Requested by: @evchen_4
Travis unlocked the front door and was immediately greeted by chaos. River, his three-year-old daughter, was bouncing off the walls, her tiny feet pattering loudly as she ran around in circles, giggling at nothing in particular. Maisie, his newborn, was screaming at the top of her lungs, red-faced and wailing in Taylor's arms. And there, on the floor, sat Taylor—utterly exhausted, with disheveled hair, bags under her eyes, and baby spit-up and vomit staining her shirt. She was crying silently, her face pale and drawn with stress.
Travis's heart sank at the sight. He hadn't expected things to be this bad.
"Hey, babe," he said softly as he approached her, trying not to startle her. "I'm home."
Taylor barely looked up, her eyes glazed over. She was holding Maisie close to her chest, trying to soothe her, but it was clear she had reached her limit. Travis knelt down beside her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Let me take her."
For a moment, Taylor hesitated, as if she wasn't sure what to do. But then, with trembling hands, she passed the screaming baby to Travis, her shoulders sagging in relief.
"Go shower, Tay," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "I've got this. You need a break."
Taylor's lip quivered, but she nodded. She was too tired to argue. Slowly, she rose to her feet, brushing a lock of hair out of her face, and shuffled toward the bathroom. She glanced back at Travis, who was already bouncing Maisie in his arms, murmuring soothing words to calm her down. River was still running wild, but Travis didn't seem fazed.
As soon as she entered the bathroom, Taylor locked the door and turned on the shower, letting the hot water run for a moment before stepping in. The second the water hit her skin, the dam broke. She crumpled to the floor, her knees hitting the tile as she sobbed uncontrollably. Everything she'd been holding in—the exhaustion, the frustration, the guilt—it all came pouring out.
She felt like she was failing. Failing as a mom, failing as a wife. Maisie wouldn't stop crying, and River had been demanding her attention all day. She hadn't showered in two days, hadn't slept in what felt like weeks, and to top it all off, her phone had been buzzing nonstop with cruel comments. Strangers online, body-shaming her, calling her fat, mocking her post-pregnancy appearance. It was all too much. She hated how she looked now, how different her body felt. And the constant reminders from social media only deepened her despair.
Taylor pressed her hands to her face, letting the water mix with her tears. She stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, until the sobs finally subsided, leaving her feeling empty but somewhat lighter. She finished her shower in silence, the water washing away the physical grime, but not the emotional weight that still pressed down on her.
Meanwhile, Travis had Maisie calmed down, finally managing to get her to settle. He juggled her in one arm while keeping an eye on River, who was now playing with a set of blocks in the living room. Travis whipped up something quick for dinner—nothing fancy, just grilled cheese sandwiches and soup, something simple that wouldn't take too much effort.
Once dinner was ready, he headed upstairs, Maisie nestled in his arms, to find Taylor. When he reached their bedroom, he heard the sound of the water shutting off and waited outside the bathroom door. A few moments later, Taylor emerged, wrapped in a towel, her hair dripping wet. She looked a little better, but not much.
"Dinner's ready," Travis said gently, but then he noticed something. Taylor was standing in front of the mirror, her hands resting on her stomach, staring at her reflection with a pained expression. She didn't seem to notice him at first.
"Taylor?" Travis said, his voice soft.
She jumped slightly, then quickly wiped her eyes, trying to act like nothing was wrong. But Travis had already seen the tears. He stepped closer, concern etched across his face. "What's going on?"
Taylor shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
Travis wasn't having it. He gently placed Maisie in her bassinet and turned back to Taylor, tilting her chin up so she would look at him. "Tay, talk to me. Please."
Her lip trembled again, and she finally broke. "I'm being body-shamed online," she confessed, her voice cracking. "People are calling me fat, saying I've let myself go. And I just... I don't recognize myself anymore, Travis. I look in the mirror, and I hate what I see."
Travis's heart shattered at her words. He pulled her into a tight hug, his hand cradling the back of her head as she sobbed into his chest. "Taylor, no," he whispered. "You just had a baby. Your body is amazing. It's strong, and it brought two beautiful girls into the world. Don't listen to those people. They don't know anything."
"But I feel... gross," Taylor admitted, her voice muffled against his chest. "I can't even fit into my old clothes. I don't feel like myself."
Travis pulled back slightly, just enough so he could look her in the eyes. "You're beautiful, Tay. You always have been, and you always will be. And anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. You're my wife, the mother of my children, and I love you no matter what."
Taylor sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I love you, too."
They stood there for a moment, holding each other, until Maisie let out a soft cry from the bassinet. Travis smiled gently. "Come on. Let's go eat dinner and then get the girls to bed. You need some rest."
Taylor nodded, giving him a small, grateful smile. Together, they went downstairs, where River was already seated at the table, babbling away to herself as she played with her food. Dinner was quiet but comforting, the simple act of sitting together bringing some sense of normalcy to the chaotic day.
Afterward, Travis and Taylor worked as a team to put both girls to bed. River fought sleep, as usual, while Maisie dozed off peacefully in her crib. Once both girls were settled, they headed back downstairs to the living room.
Travis flopped onto the couch, turning on *Friends* for some light-hearted background noise. Taylor curled up beside him, resting her head on his lap. It wasn't long before the exhaustion caught up with her, and she drifted off to sleep, her breathing soft and steady.
Travis looked down at her, gently brushing a strand of hair out of her face. She looked so peaceful like this, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. Despite the chaos, despite the exhaustion, he knew they'd get through it together. They always did.
As the familiar sounds of *Friends* filled the room, Travis leaned back, letting himself relax for the first time all day. He had his family, and that was all that mattered.
Requests ~~~~~~>
