The big New Years party that had been marked on their calendars for months had been drastically overshadowed in Leia's life as November continued on. 

She had honestly been dreading thinking about it - knowing that Joe and Taylor were having a PR kiss at the countdown to midnight so that those in attendance would leak that to the press, since he was in New York for the holidays. Taylor would soon go on to start to film Cats in January in London and Leia knew that the PR with Joe was only going to be amped up as that happened.

Yet, it had been overshadowed by something that Leia had been delighted to hear - Taylor was opting to not renew her contract with Big Machine. She'd kept Leia out of a lot of the loop when it came to her negotiations, but Leia wasn't stupid - she'd known something was off. It had been a few days after Georgie admitting to them that she was seeing someone when Taylor had finally told Leia what had been going on - she wanted her masters, and BMR said only if she gave them a new album for each of her old ones.

Leia hadn't even asked Taylor if she was sure about leaving once she'd heard that. She'd have honestly gone to UMG herself, stood on a platform and made the announcement as soon as Taylor informed her of the switch. 

She was proud of her girlfriend. She'd always be proud of Taylor.

So November came and went, and then so did December. They had a chilled day for Taylor's birthday - opting to skip the big parties and have a small celebration in Upstate New York. Leia had offered to fly out Taylor's parents as a surprise, and had given Georgie permission to have her 'mystery man' come over to their apartment while they were gone for the weekend. While Taylor's parents had politely declined and said they deserved some time just the tow of them for a change, Georgie had been delighted to hear that she was getting free rein of their apartment.

They still weren't sure who it was, but at least Georgie had promised not to sneak him into her room while they were in the apartment together. They'd already had to have a bit more of a serious chat with Georgie about not knowing who her mystery man was since he had clearly enough insight to figure out about Leia and Taylor if he wanted, and Taylor had expressed that she'd really like for him to have signed an NDA.

Georgie told them that they didn't have much to worry about on that front, and that she'd get him to sign it - even if she kept a hold of it until she finally wanted to tell them about him. It was a... strange situation, Leia thought, but she didn't want to pressure Georgie into telling her about this mystery man. He cleaned up his dishes and cooked her little sister dinner every time he came round when they were gone, and the flowers that constantly turned up at their door was certainly making a somewhat good impression so far.

Regardless, Leia would have to wait longer to meet him as they were spending the weekend in some cozy collections of cabins that Leia had booked for Taylor, a moment of peace and quiet for them all for a chance. She'd offered to drive them there too - since it was only around a 3 hour drive from Manhattan to near Lake George - giving Azul and the rest of Taylor's security team the weekend off for the first time in a long time. 

Azul would probably just spend it with Riven, since Leia had learned they'd just moved in together a few blocks away from her apartment, and she had no idea what Taylor's security would do - she just knew they appreciated the time off.

"I'm going to hit post," Taylor squealed, less than ten minutes into their car journey. "Do you think I should do it now?"

"I think you'll give your marketing team a heart attack if you don't hurry up," Leia joked back, pressing a kiss to the back of Taylor's hand that was wrapped around her own, the other hand on the steering wheel as she kept her eyes on the road in front of them. "They're going to call Tree who is going to call you and ask if you've forgotten, and then you'll start talking about work and the entirety of this trip being a no-work, just-fun weekend will fade into nothing."

Taylor shot her a small glare from the passenger seat, rolling her eyes as she tucked her legs up on the seat.

"Dick," she muttered under her breath, but they both knew there was no malice behind it. "Okay fine, I'm pressing post."

"Did you tell me what time it premiers on the 31st?" 

"12:01am," Taylor replied, squealing as she hit posted and immediately locked her phone, dramatically throwing it into the backseat of the jeep. "Oh my god, I can't look at it."

"I thought you turned off comments on your posts anyway?" Leia teased, Taylor once again sending her a side glare. "I'm joking, I'm joking. I'm sure the fans will be freaking out - I know Georgie is going to be when she sees that clip of her."

Almost like the name had sprung a reminder into her, Taylor suddenly perked up and twisted in her seat to face Leia a little more, the brunette casting a side glance at Taylor with a soft smile. Her girlfriend was beaming at her, and the twinkle in her eyes made Leia instantly think that Taylor was brewing up some mastermind plan about something.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I was thinking... obviously I'm hosting the New Year's party slash kind of a reputation tour movie party..." Taylor started. Leia almost wanted to remind her that it wasn't something she could really forget when they'd had quite a few arguments about what was going to happen at midnight, but she bit her tongue. "... and I'm obviously planning on extending an invite to Hayley, Shawn, Niall and some of the other surprise guests. Why don't I give Georgie a plus one and see if she brings her mystery man? What kind of person would pass up on that?"

