Summary: Tickle fights at the Riggins/Collette/Sproles household. Spoilers: through season 5. Note: These characters are not mine.

Tim was sitting on the couch watching a game when Tyra casually walked over and plopped down, tossing her long bare legs over his. Becky, was sitting in the armchair with a pad and pen, writing notes for her upcoming pageant speech.

Without thinking, Tim slid his palm over Tyra's leg, back and forth, as he took a swig of beer. She winked and smiled at him, looking content.

Becky was trying to ignore them, as they obviously had been so close once that these old habits came back without thinking.

But it was starting to get on her nerves. "So Tyra, how's school going?," she asked.

Tyra tossed her now long hair back. "It's good, real good, but I've never worked so hard in my life. When I'm not in classes, I'm either at volleyball practice, or working in the lab."

"Are you dating anyone?," Becky asked. Tim cleared his throat and slugged back some beer.

"Well, I've been on a few dates, but nothing serious. I honestly don't have time to be getting serious with anyone right now. So I'm kind of just having fun now, nothing heavy."

She bent her knee and began running the sole of her foot against Tim's worn jeans. She found a hole with her toe and stuck it in. He grinned, but didn't look away from the tv set. Slugged more beer.

"Whoa, good run, did you see that?," he said. "Shit, I miss runnin' like that." He then barked out a laugh. "Cut it out, Tyra!" he yelled. "That tickles!"

Tyra continued to work her toe into his leg, making him giggle harder.

"A'right, that's it. You got it, Collette" Tim said as he swiftly flipped Tyra on her side onto the couch and started tickling her. "Right there, as I recall," Tim laughed, digging his fingers under the small ribs in her side.

They were both laughing so hard their sides began to ache. Tim collapsed into Tyra's arms when she knocked his knees sideways. One thing led to another, and Tim's arms wrapped around her, and he buried his face in her neck.

Next thing they knew, they were kissing, just like old times.

They didn't notice when Becky stood abruptly and stormed out.

-/-/-/-

Becky heard a knock. "Becks, it's me. Open up."

"Go away," she yelled. "I'm not here."

"That's ridiculous," Tim answered. "Now open. Or I'm comin' in. I know this door doesn't lock." It was his old room.

He cracked open the door. Becky was sitting on the bed, her knees tucked into her chest, her arms wrapped around them.

Tim sat down next to her and leaned into her.

"That was awkward," Becky said.

"Yeah, sorry 'bout that, it's just…" Tim began.

"… don't tell me 'it's just Tyra'," Becky interrupted. "THAT was what boyfriends do with girlfriends."

"What, that?" Tim said innocently. "Some girls just, I dunno, ask for that. It's like second nature; you don't even think about it."

"Well you'd never do that with me," Becky said.

"Yeah, because you're not that kind of gal," Tim said. "You're… ya know, good."

"What, and Tyra isn't?" Becky demanded.

"Not sure how she is now – she does seem different, less, uh, flirty, but back in the day… let's just say we were counterparts in terms of the other sex. We experimented," Tim clarified.

"But you're right, that was inappropriate. Won't happen again," he said.

"I just don't know where we stand," Becky said. "What are we? Just friends with benefits? How do you see us?"

Tim put his arm around her and gently pulled her in.

"Becks, look. I really like spending time with you. I'm just not good at defining relationships. Never have been, other than Lyla. To be honest, if she agreed, I'd spend all my days with her, and I'll probably always feel that way. But she's moved on to other things. Now, just out of jail and all, I can't commit to a relationship, at least not yet. It's like I'm just finding my way again after kind of hittin' the reset button."

He kissed her on the head.

"Oh, not the forehead kiss. That's the kiss of death," Becky said, pulling away. That's what dads do to their teenage daughters. "Don't be my dad."

"What? What are you talkin' about," Tim asked. He thought he was being sweet and supportive.

"This is what I want," Becky said, pulling his head to hers with both hands, kissing him with anger.

-/-/-/-

Tim emerged from his old room an hour later, still not committed to Becky for real, but feeling pretty damn good. Sure, it was a conundrum, but hell, after a few months in jail, he'd take it.