Tim threw his arm across his face, blocking out the morning light halfheartedly but enough to allow his head not to feel as if it were being split in two. He hated the mornings, let him wake up at one in the afternoon and he might be a functioning human being but if he was disturbed before them then he wouldn't be held responsible for his actions. The sound of a pot being banged around did nothing to help his post drinking hangover, groaning he peeked his head over the back of the couch towards the kitchen intent on giving the person ruining his lie in a good glare. The person who was making him wish he were dead, or at least had a gun was his coach. Quickly masking the anger he simply fell back down on the couch, his arm resuming its place on his face. Taking deep breaths in hopes of clearing his foggy brain Tim tried to remember everything that had happened the night before.
He had gone out drinking, a usual occurrence in his life so he quickly skipped the first couple of hours of the party he had been at. Suddenly he remembered sitting up quickly he groaned and held a hand to his head as he nodded to the coach before heading towards the bathroom. Making sure the coast was clear Tim ducked into the small bedroom on the way to the bathroom. Closing the door behind him Tim looked at the blonde passed out asleep on the twin bed. Smiling Tim made sure the Tylenol and water he had placed beside her were still in place before ducking back out of the bedroom and heading to the shower. A flick of his wrist had the white tiled bathroom filling with steam from the shower within seconds. Stripping Tim couldn't help but smile as he remembered everything that had happened, Julie the coach's oldest daughter had been at the party. Drinking away her woes with strangers and not caring in the slightest that some guy she hardly knew was trying to get into her pants.
When Tim had stepped in she had been barely coherent for anything, and least of all what that pimply faced little shit Riley had wanted. It had taken him ten minutes just to get the drunken girl to his truck, and once there another five to buckle her in so that she didn't fall sideways into him while he was driving. But the real trouble had come when Tim had brought her home, she had almost blown it when she wouldn't shut up. Kept going on and on about the girls that liked him, and how she didn't care that Saracen was hooking up with but she did care or else she wouldn't have gotten shit faced.
Tim stepped out of his boxers, stepping under the hot spray he leaned a hand against the tile and bent his head. Letting the hot water beat down on his head, the throbbing in his skull ceased to a dull roar, nothing he couldn't handle. Wiping a hand across his face he wondered if Julie would even remember half the things she said to him last night or the fact that he had had to practically pry her loose with a crow bar. It had been a lucky break that he had gotten her off him before the coach had walked in, he had just been setting the Tylenol and water next to her bed when Coach Taylor did enter the small room. Tim didn't quite know what look the coach had been giving him, but it wasn't one he was use to and that was what unnerved him the most. The wild haired man had given Tim a once over, taking in the meds next to the bed and the fresh garbage can then he had motioned his fullback over and the two of them had calmly walked out of the room.
The conversation that followed was amusing, mostly Coach making sure that Tim had no intentions with his daughter and Tim assuring him that he didn't. It resulted in the two of them staying up playing ping-pong, and Tim's alcohol fuzzed mind getting only three hours of sleep before the coach decided to bang pots. Stepping out of the shower Tim reached for his towel, briskly drying himself he knotted it around his waist before stepping out, making sure his clothes were in the hamper on the way of course.
"Good morning Tim," Tim didn't have to force a smile as Tami walked by with baby Grace. The round eyes of the baby flashed to him as she was carried away, and Tim couldn't help the goofy grin that resulted from it. Tami stopped at the corner of the hallway before heading into the kitchen, as soon as her head was facing towards him Tim dropped the smile. It was one thing for a baby girl to see it, but he would be damned if he let the Coach's wife know how the little girl had him whipped. Standing as intimidating as he could Tim waited for what Tami was apparently trying to say, he was glad he didn't have to wait long, "Thanks Tim…for helping Julie home last night. Eric told me what happened and I really appreciate you watching out for her."
Tim grunted in response before shuffling off to the laundry room where he would no doubt find clean clothes. Pulling on a pair of clean jeans over freshly dried boxers Tim paused as he pulled a fresh shirt out of the dryer, it was the first time in his life that his clothes had actually come out of the dryer in better condition than when he first bought them. Billy had never been much for doing laundry, or well anything domestic and Tim couldn't even remember his mom ever doing anything besides drinking, but for the first time in his life Tim wondered what he would have been like if his family had been like the Taylor's. If his Mom and Dad had stuck around, and actually cared about whether or not he and Billy were doing okay, or if they had given him a glass of milk instead of the rest of their beer. Tim pulled the soft flannel shirt on, standing barefoot in the middle of the Taylor laundry room, he regretted for the first time in his life all the mistakes he had made. But last night he hadn't made a mistake, last night he had done the right thing and been rewarded for it. For the first time someone had counted on him and he had come through. Smiling Tim buttoned the shirt before going out to join his coach's family for Saturday morning breakfast.
