'What the FUCK, Emma?'
Taylor winces as she hears her daughter's bedroom door slam against the wall, followed by Travis' heavy footsteps as he walks further into the room. She hangs back a little, watching it play out - happy for him to be bad cop in this instance, but staying around just in case she has to intervene.
'Emma, I asked you a question. Get the fuck out of bed', Travis tries again when his 17-year-old daughter doesn't move, proceeding to throw her bedclothes off the top of her and on to the ground, causing her to groan, throwing her hands over her eyes.
'What the hell? What are you doing?', she mumbles, and Taylor winces again, knowing that was exactly the wrong thing to say to her father at this precise moment.
'Emma, so help me, if you do not get out of bed and come downstairs in five minutes to explain to me what the hell you were thinking, you'll be grounded until you're 35', Travis warns, turning on his heel to walk out, a point of his finger indicating Taylor should follow him.
'One sec', she calls after him, instead stepping closer to her daughter, shaking her further awake.
'Em, seriously. You're in big trouble. Just get up, yeah? You have to face the music sometime', she cajoles, pulling at her arm and helping Emma to sit up.
'My head hurts', she whispers, her eyes suddenly teary, and Taylor laughs a little under her breath. 'Yeah, well, that's what happens when you come home smelling like a brewery after 1am', she sing-songs, making her way out of the room, popping her head into the twins' room next door to make sure they were still asleep despite the ruckus.
Tying her robe tighter, she pads downstairs, finding Travis fumbling with the coffee machine, Theo perched on a stool at the island. She walks over and ruffles his hair, pressing a kiss to the back of his head. 'Morning, bud. You're up early, its barely 7', she smiles at him, watching as he smears the Nutella from his toast all over his face.
'Couldn't sleep, mom, you remember it's my playoff today? I'm so excited, and dad said he can come watch too before he has to leave', he answers, practically buzzing with excitement, and Taylor laughs while pouring him out a glass of milk, sliding it over the counter with a smile.
'Okay buddy take it easy, you'll bounce right off the stool there', she giggles, making him laugh, before rounding the corner to sit beside him. 'Of course I remember, it's been circled on the calendar for weeks now. We're looking forward to it', she continues, mouthing a thank you to Travis when he passes her a warm cup of coffee.
'You know Jack can't come though, T? He's grounded', Travis informs him, and Theo visibly deflates, pouting a little. 'Can't you let him come just this once? I want him to see me hit a home run', he pleads, and Taylor can see Travis wobble, their middle child playing on his emotions.
'What if I make him look after the twins?', Taylor suggests, winking at Travis, and he sighs, before nodding. 'Okay T, you win. Jack can come, but only if he sits beside mom the whole time and straight home after'.
'Yay! I have to go tell him!', Theo yells, jumping off the stool before Taylor can request he wash his sticky hands, running down the hallway to inform his older brother - and his hero.
'That was nice, Trav. You know how much Theo looks up to him'.
'Yeah, well, let's hope T doesn't come home from school after punching someone some day', he sighs, turning back to the toaster that had just popped. Scraping butter onto the bread, he continues, 'but I know Jack secretly loves watching his baseball games too. I'm not a total heartless idiot'.
Taylor laughs, accepting her plate and then leaning against Travis' shoulder as he sits beside her, sighing heavily. 'But you're my heartless idiot', she teases, before leaning up to peck his lips.
