Hello! This is my first written out fic but I've been reading them for years.
Disclaimer: I have no rights to the show Hart of Dixie, just borrowing their characters.
Rose is 12 years old and her parents have died in an accident. Zoe and Wade are together and are taking care of Rose.
Enjoy! :)
Rose had been in a foul mood for days. She knew Zoe didn't understand her, hell she barely understood herself. Her parents anniversary of their death was just 3 weeks ago, it was a lot harder than Rose thought it would be. She did okay for the weeks leading up to it and the the week following, but now Rose was just in a bad mood that she couldn't just shake, she knew she was being unreasonable but it was like an out of body experience, she couldn't control it. Zoe was trying to be understanding and that just made her more mad. Any time Wade started on her, Zoe interfered and stopped him. Rose really just wanted to be able to get it all off her chest and yell at them but kept trying to repress herself.
"Rosie! Sweetie! Time to come down for breakfast, you need to leave for school in less than 10 minutes!" Zoe yelled up the stairs to her finally refurbished home on the Mayors property.
"Damn no need to yell" she mumbled as she came down the stairs.
Unfortunately it wasn't as quiet as she thought and Wade her, "Watch it young lady, you're already on thin ice as it is with all the attitude and backtalk the past few weeks."
" No Wade, stop, she's been having a hard time, its okay."
"Zo, no its not okay for her to be so disrespectful all the time, she needs some discipline. With the way she's acting if this was me i would've gotten belted or at the very least grounded."
"Belted! You're not belting our kid!"
Rose was getting angrier by the moment. She had parents, even if they had died in that accident during that hurricane. She stalked to the door as Wade and Zoe were talking about her as if she was a child, she was 12 for god sakes! Not a 6 year old!
Rose opened the door, turned around to face them in the freshly painted foyer and shrieked " I am NOT your kid, so you can keep your discipline to yourselves!" and with that she slammed the door and made her way to school.
Zoe couldn't help but feel a little stung by her words, Rose may not think of her as her mom, but she was definitely her kid. She couldn't help it after the past year helping her grieve and mourn and come back out of her shell. Wade was by her side the whole time picking up the pieces when she didn't know how to.
"Come on Doc, now don't get to upset. She was already in a bad mood just looking to lash out and knows you wont come down hard on her. But Im telling you this attitude of her stops today. She's looking for an attitude adjustment."
"Wade we are NOT going to beat her! i just said this! i can count on one hand how many times i have been just swatted on the butt and that was for something dangerous when i was little, not 12"
"I would never beat her! Just a spanking, i wouldn't use a belt either its more just an expression. I had the belt a few times and never plan on using it on our kids by the way. She just needs to smarten up. This is the south, we do spank here, its not anything that would be new to her. She's probably been waiting for us to discipline her. We've sent her to bed early one time and grounded her for that day. She may feel like we're not serious about her being with us because we've never reprimanded her for anything. Its time to put our big kid pants on and really get to raising this little girl."
" You're right, you're right. I cannot wait to have some more kids with you Wade Kinsella. But there are other options than just spanking her... just saying."
Meanwhile at school, Rose was talking to Magnolia and Frederick Dean about her Zoe and Wade problems. Magnolia and Frederick Dean were like the devil and angel on her shoulders respectively, she tended to go with what Frederick Dean said because she was a rational girl and did not like to get in trouble, but today was different.
"Ugh that sounds worse than Lemon lately. She has been on me about my grades lately and to stop being so boy crazy. i just want to go out and have some fun! "
"But what can we do?" Frederick Dean asked.
" I know! I know some Freshman on the JV football team who can get us some beer! Its Friday and they're having a party in the woods after school!"
" I don't know about this..."
Rose contemplated for a moment and decided she was going to do it, she never would've done it if her real parents had been alive because she knew how much trouble her butt would be in. She also knew Zoe and Wade would not be happy, but they didn't get on to her too much, she was hoping that they would learn to love her as a daughter but didn't see that coming anytime soon, so she decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it.
"I'm definitely in. But i think i will steal some clothes from Zoe 's closet before we go there."
'This can only go bad', Frederick Dean thought to himself. "Dont count me in."
After school, Rose went home to steal a sparkly black skirt and tight tank top from Zoe's closet, Rose had an inch on her petite surrogate mother so the already short skirts were just that much shorter and she only had 20 minutes to get the stuff and meet Magnolia before going to the woods behind the Rammer Jammer. She had to be careful that no one saw them.
