the booth, looking at Ted. At that very moment, Ted changed the melody he was playing to something completely different despite the three other tracks staying completely the same. 

“Sorry to throw you off there, we had to get the other instruments in before we could start. Consider that the prelude, if you will.” Ted’s head bobbed as he played his eyes never leaving the three behind the glass. 

“Holy shit, Rebecca.” Keeley breathed, gripping Rebecca’s wrist. “These guys are fucking insane. And talented. They’re insanely talented.” 

“I’ve never seen two people make four instruments sound like this. Ted here may be on par with Sir Elton John if he keeps on like that.” 

“He plays like fucking Billy Joel.” A gruff voice said from the doorway. “Could hear him beating the piano from the bloody lounge.” 

“Roy!” Keeley cheered, motioning for Roy to come to them while holding out headphones.  

“I don’t fucking need these-" 

“Just put them on!” Keeley shouted, the loudest she’s been since the session started. Roy held Keeley's gaze, taking the headphones from her and slowly putting them on his head. 

“I’m didn’t come here to listen to medio-“ Roy couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. Even someone like Roy knew when to give credit where credit was due, so he kept the premature insult to himself. 

“These are Rebecca’s openers.” Keeley quipped. 

“No, just the one with the beard is technically. Ted just helps him write his music.” Higgin's corrected.

“You expect me to believe that that's Ted fucking Lasso?” Roy grunted. 

“And what do you know about him?” Rebecca mused. Roy was silent, staring at her intently.

“His book,” He started, his voice catching slightly. “I ready it a year ago, that shit still eats at me.” Rebecca just stared. “What? Am I not allowed to have a fucking hobby?” Rebecca laughed and shook her head. 

“No one’s saying that, love.” Rebecca assured. It was hard to believe a book of all things had that much of a hold on someone like Roy Kent. “So, should I read it then? His book, I mean.”

"Only if you want to cry for days and tell your therapist about it later.” Keeley cut in. 

“You’ve read it?” Rebecca was just as surprised to learn Keeley has also perused Ted's discography. 

“Of course I have! I’ve read all his works but Leave Me With Your Ashes actually made me mental. I wasn't sure how to live properly for a few weeks.” 

“Yeah. I was crying like a fucking baby. I woke up the next day feeling like my whole family had died.” Roy grumbled staring through the glass at Ted. “I can bring you my copy.” 

“No, I’ll give her mine. You dropped yours in the loo, remember?” Rebecca mentally thanked Keeley for saving her from reading a book soggy from toilet water. The idea did make her gag a little.

Keeley rummaged through her purse before quickly pulling out a copy. Before she could take the book, the music cut out and Ted’s voice came over again. 

“Soo, what you feelin?” He asked. 

“Groovy.” Higgins and Roy said in unison. 

“That was,” Rebecca was at a loss for words, she truly was. “I don’t even know what to say right now.” She said honestly. 

“I hope that’s a good thing.” Ted chuckled. 

“It’s great, trust me. That was brilliant.” 

That was exactly Rebecca’s problem. For a moment, Higgins words from earlier reverberated in her head. Could this be something that changes her career for the better? The idea to write some songs with Ted flashed through her conscience briefly, she could almost picture the end result. For the first time, in her mind she was singing something she truly wanted, something she had full control over without Rupert having her shoulder spewing things about “demographics” and “what the people want to hear.” That wasn’t the kind of music she wants to make anymore, especially not after hearing the absolute masterpiece of a song. The excitement bubbled in her; the possibilities are endless now…but she’ll keep those thoughts in the back of her pocket. 

Ted and Beard went through 6 more songs, finishing the last of their set. 

“I’ll send the original demos over to Keeley so she can share it with you, boss.” Ted said, eyes beaming up at them once again. 

“I’ll have Keeley share my contact with you so you can send it directly." Keeley gave Rebecca a surprised look, to which she just rolled her eyes slightly with a smile. 

"So, if you don't mind me asking, who will be accompanying Mr. Beard on stage?" 

"Ah, well yall's producer said they'd find some back ups for us." 

"Oh, fuck that!" Keeley cut in. "Rupert doesn't know how to utilize talent. Anywhere. I'll give you my band, they're a talented bunch with lots of personality." Ted looked to Beard who just shrugged. 

"Well then we've got ourselves a band!" Ted beamed. He plucked away at the keyboard, cutting through the silence. 

"By the way, we've been recording the whole time." 

"Did you get all of baz?" Beard's eyes went wide. 

"Unfortunately, not but we did get about half of it." 

"Hey, that's more than most folks usually get." Ted soothed. 

"Yeah, I guess." Beard grumbled.

"It's alright bud." Rebecca checked her watch, finding if she stayed where she was any longer, she'd be late to her next meeting.

"Okay, well I have a few meetings so I must kindly excuse myself." She said, putting Keeley's book in purse. "Use the studio as you like, just shut the lights when you leave." 

As Rebecca left and wished everyone goodbye and making it clear Higgins wasn't needed for her meeting, she made her way out and into the hall. Her pace was faster than usual, her heels thudding softly on the carpet. She could feel some sort of emotion sitting light in her chest. For the first time in a while, even if Rebecca wasn't quite looking forward to actually having to do some sort of work, she just felt content with being there. Felt a small bubble of excitement burst through her at the thought of making new music. 

Rebecca's phone chimed in her purse, then once again. There was a pause and another ping so she fished it out of her purse just as she stepped on the elevator. She had new messages from an unknown number, at first she was about to delete it before she realized who it was. It was Ted sending along the demos as well as a little GIF wishing her luck while she worked. The corner of Rebeccas lips turned up as she thumbed a heart to the message with the demos. She pocketed her phone and shook the tension from her shoulders. She made up her mind, starting today she was going to do the things that made her feel the way Ted and Beards music did. Things that made her feel light, empowered and, quite frankly, alive. 

Chapter Text

"Let's slow it down a little, feel the melody from a different tempo." Ted sang out from the electric keyboard. The young musician Jaime Tartt sat to his right at his own electric keyboard. 

"What the fuck is slowing it down going to do?" Roy grunted, following along anyway. 

Keeley did exactly as she said she was going to do, the next day she had some of her own band in the studio with them and had somehow convinced Roy and a few talented symphonic players to join for the tour. It scared Ted, the amount of contacts Keeley has is astonishing, but the hold she has on them is what's frightening.  

"Yeah, I hate to say it, but I agree with the old man." Jaime quipped. 

"Don't fucking call me old you prick." 

"Hey, hey! Not the time or the place, but you know what if we ever make it back to the states, I'll bring y'all to the finest Waffle House we got and you can hash it out there, how does that sound?" The pair stopped playing, Roy lowered his instrument before slowly looking at Jaime. 

"What the fuck is a waffle house?" They said in unison. 

"Only the best worst place to get waffles 24/7 even on a holiday." Ted looked behind him, keeping his hands steady on the keys. “Sam, you’re doing great, but don’t be afraid to add a little something in there. The demos are just an idea, let your heart really feel what you’re playing.” 

“What if I mess up?” He asked, pulling back from the drums, but keeping time to make sure everyone else could stay together despite dropping. 

“That’s the best part about practice bud,” Ted removed his right hand so he could turn on the bench, partially facing Sam. His left kept the same rhythm despite no eyes on the keys. “You can do whatever you want. And that goes for everyone!

"The music you are playing needs to come from the heart, y’all. If you don’t love what you’re playing then you might as well not even bother, right? It doesn’t matter if you wrote the song or not, while you are playing you are the artist. Now’s the time to play with your canvasses, these songs are meant to be enjoyed while playing.” 

Ted looked between Jaime, Roy and Sam, but their faces stay unchanged. Ted let out a small breath, changing views to the other side of the studio. Isaac was silent, face scrunched together as he struggled to reach the right fret. 

“You doing okay?” Ted asked, leaning in Isaac’s direction. 

“Not really. I’m having a hard time keeping up. My hands are too small for those big jumps.” 

“Oh no they absolutely are not!” Ted said before shouting at Jaime to loosen up before his next section. “Don’t forget you have scales that can help you reach that point. You don’t have to play the song right as you heard it. You have the freedom to make it your own, okay?” Ted waited for Isaac to nod in his direction before looking away. 

“Colin get ready, you have 8 beats before you’re in.” Ted watched as Colin lifted his violin to his neck. Ted snapped his fingers acting as a metronome for Colin and he started on time. 

At first the idea of actually being able to find someone to play some of the instruments needed for the songs seemed out of reach to Ted and Beard, but Keeley seems to know someone who can play just about any instrument. Her contacts are limitless. Now they have just about everything they need. 

“Colin you are blessing my ears right now, son. That is some fine playing if I do say so myself.” Ted saw Colin smile against his violin, and he felt a small swell of emotion come across him. His music was reaching someone, and it meant more than he could describe. 

“Alright y’all break time. I’ll give you boys about an hour; eat, hydrate, listen to Living Thing by Electric Light Orchestra and come back with some new ideas!” Ted dismissed the group and they took a few minutes to scatter out. 

“So,” Ted started. “You like them?” He directed to Beard who was on the other side of the glass once everyone had dispersed. 

“They’re a good bunch, in talent and personality.” Ted punched the air next to him. 

“That means a lot coming from you.” 

Ted could see Beard turn away from the booth and towards the door to the lounge. He saw Rebecca and Keeley come in and take seats on either side of Beard at the soundboard. They grabbed headphones and Keeley leant into the mic on the board.

"Those boys seem to adore you, Ted. Haven’t seen them work together this well in a while, especially Roy and Jaime.” 

“Well, they all have talent and can keep up with each other. I think they’re vaguely aware of who they’re opening for too, so I don’t think all that focus comes from me.” Ted beamed towards Rebecca. 

“By the way, when do you plan to actually record these? I assume you want them released before our first show and that’s only two weeks away.” Rebecca stated switching her gaze between Ted and Beard. 

“Well, uh, we weren’t quite planning on that,” The look Rebecca gave him was scary, cold and hard. “But we can absolutely make it happen. End of the week sound good?” 

“Looking forward to it!” Rebecca removed her headphones and stood from her seat. 

