Protecting Leah

Making Changes

Caitlin's P.O.V

Carrying Leah away from Taylor almost broke my heart, but the image of seeing Taylor so lost would haunt me for a while. I hadn't seen her like that since she was eighteen and after Joe Jonas broke her heart, that was hard to watch but something told me that this was worse than that. I wasn't bothered by speculating what it was because I knew that if she wanted to tell me she would. But putting Leah into my car and seeing her just cuddling Brownie broke my heart too. Kissing her forehead I said, "Let's go grab some Starbucks, okay Leah?" I watched her raise her little head and her blue eyes met mine as she nodded. We went to the one that was closest to Taylor's apartment and I picked Leah up from the backseat. "Ready sweetie?" she nodded and buried her head into my shoulder, I sighed and headed inside. Bruce was on the counter today, "Morning Caitlin, regular for you?" I nodded because I always come in and order a caramel latte, the same as Taylor.

"Yeah just one for me today though..." He nodded and I turned to Leah. "Want a cookie honey?" She raised her head and looked at Bruce who smiled and said, "Well hello there mini Taylor. What can Brucie get you today princess?" I watched as Leah smiled and pointed at the gingerbread man. Bruce smiled and nodded. "Of course my lady, do you want anything else? A juice box maybe?" But she shook her head and I set her down and told her to go sit at the booth. She nodded and moved away while I paid. Bruce leant across the counter and said, "Where's Tay? She usually brings Leah in every day." I winced and said, "Not very well." He nodded. Bruce had known Taylor since she moved into the neighbourhood at twenty. He knew first-hand how pushy her parents were and demanding they were on her life an so he simply nodded to my comment and said he would bring it all over in a few minutes. I smiled and thanked him, whilst moving away to Leah.

Taylor's P.O.V

I had done it, I had kicked Austin out of the house knowing that what I told him would be repeated back to my parents and then I smiled because I felt free. Free from negativity surrounding my life and free from judgement that usually comes straight from inside my family. I grinned and all of a sudden I knew what I had to do, I had to leave Nashville. I reached out for my phone and called the first person I wanted to talk to, Karlie. Listening to it ring I heard her pick up the other end, "Hey Tay, can I call you back? Now's not really a good time." I could instantly hear the sadness in her voice and imagine the tears streaming down her cheeks. She could have ignored the phone but she picked it up not wanting me to panic. "No Karlie, what's wrong?" I heard her take a breath and hoped I wasn't about to hear the worst. "J-Josh, h-h-he cheated on me." The silence afterwards was brutally harsh. "He what!" I managed to get out.

"Yeah, he has been sleeping with his secretary Maggie for the last six months. I walked in on them today at his office." I felt my heart break for her.

"Oh Karlie, what did he say?" I heard a sniffle.

"That he needed more than a part-time girlfriend who was always parading around in underwear and jetting off across the world. I guess I can understand it but I just can't believe that our two year relationship sunk because he was sleeping with her..." I sighed in sympathy as I listened to her cry a bit more. "Oh Karls, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll leave you to it then." But Karlie as quick as anything said, "No, why'd you ring?" I took a deep breath and then explained the last twenty four hours it took an hour and in the meantime Karlie was sympathetic towards me because her and my mom didn't get on very well but she was mad that I ignored Leah and I cried as I told her how much I regretted it. "Well I need you to do something's for me Tay, can you?" Karlie questioned me. I nodded but then remembered she couldn't see me. "Sure, what do you need."

"I need you to go and pick up Leah and take her home, when you are both home I need you to call Big Machine and buy out your parents share, tell Scott you need a few weeks off, call and fire your publicist and call your plane to have them be ready to leave at 4.00pm this afternoon." She finished. "But Karlie its already 1.30pm here..."

"So what, go get Leah and pack some clothing. You are coming to New York for three weeks. I want you here at 6.00pm. I'll meet you at the airport." I breathed a sigh of relief and after ten minutes I was dressed and headed to Caitlin's house. On the way I fired Paula, called Scott and he was shocked but I explained it roughly and he said he could see them pushing me but never felt that it was his place. He told me that Paula was in on it too so I told him I fired her and he was pleased. He told me to take as much time as I needed and to call him when I was ready. I explained I was going to New York and he thought it was a great idea.

I had finished all the calls by the time I pulled up outside Caitlin and Jack (her boyfriends) house. I was nervous, I knew that Leah was being looked after but it scared me that she thought I didn't love her anymore. How could I convince her? I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car and up to the front door, knocking twice Jack answered it and smiled at me, which shocked me. "Don't worry Caitlin told me but you should hear the stories Leah has been telling us."

"Oh?" I question. He nods his head.

"Yeah, stories about how you are the best mommy in the world and about pancake Sunday's and everything in between. I think she is okay." I smile. Pancake Sunday's was where we ate pancakes for dinner on a Sunday night just because we could. I followed Jack to the living room and before I could step forward a hurricane forced themselves around my legs. "Mommy! You're here. I told you Uncle Jack..." Leah stated hugging me. I glanced at Caitlin who smiled at me and nodded while I picked up Leah and cuddled her. I pulled back to say, "I love you Leah, I will always love you. I'm so sorry for this morning but from now on it's you and me. Okay?" I watched a smile build across her face as she threw herself back at me. "It's okay mommy. Auntie Caitlin and Uncle Jack told me how much you love me all day." I felt tears well up as I said, "Really well we have to go because we are going on holiday to see Karlie. Does that sound fun?" She nods her head and I put her down so she can grab her stuff. Caitlin walks over to me and I hug her. "Thank-you for today Caitlin, I don't know what I'd do without you." She smiled and I quickly explained to her what had happened and she nodded and said she understood. As soon as we finished Jack and Leah arrived with Leah's bag and Brownie. Smiling I lifted Leah and Caitlin and Jack followed me out, throwing the bag into the car as I buckled Leah inside. Shutting the door Caitlin said, "So NYC with Karlie Kloss who is newly single. You going to express yourself?" she questioned as my face went red. It was widely known across my band that I was a tad bi-sexual. My publicist Paula had a problem with it but never told my parents which was nice but now I was having major feelings towards Karlie and I didn't know whether to tell her or not. "Karlie is having a rough time guys..." Jack made a smart comment before Caitlin smacked him. "What was that Jack?" I questioned.

"I just said maybe she wants a rougher time in the bedroom with a particular blonde." I felt myself blush and then say, "Maybe..." I giggled as I drove away and in no time Leah and I were on-board my private jet flying to New York. Just before we landed Leah said to me, "Mommy why don't I have a daddy?" I froze but said,

"Well some children have a mommy and a daddy, others have two mommy's or two daddy's and other's have just one mommy or one daddy. Why do you ask?" I watched her face frown and then she said, "Someone said so mommy...well Auntie Caitlin."

"Oh, and what did she say?" I question Leah as I pull her into my lap, she curls around me.

"She said that Karlie would be a good mommy too, so could she be my other mommy?" I felt my chest get tighter as I stumbled over words. "I uhm... I don't know babe, maybe you should ask Karlie." Leah seemed happy with that answer and snuggled down to nap while I text Caitlin and told her what a dirty trick that was, Caitlin replied with a "Don't tell me you haven't thought about it Swift..." I couldn't answer her back and just as we landed I got a 'VICTORY TO ME' text from Caitlin. Rolling my eyes as i helped Leah off the plane and we saw a tall lanky model near our gate. "Karlie!" Leah screamed as she ran towards her. I smiled and watched but as I did I saw Karlie's eyes meet mine and I knew they would get me in trouble.