A/N: Thanks for the latest reviews, folks. The pregnancy scare has indeed come from canon, though Lemon is obviously handling it slightly differently in this version, and yes, finally, Zoe & Wade talked and they will in fact be going on a real live date - yay! :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 8

It took a little while for the shock to wear off, for the both of them, Lemon supposed, though she couldn't exactly vouch for what Lavon was feeling when she was so busy being overwhelmed by her own thoughts and emotions. She really only had a very short amount of time to process what was happening, ever since Zoe Hart had her little female crisis in the bathroom that had sent Lemon's mind into a whirl.

How had she failed to noticed that Mother Nature hadn't called on her in all this time? The answer to that question was simple enough, Lemon supposed. She had a wedding that failed to happen, moved out of her daddy's house and in with Zoe Hart, got one new job that she completely screwed up, and then another that she did much better at. She watched George move on and Lavon act like nothing had ever existed between them. It had been one thing after another for Lemon Breeland and it all had her so distracted that the last thing on her mind had been her cycle. Maybe she should've paid more attention.

"You feelin' better now?" Lavon asked as he returned to her, crouching down in front of the plush armchair she was curled into and handing her a warm, soothing drink.

"I guess so." Lemon nodded, though it was barely true. "I'm so sorry for... for my behaviour," she said awkwardly, eyes on the damp patch still very visible on the front of his shirt. "I really am such a fool, aren't I?"

"Come on, now, Lemon, you know I ain't ever gonna agree to that," said Lavon, shaking his head. "And you don't ever have to apologise to me for any kind of behaviour like that. You got yourself in a predicament and you got upset. Find me a person in the world who would react any different in your shoes."

He was so sweet to her, always so kind and generous and everything she needed. The number of crises that Lavon had seen her through was quite extraordinary, after only truly knowing him for such a short time. Lemon always thought she could turn to George Tucker with anything, but with Lavon, it was just a whole other set of feelings. He made her feel so safe, so completely loved, no matter what. How she had ever walked away from him, she had no idea.

Of course, the decision wouldn't even be hers this time. If she was pregnant, and all signs pointed to yes so far, there was no way she could expect Lavon to want to be with her. After all, only one person could be the baby's father and that was George Tucker, the man that had abandoned her on the way to the altar quite some time ago. The very thought made Lemon want to cry her eyes out all over again.

"I have made such an unholy mess of everything," she groaned, tears dripping off the end of her nose and landing in the mug she held tight with both hands. "If I'm pregnant..."

"If you're pregnant," Lavon echoed. "That's a big if, Lemon," he told her, gaining her full attention. "Now, I don't know a whole bunch about these things, but seems to me the body gets its signals mixed up sometimes. I watch TV, I read the paper. Some women go the whole nine months, never even know they're pregnant at all. Others are certain they are, but it's something else entirely causing the... changes."

"Something else? Something horrible and so much worse," said Lemon, swallowing hard. "Oh, God, Lavon-"

"Hey, hey, don't freak out," he urged her, removing the mug from her hands before the drink spilled and sitting down on the arm of the chair to hug her all over again. "Lemon, I am sure that there is nothing to worry about, but I think the only way we're going to figure this out for sure is to talk to somebody who knows a little more about these things than you or me," he suggested. "Come on, now, you live with a doctor, don't you?" he said with a look.

"Zoe," Lemon breathed. "She would probably help me," she agreed, nodding her head, "but... well, as much as we get along these days, I'm just not sure how to tell her about this. If I am carrying a child, then the father can only be one man."

She looked away from Lavon when she said it, unable to keep his gaze when the one person who always stood between them and their one-time romance must be mentioned. Clearing his throat, Lavon stood up from the edge of the chair, his back to her now.

"George Tucker," he said, even though it hardly needed stating at all. "Yeah, I figured he was the only choice, in the circumstances, but you know, Lemon, there's a chance that all this is just nothing at all. I mean, it happens, right?"

Lemon shook her head, even though she knew he could be right. She had been late before, skipped a month every once in a while. Stress could cause such things, she knew, and there had been plenty of that to go around in the past while. She just wished she knew for sure what was going on.

"Lavon?" she said then, looking up as he turned to face her once again. "Would you do me one favour? I know I have no right to ask, but-"

"Anything, Lemon," he told her without pause. "You know I would do anything you asked me to."

Despite the circumstances, she couldn't help but smile at that particular declaration.

"Thank you," she told him, reaching for his hand and holding on tight. "Well, right now, I need you to drive me to a drugstore, as far away from Bluebell as we can go, where nobody will know who I am. I'm asking because there's a test I need to buy and take just as soon as possible. I'm not living with this worry hanging over me a moment longer than I have to, I just can't."

When Lemon came in the front door, Zoe practically threw herself at her poor room-mate, clearly startling the heck out of her. Somehow, Zoe couldn't find it in herself to care, she was way too happy and excited to share her news.

"Oh, my God, Lemon, you were right. You were so right!" she enthused, hugging her tight.

"I'm quite sure that I was, since I usually am," said her friend, looking equal parts amused and confused by Zoe's behaviour as they parted, "but why in particular was I right today, to the point where you're just as happy as a clam at high tide?"