Luck was not on her side as Zoe walked in. She caught Rose trying to leave with a guilty look on her face.
"Wait little miss, I wanted to speak with you about your behavior lately. Its not okay to talk to me or Wade like the way you have been. We're not door mats and we love you. We're doing everything in our power to give you a good home. And to have you be so disrespectful to us is like a slap in the face, Sweetie, i love you so much i changed my whole life around to take care of you and the way you've been acting is not very grateful, Talk to me, what can i do?"
"Yeah well no one asked you too" And with that Rose slammed the door and ran away from her home to her friends again.
When she got near the Rammer Jammer, Rose slowed down. She had to be careful about this so she didn't get caught. She saw Magnolia who helped her change behind a bush. However, neither girl saw George Tucker who was walking into the Rammer Jammer. He saw the girls go behind the bush then come out with some mature looking clothes then head towards the trail behind the beloved bar.
He went in to the bar then and asked Wade where Rose was going so dressed up in the woods. Flashbacks to Wades high school days came screaming to the front of his mind. 'Not my kid.' he thought . As he was about to leave the bar, Zoe came in looking morose.
"What happened, Doc?"
" Oh Rose again, she yelled at me and stormed off again" Zoe regaled what had transpired between the two. " But where are you off to now?"
"Rose is in the woods in what appears to be your clothes with Magnolia , I'm about to break up whatever little party she is at. George can you call Lemon? Thanks"
"Ooooh that little girl! what has gotten into her lately! I'm starting to get mad at her outright defiance! i have always been in her corner!" Zoey exclaimed as she walked through the barely their trail in her shorts and heels smacking at all the mosquitos. But then fretted " But i do hope shes not doing anything dangerous."
"Dont worry Zo, we will find her and help her get back on path after these stunts today."
They walk fo a few more miniutes in silence, each running scenarios of every parents nightmares in there heads, wondering how the chips will fall when they arrive.
They finally start to hear some rambunctious kids. They already sound like they were drunk and its not even 4pm! The kids finally come into view.
Rose is drinking from a blue solo cup and dancing on the back of someones tailgate as flirty as a naive 12 year old girl can to some country music.
Wade just stares, the hurt and anger apparent in his eyes, his mouth open to a perfect 'O'. Zoe finds her maternal voice at this time.
"Rose Hattenbarger you get down from that truck this instant!"
Startled, Rose tipsily loses her balance but one of the freshman catch her in his arms. "Dont worry, you dont have to go with them you can stay with us."
Wade does not like that way that little boy has his hands on HIS little girl. As hes making his way over to the pair the young boy sets Rose on her feet. Wade makes to grab her arm and she pulls it back.
"No! Im not leaving and Bobby says i can stay with him. I'm having fun!"
Wade leans down and whispers in to Rose's ear, "Little girl do not test me. You want to see how this plays out in front of your friends or do this at home?"
She bows her head and Wade thinks he has gotten through to his little troublemaker, but he should've held her hand to lead her back to Zoe. Rose digs her heels in to the ground to muster up as much teenage angst as she possibly can to say what she's going to say to her guardians.
" You can go home, or frankly go to Hell, i dont care. I am staying with my friends. You are not my parents so quit pretending as if you were!"
Zoe's last shred of patience was lost when she told them go to hell. In the time it takes Rose to finish her rebellious speech, Zoe has made it to Rose's side.
"No. Im done with this now." Zoe grabs Rose's left arm with her left hand to pull her forward a bit and gives two swats to her backside that probably embarass her more than actually hurt her if truth be told. " Rosie we are leaving NOW. Now quit fighting or you can get a real spanking here. The choice is yours."
" I'll come, i'll be good." she meekly replied. As they turn to leave, Lemon is standing in the clearing looking for Magnolia.
"I believe i just saw her try to hide on the other side of that truck. And would you please call some patients, we just need to deal with this now."
"Of course. And thank you for giving me the heads up. I will make some calls then deal with my little trouble maker. She may even be able to sit tomorrow if she acts perfectly contrite..."
As they ventured back to the Rammer Jammer, Rose's pout became more pronounced. When she was told to get in the back of the car, she huffed and earned her bottom another spank. Fury flashed in her eyed, but she complied and got in the back seat. She was afraid of the townspeople seeing her getting into trouble. She didnt want to end up in one of Dash's stories.
