'Tay, baby, time to get up'.
'Sweetie?'
'Hmphhhhh', is all Travis gets in reply, and he lets out a soft chuckle before bending down to softly kiss his wife.
'I need words, Tay'.
'Don't wanna', he can make out, her face half covered as she burrows further into her pillow, and Travis shakes his head.
'You're worse than Matilda, you are'.
'Yeah well, who the fuck did you think she got it from?'
Travis chuckles, before taking drastic action and peeling back the bedcovers and pushing Taylor's hair away from her face, then caressing her bump, distracting her from her grumpy mood. 'How's my boy?'
'Ugh, he's fine. Making me huge and uncomfortable, but he's fine', she replies, finally opening her eyes fully to look at him, her voice only lightly teasing.
'Only two days to your due date, Tay. Come on, sleepyhead. Time to face the day', he encourages, and Taylor shifts to sit up, one hand reaching for her phone. 'Trav!', she squeaks, glancing at the time. 'It's after 10! Matilda's going to be late for school'.
'Don't worry about it baby. She's at school, mom has Eliza, and today is my day off. Me and you are going Christmas shopping and then I have a treat planned', he informs her, pulling her back down from where she'd stood up in haste, his arm gently around her full-term baby bump.
'You planned all that? For me?'
He knows he'll find tears in her eyes before he even looks up to her face, and when he does, he gently wipes them away, cupping her face with both hands. 'Course, sweetie. You need a day before little man arrives. And you know I love to treat you'.
She sniffles, moving impossibly closer to him to press a kiss to his lips. 'I love you, Trav. Thank you'.
'No need for the thanks, Tay. Or the tears'.
'Ugh, stupid hormones making me emotional. They're happy tears, promise', she replies, pecking his lips once more, before getting up to get dressed and ready for the day ahead.
'I'm going to make breakfast, okay? Just come downstairs when you're ready', he calls out after her, their eyes meeting momentarily in the bathroom doorway. In his eyes, she's completely radiant: now full-term, her belly low and round, her hair piled messily on top of her head, barefoot and donning one of his old t shirts, stretched out over her bump. He can't help himself but stride towards her again, his hand on her belly, and pull her in for a kiss.
'You're so beautiful, Tay. I love you so damn much. Seeing you, ready to have our boy... fuck, I can't explain it properly. I just love you so much', he half whispers into her ear, pressing light kisses down her neck.
'I feel the same, Trav', she replies, her lithe fingers scratching at the nape of his neck. 'I love you, and the life we've built together. It's going to change soon, again, but I love you so fucking much. It's exciting, even if I'm a little grumpy'.
'You're allowed to be, you're growing another whole ass human', he chuckles against her lips, pressing one last kiss there before turning to make her promised breakfast.
Taylor appears downstairs 30 minutes later, dressed in comfortable black leggings and a Chiefs sweater he recognises as his own, her hair in a pretty ponytail and makeup perfectly applied. She's carrying her Nike sneakers in her hand, calling out his name to make him turn from the stove where he's making her pancakes.
'I officially can't even wiggle into my shoes. Can you help me put them on, please?', she asks, laughter behind her voice, and he moves immediately at her question, turning off the stove, before helping her settle into one of the kitchen chairs. She laughs at the effort it takes her, rubbing her bump, before teasingly sticking her feet out at her husband.
'I can't even see them baby', she giggles, and Travis shakes his head, bending down to pick up the sneakers and helping her put them on, safely tying them up.
'Thanks babe', she replies once he's finished, leaning forward for a kiss which he happily grants, before he gently pushes her backwards in the chair.
'Stay there. Breakfast is ready, m'lady', he laughs, giving a mock salute, before plating up the food and bringing it over to her, joining her by sitting in the chair across the table.
They eat together before getting ready to leave, and head into the city to a few local independent stores that Taylor loved. Travis lets her take her time browsing, asking his opinion on the last few Christmas gifts they had to buy - even though they both know he doesn't care, and will agree with what she thinks anyway - before leading her into her favourite restaurant for lunch.
'This feels like such a treat', Taylor sighs contently when they're at the table, their hands entwined as they finish up the last of their food.
'What? Having lunch out?'
'No, silly. Having the whole day to ourselves. No kiddos. Hell you and me, we started out having a kid underfoot. This is nice, time together for us'.
Travis smiles, lifting their hands to press a kiss against her palm. 'I love spending time with you, babe. You already know'.
They finish up, Travis delighting the young waiter by signing his Chiefs hat he was sporting, before Travis helps Taylor back out and into the car, pulling away from the parking lot but very noticeably in the opposite direction from their home.
'Well big guy, you can't keep a hormonal, very pregnant woman in suspense for much longer. Just where exactly are you taking me?'
'You'll see. Just a little longer, baby', he replies, grinning at her from the drivers side, before sliding his hand onto her thigh, squeezing gently.
She must have fallen asleep, because Taylor wakens groggily when the car stops, and she gasps, looking out at her surroundings. 'Trav, where are we?'
'We're having a little night away. I've rented this cabin for us, and I've booked some spa treatments - all pregnancy friendly, I promise. We're going to eat nice food and go to sleep without Lizey waking up at 3am, and having to do the school run. And we're going to enjoy our last full day before baby boy, before Christmas, before the final weeks of the season. You and me, babe'.
Taylor can only smile at him, her eyes watery once again. She leans over the centre console as best she can, pulling him in for a kiss, before suddenly remembering her responsibilities. 'But, the girls? Lizey is so clingy at night, who's going to manage that? And my clothes? God, what if I go into labour up here, Trav?'
'Woah, girly, slow down. Mom has Eliza. I warned her all about Lizey, and she is more than prepared to be up in the middle of the night or have a battle to get her to sleep. Matilda is having a sleepover with Sterling, so Britt has got her covered. And I packed a bag for you, silly goose. I'm not that dense', he chuckles, pressing a reassuring kiss to her hand before continuing. 'And Dr Jennings is on speed dial, just in case. She knows all about the trip. Plus, we're only an hour away from the hospital. If we need to go, we need to go. Baby boy's hospital bags are in the trunk, too'.
'God, you really thought of everything, didn't you?'
'I wanted to treat you like the queen you are, babe. Come on, let's go'.
The rest of the day is spent exactly how Travis envisioned: eating good food, spending quality time together, and Taylor indulging in all manner of spa treatments, leaving her feeling relaxed and sleepy, a happy smile on her face as she lounged on the couch in the cabin, dressed in pyjamas and Travis beside her.
'This was a really great day, Trav. Thank you', she murmurs, her hand reaching behind to scratch at his beard.
'Anything for you, baby'.
They lapse into comfortable silence, before Travis can feel Taylor tense up, her body stiff, before she leans forward clutching her bump.
'You said you packed the hospital bag, right?'
'Yes... Tay, is it time?'
'Get me to the hospital, big guy. Baby boy has decided to join the party'.
