Chapter 16: Carly Reindeer

Author's note: Idk I just saw Baby Reindeer :D I don't know where to take this story though.

Taylor was lounging on the couch, enjoying a rare moment of domestic bliss with Ava and her bandmates, when the doorbell rang. She untangled herself from Ava's embrace and padded over to the door, expecting a delivery or maybe a neighbor dropping by.

What she didn't expect was a stunning brunette standing on the doorstep, clutching a bouquet of roses and wearing a hopeful, slightly manic smile.

"Um, can I help you?" Taylor asked, confusion written all over her face.

The woman's smile faltered. "Oh! You must be the roommate. I'm here to see Ava. Is she home?"

Before Taylor could respond, Ava's voice rang out from behind her. "Carly? What the hell are you doing here?"

The brunette pushed past Taylor into the apartment, thrusting the roses towards Ava. "Baby! I missed you so much. I know we had our differences, but I'm here to make things right."

Ava stared at the flowers like they might bite her. "Carly, we broke up. A year ago. You can't just show up here and-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Kyle interrupted, perking up from his spot on the couch. "Is that crazy Carly? The one who threw a brick through our van window?"

Ron's eyes widened. "Oh shit, it is! This is gonna be good."

Preston, ever the mediator, stood up and gestured for Taylor to join them. "Uh, Tay? Maybe you should come sit down for this."

Bewildered and more than a little annoyed, Taylor allowed herself to be led to the couch. As she sat, she couldn't tear her eyes away from Ava and Carly, who seemed to be locked in some sort of intense staring contest.

"So," Kyle stage-whispered, leaning towards Taylor. "Carly and Ava used to date. It was... dramatic, to say the least."

Ron snorted. "That's putting it mildly. Remember when Carly 'accidentally' set fire to Ava's favorite leather jacket because Ava forgot to call her after a gig?"

"Or the time she showed up to our gig and tried to fight the bouncer 'cause he wouldn't let her in?" Preston added, shaking his head.

Taylor felt a prickle of unease, her gaze snapping back to Ava. Her girlfriend's posture was tense, her jaw clenched as she listened to whatever Carly was saying.

"I don't understand," Taylor murmured. "If she was so awful, why is Ava even entertaining this?"

Kyle shrugged. "Carly has a way of getting under her skin. They were always on-again, off-again. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion."

On the other side of the room, Carly's voice rose in pitch. "You can't tell me you don't miss this, Ava. The passion, the fire... we were amazing together!"

Ava pinched the bridge of her nose. "We were toxic together. All we did was fight and make up and fight some more. It wasn't healthy."

Carly scoffed. "Oh, and I suppose this little blonde thing is better for you? Please, she looks like she'd break in half if you breathed on her too hard."

Taylor opened her mouth to retort, but Preston laid a warning hand on her arm. "Trust me, you don't want to engage. It'll only encourage her."

Ron leaned over, an amused glint in his eye. "Five bucks says Ava ends up throwing the flowers in Carly's face."

"Nah, she'll probably just kick her out," Kyle countered. "Ava's all about the dramatic exits, not the dramatic gestures."

As the boys placed their bets, Taylor couldn't help the curl of jealousy in her gut. Watching Ava with her ex, seeing the history and the passion between them... it made her feel small. Insignificant, even.

Ava's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "Enough, Carly. I'm happy now. Happier than I ever was with you. So please, just go."

Carly's face twisted, ugly, and furious. "This isn't over. You can't just throw away what we had. I won't let you."

With that, she spun on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Ava stood there for a moment, shoulders heaving with each breath. Then, slowly, she turned to face the group on the couch.

"Well," she said. "That was... unexpected."

Kyle snorted. "Understatement of the century, Aves."

"I don't know," Ron mused. "I kind of miss the drama. It was entertaining, in a 'wow, this might end in a murder-suicide' kind of way."

