"Tim has a parole hearing?" I folded my arms over my chest. "I thought he was getting out on good behavior."

Billy ran his hand down his face. "It's gonna help the hearing. He needs people to speak on his behalf... tell the judge or whatever about his character."

"A character witness."

"Yeah. Coach and Buddy Garrity are gonna help. I am, too."

I frowned. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" I gave Stevie a toy. "Tim is mad at you and you have a streak for fuckin' things up."

"I have to, Cat. He's my brother and I love him." Billy's lower lip trembled and his eyes teared up. "I've gotta do my part."

A long breath slipped past my lips. "Well, I'm gonna be a character witness, too."

"Really? You wanna do that?"

"I love him, too, Billy. There's a lot I'll do for him. Tellin' people who Tim actually is something I do regularly." I grinned at Little Riggins. "What do I need to do to guarantee I speak for him."

Tim kept his head down during the majority of the hearing. He barely looked at any of us when we walked in, taking a seat in the many chairs stationed behind him and Billy.

I chewed on my lip while Billy struggled through his written speech. He finally opted to say how Tim needs to be with his family and his son needed to know his uncle. It was better than anything else he planned to say. Sweet and simple was Billy's forte.

Coach Taylor stood up next, immediately impressing the panel patiently waiting for us to finish talking. He always knew what to say about his football players and it was no different for his graduated players. It brought a few tears to my eyes when he stood firm on his belief that Tim's mistake wasn't a true representation of the man in front of them. Truer words had never been spoken.

The man in charge looked at me. "Miss Barton, I believe you're next."

I stood and quietly thanked him. My eyes shifted toward Tim to see him looking my way, so I smiled before I gazed at the men and women waiting. Tim Riggins was gonna get out of there if it was the last thing I did for him.

"I'm guessin' y'all have a paper in front of you that tells you everything you could possibly know about what Tim Riggins has done in his life. The only thing you can't possibly know is who he is and I can assure you that the Tim sittin' there is very different from the Tim on those papers.

"He takes care of the people around him in ways you don't have the privilege to see. He will sacrifice himself to protect friends and family without battin' an eye." Billy's head lowered. "He's set aside his dreams to be my support system when no one else would.

"Tim Riggins is so much more than this mess up; so much more than most of the people walkin' outside these walls. All I ask, all I'm beggin' is for you to let him prove himself. Give him the chance to be the Tim Riggins we know." I held my hands out to include all of us in that room.

I said another thank you and sat down. I smiled at Mr. Taylor when he reached over to pat my shoulder. I looked to Tim again and saw him look toward the front with a soft smile on his lips. At least I made him smile if the hearing went to hell.

Buddy interrupted the man speaking, leaving all of us frozen. The entire room fell as he started talking about Tim and his short relationship with Lyla while she was dating Jason. I resisted hiding my face in my hands. Thankfully, Buddy turned it all around, promising Tim would have an honest job at his bar. Buddy Garrity surprised us all that day.

Everything in the world brightened a few weeks later when Billy came home with Tim trailing behind him. I handed Stevie over to Mindy before rushing over to Tim. The front door shut as I jumped into his arms, kissing him hard and running my fingers through his newly trimmed hair.

"Welcome home, Tim Riggins." I kissed the spot in front of his ear. "I love you."

He said it back quietly before kissing me like I was his last lifeline. Billy and Mindy no longer existed. It was just us until the front door opened again and Becky walked in.

"You're back."

Tim placed me back on the floor but kept his arm around me. "Yeah." He was subdued again.

Becky tried talking to him more, but Tim only gave her quick responses. It was more than he was giving Billy. I wished he'd cheer up a little more with Becky. She didn't do anything wrong from what I knew.

I rubbed Becky's shoulder when he ended the conversation and went into his room. She looked upset, so I soothed her saying he needed more time to adjust being back home. It seemed to be enough to satisfy her for a little while.

