Title: Life Waiting

Summary: Do Tyra and Tim have a future together after she leaves Dillon? Post 'Always' FNL.

Rating: Probably a T rating, maybe M not really sure.

Disclaimer: I wish that I do, but unfortunately I don't own these characters.

AN:After the last episode of FNL left us sort of in the dark about the future of Tyra and Tim, I thought I'd write my own ending to their story.

Just an FYI there might be small differences from the canon of the story, because there might be some things I forgot that happened, seasons before or some things that weren't exactly explained well in the show…so I tried to explain them in my own way. So if you notice anything odd…that would be the reason. Thanks again for reading. Please leave a review.

Chapter 2

Standing behind the counter in her mother's kitchen Tyra observed her sister and brother in-law. Billy and Mindy were sitting on the sofa talking about the shut down of the football program at East Dillon with her mother. With all that was happening in their lives right now, the babies, the fact that Billy might be losing his job, they still somehow looked happy. It made her a little sad thinking of Tim's face last night when she mentioned his brother to him. He seemed quiet and distant. She understood it couldn't have been easy for him in prison but something about the situation was still bothering her. It wasn't like him to remove himself from his brother's life like that. Maybe something happened to him in prison. She felt a deep ache in her chest at the thought of him hurting so much.

Clearing her throat she got everyone's attention before speaking "I saw Tim, yesterday."

"Oh really" her sister said giving her a pointed look and a teasing smile. It reminded her of all the times her sister would tease her during junior high and high school about Tim. Who would have thought at the time that it would be Mindy that married a Riggins instead of her?

She rolled her eyes at Mindy before Billy's next words threw her for a spin.

"He tell you about his plan to move to Alaska?"

"What? What is Tim Riggins gonna do in Alaska?" She asked shocked at the revelation. Tim would never leave Dillon; he loves this place, unlike her who couldn't wait to get out of this small town.

"He's got some stupid ass idea that he's gonna move to Alaska and work on the pipe line. The kid loves Texas, all right. It's not gonna happen. He's just having a tough time readjusting." Billy said looking at her.

His words confused and angered her at the same time. She remembered his sad demeanor last night. The thought of Tim moving to Alaska suddenly brought a deep ache to her chest. The relationship they once shared had been over for years but the thought of not seeing him ever again was hard to comprehend.

She quietly placed her glass into the sink and left the kitchen. Walking over to the chair where she placed her bag earlier, she heard Mindy in the background. "Where are you going?"

"I just…have to run out for a bit," she muttered before she made her way out the door.

She found him sitting on a lawn chair next to a sad looking trailer, staring into the distance and holding a beer in his hand. Not noticing her approach he took a swig of beer and put his head down, his hair falling over his chiseled face.

"Hey" she said taking a seat next to him.

Looking up with surprise he smiled and muttered a 'hi'. "You want a drink?" he asked reaching over into the cooler next to him and handing her a beer.

"Thanks." She said taking a swig before placing it on the small plastic table between the two lawn chairs they were occupying. "So…nice trailer"

"It's not mine."

"Ok. So whose is it?"

"The lady who owns the house" he said motioning to the house behind them.

Looking around she tried to figure out what was going on. Tim was living in this trailer on someone's property instead of being at home with his brother and his family. Something wasn't right.

"So let me get this straight. You're basically squatting on this land, living in a trailer that isn't yours, moving to Alaska and not talking to your brother." She said giving him a piercing look.

He sat quietly not saying a word, not agreeing with her or disputing her observations. Again the thought of what might have happened to him in prison came to her.

"Was it really that bad?" she asked with concern.

"If you're asking if I was raped in prison Tyra, the answer is no" he said with slight irritation in his voice.

She almost smiled at his blunt statement. A relief washed over her before she spoke "Well that's good to know. Thank you."

Looking at him, something still nagged her. "Tim Riggins, what the hell is going on with you? What are you doing?"

She noticed the internal debate that was going on behind his eyes. After a moment he took a deep breath and spoke. "Billy started the chop shop. I had nothing to do with it. We made it out to seem like I had everything to do with it."

"Wait…so what you're saying…" she said with surprise in her voice.

"What I'm saying is that I went to prison for Billy. That's what I'm saying."

And there it was. It all started to make sense to her. The anger she sensed in his letters towards Billy, the distance she saw between them, and the sadness in his eyes.

"Why? Why would you do something like that?"

"He had a son, a wife, a family. I had the opportunity to change something. To give something to Stevie we never had. I gave him his father." He said softly.

His confession touched her deeply. At that moment she realized how much Tim Riggins had actually changed. She always thought of him as selfish and immature, looking out for number one and not stopping to think how his actions affected the people around him. Now however, the man who sat next to her was a caring and mature individual who sacrificed himself to give his brother and his family freedom. Unable to speak, not knowing what to say, she sat back in her chair trying to push down the emotions she felt. When he looked over at her she gave him a watery smile that told him she was proud of him.

After all this time it still seemed that they could read each other because Tim bowed his head and muttered a soft "Thank you".

