Thank you so much for the reviews, favorites and followers! You all made me very happy! :)

Here you go guys - new chapter.

Once again: English is not my native language, so I'm sorry for my mistakes.

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In the evening as Zoe walks home after work, she can't stop thinking about the conversation she had with Brick. His words echo in her head. "Dr. Hart, have you lost your mind? You are a doctor. You know there's no relation between a man's genitalia and his heart." So she goes to the gatehouse and waits until Wade comes home.

Wade appears on his terrace and spots the tiny brunette. He tries to play it cool. "Alright. Another round?"

"No. No more games, okay? We need to talk. I know what I know. What I have known since ... I love you. And you love me, too. Will you please just admit it?"

He doesn't know how to answer. He knows though that she is right. "Yeah. Yeah, maybe I do"

Zoe approaches him. "Well, then, what's the holdup?" But when she lifts her hand to caress his cheek, Wade interrupts it and takes a step back.

"Zoe, the ... the holdup is the last time we did this, it damn near killed me. And I hated myself for hurting you. So I tried to be a better man. To show you that it would never happen again. And you still left." He answers with a defeated look on his face.

"I needed space." Zoe tries to explain.

"Look, I get it, alright? Doesn't mean it didn't slay me." Wade sighs. "And just when I was finally coming around to the idea of you being gone, of imagining life without Zoe Hart, you came back. With another boyfriend."

"That is not fair, okay? Because you hurt me, too. You really hurt me. But I saw that you changed and I forgave you. I got over it."

"I know it's not fair. But you wrecked my heart, Zoe. And I don't ... I just ... I can't do this again."

Zoe makes one last attempt. "What if I promised that I wouldn't hurt you?"

Wade knows that there is no way to tell her this gently. "I guess ... I don't trust that you know how to stop yourself. It's as simple as that."

Zoe feels defeated as a wave of sadness rushes over her. "Okay, then." And she walks away.

Wade knows how much those words must have hurt Zoe. He could see the pain in her eyes. But he can not take it back and it had to be said finally. With a heavy heart, he looks after her.

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Eight weeks have passed since this meaningful conversation. Zoe hasn't been feeling well lately. She felt always tired, hopeless and gave up on winning Wade back. Wade on the other hand didn't know if he should be relieved that Zoe gave in, or whether he should be disappointed.

One morning as she leaves the carriage house and sees Wade working outside, she clears her throat.

Wade looks up. "Hey…Doc. Uh... Haven't seen you in a while."

"Hey. Hi. I don't have any hot water. Do-do you think you could look at it?"

Wade eyes her up. "Yeah. Yeah, sure."

As Zoe already keeps moving Wade turns around and says. "I mean, that's it? I mean, it's been eight weeks. Can we ... can we talk?"

"What do you want me to say, Wade? You said how you felt. No matter what I do, you not trusting me is kind of insurmountable. Right?" She then continues to walk away.

Wade wants nothing more than simply take her in his arms and tell her that everything will be fine. Instead, he calls after her. "I'll just fix your hot water, then."

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At the practice, Zoe decides to run a blood test. After all she could have caught a virus.

During her lunch break, how could it be otherwise, she runs into Earl Kinsella.

Earl greets her joyfully. "Hello, pretty doctor."

„Small, small town."

„You know, I was thinkin' maybe we'd all have dinner sometime. You and my boy, and me and my gal."

As if Wade would ever go out with her, Zoe thinks. "Gee... thanks, Earl, but that's never gonna happen. I'm gonna go." And she runs away while Earl looks after her confused.

Meanwhile, it's a quiet day at the Rammer Jammer. Until Wanda approaches Wade. "Wade, it's Mae. Earl fell down his hole again." Wade can't believe how clumsy his father can be sometimes. Nevertheless he makes his way to his father's house.

At the same time at the practice Annabeth receives a phone call too. Zoe sighs. "Seriously? Again with the hole?"

That's how both, Zoe and Wade, end up at Earl's house looking for him.

Wade shouts. "Earl? Earl. Ear..." As suddenly Zoe appears in the doorway. "Where's Earl?"

"Well, he's not in the hole."

"I know he's not in the damn hole. I was just at the hole." Wade states annoyed.

And at that moment Earl and Mae walk into the living room.

"Wha...? What's going on here?" Wade asks.

"We're sorry we tricked you." Mae responds.

"But we didn't know how else to get you to sit down and talk about all this like two adults." Earl adds.

"What is this?"

