Leaving

Rating: M

Fandom: Tulie

Description: Tim Riggins, was going to college.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my words.

When everything in your life takes a sudden turn, 99% of the time it's for the worse. So imagine Tim's surprise that when it happened to him it was for the best. When Tim moved into the Taylor's house he knew that it wouldn't be forever. When he was told to leave, he'd known it had just been a matter of time. When Julie showed up on his door step to apologise he was so damned surprised, he didn't even bother trying to hide how adorable he'd always found her. When she showed up again to hang, he'd been even more stunned and let her in without thinking, without speaking a word. And when she'd found her way into his heart, he'd been surprised by how little it had surprised him. She was cute and funny and smart and damn if she wasn't the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. When she told him she loved him he thought he'd died and for some strange reason St. Peter was letting him in the gates. How he'd managed to be so lucky he'd never know, but when they made love the first time he knew he'd never love anyone else again. Julie Taylor was the one, and Tim Riggins was in so deep he'd never resurface, of that he was sure.

When his highschool graduation came up, he'd stood before what seemed like the entire town of Dillon, but his eyes feel solely on the blonde on her feet cheering and clapping before drifting to the woman beside her who was trying to clap while holding Gracie on her hip. He'd flicked his eyes to where the coach was sitting on the stage and realised he'd been grinning like a fool when the Coach raised one brow at him before smiling and chuckling under his breath. It was nice to have a family. It was nice to have a girl who loved him as much as he loved her. It was all so good.

Of course it couldn't last. He was going to college. Something Tim Riggins had always thought was beyond the realm of possibilities for him. But it was happening. He, Tim Riggins, was going to college to play ball and major in Education of all things, at the University of Texas. Tim was going to be a Longhorn. The only downside was that it meant leaving Julie behind. She was a year below him, she had a whole year left of highschool and at 18 it felt like a lifetime. He'd already promised to come home every weekend he could, and every break. Julie was going to go to every game, the coach even volunteering to drive her up to Austin. Although Tim knew it had everything to do with the free tickets he was getting the whole family and nothing to do with letting him have some quality time with the Coach's little girl. The coach knew that their relationship had taken a physical turn, and although he was supportive of them being happy and together, Julie was still his little girl and no dad wants to think about that stuff when it comes to their daughters.

But they had almost 3 months before Tim had to leave and he was sure as hell going to take advantage of every second. Of course, it would have been a lot better if Tim's last day of High school hadn't ended with him and Julie getting into a huge fight. He'd finished a little earlier than her and was waiting by his truck for her to emerge from the building when some rally girl who's name he didn't even know came up to say goodbye. She'd plastered herself along his side just as Julie was heading toward him. He pushed the girl away immediately but the damage had been done. Julie stomped over to him with fire in her eyes. The rally girl disappeared quickly, knowing not to mess with a pissed off Julie Taylor. She'd jumped in his truck slamming his poor door and did not say a word to him the whole drive back to her place. As he pulled out and Julie jumped out of the car before he'd even turned the engine off, Tim had run after her calling her name and asking her to stop and listen. Asking, not begging, definitely not begging. Tim did not beg. Often.

Julie had simply ignored him and stomped down the hall to her bedroom, slamming that door behind her as well. Tim sighed and put his hands on his hips, his head dropping in defeat. And that's when he became aware that Coach was home, sitting on the sofa and witnessed him begging his girlfriend to stop.

"What'd you do?" The coach's voice made Tim turn abruptly before dropping his shoulders and heading over to dump his big frame down on the sofa.

"Rally girl."

"Boy, you better not have.." The coach trailed off, his voice filling with venom with every word he spoke.

"No!" Tim said quickly and watched as the Coach's body visibly relaxed. "Of course not Coach."

"Sorry Son. Papa Bear kicked in."

"It's ok.

"What happened then?"

"A rally girl came up to me while I was waiting for Jules. She latched on just as Julie came out. I pushed her away straight away. But the damage was done. I don't even know the girl's name, how could she get so upset about a girl leaning into me that I don't even know. Doesn't she know I only want her?" Tim ended in a whisper. He hated feeling like this. Like he'd disappointed her.

