A/N: Thanks for the latest batch of reviews, folks. This version of Wade takes some getting used to, huh? Well, all will be fine in the end, trust me ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 15

"I'm just a little worried is all," said Lavon, frowning hard at Annabeth across the kitchen counter.

"And the source of your worrying is the fact that Crazy Earl has not been seen on any roofs in the past couple of months?" she asked, shaking her head. "Sweetheart, that makes no sense whatsoever."

"But you see it does," her boyfriend insisted. "First of the month, every month - with the occasional exception of New Years - Earl cashes his government cheque, hops up on liquor, and ends the night on the roof of Nate's Hardware until Wade sings him down. Now, I'll admit, I didn't catch on when he missed out on one of his monthly adventures, mostly 'cause we was all too distracted by Wade and his amnesia, but it's been two occasions now and not a sign," Lavon explained. "Making me worry that he's... well, you know, he was plenty shook up after Wade's accident, and I'm not sure Wade knows how much of an eye to keep on his daddy in the circumstances. I just really hope Earl is okay, that's all."

"He is more than okay."

Lavon and Annabeth both looked around sharply to see Zoe letting herself in through the back door, smiling like her face was fit to split in two.

"You know something about old Earl?"

"Yes, I do," said Zoe happily as she came to stand by the counter. "Earl Kinsella has, in fact, given up drinking. Wade was very happy to tell me that he saw his dad just yesterday and he was sober as a judge."

"Well, that is great news." Annabeth grinned widely. "But somehow, Zoe Hart, I don't think the smile on your face is all about Earl, now, is it?"

Shaking her head firmly, Zoe didn't keep her friends in suspense for too long. It didn't seem fair to do so.

"I may have spent last night at the gatehouse," she confessed happily. "And before you start yelling no and covering your ears," she said swiftly to Lavon, "you can relax. Me and Wade spent a lot of time talking, and, yes, there was also some kissing, but that is all."

"You and Wade spent all night together and nothing happened?" said Lavon with a pointed look.

"Oh, come on, Lavon," said AB, shoving at his arm. "You know it's not the same as it was before. Wade is different now, at least for as long as he has no memories to speak of. He doesn't recall being a ladies' man."

She and Zoe both stared at him for a long moment, until the light finally seemed to dawn in Lavon's head. He clearly hadn't considered what Wade's amnesia truly meant when it came to the opposite sex also, but he was thinking about it now, that much was clear.

"Well, I hadn't really thought-"

"Neither had I," Zoe cut in fast, "and I'm a doctor," she reminded him with a sigh. "It was so stupid, I should've realised sooner, but I just didn't. I mean, me and Wade, it's always been... well, we were always really active in the physical side of our relationship, so, I just thought we'd pick up where we left off. I keep forgetting that there is so place to go back to for Wade. He doesn't remember being with me. He doesn't remember being with anyone."

"Poor Wade. It must be so weird for him," said AB, shaking her head, "and weird for you too, I'm guessing."

"It is weird, and kind of agonising," Zoe admitted. "You know, to be so close and not any closer? But Wade wants to take things slow and, as crazy as I know that sounds, I have to respect it. I... I love him too much to want to do anything to hurt him or even just make him uncomfortable."

"Oh, that is just the sweetest thing!" AB declared, hopping up onto her feet to hug Zoe tightly. "And you two being together makes me so happy. Now, you see how I didn't say 'back together'? That is me practising so I don't say what I shouldn't in front of Wade."

"It is a minefield," said Zoe sympathetically, "but actually, last night, we had a pretty good conversation without falling down too many holes with the memory loss thing. Mostly, we talked about the future. You know, dates we can have, places we can go, plus sharing funny stories from the past few weeks which he does remember. It was... nice, comfortable," she said, smiling widely once again. "I know it's not going to be easy, but I really think we might be able to make it work this time, and I want that, so much."

"We want that for you, Z. For both of you," Lavon assured her. "It is good to see you happy, but hey, where's your happy other half at anyway? He usually comes by for breakfast."

"Oh, he had to go to the Rammer Jammer," Zoe explained, reaching for a buttermilk muffin and tearing into it. "The downside of his night off is that Lemon closes up, so Wade has to be in super-early to open. However, I can assure you that he went to work this morning smiling just as much as I am," she said happily.