Zoe says. "Haven't you seen the movie? We've been reverse Parent Trapped."

As Zoe and Wade are almost forced to sit at the table, Zoe speaks. "Earl, Mae, th-this is all lovely, but..."

"Ah! No buts! Sit, relax. Enjoy each other." Earl interrupts her.

"And this crisp white wine while we go prepare the amuse-bouche." Mae completes.

Wade can't help it but smile. "Well, They, uh, really went all out. At-at least it ... it gives us a chance to talk."

"Wade, here's the thing, okay? I have racked my brain to try to figure out how to prove that you can trust me. But it-it's impossible if you don't give me a chance." Zoe says desperately. "I want things to be different. You know, I want you, I want you to come and knock on my door and-and tell me that you want this. That-that you want to take a chance. I know, I know that it's pathetic, but it's the truth."

Wade looks at her before he stutters. "I don't, I don't know what to say."

Earl and Mae reappear out of the kitchen. "Who wants crab cakes?"

Just the smell of these crab cakes make Zoe feel nauseous again. "No, I am so sorry. But I'm actually not hungry." She storms out of the house.

Earl looks at his son as Wade sits in the chair like a helpless puppy. He walks over and taps him on the shoulder. "Well, night didn't go quite like I hoped."

"Look, you and everybody else around here got to understand that me and Zoe, we just... we don't work."

Earl knows that now the time has come for a long overdue father-son conversation. "I ...I get that you're afraid of getting hurt. I get that better than anyone. After your mother died, I...I was so afraid of loving, of feeling again, I...I hid inside a bottle for 20 years. Hiding did nothing for me. And it'll do nothing for you."

Wade wants to interrupt him. "Dad, it..."

"But I-I'm recovering. I'm learning to live again. Feel again. And I'll tell you something. Even if Mae crushes my heart, it'll all be worth it." Earl hates to see his son so dejected. "Take a chance, son. Don't be like your old man." And he slaps Wade's knee.

Wade looks him in the eye and he knows that his father is absolutely right. He knows that he will never find another woman he could love as much as he loves Zoe. Why must it be so complicated? They're still young and should live life to the fullest. They should happily be together and spend their lives together.

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The next day at the practice.

Annabeth greets Zoe. "Hey, Zoe. How are you?"

"Oh. You know. Peachy." Actually, she felt anything but peachy.

"Okay, well, uh, Cole Maliska has a sore throat. He's on his way. The Alberstat twins Both have pinkeye again. Oh, and all your tests came in."

"Oh, cool. Thanks." Zoe timidly takes the test results and looks at them. She stares at the letters. Pregnant. Zoe feels like all of the color fades from her face and as if she is about to faint. How could that happen? She looks at Annabeth and says. "Oh, my God! Old Man Jackson was getting his new wheelchair today. I said I would be there! Can you reschedule all my patients, AB?"

"Of course!"

"Thank you. Bye." And with that Zoe storms out of the practice.

She doesn't even know how she came home. Leaning against the front door she can't tell whether she's standing there for already half an hour or if she just came in. It all makes sense now. The tiredness, the morning sickness... She begins to sob and sinks to the floor. Pregnant! Now! With Wade's baby! The thoughts buzzing around in her head. Wade would never want a child with her. He doesn't even want to be with her. They've never talked about children when they were still a couple. Oh my God, what if Wade thinks that she trapped him. How will she ever be able to tell him she's pregnant? Zoe knows that she has to sooner or later. After all, these things do become pretty obvious eventually. How could you let this happen? She asks herself. You're a doctor. You...are a doctor.

She bends down on the floor and starts to cry uncontrollably.

Hours later, it's already dark outside, there's a knock.

Zoe quickly tries to wipe away the smuged mascara and gets up. She opens the door and can't believe who is standing in front of her. Wade.

"What are you doing here?"

Wade looks at her shyly. He notices her eyes are red from crying. "Uh, well...I thought maybe we could go to dinner."

"Is this a joke?"

"No." Wade says. "I-I'm sorry I waited so long. But you were right. I love you, Zoe. And...I want to give this a try." He laughs quietly.

There it was. All she had hoped for. Within reach. "No. You were right. This is never gonna work out. I-I'm sorry, Wade, but...it's just too late." And she slams the door in his face.

Wade feels his heart breaking into a thousand individual pieces. She has done it again. He can't believe it. Why the hell did she suddenly change her mind? He hesitates whether he should go home and just let it be or if he should get to the bottom oft this mess. He goes for the second. Wade knocks again on Zoe's door. "Zoe! Please open up! Can-can we talk?" No answer. „Hello?"

