A/N: Glad y'all seemed to enjoy my version of Zoe & Wade during the epic storm - thank you so much to those who reviewed. Not easy to rewrite something that was already so good in canon, but I did my best. Now, on we go! :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 35

"I know it probably all sounds a little over the top for a kid's first birthday, but JT is so special and he's been through so much already. I just want it to be the most amazing day for him."

"And I'm sure it will be." Brando smiled across at his niece. "You certainly seem to have enough big plans in there," he said, gesturing at the notebook open on the table, "and they seem to be taking away all the attention from your pastry."

"Oh, right," Zoe said, shaking her head. "Eating, so important," she said too seriously before smiling and taking a bite of her treat.

"You know, it's wonderful to see you so excited for the little one, but you gotta take care of yourself too, sweetheart. I know how it is with people who care so much for everybody else they forget their own health and happiness. Harley had some of those tendencies too," he said with a knowing look.

Zoe chewed thoughtfully for a moment then swallowed. "You say things like that all the time. I'm not sure whether me and Harley are just scary similar or... well, are you just letting me think that to make me feel better?"

"Zoe, honey." Brando shook his head. "If it wasn't the God's honest truth, I wouldn't say it to you, not even outta kindness," he promised, patting her hand. "Truth is my brother was a good man, a good doctor, and a real stand-up member of this community. He was the type who should've had a family of his own, but since he didn't, he made up for it by helping and loving just about everybody around him. Yes, sweetheart, you are a lot like Harley, 'cept you have time enough yet to have your own family too, of course."

There was a smile on Zoe's lips but a hint of worry in the back of her mind as she put her attention back on her pastry and coffee. She did like knowing she was so much like her natural father. Though she took his name to feel closer to him, it was really living in Bluebell, doing the same kind of work Harley did, and getting to know all the people who had known and loved him that really helped. Having Brando around made a big difference too, especially when he was telling her tales as well as listing off traits she and Harley shared.

Some of what he said just now did bother her though. A family of her own, it was a beautiful idea and she did think about it sometimes. She and Wade and JT, they made a pretty picture of a family unit, everybody said so, but she wasn't the little boy's mother. Not that he was likely to know Carrie-Sue, at least not until he was grown up, if ever, but Wade always referred to Zoe as 'Aunt Zoe' and she knew she couldn't expect to be anything else.

"Now, why do I get the feeling I said something wrong?" asked Brando, ducking his head a little to try and meet her gaze. "Zoe?"

"I'm fine," she promised, waving away his concern with her hand and painting on a fresh smile. "Really, I am, and thank you for everything you just said. I love knowing more about Harley and how we're alike. It just makes me sad sometimes that I didn't get to know him. But hey, at least I have you, Uncle Brando," she said, smiling more genuinely then. "I really appreciate that I get to spend time with you."

"And I appreciate that you appreciate it," he said, grinning back at her. "Not many folks want to listen to an old fool ramble on the way I do sometimes."

"Hey, you're not so old," Zoe told him definitely, "and you're definitely nobody's fool, I learnt that much really fast," she said, smiling yet as she finished off her pastry and brushed the crumbs off her hands. "So, you'll come to JT's party, won't you? I know I'm asking super-early, but I really want to make sure we get a good crowd."

"I wouldn't miss it," he promised her. "That little one is the cutest kid I've seen outside of the Wilkes clan in a long time, and I can see how much he and his daddy mean to you every time you talk about 'em," he said with a smile. "For what it's worth, I know Harley would approve too. He had a lot of time for the Kinsella boys, as I recall. Just about everybody pitched in when their mother passed and their father... had his troubles," he said delicately. "Harley always kept an eye out for the kids and did his best to help out where he could. Like I said, he was just that kind of man. Anyway, I know he'd like seeing you so happy."

"I am happy." Zoe nodded. "Wade makes me very happy."

"If he ever stops, you be sure to let me know," said Brando, leaning over the table and putting on his terrible impression voice that had somehow earned him his nickname. "Respect me, respect my family."