“Hold it, boss!” Ted called, standing from the keyboard and untangling himself from the wires and pedals and fishing something out of his bag. He made his way out of the booth and followed Rebecca out of the studio and into the lounge. 

“What can I do for you, Ted?” She asked, taking a seat at her desk. 

“These are for you.” He said simply, sliding a little rectangular box onto her desk. “They’re cookies, or as you guys like to call them, biscuits.”

"Oh no, I couldn’t-“ But Ted wasn’t having it, encouraging her to try it. With clear hesitation, Rebecca opened the box and took the treat into her fingers. 

“Oh, fuck me.” Rebecca practically moaned upon the first bite. “Where did you get these?” She said, her mouth full of the sugary confection. 

“Now I can’t tell you that but consider this a thank you. Y’know for the hospitality and such.” 

“None needed, really. You’ve surely got a way of livening up a space. Haven’t seen this floor have this much energy since Prince visited.”

"Purple rain Prince or the prince?” 

“Purple rain Prince.” 

“You mean to tell me I am standing right where one of the forefathers of pop stood?” Ted pretended to faint, leaning back slightly on his heals before catching himself, shooting a wry smile at a worried Rebecca. 

“Not exactly there, but you could say that, yes.” She finished the rest of the biscuit. “So then, Ted. I’d like you to tell me something.” Rebecca lulled. “Don’t mind my frankness, but what exactly are you doing here?” 

“I mean, you hired my man Beard. You know what I’m doing here.” Ted sat across from her in one of the single armchairs. 

“No, Ted. I mean…” She paused. “How do I put this…you’re married to one of Hollywood's greatest directors-" 

“Used to be married.” Ted quickly interjected. “The missus and I couldn’t make some things work so she wanted some space. I figured an entire ocean away would be space enough.” A dry laugh escaped his lips. 

“Oh, Ted I am so sorry.” Rebecca stared at him with a fondness he’s yet to see. An air of understanding and sympathy washed over him, remember an article he had read on the flight here. 

“Don't be, you know how it is sometimes.” 

“That I do.” Her tone soft. 

“How you holdin’ up, by the way?” Ted couldn’t help but ask. 

“As good as I can be. Much better than I was, that’s for sure.” 

A silence fell upon the two, and Ted took the time to take everything in. Her desk was neat and organized, her laptop folded nicely with a cup of pens and pencils resting next to it. A paperback sat next to it and he recognized it even with it being upside down. Rebecca followed his gaze. 

“How far have you gotten?” Ted tried to keep his voice level, but the idea of someone like her reading his novel is somewhat terrifying. 

“To be honest I’m afraid to move past the first half.” She laughed. “Both Keeley and Roy warned me to have a box of tissues ready.” 

“Oh really?” Ted couldn’t help but let a smile slip onto his face. “They’ve read it?” 

“You have a whole Ted Lasso fan club here, I’m afraid. Keeley said when she finished reading this exact book was when she knew she wanted you to help her write her album.” Ted really couldn’t stop the smile forming on his face. 

“Y’know, when I put out my first book, my son had just been born. I didn’t write it with the intent of making it anywhere, but there was a small part of me that did, just so Henry could see he could do anything he put his mind to.” Ted chuckled. “It could bring a tear to my eye; Henry would be so happy to know people like my books. He’s never read them, Michelle saying he’s too young for such heavy things. But any chance he gets he’s telling anyone who seems grown enough to read them.” Ted rambled. “Don’t let me waste anymore of your precious time, boss!” Ted announced while standing, becoming aware of how little she was talking compared to him. “I’ll be in the booth, give a shout if ya need anything!” 

Ted was gone before Rebecca could get another word out, turning into the studio and closing the door behind him. 

“Oi!” Roy grunted towards Ted. 

“Now what can I do for you on this fine afternoon?” Roy stepped up to Ted, their faces inches apart.  

“How many Paul McCartney songs can you play?” Roy practically growled.

“Name it, and I’ll play it.” Ted’s tone was light in comparison. 

“Get in the booth.” Roy demanded pointing at the padded door. 

“Oh, yes sir!” 

-

Rebecca wasn't at all surprised to find out Ted had a son halfway across the world. It showed in a lot of the things that he did, especially when he was trying to help the young musicians keep up with Beard. He never put them down, encouraging them whenever they did something right. He’d even make mistakes purposefully to make them feel better about their own. It made her heart warm at the sight. 

“Did any of y’all actually listen to Living Thing?” Rebecca watched as the young men all looked towards each other before shaking their heads. A loud groan escaped his lips, dipping his head back. 

“That Electric Light Orchestra song?” Rebecca asked from the studio. 

“Yes ma’am; A classic!” Ted beamed. 

“That song is lovely. So many wonderful instruments, they were ahead of their time in a way.” Rebecca had the opening of the song playing in her head, the violin stringing in her ears. 

“Alright boys you heard it, we’re adding that song to the list. Eight songs on this track now boys.” 

“For fucks sake.” Roy groaned. 

“I’m about to keel over soon. My brain can’t read any more sheets.” 

Rebecca watched with intent as Ted practically coached them along with Beard at his side. Ted’s smile never faltered despite how harsh Roy would get or when Sam or Isaac would be too hard on themselves. Ted always found a way to make light of heavy situations and read everyone’s emotions carefully, even her own. 

Ted made it clear the biscuits were an everyday thing, she’s received them every day for the last week. Every day, a pink box sat on her desk with a yellow sticky note attached, the word ‘believe’ written neatly in blue sharpie. She puts Higgins on the task of finding out where Ted has been getting them from, so far no good as none seem to even come close. Rebecca finds herself at ease when she comes across Ted and Beard in the studio and she almost hates the comfort, knowing at some point it’ll be gone again. 

She pushed those thoughts aside though, she told herself this was a fresh start. The first show is almost a week away and she’s excited, she’s been itching at the chance to be on stage again. Except she hates the songs she’s singing, and she has been for a while. Her last album was full of decisions based on other people instead of it coming from the heart. Rupert had shot her original ideas down, saying they were too depressing and out of character. 

The idea that Rebecca was playing some sort of character instead of being herself is what set everything in motion. Aside from the infidelity and countless affairs on Rupert’s part, her humanity being stripped down into nothing more than a persona utterly wrecked her. Rebecca felt as if she was going through a mid life crisis, grasping at anything or anyone that would tell her who she was. Rupert was barely there, a ghost in a dead romance whose flame flickered out long ago. When youth had began to slowly slip away from her and Rupert had no shame in letting her know; she started watching what she ate and how often she smiled in order to avoid lines. The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. 

“What’s with the sad cloud, Rebecca? I could feel the rain in the way in.” Keeley’s voice ripped Rebecca from her thoughts as she plopped a few bags at their feet and taking a seat next to her. 

“This album-"

"You hate it.” Keeley stated, grabbing a white takeout box from one of the bags and handing to her. “Babe, we both know that’s shit bags work with your voice on the track.” 

“So, what do I do?” Rebecca asked, taking a bite of a chip. 

“I already told you.” Keeley nodded towards Ted in the booth who was standing behind Jaime with his hands resting on the younger shoulders. Without the headphones they couldn’t hear it, but she could only imagine what it could be. Whatever it was, it caused Jaime to crack a smile before attempting to swat Ted away. “Just give him a chance, yeah?” Keeley took a bite of her own food. “Get to know him a little better before the tour starts and then when the time feels right just ask, I know he’ll say yes.”” 

“Keeley-"

“Rebecca,” Keeley stared so intently at Rebecca she could feel the moisture leave her mouth. “Just let him try. You finally have someone around who can help you write good music for once! Not to mention, Beard could help you compose it just the way you want!” Rebecca stayed silent, chewing at the inside of her lip. “What are you so afraid of?” 

“I-I don’t know.” Rebecca said honestly. Keeley took Rebecca’s hands in her own and squeezed them tightly. 

“And that’s okay, but don’t forget that fear is what makes this exciting! Besides, you? A literal lioness in a world of pandas is afraid of a little cowboy?” Rebecca swatted at Keeley shoulder, but she couldn’t stop the laugh from escaping her lips. The two of them shared the moment laughing, a few chips thrown in excitement. 

“Thank you, Keeley.” Keeley’s smile was soft and genuine, the kind she’s only ever seen her give to Roy and occasionally when interacting with fans. 

“If you really are that nervous, I really think you should finish his book-" Rebecca groaned dramatically in an effort to cut off her friend. “I’m serious about this, too! You could learn a lot from it.” She said with a shrug. 

“And what did you learn?” Rebecca mused, turning her nose up slightly. 

“I learned to appreciate the beauty in the things the world tells us are ugly, especially when it comes to the emotional aspect of things.” Keeley could see the confusion written on Rebecca’s face, so she put a hand to her knee before continuing. “You have to read it, Rebecca. I can’t figure it out for you.” 

With that, Keeley turned to the mic on the sound board, announced lunch had arrived, and shot Rebecca a quick yet meaningful glance. Finish the book. 

-

Rebecca should not have read the book. She spent the last 5 hours finishing the last 127 pages and she wished she hadn’t. Her eyes are swollen and sore, the air sucked from her lungs. The last page stay open as to allow her tears to dry from the page. She was a mess. 

She didn’t expect the story to end in such tragedy. She remembers how heart wrenching it had felt, reading his words for the first time. 

I so badly wished it was me. We wore the same suit; our ties different colors. I stood over him for the first and last time in my life. I wondered if people would look at me funny if I climbed in the casket so I could feel him next to me one last time; even if he was cold. I’m sure they’d understand right? I kept asking myself if people would understand, if anyone understands what it’s like. I don’t. I’m living it and I still can’t seem to grasp it. Pa won’t come home tonight, we’re laying him to rest now, his home six feet under in the cemetery across the way. 

I remembered the first time he read me a story that actually stuck. It was about a man fighting to make his way home, something about the ‘indomitable human spirit’ that kept him alive. He’d been shot, partially skinned and left for dead, but he fought until the light left his eyes. He never stopped fighting. For a moment, I wondered where that spirit had gone for my father. I wondered if he struggled against the rope to fight for a few extra seconds, regretting the idea of slipping away from his only son.

