Everything looked different to him again in the town of Dillon it was unusually quiet as he drove to the Taylor home. His baby in the backseat. Julie sat beside Jenny. Julie fiddling with Jenny's clothes pissing her off. They where taking her home today. It made Tim nervous to know she was his responsibility now for real no safety net of nurses to help them.

"Baby, Just leave her be she's fine…. But I'm telling you she hates that damn brain squeezer!"

"But it's pretty."

"Yeah yeah…" he muttered turning into the drive way. Julie smiled when she saw a sign in the front yard proclaiming a future Dillon cheerleader lived there.

"Cheerleader my ass…" Tim grumbled

"Don't be so grumpy Tim today is a happy day!" Julie replied

"She'll be a cheerleader over my dead body! She can be a mathlete or a drama kid… they don't wear short skirts and date quarterbacks!"

"Paranoid much Timmy."

"No I… I just I know the way those boys think and I'll lock her in her room till she's twenty five if I have to… if it keeps her from meeting another me." they got out of truck Julie began to lift the carrier out of the car.

"Baby here I got it but why don't we just take her out leave the carrier in the car?" he nudged Julie out of the way

"Its cold and I got her all packed in here with blankets…"

"I'll take her out and just hurry inside."

"You're just looking for a reason to hold her!"

"So what if I am…" he unbuckled her lifting her out she stretched like a cat groaning sleepily. He drew her to his chest holding her close. Julie grabbed the diaper bag she closed the door as Tim walked away. She huffed stomping behind them. She had officially been replaced with a newer younger prettier model. Tim backtracked his steps he resituated Jenny into one arm and stopped next to Julie holding up his free hand. She took it. "We have more kids I'll run out of hands…" Julie smiled.

"You'll figure it out."

They walked into the house. "Lucy we're home." Tim announced. Tami ran up. "My grandbaby!" she snatched Jenny away from Tim.

"We made it! It's ours and people keep taking it away from me." He puckered out his bottom lip at Julie for effect. She giggled "poor Timmy."

"My Tim!" Gracie shouted running at him. He scooped her up. "My Gracie Belle." he showered her face in kisses. "I've missed you kid."

"Ju Ju" Gracie said just realizing her sister stood there. Gracie reached for her. "We have to be careful with Ju Ju for a while since she just had the baby Kay?" Tim told her. Julie kissed the palm of her outstretched hand not feeling strong enough told her yet. "Baby!" Gracie said happily but looked puzzled as to how the baby gotten out of Julie and into the house. "Yeah wanna go see?" she nodded "Move it or lose it Aunt Gracie coming through." Tim stated striding over to the couch where Tami held Jenny. He squatted down with Gracie balanced in his arms. He felt Julie's hand on his shoulder.

"This is Jenny. Can you say Jenny?" Tim said. "Jen" Gracie replied touching the baby gently.

"You wanna hold her?" he asked. Julie looked on a little fearful.

"I got it under control." he reassured her as he swung Gracie up into the corner of the couch. Tami set the baby in Gracie's lap. Tim sat on her other side. Supporting Jenny's body as discreetly as possible in Gracie's tiny arms Tami supported Jenny's head "Big girl!" Gracie smiled at Tami.

"Yes you are a mighty big girl holding Miss Jenny like that." Eric said walking in from cleaning up the yard.

"I'll get the camera." Julie said dashing off. After taking the baby away from a very perturbed Gracie. Tim stood and watched many of Dillon's finest gossiping mongering women pass his baby around as though she where a football for what had to be going on two hours now. As Jenny made the curve from Mrs. Pritchett to Katie McCoy. Tim took her with a curt "She's hungry." and backed quietly but quickly from the room. Eric seeing Tim head for Julie's room passed him a bottle.

A few minutes later.

Tim sat on Julie's bed the baby balanced in his lap. He fed her. His phone rang. "Hey Jay what's up?"

"Nothing just bored thought I'd check in see how things where going on Jenny Penny's first day home…"

"Uncle Jay's already given you a nickname…lets see I think Gracie wants to keep "Jen." for her very own… that's what she calls her. I had to steal my baby from a pack of baby snatching hyenas oops mean women."

Jason laughed "That Bad?"

"Got tired of people passing my two day old baby around like a hot potato and looking her over trying to find some imperfection."

"Take her by to see my mom she'll never let you live it down if you don't."

"I will now why'd you really call six?"

"Lyla says you're pissed at her."

"Well I am… and I have good goddamn right to be mad or didn't she tell you?"

"I couldn't get it all out of her so that's why I'm callin'"

"Always gotta be mister fix it don't ya Jay? Ready to burp Jelly Bean? Oh yeah I know that look I got you all full now I'm disturbing your peace by making you burp well I'm sorry… don't puke on me please… She called Jenny a bastard and Julie a whore so she's not exactly my favorite person right now if ever again." he settled Jenny on his shoulder and began rhymically patting her back.

