the manuscript (tayvis)

all i know is you said "hello"

Taylor had always thought of herself as a storyteller, someone who could weave her emotions into lyrics that resonated with millions. But as she stood face to face with Travis, the words that had always come so easily now felt heavy and tangled, impossible to express. She could feel the weight of every year that had passed between them, every unspoken word, every unsent letter.

Travis crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "Why didn't you tell me, Taylor?"

The question hung in the air like a storm cloud. Taylor took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she finally began to speak. "When I found out I was pregnant, you were in the beginning of your career. You were just getting started, and I didn't want to be the one to hold you back. I was scared, Travis. Scared that you wouldn't want this, that you'd see it as a burden."

His eyes darkened with hurt. "You didn't even give me a chance to decide. You made that choice for me."

"I know," Taylor whispered, her hands twisting nervously. "But it wasn't just about you. It was about Emma. I wanted to protect her, to give her a life without complications, without the chaos of the spotlight. I thought I was doing what was best for her."

Travis took a step closer, his voice low but intense. "Do you know what it's like to find out you have a daughter—twelve years after the fact? To realize you've missed her first words, her first steps, her first everything? How could you keep that from me?"

Tears welled in Taylor's eyes, her guilt overwhelming. "I'm sorry, Travis. I never wanted to hurt you. But by the time I realized I'd made a mistake, too much time had passed. I didn't know how to tell you. And then, with every year that went by, it just got harder and harder to reach out."

For a moment, Travis was silent, his emotions warring within him. Finally, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "This isn't just about us anymore, Taylor. It's about Emma. She deserves to know who her father is."

Taylor nodded, her voice barely audible. "You're right. She does."

(...)

The days following Taylor's confession were filled with tension and uncertainty. Travis hadn't left New York, but he also hadn't pressed Taylor for answers. Instead, he gave her space, understanding that this was just as overwhelming for her as it was for him.

Taylor, in turn, wrestled with how to tell Emma the truth. She had always been honest with her daughter, but this was different—this was a secret she had kept for so long that even saying the words out loud felt like a betrayal.

One evening, after another long day of rehearsals, Taylor found herself sitting on the edge of Emma's bed, watching her daughter sleep. Her heart ached with the knowledge that soon, Chloe's world would be turned upside down.

"Mommy?" Emma's sleepy voice broke the silence as she blinked her eyes open. "Why are you sitting here in the dark?"

Taylor smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair away from Emma's face. "Just thinking, sweetie."

"About what?" Emma asked, her curiosity piqued.

Taylor hesitated, the words stuck in her throat. But then she thought of Travis, of the pain in his eyes when he had spoken about missing out on so much of Emma's life. Emma deserved to know the truth, no matter how difficult it might be.

"About your dad," Taylor finally said, her voice gentle.

Emma frowned in confusion. "But you always said I don't have a dad."

Taylor took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I'm sorry, Em. I wasn't honest with you. You do have a dad... and he's here, in New York."

Emma's eyes widened in surprise. "He is? Who is he?"

"His name is Travis," Taylor explained, her heart pounding. "He didn't know about you until recently, but he wants to meet you."

For a moment, Emma was silent, processing the information. "Is he nice?"

Taylor smiled, though her heart was heavy. "He is. He's a good man, and I think you'll like him."

"Okay," Emma said, a small smile forming on her lips. "I want to meet him."

Taylor's chest tightened with emotion as she kissed her daughter's forehead. "I'll make it happen, sweetie. I promise."

(...)

The next day, Taylor arranged for Emma to meet Travis in a private, quiet park away from the prying eyes of fans and paparazzi. The idea of such a significant meeting taking place under public scrutiny was unthinkable.

As they arrived at the park, Taylor's nerves were on edge. She had barely slept the night before, her mind racing with questions and fears about how this meeting would go. Would Emma like Travis? Would Travis be able to connect with her after so many years apart? And what would happen if it didn't go well?

Emma, however, seemed excited as she skipped ahead of Taylor, her innocence and curiosity shining through. "Is that him, Mommy?" she asked, pointing to a figure sitting on a bench under a large oak tree.

Taylor nodded, her stomach in knots. "Yes, that's him."

As they approached, Travis stood up, his expression a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. He had always been a confident man, but this was uncharted territory for him.

"Hi," Taylor greeted him softly, her voice wavering.

"Hi," Travis replied, his eyes shifting from Taylor to Emma He seemed momentarily lost for words as he looked at his daughter for the first time, truly taking in the sight of her. Emma's blonde curls framed her face, and her curious, wide eyes—his eyes—stared back at him with a mix of wonder and caution.

Taylor gently nudged Emma forward. "Em, this is Travis... your dad."

She looked up at him, her little brow furrowed. "Hi," she said, her voice small but steady.

Travis crouched down to her level, trying to keep his emotions in check. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and never let go, but he knew he had to take this slow. "Hi, Emma" he said softly, his voice cracking just slightly. "I'm really happy to meet you."

Emma looked at him closely, her gaze lingering on his face as if she was searching for something. "Mommy says you didn't know about me."

Travis nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "That's right. I didn't know. If I had, I would have been here a long time ago."

Emma tilted her head, considering this. "So... what do we do now?"

The simplicity of her question nearly broke him. Travis glanced up at Taylor, who gave him an encouraging nod. He took a deep breath and looked back at the kid. "Well, I'd like to get to know you, if that's okay with you. Maybe we could spend some time together, do some fun things."

Emma's eyes brightened a little. "Like what?"

Travis smiled, the tension easing slightly. "How about we start with a walk in the park? I bet there's a playground around here somewhere."

Emma hesitated for just a moment before nodding. "Okay."

Travis stood up and offered his hand to her. Emma glanced at Taylor, who gave her a reassuring smile, and then she slipped her small hand into Travis's. The connection sent a jolt of emotion through him, but he kept his composure, not wanting to overwhelm her.

As they started walking, Taylor trailed behind them, giving them some space. She watched as Travis talked to Emma, asking her about her favorite things and listening intently to her every word. Emma, who was usually shy around strangers, seemed to warm up to him quickly. Taylor could see the bond forming between them, and it filled her with a bittersweet mix of relief and sadness.

When they reached the playground, Emma's excitement took over, and she quickly ran off to the swings. Travis followed, pushing her gently as she laughed and called out for him to push higher. Taylor sat on a nearby bench, watching them with a smile on her face. Despite all the complications and heartache, seeing them together like this made it feel like maybe, just maybe, things could work out