Thanks to everyone who gives me feedback… it helps me a lot! I hope you enjoy this chapter.

….

"If I'm being honest I thought you went off and did something stupid last night."

"You mean hookin' up with some bar slut?"

Zoe winced "Can you blame me for thinking it was a possibility."

"No, but I would like to think you trust me."

"I do… I just saw how hurt you were when you saw Joel standing there and I figured you'd want to hurt me."

Wade took a deep breath as he looked out into the darkness, both sitting side by side on the porch steps yet feeling a million miles away "I guess I'm just sick of being your second choice all of the time."

"You're my first choice Wade, that's why this whole thing scares me so much, you are my only choice and I am scared that we'll just continue to hurt each other to the point that-"

"You're gettin' ahead of yourself Doc… "

"No I'm not, I'm serious Wade. I want to be with you so badly but…"

"But what?" he asked as he moved closer to her.

"I see other couples and they just… click or something, like it all comes easy and natural to them but for us it just seems like all we do is hurt each other and screw it up."

Wade paused as he looked into her eyes "Well that's because we've got our added sexiness to factor in."

Zoe spat out a little giggle as she hit him lightly across his chest, even in the most hurtful of times he knew how to put a smile on her face and make her feel like everything was going to be okay, even if it was just for a minute.

"Can I ask why you and Joel broke up?"

"I thought you didn't want to know?"

Wade hung his head as smiled a little at her sassy tone "Well now I do..." he whispered as he moved his head closer to hers and knocked their foreheads together. Zoe smiled as her fingers caught a feel of the back of his head, his soft hair brushing against the pads of her fingers as she shivered ever so slightly. Wade noticed her small body jump as he unzipped his hoody and held it open as she slipped her arms through the sleeves.

"Bluebell is my home and no matter how hard I tried he was never going to fit in here so once he got a call from his editor asking him to come back to New York I knew we were over, that I was meant to be here…."

Wade nodded slowly, not really sure what to say.

"But there was another reason…" she said quietly as Wade's head shot up "… When I went to New York last summer my heart was broken and I did everything in my power to prove to myself that you weren't what I wanted, Joel was a safe choice because I knew he would never hurt me but I could never love him the way I love you."

"Every time you told him you loved him, did you mean it?"

Zoe's stomach flipped as Wade's words came with hurt and pain, up until this moment she didn't quite understand how hard it was for Wade to see her with Joel and she knew no amount of words could take back the way she acted with Joel or how she treated him so instead she raised her right hand, placed it on his cheek and pressed her lips against his. Taking him completely by surprise she held a tight grip of his shirt collar as their noses clicked together.

"It was easy to say it to him because I didn't really mean it."

Wade kissed her again as the knots in his stomach loosened ever so slightly.

"See this is what I meant by the added sexiness, it's all just too much!" Wade quipped as he pulled away, Zoe laughed as she placed her hand on his leg and rested her head on his shoulders, both stared out at the night.

"Wade I don't think you'll ever understand how sorry I am for sending you that email last summer… it was the last way I ever wanted to say goodbye to you but I knew if I called you…" she choked up a little "… if I heard your voice that I would fall apart."

"Readin' that email killed me it did and I was in a really crap place for a long time after it but it was a long time ago, and there is no point holdin' a grudge over somethin' that is no longer relevant, right?"

Zoe sighed as she pressed her forehead against his cheek, she could never understand how he could be so considerate and understanding time after time.

"You have no idea how many times over the summer I just wanted to get on a plane and go to see you…"

"Well why didn't you?"

"Would you have sent me back home if I did?"

Zoe paused for a moment before smiling "probably, yeah or I'd have done the complete opposite and fallen into bed with you."

"See now that is one thing we are good at, that does not need fixin'…"

Zoe hit Wade playfully across the chest as he grinned down at her. They sat in silence for a moment, neither really wanting to speak, just enjoy the tranquillity.

"Do you want to stay here tonight?" Zoe asked cautiously as Wade's arm tightened around her body. He rested his chin on her head as he thought about her offer, the idea of lying next to Zoe after nearly a year apart sounded like heaven to him and he knew the right thing to do would be to go home and let them pick up their conversation in the morning but he also knew how hard she was working to hold onto them and that he should do the same.

"But I left my pj's at home…"

Zoe let out a loud laugh as she nuzzled into his shirt before pulling him up onto his feet. Wade looked at her as he tucked a strand of hair behind and then took her hand in his and led her into the carriage house.

"You can borrow my pj's if you like…"

"You're too kind Doc."

…..

"You're alive."

Wade lifted his head to see Lavon standing in front of him with his hat in his hands. He took a seat at the bar as Wade filled his mug with coffee.

"You're not gettin' rid of me that easily." He joked as he wiped the surface clean.

"I didn't see you in my kitchen this mornin' either."

"Yeah I was runnin' late so I just came here straight from Zoe's. I'll be back tomorrow though so don't worry."

