#oc: james mannion

[ericac318]

Title: Atonement

Summary: Fallon James is an American Marketing Executive hired by Keely to work exclusively at AFC Richmond.What happens when Fallon strikes the fancy of Rupert Mannion? Find out in this little one-shot. Rupert x OC

Chapter 1

A/N: I’m taking a slightly AU journey on my fic because I love Rupert (I know … I’m terrible) but that Darth Vader strut was too much. In this story, Rupert did cheat on Rebecca but he hasn’t had a romance since and he isn’t tied up in any scandals. It might end with some light smut because I love Anthony Head. 

PS: Don’t hate me for this overdramatic, self-indulgent work. 

Fallon was walking away from the locker room when she ran straight into Rupert Mannion. 

“I’m so sorry,” she began until she saw his face. His blue eyes were locked onto hers as well as his smug expression. “How did you get in here?” she asked. 

Fallon didn’t know Rebecca as well as she’d like but she knew enough to know who this man was. 

His lips curved into a smirk, “I suppose that I don’t need to introduce myself, but may I ask, who are you? You’re quite lovely,” he added, taking her hand and placing a kiss on her knuckles. 

“It’s not really your business,” she replied, pulling her hand away, “I’m Fallon James and I work in marketing. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

She started to walk away but chose to turn back at the last minute causing her to notice him moving with a visible limp. 

Against her better judgement, Fallon called out to him, “Mr. Mannion?” Once he stopped, she made her way back to him. “This really shouldn’t be a concern for me, but are you alright? I’ve seen you at the games and you’ve never had a limp before.”

“Nothing serious, if you were worried it might slow the two of us down when I, inevitably, take you out. I’ve just been having some trouble with my back,” he answered.

She shook her head, “You won’t be taking me out because I respect Rebecca far too much to go out with her ex. I hope you feel better,” she added before she turned to leave, for real this time.

“You’ll see that I’m right, eventually,” he shouted back as she moved further and further away. 

A few days later, Fallon was sitting in Rebecca’s office when the topic of Rupert came about. 

“Fallon, someone was in here asking about you the other day. He’s not the same man he was three years ago,” she added before taking a sip of her tea.

“Even if I liked him, I would never go on a date with your ex-husband,” Fallon replied, “I can’t break girl code, especially rule number one. Plus, I don’t know how much he’s really changed. He was extremely arrogant during our little interaction.”

Fallon’s response made Rebecca laugh before she spoke again, “That’s just how he is, unfortunately. But, I don’t think of it as a bad thing like I used to. It’s his way of protecting himself if he gets rejected,” she explained as Keeley joined them, taking a seat next to Fallon.

“Are you talking about how Rupert asked your permission to ask Fallon out?” Keeley inquired, holding back a squeal.

Fallon was beside herself, “He asked for your permission? I really don’t think I could, though. It feels too much like a betrayal. Did he ask you that when he was here?”

Rebecca shook her head, “No, he asked after I told all of those old men off after the Akufo meeting. I think I reminded him of who he used to be and that made him want to give love, or at least like, another chance. I won’t be upset if you go out with him because I’ve moved past him and I’d hate to be the reason two people don’t find each other,” she shared, her tone sobering the room.

Fallon shrugged, “I’m not sure this is as serious as what you just said, but I am willing to keep an open mind. If I see him again and he asks … maybe, I’ll say yes.”

“He’s a little old for you, Fal,” Keeley commented, “Not to add a damper on the mood, just pointing it out.”

Fallon laughed, “He’s a little old for Rebecca and a lot old for me, but I would be lying if I said that mattered. Anyway, let’s just see how things go.” She changed the subject, “Are we all still on for drinks and karaoke tonight?”

“Yes!” Keeley and Rebecca answered in unison. 

Fallon arrived at the stadium for what could be the last match of the season. Before she made her way to the box where Rebecca, Keeley, and Higgins would be waiting, she stopped in the locker room to wish the team and the coaches good luck.

Once she reached their box, the match was just about to start. Fallon noticed Rupert sitting on the West Ham side but she managed to avoid his gaze as she took her seat. 

“He’s going to ask you,” Rebecca whispered as the game began. 

