A/N: Thanks for all the reviews on the end of Summer 1999 - I know it was emotional, but that's love for you, right? And now for something completely different. Well, not completely, but a little bit. Who's ready for a New York Interlude? ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 25 - A New York Interlude

Saturday 20th May 2000

"Ladies and gentleman, the Cyrus Lavinius Jeremiah Jones High School graduating Class of 2000," said the principal, presenting them all to the gathered audience of family and friends.

No sooner did the applause get down to a dull roar and the group of students start to break up, than Wade Kinsella leapt down from the stage, already abandoning his cap and gown. He knew he wasn't going to get too far for a minute, but that was okay. It actually meant an awful lot to Wade to see his father stood up from his seat now, jostling his way to the end of the aisle to meet him.

"My boy," said Earl as he finally reached him, placing his hands on Wade's shoulders. "Couldn't be more proud of ya, son," he told him, smiling widely, even as tears welled in his eyes.

"Thanks, Dad," said Wade, nodding his head. "Means a lot that you made it."

"No place in the world I'd rather be on this day than seein' my boy graduate," Earl confirmed. "You know, your momma..." he began, biting his lip a moment before he could eventually continue. "I know she's up there, lookin' down on us and..."

"And I reckon she's proud o' the both of us, Dad," Wade assured Earl, pulling him into a hug that was happily returned.

"Now, you get along with you," said Earl as they pulled apart, the older man clearly trying his best not to cry, and though he'd never admit it, Wade could've had a few tears himself if he let it happen. "Looks like the doc's all set and waitin' on ya."

Wade glanced across the square and smiled to see Dr Wilkes stood by the car waving him over. Pleased as he was to be graduating, Wade had bigger plans for tonight than whatever party the others in his class were planning. He had his daddy, and Zoe's too, to thank for that.

"Hey, Wade!" George called from the stage, hands cupped around his mouth so his voice would carry over the general noise of the assembled crowd. "Tell her we're all thinkin' of her, can't wait to her have her back this summer!"

"Will do, Tucker!" Wade yelled back, saying a quick goodbye to his father then, before barrelling across the square at top speed.

"How's it feel to be a graduate, Wade?" asked Dr Wilkes the moment he reached him.

"Pretty good," he admitted, grinning big, "but not half so good as it's gonna feel when we pull off this surprise on our girl."

Harley chuckled at that, encouraging Wade to hurry up and get on into the car. After all, they had a flight to catch, and it wasn't likely to wait for them.

They were outside of Bluebell and well on their way to Mobile before Wade spoke up again.

"I wanna thank you again, Dr Wilkes, for everythin' you done for me these past few months," he said sincerely. "I'm not just talkin' about this trip and all, though that's a big part. I never could've afforded-"

"Hush now, Wade. We talked this out already," Harley told him, eyes always on the road. "Much as I don't mind helping you out, you know as well as I do, most of the reason I arranged all this was to make my Zoe happy."

"The stuff for tonight, sure," Wade agreed, "but like I said, I don't just mean thanks for that. I know you helped old Earl a lot, and he's doin' better because of it. I wouldn'ta dared leave him overnight like this if he wasn't... well, doin' so much better," he said diplomatically.

Harley nodded his head in understanding. "Your father is a good man, Wade, always was. He gets a little lost sometimes, it's happened to the best of us, but he's finding his way back onto that better path. Between me and Reverend Mayfair and yourself, well, and I might say my Zoe a little bit too, I think he'll be just fine."

"I like to think so," Wade agreed, eyes returning to the view out of the window as the Alabama scenery flew on by.

It was strange for him to think that soon he would be at the airport. He had been there so many times before to meet Zoe, and even once last year to drop her off. All those trips and never once had he got on a plane to go anywhere. Tonight would be Wade's first flight and he wasn't altogether sure how he felt about it. Still, he knew however much of a trial it was, he could handle it. It would all be worth it to see the look on Zoe's face when he and Harley showed up at her door tonight.

