writefiction | New "Super Nanny" Chapter!

+ + I should really be reading On The Rocks or getting the music together for Super Nanny, but I just finished this chapter right before bed last night and I'm too happy to wait to catch up on anything before posting it.

Title/Chapter: Super Nanny (19/?)
Author: jaclyn's twin sister
Pairing: Taylor / OFC [Liza]
Rating: R - for strong language
P.O.V.: First Person, OFC [Liza]
Notes: AU-ish. The story starts February 2007 while the guys are on tour.
Summary: When Taylor loses his only daughter at a concert one night, a good Samaritan comes to his rescue...in more ways than one.
Dedication: To Dessilyn & Aura for continuing the saga
Previous Chapters

CHAPTER NINETEEN

When we're ready to head out to the venue, we tell Joan we're leaving, then sneak out the door before any of the kids can notice and throw a fit. We drive to the arena in Bill and Joan's SUV. Isaac and Zac are up front while Tay and I get the back. We're all laughing and having a good time when Zac speaks up.

"Hey, Liza. What was that song you were singing to River earlier?"

My whole body tenses. I only remember singing to River once.

"When do you mean?" I ask nervously. Zac turns around in his seat to look at me.

"After the nap he took after lunch," he says. "You know when I mean. The song had something to do with sunshine." I nod, trying to relax. Taylor has his arm around me, he must have felt me go rigid.

"Oh, yeah, that one. My mom used to sing it to me when I was little. She told me my dad used to sing it all the time, but I only ever remember her singing it." I shrug. Zac nods and turns back around in his seat.

"You'll have to teach it to me sometime," he says.

"Yeah, sure." I force a smile even though he's not looking at me anymore. The rest of the trip is pretty quiet except for the music on the radio. I think the three brothers sense the whole issue surrounding the song is touchy stuff, even if Zac's question was completely innocent.

After our arrival at the venue and a talk with the tour manager, Isaac and Zac decide they're going to take a trip to the Starbucks we saw a few blocks away.

I sit on the loveseat that's positioned against a wall and Taylor sits next to me.

"Do you want to sing tonight?" he asks. I make a face as I look at him.

"What?"

"Do you want to sing tonight? On stage?" he asks. I lick my lips slowly, trying to find the motive behind the question. Something just seems a bit off.

"Taylor...What's the real question here?" I ask him.

The singer's blue eyes flick away nervously, then back to my gaze.

"There is no 'real question,'" he says. "You just seem like some performing is in need." He shrugs. "That's all." The tell-tale chewing of his lower lip is all I need to confirm that there is indeed a "real question."

I sigh and turn towards my boyfriend.

"Look, Taylor, I know this isn't about singing, or rather it's about what you heard me singing over the baby monitor." I stop for a moment and rub my forehead. "Whatever it is that you want to ask or say, just say it." Taylor rubs his hands on his jeans, taking a deep breath. Then he turns to me.

"Why did you get so nervous when Zac asked you about that song?" And who is Athan?"

I look down at my hands, clasping them so tightly in my lap, my knuckles turn white.

"The song just brings back a lot of...emotions," I tell him. "My dad used to sing it all the time, but I was too young to remember. My mom used to sing it for me. I remember begging her to sing it this one time when I was really upset and couldn't stop crying. And then it became Athan's song. It was the only thing that could calm him down when absolutely nothing else worked."

I reach up to rub my suddenly sore eyes and I'm surprised to find myself crying. I sigh, wiping away the tears. Then I look up at Taylor. He's frowning at me.

"Is this what you wanted to hear? Did you want to reduce me to tears?" I ask. Just as quickly as the sadness came, so does the anger. It rushes through me, boiling my blood and tightening my chest.

Taylor grits his teeth, seeming to be just as equally mad.

"No, it's not what I wanted," he says through clenched teeth. "I wanted the truth!"

"I can't tell you the truth!" I exclaim, hot angry tears spilling from my eyes.

"Why?" Taylor demands. "Why can't you tell me?"

"Because it would ruin everything!" I sob. "Just...everything!" Taylor's face softens as he watches me crumble under the weight of my secrets.

"Liza," he whispers, roping his long arms around me, holding me tightly to him. All I can do is bury my face in his shoulder and sob. I sob so hard my body shakes with the force of it.

