Archive of Our Own

There were signs now she thinks back on it, definite signs that something was up.

She had been mid-scroll on Instagram, something which, if only for her mental health was actually quite rare for her these days. Her team kept her up to speed with the need to know elements of social media and between Trav, Kylie and her brother she was well versed in the latest memes and otter videos. But with all the buzz about Showgirl and the way the dance craze had taken off, she couldn’t help but do a little Taylurking for old times sake. She was flicking aimlessly when the flash of red and yellow caught her eye. Always on the lookout for new Chiefs attire to add to her ever expanding collection, she scrolled back up.

The familiar name and number emblazoned across the back, firetruck red with flashes of yellow and white. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat as she hovered over the sizing; 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 months. Adding one of each to the basket and checking out before she could even second guess herself, Taylor blew out a breath. Why did she feel like crying? Could her period be due already?

Her cycle had been so outta whack since she’d finally had her IUD removed, her hormone balance shifting wildly for a few months before seeming to settle down into somewhat of a normal rhythm again. Poor Travis had been a little perplexed at first. No wonder given they’d literally not had a single real argument in the whole first two years they were dating and out of nowhere she was snappy, stroppy and at times in her own words, a bitch. He’d called Kylie, trying to piece together what he must have done to piss her off, for her to ask tentatively if anything about Taylor’s birth control had changed lately. It was a sensitive subject and although he and Taylor often talked about their future, kids being very much a part of that, they weren’t exactly shouting from the rooftops that they’d finally made the decision for Taylor to stop using contraceptives to give her cycle some time to regulate. They weren’t officially trying yet, not with the wedding planned for early summer and Travis’s final season still to play but they weren’t…not trying either.

After so many years of artificially stable hormone levels, the fluctuations surprised even Taylor. Pinballing from irrational anger, to teary breakdowns followed up by uncontrollable lust was exhausting. Not that Travis complained. He spoke to her in that low soothing tone that immediately reduced her blood pressure and made her want to jump his bones at the same time. One afternoon as she had sucked on his earlobe, her teeth gently grazing the skin he had puffed out a laugh. She’d been irritated at him for spoiling the mood and he’d tried to explain that he wasn’t laughing at her. “I just thought of a pun. Like a play on your line about Reputation.” He tried to explain as he settled her again in his lap, big hands cradling her hips. She raised one eyebrow as if the remainder of his explanation would indeed dictate how this liaison proceeded. “You’ve been…ummm…what’s the best way to say it?” Travis searched for another way to call out her unpredictable behaviour without pissing her off. “Oh hell, you’ve been horny as fuck.” He grinned up at her. “And like my brain just kept repeating ‘There will be no explanation, there will just be ovulation.” She’d laughed so hard at that, she’d had to slide sideways off his lap so she could hold her stomach.

The impulse purchases were completely forgotten about in a haze of prep for the upcoming docuseries and final show concert movie. Taylor was excited, nervous, but excited to see it all come together. She implicitly trusted Don and Sheena with her reputation and how they would edit the footage together, weaving a narrative that would tell the story that she was so passionate about. Having Jason and Kylie vouch for the pair of directors who had treated their family with so much love and care, seamlessly slotting into the background of big occasions and tense moments, had made them an easy choice. But she still couldn’t help but stress about the public reaction to so much available content. She would be lying if she said that the weirder reactions and conspiracy theories about Showgirl hadn’t bothered her. Having to bite her tongue when people were calling her a literal Nazi seemed counter-productive, but she trusted Tree Paine with her life and so she hunkered down and tried to let the storm ride itself out.

It wasn’t until Drew started behaving weirdly around her, that things clicked into place.

He was always protective, it was literally the man’s job. But after a few days she really started to pick up on the less than subtle ways that he was checking in on her. He was hovering a little more than usual, even when they were just at the house, he drifted by every hour or so. “You okay, Superstar? Need anything?” He’d call out as he passed. Grabbing and re-filling her Stanley, despite her protestations that she could do it herself. He refused to let her carry her suitcase down the stairs, muttering about trip hazards and conditions. She caught him looking at her with a soft expression several times too, and it was that, that really unnerved her. Sure, she would tell anyone who listened that she loved Drew, he spent half her life with her and was honestly the single most reliable person she had. He’d seen her through some of the toughest times in her life, held her hand through them too. But he was also a consummate professional and to see his warm smile and he watched her doing something mundane like curling up on the couch, was a little unnerving.

“Drew’s being weird,” she yawned loudly as she crawled into bed next to Travis that evening.

“Weird how?” Trav pulled her into his chest and buried his face in her wild, curly hair.

Taylor giggled a little at the feeling of his tickly breath on her neck and burrowed into his chest. “He like, tried to tuck me in earlier when I fell asleep on the sofa. I woke up and he was like draping a blanket over me.”

Travis feigned a shocked gasp. “Oh no! How dare he make sure the queen is not cold!”

Elbowing him jokingly in the gut, Taylor rolled her eyes. “Fine, it was nice. But like, it’s Drew. He’s great but he has this line he doesn’t cross and he’s been looking at me weird and getting me water and stuff.”

