Work Text:
“Tay… sweetie, c’mon. This is entirely unfair.”
Taylor giggles at Travis’ groan as he looks down at the picture before him.
His Louis Vuitton suitcase is open on the floor of their dressing room in Kansas City but instead of being filled with the things he needs for training camp… it currently houses her and their Samoyed puppy, the latter of whom is grinning up at him like Travis is holding a tennis ball shooter instead of his training shorts.
“Baby… Happy and I just wanted to remind you what you’re leaving behind for football jail,” Taylor grins, legs tucked up in front of her as she loops an arm around Happy and he easily cuddles towards her.
“This is emotional manipulation,” Travis groans as adds the shorts to the pile outside of the case, shaking his head.
“Exactly,” Taylor grins, smushing her face right up against the pup’s and pouting up at him with her eyes wide. Travis melts, shaking his head at her antics but there’s a clear affection lingering in his eyes, sparkling through the opals.
They’ve been attached at the hip, quite literally, since the wedding three weeks ago and the idea of him leaving her for a twin bed in a dorm room is still making her giggle like a teenager. He’s groaned a few times over the past few weeks, questioning if he really wants another Lombardi, but it’s in the last few hours this dramatic melancholy has sunk into him and Taylor’s having a little too much fun playing into it.
“C’mere, you’re gonna hurt yourself, sweetie,” He chuckles, bending to lift her out of the case and carefully place her feet on the ground. Unfortunately, Happy has a different idea of what careful looks like and decides he wants in on the fun, jumping around their legs until Taylor’s lowered and they’re both laughing.
“He’s your child,” Taylor snorts, even as she bends to fuss him and Travis frowns, shaking his head.
“He’s ours, Tay-Tay,” He reminds her decidedly and Taylor chuckles, nodding her head as she presses a kiss to the top of his head before she stands, looping in close to Travis again.
“He is. Alright, you good to finish up in here? I’m gonna get wrapping those loaves up for you,” She smiles up at him, resting her chin against his shoulder and Travis groans, hand slipping over her ass under the short dress she’s wearing.
“Best wife in the world,” He whispers softly as he bends to kiss her and Taylor chuckles, rubbing her hand soothingly over his stomach.
“I bet you say that to all your wives,” She teases and Travis pretends to think for a moment.
“Only the ones that are also the love of my life,” He grins, watching closely as she blushes, making him smile.
“I already baked the lemon blueberry, baby. You don’t gotta preen for it,” Taylor winks as she rises onto her toes, pressing a soft kiss to his lips before she grins, heading to the door and patting her thigh to call the dog after her, “Happy! C’mon, let’s leave Dad to it.”
Taylor expects Travis to pack and then follow her to the kitchen. They were like magnets before the wedding but since becoming husband and wife, it feels impossible to spend even half an hour apart. God knows how they’re going to survive training camp.
Taylor restarts her playlist, settles the dog with a new toy football she hadn’t been able to resist buying online and gets to work wrapping enough baked goods to last Travis three months, let alone three weeks. Happy chews his toy, stalks Meredith and then disappears back upstairs in search of Travis. They’ve been inseparable ever since the day Taylor had brought the puppy home with a red bow on his collar. Despite one being a 6ft6 NFL player and the other being a Samoyed, Taylor is fairly convinced they’re actually the same person.
Taylor manages to package up some loaves and freeze some cookie dough before she starts pining for her boys and she finds herself wandering back upstairs in search of them. She walks into the bedroom with the three, still warm, loaves balanced precariously in her arms. They’re the first batch from her newest starter, The Life of a Wife, and she couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve come out. She expects to find the bedroom looking as if a bomb has hit it as Travis attempts to pack. Instead she finds his suitcase open but still bare and Travis laid out on the bed, flat on his stomach, head propped up on his hands, and staring directly into the eyes of their eight month old Samoyed puppy.
At the same time, Benjamin is trying to clamber his way up onto the mattress, determined to be a part of whatever is happening.
