what came next

seventeen - taylor

"Taylor?" I heard my name shouted out in fear and frowned, turning around where I stood in the kitchen, making breakfast. "Taylor?" Travis called, and he sounded so upset that I turned away from what I was doing.

Travis rushed out into the living room, his face streaked with tears and panic filling his expression. Relief very obviously flooded through him when he saw me, and I opened my mouth to say something, but Travis was upon me before I could. He grabbed me roughly and hugged me so tightly I couldn't breathe, burying his face in my neck as he sobbed. 

"Honey?" I rubbed his back. "Honey what's going on? Are you okay?"

"Don't leave me." Travis sobbed. "Taylor don't. I can't do this again. Don't leave me." 

"Travis, honey I'll never leave you." I reassured him. "What makes you think I would ever leave you?"

"I thought you were gone." Travis held me tighter. "I woke up and I thought you were gone because I had a dream you gave back the ring and took Bella away."

"Oh, no." I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. "Travis I would never leave you, not ever. You know are the love of my life and I would stick by you through everything." I knew what it was like to be as scared as he was. Elena had really fucked him up and he was terrified of losing me. I knew he loved me so much. 

Travis clutched me so tightly that it almost hurt, but I let him. I knew he needed to hold me, and I wanted him to know that I was here. Luckily the kids were still asleep, since I really didn't want them to see such raw emotions from us. Travis and I did our best to keep every problem out of their sight, showing them proper love and occasionally a tiny mishap to make sure they knew it wasn't always perfect. But this was too much, and I hoped they wouldn't wake him.

"Do you promise you'll never leave me angel?" Travis mumbled a few minutes later.

"I promise." I rubbed his jaw softly. "Travis I am so in love with you. I'm going to marry you, and we're going to have another baby, and it's forever."

"Fuck it felt so real." Travis lifted his head, and I felt tears well up in my eyes at the sight. He looked so broken. 

"It's not real." I cupped his face in my hands. "Travis look at me." I said insistently. "I love you." I told him, holding his gaze. "And I will never leave you, not now, not ever. You are my life and we have two beautiful children even if Olly isn't my son. I want to give you everything and I want my whole life to be yours. You have my entire heart." I placed my hand on his chest. "And it'll always be yours. Always."

Travis surged forwards and kissed me hard, his lips salty with tears. His kiss hurt and I pushed gently on his chest.

"Honey, Travis." I mumbled. "Travis stop." Travis pulled back, looking at me. "Look you're so upset." I stroked his jaw. "And I'm not upset with you, but that hurt. I just want you to take a breath and calm down, can you do that for me?"

Travis swallowed and nodded. I took a slow breath and he took the hint, copying me. We breathed together and Travis closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against mine. Eventually, he sagged against me and sobbed quietly.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered. "That I hurt you."

"It was just too hard of a kiss honey, that's all." I said in a soft voice. "Nothing to worry about. I just didn't want you to lose control and do anything you might regret. What we're going to do is keep taking deep breaths, and we can talk about this if you like. Or we can move past it and continue on with today."

"Angel I love you so much." Travis sniffed, wiping his eyes. "You know I do. I'd do fucking anything for you."

"Oh come here." I hugged him close. "It's never real okay? I'm always here. Me and Bella and Olly. We all love you so incredibly much and I can't wait to marry you and have another baby with you."