Paris / Ted Lasso

71. The Princess & The Frog

"Ted..." 

"I'm sorry-" Ted began but Poppy hugged him. 

"I was so worried about you." He clung to her like a lifeline. "What happened? Are you alright?" 

"I... I had... stomach bug." he offered awkwardly. 

"It didnt look like..." Poppy stopped herself. "I used to get panic attacks." Poppy remarked softly. Ted stared back at her. "They were triggered by stupid things... after Rumlow... that night, everything just... set me off." 

"How did you cope?" Ted questioned she kissed his cheek. 

"Meditation and sweets." She answered honestly. 

"I think I'm nervous about talking to Sharon." Ted admitted. 

"Last time you did therapy it ended in divorce, so I understand." Poppy offered "it has never been for me so I dont really have anything to offer... but if you would rather just sit and talk to me, ramble on about nothing and everything, I'm always here to listen, to offer you advice when I can and a hug when words fail." Poppy assured and Ted hugged her. 

"You are perfect." Ted decided. 

"Just whatever you do, dont run away again ted, I need you." 

"I'm sorry." Ted agreed. 

"Just send me an I'm alive text so I'm not so worried if you do." Poppy requested. 

+

"Like I'm going down a water slide or something like that. Like a luge." Ted remarked trying to get comfortable in Sharon's office the next morning, he didnt know why he was here, he talked to Poppy he felt better, he felt seen and loved and valued and... yet he didnt get to the problem at hand because he couldnt talk about such a painful moment in his life because he didnt want the woman of his dreams to think less of him, even though he knew she wouldnt. He had been pushing his pain down for long that he didnt know how to bring it to the surface without freaking out. "Uh..." He stammered out. "Here. That's a little too "casket-y", isn't it? Okay. How about... Here, let's do this." he cleared his throat looking to sharon as he lay down on the couch. "All right, how's this? This good?"

"Probably sitting is best." Sharon countered, Ted got up moving to her.

"Oh, sure. That's good. Okay. All right. "

"Coach Nate, I hope you're not too great to train us now." Dani declared.

" Thank you, Dani." nate answered, Nate the great had been whirling around the internet.

"Those drills better be lit. You've got a reputation to keep up." Jamie added. Nate forced a smile at Jamie.

"Yes, very funny. Thank you, Jamie."

"Lucky us. We get to be trained by the Wonder Kid himself." Colin added. "Ah, big man."

"Oh, very funny, Colin. You a stand-up comic now?" Nate demanded. Colin flinched back confused. "Kind of ironic, 'cause I sat you down at the match the other day. Right. I need all our best goal scorers on the pitch right now. Go. Colin, Colin. You can sit this one out, okay?" Nate suggested. Poppy cocked her head at the team, Ted was taking some time to work on himself and Poppy fully approved she wanted her happy smiling ted back and even though she wanted him to talk it out with her instead of a stranger, she understood. Sometimes unburdening yourself from your demons is better from someone that doesnt know you and love you, that you dont love. It's less easier to break. 

"I am a strong and capable man. I am a strong and capable man." Colin repeated as he walked off. Poppy followed him off. 

"Dont worry about Nate, he's just got a big head these days. You are a strong and capable man, Colin." Poppy assured him. 

"Thanks, Poppy." WHen she got to rebeccas office she was still almost texting the man on Bantr. Poppy groaned plopping down on the couch beside her sister. 

"Oh, my God. Just answer him. It's been two days." Poppy begged.

"I don't know what to say." Rebecca countered.

"How about the truth?" Poppy suggested. ""I'd love to meet up, but I'm worried that you can't live up to the fantasy I've created in my head. So I'm going to let my insecurities keep me from possibly finding my one true love after my awful ex husband turned me off from men for years."

"It hasnt been years." Poppy gave her a pointed look. "You dont know what I do in the sheets." 

"ANd i dont want to unless its this man that is clearly so smitten with you!" Poppy agreed. 

"His favorite film is Ratatouille. That's worrying, right?" Rebecca countered nervously.

"Meet him." She demanded. "Who cares what his favorite movie is? Also, Ratatouille is a goddamn masterpiece. Birdie loves it, hell me too!" 

"Ironically, it's about snobbery and how good art can come from anywhere. Stop your dithering and go fuck your cartoon rat." Keeley added. 

"All right. Well, what if we meet up and it all goes wrong? Hmm?" Rebecca countered. "I mean, everything always goes wrong. All relationships are a nightmare." Rebecca countered knowing from experience.

"My relationship is the oxygen that gives me life." Higgins countered.

"Apart from Leslie's marriage, which is a bloody greeting card of some kind." rebecca agreed. "And you and Roy are just aggravatingly perfect in every way and lets face it you and ted are a Disney film. You are the princess and he is the frog."

"Thanks, I think." 

"So, is this your first time doing therapy?" Sharon questioned.

"No, ma'am. My wife and I did couple's therapy for a little while." Ted answered. "ex." He corrected. 

"How was that?"

"Well, let's see. I'm here in London, and my ex wife is back in Kansas, which is a good thing 'cause if she heard me referring to her as my wife still, she'd be hopping mad. But I'm happily in love with poppy, its just habit you know? Until I make poppy my wife that is... that's too personal and too soon." Ted added quickly. "How long these little chats you do take?"

"Sessions typically last 50 minutes."

"Hmm, okay. But you charge by the hour, right?"

"That's correct." sharon agreed. "I take it you're not a fan of this kind of work?"

"No, ma'am." Ted agreed.

"Why's that, do you think?"

"You want the truth?" Ted questioned.

"I'm only interested in the truth, Ted."

"Where is Ted?"

"Therapy." Poppy answered. 

"Really?" Rebecca countered. 

"He... wanted to have a talk with Sharon but we talked all night-"

"Talked." Rebecca winked. 

"We did. He had a lot on his mind, i dont know what he's going to talk to her about." Poppy agreed. 

"Because Welton's dont do therapy. Unless its retail." Rebecca agreed. 

"Cheers to that!" 

"'Cause I think it's bullshit. You don't know me. We don't have history. And yet you just expect me to spill my guts about all the gory details of my life.. The fights, the mistakes, my deep dark secrets. But you ain't listening 'cause you care about me. No. No, you're only listening to me 'cause you're paid to listen to me. You're getting paid to just jot down your little notes and diagnose my tears. And then what? Probably just blame it on my folks, right?" Ted pondered. Sharon didn't react however. "I mean, you say you're only interested in the truth. And yet here you are, charging an hourly rate for only 50 minutes of work. Like I said, it's bullshit."