"I think..." Leia mused, turning her head to look away from the road to smile back at Taylor. "... that you, Taylor Allison Swift, are a literal mastermind."

Taylor's face lit up with a mischievous grin, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. 

"I know, right? It's brilliant!" She leaned over and planted a quick kiss on Leia's cheek, causing the brunette to blush and smile softly.

As they continued their drive, the bustling cityscape of Manhattan gradually gave way to the picturesque countryside of upstate New York. Rolling hills covered in a blanket of pristine snow stretched out before them, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the winter landscape. Bare trees lined the road, their branches dusted with frost that glittered like diamonds in the fading light.

Leia relaxed into the driver's seat, feeling the tension of the past few months melt away with each mile they put between themselves and the city. She glanced over at Taylor, who was now softly humming, her fingers tapping out a rhythm on her knee.

"Hey," Leia said, reaching over to intertwine her fingers with Taylor's. "I'm really proud of you, you know that? For standing up for yourself with Scott and Big Machine, for the tour, the album, the movie... for taking this time away... all of it."

"I love you," Taylor murmured back, smiling at Leia deeply.

Taylor gazed out the window, her expression softening as she took in the peaceful scenery. She continued to hum softly, a melody Leia didn't recognise but found instantly soothing. The gentle notes filled the car, mingling with the quiet purr of the engine and the occasional crunch of tires on snow.

"New song?" Leia asked, glancing over at her girlfriend. "For the album?"

Taylor nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Maybe. Just something that's been floating around in my head. This view is pretty inspiring."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, both content to simply enjoy each other's presence and the beauty of their surroundings. As they drove further north, the landscape became more rugged, with dense forests and craggy outcroppings of rock.

About halfway through their journey, Leia pulled into a small roadside gas station. The quaint building beside the station was adorned with twinkling fairy lights, giving it a cozy, inviting appearance against the wintry backdrop.

"Pit stop?" Taylor asked, already reaching for her oversized sunglasses and beanie. "I'll go in and see if they've got like some snacks for the road in the cafe while you refill?"

"Sounds good," Leia murmured back, grabbing a baseball cap from the backseat as she hopped out of the car, watching Taylor go towards the small diner-cafe style shop that was connected.

She glanced around the deserted gas station, relieved to see no other customers. The fuel pump hummed to life as she began to fill the tank, her breath forming small clouds in the chilly air.

The sun was setting now, painting the sky in a breathtaking array of pinks and oranges that reflected off the snow-covered landscape. Leia found herself mesmerized by the beauty of it all, a stark contrast to the bustling city life they'd left behind. The peaceful silence was broken only by the occasional caw of a distant crow and the soft tinkling of the bell as Taylor disappeared into the small shop.

As the pump clicked off, Leia replaced the nozzle and screwed the gas cap back on. She walked towards the payment kiosk, her boots crunching on the gravel and patches of snow. The old machine whirred and beeped as she inserted her card, its dated interface a charming reminder of the simpler life out here in the countryside.

Just as she finished paying, the shop's bell chimed again. Leia turned to see Taylor emerging, her arms laden with goodies. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of her girlfriend, cheeks flushed from the cold, blonde hair peeking out from under her beanie.

"I may have gone a bit overboard," Taylor admitted sheepishly as she approached, juggling two steaming cups and a paper bag that seemed to be bursting at the seams.

Leia laughed, reaching out to take some of the load. "I can see that. What did you get?"

They made their way back to the car, Taylor explaining her haul as they went.

"Well, I got us some drinks to warm us up - a caramel latte for me and a chai latte for you. And then I couldn't resist the cookies. They had this amazing selection, all homemade apparently. There's chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle, and these interesting lavender shortbread ones that the lady at the counter swore were to die for."

They settled back into their seats, the warmth of the car a welcome respite from the chilly air outside. Taylor began unpacking her haul, producing an assortment of cookies that filled the car with the mouthwatering aroma of butter and sugar.

Leia took a sip of her chai latte. The spicy-sweet flavour danced on her tongue, warming her from the inside out. 

"Oh, this is good," she murmured appreciatively.

As Leia put the car back into drive, Taylor selected a chocolate chip cookie, biting into it with a satisfying crunch. 

