Hart of Dixie 1. Prologue

**This was just a random idea I had. With the guys at the bar there is a reason behind why I used no names. This one is AU for the most part. I hope you all like it.**

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_**Prologue:**_

"Zoe, you gotta come out. You start your residency in a few days. We gotta have a girls night out. And you need to get some action. It's been far to long," Gigi told her friend. Zoe looked at her friend. She was on a mission to be a heart surgeon, not meet any new boyfriends. She didn't have the time right now, her focus was on her career after that she would worry about dating.

"Oh alright," Zoe gave in to her friend. Gigi would never give up. It was better to agree then to argue about it only to go out anyway. Maybe it would do her some good after all. "Would you stop obsessing over my private life? It is private for a reason," Zoe told her friend. She hadn't expected anything else from Gigi, but what she did in her private life was for her to know and no one else.

"I make no promises," Gigi smirked walking out the door, Zoe close behind her. That's what Zoe had feared.

Two hours and a lot of glasses of wine later Zoe found herself tipsy and very giggly. She was left alone since Gigi had abandoned her. Zoe got tired of fighting the creeps off of her so she had decided to call it night. On her way out the door is when she spotted a man who was more her taste. Walking closer to him she saw the man had brown hair and light blue or maybe light green eyes. The alcohol was taking a toll on her. She couldn't make his eye color out. She twirled her hair around her finger her head cocked to one side. He was good-looking.

"Hi," Zoe smiled resting her hand on his arm, feeling the muscles that lay under his shirt.

"Hello," the man replied looking Zoe up. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Wine please," Zoe bit her lip batting her eye lashes.

"Coming right up," He replied with a wink. He called the bar tender over. "White or red?"

"White," Zoe told him taking the empty seat beside him.

"My man, you got your girl back at home. You can't be doing this." Zoe turned her attention to the man who just walked up.

"I'm just having a little fun." Zoe bit her lip looking this guy up and down. He was better looking than his friend was. His green eyes pierced right through her going straight to her soul. He was very easy on the eyes. "Things are bit rocky right now anyway," He informed his friend.

"Why don't you go call your lady friend, well I get to know your friend here," Zoe giggled keeping her eyes on this guy. "Patch things up and all," Zoe said downing her glass of wine, slipping off her stool, Zoe would have fallen over if the guy number 2 wouldn't have caught her.

"Yea, go call your girl. I got this under control," Zoe's knees grew week seeing the smirk that crossed his face. He tossed his arm around Zoe's shoulder. "Wanna get outta here?" He asked. Zoe giggled nodding her head. They headed back to his room at the hotel he was staying at. He came to New York to spend time with his friend for the weekend. He was skeptical at first but now he was happy that he had agreed to come for the weekend. It didn't take long for clothes to be shed the second they stepped through the hotel room door. Their bodies became one as they found their way to the bed.

Zoe woke up early in the morning. She looked over seeing the naked man beside her. She couldn't believe she had actually slept with him. She got out of bed taking the sheet with her. All well the mystery man stayed asleep. She searched the room for her clothes and snuck out. She had never learned his name and she never told him hers. For that she was thankful. She would never see him again. Ever! Zoe went home and took a long hot shower to rid him from her body. She remembered every tiny detail so vividly in her head. His lips set fire to her skin. He made her feel things she had never felt before. It simply amazed her.

"Where'd you go last night?" Gigi asked full of life bouncing into Zoe's place with coffee and doughnuts.

"I met a guy, woke up in his hotel room," Zoe replied grabbing a coffee. To Zoe it was no big deal and she wasn't going to make it out more than it already was. "Sorry I gotta jet, spending the day with my mom before she leaves tomorrow morning."

"Are you gonna come out tonight?" Gigi asked walking out with Zoe.

"After last night?" Zoe asked mostly to herself. She didn't wanna risk seeing the guy from last night. "I don't think so. I wanna stay in and rest. I'm gonna need it since I start my rotations tomorrow. It wouldn't be good to show up hung over."

"You could always have one or two. It's not like you have to go over board on the drinking, Zoe," Gigi pushed.

"Not this time. If it was anything like last night you'd ditch me with in a few minutes anyway." It may have been harsh but it was the truth. It happened every time they went out.

"Not that it matters since you were talking to that total hottie."

"And I left with the hottie's very sexy friend." Zoe gave her friend a hug. "I'll catch ya later." Zoe walked across the street getting lost in the sea of people. A few minutes later Zoe walked through the door at her mother's apartment.

"Mom, hello?" Zoe called for her mom.

"Zoe, dear," Candice said holding the mouth piece of her phone walking into the room. "I'll be with you in a minute." Zoe wondered into the kitchen to get a drink of water. "I'm sorry sweetie, I've got a meeting I need to get to. I'll see you when I get back," Candice informed her daughter kissing her cheek. Zoe sighed as she watched her mother leave.

"Good-luck tomorrow with your rotations starting. You'll do fine, Zoe," she imitated her mom.

"Thanks mom," Zoe faked a happy expression. "Is it that hard?" Zoe asked herself. Not only was she annoyed at Gigi but now she was also annoyed at her mother. Zoe stopped off to get some black and white cookies before heading home. She really should have seen that her mom would blow her off. It was typical Candice behavior. Zoe found it hard to please the woman.

"Hey, dad, I wasn't sure if you got my other messages but I start my rotations tomorrow, I love you, call me back," Zoe left the message on her dad's phone. She hadn't spoke to him in a few weeks now. He hadn't called her and she had left over a dozen messages for him. She kept trying to figure out what it was she did to make him ignore her. She always came up empty handed. Tossing her phone to the side, Zoe cuddled under her blanket and settled in for a night in front of the TV, with take-out and her cookies. Tomorrow was going to be a long and hard day but Zoe was excited for it.


	2. 4 Years Later

**Thank you for the feedback on this story so far.**

**For this chapter, I felt I needed to keep a few things from Zoe's first time in Bluebell close to the same as it was on the show, I changed the things I needed to. Zoe's first day in Bluebell is broke into 2 chapters.**

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_**4 years Later:**_

Zoe sighed looking at the post card in her hand. She had lost everything she had worked so hard for over the last 4 years. She didn't even let an unwanted and a very unexpected pregnancy stop her. She worked through it all. She knew what she wanted and she was determined to get it, until they turned her away. That's when her world came crashing down around her. She didn't have just herself to think about. She had to make the right decision for her daughter.

Zoe Hart was going to Bluebell, Alabama.

The plane ride was nice, the bus ride that dropped her off in the middle of no where wasn't a pleasant ride. Here she was, stuck on the side of the road, she didn't know anyone in this state. Where the hell was she? Zoe looked around falling to sit on her luggage. How was she suppose to carry all her bags into town? Well Zoe sat trying to figure out her next move she gave no notice to the truck that had pulled up.

"You lost?" The guy asked making Zoe jump.

"Lost? No," Zoe shook her head. "Stranded is more like it."

"Where are you headed?" The guy asked.

"Bluebell," Zoe replied.

"That's where I'm headed, I'll give you lift." He was easy on the eyes. Especially when he smiled and his bright white teeth poked through. Zoe swore up and down she knew him from somewhere. She pushed the thought away, he had to have one of those faces.

"Thank you," Zoe told him getting her things put in the back of the truck.

"My pleasure," He smiled looking at Zoe. "I'm George Tucker, lawyer for Bluebell," He introduced himself.

"Zoe Hart, newest Doctor for Bluebell," Zoe told him.

"Where are you coming from?" George asked as he started to drive.

"New York, why?"

"Curious, I spent a few years in the city, I lived in Tribeca for a while, when I worked at Cravath. "

"As in Cravath, Swaine, and Moore?" Zoe asked surprised.

"Yep. That's the one alright," George replied with a small chuckle.

"What are you doing here?" Zoe asked. She couldn't imagine someone giving something as good as that up so easily.

"Take it you're not in town for the crawdads, huh?" George asked with a small smile.

"I've been exiled from Manhattan, this is my purgatory," Zoe replied being dramatic.

"Well, if you consider purgatory to be a place where neighbors take care of each other and every third Tuesday demands a parade, well, you can call it what you want, but I call it home," George told her.

"New York isn't for everyone."

"It wasn't just that," George informed her.

"You had your life," Zoe said thinking about it more than speaking it out loud. Could she settle into a life with her daughter in Bluebell? Could she forgot about her life she had in New York? It wouldn't change anything with her mom. She thought this was best for her daughter, but what if she was wrong?

"Oh yea, that I did," George replied. "Welcome to Bluebell," George said pulling up to the practice.

"Thanks for the ride, George," Zoe told him getting her bags from the back.

"You're welcome, it really was nothing. Well, good luck, Doctor Zoe Hart. I hope you find what you're looking for." Zoe was hoping for that as well, it wasn't just her life at stake here. Taking her luggage Zoe headed into the practice to met her fate.

"Hi. Hello? Is Doctor Wilkes around?" Zoe asked leaving her luggage off to the side out of the way. She walked up to the receptionist.

"What rock you been livin' under the last four months? Harley passed away." Emmeline told her much to Zoe's dismay. With him dead what did that leave her for a job?

"What? But he just sent me a postcard."

"Are you Zoe Hart?" Emmeline asked surprised.

"Yeah..."

"He told me if I kept sending you his postcards eventually you'd show up. Guess he was right."

"Why would he want me to show up?" None of it had made sense to Zoe.

"Because Harley left you his practice," Emmeline told a very shocked Zoe. Why would he do something like that for? Emmeline took her chance and got Zoe outside to get some lunch. Zoe was grateful for the fresh air and the food.

"It's beyond weird, why me?" Zoe asked getting her thoughts out in the open.

"Harley never really explained," Emmeline told her. She hated to lie to the poor girl but this wasn't her place and she didn't even know Zoe.

"Well, clearly the man was one avocado short of a cobb salad, but oddly it works in my favor," Zoe said opening her take out box. "this is the catch of the day?" Zoe asked disgusted by the look of the fried fish in box.

"What were you expecting? It's a gulf, we've got catfish. It's fried," Emmeline explained to Zoe who just so happened to throw the food away when they walked by a trash can. She wasn't that hungry anyway. "You gonna stay or go back to your fancy life in New York?" Emmeline asked. Zoe sighed. She didn't have a job back home, this was the right thing, it had to be.

"I'm staying and since I'm here now I'll get started. So notify the town crier or whatever and let them know I'm open for business," Zoe told her.

"Oh no no, the thing is, see, technically Harley only left you half the practice, and he shares it with Dr. Breeland, and Brick, he's been waiting a long time to get Bluebell all to himself." Just great, Zoe thought. She needed to be rational about this. She kept picturing her daughter to stay level-headed about this all.

"Okay, well, let's just find him and we can sit down like adults and work this out."

"Brick's hunting, and that ain't the sort of news you tell an Alabama man when he's got his hog rifle locked and loaded," Emmeline replied chuckling. That wasn't what Zoe wanted to hear, but she'd get this all sorted out in the next couple of days.

"Whoa. Okay, someone needs to inform this town of the current year... dancing in celebration of the Confederacy, really?" Zoe asked seeing the Belle's dance rehearsal in the town square.

"Dr. Hart, the Belles are elite young ladies chosen to keep our history alive. You can mock all you want, but I wouldn't do it out loud, because, well, they're meaner than they look," Emmeline told her.

"The Belles? Emmeline, come on," Zoe scoffed.

"You can call me, Mrs. Hattenbarger. And my husband put the satellite in last year, we watched every episode of the Sopranos, and believe me, that family has got nothing on these girls." Just then Lemon took notice and approached them.

"When I heard there was a new lady doctor in town I painted myself quite a different picture, but you...are just so pretty." Zoe wasn't sure if she was being serious or fake.

"Zoe, this is Lemon Breeland."

"Oh, okay, you're Brick's daughter." Lemon extends hand. "Alright." Zoe shakes Lemon's hand. "Yeah, it's really nice to meet you. I'm dying to talk to your dad. I know he's hunting or whatever, but you must have a way to contact him?"

"Oh, honey, there's no need for that. He knows that you're here. And if I were you, I'd be gone by the time that he returns, because Daddy can be quite... imposing," Lemon said looking meaningfully at Zoe.

"Well, you tell Daddy that if my medical career hasn't been killed by my mother, or the Chief of Surgery at New York Hospital, it most certainly won't be by some Southern xenophobe dressed up like a stick of butter."

"You have a good day," Lemon replied walking off.

"I'm gonna head back to the practice and get started well I'm here," Zoe told Emmeline. Zoe figured it would be best to get started now well she had the time to do so. She was still gonna have to find a place for her daughter to be well she worked.

"Mom. Hi. Sorry I haven't been answering. Actually, there's something I have to tell you." Zoe didn't inform her mom of her plans. Only told her she was going on a trip for days. "We're moving to Alabama! Mom? Are you there?" Zoe asked looking at her phone before putting the phone back to her ear. Not hearing a reply Zoe hung up seeing the man who had just walked in.

"Is Dr. Breeland around?" Old man Jackson asked.

"He's hunting," Zoe told him as her phone rings. "My mom, she's freaking out. Told her I moved here. What's up, you sick?"

"Oh, I feel as good as anyone my age would. There's been a little mix-up down at the DMV. I don't suppose you could sign this for me?" He asked handing the papers to Zoe.

"Let me give you an eye test first." Zoe told him as her phone started to ring again. "Mom?" Zoe asked answering her phone. Old Man Jackson begin to recite the eye chart. "Uh... no you know what happened with the fellowship. It's a GP position," Zoe explained hearing Old Man Jackson reciting the eye chart. "Alabama, mom. The state. No, I'm not having a nervous breakdown, okay, I, no, it's. You, too, bye." Zoe hung up. "Alright!" Zoe exclaimed signing the paper.

"Thank you very much." Old man Jackson replied chuckling as he walked out.

Zoe got her luggage gathered and headed for the Mayor's plantation. Mrs. H had arranged it and it was better than nothing. Zoe knocked on the door.

"No way! You're the Mayor? Lavon Hayes, the linebacker? Two Super Bowls, five Pro Bowls?" Zoe exclaimed seeing Lavon Hayes standing before her.

"Four, actually," he corrected her.

"Well, I rounded up. You got robbed in '06."

"Oh. Lavon Hayes likes your math. You must be Zoe."

"Yeah."

"Alright, let me show you to your quarters," Lavon told her.

"Alright!" Zoe exclaimed reaching down to get her bags.

"I got it, I got it," Lavon told her bending over to get her bags.

"Are you sure?" Zoe asked.

"Lavon Hayes will get your bags."

"Thank you!" Zoe exclaimed following Lavon. "You know, you being the Mayor here is the first thing about Bluebell that I actually like."

"Thank you."

"How'd that happen?"

"Well, after ten years in the NFL, I was a little lost. So, Lavon Hayes moved back home. Having played for the Crimson Tide, I was quite popular around here. I ran...I won," Lavon told her. "Here it is. Let me get the door for you. Watch your step."

"Thanks."

"Sorry about the look of the place. I think you can put your bags in the back room there."

"It's not my loft in SoHo, but, I'll buy some stuff. Make the place more homey." She didn't have the time to order any anything. She would be leaving in a few days to get her daughter, this place needed to look more like a home.

"You share a generator with the guy in the gate house, looks after the place, Wade Kinsella. If you got your, uh, curling iron going while he's got his AC on, could be trouble. Oh! If you do decide to wander, keep your eyes peeled for Burt Reynolds. Alright."

"What?" Zoe asked quietly. But Lavon was already gone. Zoe got busy trying to get the place cleaned up. She had limited amount of time and all her free time needed to be put into making this carriage house feel more like a home. Zoe had just got a few things moved around before getting settled into bed when the power went out. Zoe groaned walking over to the gate house and knocked on the door but no one can hear her over the music so she walks in to see who she presumes is Wade and two girls are playing guitar hero.

"Oh, I'm crushing the solo, ain't I?" Wade asked as the girls laugh.

"You overheated the generator!" Zoe yells over the music.

"Nice nightgown. I'm Wade," Wade told her looking away from the game. "Do I know you?"

"Well that smile might make all the girls at the church social swoon, but it's not going to work on me," Zoe informed him. "No you don't know me," Zoe quipped back.

"Well, if you're not going to be polite, I'm not going to show you where the fuse box is. Night. Keep going, ladies! Come on, I'm just getting warmed up now." Zoe huffed walking back to the carriage house when an alligator gets in her path and she screams, falling to the ground.

"Shhhh, shhh, hey, hey, hey. What?" George asked coming to see Zoe.

"Alligator!" Zoe exclaimed.

"What?"

"An alligator!"

"I'm sorry, I must've got some mud in my ear," George told her.

"An alligator!" Zoe exclaimed again pointing.

"Now I get it! What? Why wouldn't you say so? That is an emergency. Stay, stay back." George told her. "Beat it, Burt. That's Burt Reynolds. The Mayor's pet alligator. His favorite movie is Smokey and the Bandit, so..." George told her as the alligator walked away.

"That's funny."

"Yeah."

"Alright."

"Oh, come on, I'm just having... hey. Hey. I know you're a New Yorker and everything, but down here in Alabama when one interrupts their nightly jog to climb into the mud to save our well-toned ass, we, you know, we say thank you," George told her.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah."

"Oh. Well, thank you. I guess I'll be seeing you around," Zoe told him.

"Yeah, see, hey, small towns have their perks, huh?" George asked. Zoe gave him a smile and headed back to her new home to change and call and check up on her daughter. It was going to take time for both of them to get use to Bluebell but they had no other choice.


	3. The Truth

**This is the last of it that will be the same as the show, I might use a few things along the way but nothing like the last 2 chapters. This is an AU story after all. I promise the next chapter will have Zoe's daughter in it along with a cute little moment with Wade.**

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_**The Truth:**_

"Bluebell isn't so horrible, Dad. The people here aren't so bad. Maybe I can make a difference." Zoe said into her phone hearing a beep. "I have another call. Call me, are you getting my messages? Bye," Zoe said before pressing the button. "Hello?"

"Did you sign Old Man Jackson's eye exam for the DMV today?" Emmeline asked over the phone.

"Yeah, why."

"Cause he just ran someone over."

Zoe jumped out of bed and hurried to the practice.

"Can't you tell a legally blind man when he's right in front of your face? All you had to do was open his file, everyone knows Old Man Jackson memorized the eye chart!" Emmeline exclaimed the second Zoe walked through the door.

"Oh, my God. I feel so bad. I was distracted."

"Well you should! He nearly killed George Tucker."

"If you wanted to see me again, you could've just asked," Zoe joked seeing George sitting on the medical bed waiting.

"It's, my shoulder. Just."

"Alright. Let me see." George groans in pain. "It's dislocated. It's no big deal, I just have to put it back into place." Zoe injects him with some morphine.

"Ah, what the hell?"

"That's just the morphine, it's the easy part. Baby," Zoe told him "Eventually, you're going to find out this whole getting run over by a car thing was kind of my fault," Zoe said jerking George's arm.

"Oh, you did it again! Okay, have you never heard of bedside manner?" George asked groaning in pain.

"Why is everyone so obsessed with that?" Zoe asked.

"Because it's nice!" George exclaimed passing out.

"George? Good. Morphine's working."

"O.M.G. It's true," Rose said coming into the practice.

"Rosie, honey. Come on, it's time for bed," Emmeline told her niece.

"Aunt Emmeline, this is breaking news." She said turning to Zoe. "Rose Hattenbarger, Bluebell Beat blogger for the otherwise torpid official town website. So, how does it feel to be responsible for maiming George Tucker, town golden boy?"

"He is not maimed," Zoe replied.

"Off the record, why would anyone ever leave New York? New York has everything, and I know, I read the daily intel and own all the SatC DVD's. I bet you're a Carrie. I'm a Charlotte, but I wish I was a Carrie," Rose gushed.

"You guys really like your classic HBO, huh? But I am a Miranda who also wishes she was a Carrie," Zoe replied.

"I knew you and I were going to be friends."

"Well, I guess I could use a friend."

"Damn straight. Brick's here," Emmeline announced.

"Hello, pickle," Brick said walking in.

"Hi, Brick. Uh, I'll see you later," Rose said leaving.

"We haven't met. I'm Dr. Zoe Hart," Zoe told him extending her hand.

"Well as far as I'm concerned you're the girl who almost killed two people and spoiled my hunting trip. How dare you see my patients," Brick told her ignoring her hand.

"Well, technically Harley left his half of the practice to me."

"Hart, Ms. Hart, I'm not going to share this office, not for one minute," Brick said moving toward an unconscious George. "I see you have met my lawyer, when he's conscious he doesn't lose. I'm going to be contesting the will. Harley wasn't in his right mind." Zoe went to speak but Brick cut her off. "Well bless your heart. But things have been working just fine here in Bluebell. We survived Katrina, we survived BP, by boarding up the windows and piling up the sandbags to keep the rot outside from fouling our community. And believe you me, Zoe Hart, we are going to chase you away from our waters," Brick informed her. If it wasn't for Emma she would reconsider this whole thing. But she couldn't just stay for a year only to pull her daughter away yet again.

Zoe's night had quickly gone downhill. But, in times like this, she found one thing that really helps her through. And that was wine. She could only hope they had some at the Dixie Stop. She would have a glass or two on the weekends after Emma would be a sleep.

"Do you realize that my engagement party is tomorrow? Huh? I mean, what am I supposed to do? The photographs, the press, the whole thing is just going to be ruined," Lemon rattled off walking up to Zoe.

"Seriously Lemon, what are you blabbering about?" Zoe asked. She was already tired and the last thing she wanted to do was deal with Lemon.

"Well thanks to you, my fiance was in a car accident," Lemon informed her.

"You're engaged to Old Man Jackson?" Zoe asked shocked.

"No, you twit. I am engaged to George Tucker." It really had been a long day and it kept getting worse. Zoe didn't stick around to reply to Lemon, instead she took her wine and headed out. She was gonna have to buy a car before she brought Emma down. Maybe Bluebell wasn't the answer. She'd messed up as a doctor and gotten the guy she kind of liked ran over. He was engaged, so there went that. She had sunk to her lowest point.

"Nice first day. Everyone knows Old Man J memorized the eye chart," Wade replied with a smirk pulling up to where Zoe sat on the edge of the road.

"Don't you have some cows to tip. Wade?" Zoe asked.

"Oh. Look at you, girl. You're drunk as a boiled owl. I'd offer to give you a ride but I don't want you getting any ideas," Zoe stared at Wade, something about this felt too familiar to her. His eyes, his smirk, her being drunk. Something snapped inside of Zoe, She needed to be near him, to feel his lips against hers. Making out just wasn't doing it for either one of them. They made their way to the backseat where their clothes were quickly shed.

"This never happened?" Zoe told Wade freaked out. It wasn't just her, she couldn't be doing things like this when she had a daughter to worry about.

"My lips are sealed, Doc," Wade replied with a smirk. There was something about this that seemed like it had happened before but he knew it never did. There was no way it had.

"Mom!" Zoe was all kinds of surprised to see her mom waiting for her. "Where's Emma?"

"With the nanny in New York, she's fine. What the hell are you thinking?" Candice asked clearly pissed off at her daughter. What was she thinking?

"I have my own daughter to think about and this is what I decided was the best choice for her in the long run," Zoe told her mom going to get ready for bed. "It's been a very long day and I need some sleep."

"I get that you feel you had no choice. What I don't get is why this Harley would try so hard to get you down here. I mean, no offense, your speech was great. But really, why?" Candice asked the next day well they walked around Bluebell.

"I'm not sure. It's possible he was nut balls," Zoe replied.

"I don't care what the Chief said. Nothing is worth you spending your life here. And your father agrees with me."

"Wait, you talked to Dad?" Zoe was shocked by that. How many times had she called and left him messages? To many to count, that's how many.

"Well he called me after he heard your message that you left last night. How do you think I found you?"

"He called you instead of me?" Hearing that hurt Zoe deeply.

"Oh. You know him, he can't deal with complications. But honey, do you belong here? Let's go home." Did she belong there? No, not yet anyway but she could with time. She couldn't give up, not yet anyway. She needed to talk to Brick and maybe George.

"I don't know, mom. But I have to think about Emma here, it's her future I need to worry about. We could be happy here."

"You don't mean that," Candice told her daughter. "You grew up in New York and you turned out just fine."

"I turned out fine?" Zoe asked. "I have a father that wont talk to me and a mother that only wants something for me when it makes her look good," Zoe told her. "I'm sorry but I'll be back in a few days to get Emma but my decision is final, Bluebell is my home now," Zoe said walking off.

"I heard about your run-in with Lemon last night and I should've told you," George told Zoe seeing her out on the pier.

"What, that you're engaged? I mean between the alligator and getting hit by a car you kind of had a lot going on last night," Zoe waved it off. After having quite the encounter with Wade, she was over what little crush she had on George.

"Look, you should've known Lemon when we were younger. I mean, she was funny, she was irreverent, I just, I was honored that she chose me. But you know, after law school I needed a change, you know. So I decided to move to New York, and I loved it in the city. But I woke up dreaming about the sunset and about having sand beneath my feet and I realized that Bluebell, and Lemon, they're who I am, you know. Can't really be my best self without 'em." Hearing what George had to say helped her realize that no matter how wrong this felt it would always be the right thing to do, the town could hate her all they wanted to, this move was for Emma, she needed to grow up away from the city.

"Wow. You're a lucky guy. A girl you feel the same way about as a town," Zoe told him sarcasm coming out. "I need to go pack a few things," Zoe told him turning to walk off.

"You going back to New York?" George asked.

"Something like that," Zoe replied walking off. Instead of going to the carriage house, Zoe first went to the practice in search of Brick. She needed to talk to Brick. He needed to understand why she was doing this for. She didn't wanna take anything away from him, she only wanted to give her child a real childhood that involved her and not a million different nannies. Once at the now empty practice, Zoe took a look at the things that were Harley Wilkes. She wanted to understand why he would give her his half of the practice.

Not finding an answer wrote on the walls or in any books, Zoe went to the Breeland's.

"I know I'm not invited, I really need to talk to Brick," Zoe said to the Belle.

"I can't let you in, Brick is busy with Lemon and it being her party and all," The Belle said.

"Actually, she's with me. Lavon Hayes, Mayor. I do believe that entitles me to a plus one," Lavon said coming to Zoe's aid. The Belle waved them through giving Zoe a look.

"How you doing, ladies? Good to see you," Lavon said.

"Thank you. I've got to go find Brick," Zoe told him.

"Well, not a problem. This party could use a little shaking up. I do believe Lavon Hayes needs himself a cocktail," Lavon told Zoe.

On her way to find Brick she came across Lemon and George in the middle of a kiss.

"Oh," Zoe said suddenly feeling awkward.

"Zoe...uh, is everything okay?" George asked.

"What are you doing here?" Lemon asked none to pleased to see Zoe at her party.

"I came with the Mayor," Zoe replied answering Lemon's question.

"Lavon?" Lemon questioned. Zoe nodded her head.

"Okay, well, welcome, and the bar is over," George started to say only for Zoe to continue walking. "that way."

Zoe kept her search up for Brick but instead of finding him, Zoe came across an in labor Mabel.

"Mabel, how long has it been, exactly, since your last period?" Zoe asked.

"I'm not sure," Mabel told her groaning in pain.

"Another one? They're fifteen seconds apart. Okay, Mabel, stay calm. Look, we're not going to make it to the hospital. You're having a baby, and you're having it now. Come on," Zoe told her.

"What is going on here?" Brick asked walking into the room. This wasn't the way she wanted to talk to Brick.

"Brick, she's ten centimeters. Ready to push. Contractions are on top of each other. We need to deliver this baby."

"No, I need to deliver this baby. Have Emmeline get me my medical bag, my drug bag, get me some towels," Brick started to say.

"No, no, no, no, don't you come near me! Dr. Hart and I, we're in this together. She's my doctor," Mabel told Brick.

"Guess I'll be needing the towels. Okay, Mabel? Mabel, I'm going to need you to start pushing, okay?"

The delivery of the baby started off smoothly until the shoulder got lodged in the pelvis. Brick wanted to wait until the hospital in Mobile for a C-section but Zoe was having none of that. Especially with it being twenty miles away. Zoe went ahead and did a symphysiotomy. To Brick that was too dangerous, but Zoe knew what she doing and she didn't have time to second guess herself. Either the baby came now or they both died. Zoe got everything set up and gave Mabel some pain killers to help deal with the pain. Zoe talked Mabel through it and soon enough baby cries could be heard in the room.

"Is she okay?" Mabel asked crying herself.

"She's got ten fingers and ten toes and those lungs that would make Carrie Underwood jealous. You've got yourself a healthy baby girl," Brick told her handing her the little baby. "Zoe a word please?"

"Mabel, what you did for your daughter, you were amazing. Don't ever forget how much strength you have," Zoe told her. "Of course Brick."

"Nice job. You know, it's too bad you're not going to be staying. George told me you were going back to New York," Brick told her.

"I'm gonna be coming back, I've gotta go get my daughter. I only came to get things set up for us," Zoe told him seeing his face fall.

"I'll tell the paramedics we're going to be fine," Brick said walking away.

Zoe left the Breeland's house with Emmeline.

"You asked me before why Harley left you his practice, I didn't tell you the whole truth. I didn't think it was my place, but, I've been carrying this around since you got here. Didn't know if I should give it to you, but uh, here," Emmeline told Zoe handing her a photo.

"That's my mom. And Harley?"

"Yeah, Zoe. Harley Wilkes was your father." Zoe couldn't believe it. She needed more answers than the ones that she was given. Zoe walked home in a daze of emotions. Her life had been a lie. Zoe saw the limo waiting outside the carriage house. Her mother just didn't get it.

"You're here, great! There's a superb Sancerre chilling in the car."

"I told you I'm staying, but," Zoe said holding up the photo. "we need to talk."

"Oh my, oh my God. Zoe, I can explain."

"What's there to explain? That my entire life has been a lie? This is the answer to everything isn't it, why Harley left me the practice, why Dad stopped loving me? Because I wasn't his to love. He knew, didn't he?"

"When you were ten you fell of the swings. They thought you would need a transfusion, but when he donated blood... He tried to stay in your life but I guess it was too hard."

"That's why he left? And what about Harley, why not tell me about him. Was he a psycho, a pedophile, what?"

"He was a mistake. I met him on a cruise. It was Greece. He was handsome, older, a gentleman, it was a fantasy. But I was engaged, to someone real."

"Did you love him?"

"It doesn't matter. I did not belong with him, just as my child does not belong in a place like this. I gave you a father who was from our world. I protected you."

"It should've been my choice," Zoe told her mother.

"I am sorry, Zoe. I am truly, deeply sorry, but can we please go home and discuss this in therapy like normal people?" Candice asked with one more attempt to get her daughter to come home.

"You go, I'm staying here. I'll be back in a few days to get Emma," Zoe told her mom walking into the carriage house. Growing up, Zoe was told that to be a surgeon, she couldn't let herself feel. But then, she came to Bluebell.

The next day Zoe walked into Lavon's house getting herself a plate of food much to Lavon's protest.

"You busy today?" Zoe asked sitting by him.

"Now that depends. What do you need help with?" Lavon asked.

"I need to go to Mobile, find a car and get things for my daughter. Also I leave tomorrow, any way you could maybe possibly get the carriage house ready for us when we get back?" Zoe asked. Lavon gave her look. He needed to know how many people would be leaving in his carriage house. "It's just me and Emma."

"I'll get Wade to help me out. Once you're done we can go, how old is she?" Lavon asked. Zoe didn't look old enough to have a very old kid.

"She'll be 4 in February," Zoe told him with a smile. Things would work out.


	4. Meeting Emma

_**Meeting Emma:**_

"Miss Hart, you ready to go?" Zoe asked walking into her daughter's room. A little girl with brunette pigtails sulked to her bed. Zoe picked the almost 3 and half-year old up. "Tell mommy what's wrong?" Zoe asked even though she already knew the answer. Zoe found it hard to convince herself she was doing the right thing for her daughter when her little girl wanted to stay put.

"I wanna stay in the city," she pouted.

"I know sweetie, but mommy has a job else where. You'll like it there." Zoe didn't have to worry about that. Emma loved playing at the park. And in Bluebell there was plenty of room for her to run around.

"What if I don't mommy?" The little girl asked hugging Zoe.

"Let's worry about that later, ok? Let's go see this place first then you can decided. Okay?"

"Otay mommy."

"You got everything?" The little girl nodded resting her head on Zoe's shoulder. Even though she had been raised in the city she was relieved to have her Emma grow up else where. Emma jumped out of her mom's arms and ran to the elevator wanting to push the button. Zoe took her daughter's hand. There was no going back.

"Mommy, mommy," Emma pulled on Zoe's hand. "I forgot Pinky, we have to go back and get him," Zoe gave her daughter a smile. Pinky was a white bunny with a pink bow on an ear. Emma wouldn't sleep without him, especially some place new.

"I got Pinky in my bag here," Zoe stopped kneeling down to her daughters level. She opened her bag and pulled the bunny out. "See?"

"Thank you, mommy," Emma smiled taking the bunny and hugging it tight.

"You're welcome peanut."

Emma had never been on a plane before. Zoe thought she would be scared but turned out Emma was excited to be in the sky. She kept looking out the window amazed how the world was so small beneath her. Emma had passed out from all the traveling when Zoe pulled up to the Carriage house. She really hoped Lavon had done something inside. Zoe parked her car and carefully took Emma out of her car seat and carried her daughter in putting her in what would be her new bed. Leaving the doors open Zoe went back to the car to get some of the bags.

"I really thought you had ran off back to the city." Zoe paled turning around. Lavon said he was going to get Wade to help set up the carriage house well she was gone. "Lavon said you'd return but I was skeptical."

"What do you want?" Zoe asked setting the bags in her hand down.

"Trying to be neighborly. But I can go if that's what you want." Before Zoe could reply, they heard Emma scream than cry.

"MOMMY!" Emma yelled running out the door. Zoe turned around bending down to scoop Emma up. Zoe walked back inside rubbing her daughters back.

"Shhh it's ok baby," Zoe whispered in her daughters ear. Soon enough Emma's cries turned into sniffles.

Wade watched with amazement. When he had briefly saw her days ago, he would have never guessed that Zoe had a daughter. He was to busy trying to figure out how it was he knew Zoe. She looked pretty damn familiar, he just didn't know where he knew her from. Wade took the bags that were in the trunk and brought them inside. A smile had crept onto his face. He let the two have their little moment it didn't feel right to break it up. He still didn't believe she had a daughter when he helped Lavon get things set up for the duo. He was proven wrong and for that he was ok with it.

"Momma, momma," Emma giggled jumping on the bed. "I hungwy," she plopped down on Zoe's stomach.

"Morning to you too, peanut." Zoe ticked Emma. "Let me get dressed and we'll go into town and get some yummies." Zoe kissed Emma's nose getting up. Zoe got Emma set up with some crayons and a coloring book.

Around an hour later they walked into the Rammer Jammer. After they had ordered Lavon joined them. Emma looked at the stranger confused. She then looked at her mom and saw a smile on her face. She turned back to the man and waved at him.

"HI," She smiled going back to the picture she was coloring.

"Hello pretty lady," Lavon replied. "This must be Emma."

"That she is," Zoe replied.

"Mommy color wif me," Emma pushed a yellow crayon to Zoe. "Wanna color too?" Emma asked looking at Lavon.

"Do you have a purple crayon I could color with?" Lavon asked. Emma smiled brightly handing him her purple crayon.

"I Emma." Zoe smiled at her daughter. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so found of strangers. She knew it would be different if she wouldn't have been happy to see Lavon.

"I'm Lavon, it's nice to meet you Emma," Lavon told her earning a smile. "Did you get settled in?" Lavon asked looking up at Zoe.

"For the most part, yea we did. Thanks for doing all that work for me," Zoe smiled looking at her daughter. "Emma, sweetie you gotta eat now, you can color later."

"Okay momma," Emma replied pushing her crayons to the side. Zoe cut her daughters pancakes up.

"It was mostly Wade," Lavon confessed stumping Zoe for a moment. "I'll let you girls eat in peace. Come over tonight for dinner?"

"We'll be there," Zoe told him placing Emma's plate of pancakes and fruit in front of her. Emma made a face at the fruit. "You need to eat some of it peanut." Emma huffed digging into her pancakes.

"Cute kid," Wade remarked sitting at the table.

"What do you want, Wade?" Zoe asked annoyed he had joined them. She was mostly annoyed at herself. She swore up and down that she knew this man but she couldn't figure out where she knew him from. "Thanks for doing most the work at the carriage house," Zoe told him politely. She had to ignore the feelings she was having for Wade, they would do her no good.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Wade replied with a smirk frustrating Zoe.

"I Emma and I almost this old," Emma told Wade holding up 4 fingers.

"I'm Wade, your neighbor, right across the pond."

"Mommy we have a pond in yard?" Emma asked eyeing the fruit on her plate. "Is Wade friend?"

"Yes we do and yea Wade is a friend and our neighbor." Wade held his comments to himself. It was amusing to see Zoe admit defeat to her daughter he didn't wanna add more to it to embarrass her.

"Potty mommy," Emma got up grabbing Zoe's hand. Zoe got up taking her daughter to the bathroom.

"Wade, a word please?" Dash asked from the table over. Wade nodded moving closer.

"What can I do ya for?" Wade asked.

"That little girl with Dr. Hart, is she yours?" Wade wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh at that or be offended by such an accusation. They were from New York, he had only been there once to visit George and out of all the women to hook up with, the Doc was the least likely to happen. He had only hooked up with her once and that was a few days ago.

"No, she's not, this is only the second time I've seen her." He didn't realize how those words sounded until they left his mouth. "I saw her for a brief moment last night when they got in, I don't know who the father is or where he's at." To him that was a dick head move. It wasn't that hard to be a father.

"Are you sure about that?" Dash asked a smile playing on his lips. Like most the customers in the Rammer Jammer he could clearly see Wade in Emma. He had to wonder how long it would be until the truth finally came out.

"Mommy, I don't wanna go to doctor's office," Emma whined.

"I know peanut, but you gotta come with mommy."

"Why can't I stay with Wade?" Emma asked with big puppy dog eyes.

"Because, Wade has to work."

"Doc it's alright. She'll be fine around here." There was just something about the little girl, he couldn't refuse her.

"Wade, you don't have to do that," Zoe told him. She had never left Emma with someone she didn't know. She barely knew Wade. Even after Emma was born Zoe knew the nanny on a personal level because it was the last nanny she ever had.

"Pease mommy?" Emma asked sticking her lip out.

"Oh alright, I'll be back to get you when I'm done. Behave for Wade, I mean it Emma."

"I will momma, I love you," Emma hugged and kissed her mother.

"She'll be fine. I wont let her drink any alcoholic beverage before noon," Wade smirked earning a glare from Zoe. "Lighten up," Wade told her taking Emma's hand. Zoe sighed walking outside. She didn't understand the bond Emma had with Wade. On the way to the practice Zoe took a detour coming to the cemetery. She wanted to come here before she went and got Emma but she never had the time. Her first couple of days here were still very fresh in her mind.

"All the food here is fried, the whole town smells like mold and clearly the sex education system is lacking. This will be good for Emma. And maybe me too. But they could use a good doctor. One who cares about her patients. Maybe, even though you're gone there are still some things you can teach me. No one ever believed in me like you did, you kept sending me those postcards, knowing one day I'd be lost and maybe following in your, my real father, your footsteps for a while, I might find my way. Thanks," Zoe said sitting down by Harley's headstone. "Bluebell seems like the right place to raise a child. Emma, your granddaughter, I think she already loves it here. She's more at home here then she ever was in the city." That had brought a smile out of Zoe. After losing track of time Zoe got up and headed to the practice.

"Where's your little girl?" Brick asked seeing Zoe walk in.

"With Wade, she likes him and she didn't wanna come with," Zoe replied walking into her office. She added a picture of Emma but left everything else.

"Brick, I know you want to buy, Zoe Hart out, but she's here for her daughter, can't you find it in your heart to leave her be?" George asked. He didn't know that Zoe could hear the whole conversation.

"Zoe, come here please," Brick said. Zoe walked out seeing that George had the deer caught in headlights look on his face. "You really are here for your daughter? That's not a bunch of crap is it? I wanna say it is because I have yet to see this little girl."

"I really am here for my daughter. I wanna be in her life, I don't want her to be raised the way I was. You can go ahead and try to buy me out but I'll meet with the town attorney here and find a loop-hole in it," Zoe told him.

"We'll see how things go, I still give it a year," Brick replied walking to his office. Zoe was determined to prove that she belonged in Bluebell.

"Where is this daughter of yours?"

"Glued to Wade," Zoe told him. She walked into her office and got a few files. She'd start work tomorrow. Wade with a little girl, this was something George had to see.

"If it helps, I think this is the right choice." Zoe looked at George. It did help. She still wasn't sure if this was the right choice.

"It does help, you sure you wanna be seen with me? With Lemon and all?" Zoe asked as they walked to the Rammer Jammer.

"She'll get over it. Zoe you mind me asking where the father of your daughter is?"

"I do mind, George, it's nothing personal against you, it's just personal," Zoe told him walking into the Rammer Jammer. She smiled seeing Emma one step behind Wade a rag in her back little pocket. She looked just like him, Zoe's face fell. Could it be possible? She needed to talk to Wade and figure it out.

"Mommy, mommy," Emma smiled running to Zoe. "I Wade's big helper," Emma beamed.

"Are you having fun?" Zoe asked. Emma nodded yawing. "Wanna go home?" Emma nodded again closing her eyes. "Thanks for watching her Wade. I hope she was good."

"She was a big help," Wade replied. "It was nothing really," Wade told her going back to work. Zoe gave George a smile and headed for home. Well Emma took a little nap, Zoe would go through a few files and learn about her new patients.


	5. Run Away Little Girl

_**Run Away Little Girl:**_

"Momma?" Emma asked as they walked from the carriage house to Lavon's.

"Yes, sweetie?" Zoe asked looking down at her daughter.

"Is dat Wade's home?" Emma asked pointing to the gate house. "Can we visit him?"

"Yes, that's Wade's house. I don't know, Emma," Zoe told her daughter. Emma gave one last look at the gate house.

"Mommy, I color?" Emma asked.

"I have to go back and get them," Zoe told her daughter.

"Hey big Z and little Em," Lavon greeted them as they walked into the house. Emma gave him a smile standing by her mom.

"Hey Lavon, she ok for a few minutes well I go get her coloring things?"

