Homecoming

Season 1 = Episode #7

Disclaimer: This episode was written by Peter Berg. Italics are his and flashbacks are mine.

ICanStopAnytime: I thought of giving more to that Tami/Tyra scene. There was so much there, but like in the show, you just feel Tami's frustration with the girl. Plus, their relationship is very underdeveloped at this point so I plan on having more of an expansion when she becomes closer with Tami and the Taylors.

To all the "Guest" reviewers: Thanks for the kind words. I loved that scene in Season 5 when Eric overhears his players talking at the hotel. That Eric/Tami sex scene was so obvious to me at the end of that episode, but there was absolutely no reference to it. I almost wished Eric said something to Buddy like "I'm in the middle of something." I guess that's not very Eric Taylor like though.

Naguabo: I love the Matt/Eric relationship throughout the entire series. I feel like it's a rollercoaster with them, but I think that is why I like it. I plan on exploring more of it in the next couple of chapters as he starts to date Julie.

Stalyn70: Thanks for taking the time to review.

A/N: Another episode where we didn't get a lot of Eric and Tami interaction. Sorry this took so long, but again, it is hard to piece together when you don't have much to work with it. I looked forward to the next few chapters when you get a ton of Eric/Tami parenting.

Eric came out of the bathroom and watched Tami as she was putting on her makeup. "You know, you don't need any of that."

She froze the mascara wand, stopping the motion of her final application. She watched him through the mirror as he continued walking further into their bedroom. He grabbed his bright blue Panthers pullover and started threading his arms through the sleeves. "That's sweet." She continued to watch him, gauging if she should make this next joke. He didn't particularly like going to any sort of event where he was forced to be social, but tonight's event was different. "Maybe I don't want to look good for just you." She figured she would tease him.

Just as he was about to pull the actual jacket over his head he paused. He looked at her through the mirror to make sure his eyes met hers. "Don't do that. There's no need to stir up trouble." He said it smiling.

"I'm not causing any trouble." She placed the mascara wand back and closed it tightly. "I just know how tonight is going to go and I want to make sure you know that I am still there." Her husband was usually whisked away at any event, someone always wanting to get in his ear about something. Tonight was going to be worse because it was homecoming.

Homecoming was the one event Eric look forward to attending. He loved catching up with his old players, finding out where life has taken them over the past few years. "Everyone notices your presence. It's impossible to miss." It was true. He saw heads turn when Tami walked by and he was partially proud of that and partially angered. "The difference is that I feel your presence." He pulled his jacket over his head.

Tami walked over to where he was standing at the foot of their bed. "You're excited. I can tell."

"I am excited. I like seeing how my boys are doing. I like to believe I've had a part in their successes. "

"What about me?" She dared to flirt. "Have I been part of your successes? " She put her hands on his shoulders, pulling him toward her.

"Tami, you know you are my success."

"Just making sure." She smiled and started to lean in to him for a kiss.

Eric loved when Tami was like this. He loved when she made the first move. Throughout their relationship, he predominately took the lead. From their first kiss to their first sexual encounter, he always led. But every now and again, Tami would start the process. Eric loved those moments, not because they were rare, but because sometimes he liked to play defense.

"Nah-ah." He blocked. "Don't do this now." He leaned back away from her.

"What?"

"I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to make us late."

She relented. "I know. On-time is late for you."

She moved away from him and went back toward the closet to grab her purse. He waited by the door, waiting for her to exit first. As she walked by him, he grabbed her hand. "If you want to play this game later, I'd be more than willing to oblige."

She gave him a look he knew too well. It was her teasing, 'I'm going to have my way with you' look. "I don't know. I might have to bench you for neglecting my needs now."

Her needs? Eric never heard her speak about sex as something she desperately needed. Not when she was stone cold sober, anyway. He felt glued to that spot in his bedroom, considering taking her back to bed. She woke him out of his daze, tugging on his hand. "Let's go, Coach."

She kept herself occupied as Eric worked the room. She and Julie stayed in the background as Eric shook hands, smiled true genuine smiles and even throwing a few manly hugs to some of his past players. Every now and again, she noticed him searching the area, searching for her. When they locked eyes, he would apologetically smile, feeling her words from earlier ring true. He knew she was there, constantly searching for her. When he saw Julie go off with her friends, he excused himself and made his way over to her.

"Just so you know, I've had my eyes on you for the past hour."

She lifted her blue Solo cup to her lips, smiling shyly into it. "I know. I've been watching you watch me."

