[ discovering you ] - sequel to camp discovery || a tayvis story.

outtake eleven.

JULY 26, 2013

12:10 PM

"Hi, Dr. Humpries!" Michael said happily into the camera as he played with a Rubrik's Cube that was in his hands. 

"Well, I didn't expect to see your handsome little face today. This is Mommy's session." Dr. Humpries told the little one, resting her face in he hands as a smile spread across her face. 

"She went to help Daddy find something to eat. She said she would be right back," Michael told his and his mother's therapist. 

"Okay," Dr. Humpries laughed. "How are you doing? How's living in a new place?"

Michael shrugged. "It's okay. I have two rooms that are Spiderman now. Mommy and Daddy finished my room at Daddy's house. It's really cool."

"That's neat, bud. Have you made any friends yet?" Dr. Humpries asked the little boy, who was still hyper focused on the Rubrik's Cube in his hands. 

"No, but Mommy said I start school soon and I'll have friends. And Daddy said that when it starts coaching football, I can be on the team because I'm a good jumper and runner," Michael revealed. 

"Sports will be really good for you, Michael," Dr. Humpries expressed. When Michael and Taylor first started their sessions, she suggested that Michael should get into sports. She explained that sports would help Michael get his mind off of everything that was happening around him and also help him release some of the aggression that was built up inside of him. It was good for her to hear that he was going to be doing some physical activity outside of his normal P.E. classes at school. 

"Yeah, it's going to be fun," Michael said. He finally looked up from the cube he had been fiddling with. "I'm going to go get Mommy." Dr. Humpries nodded, gave him an 'okay' response, and he slid off of the bed. Michael ran out of the room and down the short hallway until he reached the kitchen. "Mommy, Dr. Humpries is on the screen."

"Okay, I'm coming," Taylor told the little one. She grabbed Travis's lunch from the microwave and placed it on the table. "Baby! Your food is on the table!" She had no idea where he had disappeared off to in a matter of seconds. She wiped her hands on a dishcloth and headed out of the kitchen and down the hallway into Travis's room. She plopped down on the bed and put Michael's iPad in her lap. "Hi, Dr. Humpries. How are you?" She asked with a smile on her face. 

"I should be asking you that question. You look happy." her therapist said with a smile of her own. 

"I am happy. Or at least, I am happier than I ever was living in Tennessee. Everything here feels so different. The other day, I met some of my boyfriend's co-workers, and they were super nice." Taylor said. She started to ramble, ramble about everything that had happened since the last time she spoke to her. She talked about Tree and Lance and how they had basically adopted her best friend, Blake. She talked about Blake moving soon and how she would have a little piece of home that was positive in her new home with her. She talked about how she was thinking about going back to school to work on her masters, but how she was scared to get into too many things all at once. She told her about her upcoming interview at the company that Lance worked for. She talked about how she was scared to overwhelm herself too quickly. Lastly, she talked about Travis. She talked about how Travis was so different from anyone she had ever dated before. How thoughtful he was. How he catered to her needs and cared about what made her uncomfortable. 

"He sounds like your dream man." Dr. Humphries told her. "He sounds like he's about the same as he was when you describe him as a teenager, just more mature and older. He was raised right. He was raised to respect others and love unconditionally. He's a good guy."

"His mom is a social worker. Maybe that has something to do with it."

"That could be a valid reason," Dr. Humpries said. Taylor's attention was taken away from the iPad screen when the bedroom door opened. She looked over at the door, a smile appearing on her face as Travis walked into the look. He walked over to the bed, and she looked up at him.

"How was therapy?" Travis asked, leaning down to kiss her quickly. Taylor reached up, stroking the side of his face. She would never get enough of kissing him, of being loved by him. 

"Still in my session, actually," Taylor said with a laugh once she snapped out of the short trance she had fallen into.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought it was only for an hour," Travis apologized, looking at the iPad sitting on his girlfriend's lap. He waved quickly at the woman on the other end. 

"It is, but sometimes it goes over. We started a little late because I was making your food," Taylor said with a little laugh.

"It was delicious, by the way. Thank you," he leaned down, kissing her again quickly, not worried about her therapist seeing him being affectionate. 

"Nice to finally meet you, young man," Dr. Humpries said, a small smile on her face. "I hear you're treating my girl right."

"Yes, ma'am, I am. I'm trying my best to give her and Michael everything they could ever want and need." Travis said proudly.   

"How old are you, son?" Dr. Humphries asked. Travis took a seat on the edge of the bed, leaning into Taylor so he could be seen in the camera. 

"I'm 24, ma'am," he answered politely. 

"What do you do for a living?" Dr. Humphries asked him. She already knew the answer because of Taylor's rambling about going to his workplace with him, but she wanted to hear it from him herself. 

"I am a 5th grade Social Studies and Science teacher," he replied. "I really love being with kids. Teaching has really become one of my great passions. Over the summers, I also work as a camp counselor." 

"Ah, yes, the camp where you and Taylor met?" Taylor noticed Dr. Humpries jotting something down in her notebook. 

"Yes, ma'am," Travis answered.

"How are you adjusting to being a father? I am aware that you only learned about Michael's existence almost two months ago at this point in time, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am. I think I am handling it pretty well. There is still a lot to learn about both Michael and Taylor, especially with everything they have experienced. But having Michael as a son brings me great joy. It's like having a built-in best friend, even though he is only seven," Travis said with a laugh. "I'm just working on our bond. My mom is a social worker, so I spoke with her about bonding with Michael and how he may have some trust issues when it comes to male figures because of the situation with Jake. We're just working one day at a time, time to build that trust and giving him that safety net he needs to thrive in his new environment."

"Sounds like you have everything all planned out regarding navigating Michael's emotional needs." Travis nodded her head. "What are you doing to help Ms. Taylor?"

"Mostly, listen to what she's telling me or even not telling me. Sometimes I have to read between the lines when she's speaking in puzzles. But I also have to read her body language. There are a lot of things she does not say. I just have to be aware of when things are shifting. I think I have caught most of them pretty quickly," Travis said and then looked at Taylor for confirmation. 

"You have. You're also always asking me if something is wrong or if I need anything," Taylor asked. She was gazing at him. She hadn't taken her eyes off of him since he walked into the room and started speaking to her therapist. She was in awe of him and how he was handling himself.

"I'll do it until the day I die, baby girl," Travis told her, tapping her nose. Her nose scrunched out of pure delight as he smiled.