"Okay, we're definitely stopping here on the way back," she declared, crumbs falling from her mouth as both of them laughed at how quickly she'd bit into the warm cookie.

As they hit the road again, Leia found herself occasionally casting glances over to Taylor who was drifting in and out of sleep. All her thoughts and feelings and anger about the PR stunts were at the back of her mind, unable to break the feeling of content that had settled across her as soon as they'd left the city behind.

She just couldn't imagine a life without Taylor in it.

____

______

"Do you believe in fate?"

Leia looked up as Taylor padded back into the room, just an old shirt hanging off her frame. She held a glass of water for herself and another for Leia in her hands as she approached the bed, passing it over to the girl.

"Hmm," Leia wondered, blinking a little. "To an extent, I guess. But I don't think like our actions are useless - I think there's a little cosmic intervention here and there but I always think we kind of make our own paths based on what we do. Like the butterfly effect, you know?"

Taylor nodded thoughtfully as she settled onto the bed beside Leia, tucking her long legs underneath her. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm light across her features, highlighting the curve of her cheek and the glint in her eye.

"I like that," she mused, taking a sip of her water. "It's like... we're given these opportunities, these little nudges from the universe, but it's up to us to take them or not."

Leia smiled, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of blonde hair behind Taylor's ear. 

"Exactly. Like how we met. Pure chance that I was at the Met with Karlie that night, but it was our choice to talk, to get to know each other."

Taylor leaned into Leia's touch, her eyes softening. "And look where that's led us. To this beautiful cabin in the middle of nowhere, just us."

They both took a moment to appreciate their surroundings. The cabin was cozy and rustic, with exposed wooden beams and a stone fireplace that crackled softly in the corner. Through the large windows, they could see the moonlight reflecting off the snow-covered landscape outside, creating a serene, almost magical atmosphere.

"Speaking of choices," Taylor said, a mischievous glint returning to her eye. "Have you thought any more about my plan for Georgie and her mystery man?"

Leia chuckled, shaking her head fondly. "You're not letting that go, are you?"

"Nope," Taylor grinned, popping the 'p' sound. "Come on, it's perfect. We invite her, tell her she can bring a plus one, and boom! We finally get to meet this guy."

"And if she doesn't bring him?" Leia countered, raising an eyebrow.

Taylor waved her hand dismissively. "Then we're no worse off than we are now. But seriously, what kind of guy would pass up the chance to go to a Taylor Swift New Year's party?"

Leia had to admit, Taylor had a point. She took a sip of her water, considering the idea. "Alright, I'm in. But let's not push too hard, okay? We don't want to scare Georgie off."

"Deal," Taylor beamed, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Leia's lips. "You know, I'm really excited about this party. It feels like... I don't know, like the start of something new."

Leia's eyes softened as she gazed at Taylor, her heart swelling with affection. She set her glass down on the nightstand and reached out to take Taylor's hand in hers, running her thumb gently over the singer's knuckles.

"I'm excited too," Leia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, I won't lie and say I'm thrilled about the whole Joe situation..." She paused, watching Taylor's expression carefully. "But being there with you, celebrating everything you've accomplished this year? That's something I wouldn't miss for the world."

Taylor squeezed Leia's hand, a mix of gratitude and understanding in her eyes. 

"I know it's not ideal," Taylor murmured, her free hand coming up to cup Leia's cheek. "But having you there, by my side... that's what matters most to me. You're my real New Year's kiss, even if it can't be at midnight."

Leia leaned into Taylor's touch, closing her eyes for a moment to savor the warmth of her hand. When she opened them again, she was met with Taylor's earnest gaze.

"I'm excited to see the look on your face when the clock strikes midnight and you realize you're starting a whole new chapter. I'm excited to dance with you, even if it can't be as close as I'd like. I'm excited to watch you light up the room with your presence, to see how proud your friends are of everything you've accomplished."

Taylor's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she listened, her thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of Leia's hand.

"And you know what else?" Leia continued, her voice growing stronger. "I'm excited for the moment when all the cameras are gone, when the last guest has left, and it's just us. When I can hold you close and whisper 'Happy New Year' against your lips, knowing that no matter what challenges we face, we'll face them together."

She reached up, cupping Taylor's cheek gently. 

"So yeah, I'm excited. Because at the end of the day, it's not about one kiss or one party. It's about us, about the life we're building together. And that's worth celebrating, always."

"God, I love you," Taylor whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "How do you always know exactly what to say?"

