I was naughty and didn't write for the SPARK contest but I did write this.....
Title / Chapter: Yeah, Baby, Dead Serious (01/01)
Author: amanda: jaclyn’s twin sister
Pairing: Zaylor
Rating: Light PG for language
P.O.V.: First Person, Zac
Notes: Songfic that WOULDNOT get out of my head. It’s all Taylor Hanson’s fault.
Summary: A series of events in which Zac doesn’t believe Taylor’s sincerity…
SONG CREDIT
Song: Dead Serious
Band: Tinted Windows
Album: Tinted Windows
-Yeah, Baby, Dead Serious-
The first time I heard the song was the first time they played it on stage in front of hundreds. That was when I knew he was serious; serious about me, about my feelings, about how he felt about me. When I saw the look in those baby blue eyes of his, I knew there was no reason to doubt him anymore. Not with him onstage practically outing us to the whole world with the way his eyes never left mine.
* * * * *
Darling, when I say I would never leave you, Seems like you always say, “I don’t believe you.” I know it’s hard to take it to heart, After all this time but it’s time to start cause, I know you think I take it all for granted, That’s how it looks but now how I planned it. I can’t make up for words unsaid. But that’s not what’s been going on in my head.
“Why don’t you believe me?” Taylor whispers from his spot on my chest, the place he always ends up when we have this particular fight.
“Why should I?” I murmur trailing my fingers through his baby-soft hair.
“Because I love you,” he whispers, his voice tinged with tears.
“I know you do,” I reply softly.
Taylor hoists himself up on his elbow and gives me a glaring pout, his bottom lip trembling. “Then why don’t you believe me?”
“Because you don’t mean it,” I tell him brushing his hair back from his face.
A tear spills down his cheek and it hurts to see him cry, but it’s the same thing every time. We have the same fight constantly. He says he won’t leave, but I know differently. I know because he has left in the past, gone running back to Natalie. Always goes running back. But I never blame him, they have four kids together, why shouldn’t he be with her?
Taylor looks down at his hands, twisting his fingers together. “But I do mean it,” he says softly in what I dub as his “little boy” voice. I can only lean up and kiss his forehead lightly.
I’m serious. Yeah, baby, dead serious. Cause I never felt like this before, And I’m not joking anymore. No, I’m serious. Yeah, baby, dead serious. And you’ve got to take me at my word. Forget what you heard. Cause this time all I really want to say, Is I need you every day. So hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey now, hey, hey, hey.
Taylor skips into my studio after Tinted Windows band practice and sits himself square in my lap. “Hey, babe,” he says happily wrapping a sweaty arm around me and kissing me on the cheek. Once he sees the look on my face he frowns. “What’s wrong?” he asks. “Is it the kids?” Panic instantly makes him look pale, blue eyes wide.
“No, Tay,” I tell him rubbing his back. “It’s nothing serious, just disappointing.” My brother sighs in relief but then raises a curious eyebrow. I make a face. “I can’t go to your first show,” I mumble hanging my head.
“Oh.” There’s a beat of silence. Then I feel gentle fingers tugging through my hair. “It’s okay, Zac,” Taylor says quietly. I shake my head.
“No, it’s not. You were there for me for my first show,” I reply.
Taylor lets out a deep belly laugh making me glare at him. “Oh god! Zac! I was at your first show, and every show you’ve ever played, because I’m the singer in your band!”
I pout like I’m six. “So?”
“So? Babe!” Taylor giggles. “It’s okay. Life isn’t fair and we don’t always get what we want.” I sigh, just looking at my brother.
“But it’s important to you,” I protest.
“It’s okay,” he replies in his reassuring voice, though I’m not feeling very reassured. Then he wraps his arms around my neck and pulls me in for a light kiss. “I love you,” he whispers. I sigh leaning my forehead against his.
“I love you too.”
Two days later we’re sitting in my studio as I paint, Taylor chewing viciously at his thumb. I sigh and stop what I’m doing. “Do you ever want to play piano again?”
Taylor looks at me, startled. “What?” he asks dumbly.
I motion towards his thumb. “You look like you’re going to chew that off.” Taylor frowns and tucks his hands under his arms, crossing them over his chest. “Are you okay?” I ask. After a moment of silence I realize he’s not going to answer me. I shake my head and go back to my painting.
“I’m canceling the concert,” Taylor announces suddenly.
My hand jerks and I nearly paint a dark line across my whole canvas. “What?!” I exclaim.
“I’m canceling the concert,” Taylor repeats looking over at me.
I put my brush down and wipe my hands on a dry rag, getting up from my seat. I quietly walk over to my boyfriend and sit down next to him. “Why?” I ask.
“Because… I don’t want to leave you behind,” he tells me.
“Tay..”