"We'll be fine," Lavon told her. "I'm sure there is some kind of kid movie on,"

"You be good, Emma."

"I will, mommy." A few minutes after Zoe walked out the door, Lavon's phone started to ring. Emma looked around seeing Lavon had his back to her. She giggled and pushed the door open since it wasn't shut all the way. She quickly made her way to the gate house. "WADE!" Emma yelled running onto his porch. Wade walked out with just jeans on.

"Emma, does your mom know where you are at?" Wade asked crouching down.

"No," Emma told him shaking her head pointing to Lavon's house.

"Lavon was watching you?" Wade asked.

"Mommy get colors," Emma told him with a smile. Wade stood up, he reached inside his house grabbing a plain gray shirt.

"You, Emma are a very sneaky girl," Wade laughed. "I gotta get you back Ems," Wade informed her turning serious. He took her little hand in his.

"I in treble?" Emma asked. Wade stopped to scoop her.

"I'll make sure you don't get into trouble," Wade told her. He carried her the rest of the way in silence.

"Lavon, she's not even four yet, you can't take your eyes off of her." Wade came to a stop hearing Zoe in a panic.

"See why you can't ran off on mommy?" Wade asked Emma. "Mommy's scared and worried about you," Wade told her. He hugged her tight seeing her lip quiver. "It's alright, Ems," Wade told her rubbing her back.

"I gotta go check Wade's," Zoe said turning to run out the door, a smile graced her lips seeing Wade had Emma. She wanted to blame Wade for this but she knew it wasn't his fault. Emma had never tried to run away before but she wanted to see Wade. Why she liked Wade so much was far beyond her.

"Missing someone?" Wade asked handing Emma over.

"Emma, baby," Zoe said hugging her daughter tight. "Don't scare mommy like that again."

"I sowwy mommy, I just see Wade," Emma mumbled into Zoe's shoulder.

"It's ok, but next time tell someone so they can go with you."

"I will mommy, I color now?"

"Yea, go color," Zoe replied kissing her daughters head, putting her on the floor. Emma ran to the coffee table and started to color. "She has never just ran off before," Zoe said sitting at the counter.

"No harm done," Wade replied. "Where is her father?" Wade asked leaning against the sink changing the topic. It was something that he just couldn't wonder about anymore. He knew it was personal but he was getting attached to the little girl and he didn't want some guy to come along later and take her away from him.

"That's a bit personal don't you think?" Zoe asked with attitude. Lavon saw this as his escape to go color with Emma.

"It's very personal but it's a dick head move not to be there to be a father to your kid," if he had a kid out there he'd do whatever it took to be a father even though he knew nothing about kids or being a father.

"It's kind of hard to be a father, when the father doesn't know, don't tell me it's messed up that I never told her father. I couldn't do that," Zoe told him. She had already told him more than she had planned to ever tell him about Emma's father.

"Why not?" Wade asked moving to lean on the counter. "He die? Or maybe you just don't know where he's at?" Wade smirked. There was just something about getting under Zoe's skin he enjoyed.

"For all I know you could be the father, Wade!" Zoe exclaimed. She quickly lowered her voice. "It wasn't a moment I was proud of, but it happened and that girl, my little girl is my life. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her," Zoe told him a smile gracing her lips.

"Wade, daddy?" Emma asked running into the kitchen.

"No, sweetie, he's not your daddy." Zoe hated to tell her that. The last thing she wanted to do was wipe the little grin off her face.

"I may not be your daddy, Ems but I'll be here if you ever need me, ok? Like an uncle," Wade told her. Emma smiled hugging Wade.

"Otay Unkie Wade," Emma giggled running back to color with Lavon.

"Thanks for that, Wade," Zoe told him. It was hard to hate the man when he was so sweet to her daughter.

"It was nothing, Doc," Wade smirked leaning on the counter. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"I don't hate you, I hate what you do to me," Zoe clarified.

"What is it I did to you, Doc?" Wade asked with a smirk popping a grape into his mouth. He went to bite the grape but it slipped down his throat causing him to choke on it. Zoe quickly got up and started to do the Heimlich maneuver on him. The grape bounced across the floor.

"Yucky, Wade. Didn't yous mommy ever tell you not to play wif yous food?" Emma asked turning from her spot on the floor.

"I'm sure she did at one point, Emma," Wade told the little girl walking outside.

"I do some fin wrong, mommy?" Emma asked with a frown on her face.

"No, sweetie. You didn't do anything wrong," Zoe told her daughter with a frown following him outside.

"I did just save your life, a little gratitude would be nice," Zoe said in a joking tone sitting by Wade on the steps. She swore she saw some tears escape his eyes before he looked away.

"Thanks for that, Doc," Wade told her with sarcasm. "I didn't ask you to help me out." Zoe got up annoyed with him. She had come out here to make sure he was ok.

"I was only joking but I'll leave you be, Wade."

"Wait, Zoe. It's just, it's personal. Nothing against you," Wade told her.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm only across the pond," Zoe told him hearing the desperation in his voice. She squeezed his shoulder. Wade reached up placing his hand on hers.

"Thanks," Wade told her sincerely. Giving his shoulder one more gentle squeeze, Zoe walked into the house.

"He, uh, ok?" Lavon asked checking on the gumbo that was cooking on the stove.

"He will be in just a minute," Zoe replied. She wanted to know what got him upset but who was she to push him into talking? Zoe sat down by Emma and colored with her. Emma smiled sadly up at her mom. "Sweetie, you didn't do anything wrong. Wade's fine I promise," Zoe told her kissing her head. Wade had snuck back in. Zoe had seen him slowly walking up behind Emma.

"You did nothing, Ems," Wade said sitting behind her. Emma jumped up and climbed onto his lap.

"I sowwy, Wade," Emma told him wrapping her little arms around him for a hug.

"It wasn't because of you, Ems, I promise," Wade told her giving her big ol' hug.

"Otay, Wade," Emma replied kissing his cheek. "Feel better?"

"I do now," Wade told her messing her hair up. "Can I color with you until dinner time?" Emma's face lit up and she handed him an orange crayon. Zoe smiled walking to the kitchen. It was sweet to see Wade and Emma bonding. She really wouldn't mind if Wade was her father. She was starting to appreciate the bond Emma had with Wade.

"Your little girl has already started to change him," Lavon said coming to stand by Zoe.

"He's good for Emma to. She hasn't exactly had a good male role model in her life. I'm starting to think this really was the right choice. I wish I would've made that choice sooner for her."

"You did now and that's what counts," Lavon told her. The only thing Zoe really regretted when it came to Emma was the fact she didn't know who her father was. She really wished she would have got a name from the guy that night.


	6. But, Mommy

_**But Mommy:**_

"But, mommy, Wade said I could spend the day wif him," Emma pouted well she was in the tub. Zoe looked away from the mirror well-doing her hair.

"I know he said that, Emma but you need to make friends your own age," Zoe told her daughter.

"Pease mommy, I go morrow," Emma stuck her lip out giving Zoe puppy eyes.

"Emma, I don't know," Zoe sighed. "Ok, ok you can spend the day with Wade," Zoe said giving in. It was hard for her to refuse the look on Emma's face. "You gotta be good for him," Zoe told her daughter. She got a towel and got Emma outta the tub. "What do you wanna wear today?"

"I do it mommy," Emma said holding the towel around her going to pick out her clothes. Zoe smiled going back to finish getting ready for the day. Zoe finished up with her hair and make-up walking out to see Emma trying to tie her shoes. Zoe bent down on the floor to tie her daughter's shoes.

"Emma, sweetie, what are you wearing?" Zoe asked seeing her daughter in a light pink plaid shirt with a white tank top on underneath it. Along with some jeans.

"I be Wade!" Emma smiled brightly up at her mom.

"I see that," Zoe said. She liked the bond that Emma had with Wade but now Zoe was starting to get worried that it was a little too much. Zoe stood up. She would just have to wait and see what happened after today. It's not like she could forbid her daughter from spending time with him. She couldn't do that to her little girl. "Why don't you go get what you want for the day packed in your bag," Zoe told Emma standing up. Emma jumped off the bed and headed to get what she would need for her time with Wade. Emma ran back over to Zoe after she had finished.

"Here, momma," Emma said holding the bag to Zoe. Zoe smiled at her daughter taking the bag. Zoe packed some extra clothes in the bag just in case of an accident. "We go now?" Emma asked running to the door. Zoe gently shook her head. She couldn't remember ever seeing her daughter this excited to go somewhere. Zoe got her things and followed her daughter's steps to the door.

"We'll check Lavon's first, ok?" Zoe asked her daughter. Emma nodded holding onto the straps of her backpack.

"What's that momma?" Emma asked pointing to Burt Reynolds.

"That's Burt Reynolds, Lavon's pet alligator." Zoe pulled Emma away and hurried towards Lavon's.

"Hey girls," Lavon greeted once they walked into the house.

"Hey Lavon, Wade been over yet?" Zoe asked setting her stuff down.

"Nope, only Lavon Hayes." Emma giggled at Lavon.

"What's so funny?" Wade asked walking into the kitchen. "Hey, it's mini me." Wade found it cute that Emma had dressed like him. Unless it was Zoe's doing to grate on him.

"Wade!" Emma smiled running to him. Wade picked her up and spun her around making her laugh and hang onto him. "I picked it out all by me," Emma told him after she stopped laughing. Wade's smirk grew even bigger. That had to have got on Zoe's nerves.

"Emma, sweetie, you be good for Wade." Emma nodded her head. "Wade,"

"Doc, I'll behave myself, I swear," Wade smirked tickling Emma. Zoe rolled her eyes. She swore both Wade and Emma were exactly the same.

"Everything she needs is in her bag. When she gets hungry, she'll tell you what she wants. She can have anything except candy. A little bit is ok. She has extra clothes just in case. She likes to dress herself, so you're safe there." Wade nodded. The only time he had watched her was at the Rammer Jammer. Being at the gate house alone with her was going to be something else but he was looking forward to it. Emma needed some kind of a father figure in her life and he was already growing to love the little girl in his arms like his own.

"Got it, what about a nap? Does she get one?" Wade asked recalling Zoe saying something about a nap yesterday.

"After she eats lunch is when she gets tired out. If she doesn't fall asleep within a half hour she wont fall asleep. Sweetie did you remember to get Pinky?"

"In bag momma," Emma told her rolling her little eyes. Zoe laughed a little.

"That should be everything then, if you have any questions, call me," Zoe told Wade getting her things. "I'm not sure what time I'll be back."

"We have everything under control, right Ems?" Emma nodded her head. Zoe gave Emma a kiss before walking to the door. Zoe had to trust that Emma would be fine with Wade, she was yesterday when she left her with him for a few hours. "Where's my kiss, Doc?" Wade smirked turning to look at Zoe.

"If I find it, I'll send it far away from here," Zoe replied walking out the door.

Wade put Emma down and fixed her a bowl of cereal. It wasn't long before Lavon had to go into town leaving the two alone. Wade looked at the little girl. He really wouldn't have minded if he could be Emma's father. His jealousy started to rage deep within him. Who ever the father was they didn't deserve to have any rights to her. He understood that they didn't know because Zoe wasn't sure who it was but it just wasn't right for Emma. He felt bad for her. He couldn't judge Zoe on what she had done in her past, he was far worse than that. But there was just something about Zoe and the little girl who sat before him that made him want to change for the better. How could he be a role model for the girl who attached herself to him so quickly if he was out with a different chick every night?

"Wade, I gotta go potty," Emma told him trying to scoot off the chair she was on. Wade got up and helped her down showing her where the bathroom was. A few minutes later after she had washed her hands she joined Wade back in the kitchen. "We pway outside?" Emma asked crawling onto his lap.

"Do you know how to ride a bike?" Wade asked holding onto the little girl. Emma shook her head. "Do you have a bike?" Emma shook her head again. He should have guessed. "Let's go see if mommy will let me take you to Mobile to get a pretty pink bike."

"Purvel bike, Wade."

"Purple bike it is, you ready to go?" Emma nodded getting off his lap. With Zoe forgetting to leave Emma's car seat they had to walk into town. That led into Wade giving Emma a piggy back ride most the way.

"Mommy," Emma giggled running into the practice, Wade chasing her. "Wade, buy bike?" Emma asked running to her mom's side.

"I was going to teach her how to ride a bike, but she doesn't have one. So I was wondering if I could take her to Mobile to buy her a purple one," Wade explained. Zoe looked from Wade to Emma. Seeing the smile that took up her daughter's whole face, she couldn't say no to that.

"You don't have to buy her a bike. I can give you the money."

"It's alright, Doc, I don't mind. I just need her seat," Wade said picking Emma up. Zoe mentally smacked herself. She wasn't use to leaving her seat when she went to work.

"Sorry about that," Zoe said getting up.

"It's alright, Zoe." Wade really didn't mind. This whole thing was probably new to her as well. Zoe got Emma's seat out and handed it to Wade. Emma hugged Zoe before going off with Wade.

With Emma safely buckled into her seat, Wade drove them to Mobile. Kid tunes filled his car. Wade chuckled to himself. If only his 20-year-old self could see him now. Wade found a parking spot and held onto Emma's hand as they walked into the store. Wade bought her a sparkly purple helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. Emma looked at the bikes and found the perfect pink and purple sparkly bike. She put her helmet on and she climbed onto the bike. Wade pushed the bike to the check out. With the items being paid for, Emma got back on the bike and she let Wade push her to the car.

Wade let Emma ride her new bike around town. They stopped in at the Rammer Jammer to get a bite to eat. Once they finished eating Emma rode her bike back to the gate house. She really loved her new bike. Wade tried to convince her to let him take the training wheels off but Emma refused. She wasn't ready for that part yet.

Zoe finished work a little after lunch time. She managed to keep herself busy so she wouldn't worry about Emma and Wade. She saw her daughter riding her bike by the practice a few times. That alone brought a grin to her face. Bluebell was doing some good for Emma. She was afraid at first that Emma would decide to hate the place right off the bat but she gave the town a chance and Zoe was positive she couldn't get Emma to leave for anything.

Zoe dropped her things off at the carriage house before walking to the gate house to get her daughter. Zoe smiled seeing Emma's bike sitting outside Wade's. Her little helmet hanging off the handle bars. Zoe walked to the door knocking softly seeing both Wade and Emma out cold on the couch. Wade blinked a few times hearing the knocking on his door.

"Hey, Doc," Wade greeted joining Zoe on the porch. "I can bring her home when she wakes up."

"Thanks for watching her and getting her the bike. You didn't have to do either one."

"I didn't mind really. We had fun today." Zoe didn't let his smile go unnoticed. Emma really was in good hands with Wade. Zoe pulled Wade into a hug. She went to kiss his cheek at the same time he turned his head to say something. Her lips connected with his. Both of them were caught by surprise but neither one was in a hurry to break the kiss. "I guess you found my kiss," Wade smarted off resting his forehead against hers.

"I guess so," Zoe replied breathless. "I should go," Zoe told him not moving from her spot.

"You could come in and wait," Wade suggested. Zoe bit her lip.

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea, Wade," Zoe voiced her concern. She was starting to see Wade in a different light. She had already slept with him. But she couldn't let herself get connected to him. She couldn't ruin the bond Emma had created with him. Wade nodded sadness filling his eyes. Zoe hated that she made him sad but Emma always came first. Zoe gave him a small smile and walked back to the carriage house. She had to keep telling herself that this was what was for the best.


	7. I No Daddy

_**I No Daddy:**_

"Did you thank, Wade for buying you the bike?" Zoe asked watching her daughter get off her bike. She sat outside on the porch needing the fresh air. Her head was a mess. She had feelings for Wade. She wouldn't have enjoyed the kiss as much as she had if she hadn't felt something for him. But the reason she hadn't dated in the last 4 years, she had to worry about Emma. She didn't want to put Emma in the middle of it all. Keeping her distance from Wade was going to be a challenge. She didn't Emma to get attached to who she dated only for them to leave later on not only breaking her heart but Emma's too.

"Thank you, Wade," Emma hugged Wade as she told him.

"You're more than welcome, princess Ems," Wade replied picking her up for a bear hug. Emma giggled wiggling free. She ran inside leaving the two adults alone. "I'll bring over her seat before I leave for work tonight." Zoe nodded looking down.

"Thanks again for watching her," Zoe told him standing up.

"We had fun," Wade told her stepping closer to Zoe. "Doc, I can't pretend that the kiss never happened. I have a hard enough time pretending we never had sex on your first day here." Zoe cringed hearing him say it. She hadn't been able to forget that night. Pretending to forget did nothing for her. It was there in her head.

"Both of them happened and I wanted them to happen, Wade. I was wrong to make you pretend it never happened," Zoe told him sincerely. She had to wonder how differently things would be without Emma in the picture.

"Doc, you know where to find me for a repeat performance," Wade winked walking off. A small smile formed on her lips. She headed inside to see what Emma was doing.

"Mommy, new clothes?" Emma asked seeing Zoe. "Pease?"

"Do you need to use the potty?" Zoe asked at her daughter getting her purse. Emma shook her head. "Alright let's go," Zoe told her. Emma needed clothes for Bluebell. Most of her clothes were suited for Winters in New York and not the Summer in the South. Emma smiled running to the car. Zoe wasn't sure how Wade had the time to come back with Emma's seat and still be outta sight in that short amount of time. Zoe pushed the thoughts away and got Emma buckled in.

"Mommy?" Emma asked a few minutes into the 20 minute drive to Mobile.

"Yes, sweetie?" Zoe asked glancing into the rear view mirror.

"Why I no daddy?" Zoe sighed. It seemed like more and more lately Emma has been asking that question. Telling her daughter it was complicated wouldn't work like it did with others. "He hate me?" Emma asked on the verge of tears.

"No, sweetie he doesn't hate you," Zoe told her daughter. She had never went over what it was she would ever tell her daughter when she asked. She figured Emma would have been older when she did ask and Zoe could be up front with her. "No one could ever hate you, Emma."

"I no daddy, so I pick daddy?" Emma asked.

"Who would you pick as a daddy?" Zoe really didn't need to ask that question, she already knew the answer that was going to come from her daughters mouth.

"Wade," Emma beamed.

"Mommy will talk to Wade ok?" Zoe asked. Emma nodded a smile replacing her tears. Zoe wanted to have a talk with Wade to begin with.

Zoe may have went a tad overboard with Emma's clothes but they were all really cute and a little girl could never have enough clothes. Emma had got more clothes that were like Wade's. Emma told her mom she liked the way Wade dressed. Zoe tried to argue back but instead she put the articles of clothing in the cart. Zoe had even got Emma a few new toys to played with.

"We need to get Wade a seat for you, since you insist on spending every waking moment with him," Zoe told her daughter poking her little nose. Emma giggled.

"That one mommy," Emma said pointing to a black one that had pink and white flowers on it. Zoe put it in the cart and they headed to the check out.

They dropped everything off at home and they headed to the Rammer Jammer for dinner. Emma ran in not waiting for Zoe. Wade looked up from the bar, hearing Emma's giggles.

"Where's your ma?" Wade asked meeting Emma at a table.

"Right here," Zoe said walking in.

"Have ift for you," Emma beamed hugging Wade.

"Oh yea? What's that?" Wade asked sitting down by Emma.

"I no tell," Emma told him. Wade raised an eyebrow.

"Tell me or I'll tickle you," Wade threatened. Emma shook her head. Wade started to tickle her. Emma laughed and wiggled in her seat. "You gonna tell me?" Wade asked. Emma shook her head again and Wade started to tickle her once more.

"You're very own car seat for, Emma here," Zoe told him not sure how long the two before her would keep doing their little routine.

"Why thank you princess Ems," Wade told her messing her hair up. "I'll bring ya something to eat."

"But we didn't order yet, Wade," Zoe pointed out.

"I know what my favorite girl here wants, right Ems?" Wade asked. Emma nodded. Wade gave Zoe a wink walking off.

"Hello Emma, Zoe," Dash said sitting down with them. "I couldn't help but over hear that, Wade is getting a car seat for Emma. Why is that?" Dash asked taking out his voice recorder.

"I ike Wade. He best," Emma told him looking up from her coloring book.

"She likes to spend time with, Wade and it's easier for him if he has his own seat for her just in case. You never know what's gonna happen," Zoe explained. She hated explaining every action she did to this town. Most things might get on her nerves but seeing the smile that was always on her daughters face, that made this whole thing worth it.

'Mmhmm," Dash said getting up and going to his own table. Wade came back with a little burger for Emma with a little side bowl of vegetables. Emma made a face seeing the broccoli and green beans.

"If you wanna be as stronger as me you gotta eat them veggies," Wade told her. Emma sighed but took a bite of it.

"Wade, think we can talk, alone later?" Zoe asked quietly not to draw any more unwanted attention from any Bluebellian. Wade nodded.

"Sure thing," Wade replied walking off. He has been wanting to talk to Zoe about Emma for some time now.

"You ask him, momma?" Emma asked with a mouthful of burger. Zoe nodded.

"What has mommy said about talking with a mouthful of food?" Zoe asked looking at her daughter.

"Not too," Emma replied looking down. "Sowwy, mommy."

"It's ok, sweetie."

"I go pay roup morrow?"

"Yes, and you'll have fun. Are you happy we moved here?" Zoe asked. She could see it wrote all over her daughter's face but she needed to hear her daughter say it.

"I love it, mommy," Emma lit up answering the question. That was the icing on the cake. Everything with Wade, who the father of her daughter was and things with Brick didn't matter to her. The little girl who sat with a ketchup filled face did. She was happy here and that alone made Zoe happy.


	8. Crazy Earl

_**Crazy Earl:**_

"Momma, who that man up there?" Emma asked pointing to the man who stood on top of Nate's hardware.

"That's Earl, sweetie," Zoe replied looking to see Earl was ready to jump. She had only met him once and that was earlier when Wade brought him in.

"Ister Earl?" Emma yelled.

"Yes, pretty lady," He called back.

"I Emma, tis me mommy," Emma called back.

"Earl, what are you doing up there? I really think you should come down," Zoe called up to him.

"Nice to meet you, Emma," Earl called out to Emma. "Waiting on my son and I'll be fine," Earl called back wobbling on the edge a bit.

"Mommy, someone need to get him," Emma said tears starting to well up in her little eyes. Zoe sighed looking around. No one was there. She really didn't know what to do. She couldn't climb up there and help him. Emma had a death lock on Zoe because she was so scared. In the midst of trying to figure something out the town started to show up to watch the show but no one did anything to help the man down. Zoe didn't understand it. Shouldn't they be doing something to help Earl?

"What's going on?" Zoe asked Lavon who had just took a spot next to them. "Why doesn't someone help Earl down?"

"Earl gets his government check once a month and blows it on booze and then every month, Wade sings him down off the roof." Lavon said gesturing to Wade who had now joined his father on top of Nate's. Zoe couldn't hear what was being said.

"Wade, no get hurt?" Emma asked as the tears started to come out.

"Wade, won't get hurt," Zoe assured her daughter just as Wade started to sing Moon River. Zoe smiled nudging Emma for her to see that Wade was helping the man. The town had even joined in with the singing.

"Come on dad, let's get you home." Zoe had heard that part. The fact that he would go through all of that for family showed Zoe that Wade wasn't at all how she ever thought he was. She knew he was good with Emma, but to go through that every month with your father, it took a special person to do that.

"We go see, Wade?" Emma asked trying to pull Zoe in the direction of Wade.

"No, sweetie, we'll see, Wade tomorrow. He has to take his daddy home." Emma didn't like that, she wanted to make sure that Wade was ok. She started to squirm in Zoe's arms enough that Zoe had no choice but to put her on the ground so she wouldn't drop her daughter. Before Zoe had a chance to take a hold of Emma's hand, she took off running to Wade.

"Wade!" Emma yelled holding onto his leg.

"Emma, where's your mommy?" Wade asked crouching down to Emma's level.

"There," Emma told him pointing to Zoe who was walking up to them. "You otay?" Emma asked with a small yawn.

"I'm ok, what did we say about running away from Mommy?" Wade asked using a stern voice picking her up to hand over to Zoe.

"Not to, it's naughty. I not a naughty girl," Emma replied burying her head into the crook of Zoe's neck.

"You, Emma are a very good girl," Wade told her rubbing her little back. "Night, Emma," Wade told her kissing her temple. Emma sniffled giving a whine of protest moving away from him.

"She'll be fine in the morning," Zoe informed him. "It's not very often she gets into trouble." Zoe walked off ready to put her daughter to bed. It had been a long day.

Wade sighed getting his father into the car. He had to find a way to make Emma forgive him. He had never dealt with kids before. It hurt him to think the little girl he had grown to love in a short amount of time now hated him. He didn't mean to make her cry. He didn't think he was being hard on her. It wasn't as if he had spanked her, took things away or even grounded her. He asked her a simple question. He didn't ask the question as nicely as he should have, but he was already annoyed with his father. He wished his father could grow up and stop drinking his government check away every month. He started to take his frustrations out on the wrong person and he felt like shit for doing it. Doing so only showed him he wasn't cut out to be a father.

"I met the nice doctor lady earlier today when you ran me over, but that little girl, are you her father?" Earl asked. He may have been drunk but things didn't pass him by.

"No, she's not mine. Her father is some dude from New York," Wade replied. He was over people telling him that he was the father of Emma. If anyone knew whether he was the father of Emma, it would be him and he knew for a fact he wasn't her father.

"She reminds me of you," Earl spoke breaking the silence. Wade let the thought go. His old man was drunk, what did he know? He always talked a bunch of non-sense when drunk.

"She looks nothing like me, pops," Wade replied he was through with this conversation. The last person he wanted input on about how to be a father was his own father, especially when he was three sheets to the wind.

"She has taken quite the liking to you, she'll be fine. She doesn't hate you, boy." Wade shook his head letting Earl talk. "She seems like quite the little girl. It's a shame she doesn't have a father. Though it does seem like she really wants you to be her dad. Ain't that something?"

"She doesn't want me as her dad!" Wade scolded his own father. He knew it wasn't true. Emma had even asked if he was her father. He saw the disappointed look that crossed the little girls face when she was told otherwise. He wished he was her father. It would better for Emma in the long run. And for him.

"You could always be her step-father," Earl suggested. It took a bigger man to step up and take care of someone else kid. A lot of hurt that could come along with it as well.

"I wouldn't know how to be a father to her." Wade found it was easier to go this way in the conversation. He was in no mood to have a heart to heart about his feelings for the Doc with his drunk father.

"You know all the things not to do," Earl told his son getting out of the car. Wade wasn't so sure he really did know how not to be a father. A few things were simple, don't get drunk and act like you don't have kids. Don't skip out on their games because you need to have a beer more then support your own kids. He knew not to be like his father. The first ten years were good with him as far as he could remember.

Forgetting about him being a father because he knew he just wasn't suited for a family or even marriage. There was something about Zoe but even that didn't matter because she wasn't going to date any guy not even him. He needed more then the one night they had shared in the backseat of his car. With a deep sigh he got out of his car tired of seeing his dad stumble his way to the front door.

Wade got him inside and to bed escaping with the promise he'd be back in the morning to check on him and bring him some food and non-alcoholic beverages. Wade left seeing that Earl had passed out. He wanted to go see Emma and make things better with her but it was late and Emma was already in bed asleep. Finding it ironic, Wade needed a beer. He needed to be away from people, he really should have just went home and drank the night away but that's not what he did.


	9. Forgive Me

_**Forgive Me:**_

Zoe was sitting outside after she had calmed Emma down and got her to sleep. She didn't blame Wade for it. Things happen and more than likely come morning Wade would be Emma's best friend again. She watched as Wade pulled in and stormed into his house. Re-emerging a few minutes later. Watching him make his way to the carriage house, Zoe got up and met him in the trail. She couldn't risk him waking Emma up. Wade said nothing pulling Zoe in for a long kiss. Zoe kissed back at first. Coming to her senses she pulled away looking at him.

"Wade, we can't." Zoe hated to tell him that. She really wanted to see where this was going. But Emma. She couldn't hurt Emma like that.

"Why the hell not, Zoe?" Wade yelled throwing his hands in the air. "We're two grown adults."

"Because of Emma for one and for two you're piss ass drunk, Wade."

"You know that little girl has nothing to do with us, you didn't mind sleeping with me when you were drunk! So only you can use people?"

"I never used you, Wade." Hearing Wade say that hurt Zoe more than she ever thought possible. "If you really feel that way, I guess what ever we are is over with," Zoe told him slowly turning around. She knew better than to take everything he said well drunk to heart but hearing him say that, it was hard not.

"Run away, Zoe," Wade mocked. Zoe turned around to face him.

"Wade, I think you need to go home before you say more than you can fix in the morning."

"Why would I wanna fix this for, Zoe?" Wade asked walking off. Zoe sighed to herself. It wasn't worth it to chase after him. She did however find it hard to fall asleep.

"You alright?" Lavon asked seeing Zoe walk in with a sad Emma. She wouldn't even let Zoe put her down.

"Just need to have a little talk with that neighbor of yours."

"He already left, big Z. You can catch him at the Rammer Jammer."

"Thanks, Lavon." Zoe headed out. "You wanna see, Wade?" Zoe asked her daughter. Emma didn't say anything. Only shook her head no. "Sweetie, Wade didn't mean what he said last night," Zoe tried changing the tactic around.

"Wade, hate me," Emma mumbled into her mom's shoulder.

"He doesn't hate you."

"I go see, Rose?" Emma asked pointing to Rose.

"Rose, would mind watching her for a little bit?" Zoe asked walking up to Rose who had left the Rammer Jammer.

"Sure, come on Emma, let's go feed the ducks." Emma's face lit up as they walked off. Zoe took a deep breath walking into the Rammer Jammer.

"Wade, we need to talk," Zoe flat out said walking to where he was sitting in a corner away from everyone else holding his head.

"That's why I left before the two of you girls got up. I fucked up twice last night. It's not my proudest moment."

"Everything you said last night, you didn't mean or maybe you did and we just need to sit down, talk and figure it out."

"Let's hear it then, Doc. Tell me I was wrong to assume you used me. I couldn't even make out with you," Wade hissed in a low voice.

"It wasn't that, Wade. You were drunk, completely drunk. It would have been different if you had been sober. The last thing I need is to rush into anything because of Emma. I can be ok with getting hurt by anyone, but Emma can't. She already thinks you hate her."

"You saying that if I made a move to kiss you right now, you would be ok with it?" Wade asked putting the topic of Emma off for now.

"No, because I'm mad at you for last night," Zoe told him.

"I really didn't mean what I said last night. It makes me frustrated to know that we could be something if Emma wasn't in the picture. But she is and I do love that little girl. One day at a time?"

"I can do that," Zoe told him standing up. "She loves chocolate chip pancakes with a smiley face. With a side of an I'm sorry Emma. If you take her out for Ice cream after all of that tonight, she'll love you more than she has," Zoe told him. She hated seeing her daughter so hurt from this one little thing.

"She's easy to please," Wade chuckled standing up.

"For now," Zoe replied. "I'll bring back in about 10 minutes." Wade nodded and headed to the kitchen to start making the pancakes for Emma.

"Emma, sweetie, you ready to go eat?" Zoe asked walking up to her daughter that was full of giggles.

"Yes momma," Emma replied running to Zoe. "We fed duckies."

"I saw that. Thanks for watching her, Rose."

"She's a sweet girl," Rose replied heading off. Zoe took Emma's hand.

"Wade, has a surprise for you,"

"I no want it," Emma replied with a huff.

"Emma, you're a big girl now, you gotta see what, Wade wants, hear him out before you decided on not talking to him."

"Otay, mommy," Emma told her climbing into a chair. A few seconds later Wade brought her smiley face chocolate chip pancakes with a cup of orange juice.

"Special order for a special lady," Wade announced sitting down. Emma wanted to crack a smile but didn't. "Emma, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. I didn't mean to. I feel bad for it." Emma looked down at her plate of food.

"Don't do again?" Emma asked looking up at him.

"I promise, Emma."

"No hate me?" She asked on the verge of tears.

"I love you, princess Ems. I could never hate you, ever. I promise you that."

"I love you too, Wade." Emma got off her chair to hug him. Wade picked her up setting her on his lap. He pulled her plate of pancakes over and helped her cut 'em up. Zoe sat back in her chair. For the second time she could she the similarity between her daughter and Wade. She wouldn't cross the possibility off her list. There was a good chance that Wade was her father. Right?

"Do you have any siblings? Cousins? Uncles?" Zoe asked chewing on her lip.

"Personal much?" Wade chuckled. Zoe shrugged. "I have an older brother, we don't really get along. I have an Uncle Moe, he makes a mean gumbo. You?" Wade asked.

"Only child," Zoe told him. "Emma let's go get you washed up, you have play group today," Zoe told her daughter standing up. Emma jumped off Wade's lap and went with her mom. Zoe washed her daughter up and they walked back out. Emma ran up to Wade making him crouch down.

"Thank you for pancakes, Wade," Emma told him hugging and kissing his cheek.

"You're most welcome, Emma," Wade told her messing her hair up. Emma giggled running back to Zoe. He felt better now that things with Emma and even Zoe were cleared up.

That night after Zoe finished with work, Emma was done with play group, Wade had went to see Earl like he had promised. Zoe sat outside on the porch watching Emma on her bike.

"Does she ever get off that thing?" Wade asked taking a seat by Zoe.

"Not while we are home," Zoe smiled. "Wade, about us being a couple," Zoe started to say not sure how to word what she was thinking.

"I get that, Emma comes first right now. And after the events of earlier, it bites not having her around."

"Doesn't it though?" Zoe asked leaning into Wade. He smiled putting his arm around her. This moment seemed like the perfect little moment.

"Ice cream sundae's at, Lavon's," Wade announced breaking the little moment. He hated to do it, but the ice cream would melt. Zoe and Wade walked to Lavon's as Emma rode her bike ahead of them.


	10. Wait! What?

_**Wait! What?-**_

"I haven't been avoiding you. I've taken on a few more shifts at the Rammer Jammer," Wade explained joining Zoe on the porch of the carriage house. "Where's Emma?"

"Ice cream with Lavon. And maybe a park or something. I can't get her off that bike of hers, I wouldn't be surprised if she needs a new one in a few weeks," Zoe told him with a faint laugh.

"She does love that thing," Wade chuckled. "Doc, I know you didn't wanna talk to me about, Emma and her new bike." Zoe had been meaning to have this certain conversation with Wade for over a week now, she was just having trouble doing so.

"No, I don't," Zoe sighed. "She asked me the other day about her father."

"Do you really not know?" Wade asked. Zoe shook her head.

"I went out with my best friend, I had way to much wine and the next thing I know, I'm leaving his hotel room in the early morning. We never exchanged names or anything." Wade slightly shook his head. That night he slept with whoever in New York seemed very familiar to what happened to him. When he woke in the late morning she was gone. No trace of her what so ever. "Anyway, she wanted to know if her father hated her. Of course I told her no, but I wasn't expecting to her to start asking questions about her father until she was older."

"What, uh, did you tell her?" Wade asked leaning forward, his elbows resting on his legs.

"That no one can hate her. She wants to pick her own father out." This was the part Zoe was worried about.

"Let me guess she wants me to be her father?" Wade asked. Zoe nodded. "That's kinda huge. What am I suppose to do when you find yourself getting together with some guy? I love your little girl like she's my own but I can't exactly get any closer to her. One day you'll find your prince charming or whoever. And Emma wont want me anymore. It's not fair to me that you ask that of me," Wade yelled pacing around the porch.

"I know it's not fair, Wade. But that little girl. My little girl loves you, I swear she loves you more than me at times. She would never replace you. I'm not looking for someone to be with. I can't bring some guy in for Emma to get attached to only for them to walk out because they can't handle being a father."

"I never realized how hard it is to be a single mother. I know what it's like to grow up with out a parent. You saw my dad the other night."

"My parents weren't any better. My mom kept a huge lie from me. To think I could have spent my summers here growing up. Maybe things would be different," Zoe told him to comfort him some.

"And maybe you wouldn't have Emma, is that a life you would want?" Wade asked. "Because the second that little girl walks out of my life it's going to be hard and I wont like it. I can't stand when she wont talk to me."

"I couldn't imagine a life without her," Zoe told him a smile coming out. "When did you say you were in New York?" Zoe asked looking at him.

"May, why?" Wade asked confused.

"Just, uh, wondering," Zoe replied doing the math in her head. It all added up. "She was born in February," Zoe said seeing if Wade would catch on. It wasn't likely that Wade was the father, but she wouldn't rule it out. Her daughter loved him, the time frame worked out way to perfect for it not to. There was a slight chance that Wade was her father.

"That's insane, Zoe," Wade replied getting up to walk away. He needed to be alone with a bottle of beer to really think about this.

"Is it?" Zoe asked calling after him. Wade shook his head coming to a complete stop. It worked out to be right. Emma was going to be turning 4 soon. Zoe's story matched his.

"Wait!" Wade yelled. The puzzle pieces were starting to come together in his head. "That's how I know you!" Wade exclaimed walking back to Zoe.

"What's going on, Wade?" Zoe asked a small smirk coming out. Just like she had thought is was a possibility he had thought so as well.

"Haven't you been trying to figure out how we know each other?" Wade asked. "Because for the past week, I have. I was in New York a little over 4 years ago. I had slept with one woman the few days I was there, it had to be you," Wade rambled stating the facts.

"No, Wade, it doesn't have to be me, there's a small chance it was me," Zoe told him. "It's a possibility that I've slept with you twice. It would clear up the confusion to why Emma has this bond with you," Zoe told him sitting back in the chair she had occupied.

"Whoa!" Wade said sitting next to her. "I could be her father," Wade said shaking his head. Was it possible? Anything was possible. Especially when the facts were clearly pointing to him.

"You could be, crazier things have happened," Zoe informed him. "We can get a test done tomorrow and know for sure. But, Wade take one look at that girl now that you know and you tell me what you see?" Zoe asked standing up to go greet her daughter.

"You've seen it already haven't you?" Wade asked following behind her.

"A few days ago at the Rammer Jammer when I came back to get her, she was your mini me, and the other day well she sat on your lap to eat her pancakes," Zoe told him walking over to her daughter. Wade took one look at the little girl who was now running around getting Lavon to chase her. She looked like Zoe but under that he could see himself in her. Maybe it really was possible after all.

"We'll go to Mobile tomorrow," Wade whispered coming to stand by Zoe as they watched Emma and Lavon goof off. Zoe nodded stepping out to grab Emma up as she ran by. Zoe tickled and kissed the little girl sending her on her way to play. If Wade was proven to be the father everything was gonna change. How was she suppose to explain things to her daughter?

Wade stood in his spot, his eyes glued on the little girl in front of him. If she was really his, he'd be the father she needed but the only thing that spun around in his head, how was he suppose to be a father? He didn't have the best role model for a father growing up. What did he really know about taking care of a kid? Nothing, but he'd do what he thought was right. The good thing, she was already potty trained. How hard was it to be a parent?


	11. A Trip to the Clinic

_**A Trip to the Clinic:**_

"Sweetie, we need to talk to you," Zoe told her daughter joining her on the floor where Emma sat coloring. Wade also sat down by both of them.

"What, Mommy?" Emma asked putting her crayons down.

"Remember how you wanted me to talk to Wade about being your Daddy?" Zoe asked. Emma nodded crawling into Wade's lap. This was the part Zoe wasn't sure how she was going to explain to her daughter. She wanted to wait until after they knew for sure one way or another but Wade insisted that they tell Emma what was going on.

"I would love to be your daddy." Emma squealed hugging Wade. "But," Wade told her not all that sure where to take this. He had thought it would be easier to tell her, but he couldn't ruin her happiness by telling her the truth.

"But, what, Wade?" Emma asked looking up at him.

"We're taking a trip tomorrow. To the Mobile clinic and after we're gonna go get some pizza. But you gotta be a good girl at the clinic tomorrow and let the nice lady swab the inside of your cheek," Zoe explained to Emma letting Wade off the hook.

"Otay Mommy, why?"

"In order for Wade to officially be your father, you need to take a special kind of a test, only a doctor can do," Zoe explained hoping her daughter would leave it at that.

"You a doctor mommy, why can't you do it?" Emma asked curling into Wade, letting a small yawn out.

"I'm not special enough to do it," Zoe explained earning a head nod from her daughter. The idea of having the test done in Bluebell didn't even seem like an option. The less people who knew about it the better. Even with the doctor/patient confidentiality news would still break about it.

"I'll put her to bed," Wade said standing up with a sleeping Emma in his arms. Zoe smiled watching him. He was already amazing with her. "What?" Wade asked crouching down to help pick up the crayons.

"You're an amazing father, Wade."

"No," Wade said shaking his head. He wasn't father material. "I don't know how to be a father," Wade responded dropping the crayons in the pink and purple pencil box.

"Doesn't mean, you're not good at being a father. You're wonderful with Emma. No one starts out knowing everything. Just from watching you with her, you are beyond amazing, Wade. Any little girl or boy would be happy to have you as their father."

"Uh thanks for that, Zoe." Wade headed outside to sit on the porch. Zoe joining him. "What if I'm not her real father?"

"Nothing has to change, Wade. I'm not going to go out and find the real guy that is her father." She really didn't know where to start if she tried. "No matter what happens to us, doesn't mean you lose that little girl in there. She'll always see you as her father. But I having feeling, we don't have to worry about that."

"That's just a feeling. We need facts here. We need to know the truth."

"If after the results says you're not her father, then we will figure it out. Let's not worry about that until after."

"Yea, sure. I'm gonna head on home." Zoe stood up pulling Wade in for a hug. She gently placed a kiss on his cheek walking into the carriage house. Wade walked home skipping a cold beer and went straight to bed. Tomorrow held a lot of answers for him and his future.

They had arrived at Mobile's Medical Clinic to get the test done. Very few words had been spoken. Even Emma had been quiet, which Zoe found strange. She was always talking Wade's ear off. The last time Zoe saw her daughter so quiet was when they had moved to Bluebell. Zoe picked Emma up to carry her inside.

"What's the matter, sweetie?" Zoe asked walking through the parking lot.

"What if, Wade, not my daddy?" Emma asked on the verge of tears.

"That doesn't change anything, Emma, I promise," Zoe soothed. Emma sniffled resting her head on Zoe's shoulder.

After getting everything filled out, they were able to sit in the waiting room. Zoe had brought a few books for Emma. She sat on Wade's lap and had him read to her. Wade really was an amazing father. She wished he would see that for himself. She knew nothing about being a mother when she had Emma. She's still learning as Emma grows. As long as she wasn't like Candice then she was doing something right. Zoe wanted to be a part of her daughter's life every single step of the way.

