this love (AU)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

He takes a deep breath with his fisted hand raised against the door. He sighs as his hand drops right before hitting the door. He looks away and pulls out a tissue from his pocket to wipe the sweat that covered his forehead. He leans in and lays his head against the door, He feels like freaking out inside, is this a good time? He paces back and forth at the doorway. The drumming sound of his heartbeat is surrounded by whispers in the air.

He thinks of leaving, to head back home to his warm bed for another sleepless night. But there is no turning back as another sheet of rain has arrived with torrential waves to flood the drains. Punching the ground with full force, the rain honestly seems terrifying.

He shuts his eyes, not wanting to see Taylor's reaction. He bangs the door continuously like it is the last few seconds until the apocalypse.

--

"Come on babies, isn't three bedtime stories enough-" Taylor sighs, having three children's books in her hand, which are we're going on a bear hunt, the Gruffalo and cinderella.

"Who's knocking? Mommy? Is it the bear-" Henry pulls his blanket over his head, shaking his head covered in his hands. Hermia follows with a few shrieks as Taylor moves closer towards them and pats their heads, assuring them everything is fine. Taylor fixes their blankets and tucks them to bed.

"I have no idea and I'm going out and see who is at the door-" Taylor fixes their blankets and tucks them to bed. She then walks out of the darkened room to the glowing lightened hallway.

"Mommy go fight the bear, we're gonna be good kids and sleep!" The twins wave their little hands tiredly with heartwarming grins across their faces, hoping Taylor will wave back. But she didn't.

"Night night!" And there she leaves the twins' room without good night kisses which are one of their traditions in their household.

The door swings open, revealing Taylor dressed in a silky nightgown. She gasps and hides her hand gripping hard at a metal hammer behind the door, in case it is an attacker. The tiredness in her eyes vanishes in a second, replaced by astonishment. Joe's eyes remain to stare at the floor, water droplets drip from his tangled hair to the ground. He lifts his head, the radiant warm living room lights up the pitch dark neighbourhood.

"J-Joe? Why a-are you here? It's late." The thought of him sort of left her mind in the past 10 hours as she's too busy taking care of the kids. Bulged eyes under her outgrown bangs, her hands reaching out to push the golden strands aside. She looks down and smiles, chuckling at his bedraggled appearance.

"I-I just need to tell you something- um important. Is this a bad time-" Having cleared his throat, Joe stutters as he looks away to hide his blush after taking a glimpse of her infectious smile, all his worries painted on his face are washed away in the blink of an eye.

"Erm, ye- no no no it's okay. Come in please, I can't bear looking at you wet as hell like this." Taylor scratches the back of her neck and fakes a disturbed face with her hands rested on her hips.

"I just um I want to-"Not wanting to be a burden to her, Joe steps back, hoping she would just listen to his words and forgive him.

And of course, having to be forgiven isn't just a piece of cake.

"No, you sure don't want- be stuck in these drenched clothes. Shh...keep your volume low please- the neighbours get angry about that. Are you out of your mind? It's raining and for god's sake, take your freaking umbrella with you, you're gonna get sick, poor b-" Taylor grabs his collar and drags him into the house. She stops herself immediately before the word is spoken, she circles around the closest and cabinets nearby, digging through the piles for something.