Requested by: tayvis_lover1387
The cold air in Arrowhead Stadium felt sharp, biting with every breath. It was the coldest game of the season, the wind cutting through even the heaviest layers the players wore. Travis Kelce was used to playing in the freezing weather, but today was different. The game against their rivals was neck and neck, but his mind wasn't fully in it. Every time the offense wasn't on the field, he found himself glancing up at the suites, his eyes searching for her.
Taylor had insisted on coming to the game. He had told her she should stay home—how bitter the cold was going to be, how the wind wouldn't let up—but she was stubborn, as always. She smiled that soft smile, kissed him on the cheek, and said she wouldn't miss watching him play, not for anything. He had made sure the suite was heated and piled with blankets for her, but still, the thought of her being out in this weather lingered in the back of his mind.
Now, as he stood on the sideline waiting for the next play to start, his eyes flicked upward again, searching. He saw her standing by the window of the suite, looking down at the field. His heart calmed for a moment—she was okay.
But then something went wrong.
Taylor swayed slightly, then collapsed onto the floor.
"Taylor!" Travis breathed out in shock, panic rising in his chest.
His body froze for a second, mind spinning with worry, before instinct kicked in. Without another thought, he ripped off his helmet and started running—past the coaches, the players, the chaos of the game.
"Travis! Where are you going?" Coach Reid's voice shouted after him, but Travis couldn't respond. He couldn't think of anything else but Taylor.
The tunnel seemed like it stretched on forever as he sprinted up to the suites. His heart pounded louder than the crowd's roar behind him, and his breath came out in panicked bursts. When he reached the suite door, he flung it open, seeing her lying on the floor, surrounded by blankets, still and pale.
"Oh God, Taylor," he whispered as he rushed to her side, dropping to his knees beside her. He gathered her in his arms, cradling her close to his chest, his hands trembling as he tried to shake her awake. "Taylor, baby, come on, open your eyes."
Her skin was ice cold, her lips tinged blue, and her body limp in his arms. The warmth from the heating had clearly failed, and the cold had seeped into her.
"Someone get help!" Travis shouted to the staff nearby as he held her tighter, rubbing her arms in an attempt to bring some warmth back to her body.
Minutes felt like hours, but finally, as medical staff rushed in with blankets and heaters, Taylor stirred slightly in his arms. She blinked weakly, her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at him, confused and still half-asleep, but a small smile pulled at her lips.
"Travis?" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm here, baby," he said, his voice thick with emotion as he brushed a few strands of hair from her face. "I'm right here."
Her eyelids fluttered closed again, but she managed to murmur, "I got cold... I guess I should've stayed home."
Travis let out a breathy, relieved laugh, shaking his head slightly as he kissed her forehead. "I'm taking you home. No more games today."
Taylor's eyes opened again, hazy and tired. She looked up at him, confused. "But... you're in the middle of one."
Travis leaned down, his forehead resting gently against hers as he whispered, "Game's over for me. You're what matters."
---
The drive home was quiet, the hum of the car the only sound as Taylor rested in the passenger seat, still wrapped in the thick blankets from the suite. Travis kept his hand on her leg, his thumb brushing over her knee, checking on her every few moments. She was still pale, her body weak from the cold, but she had fallen asleep almost immediately after they left the stadium, exhausted from the ordeal.
His mind raced as he drove, replaying the moment she collapsed over and over in his head. He couldn't shake the image of her lying on the floor, cold and unresponsive. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, willing himself to calm down. She was okay now, and that was all that mattered.
When they finally arrived home, Travis gently unbuckled her seatbelt and lifted her out of the car, carrying her inside as if she were made of glass. Taylor stirred slightly in his arms, her head resting against his chest as she mumbled, "You don't have to carry me, I'm fine."
Travis just smiled, ignoring her protests. "I've got you, babe."
Once inside, he carried her straight to their bedroom and carefully set her down on the bed. She sat up slowly, her body still shivering slightly despite the warmth of the house.
"We need to get you into something warmer," Travis said softly as he went to the closet, pulling out her coziest clothes.
Taylor gave him a tired smile. "Two pairs of socks?"
"Two pairs of socks," he confirmed, tossing her the softest ones he could find.
She chuckled weakly, but didn't argue. Travis helped her out of her cold, damp clothes and into a thick sweater, sweatpants, and two pairs of socks—one regular, and one fuzzy pair that she always wore when she needed extra warmth. He bundled her up in blankets before changing into his own warm clothes, a pair of sweats and a hoodie.
Once they were both changed, Travis lifted her again, carrying her to the couch in the living room and gently settling her down. He tucked a blanket around her, making sure she was as comfortable as possible.
"Warm enough?" he asked, his voice soft.
Taylor nodded, her eyes heavy with exhaustion but a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah... thanks."
"I'll be right back," he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Hot chocolate?"
She smiled wider, nodding. "Yes, please."
Travis made his way into the kitchen, quickly preparing two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, adding extra marshmallows to hers the way she liked. As the rich smell filled the room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of calm wash over him. Taylor was safe, warm, and resting now. That was all that mattered.
When he returned to the living room, he found Taylor dozing off again, the blanket pulled up to her chin. He sat down beside her, gently nudging her awake as he handed her the hot chocolate.
"Here you go," he said softly.
She opened her eyes, smiling sleepily as she took the mug from him. "You're the best, you know that?"
Travis chuckled, shaking his head. "I just care about you, that's all."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, sipping their hot chocolate. The warmth spread through their bodies, pushing away the cold from earlier.
After a while, Taylor glanced at the TV. "Wanna watch something?"
Travis nodded, grabbing the remote. "How about *The Polar Express*?"
Taylor grinned. "Perfect."
As the movie started, Travis wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close as they snuggled under the blankets. The warmth of the fire, the sound of the movie, and the comfort of being together made everything feel right again.
Taylor rested her head on his shoulder, her voice soft as she said, "Thank you for leaving the game."
Travis kissed the top of her head, holding her a little tighter. "You're what matters, Taylor. Always."
Requests ~~~~~>
And yes I do love The Polar Express. My entire family makes fun of me because it's my favorite Christmas movie. And so the way I get to watch it more than once every year is because my mom will have me decorate the tree and she'll let me turn on The Polar Express as I do it.