Leia smiled, brushing away Taylor's tear with her thumb. 

"It's easy when it's the truth."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sounds the soft crackle of the fire and the gentle patter of snow against the window.

"You know," Taylor said after a while, a playful smirk tugging at her lips, "we could always practice that New Year's kiss, right now. Just to make sure we get it right when the time comes."

Leia's eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned in closer to Taylor. "Practice makes perfect, right?" she murmured, her breath ghosting over Taylor's lips.

Without another word, Taylor closed the distance between them, capturing Leia's lips in a soft, tender kiss. Leia melted into it, her hand sliding to the nape of Taylor's neck, fingers tangling in her blonde hair. The world around them faded away, leaving only the warmth of their embrace and the gentle press of lips against lips.

When they finally pulled apart, both slightly breathless, Taylor rested her forehead against Leia's. 

"I think we might need a bit more practice," she whispered, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Leia laughed softly, her heart full of love for the woman before her. 

"Well, we do have all weekend," she replied, her voice low and teasing.

Taylor grinned, pulling Leia closer. "That we do," she agreed, before claiming her lips once more.

The rest of the world, with its demands and expectations, could wait. For now, they had each other, and that was more than enough.

____

"Love the umbrella," Leia teased Gigi as the girl turned to face her, a grin breaking out across her face as she pulled her friend into a tight hug.

When she'd told Taylor she was excited for her New Year's party, she had been blissfully aware that the invitations Taylor had sent out included one teeny tiny detail that she'd only remembered to tell Leia a few nights prior - the theme was 'come dressed as your childhood heroes'. Leia wasn't entirely sure what to do with this information on such short notice, but she differed she was extremely lucky that she knew exactly who her childhood hero was.

Gigi had came as Mary Poppins, hence the umbrella comment, and Leia had already spotted a few more people that she recognised mingling around - Abigail was Posh Spice (maybe, Leia wasn't entirely confident), Blake was Dorothy, Ryan looked... like a drunk version of himself? 

She wasn't sure what Georgie was coming as, and a part of her was somewhat intrigued if she was going to bring her mystery man or not. She'd not confirmed or denied if she was to either Leia or Taylor, but both of them were on high alert regardless.

Taylor was Ariel - fitting, since she'd almost lost her voice recently with the debate of her masters. And also fitting because it was certainly Taylor's favourite Disney movie as she'd convinced Leia to watch it numerous times in the past few years.

Leia had gone for a relatively easy one - she was donned head to toe in purple, and her hair had been sprayed with some ginger hairspray, although it hadn't taken too well and was only really noticeable in some lights. Her one and absolutely childhood hero - Daphne Blake from Scooby Doo.

"Love the go-go boots," Gigi quipped back, letting go of Leia and running a hand through her hair. "Is your hair supposed to be ginger?"

"Yeah, let's not start on that," Leia joked, smiling and thanking Ryan as he passed by them, extending a glass of what looked like white wine out to Leia as he said hello to both of the girls. "It's so busy in here."

"Yeah, it got a bit hectic when you stepped out to call your parents," Gigi admitted, Leia having popped out to the balcony of Taylor's apartment to make a quick call to her parents who were celebrating the midnight bells in London. 

The apartment was transformed into a whimsical wonderland, with twinkling lights strung across the ceiling and vintage movie posters adorning the walls. She turned to see Taylor weaving through the crowd, her fiery wig bobbing as she ducked and dodged around guests. Her mermaid-style dress shimmered with each movement, the scales catching the light and throwing miniature rainbows across the room. As she approached, Leia couldn't help but marvel at the intricate details of her costume - from the seashell-inspired headpiece to the delicate starfish earrings dangling from her ears.

"There you are!" Taylor exclaimed, her face lighting up as she reached them. She wrapped an arm around Leia's waist, planting a quick kiss on Gigi's cheek before turning to Leia. "How were your parents?"

Before either of them could respond, a commotion near the entrance caught their attention. The door swung open, and in walked Georgie, looking like she'd stepped straight out of 2006. Her sparkly mini dress caught the light, sending shimmers across the room. Her ginger hair was hidden under a blonde wig that was curled to perfection, and her eye makeup was heavy and dramatic, reminiscent of Taylor's early red carpet looks - Leia's sister had literally came as Taylor in her debut era.

"You have got to be kidding me," Taylor laughed, Gigi and Leia also grinning as Georgie noticed them, smiling widely and motioning up and down to herself.

