Hey all! I am not certain if I can post again this week, as my day today is busy. Thursday and Friday are going to be extra busy as well. I do know what the next chapter is going to consist of so fingers crossed I can get it written in my down time tomorrow. If not I will see you all next Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Zoe stood at the counter at Lavon's house waiting on her coffee to finish brewing. She watched the scene in front of her with a smile plastered on her face. Sofia is standing on a step stool to help Lavon make chocolate chip banana pancakes for breakfast. Her Saturday mornings are for friends and family at the Jammer for breakfast. But Sunday mornings are spent with Lavon, who has easily become one of her best friends since returning home to Bluebell.

When she returned to Bluebell pregnant with Sofia, she took to living in her old childhood bedroom, until she could find a place of her own. Harley didn't mind that his daughter remained living with him. It gave him the chance to further catch up with her, to further the bond they created over the years. There was plenty of room to share. He didn't fuss when Zoe told him she had found a place.

The Carriage house landed in her lap when she was talking to Lavon. When she got home to Bluebell she was beyond excited to see that Lavon was Mayor. They hadn't grown all that close when she was a kid, what with him leaving shortly after she moved to Bluebell. That didn't deter her from watching and following him in college and into the pros. She quickly became a massive fan of his. How could you not, with the way he remained calm on the field like he always belonged out there?

"It's not the best," Lavon stated, joining Zoe at her table, having seen the listing of places available for rent in Bluebell. "But it will beat out these places," he said, motioning to the papers scattered before her.

"What's that?" Zoe asked, taking a sip of her water. "Where's this place I have yet to come across?" She asked, motioning to the papers in front of her, resting her hands on her growing stomach. She didn't mind living with her dad, it was fine. Saying that, she did want to have a home of her own, for her daughter. The sooner the better.

"It's not in there," he told her, tapping his finger on the paper closest to him. "In fact, it's not in the best shape, but with a little TLC it can be the perfect home for you and your little peanut," he shrugged.

"You're really selling the place, Lavon," Zoe told him dryly.

"It's a nice secluded spot, only one neighbor close by," Lavon smirked. "The scenery is quite outstanding if I do say so myself," he tacked on. Zoe rolled her eyes waiting for him to finish listing off all the selling points. "I believe that the Carriage house will be the perfect place for you. With a little time, we can get both levels livable."

"Lavon, as nice as that sounds," Zoe said, stopping him from saying anything else. "I would like to have a place of my own before my daughter is born," she told him.

"This I do know," Lavon nodded. "The first level doesn't need much. I can have that ready before the weekend is over, leaving you to move in on Monday," he explained.

"And the rest of it?" Zoe asked. She might not need a second room for her daughter yet, or for a few days after her daughter is born, maybe a month or so. One room wouldn't be all that horrible.

"We can fix it up while you're living there. Or if that's not something you want, we can fix it all up before you move in," he suggested.

"I think it'll be better if we get most of it fixed up before I move in. Mainly the lower level with a room for Sofia as well," she told him. To have a small space that belonged to her would be wonderful, and that's exactly what Lavon is giving her. "But what exactly are the strings attached?" She asked him.

"Why does there need to be strings attached?" Lavon asked. Zoe shrugged her shoulders. "Friends help friends, that's all I am doing here. You have better things to spend your money on, like your daughter, over that of rent which is ridiculous, even for Bluebell," he pointed.

"Okay, you don't need to twist my arm any further," Zoe laughed, shaking her head. She gathered the papers up into a pile, ready to toss them when she finished her meal.

"Look, Mommy, Uncle Von, made a star," Sofia said, bringing Zoe's thoughts back to the present.

"Well look at that," Zoe smiled, placing her cup of coffee down. "Uncle Lavon knows how big of a star you are," she beamed. "What other shapes did he make?" She asked.

"Blobs," Sofia giggled, sitting down to eat her pancake, letting her mom add butter and syrup. When her mom had her back turned she added a few extra chocolate chips. Lavon adding the whipped cream.

"Make fun all you want little Miss Sofia, but these blobs are delicious," Lavon stated, winking in Sofia's direction making her laugh.

Breakfast with Lavon is quite the animated fair week after week. His favorite part is to start the week off on the right foot. When he invited Zoe to live in the Carriage house, he didn't know what to expect. And the close bond he has grown with Zoe over the years was one of those very unexpected things. Nice, just unexpected. Zoe and Sofia are more than his friends, they are family to him. He should have expected Zoe to be in his life more, with his kitchen the main source of food for her, while they worked on getting a kitchen built into the Carriage house.

