Pitch Perfect Harmony

A Little Bit Of Home

"What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?! Tree, we have to do something!", Taylor said after her publicist had just told her about the fan that had died last night because of the heat wave. "We... We can't, Taylor. What should we do?", she asked. "I don't know! Something! I need to write a statement! Can you contact the family? I want to ask if they need anything. I... I know I can't make this okay for them but... I can't do nothing!", Taylor stood up from the couch of her wardrobe. They were at the stadium already because they weren't sure if it might cool down this evening. "Okay, breathe. I'll try to get their contact info but I can't promise you anything", Tree said calmly. She had a night to think about it already. "Taylor, it's not your fault. You couldn't have done anything. We all did our best yesterday", she added. Taylor rationally knew that but she still felt awful.

A bit later, they were in contact with the family and published a statement. Taylor went from crying to sleeping to raging a couple of times that day and in the evening, when they finally postponed the show, she felt a glimpse of relief. There was still sadness in her and the pure thought of getting onto that stage again knowing that a young woman had died because she had wanted to see her show was a lot to handle. Travis was also relieved when he heard about the postponement but he still hated to be stuck miles away from Taylor despite knowing how she felt.

The next days were hard. Taylor almost had a PTSD-like feeling sometimes. She could still see the scenes of people fainting and their friends calling for water. Her dancers and herself clinging to water bottles and later oxygen masks. This wouldn't get out of her mind too soon. But when the South American leg of the tour ended, she was finally on her way to New York again. She didn't only want to go home, she needed to. She missed her bed and the familiar surroundings. But she also missed Travis. He had texted her even more often since the horrible events around the show in Rio. Her mom also promised to be in New York and meet her as soon as she would be back.

Landing in New York, Taylor felt exhausted. Walking down the stairs of the jet and into the car was tiring. She quickly slid into the backseat and her security closed the door behind her. She had been looking down the whole time because of a few paparazzi but when she looked up again and found Travis in the car right next to herself, she stared at him in disbelief. "What... How?", she asked while he smiled softly at her. "I couldn't wait and left early", he explained holding a hand out for her. Taylor ignored his hand completely and just let her body collapse onto his shoulder. He hugged her and held her close. "I'm so happy you're back. And I'm so glad you are okay", he whispered before kissing her head. "Thank you so much. For coming here and for all the calls and texts. I really needed it", she answered before leaning back to kiss him.

"I have to be back in Kansas tomorrow but I wanted to see you and I didn't know if you wanted to come after all that", he explained on the ride to her apartment. "I... I don't know. You moved fully now, didn't you?", she asked. "Yeah, I'm in my new house. Didn't want to talk about that too much. I thought you had enough on your mind and we can catch up now", he told her. Taylor sighed. "That might have been a good idea", she admitted. "I don't know if I can come with you tomorrow. I... I need a little bit of... home... I think... and then the new house on top... I don't know", she honestly told him. Travis just nodded with a soft smile. "It's okay. I thought so, actually. That's why I'm here right now. Your mom is already at your place by the way. She let me in", he told her. Taylor missed her mom too. And that she had helped Travis out made her smile. "I'm so goddamn tired. It feels like I still haven't recovered from this fucking heat", she said leaning against him. "Well, you have a few weeks to recover now", he said interlocking their fingers. "It's Christmas soon", she noted. "And your birthday", he answered smiling while breathing in the scent of her hair.

The rest of the way, they sat in silence. Taylor had closed her eyes but she didn't fall asleep. "We're there", Travis whispered when they drove into the parking garage. Taylor blinked a couple of times and when the car stopped, they prepared to get inside. Her security guided the way even though they were down in the garage and noone was there. Inside, Andrea was waiting in the hallway already. She was glad to see Taylor after everything that had happened in Brazil. And the way Travis was by her side, helping her out of the jacket and just looking out for her made her smile. Taylor was visibly tired though.

"I prepared dinner if you're hungry", Andrea let them know. "Oh, I definitely am. How about you?", Travis answered first. Taylor agreed so they went over to the table. Taylor just sat down while the others set the table. She was staring ahead with these empty eyes Travis hated to see her with. "Would you like a tee?", Travis asked her after putting his hand on her shoulder to get her out of her thoughts. "Hm? Yeah... sounds good", she mumbled. So Travis made a tee while Andrea brought the food over. It was kind of a tradition that Andrea would cook this certain type of pasta when Taylor was back from a tour. "It's so annoying that I have to leave tomorrow", Travis mumbled to himself and Taylor's mom. "I'm here for a while. She'll be okay", Andrea told him. She understood his concern and she also understood that he couldn't stay as long as he would want to.

They ended the day soon, Taylor and Travis finally cuddling up in bed together. She wanted to disappear in his arms forever, so close she cuddled up to him. His strong arms gave her a sense of safety again after this horrible past few weeks. Travis also didn't want to leave her side ever again. He truly just recognized how scared he had been when she had had to play this concert in Rio's heat. But he had to leave in only a few hours. So after a while of sleep, Travis' alarm went off. He quickly turned it off and already felt Taylor holding on to him. "I have to leave soon", he told her. She mumbled something he couldn't understand. "Tay, I would love to let you sleep but I have to go", he whispered. Of course, he didn't want to go but he had to. "Just stay", she said. "I can't, baby. I'm so sorry, but I have to go. You can come to see me as soon as you want to, okay? Give yourself some time, let your mom take care and then you can come around, hm?", he told her. She sighed, nodded and finally let go of him.

Aaand we all pretend this was published during the Fearless era of London N8 🫶