I went with Tim to Riggins' Rigs the same morning Becky brought over our things and Skeeter. The little dog ran right over to me doing homework on the couch and nuzzled into me.

"Hey, buddy. I missed you." I kissed his head and scratched his ears. "I hope you were good and didn't annoy Cheryl too much."

Skeeter licked my face, making me laugh and set my books aside.

Tim came over to sit next to me once Becky left. His clothes were covered in grease stains and he had grease marks all over his hands and arms. I kissed his mouth and stared at him.

"Yeah?" He gazed at me.

"Your mechanic getup here is sexy. I didn't think you'd get any better lookin', babe."

"Does Catherine Barton have a thing for mechanics?"

I kissed him and brushed his hair back. "Just for the mechanic next to me."

Tim looked at Skeeter. "I didn't know Skeet could fix cars."

Laughing, I leaned into Tim. I stared up at him and pulled him into a hard kiss. I was only a little disappointed when he pulled away.

"As much as I want to close down the shop to fulfill whatever mechanic fantasy you have, I've gotta finish up this car." He patted my leg and went back to work.

I lounged back on the couch with a big sigh. "Too bad, I guess. I'll just have to imagine what it'd be like... right here, right now, on this couch... or in the car. That'd be fun."

"Barton, I'm tryin' to work."

"Yeah, and I'm tryin' to get you to come back over here."

Tim watched me from under the hood for a moment before his phone rang. We were so close. He picked it up, smirking at me.

"What? You're not kiddin'? It's happenin'?"

I perked up.

"No, yeah. We're on our way. We'll see ya there." He hung up and started cleaning up some of his tools. "Mindy's havin' her baby."

I had my things packed up before Tim had his hands washed. I was so excited for Billy. Billy as a dad seemed hilarious to me, but I was so damn proud of him.

I ran to Tim's truck, instructing Skeeter to stay in the shop. "Come on, Tim!"

He shut the garage door and jumped into the truck. He kissed me shortly. "I guess you're fantasy has to wait, huh?"

I squeezed his hand and kissed his cheek. "Just drive, Riggins."


The waiting room had a few people scattered around, me and Tim included. We weren't allowed in with Mindy since we weren't her direct family. I gladly took the opportunity to work on my studies. When the intake of information was too much, I shut the book and rested my head on Tim's shoulder. I felt him kiss my head.

Sleep was knocking at my door when Billy stormed out in a nurse's gown. He looked like he was about to cry because he was kicked out of the room. A few tears did leak out when he sat next to Tim.

I reassured him that he'd get to go back once he calmed down. Mindy didn't need to have her support wavering because he was nervous or scared. He needed to buck up and be the foundation to keep her strong as she birthed their child. My words did seem to impact him, but he still spent another hour complaining.

Tim finally had enough of his brother and said a few magic words to pump Billy back up. It was something only brothers could understand.

Billy marched back into the room and took his control back.

I sighed. "It's so quiet now."

"You're welcome." He kissed my head and tapped my book. "Now get back to studying. Break's over."

"Yes, sir."

Another hour or so went by before my brain had enough. I put the book away and let my head fall back against the wall. "Has she had the baby yet?"

Tim chuckled. "Nope."

I put his arm around my shoulders and snuggled as best as I could against him. "Wake me up when Billy comes runnin' out like a mad man."

As soon as I said it, Billy ran through the waiting room shouting about his new baby boy and how he made that little baby. He hugged me and Tim before we could stand up and congratulate him on the birth. Still shouting like a crazy person, Billy ran back to the room where his not so pregnant wife was catching her breath.

Another half an hour passed before we could go in to see Baby Riggins. I was so nervous seeing a baby so soon after birth, but oh so excited to watch Billy be a dad.

A tiny baby wrapped up in a blanket was in Mindy's arms as we entered the room. Billy's eyes were full of a love I'd never seen on a man before as he stared at his wife and son. My eyes watered as he waved us over without looking up from his baby.

Tim let me coo over the little Riggins first. I said short phrases to the baby like I was talking to Skeeter. While I told Mindy she did amazing, I fixed her hair a little bit. She wasn't a close friend, but I leaned over and kissed the top of her head before stepping back and hugging Billy. Tim greeted his nephew in a low voice while I watched with Billy.

"His name is Steven Riggins," Billy said, touching his son's head gently.

My heart soared.


That evening, Tim and I went back to the garage so he could finish the car he was working on. I gathered my things together so we could ditch out as soon as he finished. He decided to be a goofball rather than work, playing invisible instruments to the music going. I laughed so hard I started to cry.

Tim walked over to me, wiping away the tears and kissing me roughly. I didn't mind it. I was having a hard time focusing on anything else other than Tim and his messy mechanic's clothes somewhere not on his body.

Everything came crashing down when the sound of someone walking into the garage forced us apart. A cop stood next to the car looking far from happy to be there. Skeeter knew something was wrong when we silenced, so he growled. I shushed him.

"Are you Tim Riggins?"

My heart raced and my breath came short.

"Yes, sir."

"Is your brother around?"

"No, sir."

