Coming Home

Zoe Hart had lived in Bluebell since she was 5 with her father, Harley Wilkes. Wade Kinsella was love of her life, but she always planned to move to New York and be a big city surgeon. After 8 years and her father's death she decides it is time to move back and take over her father's practice.

Zoe Hart looks up at the empty plantation house and smiles as she remembers all the good memories she had here. Her first kiss with Wade. The first time they said 'I love you.' It was their place. She would hate for someone to buy this place and take it away from them. She didn't want to leave Bluebell. This was her home. But she had dreams bigger than this place. Bigger than her and Wade even.

Wade comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her, "Hey, babe. I got your note. What is the emergency?"

She couldn't tell him. He would be devastated. She turns around and kisses him, "Nothing. I just want to be with you. Here. I feel like everything is going to change."

He smiles down at her, "You will always have me. That will never change."

A tear slips out of the corner of her eye, "Oh, Wade, I love you so much."

He wipes away the tear, "I love you, too." He looks at her worriedly, "Is everything ok?"

She nods and smiles, "Of course. The future was always such a distant thing, but now that it is here…I am a little scared."

He hugs her, "Why?"

She pulls back and looks up at him, "What if I fail? What if I let everyone down?"

He laughs as if the idea is crazy, "Zoe Hart, you are the smartest, bravest, most beautiful girl I have ever known. If anyone can dream big and succeed, it is you."

She puts her hands on the back of his neck and pulls him down for a kiss. For him, it was a kiss that held promises of the future, but for her, it was goodbye. She would be gone soon. And the very next day she was.

**8 years later**

Zoe closes her eyes as she remembers that day. She had made so many mistakes. This trip back home was more than a funeral for her. It was about mending fences. When she had gotten the call that her father died, everything had hit her. How miserable she was in New York. How much she missed being home. She had meant to make this move back earlier, but like everything in the big city time had gotten away from her. And now, her father was gone. She could barely handle the thought.

The bus pulls up to the stop she needed to get off at. This was it. She steps out and sees Lavon. She had only told him that she was returning and he had promised to pick her up. She walks up to him and gives him a big hug, "Lavon! Thank you so much for coming to get me."

Lavon grins, "I have missed you. Being able to see you again is a good feeling though I wish it was under better circumstances."

Zoe smiles sadly, "I know. I think you are the only one that isn't mad at me."

Lavon just shakes his head, "I'm sure everything will be fine. After all, you will be staying with Mayor Lavon Hayes."

Zoe's eyes widen, "Mayor? When did this happen?"

He laughs and picks up her suitcase, "There is a lot that you have missed."

She gets in the car and watches again as the countryside passes by. Everything looked so peaceful. She grins when she sees the town. Once they entered it was like she was able to breathe for the first time in years.

Lavon clears his throat, "So, there is something that I forgot to mention on the phone." Zoe looks at him curiously, but remains silent so he continues, "Well, you will be staying in the carriage house on the plantation."

She laughs when he doesn't continue, "I know. It's a fixer upper but I am sure I can handle it."

He shakes his head, "No it's not that. The gatehouse is also occupied…by Wade."

If Zoe had been drinking something she would have sprayed it all across his dash, "What?!"

He shrugs, "That place has just as much meaning for him as it does for you, Big Z."

She sighs, "I know…I just never thought…Does he know?"

Lavon laughs, "If I didn't tell you, do you really think I would tell him? No, he doesn't know that it is you that is moving in. He knows someone is though. He is at the Rammer Jammer until the funeral. That is probably when you will run into everyone."

Zoe closes her eyes, "No better time to face the fire than at your father's funeral."

They sit in silence the rest of the way and Zoe thinks about Harley Wilkes. He had always been so supportive. Telling her that she could do anything she wanted. If only she had known herself. Maybe this wouldn't be so difficult. She smiles when the plantation comes into view. This was always her favorite place.

Zoe looks across the street at all the people gathered outside the church. This was it. She starts walking towards them and prepares herself.

Of course, Lemon Breeland is the first one to see her, "My, oh my, but if it isn't Zoe Hart back from her big city gracing us with her presence."

Everyone turns and Zoe sighs, "Hello, Lemon."

Lemon walks closer, "I am surprised-"

Zoe stops her before she can continue, "Lemon, please, for today can we not do this? It's my father's funeral. I promise tomorrow you can say whatever you want, but not today. Please."

Lemon's face softens and she nods, "I am sorry about your daddy, Zoe. He was a good man. A good doctor."

Zoe sadly smiles, "Yes he was and the best father." She looks up and sees Wade avoiding her gaze. She sighs, "We should head inside now."

Everyone shifts to the side and she walks up to the doors and pushes them open. When she sees the casket she nearly breaks apart. Before she could pretend that it was all a dream and she would see her father, but now reality was slapping her in the face.

She puts her hand on the box, "I miss you, Daddy. I am so sorry." Tears start to fall down her face and she rests her forehead against the top of the casket, "I love you so much. I don't know how to breathe with you gone."

Someone puts their hand on her back and she looks up at Lavon, "Come on, Zoe. The service is about to start."

Zoe puts her hand over her mouth and follows him to the front pew. She lays her head against his shoulder and tries to silence her sobs. She listens as Reverend Mayfair speaks about her father and how great he was. He looks at her with a sad smile, "I believe Zoe has a few words she would like to share."