When they pulled up in front of their home, she rushed out of the care and into the house to start running up the stairs to her room. Her guardians came quickly in behind her.
"Rosie! Get down here now!"
Their answer was a slammed door.
Zoe made her way to go up the stairs, but Wade pulled her back.
"We need a plan before go up there. I think we should hear her out, but i think her attitude, stealing, lying, sneaking and drinking has earned her a spanking, no matter the reason. What do you think?"
"I'm not sure. We need some ground rules. If you're going to spank her, you can't bare her or use anything but your hand, okay? I'm still uneasy about this but i think you're right. I never did anything like this, and this is more your forte, but i think there needs to be more consequences. Grounded for the next week with an early bedtime and some extra chores maybe?"
"I think that can be arranged. Lets go talk to out little girl."
They made there way up the stairs to Rosie's room. She was lying face down facing the wall.
"Wow no knock or anything? Whatever. I know, early bedtime grounded for the night. Great. You can leave now."
Zoe smacked her bottom again but this time with a little more force.
"Ow!"
"If you dont knock that attitude off right now, we can also wash your mouth out with soap. Care to continue your defiance little miss?"
"No sir."
"Sweetie, Rosie, please tell me whats been going on in with you. You have not been yourself lately. You have had a very bad attitude and mouth on you the past week and a half, rolling your eyes at me, your teacchers called today to say you havent been passing in any of your homework, now this stunt? Can you pleasae tell us why?" Zoe was desperate for an answer.
"Because I felt like it. Happy now?"
Wade swung her desk chair around from her desk, gotten his leg on the chair, and had pulled Rose off the bed and over his knee before she knew it.
She was wearing a flippy little skirt that Zoe had worn out to clubs in New York, it fell up as she was pulled over Wades knee, her day of the week underwear on display. He spanked her upturned bottom 5 times then each sit spot once.
*SPANK* *SPANK* OW!
*SPANK* SPANK* No! No! Ill stop the attitude please!
*SPANK* OW!
"Are you going to be a good girl?" Wade, he a personified a cool and calm persona.
"Yesssss" She cried.
Wade then finished her attitude adjustment with a swat to each sit spot before placing her sitting on the bed.
Zoey was trying to stay as calm as Wade but was finding it difficult. She took a deep breath. "Care to answer my question now?"
"Yes, ma'am" she sniffled. Rose sat there for a moment collecting her thoughts. Zoe sat beside her and put her arm around here to rub her shoulder and help calm her down.
"I'm sorry i've been this way. I guess its because i miss my parents.. There anniversary came, and i was sad, but was still able to have a good time with you and forget about them a little bit. And now when something at school happens, I want to come home to tell you guys, and then realize later on that I shouldve wanted to tell my mom and dad but i thought I only thought of you guys. Thery're not coming back. I know that. But they were my mom and dad but now I have you guys and I dont know what to feel. They were the best mom and dad to me but I feel like you guys are starting to replace them. And when I've been bad you dont really punish me. So I thought maybe you thought I was too much work and didnt want to deal with me. I know I've been stupid." The 12 year old articulated that the best she could.
"Oh sweetheart, they're your parents and you will always love them so much, no one could replace them. But that doesnt mean there isnt room in your heart to let more people in. Love knows no bound, its infinite in its power. You can love as many people as you want. If you want to see us as parents too one day, we would love that but we would also know that you have another mom and dad. There's nothing stupid about how you feel. I just wish you had spoken to us about how you feel instead of acting out this way." Zoe's calm facade was starting to crack, she was getting emotional now knowing the turmoil her baby had been in.
Wade crouched down on the ground and grabbed her chin, her eyes were downcast asn she was trying to hold back tears. " look at me" he said gently. "We are not always going to get this right, but know that we will always try to do what we think is best for you, baby. You are our kid. I know you said earlier you weren't, but in our hearts you are ours. We are here for you. And we are sorry if we have failed you by lettingk things slide and not correcting some of your mistakes. We wont do that again. Can you forgive us?" By the end, his voice was starting to get husky.
"i'm really really sorry. Please dont hate me, i didnt mean to be so mean" With that she started crying again.
Wade pulled her chin back up and softly commanded her to look at him again, "Hey, hey none of that. There is nothing you could do that we would make us hate you. You're our girl. But you were tryign to be mean. Which brings us back to why we are originally up here. To discuss your consequences.
