Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Trent could feel the cold creep into his car, fog forming when he breathed out, but he wasn’t ready to leave yet, the fact that he had parked on a sidestreet a small mercy, the early evening darkness providing him a false sense of privacy.

It was the first Friday in March, and Rebecca’s birthday party was currently happening just around the corner, Ted and Trent receiving the invitation for a small get together months ago.

The sit down dinner had - as one could have expected - evolved far beyond that, Rebecca’s private gathering turned into a proper shindig, Trent pretty sure that it’d evolve into an actual house party soon enough.

At least that was what would happen judging by the amount of cars that were parked all around.

Trent loved his Mercedes, his car an ancient thing by choice, but it felt slightly ridiculous to drive a vehicle from 1986, when you were surrounded by Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Aston Martins.

Not that Trent hadn’t felt overall ridiculous lately.

It had been a small miracle that the children had been staying with them for the past week, that the Manchester City debacle had coincided with their custody week, because photos and video of their little family had been everywhere.

Isabella had basked in the attention, as always, but she had also been on the outskirts of the situation, the handful of photos of his daughter all of her wearing her headphones and looking at her iPad.

Henry had been less lucky. 

No tabloid had run photos of his crying face, but there had been several front pages of Ted hanging off of the balcony, the very top of Henry’s red hair visible as he was buried in Ted’s shoulder.

If Trent had been captured like that, he would have faked appendicitis to get out of school, but Henry had held his head high, the only change to routine the fact that Michelle had come by for dinner every day for the past week.

It had been… Draining, but okay, Trent staying on the outskirts of the conversations, Ted and Michelle’s need to circle around Henry a natural parental instinct, Isabella thankfully enough of a chatterhead that Trent had been allowed to be silent without anyone noticing.

Henry had handled everything with remarkable grace, and he had even allowed Trent to act overly protective too, Henry easily accepting that Trent had dropped him off at the school gate, instead of letting him walk by himself, Trent not leaving Henry until he saw that a teacher had spotted him.

Trent had picked him up from school too, Isabella beyond bored in the back of the car, but Henry had whispered to Trent Monday evening that he hadn’t liked how people looked at him on the bus, and so, Trent showed up.

Because Henry needed him to.

Because Henry deserved it.

Henry needed people in his corner, needed to know that he wasn’t alone, and Ted being famous hadn’t been Henry’s choice, Trent willing to do close to anything to make sure Henry didn’t suffer any undue embarrassment or heartache. 

Which was why Trent had offered to fetch Henry in the upcoming week too and drive to Michelle’s house, so he wouldn’t have to walk, Michelle actually giving him a hug when he had told her.

Which had been… Nice….

Ted had practically beamed at the sight, and Trent had managed not to freeze or pull away, Ted giving him the sweetest kiss afterwards, which had almost made it worth it. 

Trent saw another car go by, and he bit his lip, his fashionably late arrival fast approaching rudely delayed.

If only Ted were there with him.

Ted had - of course - volunteered to make the dessert for tonight’s festivities, Trent listening to endless ponderings about mousses and baking times and chocolate tempering every night before bed, the kitchen a regular laboratory filled with Ted’s experiments. 

It was obviously a coping mechanism, Ted talking his ear off, Trent a serving or two away from growing tired of strawberries, but Trent wasn’t going to interfere with this latest obsession if it helped Ted cope.

Trent could endure, he could make space, he could be there and show support.

What he hadn’t expected was that Ted had gone straight to Rebecca’s after work, which was why Trent was still sitting in his car, his fingers growing colder by the second.

He hated the awkward hellos, hated the shuffle to get out of jackets and shoes, hated the endless cycle of introductions and questions and inane smalltalk.

And he didn’t even have Ted to use as a human shield.

It would have been nice to arrive with Ted, would have felt… Good, to go in as a couple, Trent in desperate need of a confidence boost like that.

Which was his own fault.

Trent knew that he always felt demotivated and idiotic when he took up online freelancing, when he spent the day scouring the internet for scraps, when he had to essentially beg for the privilege of selling himself for pennies.

Because the pay was utter shite, the tasks mind-numbingly boring, all of it a disgrace to his degree and his work experience, but the online hours were flexible, which was all that truly mattered.

He just needed enough money to pay his part of the bills for the month, audiowork out of the question with Henry’s school schedule and the upcoming international break. 

Though he would absolutely have preferred that.

Audiowork didn’t feel like he was two seconds away from prostitution, working with Margie and what he still considered his publishing house, something he looked forward to each and every time he had a job.

The hours were set though, and he couldn’t risk being locked in a studio, in case Henry needed him.

Trent wanted to go home, wanted to slip into a pair of freshly laundered pajamas, to pour himself a cup of tea, and sit down with a record or a familiar novel, but Rebecca was his friend, and she expected him to show up.

He reached for the handle before he could change his mind, Trent stepping out of the car, a full body shiver going through him.

It was cold, his nipples perking up, forgoing a jacket not the smartest of choices, but the outfit he had on deserved to be worn as it was intended.

Keeley had dropped it off at his house earlier in the week, his friend obviously lying to his face when she told him that she had originally bought it for Jamie, the blazer Trent’s exact size, Jamie way too muscular to fit in it.

He had tried it on for Keeley’s sake, had expected that he needed to text her an apology for the fact that he wouldn’t be wearing it, but as soon as he had put it on he had felt…

Beautiful.

Which was a rare sensation, the outfit so perfectly him that Trent hadn’t been able to resist its siren song.

Though he would have preferred something that felt more like armor.

Well it was now or never, so Trent took a deep breath before closing the car door behind him.

He’d get inside, and he’d show up for his friend, and he’d have an above decent time, because that was what you were expected to do at birthday parties.

~~~

Ted’s tongue poked out the corner of his mouth, his entire concentration focused on placing the white and golden chocolate orbs across the top of the main cake.

It was his masterpiece, Ted spending the entire afternoon on the - frankly gigantic - champagne mousse and strawberry glaze cake he had made for Rebecca, the cake a massive labor of love.

It had a chopped strawberry filling, the champagne mousse the perfect level of tart to balance out the sweetness, Ted so focused while pouring the glaze that he had managed to make himself a little lightheaded, because he had forgotten to breathe.

Ted had always loved baking, but it had never been as intricate as this, never as time consuming and brainbending, Ted spending all of the past week’s spare moments on conceptualising the cake.

Not that the children had complained about the amount of strawberry everything they had been fed, Ted giving his tiny garbage cans all of the leftovers and testers.

The catering staff has been in and out of the kitchen all afternoon, Rebecca ordering enough hors d’oeuvres to feed a small army, or a house full of guests and footballers.

Ted knew he should get changed and get out there, knew he should socialise and even do a little bit of networking, Rebecca inviting a select handful of business contacts but he was also putting the finishing touches on the best cake he had ever-

“Oh.”

Ted hadn’t noticed anyone come in, his swirling chocolate pattern almost done. He pulled his tongue back into his mouth, not looking away from the cake as he used his tweezers to pick up another chocolate orb.

“Sorry,” Ted didn’t mean to sound dismissive, but he didn’t have the time, “kitchen’s occupado-“ 

“Well,” Ted blinked, the voice so familiar, “in that case-“

It was Trent!

“I’ll make myself scarce-“

Trent had finally arrived! 

Ted looked up, lips parted to apologize for the fact that he hadn’t recognised Trent immediately, but as soon as he laid eyes on his boyfriend, Ted felt his brain flatline. 

Trent looked…

“Holy-“ Ted felt his jaw drop, “fucking shit.”

Trent was beyond gorgeous. The new haircut truly brought out his curls, and he was wearing- It had to be a new jacket. It was a deep black velvet blazer, what looked like golden beads embroidered onto it, a pattern of swirls not unlike Ted’s cake, but the crown jewel was…

Ted didn’t know any other word for it besides blouse, Trent’s shirt in either silk or satin or something just as luxurious, a big bow on the right side of the collar.

He looked like a present, Trent sexy as sin and so-

“Hello Theodore.”

Ted swore his heart skipped a beat, his entire body growing weak, heat and desire and love and admiration all-

He didn’t mean to, but Ted accidentally opened his hand, dropping the tweezers, the whole thing practically happening in slow motion. 

“No!” 

~~~

“Oh my god!” Rebecca covered her mouth with her hand, her fork between her fingers, her eyes widening, flavors exploding on her tongue. “Ted! This is-“

“Seems like you like it Boss.” Ted grinned, pride and excitement radiating from him. 

Rebecca had been embarrassingly impatient to blow out the candle, Ted of course insisting that everyone sang for her as he wheeled the cake into the living room.

It was as embarrassing as it was nice, Ted leading the choir with an enthusiasm that would have been infantile and unattractive on anyone else, but on Ted, it fit perfectly, his child-like wonder an endless source of amusement. 

“I don’t just like it, I love it!” 

Rebecca didn’t normally speak with food in her mouth, but this cake was- She swallowed, a groan leaving her, the taste of champagne and strawberries, of sugar and just-

Pure love.

“Fuck me it’s good.” Rebecca didn’t even care that Ted had pointed at the break in the glaze, an apologetic tone in Ted’s voice when he had told her about it, Rebecca certain she could easily eat the entire thing. 

This was turning out to be her best birthday yet, and so much of it was because of Ted.

“Well well well,” Ted whistled, “I’ll put that down as our best one yet!” He held up his hand, miming a pen and paper to take notes with, Rebecca laughing, her heart ready to burst with how much she adored Ted in all of his silly and imperfect glory.

She had already been given so many gifts, most of them thoughtful, all of them expensive, but her real birthday gift, the one she’d never dare dream of exchanging, was the fact that Ted was home, and that he was here to stay.

~~~

“Coach Lasso! Over here!”

“Such a pleasure to meet you sir!”

“So lovely to see you again!”

“Ted! Ted Lasso? I’m-“

“Oh I’ve missed you so much-“

“I saw you on TV-“

“How does it feel to be-“

“And I said to myself, that Ted Lasso, he’s truly something else.”

“I don’t know if you remember me, I’m-“

~~~

Keeley took a deep drag of her cigarette, the night sky stretching out endlessly above her head. She had snuck out on the upstairs balcony, after slipping away from Roy with a lie about needing to reapply her lipliner.

Not that Roy cared if she had to take a shit, or if she sneaked off to light a cig, but he would have wanted to join her on the balcony, Jamie left at home since Richmond was playing an away game tomorrow, and Keeley just really needed a moment alone.

“Hello.”

“Ah!” Keeley jumped, the cigarette nearly slipping from her fingers as she turned around. “Trent!” 

Keeley hadn’t expected to see Trent stand in the doorway, the light from the upstairs library illuminating him from behind.

“You scared me!”

“My apologies!”

Trent went out onto the balcony, and closed the door behind him. “May I have a drag?”

“Of this?” Keeley held up the cigarette. “Depends if you snitch or not?”

Keeley knew she had kind of sorta almost maybe promised that she wouldn’t smoke, but sometimes, especially at a party, you just needed to light up a fag.

“Would I ask if I was?” Trent smiled, a real, genuine smile, his crows feet crinkling, Keeley reminded of how pretty Trent was when he felt comfortable. 

“Ha,” Keeley grinned, “Good point.”

She handed Trent the cigarette, a little thrill running up her spine as he took an expert drag, the fluidity of his moves confirming to Keeley that Trent did indeed have a dark past as a fellow smoker.

Trent breathed out, the smoke leaving his lungs, his hand going over the edge of the balcony to flick the stub.

“Is that cherry?”

Keeley laughed, the discontent in Trent’s voice really funny, how prim and proper and prissy he was, one of Keeley’s favorite things about him.

“Yes,” Keeley threw her hair over her shoulder, “it makes me feel sophisticated.”

“Nice.” Trent smiled, the two of them soon sitting down on the twin seats, Keeley lighting a new set of cigarette for both of them, the embers lighting up the dark, the chatter and music from downstairs traveling up from the open garden door.

Trent didn’t say anything, but Keeley liked how she could be quiet with Trent, how they could just exist in the same space. 

Keeley had snug off to take a break because she could feel herself getting too much of a buzz on, embarrassing herself - or even worse - Rebecca in front of all of Rebecca’s fancy friends really not something Keeley wanted to risk, but Trent didn’t seem like he had had more than the quarter glass of champagne she had seen him with while everyone ate cake.

“Are you alright babes?”

“Would you let sleeping dogs lie,” Trent had sat back on the chair, his foot resting on his knee, “if I potentially said yes?”

“Course not.” Keeley bumped their shoulders together. “I bet that pet needs some tender love and care.”

“You,” Trent touched her knee, his palm warm and solid and Keeley leaned into the touch, the fact that she knew it wasn’t sexual making it that much better, “are a good person Keeley Jones.”

“I know.” Keeley smiled, the silence settling over them again. Keeley allowed it, the two of them smoking side by side, but she could feel the curiosity bubbling in her belly. “So?”

“So?”

“You’re not going to share?”

“I shouldn’t have come.”

“Trent-“ Keeley instantly felt bad, the worry that she had pushed Trent too far welling up in her-

“No, not like that, I’m sorry,” Trent looked at her, his little lopsided grin in place, “I mean tonight. Here.” Trent pointed to the ground, clearly meaning downstairs. “It hasn’t been the best day and I don’t feel particularly sociable.”

“Right.” Keeley nodded. She knew exactly how Trent felt, though she knew most people wouldn’t believe it, the Keeley Jones brand a bubbly and sparkling extrovert.

“But Rebecca expected me, and I didn’t want to disappoint her. I value her greatly.”

Keeley smiled, Trent such a quintessential upper class twat sometimes.

“I’m sure she would have understood.”

“She probably would.” Trent took another drag, “she’s perfectly perfect like that.”

“Yeah, she is.” Keeley grinned. It had been ages since she had allowed herself to properly indulge in a Rebecca powered masturbation session, Rebecca the perfect woman in every single way. “Does Ted know?”

Keeley almost cringed, the question slipping from her lips without her permission. She didn’t want to talk about Ted, not when he made her so angry…

At least, he made her angry when she remembered to be angry, Ted incredibly hard to stay mad at because he was just so… Ted. 

Warm and friendly and caring and kind.

And fucking infuriating.

“There’s nothing to know,” Trent flicked his cigarette into the empty champagne glass Keeley had brought with her, “it’s just poor timing.”

“That sounds like a lie.”

“Let’s downgrade to a fib.” Trent smiled before elbowing her gently in the side. “Freelance,” he leaned back once more, “simply happens to be more demotivating than I originally suspected.”

“Aren’t you Trent Crimm?”

“That’s the exact issue.”

Keeley hated that she instantly knew what he meant, that she instinctively understood. 

The Independent had had enough respect for Trent that they hadn’t publicly shared why they had parted ways with one of their star reporters, but the grapevine never rested and everyone who was almost anyone knew that Trent had gone full scorned earth, and revealed a source.

Keeley knew that it had been an act of love, that Trent had done it with open eyes and an open mind, but that didn’t diminish the size of his sacrifice, Trent still paying the price.

“Trent,” Keeley reached out to take his hand, “if you need work-“

Barbara would throw a bit of a fit about it, but she’d just have to deal, Keeley sure she’d be able to find space for Trent at KBPR.

“Thank you Keeley,” Trent squeezed her hand before letting go, “but I care too much about our friendship to risk being a suboptimal employee.”

“With you spitting words like suboptimal,” Keeley smiled, “I don’t see that becoming a real-”

Keeley heard the sound of a car pull into the driveway, her entire attention torn away as she knew who had finally, finally, FINALLY arrived at the party.

“Sassy!!”

~~~

“Right. Right right right. Exactly.” Ted nodded, the conversation he was currently a part of not exactly boring, but it was certainly not enough to hold his attention.

The cake had long since been eaten, everyone more than happy to praise him for his handicraft, though Ted had only really made it for Rebecca, Matthjis eating three pieces before Rebecca stopped him.

It felt like forever since Ted had last seen Trent, Trent so patient in the kitchen when he had helped Ted correct his mistake, Trent doing everything Ted told him to, Ted so focused on saving the cake that he had barely had the opportunity to tell Trent just how good he looked, the tiny bit of handholding they had gotten up to before Trent slithered off not anywhere near enough.

Ted wanted to make out like teenagers, wanted to whisper worship into Trent’s ear, wanted to be disgustingly sappy and make Trent do that adorable thing where he squirmed with embarrassment because Ted had gone all out with the pet names and the praise.

He wanted all of that, but Ted didn’t blame Trent for his quick escape, most people at the party so insistent on talking to him that Ted had started to flag, his social battery almost drained, which literally never happened.

Ted was just about to make up an excuse to extract himself from the conversation, when he heard the thundering sound of someone running down the stairs, heels clacking, a loud yell of “Sassy!” reverberating through the house, Keeley somehow drowning out the music.

“Jones!”

Seemed like Sassy had finally arrived, Ted secretly wondering where she was, since she and Rebecca had fully patched up their unfortunate falling out, the two of them once again thick as thieves.

“Stinky!” Sassy held out both arms, pulling Rebecca in for a proper hug, the two of them jumping as they held each other tight, Ted smiling at the girly joy they exuberated. “Happy birthday you filthy old thing!”

It was obvious that Rebecca was having a fantastic time, the party getting all of her nearest and dearest together, Rebecca practically glowing.

“Oh shush it you!” Rebecca laughed, tapping Sassy’s arm, Keeley hanging off of the other one.

Sassy wore a sun yellow dress, the v cut in the front showing off her breasts, though Ted barely let his eyes linger for more than a second, looking at all feeling somewhat disrespectful, though he was sure Sassy would tell him that she didn’t flaunt her body to get ignored.

Especially with shoes like that.

Ted was absolutely going to try ignoring her though.

Sassy was a very beautiful woman, but she wasn’t his to admire, and she had likely never been that at all.

Not that Ted missed her, Sassy’s sharp edges something he used to enjoy, but now, they just reminded him of how badly it had hurt to get cut by them.

Ted caught sight of Roy on the other side of the room, their gazes meeting, Roy fully rolling his eyes, which made Ted smile.

“Marlboro man!”

“Sassy Smurf!”

~~~

Trent took a deep breath through his nose, before walking through the door to Rebecca’s living rooms. 

He had lingered upstairs for as long as he could, the cigarette smoked all the way down to the very edge of the filter before he had finally decided that he couldn’t drag it out any longer.

He had taken a detour to one of the guest bedrooms, Rebecca rich enough that each of them had a little ensuite, Trent taking one of the unopened toothbrushes from the top right drawer. 

He had brushed his teeth and scrubbed his hands, even going under the nails in an attempt to wash out the scent of cigarette, though he knew Ted would likely smell it right away anyway.

Trent turned the corner, the massive crowd of people still there, Trent ever so careful not to spill the large glass of water he was carrying.

It was his lousy excuse as to why he had been gone for so long, icecubes clacking as he walked.

Trent easily spotted Ted, his boyfriend standing in a corner.

He hadn’t expected Ted to be alone, but he certainly hadn’t thought- It had been close to 30 minutes since she arrived-

It was too late to leave now, since Ted had already seen him, his boyfriend raising his hand in greeting. 

“Trent!” Ted reached out, hooking their arms together. “Hi honey bunch.”

Ted pressed a kiss to Trent’s cheek, the moustache tickling. 

It helped the tiniest bit, Trent’s stomach tight with anxiety and jealousy, but how could he not feel jealous, when Ted had been talking to none other than Sassy.

Sassy, who Ted had had casual sex with, Sassy, who had happily shared how Ted was in bed with Keeley and Rebecca, Sassy, who had called Ted a mess to his face, and who had-

“I’ve been looking for you,” Ted took the glass from his hand, Trent about to say that he had got it for Ted, and that they probably should get going soon since Ted had a match tomorrow, but then, Ted continued talking, “You should come say hello to Sassy!”

Ted turned them around, Trent coming face to face with Flo Collins, Trent not at all guilty of stalking her online when he had found out that she and Ted had left Ola’s together, Trent not at all obsessing about her while writing the Richmond Way, “because I don’t think the two of you have ever-“

Trent hadn’t compared himself to Sassy, hadn’t cataloged all the ways he fell short, hadn’t agonised about how his love for Ted would never bear fruit when Ted had the option of someone like Sassy.

“I’m well aware,” Trent held out a hand, “of who Florence is.”

More aware than he ever wanted Ted to know.

Trent had even heard about the mess comment through Will, though Trent didn’t want to know how he knew, the kitman surprisingly up to date on any and all gossip in and around Richmond. 

“Hello there.” Sassy smiled. She took his hand and shook it, Trent managing to keep the smile on his face, “Friends call me Sass, or Sassy, but Florence is fine-“

“I think,” Trent knew he was treading a line, but he couldn’t keep the cattiness completely out of his voice, “I’ll stick with Florence.”

“Oof!” Sassy grinned. “Kitty got claws!” She made a claw-like gesture with her free hand, “I see why you’re the gay sidekick.”

Trent wasn’t actually offended, but he could feel Ted puff up next to him, could practically feel the way he prepared to slip into his white knight armor.

“Hey now, there’s no need-“

“Congrats to you for daring to take this cowboy for a ride!” Sassy finally released Trent’s hand, using her thumb to point at Ted, “I applaud you. As someone who’s been around horses and taken a turn or five myself, our dear Ted has nothing to be ashamed of! Talk about a weapon of mass destruction."

Trent could only see Ted out the corner of his eye, but he had gone beet red, the tip of his ears getting colored too, Ted clearly deeply embarrassed.

Not with the fun kind of embarrassment Ted sometimes got in bed, but the humiliating kind, Trent’s dislike for Sassy kicking up a notch. 

It broke Trent’s heart, Ted not someone who should ever look embarrassed, no matter how utterly ridiculous he was on the regular.

It was simply wrong, like the sun rising in the west, or people putting butter underneath nutella.

“I’m very lucky.” Trent slid a hand into Ted’s back pocket, his own feelings no longer mattering. “I hear you’re a child psychologist?” Trent had put on his best press room voice, Sassy simply someone he was interviewing, a subject and nothing more. “Is that something you enjoy?”

“It pays the bills.” Sassy smiled, the other woman clearly not aware of how deeply uncomfortable she had made Ted, Sassy happily chatting for a while, Trent keeping his hand in Ted’s pocket, Ted slowly calming down, Trent there to guide him home, to take care of him, to help him whenever he needed him.

“And what do you do Trent?”

“Me?” Trent smirked. He knew he shouldn’t, knew that he had kept it perfectly polite so far, but he couldn’t help it, the urge to poke back too great. “I’m currently unemployed.” 

Chapter Text

“See you all tomorrow!”

Ted waved, his upper body twisted so he could say goodbye even though his feet were carrying him away, Rebecca standing at her door to see them off. 

The party was still going in full swing, everyone laughing and drinking and having fun, Ted spotting Beard doing a handstand as he had made his way towards the front door, but it was way past midnight, and Trent had gently whispered in his ear that it was time to go home.

Ted had managed to hide the full body shiver at the breath of hot air, but he felt like a live wire, electricity crackling through him, his body hyper sensitive to Trent’s presence.

He wasn’t exactly proud of it, but part of Ted’s brain had gone offline when Trent had put that hand in his back pocket.

It had been so filthy, so dirty so… Beyond sexy.

Ted hadn’t even known that he was into claims like that, that a possessive touch could make him melt, Ted unsure if he could recount what Trent and Sassy had talked about, even if you offered him a thousand pounds, which was a shame, but just Trent looked so good tonight.

“We’re parked down here.” Trent had moved his hand from Ted’s pocket to the small of his back, Ted unsure if Trent was aware that he hadn’t stopped touching him since their little talk with Sassy, Trent’s hand constantly on him.

“Come on.”

Ted nodded and followed along, his fingertips tingling, Trent’s voice wrapping around him like a blanket.

A part of him knew that there were so many things he should care about, that he should ask Trent if he had had an okay time, if the kids had done okay with switcheroo day. 

He should even make sure he sat an alarm for tomorrow.

But right now, he just felt floaty and nice, following Trent’s lead, the easiest thing in the entire world.

“Here we are.” Trent had parked on a side street, the houses surrounding them all dark, a lone streetlight the only source of light, all of the houses built with privacy in mind, large trees and hedges and fences all around them.

Trent made a move to pull away from Ted, the key already in the door, but a whine escaped Ted’s throat before he even realised that he had made it, hands reaching out to grab Trent’s forearm, Trent turning towards him, eyes wide.

“I…” Ted swallowed, his throat dry. He hadn’t told Trent how good he looked, how beautiful he was, hadn’t had the chance to-

“Hello there.” Trent smiled, and Ted wanted to melt, wanted to become a puddle, wanted to shrink into a tiny little thing that could get scooped up and placed in Trent’s pocket, Ted more than ready to make a cozy little home in there amongst fountain pens and crumpled paper. 

“H-“ Ted wanted to say hi back, wanted to ask for a kiss, but his words had escaped him, his brain barely working, all of his instincts screaming for Trent to take over, for Trent to-

“Nod if you want a kiss.”

Ted did it before he could even think, his head moving on its own accord. He felt Trent pull him in, a hand settling on his hip, Trent pushing him against the side of the car, and then, they were kissing.

It was perfect and filthy, the cold of the glass against Ted’s back, Trent so hot against his front.

Trent opened his mouth with ease, the two of them practically devouring each other. 

There was nothing gentle about it, but Ted didn’t want gentle.

He wanted Trent.

He wanted the hand in his pocket.

Wanted to be owned.

Wanted to be loved.

Wanted to be claimed.

Ted needed to be claimed.

He reached behind him, fumbling with the door to the back seat, Ted finally managing to get it opened, Trent breaking the kiss to laugh into Ted’s mouth.

“Ted, we can’t-“

“Please-“ Ted didn’t care about the practicality of making out in the back of the car, didn’t care about the fact that the backseat had been utterly claimed by the children.

“Up front,” Trent kissed him again, a sweet press of lips against lips, “you walking disaster.”

Trent used his foot to close the back door, reaching around Ted to open the front, their bodies pressed against each other, Trent reaching past Ted to scootch the passenger seat all the way back.

“Inside.”

Ted did as he was told, his ass barely sat before Trent climbed in on top of him, they didn’t have enough space, didn’t have anywhere near enough space, but Ted didn’t mind when he got to have a lap full of Trent, the silk bow right in front of his face.

Trent shut the door, and reached down to lower the seat, but Ted kissed him before he could truly get them situated, Trent moaning into the kiss.

“You-“ Trent whispered against Ted’s lips, “are insane.”

“About you.”

Trent laughed, and Ted loved him, loved the joy in their bedroom, loved the laughs and the sweetness, loved the way Trent never shied away from his desire, loved how they fit into each other, their pieces made to slide together, Trent truly his other half.

~~~

“Ted?” Trent reached out, a hand stroking across Ted’s forehead. “Ted-“

“Mmh,” Ted grumbled, and burrowed even deeper into his duvet, Ted somehow wrestling Trent’s pillow during the night, Ted currently hugging it tight.

Pillow stealing was something that would usually result in a power struggle, Trent more than happy to resort to physical violence to reclaim his property, but right now, he was just happy that Ted had gotten some actual sleep, anxiety a master at keeping Ted up at night.

“You have to wake up sweetheart.” 

It was a rare thing, but Ted had managed to sleep through his alarm, Trent waking up as soon as Ted’s mobile went off. 

Actually, Ted usually woke up before his alarm, but Trent only had himself to blame for that particular sleep in sesh, since he had edged Ted for forever last night.

It was just so fun to deny Ted his orgasm when Trent was blowing him, making Ted gasp and tremble so very easy, forcing him to back down, to deny Ted his pleasure, to withhold it from him, hot in a way that filled Trent’s body with molten lava.

“Ted,” Trent smiled, “Come on.” 

“No,” Ted nearly whined, and while it hadn’t been Trent’s plan to go with him to Nelson Road right away, since he had some copyediting he needed to get done, it seemed like drastic measures were required.

“If you,” Trent leaned down, their noses almost touching, “get dressed and ready before Beard gets here, I’ll take you both out for croissants."

Trent could practically feel Ted’s ears perk up, could see the way the promise of baked goods finally roused him from slumber.

“Panachoca.”

“What?” Trent raised an eyebrow, at first believing that he had misheard Ted, his face smashed to the pillow. 

“That’s what I want,” Ted pulled back a little, turning his head, brown eyes looking up at Ted, “a panachoca.”

“Ah.” Trent bit his cheek not to laugh, Ted asking for a pain au chocolat in his butchered french. “Well that can certainly be arranged too.”

~~~

Ted zipped up his Richmond puffer before taking a deep breath to center himself. 

In a minute, he’d need to go in and stand in front of his boys, needed to make them believe that they had a fighting chance today, that the fact that they got the shit kicked out of them last week didn’t matter.

They’d rise from the ashes, put their eyes on the horizon, and move forward as a team, as a band of brothers.

Because this was sports, and yesterday didn’t matter, not as long as you continued to do your best, and give it your all.

~~~

“Coach Lasso, over here! Yes, thank you! Thank you! You’re just the man we wanted to see. Congratulations on today’s victory. I’m sure it felt great to show the fans that Richmond have still got it! Do you and the squad feel back in proper form, or should we consider it more as a stroke of luck that you managed to win today after last week's embarrassing defeat?”

~~~

Ted never ever ever wanted to move ever again.

He had toed his shoes off and made a beeline towards the couch, Ted for once not caring about potentially damaging his sneakers.

The week had felt eternal, but he was finally FINALLY home, the promise of a Sunday without plans singing its seductive siren song, Trent the only person Ted had any obligations towards for the next 24 hours, which was such a relief that Ted had nearly weeped.

He was just, so, goddamned tired.

Ted had never expected that his choice to run to Henry to offer him comfort could blow up, would blow up, this spectacularly.

During the past week, the press had once again chosen to focus on Ted's private life, instead of keeping their eyes on the pitch and staying in their lane.

Ted hoped that this latest win would remind everyone that AFC Richmond was the story worth covering, but Ted didn’t have too much faith in it.

It had, however, been nice to spend so much time with Michelle, to have actual downtime together, to fall back into the rhythm of their friendship, Ted forever grateful for the fact that it looked like they were slowly becoming one of those divorced couples who could honestly say that they got along as friends.

“Ted?” Ted could hear Trent calling out to him from the kitchen, “Are you still awake?”

“Still here!” Ted threw up a thumbs up, though he knew Trent couldn’t see it. “Sandman hasn’t got me yet!” 

Ted did, technically, feel bad about the fact that he had left the task of plating their dinner to Trent, but it also felt really nice to be taken care of, and Indian just tasted better when Trent had taken it out of the container for him.

“Good to know.” Ted twisted his head, to look over at Trent, who had entered the livingroom, a tray in his hands, Ted already smelling his butter chicken and garlic naan.

“Have I told you,” Ted forced himself to sit up straight, “that I love you today?”

“I heard it once or twice.” Trent smiled, putting the tray down, Trent putting Ted’s plate, his mango lassi and his glass of water down in front of him. “Any requests for the TV?”

“Can we watch Escape to the Chateau?"

“Only if you let me complain about it.” Trent smirked before taking his own seat on the other side of the couch, Trent as always picking palak paneer.

They ate in relative silence, Ted enjoying the fact that he didn’t have to do anything, didn’t have to be anything, that he could just veg out, without his anxious brain worrying about whether or not Trent would get sick of him, since Ted knew that Trent still loved him if he didn’t perform for him.

It had just turned spring at Chateau de la Motte-Husson, when Trent started cleaning their plates, Ted now as thick as a tick, his belly filled with delicious food, his eyes droopy, Ted yawning as he watched his show.

He was certain he would have fallen asleep, a little pre bedtime nap exactly what he needed, if Trent hadn’t returned with a cup of tea for himself and some cocoa for Ted, which was perfectly normal and his laptop, which was very not normal.

Trent never used his laptop on the couch, Ted at first determined to ignore it, to bask in his lazy state, the clicks of the keyboard nice and soothing but curiosity got the best of him, and he couldn’t help but twist around, so he could look at Trent.

“Watcha doing?” Ted tried to keep his voice somewhat level, to not give away exactly how interested he was, his tiny tail almost wagging.

“Me? I’m reading what has turned out to be,” Trent didn’t look at Ted, his finger hitting the space button twice, "appallingly bad erotica. Why?”

“Erotica?” Ted couldn’t have heard that right. He sat up, his curiosity turning to confusion.

“Unfortunately, yes. I mean, listen to this,” Trent cleared his throat, putting on the deepest and most smoldering voice he could, “he penetrated her secret woman cave, her precious flower parting to make way for his mighty love sword”?”

Ted swallowed, Trent clearly reading it like that to mock the text, but Ted had to admit that Trent was able to make anything sound sexy, though it wasn’t the most elegant metaphors, referring to a man’s private parts as a love sword beyond corny.

Not that that was the important-

“I don’t understand,” Trent sighed, “why anyone would ever think this would be fit to publish.”

“Why are you reading it then?”

“Well it’s certainly not for pleasure.” Trent double tapped again, and wrote something down, his fingers moving at a speed that Ted knew he couldn’t copy even if he tried. 

Trent didn’t say anything else, the conversation clearly over for him, but Ted couldn’t return his attention to the TV, the show no longer interesting at all.

“Is it work?”

The question surprised Ted, since it wasn’t what he had expected to say, but as he watched Trent, a memory from yesterday resurfaced.

He had been so focused on Trent’s hand in his backpocket, that Ted had barely managed to listen, but he was certain that Trent had told Sassy that he was unemployed, when Ted knew that that wasn’t true.

Trent had his audiobooks and his freelance writing and Ted hoped that he was working on a new manuscript too, Ted regularly spotting the same stack of papers, the mint green clip giving it away. 

Ted didn’t know why Trent would have said something untrue, but he had also been thoroughly distracted by Trent fondling him, Ted much more into it than he would ever have expected.

“Of course it’s-“ Trent sounded annoyed, much more annoyed than Ted expected from his innocent question, but before he could react, Trent had cut himself off, his boyfriend taking a breath through his nose. “Know what? You’re right, and I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” Ted raised an eyebrow, everything Trent said or did just heightening his confusion.

“It’s rude for me to be otherwise engaged when we’re watching TV." Trent closed his laptop, and placed it on the table. “I wrongly assumed that you’d be asleep by now, and that I could- ”

“Why are you working on something you clearly hate?”

Trent looked at Ted like he was crazy, though Ted didn’t understand why Trent was acting like that, Trent’s eyes narrowing. 

“I work, Theodore, because I’m a part of a capitalist society, and I must obtain currency in order to exchange it for goods and services, such as Indian food,” Trent gestured towards the table, “and Channel 4.”

Ted didn’t think they were fighting, but that sentence had been so convoluted, so unnecessarily highbrow, that Ted was fairly certain that Trent had decided that they were fighting, though Ted didn’t have a clue about what they were currently fighting about.

“I thought you worked because you wanted to?”

“Oh?” Trent’s nostrils flared, and Ted almost worried that he’d start to breathe fire, but it didn’t make any sense that Trent was upset, “And why would I ever willingly do copyediting?”

“I…” Ted didn’t have an answer, in part because he didn’t actually know what copyediting was, but mostly, because he didn’t know how to reply, when this entire conversation didn’t make sense. 

Trent had to be aware that he didn’t have to work if he didn’t want to, Ted making more than enough money to support both of them, Ted assuming-

Ted felt a horrible sensation of dread settle in his stomach, nausea threatening to force his dinner back up.

“Trent-“

“Are you done with your drink?” Trent stood up, reaching for Ted’s empty cup. “It won’t be completely filled, but I figured we should run the washer any-“

“Trent-“ Ted reached out, but Trent evaded him, Trent snatching the cup before straightening back out.

“Let’s not sweet boy.” Trent looked at Ted, a heartbroken look in Trent’s eyes, bile rising in Ted’s throat, “You’ve had a long day already, and all of this is something I’ll figure out, okay?”

Figure out? Figure out? If Trent had something to figure out, that meant that he had a problem, a problem Ted hadn’t helped him with, a problem he had attempted to-

“You shouldn’t concern yourself with-“

Ted didn’t mean to, but he couldn’t help it, vomit escaping him before he could stop it, Ted throwing up all over the rug. 

~~~

Trent really should have taken it as a sign from the universe that he was no longer supposed to have his beloved rug, when he had spilled red wine on it.

The wine had been bad enough, Trent still able to see the stain, but now had the misfortune of knowing exactly what butter chicken vomit looked like, the disgusting orange glop one of the vilest things he had ever seen, right alongside newborn diarrhea.

Not that Trent actually cared about the rug, or the vomit, when Ted was hyperventilating.

“I got you,” Trent held Ted’s face between his hands, Ted fighting as hard as he could to get his breathing under control. “I got you.” 

Trent hated seeing Ted in the throes of panic, hated feeling so utterly helpless when the man he loved was suffering.

“It’s okay Ted, it’s okay, just look at me.” Trent finally got Ted to lock eyes with him, tears streaming down Ted’s cheeks as he gasped, “Look at me. There we go, there we go my darling.”

Trent tried to keep his voice as calm as he could, to let Ted hook onto his breath, to show Ted how he was supposed to calm back down.

“You’re doing so well.” Trent rubbed Ted’s cheeks with his thumb, “You’re okay, I’m here.”

“I’m-“ Ted clearly had to fight to get the words out, his breath still uneven and surfacelevel, his hands shaking as he reached up to grab Trent’s wrists. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” Trent didn’t need to hear it, his feelings not mattering at all right now, Ted his sole focus. “It’s okay-“

“It’s not.” Ted shook his head, “I ruined- ruined your rug.”

“The rug is just a rug sweetheart.” Trent continued to gently pet Ted, “It doesn’t matter.”

Trent genuinely meant it, since there wasn’t a single one of his earthly possessions that he wouldn’t give up if it could help Ted, nothing he owned worth more than Ted’s mental stability.  

“It does matter.” Ted had finally managed a few solid lungfuls of air, his voice no longer trembling. “It matters, you matter.”

“I know that.” Trent smiled, Ted’s insistence so utterly him, Trent beyond relieved that it felt like Ted had almost returned to himself, that he had managed to lead him back to safe harbor. “Do you want some water?”

“Yes please.” Ted nodded, “and my toothbrush.”

“Of course darling, right away.”

~~~

Ted couldn’t believe that he had thrown up, couldn’t believe that he had managed to make himself-

Nope. No no no no.

He couldn’t even think about it, bile threatening to rise once more, Ted refocusing on his toothbrush, on cleaning out his mouth, his right hand clutching at the kitchen sink as he tried to regain his composure, his world still wibbly and wobbly around the edges.

“Ted?” Trent came into the kitchen, Ted kind of surprised to see a selection of t-shirts slung over his arms. “Your Wichita shirt is still in the wash, and I couldn’t find the barbecue one. This Mumford and Sons one was in the drawer, but I’ve never seen you wear it, so I grabbed a couple of plain ones, just in case- Ted? Ted? Darling, what’s wrong?”

Ted hadn’t meant to start crying again, but it was so overwhelming to be this loved, Trent the best damned thing that had ever happened to Ted.

~~~

“I swear to God-“ Trent walked backwards out of the kitchen door, “If I get anything on me-“

“I know baby girl,” Ted sounded so genuinely apologetic that Trent’s annoyance immediately fizzled out, a heavy sigh leaving him instead.

They had worked together to move all of the furniture, Ted getting on his knees to roll up the rug, Trent more than ready to just call it quits and take it directly to the dumpster, but Ted had insisted that they should at least attempt to hose it down.

“There we go-“ They lowered the rug down onto the grass, the moon high above their heads, a chill running through Trent. He was wearing a sweater, but it was still cold outside.

“Let me-“

“You-“ Trent pointed to Ted, “are the one who threw up, so sit down.”

“I barely threw-“

“Now.”

“Alright alright.” Ted held his hands up in front of him, though he didn’t sit down, Ted using his foot to unroll the rug. 

They had both slipped into their garden shoes, Trent about to tell Ted that what he was doing was disgusting, but if Ted wanted to risk getting vomit on his shoes, Trent wasn’t going to stop him.

“Wait here.” Trent made his way to the shed, unhooking the door and making his way inside. Before Ted moved in, the shed had barely been more than a glorified storage cupboard, everything all jumbled together, but now, it had shelving and hanging hooks, Trent easily locating the garden hose.

He should have stuck with simply grabbing the hose off of the wall, but Trent also reached up above the door, his fingers closing around his pack of garden cigarettes.

Trent hadn’t smoked one of them in months, and he didn’t really want Ted to know that he kind of still had the habit of lighting up once in a while, but tonight, he really needed one.

Though it should be somewhat concerning that this was the second day in a row that he was willing to indulge in nicotine, beating the habit of smoking an utter bitch each and every time.

Trent came back out, Ted of course not following his command at all, the rug laid out. 

He quickly hooked up the hose, Ted taking it from him before Trent could protest. He’d kick up more of a fuss, if all of this wasn’t such a damned mess, the vomit the least of his issues.

Trent walked over to the patio, and sat down on the edge of it, wood underneath his ass, wet grass soaking his feet.

He lit up, the lighter working on his third try, Trent watching as Ted put a finger on the tip of the hose to wash down the rug.

They didn’t talk, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, Trent trying to find a way to apologize for what had happened.

It hadn’t been his intention to trigger Ted like that, to say something that would stress Ted out enough to force him to have such an explosive bodily reaction.

Not that Trent didn’t understand. The one time Ted had told him not to concern himself, Trent had been in a similar emotional state, the two of them truly a perfect pair of idiots.

He blew the smoke out, watching it disappear into the night, Trent pondering his conundrum, this whole situation a giant fucking mess.

Trent didn’t notice that Ted had finished rinsing, until he heard the water turn off, his boyfriend coming over to sit next to him.

“We should-“ Trent knew they should clean up, that he should put the hose away, that he shouldn’t smoke next to Ted, that-

“I’ll do all of that tomorrow.” Ted reached out, a hand grabbing Trent’s knee. “I love you.”

“Ah,” Trent didn’t even know how much he needed to hear that, the night illuminated by the moon and his cigarette, the light from inside casting a warm orange glow into the garden, “I love you too.”

“Good.” Ted squeezed Trent’s knee, and Trent allowed himself to carefully put his head on Ted’s shoulder, the two of them sitting together, Trent smoking his cigarette.

They didn’t talk, but they didn’t have to, not yet, not now, not here, Trent accepting the peace offering for what it was, neither of them interested in getting into a fight, though Trent knew that they’d have to discuss this eventually.

For now, they just sat together, which felt like more than enough.

Chapter Text

Ted opened the oven, the scent of chocolate greeting him as he grabbed the tray of blondies that had finished baking, Ted just about able to fit the hot pan on top of the stove, his regular brownies almost cooled down

It was a little past 3 am, and Ted knew that he was being an idiot, but he couldn’t sleep, or rather, he had been unable to fall asleep.

Trent had dozed off pretty much immediately, his boyfriend understandably exhausted, but even with Trent’s arms around him, Ted tucked in as the little spoon, he had been unable to find any actual rest.

Trent’s arms were usually a place where Ted felt safe, where he could be small and warm and content, but for once they had felt more like a trap.

It had taken some maneuvering to sneak off, but Ted had managed to make his way downstairs, and even into the garden.

Soaking the rug for a second time hadn’t helped with the stain, or with Ted’s guilt, or his anxious energy, so he had figured he’d simply make an extra batch of Rebecca’s biscuits, which had evolved into…

Well…

So far, he had made biscuits and brownies, Ted using the leftover raspberries for both batches, blueberry muffins next on the agenda, the pastry for strawberry tarts resting in the fridge. 

His baking adventure had gone way too far already, but when he was mixing ingredients and stirring it all together, his thoughts left him alone, Ted able to stomach being in his head when he was kneading a dough, the first batch of bread almost done rising.

It wasn’t the greatest coping mechanism, but he couldn’t…

Ted tried not to linger on the expression on Trent’s face, on the way Trent had…

Fuck.

Ted grabbed his jar of peanut butter, his recipe book already laid out on the kitchen counter, a round of peanut butter cookies perhaps the thing that’d finally silence the noises in his head.

~~~

Trent made his way down the stairs, tying the belt on his silk robe as he walked towards the kitchen.

He had woken up alone, which wasn’t new, but Ted’s side of the bed had been completely cold, Trent vaguely recalling that he had felt Ted worm away during the night.

He could smell something sweet, and also the coffee machine, so Trent had kind of expected Ted to have made one of his elaborate breakfast spreads, Ted often using his hands when he needed a break from his head, but nothing could have prepared Trent for the actual sight of their kitchen.

“Holy hell.”

Every surface seemed to be covered by a variety of baked goods, Trent easily spotting three loaves of bread, a small mountain of what appeared to be peanut butter biscuits, two trays of brownies, four cooling racks with pancakes, and an array of muffins.

“What in the…” Trent looked around, Ted standing by a teeny tiny bit of leftover counter space, his boyfriend wearing an apron on top of his sweats and t-shirt, Ted stirring a huge bowl of… Something. “Did we become a bakery overnight?”

Trent wouldn’t have been able to imagine this quantity of midnight baking in his wildest dreams, Ted’s behavior downright concerning, the oven no doubt working overtime to get everything done, Trent actually kind of amazed at the math it must have taken to bake so many different things. 

“I couldn’t sleep.” Ted kept stirring the bowl, Trent fairly certain that he was making a giant batch of rocky road. 

“I can see that.” Trent stepped properly into the kitchen, his arms folded in front of him. “Did you get any sleep at all?”

“An hour or two.” Ted added another handful of marshmallows to the bowl, Trent noticing that he seemed to have emptied every bag they had had on the hot chocolate shelf.

“Alright…” 

Trent didn’t know what to do, Ted’s behavior completely out of the norm, or, that was a lie.

Sometimes Ted needed to process his emotions by using his hands, cooking or cleaning or baking a way for him to regulate his feelings, to allow space for them to develop, to pass, to deliver their message.

It wasn’t usually this… Intense, though.

“Any particular reason for the sudden career change?” 

Trent had meant it as a lighthearted poke, a gentle reminder that Ted could share with him if he wanted to, that Trent could see that Ted was obviously not okay, his shoulders hunched up by his ears, the giant jar of homemade granola telling a clear story of a serious stressbaking session. 

“Just doing some thinking.”

“Aha…” Trent leaned against the kitchen island, Ted’s back still to him, “Well that’s… Nice.” 

He gave Ted a beat to reply, but nothing came, Ted just mixing the rocky road, worry gnawing at Trent’s stomach. 

If he was Ted, he would have wanted space, Trent sure he’d be beyond humiliated if his partner had seen him spew his guts, but Ted was different from him.

Very different, actually.

“Darling?” 

Trent moved around the kitchen island, nearing Ted the same way he would a wounded animal. 

“You don’t-“

“It’s okay.” Trent reached out, gently, oh so gently, his arms going around Ted’s middle.

“Please-“ It was barely more than a whisper, Ted’s voice endlessly small, Trent tightening his grip.

“I’m here.” He pulled Ted in, molding himself to his back before hooking his chin on his shoulder, Trent pressing his cheek against Ted’s. “I’m here sweetheart. I’ve got you.”

Ted didn’t start crying again, but he did finally put down the spoon, Trent holding him and whispering soothing nonsense in his ear, Trent there to protect him and help him, to love him no matter what, Ted kept safe in Trent’s embrace.

~~~

Ted felt like he was floating.

He was lying on his stomach, Trent’s legs bracketing him, Ted able to hear Trent’s heart beat it’s steady rhythm since he was lying on top of him, Ted’s ear pressed to Trent’s chest, silk underneath his cheek.

It was exactly what Ted needed, calm washing over him, Trent slowly stroking his hair, Ted humming whenever nails scratched his skull.

They hadn’t done this for months and months and months, and Ted couldn’t remember why they had ever stopped, lying like this doing more to manage his emotions than an entire night of baking.

It had been idiotic to think that he could bake his anxiety away, that he could make his guilt disappear if he just used enough sugar, but Ted didn’t want to think about the mess in the kitchen. 

He just wanted to stay right here forever, the rhythmic beat of Trent’s heart the only thing he wanted to focus on, listening to Trent breathe in and out, the sensation of moving up and down so soothing.

Ted didn’t even register his eyes falling shut, his conscience floating off to dream land before he could stop it, Ted’s mouth slightly opened as he started to snore.

When he came back to, it was to the sound of a clacking keyboard, Ted lying on his side, a pillow under his head, the duvet put over him.

Ted blinked, his eyes slowly focusing. 

Trent was sitting against the headboard, his laptop resting on a pillow, his glasses on his nose, his hair up in a half bun. 

He was obviously working, Ted hoping that it wasn’t on the erotic novel, though it kind of had to be, Trent obviously disgusted by whatever he was doing, his nose scrunched up.

“Hey.”

“Ted-“ Trent immediately focused on him, Ted pretty sure this was what prey animals felt when a hawk spotted them. He closed his laptop before Ted could say anything, “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” 

“I didn’t mean to, did I wake you? You’ve barely slept. I just didn’t want you to wake up alone, I-“

“Hey,” Ted reached out, settling a hand on Trent’s thigh. “It’s okay. Sorry I went a little cuckoo there.”

Now that Ted didn’t feel as manic anymore, he couldn’t believe that he had spent the entire night baking.

“Kinda funny what a lack of sleep and some bad conscience can do to a man.”

“Ted-“ Trent said his name with so much empathy that Ted felt a whole new wave of guilt wash over him, but Ted refused to let himself drown in it again.

He had already made enough of a mess of everything, Trent deserving of a partner who took responsibility for themselves and their mistakes.

“Do you want some water?”

Ted wanted to say yes, but getting water would mean that Trent left, and Ted didn’t want that.

“Trent, we have to talk about last night-“

Trent didn’t exactly freeze, but he didn’t seem pleased either, the subject clearly one Trent didn’t want to discuss.

“Is now the best time to focus on me?”

“I think,” Ted pushed up on his elbow, “that now is the perfect time to focus on you.”

“Agree to disagree.” Trent put his laptop on the bedside table. “I don’t want to cause you any distress or concern.”

Ted had not eaten anything since last night, so it was okay that his stomach lurched, that he once again felt the overwhelming urge to vomit, though a bit of bile did rise in his throat.

“Ted?” Trent looked genuinely horrified, his boyfriend already up and off the bed. “What do you need?”

“I’m fine, I just-“ Ted moved off the bed too. “It feels like you’re hiding something from me.”

Ted had expected Trent to disagree, to tell him that he’d never do that, but instead, Trent crossed his arms, Trent changing into slacks and a t-shirt while Ted had slept.

“I may…” Trent pursed his lips, “have decided to not… Directly involve you in certain aspects of my work life.”

“Oh my god.” Ted felt his jaw drop. “You’ve been lying to me.”

“Lie? Me? How dare you!” Trent sounded genuinely outraged, “I have not lied-“

“You just admitted to hiding things from me-“

Ted couldn’t believe that Trent would do something like that, that he’d pull such a dick move, that-

“I have admitted to no such thing!” Trent looked directly at Ted, anger radiating from him. “I have not lied to you Ted, I’ve never not answered a direct question-“

“That’s such a bullshit thing to say!” Ted felt his own anger bubble too, Trent infuriating in his slipperiness, “What are you not telling me?”

“Nothing.” Trent snapped back, the two of them for once going head to head, neither of them backing down, “There’s not-“

“Aha!” Ted pointed at Trent. “There’s not what? You said yesterday that I didn’t have to concern myself-“

“And you don’t-“

“But that means there’s something I shouldn’t concern myself with, which means that you!” Ted wiggled his finger, “Is being a lying liar who lies you Liar McLyingson.”

Trent stared at Ted as if he had grown a second head, and Ted had to admit that McLyingson wasn’t his brightest moment, but he was angry, Trent obviously doing everything he could to avoid something uncomfortable.

“I’m not entertaining this.” 

Trent turned to walk out of the bedroom, but Ted moved too, standing in front of the door to block it.

“Move.” Trent looked at him, his jaw clenched tight.

“No.” Ted would get out of the way if Trent truly pushed, but they had to talk about this, “Not until you tell me-“

“Tell you what, Ted?” Trent spat it out, like the words had personally insulted him, “What do you want me to say? Huh? What part of me do you want to ridicule now? To dissect to satisfy your own curiosity-“

Ted knew that Trent was trying to hit him where it hurt, and it did hurt, Trent weaponising his words which he was damned good at, Trent slicing him apart with the precision of a fencer.

“You never allow me the illusion of dignity, you who preach of mercy and forgiveness,” Ted had never seen Trent this upset before, had never seen sparks fly in the way they currently did, Trent about to combust. 

“Well what about showing some to me? Give me mercy Ted, but no, you’re not interested in that, are you?” Trent snarled, “you with your ever insistent-“

“Tell me the truth Trent.” Ted had no idea where he got the backbone to stand still like this, to be the recipient of all of Trent’s rage, but it didn’t touch him at all, his earlier anxiety completely gone.

“You want the truth?” Trent had moved so close that they were breathing in each other’s air. “Let me tell you my truth then. I’m 46, and I’m a fucking disaster.”

“What-“ That didn’t make sense to Ted, Trent one of the most competent, the most clever, the smartest, the-

“I’ve been essentially unemployed for 18 months Ted, yes I’ve done some audio work, yes I’ve had a writing job here and there, but in the grand scheme of things, I’m a useless piece of jobless shit, I’m yesterday's news, I’m expendable, leftover, without prospects, I’m-”

Trent breathed in through his nose, Ted able to feel the electricity crackle in the room.

“The only thing I’ve ever been somewhat good at,” Trent had lowered his voice, venom dripping from it. “was being a sports reporter, and because I grew a fucking conscience, because I decided to do what was right, I threw it all away and burned every single bridge in the process like the pathetic joke that I am.”

Ted swallowed, listening to Trent talk about himself like this absolutely surreal, words pouring out of Trent like he couldn’t stop them, Trent usually so in control that Ted almost felt bad witnessing Trent falling apart.

“I have no career, no talents, no marketable skills, and I can't find a way out of this that won't affect my family, so effectively, I'm a worthless idiot, who can't seem to make things better no matter how hard I try.”

“Trent-” Ted tried to reach out, tried to settle his hands on Trent’s hips, tried to establish the physical bond between them, their bodies always better at comforting each other than their words, Ted so desperate to soothe, to help, but Trent stepped back.

“No. No, you-” Trent put a finger on Ted’s chest. “Asked for this. You wanted to know, you’ve forced me to tell you, so let me tell you. I do freelance for pennies,” Trent pressed his finger into Ted’s chest, “on the pound, because no one wants to hire me for anything I’m even remotely capable of doing without compromising everything I care about.”

Ted wanted to protest, Trent’s words beyond unbelievable, what he was saying still not making any sense, Trent so talented, the things Ted had read from Trent’s hand all good enough to be considered art. 

“I have no one to blame, no one but myself to hold responsible for the parade of shit decisions that have led me here, but do you want to hear the worst bit?”

Trent laughed, and Ted felt chills run down his spine.

“I’d do all of it again, because the only thing I’m not completely failing at, is having time. Time for you, time for Isabella, time for Henry, time to attempt to justify how you have deluded yourself into thinking that I’m someone who’s worthy of your love and affection.”

Ted felt emotions well up in him, Trent sounding so unsure, so broken, Trent barely holding it together.

“And, now, now you know, so congratulations, Ted Lasso. I hope,” Trent pulled back, Ted breathless, the link between them severed, Trent no longer touching him, his chest hurting a little where he had pressed into it. “It was worth it.”

Trent pushed past Ted, Ted listening as Trent thundered down the stairs, the front door thankfully not opening and slamming shut, Ted alone in their bedroom.

~~~

Trent had to be the biggest idiot on earth, no, actually, scratch that.

Trent had to be the biggest idiot in the entire universe.

He was out in the garden, on his knees, scrubbing away on the rug with a dish sponge and soapy water.

The orange seemed less harsh than yesterday, like someone had given it an extra soak, but Trent wasn’t out here because he genuinely thought he could save the rug.

In all honesty, he just needed to take his frustration out on something, and the rug had been the obvious choice.

It felt great to be as rough as he wanted. In a perfect world, Trent would be able to save the rug, but the vomit was the straw that broke the camel's back.

So to speak.

Trent should probably just give up, especially since he was only wearing a t-shirt, the March air disgustingly cold, but he couldn’t face going back inside, couldn’t risk having to…

Anything… With Ted right now…

A breeze blew by, and Trent shivered, not wearing a jacket, such a stupid move.

Not that he wasn’t a certified moron anyway.