“I’m sure he won’t be thinking about a date after we win this game,” Fallon challenged, trying to distract herself. She wanted him to ask and she was afraid to get her hopes up. 

Keeley shook her head at Fallon’s comment, “If he loses today, he’ll be more likely to ask you out because that’s a win in his book.”

Fallon nodded as she shushed them so she could pretend to focus on the match while ignoring the urge to turn back and sneak a glance in Rupert’s direction.

After half-time, Richmond began making a comeback to Fallon’s delight. As she celebrated another goal, she noticed Rupert standing to leave his seat. 

She couldn’t help herself as she stood to move in his direction as she watched him grasp the wall for support. Her concern for him was alarming for how little she knew about him.

Fallon grasped his elbow subtly, supporting some of his weight, as she walked with him back into the suite.

“Whatever you’re thinking of doing,” she warned, “I think you should resist. You’ve grown a lot over the past three years. So much so that Rebecca almost respects you.”

Rupert shook off her grasp and began strutting through the stadium, his limp more evident than it had ever been, previously 

Fallon shook her head as she took a seat on one of the sofas in the suite and opened a beer. She knew she was right to avoid going out with that man. 

She didn’t know what she was expecting, but whatever scenario she’d dreamt up, never happened. 

Rupert reappeared, trying to hide his wince as he took a seat beside her. “You’re right. I have to let go of my anger. I’m sorry you had to see me like that. I’m sure it ruined my chances of taking you out for dinner after the match,” he conceded, taking her beer from her hand and throwing it back.

Fallon cocked her head to the side with a little sound, “I don’t know. There’s still hope but only if you can answer one question, honestly…”

“What’s that?” he inquired, tentatively placing his hand on her knee as they sat together.

She took a breath, “I’m confused about your reaction to Richmond tying the game. Don’t you win either way? You love both of these teams.”

Rupert thought over her words for a moment before he responded, “I should be happy either way, but I’ve been so blinded by my anger that I couldn’t even see it. You, Fallon James, might be what I’ve been missing for all of these years. Being around you gives me a balance that I’ve been missing and we’ve barely just begun to get to know each other.” He changed the subject as he moved in closer, putting his arm around her shoulder, “How about that date? I would very much like to take you out,” he confessed, feeling lighter than he had in a very long time.

“I would like that very much, however, what if we have dessert first?” she whispered as she turned into him until her body was almost on top of his.

Rupert leaned in until his lips were upon hers, pulling her onto his lap until she was straddling him. He pulled back, “Are you sure you want to jump straight in? I am trying to turn over a new leaf,” he gasped, gathering his breath after their first kiss.

Fallon rolled her hips into his erection before she replied, “I am sure, but not here. Let’s go to my office. I’m not hurting you am I?” she asked before resuming the kiss, pulling his bottom lip between her teeth, enjoying the way he moaned against her mouth.

Rupert shook his head before he whispered, “Lead the way.”

The End

[danasevans]

Sick Day

So this drabble goes with a larger au, which is currently an in-progress multichap that will be up... at some point. Huge huge thank yous to @freetobegrace and @andreasbayden for the inspiration for this! We've all kinda been talking about a Ted Lasso au where Rebecca and Rupert had a kid, and I've finally gotten around to writing it. Could not be more honored to brainstorm with these lovely people ❤

Summary: Rebecca gets a call from her son's school that she needs to pick him up because he's gotten sick... but technically, it's Rupert's week for custody.

Monday morning sees Rebecca in an utterly foul mood that even biscuits from Ted hardly help. It’s storming outside, a torrential downpour, she has three more days until she sees her son again, and coming off a semi-relaxing weekend to a mountain of contract re-negotiations and relegation costs is enough to make anyone miserable.

The biscuits and her lunch plans with Higgins are the only bright spots in a day she already knows will be filled with paper cuts and ink stains, so she’s even slightly relieved when her phone rings. Talking to another person is almost always better than staring at a screen or signing documents until her hand is cramping. She picks up her cell phone quickly, frowning when she sees the contact name for James’ school scrolling across the screen.

“This is Rebecca Welton,” she answers.