“Not now, Ben Buddy,” Travis croons, letting the cat knead his lower back with his soft paws. “I’m talking to your brother. He’s still new around here so I’m relying on you to show him the ropes about how we behave for mom whilst I’m at training camp, hm?”
Benjamin meows with a fierceness that sounds suspiciously like yes, dad.
Taylor’s soft giggle makes both Travis, Benjamin and the puppy turn, two tails and one metaphorical tail all wagging at the sight of her.
“Am I interrupting something?” She asks, equal parts amused and totally besotted with her little family.
Travis softens at the sight of her, arms laden with bread and he shifts, turning to face her so he’s able to properly drink her in.
“Nah, not at all, girlie. Just tryna keep the petting zoo in line for when I’m gone.”
At that moment Benjamin decides to scale his back like a climbing wall.
“Yeah?” She grins, “How’s that going?”
Travis gently plucks Benjamin from his shirt, cradling the cat in one arm and opening his other for Taylor. She goes willingly, bread quickly deposited on the bed so she can burrow into his chest.
“C’mere, sweetie. Gonna miss you all so much.”
“Not as much as we’re going to miss you,” She pouts, pulling back from his chest with her bottom lip jutted out so far that for a split second, she can almost see Travis think about calling Coach Reid and retiring on the spot.
“Tay-Tay,” Her name comes out as a half croon, half groan as he buries his head in her shoulder. “God, I wish I really could put you in my suitcase.”
“Well, I definitely fit!”
The puppy, still so young and playful, hates being left out and launches himself at them with an excited bark.
“Yo, dude!” Travis grumbles affectionately, his hand running through the puppy’s mass of white fur as he pulls the excitable dog away from Taylor. “What were we just talking about, hey? Mom is a lady. We have to be more careful around ladies, hm?”
The puppy suddenly sits, nose twitching.
Taylor barely gets a split second to reach for the sourdough loaves before the puppy lurches.
“Ah, ah! They’re for Dad, buddy,” Taylor says, ruffling the dog’s fur. “Gotta keep him strong whilst he’s at training camp!”
“Nah,” Travis mumbles, moving to lie flat on his back. They exist like magnets so naturally, Taylor follows. She lies on her side, head propped up on her hand. “I’ve decided I’m not going. Gonna stay here with you five.” Then he reaches out, his large hand pushing up her sundress and splaying on her toned stomach. “Or six.”
Taylor giggles, briefly burying her head in his solid shoulder.
“Five? God, we really do have a zoo, don’t we?”
Travis drops a kiss to her hair.
“And I didn’t even count the horse!” His voice softens, bending himself in half to press the softest kiss just below her belly button. “Anything to report in here, sweet girl?”
Her fingers tangle in his hair, heart clenching. Taylor officially stopped taking her birth control two days before the wedding. Despite initially being reluctant for Taylor to be pregnant whilst he was playing an active season, Travis has now taken it upon himself to become the patron saint of fertility in the Kelce household.
“Sweet boy,” She croons, hand lacing through his that still rests on her lower abdomen. “I think it’s far too soon to tell.”
“You’re like super powered, sweetie. You’re telling me that doesn’t extend to x-ray eyes?” He huffs, chin resting against her skin as he stares up at her and she chuckles, shaking her head.
“‘Fraid not, baby, the lasik wasn’t that good.”
“Damn,” He huffs before he presses another side kiss to her stomach and sits up, slumping back against the pillows.
“Want to tell me what’s going on in that beautiful brain?” Taylor hums as she rises herself, slipping on her knees behind him to wrap around him from behind. Happy nudges up next to her, always desperate to be involved and Taylor holds in a laugh as Benji curls into Travis’ lap.
They really are running a zoo.
“Can’t tell which is worse,” Travis huffs as he grips her wrist softly to tug her arms more firmly around him before he rubs his finger over her rings, “The idea that I’m spending three weeks at training camp away from potential baby making time or the idea that you might already be pregnant and I’m gonna miss three weeks of it.”