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"Julie what the hell were you thinking?" Julie looked up at her father, her eyes blank of anything that might remotely resemble actual human emotion. Right now she could barely muster enough energy to sit up straight and her father was asking her to actually make a lucid thought? The man was asking to much of her, but she knew that if she wanted to live to see her sixteenth birthday she needed to answer him.
"I was upset okay," Julie mumbled, all lies she had come up with in the brief five minutes that her parents had allowed her to go to the bathroom and brush her teeth before joining them in the living room fled her mind. The truth shall set you free, or so she had been told, "I saw Matt and his new girlfriend and I…I just didn't want to care anymore."
Eric stood above his daughter, hands on his hips and anger making his jaw clench. If she had been one of his boys she would have been able to recognize the tell tale signs of a set of sprints coming on. But Julie wasn't one of his boys, she was his fifteen year old daughter, a daughter who until they moved to Dillion, Texas had never been anything more than her father's angel. Eric slowly counted back from ten, and when that didn't work he counted to ten, anger was still prevalent, "You were angry that the boy who you broke up with was with another girl? So you decided to get drunk, tell me Julie what exactly is wrong with the mental image I am getting with this."
Julie turned her head to her mother, hoping that she could at least calm her father down enough so that he didn't look like he was going to explode. Tami simply gave her an assessing glance before sighing, "Eric, I think the hangover has proven to Julie why she shouldn't drink."
Julie nodded in assent, the simple movement causing her stomach to revolt. Taking a deep breath she looked back at her father, "I promise I won't drink again."
"Damn right you won't drink again, because from now on you are going to be here at home every night for the rest of your life," Eric snapped his neck mottling as he all but yelled at her.
"Dad!"
"Eric," Tami and Julie looked at each other, Tami nodded her head towards the back, "Julie go to your room for a minute while your father and I talk about this."
Julie didn't have to be told twice, she was out of the living room as quick as her hungover head could handle the speed. Leaving her door open a crack she strained to hear her mother and father.
"I don't see how grounding her for life is going to help," Tami's voice carried over frustration and disappointment, two things that Julie had heard in abundance in the past couple of months, well truth be told in the past year.
"I don't see what else we can do," Eric bit back, Julie leaned her forehead against the cool wood of her door. Her father was great at handling football boys, or even baby Grace but when it came to her he seemed at a loss.
"What she needs is more discipline," Julie didn't like the sound of that, ears straining she could barely hear her mother's gasp of disapproval.
"What are you suggesting? A public flogging?" Julie felt her cheeks reddened, thankful that Tim was out of the house and baby Grace was down for her nap, Julie sank down onto the floor next to her opened door. She could hear her father pacing, something he only did when he had reached his limit, which seemed to her to be only when he dealt with his teenage daughter.
"No," his voice was muffled, like he had put his hand over it. Julie knew he was rubbing his palm across his lips, and pretty soon her mother was going to move into his arms and hold him. Reassure him that everything was going to be alright just by touching him. No matter what she didn't like about her parents Julie was always amazed at the love that was apparent between the two of them. It seemed as if nothing could step between them, as if they were one person in two bodies sometimes. She may not want to end up in a small town somewhere, but she knew that one day she wanted a love like her mother and father's.
"Julie," Julie snapped out of the day dream state she had gotten into, getting up she walked into the living room. Her bare feet shuffling along the carpet with a slowness that had nothing to do with the headache she still was suffering from.
"Sit down Jules," Tami ordered from her place next to Eric, Julie gave her a wary look before sinking onto the couch. Tami turned to Eric, who just nodded. Turning back to Julie she folded her arms across her chest, "Your father and I have decided that apparently you do have to much free time on your hands. Aside from the days in which you have dance practice you will be helping your father out at the football field. You will come straight home after practices for a month."
"What am I doing at the field?" Julie rushed, her heart hammering. This meant she would have to be near Matt three days out of the week, three days of forced nearness were three days to many in her mind.
"You will be doing whatever I tell you too," Eric snapped, "Whether it be sit on the bleachers and do you homework, or run laps. Is that understood?"