Preston rolled his eyes. "You're both idiots." He turned to Ava, concern etched on his face. "You okay?"

Ava sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... unsettled, I guess? I haven't seen her in so long, I thought I'd put that part of my life behind me."

Taylor stayed silent, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions coursing through her. She knew it was irrational, knew Ava had chosen her, but the jealousy persisted.

"Right," Kyle said, clapping his hands together. "I think this calls for a drink. Or ten. Who's with me?"

As the boys clamored their agreement, Ava plopped down beside Taylor, taking her hand. "I'm sorry about that, Tay. Carly...she's a lot."

Taylor forced a smile, trying to push down the insecurity clawing at her throat.

Kyle's words about how Carly was always able to get under Ava's skin echoed in Taylor's mind as she sat in the studio, waiting for Ava to arrive. They were supposed to be working on a new track, but Ava was uncharacteristically late. Taylor tried to ignore the sense of unease, focusing instead on fine-tuning the melody.

Minutes ticked by, and still no sign of Ava. Taylor's patience began to wear thin, her mind conjuring up worst-case scenarios. Just as she was about to reach for her phone, a commotion outside caught her attention.

Curious, she made her way to the front door, her heart sinking as she took in the scene before her.

Ava was standing on the sidewalk, surrounded by a swarm of paparazzi. Their cameras flashed incessantly, the shouted questions blending into noise. But what made Taylor's blood run cold was the sight of Carly, clinging to Ava.

"Ava, baby, tell them about our love story!" Carly cooed, loudly. "Remember when we got matching tattoos in Vegas? Or when we almost got arrested for skinny dipping in the hotel pool?"

Ava looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. She tried to disentangle herself from Carly's octopus-like grip, but the other woman held fast.

"Carly, stop it," Ava hissed. "We're not together anymore. You need to let go."

Carly pouted, her lips quivering in an exaggerated display of distress. "But Ava, we were soulmates! You said you'd love me forever!"

The paparazzi ate it up, their cameras clicking furiously. Taylor felt bile rise in her throat as she watched Carly spin their history into some sort of epic romance.

"Is it true you proposed to Carly on stage at one of your shows?" a reporter shouted.

"No, that's not-" Ava tried to interject, but Carly steamrolled over her.

"Of course it's true! It was the most romantic moment of my life. Ava got down on one knee and everything!"

Taylor had heard enough. She opened the door and pushed through the crowd, her eyes blazing as she came to stand beside Ava. Carly's gaze locked onto her, a sneer twisting her features.

"Well, well, if it isn't the flavor of the month," Carly hissed. "Come to watch the show, blondie?"

Taylor ignored her, turning to Ava. "Everything okay?"

Ava's shoulders sagged with relief at the sight of her. "Tay, thank god. Can we please just go inside? I can't deal with this right now."

But Carly wasn't ready to give up the spotlight. She tightened her grip on Ava's arm, pressing herself closer. "Aww, leaving so soon? But we were just getting to the good part!"

Ava's patience snapped. She wrenched her arm free, shoving Carly away. "Get the fuck off me, Carly! I'm done playing your games!"

Carly stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock and fury. Taylor stepped forward, putting herself between Ava and her ex. "Do we have a problem here?" she asked.

Carly sneered. "Not unless you want one, princess. Why don't you run along and let the grownups talk?"

Taylor bristled, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "I'm not going anywhere without Ava."

"Oh, that's rich!" Carly let out a harsh laugh. "You think you can just waltz in and steal my girl? Please, you're nothing but a phase. A midlife crisis with a pretty face!"

Ava saw red at that. "Don't you dare talk to her like that! I've told you a million times - we're over, Carly. Done. Finished. Taylor isn't a phase, she's the love of my life. And if you can't accept that, then you need to leave. Now."

Carly opened her mouth to retort, but Taylor cut her off. "You heard her. Walk away, Carly. Before you embarrass yourself any further."

