Safe & Sound- (A Taylor Swift AU)

~chapter 2~ The Man

Taylor's POV

It's the morning after my first show. I didn't even realize how much I missed performing. Seeing my fans all dressed up, screaming, cheering, dancing, spreading love to one another, crying while screaming the words to my songs, I missed all of it so much. Staying with Joe would've taken this all away from me. Even worse, I would've never met the sweet baby girl that's sleeping in my hotel bed right now.

I never travel without my cats, so when Olivia jumps at my feet I burn my hand on the stove while making pancakes for Chloe. "Ouch!" I mumble, so I don't wake her up, even if I wanna yell. "Olivia! I'll love on you when I'm done," I say. I top the pancakes with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. I have a constant fear in my mind that Chloe is going to be taken away from me. Even if it doesn't happen I'm making the most out of everything. She deserves to be happy for as long as possible and I can give her happiness.
A few minutes later Chloe comes out of the bedroom looking for me. "Tay" she mumbles. "In the kitchen area baby!" I yell. She comes over to me and hugs my leg. "Good morning princess! A bunch of stuff I ordered for you came, so you can eat breakfast then open all of it," I smile. "For me?" she asks tearing up. "For you," I say kissing her head.

She eats her pancakes and thanks me for doing all of this at least 20 times. She opens the packages I got her and cries. "A sparkly outfit for the concert tonight and some necessities, everything else is coming to my house in New York," I smile. "Everything else? There's more?" She sobs, "Taylor why?" She hugs me tightly and I hold onto her tight. "Because baby girl, you deserve the world and so much more," I say. She kisses my cheek. "Now let's go get you a bath so we can get everything ready for tonight." Chloe starts shaking. "No, No!" she cries. I squat down in-front of her. "Sweetie look at me," I say softly. She looks into my eyes scared, "what happened during bath time?" I ask. She takes a deep breath. "The water would be extremely cold and my dad would force me to be in there for 20 minutes and if I moved he would add ice by dumping it on top of me and it would hit my head hard and hurt, then he would wash me forcefully and hard until I bled" she cries. I hug her tight, "Chloe, baby, I promise you I would never do that. I'm gonna make the water a nice warm temperature and I'll give you some bubbles, and I'll clean you slowly and lightly okay?" She is still hesitant but she nods.

I run her water and put in bubbles, "Okay baby take your clothes off and then you can feel the water." She takes her clothes off and slowly feels the water. She nods, "Much better than at my dads house." I nod and help her in. I wash her gently, I keep her calm by singing to her.

Oh, my little one, how I love you so
Your sweet face brings me so much joy
This sweet song is just for you,
Your little heart will be soothed

Your tiny toes and your chubby cheeks
Your innocence is so pure and sweet
This warm bath is just for you
To make sure you feel safe and sound

Oh, my little one, how I love you so
Your sweet face brings me so much joy
This sweet song is just for you,
Your little heart will be soothed

This is my little song of love
To make sure you feel safe and sound
This sweet melody will soothe your soul
And keep you safe from all the storms

Oh, my little one, how I love you so
Your sweet face brings me so much joy
This sweet song is just for you,
Your little heart will be soothed

When I'm done with the song, Chloe's big blue innocent eyes look into mine. We're both tearing up. "I love you Chloe," I say sweetly. She cries, "I've never known love until now Taylor, I love you too," she smiles amazed. I kissed her forehead. "Okay you're all clean!" I say. She smiles, "That's it?" She asks. "That's it," I nod. "Bath time isn't bad with you," Chloe says. "Bath time isn't meant to be bad at all," I say. I take her out of the bath and I wrap her into a towel. I dry her off and get her dressed. "Thank you, Taylor."