I glanced at Billy on my way over to Tim's room. He looked happy to have his brother home while he talked to Mindy about throwing a little party for him that evening. He was trying to do right by Tim, though I didn't think a party was the best way to do that. He needed to give Tim time.

Tim was sitting on the edge of his bed, petting Skeeter when I walked in. Skeeter was on his back and watching Tim with the most loving eyes while he got his belly rubbed. I smiled gently, widening it when Tim smiled over at me.

I sat behind him and brushed his hair away from his face. "Are you doin' okay, Tim?"

He closed his eyes and savored my touch. He didn't answer me.

"I'm here to help if you want it... if you need it."

Tim wrapped his arms around me and made me lie down with him on his bed. Skeeter jumped off and settled on the floor. He held me close, not letting me move even though I had no interest in leaving.

"I already have a few projects from school this semester." I nuzzled my head against his chest, my fingers playing with the top button of his plaid shirt. "I'm thinkin' of doin' one of my photo projects on Dillon. I want to show off what this town cares about and since football season is back in session, I want to take advantage of it."

"Sounds fun."

"I'd love to take photos on the property when you feel up to it. I haven't had much time to do anything for fun with classes."

Tim ran his hand up and down my back.

I resituated myself, leaning over Tim and caressing his face as I pressed my lips to his. "Are you okay, Tim? Do you need some time alone for a little bit? I don't want to overwhelm you or anything, so I'll step out for however long you need."

Tim's mouth molded against mine in a slow kiss, both of his hands on my face. I sighed when he pulled away, my heart full having him back in my arms again. I missed him so much.

"I need you."

"Okay," I nodded as I kissed him. "Then I'll stay here."

We kissed again before I tangled myself in his limbs. We stayed there until Mindy knocked on the door to ask us to come out for the party Billy put together for Tim.

Tim sighed before getting up and tugging me behind him.

He didn't talk to very many people there. Tim mingled here and there, drinking a beer, and catching my gaze from across the room. His eyes didn't show any of the happiness he forced on his face for people. Tim lingered around the back door after Billy had him blow out some candles on a cheap store-bought cake.

I was on the verge of getting him away from the party when Becky meandered up to him. She said something to him and the first words out of his mouth had her face contorting in hurt. A few more words were spoken before he walked out into the yard and sat in a lawn chair.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I joined Becky, staring at the back of Tim's head.

"Tim's being an ass."

"Everyone is crowdin' him. We've gotta give him some time, Becks."

"He basically told me to be a stripper."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why would he say that?"

She looked guilty. "Um... I've been waitressing at the... the Landing Strip."

"Excuse me? You're in high school, Becky."

"It's good money," she said. "And I like it there."

I put my hands on her shoulders. "You shouldn't be workin' there with the number of sleazy men who inhabit that building." I held my finger up when she started to speak. "I am well aware that both of the Riggins like to pop in there sometimes. That's not my point. You only make money there because you wear almost nothin' and I know Luke won't be happy when he finds that out. You've got to quit working there, Becks. If you don't, men less honorable than Tim Riggins will call you somethin' worse."

She looked down but made no promise to quit.

I sighed, repeated that she had to quit, and walked out to Tim. He barely looked my way when I squatted in front of him.

"You wanna get out of here, Riggins?"

He smiled, looking more like himself. "Please."

I stood up enough to press our mouths together. "I'll meet you at your truck."

Tim nodded, standing and walking to the gate.

Casually, I walked inside the house and snuck Tim's keys in my pocket. I lied when Skeeter followed me outside, saying he needed to go to the bathroom. We didn't come back.

Tim drove us out to his property, parking far from any disturbances to allow us to climb in the truck bed and stare at the stars. We didn't speak. There wasn't a need to. Skeeter understood the need for peace and curled up at our feet for a puppy nap.

I kissed Tim's cheek. "I love you, Tim."

He turned his head so he could leave a few kisses on my lips. "I love you, too."

The two of us spent the night in the back of his truck. It wasn't the most comfortable night of sleep, but it was quiet and what Tim needed. I would have done it all over again for him.