Our Invisible String (Complete Version)

27 (Travis Version)

"Do you want me to try?" I offered gently, and Taylor nodded gratefully. "You look like you need a nap princess."

"No I'm fine." She sniffed, walking over. "I just wish I could help her. She's such a good kid and she's upset because she feels awful and I can't fix it."

"Hey." I placed a hand on Taylor's cheek. "If you're okay with it, I can take her for a while. I've taken care of my brother's kids heaps and I know what I'm doing, and you can have a rest. Just lie down for a while."

"Really?" Taylor breathed, and I nodded. Her face crumpled. "Travis, baby, thank you." She whispered. "You have no idea how much that means to me." Then she looked down at Abby. "Okay baby girl, Travis is going to take care of you for a minute."

Taylor passed the toddler over, watching as I rested Abby against my shoulder, holding her close against my shoulder. She looked exhausted, running a hand through her hair. I gave her an encouraging smile and a nod, and she nodded back before turning to lie down on the couch. She obviously wanted to stay close, and I watched as she closed her eyes, immediately falling asleep despite her daughter's cries.

"Okay little one." I murmured, rubbing the toddler's back. "I know you're upset, it must feel awful being sick. We'll help you through this."

Looking around, I carried Abby into the kitchen and searched around until I found some more of the tea I'd made earlier. Putting together a small bottle, I moved to hold Abby so I could see her face and offered it to her. She hit it away, face red as she wailed, but when I tried again she took it and fell quiet immediately. I watched as she sucked at the bottle slowly, and I rocked her gently.

"It's okay." I crooned, rubbing her arm with my thumb as she finished the small amount I'd put in the bottle. "Let's get some rest okay Abby? I think it might really help you Mommy out, because she's really worried about you and she really wants you to get better."

Abby blinked up at me as I rocked her gently, and by some miracle, her eyes drooped. I stayed silent and still as she yawned, pink lips stretching into an O as her eyes closed. After a minute, I slowly walked back into the living room and through to look for Abby's bedroom. I found Taylor's room with a cot inside and walked over, intending to put her to bed. But as soon as I set her down, her eyes popped open and she started wailing again. I quickly lifted her back into my arms and rubbed her back, and soon she fell silent again.

Guessing that she wouldn't like being put down, I took her back into the living room and grabbed a blanket, draping it over Taylor where she slept before I went to sit down in the armchair. Abby made a little sighing sound as she relaxed against my chest, turning her face into my neck. She moved to do that exactly like Taylor did, obviously in many different ways, but it gave me such a warm feeling. I'd never thought I was a kids kind of guy, but this little girl already had my heart.

Abby was Taylor's daughter, and I could see no trace of Lucas in the little girl's face. In fact it almost seemed like she had features I couldn't recognize, maybe from Andrea or someone else in Taylor's family. But whoever she got her features from, she was the most adorable little girl on the planet. Well, neck and neck with Taylor. Both of them were the only people who had ever had my heart, and they both had such a tight grip on it.

After maybe an hour, Taylor rolled over and sat up, stretching her arms out. She yawned cutely, blinking her eyes a few times before they focused on me. Then she smiled, her expression melting.

"Did she fall asleep on you?" Taylor whispered very quietly.

"She cried when I tried to put her down." I breathed as Taylor got up, stretching her legs before coming over to where I sat and climbing into the armchair with me. She cuddled up against me, on the other side than her daughter, smiling at Abby.

"She trusts you." She whispered, moving a hand to stroke her daughter's hair.

"She's so beautiful." I looked at the woman I called mine, and she smiled up at me. "Princess, I'll always be here to take care of the both of you. You two are my family now, and it's not holding me back that you have her. She's so perfect, and I love her. I love you."

"I love you." Taylor murmured back, lifting her chin and pressing a light kiss to my lips. "I should really try to put her down though; I'm trying to teach her to sleep on her own so that she doesn't get too attached." I nodded, and Taylor sighed before getting to her feet.

She took Abby off to bed and came back five minutes later, giving me a little thumbs up and a smile. I smiled back as Taylor grabbed the blanket I'd draped over her, bringing it over to me and climbing back onto the armchair. Opening my arms, I pulled her almost completely onto my lap as she rested the blanket over us. Taylor let out a happy sigh, her body warm from sleep. I kissed her shoulder, never remembering a time I'd been so happy.

"Thank you for being here baby." Taylor whispered. "It was so helpful. I felt awful for not being able to help but I was just overwhelmed."

"Always." I hugged her closer. "Always."