peter (tayvis shortfic)

we both did the best we could do underneath the same moon

Kansas City

The air was colder than Taylor had expected, but she didn't mind. Winter was beginning to take over the city, and over the past few days, she had felt an increasing unease within herself. Even though she knew this moment would come, the nervousness overtook her with every step she took toward Travis's house.

They had maintained a good relationship since the breakup, as friends, but there was always a tension in the air whenever the future was mentioned. She knew this day was approaching, and she needed to be brave. The decision to tell Travis wasn't easy, but she knew that, despite the changes between them, there was now a responsibility that connected them. He needed to know. What would happen next, she wasn't sure, but it was necessary to start building a foundation of respect and understanding for the sake of the baby.

As she arrived at Travis's house, she took a deep breath, knocking on the door and waiting for him to open it. He seemed surprised to see her, but his smile quickly softened when he noticed something was different.

"Hey, Tay," he said, giving her a quick hug. "How's it going?"

She forced a smile, but the anxiety still clung to her. "Actually, no, Travis... I need to tell you something."

He studied her more closely, immediately sensing that this wasn't just a casual conversation. "Sure, what happened?"

Taylor took a deep breath before speaking. "Well, there's no better way to say it...I... I'm pregnant."

The words hung in the air between them, and she watched as Travis's eyes widened. For a moment, silence filled the room, and Taylor allowed herself to feel the weight of those words. It wasn't easy, but it was finally happening.

"Pregnant?" He repeated, trying to process. "How far along?"

"Almost four months." She looked at him, waiting for a reaction. "I... I only found out recently."

Travis fell silent, running a hand over his forehead. The shock was evident, but he quickly composed himself. "Are you okay? Is the baby okay?"

"Yes, yes," Taylor replied. "We're both fine."

"You... you want to do this on your own?" Travis asked, his voice soft and cautious.

Taylor shook her head, already knowing this conversation was going to be more complicated than she'd imagined. "No. I don't want to do this alone. But I also know we won't go back to what we were... I don't expect that from you, Travis. We have to handle this differently, in a way that's good for the baby. I can't do it alone, but I also don't want you to feel like you need to be more than what we are now."

This conversation was starting to become more complicated than she had anticipated, but she knew it was the right thing. They needed an agreement. No longer as a couple, but as partners in raising a child. A balance that, despite everything, would have to be found.

He looked at her intensely, as if trying to understand his own feelings. "I'm not going to abandon you, Taylor. No matter what happened between us, that doesn't change. I'll be here for whatever you need. And the baby will be my responsibility too."

Taylor felt a sense of relief hearing those words. It wasn't the relationship she wanted, but it was what she needed. She looked at him, trying to find the strength to say the next words. "I think we need shared custody. It'll be better for the baby, and maybe for both of us too."

Travis stepped forward without hesitation. "I agree. We'll split everything. I'll be there. Every step. I just... I just need to know you're okay, Taylor."

"I'll be okay," she responded, her tone softer now. "I just... I just need time to adjust to all of this, you know? But yes, we'll do this together. Anyway, we have to."