Tayvis One-Shots

baby shoes

Taylor's POV

The last thing I remember is his hand on mine.

Travis was driving us home, one hand on the wheel and the other resting lightly on my knee. It was one of those quiet, intimate moments where no words were needed. The world outside the car was a blur of winter trees and snow-covered fields, but inside, it was just us.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked, glancing over with that lopsided grin that always made my heart flutter.

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I'm fine, Travis. You've asked me that like five times since we left the store."

"Just making sure," he teased, squeezing my knee lightly. "My job's to take care of my girl and our little one."

My cheeks warmed at the words, even though he'd said them a dozen times before. I placed my hand over his and smiled, my other hand instinctively resting over the gentle curve of my belly. "We're both fine, I promise."

We'd just spent the afternoon picking out a few baby things, laughing as Travis debated which pair of tiny shoes was "cool enough" for our child. He'd been so excited, holding up each pair like they were treasures.

"These," he'd said finally, triumphantly, holding up a pair of soft leather shoes with tiny laces. "These are the ones. First steps are important. Gotta make 'em stylish, right?"

I'd laughed, shaking my head at him, but we bought them anyway.

Now, those shoes were tucked into the backseat, along with a few other little things we'd picked out. I couldn't stop picturing our future, the baby's first steps, their first words, the way Travis would lift them high into the air and make them laugh.

But the dream shattered in an instant.

The blaring of a horn snapped me out of my thoughts, my head jerking toward the windshield. Headlights, too close, too fast, hurtled toward us from the opposite direction.

"Travis!" I screamed, my voice breaking with terror.

His hand flew back to the wheel, his body tense as he yanked it to the right. The tires screeched against the icy road, the car lurching violently to one side.

"Hold on, Taylor!" he shouted, his voice tight with panic.

It all happened so quickly and yet so slowly, as if time itself was unraveling. The car spun, the force slamming me against the door. My seatbelt bit into my chest, and I gasped, clutching my stomach instinctively. The world outside the windows became a blur of snow and darkness.

And then came the impact.

The sound of metal crushing against metal was deafening, a horrible, screeching cacophony that seemed to go on forever. My head snapped forward, my vision going white for a moment.

"Travis!" I screamed again, but the sound barely escaped my lips before everything went dark.

----------------

When I woke up, the world was chaos.

The first thing I heard was the distant wail of sirens, cutting through the muffled ringing in my ears. My body felt like it was floating and weighted all at once, pain radiating from everywhere. I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

The windshield was shattered, glittering shards of glass catching the dim glow of the headlights. The car was crumpled around me, smoke rising from the engine. I tried to move, but a sharp, searing pain shot through my side, forcing a cry from my lips.

And then I saw him.

"Travis..."

He was slumped over the steering wheel, motionless. Blood streaked his face, his chest unnaturally still.