Requested by: @USMCRules
Travis sat at the back of the meeting room, the long conference table filled with his teammates and coaching staff. The low hum of chatter and the occasional scrape of chairs provided a backdrop to Andy Reid's voice as he broke down plays, strategies, and drills for the upcoming season. Normally, this would be a time when Travis would be all in—engaged, alert, and ready to throw in a witty comment or two to lighten the room's atmosphere. But today, he felt like a shell of himself.
His eyelids were impossibly heavy, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him like a lead blanket. He tried to focus on the whiteboard at the front of the room, where Andy was sketching out offensive schemes, but his vision blurred. His head nodded once, then twice, before finally resting on his forearm, which was folded on the table in front of him. He wasn't just tired; he was drained, in every possible way. The past night had been a war zone of sorts—not on the field, but in their home, with a tiny but formidable opponent: Caspian Everett Kelce, their newborn son.
Caspian, with his wisps of brown hair and bright blue eyes, was perfect in every way... except when it came to sleep. Last night, the baby had been inconsolable, his cries piercing the night air like an alarm no one could silence. Taylor had tried, her body already weary from weeks of sleep deprivation, but Travis had stepped in. He insisted, holding her shoulders gently and whispering, "Babe, you need to rest. I've got this." And so, for the entire night, it had been just him and Caspian. Travis had walked the length of their house what felt like a hundred times, his arms aching from cradling their son, singing softly in the hope that the baby would settle.
But Caspian hadn't settled. At least, not until the early hours of the morning, when the sky had just begun to lighten and the first hints of dawn crept through the blinds. By then, Taylor had gotten a few hours of much-needed sleep, but Travis? He had maybe squeezed in thirty minutes before dragging himself out the door to attend team meetings.
And now, here he was, sitting in the back of the room, head resting on his forearm, fast asleep.
He didn't hear the end of the meeting, didn't hear the shuffle of chairs as his teammates stood up and started to file out. What he did hear—or rather, feel—was a gentle nudge on his shoulder. His head jerked up, blinking rapidly as the room came back into focus. He looked up to see Coach Reid standing next to him, his usual gruff expression softened with concern.
"Travis," Andy said, his voice low, so as not to embarrass him. "You okay, man?"
Travis scrubbed a hand down his face, trying to shake off the grogginess. "Yeah, Coach. Sorry about that. I didn't mean to—"
Andy raised a hand, cutting him off gently. "I figured something was up when I saw you drifting off. I didn't want to wake you during the meeting because... well, it looked like you needed the sleep more than anything I was saying."
Travis let out a tired laugh. "You could say that. It's been... a rough night."
Andy tilted his head, waiting for him to continue.
Travis exhaled and leaned back in his chair. "Caspian—our newborn—he just wouldn't stop crying. I mean, the kid's got lungs, Coach. Taylor's been running on fumes, so I took the night shift. Thought I could handle it, but... I guess I'm paying for it now."
Andy's expression softened even further. "Caspian Everett, huh?" he mused with a smile. "Sounds like a strong name."
"He's a strong kid. Just... really likes to make sure we know it at 3 a.m."
Andy chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling, but filled with understanding. "Look, Travis, I get it. You're a new dad, and I'm sure it's a lot to juggle—being there for your family and getting ready for the season. But just make sure you're pacing yourself. We need you sharp on the field, but more importantly, your family needs you. Don't burn yourself out."
Travis nodded, appreciating the understanding. "Thanks, Coach. I'll be good. Just need to figure out how to get him to sleep longer stretches."
"Let me know if you crack that code," Andy said with a grin before giving Travis a light pat on the shoulder. "Go home, get some rest. You look like you need it."
Travis chuckled weakly and stood up, grabbing his bag. He exchanged a few nods with his teammates as he left, but his mind was already drifting to Taylor and Caspian. Home was where he needed to be.
When he pulled up to their house, the afternoon sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the driveway. Travis parked the car, his body feeling sluggish as he walked up the steps and entered the house. The quiet hit him first. He expected to hear Caspian's cries or at least some movement, but the house was peaceful.
"Babe?" he called softly as he stepped inside.
Taylor's voice floated from upstairs. "In the nursery!"
Travis made his way up, his feet heavy on the stairs. When he pushed open the door to the nursery, the sight before him made his heart swell. Taylor sat in the rocking chair by the window, Caspian swaddled snugly in her arms, finally asleep. Her hair was tousled, and she looked as tired as he felt, but she still gave him a soft, grateful smile.
"Hey, you're home," she whispered.
"Yeah," Travis replied, walking over to her and crouching down next to the chair. He reached out, gently brushing a hand over Caspian's tiny head. "Looks like someone finally decided to take a nap."
Taylor sighed, her head resting back against the chair. "He just fell asleep about thirty minutes ago. You must've done all the hard work last night."
Travis chuckled softly. "He put up a good fight."
She reached out, placing her free hand on his cheek. "Thank you for taking the night shift. I don't know how I would've made it without you."
"Of course, babe. You needed the rest."
They shared a quiet moment, both of them watching their son sleep, the weight of the past sleepless nights hanging in the air between them. Travis could see the exhaustion etched into Taylor's features, and he knew she saw the same in his.
"You think we can sneak in a nap?" she asked, her voice hopeful.
Travis smiled. "I think that sounds like the best idea I've heard all day."
Together, they carefully laid Caspian down in his crib, holding their breaths as they tiptoed out of the room. Once they were in the master bedroom, Taylor crawled into bed first, and Travis followed, his body sinking into the mattress like it had been waiting for this moment all day. He pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her as they both let out contented sighs.
For the first time in what felt like forever, they were both still. No cries, no pacing the house at odd hours, just the peaceful quiet of their home and the warmth of each other.
As the afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains, Travis felt his body relax for the first time in days. Taylor nuzzled closer, her breathing already slowing as she drifted off to sleep. He kissed the top of her head, whispering, "I've got you both."
Within moments, the entire Kelce household—Travis, Taylor, and little Caspian Everett—slipped into the deep, much-needed nap they all deserved.
Requests ~~~~~>
