Chapter Text
Kicked back on the enormous white sectional in the LA house, feet up on the coffee table, some playoff game that he was only half watching playing in the background, phone in hand, Travis let his mind drift.
Jobless January as he’d referred to it jokingly was simultaneously everything and nothing like he’d thought it would be. Sure, he was appreciating the rest and the way his muscles and bones no longer screamed at him as he rolled out of bed in the morning. Yes, all that extra time with Taylor was bliss. He loved how they’d settled into a sweet routine now of doing their own thing…but together. She’d picked up all her ‘granny shit’ again with the crotchet, painting and endless sourdough making and he was right there with her. As she kneaded and folded, he’d entertain her from the breakfast nook. As she looped and threaded, he’d show her his favourite clips and memes. As she painted with sweeping brushstrokes, he’d watch her with that soft soppy smile on his face. There was no part of him that wished away his time with her but he couldn’t help but feel that buzzing energy, that restless desire inside of him as he itched for his own passion to be reignited. Ever conscious of how endlessly productive she was and how some idiots perceived him to be riding her coattails just like all the men before him, he wanted to prove his worth, his role as joint provider in their lives together.
Of course Taylor had told him time and again that having one month of less than average productivity didn’t make him a slob. She reminded him of the toll on his body that playing the post season for the past few seasons had taken and how he was just taking back time owed. One day she stood, hands on hips, frown on her face as he moaned about feeling lazy and asked him if he’d thought that of her when she’d taken the time off after Eras and before Showgirl prep started, if he’d secretly judged her for lounging by the pool or staying in bed until noon. She’d quieted his fears with the touch of her hand.
So now when his phone rang in his hand and he swiped before even checking the caller ID, his brother’s voice was a very welcome distraction. “Hey man, got a massive favour to ask.” Jason’s scratchy growl played in his ear.
“Whatever you need, brother.” Trav replied without even thinking. He owed Jason everything, nothing could be too much.
Jason laughed and paused briefly, wondering if he really should do this, if it was fair. “Look, Ky would never ask because she wouldn’t want to put you out but we’re in a bit of a pickle.” He cleared his throat and listened as Travis mmhmmed him, waiting for him to continue. “I fucked up our calendar again with commitments for the week after The Superbowl. You know how Ky’s got that gig in Italy for the Winter Olympics but I screwed up the dates and I’ve got shit in New York.”
Jobless January clearly wasn’t catching on for all the Kelce’s, Travis thought to himself.
Jason was still ranting in his ear when Travis tuned back in. “Mom’s on another cruise, Dad’s just not up to all four himself, Lil Lise and Big Ed are covering us for Superbowl Week and the Nanny’s got her sister’s wedding.”
“What you asking bro?” Travis ran a hand down his face as he struggled to keep up.
A tight tense laugh was all he heard from Jason before he said, “Can you watch the girls for us?”
“Of course.” Travis grinned, jumping at any chance to spend some more time with his precious nieces. “All four, or is Finney goin’ with Ky to Italy?”
He affirmed that it would be all four girls, despite their youngest’s deep attachment to Mom at the moment. The warm feeling in his chest grew a little more with how easily Travis had agreed to watch the kids. Four kids aged six and under was no mean feat.
“More the merrier.” Travis laughed and they exchanged a few key details like when and where before ending the call.
He was feeling much more upbeat now with the prospect of being useful and very very busy in the near future lifting his spirits as he sauntered into the kitchen in search of Taylor. She was, as usual, in the midst of some project or other as she clattered around the white marble kitchen, a cloud of flour seeming to follow her as she went. “Hey sweetie,” he kissed her cheek and squeezed her apron clad waist softly.
Taylor turned to smile at him, pouting her lips for a quick kiss as she gestured to her hands that were covered in dough. “Hey babe, who was on the phone?”
Travis moved behind her, hooking his chin down over her shoulder as he watched her knead and shape another loaf. “Jase,” he murmured into her neck as he pressed a few soft kisses to the skin visible above his old Bearcats sweatshirt that was slipping off one shoulder.
“Mmmmm,” Taylor sighed, leaning into his strong chest as her insides fluttered a little at the attention. “What was he saying?”
“Not much. Asked me to look after the girls for them next week.” He replied nonchalantly, continuing to nuzzle at her neck as his larger hands wrapped around her waist and stomach, pulling her to him.
Taylor smiled at the thought, always thrilled to spend time with her favourite little ladies. “Oh yeah, date night in San Francisco?"
Travis pulled away and frowned, beginning to realise that maybe he should have run this past her first. It was just that they were his nieces, and it was his brother asking. He’d assumed that he would be the one doing the looking after just as it had been before Taylor had come into his life. But now he had a partner, truly, in every sense of the word, he probably should have at least checked in with her that she didn’t have any plans for them on those dates or that she minded playing host to four tiny tornadoes. “Ummm no. Jase screwed up their calendar and they can’t get their usual roster of sitters to cover the Monday to Friday post SuperBowl so he asked me…and I said yes.”
Taylor turned slowly in his arms to look at him, slight disbelief on her face. “...and you said yes to looking after four tiny humans for four days without even thinking about it?”
Travis tipped his head back with a groan before he opened his eyes to the ceiling, winging a silent prayer that this wasn’t the boneheaded thing that would send her packing. “Well they’re family.” He sighed. “I’m not asking you to help. I can do it. I want to do it. They’re coming to the KC house so if you don’t wanna be there then that’s okay.”
He felt her dough covered hands on his face, pulling him down to look at her, her serious expression causing his stomach to knot. “I didn’t say that, baby.” Her face eventually broke into a smile. “I think it’s so sweet that you said yes without even thinking. I know how much you love the girls, and Jase and Ky. I just…did you think about logistics at all? Do we have all the details we need? How often does Finn need her bottles now? Is Ellie still super fussy about what shape the pasta needs to be? Will Wyatt need to do online Kindergarten when she’s with us? Is Bennie…well is Bennie still Bennie-ing?”
The tense feeling in his stomach started to dissipate as he realised that Taylor wasn’t pissed at him for agreeing to these plans without her, she was just a little anxious and beginning to spiral about the prospect of having four littles in the house sans parents. “Sweetie, you know I’m not a big directions guy. They’re kids ya know, they’re gonna be fussy and messy but you feed ‘em, change ‘em and entertain ‘em until they pass out. What’s the worst that could happen?” Travis shrugged, with his signature smile which warmed her from the inside out.
“Even so…I think I’ll call Ky and find out some details. Just to be prepared.” Taylor wrapped her arms around his back and squeezed him tightly.