TNT Short Fics

A marvelous time

Surrounded by some of her favorite people, the sunshine and salt air, and Travis never far out of her reach, this weekend is exactly what Taylor needs. It settles into her bones and helps wash away some lingering sadness and stress from the last couple of weeks. The white house on the hill feels like an old friend ready to harbor her after an unexpected storm.

As she looks across the pool deck at everyone gathered in the early evening after the kids' dinner, she notes it also feels like making new traditions. Gigi stands beside her watching the guys light sparklers for all the kids. She bumps Taylor's shoulder and says, "Can you imagine the same girls that used to get up to all kinds of shenanigans here ten years ago being us now?"

"Oh, god," Taylor replies, realizing the wild difference between then and now, "Those girls would probably think we're so uncool."

"Right? Look at me?" Gigi jokes pointing at her wide-brimmed sun hat.

"I love it though," Taylor decides. "I love all this chaos and popsicles and kids running screaming from getting slathered in sunscreen. I'm glad we made it here."

Gigi looks at her, thinking of all the shit the both of them had to get through to get to this moment and she slings her arm around her, chin to her shoulder, "I'm glad we're here too, T. We should make this our new tradition."

"We should," she agrees, squeezing back. "Back to school, back to football extravaganza weekend."

"Maybe you'll have one to slather in sunscreen in the next couple of years too," Gigi says knowingly.

"Maybe," she muses, hopeful, not at all shy about wishing for it out in the open as she may have once been.

"Although, Auntie Tay seems to have become the absolute hit around here," Gigi notes, causing Taylor's face to heat up.

Earlier, after everyone arrived, Elliott noticed that Inez called her Aunt Tay. She ran to Kylie, sobbing, because she didn't understand why she couldn't call Taylor "Auntie Tay" too. Travis had scooped her up, tossed her into the air, and said, "Let's just ask her if it's okay." And that's how she suddenly became a part of the family—by a little girl, hanging upside down in her uncle's arms, asking if she could be her aunt. Taylor laughed as she wiped the last of the tears from Ellie's cheeks, tears also pricking the corners of her own eyes, and said, "Of course."

When Pat, Brit, and the kids arrived, Sterling decided that if everyone else was calling her that, she would too. And now, here they all are. It makes her feel like her heart is close to bursting. All these people are part of her family—some, like Gigi, who have been with her through the rollercoaster of her life, and others who showed up during perhaps the craziest time of all and still welcomed her with open arms.

Travis turns to her from across the pool and smiles. He has Bennie hanging on to one leg and Jason yapping in his ear and she thinks about what Gigi said again. What would her 25-year-old self think of this now? She's sure some part of her would find it ridiculous and boring and cringe. But she also knows that even then, this is what she wanted. Her people around her, someone who loved her just for her, and all good things to come in the future. She thinks deep down inside that she'd have loved this.

Even if she would have been abhorred by the comfy Birkenstock clogs on her feet.

Travis swings Bennet up and hands her off to Jason before walking over to them.

"You throw a mean party, babe," he says, handing her an unlit sparkler and palming her back sending little scratches down her spine.

"Oh, Travis," Gigi says, shaking her head. "Wait til she breaks out an elaborately decorated cake. Then you know you're at a true Holiday House party."