Safe & Sound- (A Taylor Swift AU)

~chapter 4~ Paralyzing Fear

Taylor's POV

It is currently 5 in the morning, we have a meeting with CPS at 10. But I can't sleep. I have this paralyzing fear that my sweet girl will be ripped out of my arms. It's only been a single weekend, however I have this parental bond with her already. I've laughed and I've smiled. I'm happy, I'm in a happy place in my life. If it wasn't for Chloe I definitely would not be in a happy place right now. God. What will I ever do if she gets taken away? I need sleep. Badly. I've only gotten like 2 hours of it. Chloe's asleep next to me. She wanted to sleep in my bed because she had a nightmare. My poor, innocent, girl. She looks so peaceful right now. She keeps calling me a princess, and my life a fairytale. She truly seems happy, and progress is going in baby steps, but she's getting somewhere. She's healing. Slowly but surely. If CPS fucks up like they always do, I don't know if she'll ever get back to this level.

Chloe stirs next to me, "M-Taylor?" I stroke her hair, "shh princess it's too early for you to be up." She keeps her eyes closed, "Why are you up?" I shake my head, "I'm not tired, I'm a grown up, I don't need extra sleep," I lie. "I don't wanna grow up," Chloe yawns as she falls back asleep. I cry. I cry because I don't know what else to do. There's nothing I can do. CPS will either let her stay with me for longer and keep this fear in my mind, or rip her out of my arms forever in the span of 5 hours. I get out of bed and head to the kitchen to get ice water. I can't risk my cries interrupting her sleep. The last person I want to see is laying on my couch. "What the hell!" I say loudly, taking the blanket off of him. He wakes up, "Taylor." I shake my head, "What are you doing here?" "I wanted to talk, why are you crying?" I ignore his question. "You wanted to talk.. so instead of being a normal human and asking if you can come over, you come into my house at night and sleep on my couch?" He sighs, "Taylor I had to see you, I rushed over here. But when I got here you were already sleeping so I figured I'd wait until the morning. I miss you and I miss us!" He says loudly. I shake my head, "Joe, it's been four days. We came to this decision civilly. It's for the best."

I hear a voice from upstairs, "T-MOM IM SCARED!" She just called me mom. Any other time I'd cry and be happy about that, but now drama is gonna start. "ILL BE UP THERE IN A MINUTE BABY!" I yell back. "Mom?" Joe questions. I nod, "Yes, that's me." Chloe comes downstairs crying, "I-I, He." I pick her up, "Breathe C." She calms down and snuggles into my chest. "Taylor, you said you didn't want kids. You didn't wanna marry me and have kids because you didn't want them!" He's getting angry. "No Joe, I didn't wanna get knocked up, and slow my career down for mommy duty, there's a difference," I say annoyed. "Who's kid is this?" He snarls. "Mine," I say confidently. "So you just hid her from me? We were together 6 years, she'd have to be mine," He says. "Joe i'm only gonna say this once.. get out of my house." He sighs, "Taylor please." "No!" I say loudly, tears break from my eyes again, "Get out!"

Chloe looks at Joe, "Are you the guy that broke her heart?" Joe rolls his eyes, "She broke my heart, sweetie. Who's your dad?" Chloe starts shaking, "M-My... m-my, my d-d.." This is where I draw the line, "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! Chloe baby you don't need to answer him. Joe get out! PLEASE! I'm changing the locks and alerting security not to let you in, please do me a favor, if you love me, get out." Joe shakes his head, "I don't love you. I love my Taylor. The one that didn't hide things from me and lie. That Taylor was much better than whoever you are now." I choke back tears, "Goodbye Joe." He rolls his eyes and leaves.

As soon as the door shuts I fall to the floor and sob. Joe hates me. He really hates me. He doesn't love me anymore, which normally I'd be okay with but he didn't have to say it like that. And now he knows I have a kid and he's playing me like I'm a monster. I mean maybe it is a bit suspicious now because she's little and that would make him her dad, but it's none of his business. Now he's gonna go around telling the whole world and CPS is gonna hate me. I look at Chloe through my tear-shined eyes. She wraps her arms around me, "It's okay. Boys are jerks." I nod and pull her into me, "I love you so much, Chloe." She gives me a kiss, "I love you more!" I halfway smile. "What was he doing on your couch?" She asks. "Sleeping," I say honestly. "Did you know he was coming?" She groans. "Nope," I sigh. "Wow. He is a jerk," she giggles. "He used to be a prince," I say softly. "Wow, he changed for the worse then," Chloe scoffs. "Chloe be nice sweetie," I say calmly. I'm not that mad she just needs to know that's not allowed all the time.