He wanted to tell her he was thinking about what she said about him neglecting her needs. He always put her needs first. It was something he learned over years of marriage. As he watched Lucas approach, he knew now was not the time.

Lucas embraced Eric first and then leaned in to kiss Tami hello. Eric noticed Lucas' extra-long unnecessary stare at his wife before making conversation with Eric about his current season. Smash came over to say hi to Coach and Lucas introduced himself. Lucas quickly explained his relationship to Eric.

"This guy used to drive 22 miles from Macedonia every day my sophomore year just to work me out."

"I needed the money." Eric joked, but Tami knew at the time it really wasn't something they laughed about. Financially, their marriage had struggled through those first couple of years when Eric decided to coach full-time.

"So how are you? How's your family?" Tami asked, inquiring about things deeper than football.

Lucas made small talk as Tami put one of her arms around Eric's shoulders. She was so proud of him, listening to Lucas' accomplishments. She did believe Eric had something to do with it. Eric wasn't particularly close with Lucas and felt a little uncomfortable taking any credit.

Eric changed the subject, introducing Smash to Lucas. "This guy right here is the best running back in the state of Texas - when he's listening, which is very rare."

"Oh, come on Coach."

"When he's listening, he is a hell of a running back." Eric never liked to soften their players with high praise off the field. Truth be told, he thought very highly of Smash and his abilities. He knew that kid had the determination to go all the way.

After Lucas and Smash walked away to meet Grady Hunt, Eric turned to Tami. "I'm ready to go when you are."

"Are you? You were in such a rush to get here and now you are just ready to leave."

He leaned closer, not wanting anyone to hear him, placing his lips closer to hear here. "You want me to admit it? Okay. I'll admit it. I need you all the time."

She laughed as he straightened his posture.

"There's no shame in admitting it…." He continued, "…which is why I wonder why you never do."

"Are you serious right now?"

"Yes. I'm serious. You never act like you need that from me. Ever."

She thought about what to say and how to reassure him. For a man of confidence, she couldn't believe he needed this. Instead, she decided to play the role of a tease. "I like to keep you on your toes, Coach."

When they finally left, they settled into a comfortable silence in the car. Eventually Eric broke the quietness, asking what she was thinking about.

"Talking to Lucas brought back a lot of memories for me."

"Yeah. Me too." He said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"We changed so much since then. You and I together."

"For the better, Tami. Life was so damn difficult back then."

They owned a small two-bedroom house in Macedonia. They rented an apartment in College Station after they graduated and stayed there for about 2 years, before moving to Midland. Eric knew Midland was not going to be their last stop. Midland was great and where he started his coaching career, but with no major cities close by, he knew Tami would get bored. He got an offer in Macedonia and decided to take it. It was close to Houston and only about two hours from the Gulf. Julie was just about to start the first grade so the timing seemed right.

They decided to purchase a house instead of renting. Eric realized it was the only way they would be able to upgrade as he career continued to flourish. With Tami not working, money was tight. Eric taught Physical Education during the day, assistant coached during his evenings and strategized during his nights. He had so much on his plate and Tami felt helpless.

She ended up getting a job as a counselor at a local clinic, but decided with that money she was going to put herself through a graduate degree. It felt like they barely saw one another. Their conversations mainly focused on Julie and their schedules. Tami felt so disconnected from Eric. So, when Eric decided to tell her about his new venture, she nearly lost it.

"We need the money, Tami. We are barely keeping our head above water right now." He thought about the mortgage bills, the taxes, the utilities, the college savings fund they started for Julie and the very small savings account they managed for themselves. "We don't even have the luxury to get a babysitter and go to dinner once a week."

Tami was pissed and she wasn't the type of person to hold that in. "We don't go out because we are never in the same place at the same time. We never spend any time together and now you want to place Dillon, Texas between us?"

"I'm not placing that between us. If I privately coach this kid twice a week, that could give us a little bit a financial breathing room each month. We can actually go out together without feeling guilty about it."

"So let me get this straight. You are going to commute almost an hour, twice a week so we can spend more time together?"

"I miss you, alright." He raised his voice to get his point across. "I don't want to go on like this. I want to be able to take you out on a date…." His voice softened, "….maybe get you drunk, maybe help you relax…" He trailed.

"Maybe so you can get lucky?" She asked, amused, knowing where his mind was drifting.

"You know, there was a time when you thought of it that way too."

"I'm lucky every day, Eric."