”Ms. Welton, this is Lucy, the school nurse at Richmond Primary School, are you available to pick James up today?” the young woman sounds unreasonably chipper, and there’s the sound of a keyboard clacking, even through the phone. ”He threw up in class and is running a fairly high fever.”

“Yes, of course,” she answers immediately, swallowing bile in her throat as she realizes what she has to say. “But, ah… technically James should go home with his father. He has custody this week.”

”James specifically asked that we call you instead,” the nurse responds. ”He says he’s felt bad all day, but his dad told him he needed to go to school anyway.”

Rebecca mulls that over. James isn’t normally one for exaggeration, but Rupert won’t be at all forgiving just because she got the call and their son asked for her. “Would it be too much trouble for me to speak to him?”

”Not at all.” There’s shuffling on the other end, and then James speaks, sounding tired and puny even over the phone.

”Are you going to come pick me up, Mum? I don’t feel good.”

“I’m very sorry about that,” she says, her heart aching at the thought of not being there for her son. “But James, you technically are supposed to go home with your dad.”

”Dad doesn’t even believe I’m sick,” the nine-year-old protests. ”I told him I didn’t feel good this morning, and he said I should ‘buck up and walk it off’. Even Bex-who-I-don’t-like--” he always says her name like that, all together, as if the descriptor is a part of it-- ”Put her hand on my forehead and said I felt warm. But he just ignored her!”

At that, Rebecca’s last flake of charitability toward her ex-husband vanishes, washed down the storm sewer with the rain. “Alright, I’ll be right there. You don’t have to go back to your dad’s this week, not if he can’t even take care of you when you’re sick. I’m sorry you had to go to school feeling bad, James. I love you.”

”Thanks, Mum. I love you too.”

Not half an hour later, she’s in the back of the Rolls Royce with James dozing in her lap. She clicks on Higgins’ contact in her phone-- she really needs to change that name-- and waits as it rings.

”Hello? Why are you calling me from your office?”

“I’m not in my office,” she says, keeping her voice low and absentmindedly stroking James’ hair. His forehead is damp with sweat. “Sorry, but I’m going to have to cancel our lunch plans; James got sick at school so I’m taking him home. I assume he’ll sleep and I’ll be able to answer emails and whatnot as usual.”

”Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Higgins says. She can practically hear his hesitation through the phone.

“I’d like you to call Rupert for me.”

All she gets for that is a sigh.

“He’s going to be spitting mad if he finds out at school pickup, you’d best call now,” she continues. “Quite frankly, I don’t care if I’m in violation of the custody agreement, James told him he was sick this morning-- and he was-- and Rupert blatantly ignored him.”

”I’ll do it, I’ll do it,” Higgins says, ”But I’m a director of football operations, Rebecca, not a divorce lawyer.”

“And you’re quite good at your job,” she says. “I’m just asking you to do me a favor, Leslie. Please and thank you.”

”Alright,” he agrees, ”but if he tries to press the issue, I’m telling him to call you.”

Higgins must offer some sort of suitable explanation, because Rebecca has a good hour of peace and quiet before her phone rings. She tucks James into bed, singing softly and rubbing his back until he fully drifts off. Once she’s positioned a trash can by the side of his bed, she heads to the kitchen, ignoring her work emails in favor of starting up a pot of chicken soup.

Even though the work she does ultimately have to do is the same as what she’d be doing at the club, it feels nicer at home, sitting in the large beanbag in the corner of her son’s room. Her back is going to complain to her about this later, but it’s worth it, to be able to watch over him. Rebecca occasionally unfolds herself from her cross-legged position to check on him closer, pressing her hand or her lips to his forehead. The fever doesn’t seem better, but she’s made an appointment with the doctor already, so that’s good.

When her phone rings, she heaves a sigh and steps from the room, crossing her fingers that the conversation stays civil, though she knows that’s unlikely.

