Title: Safe In My Arms

A/N: Thanks for all the great feedback on the last chapter. Hope you all enjoy the ending to this story!

Julie placed Gracie in her bed, thankful that her sister had finally decided to fall asleep for what would hopefully be a long nap. Julie loved her sister, but she didn't want to spend her whole Saturday afternoon watching kids' shows on television and changing diapers. But being the kind-hearted daughter that she was, she had volunteered to keep Gracie for the afternoon while her parents finished up their last minute Christmas shopping. Christmas was in four days and her parents needed one last trip to finish up with their gifts from "Santa".

She made her way to the living room, sprawling on the couch as she thought about Christmas. Christmas had always been one of Julie's favorite holidays but she just couldn't seem to get into the spirit this year. She couldn't really seem to get into anything honestly. She knew it was pathetic, but she was still dealing with missing Tim.

While she tried to convince herself that she had moved on, she still had an ache in her chest every time she saw him. And yes, while she didn't think about him 24/7 anymore, he was still in her thoughts way more than he should have been. But she was getting better. She had begun to have some semblance of a social life again, hanging out with Lois and Matt sometimes after school. And she had even gone to a party the previous weekend.

It was the first time she'd ever seen her parents get happy over her wanting to go to a party. She knew they had been worried about her, or maybe just frustrated with her moodiness, but she really was trying to be better. It was just hard. Especially when she still felt like her heart was broken and she missed him like crazy.

She sighed, picking up the remote and trying to find something to watch on television. Something funny. Something not related to love or good-looking fullbacks. She had settled on an old Christmas movie and had just started to get into the film when she heard a knock on the door. She sighed as she stood, wondering who it could be.

Her breath caught as she pulled the door open, revealing Tim on her doorstep. He looked worried, that was the first thing she noticed. Probably worried about how she was going to react to him being there. She wasn't exactly sure how to react either. Her heart sped up at just the sight of him, his long hair hanging half in his face. And her knees felt wobbly, closer to him than she had been in weeks.

"Hey, Jules." He said softly, his eyes looking into hers.

Oh God. How was she supposed to keep cool when he called her "Jules" all soft and sweet like that?

"H-hey." She managed to get out without her voice squeaking, as she held his gaze.

"Your parents home?" Tim asked, pulling his coat tighter around him.

"Um, no. They're Christmas shopping." Julie answered, her manners returning as she realized that Tim was probably freezing. "Come on in." She said, taking a step back.

"Thanks." He muttered, stepping inside.

Julie shivered as Tim walked past her, his arm brushing against her. Even through the thick coat he was wearing and the baggy sweatshirt she had on, she could feel the heat that always seemed to appear whenever they were near one another.

He smelled good too. Like the outdoors, like fresh air, like Tim.

She closed the door behind him, wrapping her arms around her body, partly from the cold and partly to keep from throwing herself at him. She stood looking at him, waiting for him to say why he was there, or just say something. He seemed to be looking at everything but her as he ran his long fingers through his already disheveled hair.

"So, um…" She started, hoping to prompt him into saying something.

He didn't say anything but he did finally meet her gaze, staring at her for several seconds, causing her heart to beat erratically.

"What are you doin' here, Tim?" She finally asked, her voice quiet and questioning.

Tim sighed, reaching inside his coat and pulling out a small envelope. "I wanted to bring you this."

"What is it?" Julie asked, eyeing the envelope but not reaching for it.

"Money." He answered, taking a step toward her. "It's only eight hundred, but I'll get the rest to you whenever I get it."

Julie felt her heart sink. He hadn't come to apologize or reconcile anything, much less declare his undying love to her as she had been secretly hoping. He was just paying back his so-called debt.

"Keep it." She replied, shaking her head at him as he opened his mouth to argue. "I don't need it, Tim."

"Jules, its Christmas. I know you need money for gifts or whatever." Tim argued. "And either way, I'd pay you back."

"I didn't loan that money to you and Billy expecting to get it back, Tim." She said, pushing the envelope away. "It was a gift."

Julie watched as he huffed lightly, obviously not liking what he heard. Well that was too bad – she wasn't taking his money.

"Use it to pay toward the rest of the mortgage or something. I don't care. I just don't want it back." She stated somewhat stubbornly.

Tim sneered. "We really don't need your pity anymore. So, just take it."

"Pity?" Julie asked, wondering what the hell he was talking about.

"Yeah. I mean, I know you gave me the money because you felt sorry for us and the mess we'd gotten into." Tim explained, looking uncomfortable with the whole conversation.

Julie just stood there staring at him for a few seconds, wondering how his mind worked at times.