Three days later

Pulling up to the bar, Tyra saw Tim's lone truck in the parking lot. It was after midnight and Buddy's closes at eleven on Tuesday nights. Gathering up her courage she thought about the conversation with her friend Julie just a few hours earlier. Listening to her speak about Matt made her nostalgic for Tim. The past they shared, no matter how dysfunctional, stirred up deep feelings for her. His life had been hard this last year, she wanted to help him and be there for him but would helping him in turn hurt her, she wondered, before slowly opening the car door and stepping out into the night air.

Entering Buddy's she spotted him across the room moping the floor. He looked tired and deep in thought. Making her way over to him, he glanced up and stopped moving the mop around.

"You know Tim, I can't imagine how much you'd have to love Billy to do what you did. Just make sure you're really okay with losing him. He's your family. He's been your only family. Not many people have believed in you Tim, but he has, " she said calmly, standing tall waiting to see if he has a reaction to her words.

She wanted to scream at him and tell him he was stupid for thinking of leaving Texas, leaving his brother and in a way leaving her, but that was too much like the old Tyra and she wanted to show him that she could be a good friend to him and be there for him no matter what. He stood there not saying a word. Dejectedly she whispered a soft "okay" turned and started for the door.

Tim stood still with a mop in his hand looking at the now empty bar. Her words surprised him and touched him. He saw the compassion and sadness in her eyes. It reminded him of the times during the start of their relationship when she was always by his side, encouraging him and supporting him fully. Their relationship slowly disintegrated. The conversations became shallow and angry, words were said with hate and jealousy, but before all that they were best friends who would have done anything for one another. Best friends, who loved each other deeply. Best friends who couldn't live without the other being right there next to them. That last thought had him racing out the door after her.

"Tyra." He called coming thought the door into the cool night air. She stopped and turned slowly, her sad eyes meeting his desperate ones. "Don't go," he said softly, stepping in front of her and gently reaching out to touch her face. Afraid she would pull away from him he tangled his fingers in her soft hair and touched his forehead to hers, "Please don't go."

Hesitantly she brought up her palm and ran her fingers through his hair. As she leaned in for a kiss, Tim stepped even closer pressing his body to hers. He didn't realize until that moment how much he missed her. How wonderful and tender she could be. Tyra always put on a strong façade but sometimes, like now, she let her guard down letting out her caring and gentle side. She tangled her hands in his hair as he wrapped his strong arms around her back opening up his mouth to taste her once again. As his tongue touched hers it felt like he was transported back in time to their firs kiss, when they were just 14 years old, nervous and inexperienced, moving together trying to discover each other.

They stood there in the parking lot of a bar like teenagers sharing kisses for what seem like an eternity. Finally Tim pulled back and looked her in the eyes. Not sure how she was going to react he whispered. "Come home with me".

She didn't answer but nodded her head slowly embracing him one last time.

Tyra knew she was going to regret doing this but she just couldn't help herself. It wasn't because she didn't care for Tim any longer but because she cared too much. Her feelings for him were always there hiding just below the surface. She consciously removed herself from any situations where she would feel too much for him, even forgoing visiting Dillon and her family so she wouldn't be reminded of him. Yet four days into her visit, she was following Tim Riggins home as if all the hard work of trying to forget him never happened.

She watched him slowly get out of his truck and walk over to hers. He opened her door and extended his hand to her. His touch was soft, his palm sweaty. It comforted her somehow to know that she made him as nervous as he made her.

Stepping inside the trailer she was pleasantly surprised at how spacious it was. A bit messy as was Tim's way but still fairly clean.

Standing there, looking around, she felt shy and unsure of herself. He must have noticed because he stepped around and faced her. "Are you sure about this?" he asked carefully.

"Yeah" she said with a mere whisper dropping her bag onto the small counter by the door.

Stepping closer he touched her face softly. Leaning in he placed a soft kiss on her plumped lips. All the walls she built suddenly disappeared and Tyra fell into him. She wrapped her long arms around his neck and opened up to taste him. The touch of his tongue sent bolts of electricity racing through her body.

A moan escaped him as he placed his hands on her behind and pulled her to him. The feel of his arousal through the jeans crumbled her control completely. She reached down and pulled up his shirt, tossing it to the floor behind her. Placing her palms on his chest felt familiar yet foreign. It had been a long time since she was able to touch Tim like this. His skin was soft, his muscles hard. She ran her hands over him as she felt him inching up under her shirt doing the same thing.

After pulling off her shirt he looked down at her and slowly raised his right palm to cup her through the thin material of her bra. She moaned kissing him again not believing what they were about to do. Unable to remember the last time she felt this aroused and excited. Meaningless sex lost is meaning some time after she arrived in college. This however won't be meaningless and she knew it.

Slowly turning them around Tim laid her down on the bed and leveled himself over her. "You're still so beautiful," he said, looking down at her.

His words brought a blush to her flushed cheeks. Not sure how to respond she smiled and pulled him down again for a kiss. Slowly they touched each other, removing the rest of their clothing. There was no rush in their lovemaking. There was no pressure and no fear. It felt like coming home. After placing on a condom he slowly entered her and Tyra cried out in pleasure.