Wade was only half way through the second book when they got called back. Emma sat on Zoe's lap scared. The nurse that came in and got everything set up smiled at them.

"The doctor will be with you shortly. I must say you three make a cute little family." Neither Wade or Zoe went to correct her.

"Thanks," Wade responded placing his arm around the back of Zoe's chair. Zoe gave a weak smile. There was something about this that felt right. She could get use to Wade coming along when Emma needed to be at the hospital or the clinic. Or for anything that Emma needed two parents for.

Emma was a trooper when the doctor needed to swab the inside of her cheek. She had giggled when it was Wade's turn.

"I'll have the results rushed. I'll be in contact with you, when I get the results back. It should be about a week or so. Any questions?" The doctor asked turning in his chair to look at the three in front of them.

"Is he my daddy?" Emma asked pointing at Wade.

"That's a question for your mom, little lady," the doctor replied.

"Emma, we went over this earlier today," Zoe told her daughter.

"No matter what, Emma, I promise I'll be your daddy," Wade responded placing her in his lap. "I'm not going anywhere." Emma smiled hugging him tight.

"I have no questions, Wade?" Zoe asked turning her head in Wade's direction.

"Nope, we're all good." Wade stood up with Emma in his arms and headed out with Zoe behind him.

Emma sang along with the radio, making Wade and Zoe smile. Wade drove them to a pizza place. The three of them enjoyed their time together away from the prying eyes of Bluebell. Zoe could honestly see doing more with Wade as a family. Wade had made sure that Emma's pizza was cool enough for her to eat. He insisted to cut it up but Emma wanted the whole slice of pizza.

"What's with that grin?" Wade asked reaching for a second slice of pizza.

"If you could see how you are with her, you wouldn't be questioning fatherhood," explained Zoe taking a bite from her pizza.

"It comes easy with Emma," Wade responded with a shrug.

"Not all the time," Zoe chuckled. "This is nice, out as a little family. I can see plenty of outings like this." That statement alone made Wade smile. He had never given having a family of his own much thought. His childhood wasn't easy and he couldn't think of putting someone through that. Being a bachelor for the rest of his life seemed like the way to go. Ever since Zoe and Emma walked into his life. The thought about having a family crossed his mind more than he would like to admit.

"What are the two of you doing when we get home?" Wade asked as Zoe wiped pizza sauce off Emma's face.

"Swim!" Emma exclaimed throwing her arms in the air. "You come too?"

"I don't know," Wade started to say.

"We're only gonna be at the pond, you are more than welcome to join us," Zoe informed him.

"I don't start work until tonight, so I think I can make it." Emma grinned throwing her little arms around Wade's neck, leaving a trail of pizza grease.


	12. Are You Really Made of Gold?

_**Are You Really Made of Gold?:**_

It had already been a week since they went to the clinic. Emma didn't know any better but Wade was a total wreck. He found himself snapping at everyone. Wally had sent him home more than once in the past week. When he was at home he sat playing video games. Emma would play with him the best she could. Zoe didn't like the fact her daughter was playing violent video games but Wade assured her other wise. Wade didn't touch the violent video games when Emma was around. He was smarter than that. The only time Wade was at ease was when Emma was around him. Zoe was nerves too but she kept it to herself the best she could.

"Why aren't you at play group young lady?" Zoe asked seeing Emma helping Wade wipe off a table. It was a sight Zoe was starting to love seeing.

"Mrs. Martin was sick, play group got canceled for the day. People like me more this week, when I'm around this munchkin," Wade explained. Zoe nodded sitting down.

"Don't over work her. Has she ate anything?" Zoe had come to like the bond Emma had with Wade. It was the fatherly bond she needed and if she was right Wade was her father. She had grown to accept it. She even loved the bond.

"She's been snacking on strawberries, grapes and Cheetos. She did have breakfast, but not lunch yet."

"I wait for you mama," Emma said climbing into a chair.

"How did you get her to eat strawberries and grapes? I have to beg her to eat them. Thank you sweetie," Zoe said kissing her daughters cheek.

"Monkey see, monkey do," Wade smirked. "I was eating them and she started to steal them from me." She should have figured that much or for it be something like that.

"Of course. She really does adore you," Zoe smiled, her daughter wasn't the only one that was fond of Wade. Could she really go there though? She had to think of what would happen if they didn't work. She had Emma to worry about. She couldn't do as she pleased though.

"She ain't the only one," Wade smarted off.

"What was that?" Zoe asked looking up at Wade. She really hadn't heard what he had said.

"Chicken today? It's pretty excellent." Wade covered up what he had actually said.

"Sure." Zoe turned her attention to Emma now that Wade had walked off. "Are you having fun with Wade?"

"Uh-huh," Emma nodded. "Mommy is that man made of gold?" Emma asked pointing to George, who had just walked in.

"Why do you ask?" Zoe asked keeping her laughter at bay. She couldn't have come to that conclusion all by herself.

"Wade, called him Golden boy," Emma shrugged. Zoe should have known that. Even she had heard Wade reference George with Golden boy Tucker. She waved George over.

"George, I don't think you've officially met Emma yet, have you?" Zoe asked getting George to sit down.

"Actually I have. Hi, Emma," George said.

"Hi, are you made of gold?" Emma asked eyeing him up. She kept tilting her head from one side to the other, she had even poked his arm then poked her own arm.

"Uh, no, I can't say I am. Why?" George asked not sure he actually wanted to hear the explanation.

"Hey, Tucker. What brings you by?" Wade asked getting a little jealous. There was no reason for him to be jealous but it sat there in the pit of his stomach.

"Emma, had a question she wanted to ask George. Maybe you can explain to, Emma here, why you call, George, golden boy, Tucker, when he really isn't made of gold."

"Uh, that," Wade smirked placing the two plates of food down.

"Yeah cause now she thinks I'm made of gold." Even George wanted to laugh at that. "Emma, I assure you, I'm not gold."

"That's sad then," Emma replied with a sigh picking a chicken nugget up to eat.

"George, we don't have time for you to sit around and socialize. We got a ton of stuff that needs to be done for our wedding!" Lemon stormed into the Rammer Jammer stomping up to George. "Zoe, Wade, Emma, hello."

"Do you like Lemon's?" Emma asked starting to get curious.

"I guess, why?" Lemon asked. Emma shrugged.

"Emma, you done?" Emma nodded. "Wanna come help out?" Emma smiled kissing Zoe on the cheek before walking off with Wade.

"There is such a thing called child labor laws," Lemon stated.

"I know that, but she loves helping Wade out. He does pay her with a milkshake at the end of the day," Zoe retorted with a shrug. It wasn't as if she was being forced to work and she mostly chatted with people leaving Wade to do the work. What little Emma did was nothing.

"Lemon, I would love to stay and chat but I have a meeting with a client." George kissed Lemon and headed out.

"That's great, now I'm stuck here with you," Lemon retorted.

"You don't have to be, Lemon. You can still leave. Remember you don't like me. And I don't like you."

"That's when I thought you were after my man and my daddy's practice."

"I'm barely friends with George, and the practice, half of it, is mine."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe we could at least be civil, by no means are we friends."

"That's quite alright, Lemon. Being civil is just fine with me," Zoe retorted getting up. "Now you don't have to worry about being stuck with me." Zoe gave her a tight smile and walked over to where Wade and Emma were at. She gave Emma a hug. "I'll be by later to get you."

"Kay momma," Emma responded going back to her coloring page that Wade had put in front of her.

"I get off early today, we'll be at the park. Come join us when you're done working. If you can."

"I'm pretty sure that I can, you be good, Emma."

"I will," Emma huffed.

"I swear, she's already you!" Zoe exclaimed throwing her arms in the air walking out.

"Is that bad?" Emma asked Wade with a frightened look on her face.

"It's not bad at all, it's a good thing," Wade smirked. Emma liked that answer and went back to coloring.

A few hours later Wade chased Emma around the park being the tickle monster. Emma laughed as she ran. A smile graced Zoe's features as she watched them play. She really couldn't wait for the results to be in. She really wanted Emma to have a father. No matter what Wade said or thought, Zoe knew for a fact from just watching the two of them together that Wade was an amazing father. Zoe put her arms out to catch Emma.

"Mommy's safe," Emma giggled holding onto Zoe.

"That's not fair," Wade pouted with a smile. "We agreed that nothing was going to be safe."

"I'm a person not nothing, so it's fair," Zoe replied sitting on the bench. Emma curled into Zoe sticking her tongue at Wade. "Mommy is always safe, isn't she?" Zoe asked kissing the top of her daughters head.

"Uh-huh," Emma replied keeping her eyes on Wade.

"How is that fair?" Wade asked laying on the grass, covering his eyes from the sun.

"Doesn't matter how, it just is," Zoe explained. Emma slowly crawled off Zoe's lap, tip-toed up to Wade and jumped on his stomach. Wade peeked out from under his arm to see Emma sitting on him. Wade quickly started to tickle Emma's sides making her squirm.

"Should we get mommy?" Wade asked with a grin.

"No, you shouldn't," Zoe said shaking her head.

"Let's get mommy," Emma yelled running over to Zoe. She started to tickle Zoe, who started to tickle her daughter back. Soon enough Wade joined in tickling Zoe, making her squirm on the park bench. "STOP!" Emma yelled with a slight panic to her voice. Wade and Zoe stopped to look at her. "I go potty, bad."

"Come on," Zoe said holding her hand out for Emma. Zoe helped Emma to the bathroom.

"Who's the man?" Emma asked pointing to the man Wade seemed to be in the middle of a tense discussion with.

"I don't know, sweetie," Zoe told her keeping her back. Emma had other intentions. "Emma, don't you do it," Zoe strictly told her daughter. Emma sighed staying by her mom's side.

"Sorry about that," Wade said walking up. He picked Emma up.

"You don't have a reason to be sorry, Wade," Zoe responded.

"Who he?" Emma asked into Wade's shoulder.

"My brother, Jesse." Zoe could tell in the way he had said it, that things weren't good between them. She wasn't going to push though. If Wade wanted to talk she'd be there. "I need to go for a bit." Zoe nodded taking Emma from Wade. They headed off home.

"Do you want bubbles in your bath, sweetie?" Zoe asked looking at her daughter who found her bath toys and got them put in the tub.

"Yes, momma," Emma replied. Zoe poured some bubble bath into the luke warm water. Zoe then proceeded to help Emma into the bath. Zoe washed her daughter's hair. Emma washed herself under the guidance of Zoe.

"I'll be back to check on you, I'm just going to clean up some." Emma nodded playing with her ducks. Zoe sighed taking a look at the place. She really needed to find a place where Emma had her own room and a play room at that. With the place cleaned up and beds made, Zoe checked on Emma once again. "You done?" Emma nodded pulling the plug from the tub. Zoe got a towel and helped her daughter from the tub.

"I hungry mommy."

"We'll go get something to eat."

"Rammer Jammer?" Emma questioned. Zoe smiled. She was curious to know where Wade had disappeared to.

"Why not," Zoe replied helping Emma with her shoes.

They had ordered their food and there still was no sign of Wade. Zoe couldn't help but wonder what it was Wade had to do. What trouble could his brother cause for Wade? In that moment she realized she shouldn't be so worried about Wade, it wasn't if they were really more than friends. She was afraid to take the next step because of Emma. She was waiting for the results to come back, not that she needed too, but this was her leaving it up to fate. Emma sat in her chair being quiet as she ate her food.

"I full, mommy," Emma sighed pushing the plate of half eaten food away from her.

"Alright, sweetie. Wanna go home?" Zoe asked earning a head nod from Emma. Zoe picked Emma up and went to the bar to pay for their food. On the walk back home Emma had fallen asleep. Zoe took her to Lavon's seeing Wade sitting outside on his porch. Lavon was more than ok with watching a sleeping Emma for a bit. Zoe was going to take her fate into her own hands, it had to be done. She wasn't going to worry about the consequences until morning. If there was any to have.

"Where's Emma?" Wade asked watching Zoe approach me.

"At Lavon's sleeping," Zoe replied. "You ok?" Wade nodded giving Zoe a smile.

"Nothing that can't be fixed tomorrow. Why are you really here, Zoe?" Wade asked standing up taking a step closer to Zoe.

"I wanted to make sure you were ok," Zoe whispered licking her lips. It was now or never. "And I've wanted to do something for a while now."

"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Wade asked with a smirk. Without saying a word Zoe pressed her lips against his. Wade gripped her hips pulling her flush against his body. Zoe wrapped her arms around his neck moaning into the kiss. Things started to heat up as they fumbled into the gate house shedding clothes as they found their way to the bed in the dark. Stumbling over as little as possible.


	13. The Results are, Jesse?

_**The Results are, Jesse?:**_

Zoe laid wrapped in Wade's arms an hour later. The only feeling that went through Zoe's head was how content this felt. How everything that was wrong felt oh so right. She wanted this, to take this next step with Wade. It wasn't if she had to worry about Emma and Wade getting along. They already adored each other and it was a huge possibility that Wade was her father. There was no harm there. Things not working out was her only fear.

"You alright?" Wade asked moving to sit up bring Zoe with him.

"Yeah," Zoe told him.

"Let's try that one again, Doc. What's bugging you? You don't regret this do you?" Wade asked. Zoe shook her head moving into him more.

"No, not at all. It was amazing and incredible. I want this, Wade. I really do but,"

"Emma?" Wade asked filling in the blank.

"Yeah, I'm always going to worry about her. I know when it comes to my personal life, I should do what makes me happy but she's there and she's not going anywhere. The last thing I have ever wanted to do was have a string of guys in her life."

"I'm starting to understand that, I really am. But I'm not some stranger. She knows me, I might be her father. Even if I'm not, I'm not going anywhere."

"I know that, Wade. I really do. But," Zoe started to say only to lose her train of thought.

"But what?" Wade asked with the silence growing to be too much for him.

"Nothing," Zoe replied turning to look at him. "Let's try this. Let's be a couple and see how it works out. If doesn't go smoothly then we can be friends or at least civil with other since we live in such a small town and we might possibly have a child together."

"I'm ok with keeping it a secret until we know for sure. It's no one's business except ours. I don't see the sense in telling Emma until we know for sure how things will work out with us."

"You'd do that for me, for us?" Zoe asked. Wade pulled Zoe in for a kiss.

"I'd do that and more," Wade replied resting his forehead against hers. Zoe smiled kissing him. "As much as I want this to continue, you better go get Emma home before she wakes up and needs you."

"You know, you're kinda the best," Zoe smirked crawling over him to get outta his bed.

"The same can be said about you Doc," Wade remarked sending Zoe a wink. Zoe rolled eyes getting dressed.

"Tomorrow?" Zoe asked.

"Tomorrow, Doc," Wade replied grabbing Zoe's hand before she had a chance to head out. "What?" Zoe questioned looking down at him. Wade tugged her arm making her fall on the bed. Wade smirked kissing her.

"I needed a goodnight kiss," Wade replied explaining his actions. Zoe kissed his cheek and left to get Emma home and changed for bed. Zoe fell back on her bed with a smile gracing her lips. Tonight had ended perfectly.

"Wake up sweepy head!" Emma yelled storming into the gate house jumping on top of Wade.

"Emma?" Wade asked, rubbing his eyes. "Where's your mom?"

"Right here," Zoe answered with a smile standing by the side of the bed. "She wanted to bring you breakfast. Don't worry I didn't make it, Lavon did," Zoe informed him sitting down. "Also you don't mind watching her do you? Group got canceled again."

"I don't mind at all. I work the late shift tonight, so I can spend all day with her. Meet you for lunch?" Wade asked. Zoe nodded kissing Emma's cheek.

"I wouldn't wanna miss that. You," Zoe said poking Emma's nose.

"I know mommy be good," Emma said rolling her eyes. "I never bad."

"No, you're not," Zoe replied walking to the door. She sent Wade a smile and headed out to work. Emma moved off of Wade to sit next to him.

"You wanna go fishing later?" Wade asked taking a bite of his food. Emma looked at him funny shaking her head. "What do you wanna do?"

"Tea party," Emma beamed. Wade held back a groan.

"I've never been to tea party, you sure that's what you wanna do today?" Wade asked, not all that sure about a tea party. Emma nodded her head.

"We have fun."

"Alright, if you say so princess Ems," Wade replied not knowing what he was in for.

"Hello?" Zoe asked answering the phone that sat on her desk the second she walked through the door.

"Miss Hart? This is Dr. Wells calling from the clinic."

"Oh, yes, hello Dr. Wells," Zoe greeted sitting back in her chair. "What can I do for you?"

"It's not what you can do for me but rather what I can do for you. Your results are in. How do you want to go by getting them? I can fax them, email them or you can come back down and get them."

"Um fax them to my office please." To Zoe that was that fastest way possible. She'd have to make sure she was the one to get the fax first though.

"Ok, you'll have them in about 10 minutes. Have a good day, Miss Hart."

"You too Dr. Wells. Thank you," Zoe replied hanging up. She walked out of her office to see that the practice was empty. She really hoped it stayed that way until she got the fax with the results on it.

"Excuse me, is there a doctor in I can see?" Zoe turned her head at the male voice.

"Yes, right in that room there," Zoe pointed. "I'll be with you in a second," she told him hearing the fax machine come to life. He nodded and headed into Zoe's office. Zoe grabbed the piece of paper that came through checking to make sure it was what she was waiting for. Seeing that it was the results, she kept from looking to see if Wade was Emma's father or not. She wanted to do that with Wade. She made sure no more was coming in and walked to her office to check in with the patient that had come in. "What can I do for you?" Zoe asked slipping the paper she had folded up into her purse.

"I kinda got a cut on my arm," he replied moving the cloth he had pressed against the cut.

"That you do. What happened?" Zoe asked getting things set up.

"Just an accident," he replied not giving any more info out.

"Ok, I'll get you fixed up good as new, um I didn't catch a name," Zoe told him as she started to clean out the cut.

"Jesse Kinsella," he told her with a smile.

"Oh," Zoe replied. "This shouldn't hurt that much," Zoe informed him.

"Dr. Hart is it?" Jesse asked. Zoe nodded going about getting his arm fixed up. "Do you have a first name?"

"Zoe," she replied.

"Mommy!" Emma shouted running into the room.

"Yes, sweetie?" Zoe asked glancing at her daughter.

"Where my tea set?"

"In the box by your bed, why?" Zoe asked finishing the stitches.

"Tea party with daddy!" Emma exclaimed a huge smile that reached her eyes on her face.

"Where is he?" Zoe asked placing a bandage over Jesse's arm.

"He made sure I got here, then he went to get some tea," Emma explained sitting at Zoe's desk.

"I got the tea," Wade announced walking into the room.

"I'm an uncle?" Jesse asked. "You have a kid?" He asked even more confused.

"Jesse?" Wade asked with a slight panic. "Can you wait for me outside?" Wade asked. Jesse nodded walking outside.

"I have the results, if you wanna know for sure," Zoe informed him. Wade shook his head.

"I really don't need to know. As far as I'm concerned, she's my daughter. I'll go explain things to Jesse, and I'll be back to get my princess," Wade explained walking outside. Zoe smiled as she cleaned her mess up. That was what she wanted to hear all along.


	14. The Boys are Back Together

_**The Boys are Back Together:**_

"It would have been nice of you to pick up the damn phone and tell me I was an uncle, Wade!" Jesse yelled the second Wade was out the door of the practice.

"I would have called you if I had your damn number, Jesse," Wade yelled right back walking to the spot his brother stood in. At this point he didn't care about the whole town hearing their fight. "I wasn't exactly sure she was mine until about a week ago." His voice had softened talking about Emma.

"That's what you get. Sleeping around treating women like they're your play things. I'm surprised it hadn't happened sooner." It was supposed to be a joke but it came out in a more serious tone then he intended on.

"Me and you both," Wade replied letting a chuckle out. "Jesse, we've got a twisted past of resentment at least on my part. Is it safe to call a truce after all these years? It's not fair to keep you from your niece."

"Is she the only reason for this truce?" Jesse asked keeping is voice neutral. Wade frowned rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, we're suppose to be brothers. The first 10 years of my life we were close, from what I remember and from the box of pictures dad made me take. Sometimes it takes something like a kid to show you what you've been missing out on over the years." Every single word he spoke came from the heart. He wouldn't come right out and admit that he had missed having his brother in his life.

"It would be good to know how my niece is doing along with my brother. Truce it is. Are you sure she's yours? How'd dad take the news?" Jesse asked sitting on the bench.

"We got the results back today but after spending so much time with her over the last few weeks, I don't need some paper to tell me she's mine. Whether she's my daughter through blood or any other way doesn't matter. I already love her like my own." Jesse let a smile come out. He was really proud of his brother for growing up so much in just a short amount of time. "We haven't been out to dads to tell him yet. He suspects like the rest of this crazy town that she's mine. But he doesn't for sure."

"You ever going to look at the results?"

"I don't see a need to do it. I already know she is mine in my heart," Wade responded clearing his throat. "We're gonna go back to the gate house for a tea party. You're free to join us, if you uh have nothing else to do."

"You with a child, a little girl, how can I miss that?" Jesse asked with a chuckle. Wade shook his head and walked into the practice.

"Ready for your tea party?" Wade asked picking Emma up. She nodded her head.

"Everything alright with Jesse?" Zoe asked hanging the phone up.

"For now it is. He's gonna come back to the house and join in with the tea party."

"Tea set is in a box by her bed somewhere. I should be done around 1 for the day."

"Come out to the gate house and we'll figure out what to do from there for lunch." Zoe nodded kissing Emma on the cheek before they walked out.

"Who he?" Emma asked pointing to Jesse.

"That's you uncle Jesse. I was talking to him yesterday, remember?" Wade asked walking up to Jesse. "Jesse, this is my little girl, Emma, princess this my big brother, your uncle, Jesse." Emma gave him a smile wave curling up to Wade.

"It's nice to meet you, Emma," Jesse said putting his hands in his pockets as they walked.

"Daddy, uncle Jess, come to tea party too?" Emma asked Wade.

"You need to ask him," Wade responded getting a pout out of Emma.

"You ask him," Emma whined burying her head into the crook of his neck.

"Emma, you need to be a big girl and ask him yourself. No buts either," Wade told her with a stern voice.

"Fine, daddy," Emma huffed turning to look at Jesse.

"Uncle Jess, you come to our tea party?" Emma asked in almost a whisper.

"I would love to, Emma," Jesse responded. He was amazed at how well Wade was at being a father. It suited him. "I'll go get the tea started."

"We'll be over once I locate the tea set. Don't make the tea too hot," Wade told his brother not wanting his baby to get burned.

"Noted," Jesse told him with a soft chuckle heading through the path to the gate house. Wade walked into the carriage house putting Emma on the floor.

"Mom said it was by your bed," Wade said walking to Emma's little pink bed. "I don't see a box, do you?" Wade asked turning his head in time to see Emma shake her head. Wade shook his head and looked under the bed pulling a box out that held the glass tea set. "That mother of yours," Wade said getting off the floor. "Let's go have tea. Do we need to dress up?"

"Not tis time, daddy." Wade was relieved hearing that. He really didn't want to get dressed up. He already had to play tea party. "I gotta go potty," Emma announced running into the gate house slamming the bathroom door.

"What's going to happen between you and uh, Zoe?" Jesse asked cleaning off the coffee table.

"Stuff," Wade replied getting the white and pink tea set out. He wasn't certain how that things were going to play out and he wasn't about to rush into anything either.

"Do you think you guys will live as a normal family, under one roof?" Jesse asked checking on the tea that was seeping on the counter in the luke warm water.

"I'm not really sure, Jesse. Finding out I have a daughter is a huge step. I have no choice but to take it one day at a time."

"Are you done with bouncing from chick to chick?" Wade let a chuckle out looking up at his brother.

"I only want one women right now. Life without the sweet Doc and my little princess, doesn't seem right to me. They know how to brighten my day up," Wade responded with a grin walking to the bathroom door. He gently knocked on the door. "Emma is everything ok in there? You haven't fell in have you?" Wade called through the wooden door.

"No, daddy," Emma giggled. "I had accident," she called losing the giggle in her voice.

"Hold on a second," Wade called back digging through the bag Zoe left on his bed. He quickly found what he was looking for and brought them back to the bathroom. "I'm going to open the door and hand them to you."

"Eyes closed, daddy," Emma called back. Jesse turned his back focusing on the tea.

"Eyes closed," Wade responded closing his eyes. He opened the door far enough to hand Emma her change of clothes. "Do you got them?"

"Yes, daddy," Emma answered pushing the door shut. She quickly changed and came out. She gave Wade a hug. "Thanks daddy." A warm fuzzy feeling filled the pit of his stomach every time Emma called him daddy. At first the feeling felt funny but now he loved how the warm fuzzy feeling washed over his body.

"You're welcome princess," Wade responded kissing her head. "Let's have this tea party, shall we?" Wade asked getting situated on his lap.

"You gotta hold cup with tiny finger out," Emma corrected Wade and Jess. "Like this," Emma stuck her pinky finger out taking a drink of her tea.

"Got it," Jesse replied in a serious tone. "Like this, Emma?" He asked sticking his pinky out well taking a small sip of tea. Emma nodded giving him a thumbs up.

"Finger up," Emma seethed through clenched teeth pulling Wade's finger up. Wade laughed holding his finger up. "Better," Emma told him going back to her tea.

Back at the practice Zoe had just finished up with her last patient for the day. She got her things together walking out into the sun that was still high in the sky. She gave Dash a smile.

"Hello, Miss Hart. Is Wade with Emma? It's a shame that her group keeps getting canceled."

"Hello, Dash. It is, I really hope it's nothing too serious. She loves spending time with Wade. It does her some good to have a male role model in her life," Zoe responded digging through her purse for some chap stick, neither one had noticed the paper that had fallen from her purse.

"Where is the father? We have all grew to love that girl, we'd hate for some high-powered man to come waltzing into town taking her way from us," Dash responded with an awful scowl on his face.

"That's not going to happen, I can promise you that. I really need to go, Dash," Zoe told him starting to walk off.

"Oh alright, Zoe. Have a good day." Dash looked down noticing the folded piece of paper. "Zoe," he called out only Zoe was too far way to hear him. He shrugged taking the piece of paper with him.

Zoe headed straight to the gate house to see that the guys were still having their tea party with Emma. She smiled watching the guys cling their cups together only to get chewed out by Emma. She put a hand over her mouth to keep her laughter from getting out. She found it cute they had their pinkies in the air as they drank their tea.

"Such an adorable moment," Zoe smiled entering the house. "Are you three having fun?"

"A blast," Wade smarted off with a smirk.

"Not as bad as I had thought it would be," Jess replied standing up. "Can I talk to you for a minute outside, Wade?" Zoe took Emma and together they started to clean up.

"What can I do for you?" Wade asked walking away from the gate house.

"You should tell dad the truth before he finds out elsewhere, you know this town and you know it's possible."

"We might go over there in a little bit. Gotta get to him before he starts to drink."

"Wade, one last thing. Don't ever doubt yourself on being a father. I saw you with her and you are pretty amazing at fatherhood. Don't you tell me otherwise either. I saw you in action, you didn't," Jesse went on seeing that Wade was ready to argue him on this. "You're not a failure, you wont end up like dad. You'll make mistakes but that's life, Wade. As your big brother, I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks, Jesse. It all means a lot to me. Failing that little girl is the last thing I ever want to happen. I love her a lot. I understand to a degree about dad, but he gave up on us. He's our father and I'm always going to love him."

"I know but things can't change, Wade. We learn from them. Take care and I'll be in touch." Wade shook his brother's hand and they parted ways.

"You wouldn't mind having lunch with Earl would you?" Wade asked standing in the doorway.

"Not at all, I'd actually like that," Zoe replied getting a small smile from Wade. "Wanna go see your grandpa?" Zoe asked turning to Emma.

"Pappy Ethan?" Emma asked getting excited. Zoe shook her head sitting on the couch.

"No sweetie, you have another grandpa now. He's your daddy's father." Zoe explained.

"The man who was on the roof of the building I helped down. Earl," Wade tried coming to sit down by them.

"The man who made you mad?" Emma asked. Wade nodded. "I not like him," Emma protested crossing her arms over her chest.

"Sweetie, please give him a chance. You can't dislike someone you don't know," Zoe told her daughter keeping her sigh at bay.

"He's not that bad, princess. You'll like him," Wade spoke picking Emma up.

"Oh otay," Emma gave in with a small huff.

They got some take-out and headed over to see Earl. Wade let the things Jesse had asked him run through his mind. Sure Emma was his daughter, his family. Zoe was his girlfriend but they weren't ready to live in the same house together. He didn't even know if things were going to work out with Zoe. He was certain that if things didn't work out that she wouldn't keep Emma from him. They could be a family where they lived now. He could do some redecorating at the gate house and Emma could spend the night with him a few days out of the week. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn't even noticed that he was parked outside of Earl's place.

* * *

_**I see that you guys really need to see if Wade is the father of Emma. I would to if I didn't already know the answer. All I can say is that the answer is coming shortly. Thank you to everyone that has read, alerted, favorited and a huge thank you to those who have left amazing reviews.**_


	15. Crazy Pappy Earl

_**Crazy Pappy Earl:**_

"I no go in there!" Emma shouted holding onto the straps that kept her buckled into her seat. Wade sighed seeing his dad standing at the window.

"You go in and I'll talk to our daughter," Zoe told him. A goofy grin spread across his face. He was never going to get tired of hearing Emma being called his. It had filled a void within him he didn't even know was there. Wade walked to the door. Zoe climbed into the backseat. "Why don't you want to go see your pappy?"

"He leave me too," Emma pouted covering her eyes. Zoe sighed getting Emma free of her confines.

"Pappy Earl, wont ever leave you, sweetie," Zoe soothed holding Emma to her. Grandpa Ethan didn't leave because of you. So don't think that, okay?" Emma nodded her head.

"Pappy Earl, love me?" Emma asked looking at Zoe.

"Pappy Earl will love you. But you need to go inside and meet Pappy Earl first."

Wade kept his eyes focused out the window on his car. He wouldn't know what he would do if Emma refused to come inside. Upon entering the house Wade made sure that Earl was sober and all the booze was out of Emma's sight. Earl sat in his chair watching his son.

"You never did say what it was you're doing here. I don't mind the unexpected drop in, but I would like to know why." Wade took his attention away from the window to look at his father. "Does this have something to do with the new lady doctor and her daughter?"

"It does," Wade replied glancing out the window. "That little girl isn't very fond of you after the whole Nate's Hardware scene. Just take it easy with her. Once they come in, I'll explain it all."

"Wade, I already know that's my grandchild." Wade ran a hand through his hair. "I can see things in her that remind me of you at that age. Anything going on with you and the doctor?" Wade looked down finding his shoes suddenly interesting. A little moment passed between them. He wanted to spill to someone who they were a couple but he couldn't do that. Wade looked up to see Zoe and Emma make their way to the house. Wade got up pulling the door open. Zoe gave him an assuring smile.

"Hello Earl," Zoe greeted sitting down with Emma in her lap. Emma used Zoe as her personal hiding spot. "Wanna go to daddy?" Zoe whispered in her daughters ear. Emma shook her head cling to Zoe as if her life depended on it.

"Hello Zoe, it's Emma right?" Earl asked in a light and fun tone. Emma peaked out to look at Earl. She nodded turning around to sit on Zoe's lap. "How old are you?" She held up 3 fingers.

"I be 4 soon," Emma told him. "You my pappy Earl?"

"More like crazy pappy Earl," Wade said under his breath but they all heard him. Emma giggled moving to sit on Wade's lap.

"Crazy Pappy Earl," Emma giggled repeating what Wade had said.

"Pappy Earl, now I like the sound of that," Earl replied getting up. "I've got some toys around here somewhere from when your dad was a kid. Let me go get them for you," Earl replied walking to his room. The little family sat in silence waiting for Earl to return. "I hope you don't mind playing with cars and trucks. He never wanted anything but them." Emma slowly got off of Wade's lap and went to the box that was filled with hot wheels and trucks.

"What's wrong with cars and trucks?" Wade asked pretending to be offended.

"Nothing daddy," Emma called out laying on the floor as she played with the cars.

"What took you so long to realize she was yours?" Earl asked looking at his son. Wade shrugged.

"I never really thought about it. It wasn't until Emma picked me to be her father and talking to Zoe about it. I took a good look at the girl before me and saw that she did look like me. We went in the next day to have a test done."

"I still have the results if you want to know for sure," Zoe told him.

"Like I said before, the piece of paper doesn't matter, it really doesn't. Blood or any other way, she's my daughter. I take full responsibility for that. That piece of paper doesn't hold my future."

"You really have grown up, Wade. As your father I'm proud of you for stepping up in such a huge way." It meant more to Wade then he had ever thought was possible hearing his father say that.

"Daddy, come play wif me," Emma giggled running to Wade handing him a car.

"I would love to play with you but how about Pappy Earl play instead?" Emma take a few steps holding the car out to Earl.

"Play?" Emma asked.

"I would like that." Earl took the car and got on the floor to play with his granddaughter. "You two can go do something for a few hours. Me and little Miss Emma can find something to do."

"I don't know," Wade sighed.

"I'm not going to drink anything around her," Earl told him. "Emma do you wanna stay with Pappy for a while?"

"Can I?" Emma asked looking at her parents.

"We can go for a little walk. But she needs some time to get to know her grandpa Earl," Zoe spoke up.

"If you need anything, anything at all don't hesitate to call," Wade insisted. It would be nice to talk to Zoe in private about a few things. He did want to know where exactly he stood on being her father. "We wont be gone long. If you mess this up, you wont ever see her again," Wade threatened walking over to Emma to hug and kiss her. Zoe did the same and they headed out. Away from the house Zoe slipped her hand into his.

"I can see you have something to say so let's hear it," Zoe told him as they enjoyed the cool breeze on their sunny day.

"I have a few things actually. We're no where ready to live as a family under one roof. But what if I happened to have Emma stay with me the nights I don't work late. Would that be ok?"

"Emma would like that a lot. You'd have to clean the gate house up and get a bed for Emma, maybe add a dresser for some clothes. Extra bedding just in case. And a few toys, you can just get some from her personal collection. You'll need a box to put the toys in. Any night you want her to stay with you just come get her." Zoe had no problem of Wade wanting to spend some alone time with Emma, it would do both of them some good.

"Thanks for this, Doc. It means a lot." He was beyond ecstatic about this. Now that he was a father, all he wanted to do was know his daughter and be there for her. He couldn't imagine not being a father.

"You are her father. I can't keep her from you. I couldn't if I wanted to, Wade. She deserves to know you just as much as you deserve to know her. Anything else?"

"I was thinking maybe we could change her last name to Kinsella." Zoe wasn't to keen on that request. Her daughter had been a Hart since before she was born. But this wasn't about her, it was about Emma.

"That's a bigger request, Wade. But I wont rule it out. We will talk to her about that and see what she wants. But you know for that to happen the whole town is going to find out."

"Let them find out, I'm not ashamed of her. Never have been. I love that girl." Zoe smiled wrapping her arms around him. "Do you think we can get my name added to her birth certificate?"

"That I can do, but we'll have to actually look at the results since she's 3. It's a mandatory thing."

"Pull the results out of your purse there and lets see. If they show I'm not her father, I'll adopt her and make her my daughter."

"I know," Zoe told him pulling her purse open. She pulled out the folded piece of paper she had in there. "Do you want me to read them to you or read them together?"

"Together," Wade told her. Zoe stood in front of Wade. He took the piece of paper from Zoe. Slowly and carefully he started to unfold it. A smile graced his lips. "This does say I'm her father, right?" He asked staring at the paper. His whole body felt like it was floating. He had been so worried the past week for nothing. He had never felt this happy in his life.

"It really does." She for one was relieved to finally know who her daughters father was. A weight had been lifted off her chest. She turned to wrap her arms around his neck.

"We should celebrate," Wade whispered brushing his lips against hers.

"We should celebrate with our daughter first, and after we can do some celebrating of our own," Zoe replied pulling him down for a kiss. Wade pulled Zoe closer, deepening the kiss.

"So much with celebrating with our daughter first, huh?" Wade chuckled picking grass out of Zoe's hair.

"Don't blame me that your so damn irresistible," Zoe grinned running her hands through her hair to get out the grass and whatever else that had got in her hair.

They shared one last kiss before they could be spotted from the house. They got a little concerned when they didn't hear any noise coming from inside. They carefully opened the door to see that Emma was curled up on Earl's lap, both asleep. Green Eggs and Ham was laying on the couch beside them. Zoe carefully picked Emma up and got her put in the car. Wade stayed behind to wake his father up and let him know they were heading out.

* * *

**So if Zoe had the results, what does Dash have? I know what it is, but I wanna hear what you all think it is. That would just be mean of me and Dash to make him blog about Wade being Emma's father. Any ways, I hope you all liked this one.**


	16. A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

_**A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words:**_

The Rammer Jammer had seemed like the ideal place to stop and celebrate with Emma. They had woke her up. Wade carried a still sleepy Emma. They stopped short entering the establishment. All eyes turned to them, voices were lost in the quietness.

"Uh, what's going on?" Wade asked looking at everyone.

"I was talking to Zoe earlier today and this piece of paper fell from her purse," Dash responded standing up. He held the paper in the air. "I haven't opened it, that would have been rude of me." Zoe didn't have time to freak out. That could have easily been the results instead. She was glad they weren't the results though.

"We've all been trying to guess what it is," George spoke up from somewhere in the crowd of people.

"Dash, don't open that," Wade scolded going to move. He didn't know what the paper held but he did know that it was only Zoe's personal business. "It's not yours." Zoe put a hand on his arm.

"Dash go ahead and open it," Zoe smiled knowing exactly what was on the paper he had. Dash looked at the two of them not sure what he should do here. "It's fine really," Zoe assured him. Dash smiled nervously and opened the paper in his hands. A soft chuckle escaped his lips.

"It seems we have quite the little artiste among us," Dash revealed flipping the paper over to show two stick figures. A little girl and her daddy.

"Mommy help me." Emma yawned. "That's me and daddy."

"I thought you didn't know who her father was, Big Z?" Lavon asked from the bar.

"I didn't for a long time but now I know, things change and you find the one thing you wanted to find, no matter how lost you or he had ever been." She had been given confused looks as they tried to decipher what it was she meant by that.

"That means what, dear?" Shula asked.

"It means once we stop trying to look for something so closely it appears before our very own eyes, when we weren't expecting it," Zoe explained hoping they had understood what she meant.

"Dash a word outside, please?" Wade asked handing Emma over. Dash handed the drawing to Emma and went outside with Wade. Zoe got Emma situated in a chair by a window.

"It's like that now?" Lavon asked sitting down with them. Zoe rose a perfectly plucked eye brow looking at him.

"Like what?" Zoe asked.

"Not to pry into your personal life. But something is different between you and Wade. Emma has been fond of him since they day she met him. You're keeping something from me," Lavon stated matter of factly.

"It's personal and when it's time for the town to know, you'll know too. I need things to remain a secret for now," Zoe told him with a soft smile. Lavon never had a chance to responded.

"Doc, Dash would like to speak to you for a moment outside," Wade informed her pulling a chair out. "Hey Lavon."

"Huh? That's strange," Lavon said confused.

"What's that?" Wade asked making sure Emma didn't need anything.

"Zoe always tells Emma to be good before she leaves. This time Zoe got up without so much as a single word. Don't you find that funny? Or weird or something?" Wade shrugged at the questions.

"I've been spending a lot of time with Emma, she probably didn't think anything of it," Wade responded.

"Yeah, maybe," Lavon replied getting up. "I'll catch ya later." Wade nodded letting a breath he had been holding out. Was it really that much to ask to have a nice family outing to themselves no questions asked? All he wanted to do was spend time with his daughter before all of Bluebell found out.

"Tomorrow morning and not a second sooner. He headed off home to work on it so it'll be perfect." Wade grinned pulling Zoe to him kissing her. He didn't care about keeping their relationship secret now. He wouldn't be walking through Emma's life-like she meant nothing at all. If Zoe and himself didn't work out in the end, he would still be Emma's father no matter how awkward things got between him and Zoe. Emma was now the center of his world.

Zoe wasted no time in kissing Wade back. Her reservations of holding back because of Emma was gone. She may not know Wade like everyone else but she did know that Wade would never abandon Emma. Zoe grinned pulling away. Emma giggled looking at her parents.

"What's going on over here?" George asked the question the rest of the patrons wanted answered.

"We a bit slow today, Tucker?" Wade chuckled. "Do you two ladies need to look at the menu? It's a salad for the Doc and chicken strips for the pretty little girl."

"Wade you don't have to go put the order in, you're not working, let Wanda do it, it is after all her job." With a huff Wade sat back down making Emma laugh harder.

"Tucker, seriously? It's self-explanatory," Wade told him a smirk coming out.

"How's the wedding planning coming along?" Zoe asked getting things settled down before they got to far out of hand.

"Uh, good, I think, I need to go," George said in a hurry rushing out the door.

"I'll remember that question for next time," Wade chuckled. He looked at his girlfriend and at his daughter. He would have never guessed how much life could change in a short amount of time, but none the less his life was looking up for the first time in years.

"What?" Zoe questioned seeing the far off look in his eyes.

"Nothing," he replied placing his hand over hers. "I'm happy, really happy." Zoe smiled feeling the same exact way.

"I happy too," Emma announced clapping her hands. The last thing he had expected today was to make amends with his brother and gain a family.

"Here you guys go, y'all look so cute together," Wanda said placing the plates on the table.

"Thanks, Wanda," Zoe replied only to have Wanda wave it off as she left the table getting back to work.

"We have cupcakes?" Emma asked dipping a chunk of her chicken strip in her BBQ sauce.

"We'll stop at the Butter Stick and get some," Wade promised her. Emma smiled and started to eat her food a little to fast for Wade and Zoe's liking. "Emma you need to slow down and actually enjoy the food, not gobble it down," Wade scolded.

"Ok," Emma sighed taking small bites of her food. He still didn't feel any better about getting after her. But he was now her father and his job was to keep her safe. One day she would appreciate him more so for doing it.

Just like he had promised they stopped off to get cupcakes. Emma had picked every single one of them out by herself. She even took the money from Wade and paid for them.