The paparazzi watched with bated breath, their cameras recording every moment of the showdown. Finally, with one last venomous glare, Carly spun on her heel and stalked off, shoving her way through the reporters.

As soon as she was out of sight, Ava deflated, leaning heavily against Taylor. "God, I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. Carly's... a lot."

Taylor wrapped an arm around her waist, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Don't apologize. I'm just glad you're okay. But maybe we should take this inside before we end up on the cover of TMZ?"

Ava huffed out a laugh. "Yeah, good call."

Together, they pushed their way through the paparazzi, Taylor's hand never leaving the small of Ava's back. She could feel the tension thrumming through her girlfriend's body, the aftermath of Carly's ambush.

As they finally made it into the studio, the door slamming shut behind them, Ava let out a shaky breath. "I can't believe she did that. Showing up here, airing our dirty laundry for the whole world to see..."

Taylor led her over to the couch, pulling her down to sit beside her. "Hey, it's okay. We'll deal with it."

They sat there in silence for a moment, drawing strength from each other's presence. Taylor knew the fallout from Carly's little stunt would be messy - the tabloids would have a field day with this new twist in their story.

But as she held Ava close, feeling the steady beat of her heart against her own, Taylor found she didn't care. Let the vultures gossip and speculate. At the end of the day, all that mattered was the love they shared. The unbreakable bond they had forged through laughter and tears, through triumphs and challenges.

Carly could scream her lies from the rooftops, but she could never touch the truth of what Taylor and Ava had. And that, Taylor thought with a smile, was worth more than any headline could ever capture.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The shrill ring of Taylor's phone pierced the silence of the studio, making both women jump. Taylor fished it out of her pocket, grimacing as she saw the caller ID.

"It's Tree," she said, shooting Ava a worried look. "We're in trouble."

Ava leaned back, affecting an air of nonchalance. "Pfft, how much trouble could we possibly be in? It's not like we started the throwdown with Carly."

Taylor raised an eyebrow, hitting the accept button and putting the phone on speaker. "Hey, Tree. What's up?"

"What's up?" Tree's voice was a mix of exasperation and disbelief. "I'll tell you what's up. I'm sitting here, minding my own business, when suddenly my phone starts blowing up with videos of you two having a confrontation with Ava's ex outside the studio. Should I be concerned?"

Ava leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Define 'concerned,' Tree. Like, on a scale of one to ten, how bad are we talking here?"

There was a beat of silence, then a heavy sigh. "Ava. Now is not the time for jokes. This is serious. The paparazzi are having a field day with this. They're spinning it like some sort of sordid love triangle."

Taylor bit her lip, guilt and worry churning in her gut. "Tree, I'm sorry. We didn't mean for this to happen. Carly just showed up out of nowhere and started spouting off all these lies about her and Ava's relationship."

"Yeah," Ava chimed in. "It was like a bad soap opera, Tree. You should've seen it. Carly was all 'you said you'd love me forever!' and I was like 'bitch, please.'"

"Ava!" Taylor hissed, elbowing her in the side. "Not helping!"

Tree's sigh was long-suffering. "Okay, walk me through exactly what happened. Don't leave anything out."

As Taylor recounted the events, Ava chiming in with the occasional snarky comment, Tree's silence grew heavier.

"...and then Carly stormed off and we came inside," Taylor finished. "That's everything, I swear."

There was a long pause, then Tree spoke, her voice carefully measured. "Alright. This isn't ideal, but it's not catastrophic. We can spin this. Play up the 'crazy ex' angle, make it clear that Ava has moved on and is happy with you, Taylor."

Ava grinned. "See? Told you it wasn't that bad. Tree's got this handled."

But Taylor wasn't convinced. "I don't know, Aves. Carly seems... unhinged. I'm worried she might try something else, something worse."

Ava waved a dismissive hand. "Please. Carly's all bark and no bite. She just likes the attention."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Tree cautioned. "Exes can be unpredictable, especially when they feel scorned. Taylor's right to be worried."

