the stars in your eyes | t.s. one shots

way to go, tiger (2)

Taylor is pacing around the living room, nervous in a way that's even making Travis anxious. The way she's twirling around the ends of her hair, her eyes scanning the room looking for anything out of place. "Babe," Travis tells her, "I promise, everything is all sorted out for them." He reaches out to grab her hand as she's walking past, but she just keeps moving, not actually noticing his sweet attempt at a gesture.

A sigh escapes her lips. "I suppose it is. I just... I really want... no, I need every step of this plan to go exactly as we had planned for it to go." It doesn't take a genius to figure out why Taylor is so nervous. It's not actually about having guests at all- it's about the world finding out that she's got guests. That's what's making her so unsettled.

In a little over an hour, the sweet family who lived next door to Taylor in London, whom she has grown so fond of, will be arriving in Kansas City for a few days. Harrison asked if he could watch Travis play a game at Arrowhead- so that's been arranged. Travis has pulled a few strings and gotten tickets right down by the field for the whole family. While his guests would normally be up in his suite, Taylor didn't want that. That's where the cameras are always pointed. She doesn't want anyone to know that the family is here.

Those kids have the most beautiful and wonderfully normal life. A posh townhouse in London, friends at school, dance classes and sports teams in the evenings. The sort of life that nobody would ever bat an eye at. The second that they've got a tie to her, that's all going to be gone. If the media gets wind of it, it'll be some sort of national headline in half of a second. There will be speculation of why Taylor hasn't cut all ties from her old relationship. Rumors will swirl. It's the exact sort of thing Taylor spends her days trying her absolute hardest to avoid- and she doesn't ever want it for her friends.

Evie, Joshua, and their children are going to be staying at the house with Travis and Taylor. The couple has got all four of their guest rooms set up- one for Evie and Joshua, and one for each child. The house will be full in a way that it's never been before, but this house has far better privacy than his other Kansas City residence, where his guests usually stay. Plus, Travis thinks, it'll be nice to have some company. Those kids will bring some life to the place. They'll paint a picture of what the future could look like, he can't help but muse. He knows that, with Taylor by his side, they're going to have it all someday. Those guest rooms will be redecorated into a nursery, and the tidy floors will become littered with toys.

Taylor can't wait to see her London friends again, as well as their children. She knows that Harrison is going to have the best time ever at the football game, as she's got some special tricks up her sleeve for Iris and Ada as well- some fun little picnics and an evening spent at the children's museum, which Taylor has reserved for the evening. Travis has invited along all of his teammates who have kids, so it'll be great fun. It's going to be such a wonderful few days, getting to show off her new world to some of the most important people from her old one. 

After his previous attempt at grabbing her hand failed, Travis stands up this time, walking to Taylor and wrapping his arms around her waist to stop the pacing. He lightly rubs her arm, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "Sweetie, it's all going to be great. I promise. They're not really here to see Kansas City now, are they? They're here to see you, and all you've got to do is be your special, incredible self. Easy enough, right?"

She sighs. "I guess so."

"I know so," Travis tells his girlfriend. "Think about how excited Iris must be right now, knowing there's only a few more minutes until she sees Taylor." He pauses, then: "Now, I bet those kids have never tasted lemonade. They don't have it like we do in England, huh?"

A little smile grows on Taylor's face. "They don't. It's pretty gross there."

"So how about you make up a pitcher? Use that delicious homemade recipe you have." Taylor knows what Travis is doing. He's giving her little tasks to distract her, in a way. Something to keep her hands busy as she anxiously awaits the arrival of their guests. Even though she is able to see through that tactic, she knows that he's using it for a reason- it'll work. It always does, when she gets all stressed out like this. So, she obliges, falling willingly right into his trap as she walks into the kitchen and pulls some lemon juice out of the refrigerator.