peter (tayvis shortfic)

love's never lost when perspective is earned

Kansas City, 2021

The February chill still lingered outside, but Taylor's home in Kansas City was filled with the warm, comforting scent of chai cookies fresh from the oven. Emma, now six years old, was seated at the kitchen table, engrossed in her drawings with colored pencils scattered around her.

"Look, Mommy!" she exclaimed, holding up a page covered in vibrant scribbles. "It's you, me, and Daddy at the park!"

Taylor smiled and leaned in closer to admire the masterpiece. "It's beautiful, my love. You're such an amazing artist."

Emma grinned with pride and returned to her drawing. Taylor paused for a moment, her gaze soft as she watched her daughter. The scene was simple yet carried a profound weight. Their family, imperfect and shaped by their unique journey, had become something steady and real. But deep down, she couldn't shake the sense that something was still missing.

Later that night, Taylor waited on the couch while Travis drove over to her house. His message had been brief: I need to talk to you. She knew it was important.

The past few weeks had been filled with moments that felt more significant than they should have—lingering glances, casual touches, shared laughter that carried a deeper intimacy.

When Travis walked into the living room, she could see the nervousness etched on his face. He held a small paper bag and handed it to her as he sat beside her.

"It's your favorite coffee. I thought it might help break the ice," he said with a shy smile.

Taylor chuckled softly as she opened the bag. "You still remember?"

"How could I forget?"

They sat in silence for a moment, the tension thick between them, until Taylor finally spoke. "So... what did you want to talk about?"

Travis took a deep breath, shifting on the couch. "Tay, I've been thinking a lot about us. About everything we've been through over the years. And honestly, I don't think I ever really let you go."

Her heart raced, but she tried to keep her expression neutral. "Travis, I..."

"Wait," he interrupted gently. "Let me finish. I know things between us haven't been easy. I know I've made mistakes, times when I could've done more, been more. But watching you every day with Emma, raising this amazing little person... it just makes me realize how much I still love you. Our love didn't disappear—it just needed time to grow and find its way back. I want to try again, if you'll let me."

Taylor felt tears welling up but held them back. Instead, she reached for his hand. "Travis, I've thought about us a lot too. And no matter how much I try to push it aside, I always come back to you. It's always been you. But if we're going to do this, we need to do it right—for us and for Emma."

He nodded, squeezing her hand. "I'm ready. I'll do whatever it takes to make this work."

The silence that followed was different this time—full of promise and hope.

The next day, they decided to share the news with Emma. She was playing on the living room rug with Meredith, Olivia, and Benjamin when Taylor and Travis called her over to the couch.

"Emma, we have something important to tell you," Taylor said, smiling as her daughter scrambled over excitedly.

"Is it about me?" Emma asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Sort of," Travis replied, pulling her onto his lap. "It's about us. About Mommy and Daddy."

Emma tilted her head curiously, looking back and forth between them.