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The morning sun is filtering into the room, illuminating the room in a soft orange glow, while where its opened slightly gives way to warm September air, one of the dying days of summer. This is *her* room technically, but fairy lights from his college dorm years ago flicker at night and the karaoke trophy he won for her sits next to her Grammys. He's everywhere. She's plucking at guitar strings absentmindedly, smiling to herself at the cardboard boxes filled with guitar stands and wall hangers that he promised to drill up for her later. She catches herself briefly, giggling at the absurdity of being the girl who gets giddy over boxes and her boyfriend, partner, fiancée? (they've had enough conversations about it but she supposes to wait until she has a ring) building things for her.
Travis walks up the stairs, scooping up Benji as he goes. When he completely flops in his arms travis tuts affectionately 'she wasn't lying about you being carried like a baby, huh?' he gently tickles Benjis belly and plops him down on the floor as he reaches the doorway. He pauses for a minute just looking at her through the crack. Soft curls gently grazing her cheeks and neck from where its thrown up with a claw clip and an oversized red sweater just covering the tops of her bare thighs. She's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.
Feeling a presence behind her, she turns to see him gazing at her. 'What?' she asks gently, frowning slightly.
'Pretty' he says simply, with that smile that makes her stomach do funny things she tries not to think about.
'Not too bad yourself, Mr Kelce' she replies, turning around to hide her shit eating grin. Travis laughs in that loud, fearless way he does and she feels him come up behind her and place a kiss on the top of her head.
'What'cha working on?' knees creaking slightly as he sits next to her on the floor. Instinctively she put a gentle hand on the one nearest her.
'Not much, just trying to figure out this chord progression'. He twitches away from her slightly when she strokes her thumb over a certain spot on his leg. 'Legs hurting you?'
'Its fine'. To be honest, he feels like absolute shit but he's not spending their precious time together complaining. From the way Taylor frowns, its obvious she doesn't believe him. He gently smooths over her frown with his thumb and kisses her forehead. 'I'll be fine'
'that's not the same as being currently fine'.
He chuckles at her face. 'Y'know one of these days people but start thinking you actually like me'.
'Well we cant have that' her grin widens 'does that go against the contract?'
Travis laughs, the sound reverberating around the room. She loves making him laugh, seeing his cheeks pinken and sea glass grey eyes light up. All because of her. Loosing herself in him is the easiest thing in the world.
'Can I ask you something?' he seems unusually nervous, but the soft smile relaxes her slightly.
'Of course baby'
'Can you teach me how to play guitar?'
the question catches her off guard and with eyes wide open she stares at him. 'Like..what..like- in what way?'
He curls his hand around hers, fingers smoothing gently over the callouses from years of feeling and putting it into words. 'Just-' he pauses for a moment considering his words. Its no secret that football players aren't known for their smarts, but Taylor always notices how he carefully picks what to say, considering every syllable. 'Jason learned guitar when we were younger, man I was so fucking jealous'
She laughs at this, pulling Benji into her lap from where he's finally stalked into the room
'And then watching the way you play, especially in the surprise songs, its just electric y'know? How something simple makes people feel so much' Travis looks over at her again from where he'd pulled his eyes away. One of his habits, not making eye contact when he's explaining himself. Taylors grinning, bruised feet against the soft white carpet of their house that matches that, honestly, ridiculous cat sat in her lap.
'Um. yes' and before he can say anything more, she's up, grabbing an acoustic Gibson guitar.
Her fingers curl around the smooth neck and she has to catch herself for a moment before she starts completely losing it. 'Can you reach in that drawer next to you? there's some picks'. They settle in to each other in the way that they do, like two commas perfectly curled into themselves. They go back and forth on the song, Taylor trying to pick what's easy to learn and Travis insisting on 'Blank Space'. She wins when she points out Blank Space is almost entirely synths and they settle on 'Everything Has Changed'. She can feel his big arms reaching over hers, resting over the guitar and creating a perfect cocoon for her.
'Its just four chords, so you should be fine'. He skims a kiss over her cheek and grins at how she's literally vibrating with excitement. 'And if you get really good you can play all of Eds part!'
'Maybe let me try and do the basics baby'. He chuckles softly and lets her gently manipulate his fingers. To be honest, he's not really listening enough to pick up the names. Instead more focused on how her slender and warm fingers feel against his, rings brushing over his knuckles. 'Is this right?' he asks, teeth worrying at the corner of his lip.
'Your actually doing great Trav, just remember to mute the top string with your thumb.' She turns at smiles up at him, those blue eyes lighting up and crinkling at the corners.
'Actually? less of the surprise please' He jibes, gently poking her in the side while she giggles.
They switch, Taylor cycling through the chords and Travis strumming gently. He thinks if you could wander down the path outside their home, you'd hear the sound of a guitar being played and a perfect voice singing along. Ok, maybe the occasional fumble with the strings, but most importantly the sounds of laughter and something indistinguishable that's pure comfort. When she gets up and lets him go alone, he doesn't sound too bad.
'Its not my fault I've got fucking massive fingers'
She's looking at him, usual perfect posture gone as he's hunched over trying to see better. 'Your perfect Trav'. He looks up then, grins at her and blushes slightly. 'Go on, do it again and I'll sing'
That evening, Taylors curled up on the couch on the phone with Tree, diaries and papers splayed out in front of her. Travis seems be half asleep, Love Is Blind on mute clearly not doing it for him. When she leans down and kisses him, Travis groans and stretches his arms above his head, one eye open peering at her. It makes her giggle, and Travis can almost hear the sigh on the other end of the phone.
'Yes- I am paying attention, I kno- no we are NOT getting off with each other, Jesus'.
He snorts loudly and gets up, tapping her thigh. 'I'm going to head to bed okay? I love you. SORRY TREE'
Taylor rolls her eyes, and he huffs with amusement.
'she says its fine, its not your fau- excuse me?' She mouths 'I love you' and goes back to bickering. He pads up the stairs shaking his head fondly as he goes.
When she finally gets to hang up the phone she throws her head back and sighs. The final things for the next leg of tour have been ironed out and people are already wondering what's next. She loves her team but sometimes it feels like every person wants a piece of her. Taylors been writing, but not nearly enough for a new album. Its almost like she struggles to put into words the enormity of her feelings, something she's never had before. She needs a glass of wine. Or a cuddle. Probably a cuddle. She picks herself up and heads for their bedroom.
When she reaches the landing she catches a sound of something and pauses frowning. Met with silence, she carries on and now at the start of the corridor she can definitely hear something. Its only when she reaches her music room she realises what it is. Where the doors open, she sees the back of Travis illuminated by moonlight and the twinkle of string lights. He's gently cradling her guitar, obviously trying to be careful with it, and gently singing under his breath. A lump settles in Taylors throat. To have someone who embraces every aspect of her life, in fact not only embraces it but wants to be a part of it, experience if from her side is something she never imagined. She tips her head back, stopping the tears running down her face and smiles in the dark. She goes to interrupt him, but pauses, a part of her not wanting to disrupt the scene in front of her. So she goes as quietly as she can into their room, listening to the slightly muffled sound tucked up in bed. She realises when he keeps starting the verse over from where he's messed up the chords he's changed the words. 'Blue eyes and your curls and your smile'.
He comes in eventually, sleep getting the better of him. 'Hey' he whispers.
'Hi' she smiles up at him softly, pulling him close. When he leans down to kiss her she smells the fir tree in his cologne and realises that he smells like her childhood, and tastes like home.
'I love you'