Zoe stood at her bedroom window watching the rain run down the glass, obscuring the view of the streets outside. She had started randomly humming 'It's Raining on Prom Night' about three days ago and it had been stuck in her head ever since. If she didn't know any better, she would think it was a sign, or maybe that she even made this happen somehow. She wasn't so sad about the night being potentially ruined by the weather. Truth be told, she hadn't much been looking forward to Prom anyway. It wasn't as if she had a date or even many friends to hang out with when she got there.

The downside to summers in Alabama was singular but major. Zoe so loved the way things were in Bluebell, that coming back to New York was forever a wrench. The people in school just didn't seem as friendly as her real friends in Bluebell and no matter how many boys might show an interest in her, Zoe wouldn't date a single one, because her heart belonged to Wade Kinsella.

Zoe wondered several times why she had insisted on staying in NYC with her mother, attending school with kids she barely cared for, when it was obvious her dad would've happily had her come live with him. She could've gone to high school in Alabama and it probably would've been great, and yet...

"Zoe?" her mother called from the living room. "Are you almost ready, sweetheart?"

Zoe sighed and looked down at her dress.

"Almost!" she yelled back, which was only half a lie.

Technically, she was completely ready to go. Her hair and makeup were done, she was dressed and all-set to leave, save for her shoes which were waiting there by the door. The mirror showed Zoe that she looked good in the special red dress that her mom helped her pick out, with her hair styled just so, the familiar heart-shaped red-stoned studs sparkling in her ears. Maybe Zoe would feel better about this whole thing if the guy who gave her the earrings was there to escort her to Prom, but they never even talked about the possibility.

Zoe and Wade talked about most things, by text or calls. She knew that Earl was doing his best to quit drinking. She heard about how AB and Jake broke up because it just wasn't working out. She was told the sorry tale of Mrs Breeland up and leaving her family behind last winter. Wade got to hear about what Zoe had going on too, and they would cover all kinds of topics, not least how much they missed each other every day, but there were subjects they never broached at all. Zoe never dared mention Prom or college or anything too serious, anything that made her feel sad or guilty, or just too far removed from the man she loved.

"Zoe?"

"Coming, Mom!" she yelled back, hurrying to slip on her shoes and fasten them.

She would have to force a smile for pictures for Candice and then probably again at the fancy hotel where Prom was being held, but Zoe wasn't sure how long she would manage to look cheerful before she gave up on dancing and mingling, and slipped off home again.

"I'm sorry, Mom, I was having some trouble with... Dad?" Zoe gasped as she came out into the living room and saw Harley standing there.

"Hello, Zoe honey," he greeted her. "My goodness, look at you. So, grown up and so very beautiful... like your mother," he added, almost like an afterthought.

Zoe bit her lip, rushing to hug her father and hide her sniggering in his shoulder.

"It's so great that you're here," she insisted, "but why are you here? I mean, I knew you were coming for graduation, but that's not for four weeks, and Prom isn't such a big deal."

"I happen to think it should be a very big deal, young lady," said Harley then, holding her by the shoulders at arms' length a moment. "Now, you stand right there, I'll go fetch your present."

"Present?" asked Zoe, glancing back at her mother while Harley hurried to the apartment door.

Candice shrugged her shoulders as if she had no idea, but the expression on her face made Zoe wonder. The wondering didn't last long as she turned back around to find not one man stood before her but two, and she couldn't have been more thrilled by the sight of the second.

"Oh my God!" she gasped, amazed to see Wade, of course, but even more so because he was all dressed up in a tux. "I don't... Look at you."

"Hell, Zoe, look at you," he countered, apparently equally taken aback as he looked her over. "You are... beautiful," he told her then.

Harley and Candice took themselves into the next room, though Zoe and Wade only noticed enough to realise they were alone and could act a little more naturally. It was no surprise then that in the next second they had their arms around each other, kissing like their lives depended on it. It had been too long. It was always too long when they had to be apart.

"I can't believe you're here," Zoe gasped as they parted from their kiss, her hands clasped behind his neck so tight - she was honestly afraid if she let go, he might disappear, like a dream or mirage. "You're in New York."

"I can tell," Wade told her. "Even dressed up like this, I am freezin' my ass off."

Zoe laughed, she couldn't help it and moved herself impossibly closer to him.

