The next morning the sun shined right through the curtain and Zoe started to wake. Before she opened her eyes she was trying to remember what happened the day before and who was breathing underneath her. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Wade, still asleep. She smiled and slowly tore herself from his grasp. He began to stir but didn't wake. She quietly grabbed her stuff and went into the bathroom.

Wade's rolled over and ran his hand along the bed. He opened his eyes and saw that he was alone. He sat up quickly and looked around the room. He let out a sigh of relief when he heard the shower running a few feet away. He sat up and ran his hand through his hair as the water shut off. Zoe emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later.

"Morning." She smiled at him.

"Good morning. Sleep ok?" he asked

"Yes after that very unwelcome two am wake-up call, yes I slept very well. Best night sleep I've had in a long time actually."

"Good I'm glad. What time do you want to get out of here?"

"As soon as possible. I want to get home, to Bluebell." She smiled at him

"You don't know how happy that makes me feel. I'm just gonna grab a shower and then we can get some grub."

"Alright."

After Wade showered and they were both packed up and ready they left the hotel and headed for breakfast.

"So, do you think Lavon will let me stay in the Carriage House again?" She asked taking a bite of her eggs.

Wade looked at her curiously. "Harley left the house to you. You can go there."

"How though? He didn't know where I was."

"Yeah I know. If you didn't turn up in I think 5 years it went to the bank."

"So it was gonna stay empty?"

"He told me I could have moved in but I didn't feel right. It's all paid for, I would have just had to pay to run it. Couldn't really afford that for too long so I just stayed at the gate house."

"I don't even have a job anymore. Oh crap." She realized. "I have to call the hospital. Can I use your phone?"

"Sure." He handed it over.

She dialed the number and waited for someone to pick up. "Hey Sue, its Zoe Hart." She started. "No, I'm alright. But something has come up and I will have to leave the hospital. I'm sorry it's crazy short notice but I just can't come back." She was quiet for a minute. "No, I'm fine. Family emergency out of state." Again she was quiet. "I'm sorry again. Have a good day." She hung up.

"They mad?" He asked

"Concerned. I think some suspected Julian wasn't the nicest so, yeah." She said and looked down at her plate.

Wade reached across the table and put his hand on hers. "Everything will be fine."

She nodded. "I know. I hope." She squeezed his hand.

"You ready?" He asked

"Yeah. Let's hit the road."

Wade paid the bill and they got in the car for the final trip back to Bluebell.

That evening around dinner time they pulled onto the plantation. Wade unloaded the car and brought her bags into the carriage house.

"I don't know why you insist on staying here." He said putting the last bag on the floor.

"Because no one even knows who I am. I can't just move into the beloved doctor's house."

"Then tell people."

"No, not yet." She whispered

"Why Zo?"

"Because then I have to explain everything and that will lead to talking about Julian and I just can't."

He walked closer to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "You do not have to talk about Julian."

"Wade, look at me, I'm a human punching bag with the wounds to prove it. They're all going to want to know what happened."

"So you hide out here until your face heals, it's no big deal."

She shook her head and looked down. "I don't know. Maybe I should just…"

"Don't even finish that thought Zoe, you're not going home, you are never going back to him."

"He's gonna find me."

"He'll have to get through me first. Now come on, let's go to Lavon's." he moved his hands from her shoulders and took her right hand in his left.

"But." She hesitated.

"He knows about everything. Well not these injuries but he knows your situation."

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. "Ok but I don't want to talk about it."

"You don't have to. He'll just be happy you're here." He smiled at her and she returned it before they both left the house.

"Hello?" Wade called walking in the kitchen.

"Wade?" Lavon called back and poked his head out of the office. "You're back and oh good, Zoe you're here." He pulled her into a hug and she winced in pain. He backed away quickly. "I'm so sorry." He apologized.

She shook her head. "It's ok. Just no squeezing for a while." Lavon looked at her with sadness in his eyes, he went to speak but she put her hand up. "It's ok, and if it's alright with you, I don't really want to talk about it."

"That's no problem at all. You guys hungry?"

"We are but she's gonna lay low for a few days. Heal a little."

"Alright. I have some steak and potatoes we can cook up." He walked into the kitchen and they followed.

They cooked dinner and were sitting around the kitchen island just chatting about Bluebell and Harley and the rest of the people.

"So Harley was the favorite?" she asked

"Yeah he was. Don't get us wrong, Brick is a great doctor and everyone loves him but there was something about Harley. He knew everyone and every illness they ever had. His files are huge."

Zoe smiled. "What else did he do?"

"Well he was MOTY three years in a row." