If He Wanted to, He Would

Family Teasing

"Hi baby" Taylor greeted Travis backstage after her first of three shows in Germany. Travis had stayed true to his promise to visit between mini camp and training camp and shown up in the wee hours of the morning. He'd surprised her, waking her up with coffee and a German sausage pastry from a bakery he'd seen on the way to the hotel. 

"Its a bratwurst in a pastry" he'd exclaimed pulling the item out of a brown paper bag. He'd been so excited about the damn thing. Taylor was skeptical as she eyed the cylinder of pinkish-brown meat in a flaky crust.

"It looks like a pig in a blanket" she'd told him, sounding unimpressed. Regardless, she'd pulled him into bed with her. Abandoning the pastry and coffee all together.

"You were amazing," Travis said wrapping her up in their usual hug.

"Thank you!" Taylor blushed. 

Travis grabs Taylor's hand and leads her down the walkway to the backstage area. The obstructed view crowd cheers loudly and they wave and make their way to the car. Its a quick transfer into the middle row of the escalade. A sweater, Travis' sweater, is slipped over Taylor's head to shield her from the overly effective air-conditioning, and they are off towards to hotel. Scott, Andrea, and Tree occupying the vehicle as well.

"Taylor, hunny;" Taylor hears her dad call from the backseat. She turns her head so she can see all three adults squished in the back. Usually, one of them, her dad, would sit in the middle with her but since Travis had began attending the shows, they had crowded into the back. No questions asked. Sure they could all take separate vehicles back to the hotel but it was fun having the most important people in her life together for a bit. They could debrief the show and enjoy hearing each other's experiences. Often her parents had little stories of things that had seen that night.

"Once we're back at the hotel you gotta get that one to bed;" Scott motions at Travis, who scoffs a bit and then shoots him a death glare. "He was almost snoozing during parts of the show." Scott's tone is friendly and playful though, putting Taylor at ease. Travis is probably one of Scott's favourite boyfriend's that Taylor's had, if not the favourite.

"I was not!" Travis defends himself.

"I saw you sitting during Tortured Poets, son."

"Scott, cut him a break!" Andrea chimes in, also playfully, "he was just sitting. You sit all the time. Plus, he's dead tired from all the travelling."

Taylor looks at Travis amused but her amusement fades when she gets a good look at him. The car is dark, thanks to the blackout curtains hung up in the windows, but even in the dim light she can still see the circles under his eyes.

"Oh, babe, you do look tired," she coos in sympathy before she becomes overwhelmed with guilt. He'd worn himself out for her. Taylor had been too excited to see him that she'd kept them busy all day, hadn't carved out any time for him to rest.

"I'm ok. I am game for whatever," he reassures her. Usually after concerts, Scott, Andrea, and Tree would retire to their rooms and Taylor would be too full of adrenaline to sleep so she and Travis would stay up watching a movie or playing a game.

"I think bed is in your near future" Taylor replied, ignoring his declaration of energy.

"Bed for sleep, I hope" Scott pipes up from the back and the entire car bursts out laughing. "No funny business in there, kids."

Taylor blushes harshly and Travis wiggles his eyebrows at her and winks. His expression makes Taylor start to laugh too. He's just so relaxed, so unbothered by all types of humour and comfortable with himself in a way that puts him at ease with everyone.

"Should I book bunk beds next time?" Tree asked.

"They don't already have bunk beds?" Andrea responded with fake exasperation.

"Yes, bed for sleeping. Right to sleep, in our pjs!" Taylor doesn't even wait for Tree to answer her mom before she's piping up.

"But Tay" Travis breathes, "I forgot my pjs." The laughing restart from the backseat and Taylor's blush darkens. 

"It's ok Trav, you can borrow some of mine!"

"Scott!"

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