Pitch Perfect Harmony

Setting Plans

The situation with Harrison Butker had gone by fairly quickly. Taylor and Travis had talked about it a little and decided that she wouldn't publish anything either if he wasn't allowed to. Travis' brother was able to state some things in their podcast and the media attention ebbed away a few days later. The concerts in Sweden were fun and got Taylor back on track for her tour. By the time she was on her way to Lisbon, she started missing Travis more and more though. The different time zones didn't make it any easier. They often stayed on the phone longer than they should and Taylor definitely lacked sleep the day after the second Lisbon show.

"Taylor, I know it's not easy, I'm married after all but you can't fly back for two days. You'll be jet-legged there and again when you come back. Your body needs to rest", Tree told her at breakfast. "I know. It was more of a bad joke", Taylor mumbled even though she had hoped to be able to see him for just a bit. "Can I do anything else for you? Distraction? Natalie and Tamiya wanted to go out later, why don't you go with them?", her publicist suggested. "Maybe I'll go down to the pool later. It's booked anyway isn't it?", Taylor asked. They toured with a big team and often rented out the whole hotel. "Yeah, sure. You're not supposed to walk much anyway", she said.

After finishing their breakfast, Taylor went back to her room but couldn't bring herself up to actually go swimming. TV and some snacks sounded way better. Suddenly, the idea of Travis on her stage popped up in her head again. Taylor quickly opened her notes and drew out the idea of him carrying her to the red couch. He'd need a costume. She still was convinced that he wouldn't actually want to come on stage with her but she could dream. And maybe she could take the joke to another level by preparing everything. Taylor liked the idea more the longer she thought about it. It worked so well concept-wise. So she texted a few people from her team if they could even do it. Then she tried to find out if they could get a costume ready in time. And in the evening, everything was basically planned out and she just had to ask him again.

„Hey, Allie. How's Lisbon?", he asked when she called him. "From the balcony, it looks pretty", she told him. "How is Kansas doing?", Taylor joked trying to figure out if she should bring up the idea of having him on stage today. "Noone would've missed me here", he told her unseriously. "Not even Ross or Pat?", she wanted to know. "I haven't had the most successful practice so maybe not. At least not today", he explained with a soft smile through the video call. She couldn't help but smile back at him. "What's up, hm?", he felt like she was hesitating to say something. Taylor looked at him surprised that he had noticed. "Nothing", she tried to brush it off but his look of disbelief made her sigh.

"You said you'd come on stage with me", she began and he just nodded waiting for her to continue. "So, I... I had this idea and... maybe I've already talked to some people and... they're all cool with it. You could get a costume and maybe on the last night of the first London shows you could join me?", she suggested insecurely. "Which song?", he just wanted to know excitedly. "The into of I Can Do It With a Broken Heart? You know, picking me up from the floor, carrying me over to the couch. You can mess around with me a little and then just go back down", she told him her idea. "Do we have time to practice?", he asked next. "I don't know. Maybe the day before. I know, it's risky and you don't have to do it. It was just an idea", she mumbled expecting him to reject the offer now that it became serious. "Risky is my middle name", he winked. "No, for real. I would love to join you for a little skit. What does Tree say?", he asked knowing that the publicist was still a little hesitant about how open they were with their relationship compared to her last one.

"I... I'd convince her if you are sure. They'll make a costume for you too then, so yes has to mean yes for sure", she questioned again. "Yes", Travis repeated. "For sure", he added sensing that it might need more assurance for her. "Tay, I want to do this. I know, it started as a joke but I really like the idea, and if you let me join you, I'd love to be your backup dancer for a short while", Travis continued to tell her. "But you gotta be serious and play the role", she said. "I will do my best to make you look better than you already do", he smiled. She smiled back now but they both knew deep down that she would probably not believe him until he was actually on stage with her.

Their conversation went on a little longer covering different topics until it was time for Taylor to sleep. "Good night, baby. Don't forget to tell Tree about my stage debut tomorrow", he said. "Yeah", she yawned. Taylor had taken her phone to the bathroom before so they could continue to talk until she was in bed. "I love you, call tomorrow?", he asked. "Call tomorrow. I love you too, Trav. Good night", she answered already needing to concentrate because she was so tired. "Night", he repeated and sent her a kiss. She sent one back and then they ended the call so Tayor could sleep. But of course, the first thing she did the next morning was to tell her team that Travis agreed to the plan. At breakfast, she told Tree about it. "And he really agreed?", her publicist wanted to be sure. "It was kind of his idea. Tree, I... I don't know if he'll do it until he's there but... He says he wants to and I want it too. Please", she just said. Tree's expressions softened.

"You don't need to ask me. And if he really said that he wanted to do it, I doubt that he'd shy away. He's not the type for that. And I say that even though I don't know him too well yet", she said. "We should sit together for just casual conversation more often", Taylor mumbled because Tree was right. She hasn't had the time to just talk to Travis privately that often. "I'm sure that's gonna happen naturally. But back to your boyfriend on your stage", she chuckled. "I think it's a sweet idea and I honestly can't wait to see it. So, I'll of course try to tame the press then but you know what will come with it inevitably. You said the costume department and so on are informed?", Tree asked. "Yeah, I talked with them yesterday and gave them a go earlier", Taylor nodded. So it was set. Travis would get a costume and they would make him fit into a choreography. Her dancers would still be on stage with him to guide him and in case anything would go wrong. They'd try to fit in a practice when he'd arrive in London.