Chapter Text
Some days, Roy swears the universe speaks to him and shows him signs when he least expects it.
It’s how he asked Ted out in the first place. First, he’d passed the same restaurant three days running. Then a flyer for it had turned up on his desk out of nowhere. Finally, Beard texted him to get off his fucking arse and “talk tactics” with Ted.
That night was the beginning to multiple “game planning” nights until Roy couldn’t take it and kissed Ted right then and there when he was mid-sentence. Roy kissed him long and hard before chickening out with a “goodnight” that had Ted pulling him by his wrist back and kissing him harder.
Now the universe was giving Roy signs about marriage. Roy bought a ring a couple weeks back with Coach Beard and Rebecca in tow. The two people who knew Ted best could certainly be of help. He now has an engagement ring burning a hole in his back pocket for three weeks trying to find the perfect time. Roy would have preferred Paris but with so much going on with Richmond winning, taking care of Phoebe, and the recent visit of Henry, Ted could not go to Paris at the moment and neither could Roy.
Today was a particularly sunny day, once in a British blue moon. No clouds, just sun. A beautiful spring day was what Roy needed at the very moment.
As he went on his daily run, Roy was just surrounded by happiness. The playlist was hitting hard. The birds were chirping and Blackbird could be heard softly being played on the guitar at the distance Roy was at. The air was crisp and seemed strongly of flowers and coffee.
It was amazing and then something crazy happened. Roy walked by an alleyway as he went to his favorite breakfast shop to pick up some coffee and bagels for him and Ted. Suddenly Roy tripped over his own feet.
“What the fuck!?”
A small puppy nipped at his ankles. The puppy was a scrawny little thing covered in dirt but was equally persistent.
“What are you-“ Roy tried to shoo the puppy away but it kept biting at his shoelaces. Roy tried walking to the shop but the damn puppy followed him. He growled at the dog. The puppy jumped up and yipped a shrill loud bark back at him.
The puppy stared up at Roy with big brown eyes. It tilted its head to the side and pawed at Roy’s shoe strings again.
“Fuuuuuuuuck… me.” Roy crouched down to pick the puppy up. The puppy ran around in a circle before going on its hind legs to be picked up.
Roy supported the puppy’s body as he brought it to face level. Roy narrowed his eyes at the animal. It licked his nose and had the cutest little smile.
“Fuuuuuck let’s go get you some shit,” Roy spoke out loud. “You’re gonna be my present to Ted once you’re less mangy and flea ridden. I swear I do this to myself. So many annoying people.”
The pup licked Roy’s fingers.
Roy sighed. “They’re my annoying people though. Let’s get you to Phoebe’s first for a bath.”
He carried the puppy as he walked the distance to Phoebe’s home. “I’d take you back to mine but Ted’s over there now since I’m the one with more space and he’ll be about to sniff out a new addition like an airport drug dog. No pun intended.”
He pressed the buzzer when he got there to buzz himself up. Roy had a spare key to unlock the door and let himself in.
“Uncle Roy, what are you doing here?”
“Hi, Phoebe. I’m doing great, how bout you,” he rolled his eyes. “This thing.” He held up the puppy.
“Awwww,” Phoebe’s eyes went wide. “Cute puppy!”
“You have a cat. This is a present to your Uncle Ted.”
“What for, it’s not his birthday, is it?” Roy’s sister called from the kitchen. “Because I would’ve completely forgotten to get him something.”
“No, it’s um,” Roy paused and scratched the back of his head, “hey, Phoebe, why don’t you go run a little bath for the mutt?”
“Okay, Uncle Roy!”
His sister quirked an eyebrow. He sat down at the dining room table.
“Roy, you’re freaking me out.”
“It’s sudden and I don’t fucking know but the universe is fucking telling me something and I’ve felt it for a while and it’s fucking sudden but I’ve talked to Mum and Dad about it,” Roy rambled.
“What I’m trying to say is… I want to fucking marry Ted and I’m gonna propose using the puppy but I can’t take it home right now with the state it is in and not until I set up stuff.”
Roy’s sister quickly hugged her big brother. She hugged him really hard.
“I can’t believe my big brother has found the love of his life!” She squealed. “Oh and Mum owes me one hundred quid because I bet you would get married to a man and I bet it would be Ted Lasso.”
“What the fuck?” Roy exclaimed. “You and Mum had a bet against me?”
“You were clearly gay in secondary school but were in denial.”
“I was n-“
“When you had that Sound of Music poster, it was not Julie Andrews you were kissing before each game.”
“That meant-“
“And you talked about Ted Lasso every time I saw you. When you picked up Phoebe, you ranted. When you called me, you ranted. Always about Ted Lasso. I told Mum, Roy is either going to kill him or fuck him and it might end up being both.”
“Fucking hell.”
“At least Mum and Dad like Ted, although Dad thinks he could coach football better.” She commented.
“Anybody could teach the game better but no one can teach it the way Ted does,” Roy told her.
“What do I use to wash the puppy, Uncle Roy?” Phoebe asked while running into the room.
“That’s dog soap in the bag over there. Don’t go overboard, Phoebe.”
“I pinky promise I won’t, Uncle Roy,” Phoebe chirped. Phoebe ran back into the direction of the bathroom.
“So is it-“
“Oh, Roy, big brother of mine,” she said joking. “Dr O’Sullivan is at your very veterinary service.” She saluted him.
“Fuck off with that,” Roy laughed. He jokingly pushed her shoulder which landed him a punch back to his.
“You got a name for it?” She asked while raising her cup of tea to her mouth. It wasn’t bad but it had gone cold.
“Thinking of Paris,” Roy thought out loud. “I wanted to propose in Paris but neither of us have the time right now and I don’t want to wait another few months to propose. I just want a Paris theme when I propose.”
Roy was definitely gonna need help. Roy wanted things set up right and for the events leading up to the proposal to last the whole week. Like getting Ted’s hair cut, recording the whole thing for Henry, taking Ted out for French food, etc.
Which he might want to maybe give Michelle and Henry the heads up he wants to propose.
“Fucking shit!”
“Roy, what’s wrong?” His sister’s eyebrows furrowed and she looked concerned.
“I’m a fucking idiot, that’s what’s wrong,” he sighed. Roy rubbed a hand over his face. “I fucking forgot to mention to Michelle and Henry about the proposal. I told them before I wanted to marry him but shit, I might want to actually make them aware.”
“Then go do that. We’ve got the puppy covered.”
“Okay, thanks, you’re a bloody lifesaver,” Roy kissed his sister on the head.
“Well, it’s literally in my job description,” she laughed.
He hurriedly said his goodbyes to Phoebe and Paris the puppy before making his way out the door back to his and Ted’s home.