"Zoe," said Joel placing his hand on her knee in a comforting gesture that made her stomach churn. "Why are you so afraid of Bluebell? We need to get this signed for the apartment."

She shook her head. "You know exactly why."

He stood from the bench outside the hospital they had been occupying for the last few minutes and pushed his large glasses further up the bridge of his nose. A nervous habit. She reached out for his hand but he turned away, unable to face her. "Four months," He whispered. "That's how long I've known you. It didn't take half that time for me to realize Zoe Hart is scared of nothing, but this. That town brings out a side of you that is so unlike you, it makes you terrified and you need to face it."

She chewed her lip. "I had to date a writer, didn't I?" she attempted at lightening the conversation. "Their ability to read and predict people is rather amazing. It one of the reason's I love you." Joel's eyebrows drew together slightly and he glanced down at her before sitting back down on the bench beside her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders tightly. Also their ability to emphasize mentally noted Zoe.

Joel handed her a small white envelope, "Inside is a plane ticket for Alabama. I packed your bags and put them in your trunk already. Today's your last day before you start your leave, you have no excuse not to go." He paused. "You have to tell him, whoever he is, about this Zoe."

She looked down at herself before standing. "I'll consider it. But I heard there's a kid with a French fry stuck in his nasal cavity, I'd better get on that." She kissed him lightly. "Goodbye Joel."

Joel frowned as she turned and slowly walked back to the hospital. "Zoe," he mumbled too quiet for her to hear. "You're a cardiothoracic surgeon, French-fries in noses aren't your thing."

"Zoe?" Said someone as Zoe entered the hospital, she turned and came face to face with Rose. She swallowed hard as Rose stared at her, more specifically one part of her, her blimp-like stomach. "Oh my god. Are you pregnant?" Zoe nodded and Rose's shock drifted into anger. "Call them. Right now and tell them. Lavon and Wade. Everyone. Is that why you haven't come back? Because you're scared of us judging you? Is it that guy's out there? Is he the father?"

Zoe felt as if she had turned to stone, paralyzed and suddenly incredibly overwhelmed by her instant montage of questions. "Yes, my being pregnant is partially to blame of me not coming back to Bluebell. Of course I'm scared of being judged." her eyes went to her stomach where she had unconsciously placed her hand just below her naval. "No, it's not his baby."

Rose's eyes widened slightly. "How far along are you?"

"Six months."

Rose ran a hand over her mouth in frustration, sending Zoe a sideways glance. "Zoe, is it Wade's?"

"No." She lied.

Thx for reading, sorry it's short I might come back and add a flashback or something. Any suggestions? Anyways this takes place at the beginning of season three. R&R