I don't own Friday Night Lights or its characters… I just wanted to play with them for a little while… This is also my first time writing for FNL, so if I mess up, let me; know if you like it, let me know. I have seen through season 4. There may be some spoilers, but I am also gonna change the story line some too. I will try my best to let the story explain itself but some things will take a chapter or two.

Back in Dillon

Some things never change, and Dillon, Texas was one thing that never would. It was a ghost town, until you hit the west side of it. You could hear the crowd about three miles out from the stadium. It's been a long time since Matt returned. He used to drive in from TMU every chance he got to see his grandma. He hasn't been back since she died. One year, three months, ten days and his whole world has changed. Except for Dillon, maybe that was why he didn't come back. Now that he has graduated, he needed somewhere to go, so when he got to the intersection, he had a choice to make, left would take him to his house and right would take him home. As the light turned green, he hit his turn signal and slid the wheel. When he passed the Alamo Freeze, the "Gone to Game" sign in the window, he was thankful he had made his last ice cream cone. The radio was off; giving him the time he needed to think as he drove down the street.

Matt could tell the Panthers had scored, because after four years he still knew every cheer, and jeer, of the Dillon fans. He found a parking spot way in the back, but was glad he would be able to make a quick escape later. He didn't have a ticket so he pulled the ring out of his glove box. It felt foreign after so long. He walked to the ticket booth and for the first time since his disastrous date with Julie, he played his Panther Pride card.

"Ticket please," came the sighed request of a bored girl.

"Hi. I'm sorry, but I don't have a ticket."

Well we're sold out. You look familiar, do I know you?"

Matt raised his hand to adjust his hat as he said, "Maybe. I used to play here."

The cute blonde flipped her hair as she leaned on the counter and said, "Is that a state ring? I always wanted to see one up close. Can I?"

As she reached for his hand he had a feeling she'd seen her share up close. He pulled away to check his watch and said, "I'd really like to see them play tonight. Could you help me?" She smiled real big at him as she grabbed a ticket, writing something on the back and handing it to him. Matt mumbled a thank you as he turned to walk away. Looking down, he saw "Cindi" and a number, complete with a heart over the "I".

As he made his way through the crowd he threw the ticked out. It was a waste of time anymore. He headed towards the end zone. He didn't want to sit with the fans that would no doubt liter him with questions. He leaned against the fence as the fourth quarter continued. The Panthers were dominating the field as coach sent in the second string. During a time out, Matt surveyed the sea of faces. He left with two minutes to go. He received a few odd looks as he walked out; he knows he broke Dillon law. He loved football and he loved the Panthers, but the fans in Texas were crazy. He was relieved when he went to college; ironically there was a lot less pressure.

He headed toward his old house with an empty road, happy to have beaten the traffic. When he got to the house he realized he hadn't eaten and there wouldn't be food. This meant he would have to face what he had just avoided. He turned around and jumped back in the car. Knowing this town never changed he headed to Applebee's cause it would be the only place open. He also knew the Dillon faithful would be there.

Matt pulled in next to the Taylor's SUV and wondered if coach would ever let it go, knowing Buddy had tried for years to sell him a new one. He sat in the car for a minute, preparing himself to go inside. He knew what it could be like in there but he knew the Taylors would be his allies. Even though he was graduating he was glad when the town made the right choice in keeping Coach for the Panthers. He also took great joy in seeing the McCoy's move out of Dillon. He would have drove them himself he was so happy. JD was playing for Notre Dame this year, until he dislocated his shoulder, when Matt saw that on Sports Center last week, he couldn't help but smile. If it was more serious, like what happened to Jason Street, he wouldn't have felt as vindicated, but he realized JD wasn't a team player and would never have gone for the tackle. When Matt saw Street down at TMU last season, trying to sign his wide receiver, Street promised he'd never sign JD McCoy to his agency. Matt laughed and told him to sign and get him the worst spot in the NFL. Street's agency was doing great and Jason offered Matt a job, but that wasn't what Matt wanted.

He knew inside that there were new stars and he was happy for that, but every time he came back to Dillon it seemed worse. They all watched him and many would come up and ask him questions about his college career and his future plans. Others, like the boosters, wanted to relive the glory days. Matt never liked the politics of football. He just wanted to play. That's probably why he and Coach Taylor got on well. Besides, he figured if you always lived in the past, you'd never get anywhere. Each game is its own, if you lose Friday; Saturday should be about the next game not the night before, use it for improvement and let it go. He was never a natural talent; he was a good player and a hard worker.