“This is Rebecca Welton…”

[gingerinu-blog]

Harry Potter Next Gen 1

Theodore (Teddy) Lupin -Hufflepuff - His hair is almost always Turquoise except when he is angry then it is pitch black -Becomes rather animalistic around the full moon (doesn't actually shift) -oldest brother of all the next gen - Head over heels in love with Victoria (soulmates) - Head Boy -Hufflepunk -Plays Quidditch - Seeker -Wolf patronous -Is actually quite shy but hides it well -Loves his family -Harry gave him the Marauders Map in 2nd year -Mainly uses it to help people -After he graduated it mysteriously appears on James Sirius's desk -Loves the Weird Sisters -After he leaves Hogwarts travellers with his three best friends, (Alan and Rick Mannion and Delila (Del) Walsh - OC's) -After travelling with friends returns to Victoria and they go see the world together -Victoria becomes a model in america -Teddy a photographer in anerica -Later moves home to settle down -Victoria stays a model in both the wizarding world and the Muggle world -Teddy is a stay at home dad -lots of tatoos -Cars and Motorbikes galore -Happy ---------------------------- Victoria Weasley -Blonde hair and Blue Eyes (beautiful obviously) - Ravenclaw -Prefect but not responsible enough to be head girl -Kinda stuck up when you first meet her but this is her protection form learing eyes and grabby by hands -Is an angel -Hates celebrating her birthday -Doesn't play Quidditch -Member of the Slug Club -Excellent at Transfiguration - Because of her father can be quite wolf like at times tries to hide it (good sense of smell and overprotective) -Wolf patronous -Teddy is her one true love (did however date before him of course) -Loves it when he strokes her face -Figits all the time, with hair, bobbins and feathers -Always fighting with her sister (both are jealous of the other) -Loves her sisters freedom and rebel ways. Feels very pressured to be perfect and is jealous because she can act the way she dose. -suffers from depression -Did an exchange to Beauxbattons in year 6 to improve her French and to connect with her roots. (To find herself) -Speaks good French but struggles with some words -OK grades - greatly disappointed with her newts -Travels with Teddy after school (finally finds herself, feels safe for the first time in a long time) -Gets a modelling contract in america works there for 6 years (refuses to diet) - the pastel to teddy's punk -Struggles to get pregnant for many years -Can't have kids so they adopt 2 little orphans -Loves them unconditional and is almost glad not to pass on her veela genes -has a couple of tatoos ( but small and hidden as not to effect model career -Extremely famous and is always followed around by the media makes being a wizard difficult -loses contact with parents to keep them and the wizarding world secret but still meets up 4 times a year and they always come to her shows -Happy ------------------------------

[danasevans]

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”

[danasevans]

You've Taken Enough From Me

It's 10pm where I am but it is still mother's day so I definitely have time to get this one out. I've been busy all day but I knew if I was going to write something for mother's day it would be for Ted Lasso, in the James AU, of course. Please enjoy some soft feelsy fluff!

Summary: the first mother's day after the divorce, Rebecca tries to stop looking back on what she's been through, what she's lost, and spend her energy focusing on what she has.

(Side note: Britain does a different mother's day than the US maybe? idk but this is ambiguous enough that it should still work)

The slight jostling of her bed wakes Rebecca from an easy slumber to a quiet Sunday morning. She lifts her head slightly from the pillow, stretching a bit as James crawls over to her, cuddling up against her on top of the covers. She reaches out to wrap an arm around him, kissing his forehead. "Good morning, love."

"Morning Mum," he answers, squirming a bit. As he twists his arm free of her, she realizes he's holding something in his hand, a folded piece of paper. "Guess what day it is!"

"Hmm..." she can't stop herself from smiling at the colored pencil greeting on the outside of the card. Happy Mother's Day! "Is it... Sunday?"

"No," James giggles. "Well, I guess so, but it's a special Sunday."

Rebecca's smile grows as she leans her forehead against his. "Special? What's so special about it?"

He brandishes the card in the air. "It's Mother's Day!"

She gasps as if shocked. "Mother's Day? Well I suppose I'd better call my Mum, hadn't I?"

"Later," James insists. He hands her the card with two hands, a stark contrast to the excited handling that had put creases in his carefully-drawn illustration, two figures on a swing set in the woods. Rebecca realizes with a pang that it's the park she'd begun taking him to after... everything, the wooded path providing a rare refuge from cameras and the general public.

