Archive of Our Own ^beta

Taylor tossed and turned from the second she stepped into bed, the heating in this house was completely out of whack and it was driving her insane. 

She had just finished wrapping Karlie’s gifts and sat them under their Tree. Taylor couldn’t stop herself from smiling the entire time she wrapped them, her cheekbones still hurt. She had turned the heat down for what felt like the thousandth time due the excitement making her warmer than she needed to be. The covers felt like fire, but her room felt like an igloo. She sighed, laying on top of her layers of warm fuzzy blankets.  

The time said twelve am, but it surely wasn't that late. Karlie was out with Josh's family, eating fancy food and talking about whatever gay people talk about with republicans who hate their guts. 

“Should be home soon! Go to bed so you don’t see the gifts I need to wrap!!!” was the message she got, not even an hour ago. 

Taylor sighed, the feeling of being jigged up with excitement by the special day tomorrow didn’t help her cause. None of her cats were laying next to her and needed to find them, that would help her sleep. She got up, remade her bed — because then it would be cold once she got back — and went to search for the pussy squad. 

“Mere!” Taylor called out into the darkness, her cat slippers squeaking quietly. She heard tiny feet tapping on the hardwood, and tried to follow it to no avail. “Ow!” She groaned instead running right through a wall. 

“Dibbles!” Taylor called out again, wandering down the hall between her bedroom and Karlie’s. Olivia likes to camp out in Karlie's room, because as her daughter she very much took after her taller mother and loved a big bed to spread out on. She could barely make out the shape on the bed, but knew it was her baby. “Hi dibbles,” Taylor cooed, crawling onto the bed with her. “You're coming with me.” 

Olivia didn't pay any mind, just knowing that her head was being scratched and it was comfortable. Taylor was so excited to show the cats their gifts tomorrow they were going to be soooooo happy. As happy as a cat can be around bags of treats and toys. Once Taylor laid her down she thought about going to find Meredith but she usually followed in after Karlie so let her be. 

The water beside her bed was half empty though, and if she was going to continue to be awake why not refill it? She kissed Olivia on the bed, and walked off back to the kitchen, pulling out her Britta.  

“Oh, well that’s out.” She mumbles, putting in the sink to refill it. The faucet is annoyingly loud — which she needs to get fixed — so loud she has to cover her eyes to not want to stab her eyeballs out while hearing it. Consequently, that stops her from hearing the bing of the security check and the door opening behind her, until she feels arms wrap around her waist and shrieks. Loudly. 

“It’s just me, sorry!” Karlie says quickly, letting go of her waist. 

Taylor looks at her unamused, a hand holding her heart as she tries to stop her shaking hands. “Not funny.”

“I wasn’t trying to be mean, I’m sorry,” Karlie frowns, cupping Taylor’s cheeks in her hands. “I’m sorry baby.” She coos, and Taylor rolls her eyes affectionately, giving her a peck on the lips before turning around and turning off the annoying water. 

“I thought you would be asleep by now.” Karlie holds her hands on Taylors hips, rubbing her thumbs on her hip bones to calm her down.  

“Couldn’t sleep, I was also waiting for you because it’s way too late to be out on Christmas Eve.” Taylor pouts. 

“I know, baby, and I’m sorry. You know how his family is; they just keep talking about literally nothing for hours and hours on end.” 

Taylor does know, she’s been around it. “Yeah, I just missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Karlie smiles, then kisses her soundly, then moves her arms to wrap around Taylors body. A comforting thing Taylor loves. Heavy breathes are becoming louder and when Karlie slides her tongue over her bottom lip asking for access, Taylor happily grants it. She tastes sweet and bitter, and fancy champagne.  

Hands roam quicker and before they go any farther. “Kar, we need to head to bed, it’s late.”

Karlie whines, “I need to finish putting your gifts under the treeeee.”

Taylor raises an eyebrow at her, and Karlie crosses her arms over her chest. “Don’t look at me like that,” 

Taylor laughs. “You’re acting like a child, it’s kinda hard not to laugh.”

“You’re so mean, old and mean.” Karlie retorts. 

Taylor gasps, “I’m like 2 years older than you!”

“Basically three!”

“You’re so stubborn! Go wrap your damn presents, I'm not stopping you.” Taylor says trying to hold back her laughter.  

“I will!” Karlie harrumphs, walking off sassily and Taylor just watches, because she’s wearing a short dress and heels and who wouldn’t wanna see all that, she’s only human after all. 

“and stop staring at my ass!”

Taylor pouts. “You better be in bed in 30 minutes! I want to cuddle!!”

“I will!!” Karlie calls out, closing the door of her room.  

Of course, when Karlie comes in after she has finished all her gifts and has set them up she’s still in her outfit, because she knows what happens when she comes home on nights like tonight. Still somewhat drunk and tired and sleepy and tired, because she does that exact same for Taylor. 

The shower is being drawn, and the fancy silk dress Karlie is wearing quickly becomes undone. She is sitting on the counter while Taylor gets the makeup off her face gently. It’s these moments that feel so intimate, just doing a simple act for the other. 

A fluffy towel is quickly given to her as she finishes up and Karlie sits obediently. She takes in everything Taylor is doing for her and remembers why she wants to marry this girl someday. Within minutes Taylor is drying the roots of Karlie’s hair, making sure there isn’t any damp hair while they sleep. 

“I love you.”

Taylor smiles, stepping off the step stool she uses when she needs to dry Karlie's hair and pulls her in for a quick kiss. “ I love you too baby. Now brush your teeth, I'll meet you in bed.”

Karlie follows her orders, brushing her teeth then slipping under the sheets next to a waiting sleepy Taylor. 

“Hi dibbles!” She squeals, massaging behind her ears. “Look how much our baby has grown. They really do grow up so fast.”

Taylor laughs, “Soon enough she’ll be grumpy like Mere.” 

“Then we need another baby, then another and another and another.” Karlie says, smiling wide making Taylor follow. 

“We’ll deal with that ship when it sails or whatever the metaphor is.”

Karlie nods, cuddling into Taylor. “I hate those dinners so much, I’m so glad to be home, and it’s snowing out! Did I tell you? Did you see??? It's like a winter wonderland, we need to go see it!”

“We’ll go check it out tomorrow, just sleep baby.” Taylor mumbles into her hair, soaking herself in the warm smell of her shampoo. 

“Mmm, night princess.”

“Night Kar.”