Matt climbed out of the car and walked into the packed restaurant. He saw the mayor talking to Buddy in one corner and a couple of boosters at the bar. As he looked around he saw his past and wondered about his future. Since he graduated he had been living in his Austin apartment off of his dad's veteran's benefits looking for work. He wanted to regroup and so he came back to Dillon. He also decided it was probably time to sell the old house. Matt spotted the Taylors and walked over to say hello. He made it through the crowded place fairly quickly by keeping his head down.

"Hello, Coach. Hi, Mrs. Taylor," Matt lost much of his awkwardness with the Taylors, and even lost most of his fear of them since he and Julie split. He would never really stop fearing Coach though. None of Eric Taylor's players ever would, that was a sign of his greatness. They would forever respect him and want to earn his respect. They didn't want to let him down.

"Hello, Matt. I didn't know you were in town."

"Yes, Ma'am. I just got in tonight. Made it for most of the fourth quarter."

"Well, sit and join us, son."

"I don't want to intrude, Coach."

"Nonsense. You are always welcome at our table, you know that."

"Yes, sir," Matt took a seat opposite Mrs. Taylor. "Is that little Gracie? She sure has grown."

"Well, it has been too long since you have been home. How are you, Matt? How long are you in town?"

"I'm good, Ma'am. I don't know how long I'll be here. I am in the process of looking for a job and I am going to be selling the house. Not much need for the old place."

"You are leaving Dillon for good?"

"I don't know, Coach. Nothing left here for me. Some old friends, but all my family is gone. I will probably be back to visit. I have to find a place to go first though."

"Julie was saying the same about finding a good paper after she graduates this year." The reminder of Julie made Matt wince and smile at the same time.

"How does she like Brown?"

"She loves it. There team isn't much, and believe it or not, she actually misses Dillon, especially Friday nights." They had a pleasant conversation throughout the meal with a few interruptions. The talked about how Riggins was turning things around since he was paroled. He stopped drinking and they discovered there was oil in the land he bought with him and his brother's chop shop money. They talked about how well Smash was doing with the Cowboys and how Street got him a great contract. Matt told him how Landry was going to graduate Harvard summa cum laude and rolled his eyes as he said that he and Tyra were going to try dating again. They separated after with promises to get together again soon. Matt headed home to the empty house.

The next day Matt woke and went for a run, a habit he picked up in college. When he got back he threw the ball at the tire for old time's sakes. Then he went for a drive. He head to the edge of town to see Riggins.

"Seven! What the hell are you doing here?" Tim Riggins may have stopped drinking and gotten rich, but he was still Tim Riggins.

"Just thought I'd come see the new and improved Tim Riggins. Or is it Timothy now?"

"You can call me Mr. Riggins. How are you man?"

"I'm good. I thought the whole town had lost it when I was told you were one of the boosters' main contributors. You hate the boosters and school spirit. I know you love football, but you're still Riggs."

"Honestly, man? I just did it to piss off Buddy Garrity. Shoulda seen his face," Riggins said with a smile. He still had his long hair and never wore a suit, but he had matured, and stayed the same all in one.

"That's the Riggins I know."

"Hey, Saracen, we should go out on the town tonight. My treat."

"I thought you quit drinking?"

"I didn't quit completely. I just don't have it in my cereal anymore. I cut back quite a bit."

"What made the great change?"

"Besides prison? I met a girl. Finally got over Lyla. I'm getting married next month."

"Wow, hope you bought some ice skates with all your money, cause I think Hell has frozen over."

"Damn, can you play football on ice?" They went out that night and hit the usual spots. They finally ended up on the field, throwing the ball laughing about the old times.

"What about you, Seven? You ever lose your virginity?"

"Funny. I kinda got a girl back in Austin. She's wild about me, I like her."

"They're wrapped around your finger when it's like that."

"Like you and Lyla? Seriously though, that's not what I'm looking for."

"I told you I was over Lyla. What are you looking for? Julie Taylor?" Matt thought long and hard about that question but didn't answer. They went on to talk about other things.

Lying in bed that night, Matt thought about the last couple days and decided that it is exactly how he thought it would be, being back in Dillon.