A/N: Thank you for all the love on the previous chapter... and all the chapters of this story, leading up to this happy ending, actually. I always appreciate all the wonderful reviews you reader-peops send my way - thank you so much :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 34

One Year Later...

"I promise you, AB, there is nothing wrong," said Zoe with a smile. "A little hair loss during pregnancy is completely normal. You know, if you had just mentioned this to Jonah, he could've told you the same thing."

"Oh, he did," she admitted, hopping down from the exam table, her hand going immediately to her slightly rounded belly. "And it's not that I don't trust him, but you know how it is with men. I just feel better havin' a woman tell me it's alright."

There wasn't a huge amount of logic in that, Zoe thought, but it didn't matter much. She was certainly used to that kind of thing in Bluebell.

"So long as you feel better now, that's all that matters," she assured her friend. "What else am I here for?" she said, shrugging her shoulders.

They said their goodbyes for now, with AB promising to see Zoe later at the Grand Opening. Brick heard that last part from his own office door and turned to Zoe with a smile.

"You know, I am still so impressed with what you and Wade Kinsella have both achieved this past year," he said, no small amount of wonder in his tone, Zoe noted. "I have known that man since he was nothing but a babe in his mother's arms, saw him grow up from a scrappy kid to, frankly, a real horndog of a young man. I have to say, in all honesty, I never saw him amounting to much in the grand scheme of things, but I am happy to report that I was wrong. He really has grown up and I do believe you are a large part of why, Dr Wilkes."

Zoe wasn't sure if she was smiling more at Brick's compliments about her boyfriend or the way he so easily used her new last-name these days.

"Well, as much as I'd love to take all the credit," she said then, "I don't think so much of it had to do with me, and even if it did, I'm a different person because of Wade too. Without him, I wouldn't be here. I might never have found out about Harley or this practice or Bluebell at all, and that would really suck."

"Yes, it would," Brick agreed, laughing even then, presumably at the way she phrased it.

Within a second, the door opened and more patients walked in. "I guess we should get back to work," Zoe noted.

"I guess so, but if I can get away tonight, you know I will be at that Grand Opening myself this evening."

"We'll be more than happy to see you there," said Zoe with a definite nod of her head.

The next moment, she was calling for her next patient and Brick was doing the same.

"Hey, Dr W," said Cody as he limped over to her exam room door. "Uh, I had some trouble in the workshop..." he started to explain, showing her the make-shift bandage around his hand and then another at his knee.

"Okay, Cody, come on in," she said, ushering him further into the room. "Just another day at the office," she said to herself with a smile.

Wade wasn't entirely sure why he was shaking, or maybe he knew exactly but wasn't willing to admit it. He ought to have more metal than this when facing a crowd, after all that time he spent on stage and such, but then maybe the worry wasn't so much facing a crowd as having nobody show up at all when he opened up this place for the first time tonight.

"Well, my, my, Wade Kinsella. This place almost looks like a real business that might actually come to something," said a voice behind him.

Wade turned to see Lemon approaching, smiling widely.

"You come by tonight, Miss Breeland, and you will find it more than just looks like a real business," he told her definitely as she stepped up beside him and looped her arm through his own.

"When these doors open, I wouldn't be anywhere else but here," she promised, staring up at the building before them, the sign and the neon in each window proudly declaring 'Wade's Place.' "You really have achieved something, Wade, and you should be proud. I know you had your ambitions of being a rockstar and all, but personally, I think you're better off right back here."

"Can't argue with that, Lemon," he agreed. "I mean, I don't regret goin' off to New York the way I did. Wouldn't have Zoe in my life if I hadn't."

"Well, now, that is, without question, a relationship that needed to happen," his friend said without pause. "You know, I was just so shocked when I found out you had a lady friend who might actually make a one-woman man out of you, and surprised all over again when she turned out to be Harley's daughter."

"You do look all kinds of amusin' when you're surprised."

Wade earned himself a slap across the arm for that remark, but then Lemon went on complimenting him regardless.

"I wouldn't cheapen what you've achieved in your life by sayin' it's all down to Zoe. She made some difference, I have no doubt, but this is all you, Wade. You went for one dream, and when it didn't work out or fit your idea of what your future should be, you came up with another. Now, look at you, master of all you survey. I am very proud of you, Wade Kinsella, whether I have a right to be or not."

"You got every right, Lemon," Wade assured her, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I know we haven't always gotten along as well as we should, for one reason and another, but these past few months most of all, when I needed help organisin' this place and everything, you really stepped up."

