A.N. Merry Christmas everyone! (it's still 11pm here in Cali) I hope everyone who celebrated had a great one. Mine was alright. Anyway, I really wanted to post this and wasn't working so I was gonna wait until tomorrow morning but luckily it started working again. I really wanted to get this chapter up as a gift to all of you for waiting so patiently so I hope you enjoy it. I'm glad you all enjoyed the last chapter with all them Earl scenes. Happy to say there's more Earl in this chapter! I wish there was more Earl in the show. I feel like instead of all these couples storylines, they could dig so much deeper with the family aspect. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I can't believe it's number 25! Thanks again for the reviews and for reading my story. I check the traffic stats and it's insane how many views/visitors I get with each new chapter. I'll try and get the next chapter up by next week as I know after reading this chapter you all are going to want it so I promise I won't keep you all waiting long. With a new year comes a whole new story for our Zade in this story and hopefully for our show Zade. Anyway, enjoy!

Mi amor love you more with each look in your eyes
Maybe these simple words will do best to best describe
What I feel in my heart
During this Christmas time
How to make you see
How to let you know
How to say how to say how I need you so
With words you understand
Words that get through to your soul
Words that will let you know

Tu amor, I will always be
Tu amor, means the world to me
Mi estrella de la navidad
You're the one in my soul
And I live for, tu amor, tu amor.

You're the one that
I need in my arms
Believe me these words
I say are words that come straight from my heart
You're my gift under the tree

Tu eres mi unico regalo,
Tu eres mi mejor regalo,
Yo te quiero,
Yo te quiero,
Te adoro
Te adoro
Feliz Navidad,
Merry Christmas,
Tu Amor,
Mi Amor

-RBD

It was Christmas Eve in Bluebell and all the townspeople were getting ready to spend the day with their families. Including Wade and Zoe. In fact, Zoe's mother was expected to arrive in just a few hours.

"Are ya sure you want to go through with this doc? I mean, my dad isn't one to socialize well especially with you New Yorkers," Wade admitted after Zoe had mentioned the idea of inviting Earl to spend Christmas Eve with them.

"Wade, he's your dad. I think it's important that you spend time together. My mother will probably hate the entire thing but who cares?" Zoe said, knowing she will probably regret the decision later

"What about the Wilkes? I thought you said you were gonna try and reach out to that side of your family?" Wade asked

"I was, but I doubt they will cancel plans for me during Christmas," Zoe admitted, "Probably best I wait until after the New Year."

Wade nodded in agreement. Glad that he wouldn't have to worry about impressing Zoe's other side of the family especially with his father there. It's not so much that he was embarrassed of Earl, it's just he and his father were at somehow a better place and he wanted to take it slow. And also the fact that he had recently confessed to his father that he was considering proposing to Zoe on New Year's Eve. He hadn't given much thought to proposing until Earl had mentioned the idea after he had been clawed by an armadillo. Since that night he had pondered the question. Him and Zoe were basically living together already and he was happy with her and he was pretty sure he made her happy. He couldn't envision a future without Zoe so he knew she was the one for him. He was just nervous because he wasn't sure if Zoe felt the same way or was even ready for marriage. He was planning on asking her mother for permission later that evening. He was even more nervous for her response than Zoe's.

Later that day, Wade accompanied Zoe to pick up her mother.
"She's not like mad at me or anything, right?" Wade asked Zoe as they waited for her mother's bus to arrive from Mobile

"Why would she be mad?" Zoe asked

"For makin you leave New York and comin back here to Bluebell. She was still in recovery when we left wasn't she?" he asked

Zoe nodded to acknowledge that she had remembered

"She called me a few days after I left and she wasn't mad. A little sad because she missed us, but not at all upset," Zoe admitted

"How is she then?" Wade asked

"She's got a bit of a limp in her walk, but she says she's fine," Zoe answered

"Good to hear," Wade smiled

A few minutes later they spotted Candice with her luggage. Wade exited his car and generously grabbed her luggage as he greeted her.

"Thank you, Wade," Candice smiled as Zoe exited the passenger seat and hugged her mother

"Hi, Mom. How was your flight?" she asked

"Hello, Zoe. It was surprisingly good. You wouldn't think so at this time of year but it wasn't too bad," Candice admitted as she and Zoe both headed back inside Wade's car. Zoe returned back to the passenger seat while Candice took a seat at the back. After Wade closed the trunk he headed back to the driver's seat and started the car back to the carriage house.

"So, Wade. Zoe tells me your father will be joining us this evening?" Candice asked from the back seat

"Uh yeah. I hope that's not a problem," Wade answered

"No, not at all. I'm sure he's a lovely man," Candice admitted

"So, mom. How are you feeling?" Zoe asked, trying to change the subject

"You mean after the two of you ditched me?" she half joked but once she noticed Zoe's and Wade's face she finished, "I'm only kidding. I understand why you left. I'm doing a lot better actually. I still have a hard time walking but luckily it's not snowing here. It'll make things easier for me."

"Good to hear, Mrs. Hart," Wade chimed

They drove the rest of the way in silence and once Mrs. Hart was settled in Zoe's carriage house, Zoe and Wade left back to his place so she could freshen up.

