Out Of The Woods - A Taylor Swift Adoption Story

Chaoter 21: The World Finds Out

The sudden ring of Taylor's phone cut through the heavy silence of the corridor, startling both her and Travis. Taylor fished the phone from her pocket, her heart sinking as she saw Tree's name on the screen.

"Hey, Tree, what's up?" Taylor answered, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Taylor, we have a situation," Tree's voice was tense, and Taylor's stomach tightened in response. "You and Travis were spotted entering the hospital with Madison. It's all over the internet."

Taylor felt a knot form in her stomach, "Okay, so they think we're dating. We can handle that, right?"

"It's more than that," Tree continued. "They're speculating that Madison is your secret child with Travis. There's a video of both of you freaking out about her in the hospital. The story is spreading like wildfire."

Taylor's mouth went dry, her mind reeling from the shock. She glanced at Travis, who looked equally stunned. "But that's ridiculous! I adopted Maddie. How can they even think...?"

Tree sighed, "You know how they are. They take one look and spin a story out of nothing. We need to address this quickly before it gets more out of hand."

Taylor felt a wave of panic. This was the last thing she needed on top of everything else. "What do we do, Tree? I can't have her be dragged into this. It's not fair to her."

"We need to make a statement, clarify the situation. I can handle the press, but we need to decide how much we're going to reveal about Madison's real situation," Tree advised.

Taylor took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. She looked at Travis, seeking his opinion. Travis nodded supportively, "We'll do whatever it takes to protect Madison and set the record straight."

Taylor relayed this to Tree, "Okay. Let's make a statement. We need to be careful about how we present Madison's story. She's been through enough already."

"I'll draft something and send it to you for approval. We'll handle this. Don't worry, and send my love to Madison," Tree assured her before ending the call.

Taylor turned to Travis, a mix of gratitude and concern in her eyes. "I never wanted any of this to affect you or Maddie. I'm so sorry."

Travis took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We're in this together, remember? We'll get through this."

"Tree can say that you were just a friend who happened to be at the apartment with Jack when everything happened. I don't want to drag you into this. It's not fair to throw you into my life so publicly, especially under these circumstances."

Travis listened intently, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he gently shook his head. "Taylor, that won't be necessary. I don't mind being a part of this. I knew what it meant to be involved with you, and I'm not about to step back now, especially when you and Madison need support."

Taylor looked at him, a mix of gratitude and concern in her eyes. "But... this could get messy. The media, the speculation... it could affect your life, your privacy, your family's privacy. They'll find every detail about you all, good and bad. I can't ask you to go through that."

Travis reached out, holding her hands in his. "You're not asking, Taylor. I'm offering. I care about you, and I care about Madison. Whatever comes our way, we'll face it together. I don't want you to go through this alone."

His words were sincere, and his eyes held a steady, unwavering commitment that touched Taylor deeply. She realized then just how much Travis was willing to stand by her side, not just in moments of happiness, but in times of turmoil and uncertainty.

"Thank you," Taylor said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "But I want you to know, you always have the choice. If it ever gets too much..."

Travis squeezed her hands reassuringly. "I know. And I promise, if it ever gets to that point, we'll talk about it. But right now, I'm right where I want to be."

As they stood together, Taylor felt a sense of strength and solace emanating from Travis. His support was a beacon in the storm, a reminder that even in the midst of chaos, they were not alone.

After approving the carefully crafted statement, which explained that Taylor adopted Madison and is asking for privacy, Taylor felt a heavy weight on her shoulders. She took a deep, steadying breath before walking back into Madison's room, her heart aching with the enormity of what she was about to say.

Madison looked up as Taylor entered, her expression still fragile from the ordeal but filled with a quiet strength. Taylor took a seat beside her bed, taking Madison's hand gently.

"Maddie, there's something I need to tell you," Taylor began, her voice trembling slightly. "Because of tonight, because of... everything, things might change a bit for us."

Madison's brow furrowed in confusion, "Change how?"

Taylor fought back tears, "The media has seen us together, and they're making up stories. They're saying things that aren't true. And I... I want you to know that I'm going to protect you, no matter what happens. No matter what anyone says."

Madison's eyes widened, a hint of fear creeping into them. "But what does that mean for us?"

Taylor squeezed Madison's hand, her resolve firm despite her emotional turmoil. "It means that things might get a little crazy for a while. There might be people talking about us, about you. But I'll do everything I can to keep you safe and happy. That's my promise to you."

She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "But I also want you to know, if this isn't the life you want – if it's too much – I'll understand. I can find a suitable family for you, one that can give you a quieter, more private life."

Madison's expression shifted to one of distress. "Does that mean... do you not want to be my adoptive mom anymore?"

Taylor's heart broke at the question. She quickly reassured Madison, "No, sweetie, that's not it at all. I want to be your mom more than anything. But I also want what's best for you. I don't ever want to make you unhappy or put you in a situation you don't want to be in."

Madison looked into Taylor's eyes, seeing the sincerity and love within them. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her voice small but steady, "I want to stay with you. I don't want another family. I want you."

Taylor's tears finally spilled over, and she leaned in to hug Madison gently. "I want that too, more than anything. We're going to get through this together, okay? I love you."

"I love you too," Madison whispered back, still confused, clinging to her.

As they held each other, Taylor felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination. She would face the media storm, the rumors, and whatever else the world threw at them. She would do it all to protect this precious bond, to keep the promise of a family she and Madison had just begun to build.