"Organising is just what I do." Lemon shook her head dismissively, but Wade wouldn't be put off.

"You didn't have to put all your efforts into helping me, but you did, and I'm tellin' you I appreciate it. Never did have a sister, but if I did..."

"Hush, how, Wade Kinsella," she told him, sniffling some. "You'll have me all overemotional and there just isn't time for that. If you really want to thank me, you can promise me that when I book this place for my wedding reception, you won't let the future Mrs Hayes down."

Wade grinned wide at that. "You got a deal, Lemon Breeland-gonna-be-Hayes- someday-soon"

"And what about you, Wade?" she asked then, turning to face him. "Any plans in that direction for you and the good doctor?"

"Now, that would be tellin', wouldn't it?"

Anybody who was anybody showed up for the Grand Opening of Wade's Place and not one amongst those people could say they were not impressed. Stood amongst the crowd, Zoe was once again bowled over by the love and support the community of Bluebell could show to one of their own when they needed it. She and Wade knew that they were going to be in partial competition to the Rammer Jammer and some other local businesses, but nobody seemed to mind that too much. In fact, it was Wally Maynard himself that was quick to shake Wade's hand and wish him well.

"I just know there's enough trade to go around," he told him. "You'll do good here, Wade, I'm sure of that."

"Thanks, Wally. Means a lot comin' from you," he told him genuinely.

As his old boss walked away, Wade found himself mobbed by his old band mates. Only two of them, of course, Zoe thought, as she watched the scene unfold. It was a shame about Sippin' Whiskey, but then, without the demise of the band, she and Wade wouldn't have the life they were enjoying now, and neither would Clayne or Jordan.

Mark had gone out on his own in the end, deciding he didn't need the others and that a solo career would suit him better. From what Zoe could figure out, he wasn't doing all that well. She had her mom look into his progress a couple of months ago and she couldn't even find a trace, not in New York or any other place. If he was going to be famous, Zoe didn't think it would be any time soon. With his attitude, he really didn't deserve to hit the big time at all.

Nobody could say that the break-up of the band had adversely affected the rest of the guys. Clayne took the money he made, brought it on home and invested it in his family's business, seemingly as happy as Wade was to be back home. The same could be said for Jordan, who had also returned to the area, reuniting with his high school sweetheart and using his hard-earned music industry dollars to buy a house for them to move into after they got married a week from Sunday.

"Hey, Zoe," he greeted her as she approached. "I was just tellin', Wade, this place looks great. I'm sure glad Abilene agreed to us havin' the wedding reception here, even though we hadn't got to see the place finished 'til today."

"Hey, didn't I say you could trust me?" Wade reminded his friend. "Come on now, you knew I'd never let you down, man."

"He's really not the type to do that," said Zoe before anyone else could give an answer, her eyes meeting Wade's own across the bar.

She didn't actually notice Clayne and Jordan moving away, but they must have gone somewhere, because when she actually bothered to pay attention again, she and Wade were alone. Perhaps alone was pushing it, since the whole venue was full of people, but nobody was paying too much attention to the two of them just for the moment.

"I was hopin' they'd all give us a minute eventually," said Wade, leaning across the bar towards her. "Hey, doc," he greeted her, planting a kiss on her lips.

"Hey, cowboy," she replied with a grin. "Nice place you have here."

"Thank you," he said, smiling back at her as he stood straight and reached for a glass. "May I offer you a cocktail, ma'am? Speciality of the house," he told her as he set to mixing it. "A little somethin' I was inspired to make by a very special young lady that I know."

"Really?" Zoe checked, a little surprised actually since Wade hadn't mentioned such a thing before.

"Yup," he confirmed, pouring the pink concoction into a glass and adding the garnishes. "This is what I call a Zoe Wilkes," he told her then, pushing the glass towards her hand.

"It looks amazing," she confirmed, picking it up and taking a sip, making a noise of genuine delight as she tasted the cocktail. "Wade, that is..."

She stopped sharply as she replaced the glass on the table and her eyes caught on something sparkling near the rim. The umbrella that sat in her drink had something threaded on its cocktail stick pole, something that looked distinctly like an engagement ring.

"Wade," she gasped, shaking hands reaching out to retrieve said ring. "I don't... Is it...?"

"It is what it looks like, doc," he assured her, helping her out when she almost knocked the glass flying. "I know it was a corny way to do this, but you know me, I'm just a plain ol' country boy."

"No, Wade." Zoe shook her head definitely. "You are so much more than that," she promised him. "You do know how proud I am of you, right? And how much I love you?"