The officer studied the garage. "I'm gonna need ya to tell me where he is because both of you are coming with me to the station."

Tim lowered his head. "He just had a baby, sir. He's at the hospital still."

"Thank you, Mr. Riggins. Now I need you to get in the car." I grabbed Tim's hand before he started walking, but the cop stopped me. "Ma'am, you have to stay right here."

"Go back home, Barton," Tim told me. "I'll get there when I can."

I nodded as a few tears rolled down my cheeks. I didn't even get to kiss him before he followed the police officer to the car. I swallowed my fear as the police car pulled away. I quickly closed the shop as best as I could and took Skeeter home with me.


It was nearing 3 a.m. when Tim finally came home. I hadn't slept at all, sitting on the couch while I waited. He was so quiet when I shuffled over to him and hugged him tightly. When he didn't say much about it, I knew he was deep in his thoughts. Instead of having him answer my questions, I led him to my room.

I brought him into my bathroom where I helped clean him up from work. The elation we felt about Baby Riggins was long gone, leaving us with the stark reminder of the consequences for letting a chop shop exist in Riggins' Rigs. Once his skin was as grease-free as we could manage without a shower, I attempted tucking him into bed. He wouldn't have any of it.

Tim pulled me down on top of him when he finally laid back. His lips touched mine, desperate for something I was unaware of. I didn't know what to do to help him, so I let him kiss me how he wanted. I let him find what he wanted from me.

Abruptly, he quit kissing me and pressed my body against his. I put my nose and mouth against his chest, wrapping my arms around him as best as I could. My eyes closed his hand tangled in my hair.

"We'll be okay," I whispered in his chest, leaving a soft kiss there.


Things with the police settled down for Thanksgiving. Billy and Tim still had lawyers to talk to, which were going as well as they could go with both of the Riggins having some kind of a record. I just prayed the whole situation would be solved with neither of them going to prison. I was relieved none of us had to think about it until after a Thanksgiving meal with the Taylor family. Both of them needed the chance to think and find some kind of peace in the matter.

It felt normal at the Taylors'; relaxing, fun. I helped Mrs. Taylor with setting the table and getting the food set out. The way Tim stared at me as I bustled around made my heart hurt. I couldn't understand why. His eyes were so sad and full of longing. I didn't know what to do except kiss his forehead as I went by. It seemed to help a little.

Both Riggins were quieter than usual during the meal. Tim put his hand on my knee several times, never looking at me when he did. He took my hand when Billy stood up to make a gut-wrenching speech about everyone there.

I did what I could to keep happy the rest of our visit there, laughing with Julie as we did the dishes or playing with Gracie Bell in the living room. My happy feeling slipped away when I saw Tim go out on the back patio with Billy. Both of them looked at each other like they'd never see the other again. My palms started sweating as they hugged each other.

The three of us excused ourselves with thankful hearts once everything was cleaned up. Nothing felt better than being loved by each and every one of those people there. I just wished the Riggins brothers felt that as we climbed into Tim's truck. They both looked so lost.

My hands shook when Tim pulled into the police department lot on the way home. I felt sick when he turned off the truck and stared straight ahead. I took a deep breath that wavered when I felt tears pool at my lower lid.

"I-I'll be outside," Billy said as he opened the truck door. I was deafened by the silence after the door shut.

"You're goin' to admit to it all, aren't you?" I knew something was going on at the Taylors', I just didn't want to think about it. I wanted to enjoy the day, feel thankful for what I had.

"I have to... for Billy, Mindy... Stevie."

I nodded, sucking in a sound of distress and looking away from him. "Okay."

Tim took one of my hands. "I know this is gonna hurt us, but no matter how long I'm in there, Barton, I'll be thinkin' about ya. And if you don't hate me when I get out, I still wanna get married to you."

"I won't hate you, Tim. I don't hate you for doin' this. It's all for Billy, right? You're just being the best damn brother in this whole town, this whole state."

"Take care of Becky... and Skeeter... the property... you and your grades..."

"I'll be okay, Tim." I sniffled. "It breaks my heart that this is what you've decided to do, but I understand. Billy can't go in there with a new baby at home. It would destroy him and Mindy. We're strong. We'll make it through."

Tim took a long, shaky breath. "I love you."

I finally had the guts to look up at Tim. His eyes were red and threatening to spill over. It was clear he didn't want to do it, but it was the only thing he had. I didn't even have an idea to get both of them out of trouble.

My lips found his in a desperate attempt to say our goodbyes as temporary as we hoped it would be. Each time our lips touched, the more salt I tasted from my tears and most likely his. It made me cry harder, tucking my head under his chin. I savored his arms around my body.

"I love you, Tim Riggins. Don't forget it, okay?"

He kissed my head and then lifted my chin up to kiss me one more time. We had to get out of the truck if Tim was ever going to help his brother.

I wept the whole time he and Billy said their own goodbyes. Their hug made me choke on a sob and wrap my arms around myself. Tim came over to me to hug again before wrapping me up in his coat. His lips stayed on my forehead for a few seconds longer and then he walked away. He paused, looked at his hand, and tossed his car keys to Billy. I fell to my knees when the station door shut behind him.