At that, Taylor sat up straighter, a thought occurring to her. "Oh god, you don't think she'd go full Martha from Baby Reindeer, do you? Like, boil a bunny levels of crazy?"

Ava rolled her eyes. "Okay, first of all, it's Fatal Attraction, not Baby Reindeer. And second, I knew I shouldn't have let you watch that movie. You're getting way too paranoid."

"Can you blame me?" Taylor shot back. "Your ex is clearly off her rocker, Ava! Who knows what she's capable of?"

"Tay, relax," Ava soothed, running a hand down Taylor's back. "Carly's not going to go all Glenn Close on us. She's just... dramatic."

Taylor's eyebrows shot up, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, defending her now, are we? Interesting."

Ava blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in Taylor's tone. "What? No, I'm not defending her. I'm just saying she's not, like, a serial killer or something."

Taylor scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Could've fooled me, the way you're downplaying her behavior. 'She's just dramatic,' 'she likes attention.' Sounds an awful lot like you're making excuses for her."

Ava's own hackles rose at the accusation. "Okay, whoa, where is this coming from? I'm not making excuses for anyone. I'm just trying to put things in perspective."

"Perspective?" Taylor repeated, her voice rising. "The perspective where your ex is just some harmless annoyance and I'm the crazy one for being concerned? Is that the perspective we're talking about?"

Ava threw her hands up, frustration bleeding into her words. "Oh my god, that's not what I'm saying at all! Why are you twisting everything around?"

Taylor stood abruptly, pacing the length of the studio. "I'm not twisting anything. I'm just calling it like I see it. And right now, what I see is my girlfriend bending over backwards to minimize the fact that her ex is fucking stalking us!"

"She's not stalking us!" Ava shot back, her own temper flaring. "She showed up one time, Taylor. One time. That hardly qualifies as a stalker."

"Oh, so we have to wait until she's hiding in the bushes with a knife before we take it seriously? Is that the threshold we're working with here?"

Ava pinched the bridge of her nose, taking a deep breath. "You're being ridiculous. Carly's not some psycho from a Lifetime movie. She's just... Carly. A pain in the ass, sure, but not a threat."

Something in Taylor seemed to snap at that, her eyes flashing with a mix of hurt and anger. "Wow. Okay. Good to know where your priorities lie, Ava. Glad to see you're so quick to brush off my concerns when it comes to your precious ex."

Ava recoiled as if she'd been slapped. "Are you serious right now? You think I'm choosing Carly over you? That's insane!"

"Is it?" Taylor challenged, her words sharp as knives. "Because from where I'm standing, it sure as hell seems like you care more about defending her than you do about validating my feelings!"

"That's not true!" Ava cried, a note of pleading entering her voice. "Taylor, come on. You know how I feel about you. Carly means nothing to me, not anymore."

Taylor laughed, the sound hollow and bitter. "Could've fooled me, the way you keep making light of this whole situation. 'Carly's all bark and no bite.' 'Carly's not going to go all Glenn Close on us.' For someone who supposedly means nothing to you, you sure are quick to jump to her defense!"

Ava shook her head, at a loss. "I'm not jumping to her defense! I'm just trying to be rational about this!"

"Oh, so now I'm irrational? Thanks, Ava. Thanks a lot."

Taylor turned away, her shoulders shaking with a mix of anger and something that looked suspiciously like tears. Ava felt her own eyes sting in response, her heart twisting at the sight of Taylor's distress.

"Tay," she said softly, taking a tentative step forward. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel like I don't care about your feelings. I do, more than anything."

Taylor didn't turn around, but Ava saw her posture stiffen. "Do you? Because it really doesn't feel that way right now."

Ava closed her eyes, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat. "I love you, Taylor. You have to know that. Carly... she's ancient history. She doesn't hold a candle to what we have."