Julie almost gave into the urge to glare at him, but she knew that this could have been a lot worse. Biting down the urge to argue, "How long will I have to be there?"
"Till myself and your mother think that you have been punished enough," Eric told her flatly, trying to reconcile in his mind the little girl in pigtails that had road on his shoulders to the young woman who had come home drunk last night from a party she could barely remember, "Believe me that won't be for awhile."
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Tim pulled his helmet off, relishing the feel of the breeze on his sweaty skin. Holding it by the face guard he walked over to the small table set up with Gatorade, smiling at the disgruntled blonde who was currently standing behind it.
"Hey there Taylor," Julie glared at him, her eyes turning back to the book she was holding in her hand, "You could act like you are enjoying yourself."
"I wouldn't want it to seem like I am enjoying myself, Dad might decide to make me wash your guys uniforms or something if I smile," Tim laughed at that, Julie gave him a small smirk behind the cover of her book. Reaching for a cup of luke warm Gatorade, Julie handed the paper cup to him without taking her eyes off the book, "Drink up 33, before coach starts to yell at me for distracting his star fullback."
Tim took the cup, downing the contents in one gulp he threw it in the garbage bag she had pinned to the table before walking off, "See you later Taylor."
Julie watched Tim go, her eyes didn't stay to long on the sweaty boy. Instead it turned towards, the boy listening intently to her father as they went through the last play. Matt was nodding to whatever her father said, his head down as the coach demonstrated with his hands how he wanted him to move.
"Hey Julie," Julie tore her attention away from the field to the blonde girl standing on the sidelines, turning she checked to see where her father was before running over to where her friend was standing.
"What are you doing here," Julie asked Tyra as she came to the fence that separated them. Gripping the chain link in her hands she glanced over her shoulder towards her still occupied father.
"So water girl, how's life treating you," Tyra grinned at her fiends obvious discomfort.
Julie groaned, throwing her head back dramatically before giving Tyra a half hearted smile, "Life sucks. I get drunk and almost have sex with someone I hardly even know, and then my dad and mom decide that I need to work out my penance by serving these Neanderthals their Gatorade."
"Wow," Tyra gave her a smile leaning back on her heels, "I think that standing out here in all this sun has gotten to you. Or maybe it could be that you got tired of watching QB throwing pigskins."
Julie rolled her eyes at her, "Did you just come here to give me a hard time? Cause I could really use a friend."
"Don't be so melodramatic Julie," Tyra laughed, cupping her hand over her eyes she watched as Landry was knocked on his back by another player. Flinching as he took his time getting back to his feet, "I mean this may not be the best place to be during your day, but it has its perks."
"Yea, like what," Julie turned so that she was facing the field, Tyra's hand came over her shoulder pointing out a section on the field where the coach was standing by chewing Riggins out for something or another. Both girls laughed as they took in the angry face of her father and the calm facade that Tim was presenting, "Well this does have its benefits after all."
"Uh-oh," Tyra whispered as they coach turned from Riggins and was watching them. Giving Julie a sympathetic look, "I best be going before he makes you run or something. I'll see you later."
"Yeah, bye," Julie mumbled as she hurried back to her spot next to the water table. Her father gave her a look making her throw her hands up in surrender before he turned his attention back to his players.
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"Julie, come in here please," Julie looked up from the pile of dirty towels she was throwing into the rolling laundry hamper. Throwing the towel she was holding down, she brushed her hands onto her jeans before walking to her father's office. Eric looked up from the playbook he was studying, "Have a seat honey."
Julie sat down cautiously, waiting for her father to drop another bomb on her or something. Eric sat back in his chair watching her, "I know that you don't like this, but when you are here I expect you to work."
"I have been working," Julie argued, her picking up towels after noise sweaty boys and the long hours she had spent out in the hot sun had made her more than irritable.
"No you have been pouting. This isn't just about the other night Julie," Eric sat forward, "This is about the attitude that you have been giving your mother and I for the past year. This about you going out and partying, going to strip clubs, and Lord knows what else that your mother and I don't know about. This is about us loosing our daughter."
Julie bit her lip, tears coming into her eyes as she clenched her hands together. Fighting the urge to wipe at her eyes, "I'm sorry Dad…"
"I know you are sweetheart," Eric got up walking around to kneel infront of her, cupping her cheek in his hands, "I know. Now I am trying, and all I want is for you to try."
Julie nodded, knowing that if she spoke then it would most likely result in her crying her eyes out. Eric seemed to understand, giving her a smile he leaned forward to kiss her gently on the forehead.