"Tim, I gave you that money because I care about you and I wanted to help. I didn't want you getting beat up or losing your house – not because I pity you or feel sorry for you, but because I care about you." She said in exasperation, dropping her arms to her sides. "And I can't believe I'm about to say this, and I don't even know why I am considering you haven't spoken to me in months, but I still care about you, even if you don't feel the same way. That's why I'm not taking that damn money." She finished in a rush, immediately feeling foolish for her words.

She was getting really good at throwing herself out there only to be shot down. She waited for his reply, expecting to once again get her heart broken.

"You shouldn't." He muttered, barely loud enough to be heard.

"I shouldn't what?" She asked, trying to see his face through the curtain of hair as he looked at the floor.

"Care." He answered, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans, along with the forgotten money. "At least not about me."

"Why not?" Julie asked cautiously, waiting for him to tell her that he'd moved on as he gave a short, humorless laugh.

"Do you really have to ask? I mean, look at the mess I got you involved in just by being with me." He replied, self derision in his voice. "You're too good for that, Jules." He said quietly, meeting her gaze.

He was an idiot.

A big, sweet, sexy idiot.

In his own way he was trying to protect her, but all he was doing was making her miserable.

"Tim, you don't get to decide what's good for me and what's not. I'm a big girl." Julie stated firmly, taking a step closer as she looked up at him. "And I don't want you thinking for a second that you're not "good enough for me" or some bullshit like that. Yeah, you got involved with a crazy drug dealer and yes, you may have taken something that didn't belong to you, but it was a mistake. You realize it was a mistake and I don't know if you're aware of this Tim, but we all screw up. I screw up daily."

She sighed, watching the emotions cross his face, wanting to get through to him and wondering what was going through his misled, noble head.

"If you haven't talked to me in over a month because you think you're not good enough, or think that I look down on you or something, then you're mistaken. Nothing you did, or nothing you could do would make me love you any less." She finished quietly.

She really was a glutton for punishment. She had said the "L" word, letting it slip without meaning to. But she had meant it. Yes, she loved him, probably way more than she should. She could feel her cheeks heating from embarrassment as she watched his lips twitch, a hint of a smile forming on them as he pulled his hands from his pockets.

"Love, huh?" He asked, the husky note in his voice making her shiver.

"Maybe." She answered, shrugging her shoulders slightly as she smiled at him.

She watched his hint of a smile turn into a full-blown sexy smirk as he looked at her.

"Either you do or you don't, Jules." He said somewhat playfully, but she could see the seriousness in his eyes.

She swallowed, knowing this was it – it was like the last seconds of the game, knowing she had to just go for it and hope for the win.

"Maybe I do love you." She said, proud that her voice didn't waver as she took a step toward him, their toes almost touching. "What do you say to that?"

"You shouldn't." He answered softly, a smirk still on his lips.

"Tim…" She groaned, not wanting to go through the whole noble, stubbornness bit again.

"But…" He said, interrupting her as he cupped her cheeks with his hands. "Maybe I love you too." He whispered.

She didn't know whether to laugh or cry, happiness at his words engulfing her body as he leaned forward. She met him half way, placing her lips on his as she slid her arms around his neck. It was a kiss that said everything they had already said and the words that had been left unspoken – I'm sorry...I've missed you...I need you...I love you.

They were still standing in the foyer minutes later, their arms wrapped around one another as they caught up on all the kissing they had missed when the front door opened unexpectedly. Julie managed to disengage herself from Tim's arms long enough to turn and see her parents, arms full of shopping bags and matching shocked expressions on their faces.

"Uh, hi mom. Hi dad." She said, unable to stop the goofy grin on her face.

"Coach. Mrs. T." Tim said, clearing his throat beside her.

Julie watched her parents share a look before walking inside.

"Well, well, well." Eric said, his gaze going between Julie and Tim. "I guess it's going to be a very Merry Christmas after all." He said with a chuckle, causing everyone to laugh.

Julie glanced at Tim, seeing the relief and happiness on his face as he smiled at her.

A very Merry Christmas indeed.

Tim hung his hands between his knees, grinning at Gracie as she tried unsuccessfully to grab his hair from her spot on Julie's lap.

"Easy, slobber monster." He said with a chuckle, leaning away from her as her little hand came mighty close.

Julie giggled beside him on the couch, intentionally leaning Gracie closer to him. "Get him, Gracie Belle." She said playfully, laughter on her face.

Tim couldn't stop the smile spreading on his face, feeling better than he ever remembered feeling in his life. It was Christmas Day, and after spending the day with Billy, he had driven over to Julie's to have dinner with her family.

He still wasn't exactly sure how everything had worked out. He had come to the Taylor's to repay Julie her money, and had left with a smile and the knowledge that she loved him. Which was unreal.

