Timeless: Tayvis Oneshots

whiskey on the rocks (excerpt)

a short little one set a few weeks after the epilogue

Travis' POV

Taylor had been in with Charlie for a long time, and I could hear him crying rooms away. He'd been okay his first few days with us, but then he'd become unsettled and fussed a lot. And I was pretty sure he didn't like me, though Taylor insisted he was just scared. Charlie clung to her.

"Come on sweetie, you're okay." I heard Taylor's voice and looked up to see her walking down the hallway, the toddler cuddled up in her arms with his head hidden and his arms around her neck. "Hey you." She whispered, rubbing Charlie's back as she came in. "I thought he might want to come and see you for a bit."

"Kitten he..."

"No he doesn't." Taylor said sweetly, but I knew she wanted to snap. She was softening her tone for him. "And I really have to use the bathroom, so you can take him for a few minutes."

She wasn't taking no for an answer, so I reluctantly reached out and let her pass the little boy into my arms. He whined, grabbing for Taylor's shirt, but she gently pried his fingers away and kissed his forehead before promising to be right back. I took the squirming toddler in my arms as Taylor left the room, and then he looked at me with soft brown eyes red with tears.

"Hey buddy." I sighed, bouncing my knee a little. I felt awful that I hadn't clicked with him, and I tried so hard, but he just rejected it. "We're okay, she'll be back soon."

"Maamm." He sobbed.

"I know." I tried to arrange him to rub his back since Taylor had figured out it helped him calm down. 

"No!" Charlie shoved at my chest. "Maam!"

"She's coming back buddy, I promise." I soothed. "Why can't I take care of you for a bit? I promise I know what I'm doing."

He didn't really seem to believe me. Charlie cried fretfully in my arms as I tried to comfort him, but he spent the whole time trying to climb off my lap. He was still learning to walk and probably wouldn't be able to do it properly especially while he was so upset, so I didn't let him down which made it worse. I felt awful.

"Oh sweetheart, baby boy it's okay." Taylor rubbed her eyes when she came back five minutes later, obviously exhausted.

"Hey, hey I got him." I said as she came over. "You're shattered little kitten. Go get some rest."

"No, no I'll just put him down first." Taylor mumbled.

"Maam!" Charlie reached up to her.

"I'm here sweetie, you're okay." She sighed, lifting him up into her arms. He burrowed his face into her neck again, obviously comforted by that. "I think his mom, or whoever was taking care of him must have something similar to me." Taylor whispered as an explanation. "He likes hiding in my neck."

"Mhm." I looked away.

"Baby." Taylor touched my chin and guided me back to look at her. "I know this is a big change and we didn't think it would be like this, but he needs a home. It's tough, but it'll get easier. So tell me what's bothering you because I know something is."

"I'm fine kitten." I lied.

"Baby." Taylor pleaded.

"Just..." I eyed the toddler in her arms. "I love him, I really do, and I love you too but it feels like it's taking over everything."

"Travis." Taylor blinked at me. "He's scared. He just needs care and attention while he settles."

"I know, I know!" I raised my hands in mock surrender. "That's why I didn't want to bring it up!"