"Oh my, I've got a budding artist on my hands," she murmurs, smiling wider than she has in a long time. She opens it carefully and reads the message. "Happy Mother's Day, Mum..."

I love you so much and I want to make sure Mother's Day is extra special. Your You're doing a lot of hard work because of the club now and because Dad is being difecult difficult and making everything weird all over again. I know you want to go back to normal, like last year, but I think this is better than normal. I am super excited because this year I get to plan mother's day all by myself (except Higgins and Coach Ted helped me pick out your present) and I am going to make it extra special for you. I love you a lot Mum, you are the best Mum ever.

Lots and lots and lots of love,

James

The paper is crowded with drawings of sunshine and rainbows and a small stick figure in a t-shirt next to a tall one in a dress. Rebecca stares at it for a long time, her heart beating noticeably in her chest, before she can look back up at James. Her son's eyes are wide.

"Are you crying, Mum? Was it not a good card?"

She pulls him into her arms before she can speak, the paper getting folded against his back as she squeezes him tight, kissing his cheek. "James, this is the best card. Thank you so much for making it for me," she says. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." His arms wrap around her neck and he leans into her as she holds him. Rebecca ducks her head to breathe in the smell of him, to absorb even more of the warmth of his love.

Lord, she's lucky.

It's been a shit year and she's lost sight of the fact a few times along the way, but fuck, to have her son here, with her, happy and safe and waking her up with a hand-drawn card...

She feels like the luckiest person alive.

When she thinks she can let go, she only leans back a bit, looking down at James with a still-watery smile. "How about chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, hm?"

"Yeah!" James says. "Oh, and you get your first present... Coach Ted made a box of his special biscuits for me to give to you!"

She laughs, surprised, and lets him lead her to the kitchen.

Maybe this year will be better than normal.

[danasevans]

Druxy

I needed to exercise my muse with something other than the chapter I've been writing for three days, so this is a drabble set before the prologue of my James au... which is still not out yet. But it'll be posted on tumblr once it is!

Summary:

Druxy. Adj. Something which looks good on the outside, but is actually rotten inside.

(Or, Rupert misses his son's ninth birthday. Rebecca may be willing to overlook many of the cracks appearing in her marriage, but this is not one of them.)

“Dad’s gonna be home in time for the party, right?”

Rebecca nods, sorting candy into party favor bags. “His flight gets in at noon, and your party starts at three.”

“Yeah!” Her newly-nine-year-old son does a bouncy dance around the kitchen, only pausing when he realizes he’s at eye level with the tootsie rolls. “Can I have some candy?”

“You’re going to have plenty at the party…”

“Pleeeeease, Mum? It’s my birthday…” James gives her his best pout, which she should stop giving into at this age, but it’s hard to resist his big blue eyes.

“Alright, since you said please.” She can’t stop an amused smile from crossing her face as he reaches up and grabs a piece of chocolate.

Noon rolls around and Rebecca pauses in her party preparations to make sure James eats lunch. He’s almost too excited to sit still, but a favorite snack of ants on a long makes even a boring turkey sandwich appealing.

“Is Dad gonna be home soon?”

“His plane should have landed,” Rebecca confirms. “It’ll take him a bit to get home from the airstrip, but I bet he’ll be home by one-thirty.”

(He should be home by one, but it’s always better to overestimate when giving a child a time window.)

In the back garden, Rebecca directs decorators on placing the balloon arch, and James runs around getting underfoot. It takes longer than she’d expect, but eventually, blue, green, and yellow balloons are strung up all around the yard. Perfect for a vaguely jungle-themed party, although pinatas and cutouts that might bring home the theme had been fazed out of James’ birthdays years ago.

(Rebecca doesn’t see anything wrong with a few tacky decorations at a child’s party, but Rupert had been oddly firm, as always. Maybe if James had seemed against it she would’ve pushed, but he never seemed to care about decorations as long as he got to run around with his friends. And so she’d gone along with it, deciding that any number of odd requests and requirements were worth it for smooth sailing in her increasingly tumultuous marriage.)

Speaking of which…

It’s nearly a quarter to two and there’s no sign of Rupert. She sighs and sets her hands on her hips. Where is he? He should’ve been home half an hour ago.

