TNT Short Fics

Wreck my plans - Part 4

Aspirations

If Travis is being honest, he started thinking more seriously about retirement after the Super Bowl this year. The sense of completeness that came with the hard-fought win was something he hadn't felt with his other two world championships. He pushed himself, stepped up as a leader, and at the end of it all, the love of his life and his family were there to celebrate with him. Holding Taylor on that field in Las Vegas felt different because someone was there to share it with him—and that was all he ever wanted.

That's not to say he's eager to throw it all away. From the moment he puts his cleats back on at Spring OTAs, he's ready to attempt what no team has ever done before—a three-peat. He's excited about how the team has played so far this season and is hungry to get to the playoffs. No, he's not done yet, but he is ready to start thinking about what comes after, both in his personal and professional life.

The summer reinforces his priorities. Traveling through Europe, being by her side, and even the time apart have him reflecting. His career has always been number one, but the longer he and Taylor spend together this year, the more he realizes that his priorities have shifted. As they start to talk about what comes next after the Eras Tour and starting a family, it becomes even more important for him to consider what also comes after football.

As the season begins, first with training camp and then back to any given Sunday, he surprises himself when he realizes that what he wants to come after football...is more football.

*****

Travis wakes up on New Year's Eve with every bone and muscle in his body aching. Even his hair hurts. It's been days since his last game, but the grueling schedule of three games in ten days is still taking a toll on his 35-year-old body. Luckily, it's all just aches and pains and not an injury, but it reminds him that there is an expiration date on how long he can keep doing this.

He notices Taylor's side of the bed is empty and grabs his phone to check the time. 10:13 a.m. shines up at him, and he groans, realizing he's slept much later than he intended. It's his day off, sure, but he wanted to spend it with Taylor, not sleep the day away.

He rolls out of bed and, after a quick stop in the bathroom, heads out to find her.

Taylor is doing three things at once, which is basically her default mode when not working. He can smell something warm and spiced in the air, which means some delicious thing is baking. Her notebook, pen, and guitar are strewn across the kitchen island, suggesting an idea struck her at some point. But now, she's leaning on the counter, book in hand, as she sips coffee.

"Mornin'," he says with a yawn.

Tay's face lights up when she lifts her head, and god, that will never get old. Not in a million years.

"Morning sleepy, I was hoping you'd stay in bed a bit longer. I was going to bring you breakfast snacks in a bit."

"Oh, breakfast snacks? Maybe I'll just go back," he jokes, turning back towards the stairs.

She laughs before pulling him into her side.

"Nope, I got you here now."

He pulls her close to bury his face in the messy bun atop her head, smelling the comforting scent of her shampoo. She's cozy in a soft sweater and leggings with thick socks on her feet. He sighs and leans a little more into her still feeling the exhaustion weighing on him. Taylor picks up on it right away, pulling back to smack a kiss to his lips and lead him from the kitchen and into the den and the couch.

Grabbing the throw from the back of the couch and plopping across from him, she asks "How are you feeling? Still up for going out tonight?"

He leans his head back, feeling a twinge in his neck, "I feel like I got run over, but I think I do. Wanna kiss you at midnight under sparkly lights again."