Our Invisible String (Complete Version)

33 (Travis Version)

"Hi there little one." I whispered to Taylor's stomach, placing a hand on the curve of her body beneath her belly button and stroking gently. "You have no idea what an honour it is to tell you this." I smiled. "I'm your dad." I murmured as I stroked Taylor's soft skin, in awe that our baby was in there. "And I am so incredibly excited to meet you when you're ready. I've always wanted you, but I've never felt ready enough with someone to have you. But now I do, and you have no idea how much I love you, and your big sister, and your incredibly Mommy." Leaning down, I kissed Taylor's stomach gently. "I promise I will love you and take care of you every single day. I'll always be here for you little one, always."

"Travis." Taylor whispered, and I looked up to see her crying silently, tears slowly falling down from her eyes.

"Oh don't cry princess." I quickly moved to wipe her tears away.

"No they're happy tears." She sniffed, nuzzling her cheek against my hand. "They're very happy tears baby, because you're so incredibly sweet. I love you."

"I love you." I murmured, placing a light kiss on her lips. "God." I sighed. "My present for you is seeming really shitty now."

"I'm sure it's perfect." Taylor sat up, tucking her shirt back down and crossing her legs. "Come on, let me see it."

I sighed and nodded, moving over to the one present I'd left that I'd got for Taylor. I really hadn't known what to get for her for so long, but eventually I'd settled on something. It seemed mediocre now, but I couldn't not give it to her, so I picked it up and placed it into Taylor's lap before sitting down next to her.

Taylor smiled at me, her expression delighted like I'd just handed her the world even though she hadn't even opened it yet. I held my breath as she tore open the wrapping paper of the huge box to expose the wooden case beneath. She looked up at me curiously, and I nodded for her to open the case. I knew she knew what it was.

"Oh my god!" Taylor gasped when she opened the case to see the sleek, wooden guitar inside. Even I – someone who couldn't play any instruments – could admit that it was beautiful. It wasn't new, but it had been taken care of really well by its first owner. "Travis is this..." She touched the signature scrawled over the top, staring down at it in awe.

"Merry Christmas princess." I murmured, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

"How the hell did you get this?" Taylor squealed, throwing her arms around my neck.

"You like it?" I laughed.

"Like it? Travis this is a guitar used and signed by Stevie Nicks, I think I'm about to have a heart attack!" Taylor pulled back and lifted the guitar out, staring at it in awe. "How the hell did you get this?"

"Secret." I whispered back. Truthfully, I'd pulled every string I could ever possibly pull and cashed in every favour I'd ever owed a person. I'd met Stevie and told her all about Taylor, and she'd been so happy to sign one of her guitars for me to give to her. Taylor would probably kill me if she knew I'd met Stevie and she hadn't, so I'd skip over that detail.

"Holy shit." She breathed as I moved the case off her lap and she balanced the guitar on her knees.

"Mommy no bad!" Abby insisted from where she played with her toys.

"Sorry baby girl, no bad words." Taylor grinned bashfully, and I smiled at her.

"Play me something." I suggested, and the blushed, shaking her head. "Oh come on princess, I didn't get you this guitar so you wouldn't play it for me. Just a little something."

Taylor blushed deeper but nodded, fiddling with the end as she tuned the guitar. I watched, sitting back as she took a breath and arranged her fingers on the strings. I'd never heard her play before.

"Okay, I wrote this one when Abby was born." She told me. "It's my favourite."

I nodded, watching as she started to play softly, and Abby looked up at her mother with a smile like she recognized the song. Abby and I both fell quiet, watching Taylor as she hummed to the beautiful tune she was playing. And then she opened her mouth, starting to sing, and my mouth dropped open at how gorgeous it was.

"Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreamin'
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darlin', don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darlin', don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
Never grow up"