Trent couldn’t believe that he had exploded in Ted’s face, that he had acted like such a dick, that he had practically yelled at Ted about something as trivial and unimportant as his work situation.

It was beyond petty, Trent’s circumstances nothing compared to what Ted was currently going through.

Ted had been under so much pressure lately, and Trent shouldn’t have added to that load, Ted’s year already impossibly hard, returning to coach in the Premier League enough to-

No. 

Trent had already fucked up, so he should just be honest with himself.

Coaching for Richmond was hard, Ted’s job a high risk, high reward situation, but Trent knew that Ted wouldn’t be this stressed if he hadn’t returned to England at all.

Being in England was taking its obvious toll on Ted, and Trent was such a selfish, egotistical piece of shit that he still wanted Ted by his side, Trent delusional enough to think that their relationship provided a net positive to Ted’s life.

It was horrible, but Trent was desperate to keep Ted, even if Ted deserved so much more than what Trent was capable of providing-

The kitchen door opened, and Trent was pulled from his thoughts as Ted came out on the patio.

Trent didn’t want to see him, but he was at least wearing a jacket, Ted getting sick the last thing Trent wanted.

Ted didn’t say anything, but he did sit down on the edge of the patio, Trent unable to believe that it had been less than 12 hours since he had rested his head on Ted’s shoulder, since they had felt like a team, Trent ruining everything with his stupid outburst.

He wanted to tell Ted to leave him alone, being out in the garden like this obviously not something Trent was just doing for fun, but he refused to speak first, refused to give in to Ted’s eternal insistence that everything was easier if you just talked about it.

Ted should already consider himself lucky that Trent hadn’t done what he really wanted to do, which was run as far away as he could, as fast as his legs could carry him, but Trent couldn’t do that to Ted.

It’d be too cruel to physically abandon him, when Trent had already assaulted him verbally, the fact that Ted hadn’t already broken up with him a miracle in its own right, though it felt likely that Ted hadn’t broken up yet because he was just a genuinely good person, while Trent was clearly a mentally ill psychopath in need of a fulltime carer-

“Fuck.” Trent cursed, as he had gotten too careless, the threat of the bit he had been working on unraveling itself from the base, more than two decades of use too much for the rug to handle, the thing coming apart between his hands, the fibers finally giving up.

It was so stupid that this was what pushed him over the edge, the rug just a thing, an unimportant physical possession, Trent so annoyed with himself, so angry at how childish, how emotional he was-

“Can’t you just leave?” 

Trent hadn’t meant to snap, but it was humiliating that Ted was just sitting there, that he was watching while tears gathered in Trent’s eyes.

It felt like he was back at Eton, though he knew that Ted would never resort to physical violence, Ted so far from the boys he had spent his youth with-

“You’d stay if I was the one scrubbing.”

Trent lifted his head, Ted still sitting on the patio, the absolute jerk-

No. No, that wasn’t fair.

Ted wasn’t a jerk. He was just trying to help.

Even if his help crossed all of Trent’s boundaries.

“I’m not you.” Trent did everything he could to keep his temper in check, to keep his tone neutral, to not burst into tears or start yelling, “and I’d like to be alone.”

“I don’t want that.”

Trent almost pointed out that everything was already all about what Ted did or didn’t want, but he held his tongue, Trent’s words already doing more than enough damage for today.

He hadn’t even had breakfast, but Trent Crimm, walking disaster, didn’t need morning coffee or breakfast before destroying his relationship.

If Ted wanted to break up, he’d have to be the one who did it though, Trent too much of a lovesick fool to ever even consider that option.

It’d be beyond painful to separate the children, to know that Trent would never truly see Henry again, the knowledge that they had already attended their last Richmond match nearly too much to bear.

Trent would have to endure it though, the club and everyone involved with it obviously belonging to Ted.

He’d miss Keeley, and Rebecca, and Colin and Beard and Will and Alfie and Sam and Moe and even Roy, all of the players treating him like he could be a part of something, like it had mattered that he was there.

Which he had really appreciated.

Maybe, since Ted did tend to have a stupidly big heart, he’d allow Henry and Isabella to continue seeing each other though, at least sometimes, and Lilian could probably get talked into bringing Isabella, in case Ted never wanted to lay eyes on Trent ever again-

“Trent?” 

Trent didn’t reply, staying silent the one thing he felt like he could somewhat control, everything else a huge mess that was out of his hands.

"How long have you been feeling like this?"

"Feeling like what?” Trent knew he shouldn’t engage, knew that it was a fool's errand, but he couldn’t ignore a direct question, “Useless?"

"If that's the first thing that comes to mind." Ted had his hands on his knees, his face giving nothing away, which was deeply unfair since Ted was usually an open book. “How long-“

"My entire life,” Trent hadn’t meant to be that honest, hadn’t meant to let his insignificant childhood issues become a part of this conversation, Ted truly dragging it out, when he should just get it over with and tell Trent that he was calling it quits on their relationship. 

"That's a long time."

Ted sounded so empathetic, Trent slapped in the face with how much Ted just… Cared.

How he seemed to embody an endless capability for love, Ted such a good person who showed so much compassion to those that deserved it the least, Trent such an idiot for the way he had destroyed their relationship-

"Do I ever make you feel useless?"

“What?” Trent scoffed. “Don’t be daft, of course you don’t you ridiculous-“ Trent cut himself off, the privilege of calling Ted ridiculous no longer his. “I’m sorry. The short answer is no.”

“And the long answer?”

“Also no.” It was the truth, Trent so beyond grateful that it was the truth.

He had felt insignificant and unimportant in Ted’s company, but he had also felt so loved and adored and just… Seen.

Ted looked at him, and he cared. 

He cared about Trent, even now, when it was all over and Trent owed it to Ted to make it as painless as possible, their love deserving of a proper goodbye. 

“Ted, I-,” Trent put the sponge down. “You don't make me feel useless.”

Trent saw the moment it sunk in, Ted’s shoulders lowering, Trent so grateful that Ted believed him.

“Don’t ever think that. It’s just something I am.”

Trent saw Ted take a sharp breath in, which didn’t make sense.

“No. No, It’s not- This isn't- It's not a matter of fault, or something to fix, it's just- It's a fact-"

"It's not a fact,” Ted’s voice had an edge to it, “that you're useless."

"Agree to disagree once more." Trent hadn’t experienced a whole lot of breakups, but this wasn’t exactly going to plan, Ted truly avoiding the obvious answer to Trent’s inexcusable freakout.

"Trent."

"God I wish you were English sometimes.” Trent groaned, his earlier vow of attempting to make the breakup painless for Ted incredibly hard to stick to. “It's so American of you to force me to discuss this. Any self-respecting Brit would have already cut me loose and left me to suffer the indignity in private-”

"Trent."

Trent could feel the anger bubbling in his body, could feel the rage right there, 

"Are you going to get it over with and actually break up with me?” Trent hated himself, hated every word that came out of his mouth.

He didn’t want to break up, he didn’t, he really really really-

“I don’t want to break up with you.”

“What?” Trent couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Well that’s stupid.”

Ted obviously had to have hit his head on his way downstairs, a conclusion the only logical-

“Is it?”

“Yes. Ted.” Trent couldn’t believe that he was arguing the case of why Ted had to leave him, but it was for Ted’s own best, “I’m obviously a fucking mess, and you deserve-“

“Trent,” Ted sounded almost amused, which was infuriating, “you’re literally sitting on top of my vomit.”

“So?” Trent wouldn’t like it, but there was nothing he wouldn’t do for Ted, including holding his head above the toilet or catch his sick with his-

Trent was getting ahead of himself.

“We wouldn’t be in this situation if I had just held my tongue.”

“Come here.” Trent narrowed his eyes, but Ted just smiled. “Please?”

Trent stood up, slowly, feeling too much like a dog, but he still did as he was told. He stopped in front of Ted, Trent truly noticing how wet and cold he was, his body shivering. 

“Can I,” Ted titled his head upwards, “have a kiss?”

“What?” Trent looked down at Ted. “Why would you want one?”

“Because you’re my boyfriend?” Trent smiled as he reached out to take Trent’s hands, “And I love you?”

“Seriously?” Trent couldn’t believe that Ted could just say that, that Ted wanted to continue dating after Trent had blown up like that, that he could look at Trent’s mess, and still choose to love him.

“Please?” Ted tugged at Trent’s hands, and Trent bent down, their lips meeting in a kiss, Ted sighing happily into the kiss, Trent allowing himself to hope that maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t the end after all.

Chapter Text

“And close your eyes.” Ted placed his hands on Trent’s forehead, shielding his eyes from the warm water as Ted used the showerhead to rinse Trent’s hair, the scent of honey thick in the air, the bathroom filled with steam.

There was barely enough space for two adults in the shower, but Ted liked the way they were pressed together, liked being skin on skin, Trent leaning back against Ted, Ted allowed to take his weight.

It had been Ted’s idea for Trent to get under the spray, Ted insisting that some hot water would do him good after he had felt how cold Trent was because of his self-imposed outdoor exile, Trent’s lips practically blue.

Ted hadn’t actually been invited to get in, but he had stripped down too, Trent’s teeth clattering by the time the water ran warm.

It was amazing to be physically connected like this, Ted not expecting Trent to actually allow him to wash his hair when he had asked. He had gotten the yes though, Ted fist pumping before he had managed to stop himself, Trent rolling his eyes and smiling at him.

“There we go.”

It had been stupid of Trent to go outside without a jacket, but Ted didn’t have a whole lot of wiggle room when it came to pointing at other people's mistakes, the kitchen filled with the evidence of his nighttime breakdown.

Though Trent’s own breakdown had been a pretty spectacular thing to witness too.

At least, all of this insanity meant that they fit together, that they belonged in the same category of crazy, Ted almost sort of relieved that Trent had freaked out like he had.

That he had moments where he didn’t know what to do either, that he had things he struggled with, Trent usually the very picture of stoicism.

Not that it wasn’t Ted’s own fault that he hadn’t looked underneath the surface, that he had forgotten to be as attentive as he should.

It felt horrible to know that Trent believed himself to be useless, guilt threatening to drown Ted, but he couldn’t afford to indulge in that emotion, not when Trent seemed to be convinced that he wasn’t one of the best things that ever happened to Ted.

They hadn’t talked about it, and they wouldn’t talk about it just yet, but this was the second time that Trent had assumed that Ted would break up with him, Trent apparently just as marked by some sort of abandonment issue as Ted was.

Though Trent’s issues seemed to have taken root in his self-worth, while Ted's issues had manifested in a constant worry that those around him were struggling.

Which Trent had turned out to very much do…

So that was great…

The dramatic irony of it all wasn’t lost on Ted, Ted once again cursing his past self for the way he had forgotten to make Trent a priority. 

Ted would show Trent that he was important to him though, and he’d make him believe it, Trent one of Ted’s favorite human beings in the whole wide world, because if there was one thing Ted knew how to do, it was coaching, and he’d coach the shit out of Trent and his self esteem.

The water had started to run clear, the last of the shampoo washed out, Ted turning the shower head away and putting it back in place on the wall. 

“Good job baby.”

Ted had just meant it as a bit of praise but Trent turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowed slits, Ted sneaking his arms around Trent’s middle, “I am not a dog Theodore.”

It wasn’t a snarky or snappy response, but it was irritated, Ted kissing Trent’s shoulder in apology, his hand caressing Trent’s hip. 

“Course not sweet cheeks.” Ted mumbled against Trent’s skin, hiding a smile he knew he shouldn’t have on his lips, but he couldn’t help it, Trent such a grumpy grump face, which meant he was returning to his dearly beloved and prickly old self. “You’re my Diamond dog though.”

“If you start barking in my ear, I’ll bite you.”

“That’s something a dog’d say.” Ted kissed Trent’s shoulder again, Trent huffing though he allowed Ted to snuggle in even closer. “Love you.”

It took a beat, and then another, but Ted felt Trent’s body sag, felt the annoyance leave him, Trent finally allowing Ted in.

“Love you too sweet boy.” 

It was almost whispered, but Trent put a hand on Ted’s forearm, the water washing over them, hope filling Ted from the tip of his toes to the top of his head.

The last 24 hours had been a wild wild ride, but they’d figure it out, this just the first step for them to find their way back to each other. 

A hair wash couldn’t, wouldn’t, fix their problems, but Ted was so grateful for this opportunity to show Trent some tender love and care, Ted ready to give Trent the best scalp massage he’d ever have in his entire life once he had put in Trent’s conditioner. 

~~~

Trent took a sip of coffee. He was sitting in the car, waiting for Ted to finish up, because while Trent would happily entertain a whole lot of Ted’s nonsense, he drew a thick line when it came to smalltalk with their neighbors.

Ted could indulge in as much alleged midwestern friendliness as he desired, but Trent wasn’t going to participate, knowing the last name of everyone on their street as far as Trent was willing to go in the name of being neighborly.

Especially since he had had a complete mental breakdown earlier in the day, Trent’s social battery completely drained unless your first name started with T and ended with Ed.

It was a good thing he could still stand being around Ted though, Trent kind of ashamed of how he had managed to convince himself that Ted was breaking up with him, the fact that Ted hadn’t really addressed it just making the entire thing that much more… Complex… 

“Right, well, bye Mrs. Moore!” Trent had cracked the window so he could listen in, Ted spending a small eternity on Mrs. Moore's doorstep. “I hope you and the fam will love the biscuits! Even though they don’t come with gravy, but you should really try those one day-“

Ted opened the car door, and slipped into the passenger side, Trent quickly rolling the window up as Ted melted into his seat. “Whew!” 

“So?” Trent tried not to grin too openly, but it was hard not to feel a smidge of schardenfreud since Ted had warned Trent before this stop that Mrs. Moore absolutely wanted him carnally. “Did she get you?”

“Just about.” Ted turned to Trent, a twinkle in his eyes as he held up his arm, “I might have bruises from her fingertips.”

“Dirty old girl.” Trent leaned over to place a quick kiss on Ted’s lips, the whole thing hilarious. “On to the next house?” 

It had been Ted’s idea to pack the leftovers up for their neighbors, the freezer and the cupboards at home all stuffed full.

“She had grandsons over, so I actually gave her the lot.”

“Really?” Trent twisted, even though he couldn’t actually look into the boot of the car, Ted the one to ring the doorbell and actually bring the treats into everyone’s house. “Seems like we’re done then.”

“The elves can finally retire.” Ted sighed happily, holding his hands on his stomach, the other man practically glowing from within, Ted obviously recharged from doing his good deed, Trent a little sad that Ted didn’t have the time to volunteer, because he really liked doing things for others. “Are you hungry? 

“Well…” Trent had eaten a blueberry muffin while Ted had wrestled stuff into the freezer, and he had just about finished his coffee, but that also all he had had and it was inching towards lunch, “Sure. Anything in particular you’d like?”

Trent had about 300 quid left in his bank account, but with all of the drama Ted had been through, he was more than willing to get Ted anything from ice cream to kobe beef.

“Know what?” Ted looked over at Trent, “I could eat a plate of fish and chips.”

“Aha?” Trent smiled, already well aware of where Ted was angling to be taken. “Howling for your old hunting ground?”

It was kind of charming how Ted was convinced that Mae made the best fish and chips in England, when Trent knew that that wasn’t the case, the food at Crown and Anchor mediocre at best, but he’d be happy to indulge.

“I haven’t taught you darts yet.”

“You have not.” Trent had never carried too much interest in darts, and since Ted didn’t live on Paved Court anymore, they didn’t visit Crown and Anchor as often, Henry of course first in line to be taught anything by his Dad.

“You wanna? If anyone takes pictures, Mae will gut them.”

“And use them in the fish and chips?” Trent grinned, reaching for the key and turning the car on before Ted could start arguing. 

“We can go.” Trent wasn’t really in the mood for pub food, actually, he didn’t have an appetite at all, though he’d deal with that, “but you’re paying for parking.”

“That’d be my pleasure.”

~~~

“Hello? You’re speaking with Ted Lasso. I wanna apologize about calling on a Sunday, but you picked up and you’re open too, but it just feels wrong to bother a business on the weekend. Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked, and we don’t got a whole lotta time cause my boyfriend just went to the loo- Toilet? Loo? Bathroom. Look at me, sidetracked again. It says on y’alls website that you do rug restorations, which is a fun thing to say. Rug restorations, rug restorations, rug restora- No, this isn’t a prank call? Why do you- Right, right right right. Yeah, no, I’m being all serious over here. I don’t care about cost as long as you can fix it. It got in a bit of a butter chicken and vomvom situation. If I have any pictures? I actually already have my main man on the case, so the rug is on its way- Oh shoot, there he is. Back already! That’s what I get for loving a man with a healthy prostate. Listen, I’ma skedaddle but I meant it when I said that money is no issue, you could use gold thread for the entire thing, and I’d still send you a Christmas present. You just make whatever deal you need with Beard. I’m sure he has my credit card details memorised anyway”

~~~

“You just hold your elbow,” Ted maneuvered Trent’s arm, his chest pressed to Trent’s back, “like so, and then,” Ted reached up, touching Trent’s chin to move him into place, “you look straight ahead.”

“Aha?” Ted could hear the amusement in Trent’s voice, the hustle and the bustle of the pub all around them, but Ted was a man on a mission, and he wasn’t going to get distracted.

Even if Trent smelled really nice, like almonds and honey and bergamot.

Thankfully, they were off to the side, the dart board put up in the corner, the fellas that had been using it happy to let Ted have a turn when he had asked nicely.

And bought them a round of whatever they desired, Mae getting the boots out.

“Darts usually comes down to a twist of the wrist.”

They had already eaten, Ted chatting to everyone that stopped by their table, though it meant that his fries had gotten soggy before he could finish them, Mae whisking them away while keeping his beer topped up, Ted not quite sure what number of pint he was actually on.

He couldn’t help it though, the festive feel of the Crown and Anchor after a Richmond win always going straight to his head.

It felt awesome to have time to connect to the fans, to remember why they put so much effort, Richmond a community club, and it actually meant something to the people of the town, Ted well aware that he was steering a borrowed ship.

He had expected Trent to keep to himself, but his boyfriend had actually injected a line here and there, usually to praise an individual player for something specific they had done on the pitch, Ted mentally noting it all down so he could relay it to the squad, his boys always glowing after a Trent compliment, everyone hoarding the praise like dragons.

Ted had even managed a sneaky phone call to a rug restoration place, an under the table text to Beard setting the whole thing in motion. 
 
“So I hope you’re ready for a proper wrist workout” Ted had put his arm around Trent’s middle, Trent just about ready to take his first shot, Ted about to let go, when a chuckle came from Trent, Ted belatedly realising what he said, a zinger running up his spine.

“Don’t get dirty with me.” Ted mumbled, his mouth right next to Trent’s ear, Ted easily hooking his chin on Trent’s shoulder. “I’m trying to teach you darts.”

“I’m intimately aware of that fact Coach Lasso.” Trent turned his head slightly, “Though I hope that this,” Trent arched his back, pushing back against Ted, Ted only just swallowing a groan, his cock flush with Trent’s ass, Ted suddenly way too aware of how good Trent’s body felt, his treacherous cock daring to thicken even further, a sense of horror welling up in Ted when he realised he was halfhard, “isn’t something that’s usually included in the course.”

It wasn’t fair that Trent had one of the sexiest voices on the planet, the fact that they were in the middle of a crowded pub not enough to deter Ted’s body, especially not when he was already holding Trent so close, when he could feel his heat, could scent his smell, could-

“I didn’t expect this to be so homoerotic-“ Ted bit back a moan, Trent saying erotic really doing it for him, “I mean, if I had been aware darts were this delightfully dirty, I would have insisted on you teaching me a lesson ages ago.”

Ted closed his eyes, and forced his brain to focus on the memory of cleaning Trent’s hair from the shower drain, Ted thoroughly disgusted the last time he had fished those damp clumps out of the drain.

“You think,” Ted whispered, opening his eyes to glance at Trent “you’re so clever, don’t you?”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Trent smirked, and Ted wanted to kiss him, but he couldn’t, not here, and not now, Trent obviously taking great delight in Ted’s struggles.

It was kind of embarrassing, actually, it was a whole lot embarrassing, Ted so very far from being some teenager that didn’t have control of his body, but it was the nice kind of embarrassing, Ted trusting Trent completely not to cross his boundaries or let any of this go too far.

“Maybe I’ve been struck by inspiration because of that horrid novel, and now, I need to wield my own love sword-“

“Nope.” Ted popped the p, Trent laughing, his body shaking with it, Trent teasing Ted it’s own kind of gift, teasing and taunting, bickering and bantering their shared love language, going toe to toe in a battle of wits something Ted would never tire of. “Now focus on the board, and keep your mind out of the gutter.”

~~~
 
Trent opened the fridge, sliding three cartons of milk into their proper place. They had swung by Big Tesco on the way home from Crown and Anchor, Trent trailing behind Ted with the cart while Ted filled it to the brim.

Grocery shopping would never be something Trent would genuinely enjoy, but it was nice to watch Ted indulge, to see him bubble with glee at a new product, to witness him come up with a meal on the spot, Ted finding a neverending source of joy in food, an endless stream of consciousness falling from Ted’s lips as he chatted away to Trent about everything he was doing. 

Trent closed the fridge, the perishables done for now, Ted in charge of putting away the dry goods. He could hear Ted hum away, Ted often making up silly songs about what he was doing if he was in a good mood.

Right now, he was composing a verse about a frog opening a one stop shop that only sold corn on the cob.

It didn’t sound like a very solid business model, but Trent was just glad that Ted felt better, that he had managed to recover from his all nighter and Trent’s unfortunate outburst.

Trent knew that calling it an unfortunate outburst was downplaying it so hard that it was practically lying, but he had to do it, otherwise, he couldn’t stomach thinking about it.

Ted was one of the kindest people in the known universe, and they had had a wonderful day together, but Trent still wanted to peel his skin off whenever he lingered on the fact that he had called himself useless while Ted could hear it.

“Hey Ted.” Trent pushed away from the fridge, dinner still a couple of hours away. If Trent knew Ted at all, he could put on CNN and have Ted doze off within minutes so Trent could finish editing the novel without getting disturbed. 

He could technically also just hole up in his office, but Trent couldn’t stomach the idea of another argument, or any more truths coming to light, getting Ted to take a nap the easiest way to guarantee that he’d have some time to work.

“Yes, angel cake?”

Trent nearly rolled his eyes, Ted’s nicknames extra ridiculous today, Trent certainly not feeling like an angel, though he’d allow it for Ted’s sake.

“I’m making myself a cuppa.” Trent reached for the cupboard, “Do you want-“

“Any pigeon piss?” Ted looked up from where he was pouring flour into the giant jars he kept it in, a smirk on his lips. 

“Oh?” Trent raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware we had upgraded from pigeon sweat?”

“I figured I’d have to take a stand sooner or later.” Ted shook the flour bag, the last of it filling up the jar, Ted closing the lid, “but I’ll have a tall glass of water and a makeout sesh on the couch if you could be so persuaded?”

Trent laughed, Ted taking him by surprise, when he shouldn’t really be surprised, Ted as always completely charming and absolutely insane.

~~~

Ted gasped, Trent’s mouth at his pec, lips closed around the fleshy upper part on his right side, Trent sucking at him, worrying skin between his teeth, Ted a whimpering mess.

His shirt was bunched up under his armpits, Trent holding it up and out of the way while lying on top of Ted, Ted so painfully hard, his chest tight, his nipples begging for attention.

The kisses had been soft and sweet at first, Ted only suggesting to trade kisses on the couch as a way to reconnect, or maybe, if he was being entirely honest, as a way to get a little bit of revenge after Trent had flirted so mercilessly with him while they had played darts.

It didn’t go according to plan though, Ted as always assuming that he’d go in and be in control, that he’d be able to drive Trent up the wall, only to have the tables turn on him as soon as they hit the cushions.

“Trent-“ Ted moaned, hips pushing upwards, but Trent was lying heavy on him, their legs tangled together, Trent clever enough to position his body so Ted couldn’t rut against him, the whole thing the sweetest torture.

“Mmh?” Trent hummed around his mouthful, Ted groaning as he was released. “What was that darling?”

“Please-“ Ted felt hot all over, contained and constrained, his t-shirt blocking his view, but Ted swore he could feel the marks, bruises blooming on his skin. 

It had started off with a bit of light wrestling, Trent trying to get on top, Ted holding him in place, which had earned him a pinch, Ted yelping at the pain, Trent unafraid to fight dirty, Ted going down before he had even registered what was happening. 

They didn’t normally do this, they really, really, really really didn’t normally do this, but Trent had somehow made it his mission to suck a circle of perfect hickeys around Ted’s pec, and it was mindmeltingly hot.

“I can’t-“ Ted couldn’t help it, his hips trusting upwards again, “I need-“

“Oh?” Trent had a teasing tone to his voice, Ted convinced he was smirking. “Do you need something sweet boy?”

Ted didn’t mean to whimper, but whenever Trent called him sweet boy in bed, he felt like he had been struck by lightening, Ted turning him inside out with the attention, Ted desperate to be Trent’s sweet boy, to be his good boy, to be-

“Is it maybe-“ Ted felt Trent release his shirt, Trent’s right hand still on his bicep, pushing him into the couch, fingertips dragging down the center of his chest and over his stomach, Ted squirming, his insides molten hot, “this?”

Trent cupped Ted’s cock, Ted’s hips jumping before he could help himself, a broken moan leaving him.

“Please-“ Ted wanted to be good for Trent, but the zipper hurt, the metal digging into him, his cock fighting to get free, everything held tightly in place by fabric and his belt.

“You want me to open this?” Trent lifted his hand, Ted whimpering, Trent touching the buckle.

“Yes-“ Ted pushed his head against the cushion, arching his back, Trent’s weight keeping him in place, the skin of his pec smarting, “please, please, please please please.”

“No.”

A broken sound left Ted, tears welling up in his eyes.

It was so unfair, so frustrating, and so fucking hot.

He closed his eyes, his breath coming in short shaky bursts, sweat sticking to his skin. 

“There there,” Trent kissed Ted’s cheekbone, “You can cry.”

“Please-“ Ted whimpered again, and he’d feel pathetic, should maybe feel pathetic, but he wasn’t pathetic, not with Trent, never with Trent, because Trent loved him.

“Mmh,” Trent licked at Ted’s tears, Trent pulling back slightly, their noses touching, Trent’s glasses long gone, Ted looking into his eyes. “Still no.”

Ted cried out, the denial so sweet, like nectar, being told no making him squirm in pleasure, Ted gagging for a touch, any touch, for-

“I think-“ Trent was so close that Ted could feel him breathe out, everything overwhelming and hot and- “That I’ll finish-“ Trent grabbed Ted’s left pec, Ted pushing upward so hard that he actually jolted Trent, but he couldn’t-

“Ah!” 

Trent had dug his nails in, Ted crying out, his left side previously untouched, tears flowing, the t-shirt so uncomfortable, everything-

“Behave Theodore.” Trent tightened his grip, nails pinching and prodding and threatening to puncture, Ted mad with desire, “and lie still.”

Ted whimpered, but he tried. He wanted, needed. He pushed his head back, exposing his throat, Trent chuckling, his boyfriend sounding so cool and calm and collected even when Ted knew he had to be burning up too.

“Good job.”

Ted moaned, his lips wet, tears streaming down his cheeks, his cock weeping precome, everything hot and wet and-

“I-“ Trent moved down, settling on Ted’s chest once more, “am going to finish what I started-“

Oh god. Oh god oh god oh god.

“And when I’m done here,” Trent placed a kiss on Ted’s right pec, “and I’ve marked up your tit to my exact liking.”

Ted wasn’t going to survive this.

“I think,” Trent shook his hand, Ted moaning as he jiggled his left pec, his nipple aching, “I’ll give this one the exact same treatment.”

Ted groaned, his body tingling, every little bit of him at Trent’s mercy

And Ted wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chapter Text

Ted pressed the heel of his palm into his chest, touching himself through his sweater and t-shirt, a small groan of relief leaving him as it temporarily eased the soreness of his poor pec. 

It felt so good to finally give himself some relief, Ted forced to sit on his hands while attending his monthly Monday meeting with legal to keep from inappropriately touching himself.  

He was standing in the corner of the coaches’ office, none of the players in since it was Monday, Ted well aware that he’d have to sit through another meeting before he’d get to go to lunch, Mondays his least favorite day of the work week, not because he had to come back to work, but because it was always meeting after meeting after meeting, the list of people who wanted or needed something from him endlessly long.

Ted moved his hand slightly, another sound leaving him. He wasn’t exactly in pain, but he was tender, tender and sore and-

Really well loved.

Trent had made him see the pearly gates yesterday, Ted coming so hard when Trent had finally allowed him to grind against his thigh that he swore he went blind for a second.

It had been something akin to a religious experience, Ted once again reminded of how incredible it was to kneel at the altar of Trent, his boyfriend constantly bringing him to new heights of pleasure.

They had iced his chest afterwards, Trent gnawing on his nipples too, his boyfriend muttering apologies into Ted’s ear, Ted telling him over and over again that it was alright, that it had been insanely hot.

Ted was paying the price for their indulgence now though, but that was also weirdly sexy, Ted actually lingering in front of the mirror when he had gotten dressed before work, the twin circles of hickeys making him feel…

Pretty.

Beautiful, even, carrying Trent’s mark on him enough to make low heat simmer in Ted’s belly, though he shouldn’t because he was at work.

“Yo.” 

Ted looked up, Beard coming into the office, and if it had been anyone else, Ted would have snatched his hand away, would have pretended he had just been in the corner to look at the calendar, but this was Beard, and Ted had figured out long ago that it wasn’t really worth it to attempt to hide anything from him anyway.

“Hey man.” Ted grabbed the back of his chair, pulling it out so he could sit down, twirling to slide under his desk. 

He still had to look at the agenda for the next meeting, Ted opening his computer, though most folks at Nelson Road had started to figure out that giving him printed material was like a shortcut to keep his attention.

“Everything alright Coach?” Beard had sat down too, but he had swung his legs up on the desk, Travis’ part of the office empty, Beard putting his hands behind his head.

“Everything’s fine and dandy Coach.” Ted put in his password, everything indeed fine and dandy, or, mostly fine, and mostly dandy, “Trent and I had a bit of a weekend.”

“Nice.” Beard smirked, and Ted felt the tip of his ears go red. 

He hadn’t referred to sex stuff, but it made sense why Beard would think he’d be thinking like that, when Ted had actually…

“Hey coach,” Ted shouldn’t get into this now, not when he was expected down in accounting, but he couldn’t stop thinking about what Trent had said about basically not working, “what does Jane do for a living?”

The situation around Jane was… Precarious, at best, Beard’s wife deeply jealous of Ted, Ted never really managing to do anything even remotely ‘right’ around Jane.

Not that he truly wanted to do anything Jane considered right and correct, Jane a level of crazy that worried Ted whenever he lingered on it. 

“I haven’t told you about her synchronized dog paddling?”

Ted recalled that Beard had told him something about Jane and swimming earlier in the year, but he had also purposefully not asked any follow up questions.

“Right… Excuse me for saying, but that don’t sound very lucrative.” Ted tapped his fingers on the desk, biting the inside of his cheek as he watched Beard.

“Oh. Yeah. No.” Beard placed his hands behind his head. “It’s losing money like crazy. A chihuahua almost drowned, which isn’t great for business.”

“How does it stay afloat then?”

Ted heard it immediately, Beard shooting him a disappointed and disapproving look. 

“An animal nearly died, Ted.”

“Right. Right. Right right right. My condolences and apologies.”

“I fund it.”

“You fund it?” Ted raised an eyebrow, looking at Beard. Beard didn’t get paid as much as Ted did, which Ted had complained about on several occasions, Beard a central cog in the Richmond team, Ted worth nothing as gaffer without his supports, Beard and Travis the crutches he leaned on to be able to perform.

“Course,” Beard fiddled with a flap on his joggers. “I mean, she’s the love of my life.”

Ted nodded. What Beard said made sense, but it didn’t really apply to his situation, or, Ted used to think that it didn’t really apply to his situation.

“Trent told me…” Ted felt a little like he was betraying Trent’s confidence, Trent clearly under extreme duress when they had discussed this, but Ted desperately needed to talk to someone about it, “Trent told me he doesn’t really work.”

“Obviously.”

Ted must have looked as shocked as he felt, because Beard pulled his legs from the desk, moving his chair so he could look directly at Ted.

“Is that a surprise to you?” Beard narrowed his eyes and folded his hands, his elbows on the desk, a flash of irritation overtaking Ted.

“I think the question,” Ted didn’t mean to be snarky, but Beard was being annoying, “is why it isn’t one to you?

“Huh.” Beard put his chin on his hands, the look in his eyes filling Ted with discomfort.

“Why’re you giving me attitude Willis?” Ted loved Beard, and he’d do nearly anything for him, but sometimes it was horrible to have a friend who knew you like the back of his hand, especially when said friend put you out to dry.

“There’s no attitude here, it’s simply been a good long while since I’ve seen such a massive Ted moment up close and in action.”

“Ah!” Ted didn’t mean to sound so offended, but he couldn’t help it, his jaw dropping “I’m not having a Ted moment.”

Ted moments were when Ted managed to be his most unobservant, when things slipped past him that he really and truly should have noticed, when he managed his most spectacular failures. 

“You kind of are,” Beard wrinkled his nose, “and it’s a doozy.”

Ted for once, had nothing to say, the words stuck in his mouth, his entire world view shifted. 

It had seemed so obvious to him that Trent worked, but maybe, it was because Ted didn’t actually know what Trent did, Ted slowly realizing that he had absolutely no idea how Trent actually made money to pay his part of the bills.

“Oh no…”

~~~

“Uh!” Henry picked up a cassette, the box from the glove compartment in his lap. “Can we listen to this one?”

“Sure.” Trent didn’t even look at him, but Henry could kind of understand it since Trent had his eyes on the traffic, the car slowly moving forward as they made their way to the main road.

“Cool!” Henry pushed the eject button, Trent and Dad clearly going for a drive over the weekend, since Dad’s favorite popped out, Henry careful to put it back in the correct case.

As soon as the bell started ringing, Henry had packed up his things in record time, Daphne laughing at him as he had swung his backpack over his shoulder, but when he had raced to the gates, Trent had been there, waiting for him alongside all of the other parents.

Trent had hugged him so hard Henry’s bones had actually ached a little, Trent never hugging Henry first, but he had done it today, and he had held onto him too, Trent clinging to him, Henry practically glowing while they walked to the car.

He was supposed to get into the back seat, but Henry had figured he’d shoot his shot, Dad always telling him that it was better to try and miss, than to not try at all.

Henry hadn’t dared hope he’d actually be allowed on the front seat, since that was technically Dad’s seat, but here he was, living life, Henry feeling extremely grown up as he had buckled himself in.

“Do you,” Henry opened the case, careful to check which side he had to pop into the player, the A side supposed to go first, unless it wasn’t ready to be played, Henry often overhearing Trent reprimanding Dad for the fact that he had forgotten to rewind, “like Fleetwood Mac?”

“They’re my cassettes.”

“Right.” Henry felt his stomach do a little swoop, Trent kind of dismissing him, which didn’t feel very nice, but then, Henry felt a hand on his arm.

“I’m sorry.” Trent gave him a quick squeeze, his eyes still on the road, his hand going back on the gearshift, the car finally out on the main road, everyone splitting off in different directions. “That was a less than ideal reply.”

Henry giggled, the unpleasant feeling in his stomach evaporating. Henry didn’t think anyone would guess that Trent was awesome at apologies - but maybe you had to be when you tended to be as grumpy as Trent, though Henry didn’t think that Trent was all that grumpy when it came down to it, he just didn’t have a whole lot of patience for nonsense.

Which Henry understood.

Because Henry didn’t have a whole lot of patience for nonsense either.

Which was why he had only invited Daphne and Penelope and Jessica P to his birthday party.

“I like Fleetwood Mac, and that tape you just popped in,” Trent pressed the play button, “is one of the most sold cassettes in UK history.”

“Really?” Henry looked over at Trent as the music started playing, who nodded, a smile on his lips. 

Henry liked how Trent always had a fun fact about stuff that was actually fun, the things Uncle Beard taught him worrisome more often than not. 

“Really.” Trent turned his blinker on, the two of them on their way to Mom’s house, “It was released in 1977-“

“When dinosaurs still walked the earth?” Henry smirked, chuckling on the inside. He knew he was teasing, since Grandma Dottie had had Dad in the 70s, but-

“Almost, you see, it was back when the spinosaurus had only just left the ocean.”

Henry laughed, Trent silly and funny and while Henry would have liked to be brave enough to walk himself home from school, he kinda looked forward to a whole week of having Trent all to himself without Dad or Isabella around. 

~~~

Ted didn’t generally enjoy indulging in a negative mindset, but emails would forever be the bane of his existence, hacking away at the overgrown monster that was his Richmond inbox, one of his least favorite tasks.

He had finally made it down to a manageable number of unread emails, when Ted saw the automatic light in the hallway turn on, Trent coming through the door to Travis office.

“I’m here!” Trent looked a little frazzled, his boyfriend gripping at the glass door that separated the offices to slide it aside, “I’m here,” Trent stalked over, Ted already turned around in his chair, his laptop closed and long forgotten, his head tilted up as Trent gave him a closed mouthed hello kiss, “I’m sorry I’m late.”

“Don’t you worry about that baby boy,” Ted smiled while stealing another kiss from Trent, just because he could, Trent kisses the best kisses in the universe. 

He already knew that Trent would be late, since Henry had called him as soon as Trent had dropped him off at Michelle’s, his son somehow convincing Trent that they had to drive around long enough to listen to the entirety of the “Rumours” album by Fleetwood Mac, A side AND B side, Ted strangely proud of Henry’s negotiation powers.

“We still have,” Ted checked his watch by twisting his wrist, “a solid 45 minutes before our dinner reservation.” 

“A reservation?” Trent pulled back to stand up straight, tucking a bit of hair behind his ear, Ted noticing that he was wearing a denim jacket over a yellow t-shirt. “Where?”

“I booked us a table,” Ted closed his computer, a proud smile on his lips, “at that little Italian place you like.”

Ted would be the last person to leave Nelson Road, so he’d have to remember to turn off the lights and lock the door to the coach's office, the security guard not coming around for his nighttime round until after 8.

“Oh…” 

“Oh?” Ted looked at Trent, the disappointed sound not at all what he had expected when he shared his surprise, “Are you not in the mood for Italian?” 

Ted had purposefully picked a place they had been to multiple times, the restaurant a little hole in the wall that focused on being cozy and private, which reflected in their menu prices.

The food was so good though, that Ted didn’t mind paying extra, Ted more than ready for a candlelit dinner, and a regular boatload of fettucini.

“We can go somewhere else-“

Ted didn’t want to go somewhere else, but he still offered.

“It’s not-“ Trent pursed his lips for a second, a flash of discontent in his eyes before he squashed it, “Italian sounds perfectly perfect.”

It was obviously not perfectly perfect, Trent giving himself away with that flash of emotions, Ted unaware of how he had managed to date Trent for more than a year before figuring out how easy he was to read.

“It don’t seem like that.”

Ted knew Trent likely wanted to keep the peace, and his dismissal was met with the expected flare of annoyance. This time, Trent didn’t manage to hide it right away though, Ted kind of surprised since it usually took much longer to push Trent to the edge of his control.

“I’m sorry.” Trent was clearly biting his tongue. “Would you rather I say it’d be lovely?”

“It’s not about-“ Ted sighed, Trent so good at pushing his buttons. “If you have an issue with something, I want you to tell me.”

Ted wanted Trent to share with him, wanted Trent to know that Ted wanted the truth, their relationship supposed to be built on mutual respect and attraction and honesty.

“I simply had to take a moment to recalibrate-”

Ted felt a flash of annoyance, words like recalibrate and compartmentalise quickly climbing to the top of his doo doo list.

“Maybe I don’t want you to recalibrate.” Ted knew that he should just grab his backpack, that Trent would be more than willing to let this little tiff fizzle out, but Ted didn’t want it to fizzle. He wanted the truth. “What’s wrong with going for Italian?”

“Nothing, it’s been a while since I’ve had Pasta Alla Norma, I’m looking forward to-“ 

“Trent, tell me what’s wrong.”

Trent looked directly at Ted, their eyes meeting, and Ted was reminded of how Trent had told him yesterday that he had never lied, because he always answered direct questions, but avoiding a subject was the cousin of lying

And she was a darned devil too.

“I’d rather not tell you,” Trent moved to put his glasses into his hair, breaking their eye contact, “as my reasoning is petty.”

“Pity cause petty is my favorite kind of-“

“Theodore.” Trent looked at him again, Ted intimately aware of how they only had the slightest bit of space between them, Trent on the other side of his desk, “Can we please just leave it be? It’s very sweet of you to plan a proper date for us, and I’d like to share the tiramisu with you.”

Ted could let it slide, and maybe, he should have let it slide, but he didn’t want to.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

Ted could practically see Trent’s hackles rise, could see the moment of actual anger, before he calmed down, Trent plucking his glasses from his hair so he could run a hand through it.

“Fine.”

It was obviously not fine.

“If you insist.”

“I do.” Ted felt all squiggly inside, everything inside of him protesting, but he had to stand his ground, had to be brave.

Had to do this for Trent who deserved the world.

“I am-“ Trent folded his glasses, “I was-“ He wrinkled his nose, “momentarily annoyed, because it’s not very considerate of you to make changes to our plans-“

Trent had asked Ted over breakfast if he wanted to get Thai food and play backgammon for date night, which Ted had looked forward to, but he had also figured that it’d be nice for them to go out, to have some time to hold hands and talk, to take a proper break without the house chores looming in the background.

“Especially when it’s my turn to pay.”

“Your turn to pay?” Ted wrinkled his brow. Who got their card out for date night did tend to switch every week, but Ted had never considered it something that was an actual rule. “Well, then don’t.”

Trent laughed, but it wasn’t a happy laugh, more a scoff of disbelief, Ted unsure what he had done wrong.

“Trent,” maybe, he just had to double down, had to make Trent understand, “you don’t have to pay. It doesn’t-“

“If what you're about to say is that it doesn’t matter who pays, I’d consider keeping quiet.”

Ted had indeed been about to say that, the command in Trent’s voice so clear that Ted immediately reached up to mimic zipping his lips shut.

“Thank you.” Trent’s shoulders lowered slightly, and he unfolded his glasses, popping them back on, “Now, would you like us to take the car, or should I order an Uber? I can opt out of alcohol, but Italian cuisine does pair so well with wine, and their tiramisu generally calls for a glass of Marsala.”

Ted loved how Trent knew so much about so many different things. Ted never used to drink wine, beer or whiskey his poison of choice, but Trent had shown him that wine was more than sour reds, Ted figuring out that he really liked a fruity rose or a dark port.

“Ted? I asked you a question.”

Ted reached up to unzip his lips, Trent rolling his eyes, though it was more fond than exasperated, Ted smiling. “Let’s Uber.” 

He reached into his pocket to grab his phone, Ted usually the one who booked their rides, but Trent shook his head. 

“I’ll do it.”

“What? No. Don’t be silly, I got it.”

Ted watched as Trent’s nostrils flared, the anger obviously still bubbling inside of him, but then, it was replaced by a crumbling sadness and hurt, Ted’s stomach clenching, the expression only lasting for a split second before Trent was back to normal.

“Of course.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Ted didn’t mean for it to come out so judgemental, but it felt like he was in the Twilight Zone, Ted truly grateful for the fact that they were utterly alone at Nelson Road.

“I have a myriad of issues,” Trent had yet to pull his phone out of his pocket, his arms crossed, “now can we please just work together to have date night happen?”

“You’re the one sabotaging it.”

“I’m?” Trent looked genuinely offended, “sabotaging date night? Oh please, I just wanted- No. nevermind.”

Trent tightened his arms even more, and blew out a breath, Ted clearly watching Trent doing his very best to level and center himself, to reign in his emotions.

Ted didn’t want calm though.

He wanted the truth.

“Tell me what you wanted.”

“No.”

Ted narrowed his eyes, Trent not usually refusing him outright like this unless they were playing a game, and this didn’t feel like a game at all.

“Tell me what you wanted.”

“No.”

“Tell me-“

“I wanted,” Ted felt a sense of victory, but it was short-lived as Trent continued talking, “to do the four for two spring roll deal and share some pad thai.”

Trent was obviously angry, genuinely angry, truly angry.

“I wanted to buy something that’d feed both of us for a tenner, instead I’m going to be shelling out-“

Ted didn’t understand why Trent kept mentioning money, why it continued to be an issue. 

“I’m not asking you to pay-“

“It’s my,” Trent had actually raised his voice now, “night!”

“I’ll cover-“

“Ted,” Trent was practically steaming, though his tone was ice cold, “if you want any chance of this evening being anything besides another argument, we need to stop talking about this-“

“Maybe I want an argument.” Ted knew he was being a brat, his behavior meant to antagonise, to make Trent finally crack so he could figure out what was going on.

“God.” Trent groaned, “You’re a near perfect man Ted, but would it kill you to act like a Brit once in a while?”

“I’m born and bred in the Midwest.”

“I need a drink.” Trent pushed past Ted to bend down and open the bottom drawer in Ted’s desk.

“Hey-“ Ted didn’t technically mind that Trent broke into his stash, but they were having an argument, and Ted wasn’t anywhere near done.

“Not the front bottle,” Trent had opened the drawer fully, his boyfriend currently rifling around in the back. “I know that.”

It wasn’t what Ted had wanted to say, and he honestly didn’t care if Trent emptied the bottle out on the floor, their discussion much more important than a bottle of Glenmorangie single malt.

Trent pulled out a bottle, two glasses exiting the drawer too, “Am I pouring a double?”

“Baby-“ Ted wanted Trent to slow down, wanted them to sit down, to chat, to reconnect, to-

“Don’t call me that.” Trent opened the bottle, and poured three liberal fingers into a glass, Trent knocking it back before Ted could interject.

“Double crap.”

Ted sighed, twirling his chair, Trent already sitting on the edge of his desk.

“Hit me too.”

Trent poured one for Ted, and another one for himself. Ted looking up at Trent.

“Hmm,” Trent sloshed the liquid in his glass around, “I really didn’t wear the right jacket to walk home.” 

Trent sounded annoyed, and if Ted knew him, he had only brought the denim he was currently wearing.

Ted couldn’t help but focus in on the word home, Trent thankfully not so angry with him that they weren’t going home together.

“You can borrow one of mine.”

What outwear Trent wore wasn’t the thing that was currently important, but Ted had to admit that he really wanted to see Trent in his Richmond puffer, a little zing of delicious possessiveness shooting up Ted’s spine.

“Thank you Theodore.”

“Ted.”

“Ted?” Trent raised an eyebrow, his second glass already halfway empty. 

“If I can’t say baby, you can’t say Theodore.”

“Are you equating the two?”

“We say it the same.”

Trent’s eyes narrowed, Ted easily able to see that he was disagreeing, but instead of arguing, Trent backed down. “My apologies. I’ll make the necessary changes”

Ted didn’t want Trent to make any changes, but it was too late to say something now, not when Trent had already relinquished. 

“You know, when we first met, I never would have figured you’d be the type to constantly apologize.”

“Who says I am?” Trent looked down at him. “You are the only exception.”

“And I’m on my way to believing?”

Trent smiled, and Ted was once again reminded of how beautiful Trent was, how he was made to be happy, Ted determined that he’d make the change, that he’d figure out how to make Trent’s life one of joy.

“None of it was worth the risk.”

Ted knew that Trent had a secret love for pop culture, but it was such a delight to quote Paramore back and forth, for there to be a respite in their argument, Ted vowing to himself that he’d hunt down a vinyl for Trent so it could be added to his, to their, collection. 

The mood had slowly started to shift, Trent nursing the last of his drink, his shoulders lowering, his frown smoothing out.

“I didn’t mean to do something wrong.” Ted had accused Trent of ruining date night, but it seemed like he had been the one to actually ruin their night.

Ted was nothing, however, if not a believer, “You know-“

“Don’t,” Trent reached out with his foot, a twist allowing him to hook it behind Ted’s shin, “make me listen to an inspirational speech right now. Please?”

Ted had no idea how Trent knew he was about to do just that, especially since his brain had yet to catch up with what’d come out of his mouth, Ted often unaware of what he was about to say until he started saying it.

“Don’t you ever want to get mad at me?”

“Not particularly, no.” Trent didn’t unhook his foot, the touch such a comfort. “You irritate me, you annoy me, you drive me insane, and I love you so much I can’t stand it. You’re like the sun, you make me overflow with emotions, you make me feel crazy, Ted Lasso, but I never want to be mad at you.”

Ted felt like his heart was about to burst, his fingertips tingling with emotions.

What Trent had just said was one the most romantic things he had ever heard, Trent delivering downright poetry as if it was nothing, but Ted couldn’t linger on it, couldn’t indulge in the love.

“Not even when I hurt you?”

“No,” Trent shrugged, “You don’t intend to.”

“You say that like it matters.”

“It does.” Trent smiled, but it was the saddest, most fragile little thing, Ted hit with the overwhelming urge to cry, “And you’re right.”

“I’m right?”

“I did ruin date night.” Trent lifted his glass, tilting his head back to empty it before setting it down on the desk, “What can I do to make it up to you?”

“I feel like I should be making stuff up to you.”

“We’re quite the matching set, huh?” 

Ted wanted to kiss Trent, wanted to climb into his lap, wanted to melt together and forget that any of this ever happened, but he couldn’t do that, not when they were so close to actually getting somewhere.

“We need to talk-“

“Really?” Trent groaned, loudly and painfully, Ted pushed back as Ted stood up. “I thought that we had established we didn’t?” Trent walked around the desks, now standing on Beard’s side, “You did something sweet, I overreacted, I’ve apologised and-“

“Well I still don’t know why you reacted at all.”

“It’s a simple matter,” Trent grabbed the back of Beard’s chair, “of me not swallowing my feelings in time.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I very much do.” Trent took a deep breath through his nose, squaring his shoulder. “What would you like to do Ted? The Italian place adores you, so I’m sure they’ll push the reservation-“

“I want to understand why you had to swallow-“

“Ted.” Trent sounded downright exasperated, “It’s petty, and gross, and humiliating and I don’t want-“

“I want to-“ Ted stood up.

“You’ll regret it-“

“I need to know-“ Ted leaned over his desk, both hands on the wood.

“You don’t-“

“I do-“

“I can’t afford to take us out for Italian.” Trent released Beard’s chair, his back now turned to Ted, his arms crossed once more as he looked into the locker room. 

“… What?”

“I can’t afford it.” Trent’s voice was filled with pain, his tone overflowing with discomfort. “I literally don’t have the money unless I want to risk putting my account into overdraft.”

“What?” That didn’t make any sense, it didn’t- It couldn’t-

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Why can’t you-“

“Why can’t I what? Ted?” Trent turned, and Ted almost gasped, Trent’s face scrunched up with emotion. “Manage my money like an adult? I’m asking myself the same question. I didn’t meant for this situation to arise, but I’ve made some objectively bad financial decisions, and-“

“What decisions?”

“You want an itemized list?” 

Trent was obviously being sarcastic, but Ted did, in fact - very much - want an itemized list, Ted unable to decipher from context what the bad financial decisions were supposed to be.

“I can pay for Italian.”

Shoot. That was not what Ted had wanted to say, but his stupid mouth had run off without his blessing.

“That’s not the point Theo-“ Trent had clearly been about to say Theodore, but he cut himself off, Ted watching as Trent pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “That’s not the point.”

“But I want to, I-“ Ted suddenly realized why he had offered to pay, his heart beating like crazy, his armpits sweaty, his hands trembling.

He was anxious.

Beyond anxious.

He was scared.

“Trent if you need money-“

“Please don’t.”

“My money is our money.”

Trent looked like Ted had just kicked him in the kidney, which wasn’t the usual reaction when you offered money.

Maybe, Trent had just misunderstood him.

“I don’t want your money.”

Yeah. Trent had definitely misunderstood. 

“Why not? Why would it matter what account the money comes out of?”

“It matters to me.” Trent put his hand on his own chest, “and I don’t appreciate-“

Maybe, Trent didn’t think that Ted was being serious, that his offer wasn’t sincere. 

“How much do you need?” Ted reached into his pocket to fish out his phone. “I’ll wire it to you immediately."

“I said no-“ 

Ted could feel his hands shake, but his phone thankfully accepted his thumb print. 

“I think my bank has a 50.000 pound limit on daily wires, but-“

Ted was caught off guard as Trent started laughing, but it wasn’t a joyous sound, Ted’s head snapping up as Trent sounded downright hysterical.

“Trent,” Ted threw his phone down on the desk, “baby-“

“This is my worst nightmare.” Trent looked directly at Ted, his eyes wild and crazy. “I didn’t think it could go this badly, but somehow, I’m in my worst fucking nightmare.”

“What?” It didn’t make sense, Ted unable to understand how this could be Trent’s nightmare, not when they had the solution right in front of them, “Baby, I’m offering to fix-“

“I told you I don’t want your money.” Trent had a hand in his hair, Ted’s ears ringing. 

“My money is our money.”

“You’re not listening-“ Trent shook his head, “I can’t stay here, I can’t have this conversation- I have to- I need to leave-“

“Trent-“ Ted didn’t want Trent to leave, he really, really didn’t want Trent to leave, his heart hammering like crazy. 

“I know Ted, I know, I know,” Trent sounded so utterly heartbroken, Ted unable to stomach the fact that he was somehow the cause, “and I’m so sorry but I can’t- I can’t do this right now- Please don’t follow me- I need space, I need-“ Trent looked at Ted. “I’m sorry. I love you.”

Trent turned to the door, grabbing the handle and letting himself into the players locker room, Ted watching as Trent walked away, Ted left behind and all on his own.

Chapter Text

Jamie was humming happily to himself as he put the finishing touches on his and Keeley’s matching desserts. 

It wasn’t real dessert, but it still felt great to indulge in the whipped skyr, the high protein count easily forgotten when Jamie could put fresh berries on top of it, his shelf in Keeley’s fridge stuffed with filled meal prep boxes that stacked on top of each other, all of it courtesy of the Richmond kitchen.

Jamie liked how Keeley never minded eating the same stuff he did, sharing his meal plan with his girlfriend making the whole thing a little less lonely, Roy opting out of anything that even resembled eggwhites and cottage cheese since he had ‘already done his fucking time on the shit fucking diet so he wasn’t going to do that shit anymore’.

Which Jamie figured was fair enough 

Roy was with his Yoga Moms, so Jamie and Keeley had had a lazy Monday at home, the two of them doing quiet time in the tub with a brand new bathbomb and face masks, Jamie so relaxed he had almost fallen asleep.

It was awesome to have evenings just with Keeley, though it was also awesome to have evenings just with Roy, but it was extra extra extra awesome to have evenings with both of them.

“Babes?” Keeley called out from the living room, Jamie secretly hoping that she hadn’t changed out of her bathrobe, even as he had slipped into sweats and a t-shirt, cuddling into the fuzz one of Jamie’s favorite things.

Alongside eating pussy.

Or sucking dick.

Or getting railed-

“Do you remember if we watched Deshana get eliminated last episode?”

“Ah!” Jamie twirled around, Keeley just sharing a major spoiler, “Nuh uh! We did not see that!” Jamie waved his knife around, the strawberries still on the cuttingboard, “Go back! Delete that from your memory-“

The doorbell rang, cutting off Jamie who had been about to go on a bit of a rant, Jamie safe in the knowledge that Keeley was more than happy to put him in his place when he started to brat out.

“Could you get that?”

Jamie did as he was told, abandoning dessert to follow orders. 

It was a little late for the post man to show up, but Keeley loved online shopping, so Jamie expected it to be some poor, unsuspecting delivery person, who’d do the whole ‘Jamie Tartt?’ routine.

When he opened the door, however, he came face to face with none other than-

“Trent Crimm?”

“Hello Jamie. Is Keeley available? Because I seem to have blown up my life.”

~~~

“Trent?” Ted called out as he let himself in through the front door. The house was dark, but that didn’t necessarily mean- though there was a distinct lack of shoes in the hallway, Ted’s stomach dropping, the alarm still on.

“Baby?” Ted quickly clicked off their security system, though Trent would have done that too if he was actually home. “Baby can you say something please?”

Ted hadn’t called Trent yet, but he had wanted to so badly, Ted staying at Nelson Road for as long as he could, which had only amounted to about 25 minutes.