Taylor feels her heart break a little in her chest as she looks at him, soft pout on his lips. He’s so ridiculously sweet, she can hardly stand it.
“Oh baby boy,” She hums, running her free hand up his chest and over his shoulder, “Hey, what’s three weeks when we’ve got a lifetime? But that Lombardi waits for no man and you can’t let Pat show you up with all his recovery training.”
Her joke doesn’t make him laugh and when he turns to look at her, his eyes are wide and his lips pouted, “But what if you get morning sickness and I’m not here?”
Her heart aches at the same time as she struggles to hold in her chuckle, softly petting his chest as she presses a kiss to his temple.
“Well I have great news for you there. Morning sickness doesn’t generally kick in for about a month and given my period last week… congratulations, your front row seat to the vomit party is still in tact,” Taylor scrunches her nose at the thought, shuddering a little but Travis still doesn’t crack a smile.
“But you could still be nauseous or something could happen or…”
She melts, shaking her head as she cups his chest, pressing a long kiss to his cheek to silence him.
“Hey, hey, baby, I’m gonna be fine. You aren’t going to miss anything other than maybe a baking fest or two with me and Sterling and probably a few new songs,” She chuckles to herself, thinking out her plan for the next week or so. She’s got ways to keep herself busy, unable to just sit around the house with Travis not here, but she wants to be close for the days he is off.
“You’ll play them for me?” Travis questions, wide eyes locked on hers and Taylor chuckles, nodding her head.
“Every night when you call. You got dreams to chase, sweet boy, and you know we don’t hold each other back in that regard,” She smiles as she strokes his cheek and finally, that gets a soft smile to tug at the edge of his lips.
“I’m gonna miss you,” He grins as he spins and somehow in a feat of dexterity, lifts Taylor round into his lap and keeps Benji safe to deposit in hers when she’s settled.
Happy, never one to miss a party, barrels into Taylor’s lap too and they both laugh as Taylor fusses him happily, fingers tangling through the soft fur around his face.
“I’ll miss you the most when it’s this fluffy baby kicking me in the middle of the night instead of you,” dShe babbles in the pup’s face before she grins at Travis, curling in close.
“He can deal with your cold toes,” Her husband grins, pinching her waist teasingly and she giggles, shrugging her shoulders.
“You love my cold toes,” She grins and giggles as he wraps her up tight, which means bringing cat and dog along for the ride also. Her laughter mixes with Happy’s yaps and Benji’s yelp to echo around the bedroom and Taylor just grins, knowing there was a time she never even imagined life could feel this light.
“I love all of you,” Travis insists as he kisses her softly and Taylor chuckles, chasing him with a series of kisses of her own.
“Hmm, ditto, sweet boy. Now come on, this is a pathetic excuse for a packing situation the night before training camp. Time to hustle,” She groans as she shifts the menagerie of fur in her lap up and stands herself, holding out her hand to tug her husband up.
Travis chooses what he wants to pack and Taylor designates herself in charge of folding. Happy designates himself in charge of removing everything she places into his case as if in protest about the idea of Travis going anywhere. Eventually Travis gives up on packing and just stands behind Taylor, arms wrapped tightly around her as she folds, organises and accepts his kisses every time another garment makes it into the bag.
“Ugh, I’m gonna miss these,” Taylor mumbles, holding up a pair of loose grey sweatpants that hang low on Travis’ hips and drive her crazy.
“More than you’re going to miss me?” He chuckles, his breath hot on her neck as he stays almost surgically attached to her.
“I’m going to miss you in them, idiot,” She giggles, nudging him gently with her hip, “God, it should be illegal to separate newlyweds like this. I feel like my body is going to go into shock at not being able to have you.”
“Tay-Tay,” He groans, voice breathy, eyes squeezed shut. “I don’t even wanna think about it, girl. Why do I keep fuckin’ volunteering for this?”