Now tell us honestly, what do you think your mother and father would do if this is the way you had been behaving? hmm?"
Rose tried to compose herself, but her chink was still quivering. " It depends. Mama might use her hair brush or wooden spoon to spank me or Daddy would just use his hand but make me sit on a hard stool in the corner. Then with all the other things i did wrong i might get grounded too."
Zoe was in awe of her honesty. She thought Rose would just say grounding, Wade must've known and that's why he told her to be honest about. At least her girl did one thing right by telling the truth today!
"Why dont you take a shower and get ready for bed. Then come to our room to discuss your punishment."
Rose nodded and did as was told.
Wade and Zoe made it into their room. Zoe finally lost her resolve an started to cry about it all. It had been a stressful week and a very long and bad day. It was only 7pm but she thought after they dealt with their little one, she may go to bed early herself.
Wade comforted her for a few more minutes. When she finally regained her composure is when Wade decided to talk to her.
"Zo, you know I love Rosie as much as i would my own. And would do nothing to hurt her. Are we still on the same page?"
"How much worse is it going to be than that attitude adjustment you gave her?"
"Maybe a few more swats to her butt, not much worse."
"Okay, but maybe we can just ground her for the weekend instead of a week. She just wont be allowed to go to any parties for awhile as she has lost our trust and she's too young for anything like what happened today anyways."
"Sounds good, Doc." Kissing her on the forehead.
After a few more minutes of comforting each other from whatg already happened and what was about to happen, Rose quietly knocked on their door which was slightly ajar.
"Come in Rosie" Zoe said. Rose felt like she was walking to her death sentence.
Rose went in to the room with her head bowed, hands not quite folded together, picking at her cuticles.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself? What do you think should happen after events like today? We love you, but you lost our trust for awhile and were very hurt by your actions." Her surrogate mother asked matter of factly.
Rose couldnt help the few tears that escaped her eyes and felt wamred when Zoe reached over to gently wipe them away. You guys should spank me with Zoe's bath brush and make me sit in the corner and ground me for a month. Ive never acted so bad before. Mom and Dad would be disappointed in me. Im really sorry Zoe and Wade!" she cried.
"Dont worry baby, we forgive you, it will be a clean slate. But we are going to have to work on mending that trust now wont we?" Wade questioned. She nodded her head. "We decided that you will get a spanking and will be grounded for 3 days with an early bedtime. Sound fair to you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Anything else to say?" No sir"
"Okay then Rosie, come over to me."
Rose walked to her doom. She went to Wade's right side, he helped guide her over his lap. her face in Zoe's lap. He lifted the hem of her night gown and took a deep breath. He decided there was no need to lecture as they had talked about it for hours and she knew why she was getting spanked. With that thought, he bagn to spank. Alternating cheeks, but focusing on her lower bottom.
*SPANK*
*SPANK*
*SPANK*
*SPANK*
*SPANK*
*SPANK*
Then Wade decided the last 4 on her bottom should smart more so he increased his tempo and heaviness of his hand.
*SPANK* *SPANK* *SPANK* *SPANK*
Rose was crying so hard even with Zoe rubbing her head.
Wade steeled himself for the last four which he knew were going to be the worst,
"Okay baby, almost there." He tipped her forward and Rose got hysterical trying to cover her bottom with her hands. Wade collected them in one hand and finished the job.
*SPANK* *SPANK* *SPANK* *SPANK* with her legs kicking up and down.
It took Rose a moment to realize this was done. When she did realize she crawled into Zoe's lap facing her with her legs and arms wrapped around crying.
"I'm sorry...I'll be a good girl...i want to stay with you" she cried brokenly.
Zoe got her to calm a little. Wade stared at his girls mortified, questioning himself if he had gone to far. Zoe looked up and saw how heartbroken he looked.
"Sweetie there, there. youre punished and forgiven. You want give Wade a hug?"
"yesssss" the contrite little girl replied.
Zoey helped pass her over to the doting unrecognized father.
Rosie started her apologies to him, but he just told her how much he loved her and how he forgave her.
Wade asked his little Rosie if she wanted to sleep with him and Zoe, she nodded yes shyly. So Wade and Rose layed back as Zoe watched for a moment before gettinjg ready for bed.
She looked at them and knew this was a turning point. Nothing in life was perfect, but it was pretty damn near in her eyes.