A/N: It was time for a really light chapter. I needed a mental break as , writing the last two chapters about George and then Therapy had me in a very sorrowful place. Please enjoy and review.

CHAPTER 15 Bets and Wet Kisses

Zoe and I continued therapy. In fact, we celebrated our six month therapy anniversary. We decided to go to the beach afterward for a little reward.

Today is my day to have Jackson at the bar. He was so cute sitting up in his pack and play. Everyone loves him. Zoe came over on her lunch break.

"Hey honey"

"Hey Doc" with a smile and peck. "He is in his pack and play."

Zoe picked him up "Who loves you? Momma loves you. Yes I do."

Jackson giggled. He had a stuffed black and white giraffe, the ones that make the crinkling sound. Zoe took it out of his hand and laid it on the table. He didn't scream or get mad, a little while later, she took his bottle away because it was empty. Jack whimpered just a bit.

Lavon came in ," he sure does have Wade's personality"

Zoe "why do say that?"

"He is just always so 'chill', even if he is mad. He just accepts it."

"I guess everyone just thinks, I am crazy Zoe, always going off the deep end about something insignificant."

Lavon said "You said it not me"

Wade chuckled. "Man, he is Zoe through and through. Babbles all day and night, changes his clothes 3 times a day, wants to be held all the damn time. Right Doc."

"You two are ridiculous, Why I allowed you to be his father and you his godfather are beyond me. You are both so juvenile."

"See Doc, it doesn't take much to get you riled up. Plus I love that you want me to hold you all the time."

"Well Mr. Kinsella, how about a bet? The first one that tries to snuggle the other one gets a free pass day."

"Like a heatwave free pass? " asked Lavon with his forehead all wrinkled up. I have to say those words coming out of her mouth made me a little anxious.

"Yeah Doc, what kind of free pass you talking about? Because you do remember that we are married. Right?"

"Not the heat wave kind. I love you baby but I am going to prove who cuddles more. We will do the other one gets a complete day off, whatever they want to do. "

"If I win , I want a whole day of sex"

"No, no no, that isn't what you talk about in the middle of your bar. We don't want to hear about your sex life" said Lavon.

"What do you want if you win Doc?"

"Spa Day , complete massage, mani/pedi, and facial"

"You're on, alright, let's set the ground rules. What are we going to constitute as 'holding'?"

" any type of wrapping arms around the other, spooning stuff like that."

Doc and I shook hands on the bet.

"Hey Doc" I grabbed her hand and kissed her a few times. She naturally wrapped her arms around my neck. I was only holding her hand."You lose" I couldn't control my laughter. Lavon and Wanda were laughing too.

"Uuughhh! Why do you always know what to do? You are infuriating."

"Don't worry Doc, I will give you another chance with this bet after you pay up tonight." with a grin and a wink.

She walked back to me, kissed me and handed Jackson back to me. "Is my food ready because I am starving and I am probably going to need the energy for tonight?" This time it was her winking at me. I'm not sure but she may have lost on purpose.

XXXXX

Lavon, AB, Lemon, her new boyfriend John David, Brick, Candice and Earl all attended Lavon's Christmas Breakfast. Jackson was the centerpiece. Zoe and I loved our friends and family and appreciated all of the their help throughout the last year.

I asked everyone to fill up their Mimosas or Bloody Mary's.

"Zoe and I can't thank everyone here enough. Tucker's death hit us all pretty hard. I am sorry I couldn't be there for you all like you were for me.

Zoe, you are the love of my life, thanks for hanging in there with me.

My life was empty before you and now I always have a reason to reach for

Lemon and I have managed to grow our business over the last year. She gave me a swift kick in the behind when I needed it, just like she has since we were kids. You and Zoe have become so close. It means the world to me. JD, we love how you treat Lemon. We know she isn't always the easiest person to deal with. Zoe needs my balance and Lemon needs yours. We are glad that you have become part of our circle.

Lavon, you have always been 100% behind me and my family. You are like a brother to me, best friend to Zoe and godfather to our son. You are the most selfless person I know.

AB, we have loved getting really close to you over the past couple of years. You keep all of us on our toes, We hope Jackson picks up your wit and cleverness.

Brick, thank you for being a mentor and friend to Zoe and me.

Candice, thank you for moving to Bluebell and being present in our lives. Your love for your daughter and Jackson is immeasurable. We are really happy that you and Brick have decided to make a life together.

Dad, you knew before I did, that I loved Zoe. You believed in us , when we didn't believe in ourselves. You changed your life and I love having my dad back. But what I really want to thank you for is being there for Zoe. Losing Tucker has been the second hardest thing I have had to come to terms with. You became Zoe's confidant, you were able to talk her through her feelings. You helped her when I couldn't. I had my own feelings to deal with and I will never forget how much you did for our marriage.

Zoe, you are the love of my life. Thank you for riding through this journey of life with me. Thank you for not giving up on me when I couldn't think, speak, feel. I mustered every bit of strength I had and it was only enough for Jack for a bit. You hung in there those couple of months. You figured out what I needed and helped me turn the corner.

Jackson, You don't understand but it takes a village to raise a baby. Thank you for bringing joy to us when sometimes it's hard to find. We all love you baby boy.

Now if you all would raise your glass to George Tucker. You will always be our Golden Boy. Thank your for 25 years of friendship. I will always remember the good times and put the very few bad ones aside. All the fishin', swimmin', football and baseball, the swinging from trees, the honest talk. I learned from a therapist, that even though we didn't see eye to eye sometimes , you were always honest with me. That doesn't mean I liked it but I now realize that you valued our friendship as much as I did. To George Tucker!

Everyone said in unison '"To George Tucker"

I have to admit, I teared up when toasting my dad because I loved how his and Zoe's realtionship had developed. But, I knew I had truly made my way out of the pit of depression when I toasted to George without crying. It was the first time I had talked about him without at least choking back the flood gates.

We all moved to the living room to open presents and take a thousand pictures of Jackson. He loved his stuffed car that John David bought him, which had actual rubber wheels. He kept chewing on the wheels. Brick said he is probably starting to teethe. Mostly he played with wrapping paper and bows. He would hold the paper and flap his arms up and down, listening to the noise it made and then giggling. His giggle reminds me of his mom. Jackson got passed around like the bad present during the white elephant Christmas game. He smiled, giggled and gave his sloppy wet kisses to everyone.

He makes our world go round.