"Oh that's low even for Lyla."

"Yeah well until she makes things right with Jules she has no footing with me so…"

"I just think she didn't expect Julie to be the one you grew up for …"

"That makes it ok Jay…I moved on with someone besides her so my child and fiancée are fair game?" He kissed the top of Jenny's peach fuzz blonde head. She yawned "No ma'am burp first."

"God this whole thing is a mess." Tim could visualize Jason running a hand down his face.

"Yeah well I'm still happy in spite of it all…"

"I know I can tell dude…"

Julie stood and watched them for a moment through the crack in the door. Tim lay on her bed with the baby on his chest. Having given up the burping battle he patted her butt as she slept Julie thought she might be snoring. Jenny's right hand held tightly to Tim's blue flannel shirt as Tim talked quietly to who she assumed was Jason. She was itching for her camera.

Julie nudged the door open slipping through.

"What are you two doin' holed up in here?"

"We've been found out Bean!" he whispered. "I'm keeping our baby safe from the hyenas."

"Huh?"

"Got tired of people playing keep away with Jenny…even your mother won't share…" Julie crawled over the two of them to lie down on the bed.

"I'm tired those people are really freaking nosey go play proud papa for it bit relieve me."

Tim smirked. "And here I thought you were the best hostess at Applebee's."

"Fuck you Riggins." He kissed her. "Sorry baby…if we keep hiding they'll go away! Say hi to Jay."

"Hi Jason."

"Hi Taylor."

"No Mom will hunt us down sooner or later trust me probably sooner…"

"Dude going back to school is going to suck for you Tim."

"I'm going to drive back and forth every day till Jules graduates then they are moving in with me."

"That's a four hour commute dude!"

"You'd do it for Noah…how is my little dude by the way?"

"Good gets into everything wears me out trying to keep up with him."

Tyra stuck her head in the door.

"Enough of hogging my niece Tim besides Billy and Mindy are here and wanna see her!"

"Didn't they just see her yesterday? Shouldn't they be paying attention to Brody?" Tim muttered referring to his nephew who was a few months older than Jenny.

"Yes they did don't worry the new will wear off her then we won't have to share her so much…and they pay attention to Brodster Mindy never shuts up about him." Julie said. "It's your turn to play doting daddy!"

"Ok talk to Street…' He kissed her temple getting up and walking down the hall he chastised Tyra in hushed tones "Do Not! Wake her up!"

"Hey Jason how are you?"

"Fine, I hear you are having some drama with Lyla?"

"Tim tell you that?"

"Yes and no…"

"Jase, explain something for me they both betrayed you in very real way but you still want us all to get along why?"

"I love them…they are my family…so yeah I want you to be able to deal with Lyla so there isn't a divide…"

"So It's my fault now…"

"No! Julie its not there is no excuse for the things she's said and done to you and I understand if you never forgave her but she means something to Tim and I think they need each other in the others life in some way no matter how small…"

"That little Tim, Lyla, Jason circle will be the death of me I swear…I'll always be on the outside looking in you know that Jason If it wasn't for Jenny we wouldn't even be…I don't think he even knows how long I've loved him and I keep thinking does he wish I were Lyla?"

"Jules, hon you aren't on the outside looking in on our circle your in a circle all your own with him can't you see that! That's why Lyla's so pissed off you've got all of him he doesn't hide from you and well Lyla never got that with him so she's envious and envy turns people into who they'd never be otherwise…I think she really is sorry though and just so you know Tim is exactly where he wants to be. I know him better than just about anybody except maybe you now… and I know you can't make Tim do anything he doesn't want to do. If he didn't wanna be with you he wouldn't Jenny or no Jenny. You make him happy though Jules you accept him for exactly who he is he needs that. I can hear him smiling over the phone now you know! You do that no else well maybe Jenny makes him smile to but it's mostly you." Julie sniffled. "Crap don't do that don't cry if he comes back in and sees I made you cry he'll come all the way to New York to kick my crippled ass back to Texas to make me apologize!"

"No he'll just wait till the christening…" Julie heard Tyra yelling for her

"Tyra's hollerin' at me Jase gotta go thanks for the talk you helped see you in a few weeks love ya!" she hung up and ran into the living room to see Tim playing "Super Jenny"

"Stop that! She's two days old too little for you to fly her around the room like that Tim!"

"She likes it!"

"She's terrified!"


The christening three and half weeks later…

Julie stood just inside the church with Jason Street wondering where Tim had taken her daughter off too.

"See He took her over to see Smash's Mama." Jason answered her unvoiced question. "And Tyra is officially late…" she murmured. "She'll be here she takes her god-mothering very seriously." Jason told her.

