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 3

Present

"What do you mean you're pregnant Tyra?" Her sister screamed into the phone. "What about college and the baby? Wait, who's the father?" She said spewing out questions faster then Tyra could answer them.

"I don't know anything right now Mindy. I'm confused and angry and scared." She said her voice cracking. The questions Mindy asked were valid. What about college? She still had three more semesters to go. And the baby…my God she couldn't imagine not having it. She had always been careful about safe sex knowing that a baby was the last thing she wanted to deal with. As for the father? The simple thought of telling Tim about this made her want to cry.

"Ok…how about…how about you come home this weekend and we can talk and see what can be done?" Mindy said finally.

"I don't know Mindy" she said unsure if that would be a wise choice.

"Are you…do you want Billy and I to come over there? I can leave Stevie with mom."

"No! No, you can't tell Billy."

"I can't tell Billy?" Mindy questioned. "Why not?"

"Forget it."

"No. Why can't I tell Billy? He'll find out sooner or later."

"I know but if you tell Billy then…then he'll tell…" she said letting her words drift.

"Tell?" Her sister pushed.

"Tim. He'll tell Tim."

The line was quiet for a long time before her sister uttered a soft, sad "Oh Tyra".

"Do you see now why I'm so confused," she said letting the tears that have been gathering in her eyes fall.

Mindy must have heard the change in her voice because suddenly she said "I'll be there tomorrow, alone, no Billy. Then we can talk and try and figure out what the next steps are."

"Thank you Mindy" was all she could say. Too afraid that if Mindy asked any more questions she would break down completely.


The banging on the door woke her at about a quarter after seven. Jumping up quickly she rushed to open the door for her sister. "My God woman when did you get on the road this morning at four?" she asked giving her a big hug.

"Four thirty actually" Mindy said stepping into Tyra's small studio apartment. She held a tray with two cups of coffee and a pastry bag that Tyra assumed must have been donuts. "These are decaf," she said placing the tray on the small coffee table.

Looking over at her pregnant sister, her belly pronounced slightly Tyra gave Mindy a smile. No matter what kind of problems they had in the past she was always there for Tyra. Not that Tyra asked for help often. Her sister was a loving and caring individual who would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. Sometimes it bothered Tyra when she mothered her but when she was in a bind there was no one else in the world she would rather have by her side.

Taking her hand Mindy led her over to the sofa and sat her down. Handing her the coffee, she opened up the paper bag and removed a donut handing it to Tyra. Her sweet gesture brought a sheen of tears to Tyra's eyes.

"Hey…what is it?"

"Nothing. Its just, you're so sweet." Tyra said before taking a big bite out of the donut.

Mindy smiled and leaned back on the sofa looking at Tyra. "It's the hormones," she said understanding her tears and placing a hand on her own pregnant belly.

"What did you tell Billy about coming here?"

She shrugged. "I told him you had to get your wisdom teeth pulled and needed someone to drive you"

"I got those pulled three years ago Mindy. You and Billy drove me."

Waving her hand she chuckled. "Like he'll remember."

After they finished their coffee and donuts they sat quietly before Mindy finally broke the silence. "So little sister, how about you tell me now everything that's going on?"

Not sure how to start Tyra looked at Mindy's worried face and started to cry. "What is wrong with me?" she asked not expecting an answer. "I've been working so hard to get this college degree and making something of my life and the first time I see Tim everything goes to hell."

"Not hell honey, just a little detour through it," she said sympathetically.

"What am I supposed to do now? Do I stay here and keep going to school with a baby? Is that even possible? Do I even have this baby? Do I tell him?" she fired out question after question, looking to her sister for answers she herself didn't have.

"Well I can't answer for you if it can be done but I know one thing, you will have this baby because it's who you are. You've been against abortion your whole life and I know you won't be able to go through with it." Reaching over and taking Tyra's hand into hers she added. "As for telling Tim, I think that's a given."

Pulling her hand away Tyra stood and started pacing the room. "I think that's what scares me the most. He just got out of prison Mindy. His life is a mess. How can I add onto that without feeling like an ass."

"Ok first off…" Mindy stood and made her way over to Tyra, "you didn't get pregnant by Immaculate Conception. He did participate in that. And maybe this won't be as bad as you think it will." She said giving Tyra a soft smile. "Besides none of this would have happened if he used a condom so…"

"He did thought." Tyra interrupted. "He always used a condom and I'm on the pill. So I don't understand how this could have happened."

"Okay, are you sure then that you're pregnant? I mean the test could be wrong." Mindy said confused by the information her sister just shared with her.

"I am. I saw a doctor."

"Okay then I'm confused."

Sighing Tyra walked over to the sofa again and sat down. "To be fair there were a few times that we started without but then stopped and put one on"

"A few times? I thought you only slept with him once when you were home?"

"That's what I told you but during those few weeks there were many times"

"Oh gross" Mindy said sitting down next to Tyra. "I don't really wanna know about my sister and my brother in-law doing the nasty."

"Mindy, focus" she said waving a hand in front of Mindy's face.

