5 Years Later

It felt different coming back home for Tim Riggins, it felt like everything had changed although everything looked the same. He was finally coming home after five years; his career in football ended just last month when a tackle had led him to blow out his knee. He had surgery soon thereafter and when he was strong enough to travel, felt it was only right to return home.

Tim was with Billy who drove all the way to Denver to pick him up when he heard the news of his coming home. The two were in Tim's old truck and Billy had just made the turn off of the highway and entered his home town of Dillon, Texas. As he was driving along the old familiar streets he saw Panther Football signs outside of a few houses. A part of him was glad that they kept that tradition alive, even long after Coach Taylor left.

As the two arrived back at their old home, Mindy came out with Tim's two nephews and one niece. Stevie had just turned five and the twins must have been two and a half. Tim just opened the door when the kids ran inside to greet his favourite Uncle. Stevie climbed up into the truck to give him a hug, the other two stranded on the ground.

"Kids, give your uncle Timmy some room!" Mindy yelled as Billy sauntered over to her and gave her a kiss.

Tim struggled to get out of the truck; his knee brace was bulky and kept his leg straight so it wasn't strained. He finally had enough room to hop down onto his good leg and grabbed his crutches. He hopped over to his sister-in-law, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Hey, Mindy."

"I set you up a bed in Stevie's room, hope that's okay." Mindy said as she led everyone back into the house.

"It's perfect, thanks," Tim said as he made his way to the couch. He dropped down and grabbed the remote from the side table and turned on the television. The tv sprung to life and was playing a cartoon, he quickly changed channels, flipping through until he found something reasonable to watch. As he was flipping past ESPN, Tim heard his name and paused on the channel, wanting to hear what it had to say.

"Tim Riggins has officially retired from football, if you can even call one season in the NFL a career. Riggins was hit during a playoff game against the Ravens. The Bronco's released a statement this morning stating the extent of his knee injury was career ending."

With that Tim turned off the television all together. "I'm going out, don't wait up." Tim said as he made an effort to get off the couch. He hobbled out the door, not looking back to see the questioning look on his brothers face.

Lyla Garrity was unpacking the groceries from her black SUV, as she was grabbing the last of bags she heard someone walking by the house. Her back was turned to the side walk and she couldn't see who it was, she figured it was a neighbour walking their dog.

"Lyla?" The presumed neighbour asked from behind her. It was no neighbour, that voice single-handedly made her heart break into a million pieces.

She spun around to see a man with shaggy brown hair hunched over leaning on a pair of crutches. He peered up through his hair, green eyes piercing into her brown ones. Lyla was stunned, she hadn't seen this man in years, and she didn't even know he had returned to Dillon. She was about to say something when she was interrupted by someone running out of the house, calling her name.

" Momma!" yelled the toddler, running without shoes through the grass towards her. He was small but advanced for his age. His light brown hair was spiked into a fake Mohawk, his choice, and his hazel green eyes were bright and round.

"Hey, little man" She said as she picked up the boy. By this little act she realized she caught the attention of the man standing in front of her. "Carter, can you say hello to Mr. Riggins?"

"Hi" the boy squeaked as he wrapped his arms around her neck and buried his face into her hair.

"Baby, what's taking you so long" Lyla heard and turned around to see her boyfriend of almost four years walking out of the house. He walked up to her and pulled her into his side, "Who's this?"

"The name's Tim Riggins" The man leaning on crutches said straightening up and extending his hand.

"Jordan Conrad" Said the man standing beside Lyla as he shook hands with Tim. "Heard about your knee, that has to blow, especially when the play offs were coming up."

"Yeah, man." Tim responded. "I better head back, Billy will be wondering where I went" he made an attempt to turn around but stumbled and almost fell face first onto the side walk but Jordan had reached out at the last second steadying Tim.

"I'll drive you back, you're a long way from home" Lyla said, handing off her son to her boyfriend.

"I'm fine, I got all the way here, I can find my way back." Tim waved her off and started his way back home.

"Tim, just get in the car." Lyla pleaded. Her mind was set and she wasn't taking no for an answer, she walked around to the passenger side to open the door. Tim looked back at her and gave in and hobbled over to the car and jumped in. She walked to her two boys and gave each a kiss on the cheek, "Carter, take care of your Daddy while I'm out."

Lyla jumped into the driver's seat, put the car in reverse and headed out onto the road. The car was silent for a few minutes when Tim finally spoke up, "looks like you got the perfect family."

"Looks like that, doesn't it?" Lyla replied. "Jordon's great with Carter, they get along great. He's really stepped up since we met, I never would have thought we would ever be where we are now."

"That's great, Garrity." Tim replied. "Cute kid you got too."

"He reminds me a lot of his dad" Lyla said, mainly to herself and smiled. "What are you doing back here anyway, Tim?"

"Knee injury, hence the crutches, my career's over." Tim paused, looking over at Lyla. "I hated Denver, I couldn't live there any longer. Besides it was no Texas, I missed my family and I missed you, Lyla."

"Tim" Lyla said exasperated, she stopped the car in front of Billy's house. "Don't start, please."

Tim shrugged it off and exited the vehicle, pausing he turned back to look at Lyla. "Thanks for the ride, Garrity; I guess I'll be seeing you around."

Lyla nodded and watched him retreat into the house. After the door was closed, she broke down. The tears began to fall without any warning and before long she was sobbing uncontrollably. She had moved on long ago, but there was always a piece of her heart that was always going to belong to Tim Riggins.

A/N: This is my first fanfic and am still trying to figure everything out. I do have most of this story already written and will be adding new chapters regularly, please review. I am open for suggestions and ideas!