Chapter Text
Ted wakes up before he opens his eyes. He wakes not because of an alarm, or sunlight on his face, or even the sound of bicycles moving through the narrow streets of Amsterdam. No. He wakes because he feels the body next to him shift slightly, an arm tightening over his chest. What?
Ted opens one eye and it’s welcomed by blonde hair framing a beautiful face. A very familiar, very dear face. Rebecca. Holy moly. He doesn’t panic right away, his sleepy brain still trying to make sense of what the heck is going on here and, honestly, he can’t help but enjoy the warmth of another body right there with him. He looks around and sees clothes everywhere, and a room he doesn’t recognize. Hotel room. The away match. Amsterdam. Right, right.
The memories return slowly. They won the match, everyone so happy feeling like they could light the world on fire. Keeley insisting the night was “far too young to even think about sleeping”. They went to a bar along the canals. He remembers Rebecca laughing in that deep unguarded way she does when she feels comfortable and happy and a bit tipsy. Then a conversation in a dark corner, just the two of them. Close. He remembers thinking God, it felt so good to have this again after the whole going-back-to-Kansas debacle. Later not talking so much, just looking at each other. Neither of them looking away. And then…Well…
Rebecca suddenly moves waking up. He tenses up but stays right where he is with his own hand on her back and his nose buried in her hair. She moves and looks at him. They stare and he can’t help but laugh a little. This is a bit ridiculous.
—Hey.
—Hello, Ted —She also laugh just a little bit — so… I’ve never done that with you before.
¬Ted laughs louder now, a real, proper laugh —you can say that again, boss—
—Jesus, don’t call me boss in this situation please— she says hiding her face on her hands
—I’m, sorry, I’m sorry —he says smiling
Rebecca lets her hands down and looks at him. He can’t quite tell what she’s thinking but he hopes—god he really hopes—this doesn’t send their relationship, their very hard-won friendship, backwards. She smiles a bit, like she is trying to calm him even here.
—I’m going to the loo, and then… we’ll talk, ok?
—Yeah, of course, knock yourself out—he says watching her.
She hesitates for a moment, he raises his eyebrows and she slaps his chest a bit —Don’t look, i´m very naked— She says blushing
Oh, he is aware, he is very much aware.
— Of course, bo… - Rebecca, sorry. I’m closing my eyes like they’ve been glued shut with industrial-strength super glue.
She rolls her eyes at him and makes sure he has his eyes closed before getting up and runs to the bathroom where she very pointedly closes the door.
Ted opens his eyes then and starts looking for his clothes, it feels weird to have this conversation naked. He dresses and starts the coffee machine on when the bathroom door opens, and Rebecca gets out completely composed, with a robe neatly wrapped around her. They stare at each other, neither one of them knowing how to talk about this… turn of events.
—So…—says Rebecca
—I made coffee— Ted blurts out and hurries to fill two cups – hers black, his with milk and sugar- and hands one to her. Their fingers brush. Both very deliberately ignore it
.
—Thank you. Why don’t we sit down, Ted?
—Yeah, okay.
They sit by the table. Silence stretches. Ted takes a sip.
—Well—he says.
Finally Rebecca says, calmly and with the kind of authority that normally terrifies entire boardrooms:
—I believe the best course of action is to pretend last night never happened.
—Never happened…— Ted nods slowly.
—We were celebrating. There was alcohol involved. Emotions were… elevated. These things occur. It doesn’t require further examination… I believe
…
Ted nods again.
—Yes, I agree. I mean, we’re two grown adults, we made a choice, we can be… mature about this, right? —He takes another sip of coffee —Honestly, Rebecca, the only thing I really care about is not messing up our friendship, I care about you a lot and I don’t think I could bear to lose you over something like this.
She softens then, smiling sweetly at him
—I care about you, too. You know that, and I agree, after everything we’ve gone through, I just want us to keep going — A small pause —And… it was fun, wasn’t it? —she adds, laughing lightly.
—Oh, definitely. It was great! —he says, just a bit too much enthusiasm— You know, for me at least.
—So we can leave it at that and just go back to normal —She says as she starts gathering her things.
