Lyla waited in the car to pick up her son from day care, Jordan usually did this job but with him gone she's had to do things herself. She never realized how hard being a single mother was, it was like she was being pulled in every direction trying to juggle school, her son, and work. The past four years had been a breeze with Jordan taking care of Carter while she focused on studying and school. Jordan was her rock, a solid pace to land when they were together and now he was gone.

She started second guessing her decision to end things with Jordan. She loved him but her love for him didn't compare to what she felt for Tim. She wondered how Tim was going to pick up the responsibility of being a father, it would probably come natural. Carter adored Tim and they had seen each other a few times, a bond between father and son was hard to beat. Tonight was going to be the night she would tell her son the truth, that Tim was his father. How do you tell a four year old that the man who raised them wasn't their father and this man who just waltzed into his life a week ago was? Carter was going to hate her for keeping this secret; he would hate her for sending Jordan away and hate her for keeping Tim away from him. She was in a no-win situation, one which she walked right into the day that her son was born.

Lyla's daydream was interrupted by the car door opening then closing. Turning around, Carter had hopped into his car seat in the back. "Hi, Momma!" Her son exclaimed. Looking at the time on the dash, it read four o'clock and turned back giving him a helping hand with putting his seat belt on.

"Ready to go, buddy?" She smiled back at him. Lyla took in her son, he looked just like Tim and she wondered how she never noticed it until now. He had the same eyes, nose and hair colour; there wasn't a hint of Lyla anywhere on that boy. She bet that Carter was exactly how Tim must have looked when he was younger.

"Yes! Can we have Macaroni for dinner tonight?" Carter asked breaking her out of another trance.

"Of course, anything for you, honey." Lyla replied. She turned around putting the car into drive and pulling out of the parking lot and heading towards home.

The rest of the night flew by; she had successfully made dinner while entertaining Carter. She had told him that Jordan was visiting his family because he missed them very much. That gave Carter enough reason to stop asking her about Jordan. Eventually he began to start asking her when he would be able to see Tim again. Not knowing the answer herself she replied with a simple 'soon.'

Now, she sat curled up on the couch watching Carter playing with toy trains on the floor of the living room. She took a deep breath ready to begin the talk with carter. 'Hey, baby, can I talk to you for a sec?" Lyla asked. Carter turned around, his green eyes looking up at her questionably.

"About what, Momma?" Carter replied looking a little scared, like he was in trouble. He had that fearful look in his eyes that he usually had when he was breaking the rules.

"It's about your daddy." With that she had Carters full attention and he climbed up onto the couch to sit beside her. She turned her body so she was able to look at him. She smiled down at him, mentally preparing herself for an inquisition when she was done explaining herself.

"There are some kids that have real daddies and step-daddy. Step-daddy's aren't the child's real father, they are married to the child's mother. Do you understand?" She asked.

"I think so.' He squinted up at her; she could see the dears turning in his head. Lyla knew she needed a better tactic.

"You know your daddy, Carter?" Lyla asked.

"Yes." He replied.

"Well he isn't your real daddy. You aren't related by blood, he is your step-daddy." Lyla said slowly.

He stared up at her as his eyes slowly lit up, starting to understand what she was saying. "So I don't have a real daddy then?" He asked suddenly looking sad.

"You do, baby. Tim Riggins is your real daddy." Lyla replied.

"So I have two daddies?" Carter questioned excitedly.

Lyla frowned. "No honey, your dad and I broke up. You won't be seeing him anymore. But, you can see your real daddy all you want."

"I don't want Tim Riggins to be my dad! I just want my daddy back!" Carter shouted as he began to cry and ran up the stairs into her bedroom.

Lyla gave her son a few minutes to think things over before she slowly got off the couch and made her way to Carters room. "Carter, baby?" She slowly opened the door and found him lying face down on his bed crying. She sprang forward, her heart breaking from seeing her son in pain. She sat on the bed and grabbed her son and pulled him onto her lap. Holding him close to her chest, she comforted him while he cried.

After a while he finally slowed down and was whimpering. "Does he not love me anymore?" Carter asked peaking up at her.

