I started writing this over Christmas and when real life resumed, this was forgotten. I found it and decided to finish the last chapter. Any similarities between 2x12's dialogue and this story is coincidental- I wrote everything but the last 4 POVs changes during my Christmas travels. I guess the writers and I think alike. :)

Background: Starts around the same time as 2x10, but the events are different.

Of course I own nothing.

Worried, but unsurprised, I nod.

"George, I've been offered a job in a bigger salon in Mobile. I've thought about it a lot this week, and… And I've decided to take it. I start Monday."

I didn't expect that. "Wait, what?"

"It's a good job. And also, I was thinking…" She takes a deep breath, "I was thinking that when I leave, we should probably stop seeing each other."

Whoa! "…Tansy, wait, Mobile is only 20 miles away, we can make that work. I don't want to lose you. I mean, I've had so much fun with you these past months. I love who I am with you."

"You love who you are with me, but you don't love me. And you can still be that person without me. Look, I never wanted to live in Bluebell again, and while this with you has been fun, you're clearly still in love with Zoe. And, I'm tired of being second place to her. And I think I always will be. So, before this goes further, I think we should just part as friends."

I start to protest, she cuts me off. "It's not your fault, it's nothing you've done- you've tried real hard. And, put on a real good show. It's just I've been through this over Zoe before, first with Wade, now with you. I need to find someone who hasn't already given their heart away."

I don't know what to say. She's not wrong. I wish I could say she is. But I have to be fair to her, to myself. I won't belittle her by lying, by denying that I have feelings for Zoe. "I never meant to hurt you, Tansy."

"I'm fine, George Tucker. Don't you worry about me. We had our fun. Now it's time to move on, before it stops being fun. And I think if we try to force something that clearly isn't there, we'll just resent each other."

For all her appearance of a whirling dervish of blond curls and impulsivity, she sees right to the heart of things. "Ok then." I hold out my arms, offering a hug, which she accepts. "Thank you for everything. And, good luck in Mobile. Keep in touch."

She gives me a friendly kiss on my cheek. "Thank you, George Tucker. Goodbye."

She leaves and I sit back down… not sure what to think, or do next.

ZPOV
It's been several weeks since Lavon's party and it seems as though I see George everywhere. Our encounters are always brief, by mutual choice. It's been hard, fighting the realization I had at Christmas, and harder keeping the promise I made to myself. Being single isn't as much fun anymore. Seeing him with Tansy has become less uncomfortable and more a dull ache in my chest, which becomes a sharp pang anytime they kiss. Deja vú, just a different blonde.

But, I keep my distance as much as I can and keep our conversations short and friendly.

On Monday, I see him at the Rammer Jammer and notice that Tansy hasn't joined him for lunch. Not so strange, perhaps she had a client and was unable to make it.

By Friday, though I begin to wonder. I haven't mentioned her absence and he hasn't offered an explanation in any of our short interactions, but I'm getting curious.

GPOV
I look up to see Zoe Hart standing by my table.

"May I sit?" she asks. Odd.

"Sure," I shrug. My mind is whirring like a hamster on a wheel, we've carefully avoided any prolonged contact since she told me to date other people. But then, does it really matter anymore? She and Wade are over, Tansy and I are over… I shake my head to clear it, she's started talking.

"Is Tansy out of town? I haven't seen her all week," she inquires. Right to the point I guess.

ZPOV
Well, that was blunt, Zoe. Geez, I sigh inwardly. That was not how I meant to start this conversation.

"No, she took a job in Mobile."

My mind is a jumble. What does that mean? "Oh, well, that's not too far away at least. How's she like it?"

He picks at his food. "Um, actually… we broke up last week."

…. My mind is blank.

He looks up at me. My brain kicks back in. I realize my mouth is hanging open. I quickly shut it.

"Oh, George, I'm sorry. I had no idea." I'd hoped and wondered but scarcely allowed myself to dream that was the case… I'm doing mental cartwheels, I'm running through a thousand possibilities, I'm… I don't know.

"It's ok. We parted as friends." He offers no explanation. But I'm nosy…

"So what happened?" I press.

He's back to picking at his food. After a moment, he looks up at me, green eyes assessing. He seems to make a decision.

"What's your schedule this afternoon?"

"Um, I have one appointment right after lunch and then I was going to do some paperwork, why?"

"Could you meet me around 3?"

"Sure… where?" I noticed he sidestepped my original question, and I'm not sure where he's going with this.

"My house ok?"

"Sure." I'm trying to decide if it would be weirder to stay and eat lunch with him or make some excuse to leave.

He ends my dilemma. "Want to stay and eat? I'm tired of eating alone."

I get the server's attention and place my order. Over lunch we catch up, we haven't really TALKED in ages it seems.

GPOV
I had mixed feelings about telling Zoe that Tansy and I broke up. On the one hand, I'd wanted to call her the moment Tansy walked out my door… and nearly every moment since. On another, I felt like I should wait… and I still wasn't sure if it'd been long enough. I want to be with Zoe, but I don't want to trivialize what Tansy was to me. But I wasn't going to lie about it… that didn't make sense. Maybe I didn't love Tansy, but she was special to me. On another hand (I seem to have too many hands…), I was… well, scared to tell Zoe. What if she told me it 'still wasn't our time'? I don't think I could handle that again.

But, I remembered our kiss at Christmas, the look in her eyes, she felt it too. Surely she's ready to try? Her line of questioning seems like more than just casual interest. She and Wade have broken up, she's not seeing anyone else… maybe it's finally our time.

There's only one way to find out. But, I don't want to have this conversation in the Rammer Jammer in front of the entire town. I arrange for us to meet later.

I feel like we haven't really talked since… May? Halloween? Does that even count? We've avoided spending any kind of time together recently because we both know how quickly our feelings get the better of us. But I suppose that without Wade or Tansy in the picture it's not really a problem anymore.

Lunch would be a good start. I invite her to join me and she accepts- that's a good sign right?