Dear Diary,

My mother's here! Well to be fair she did redecorate my place a few months back, and it is the holidays...but I just feel weird with her here. Like I won't be able to be me or something. She's always been so critical about everything in my life I've just gotten to the point where I naturally shut her out. But sooner or later she's going to want into my life and she's going to hit on Wade who really shouldn't have to deal with that! He's still fragile, okay so he has a new girl over every night except on Wednesdays when we have movie nights and Saturdays when he works late because we always spend Sundays together...so I guess that means he doesn't have a girl on Sundays either. Not important, what's important how I'm going to survive! I was going to have a Christmas movie night with Wade...not that he agreed or anything, but it was still the plan. Maybe I can sneak out? Ah, here she comes!

Until next time,

Z

.

Zoe had just enough time to close the journal before her mom knocked on the doorframe and walked in.

"Hey mom, did you need anything?" she asked making room on the bed for her mom to sit.

"No, just wondering what your plans were for the coming week, I thought maybe we could do something. You know I leave on Christmas day for that trip." Zoe had no idea what trip her mother was talking about but figured it wasn't that important.

"Well, I have work and the town has this festival, but I was thinking of having a dinner-Christmas-movie night here for Wade and maybe Lavon if he didn't have other plans. That was before I knew you were coming though."

"Well, that sounds fabulous." Candice agreed much to Zoe's shock.

"Wait what?"

"Well, we could cook something up here have your friends over watch movies. I'd love to formally meet these guys you're always talking about."

"Um, okay. I don't really know if they have plans mom, it was just an idea and I don't really cook." Zoe argued immediately regretting here big mouth.

"Nonsense, even if they're busy we can have fun."

"I still don't know how to cook." Zoe countered.

"Oh, Zoe no one was going to let you near the kitchen...we all know what happens when you try to cook." Zoe probably should have been offended but it was true. Now she just had to ask Wade and Lavon over for Christmas with her mother.

Zoe walked into the Rammer Jammer looking for a certain bartender, her mom was off with Lavon and she wanted to get to Wade before they did. Just as expected he was behind the bar, unfortunately, he was talking to the woman Zoe was trying to intercept and Lavon was nowhere in sight. "Hey Doc," Wade greeted spotting the frazzled doctor his smirk firmly in place, "this lovely young lady here" he said winking at Candice who ate it up "says we're all spending Christmas Eve together." he drawled giving her a mix of his you-owe-me look and his this-is-going-to-be-fun look.

"Well Cowboy, that's exactly why I came in here. I was going to invite you in person." she forced a smile silently begging him to behave.

"Hmm, well like I was about to tell your mama...I have to see Earl first, but I'll be sure to drop by in time for dinner." he said placing a glass of iced tea in front of Zoe.

"Who's this Earl?" Candice asked looking between the other two.

"My dad." Wade relented.

"Oh, well he's welcome to join us! The more the merrier."

"I don't think that's a good idea..."

"Nonsense, a parent should be with his child on Christmas." Candice reprimanded Wade.

"I'll ask. But ever since my mama died around this time Earl's not really good with people. Kinda likes to spend the day alone." Wade explained. Zoe knew a little about Earl's aversion to Christmas but Wade never wanted to talk about it, so she didn't push it.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Of course...just let him know our door is open if he would like to come."

"Where is Lavon?" Zoe finally asked after the silence seemed to drag on too long.

"Oh, he had to go do something and this lovely young man offered to take me home," Candice explained.

"Really?" she asked Wade with a raised eyebrow. He just winked at her in response and most likely went to place her order with the kitchen. Not that she actually ordered anything, but he knew her taste and usually brought her food whether she wanted it or not.

"Such a charming young man." Candice stated, watching Wade appreciatively as he walked away.

.

Dear Diary,

I did it! I made it to Christmas Eve without killing my mother! It wasn't easy but I spent a lot of time working and she seemed pretty interested in checking out the town's hot men. That didn't stop her from criticizing my eyebrows or my hair or even my wardrobe which is why I'm up here she sent me to change. I was wearing a perfectly presentable outfit, but apparently, I'm going to wear a dress now and make sure my hair is out of my face. Maybe I can just hide up here until she leaves? No? Fine. I just always feel so inadequate when she's around. And now she's sure to give the guys material to mock me for life! Speak...write of the Devil. I hear voices downstairs I should go run interference.

Until next time,

Z

.

Dinner seemed to go as well as could be expected. Lavon told stories of his NFL days, Candice told the guys how she met Harley and shared way more information than any of them wanted to know about their brief affair. Wade, not to be outdone told stories of his adventures with Zoe and all the injuries he had sustained because of her, so naturally Zoe defended herself and in turn catalogued all her Wade related injuries.

After dinner the group gathered in front of the television for coffee, pie and Christmas movies. Candice made it through two movies before she went off to bed, having to wake up early to catch a flight. Lavon left not too long after her leaving Zoe and Wade to finish off The Grinch alone. Finally, the movie credits started to roll but neither made a move to get up off the couch.