Zoe's?" Lavon asked inquisitively.

Wade smirked as he leaned over the bar "Wasn't like that, we talked for ages and I just stayed over. We didn't do anythin'…"

"So Joel's gone?"

"Yeah…"

"Are you guys back together?"

Wade paused, they never really established last night what their status was so when Lavon flung the question at him he panicked, he wanted to be with Zoe and he was almost certain she wanted to be with him but the conversation never took a turn in that direction so neither party pushed it. Luckily for Wade George came up behind Lavon before he could answer the question.

"Wade, you're back."

"Can't a guy go off the radar for one day without the whole town stickin' their nose in?"

"Not when Zoe Hart is concerned." Lavon said as he flipped through the menu and George nodded in agreement.

"What d'ya mean?" Wade asked not really sure what the two men were talking about.

"Dude if it was up to her she'd have had the National Guard out lookin' for you. She was a mess."

"She was?"

"What did y'all talk about last night?" Lavon asked as he started to realise Wade didn't know the whole story of his disappearance and the effect it had on Zoe.

"Well I knew she was worried but… for other reasons." He looked around the bar in disbelief "…she really missed me that much?"

George nodded his head as he took a sip at his coffee.

"I should go talk to her shouldn't I?"

"Yes, you should." George said as he watched Wade dash out from behind the bar screaming to Wanda to cover him.

Wade walked briskly through the town square and by the time he made it to the door of the practice he was running. He burst into the waiting room where Zoe and Brick were standing both looking at a chart Zoe held in her hand. Brick looked up to see Wade running towards him with a sweaty brow.

"Hello son-" Brick said but was cut off as Wade stepped in front of them, pulled Zoe into his body and kissed her as the chart fell to the floor. Zoe stood stunned for a moment before wrapping her arms around his neck and reciprocated his passionate kiss, as Wade felt her tongue creep past his lips he smiled and Brick rolled his eyes before clearing his throat.

Zoe looked over at him for a moment and then up at Wade, both with the biggest smiles on their faces.

"You're my girlfriend Zoe. We're not monogamous casually or just friends or seein' what happens. We're together, for real and the sooner everyone knows the better, okay?"

Zoe was stuck for words as she stared up at him, his eyes sparkling and his skin glowing, she felt the tears form as she nodded her head "Okay" she croaked out as she wiped the tears away, mixed with a dose of laughter.

"And I'm takin' you on a date tonight too."

Brick stood there trying his best not to smile but even he could see the young couple had jumped that final hurdle and as if through some mystical force the pain and anguish that had covered them for the best part of a year lifted from their shoulders and evaporated.

….

"I heard he swept her off her feet…"

"I heard he serenaded her with a song on the guitar…"

"No no no ladies you've heard it all wrong. He snuck into her office and covered it with roses before gettin' Doctor Breeland to guide her in."

"Oh Shula hush, there is no way that happened. I heard from Frank who heard from Tom who heard from Wanda that he swept her off her feet and Wanda works with Wade she would know…"

The three ladies continued their debate as they watched Wade and Zoe walk hand in hand towards the town square.

"Well either way… Zade are back." Josie said as she gripped at her handbag.

"6 hours and the towns already onto us…"

"The Bluebell way…" Zoe stated as they walked past the chattering ladies "… it will die down after a few days… I hope."

Wade smiled down at her and took his hands in hers, interlocking their fingers as Zoe smiled "This feels right" she whispered into his shirt as they crossed the towns square, the sun beginning to set.

Wade pulled her in and kissed the top of her head as sign of agreement "We're definitely gonna be the feature headline on Dash's blog tomorrow."

"What time do you want to go to Fancies at?" Zoe asked as they walked towards the plantation.

Wade thought about it as he examined the sets of eyes looking at them "Maybe we should go to Mobile."

"I thought you hated those restaurants with their jacked up prices…" she joked as she looked up at him, Wade left slightly stuck for words laughed as he looked for an excuse.

"Well I figured we could celebrate… and not have the whole town look at us while we do."

Zoe reached up and kissed him as Crickett and Stanley watched on. Zoe caught onto their stares as she moved closer to Wade.

"Yeah maybe we should go to Mobile, or…" she said turning in to face him as they stopped at the gate to the plantation "…we could skip dinner altogether and just go back home…"

Wade's jaw dropped as he felt her hand ride up his back, he stiffened as he smiled "We could do that too…"

Zoe struggled to find the door handle of the gatehouse as her body pushed up against the glass door, Wade's hands travelling furiously up and down her body as she showered his neck in kisses. Both letting out little laughs and giggles as the door finally opened and they fell into the darkened gatehouse. Once inside Wade began to unbutton her shirt and Zoe discarded his hoodie and t-shirt. Pressing her up against the wall Wade shivered as her soft skin bounced against his. He hoisted her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist and let him stagger to the bed. The minute her head hit the pillow Zoe beamed with joy, she curled her arms around his neck and his bobbed in and out for kisses. Their noses grazed together as each kiss intensified but slowly Wade began to pull away as Zoe looked up at him.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she fiddled with the pendant around his neck.

