In The Clear - Out Of The Woods Sequel - A Taylor Swift Fanfiction

Chapter 26: Date Night

"You know, I've been really worried about Madison," she began, her gaze fixed on a point somewhere beyond the table, as if visualizing her daughter in that very moment. "Last night, in the kitchen... she opened up to me. It's her eating disorder; it's come back, or maybe... it never really left."

Travis's response was immediate, his brow furrowing in concern. "She told you that?" he asked, his voice laced with both surprise and worry.

Taylor nodded, a sad smile touching her lips. "Yes. We were just there, talking after dinner, and it all just came out. She's been struggling, Travis, really struggling. And it breaks my heart to see her like this, to know she's been fighting this battle again, in silence."

Travis sighed deeply, imagining what his daughter must've been feeling. "We'll get her help. We can't let this go on."

Taylor could feel her eyes brimming up with tears, "it... it brings back memories of my own struggles. I know how she's feeling, and I don't know how to help her."

Travis held Taylor's hand and stroked it with his thumb. "Baby, you don't have to do it alone. I'm with you."

Taylor, grateful for being the pillar of support Travis always has been, mustered a soft smile. "I know. And I love you so much for everything you've done for us over the years. I don't know where I'd be without you."

Travis pretended he was thinking about it before replying, "Oh probably making out with some other jabroni while on tour, maybe juggling a few kids as well."

Taylor laughed, leaning in for a kiss, "never. You and me forever and ever, babe."

Returning home from their dinner, the house was enveloped in a serene quietness, the kind that speaks of moments tucked away in dreams and soft laughter sealed within the walls. The flicker of the TV cast a gentle glow across the living room, where Taylor and Travis found Madison and Olivia, fast asleep amidst a fortress of blankets and pillows they had built together. It was a scene that pulled at the heartstrings, a pure, unspoken testament to sisterly bonds and innocent adventures that unfold within the safety of home.

Taylor's heart swelled at the sight, the warmth of the moment wrapping around her like one of the blankets from the fort. She approached quietly, her steps soft against the floor as she reached down to gently scoop Olivia into her arms. The slight movement stirred Madison from her slumber, her eyes fluttering open, startled at first until they focused on Taylor's face.

"Hey, you two built quite the castle here," Taylor whispered, her voice laced with fondness as she glanced around at their handiwork.
Madison, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, managed a sleepy smile. "Yeah, Liv wanted a fortress. She's the queen, and I'm her loyal subject," she mumbled.

Taylor chuckled softly, shifting Olivia in her arms. "Well, her majesty is heading to bed. You should get some rest too, baby. It's been a long night." Taylor kissed Madison on the forehead, still cradling Olivia in her arms.

As Taylor carried Olivia to her bedroom, tucking her in with all the tenderness in the world, Travis turned his attention to Madison. Despite Madison being 18 now, a moment of nostalgia and a father's instinct guided him to lift her from the fort as well. Madison, caught in the haze of half-sleep, didn't object, a small part of her finding comfort in the gesture she hadn't experienced since she was much younger.

Travis, as he carried Madison to her room, couldn't help but notice how light she felt in his arms. The thought was a silent alarm, a reminder of the struggles Madison had been facing, the battles with her eating disorder that had become a part of her daily existence. It was a weight upon his heart, this knowledge of her suffering, even as he physically felt the lack of it in her frame.

Gently laying Madison down in her bed, Travis brushed a kiss against her forehead, the act filled with a mix of emotions—love, concern, and an unwavering commitment to see her through her challenges.

"You're safe, Maddy. Always," he murmured, ensuring she was comfortable before he stood to leave.

Madison, now more awake, briefly caught his hand. "Thanks, dad," she said, her voice a quiet acknowledgment of the moment they had shared, of all the moments that lay heavy between them.

Travis squeezed her hand in return, a silent promise of support and love, before turning off the light and closing the door softly behind him.
As he joined Taylor in their own room, the couple shared a moment of silent communication, a look that conveyed volumes. It was a look of shared concern, of determination, and of an unspoken promise to guide Madison through her struggles.

That night, as they lay in the dark, the challenges they faced seemed a little less scary. They had each other to lean on to, and with that, they had everything they needed to face the storms together.