Tim moved slowly within her as if he was afraid of hurting her. Which would have been funny if one actually counted the many times they had sex in the past. It was usually hot and fast, both of them trying to satisfy some internal need. But this time it felt different. It was slow and tender, loving somehow. They touched and kissed, moving together in unison, prolonging this amazing encounter.

Her release came first. Calling out his name she wrapped her long legs around him, pulling him further into her, praying that this would never end. As her muscles contracted around him he let go of his control and started moving faster within her until he reached his peak.

They lay there entwined in each other's arms enjoying the afterglow of their lovemaking. As he slowly pulled out, Tyra whimpered feeling the lost of their connection. He slowly got up, disposed of the condom and came back to Tyra who was waiting for him with open arms.

Tim couldn't believe what he just experienced. Making love to Tyra was always pleasurable but this time it felt different, it brought up feelings of deep satisfaction, which he never experienced when they were young.

He pulled her to him and placed his palm on her cheek. Looking into her beautiful blue eyes he whispered. "I've missed you"

Tyra smiled sheepishly and mirrored the words back to him. "I've missed you."

"I'd forgotten how good we are together"

"Tim…" she started.

"No, listen I don't mean to make you uncomfortable, but thinking back, how much we hurt each other…it feels right that we did this without all the baggage. All the lies and cheating" he said.

She was quiet for a long time looking at him across the pillow, before finally speaking. "I never did sleep around on you, Tim. I know I made you believe I did but I didn't"

"But I thought…"

"Yeah, I know, Smash…that was just flirting and a few kisses but I never slept with anyone else while I was with you." Smash was one of Tim's teammates on his high school football team. They were in constant competition with one another and when things got tough between him and Tyra, he saw her spend a lot of time with Smash, which drove Tim crazy.

Her admission stunned him. He rolled onto his back and placed a hand over his face. All this time he comforted himself with the fact that they both cheated and that sleeping with Lyla, while still involved with Tyra, was somehow excusable. He had convinced himself that his sin wasn't any worse then hers and therefore his cheating didn't really hurt her.

"It wasn't," she said reading him.

"Wasn't what?"

"It wasn't just your cheating that ended things with us. It was the hurtful words that we constantly spewed towards each other." She took a deep breath and sat up, wrapping her arms around her long legs, as if protecting herself somehow. Looking over at him she spoke softly. "I was so afraid for you after the accident so I purposely picked fights with you"

"Why?"

"I guess I was hoping that if you couldn't open up to me, you would let some things slip while we were fighting."

"And did I?" He asked surprised by what she said.

"You did but you also knew how to hurt me and pretty soon the fights became real and more damaging then I could have imagined. Eventually it all blew up."

"I can't even remember how it all started," he said sitting up and facing her. "All I know is that one day I woke up and we weren't us any more. Sometimes I'd look at you and I swear I thought you hated me."

"Sometimes I did hate you. Especially after Lyla." She said looking away.

"Tyra…"

"No, its okay Tim. I mean, it was a long time ago. We were in a bad place and after Jason was paralyzed I guess you looked for comfort in someone who could give it to you." She said with a shrug, realizing that her attitude towards him at that time was probably what drove him into the arms of another girl.

"I was scared. I didn't want to face him and when I tried talking to you I felt like you thought I was a coward. She became someone who shared my fears and it seemed easy to talk to her and be around her."

"I understand," she said softly. Remembering how jealous and hurt she felt seeing them together. How desperately she wanted to fix things. She would have done anything at that time to get Tim back. She would have screamed, cried and even begged if she knew that Tim would have responded. Unfortunately it was fairly obvious to anyone with eyes that he fell in love with Lyla. "I was hurt," she said laying back down and looking past him into the distance.

He sat there for a moment then laid down next to her. Locking eyes with her he spoke, "you were my first love. I've known you since we were five but at that time I felt lost and I guess I needed someone there who didn't know ever little part of me. Didn't know when I was upset or lying or scared. I wanted someone there who couldn't read me and I could just pretend to be someone else without revealing who I really was on the inside."

She nodded and placed her palm on his cheek caressing his lip with her thumb. "And now?" she asked softly.

"Now I'm not afraid to face who I really am. I'm glad that you can look at me and know what I'm thinking," he said with a smile on his face.

"Can I guess what you're thinking right now?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"What am I thinking?"

She moved closer to his lips. "You're thinking that you want me to be on top this time," she said placing a small kiss on his smiling lips.

"Wow, you are good." He said while simultaneously pulling her on top of him. As she straddled him he entered her without hesitation.

Moving slowly above him, Tim spoke breaking the silence. "Tyra…wait…what about protection."

She knew he was right but feeling him inside of her like that made her lose her mind. "I'm on the pill," she said.

"I know…but still" he murmured kissing her one more time before grabbing her thighs to move her.

"Okay" she said sitting up and lifting herself off of him. He jumped up quickly pulling on a condom and with in a matter of seconds they resumed their positions. Their lovemaking was different this time around. It was fun yet loving. They enjoyed each other, rolling around the bed, kissing and laughing.