A/N: Wow. That was a heck of a response to the first half of my first ever Hart of Dixie fic! Lol Thank you to the seven lovely people who left me a review on that first part, and all inside of 12 hours of my posting it too. Rest assured, I have plans to watch all there is of Hart of Dixie given time, and hopefully, there will be more fics from me too. Anyway, here's the other half of this one, which is shorter so it's not really a half, more like an after-thought actyally, but I kind of like how it turned out and I hope you like it too ;)
(For disclaimer, etc. - see Part 1)
Part 2 of 2
It had been a hell of a couple of days, but in the end, things had turned out okay. Zoe felt happy and comfortable with the way things were as she sat out on the porch, staring up at the stars. She should go to bed already, she knew that, but it just seemed such a shame to waste a sky like that.
"Hey, Doc."
Zoe's smile grew when she heard his voice calling her. She looked over to watch him approaching from around the other side of the lake.
"Good evening, Wade," she greeted him politely, catching sight of the glass in his hand. "You and booze seem to come as a package deal lately, huh?"
"I work in a bar," he told her, with a look that told her she had just said something stupid by his reckoning.
"You weren't tending bar when you were filling me full of scotch the other day," she reminded him.
"Hey, I didn't invite you to that party," he pointed out, climbing the stairs to almost the top and leaning back against the rail. "Not that you weren't welcome, of course," he told her, placing the glass of pink cocktail on the table right by her hand.
"And this drink is because...?" she asked, staring at it curiously.
"You liked it at the Rammer Jammer." Wade shrugged like it was nothing. "Figured after the day you had, dealing with your father and all, maybe you could use a little something."
He never ceased to amaze her. Zoe looked at Wade and she had trouble figuring out how this was the same guy she met a few months ago. He could still drive her crazy, no doubt about that, but somehow, she knew if she was in trouble or she needed someone, he would be there.
"You'd have my back in a knife fight," she said, with a smile she hardly knew she was wearing.
"What?" asked Wade, amused by words he clearly didn't remember speaking.
Zoe shook her head.
"Nothing. Thanks for the drink anyway, but dealing with my dad actually wasn't so bad in the end," she explained. "We figured things out."
Wade nodded his understanding and yet still looked oddly uncomfortable just standing there. Zoe wondered why but never got a chance to ask.
"And, er... you figure things out with the Golden Boy too?" Wade checked, looking everywhere but at Zoe.
It was easier that way, he had found, though not a lot easier. The idea of George Tucker choosing Zoe over Lemon made Wade feel sick. In fact, if it ever did happen he might just throw himself in the lake and hope not to surface. God only knew how he had come to feel so much for Zoe Hart, but damn it, he couldn't help it anymore.
"You know, what? I think it's about time that I gave up any weird daydreams I've been harbouring about George Tucker," she said, not even noticing how easily she got Wade's attention as she reached for her drink and took a sip. "I mean, don't get me wrong, he's a nice guy, lots of great qualities, but he's really not so special. The truth is, he was just the first guy I met here, and he was nice to me and... and he was one teeny tiny link back to New York that I could find here," she explained. "But hey, I'm a Bluebell girl now," she said, smiling overly much at Wade. "So, here's to being over Golden Boy George Tucker," she said, toasting the decision and taking another long sip.
Wade felt the huge grin spreading across his lips and couldn't bring himself to try and hide it. Even if he wanted to, he wasn't sure he ever could. Man, did it ever feel good to hear Zoe say she was done with George Tucker. Okay, so she wasn't exactly choosing Wade instead, not yet, but she could, maybe, sometime soon.
"My God, that is delicious," Zoe declared of the drink her hand, though actually all that was left now was an empty glass. "What is it anyway? What do you call it?"
"Just something I came up with. Secret recipe, of course," Wade told her, arms folded across his chest as he looked more than a little self-satisfied and for more than one reason too. "As for the name, well..." he considered it. "It's pink and pretty, short measure but it really packs a punch," he said with a grin. "I figured I'd call it... Zoe Hart."
It was something special to see and hear her laugh like that and know he caused it. Maybe it was just about the corniest thing Wade ever could've said, but that was okay. He could do corny. He could do anything if it made Zoe happy, if it meant she would look at him just like that.
"Thank you," she said, getting up from her seat and moving to stand right in front of him.
His being down a step or two on the stairs made them the same height, and Zoe easily leaned into Wade, planting a quick kiss on his lips. Right after, she wondered if she was being foolish to do that, or maybe she was more foolish for letting it be the only kiss they shared tonight. Zoe shook her head before she went too far down a road she wasn't ready for, at least, not yet.
"You're a good man, Wade Kinsella," she told him, her hand briefly squeezing his shoulder. "Thank you, again. Goodnight," she finished with a smile as she turned and went inside.
"Goodnight, Zoe Hart," he called behind her just as she passed through the door.
"Dr. Zoe Hart," she corrected him, never even glancing back.
Wade smiled and shook his head, muttering to himself as he headed back to the gatehouse. "Well, what's in a name, anyhow?"
The End
IMPORTANT NOTE: At this point, I've only seen 18 episodes of Hart of Dixie, and I'm trying to avoid spoilers for all that I haven't seen, so while I will be extremely grateful for any reviews I might get on this story (not that I'm expecting any but still) I would appreciate no comments that might spoil me for the rest of the series. Many thanks in advance :)