Behind her, ducking slightly to fit through the doorway, was a figure dressed head-to-toe in a skin-tight Spiderman costume. The iconic red and blue suit hugged every contour of his body, the intricate web pattern clearly visible even from across the room. His face was completely obscured by the mask, leaving everyone to wonder about the identity of Georgie's mystery man.

"Oh my god, is that her mystery man?" Gigi whispered to Leia, who was somewhat in a state of surprise that Georgie had actually brought her mysterious boyfriend with her after all. "Ugh, I can't see his face from here."

"He's in a mask," Leia whispered back, Gigi laughing as she realised what she'd just said.

"Hey!" Georgie called out, wrapping her arms around Taylor who smiled widely back and held on to her girlfriend's little sister's shoulders as she looked her up and down.

"Holy shit, George," Taylor laughed, her eyes brighting and twinkling, "this is incredible!"

Leia couldn't help but smile at the sight of Georgie and Taylor together, the younger girl beaming with pride at her costume choice. The resemblance was uncanny, and for a moment, it was like looking at a photograph from over a decade ago.

"You've even got the curls right," Leia remarked, reaching out to gently tug on one of the blonde ringlets framing Georgie's face.

As the initial excitement of Georgie's arrival began to settle, Leia's gaze drifted back to the masked figure standing slightly behind her. He seemed content to let Georgie take the spotlight, his body language relaxed despite the attention he was drawing from curious partygoers.

Gigi her throat, a mix of curiosity and anticipation bubbling up inside her. 

"So, Georgie," she began, her voice laced with playful suspicion, "are you going to introduce us to your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman?"

Georgie's cheeks flushed a deep pink, visible even beneath her heavy makeup. She bit her lip, glancing back at her companion before turning to face Leia, Gigi and Taylor once more.

"Okay, but you have to promise not to freak out," she said, her voice a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Gently, she reached back and grasped Spiderman's wrist, pulling him forward. The masked figure seemed to hesitate for a moment before raising his hands to the edge of his mask.

With a swift motion, Spiderman pulled off his mask, revealing a familiar face that sent shockwaves through the small group. Leia felt her jaw drop, her eyes widening in disbelief. Beside her, she heard Taylor let out a small gasp.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Leia breathed out, almost like a laugh as she was stunned at the sight of his face. Gigi had burst into hysterics, thinking this was the funniest outcome that she possibly could have seen play out in front of her.

"Zayn is so going to love this," Gigi muttered, excusing herself and walking away to go and find her boyfriend who was dressed like Batman somewhere else in the building. 

Standing before them, his half-blonde, half-brown hair slightly mussed from the mask and a sheepish grin on his face, was none other than Niall Horan.

"Hi," Niall said, his Irish accent unmistakable as he gave a small wave. "Surprise?"

Leia blinked rapidly, convinced for a moment that she must be seeing things. But no, it was definitely Niall - the same Niall who had been on at one of the reputation tour dates with them, the same Niall that she had watched on TV growing up.

Niall's cheeks were flushed, whether from the heat of the mask or embarrassment, it was hard to tell. He ran a hand through his slightly damp hair, mussed from the mask, and gave a sheepish grin.

Leia glanced between Georgie and Niall, noticing how Georgie had instinctively moved closer to him, her hand still on his wrist. Everyone seemed to be waiting for her reaction - including some of the other party goers that were in attendance. 

Leia's initial shock slowly melted away, replaced by a warm smile that spread across her face. She stepped forward, closing the gap between them, and placed a gentle hand on Niall's shoulder.

"Well," she said, a slow smile spreading across her face, "I certainly wasn't expecting Spider-Man to be Irish."

The tension in the air dissipated as Niall let out a relieved chuckle, his shoulders visibly relaxing. Georgie beamed, her grip on Niall's wrist loosening slightly.

Leia stepped forward, extending her hand to Niall. "It's good to see you again, Niall. And I'm glad you're here."

Niall took her hand, shaking it firmly. "Thanks, Leia. I'm really happy to be here."

She watched as Niall's hand found Georgie's, their fingers intertwining naturally. The way they looked at each other, stealing glances when they thought no one was watching, spoke volumes. It reminded her of her and Taylor, too.

She was happy for Georgie.

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do you guys like the little instagram posts i've started to put in? if you don't pls let me know and i'll stop hahaha. little bit of a happier chapter... before... you'll see :)

please keep your comments coming - i love to read them and they really do motivate me!