"Are you gonna be grinning like that all day long?" Lemon asked Wade, trying not be too amused by just how stupidly happy he looked. "Because I think you're gonna scare the customers if you're not careful."

"Nobody at breakfast seemed to mind too much," her partner counted, poking his tongue out at her for being so rude.

Lemon actually laughed at that, she couldn't help it. Wade Kinsella hadn't done that since they were around nine years old. She really couldn't understand what had gotten into him. Not that she minded at all that he was so happy. Frankly, it was wonderful to see, but she was confused. He hadn't been doing so great yesterday, or so she thought, but he didn't seem to want to tell her why.

"If I tell you why I'm happy, you're gonna be happy for me, right?" he asked her then, studying her like she was a bug under a microscope.

"As your business partner and your friend, yes, of course, I will," she said, nodding once. "Why would you ever think otherwise?"

Wade made a face then shook his head. "I don't know, I got the feelin' maybe you weren't exactly doin' cartwheels when I told you before that I was taking Zoe out on a date. Seems to me maybe you two are not the best of friends."

Lemon sighed. "Well, certainly the good doctor and I have had our differences, but if I thought for a moment she was the reason for you smiling the way you are right now-"

"She is," Wade told her without pause. "We, uh... well, I guess we're kind of together, you know, like a boyfriend-girlfriend thing, far as I can tell."

A hundred different emotions ran through Lemon Breeland when she heard those words, but any concerns or uneasiness she might feel about Wade getting involved with Zoe Hart again just melted away as the smile returned to his face. He was so darn happy, it was ridiculous. Lemon could not deny him that happiness, especially after all he was going through with the amnesia and everything. He really did deserve to have a reason to smile like that.

"If you're happy, Wade, then you must know that I am happy for you," she said, forcing a smile that didn't come quite as easy as it should. "If Zoe Hart makes you so happy then... well, despite out differences, I would shake her hand and thank other for a job well done."

She slipped away then, moving down the bar to serve patrons that called for her attention. Wade watched her go and his smile slipped more than a little. He had an idea that Lemon and Zoe didn't get along, but maybe it was worse than he thought. It was plain as day that his friend wanted to be happy for him, but she had a tough time making her own smile stick, he could tell.

For a few hours, as the lunch rush kicked in, he never got the chance to ask her about it, but later, when things got quiet again, Wade made a point of cornering Lemon and asking some more about whatever problem there was between the two most important women in his life right now.

"I know you can't tell me too much," he said, catching Lemon in the store room and putting himself by the door so she couldn't run out when she didn't like his question, "but what is it with you and Zoe? I mean, I get along so well with the both of you, seems weird to me you can't get along with each other."

Lemon heaved a huge sigh, looking at him like he was the biggest nuisance in the county for asking her such a question. Wade didn't care much about that. He was well-used to her moods by now, aware that most of the time when she looked ready to bust his head for something or other, she was never really mad or so very pissed at him. Lemon was just Lemon, that was all.

"My problems with Zoe Hart started long before the two of you ever... well, got to be close friends," she said carefully, clearly having caught herself before she said something she shouldn't, but Wade knew better than to ask what that other thing was. "Look, Wade, I would love for things to work out with you and Zoe, because, Lord knows, I only ever want your happiness."

"I get that," he agreed, nodding his head, "but I also get this feeling like maybe you don't think things will work out. Am I right?"

She looked away, as if her pretending to go back to her inventory or whatever she was doing, hoping it might make his question go away, or even Wade himself. It wouldn't. He had to know.

"I think," said Lemon eventually, "that you deserve things to go right for you after everything. So, yes, Wade, I do think things will work out with you and Zoe," she said, finally looking at him again, "if you really want them to, of course."

"Thank you," he told her then, his smile returning as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. "You're a good friend, Lemon Breeland."

He turned to walk away then, trying not to let the smile slip, but it didn't come easy. The way she talked, it was clear that Lemon wanted things to work out for him and Zoe, but Wade had his doubts still that she really believed they could. It made him wonder what had happened before, what reason there was why anyone would suspect the two of them couldn't make a relationship work

Maybe it was how he used to be with women, maybe it was something about Zoe. There was no way for Wade to know and nobody was supposed to tell him. It was frustrating as all hell, but he supposed he was just going to have to live with it, at least until that magical day when his memories came back.

"If that day ever comes," he muttered to himself, unsure at this point whether he truly wanted it to or not.

To Be Continued...