Requested by: @thebolter1387
The morning started off like any other in the Kelce household. Sunlight streamed through the wide windows, illuminating the cozy living room where Taylor sat on the plush recliner, cradling Lillian in her arms. The six-month-old babbled happily, her tiny hands reaching up to grasp her mom's fingers. River, the eldest at five, was running around the house with her doll, while two-year-old Maisie sat on the floor, trying to stack building blocks with a focus that only toddlers could muster.
It was a rare calm morning, the kind Taylor cherished since her chaotic tour schedule often left her wishing for these small, peaceful moments with her family. Travis had just left for the team's practice, and Taylor had mentally planned out the day: maybe a little bit of playtime, maybe a quick stroll around the block with the girls in their strollers, and then lunch together. Everything seemed perfectly in place.
Until it wasn't.
"Mommy! I can't find Phoebe!" River's panicked voice rang out from the kitchen, jolting Taylor out of her reverie.
"What do you mean, sweetie?" Taylor asked, adjusting Lillian in her arms as she made her way to River.
"Phoebe! She's not in the house! And I can't find Monica, Rachel, or Joey either!" River's wide blue eyes were filled with worry as she clutched her doll tightly to her chest.
Taylor's heart skipped a beat. The cats had a tendency to wander off, but they never strayed far, and they were usually easy to find napping in one of the many cozy corners of the house.
"Okay, let's not panic," Taylor said, though she could feel her own nerves starting to build. She knelt down next to River, keeping her voice as calm as possible. "We'll find them. Maybe they're just hiding."
Maisie waddled over, sensing the tension. "Where kitties, Mommy?" she asked, her big brown eyes searching her mother's face for reassurance.
Taylor glanced between her girls and Lillian, who was still nestled in her arms, starting to fuss from the sudden shift in energy. She took a deep breath, trying to keep the rising panic at bay. Four cats missing? That couldn't be right.
"I'm sure they're around here somewhere," she said, her voice wavering just slightly. She pressed a kiss to Lillian's soft head before setting her down in her bouncer. "River, Maisie, we're going on a kitty hunt, okay? Let's look in all their favorite spots."
The search began with enthusiasm. River took charge, opening every closet door and peeking under the beds, while Maisie mimicked her, toddling after her older sister and calling out, "Phoebe! Monica! Joey!"
Taylor checked the usual cat hangouts: the laundry room, behind the couch, even in the linen closet where Joey liked to curl up on freshly folded towels. But each spot was empty. As the minutes ticked by, Taylor's worry grew.
After a thorough sweep of the first floor, River stood in the middle of the living room, hands on her hips, her little face scrunched up in frustration. "They're not here, Mommy!" she cried.
Taylor glanced at the clock. Travis would still be at practice for another couple of hours, and she didn't want to interrupt him with something as minor as the cats going missing—yet. But her heart raced as she considered the possibility that maybe, just maybe, one of the doors had been left open, and the cats had slipped out.
She picked up her phone, hovering over Travis's contact, her thumb lingering indecisively over the call button.
Just then, Lillian started wailing, her tiny fists clenched as her cries filled the room.
"Oh, Lils, I know, I know," Taylor murmured, scooping her baby back into her arms and gently bouncing her to soothe her. "It's okay, Mommy's here."
But the truth was, Taylor was beginning to freak out. Phoebe, Monica, Rachel, and Joey weren't just cats—they were part of the family. River adored them, Maisie loved chasing after them, and even Lillian had taken to watching them with wide-eyed fascination. Losing them was not an option.
Taylor pressed her lips together, her mind racing with what to do next. River, ever the observant five-year-old, tugged on Taylor's shirt. "Mommy, are the kitties okay?"
"I hope so, sweetheart," Taylor whispered, glancing toward the backyard. "Let's just check outside real quick, okay?"
They all trooped to the back door, Taylor leading the way as she opened it, scanning the backyard for any signs of their furry friends. Nothing. Her heart sank further.
Just as Taylor was about to finally call Travis, the front door swung open with a familiar heavy thud.
"Hey, I'm home early—" Travis called, stepping inside and tossing his keys on the hall table. He paused mid-sentence when he saw the panicked look on Taylor's face, River's worried expression, and Maisie clutching her mother's leg, looking up with wide eyes.
"What's going on?" he asked, his tone immediately shifting to concern as he crossed the room in a few strides.
"The cats," Taylor blurted out, her voice shaky. "Phoebe, Monica, Rachel, and Joey are missing. We've looked everywhere, but they're not in the house. I'm worried they might've gotten out."
Travis's brow furrowed for a moment, but then he gave her that steady, calm look that always managed to ground her. "Okay, let's not panic. Cats are sneaky, you know that." He crouched down to give River a reassuring smile. "You help me find them, superstar?"
River nodded, still looking anxious but comforted by her dad's confident demeanor.
Travis scooped Maisie into his arms while Taylor balanced Lillian on her hip, following Travis as he led the search with renewed energy.
Within minutes, Travis began his own sweep of the house. He opened every door, checked under every table, and moved the couch—which River and Maisie had been unable to do. "Taylor, you and the girls check the garage," he called over his shoulder. "I'll double-check upstairs and the backyard."
With a sense of urgency, Taylor guided the girls toward the garage. As they reached the door, they were greeted by the familiar sound of soft meows.
"There!" River exclaimed, pointing toward the far corner of the garage.
Sure enough, nestled behind a pile of unused paint cans were Phoebe, Monica, Rachel, and Joey, all curled up together in a warm, furry pile, blinking lazily up at the sudden intrusion.
Taylor let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her entire body sagging with relief. "Oh, thank God."
"We found them!" River shouted with glee, racing over to gently pet Phoebe's head. Maisie clapped her hands excitedly, repeating her sister's words. "Found them!"
Taylor picked up Monica, nuzzling her face into the cat's soft fur. "I'm so glad you're okay," she murmured, feeling the weight of the morning's panic finally lifting.
Travis jogged into the garage moments later, relief flooding his features as he saw the cats safely tucked away. "Good work, team," he said with a grin, walking over to give River a high-five. "You're a top-notch kitty detective, kiddo."
River beamed, basking in her dad's praise, while Maisie giggled from her perch in Travis's arms.
Taylor smiled, watching her family as the morning's chaos finally subsided. She let out a soft laugh and said, "I can't believe they were in here the whole time."
"Cats," Travis said with a shrug, chuckling. "They like to keep us on our toes."
Taylor shook her head, grateful for how he'd handled the situation so calmly, keeping both her and the girls from spiraling into full-blown panic. She leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her.
"Crisis averted," she sighed, closing her eyes for just a moment.
"Don't worry, babe," Travis said softly. "I've got us."
And in that moment, Taylor knew that no matter how crazy things got, with Travis by her side, everything would always be okay.
Requests ~~~~>