Yes, he loved her too – but what was not to love? She was beautiful, extremely smart, funny, sassy, but just a total sweetheart at the same time. Anyone could understand him falling for her, but it was harder to see why she would love him.

But she apparently saw something in him that he couldn't see. And that was okay, because he was going to do his damnedest to be halfway worthy of her for as long as she would let him.

He'd been worried what her parents were going to say, but they seemed genuinely happy that they were back together. They accepted him, just like Julie had, and for that he'd be forever grateful. The only place he'd really ever felt like he belonged was on the football field. But now he felt like he belonged in this family, and especially with Julie.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked, breaking into his thoughts.

He looked at her, finding her staring at him curiously. "What?"

She laughed. "What are you thinking about? You look a million miles away but you've got this funny look on your face. Wishing you were at home with a cold beer? Far away from the craziness of a Taylor family Christmas?"

Not hardly, he thought to himself. There wasn't anywhere he'd rather be at the moment.

"Just wondering what you got me for Christmas." He said with a smirk.

"Oh..." Julie laughed, the sound making him even happier, knowing that he caused it. "I don't know if you're getting anything this year. Santa said you'd been naughty, didn't he, Gracie?"

Tim chuckled, leaning closer to her and speaking lowly. "Ah Jules, I'm a good boy. Scout's honor."

More laughter spilled from her pink lips. "You were never a boy scout. I know this for a fact." She said with a grin. "But you are good. Good for me." She said softly, leaning her face closer to his.

Tim felt his heart swell. God, he was crazy about this girl.

"Wow. Could I sound any cornier?" She asked with a laugh, leaning her forehead against his.

"It's cute." He replied softly, pressing a quick kiss to her lips just as Tami called that dinner was ready.

Tim ate until he felt like he couldn't eat anymore, and then still made room for pie. After the dishes were squared away and the kitchen was clean, the family gathered in the living room to exchange gifts.

Tim had bought the Taylor's a gift certificate to a nice restaurant in town, volunteering himself and Julie to babysit whenever they wanted to go. They had surprised him with a gift also – a new seat cover for his truck with a little #33 keychain to go along with it. He had been very appreciative, but he had been most touched by Julie's gift.

She had made him a shadowbox with various items from the football season. It was easy to see that she had put a lot of time into the gift, and he felt touched.

"I started working on it a long time ago." She explained, a sweet smile on her face. "I just had to hurry these past few days to finish it."

He had thanked her, telling her that he would give her gift to her later. The family settled down to watch Christmas Vacation and watch Gracie play with all her presents from Santa, just enjoying one another's company.

It was late in the evening when Tim finally decided he had better go before he overstayed his welcome. He bid good-bye to Coach and Mrs. Coach, thanking them both for having him and once again feeling a sense of belonging as they expressed how glad they were that he was able to join them.

Julie walked him out to his truck, her small hand wrapped in his. He pulled open the driver's door and placed his shadowbox inside, pulling out a much smaller red bag.

"Merry Christmas." He said, turning and handing her the small bag.

"Tim." She said, her voice telling him he shouldn't have, but he could see the excitement in her eyes as she reached inside the bag and pulled out a small blue box.

He waited with anticipation, watching her bite her lip as she opened the box. He'd been nervous about the gift, knowing he didn't know shit about girl's jewelry, but the silver bracelet had caught his eye. It was beautiful and dainty – just like her. And as cliché as it was, the small heart charm had been the selling point.

She had his heart. She may as well wear it.

"Oh, Tim. It's perfect." Julie said, running her finger over the charm. "I love it." She said, smiling up at him.

"Good." He replied, seeing that she truly meant it. "I was hoping you'd like it." He said, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her closer to him.

"I do." She replied, wrapping her arms around him and sliding them beneath his jacket. "You did very well, Mr. Riggins." She said playfully, smiling up at him.

Tim grinned, leaning down and placing his lips on her smart mouth. He pressed his lips against hers, the playful kiss turning into something more. He pulled back slightly, loving the flushed look on her face.

"I love you." He murmured, meaning each word, hoping she knew how important she was to him.

"Love you too." She replied sweetly, pulling his mouth back to hers as she began to show him just how much.

~The End~

A/N: That's all folks :) Thanks to everyone who hung in there with me on this story. It's crazy - all my other stories have been written over two or three months, and this one took me a year! But you ladies kept me going with all the wonderful feedback. You all will never know how much the kind words mean! I have a one-shot reunion story in the works and I have an idea for a sequel to "Looking For Love", but I make no promises when I may be able to post those. Until then, let me know your thoughts on this one. I know this chapter was extemely sappy, but I figured Tulie deserved it after the angst of the past several chapters :) Thanks again - you ladies rock!

~Nichole