Never Grow Up (A Sequel)

Happy Birthday Travis (Part 2)

Charlotte Marjorie Kylie Kelce-Swift.

Travis can't help the tears that flow as he looks down at the baby, his fourth daughter, the overwhelming happiness that floods his senses from holding her in his arms. They had their baby, and she was here and healthy, as was Taylor, and that was all that mattered.

She'd arrived quickly, once they'd made it to the hospital. Donna had driven over at Travis' call, looking after the kids, and Taylor had kissed them all goodbye and Travis had driven them over to the same hospital where they'd welcomed all their children. Anticipation racing through his veins, he'd helped Taylor into the wheelchair and then upstairs into the delivery room, to be told she was already 7cm dilated and that yes - he was definitely going to have to share his birthday.

He was in awe, as he had been every single time, of how Taylor was able to channel all her energy and safely bring their baby into the world just over an hour later, the joy on her face clear to see when Charlotte was placed in her arms, her face pink and screaming, her head covered in dark hair. 'There's your girl', she'd said to Travis, holding her close, and the tears had started then and didn't look like stopping anytime soon.

Taylor was in the bathroom, insisting she didn't need any help, and he was rocking Charlotte in his arms, his first real chance to see her properly, all cleaned up. She had Taylor's nose, that was clear, but his shape of face, and looked awfully like Melody had when she'd arrived. He thanked his lucky stars, of course, that her birth was so different to Melody's, the scary moments when he'd been pushed out of the delivery room as Taylor flatlined continuing to haunt him. It had been a major concern when Taylor was pregnant with Theodore, but as with Charlotte, their births had been textbook-perfect. Thank God.

'Another little Kelce clone. These genes of mine aren't that strong, are they?', Taylor says, breaking him out of his trance, and when he looks up she's standing in the doorway, her hair now pinned up on top of her head, a fresh pair of pyjamas on.

'She's beautiful, just like her mama', Travis offers, smiling at her, and she just shakes her head and takes Travis' outstretched hand, allowing him to help her back into bed. He laughs when she makes little grabby hands towards the baby, her whole face lighting up when he passes her over, before she unbuttons her top and latches her on to feed, the baby doing so quickly and easily.

'Feels like she'll be a milk monster already', Taylor whispers, her words joking but her voice holding a hint of awe, her eyes solely trained on the little bundle in her arms.

'Just like her big brother?', Travis asks, a smile on his face. Theodore had been - by their own judgement, and by their families agreement - their easiest baby with food, contently drinking his milk and then easily switching to three square meals a day, sometimes managing more than Melody. Donna always laughed when she watched him tackle his dinner, saying how much he reminded her of Travis at that age.

'Well if she's anything like Theo, we'll be doing okay', Taylor replies, smiling back at Travis before handing him the baby to burp and do the necessary diaper change.

They all take a small nap, Charlotte safely in her bassinet while Travis leans his head on Taylor's bed, before they're woken around 4pm by Taylor's doctor, gently nudging her arm.

'Taylor?'

'Oh, hi', she murmurs sleepily, eyes blinking open, as she squeezes Travis' hand to alert him to the doctor's presence, too.

'I just popped in to see how you all were doing. All your tests came back fine, as did the baby's. You're both cleared to go home today, if you'd like. I know you had the baby this morning, but there's no medical need for you to stay if you don't want to'.