Lavon headed for a meeting, while Zoe and Sofia headed to her dad's house. Harley was ready to watch Sofia for the Sunday afternoon while she headed to the practice for work. On the Sundays that George doesn't have Sofia, she spends the afternoons with her grandpa, something that won't be easily replaced one day far into the future. Having not been able to have a bond with either of her grandparents, she's elated that Sofia is able to have that sort of bond and connection with Harley. The same can be said for Earl. Ethan, simply not in the picture, despite efforts on both his and Zoe's parts. The relationship with Ethan was left on very amicable terms.

Candice tried to remain in her daughters and granddaughter's lives. Visits are very rare. It's hard for Zoe to make the trips with Sofia to New York to visit and Candice isn't a fan of making trips to Bluebell, not after divorcing Harley. Birthday cards and presents are never lacking from Candice, the only thing lacking when it comes to Candice is visits. And Zoe has slowly come to terms with how the relationship with Candice is. It's not like Zoe can magically make it better.

"I was hoping Sofia could stay the night," Harley commented. It's been a while since his granddaughter has spent the night with him.

"Sofia, want to have a sleepover with Papa?" Zoe asked her daughter, watching her face brighten up with a smile.

"Yes!" Sofia shouted, jumping on her mom for a hug. "Love you, bye," she said, kissing her mom's cheek.

Laughing Zoe attacked her daughter's face with kisses. "Love you, lovebug," Zoe said, hugging her daughter tight. "Be good for Papa," she told her daughter. Sofia rolled her little eyes. "I mean it," Zoe warned.

"She will be fine, she always listens and she's always on her best behavior," Harley stated from his spot.

"Bye, baby girl," Zoe said, giving her daughter one last kiss. Putting Sofia back on the ground she took off to play with her toys. "Is there a reason as to why you suddenly want Sofia for the night?" Zoe asked. Most of the time when Harley wants Sofia, he asks a few days ahead of time, to get things in order. He has never once asked to have Sofia the same day.

"Can't a grandfather spend time with his granddaughter with no ulterior motives?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"I would normally say yes," Zoe said, slowly nodding her head. "But you're up to something, that much I do know," she told her father.

"I want to spend time with my granddaughter, I would never lie about that," Harley told his daughter, he knows that's not even close to what she is accusing him of.

"I never insinuated that you would be lying about that," Zoe sighed. "There's more to why you want her to be here instead of at home. That is what I want to know," Zoe shared.

"As your father, I want to see you happy, and I know you've been happy since Sofia. I know how your child is everything to you, but I also know that you need more, and that's something you're finding with Wade. So is it wrong that I am willing to watch my granddaughter so you can have a night with Wade?" He asked. Whatever happened, he didn't need to know the details. What he wants is for his daughter to have a chance at seeing what's there with Wade without the worry of Sofia.

"Wade may make me happy, but Sofia comes first, she has too," Zoe stated. Wade understands that and it's not like she's trying to rush into anything with Wade.

"I get that, Zoe," he cut her off with a very pointed look. He knows all about putting his daughter first. "But sometimes, you need to put yourself first, and those around you put Sofia first. That is what I am doing, I want to do this. Sometimes you need to care for yourself. It's not a bad thing, you need to care for yourself in order to take care of her. Enjoy a night with your boyfriend," he stated.

"If this is your subtle way of saying you want a second grandchild, you're going to be waiting for a while," she told her father. She loves her daughter dearly, but a second child isn't in the picture right now, she's not ready to have more than one child. "Not only am I not ready for a second child, but there's also no way to know Wade's thoughts on having kids. It's not a topic that has come up in conversation as of yet," she informed her father.

"As much as I would love to have a second grandbaby, that's not what I am saying. I advise you to have that chat with Wade before things get any more serious between the two of you," he offered his wisdom to his daughter.

"A good topic of conversation for tonight," Zoe nodded.

"Do as you please tonight," Harley said, walking Zoe to the front door. "As your father, I don't want to hear about what you do with your boyfriend tonight. Have fun and be careful," he smirked, opening the door for Zoe.

"Have fun with Sofia, I'll be around tomorrow morning to get her," Zoe told her father, ignoring the last part of what her father told her.

Walking from her father's place to the practice where she left her car before talking Sofia to her dad's house for what should have only been the afternoon, not knowing what her dad had planned. She's not worried about Sofia needing anything, she has plenty of things at Harley's, almost like she lives there. With Sofia staying with her grandfather, she could seek Wade out and have a conversation about what they want for the future, see how close to the same page they are, or she could enjoy a night to herself. Something she'd really enjoy doing. But the urge to spend time with Wade, alone, won out. That's if he doesn't have plans for the night, let alone if he has to work.