“If it’s bothering you, I’ll have a quiet word with him.” Travis said, bending in to kiss her cheek and smoothing his hand comfortingly over her shoulder and down her back.

“No! No, it’s fine. I can speak to him if it’s awkward or whatever.” She curled into him, her grasp tightening on his t-shirt as she pressed her face against his chest. Maybe when she woke up in the morning everything would be back to normal. Or…whatever passed for normal around here.

It played on Travis’s mind a little though the next day as he whizzed together his usual protein shake and Taylor’s new smoothie obsession. Drew was standing in the garage, a manilla folder open in his hand as he surveyed one of Taylor’s fleet of identical armoured SUVs that were near permanently residing at his Leawood property. “What you lookin’ at, man?” Trav called through the open door as he watched Drew’s brows knit together and him begin to mutter under his breath.

Drew walked slowly backwards into the kitchen, the folder in his hand softly closing as he turned to look at Travis. “Checking seat specs and harness points, making sure everything fits with the newest safety guidelines.” His eyes flickered between the closed folder and Travis’s face, as if waiting for a sign of recognition.

“Hmmm, yeah. It all good?” Travis asked, distractedly removing the top of the blender before he switched it off at the wall.

“Baby!” Taylor squawked as she entered the kitchen, lunging to hit the switch before Travis could accidentally send the contents of her smoothie skyward, and not for the first time. What she didn’t notice was the angle at which the bar stool was sitting, her foot catching the leg and sending her tumbling forwards.

Reacting instinctively, Drew threw himself between Taylor and the cabinets, her body colliding with his as he absorbed the impact and somehow kept them both from hitting the hard floor. “Woah! Drew, dude, you got some killer reflexes. Should maybe get you out on the field some day.” Travis joked as he righted Taylor and pressed a fleeting kiss to the top of her head. “Good job you’re around to stop Tay trippin’ over her own feet.”

Taylor scowled and rolled her eyes at her fiance as he gently ribbed her well-renowned clumsiness. She wasn’t that bad, was she? Drew’s eyes continued to scan her, seemingly checking for injuries. “Yeah, thanks for the save Drew.” Taylor murmured, watching him watching her. “Appreciate it.”

He nodded tightly, lips pressed together in a line as he continued to observe his charge as she leaned heavily against Travis, her cheek against his strong chest as his hand lingered at her hip, thumb rubbing circles absent-mindedly against the sliver of skin that peeked between her camisole and sleep shorts. Taylor looked okay; a little tired still, lingering exhaustion from the jet lag and busy press tour but her eyes were bright and complexion not overly pale. “You good, Superstar?” Drew asked quietly, his eyes still mapping her worriedly.

“Yeah,” she frowned a little as she began to putter around the kitchen, taking over pouring the smoothie as Travis continued to fuss over her. “I’m fine, just a stumble.”

Several hours later as Taylor was finishing putting away the grocery delivery, her hands faltered over a few items that she didn’t remember putting on the list. “Hey Erica,” she hollered, her long-time assistant sticking her head out of the pantry as she called back. “Did you put these on the list?”

Erica chewed her lip as Taylor held up the saltines and ginger ale. “Umm…well yeah. I knew you guys didn’t have any in the cupboards so I thought I’d get some just in case.”

Taylor just laughed as she began to put away the items. “God, Trav always says I’m like a doomsday prepper but you’re on another level. I’m not sure anyone else actively plans for stomach flu.”

“Yeah, stomach flu,” Erica echoed as she watched Taylor from the doorway.

She joined her at the kitchen island a few minutes later as Drew came into view carrying a stack of parcels in his arms. “Have these all been through security?” Taylor asked as she reached for a few of them that were in danger of overbalancing.

Drew glanced at Erica before he turned back to Taylor. “Yes. You know we have to screen everything unfortunately. Sorry.” He muttered, as he arranged and rearranged the parcels on the counter uncomfortably.

Taylor’s head snapped up at his final word. Drew was always polite and professional with her, caring and kind but she didn’t think he’d ever apologised for the lengths he had to go to do his job, at least not to her. “That’s okay. Seriously, I understand.” She replied reflexively before her brain could really catch up. Sure the increased security over the last 10 years of her life had been invasive, their need to physically inspect every item purchased and sent to her address had occasionally led to a few blushing exchanges but it was a necessary evil in her world.

When she looked up again, Drew and Erica were exchanging intense eye contact. “You guys are being weird.” She sighed, looking between the two for answers. “Will you just tell me what’s going on?” Erica wordlessly pushed a half open parcel towards her, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Taylor’s fingers fumbled on the brown packaging as she pulled three identical items from the wrapping. The red fabric was soft under the pads of her fingers as she rubbed it between them. If she brought it to her cheek it would feel just like his game day jersey, the memory of hugging him down on the field after a victory, her skin pressed against it. His name was stretched across the back, block letters that one day soon she would share. Her eyes flicked up to her assistant and her head of security who were watching her closely, exchanging a knowing look between them. Her hands clutched at the three impossibly tiny baby rompers, her heart in her throat.

