I had an idea to do a Christmas story for Zade. I started off wanting to set it in the future but decided it would be too long without some history of how they got there. So this is going to be a couple of chapters of Wade/Zoe Christmas's and their relationship grows. Each chapter I update up until Christmas will be going further and further into their future together and what their life is like down the line. I hope you all enjoy!

Happy reading!~

Wade was listening to Rose drone on and on about her latest crush Max who was the kicker at her high school and how she hoped that their first Christmas together was magical. She mentioned how they had only been seeing each other for a short time and she knew how it might be awkward to do Christmas together so early but why shouldn't they? After all you only live once and having Max in her life at the moment seemed like the right thing to do and she was happy. She was finally happy for the first time in a while. Just like Carrie from her favorite television show Sex and the City, she was just going to go for it. It was time to live in the moment.

While the way Rose was ranting about herself and all of her juvenile problems to Wade was annoying, he eventually figured out that she might actually have helped. He decided to take her enthusiasm for Christmas and apparent happiness with Max as the same way he should celebrate his first real Christmas with Zoe. He knew their relationship was still new but he didn't want to miss the opportunity to share Christmas with her. In fact he was looking forward to it.

"Rose, all I asked was if you had any ideas of what I can get Zoe for Christmas." Wade questioned. He still didn't know if coming to talk to Rose was worth the trouble. She was a sweet kid but man could she talk. He knew why she had such adoration for Zoe though, they were exactly alike. Neither one of them had a realistic idea of reality because they were too caught up in their head and the fairy tales they dreamed of.

"What about a gift certificate to that new boutique in Mobile? Or you could try the newest season of Grey's Anatomy on DVD. Zoe loves Grey's Anatomy." Rose suggested. "Those are horrible ideas. They're so…boring, Rose. I told you I wanted to get her something romantic." He maintained. Now he was just staring off into the distance…thinking. Wade was done talking to Rose. "Run along, Rose" he told her. She was probably trying to be helpful but clearly they had a different understanding of what thoughtful gifts were. He wanted to give her something that showed her cared about her and one that she wouldn't forget. It was going to be his first real gift to her, besides the glow in the dark thong.

Jewelry had crossed his mind but he didn't know where to take the idea. Proposing wasn't even on his mind, they just really started dating. Maybe earrings but a necklace seemed better. She wore a lot of jewelry but never too much. Just enough to look sophisticated yet sexy he recalled.

On that thought he decided he would have to go shopping. Yes, Wade was going shopping. Zoe Hart made him feel and do crazy things. He had never liked any woman enough to shop for her. The last time he bought a woman anything was when he would buy Tanzy or Joelle a six pack of beer to share with him.

Wade thought about the best time to go shopping. He didn't want to run into anyone in Mobile who would ask why he was in a jewelry store of all places. Since tomorrow is Monday he figured the mall would be pretty deserted, not to mention Zoe always worked Monday mornings.

When he walked over to Lavon's he saw Zoe sitting at the kitchen counter picking out a peach from the fruit bowl. The sun was shining on her and it looked as if she were glowing, though she seemed to have a glow to him from the moment he first saw her. There was just something about her presence that intrigued him. The song "All I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan" by Kenny Chesney was playing in the background and her legs were crossed under the table but she sat there air tapping her foot to the rhythm. She bit into the peach and a bit of juice ran down her chin. He wondered how watching her eat fruit was even fascinating to him.

He picked a peach for himself and took a seat next to her. "Good aren't they?" She asked, looking like she was savoring every last bite. "Delicious Doc." He replied and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. Zoe smiled and showed a hint of blushing, Wade ate that up. "So what are you getting me for Christmas? Better be somethin' pretty amazing, seein' as that's what I got you." He played, knowing full well he hadn't really a clue where to start. For a minute Zoe was surprised at Wade's level of cockiness, but then she remembered who she was talking to. "Like I would ever tell you what I got you and ruin the surprise." She laughed. "Tell me Zo, tell me" Wade teasingly asked again. This time though instead of waiting for her answer he started tickling her and trying to get her to talk. Eventually he got elbowed in the gut and the fun was over. Luckily she didn't squeal, he was only teasing. There's no way he would want to know actually know before Christmas.

"I was thinking that for Christmas dinner we could invite Crazy Earl over. I mean if that's ok with you? If you don't want to or whatever no big deal Doc? I know Lavon is makin dinner." Wade ranted. Zoe chimed in "I would love it if Earl came. Lavon was telling me that Ruby will be here and he invited Ruby's Grandfather too. It should be an interesting afternoon, don't you think?" as she laughed. Just the image in their heads of the six of them sitting down for a meal was almost too much to fathom.

Right on cue Lavon came dancing into the kitchen to the song "Baby its cold outside" by Lady Antebellum. "I just love Christmas music. There's nothin' better to put you in the holiday spirit than holiday music, great friends and delicious food.

Lavon Haye's can't help but notice how disgustingly happy yall look, and he likes it. You both deserve to be happy for a change." and gave them both his trademark wink and smile.

