Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Sorry the last chapter ended abruptly, I just thought this should have its own chapter...I meant to update soon after the last one but I'll admit I fell asleep. =P
Sometime around midnight Zoe saw Wade's car pull up to his house. Trying to keep calm she gathered the box her mother had shipped and walked out her front door. By the time she made it to Wade's porch she was seriously starting to rethink her plan, and consider working out as the box seemed to get progressively heavier. Up side the heavy box made running back to her place unlikely. Placing the box on the wicker chair she'd once thrown out Zoe tentatively knocked on the door. Part of her hoping Wade wouldn't hear her...or be asleep even though she could clearly see the lights still on.
Less than thirty seconds went by before he was curiously opening the door shirtless no less. "Doc? Is everything okay?" he asked looking concerned.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry I know it's late but you weren't home earlier and I would have left them on the porch but then I thought maybe Burt Reynolds would get to them or they could get damaged...they do get damaged right? I don't know if that's a thing but..."
"Doc. What are you talking about?" Wade interrupted her placing his hands on her shoulders. All she could think is how once upon a time he would have kissed her to shut her up.
"Oh right...well I brought you that box. I was going to be holding it when you opened the door but it got heavy and my arms hurt." she said sheepishly pointing over her shoulder.
"Get inside, I'll get the box." he chuckled stepping away from the door to let her pass.
.
By the time Wade placed the box on the coffee table Zoe was already on the couch wearing his discarded shirt over her pajamas. Wade simply smirked and pulled the coffee table closer to the couch sitting next to her and opening the box. There was a long pause where Zoe's heart was pounding, trying to read his expression...surely he should have said something when he opened the box. Seconds ticked by and Zoe was starting to regret her decision to show up at his door so late wearing only her night clothes no less, when he finally looked at her.
"Why would you bring me this?" he asked slowly.
"They're a gift?" she asked.
"Doc," he paused actually shuffling though the contents of the box "you can't give me your dad's vinyls."
"But I want you to have them. Unless you don't want them, then I'm sure Rose can help me sell them on eBay. But I'll need your help getting the box home." she explained a little defeated.
"Sell them? Are you crazy?" to her confused expression he elaborated "Doc, Elton John's 'I've Been Loving You' is here, along with at least another five high dollar collectibles...and that's just the one's I know off the top of my head." That only got him another blank stare, "There's thousands of dollars in records sitting in that box Doc." he stressed.
"I still want you to have them." she said without hesitation.
"Zoe, it's too much."
"If you had an unlimited amount of money, would you buy them? Any of them?" she countered. Knowing she wouldn't let up until he gave her an answer he looked through the box again.
"More than half of them...and that's mostly because I haven't heard of the others." he sighed.
"Okay. Wade, these just fell into my life, they're little more than plastic discs to me. I don't own a record player...well I guess I do in the pent house, but the point is I know you would love to have them. So they're yours."
"Again, why?" he asked, not fighting but curious.
"Ninety-nine out of a hundred people will disappoint you, but you find the magic of the world in the margin of error." she shrugged.
"What are you going on about Doc?"
"It's what Lavon told me the first time I saw you sing Earl off the roof. You've always been that one percent. Someone I can count on."
"Are you saying?" he sighed a little lost "Zoe, please I'm bone headed...I need you to spell it out for me." he pleaded.
"I'm in love with you, Wade Kinsella. I have been for a very long time." As soon as the words were out of her mouth he was kissing her and pressing her against the armrest.
Finally breaking the kiss he kept his forehead pressed to hers, "Say it again." he breathed.
"I love you."
"I'm so in love with you." he whispered kissing her lightly. Needless to say the spent the rest of the night catching up and not talking about the late Dr. Hart or his rare vinyl collection.
.
Wade woke up some time the next morning to a familiar brunette curled up on his chest and hogging all of his covers, he'd be lying if he said he didn't love it.
"Mmmmh, you awake?" Zoe asked stifling a yawn, and trying get even closer to him.
"Nope."
"Good, me neither."
"I'm not saying I couldn't be persuaded to wake up Doc." he grinned.
"Is that so?" she asked finally looking up at him.
"Yup." he smirked flipping them over so he was now on top of her, causing her to giggle which he promptly stifled with a kiss.
.
"Gah! Why are you so stubborn?" Zoe exclaimed pouring herself another cup of coffee in the mayor's kitchen before glaring at her...well they hadn't discussed labels yet but Wade.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. It's a gift. I love you, I can give you stuff. It's in the handbook."
"Well mine must have gotten lost in the mail, but does this little book of yours explain how it's because I love you that I don't want to take such an expensive gift?" he asked.
"Nope, not in there. Plus they were free Cowboy. It's not like I'd go out and spend that kind of money on you without a thought...but the fact is I won't miss them and you'd enjoy them." she pouted standing between his legs as he sat on the stool.
"I guess that makes sense..." he sighed, grinning as he rolled his eyes.
"Good." she kissed him lightly.
"So, I know we usually wait until too much time has passed and we get really awkward," he started wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her in place, "but where does last night leave you and me?"
"Well, I love you and you love me, so I think we should..."
"Get married."
"Date." they finished at the same time. "Wait, what?" Zoe looked up at him trying to gauge the joke.
"Why wait Doc? You're it for me. Unless you can't see yourself marring a lowly bar owner..." he grinned.
"No, you don't get to play that card anymore. The last time I fell in love it was with a womanizing bartender who did something stupid. Bar owner is a step up."
"Oh yeah, I heard about that guy, got run out of town for breaking the pretty lady doctor's heart."
"Yep, that's the one."
"Well, his loss is my gain 'cause I'm never letting you go Doc." he whispered resting his forehead on hers.
"I'm okay with that." she grinned kissing him.
"Oh, naw, naw, naw! Lavon Hayes needs to start locking his door!"
When I started this fic I had no idea how long it would be, I had a situation and an eventual end, I had no clue how I would get from one to the other. I toyed with making this longer or maybe drawing it out, but it seemed silly after all the progress Zade made in NY to suddenly make them wait another 40 chapters to get it together.
Once again, thank y'all for sticking with this story until the end. =D