"Yes, right. Absolutely," Zoe agreed, trying not to wince. "Oh, remind me later to tell you the rest of the news I have about Wade and a certain bar," she said with a look. "You know, some place where there aren't so many ears," she added pointedly.

"Okay then." Brando nodded, surely knowing as well as Zoe did how the gossips liked to go on.

Nobody was supposed to know about the deal being cooked up between Wally and Wade regarding the Rammer Jammer, but Wade had said Zoe could tell her uncle, just so long as they kept it between them. The Butter Stick probably wasn't the right place to share.

"Oh, hey you two," said Zoe then, glancing up to see George and Tansy walking in, hand in hand. "You need a table? Because we're almost done."

"We're just grabbin' something to go," Tansy told her with a smile. "Thanks, anyway."

"No problem." Zoe smiled back, a chuckle of laughter escaping as she watched them head up to the counter.

"You find those two particularly funny?" asked Brando in a low voice. "'Cause personally I think George Tucker is a fine young man, and you know that lady friend of his gives a real good haircut," he said, one hand touching the back of his head briefly.

"They're not funny," Zoe assured him. "It's just... well, when I first moved to Bluebell, I thought that me and George... I don't know, I guess I thought he was the one I was supposed to end up with, which was crazy, because now I see him with Tansy and they are so good together, and Wade makes me so happy, I can't even picture a world where me and George are a couple. I wouldn't want to try."

"Sounds to me like you mistook a little passing attraction for Cupid's arrow." Brando smiled knowingly. "He got you in the end though, just not with the guy you thought. You know it happened to your Aunt Margaret the same way. When I first met her she was just convinced that this other guy, Stewie Forman, was the one for her..."

"So, now, I can't even get Zoe to drop the subject for two seconds. She is flat out crazy about throwing the world's biggest shindig for my boy's first birthday. It's like I told her, he's not even gonna remember the damn thing, so what's the point?"

"Point is she cares, son," said Earl, leaning back in his chair and sipping from his soda can. "You'd have a darn sight more to worry on if she didn't."

Wade sighed and kicked his feet up on the coffee table. "Yeah, I guess I know that," he admitted, running his free hand across his forehead. "Is it just a female thing? I mean, are they all nuts about party plannin'?"

"I guess, maybe," his father considered. "Your momma used to get pretty worked up about the parties she threw when you and Jesse were coming up. Yes, sir, she wanted you boys to have the best time, and from what I recall, you sure did. 'Cept that year the clown showed up, o' course."

It was tough not to smile and yet feel a kind of sadness at the same time when he recalled those days. Wade had indeed had some real nice birthday parties when he was very young and remembered those laid on for Jesse as being almost just as good. Of course, it all came to a very abrupt end when he was ten. That thought never failed to stab at Wade's insides, even now.

"You talked to your brother at all since he came a-visitin'?" asked Earl, taking another long drink from his can.

"Are you kiddin' me, old man?" asked Wade with wide eyes. "The day I go tryin' to get a-hold of that damn brother o' mine will be when hell freezes over," he said firmly. "I got no use for him."

Earl looked awkward and a little upset, grumbling into his soda about not talking that way about family. Instantly, Wade felt bad. He knew how much it hurt his dad when he bad-mouthed Jesse, even after everything they'd all been through,

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" he said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "I know he's still your son and you still love him and all."

"And you love him too," said Earl sharply. "He's your brother, Wade, and with family you... you should forgive and try harder to be understandin'. Lord knows, you've forgiven me for enough," he said, glancing away with what seemed to be teary eyes.

"Hey," said Wade, his hand reaching across to his father's knee and getting his attention right back. "You did your best when things got tough, and I'm not gonna lie to ya, woulda been better if you could've not thrown yourself into a bottle quite as often as you did, but that's over now," he said kindly. "You got sober, you did it for me and for JT, and I am grateful for that. You're doing real good, Dad," he promised him.