"She knows. She just.... girls are complicated creatures son, especially Taylor girls. If anything, she's feeling a little possessive... Don't worry, she'll get over it."

"Hope so. I better go anyway. Give her time to cool off. Thanks Coach." Tim stood and headed to the door with a wave.

"No problem Son, and try not to worry."

Tim nodded before ducking out of sight and out the door. He didn't call Julie that night, they'd got in the habit of calling to say goodnight no matter how long it had been since they saw each other. If they weren't spending the night together, than Tim would always call her. But he didn't this time. He didn't think she'd answer her cell even if he tried.

The next day however he'd decided that Julie had had enough time to throw a tantrum and he was going over to the Taylor house to set her right... or grovel.. whichever worked. He walked into the house without knocking, another habit he'd picked up thanks to Mrs Coach. Instead he always called out once inside the door.

"Morning." Tim spoke as he walked into the kitchen where Tami was cleaning up after breakfast, he could see into the living room and the Coach who was sitting in his chair playing with Gracie.

"Morning hun. How are you this morning sweetie?" Tami said in her sweetest voice.

"I'll let you know after I've talked to Jules." Tim couldn't help but smile when he heard the coach laugh at his comment.

"She's still asleep. Lazy bones. Can you wake her please hun?"

"Sure." Tim answered before heading down the hall to his girlfriend's room. It wasn't a foreign place anymore, and not completely off limits to him either. He'd done this several times when he'd come over on the weekend. The Coach and Mrs Coach had even said it was ok for him to be in Julie's room whenever he was over, as long as the door was left open. That had slowly been relaxed down to left ajar. So when he entered Julie's bedroom quietly, Tim pushed the door until it was just slightly open and headed over to the bed where Julie was sleeping soundly. Curled up on her side, facing away from him. Tim walked over to her bed and lay down in the empty space beside her, above the covers of course. He moved up close behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and nuzzling her neck.

"Wake up baby." Tim whispered as he dragged his lips up her neck to her ear. He started nibbling on her earlobe and smiled when he heard her moan. "That's it baby. Come back to me." Her hand came down to lay on top of his where it rested on her stomach. Julie laced her fingers through his and brought his hand up to her mouth, placing a tender kiss on his knuckles.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was tiny and raspy from sleep.

"What for honey?" Tim whispered as his lips moved back down her neck and his hand squeezed hers gently.

"For being such a bitch yesterday." Her voice was tiny.

"You weren't..." Tim began but was quickly cut off by Julie.

"Don't let me off the hook, I was a bitch." Her voice sounded sheepish and Tim could just imagine the blush that was appearing on her cheeks.

"Maybe just a little" He smiled against her skin. "What was that all about baby?"

"It just... you're going away and there's going to be all these slutty college girls hanging off of you and i'll be all the way here and... it just reminded me in a very painful way that you're leaving me soon." Her voice was small, becoming a whisper at the end and Tim could hear the tears that were threating in her voice.

"You know that I only want you. That I love you. There's nothing to worry about baby. Nothing. I would never do anything to hurt you, ever." His arms around her pulled her closer against his chest, holding her tighter as he tried to express with his touch just how much he loved her.

As soon as Tim relaxed his hold even slightly, Julie rolled over to face him. Her hand raising to cup his cheek, her fingers stroking gently.

"I know that. I do. And I love you too. I'm just being the selfish girlfriend who doesn't want to share her man." Julie smiled as she blinked her tears away before leaning in to kiss him softly.

"You don't have to share me. In fact, I insist you don't. Cause i'm sure as hell not going to share you with anyone." Tim smirked as he ran his hand up and down the length of her back, careful to keep his hands above the covers just in case.

"Deal." Julie smirked as she snuggled in against his chest.

"Hun? Are you still lying in bed. Oh Tim honey, you are a pushover." Tami laughed as she entered the room. Tim couldn't help but smile as he looked over his shoulder and saw the affection on Tami's face. He'd always been secretly amazed by how well the Taylor's had taken to him being with their baby girl, but looking at Tami that day he saw how much she loved her daughter and how much she just wanted her to be happy, and damn if it didn't make him feel so damn proud that it was him that was making Julie Taylor happy.