"Daddy tuck me in?" Emma asked almost asleep on Wade's lap. Zoe kissed her daughter's head and whispered a goodnight, I love you. Wade carried her over to her bed and got her covered up. He kissed her head. "Love you, daddy."

"I love you to princess," Wade responded running a hand through her hair. He stayed sitting on the edge of her bed until he heard soft snores. He slowly got up afraid he'd wake her. "I should go," Wade said walking over to Zoe's bed kissing her.

"You don't have to go. I wouldn't mind if you stayed. And I know Emma would be thrilled to have her dad here when she wakes in the morning," Zoe told him tugging on his hand to get him to sit on the bed.

"Admit you only want me around so you can hide behind me when the news breaks tomorrow," Wade smirked kicking his shoes off.

"Here I thought you were going to say something about how sexy you look with no shirt on," Zoe smirked getting him to chuckle.

"You said it, not me. But I can't deny that fact." He got under the covers. Zoe kissed him before she curled up to him. They both had the same thought in mind. This was something they could get use to.

* * *

**I loved reading everyone's idea's on what the paper was. Nothing to bad. To a question that had popped up in my head reading a few reviews. I'm not certain that I'm gonna have Zoe running back to New York for anything. One thing is for sure Wade wont cheat either. Just sayin'.**


	17. Word on the Street

_**Word on the Street:**_

Emma woke up running past the bed to the bathroom. Wade started to stir hearing Emma banging around in the bathroom. He had to wonder how the woman next to him could sleep through all the banging. He smiled seeing the brunette wrapped around him. He kissed Zoe's head causing her to stir.

"Morning, Doc," Wade whispered capturing her lips in a soft kiss.

"Mmm morning, Wade," Zoe replied with a giggle. Waking up to Wade in her bed was a new and exciting feeling she never wanted to end.

"Mommy, Daddy," Emma giggled jumping on the bed squeezing her way between her parents. "Mornin', Mommy. Mornin', Daddy."

"Morning, Sweetie," Zoe replied kissing her daughter's cheek.

"Morning, Princess," Wade said kissing her head. He couldn't the mile wide smile on his face. Waking up to Zoe was one thing but waking up to see his daughter's pretty face in the morning was the best way to start his day.

"We live together, now?" Emma asked getting both her parent's to squirm and suddenly feel awkward about this whole thing. Zoe had an idea about that but she had to make sure Wade was ok with it before they ever said anything to Emma.

"Princess, I will still be across the pond. And you and your mommy will still be here," Wade explained getting a sad reaction from Emma. Wade didn't know what he could say to brighten his little girl up.

"Emma I know having a father is new and exciting for you, and Wade will always be your daddy even if we don't live together. On nights we don't stay together as a family you can stay with daddy if you want. Instead of having one home, you have two homes now," Zoe explained trying to get Emma to understand what was going on.

"Otay," Emma smiled hugging her parents.

After they had all got dressed and ready for the day. Which had involved Wade going back to his place to shower and get dressed meeting his girls back at the carriage house to see they weren't quite ready yet. Zoe was having trouble getting Emma to still long enough to get her brown locks into a pony. Emma wanted to be off playing with some blocks instead of sitting still to get her hair done. Wade wanted no part in trying to do any of that. What was only 5 minutes seemed more like eternity. They walked to Lavon's, Emma holding both her parents hands.

"Aww look at the cute little family," Lavon announced setting plates down on the counter for them when they walked in. "What's going on?" He asked seeing them all in a very chipper mood.

"My Mommy and Daddy are together," Emma beamed. Lavon gave the couple a surprised and shocked look.

"I heard through the rumor mill that you guys were dating, I didn't believe it, but now I see I missed something important yesterday. Daddy?" Lavon asked sitting down.

"I had went to visit George when he worked in New York. You remember?" Wade asked cutting Emma's waffles up.

"I remember it alright. You wouldn't shut up about the woman you had met. You sulked around here for weeks because you would never see her again. I was tired of hearing about it. What does Zoe and Emma have to do with that weekend?" Wade cursed under his breath, Zoe giggled hearing that about him. The morning she left him, she really didn't want to but life was calling and she couldn't stay locked away. She didn't get the chance to sulk like Wade had.

"Surprise! I'm that woman, and that little girl," Zoe pointed to Emma as she spoke. "is the wonderful result of that magical night," she clarified.

"Congrats on that," Lavon told them clearly shocked. He was still processing the information. He was happy for his friends. Wade had changed a lot in a good way since Emma and Zoe appeared in his life. "Who all knows?"

"Earl, Jesse, you and Dash, he was writing a blog entry about it to post this morning," Zoe said pulling her phone out to see if he had posted anything yet.

"Has he?" Wade asked coming to look over Zoe's shoulder.

"Not yet," Zoe frowned putting her phone away. "He said it would be up this morning."

"Morning isn't over with yet, Zoe. It has barely begun." Zoe shot Wade a 'no duh look'. "Want me to walk you to work?" Wade asked stealing a bite from Zoe's plate.

"Hmm, I think I can deal with that," Zoe joked. "Lavon, you mind watching Emma today?" She asked standing up.

"I can do that, we'll paint the town pink or something," Lavon joked.

"You be good for Uncle Lavon," Wade said kissing his daughter's head.

"Hey! That's my line, mister!" Zoe pouted walking to her daughter. "Yeah, listen to your daddy," Zoe replied kissing her daughter's head.

"Not my fault I beat you to the punch on it, Doc," Wade chuckled pulling the door open for Zoe. Lavon shook his head laughing. They were complete opposite's but they were made for each other.

"Kiddo, you have some strange parents," Lavon said sitting down to eat his own breakfast. Emma giggled hearing that.

"Me strange too," Emma beamed with a mouthful of waffles.

"Yes you are, do we talk with food in our mouth?" Lavon asked. Emma shook her head.

"No," she sighed looking down.

"We wont tell mommy or daddy about it. It will be our little secret." Emma grinned looking up at Lavon.

"Secret, shhh." She put her finger over her mouth.

"You are so cute," AB gushed walking into the house. "I knocked but no one answered. I heard voice's and laughter, I hope you don't mind."

"It's alright Annabeth. What brings you by?" Lavon got up to offer her something to eat or drink. She waved it off sitting down at the counter.

"Us Belles were going over ideas for our float for the Founder Day's Parade and we were curious to know if you were sticking to your normal float idea or if it was changing this year."

"Why mess with a good thing? As the Major, my float can be anything I choose and I've already got myself the perfect cheerleader," Lavon said walking to Emma. "Wanna be a cheerleader on my float in a 2 weeks?" Lavon asked in a hushed voice.

"I dress up?" Emma asked with big puppy eyes.

"Of course." Emma nodded eager to dress up.

"See, can't change it now. If Lemon has a problem with it, she can come talk to me in person. Anything else?" Lavon asked nicely as possible.

"Not that I know of," Annabeth responded with a smile. "I've got things to do. Have a nice day, Lavon."

"Let me walk you out," Lavon insisted. He turned to Emma. "Don't move from that spot until I get back." Emma nodded sipping on her juice. "How are things with Jake?" Lavon asked sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Not any better, I received divorce papers this morning. So it's kinda official now." AB looked down answering the question. "I should have seen it coming, huh?"

"It's not that simple, if you ever need anything day or night, I'm right here."

"Thanks, Lavon," AB responded walking out.

"That's what friends are for, you are welcome, Annabeth," Lavon called after her slowly shutting the door. He turned around and headed back into the kitchen to see Emma was done eating and her fingers and face were covered in syrup. "Let's get you cleaned up," Lavon chuckled helping her down.


	18. Answers

_**Answers:**_

It is my honor to let the town of Bluebell in on a little secret that I was allowed to share with everyone. Before we get into the juicy details that are to follow, I would like to say that I haven't published this out of context and without permission. They had came to me; giving me the permission to write this blog entry solely out of respect. One last thing, this blog entry was supposed to be up this morning but I felt that this little family deserved to have a few extra hours before every Bluebellian starts to talk from reading this.

We all have either grew up with Wade Kinsella or have watched him transform into the man he was a few weeks ago. He has always had a good head on his shoulders. Him using his head was surly what all of us have been waiting for. He has dealt with the struggles in his life, the best way he knew how. He had went through a rough time and I for one am deeply relieved to see that through every stage in his life he comes back stronger and better for going through it. We all love that boy like he is our own. All we ever wanted to see from Wade, was for him to get his head on straight and settle down. We all know he can succeed, he just needs to realize it before that can happen! Our dreams may have a good chance in coming true!

We don't know much about New Yorker Zoe Hart and the lovely Emma. Zoe had caused quiet the rumors as of late. It has taken everyone but a select few to give the young doctor a fair chance. When she blew in to town for a few days we had learned that she was our beloved Harley Wilkes long-lost daughter. We never knew about her little until she had came back. I like everyone else in this town, were skeptical about her ever coming back. The day she returned it shocked all of us for two reasons.

1\. She came back!

2\. She had a daughter. A cute lovely little girl. A girl the town has enjoyed watching as she helped at the Rammer Jammer while Wade watches her.

We've watched as Wade stepped up as the father to Emma, when the rest of us including Wade, had no idea who her father was. They quickly formed a bond. One that shall never be broken. I don't know about the rest of you out there, but it brings a good ol' smile to my face seeing Wade being a father. He makes that girl happy. And she makes him happy. Wade is a good father, one of the best in my opinion. He loves that little girl. Ever before he knew anything about her. He's still learning but all parents learn on the job. One of the many perks of parenthood.

Does it surprise anyone that Wade is such an amazing father? I'll be the first name on the list of doubters. It's personally nothing against the man. I love Wade, I've been there to report on his games growing up. He would have been a fine football player if he hadn't felt the need to stay home and look after his father. That was a tremendous thing he did. Fatherhood wasn't in Wade Kinsella's future. After going through the turmoil he had at such a young age, I never thought he would settle down.

Wade is known for his parting, womanizing ways. I'm thankful to see that has now come to end. All you guys out there you must remember, every woman, is a daughter, a sister or a mother and they don't deserve to be treated like the scum on the bottom of your shoe. They might even have a brother or more that certainly will come and hunt you down for hurting their sister.

At this point in a blog that has been going on about our favorite bartender, you're asking yourself why is Dash posting this for? Why am I still reading this for? Simple. I have the answers you want to know and they will be exposed.

We all saw that Jesse Kinsella had return to Bluebell to visit his father and see his little brother. We all held our breath in anticipation as to what was going to go down between the two brothers. In recent years every time these two got within a mile of each other a war would break out. Things were different this time around. Emma had brought the brothers back together. This little girl holds more power than she'll ever know.

Why is that? How can one little girl hold such a powerful grip on someone she has just met? She has already wedged her way into the heart of Bluebell.

We've all been affected by the sweetest little girl around. We all wanna know who her father is and why isn't he apart of her life? Any real man would step up and be there for his little girl. Especially such a sweet and caring one like our Emma.

We all came up with our own conclusions to it. Her real father was some deadbeat in jail, in prison or laying in a ditch somewhere. My personal favorite he didn't know he had a daughter. With all these questions about Emma's father brings us back to Zoe. Nothing against her, I have a soft spot in my heart for her. We all make mistakes in life, that makes us the person we are today. We need to learn from our mistakes first hand. She always told us she didn't know who Emma's father was. We would pretend to believe her but on the inside not buried to deep we felt she was holding something back from us.

With the way Emma had been conceived, was her mistake to make. But Emma is no mistake. We have all seen the love Zoe has for her daughter. Emma makes Zoe's world turn. No matter the mood we see Zoe in around town, the second she see's her daughter, her world brightens up.

Seeing the three of them around town as a family, warms our hearts. We have all questioned is Wade the father of Emma? We have asked Zoe and Wade that exact same question, time and time again. The answer remained the same, NO.

Bluebellians, you can stop wondering, you can stop asking. This time, the answer changes. Give yourselves a pat on the back. We had bugged them enough about Wade being Emma's father, they saw what we have seen from the day Emma wiped her first table with Wade.

A Paternity test.

I've seen the results first hand, and I can say on behalf of Zoe Hart and Wade Kinsella, Emma's father is none other than the Rammer Jammer's very own Wade Kinsella.

I have one last thing to add and you can go about your wonderful Bluebell day.

Another reason this blog is late is because I made a trip to see Earl Kinsella this morning. I wanted to see what he had to say. You all will be surprised to learn, he did not have a single drop of alcohol in his house. He has given up alcohol altogether for the very reason he doesn't want to miss out on anything else with his granddaughter's life.

Have a wonderful day Bluebell,

Dash Dewitt

* * *

_You guys I can't say thank you enough for everyone that has taken to this story. This chapter was never meant to be just Dash's blog, but I got a bit carried away and I personally like it this way. I hope you all did as well._


	19. Did you hear?

_**Did you hear?:**_

"Wade, we didn't even know you knew Zoe years ago?" Wade looked up to see that everyone inside the Rammer Jammer was quiet and waiting for answers. A guy could only take so much and Wade was getting closer and closer to his breaking point. He expected the town to be all over him with congratulations and we knew it and maybe even a few I told you so's. What he hadn't expected was for the town to go on and on about not knowing Zoe. That was the person he was then. Thinking back on it he did feel bad for the way things went down. Zoe was pretty close to wasted and no where close to the right mind-set about what was wrong and right and he used that to his advantage. There was no way that Wade Kinsella could leave New York before he had found his nightly lay for the night. He just didn't expect to ever see her again, let alone have a daughter. But now that he knew the truth he was happy that it was Zoe he had slept with that night in New York. He couldn't and wouldn't trade Emma for anything.

"I didn't, not really. I went to visit George one weekend. Things happened. We didn't exactly exchange personal info. It was a one night thing," Wade explained going back to work. "Why do all of you care for? You guys are never happy with the information given. You always need more! This whole town is like vultures. We didn't even need to say anything about it," Wade huffed getting aggravated.

"You seem annoyed tonight," Zoe pointed out sitting at the bar. She had only caught the tail end of it. She had very few people come up to her through the day. She had figured that Wade and Emma would get most the attention from the town. It was their news and not really Zoe's.

"Is it that obvious?" Wade asked his voice laced with sarcasm. "Where's my little peanut?"

"With Uncle Lavon, going over float ideas. You still think letting Dash reveal Emma is your daughter was a good idea?" Zoe asked sipping the wine that Wade placed in front of her.

"It was because it's the fastest way to get the news out there. I just didn't think they would bug me about it all day long. It's not their business how we met 4 years ago. They don't care that we're a couple just that we knew each other before," Wade huffed leaning on the counter.

"You know this town once some more gossip comes along they'll be all over it. And forget about this," Zoe told him leaning forward to kiss him. "Emma wants to stay at your place tonight."

"I don't know Doc," Wade said rubbing the back of his neck. "I want her to spend the night but I don't have a bed or anything for her."

"You can spend the night again. After she goes to sleep I want to run an idea by you."

"Oh, yeah?" Wade asked with a wink.

"Not that!" Zoe giggled lightly smacking Wade on the arm. "I've got to get back before Emma talks Lavon into having a festival for ice cream next week."

"She could do more harm than that. She could convince Lavon that the town needs to be pink or purple for a week."

"Hey! That's not a bad idea. Paint the town pink for Breast Cancer Awareness next month!" Zoe jumped off the stool. "Thanks for the idea." Wade shook his head watching Zoe walk away.

"Hey, man," George said sitting in the spot Zoe just abandoned. "After all these years, you finally figured out who it was that night. Still feel like she's the one? Your soul mate?" George teased.

"Shut up. I was drunk and didn't know what I was talking about," Wade responded getting George a beer. Actually he had a feeling that Zoe was the one, he just wasn't going to say anything to anyone about it. 'Cause sometimes things change.

"Ya know, the truth comes out while drunk. Keep that in mind," George replied with a smirk. He was really starting to hate that he ever told his friends anything about his personal life. All they ever seem to do is rub it in his face.

"The next time I'm drunk, I'll make sure to tell you how I really feel about you," Wade muttered.

"What kind of father goes out and gets drunk?" George asked with a smirk.

"Mine!" Wade huffed under his breath. "I may not get drunk any more or sleep around, but I'm entitled to have a few every now and again. I know how to cut myself off before I'm drunk. I don't need Emma to see that shit." He didn't want Emma to go through what he had growing up with an alcoholic for a father. Emma deserved to have both her parents now that she had both of them in her life.

"You're a good father, Wade. Don't think otherwise or let any one convince you otherwise."

"So everyone says. I haven't really done much. I spend time with her 'cause she enjoys it and so do I. It's not like I'm doing anything spectacular for that little girl," Wade explained his logic.

"That's where you're wrong, you stepped up for her when she had no other father figure in her life. You didn't have to do that. No one else did. You are a good man for doing so. It may not be a grand gesture for you but for Emma what you did for her is spectacular," George explained getting up. "Just 'cause it seems very little to you, doesn't mean it's not this huge thing to that little girl. For the first time in her existence she has a father." Wade nodded seeing things from Emma's point of view for the first time. To her this whole thing was new and a big deal.

"Wade, why don't you go on home to your family. I've got this covered," Wally told him going straight to work.

Wade headed straight to the gate house. He wanted to be able to have Emma stay with him. But looking around it just wasn't the best place for her to be. He enjoyed staying with Zoe and Emma but he couldn't do that every night. The carriage house was their home not his and he couldn't intrude on them.

"Hey," Zoe told him sitting on the porch by him.

"Hey, Emma convince Lavon of a new town event yet?" Zoe laughed softly shaking her head.

"No but his house is kinda covered in glitter."

"What was it you wanted to talk about without Emma around?" Wade asked placing his hand on her knee leaning forward.

"With you living here and us living across the pond. It doesn't make it easy to act as a normal family. It's hard on Emma and I can't imagine it's easy on you. You have missed out on so much and there's only so much more to come. Now that we all know the truth, I think it's safe to say we can live under one roof and figure things out as we go. Be a real family," Zoe explained. She had been thinking about it for some time now. Her biggest problem was finding a way to express it to Wade.

"It's worth a try. It would be good to act like a family in that aspect of things. I've got tomorrow off so we look for a place when you have the time."

"I have one patient early tomorrow morning and I'm done for the day unless an emergency comes up." The fact they were taking this step together brought a smile to Wade's lips. He didn't wanna miss out on anything else in Emma's life. This was the right step for them as a family but he didn't know how it would affect his relationship with Zoe.


	20. House Hunting

_**House Hunting:**_

"Zoe, this is the last house on the list, can we please not finding anything you hate about it?" Wade asked turning the car off.

"You're one to talk," Zoe shot at him. "Let's not find something wrong with this one, shall we?" She asked getting out of the car. They had a total of five house to look at. That was all that was on the market in Bluebell at the time.

The first house they liked from the outside. Stepping inside was a whole other story. The counters were the right height for Emma to ram her head into them, Wade didn't like that. The living room wasn't spacious enough for Zoe. They both felt that the rooms were too small, the master bedroom didn't even have its own bathroom.

The second house needed to be repainted on the outside, the paint was chipping away where it wasn't fading. The inside needed a lot of help as well. The floor in the kitchen was tore up, the carpet in the living room laid rolled up against the wall. They didn't even go check out the upstairs of the house.

The third house had a nice little back yard. The inside of the house seemed prefect. They both liked the house and they had agreed to buy the place at first glance. They walked around by themselves, finding that this house was small and didn't have nearly as enough room as they would like it have. There was only two bedrooms. They both wanted a few extra rooms, some of the railing for the stairs was cracked and you could easily get a splinter.

The fourth house hadn't been cleaned very thoroughly. The inside of the house smelled like a barn yard. They never made it past the front door to check the rest of the house out.

Wade knew that all the little things that needed to be fixed he could do easily. But he needed to find the right house for them. He hadn't thought that it would be this hard to do just that.

Zoe on the other hand knew exactly how hard it was to find a home when you had to think about someone other than yourself.

The kitchen was laid out perfectly, Emma wouldn't be able to get an eye or a head injury running through the kitchen. The living room had a ton of room. Their was a dinning room off to the side. Plenty of bedrooms that had plenty of room. Even the master bedroom had everything. A fire-place in the corner, a huge and spacious bathroom. The house was perfect for them.

"I like this house, Wade. It fits us perfectly." Wade looked out the window. The house was located a little further out-of-town. Plenty of room in the backyard. "But," Zoe said getting Wade to face her.

"But, what?" He asked walking closer. "Emma?" He guessed. Zoe nodded her head.

"It's going to be her home too, she needs to decide if she wants to live here. With her running around, it'll be easier to tell if something is at the wrong height for her."

"I get it, let's go see if we can come back." Wade took her hand in his and they walked downstairs to where Julie was waiting for them.

"Have you decided if this house is for you?" She asked in a polite manner.

"We need to come back with our daughter," Wade told the older woman. She nodded.

"I've got a few things to do at the office, but I'm free in about 2 hours. Does that work for you both?" She asked. Wade sighed slightly. He needed to be at work at the time but he could talk to Wally.

"We will be back then," Wade confirmed. The three of them walked out of the house. "I'll talk to Wally, everything will be ok." Zoe smiled. She knew that everything was going to be ok. That together they could make it through anything.

"Wade, we never did discuss how things would be with Emma and moving in together."

"I've already learned most the rules you have for Emma, when she gets older we can change them together. I am her father so I figured I could discipline her when she gets into trouble. What else is there?" Wade asked parking his car in front of the gate house.

"Nothing," Zoe replied. She wasn't expecting Wade to have the answer he did have. "As her father you are entitled to punish her when she does something she shouldn't be doing. That reminds me, we still have to go to the court-house and get your name on her birth certificate."

"We can do that now, we still have to talk to Emma about the last name too." Wade saw Zoe cringe slightly at that. "What?" He had every right for his daughter to have his last name.

"I don't know, it's up to Emma and I'm fine with it, really. It's just that she's always had my last name, it's kinda bitter-sweet," Zoe explained. She wanted her daughter to have her father's last name. It that was hard to do when Emma had been born.

"It can be put on hold for now, I can see it's hard for you." Zoe leaned over kissing his cheek.

"Go call Wally, I'm gonna go find our girl."

Wade headed into the gate house and Zoe went on her way to the main house. She smiled seeing Lavon, Annabeth and Emma playing outside. The second Emma noticed Zoe she fought her way from Lavon's grip and ran to Zoe.

"Find house?" Emma asked with a bright smile.

"We did, but we want you to see it before we do anything else. If you don't like it then we wont try to buy it." Emma nodded squirming out of her moms arms the second she saw Wade approach.

"I should get going," Annabeth said getting up.

"I'll walk you out," Lavon said following behind.

"What's going on there?" Wade asked sitting down with Emma on his lap.

"Not sure," Zoe said walking into the house a glint in her eyes.

"Sweet pea, your mom is more trouble than she's worth," Wade chuckled.

"We love mama for it," Emma beamed earning a kiss on the head from Wade.

"Yea, we do," Wade replied leaning back in his chair.

"You and AB?" Zoe asked leaning against the counter scaring Lavon.

"It's none of your business, and she's married," Lavon stated with a nervous little chuckle.

"Uh huh, I am her doctor, I know things on a personal level with AB and I'm starting to think you do as well."

"Big Z, this matter can't be discussed." Zoe sighed with a nod of her head.

"I get it," Zoe said walking back outside to see that Emma had colored all over Wade's face in a blue marker. "Is there a reason you're letting your daughter use your face as a coloring book?" Zoe asked with a soft giggle.

"What?" Wade asked panicked snapping his eyes open. "I thought it was crayon or something. She got off my lap to color with the chalk."

"And you shut your eyes for a second?" Zoe asked.

"Yes, and she climbed onto my lap and said she was going to color daddy. I thought she meant she was going to draw a picture not draw on me!" Wade stated getting up. "How do you punish her for this?" Wade asked standing next to Zoe.

"Like this," Zoe replied moving next to Emma. "Do we color on people?" Emma shook her head. "What do we say?"

"I sorry, Daddy," Emma said going to hug him. "I don't do it again."

"It's ok, it'll wash off," Wade said holding onto Emma.

"Emma, this means, no markers for the next few days." Zoe picked the markers up ready to put them away. "Why don't you go help Daddy wash the marker from his face and arms."

"Can I?" Emma asked with a big bright smile. Wade smiled and carried her into the house going to the bathroom to help wash the mess off.

Two hours later and no trace of blue marker on Wade's face or arms they pulled up to the house. Emma wasn't impressed by the light brown color that the house was painted. Inside she found that there was way to much space. She had always lived in a small place with Zoe. She loved the fact she could freely run around but the fact she almost smacked into a few walls and tripped over the carpet coming in from the kitchen had Wade and Zoe shaking their heads.

"I no like it," Emma stated seeing the room that would be hers. It was nothing against the house, just that she already had a home and didn't wanna leave.

"Ok," Zoe replied walking out of the room. Wade went and talked to Julie telling them they weren't interested in this house either.

"How'd house hunting go?" Lavon asked seeing them walk into his kitchen.

"We found one that we liked but Emma almost busted her nose tripping on the carpet, so for safety reasons we didn't take it."

"Why don't you fix up the upstairs to the carriage house? I wouldn't mind and it would be nice having the three of you close by," Lavon suggested.

"Why didn't you tell us that sooner?" Zoe asked walking out the door. Wade and Lavon following behind her. Emma was in Wade's arms.

"I figured it was an option you guy crossed off your list already. You guys will have to fix it all up," Lavon told them as they walked.

"I can do that, depending on how bad it is, it should only take a couple of months."

"So it's settled, this is going to be our home?" Zoe asked looking at Wade and Emma.

"Home," Emma giggled squirming out of Wade's grip running inside.

"Home it is," Wade replied. "We'll have to get yours and Emma's things packed up. I can make room at the gate house for you guys to stay."

"I have a few spare rooms you can put the stuff you don't need right now in," Lavon told them. Zoe smiled kissing Wade. The next few months were going to be hectic but it would be worth it.


	21. Temporary Home

_**Temporary home:**_

"Doc, you have so much crap. We're gonna have to build you a closet bigger than the house," Wade commented carrying the millionth box to Lavon's. Zoe had spent every spare second she had to sort through her and Emma's things. Emma would only make a bigger mess taking things from the boxes Zoe had already taped shut. Emma had got on Zoe's nerves more than once but Zoe let it slide. Wade had helped out as much as he could. Lavon tried to keep Emma out-of-the-way when he had the time. Even with Emma making a bigger mess of things, Zoe was still able to have everything packed away and ready too be moved either to Lavon's or Wade's.

"Oh sweet naïve, Wade, can't you read?" Zoe asked carrying the final box that would go to Lavon's.

"I went to school!" Wade yelled. "I'm not stupid!" He growled annoyed that she would think that of him.

"I didn't say that, Wade. But that box is our daughter's stuff. The last of, I don't know how many boxes were hers," Zoe told him, making him feel small, very small.

"Oh," Wade muttered. "I wasn't looking at the box for a name, Zoe," Wade snapped back. Zoe rolled her eyes putting the box down. She grabbed Wade's arm and spun him around. He raised an eyebrow looking at her. Before he had a chance to say anything he found her lips on his. He placed his hands on her hips pulling her close to his body.

"I know moving into a tight space is going to be hard and we're going to bump heads a lot about everything, but the faster you get building and remodeling the carriage house the sooner we can move into a bigger space," Zoe told him keeping her hands locked on his neck. Wade smiled kissing her nose.

"It's going to be hard for a while but we can get through this. Only a few months. We'll be fine, right?" Wade asked a slight panic in his voice.

"We'll be fine," Zoe assured him, hers hand moving down to his shoulders to rest on his upper arms.

"Mommy, Daddy," Emma yelled running into the room they were in.

"What's up sweet pea?" Zoe asked bending down to her daughters level.

"Boo-boo." She turned her arm to show her mom the small scrape on her elbow. Zoe looked at the scrape thoroughly to make sure it didn't need to be cleaned out. Seeing that it was ok, Zoe kissed it.

"Feel better?" Zoe asked. Emma nodded her head running out of the room.

"Oh to be a kid again," Wade joked shaking his head.

"When things were easy and you could be carefree," Zoe smiled turning around to face him. "As fun as it would be to be a kid again, there is a lot of things I don't wanna go through ever again in my life. Speaking of which we still need to get Emma's bed put together and the final boxes brought over to the gate house."

"How is that speaking of which?" Wade asked earning a shrug for a reply. "Our temporary home," Wade smirked kissing her.

"Not uh, Lavon Hayes, does not need to see that or need the two of you doing that in his house," Lavon demanded covering his eyes. Both Wade and Zoe burst out in laughter.

"We were kissing Lavon, nothing else was gonna happen. Zoe says no, not until we're moved into our new place," Wade smirked. Zoe gasped lightly hitting him.

"I said no such thing. But it does make sense, though. Remember it was your idea not mine," Zoe smirked walking out.

"She gotta ya good, man," Lavon chuckled walking out of the room. He already figured it would be better that way any how. He wasn't about ready to get it on when his daughter was in the same room as him. That just wasn't right. He'd have to hurry and get all the remodeling done on the carriage house.

"The last time I saw this place this clean was the day I moved in," Wade remarked seeing the gate house cleaned up. "I made some room in the dresser for a few things. Emma's dresser is over there, for everything else you'll have to put it where it'll be out-of-the-way," Wade told her sitting on the bed. They had to rearranged the TV and the couch in order to get Emma's bed in. Her bed sat at the foot of Wade's bed.

"I know," Zoe told him getting a few things put away. Zoe smiled seeing that Emma was trying to make her own bed. Zoe sat on the bed next to Wade leaning back against him.

"What are we going to do with an extra bed?" Wade asked running his fingers through her hair.

"Make sure there's a guest room so when you get in trouble you have a bed to sleep in and not sleeping on the couch," Zoe told him.

"Me? Ha, I wont ever make you mad. I'm man enough to fix my mistakes before bed," Wade smirked making Zoe roll her eyes.

"We will see about that," she replied. "Speaking of the couch, we're gonna need a new one, a bigger one, along with some chairs, end tables, a coffee table, kitchen table and chairs, among other things," she told him.

"We got some time, Zo," Wade replied. She smiled resting her head against his chest. She was happy about the change in her relationship with Wade, but more importantly she was happy with where her life has taken her.

"Help, Daddy," Emma whined. Zoe sat up letting Wade go help Emma.

"By the time we figure it out we might need Mommy's help to untie the knot we made in the sheets," Wade joked.

"Daddy, no! Mommy, help!" Emma begged in a demanding tone. Zoe laughed getting off the bed.

"That hurts," Wade pouted.

"Cry river, Daddy, get over," Emma rolled her eyes. Zoe bit back her laughter. Wade sat on the bed shocked his daughter said that to him.

"It might help if Daddy, builds a bridge first," Zoe added in earning a giggle from the little girl in the room.

"Don't you start," Wade warned.

"Or what?" Zoe asked. Wade shrugged his shoulders laying back on the bed. Zoe shook her head getting Emma's bed made. Emma ran over to the box that held a few of her toys and she pulled out her dolls to play with. Zoe laid on the bed next to Wade looking at him. "Sorry," Zoe said kissing his cheek. "I couldn't help it."

"Nah, it's ok. Things like that are bound to happen to one of us. This time it was me. It happens," Wade replied kissing her forehead. Lately he had been having a lot of moments that were prefect and this was another moment he could add to that list.


	22. Can We Keep Her?

_**Can We Keep Her?-**_

"Oh my!" Zoe gasped seeing Wade's hand that was wrapped up in an old towel blood slowly seeping through. Zoe pushed herself off the floor where she was playing Candy Land with Emma. She quickly got her medical bag, pushing Wade down on the couch. She started to clean the blood off his hand. "What happened?"

"A stray got caught in the fence behind the Rammer Jammer. Got cut getting her out," Wade shrugged letting Zoe take care of his cut up hand. Zoe had been so focused on Wade she didn't notice the black and white dog that was sitting by the door.

"We keep her?" Emma asked petting the dog. Zoe's first instinct was to keep her daughter away from the dog, but she looked so hopeless. It didn't help that Emma was already in love with the dog.

"I don't know," Zoe sighed. She felt bad for the dog. She deserved a nice loving home.

"She needs cleaned up and taken to the vet, it would do Emma some good to have a dog. She doesn't have a home. I've been taking care of her for the last month. This would be the first time she followed me home." It was already cramped in the gate house. How much room could a little dog take up?

"What are you going to name her?" Zoe asked. She couldn't say no to her daughter or the helpless dog.

"Booboo," Emma announced. "She has lots."

"Let's get Booboo cleaned up for the night and we'll get her to the vet tomorrow," Zoe told her grinning daughter. She finished getting Wade's hand wrapped up and got the cuts on Booboo's front legs and neck cleaned up and in the tub. Zoe was careful not to get any shampoo in any of the cuts.

Wade chuckled seeing Booboo shake getting shampoo and water all over both of his girls. Zoe sent him a glare, Emma splashed him with some water. Zoe groaned not being able to keep the dog in the tub. Booboo ran around the place leaving a trail of water and suds behind her.

"NO! Get down!" Zoe yelled in a panic watching as Booboo used their bed as her personal towel. Wade chuckled finding it amusing. Emma was having a laughing fit. Wade walked over to the bed and got Booboo down. He would rather sleep in a dry bed. He really didn't want to smell like wet dog while sleeping.

Zoe was finally able to get her back into the tub and rinsed off. Wade gave her an old towel to dry her off with. Zoe went to work on getting the cuts taken care of. Emma took to playing with Booboo. Zoe stripped the sheets and blankets off the bed and got new ones to put on. Wade had helped her.

"You have the rest of the night off?" Zoe asked tucking a corner of the sheet under the mattress. They had already went in and had ate dinner with Wade at the Rammer Jammer a few hours ago.

"Yea, with my hand and all," Wade responded pulling the blanket up. Zoe sat on the bed and watched Emma roll over trying to teach Booboo the trick. "She's going to get bigger, she's only a puppy. About 4 months old," Wade informed Zoe. She had figured as much. "She'll be a good hunting dog too." Zoe rolled her eyes at that.

"She is your daughter's dog. You gotta ask her if she wants you to use her for hunting," Zoe informed him.

"She's a springer spaniel!" Wade stated like it was that obvious that he would train to hunt because of the breed of dog she was.

"Take it up with her," Zoe told him pointing to Emma, who was still rolling on the floor. Booboo was pulling on Emma's pant leg, making her laugh. "It seems she now, has a new best friend."

"That means I need a new friend too," Wade pouted.

"You have plenty of friends, you want a new one, go play Booboo," Zoe told him.

"I was thinking more along the lines of something else," Wade said moving to kiss her neck. Zoe bit her lip relishing in the feeling of his lips and tongue on her neck. She gently shoved him off, she captured his lips with her own.

"We can't, Wade," Zoe told him with her own small whine.

"I know," Wade sighed. Zoe laid down resting her head on his chest.

"It sucks, but we can find a way around it. Emma has group tomorrow afternoon. I've got the day off. All I need to do is get Booboo to the vet in the morning. You can take a small break between your shift at the Rammer Jammer and remodeling the carriage house," Zoe suggested, letting her hand travel under his shirt.

"How can I refuse that offer?" Wade asked with a wink. "I'm gonna get Booboo outside before she goes all over the floor," Wade announced seeing the dog start to sniff around. Zoe got off the bed getting Emma ready for bed.

"Booboo, sleep with me?" Emma asked getting under her blanket.

"I guess if she jumps in your bed with you, she can stay." Zoe kissed her daughter's head. She walked into the bathroom to get ready for bed herself.

By the time she emerged from the bathroom, Emma was out cold, Booboo was using Emma's legs as a pillow. Zoe smiled getting into bed. Wade pulled her close kissing her.

"For the record, if Booboo needs outside in the night, you get to take her out. Make sure Burt Reynolds, doesn't eat her as a midnight snack," Zoe yawned curling into his side.

Come morning Wade didn't want to get out of bed. Booboo had been up and to the door all night long. Even if she didn't need to go, she still wanted out because she heard a noise or smelt something. He couldn't take another night of it. He was a bit slow and sluggish at work.

"Late night?" Wade picked his head up from the table he was supposed to be wiping clean.

"Never ever get a puppy," Wade advised pushing himself from the chair he sat in. "Babies are supposed to be tough at night. I can handle that, I think, but that damn dog is a whole new level of nightmare. In and out all night long," Wade complained.

"Where'd you get a dog from?" Lemon asked amused.

"The stray puppy out back followed me home and Emma had to keep her. I did help a bit in keeping her," Wade informed her. "Zoe took her to the vet or plans to at some point."

"The dog or Emma?" Lemon asked in a teasing way. She got a hard glare from Wade. She had seriously crossed a line.

"Don't ever joke about my daughter again," Wade growled storming off. He was tired and when it came to his daughter no one was going to make jokes, harmless or not.

With Zoe and Emma they stopped at a pet store to get Booboo some stuff. Emma picked out a purple plaid collar and leash. Emma even begged for some puppy treats and toys. Zoe gave in not wanting Emma's toys to get chewed up. Emma also picked a dog bed out, Zoe wasn't sure if the dog would ever use it, but felt that Booboo needed a bed of her own. They picked up some dog shampoo, a brush, puppy food, water and food dishes.

"That should be everything," Zoe said looking over everything in the cart. She glanced at the self's making sure she had indeed got everything for their new pet.

"Good, let's go!" Emma started to pull on the cart. She didn't want her puppy to be stuck in the car while they shopped. Zoe had insured her that nothing would happen to Booboo. But Emma wasn't having any of it. Zoe shook her head and they headed to the check out. Zoe wasn't surprised to see the final price for everything. A dog was expensive. And she could only guess the vet bill was only gonna be bigger.

Emma was happy to see that Booboo was looking out the window and wagged her little tail seeing her. Zoe got everything into the trunk of the car and then proceeded to buckle Emma in. Zoe got the collar and leash out of its confines and got the collar put around Booboo's neck.

Emma sat paranoid on a chair waiting for them to bring Booboo back out to her. They took her to the back to give her all the shots she needed and to take care of the cuts on her legs.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Lyons, call me Judson." Zoe smiled politely at the man who entered the exam room they were waiting in. "She's good as new, at least she should be in a couple weeks."

"Thank you," Zoe told him. "Anything we need to do at home?"

"Clean the cuts in a few days and keep clean bandages on the cuts."

"Ok," Zoe replied clipping the leash back on Booboo. Emma took the leash and started to look Booboo over.

"Cute kid," Judson said looking up from the clip board in his hand. Zoe gave him a weird smile. She could see that the man was flirting with her but she wasn't interested.

"Thanks, come on sweetie, let's get Booboo home." Emma walked out having a bit of trouble keeping the rambunctious puppy under control. They stopped at the counter so Zoe could pay the bill and set up another appointment in a few weeks.


	23. First Fight of Many

**First Fight of Many**

Zoe struggled to get Booboo into the house. She had decided to grab a few bags from the trunk as well. She dropped the bags with a thump letting Booboo off her leash. Zoe picked the bag up and got the dog stuff put away.

"Damn it, Zoe!" Wade cursed hearing all the ruckus Zoe was making. Zoe jumped, looking to the bed where Wade was at. "Do you mind? I'm trying to sleep here!" Wade snapped from the bed. He didn't even sit up or even open his eyes.

"Sorry, what's with you?" Zoe asked sitting on the bed.

"That damn dog!" Wade hissed rolling away from Zoe. "I just wanna sleep before I have to go work on the stupid house," Wade said as calmly as possible.

"Oh, it's a stupid house now? That is our future home, Wade. If you don't wanna work on it, then don't. We can continue living the way we have been," Zoe seethed lightly.

"That's not what I meant, Zoe," he shot back sitting up. "But fine, we don't have to live together, since you seem so damn adamant about it!" Wade hissed.

"Ok," Zoe told him getting up on the verge of tears. It wasn't about the plans for sex being canceled, or even fighting about their future home, but it was like he didn't want her around any longer. It felt as if he wanted to end things between them.

"Zoe," Wade sighed, sending a hand through his hair. "You don't have to leave."

"Sure seems like I do," Zoe snapped slightly.

"Whatever," Wade snapped pulling the blanket over his head. Zoe sighed sitting on the couch. She didn't want to be in a fight with Wade when he was tired and more than likely didn't mean what he had said. Slipping her shoes off she climbed into bed making Wade face her. One of them needed to be the bigger person and make the first move.

"Sorry," she whispered, letting her fingers trace along his jaw line.

"For?" Wade questioned, cupping her cheek.

"Waking, you."

"You didn't. I shouldn't have snapped at you. Sorry about that." Zoe smiled kissing his hand.

"It's ok," Zoe responded moving closer to him.

"No, it's not. Between the stress of remodeling, work, Emma, making time for us, the pup and the town, things are a bit hectic and stressful." Zoe totally and completely understood where Wade was coming from. Things could be stressful at times.

"As your doctor, I have the perfect stress reliever for you," Zoe smirked kissing him. Wade pulled Zoe on top of him. The kiss was broken for a second to pull Zoe's shirt off. The rest of the clothes soon followed suit. Wade flipped them over, his lips never leaving hers.

Zoe laid curled up to Wade, enjoying the afterglow. This moment had been better than the first time around, maybe even the second time too, because she wasn't in a field or drunk. Drunk on love was another story, but was she in love with Wade? She liked him a lot, he was a good person. She felt safe in his arms. He was always there, no questions asked. She could relay on him at any given moment. She trusted him with her life; Emma's life even. But love, she wasn't sure about.

"That was the best way to relieve stress, I've ever tried, but I do need to go get something done with the house." Zoe sat up clinching the sheet to her chest.

"I know," Zoe smiled kissing him. "I've gotta go get Emma. Be careful." Wade pressed a kiss to her nose.

"I'm always careful." Zoe giggled slightly at that. "It's true!" Wade stated rolling out of bed to find his clothing.

"I didn't say you weren't," Zoe protested looking around for her clothes. "Is Jesse, coming to help?"

"Yeah," Wade called over his shoulder buttoning his jeans. "He's got a week off and he said he'll try to come every weekend he can," Wade explained pulling his shirt over his head.

"What's the point of wearing a shirt?" Zoe asked making Wade shoot her a look.

"My body isn't here for you to objectify," he winked. Zoe playfully huffed and hurled a pillow at him.

"Not everyone is into you, Wade!" Zoe exclaimed shaking her head.

"You are," Wade smirked pointing at her.

"I'm allowed, I'm the girlfriend," Zoe stated crossing her arms. "You'll be over there for like 5 minutes doing work and the shirt will be tossed to the side, so what's the point?" Zoe asked. Wade shrugged walking out the door. Zoe quickly finished getting dressed. "Alright come on Booboo, let's go get Emma." The pup jumped up and ran to the door wagging her tail.

