Shadows Lurking | Taylor Swift Fanfic

31: B a c k T o D e c e m b e r

And then the cold came, the dark days
When fear crept into my mind

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December 13th 2024

The Era Tour officially ended on the 8th of December. It was the morning of Taylor's birthday, well it was 2:45AM.

Amerie was the only one awake in their Rhode Island mansion, normally they used this as their vacation home, but Taylor wanted to throw herself a 35th birthday party.

Amerie had been working on a painting of her and her Mom dancing in the kitchen, she'd been working on it for weeks, but it was still not finished, she needed to add the last finishing touches.

"Amerie.. what are you doing up at this Time" Taylor said walking into Amerie's bedroom.

"Could say the same to you" Amerie said, it was clear she was tired.

"I needed the bathroom then saw your light on, exactly why are you painting at this time in the morning" Taylor said rubbing her eyes, she was still rather tired.

"It's a surprise for your birthday" Amerie sighed.

"Awh, that's very sweet, but please can you get some rest, you can sleep in my bedroom" Taylor offered.

"Yeah" Amerie said.

Amerie's glasses were slightly slipping down off her face, so Taylor pushed them back up and bopped her nose.

"I'll meet you back in my room get some rest please!" Taylor begged.

Amerie made her way to her Mom's bedroom and layed her head on the pillow.

Taylor walked back in climbing into bed and sighed at Amerie.

"Amerie I'm worried about you, these past few months you haven't been handling the interviews, the photoshoots. I'm just scared this isn't what you wanted, I'm scared that this is not for you. I support your dreams, but I just don't want you getting hurt, the industry it's harsh and leaves you feeling so many complicated emotions" Taylor vented.

"Oh, I guess I knew what I was getting into, but I didn't think it would be so soon. It's my first album, sometimes I think people are only listening to it and it's getting recognition because your my Mom and you promoted it a lot, which made me happy as your proud of me, but I feel like I'm only known because of you." Amerie sighed.

"Being the daughter of a celebrity, I don't know how that feels like, but you do and I can tell it's hard, being famous is hard enough, but for you it's even hard. But Ri-Ri, you are everything to me" Taylor said hugging Amerie closely.

"People say I'm an inspiration, but I don't want to be just an inspiration, I want others to feel like they belong, they are understood. I want to help others, not be an inspiration" Amerie confessed.

"Amerie you are more then an inspiration, and you know how I know that, it's because your a Swift and Swift women are powerful, intelligent, kind women. You Amerie are Amerie Marjorie Swift, you need to own your name, make people see you how to want to be seen, it's hard but it's worth it" Taylor said stroking Amerie's hair and kissing her forehead.

"Thank you" Amerie yawned.

"Now get some rest" Taylor chuckled.

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Amerie woke up to her Mom sipping coffee in bed.

"Morning beautiful" Taylor said smiling at her daughter.