Disclaimer: I don't own anything here (except for Al) and am just doing this for fun and to pass the long months until Season 4.

If the spring had been one of the rainiest on record, then the summer was on track to win the prize for hottest. It was humid, too, the kind of sticky heat that made you feel like you just wanted to live in the shower or the swimming pool.

Al kept the air conditioning in the house so low that Tim was glad that she took the responsibility for opening and paying the bills. He was sure he didn't want to know how high their electricity bills were. But he wanted her to be comfortable, something that was getting harder to achieve by the day.

The days that summer all ran together in a blur of heat and anticipation. Even though Billy kept telling him to enjoy the dwindling days of his pre-fatherhood life, Tim wished for nothing more than a fast forward button. Part of it was concern for Al, the desire to put an end to her discomfort, but it was more than that. Tim just really wanted to meet their baby.

Two weekends before Jason and Lyla's wedding, Al and Mindy went to Austin to visit Tyra and shop for Lyla's wedding. Al had wanted to leave it as late as possible so she'd be able to buy something that would fit on the day. Even though she hated shopping even more than Tim did, she was looking forward to spending time with her cousins and having a change of scenery.

Tim spent the weekend with Billy, helping him babysit the kids. Amber and TJ were at an age where they could pretty much entertain themselves and all they really needed was a referee to break up their occasional flights. Tim took them and George to the park, where the children had great fun chasing the dog.

The younger kids were a bit more challenging. Jack was a typical toddler, always in motion. And Cody, well, Tim had to admit that even though he had more experience with babies, Cody still scared him.

Late Saturday night, after the kids were all in bed, Tim and Billy sat on the front step, drinking beer, the door open behind them so they could hear any trouble.

"So, Little Brother, I hope this weekend isn't causing you to regret your decision to have a kid."

"No regrets," said Tim with a smile as he looked up at the cloudless, the stars visible, though not as many as he could see from his own yard.

They were quiet for several minutes, the air still heavy and humid even though the sun was gone.

"You're going to be fine." Billy's voice was so soft, that Tim was barely able to hear him over the crickets and cicadas.

"Thanks, Billy. I'm just.....I don't know. Babies are scary. How can you trust a creature that can't even support its own head?"

Billy shrugged. "Babies are pretty easy. They don't move. Their needs are simple – they're either hungry, tired, or need to be changed. After awhile, you get so used to holding them and being careful, that it just becomes like a habit or a reflex."

"I'm just terrified of screwing up," said Tim.

Billy took a long pull of his beer and looked sideways at his brother. "You don't remember the first time I took you to the park, do you?"

Tim's lower lip bunched as he considered the question, then he shook his head.

"Mom and Dad were fighting and I just had to get out of the house. But when I tried to leave, you were right behind me. So I decided we'd go to the park. I probably had no business taking you. I wasn't all that much older than Amber is now and I sure as hell wouldn't let her go to the park by herself, let alone take Jack with her."

Billy looked down and tore at the corner of the beer label before continuing.

"You loved the slide and you wanted me to catch you at the bottom. So I'd stand behind you as you went up the steps, wait for you to sit down, then run around to the front to catch you. The first few times, it was all fine.

But then, I don't know what happened exactly. You were only about two and your balance wasn't great. All I know is that I got around to the front of the slide just in time to see you fall backwards off the ladder. Jesus, Timmy, it was damn scary and it felt like it took a lifetime to get back to you, even though it wasn't but a few seconds.

You were fine, laughing in fact. You thought it was hilarious. The surface was rubbery and cushioned with chopped up recycled tires or something, so it's not like you fell on concrete or anything. But I was still worried that maybe you'd hit your head."

"But I was okay?"

"You were, only when I checked you over for bruises or injuries, it felt like part of the back of your head was flat. And I couldn't remember if it had always been flat or if you'd just flattened your head. I spent the next few days terrified that Mom or Dad would notice there was something wrong with you. Or that you'd suddenly keel over or something."

"You didn't tell them what happened?"

"I didn't tell anyone what happened. Til now."

"I'm fine, Billy. I don't think you messed me up for life or anything." Tim elbowed his brother in the ribs, hoping to erase the sad, guilty look on his face.

Billy punched Tim playfully in the arm.

"Damn, Billy, you're losing your touch. My wife hits harder than that," said Tim with a grin.

"I'm just trying to take it easy on you. We still gotta get through most of tomorrow before the girls get back."

Tim finished his beer and got up to get a few more from the house. When he returned, the brothers lapsed back into a comfortable silence. Maybe Billy was right, maybe he would be fine. And at least he'd always have his big brother to turn to for advice. If Billy could manage having kids, there was hope for him.