Trent had told Ted not to follow him, and Ted wanted to respect that, but it wasn’t exactly following if he had just come back to the house that he lived in.

That they lived in.

Though it was abandoned.

Abandoned just like Ted.

If only Trent had been home.

Ted didn’t know what to do. 

He could call Trent, but that felt like overstepping, but he needed-

Everything had been about what he needed lately though.

Ted walked into the living room without turning on the lights, dumping down on the couch, his shoes and jacket still on, a heavy sigh leaving him.

He had been torturing himself, playing and replaying their conversation over and over in his head, Ted unfortunately met with the fact that he had not only brute forced the conversation with Trent

He had bulldozed it.

Trent had told him, again and again, in so many different ways, that he didn’t want to talk, that he didn’t want the money, that Ted was crossing his boundaries, that he was making him deeply uncomfortable, and Ted had just kept pushing.

Pushing and pushing and pushing, Ted going full Lasso on the situation, his tendency to go overboard coming out in full force.

And now, Trent had literally run away, because Ted didn’t know when to pump the breaks.

He sighed heavily, pulling his phone from his pocket.

Trent hadn’t called, and he hadn’t texted either, Ted pressing his phone into his stomach, his chin tucked in as he stared at it.

Ted wanted to call, wanted to war dial, wanted to contact everyone they knew to find out where Trent was.

He shouldn’t.

He really, REALLY, shouldn’t, but he also couldn’t just sit here.

Even if Trent had told Ted to leave him alone.

He had to do something.

Otherwise his anxiety would eat him alive. 

Ted unlocked his phone to send off a text to Trent, asking him where he was, and if he was going to come home anytime soon.

It wasn’t great, but it was better than a call, Ted settling in to wait for a reply.

~~~

“There we go,” Keeley wrapped Trent in one of her giant fluffy blankets, Trent looking completely quaint on her pink couch with that whole 70s cool cat thing he had going on. “Much better, right?”

“Thank you.” Trent pulled the blanket tightly around himself. He had been shaking like a leaf when Jamie had let him in, the idiot only wearing a denim jacket even though it was March, “and I apologize again for interrupting your night.”

“Don’t you dare.” Keeley ran a hand through Trent’s hair, pushing it back as she helped him to lay down on the couch. “Jamie?”

“Coming!” Jamie showed up, her pretty boy carrying a tray with her teapot and two mugs, Jamie even making them a little plate of biscuits, which’d earn him some tender love and care later.

“Thank you puppy,” Keeley reached up, tugging on the collar of Jamie’s t-shirt so she could give him a kiss, Jamie sighing into it. 

She wouldn’t normally be so dominant in front of company, but Trent had the same dynamic going on at home, and Jamie did act so very sweet when he was immediately rewarded for good behavior. “You get upstairs and settle yourself down, okay?”

Jamie nodded, Keeley looking forward to later where she’d either find him in the dog bed in her closet, or curled up on their giant bed. 

Unless Roy came home first.

Jamie made his way to the stairs, Keeley clearly spotting the fact that he snuck off with both portions of dessert, but she wasn’t going to punish him for that, Roy the meal plan stickler in their relationship.

Keeley poured two cups of tea, the peach scent filling the room, Trent still wrapped in his blanket cocoon.

“Are you going to stay in there forever?” Keeley poured a little bit of pink sugar into her own cup, Trent taking his unsweetened like a savage.

“Is it an option?”

“Anything's possible babes, but I’d have to relocate you to a guest room.”

Not that she really had a guest room anymore, Roy once again practically living at her place, while Jamie only used his house as a giant walk in wardrobe.

“That’s fair.” Trent held a hand out, and Keeley gave him a cup. She didn’t normally have this much patience for men, but Trent clearly needed a tender touch, since something had gone terribly wrong.

Keeley didn’t have proof that it had been Ted who had acted like an assface once more, but he hadn’t tried to knock down her door yet, so all evidence pointed towards him being the culprit, Ted and Trent usually inseparable.

Which was pretty cute. 

Though Keeley would have disciplined the shit out of Ted by now.

“I am sorry for showing up unannounced.”

“That’s what best friends are for,” Keeley couldn’t pinpoint exactly when Trent had wormed his way into her heart like that, but she did love him, actually, she loved him so much, Trent somehow becoming one of her favorite beings on planet earth.

“Ted tried to wire me 50.000 pounds.”

Keeley spluttered, taking a sip of her tea clearly a mistake. “What?” She used her sleeve to wipe her mouth, her eyes as wide as saucers. 

“Yeah. Just like that. He had his phone out and everything.”

“Holy shit.” Keeley had never had anyone offer her that kind of money, or, Rebecca had given her a business loan, but that wasn’t the same thing, Keeley working as hard as she could to pay every penny back with interest.

50.000 pounds was a life changing amount, and Ted had offered that to Trent? Just like that?

Just because they were dating?

Fucking hell that was hot, Keeley feeling a gush between her legs.

“Fuck me,” Keeley groaned, “I just soaked my downstairs.”

And she had worn a new pair of panties too.

“Ha,” Trent laughed, shaking his head a little, amusement radiating from him, “Because of the money?”

“Maybe.” Keeley smirked, shifting a little to make herself more comfortable and keep her thighs apart, Trent not consenting to her getting herself off in his company.

“It would, wouldn’t it, you dirty girl.”

Keeley felt another gush, Trent’s voice curling around her, the way he said dirty overwhelming her.

“Keep talking, and I think I might come.”

It was meant as a warning, a friendly reminder, but also as an honest truth.

“I’ll refrain,” Trent smiled, “my heterosexual days are behind me after all.”

“The gentleman you are,” Keeley grinned, the two of them clicking their cups, Keeley already excited to share this whole thing with Rebecca, who’d find it hilarious.

She’d consider sharing with Roy too, but only if he’d indulge her with a bit of finance play, Keeley really into the idea of fucking on top of a bunch of money.

Trent drank his tea, her friend looking a little more alive, and a lot less like an abandoned kitten, Trent surprisingly adorable when he was being pathetic.

He didn’t say anything, but Keeley could give him time, Trent the type of person where prying him open was never the answer.

~~~

“And say aaaah,” Lilian smiled at Isabella, as she pulled the toothbrush from her mouth, her little girl almost ready for bed. “Good job Poppet.”

Isabella beamed up at her, her bottom front tooth missing, so Lilian had been extra careful with her brushing, Isabella losing her first tooth yesterday.

It had been a very big deal, Isabella actually sleeping in her own bed so the tooth fairy could visit, Lilian putting a little pile of pound coins under her pillow, after discussing it with Trent by text.

Isabella had spent all afternoon, talking about what she’d spend her five pounds on, Lilian not yet informing her that it wouldn’t be enough to get a Maileg Mouse dollhouse or her own iPad, five pounds barely enough for most of the stuff Isabella desperately wanted at the toy store. 

The endless prattling had been useful though, Lilian able to narrow down exactly what Isabella was dreaming of, Lilian ready to coordinate with Trent so they could hopefully fulfill said wishes for Isabella’s birthday in May.

“Let’s get you settled in, okay?” Lilian brushed a hand down Isabella’s cheek, “We can read-“

Lilian was interrupted by the doorbell, which she had not expected at all.

“I’ll get it!”

Isabella ran off before Lilian could stop her, the little girl racing across the loft apartment.

“Isabella!” Lilian ran after her, but Isabella had already reached the door, “You come back here-“

Lilian watched in horror as Isabella easily undid the chains and locks, Isabella opening it to reveal-

“Teddy!”

~~~

“No babes,” Keeley was lying on the floor, her legs up on the sofa, her head on a cushion, the table pushed out of the way “cause you gotta help me understand.”

Trent hadn’t thought it through when he had sarcastically asked Keeley if she had any vanilla vodka, because Keeley had pulled out two different brands, and had even snatched one from the freezer.

They had done shots, Keeley lighting a pair of cigarettes for them too, Trent absolutely certain that his 30 year old self would have perished in embarrassment if he saw him drink vanilla vodka and smoke cherry cigarettes.

It did help though, vanilla vodka apparently his elixir of truth, actually sharing so much easier when he had that burning aftertaste on his tongue.

“It doesn’t make any sense why you wouldn’t accept help when I know that you’re financially fucked.”

“I thought,” Trent blew out smoke, “that you preferred skint.”

“Why,” Keeley moved up on her elbow, Trent looking down at her, “won’t you take money from Ted?”

Trent knew that he was an adult, that he should be capable of having a conversation like this, but nausea welled up in him, guilt crashing into him.

“Is it a weird macho pride thing?” Keeley pulled her legs off of the couch, Trent pretty impressed on how she managed it without dropping a single speck of ash from her cigarette.

“I want it noted that I take great offense to that.”

“So it isn’t an,” Keeley put her feet underneath her, easily settling into a lotus position, her voice going really deep, “‘I am man, me man must not need help” thing?”

Trent smiled, going to Keeley the only correct choice he had managed to make so far this evening, her silliness exactly what he needed.

“That’s a really good Roy Kent impression.” Trent flicked his cigarette, the ashes falling into his teacup.

“Awh,” Keeley grinned, before throwing her hair over her shoulder, “thanks cutie, but you-“ Keeley leaned forward so she could use the cup too, “are avoiding my question.”

Trent sighed, Keeley like a dog with a bone, though her insistence was also why he had shown up on her doorstep.

That, and the fact that he hadn’t been drunk enough to go to Lilian, Trent unable to afford fucking up a 2+ carat diamond amount, 2 carats the cheapest option he could get away with when he had already gone to bracelet level back in December.

Honestly, he kind of wished he and Ted had the same system, reconciliation much easier if Trent knew he just had to bring like… A signed baseball, or something, as a peace offering. 

Or an American football helmet.

Some new sneakers.

A pound of pure vanilla.

“Ted would tell you that the truth will set you free.”

“He would.” Trent let his head hit the back of the couch, his eyes closing.

He could do this.

He could be brave.

He could tell Keeley one of his most embarrassing, and pathetic secrets. 

“I have, what one could consider if they are in a positive mindset, a difficult relationship with my father.”

~~~

“I really am sorry, for the fact,” Lilian put a glass of water down in front of Ted, Ted set up at her kitchen table, “that I don’t have anything more exciting than this to offer you.”

“Don’t you worry for one millisecond about none of that,” Ted took the glass, Lilian of course owning the prettiest piece of handblown glass he had ever seen, little specks of blue mixed in, everything in her apartment so obviously fancy, “Tap water is a-okay by me.”

It was miles better than the pellegrino she had tried to pour for him, Ted still unable to understand how an entire country could be so obsessed with adding TV static to water.

“And I just wanna say another thank you for the fact that you let me in.”

“I don’t think Isabella would have accepted anything else.”

Ted was a little ashamed of the way he had just shown up on Lilian’s doorstep, but he hadn’t gotten a reply from Trent, and while Trent had said not to follow him, Ted had taken his chances, the fact that he wasn’t at Lilian’s a genuine surprise.

He would have turned right back around to continue his search, if it wasn’t for the fact that he had gotten an entire armful of Isabella, his daughter practically jumping him, Isabella so excited to show him her missing tooth.

Even as Ted had already seen the pictures.

It had felt great to hold her though, the weight of her in his arms, the way she clung to him, the scent of her and the sound of her voice exactly what Ted needed to get pulled out of his anxious headspace. 

Ted had tried to tell Isabella that she had to go to bed, that she should obey her Mommy, but Ted had gotten a complete tour of her room at Mommy’s flat, Isabella showing him all of her toys, and her favorite dresses and her canopy bed thrice, Isabella telling him over and over again that she wanted one at their house too.

Lilian had gotten her settled down with an audiobook, Isabella tucked up in Lilian’s bed, which Lilian had made Ted swear that he wouldn’t tell Trent.

Right now, Ted would have happily given Lilian a kidney, the way he had interrupted her Monday evening beyond inappropriate, so he’d absolutely take that secret with him to the grave.

Unless Trent asked directly.

Then he’d have to share.

But besides that, he’d be a vault.

“So,” Lilian took a seat, her hair collected in a claw clip, Ted wondering if Lilian and Rebecca would get along, since they carried themself with the same kind of elegance. “What brings you here Ted?”

Lilian had made a cup of tea for herself, her fingers wrapped around it.

“Trent and I had…” Ted didn’t want to say fight, but it had absolutely been a fight, even if Ted still didn’t know exactly what they had been fighting about, everything escalated so quickly. “It was a…” 

“Fight?” Lilian looked at him, one of her eyebrows raised, Ted nodding, confirming it without words, “And he left?”

Ted nodded again, the fact that Lilian immediately went to that conclusion kind of a relief, Ted briefly convinced he was the worst person on earth because he had driven Trent away. 

“Why haven’t you called him?”

“He said he wanted space.”

“Ah…” Lilian sighed, “And you thought he’d be here because of December?”

Ted felt his stomach clench, finding Trent on Lilian’s couch and seeing his boyfriend drunk out of his mind still haunted him sometimes, Trent so utterly broken and miserable, all because of Ted’s thoughtless actions.
 
“Would it reflect real badly on me if I say yes?” 

“Trent is difficult to handle at the best of times.”

Ted didn’t know what he’d do if Michelle openly said that about him, but it was a massive comfort to hear the words leave Lilian’s mouth, Ted breathing out a sigh of relief. 

~~~

“And that’s why I feel like utter fucking garbage when-“

“Oh sweetheart.” Keeley hugged Trent, her arms wrapped around his head as she was on her knees on the couch, Trent held captive in a cherry and vanilla scented embrace, his face pressed against Keeley’s chest, her bathrobe barely covering anything.

It was nice though, her fingers scratching at his neck and twirling the little hairs there.

Maybe, he should do another shot.

No. No.

That would be silly.

But fuck how he wanted to.

“I’m really sorry that happened to you.” Keeley’s voice was filled with empathy, but Trent couldn’t accept her comfort.

“Yes, poor little rich kid,” Trent scoffed, “traumatised by too much money.”

“Money can’t replace love.”

Trent swallowed, tears gathering in his eyes at Keeley’s words.

“Your Dad’s a dick, and I hope he gets a chronic case of pinworms.”

Trent laughed, Keeley ridiculous and sweet and perfectly herself, Trent allowing her to comfort him, to hold him, to soothe his frazzled feelings.

It had been so vulnerable to tell her how… Worthless, his father had made him feel throughout his life, how every monetary gift had taught him that he was insignificant, that he was the lowest of lows, Trent never receiving anything besides a cheque when he had tried to go to his father for advice or help.

A bigger donation to the school hadn’t helped when Trent had had the shit beaten out of him, Trent forced to work out by himself that the only way to be left alone was to isolate, that the only peace he’d have came from pulling away, from choosing solitude and loneliness.

His father had paid for his housing and expenses at university, but that had stopped the moment Trent had worked up the courage to share his major, to tell his father that he wanted to be a journalist.

It had been a struggle to be abandoned all over again, to be on his own financially as an 18 year old, but Trent had managed to make it work with his birthday money.

He used to think that the 3,000 pounds was his father’s way of telling him that he should still pursue his dream, that Archibald would take him seriously if he fought for it, only for Trent to make the heartbreaking discovery that it was for tax benefits and tax benefits only.

When he got his permanent position at The Independent, when he finally got the job he had worked day and night for, when he had finally managed to make something of himself, Trent had been so proud, sending off the email with his contract attached feeling like revenge.

Like a fuck you, Trent finally coming out on top.

Until he opened his bank account to find that the entirety of the withheld university allowance had been transferred to him.

His father hadn’t even bothered to call, and Trent had emptied a bottle of whiskey and puked through his nose in celebration of what should have been one of his biggest achievements.

After that, he had stopped telling his father anything about his life, every award he had ever received gathering dust on his shelf without his fathers acknowledgement. 

Lilian had made it all easier, Lilian able to stroke Archibald just right, to soothe his ego and say the things he wanted to hear, Lilian easily navigating the pitfalls around the man who insisted on making Trent’s life hell.

She had made it bearable, Lilian in so many ways more than he had ever deserved, his father actually showing up to their wedding.

Nevermind the fact that Trent had barely been able to eat because of the nugget of shame in his stomach, his attempted confession of his lack of the right feelings, the correct feelings, faltering as Lilian had simply kissed him and told him that everyone was nervous on their wedding day. 

Their house, their wedding present, had been the first gift from Archibald that hadn’t made Trent want to peel his skin off, even if his father had complained about the placement and market value.

It was Lilian who had picked it out, who had found the perfect little gem Trent was still lucky enough to call his home, the fact that his father had paid for it not mattering when Lilian was so present in every single brick, the stained glass windows, the winding staircase, all of the little details picked out by someone who knew him and who cared.

Who had loved him.

But then, Isabella had been born, and Trent had started hating his father again, every rejection of Isabella, every refusal to spend time with her, filling him with the rage he had never managed on his own behalf.

The final straw had been the years surrounding his divorce, which Archibald still refused to acknowledge.

Trent had called him to tell him that he was no longer employed at the Independent, and all his father had offered him as consolation was a stupid joke and 20,000 pounds.

It had been insulting, and cruel, Trent at his lowest of lows, essentially begging his father to please acknowledge him, to offer him something, anything, to have an ounce of emotion, and all Trent had gotten was a transfer of shut up money. 

Ted didn’t know what he had done when he had attempted to fix Trent’s emotional outburst with a money transfer, hadn’t known how deeply he had hurt Trent with the offer of cash, but Trent had felt…

Disgusting… Worthless… Like a beggar, a prostitute, like a helpless child, denied of all that he was capable of, Trent an absolute fucking joke, and he couldn’t stand it.

Couldn’t stomach being reduced to nothing more than a problem in Ted’s eyes, couldn’t survive giving love and getting money in return.

“Sssh.” 

Trent hadn’t even realised that he had started crying, that he was sobbing, Keeley gently rocking him back and forth.

It broke his heart to know that this was the one thing he couldn’t overlook, that this was where his ability to endure for Ted’s sake came to an end.

He didn’t know what to do, and he felt utterly pathetic and completely broken.

“It’s okay sweetheart.” Keeley gently petted Trent’s hair, her voice low and comforting, “I’m here, you can cry, you’re safe.”

Chapter Text

“Oh…” Lilian swallowed, Ted just confessing to her that the fight between him and Trent had been about money. He hadn’t gone into detail, but he told her he had offered Trent cash, and that Trent had not only laughed hysterically, but that he had also fled the scene of the crime. “I have to admit that that makes a disturbing amount of sense.”

It should feel weird to have Ted Lasso in her kitchen, and maybe, she should have turned him away, but he had looked so vulnerable, Lilian reminded of how it was a well known fact that Ted suffered from anxiety. 

He seemed okay now, his hand steady as he drank his water, his tone sure, his words all making sense - as much as Ted ever made sense.

Ted was her ex husband's boyfriend, and her loyalty would always be to Trent, but even if Ted and Trent were fighting, Lilian knew that Trent would want her to take care of Ted, that she was doing Trent a favor by keeping Ted safe and sound while Trent was likely off brooding somewhere.

Probably by a body of water.

The drama queen.

Unless he was off getting drunk somewhere of course, Trent a certified card-carrying member of the stiff upper lip club.

“It does?” Ted looked at her, his brown eyes filled with an amount of hope that was almost intimidating, Ted clearly expecting her to somehow have a cheat code for how Trent operated, that she’d be able to explain why Trent acted the way he did.

If she had that, her and Trent wouldn’t be divorced, or rather, they wouldn’t have been married in the first place.

She shouldn’t say anything, but Ted obviously needed her help, and he was such a good person- 

“Have you met Archibald?” Lilian knew Ted would likely shake his head no, and the American did just that, Ted shaking his head back and forth like an overexcited puppy, the man hanging on her every word.

Oh god.

Lilian was very much stuck between a rock and a hard place.

How was she supposed to guide Ted, to make Ted understand just how delicate Trent was when it came to discussing finances, without breaking the trust of one of the most private men she knew.

If Ted hadn’t met Archibald, and it made complete sense that he hadn’t, Trent’s Father an absolute prick, Trent likely doing everything in his power to keep the two apart, she couldn’t begin to explain why Trent behaved the way he did.

“How dire is the actual situation?” Lilian stood up to make herself another cup of tea. If Trent had still been her husband, Lilian would have spent the time to coax it out of him, to slowly but surely lure Trent out of his darkness, their familiarity and ability to communicate with one another a skill that had taken more than a decade of companionship to develop.

She didn’t have that luxury anymore, and she hoped that Trent would forgive her for the way she chose to interfere.

“You sure I should be telling you that?”

“No.” 

Ted absolutely shouldn’t, Trent guarding his secrets with the ferocity of a beast, Lilian well aware that he acted as he did because of a lifetime of experience, but how was she supposed to convey that to Ted.

“But I think you may have to.”

Ted nodded, Lilian touched by how seriously he took the situation, Ted overflowing with care and compassion and pure love for Trent.

“Trent told me,” Ted swirled his glass, the tiny bit of leftover liquid swirling inside, “that he’s basically gone into overdraft.”

“Fuck…” Lilian felt her knees buckle, but she managed to steady herself with a hand on the counter. 

She wasn’t someone who swore, but that - that was bad news. 

Honestly, it was nothing less than a shit situation.

Lilian grabbed her kettle, quickly determining that there’d be enough for another cup if she just reheated the water, the on button flicked as she tried to gather her thoughts.

She should focus on Ted and Trent, should keep her eyes on the prize, this whole thing not about her at all, and yet-

Lilian felt her wrist burn and she barely managed to avoid the urge to wrap her fingers around it, the bracelet Trent had given her at the beginning of the year safe and sound in her jewelry box. 

Had he bought that with money he didn’t have? 

They had recently paid the bill for another quarter of Isabella’s private school, Lilian momentarily nauseous with the thought that she had been a part of the cause of Trent’s downward spiral.

She knew he hadn’t been working, that Trent had been completely directionless and even borderline depressed when it came to his career, that he had struggled and struggled hard after their divorce, but she hadn’t been aware-

She had been so angry-

She just wanted justice.

She hadn’t meant for it to-

God what had she done.

“This is bad.”

“You said it sis.” Ted sighed heavily, his moustache moving with it, “You know, normally, I’d keep it PG and say I done goofed, but this time, I’ve done fucked up.”

Lilian looked at Ted, taking him in, the decision suddenly so very easy to make.

“I can’t tell you everything, or honestly, anything substantial-"

“Since Trent would go all Red Queen on your butt.”

“… What?” Lilian blinked, Ted truly a bizarre man.

“You know,” Ted lifted his hand, dragging it across his throat and sticking his tongue out, “off with her head!”

“… Is that an Alice in Wonderland reference?”

~~~

Trent was trying to work up the energy to get off the couch, to gather himself and make his way home, but he hadn’t had dinner, and the vodka had definitely gone to his head, Trent’s vision swimming.

It was so comfortable too, Keeley whispering sweet nonsense to him, his friend still petting his hair.

He had to get home though, the burning anger in his chest dimmed to an ember, his panic almost gone, the main feeling that was left in his body the genuine worry about how Ted was doing now that Trent wasn’t actively drowning anymore.

Was Ted alright? Trent hadn’t gotten a good look at him before he left, his feet carrying him to Keeley’s house on their own accord.

Had Ted had a panic attack? Had he been overcome by emotions after Trent had abandoned him at Nelson Road? 

Trent hoped that Ted had chosen to go home, or that he gone to Beard or Rebecca, that he had been able to call someone, that he had gotten help if he needed it.

He’d even accept Ted reaching out to Nate Fucking Shelly, as long as Ted wasn’t alone.

Then everyone could read about this latest development in tomorrow’s papers.

God how Trent hated Nate with the power of a thousand suns.

Trent had his phone in his pocket, but he had only felt it vibrate once, the text that had ticked in just as likely to be an automated message from his dentist as it was to be from Ted, but Trent hadn’t looked, coward that he was.

If Ted had asked him to come home, if he had begged him to be somewhere, if he had-

Trent felt a wave of guilt wash over him, Trent stupidly convinced that his garden breakdown had been his new lowest low.

Keeley had let him cry his heart out, his head resting on her shoulder, her hand slowly but carefully petting his hair, and Trent could fall asleep right then and there, but he needed to go home, needed to find Ted and apologize for the way he had acted, and hope that they could salvage their relationship.

If there was anything left to save.

This was the first time Trent had fully blown up like this in front of Ted, the first time he had truly shown what a mess he was, Trent sure he’d be haunted by his own manic laugh in his nightmares.

He hoped Ted would forgive him, that Ted could forgive him, that-

It was a strange feeling to be doubting Ted Lasso's capability for forgiveness, Trent telling himself that he was being foolish, that he needed to act like the grown up that he legally was, and that he had to face the consequences of his actions, when his phone rang.

Trent groaned, certain that it was Ted, Keeley helping him into an upright position, Trent so grateful for her and her friendship that he could kiss her. 

Which was a strange sensation, since it was entirely platonic.

He reached into his pocket, Trent fishing his phone out, focusing on the screen much more difficult than it should be.

That third shot of vodka had definitely been a mistake.

He blinked, unable to understand what he was seeing, because…

It wasn’t Ted who was calling…

It was Lilian…

And it was a Facetime call…

Trent swiped right, only to see his daughter pop up on the screen.

“Isabella?” 

Keeley had slipped away, Trent blinking in rapid succession, but no, Isabella was still on the screen, his daughter in her night clothes, her curly hair tamed by Lilian’s signature braid. 

“Daddy?” Isabella was clearly sitting in Lilian’s bed, Trent easily recognising the exposed brick, Isabella’s giraffe toy in her arms, Mr. Tiptop a Mummy’s place toy. 

“Hello Poppet.” Trent didn’t need to check his watch to know that it was way past Isabella’s bedtime, his Dad brain thankfully kicking in, his mouth moving on its own. “Why aren’t you asleep my darling?”

He felt like he had been dunked in a bucket of ice cold water, the sight of Isabella instantly sobering him up. 

“Mummy and Teddy are loud.” Isabella pouted, her words taking a moment to register.

“… What?” That didn’t make any sense, why would- He narrowed his eyes, “Is Teddy at Mummy’s?”

“Mmh,” Isabella nodded, “He saw my canopy bed.”

Trent felt his heart ache with fondness, Isabella such a wonderful constant in his disaster of a life, Trent well aware that his little miracle of a girl wanted, no, needed, if you asked her, a canopy bed at his place, Isabella no doubt showing it to Ted so she could recruit him for her crusade.

Manipulative mastermind that she was.

He had planned to give it to her for her birthday, Trent actually already planning a whole switcheroo of some of the rooms in their house, a makeover of Isabella’s space on the to do list.

Though he wasn’t sure if the switcheroo would end up becoming necessary after all, Trent kind of sickened by the fact that he was scared that Ted would break up with him for the second time within the same week. 

By God how he hoped that Ted wouldn’t break up with him.

“How are you using Mummy’s phone?”

“I know the pin code.” Isabella grinned, his little girl beaming with pride at her sneakiness. “It’s 4-4-“

“You don’t have to tell me sweetheart.” Trent knew Lilian’s code too, but he’d have to ask her to change it, Trent wondering if Isabella had managed to figure his code out too, Ted’s phone definitely compromised if Lilian’s was. “You should go to sleep.”

“I’m trying,” Isabella pouted, “and I was listening to my book-“

That explained how Isabella had gotten her hands on Lilian’s phone to begin with, Lilian likely tucking Isabella in when Ted had shown up.

“But they’re being too loud.”

“I’m sorry about that darling.”

Trent heard noise on the stairs, and he pulled back slightly, watching as Keeley came back down, Jamie behind her, Keeley apparently sneaking off to go get him earlier.

Keeley held a finger under her nose, miming a moustache, while using her other hand to pretend she was driving a car, Keeley pointing at Jamie who waved, a set of car keys dangling from his finger, Trent immediately getting that Jamie and Keeley were offering to take him to Ted.

He nodded eagerly, Trent once again overcome with gratitude.

And a momentary want to kiss Jamie too.

To say thank you.

Which was something he definitely shouldn’t do. 

Maybe, he was still pretty drunk, his Dad mask not the cure all he had originally thought.

“Mummy says,” Isabella had laid back down, the phone now showing the top of her head, “that I have to stay in bed if I want cafe before school.” 

“Aha?” Trent chuckled, Isabella such a snitch even if she didn’t know that that was what she was doing, Lilian likely bribing Isabella on the regular, though he couldn’t blame her, Isabella a handful at the best of time, Lilian handling her on her own. 

He got up from the sofa, Trent mouthing a ‘sorry’ followed by a ‘thank you’ at Keeley who had changed into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt that clearly didn’t belong to her, Jamie cuddled up in a hoodie.

“Daddy?”

“Yes darling?” Trent didn’t look down, Keeley reaching out to wrap a scarf around Trent’s neck.

It smelled like Roy and his expensive cologne, Trent momentarily overcome by how surreal this situation was, since Roy Kent would have gladly beaten the shit out of him 5 years ago if he showed up at his girlfriend's house.

Now, Trent knew that Roy would have put the scarf on him himself. 

“You need to tell them to be quiet so I can sleep.”

“Do I?” Trent looked down at his phone, Keeley swallowing a laugh as she stepped into a pair of heels, Trent noticing for the first time that he hadn’t even taken his shoes off when he had come through Keeley’s front door. 

“Mmh.” Isabella yawned, his little girl closing her eyes. “It’s annoying.”

Jamie scoffed, but he was smiling too, his eyes filled with amusement, one of his arms hooking itself underneath Trent’s so he could continue being on his phone, Jamie leading him out to the multiple cars that were parked in Keeley’s driveway, Keeley right behind them. 

“Do you need me to tell you a story?

“Yes please.” Isabella hummed as Trent got into the backseat of a sports car, Keeley sliding in besides him, “It should be about a dragon, and an orangutang, and they need to wear party hats.”

~~~

“We’ll barely make it in time for opening, but I’m just so relieved the piece was released from customs.” Lilian sighed heavily, “I’d love to have a word with the security officer who thought I’d use the gallery that is my life's work as a front for smuggling cocaine. I mean, honestly.”

Ted smiled, Lilian an excellent storyteller, Ted on his second glass of water while Lilian had made herself a new cup of tea. 

It was nice, and cozy, Ted almost relaxed, his anxiety wiggling around at a manageable level. 

He still wanted, no, needed, to see Trent before he’d be able to sleep, but he didn’t have a sensation of panic clawing at his chest anymore.

He and Lilian had agreed it made sense to wait until Isabella was definitely asleep for Lilian to liberate her phone and give Trent a call to test the waters.

To see if he was ready to come home.

Ted still felt bad about the way he had shown up on Lilian’s doorstep, but it was nice to have this time with her, to get to know her a little bit better.

It was clear that she was Isabella’s Mom, Ted recognising so many of her mannerisms in his daughter, though he also saw Trent in her, the way she fondly rolled her eyes a move Ted had seen Trent do countless times.

Talking to Lilian hadn’t exactly solved his Trent sized problem, but it had made Ted calm down a little, Lilian’s reassurance that this whole money thing was a general issue, that it wasn’t entirely Ted’s fault a massive relief.

Though it didn’t exactly alleviate him of his extreme guilt.

It was so typical of him to overlook something this obvious, to have a massive Ted moment, the fact that Trent barely worked, apparently a simple fact of life to everyone but him.

He shouldn’t have missed it, but…

Ted wished Trent would have told him.

That Trent would have shared…

But that felt like wishful thinking.

Lilian had at least given him a few pointers, Ted beyond thankful for the fact that she had turned Ted towards Trent’s relationship with his father, and Lilian had called Trent’s ‘summer of depression’ with a fond eyeroll.

Which Ted hadn’t liked at all since Trent had never mentioned anything like that to him.

“I think she’s asleep.” Lilian stood up, Ted straining his own ears to listen for any of the normal sounds of a little human that had yet to settle down made.

He couldn’t hear anything, Ted nodding.

“You need any help on your bedroom expedition?” Ted knew how hard it could be to extract anything from a sleeping child, snatching stuff from Henry always a two person job. “I can be an excellent first cadet.”

“I’ll make an attempt on my own soldier,” Lilian smiled, “but thank you for the offer.”

“Ma’am yes ma’am!” Ted raised his hand to do a mock salute, “Any day, any time, any need.” 

Lilian laughed, so Ted didn’t think she realised how serious he was about it.

He had cared for Lilian before today, had considered her a friend and a part of his family that he didn’t have too much contact with, like a distant cousin.

Ted would walk through fire for her now though, the fact that Trent had ended up marrying her making perfect sense to him. 

Lilian had only just detangled herself from her chair, when the sound of keys in the door made both of them jump.

No one would have a key…

Except-

Their eyes met, Lilian holding her breath, a small nod from her all Ted needed to race through the apartment.

Lilian grabbed the door handle, and swung the door open, Ted nearly crumbling in relief at the sight of a very rumpled, but obviously alive and okay Trent.

“Where have you been?” Lilian sounded so stern that Ted immediately stood up straight, but Trent was clearly still processing the fact that he hadn’t managed to use his key, his hand paused in mid air.

“Trent Crimm-“

“Out.” Trent lovered his hands, his eyes narrowing a little as he looked down at Lilian, his vision swimming. “I’ve been out, and why are you-“

“You’ve been drinking.” Lilian huffed, her arms crossed in front of her, “Is that the scent of vanilla?”

“Perchance,” Trent stepped inside, Ted personally thinking that he was braver than a US Marine, Lilian clearly wife-level annoyed with him, “I got this interesting call though, about Mummy and Teddy being loud.”

“What?” Ted hadn’t meant to say anything, but how could Isabella- Wait. 

Lilian’s phone. 

She had to have used Lilian’s phone, the little rascal no doubt figuring out Lilian’s pincode.

Damn she was clever, Ted equal parts proud and kind of terrified, his daughter already a menace, Ted sure they’d need to brace for impact when her teen years rolled around.

“Hello Ted.”

Trent looked directly at Ted, a twist to his lips, and Ted felt his stomach explode with butterflies.

It was an insane sensation, Ted getting smacked in the face with an avalanche of emotions, his body acting as though he had just seen Trent for the very first time, his heart skipping a beat, Ted convinced that this was what love at first sight felt like.

“Hi-“ Ted’s voice broke, a frog-like croak leaving him, “Hey. Hey hot stuff. You come here often?”

Ted never got embarrassed, but right now, he wanted the earth to open and swallow him up, what he had just done so totally not cool.

Thankfully, Trent just smiled, his eyes crinkling, Ted adoring each and every little crow’s feet that showed up on his boyfriend’s face. 

~~~

“I did not wear the right shoes for this.” Trent groaned, his feet aching, the heel clacking against the pavement.

When Trent had opted to wear one of his nicer pairs of boots for date night, he didn’t think he’d be doing this much walking.

Actually, Trent didn’t think he’d be doing any of this for date night. Trent was beyond grateful for the scarf Keeley had wrapped around his neck, the night dark and cold, his denim way too thin, but he was holding Ted’s hand, the two of them walking down the street together.

“You want a piggy back ride?” Ted looked over at him, his grin illuminated by a street light. They had said their goodbyes to Lilian, Trent hugging her and whispering that he was sorry, and that he’d call her, Lilian without a doubt deserving a 4 carat diamond, as soon as he could scrape up the money for it. 

Maybe, he’d have to pivot and get her a piece of art instead. Or one of those dreadful handbags.

Keeley deserved something too, but Trent hoped he could go to Rebecca for advice, or at minimum give him the number to Keeley’s personal shopper.

“You could get on-“

“No way.” Trent gently bumped Ted’s shoulder, “Could you imagine the headlines?” Trent held up his free hand, “Lasso catches lasting injury - Read all about-“

“I wouldn’t mind.”

“I would.” Trent squeezed Ted’s hand, the fact that they were holding hands at all feeling absolutely bizarre, but Trent had calmed down now, the anger in his chest replaced by the sensation of shame that simmered in his stomach. 

It wasn’t great that the only company the shame had was whiskey, a couple of biscuits, tea and vanilla vodka, Trent both hungry and nauseous at the same time. 

“Ted-“

“Trent-“

They had managed to say each other's names at the exact same time, twin laughs echoing through the night, the shame in Trent’s stomach getting a little lighter to carry.

Which it always seemed to around Ted, being the walking disaster that was Trent Crimm almost bearable when he had Ted Lasso by his side.

“I’m sorry-“

“No, I’m sorry-“

“Ted-“ Trent didn’t think Ted should apologise, this entire night happening because of his crazy and disproportionate reaction, because of all of the mess in his head and-

“I should have listened, and I didn’t, and I’m sorry about that.” 

Somehow, it felt much easier to hear those words out here, to listen to them in the dark, to have the conversation in the cover of night, the fact that they were walking a decent excuse not to look.

“I-“ Trent should say something. He should attempt to explain, should- but he said so many words today already, talking and writing two very different things, Trent almost bled dry. 

“I’m not finished.” Ted pulled on Trent’s hand, Trent nearly stumbling, Ted twisting so they were facing each other. “I love you, but I’m really hurt that you didn’t tell me about your money struggles.”

Trent swallowed, the shame tripling in size. He hadn’t wanted Ted to find out that he had financial issues, not like this, or, honestly, ever, but it was out there now, in the open.

“I get that I pushed, I did, I do, and I am sorry, I really really am, but baby-“

Trent bristled under the nickname, but he kept his mouth shut, now clearly not the time to interrupt, Ted obviously working up to something. 

“We’re a team, right?” Ted looked at Trent, “you and me, we’re in this crazy life together, and teams need to pull in the same direction, work towards the same goal-“

Trent wanted to tell Ted not to coach him, that this wasn’t something he wanted Coach Lasso to clock in for, Trent barely willing to let Ted into this extremely vulnerable part of his soul.

“I don’t-“

“No.” Ted squeezed Trent’s hand. “I’m doing something here, and you needa let me.”

Trent nodded, unsure of where it was going, but Ted seemed beyond determined.

“You’re my team, Trent, and I’m in this to win this.” Ted pulled at Trent’s hand, the sincerity in his voice forcing Trent to look at him. “I want to be your last relationship, I wanna be the guy you grow old with, and I get that all of this is hard, I do, but it’s just a bump in our road. You’re worth it, and I’ll make you believe that you’re worth it. I’ll show up for you Trent, each and every time, I promise. I want us to be forever and you’re already mine, till death do us part and all of that jazz.”

“Wow…” Trent didn’t know how to react to the fact that he had just been told the most romantic thing of his entire fucking life, while freezing his ass off on a random street in the middle of the night.

“Do you want that too?”

“I do.” Trent nodded, his head moving on its own accord. “I really do.”

“Can I kiss you?” Ted sounded so sweet, and Trent pulled him in before he could think, their lips meeting as they fell into each other, Trent’s body relaxing completely, the shame disappearing, being like this, being with Ted where he belonged, even if they took the long way around.

Chapter Text

Ted slowly slid open the top right drawer, moving as quietly as he could. He was being extra careful not to make any noise as he pulled out the candle sticks and their designated holders, Ted picking up the lighter as well.

It was long past midnight, but Trent was in the kitchen, making them twin bowls of cereal, Ted’s stomach rumbling loud enough for Trent to hear it the moment they stepped through their front door.

“Ted?” 

Ted froze in place, Trent calling out to him, “Yes honey?”

He hoped he wasn’t busted, Trent almost omniscient sometimes with his ability to sniff out bullshit or shenanigans.

Ted wasn’t bullshitting though, he was being cute… In a shenanigy kinda way.

“Do you want Raisin Bran, Shreddies or Weetabix?”

Ted grinned, a sigh of relief leaving him, Trent simply asking what he’d prefer. He had only listed out their ‘healthy’ cereal options, but Ted knew exactly what he wanted.

“Lucky Charms please!”

Trent’s groan was loud enough for Ted to hear it, a smirk growing on his lip as he placed the candles in their holder, lighting the both of them before he picked them up.

It was kind of stupid to carry a live flame through the living room and into the kitchen, but Ted had a vision, and he had every intention of executing it.

His tongue poked out his mouth, as the task required the entirety of his concentration, Ted making his way into the kitchen, Trent turning around to look at him, the milk jug in his hand. 

“… What are you doing?” Trent’s eyes were narrowed, his boyfriend clearly expecting some shenanigans from Ted, but he was on his best behavior. 

“Happy date night.” Ted smiled, laying the charm on thick, everything in him hoping that Trent would see what he had done for the gesture that it was, that he’d understand that Ted was lying down flat and extending a peace offering.

“Oh…” Trent seemed flustered, and Ted felt the butterflies in his stomach all over again, those darned creatures flapping their wings about without his permission. “That’s very sweet of you.” 

Ted put the candles on the table in the corner, Trent joining him, Ted noticing with a little swoon that Trent had made sure to pluck all the blue marshmallows from his bowl before adding the milk.

Henry swore he couldn’t taste the difference, but Ted knew that the blue Lucky Charms was the devil’s food, Trent clearly listening when he had gone on a rant about how the halfmoons ruined the best part of the Lucky Charms experience, which was the leftover milk.

Trent had opted for a bowl of shreddies, his boyfriend sitting down, Trent handing Ted a spoon when he did the same thing, “Boun appetito.”

“I think you mean Bone Apple tea.” 

Trent managed to swallow a snort, Ted’s tail wagging at the way his joke had landed, butchering the French language one of his favorite pastimes. 

It wasn’t very nice of him, but it was just so fun to see people get all twisted up when he said Mercy Buckets instead of Merci Beaucoup. 

“Not exactly,” Ted felt Trent’s foot under the table, Trent hooking it around Ted’s ankle, Trent clearly making a joke of his own that Ted hadn’t caught. 

They ate while Ted tried to figure it out, the cereal filling enough to make him feel how tired he was now that his stomach was no longer rumbling.

Ted knew they should talk, knew that there was so much left to say, knew that they hadn’t actually solved anything yet, but he also needed to go to bed, his alarm set to go off in a couple of hours.

~~~

Trent managed to get the alarm clock before it finished its first round of beeps, smacking the top of it oddly satisfying, Ted usually the one to reset it before it even went off.

“Ted,” Trent moved his head, his lips touching Ted’s forehead, Ted curled up against his side, his head on his shoulder, Trent lying on his back. “You have to get up.”

“Mmh…”

Trent had been awake for a while, waking up first a rare occurrence, but Ted had put a leg across his stomach, the weight pressing down on Trent’s bladder, which had pulled him from his slumber.

He could have attempted to sneak off, but Ted had looked so peaceful, his mouth open as he snored, the steady sound wonderfully soothing after last night, Trent thankfully not hungover.

Though there was also every chance that he was still drunk, which was why he felt fine.

He had texted Rebecca right after waking up, Rebecca the type of insane type A that was awake by 6 at the latest, and asked her to send a car to come pick Ted up, so Ted could have as much rest as possible before he had to switch into his Coach Lasso mindset. 

“Sweetheart.” Trent bent his elbow to touch Ted’s hair, to cart his fingers through it, Trent taking a moment to make sure he petted Ted’s bald spot. 

He loved that little patch, Ted still blissfully unaware of its existence, but Trent like that, liked how it felt like it was a secret he shared with Ted’s body, that it was something just for them. “I need to use the loo.”

Ted groaned, but he did pull his leg back, Trent relieved of the pressure, Ted reluctantly rolling over and onto his own back, the movement pulling at the duvet, Ted starfished on the bed.

It felt good to take his time in the bathroom, to splash some water in his face and stretch his hands above his head, Trent just sleeping in his boxers, since he had expected Ted to cuddle up, his boyfriend as hot as a furnace. 

He came back to the bedroom, only to find that Ted had fallen back asleep, his mouth open once more as he snored away.

Trent considered texting Beard that Ted would be coming in late, since it was technically Trent’s fault that Ted was so tired, but he hated the idea of their relationship drama impacting the team, everyone at Richmond needing Ted to show up.

“Ted.” Trent climbed onto the bed to kneel next to Ted, the movement of the mattress enough to get Ted to blink awake. 

“What-“ Ted looked up at Trent, Trent a little regretful that he had left his glasses on the nightstand, since that meant that he couldn’t see Ted clearly. “What time is it?”

“It’s get up o’clock.” Trent chuckled at own joke, which put a fat point in the still drunk column, Trent hoping he’d have time to be hung over and get his car before he had to pick up Henry from school. “Now come on.”

“Noooo,” Ted whined, turning on his side, “five more minutes.”

“Ted,” Trent didn’t usually like to indulge this level of bratty, but after the emotional rollercoaster they had been on, it was nice to have a bit of normality. Trent laid down too, scootching up behind Ted, to put an arm over him.

“The coffee is almost done.” Trent kissed Ted’s neck, Ted insisting that he’d set up the coffee machine and check all of the windows and doors even though he had been dead on his feet last night. “I’ll make you waffles with chocolate sauce.”

Ted was technically the one who had made the waffles, and stashed them in the freezer, but Trent was a reheating expert.

All he got for his efforts were a grunt though, so Trent decided that it was time to take a more drastic approach.

He reached under Ted’s t-shirt, hand gliding over Ted’s belly, Ted sighing happily, and then, Trent pinched him.

“Ow!” Ted sounded genuinely upset, the other man twisting around, the two of them nose to nose. “What’d you do that for?”

“Well, someone refused to get up, so you’re no longer talking to your boyfriend. He left the building while you were being a brat” Trent kissed Ted’s nose. “You’re currently talking to Trent Crimm - Devout AFC Richmond supporter.”

“Ha,” Ted grinned, amusement rolling off of him in waves, Ted bubbling to the surface, his brain clocking in, “And is he going to give the gaffer a smooch, and tell him he’s doing a good job?”

Ted fluttered his lashes, his bottom lip pushed out in a pout, Trent overcome by a moment of affection, though he was also a man on a mission.

“No, but he’s got plenty of pinches for you in case you don’t get your arse in gear.”

Ted gasped in mock horror, Trent fighting to keep the smile off of his face, a solemn expression exactly what this situation called for.

“It’s for the betterment of the team, Coach Lasso. Gemma is picking you up in 30-“

“Wait,” Ted pulled back a little, “You got Gemma coming with a car? Did you book that so I wouldn’t have to walk?”

“Well, yes,” Trent smiled, “The Mercedes is still parked at Nelson Road, and I figured you’d be difficult to get out of bed-“

Trent had expected Ted to protest, for him to banter, for their jokey vibe to continue, but instead, Ted just looked at him, his eyes wide, Trent nearly drowning in them, Ted so sweet and… Vulnerable?

“What?” 

“I just appreciate you,” Ted gave Trent a peck, “so danged much.”

~~~

Ted had wheeled one of the smaller whiteboards into his part of the coaches’ office, and now, he was standing in front of it, an uncapped marker in his hand.

Richmond were playing Tottenham at home on Saturday, and it should be Ted’s main priority, the Saturday game, what he should focus on.

He had done that, kind of, mostly - All in all, he had behaved well, Coach Lasso clocking in, Ted concentrating on his work all through first training block and lunch and second training block.

He hadn’t even staked out the parking lot when Trent had texted that he’d swing by to pick up the car.

He had wanted to - desperately - but he hadn’t.

Because Ted could behave.

Instead of stalking the parking lot, he had run a little workshop with his bench boys about the playstyle of Tottenham Captain Son Heung-Min.

They were still building up Llewellyn, but Ted would love to give him more minutes, his tingling coaching sense telling him that there was something special in the young Irishman. 

Ted made another note on the whiteboard. He had to write in code, so no one knew what he was doing, Trent becoming CT, while Ted was LT. It was a little weird, but Ted had caught himself doodling hearts around Trent’s initials, which he had promptly erased, a flush in his cheeks.

He had asked Gemma to come pick him up after work too, so he could smuggle the whiteboard home.

Smuggle, since he hadn’t asked if he could take it home, but it was an emergency and he needed more writing space that he had on the board Trent had allowed him to keep in the basement. 

Ted would have asked Rebecca during biscuits with the boss, but she had immediately figured out that Ted was going through something. She had thankfully been too distracted from digging into it by the acute lack of biscuits, since Ted had used them as a thank you gift to Max from security, who had been a gentleman and a scholar that deleted the footage of him and Trent fighting.

It had been a downright bizarre experience to watch himself on screen, the security cameras catching them from three different angles, Max diligently deleting all of it, 33 minutes apparently enough for Ted’s life to implode.

Ted made another note, before taking a step back so he could look at the board.

Everyone else had gone off for their sweet treat break, but Ted saw the light in the gym come on, Ted spotting Jamie who made his way towards the treadmill.

“Hey Jamie!” Jamie couldn’t hear him, so Ted twisted past the whiteboard to tap on the window that separated the gym and the coaches office. “Jamie!”

Right, still couldn’t hear him.

Ted opened the window, undoing the latch to pry it open. “Jamie!”

Jamie twirled around, Ted amused at the grace of it, the dance lessons he had made everyone attend as team bonding clearly paying off.

“Hiya Coach?” Jamie walked over, his headphones around his neck. “Ya need anything?”

“Did Keeley change her personal number or something?” 

Ted didn’t usually ask Jamie Keeley-related questions, but this was special circumstances.

“No?” Jamie narrowed his eyes, “Why?”

“She hasn’t responded to any of my texts.” 

Trent had told Ted on their way home yesterday that he had been at Keeley’s, so Ted had, naturally, written a - if you asked him - very sweet message, thanking Keeley for taking care of Trent.

Normally, Ted wouldn’t mind if he didn’t get a reply right away, but Keeley usually responded within seconds, and as he scrolled back up through their text chain, he realised that she hadn’t responded to any of his messages to her personal number for weeks and weeks and weeks. 

“Oh. Right. Yeah.” Jamie had put his hands inside the bottom of his shirt, the fabric twisted around them.  “She’s mad at you.”

“Mad at me?” That was news to Ted. They had talked just fine last Saturday, and he hadn’t noticed anything, but-

“Fuck if I know,” Jamie shrugged, “but if I did, I wouldn’t tell ya.” Jamie kicked the ground, “cause boyfriend law dicktastes that I can’t say shit.”

“Dick tastes?” Ted wrinkled his nose, though he was also pretty amused. It was common for Jamie to misunderstand words, to pronounce and use them wrong, but this was a new level, “I’m pretty sure it’s dictate.”

“Nah, it’s deffo dicktaste, you know,” Jamie held up his hand to gesture the two different words, “dick taste cause you needa keep your gob shut if you want them to taste your dick ever again.”

“Huh.” Ted could see the logic in that, even if it was Jamie logic. “Know what, that actually checks out.”

“Glad to help Coach.”

~~~

“Hey Trent.”

“Yes Henry?” Trent didn’t take his eyes off of the road in front of Richmond Secondary, the risk of accidentally running someone over too high for him to look over at Henry, who had once again been allowed to sit in the front seat. 

“Are you hungover?”

Trent didn’t answer right away. He had spent the late morning lying on the living room floor, his stomach turning and his head spinning. He hadn’t thrown up, or felt the urge to, which had been a blessing, his body finally done being dramatic around noon. 

It had calmed enough that Trent had been able to bust out his laptop, and get some freelance work done, but he hadn’t felt well enough to get up off of the floor.

He had missed his rug, but it had been nice of Ted to take charge of the task of getting rid of it.

Trent didn’t know when or how he’d find another one, but he hoped he’d be able to start saving up for it soon, the living room naked without a rug to pull it all together.

A handful of paracetamol had managed to kill the worst of his headache, but he didn’t exactly feel great.

“… Would you think less of me if I said yes?”

Trent knew what the answer to Henry’s question would have been if Isabella asked, him and Lilian in agreement that honesty was always the best policy as long as it was age appropriately explained, but he hadn’t actually had the conversation about alcohol and Henry with Ted.

They didn’t get drunk with the children around, a beer here, a glass of wine there all alright, but Trent didn’t know how Ted would want him to speak to his son in a situation like this.

“Not really.” Henry shrugged, his attention locked in on rifling through the box with cassette tapes when Trent glanced at him, “You still came to get me like you promised.”

“Right…” Trent swallowed, tears prickling in his eyes. “You know-“ Trent hoped he wasn’t overstepping, but he had to- “I’ll always come get you Henry, any time, anywhere, okay?”

It felt almost dangerous to say, making a promise that big a recipe for disaster, but Trent meant it, and he meant it fully and completely.

“You can always, always, always call me.”

“I know.” Henry looked over at him, a happy but small and slightly exasperated smile on his lips, Trent apparently telling Henry something he was already well aware of. 

It felt nice, to have Henry trust him like that, Trent proud of the connection they had.

“So,” Henry had chosen a tape, the tunes of The Kinks starting up, “are you hung over?”

Trent considered lying, being hung over on a Tuesday not exactly a great look, but he didn’t lie to Henry.

“Moderately.”

“Do you want McDonalds?”

“What?” Trent looked over at Henry, twisting his head even though he was driving.

“McDonalds.” Henry said it like it made complete sense, as if Trent was being the slow one. “It’s what they do in the movies and stuff.”

“Do they now?” Trent smiled, amusement blooming in his chest, Henry beyond adorable.

Which Trent would never tell him, since he was almost 13.

“Mmh.” Henry nodded, “I can use my pocket money.”

“Oh Henry,” Trent swore he felt his heart break apart with tenderness, “You shouldn’t use your money on me sweetheart.”

“But I want to.” Henry still sounded completely serious, Trent beyond touched at his consideration. “You can have fries, and I’ll get a banana milkshake.”

“Okay okay,” Trent laughed. He could either pay the ridiculous parking fees to go to the one by Richmond Green and Michelle’s apartment, or he could turn the car around, and take himself and Henry to Brentford.

Trent activated his blinker, the decision already made.

“Hold on- We’re going?” Henry lit up, Trent smiling, his not so big boy absolutely delighted by the fact that his plan worked. “We’re actually going?”

“You’ve convinced me, but you’re to keep your allowance.” Trent hadn’t spent his day painstakingly copy editing another horrid erotic short story, for Henry to pay for him, “You should spend it on corner shop nonsense and those digital coins you always ask for.”

“I haven’t played Roblox in months.” Henry crossed his arms, “and I don’t play Fortnite either.”

“My apologies.” Trent grinned, the computer games Henry played one of the few areas where he didn’t pay any attention at all, “Do you dip your fries in milkshake? Or is that just something your menace of a father-“

“Dad showed you the milkshake trick- Wait-” Henry’s eyes widened, “Do the two of you go without us? Have you been to Mcdonalds and you didn’t bring me?! Trent?!”

~~~

Ted took one last look at the living room, his lip between his teeth as he tried to decide if he had finished setting up for this - hopefully successful - afternoon talk with Trent.

He had set up the white board, he had put out water and a couple of snacks, the crockpot was working away in the kitchen along with the ricecooker, Ted making a batch of chicken and gravy for dinner.

Not that he could be certain that Trent would actually be hungry, Ted getting a picture from Henry of Trent who was sitting inside of a McDonalds.

It hadn’t been on his bingo card that his boys would be out getting fast food together, but he loved that they enjoyed each other’s company, that they got along so well, Ted hit with another wave of butterflies as he lingered on the way Trent so wholeheartedly and genuinely cared for his son.

Ted really, really, really hoped that nothing would go wrong, but he had done all he could to prepare.

He was about to sit down, to maybe boot up a game of Tetris on his phone to pass the time while he waited, when he heard the door open.

“Ted?”

“In here!” Ted swore his palms started sweating instantly, wiping them on his khakis not really an option since it’d stain the fabric. 

Instead, he tried to wipe them on the back of his sweater, which unfortunately meant that Ted was stuck in a position not unlike that of a chicken when Trent came through the door.

“Oh…” Trent looked around, his eyes narrowing, “and what’s this then?”

“I brought a whiteboard,” Ted pointed at it, the whiteboard set up in front of the TV, the front of it facing away from them, “home from work.”

“I can see that.” Trent had the same energy as a suspicious cat, Ted a little afraid that he’d get a faceful of hissing kitten any second, “Why?”

“Well,” Ted refused to squirm, even as Trent kept looking at him like he was trying to decide if he was prey or not, “I was hoping we could have a talk.”

“Aha.” It was abundantly clear that Trent didn’t like the idea, Ted suddenly worried that his plan would fail before it even started, but then, Trent sighed heavily. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay.” Trent nodded, “It’s likely overdue anyway, and I assume there isn’t a version of this where we agree that yesterday was a fluke and that I was simply temporarily insane?”

“Not really.”

“Great.” It didn’t sound like Trent meant it, but Ted would let it slide. “Should I sit down or-“

“Yeah-“ Ted nodded, the couch ready for Trent, “First, you needa kiss me hello though.”

