A Thousand Fireflies • •

[Deleted]

To say Taylor was relieved to put these last few months behind her would be a complete understatement. She was seeing this week away from the hospital and New York as a real chance to clear her head of all that negativity and to lock those memories in a box to hopefully forget about. Her dad had been on the phone the night before telling her that he had her favourite snacks in and that he was planning on making this trip a real treat for all of them. Taylor couldn’t help but smile as Captain Becks listed the numerous ideas he had or stories he had heard from the rest of the close knit neighbourhood Taylor had grown up on. She half suspected that he was going all out to celebrate the fact that his daughter had finally picked the one man he trusted; how many father’s actually approved of their daughter’s boyfriend before a relationship happened?

There was no real rush to pack up Damien’s car and drive to Fort Lee, so breakfast came a little later than it would on a work day and Taylor took her time making sure she had everything she wanted in the duffle bag she was taking with her. There were still a few tops and skirts hanging in the family home that she simply didn’t wear in New York, so she didn’t have to pack all that much. All the while she laughed and joked around with Damien, stealing kisses and then swatting him when she got distracted from what she was doing. Once she was sorted and her neighbour had popped over to check about Taylor’s exotic pets, they were ready to leave. The final thing Taylor grabbed were her roller-skates, refusing to give up her frequent morning hobby for just a week; she might have been twenty-six, but that did not stop her from strapping on the elbow pads and seeing how fast she could go.

Within the hour they were coasting down the familiar streets from their childhood, laughing and shouting about memories that they disagreed over. Taylor talked Damien into driving around a little more, just to head past their old high school and hangouts. Despite living so close to the place she grew up in, Taylor rarely made the drive out unless it was to see her dad. And then she just went straight to the house and then made her way back to her Manhattan apartment once it was over. This time, it was a weekend with the families, a few days at the lake and then back to the families for the weekend before heading back to the reality of their New York lives. As they finally pulled up outside Damien’s parent’s house, Taylor noticed her dad rising from the bench on his porch and beginning to cross the lawn to greet them. As impatient as his daughter was stubborn, Captain Becks had probably been sitting out there since before lunch, waiting and watching for the car and the two lovebirds inside it. “Now you get to be on the receiving end of a Captain Becks talk.” Taylor teased with a grin, sticking her tongue out at Damien before hopping out of the car and wrapping her arms around the older man who was already asking questions at a million miles an hour. “How are you, sweetie? What took you two so long? Have you cut your hair again, Taylor?” She could only laugh instead of attempt an answer and then her dad turned to greet Damien. “And you, I see you finally got your act together. Better late than never, I guess.” Taylor’s laugh resonated around the street and when she finally got through the shock of hearing her dad saying something supportive about a relationship rather than grumbling and opening with threats and warnings, she placed her hands on her hips and tried to stare him down like she had done when she was seventeen. The only problem was that the giggles were still getting the better of her! “Dad! You can’t just say things like that!”

• • •

TAGGED! Damien <3
WORDS! 728!
OUTFIT! Loved Up Lovely!
LYRICS! All Your Life - - - The Band Perry
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Deleted]

Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out...

There was something insanely different about driving back to Fort Lee with Taylor this time. This time they were going back as a couple and not just carpooling as friends for the short journey. The atmosphere in the morning was different, the drive and the conversation was just so open and Damien couldn't help but notice how Taylor seemed a hell of a lot more relaxed than she had been in a long time. With all the drama the tension was understandable, but even up until a week ago she was still coming in from the hospital rubbing her neck and sighing as though she would rather be a million other places. Damien was hoping this trip home would perk her up, but if not he would be on his laptop at the next viable moment to book them a short vacation somewhere. As much as he would have loved to whisk Taylor away to a tropical beach and a temporary paradise, the smile on her face once they were on old, familiar streets was enough to make him realise that she wasn't stressed or annoyed or over-thinking anything anymore.