"Zoe, just the gal I was looking for." Zoe smiled coming to a stop.

"What can I do ya for Dash?" Zoe asked. Part of her didn't wanna know, especially when it came to Dash. But whatever rumor it was she wanted to extinguish, it now.

"I heard through the grapevine that you and Wade are expecting a little baby, is that true?"

"No, it's not true in the slightest. I don't know where you got your information, but it's wrong. The subject of kids hasn't come up for us. We're happy with Emma and the pup here at the moment," Zoe explained.

"No marriage talks?" She was starting to think that he had nothing and was asking these questions himself just to find a story.

"Nope, nothing. Now can the town please leave us be for a day or so. Just because we have a daughter together doesn't mean, we need to rush off and get married. The future can be a tricky thing, it's best we don't pry and open pandora's box. We're happy in where our relationship is at right now," Zoe told him slightly annoyed. "Have a good day, Dash," she gave him a smile and continued on her way to get Emma. Why couldn't they go off and bug George and Lemon. They wanted all the attention on them and their up coming wedding. She rounded a corner bumping into someone. "Sorry, wasn't watching where I was going."

"I wasn't either." Zoe looked up to see Judson. "I see Booboo here is doing good."

"She is," Zoe replied trying to step around him. "I really need to go get my daughter, if you wouldn't mind?" Zoe asked getting him to move.

"Zoe, I was wondering if you wanted to maybe..." Judson's words fell silent. Zoe gave him a weird look. She never did get time to ask what he wanted though.

"What's going on here?" Wade asked putting his arm around Zoe.

"I was seeing how Booboo was doing, I'm her Vet," Judson replied suddenly feeling awkward.

"I didn't know Vet's made house calls," Wade replied looking around. "Or street calls, when no one called to begin with." Judson gave an awkward smile and hurried off leaving Wade a laughing mess. Zoe couldn't help but start to laugh. "I think he has a crush on you, Doc."

"I know he does, he was trying to flirt at the vet office this morning. I was certain he was about ready to ask me out on a date."

"He would've showed up in a body bag," Wade commented. Zoe smacked him lightly. "I need to go get some nails and screws from Nate's."

"I'm still on my way to get Emma. Oh, try to stay clear of Dash. He found me and asked if I was pregnant or if we have been talking about marriage," Zoe told him with a kiss. Wade wasn't ready for either one. One kid was enough and marriage he had never saw for himself. But he honestly thought he was falling in love with Zoe.

"I'll do the best I can, but Dash can sneak up on the best of them," he replied kissing Zoe one last time and hurrying off. Zoe shook her head and continued on her way to get her daughter.

"Mommy, park, pwease?" Emma asked the second she spotted the park.

"For a little bit," Zoe told her. They didn't have a big rush to get back home for. Playing outside always did a child some good. Zoe sat on the bench, Booboo laid at her feet as Emma played.


	24. Double Trouble

_**Double Trouble:**_

"What do you guys think you are doing?" Zoe asked seeing Wade and Jesse sitting on the couch beer bottles in front of them on the coffee table, controllers in their hands.

"Brother bonding," Wade spoke up blowing something up in the game. Jesse had gotten in that morning after Zoe and Emma had left.

"You have a house to be working on, so why aren't you?" Zoe asked taking a few more steps into the house. She didn't care that they were taking a few minutes to rest, she just didn't want them to be sitting around playing video games when they should be working.

"Taking a break, Doc, we've been at it all morning long. Why are you home?" He hadn't meant it to sound so rude, but he could see that Zoe didn't take any offense against it. "Didn't you have to work all afternoon?" Wade asked glancing up from the TV screen for a second.

"My 2 o'clock canceled," Zoe told him. "Hey, Jesse, how are you?" She asked realizing she had been ignoring him.

"Hey, Zoe, I've been good. It's 2 already?" Jesse asked slightly panicked.

"Yes," Zoe answered looking at him. "Why?"

"I got a call to make," Jesse responded racing out of the gate house. They both wanted to ask what his problem was but they ignored the fact he had just ran out on them.

"How's it going with Jesse?" Zoe asked sitting next to Wade on the couch.

"Good, actually," Wade replied back. He wasn't expecting things to go so smoothly with his brother, but they had put the past behind them and they really had started over again. Wade liked having his brother back in his life with no stupid fights or arguments about things that just didn't matter. He had never taken the time to realize just how much he had missed having his brother in his life, until now.

"I'm happy for you, Wade," Zoe told him kissing his cheek. She really was happy that he had been able to make amends with Jesse after everything that they had put each other through. He still wasn't quite used to having someone happy, proud or anything else of him. It had been him for so long, having Zoe in his corner was still a new feeling for him. But he liked that he could lean on Zoe if he needed to. "I should get back, you are going to get back to working on the house before you needed to rest up for work tonight, right?" Zoe asked causing Wade to shake his head with a slight chuckle.

"Yes, Zoe, also we need to figure out the paint scheme for the house. You did want like 4 rooms upstairs right?" Wade asked placing his arm around her.

"Yep, our room, Emma's room, two extra rooms. An office downstairs and your little man cave or whatever it is you want," Zoe rattled off. In the back of his mind, he was excited for the possibility of more kids. He loved Emma, but he had missed out on everything with her in the first few years of her life. He wanted to get the chance to see everything from the pregnancy to the birth and everything beyond that point. It was something they needed to talk about, but now wasn't the time. They were far from the course of getting married or having more kids.

"I'll make sure my man cave is right next to your office," Wade smirked sending Zoe a wink. She gave him a confused look.

"Why?" She asked eying him up carefully.

"That why, I can annoy ya, then have my way with you when you storm in," he replied pressing his lips against her. His video game was long forgotten about. Zoe laid back on the couch her hands tugging on his hair. He kissed down her jaw line and back up again, pressing his lips to hers in a hungry kiss.

"Whoa! I don't need to see that," Jesse said quickly covering his eyes. He tried to go back through the door but ended up tripping over Booboo instead. Zoe didn't have anytime to feel embarrassed. She rushed to make sure that Booboo was ok. Wade sat on the couch laughing. "I feel loved, no one comes to see if I'm the one injured," Jesse replied a bit sarcastic.

"I can see you're not bleeding, you have no bones sticking out of your skin. You're fine," Wade responded. Jesse got up dusting himself off.

"Maybe," he grumbled falling on to the couch.

"Since everyone is ok, I'm gonna head out. I'll be home around 4 with Emma. I hope I don't see the two of in the same spot in front of the TV playing video games and drinking beer," Zoe told them. She walked over kissing Wade.

"Depends on the weather," he winked. She gave him a look and headed out.

"You guys still hanging in there?" Jesse asked once Zoe was gone. Out of instinct Wade punched his brother's arm.

"Why would you ask that? I asked you to come here and help me work on our house together. Do you really think I'm going to remodel a house for her and her new boyfriend?" Wade asked. "Also you just walked in on us, do you have memory loss from tripping over the pup?" Wade asked with a slight chuckle.

"No, I don't have memory loss," he responded shoving Wade. "I don't know what I meant," he said shaking his head.

"Who'd you have to call?" Wade asked getting up to get a beer. He handed Jesse one as well.

"A certain someone," Jesse replied twisting the cap off his beer.

"No shit, Sherlock," Wade replied annoyed, opening his own beer. "What's the person's name? Who is it?" Wade asked smacking his brother on the back of the head as he walked by him.

"Her name is Amelia, and we've been dating for the last year and half," Jesse confessed a smile coming out to brighten his features.

"Dude!" Wade exclaimed. He felt upset that he had missed out getting to know his brother's girlfriend sooner. "You gonna ask her to marry you?" He asked not wanting to dwell on not knowing.

"I did last week," Jesse confirmed. "She said yes, so things have been hectic. She would have come with this week but she's busy with work and couldn't get away."

"Congrats, Jesse." He was happy for his brother and it wasn't as if he had missed out on anything. It was just a weird feeling to learn these new things about his brother. Growing up they were sort of close until the later years but things had really changed over the years and he had missed out on a lot of things with his brother gone.

"Thanks, man. I was wondering if you would want to be my best man?" Jesse asked finding that one little question bringing his nerves out.

"Of course, Jesse," Wade answered in total shock. With their past, he wasn't expecting Jesse to ask that questions. He figured it would have been one of his buddies he was closer with. But it was an honor that Jesse had asked him.

"I know you need to talk to Zoe and Emma but I would like for her to be the flower girl. Think that could be possible?" Jesse asked taking a drink of his beer.

"I don't see why not, but I do have to talk it over with Zoe then bring it up to Emma. But she'll be happy to do it. I'll talk to Zoe about it later and you'll have an answer before you head home," Wade told him finishing off his beer. "We should get back to work, before Zoe comes home." He really didn't need Zoe to be pissed at him for not doing any more work on the house. With all of them in close quarters wasn't as fun as he had first thought it would be. He was in a hurry to finish all the remodeling on the carriage house.

"You act scared of her," Jesse chuckled getting to his feet.

"You don't know her like I do," Wade responded clasping him on the back. Jesse shook his head, walking outside into the heat that radiated from the sun.

Zoe finished up at the practice, having very little incident with Brick. Zoe wasn't his favorite person, but he did admire her for raising Emma on her own, for the first 3 years of her life. It wasn't easy being a single parent and that was something he was just learning himself.

"I thought I said I didn't want to see the two of you in the same spot playing video games?" Zoe asked letting Emma run inside first.

"Uncle Jesse," Emma squealed jumping on him. "Can you walk Booboo wif me?" She asked giving him puppy eyes.

"I can't refuse that, come on," he told her with a soft chuckle.

"We did more work, had to stop so I could get cleaned up for work," Wade explained pulling Zoe down on his lap. "My brother is getting married, asked me to be the best man," Wade replied with a grin.

"Congrats to him and to you for that," Zoe told him.

"Yea, he wants to know if Emma can be the flower girl." Zoe actually liked that idea. It would give Emma time to bond with her family and make her feel like she was part of Jesse's life.

"If she wants to do it, then it's fine by me," Zoe replied resting her head against his shoulder. "What do you know about your brother's fiancé?"

"That they dated for a few years and her name is Amelia, that's all," Wade told her. "Zoe, just for the record, I'm not ready to get married."

"I'm not either, Wade. Where'd that come from?" She asked.

"Dash, and it's been on mind. Marriage and kids is something I want, but just not now, Emma is plenty."

"I want that too, Wade. But we still have time for all of that. Finding out you have a 3-year-old daughter is plenty to deal with. We're not ready for marriage yet and I'm ok with that," Zoe told him. Wade crashed his lips to hers. He was happy to hear that they were on the same page.


	25. A Special Trip

_**A Special Trip:**_

"What bout Booboo?" Emma asked nearly in tears. Zoe sighed pulling Emma onto her lap. She hadn't said they were going to take Booboo to the shelter or that the pup was dying. Just that they had to get up early tomorrow morning and have a fun filled day at the Zoo. They hadn't had a day out like this yet and it was something that her and Emma would do once a week in New York. Spend the whole day together. Now it would be as a family. It was the first family outing of many more to come. Zoe liked to give Emma a day that was all hers. Emma loved it and Zoe loved seeing the smile that her daughter wore all day long.

"We can't bring her with, she'll be fine here with Lavon. I promise," Zoe assured her. "It'll be too hot for her to be with us all day long." Emma gave in slipping of her mom's lap, she went to play with Booboo before she had to go to bed.

"She acts like we're taking the pup away from her," Wade spoke, pulling Zoe into him.

"In a sense we are, for a day. They're best friends, but Booboo can't come to the Zoo with us and Emma needs this. With everything going on, we haven't had much time to do things with Emma. You guys were joined at the hip not that long ago and now, you've been busy during the day. She's not use to that," Zoe explained. She wasn't trying to hurt Wade's feelings, just make him understand how Emma was feeling.

Zoe may not have been trying, but she had succeeded in making Wade feel like he was turning into Earl, just without the booze. And that seemed far worse because he was sober. He had to work to make money, to buy things to finish their home. Between remodeling and working, Emma had slipped to the back of his mind until he was home. But most nights or mornings depending on the shift he worked, he was by far to exhausted to really play with her and he sat back and watched her play.

"I'm horrible father," Wade announced with defeat in his voice. Zoe sighed watching him go outside. Not only did she have a sad daughter, she had a heart-broken boyfriend to fix. She followed after Wade.

"You're not a horrible Father, Wade," Zoe tried to sooth taking his hand in both of hers.

"I'm worse than my pops," Wade said with a dry chuckle. "He was getting drunk to get rid of the pain of my Mom's death. What's my reason?" He asked letting a sigh out. He looked up at the clear sky that was being taken over by stars.

"Wade, you have a job, you have a house that you are remodeling for us. You've been busy, that doesn't make you a horrible, Father, that makes you, a working, Father." Wade closed his eyes, keeping quiet. Zoe's words did nothing to help him feel like he was super dad. No, he wasn't super dad because he didn't have the time to work, remodel a house and spend hours with Emma, like super dad would be able to do. "You're still there to comfort her, you tuck her in at night, you help her brush her teeth, you tell her bedtime stories, but more importantly, you give her all the love you have for her. You don't have to spend every waking moment with her, for her to know just how much you love her. The little things have a much bigger impact on her future than most things." Maybe Zoe had a point. She did know more about being a parent then he did.

"I guess," Wade replied. He still wasn't so sure about it.

"She's not going to remember what toys you bought her, she's gonna remember when she could cuddle on her father's lap for no reason other than she could. When she goes off in this world on her own, she'll be ok because her, Daddy loves her and she'll know that if she ever needs anything, she can count on her, Father, to protect her." Now a smile formed on his lips. He never thought of it that way. But it made sense.

"You're right, Doc. I never thought about it that way. I'm still figuring this whole fatherhood stuff out. She'll always be able to count on me." Zoe smiled relieved that Wade now saw the bigger picture. "But it doesn't hurt to spoil her every now and again."

"No, it really doesn't," Zoe agreed with him.

"We see monkeys, tigers and lion's?" Emma asked running out of the house, the screen door slamming behind her.

"We'll see them all," Wade told her lifting her up onto his lap. Emma went off on the things she wanted to see at the Zoo and in what order. Wade smiled looking at his daughter. He never knew that a kid could bring so much joy into his world. He didn't know a kid could bring so much love and life into his world, either. He didn't want to think about her growing up and dating. He'd have to keep a gun handy, just cause.

The three of them sat under the sky that had been taken over by the moon and stars. This was something that Wade could get use to. Spending his nights on the porch with his family, cuddling close together, with their pup laying at their feet.

Morning came quickly and Zoe along with Emma made their way to Lavon's.

"Don't lose her," Emma demanded, pointing her finger at Lavon. He in return chuckled.

"She'll be here waiting for you when you come back," Lavon told her.

"Thanks for this, Lavon," Zoe told him.

"It's nothing really, Lavon Hayes, is more than happy to watch Booboo. You guys go have fun," he told them practically shoving them out the door. Zoe picked Emma up and they headed to the gate house.

"That was quick," Wade commented stepping outside. "Didn't Emma go over her demands of taking care of the pup?" He asked watching Emma wiggle free and run to him.

"No she didn't. She started with not losing her and then he shoved us out the door," Zoe explained. "I think he's keeping something from the town, I'll figure it out," Zoe stated with determination.

"Alright Doc, settle your tea kettle, would ya? We have a fun filled family day at the Zoo." A grin spread across his face. Zoe smiled. Whatever was going on with Lavon could wait until a different day. Today was about spending time as a family.

The drive to Mobile wasn't a long one. Emma was bouncing in the backseat excited to see the exotic animals. Zoe had taken her to the Zoo in New York, but she couldn't remember it. She saw the pictures that were taken with her grandma Candice. This time around was going to be different and Emma couldn't contain herself. Of course she wasn't thrilled that they stopped off to get some breakfast first. She was starving, but she wanted to see the animals.

Emma loved seeing all the animals the Zoo had, especially the Monkey's and Leopard's. When it was time to head out Emma could barely keep her head up and her eyes open. The walk to the car was too much for her and she passed out on Wade's shoulder. She had her stuffed baby Leopard clenched in her little hand.

Today had not only been a good day, but a fun one.

Wade was already trying to figure out the next family day.

* * *

**I'm sorry if this chapter feels a little rushed at the end. It's not meant to be. This chapter was supposed to be up yesterday, but stuff happens.**

**Happy 4th of July to all my fellow Americans, to the rest of the world have a wonderful weekend.**


	26. I Hurt Too, Mommy

_**I Hurt Too, Mommy:**_

"Be careful and don't let her get hurt," Zoe threatened Wade.

"You need to relax, babe, I won't let her get hurt," Wade responded giving her a kiss.

"You best not!" Zoe exclaimed, trying to move away from him. Wade had pulled her back not wanting to let her go. "I know, you won't," she whispered against his lips. She knew Wade would never let Emma help him out, if she would be at risk to get hurt.

"I ready!" Emma exclaimed running outta the bathroom.

"Listen to Daddy," Zoe told her daughter. Emma rolled her little brown eyes. Zoe couldn't help but smile at the little action.

"I know," Emma huffed, hugging her mom.

"She's like you," Zoe commented kissing her daughter's head.

"Oh no, she's like her mother," Wade countered picking Emma up, when she ran to him. Zoe sighed watching them walk through the trail to the carriage house, Booboo right behind them.

She had faith in Wade, but it was her motherly duty to worry about her baby girl staying safe. She looked around the gate house seeing the mess that had been created. Clothes and toys were mixed in together and she really didn't feel like cleaning up the mess, but she knew if she didn't no one else was going to. It really hadn't taken her long to put the toys away and toss the dirty clothes in the hamper. With that taken care of she headed over to talk to Lavon. Her schedule at the practice was actually clear and she had the day off.

"Annabeth? What are you doing here?" Zoe asked walking into the main house seeing AB working on something.

"Oh, hi, Zoe," AB said jumping slightly. She wasn't expecting Zoe or Wade to visit Lavon today. She should have taken that into consideration saying they live right out his back door. "Cockroaches, huge ones," she responded.

"Uh, ok," Zoe told her confused taking a muffin from the basket.

"My house is being taken over by them, Lavon was gratuitous enough to let me stay here," she clarified, hoping it was a believable story.

"What about, Jake?" Zoe asked picking at the top of her muffin.

"Out of town," She told her with a shrug. Zoe felt like there was more going on, but she hardly knew Annabeth. It wasn't her business, but that wasn't going to stop her.

"Permanently?" Zoe asked. AB sighed sitting down. She figured it would be nice to have someone else in on her secret. Someone that wasn't male.

"Yeah," she whispered. "Don't tell anyone, other than Lavon, it's just you that knows," AB quickly told her panic raising to an all time high. Now it clicked inside Zoe's head on why Lavon wouldn't tell her what was going on between him and AB.

"Look, Annabeth, I'm not going to tell a soul," Zoe told her watching the panic dissolve. "But it'll be less stress on you, if you tell everyone. They're gonna find out, this is a small town. They're gonna talk." Zoe knew that first hand with everything she's had to face; along with herself and Wade.

"I know, I just need sometime," AB clarified getting up. "Let Lavon know, I left for a Belle's meeting." Zoe nodded her head watching AB dash out the door. Zoe got herself a cup of coffee seeing Lavon make his way into the kitchen.

"Hey, big Z," he greeted.

"Hey, Lavon, AB had to get to her Belle's meeting."

"So you know about Annabeth?" Lavon asked stopping in his tracks.

"Yep, she told me what's going on, I can see why you never told me. You couldn't. You were protecting AB."

"It just happened, with Jake out of the picture and all. I wasn't taking advantage of her, Annabeth is special," Lavon said quickly coming to the defense. Zoe gave him a funny look. "She didn't tell ya about us dating, did she?" Lavon guessed.

"No, she certainly didn't. Don't sweat it, I wont tell a living soul," Zoe promised him.

"It's been our secret, for some time now. And I don't want things to go to hell."

"They wont, Lavon," Zoe assured him seeing Emma run into the house in a panic. She jumped up and down pointing outside.

"Daddy, urt!" She yelled grabbing Zoe's hand, pulling her outside. Zoe rushed out the door going straight to the carriage house.

"What happened? Where's it hurt?" Zoe asked in a panic kneeling next to Wade, who was holding his knee.

"Fell off the ladder, landed wrong," he explained with a wince trying to stand up. Emma was about in tears. "Emma, daddy's ok, just a little owie," he told her pulling her into a hug. Emma sniffled nodding, scared that something was wrong with her dad.

Zoe checked over Wade the best she could. She was able to assist that nothing was seriously wrong with Wade.

"Sweetie, Daddy, will be just fine. He only twisted his knee, he'll be all better soon. We just need to get him home, so Mommy can take care of him," Zoe told her daughter helping Wade up. He was able to put a little weight on it. Emma dried her eyes and held the door open. "Are you going to help, Mommy take care of Daddy?" Zoe asked getting Wade set up in bed.

"I urt too, Mommy, see," Emma said pulling her pant leg up to show a scratch she had got from playing with Booboo.

"I see, go lay with daddy," Zoe told her daughter, with a smile. This may not have been the plan for the day, but she really hadn't minded taking care of her family. She got the ice for Wade with a small ice pack for Emma.

"Thanks, Doc, who knew dating a doctor would be handy?" Wade asked with a smirk. Emma rolled her eyes at the lame joke.

"Most everyone, I suppose," Zoe replied back sitting on the bed.

"I kept my word about not letting Emma get hurt," Wade said with a smile putting an arm around Emma. He really would save her, every time he could. She was his world. Life without his girls, didn't seem possible.

"Yea, but you got hurt, that's not any better," Zoe corrected him. Wade shrugged. He thought it was better him than Emma. He couldn't deal with Emma getting hurt, it was bound to happen throughout her life; he just wasn't ready for it.

"I'm tough," he smirked. Zoe rolled her eyes moving to cuddle with her family. This was what life was about. Had to be.


	27. Planksgiving

_**Planksgiving**_-

"It should not be this hard to pick a color!" Wade hissed standing in the paint section of the store.

"When it comes to her, it is that hard to pick a color. She's only 3," Zoe informed him yet again. He sighed, running a hand through this hair. He got that, but she had picked color after color changing her mind. It was getting a bit tiresome.

"I know Christmas isn't for a month, yet. But what's going to happen? Are you going back to New York to spend it with your mom?" He asked slipping his arms around her waist. The idea of not having his daughter and girlfriend with him, hurt. They hadn't talked about what they were going to do. Now was a good as any time to do so.

"And make you miss out on your first Christmas as a Father?" Zoe asked shaking her head. "Wade, we are a family and we're going to spend every holiday together. If my Mother wants to spend it with us, she can come down here. I'm not taking something so special away from you or Emma." He quickly pressed his lips to hers.

"You don't know how happy that makes me feel, Zoe." She smiled laying her head on his chest. She really didn't know how happy that made him. She never had any special days taken away when it came to Emma.

"I want!" Emma exclaimed showing a light pink color and a violet color.

"We can work with that," Zoe told her daughter. Wade went and got the paint mixed and a few extra cans. Zoe and Emma looked around for stencils.

"Stars, Mommy," Emma said finding a pack of different style stars.

"Stars it is," Zoe smiled.

All that was left was painting Emma's room and painting the master bedroom. The rest of the house was finished, Zoe still wasn't allowed to see the place, not until the very last piece of furniture had been moved in. Wade already had the kitchen and living room finished. He was going to let Zoe do her office the way she wanted it. The spare rooms, would be left alone until they would be needed. He also didn't dare do anything with the ton of boxes that were Zoe's and his daughters.

"I still don't understand what color freesia is," Wade muttered placing the cans of paint in the cart.

"I told you it's a lavender color," Zoe replied, rolling her eyes.

"Then call it lavender, for crying out loud," he huffed.

"But..."

"But it's not lavender," he sighed. "We ready?" He asked.

"Yep," Emma informed him.

The rest of the night had been spent together as a family. Wade had put the paint in the carriage house. Together they walked Booboo, stopping for ice cream along the way. Town square was being transformed for Planksgiving. It was weird but different. Something Zoe learned early on about Bluebell. They do their own things. Emma was looking forward to it. She couldn't wait to dress up as a pirate and look for lost treasure. She was even thrilled when Booboo would get to be dressed up as well.

The only way Emma could sleep was crawling into bed with her parents. Every time Wade tried to put her into her own bed, she would wake up and beat Wade to bed. He finally gave up, wanting some sleep before morning came. Both Zoe and Wade were crowded from both Emma and Booboo, she wouldn't stay off the bed and Wade wasn't going to fight her all night long. Even though the bed was full, he wouldn't trade it in for the night's he had the bed to himself. This was a reminder of the love he shared. He was crowded by the ones he loved and nothing was better than that.

They were woke up to Emma jumping on the bed. Zoe slowly sat up noticing that the light in the bathroom was on. Zoe held her arms out for Emma. She jumped on her mom hugging her.

"Mornin' Mommy," Emma giggled.

"Morning, sweetie," Zoe replied kissing her daughter.

"I wake, Daddy?" Zoe looked over at Wade to see that he was only pretending to be asleep.

"You wake, Daddy," Zoe told her. Emma wiggled her way off of Zoe. Emma went to jump on Wade. She giggled being caught in mid-air. Wade sat up tossing her on the bed to tickle her. "Daddy!" She giggled and wiggled on the bed.

"Morning, princess." Wade pulled her up to kiss her nose.

"Mornin' Daddy," Emma said, going to tickle him. Zoe got up watching as they got into a tickle fight. She walked to the bathroom doing what she needed to do along with starting bath water for Emma.

"I hate to ruin this little moment here, but a little girl needs to get ready for her bath," Zoe announced walking over to the bed.

"I'll be ack to finish this, Daddy," Emma announced jumping off the bed.

"I'll be waiting," Wade yelled after her. He caught Zoe's hand before she could make it to far. "Morning, Doc," he smirked. Zoe smiled kissing him.

"Morning," she responded.

"Daddy! Come watch me," Emma yelled from the bathroom.

"You might have to help her get into the tub and wash her up," Zoe smiled sitting on the bed.

"I might need help," he remarked giving her one more kiss before heading into the bathroom.

"Not like that, Daddy!" Zoe cringed hearing Emma yell at Wade. Zoe walked into the bathroom.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"Daddy wash hair wrong," Emma pouted.

"Feel free to take over." Zoe patted him on the back. It was rough at times. Emma had a certain way of doing things and she expected things to be done that way and no other way.

"It's not hard and you were more than likely doing it right, she just likes to have a wash cloth to cover eyes," Zoe explained getting Emma a dry wash cloth.

"That was all?" Wade asked shaking his head.

"Yep," Zoe announced washing Emma's hair. "She likes to wash herself, you just have to name body parts for her to wash," Zoe told him. "Got it?" Zoe asked washing the shampoo out of Emma's hair.

"It's not rocket science, Doc," Wade replied taking over. Zoe smiled watching them. She walked out to get the bed made.

"All done," Emma announced walking out with a towel wrapped around her. Zoe got her clothes for the day and helped her into her pirate's dress. Zoe got Emma's hair pulled back in to a pony before placing the eye patch and hat on her head.

Wade had gotten ready after Emma ran from the bathroom. Wade and Emma took up their tickle fight while Zoe got ready for the day. Zoe frowned hearing nothing but silence. She peeked through the door when she had finished getting dressed. She smiled seeing Emma laying on top of a sleeping Wade. Emma noticed her mom.

"Shh!" Emma put her finger to her mouth. "Daddy, sweeping."

"I see, why don't you go get Boo ready," Zoe whispered placing her daughter on the floor. Emma ran off. Zoe pressed her lips against his. Wade smiled into the kiss pulling Zoe closer.

"I could get use to that," he smirked.

"I'm sure you could. Now we gotta go," Zoe informed him. He nodded getting up. Wade held Emma's hand who was holding the leash. Zoe's hand was locked with Wade's as they walked in to town.

"Why if it isn't Bluebell's favorite little family," Dash announced.

"I wouldn't know about that," Wade replied. "But they are my favorite girls around." He let his grip on her hand go placing it around her waist. Zoe let her arm snake around his waist. Dash smiled and walked off.

"I go play?" Emma asked.

"Don't go to far," Wade told her letting her hand go. Emma ran off to where a group of kids her age were playing at. Wade and Zoe walked around to see who they could find. They had stopped a few times to talk to their friends. They had enjoyed the day the two of them. They kept a careful eye on Emma, not that they needed to since Rose was with her and few of the other younger kids going on the treasure hunt.


	28. A Not So Pleasent Visit

_**A Not So Pleasant Visit:**_

Zoe had been dreading this day. She knew at some point her mother would show up and convince her to move back to New York. That day was today. A week before Christmas.

"Zoe, I just don't see why you and Emma can't move home, this town isn't for you or Emma," Candice scolded over a cup of coffee at the Butter Stick. Zoe sighed rubbing her temples.

"This is home, Mom," Zoe told her. "Emma loves it here. I've never seen her this happy in my life. I can't rip her away from her father like you had done to me," Zoe hissed under her breath.

"Excuse me?" Candice snarled. "I did no such thing. Times were different, then Zoe." She scoffed looking at her mother.

"Right," Zoe replied shaking her head. "You did. You made Ethan believe I was his kid until he found out the truth when I was 10. I found out about this lie on who my father was just a few months ago. You didn't give me the chance to know what Harley was like. To really get to know him. Instead, I'm learning about him through files and people around town," Zoe explained getting up from her spot. "I want Emma to know her father, to create a bond so strong with him, it can never be broken," she hissed storming out of the establishment.

The nerve of her mother. For the first time since she was little she had a family. One that loved her. A family all of her own. And all her mother could think about was ruining the happiness Zoe had, the happiness that Emma had. Bluebell was home, not New York.

"I only want to be apart of daughter's life, watch my granddaughter grow up," Candice stated catching up to Zoe.

"It's not like you've been cut out, Mom. Emma talks to you on the phone. We send you pictures of Emma. You are very well-kept in the loop of things when it comes to Emma's life. As for me, you didn't exactly care when I lived in the same state, I don't see why you do now." The last thing she wanted to do was have a fight with her mother in the middle of Bluebell, but here she was yelling her lungs out.

"I cared then, I had a career. I raised you. You had clothes on your back, food in your stomach and a roof over your head. How was I supposed to do that if I didn't work? Answer that Zoe?" Candice hissed.

"You didn't have to work every day. You cut me out of your life. Your clients were more important than I ever was," Zoe stated feeling the tears prick her eyes. Fighting about this, was bring back memories Zoe wanted to forget. She wouldn't cry, she was stronger than that.

"Mommy, Mommy," Emma giggled, running to Zoe. "Daddy, got me," she said holding the bag filled with goodies up.

"He did, did he?" Zoe asked raising an eyebrow at a smirking Wade.

"She had the cute little face and I couldn't resist," he replied, shrugging.

Candice let a soft sigh out. She could see that Emma resembled Wade. Their was no denying the fact he was the father. She still wanted better for her daughter and her granddaughter. A bartender was hardly a career to be proud of. Her daughter should be with a world-renowned doctor.

"Grammy," Emma squealed finally noticing Candice standing next to her. Emma hugged her tight. She had missed her grandmother.

"My sweet little, Emma," Candice smiled hugging her granddaughter tight.

"So that was all the yelling?" Wade asked, moving to stand next to Zoe. She leaned into him with a sigh.

"Yep." Wade held her close to him, he wanted to comfort her, just wasn't sure what to say.

"Mommy, I stay with Grammy tonight?" Emma asked sticking her lip out to pout.

"Let's get you home, so you can pack a bag," Zoe told her daughter. Emma was all smiles practically forcing her grandma to follow them. "I'll be by tomorrow afternoon to get you," Zoe informed her daughter. "I love you." Zoe hugged and kissed her daughter.

"Wuv you too, Mommy," Emma replied. "Wuv you, Daddy." Wade picked her up, giving her bear hug. Emma giggled squeezing her little arms around her father. Wade smiled kissing her head.

"Love you more, Princess." Emma shook her head to protest. Instead she burst out laughing feeling her dad's fingers tickling her ribcage.

Candice stood in the door watching them. They did make a great family. She wouldn't be the one to ruin the happiness that was etched all over Emma and Zoe's faces. But she'd be there when things turned sour. They were bound to turn sour at some point and when they did she would swoop in and convince her daughter that New York was her home and Bluebell was only a stepping stone along the way.

Zoe fell back on the bed once they were gone. The argument with her mom had drained a lot out of her. And that was only the first part. When she went to get Emma tomorrow, the topic would be revisited. Wade had encouraged Zoe to roll over without so much as saying a single world.

A smirk came out to play oh his lips hearing the soft moans that had escape her lips as he gently massaged her shoulders and back. He had already guessed that she was enjoying herself and mighty comfortable but hearing the moans that came from her, told him he was right.

"That feels good, Wade," she sighed happily.

"Magic hands," he replied, making her squirm slightly under his hands.

"That's gross," she piped up. Wade shrugged and moved on to her lower back. "What do you want to do tonight? It's the first night we have to ourselves," Zoe commented.

"Why don't you go relax in a nice warm bubble bath, I'll take care of dinner." Zoe smiled, that sounded wonderful to her. She got up pressing a kiss to his lips, which he was happy to return.

Zoe let her body relax into the hot water. She closed her eyes, letting her problems go. She was going to enjoy this bath. Tonight she had no worries.

Wade rushed out the door. He had limited time to get things set up. He quickly unlocked the door to the carriage house. He found some candles and got the table set. He wasn't going to light the candles until they sat down to eat. He made a call to Fancies for a take out dinner. During his wait he found some rose's. He made sure he bought a few extra ones. With food and roses in hand he headed back to the carriage house.

He spread rose pedals on the table placing the plates, drink ware and silverware on top of them. When everything looked perfect he raced back over to the gate house.

Zoe had just gotten out of the tub when her water had gone cold on her. She smiled at Wade. She watched as he dug through her clothes. He handed her a red dress with a black stripe under the bust. She took the dress from him. She watched him closely when he dug through his own clothes and walked to the bathroom to get dressed.

"Are we going on a date?" Zoe asked getting dressed.

"Something like that," Wade called back getting ready. Zoe shrugged and proceeded to do her make-up with her compact mirror. She smiled seeing Wade dressed in black slacks and a dark blue button-down dress shirt, that wasn't plaid. She smiled kissing his cheek on her way to the bathroom to fix her hair. She left it down, she wasn't sure how she wanted her hair, so leaving it down seemed the safest way to go.

"All ready," Zoe beamed stepping out from the bathroom. "Where we headed?" Zoe asked letting Wade lead the way out of the house.

"Home," he smirked confusing Zoe a great deal. "I was thinking that we could use tomorrow morning to buy Emma a few more gifts," he commented tightening his hold on Zoe's hand.

"Wade, we both got her plenty of stuff. She'll need her own house to fit everything we got her in. What else does she need? You also have to remember that her birthday is coming up in a few months."

"I don't remember, because I wasn't exactly told when my daughter's birthday is!" He snapped turning to look at her. Zoe shrunk feeling like shit.

"February 15th, I went into labor with her on the 14th. She was born 5 minutes after midnight," Zoe told him. "I guess with everything, it was something that had slipped my mind. I wasn't trying to keep it from you, Wade. Really. If there is anything you want to know, just ask," Zoe told him, cupping his cheek with her free hand. He nuzzled into the warmth her small hand had to offer. "She has never had a broken bone, she got 8 stitches in her left leg, when she fell of the swings when she 2. If you look closely you can see the faint scar. Um, what else," Zoe said trying to think of more things that had happened to Emma in the last 3 years. Wade pulled Zoe to him by her waist, letting his lips crash upon hers.

"It's ok," he whispered resting his forehead against hers. "I have plenty of time to learn of the things that happened to our daughter. Let's enjoy this night." Zoe pulled his lips closer to her own.

Zoe stood outside the carriage house. She had been waiting weeks to see what the inside looked like. Wade kept telling her fibs. He wanted to wait until closer to Christmas. Tonight was as good as any. He pushed the door open. Zoe smiled seeing the garland that wrapped around the railing of the staircase. Standing in the living room stood a white pine, ready to be decorated. The way he had the furniture arranged, made the living room look bigger. It really felt like home and she still had the rest of the house to see. Wade guided her into the kitchen. Her breath was taken away seeing the romantic dinner he had planned in a short amount of time. She sat down in the chair he pulled out for her. She draped the napkin across her lap. Wade got the food that was still warm.

"This is amazing, Wade. Thank you," she whispered pulling him down for a steamy kiss.

"After everything, it was time for a date of our own, without a kid. I love her to death, but this is nice," Wade explained. Zoe patted his cheek.

"Sometimes you need a night away from your kid. Doesn't mean you love them any less. In order to keep the romance alive, you need time alone, kid free," Zoe explained, lifting the guilt he felt. He smiled lighting the candles. He dimmed the lights before sliding into his chair across from her.

"So, we're not bad parents?" He asked taking a forkful of food.

"No, quite the opposite, actually," she replied taking a bite herself.

"We make quite the team," he pondered. Zoe agreed. There was no sense to say they should talk about things other than Emma. That was stupid to suggest anyway. They were free to talk about anything and everything they wanted. They couldn't help that they loved their daughter a lot. "You ok since things with your, Mom?" He asked.

"I am now, thanks to you. I'm surprised you did all of this. Roses and everything," she blushed admiring the dozen red roses that sat in the middle of table in a vase.

"Anything to make you smile, Zo. It was nothing really," he brushed her comment off.

"It was sweet of you and I love it," she gushed, reaching across the table to place her hand in his. "It's not nothing, Wade. It's something special that touches my heart dearly." It was good to hear that he wasn't messing things up, but actually doing something right.

"You're worth it, Zoe," he smiled, squeezing her hand lightly. He didn't care about sounding lame or cheesy, it was the truth. Things had happened backwards but in this moment, that was ok, to him. He couldn't picture being a guy that settled down with one woman and family. It wasn't that long ago that he was the guy that went through a different woman every night. And now he sat here with the mother of his child, his girlfriend, looking forward to what the future held for them.

She smiled back at him, happy to be here with him. To be sharing a romantic night with him. She hadn't expected to find Emma's father, let alone fall for him, but she had and she was more than ok with that. Their future looked so bright.

"Ready to see the rest of the house?" He asked getting up.

"Maybe just the bedroom," she winked slipping her hand in his.

"That can be arranged," he smirked. He really wanted to fling her over his shoulder and race up the stairs and have his way with her. But he didn't do that.

Zoe was impressed with how the house looked, at the moment she was more interested in the bed that was in the master bedroom. She was ready to make their first night in their home worthwhile. And the fact they didn't have to worry about Emma running in on them, worked in there favor. A night alone like this, was what they needed.


	29. Moving in Topped With A Fight

_**Moving in Topped With A Fight-**_

Zoe got busy early the next morning to get the things Wade left in the boxes put away. She had already got the play room sorted out and Emma's clothes put away. She had even made a trip to the gate house to get things packed up over there. She was up before the sun, her mother stuck in her head. She had tried to fall back to sleep, it just didn't happen. Instead of running different scenarios through her mind about how things were going to play out with her mom, she got up and made herself busy.

"Come back to bed, babe," Wade mumbled.

"Can't," she called over her shoulder. If she took the time to lay in bed then she would start thinking about how seeing her mother was going to go and she really didn't need to stress any more than she already was about it.

"You're coming back to bed," he grumbled, flipping her over his shoulder.

"Put me down," she giggled swatting his ass.

"You demanded it," he smirked dropping her on the bed. She gave him a soft glare. "You wanted to be put down," he remarked climbing on top of her.

"Mmhmm," she hummed biting her lip, her eyes raking over his body.

"Mommy, Daddy!" Wade sighed rolling off to the side. He couldn't get a break this morning.

"I thought you were going to get her later?" Wade asked, holding his hands over his face.

"I was," Zoe told him confused. She got up going downstairs. "What's going on?" She asked looking at her mom. She bent down to hug and kiss her daughter. "Did you have fun?"

"Yep!" Emma answered with a smile. "Where's Daddy and Boo?" Emma asked hugging her mom.

"Daddy's in bed and Boo's around here somewhere." Emma smiled and ran upstairs. Zoe turned back to her mom.

"I have a very urgent matter at home," Candice stated. Zoe scoffed, she wasn't surprised in her mother behavior. She had really dealt with it for far too long.

"Typical. You threw a fit because I moved Emma here, taking her way from you. Now that you have a chance to spend time with her, you take off."

"It's not like that," Candice protested.

"Sure, Mother. Keep telling yourself that all the way back. You know were the door is," Zoe hissed.

"For crying out loud, Zoe. I can't control my work." Anger was filling the room.

"No, you can. You could have scheduled whatever your urgent matter is for later."

"I really couldn't have!" Candice stated.

"Not everything revolves around you!" Zoe snapped walking to the door. "When you're ready to accept that myself along with Emma have a good thing going with Wade and when you can accept Wade, then you can come back." She was tired of the way her mother thought she could dictate her life. She was a grown adult with a child of her own. Her life choices were now hers to make all on her own.

"You're kicking me out?" Candice asked pleasantly surprised. Zoe gave her mom a fake smile and pulled the door open. "Don't come crying to me when this falls apart. I've only ever wanted the best for you."

"Yea, I know that, Mother," snapped Zoe, sarcasm dripping from every word. "Keeping me away from my real father. Making me think that I had driven Ethan away. That was just wrong of you. So forgive me if I still have some hostility against you for all of that."

"It was hard enough on me as it was. I had to think about you and give you the best life. The life you deserved."

"The life I deserved, is the one where I got to know my father," Zoe yelled.

"That's the past and it can't be changed. This isn't you."

"What? Me being a Doctor? A mother that puts her daughters needs before her own? Or a person that can see the love that surrounds them? Or maybe I'm not a selfish, control freak of a bitch like you!" She knew it was out of line, her mom just wasn't making things better on her.

"You wanted to be heart surgeon, Zoe," Candice sighed, letting the rest stay gone.

"I did, but things change and I'm happy doing everything a GP does. I'm happy with my life. Are you happy with your life, Mother?" Zoe hissed.

"Very," she answered through clenched teeth.

"Good, that's good. We wouldn't want you to miss your flight home. Making you stuck here longer than need be, bye, Mom," Zoe gave her a smile shutting the door. She ran a hand through her hair, taking a deep breath. She headed straight to the kitchen to get things cleaned up from last night. Seeing the roses on the table instantly brought a smile to her face.