“Aha?” Trent smiled, an amused glimpse in his eyes, and Ted almost swooned, Trent downright beautiful when he was smug and confident. 

He was also beautiful when he was sad- Actually was just beautiful all the time, Trent so-

Trent reached out, a hand on each of Ted’s cheeks guiding him into a kiss, which made him immediately melt.

He loved kissing Trent, this moment of connection the exact right choice, the two of them always the most aligned when they allowed their bodies to do the talking.

Ted could allow it to continue, could drown in Trent, but they needed to talk, and they had to do it now-

“You,” Ted pulled back, “Need to sit.”

“Sir yes sir.” Trent smiled again but did as he was told, “So, what am I in for?”

“I made a presentation.”

“Hmm.” Trent didn’t look thrilled, but he stayed, his arms uncrossed, his brow unfurrowed. “Well, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Right.” Ted swore he felt nervous, which was crazy. “Okay, so,” Ted gripped the whiteboard and turned it around, “that’s you-“ Ted pointed at the CT he had written on the board with his marker, a little stick figure next to it, Ted putting the effort in to give it the perfect Trent hair, “and that’s me- LT,” Ted tapped it, his stick figure sporting a moustache, “and we’re a team.”

Ted uncapped his marker to draw a heart around their initials. He heard Trent scoff, but it was one of the ones that was just hiding that he found something adorable, so Ted didn't slow down.

“But we have all these problems.” Ted scribbled a bunch of circles on top of the heart, “and it’s clouding our judgement, so I think, that we need to forget all of that bullcrap-“

Ted grabbed the cleaning cloth to the board, which earned him an amused huff, Ted moving to use his market again.

“We need to step into the solutions sphere-“ Ted drew a big circle, “so that we-“

“Did you draw all that previous stuff just to erase it?”

“Yup,” Ted twisted to look over his shoulder, a smile on his lips, “cause I believe in symbolic gestures.”

“Hmm…” Trent had crossed his arms, but he hadn’t moved his glasses into his hair, Ted confident he’d still be able to bring it home.

“We’re stepping into the solutions sphere, to have a nice-“ Ted made a dot on the board, tilting his hand away he didn’t smudge everything as he wrote nice, “calm and blamefree-“ calm was easy peachy, but it took a while to write blamefree, Trent’s eyes resting heavily on Ted, “and logic based,” logic was much easier to write, the word lovely and short, “conversation.”

Ted twirled around, Trent still watching him, but he had a frown on his face, and Ted instantly regretted the fact that he hadn’t practiced all of this on Beard.

“Seems like you ain’t all that impressed by my presentation?” 

“No no,” Trent didn’t uncross his arms, “It’s great, you’re perfect.”

“Awh honey bunch.” Ted grinned, the compliment filling him with warm delight. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“I can absolutely assure you that I do not.”

Ted didn’t mean for his stomach to be a fluttery butterfly mess, but it erupted anyway, Ted tempted to let all of this slide, to just sink into the couch with Trent. 

So much had happened that they hadn’t even had time to enjoy the bruises on Ted’s chest, the teeth marks blooming into shades of blue and purple, Ted flushing with desire whenever he thought of the marks, wearing such an obvious sign of how much Trent wanted him- 

“You want us to have a conversation?”

“Right.” Ted got pulled from his thoughts, a blush rising in his cheeks. “Yes. Yes. That’s what I want.”

“We can have a conversation.” Trent moved, leaning back into the couch, his arms still crossed, “but first, we’re setting boundaries-“

Ted felt his stomach twist, the butterflies all settling down, anticipation, anxiety and nerves swirling in his chest.

“I'll try not to have a mental breakdown, if you-“ Trent pointed at Ted, “promise not to make any grand motivational speeches, or poorly hidden analogies for our current situation-"

“Wait, does that mean I can’t tell you about that time me and my buddies decided to take a roadtrip to Arkansas to figure out where they got the Ar from-“

"And Ronnie didn't have money for gas, but you let him come anyway, which was a good thing because he turned out to be the only one who knew how to navigate using the stars? I'm familiar."

"Okay,” Ted clicked his tongue, “I didn't expect that-"

"Do you think I don't listen when you talk?" Trent thankfully seemed more amused than annoyed, Ted unable to recall ever telling Trent the story, though he had to have done that since Trent already knew it. 

"That feels like a loaded question.” Ted didn’t explicitly ask to let it slide, but Trent clearly understood what he was going for, a wave of Trent’s hand telling Ted that he could continue talking.

“What I wanted to say is that without Ronnie, we would have been screwed, and while he didn’t contribute any monetary value, he showed us all why the communist bit of rom communism is important, and baby, I wanna distribute our resources evenly.” 

Trent blinked, Ted considering for a moment if he had pushed too far with that last bit, Trent clearly taken aback. 

It took a long moment, time stretching into eternity, the two of them just staring at each other, Ted about to break the silence, when Trent finally said something. 

“Ted, while I appreciate… All of this, and I’m sure Marx would be thrilled that you’re familiar with Das Kapital-“

Ted had no idea what that was.

“I’m still not certain about where you’re trying to go.”

“Well…” Ted looked at the whiteboard. “Writing all of this and the road trip story was kinda as far as I got, cause sweet cheeks-“ Ted didn’t know if he was making the right decision, but he had always been an all or nothing kind of guy. “I love you, but you’re more prickly than a pissed off porcupine if you get in a mood-”

“A pissed off porcupine?” Trent raised an eyebrow. 

“I like the alliteration.” Ted shrugged, “I-“

“Can I say something?” Trent put both feet on the floor as he leaned forward, forearms on his thighs.

“Be my guest.”

“I’d like to remind you that my current financial…” Trent looked deeply uncomfortable, “situation is temporary. The only reason I’m momentarily short on money is because these last few months have repeatedly put me in a position where I chose to pick flexibility over income.“

Ted felt a wave of guilt crash over him. He should have known that it would impact Trent’s ability to work when he had offered to essentially be a chauffeur service for Henry, but all Ted had been able to think about in the moment had been how grateful he had been for the fact that Trent had had a solution to Henry’s problem.

That his son had such a solid team of adults that rallied around him when he struggled. 

“Trent, I know you don’t just want cash-“

“I don’t.” 

Ted swore he could feel the temperature of the room drop, but he wasn’t going to give up just yet.

“Would it feel different if I gave you money to pay for gas?”

Trent’s lips twisted, a frown appearing on his face, but he didn’t stop Ted, which was all Ted needed.

“Cause I did some math- Sorry, maths-“ Ted pointed at a box in the corner of the whiteboard, “If we calculate the miles you’ve driven the kids-“

“No.”

“No?” Ted looked at Trent, his boyfriend truly a prickly pissed off porcupine, the ‘no’ just a single sourpuss word.

“You’re not going to retroactively reimburse me for petrol, that’s not any different from handing me cash-“

“But this version has math.”

“Does it? Well then it must be brilliant.” Trent’s voice dripped with sarcasm, Ted completely confident that Trent did not - in fact - find this brilliant at all.

“I know it isn’t the best plan,” Ted absolutely knew that, but it was what he had been able to come up with on his own, crowdsourcing for a solution this with the Diamond Dogs not really an option, “I just want- If we’re being honest, you do like, 80% of the childcare.”

Ted didn’t like admitting that, but he knew that it was the truth, Trent doing the vast majority of well… Everything.

“That’s not anywhere close to being correct.” Trent’s voice had turned soft and caring, but they weren’t talking about Ted’s workload right now.

“What I’m saying is that you’ve effectively saved us the cost of a baby sitter, or one of those au pairs.”

Trent narrowed his eyes, the dragon officially back to pissed off, Ted kind of surprised by the fact that he hadn’t heard a single Theodore come out of Trent yet. 

“If we had one, we’d pay them real well, so maybe, I could wire you the money for-“

“Are you suggesting-“ Trent’s tone had turned ice cold, Ted actually feeling a shiver run up his spine, “that I should be compensated for my parental labor, which would mean that you’d regard me as an employee?”

Ted felt like Trent had set up another trap, the sentence unnecessarily complicated and complex, Ted looking at Trent as he decided to shoot his shot. “No?”

“Good.”

Ted almost breathed a sigh of relief, the two of them obviously just avoiding this turning into another giant fight, Ted unsure if he’d be able to bear it.

“Because I won’t-“ Trent looked angry, real angry, proper angry, “accept getting paid to take care of my kids. It’s degrading, and I refuse-“

“I’m not paying you to take care of the kids.” Ted hated how it seemed like Trent was determined to misunderstand him, “I’m just giving you money while you’re also taking care of the kids.”

“No.”

Ted didn’t know if he should push, but he wanted to, so he did.

“Why not?”

“Because I’d know that I’d be using-“ Trent faltered, “That it’d be-“ Trent looked like he was about to be sick, “Every time I used my card. I can’t do that, not again-“

“Okay.” Ted hated to watch Trent suffer, and he couldn’t stomach it anymore, “Okay okay. We’ll- Let’s regroup.”

They were on the same team, even if they weren’t on the same page, and Ted just had to make Trent understand-

“We’ll-“

“Finish up dinner?”

Trent sounded so utterly hopeful, and Ted wanted to give in, wanted to let Trent lose so he didn’t have to look so broken, but he couldn’t do that.

“We’re not stopping the conversation. Not until we have a solution.”

“Right-“ Trent sounded so utterly uncomfortable, Ted’s heart breaking for him.

“Trent, baby, you do so much for our family, and it’s killing me that you’re struggling.” Ted started to feel that edge of desperation sneak in, everything threatening to spiral out of control, “I want to- We’re a team, and I’m not doing my part.”

“You’re doing more than enough.” Trent said it like it was an absolute truth, said it as if it was obvious, as if he’d never even considered that Ted literally owned him everything.

“I don’t understand how you can say that,” Ted didn’t mean to say it so harshly, but he couldn’t help it, “when I’m a literal millionaire, and you can’t afford Italian.”

“I can afford it.”

Ted looked at Trent, and Trent looked right back, the two of them staring at each other, neither backing down, Trent owning such an iron will that Ted ended up being the one to fold.

“Fuck-“ Ted groaned, throwing the marker across the room as he broke their gaze, “Fuck!”

Ted walked over and dumped down on the couch, another frustrated groan leaving him.

“Ted-“

“No, no, don’t comfort me.” Ted crossed his arms, anger bubbling in his belly, his head hitting the back of the couch, “cause I just keep saying the wrong fucking thing and doing the wrong-“

“You don’t-“ Trent had turned on the couch, his back against the armrest, his legs pulled up, “I’m being an arsehole.”

“You’re not,” Ted twisted his head to look over at Trent, “an asshole.”

“I am.” Trent swallowed, “I love you Ted, and I understand where you’re coming from.”

“I love you too.” Ted reached out with his left hand, Trent instantly grabbing it and intertwining their fingers, the two of them sitting for a while in silence, Ted unable to think of anything he could say that wouldn’t make all of this explode all over again.

“I-“ Trent took a deep breath in, “I am aware I’m being difficult, and I think-” Trent squeezed Ted’s hands, “There are some bills I wouldn’t mind letting you take care of.”

“Really?” Ted swore he could feel his tail wag, hope bubbling up inside of him.

“There’s council tax, and they upped the bin collection fee, which is ludicrous. As well as street side parking.”

Ted had never considered any of those expenses, but he kept his mouth tightly shut, Ted barely daring to breathe.

“I think Henry would appreciate a better internet connection, and I know Isabella would adore you even more than she already does if you wouldn’t-” Trent swallowed, all of this clearly a struggle for him, “mind pitching in for her ballet costumes. She’ll need new shoes soon, and she has her eyes on a tutu that-”

“Whatever you want.” Ted knew he sounded painfully eager, but he just wanted, no, needed-

“Are you sure?” Trent sounded so painfully small, and Ted couldn’t help but pull on his hand, to draw him in, to let their noses touch.

“Baby,” Ted gave Trent a kiss, “there ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

Chapter Text

Trent carefully lowered the crockpot insert into the sink, his hands getting submerged in the soapy warm water. 

They had finished dinner, Ted smart enough to prepare food before they started their big talk, Trent in charge of cleanup, their dishes already in the washer, the only things left the big and bulky items that had to get done by hand.

He could hear the first notes of ABBA come through the kitchen door, Ted the one who had offered to pick what they’d be listening to, Ted clearly connecting his phone to the sound system, since none of Trent’s records started out with Dancing Queen.

At least Ted was in a good mood, which had to count for something.

Trent had always been told that sharing your burdens would lighten the load, that things would be easier to bear if you shared, but he wasn’t so certain about that.

Possibly because he was fucked in the head.

He felt icky, and uncomfortable, giving Ted a handful of bills enough to make him so nauseous he had only picked at dinner. 

Ted had gladly eaten his leftovers when Trent had offered them, and they had had some lovely conversation, Ted so obviously relieved that Trent could survive the lingering discomfort.

He didn’t want to feel that way though, Ted putting so much effort into mending this rift between them, in reaching out, in making sure that they’d be able to move forward as a team.

It didn’t do for Trent to allow his issues to hurt those he loved, Trent's messy feelings about money not something that should ever cause Ted any harm, his stubbornness and pride already causing way too much havoc in their life.

Especially when helping made Ted so very happy. 

Trent grabbed the dish brush just as the music was getting turned up, the song skipping, Ted a messy and mood based disc jockey when he used his phone. 

Gimme Gimme Gimme started playing, and Trent smiled to himself when he could hear Ted start to sing along. 

“Gimme gimme gimme~” Ted’s voice mixed with Agnetha's as it carried through the open door, Ted coming back into the kitchen, a smirk on his face. “A man after midnight~”

He was dancing, Ted moving to the music and doing the Hustle. 

He looked joyous, and free, like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders, and Trent loved him so very much.

“Won’t somebody help me chase the shadows away~” Trent didn’t have a particularly nice singing voice, and he preferred listening, but Ted lit up in pure delight, the smirk blooming into a gigantic grin.

“Gimme gimme gimme~” Ted wrapped his arms around Trent’s middle, Trent now effectively trapped at the sink, Ted moving to the music, the two of them rocking together, “a man after midnight~”

“Take me through the darkness to the break of the dawn~”

Trent felt Ted kiss his neck, felt lips close over his pulse point, the reward for his shaky singing absolutely outweighing the effort. 

He had expected Ted to release him, to continue his dancing, to lean into the silliness, to put on a performance, and Ted did let go of him, but he just hopped onto the worktop, Trent rolling his eyes as Ted sat on top of the dish towel.

“Ted,“ Trent sighed, Ted clearly doing it on purpose, “I’ll need that-“

“You need what?” Ted sounded so innocent, but he had a fat Cheshire grin on his lips, mischief sparkling in his eyes.

“The dish towel,” Trent wanted to finish cleaning up, so he could sink into the sofa with a nice cup of tea and whatever Ted wanted on the telly. “You need to-“

“You must be mistaken.” Ted hummed, “because I’m not sitting on anything.”

“What?” Trent narrowed his eyes, “Are you joking?”

“I never joke about anything ever.” Ted said it with a completely straight face, annoyance blooming in Trent’s chest at Ted’s blatant disrespect.

“You’re obviously-“ Trent pulled his hands from the water, “sitting on the towel.” Trent could see it, Ted so irritating, his boyfriend downright infuriating.

“No I’m not.”

Trent knew Ted was playing him, that he was being obtuse on purpose, that he was begging for attention, that he wanted Trent to get annoyed, and it was working, Trent playing directly into Ted’s hand.

“We’re too old to wrestle Theo-“ Trent only just managed to catch himself in time, half of Theodore out of his mouth before he managed to stop it, “We’re too old Ted.”

Ted had told him not to call him Theodore anymore, and while it’d take some getting used to, Trent wanted to respect Ted’s wishes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We won’t need to wrestle,” Ted kicked his legs, “Cause I ain’t doing anything.”

“Okay that’s it-“ Trent reached out, grabbing Ted’s hips, Ted laughing loudly as Trent pulled him from the worktop to get to the towel, Ted immediately pushing him, Trent answering right back.

Trent had never been one for play fights, getting physical too much of a reminder of his worst days at boarding school, but with Ted, it was fun.

Especially because Ted was a dirty little cheat. 

They grappled, Ted grabbing Trent’s upper arm and twisting him around, but Trent wasn’t going to go down without a fight, his fingers twisting up in Ted’s t-shirt, the water soaking the wet fabric, but he just needed to-

“Ow!” Ted released Trent immediately, his hand flying to his pec, Trent just twisting his nipple and twisting it hard. “Foul play! Referee!”

Trent laughed, Ted so utterly ridiculous, the mood light and silly, until Ted moved his hand, and Trent felt his jaw drop.

Holy shit.

Trent hadn’t meant to, but he had somehow managed to make Ted’s t-shirt wet enough that the white fabric had become translucent, Trent coming face to face with the sight of Ted’s chest all bruised and blue.

Which he had somehow missed in all of this, Ted not showing it to him, Ted completely covered in his marks-

It was one of the hottest things Trent had ever seen, and he wanted to devour Ted, wanted to break him apart and put him back together again, wanted to own him.

To use him.

“Fucking hell-“ Trent swallowed, his mouth dry, the visual of Ted in a wet t-shirt enough to spark his arousal on it’s own, but this? 

It was like he had been hit with the sledge hammer, Trent actually weak to the knees.

“Trent?” Ted had titled his head, an amused but also curious curly to his lips, “Are you-“

“You-“ Trent reached out to grab Ted’s chin, fingers digging in, a disgruntled sound coming from Ted as Trent pulled at him, a hand on Ted’s hip forcing them flush, the grunt turning to a surprised moan as Trent pressed his cock against Ted’s hip, “upstairs, now.”

~~~

“Mmh-“ Ted moaned into Trent’s mouth, their kisses hot and hard, Ted utterly melted as he bathed in attention.

Trent was on top of him, pressing him into the bed, his boyfriend sitting on his hips, Ted’s hands held above his head, Trent’s fingers digging into his wrists.

Keeping him in place.

Holding him down.

Trapping him.

Kissing him within an inch of his life.

Ted was utterly helpless, and it was absolutely perfect. 

He knew he had been annoying earlier, that he had acted like a brat, that he had purposefully pushed Trent’s buttons, hoping, praying, that they’d get to this, that he’d end up here.

That Trent would give him what he’d desperately wanted.

What he needed.

Which was lots and lots and lots of attention.

Ted hadn't meant to be bad, but as he had set up the livingroom, rolling the whiteboard aside and putting on some music, he had felt an incessant need to act out, emotions bubbling in his body. 

He had needed to joke around, to get rid of all of his restless energy, to antagonize Trent, to tease and poke and prod.

To have confirmed that he’d be caught, that he’d get noticed, that Trent would correct him and keep him in line, that he’d stay.

That Ted was safe.

Trent moved, grinding against him, and Ted groaned, his shirt sticking to his skin, soapy water mixing with sweat. 

He was hot, so hot, and he just wanted-

Ted loved being at Trent’s mercy, loved belonging like this, loved the feeling of Trent owning him, of-

Trent had been clever enough to open his belt, to push his trousers down before climbing on top of him, his legs constrained by the fabric, everything digging into his thighs, being trapped like this way too sexy.

He hadn’t dared hope that everything would go so well, that Trent would react to the marks in this way, that Ted would get to show them off, that they’d both think-

“Please-“ Ted hadn’t meant to break the kiss, but he wanted, no, needed, had to- “Trent-“

“Yes?” Trent had barely pulled back, their noses touching. His voice was rough, his tone heavy with desire. “Haven’t you acted like enough of a slut yet?”

“Oh-“ Ted swore he had just been hit by lightning, his entire body electrified.

“What-“ Ted had never been called, why did he find it hot, what-

His fingers were tingling, his cheeks molten lava, everything-

“Wasn’t that what you were doing? Parading around,” Trent sat up slightly, Ted groaning as his hands were pressed deeper into the mattress, “in just a t-shirt? Arms out, chest on display, knowing that I already desire you so, that you’re the hottest man I’ve ever seen. You wear my mark, you show off-“

Trent reached between them, two fingers pinching Ted’s nipples.

“Ah!”

“You know exactly what you’re doing to me, don’t you Coach Lasso?”

Ted could feel his heart hammer, his cheeks burning. He hadn’t- It wasn’t a plan, he had just- He had been warm while eating, so he had taken his sweater off- It hadn’t been-

“You’re my little plaything,” Ted could drown in Trent’s voice, “my sweet boy,” it was low and warm, smooth and perfect, “and you’re acting like an indecent harlot.”

Ted moaned so loudly he surprised himself, a wave of shame and guilt and endless desire washing over him. 

He was hard enough for it to hurt, blood rushing in his ears.

No one had ever spoken to him like this before, and Ted loved it.

Loved it more than he could say, loved-

“You wanted me to see you wearing my mark, didn’t you?” Trent smirked, the growl in his tone to die for, “You wanted my attention.”

“Oh god.” Ted whimpered, Trent not providing him any relief, his boyfriend too high on his hips to give him any pleasure, the hand on his pec just holding him.

“Well you got it, and I bet you’re proud of it too, you dirty boy-“

“Fuck!” Ted bucked upwards without thinking, his body acting on instinct.

“Shit!” Ted’s thrust had been enough to get Trent off balance, Ted’s world going dark as Trent fell forward, a sharp pain radiating through him as Trent’s shoulder collided with his nose. 

“Ow!”

~~~

“And you’re sure nothing is broken?” Trent turned Ted’s head, a hand on his chin. 

He was kneeling on the bed with Ted in front of him, Ted’s back against the headboard.

“I swear on LeBron,” Ted held three fingers up in what Trent had learned to recognise as a scouts gesture, “That me and my snout are a-okay.” Ted smiled at him, his brown eyes sparkling. “This honker knows what it feels like to take the hit, but it is kinda lucky you didn’t bend me outta shape.”

Trent felt his body relax as Ted babbled, words spilling out of him. He had been scared he had accidentally given Ted a concussion, or broken his nose, falling forward not in any of Trent’s hastily laid plans for their evening. 

“Honestly, it was also kinda lucky Phoebe didn’t manage to do more to my beak with that football of hers. Imagining if we never managed to go out for Indian cause I had to go to the emergency room, or A&E. What does that stand for anyway? A&E, E&A, A and E.”

Trent leaned forward, kissing Ted often the easiest way to shut him up. 

He thankfully felt Ted relax into it, his blabbermouth no longer running amok, though Trent couldn’t say the same thing for his own blabberbrain, embarrassment squirming around in his stomach.

Accidents happened in bed, and he could usually laugh it off easily enough, especially with someone who was as wonderful as Ted, but this time, the embarrassment continued to linger.

Even while kissing Ted with tongue.

It wasn’t, however. the fall that haunted him. 

It was calling Ted a slut.

Trent had no idea what had gotten into him, but it had felt so right in the moment that it hadn’t even registered to him that he had called Ted a harlot, his brain acting on its own.

It had been insanely hot, but he hadn’t actually asked if Ted was okay with -

“Mmh!” Trent’s eyes flew open, Ted biting his bottom lip. “What-“ Trent pulled back, his hand going to his mouth, “What’d you do that for?” It had stung, but it didn’t truly hurt, Ted simply nipping him.

Trent didn’t enjoy pain though, the nip tender to the touch in a way he actively disliked.

“Cause you weren’t paying attention to me.” 

“I was literally kissing you Theo-“ Trent cut himself off, getting used to not using Theodore, a Herculean effort, “Your mouth was on my mouth.”

“Yeah it was.” Ted grinned as he crawled into Trent’s lap, the added weight making his knees ache, but he didn’t mind when Ted put his arms around his neck. “Now do it again.”

“Do what again?” Trent knew he was teasing, but Ted seemed to be in a mood where he wanted to, no, needed to act out, and Trent had no problem putting him in his place.

“Kisses please.” 

“Not,” Trent placed his hands on Ted’s hips, using his fingers to dig in, Ted so lovely and soft, “if you bite me.” 

Trent didn’t like pain with his pleasure, even if Ted did, his boyfriend sometimes getting overly excited, and he wasn’t going to indulge Ted if he risked another round of nips.

“I won’t if you stay in the moment.”

“Stay in the moment?” Trent raised an eyebrow, “Do I have Coach Lasso in my bed?”

Trent had been ironic, since he did not want Ted to start talking about being a goldfish and having a winners mindset, all of that stuff best left out on the pitch, but Ted didn’t joke back, his eyes warm. 

“In our bed,” Ted smiled, love radiating from him, his fingers playing with the hair at Trent’s neck, “and not unless you ask him to clock in.”

“Hmm.” Trent had had more than one fantasy about sucking Ted’s cock in the pressroom, of having Ted at his mercy in the dugout, but the real life practicality of the situations had never allowed him to finish wanking while thinking about it, the risk of getting caught enough to make him completely soft.

“Trent-“ There was a distinct whine to Ted’s voice, Trent only just noticing that Ted was somehow still halfhard, that taking a shoulder to the face wasn’t enough to quench his desire, warm pleasure welling up in him. “Please?”

“Please what?” It was kind of mean, but Trent loved watching Ted squirm, loved it when he wiggled, loved to push him. “Tell me what you want sweet boy.”

Ted groaned, his eyes fluttering close, a blush rising in his cheeks, Trent smiling as he put his lips to Ted’s neck. 

Never to truly taste, never to bite, the neck way too exposed, but he could tease. 

He felt Ted moan, the sound reverberating through the skin, and Trent couldn’t wait to take him apart.

~~~

Ted didn’t know how the people of England had decided that washing machines belonged in the kitchen, but it was one of those things that he just genuinely did not understand about his new home country.

It was early morning, and the kitchen was empty, Trent still asleep upstairs, Ted waking up to the feeling of Trent wrapped around him, his boyfriend holding him tight.

Ted had finally finished sorting the laundry, Isabella a very indecisive fashion diva, who happily changed her clothes several times a day. 

He hadn’t done the closing shift yesterday, since Trent had fucked all thoughts right out of his head, Ted sleeping like a baby, his rest deep and undisturbed.

It was probably why he had woken up feeling fully refreshed and practically bursting with energy.

Which was a good thing, the unexpected energy boost enough for Ted to finally start tackling the beast that was wrapping Henry’s birthday gifts. 

Henry’s gifts had been coming in the mail for a while, the toy figurines Ted had helped Isabella pick the latest batch of presents to arrive at their doorstep.

Trent had told Ted what he had chosen to give Henry a while ago, and Ted couldn’t wait to see Henry’s reaction to Trent’s main present, Ted equally excited to find out if Henry would love the big gift that Ted was giving him.

*“And now, we turn our attention to the Premier League-“*

Ted had turned the radio on for company, Trent keeping an ancient thing plugged in in the corner of the kitchen. It had - obviously - been set to talkSPORT, Trent telling Ted that he liked having it on as background noise when he was home alone.

*“With this week’s games, we’ll find out if Burnley will be able to scrape by and avoid a definite spot in the relegation trenches. There is a chance that Burnley can overtake Luton, but it looks downright bleak for the boys from Sheffield United, who have yet to break past 15 points after a season that’s been defined by defeat after defeat.”*

Ted closed the door of the machine, loading it with detergent and soap before pressing the buttons. 

He had turned the coffee machine on and pulled a couple of slices of homemade bread from the freezer, Trent more than deserving of some truly luxurious french toast after the way he had made Ted come yesterday.

He hadn’t been given any new bruises to add to his collection, but as Ted had scrubbed down in the shower, he had noticed with a rush of satisfaction that his chest was still mostly blue.

Which also meant that today’s outfit was his usual combination of a sweater and t-shirt, but that he had also added an undershirt, to make sure no one caught a peek.

*“And Richmond will be playing Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday at home.”*

“Whoops!” Ted quickly reached over to turn the radio off, nearly fumbling the button in his haste at the mention of Richmond. 

Beard liked being in the loop, and Travis had a constant stream of information coming at him from all angles, but Ted preferred not to give too much attention to the media.

Especially on press days.

He had a conference right after lunch, which meant that Keeley would be at Nelson Road, Ted’s stomach doing a little flip at the thought of his blonde friend.

Ted felt pretty confident that he and Trent had reached an agreement, that they had landed on solid ground, he still had no idea why Keeley was upset with him.

It sucked not knowing, Keeley the person who had been the kindest to him when he had arrived in England the first time around.

Maybe, he’d ask Trent, if he ever decided to come downstairs, Ted convinced that the coffee machine would be enough to lure Trent from his slumber.

Ted would get started on the french toast anyway, mainly because he had texted Gemma, and asked if she could please give him a lift, since he’d have to return the whiteboard before anyone noticed that he had snatched it up.  

~~~

“Okay, and-“ When Trent had spent hours and hours and hours of his youth drilling shorthand and learning how to write while walking, he had never imagined that he’d use it like this, “how many packages of these,” Trent checked his notes, his favorite pocket notebook in his hand, “Flaming Hot Cheetos am I supposed to acquire?"

“Can we have five please?”

“You want five?” Trent looked down at Henry, the two of them walking along the road, Henry still in his school uniform, his backpack on his back. 

They were on their way to Michelle’s, Henry asking Trent if they could maybe do a practice walk, Trent beyond proud of how Henry seemed determined to conquer his fears.

Even if it had meant leaving his car behind at Richmond Secondary, Trent not really looking forward to the walk back to retrieve it.

Not that he’d ever burden Henry with concerns like that.

“Isn’t a packet of crisps for each of you a bit much? Halftime is only 15 minutes.”

“But they’re not just for me and Daphne and Penelope and Jessica P and Terry.”

Ted had promised Henry that he could have whatever kind of party he wanted for his birthday, and Henry’s most fervent wish had been to have a Richmond party.

For everyone to come watch a match, and since next week was International break, the choice had fallen on Richmond vs. Tottenham at home.

Trent had told Henry they’d figure something out if he wanted to invite his entire class, but Henry had shook his head, and told Trent that he just wanted the girls, and the youngest Higgins to come to his party, Terry a year below Henry at Richmond Secondary.

“They’re also for you-“

“Hmm.” Trent wrinkled his nose. He wasn’t against spicy food, but he wasn’t particularly thrilled about the prospect of trying anything that started with flaming hot.

His poor mouth didn’t deserve that.

“And for Keeley and Rebecca and Roy and Mr. Higgins and Steve and Isabella and Mom.”

“Well that’s a very compelling argument.” Trent smiled, Henry such a sweet and considerate kid at heart.

“And also for Dad and Uncle Beard and anyone who wants to come to my party.”

“Well in that case, I’d better get 10.” Trent didn’t know how many, if any, of the Richmond players would show up for Henry’s party in the cafeteria, but he knew that Henry was extremely well liked, that everyone at Richmond cared for him, that he was not just the gaffer’s son, but someone that was considered part of the squad.

Which was why he had planned to order enough Dominos to feed 50 people, footballers often ravenous after a match.

It wasn’t what Trent would have chosen himself, but Henry had been very particular about how birthday parties should have pepperoni pizzas, so the American chain seemed like the obvious choice.

He had discussed all of this with Ted, Trent just putting the finishing touches on the party planning, Ted promising that he’d be in charge of entertainment and crowd control, and after their… Finance talk, yesterday, Trent knew that the responsible thing to do would be to forward the catering email to Ted.

Even if he had been more than prepared to eat the cost himself.

It was equal parts exceptionally yucky and such a relief to let go of that particular economic burden though, Trent beyond grateful that he didn’t have to pay the daylight robbery rates of what he knew would be a subpar product, a Domino’s pizza not so much a pizza as it was a piece of cardboard with cheese on it.

But a birthday party was about what the birthday person wanted, and Trent was going to do everything he possibly could, to give Henry his best birthday yet.

Chapter Text

“Mh-mh-mmh!” Ted released the straw to smack his lips together. Few things hit like that first sip of afternoon iced coffee, especially when it was 80% creamer.

Today had gone well overall, though today’s presser had been less about Saturday's match, and more about International break, a bunch of his boys leaving to play for their respective countries.

Bumbercatch wouldn’t be joining Switzerland this week though, since he had gotten a concussion from slipping on the stairs.

It was unfortunate, but injuries happened, and Ted couldn’t wait for his little firecracker to be back on the pitch, Isaac organising a roster of bedside nannies for Moe, Colin complaining during warmups that they were reading War and Peace aloud, since he couldn’t pronounce any of the names.

Ted made his way down the hall, his first team either in the gym for wind down exercises, or on their way home, Travis running a tape review workshop with the new hires in the pressroom.

Nelson Road was noticeably empty, and to be honest, it kinda wigged Ted out.

There were no sounds of footsteps from upstairs, no chatter, no stragglers wandering around.

It made sense why Rebecca had decided to relocate Admin away from the main building, why she had purchased the office building a few streets down, accounting the first to move out, while PR would keep a satellite setup at Nelson Road. 

The builders would start showing up next week, Rebecca getting ready to announce publicly that they’d be opening the Richmond Academy next season.

Ted hadn’t told Trent that Richmond would be starting a U21 team. 

In part, because it was technically a secret, but mostly, he hadn't because he didn’t want Trent to get his hopes up, in case the Academy didn’t pan out.

They had never talked about it directly, but Ted knew from talking to Beard that Trent held strong opinions about Richmond’s lack of an Academy, his boyfriend apparently calling its absence irresponsible on several occasions.

It was one of those things that Ted hadn’t fully understood, and that he still didn’t fully understand, but he did know that Richmond had to have a guardian angel, since no Richmond player had had an injury worse than Roy’s knee during Ted’s tenure. 

Rebecca had shared the renovation schedule with the coaching staff, since the tail end of it would interfere with their pre-season training, Rebecca apparently not confident that the grass on the new pitch would be sturdy enough.

Ted used his elbow to open the door to the coaches’ office, Beard sitting in his seat.

“Look alive Willis!” Ted threw an apple from the cafeteria at Beard, which he caught effortlessly, but he didn’t look up from his phone, Ted’s tummy squeezing. 

“Hey big dog,” Ted slipped into his seat, “You okay over there?”

“Mmh.” Beard didn’t look up from his phone, his brows furrowed in the way they usually only were when he texted with Jane.

Ted could, and maybe, he should, say something, but commenting on Beard’s relationship had never worked out in Ted’s favor, so he’d keep quiet, and hope that Beard knew that Ted’s door was always open.

~~~

“And I’ve emailed Alfie, asking him if I can come in either tomorrow or Friday and drop everything off.” Trent looked over at Ted, who was standing by the stove, his boyfriend cooking dinner for them, Trent kind of amazed by how Ted was just casually making mashed potatoes from scratch.

“Know what?” Ted was completely in his element, music coming from the livingroom, Ted already deep in dinner preparations when Trent had come home, “You should pop by Friday, let the boys do the decorations.”

“You want a football squad to decorate for Henry’s party?” Trent had walked Henry to Michelle’s, only to turn right back around to go get his car, his afternoon spent on a trip into London to pick up as many football themed decorations as he could find.

Trent personally found it tacky, but Henry had lit up when he asked him about decorations and had started babbling about balloons and streamers, so Trent had gone all out, his trolley comically overfilled.

Keeley had sent him a screenshot from Twitter, someone apparently taking a photo of him at Party Party and shared it online, though Trent was unable to fathom why anyone would find that even remotely interesting.

At least, he had worn his good coat, the photo not half bad, and it was maybe a tiny bit funny that Trent had been spotted holding a football pinata, while dating a Premier League gaffer. 

He wouldn’t personally have written the story, but someone like Ernie Lounds would have probably picked it up on a slower news day.

“Yeah? Why the heck not?” Ted was making them fried chicken, the oil pan sizzling hot, a line of bowls and dishes out. “I’m sure that they’d love it.”

Trent wasn’t sure that they’d love it, the whole idea kind of silly, and unlikely, but silly and unlikely was also what defined Richmond in a lot of ways, so Trent could roll with it, Henry probably delighted if he found that the players had hung everything up.

“Alright then.”

“Yes!” Ted pumped his fist, Trent reminded of how sweet and carefree Ted could be, how much it suited him to feel content and unburdened.

It was a good look, Trent embarrassingly in love with Ted.

“I’ll have to go pick up the cake, but I’ll try to arrive before-“

“What cake?” Ted turned to look at Trent, a pair of thongs in his hands, the oil crackling behind him.

“Ted! Pay attention to what you’re doing.” Trent generally tried not to get involved when Ted was cooking, but he wasn’t in the mood for a grease fire.

“I am.” Trent didn’t believe that for a second, but he wasn’t trying to pick a fight, so he’d let it slide. “And why are you talking about cake? Cause Henry and I are making cupcakes for everyone.”

“What?” Trent crossed his arms, what Ted was telling him not something they had previously discussed, “When?”

In reality, he wanted to ask why, but it was lucky that when had left his lips, that question a lot less aggressive.

“Figured we’d do it Friday after school.” Ted grabbed the chicken, and put it on a plate with a paper towel. “We’re making red velvet-“

That was Henry’s favorite flavor, but Henry hadn’t said anything, and that-

“Did you discuss this with Henry?” 

Trent was absolutely sure Henry hadn’t said anything about baking cupcakes with his Dad, Trent actually flicking through his notes to double check.

“I figured it’d be a surprise.”

Ah.

That made more sense.

A surprise.

Of course.

How lovely.

“Great.” Trent smiled, his face fighting him, but he forced it, the smile so far from genuine. “Just great.”

Trent had been so certain that they had agreed that food and beverages was his responsibility, but maybe, he had misunderstood.

“Great?” Ted glanced over at him, another piece of chicken going into the pan, “Baby, that great didn’t sound great at all. What’re you worried about? Henry loves red velvet.”

“I know he does.” Trent tried to swallow down his irritation, tried not to let venom seep into his voice. “I just wish-“ 

This was one of those pivotal moments, where he had to make a decision.

He could either choose to share, or he could keep all of his feelings inside. 

Trent knew what he’d prefer to do, squashing his irritation the move that felt natural to him, making Ted upset the last thing he ever wanted to do.

Ted had insisted several times yesterday that they were a team, and even if Trent hadn’t followed Richmond around for a year, he would have known that Ted wanted teams to talk.

“I wish,” Trent wanted to run, wanted to abandon ship, wanted to leave, but he couldn’t do that, “ you would have told me, before I called four different bakeries to find one that’d do a funfetti cake.”

Trent had hoped he could get by with an army of Colin the caterpillars, but Henry had been incredibly specific in that he wanted a funfetti cake with buttercream frosting and a football theme, so Trent had driven by the bakery to hand deliver the decorations he had bought.

He had been forced to pay an extra fee for the bakery to use what he provided for decorations, so Trent had decided to say fuck it, and go all out. 

It had required several packages of cake toppers to find plastic figurines that looked like the Richmond players, Trent recoloring everyone's kit with sharpie to make it Richmond red and blue.

The coloring had been so annoying that he had nearly given up several times, Trent so close to boiling over, but he had managed it in the end, his fingers barely stained.  

“You organised the cake?” Ted had that Cheshire grin on his face, his eyes sparkling, Trent torn between annoyance and adoration. 

“Well, yes,” Trent tried to soften his tone, but it was hard to keep it neutral, “I believe that it’s customary for birthday celebrations to include cake, even in America, and I’m certainly not going to attempt that big of a cake on my own.” 

Or any cake, really, but Ted knew how bad Trent was in the kitchen. 

Buying the birthday cakes did serve a dual purpose though. Saturday wasn’t Henry’s actual birthday, so Trent had also ordered a red velvet cake for pickup on Tuesday. 

Michelle would be coming over for dinner, Trent making the easy decision that he and Isabella would keep themself scarce for as long as possible, Trent planning to pick up the cake after ballet class, so Henry would have time alone with his parents.

“It’s a fixable issue, I’ll call and cancel-“ and lose his deposit, Trent not bitter enough to ask Ted for a refund, but he kind of wanted to, Ted such an appallingly bad planner. 

Which was a lie. 

They were just different, and Ted tended to be much more spontaneous than Trent, Trent starting his preparations for Henry’s party all the way back in February.

It had been absolutely necessary though, emailing the other parents and securing the seats a hassle and a half, and that didn’t even include the Richmond gear he had bought for Henry’s classmates, the wait time on postage from the official Richmond website appallingly bad.

“Don’t you dare.”

“Excuse me?” Trent felt a flare of annoyance. 

Ted had turned off the stove, the pan removed from the heat, even though there were still several pieces of uncooked chicken on one of the plates.

“Don’t you dare cancel that order.” Ted had twisted around, “cause I’mma kiss you now.”

“What?” Trent laughed in disbelief, his annoyance evaporating. “Are you insane?”

“About you.” Ted grinned, Trent expecting him to stop with the silliness, but instead, Ted came towards him, the stupid grin still in place. 

“I don’t want a kiss, and you’ve- Ted I’m serious, your hands are disgust- Don’t even think about coming over here with those meat mittens of yours! Ted! No! Ew! Mmh-“ 

~~~

Ted wiggled a little as he had just slipped on a pair of pajama pants, the elastic pinching his side.

Maybe, they had shrunk in the wash. He put a thumb into the waist band, pulling to loosen it, but it didn’t really help, everything still all snug. 

He was probably just a little bloated from dinner. Fried chicken didn’t keep well in the fridge so Ted had gone in for seconds and thirds, and while Trent had eaten all of his mash and his beans, he had pushed about half of his chicken onto Ted’s plate, which Ted hadn’t minded one bit. 

He liked finishing Trent’s plates, liked sharing with him, liked how Trent always allowed him sips and tastes, food simply better if Trent held it out on a fork.

Not that that solved the issue with the pants. Ted released the elastic, and decided that he’d just deal with it, even if it pinched.

Ted heard the water turn on, Trent just about done in the bathroom, Ted brushing his teeth while Trent had put in his hair oil.

He loved Trent’s hair oil, and Ted couldn’t wait to snuggle up and bury his nose in it, to twirl his fingers around in it, the almond one of the best scents in the entire world.

Ted had changed everyone’s bedding before he had started on dinner, so when he slid into bed, it was to the sensation of fresh sheets, Ted giving a happy little yawn as he snuggled in. 

Trent liked to read before bed, and Ted liked to stay awake to ask questions about it, but he could already feel his eyes falling shut, the lack of good sleep catching up to him before Trent had even exited the bathroom.

~~~

“Hello?” Trent kept his phone between his ear and his shoulder, his laptop open in front of him. “I’m calling to inquire about your canopy bed availability."

Ted had left for work about an hour ago, the two of them eating breakfast together, Ted getting their grocery shopping done on the phone while eating his cereal.

The order was supposed to arrive around lunch, so Trent still had time to finish the copyediting he had picked up, today’s job as mind numbingly dull as all the others had been .

“Yes, I’ll hold. Thank you.”

Trent didn’t, technically, need to find a canopy bed for Isabella right now, her birthday in the middle of May, but Trent’s big gift to Henry was an offer to switch his office and Henry’s room.

Which was why he desperately needed something to distract Isabella from the fact that she wouldn’t be getting a room makeover.

Trent didn’t like spoiling the children like that, but he also knew that Isabella would raise hell if she felt like she didn’t get her fair share, and she did kinda maybe sorta need a new bed anyway.

The important thing was Henry though, and Henry’s new room.

It had felt unfair for a while that Henry had the smallest room in the house, Lilian’s old office plenty big for someone who used it as a secondary office space, but it didn’t truly work as a bedroom.

Even if Henry had never once complained about it.

It had made sense to hastily transform the abandoned office into a room for Henry when it had officially been decided that Ted’s family would be moving to London, Ted too anxious that it wouldn’t work out for Trent to say anything at all, Ted more than happy with the office space when Trent had offered it.

They had painted the room its blue color together, the furniture a mishmash of bits from around the house and the loot from one very memorable trip to Ikea.

Henry deserved his own space, and he deserved a space he had had a say in too, Trent more than willing to downsize his office so Henry could have room for a double bed, a desk, a dresser and maybe even a small TV for his gaming.

Trent liked having a communal TV, liked having everyone out in the livingroom, but Henry was turning 13, so he’d probably start to crave a greater sense of privacy soon.

As well as a break from Isabella.

Trent loved his daughter with his whole entire heart, and he’d do anything for her. She was the light of his life and the other half of his heart, his walking miracle, but she and Henry were like night and day, their temperaments completely different.

It made sense to give Henry more autonomy, to provide him a place to retreat to, to let him have a space that he didn’t have to share, Trent easily recognising his own introverted tendencies in Henry.

“Hello? Yes. Thank you. I’m calling to inquire about your canopy beds. Is the online selection all you have in stock? Oh? It is? Well that’s a shame. I was hoping for something of a slightly higher quality.”

~~~

Ted didn’t know why everyone liked Netflix so much.

Like. He got it, but he also really didn’t.

With his DVD collection, he knew exactly what he had, and it was easy peasy to make a decision about which disk he wanted to pop in.

With streaming services? It was a whole other story.

Ted had been scrolling for what felt like a small eternity, looking for something for him and Trent to watch, while Trent finished making himself a cup of tea in the kitchen, Ted’s downstairs closing shift already done.

Netflix UK didn’t currently have Notting Hill, which had been his initial first pick, since that was the perfect background movie, Ted sort of hoping, no, expecting, maybe dreaming, that Trent would be down to cop a feel and make out since it was Thursday.

Not that they always had sex on pre-switcheroo Thursdays, but it happened often enough, and Ted had been looking forward to the possibility of it all day, the desire for intimacy, to feel connected to Trent simmering in his body.

Ted wanted to be put on his knees, wanted to find himself between Trent’s thighs, wanted a cock in his mouth and a hand in his hair.

Wanted to be allowed not to think, to have Trent take the reins.

To be freed from his own mind.

Maybe, Ted should just say a prayer and let the cable gods decide what they’d watch, Trent prone to turn the TV off anyway once kisses got involved.

Ted didn’t want to be too obvious though, the idea of blatantly asking for sex making him squirm in a very non fun way, the idea of Trent rejecting him filling his belly with worms instead of butterflies.

In the end, he decided on Moulin Rogue, the timing working out perfectly since Trent had just come into the living room, a steaming cup of tea in his hand.

He looked great.

Though Trent always looked great.

He was so sexy and smart and Ted felt beyond lucky that he was the one who Trent had decided to love, that he had been picked to kiss Trent for the rest of their natural lives.

Tonight, he had his glasses in his hair. Trent wearing a green sweater and a pair of brown pants, Ted able to catch glimpses of stomach when he moved, a book under his left arm.

“Want me to-“ Ted held out a hand, offering to take Trent’s cup so he could sit down without risking a spill. 

“I’ll manage.” Trent sat down, the smile he sent Ted’s way causing a delicious tingle in the tip of his finger.

Gosh dang he was in love.

Ted knew he loved Trent, otherwise, he wouldn’t have made the wild ass decision to repeat his crazy ass decision and move back across the Atlantic, but he swore he had felt a second awakening of tingles and butterflies lately, Trent effortlessly lighting him on fire.

“Oh, you’re watching Moulin Rouge?” Trent tipped his glasses down and onto his nose. “I like Nicole Kidman in that.”

Ted hadn’t meant to, but his blabber mouth never knew when to quit, Trent’s observation something he simply had to dig into, Nicole Kidman an absolute treasure, even if she didn’t make it up alongside the RomCom greats.

It should maybe not have come as a surprise, but Trent apparently disliked any and all jukebox musicals on principle, their discussion about wherever or not Moulin Rouge was a sacrilegious butchering of Queen’s legacy carrying them through the entire opening act of the movie, Trent standing firm on his opinion that jukebox musicals - even if they were decent - embodied the letter but never the spirit of the songs they decided to go Frankenstein on.

Your Song started playing, and Ted suddenly remembered his original mission, Trent riling him up enough that he had almost forgotten his desire to get down and hopefully also dirty, Trent still endlessly far away on the other side of the couch.

Ted wanted to hold hands, wanted to cuddle in close, but he was also a tiny bit miffed about how Trent had said that Mamma Mia was simply the best amongst the worst, instead of it being actually good, so Ted had settled on lifting his legs up, and placing his sock clad feet in Trent’s lap. 

He did feel a hand close around his ankle, but instead of getting the attention he deserved after the short lull in their conversation, Ted watched Trent open his book, his boyfriend apparently perfectly content to just ignore the movie, and tune it out.

To turn his attention towards a Penguin Classics that Ted couldn’t see the cover of, Trent apparently not in the mood for a movie even as he had sat down on the couch.

Which was fine.

So fine.

Perfectly fine. 

Being in each other’s space without doing the same thing was something they did all the time.

Ted could totally handle that.

Except he totally couldn’t. 

Trent had a hand around Ted’s ankle, but as soon as Ted started bouncing his leg, the limb moving of its own accord, he felt a forearm come down, Trent resting his right arm on his shin, holding him in place, keeping him still, the book still open, Trent still reading.

Which was supremely unfair.

Ted was halfhard, Trent much more exciting to watch than a movie he had seen several times, Evan McGregor delivering the musical performance of his career, but Ted only had eyes for Trent.

Trent, who was illuminated by the orange glow of the couch table lamp, Trent, who Ted saw every day, but who he also forgot to look at.

Trent, who was so beautiful it made Ted’s heart skip a beat.

Ted hadn’t learned how to write a sonnet yet, but he should get back on that, Trent deserving of poetry, his boyfriend-

“Keep that leg still,” Trent didn’t even look up from his book, “or I’ll saw it off.”

Ted felt a shiver run down his spine. He didn’t want Trent to saw his leg off, but he couldn’t keep still either, restless energy mixed with arousal, the threat not dousing the embers inside of him.

Instead, it stoked the fire, the attention of an irritated Trent better than no attention at all.

Ted didn’t excel at patience, but he settled in to wait, Nicole Kidman singing, waiting, planning, Ted twisting his foot when Trent reached to turn the page in his book, Ted 'accidentally’ bumping into it, which caused Trent to drop the book, the poor thing hitting the floor,

The thump sounded unnaturally loud in their living room, the rug no longer there to break the fall.

Trent’s head snapped to the side, eyes crackling, mouth twisted in a sneer, and Ted was hit with the sudden urge to whistle innocently. 

“Theodore.”

Ted swore he felt like a firecracker, his insides lighting up, the sound of his legal name in Trent’s annoyed voice filling him with tingles and sparks.

It was glorious.

Ted felt utterly caught, Trent pinning him in place with just a look, the arm on his shins suddenly so very heavy.

“Would you like,” Trent’s voice was low and wonderfully stern, “to explain yourself?” 

“No.”

“No?” Trent raised an eyebrow, “and why, pray tell, are those words leaving your pretty lips?”

Ted felt like he had been dunked in hot water, the compliment enough to make him sizzle, his halfchub racing towards fully hard.

He could get what he wanted if he asked nicely, could tell Trent to come kiss him on the mouth, but instead, Ted felt his brain run off on its own, words spilling from him before he could control them.

“Cause I didn’t do nothing.”

Ted felt like a live wire, like bees had been let out in his belly, Trent clicking his tongue which made the bees go berserk.

“So you didn’t, and allow me to quote-“ Ted felt his cock twitch, Trent using his reporter voice, “‘do nothing’ is that correct?”

“As right as rain and as certain as the sun rising in the east Captain.”

“Aha.” Trent tutted, and Ted swore he’d burn up any second, but then, instead of doing something, doing anything, Trent’s arm like a lead weight on Ted’s legs, he simply sat back.

Ted watched in what felt like slow motion as Trent leaned back, as he took his sweet time settling in, Trent not even looking at him, the movie suddenly interesting, and Ted couldn’t bear it, a whimper escaping him.

It was a horribly embarrassing whine, but it had also been loud enough for Trent to turn his head, a smirk blooming on his lips.

“Come on then.”

Ted had started moving before Trent had even finished talking, Trent laughing sweetly as Ted scampered to get in his lap, Ted finally getting his kisses just as ‘Like a Virgin’ started playing on screen.

Chapter Text

“Ah,” Trent tried to catch his breath, his shoulders hunched, one hand around his cock, the other buried in Ted’s hair and holding him in place, Trent touching the back of Ted’s throat as he came.

It felt fucking amazing, Trent emptying himself inside Ted’s mouth, forcing his cum into Ted’s stomach, Ted taking it and moaning around him as he swallowed over and over again.

Trent could feel Ted breathe through his nose, huffs of warm air hitting his fist, the convulsions of Ted’s throat the sweetest torture on his oversensitive flesh.

It was glorious, the pleasure coming in waves and part of Trent never wanted it to end, his fingers tightening in Ted’s hair, Ted letting out the most pathetic whine, Trent’s cock twitching at the sound.

God how he adored Ted’s noises.

Ted was being so good, so obedient, so sweet and Trent loved him so much.

He had never dared think Ted would like sucking cock, that he’d be this into it, that Ted would willingly sink to his knees. He didn’t want to move, aftershocks still making him shiver, but he let Ted pull back so he wouldn’t choke, the fist in place to keep him safe. 

Trent released himself, Ted allowed the space to recover as he gasped for air, the other man practically shaking with arousal, Trent sure he was about to burst at the seams while he slowly stroked Ted’s hair.

It was intoxicating to have this much control, to have Ted at his mercy, to have Ted Lasso kneel in front of him.

Willingly.

Eagerly.

Impatiently.

Trent had no idea how he had missed that Ted had been angling for sex earlier, that the brattish behavior had been a desperate plea for attention, a lapful of Ted the best sort of surprise, his boyfriend beyond eager, his kisses sloppy and uncoordinated.

It should be annoying when Ted acted out, but instead, it was just frustratingly hot, Ted pushing all of Trent’s buttons, the way Ted simply took what Trent dished out as punishment mindnumbingly arousing, Ted constantly leading Trent to discover new things about himself, Ted lighting him on fire, the sex they had unlike anything Trent had ever been able to imagine he’d be allowed to have.

Ted moaned, and Trent remembered what they were doing, the sound pulling him back into the now. 

“Ssh, there there,” Trent changed his grip, “You’re alright, here we go.” He tugged on Ted’s hair, pulling him off of his cock, Trent hissing as he slipped from Ted’s lips.

“That’s, ah, my sweet boy.”

Trent had expected to have Ted back in his lap, for him to climb in, hot and desperate and needy, Trent keeping enough of his wits about him to make sure he had unbuckled and unzipped Ted’s trousers before he had made him sink to the floor and fed him his cock.

What he hadn’t foreseen was how Ted chose to stay on the floor, spreading his legs, his hands landing on his own thighs, Ted’s left hand hovering just above his own bulge.

“Oh?” Trent raised an eyebrow, thanking the higher powers that he still had his glasses on, Trent easily able to see how Ted had soaked through the fabric, precum making everything wet and sticky. “Hello there.”

Trent leaned back, allowing himself to luxuriate in the sight, to take in how awfully pretty his baby boy was.

“Trent-“ Ted whimpered, his eyes closed. He was clearly trying to stay still, but he was rocking back and forth, hips moving of their own accord, his cock straining, the impressive length rock hard. “Please-“

“Mmh.” Trent smiled, Ted so gorgeous in his passion, his lips swollen and wet, his moustache a mess, his hair in complete disarray when Trent released him, Ted’s eyes opening, his pupils completely blown.

It was beautiful, Ted a work of art.

“Please what?”

Trent watched as Ted’s hand moved again, how it inched closer, a smirk spreading on Trent’s lips.

It had been a while since they had done that, since Trent had asked, since Ted had been allowed, but he was clearly dying for permission.

“Do you want to touch yourself?”

Ted blushed, his cheeks going bright red, the tip of his ears coloring too, and even though Trent had just come, he felt his cock twitch.

Fuck, this was the stuff dreams were made of.

Ted Lasso on his knees, vulnerable and breathtakingly gorgeous.

“I didn’t hear an answer-“ Trent was just about to call Ted Theodore, but he swallowed it at the last second, Ted asking him to no longer use his full name, “darling.”

It wasn’t as satisfying, to say darling instead of Theodore, but Trent could respect Ted’s boundaries, his boyfriend’s mouth hanging open, a shaky breath leaving him, Ted so tightly wound.

It was intoxicating, Trent practically able to taste the need in the air.

“Please,” Ted had blotches of red down his neck, his boyfriend squirming in place, Ted overcome with desire. “I want-“

“Yes or no.”

Ted groaned, pained and desperate, the sound almost enough to make Trent ask if he was okay, Ted’s hands shaking, but then, he nodded as he started blabbering away.

“Yes. Yes. Yes,” Ted whimpered, words falling from his lips, Ted not in control at all,  “please, please,” Ted was begging, and it was beyond sexy, “let me- please, Trent-“ 

Ted choked, and Trent decided to show him mercy.