"I talked to Wade," she said happily, hardly able to keep the smile off her face for a second. "I know you said you thought he really did like me, and after Lavon and George said the same, I decided I really should give Wade the chance to say so too. I didn't know if he would, I mean, you know Wade, not the most open guy with his feelings, right? But anyway, we talked, and long story short, he asked me out," she said, giggling madly. "I know, I know, we are tough, independent women who do not need men to define us, and I do still believe that, Lemon, I swear that I do, it's just..."

Zoe trailed off when she realised Lemon didn't look all that happy about her news. She didn't really look sad or angry either. As she walked by and flopped down onto the couch, Lemon mostly looked tired and almost as if she kind of felt numb or something. Zoe was soon frowning at the idea of her friend being upset about something, or maybe even sick. She moved quickly to sit down beside her to ask her what was wrong.

"Lemon?"

"I have had quite the day myself, Zoe Hart," she said then, sighing heavily. "There was a while there when I thought... where I truly believed that I was most likely pregnant, with George Tucker's child."

For the second time that night, Zoe felt as if she could be floored by a one-fingered push. It was maybe the last thing she had expected to hear from Lemon, but there it was.

"You... you thought you were pregnant?" she checked, even though she knew that was just exactly what Lemon had said.

"For a couple of hours," her friend confirmed, nodding her head, smiling almost madly. "And I was terrified and confused and just all over the place about the prospect of bearing the child of a man who left me at the alter not too long ago. And then, Lavon called me because, of course, I was supposed to be over at the plantation, discussing the election with him."

"Oh, God," Zoe gasped, feeling overwhelmed just hearing about all this never mind living through it. "Lemon, what happened? I mean, you said you thought you were pregnant for a while. I'm guessing now... you know you're not?"

"Oh, I'm not," she confirmed, meeting Zoe's gaze. "And yes, a tiny part of me is weirdly disappointed, which I don't even wanna examine right now, but obviously, I was 99% relieved. Lavon was just... he was amazin', just like he always is. He drove me miles and miles away to get a test, so nobody around here would know about it, and held my hand while I waited on the result. I couldn't have asked for better support."

"Lemon, I'm so sorry," Zoe told her then. "I should've been here for you. As your room-mate, as your friend. I mean, we are friends now, right? And when you needed me-"

"Zoe Hart, will you quit your guilty yapping, because you're making a headache I already have a whole lot worse," Lemon urged her. "Now, I appreciate that you wish you got a chance to help me, and yes, as crazy as it sounds, we are friends now, but you could not have known I needed a friend tonight. I know that if you had known, you would've been there."

"I absolutely would," she promised, her hand on Lemon's arm, giving it a friendly squeeze. "So, not pregnant?" she double-checked.

"Not pregnant." Lemon smiled.

Zoe, on the other hand, found herself frowning.

"Um, but absolutely no menstruation, in all this time?"

"My friend just became my doctor, didn't she?" said Lemon, covering nerves with an attitude, Zoe was certain.

"Only a little," she assured her. "Look, it's probably just stress, but maybe tomorrow, I could run a few tests, just to be on the safe side?"

Lemon took a deep breath and let it out slow.

"Yes, I guess that would be a good idea. Thank you, Zoe," she told her, surprising them both when she went in for a hug that her room-mate actually returned. "And despite everything, I was listening to what you were saying when I came in just now. I am happy for you and Wade if things seem like they're going to work out," she assured her. "Although, I can't help but ask, what about George?"

"Honestly?" Zoe shook her head. "I have no idea. I mean, I really do like him, a lot," she said definitely.

"But somehow, you also like Wade."

"I do." Zoe sighed heavily. "Life is complicated... and relationships are super-complicated."

"I'll say amen to that," Lemon agreed. "Did I mention that I kissed Lavon today?"

It was almost amusing to see Zoe's eyes go quite that wide, but of course, the situation they were discussing was not at all funny. Actually, starting things up again with Lavon could be the most serious decision Lemon ever made in her life.

"You kissed Lavon?" Zoe gasped.

"I did. After we got the negative test. I was just so happy and so relieved. I guess maybe he felt much the same," Lemon explained. "We just sort of grabbed onto each other and hugged for quite a while. We were so close and it was all so familiar and... I don't know, I just couldn't seem to help myself."

It was as simple as that, Lemon knew. She really just could not deny herself the chance in that moment, and so she had kissed Lavon. Maybe it was a stupid thing to do in the circumstances, but for all the world, she couldn't find it in her to regret it at all.

"Did he kiss you back?" asked Zoe, sounding a little too much like a high school girl at a slumber party, but Lemon couldn't mind too much.

"Actually, he did," she admitted with a smile that wavered just a little as she continued, "but in the circumstances... well, I do understand why he was so quick to offer to drive me home right after."

It made sense not to rush things, not to run too quickly back down a road that had ultimately caused so much pain the last time around. Of course, that didn't mean Lemon wasn't tempted to go that way. She really did feel so very much for Lavon Hayes, more than she ever thought possible.

"So, you and Lavon," said Zoe then. "Do you think...?"

"I don't know," Lemon told her fast, shaking her head. "Not for sure, anyway. How about you and Wade?" she asked, looking at Zoe, who squirmed just a little in her seat.

"I don't really know either," she confessed, "but I'm hopeful," she said, finding half a smile.

"Yes, hopeful," said Lemon, sharing in the expression. "I think that's a real good word for it."

To Be Continued...