Finally, Taylor turned, her eyes red-rimmed but blazing with intensity. "Then act like it," she said, her voice low and fierce. "Stop defending her. Stop minimizing my concerns. Just... be on my side, Ava. That's all I'm asking."

Ava nodded, her own tears spilling over. "I am on your side, Tay. Always. I'm sorry if I made you doubt that, even for a second."

She crossed the room in three quick strides, pulling Taylor into her arms. For a moment, Taylor resisted, her body stiff and unyielding. But then, with a shuddering exhale, she melted into the embrace, burying her face in the crook of Ava's neck.

"I'm sorry too," Taylor mumbled, her words muffled against Ava's skin. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I just... I got scared. And jealous. And it all kind of spiraled from there."

Ava tightened her hold, pressing a kiss to Taylor's temple. "I get it. I do. And you're right, I shouldn't have been so dismissive. If you're worried about Carly, then I'm worried too. We'll deal with it together, okay?"

Taylor pulled back just enough to meet Ava's gaze, her eyes searching. "Promise?"

"Promise," Ava said firmly. "No more defending Carly. No more minimizing your feelings. From now on, it's you and me against the world. Against anything and anyone that tries to come between us."

A small, tentative smile tugged at the corners of Taylor's mouth. "Even crazy, maybe-stalker exes?"

Ava grinned, pressing her forehead against Taylor's. "Especially crazy, maybe-stalker exes. We're a team, Swift. Never doubt that."

Taylor surged forward, capturing Ava's lips in a fierce, almost desperate kiss. Ava responded in kind, pouring every ounce of love and reassurance she could into the embrace.

When they finally broke apart, both flushed and breathless, Taylor rested her head on Ava's shoulder. "I'm sorry I let my jealousy get the best of me. I know you love me. I do."

"Hey," Ava said softly, tilting Taylor's chin up to meet her gaze. "Never apologize for how you feel, okay? Your feelings are valid, always. And I'm sorry too. I should've been more sensitive to your concerns."

Taylor leaned up, brushing a soft kiss against Ava's lips. "We'll work on it. Together. That's what matters."

Ava smiled, her heart so full it felt fit to burst. "Together," she echoed. "Always."

And as they stood there, wrapped up in each other, the turmoil of the past hour faded away. They had weathered their first real fight, had come out the other side stronger and more committed than ever.

In the face of that, Ava thought, Carly and her antics seemed laughably insignificant. She had Taylor, and Taylor had her. Everything else was just background noise.

Let the crazy exes of the world do their worst. As long as Ava had Taylor by her side, she knew they could handle anything.

Together.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Taylor hunched over her notebook, scribbling furiously as the lyrics flowed from her pen. She and Ava had agreed to meet at home for dinner, but inspiration had struck and she couldn't ignore the siren call of a new song.

Hours passed in a blur of creativity, the outside world fading away as Taylor lost herself in the music. It wasn't until her phone chimed with a text from Ava that she snapped out of her trance.

Ava: Hey babe, just checking in. You still at the studio?

Taylor glanced at the time, wincing when she saw how late it had gotten.

Taylor: Yeah, sorry. Got caught up in writing. I'll head home now. Love you.

Ava: No worries, I know how you get when inspiration strikes. Be safe. Love you too.

Smiling softly at her girlfriend's understanding, Taylor gathered up her things and headed for the door. The studio was eerily quiet, the hallways deserted at this late hour.

As she stepped out into the cool night air, a flicker of movement caught her eye. Taylor froze, her heart leaping into her throat as a familiar figure emerged from the shadows.

"Well, well, well," Carly drawled, a menacing glint in her eye. "If it isn't Taylor Swift, out all alone. Isn't it past your bedtime, princess?"

Taylor swallowed hard, her grip tightening on her bag. "Carly. What are you doing here?"

Carly sauntered closer, a predatory smile playing at her lips. "Oh, you know. Just out for a little nighttime stroll. Thought I'd swing by, see if Ava was around."