“Go.”

Trent watched as Ted’s hand grabbed his cock with lightening speed, the touch so brutal it almost made Trent winch, but Ted moaned, eyes falling shut, relief etched in his face, his back arching, Ted completely gone as he shot his load within seconds, Trent sure that this was a moment that he’d never forget. 

~~~

“Come on Teddy bear.” Ted was standing in front of the bathroom mirror, his eyes downcast, Ted looking at his own feet, his toes buried in the fluffy bathmat. “Just one tiny little looksie.”

It was Friday morning, and Ted was trying to psyche himself up to do a proper inspection of his own body.

To check on his chest, to look at the bruises, to make sure he knew what to be mindful of when he entered Nelson Road and had to switch from Ted to Coach Lasso.

It was a new ritual, but a very necessary one, the ritual needed because of all of the wonderful things Trent did to him…

Ted had never known what blowjob lips were before he started dating Trent, but when Ted had gone to brush his teeth yesterday, he had been halfway horrified at how swollen his mouth had been, the friction of sucking Trent off causing his lips to plump up.

It had looked downright pornographic, and it had been very noticeable, Ted calling for Trent before he had finished thinking, panic overtaking him.

Trent had helped him calm down, Ted completely freaked out, Trent chuckling as he had gone to go get an ice cube from the freezer to press to Ted’s lips, to help with the swelling.

It had been weirdly sexy, Trent slowly and carefully soothing Ted’s mouth with the ice.

He had even pretended to be a nursemaid, a steady stream of ‘You must remain calm Mr. Lasso’ to ‘You’re being very brave’ with some ‘Excellent job, sir’ mixed in.

Which had been more than enough to light Ted on fire all over again.

He had never found the idea of hospitals sexy before, and he still didn’t like the objectification of doctors and especially nurses, but Trent did something to him, his boyfriend capable of making anything erotic, Ted trapped in another whirlpool of desire before he could stop himself.

He hadn’t meant to babble out a fantasy, Ted blushing as he recalled telling Trent that he wanted to please him, that he’d do anything, that he loved him, Trent stealing his words with a kiss before putting him on his stomach in their bed, the ice cube forgotten which had filled Ted with a weird sense of disappointment.

The second round of sex had been absolutely amazing though, Trent working him open on his fingers, Ted electrocuted by the touches to his prostate, his body jerking, Trent beyond merciless as he used Ted in whichever way he pleased.

It had felt so good that he had bitten down on his forearm, a perfect ring of teethmarks still half-hidden by the coarse hair, Ted not even noticing that he had gone too hard because Trent had made him come.

And then come again, Trent slowly and meticulously stroking and sucking, licking and touching, even tracing the marks on Ted’s chest, a dry orgasm wrecking his body, Trent a downright magician, his hands and his mouth and his voice and his-

Ted swallowed, memories from yesterday washing over him, his treacherous cock filling up.

It shouldn’t be possible, Ted already coming three times, but he wanted, no, needed, he-

Trent was still asleep, his boyfriend spread out on the bed, Trent coming to bed in a pair of boxers last night, Ted waking up to a hand under his shirt, Trent stroking his stomach in his sleep, Ted feeling so safe and kept and loved.

The thought of that hand, of getting petted, was enough to spring Ted into action, to give him the courage to meet his reflection, his sleep shirt going over his head so he could take a look, Ted forcing himself to focus on the mirror.

He looked normal.

Which was a good thing.

His lips had gone down, the swelling no longer there, his mouth the obvious proof of his bedroom activities.

It was a relief that his face had recovered during the night, his football squad filled with tiny detectives who would have absolutely clocked the fact that he had sucked cock. 

Ted wasn’t ashamed of his sex life with Trent, actually, he felt pretty danged lucky to have such good sex, but that hadn’t transformed him into a kiss and tell guy, what he got up to in the bedroom not anybody's business but his own.

Except for whoever he had in there with him.

He was grateful that it was Trent though.

Trent, who made Ted feel things he had never felt before, who constantly surprised him.

Who made him feel sexy…

And pretty…

Even beautiful.

Ted looked at his chest, the bruises on their way to yellow, the teeth marks mostly healed.

He’d still need to be careful with his layers today, a black undershirt still a necessity, white too revealing, but the marks would be faded and forgotten soon.

Which filled Ted with a strange sense of… Not disappointment, but maybe…

Melancholy?

He didn’t want to admit it, but he liked the marks, wearing such a physical reminder of Trent’s love on his skin filling him with a feeling of power.

Cause Ted was worth desiring.

Was worth marking.

Was worth claiming.

Trent wanted to claim him, wanted to own him, wanted to keep him and make him his, wanted Ted to belong to him.

Ted touched the teeth mark on his right side, the skin no longer tender to the touch, no longer smarting when he poked at it.

Which was a shame.

Ted could easily recall how sore it had been, a zing of pleasure running up his spine at the memory, but it also ran down too, Ted blushing as he felt the previous lazy interest officially enter halfchub territory.

Maybe… He looked at the shower.

It’d be prudent to check how his hole felt, if there was anything between his legs that he should be aware of before going to work.

Ted could feel his cock twitching, little traitor, the idea of touching himself, of feeling the tenderness once more, of running his own hand over what Trent had made so sensitive beyond hot.

But he didn’t…

It wasn’t like Ted never masturbated, but it used to be… 

He remembered how it used to be nothing more than a response to a physical urge, touching himself a nice thing because it had felt good, but he hadn’t had any fantasies, thinking about random women too disrespectful.

He hadn’t wanted to debase Michelle either, hadn’t wanted to risk making her uncomfortable, his wife both the person he should and really shouldn’t think about during his alone time.

Trent would love it if he thought about him though.

And he’d want to hear about it too.

If Ted ever worked up the courage to tell.

Which he desperately wanted to do.

Ted swallowed, and made his decision, his clothes quickly abandoned in a pile on the floor as he slipped into the shower, the fantasy of telling Trent about having a fantasy, to imagine sharing what he was doing with his boyfriend enough to fill him up with white hot desire.

He used one hand to turn the water one, the other wrapping around his cock, Ted moaning softly as the water started beating down on him, his eyes closed as thoughts of Trent filled his head, the fact that Trent was asleep a few feet away making the whole thing even more naughty and perfect.

~~~

Travis loved his job.

He did, honestly. 

Most of the time.

Getting hired as Nathan Shelly’s assistant was one of the best things that had ever happened to him.

Going from making videos about football in his bedroom, to being on the pitch? Of a Premier League Club? At age 22?

That was nothing short of a miracle.

The fact that Nate had abandoned him?

Well… That was less than ideal.

Especially because Travis still couldn’t believe that AFC Richmond was a real place, and not some weird alternative dimension where he was somehow the only sane person on the premises. 

They were playing Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow, and yet, here they were, in the cafeteria, their entire squad using their precious time on decorating for a birthday party.

For a kid.

Sure, it was their gaffer’s brat, and it was at least the older one, but Travis was so angry about it that he felt like he was filled with molten lava.

It was a massive waste of time, and honestly an insult.

A misuse of resources.

A cruel joke.

Zoroux wasn’t out running drills. He was sorting football shaped napkins.

Isaac wasn’t going over strategy with his team. He was hanging a football shaped pinata.

Jamie wasn’t in the treatment room, getting a full body checkup so they could be certain that their star striker could handle tomorrow’s match as well as an England training camp and a game against Finland.

Travis wasn’t too worried about the international match, England’s national team one of the best in the world, but it was a matter of principle, every player that had been drafted to play for their home country, at risk of sustaining an injury.

They’d be playing with new teammates, on new turf, against new opponents under new management with a different medical team and new support.

It was a recipe for disaster, and while Travis could technically see that it was an honor that Jamie, Dani, Colin, Moe, Zoroux and even Robin all had been selected, it was also a nightmare.

He had tried to talk to Ted about it, but Ted had dismissed him right out the gate, his boss refusing to acknowledge that they didn’t have the depth of squad where they could potentially do without any part of their first team.

Especially two out of their three strikers.

Sam was decent, but he didn’t have the aggression that Jamie had, and while Travis genuinely believed that Raheem could become someone who had the potential for greatness, he wasn’t anywhere near the level of player that could score a goal in a Premier League match.

No one else wanted to face the truth, but Richmond would get the shit beaten out of them without Jamie, the blond the real Captain of their squad once the whistle blew.

Sometimes, it felt like Travis was the only one who cared about the fact that they’d be playing Champions League next year, which would put an additional strain on their team.

But no, setting up for a party was certainly the best way to spend a Friday afternoon.

All in the name of supposed team building.

Travis had somehow been put on the FIFA setup, Beard giving him the task in a way that had made him fume even harder.

Especially because Trent had been the one to give everyone else their jobs.

Not that Travis wanted to talk to Trent.

He didn’t need the attention.

Didn’t want it either.

Trent hadn’t even said hi to him when he had arrived though.

Which was rude.

Colin had gotten a hug.

Travis didn’t want a hug.

Not at all.

Especially not from stupid Trent, who was only walking around in a t-shirt, a pen behind his ear.

It shouldn’t be allowed to wear something so tight when you were a gazillion years old, when the fabric wrapped around your arms, when it stretched across your chest, when-

Trent wasn’t even working either. 

He was just… There, with his stupid notebook, talking to everyone, making suggestions and offering slight changes, Travis not paying any attention to him at all.

Even if Trent’s new haircut looked really-

No.

Travis refocused on the job at hand, the Playstation set up, a whiteboard rolled in with a tournament draft on it, several names already on there, the players pushing at each other to get to the markers first. 

He was almost done, and then, he’d be able to retreat to his office and do something that actually mattered, all of this just a stupid distraction, a waste of their time, a-

“Ted?”

Travis did very much not look up when he heard Trent’s voice, Ted over by the window where he was gluing decorations on the glass, Travis staring intently at the TV screen.

“Hey baby!” 

“Don’t call me that.”

Travis felt his stomach clench, emotions swirling around.

“I have to leave, Isabella will be out of class-“

Huh. So Trent wasn’t even staying for cleanup? Typical.

“Right, right right right. Course. You still sure I can’t ditch and come pick up Miss Crimm with-“

“Yes. You’re needed here.”

Travis didn’t actually agree with that, Ted the one who had decided this would be a good use of their second training block.

“And Henry is expecting you to come pick him up. Do you have everything for dinner? Or should I pop by a shop?”

Travis rolled his eyes, talking about domestic stuff while at work so unprofessional. 

“I’m more ready for launch than Major Tom.”

Travis could hear the smile in Ted’s voice, though he had no clue who Major Tom was.

“Well, in this case, I want you to come back to earth.”

“I’ll do as Ground Control commands.”

“You’re insane.” Travis didn’t look, but he swore he could hear them kiss, Travis hot all over in a way that didn’t feel like anger, though he refused to examine it.

~~~

Trent loved his daughter with his whole entire being.

She was his walking miracle, his reason to get up in the morning, his perfect being, a piece of his heart made flesh.

He’d do anything for her, give her whatever she’d need, always and forever, but he’d never be able to understand how any adult found it fun to play with children.

It was easier, now that Isabella was older and therefore more communicative, the games she wanted his participation in now a lot less repetitive than they used to be, knock down the tower thankfully no longer a favorite.

That phase had nearly killed him, doing the same thing over and over and over again borderline torture.

It was the sound of her laughter that had made it worth it, Isabella’s obvious delight enough repayment that it been more than worth it, but he was thrilled that she was growing up, that her interests were changing, that she was truly becoming a tiny human being that he could talk to and get actual responses back.

Playing with his daughter was - however - still mindnumbingly boring, salon one of the least offensive things she could ask him to do with her, which was why Trent had agreed when she had asked.

Even if salon did tend to hurt.

“Ow-” Trent winched as Isabella pulled too hard at his hair, Trent sitting on the floor with a pillow underneath him, his daughter up on the sofa.

“Sorry Daddy.”

Isabella didn’t sound all that sorry, her game clearly too interesting for her to truly care about an expression of discomfort from an adult, but Trent didn’t want that to be something she thought was okay. 

“If you can’t use gentle hands with Daddy, how will I know if you’ll use gentle hands with a puppy?”

Isabella gasped, releasing his hair, Trent swallowing a smile, his unhinged parenting clearly working. 

He had absolutely no intention of ever letting a live animal into his house, the thought of allowing either a cat or a dog or even a guinea pig through the doors filling him with dread.

The reminder did work wonders when it came to getting Isabella to correct her behavior though, her small hands already much more careful as she now did something that felt a lot like a braid.

It was never a particularly good look when Trent had been a visitor of Salon a la Crimm, but it wasn’t like he was going to attempt to lure Ted into bed anyway, the number of bows and barrets in his hair unimportant in that aspect.

“Daddy?” Isabella used her most sugary voice, and Trent already felt suspicious.

“Yes Poppet?” Trent tried to stay in place, tried not to twist around, but he could sense the mischief in the air, Isabella clearly aiming for something.

He had opened the puppy discussion himself, and he was prepared to die by the sword, but he hoped he wouldn’t have to.

“Can I put glitter in your-”

“No.” 

Trent didn’t even have to think about it, the damned glitter hair gel the very thing that had sparked this whole salon request in the first place, Isabella somehow in possession of several tubes, his daughter excitedly showing him a variety of colors while eating her after school snack.

All of it had been stuffed in her school bag and It was obvious that it was Lilian’s doing, Trent unsure how he had managed to piss his ex wife off in such a manner, the glitter gel a beautiful piece of passive aggressive warfare, Trent honestly impressed at how devious it was.

Cause he hated loose glitter with a passion, while Isabella loved it to death.

It didn’t make sense why Lilian was angry with him though.

He hadn’t forgotten to send a large bouquet of ‘I’m terribly sorry’ peonies after the way he and Ted had shown up at Lilian’s apartment, the flowers delivered the very next day to her workplace. 

Lilian had texted a photo of the arrangement, and a white heart, which meant that his peace offering for that particular transgression had been received and accepted, so it had to be something else, though Trent didn’t have the slightest clue about what he could have possibly done.

He hadn’t broken any promises, hadn’t forgotten any important dates, hadn’t insulted anyone, and Lilian had given him no clues about why he was being punished.

It was quite the puzzle, but it had to be bad if glitter was her first response.

“But-” Isabella had a distinct whine to her tone, and while Trent would accept a halfhearted apology, he’d not allow any whining. 

“I already told you no.” Trent twisted his head to look back and up at his daughter, Isabella still in her uniform since she had asked if they could play salon while eating her after school snack, “and I don’t appreciate the attitude, so unless you want this game to stop, I’d suggest you consider readjusting.”

Isabella crossed her arms, her lips pressed into an annoyed pout, Trent more than ready to go head to head with a 6 year old, but just as Isabella was about to retaliate, the front door opened, Henry calling out.

“Hello? Anybody home?”

“Henry!” Isabella threw the tube, all of her defiance completely forgotten as she jumped off of the couch, and raced towards the hallway, Trent rolling his eyes, though he couldn’t keep a smile off of his lips, the members of his little family back under one roof.

Chapter Text

Henry bit his lip, his stomach a wiggly squiggly mess. 

It was the middle of the night, and he was standing outside of Dad and Trent’s bedroom door, since he couldn’t sleep.

He had tried, his eyes burning, his body exhausted, but was just so excited about tomorrow.

It had been awesome to bake cupcakes with Dad, Henry allowed to pipe out all the cream cheese frosting. It hadn’t gone perfectly, but Henry didn’t care, since he was the one who had made the cakes, the fridge stuffed full, Dad making sure they’d have more than enough for everyone.

Henry didn’t know if all of the players would come to his party, but he hoped that they’d show up, that he’d get to celebrate with them.

He yawned, the move so big his jaw practically unhinged itself.

Henry had attempted to read, and he had counted sheep. He had even found a sleep meditation video on Youtube, since he knew Mom sometimes used those, but none of it had worked, Henry overcome with an electric anticipation whenever he closed his eyes.

Which was why he was standing here now, trying and failing to psyche himself up to go inside, so he could ask Dad to please make him some warm milk with honey and cinnamon.

Henry could maybe, technically, do it himself in the microwave, but he didn’t know if he could heat milk up that way, and he didn’t want to make an accidental mess.

Or risk setting something on fire if he used the stove wrong.

Like Trent almost had when he had forgotten a couple of sausages in the pan back in January.

Dad had told Henry he was always welcome in the bedroom, that he had to wake him up if he ever needed anything at all, but it felt silly to do that.

Henry was almost a teenager now, and he knew that Dad needed his sleep, especially if he had to go be Coach Lasso tomorrow.

Richmond didn’t have to win against Tottenham just because the match happened on the same day as his birthday party, but Henry really wanted Richmond to win.

He needed sleep too though, and he needed his Dad.

Henry used the handle to open the door, the light from the hallway the only thing illuminating the bedroom, Dad and Trent’s windows blocked by blackout curtains.

It felt weird to walk into the room, since Henry was never really in here. 

Not because he wasn’t allowed, but because he didn’t have any business in his Dad’s room, the room just a boring bed and Dad and Trent’s wardrobes.

Not like Trent’s office, or the attic, that had all kinds of cool stuff everywhere. 

The most exciting thing about Dad’s bedroom was the bathroom, but Henry and Isabella had a shower in their bathroom too, and all of Trent’s hair products and Dad’s moustache stuff took up the counter space.

“Dad?” Henry didn’t want to wake Trent, but as he got closer to the bed, he realized that that’d probably be impossible.

Dad and Trent were lying in the middle of the bed, both of them on their side, but they were all tangled up. 

Dad had his head on Trent’s arm and his face pressed to Trent’s throat, while Trent’s chin rested on top of Dad’s head.

Dad was snoring softly, and Henry had no idea how Trent could stand it. He couldn’t see underneath the duvet, but it looked like Dad had a leg over Trent’s hip, Trent’s free arm draped over Dad.

It was cute that they were cuddled up.

But also gross.

Actually, it was kinda mostly gross.

They were old, and they should act like it, instead of behaving like lovesick puppies.

“Dad?” 

Henry almost considered risking popping the milk in the microwave, but he had come this far, and he wasn’t going to give up yet.

“Henry?”

Henry recognised Trent’s voice immediately, the way Trent said his name so different from Dad, because of the accent. 

“Shoot.” Henry hadn’t meant to wake Trent, but Trent was already pulling away from Dad, Dad giving an unhappy grunt though he kept sleeping.

“Are you okay?” Trent kept his voice down, a hand stroking over Dad’s hair and down his cheek, soothing him, “Did you have a nightmare?”

“No…” Henry wasn’t a little baby who needed to crawl into his parent’s beds because of a nightmare. “I couldn’t sleep.”

Dad gave a particularly loud snore as he settled back down, Henry both amused and annoyed at how Dad didn’t wake up.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Trent reached for his glasses, his back now against the headboard, “Can I do anything to-“

“Dad usually makes me warm milk.”

“Aha.” Trent nodded, clearly contemplating Henry’s words. “If I may- That is, I’m sure we could wake your father-“

Henry was glad Trent thought they could, because he wasn’t so sure, Dad very much dead to the world.

“But maybe,” Trent hesitated for a second, “I could help you?”

“You’d do that?” Henry wasn’t actually surprised, since Trent always offered to help him, but that didn’t mean that he wanted to help, especially in the middle of the night.

“If you’d allow me?”

Henry didn’t know if Trent knew how to make warm milk, but he did know how to make tea, so Henry was pretty sure they’d be able to figure it out together.

“Okay,” Henry looked at Trent, “We can do that.” 

“Thank you Henry.” Trent smiled, and while it wasn’t what he had planned, Henry felt pretty confident that this would be good too.

~~~

Isabella was trying to decide which one of the strawberries she was going to eat next.

It was a tough decision, four berries still left on her plate. She could do the right one, but that had too much powdered sugar on it so she wanted to save it for last, and the one in the middle had a wet tip, and the one on the left did too, so-

“Poppet-“ Isabella looked up, Daddy tapping the table next to her plate. He had taken the braids out, his hair in the halfbun thing instead, his glasses on his nose. “Concentrate on your food.”

“I am.” Teddy had made them pancakes for breakfast, her and Henry and Daddy still in their pajamas, while Teddy had his football coach clothes on. 

A car would come to get him soon, but cars came to get Teddy all the time.

Thankfully, cars never came to get Daddy, Isabella not sure what she’d do if Daddy was gone as much as Teddy was.

Isabella was a big kid, and Henry was an even bigger kid, but she still felt bad for him, because his Daddy was away so much, Henry always allowed to pick what they were playing when Teddy wasn’t home.

Unless he wanted to play mermaids, and pick Princess Bubbles.

That was Isabella’s mermaid.

“You’re not.” Daddy pointed at her plate, and yes, Isabella hadn’t touched her pancake yet, but she was getting to it.

Once she had decided which strawberries to eat. 

“I am.” Isabella crossed her arms, and Henry snorted, a hand coming up to cover his mouth.

It was Henry’s birthday today, but it was also not Henry’s birthday, which was kind of confusing.

Isabella didn’t know how Henry had managed to get two parties at the same house, but once it became her birthday, she wanted two parties too. Or three actually. One at Daddy’s, and one at Mummy’s, and one in a cool place.

Not Nelson Road though.

Nelson Road was okay, but the worst part about Saturdays at Daddy’s was watching football, and today, they had to do it outside, instead of in the living room.

At least, she had her Ipad, playing on that a lot more fun than watching the games, her headphones enough to block out all the noises of everyone yelling and cheering.

The best part of Saturdays at Daddy’s was coming back home, but today, they had to stay for forever and ever and ever and ever because of Henry’s party.

Thankfully, Mummy was picking her up so she wouldn’t have to wait for all eternity, Daddy stroking her hair last night and telling her that he had planned a really cool afternoon for the two of them.

Isabella had asked if Keeley could come too, but Daddy had said she was busy, which felt unfair, Isabella fairly certain that Daddy hadn't even asked.

“Everything alright Miss Crimm?” Teddy came up behind her, a pan in his hands, Teddy unloading three fresh pancakes on Henry’s plate.

“Don’t indulge her Theo-“ Daddy cut himself off, his nose wrinkling, Isabella’s eyes narrowing. “She can eat what’s on her plate.”

Isabella didn’t like fighting with her Daddy, but sometimes, he was being stupid.

Like when he said that Teddy shouldn’t be on Isabella’s team, when her team was obviously the best team.

She could eat the food on her plate, but now, she didn’t want to.

She was about to push her plate away, when Teddy put his hand on the back of her chair.

“Do you want some more strawberries Beanie Baby?” 

Isabella looked at her plate, and now that Teddy had said it, that was exactly what she wanted, her plate filled with way too much pancake, and not enough strawberries.

“Yes please, and you have to eat those ones-“ Isabella pointed at the two that had a yucky tip, “thank you and please.”

Teddy laughed, and Daddy rolled his eyes, but he allowed Teddy to take her plate away, which felt like a victory, Isabella listening as Henry started talking about the Tottenham Hotspur lineup.

Which was beyond boring.

Isabella loved her Daddy and her Teddy and her Henry.

It just sucked to be in a house with so many dumb boys who cared about stupid football.

~~~

“There he is!” Rebecca smiled brightly as she spotted Henry come through the doors of Nelson Road, “Our birthday boy!” 

Rebecca didn’t usually hang out in the backstage areas of the club before a game, but she had lingered to make sure she’d be there to greet Henry when he came in, Trent and Isabella behind him.

“Hi Rebecca!” Henry smiled back at her, and even though Rebecca still didn’t like to think of herself as a hugger, she pulled Henry in, Henry thankfully allowing her to wrap her arms around him.

Trent simply waved at her, a smile on his face as he wandered off, likely to locate Keeley so she could watch Isabella while Trent finished preparing for the party. 

Rebecca hadn’t told Henry, and she likely never would, but she was so grateful to him.

Grateful for the fact that he had been brave enough to move to London, that he had encouraged his Dad to follow his heart, that he had allowed Ted to come back to her.

Because Rebecca didn’t know if she’d be able to survive losing Ted again.

“Listen,” Rebecca pulled back, but she kept her hands on Henry’s shoulder. “I know we’re supposed to give you your gifts later, but I wanted you to have this now-“

Rebecca reached into her jacket pocket, and pulled out a box that she placed in Henry’s hand.

“Can I-“ Henry looked up at her, anticipation shining in his eyes.

“Please.”

Rebecca watched as Henry undid the ribbon and opened the box, a gasp falling from his lips.

“Wow!”

“Do you like it?” The last time Rebecca had felt this nervous about a gift, was when she had given Nora the money for a driver’s license as well as an electric car for her 16th birthday, her goddaughter so concerned about the environment.

“It’s awesome!” Henry turned the box around, showing Rebecca the watch she had picked out like she had never seen it before. “Thank you! It’s like a James Bond one!”

“You know James Bond?” Rebecca didn’t know why she was surprised, Ted the exact kind of eccentric parent who’d show his preteen son the James Bond movies. 

Rebecca was about to ask Henry if he truly liked it, and inform him that he was under no obligation to keep it, even if he should have one now that he was officially a young man, but they were interrupted as Michelle came through the doors.

~~~

“Henry!” 

Michelle smiled as she watched Jessica Parker get out of her parent’s car, the young girl waving enthusiastically, her hair in a high ponytail. 

“Jessica!” Henry raced over, Jessica the last guest to arrive, Michelle left behind by the entrance to Nelson Road, Trent standing by her side. Keeley waiting inside with Daphne and Penelope, Terry arriving with his Dad, Isabella kept occupied by Rebecca, the little girl giving Michelle a very unexpected hug before she had run off.

“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Parker!”

Michelle watched as Jessica’s parents came out of the car, Trent muttering a tiny ‘oh no’. 

Daphne and Penelope had just been dropped off, and Trent had been perfectly cordial towards the children, but apparently, he wasn’t ready to deal with parents.

Which Michelle very much understood.

“Hello Henry! So nice to see you.”

Michelle didn’t know if she should whisper something to Trent, if she should ask him if he was okay, or if he’d rather that she left him alone.

In general, Michelle just didn’t know how to act around Trent.

It wasn’t like Michelle had been intentionally uninvolved in the planning of Henry’s birthday party, but Trent had been so on top of it that Michelle had barely managed to give any input at all, before an actual email arrived in her inbox with a detailed plan for the day.

She had felt instantly insufficient, and also kind of guilty, Michelle about to call her sister for some moral support, but then, she had read the email, and realised that there was no way on earth that Ted had been within ten feet of that itinerary.

It didn’t exactly help with the guilt, but it did help settle her feeling of insufficiency, Ted at a minimum as hopeless as she was. 

Henry's first parent/teacher conference was coming up in April, and while she wasn’t exactly worried since she knew that Henry was a good kid, she did feel kind of anxious about it, thoughts swirling around in her head.

Thoughts about whenever or not Henry was settling in right, if they were doing enough, if he stayed on top of his homework, if he could follow along in his classes.

If it was an issue that he had only invited four other kids from his school, and that he still video called his friends from Kansas all the time. 

“Hello there!” Jessica’s Dad waved as he walked over. “I’m John.” John held a hand out, “I’m Jessica’s Dad, and that over there,” John pointed over his shoulder, “is Jude.” 

“Hello.” Michelle smiled, taking John’s hand to shake it. “I’m Michelle. Henry’s Mom.”

“Of course, of course, that’s obvious!” John grinned, releasing her from his firm handshake, Michelle noticing that he didn’t immediately extend it to Trent. “And who’re-“

“Henry’s father’s boyfriend.” Trent grabbed the hand that hadn’t been offered to him, “We’ve been emailing.”

“Ah? Well would you look at that,” John laughed, “I thought I’d been talking to an assistant with how proper everything was.”

“Right.” Trent pulled back from the handshake, Michelle noticing how Trent instantly retreated into himself, the lukewarm awkwardness gone, Trent’s lips settling into a thin line.  

“So where is the famous Coach Lasso? Shouldn’t he be here?”

Ah. So John was that kind of parent, Michelle immediately recognising him for the glory chaser that he was.

“You’d think he’d be here, wouldn’t you? With it being his son’s birthday and all.”

“Ted wanted to, but he’s needed in the locker room, with it being a match day and all.” Michelle smiled, the role of a coach's wife a familiar costume to slip into, Michelle mirroring John without thinking about it, men much easier to deal with it they thought you liked them. “I’m sure he’ll have a moment when you come to pick Jessica up, but right now, he has a very important role to fulfill. I mean, we all want to see the Greyhounds succeed, right?”

“Absolutely!” John nodded, “Of course. Makes sense.”

Michelle was sure John was about to say something else, but Henry and Jessica came over, their arms linked, Henry smiling brightly, which was all Michelle wanted to see, Henry asking if they could please go inside so Jessica could get her Richmond kit too. 

~~~

Beard didn’t usually walk this closely to Ted, their arms brushing, Beard practically leading Ted along like a guide dog, but the match was about to start and Ted was totally distracted.

Not that Beard could blame him, Ted completely caught up in looking at the owner's box, his hand raised above his head, Ted nearly tripping over his own feet as he waved enthusiastically.

Because there they all were.

Henry and Isabella, Michelle and Rebecca and Trent.

Ted’s little family, all together, Henry waving back at Ted with both hands, the front page story forgotten for now, Henry returned to his careful but mostly carefree self.

“Uncle Beard!”

Beard hadn’t expected to hear his name, but as he twisted to look up, he saw that Henry was practically hanging off of the balcony, Trent standing up to grab the back of his belt.

“Uncle Beard!” Henry cupped his mouth, “Good luck!”

Beard had never been someone who smiled, but how could he not, when Henry was this sweet, his cheeks hurting as Ted grabbed his hand and nudged him, Beard raising his hand to wave back to Henry. 

~~~

“Coach Lasso! Over here! Coach Lasso! Congratulations on today’s tie! How does it feel to have bested Tottenham at home? With this tie, Richmond have officially managed to keep Spurs from playing Champions League next season. How does that make you feel?” 

~~~

Alfie looked out at the cafe, warm happiness pooling in his belly. He knew the cafe wasn’t technically his, or at least, not just his, but it was amazing to watch it be this full, to have so many people around that were this happy.

Henry had received a regular mountain of gifts, Alfie watching as Henry opened the one from Jan Maas, which turned out to just have fistfuls of cash inside, Coach Lasso quick to confiscate it. 

“Oi! Alfie!” Colin came towards him, the warm happiness replaced with squiggles, Colin for once not in his kit, but instead, in a cameo hoodie, the fabric looking so soft. 

“Did you make this?” Colin held up a cupcake, half of it missing. “It’s brill!”

“I wish,” Alfie smiled, “I made the arugula salad-“

“What? Really? A salad? Huh. I didn’t know it was legal to do that with weed.”

~~~

Michelle hadn’t intended to slip out of Henry’s party, but she had gotten an 11 minute long voice note from her sister alongside a capital letter text not to call, so Michelle had ventured out into the hall to listen to it.

Baby Willow was constipated, and Angelica was going out of her mind. She had apparently hidden in the pantry to make the voice note since Willow was finally napping, Michelle walking up and down the hall while considering if it was time to snitch to their Mom, or if Angelica just needed more time. 

She was about to relisten to the message, to dissect Angelica's words properly, so she could make the right call, when she saw a woman through the glass doors to the reception area.

She was holding a phone and a Richmond lanyard in one hand, a visitor's badge dangling from it, a small handbag hooked around her elbow. 

It wasn’t exactly Michelle’s business, but she was obviously lost, and her teacher's heart couldn’t handle that.

“Excuse me?” Michelle opened the door, calling out, “Can I help you?”

The other woman snapped to attention, and Michelle couldn’t help but notice that she was beautiful.

Maybe it was one of Keeley’s model friends, or the girlfriend of one of the players?

She had dark brown hair that framed her pale face and brown eyes. She had a long dress on in a pearly iridescent fabric that wrapped around her slender body, the dress maybe even a gown since it almost touched the floor, her collarbones and shoulders exposed. 

“Oh thank God!” The woman came towards her, Michelle hearing the clack of heels. “Another human being!”

She stopped in front of her, and Michelle could smell her perfume, the flowery scent somehow womanly, instead of girly. She was wearing makeup, but it was subtle, everything about her obviously expensive in the same way Rebecca was obviously expensive, Michelle feeling her stomach clench.

It had never occurred to her that she’d need to dress up for a football match and a cafeteria birthday party, but she suddenly felt frumpy in her Midwestern uniform of jeans, a nice blouse, mascara and a lip tint. 

“I’m so sorry, but could you help me please?”

“Course-“ Michelle nodded, slipping her phone into her pocket, Angelica hopefully asleep on the other side of the Atlantic. “Are you dating one of the players?”

It wasn’t what Michelle had intended to say, asking outright like that maybe a bit rude, but the other woman just started laughing, what Michelle had asked apparently funny.

“What?” She laughed, amused disbelief on her face, the other holding her free hand to her heart. “God no, could you imagine? Me? Being a WAG? Over my dead body.”

“Right…” The woman’s words were judgey, but they didn’t seem that judgemental all things considered, and Michelle wasn’t really offended on a personal level. She had technically been a WAG, but Ted had never been much of a high profile coach while they were still married, Trent much more of a WAG than Michelle would ever be. 

“You’re funny.” The woman smiled, “I’m attempting to locate the cafe-“

“You’re looking for the cafeteria?” Michelle was still trying to get used to all of the British vocabulary, the way their English was almost the same as her English downright confusing sometimes.

“You’re American?”

“Mmh.” Michelle nodded, suddenly a little self-conscious of her accent. It wasn’t as heavy as Ted’s, but this mystery woman had what Michelle had come to recognise as Posh and Proper English with a trademark tacked onto it. 

“The cafeteria is back there-“ Michelle pointed behind her. “I can take you, but-“

“Perfect, I’m here to-“

“My son’s birthday party is-“

“Pick up my daughter-”

“Currently happening-” The woman’s words registered, and Michelle halted.

“Wait, wait wait wait-“ Michelle’s eyes widened. “Are you-“

“Oh!” The woman lit up, the puzzle pieces obviously slotting into place for her too. “You must be-“

“I’m Michelle!” Michelle held out her hand, the other woman taking it, Michelle noticing that she had a perfect manicure, her own nails just covered in a simple coat of polish. “Michelle Keller.”

“It’s so nice to meet you,” The other woman smiled, Michelle desperately wishing that she could remember her name, remembering names something she had outsourced to Ted’s since her 20’s,  “I’ve been waiting for us to finally collide!”

“Really?”

“Of course. I mean, we do share a very peculiar similarity don’t we?” She grinned, “You are, after all, the only woman in the world whose ex husband is dating my ex husband.”

Michelle snorted, “I didn’t even think of it like that.”

“I’m Lilian, Lilian Crimm.”

“You’ve kept Trent’s last name?” Michelle didn’t mean to sound so surprised, but she had immediately switched back to Keller once the divorce had been finalized, shedding Lasso like an unburdening, getting rid of the name such a relief.

“Of course?” Lilian smiled, though she also looked kind of perplexed, “What else was I supposed to do? Should I have reclaimed my maiden name instead? Been Lilian York? No thank you.”

Lilian released Michelle’s hand, but not before she had given it a tiny squeeze, Michelle sure it was meant as a friendly thing.

“Crimm has become my name too, it’s my daughter’s last name and it’s what I use at my gallery.”

“Right…” Michelle had never asked about Lilian, and she hadn’t googled her either, but she could feel curiosity burn in her belly. Did she work at a gallery? What did she do for a living? Did she live in Richmond too?

Did she find the whole Ted and Trent thing as hard to navigate as she did?

“Well, look at me. Here I am, talking and talking, monopolising your time. I honestly didn’t mean to prattle on, I’m simply a little flustered. I’ve never been here before,” Lilian gestured vaguely at their surroundings, “and I must admit I feel like a fish out of water.”

“Really? Trent didn’t take you to matches?” Michelle had never really considered what Lilian’s life had looked like, but she had expected her to care about soccer, Trent a fairly successful sports journalist from what she had managed to piece together without asking directly. 

“He wouldn’t even have dared suggest it.” Lilian laughed. “It was more than bad enough that he insisted on keeping the TV or radio on constantly, I mean, does anyone want to share a living room space with Arlo White? But those are the things we do for love-”

Michelle wasn’t sure she understood, but she wasn’t going to ask questions, Lilian kind of intimidating, though she had the sense that she was trying extremely hard not to come across like that.

“Michelle, I hope I’m not being rude, but could you perhaps help me hunt down my daughter?”

“Oh.” Michelle flushed, Lilian’s original request completely forgotten since she had been so intrigued by finally meeting her, by putting a face to Isabella’s Mom, to see who Trent’s ex wife was.

“She’ll need to change before we can leave for the ballet-“

“You’re taking Isabella to the ballet?” Michelle hadn’t been looped in on that particular plan, not that Trent had to tell her about everything, but his itinerary email had been so thorough she felt caught on the back foot. 

“It’s just Swan Lake at the Royal.”

“Oh…” Michelle didn’t know what to say to that, but she was thankfully saved from thinking of a reply, by Trent who came through the double doors. He looked slightly frazzled, his phone in hand.

“Sorry, I’m-”

“There you are!” Lilian put a hand on her hip, “Finally! What is it with you and being incapable of answering your phone? I would have been left to fend for myself if sweet Michelle here hadn’t-“

“I know, I know, and I’m sorry Duckling.” Trent pressed a kiss to the corner of Lilian’s mouth, Lilian allowing him to give it to her, “It won’t happen again.”

Michelle didn’t mean to stare, but she was awfully close, the kiss making her stomach do a clench.

 Did Ted know that Trent kissed his ex wife like that? It felt too intimate, too-

“It better not,” Lilian put a hand on Trent’s arm, “because if it does, I’m buying you an Apple watch.”

Chapter Text

“Lilian.” Trent had his hand on the small of Lilian’s back as they walked down the hall. He hadn’t meant to miss her call, but he had been caught up in a conversation with Isaac, his phone unfortunately reaching an age where the vibration had started to only work sometimes, Trent obsessively double saving everything important to the cloud.

He could sense Michelle further down the hall, Trent nodding in her direction before he had led Lilian away. 

Isabella was somewhere upstairs, Keeley an absolute angel on earth, since she had volunteered to help Isabella change into the gown Trent had brought from home.

It felt like Henry was having an amazing day, the young man bouncing around and talking to everyone, Henry truly earning the Lasso last name, since he was almost as social as Ted. 

Ted, who was clearly having the time of his life too. He had charmed every single one of Henry’s classmates, and he was the natural life of the party, everyone gravitating towards Ted like they couldn’t help it.

Which was why Trent had allowed himself to blend into the background, to disappear off to the side, to stay on the outskirts.

It was where he felt the most comfortable, all of his efforts to arrange the party more than worth it when he got to watch Ted and Henry be the belle of the ball.

“I’m painfully aware-“ Trent kept his voice low as he took a beat to consider his words. He knew he was taking a risk, saying something, saying anything, to Lilian right now, but she had accepted his flowers, and she had allowed him to kiss her, his hand given access to her back, so she couldn’t be that upset with him.

Not That Upset wasn’t good enough though, not when it came to Lilian, not when it concerned the mother of his child, not when it-

He knew he had done so much to hurt her, but Lilian was…

In some ways…

She was still his everything…

“That right now isn’t the ideal,” Trent didn’t look over his shoulder, but he knew Michelle was right there, that anyone could bust out of a side door at any moment, “time for a-“

“It very much isn’t.” Lilian kept her voice low too, “so maybe you should reconsider-“

“I need a clue.” Trent hated admitting it, hated showing his hand so clumsily, hated that he had to admit defeat, but his pride didn’t matter. “Please?”

It felt humiliating to admit his struggle so openly, so gracelessly, but Lilian caught on immediately, which was a small mercy, his ex wife understanding him instinctively, the please practically a plea on his knees.

“Oh Foxy,” Lilian sounded exasperated, but fond, an undercurrent of heartache bleeding through. She twisted, and Trent let her, the two of them now chest to chest, his hand still on her back, Lilian looking up at him. “You want a clue?”

“Desperately.” He couldn’t stand Lilian being displeased with him. 

She was his closest confidant, the keeper of his secrets. She was the person on earth who knew him the best, who-

Lilian had seen him at his worst, and yet she still chose to care for him, chose to love-

Trent would be forever indebted to her, and he just-

“I’m not displeased because you’ve done anything to me Trent,” Lilian’s brown eyes were so very familiar, dark and stormy and upset, “this is about what you,” Lilian touched his chest, her finger digging in, “are doing to you. You’re being cruel to my best friend, and I hate you for that.”

~~~

“Dad!”

Ted turned around, Henry slamming into his side.

“Ouf!” Ted felt the air get knocked out of his lungs, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care, his arm coming around Henry’s shoulders. “Hey bud, what brings you on over here?” 

Ted knew he was taking a chance, but he ran a hand through Henry’s hair, Henry thankfully letting him, even if it was a little bit childish to have your Dad touch your hair.

“Everything all good in the hood?”

Ted had never dared hope that Henry’s party would be such a success. The team had played amazingly, Ted convinced he could hear Henry and his classmates cheering from the owner’s box.

The players had been told they were allowed to leave whenever they wanted, but everyone had chosen to stick around, the cupcakes they had made completely devoured, the big football pitch cakes Trent had arranged nearly gone too.

Ted had managed to snatch up a couple of figurines, and he already knew that he’d put one in his desk drawer and another one in his backpack, Ted’s stomach exploding with a butterfly tornado when he noticed that Trent had colored all the football figurines in Richmond blue and red. 

Admiring effort wasn’t something new for Ted, but to find effort sexy?

Well, that was an experience.

“Will you,” Henry barely had to look up at Ted anymore, his chin digging into Teds ribs, “come play FIFA with me?”

“Me?” Ted had to have misheard, “You want your old man humiliated in front of his squad?”

“You’re not that bad at FIFA.” Henry shrugged, but Ted could see the amusement in his eyes. 

Ted didn’t like to point fingers, but it seemed like Isabella had managed to influence his boy more than Ted had first realised.

Not that it didn’t work out for Isabella most of the time, 
his daughter getting decked out all fancy like upstairs with Keeley, Isabella loudly proclaiming that Keeley would be doing her makeup too.

“Why, thank you kindly good sir,” Ted reached up to tip an imaginary cowboy hat, “but we both know you’ll be running circles around me!”

“Not if you give it your best effort,“ Henry fluttered his lashes, his son flashing his baby blues, and Ted knew he was being manipulated, but dang it if it wasn’t working.

“Alright big guy! Boot it up and let me defend my honor, but if you pull any shenanigans on me, we’re doing Smash so I can blast your ass into the stratosphere.”

~~~

Lilian didn’t know what she had expected for her first visit to Nelson Road, but it certainly hadn’t been… Well… This

“Are you sure you used to be married to Trent?”

“What is it to you?” Lilian almost crossed her arms, but she refused to give the man in front of her the satisfaction. She felt like she had seen his face somewhere before, but she couldn’t place him.

“It’s just weird he managed to bag a baddie like-“

“Tartt!”

Lilian turned her head, none other than Roy Kent coming towards them, Roy someone she was - unfortunately - very familiar with, Trent ranting for days when Roy had managed to weasel his way out of what should have been his tenth red card as a Chelsea player.

“Cut the crap, and come on over here, Keeley’s almost-”

“Mummy!”

Lilian watched as Isabella rushed towards her, and she swore she felt her heart skip a beat.

Her little girl looked beautiful, like a real princess. She was obviously still a child, but Lilian could see the first glimpses of the young lady she’d become one day, her heart soaring and breaking at the exact same time.

“Hello Poppet-“ Lilian opened her arms, catching her daughter who wrapped her arms around her neck, Lilian lifting her though it made her knees ache, her high heels not made to carry all that extra weight. 

“Look!” Isabella pointed at her own face, and while Lilian had every confidence in Keeley Jones, it was a relief to see that Isabella had been given some very age appropriate glitter on her lids, a little blush on her cheeks and some pink on her lips. “Keeley did my hair!”

Isabella’s curls had been twisted into the prettiest updo, Trent texting and asking if she’d please wear her Ralph Lauren today, and it made complete sense, she and Isabella matching perfectly.

“Well would you look at that!” Ted came over, a gigantic grin on his face, “Isn’t that the very prettiest princess I’ve ever seen in my whole entire life? You’re practically sparkling Miss Crimm!”

Isabella smiled, her little girl allowing Ted to grab her so she could be put down, Lilian catching Trent’s gaze from across the room, the two of them rolling their eyes at the exact same time, though she could feel his fondness too, Isabella parading around as groups of adults oohed and ahhed.

Trent had been quiet after she had dropped her truth bomb, but he had asked for it himself, Trent telling her he needed a clue enough permission for her to share exactly why she had been giving him the passive aggressive cold shoulder.

She couldn’t linger on the financial decisions Trent had made, the irritation too much to swallow if she couldn’t punish him, if she couldn’t take it out on him.

It was unbearable that Trent had been torturing himself, that he had been that deep in a depressive episode without anyone noticing, without Lilian noticing-

She should have noticed-

“Hold on pumpkin pie,” Ted patted his pockets, “You stay right here, cause I needa find my phone so I can snap some pics of you real quick.”

“I got it Dad!”

Lilian watched Henry come towards them, his new gift from Lilian and Isabella in his hands. 

Henry clearly hadn’t expected a gift from her, but he had been so grateful for the camera that Lilian knew she’d take every opportunity to spoil him.

It was an analog Olympus 35 mm, Lilian putting in a roll of film before wrapping the camera.
 
She didn’t know Henry all that well, but you didn’t have to talk to him long before finding out that he had an interest in videography, and while a lot of art traders didn’t consider photos to be art, Lilian very much did.

Art could be anything, as long as there was intent in its creation, art more about social commentary and storytelling than making something aesthetically pleasing to the broad public.

At least if you asked her.

Trent didn’t use his cameras much anymore, but Lilian knew he had several boxes of equipment up in the attic, Trent capturing their honeymoon on the French Riviera with the exact same make and model Lilian had given Henry. 

“Lilian!” Lilian snapped to attention, Henry gathering Ted, Trent and Michelle for a photo with Isabella while she had been deep in thought, “Come join us please.”

“Oh.” Lilian smiled, “Of course.”

She looked at Trent, who gave a tiny nod, his okay all she needed before she made her way over to slide in next to Trent, Ted and Trent each keeping a hand on Isabella’s shoulder to make sure she stayed in frame, Michelle on Ted’s other side.

Lilian posed without thinking, her arm hooked in Trent’s elbow, but he let her, Trent even moving his foot so she could show her good side to the camera.

Henry took the photo, Lilian so very aware that she had essentially just been photographed with her blended family for the first time.

Henry would likely be in her life for as long as Trent managed to hold onto Ted, Lilian bonded to Ted and therefore also Michelle through Trent and Isabella..

Lilian knew that the two of them would be a forever if Trent had any say in it, her ex-husband stupidly loyal once he decided that he loved you, and he obviously loved Ted.

“Uncle Beard! Come be in the photo please- And you too Rebecca. Sam! Sam? Can you take the picture please? I want to be next to Isabella-“

“Excuse me-“

Lilian looked to her left, a man in a track suit slipping in next to her. He smelled like grass, and a little like tea, notes of something herbal present underneath his cologne. 

It wasn’t unpleasant, but he was wearing a cap inside, wearing hats indoors such poor manners that he had to be American, Lilian almost certain that this would have to be the mysterious Beard that Isabella had told her about on numerous occasions. 

~~~

“I’m never-“ Ted dumped down on the bed, face first, his entire body aching, “moving ever again.”

He was the kind of exhausted where it had felt so tempting to skip out on flossing, to just wiggle his toothbrush around and call it a night, but Trent had been in the bathroom too, the sight of his boyfriend enough motivation for Ted to do his nighttime routine properly.

“I’ll die in this bed.”

“That sounds unnecessarily dramatic.”

Ted twisted his head to look over Trent, who was closing the curtains.

Henry’s party had been a smashing success, Henry actually falling asleep in the car on the way home, his boy snoring softly as Trent looped the block while Ted picked up their pizzas to not disturb Henry’s nap.

Isabella had come home from the ballet, practically sparkling with happiness, Lilian informing Trent that she had lasted through the Pas de Deux this time, which was apparently a big deal.

Lilian and Trent had lingered in the hallway, Ted feeding Isabella a few bites of pizza while she sat on the kitchen counter, yapping away, Henry plenty occupied in the living room with the gifts from the team.

“It’s the truth.” Ted managed to worm himself onto his side. Trent had been a champion at bedtime, Isabella scrubbed clean and tucked in before Ted had even finished talking to Henry about his day. “Especially if you don’t scoot your boot right over here and give me some kisses.”

“I’m not rewarding you for flossing Theo-“ Trent stopped himself, Ted watching as he pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth for the briefiest second. “You’re a grown man.”

“Positive reinforcement is an effective tool for all ages-“

“If you don’t shut up-“ Trent put a knee on the bed, and Ted immediately felt his stomach flip, Trent looming over him, “I’ll make you.”

“Oh.” Ted swallowed, Trent really hot when he was being a bit mean and kind of bitchy, “Maybe I want you to-“

“No.” Trent pushed at Ted’s shoulder, and Ted let himself flop onto his back, Trent climbing on top of him, Ted nearly groaning when Trent settled in his lap. “You’ll behave.”

“I will?” Ted wanted to do what Trent asked of him, wanted to please, wanted to be good, but it was so tempting to step out of line, to push a little, to have that scowl and burning attention focus on him and only him. 

“You will.” Trent grabbed Ted’s wrist, Ted’s mouth falling open as Trent moved the hand above his head, the stretch way hotter than it should be, Ted’s skin tingling, “because otherwise, I’ll be very disappointed in you, and we wouldn’t want that now, would we?”

Ted shook his head before he truly registered what was happening, Trent smiling down at him.

“Good boy.”

Trent leaned down, Ted getting the sweetest, closed mouthed kiss, Trent barely touching him, which made everything that much hotter, Ted’s toes curling.

“How,” Trent pulled back the tiniest amount, “are the bruises?”

“The what-“ Ted swallowed, his brain still caught up in the sensation of the kiss.

“Your chest Theo-“ Ted should maybe focus on how Trent seemed to have stopped saying Theodore, but he couldn’t, when everything that was happening was so dangerously sexy, “How is your chest?”

“It’s okay, it doesn’t- Why-“

Trent hadn’t asked when the bruises had been brand new and bright blue, hadn’t pulled out in the collar of Ted’s t-shirt to sneak a peak while they had been alone in the house, even if Ted really wanted that to- But Trent hadn’t- So why now? Why-

“I watched you touch it today.”

Ted felt like he had been thrown in a pot of boiling water, his body heating up so fast it nearly gave him whiplash. He could feel his cheeks, knew that they’d be bright red, the tip of his ears, his neck, his chest, all of it without a doubt-

Oh god.

“What-“

Had anyone seen? Had they- He couldn’t remember-

“Sssh,” Trent gave him another kiss, Ted nearly whimpering into it. “No one else noticed, sweet boy.” Trent kissed him again. “No one else is as obsessed as I am. I’m the only one who saw. Nothing happened, you’re okay.”

Ted still felt like a live wire, but the overwhelming embarrassment was slowly changing, Trent’s reassurance enough for him to calm down, for the nice kind of shame to settle in his stomach instead. 

“You’re okay.”

Ted nodded, his heart still in his throat, Trent’s weight on top of him perfect and grounding, Trent’s hand on his wrist keeping him in check, keeping him tethered to reality. 

He could feel his pulse slow down, Trent’s steady breath in his ear as he nuzzled against Ted, the slow drag of skin against skin exactly what he needed, Trent’s stubble catching on his own.

“I’m sorry I asked-“

“No,” Ted swallowed, “It- No. It’s-“

Trent’s fingers tightened, and Ted realised that he had been…

Oh…

Ted hadn’t been anywhere near a panic attack, but he understood why Trent had worried about it.

“I’m okay.” Ted turned his head, Trent looking at him, Ted placing a kiss on Trent’s cheekbone. “I’m okay, I got-“

Ted couldn’t believe he was about to confess this.

“Fiddle fingers cause it didn’t hurt anymore, not cause-“

“What?” Trent raised an eyebrow, a curious but confused look in his eyes.

“I liked it when,” Ted swallowed, the good kind of embarrassment washing over him, his body drowning in sensations, “it felt real nice when it was all sore, when it-“

“Oh.” Trent smiled, and Ted was once again painfully aware of how effortlessly Trent could look like a predator, his boyfriend most of all reminding him of a panther. “That’s quite the confession Coach Lasso-“

Ted was about to nod, when the door opened.

“Daddy?” 

Ted felt, more than saw, Trent practically parkour off of his body, Trent over by the door before Ted had fully registered that Isabella was standing there in her sky blue night gown. 

~~~

“Teddy?”

It wasn’t Trent’s name that had been called, but he still looked up from his book, hoping that no one would notice that he wasn’t actively reading, Trent safe and sound and off to the side in the armchair.

It was Sunday afternoon, and while Henry and Trent had spent the day being deliciously lazy, Ted and Isabella had been so active it was almost sickening.

Trent had enjoyed the fresh bread they had made for breakfast but it should truly be forbidden to be as filled with energy as Ted was after a social event.

It had been amusing to watch Ted and Isabella faff about in the garden, Ted apparently crazy enough to think that they were the type of people that had vegetables growing, Isabella helping Ted mix mulch and plant potatoes. 

He and Henry had the good sense to need a proper recharge, Henry borrowing the iPad so he could research his new camera while lying on the sofa, Trent answering the handful of questions Henry had about shutter speed and composition while he attempted to chew his way through Ulysses.

He had never succeeded in actually finishing the complex tale, but he liked to chip away at it, to give it another go once in a while, even when he knew that he’d likely fail. 

“Yes sweet pea?” Ted had put a game on the TV for him and Henry, both of them holding a controller, while Isabella had asked if she could have her craft box, Trent’s little girl making what looked like a bracelet.

“Where’d the rug go?”

That caught Trent’s attention, his stomach clenching. He had almost managed to forget about it, but Isabella’s innocent question reminded him. He was about to open his mouth, to say something, when Henry chimed in too.

“Yeah Dad,” Henry had paused their game, both kids looking at Ted, “what happened to the rug?”

“Children-“ Trent closed his book, his finger keeping his place, Trent moving to the edge of his seat, “You-“

“The rug is on vacation.”

Trent wrinkled his nose at Ted’s obvious lie, Isabella giggling.

“That’s silly.”

“Rugs don’t go on vacation.”

“This one did.” Ted managed to keep a completely straight face, Trent watching him intently, “It’s away at the spa, getting a deep tissue massage, and one of those facials with the cucumbers on the eyes.”

“Oh come on Dad,” Henry groaned, “That’s such a lie.”

“I triple tinkle pinky swear!” Ted put a hand over his heart, and held the other one out. “Rug will be home before you know it, and unless we stay on track, rug will absolutely be home before we manage to get Cuphead and Mugman's souls back from the devil, so focus up bud or our ass will be grass!”

~~~

Ted knew he was getting old, but it was a special kind of punishment to feel his back twinge and his knees crack as he bent down to pick up the couch pillows.

Trent had offered to cook dinner, since he and Henry had really hit their groove with Cuphead, but Henry had practically sprinted into the kitchen to avoid that, game instantly abandoned.

It had made Ted laugh, even if he had had to kiss the scowl off of Trent’s face, Trent rewatching the Tottenham match on the TV while Ted had cooked with both kids.

Isabella had helped make a salad, and Ted had been able to show Henry how to make meatballs and spaghetti, Henry in charge at the stove.

Ted loved his job, and he wouldn’t trade it for any other occupation, coaching his true calling, but sometimes, he wished he had more time with his family.

Time to help the kids with their homework, to be interested in the things they were interested in, to show them what he loved, to go to recitals and host play dates, to bring them into the kitchen.

Ted had almost managed to return the living room to normal, tomorrow still a school day even if it was international week, when he heard Trent come down the stairs, Ted hoping that Trent would have the energy for an episode of one of their shows, a glass of wine, and some couch cuddles before bedtime.

~~~

“And you’re sure you have everything?”

“Yes Trent.” Henry didn’t roll his eyes, but he kind of wanted to, Trent parked on their usual side street. “I have my phone, and my books-“

He also had every part of his uniform perfectly in place, Trent asking him to redo his tie the second he saw it.

“And you didn’t forget the permission slip for the field trip?” Trent was twisted around so he could look into the back seat, Isabella already dropped off at her school, just like they always did.

