Disclaimer: I don't own anything here (except for Al and TJ) and am just doing this for fun and to pass the long months until Season 4.
A week later, Tim suggested to Billy that he should stay after dinner and start helping with the bedtime routine. Jack and Amber were happy with this development but TJ sullenly refused to let Billy tuck him in. Each time TJ refused, Billy tried to hide his hurt and disappointment, but Tim could always see it. Tim and Al did what they could do try to get TJ to relent, but the boy had the Collette tendency to dig in his heels and refuse to give even half an inch.
Tim kept hoping that the more time passed, the more trusting TJ would be become, but after a few more weeks without improvement, Tim was forced to admit that he didn't know what else they could do.
It was mid-March and the kids had two days off from school for teacher training. Al was taking Amber to Austin for the dual purposes of visiting Tyra and getting the girl fitted for a bridesmaid's dress. Jean-Luc had proposed to Tyra when they were in France for Christmas. Since Jean-Luc had a ten-year old son from a previous relationship whom he wanted to be his best man, Tyra had been happy to ask Amber, who had been even more happy to accept. Her best friend Sarah had been the flower girl in a cousin's wedding, but this was much more exciting and important.
Watching Al pack for her weekend away, Tim sat on the bed, his back leaning casually against the headboard. Nicky was sitting on the bed, right next to him and was doing a great job staying upright. He was even trying to grab Tim's leg to pull himself up, but hadn't quite mastered that move yet.
"Timmy, you need to talk to TJ. This can't go on much longer. Billy is trying so hard and doing everything right. TJ needs to cut him some slack and try to forgive him," said Al as she shoved a bunch of t-shirts into a duffle bag.
"I don't know what to say to him, but you seem to have loads of ideas. Maybe you should talk to him."
"He won't listen to me but I know he'll listen to you."
Tim laughed. "He's way too stubborn to listen to anyone."
Al finished packing, zipped up the bag, and dropped it on the floor. She came over and sat next to Tim, putting a hand on his chest.
"I'm serious, Timmy. He looks up to you and the worst thing in the world to him would be if you were disappointed in him. He'll do what you say."
Tim shook his head in disbelief.
"You forget that I've seen his comics. He thinks so highly of you. In the last comic, you saved Planet Puppy from a fiery comet."
"Planet Puppy?" asked Tim, a wide grin lighting up his face. "I'd love to live on Planet Puppy."
"You would not. It would smell really bad," said Al, rolling her eyes.
Tim got up from the bed and put Nicky in his crib, where the baby lay on his back and kicked his legs, gurgling happily. Then Tim sat down next to Al and put his arms around her, moving in to kiss her neck.
"Timmy, you're not going to distract me," she said.
Tim's lips curved into a smile as he kissed his way up to the spot just below her ear. "You sure about that?" he asked in a throaty whisper, his hot breath causing her to shiver.
She leaned away and held him back with one small but muscular arm. "Not even by kissing my neck and whispering in my ear. Not this time, pal."
Tim sighed and tried to move away, but Al held him where he was. "Just talk to him, Timmy. Please?"
"OK," he sighed, finding it easier to give in than to fight her.
She kissed him deeply and then stood up, leaving him feeling a bit dizzy. It had been the kind of kiss that left him breathless and thinking about things that would make her blush when he said them out loud.
"Oh, I nearly forgot," she said, picking up a book and handing it to him. "Tami let me borrow this. Can you please ask Eric to give it to her when you see him on Saturday?"
"I was going to cancel golf this week, since you won't be here to watch the kids."
"What about Billy?" asked Al.
"Seriously? You'd trust Billy to do it?"
"Well, yeah, wouldn't you?" she asked, puzzled.
"I would, but I figured you probably still didn't trust him completely."
"The babies and Jack will be sleeping, so that will just leave TJ. It'll probably be good for both of them. And Billy should know that we'd even trust him with our own son."
Al picked up her duffle bag and went over to the crib to say goodbye to Nicky. Tim knew, even though it was just for a weekend, he was really going to miss her.
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On Friday night, Billy came over for dinner and then helped to put Jack and Cody to bed. TJ was icily polite but still refused to let Billy tuck him in. After Nicky was in bed, Tim joined Billy in the TV room and they watched a hockey game, keeping their talk minimal and game-related until the intermission.
"Billy, I got an idea," said Tim.
"Congratulations, Timmy. Want me to call CNN?" responded Billy with a grin.
Tim swatted his brother with a pillow. "Don't be a smart ass. I'm trying to help you out here."
"You're right, Timmy, you're right. Shoot. What's this big idea?"
"You're going fishing with TJ tomorrow."
Billy's eyes got big and the color drained from his cheeks. "Fishing? With TJ? Alone? Kid won't let me get within 10 feet of him, you really think he's going to get on a boat with me?"
"It'll be fine, Billy. I promise. I'll talk to him first," said Tim, the words sounding much more confident than he felt.
"I don't know...." Billy's voice trailed off as he considered the situation.
"Billy, just be here at 9am and bring some live bait – that rickety old store about a mile up the road has a good selection. Don't forget the bait and it'll all be good."
Billy took a deep breath and then shrugged. "Sure, why not? What've I got to lose, anyway? He can't hate me any more than he already does."
Tim frowned. "That's the spirit, Billy. An attitude like that is really going to get you places."
"Timmy, it's just been so hard. I never expected it to be a cakewalk, but c'mon, it's been almost two months and the kid won't even look me in the eye."
"Trust me," was all Tim had time to say before the second period of the hockey game diverted their attention.