"Ava left hours ago," Taylor said, fighting to keep her voice steady. "We're meeting at home."

Carly's eyes narrowed, her head tilting to the side. "Home, huh? And where exactly is home for you two lovebirds? Ava's place or yours?"

Taylor's blood ran cold at the question, every instinct screaming at her to run. But she stood her ground, meeting Carly's gaze head-on. "That's none of your business. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go."

She made to step around Carly, but the other woman moved with her, blocking her path. "Not so fast, Blondie. I'm not done with you yet."

With a sinking feeling, Taylor watched as Carly reached into her pocket, pulling out a pair of scissors. They glinted menacingly in the dim light, the sharp edges catching Taylor's eye.

"Carly," she said slowly, her heart pounding. "What are you doing with those?"

Carly grinned, the expression anything but friendly. "Oh, these? Just a little something I picked up at the craft store. Thought they might come in handy."

She took a step forward, the scissors held loosely at her side. Taylor backed up instinctively, her mind racing. She needed help, needed Ava.

As subtly as she could, she slipped her hand into her pocket, fumbling for her phone. She managed to unlock it by touch, her fingers finding Ava's contact and pressing call. She just prayed Ava would pick up.

"Get away from me," Taylor said, her voice shaking. "I mean it, Carly. Stay back."

Carly laughed, the sound harsh and grating. "Or what? You'll call the cops? Please. By the time they get here, I'll be long gone. And you'll be..."

She trailed off, the implication hanging heavy in the air. Taylor's breath came in sharp, panicked gasps as Carly continued to advance, the scissors glinting in her hand.

"I just want to talk, Taylor," Carly said, her voice falsely sweet. "Talk about Ava. About how you stole her from me."

"I didn't steal anyone," Taylor argued, still backing away. "Ava chose me. She loves me."

Carly's face twisted, ugly and furious. "Liar!" she snarled, lunging forward.

Taylor screamed as Carly grabbed a fistful of her hair, the scissors coming dangerously close to her face. She struggled, trying to wrench herself free, but Carly's grip was iron-tight.

"Let go of me!" Taylor cried, tears streaming down her face. "Help! Someone, please!"

But there was no one around to hear her cries. The street was deserted, the studio long since emptied out for the night.

With a vicious grin, Carly raised the scissors. "Say goodbye to your pretty blonde locks, bitch."

There was a metallic snip, and suddenly Taylor's head felt lighter. She watched in horror as a chunk of her hair fluttered to the ground, severed by Carly's blade.

"There," Carly said, satisfaction dripping from her tone. "Now you match your cheap extensions."

Taylor couldn't move, couldn't breathe. She stood there, frozen, as Carly circled her like a shark scenting blood.

"You know, I could do so much worse," Carly mused, trailing the point of the scissors down Taylor's cheek. "I could carve up this pretty face of yours. Make it so Ava never looks at you the same way again."

A broken sob tore from Taylor's throat, terror stealing her voice. This couldn't be happening. It had to be a nightmare, a horrific dream she would wake up from any moment.

But the pain of Carly's grip, the cold metal biting into her skin... it was all too real.

Just as Taylor was sure Carly was going to make good on her threat, the squeal of tires shattered the silence. A car came barreling around the corner, skidding to a stop mere feet from where they stood.

The passenger door flew open, and Ava came spilling out, her face a mask of fury. "Get the fuck away from her, you psycho bitch!"

Preston was hot on her heels, his usually jovial features hardened with anger. Kyle and Ron followed close behind, their stances wary and protective.

Carly staggered back, the scissors falling from her hand with a clatter. "Ava! Baby, I can explain, I was just-"

"Don't," Ava snarled, putting herself between Carly and Taylor. "Don't you dare try to justify this. You crossed a line, Carly. A big fucking line."

Taylor sagged against Ava, her legs giving out as the adrenaline drained from her body. Ava caught her easily, wrapping her in a tight, protective embrace.

