Are We Out Of The Woods Yet?(A Taylor Swift Adoption Story)

I love you

Taylor's POV:
I'm fascinated by the concept of love. Love is a simple four letter word with no describable definition, and the reason for that is because there are so many different forms of love.

Throughout my life and career my perception of love has mainly been focused on love in a romance sense, but what I've started to realize is that there's a very noticeable difference between loving someone in the romance sense, and loving an individual in a family sense.

When you think of someone as family, I  feel that the love tends to run deeper and one tends to be more protective of their family members. Love of family is a powerful type of love and it shouldn't be discredited. This has never been more clear to me than right now.

As I stare at Maxine from across the table, I'm only thinking about Amara. I need to make sure she's safe. She needs to be safe and I'll do literally anything to ensure that.

Tree seems to be thinking the same thing and as the conversation escalates we both try to control our tempers for the sake of the missing six year old.

We knew this would happen. It was only a matter of time and there's virtually no chance of Amara staying here. As much as my heart is breaking, I need to make sure that wherever  she ends up is somewhere where she'll be appreciated and safe. I just wish it was with me.

As Maxine starts talking, we're interrupted by a door slam and loud footsteps. As the noise gets closer and closer to the meeting room, everyone's eyes turn towards the door.

Tired and stressed green eyes meet mine and I can see just how exhausted Amara is. And it's not only that. She looks like she's about to pass out. Scooting out of my chair quickly, I grab her hand and attempt to lead her up the stairs but she seems to be in shock. After a few more attempts, I manage to get her up the stairs and into a guest bedroom.

She starts to tear up and I'm getting more and more concerned. I pull her into a hug hoping that she'll relax but the sobbing just intensifies. I can hear Maxine calling from downstairs, but I choose to ignore it. Walking to the door, I lock it and then pick up the traumatized six year old.

Carrying her over to the bed, I tuck both of us in and pull her to my chest. I can feel her shaking and I hold her tighter, rocking back and forth to help her calm down. When she's finally breathing properly I coax her into talking.

"Taylor my dad..he's gone"

"I know sweetheart".

She looks at me confused and I realize that this is something different.

"Amara isn't your dad on a CIA green card right now?"

She shakes her head and I see her shut her eyes in an attempt to stop tears from flowing.

"Taylor. He's gone. He's gone to Syria and he left me here and he.. He promised he wouldn't ever leave me but he's gone.. And I'm still here".

Using the back of her hand, she furiously wipes tears from her eyes and gets up, obviously not wanting to be thought of as weak. As she turns to the wall the door clicks and opens and I'm on my feet.

"Maxine we'll be down in five minutes. Leave."

Maxine as per usual ignores me and storms to Amara. Furious, she grabs Amara's hand and spins her around.

"Where is he Amara. WHERE IS HE?"

I see recognition flash across Amara's face as she realizes what Maxine is talking about. Her face morphs into a very recognizable smirk and I see her shrug.

Meanwhile everything Amara has said is starting to make sense. If her dad is gone then Maxine has nothing to blackmail her.. To blackmail us with. She could stay here? Could she stay here?

Tree gets to Amara before I do and gently takes her hand from Maxine's. In a slow procession we all climb down the stairs and back to my living room which is serving as a makeshift situation room.

Maxine is considerably startled and for the first time today it feels like there's some hope left. The aged CIA officer has lost her stronghold and is noticeably quiet. Because of this Tree takes control of the situation and starts to negotiate.
Straightening out her pantsuit, my publicist looks bored.

"We've all had an eventful day today haven't we? Maxine, my client requests unaltered foster-care custody of the girl and it's really that simple. Your whole show of arriving here and threatening to cause a ruckus is unnecessary and frankly embarrassing. You still haven't stated your case, and if it wasn't clear from the note Amara faxed over that you've signed, the CIA has withdrawn custody. The family services sector of the government is now in custody of Amara, and as Taylor hasn't broken any foster care rules she should still be placed in Taylor's care".

Maxine is at a loss for words and her lawyers look defeated. Tree passes over paperwork and within ten minutes it's decided that Amara will stay in foster care with me. As I pass the foster care paperwork over to Amara she signs everything and passes it along to Maxine.

In a scene that's become all too familiar Maxine and her team pack up and leave.
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Amara's POV
I really don't know how to map out what I'm feeling right now. I guess if I had to put it into words it's somewhere along the lines of confused, tired, sad,happy and somewhat at peace. It's a state of grace and although everything is all over the place, everything is all right.

I miss my dad. It's been 3 hours since I've last seen him but somehow I'm even more happy that I'm with Taylor. It feels so so wrong to even think that. My dad is my dad. My biological relative that knew me when I was a baby and cares for me and loves me and always wants to protect me and... It's not "cares for me" anymore... It's "cared for me". He's gone. He left me.

And then there's Taylor. My best friend, my caretaker, someone who didn't know me as a baby yet still cares for me and wants to constantly protect me and looks out for me. Someone who took in a girl she knew nothing about and loved her and still loves her. She's here. She's with me.

And what if I don't want to be in the foster care system anymore? What if I want to stay here. Stay with her. Permanently.

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Hey you guys :) it's been a while hasn't it... Sorry about that.
It's actually my birthday tomorrow so I thought I'd post an update haha.

I love you all. Thanks for reading❤️
•R•