I don’t think he did though, no one mentioned a physical struggle. They mentioned the mental ones, the sickness that took him despite it being at his own hand. It was the sickness in the end, his own brain turning against him like the barrel of a loaded gun-I imagined his last moments. His hands gripping at the rope as he choked for the air it heinously denied. I wondered if any tears fell from his eyes, or if he thought about me and Mama. I wish i could ask him, but if I saw him again i think I’d run.

I hate him for what he did. I hate him for giving up on his wife, on his mother, i hate him for giving up on me. I miss him. I feel like I’m nine years old again, waiting for him to return from a business trip. Except the tears won’t fall this time and he won’t be there to clean them up. He won't ever be here for me or mama again, and that's a choice he made for himself, all on his own. 

Rebecca choked on a sob. She reached to her nightstand and immediately grabbed her phone to ring Keeley. She responded on the second ring. 

“Rebecca-"

“What the fuck was that?” Rebecca blurted, sniffing loudly. Keeley let out a laugh before consoling her friend. 

“Oh, love i’m sorry. You’re not alone, though; most people react like this.” Rebecca let out a chuckle, drying her tears with a crumpled tissue. 

“Oh god, Keeley i’m so upset.” 

“It feels so real, right? But it’s just a book, what’s not real won’t hurt you.” Rebecca chuckled. 

“I love when you’re right.”

”Do you want to talk about it? Isn’t it insane how someone like Ted could write something like that?” 

It was, and that’s what had Rebecca so consumed. Ted Lasso, the dandiest cowboy she’s ever met, moved her to hysterics without even knowing it. 

“Did he ever tell you if the book was based on something real?” Rebecca asked. 

“Of course not! He just got around to telling me about his divorce and we’ve known each other for ages. Well, we didn’t talk for a year, but we did keep up on some socials.” Keeley rambled. “I’m sure he’d tell you if you asked." 

“Keeley, I’m not asking him that.”

"And why not?” 

“Because what if it is? What am I supposed to do? Comfort him? I barely know him.” Rebecca scoffed at the idea. 

“But you could know him.” Keeley was quick in her response. 

“I shouldn’t have called you.” Rebecca feigned annoyance, but she was secretly taking in Keeley's words. 

“Oh please, you’re glad you called me. You stopped crying, yeah?” 

“Yeah.” Rebecca breathed. 

“Look, his book gave you a window into his life. Let him take a look at yours, what’s the worst that could happen?” 

The worst that could happen? Rebecca shook her head, her past relationship with Rupert flashing across her eyes. She’s a shell of the woman she used to be because of him, and now she’s being asked to trust another man with her future. It turns her stomach sour at the thought. 

-

When Rebecca walked into the studio suite, she didn’t expect to find Ted fast asleep on one of her sofas. His shoes were neatly at the foot of the couch and his phone sat on the table, earbuds connected and in his ears. Rebecca never realized how tall Ted actually was until she saw how his feet were elevated over the arm rest. His hair was a mess over his eyes, arms tucked tightly to his chest. 

Rebecca moved silently, quietly thanking whoever it was that decided this room would be mostly carpet. In her way to her desk she stopped at his phone and tapped on the screen, Karma Police by Radiohead was playing. Before she could pull back, an alarm came loudly from Ted’s phone causing Rebecca to jump back. Ted’s eyes fluttered open and Rebecca hoped it would take a minute for him to get his bearings so she could get her own. He did not. 

“Well, mornin’ boss.” Ted’s voice was horse from sleep, his tired eyes meeting Rebecca’s. “Didn’t mean to stay here all night, promise.” He yawned. 

“Ted, why did you end up staying here?” Rebecca asked, wanting to sound deterred. Instead her voice came out soft.

”I really only meant to sleep for a second, you know? Rest my eyeballs.” Ted stretched and Rebecca forced herself to look away. “The boys were rehearsing late last night and Beard asked if I could rewrite a section for Jaime, he has a hard time feeling the music sometimes.” Ted grabbed his phone, pulling the earbuds out of his ears. “I forgot to set an alarm and now i’ve got about two hours to write a new section.” Ted rubbed a tired hand down his face  before looking up at Rebecca. “What are you doing here so early?” 

Rebecca knew she couldn’t tell him the real reason. She wasn’t sure how he’d react if she told him his book made her restless, so an early morning was almost unavoidable. 

“I actually have some writing to do myself.” At the mention of writing new music, the tired in Ted’s eyes seemed to vanish. “But I would love to see how you rewrite Jaime’s section, if that’s alright.” Rebecca was quick to finish. 

“The more the merrier, boss.” Ted smiles brightly at her and Rebecca couldn’t help the smile of her own. “Let me freshen up and then I’ll meet ya in the booth.” Ted picked up his bag from the back of the chair and hurried into the bathroom, never putting his shoes on.

Rebecca couldn’t focus. She sat next to Ted on a separate bench at the grand piano just watching him play. She watched as his calloused fingers ran, jumped, and leaped all across the monochrome keys in repeating sections. Sometimes, he would change the way he played if, then erase a note on the sheets in front of him to replace it with the new melody.  

“You sure know your way around one of these, don’t you?” Rebecca asked as she watched Ted cross his hands over each other, reaching a high point of the scale.

“My dad and his father used to make music together, so they obviously had to teach me everything they knew.” He explained, his eyes flicking up at her, a small smile playing at his lips. “Though they were more string instrument guys, they were a little upset that I wanted to play the piano at first.” He chuckled at the memory and stopped playing for a moment before it turned into a slow melodic sonata. She assumes it's Bethoven. 

"So what's the deal then?" Rebecca started. "You have all this talent, and you clearly have a passion for it! You let Keeley take all the songwriting credit for her album too. Your name isn't even mentioned." Rebecca knows this is because Ted had told Keeley he didn't want his name on it. 

"Ah, Keeley told you about that then, I'm assuming." Ted tilted his head back with his eyes closed. Rebecca swallowed, watching as his hair fell backwards off his face. "I owe a lot to her. I was in a bad place when it came to any form of writing. I pushed the publication of my next book back by a year because I couldn't even start. Still haven't if we're being honest. It's funny, my publicist Sharron has told me the same thing you Keeley and Beard have been sayin'. What am I even still doing, being an author?" Ted's tone caught Rebecca off guard, it had a sadness to it she's never heard. His light self-deprecation loud in her ears. "Truth is, once I start something, I just can't quit. I've never quit anything a day in my life, and I don't plan to start now." 

Rebecca stood from the bench and slowly made her way towards Ted's and sitting next to him, leaving enough space so their legs barely touched. He smiled at her softly, his fingers running up and down the scales in front of her. 

"Ted, respectfully, you can't quit something you never started." Rebecca remarked. "And who says you can't take a hiatus? Do something you want for a while and come back to the book later." 

"And what would I do? I can't just watch Beard play and travel around; I need to work on something in the meantime." In that instant, the resolve Rebecca has worked so hard to build came crashing down around her. She wasn't quite sure what compelled her to do what she did, but there was no undoing it. 

"I'll hire you to help me write songs." She blurted out before she could stop herself. Ted stopped playing and snapped his head towards her. 

"You'll what?" 

"I would like your help writing my next album, or any songs really." Ted only stared at her. "It works out because we'll already be around all the time anyway because of the tour and you'll get a little extra money and your name on the back of my album." She caught herself rambling, and stopped before she could say anything else that may deter him from the offer. 

"I'll do it." He said suddenkly beaming. 

"What?"

"I said I'll do it."

"Great-" Ted cut her off. 

"On one condition." Rebecca stayed silent nodding for him to continue. "We get you some new songs for this tour. We either rework some of your older favorites or we start from scratch." He stared at her with so much intent she could hardly register what was happening. 

"Ted the first show is in 6 days, how are we going to do that?"

Suddenly a loud voice came over the speaker in the booth, both Ted and Rebecca turned to see Beard and the rest of his band in the studio. 

"Well, if you haven't noticed there is a room behind us full of talented musicians who would love to help."

For the second time, Rebecca's walls fell, and a genuine smile spread across her face. She looked between Ted and the group that began to file into the booth. 

"They can't be the only ones who get to have fun on that stage, right? You're a super star, Rebecca. You have the ability to control every crowd you play in front of, you just have to remember that they can also see when you aren't having fun. You also may not realize it, but we can too." 

For the first time, Rebecca believed the words Ted was saying to her. She decided, then and there, that she would put her trust in him. She wasn't sure how much opening up she would be able to do or how well this would even turn out, but a small bubble of excitement rose somewhere deep within her. The possibilities now seemed endless, compared to the keyhole she used to be staring through from behind the locked door of Ruperts control. 

Chapter Text

Rebecca's journey with her music had been a transformative one, marked by collaboration and rediscovery. The process of reworking her songs was not just about altering melodies and lyrics, but also about reclaiming her voice and artistic identity. With the support of Ted's lyrical insights, Beard's instrumental innovations, and Keeley's vocal harmonies, Rebecca found a new sound that resonated with her true self. This wasn't just a remastering of old tracks; it was a rebirth of her music, infused with personal touches that Rupert had once stifled. The final listening session, with everyone wearing matching headphones, symbolized unity and the shared joy of creation. It was a moment of triumph for Rebecca, as she finally appreciated the sound of her own voice, not just as a singer, but as an artist fully in control of her craft.

“Keeley,” Rebecca started, pulling one muff away from her left ear and facing her. “Do you have anything planned during this tour?” 

“Just some PR related things, but I made sure to keep show nights open for Roy. This is his first time playing in front of crowds of this size and I know he’s nervous.” 

“Would you want to join me? On stage, I mean.” Rebecca asked slowly, wary of her own words. 

“Holy shit, Rebecca!” Keeley cried. “Are you serious? You want me… to share a stage…with you?” 

“That is what I just said, right?” Rebecca laughed at Keeley’s expression. “I would feel much better doing this with you by my side, and your vocals on these tracks are absolutely beautiful. I’d love for them to sound just as good live.” Keeley laughed while stomping her feet to the ground in excitement, her knees bouncing up and down in her chair. 