"Now get back to work," Julie gave him a half hearted roll of her eyes before going back to picking up dirty towels.
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Tim blew on Gracie's stomach, making the baby giggle. Pulling back Tim smiled up at the little girl, flinching when Gracie grabbed a chunk of his hair. Propping the baby up on his knees, he tried to free his hair from her rather strong grip, "Come on Gracie girl, let go."
A giggle for the baby and another hearty tug were his answer, Tim couldn't help the smile that came to his lips as he looked at the smile on the small face. He was so focused on the baby that when delicate fingers gently pried her grip loose he almost jerked, stilling himself he looked up at the girl standing over him, "Thanks."
"She is a lot stronger than she looks," Julie said as she held her sister's hand over Tim's hand.
"You got a little sun today," Tim blurted out. Turning his attention away from her he looked at the drooling baby in his arms, ignoring the older of the Taylor girls.
Julie gave Gracie's small fingers one last caress before releasing them, walking around she plopped down at the end of the couch. Reaching for the remote she flipped on the t.v., frowning when the channel was set to ESPN. Quickly turning it, she smiled when she reached what looked to be an old comedy. Turning she stretched her feet out so that they were curled out next to her, barely brushing Tim's legs.
"The Nutty Professor," Tim muttered under his breath, turning his attention from Gracie to the t.v. for a moment.
"You've seen this?" Julie asked her eyes drifting from Jerry Lewis to Tim, who was lifting Gracie up and down, making the little girl laugh at his antics.
"My mom used to watch old movies when she was drinking," Tim said absentmindedly, "She would just sit in front of the t.v. and play them over and over again."
Julie looked at him, her eyes flickering back to the t.v., then back to Tim. Slowly she lifted the remote and pressed a couple of numbers in, the room filled with the sound of an overzealous announcer going crazy over a play. Settling down, Julie stared at the t.v. blankly, trying to think of anything to fill in the awkward silence that his words had caused.
Tim must have sensed her unease because he shifted to a sitting position, Gracie held in front of him like a shield. Julie automatically shifted so that she could look at him, his mouth quirked up in what could have been a smile on any other person but him.
"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Tim said in way of an apology, he was actually use to people ignoring him more than anything else. Shifting he held Gracie up, holding her over her sister, the baby gurgled hands waving in the air as she looked down at her sibling. Lowering Gracie, Julie smiled as Gracie began to laugh as she flew down towards her sister. Repeating the action a couple of times, Tim smiled as Julie began to make grabbing actions towards the baby causing the baby to smile wider. He was pulling the little bundle back up when he watched as if in slow motion a large amount of drool fall down from Gracie's open mouth onto Julie's neck. The two teenagers froze, a horrified look appeared on Julie's face as she bolted up just as Tim pulled the gurgling baby back. Her hands grabbing for the spit up towel from the back of the couch Julie made frantic wiping motions at her neck.
Tim tried hard to hold his laughter in, but seeing the freaked out look on Julie's face combined with Gracie's innocent smile sent him over the edge. It started out like a cough stuck in his throat, but soon he it was loud and he was forced to hold Gracie slightly at tighter for fear of dropping her.
"It isn't funny," Julie snapped, glaring at him, "Stop it Tim. It isn't funny."
"Are you afraid of a little drool?" Tim found this idea even funnier, laughing he leaned against the couch his smile widening as she blushed at his question.
"I…it just surprised me is all," Julie countered, though her blush and earlier actions denied the words that were coming out of her mouth. When he still didn't stop laughing, her hand shot out and hit him hard against his leg.
Tim stared at her, his smile still firmly in place but the laughter died on his lips. Gracie shifted in his arms, causing him to break his eyes away from Julie's stunned blue ones, "Looks to me that big sister has a temper."
Julie gave out a frustrated breath, "Come here Gracie, before he corrupts you."
"That hurts you know," Tim gave her a hurt look, as she reached over and took Gracie from him. Hands brushing he reluctantly let go, waiting till Julie had her firmly held against her chest before saying anything else, "She needs to be changed. You aren't scared of a dirty diaper too are you?"
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A.N.: So WhoJ, is it up to snuff? This is my first shot at a FNL fic so everyone have pity on me. I will be continuing this, as well as my other stories, but this one was truly inspired by all the good fanfics that I have read on this sight. So since it is like 3 in the morning here I should probably go to bed. Night to everyone and I hope that you enjoyed.