Ted coughs and raises a finger slightly. Rebecca looks at him with an arched eyebrow.
—Just one small hypothetical question.
Rebecca closes her eyes briefly.
—Yes, Ted?
—Well, hypothetically speaking… —He gestures vaguely toward the bed —…if two grown adults accidentally celebrated a football victory in a slightly more enthusiastic fashion than intended…
Rebecca sighs softly.
—…yes?
Ted scratches the back of his neck.
—Was it good for you?
Rebecca freezes.
Ted continues quickly.
—You know. For the hypothetical pride of the hypothetical man involved.
Rebecca says nothing. She just looks at him, stunned. Then she laughs, a real laugh soft, surprised.
—Hypothetically
…
Ted looks up.
—…it was the best I’ve ever had.
Ted chokes slightly on his coffee, and then he smiles so wide it brings out his dimples on full force. They stand there smiling at each other.
Then—
Knock knock knock.
Rebecca freezes. Ted freezes. A voice from outside the door:
—Rebecca! Wake up! We should be out exploring the city already.
Keeley.
Rebecca whispers urgently:
—Oh, fuck
Ted whispers back:
—This is… not ideal. Not ideal at all
The knock comes again.
—Rebecca! If you’re hungover, I will absolutely judge you! And also, I don’t care”
Rebecca panics and grabs his arm and drags him across the room. Jesus Christ this is ridiculous.
—The closet.
—The closet?
—Yes! Just stay quiet please.
Ted dives into the wardrobe just as Rebecca opens the door. This makes him feel like a teenager sneaking into his girlfriend’s house without her parents noticing. Not that he ever did that, but movies must get it from somewhere, right?
Keeley walks in immediately. Bright. Energetic. It seems like she hasn’t drunk a drop of alcohol in her life which is patently untrue.
—Morning!
Rebecca smiles far too calmly.
—Good morning, love.
Keeley squints slightly.
—You look… glowy.
Rebecca blinks.
—Do I?
—Yes, babes. But even if you are fit as fuck, I still need you to get dress, please. We’ve got canals, waffles, and a museum that might be about cheese waiting for us. Let’s go —Keeley says bouncing lightly on her feet. Ted holds his breath as Keeley’s footsteps move closer.
—Yes, yes, of course— Rebecca says, laughing just a bit too loudly—Why don’t you wait for me downstairs, and I’ll be there in a minute.
—Oh, but I don’t mind watching you get dressed —Keeley says with a wink.
—Ha ha, very funny. I’ll be quick, I promise.
Keeley studies her for a moment, a little suspicious but nods
—Okay, babes. Hurry up!!
When the door closes Rebecca finally breathes and falls into the bed covering her eyes
— Oh my god, this cannot be my life. I’m forty eight for God’s sake.
Ted walks out of the closet panting, a hand on his chest
— Thank God she left. I don’t think I could’ve held my breath much longer—I was about two seconds away from seeing stars.
Rebecca sits and looks at him and laughs, he is a bloody idiot, she thinks with fondness. Ted sits beside her on the bed and they look at each other smiling. He instinctively tucks a lock of her hair behind her ear and she takes his hand. Her eyes go to his mouth before she can stop herself and he leans closer. Images from last night flood both of their minds. A trembling hand unzipping a dress. A biting kiss. Soft hands tracing skin. A gasp as they come undone together, gazing into each other's eyes. Then his cellphone rings and they pull away.
—Fuck. What is it with this bloody room? —Rebecca says standing up and walking as far away as possible
—I know, right? I blame Amsterdam, I mean, it’s a place of bad decision making, everyone knows that —Ted says with a shrug
—Right! Its Amsterdam’s fault.
—Bad, bad Amsterdam.
—Well, I better get dressed and go down before Keeley comes looking for me again —Rebecca says as she starts to open her robe.
—Right —He says following the movement of her hands
.
—Ted!
—Right, yeah. I’ll… go somewhere—He makes an awkward wave and approaches the door, backwards bumping into a chair — Nice seeing you, boss. I mean Rebecca.
Rebecca watches him go smiling until she catches herself.
—Get it together, Welton!