Our Invisible String (Complete Version)

31 (Travis Version)

"You going?" She asked, looking up at me.

"Only if you are." I kissed her lips lightly and Taylor smiled.

"Yeah, I'd like to go. See everyone again." She sighed. "Maybe we don't have to stay the whole time though."

"Whatever you want princess." I kissed her shoulder, unable to stop. Taylor yawned, turning over to lie against the side of my chest, an arm draped over my body. "Go to sleep beautiful girl." I whispered to her. "We don't want to sleep in and have your mother come back at ten and find us like this."

"She knows we have sex." Taylor giggled sleepily.

"Hey, I'm in her good books and I want to keep it that way."

"Kay." Taylor yawned. "I wish you could stay for Christmas though, even though I want you to be with your family."

"Me too princess." I sighed, but Christmas was a family event and Taylor understood that. We all went to spend Christmas Eve and Day at my Mom's place, every year, and Taylor had her little family to spend the holiday with. "But how about I come and see you on Christmas day, in the evening so I can give you your present? I want to see you open it."

"That sounds perfect, because I want to see you open the present I got for you too." The woman in my arms smiled, her eyes drooping. I nodded, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead as I closed my eyes.

I'd never slept so well as I slept with Taylor that night. I felt so incredibly close to her, like I had everything in the world I could possibly want, with our lives stretching out before us. We slept wrapped around each other, bodies bare and pressed together, unable to get any closer.

I woke up just before nine, before Taylor who still slept soundly next to me. We'd drifted apart slightly in the night and I managed to slip out of her bed without waking her, going to use the bathroom before walking to the kitchen. I started to make pancakes with blueberries, wanting to make Taylor breakfast in bed. This would be the first time outside of the cabin we'd spent the night together, and this time we could really sink into the morning for a little while before we had other things to do. I wanted to make it special for her.

When I'd finished making breakfast – blueberry pancakes with decaf coffee since she was breastfeeding – I took a tray into Taylor's bedroom. She rolled over at the sound of me closing the door behind myself, sitting up and blinking tiredly at me. Her hair was a mess, tangled in her face, and she pushed it away with a grumpy morning expression that made me melt. God she was adorable.

"Hey handsome." Taylor smiled, and then she noticed the tray in my hand. "Oh you didn't." She whispered. "Did you make breakfast?"

"Yeah, that okay?" I asked as she crossed her legs to make space for the tray I set down on the bed. Taylor nodded, reaching out for a light kiss.

"Baby every time I think you can't be sweeter to me you prove me wrong." She whispered. "This is amazing. I love you."

"I love you." I kissed her a second time.

We ate breakfast in bed and then Taylor pumped before we showered together, having to fight not to let it go further than long kisses up against the wall. If we got carried away, we wouldn't have time to get ready before Andrea brought Abby back. 

It was hard to keep my hands off her, but I managed it, and Taylor seemed to be struggling just as much. We got dressed and she tied her hair into two little plaits, somehow making her look even cuter.

"What do you think?" Taylor asked, and I looked up as I finished doing up my pants. I hadn't expected to stay over so wore the same clothes as yesterday, planning to go home and change before I went to my Mom's. Taylor was wearing plain blue jeans and a bright red Christmas sweater that spelled out 'Ho Ho Ho' in fluffy white pompoms, holly and reindeers decorating around the letters.

"Princess that is awful!" I laughed, and she giggled. "God I think that's truly the worst thing I've ever seen."

"Oh come on it's not that bad."

"It is." I crossed the room and pulled Taylor into my arms. "But somehow pretty girl, you manage to pull it off." She grinned, and I kissed her nose.

Andrea and Abby showed up just after ten, and I spent a few minutes with them before leaving. I took back the trailer I'd hired for all of the things I'd got for Taylor's room and Abby's nursery, and then I went home to change and pack a few things. Stacking all of the presents I'd bought into my car, I locked my house and drove to my Mom's just before eleven.

I was the last one there. Dad, Jason, Kylie, and the three girls were already there when I arrived, and the house was warm with baking and laughter and family. Everyone greeted me warmly, asking how things were going, and I doted on my three little nieces as they climbed all over me like they always did, like little monkeys.

"So, Travis." Mom smiled knowingly at me as we all sat around the living room, Jason on the floor with the two older girls, playing while Bennett sat in my lap. "How's the special girl?"

"No way Travis settled down and got a girlfriend." Jason laughed.

"He did." Mom grinned at him. "Someone's whipped him into shape."

"She's great." I rolled my eyes at my brother. "I met her daughter, and it's been going so well."

"Wait, who is this girl who's managed to make an honest man out of my brother?" Jason asked.

"Taylor Swift."

Jason laughed like he didn't believe me, shaking his head. I just looked at him, and after a moment he stopped laughing and blinked at me. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head.

"Wait the little songwriter you bullied in high school?" He asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "We've...started over since then."

"You love her?" Was Jason's next question, and I nodded once. 

"Well good on you Travis, and I know I'm probably not the first to tell you this, but you hurt that girl one more time and I'll make sure you get hell for it. I didn't ever know her that well but she's the kindest soul I ever met and you better treat her damn perfect." He told me, and I nodded.

I would. 

Until the day I died.