"I'll try to keep you warm," she promised.

"You're doin' a hell of a job already," he promised, kissing her again because he couldn't bear not to. "So, I guess I oughta formally ask you. You wanna go to Prom with me, Zoe Hart?"

"Wade Kinsella, I would love to," she assured him, smiling so wide that her face felt fit to split in two, and she didn't care at all.

His hand slipped up to her face then, pushed stray strands of hair aside and marvelled at the sight of his mother's earrings.

"You didn't even know I was comin'."

"I told you, I wear them all the time," she insisted. "And there was no way I wouldn't tonight of all nights. If I couldn't have you with me, something special that came from you was the next best thing," she explained. "But now I actually have you too, so I guess I'm just spoiled, or the luckiest girl in the world," she said happily.

Now, finally, she was looking forward to Prom.

It was quite a revelation when Zoe showed up for Prom on Wade's arm. It turned out there were at least a few girls from school who hadn't quite believed her when she talked about her boyfriend from Alabama, and more still who believed he existed, but not that he was ever going to measure up to the fine young men of New York City. Boy, were their faces red after meeting Wade Kinsella in the flesh.

"I don't think I was ever stared at by so many people," he said as he and Zoe slow-danced in the middle of the ballroom. "Plus, all your girly friends keep askin' me to 'Say somethin' in Southern.' Startin' to feel like a monkey at the circus or some such."

"Well, maybe they're staring at me now." Zoe shrugged, even though she knew that probably wasn't true. "You did say I looked beautiful tonight."

"You look beautiful all of the time," Wade promised her. "Though I gotta admit, this dress is somethin' else."

"Honestly? It's not the most comfortable thing I ever wore," she said, smirking a little. "I don't think it'll be too long before I want to take it off altogether."

Wade smirked too when he heard that. "Are you tryin' to seduce me, Zoe Hart? 'Cause I'm not so sure I'm that kinda boy."

Zoe laughed as he spun her out, only to bring her back in even closer than before.

"Are you really telling me you flew all the way to New York just to dance with me, Wade Kinsella?" she asked him breathlessly, looking up into his eyes.

"Baby, I woulda flown all the way to the moon and back for this," he promised her. "I missed you so much these past eight months."

"I missed you too, you know I did," she assured him, "but at least you're here now."

They both leaned in closer until they met in a sweet kiss, hardly aware of the other couples still dancing around them, or the music shifting gears. Zoe and Wade only had eyes for each other, as usual.

"I still can't believe you showed up here like this," said Zoe, giggling in the dark. "I really hadn't been expecting to have much of a memorable Prom night, but this has all been so amazing," she said happily, curling closer into Wade's embrace with her head on his chest.

His arms held her tight to him as he kissed the top of her head, more comfortable lying in that hotel bed with her than he had been for a single second in all the months without her. They had left the dance pretty early, unable to bear to be in public anymore. In the privacy of his hotel room, their passion overtook them for quite a while, and now they were sated it was heaven just to be close and comfortable together.

"You got your daddy to thank for gettin' me here," said Wade, not entirely easy with thinking about Harley when he was in bed with Zoe, but right now he didn't entirely have a choice in the matter. "Earl helped me out with the tux, my money got you the corsage and all, but there's no way in hell I could've afforded a flight to New York and back without Harley pitchin' in."

"Was it his idea or yours?" she asked curiously then, peering up at Wade in the half-light.

"Sort of a joint thing, I guess," he considered, as they both turned on their sides to face each other. "We got to talkin' about you one day when he dropped by to check on Earl. Happens a lot, obviously, but I don't know, he said somethin' about Prom and graduation and all, I think I mentioned how it mighta been nice if I could take you to a dance like that. Next thing I knew, it was a plan to surprise you."

"And you really, really surprised me," Zoe told him happily. "Pretty sure you showing up like that was the best surprise I ever got in my whole life, so thank you, Wade. I'm not even sure that I said that yet."