She can’t control when the plane lands, but she can control when presents get set out. Rebecca heads inside to the guest room she’s been stashing them in.

“Is Aunt Sassy coming?” James turns a yellow envelope from his godmother over in his hands as Rebecca stacks up the corresponding presents.

A pang hits her chest as she realizes how long it’s been since she’s seen her best friend. “No… not this year,” she answers, “but she did send you a lovely present! Look at that sparkly wrapping.”

“It’s so big, too!”

The big sparkly box turns out to be a trampoline, which means Sassy has absolutely won best gift. Rebecca thinks Rupert might object to the grass dying underneath it, but he still. Isn’t. Here. And James has absolutely noticed.

“I think we should cut the cake now,” she says gently, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Colin’s mum says they need to leave soon, and you want everyone to get cake, don’t you?”

“I want Dad to be here for cake!” he protests, tears welling. “You said he was coming home today…”

For a brief moment, anger flashes through Rebecca, because this is not the first time she’s had to explain away Rupert’s broken promises to their son. But she tamps it down, keeping her composure as she kneels in the grass and hugs him.

“I’m sure his plane just got delayed,” she soothes. “He would be here if he could. How about we eat cake now, but make sure to save him a piece?”

James sniffles bravely, like he doesn’t want to cry on his birthday. “Okay,” he agrees. “I’ll pick him the best piece.”

Long after the party is over, after the guests have left and even a sugar-high James is sleeping soundly, a car finally pulls into the driveway. Rebecca sighs in relief, steeling herself as she heads downstairs to meet her husband.

She hasn’t seen him in nearly a week, but he doesn’t greet her with a kiss or even pull her into his arms. Instead, his eyes rove critically over her usual silk dressing gown. “What, you weren’t going to wait up for me?”

“You were supposed to be home at noon,” she says, her voice soft but accusatory.

“I’m sure I wasn’t.” He waves a hand dismissively and moves past her, tossing off his blazer and loosening his tie.

She follows him to the master bedroom. “You missed your son’s birthday party.”

For just a moment, Rupert freezes, and she sees the man underneath the confident exterior, the man she isn’t even sure she knows anymore. His brows crease. “That was today?”

Rebecca scoffs. “You forgot you own son’s birthday!?”

“Of course not, darling,” he refutes, toeing off his shoes and stretching out on their bed. “The plane got caught in some clouds. We couldn’t land at the expected time.”

“The expected time was ten hours ago,” she reminds him, scowling. “And it was sunny.”

“You’re confused. You’ve had a long day.”

“Yes, I have!” She folds her arms. “Because I had to throw an entire birthday party and entertain a dozen parents all by my-fucking-self!”

“Don’t curse, dear,” he says flippantly. “It’s only attractive when we’re in bed.”

The leering smirk he follows that with is what does it. She can’t remember the last time she’d actually found that expression enticing.

“Which will not be tonight,” she snaps, her voice tight with anger. “I’m sleeping in the guest room.”

She wonders what it says about their marriage that after a week apart, she can barely bear to spend twenty minutes in a room with him.

[danasevans]

Chapter 2 is posted!

Summary: Ted Lasso arrives at AFC Richmond. Rebecca puts her plan into motion.

Words: 3,253 (chapter 2/12)

excerpt under the cut!

So when his explanation of why tea is really not his style is interrupted by a knock at the door, when someone on the outside calls out, “knock, knock,” and he sees Rebecca straighten like she’s been poked with a cattle prod, sees the blood drain from her face, he knows something is about to go down. It feels like watching thick, heavy clouds roll over the Kansas Prairie… except it all happens in the space of about three seconds.

“Mum!”

Ted feels a flash of surprise followed by a pang of homesickness as a little boy with a mop of blond hair launches himself onto the couch, wrapping his arms around Rebecca. She stands with him in her arms, which is pretty impressive. The kid looks to be around Henry’s age, and Ted knows he’s getting close to not being able to pick up his son like he used to.

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”

[danasevans]

Chapter 3 is posted!

and has been for a few days, but I fell behind

Summary: Rebecca tries to adjust to the new routine of the club with Ted around, but he surprises her at every turn.

Words: 5,647 (chapter 3/12)

excerpt under the cut!

“Which would you rather be?” Keeley Jones steps dramatically out of the driver’s side. “A lion, or a panda?”

Rebecca takes that as her cue to leave, taking James’ hand once again. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Mum’s a lion,” James calls, twisting to look back at Keeley even as they head across the asphalt. “Because she’s a protector and all. But I think-- I think I wanna be a panda. They’re furry and soft.”

“Yeah, I gotta go panda,” Ted agrees.

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”

[danasevans]

Chapter 4 is posted!

Summary: Rebecca creates a new plan that doesn't involve incriminating photos. James suffers through a school assembly that doesn't turn out as bad as he'd feared.

Words: 7,474 (chapter 4/12)

excerpt under the cut!

“No need,” she says brusquely. “I decided it would be too messy a move this early on. I’ve arranged for Ted to do an interview with Trent Crimm, from The Independent, instead. If that goes well, it’ll hit even harder than a scandal, especially in terms of the fanbase.”

“Well, alright then!” Higgins blinks, feeling worlds better now that he’s no longer faced with the prospect of running a smear campaign. “You seem to have ironed this all out.”

“Yes,” Rebecca agrees, and she finally does stop typing, looking down at her wristwatch and then up at him with a piercing gaze. “I have to do it all myself when you show up twenty minutes late.

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”

[danasevans]

Chapter 5 is posted!

Summary: Rebecca hosts a charity gala, with mixed results.

Words: 9,810 (chapter 5/12)

excerpt under the cut!

“Rebecca, darling,” he says easily, smoothly, the old endearment dripping like poison from his tongue. “Lovely to see you again.”

“I can’t say the same, I’m afraid,” she answers, her voice steady, her posture straight. Poised but not tense. The champagne is not just a prop, but don’t drink too much, either. Don’t take your eyes off his. God, this is a fucking charade. “If you’re surprising us all here, where’s our son?”

Rupert gives a small huff of laughter. “He’s with a babysitter. Do you really think so little of me?”

She blinks at him slowly. They both know the answer to that.

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”

[danasevans]

Chapter 6 is posted!

Summary: Rebecca meets Ted's family. They're exactly what she expected, and exactly the opposite, all at once.

(Henry and James get along like a house on fire.)

Words: 11,690 (chapter 6/12)

excerpt under the cut!

Rebecca laughs softly and so does Michelle. Henry and James clamber to their feet, Henry wrapping his arms around Ted’s leg and James leaning into Rebecca. She tousles his hair and looks around and thinks that the Lasso family is somehow exactly what she expected and not that at all.

The only thing she’s actually sure of is that she’s far friendlier with Ted Lasso and his ensemble than she ever intended to be.

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”

[danasevans]

Chapter 10 is posted!

Summary: Rebecca comes clean. Nothing else happens in this chapter. Nope, definitely not.

Words: 19,359 (chapter 10/12)

excerpt under the cut!

Rebecca is shaking.

She’s shivering so hard that her whole body is shaking and her ears are ringing so loudly that she almost doesn’t hear Ted. And when she does, she’s sure she’s misheard him.

After months of her going so utterly insane that she’d uprooted him from his life for the entire purpose of ruining his livelihood, he’s forgiving her.

He’s standing in front of her, his hands over hers like she’d held him in Liverpool.

“I forgive you,” he repeats.

She blinks. “Why?”

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”

[danasevans]

Chapter 7 is posted!

Summary: Rebecca has a hard week.

Words: 13,802 (chapter 7/12)

excerpt under the cut!

She sighs. “You’re going to be with your father that weekend, James.”

Her son heaves a nearly identical, if more dramatic, sigh. “I don’t wanna. Dad barely pays me any attention, he just gives me a new book and that’s it. It’s even worse now that he’s got an actual girlfriend.”

Rebecca pauses as she sets the last burger on the grill. “What do you mean?” She doesn’t want to grill him for information on his father, no, that won’t help either one of them, but quite honestly, she hadn’t expected Rupert to get back in an actual relationship, at least not so soon. They had split because of his “commitment issues,” so surely he’s not committing to anyone else, either…

She shakes herself out of that train of thought in time to hear James’ response.

“Her name’s Bex, and I don’t like her. She’s even younger than my teacher at school and she always looks at me like I’m an alien or something. It’s weird.” His nose scrunches up. “Is Bex short for Rebecca?”

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”

[danasevans]

Chapter 8 is posted!

Welcome back to "Julie updates the fic but not the tumblr post"

Summary: Liverpool is... a lot.

Words: 15,692 (chapter 8/12)

excerpt under the cut!

It feels good to sing again.

Rebecca almost wants to put in another song, maybe something from the Lion King, and have Sassy film a video for James, too. And then she catches sight of Ted stumbling out of the room, gait unsteady, hands shaking. And singing doesn’t seem so important anymore.

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”

[danasevans]

Chapter 9 is posted!

it is... actually not still monday. it's 1am

Summary: A few too many gut punches from Rupert finally cause Rebecca to break.

Words: 17,479 (chapter 9/12)

excerpt under the cut!

She laughs at his nickname for Rupert’s girlfriend before she registers the question. “What? James, I don’t think they’re getting married anytime soon.”

“Yeah they are!” he insists. “She’s got a ring and everything.”

Rebecca frowns. “What?” She’s repeating herself, but she can’t fathom how James is coming up with this information.

“I don’t think I was supposed to hear their conversation,” James admits, looking down at his paper, “but they were in Dad’s study and I was right outside in the den and I think they forgot I was there.” He looks back up, eyes wide. “I think they’re only getting married because she’s having a baby.”

She laughs at his nickname for Rupert’s girlfriend before she registers the question. “What? James, I don’t think they’re getting married anytime soon.”

“Yeah they are!” he insists. “She’s got a ring and everything.”

Rebecca frowns. “What?” She’s repeating herself, but she can’t fathom how James is coming up with this information.

“I don’t think I was supposed to hear their conversation,” James admits, looking down at his paper, “but they were in Dad’s study and I was right outside in the den and I think they forgot I was there.” He looks back up, eyes wide. “I think they’re only getting married because she’s having a baby.”

I've Done My Best (The Best I Know How To)

I posted this on AO3 earlier today, but I wanted to share it here as well! Been working on it for quite a while with the support and help of quite a few friends here-- the Ted Lasso fandom is just plain awesome. I'll drop the summary here with tags, warnings, and an excerpt under the cut!

AU. Rebecca gets through her divorce with the football club, the house... and 50/50 custody of her 9-year-old son. She doesn't know what's scarier: trying to raise her son herself, or the weeks he's just with Rupert. And even as she's trying to get her feet under her, to be a good role model, a good mother, she's still reeling from the pain of twelve years of her life crumbling into lies and deceit. Even as she concocts a plan, she works hard to keep the truth hidden, even from herself: she has no earthly idea what she's doing.

Rating: Mature (for language, sexual humor/innuendo, and dark themes that are all Rupert's fault)

Warnings: Past abuse, past infidelity, neglectful parenting (again, all Rupert. He's his own warning)

Category: Gen

Fandom: Ted Lasso

Relationships: Ted Lasso & Rebecca Welton, Past Rupert Mannion/Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones & Rebecca Welton, Rebecca Welton & Original Child Character, Background Rupert Mannion/Bex

Characters: Rebecca Welton, Original Child Character, Rupert Mannion, Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Leslie Higgins, Bex (Ted Lasso), Henry Lasso, Michelle Lasso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Kid Fic, Past Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, (It's Rupert. It's all Rupert), Panic Attacks, Angst, Angst and Feels, Feels, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Past Infidelity, can be read as ted/rebecca, Canon Compliant Pairings

Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Walk Your Own Crooked Line (search "james au" on my tumblr!)

Word Count: 1697 (chapter 1/12)

Excerpt from the prologue:

Everything is normal. Everything is okay. And if it’s not, it’s easy enough in this moment to pretend that it is. If she is not happy, she is at least content, and that is enough.

And then that moment is shattered.

She’s slicing carrots for a salad when James calls out to her. “Mum, look! You’re on the TV!”