Returning a value without ending the function?

Technically speaking, no there isn't any way to use the return statement in a function without discontinuation occurring.

But there is an alternative. You can just define a value before running the function, and have a parameter inside the function which will be set to whatever value you want

Example;

function derp(argument, variableParam)
    --code
    variableParam = 0
    --code
end

local a = 1
derp(argument,a)

Now,'a' will be set to 0 whenever the function derp runs.. so it's kinda like returning a value(: