Fearless

Chapter 24 - It's Been A Long Time Coming

June 25th

Taylor

It's been a long year, and we only have one tour date left for the Fearless tour, but none of that matters today because it's my baby girl's first birthday. We've had so many ups and downs this year, from spending the first few months of Violet's life alone and terrified to making the best friends I could ask for and finding the love of my life.

"Good morning," I mumble the words into Karlie's neck as I feel her shift under me, "morning, baby." She kisses my forehead and I wrap my arms around her tighter as she tries to get up, making the model laugh. "Teff, we've gotta get our girl, we don't have a lot of time before we need to go to your mom's," I groan because I know she's right. My family have embraced Karlie with open arms and it was so nice of my mom to offer to host Violet's first birthday, but I'd much rather spend the day curled up in bed with my girls.

"I don't want her to be one yet, she can wait a couple more months," the idea of my baby growing up is enough to drive me to tears every time. I want her to stay little and innocent, she doesn't deserve the cruelties of growing up. "I don't think that's how time works, babe, she's growing up whether you like it or not," Karlie chuckles and I pout playfully as I loosen my grip on her, letting her out of bed.

"Come on, let's go and get her," she offers her hand to get me out of bed and I take it, holding it tight as we walk across the hall. "Oh, you're so big," I burst into tears the second I see Violet standing in her crib, already wide awake, and I scoop her into my arms. "Happy Birthday, Violet Rose," I kiss her face as Karlie wraps us both in her arms, "You're our big girl now, Vi."

She's so smiley and happy all the time and it melts my heart, I was so scared of raising her alone but she's my biggest accomplishment. There is nothing I could ever be more proud of than my baby girl.

"Oh, baby, don't cry," Karlie laughs as she hugs me tight and I just have to laugh at myself, "they're good tears, I promise." She kisses my cheek and then Violet's before taking my hand and the three of us go downstairs for breakfast.

"Look at all this, pretty girl! Look at the balloons!" I gasp and try to sound as excited as Vi as she stares at the coloured balloons littering the entire apartment. "I'll start breakfast," Karlie chuckles as she kisses my cheek and I let a squirming Violet out of my arms to play with the balloons. She's so easily entertained and I love to see her smile, even if it is just at something this simple.

"Should we go and find Karlie?" I raise my eyebrows as I kneel down beside her and she pushes herself into a standing position as she leans against me. "Come on, missy" I hold onto her hands as she holds onto my fingers and she toddles towards the kitchen. "Look at you, princess! Now we just need to get you to do that on your own," the brunette laughs as we walk into the kitchen and I scoop Violet up, making her giggle as I kiss her and sit her down in her highchair.

"She'll be walking on her own so soon, she's not gonna need me anymore," I sigh as I wrap my arms around Karlie from behind and she laughs, "she's always going to need her mommy, Teff, you're her everything." I smile as I press a kiss to the model's shoulder, she always knows how to ease my nerves.

"You, little missy, you're the best thing that ever happened to me and mommy adores you more than the world," I pull Violet into my lap and tickle her, making her giggle and squeal as we play. Usually we'd spend this time with her nursing but the last few weeks, she's been nursing less and less because I'm trying to wean her off now that she's a little older. So, now we spend our mornings playing and cuddling.

"Mama!" I'm surprised when the word leaves her mouth, she's been picking up little words here and there, even saying dada, but she's never said mama and especially not in reference to me. "Did you hear that?" I look up to Karlie, the model grinning as she comes over to us, "where's Mama, baby?" She perches beside me and we both wait to see what Vi will do, "Mama!" she grins as she pulls on my shirt and i kiss her face, "that's right, baby, I'm your mama."