"Thank you, son" said Earl gruffly, patting Wade's hand at his knee. "Uh, I think I need another can o' soda here."

He was up out of his seat and rushing off to the kitchen before Wade could even blink and he let his father go, knowing he could use a minute. After talk like that, he could use a couple of seconds to breathe himself. Still, he meant what he said about Earl doing better now and being proud of him for that. Of course, he knew that meant he should learn to forgive and forget with Jesse too, but somehow, that never did seem quite so easy. Maybe it'd help if his older brother ever actually seemed sorry for the things he'd done, Wade thought, as he leaned back in his chair and sighed.

"Yeah, like that's ever gonna happen."

Zoe's eyes were mostly on her notebook as she crossed the plantation and let herself in through the back door into Lavon's kitchen. She looked up sharply when she heard a clatter and then immediately swung around to face the other way, apologising at a mile a minute.

"I didn't see anything!" she said definitely. "Well, not much. I'm erasing it from my memory, right now!" she declared, eyes closed and arms waving madly as she la-la-la-ed very loudly.

"Zoe!" Lavon yelled over her noise. "You can turn back around now," he assured her.

Gingerly, she turned back to face the kitchen rather than the door, peeking out of one eye and then the other. She found that Lavon was right, it was safe to look now. Lemon had climbed back down off the counter, her skirt reaching her knees again, just like it should, and Lavon had his shirt back on. Plus nobody was joined at the lips or moaning at all.

"Again, so sorry about that," said Zoe, making a sweeping gesture with her hand. "Next time, I will absolutely knock."

"Next time, we will absolutely lock that door," said Lemon, shooting Lavon a look.

"Yes, ma'am," he said, nodding his agreement. "So, Big Z, what do you need?" he asked his friend then while Lemon made a big deal of putting on some coffee.

"Oh, it's nothing that needs immediate attention," she insisted, moving to put her notebook down on the counter before realising exactly where she had chosen to stand.

Zoe made a face, moved two paces further down and settled herself there instead.

"I was just going over the plans for JT's party. I know it's still a few weeks away, but I want it to be the best first birthday bash ever, so it needs to be meticulously planned."

"Anything you need, Z, you know we are here to help, right, Lemon?"

"Certainly," she said, nodding her head. "He is just the sweetest child and after his unfortunate start in life, we really ought to make sure the little one knows how loved he is here in Bluebell."

"Exactly," said Zoe with a triumphant smile. "Glad to have your support. So, I was also thinking, what do you think about my asking AB to help with the catering? I mean, the little kids of JT's age won't be eating anything fancy, but we're pretty much inviting the whole town and adults need food too."

"I have to admit she is one of the best cooks in town." Lemon nodded her agreement.

"And I figured it would give her something else to think about besides that scuzzy husband of hers," said Zoe with a look. "She puts on a brave face but I get the impression she's still feeling a little lost and without a purpose."

"Well, aren't you the intuitive little doctor?" Lemon told her, making it sound just slightly condescending while also paying a compliment - after all, it was the Breeland way. "As a matter of fact, I was talking to Addy Pickett just yesterday, about some course she was plannin' to take up in Mobile come the Fall. Seems you and Daddy are goin' to be needing a new receptionist sometime soon, and I just thought-"

"That AB would be perfect for that," Zoe finished for her. "Lemon, that's a great idea! Have you talked to Brick about it?"

"I haven't had the chance yet." Lemon shook her head. "I've been... otherwise engaged," she said, looking significantly at Lavon.

Zoe winced a little and focused on her notebook, jotting down what they had just agreed about Annabeth on a clean page. Maybe she could've used not getting a live show of her best friend and Brick's daughter 'getting familiar' but that aside, she had really had a very good day. A catch up with Brando, a brief friendly chat with George and Tansy, lots of good plans made for JT's upcoming birthday party, and now a potential job for AB. Everything was coming together very nicely.

To Be Continued...