Disclaimer: I don't own anything – but I wouldn't mind owning Coach Taylor or Riggins.

A/N: This has been in my brain for awhile, I'm not sure what it is about these two- it just makes sense.

Prologue: Lights & Buzz

Streets look the same, still nothing's as it was

This place is paradise I'm sure, here's my reservation

I've gotten lost here once before

She's never been big on praising Texas, but there is something about the sun setting on Friday nights and the stadium lights flickering on that poets and painters would love. It's been awhile since she stood in the stands in Dillon and watched a football game with bated breath, holding her Mama's hand and praying for a win.

There are ghosts that haunt this field she thinks, looking up at the bleachers. She can still feel the ache of watching Jason Street that fateful Friday, and she can still feel the innocent wonder of seeing Matt throw the football with confidence.

They lived in lots of places before Dillon, but this place, marked with both joy and tragedy will always be home to Julie. This place forever tied to first loves and friendships that she still holds close to her heart.

She's almost excited for the first football game of the season, to be a part of something like this again. To stand and cheer for her Daddy's team, because whether he's the coach or one of his previous players, it'll always be Eric Taylor's team in her mind.

"Should I even ask why you're here Taylor?" She shouldn't be surprised that it's the head coach now taking her from her memories, remembering her Daddy's late nights in the office going over game film, or agonizing over starting positions.

"Sorry Coach." Her voice is hesitant as she turns to meet his gaze.

There is a light in his eyes that has Julie smiling; he's always been able to make the girls grin. "It's ok; it's nice to see a Taylor pacing that sideline again."

His tone is serious, but accompanied with a smirk that sends Julie into a fit of giggles. "I'm pretty sure it's my ass that you think is nice Coach."

They are both laughing now, and it's nice to stand under the stars and forget for a moment who they are, and what they were.

It's been almost ten years since that first state championship, since that season that changed them all, forever tying them to each other and to this place. In high school she and Tim Riggins may have danced around the same social circle, but the years have made them old friends, and it's nice to see a smile on his face.

They stand now, enjoying the silence, and she looks at him out of the corner of her eye. He's staring at the sky, and she can see a wish flicker across his face. It's a look she recognizes, it's the look of a general about to lead his troops to battle, it's the look her father had before a game, one of determination, fear, and hope.

Her voice is barely a whisper, but he turned to meet her gaze even before she started speaking. "You can pray Tim, but I'm pretty sure you're the one who gets the credit for the win, and the blame for a loss, not god."

He's silent for a little while, searching her face for something more. "Thanks for the advice Taylor, but what the hell are you doing on my field?"

She was finishing up moving stuff into her classroom, and getting her lessons plans ready when she saw the lights. "I don't know, just wanted to be here." If anyone would understand it would be Tim, the pull of the stadium lights, and the need to just lose your self, for a moment, in the memories.

"I get it." Julie thinks for a minute that's the end of it and he's going to walk away, but he surprises her.

"Your Dad said you're working here now, teaching advanced English?" It's a question that he already knows the answer to, and she's not sure if she wants to plays along.

"Yes, I'm taking over for Mr. Grady. You already knew all of this Tim. You probably heard it from my Dad, Tyra, probably Street who heard if from Lyla, who might have also told you, so really you can just ask the question." She's tired of these games everyone's been playing with her since she moved back to Dillon, she was hoping that Riggins wouldn't bother with the polite bullshit.

"You left him." It's not so much of a question, but it's better than anything anyone else has said these past couple weeks. It's blunt and too the point and quintessentially him.

"I did." A part of Julie wants to leave it at that, because even though she walked away from Matthew Saracen over 18 months ago there are still some wounds that haven't healed, but Tim's eyes are looking at her like he understands so she just keeps talking as she sits down on the grass, putting her head in her hands. "I wasn't that person anymore, that girl. I'm not sixteen, I couldn't just be with one person my entire life. I wasn't ready for babies, or marriage. I just…sometimes I would wake up and feel like I was suffocating. I loved him. I just needed out."

Julie surprised herself and Tim with her honesty but he just sits down on the damp grass next to her and looks at her, but this time it's like he's really seeing her and a part of her wants to touch him. Instead they just sit like that, looking up at the sky, wondering how they got here- how they became these people.

It's Tim who finally breaks the silence, looking her in the eyes as he talks," You went to Africa right?- taught them kids with the flies to like read and stuff?" Julie's laughing now, belly laughs, which eventually bring tears to her eyes, because for the first time since she got back to Dillon it really feels like home.