“I don’t even know what to fucking say, yes obviously, yes…just shit Rebecca that’s a hell of an offer.” Rebecca could see the slight swell of tears in her friend’s eyes, and she knew better than to be concerned. Keeley was happy and so was she. 

“Well, you should get used to the crowd Keeley. I have a feeling you’ll be just like the boss over here one day soon, they might even ask you to play at next year's Coachella.” Ted interjected, sending a beaming smile to Keeley. “Right, Beard?” 

Beard nodded towards them, and removed his headphones, looking at the door. Rebecca followed his gaze and found Higgins standing by at the door, a notebook clutched tightly in his hands.

"Well, if it isn’t the man, the myth, and the legend! Higgin’s my man, what brings you here at this fine hour?” Ted asked while glancing at his watch. They were in the studio uncharacteristically late. 

As the clock ticks closer to the release of Rebecca's reworked album, the anticipation builds. It's not just any album; it's a declaration of independence, a musical journey reimagined through her own vision. The decision to name it 'Welton Rework' is more than a title—it's a statement that this creation is distinctly hers, untouched by the controlling hands of the past. It's a moment of rebirth and reclamation, a time capsule of her growth as an artist. Now, with the final nod from Beard, she's ready to reintroduce herself to the world, her voice unfiltered and her spirit unchained. The countdown to midnight is not just about music; it's about the unveiling of Rebecca's true artistic identity. 

“Hi, Ted.” He smiled quickly before turning towards Rebecca. “Rebecca, are you aware that since you’ve teased this little album, you have completely sold out your first three shows?” 

“Holy shit!” Keeley jumped up to wrap her arms tightly around Rebecca. “You haven’t sold out a venue since 2021!” 

“How do you know that off the top of your head?” Rebecca chuckled, attempting to push away the slight pressure she felt building on her shoulders. 

“Cause not only am I your best friend, but I am also your biggest fan. I know everything, babe.” 

“You know what that means.” Rebecca heard Ted saying to Beard. She turned to the pair and saw wide smiles on the pair. 

“They aren’t there for you.” Keeley threw in as a joke. 

“Oh, we know,” Ted laughed. “We’re just happy that what we’ve been doing has made a difference.” 

As much as Rebecca didn’t want to admit it, the work Ted has put in for not only his friend, but his own employer, has gone above and beyond anyone has ever done before. Rebecca's initial reluctance to embrace Ted's approach slowly transformed as she observed the remarkable changes around her. The 'Ted Lasso effect,' as it came to be known, wasn't just about breaking down barriers; it was about building a community where everyone felt valued and heard. She watched as the entire studio floor opened up to each other, she even learned the name of some of the artists who share the floor. She hated the idea of it at first, getting to know people she had no need for, but now she understands the dynamic of her floor and the people who reside in it.

The studio suite, a symphony of organized chaos, has become a second home where the rhythm of creativity never ceases. The music that spills from the booth is the heartbeat of the place, a constant reminder of the passion that fuels their art. She finds solace in the company of Ted, whose presence in the studio is as reliable as the fog in London's dawn, and Beard Band, whose rehearsals are a dance of sound and soul. Yet, in the rare moments of silence, when the booth lies empty and the shadow of solitude stretches across the room, she feels a pang of longing for the familiar cacophony. It's in these quiet times that she realizes how the presence of others has woven itself into the fabric of her being, an unexpected tapestry of connection in the midst of her own perpetual motion.

Loneliness was a feeling she is used to; she became okay with her own company. Rupert always left her alone, and when he didn’t he was ghostly, empty words with an even shallower touch. He made it clear his love for her was at his own benefit, on his time and when he wanted it. Nothing he did was ever for her sake, not his love or his help with her music. His production on her tracks made it clear to her what his true intentions were. He was controlling and ruled her art with an iron fist, enrapturing her in a cage of his lies and infidelities. 

When Rebecca first met Ted, she did everything she could to read past him and see his true intentions. The longer she looked though, the less things would turn up. He changed his current career just because she asked, she didn’t have to beg, nor did she need any good reason. He just said yes because he wanted to. That’s where Rebecca thinks she gets confused, the idea of someone, a man no less, doing something for her because they want to with no ulterior motive seemed too out of reach. Yet, the more time she spends with him, the more she sees who he truly is because he doesn’t hide it. 

He’s honest with her, and she thinks sometimes he’s too honest, too trusting in the people he barely even knows. Even as she thinks about what she knows about Ted, she realizes how little she truly knows. She knows a small deal about his ex-wife and his son, she knows about his hometown and minutely about the books he’s written. She knows about the time he went to prom in pajamas and spent the night in jail, he’s even allowed her and Keeley to paint his fingernails different colors so they could see what color they liked best. He treated them kindly, he treated everyone that steps foot within a five-meter radius with such care. 

“Ted,” Rebecca started, but she couldn’t find the words. She opened and closed her mouth, Ted’s gaze soft upon her own. 

“You’ve turned this whole fucking thing around.” Roy’s voice boomed behind her, and she mentally thanked him for saving her from the further torture of compliments. “No offense,” He turned to Rebecca with his hands raised. “But you were miserable.” 

“That’s a bit harsh-" Ted tried to say but was promptly cut off by Keeley.

"No, he’s right. I haven’t seen Rebecca smile at her own music since…ever.” 

“That’s a long time.” Roy nodded at Rebecca. 

“That can’t be true…” Rebecca thought back to when she first met Keeley two years ago. She was sour, much more closed off, but Keeley didn’t care. She got them wine drunk after an event spilling about her time with Jaime, and they’ve been thick as thieves ever since. “No wait, it is. They’re right. So, thank you, I suppose.” 

Beard looked intently at Ted and slowly put a hand to his heart. Ted gave Rebecca a small smile and put a hand over his friend’s forearm. 

“We’re flattered, boss.” Rebecca gave him a small smile and turned completely towards Roy. 

“What are you doing here so late?” She asked. 

“I came to show the old geezer’s this.” He held his phone to Keeley first who scanned the screen. 

“Holy fuck! Rebecca, you need to see this!” Keeley took Roy’s phone and held it up to her face. 

On the phone was the UK billboard charts. She scanned the list until she found it, Beard Band held the thirteenth spot with their cover of Living Thing and the twentieth spot with their original Over the Pond. 

She felt a small swell of pride bubble deep within her. She was in the room where it happened, she watched the magic everyone gets to hear be created live and she even had a small part in its creation. She scooped the phone out of Keeley’s hands and held it up to Ted and Beard. Ted’s face lit up as he looked to Beard, who had his eyebrows raised slightly. Beard took out his phone and took a picture of Roy’s screen.

“No fucking way, this album hasn’t even been out for a week.” Keeley squealed. “We have to celebrate!” 

As the room filled with chatter, Beard sending the picture to the group chat with his temporary band, Rebecca couldn’t settle the excitement within her. 

“Ted this is fantastic!” Keeley said while squeezing him tightly over the back of his chair in a hug. 

“You should be saying that to my man Beard, his talent is what got him there.” There was a silence as Ted’s words sank into the room. 

It occurred to Rebecca in that moment how little Ted thinks he’s contributed. Despite the countless hours spent in the booth and on the soundboard, the lyrics he’s written and the melodies he’s brought to the table undeniably altered the course of every single person sitting in the room. 

“Ted,” Beard started slowly. “You’re crazy.” 

“What?” Ted whined like a defeated child.

“This is just as much yours as it is mine.” Beard stared so intently at Ted; Rebecca wasn’t sure where to put her own eyes. “I know we-no I, wouldn’t have gotten where I am right now if it weren’t for you.” Rebecca knew Beard was talking about more than just music, but she knew the story would be told when the time was right. She still couldn’t help but be curious. 

“I just don’t feel right having y’all congratulate me when we should be celebrating everyone involved, that’s all!” Ted said, hands raised haphazardly. “A lot of people besides me made it happen, alright?” 

“Selfless prick.” Roy huffed. No one could argue with it though, and Rebecca could only slightly agree. Everyone involved deserved praise. 

Rebecca could hear the clamor of multiple people coming into the studio suite and before she could say another word, Jamie, Colin, Sam and Isaac came rushing into the sound booth with different bottles in hand. 

“Someone said something about charting?” Sam laughed while raising the bottles in his hand. 

“Who knew old man Kent could keep up!” Jaime mused, pulling bottles from a case and tossing them around to Beard and Ted who would decline on the wine. 

“Oi, I’d watch what you say; I wasn’t the one who needed my section fixed cause i couldn’t play it.” 

“Ouch.” Colin breathed while clapping a hand to Jaime’s shoulder. 

Rebecca watched as the young men swarmed towards Ted and Beard, Higgins even in the mix. It was refreshing, to see her old friend celebrating with people she could start to consider friends. It warmed a small part of her.

“You know, I couldn’t get Jaime and Roy in the same room after everything happened. Now they’re playing side by side in the same band. It’s the happiest I’ve seen them, and the shows haven’t even started.” Keeley said, pouring Rebecca a glass of the white wine Isaac had brought before pouring one for herself. 

“You don’t say.” Was all Rebecca could muster. 

“I think having them here is a good thing.” Keeley’s voice was soft, almost gracious. 

Rebecca wasn’t sure if what she was saying was the god's honest truth, but she’d be damned if she didn’t say how she truly felt in the moment. 

“So do I.”

Keeley reached out and took her friends hand, squeezing their fingers together tightly. 

“Your big plan seems a little foiled now, don’t you think?” Keeley whispered, causing Rebecca to dart her eyes around to make sure no one else caught on. 

“It’s bloody ruined.” She took a sip of the wine; it was sweet and went down dry. “But i think I like it,” Rebecca waved her glass in the air. “This whole thing.” Her eyes landed on Ted, who had just clacked his beer against Beards, the two of them smiling the way she knows she used to. 

“You mean having friends? People in your corner who actually care?” Keeley said dubiously, eyeing Rebecca over her glass. “If it’s any proof, I’ve never seen you so relaxed before a concert.” 

Rebecca groaned loudly, bringing all the attention in the room back to her. 

“Pre-concert jitters?” Higgins asked. 

“Hardly.” Rebecca seethed. “Just thinking about how this is just the start with you lot.” Rebecca deflected, taking another long sip of her wine. 

Ted pouted at her, his bottom lip poking out from under is mustache. Rebecca wondered if his mustache ever bothered him or tickled his lips when he spoke. She realized just where her questions would lead, so she cut them off as soon as she realized they started. Rebecca's exaggerated eye roll toward him was a silent conversation in itself, speaking volumes more than words ever could. It was a dance of expressions between them, a playful exchange that needed no dialogue. Ted's smile, in response, was the perfect retort, a silent acknowledgment of their shared moment. It was then that Rebecca realized that these small, unspoken interactions often said the most.

“Hey, hey!” Jamie shouted, pulling everyone’s attention towards him. “Last one in the sound booth is a load of tosh!” 

In the blink of an eye, Rebecca watched as seven grown men fought their way into the booth and Ted was the only one not rushing in. As the commotion settled and the men found their places, Rebecca's gaze lingered on Ted, still hovering at the edge of the booth. His hesitation was palpable, a silent question hanging in the air. But before she could extend the invitation, before she could save him from drowning in his own head, Roy's voice cut through the tension.

“Oi, gaffer! What do you think you’re doing? You can’t play the fucking keys in there can you?” She heard, muffled from the other side of the room. 

In an instantaneous moment of relief, Ted’s face softened into a smile, and he stepped into booth. Rebecca downed the rest of her drink, grabbed the bottle from Keeley’s feet, and took three big swigs right from the neck. 

“You alright?” 

“Never been better.” 

-

Ted's affinity for music was a silent force, a private joy that thrived in the cozy corners of dimly lit rooms, where the world shrunk to just the piano, the melody, and the intimate circle of listeners. The grandeur of the stage, with its glaring lights and sea of expectant faces, was a world apart from the solace of those small gatherings. It was Beard's realm, where his fervor for performance ignited the air, a stark contrast to Ted's own reserved passion.

The day had arrived, marking the first step into an uncharted territory of live shows, a leap from the audience to the wings of the stage. College days had seen him lost in the throng of music lovers, where garage bands turned driveways into concert halls, and anonymity was a comforting cloak. Now, as the band tuned their instruments, the familiar weight of his hands in his pockets and the rhythmic rocking on his heels anchored him amidst the whirlwind of nerves and excitement.

“Nervous?” Rebecca’s voice startled Ted back into the moment. 

“Christ on a cracker, Rebecca!” Ted started, planting a heavy hand over his chest. 

“Oh, Ted, I’m sorry. Didn’t think you were this jumpy.” 

“Oh well, you know my mother used to say I was nothin' more than a bull frog on a tree stump.” Ted stared at her, Rebecca nodding with her usual business casual smile. “No no, just admiring them, ya know? They have the courage to go out there and perform for an unimaginable amount of people.” Ted paused, rearranging the words in his mind. “I admire that a lot about you too. You go out there and you’re so powerful and brave, you ma’am are a force to be reckoned with.” 

Ted watched as Rebecca’s mouth opened and closed, a surprised smile overtaking her face. She shook her head, her dangly earrings swaying with the motion. 

“Ted…I,” She chuckled for a moment. “Thank you.” She said a laugh still escaping her lips. “I really don’t think you understand how much I needed to hear that.” She said quietly. Rebecca finished laughing and shook out whatever jitters she was feeling. 

“How are you feeling?” Ted asked, just as he remembered he had her biscuits waiting for her as always. “Gotcha something, too.” He handed her the pink box, in which she accepted gratefully with a mouthed ‘thank you.’ 

“Nervous, but I can do it. It’s just,” Rebecca paused looking around nervously. “Rupert’s not here.” 

“And that is a good thing?” Ted questioned. 

“It’s a very good thing!” Rebecca waved her arms around frantically. “I just-He pounded it into my brain that if he wasn’t here, things would go horribly wrong. I know that’s not the truth, I am the creation of my own design, but I allowed him to control it for so long. To critique my figure or how I chose to present myself during a show.” Rebecca rambled, but Ted kept his eyes on her, drinking in every word. Rebecca finally opened the box and indulged herself, melting sweetly at the taste. “It just makes me angry, more at myself than anything.”

“Now you have every right to be angry at Rupert absolutely, but at yourself? Now I won’t stand for that, no ma’am. He abused his power.” Ted bit his tongue knowing if he continued, he’d say something wrong. “Be proud of where you are right now, be proud of the album you just released that had the whole twitter birds tweeting till the sun came up.” Rebecca chuckled at his word vomit. “What I’m saying is, it’s all you now, Boss!”

Ted gave her his softest smile, and she gently laid a hand on his arm, giving it a light squeeze. Ted could hear the light taps of Sam tapping away on his high hat, and Isaac sliding in on his bass. Ted turned to the stage whistling, flicking his eyes back to Rebecca momentarily, her gaze on the same sight. 

“It breaks my heart.” Rebecca said softly, stepping up next to him. Ted froze, awaiting whatever Rebecca had to say. “You have so much talent, you’d be a sight to see Ted Lasso.” 

“A sight for sore eyes.” Rebecca swatted at Ted, earning a deep laugh that reverberated through Ted’s chest. 

“No, I mean, shit how do I say this,” She sucked in a breath. “You play the piano like no one I’ve ever heard.” Ted let out a self-conscious laugh. “Look, you have this ability to move people through your music, Ted. You graced the world with your words and people loved it! But fuck the New York Times Best Seller bullshit! Might I say, you are a better musician than you are a damn writer.” 

Ted knew a part of him should be upset at the slight jab at his writing, but he felt moved by the fact she saw him as a musician. Something he wished, deep down, more people would recognize him as. 

“One day, Ted lasso.” Rebecca started, a small smile on her lips as she turned away from Ted and began her walk back to her dressing room, Keeley meeting her before she rounded the corner.

“Oi, Ted?" Keeley called, "Tell the boys I want all of them right here exactly ten minutes to their call time!"

"Yes ma'am!"

"You included!” Keeley finished, earning her a small smile from the westerner. Ted watched as Rebecca turned back to him, meeting his gaze with a soft smile before she turned and rounded the corner. 

Ted had to force his gaze back to the stage, the loss of Rebecca's presence heavy on his shoulders. 

"Gaffer!" Ted heard Roy's voice rip through the empty arena. Ted saw Roy heading towards him, Jamie on his heels calling him different variations of old. "Give this prick some help, please! If I hear him complain about his hand cramping up one more fucking time, I'll cut his fucking hands off." Ted checked his watch confirming they had enough time before doors opened. 

"You get fifteen minutes of me time, boys. Let's have some fun!" 

Ted genuinely can't deny how much fun he has when he gets the chance to play with someone. Whether it's with Beard or the young men he was inadvertently assigned to coaching along the scales, he enjoyed it more than he could describe with words (He considered himself good with words, so when he came to this conclusion on his own, he knew he could never make it a career.) When he would have his talks with Henry about how everything is going, even his son mentions the happiness he sees when he talks about the music he's been writing. Michelle liked when he would play his music too, but she would pair his playing with a remark about how he was finally quiet. Finally quiet; like his constant jokes and constant enthusiasm was overbearing. He knew she felt that it was, Michelle would tell him to his face or to their shared friends how his attitude was often times off putting. His enthusiasm, he thinks, is the whole reason he is who he is. He made that promise to himself, way back when, that he wouldn't let anyone get by him without knowing what they're going through. Maybe that's the difference in them; Michelle was okay with looking the other way, especially with strangers or people she's not quite acquainted with, while Ted would go the extra mile for a kitten stuck in a tree. 

Ted forced the thought of Michelle and his own short comings that led to his marriages end and the downfall of his precious family dynamic out of his head. He needed to be present, his head clear and rational so he can do what Beard and Rebecca asked, study and critique for future shows. He's also been tasked with coming up with some lyrics for Rebecca, but she made it clear that it was on his time and whenever the mood would strike. So, as he stood behind the half crescent huddle of Beard Band with Rebecca and Keeley in the center with multiple bottles of champagne, he felt a small burst of inspiration. He wanted to capture the moment, the seasoned musicians who have witnessed the energy firsthand, standing before a group of men who look about ready to wet themselves. Everyone but Beard of course, who kept his face level under his sunglasses and maroon felt suit. It was incredible to Ted how well the boys cleaned up compared to their daily streetwear. Everyone, except Beard, wore gray suits with bowties that matched Beards suit. They looked slick, almost as nice as Keeley in her floor length gown and Rebecca in an equally long black and gold off the shoulder dress. 

"Ted, get in here!" Keeley whisper yelled at him, pulling on his arm around the group so he was standing in between her and Rebecca. "They need a bit of a pep talk." Keeley whispered in his ear. 

"Hi, Ted." Rebecca greeted, barely meeting his eyes with a shakiness he’s never seen. Despite her nervousness, Ted took a moment to gather himself. He felt self-conscious in her presence, severely underdressed in the circle of people in black-tie attire. 

"Hey there, Boss! Might I say you are wearing the heck out of that dress." He said, his smile wide and his voice sincere.

"Oh, god no." She chuckled, shifting her weight on her feet. “I’m afraid I just don’t pull this off like I used to.” 

"Oh yes you do! You look fit as fuck, Rebecca!" Keeley interjected, handing her a flute of champagne. She handed one to Ted, to which he thanked her and helped her in passing out the rest of the flutes to the rest of the boys. 

“Rebecca! Rebecca-sorry, Rebecca!” Higgins cried, making his way over in a fit of hysterics and sweat. 

“What is it Leslie? The boys are just about to go on, can this wait?” Rebecca pressed, annoyance dripping casually from her tongue. 

“I’m…afraid…not.” Higgins said in between gasps of air. Ted put his hand to the man’s back and helped coach him along getting his breath back. 

“There ya go, how we feeling?” 

“Thank you, Ted.” Higgins turned to Rebecca and handed her his phone. Ted couldn’t see what it said but by the way he saw Rebecca’s breaths get heavier, he knew it wasn’t good. 

After what felt like years of reading, Rebecca quickly pulled out her own phone and dialed a number. It was answered on the second ring. 