We head to the stadium with my parents. "Guess what Chloe" I say excitedly. "What?" She asks. "I've known you for a whole 24 hours!" I cheer. She giggles, "Best 24 hours of my life!" I let her roam around a little as I keep an eye on her. A crew worker goes up to her. "Hey kid who's your mom?" He asks. "Taylor Swift," She says a little scared of him. He laughs, "Yeah right. Sweetie this stadium is for Taylor's crew only right now." She looks around scared, "Taylor is my mom!!!" He picks her up, "If you tell me your moms name and phone number I'll call her to come get you." She looks at me and yells crying, she is screaming mommy probably out of fear, "MOMMY MOMMY! HELP!" I run to her, "Let go of her please let go of her," I say forcing her out of his arms holding her tight. "I've got you baby girl, I'm here," I say. "Since when do you have a kid?" He asks. I shake my head, "That's none of your concern, please apologize to her." He looks at Chloe, "I'm sorry, sweetheart." Chloe nods.

"Taylor?" Chloe mumbles as we walk away. "Hmm?" She looks up at me. "Are you okay?" I think about this for a moment. I should say no, and that I'm worried. But I also know if my worker were to say anything about me having a kid, he would be fired, so he's probably too scared to say anything, but still. I give Chloe a small, reassuring smile "I'm okay, squirt." Chloe tears up and for a moment I think I've said something wrong, but then she hugs my neck tight, "I've never had a nickname, I love it." I smile and kiss her head, "I'm glad."

We get backstage and I have to go on for sound check. I get told my mom is at the food court; So I decide I'll just take Chloe with me. "Okay, I have to practice now. Can you sit here on the edge of the stage and watch me?" I ask. Chloe nods and sits down. "Be very careful, I don't want you to fall and get hurt," I say. She gives me a thumbs up and blows me a kiss, as I walk over to my stage crew so they can give me instructions.
I sing some songs from Lover and when I get to The Man, a huge smile appears on Chloe's face.
"Oh yes! I love this one!" Chloe cheers. I smile at her as I watch her sing and dance to my song. I take note of her dance moves so I can include them during my show later. "If I was a man! I'd be the man!!" I giggle mid song when Chloe is flexing her muscles. She looks at me when she hears my laugh through the microphone and she gives me a big grin. "Taylor, one day I want to be just like you!" Chloe says. "You're gonna be whatever you want to be," I say smiling from ear to ear, "Because you Chloe Louise, you're the strongest little girl on the planet, you're extraordinary." Chloe looks up at the sky and takes a deep breath, "I'm extraordinary."

I finish sound check a while later, and I scoop my little girl into my arms. "Taylor?" She says with a sniffle, I realize she's crying. "What's the matter baby?" I ask, worried, I move some hair behind her ear. "I was thinking about it, and now I'm worried. What happens if my dad "gets better"? I don't wanna go back, or if they decide I can't stay with you? I wanna be with you forever! I'm scared." Tears stream down her cheeks, and with that, tears of my own start to form. "Chloe.. Squirt, baby, look at me." We make eye contact, "I'm going to try everything I possibly can to make sure that never happens, but unfortunately if your dad does get better you will have to go back, that's what CPS is hoping for, they want your dad to get better. I don't know how long you'd have to say, but I will have a plan Chloe, I will have a plan. I would do anything to get you back you hear me? Anything." My tears are now streaming down my cheeks. Chloe puts her hand against my cheek and just nods her head, "For now I'm gonna live in this fairytale." I choke back a sob. I run my hand through her curly blonde hair, "We will get through this squirt."

5 hours later I'm about to go on stage. Chloe had a panic attack a little bit ago because CPS came to talk to me. So now she's asleep in my arms and if I move too much she wakes up and cries saying she's scared for me to leave her. Today isn't going very great progress wise. I sigh and think about my choices, I can either A. Hold her while I perform and not give as great of a performance, or B. Wake her up and give her a comforting talk. I decide on B, my fans spent way too much money, they need to see me at my fullest. I wake Chloe up. "Squirt," I say softly, she looks at me. "I have to go on stage in a few minutes princess. Can you go with my mom please?" She looks at me and tears up, "Promise I'll get to come back to you when you're done?" I hate that she has to go through any of this, she's so scared. "Promise."

I hand her off and whisper in my moms ear, "I'm gonna give her the 22 hat tonight." My mom nods, "I'll make sure that gets arranged." I smile, "Thanks mom." Chloe waves at me as she's carried in my moms arms to the tent. I blow her a kiss as I put on my sparkly boots.