Family Relations

Chapter Five

*Trigger Warning for drug addiction*

Rubbing her eyes, Taylor stared blankly at the older singer. Struggling to register what Hayley had just said to her. These pain meds were really messing with her brain, making everything fuzzy... all she wanted to do was sleep.

"Tay, you need to eat something." Hayley repeated softly, frowning as the blonde just blinked at her.

Taylor slowly shook her head, trying to clear the fuzziness. She hadn't really talked much unless she mumbled her words.

"Hayley is right." Andrea said from behind Hayley, standing in the doorway. "I'll make your favourite." She said softly, offering her daughter a caring smile before leaving.

The blonde reached up to rub at her eyes again, they always seemed to bother her right after taking her medicine.

"Are your eyes itchy?" Hayley asked, concern in her voice. She reached out to take Taylor's hands away from her eyes. "Maybe we should speak to your doctor, get some eye drops to stop the itching." She suggested with a hopeful tone.

Taylor blinked up at Hayley, shaking her head slowly. Trying to process what the older singer had just said.

Hayley was patient. She gently squeezed Taylor's hand. "I just want to help."

Clearing her throat, Taylor looked down and swallowed thickly. She wanted to talk, but just couldn't get her thoughts in order.

Hayley tipped her head forward to meet Taylor's eyes, searching Taylor's blue orbs. "Please, Tay, please." She squeezed the blonde's hand again.

Taylor opened her mouth to speak before closing it, her eyes searching Hayley's.

Hayley offered her girlfriend an encouraging smile. "You can do it." She breathed.

"M'sorry." Taylor mumbled, looking away.

Hayley let out a soft breath and leaned back, still holding Taylor's hand in her own.

The blonde instantly felt bad and tried to pull her hand back. Thinking she'd upset her girlfriend.

Hayley wouldn't release Taylor's hand. She wasn't upset, she was just tired and extremely worried.

Taylor swallowed thickly and tugged on Hayley's hand, trying to get her attention.

Slowly, the older singer lifted her head and met Taylor's eyes. "I'm not mad." She said softly.

Tugging on her hand again, Taylor tried pulling Hayley closer. She was now beginning to understand what Grace felt when she was taking the medication to help her sleep. She didn't like the feeling either and vowed never to try to get Grace to take those meds ever again.

Andrea returned at that moment with Taylor's favourite sandwich on a plate with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

Taylor blinked up at her mother, not releasing Hayley's hand.

Andrea sat the plate down beside Taylor. "The food will help." She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her daughter's forehead.

Reaching for the sandwich, Taylor frowned as she knocked the plate onto the floor.

Meredith lifted her head from between her paws on her bed and meowed indignantly, annoyed that she was disturbed from her slumber.

"It's okay, that was an accident." Andrea said softly as she bent down to clean up the plate.

Tears instantly filled Taylor's eyes as she shut down even more.

"Hey, please don't cry, it was an accident." Hayley said softly, lifting Taylor's hand to her lips and delicately kissing the back of it.