"Don't look now but Garrity's nosey ass is staring you down." Tyra whispered from behind Julie jumped the girl had appeared out of no where.

"Remember you don't need her circle you have your own…" Jason reminded her.

"So I just…" she drew an imaginary circle around her feet. "Think to myself… in my circle bitch take that!" Julie hand flew to her mouth. Jason laughed loudly. "Yep you just cussed in church!"

"That means… you've been hanging out with me to long Jules." Tyra teased as everyone cracked up.

Tim walked over slowly with Jenny. He took a long look at Julie she wore a butter yellow scoop necked dress t-shirt dress with a frilly little skirt. It fit like a second skin falling perfectly along her curves. She looked damn good if Tim did say so himself. You could barely tell she had even given birth a month ago. Except for the slight widening of her hips which didn't bother Tim any. He forced his eyes to travel up to her face. Her hair was a wavy mass today held back by a white head band. Her long eyelashes where curled today giving her light brown eyes a bright and happy look. Her lips where lightly glossed today he knew because he'd kissed her quickly earlier in between her fixing his tie for her him and hurrying off to change Jenny's diaper. She was currently leaning down to whisper something in Street's ear. She smiled as he laughed. "What's so Funny Street?" he asked.

"Inside joke…"

"So you have inside jokes with my girl now do ya?"

"Yes indeed."

Julie took a sleeping Jenny from him. He slung an arm around Julie's waist.

"Let's hope she stays this way." Julie murmured

"Not likely as soon as that preacher sprinkles water on her she's going to scream." he responded

"Your child isn't possessed just because she's yours Tim." Tyra teased

"Ha ha no she hates water her first bath left us traumatized." Tim noted Tyra looked slightly conservative in her denim dress and brown belt. Tyra's changing he thought.

After promising that He and Julie would raise Jenny in a Christian home with Street and Tyra as mentors the preacher was currently baptizing the baby "Jensen Faith Riggins I baptize you in the name of the father…" first cup of water drizzled over her head and she whimpered Tim held his breath. "Son…" second cup. They got a cry. "And holy spirit…" the third cup she screamed her dislike at them. She had Julie's temper and his need to constantly voice opinions. Julie passed her to him. "Oh hey it wasn't so bad now…shhh…daddy's got ya."

At the reception Julie sat with Jason Billy and Mindy at a table her feet in Tim's vacated chair. She watched as Lyla caught Tim on his way to the buffet. Someone had handed Lyla Garrity her baby. Julie knew her mother was the culprit. She gritted her teeth eyes narrowing.

"Whoa!" Billy exclaimed. He set his beer in front of her. "You look like you could use it."

"Touch him you fake Christian whore I dare ya…"

"Oh I like Timmy's new girl much better…" Erin said. Julie was thankful that Tim had the grace to at least look uncomfortable. Lyla touched his arm making a comment about Jenny. The girl had balls Julie would give her that. Tyra walked over basically unceremonisly ripping Jenny away from her and flouncing off. Julie took a quick swing of the beer. "Don't tell anyone I just did that…" she walked toward where Tim stood with Lyla. "Either way little brother sure can pick 'em." Billy said as he watched Julie sashay off.

"She's eighteen Billy!" Mindy chastised. Billy shrugged. "Still damn pretty as are you darlin'" he quickly amended.

Tim was never so glad to see Julie as he was at that moment. "Hey baby!" he put a hand to her hip pulling her into him. "Hey." she pulled him down to her a little whispering in his ear. Lyla could tell by the change in Tim expression it was something dirty she was saying. Then as she fixed his tie. "I'm going for a short walk watch the Bean?" Tim swallowed audibly. "Yeah sure hurry back your food will get cold…"

"I will just getting the diaper a bag from the truck…don't lose Jenny while I'm gone I think Ty has her still…"

"If I can't find her I'll just say whoever has my kid hold her up." Julie kissed his cheek with a laugh. "Ok…nice seeing you Lyla." with that she walked off.

Julie walked outside shortly followed by Tami.

"Julie Honey, you ok?"

"Fine why'd you let Lyla Garrity hold Jenny?"

"I didn't that's why I came out to check on you I turned around and Katie McCoy had handed her off." Tami slung an arm around Julie's shoulders.

"With all this chaos I haven't had time to check in with you how you doing being a mommy?"

"I am extremely tired because as you know she's a night owl…Tim likes staying up with her which I find weird…I found them watching infomercials at like four this morning…but mom I'm really happy I didn't know you could love another person this much leaving her at daycare kills me…Tim won't take her that's on me I think he's afraid he'll cry if she cries when he leaves…"

"Aw ya gotta love Tim sometimes all though I think god gave her his little look just to mean to you!"