"You are more'n welcome, Zoe," he promised, leaning down to kiss her softly. "You know, I went to my own Prom, but there was no way I was takin' anybody along with me. I never brought it up at the time, didn't seem right somehow, but Lemon and AB and Tucker, they pretty much insisted I oughta go. Wasn't as fancy as this shindig, but it was a good time, I guess. Woulda been better with you there, o' course."

"Of course," Zoe agreed too seriously, making herself laugh. "At least we got to do this one together."

"Yeah, at least we got this," Wade agreed, just staring at her a moment. "I swear, you get more beautiful every time I look at you."

"In the dress, I might've believed you," she told him, feeling a blush in her cheeks that she wasn't expecting, "but like this?" she checked, knowing her hair and makeup were a mess by now after all their fun between the sheets.

"Especially like this," Wade told her definitely, his hand cupping her cheek. "Zoe, I... I know this is gonna sound crazy, and trust me when I tell you that it was not a plan I had when I came here tonight, but... but you think, maybe, you'd wanna marry me?"

"Wade," she gasped with shock. "I... Wow, I didn't... Um, wow, I was not expecting that."

"Like I said, wasn't exactly a plan for me either," he admitted, trying not to be hurt by the way she seemed to be pulling away all of a sudden. "And I'm not sayin' I want us to run off and find a minister tonight or anything, I mean, I'm not stupid."

"I do not think that you're stupid," Zoe assured him, "and honestly, I think that's probably the most romantic thing I ever heard anywhere, ever, and come on, you know I love you, so much, it's just... marriage? Wade, we're eighteen. I didn't even graduate yet and the future is... it's all so big and scary right now."

"It doesn't have to be," he assured her, trying to bring her closer again. "I know there's a lot we don't know about what's comin'. Life is full of uncertainties, but if you have one thing, just one thing that you know is true, you hold onto that. The one thing that I am sure of is that you are the love of my life, Zoe Hart, and someday, I wanna marry you."

She just didn't have words to answer that, not a single one for a long time. Zoe wished she could find the right thing to say, but it wouldn't come. Her mind was racing from the shock and she struggled for a way to express any of what she was feeling. The moment she saw the pain in Wade's eyes and felt him pull away, she shifted forward and kissed him firmly on the lips.

"Wade, please understand," she begged him, her forehead pressed against his own yet. "You know I love you, I don't think I could love you more if I tried, but... but I don't know if I ever want to get married, to anyone. I just don't know. It's a huge decision and I have to make so many right now. It's too much, but I swear, I have no doubts about us. You believe me, right?"

Wade pulled back a little and stared into her eyes for a moment. He nodded slightly.

"Yeah, I guess I get what you're sayin'," he told her. "I'm sorry-"

"No, don't be sorry, please," Zoe begged him, her hand at his cheek. "You're the best guy in the world, Wade Kinsella, and if life was just that simple and we lived in a fairytale, we would absolutely get married right now and live happily ever after, but... but it's not. I just want things to stay the same for a while longer, you know? I want to come to Bluebell this summer and have the best time with you and George and Lemon and AB and Lavon. I want to live this happy, carefree life that we get to have for a few more weeks and just leave the future until later. Can you understand that?"

"Sure," he agreed, nodding his head, not arguing at all when she kissed him again and shifted closer until she was mostly on top of him.

They weren't exactly talking much after that, just proving the love they had been speaking of all over again in all the best ways.

Hours later, when Zoe was fast asleep, Wade lay wide awake, arms tight around her and eyes staring at nothing as his mind raced, replaying all the things they had said tonight. Wade never doubted Zoe loved him, that was not the issue, but she had made him start to wonder if he ought to be doubting their future.

They never talked about what happened when she went off to college and he didn't, what things would be like as real adult life finally kicked in for the both of them. Apparently, Zoe was happy to avoid it all for as long as possible and if it made her happy, Wade figured he could do that too, for a little while at least. Seemed like he was going to have to try anyhow, because she wasn't giving him any other choice.

To Be Continued...

A/N2: And that was that little change of pace. I hope you enjoyed it ;) The actual Summer in Bluebell for 2000 will begin in the next chapter and go on for the usual 4 parts... I think.

In the meantime, just in case anyone missed it who was interested, Growing Up Kinsella Style was updated on Saturday ;)