I'm not sure how much time has passed when the sound of Isaac and Zac entering the room fills my ears. But it's been long enough that my horrible sobs have lessened to tiny sniffles. Taylor only lets go of me long enough to take the coffee he's been offered, take a sip and put the paper cup on the seat of a folding chair stationed nearby.

Zac pulls up a chair in front of us and sits.

"Liza, are you okay?" he asks. I sniff and cuddle closer to my boyfriend.

"Yeah, everything's fine, Zac." The drummer leans in and rests his hand on my knee.

"Are you sure?" His brown eyes show genuine concern.

I brush my hair back from my face, then reach down to squeeze Zac's hand. I give him a weak but reassuring smile.

"Yeah, everything's okay." He nods slowly. Then a bright smile takes over his face.

"We got you something," he says, jumping up and heading to the desk Isaac is sitting at with his phone to his ear.

When Zac turns around, I can't help but smile. He walks back over to us, handing me a clear plastic cup of frozen chocolate-y goodness.

"One mocha frappacino with extra whip cream," he announces, sitting back down. I grin, sitting up a little straighter.

"You are definitely my favorite," I tell the drummer. He leans back in his seat with a triumphant look.

"Hey. What about me?" Taylor asks with a slight pout to his lips.

I reach up to touch his face lightly.

"Oh, Tay. You know you have my heart," I tell him. Then with a goofy grin I say, "But Zac has my stomach." Taylor sticks his lip out further. I lean up to peck him.

"You know you're my number one, Sweetie." With this said, a smile appears on his face, although a bit reluctantly. I grin in response and sip my drink.

Zac and I chat about random nothingness for a while. Then our dinner is delivered. Tonight's feast consists of extra cheese-y pizza, breadsticks and Ceasar salad that is mostly forgotten about. When everything's eaten and cleaned up, Isaac settles down with paper and pen.

"Okay," he beings, "we need a set list. Do you guys know what you want to do for your solo's?" The trio begins to discuss which mix of old and new songs they want to perform that night. I occaisionally put my two cents in, mostly when the brothers start to argue. At other times, I just sit back and watch them bicker. It's actually quite amusing.

When they're about three-quarters done with the set list Taylor turns to me.

"Did you want to sing tonight?" he asks. I nod.

"Yeah. Sure. If you think you can fit me in," I answer. Isaac looks over his paper.

"We could stick you in after Taylor's solo," he suggests. "That way he could introduce you. Or if you want us to back you up, you could still go after Taylor, he would still introduce you and Zac and I would walk yout out." He shrugs. "It's up to you really. We can do whatever." I nod slowly.

"Sure. I can go after Taylor. But I think I'm gonna do this one solo," I say. The brothers nod and Isaac scribbles me in between two songs.

"Okay. So we have room for..." Isaac counts the song on the page. "Five more," he says. "Plus the encore." After a few minutes of deliberation, the set list is finalized. Then the boys start warming up.

When the tour manager ducks her head in the room and announces fifteen minutes till Hanson hits the stage, the three brothers seem to get an extreme calmness about them. Even thought Zac had been having a fit just seconds before over his battery pack not staying in place. But once fifteen minutes is called, the trio becomes completely composed. When Taylor smiles at me it lights up his whole face. It's one of those reali smiles that involves every inch of his face and makes those blue eyes bluer; makes them sparkle. It's one of those smile you don't often see.

I watch Taylor fiddle with his ear monitors as he heads my way and takes a seat at my side. I smile at him and take his hand.

"Nervous?" I ask him. He shakes his head.

"Never." He strokes the back of my hand with his thumb. Then he looks at me with something like concern in his eyes. "And how are you?" he asks. I give the singer a puzzled smile.

"I'm fine," I tell him. He cocks his head to the side a little.

"Are you sure?" I frown.

"Why are you asking?"

"Because of earlier," he says. "You were...really upset." I open and close my mouth.

"do we have to talk about this now?"

"No. But we will talk about it."

"And you're so sure about this?" I ask, removing my hand from Taylor's and crossing my arms over my chest.

"Yes, I am," he replies. "I'm going to get you to talk even if I have to use force. Don't think you can cry your way out of it. Don't think you can shed a few tears and I'll forget all about it just to comfort you."

I can only stare at the singer. He's shocked me into silence. Then the tour manager ducks into the room again, calling out five minutes. The brothers are out of the dressing room before I can get a chance to respond.