"We got through it." Tami said.

"It wasn't easy though. You were right. That commute was terrible."

"Yeah, but the sex was good. " She turned her head to see his reaction to her words. He kept his eyes on the road, but she noticed the curve of the corners of his mouth.

"It's always good." He thought about that small house. "We christened every square foot of that house. Remember?"

"Yeah." Her voice dripped with a little bit of sadness. "We haven't done such a good job in our house now." She and Eric had plenty of sex, but it was usually in the confines of their bedroom. "Why is that?"

"We had a kindergartener in that house. She was blissfully unaware of our actions." He thought about Julie now and how they could never get away with the things they used to do.

"Maybe as Julie grows, and not home as much, we can make up for lost time."

"Is that a challenge?" He pushed.

"Why is everything a competition with you?" She asked.

"It's who you married."

At practice the following day, a lot of alumni flooded the stands. Eric felt the pressure as he ran the practice and silently thanked Smash when he called Lucas out to throw some passes. He needed a drink and was grateful when Lucas asked if wanted to grab some dinner. He called home to let Tami know he wouldn't be home for a bit.

"Are you okay?" She asked, sensing the tension in her voice.

"It was a long practice. I need to unwind."

"And dinner with Lucas is going to do that?"

"Not as much as dessert with you." He teased.

"Oh, I see where you're going with that so I am going to hang up. And just so you know, I'm not waiting up."

He laughed as he hung up the phone. It was the last laugh he had that evening.

Lucas dropped a bomb on him. Not only did he lie about his life in Dallas, but he was reaching out to Eric for help. Eric had enough people always asking things of him and now this kid too? And he was a kid. Or at least acting like one. He is a father who never saw his own kid. This is not the type of player he wanted to have under his belt. He was to influence kids to grow into strong men. He was annoyed, disappointed and almost ashamed of Lucas.

He barely slept that night, and instead of tossing and turning, he got up and started to watch some game tape. He didn't hear Tami as she approached the living room.

"Hey babe."

"Hey. I wake you up?"

"No. You sleep at all?" She noticed he was watching game tape, taking a seat on the arm of his chair.

Yeah, got a little bit." He turned his head away from the television when he felt her soothing hand on his back. She leaned in for a kiss, which his gladly returned.

"How was the dinner with Lucas?"

Eric proceeded to tell her the whole story. Tami could always tell his level of frustration by his nonverbal behavior. He rubbed his eyes lightly, so she knew he wasn't at the level of full-blown anger. When he ran his hands through his hair or cackled that shroud laugh,that was when she knew he had it. She also knew those were the times when she had the ability to comfort him. She knew how to calm him, but she also knew there was a level above that. She knew there was a level that even she couldn't console. When he deeply stared at something or someone, slammed an inanimate object or spoke so slowly to get his point across, she knew he had to fix it on his own. She knew he had the comfort of her being by his side, but she knew how to take that step back and let him fester for a bit. It was a dance they perfected over the years.

"I'm not the kid's father. I don't know why he's coming to me."

Tami told Eric that he didn't need to feel responsible. It wasn't his job.

When Eric asked the Athletic Director to take on another assistant coach and was shut down, he was not surprised. It was an odd request to make in the middle of the season. He told that to Lucas, which Eric thought was not easy. He felt bad for the guy and didn't want to see him fail at life, but Tami was right. This was not his responsibility.

Later that afternoon, as Eric headed back into his office, he noticed Smash studying the playbook. It was odd seeing Smash there. That kid never seemed to worry about anything. But there he was with an almost frightened look on his face.

"Hey coach, what do you know about this Grady Hunt guy?"

"Grady Hunt? Grady Hunt?" Eric was afraid this guy was going to get into Smash's head. He's seen it before and he hated to think he was going to see it again. "I know that Grady Hunt has a list of people like you on it. To look at. Why?"

"Everyone says that he has the power to make or break you. He ain't no Jesus or nothing, but he's coming. It's just a lot that's all."

It was too late. Smash was already thinking about college ball and not about the game he had in four hours. "Let me tell you something. You're a prospect. There's going to be a lot of Grady Hunt's coming in and out of here in the next few years looking at you." Eric wanted him to know that tonight was not his only night.

"Think so?"

"I know so. And I'll tell you something else. Grady Hunt is not going to make or break number twenty. You are. You go out there tonight and you focus on this game, you focus on this game alone, you'll be fine. You understand me?"

"Yes, sir. Yeah, you're right."

