I want to look at my prior year tax return but its telling me to pay, I did when I filed that year

What did you pay for last year?   Did you use Free Edition (which had free Federal) and only paid for a state return?

If you paid for your 2017 Federal return last year in PLUS or higher, you should still have free access to the return files.

However, if you did not pay for a 2017 Federal return, but only paid for a 2017 state return in Free Edition, then that will not qualify to access the past return.

See this FAQ:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/00/27010

If that's your situation, we can tell you how to upgrade your 2018 Free Edition return to PLUS and pay the 19.99 by credit/debit card to unlock all prior returns in that account.

To unlock a prior online return, please answer the following about your 2018 return so we can provide steps for your situation:

1. Which of these is your situation:   Have you already filed a 2018 return in Online TurboTax, or is one in preparation?  Or did you file elsewhere?
2. Was the 2018 return prepared in Free Edition?
3. Is the 2018 return in the SAME account as the locked 2017 online return?

We can tell you how to pay to unlock a return once you answer all the questions above.

There's also a free option if a 2017 return transcript will suit your purpose.  You may be able to immediately download a transcript at the IRS website if you qualify to open an IRS account there.  Otherwise, to order a transcript from the IRS to come by postal mail takes 5-10 calendar days.
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript