TNT Short Fics

3 AM and I'm still awake - Part 6

+1. I'll follow you, follow you home

The snow threatens to keep Taylor in Vancouver another night. She woke up this morning to a beautiful white wonderland outside her hotel window. And while normally the sight would make her giddy, it just sets off alarm bells that she may not be sleeping in her own bed tonight after all.

She tries to put it out of her mind during the team's last brunch together. Focuses on these amazing people and the hard work and dedication they've put in over the last two years. They've gone through so much together. Heartbreak and falling in love (and not just her), deaths in families and new babies, a few engagements, and creating what amounted to two full tour shows together. They'll be her family for life in a way that maybe no other tour ever was or ever will be.

Still, she's anxious about the weather. She keeps Travis updated and he sends her photos from home. The storm has passed somewhat above Kansas City and so the roads there are quickly clearing. She just needs to get the all-clear here.

She's not sure why she's in such a hurry. She officially has nowhere to be for the next few months. Well, unless you count Arrowhead on Sundays and some studio time she's already thinking through to finish up the next album. Yet, her time isn't beholden to anyone else like it has been with Eras. So why the rush?

She knows it is exactly that. She's ready to start that next chapter. Ready to root herself in her life in ways she's only caught glimpses of in short breaks and stolen weekends. Her whole world during this tour had been scheduled two years in advance, and two years ago her life looked vastly different than the life she lives today. Now, she's still scheduled to the max, but she can move forward in a way that allows her and Travis to prioritize their life rather than his and hers separately.

She hangs out in her room through the afternoon, trying to watch a movie but really staring out the window. She knows she's driving Tree crazy with her somewhat dramatic sighs anytime she checks her phone. But she also knows Tree wants to get home to her husband and daughter just as much.

Finally, at 4, her pilot lets her know that if she can get to the airport by 5, there is a safe window for takeoff before the next storm front moves in. She and Tree move to get out the door in minutes, picking up a couple of band members and dancers who can travel from Nashville when the plane heads there from KC with Tree.

She sends a quick text to Trav and then they're airborne. Everyone is quiet, the exhaustion kicking in as their bodies wind down from the long weekend of shows. The hours pass at a crawl even though she tries to sleep. But finally, she sees the light of her adopted city out the window.

"Ready to be home?" Paul asks, smiling at her with a knowing look.

"Almost as much as you," she laughs, noticing his tapping foot. He's ready to spend a long stretch at home with his new son.

"Look at us, Tay," he says proudly. "All grown up." She reaches across to squeeze his shoulder because he's right.

When they touch down, she moves quickly to grab her stuff. Not just so she can get home but also so everyone else can get back in the air. As she comes off the plane, she expects to see the customs agent waiting but standing on the tarmac is Travis. Hands behind his back, rocking on his heels impatiently.

She carelessly drops her stuff and sprints to him, reminding her of that night in Argentina and of every other time she's run into his arms after a successful show. But it also feels like finally finishing a race. They have made it. She's accomplished this big, massive marathon, and it was the hardest and most rewarding thing she's ever done. And here at the finish line is the love of her life.

He twirls them around once before setting her on her feet. He buries his face in her neck and sighs like he hasn't seen her for longer than the few days she's been gone.

She runs her hand over his short hair and grips hard around his neck, kissing his ear as she says, "Let's go home."

Once she's through customs they head out. As he drives, he holds her hand, and his thumb moving back and forth almost puts her to sleep. The stress she's been holding all day from the wait finally leaving her body.

Back at the house, they seem to silently agree to head upstairs. She washed her face and brushed her teeth back on the plane. So she changes into one of his clean t-shirts and flops back onto the foot of the bed with a loud sigh.

He chuckles as he stands over her.

"You sleeping there?" he asks, amused.

"Maybe. I might not move for days. Just wake me up for the game on Sunday, honey," she says, kicking at his leg.

Travis pulls back the covers and then he's there, pulling her up the bed.

"You're always just making me pick you up," he jokes as he crawls in after her.

They both get comfortable under the blankets and he turns out the light. They're quiet, just being in a moment with nothing but them. She tugs on the hem of his shirt and he scoots closer, pulling her leg over his to keep them close.

"You did it, sweetie," he murmurs into her hair.

"I-, I did," she states. "I wasn't so sure there a few times early on, but I did."

"I'm so proud of you."

Thank you," she replies, feeling tears in her eyes for some reason. "I had help and I couldn't have done it alone. But...I'm proud of me too."

And she realizes that she is, completely. She's always had something to nitpick or wish she'd done differently. But this time...she was just so fucking proud of all she's accomplished. Maybe it is finally growing up or maybe it's the confidence she's gained by being loved for who she is rather than who people think she should be. She doesn't know. She's just glad she's here now.

"Thank you for doing this with me, Trav." she continues. "I know it was kind of wild sometimes. But, thank you for jumping into the deep end with me from day one."

"Of course," he says, running his hand across her hair. "Nowhere else I'd rather be."

She pulls him in and kisses his cheek. She has to steal his words for once. "You're the best, baby. The absolute best."

He hugs her tight and they just hold on.

After a while, she breaks the silence to ask, "You know that place you've been trying to take me to forever for breakfast?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we do that tomorrow?" she questions.

"We can do anything," he reminds her. "We have all the time in the world."

"I want to eat pancakes with you and think about all the things we're going to do."

"When?"

She fiddles with the ring on her finger and looks at him closely as she replies, "Forever."

He picks up her hand and kisses her ring finger, "Deal."

They grow quiet again. She falls asleep to the sound of his heart and the stillness of the house that has become their home around them.

And they sleep straight through to morning.

The End

A/N: Thank you to everyone for waiting for this ending! The shows in Stockholm were an absolute blast. I ended up going to the Friday and Sunday shows. The new version of the Eras Tour is AMAZING in person. Hearing "How Did It End?" in person altered my brain chemistry. And seeing Taylor so, so, so happy was worth all the jet lag I have now. lol