"We're all good?"

Eric wasn't convinced Smash was out of his own head. He felt like he could have said more.

Top agencies had contacted him over the years. CAA was the first. It was just some paperwork he found in his campus mailbox his freshman year. His sophomore year Relativity contacted him via phone call, wanting to know if he's thought about life after college. His junior year a few more agencies were doing more than contacting him. They were researching him. They wanted to know what Eric liked, who was important to him and how they were going to win him over.

Tami did her research as well. She knew he can talk to as many agencies as he wanted but he could not sign anything until his 4 years of eligibility were up and he played in that final bowl game. Tami also researched the agencies, hoping Eric would go with something a little smaller, with a little more personalization.

It was the weekend leading up to first game senior year. He was a nervous wreck. Tami was supposed to arrive Friday in the early evening, stay for the game on Saturday and leave on Sunday. She knew this was a big weekend for him. Several recruitment departments from NFL franchises contacted him to express their interest, letting him know they would be watching him. Eric always did well under pressure, but this was almost too much. His life all came down to this one game. Tami's life depended on it as well.

When she arrived at his off-campus house that he shared with a few of his teammates, he grabbed her hand and led her to his bedroom. He opened the door and let her in first, never losing a hold of her hand. He shut the door behind him and tugged on her hand as he pulled her body close to his. He stumbled back, losing his balance as his back slammed against the back of the door. They both laughed as they stared into each other's eyes. He knew what he wanted. He couldn't help it.

He couldn't help himself, especially when it came to her.

He put a hand on the back of her head, pulling her head toward his, needing to taste her lips. She pushed her body into his, willing it closer and she felt his tongue swirl hers. He felt her breasts push against his chest and he felt himself grow beneath her.

She pulled back when she felt his hardness. "So much for a simple hello?"

He smirked. "Hi." He said as he took a deep breath trying to control himself.

She leaned her forehead against his and smiled. "Hi."

"God, Tami. I missed you." He truly did. They were engaged and ever since he put that ring on her finger, he felt like he needed her more if that was even possible.

She moved her hands to his chest, staring into his eyes. She could tell something wasn't right. He always missed her, but his eyes spoke to her like he was scared. "We have been apart longer than this." She started to lift his shirt, now moving her hands across his chest. She loved his body.

"I cannot wait until we get settled. I can't wait to we know where will live. I can't wait for us …"

She stopped him with her lips. She kissed him heard to let him know she wanted those things too. When she pulled back, she regained her focus on his eyes. She moved her hands lower, feeling his hardened dick in her hand. She slowly stoked him through his jeans. "This isn't so bad. Where we are right now isn't so bad."

He closed his eyes, enjoying her touch and smirking at her words. "Tomorrow should give us some answers."

"Let's not talk about tomorrow right now. Let's talk about this. About us." She started to undo the belt buckle, wanting to rid him of his shorts. "What do you want Eric?" She teased.

He kissed her hard, walking her toward his bed. "It's not about what I want anymore. It's what I need. I need you here all the time. I need you to be the constant in my life. I need you to want me as much as I want you."

She slowly sat down, pulling him by the back of his neck over her. "You never need to worry about that."

After they had sex, Eric wrapped his arms around her and they stayed like that for a while. Tami noticed that Eric was particularly quiet, but she knew him well enough not to push him. She suggested they go to dinner and for a stroll around campus.

They held hands as they strolled by the golf course, the residence halls and some of the education buildings. Tami would have thought it was a comfortable silence between them if Eric wasn't holding her hand so tightly. When she would steal a glance his way, she saw the tightening in his jaw that only meant he was grinding his teeth.

She decided to break the silence. "You know you can't scare me away, right?"

He turned his head to look at her. "Huh?"

The kept walking aimlessly. "Whatever is bothering you, you can tell me. I'm not going anywhere."

"I know that." He thought about how to speak to her about this. "How do you see your future?"

"You mean our future?"

"Of course." He quickly reassured her. "Our future. How do you see the next few years going?"

She noticed that scared look in his eyes again, wondering what he was so afraid of at this point. "I see you playing football, me continuing my education, us living together and not miles apart. I see us waking up every day next to each other." She stopped walking and he followed her lead, halting his steps. She leaned in and kissed him. "I see us having a lot of sex." She smiled through her kiss.

He smiled back and his lips quickly went from curved into a straight line. "I spent the last week studying the playbook. Memorizing every play. Contemplating when to execute certain ones during certain positions on the field. I have been going over and over and over it."