“No, it’s inside my science binder.” The bell would ring soon, and Henry didn’t want to miss the chance to catch up with Terry before they had to go to class. “I also have my water bottle-“

“Wowie, I wasn’t aware drop off came with an interrogation side dish.”

Henry really didn’t mean to, but this time, he did roll his eyes, Dad sitting in the front seat.

“Excuse me?” Trent raised an eyebrow, and Henry had to swallow a smile. 

Dad didn’t usually come along for drop offs, but he didn’t have to be at work until real late, so Trent had offered to drop Dad off at therapy. Henry was glad he didn’t have to do therapy, the idea of sitting down and talking about yourself for an hour tremendously boring. 

“Trent’s just helping me Dad-“

It was kind of annoying sometimes, but Henry would much rather have Trent care too much, than have adults who didn’t care enough, the parents in the books Henry read all kind of terrible at being parents.

“I ain’t judging, I’m just saying. You two do this all the-“

“I can’t recall-“ Trent looked over at Dad, his eyebrow still raised “you purchasing a commentators ticket for this event.”

“And that’s me doing the-“ Dad mimed locking his lips, which made Henry giggle. 

He knew he was 13 now, but he still leaned forward, giving his Dad a hug kind of okay and not that uncool when they were on a side street, and no one from school would be able to see them.

Chapter Text

“Are you absolutely certain-“ Trent stepped down from the chair he had been standing on, “that the streamers aren’t a bit much?”

It was completely dark outside, and while Trent had happily agreed to help Ted decorate the house for Henry’s birthday, he couldn’t stop worrying about whether or not they had gone too far, if this wasn’t enthusiastic and cute, but instead embarrassing and cringe.

Isabella would love it, but Henry wasn’t a little kid anymore…

He was turning 13.

13 was a big age, and Henry was officially becoming a teenager, a young adult, a new era just about to begin for him.

Thankfully, they wouldn’t be shipping him off to boarding school come autumn, Trent so very grateful that Ted and Michelle weren’t those kinds of parents.

He knew why his own father had been capable of sending him away, but he had no idea how anyone else did it without breaking their own hearts.

“It’s perfect.” Ted was putting Henry’s gifts out on the sofa table. “He’s gonna love it.”

“If you say so.”

Trent had asked about the amount of gifts Henry would be receiving, mainly so he could make sure he didn’t give too much or too little, that the gift from Isabella would be of an appropriate size and price, but Ted had been a dirty liar.

He had said he had picked up a few ‘bits and bobs’, Trent already aware of what Ted had gotten Henry as his main present, but there was nothing bitsy or bobsy about the pile on the table.

Trent wasn’t going to comment on it, Ted more than allowed to spoil his own son, but they’d need to have a serious conversation before Isabella’s birthday, since Lilian’s parents always went way overboard, Isabella bound to become unbearable if Ted didn’t reign it in.

“I think that’s the last of it.” Trent had hung up the birthday banner, had decorated with streamers, and had even blown up a few balloons with the helium tank from the basement, the living room ready for a birthdah boy. 

The kitchen table was all set up too, everything prepared for a birthday breakfast, so they wouldn’t have to rush to finish before school.

Trent was about to tell Ted that he’d make himself a cup of camomile, and that he could mix up some cocoa for Ted if he wanted it, when he noticed that Ted was just… Looking at him.

“What?” Trent reached up, wiping at his mouth, though he knew that he didn’t have anything stuck there, Ted making them chicken pot pies for dinner. 

Chicken pot pie was so close to being a shepherd pie, and yet, it wasn’t. Trent didn’t actively dislike it, but he hadn’t loved it either, not that he’d ever complain about Ted cooking dinner outside of his own head. He had made a valiant effort to finish, but he had only managed about half of his plate, Ted happily accepting his leftovers when Trent had pushed them towards him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Cause I love you?”

Trent blinked, Ted somehow still managing to take him by surprise after all this time. He would have asked if it was a joke, if Ted was making fun of him, but he sounded so earnest, so painfully honest, that Trent knew he was telling the truth.

Which was terrifying, and wonderful, and all Trent had ever dared dream of.

“I love you too Ted.”

~~~

“Wow!” Ted watched as Henry unwrapped another present, joy radiating from him. “Thanks Dad!”

“You’re welcome bud,” Ted reached out to squeeze Henry’s shoulder, “but that one was actually Uncle Beard’s idea.”

Ted pointed at Beard, who grinned. The kitchen was beyond cramped, the table truly not big enough for three adults and two children, but Ted wouldn’t have it any other way, Henry practically jumping with joy when Beard had shown up, his arms overflowing with bakery bags.

They may have gone a little overboard, Ted just texting Beard to pick up a bit of everything, but Henry was only turning 13 once, and 13 was a big deal.

A really big deal.

Every birthday was - technically - a big deal, but this was Henry’s very first birthday in England, and Ted would do whatever he could to make sure that Henry had the best day ever.

He hadn’t told Trent, or even Michelle, but Ted would be busting Henry out of school after lunch, Roy swinging by Richmond Secondary to pick Henry up as a surprise, the team all agreeing that their afternoon bonding activity should be a free for all reenactment session.

Everyone had been allowed to submit their favorite goals, and it’d be their teammates' job to set them up to recreate the iconic moments, Henry cast in the role of referee.

Michelle would be coming over for dinner, and Ted planned on making brisket, Beard pulling the meat from his backpack when he arrived, the cut already seasoned and massaged. The plan was for Roy to bring Ted along for the school pickup, so he would be able to pop home and get the grill started, brisket a scientific process.

Ted could, technically, ask Trent to get the grill started, since he would be home, but he wasn’t going to. 

Ted loved Trent with his whole entire heart, and he trusted him with his life, but he didn’t trust him with a grill, and he certainly didn’t trust him with a brisket.

“Thank you Uncle Beard!” Henry smiled, his eyes filled with gratitude, happiness practically radiating from him, and Ted wished that Henry could always look like this, that he’d always be so content, so calm, so-

Ted felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, the facetime call coming in exactly at it was supposed to.

“Hey Henry,” Ted reached into his pocket, snatching his phone and accepting the call, the screen instantly filled, “I have someone here who wants to say-“

Ted had barely turned his phone, before Henry’s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.

“Doug?!”

~~~

Henry was having the best day ever, and he hadn’t even left for school yet. 

He thought his birthday party at Nelson Road would be the best day ever, that nothing would be better than Jamie giving him a high five after Henry had won in FIFA.

But today was already way better.

Because Doug was coming to visit him! 

In Richmond! 

And Henry only had to wait until Easter! 

Dad had somehow managed to arrange that Doug and his parents would come to England all the way from Kansas! And Mom had been in on it too, Dad telling him when Henry had asked.

Doug and his parents would have their own apartment in town for a whole entire week, and Henry would be allowed to see Doug every single day!

And they’d have sleepovers! And Doug could come watch a football match! And he could see Henry’s room at Mom’s apartment and he could come visit Dad and Trent’s house and Doug could try a crumpet and agree that it was real weird and and and-

It was all so awesome that Henry almost felt sick, his excitement so thick he was practically choking on it.

He liked his new life in England, and he didn’t want to go back to Kansas, but sometimes, he missed Doug so much that it hurt his stomach, and now, he’d get to show Doug all of the best bits of Richmond!

Dad had told him after the call that it would be Henry’s responsibility to come up with ideas for activities and places they should visit, and Henry hoped that Trent would help him, Doug’s visit the most important thing that’d ever happen in the history of forever.

“Henry?”

Henry spun around, Trent standing on the stairs, Dad fixing up Isabella’s hair while Uncle Beard was doing the dishes and cleaning up after breakfast.

“I, umh-“ Trent looked weirdly nervous. “I was wondering if, I know you’ve already unwrapped a lot of-“

Trent faltered, and Henry narrowed his eyes. 

This was weird… Like, weird weird. 

Like call for Dad to come help, kind of weird.

“Would you mind coming into my office?”

Henry knew it was unlikely that Trent had been a victim of a bodysnatching alien, but he kind of wanted to make sure.

“Why?”

“Why? Why why? Or, wait, right, that makes-” Trent pushed his glasses into his hair, and crossed his arms, the move so Trent that Henry was convinced that it was actually him, and not some extraterrestrial entity wearing his skin. “Would you come into my office, since I have a present for you?”

“Really?” Henry had gotten some really cool gifts from Isabella, and he knew that Trent was the one who had planned most of his party, so he didn’t think he’d get anything else.

Not that he expected that. 

“Yes, so,” Trent moved, making space on the stairs, “If you’d please-“

Henry nodded, excitement bubbling in his belly as he took the steps two at a time. He knew the way to Trent’s office like the back of his hand, Henry leading the way, the door closed, Trent right behind him.

He reached for the doorknob, the door creaking a little as he opened it. 

Henry loved Trent’s office, shelves lining the entire room, Trent’s desk in the middle, the green armchair that matched the one downstairs in the corner in front of a set of cabinets.

There was something different about the room though, Trent’s office chair pushed under the desk to leave space on the rug, a collection of…

Henry walked over.

“Are those paint swatches? And a-” Henry bent down to pick the swatches, an Ikea gift card next to them, which was strange. 

Henry didn’t really need an Ikea gift card, his room already pretty cramped, but he’d say thank you anyway. 

Maybe, he could get some stuff for his room at Mom’s place, or a shelf for all of his new gaming stuff. 

That’d be pretty neat.

The gift card was placed on top of something though, Henry tilting his head to look at it properly. “What’s an Argos catalog?”

Trent was still standing by the door, his arms crossed, but he looked less nervous, which was nice.

“It’s so you can pick what you’d like for your new room.” 

“What?” Henry twisted around. “What room? New room? Why? Are we moving?” Henry swore he could feel ice cold fear course through his body, “I don’t want to-“

“No, no no, nothing like-“ Trent came into the office, “I’m sorry Henry, I wanted to surprise you, but that’s clearly- You’re not moving, and we’re not moving-“

Henry breathed out a sigh of relief, his heart no longer in his throat. 

Because he didn’t want to move. 

He loved the house, and he wanted to stay with Dad for forever and ever and-

“If you’d like-“ Trent looked down at him, “I want to offer this room to you. If you’d have it.”

“But-“ This was Trent’s office, and if it became Henry’s room, then there- “What about your office?”

“I’m sure I’ll be able to fit into your old room.” Trent smiled, amusement and kindness in his eyes. “I know we rushed it a little, getting everything ready for you last year. You’ve been so patient, but it isn’t fair that you have the least amount of space, and- Ouf!”

Henry knocked all the air out of Trent as he practically tackled him, but Henry didn’t care. 

He buried his head in Trent’s chest, holding him tight, hugging him as hard as he could.

Today was truly the best day ever, and Henry was the luckiest kid in the whole world.

~~~

“And you’re sure you’re comfy Miss Crimm?”

Ted had Isabella on his arm, her legs wrapped sidewise around his middle, Isabella holding onto his neck, her head resting on his shoulder.

“Mmmh.” Isabella nodded, her fingers lazily fondling Ted’s ear flap, Ted grateful that her nails were cut short.

It wasn’t normal for Isabella to be this clingy with him, but it made sense that this week would be a bit of a struggle for her.

She had been doing so well with Henry getting all of the attention on Saturday, Ted able to lavish her in praise and activities Sunday. 

Monday had been a return to routine, only for everything to be all about Henry once more.

Ted had already been home with Beard and Henry when Trent had returned with Isabella in tow, a rerun of Canada vs Romania on the TV, Henry cheering for Zoroux who was once again playing goal for Canada. 

Isabella had seemed genuinely confused by his presence, Ted overhearing her ask her Dad what day it was, Ted hit with a little stab of guilt, since Isabella was that used to him working.

Premier League football took time though, and he couldn’t do anything about that.

What he could do, was bring his little girl with him out to the grill, Isabella watching as he tended to the brisket.

“Now, you and I,” Ted hoisted Isabella up to make sure she was comfortable, “Still got a little time before you gotta go get all dressed for ballet class, so I’ma teach you how to make sure you keep a good coal grill going. First thing first, you gotta know your fuel, and you gotta know your wood chips.”

~~~

Beard liked peeling potatoes.

There was something calming about it. 

He liked how repetitive it was, how easy it was to track progress, how he had done something worthwhile when he was finished.

Beard still couldn’t explain exactly how he had managed to get selected as kitchen staff when he was in prison, but it had made his time in the slammer a whole lot easier.

Had given him purpose when he had nothing at all.

Today, he was making potato salad and green beans and coleslaw, and Michelle was in the kitchen with him. She was cutting up the cabbage, her hair in a clip, a glass of red wine next to her chopping board.

It should probably feel a little bit weird to be cooking like this with Michelle, especially in Ted and Trent’s kitchen, but it didn’t.

They used to cook together all the time, Beard practically living with them when Henry was a newborn, and he had actually been living with them when he had needed to get back on his feet.

He and Michelle hadn’t hung out in years though, hadn’t truly spent time together since long before the divorce, Ted coming up with endless excuses as to why Beard couldn’t visit when his marriage had started to go wrong.

Not that Ted would ever admit to that.

“Can you hand me the-“

“Got it-“ Michelle gave Beard the scrap bowl before he could finish his sentence, Beard accepting it with a small nod of his head, Michelle smiling back.

They continued working in silence, Ted and Henry outside by the grill, Ted with a beer and Henry with a glass of milk. 

Michelle finished chopping the cabbage, Beard watching as she set it aside.

“So,” Michelle looked at Beard as she put her chopping board in the sink, “When is Jane coming?”

“Jane?” Beard didn’t understand at first, but then it dawned on him, Michelle’s question making sense. “No, she-“

Beard hadn’t thought about why he hadn’t invited Jane, why he had left before dawn so she wouldn't ask questions about where he was going, why he hadn’t swung by his house before coming here today.

Why his phone was turned off.

Jane didn’t know that it was Henry’s birthday.

And he didn’t want her to know.

He hadn’t even considered inviting her.

Because he knew she couldn’t be trusted to be around Henry. 

Beard had never realised that that was how he felt… 

Had never…

But he couldn’t say that out loud, could barely even admit it in his head.

“Jane couldn’t make it.”

“Oh,” Michelle frowned, “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve been wanting to meet your wife.”

~~~

“What about this one?” Isabella looked up at Trent, her little fingers pointing towards a big vase with pink flowers inside.

“That’s a carnation Poppet,” Trent tried to keep well out of the way of the other shoppers, to hold Isabella close to him, the other flower shop patrons mainly fathers and husbands who were clearly shopping for apology bouquets, Trent the only one who had a child by his side, “Those are funeral flowers, and we’re trying to say thank you to Keeley for taking such good care of you, not remind her that life is fleeting.”

“But they’re pretty.” Isabella pouted, and Trent fought to keep a smile off of his lips, his darling girl an endless source of amusement.

“They are, but that doesn’t mean they’re right for this occasion.” Trent reached out to tug a curl behind Isabella’s ear, her slick bun slowly coming undone, her curls fighting against the gel he used to keep it all contained. “How about we pick some hydrangeas? These ones are the same shade as your ballet costume.”

Trent had, as always, stayed in the waiting room while Isabella attended her ballet class, Miss Juliette barring any and all adults from entering. 

The weekly lessons were only 45 minutes long, so it didn’t make sense to go somewhere else, Trent spending every other Tuesday in blissful silence with the other parents who couldn’t be arsed to move either.

Today, he had managed to chew through another couple of pages of Ulysses, the text as difficult as he remembered it, but it was rewarding to actually use his brain, to have to do something that challenged him.

The copyediting was okay for now, but he could feel his soul dying whenever he opened another steaming pile of garbage that tried to pass itself off as a novel.

It was flexible, though, and that was all Trent needed, how he earned his money unimportant as long as he had enough to pay the bills.

“Hmm,” Isabella crossed her arms, clearly contemplating Trent’s suggestion.

She hadn’t been all that thrilled when Trent told her they were making a pitstop to pick up Henry’s cake, and she had been downright fuming when Trent parked in front of the flower shop.

It made sense though, since she was used to going directly home after ballet, Ted doing all that he could to make sure he had dinner on the table when they came through the door.

“Can she have the lilac and the pastel pink?”

“Keeley can have whichever ones you pick, but if you do like the hydrangeas, I think we should pair them with some ranunculus.”

“Okay!” Isabella started grabbing the ones she liked, Trent taking the flowers from her so they could bring them to the counter for wrapping and shipping, the bouquet meant to arrive at KBPR. 

He twisted his wrist, sneaking a peek at his watch, the plan to delay their arrival home working out perfectly. 

~~~

“Dad!”

Ted looked up at the sound of his name, Henry yelling at him from the living room. He had received the text from Trent about an hour ago, telling him that he and Isabella would be delayed, and that they should just start without them.

The food had been done for a while, but Henry had insisted that they waited, and brisket only got better the longer it rested, so Ted hadn’t been too fussed about the delay, the coleslaw, potato salad and green beans ready to leave the fridge whenever.

“They’re here!” Ted could hear the thump of Henry coming down from the window still, his feet touching the ground. It had been Henry’s own choice to go sit in the window, to keep watch while he waited for Trent and Isabella, “They’re home! They’re-”

“Henry Lasso!” Ted didn’t shrink at the sound of Michelle’s tone, but it was a damned near thing, Michelle using her Mom Voice, “You better not be running inside, and especially not right where I can see you-”

“Sorry Mom!”

Ted smiled, Henry coming through the doorway to the kitchen, his son practically slipping in his haste to deliver his news. “They’re here-“

“I already heard you bud.” Ted had opened the fridge, the food all that needed to be added to the table in the living room. “You wanna grab the slaw or the beans?”

“Slaw please.” Henry accepted the bowl right away, Ted chuckling as he ran off again, the front door opening and closing, chairs scraping against the floor. He grabbed the meat and the beans, Ted coming into the living room as Isabella made a beeline towards the table, Beard helping her into her seat.

“Make space!” Ted reached past Beard, to put the brisket on the table, the beans following, everything all ready and set.

Michelle had sat down next to Henry, the seat on his other side kept open for Ted, but Ted wasn’t ready to sit down just yet, since he hadn’t said his proper hellos.

He looked up just in time to see Trent enter the living room, a bakery box in his hands, Henry’s cake clearly inside, but Trent had stopped dead in his tracks, his boyfriend slowly blinking.

“Hey sport.” Ted smiled at Trent, and if Michelle hadn’t been there, he would have picked something else, something like honey or baby or sweet cheeks, but it already felt a bit scandalous to call your boyfriend a pet name in front of your ex wife, so he’d stick with sport, which was something that was just for them. “You alright over there?” 

“Shouldn’t you be eating already?” Trent looked genuinely confused, “I texted, I know I-“

“We wanted to wait for you!” Henry sounded so pleased with himself that Ted couldn’t help a chuckle, Beard giving one of his rare smiles.

“That’s very-“ Trent cut himself of, “Thank you Henry, that’s considerate of you, I’ll just-“ Trent lifted the cake, and made his escape to the kitchen, Ted wondering if he should follow, when Isabella spoke up.

“Teddy, I’m hungry.”

“Oh I know Princess.” Ted used his free hand to move Isabella so he could press a kiss against the top of her head, “We’ll just wait for your Daddy.”

And forgive the fact that Isabella hadn’t washed her hands, his little girl probably starving, though it thankfully wasn’t a Thursday, Isabella ravenous after gymnastics. 

“Did you have a good class?”

“Mmh,” Isabella nodded, Ted pulling back, “Daddy and I got flowers for Keeley. I chose rhonuncliunses-“

“That’s not their name Poppet.” Trent had come back into the living room, his sleeves rolled up, his hands no doubt damp if Ted checked, but he just gave Trent’s bicep a quick squeeze, everyone finally ready for the feast to begin.

~~~

Trent waited for the kettle to click, a tray in front of him on the kitchen counter.

He was making drinks for everyone, dinner and cake long since devoured, Isabella tucked into bed upstairs.

Trent had grabbed her as soon as she had finished the last bite of cake, Henry, Beard, Michelle and Ted all settling down in front of the TV as he helped Isabella get ready for sleep, Trent reading her a story and making sure she had gone off to dreamland before he ventured back downstairs.

He had entered the living room to the sight of Henry cuddled up under Michelle’s arm, her hand slowly stroking his hair, Home Alone playing on the TV.

It had been Henry’s pick, and none of the adults had complained about watching a Christmas movie in March. 

Beard had chosen to sit in the armchair, so there was technically space for Trent on the sofa, Ted clearly leaving room for him, but instead, he had gone to make tea and water and heat up some Ribena.

He couldn’t recall exactly how Michelle liked her tea, so he just decided to prepare it like he would Beard’s, the kettle clicking, when Trent felt a pair of hands sneak around his middle.

Trent jumped, a pained groan coming from behind him, his shoulder banging into Ted’s jaw.

“Ow-“

“Fuck!” Trent felt a flood of guilt, his stupid reflexes kicking in, his instincts still expecting physical harm to follow unforeseen touches. 

“Uh that hurts-“ Ted groaned, but it didn’t sound like he had bit his tongue, or otherwise injured himself.

“I’m sorry-“

“No,” Trent felt Ted’s arms tighten around him, his hands locked on his stomach, “you stay right there.”

Trent didn’t want to stay, and he didn’t want Ted to hold him, but it didn’t feel like he had a leg to stand on, especially when he had managed to physically harm Ted.

“Are you alright?”

“You got me real good,” Ted put his head on Trent’s shoulder, “but it barely hurts.”

“Good.” Trent considered if he should reach for the kettle, if Ted would spook him again, spilling hot water everywhere not on his agenda for the night.

“Everything okay baby?” It was just a murmur, Ted’s voice barely above a whisper, but it hit him like a bucket of cold water.

What if someone overheard?

What if-

Trent shouldn’t feel-

Why could Ted never leave him alone-

“Don’t call me that.” Trent decided to risk it, and picked up the kettle, “and everything’s fine.”

“Fine don’t mean okay.” Ted kissed his jaw, “and you’re more spicy than the International aisle at the supermarket.”

“Japanese cuisine is considered fairly mild by most,” Trent poured water in three of the four cups he had sat out.

He just wanted Ted to leave, but the last time he had tried to tell Ted that, it had escalated their disagreement like crazy, and Trent didn’t want to argue or fight on Henry’s birthday.

“Are you saying you’re a miso soup?”

“I don’t believe I’m saying anything at all actually.” Trent put the kettle down, and reached for one of his evening teas, the conversation hopefully over.

Ted, however, refused to shut up.  

“But what if I wanna hear about what’s gotten in your noggin?”

Trent felt a flash of shame rush through him, the idea that it had been that obvious, that it was, this obvious, that something was bothering him downright embarrassing.

“Tonight is about Henry.” 

Trent knew he had managed to keep it together through dinner, everyone talking and having fun, Henry practically sparkling with the fact that he had his Mom and Dad there, Trent happily taking the step back so Henry could receive the attention he truly wanted.

The attention he should have gotten, if everything had gone according to plan. 

“He’s already all conked out. Michelle does this thing where she scratches-“

“Don’t,” Trent twisted away, nausea overwhelming him, Ted thankfully releasing his hold, “talk about Michelle while holding me.” 

Trent knew he was being unreasonable, but he’d get his feelings back under control if Ted would just leave him alone.

If he’d allow Trent the time to process the hurt that was lodged in his chest.

He moved to the freezer, Trent opening it to grab the ice tray.

“Trent-“ Ted didn’t sound angry, or exasperated, the other man leaning against the counter when Trent turned back around. “I just wanna know why you’re acting this way-“

“You made me look like an arse in front of Henry.” Trent hated himself the second he said it, but he couldn’t hold it back any longer, Ted digging and digging and digging. “You got my text, I know you got my text-“

“I did get-“ Ted looked confused, which only made Trent that much more annoyed. 

“I told you to go ahead,” Trent knew he had told Ted to start eating without them, “but you chose to wait, and you didn’t bother telling me,” Trent tried to keep his voice low, the fact that they had company something he was hyper aware of, “it’s common courtesy to notify the maker of a request if you’re incapable or unwilling to fulfill said-“

“Trent.”

Ted said his name with so much gravity that Trent instantly halted, his indignation momentarily paused. Ted was about to open his mouth, to say something else, but then, they heard a knock.

Trent’s head snapped to the side, only to see Beard stand in the doorway, his knuckles resting against the wood.

“Henry needs to get carried to bed. He started snoring-“

Trent could see Beard’s mouth move, but he couldn’t hear what he was saying, blood rushing in his ears. 

Beard didn’t look at Trent, which was a small mercy, because if the earth opened to swallow him up in this very moment, he’d simply welcome the chance to disappear forever.

Chapter Text

“See you tomorrow!” Ted called out into the darkness, Beard and Michelle making their way into the night, “You text me when you get home safe! Both of you!”

He watched as Beard held a thumbs up up above his head, Michelle simply waving at him. Ted had overheard Michelle offering Beard a ride, and Beard had actually accepted it.

Ted trusted Beard, but he truly hoped he knew what he was doing, Ted pretty sure that Jane was the kind of crazy where a ride from a female friend could cause a whole bunch of trouble.

Like Beard getting…

Ted swallowed.

He didn’t want to follow the line of thought, and he didn’t want to make any moves that would just make it all worse, but if Beard showed any sign of physical or mental abuse tomorrow.

Ted would involve Rebecca.

He had been a bystander long enough, and Beard deserved people in his corner, Ted bound to interfere by duty and love for the man who was essentially his brother.

Ted closed the front door, turning the lock and reaching up to fasten the latch. He’d need to do his rounds and check all the windows and doors before he could activate the security system, but he liked making his rounds.

Liked making sure his family was safe, that everyone was present and accounted for, that nothing could get to them.

Their house was on a well off street, and Richmond was a well off town, but it helped Ted sleep at night, to know that he was doing what he could to prevent intruders.

Trent had allowed the baseball bat Ted kept in the hallway closet, and the one under their bed, even if Ted did get a pointed comment each and every time Trent had to navigate around them.

He hoped he’d never have to use them, but it helped him sleep at night.

Ted walked into the living room, a small smile on his lips when he saw that Trent had already come through, everything returned to its proper place, the living room reset for tomorrow.

Beard had helped Ted carry Henry upstairs, Michelle coming too, to give Henry a proper kiss goodnight, the two of them standing at the door, watching their son sleep.

It was rare for them to have a moment like that, to be so united, but they would always be connected because of their son, and Ted thanked his lucky stars that they had this now.

That he and Michelle had managed to arrive somewhere where they could concentrate on the most important thing.

Which would always be Henry.

Ted walked into the kitchen, hoping he’d find Trent there, but he wasn’t surprised by the fact that it was empty.

What did feel surprising, was the fact that everything had already been wiped down, that he could hear the gentle hum and swish of the washing machine, the lights telling him that it was loaded and running.

Trent usually left the kitchen to Ted, this whole thing stinking of a stress clean.

Which made sense. 

Ted didn’t know exactly where or how he had managed to misstep enough to deserve a faceful of hissing kitten, but Trent had had his claws out, swiping at Ted for something that usually wouldn’t even register.

Maybe, he should have answered that text, but it felt like there was more in it than that, the text just an excuse to lash out.

Ted was about to get out the ingredients to whip up some overnight oats, and set up the coffee machine, when he noticed an orange glow coming from the garden.

He walked over to the glass door, sliding it open to slip outside, his garden shoes waiting for him. 

He crossed the patio, his eyes adjusting to the darkness, Ted seeing Trent, who had his back against the shed, one foot on the ground, the other pressed to the wall, a halfsmoked cigarette in his hand.

“Hello Ted.”

Ted couldn’t explain it, not in words, but it felt wrong that Trent had just said Ted, that he hadn’t called him Theodore. 

It felt like Trent was holding back, like he wasn’t saying it anymore on purpose, and Ted didn’t understand why. 

“You’re smoking.”

“Mmh.” Trent nodded, “That’s a correct observation.”

Ted had never smoked a day in his life. 

He didn’t like the smell, didn’t like the taste, didn’t get the nicotine buzz, but damn if Trent didn’t somehow manage to make smoking look attractive.

“I’ll scrub down before going upstairs.”

“So you’re still coming to bed?”

Ted regretted the words the moment he said them, and he regretted them even more when Trent’s head snapped to look at him, eyes barely visible in the dark.

“Would you prefer I didn’t?”

“No!” Ted’s eyes widened, and he cursed his stupid mouth.

That wasn’t what he had meant at all, dread washing over him.

How was it that he managed to effortlessly pluck speech after speech out of thin air in the locker room, to say the right thing and the exact right time, when he continued to fuck it all up when it came to Trent.

“I want-“ Ted looked at Trent. “You belong in my bed baby.”

“Aha?” Ted couldn’t see Trent raise an eyebrow, but he knew he had.

“Not like that, or like that like that, but also not like that. I didn’t-“

“Go inside Ted.” Trent flicked his cigarette, the embers falling on the grass. “You’re obviously tired.”

Ted was, in fact, exhausted, but he didn’t want to leave.

“I’ll pop a squat right here,” Ted leaned against the shed too, the night air cold and crips, but it helped that he had three shirts on, “while you finish your cancer stick.”

Ted could practically feel Trent bristle at his word choice, but Trent had to be exhausted too, since he didn’t retaliate.

Instead, he just took another drag, silence settling over them.

The view wasn’t exactly great, Ted looking directly at the garden wall, their backyard more shipping label than postage stamp, but it was still tiny.

Especially compared to the rolling plains of Kansas.

“I’m sorry I didn’t reply to your text.”

It was what Ted should have said inside, what he wished he had said, especially because he meant it. 

Trent didn’t say anything though, Ted almost thinking that Trent hadn’t heard him, even if that was impossible, their arms touching, Ted’s nose filled with the scent of smoke.

“You don’t have to apologize Ted. I’m well aware that I overreacted-“

“Henry was the one who suggested we waited, and I didn’t see any harm in indulging him-“

“It wasn’t my intention to get caught up in my emotions, and it isn’t fair that I chose to take it out-“

“We didn’t wanna start without you and Izzie girl.”

“Izzie girl?” Trent sounded actually offended now, “You better watch that tongue of yours, her name is Isabella, not-“ 

“So that’s where you draw the line?” Ted grinned, this banter the type of banter he knew like the back of his hand, “Not beanie baby or sweet pea or pumpkin pie? Not Princess or Miss Crimm?”

“You’re ridiculous.” Trent dumped his cigarette into one of those white corporate mugs, Ted wondering why it was in the shed in the first place when he had stumbled upon it, the answer apparently that it was a makeshift ash tray.

“Infuriating tends to be a crowd favorite.” Ted was about to say more, but Trent leaned in, his boyfriend placing a kiss at the edge of Ted’s mouth, his lips barely touching him.

“Oh-“ Ted felt heat rush through him, the not kiss, the almost denial, somehow enough to make his toes tingle. “Why’d you-“

“I didn’t think you’d enjoy,” Trent pushed away from the wall, “a, what did you call my cigarette again? A cancer stick?”

“Yup.” Ted popped the P, “But I can assure you,” Ted pushed away too, twisting his body so he was standing in front of Trent, Ted putting his hand on Trent’s upper arm to guide him back, “that I don’t ever wanna miss out on any kisses-“ Ted took a step forward, pressing Trent against the shed, “from your pretty mouth.”

The kiss did indeed taste like ash, and it wasn’t exactly pleasant, but Ted didn’t care when he felt Trent sigh before reluctantly melting into him, Ted taking the time to make out with his boyfriend underneath the stars. 

~~~

Trent could hear music coming from downstairs. It was Ted’s morning playlist, but it was the one that had music for the kids sprinkled in, Trent currently listening to one of Henry’s favorites.

If Trent was downstairs, he was sure he’d be witnessing a dance party, Ted never too busy in the morning to grab Isabella’s hands and boogie away with her, Henry joining in if Ted goaded him.

It was a gift, to witness how Ted managed to eject magic into their lives, how he so effortlessly created the memories Trent knew they’d all look back with fondness.

That Isabella would recall when thinking about her childhood.

Trent knew that he needed to get up, needed to get dressed, needed to go downstairs to help herd the children, so Ted wouldn’t have to handle this school morning all by himself.

It was Trent’s job to double check the school bags, to go over homework one last time, to make sure the schedules lined up, that the children knew what the plan for the day was.

He could do all of that.

He would do all of that.

He’d get them into the car, just like he always did, he’d do his part.

He was just so… Tired…

Depleted.

Utterly exhausted.

Trent was lying on his stomach, his face pressed into his pillow, and he knew that he only needed to roll onto his back, that he just had to push himself up, that he-

But his body felt infinitely heavy, his limbs like lead.

He had been halfawake when Ted had slipped out of bed, Trent aware that Ted had pressed a kiss to his temple, the whispered ‘love you’ clearly not something Ted had expected him to hear.

He had heard it though, and he knew that Ted meant it.

Meant it, even when Trent struggled to believe he deserved it.

The current song ended, and Trent knew he had to push through, that he had to get up, and get up now.

“Daddy!!”

Trent heard Isabella yell up the stairs, her voice easily carrying.

“Come do breakfast!”

Trent knew that it’d be a matter of minutes before he had a tiny terror jump on the mattress, Ted a devil in disguise for setting his daughter loose on him.

“I’m on my way!”

~~~

“You know,” Rebecca looked at Ted, who was sitting on the other side of her office sofa, “It’s a shame the two of us,” He pointed at her, and then back at himself, “ain’t ever been to a concert together.”

“I don’t really do concerts.” Rebecca had a cup of tea in one hand, and a biscuit in the other. They had pushed biscuits with the boss until the end of the day, Ted coming in late because of school dropoffs.

Rebecca knew that it was something Ted truly enjoyed, that he cherished that extra bit of time with his kids, but he was needed at Nelson Road. 

Even if it was international week.

She tried to shield Ted from as much admin as she could, but as gaffer, there was a neverending list of responsibilities that Ted couldn’t escape.

Ted took care of the team, and he did an amazing job. He managed to have a connection - a real connection, with every single player, Ted somehow succeeding at the balancing act of being friendly while staying in charge. 

“What?” Ted scoffed, a smile on his lips. “Come on now. Everybody does concerts.”

“Not me.” Keeley had tried to talk Rebecca into it several times, and Sassy had simply given up, “I’d consider it if the Spice Girls reunited-“

“Well, aren’t they doing a 2026 world tour-“

“With Victoria in the lineup.”

“Awh.” Ted pouted, and Rebecca shook her head, a happy huff coming from her at Ted’s theatrics. She had tried to offer Ted a new alternative to tea today, her latest attempt at a substitute a cup of chai, but it was clear that Ted didn’t enjoy it, so she’d continue her search. “That makes sense though.”

Rebecca took another bite of her biscuit, her second one almost gone. Usually, Ted would be prattling on, telling her some inane story, or asking her questions, but he wasn’t saying anything, in fact, he hadn’t been very talkactive throughout this entire afternoon chat, Ted just leaning back on the couch.

“Is something on your mind Ted?”

“I’m trying to remember the last time you and I did something together outside of work, just the two of us.”

“Are you asking me on a friend date, Coach Lasso?”

“Only if you wanna.” Ted looked at her, “But I think I miss you.”

Rebecca nodded, Ted’s words making complete sense to her. It used to be easier to find the time. Easier before Matthjis had come into her life, when they were both divorcees, easier when Ted’s family had been on the other side of the Atlantic.

She didn’t want to go back though, and she knew Ted didn’t want to either.

Even if she missed Ted too.

“Let’s pencil in a sashimi dinner.”

“You already tricked me into trying wasabi once. I ain’t doing that again.”

Rebecca laughed, the memory of Ted nearly choking a most amusing one.

“I promise I’ll take you on a wasabi free excursion before the end of the season.”

“I can’t wait for that.” Ted sighed heavily, his hands lying on top of his belly. “I feel like I’m as busy as a bee, yet I buzz around without actually getting anything done.”

“Oh?” Rebecca didn’t like that image. “That sounds concerning.”

“I promise I’ll stick the landing Boss, but I also gotta admit I look forward to those summer days when the kids are out of school. I haven’t told her yet, but I’ve decided it’s about time Isabella learns how to ride a bike.”

“I’m sure she’d love that.” Rebecca had been lucky enough to have some time with Isabella at Henry’s birthday party, Ted’s youngest usually kept occupied with her iPad when Rebecca was around.

It was very clear that Isabella had no interest in football at all, Rebecca sympathising deeply with the amount of hours Isabella had to wait, just because her Daddy and her Teddy cared about football. 

“Speaking of Isabella.” Rebecca cut her tea cup down, “I’ve been meaning to ask if you want to take her to see the foal. Let her try out a pony if she so wishes”

“Oh?” Ted raised an eyebrow, “You wanna introduce my little girl to the concept of horses? Get her hooked on yet another expensive hobby? Ballet and gymnastics aren’t enough? You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to bankrupt me Boss.”

“Is that a no?”

“It’s a heck yes, she’s going to love bossing a pony around.”

~~~

“And you promise to take care now, you hear me?”

Henry nodded, his Grandma on the other end of the phone. She had called him right as he came out of school, Henry telling Penelope that she could go ahead, that he’d just catch the next bus home, but as always, Grandma talked and talked and talked, so he had started walking.

Dad’s house wasn’t as far away as Mom’s apartment, and Henry knew the way, Grandma telling him all about the people in her knitting circle, and someone Dad had come to school with who was running for Mayor.

“I will Grandma, I promise.”

“That’s my good boy.”

Henry could hear the smile in Grandma Dottie’s voice, and he felt his stomach clench, a stone lodged in the middle of it.

At first, Henry had thought that Grandma had just called him to say a belated happy birthday, that she had meant to call yesterday, but that she had messed up the timezones.

Which Henry could understand, Grandma not old like Dad, but like, old old with old sprinkled on top.

Grandma had messed up the time zones, but It also turned out that she had bought Henry plane tickets.

For him to come see her.

In Kansas.

Which was technically awesome.

But also very not awesome.

Because she had bought tickets for him to come during Easter.

Henry didn’t know how to tell her that Doug was coming to England, so he had simply said thank you, Mom always telling him that that was what you were supposed to say to a gift.

Even if you didn’t know what to do with it.

”I’ve got to go, but we’ll talk more soon, alright Henry? And when you come here, we’ll do all of your favorite things, okay? Anything you want.”

“Alright Grandma.” Henry felt the weight in his stomach grow, “I love you.”

”Love you too baby.”

Grandma hung up, and Henry looked at his phone. Trent had called a few times while he was talking to Grandma, and he had gotten a couple of texts telling him to call back, but Henry was almost home, so he’d just tell Trent in person that he was fine.

He turned the corner, Henry about to walk down the big road, when he heard his name.

“Henry!”

Henry saw Trent run towards him, a panicked look on his face, Isabella right behind him, tears streaming down his sister's face, Trent holding her hand.

“Oh thank God!”

“What in the-“ Henry didn’t understand what was going on, but as soon as Trent came up to him, Henry felt himself get pulled into a one armed hug, Trent holding him so tight that Henry felt like he was being squashed to death. 

“Trent-“ Henry tried to pull back, but Trent didn’t let him, Isabella’s arms coming around him too as she shoved her face into his ribs.

“You’re okay.” Trent gave him a squeeze, “Thank God that you’re okay.”

~~~

Trent swore he could still feel his heart in his throat.

He was stalking down the pavement, Isabella on his arm, her face buried in his neck as she sobbed, his right hand holding Henry in a firm grip.

Trent knew he was holding on too tight, that he should release his grip on Henry’s bicep, but he could still feel the panic course through his body.

Henry hadn’t come home at the agreed upon time.

Trent had been waiting in the kitchen, sandwich ready, everything all set up for Henry’s after school meal and debrief, but Henry hadn’t come through the front door.

He had called him. Once, twice, three times, and Henry’s phone was on, but Trent’s call kept getting declined, someone actively there on the other end.

He had grabbed Isabella and made her put her coat on, his daughter still not old enough to be left unsupervised, and they had made their way down the street to the Clearwater house. 

Penelope’s Mom had answered the door, and Penelope had told Trent that Henry decided to walk home.

Which was when actual panic set in.

Henry wasn’t a proper high profile kid, and Richmond wasn’t that unsafe, but there were bad people in the world, and Henry was very easily recognisable.

“Trent-“ Henry had a whine in his voice, and Trent knew it had to be humiliating to get dragged along by the bicep. “Let go-“

“No.” 

Trent wasn’t going to let go of Henry, not until they were inside, his grip not tight enough to leave bruises, even if it was more than tight enough to feel degrading to a teenager.

“I’m so disappointed in you Henry.”

This time, Henry did actually whimper, his mouth instantly shut, his protest dying on his tongue, and Trent would feel bad, should, maybe, feel bad, if he had room for anything besides the receding panic.

He had found Henry, coming down the main road, his boy thankfully taking the route home that Trent was expecting of him.

It was nothing less than a small miracle, but Henry had managed to show back up before Trent had called Ted, or, in reality, Beard, the message that his son was missing a guaranteed way to push Ted into a panic attack.

Which would have been bad.

Henry had only been missing for about 25 minutes, but they had felt utterly endless.

Trent could see their house, and he took the front steps two at a time, nudging Henry to open the door that he had left unlocked, Trent so worried when he had left that he had barely remembered to grab his wallet and keys.

“I’m going to let go, and you’re going to go to the kitchen-“ 

“The kitchen?” Henry sounded confused, Trent sure he hadn’t grasped the gravity of the situation just yet. 

“You’re to go to the kitchen,” Trent moved Henry, so he could look at him, “You grab your plate, and then you’re going to go to your room.”

Trent could see Henry’s green eyes widen, and he knew that he was navigating treacherous waters. 

They had coexisted without any major issues so far, Trent happily stepping into the role as Henry’s fathers boyfriend, but this, this was all new. 

Trent had done his best to support, to guide and to provide, to hold firm on the rules and regulations that Ted provided.

This, however, this was the first time that Trent was disciplining Henry, sending him to his room an inarguable punishment, no matter how you looked at it. 

“Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”

“Y-yes,” Henry looked down, “Yes sir.” Henry was practically whispering, and it broke Trent’s heart, but this wasn’t a time for sweetness.

It was a time for consequences.

“Your father will be home soon,” Trent still had Isabella on his arm, and he hated that she was present for all of this, but he had to say it, and he had to say it now, “When he gets here, I’m sending him directly to your room,” Trent hated outlining the rules for Henry in this matter, to be so harsh, but he had to stay in control, “Where you will be telling him what you did today, and why you did what you did, have I made myself clear?”

“Yes sir.” Trent could hear the obvious shaking in Henry’s voice, Trent sure he’d be able to watch tears stream down his face if Henry looked up. 

“Good.” Trent released Henry’s arm, Henry’s hand flying up to hold where Trent had been grabbing him. “Your Dad will make a decision about the appropriate course of action-“

“I’m really sorry-“

Trent knew Henry was sorry, he could see how sorry Henry was, satellites in space could see how sorry Henry was, but Trent didn’t want an apology. 

“I promise I won’t be angry with you for forever Henry,” Trent tried to make his voice level, to let Henry know that he was telling the truth, “but you’ve broken my trust, and you put yourself in danger, and that’s so much more, than what a single apology can fix.”

~~~

As soon as Ted stepped inside, he knew that something was wrong.

Real wrong.

“Baby?” Ted called out, dumping his keys in the bowl before shucking off his backpack, his shoes and his jacket following right behind. He was about to call for Trent again, when the man in question showed up in the hallway door.

“You’re needed upstairs.”

Trent’s voice was completely level, Trent keeping himself in perfect control, which filled Ted with worry.

“What?” 

Trent looked frazzled, and tired, his sleeves rolled up, his appearance so different from his voice, Ted pretty sure that the appearance was the one who was telling the truth.  

Ted hadn’t been greeted by the sound of Isabella’s tiny feet racing towards him, hadn’t heard Henry call out for him, the early afternoons at their house usually borderline chaos.

Today, it was all quiet.

Which couldn’t be a good thing.

“Henry is in his room.”

What?

Why would Henry?

Henry wasn’t the type of kids who went off in a huff, so it had-

Wait.

Did Trent look like that because-

“Did you send him to his room?”

Trent’s lips turned into a thin line, his spine straightening out, his arms crossing as his stance widened, Ted recognising the raised defenses, and he knew he had to act fast.

“I’m sure you had your reasons-“

Actually, Ted was absolutely certain that Trent had his reason, but he could still feel the anxiety that started to wiggle in his belly, his mind racing. 

“Where’s Isabella?”

“Having iPad time.”

Ted felt his anxiety kick up a notch, Isabella being allowed iPad time on a weekday a real bad sign.

“She’s on the couch, so be quiet when you walk through. Henry will explain-”

“What did he do?” Henry was a good kid, a great kid, the best kid, but he was just a kid, and sometimes, kids did dumb shit simply because they were kids.

“Henry will-“

“I’m not asking him Trent, I’m asking you.”

Trent’s arms tightened, and Ted could see how he considered his options, how he was weighing everything out, how he was taking his time to make the right decision.

“He didn’t get on the bus-“ Ted felt his stomach tighten, “and he didn’t answer his phone.”

Fuck.

“I found him, and he’s safe, but-“

Ted reached out, his hand grabbing Trent’s elbow and pulling him in. 

“You must’ve been real scared baby.”

Ted knew he would have been downright terrified if any of their kids went missing.

“It’s not-“

Everything in Trent’s body language told Ted that he wasn’t ready to talk, that he couldn’t let his guard down just yet, but Ted kissed him anyway, their noses touching as he started talking.

“We don’t gotta deal with anything right now,” Ted continued to cup Trent’s elbow, to hold it, “but I’ll be here, later, whatever you need, whenever you’re ready, okay?” 

“Henry’s waiting for you upstairs.”

Chapter Text

“It’s okay buddy, let it all out,” Henry felt Dad stroke his hair, his father holding him as he cried, the two of them sitting on Henry’s bed. “You can feel any emotion in the whole wide world, and I’ll still be right here.”

Henry reached up to wipe his nose, tears still streaming down.

Dad had come into his room while he had tried to eat his sandwich, Trent making him his favorite with triple cheese and pickles, and Henry had started crying the moment he saw him.

How was he supposed not to?

Dad was Dad. 

Safe and warm, solid and strong, Dad keeping him flush against his side.

Henry had managed to tell Dad that he had walked home from school, that he had been on the phone with Grandma, and that that was why he hadn’t answered any of Trent’s calls. 

Not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t.

He hadn’t meant to do any harm, and he had made his way home all by himself.

Henry had wanted to tell Dad that nothing had happened, that he had been perfectly safe, that Trent had had a really big reaction, but he couldn’t get the words out, a wave of shame washing over him, a fresh batch of tears spilling from his eyes.

“Trent hates me Dad.”

“He doesn’t hate you.” Dad let his hand rest on Henry’s head, his thumb stroking up and down.

“He does. He does Dad.”

Henry had never seen Trent so angry, so disappointed, so - maybe scared, too, but Henry had been the one who had gotten dragged off, who had been pulled by the arm, Henry actually checking if he had any bruises because Trent had held him so tight, but there was nothing there.

“He doesn’t hate you, he just got scared.”

Henry wiped at his eyes again, Dad holding up his sleeve so Henry could blow his nose in his sweater. 

He wasn’t a little kid, but he did it anyway, Dad’s comfort enough for his body to have calmed down, Henry almost okay.

“He sent me to my room. He’s never done that before.”

“That’s because you’re a well-behaved kid, which is a good thing for your old man. Otherwise, those baby blues of yours should be considered lethal weapons. You could be a supervillain with the way you’d get away with anything.”

Henry snorted, Dad the exact same kind of silly as he always was. He was probably telling the truth though, Henry kind of surprised by how easily Dad folded whenever Isabella made a request of him.

“I did something bad.”

“You did something stupid.” Dad gave him a squeeze, “For it to be bad, you would have to have had ill intentions, and I’m pretty damn sure you got so much remorse coursing through your body that you could launch a rocket.”

Henry scoffed, but he couldn’t help a smile either.

“Bad would be bad, but stupid, that’s something we can handle.” Dad moved Henry, so he could look down at him. “Do you regret what you did today?”

“I do.”

“Will you do it again?”

“No.” Henry shook his head. He should have sent Trent a text, or told Grandma that he’d call her back, the fact that he had just disappeared, a very not okay thing to do.

“Do you feel like you’ve been thoroughly disciplined?”

Henry looked up at his Dad, his eyes narrowing. “Isn’t Trent the one to make the call on that?”

“Oh?” Dad smiled, his fingers playing with Henry’s hair, “Are you saying that Trent’s the one who makes that decision, and not your Daddy?”

“You’ve never sent me to my room before.”

In fact, Henry couldn’t recall either Mom or Dad ever telling him to his face that they were disappointed in him, but Mom and Dad were also a lot looser with rules in general, Henry unsure if Dad even knew how many things Trent called the shots on.

“That’s a fair point.”

If it had just been Dad, Henry knew that he’d tell him to right his wrongs, say three ‘with great power comes great responsibility’, and that he should otherwise be a goldfish, but Trent wasn’t Dad, and Dad wasn’t Trent.

“Have you told Trent sorry yet?” Dad didn’t sound annoyed, or like he was accusing Henry of anything.

He just sounded curious, as if he was simply asking a question, which he likely was.

“I did, but he said he didn’t wanna hear it.”

That had felt so bad, Trent dismissing Henry’s attempt at an apology. 

He kinda understood it now though, Henry mainly saying it in the moment to make sure that Trent wasn’t angry.

Which wasn’t a very good reason to say sorry.

“Ha,” Dad smiled, “Yeah. That sounds about right. Let’s make a deal. You go splash some water in your face, and I’ll pop on my scout cap, do a little recon, check out the temperature.”

“On Trent?”

“Yup.” Dad popped the P, “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed yet,” Dad lowered his voice, acting as if he was telling a secret, “but he has a bit of a temper.”

Henry bit his cheek so he wouldn’t snort out a laugh, Dad grinning back at him, his eyes bright with love for Trent. 

What Dad was saying was the truth, but you shouldn’t always say the truth out loud.

Especially when the truth included how grumpy Trent could be.

~~~

Trent felt Ted nose at his throat, his boyfriends weight heavy on top of him on, Ted’s entire body pressing him into the mattress.

He had a book in hand, and he was technically trying to read, lying like this not that far outside of the route, but Ted was downright distracting.

Which really wasn’t what Trent needed, because today had been a day that was a day

Trent didn’t want to think about how scared he had felt when he thought something had happened to Henry, how terrified he had been that his boy had gone missing.

Henry had come to apologize to him after Ted had talked to him, Henry looking Trent directly in the eyes while saying sorry.

More importantly, however, he had told Trent exactly why he was sorry, Henry promising that he would never do something like this ever again.

Trent knew that Henry couldn’t possibly keep such a promise, but he had hugged Henry anyway, and whispered a thanks into his hair, Henry practically melting into the embrace.

It had been amusing, and quite touching, to have Lasso Junior act so much like his father, Henry oftentimes the spitting image of Ted.

Ted, who kept moving around, Trent genuinely unsure if he was attempting to crawl inside of his skin, Ted straining his neck to truly bury his face in Trent’s hair.

It felt like he had an unruly child in his bed, and Trent tried not to let it annoy him.

The rest of their evening had gone as well as it could. 

Isabella had been in a mood, so Ted had indulged her with dinner, Trent beyond impressed by what felt like Ted’s endless patience.

Said pampering had, however, also led to Isabella insisting that Ted tucked her in, Trent witnessing a bedtime ritual that would have made him explode in frustration, Isabella calling for Teddy over and over and over again, asking for water and backrubs and monster checks and an extra story, and and and-

Trent felt Ted’s hand on his bicep, which almost made him drop his book. 

For some godforsaken reason, it felt like Ted was a sniffling truffle pig that was trying to dig for gold, the side of his face bumping against Trent’s ear.

Under usual circumstances, Trent liked to believe that he was fairly forgiving and patient with Ted, that he generally allowed his boyfriend free reign and a sense of autonomy, but this was not only strange.

It was also fucking annoying.

Trent wanted to just push Ted off, to remove him as fast as possible, but Ted was a whole lot heavier than him, Trent fairly certain he couldn’t buck Ted off, even if he tried, when he was lying on top of him like this.

Which didn’t feel claustrophobic at all. 

“Ted-“

Ted hummed, his boyfriend nosing at the back of Trent’s head, which was the final nail in the coffin.

He dropped his book and bent the leg Ted wasn’t lying on top of, foot flat against the mattress. He used his elbow and leg to tilt his body, Ted making a surprised noise as he was jostled to the side.

He hadn’t succeeded in getting him off, but Trent felt Ted pull back, his boyfriend’s cheeks a pink that would be delightful under any other circumstances, Ted moving so they were chest to chest, an arm the only thing that held Ted’s weight.

“What’d you do that for?” Ted sounded confused, and a little offended, Trent briefly considered if it’d be worth it to pull a Roy Kent, an uncomfortable panic tingling in his body.

Not that Trent had never nutted someone. 

“Why are you smelling my neck?”

“Oh…” Ted blushed, a proper red coloring his face, Trent’s annoyance dying down, even if he still wanted Ted off of his body. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

“Not an explanation.” Trent had wanted to say Theodore, but he was getting better at catching himself, to hold his tongue, to follow Ted’s wish that he didn’t call him that anymore.

“Right. Right right right.” Ted clicked his tongue, Trent feeling a sliver of worry mix with his irritation.

“Ted-“  Trent tried to pour empathy into his voice, to make sure that Ted wouldn’t get overly anxious.

Ted had been doing so well, keeping his anxiety under control, Trent pretty damned sure that Ted hadn’t had a single panic attack in March, and he would hate to be the reason for that particular streak break.

“It, umh, it’s-” Ted bit his lip, “You don’t smell like almonds?”

“Excuse me?” Trent didn’t know what he had expected Ted to say, but it certainly wasn’t this. “Why would you-“

“You always smell like almonds.”

If Trent had wanted to buck Ted off before, he felt like a wild horse now, the desire for Ted to fuck off coursing through him.

How dared Ted say something like that, how could he just- why would he-

Trent knew he hadn’t used his usual hair oil, knew that he had been standing by the bathroom sink, and had made the decision to skip out on that part of his routine, but that wasn’t any of Ted’s fucking business.

Especially because Trent should have done it. He had just been so tired, and it had felt…

Pointless.

“Who are you? A fucking detective?”

“Ha,” Ted smiled, “Detective Ted, that’d be a picture book worth reading, don’t you think? You could be the sexy commissioner, uh, or even better, the hot criminal, who uses his massive brain to-“

“If anyone is a detective, it’s Beard.” Trent knew force wouldn’t help, but he still felt trapped, so he moved again, nudging Ted, who thankfully rolled off of him, his boyfriend taking the duvet with him. 

Not that Trent minded, since he felt uncomfortably hot, his entire body overheated.

“You could be his sidekick, or the village idiot.”

“Ow!” Ted held a hand to his heart, like he had been shot, a big grin on his lips, “Police, police!”

“Not so loud, you’ll wake the-“

“Help me! I’ve been the victim of a-“

Trent wasn’t exactly in the mood, but he kissed Ted anyway, lips on lips often the only reliable way to get Ted Lasso to shut the fuck up. 

~~~

Ted was whistling to himself as he cleaned up after breakfast. He had made scrambled eggs and toast that morning, and everyone had finished their plates, which felt like a major win. 

He had, technically, bribed everyone by making the breakfast just as they liked it, Ted mixing a bit of feta and spinach into Trent’s portion, while he had added cream to Isabella's eggs and extra bacon bits in for Henry.

Ted could hear Trent help Isabella into her jacket, their daily debate about hats and scarfs traveling through the house. Isabella argued that she didn’t need a scarf, since she could see the sun while Trent informed her that he wasn’t asking for her opinion, and that her outerwear wasn’t up for debate.

“Dad?” 

Ted looked over his shoulder, Henry standing in the door.

“Hey buddy,” Ted smiled, “You need help with your tie?”

Ted had shown Henry how to tie his school tie many times, but he still struggled with it regularly, uniforms one of the things that Henry truly didn’t like about life in England.

Not that Ted was under any illusion that he would have enjoyed wearing a uniform if he had been the kid that was growing up in England.

“Henry?” Ted lowered the mugs he had been putting away, his son not replying to his question, even though he was the one who had come into the kitchen in the first place. “Everything alright sport?”