Zoe nods and walks up. She closes her eyes and pictures his face in her mind. She takes a deep breath, "Harley Wilkes was the best man I knew. He was the best father. I didn't go a day without hearing his voice and now that it's absent from my life I feel… I feel…" She takes a shaky breath again, trying to make the tears stop, but it wasn't working, "I'm sorry. I can't…I can't."

Lavon walks up and takes her hand, "its ok, Zoe. I got you. You can do this." She clings to his side for comfort, "What was the last thing you said to him."

She smiles, gratefully, "I said, 'Dad, I am coming home.'"

Lavon grins, "And what did he say to you?"

She laughs, "He told me that it was about time." She bites her lip, "But I was too late. Two days later, he was gone."

Lavon wraps his arms around her, "He died happy, Zo."

She shakes her head, "He died alone." She looks around, "I'm sorry. I am so sorry." She lets go of Lavon and runs out the doors. She couldn't breathe. This was all too much. She hadn't processed any of it and now it was all hitting her. Her father was dead. She would never see his smile or hear his voice.

Wade turns her towards him and pulls her into a hug, "This doesn't mean I forgive you. I just know the feelin' and how overwhelming it can be."

She doesn't say anything. Just listens to his heartbeat and finds comfort in his unique scent. Still the same. Her breathing slows down and the sobs finally disappear. He pulls her back and looks into her eyes, "Harley was proud of you Zoe and he never felt alone. He talked about you nonstop. I know this is hard, but you have to go back in there. Be the strong woman I know you are."

She nods, "I'm not that strong, Wade." She steps fully out of his embrace and walks back in.

Zoe walks into the practice after the funeral and looks around. Not much had changed. She is glad for that. She walks into her dad's office and sits in his chair. She closes her eyes and imagines him. The way he greets his patients. Half the practice was hers now.

"What are you doing here?"

She opens her eyes to see Brick, "I-I was just…I wanted to see if I could still feel him, but that doesn't make much sense."

Brick sighs, "Yes it does. I know how hard all this must be."

Zoe stands up and walks over to the book case, "I made so many mistakes in my life. But I will never forgive myself for not coming home sooner. He shouldn't have been alone."

Brick puts his hand on her shoulder, "Have you forgotten where you are? This is Bluebell. No one is ever alone. Your father wouldn't want you to punish yourself like this."

Zoe frowns, "I can't help feel how I feel." She turns to look at him, "I know why you are really here and the answer is no. I am not going to sign away my half of the practice. I owe that much to my father."

Brick shakes his head, "Zoe I-"

Zoe runs her hand through her hair and walks towards the exit, "I don't want to hear it. I JUST buried my father. It would be nice if people would wait a day so I can mourn properly."

Brick sighs, "I'm sorry, Zo."

She waves away his apology and walks out. Being home can be a pain when everyone has something to say to you. At least they had a little respect. She walks to the gazebo in the middle of town square and sits down.

Lemon sits down next to her, "Zoe? Are you ok?"

Zoe shrugs, "I don't know. Why do you care?"

Lemon frowns, "We used to be best friends, Zo. And your daddy was always good to me. I don't want you to be miserable."

Zoe finally looks over at her, "Maybe you should. I deserve it."

Lemon laughs, "You got that right. You left us like we didn't matter. And those notes didn't count as goodbye. Never once did you try to contact us or visit." Lemon shakes her head, "This isn't what I came over here for. I just don't want you to think you are completely alone."

Zoe lies her head back down on the side of the gazebo, "You don't need to worry about me. I won't do anything too stupid. I just need the day to process."

Lemon nods and walks off. Today was not the day to talk to Zoe Hart.

Wade walks into the kitchen at Lavon's the following morning and is shocked to see none other than Zoe Hart. Why was she here? Didn't she have a home in New York? He figured she would be gone by now. It was her style to leave in the middle of the night without any warning.

Lavon walks in and grins at him, "Mornin' Wade. Hungry?"

Zoe looks up from the magazine she was reading and gives him a small smile as a greeting. He glares at Lavon, "What the hell is going on here?"
Lavon raises a brow, "What do you mean? I am cooking breakfast, Zoe is living in the carriage house, and the mai-"

Wade's eyes widen and he interrupts him, "Wait, what? Did you say she…" He points to Zoe, "is staying in the carriage house? As in the one across the way from me? As in on the same property?"

Zoe looks at him worriedly, "I'm sorry that it bothers you, but I have every right to live there. And really it is up to Lavon, not you."

Wade scowls at her, "Fine. Just stay on your side of the pond. I don't need to deal with some big city girly shit." He turns on his heel and stomps out the door.

Zoe winces, "This is going to be harder than I thought."

Lavon stares at the closed door, "When you leave people behind they are going to be mad." He looks over to her almost apologetically, "Especially the way you did it."

Zoe sighs, "I know. Why did you forgive me?"

Lavon shrugs, "Lavon Hayes doesn't hold grudges. Besides, I wasn't as close to you as they were back then and I know what it is like to want to leave."

Zoe stands up, "But we always come back home. Even if it takes a while."

A/N: So this is the first time writing a fic for Hart of Dixie. Hope you enjoy. Please review. Thanks :)

XOXO