She turns in his arms, nose pushing up against his.
“Because you love football, baby.”
“Love you more,” he mumbles.
His kiss is tender but not searching. God, he’s had her so many times already today knowing that he’s leaving. They didn’t get up until gone midday and she’s sore as anything but she can’t bring herself to grumble about it in the slightest. The thought that maybe tucked up safe inside of her already is their baby? It’s the only thing that is keeping her going through what she’s sure is going to be one of the hardest separation of their relationship so far.
“God, Tay-Tay. I love you more every single day.” She cups his face and his hands move to rest on top of hers, his index finger brushing at the ring on her left hand. “Still can’t believe you’re my wife.”
“Forever, sweet boy.”
Travis kisses her, only pulling back to swallow down the lump in his throat.
“Hey, Tay? You promise me somethin’?”
“Anything, darling.”
“You promise me that if you even get a hint of morning sickness or implantation bleeding or-“
Taylor blinks.
“Implantation bleeding?”
“Taylor, sweetie.” The use of her name makes her refocus, the little crease in her forehead relaxing. “Anything at all, sweetie, yeah? I want you to call Prince William and-“
Taylor’s shoulders sag, her whole body deflating when she realises that no matter how serious he thinks he is, he’s doing a bit.
“Baby-“ She huffs out through a laugh, head tipping back.
“Hey, I’m serious, girl!” He grins. “If you even get a hint of baby girl Kelce in there I need you to call Prince and tell him to tell Andy to let me out. You hear me?”
“Baby girl Kelce?” She giggles.
“Hey, the Kelc men make cute baby girls! And I secretly want one of those caps that say girl dad.”
Taylor, who knows her way around a sewing needle, mentally adds embroidering a cap to her list of things to do whilst he’s at camp.
He suddenly softens, reaching for her hand.
“Tay, I’m being serious. I don’t want to miss a second. I hate that I have to leave you and I need you to know that you and the petting zoo mean more to me than anything, football included. If you need anything, you call and I drop everything and come home. Baby-making related or not. You need me, I’ll come.”
“Travis-“ She protests weakly.
“Promise me, Tay?”
He’s her husband so she knows him well enough to know when he’s joking and when he isn’t, and his tone tells her that this is important to him. It takes very little for her resolve to fall.
“I promise, sweet boy.”
The next morning, Taylor is woken up in the same way she’s been so many morning since last December.
To the loud yapping of Happy as he bounds through the door and Travis’ gentle hushing, trying to calm the puppy down before he abruptly brings her into the land of the living.
“Bud, hey, c’mon. Remember what we talked about? Gotta be nice to Mom and that involves letting her sleep. It’s tiring being that smart and beautiful,” She hears Travis hiss and she grins, pressing up onto her elbows to watch the way he’s holding Happy’s collar, trying to stop him from clamouring onto the bed.
“I’m awake, release the beast,” She snorts, smiling up at Travis, dragging her eyes appreciatively over the loose laying shorts holding at his hips and his bare chest. He’s clearly fresh out the shower, the scent of his musky shower gel wafting with steam out the en suite and his eyes soften as he takes her in, clearly appreciating the sight of her in their sheets as well.
“This is why he’s spoiled,” Travis smirks but does as asked and Taylor laughs at the way the puppy bounds onto the bed, immediately laying his entire weight on her and licking over her face in greeting.
“Yes, good morning to you too, baby. I know! It’s so exciting, a whole new day!” She laughs as he happily nudges against her, flopping down next to her when he seems satisfied she’s greeted the morning with appropriate enthusiasm.
“Good morning, my beautiful wife,” Travis smiles as he too sinks back down on the bed and Taylor grins as he hands her a cup of coffee she didn’t even realise he was holding.
“Hmm, hello handsome husband,” She grins, giggling at her own alliteration and he chuckles, leaning over to kiss her soft and slow. It’s so tender, she groans as he pulls away, hand immediately reaching to thread through his beard as if she could hold him here indefinitely.
“You looked so peaceful this morning, I couldn’t even bring myself to wake you up with the thought of one last shot at Operation Troy Bolton before I go,” He coos softly at her and Taylor chuckles, shaking her head at the ridiculous name that Jason of all people has given their endeavour to kick start their family since the wedding. She’s honestly surprised he knows the reference but didn’t press, scared as to what recess of the internet he may have pulled it from.
Travis’ hand drifts down to her bare stomach, large thumb rubbing circles over the very core of her and Taylor smiles as she sips her coffee, turning her head to kiss his bicep gently.
“Well my brain thanks you even if my uterus doesn’t,” She smirks and he laughs, shaking his head as he curls closer to her, “How much time do you have?”
“Not much at all I’m afraid, sweetie. Steve’s already waiting,” He hums and Taylor huffs, suddenly wishing he had woken her earlier. They were up until 4am, completely lost in each other to even notice the time so she definitely needed the sleep but the thought of him going without having him one more time is suddenly breaking her heart.
Still, he’s her husband and she adores him and today is the official start of what will most likely be his last ever NFL season so she swallows her pout and smiles, cupping his cheek.
“Then you better kick that tight end into action. Say hi to everyone for me and please put some sunscreen on,” She smirks and he chuckles, nodding his head.
“I promise to think about it,” He smiles and Taylor rolls her eyes even as she leans in to kiss him softly.
“Go on, I’ll see you on Sunday. One more ring, baby!” She whoops as he laughs and stands, bending back down to kiss her again.
“One second,” He grins and disappears. Taylor chuckles, stroking over Happy’s back when his head perks up as if wondering where his dad has gone.
“Better get used to this, buddy. You’ve been spoiled so far,” She smiles softly as she threads her fingers through his fur, pressing a kiss to the top of his head and she laughs when he yips lightly, cuddling in closer to her.
She laughs out loud when Travis returns with all three cats in tow, placing them down on his side of the bed. Benji immediately heads for Taylor’s pillow, curling up by her ear, and Olivia for her chest, bold and confident next to Happy and batting at him when he tries to gently nudge her with his nose. Meredith looks up at Travis like he’s betrayed her very being and sends Happy a very dubious look before she heads for the foot of the bed, making both Taylor and Travis laugh.
“Think she’ll ever forgive us?” Travis grins, watching as Taylor gently guides Happy away from Olivia and back down into cuddling with her.
“I think Mere secretly loves him, she’s just got a reputation to uphold,” Taylor laughs and Travis grins, stepping back as if to survey the situation.
“Right, petting zoo all accounted for, I’ve had a chat with all of them, they know goal number one is to behave for Mom. I gotta make some moves, I’m afraid, sweetie,” He smiles at her softly, eyes nothing but gentle care and Taylor smiles too, caught on the way his eyes are dancing in the late morning light, shining like opals.
“Enjoy the bunk. I love you so much,” She sighs, reaching out towards him and he smiles, climbing back onto the bed to loom over her and kiss her long and slow and wanting.
“I love you to the ends of the earth, babygirl. I’ll see you Sunday,” He whispers as they pull back and Taylor chuckles as he slowly takes the time to fuss all the cats and Happy, whispering his own goodbyes to them. He comes back to Taylor when he’s done, kissing her again and then all over her cheeks until she’s giggling when he finally steps back with a wave, headed for the door.
“Bye Dad!” She calls after him, lifting a paw each from Happy and Olivia and he turns back to look at her as if she’s just told him his otter dream is entirely unrealistic.
“You’re entirely unfair!” He huffs but he’s grinning and Taylor giggles, blowing him a long kiss.
“Love ya! Play good! Run fast! Jump high!” She grins and he laughs, reciprocating her kiss before he finally disappears around the corner and she slumps back into the pillows with a grin, heart light as anything.