"You doing ok?" Wade asked slipping his arms around Zoe's waist, his lips attacking her neck. Zoe leaned into him, instantly relaxing and forgetting about the plates that needed to be washed. What kind of question was that? Either you're ok or you're not. It's always easy to tell either way. If you lie about it they know you're lying.

"Where's Emma?" Zoe asked in a whisper.

"Playing with the toys we deprived her of the last month or so," he chuckled. Zoe smiled turning around in his embrace. "How are you holding up?" He whispered resting his forehead against hers.

"Stressed. I hate that she can be so judgmental. It's worse that she drops Emma the way she did with me. It's like she only cares about herself." She moved to rest her head against his chest.

"She's the one missing out, she's cheating herself out of the best relationship she can have with her granddaughter." Zoe smiled holding him close.

"To think I couldn't stand you months ago, now I can't get enough of you," she whispered, gently pressing her lips against his.

"It's my charm," he smirked against her lips, making Zoe smile.

"Mommy, we do tree now?" Emma asked taking her hand.

"Why don't you and Daddy go get started." Emma grinned taking her dad's hand and pulled him into the living room. Zoe shook her head and turned around to finish the dishes up. She looked down feeling little arms go around her leg.

"Love you, Mommy."

"Love you too, sweetie." Emma smiled and ran back to the living room where Wade was waiting for her.

Zoe sat on the arm of the couch watching as they put the decorations on the tree. She made sure to get a bunch of pictures. Wade made sure to pick Emma up so she could reach the top of the tree. She was more than happy with her life right now. Seeing the grin on her daughter's face, had joy filling her heart. Zoe had no choice but to jump in when they saw her watching them.


	30. Santa Knew

**Santa Knew:**

"Mommy! Daddy!" A giggling Emma yelled, jumping on her parents bed. "Santa knew!" That had been Emma's biggest worry, that Santa wouldn't know she had moved. She had woke up and went straight to the living room to see if Santa had shown up. The cookies and milk were gone. The carrots that were left for the reindeer had been eaten as well.

"He did?" Zoe asked, with a smile, getting out of bed.

"Uh huh," Emma nodded.

"I'm beyond thrilled that Santa knew, but it's barely 6 in the morning," Wade mumbled, burying his head under his pillow. Zoe giggled, watching Emma jump on Wade.

"Daddy, up." Zoe had forgotten to explain to Wade that they always got up this early.

"Sweetie, let Daddy wake up. We'll get started on breakfast." Emma jumped into her mother's waiting arms.

"Did you say breakfast?" Wade asked, peeking out from under his pillow.

"Uh huh," Emma nodded.

"Christmas themed," Zoe announced.

"In that case, I'm up." Emma giggled harder watching her daddy jump out of bed. She climbed onto his back and they headed downstairs.

"Want a tree?" Wade asked, holding a Christmas tree shaped pancake up. Emma nodded.

"Please, Daddy?" Emma asked holding her plate up. Along with the Christmas shaped pancakes, they had red and green colored scrambled eggs and sausages.

"You two do this every year?" Wade asked getting his own plate fixed.

"That last 2 years. It was my way to spend the whole day with her. I felt guilty that I spent so much time away from her. I made sure I spent plenty of time with her, but I needed to work and make a living for both of us." Wade kissed the top of her head getting up to get some juice.

"You did what you had to do, Emma adores you and she's one smart cookie..."

"I cookie," Emma giggled. "Daddy, funny."

"Daddy is funny," Wade smirked. "You couldn't have lived in a shoe box. You had to support her. She's fine. She doesn't hate you. So stop stressing about the past and focus on the now."

"I know and I love and adore my cookie." Zoe smiled. "Everything has worked out. Life is pretty sweet."

"How can it not be when you're dating me?" Wade asked with a smirk. "I'm the sweetest guy around."

"Daddy, cookie too?" Emma asked, finishing off her food.

"No, Daddy is a fruit," Zoe commented. "You done?"

"Uh huh. We open presents now?"

"As long as Daddy has nothing to add to our Christmas morning tradition." Emma looked over at Wade.

"Can't a person finishing eating, first?" He asked, taking a bite of food.

"Yes, Daddy," Emma sighed, resting her head on her hand. "Hurry!" She demanded.

"Ok, ok," Wade chuckled, eating the last bite of his food. Emma jumped from her chair and ran to living room. "You could have told me I needed to inhale my food," he joked, walking with Zoe.

"Now you know for next year," she replied. Zoe got busy getting Emma her presents.

It took Emma less the 20 minutes to tear open her presents. Wade was busy getting toys assembled. Emma disappeared for a second, going to her room. When she came back she had a present in her hands.

"To Mommy and Daddy," Zoe spoke getting Wade's attention.

"Open gether," Emma told them. Wade joined Zoe on the couch and together they opened the present. Inside was a clay heart colored pink, red, blue, green, purple and yellow. Emma's hand print was in the middle. I love you was wrote in black paint.

"Emma, it's beautiful, I love it," Zoe gushed pulling her in for a hug.

"Daddy?" Emma asked, moving from her mom's embrace.

"It's the best and wonderful gift, I've ever got in my whole life. Thanks princess," Wade told her with a tight hug. He wasn't expecting his emotions to get the best of him. He could feel his eyes welling up with tears. It was ridiculous how proud he felt.

"Overwhelming, isn't it?" Zoe asked, using her fingers to wipe the tears away. She knew the feeling all to well.

"I wanna hug her forever," he replied, admiring the art piece.

"There's more to come. So try not to hug her forever," Zoe smiled. "I never took you for the kinda guy to cry over something so small," Zoe joked.

"Me either," he responded, handing Zoe a small box. She took the box, her nerves starting to get the best of her. Zoe gingerly took the wrapping paper off. She glanced up at Wade to see a smile on his face. Slowly she opened the box to reveal a necklace with two teardrops. The first one was Amethyst and the second one was Tourmaline. Her and Emma's birthstones.

"Wade," she whispered, tears pricking her eyes.

"Shh," he told her placing a finger over her mouth. "Merry Christmas, Doc."

"Merry Christmas, Wade," she whispered, moving her lips against his. She broke the kiss handing Wade two boxes.

"Ain't I lucky," he smirked. He opened the first box to reveal a photo album of his daughter.

"Every step of the way from the moment I knew, to the day we left New York. You missed out on so much and these pictures don't make up for that but it's a start." Wade looked through the book a smile coming out. Under each picture was a short description.

"It's perfect," he commented, kissing her temple. He unwrapped the second one. "Video games?" He asked with a smirk.

"You are a kid at heart," she commented, getting up. "Emma, time to get ready for lunch at Pappy Earl's." Emma jumped up and went upstairs to get ready.

With everyone ready they headed off. They had lunch with Earl and then they would go have dinner with Lavon.

"Pappy Earl," Emma squealed, jumping in his arms.

"Emma," he chuckled walking into the house. Wade took the presents from the back and they headed inside the house. "I figured we'd eat first."

"That's how it's always been," Wade commented, placing the presents under the tree.

"It smells good Earl," Zoe commented, taking a seat next to Emma, who happened to be eyeing the presents.

"Thanks, Zoe. It shouldn't be much longer." Zoe gave him a smile. He went off to check on the food. Wade followed behind.

"Need any help pops?"

"Nah, I got this. Wade, this for you." Wade took the ring box from hid father. "It was your Mother's, I figured you were the one to get it. That and Jesse already bought one." He had never expected his dad to part with his mom's ring. "She would have loved Zoe. Told ya not to mess it up. She would have thought the world of Emma." Wade smiled, keeping the tears at bay. Earl was right. His mom would have gave him a lecture about fixing things, when he messed up. Emma would be the bright shinning star in her life. It was times like this, especially Christmas, that seemed extra hard.

"How you holding up?"

"Better this year, then recent years," Earl replied back. It did help that he had something to look forward to.

"Uncle Jesse." Could be heard.

Thanks, Pop." Wade put the ring in his pocket. Even with the town gossiping about marriage, he hadn't gave it a second thought. It just wasn't time to take that step. When it was he would know. "Hey, man. You must be the lovely Amelia," Wade greeted.

"Hi," she replied. She had dark brown hair that looked black with the right lighting. Her green eyes sparkled to match her smile.

They sat around the living room catching up and getting to know each other. Zoe and Amelia made plans to meet up in a few weeks to get Emma's flower dress picked out.

"She is so precious, do y'all plan on having more kids?" Amelia asked. They finished eating and moved onto open presents. Wade and Jesse sat on the floor putting a doll house together. Earl and Emma sat in the chair playing with the dolls.

"Not anytime, soon. She wasn't planned, so you never know," Zoe replied. She would have liked to be married first, but things happen. Those things could be a blessing. "We've only been together for 3 months."

"Either way you guys are a cute family."

"Thanks, you and Jesse are cute, too. Any plans for kids?" Zoe asked.

"Not for sometime." Zoe nodded. She got it.

"I'm telling you that's wrong," Jesse said.

"No, it's right. Just you wait and see," Wade argued back.

"Boys, those Lego's are for Emma, not you," Zoe giggled.

"But, Doc," Wade pouted.

"They're just so much fun," Jesse whined.

"You sure you wanna marry him?" Zoe asked, turning to look at Amelia.

"I'm sure. You certain you wanna get mixed in with them?" She asked Zoe.

"I already have," she answered looking over at a half asleep Emma. "Boys, I hate to break this up, but we need to get the sleeping beauty home, so she can nap before we head to Lavon's."

"She can sleep in my old room," Wade suggested getting up. "We don't need to be at Lavon's for a few hours."

"Ok," Zoe told him. Wade smiled and took Emma to his old room. "You just wanted to keep playing with Legos," she told him when he appeared again.

"So what if I did?" He smirked, sitting on the floor.

"I think, I should have bought you Legos instead of the video games." She rolled her eyes. He was such a kid at heart and she found it cute and adorable.

"You got video games?" Jesse asked, bummed he didn't get any thing like that.

"Not my fault, my girl gets me," he smirked, sending Zoe a wink.

_**A/N: I really did plan to have dinner with Lavon in this chapter, I just didn't want the chapter to get long and boring. So next chapter will be the ending to their 1st Christmas together. Also October has two birthstones Opal and Tourmaline. I picked one at random, just wanted to clear that up.**_


	31. The Perfect Ending

**The Perfect Ending:**

"I leave my toys?" Emma asked after her nap, when they were getting ready to leave. Jesse and Wade had played with the Legos the whole time Emma napped, fighting over how things were suppose to be built. Zoe and Amelia had been the ones to clean up the mess from the presents.

"You can leave them, sweetie," Earl spoke up. Emma gave him a tight a hug.

"Love you, Pappy Earl."

"Love you to, Emma," he replied kissing the top of her head. "You have fun and I'll see you in a few days." Emma nodded, taking her dad's hand.

"That went better than expected," Zoe commented, once they were headed for home.

"Surprisingly," Wade retorted.

"I had fun," Emma announced from the backseat. Zoe smiled, looking at her.

"You okay?" Zoe asked, glancing at Wade. Something just didn't seem right with him.

"It's the first Christmas in years, that I've spent with family. I had forgotten how nice it really is," he explained, casting a glance at Zoe. She squeezed his hand in hers.

"They only get better," she responded.

"Better than this one? I doubt it," he smirked.

"Wait till there's a few more kids running around, more toys for you to play with."

"We had to make sure they were nothing but the best for my little girl. I cant have her playing with defected Legos."

"Yea, sure," Zoe told him with an eye roll.

"It is!" He exclaimed, parking the car.

"Keep telling yourself that," she responded getting out of the car. She quickly got Emma out and they headed over to Lavon's. They would take what they had gotten from Jesse and Earl into the house later. Wade still had the ring in his pocket. He'd find a place to hide it after Zoe fell asleep or something. He was positive they weren't ready for marriage yet. It was to soon, for marriage.

"Hey guys, AB is in the kitchen cooking," Lavon informed them. "Games on in the living room." Emma ran off to check out the presents under the tree. Wade walked off with Lavon.

"It smells good in here," Zoe commented, walking into the kitchen.

"Thanks, I'm about done," AB replied with a smile. "How has your Christmas been so far?"

"Amazing doesn't even come close to explaining it," Zoe gushed. "Honestly, I'm ready for this day to be over with." She still had her mother to deal with. And she wasn't looking forward to that. "Yours?"

"It's been alright." Zoe could sense that something was bothering her. She would have to ask her about it later.

"Mommy save me," Emma laughed running into the kitchen. "Don't let Daddy get me."

"Hey!" Wade protested walking into the kitchen. "Mommy can't always save you," he pouted.

"Mommy can to, didn't we have this conversation once?" Zoe asked, looking at Wade. He shrugged, taking Emma.

"Does it matter?" He tickled Emma walking back into the living room.

"He is such a good father. You must hear that a lot." Zoe shook her head. Every now and again she heard it. "He's just so adorable with her. I had never thought he would be so kid friendly." Zoe shrugged. She couldn't say anything about that, she didn't know Wade back then.

"Yea he is," Zoe agreed. "Are you okay?" Zoe asked sitting on a stool.

"I should be happy, I'm spending the day with people who mean the world to me. I just can't shake the feeling, I should be celebrating with Jake."

"Divorce is hard, AB." The only divorce she had ever witnessed was her mothers. AB shrugged. "Lavon, seems happy, you seem happy. How's that going?"

"He's wonderful," AB sighed dreamily. "He's been like my best friend through this whole ordeal. I don't know what I'd do without him."

"You're strong, AB, you would have made it through everything, no questions asked," Zoe told her. AB gave her a smile.

"Thanks, Zoe."

"It's the truth, AB," Zoe gave her a warm smile.

"Would you mind telling the guys dinner is ready?" Zoe nodded walking into the living room.

"What's up, doc?" Wade asked, sending Emma into a fit of giggles.

"Daddy's Bugs Bunny," Emma laughed even more.

"For getting up so early, she's in a good mood," Wade commented.

"Taking naps does help. Dinner is ready."

Wade scooped Emma up and they headed to the table, after they made a stop to wash up. Emma wouldn't let anyone get a word in. She kept going on and on about all the toys she had gotten so far. She wasn't very pleased with the clothes she had been given. She wasn't happy that she wasn't allowed to have any of her candy that was in her Christmas stocking. Hearing Emma go on had everyone in a laughing mood.

Once presents were opened and Emma laid on the floor playing with toys, Zoe helped AB clean up and get the dessert ready.

"What's with you?" Lavon asked, seeing the wheels in Wade's head were turning.

"My Dad gave me my Mom's ring today."

"Wow! Isn't it a bit early for marriage though?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "I've never even put much thought into marrying, Zoe. I know now isn't the time."

"You'll know when the time is right," Lavon offered.

"Or so they say."

"Who says what?" Zoe asked, setting the tray of drinks on the coffee table.

"We say that pie looks delicious." Wade shook his head, trying not laugh at the lame cover up. Zoe gave him a look, but left it be. Who was she to interrupt guy talk?

After they finished dessert they got Emma home and left the toys in the living room to be dealt with later. Wade took his video games and let Zoe and Emma have some privacy. They sat on the couch. Zoe put her phone on speaker phone and called her Mom.

"Merry Christmas," Candice greeted.

"Merry Christmas, Gamma."

"Merry Christmas, Mom. How was your day?"

"As good as can be. You?"

"Wonderful," Zoe replied. Emma took the phone and wandered off explaining the days events to her grandma. Zoe wandered off to see what Wade was up to. "How's the game?" Zoe asked, making him jump slightly.

"Hard, but fun. Where's Emma?"

"Talking to she-monster as we speak. She stole the phone and walked off."

"Oh."

"Mommy, gamma, wants to talk," Emma yelled, running down the hallway. Zoe took the phone walking off.

"Yes, mother?" Zoe asked walking upstairs.

"Will you be here for New Years?"

"No," Zoe sighed. "Not until February."

"Oh alright then," Candice sighed.

"Mom I'll talk to you later. We still have a few things to do." Candice threw a fit, but still let her daughter go.

Zoe walked downstairs to see her little family in the kitchen. She watched as they made some smoothies and popcorn.

"We watch Frosty and Rudolph," Emma beamed, running past Zoe.

"I wanted to start a tradition. What better way to end Christmas then with some Christmas movies, cuddled on the couch as a family."

"It's a perfect ending to a fantastic day," Zoe told him with a kiss to the cheek. She could get use to curling up with Wade and Emma for movies. It was a good way to relax after such a long and hectic day.


	32. New Year

**New Years**

"I don't know if he is ready for this," Wade sighed, falling on the bed. Zoe sat down next to him, taking his hand in hers. He didn't think leaving Emma with his farther was a good idea, but he didn't want to hurt Emma's feelings, by telling her no. He had to earn his fathers trust back. Earl had been doing amazing as of late, the only thing, he didn't want was for his father to fall back on alcohol again. Not when he was watching Emma.

"He's ready for this. Things are going to be ok. He wouldn't have suggested it, if he didn't think he could handle it." Her words did very little to assure him, that things would indeed be alright.

"I guess so, but," he sighed, defeated by his thoughts.

"But, you worry too damn much. Emma will be fine. Now are we going to go out and have fun tonight, bring in the New Year together or are we going to go to your Dad's place, and disappoint not only your father but our daughter in the process? Is that what you want?" She asked, sternly.

"No, I don't want that," he replied getting up. He'd find away to push the worry away and enjoy the night. He had to. He didn't have much of a choice here.

"Good," Zoe told him, getting up. "Wade, it's ok to be worried about her. You're always gonna worry. Part of being a father brings many emotions. It does not get any easier." He nodded at Zoe's words. It would be ok, it had to be ok. He needed to believe that it would be ok.

Seeing Zoe step into view in a tiny black dress, that hugged her curves and left very little to the imagination, had his mouth watering and all the worry and doubt hiding within his mind.

"Must we go out?" He husked, nibbling on her neck from behind, his hands resting on her hips.

"No, we don't have to," she giggled.

"But you want to," he finished for her, knowing there was a but coming on.

"It's not very often we get to go out, just the two of us. It's rare. It'll be nice. And," she smirked turning around wrapping her arms around his neck. "The bed will still be there, waiting," she whispered, nibbling on his ear.

"Damn right, it will be," he groaned, causing Zoe to giggle.

Wade had practically drug Zoe out of the house. They were only going to Lavon's for his New Years party. Zoe was starting to think that Wade would never make it through the night.

"Welcome guys," Lavon greeted them.

"Hey, Lavon," Zoe smiled, giving him a hug.

"Hey, man," Wade told him.

"Drinks are over there," Lavon pointed. "Enjoy yourselves."

"Oh, we will," Wade smirked, pulling Zoe closer, planting a kiss on the top of her head.

"There's the woman, who stole my friend," Meatball held a scowl on his face, but his tone was one of a joking matter.

"And there she goes," she announced walking of leaving the two of them alone. She got a glass of champagne and walked around the party.

"I wanna say I'm sorry." The confession had Zoe choking on her drink.

"What?" Zoe asked, looking at the blonde.

"I'm not blind and ever since you and your daughter walked into Wade's life, he's been happier. Changed for the better. It's nice to see him all smiles instead of being all miserable." Zoe looked over at Wade who was surround by his friends, laughter rolling off his lips. "You're like his miracle work." Zoe shook her head.

"No, I was just the person he was looking for all along without ever realizing it. I didn't make him change. That's all on him," Zoe told her with a smile. "I'm sorry too, Lemon." They shared a smile, which happened to grow bigger seeing AB walk up to them. "What has you all smiles?"

"It's official," she beamed.

"What is?" Lemon asked, for both herself and Zoe.

"I'm dating the mayor, Lavon Hayes," she announced in a dreamy tone.

"That's awesome, AB," Zoe told her with a hug.

"Amazing," Lemon told her friend. Zoe eyed Lemon suspiciously, something seemed off. She was going to ignore it. The blonde was set to marry George in a few Weeks.

"I know, he told me if it was ok with me then we could be official, no more sneaking around and saying were just friends." The look of pure happiness was etched all over Annabeth's face. It suited her.

"Excuse me ladies, but I need my sexy and stunning girl," Wade smirked in his sexy little way, making Zoe's legs feel like Jello.

"Why's that?" Zoe asked, slipping her arm around his waist.

"We're going home to enjoy the rest of the night in our bed that's waiting. That's how I want to bring in the New Year." His admission brought a little dusting of pink to her cheeks.

They second the house door closed they were all over each other, tripping over the stairs on their way to the their room.

"Damn toys," Wade muttered into her neck, stepping on a rubber duck. Zoe's giggle was cut short with a moan. Wade smirked into her neck, his teeth grazing against her skin.

The house was unusually quiet. No little girls running around or little puppy paws clinking on the floor, to wake them. The only noise to be heard was their uneven breathing. Forgotten articles of clothes lined the way to their room.

"For a man who was filled with worry last night about his daughter and his father, seems to be in no hurry to go over there," Zoe commented, her finger drawing lazy patterns on his chest.

"They'll be fine," he whispered, pressing his lips against her temple. "Though maybe we should get ready and go get her." Zoe kissed his cheek, getting out of bed. Wade was quick to follow, tossing Zoe over his shoulder on the way to the bathroom. Zoe giggled, swatting his ass on the way.

"The house is still standing. You had no reason to worry," Zoe told him, when they pulled up to the house.

"Everything looks fine from here, but wait until we get inside." He wanted to believe that everything would be ok, when he opened the door. Zoe tugged on his hand to get him to move from the spot he was rooted in.

"Mommy, Daddy," Emma yelled, running up to her parents. They shared a hug.

"You guys are in time for lunch," Earl announced, stepping from the kitchen. "Grilled cheese and tomato soup."

"Goldfishy, too," Emma told them, talking about the goldfish crackers.

"See everything was fine, you worried for no reason." He shrugged leading the way into the kitchen. He had plenty to worry about.

"How was your night?" Earl asked getting everyone dished up.

"We had fun, missed our little peanut, though," Zoe answered. Wade saw his father looking at Zoe's hand. He had thought about asking Zoe to marry him at midnight, but it had seemed so cliche. He wanted it to be unique and special, and him. He was waiting for the right time.

"How was your night princess?" Wade asked, looking at his daughter. They got an earful. They played with the dolls, the legos, dress up and even had a tea party. They had even fell asleep on the couch watching the little mermaid.

"Sounds like a lovely night to have," Zoe smiled.

"It was, Mommy. Come see what Pappy Earl did." Emma pulled Zoe off to show her the room Earl had made just for her.

"I see you didn't ask," Earl commented the second the girls were gone.

"I want to ask her in a way she'd never see coming. I don't want to be a walking cliche. Only I know when the time is right. You'll just have to wait."


	33. Goodbye Daddy

**Goodbye Daddy:**

"I don't wanna leave, daddy. Don't make me go," she whined into Wade's shoulder, holding onto him for dear life, on the verge of tears.

"Ems, you'll be back in a few days. Before you know it, you'll be home. And we'll have a party and everything. You have to go see your Grandma," Wade soothed, holding onto his baby girl. If he could keep her home he would have done just that, but he couldn't. She had to go see her Grandma.

"You come with?" Emma asked her bottom lip sticking out. He kissed her cheek.

"I can't go, princess. I have to stay home and watch Boo. And the Rammer Jammer needs me. I'll be here when you get back, I promise." Emma looked at Wade, little tears in her eyes.

"Grandma has presents and a cake with lots of ice cream and cookies," Zoe told her daughter walking into the living room. Emma's face lit up at the mention of all the surgery goodness.

"She's worried we won't come back, ever. And Wade I know you have doubts about this as well and I can tell you now that, we will be back. I am never taking Emma from you. I love you and if I could stay here, I would. But I have to go."

"I don't doubt that, I know you'll be back. It's New York, Zo. That's what I doubt, that you plan on coming back, but when you get there, you're going to see just how much you miss the city. Then you'll have to choose New York or Bluebell. Both places have their perks." She didn't know how to get rid of his doubt. There was nothing she could say, his doubt would still be there. All she could do was go and come back home, to him. "You'll come back and realize how much you can't stand this place."

"Not going to happen," she whispered, taking his hand in hers. He shrugged locking his eyes with hers.

"I love you, Zoe. Call when you land?"

"Of course," she replied, kissing his lips.

"I love you very much, princess." He bent down to hug Emma, not wanting to let her go. He pressed a kiss to the side of her head.

"Love you, Daddy," she whispered, kissing his cheek.

The plane ride felt never-ending. Emma sat in her seat, a pout on her lips. She wanted her Daddy to come with her. She had cheered up seeing her Grandma, though. They had shared a tight hug. She had missed her Grandma. Zoe gave her Mother a quick hug, when they had entered her Mother's place.

"I never thought you girls would get here," Candice snapped harshly. Zoe refrained from rolling her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was start a fight with her mother, the second they walked through the door. Couldn't it have waited a few hours?

"I can't stop delays, Mom. Can we not fight? We're only here until Sunday afternoon." Which at this rate, felt like it was going to take it years to get from Friday to Sunday.

"That only leaves two days, why didn't you take more time off? I'm sure Wade will be fine without you and Emma longer then two days," Candice belittled, annoying Zoe, like only her mother could.

"I have a job, Mom," Zoe sighed, shaking her head.

"The other doctor will be fine without you as well. He did run the practice by himself, for months before you showed up." Taking a deep breath, Zoe was going to let this go.

"It's not just that. We're here for a few days. This isn't our home, Bluebell is," Zoe told her Mom. "If you can't accept that, you're gonna miss the time we do have together," Zoe replied sharply, taking her daughter's hand, leading them off to the room they would be sharing for the weekend.

"Why do you hate Grandma?" Emma asked, the second the door to the bedroom had been shut. Zoe sighed pulling her daughter onto her lap.

"Emma, I don't hate Grandma, I love her, like you do. Sometimes we fight with the ones we love to see how much they love us. They'll fight back if they love us the same as we love them. If they don't, then, well I'm not really sure," Zoe explained it the best possible way she could to her almost 4-year-old.

"You no love Daddy?" Emma asked, sadly looking down.

"Why do ask that, Emma?" That question alone raised a few flags in her mind. "I love your Daddy, very much."

"You don't fight," Emma sighed. Zoe nodded thinking over her next words very carefully.

"We do fight, Emma. We just don't fight around you. We never wanted to put you in the place where you would be scared, because Mommy and Daddy we're yelling at each other. I love your Daddy very much. And he loves Mommy very much."

"Oh," Emma replied, giving her mom a smile. "We call Daddy now?" Zoe nodded, pulling her phone from her purse, dialing Wade's number, putting the phone on speaker.

"Hello to my two favorite girls," Wade answered. Zoe could sense that he held a smirk on his face and Emma giggled.

"Hi Daddy," Emma sighed into the phone. She really did hate being away from her daddy.

"Hi, Wade. Our daughter here is a little upset. I had explained that I fight with my Mom because I love her and now Emma's worried we don't love each other because we don't fight or have disagreements in front of her," Zoe quickly explained. It had to be hard, to be forced to go back to the place you no longer liked, because else where held all your happiness. It was hard on Zoe, but to a four-year old, it had to be harder, when not much really made sense, because it was all to hard to understand.

"Emma, I love your Mommy, and nothing is going to keep me from loving her or you. Ems, you are my world. We don't have to fight to show just how much we love each other. I can do a lot of little things to show Mommy, just how much she means to me. Emma, don't you ever worry about the love between Mommy and Daddy, because no matter what, Daddy and Mommy are always going to love you, even when you think we don't. Ok?" Wade asked, he had only earned a shrug from his daughter, and not being able to see her he was starting to get worried.

"Emma, Daddy's right. We will always love you. If in some unlucky event comes along and Mommy and Daddy stop loving each other, that doesn't mean that we stopped loving you. You will always have your Mommy and your Daddy. Emma, you don't have anything to worry about, ok?" Zoe added in.

"Ok," Emma replied. "How's Boo?" She asked changing the topic just like that.

"She's missing a little girl, but she's fine," Wade replied, looking over at the dog, who laid in front of the door, whining every few minutes. "How's New York?"

"Cold," Emma replied. "Daddy, don't leave, I go potty," Emma told him running off to the bathroom.

"How is everything, really?" Wade asked, after a few seconds, making sure Emma wasn't in the room.

"Nothing is ever good enough for her. That doubt about me having a change of heart about New York, right now you have nothing to worry about. All I want to do is jump on a plane and coming home. I can't even remember what I liked about this place," Zoe sighed.

"It's only Friday afternoon, you only have all of tomorrow and half of Sunday before you're here again. I think you can manage."

"Wade Kinsella, what are you up to?" Zoe asked. He was up to something. Suddenly he no longer what her to be there. Red flags went off in her head.

"Jesse's coming over and we're gonna go out, for his bachelor party. You have nothing to worry about, I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize you or Emma. I'll be on best behavior," He assured her.

"I trust you, Wade. I have no reason not to trust. You haven't given me any reason thus far into our relationship." Zoe could hear Boo start to bark in the background. "They're there now, aren't they?"

"How'd you know?" Wade asked with a chuckle, pulling the door open to let his brother and his friends inside his house.

"Boo, gave it away," Zoe giggled.

"Daddy?" Emma questioned, jumping back on the bed.

"I am the only Daddy you have, right?" Wade asked, while a smirk played over his lips.

"Uh-huh," Emma replied. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you too, Emma. You be good for Mommy, and I'll see in a few days."

"I'm always good, Daddy, duh," Emma replied, causing Zoe to giggle.

"She's just like you, Zo."

"Only sometimes, she's mostly you, but we do have a lunch date with my mom, and you have your own plans. I love you, Wade."

"Love you too, Zoe."

Zoe wasn't really looking forward to going out to lunch with her mom and her mother's friends. She had an inkling that her mother was up to something. She couldn't figure out what it was, but it would come out at some point today. Taking Emma's hand they headed out to meet up with Candice. She wasn't going to worry about Wade and what he was up to, because she had faith in him. He had way to much to lose if you he messed and cheated on her. He was a big boy after all and he didn't need to be looked after.


	34. Boys Night Out

**Boys Night Out:**

"Seriously, Wade. Didn't they just leave a few hours ago?" George asked, getting a game set up.

"Lil Bro, she has you whipped, admit it!" Jesse laughed.

"I didn't have to ask for permission, like some of you," he said, looking pointedly at George. "Emma is having a hard time, with going back. I see nothing wrong with checking in with my girlfriend and my daughter. Y'all will understand when you have kids," Wade told them, grabbing a controller. He was ok with the fact, Zoe had called when she said she would. Assured him that they were safe. He had his own plans of calling later to tell them goodnight. Because he loved and missed them didn't mean he was whipped.

"Lemon doesn't control what I do," George huffed. Wade gave his friend a nod. They all knew how Lemon could be.

"What's the plan anyway?" Lavon asked, taking a seat.

"Bar, maybe the strip club. Nothing to over the top, just enough to have fun," Jesse replied. The last thing he needed, was to get himself into trouble and have Amelia not only break off the engagement, but break his heart, leaving him condemned for the rest of his life.

"What more do we need? None of us are single," Lavon commented, pointing out the obvious. They'd all find themselves out on the street if they did anything that crossed the line. No, they could have a few beers and still have a good time.

"I have a daughter, that I can't afford to lose. We don't need to find random chicks to bang."

"WOW! I never thought I would hear those words ever come from my brothers mouth." Wade threw a small pillow that belonged with the couch at Jesse. He stepped out-of-the-way, letting the pillow hit a vase shattering upon hitting the floor. He never liked that vase, Zoe bought it saying it went with the decor or something.

"Someone's in trouble," George snickered.

"You?" Wade questioned. He wasn't worried about it. It's not like the vase had any sentimental value to it. "We playing, or are we going to sit around and gossip like a bunch of little school girls?" He asked, looking at his friends and brother.

"I call winner!" Jesse yelled, jumping over the back of a chair.

Hours had passed them by and no one was able to beat Wade at any game they played. George and Jesse had come close a few times but were never successful. They groaned and griped about it, making, Wade laugh and turn the game off. And head to Fairhope to have a few drinks and enjoy the night, before Jesse went and got himself hitched.

"You ever plan on asking Zoe? Don't give me the bullshit that it's too damn soon. It's not and you know it," Jesse scowled. They had a few beers, they were sitting in the back of the bar, George and Lavon were playing a game of darts.

"I don't know," Wade replied with a sigh. The truth, ever since he was handed his mother's ring, he had been wanting to ask Zoe to marry him. She talked about them having more kids in the future. But that was the future, not the present. He didn't know where Zoe's mind was at on the while marriage thing. He didn't know how to approach the subject without giving things away. He didn't even want to hint at marriage. He wanted to take Zoe off guard. It would be romantic, but in his own way.

"Dad, told me he gave you, Mom's ring. That had to be laying quite heavy on your mind."

"How did you ask, Amelia?" Wade asked, mirroring his brother's action, taking a drink from his beer.

"Late night picnic, there was a full moon, sky was lit up with stars. We were in a field of wild flowers. I had the ring in my pocket, I didn't plan on asking her, everything just fell into place," Jesse answered with a goofy grin on his face. Wade couldn't place a time when he ever saw his brother this happy. Even when he got everything he asked for on Christmas. Looking at his brother and seeing the happiness that radiated off of him, he wanted that. He was happy, but not as happy as his brother was.

"Sounds perfect," Wade replied. Jesse nodded, swallowing the bitter liquid that was in his mouth.

"It was, but that's because it was the right setting. It wouldn't work for everyone. Every woman has a different fantasy about the perfect way to be asked. But sometime's you say the hell with it and do things your own way," Jesse told him. "Any idea how you'll ask her when you do?"

"Who says I will?" He asked downing the last of his beer, getting to his feet.

"Because you're not stupid," Jesse replied, leaning back in his chair. Without saying a word, Wade headed to the bar to get another beer.

"I'm sorry," a busty blonde told Wade, from bumping into him. He shrugged trying to maneuver around her. "Wanna get outta here?" She asked, her hands roaming over his arms.

"Actually, yea I do," he told her, licking his lips. She smiled walking through the crowd of people. Wade close behind her. This was the old him. George, Lavon and Jesse all shared looks.

"My car is this way," she cooed into his ear. Wade shrugged her off, mumbling under his breath. He leaned against Lavon's car, pulling his phone out. He couldn't go back to the person he was before Zoe and Emma. He had changed for the better. He was a better man and he didn't want a meaningless hook up, when he had exactly what he needed with Zoe. He wasn't going to be stupid and screw it up.

"Hey, I thought you were out with the guys?" That wasn't the greeting he was expecting from Zoe, but he should have seen it coming.

"I am, I just wanted to see how your day was. How was lunch with your Mom?"

"It was something alright," Zoe told him, sighing into the phone. "I'll explain it later. Why don't you go back in and enjoy your night with the guys?"

"I will, is Emma around you?" Wade asked, looking down. He put off Zoe's weird behavior, because she was normally wound a bit tight when her Mom was involved.

"She's sleeping, it had been a long day for her. I'll make sure she calls you first thing in the morning. Wade, I love you," She whispered into the phone.

"Love you too, Zoe," he whispered back.

He was still leaning against the car, his hands stuffed onto his pockets, when they walked out of the bar. Each one sighing in relief when they saw Wade. They didn't want to admit that they had thought the worse when he walked out with the blonde.

"I've changed guys," he sighed, being able to see the relief on their faces. He had liked that he was able to prove them wrong, but it still hurt to know what his friends and his brother really thought of him.

"We know that, it's just that we know how you, use to be and it's still a shock, to an extent not to see you going after the first woman, you lay eyes on. I, Lavon Hayes, personally like this new you. Don't Fuck it up, because we find it as a shock."

"Not gonna happen, buddy," Wade replied, patting his shoulder, getting into the vehicle. His friends and family could think what they wanted to. He knew what was important, and they were in New York.


	35. A Proposal of A Lifetime

**A Proposal of a Lifetime:**

Zoe sighed tossing her phone on the bed beside her. She could've told Wade the truth. Told him what was bothering her, but she wanted to do it in person. This was huge and if it had been sooner she wouldn't have had to think about this. Even though this was her Mom's doing, it still felt nice that they wanted her. Did she still want it? Could she live with tearing her family apart? Was any of it really worth it?

"Why do you hate Wade?" Zoe asked walking to the kitchen after checking on Emma. She needed to get to the bottom of this. She had wished that sleep would come that easy for her tonight, she just didn't think it was going to be possible. Her mind wasn't going to stop any time soon.

"Can't you see I only want the best for you?" Mother asked daughter. Aggravating said daughter even more.

"If you wanted what's best for me, you would let me make my own mistakes my way, not yours," Zoe shot back. She didn't make Emma do anything how she thought it needed to be done and she wanted the best for Emma. On some level it was different, but not all that much. Emma was going to make mistakes and she would be there to help her daughter out, but not the way her own Mom did things.

"I only do it because I love you, and I can't stand seeing you hurt." Zoe huffed at that. It sounded like a bunch of bull coming from her mouth. She was over it, really over it.

"Good one, Mom. Why do you hate Wade for?" Zoe asked once more.

"I don't hate him, Zoe. There is so much more potential for you here. I don't want to see you waste away," Candice stated.

"So being a GP in a small town, is me wasting away?" Zoe asked, taking a deep breath. She didn't expect anything else from her mother. "That's me making a home for my daughter with her Father. I don't understand how you could be so heartless to keep me away from my biological Father. I can't do that, but then again I love him and I love what I do, not to mention how much happier Emma is there. I didn't move to escape from you. I moved for Emma. If you can't see that, then I don't know what and I give up." She poured herself a glass of wine. It would have been easy to walk away, but she needed to stay and get to the bottom of this.

"I made mistakes, Zoe. I'm not proud of them. I just don't want you to make a mistake. Only to regret it later on in life. Harley, no matter how head over heels I was for the man, it wouldn't have worked out. We are two very different people. I did what I thought was the right thing to do. It was wrong of me and I'm sorry," she explained the best easy she could. Zoe felt so drained from this conversation, she couldn't do it any longer. She couldn't rewrite her past. What happened, happened, there is no changing it.

"I'm not making a mistake. I'm making it better, not only for me but for Emma," she clarified, downing the last of her wine. "Just because Wade and myself are two very different people, doesn't mean we won't work out. Especially if we make it work and fight for each other."

"Does that mean you're saying no?" Candice asked.

"It means, I don't know what I want. I need to talk to Wade about it all. I just don't know," she sighed. She couldn't make a decision like this without talking to Wade first. The idea of hurting him, hurt her.

"Whatever you decide, I'll support you. I'll try to come around to the choices you make." It took Candice all her will power to say those words but she no longer controlled what Zoe did with her life. It was time to let the reigns go.

"That's all I ask for," Zoe replied, heading up to bed. She laid in the dark not able to sleep. The news staying prominent in her mind.

A _job_ in_ New York_. It was hers if she wanted it. For years that was all she could ever think about, but now, she had a family to think about and it wasn't that easy.

_"I knew there was a reason behind this whole thing," Zoe hissed seeing the doctor that had told her she didn't have what it took to get a job at the hospital, because she didn't have bedside manners. She was starting to believe that her Mom would still be ruining her life in the grave._

_"Your Mom told me about you beginning a GP in Alabama, I think that's wonderful. Gives you the opportunity to really know your patients." That was right on. But it was more than that. She was able to connect with them, build a strong bond with them as their doctor._

_"I love it," Zoe replied. She had a lot to thank the man in front of her for. Him telling her no sent her straight to the father of her daughter. The life she lives now was all because of him._

_"She wants more. World renowned heart surgeon, it's at the top of her list." That may have been the case before, but now not so much._

_"The job, you've earned it, Zoe." But now the offer was on the table. How did one decided between family and a career? Could she have both?_

_"Let me have a few days to think about it. This is huge, but I have a family to consider with all of this. Honestly, I don't know if I still want to be a heart surgeon. I'm more than content being a GP," she responded, licking her suddenly dry lips._

_"Not to long. I can give you 7 days to figure it out. But that's it." She nodded excusing her and Emma from lunch._

The more she thought about it the harder it got. All her emotions of only ever wanting to follow in Ethan's footsteps, came flooding back. Wade's words about coming back but wanting to be back in New York played on a loop in her head. She was stuck. What was the right thing to do?

_"Mommy what was that man talking about?" Emma asked, as Zoe pushed her on the swings at the park._

_"He wants to give Mommy a job here in New York."_

_"Oh. Mommy?"_

_"Yes, sweetie?" Zoe asked, bringing the swing to a stop._

_"I won't be mad if we move back here, away from Daddy." Zoe smiled sadly at her daughter. Emma wasn't suppose to be the one giving anything up. She was the one that was suppose to make sacrifices for her daughter. She couldn't make Emma give Wade up. She couldn't be selfish. Could she? "Mommy you need to be happy too. Mommy, what makes you happy?"_

_"You and Daddy, make Mommy very happy," she replied kissing her daughter's nose._

Could working in New York make her happier than she already was in Bluebell?


	36. I'm This Many

**I'm This Many:**

Wade wasn't sure if it was the alcohol he had consumed or if he was nuts. Maybe it was both mixed together. But the longer he laid in bed, sleep nowhere to be found, he had the time to think back on the conversation with Zoe. Something was going on with her. That along with the small urge to cheat on her, had him on a late night fight to New York. He had found the address that Zoe left for him, for emergencies.

He looked at the apartment building, raking a hand through what hair he did have. It was 5 in the morning, there was no way he could wake any one up. He spotted a little park nearby and headed in that direction, taking residency on a bench. Without any sleep, he still wasn't tired, he felt like the world was his. It wasn't much longer and the sky was starting to lighten up, the birds had woken up, their chirps filling his ears.

Emma woke up early, climbing into bed with Zoe. She started to poke her mom, waking her up.

"Park, Momma, pwease?" Emma asked, with a small pout.

"Go get dressed and we'll go before we have breakfast." Emma jumped off the bed a grin on her little face. Zoe groaned seeing that it was barely after 6 in the morning. There was no way she was going to call Wade and wake him up, not sure on when he had got to bed.

20 minutes later they were out the door, walking to the park. Normally seeing a random guy sitting at the park would send Zoe's nerves into hyper drive. But she knew who it was, she didn't know why he was here though. Emma knew who it was as well. She let go of her Mom's hand and ran over to the bench.

"Daddy!" Emma giggled, climbing into his lap.

"What are you doing here?" Zoe asked, sitting next to him.

"Something was bugging you, I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts, I let it slip past me."