“Dad, I-” Ted felt his pulse spike, Henry looking down at the ground, his son’s hands in his pocket, his shoulders hunched. “I didn’t do it on purpose-”

Ted didn’t want his hands to shake, but he put the mugs down, turning around completely to put his hands behind him, Ted trying to make it appear as if he was simply leaning against the counter.

“Didn’t mean to do what?”

“I forgot to tell you why Grandma called? Yesterday? When we talked?

“Oh?” Ted did what he could to take a discreet breath in through his nose, freaking out in front of Henry the last thing he wanted, even if the mention of his Mama filled him with a very familiar sense of dread. “Well that’s fine. Don’t you worry a lick about that. Did Grandma have any special reason for calling?”

“Well,” Henry looked up, but he didn’t seem all that reassured, “She said that she misses me, and that I should come see her in Kansas.”

Okay.

Okay.

That was doable. 

That was fine.

Sweet, even.

It was natural that a Grandma missed her Grandson, and Ted would happily-

“She’s already bought the tickets. With her own money.”

That was a little less fine.

His Mama was retired, and while she wasn’t struggling because Ted sent her money each and every month, she shouldn’t be buying expensive plane tickets.

Especially when Ted had no idea how Dottie had obtained Henry’s passport information, but he could roll with it, Ted about to open his mouth to tell Henry that they’d figure something out, when Henry continued talking.

“They’re for Easter, and she said they’re non refundable.”

~~~

“Ted,” Trent held his phone between his ear and his shoulder, “I’ll figure something out.”

Trent had noticed that Henry had looked a little down when he had crawled into the backseat, but he hadn’t imagined that it would be because Dottie had demanded that he came visit her for Easter.

“Are you sure?” Trent could hear the guilt in Ted’s voice, and maybe it made Trent into what the players called a simp, but if he was being honest, he was just happy that Ted had remembered to call him.

Which wasn’t pathetic at all. 

“I’m absolutely certain.” Trent was making his way up the stairs, a pot of tea in his hands. “I can handle the children.”

What was a tiny bit harder to handle, was the fact that Ted had decided that Michelle would be a better help than Trent.

He understood it, on an intellectual level, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t feel a little nugget of hurt settle at the bottom of his stomach. 

“Don’t worry about them, or about me. You just need to take care of yourself, okay?”

”I love you.”

Trent smiled, Ted sounding so relieved that the nugget was absolutely worth it.

“I love you too Ted.”

~~~

Henry shook his mini bag of hula hoops, trying to decide which one to eat next.

He had come home from school, as usual, Trent ready with a sandwich and a hug for him, Henry really grateful for the way that they were almost back to normal, for how Trent had picked up the routine once more.

Except for the fact that Trent had then told him that he was coming along for gymnastics, since Dad was at Mom’s house, making a call to Grandma.

Henry had wanted to argue that he could stay at home by himself, but after yesterday, he had kept his mouth shut and followed Isabella into the car, his sister dressed up and ready in her leotard.

Coming along for gymnastics wasn’t the worst thing in the world though, since the leisure center had a little cafe, and a glass window so you could watch what happened in the main hall.

Trent was sitting next to him, but he had opened his laptop almost immediately, an untouched cup of tea in a paper cup on his right, the clack of keys mixing in with the chatter from the other parents who were waiting.

Henry ate another one of his hula hoops, the chips, sorry, crisp, crunching between his teeth. It was 110% a bribery bag, and an apology for the fact that Henry had been made to come along, but he didn’t mind too much.

Especially not when coming along meant that he got to have extra crisps on a weekday.

Trent had told him to pack a book, and to bring his school work so he could get it done, but Henry hadn’t started on it yet.

He should, but he had to admit that he was captivated by the sight of 6 year olds who were doing tricks.

They were surprisingly good, Henry easily spotting Isabella who came barreling down towards the trampoline, his little sister doing a jump that Henry wasn’t sure he’d even dare attempt, Isabella unsurprisingly amongst the bravest of the girls.

Henry heard three taps in quick succession, and he twisted around to see that Trent had his finger next to Henry’s worksheet, Trent clearly telling him to get back to his work, even if he hadn’t said a word.

~~~

“Mama,” Ted’s voice nearly broke, and Michelle couldn’t bear it, “I-“

Michelle clutched her mug of tea as she watched Ted continue his little route around her living room. It was dizzying to watch, Ted tracking from the window to the TV and back again.

“No-“ 

Ted had his phone pressed to his ears, Dorothy Lasso on the other end.

“No-“

Ted had been completely frazzled when Michelle had managed to pick up her phone, Ted essentially begging her to allow him to come over after work, which Michelle had immediately agreed to.

Because Dottie Lasso was the type of person who required a tag team approach. 

“You needa listen to me-“ Ted swallowed a groan, his eyes closing before his hand scrubbed over his face, both of his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, “Mom-“

Ted’s hair was an absolute mess, his carefully curated floof more birdsnest than hairstyle.

Michelle didn’t love Ted romantically anymore, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t hurt to watch the way Dottie always managed to reduce Ted to the weakest version of himself, insecurity, exasperation and fear practically radiating off of him, 

“'I'm not raising my voice-“

The phone call had lasted well over an hour already, Michelle coming on speakerphone whenever it was needed, Dottie refusing to believe anything Ted said unless Michelle confirmed it.

Yes, Henry had a friend coming for Easter. 

Yes, everything was already booked.

Yes, it was a unanimous decision and Michelle had helped arrange it.

Yes, Henry wanted to stay in England to have Doug come visit, even if he could come see his Grandma.

Michelle knew that Ted had the patience of a saint, but she would have hung up several times over, Dottie often tapdancing on her last nerve. 

“His name is Trent.”

Michelle froze, her breath caught in her lungs, her eyes widening.

“You know his name is Trent, don’t pretend like you don’t know that.”

Dottie had a tendency to go low when she was denied, but Michelle had no idea she’d go this low.

“You’ve met him-“

Michelle didn’t know that, but she did know that Dottie had come to London before Ted had run back home to Kansas like a beaten dog.

Maybe, Michelle should have dug into it more, but Ted had been so deeply depressed that she had been terrified of doing or saying the wrong thing, Henry thankfully capable of bringing the light back to Ted’s empty eyes.

“You called his hair fabulous, you have his book, he-“

Ted took a deep breath, and Michelle knew he was seconds away from biting his knuckle, of screaming into his fist, the teenage anger and frustration bubbling to the surface.

She had never met high school Ted, but it was obvious that he was still in there, that he was still hurting, and Michelle felt a moment of guilt well up in her for the fact that she hadn’t managed to notice while they were married.

That she hadn’t seen how much Ted needed a safe place to land.

“Mama, we needa stop wandering down this road-“ Michelle sat up straight, Ted’s voice filled with steel and determination, “or we’re gonna be having a whole different conversation.”

Michelle didn’t know what Dottie had said or not said about Trent, but it was extremely clear that she had overstepped, that she had managed to push too far, that she had somehow drained the last drops of Ted’s patience.

It was one of Dottie’s most harmful qualities, how she always had to pretend, how she acted like she didn’t want anything and that she didn’t need anything.

Dottie knew exactly what she wanted, knew exactly what she needed, what she felt like she was owed, and she made those around her guess and guess and guess until they got it right, her little act something that had always grinded Michelle’s gears.

Especially when Ted became a puppet in his Mama’s show.

“This is a decision Michelle and I made together, and Trent didn’t have-“

Ted paused, a hand coming up to pinch his nose, his head tipping back in frustration.

“Yes you can ask Michelle again, but she’s gonna say the same danged thing-“

Michelle quickly put her mug down, ready to push off the couch in case Ted needed her as backup once more.

“I know you didn’t raise me to swear,” Ted started walking again, “You’re making it real hard not to- Yes. Yes, well you’re making me see red.”

Michelle wondered if she should make Ted another glass of water, or see if she had any alcohol in the house, a week old bottle of opened red wine unfortunately the only thing she-

“I never said Henry can’t come see you Mama, but he isn’t coming Easter.”

Michelle felt her heart swell with pride.

It was amazing to witness Ted standing firm, to get to see him say no to his Mom like this.

No excuses, no wiggling, no arguing and ifs or buts or maybes.

Just a simple denial, which Michelle personally thought Ted should have done decades ago. 

“I know you wanted Easter,” Ted had come over to the couch, “but you ain’t getting that.”

He sat down, and Michelle could see how exhausted he was, how draining this whole thing was for him.

“Either, you help me look for a solution, or you can-“

Michelle hoped she wasn’t overstepping, that this was the right thing to do, but she reached out to take Ted’s free hand in hers, to show her support, to let him know that she was there.

“Yes, we can look at Henry coming to visit you in June or July.” 

Chapter Text

Trent knew that he needed to stop smoking.

His latest shed pack had tided him over for 8 months, but it was like Keeley had opened a floodgate in him at Rebecca’s birthday party, Trent forcefully reminded of how wonderfully calming it was to light up.

How good it felt to inhale and exhale, to let the nicotine enter his system.

Smoking was a reminder to take a break, to let his eyes fall shut as he indulged, to pull away for five minutes and carve out a bit of time that belonged to him and only him.

Trent got out of his Mercedes, the car parked in front of the house, the boot loaded with groceries, three packs of Marlboro red in one of the totes, alongside cleaning supplies, new blades for Ted’s razor and a net of oranges.

He hadn’t planned on buying any cigarettes at all, but he had been in Big Tescos anyway, to get the bits and bobs Ted forgot to order online and to distract himself from the fact that it’d be a whole week until the children would be back with them.

It had sucked to say goodbye to Isabella, Trent forced to reconcile with the fact that he felt like he had barely seen his little girl, that he hadn’t had proper time for her, that the majority of the last week had been about Henry and Henry’s birthday and the drama with Dottie.

Trent hadn’t pried when Ted had come home yesterday, his boyfriend arriving well after dinner. Henry had been the first to pounce on his father, and Isabella had followed, Ted made even more interesting than usual by his absence. 

Ted had done both tuck in times, Isabella falling asleep almost immediately because of gymnastics, but Henry had needed to talk to his Dad, Trent pulled from his slumber when Ted crawled into bed.

He hadn’t had time to connect with Ted in the morning, switcheroo days always a bit of a mess, but it had been obvious that Ted was wrung out and sucked dry, that the week had been more draining than not, and Trent wanted to help.

If he could.

Trent tried not to linger on the hurt that still hadn’t evaporated as he grabbed the tote bags, but it kept rearing its ugly head, Trent forcefully reminding himself that Ted wasn’t going to leave him to get back with Michelle.

Ted wouldn’t do that to him.

Not when he had promised he wouldn’t.

His plan for the evening wasn’t anywhere near perfect, but because of International week, there would be no Richmond match tomorrow, so Trent had bought all of the ingredients to make the one date night dish he knew how to cook.

Pasta with pecorino and a pea sauce wasn’t a culinary masterpiece, but it paired well with white wine, Trent grabbing a bottle of fiano and a loaf of bread from the bakery section in Tescos. 

He hoped he could have dinner ready for when Ted came home, that a few candles and some oldies but goodies on the record player would be enough for Ted to hopefully relax and recharge, Trent crossing his fingers that what he could provide would be enough

He locked the car, and turned towards the house, Trent ready to put the groceries away so he could get started on today's copyediting, but he paused as he saw the front door.

Someone had made a delivery while Trent had been away, a giant package resting against the wall.

He took the steps two at a time, and slipped inside to put away the things that needed to go in the freezer and fridge. It took him no time at all, and Trent returned to their front door. The big plastic bag did have their address on it, and the sender was…

Wait…

Had Ted ordered them a new rug?

Without Trent’s input?

It was a struggle and a half to get it inside, Trent cursing under his breath.

He could call Ted.

Should, maybe, call Ted, to ask for permission before opening the plastic and rolling out the rug, but he had to know what he was dealing with, had to know if Ted had truly been inconsiderate enough to buy such a big piece for their home on his own.

Trent used his keys to cut open the plastic, the sofa table in the way as he unrolled the rug, but-

Hold on.

There was no way.

Trent cursed as he tried to get the rug spread out in its entirety, his heart hammering away.

There was no way.

No fucking way.

But yes, it was-

It was his rug.

Trent knew that it was his rug, immediately and instinctively.

Had Ted somehow-

Trent thought Ted had thrown it away, but instead-

He turned around, easily finding the part of the pattern that Ted had thrown up on.

The vomit was gone.

He couldn’t find the red wine stain either, or the Ribena accident, couldn’t locate where Henry had dropped a marker or the cluster of glitter that had refused to budge.

Ted had gotten Trent’s rug cleaned.

Had gotten it fixed.

Ted had done that.

Done that for him.

Trent didn’t think of himself as a person who cried, but he could feel the tears start to run, a hand coming up to cover his mouth, a sob escaping him as pure gratitude and love washed over him.

~~~

“And then we just have to-“

Beard got cut off, as a ding sounded from Ted’s phone. They were in their part of the office, and Beard was standing by the whiteboard.

He looked over his shoulder, to see Ted twirl his chair towards his desk.

“One sec Coach,” Ted reached for his phone, “You hold onto those thoughts, and I’ll be right back with you!”

Ted always kept his ringer on during work, but it was rare for him to get messages or calls to his personal number, so it made sense that he wanted to check.

“As you wish.” Beard twisted to continue his sketching, the whiteboard filled up with suggested strategies.

Because Richmond would be playing West Ham soon, and if there was one thing Nate knew how to do.

It was clocking their shit.

Which meant that it took double and triple the amount of work to prepare for a West Ham match, unless they wanted to get their booties kicked.

Not to mention the fact that most of the West Ham players carried some serious grudges towards their first team, because of how they had behaved at the infamous London Stadium match.

Which made sense.

Especially when you considered the way one of their midfielders still had a crooked nose because of Dani’s headbutt.

“Coach?” Beard didn’t need Ted’s input, but he wanted to hear his thoughts on the idea of confusing West Ham by sprinkling as many new players as they could into their lineup.

“Sorry Coach, Trent is asking when I’ll be home, so I just gotta-“

Beard heard another ding, and Ted stopped talking, Beard turning around as a choking sound filled the room.

Ted was clutching his phone in his hands, his elbows on his desk, his cheeks a bright red, Ted blushing so hard Beard could see the tip of his ears change color.

“You okay over there?” Beard smirked, a devious delight spread in his body. “Ted?”

“What?” Ted looked at him, his jaw left slack, his lips parted, “Who? Me?”

Beard had no idea what Trent had texted, but it had to have been dirty, Ted so turned on that he was practically vibrating.

“I’m good, I’m-“ 

Ted swallowed, and crossed his legs before pushing away from his desk, Beard biting his cheek not to snicker at his best friend.

“Seems like the rug arrived?”

Ted had told Beard that he had gotten a delivery notification while they had had their midmorning fruit break, Alfie hunting down all the players to give them their juices and smoothies.

“Yes.”

“And I assume,” Beard tried not too appear too invested, to not come off as too forward or abrasive, but this was hilarious and he loved every second of it, “Trent is real grateful?”

“Why would you say-“ Ted reached up to pull at his collar, Beard watching as he hooked his fingers. “Is it hot in here?” Ted started fanning himself with his other hand. “It feels hot. Did we ever get permission to install that aircon? Cause I-“

“Coach?”

“That’s me, Coachity Coach Coach.” Ted looked like he was going to get out of his chair, just to change his mind at the last minute, a grimace telling Beard exactly what Ted was attempting to hide - and hide badly with his crossed legs, “When do you think we’ll wrap up here? Trent told me to text when I leave, not that we gotta hurry. I always have time for you honey bunch. But I should probably also head home soonish-“

It wasn’t unusual for Ted to blabber, but this was Ted in hyperdrive. 

“Hey, do you know where the word coach comes from? Cause I sure don’t- Should we look it up in the dictionary-“

“Ted?” Ted practically froze in place, “Do you need 20?”

“Yup.” Ted shot out of his chair, his friend past him before Beard had fully registered what was going on, Ted so fast he was powerwalking. “I’ll be out on the pitch!”

Beard managed to hold it in until Ted was out of earshot, the loud full belly laugh exactly what he needed.

~~~

The front door wasn’t unlocked.

Ted didn’t whine, but it was a damned close thing as he swung his backpack around to his belly so he could dive inside to search for his keys, his hands slipping on the zipper, his fingers clumsy.

Trent had lit him on fire with his text, the message itself innocent enough, but two laps around the pitch and the brisk walk home hadn’t been enough to fix him.

Because Trent had promised to devour him, and Ted couldn’t wait.

He finally found his keys, and he practically smashed them into the lock, Trent hopefully ready for him inside since Ted had texted when he left Nelson Road like he had been told to-

The door opened, and Ted stepped inside. 

The first thing he saw was Trent who stood in the doorway to the living room, his shoulder leaning against the wood, his arms crossed, a lazy smirk on his lips.

He was wearing brown pants with a belt that cinched in his waist, and an orange t-shirt under an open sweater in a deep red that Ted wished he knew the name of, the colors clearly not just brown or red-

“Hello Theodore.” 

It felt like Ted had been hit by lightning, the sound of his name, the sound of his name the sweetest siren song and oh how Ted had missed it.

“Hi-“ Ted swallowed, everything all electric, his inside practically bubbling. 

“I hope you know,” Trent looked at Ted, “that I love you so much.”

“I do,” Ted never doubted that, never, ever ever ever. He closed the door behind him, the lock clicking in place. He took a step forward, but Trent held out a hand.

“No.”

“No?” Ted felt his eyes widen, “Why-“

He had just wanted his hello kiss, and Trent had promised, he had told Ted that he loved him, had promised he’d-

“I’m not touching you until we get upstairs.”

Lightning wasn’t supposed to strike twice, but Ted went from electric to electrified instantly.

“Oh…” He was clutching the fabric of his backpack. “Okay-“

He wanted, no, needed, his kisses, but he could wait.

He could be good, he could-

Ted took another step forward, but Trent tutted at him, which made Ted stop once more.

“Where are your manners?”

“My manners?”

Ted didn’t know how it reflected on him, but he was already achingly hard, Trent’s snooty tone really doing it for him.

“Are you going to go upstairs like that?”

Ted looked down, his brain slowly registering that he was still clutching his backpack and his keys, that he was still wearing his shoes and his jacket and-

“Keys in the bowl Ted.”

Ted didn’t feel as good as Theodore, but he did as he was told anyway, Ted letting go of his keys to hear the metal clink on the glass.

His hand was shaking, but it wasn’t because of anxiety, Ted so hot he was burning up, his legs unsteady-

“Put your backpack down.”

“What about-“

“What about what?” Trent hadn’t moved away from the doorframe, his boyfriend still leaning against it, his eyes following Ted’s every move.

“You didn’t say-“ Ted swallowed, his mouth dry, “You didn’t say-“

“Good boy?”

Ted swore he almost felt his knees buckle, and he nodded, rapidly, Trent’s praise all he wanted, all he needed, all-

“Put the backpack down.”

Ted did as he was told, his backpack slowly lowered to the ground.

He knew his cheeks were burning, knew his ears had to be red hot. He was sweating up a storm, his undershirt no doubt getting soaked, but Trent wouldn’t care.

He loved Ted.

Just as he was.

“Thank you.”

A thank you wasn’t as good as a good boy or sweet boy, but Ted still reached for his jacket, his fingers clumsy as he managed to grab the zipper.

“Are you-“ Ted swallowed, his head bent so he could see what he was doing, but he still sneaked a peak, looking at Trent, “Will you just watch me?”

“That’s the plan.” Trent’s voice was like honey, thick and slow and lazy, Ted easily able to hear how pleased Trent was, amusement and heat rolling off of him, the air thick with desire. “Take it off.”

Ted nodded, hurrying up as he wanted to obey, wanted to do what Trent asked, wanted him to-

It was hard to get out of a jacket in a sexy way, especially when it was a puffer, Ted struggling with the arms for a moment that felt like eternity-

“Easy now.”

Ted paused, Trent talking to him as if he was a horse, like he was some wild animal.

Maybe he was, Ted’s cock so hard his metal zipper dug into him.

“We have all the time in the world.”

They did not, in fact, have all the time in the world, Ted so tightly wound he wanted Trent to throw him down on the floor and have his wicked way with him right here and right now.

But this wasn’t up to Ted.

It was Trent’s decision.

Ted managed to get his jacket off, and for a split second, he considered throwing it, just to see what Trent would do.

To push, to be disobedient, to get caught, to be held, to be-

Ted hung his jacket up, his shoes the last thing he needed to get off. 

Normally, he’d never ever ever toe his way out of his red Nike Huaraches, but these were special circumstances, and Ted could make a sacrifice.

He moved, ready to step on his left foot, when Trent spoke up again.

“Oh Ted.”

Ted paused instantly, Trent looking at him with an amused smirk.

“What made you think-“

Ted wasn’t thinking, which was the main prob-

“That I’d let you get away with that behavior? That you’re not going to take your shoes off properly?”

“I-” Ted swore he felt his brain short circuit, Trent dunking him in the darkest water, Ted drowning, the world disappearing as his head filled with warm fuzz.

“Kneel for me Ted.”

Ted nodded, his right knee hitting the floor before he had truly processed the command, Trent his anchor to reality as he sunk down to the floor with one wish, and one wish only.

To obey.

~~~

Trent couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so relaxed.

He was lying in bed, Ted in his arms, Trent slowly stroking all the bare skin he could reach, Ted utterly melted, his nose against Trent’s collarbone, little noises coming from him every once in a while, but they were all happy, so Trent had decided to just let him be.

The fresh sheets he had put on were utterly ruined, and they needed a shower, Trent just grabbing the bag of wet wipes from the bottom drawer for clean up, but that didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered, except the right here, and the right now, Trent pressing a kiss to Ted’s little bald spot, his lips lingering there as he breathed Ted in.

The sex had been fantastic, almost out of this world, Trent’s orgasm hitting him so hard he had gone cross eyed.

Ted had been perfect. 

A whimpering, pleading mess, Trent still unwilling to examine exactly what it was so mindmeltingly hot when Ted cried, when he hiccuped and begged, when he was twitchy and moaning.

It had felt amazing to bring Ted so close to the edge, and then work him back down, to push and push and push, to torment and tease, to do whatever he wanted, Ted taking everything Trent gave him.

He hadn’t dared hope, hadn’t dreamed, could never-

Trent couldn’t believe that he was lucky enough to have Ted, that Ted somehow wanted to, willingly and enthusiastically, act out Trent’s dirtiest fantasies.

It felt impossible, but Ted continued to surprise, to be more than Trent deserved, to defy expectations, to let Trent get his way.

Ted had kneeled when Trent had asked him to, and Trent knew he’d be thinking about that scene over and over and over again.

The way Ted had looked at him, flush and lush, so trusting and open, so-

Trent kissed Ted’s bald spot again, his emotions too much to handle, his chest filled with an ache that he didn’t dare touch, his poor heart almost breaking, Trent overflowing with a brittle happiness that felt so very fragile, Trent on some sort of knife edge, some-

Ted started snoring, and Trent was forcefully pulled from his thoughts, Ted apparently falling asleep during their afterglow cuddles, Trent smiling as he gave Ted a little squeeze.

He couldn’t reach his bedside book, and his phone was in his trousers, but he’d find a way to pass the time, Trent drawing lazy patterns on Ted’s skin, since Ted clearly needed the rest. 

~~~

Ted woke to the sound of music coming from downstairs.

He blinked awake, disoriented, and probably a bit dehydrated, his mouth dry and tacky in the way it always was when he snored.

Ted didn’t know why Trent never complained about his snoring, why he didn’t comment on it, everyone else in his life, even Beard, telling Ted that it was loud enough to be disruptive to their sleep.

He smacked his lips, trying and failing to gather enough saliva to escape the stickiness. 

He needed water, and a shower, and-

Ted moved, his treacherous cock stirring when he felt the stretch, the twitch, his body well used in the best way, Ted praying that he’d have bruises on his hips, Trent’s fingers digging in while he fucked him in doggy.

Missionary used to be Ted’s favorite position, having his gal under him so they could kiss during the act the way he used to prefer to have sex.

To make love.

Ted knew that Trent loved him, but nothing they had just done could be considered loving.

That had been fucking, Ted’s brain going offline when Trent had pulled his hair.

He felt like had run a marathon.

Not that Ted had ever actually done that, but he imagined this was what it felt like.

He was happy, and satiated. Elated and so relaxed.

They hadn’t had sex like this since their sexathon, but that had made Ted feel desperate.

Out of his mind.

Wild with desire.

Here and now, he was… 

Content.

He knew he had done good, knew he had pleased Trent, knew that he had been his good boy.

Ted didn’t used to be someone who blushed, but he felt his cheeks heat up once more.

He had always loved praise, positive reinforcement and a glowing review the way to Ted’s heart, but Trent did something to him.

Something different.

Ted wanted to earn Trent’s praise, wanted to be good for him, wanted to be the best, but also the worst, the way Trent looked at him right before he put him in his place filling him with feelings he didn’t even know he could feel.

His cock clearly hadn’t gotten the message that he was in his mid 40s, Ted’s thoughts enough for his body to start asking for a round two, to make its interests known.

Ted rolled onto his stomach, and reached behind, his fingers going between his cheeks.

He squirmed, touching himself like this without Trent around still a little forbidden.

Dirty and naughty.

Hot in the best way.

He pulled his right leg up, Ted hidden underneath the duvet.

He was tender, but not sore, Trent wiping him down while Ted had been too out of it to help.

Maybe, if he could find the lube, he could get himself ready for another round, maybe, he could-

Ted was pulled from his thoughts, when he heard noise from the hallway, Trent clearly coming back upstairs.

He could stop what he was doing, could pretend he hadn’t been touching himself.

But he didn’t want that.

Trent wouldn’t make fun of him.

Wouldn’t tell him that he was too much.

That he was needy, or clingy, that he was desperate or exasperating.

Trent would like, no, love this, and that thought gave Ted courage.

He grabbed at the duvet to pull it off, Ted shivering as cold air hit him.

Trent was coming down the hall, Ted’s cheeks burning, the nice kind of shame and embarrassment threatening to drown him in the best possible way.

Ted buried his head in the pillow, twisting to show Trent what he was doing, to let Trent know that he wanted, to-

“Fucking hell.”

~~~

“What are you doing?”

Trent had come out of the bathroom, washcloth in hand, ready to clean Ted up, only to see his boyfriend standing there, naked except for a shirt, his soft cock hanging out, his thighs glistening with lube, a bowl of pasta in his hand.

“I was thirsty.” Ted took another bite of pasta, the tray Trent had made downstairs by his feet, Trent watching in disbelief as Ted chewed happily. 

It had been a gamble to sneak out from underneath Ted, but he had been out cold, Trent cooking dinner for them since he had already bought the ingredients.

He had expected Ted to come down, for him to wake on his own, but Trent had managed to make all of their food, and to plate it up without Ted appearing.

Which was why he had carried his tray upstairs, food in bed not something they normally did, but Trent had thought-

And he certainly hadn’t expected for Ted to be-

“What?” 

Trent had nearly dropped the tray when he saw Ted on the bed, his gorgeous boyfriend positioned and ready, touching himself, Trent sure he’d never forget that sight.

He had jumped him without a second thought, Ted pressed into the mattress as he made him come on his fingers, Trent using his mouth and hands to take Ted apart.

“At first-“ Ted swallowed his mouthful, “I was thirsty, so I got up to get some water.”

Trent looked down at the tray, the white wine probably lukewarm by now, one of the waterglasses he had brought upstairs emptied out.

“Then I was cold,” Ted gestured towards his shirt, the creases on it making it obvious that it came from the floor.

“And then I was hungry, so I started eating.”

“What about the lack of pants?” Trent loved to look at Ted, adored him in all stages and in all versions, but Ted was shy, and modest, Ted diving for cover whenever he could.

“My Donald Duck look?” Ted stabbed another bite, “Figured you were getting us a cloth, and I didn’t wanna ruin you being a sweetiepie.”

“Sweetiepie?”

“I might be slightly delirious from the excellent orgasms.” Ted smiled, mischief in his eyes, and Trent loved him, even when Ted continued to talk with his mouth full. “This is real good.”

Ted had managed to finish about half the plate, his sweet boy clearly ravenous, Trent kind of impressed, but also pleased, warm pride finding a place in his chest.

He had made Ted that hungry, and that happy, he had provided a meal he had made, had managed to be good enough in bed that Ted chose the word excellent to describe his orgasms.

“Thank you.” Trent wished that Ted could have tasted the pasta as it was intended, everything the wrong temperature.

“Can’t believe,” Ted showeled even more into his mouth, “I was out long enough for you to order takeout.” 

“Takeout?” Trent knew he sounded kind of offended, but he kinda was, “I didn’t get takeaway.” 

“Whatda you mean?”

“I,” Trent walked over to Ted, “made this,” it was only at the last second that Trent managed to keep a Theodore inside, the name playing at the tip of his tongue, “I made it for-“

Trent didn’t get to finish his sentence, Ted pulling him in for a kiss, Trent dropping the washcloth, Ted tasting like garlic and peas and it shouldn’t be hot, but it was fucking fantastic.

Chapter Text

Ted was doing the crosswords.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had taken the time to sit down and fill one out, but he used to love them.

The coffee machine was doing its thing, a glass of orange juice at Ted’s elbow, the ingredients for runny eggs and french toast set out so Ted could make breakfast once Trent woke up.

It felt weird, but good, to have a quiet morning, to have nothing on the agenda.

To have a Saturday where he didn’t have to go to work.

Ted tapped the pencil he had found against his lips, the answer for four down refusing to reveal itself to him.

Maybe, he should pick up The Guardian instead, the crossword in The Independent not very well behaved.

Trent had several newspaper subscriptions, Ted picking them up on their doorstep as a part of his morning routine, stacking the papers on the corner of the kitchen island, a ritual in itself. 

He always made sure to place The Independent at the top, the days where Trent read it while Ted was still home its own special treat.

Trent had a habit of editing while he read, crossing out and adding in, making notes like he’d turn it in, like he’d hand out grades.

If Ted was especially lucky, Trent would keep up a running commentary, getting his morning news through a Trent shaped filter with a side dish of snark, the best way to start the day.

Ted was pretty sure Trent didn’t actually do anything with his corrections, that he threw out the newspaper when he was done reading, their paper recycling bin always overflowing by garbage day.

Thinking of paper though.

It had been a while since they had visited the bookstore, or the newsstand, Ted noticing earlier that Trent’s little bedside pile of books were less of a pile, and more of a stack. 

It was where new books first came to stay, their bedroom simply the first stop, Trent leaving books behind everywhere, though it seemed like they all found their way to the bookcase in the end.

Trent was a messy reader, who always had multiple books opened at the same time, Trent happily jumping from story to story, the book he kept near the sofa and the one he had in his bag or in the car rarely - if ever - the same one. 

The bundle of magazines that Trent stored in the kitchen window still was also depressingly slim, Trent reading all sorts of publications that Ted had never even heard of, Trent always taking his time to go over the selection whenever they entered a corner shop or a kiosk.

It was incredibly charming, Ted nosy enough that he loved to flick through what Trent had recently picked up if he remembered to do it. 

It was one of those things that Ted truly loved about Trent, how he was so tactile and analog, that he was downright old-fashioned sometimes. 

Ted bit the tip of his pen, and returned his attention to the crosswords puzzle.

He still hadn’t figured out what four down was supposed to be, but maybe, he could call Beard, and have him on speakerphone, doing the crossword with his bestie a perfect way to continue his lazy Saturday.

~~~

“Are you sure you need my help with this?”

Trent didn’t mind being outside, as a general rule, but there was a reason that he hadn’t done anything to the back garden, digging through mulch, planting seeds, tending to weeds and watering, not really his idea of time well spent.

“Course,” Ted grinned up at him, and Trent swallowed a sigh. Ted was wearing his coaching visor, and sunglasses, both of them down on their knees.

Ted had planted potatoes with Isabella, and this weekend, he was apparently going to add carrots, Trent tasked with weeding while Ted dug out holes.

“You’re an essential part of this mission baby.”

Trent just hummed in reply, Ted clearly convinced that he was right, which meant that there was little Trent could do to show him that he was in fact - wrong.

This whole thing was honestly Trent’s own fault, since he should have asked why Ted needed him out in the garden, grabbing a sweater and joining him without any follow up questions Trent’s mistake.

Sometimes, he couldn’t believe that he had ever managed to make a living as a reporter.

He didn’t want to go back, but he wondered if he’d be able to do it.

If he still had the skills.

If there was anything he was even remotely capable of doing somewhat correctly.

“Hey,” Trent felt Ted nudge him with an elbow, “If you don’t turn that frown upside down, I’m going to start thinking that you don’t enjoy being outdoors.”

“I don’t.”

“Ha,” Ted laughed, his boyfriend clearly convinced that Trent was just goofing off, but he wasn’t. 

The garden had been Lilian’s wish, and her project, though Trent had ended up being the one who got tasked with lawn maintenance and keeping her rose bushes alive. 

The flowers in question had - unfortunately - withered away during Trent’s summer of depression, since he hadn’t had the energy to water them.

He quickly shut down that line of thought, the day too beautiful for Trent to get in his head, for him to even entertain the idea of facing the uncomfortable truth that had started to catch up to him, that had-

“Did I ever ask you about first concert, best concert? Cause I don’t think I have, and I can’t not know that about the apple of my eye.”

Trent barely had time to register that Ted had just called him the apple of his eye, his ridiculous nicknames kicked up a notch, good sex and time off apparently the recipe for Ted to get even sillier.

“Mine’s the Gambler himself, Mr. Kenny Rogers. For first concert I mean, best concert was Beastie Boys at-“

~~~

“You are,“ Ted reached for the two pints that had just been poured, “an absolute peach Mae.”

“Whatever you say love” Mae sounded gruff, but she was also smiling, “Now go sit, and I’ll bring your order on over.”

“As you please Ma’am!” Ted would have given her a salute, if he didn’t have his hands full of beer, but he did, so instead he just grinned and nodded.

Ted hadn’t planned on going out today, but he had enjoyed some TV time on the couch, his feet in Trent’s lap, when he had zapped past an episode of Kitchen Nightmares, which had somehow made him crave Mae’s fish and chips for lunch.

Trent hadn’t exactly been thrilled about the prospect of leaving the house, but Ted had asked very nicely, and promised that they could Uber back and forth, Trent giving in before Ted had been forced to get the paws and pout involved.

Which was a bit of a shame. 

It had been forever since Ted had had to roll out his puppy dog eyes, Trent giving in so very easily these days, the two of them doing what Ted wanted more often than not, Ted unable to immediately recall the last time they had done something Trent had asked for.

Since they were at Crown and Achor, it took Ted a while to make it back to his and Trent’s table, Mae clearing the booth in the corner for them.

He didn’t mind getting stopped to talk, catching up with his pub acquaintances always a delight, regulars as well as Richmond fans eager to catch him for a chit and a chat.

It made Ted miss his local, Trent’s house in a residential area, their nearest store a coffee shop.

Ted visited it, and he visited often, but getting a mug of joe to go wasn’t the same as settling down for a quick pint after work.

“How about I promise,” Ted had been stopped by a woman that felt vaguely familiar, “that I’ll do all I can to get us a good result against West Ham?”

Ted was glad he had the kind of mouth that continued to talk, even when he wasn’t paying attention to what it actually said, his attention captured by the fact that he could finally see Trent.

Trent, who had sat down and pulled a book from his pocket, a crumpled paperback in his hands, his glasses on his nose as he read.

He was alone at their table, even though the pub was almost at capacity, Trent a master at radiating a ‘leave me alone’ black cat energy, Ted amused by the way Trent seemed capable of activating a regular forcefield.

Ted managed to make it the rest of the way to their table, an idea hitting him just as he pulled up. 

“Hello there, handsome!”

Trent looked up at Ted, not yet closing his book. “Hello-“

“You know,” Ted slid into his seat, his back to the pub so he wouldn’t get distracted, “I couldn’t help but notice you sitting here all by your lonesome.”

“Excuse me?” Trent pushed his glasses into his hair, a confused look on his gorgeous face. “What are you on-“

“Took the chance and bought you a drink,” Ted put their glasses down, “Figured you looked like a Guiness man.” 

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” Trent had closed his book, which Ted counted as a win, his entire attention on Ted.

“Deffo a complimentata.” It felt wonderful to be the center of Trent’s world, Ted as snug as a bug in a rug and right where he belonged. 

“I could get you a whiskey instead, if that’d be more your speed?” Ted would have bought Trent a whiskey, if it wasn’t for the fact that he had ordered them food, Ted asking Mae if she’d please get them two empty plates, and a bit of everything from the menu.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m flirting with you?” Ted smiled, his foot sneaking into Trent’s part of the booth, Ted touching Trent’s heel to pull him in. “Trying my luck with the sizzling hot stranger who’s being all mysterious and hot?”

“You said hot twice.”

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t,” Ted could admit that he was usually better with words, but how was he supposed to use his brain when he was basking in Trent’s attention, “but I do mean every word. Actually, you could call you hot thrice, and it wouldn‘t be a lie, cause you’re-“

“Walking away from the conversation?” 

“Ow!” Ted held a hand to his heart. “Rejected already!”

“I’m far from impressed, Mr. Lasso,” Trent had grabbed his beer, and lifted it up, the rim of the glass obscuring the smirk on his lips.

“Hey now,” Ted tucked at Trent’s foot, “is this scenario, you and I don’t know each other. Can’t have you calling me Mr. Lasso, when I’m a stranger.”

“A stranger?” Trent raised an eyebrow, “Are you pretending that you’re not on National TV 2-3 times a week?” 

“Oh snap,” Ted felt his nonexistent tail perking up, Trent finally playing along,  “Sounds like you’re a soccer fan?”

“Soccer?” Trent groaned, and Ted grinned widely. “It’s lucky you’re, how did you put it, sizzling hot?”

“That I did,” Ted wiggled his brows, “and you’re going to find me even hotter when I ask you what your favorite dinosaur is.”

“That’d be a Stegosaurus.”

“Really?” Ted couldn’t hide his surprise, “I could have sworn you’d pick the Brachiosaurus.”

~~~

Trent closed his eyes, his body so heavy he could barely move his arms, his internal battery definitely in the red, Trent beyond exhausted- but he didn’t feel tired.

Which was an issue.

Tired, he could handle, tired, he could explain.

Ted understood the need for a nap, even if he’d likely come lie down with Trent, or make him a hot cocoa and fluff his pillows and do a million and one sweet but deeply unnecessary and annoying things.

What Trent couldn’t explain, what he didn’t think he’d be able to make Ted understand, was the bonedeep need to just… Stare at the ceiling for an hour or two.

To have the house be completely quiet.

He loved Ted, loved him so much it made his heart hurt, but without the children around, without work or a match, it was…

Well, it was a lot, to have Ted home.

To have the world's sweetest, kindest, friendliest, but also biggest and most clumsy Golden Retriever constantly beg for his attention.

Ted had spent the entire day, periodically asking Trent questions. 

It was like having a toddler, or like he was on a really intense first date, Ted asking him what his favorite dinosaur was, if Magnum was actually his favorite ice cream, what sport he’d choose to be instantly good at, what movie he watched the most as a kid, what book he’d say had defined his 30s, if he had ever swum in the ocean and so many other questions.

It had been relentless, Trent doing all he could to turn the conversation back on Ted, to get him to tell some of his stories, to let him tire himself out, but Trent’s active participation was apparently not only expected.

It was required.

Trent was touched that Ted wanted to know these things about him, that he cared, but he was also just…

Lilian had always called these episodes his moods, a gentle smile and sad eyes enough for Trent to know that they both knew what they were, but he had never been able to face it fully, Lilian’s feigned ignorance a kindness.

Trent knew that he was slipping, that he was falling into an active depression, but he couldn’t…

He couldn’t ask Ted to deal with that, on top of his own anxiety and the issues with Henry, the end of the football season in sight.

Trent knew himself, and he’d dip, but he’d climb back out too, he just had to be strong enough to hold it together.

To keep this burden off of Ted’s shoulders.

Ted carried so much for so many people, and Trent couldn’t add to the load.

Especially not on a day where Ted was so happy.

Trent had considered taking a shower, to get a break, but he couldn’t work up the energy for all of the steps it’d require, the idea of having to get under the spray, and then even worse - leave the spray again, filling him with a deep discomfort.

Instead, he had sunk into the armchair, and done something he wasn’t exactly proud of.

“Trent?”

Ted’s voice easily traveled up the stairs from the basement, the door wide open.

“Yes dear?”

Trent winced, dear a pet name he never used for Ted, Trent afraid he had blown his cover, but it didn’t seem like Ted picked up on it.

“I can’t find the green box!”

It made perfect sense that Ted couldn’t find a green box with Trent’s old photography stuff in the basement, because it wasn’t down there, Trent’s gear squirreled away in the attic.

“Keep looking! It’s supposed to be down there!”

Trent felt bad about sending Ted on a wild goosechase, but he had just needed a tiny sliver of alone time, the illusion of a moment where he could collapse, where he didn’t have to keep it together long enough to perform the role of Trent Crimm, Boyfriend Worth Keeping.

It wasn’t - exactly - Ted’s fault that he didn’t seem to understand Trent’s general need for alone time, Ted so extroverted it simply didn’t compute for him.

Each time Trent had asked to be left alone, when he had requested a recharging break, it had led to an argument, or hurt feelings, or Ted feeling insecure.

Trent knew that Ted was deeply worried about being too much, of being a mess, and Trent knew that Ted would feel like he was being rejected if Trent was honest.

If he shared how he was actually feeling.

Ted didn’t deserve to feel insecure, his muchness one of the things Trent loved the most about him.

He just needed…

In all honesty, he just needed to lie on his rug for a couple of hours, to let the hopelessness and numbness wash over him, pushing those emotions down always so much easier when he had allowed them to bubble to the surface.

“I found a blue box!” Trent opened his eyes, Ted yelling from the basement. “Maybe that’s- Oh! No! Nevermind! It’s filled with ice skating equipment!”

Huh. 

Seemed like Ted had managed to unearth Lilian’s lost box, Trent sure that she’d be thrilled the box had finally shown up, even if it was at the wrong end of the season.

He was about to tell Ted that it belonged to Lilian, when Ted came up the stairs, the box in question under his arm.

“I didn’t know that you knew how to skate.”

“I don’t.” Trent tried to get up from the couch, but he couldn’t make his body cooperate. “They’re Lilian’s.”

“That makes more sense,” Ted put the box against the wall, “Since they’re lady skates and all, not that I judge. They’re real nice, all fancy and stuff.”

“I’ll make sure to pass on the compliment.” Trent wasn’t going to text Lilian tonight, but he’d do it soon, returning skates not really a rush job when it was technically spring.

“One of my pals in High School had to use his sister's old stuff whenever we went out, but that didn’t keep him from kicking our booties. You remember Ronnie, right? Ronnie Fowch.”

Trent wanted to say that he had never met Ronnie, or spoken with him, or even seen a picture, but he didn’t think Ted was in the mood for corrections. 

“Hard to forget him.”

That wasn’t a lie, Trent deeply horrified when Dottie had told the butterfinger wrapper story, the fact that Ronnie was apparently visiting them over the summer something that worried him whenever he lingered on it. 

“Well, his PopPop had a this field that’d overflow, if we were lucky, rain and frost would hit it exactly right, now I never personally skipped school, but-“

Trent tried to stay focused on Ted’s story, but it felt like he had been listening to The Ted Lasso Podcast since he had ventured downstairs, Ted just talking and talking and talking and talking.

It was relentless, and Trent tried not to get annoyed.

If he wasn’t feeling the way he was, he would have loved it, Ted the most interesting person he knew, Trent usually hoarding his stories like a dragon, but he couldn’t-

“Baby?”

“Don’t call me that-“ Trent almost jumped, Ted touching his thigh. He had somehow missed him moving, Ted crouched down between his legs.

“Are you okay?”

Trent swore he felt burning hot, and then ice cold, the emotions almost nice when he had been numb for so long, but why-

“I’m-“

He couldn’t lie to Ted, but he didn’t want to tell the truth either.

This was Ted’s extra day off, his only extra day off, and his sweet boy didn’t deserve- 

Trent had been so dramatic lately, his silly insecurities and obnoxious feelings screwing everything up.

He should lie.

He wanted to lie.

He had to lie.

But Ted was looking at him-

Looking at him with those big brown eyes.

Trent swallowed. 

Ted wasn’t saying anything, he was just sitting there, time stretching out, each second like a small eternity.

“I’m-“ Trent wasn’t brave.

He had never been brave, and he never would be, not really, but he had to-

He had to be brave, for Ted, who deserved honesty when he asked for it, Trent so very desperate to give Ted whatever he needed. 

“Not…” This was humiliating, bitter regret rising in Trent’s chest. He couldn’t do it, couldn’t admit- 

“I’m sorry if I’ve been doing too much today,” Ted moved a little closer, forcing Trent’s legs further apart, Trent suddenly way too aware that his hands were kind of just lying there on the cushion. “I know I can be a lot.”

“You,” It took way too much effort, but Trent managed to get his hands to cooperate, Trent gently cupping Ted’s face, “are a perfect amount. Never doubt that.”

Ted smiled, and turned his head slightly, so he could kiss Trent’s palm. The smile didn’t reach his eyes though, the crows feet that came out when Ted was truly happy, not there.

Trent wasn’t brave, but he had to be, for Ted.

“You haven’t done anything wrong, I just-“

Trent swallowed.

“It’s been a long week.”

~~~

Ted hummed to himself as he focused intensely on making the perfect piece of toast. Trent liked a thick layer of cold butter, and a thin spread of marmite, hitting the entire surface area of the bread, a key part of the operation.

It wasn’t exactly a surprise to him that Trent was overwhelmed, his boyfriend sharing that he was kind of exhausted.

Ted should probably feel drained too, but how could he when he had gotten to celebrate Henry’s birthday twice and he had spent the last 24 hours basking in Trent’s attention? 

Sure, Ted had had the argument with his Mama, and there had been a few bumps in the road, but Ted wasn’t the adult who thought he had lost Henry, who had stayed until the bitter end for the party, or the one who had-

Ted swallowed, a nugget of hurt still lodged in his chest.

Today, had been all about what Ted wanted, and what Ted needed, Trent kissing Ted’s forehead and his eyelids while he whispered that Ted was perfect.

He had been pulled onto the couch, Trent holding him close, Ted melting into Trent’s body.

Getting called perfect had felt nice, but Ted knew that he had likely gone overboard, that he had…

Trent had said that he didn’t mind doing what Ted needed, but needed was a little too close to needy for Ted’s comfort, needy the unwanted cousin of smothering, and Ted didn’t want to smother Trent.

It just felt so good to spend time with him, to be as close as he possibly could, Ted oftentimes fantasising about what it’d be like to shrink down so he could move into Trent’s breast pocket.

Not that that would be very practical, being a Coach probably real difficult if he was that small.

Ted cut the toast into triangles, his masterpiece almost done.

It wasn’t exactly an exciting meal, but Ted had asked Trent what he wanted for dinner, Trent replying that he was still feeling full from their visit to Crown and Anchor.

Which didn’t make that much sense, since Ted was pretty sure Trent had only had a bite here and there, Ted finishing the toffee pudding he had ordered for them all by himself.

Ted didn’t generally like to push, but he had asked again, Trent replying that he’d find something to nibble later.

He could have accepted the dismissal, but Ted had never been great about quitting while he was ahead.

A part of him had wanted Trent to come join him in the kitchen, for their little weekend bubble to continue, but it seemed like Trent needed an introvert break.

Ted didn’t understand it, the whole introvert thing, since he’d always choose to have company, but Henry was the same way.

He tried to do right by it, to let Trent and Henry have their space, but it was hard when he was so obsessed with Trent.

When he wanted to spend every minute of every day with him.

Maybe, Ted should check up on how far science had gotten on the whole shrink ray thing, Trent unlikely to even notice Ted was there, if he was a teeny tiny thing. 

Ted cut the second piece of toast, before plating it all up.

It was a bit of a dirty trick, to make Trent marmite on toast, but he wasn’t above sweetening a deal, or putting in a little elbow grease to get someone he loved to eat.

He’d let Trent decide what they should do for the rest of the afternoon, if they should spend time together or apart, though Ted really really really really hoped that it’d be time together.

In a non-smothering or needy way.

Chapter Text

Trent Crimm didn’t think that it’d be possible for him to fall even more in love with Ted Lasso.

Yet, here he was.

It was Sunday afternoon, and while Trent had been ready to claw his own skin off from pure discomfort yesterday, he felt calm.

Relaxed.

Almost… Happy.

He was sitting on the kitchen counter, Ted chopping up ingredients for a salad, Trent drinking the glass of red wine Ted had handed him.

They were listening to music, a record on in the living room. Ted wasn’t completely quiet, but he wasn’t chattering away either, the waterfall of questions from yesterday barely a babbling brook.

Weirdly enough, it made Trent miss The Lasso Podcast, even if it was kind of nice to hear his own thoughts, and be able to actually listen to a record, without Ted talking over it.

Subtitles had been and was continually a lifesaver in their household, Trent putting them on on reflex now, even if Ted wasn’t with him, but music didn’t come with subtitles.

Which made sense. 

Today had been…

Trent had woken up alone, which wasn’t out of the ordinary, since Ted was an early riser, his boyfriend practically a cartoon character in the morning with how happy and energetic he usually was. 

What was out of the ordinary, was the fact that Trent had been left on his own to enjoy a truly luxurious morning of being all by himself in bed.

He had been able to slowly stretch out, the door to downstairs kept closed when it would normally have been left open, the curtains drawn, the sun finding it’s way into their bedroom.

It had felt so nice to have the time to just lie there, and look at the way the sunshine slowly crept across the floorboards.

Trent had expected the smell of coffee to be his signal to get out of bed, or for Ted to appear in the door with a tray, but none of that happened.

When he finally ventured downstairs, his grumbling belly begging him to get up, he had found Ted doing laundry on the kitchen floor, with Isabella’s headphones on. 

Ted never wore headphones, Trent unsure if he even owned any, which was likely why he had put on the too small purple pair, Ted’s ears barely covered.

It had looked silly, but it was also incredibly sweet, Ted apparently doing all he could to not make any noises, Trent so touched that he had pulled Ted up from the floor and in for a kiss so deep and so long that Ted’s foot had popped.

Like a fairytale princess, or a RomCom lead.

Trent had expected the kiss to be an open invitation for Ted to get his clingy back on, Trent fully ready for Ted to be underfoot for the rest of the day, but then…

He had kept himself entertained.

Ted had spent the early afternoon reorganising the basement, and the afternoon in the garden, taking measurements for a trampoline, a simple kiss or a quick cuddle each time they passed each other enough to tide Ted over.

It was insanely attractive, and Trent was already planning exactly how he’d show Ted how grateful he was, how much all of this meant to him, Trent determined to make Ted understand how much he appreciated the space he had been given.

Especially because the promise of space had made Trent long to be near Ted, Trent for once the one who was underfoot.

It was a refreshing and perfect role reversal.

“Can I have some?” Trent didn’t really want a piece of cucumber, but he did want Ted’s attention. 

“Of this?” Ted gestured to the chopping board, and Trent nodded, Ted smiling as he cut a bit of cucumber into sticks. 

They tasted like cucumber, but also a little bit like a victory, which made warmth curl up in Trent’s belly.

Ted was being so insanely good today, and Trent was going to attempt to suck his soul out through his cock later.

He wouldn’t succeed, but it’d still be glorious, Ted beyond beautiful when he hiccuped with pleasure.

Ted had moved away from the salad, and onto the steaks, copious amounts of butter slowly melting in the pan. Trent watched as he grabbed the wine bottle, and held it out, Trent smiling as Ted offered him a top up.

“Yes please.” Trent let Ted fill his glass. It felt nice, to be taken care of like this, Ted cooking around Trent like he was a fixed bit of inventory in the kitchen.

Trent knew, intellectually, that his house, that their house, was Ted’s home, that they lived here, that Ted wanted to stay, that he chose to be here, Ted telling Trent to his face that he intended for Trent to be his last relationship, but, somehow, today.

That felt real. 

Like, really real.

Trent took a sip of his wine, a phrase like really real something his old self would have him assassinated for, but Trent didn’t care.

Couldn’t care, when he had Ted Lasso puttering around his house, when he got to watch Ted truly belong, and make himself at home.

He looked into the garden, Ted having brought out the shovel to dig a hole for the trampoline, Trent genuinely impressed at how far he got, the top layer of grass and soil already gone. 

Isabella would have the time of her life, with a trampoline in the garden, their daughter already insisting that she’d learn how to do a salto soon.

“Ted?” Trent hadn’t checked up on any part of the trampoline project, but now, he could feel the tiniest bit of worry clawing at his belly, the idea of Isabella having free reign of a trampoline, making him slightly queasy. “Did you remember-“

“To order the security net too?” 

Trent nodded, Ted standing by the stove, the steaks in the pan.

“I got the extra tall version, and the reinforced mesh, and the deluxe springs, and the foam border, and-“

“Jesus Christ Ted.” Trent grinned, Ted as over the top as always, “Forget that I asked.”

“It should be delivered by Wednesday, so I should be able to have it ready for the weekend.”

“Mmh?” Trent smiled, Ted so cute with the way he was setting up the surprise. “I’m certain Isabella will be thrilled.”

“I hope so.” Ted carefully maneuvered the steaks out of the pan, to wrap them in tinfoil and let them rest, Trent watching as he added in shallots, garlic and red wine to the pan to make a sauce.

“It’ll probably keep her entertained on Saturday.”

“Yeah,” Ted stirred the sauce, “It’d be good for her to get her energy out before the match.”

Trent paused, Ted’s words not making any sense at first, but then, Trent realised that Ted sounded like he was expecting Trent and Isabella to come along for the match against West Ham.

Which wasn’t going to happen.

“Ted…” Trent tried to find a way to broach the subject, to bring this misunderstanding up without ruining their perfect Sunday. “London Stadium is on the other side of the city.”

It wasn’t the most elegant way to say it, to remind Ted that London Stadium was more than an hour away, but maybe-

“Right, which is why the trampoline is genius, if I do so myself.” Ted sounded mighty pleased with himself, and he should be, but he had to put two and two together, had to-

“Do you know why they call it London Stadium? Not that I do, but isn’t that a little weird? I mean, there’s so many stadiums in London, so how did that one become The One-“

“Ted.”

Ted turned around, spatula in hand, a frown on his face.

Trent hated to see that sad little frown, but he had to make something perfectly clear.

“Henry is coming along on Saturday, since Higgins has agreed to bring him,” Trent placed his wine glass on the counter, “but Isabella and I won’t be in attendance for the match against West Ham.”

“What?” Ted’s eyes widened, and he reached to turn off the stove, “Why?”

“It’s too far. She can do 20 to 30 minutes at a time, but anything over that tends to make her sick.” 

It was the unfortunate truth, but Isabella had never been a car child, and Trent had the an inkling that she likely never would be.

As a baby, she cried whenever she was put in her car seat, no matter if she was in the front or in the back.

It was better now, but Trent couldn’t ask his little girl to sit in a car for three hours on top of having to be in her seat for an entire football match.

It was too much, and Trent’s desire to watch Richmond live wasn't a good enough excuse to let Isabella suffer from a guaranteed round of carsickness, and a - in her eyes - wasted Saturday.

Especially not when she had been so patient about Henry’s birthday last week.

“Oh…” Ted swallowed, and Trent got off of the counter. 

“I’m sorry sweet boy.” Trent almost hesitated before reaching out, but this was Ted, who loved being touched, who never wanted to be alone, who didn’t need distance when he was upset.

“We’ll be watching from home. I promise” Trent put his arms around Ted’s middle to pull him in for a hug, Ted looping his arms around Trent’s neck, Trent sincerely hoping that the spatula wouldn’t touch his hair.

~~~

Ted could see the hood of Trent’s car come around the corner, Ted standing with his back to the wall in the Richmond parking lot.

It was Monday, all of his boys coming in since they had had a long weekend, Beard running everyone through drills while Ted had attended the Monday meetings all on his own. 

Ted had managed on his own, but his stomach had been bothering him all day. It had come and gone, with no rhyme or reason, Ted perfectly fine one moment, only for his stomach to cramp up the next, and he just - desperately - wanted to go home.

He waved to Trent, his backpack under one arm, Ted leaning against the wall.

He wanted to go sit on his couch, wanted a blanket in his lap and Trent’s hand rubbing the discomfort away while they watched some nonsense on TV.

Not that that was the actual agenda for tonight, since they were going to pick up Thai.

Some people would say that it was a little late for a do over, but Ted believed in second chances, and he wanted to do right by Trent.

Wanted to have the pad thai and backgammon night that he had previously screwed up with his big mouth and his-

Ted felt his stomach gurgle, and he tightened his grip on his backpack, since that helped a little. 

Trent stopped the car, his boyfriend blocking the lot, but the players had already left for the day, the only other cars in the lot Rebecca’s Rolls-Royce and Travis flashy and fancy sports car. 

Ted started to move as soon as Trent stopped, his hand on the door before the car had stopped humming, Trent looking over at him as he quickly slid into the passenger seat.

“Hello darling.”

Ted felt his stomach clench again, the lack of Theodore not what he wanted at all. He was about to ask for a Theodore, when Trent leaned over and kissed him, Ted instantly melting against Trent’s lips.

He loved the way Trent kissed, all firm but still tender, so filled with love, but also-

Last night had been the stuff dreams were made of. Trent had made him come so good, and so hard, that Ted was pretty sure he had blacked out a little.

No one took care of him like Trent did, especially in bed, Ted allowed to just exist when it was the two of them between their sheets, when Ted only had to do what Trent told him, when he knew he was being good because Trent told him he was-

Trent pulled back, and Ted barely swallowed the whine in time, the need for more clawing in his chest, the heavy feeling returning to his stomach.

“Have you had a good day?” Trent had twisted in his seat, so he could look at Ted, his arm looped around the headrest.

“It’s been-“ Ted ran his fingers over his nose, his hand covering his mouth. He didn’t want to lie to Trent, but he also didn’t want to say he had stomach troubles.

It wasn’t romantic, and Ted didn’t want to ruin their redo date night, especially not when it was supposed to be all about Trent.

“Ted.”

Trent didn’t sound angry, but there was a gravity to the way he said Ted’s name, and it Ted compelled to tell the truth, but not in an Oklahoma kind of way.

“My tummy hurts.”

“Aha?” Trent was watching him, but he didn’t look annoyed, even if Ted was actively ruining date night. 

“I wasn’t gonna say nothing, cause I can be stoic and masc and suffer in silence-“

“Ted.”

Ted looked at Trent, who was smiling, his eyes crinkling with amusement. 

“What?” Ted didn’t cross his arms, but he wanted to, Trent acting all weird.

“Look in the back seat sweet boy.”

Ted turned his head, a towel wrapped metal pot buckled in in the middle seat.

“What’s-“ Ted twisted his entire body around and craning his neck, it looked like-

But that couldn’t be.

He stretched, and reached for the lid, popping it off, the scent of a perfect batch of chicken noodle soup greeting him.

“How did you-“ The food was clearly homemade, the carrot chunks cut just the way Ted liked them.

“Beard,” Ted felt a hand settle on his back, “may have snitched that you were feeling poorly.”

Ted looked back at Trent. “He knew?”

“I have a sneaky suspicion," Trent smiled, “that he knows everything.”

~~~

“And those are the rules.”

Trent straightened out, and leaned back on the sofa, a backgammon board open on the table in front of him.

“Well,” Ted was sitting on a cushion on the floor in a pair of sweats and t-shirt, a blanket wrapped around him, “that seems simple enough.”

“It’s not exactly a difficult game.”

Beard had texted Trent just after lunch, and told him that Ted was poorly. 

Trent had replied with a question about whether or not he should come pick Ted up, but instead of a normal yes or no, he had received a most peculiar phone call from Beard, with instructions on when and where to meet up with him, so Trent could receive a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup.

It was a good thing that Trent had started to consider himself a bit of a veteran when it came to navigating the nonsense that naturally gravitated towards Ted. 

Not that Trent wasn’t touched about the soup, the pot clearly filled to the brim with love.

It was, however, a bit much that he had been asked to meet Beard in the Waitrose carpark, instead of stopping by his house, Trent electing to not eat the soup, since he was genuinely unsure about where or how Beard had managed to cook it.

Ted had not shared those concerns, and Trent had watched him eat three bowls, before he had gone down for a midafternoon nap on the sofa, Ted waking up just as Trent had finished eating his own supper. 

Trent would never call Beard a liar, but there was nothing that indicated that Ted was the least bit poorly, his tummy trouble only mentioned once in the car, Ted hitting him with the biggest pout when Trent had dared to suggest that they could just watch a movie, or go to bed early.

If Ted had been a child, Trent would have accused him of faking his stomach ache, or at least dug into why he had an upset belly, children’s feelings often manifesting in a gurgling tummy if they couldn’t deal with their emotions.

Ted was, however, an adult, and Trent had no reason not to believe him at his word.

“So, just to reiterate.” Ted looked up at him, mischief in his eyes, his tail practically wagging with the fact that he had used a Big Vocab Word, “I needa move these little fellas-” Ted held up one of the black pieces, “from one end of the board,” Ted pointed at it, “to the other to win?”

“That’s exactly right.” Trent tried to keep his tone and face neutral, what Ted was aiming for blatantly obvious.

“And?” Ted fluttered his lashes.

“And?” Trent put his elbow on his knee, so he could lean forward and rest his chin in his hand.

“And-“ Ted held up his hands, pretending that they were paws, expectation radiating from him.

Trent knew that he could give in, knew that he could give Ted what he wanted.

It wasn’t very nice to play with Ted like this, but Trent had never claimed to be a particularly nice person.

“We should make a cuppa before we get started?”

Trent hadn’t thought Ted would actually whine, but he did, and Trent couldn’t keep in a laugh, Ted so adorable and sweet and sexy in his displeasure.

“Alright alright,” Trent chuckled and held up his hands, “You are,” He reached across the table, and cupped Ted’s cheek, “in fact, a good boy-“ Ted smiled so brightly that it was almost blinding, “Who has done a very good job.”

~~~

“And Jan!” Ted was out in the middle of the pitch, giving feedback to his boys after they had run a new play, “This ain’t your fourth plate of ribs at an all you can eat barbeque restaurant.”

Ted saw Jamie raise an eyebrow out of the corner of his eye, his star striking leaning against Dani, Ted realising that his metaphor wasn't landing.

“Keep it clean out there! I don’t want to see any sloppy dribbles!” 

A collective ‘aah’ sound went through the player crowd.

“You’re getting it!” Ted raised his whistle, “Now go run it again, because Nate will be inside our brains on Saturday if we don’t shake him out!”

Ted blew the whistle before he turned around and jogged towards the side of the pitch. 

He could hear Isaac yell behind him, Sam collecting his group of players, who were going to act like West Ham.

Travis had assigned a couple of players a specific West Ham number, and given them a reel of player highlights to watch at home, Travis standing behind Zoroux's goal, a video camera in hand.

It was Tuesday, which meant that they only had 6 training blocks left before they’d leave for London Stadium, Ted overhearing Sergio whine about the upcoming carb load.

Ted had no idea if their strategy of sprinkling new players in their lineup would lead to victory, or to total catastrophe.

He had made his way to the edge of the field, Ted taking off his sunglasses so he could pick a water bottle that hadn’t been chewed on.

It was surprisingly difficult, but Ted managed to locate one that almost looked new, the cold water nice and refreshing.

Beard was standing on the sideline, arms crossed while he watched the players. Ted didn’t want to, but as he slipped in besides Beard, he felt his stomach gurgle.

Again.

Which was weird.

He had already been to the bathroom once during today’s training, the visit more like an exorcism than a toilet break, and Ted couldn’t believe that he had to clench his ass and hold his cheeks tight.

That the rumbling increased in volume.

Ted had been fine at home.

Trent had - obviously - beaten him at backgammon, and Ted had happily sucked his cock as a reward, though that had really been a reward for him, being on his knees for Trent the perfect way to shut his brain off.

The morning routine had gone fine too, Ted eating his breakfast without a single gurgle, Trent insisting that he’d drive him to Nelson Road, and then, it had all started going south, even though he had skipped his iced coffee.

Maybe, there was something in the sports drink.

Nevermind the fact that Ted hadn’t picked one of those bottles. 

Maybe, Will had changed the recipe- 

Maybe- 

Shit.

Literally.

“Coach-“ Ted didn’t mean to squawk, but Beard already had his hand out, Ted thrusting the water bottle into his waiting grip, before turning around and beelining for the gates, his shoulders hunched as he walked as fast as he could, Ted about to blow up the toilet once more.

Stevey Jewell style.

~~~

“Ted.” Trent didn’t like how his tone had gone into full Stern Father territory, but Ted was being utterly ridiculous.

“That’s my name,” Ted had his arms crossed tightly across his chest, “don’t wear it out.”

“Oh,” Trent whispered under his breath, “my god.”

Normally, it was somewhat endearing when Ted was being stubborn, when he was behaving like a brat, when he pushed against the boundaries and tapdanced on Trent’s second to last nerve. 

There was, however, a very important distinction between being sweetly brattish and being downright childish, and Ted was currently the mayor of Child Town.

“I know this isn’t,” Trent tried to soften his voice, to fill it with empathy, to keep the annoyance in his chest from boiling over, “how you wanted to spend your afternoon-”

“It sure ain’t.”

Trent tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles going white, Ted downright infuriating.

Rebecca had called him about an hour ago, Trent right in the middle of a ‘lying on the rug and hating himself while copyediting’ session, the hating himself part strangely enough softening the suckiness of the copyediting bit. 

He had almost managed to scrape together his part of the April bills, but a treacherous little voice in his ear kept reminding him that he had the option of giving Ted the entirety of the water bill and the electric bill, that he didn’t have to force himself to work when he barely had the energy to exist.

“If you’d just quit your sulking-“

Rebecca had told Trent that Ted’s little problem had become a regular catastrophe, that she had taken the liberty of calling Ted’s GP, and if Trent would please come collect Ted to make sure he actually made the appointment then that would be lovely please and thank you.

“I haven’t sulked a day in my life.”

Ted was, despite what he had just claimed, the very picture of sulking. He was slumped in his seat, his arms were crossed, he had a frown on his face, his sunglasses on his nose, the coaching visor pulled down.

He was clearly hiding.

Not that Trent could blame him.

Ted didn’t really do humiliation, or shame, but Trent couldn’t imagine how uncomfortable it was to have your literal boss involved in the fact that you had diarrhea.

To have the threat of shitting yourself on national TV hanging over your head.

Trent put his blinker on, and made a right.

He’d forgive the sulking, Ted more than allowed to be in a mood, even if it was a bit of a nuisance. 

It had been a regular production to get Ted into the car, Ted as ready to go as a pet that was on its way to the vet. 

If it had been Trent who was sitting in the passenger seat, he would have preferred to be left alone to wallow in his misery, but Ted wasn’t like that, so Trent took a deep breath through his nose, and moved his hand from the gear lever to Ted’s thigh.

Ted didn’t freeze, but he did pause his huffing, Trent giving him a squeeze.

“I’m here.” 

Trent didn’t know if it was the right thing to say, spoken word not exactly his strong suit, but he hoped that this was what Ted needed.

“You’ll be okay.”

Ted didn’t magically relax, but Trent watched out of the corner of his eye as Ted sat up straight, his arms slowly coming undone.

“Take the sunglasses off.”

Ted hesitated, but Trent gave him another squeeze, his hand leaving Ted’s thigh to grab the gear lever as he slowed into second, Trent making another right while Ted took his glasses off.

“And your visor too.”

Ted did as he was told, Trent not needing to instruct Ted to put everything away properly, Ted unzipping his backpack, which he had between his legs.

“Thank you.”

Trent didn’t know what the Doctor had in store, but he hoped that they’d be able to get Ted fixed back up, or at a minimum find out why his body was acting this way.

Beard had looked halfway horrified, when Trent had asked him how bad it was, so Trent had expected the worst, but Ted seemed fine.

Physically, at least.

Trent hadn’t heard any real complaints about his stomach, or seen any signs that he needed to pull over or find an emergency toilet, Trent plotting their route to the doctor around where he knew that could make a quick stop.

Ted seemed sulky, and uncomfortable, sad, and annoyed, but he didn’t seem like someone who had been forced to take several breaks from his job because of diarrhea.

Trent just hoped that everyone kept their mouth shut, so this whole situation wouldn’t show up in the news cycle, but everyone at Nelson Road were good people, and Ted was genuinely beloved, the risk that anyone would sell him out thankfully low.

Though it wasn't zero percent.

Ted sat back in his seat, and Trent reached out, his hand finding Ted’s thigh again, his hand settling in, Ted letting him.

It didn’t happen with some big exhale, or a total collapse, but Trent saw Ted relax, his shoulders lowering, and that had to be enough for now, Ted as ready as he could be for his doctor’s appointment.

Chapter Text

Ted wished that he had taken a moment to consider what he was agreeing to, when Beard had brought him an emergency pair of pants. 

In the moment, he had simply accepted them with a grateful nod and a thumbs up. He hadn’t made it in time for his fourth bathroom run, the pants in question left in the coaches’ locker room, since Ted had needed to take a shower.

They were a pair of dress pants, which made Ted assume that they had come from Higgins, but they were a little too short, Ted’s ankles exposed, and the waistband dug into his hips in a different place than usual.

It shouldn’t bother him, but it did.

Ted could feel his palms sweat up a storm, but he couldn’t wipe them on the pants, the fabric guaranteed to expose him.

Not that he would have been much better off in a pair of Beard’s sweats.

When Ted had returned to England, he had asked Rebecca to fill out as much of his paperwork as possible, the Richmond lawyers taking care of his visas and documents.

Rebecca had, also, apparently, taken care of choosing his doctor for him, the office so fancy that they had actual chandeliers hanging from the ceiling in the waiting room.

“I’ve been made to understand,” Ted had never met his Doctor before, but Dr. Jones seemed nice, and competent, “that this is the second day in a row that you’ve been dealing with unwanted bowl movements?”

“Yup.” Ted popped the P, and settled on putting his hands on the armrest of the chair he was in, “Normally, my bowel movements are very very wanted. I like emptying out the old spine. Makes me feel all light and fresh.”

Ted had asked Trent to stay outside, the way his boyfriend pressed his lips together communicating his clear displeasure, but he had accepted it, which Ted was grateful for.

He didn’t have a whole lot of boundaries, or things he didn’t want to share, but this was a consultation that focused almost exclusively on his booty hole, and while Ted knew that Trent knew that they all knew that the anus was the waste disposal of the body.

Ted - desperately - wanted Trent to continue touching him and fingering him and eating him out.

Trent had told Ted once that he didn’t mind, that they’d have to have an accident in the bedroom at some point, that it was just natural, but Ted didn’t need to actively remind Trent that his prostate was located inside his poop chute.

“I thought the worst of it was over, but I still skipped my morning coffee, just to be on the safe side. I swear I was fine all night last night, and I was in tip top shape this morning, but as soon as I stepped out on our pitch, I had to moonwalk right back outta there and make my way straight to the porcelain throne.”

Ted knew that he was oversharing, but he couldn’t stop it, his motormouth already racing down the highway.

“Figured it’d just be a quick little visit, but I’m pretty sure I saw the face of God at some point. Love what she’s done with her hair, but it’s not really how you want your Tuesday to kick off.”

His Doctor looked at him, a slightly perplexed expression on her face, but Ted was more than used to that.

“The second round was a regular tornado, and the third made me think back on those post Taco Bell shits with fondness.”

Ted wasn’t exactly proud of some of the drunken decisions he had made with Beard over the years, but few things hit like a crunchwrap supreme at 2 am.

“I didn’t even know how good I had it, when that was the worst my poor little butt had ever experienced. Used to believe that a bean blast could be the death of me. Actually, do y’all have Taco Bell over here?”

Maybe, Ted should have told Trent to come in anyway, since this was turning into a train wreck.

“I haven’t seen one, or at least, I don’t think I’ve seen one. Haven’t craved it in ages, but I’ve always been a little funky-“

“Right…” Doctor Jones nodded slowly, her eyes narrowed, and Ted was reminded that this was the first time they had ever met, and that he really really really needed her help.

“Sorry ‘bout that, I’ll just-“ Ted reached up, and mimed that he was zipping his lips shut. 

He was sweating, and sweating hard, Ted hoping that Trent had packed a change of clothes for him.

“Though that was a very…” Doctor Jones paused and pursed her lips, “Detailed… Description, I still have a couple of questions.”

“Before you finger my booty?”

Doctor Jones blinked, and Ted could feel heat sneak up his neck, the tip of his ears likely going red.

He didn’t know for sure if Doctor Jones was going to examine him, but she kinda had to since this was all about the butt area.

That was the other reason, and really, the main reason, Ted hadn’t wanted Trent to be in the room with him.

It’d be too weird to have Trent watch someone else touch him like that, even if it was for a medical thing.

“Sorry Doc.” Ted reached to zip his lips up again, but the quick sorry didn’t feel like it was enough. “I didn’t mean for my question to make you uncomfy, and I apologize for that. I’m having a real weird day.“

“How about we go through my questionnaire Mr. Lasso?”

Ted nodded, the uncomfy feeling in his body slowly settling down as he answered Doctor Jones' questionnaire.

It was very clear that she didn’t follow football, and that she had no idea about who Ted was, which was very nice.

Ted loved being Coach Lasso, but sometimes, and especially in situations like this, it felt good to just be Ted.

He answered her questions truthfully, getting to go on a tangent about Trent a little treat, Ted thrilled that he got noted down as in a monogamous relationship with a man.

“And what about exercise?"

“I get in my steps, and I don’t have a desk job, but I could and I probably should be more active.” Ted almost started telling Doctor Jones about how he had considered a project with his boys, where they’d spend a weekly block on trying out as many different contract approved activities as they could, but Doctor Jones had already moved on.

“Okay, so that-“ Doctor Jones turned away from her laptop, “was that. I’ll just-“ Doctor Jones reached for a drawer in her desk, and Ted knew what was coming up next.

“Right.” Ted stood up, and reached for his belt, Doctor Jones pausing in place.

“What are you doing?”

“… Aren’t you going to-“ Ted gestured to the bed in the corner.

“I think,” Doctor Jones reached inside the drawer, “I’ll stick with taking your temperature.” She pulled out an ear thermometer, and a sealed plastic bag with a new cover in it, “Mr. Lasso,” Doctor Jones looked at him, a small smile on her lips, “I won’t be performing a rectal exam on you today.”

“Cause I’m being a weirdo?” Ted noted that he was still holding his belt, and he sat down.

“Because it’s currently unnecessary.”

“Unnecessary?” Ted felt immensely relieved, but also very stupid. He had been so worried about bending over, and now, it seemed like that had been a waste of time. “Why-“

If he didn’t have to drop his pants, he could get Trent to come join the consultation, Ted ready to ask if he could just have a second to pop outside, when Doctor Jones rose and came over to him.

“If you’d sit still please.” She placed a gentle hand on top of Ted’s head, to tilt it, Ted waiting patiently. The thermometer bipped, and Doctor Jones pulled back.

“You don’t have a fever.”

“That’s good, right?” Ted tried not to twist towards the door, but he really, really, really, wanted Trent to come into the room. “I promise I feel fine.”

Ted actually did feel completely fine, the little wiggles in his stomach just the familiar wormy fellas, and a gnaw of hunger.

He knew he had been a brat in the car, but Ted hoped that he could talk Trent into them going on a Taco shaped side quest.

“Do you take any medications Mr. Lasso?”

“Me?” Ted looked at Doctor Jones. “No, no. No.” He folded his hands over his stomach. “I don’t take any form of anxiety medication, or any anti depressants, but I do pop a Tums every once in a while.”

“Aha?”

“Yes Ma’am, my old Doctor, back in the good old US of A told me I shouldn’t eat Fettuchino Alfredo, or any cream based dishes, but I can’t help it. It’s a bit of a tossup between if I get heartburn or the toots if I have too much dairy, but I mean, ice cream is ice cream. Is that a problem?”

“Aggravating an intolerance is rarely a good idea,” Doctor Jones sat on the corner of her desk, “Mr. Lasso-“

“Wowsie,” Ted reached up to tuck at his collar. “I almost wish for a fever, cause I just felt the temperature drop.”

“I believe that it’d be prudent for us to circle back to the fact that you mentioned anxiety.”

“You do?” Ted swallowed, and it was truly too bad that Trent wasn’t in the room, since Ted could really use a hand to hold onto.

“I’m not saying,” Doctor Jones kept her tone calm and professional, but Ted knew that there was bad news on the horizon, “that this couldn’t be a regular case of a physical illness, but it seems like your stomach problems could be a case of anxiety.”

“Anxiety?” Ted laughed, what Doctor Jones had just said, completely unlikely, “Oh no, no no no.”

“No?”

“My anxiety makes my ears ring and causes my hands to shake, and sometimes I black out before I actually have a panic attack-“

Ted watched as Doctor Jones crossed her arms, her brow lift, an expression of concern on her face, which was really not needed.

“But I’ve never ever had any issues with a bad tummy, and it’s only happened-“ Ted felt his brain catch up with his mouth, and he paused.

This whole thing had started when Ted had left home on Monday.

But that would mean.

It couldn’t be.

No.

“Doc, I’m a Premier League gaffer, are we sure this isn’t just stress shits, and not anxiety poops?”

Ted didn’t want to have stress shits, but that was fixable, the alternative was-

“Mr. Lasso, I’m not a psychiatrist, or a psychologist, but if you had actual diarrhoea, this visit would have gone very differently. I haven’t seen any signs in the-“ Doctor Jones looked at her watch, “25 minutes that we have spent together that you’ve been in any gastrointestional distress-”

“Maybe I just enjoy the company a whole bunch.”

Doctor Jones tilted her head, “Are you always like this?”

“Like what?” Ted could feel his hands shake, but he couldn’t-

He wouldn’t-

He didn’t-

“I guess that answers my question.” Doctor Jones pushed away from her desk, and walked around the table to sit down on her chair, “Mr. Lasso, I can’t make any actual judgement calls, so we’ll also draw some blood and give you a saline infusion, but I have a feeling that you’ll find that-“

Ted could see Doctor Jones' lips move, but he couldn’t hear a thing she was saying, his ears ringing so loudly he was practically deaf.

~~~

Trent had yet to be asked what it was like to be in a relationship with Ted Lasso, but if anyone ever did ask, he already had an answer ready, which was Not Boring.

Ted had exited the Doctor’s office so fast that Trent had almost missed him, Ted shooting past him and out the door, Trent following behind with both their jackets and Ted’s backpack.

The drive home had been completely silent, Ted not uttering a word, which was reason for concern in and of itself.

Trent had expected Ted to open up once they got home, but as soon as he parked the car, Ted had practically bolted and gone directly to the garden.

Trent had been under the impression that the hole for the trampoline had been plenty deep already, but it seemed like Ted had decided to deal with his emotions by digging his way to China, little scoops of dirt coming out of the hole in regular intervals.

Ted had a fantastic flair for dramatics, but this emotional outburst, or rather, lack of emotions had gone from mildly to deeply worrying.

Which was why Trent had placed a chair by the kitchen counter, and set up his laptop so he could look into the garden.

He had attempted to come into contact with Ted a few times, without spooking him or triggering a panic attack, but none of his attempts had yielded more than a grunt and a shake of the head when he had asked if Ted was in any actual danger, so Trent had decided to give Ted space.

Or, rather, the illusion of it, the door to the garden kept open in case Ted called for him, or he heard any loud noises.

Trent had made himself a pot of tea, and put on a jumper and a pair of fingerless gloves so he could finish the copyediting Rebecca had interrupted, Ted guaranteed to tire himself out sooner or later.

~~~

“Can you do a sip of water for me?”

Trent was kneeling on the floor in front of Ted, a bottle of water in his hand.

He had been in the waiting room, trying and failing to read the book he had brought, when he had heard his name.

Ted hadn’t gone into a fullblown panic attack, but it was heartbreakingly clear that he had been teetering on the edge, Trent forced to touch Ted before he fully reacted to his presence.

They had been guided into an empty room, the clinic's pediatrician apparently gone for the day, since this was clearly a space that had been furnished with children in mind.

Trent had helped Ted into one of those tiny children's chairs, his boyfriend more doll than man, and if Trent wasn’t so worried, it would have been a comical sight.

Ted was basically folded in on himself, his legs bent, his knees practically at his chest. He had his arms around his legs, his head hidden in them. 

“Ted?” Trent kept his voice low, and as sweet as he could, Ted often needing the most tender touch when he was like this. “It’d make me very happy if you could please take a sip.”

Ted moved so he could peek at Trent, and Trent swore he could physically feel his heart crack.

There was something deeply haunting about how broken Ted could seem, Trent momentarily overwhelmed by the thought that Ted Lasso was never supposed to look like this, his brown eyes impossibly large and filled with unshed tears.

Trent didn’t give a shit about what Ted Lasso was supposed to look like though, he only cared about if Ted was alright or not.

“Please?” Trent moved a little closer, and Ted let him get even further into his space, Trent's chest against Ted’s legs.

Ted nodded slowly, and untangled himself, Trent watching as Ted started to slowly, oh so slowly, pull himself back together.

“There we go.” Trent didn’t want to spook Ted, the way he had managed to skate right along the edge of a fullblown panic was a small mercy, since they were technically in public.

Trent had every confidence that the clinic itself would keep their mouth shut, but he had no such trust in the other patients.

Ted was a very well known face in and around Richmond, and some people would do anything for their five seconds of fame.

Trent held the bottle up, and Ted drank. In fact, he practically gulped down the water. He had obviously been thirsty, but that was a common side effect of panic attacks for Ted.

“Good job.” 

Trent removed the bottle, and he took the opportunity to watch Ted’s face. 

He looked…

More broken that Trent ever wanted to see him, but he was so grateful that he was there, that he was here, that Ted allowed him in.

He leaned forward, and pressed a kiss to Ted’s brow. He had expected it to be a quick touch of lips, but he felt Ted’s arms come up around his waist for a hug, Ted giving him a squeeze and holding him in place, which Trent didn’t mind.

If Ted needed comfort, then that was what he’d get. Trent hadn’t been asked to give butterfly kisses, but he did it anyway, placing those tiny touches of love on as much skin as he could.

Trent could feel Ted slowly calm down, could feel the way his shoulders lowered, how his body relaxed, Ted’s nose buried in Trent’s chest, his boyfriend slowly breathing him in.

He kept Ted there, until he felt Ted start to pull back, Trent’s knees aching as he untangled them.

Ted had a slightly dazed expression on his face, and Trent ran a quick hand through Ted’s hair, since he figured that it couldn’t hurt, Ted already a rumbled mess.

“Do you want to-“

“Trent-“

Trent had been about to ask Ted if he wanted to go home, but Ted didn’t say his name like that, unless there was something serious going on.

“I need to tell you, I have to tell you-“

“You don’t have to do anything.” Trent never wanted to pressure Ted, to push his too far, to-

“No,” Ted shook his head, “I have to, I want to, but-“ Ted pressed his chin to Trent’s stomach, so he could look up at him, his arms still looped around his waist. “It’s embarrassing?"

“What?” Trent didn’t mean to laugh, but this was the last thing he had expected. “You? Embarrassed? How are *you* embarrassed?”

Trent had seen Ted do so many - frankly insane - things that he couldn’t imagine, couldn’t even fathom-

“What,” Trent put his hand back in Ted’s hair, “did you do in there you absolute disaster?” 

“Nothing, or, I did do something, but it’s not- That’s not the part I need to tell you.”

Trent pursed his lips, but he allowed Ted to continue, his boyfriend fumbling with his words.

“I’ve been- My stomach stuff, it don’t got nothing to do- I thought, but then-“

It was deeply weird, to listen to Ted struggle in this way, to watch a man who was usually a magician with his words, who could weave a tale that enchanted, be unable to string together a single sentence.

“Whatever it is,” Trent used his hand in Ted’s hair to move him slightly, to make sure that Ted was looking at him, “You can tell me, I promise.”

~~~

“It’s anxiety shits.”

Ted hadn’t meant to say it quite like that, but the words had just forced their way out of his mouth, his stomach thankfully staying calm, even as he swore he could feel his skin prickle and tingle.

“Oh…” Trent looked down at Ted, blinking a few times as he digested the words, “Well…”

Trent reached up, to push his glasses into his hair, and Ted felt the tingles reach his fingers, his hands locked behind Trent’s back.

“I’m sure we’ll be able to figure something out-“

“No.”

Ted could - Ted *should* let Trent finish, but he had-

“You’re not talking. I’m talking.”

It was very lucky that he already had Trent in his arms, that they were touching and connected, that he had the physical sensation to cling to as the static on his skin turned sharp, shame rising and threatening to choke him.

“It’s anxiety shits.” Ted hated that that was the only description his brain seemed to be capable of coming up with, “it’s all anxiety shits, it’s been anxiety shits the entire time, and I-“ 

Ted knew he had to tell Trent that all of this was happening because of the fact that Trent wasn’t coming to the West Ham match, and he trying to, he was, he really was, but he couldn’t-

“I-“

“Ted,” Trent put the hand he had used to move his glasses back on Ted’s shoulder, Ted could feel his chest tighten, his hackles rising.

He knew Trent didn’t choose to say Ted to make him feel worse, but it did, and he had to-

“Theodore.”

“What?” Trent’s brows wrinkled in confusion, but he was also playing with the hair at the nape of Ted’s neck.

“Call me-“ Ted had to look away, had to press his head into Trent’s chest. “I want you to call me Theodore,”

It was so embarrassing, to ask this way, to be so blatant about what he needed, what he wanted, what he had to have. 

It made him feel so small, and vulnerable, and-

“Oh Theodore.” Ted could hear the love thick in Trent’s voice, his hand coming up to cup his head ever so gently.

Trent was always so gentle with him, when he needed it most, and while it didn’t quench the burning sensations in Ted’s body, it did cause Ted to feel a moment of calm wash over him.

He was safe here.

Safe, and cared for and loved.

“I don’t know,” Trent pressed Ted’s forehead against his chest, his voice a careful whisper, “what it is that worries you, if it’s the game against West Ham, or something else entirely, but I promise you, that it’ll all be alright.”

Ted wanted to believe that, and he did believe it, but it was so hard to believe in believe, when he could feel the anxiety claw at him, since he hadn’t told the truth.

“You’re not alone, I’m here-“

“But you’re not-“ Ted hated that he sounded like a moody child, that he was mumbling this into Trent’s sweater, but it seemed like Trent heard him anyway, which Ted really should have expected.

“I’m not what?”

Ted pulled back, and gathered all of his courage, as he tilted his head upwards to look at Trent.

“You’re not there.”

The seconds stretched into eternity, and Ted swore it felt like a thousand lifetimes, Trent blinking slowly, before his brow furrowed.

“Darling“ Trent had a note of disbelief in his voice, “Are you telling me, that all of this,” Trent gestured to the room, “ls about the fact that I won’t be physically present for the West Ham game?”

“No.” Ted didn’t want it to be, but- “Yes. Maybe, kinda. Yes. Yes. Yes it is.”

Ted pulled Trent even closer, his legs bracketing Trent’s thigh, Ted still seated on the teeny chair.

“Are you telling me you’ve had diarrhoea for two days, because I-“

“You think I’m embarrassed for the heck of it?” Ted didn’t mean to snap, but he could hear the snarl in his voice.

“No, obviously not,” Trent didn’t react to the venom, his hand kept in place in Ted’s hair, “but, sweetheart, this is-“

“I know it’s an overreaction,” Ted could feel his cheeks burn, “but I didn’t- I thought you’d be there, I-“

Ted has never said any of this out loud, had never confessed it, not to himself, not to Doctor Midfield, his mouth once again running off, without his brain’s go ahead.

“If I lose my cool at a match, even if I can’t see you, if I need a raft, if I need to know that it’ll all be okay, I look for you.”

“What?” Ted felt Trent’s hand to slack in his hair, his eyes wide.

“I know everybody says I handle my anxiety real well, but I don’t.”

Ted could feel the way that the truth was slowly setting him free, how confessing made him feel light.

“I handle it cause I look for you, cause I know that you’ll be there after the game-“

That was one of Ted’s favorite parts, to see Trent’s little smile, no game truly won or lost until he had heard Trent comment on it.

“I get to come home to you, if you and the kiddos have seen it on TV. I know that you’ll take care of me, that-“

“Am I your lucky khakis?”

This time, it was Ted’s turn not to get it. His lucky khakis weren’t actually lucky, and he didn’t have to wear them, but he also did have to wear them-

“Not like that sweet boy,” Trent’s hand found its way back to the roots of Ted’s hair, “I just mean, my presence, for the West Ham game, it was, it is, a part of your match ritual.”

Right.

That made sense.

Ted didn’t get why Trent got it though. 

“Ted,” Trent’s voice was filled with so much compassion, “You should have said something.”

Maybe he should, but-

“I didn’t even know I was this kind of crazy…”

“You’re not crazy.” Trent said it as if that was an objective truth, when it very much wasn’t.

“I’ve been shitting myself-“

“Technically, you’ve shat yourself.” Trent smiled, his fingers slowly petting Ted’s hair, “As far as I’m aware, you only did it once, and haven’t I heard you say that you weren’t ashamed of streaks in your drawers?”

“That’s different.” Ted led his forehead bump into Trent’s chest, Ted closing his eyes. He wasn’t burning, or tingling, anymore, but he was tired.

Endlessly. Insanely. Impossibly tired.

“Ted,” Trent twirled some of Ted’s hair around his fingers, “I understand that you’re embarrassed."

Ted huffed, the fact that he was embarrassed at all something to be embarrassed of. 

“I didn’t know that I was making changes to your ritual by staying behind. It must have been really uncomfortable, when I told you, if you hadn’t expected it.”

Ted wanted to say yes, but that would be insanely petty, and not very team first mentality of him. 

“I should have been more upfront, and I should have-“

“How are you-“ Ted’s words were muffled in Trent’s sweater, Ted’s mouth filled with wool. 

“I can’t understand you.” Trent sounded more amused than annoyed, and Ted pulled back, so he could actually speak. 

“How are you acting like any part of this is your fault?”

“Do we need to place fault?”

Ted paused, Trent’s question taking him by surprise.

They didn’t, technically, need to place fault, but…

Ted had gotten so used to the fact that everything was his fault when his marriage to Michelle had started to go sour. Couples therapy had been an exercise in accepting blame, and Ted couldn’t believe that Trent just…

Accepted that all of this had happened… That he could see Ted have an insane overreaction, and still choose to look at what he could have done differently, instead of focusing on what Ted had or hadn’t done right.

“I think our only goal,” Trent moved even closer, their bodies practically glued together, “should be how we keep you out of adult diapers.”

Ted snorted, a grin breaking free. “Oh come off of-“

“I’m serious.” Trent was grinning too, mischief in his eyes, “45 feels,” Trent switched his accent up, Ted treated to a downright terrible parody of his own Kansas drawl, “mighty young to need them old folk pullups.”

“Stop that.” Ted tried to sound stern, but he couldn’t keep in his giggles, his body so light Ted swore he could just float off in the best possible way.

“What?” Trent gave a little mock scoff, even if amusement radiated from him, “Am I not allowed to react to the fact that I’m already dealing with providing geriatric care?”

“You’re a year older than me.” 

“That I am.” Trent pressed a kiss to Ted’s brow. “Really quite perverse, when you think of it. An older man with a young stud like yourself.” Trent gave him another kiss, this time on his temple. “Good thing I have a very peculiar list of kinks.”

Ted wondered if he could pull Trent down, if he could somehow communicate that he wanted a kiss, but Trent was, as always, a step ahead.

“And how lucky are we-“ Trent bent forward, a tug on Ted’s hair enough to make him strain his neck, “that my biggest kink is taking care of you.”

Trent kissed him, and Ted swore he melted, the kiss filling him with the feeling of coming home, Trent’s embrace where he belonged.

Chapter Text

“Ted?” Trent opened the bathroom door, hot, damp air greeting him. He had a set of lounge wear in hand, Trent digging out a band shirt and a pair of sweats for Ted while he showered. 

Ted hadn’t been overly dirty, exactly, but he was a nervous sweater, his shirt soaked and his skin damp to the touch once they had finished talking, the sharp scent of stress sweat clinging to him when Trent had helped him out of the chair and into the car.

“Darling?” 

Ted hadn’t greeted him, but Trent still closed the door behind him, Ted standing under the spray, his head bent forwards, a hand on the tiles, water beating down on him. 

“Hello?”

“Mmh?” Ted didn’t move, but he did reply. 

“Mmh? Is that all you got? Don’t tell me,” Trent left the clothes on the bathroom counter, a small smile on his lips, “that you’re falling asleep in there?”

“‘M not,” Ted turned his head, “Just resting my eyes.”

“Of course.” Trent smiled, “Have you soaped up yet?”

Ted shook his head, the lack of a verbal response a surefire sign that Ted was - once again - beyond exhausted.

It was concerning how often Trent got to watch Ted feel like that, Ted such a giver that he always burned his candle from both ends.

Football wasn’t a sport that allowed for a lot of breaks, but April was a merciful month if you were doing alright, Richmond guaranteed to play Champions League next season, unless everything started going wrong.

Which was a thought Trent promptly banished from his mind, since it was too horrid to imagine.

“Do you need-” Ted started nodding before Trent finished saying ‘help’, which made Trent laugh. 

He didn’t know why he had ever thought that Ted would say anything besides yes, especially with the day Ted had had.

“Alright alright. Do you want me-“

“Yes.”

“Of course.” Trent smiled. He took off his glasses, and plopped them on the counter before he reached for his jumper to pull it over his head. 

He made quick work of undressing, Ted’s eyes lingering on him the entire time.

There wasn’t any heat in the gaze, the only hot thing in the room, the humid air.

Until Trent reached for his belt, Ted waking up enough to whistle at him, which made Trent roll his eyes, 

“You shut your pretty mouth.” Trent rolled up his belt, and put it on the counter too, Ted’s clothes in a pile on the tiles.

“Sir yes,” Ted yawned, “sir.”

Trent chuckled, and took off his socks.

“Move.”

Ted pressed against the wall, and Trent slid in behind him, a hand gliding down Ted’s left arm so Trent could snatch the hair tie off of Ted’s wrist.

It was very practical that Ted always carried one around, and Trent should really reward him for it more. 

For now, he just pressed a sweet kiss to Ted’s shoulder before putting his hair up and selecting a soap, Trent lathering up.

Ted was practically putty in his hand, his boyfriend moving where Trent put him, no sounds coming from him beside small noises of contentment, Ted breathing in and out as Trent touched him.

It wasn’t exactly sexy, to lift Ted’s arms and make sure he got in his armpit, to scrub down a thigh or get on his knees to soap between toes, but it felt good to touch Ted like this.

To get greedy.

To let himself indulge.

Ted had a fantastic fucking body, and Trent loved every part of it. 

He loved Ted’s strong arms and his thick thighs, loved his moustache and his little bald spot, loved how masculine he was, loved his perfect cock, with its thickness and length.

Loved his kind eyes, and his laugh lines, the dimples above his arse, the softness of his lips, how his body was covered in hair.

Trent hadn’t commented on the fact that Ted had gained weight recently, hadn’t commented on how solid he had become, but he had obviously noticed it.

Noticed how Ted had gotten softer, how his pecs were perfect little tits, how his hips and stomach had enough flesh that Trent’s fingers could truly sink in, how he had something to grip when he fucked him, how Ted-

Trent swallowed, and pulled back, his cock way too interested in the way Ted allowed himself to get manhandled, how he had given up control.

How he trusted Trent.

Utterly and completely.

Ted needed him, and Trent could provide.

He shouldn’t take it further, and he wouldn’t, not when Ted was this exhausted, but he touched Ted’s jaw, asking him without words to twist around so he could kiss him, and he got what he asked for, Ted responding immediately and eagerly, his boyfriend melting into the touch. 

~~~

Ted felt his consciousness bubbling to the surface, his rumbling stomach pulling him from his slumber.

It was thankfully hunger that woke him this time around, Ted blinking awake.

He was lying in bed, his head on Trent’s shoulder, the other man flat on his back, a hand slowly stroking up and down Ted’s arm.

“Mmh.”

It felt like heaven, and Ted closed his eyes, allowing himself to take it all in.

He had always been a cuddler, the desire for contact and comfort such an integral part of who he was.

He didn’t just want it.

He needed it.  

Ted had never considered himself someone who had shied away from physical touch, but it wasn’t until now, wasn’t until Trent, that Ted had become aware of how starved he had been.

How much he had craved to be held, to have…

Well. 

This.

To know that he was allowed to linger, that he was welcome to ask, that he didn’t even have to say it most of the time.

Ted cracked an eye open, to peek up at Trent.

He didn’t look like someone who had slept, his boyfriend just putting on a fresh pair of underwear, while Ted had opted for a shirt and sweats and socks.

Ted knew that Trent knew he was awake, but he moved closer anyway, his nose pressed to Trent’s collarbone, Ted throwing a leg over Trent’s stomach, the duvet covering both of them.

It felt good, and safe and warm to be lying like this, Trent continuing to stroke up and down Ted’s skin, the faint hum of his breathing and the taps of him using his phone the only sounds in the room.

Ted had just woken from a nap, which should be what refreshed him, but lying like this, awake though not really.

That was the good stuff.

He could feel his limbs slowly turn to liquid, his body falling into a state of complete relaxation.

“Ted?” Trent’s voice was barely above a whisper, his hand twisting to brush over Ted’s hair, “Would you mind if I take a call?”   

Ted pressed a kiss to Trent’s collarbone in response, a soft chuckle enough of a reply for Trent, who held his phone to his ear.

Maybe, Ted should have listened, but he didn’t, the actual words not registering as he continued to float.

His stomach did rumble again though, his belly reminding him that he had barely had breakfast, and that he had skipped lunch.

Ted held Trent a little tighter, a hand coming up to stroke Trent’s neck.

Maybe, they could make grilled cheeses for either late lunch or early dinner, Ted crossing his fingers that Trent would be down for an evening on the couch, and reruns of ‘Whose line is it anyway’.

~~~

“And the Doctor didn’t even finger my booty-“

Trent almost choked on his tea, a hand in front of his mouth enough to save him from a very embarrassing spit take.

He turned his head, eyes wide as he looked over at Ted.

They were on the sofa, the TV running on mute, Ted’s feet in Trent’s lap, the dishwasher loaded with their dinner plates.

Ted was on the phone with Rebecca, who had called to check up on him, Ted picking up immidiately.

Trent had no idea how Ted and Rebecca managed to navigate their relationships, their lives so utterly intertwined and so completely without proper boundaries.

He’d never be able to feel comfortable in a constellation like theirs, but Ted obviously did, Trent listening in horror as Ted gave Rebecca an extremely detailed runthrough of his Doctor’s appointment.

Rebecca.

Who was his boss.

Who made the decisions on whether or not Ted had a job.

There was no denying that the two of them had something incredibly special though.

Rebecca had looked downright guilty the first time she had accidentally spilled that Ted was more important to her than Matthijs, and Trent should maybe feel weird about that, but he didn’t.

He trusted Rebecca, and he trusted Ted, believed it when Rebecca said that their connection was platonic.

If Ted wanted to be with Rebecca, he would have been with Rebecca, Rebecca actually brave enough to show up in the airport to beg Ted to stay, to make one last ditch effort.

To tell him, with words, that she loved him and needed him.

Unlike Trent, who had been too busy licking his wounds after the humiliation of Ted’s blunt rejection.

God, this really wasn’t a line of thought that was worth chasing on a Tuesday afternoon.

Especially when Ted had chosen to come back.

For him.

Maybe, Trent should just focus on the fact that he was lucky enough that Rebecca considered him a friend too, since his membership to Girl Talk was the closest he had ever been to having a friend group.

Ted would disagree with that statement, and mention that Trent had the Diamond Dogs, but Roy had never asked if he wanted to grab a beer outside of work.

Not that Trent was absolutely sure that he’d even accept, since he was still cautious of the rage Roy carried around.

“Yeah, turns out the bubble gut is a fun new anxiety feature. Not exactly the upgrade you want Santa to bring you for Christmas.”

Trent closed his hand around Ted’s ankle, Ted giving him a small smile from the other end of the sofa. 

“Yep, yep yep yep.” Ted nodded, his eyes closing as he listened to what Rebecca was saying. 

He looked like he could use a scotch, so Trent gently wormed his way out from underneath Ted. The everyday scotch was kept in a cupboard in the kitchen, and Trent poured a finger for each of them. 

He grabbed a small bowl too, and poured out a selection of nuts, Ted as always keeping their kitchen beyond stocked, Trent often thinking that they could easily open a small grocery store with the amount of food Ted liked to have in the house. 

Trent returned to the living room, Ted still on the phone, but he had his lip between his teeth now.

“I know it’d make sense for Trent to come on Saturday, but Isabella-“

Shit.

Trent had forgotten to tell Ted-

He clicked his tongue, and Ted looked at him, Trent gesturing for him to take the phone away from his ear before handing him one of the glasses.

“Yo Boss, gimme a sec and a half-“ Ted lowered the phone and accepted the glass, “What’s up?”

“I found a playdate for Isabella. For Saturday”

It had been disturbingly easy to find someone who wanted to have Isabella over on Saturday, Trent thankfully smart enough to text Lilian for an updated classmate ranking, a former nr.4 now number 1.

He had fixed the whole thing while Ted had been dozing on and off in their bed, the fact that he had forgotten to mention it, completely Trent’s fault.

“I don’t have a ticket for myself yet, but I’ll be able to attend-“

“You serious?” Ted looked up at him, his eyes wide.

“About the ticket?“ Trent didn’t get to finish what he was saying, since Ted pushed up on his knees, the glass of scotch almost spilling everywhere when Ted kissed him, Trent acutely aware that Rebecca was held right next to their faces, and that she could likely hear them.

Ted was so happy though, that Trent couldn’t get annoyed, Ted kissing him two more times before he pulled away.

“Can’t wait to have you in the dugout baby girl.”

Wait? 

What?

~~~

Beard didn’t take his sunglasses off when Ted blew his whistle, but he could feel the shift in the air, could sense the way Ted straightened his back.

They had walked to work together, Ted texting and asking Beard if he’d please come pick him up.

Jane hadn’t liked it, and Beard was pretty sure he’d come home to one or more of his throwing axes with their shaft broken, but he wasn’t going to let that keep him from showing up for Ted.

It only pushed him further away from Jane.

Especially if she had touched lil Tommy, Beard’s favorite tomahawk. 

“Fellas!” Ted walked out on the pitch, waving at everyone to get them to come over.

Beard followed, as he always did, in case Ted needed his right hand man. 

Ted hadn’t told him what he was about to do, but Beard could make an educated guess, Ted confessing everything that had been going on with him, on their way to work. 

It hadn’t been pretty, but Beard had been endlessly relieved to find out that Ted wasn’t dying of cancer, or some rare disease, that all of this was ‘just’ an anxiety thing.

Which seemed to be fixable by making sure that Trent was constantly nearby, which was a solution that Beard wound happily support.

“Listen,” Ted pulled his glasses from his nose, and Beard held his breath, “I made the mistake of not sharing with y’all once, and I don’t ever wanna end up doing that again, so I have something I need to tell you. Now, this won’t be pretty, which means we need to practice on keeping an open mind, but more importantly, having an open heart.”

~~~

“I promise,” Ted held a hand out, “that it’s perfectly safe.”

They were in the garden, and Ted was standing on the trampoline, his garden shoes abandoned on the grass, Ted making a beeline for it as soon as he saw it.

“And I promise,” Trent didn’t take Ted’s hand, even if it felt wrong, “that safety concerns are not the source of my protest.”

The trampoline had been delivered just after lunch, a company man staying behind to assemble it, the hole Ted had dug thankfully big enough.

Isabella would be squealing with excitement, and Trent knew he’d have to make sure he filmed it, so Ted wouldn’t miss out.

“Please?” Ted didn’t pout, but Trent had a feeling that it was imminent. 

He didn’t want to go on the trampoline, but Ted had also had a brutal week.

No one would have been able to guess, from watching the Richmond presser though, Ted his usual sparkling, warm, witty, charming and humoristic self, Trent taking a copyediting break to watch Ted on TV.

“What if you break a leg?” 

Trent could feel his defense slowly crumbling, Ted still holding one hand out.

“Pretty please?”

Trent hated giving in, but he didn’t want this to become an argument, and it would make Ted very happy if he indulged him.

“Fine.”

“Yes!” Ted grinned widely, and grabbed Trent’s hand, Trent still in his shoes as Ted pulled him through the mesh net and onto the trampoline.

“Ted!” Trent felt arms settle around his middle, and Trent didn’t cling to Ted, except that he absolutely did, fingers digging into his biceps.

“Come on,” Trent could feel the mischief roll off of Ted in waves, “give it a bounce.”

“If you bounce us right now,” Trent looked up at Ted, his knees nearly buckling under him, “I’ll skin you alive.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” Ted smiled, but he did show mercy, Ted helping Trent sit down. 

It was cold, but not unbearable, spring finally creeping up on them.

Trent didn’t hate their neighbors, but it was a relief that neither of them had lights on, Trent crossing his fingers that they weren’t home.

“Hey Trent?” Ted pulled his Richmond sweater over his head, Trent looking up at him as he threw it over the net, Ted practically indecent in his white t-shirt. “Do you think I could still do a flip?”

“You’re 45.”

“Age ain’t nothing but a number, baby.” Ted started to jump, and it was kind of annoying, but Trent didn’t mind it too much when he could continue to sit.

“You give some good counterweight.” Ted smiled, Trent watching as he attempted to keep steady, “I think I could still-“

“No.“ Ted had started to go so high that Trent bounced when he touched down, “I forbid it.”

“Awh,” Ted did actually whine this time, “Why?”

“Because you,“ Bounce, “have a,” Bounce, “match on-“ Bounce, “Ted!”

Trent got up on his knees, and it didn’t actually help, but it did give him enough height that he could reach out and grab Ted’s belt, which Ted obviously hadn’t expected, his next touch down enough for both of them to lose their balance, Ted falling on top of Trent.

“Fuck-“

Ted laughed, loud and warm, and Trent had to admit that this wasn’t the worst position he had ever found himself in. Ted was on top of him, his body covering him, their legs a jumbled mess, Ted panting a little, a thin layer of sweat on him.

“I should,” Ted breathed out, “really get more cardio in.”

“Ha,” Trent laughed too, “I’m sure Isabella will keep you more than occupied.”

“She would,” Ted smiled and gave Trent a quick but sweet kiss before rolling off, both of them now lying flat and looking up at the evening sky.

The sun hadn’t set yet, and it felt nice.

Almost peaceful.

To have this with Ted.

He should really ask about the logistics of Saturday, Ted mentioning twice that he wanted Trent in the dugout.

Trent had never been in the dugout as Ted Lasso’s Boyfriend, and when he had sat there as Trent Crimm Author, he had made sure to tuck himself in the back.

Instead of talking, Trent chose to reach out, and take Ted’s hand, to enjoy the moment, Ted as always as hot as a furnace.

“When I was in high school, we used to do this for hours. Stevie’s good buddy Jackie had a trampoline, and sometimes-“

Trent allowed Ted’s voice to wash over him.

He was an excellent storyteller, Trent listening as Ted told him about endless summer nights and barbecues and swimming in creeks, of beers in the cornfields and fishing with friends, of how he and Ronnie had run track to practice for football.

“Hey Trent?” Ted had turned on his side, and Trent did the same thing, Ted looking at him with those brown eyes of his that Trent loved so much. “You think the two of us would’ve gotten along when we were younger?”

“Oh?” Trent had never, truly, considered that, but he unfortunately knew the answer, or, he knew his answer, which was kind of the same thing. “How old are we in this scenario?”

Ted asked Trent a lot of questions that he didn’t actually want or need an answer to, but this didn’t seem like one of those times.

“Well,” Ted turned on his side, Trent’s hand still in his, “We could be 15.”

“Aha?” Trent chose not to comment on the fact that that would mean that Ted’s Dad was still alive, that Ted had yet to experience one of his greatest tragedies.

That he’d still have the innocence of youth.

Trent’s mother had died when he was 7, and at 15, he had already spent two terrible years at boarding school, his diaries from that period of his life filled with teenage angst and unbridled rage. 

“That’d make us Freshmen or Sophomores in High school. You’d have to be an exchange student-“

Ted was really getting into it now, a bit of his flooff flopped on his forehead because of the jumping.

“I haven’t figured out why you’re in Kansas-“

Seemed like this wasn’t the first time Ted had thought about this particular alternate universe, Trent getting more and more intrigued as Ted continued talking.

“But you could transfer in late-“

Trent listened as an entire backstory spilled out of Ted, Ted talking about how Trent would be wearing one of his blazers for his first day of school.

“And as the boy who got voted Prom King twice, I would’ve been duty bound by my crown to be a good host, and show you around the school.”

“Aha?” Trent didn’t fully know how to react, the whole thing charming and bizarre, just like Ted. 

“I don’t think you would have enjoyed school lunches, or real football, but I know you would have forced me to actually pay attention in AP Lit.”

Ted had let go of Trent’s hand, and moved onto his stomach and elbows, Ted looking down at Trent, who hadn’t said a word since Ted had started talking, Ted completely lost in his fantasy.

“You wouldn’t mean to, but I’m sure you would’ve made a mess of me sugar.” Ted grinned, flirty mischief in his eyes. “All whip smart and mysterious and cool. You would’ve turned me into a butterfly factory.”

“You seem convinced we would have been dating.”

Trent knew that Ted had no idea what he had looked like at 15, but Trent knew that Ted would never have noticed him. 

The handful of photos Trent had of himself as a child and a teen were all carefully hidden away, and they’d stay hidden, Lilian the sole reason Trent had them in the first place, while Isabella was the only reason he kept them.

Ted was different, his boyfriend happily showing Trent all of his yearbooks and baby photos when they had received Ted’s boxes from America, Ted’s childhood and teen years, his college life and photos from his early adulthood all lovingly packaged up in the attic.

It had been… Strange, to see the photos, to look at the young man who’d grow up to become the person Trent would hopefully spend the rest of his life with.

“It would’ve been love at first sight.” Ted grinned, and he seemed so utterly convinced that Trent couldn’t share the truth.

Couldn’t tell Ted that he would have hated his guts.

That Trent was so broken back then that he wouldn’t have been able to accept Ted’s light, that he would have done everything he could to make Ted despise him, to make Ted leave him alone in his familiar solitude.

Hurt people hurt people, and Trent had been vicious.

He would have been cruel, and done what he could to cause damage, his words his only weapon back then, the Trent that Ted had met the version of him that had slowly been soothed by more than a decade of Lilian’s companionship.

Who had become a father, who had held his little girl in his arms, and who had understood that she deserved all he could give her, that she was worthy of the love and care that Trent had never been able to give to himself.

God.

Trent was truly in a downward spiral, depression clawing at him whenever he let his guard down and turning him into a sentimental and pathetic fool.

Ted didn’t deserve to deal with that, so he smiled, and reached up to gently touch Ted’s cheek. 

“That sounds nice darling.”

Trent hoped that Ted wouldn’t be able to pick up on the creeping darkness, that he wouldn’t notice the heaviness in Trent’s tone.

That he’d get to continue to be his bright self, that Trent wouldn’t accidentally destroy the goodness within him. 

“I would’ve loved to invite you over for a scary movie.” Ted smiled, “Get all cozied up with popcorn in the basement. Let my parents think we were just two pals, when we were sucking face instead-“

“Excuse me?” Trent raised an eyebrow, “Sucking face?”

“Mmh!” Ted nodded, eagerly and joyfully, a smirk on his lips, “You want a demonstration?”

“Now?” 

“Yup.” Ted popped the P, and Trent hadn’t even noticed how he had inched closer, Ted practically on top of him already.

“Are you honestly asking me for a snog on the trampoline?”

“Well, I was also,” Ted wiggled his brows, “hoping for a bit of dry humping.”

“What?” Trent couldn’t believe that Ted would say that, “Get off of-“

Ted kissed him, and Trent could melt into it, but they were outside, and Trent refused to give their neighbors a free show. He reached up, and pinched Ted’s side, nails digging in.

He had expected an ouch, for Ted to pull back, but instead, he just moaned into Trent’s mouth.

It was hot, and maybe-

A little couldn’t hurt.

Right?

Trent pinched Ted again, and bit back his own groan as Ted slid between his legs, his boyfriend’s weight on top of him.

He shouldn’t have allowed this, but it felt good, and Ted reacted beautifully when Trent started to kiss back properly, a snog on the trampoline not the worst way to spend the early afternoon. 

As long as their neighbors minded their business.