i can't want you (i'm taking you anyway)

part 22

Taylor's POV

When I woke up the next morning, Ronan wasn't in her usual place next to me. Frowning, I rolled over and sat up, yawning as I rubbed my eyes. She wasn't anywhere in the room and I panicked, quickly getting out of bed and rushing out of the room. I stumbled to a stop just outside the kitchen, my eyes landing on the sight before me.

Ronan was standing on a kitchen stool by the stove with Travis' arm around her, making sure she was safe. He was helping her to flip pancakes in a pan, guiding her tiny hands wrapped around a fish slice. She smiled when she managed it, grinning up at him.

"Good job kiddo." Travis chuckled to her. "You want to take these to your Mom?"

Biting down on a smile, I quickly backed up and went back to bed, climbing under the sheets and closing my eyes. Who was I to deprive my daughter of how much fun I knew she'd have waking me up?

I heard her little giggles a few minutes later and tried not to smile, burying my face in the pillow so I wouldn't give it away. The door creaked open and tiny footsteps pattered across the carpet before Ronan launched herself onto my back.

"Mommy Mommy Mommy!" She cried out. "Mommy up!" I pretended to stay asleep, trying not to laugh. "Mommy?" Ronan poked my head. "Mommy up?"

"Boo!" I rolled over, grabbing Ronan and cuddling her close. She squealed, starting to laugh as I peppered her face with tiny kisses, wriggling in my arms. "Good morning my little angel." I murmured.

"Daddy pan...pan cakes." She told me, climbing into my lap and sitting cross legged as I sat up.

"You helped kiddo." Travis set a plate of pancakes down on the nightstand. "She wanted to make you breakfast."

"Oh is that right baby girl?" I kissed the top of her head. "Thank you." I whispered to Travis, who smiled softly at me. "Hey, where are you going?" I asked as he moved like he was going to leave. "Come sit with us." I patted the bed. "I need to talk to you."

Travis glanced down at Ronan and I shrugged. I wouldn't use any words she knew, but I really needed to talk to him. After a moment, he nodded and sat down on the end of the bed. 

"My Mom called last night." I told him, reaching over and taking the plate of pancakes. Settling it on my knees in front of Ronan, I tore off a piece and handed it to her. "My Grandma..." I motioned to Ronan. "Went to another place yesterday."

"Oh, Teddy." Travis' hand rested on my ankle through the blankets, rubbing gently. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." I whispered, moving to help as Ronan grabbed for another piece of pancake. "We knew it was going to happen, and she was ready." Travis nodded, but his eyes searched mine like he didn't believe me when I said I was fine. "But umm, I'm going to see if I can fly home tomorrow for the funer....event." Ronan didn't know the word funeral, but I didn't want to say it just in case. 

"Do you want me to come with you?" Travis offered without a second thought. "I can stay here with Ronan if you'd rather go alone, but I can come with you if you need me to. I know only your immediate family knows about her so it's up to you how..."

"Please come." I whispered, and he fell silent. "I can't do this by myself." I didn't care that taking Travis with me would blow the last two and a half years out of the water. I'd have to tell almost everyone that Ronan existed, and I'd have to tell everyone that Travis was her real Dad, but I was in a place now that I was okay with that. Things had gone on too long, and I needed to be honest with people. It was time.

"Okay." Travis nodded. "Okay. I'll make some calls."

Travis' POV

I left Taylor and Ronan to their breakfast in bed, quickly getting on the phone with the airport and booking us onto a flight out tomorrow. Once I'd organized that, I called Patrick and explained everything. He told me not to worry, that he'd take care of everything until I got back.