Ethan:

It had been a normal day for Zoe. She got up leaving Wade sleeping. She would check on a sleeping Emma before heading to the practice. Patients would come and go. She would do paper work. The same ritual she had grown custom to the last few weeks now.

But today was going to be different. She just didn't know it yet.

Zoe smiled seeing Emma running into the office to hug her. The morning had been busy with, Brick off doing house calls and a small case of the flu had broken out, but it was nothing to worry about now, only a handful of people had it.

"We bring lunch, Mommy," Emma told her with a bright smile bouncing over to a chair. Wade chuckled slightly kissing Zoe. She got busy clearing the folders from her desk. Wade placed the items on the desk, giving everyone the right container of food.

"How is work so far?" Wade asked.

"Busy, but good. I don't regret turning down the job in New York, if you're wondering."

"I wasn't," he retorted. But under it all he was relieved to know that, Zoe was truly happy here.

The rest of lunch was filled with Emma going on about Boo chasing a squirrel that morning and how funny it was to watch until Boo caught the squirrel and Emma cried until Wade was able to save the little guy from becoming Boo's morning snack.

With them gone for the afternoon, Zoe got busy. She didn't have much to do. The day slowed down. With the practice being vacant and Brick sticking around for the remainder of the day, Zoe was packing her things up, to head home, before finding her family. It was the knock at her office door that had her threw off guard.

"Ethan?"

"Hey, Zoe. This a bad time?" Ethan asked, staying in his spot by the door.

"No, I was just getting ready to head home. What brings you by?" Zoe asked getting her things.

"I see you found out, about your father." Zoe nodded, walking to the door. She couldn't even remember the last message she had left for him. The last time she called him was on her first night in Bluebell.

"I did, no thanks to Mom. I get why you grew to be so distant with me. No need to explain. Mom lied to you and me about it, just after you figured it out, I was left in the dark, thinking that I had done something wrong." She shook her head, forcing all her unwanted emotions to leave. "But I'm over it. I have my own life here. When that Mom hates." That made a smile appear on her lips. "One that I love." Her smile grew seeing the two people she was talking about it.

"I'm happy you have it all figured it out now." She was nowhere near to having her life figured out.

"Grandpa Ethan!" Emma yelled, running into his waiting arms.

"Hey snuggle bug." Ethan kissed her head, hugging her tight. He had missed the little girl in his arms.

"You doing ok?" Wade asked, slipping his hand into hers. She nodded. She was doing better them she had ever expected to be, when faced with her ex step-father.

"This is Wade. My boyfriend and Emma's..."

"He my Daddy," Emma said, cutting Zoe off.

"Wade, this is Ethan. My ex step-dad." That didn't sound right, but it was the truth. It was easier to leave it at that.

Emma had Ethan help her take Boo for a walk, when they got home.

"Did you know he was coming? What does he want?" Wade asked sitting on the couch, Zoe next to him.

"I don't know. I asked and he never answered. It was a total surprise. I haven't talked or rather left a message for him since arriving here."

"Maybe he thought you were dead, and felt the need to check up on you. Just because he's not your father, doesn't mean he doesn't care about you. He did help raise you until the age of 10." She supposed Wade was right. He had been the only father she ever knew. She wasn't given the pleasure of getting to know her biological father. She had met him once, before she knew who he was.

"I guess," she sighed.

"The little bug, here needs a bath. Along with Boo. They kinda ran through the mud puddles." Wade tied Boo up outside and ushered his very muddy daughter upstairs.

"So that's Emma's father?" He questioned, sitting in the chair.

"Yeah. It took some time to actually figure it out though. The whole town had suspected it, before we figured it out."

"I can see him in her." Zoe nodded, not sure what she should say. The only thing she wanted to know he wouldn't answer. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. And to see my grandchild. I know things didn't turn out how we thought they would. Your Mom kept something major from both of us. I don't want us to grow apart. I know I have all the blame for the wasted years. I hope some day you can forgive me. Because I feel like your my daughter. I was there for all the most important things until you turned 10, but it wasn't you. I had to find a balance in my life. Get my head straight. I just want my daughter and granddaughter back, one day."

"Since finding out the truth, I don't blame you. I can forgive you, I have already. A girl always needs her father. I could never keep Emma from you. You are always going to be my father, you will always be Emma's grandpa. That's just how it works," Zoe explained. Her childhood had been so much better when Ethan was around.

"She wants Grandpa Ethan to tuck her in," Wade announced walking downstairs.

"But it's not even bed time, she hasn't ate dinner yet," Zoe replied.

"But this way, she doesn't miss her chance at getting tucked in by her grandpa," Wade replied with a shrug. Ethan headed upstairs a smile firmly in place.

"Everything still okay? I didn't hear any yelling, so that must be a good sign."

"Everything its more than okay, for the first time in years when it comes to Ethan."

"Good," Wade remarked, kissing her. "Now I have a muddy dog to wash outside."

Zoe took to the kitchen, to find something to make. Having a child, did ensure that you learned how to cook, take out wasn't essential for a young kid.

Ethan came back down minutes later, with a promise to call more often and to find the time to come back for a few days in a couple of months, he was off.

"Thank you for taking such good care of not only Zoe but Emma. They both love you. They admire you, Wade." That only brought a smile to his face. He couldn't get sick of hearing how good of a father he was, after all the doubts he had.

"As a father it's my job. But it's more than that, but you know that. I love them both. I'm never going to stop caring for them. They're safe," he replied, taking a break from rinsing the dog shampoo, from Boo.

He didn't plan on ever letting Emma or Zoe down.