"Why hello darling!" Came a slow and slimy voice, one that Ted could only assume was Ruperts. 

"Why are you just telling me now that Nathan won't be here? I asked you-"

"And I gave you the right answer at the time. He's booked, you see-"

"And you were the one who booked him!" 

Rebecca and Rupert went back and forth for a moment before Keeley put a hand to her friend's shoulder, shaking her head. 

"You know what? It doesn't matter, I'll figure it out." Rebecca hung up the phone and took a deep breath. “That fucking asshole!” Rebecca cried out; Keeley quick with another insult.

“What a shit bag!” 

“Does someone want to fill us in, or?” Jaime dragged the last word, his emphasis on wanting to know. 

“Rupert took Nathan after promising he’d be back for Rebecca’s tour. Turns out he was being a lying piece of shit.” Keeley simplified. 

“Who’s Nathan?” Jamie asked. 

“Rebecca’s old pianist.” Roy interjected. 

Beard, Ted and the other boys all stared at each other, mouths hanging open slightly. Ted could see the way Beard raised his eyebrows over his sunglasses, his arms flexing against his chest. 

“Fuck!” Rebecca downed her champagne flute and filled it again quickly. 

“Hey, hey! No need to do all that just yet, we’ll find someone, don’t you worry.” Ted started, looking to Keeley and Higgins. “Heck, I bet they already have a plan.” Higgins stared flatly at Keeley and she just shrugged her shoulders. 

“We do have an extra one on site now, don’t we?” Keeley asked, a smirk splayed coyly on her lips her eyes darting from Higgins to Ted. 

“That we do.” Higgins drawled; his eyes fixing on Ted’s. 

“Hold on now, you can’t make Jamie play Rebecca’s music! Don’t get me wrong he’s a hell of a player but he doesn’t have them memorized yet.” Ted turned to Jamie and mouthed a quick ‘I’m sorry’ to him. 

“I don’t think they were talking about me, you wanker.” 

Ted looked back to Keeley and Higgins and met Rebecca’s gaze. She stared at him with a softness he’d only ever seen give Keeley when she says something harsh that's quickly followed by an apology. It looked apologetic. 

“Ted,” Keeley started. “You’re the only one-" Ted held up a hand which stopped her quickly, and he watched as Rebecca’s face fell. He glanced over at beard, who slid his glasses over his hair so he could pierce his friend with his gaze. 

“Now don't get me wrong, I appreciate what you’re about to ask,” Beard tipped his nose up slightly and let out a deep breathe. Go, his friend was saying. It’s now or never. Ted turned back to Keeley. “But I can’t hear it from you, Miss Jones. The boss has to ask me herself.” Ted finished with a smile, drifting his gaze between her and Rebecca. 

Keeley smiled and took one of Ted’s hands with a small squeal before stepping back. 

“Ted,” Rebecca stepped up to him. “I should’ve known Rupert would try something like this and I’m sorry for the situation I’m about to put you in.” Her eyes were searching his as she pressed on. “But I need your help right now. I don’t want to let Rupert control my life anymore, I want to have fun and do things my own way so please,” She let out a shaky breath. “Would you do this for me? I promise I’ll find someone else soon I-" 

“Absolutely!” Ted beamed. He watched as relief flooded Rebecca’s face and everyone around him let go of the breathes they’ve been holding. “I just don’t think I can play in this; I look more like a soccer coach than a piano player.” 

Ted momentarily forgot where in the world he was, so the word ‘soccer’ had most of the group sending him weird looks. Beard walked up to him and clapped a hand to his shoulder. 

“It’s football here.” 

“Aw dang, how could I forget?”

"I've got a whole wardrobe in a Trailor out back; my girl Sassy will be there to help you." Rebecca's fingers danced across the screen with purpose, each tap a definitive stroke as she crafted her message and pressed send. 

"Beard, you need to get going!" Higgin's tisked as he checked his watch. 

Beard and Ted stood shoulder to shoulder; Beards eyes firm on his. With a flourish, Beard held up his flute and Ted mirrored the gesture, the glasses crashing against each other before they drained their drinks together. 

"I'll see you on the other side." Ted's voice shook in a way that only his friend would notice. 

Beard squeezed Ted's arm. 

"You'll be okay. No one expects anything from you." 

Ted took a breath so deep he filled his lungs completely with air, then expelled it slowly. Ted, as much as he tells people to believe in themselves, believes whole heartedly that he may ruin everything. 

Chapter Text

Whatever anxieties Rebecca felt before Beard Band went on melted away when she heard how entranced the crowd was with them. Of course, it didn't lessen the nerves of her upcoming performance, but because of Beard, she knew it would start out okay. While watching Beard perform, his interactions with the audience and his bandmates, having the most fun she's seen him have since he got here, Rebecca started to understand more about Beard. Her observation of Beard's performance reveals a deeper understanding of his character, recognizing that his passion for music transcends mere enjoyment or acclaim. It's rooted in a profound connection to the music and its significance to him. She saw it in the way he would glance out to her and Keeley in the wing, hoping to catch Ted's eye while Jaime executed his solo part perfectly, or how he introduced every song with a backstory involving the pair. Knowing Beard wished Ted could see him perform the art they shared hurt her a little. Or maybe he looked that way because he wanted Ted to be the one playing with him; that notion made her feel sick.

She felt guilty that Ted's first actual performance would be with her, and he would be playing her music instead of being with Beard and playing the music he penned. She also felt guilty about having him pulled into this mess in the first place. If only she had checked in with Nate sooner…If only she hadn't been so stupid to believe Rupert. The thoughts of Rupert left as suddenly as they came, being pulled from her thoughts hearing her name mentioned on stage. Beard had one more song on his set before her ten-minute timer started, the countdown before she fed Ted to the wolves. 

"Did I miss the big finale?" She heard Ted say from behind her. 

"No, you're just in time, actually. I'm sure Beard was taking his time so you could hear it, too." Rebecca replied, not turning to face him. 

"Holy shit." She heard Keeley say next to her. "Rebecca, look at him!" She urged like he was something she'd never seen before. 

As Colin began his part on the violin, queuing the band for their final act, Rebecca faced Ted for the first time since involving him in her mess. A part of her wished she hadn't. 

Ted was dressed in a black tuxedo, and his undershirt was dark. He wore a bow tie in the same golden hue as Rebecca's dress, and his tailcoat fell just below the back of his knees. Rebecca was unsure of how to react to his attire. Ted appeared just as unfazed as he did in his regular clothes, with his hands tucked in his pockets and a slight sway in his stance. She didn't like how good he looked, but she also didn't like how confidently he carried himself as if he was either oblivious to his appearance or thoroughly aware of it. She couldn't discern which one it was.

"Jesus, Ted! Who knew you cleaned up so nice?" Keeley started, jabbing his side with her elbow. 

"It's all thanks to Sassy Smurf back there! She beat my face with powder to make me look pretty." 

The mention of Flo put her on edge, her friend's track record being the reason behind it. She knew Ted wasn't the kind of guy to go with any girl who threw herself at him; he had too much respect for himself and a past he needed to move on from. She left a mental note to tell her that Ted was somewhat off-limits and that she needed to mess with someone else. She already knew what she would say; why does it matter? 

Now, she was asking herself that. Why does it even matter? 

"Rebecca?" 

"Yes, sorry! I just spaced out for a second there," she said to Keeley, looking back at Ted. 

"It suits you well." Rebecca forced her voice steady. 

"Really? I thought this was a tux." Ted deadpanned, earning a chuckle from Keeley. Rebecca let out a laugh, looking back onto the stage. 

Ted took the spot on the opposite side of her, his eyes focused on his friend's lively performance. 

"Are you nervous?" Rebecca asked. 

"Woah, Deja Vu." He chuckled, but when he saw her expression, the sincerity creased within her face, he cleared his throat. "Honestly, I am." He sighed out a deep breath. "I've never played for a crowd this size before, let alone for someone like you." 

"I've heard you play, Ted. It's nothing new."

" But what if I mess up and ruin this for you? I can't do that to you." Rebecca was confused by Ted's expression, which showed that he was utterly convinced that such a thing would happen. 

"Do you remember what's written on my biscuits every day?" she asked him, barely waiting for his response. "It's a seven-letter word, and I'm pretty sure it's your favorite," she said with a wink. 

"I know this one!" Keeley spoke from her side. "It starts with a B if you need help!" She whispered behind Rebecca's back to Ted with a smile. 

"Believe, but-" 

"I believe in you, Ted," Rebecca said, trying to sound confident. "You believed in me when no one else did. I'm here today because you believed in me. But that's not the only reason why I believe in you. You're a talented musician, even if you don't always see it. You played a huge part in making these songs what they are today. Your contribution is just as important as mine, if not more. If anyone deserves to play these songs, it's you." She laughed, making it clear that her words had no malice. "So what do you say? Are you ready to show the world what you're made of?"

Ted gazed at Rebecca, a half-smile on his lips. He shook his head and looked down, the grin never fading. 

"Believe, huh?"

"Oh, Ted! If you get scared, just imagine everyone naked. Not me or Rebecca though, cause that's weird, but Rebecca does have some really nice-" 

"Keeley!" Rebecca nudged her friend before she could keep going.

"Seriously, Ted. I know you feel this insane amount of pressure right now-" Rebecca jabbed her again. "What? All i'm saying is that he can look to us if he gets nervous, right?" Keeley finished while rubbing her side. 

"That's right," Rebecca said softly. "We'll be right there with you." 

The end of Beard Band's set had the crowd in hysterics. The loudest a crowd has ever been before one of Rebecca's performances. As the band exited, leaving a trail of cheers and laughter behind them, Rebecca knew she had big shoes to fill. The anticipation was palpable; the crowd's excitement was a tangible force she could almost grasp. It was nearly her turn to take the stage, to capture the audience's hearts just as Beard Band had. She knew her music was different from theirs; it was softer and more acoustic. She usually let her voice do the storytelling, but she knew  she'd have a much easier time with Ted and Keeley behind her. 