“Oh my God. You guys don’t think I’m…?” Her voice cracked and she started to laugh uncontrollably.

Her laughter continued, the seconds stretched on, Drew’s brow furrowed deeply. Erica glanced between the little Chiefs romper suits, her boss and head of security. With slight trepidation she stuttered out, “So you’re not…?”

“I’m not pregnant!” She laughed, hand smoothing out the wrinkles in the tiny babygrow. “I saw these and thought I’d store them away for one day when we do have kids. God, you guys are as bad as the tabloids, asking if I’m knocked up every five minutes.” She watched as Drew ran a hand tiredly over his face and Erica blushed fiercely. Maybe she should cut them a little slack, they were probably just excited for her. “You’ve been extra sweet the last few days guys, and it is really appreciated, even if it’s not warranted. Trust me, if it’s happening, you’ll know about it.”

Hours later as Travis lay in their bed, waiting patiently for Taylor to finish her nighttime skin care routine, she rehashed the events of the morning. He was propped up against the plush headboard, arm stretched out across her pillow with his fingers tangled in Benji’s soft belly fur as he petted him gently. Watching as Taylor spritzed her face with toner and patted it gently into her skin, he laughed along with her as she described in dramatic detail how she’d opened the parcel and finally put two and two together with Drew and Erica’s strange behaviour. “So your impulsive online shopping habits got you in trouble again, huh?” He joked as she walked near the bed to fetch an oversized t-shirt from his drawer, his fingers stretching out to try and grab her.

Taylor impressively dodged out of the way of his tickling fingers and scampered back towards the ensuite. “Yeah, I mean they do know how much I enjoy an impulse purchase. So it’s a little presumptuous to just take buying baby clothes to mean that I’m pregnant. I mean I could have been buying Finn something cute to cheer on Uncle Travvy in.” She called out as she scooped her unruly curls up into a knot on the top of her head, a pineapple, he thinks he’s heard her call it before.

“Well, the little Muffin does need an Uncle Trav shirt like her sisters, can’t leave her out.” He grinned as he thought about his brother’s four adorable little girls.

Taylor giggled at his continued use of Muffin for his youngest niece. It did seem serendipitous that as an affectionate nickname, it still contained her real moniker. He’d been so proud of himself for that one, letting it slip out on the podcast as he met her through the screen for the first time. She could fully admit that seeing him with the girls melted her every time. He was just so good with them, so patient and loving, so enamoured with who they were individually as tiny humans. He would make such a good Dad when the time came.

“But yeah, Erica buying saltines and ginger ale and Drew reviewing like every safety protocol was kind of sweet. I told them that if it was really happening that they’d definitely be in the loop so they can kind of chill on that front.” She sighed as she wriggled out of her clothes and tossed them in the hamper.

Travis was momentarily distracted by his fiance’s naked body as she padded from the hamper over to where she had left his shirt that she planned to sleep in. She was breath-taking. His eyes raked over her as he subconsciously licked his lips; her round full breasts, the dip of her waist and swell of her hips. His eyes flicked back up to hers. Busted! She shimmied the t-shirt over her head and grinned at him, her cheeks flushed a little pink having caught him staring. God, she was so cute. “Will you though? Or will you try to keep it under wraps if you are, you know, pregnant?” Travis eventually finished his thought as Taylor squeezed out a blob of toothpaste and began to brush her teeth.

She turned at the sink, toothbrush hanging out of her mouth as she thought about his question. Taylor took her time, starting to brush again as she considered how confidently she’d told her employees that they’d be some of the first people to know if she was expecting. Eventually she spat her toothpaste into the sink and carefully replaced her brush into its holder. “Ummmm…I figured I’d have to at least tell Drew and Erica because with appointments and safety and stuff it would be sort of impractical for them to be out of the loop.”

Travis reached out to her as she walked back towards the bed, linking their fingers together and dragging her down on top of his body. “Sure baby. Gotta keep you safe.” He murmured as she wriggled on top of him, trying to get comfortable. “Who else would you tell?”

She rested her hands on his chest, her chin on top of them as she looked up at him. They were so close she was practically cross eyed and he couldn’t help but pull a face and make her slap his chest gently. “Our Mom’s…and maybe Kylie and Jase…Tree?” She reeled off their most important people. “I’d be dying to tell my closest friends like Abigail, Ashley, Selena, Gigi and Este and I know you’d want to loop in Ross, Aric and Pat and the rest of our families but we’d maybe wait until I was a little further along like just into the 2nd trimester for that.”

“You’ve really given this a lot of thought, huh?” Travis questioned her gently, his thumb brushing a speck of toothpaste from the corner of her mouth before he pressed his lips softly against hers.

Taylor let out a breathy moan as he pulled back. “Mmmmm…it’s something I’ve been thinking more about since coming off birth control. I mean…I hope it’s going to happen for us.”

“Well we’ll certainly keep practicing.” Travis grinned as he rolled them over on the bed, settling between her thighs. “I’m having a lot of fun practicing.”