Everything Has Changed

Facing The Giants

September 8th 2025
Kansas City, Missouri

It was finally happening. Travis first proper game of the 2025 NFL season and the first game Taylor would be attending. It had been touch and go over that past week as to whether Taylor would end up attending the game itself, which would be against the New York Giants at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. But Taylor was determined to go. Her therapy sessions had been going well, and she finally wanted to live. Ni longer did she simply want to exist anymore. There was a whole world out there for her to explore, and she intended to get herself back out there, to explore what it was that she had been so desperate to leave and escape from not so long ago.

Taylor woke up early, and alone. Travis was where he normally was: at the team hotel downtown. Taylor had realised it was necessary for the guys to stay away from home the night before a big game, but that never made it any easier. Especially since Luna had been born. This would be the first game that Luna had gone to, and one of the first public appearances with Taylor in months. Taylor had been out briefly in Kansas City on and off a few times over those past couple of weeks, but hadn't felt strong enough to take Luna with her as well for the fear of the paparazzi swarming her. The presence of the paparazzi had increased significantly in Kansas City over the past few years. Ordinarily, they were pleasant and kind to both Travis and Taylor, in a similar way to the ones in New York. The relationship was built on a mutual trust and understanding. Taylor knew that no matter how unpleasant it can be, to be photographed practically everywhere you go, it is a necessary element of their jobs that they are paid to do. So in exchange for a smile and a wave every now and again, the paparazzi would give her some peace to go ahead with the rest of her day and not bother her or her family again. But it seemed like LA had begun to snake its way into Kansas City. The paparazzi were no longer kind. They would wait outside the gates of the house in Leawood, desperate for a statement or a photo. The line had been well and truly crossed when Taylor had discovered the photos of Luna and Travis entering the hospital a couple of days before she had been discharged. Taylor had been banned from social media platforms during both her time in the hospital and in the days following her discharge. But once she was allowed a glimpse into the outside world again, she saw them. Tree had obviously tried her best at damage control but it was too late. No matter how dedicated the Swifties were, people were circulating those photos like wild fires. From that point onwards, Taylor had been determined to keep Luna out of the spotlight. At least until the media speculation and presence had died down a little.

She reached an arm over the bed and into the bassinet where her daughter sleeping peacefully, running a light hand across her belly to feel the gentle rise and fall of her chest. She was still swaddled and wrapped up in her bassinet, leaving Taylor enough time to slowly slip out of bed and into the bathroom. Examining herself in the mirror, Taylor decided on showering first before getting anything else done. She flipped the baby monitor on and stepped into the shower, hoping that Luna would stay asleep long enough to shower in peace. But she had no such luck. By the time she was rinsing out the conditioner in her now curly hair, she heard the high pitched squeaking cry that could only be her daughter. Taylor sighed, quickly rinsing out the rest of the suds from her hair and body before leaving the bathroom, a towel thrown on and wrapped precariously around her body. Making her way over to where Luna was, it was clear as day immediately what was wrong.

"Oh my poor baby, come here." Taylor cooed, picking up the still squealing baby. Her onesie and swaddle were both covered in dribble and her cheeks were a deep rosy red: all the same signs that she had been exhibiting all week long. Almost a week ago, Luna had began teething pretty badly and it had been bothering her a lot. Once Taylor had settled down with the baby on their bed and had managed to calm her down, she ran a finger a finger along the bottom of the baby's gums in an effort to soothe them a little.