As soon as the boys were hidden by the side stage, Keeley wrapped her arms around Roy, who breathed into her embrace. After she had finished hugging him, she did the same to Jaime. Roy's minor glare at Jaime couldn't overshadow the warmth of the moment. Colin and Isaac stood together, Colin practically falling into the latter while Sam's proud smile in the background was unmistakable. Beard, of course, went right to Ted; the quick fist bump between Beard and Ted transitioned into a heartfelt embrace, a whisper shared between them igniting Ted's broadest smile of the day. It warmed something within Rebecca to see everyone so happy during one of her performances. 

"So?" Beard asked as he rejoined the group. "What did you think?" 

"It was bloody brilliant," Rebecca said in earnest, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Truly, incredible." 

"Thank you." He leaned towards her. "How's Ted?" He asked, looking over his shoulder to see Ted preoccupied with Jaime. 

"He's, you know, Ted." Beard laughed. "But he'll be okay. I know he will." 

"I'm happy he's doing this." Beard whispered loud enough that only she could hear. "He deserves to finally be doing what makes him happy." The look on Beards face consoled any worry within her about his stance on the situation, he meant what he was saying. "Just promise to let him play with me once, okay?"

"God, absolutely! I'd get him his own record deal if he would just ask." They laughed together, the tension slowly leaving Rebecca's shoulders. 

"Seriously, Beard. I don't know where you found him, but he truly is one of a kind." 

"He's the one that found me, Rebecca. I am where I am because of what he has done for me." Rebecca knew that when Beard spoke about Ted, she could trust what he had to say. As much as she trusts Keeley, Beard, and Ted have a friendship that she feels comfortable with, which surpasses Keeley's and her own. Whatever Beard said about Ted was beyond true and always unequivocally kind. 

"What—" Before Rebecca could ask her question, Keeley came bouncing over to her with Ted at her heels. 

"Ted's gotta get onstage babe!" 

"Christ, it's that time already?" Rebecca asked.

"Seems so," Ted said with a smile. 

Rebecca wasn't sure what had taken over her, but she took a long stride forward, closing most of the distance between her and Ted. She took his hands on her own. At that moment, Rebecca's heart was a drumbeat, loud in her ears as she held Ted's hands, his calloused fingertips rough against her skin. The world around them seemed to blur into the background, their peers' curious stares fading away. It was just the two of them and the undeniable connection that pulsed through their intertwined fingers. This was a leap of faith for the both of them, a silent conversation between their eyes, speaking volumes more than words ever could.

"I believe in you." She stated that her eyes were fixed on Ted's. 

"And I believe in us." Was the last thing he said before he turned away from her.

Ted stepped away from the group, followed by Beard towards the entrance of the side stage. Rebecca observed Ted's movements as he shook out his arms, moved his head from side to side and jumped on his toes, as if he was preparing to enter a game. Beard had his hand on Ted's back, encouraging him with words that were inaudible to Rebecca. However, she knew that they were words of support, words that Ted needed to hear but couldn't muster on her own.

As the house lights dimmed, the audience erupted in excitement, waiting for the performance to begin. The crowd remained unyielding as Ted made his way to the grand piano staged in the center, his strides purposeful and confident. He was the epitome of grace under pressure. Before taking his seat at the bench, he swiftly unbuttoned his tailcoat with one hand and bowed slightly to the crowd. At that moment, the noise subsided, and Ted slid onto the bench, his hands hovering above the keys. For Rebecca, the wait for him to begin playing felt like the longest two seconds of her life.

The stage was set for an enchanting performance, as Ted found his place immediately, his fingers poised and ready to weave the melodic strains of Souvenir D'Italia through the expectant hush of the crowd. After a few more beats of silence, Ted lowered his hands to the keys and began to play.

As the song began, a complete chromatic scale filled the air, a breathtaking display that seemed almost impossible for one person to play. Yet, Ted executed it flawlessly, captivating the crowd and holding them in the palm of his hand. The deliberate, measured opening was a stroke of genius from Beard, drawing the audience into a shared reverie, setting the stage for the night's enchantment. With each note, the distance between performer and spectator shrank until the music formed a bridge, carrying everyone towards the heart of the performance. Meanwhile, in the wings, Rebecca awaited with no hint of worry for Ted. As her steadfast rehearsal partner in Nate's absence, her encouragement was as integral to the music as the notes themselves. Perhaps that was why she felt no fear. Having played and practiced the same songs with Ted countless times before, she loved every moment of it.

Rebecca could feel her heart beating loud in her chest as she watched Ted captivate the entire crowd. Rebecca kept her gaze on Ted, watching as his arms stretched and retracted over the length of the piano and from where she was, she could see it. The way Ted glanced over his shoulder every so often, the corners of his mouth upturned ever so slightly, the way each note took away his tension. He was truly enjoying himself and it seemed as if he barely even noticed anyone else was there.

She stepped into the spotlight with a deep breath and a confident stride, ready to create her own unforgettable moment.

The second Rebecca Welton took the stage, the once silenced and awed crowd burst into a deafening roar that made something deep within her swell. She hasn’t been on a stage in almost a year, and the last time she performed she couldn’t wait to be finished. Right now, though, overlooking the sea of people crying out for her in pure joy and excitement, she never wants it to end. 

Rebecca walked silently to the center of the stage, with Keeley following closely behind. She refrained from speaking as Ted continued to play, his head tilted back and his eyes closed. Despite her efforts to remain composed, a wide and almost painful smile spread across Rebecca's face as she watched Ted perform.

“There’s that smile!” Rebecca heard Ted shout faintly when his eyes opened and immediately found hers. 

She turned away with a light giggle that caused her to question herself.  Giggling? What am I, a  school girl ?  She didn’t let it linger though, she was having fun on stage for the first time in years and the show is only minutes in. 

As Ted played the final notes of the song, the audience's pent-up excitement burst forth in a cacophony of cheers, applause, and whistles. The overwhelming noise washed over Rebecca, forcing her to dig deep and maintain her position facing the crowd. Although she longed to turn to Ted and convey "this is all for you," she remained steadfast in her role as a performer, recognizing that he was her accompanist and that professionalism was paramount.

She wanted to focus on the fact that in her own mind, she considered Ted as something more than just her accompanist, but she couldn't. She had a crowd to entertain and a set list that hadn't even started.

“Now, I hope that isn’t all for me!” Rebecca flicked her eyes to Keeley who made her way to the circular riser that was diagonally behind Ted. 'You’ve got this' Keeley mouthed. 

As Rebecca spoke, the sound seemed to swell, almost overwhelming her. After her divorce, she had turned her back on her fans, ceasing to post or release new music, retreating from the public eye, and declining all interview and performance invitations. She had isolated herself to wallow in self-pity. Yet now, their presence felt more intense than ever, as if their collective voice had grown stronger simply because she was present.

`“Wow, hi! Hello! Manchester, how are we?” Rebecca took her time scanning the crowd as she walked along the edge of the stage. The lights were blinding and hot, her heart was beating so loud she was sure it was coming across her microphone. The crowd didn’t ease until she began to speak again. 

“How was that opening, huh? Breathtaking, right?” Rebecca's gaze locked with Ted's amidst the uproarious applause of the crowd. He flashed a radiant smile at her, while Keeley descended from the platform and playfully nudged Ted, prompting him to unleash one of the impromptu melodies tucked away in his mind. 

Emboldened by the music swirling around her, Rebecca delivered the memorized opening with a confident air. However, as Ted's spontaneous improvisation filled the air, she seized the moment to infuse her words with raw emotion, baring her soul to the audience. By the time she concluded, she felt an overwhelming readiness to pour her entire being into her performance.

Rebecca Welton rose to fame not only due to her stunning beauty and exceptional singing talent, but also because her electrifying performances left an indelible impact on every single person lucky enough to witness them. Her commanding stage presence creates a magnetic connection between herself, the audience, and all those sharing the stage with her, captivating and entrancing everyone in the vicinity.

Despite those differences, her performances exude an effortless elegance. Each of her shows is meticulously curated, taking place in concert halls that exude an atmosphere as if the audience were awaiting the start of a symphony. Unlike the exuberant atmosphere of a Taylor Swift concert, her audience sings along in hushed tones and reserves their applause for the conclusion of each song. There are no backup dancers or choreographed routines accompanying her music. It's just her, the music, and those who have eagerly purchased tickets to witness her performance, so she pours her heart and soul into every note.

The first half of her setlist feature reworked renditions of songs from her previous albums. These were once a source of apprehension for Rebecca, as she felt they were diluted versions of their true potential. However, her perspective has since evolved, and she now embraces these songs with renewed vigor. And of course, she owes most of that to the midwesterner behind her blowing all of her expectations out of the water. 

She performs the new renditions with an intensity she has never experienced before. For the past decade, every time she stepped onto a stage, she felt like a deer caught in headlights. Despite projecting confidence and singing with a powerful voice, deep down, she was consumed by fear. She was afraid that people could see through her, detecting her disdain for her own music. Her greatest fear was that they could sense her self-loathing. She always felt under scrutiny, particularly under Rupert's critical gaze. He never held back his negative opinions, constantly commenting on unflattering aspects and suggesting that she watch her weight. Despite her efforts, she never felt good enough. However, in this moment, as all eyes were on her, Ted, and Keeley, she didn't feel dissected. Instead, she felt a glimmer of being whole again.

"You'll have to excuse me, loves." Rebecca fawned on the crowd as she waltzed towards Ted and his piano. The crowd, of course, went mental at the name Rebecca had used for them.

Keeley had suggested that Rebecca take a brief intermission halfway through her performance to compose herself before singing the songs she had never performed live. Although Rebecca initially hesitated, Ted and Keeley were both in agreement, making it difficult for her to refuse.

"I'm not as young as I used to be so a small intermission may be needed." Rebecca couldn't help but laugh as she heard an array of disappointed fans, but she was quick to reassure them that she wasn't going anywhere. "I'm not leaving!" Rebecca picked up one of the waterbottles hidden behind the piano. "I'm just taking a small break, figured we could have some fun!"

Rebecca used the time it took the crowd to scream and then settle to open the bottle and take a few sips. 

"Ted!" Rebecca whispered to him over the piano, her microphone held away. "What's your name? I need to tell them who you are."