"Are you sure your mom doesn't mind you stayin over here?" Wade asked Zoe

"She'll be fine," Zoe admitted as she went to give Wade a kiss

"Mm…what was that for?" he asked once they pulled away from the kiss

"Thank you for coming with me to pick up my mom and for agreeing to invite your dad. I know it wasn't an easy decision," she admitted

"Speaking of my dad, I should probably pick him up," Wade said, noticing the time

"OK. Just make sure to be back by five so we can have dinner," Zoe replied

"Got it, doc," he smiled as he kissed her goodbye

Once he got to his father's shack, he noticed Earl wasn't even ready yet.

"Damn it, Earl. I told ya to be ready by the time I got here," Wade said, upset

"I was gonna but got distracted by the TV," Earl confessed as his eyes continued to stare at the screen

Wade turned it off without even a glance of what he was watching

"I'll grab your old tux," he said, heading to his father's closet.

He found the tux his father had worn to his mother's funeral. It still looked brand new. He just hoped it still fit his father. Several minutes later and luckily the tux was still a perfect fit on Earl.

"Wow, Earl. When everyone sees you lookin this nice, they'll stop callin you Crazy," Wade smiled as he and his father looked in the mirror.

"I guess I should start dressin nice on a count of you getting married soon," Earl smiled

Wade smirked,

"Now, we don't even know if she'll say yes," Wade admitted

"Why wouldn't she? If I were you I would do it tonight. What are ya waitin for?" Earl asked

"I've gotta ask her mom, alright? I gotta do it right this time around," Wade admitted referring to Tansy

"She'll say yes, son. Don't you worry bout that," Earl smiled at his son

Proud to be standing in front of a mirror with him and being able to talk to him about something so important.

"I sure hope you're right," Wade said placing one hand on his side.

After Earl was all dressed, including his hair combed to his side, they headed off to the plantation.

"I noticed a lack of beer breath," Wade said to his father when they were halfway to his place

"Yeah, well, I knew how important tonight was for ya, son. I didn't wanna ruin it. I think I owe you that much," Earl admitted

His father's response left him speechless. He only looked over to his father and gave him a grateful look as he pulled into his driveway.

Earl and Wade found Zoe and her mother in Lavon's kitchen ready to go out to eat at Fancies'.

"Hello, you must be Earl, I'm Candice," Candice greeted as Earl shook her hand

"How do ya do?" Earl asked

"I'm fine, thank you," Candice replied

As their parent's got to know each other, Zoe pulled Wade to the side

"Earl looks so nice. How did you convince him to be so…presentable?" Zoe asked as she looked over Earl once more

"Christmas miracle, doc," Wade smirked as he was pleased that it looked as though his father and Zoe's mother were getting along just fine.

Their conversation carried on through dinner and Earl had Candice laughing several times.

"Let's not get too carried away with that story, Earl," Wade began as his father was about to tell the story of one of Wade's early Christmas'

"Don't worry, son. I won't tell the pretty ladies here how ya dressed up as Santa's little elf," Earl teased

"You dressed up as an elf?" Zoe smiled as if that was the cutest thing she'd ever heard

"I was five and my dad here was Santa. It was my mom's idea," Wade admitted

"He was a good elf too. Listened very well," Earl said

"I think that's adorable and there's nothing to be embarrassed by Wade," Candice chimed in

Wade only smiled. Hoping she'd find his idea of proposing to her daughter just as adorable, but he wasn't counting on it. After dinner, they headed back to the plantation. He asked his father if he wouldn't mind distracting Zoe so he could get a moment alone with Candice to talk. His father was more than happy to help his son out. He asked Zoe if she wouldn't mind giving him a quick check up after that armadillo attack.

Once Earl and Zoe left Lavon's kitchen, Wade knew it was time to ask her mother. He was so nervous he didn't even know what to say.

"Your father is lovely, Wade," Candice complimented

"Yeah, he has his days," Wade admitted

"Wade is everything alright? You seem a bit anxious," Candice noticed

Wade chuckled in spite of himself,

"The truth is I want to ask you somethin," he admitted

"What'd you want to ask me? I may surprise you," she smirked

Wade took a deep breath as he began

"I love your daughter and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I wanna propose to her on New Year's Eve, but I wanted to ask you first," he finished

Candice revealed a small smile

"As I'm sure you know, Zoe has had very few men in her life much less romantic ones. I've met all of those very few men including the romantic ones and yet none of them seem to be like you. She's happier and has this glow to her that I can't quite explain but I know is there. I have to admit that I didn't quite see the two of you workin out, but I was pleasantly surprised. You are a very nice man, Wade. One who I know is very fond of my daughter. I'd be happy to call you my son-in-law, if she says yes, of course," she finished with a smile

Wade let out a sigh of relief and smiled

"Thank you, Mrs. Hart"

The following morning, Zoe and Wade woke up side by side in Wade's bed. They greeted each other with a kiss and "merry Christmas" and eventually exchanged gifts with each other. Zoe bought Wade a new video game and a brand new watch while Wade bought Zoe a nice looking necklace with matching earrings.

"Wade these are so nice," she said with a smile looking over the jewelry

"Yeah, well, I had some help," he admitted

"Thank you," she said giving him a kiss

As he lay there with Zoe in his arms, it took all of him to not propose to her right then and there. Yet he knew without a doubt that he would propose to her the following week during the New Year. He just hoped she would say yes otherwise he was not sure if he could ever be with her again. He wanted to be with her for the rest of his life and if she said no he wasn't sure he could handle that type of rejection. He wasn't one to put forth his feelings and this proposal would make him vulnerable again which terrified him.