The summer flew by far too quickly. And although it was filled with the happiest moments of Tim's life, he wasn't happy. He was leaving Julie. In less than 18 hours he was headed to Austin.

He and Julie were lying out under the stars in the bed of the truck, amoung a million blankets as the summer breeze cooled their sweaty skin after having made love on the cliff, their spot. Tim ran his hand over the expanse of her back, unwilling to move, or even shift slightly, for fear it would break the spell they were under. This moment; that he could only describe as magic. He didn't know how he was going to live without her. Realistically he knew he wasn't, that they were only a couple hours apart and if it got too much he just had to jump in the truck and it wouldn't be long until he had her in his arms again. But that part of him was drowned out by the voice that screamed at him that not being able to hold, touch, talk to or even see Julie whenever he wanted would be a fate more terrible than anything he could ever imagine.

Tim smiled when he felt Julie's lips brush against his chest, her arms tightening around him that little bit more. He really should get her home, But somehow he didn't think her parents would mind so much this once if Julie didn't get home until morning. Cause he'd be damned if he was going to let her go one second before he absolutely had to. So they continued to lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, watching the sun rise between bouts of making love. It was the perfect night, but it had to end. So when the sun rose high in the sky, signalling the beginning of a brand new day, Tim and Julie gathered themselves and headed back to his house. They barely let go of each other as he loaded the back of his truck with all the boxes by the door, his hand still held hers as he hugged Billy goodbye with the promise of returning in two weeks for a weekend. They headed over to her house, the coach and Mrs T insisting that they follow him to campus. Niether the Coach or Mrs T said a word regarding Julie's absence all night, merely giving him a solid handshake and a hug respectively.

There was little said before they headed out, the two cars in a convoy to Austin. Tim drove the entire trip with Julie's hand in his. He couldn't bring himself to lose contact with her for even a second. If he had to use both hands to drive, he'd place her hand on his thigh before he let go. She was his safety net, his love, his life and he was going to touch her as long as possible in some vain attempt to get his fill before he wouldn't be able to touch her again. The mere thought of it caused his chest to constrict. He tried not to wince noticebly in front of Jules, but whenever he did, she simply squeezed his hand tighter. As much as he hated to think of her in any kind of pain, it was a small comfort to him to know that she was struggling with this as much as he was. He didn't know how he was going to get through this year.

As they pulled up to his dorm building, the coach's car coming to a stop behind them, Tim took a deep breath and pulled Julie along the bench seat and into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he held her tightly.

"I am so proud of you baby." She whispered and Tim couldn't help but shiver at the feel of her lips moving against his neck as she spoke. Tim couldn't say a word for fear his voice would break. He wanted to be strong. He had to be strong. For Jules. Even if this was the hardest, most painful thing he'd ever done.

They pulled apart wordlessly and joined her parents waiting on the curb. It was really happening. It all hit him in that moment. He was leaving was going to be away from Julie. He was going to be living in Austin. He was going to be hours away from Julie. He was going to be in college, playing on a college team. He was going to be away from Julie. Everything came back down to that. He was going to be away from Julie. Tim wasn't sure he could handle that. His mind was working over time trying to convince his body to jump back into the truck with Julie and head back to Dillon. But his massive frame was rooted to the spot. The Coach came over and clapped a hand down on his shoulder.

"Just breathe Tim." He whispered and Tim looked up at him with a look of utter terror etched across his face. Plus, he didn't think he'd ever heard the coach call him by his first name before. "It's going to be alright. You can do this. And we're all... well, we're all really proud of you son."

Something in the Coach's voice made him stand a little straighter, made Tim believe he could do this. That it wasn't going to be so bad. Julie was joining him here next year. It was just one year on his own. He could do this. With a renewed sense of confidence he turned toward the truck along with the Coach and the two started unloading the back of the truck. When the few boxes and bags he had were up in his room Mrs Coach and Julie insisted on helping him unpack and get situated. Half way through Mrs Coach stopped, looking around his share dorm with a frown.

"What's wrong?" Tim asked softly.

"You're missing a lot of necessities Tim. You don't have a TV, or a waste paper bin, or a change of sheets for gods sakes." Tim appraised his room, half full, his room mate already moved in but no where to be found. He hadn't even met the guy yet. But he did notice that they were indeed lacking a few things. At least they had a small fridge.