"Eric, you are going to drive yourself crazy." She realized he was stressed about the first game of the season tomorrow.

"If I make a bad call, or execute a poor play, our entire lives are going to be altered. Do you realize that? Do you realize that if someone from Miami or San Diego is there tomorrow and I screw up, I am going to ruin a life of living by the beach for you? Do you realize that when I go out there tomorrow, I have the potential to not only screw up my life, I can also destroy all your dreams?"

"Hey. Hey. Stop for a second.' She said cupping his face with both her hands. "There are agents that want to represent you. They have been contacting you for months now. One bad game is not going to make or break your entire career." She saw his eyes lower to the ground. "Look at me. My dreams will not be destroyed over a football game. My dreams revolve around a life with you, whether that life is in or out of the NFL. I believe in you Eric. I believe in you with all my heart. I believe that with or without the luxurious life of the NFL, I can be happy with you. The man you are out measures the football player you are. I believe in you. Your father, as crazy as he could be at times, believes in you. When are you going to believe in yourself?"

At halftime, Eric was ready to kill Smash. He wanted to murder him with his words. Smash let the pressure get to him. "The problem is the guy out there with the damn clipboard. That's the problem. You don't play for U-T. You play Dillon Panther high school football and you play for me so forget the damn list!"

Eric knew that could have been all those years ago. He knew if it wasn't for Tami and all of her support and encouragement, he too, would have cracked under pressure. His anger was driven toward Smash because of the stupidity of the situation. He told Smash Grady Hunt was not the only scout that would ever look at him. He told Smash that he needed to focus on this one game. Why did this kid not listen to him? Why did this kid not trust him?

The second half Eric re-worked his offense to not include Smash. It wasn't his night and thankfully Tim stepped up and they won the game. As Tami and Julie waited for Eric to come out of the locker room, Julie asked Tami if she could go to some party that Lois told her about. Tami was unsure because it was not at someone's house, but in a field or the desert somewhere.

"Let's ask your father what he thinks."

"Why? Why can't you ever decide?"

The truth was Eric knew about these parties better than she did. He knew who was going to be there, if there was going to be my state-altering temptations other than alcohol and if it seemed safe for Julie to go. "Your father and I make these decisions together, Jules. You know that."

Eric knew about the party. He heard Tim inviting everyone, mentioning the kegs and nothing more. Eric figured, if Tim was going, Matt would be too. Matt hung out with that Lance kid, whose dad was a sergeant. He knew Tami had concerns, but he believed in trust. Julie has not done anything to break their trust and told her he could go. He partially wanted to have some alone time with Tami.

On their drive home, Tami knew Eric was unhappy with how they won that game. She treaded lightly. "Smash had a bad game, huh?"

"Yeah." He said sadly. "The pressure got to him. I saw it coming."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw him studying the playbook. He was asking about Grady Hunt." He knew Tami would understand. "There's reason I don't like to introduce my players to scouts. Gets in their head." He glanced at her. "I tried to talk to him. He didn't listen."

She looked at him, wondering why he was having a hard time understanding Smash. "You were tough to convince too."

With his eyes on the road, he moved one hand to hold hers. "I know. I was petrified. Maybe I should have told Smash that. Maybe he would have listened."

"What exactly would you have told him?" She laughed, thinking of the blowjob she gave him right before he left for that game many years ago -to help him relax.

He laughed too. "I would have told him that I believed in him. I would have told him how strongly I felt about it and been convincing too. The way you believed in me." He moved his thumb back and forth over the backside of her hand. "I loved you for that."

"That feels like a million years ago." She said, dismissing the weight of his words.

"I didn't think it was possible to love you more than I did at that moment." He glanced at her again, before looking back at the road as he turned into their development.

She made another joke. "And which moment was that?"

"I'm trying to be serious, Tami." This often happened in their relationship. Eric was trying to express feelings he guarded deeply and when the words finally flowed out of him, she would laugh.

"You're funny." She knew how he felt. She didn't need the words.

As he pulled into their driveway and put the car in park, he turned his body to face hers. "I am so in-love with you. You know that, right?"

"Mmmhmm." She said as, she nodded.

"Let me take you inside. Let me take you to bed." He kissed her gently. "Julie won't be home for at least an hour."

"An hour?" She couldn't help herself. "You don't need more than 15 minutes."

"Is that a challenge?" He teased back.

"Always a competition with you…"

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