While they talked about old memories, argued about who was to blame over things in the past, Damien was thankful that they had finally made it this far. It felt like a lifetime had gone by, full of what-ifs and never-weres. At least now they were a thing of the past and he had Taylor all to himself; at least until Captain Becks appeared. Taylor's father had never had a problem with Damien while they were growing up, but he suspected that there would be some slight changes now. After all, he was the man currently holding that tough but vulnerable heart. He had been mentally preparing himself for some kind of talk or lecture, and all Damien could hope was that Captain Becks wouldn't be as tough on him as he had been on some of the guys in Taylor's past. Damien had been around for a few of those exchanges and he had never wanted to be any of those boys in that moment. It was only after Taylor had rescued them and they were leaving on their date that Damien wanted to be there, holding her hand and kissing her at the movies or the dances.

“You don't think I can handle it?” He asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. He knew Taylor and her father were close and he couldn't remember a time when things were different. Damien wouldn't get in the way of their relationship or interfere or upset one or the other. Climbing out of the car he saw the blinds of his parent's house twitching and he knew that one or both would soon be joining the front yard reunion. They all only lived about half an hour away now, but yet they all acted like it had been years since their last meeting. He greeted his own parents quickly while Taylor hugged her dad and everyone had to laugh at Captain Beck's first comment about this new and long anticipated relationship. “Well, she was worth the wait.” Damien answered honestly, his eyes finding Taylor's as a lopsided, lovesick grin crossed his face. After a moment had passed he turned to the lot and then glanced at his mother. “Now, I know I don't arrive home and there's no ice tea made for us all.” The sooner they all moved to seats the sooner the neighbours would quit trying to see what the commotion was. They lived in a friendly neighbourhood, but this kind of lawn gathering would soon attract more and he knew Taylor didn't like sharing personal details and Damien suspected the ins and out and the hows of their relationship was classified under that.

Tagged- Taylor Becks
Words- 636
Lyrics- In My Veins by Andrew Belle
Clothes- Over here
Notes- xD

[Deleted]

Taylor never thought she'd be doing anything more than catching a ride home with Damien. After their night together back in their youth, Taylor had resigned herself to believing that nothing more would ever happen between herself and Damien. It was only now that she was starting to see how wrong she had been. A part of her was still clinging to the doubt and the belief that this happy little bubble she was in would soon burst and Damien would be gone from her life when it happened. The other part of her fought against that pessimism, but it was an eternal battle and one that Taylor preferred not to let her mind dwell on; especially not now that they were home and back in their own childhood street with their parents moving around to greet them.

Matching his raised eyebrow with one of her own, Taylor looked up at Damien with a smirk dancing on her lips. “You know Captain Becks almost as well as I do. Do you think you can handle it?” She posed the question just before her dad came into earshot. He could remind her time and time again that his age had done nothing to his hearing and he would still be able to hear every whisper or any attempt she made to sneak out at night. Taylor would then point out that at twenty-six it was unlikely that she'd even bother sneaking in and out. This time though, Taylor knew there would be no lectures or worried looks. Her father liked Damien, always had, but she knew he'd still give the ex-lawyer the big speech about hurting his daughter and the wrath that would follow. The only difference would be that once the speech was over Damien would be offered a glass of the finest malt whiskey her father owned and then they would chat like old buddies. All the while, Taylor would probably be sitting in her usual spot on the staircase, listening and waiting for the testosterone battle to be over with a glass of rose wine.

Rolling her eyes, Taylor tried not to let Damien's look or his words bring a blush to her cheeks. “Yeah, yeah...alright new subject.” She knew that everyone would have something to say about the news that she and Damien were finally a couple, but Taylor probably wouldn't indulge any of them. They could have their say and then be on their way. Soon it would be old news, but until then she could smile and plough on through it all. Shaking her head, she looked across at Damien's mom and grinned. “I swear, your son gets worse with age.” She joked, knowing it was a comment that she could get away with. It was one of the benefits of knowing the Walsh's for as long as she could remember. However, they all moved to their front porch where iced tea was fetched from the kitchen and where they all sat and relaxed, catching up on stories and tales. Taylor was busy telling Damien's dad all about her job, while Damien grabbed the small bags from the car before they both forgot.

• • •

TAGGED! Damien <3
WORDS! 586!
OUTFIT! Loved Up Lovely!
LYRICS! All Your Life - - - The Band Perry
NOTES! <3 <3 <3