"He loves you with all his heart." Lyla replied. She was gently wiping away his tears as she rubbed his back.

"Why'd he leave?"

"Because of me, baby. I asked him to."

"Why?"

"I don't love him anymore. Grown-ups stay together because they love each other, but when they stop they break up. They say goodbye and find new people to love. That's what happened to me and your daddy." Lyla replied hoping she explained it well enough so he understood.

"Will I see him again?" Carter asked looking up at her.

"If you want to, but you still have a dad. You have Tim, he wants to take care of you and get to know you." She replied.

"Tim's my daddy too?"

"Yes, baby, your real one." She took a second for him to understand before whispering "I love you."

Carter turned his body and reached up and threw his arms around her neck. "I love you, too, momma." He whispered back into her ear.

Lyla hugged her son, cherishing the moment. She pulled back so she could pick him up and pull down the blankets on the bed. She laid him down and tucked him in. Lyla gave him a kiss on his forehead and said "Good Night." She retreated back out into the hallway after turning off his light and shutting the door.

Exhausted from the day she had she walked back into her room and found her way under the covers of her bed. It was still early but decided to turn in for she knew she had a long day ahead of her tomorrow.

The next day Lyla rushed through her daily activities of making breakfast, getting Carter ready for school, dropping him off at daycare and returning home to finish homework. AS she sat in the study, books piled high on her desk with sheets spread out in front of her she couldn't concentrate on the task at hand. All morning she had a nagging thought that kept pulling her focus. Giving up on homework for the meantime she jumped out and ran to her car and pulled out of the driveway.

When she reached her destination she jumped out, not wanting to lose her courage she pounded on the door. Tim opened the door half clothed; his hair disheveled clearly having just gotten out of bed. "Do you really want this, Tim?" Lyla asked practically shouting.

"Want what?" Tim said squinting at her, his eyes not having adjusted to the afternoon sun.

"Want me, want Carter, a family?" She replied.

"Of course I do, why would you even ask that?"

"Because, Tim, being a father will be a lot of work, you can't just be his friend you have to be a role model too. It's not all fun and games, its hard and tiring. How do you know you'll be able to handle it all?"

"I think I can handle it, trust me." Tim stepped forward pulling her into an embrace. "I have to show you something."

After he went back into the house to grab a shirt he returned and ushered her into his truck. They drove on the back roads, both sitting in silence, not knowing what to say to fill the void. After a ten minutes Tim pulled over to the side of the road and jumped out. Lyla followed suit and walked around the trunk to the side and stood beside Tim.

"Why'd you bring me here, Tim?" Lyla asked.

"I bought it. The whole plot of land, it's ours. There's a house and barn over there all sitting on fifty acres of land. I want to live here, with you and Carter." Tim replied.

Lyla looked out over the field and took it all in, the rolling green hills and trees, it was beautiful. She pictured Carter and Tim spending all day outside playing football or hunting or fishing. "You want us to live here with you?" She questioned. She knew his answer but wanted him to say it out loud so that it would be official.

"Yes. Lyla, I love you and I want to spend every day with you and our son. I want to spend it here on this land and never be apart again." He replied.

She turned to face him, standing up on her tippy toes she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a soft peck on the lips. "I love you, too. I would also love to live with you and our son, here." She gave him another kiss, waiting a few seconds before she pulled away. "Don't leave me again, please?"

"Never." He whispered and kissed her again. He wrapped his arms around her waist holding her tight to him, refusing to let her go.

Lyla knew she was home. All doubts were erased and she knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Tim Riggins. She wanted to raise their son together here, on this beautiful piece of land in Dillon. They were going to have more kids and he was going to be there and watch them grow up. Lyla knew that this was where she was going to spend the rest of her life, here, in Tim Riggins arms'.

A/N: Wow, this was not how I imagined the story to go or that it would end this soon but this just felt right. I do have one more surprise for you guys. Just finishing up the very last chapter for this story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and wasn't too disappointed. If you hated it, please review. If you loved it, please review.