This is the story directly after "The Start of Something (Else) New" and "Advice" which I recommend reading before this one if you haven't. There are plenty of fics set after this one, directly "True Happiness" and "Meet The Parents (Again)". There are a lot and there will be more.

Taylor sat with her decision a little longer after getting off the phone with Chad. She studied Carol's clothes in the closet and worked to reconcile the past two years with this truth that had been a long time coming.

Then she headed out to the living room, where Carol was putting sheets on the couch.

"Hey," Taylor said, sitting down and patting the spot next to her.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

"A little… Foolish," Taylor admitted.

"Foolish? Why?"

"For the past hour, I've been thinking about how your transition affects me. And that's stupid because it's not about me. It's about you, it's about your happiness."

"Well, it does affect you, so I don't think you're stupid for having some concerns."

"Thank you, but I'm done centering myself. You're incredible, Carol. I'm proud of you and I'd be proud to call you my girlfriend."

"Really?" Carol asked, practically holding her breath.

"Really. It'll take time to get used to, but you're worth it."

"Thank you, T. That means a lot to me. I was so scared that this was going to ruin things between us, but I never should have doubted you."

"I would have been scared too," Taylor said, reaching out and taking Carol's hand. "But I'm not going anywhere. And I want to hear everything."

"I'm going to need you to be more specific, darling."

"Okay, when did you realize you were trans?"

"The first time I had the words for it I was fourteen. It was on some TV show as some throwaway line making fun of trans women but I'd never even known you could be trans. I wanted to know everything about it, I needed to know it was real and not just a punchline."

Taylor nodded supportively, urging Carol on.

"Unfortunately, I got caught. My dad thought I was looking up porn, I remember how angry he was. The things he said about people about me. Mom wasn't as vitriolic, but you've met my mother. You know how good she is at making me feel small. So I pushed away any thoughts of me being trans and tried to be the perfect son that they always wanted me to be."

Taylor frowned. "I'm so sorry you had to hide that part of yourself."

"Me too. I couldn't lie to myself forever though, so, eventually, I started researching again, in secret. I started figuring myself out. I found my name, and I clung to it like it was gold."

"It's a good name," Taylor said, cupping Carol's cheek.

Carol beamed. "Thank you, love."

Taylor pressed her forehead against Carol's and let out a little hum.

"C?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you're figuring yourself out. I'm glad you're happy."

"I am happy," Carol said, wrapping her arms around Taylor, "I have everything I need right here."

"Really?" Taylor asked, unable to hide her smile.

"Well, estrogen would be nice, too. But right now, this is enough."