The Beard

- Eight -

Y/N stood at the plate, gripping the bat tighter than she should. The stadium was a roar of noise—fans cheering, chanting her name—but it all felt distant. Her head wasn't in the game. All she could think about was Taylor.

The pitcher wound up. Y/N swung and missed.

Strike one.

She stepped back, taking a deep breath, trying to clear her mind. But the image of Taylor, her smile hidden behind carefully managed PR, kept flashing before her eyes. The fake headlines, the staged moments, Elizabeth's awkward presence—it was all too much.

The pitcher wound up again. The ball sped toward her, but her focus wavered. She swung. Missed.

Strike two.

The crowd's tension was palpable, the energy shifting. Y/N hadn't been Striked out in well over three years.

Y/N's heart pounded in her chest. One more strike, and she'd be out. She closed her eyes, trying to block out everything, trying to find her center. But the noise in her head wouldn't stop.

Then, a collective gasp from the crowd.

Her eyes snapped open, and she saw it: the jumbotron flickering to life. There, in the VIP box, were Taylor and Karlie. Taylor had her hands cupped around her mouth, shouting, and Karlie was beside her, clapping, cheering.

Y/N's heart skipped a beat. Taylor had broken her own rule—stepping out of the shadows, showing support in front of thousands. Their eyes met across the stadium, and Taylor mouthed the words Y/N had been craving to hear: I love you.

Something shifted inside Y/N. The noise faded, the weight lifted. She stepped back up to the plate, gripping the bat with renewed focus.

The pitcher threw. Y/N's eyes locked on the ball, every muscle in her body coiled with purpose. She swung.

Crack.

The sound echoed through the stadium as the ball soared, high and far. It sailed over the fence, disappearing into the night. The crowd erupted, the noise deafening. Y/N had just hit the first home run of the game.

As she rounded the bases, she glanced up at the jumbotron again. Taylor was still there, smiling, and cheering as Karlie leaned in, whispering something, but Taylor didn't take her eyes off Y/N.

Karlie shook her head, frustration evident. "You need to do more than cheer, Tay. She's slipping away. You saw those first two strikes. This... all of this... you are fucking her up."

Taylor stared at the field, watching Y/N celebrate with her teammates. "I know," she whispered. "I didn't realize how bad it was. Not until now."

Karlie's voice was firm. "Then fix it. Before you lose her."

Taylor's eyes filled with determination. She stood up, pulling Karlie with her. "Come on. We need to make even more noise."

They pushed open the window of the VIP lounge, the cool night air hitting them. Without hesitation, they started shouting, cheering as loud as they could. The crowd below noticed, the cameras zooming in. The image of Taylor Swift, cheering with Karlie Kloss, flashed on the jumbotron again.

(...)

The game ended in a blur. The Dodgers won, thanks to Y/N's three home runs. Fans swarmed the field, chanting her name. Elizabeth was the first to reach her, pulling her into a hug.

Y/N tensed at the contact, but Elizabeth leaned in, slipping a small note into her hand.

"Go," Elizabeth whispered, her eyes sincere. "She's waiting."

Y/N didn't need to be told twice. She ran.

In the locker room, Taylor was pacing back and forth, her hands twisting nervously. When Y/N bursted through the door, their eyes met, and everything fell silent.

They closed the distance between them, arms wrapping around each other in a fierce, desperate hug. Y/N buried her face in Taylor's shoulder, breathing her in.

Taylor pulled back, her voice trembling. "I talked to Tree. We can't back out of the contract. But we can shorten it. Six months, maybe a year. I know it's still shitty, but... please. Stay with me. Even like this."

Y/N searched her eyes, seeing the raw vulnerability there. "You just appeared on the jumbotron. With Karlie. Cheering for me. You know what that could do to your image?"

Taylor nodded. "Yes, and I don't care. Not anymore. I can't shout it from the rooftops yet... but... I love you. And I need YOU Y/N, I need YOU to know that I love you more than my music and my fans... more than any of that."

Y/N's expression softened. "I'll stay... I'm not leaving you... but I need you to do something for me."

"Anything," Taylor whispered.

Y/N took a deep breath. "If Travis joins you on tour, I'll be there too. You can hide me from the public. I'll wait in the hotel room if thats what you want... But I don't want him alone with you. Not because I don't trust you... but because I don't trust him."

Taylor felt a mix of relief and gratitude. "Done. As long as you are not alone with Elizabeth either."

Y/N nodded and picked Taylor up, the singer  wrapped her legs around Y/N  and they kissed each other  a fierce promise, sealing the fragile truce between them. For now, it was enough.