"Please go away!"

"No, I won't. We need to talk. Alright, either you open the door or I'll break it down."

Why must he be so stubborn, Zoe thinks. But she opens the door.

Wade enters. "What is going on? Zoe, just...just to be clear: you did hear me, when I, uh, asked you out to dinner, told you that I loved you, the whole shebang? 'Cause I know it was loud, with the crickets chirping and the, uh...doors slamming. "

"I heard you. But I meant what I said. It's too late for us, and that's just the way it is."

"Wow. I am genuinely confused. 'Cause, you know, last I heard, you were gonna fight for this relationship, and-and I know it took me a few weeks to realize the error of my ways, but I'm..."

"A few weeks? A few weeks ?! Try eight! Eight weeks, Wade! A lot can happen in eight weeks, okay? A lot!"

Wade is a bit taken aback, but he chooses not to let up. "What on earth can happen in eight weeks, that-that you change your mind like that?"

"I-I ... It-it's just..." Zoe stutters. "Just leave it be. Okay?" Tears start to form in her eyes.

"Look, Zoe, I just wanted to say I'm sorry. When I said I didn't trust you, I didn't mean it. I was just... scared and pushing you away, you know?"

„Well, it felt pretty real."

„Yeah, well, okay, maybe I'm not 100% sure that you wouldn't have hurt me if we restarted things, but... I know that I have never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. And... I guess that... I realized it's worth the risk. And I-I just wanted to say that... I know we are gonna work this time. And I know that because I have crafted a plan. And it's a... it's a good one."

„A plan? Well, plans are good."

„Yeah. Yeah, look, basically... last time we tried to do this, we just... we started things off backwards, you know, with the... with the sex. And I'm-I'm not knocking the sex. The sex was... was real good."

„Yes, it was."

„But-but this time, we should do things the way they're supposed to be done. You know, I want to take you out on dates, to dinner, to the movies... even the crappy ones with the subtitles that you seem to like. And after the movie, I want to take you home, I want to kiss you good night and wonder if I should call you again."

Zoe looks at him with wide eyes.

„Th... That was a joke. The point is that... I think it's just... it's gonna work 'cause we're gonna take things slow."

„Slow?"

„Yeah. I mean, what's the rush, right? We got all the time in the world. With slow, y-you can build a solid foundation and..."

„Wade, I'm sorry, but we just... we cannot take it slow. Okay? Slow is... It's never gonna happen."

„Wha…What?"

"Wade, please..." She starts to cry.

He grabs her arms. "Zoe ..."

"No!" Zoe extricates herself from his grasp. She turns around and wants to run away when she suddenly feels very dizzy. She stumbles and just when she is about to get unconscious, Wade catches her.

"Zoe! Baby! What's wrong?" Wade shouts.

She recovers quickly and looks into Wade's frightened face.

"I'll take you to the practice right away."

"No. No, I'm fine."

"Clearly you're not fine! I'll call Brick." Wade disagrees.

"In this case there's nothing Brick could do."

"What are you talking about?"

It's now or never, Zoe thinks. "I'm having your baby."

He just laughs but notices soon that Zoe's not joking.

"It's okay. Really. Because I'm gonna do this on my own, and I do not expect anything from you."

Wade can't believe what he's just heard. He feels like he just received a huge slap in the face.

Zoe pushes him out the door. "You should go now."

"I-I... no wha-what..? No, there's no way I'll leave you alone tonight. What if you pass out again?"

Zoe feels too tired and too exhausted by the day's events, as to argue with Wade. So she decides to just give in. "Fine."

While Zoe is in the bathroom, Wade makes himself comfortable on the couch.

"You uh...you don't have to sleep on the couch." Zoe tells him as she reappears.

"I'm fine with it. Don't worry." Wade assures her.

"Come on. I know how uncomfortable the couch is...and, well, it's not like we've never shared a bed, right?"

"Are you sure?"

Zoe nods and lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

When the two of them are lying in bed Zoe quickly falls asleep. Wade, however, can't sleep and lies awake the whole night. With one arm under his head, he stares at the ceiling. Sometime in the middle of the night, Zoe snuggles up to Wade, holding a firm grip on Wade's shirt. Gently he puts his arm around Zoe trying not to wake her.

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Let me know what you think! Should I continue?