"I know," he agreed, reaching to take her hand, "and I love you too, more than I ever knew I could love anybody," he promised. "That's why I'm standing here, in the middle of the crazy that is me opening my own bar," he said grinning wide, "and asking you, Zoe Wilkes, if you will, please, marry me?"

"Of course, I will," she told him happily, tears in her eyes and laughter in her voice that she couldn't control. "Yes, Wade, I would love to marry you."

He pushed the ring onto her finger without a moment's pause, then took her face in his hands and kissed her. The next moment, Wade was literally hopping over the bar to get closer to Zoe, taking her in his arms to kiss her again and again. She certainly wasn't going to argue with that, clinging on tight to him and kissing him back in equal measure.

"You kids couldn't wait until you got home?" asked a voice then, finally succeeding in dragging them apart. "You know, as much as I know you love each other," Earl went on, "this here is a place of business. Ya oughta least try and be professional."

"We'll be professional tomorrow night, Dad," Wade promised, even as he picked up Zoe's left hand in his own and flashed her ring at first Earl and then everybody else.

A cheer went up, a round of applause followed, and then, everybody came forward for hugs and kisses, congratulating Wade and Zoe both, and admiring the ring on her finger too.

"You know, I never thought I'd live to see the day when you wanted to get married for real," Tansy told Wade with a smile, "but I'm awful happy to see you so settled, Wade," she told him genuinely. "I honestly wish you two all the luck in the world," she said, looking to Zoe then.

"Thank you, Tansy," she said, reaching out to hug her fiance's ex. "You think you and George...?"

"Oh, I don't know," she said, waving that idea away with her hand. "I mean, it's going well and everything, but you just never know with men."

"Stick with it, Tans," Wade advised her kindly. "Tucker is a little slow in gettin' where he's headed sometimes, but he makes it in the end," he told her with a wink. "Like right now," he added just as George came through the door. "What kept you from the party so long, Golden Boy? You're missin' out on all the fun."

"I got stuck on the phone with a client, real big complicated case and..." he trailed off from his explanation as he came over to them and the light bounced off Zoe's ring right into his eyes. "Oh my... Are you two engaged?"

"Excellent deductive skills, Mr Tucker," Zoe joked, as George hugged first her and then Wade, congratulating them both.

The party atmosphere certainly kicked up a notch after the engagement happened and went on for hours and hours. It was pretty late before Wade and Zoe finally said goodnight to all their friends and family who would doubtless be dedicated patrons of Wade's Place in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.

"And hey, that's another wedding reception you can put on your books," said Zoe as she watched him lock up.

"Not a chance, doc," he said, shaking his head. "When we get wed, I'm gonna let somebody else do all the hard work. We'll give the Rammer Jammer their chance at hosting on that one."

"Well, I guess that'd be okay." Zoe shrugged. "It was a really great night, and I don't just mean because of this," she said, waving her left hand in his face.

"So long as that was the best part," said Wade, taking hold of said hand and kissing it.

"Duh, obviously." Zoe giggled. "But seriously," she continued as they walked back to the bar and sat down on the two nearest stools, "you've done an amazing job here, Wade. This place is incredible"

"Well, you're not doing so bad yourself over at the practice, from what I hear," he reminded her. "You're seeing to more than your fair share of patients and everybody speaks highly of the second Dr Wilkes. You know, Harley would be so proud of you."

"I like to think so." Zoe smiled, looking around the bar that seemed so big and empty now. "It's so weird, thinking back to the night we met. I was sitting at a bar, just like this," she recalled, turning around to face the bar itself as Wade did the same.

"When some handsome, charming Southern gentleman walked up and changed your life forever just by sayin' hello," said Wade with a wide grin.

Zoe laughed. "Okay, if that's how you remember it then maybe you should be the next patient I see, because there is something loose in there," she said, lightly tapping on his head with her fist.

"Yeah, well." Wade laughed. "Maybe I wasn't quite so charming as I should've been then."

"Clearly, you were charming enough," said Zoe, meeting his gaze, "or we wouldn't be here now, and I can't think of anywhere I would rather be."

"Not even New York?" he asked her, at least half-joking, she was sure.

"Especially not New York," Zoe promised him anyway. "This is where I belong, in Bluebell, with you."

"Ain't gonna argue with that, doc," said Wade definitely, right before he kissed her.

The End

A/N2: There you go, a happy ending, and I just got it in by the end of the month! Not that it mattered to you reader peops so much I guess, but I needed it to be complete before December because... well, wait until tomorrow and you'll see ;) In the meantime, if you'd like to leave a final review/comment on this story, I would very much appreciate that :)