"I know did you see the look she shot at the preacher totally Tim's child.

A while later when they walked back in Julie took off to find Tim and Jenny. She found them at their table. Tim holding Jenny deep in conversation with her dad and Jason. Jenny chewed happily on the little bible her parents given Jenny for the christening. Tim gently took the bible away setting it aside he never took his eyes off Jason or her Dad. This Dad thing was becoming second nature for him. The disgruntled look on Jenny's face made Julie laugh drawing Tim's attention. "Baby I made you a plate…"

"Thank you…"

"No problem."

"You also just pissed Jensen off you took her chewy away." Tim smiled. "Sorry Bean but I don't think you are supposed to chew on the word of god."

"Come sit by me Jules…" Eric said.

"Ok daddy."


A few days later

Julie sat on the floor doing her homework Jenny lay next to her on back on a blanket watching the images projected on to the ceiling by one of her toys raptly. Tim stomped in.

"Come on ladies we are going somewhere!"

"I have homework Tim!"

"It can wait a little bit miss 4.0 gpa. We're going to have family time if I have to drag you out by your hair."

"You wouldn't!"

"Try me Taylor…finish that paragraph then will go." he sprawled out next to Jenny his face right next to hers. "Ohhh pretty stuff huh?" she grabbed a lock of his hair. It was becoming a habit she soothed herself by playing with his hair.

30 minutes later

Tim carried Jenny down the hall shrinking away when Julie tried to touch her. "My Jenny you can't have her!" he said blowing raspberries for good measure.

"I gave birth to her and you forgot your cell phone!"

"You're always going to win that one aren't you."

"Yes! You want to hold her while I put on her sweater or vice versa."

"I'll hold you put on…"

"Tim where did you find this onsie any way?" Tim had dressed her today in a white and red onsie that stated "Dad is rad." denim Jeans and little keds all there was to let people know she was a girl was her white lace head band with a big red daisy on it.

"I had it made at this little shop in San Antonio."

A few minutes later…

"Tim she cannot have ice cream…" Julie stated as they pulled up to Braum's.

"That's not for her goofy. It's for you. German chocolate?"

"Yes please…" he got out of the truck bounding away.

"Can you say daddy is a nut Jenny? Daddy is a nut!" Julie smiled looking in the review mirror at Jenny.

A little bit later.

"Timothy leave her in the car it's to cold to get her out!" Julie said around a bite of chocolate ice cream.

"We are just going to look for the first start and I have blankets here hold my ice cream for a second!"

Julie got of the truck taking his Ice cream as Tim got them situated on the hood with the blankets. She handed him his ice cream hoisting herself up on the hood and got under the blankets with them.

"You're going to have to feed me I only have one hand." Tim told her. "You planned it this way." Tim smirked. Tim waited till Julie was looking skyward and snuck Jenny a little of the whipped cream from his banana split on his finger. "I saw that." Julie said without looking down. "My hands are clean and you just sounded like a mom!"

"Something I said to you when I proposed I want to take it back." Julie's heart stopped "When I said we wouldn't be here without Jenny I think

I was wrong…we'd be here without her. Because we're meant to be Jules so it would have happened anyway…"

"Have you been talking to Street?"

"No why?" He licked melted ice cream off his thumb as he set aside the bowl.

"Just we had a similar conversation that's all."

"All you need to know is I have no regrets where we're concerned…"

"Really not a one…"

"Nada."

"Ok then I'll quit worrying that you wish I was Lyla…"

"Honey I've never wished you were Lyla." he laughed. "Baby you're serious?"

"Lyla could never be you. You know that right? She's not even in your league. You accept me you don't try and turn me into Jason or matt you get me know me inside out your it ok I'm done cashing in all my single chips and callin' it a game."

"I can deal with her for you but I will never trust her or believe she's not waiting around for us to fail don't get me wrong I trust you… just not her. If she doesn't apologize she doesn't get forgiven and it's so not ok for her to just grab my baby like she's hers or something!"

"I agree I was itching to say give me my baby myself but was trying to be polite but Tyra saved us both the trouble ya gotta love her."

"What did she say to her?"

"Give me my niece baby daddy stealer…" Julie laughed.

"No fucking way."

"Uh huh!"

Julie laid her head on his shoulder. "There are like 50 million stars out now…no way you know which one was first." he kissed her softly. "I do to it was that one." He pointed randomly "Now about what you whispered in my ear last week…" he kissed her again. "The six week waiting period is up…and Tyra said she'd watch the Bean so guess who gets to deliver on her very dirty promise…"

"I knew it! I knew you where just trying to get laid…"

"Once a man whore always a man whore woman! Let's drop the Bean off with Tyra while she's still asleep and we can spare her some christovictorius practice!" Julie cracked up "Ok you've charmed me into getting your way!"