He continued, "What should we have for Christmas dinner? I was thinking ribs." After a couple silent seconds later he looked down at Wade and Zoe for a response but only saw them in their own little world with each other like he so often was with Ruby. He waited a few more seconds and finally gave a small cough to clear his throat and still nothing. By this time they were in full on make out mode and Lavon was done talking to them. He went back to his football game and Wade picked up Zoe and took her to bed at eight o'clock.

~~~~~~~The next morning~~~~~~~~~

Wade walked into the mall looking like a lost puppy. He passed all the kiosks wanting to do his nails and straighten his hair for free and eventually found a jeweler.

"Hello Sir. What can we help you with this morning?" a tall, blonde woman asked. "Just lookin" Wade told her as he smiled and slowly circled their cases. "Well please don't hesitate to let me know if you need any help at all." She offered.

He found the necklaces and saw a few that he liked. He noticed that she tended to wear gold more than silver so those were the ones that he focused on. He saw an open heart pendant necklace that he thought reminded him of her. It had matching earrings. There was another necklace that was marked 14k white gold pearl necklace. It was pretty but he didn't think Zoe was much into pearls. "That's one of our most popular pieces" the blonde woman smiled. "Who's the lucky woman?" she asked. Almost shyly he told her "Her name is Zoe. She is…incredible. She's a doctor.", he told her while smiling. "Oh a doctor? Wow. You know… just over here we have some very beautiful and special rings if you wanted to take a look at them…" she enticed him.

"Engagement rings? Oh, no. Uh, I don't think we're there yet." He told her, stuck in his own thoughts. "What's holding you back?" the woman asked him. An awkward silence filled the air while he was trying to think of something to tell her. He had never thought of himself as the type to settle down. He assumed he would be sewing his wild oats for a long time but it had all changed so fast. Their relationship had gone from sex to dating and quickly to love. He thought about how she first told him she loved him on accident when he had surprised her with dinner at the office when she was stuck there on call all night. Wade remembered the surprised look on her face but he remembers even more clearly the smile she had after he told her that he loves her too and then how they made love and later downed their cold dinner.

"Sir?" she said trying to grab his attention. "Is everything okay? I'm sure she would be very happy with one of these necklaces you're looking at."

"No, I mean uh, can you show me the rings?" Wade asked her. She led him to a couple of cases down at the end of the aisle and he peered into the shiny yet expensive case. The first ring he saw was priced at $8000.00 and he almost started to rethink the whole thing. Upon further inspection in the back corner of that case he saw the ring that was made for Zoe. "Can I see the pink one in the corner?"

"Absolutely." She told him as she found the key to that case and unlocked it, pulling out the ring for him to see. "It's called rose gold. As you can tell it's a very beautiful rose gold engagement ring. It's 14-karat with 64 side-round diamonds."

"I'll take it." He told her, without even knowing the price of the ring. "Excellent." She replied. "And just to let you know Sir, the ring is on a special one day only sale for just $1750.00."

Wade instantly found himself gasping for air but realized that he already knew two things. Number one: Zoe Hart isn't cheap. Number two: neither are engagement rings.

"I can see if you're approved for our in-store credit card which might make the ring more affordable?" she questioned and added in "With approval for in-store credit I can also throw in a pair of rose gold diamond earrings which are quite similar to the ring you've chosen, perhaps for a birthday?" Wade thought to himself he might as well knock out her birthday too while he was here, he didn't want to come back anytime soon. One trip to the mall for Zoe had cost him nearly two thousand dollars.

With the ring and the earrings in hand Wade left the jeweler on his journey in search of the nearest exit. Actually he was surprised that he was as calm as he was. He just decided to propose to Zoe Hart after all. After the start they got off to when she first arrived to town this was the last thing he ever saw happening. Though because of where this specific journey has taken him so far he wouldn't change a thing about the way it has all happened.

Wade's mind was racing the whole drive back to Bluebell. Should he tell Lavon or George that he was planning to propose? When should he do it? How should he do it? What if she says no? He thought about how if she rejected him he'd just leave town. Forever. He thought about when and where they would get married, where they would live, how many kids they would have and how he hoped they had a boy first. After that final thought he reminded himself "Whoa. Slow down buddy. Take this one step at a time. Let's just make sure she says yes first."

~~~~A couple days later~~~~

Christmas Eve had been memorable to say the least. Lavon had half the town over for his annual Christmas Eve celebration. Wade's adoration of Dr. Hart grew even stronger. They laughed and danced the whole night, usually at the same time. Wade wasn't much of a dancer but Dr. Hart wasn't much better.

Eventually and probably after one too many glasses of eggnog they said goodbye to their close friends and bundled up to walk across the plantation to Zoe's. It was getting pretty late. As they fumbled their way back they eventually collapsed into each other on her bed. Before he even had the chance to get nervous he went to his night stand and pulled out the box with that expensive ring which was tucked all the way in the back. Wade looked up at Zoe from his one bended knee he had got down on and smiled. Zoe's eyes were already filled with tears which were beginning to run down her face.

"Zoe, I don't want to go another night without you in my arms. Will you…marry me?" He asked. The three seconds of silence Zoe left as she gathered herself felt more like hours to Wade as he waited on the answer that would change his life. "Yes. Oh my God, yes" she told him as she pulled him up onto their bed with her and kissed him. As beautiful as the ring was, it was the last thing she cared about. In between kisses he managed to pull the ring out of the black velvet box and slip it onto her small ring finger and it fit perfectly. Right as she finally looked down at her ring, the clock struck midnight and more happy tears ran down her face. "I love you so much Wade. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." She told him. He replied with "I love you more" as they fell into each other for the rest of the night.

~*Note: To see the ring Wade picked out look for the link on my profile*~

**Please review and subscribe if you liked it or have any comments! Thank you so much!**