"So, your mom's heading out tomorrow." It was a statement, but really Zoe knew Wade was asking her something.

"Yep, I'm kind of relieved." she answered.

"She's not that bad."

"Maybe not." at Wade's eyebrow raise she elaborated, "She's better than she used to be, for sure. I think I'm just so on edge when I'm around her, like I'm scared she'll be disappointed in me or something."

"Come on Z, she's so proud of you it's kind of nauseating." he mocked lightly kicking her thigh from his end of the couch.

"Yeah sure, except when she asks why I can't seem to keep a guy or when she makes me change my outfit fifteen times."

"Well...you can't keep a guy." he grinned, "And I like the short dress," he added suggestively, throwing Zoe off a bit. Lately, he seemed to be flirting with her a bit more than usual and she couldn't say she didn't enjoy it.

"Thanks for coming over today."

"Where else was I supposed to go?" he shrugged getting up and changing the DVD before taking a seat closer to Zoe on the couch. "So..." he started a few minutes into the movie, "what're you doing New Year's Eve?" he asked.

"Probably nothing," she admitted.

"Well this town has a crazy party every year, we could go if you wanted." he suggested not really looking at her.

"What about Earl?"

"What about Earl?" he asked her confused.

"Wouldn't you want to spend it with him?" she asked.

"Naw," he chuckled "I'll be singing him down on the first."

"Oh, then let's go." she grinned.

"Lets go." he agreed as she rested her head on his shoulder.

.

Hey Runt,

Just a few more hours until you can say you survived 2011, drink enough coffee to stay awake past midnight.

Wade

.

Zoe laughed at the note stuck onto her half-full coffee pot. Looking at the dirty cup in the sink and the empty cookie box in the trash she figured Wade really just dropped by because Lavon kicked him out or was out of coffee.

"Hey Wanda." Zoe greeted talking a seat at the Rammer Jammer for lunch.

"Hey Dr. Hart, Wade's not here." she informed her handing her a menu. That was something she didn't notice until her mom pointed it out, but everyone in town seemed to naturally inform her of anything Wade related whether she asked or not. It made her wonder if they did the same to him.

"On another break?" she asked with an eyeroll, she remembered him telling her of how he used to hook up with girls during working hours.

Wanda just looked pensive for a second before answering, "You know come to think of it he hasn't taken any of those breaks in a while, maybe since Tansy. He's off sorting out a delivery should be back soon though." she smiled taking her order and going over to greet Tom.

.

Dear Diary,

I think Wade Kinsella may be less of a man slut than I thought! I'm a little impressed. Time to get ready for tonight.

Until next year,

Z

.

"Wade! I Can't run in these shoes!" Zoe laughed as she stumbled behind Wade trying to keep her sparkly top hat on while carrying the last of AB's famous pastries.

"Shhh, We're almost there, and you're the one who stole the food and got us into this mess to begin with!" he whispered as he finally stopped at a clearing close to the edge of the forest.

"Well we were late, and I've never been here for New Years!"

"Mhmm all I'm saying is you got between a large man and his food...so I had to cause a distraction by stealing a bottle of whatever this stuff is." he smirked opening the bottle and taking a swig before offering it to her.

"Well, I need it more." she pouted taking a drink and sitting on the ground causing Wade to laugh.

"Can't argue there Runt." he agreed sitting next to her and draping his jacket over her shoulders.

They sat out in the clearing for a while just talking and enjoying the sounds of the party going on just beyond the trees, but soon it was past eleven and the goal was to enjoy the coming year with the town, so reluctantly they made their way back to towards the loud music playing Zoe still wearing Wade's jacket.

"Well there ya two are, Lavon Hayes almost sent out a search party."

"We weren't gone that long." Wade rolled his eyes at the mayor.

"Long enough for you to lose your jacket." he countered, making Zoe blush a little.

"Look at her, how could I let a tiny little thing like that freeze out there?"

"Hey!" Zoe finally spoke up. "I'm not that little!" Which just caused both men to laugh.

Zoe spent most of the next hour with Rose catching up before Wade came and pulled her away mid-sentence.

"What was that about?" she asked as he pushed passed townspeople until they were in the middle of the square.

"It's about to start." he grinned and right on cue, the townsfolk began the count down.

"5...4...3...2...1!"

"HAP..." Zoe's words were silenced by Wade's lips on hers. The kiss was unexpected and much too short for Zoe's liking, still she couldn't help grinning when she saw Wade grinning down at her.

"Happy New Year Doc." he drawled with that infuriating smile.

"Happy New Year Cowboy. So now what?" she asked not really sure herself what she was referring to.

"Now...we go watch some of those horrible movies you love until we pass out because tomorrow I'll have to sing Earl from the roof again and I need something to remind me it could be worse."

"Jerk."

"Princess."