"Emma go play while Mommy and Daddy talk, then we'll go for breakfast." Emma kissed Wade's cheek, running off to play. "We'll get to me in a minute here. But what exactly happened last night?" Zoe asked, turning slightly, so she could see Wade better.

"You know what I was like before you and Emma. Jesse got on my nerves last night so sure of himself. I went to get another beer but a blonde..." Wade told her, growing quiet. He wanted to be honest with her, he just didn't wasn't to hurt her or even lose them.

"And did you?" Zoe asked, having a feeling where Wade was going with this. She went to brush the stray tears away, to make contact with Wade's. His thumbs wiped the tears away. His eyes locking on hers.

"Nothing happened. But for a second the thought was there, until I realized what I would be losing. What I have here with you and Emma, is far more important than some tramp. Please say you believe me, Zoe. I can't lose you or Emma." He wasn't above begging if it meant that he was able to keep his girls.

"You'd never lose Emma no matter what happens between us. You were tempted, Wade. You said nothing happened, so nothing happened. I believe that if something would have happened, you would have told me." She wrapped her fingers around his. "Wade, not all habits die fast. Some die slow. You had enough sense to stop before you did something you would have regretted. I still love you and I still want to be with you," she whispered, resting her forehead against his. She knew they were far from safe yet. They only had one problem out of the way.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing her tenderly.

"I wasn't looking for a job, that was never my intentions, ever. My Mom, set the whole thing up."

"I know you wouldn't look for a job here, Zoe. Your life is in Bluebell."

"Exactly, anyway, the doctor that told me, I wasn't good enough offered me a job. It had always been a dream for me, ya know?" She asked. "Emma even offered to give you up, so I could be happy. I don't want her to do that because I can't do that. Working here in New York, striving to be like Ethan, may have been my dream at one point, but the city doesn't make me happy, not like Bluebell, not like you," she confessed.

"If you took the job, Zo. I could easily find a job here. Bartender remember? I'd hate it, but you'd be happy, that's what counts."

"Hearing you say that means a lot to me, but I want you to be happy, Wade. Bluebell, that's where we are the happiest, isn't it?" She asked, moving to lean into him.

"I think as long as we have each other than we can be happy, where ever we call home," he commented, watching Emma run up the steps to the slide. Zoe smiled, kissing his cheek. It may have taken her daughter to show her what she needed more than anything in the world.

They sat in silence watching their daughter play. Nothing was better than this moment.

Emma made them get waffles for breakfast at a local little diner. Emma had ordered for them, saying they didn't know what good taste was.

"Mommy? You still work here?" Emma asked, stealing a drink of Wade's orange juice.

"No, baby. Mommy has a pretty amazing job at home. We'll leave tomorrow. So how about we show Daddy New York?" Emma's eyes lit up.

"Liberty?" Emma asked.

"We can take Daddy to the Statue Of Liberty."

"You will like her Daddy. She from Paris." Zoe smiled, hearing that Emma remembered what she had been told, the last time they went.

"She is?" Wade asked with a shocked gasp.

"Uh-huh. Don't you know anyfing, Daddy?" Emma asked taking a bite of food.

"I learn new things everyday, princess." Zoe sat back watching the two of them. She had made the right choice. She didn't have the heart to break up her little family. This was what it was about. Not to mention that she had a better job in Bluebell, a better life. Nothing was going to keep her from the happiness she has right now or how complete life feels in Bluebell.

The day had flown by, leaving for one sleepy little girl. Emma never wanted to stop and rest unless she was forced to. She had enjoyed, showing her Daddy, all her favorite places and everything she had enjoyed. Wade had even bought her some Hello Kitty things and let her build a bear. She choose a little brown bear, putting a little ballerina outfit on her, she named her new bear, Ella.

"I didn't know you were in town, Wade," Candice commented, seeing the three of them walk into the apartment.

"It kinda just happened. I was missing them like crazy, so here I am. What way to her bed?" Wade asked, slightly shifting his daughter in his arms. Zoe pointed the way.

"Thank you for trying, Mom. I know it's hard for you. But this is what I want."

"He is a good father, I'll give him that," Candice replied, going back to what she was doing. Zoe smiled heading off to her room. After the last 24 hours she was beat. Curling up with her boyfriend, sounded pretty damn good.

Wade had arranged a surprise for Emma. He didn't even let Zoe in on his little plan. Even though things had been worked out, he was still feeling guilty about even thinking about cheating on her.

"Why are you so quiet?" Zoe asked, on the fight home.

"Tired," he used for his explanation. It wasn't a lie. With no sleep the night before last, and only a few hours last night, he wasn't running on much power. He didn't realize how hard it was to sleep in a city that's always on the go.

"We still have a few hours before we land, why don't you get some sleep." He had taken Zoe's suggestion, leaning his seat back, closing his eyes. Emma sat, watching the top of the clouds, soft giggles making their way out.

To Wade it had felt like a few seconds when Zoe was waking him up. He fixed his seat, getting his seatbelt buckled.

Zoe hadn't realized how much she had missed Bluebell, until now. She felt silly for ever thinking she could leave this place. She felt bad for thinking she could split her family up, after saying she wouldn't do such a thing. She had been a hypocrite about it all. Zoe frowned when Wade passed the way to the house.

"Where we going?" Zoe asked.

"It's a surprise," Wade smirked. Zoe looked at him, studying him. He had seemed better since they were home, but something was still off. It wasn't as if she was at her best, though. "Happy birthday, princess." Zoe was starting to put things together. "You ready for a party, filled with games, candy and cake?"

"Presents?" Emma asked, unbuckling.

"How could I forget them?" Wade asked, with a dramatic sigh.

"Pappy Earl!" Emma yelled, jumping from the car, when Wade opened her door.

"How old is my little peanut?" Earl asked picking her up.

"I'm this many!" Emma giggled holding 4 fingers up.

"This is really sweet of you," Zoe praised him, when the walked into the Rammer Jammer. Princess decorations adorned the walls, a princess castle cake sat on a table. Pink and purple balloons were everywhere. Emma had even got a little tiara.

"Lavon had helped, since I was in New York. It only seemed right since it's her birthday, and I get to be here with her."


	37. Ethan

**Ethan:**

It had been a normal day for Zoe. She got up leaving Wade sleeping. She would check on a sleeping Emma before heading to the practice. Patients would come and go. She would do paper work. The same ritual she had grown custom to the last few weeks now.

But today was going to be different. She just didn't know it yet.

Zoe smiled seeing Emma running into the office to hug her. The morning had been busy with, Brick off doing house calls and a small case of the flu had broken out, but it was nothing to worry about now, only a handful of people had it.

"We bring lunch, Mommy," Emma told her with a bright smile bouncing over to a chair. Wade chuckled slightly kissing Zoe. She got busy clearing the folders from her desk. Wade placed the items on the desk, giving everyone the right container of food.

"How is work so far?" Wade asked.

"Busy, but good. I don't regret turning down the job in New York, if you're wondering."

"I wasn't," he retorted. But under it all he was relieved to know that, Zoe was truly happy here.

The rest of lunch was filled with Emma going on about Boo chasing a squirrel that morning and how funny it was to watch until Boo caught the squirrel and Emma cried until Wade was able to save the little guy from becoming Boo's morning snack.

With them gone for the afternoon, Zoe got busy. She didn't have much to do. The day slowed down. With the practice being vacant and Brick sticking around for the remainder of the day, Zoe was packing her things up, to head home, before finding her family. It was the knock at her office door that had her threw off guard.

"Ethan?"

"Hey, Zoe. This a bad time?" Ethan asked, staying in his spot by the door.

"No, I was just getting ready to head home. What brings you by?" Zoe asked getting her things.

"I see you found out, about your father." Zoe nodded, walking to the door. She couldn't even remember the last message she had left for him. The last time she called him was on her first night in Bluebell.

"I did, no thanks to Mom. I get why you grew to be so distant with me. No need to explain. Mom lied to you and me about it, just after you figured it out, I was left in the dark, thinking that I had done something wrong." She shook her head, forcing all her unwanted emotions to leave. "But I'm over it. I have my own life here. When that Mom hates." That made a smile appear on her lips. "One that I love." Her smile grew seeing the two people she was talking about it.

"I'm happy you have it all figured it out now." She was nowhere near to having her life figured out.

"Grandpa Ethan!" Emma yelled, running into his waiting arms.

"Hey snuggle bug." Ethan kissed her head, hugging her tight. He had missed the little girl in his arms.

"You doing ok?" Wade asked, slipping his hand into hers. She nodded. She was doing better them she had ever expected to be, when faced with her ex step-father.

"This is Wade. My boyfriend and Emma's..."

"He my Daddy," Emma said, cutting Zoe off.

"Wade, this is Ethan. My ex step-dad." That didn't sound right, but it was the truth. It was easier to leave it at that.

Emma had Ethan help her take Boo for a walk, when they got home.

"Did you know he was coming? What does he want?" Wade asked sitting on the couch, Zoe next to him.

"I don't know. I asked and he never answered. It was a total surprise. I haven't talked or rather left a message for him since arriving here."

"Maybe he thought you were dead, and felt the need to check up on you. Just because he's not your father, doesn't mean he doesn't care about you. He did help raise you until the age of 10." She supposed Wade was right. He had been the only father she ever knew. She wasn't given the pleasure of getting to know her biological father. She had met him once, before she knew who he was.

"I guess," she sighed.

"The little bug, here needs a bath. Along with Boo. They kinda ran through the mud puddles." Wade tied Boo up outside and ushered his very muddy daughter upstairs.

"So that's Emma's father?" He questioned, sitting in the chair.

"Yeah. It took some time to actually figure it out though. The whole town had suspected it, before we figured it out."

"I can see him in her." Zoe nodded, not sure what she should say. The only thing she wanted to know he wouldn't answer. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. And to see my grandchild. I know things didn't turn out how we thought they would. Your Mom kept something major from both of us. I don't want us to grow apart. I know I have all the blame for the wasted years. I hope some day you can forgive me. Because I feel like your my daughter. I was there for all the most important things until you turned 10, but it wasn't you. I had to find a balance in my life. Get my head straight. I just want my daughter and granddaughter back, one day."

"Since finding out the truth, I don't blame you. I can forgive you, I have already. A girl always needs her father. I could never keep Emma from you. You are always going to be my father, you will always be Emma's grandpa. That's just how it works," Zoe explained. Her childhood had been so much better when Ethan was around.

"She wants Grandpa Ethan to tuck her in," Wade announced walking downstairs.

"But it's not even bed time, she hasn't ate dinner yet," Zoe replied.

"But this way, she doesn't miss her chance at getting tucked in by her grandpa," Wade replied with a shrug. Ethan headed upstairs a smile firmly in place.

"Everything still okay? I didn't hear any yelling, so that must be a good sign."

"Everything its more than okay, for the first time in years when it comes to Ethan."

"Good," Wade remarked, kissing her. "Now I have a muddy dog to wash outside."

Zoe took to the kitchen, to find something to make. Having a child, did ensure that you learned how to cook, take out wasn't essential for a young kid.

Ethan came back down minutes later, with a promise to call more often and to find the time to come back for a few days in a couple of months, he was off.

"Thank you for taking such good care of not only Zoe but Emma. They both love you. They admire you, Wade." That only brought a smile to his face. He couldn't get sick of hearing how good of a father he was, after all the doubts he had.

"As a father it's my job. But it's more than that, but you know that. I love them both. I'm never going to stop caring for them. They're safe," he replied, taking a break from rinsing the dog shampoo, from Boo.

He didn't plan on ever letting Emma or Zoe down.


	38. My Baby Girl

**My Baby Girl:**

"Dammit!" Wade cursed, stubbing his toe on the end of the bed, waking Zoe up.

"What happened?" She mumbled, not moving from her spot, let alone opening her eyes.

"Shit, Zoe, I didn't mean to wake you." He was tired from the shift he worked. He had went in for the afternoon shift only to work till closing when everyone called in sick. The room was dark, more so than normal.

"Don't matter," she replied, rolling over to snuggle against him. Wade dropped a kiss to her temple, holding her close. "You ok?" She whispered, pressing a kiss against his bare chest.

"I'm fine," he whispered, sleep already taking his body over.

"Mommy!" Emma cried from her room. Zoe got out of bed with a groan. It was 3 in the morning. "Mommy!" Emma called again. Zoe pushed her daughters door open the rest of the way.

"Oh sweetie," Zoe cooed, seeing the mess that was beside her daughter's bed, along with it being all over her daughter. Zoe got her in the tub, feeling how warm she was.

"My tummy hurts," Emma whined.

"I know sweetie and Mommy will do everything she can to make you feel better."

With Emma clean, Zoe put her in bed to cuddle with Wade. Zoe had woke him and explained to him what was going on. With Emma snuggled up to her Daddy, Zoe got busy getting Emma's blankets in the wash, along with cleaning the mess that was in a pile on the carpet.

Zoe got back into bed with everything taken care of. Emma was sound a sleep but Wade was wide awake.

"She's not seriously suck is she?" Wade asked. He never had to deal with sick kids. This was his baby girl. Nothing could be wrong with her. If there was he would personally find a cure for her.

"Relax, it's just the flu. It'll run it's course and be gone." This wasn't the first time she had dealt with a sick Emma. It wasn't going to be the last. It was sweet how protective Wade was being. Zoe snuggled down into the blanket to get a few more hours of sleep. But Wade, sat up, keeping an eye on his little girl.

Zoe went over everything Wade would need to deal with a sick kid, and if he needed anything to call her. Wade assured her that he could handle a sick Emma. With Zoe out the door, Wade went up to check on his baby girl. She was still out cold on the bed. He headed downstairs to play a game, careful not to wake Emma up.

About an hour later Emma woke up. Wade gave her a few crackers, hoping her little tummy could hold them in. He searched the kitchen looking for some soup, but came up empty-handed. He cursed, picking up the phone calling Lavon. He wouldn't take Emma out of the house sick. Wade draped a blanket over his daughter, who was absorbed in a cartoon.

"Mayor Lavon Hayes."

"Hey Lavon, you wouldn't happen to have a can of chicken noodle soup, would you?" Wade asked, feeling his daughters head. She was still warm, but not as warm as she was in the night.

"I'd have to check. Why?" Lavon asked, walking to his kitchen.

"Emma's sick, we don't have any. I don't want to take Emma out and Zo is at work," he explained, watching as the pups on the screen saved some baby sea turtles.

"I've got a can," Lavon announced. "I'll bring it over."

Ending the call with Lavon, Wade sent Zoe a message to bring some soup home when she came.

"You feeling alright?" AB asked, coming in for a check up. Zoe nodded, getting things she would need.

"Emma woke up in the night sick. Wade's at home watching her. I don't have to worry, because she's in good hands, but I can't help but worry about her," Zoe explained with a sigh. AB nodded.

"I hope Emma gets better soon." Zoe gave her a smile going about to finish the check up.

"A clean bill of health, AB."

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

"Everything will be fine tomorrow. But thanks Annabeth." She nodded walking out. Zoe sighed when Brick entered her office. They were okay to an extent, things were still a little tough between them. "What can I do you for, Brick?"

"I overheard you saying that Emma is sick. I know what it's like to deal with a sick daughter. What don't you take the rest out the day off. Not much is going on anyway."

"Wow! You do have a heart, Brick. Thank you for this."

"People can surprise you, Dr. Hart." Zoe nodded at that collecting her things. She stopped off for some soup on her way home.

Zoe walked through the door seeing a little kid show was being watched but not only by her half asleep daughter but her very adorable boyfriend. Zoe kicked her shoes off by the door, getting the soup to the kitchen. On her way through, she stopped by her boyfriend.

"Hey," she whispered, sharing a kiss with him. "How is she doing?" Zoe asked, looking at her daughter, to see that in a few seconds she was going to be out.

"She only threw up once. Everything seems to be staying put. You're home early," he commented, the second he read done explaining the events of his morning.

"Brick let me off for the rest of the day." It was good to hear that Emma was doing better this afternoon. By tomorrow she would be close to being herself again.

With Emma asleep on the couch, they curled up in the chair and watched little kid cartoons. It wasn't the ideal way to spend your afternoon, but it was for them.


	39. Wedding Bell Blues

**Wedding Bell Blues:**

Throughout the ceremony Wade focused his attention on Zoe. Nothing like a wedding to make you think about your own wedding. He could see himself making the final commitment to Zoe. Sharing the moment with family and friends, that wouldn't be that bad either. To make a real family for Emma, that was ideal. It was the commitment that got him every time. He wasn't a fan of commitment, he didn't know if he had it in him. He had proved he could stay faithful once. Zoe believed he could do it every time. He was having a harder time, believing himself. Because temptation was there, he hated to admit it, but it was there, in the back of his mind, that he could go astray at any second. That was if he wanted to lose everything in his life. He didn't have any doubts about it, it just scared him. But the happiness that came with this type of commitment had to be the best he could ever feel. He wanted to live his life, because Wade Kinsella wasn't afraid of anything. He knew his next move, he just didn't know when.

"I present to you Mr and Mrs Jesse Kinsella."

"You alright?" Zoe asked, slipping her arm around Wade's waist once she found him outside. "You seemed a bit distracted, standing up there, is all." She had felt his gaze on her. When she had looked at him, he had seemed to be some where far away.

"I'm fine," he replied, kissing her temple. "I hate to tell the bride and groom they had been upstaged by a little flower girl," Wade smirked, picking his daughter up. It had been months, but the thought of him being a father, was still surreal to him. He couldn't over how amazing it was, to have created such an amazing little girl.

"She did kinda steal the show, didn't she?" Zoe asked with a smile. Emma giggled, snuggling into her father's embrace.

"I would say so," Earl commented, walking up to them. "You're all needed for some family pictures. Zoe too." She wasn't all that shocked about that. She had considered them part of her family already. They would be part of her life for years to come, no matter what ever takes place between her and Wade. Though one day she hoped she could be the one to celebrate this moment with her family and friends.

Pictures had been taken, Earl had taken Emma for the night. He didn't want to be around that much alcohol so he called it a night saying he would watch Emma for the night.

"Does, Wade seem off to you?" Zoe asked Lavon, her eyes on her laughing boyfriend.

"Nah, he's fine. Why?"

"Ever since the ceremony, he's been slightly off." She didn't know what to make of it. She wasn't thinking that he was going to call it quits. Something was on his mind and he wasn't sharing what it was with her. He didn't have to, but it would have been nice.

"His brother did just get married, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, Zoe. He loves you."

"I know he does. And he says everything is okay, but I can't help but notice that he's off just a little."

"I'm sure whatever it is, he'll tell ya about it soon enough." She didn't doubt that, she just wanted to know what was going on inside her boyfriend's head.

"I'm surprised she even went through with it. She really must love you, bro," Wade commented, knowing how hard it could be to live with Jesse at times.

"Part of me wasn't expecting her to show either. She makes me the luckiest guy in the world." He figured since it was his brother's wedding he wouldn't say anything, because having Zoe made him the luckiest. Though he supposed that every guy felt like that when they found the one.

"How did you guys know when it was time?" Wade asked, his brother and George.

"You just know. Why?" Jesse asked.

"You planning on asking Zoe soon?" George asked with a smirk. He should have known that question was going to get answers like that. Why did they always have to assume he was going to ask Zoe, when he asked a simple little question?

"Nah, just wanted to know with the wedding and all," Wade replied, lying through his teeth. "You guys are idiots," he remarked.

"What's with you?" George asked. "You seem a but on edge. Something on your mind?" The last time he had told them about his thoughts on marrying Zoe, they had made a big deal about it. No he was better off on staying away from that topic.

"Just thinking is all. Remind me why are we over here, when our women are else where?" He asked, grabbing his beer from the bar, walking off. "As happy as I am for my brother, I'm ready to go home. The wedding is over anyway, I'm not in the mood to party the night away. Not when the real party starts after we get home," he suggested, his hand resting on her ass.

"Such a hard bargain to refuse," she giggled. "Party for two coming up," she whispered, against his lips, turning to walk off.

They weren't the only ones to leave early. Most people had already left. The bride and groom were also getting ready to leave.

"What's on your mind?" Zoe asked on the walk home. He still wasn't being himself.

"I've just been thinking. Are we ever going to go get Emma's name changed?" He asked, not ready to ask Zoe about marriage. They had already promised to go in and get her name changed from Hart to Kinsella.

"I'm free all day tomorrow. You?" Zoe asked. Sometimes things got away from you. This was one of them.

"I work in the morning and at night. I have the afternoon off, at least I'm supposed to."


	40. No Longer A Hart, Officially A Kinsella

_**No Longer A Hart, Officially A Kinsella:**_

"Daddy you love, Mommy?" Emma asked, standing next to the bed where Wade was laying, her little lip trembling just a little

"Of course, I love Mommy, why do you ask?" Wade asked, motioning for her to join him on the bed.

"Because I sad, Daddy," Emma replied, crawling into bed with him. A bright smile coming over her little lips, despite being sad.

"Why's that princess?" Wade asked, bring Emma to curl up with him. He had worked the late shift, getting home around 2 in the morning. Only to get up again at 8 to go to Mobile for a few hours. He was getting some much-needed sleep when Zoe had woke him 20 minutes ago saying she needed to go to work for a few hours. Once again plans had been changed when it came to going in and getting Emma's name changed.

"I no longer Hart."

"Emma, that doesn't make Mommy sad, that makes Mommy happy. Don't you want Daddy's last name?" Wade asked, rubbing a hand through his daughter's brown locks. It pained him to think that his little girl didn't want his last name anymore. As much as it hurt, this was what Emma wanted, he wasn't going to force her into doing something she didn't want to do, under certain circumstance's, that was.

"Yes, Daddy," Emma sighed. "But now Mommy has a different last name then me. Why can't Mommy change her name too?"

"Because we were not married, sweet pea."

"Why not?" Emma asked, looking up at her Daddy with hope in her little eyes. He didn't really have a good enough reason. It wasn't like he never had the chance to get on bended knee and ask. He had plenty of chances but they had never been the right moment. They wouldn't have been memorable, they weren't him. He looked at his daughter wondering if Zoe had put her up to this. Asking so she could get an idea if he had any plans on proposing or not. One thing was for sure no one was going to know when he asked, except for him that was.

"Because marriage is a huge step. Whether Mommy and Daddy get married, we will always be a family, a family that loves you. A last name doesn't determine that." Emma was content with that answer. Wade had almost drifted back to sleep, when Emma's voice filtered through.

"Daddy, I hungry," she pouted keeping him awake. He nodded, getting up. He found his jeans and a shirt, getting Emma they headed downstairs. "Waffles, Daddy." Wade looked thorough the cupboards, coming up empty-handed.

"How about we go out and get some breakfast?" He asked turning to look at his daughter. Emma nodded, running off upstairs to get dressed. Wade right behind her, ready to help if she insisted.

Zoe sat at her desk when AB rushed into the office, shutting the door behind her. Zoe looked up at a panic-stricken AB. She shut the file she was looking over. The need to know about her real father and the family she now had.

"What's going on?" Zoe asked, getting dizzy from all of AB's pacing. Seeing that what ever was bothering her, she wasn't going to come right out and say it.

"You need to tell me, that I'm not pregnant," she begged, finally sitting down.

"I can't do that without a test first. Did you take any tests, before coming here?" Zoe asked, moving from her desk.

"No," AB told her, frantically shaking her head. "I've got this feeling and I came straight here. As much as I want to be a mother, now is not the time to bring a child into this world." Zoe was only paying half attention. Other then when other people brought up the subject of kids, she never thought about it. She would love to have another child, preferably a little boy who looked like Wade, but she wouldn't mind having another little girl either. Now wasn't the time, to bring a baby into their lives, but if it happened, it would be ok.

"AB, I need you to take a deep breath and relax. Whatever the results, you'll have people there to help you through this. Lavon wouldn't walk away either. Everything is going to be okay."

"Thanks, Zoe," she replied, taking a deep breath, letting her nervous slowly disappear.

"We take, Mommy some?" Emma asked, eating her doughnut.

"I don't know if Mommy would be too happy to know that you ate doughnuts for breakfast," Wade commented.

"So," Emma replied. Wade chuckled lightly. It wasn't just about Zoe's rules, he had some say, if not just as much as Zoe did.

"You just enjoy that doughnut, princess. We'll go see Mommy for lunch." Emma was content with that answer, busy keeping the jelly inside her doughnut and not all over the table or her lap.

Wade sat back watching his daughter. Having a family wasn't as bad as he had ever thought it would be. The possibility of adding more kids only excited him. Emma would always be special to him, but for a chance to experience everything, it would be simply amazing. But before he could even think about having more kids, he had to do something else first. Or maybe he didn't. It wouldn't be so bad now, because they were together. He chuckled to himself, before he could even think about having more kids with Zoe, he should more than likely have a conversation with Zoe about it all.

"I not funny, Daddy!" Emma huffed, sending her dad a small glare, looking like her mother's mini me.

"I wasn't laughing at you, princess. Daddy, was laughing at himself. How would you feel about a baby brother or sister?" He asked, leaning closer to her. He was happy that they had brought their doughnuts home instead of eating them at the Butter Stick.

"I get a baby?" She asked, slightly disappointed. "I no want baby!" She huffed.

"Princess there is no baby." He really didn't know what else he was supposed to tell her. He was still learning.


	41. You're A Pig

**You're A Pig:**

"Mommy, what we doing?" Emma asked, from the backseat.

"Whatever we want for the day, munchkin. We need to get you some more clothes, they're either getting filled with holes or they're too small."

"Mommy we get baby?" She asked, looking in the rearview mirror at her Mom.

"You can get a baby doll, if you want," Zoe told her, thinking nothing of it.

"No, Mommy. Daddy asked if I wanted a baby," Emma explained, wanting her Mom to understand.

"Ah, there's no baby, sweetie. Just you, Daddy and Mommy. Don't you want to be a big sister?" Zoe asked, earning a shrug in response.

With Wade asking Emma about babies, it made her wonder where his head was at. He hadn't approached her about having more kids or even marriage. She didn't know if he even wanted to get married. They were in desperate need of a long conversation about a lot of things.

Wade tossed stuff around the house, looking for nothing in particular. He stood in the kitchen looking at his handiwork, a smirk creeping onto his face. He was good to create destruction else where. He stepped over the mess he had created in the living room, stepping over the random article's of clothing that he dropped on the stairs. He smirked tossing the dirty laundry from the hamper, he messed the bed up. It was prefect.

"Hey, Lavon, what brings you by?" Wade asked, opening the door.

"Mail," he responded, holding the letters up. "I got 'em by mistake. What in the Sam hell happened in here?" He asked, his jaw dropping. "It looks as if a hurricane, ripped through here."

"Hurricane Wade," he responded, taking his mail. Lavon shook his head, muttering a good luck on his way out the door.

Wade had sat back admiring the hard work he had put into the house, for a few hours, waiting for his girls to get home. When Zoe came home, he met her outside taking a tired Emma from the car.

"You guys did leave some stuff at the store right?" He asked, taking a few bags from the trunk. He never got a reply from his girlfriend, hearing her scream. "Daddy's in trouble," he chuckled.

"Daddy trouble," Emma giggled.

"Seriously, Wade. I was only gone for like 4 hours and look at the state of this house!" Zoe yelled, walking around the bedroom picking up the clothes that were scattered everywhere. The living room and kitchen were way worse. She refused to clean them telling Wade if he didn't want to spend the next two months on the couch, he'd get busy and start cleaning. He currently sat on the bed, Emma in his arms. He refused to move for the time being. He had told Zoe he'd get to it when he was ready.

"Yeah, I never got around to cleaning. You saw how I lived across the pond in the gate house. You honestly didn't expect my habits to change now that we live together, did you?" He asked, running a hand through his daughter's hair.

"Maybe a little," Zoe told him, dumping the clothes in the dirty laundry hamper. "You have yet to make a mess this big. You have always helped keep the house clean. What's this?" Zoe asked, picking up a small black box.

"Open it and find out," Wade told her with a shrug.

"Wade," Zoe gasped seeing the diamond ring that sat in the velvety lining.

"Will you marry me? Will you make our family whole? Step into the unknown with me?" Zoe's eyes were clouding up from the tears that refused to trail down her cheeks. A smile played on her lips looking to see that Wade had moved to be on one knee in front of her.

"It's pretty, momma. Marry Daddy?" Emma asked, with big bright eyes. Zoe nodded.

"I marry Daddy." She turned from her daughter to Wade. "You're a pig, but the only one I want to marry," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck pulling him in for a kiss. Emma giggled, jumping on her parents. Wade placed the ring on Zoe's finger, indicting she was now his and they were on their way to a life time commitment. "It's beautiful."

"It was my Mom's." Hearing that it was his mother's made this moment that much more special.

"Oh, Wade," she whispered, lightly pressing her lips against his.

"Yucky parents," Emma gagged, running off.

"That's your daughter," Zoe reminded him.

"That's okay, because I'll be grossed out when she gets a boyfriend."

"Which will be when?" Zoe asked, curious to know this answer.

"When she's about 35, if not 40," he responded, holding her close.

"Sure," Zoe giggled, kissing him once more. "Don't think for a second this gets you off the hook. You still have a mess to clean up," she remarked with a smirk, walking off. "Come on, Emma, we're gonna go see uncle Lavon."

"The house will be spotless when you get home, honey," Wade remarked, from the bedroom.

"It best be, sweetie," Zoe called over her shoulder, walking outside.

"My lovely neighbors. You didn't kill, Wade did you?" He asked, looking behind them.

"So you saw the mess? No, he is busy cleaning it, as we speak."

"Mommy marry Daddy!" Emma told him, over excitedly.

"He made a mess of your house to ask for your hand in marriage?" Lavon asked, looking over the ring.

"Indeed he did," Zoe blushed.

"Hey, Emma wanna have a sleep over with uncle Lavon?"

"Can I Mommy?" She asked with big eyes.

"Of course you can, do you need anything for her?"

"Nope, I have enough of her stuff laying around. You just go enjoy this time and come get your daughter tomorrow, when you can walk again," Lavon chuckled, seeing Zoe turn ten shades of red.

"You just hush it," Zoe warned, looking to see if Emma was paying attention. Luckily she was busy playing with blocks.

"Just go," he demanded, giving her a gentle shove out the door. She shook her head, and started the walk home. She glanced at her ring, in awe that she was getting married. There was so much they needed to figure out, but she wasn't going to worry about that right now. Instead she was going to go enjoy this joyous moment with her soon to be husband.

"How do you expect the house to be clean in that short amount of time?" He asked frowning when he saw that Emma wasn't with. "Where's our daughter?"

"Sleep over with Lavon," she replied, literally jumping on him. "Where gonna live out as many as those fantasies as we can, where ever you want in the house," she whispered, pressing her lips against his hard. Wade groaned, falling back on the couch.

Everything seemed right with the world. If only for a moment.


	42. What's with Bluebell?

**What's with Bluebell?:**

"Dr. Hart, I've got a rash here on my arm," Shula said, entering Zoe's office.

"Let's have a look shall we?" Zoe asked, motioning to the exam room.

It had been like that all morning. People would come in, secretly glance at the ring that was perfectly at home on her left hand. They would never comment about it. They would come up with reasons to come see her, but they would never say a word about her ring or the fact she was engaged to Wade.

Across town Wade was dealing with something odd for Bluebell as well.

"By now the word has to be out there. And these people don't care. That's like the first time. What the hell is going on around here?" Wade asked. He wasn't sure if he should be ecstatic that they weren't prying into his personal life or worried the whole town was sick and losing their minds.

"I don't know what to tell ya, they were all over me when I asked Lemon. It is strange, they made a fuss about the two of getting engaged, but when it happens, it's like they just don't give a damn."

"No, shit," Wade mumbled, shaking his head. They made no sense whatsoever. "When is the big day?" Wade asked, wanting to focus his attention else where.

"Hell if I know. At this point I'm just along for the ride," George responded, getting up from his seat. "Like right now," he said, shaking his head walking off. Wade chuckled going back to work. One thing about the turn gossip staying off of him and Zoe's engagement, meant he had time to go over after work and tell his pops about it all before the town ruined it for him. Maybe after all these years, they finally got the hint to leave him alone, when it came to his personal life.

"This town drives me mad," Zoe complained with a small huff.

"What they do now?" Wade asked with an amused smirk on his face.

"All afternoon long, they kept coming in with fake illnesses just to look at the ring. Then after they got the glimpse they were perfectly fine and left. But oh no, it was by far to hard to say anything about the ring or about us taking the next step into marriage," she explained, in one breath. She had gotten so sick of everyone coming in and not saying anything to her about it. She had finally talked to Brick and got the rest of the day off. Both knew it was for the best. She'd spend the day with Emma. It would be fun and a lot less stressful.

"They haven't said anything to me about it either. This town really is weird," he commented.

"Tell me about it. I'm gonna go get Emma and we're gonna spend the day at home."

"I've got a few more hours yet, but after I get off, we gotta go see my dad and tell him the news." Zoe quickly kissed him. At least Earl was going to be happy for them. "Wait," Wade told Zoe. He whistled getting the attention of everyone in the Rammer Jammer. "Doc and myself are getting married. Anyone have anything to say?" Wade asked. No one said anything, turning to go back to what they were doing before Wade interrupted them. He couldn't believe that not even Dash had something to say about this. He kissed Zoe letting her go, while he got back to work.

"How can you be mayor of a town so weird?" Zoe asked, waking into the house, seeing mayor, daughter and dog curled up on the couch watching movies.

"What they do now?" Lavon asked, looking away from the TV. Zoe rapidly replayed the days events for him, making sure she didn't leave a single detail out. "That's just cold," he commented.

"Don't tell me, I've lived through it. Emma come on, we're gonna go home."

"I be flower girl again?" She asked with bright big eyes. Zoe smiled. How could a person stay mad and frustrated at a town of people, when you had an adorable daughter to make you crack a smile?

"I'm sure Daddy will be ok with it," Zoe responded, opening the door for Emma and Boo.

"Yay!" Emma exclaimed, running from the house. She didn't stop until she got to her room, Boo hot on her heels. Zoe lightly chuckled following at a slower pace.

Zoe sat in a chair watching as Emma practiced being the flower girl, going up and down the stairs, walking back and forth in the hallway tossing the little plastic petals. When they were all over the floor, she would pick them up and start all over again. Boo would be right behind her wagging her tail. She had even tried to catch a few of the falling petals, but she had gotten chewed out.

"What is our daughter doing?" Wade asked stopping short in the entry way, seeing his daughter in the dress she wore for Jesse's wedding.

"She wants to up stage her parents at our wedding," Zoe confirmed. "At this rate, she will to. I don't think I'll find a dress, that can surpass that child of ours."

"Then you need to walk down the aisle in nothing but your birthday suit. I won't complain," he smirked, dropping onto the couch.

"Ewww, Wade. Not gonna happen, so get that image out of your dirty head."

"It was merely a suggestion," he remarked with a dirty smirk and an all to familiar glint in his eye.

"I was thinking we get married either the ending of September or the beginning of October. That way we have the fall colors as a backdrop."

"I say either the first weekend of October or the last weekend of September. I think we got our pick. Not too many people are getting married in this town."

"In town square, I say in September before too many leaves fall off the trees. I'm talking this year, Wade, not next year."

"The sooner the better," Wade commented. "Princess, we're going to see Pappy Earl. You coming or staying to practice to out shine your Mommy at her wedding?" Wade yelled.

"It's our wedding. We're a family, this is for all of us. I want you and Emma to be apart of it all," Zoe told him, going straight on the offense.

"I coming, Daddy," Emma shouted, jumping the last three steps off the staircase. Wade groaned turning to look at her.

"I really don't mind, staying away from everything. All you have to do is tell me when and where, and I'll be there." Zoe shook her head.

"Oh no, we're going through this together. I want your opinion along with Emma's." No matter the fit he put up, he would still do it, because he'd do anything for his soon to be wife and daughter. Call it what you may, he called it love.

"We go now?" Emma asked, getting inpatient. Wade chuckled, grabbing Emma on his way by her. Boo had jumped into the car, laying down in the backseat.

They sat around the living room, Emma and Boo laid on the floor playing with toys. Earl eyed the two of them up. They had something to share and they where taking their sweet time about it.

"What brings you by?" Earl asked, his gaze landing on his son.

"Can't we just come by and see ya? I didn't know we needed a reason," Wade smirked, slipping his hand from his lap to rest on Zoe's thigh.

"I may be old but I'm not stupid. What's going on?" He asked, snapping his gaze over to Zoe.

"We're getting married," Zoe told him.

"It's about time. You've had that ring since Christmas."

"Wait! You've really had the ring that long?" Zoe asked, turning her attention on her fiancé.

"Yes. It wasn't right and even then I wasn't ready to take the next step with you. I didn't know if you wanted to get married or not, so there was that. But finally I had enough and here we are a few months later." It wasn't a big deal on how long he had the ring for. Zoe leaned closer kissing his cheek.

"Thank you for not rushing into it," Zoe told him.

"I'm happy for y'all, but I got things that need to get done."

"You kicking us out?" Wade asked. Even his father was acting strange.

"Stay if ya want, but I'm leaving," Earl called over his shoulder, going to his room.

"What the hell?" Wade asked, under his breath. He scooped Emma up and they headed home. This town was getting stranger by the second.


	43. Surprise

**Surprise:**

"Mommy?" Emma asked, crawling into bed laying in Wade's empty spot.

"What sweetie?" Zoe asked, opening an eye to peak at her daughter.

"Nothin'," Emma replied, wiggling her way under the blanket.

"Okay," Zoe replied, seeing her daughter was deep in thought about something.

"Where's Daddy?" She finally asked after a few minutes of silence.

"He's with Pappy Earl and Uncle Jesse," Zoe informed her daughter.

"Oh," Emma sighed, looking down.

"Did you want something?" Zoe asked, with amusement in her voice. Emma shook her head.

"Mommy? We make cookies for Daddy?" She asked, batting her little eyelashes.

"How can I refuse that?" Zoe asked, tossing the blanket to the side.

Emma raced down the stairs going to the kitchen before Zoe made it half way down the stairs. Emma climbed onto a chair while Zoe got the bowls and ingredients out.

Wade walked into the house, wiping sweat from his face. The house seemed to be unusually quiet. He smiled hearing the small giggles from upstairs. He grabbed a cookie looking at the little sign that said for Daddy, with little hearts and flowers colored on the paper.

"What's going on in here?" Wade asked, seeing his little girl sitting in his spot on the bed.

"Sshh," Emma told him, putting a little finger over her mouth. "Mommy's not feeling good."

"Princess why don't you go play and I'll take care of Mommy now." Emma eyed him suspiciously, before bouncing away, Boo right behind her.

"I'm fine really," Zoe protested, watching Wade from the corner of her eye. "Just a little upset stomach, I don't have a fever or anything."

"Huh, you're right, cool as a cucumber," he stated, feeling her forehead.

"I am the doctor!" Wade kissed her nose at her little outburst.

"And I'm the fiancé," he countered back, slipping into bed behind her.

"You act like that holds all the power," she smirked, lifting her head so he could place his arm under her head.

"It really does," he whispered, pressing his lips against her temple, gently caressing her stomach.

"Uh huh. Did you see the cookies your daughter made for you?" Zoe asked, feeling comfortable now that she was in Wade's arms. And could feel sleep start to settle over her.

"I did and they were yummy," he replied, electing a giggle from the women in his arms. Wade laid in the quiet happy to be able to hold Zoe.

Blinking her eyes open, Zoe no longer felt the warmth and safety Wade gave her. The bed was empty and cold. It was only a little after 4 in the afternoon. She felt better now that she had gotten some sleep. Tossing the covers from atop of herself, she went in search of her family. Seeing them in the middle of a staring contest had her laughing just a little. Wade had looked in her direction.

"You lose Daddy, I win!" Emma exclaimed, jumping up from the chair she was sitting in.

"I lost because of your Mom. So it's not fair, and I demand a rematch!" He told her jokingly. Emma rolled her eyes.

"You lost fair and square. Right sweetie?" Zoe asked, moving to sit next to Wade on the couch.

"Yep. I go play with my dolls now?" She asked, desperate to do something else.

"Go, I'll keep him occupied for the time being. But I won't be able to hold him off for long," Zoe told her daughter. Emma stuck her tongue out at Wade, and rushed up to her room filling the halls with laughter.

"You feeling better?" Wade asked, pulling her closer. He couldn't seem to get enough of her lately.

"Much better," Zoe commented, letting her head fall onto his shoulder.

For the next week it kept happening. She start to feel sick at some point during the day but within a few hours or so she would feel fine again. She had a slight suspicion on what was going on, but she was afraid to find out. Not only were things starting to come along perfectly for her with Wade but things were starting to look up at the practice as well with Brick. She was even making leeway with Lemon. She didn't need a wrench to be tossed in to everything she had worked hard to get. But she been thinking about other than what could go wrong, she was starting to feel happy with things working out the other way around as well.

It happened to be a slow afternoon at the practice. She shut her office door sitting back at her desk pulling out the very thing that was going to tell her whether she was taking another path in her already once crazy life or if things were going to continue on the same path things have been going on.

"Hey, what's going on?" Wade asked, busting into her office. Never giving Zoe the chance to actually look at the results.

"Uh, nothing," Zoe told him, suddenly feeling very nervous. She felt like she was keeping something from him.

"Uh, yeah there is. I've known you long enough to know when you're keeping something from me. What is it? And why are you keeping it from me?" He asked, sitting down.

"Since when does it matter?" Zoe bit back, holding her breath. She didn't mean that. The words had slipped from her mouth before she knew they were coming out.

"Since the day I decided to put that ring on your finger and you decided you wanted it their. Why are you being such a bitch?" He asked, his voice never-changing. He sat there perfectly calm. She couldn't figure out why he was being so calm for. Normally he would have flew off the handle at her. Not that she was complaining. The last thing she wanted to do was get into a fight where she worked at.

"Feeling sick to my stomach has been going on all week," she sighed, shutting the top drawer to her desk. "I was just about ready to look at the results that would tell me if my suspicion was correct," she explained softly, avoiding eye contact with him.

"You're pregnant aren't you?" He asked, eying her up. "That would explain a hell of a whole lot." She gave him a shrug.

"Like I just said. I was about to look at the results. But Wade, are we even ready for more kids? Emma has made it clear that she doesn't want any siblings."