Preston stepped forward, his glare fixed on Carly. "I'm calling the cops," he said, his voice brooking no argument. "You're done, Carly. Done terrorizing Taylor, done harassing Ava. Just fucking done."

Carly's eyes darted between them all, wild and panicked. "No, wait, you don't understand! I love you, Ava! I was just trying to-"

"Trying to what?" Ava snapped. "Trying to assault my girlfriend? Trying to cut her fucking hair off? What part of that says 'love' to you, Carly?"

"I just wanted you back," Carly whispered brokenly. "I just wanted things to be like they were before."

Ava shook her head, disgust and pity warring on her face. "Things will never be like they were before, Carly. Because I'm not that person anymore. And you... god, I don't even recognize you."

In the distance, sirens began to wail, growing louder with each passing second. Carly's head snapped up, fear replacing the mania in her eyes.

"Please," she begged, taking a stumbling step forward. "Please, Ava, don't let them take me. I'll leave, I'll never bother you again, I swear!"

But Ava just held Taylor closer, her jaw set in a hard line. "It's too late for that. You made your choice, Carly. Now you have to face the consequences."

The police cars screeched to a halt, officers pouring out with guns drawn. Carly threw her hands up, defeat etched into every line of her body as they swarmed her, forcing her to her knees.

Taylor watched it all as if from a great distance, her mind struggling to process the events of the last few minutes. She was dimly aware of Ava's arms around her, of whispered reassurances in her ear.

But all she could feel was the phantom bite of metal against her skin, the visceral horror of watching pieces of herself fall to the ground.

She didn't realize she was shaking until Ava gently cupped her face, forcing their gazes to meet. "Tay? Baby, look at me. It's over. You're safe now."

Taylor blinked, Ava's face swimming into focus. "Ava," she croaked, her voice cracking. "I... she... my hair..."

Ava's eyes filled with tears, her thumb brushing over Taylor's cheekbone. "I know, sweetheart. I know. But it's just hair, okay? It'll grow back. You're alive, and you're whole, and that's all that matters."

In that moment, all she could see was Ava. Ava, who had come for her. Ava, who had saved her. Ava, who loved her, broken pieces and all.

"You're here," she whispered, wonder and disbelief coloring her tone. "You came for me."

Ava pressed their foreheads together, a watery smile tugging at her lips. "Of course I did. I'll always come for you, Taylor. Always."

She pulled back just enough to look Taylor in the eye, her gaze fierce and unflinching. "I love you," she said, the words ringing out like a vow. "I love you, and I will never, ever let anyone hurt you again. I promise."

A broken sob tore from Taylor's throat, relief and love and residual terror crashing over her in waves. She collapsed against Ava's chest, letting her girlfriend's strength shore up her own. "I love you too," she gasped out. "God, Ava, I love you so much."

They stayed like that for a long time, clinging to each other as the world moved on around them. The boys stood guard, a protective circle warding off the curious stares of onlookers and the insistent questions of the police.

The drive back to Ava and Taylor's place was a somber one, the weight of the night's events hanging heavy in the air. Taylor sat huddled in the passenger seat, Ava's jacket draped over her shoulders as she stared blankly out the window.

In the backseat, the boys exchanged worried glances, an uncharacteristic silence falling over the usually boisterous group.

Finally, Preston cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. "I think it's safe to say this is the craziest thing that bitch has ever done. And that's saying something, considering her track record."

Kyle nodded, his face uncharacteristically serious. "Crazier than the time she showed up at our gig with a live snake and tried to release it on stage. Because, and I quote, 'Ava's a snake who deserves to be bitten'."

Ron shuddered. "Or the time she hacked Ava's social media and posted all those unhinged rants. I thought Twitter was going to ban us for life."

Ava, who had been focused on driving, her knuckles white on the steering wheel, glanced over at Taylor. "Babe? You okay?"

