All I Need

Chapter Seven

Taylor's P.O.V

My entire life is in turmoil and even the slow moving pace of Nashville can do little to pacify me. I have no idea what I am doing, where I am going and what I will do without my mom. When I called dad back he was in absolute panic, he was trying to contact Austin who had been in New York with his new girlfriend Lacey and couldn't be found. In short I was panicking. I didn't know what type of condition my mom would be in and looking at Karlie who was next to me I felt like I could breathe again. We were on our way to our apartment in Nashville that overlooks the brilliant city. Ryan and Allie were going to take care of Flynn and Becca while Karlie and I go to the hospital but even the familiar site of Nashville like Music Row did nothing to calm the internal demon I was battling every time I looked away from Karlie. Would I ever be able to handle losing my mom?

Karlie's P.O.V

The apartment is so quiet when we enter it. Taylor quickly goes upstairs and I breathe in a sigh and take in my four kids who are standing in the lounge awkwardly because we don't come here often enough for them to be familiar with it. I smile at them but Becca turns away and goes to Ryan who also avoids me. 'It's now or never Karlie.' I tell myself. "Okay we need to talk kids." They all look at me and sit on the couch behind them leaving me the sole chair almost directly in front of them. They look worried and Becca looks like she doesn't want me to look at her but I can't help it. She looks so much like Taylor it's incredible. Sitting down I place my hands on my legs and leave them there as I look them all in the eye. "Okay, so we are in Nashville because nana is sick alright and we will be here until your mom thinks that we should go back home again," Allie groans and Ryan looks nervous. "This is just temporary so while we're here we have to get along so I want to talk about what happened in L.A over the past week starting with Becca," she looks up at the mention of her name but soon looks down. I walk over and crouch down in front of her. "Becca, baby I'm so sorry I missed your ceremony and watching you get your certificates. I was out with Cara and I forgot. I'm not going to lie I feel bad but I made the mistake so what can I do to make it up to you?" Becca looks up at me and smiles her familiar smile before leaping into my arms and knocking me backwards. "Nothing mama, I love you and I missed you." I hug her taking in the smell of her.
"I love you too, and I missed you too. All of you." I state looking at all the kids as Ryan winks and they all throw themselves on me. "We love you mama." They all chorus as I look up and see Taylor by the doorframe smiling. "Want to join in mommy?" I question winking suggestively at her. She nods and walks over before the kids jump off and we sit on the couch, Taylor right next to me our hands entwined as Ryan lies across us and the other three kids situate themselves on top of Ryan who groans as Taylor and I groan about the weight on top of us. The kids giggle and kiss us when we leave not even half an hour later. Ryan promised to order cheese pizza and pop in a movie for them all to watch Becca claimed she wanted to watch mommy's one again. That is "The Lorax" that Taylor lent her voice to years ago before we even met. It was such an old one but they love the singing in it, even Ryan still watches it actively.

It was almost 4.45pm when the SUV driven by a driver who was provided by the company dropped us at the hospital and Taylor was literally shaking with fear. I took her hand and kissed it and felt it relax but not enough so before Taylor could stop me I kissed her with so much passion that I was afraid that she would confuse me for a hyper fan wanting a kiss, it had happened before a long time ago and it was the cheek but same thing. "K-Karlie..."she warned as I pulled back smiling. I nodded.
"I know, no kissing in public." I stated lowering my head but she laughed.
"No, save it for later." I winked and blushed as we walked towards the room that Scott had given us, we noticed on the way patients at various levels, there were kids with broken bones and elderly people on walking frames. The idea of my mother in-law being in this place made me sad but I had to be the strong one. Knocking on room 245 Scott lets us in and hugs his daughter as Taylor breathes out. "Mom..." I follow her gaze and the image of Andrea Swift in a hospital bed will frighten me until the day I die. She looked so old and taken by the illness that was her battle with Cancer. It had been detected years ago and was treated and no one thought anything of it until she began to feel unwell a few weeks ago and according to Scott he brought her in for testing and they wanted her back again and then she collapsed yesterday and he tried to call Taylor but we were busy...and Austin wasn't answering and Scott freaked out but is fine now. We all sit and talk as Andrea sleeps, she hasn't woken up since we got here but we don't care. We are here for a while. Finally at 9.30pm as we are getting ready to leave she wakes. "T-Taylor? Karlie?" She questions, obviously confused. Taylor bounds up to her and hugs her while I talk. "Hey mama Swift, we came as soon as we heard." Andrea looks at Scott, "you promised you wouldn't." He looks guilty.
"I couldn't not tell her, you know that." Taylor looks confused.
"What are you on about?" Andrea heaves and begins to explain that she never wanted Taylor to know until it was certain. It's not until she is done explaining and everyone is quiet that she says. "Sometimes I wonder why we got back together." Scott laughs and shakes his head.
"Because I love you, you old goat." Taylor looks at me and obviously see's our situation which make me roll my eyes at her goofiness. We say goodbye and are about to walk into the apartment when Taylor stops me. "God I love you. I will always love you." I kiss her and warmth spreads through my body. "I love you too." I state and I believe it but fate has a way of ruining my life.