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" he asked softly as he stroked the side of her face. Zoe paused for a moment, taking in the intensity of the moment as their bodies pressed together, both were fighting so hard for this relationship and both were scared and vulnerable.

"Why… have you forgotten how to do it?" Zoe quipped causing Wade to drop his head in laughter against her chest hearing her little laugh vibrate his ear. Wade took a deep breath as he dropped another kiss against her lips.

….

"For some reason I don't think we're going to make dinner…" Zoe said as she drew circles with her index finger across Wade's chest.

Wade chuckled as he looked over at the alarm clock "Probably not… but if I feel like you're gonna waste away on me I'll throw you some bread."

"You are just too kind Wade Kinsella…" Zoe swooned as she reached up and planted a kiss on his lips, stroking his stubble with her curled up fingers. Wade ran his hand up and down her back as the bodies clicked together both holding on dearly to the night's events.

"You know I never thought I'd say this but I really have missed this bed." She stated as she sat up in the bed and looked around for one of his shirt to throw on. Wade sighed as he felt her peel away from his skin and tried to coax her back in.

"Well then you gotta spend some quality time with it… Come on."

Zoe laughed as she fell back into his grip smothering her head into his chest as he kissed the top of her head. Her mood dropped suddenly as she grew serious.

"When we broke up I spent nights wishing I was back here with you… I'm just so happy we have a second chance."

Wade tucked a strand of hair behind her right ear "Me too Doc…" He kept his hand on her head for a few moments longer before stretching his arm out and sighing "…you wanna go make some pancakes?"

Zoe's jaw locked as she smiled nervously "It's a bit late for pancakes. Why don't we just get pizza?"

"Or we could go to Lavon's and you could whip up some of them amazin' pancakes you made me…"

"Or…" Zoe said as she ran her index finger down his stomach "…we could stay here."

"But I really want those pancakes."

"Lavon probably doesn't even have the ingredients."

"So we'll just go get some of that ready-made stuff. You know where to get it."

Zoe gasped as she smiled and hit his chest playfully "You knew?!" She screeched as Wade burst out laughing.

"Of course I knew!" he stated as he sat himself up in the bed "Baby you can't cook, at all."

"I thought I was doing something nice for you."

"You were… now if you actually did try and cook then that would have been a punishment-" Zoe shoved him forcefully as he fell back onto the mattress forcefully, bringing her with him, both with smiles on their faces.

"I really appreciate it though…" he whispered as he kissed her. Her light body resting on his as their lips crashed together.

….

Lavon looked up from his book as he heard the door snap. Standing before him, hand in hand, were Wade and Zoe both with grins on their faces and not much clothes between them. Wade wearing a tank top and jeans and Zoe in one of his shirts and denim shorts. Lavon wasn't really sure what to say given in the last 48 hours the couple had gone being together, to not talking, to walking hand in hand.

"What do we got here?" he asked as Wade and Zoe looked at each other.

"Me and my, boyfriend are making dinner… you want some?"

Lavon's face lit up as he looked at both his friends "Boyfriend? Y'all sure?"

Wade laughed as he placed his hand on Zoe's knee "Yeah… do we got your permission?" he joked as Zoe pushed against his shoulder.

"Just don't involve me in your drama this time."

Zoe smirked, she knew that was never going to happen. This was a 3 way relationship that worked through Lavon so she simply smiled and let him think the best.

"Hey Lavon you think maybe when AB gets back from her cousins house in Birmingham we could all go out for dinner?"

"Uhh... we could. I mean it would be a bit awkward seen as we broke up but you could ask her anyway."

Wade's head shot up as Zoe nearly dropped the packet of pasta in her hand "What?"

"Did I not mention that?"

"No never came up." Wade said sarcastically.

"You guys were just at the party on Saturday night… what happened?"

"I really don't want to get into it. I'll be okay."

Wade looked over at Zoe with a worried look on both their faces, feeling slightly guilty they were so absorbed in their own troubles they completely missed Lavon's.

"You want us to go? Watch a bit of Don Todd and drown yourself in pity and beer?"

"Nah… my two best friends are back together, we gotta celebrate. I'll go get us some beer and pizza…" he looked at the bag of pasta in Zoe's hand "…cause if Zoe's cookin' I will be sad!"

"Hey!" She stated as Lavon headed for the door laughing and Wade hung his head trying to hide his laughter but Zoe caught him and hit him playfully. Wade waited until Lavon closed the door before pulling Zoe into his body and pecking at her lips.

"I've missed bein' your boyfriend Zoe Hart. Even if you can't cook or change a light bulb I love you, so much."

"I love you too Cowboy…"

….

Please let me know what you thought! Thanks!