"Emma will get over it. It's not up to her, we are the parents. We're ready for whatever the world or anyone has to throw at us." She nodded at Wade's words, not really believing them. Did she really want to be pregnant at her own wedding? She let that thought drift away. "We'll be in this together, Zoe. I'm not going anywhere and I won't let you go either." She gave him a smile. She glanced down, letting the breath she didn't know she holding out.

"Congratulations. We're having another child," Zoe told him, joy and excitement radiating from her. Zoe noticed the small tear that rolled down his cheek, the grin that his lips formed. He was just as or more excited than she was. With one swoop she was pressed against his hard body, his lips firmly on hers, there tongues doing all the talking.


	44. I'm Going Crazy

_**I'm Going Crazy:**_

Wade walked through town square as if he were floating on a cloud. Everything about being able to go through the things he had missed out on, were laying there for him. He was excited and happy, he wasn't nervous that he would screw this child up. He wasn't worried that he wasn't father material. He had learned from Emma that it didn't matter what you did as long as you could make them smile and laugh. He wanted a son to throw the ball around with in the back yard, working on cars filled his mind, but to have another daughter, it wouldn't be the bad. He wouldn't mind having another little girl. But then again as long as his new baby was healthy, it be okay. That's what truly matters, their baby being healthy.

"What has you so unlike your normal self?" George asked, seeing his friend out earlier than need be.

"Life is wonderful, my friend," Wade smiled. "What are you doing out so early? You got a huge case or something?" George shook his head.

"Nah, I wish. I just needed a moment to clear my head. I don't know if I want to marry Lemon," he confessed.

"Do you love her?" Wade asked, stuffing his hands in pockets. He had never been good with this kind of stuff. What did an old player like himself know about love? If love wouldn't have whacked him the face when Zoe and Emma came to town, he would still be trying to figure it out.

George shrugged his shoulders, not sure how to answer that one simple question. Ever since they were kids, they were the best of friends. He never thought anything by being friends with a girl. As they got older his feelings changed for Lemon. He thought he loved her, but did he love her because he tricked himself into feeling like that? "There's so many emotions there, not only from now, but from the past as well. I just don't know where my heart stands. Why do you think, the wedding keeps getting put off? I love Lemon, but I think apart of me is always going to love her."

"I wish I could help you, but I don't know what to say. You need to figure it out, fast, buddy," Wade told him, giving him a sympathetic look, going on his way. He did have a job to with up hold even if he was hours early for his morning shift. But he couldn't sleep, and he couldn't stay in bed any longer. He needed to be out. He had left Zoe a note telling her, that he had headed to work early.

"You're the last person I had expected to show up here this early, Wade," Wally joked, unlocking the Rammer Jammer. "What brings you by?"

"Couldn't sleep, figured I'd come in early and see if you needed any help," he shrugged, like it was no big deal for him.

"I can always use help. One day, you might make a fine owner yourself." He hoped he could own a bar himself one day, but every cent that was coming in, he needed it right now. One kid wasn't cheap, plus with another on the way, it was going to be quite expensive since they had to buy everything for their second child. But he didn't mind, he would spend every cent in his pocket to keep a place over his kids heads and clothes on their backs along with full tummies.

"Thanks for that Wally," Wade told him, getting straight to work getting the Rammer Jammer in running order for breakfast.

Zoe woke up feeling the cold from where Wade's body had been pressed against her. She groaned opening her eyes, the sun was shinning into her room peaking through the blinds. She laid a hand on her stomach, a smile come out. They still had to tell Emma the news, but she wanted to tell Emma when Wade was around. Seeing that it was after 10 in the morning Zoe made her way through the house. She frowned finding Emma's room empty. She continued through the house. Coming to the bottom of the stairs she heard the low murmur of the TV. Peeking into the living room, Zoe found her daughter watching cartoons eating a pop tart.

"Morning, peanut," Zoe told her, sitting down next to her. "Why didn't you come wake Mommy?" She asked, earning her daughter's attention. She shrugged.

"I fine Mommy," she gave as her excuse, turning back to the TV, not wanting to miss any more than she already had. Zoe smiled enjoying the time she had with Emma. It wasn't going to be much longer and it wouldn't be this easy for them to spend time together. She really did hope that Emma wouldn't throw to big of a deal about finding out the news that she was going to be a big sister. She would have loved to have a sibling growing up, but she knew how lonely being an old child could be.

The day had been a fun one. The hours had seemed to tick by them without warning. Emma had even talked Zoe into making fudge brownies, that was the only time they had left the house to find a store-bought mix.

"You guys keep baking things, I'm gonna end up fat," Wade joked, smelling the sweet aroma of fudge brownies the second he walked through the door.

"That otay daddy," Emma giggled, running to him for a hug.

"I missed seeing you guys for lunch," he commented, kissing Zoe quickly.

"We decided to have a mother/daughter day before it gets to hard to do so," Zoe explained. "We need to tell her, before she finds out from someone in town." Emma was now busy playing with her brownie. It was after all a car with the bites she had taken out of it.

"Princess, we need to tell you something," Wade mentioned, gaining his daughter's attention.

"What Daddy?" She asked, sweetly.

"Remember when I asked you if you wanted a baby brother or sister?" Wade asked, earning a nodded from Emma.

"In a few months you're gonna have a baby brother or a baby sister, we just don't know which one yet."

"Otay," Emma nodded. "I go play now?" She asked.

"Sure thing, sweetie." Emma ran off leaving Wade and Zoe alone.

"I really thought she was going to throw a fit," Wade commented, helping Zoe clean up the mess.

"I don't think she quite really grasps the whole concept as of yet. Just because she threw a fit the first time really means nothing, I guess," Zoe sighed, wiping the table off.

"Maybe," Wade shrugged, grabbing a brownie and sitting at the table. "I don't understand how her mind works." Zoe smiled, sitting down next to him. "You feeling ok?" He asked, reaching over to rub her stomach. She placed her hand on top of his.

"I'm good, better now that you're home," she smiled, earning a chuckle from him.

"You're crazy, Zo."

"Not as crazy as you are," she challenged, sticking her tongue out at him.

"I think I am going crazy," he commented, taking a bite of his brownie. Zoe rolled her eyes. It was crazy in a good way though.


	45. Jesse to the Rescue

**Jesse to the Rescue:**

"I not sharing my room or toys wif baby," Emma told her parents over dinner. "Or Boo."

"That's fine princess, the baby will have a room of its own along with toys. The baby wouldn't be able to play with your toys anyway," Wade told her calmly. "Boo is your dog. You don't have to share her, if you don't want too."

"I not share my Daddy or my Mommy either," she told them with a little huff. For the last week she had used everything under the sun to keep from the baby and she had run out of things to keep away.

"Emma, sweetie. You can't do that. We're still going to love you and spend time with you. This baby isn't going to change that, ever. The baby is going to need Mommy, Daddy and a big sister to help teach him or her things," Zoe explained softly.

"We would never replace you princess, that's not even possible. You'll like being a big sister, you'll see." Emma shook her head at her father's words. She didn't want to be a big sister, or share her parents. They were her's first. She ran from the table going straight to her room.

"Maybe Jesse can help. He'll know more about this than either one of us," Zoe suggested.

"I'll call him," Wade sighed, pushing his chair from the table.

"I know this is hard on you, but sometimes we do need help and it's okay to ask, doesn't mean anything, no one will think less of you for it." Wade nodded and walked off to call his brother. He really didn't want to ask Jesse for help but what did he know about being the big brother? He was making this call for his daughter.

"It's not very often that my little brother asks for a favor this big," Jesse joked, hearing the discomfort in Wade's voice upon asking him something this small too him but huge for Wade.

"Will you do it or not?" Wade sighed into the phone, losing even more self-respect over this whole ordeal. He was Emma's father, not Jesse. He was supposed to be the man who Emma came to, to fix her problems and he hated that he couldn't fix this problem.

"I've got a few days off, I'll be there tomorrow night. And Wade?"

"Yeah?"

"This doesn't make you a failure. This doesn't change who you are to Emma. To her, you are still her hero, the man who will always be there for her, no questions asked."

"Thanks, Jesse. You don't know how much I needed to hear that and how weird it sounded coming from you."

"I think I do," Jesse chuckled, bidding his brother goodbye.

It was hard to think of Jesse as anything other than a pain. Most his life he couldn't stand his brother for abandoning him when he needed him the most. But after everything it was good to have his brother back in his life. To let all that resentment go. This was the right thing to do after all.

"You okay?" Zoe asked, stepping into the room.

"Yeah, thanks to Jesse. I guess sometimes it's nice to have an older brother." Zoe smiled, sitting on his lap.

"That I wouldn't know anything about. Once she sees how nice it is to have a sibling, she'll be happy that she has someone to cover for her, keep secrets from their parents."

"Oh my soon to be wife, you are forgetting the many fights, arguments and all the hate that they will have for each other. That much I do know."

"But it'll be worth it, right?" Zoe asked, tracing asking his jaw line.

"I really don't know. I guess we have to wait and see." Zoe smiled, letting her lips land on his.

Emma had been on her best behavior the following day. She made no ill tempted threats to keep her little brother or little sister from anything. She didn't even mention anything about the baby that was growing inside her mother's stomach. Wade and Zoe left well enough alone. Jesse would there soon and they really did hope that Jesse could help Emma come to terms with being an older sister. Because after Jesse, they didn't know what else to do.

"Who called for uncle Jesse?" He asked, dropping his bag on the floor.

"Jesse!" Emma giggled, getting up from the floor to jump on him.

"I missed you kiddo."

"I miss you," she replied hugging him tightly.

"Why don't we go for a walk, peanut. Just the two of us," Jesse suggested. Emma nodded, holding onto his much bigger hand. She even told Boo to stay. "Your Dad tells me that you don't want to be a big sister. Why's that?" Jesse asked. Emma in return gave him a shrug. "You know when I was told I was going to be a big brother, I didn't like the idea of it either."

"Why?" She asked, looking up at him.

"I didn't want to share my toys or my room. I didn't want my parents to love Wade more than they would love me." Emma nodded, looking down.

"Did they?"

"No, they loved us the same. At first it seemed like they loved your Daddy more than they did me. But babies can't do much of anything on their own. They need help from the ones who love him or her. I tried to sell your Daddy to everyone in town, but it never worked. And when he got older, I realized that I had someone to blame when I did something wrong. I had someone who would cover for me, if I needed it. Not only did I get an annoying little brother, but I got a best friend. Someone to build forts with, to play games with. Someone that I..." he couldn't say anymore. He had let Wade down, and that hurt more than anything else could. His one job was to protect his little brother and he failed. He couldn't make that up, not now. The most he could was make amends for all of it. And he was trying. But it still sat in the fore front of his mind.

"That you what?" Emma asked with big brown eyes.

"Someone that I grew to love. Emma it may seem like this baby is taking all your parents love and attention, but they will always love you. The baby can't take the love they have for you away. Having a little brother or sister, is going to be a lot of fun for you. This baby will look up to you, because you will be the big sister." Emma nodded, hugging Jesse.

"Everything okay?" Zoe asked, once they returned back to the house.

"I sorry," Emma told them.

"It's ok Princess," Wade assured her with a kiss to the top of her head.

"Thank you, Jesse," Zoe told him.

"It's nothing really. It's the least I could do," he explained looking at Wade. "I have a lot to make up for with him. It's time I start acting like the brother he needs in his life now. I failed him when we younger, and I can't let that happen again," Jesse replied with a sigh. Zoe nodded, letting him go outside.

"Where'd Jesse go?" Wade asked looking up to see his brother had left.

"Outside. Emma why don't we go find something to cook for lunch." Emma nodded and raced off to the kitchen with Zoe.

"Hey, what's going on?" Wade asked, joining his brother on the front steps.

"A lot. This whole ordeal with Emma got me to thinking how crappy of a brother I was to you. I failed you Wade. You had every right to hate me for the rest of your life." Wade shook his head.

"You didn't fail me, even if it does seem like that Jesse. You had the chance to leave, it was hard to stay in this town and deal with Mom's death and the crazy townspeople. I wanted to leave, I just couldn't at the time. The only thing keeping me here was Dad. Which you didn't exactly help with over the years, but your heart was in the right place when it came to him. I just wish you would have told me you were leaving and made me see that I wasn't the reason you were leaving. Made me see the bigger picture," Wade explained. He never expected to actually forgive Jesse for what he had done, but he was tired of not having his brother around. Tired of holding onto some stupid grudge.

"I still feel like I had let you down. I didn't care about anything but me. Mom was gone and I didn't know how to cope, so I did the one thing I knew that would get me away from here, that would keep me from thinking about the people I had just left behind, because I couldn't cope with Mom's death. I am sorry for that, and I will make it up to you. However I can."

"NO!" Wade yelled, startling himself and Jesse. "I don't want you to make up for anything. You did what you had to do. I wasn't strong enough to leave, like you were. As far as I'm concerned, you have nothing to make up for."

"No, Wade. That's where you're wrong. You are stronger than I could ever be. I left like a coward, you stayed and held what was left of our broken family together. Can't you see that?" Jesse asked, rubbing his face.

"Either way, and whatever way we look at the situation now, we're in this together, because blood is stronger than anything else. Mom would want us to stop fighting about something that happened years ago that we couldn't control. Mom would want her son's to get along and be the family she wanted us to have. She would want us to grow up and be the men she knew we could be," Wade told him.

They sat in complete and utter silence listening to wilderness around them. Everything somehow felt right.


	46. We're Having A Baby

**We're Having A...Baby:**

"I can't get over that," Wade announced astonished, as he listened to his baby's heartbeat for the millionth time. The second he heard the rapid heartbeat he was hooked and he couldn't get enough. Zoe giggled feeling his lips against her belly.

"It's fine for now, but you do have 4 more months to get over it." At five months pregnant the town still didn't know. Her belly was still small enough to hide, but it was a matter of time before people would figure it out.

Over the last few months Emma had started to get excited about having a baby sibling. The talk with Jesse had helped. She was itching to tell someone and she couldn't help if it slipped from her mouth. She was only 4 secrets were hard to keep.

Wade and Jesse had grown closer as well. Things had been worked out between them and they were slowly building the bridge that they needed to built for them to be as close as they once were as kids.

"I still don't understand why we had to wait an hour to go get our daughter," Wade commented, sitting up in the bed, his fingers tracing invisible lines over Zoe's stomach.

"They were in the middle of a movie and a game." Zoe wasn't going to ruin the fun her daughter was having with Lavon. It was actually nice to have a little downtime with Wade. It was going to be quite sometime before they would be able to find time alone like this again after their child was born. It was going to be hard enough to have time for Emma and the baby, by the time they could get an hour in for themselves they were going to be far to exhausted for anything else. But it was going to be worth it.

Wade was already trying to figure out when the best time was to talk his dad into keeping both kids for the weekend after the baby was born. He just didn't know when he was going to be able to spend more than a few hours away. He wanted to experience every thing that he possibly could. But he knew that he was going to have to find time for him to be with Zoe with no kids around.

"We should go get our little girl before they think we ran out on her," Wade commented, making no move to get out of bed. Zoe sat up, shaking her head.

"You coming or what?" Zoe asked, pushing herself up to her feet.

"I'm coming," Wade responded, getting up to follow behind Zoe. Once outside he let his hand slip into her's.

It was a nice little walk from the carriage house to main house. The closer they got the more things seemed to be off. Standing by the kitchen door, they couldn't hear a single noise coming from inside. The TV wasn't on or a radio. They couldn't hear Emma or Lavon. It was hard enough to have Emma quiet down at bedtime. It was near impossible during the day.

"Maybe they're not here. They could have went for a walk or something," Wade suggested, turning to leave.

"Yeah, maybe," Zoe commented with a frown. It was Boo's barking that had them stopping. "Or maybe they're playing a game of hide and seek." Zoe followed by Wade headed back to the door.

"SURPRISE!" Was being shouted the second they had entered Lavon's house.

"What's going on?" Zoe asked looking over the faces that had popped up from everywhere.

"Keep in mind that she's only 4," Lavon said somewhat nervously, approaching them. "She was telling me about how Jesse had to come talk to her and she let it slip that she was going to be a big sister."

"You have no reason to worry, she couldn't help it," Wade said, picking his little princess up. "It's not your fault, princess."

"Actually, it was getting harder to keep from spilling myself, and getting harder to hide the baby bump I do have," Zoe said, turning to look at Wade. "It's nice to actually have the news out there. She did a good thing for us. We should have told everyone sooner."

"Yea, maybe we should have. I just wanted to have something for us," Wade sighed.

"Me too, but it's time, thanks for all of this Lavon."

"Yea, thanks man."

Lavon's house had been transformed into a baby shower. Baby games were scattered around the house. Pink and blue balloons, streamers, baby pins were everywhere in sight. Two cakes sat on the counter, a pink one and a blue one. Gifts were piled up in the corner. Food and drinks were everywhere. There friends had went out of their way to give them something special. But not only were they baby things, there was engagement items spread throughout the house as well. In between the two baby cakes there was a small 3 layer white wedding cake. Mixed in with the presents wrapped for the baby, there were presents in fancy wedding paper. They hadn't forgotten after all. The baby had just thrown a wrench into their plans all along.

"You all have went above and behind to do this for us. What is this party for exactly?" Zoe asked, brushing a stray tear of joy from her eye.

"It's a duel party. A baby shower and an engagement party," Lemon confessed, stepping forward. "By the time we had the engagement party all sorted out and planed, Emma had told Lavon about the new baby, so we added in a baby shower as well. That way you two wouldn't get suspicious of another party."

"The whole town knew?" Wade asked, looking around spotting his dad in the back.

"Yeah," AB spoke up. "They've all been informed and they've all had a small part in making this party happen."

"Thank you guys. All of you really, this means... thank you," Wade told them, afraid that if he told them how much all of this meant to him that he would end up a pile of mush and no one in Bluebell would let him live that down.

"We have cake and play games and open presents now?" Emma asked, looking at her dad with big brown eyes filled with love and joy. The room had burst out into laughter.

"Let's have some cake," Wade told her.

It didn't take long for the house to fill with chatter. Zoe and Wade were still in awe about the whole thing. For them to do something like this for them, was amazing. It showed Zoe that Bluebell had taken her and Emma in. They were no longer the outsiders from New York, but they were one of them, a Bluebellian.

"The question we all want to know, is it a boy or is it a girl?" Dash asked ready with his tape recorder. Wade and Zoe shared a look.

"We're having a," Wade told them with a smirk on his face giving Zoe a nod.

"Baby," Zoe told them with a smile of her own, her hand rubbing over her tummy. They had made the decision to wait until their baby was born to find out the sex. They wanted to be surprised.

* * *

**Boy or girl? I already know which one it is, I'm still working on the name, though. So if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. This story is coming to an end within the next few chapters. How many of you are interested in a sequel? I have an idea for that already worked out.**


	47. Sparkles

**Sparkles:**

"Mommy," Emma asked, crawling next to her Mom on the couch. Wade, Jesse and Earl were upstairs working on the nursery. He wasn't letting Zoe have any input on it. He wasn't even going to let Zoe see the room until their baby was here. He had missed out on all of this with Emma, this was his chance at redemption. Zoe didn't mind, it was one less stressful thing for her to worry about. She was going to let him do this because he deserved to go overboard.

"What sweetie?" Zoe asked, placing her book down. She smiled feeling her daughter's hand on her stomach.

"I name the baby?" She asked, slightly sticking her bottom lip out to pout.

"What do you have in mind?" Zoe asked, curious to know.

"Sparkles." It took Zoe everything she had not to laugh.

"Honey, that's a name for a pet, not a baby. But thank you for the idea. Do you have any other names?" Zoe asked, wanting to keep Emma in the process of naming the baby.

"What about Autumn, Chloe, Abby or Polly?" She asked.

"They're all good names, sweetie. I'll have to talk to Daddy and see what name he likes, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy," she replied, jumping from the couch, running to go play with Boo. Zoe smiled going back to her book. She did like one of the names that Emma had picked out.

"How's the nursery coming?" Zoe asked, seeing the three men come downstairs.

"We have to wait for the paint to dry," Wade commented, walking to the kitchen. "How's your day off going?" He yelled from the other room.

"Good, Emma wants to name the baby Sparkles."

"Are baby is not going to be a stripper," Wade commented, appalled at the idea.

"After the age of 18 there it's nothing we can do about that. You're forgetting that the baby might be a boy."

"I'm not forgetting anything. I just know it's going to be a girl. I want a boy, but I don't mind having another girl," he shrugged, walking into the living room. "What do you guys think?"

"A grand baby is a grand baby, whatever way you look at it. They'll be spoiled rotten," Earl commented. "I'm not getting into this Towns whole pick a sex of Wade and Zoe's baby. I'm neutral." Everyone that thought they were having a girl wore pink bows and the ones that thought it was a boy wore blue bows. The winners got 50 dollars cash. As much as it annoyed them, they kept quiet about it. They were going to let the town have their fun. It was better that they knew then it being done behind their backs.

"I'm with Dad here. Whether it's a niece or a nephew, I get to get them hyped up on sugar and give 'em back. I'm going to be the coolest uncle," Jesse smirked.

"The only uncle, dumb ass," Wade replied with a smirk.

"Hey now, little ears are present," Zoe butted in before Jesse could name call Wade.

"Sorry peanut," Wade whispered, rubbing Zoe's stomach. He still couldn't get over everything. He didn't like the late cravings, he hated that there was very little for him to do when she got sick. But there was plenty to be happy about. Wade kissed her stomach. "What?" He asked Jesse, who was looking at him amused.

"I've never seen this side to you. It's weird. Especially after everything we went through as kids. But don't get me wrong, I may have never saw you as a family man back then, but now, I can't see you as anything else. It suits you, even completes you." He meant every weird of it. His little brother was a changed man, for the better. Whether it was because of Zoe, Emma or this new baby, he was a different Wade, a better version of himself. He was a person that Jesse was proud to call his brother.

"How do I take that wrong?" Wade asked, a serious look on his face. "I don't have the best track record with women, Zoe knows that, but I've done plenty to prove that I can be a family man, that I want to have a family. I didn't know what it was I missing out on until Zoe and Emma came crashing into my life." It wasn't as if he had to explain himself and his actions. Before Zoe, he didn't care about love or a family. They had showed him what he was missing. That void he had, that he kept trying to fix, he couldn't fill the void alone, it took someone special. He didn't want to feel empty ever again. As long as he had Zoe, Emma and the new baby, he was going to feel complete.

"Wade, you've already proven to me, that you're in this forever. It took me sometime to see that, but I do. And I love you for being you. You changed on your own, no one made you do that. But you did it and you're a better person for it." She was proud of him. It took sometime to really warm up to the fact that he had changed, but he had.

"I'm proud of both of my boys," Earl spoke with a genuine smile on his face.

"We're proud of you too Pops," Jesse told him.

"We are. You've over came a sickness. It's not easy but you did it." It wasn't often that Wade would praise his father. But it was true, he was very proud of his father.

"So Jesse it's a good name to give your kid," Jesse announced breaking the silence that started to settle in.

"We're not naming our kid after you," Wade told him. "You can go have your own kids if you want a kid to be named after you. Besides, I already have the boy's name picked out."

"Don't ask, he won't tell you. I don't even know. He gave me a list of names and asked what ones I liked. So I don't know the name. We're working on a girl's name. He gets the final say." She didn't mind, it was fair, if you thought about it. She had named Emma. She was getting input on the name, Wade was just making the final choice in the matter. "Emma also gave the names, Autumn, Abby, Chloe and Polly." Hearing the list of those names had gave him the perfect name for a daughter.

"She gave me the names Faith, Rose, Grace and Belle." Zoe smiled hearing those names. The name came so easily to her. She just had to wonder if Wade was thinking the same thing, she was.


	48. Wedding Stress

**Wedding Stress:**

Zoe sighed, tossing the phone across the bedroom, making Wade step back so he didn't get smacked with it, entering the room. The last few days had been like this for her. Every time something would pop up with the wedding, it would send Zoe into a fit of stress that would leave her a crying mess. He didn't know anything about the wedding so it wasn't as if he could take over and deal with the final touches. Input that's the most he wanted when it came to the wedding. He had helped Zoe pick things out, but he wanted her to have her dream wedding. He didn't want to ruin anything and be at blame for things not being done the way she wanted them to be. No it was safer to let her do things her way and have her ask him when he needed to have an opinion on something.

"Elope! Why couldn't we have done that? It would have been easier," Zoe huffed, closing her eyes, wanting the wedding to be over with, or for it be canceled. Though if it was canceled it would be more hurtful than anything else. She wanted to marry Wade, she really did, but the final little touches were driving her nuts.

"What happened now?" Wade asked calmly, pulling his fiancé to him. He had gotten better at the whole cheering her up thing. It came natural to him now.

"An hour ago, it was about the cake, now it has to do with the flowers. There was a mess up somewhere and instead of getting the white rose's with pink tips, the tips are green color. How do you mix up pink and green? They're not even close to the same color!"

"Zo, doesn't it really matter what color the flowers are? At the end of the day this is about us becoming one. The little details along the way, they don't matter, not really." Zoe sighed, letting her head finally rest against his chest, the steady beating of his heart calming her down. Wade was right. She couldn't stop the little things from happening. She had to embrace them and keep moving forward. In two days they would be married and their family would be whole. Not that they needed rings or a piece of paper to tell them that, but it was going to be better that way. It had to be. So what they were going to have green tipped rose's instead of pink tipped ones. As long as she would be able to walk down the aisle and have Wade standing there, then everything was going to be perfect.

"Must you always be right?" Zoe asked in a joking tone.

"Not my fault that I can never be wrong," Wade smirked, kissing the top of her head.

"MOMMY!" Was being shouted through a cry of pain. Wade and Zoe both jumped up from bed hearing Emma in pain. Wade had beat Zoe to Emma. She sat on the floor holding her arm. Wade held his daughter close, letting Zoe look her daughter's arm over. "It hurt, momma," Emma winced through the tears that were coming in a steady stream. Zoe sighed, looking at both Emma and Wade.

"It's broken," Zoe informed them. Wade nodded getting up with Emma in his arms. Zoe was trying to stay calm. But that was hard to do. This was the first time that Emma had ever broke a bone. Emma was scared and in pain. Wade was able to get her into her seat and buckled up, but Emma wouldn't let him leave her side, leaving Zoe to drive them to the practice. Wade's mind was racing, but he was relatively calm. He had suffered through his fair share of broken bones growing up. He knew what she was going through and she'd be fine once the pain in her arm went down.

"What's going on?" Brick asked, ready to close the practice for the night. Zoe explained that Emma had broken her arm. She didn't have the story on how it happened, though.

"I have the perfect cast for you, Emma," Brick told her, leading the family back to the room. Emma still wouldn't let Wade go. Brick got to work. Zoe found it hard to keep her mouth shut. She trusted Brick, what was her reason not to trust him?

By the time the purple cast with glitter was on her left arm, she was all smiles. She still wouldn't share what happened though. She had let Wade go, her eyes never leaving the cast that took up her arm. They thanked Brick and headed home to have some ice cream before bed.

"I tripped over Boo," Emma told them, melted ice cream smothered all over her face and fingers. Zoe nodded, making sense of it all. She had just landed wrong.

"Is your arm okay now?" Wade asked getting a rag to clean his sticky mess of a daughter up.

"Uh huh," she nodded. "I still be flower girl?" She asked, tears in her eyes ready to spill over.

"Of course sweetie. We wouldn't replace you because of your broken arm," Zoe assured her.

"Kay," Emma nodded, going with Wade, to get ready for bed.

Zoe got busy getting the mess from the ice cream cleaned up. She smiled, leaning back into Wade's embrace, feeling his arms circle around her stomach. The baby started to kick. A smile instantly spread across Wade's face.

"I can't get enough of that," he whispered, kissing her shoulder. To feel his child inside Zoe, was incredible and it was something he had never experienced before. He had thought listening to the baby's heartbeat was amazing that wasn't even close to feeling his son or daughter.

Zoe smiled, finding amusement when it came to the baby and Wade. He had missed out on so much with Emma he was taking every chance he could with this baby. It had made her wonder just how much of a father he would have been if he was around for her pregnancy with Emma. Would he have stepped up and been this amazing and incredible father he is now? Or would he had left? He was different back then, yet so was she, but she wasn't allowed to run away like Wade could have done. She didn't want to think that he would have up and left her, if he was around back then. But she didn't know. "Everything okay?" Wade whispered, sensing something was off with his fiancé.

"Yeah," Zoe replied, turning to kiss his cheek. How he was back then didn't matter now. She couldn't go back in time and change things. They were together now, that's what counted. He was an amazing father and that wasn't something that was going to change. She was lucky to have him in her life. "I love you," she whispered.

"Good thing," he replied, slipping his hands under her shirt to caress her stomach. "Because I love you."


	49. I Do With A Side Of Baby

**I Do With A Side Of Baby:**

The day she was waiting for, was finally here. Ethan was her father in every way to Zoe. She had called him numerous times only to be met with his voicemail. It was like their talk never happened. Zoe was fine walking down the aisle alone, she was fine without having the father/daughter dance, even if that was a lie. Her Mom had made it and that made Zoe just a little uneasy. She was trying to stay relaxed and the kicking that was going on inside her body was a good indication that baby was happy and oddly enough that settled Zoe's nerves. Lemon, Annabeth, Rose and her Mom along with Emma were getting ready for the ceremony that was only 2 hours away.

Across town Wade was freaking out. Because of tradition Wade was forced to stay the night at his old childhood home with his father and his brother. He had made Zoe promise to call if anything happened with the baby. What he wasn't expecting was for Tansy to show up, wanting him back. He had almost made a huge mistake in marrying her, but he skipped out of town leaving her high and dry while he had the best night off his life in New York with Zoe.

_"Tansy, you gotta go," Wade informed her, directing the blonde back to her car._

_"Wade you know you love me. You're scared of commitment. That's why you ran. But we can work this out, I know we can," she pleaded, grabbing his shirt, pulling the buttons from their holes. Wade grabbed her hands, pulling them free._

_"I'm getting married tomorrow, Tanz. I'm marrying the woman I love with not only with my heart but my soul," he told her trying to let her down easy. The last thing he wanted to do was make her cry._

_"That's a lie, Wade. We're meant for each other. You're marrying Zoe because she's the father of your children. That's the only connection you have with her." That alone made Wade pissed. Under Zoe's hard exterior there was a sweet, caring and very compassionate person. His love for Zoe had nothing to do with Emma our the new baby. He had felt something earth shattering the first night they spent together in his overtly priced hotel room._

_"Wait just a damn minute. Tansy I love Zoe, she's the woman I need." Why she wanted to be with him, he didn't understand. He was a redneck bartender, that was never mounted to be anyone special. He wasn't going to question it, he knew how he felt about her and knew she was just as crazy for him. "I was young, stupid and drunk when I suggested we run off and get married. The second I came to my senses I took off never looking back at what I just left. You're nothing to me Tansy, except a bad memory." He hated that he had to be this harsh on her, but she had to know._

_"I won't believe that," she retorted, pulling him, her lips on his in a heartbeat. Wade was quick to push her away. "I don't believe that. We have so much to offer the world, together."_

_"For the last time, I don't love you, I never have and I never will. Go find someone that's your everything. Because that's not me." He had enough. He fixed his shirt walking back to the house. "I don't want to hear it. That woman is nuts," he told his dad and brother going to his old childhood room._

A smile graced his lips seeing his daughters stuff fill his room. Hello kitty sheets and blankets covered his bed. His suit spread out on top of the blanket. He'd be insane to walk away from the best thing to ever happen to him. Tansy was nothing but a drunken mistake. He was more than happy with Zoe. They were unstoppable together.

Wade blinked a tear away seeing his little girl toss the flower petals in the air giving a little twirl. When she did reach the end, Wade gave her a hug and a kiss whispering I love you in her ear. Emma kissed his cheek going to sit with Pappy Earl. Jesse stood next to him as his best man. Lavon was next followed by George and Meatball.

As the seconds ticked by Zoe became more nervous. She watched Amelia, Lemon, Annabeth and Rose who was her maid of honor, walk down the aisle. She took a deep breath when it was her time to walk, without her father.

"I was hoping, I wouldn't be late." Zoe smiled, looping her arm through Ethan's. He had made it after all. And it made this day that much better for her.

Wade started to get nervous when the music started to play and Zoe wasn't coming down the aisle. He really thought that Tansy had gotten to Zoe. But before he could get to worked up Zoe appeared. She was breath-taking. He locked his eyes with hers seeing nothing but love shining back at him, his own eyes mirroring that love. She was completely beautiful in his eye, the big belly and everything.

"Wade, your vows," Zoe giggled, catching Wade off guard.

"Hey, not my fault you're so damn beautiful," Wade smirked, causing Zoe to blush a deep shade of red. "Zoe, I never planned on falling in love or having a family, and as corny as it sounds, you changed that for me. You and Emma. Many people would say that what we did was a mistake years ago, but that was no mistake. That was just the first step in getting us here. I'm not just in love with you because you're the mother of my kids, but you care about everyone that's close to you and you nurture, you push me to be better everyday because you want the best for everyone. You're there to comfort over the stupidest things. Let's not forget about your love of football, or that now I'm going to be married to the sexiest doctor in the world," he winked, causing Zoe to lightly roll her eyes at him. "I love you for all the right reasons, but I do love you for all the wrong reasons, that will be discussed in private in our room," he smirked, stepping back to look her over once more, dusting her cheeks a pink color. "I'm ready to start this next part of my life with you. Zoe Hart, I couldn't imagine growing old with anyone else. I love you deeply and truly."

"Wade Kinsella, you ruined my life. That's what I thought for a few months, but it was a blessing. It changed my life for the better. I wouldn't want to be standing up here with just anyone, because you're my everything. You push me to be better, you complete me, Wade. You're a sweet and caring, good guy under your bad guy reputation. You can be easily broken like the rest of us. That's what I love the most, Wade. Growing old with you was never questioned, because it was going to happen no questions asked. I wanted to find my happily every after, I sure was lucky when we were brought together in that little bar in New York." Zoe winched feeling a pain shoot through her, she placed a hand on her stomach, gently rubbing. "Baby wants a say," Zoe joked, feeling the pain subside. "With my whole heart, with my soul, I'll forever be yours. Wade, I don't know what the future holds for us together or separately, but I do know together we will be able to over come it all. I can't wait to start our lives as one. We are going to fight, that can't be avoided, but we'll always be able to work it out and make up and be stronger than we ever were. With you be my side I know we'll be just fine, that we'll always be protected and I'll always feel safe. I love you whole heartily."

Wade smiled reaching to wipe a few tears from Zoe's eye. The emotions of this day were slowly getting to him, he couldn't imagine the jumbled mess of emotions surging through Zoe.

"Emma has something she would like to say." Emma walked up to her parents, holding their hands.

"Mommy, you've showed me it's okay to let people see you need help every now and again. You've always been my hero, I love you," Emma said looking at her Mom. Zoe smiled, squeezing her daughter's hand. "Daddy," Emma said looking at Wade. "I'm happy you're in my life, you're my hero too, I love you," she told him, finishing what she wanted to say. Wade picked Emma up kissing her cheek.

"We love you to, princess," Wade told her.

"Very much," Zoe added on, leaning in to kiss her daughter's cheek.

"The rings, please?"

"I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my wife on this day and forevermore," Wade spoke, placing the ring on Zoe's finger, next to his mother's ring. Zoe smiled, shedding yet another tear.

"I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my husband on this day and forevermore," Zoe told him, slipping the ring on his finger.

"I, Zoe Hart take you, Wade Kinsella, to be my husband, secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this special day, I affirm to you in the presence of God and these witnesses my sacred promise to stay by your side as your faithful wife, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad. I further promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

"I, Wade Kinsella, take you, Zoe Hart, to be my wife, knowing in my heart that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this special day, I affirm to you in the presence of God and these witnesses my sacred promise to stay by your side as your faithful husband, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad. I further promise to love you without reservation, honor and respect you, provide for your needs as best I can, protect you from harm, comfort you in times of distress, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

"By the state of Alabama, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." Wade wasted no time in pulling Zoe close, their lips sealing the promises they had made each other. "I give to you Mr. and Mrs. Wade Kinsella."

"I give you, our second child," Zoe told Wade through clenched teeth. Wade's eyes bugged out of his head. His only concerns now was getting Zoe to the hospital and making sure that Emma would be fine. It was still two Weeks before the due date. Even though the doctor had assured him the baby would be fine if he or she came early, he couldn't help but freak out just a tad.


	50. MOTY

**MOTY:**

_Bluebellians it's that time of year again. When we find out who the Man Of The Year is. Last year we saw George Tucker surpass Brick Breeland. Will someone upset Brick this year? Or is it Brick's year?_

_Dash._

"I don't see the point in trying to make everyone in town like you. To win some stupid trophy." Zoe knew how hollow those words sounded coming from her husband. For him to win that trophy would show this whole town just how much he had really changed. In the last year.

"Wade," Zoe told him softly, getting his attention.

"Don't say it, Zo. That award, yeah sure it would be great to have. But I don't need a trophy to tell me how much of a man I've been for the past year. I know how much I've changed my life around. I have everything I need at home." Zoe smiled, leaning across the counter to kiss her husband.

"Do you know that I love you?" Zoe asked in giggles, her lips brushing against his.

"Do you know that I love you?" He asked firmly planting a kiss on her lips.

"I think I might," Zoe told him, pulling away from him.

"I think so too," he replied, stepping around the counter to pull his sleeping 5 month old daughter from her stroller, planting a kiss on her head. "Daddy loves his little angel Autumn." Hearing her dad's voice Autumn smiled, letting a little giggle out.

"She loves Daddy too. But we have to go get Emma from school. Tell Daddy you'll see him at home." Wade kissed his little girl, pacing her back in her stroller earning a few tears. Making his kids cry was never his intention but when they cried because they wanted him, it made him feel special, he felt loved, it felt pretty amazing to know just how much they loved him. To know that he wasn't a mess up or a screw up, that was incredible in its self. He was an amazing father and a pretty satisfied husband. Not to mention how much love he has for Zoe and that he only treated her with admiration and respect, outside the bedroom, that was. This was his life now, father and husband. He wouldn't trade them in for anything.

Zoe kissed his cheek, heading off to get Emma from school. She had class every Tuesday and Friday, 9 until 3. When she had moved to Bluebell a little over a year now, she wasn't looking for love, a family or a husband, but she had got just that. She had met Vivian a few times in the past few months.

_"Zoe, I think you should give them a chance. They are your family, Emma's family. She has cousins, aunts, uncles, you can't take that away from her." Zoe tossed the invitation side, turning to look at her husband in bed._

_"What if they don't like me, or Emma?" Zoe asked, biting her bottom lip._

_"Nonsense, they're going to love you. Zo, if you're so worried about it, just call Vivian and hang out with her and Harley. You, Emma, Autumn, Vivian and Harley." Zoe quickly kissed him, moving to call Vivian._

_They had set up a time for Vivian and Harley to come over. Vivian didn't want to make Zoe go through any unnecessary stuff with a 3 month old baby._

_They had hit it off easily becoming friends rather than family._

"Mommy, look what I made for Daddy," Emma beamed, showing Zoe the white paper folded in half. On the front was a pink heart with the word Daddy wrote in it. Inside was a picture of all of them together, with the word love wrote on the top.

"Daddy is going to love this, sweetie." At first it had hurt Zoe that Emma no longer made her things, but Zoe grew to love that Emma was showing Wade just how much he was loved.

"You think so?" Emma asked, giving her baby sister a kiss on the cheek. Autumn in return blew a bubble and giggled. "Silly Autumn" Emma laughed.

"I know so."

_It was the first night shift Wade had worked in the last two months, since his baby girl was born. He didn't want to leave Zoe alone at night with two little girls. After being born a few weeks early, Wade was apprehensive about leaving his first daughter. Sure he made plenty of time for Emma, giving her a special couple hours where it was just them during the day._

_But he learned that money didn't grow on trees at a young age so back to work he went, well at least back to the night shift. He was just closing up when a teary eyed Tansy showed up._

_"Wade don't you see that it's been me all along. You don't love Zoe. You ran from me because you were scared of what you truly felt for me."_

_"You're nuts, Tansy. Off your rocker nuts. I would never leave Zoe and my girls for you. Get over this obsession you have of me." That's all he was telling her. If she didn't get the point that he wanted nothing to do with her, then frankly she never would._

Zoe stood in the doorway watching Wade get Autumn ready for bed. It was something Wade enjoyed doing. Zoe enjoyed watching him. Wade kissed Autumn's head laying her down in her crib. She was always good at falling asleep. Wade would be the one to crawl out of bed when she started to cry in the night.

"Love you baby girl," Wade whispered, turning around not a bit surprised to find Zoe watching him.

"Emma's all tucked in, waiting for her Daddy to read her a story," Zoe informed him, stopping him for a kiss.

With Wade reading to Emma and Boo, Zoe watched her baby girl sleep. She smiled feeling arms circle her waist.

"We make cute little girls. We should try for a little boy," Wade husked in her ear. Zoe giggled, turning to kiss him.

"That we do," she whispered. She freed herself from his embrace, giving him a wink. She giggled softly running the short distance to their room, where Wade had caught her, his mouth exploring every inch of exposed skin.

Wade groaned seeing it was time for the Owls to present the MOTY. Brick went around being his normal aggressive self trying to be nice. Wade had to wonder if he knew that he was trying to hard and that if he would just relax and be his normal self then he might be able to win the award one year.

"Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the owls, I present this award to the man who has grown over the last year. We have witnessed him grow into a fine young man. Before last year the word father had never been used to describe him, but he is a wonderful father and an upstanding husband. This year we are delighted to announce that the Man of the Year is none other than Wade Kinsella." Hearing his name come from Dash's mouth had taken him by surprise. He wasn't expecting that. He was just being the man he had to be.

"Wow! Who would have thought, I would be up here, with this trophy?" He asked, with a chuckle, looking at the golden trophy. "Thanks, but I did nothing to earn this. I was just being the man I had to be." He was still overwhelmed about winning. He didn't know what else to say so he walked back behind the bar. He had a million ways to celebrate flash through his mind with Zoe. Yeah life seemed it was pretty spectacular for him and Zoe.

* * *

**That concludes the end to this one. But Zoe, Wade, Emma and little Autumn's story is far from over. Join me in the sequel:****_ A Day in Forever_****.**

**Thank you to everyone that read, followed and favorited this story.**

**A special thanks to those that left amazing, helpful reviews.**

**Let me know what you thought of this one last chapter, before things change in the sequel.**


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Hart of Dixie, Family, Romance