SHOCKED

Three Days LaterMarch 17th; 2025Taylor Swift's Point of ViewThe car hums a steady rhythm as trees blur past. A soft breeze tickles my arm through the open window, carrying the smell of pine and salt. Travis's grip on the wheel is tight, knuckles white, but his eyes are soft when they land on me. His hand, warm and comforting, holds mine.

Joy's a tornado of giggles and stuffed animals in the backseat. Mr. Snuggles, her worn teddy bear, is clutched tightly. Whiskerface, the ragged kitten, kicks at the seat in front of her.

"Mommy?" Her voice breaks through the quiet.

"Yes, honey?" I turn to face her in the rearview mirror.

"Is Nana going to make cookies with me?" Her lower lip trembles, hope shining through. Baking with Nana is our thing, flour-dusted kisses and shared laughter.

A smile creeps onto my face. "I bet she will, sweetheart, if you ask nicely."

The familiar coastal scent grows stronger as we near the house. A salty tang mingles with the pine, promising the ocean just beyond the dunes. The driveway, a winding ribbon of gray, comes into view, flanked by overgrown hydrangeas bursting with purple.

"Taylor, I know you keep saying they'll be happy for us but you don't have any doubts?" Travis's voice, laced with uncertainty, pulls me from my thoughts. His grip on the wheel tightens.

I reach over, covering his hand with mine. "They'll be so excited for us! My parents love you, and surprisingly, so does Austin." I try to infuse my voice with conviction, but a flicker of doubt ignites in my chest.

"It's just that I only met them a couple times," he admits, his eyes troubled.

"Trust me babe, they'll be ecstatic." I squeeze his hand, offering silent reassurance. The house looms ahead, a weathered gray shingle against the sky. A wave of anticipation washes over me, mixed with a sprinkle of fear. The beautiful Rhode Island home.

The salty tang of the ocean and the comforting scent of pine fill the air as we pull into the gravel driveway. Nervous excitement bubbles inside me as I unbuckle Joy from her car seat. She skips ahead, her tiny hand wrapped tightly in Travis's. I lock the car and hurry to catch up.

A rush of memories floods me as we approach the house. This is where I spent countless summers as a child. I glance at Travis, hoping to find reassurance in his eyes, but he looks just as tense as I feel. I fumble with the keys, my heart pounding.

"Ready?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper.

He nods, squeezing Joy's hand.

Taking a deep breath, I push open the door, bracing myself for the welcome that awaits us. The scent of cinnamon and freshly baked bread washes over me, instantly sparking a wave of nostalgia. Warm light spills from the doorway, illuminating a hallway lined with framed photos – our family throughout the years. Laughter echoes from the kitchen, drawing us in like a beacon.

I step inside, Joy and Travis close behind. The sight that greets me makes my heart clench. There, around the kitchen table, bathed in the warm glow of the pendant lights, sits my entire family. My parents beam at me, their faces etched with genuine joy.

My mom's embrace is warm and enveloping, a familiar comfort that washes away the nervous tension clinging to me. "Taylor! It feels like a lifetime since I last saw you."

I can't help but chuckle. "You saw me last month, Mom."

"A lifetime!" she insists, her eyes twinkling.

Joy's laughter rings out as she throws herself into Dad's arms. He scoops her up, his booming voice filling the room. "Joy Joy! You are getting so big! You must be in your 20s by now!"

"I'm five, Papa!" Joy corrects him, holding up five fingers with a grin.

"Come on, come sit down!" My dad says ushering us towards the table. "Let's not stand around here like strangers. We've got plenty of catching up to do."

The air hangs heavy with anticipation as Austin leans back in his chair, taking a long sip of beer. "So, hit us with this big surprise. What's going on?"

A beat of silence stretches between us, thick with unspoken questions. My mom fidgets in her seat, her gaze flickering between me and Travis. "You're not pregnant, are you, Taylor?" she blurts out, her voice laced with a nervous tremor.

"What? No, Mom! Goodness, no!" I exclaim, my cheeks flushing at the very thought. Laughter, tinged with relief, spills from my lips.

"Well, then what is it?" she presses, her brow furrowed in concern.

Travis and I exchange a quick glance, a silent conversation passing between us. A smile tugs at the corners of his lips, mirroring the one blossoming on my face. Steeling myself, I reach for his hand, intertwining our fingers beneath the table. Taking a deep breath, I turn towards my family, their eyes wide with curiosity.

"Alright, here goes," I announce, my voice trembling slightly with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "Three days ago, Travis..." I trail off, letting him take over.

"We got engaged," Travis finishes smoothly, his voice warm and confident.

A collective gasp ripples around the table. My dad's eyes widen in surprise. "Engaged? You two?"

"Not exactly," Travis replies with a hint of amusement.

"I was about to call you all and tell you the news," I chime in, "but then I had this crazy idea..." I steal a playful glance at him, a silent thank you for the perfect setup.

"Crazy idea?" My mom echoes, her voice laced with apprehension.

"We decided we didn't want to wait," I explain, my voice taking on a defensive edge. "We didn't want to get bogged down in the stress of planning a whole wedding. There's already so much going on in my life, adding a huge celebration on top of it all just seemed overwhelming."

A tense silence descends upon the room. My mom's smile falters, replaced by a frown etched with concern. Dad stares at us, processing the news in stunned silence. Even Austin seems speechless, the playful banter from earlier forgotten. The air crackles with unspoken emotions – disappointment, confusion, a flicker of hurt. This isn't the joyous announcement I'd envisioned.

My mom's voice pierces the heavy silence. "Are you saying you eloped?" she asks, her tone laced with a mixture of emotions I can't quite decipher.

Taking a deep breath, I nod. "Yesterday we went to the courthouse in New York and got a marriage license. A judge married us about two hours later," I explain, bracing myself for their reaction.

The revelation hangs heavy in the air, punctuated only by the clinking of silverware against plates. The silence stretches, taut with unspoken emotions. I glance at Travis, his hand resting reassuringly on mine beneath the table. He offers a small, supportive smile, but his own eyes flicker with nervous anticipation.

Finally, my Dad breaks the silence. "Well," he begins, his voice gruff, "I suppose congratulations are in order."

Relief washes over me, a welcome wave amidst the tension. "Thank you, Dad," I say sincerely.

My Mom reaches across the table, her hand hovering over mine for a moment before gently squeezing it. "Honey, I...we just wanted a big celebration for you," she says, her voice thick with emotion. "We were so looking forward to seeing you walk down the aisle..."

"We know," Travis interjects smoothly, his voice warm and sincere. "And we really appreciate that. But this felt right for us. We just wanted our commitment to be about the two of us, you know?"

The tension is thick enough to cut with a knife. Mom offers a watery smile, but I see the disappointment cloud her eyes. "I understand," she murmurs, but I know it's a lie.

I need to talk to her alone. "Let's go talk in private for a minute," I say softly, guiding her towards the kitchen.

As soon as the door closes behind us, I let out a defeated sigh, leaning heavily against the counter. "I know this isn't what you pictured for me," I admit.

The response isn't what I expect. Mom's facade crumbles, replaced by a fierce protectiveness. "What the hell, Taylor?!" she exclaims. "What were you thinking?!"

"We just...we didn't want a big wedding," I stammer, taken aback by her anger.

"Not that! You barely know each other! You're married to someone you've dated for six months and were engaged to for less than two days?! Where's your common sense?" Her voice rises with each question.

I blink, stung by her words. "You're the one who told me to be more adventurous in dating!"

"The dating scene, Taylor, not the marriage scene!" she shoots back, flicking my forehead like a child. "You're 35 years old! How could you be so reckless?"

"I'm happy, Mom," I insist. "Travis is happy. Isn't that what you always wanted for me? My happy ending? Joy has a family!"

The anger drains from her face, replaced by a deep sadness. "Taylor, are you sure this isn't you...coping?" she asks softly.

I stiffen. "This isn't coping! I've worked through that," I snap.

"Honey, I know you have," she soothes, her voice laced with concern. "But you went through something awful, and it wouldn't be unusual to do something drastic in response."

"Mom, I married Travis because I love him and want to be with him. Will you please just be supportive? Even if you think it was a mistake, I just... I need you to pretend." My voice cracks a little as I look at her, desperate for her understanding.

She meets my gaze with a soft smile. "I love you more than anything, sweetie. I'll support this decision if it makes you happy and is good for your family." Relief washes over me.

"Thank you, Mom." I manage a real smile this time.

"Okay, but if you're married, I have one question." Her tone is light, but I can see the twinkle in her eye.

I tilt my head, curious. "What is it?"

"When do I get more grandbabies?" she asks, and we both burst out laughing.

"Travis and I may be hasty, but that will probably take some time," I tease, wiping away a stray tear of laughter.

—————Author's Note:

Bit of a cute filler but let's be real how long until they have a baby. Next chapter? Two? 💀 I'll take your guesses.

I didn't proof read this oops