Taylor swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper when she spoke. "She said... She said she could damage my face. So that you would never look at me the same way again."

The words hung in the air, heavy and haunting. Ava's breath caught in her throat, a mix of fury and anguish welling up inside her.

But before she could respond, Ron leaned forward, his face a picture of disbelief. "Whoa, hold up. She said what now? That's some next level psycho shit, even for Carly."

Kyle nodded, his expression grim. "Seriously, Aves. Your ex is like a villain straight out of a horror movie. All she's missing is the creepy mask and the chainsaw."

"Guys, not helping," Preston hissed, elbowing Kyle in the ribs.

Ava shot them a quelling look in the rearview mirror before turning her attention back to Taylor. "Well, unlucky for her, I have a thing for butchered faces," she quipped.

But when Taylor barely mustered a small smile, Ava's expression sobered. She reached over, taking one of Taylor's hands in her own.

"Hey," she said softly, her thumb rubbing soothing circles on Taylor's skin. "I'm sorry. For not taking this seriously enough. You were right, Carly's totally gone full-on Martha from Baby Reindeer."

That drew a quiet huff of laughter from Taylor, her fingers tightening around Ava's. "I do love it when I'm right," she murmured, a hint of her usual spark returning.

From the back, Ron snorted. "Man, you two are all kinds of fucked up. Taylor gets attacked by Ava's crazy ex, and your main takeaway is the fact that one of you was right about said crazy ex's movie doppelganger?"

Preston reached over, smacking Ron upside the head. "Dude, read the room. They're clearly having a moment here."

"Ow!" Ron yelped, rubbing his skull. "I was just saying! It's not every day you get to compare your life to a fucked up series. Silver linings, my dude."

Kyle chuckled, shaking his head. "Only you would find a bright side to attempted assault with a deadly weapon, Ron."

Ava rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. Leave it to her boys to find the humor in even the darkest of situations.

She glanced over at Taylor again, noting the way her shoulders had relaxed slightly, the ghost of a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth as she listened to the guys' banter.

"You know," Ava said, pitching her voice low enough for only Taylor to hear, "I seem to remember a certain promise I made. About making sure you never doubt how I feel about you, no matter what."

Taylor's gaze snapped to hers, a flicker of heat sparking in those blue depths. "Oh yeah?" she breathed, a touch of playfulness returning to her tone. "And how do you plan on keeping that promise, exactly?"

Ava grinned, bringing their joined hands up to brush a kiss across Taylor's knuckles. "Well, first things first, I'm going to get you home and run you a nice, hot bath. Let you soak away the stress of this whole fucked up night."

Taylor hummed appreciatively, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. "That does sound nice. And then what?"

"Then," Ava continued, her voice dropping into a low, suggestive register, "I'm going to worship every inch of you. Show you with my hands, my mouth, my entire being just how precious you are to me. Until the only name you remember is mine, and the only thing you feel is loved."

A shiver ran through Taylor's body at the promise in Ava's words, a flush crawling up her neck. "I like the sound of that," she whispered, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.

From the backseat, Kyle made an exaggerated gagging noise. "Okay, ew. I did not sign up for a front-row seat to whatever weird foreplay you two have going on up there."

"Seriously," Ron chimed in, his nose wrinkling. "I'm all for love and support, but there are some things a brother just doesn't need to hear."

Preston, who had been watching Ava and Taylor's interaction with a knowing smile, just shook his head. "Ignore them," he said, his tone warm with affection. "They're just jealous they don't have what you two have."

Ava glanced at him in the rearview mirror, a surge of gratitude welling up in her chest. Preston had always been her rock, her voice of reason when the world got too loud.

She looked back at Taylor, at the way the shadows had begun to recede from her eyes, replaced by a tentative but genuine happiness.

"You know what, Pres?" she said, her gaze never leaving Taylor's face. "I think you might be right. I am pretty damn lucky."