"Sorry. Okay then what about the pills, shouldn't they have worked?"

Feeling like a small child caught in a lie Tyra bowed her head and spoke softly. "I was on antibiotics right before I came to Dillon so…"

"So the pills were in-effective" Mindy finished for her.

Standing again she resumed her pacing. "How can a person be so smart and so stupid at the same time? I mean I knew better, yet as soon as I was with him again its like I lost all my brain cells."

"You're not stupid Tyra. These things sometimes happen." Mindy said trying to comfort her.

"How am I going to tell him?" she said standing in the middle of the room looking dejected. Her eyes pleading for help. "Do I call him? Do I go there? Do I let you tell Billy and he tell him? What should I do?"

"I can't imagine Tim taking the news well coming from Billy or anyone else for that matter, except you." She said honestly.

"I was afraid you were going to say that" Tyra said softly wiping the few tears that escaped her eyes.

"Are you that afraid of telling him. I mean this is Tim. You've known him your whole life"

"Yes. No. Not exactly. Its not that I'm afraid but I feel like a hypocrite." She admitted.

"Why?"

Walking over to the couch again she sat down and faced her sister. Taking a deep breath she spoke softly. "We talked about the future while I was there. He made it perfectly clear to me that he would like to be together again and I…"

"You what?"

"I basically shut him down. I mean not exactly."

"You're confusing me honey"

"I told him I had dreams and that moving back to Dillon right now is not what I want. I told him that I loved him but that right now I have to do this for myself." She admitted thinking of the conversation they had while sitting on his land that evening watching the sunset.

"And what did he say? Was he mad?"

"No actually. He was very understanding. He told me he had dreams too and that maybe one day our dreams can merge together." She said smiling softly thinking of the feelings that had overwhelmed her at that time. When she left Dillon she had hope for a future with Tim. It only made her more determined to get her life in order so that one day she could go to him and share a life with him. She just didn't expect life to throw her a curve ball.

"That's so sweet" Mindy's words brought her back to reality. "I didn't know Tim Riggins had any romance in him at all."

"Tim is different then he used to be. I mean he was so open with me while I was there. He didn't hide behind his smart mouth and twisted humor." She smiled thinking of the many hours they spent talking. "I just…I don't know. How do I tell him after being so adamant about following my dreams and not taking him back?"

Her sister took her hand and rubbed small circles in her palm. "Tyra, you have every right to follow your dreams and it seems like Tim understands that. He will understand this too. He is not some high school jock any more. He is a man who is working hard to rebuild his life after a year in prison. He is mature and he loves kids. I mean the way he's with Stevie…"

"But Stevie is his nephew. This will be his child Mindy. What if he's angry about this or he doesn't want to be a father or he thinks I somehow trapped him or…"

"Tyra. Relax." She said interrupting her endless list of questions. "You know he won't think that. He isn't some guy you had a one night stand with. This is Tim, the boy who you were in love with for the better part of your teenage years. And who was in love with you too."

Her words somehow comforted Tyra. This was Tim. The guy she used to love more than life itself. The guy she still loved. But now things will change and she hoped to God that this news wouldn't drive them any further apart then they already were.

Leaning towards her sister she gave her a long hug. "Thank you. I needed to hear that"

"Anytime" Mindy whispered and pulled back a little. "So when do you think you'll break the news?"

Sitting back she looked down at her hands. "I know I should do it right away, but maybe I can call and suggest that he comes for a visit. Somehow the thought of driving to Dillon to tell him scares me more then anything else."

"That's a good plan." Her sister said with encouragement.

They spent the rest of the day talking about her classes and her college degree. Deciding to finish out the semester, Tyra would only be six months pregnant at the end of May. Then when the baby came at the end of the summer she would have to take a break from her studies. She only hoped that the break would turn out to be just a break and not the end of her education.

After a few hours she finally said goodbye to her sister and went to grab the phone.

"Tim?" she said after she heard his voice on the other end.

"Tyra, hey. How did your exam go?" he asked remembering how nervous she was about it two days ago when they spoke.

"It went fine. So listen, I was thinking that since I can't come to Dillon for the next few weeks, you might want to drive over here for a visit." She said biting her lip.

"Yeah. I'd love that." He said.

"Great. How does your weekend look?" She asked not sure if she was pushing it a little.

"Good. I work the morning shift on Friday and then I'm off the whole weekend."

"Really? That's weird. How come?"

"Buddy has some Panthers alumni meetings going on this weekend so he's closing down the bar and is gonna hold them there." Buddy was a lifelong Panthers football booster and he would do anything for that football team including closing down his bar on a busy weekend to host meetings.

"Okay. So then I'll see you Friday evening then?" She asked smiling to herself.

"Yeah." He said. "Can't wait"

She chuckled at his comment thinking of how much he did actually change. Tim Riggins admitting he was excited to see a girl was unheard of. "Okay then. I actually have to run but I'm really glad you're coming" she said before getting off the phone. She was shaking by the time she hung up. How would she be able to do this in person when just talking to him on the phone was making her body tremble with nerves?