Wildest Dreams - A Taylor Swift Adoption Fanfiction

Chapter 27: Your Very Concerned Tree

I see Andrea before the car even stops - standing on her porch like some kind of guardian angel, hands clasped tight against her chest. Her face crumples the moment she sees us through the car windows.

"My girls," she chokes out as we stumble from the car. "My babies..."

I don't remember moving. One second I'm frozen in the backseat, the next I'm somehow in Andrea's arms, sobbing like I've never sobbed before. Like everything I've been holding back is finally breaking free.

"Grandma," I cry, actually cry out the word for the first time ever. "He's going to... everyone's gonna know..."

"Let them know," she says fiercely, holding me so tight it almost hurts. "Let them see what those monsters did to my granddaughter. Let them see what you survived."

Taylor crashes into us, wrapping her arms around both of us as she breaks down. We sink to the porch steps together.

"Mommy," Taylor sobs into Andrea's shoulder, sounding younger than I've ever heard her. "I can't... he's going to..."

"I know, baby girl." Andrea somehow holds us both closer. "But he can't hurt either of you anymore. I won't let him."

Tree hovers nearby, still coordinating on her phones but I can see tears streaming down her face. Andrea reaches out with one hand, pulls her down with us.

"My girls," Andrea says again, rocking us slightly. "All my girls."

"I'm sorry," I choke out. "I'm so sorry. If I hadn't... if you hadn't adopted me..."

"Don't you dare," Taylor and Andrea say together.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to this family," Andrea continues fiercely. "The absolute best. And no British asshole with a vendetta gets to change that."

"Language, mom," Taylor manages through her tears.

"Oh, I'll show you language," Andrea's voice hardens. "Wait until I get my hands on him. Wait until..."

"Already handled," Tree says grimly, wiping her eyes. "Trust me."

I press closer to Andrea, trying to disappear into her embrace as another wave of panic hits. "Everyone's gonna... they'll know everything..."

"They'll know how strong you are," Andrea cuts me off. "How brave. How you survived hell and came out shining."

"But-"

"No buts." She pulls back just enough to look at me. "You are my granddaughter. You are a Swift. And Swifts don't break. We bend, we cry, we hurt - but we don't break."

"I don't know how to..." my voice cracks. "I don't know how to be strong anymore."

"Then let us be strong for you," Taylor whispers, holding me tighter. "Let us protect you for once."

"That's what family does," Andrea adds softly. "We protect each other. We love each other. No matter what."

"No matter what," Taylor echoes, pressing kisses to my hair.

Eventually, we make our way inside.

The moment I see them - two male figures in Andrea's living room - every muscle in my body locks up. My hand finds Taylor's in blind panic, squeezing so hard it must hurt.

"Baby," Taylor says instantly. "It's okay. It's just Austin and dad. Remember? We talked about..."

But I'm already backing up, dragging her with me, memories of angry men and raised voices flooding back.

"I can't," I gasp out. "I can't I can't I can't..."

Austin takes a step forward, concerned, but that small movement sends me into complete panic. I practically climb behind Taylor, using her as a shield.