"The last time I checked I was Ted Lasso, but that totally could have changed within the last hour or so." Rebecca had to remind herself that they don't come from the same world. Sure some authors use pennames, but even then she doubts he even has a clue to what she is talking about. 

"No, Ted. How am I introducing you? I know you don't use a penname, but I wasn't sure if this was the same. This is your music career and all." 

Ted seriously seemed to consider his options, she could see the way his jaw clenched and unclenched as he chewed at the inside of his cheek. 

"Aw heck, just say i'm Ted Lasso, that is who I am, right?" Rebecca could sense there was some sort of self depreication towards his last sentance, but he kept his smile ever radiant. She would come back to that later. 

"Oh, Beard said you wanted him to come and sing an Elton John song, which one are we doin' exactly? He told me right before I went on" Ted's southern drawl seemed thicker when he whispered, and Rebecca secretely drank that in. 

"Surprise me, Ted Lasso."

And with that, Rebecca moved away from the piano and made her way back towards the center of the stage.

"Now, I would love to introduce everyone up here who is attributing to making this performance as wonderful as it is." Rebecca stalked along the stage as she spoke locking eyes with fans and blowing kisses to a little girl on her fathers back, her small hands waving towards her. 

She turned toward the large riser on the oppsoite side of Ted. 

"Behind me on drums is Laura, truly one of the greatest jazz drummers of her time." Laura played a small section which earned her applause, and thats how rebecca went down the line. Then she introduced Estelle on bass and Max on drums. 

As the crowd died down again she made her way back towards Keeley and Ted. 

"I'm sure most of you recognize this beautiful girl behind me, but for the unfortunate few that don't, this is Keeley Jones." Rebecca made her way to Keeley and stepped up onto the riser next to her. "Not only does she have the loveliest voice," Keeley put a hand to her chest. "But she is the best friend a girl could ever have. Thank you for doing this with me." Rebecca could see the tears that swelled behind her eyes, but Keeley blinked them away faster than they formed. 

"Hi, that's me! You all are so, incredibly, lovely!" Keeley, just as Rebecca, could sweep the attention of the crowd the moment her mouth opened. Rebecca pulled keeley into her side and placed a kiss to the top of her head. Keeley beamed up at her and leant into the hug. 

"Now who here reads?" Rebecca asked, turning to Ted who was turned to face her on the bench. It seemed like half the crowd whooped and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Only half of you? My word, I might just have to start a book club." She chuckled at the roar the crowd gave at the thought. "Well for those of you who do enjoy it, some of you may know him but most of you probably wont." Rebecca made her way to Ted, standing next to him so her back was to her left hip. "But before I tell you who he is, I do need to make it clear just how much he has done. I'm sure for the few of you who know, this man up here is an author, a damn good one too. But he is also beard bands manager, who stepped in to fill the role because of unforseen circumstances. He truly is the backbone of the performance so, without anymore rubish, I would like to introduce Ted Lasso on his performing debut." 

Just as Rebecca expected, there was a difference in applause when it came to him. Maybe they knew she wanted them to do that for him, she knew he deserved it. Bashful was an odd look for Ted, his usual self confidence stripped away with the attention. Suddenly the stage crew set up an electric keyboard behind Ted and brought out Beards bass guitar

“I would also like to bring Beard back out here,” she chuckled at the response “to help transition us into the second part of the show.” A mic was set up for Ted and she watched as he mouthed a quick thanks. “I’ll be honest, this is just as much as a surprise for me as it will be for you.” 

“You’ll love it boss, don’t you worry.” Ted spoke confidently, his medwestern accent sending the audience into hysterics. 

Beard stepped onto the stage with the applause and went right to Ted. He moved the bench away as Ted stood so he was placed between the grand piano and the keyboard. She watched as Ted stilled so Beard could attach an earpiece (Rebecca chose to ignore that he didn’t have one the entire time, meaning he was keeping tempo all on his own) and then lightly patting Ted on the cheek. She could only watch a smile spread across Ted’s face as he swatted Beard away.

“Alright,” Beard started, putting his bass strap on his shoulder and walking towards the center of the stage. “This song is great to clap to so I need you guys to follow me.” Beard raised his hands above is head and clapped, he waited a moment before clapping again setting that rhythm. As everyone picked up on his rhythm he looked to Ted, the pair communicating with their eyes. 

Rebecca felt the same anticipation as she felt when Ted was first stepping on, the complete shock that held her in place and the breathe she held in her lungs. Ted stayed standing as Beard continued to wrangle the crowd into synchronized clapping, but he placed himself to face the grand piano. He hunched over it slightly, the bend in his left leg steady as his right foot hovered over the pedals. 

swiftly, he played one quick chord, one so recognizable it made her laugh. Of course they would play Bennie and the Jets. The rest of the audience buzzed with recognition, Ted hadn’t dare actually playing yet. He waited expertly for the rest of the hums to die before he truly began to play. 

Unlike the elegance he used to perform her songs, he played the song the way he wanted to, looking out into the crowd instead of at the keys. The grand piano filled the room so loudly, his playing powerful and moving. His back was hun he’d compared to his previous stature, the rigidness in which he held himself dissipated completely.

“You can hop in this bass line whenever beardo!” Ted called as Beard purposefully missed his que to begin. 

“Play it again I don’t think they’re ready.” 

“You or the crowd?” Ted obliged anyway, running the end of the opening to the very start flawlessly. 

This time, Beard came in on his bass guitar and the crowd was electric again, Beard stomping in time with Ted to the beat. Rebecca found herself unable to move, the presence of the two of them at the same time was unmatched. Rebecca felt the guilt bubble within her once again, feeling like she had taken the opportunity away from them. Before she could get too far in though, Ted turned as he played and looked right at her. He smiled so brightly every ill thing she thought about herself dissipated under his gaze. 

When Beard began to sing was when Ted rotated himself, his chest facing the crowd while his right hand now hovered over the keyboard and his left stayed steady on the grand. It was incredible, Ted being able to play an elton john song seemingly with one hand, his eyes everywhere but what he was playing. Once the bridge started, Ted put his right hand down and began harmonizing the keyboard with Beard. 

Rebecca was relieved to know she wasn’t the only one with her jaw on the floor at the sight of Ted playing two different things on seperate pianos. Sure it was the same song, but on one hand was the melody and the other played Elton’s tried and true version. Keeley was just as gobsmacked, her mouth hanging open slightly. She could see the rest of Bears band in the wings, Sam, Issac, Colin, and Jamie practically jumping on each other at the sight. Roy stood with his arms crossed, but the upturn of his lips with fluttered shut eyes says he’s enjoying it just as much. 

It made her chuckle, seeing how the people around were having fun at the sight of Ted having fun as well. It just goes to show how effective of a person he was, how infectious he is when he laughs and smiles. A small part of her wished he would play openly like this with her as well, no reservations or hesitation. She wished she could come up to him as she sang, she wished she could allow herself to let go the way he allows himself to. 

“This is gonna get good!” Keeley squealed as Beard and Ted played up to the bridge. 

In an instant, Beard let his bass guitar drop to his waist, holding his hands above his head to lead the crowd in another wave of synchronized clapping. He turned partly to watch Ted, allowing him the moment. 

Rebecca watched as Ted faced himself completely to the grand piano once again, hunched over as his hands raced across the ivory. He made it look simple, his head falling back with his eyes closed, his head shaking slowing from side to side. As the bridge continued to crescendo, his hair flopped over his eyes, the sweat from the stage lights undoing the gel that was once holding his hair in place. 

The crowd was completely entranced, following Beards lead and being taken away by the sound. Ted had a way of connecting the audience to every song he played, every note held his presence as it echoed throughout the concert hall. A presence so loud, yet gentle, like an oncoming train going a meter a minute. 

“What if you, like, just let him accompany you?” Keeley whispered to her. 

“I can’t do that to him.” Keeley pressed her lips together and stared at Rebecca knowingly. 

“Please, you can have any man do anything you want if you would just ask!” Rebecca had to remind herself about where she was, she couldn’t go smacking Keeley in front of all these people, but with Ted and Beard on stage she figured no one would notice. 

“He doesn’t need this.” Rebecca stared once again in his direction, watching him lean into the microphone to back Beard with his vocals. “He doesn’t need the thing he loves most ruined because of me.” 

Keeley was about to respond, but Beard stalked over to them, leaning into keeley’s back as he played. Keeley held up her microphone and clapped along, the song ending in just one more verse. 

“She’s got electric boots,” Beard wiggled his eyebrows slightly, and Rebecca understood coming in just in time.

”A mohair suit,” 

“You know I read it in a magazine!” Beard and Rebecca Harmonized turning to Ted as he finished up the majority of the singing for the song.

“B-B-B-Benny and the Jets!” Ted finished, his voice smooth and baritone in her ears. 

As he did, Rebecca swore Ted found her eyes first. And when they met, he gave her a shit eating grin and then Beard was there to take away the keyboard. 

The rest of the show was a blur for Rebecca. Her new songs were a hit with the crowd and having Ted and Keeley behind her made it all the more better. She found that by the end of it, with Ted and Keeley on either side of her as she took in the applause of the encore, she truly didn’t want it to end. She knew she had another show tomorrow, but how was she to know it would go like this?

She was pulled from her thoughts as Ted’s hand reached behind her and landed on her shoulder, pulling her into him for a small side hug, his eyes staying glued to the crowd. It was then, with Ted’s eyes reflecting the stage lights, his hair now disheveled and sticking to his forehead with sweat, that she truly felt her fear distinguish. He was there today and he will be there tomorrow.

The second they were covered by the wings, Keeley pulled Rebecca into a bone crushing hug. When they pulled away, she was surrounded by Beard Band and Leslie, everyone had a drink in hand.

“You did it, Rebecca!” Keeley handed her a champaign flute. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ted take a bottle of beer from Beard, the two clashing the glass together before practically drinking the whole thing.  

“It felt incredible, I felt incredible.” Rebecca found herself facing Ted, his eyes staring right at her. “I haven’t had this much fun during a performance in such a long time.” She hoped Ted understood what she was trying to say without her having to say it. I had this much fun because of you.