"This won't do." Tammi stated and grabbed the Coach's hand. "Come on honey... we'll be back in a minute kids." And in a blur they were gone.

"What was that?" Tim asked his smirking girlfriend.

"They're going to come back here with all those things mom just mentioned and probably a lot more." Julie said with a laugh.

"No, I can't let them do that."

"You don't have a choice baby." Julie smiled and Tim couldn't help but smile back at her. He closed the small gap between them and pulled her into his arms.

"I love you so much." Tim whispered against her neck as he dragged his lips up to her mouth before taking her lips in a soul-searing kiss.

"Love you. So much." Julie panted between kisses before they were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Tim and Julie broke their kiss, but Tim made no move to let go of Julie, he simply turned his head in the direction of the sound.

"Hi, sorry to interrupt, I'm Jack, your roommate. You must be Tim." The kid held his hand out to Tim, who shook it reluctantly, not because he had any immediate dislike of the kid or anything, but because it meant taking one hand off of Julie.

"Hi there, I'm Julie, Tim's girlfriend." Julie smiled kindly at the kid as Tim looked him over. He was small. At least a good 6 inches shorter than Tim, and he had acne. Not too bad, but there none the less. He looked like a nerd. Well, at least Tim didn't have to worry about some stupid roommate trying to steal his girl.

"Hey." Tim finally muttered after Julie prodded him.

"He's more of the silent type." Julie smiled as she tightened her arms around him. Jack just nodded with a slight smile and started to back out of the room.

"Well, I'll leave you guys alone. It was nice to meet you. Just as a warning, I'm going to be back here in about two hours."

Julie laughed at that statement. Maybe this kid would be ok.

"And my parents will be back long before that." She smiled at Jack and the kid seemed to relax. Unfortunately Tim would not be nailing his hot girlfriend in his dorm room... today.

As the door closed behind Jack who left with a wave, Tim sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled Julie down into his lap, her legs either side of him, straddling him. He rested his forehead against hers and breathed in her scent deeply.

"Two weeks." He muttered and tightened his hold on her.

"Two weeks and I'll be in your arms again baby." Julie whispered before placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. Before they knew it the door swung open and Mrs Coach came in with two brown paper grocery bags.

"Tim honey, can you please go help Eric. I think it's a little too heavy for him." Tammi smiled as she dropped the bags on the bed.

"Yeah sure." Tim jumped up and headed downstairs. When he reached the Taylor's SUV, the Coach was waiting for him.

"Come on Son. Two strapping men like ourselves can get this inside."

Tim walked around the trunk and saw a rather large box. They'd bought him a TV.

"Coach, I can't accept this."

"Sure you can Son. It's not a flat screen or anything, just a little one to get you by. And besides, like you have any choice. Tammi decided you needed it, and that's that." The Coach smiled and Tim couldn't help but stare in awe at the box. He didn't remember ever feeling this loved, this liked, this taken care of before. As he carried the box into the dorm, it really wasn't that heavy, while the coach carried another smaller box, Tim realised that he was part of a family. He wasn't just 'the boy Julie was fooling around with', he was a part of the Taylor family. His heart swelled with the thought and he struggled to wipe the grin off his face as he entered the room.

He and Coach set the TV up while Julie and Tammi unpacked the bags and the smaller box the Coach he been carrying. They'd bought him food and laundry supplies, a waste paper bin, a laundry hamper, sheet sets. Everything Tim had never thought of. They'd even made conversations with Jack when he arrived back at the room. Tim couldn't help the little chuckle at seeing Jack's face when Tammi and Julie started fussing over him too.

It was going to be ok. Tim suddenly realised that this was exactly how life was supposed to be, and everything was going to be ok. He had a girlfriend he loved more than he ever thought possible, who miracously loved him back just as much. And a family. A family that loved, supported and believed in him. As painful as it was going to be, being away from Julie, he would do this. He would do well in his classes and on the team, he would succeed. Not just to make them proud, and prove that he was worthy, but because the Taylor family had managed to do the impossible. They'd made Tim Riggins believe in himself.

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