He holds up his hand to stop me and shakes his head. “No,” he says. “I’m not leaving you.” He looks at me with a very serious face. “I’m not going to lose you.”
A smirk slides over my face and Taylor pouts. “Tay,” I chuckle. “You’re not going to lose me just because I can’t go with you. It’s not like we’ll be apart for an entire tour. I’ll be there later that night.”
“I just… You…” Taylor makes a frustrated noise in his throat, his hands balling into fists. “I’m trying to be serious here, Zac. I’ve done enough to screw this relationship up and I’m over that. I don’t want to jeopardize what we have because honestly? I’ve never felt like this about anyone but you. Just you.”
I take Taylor’s face in my hands and slide one back through his hair. “I love you, Tay, and one night apart isn’t going to ruin things.”
“But it will,” he murmurs, his lower lip trembling. I place my mouth against his trying to steady his lips.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “We’re okay.”
“But it’s not okay,” Taylor replies. “All the things I’ve done? I need to make it up to you. I’m starting now, with this show.”
I sigh, pulling away from him. I go back over to my easel and sit down. I don’t want to listen to his excuses anymore. I pick up my paint brush and continue what was interrupted.
“You don’t believe me,” Taylor says flatly.
I snort. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Darling, when I say I don’t want to lose you, Seems like you think I just want to amuse you. I know it’s hard to change your mind, After all the times I was way out of line and, Maybe you think I never really mean it. Maybe you feel it but you’ve never seen it. I can’t make up for days gone by, But I’ve got to give it one more try.
I somehow manage to rearrange my schedule at the very last minute. So last minute that I don’t even have time to tell Taylor. I just show up at the venue at SXSW and find a spot on the outskirts. I catch my brother’s eye during the song. I wave and he sends a wink my way. Before going into the next song, he pauses and tucks his hair behind his ear, looking down at his feet.
“I um… This goes out to someone special.” He glances over at me and there’s something in his look that urges me to move closer.
The song begins and Taylor sings with all the passion in the world. Something I think I’ve rarely seen outside of when he’s in the process of writing. But the words… God the words! There’s something so true and genuine to what he’s singing. Even though he’s told me a hundred times he’d never leave, I’ve never believed him until he sang the words. Maybe it’s because I know he’s never more honest than when he’s singing, than the lyrics in his songs. Or maybe it’s because I can connect to it on that artist level. Whatever it is, his singing sends goosebumps up and down my arms.
I move closer until fans start to notice me. And the closer I get, the harder Taylor stares at me. But at this moment I don’t care what it looks like to anyone else, I just need to be near him. I need to touch him. I need to hold him and let my tears drip into his hair.
My heart clenches when he sings the chorus with more feeling than I’ve ever known.
I’m serious. Yeah, baby, dead serious. Cause I never felt like this before, And I’m not joking anymore. No, I’m serious. Yeah, baby, dead serious. And you’ve got to take me at my word. Forget what you’ve heard. Cause this time all I really want to say, Is I need you every day. So hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey, now, hey, hey, hey.
I am dying for the show to be over. I need Taylor something fierce, like I’ve never felt before. I wait impatiently for him to slip away and find me pacing in the dressing room. It feels like years before he gets there. And when he does, I race to him, throwing my arms around him tightly. I crush his lips to mine, kissing him hard on the mouth.
“I love you,” I murmur. “I love you so much.” I place random kisses all over his face; his cheeks, his forehead, his eyelids.
Taylor giggles lightly. “I take it you like the song?” He says with a smirk. But his smirk fades when he sees the tears in my eyes. “Babe,” he coos. “What’s wrong?” I shake my head, smiling just a little.
“Nothing,” I answer. “For the first time, nothing’s wrong.”
Taylor looks down for a moment. Then he looks at me through his lashes. “I meant every word,” he whispers.
“I know,” I reply.
“You believe me?” he asks. I nod, tucking his hair behind his ear.
“Yeah, Tay, I believe you,” I tell him. “And you’re not the only one starting over.” Taylor gives me a confused look. “You want to make it up to me. I figure I need to make it up to you too, for never believing you. This song is a new beginning, Tay.”
“Damn. If I knew it was going to be this easy, I would have written this song a very long time ago,” Taylor jokes. I grin at him.
“You’re such a dork,” I tease.
“Yeah, but I’m your dork,” he replies. “Only yours.”
I lean in, pressing my lips gently against his. “I love you, Taylor. Always, forever and a day.”
“I love you too, Zac.” He hugs me as tightly.
Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey, now, hey, hey, hey.
& & & & & & &
Thanks for reading! Comments are always appreciated.
I'm also thinking of writing this as a het!fic for my friends who don't do the hancest thing. I don't know if it'll be anything like this. So you may want to check it out.....that is, if it ever gets written and posted. lol
Again, thanks for reading. Let me know if you liked it :)