Taylor x Travis: In Every Life

false alarm

Travis' POV

"Anything else for you today?"

"No thank you." I murmured to the cashier as she scanned my items, checking my phone as I waited for her to put the payment through. No new messages, so I slipped it back into my pocket and moved to tap my card against the machine. "No need for a receipt." I said automatically, moving to pick up the paper bag.

"Have a good evening." The cashier smiled at me before turning to the person who had been waiting behind me.

Exiting the store, I shivered as the cold December snow fluttered around me, not yet sticking to the ground but still everywhere. Ducking my head against the wind, I rushed to my car and got in, tossing the bag onto the passenger seat and quickly turning the engine on so that I could get the heater going. It was normally only a five minute drive back to the house from the store, but the snow turned it into fifteen and it was past five-thirty when I pulled through the gates.

The house was warm when I got inside and I sighed as I took off my jacket, hanging it up to dry. I couldn't hear Taylor anywhere, but maybe she'd just curled up with a blanket to read a book or drift off. Not wanting to wake her in case she was sleeping, I walked down the hallway and then smiled to myself when I saw Taylor standing in the kitchen. I opened my mouth to say something, but paused when I saw her stamp her foot, her shoulders shaking.

"Hey, hey what's wrong baby?" I put the bag on the bench, going over to where she stood. Taylor looked up at me, her blue eyes teary, lip trembling.

"I..." She sniffed as I reached out to cup her face, stroking her cheekbones. "I wanted to make tea but I couldn't find the one I wanted and then the jug didn't work and now my back hurts." Taylor burst into tears, burying her face in her face.

"Oh I know, I know." I whispered, pulling her close and hugging her as much as I could around her pregnant belly. She'd really been having a tough time with her hormones being all over the place, and just about anything set her off. I tried my best to prevent any tears, and helped her through the ones I couldn't stop, but she was all over the place and uncomfortable a lot.

Taylor sniffed against my chest, leaning against me. I was just glad throughout this whole thing, she hadn't turned on me. She snapped sometimes, but she always let me back in once she calmed down, and I never blamed her for her outbursts. I knew she was uncomfortable; she was only two weeks from her due date and the baby loved to kick, which didn't help Taylor when it went on for ages.

"I'll tell you what." I said gently. "You're going to go and sit down on the couch with a blanket while I make you some tea, and I'll get you a hot water bottle and some painkillers for your back. Everything you wanted is in the bag, and I'll put it all on a plate so you don't have to fuss with the packets. Does that sound okay?" Taylor nodded, scrubbing at her eyes.

"Thank you." She mumbled, and I kissed her forehead. That was the thing that most often worked to calm her down; explain how we could fix every little problem she was dealing with. Once she could see the solution, she was better.

Taylor went to go sit on the couch, continuing the TV show she'd been watching all evening as she covered herself in a blanket. I got the jug working and boiled water, pouring her a cup of tea and filling a hot water bottle. Popping a few pills, I took all of the snacks she'd been craving that I'd bought from the store and poured them out onto a plate. Then I took everything over to her, and Taylor managed a small smile as I helped her to put the hot water bottle against the small of her back. She swallowed the pills and then cupped the steaming mug of tea in her hands, seeming to relax a little more.

"I'm sorry, I know I was being stupid." She mumbled as I put the plate within her reach.

"You weren't being stupid baby, it's okay." I touched her cheek. "You know that you have a lot of hormones at the moment, and I'm here to help you manage them." We had this conversation about ten times a day, but I was more than happy to keep reminding her. "I just want you to be as comfortable as you can be, so you know I want you to tell me everything that stresses you out so I can help you fix it." Taylor nodded, and I could see her eyes glazing over with tears as she looked at me. "Oh it's okay baby." I put an arm around her shoulders, sitting down next to her. Taylor sniffed, leaning against me.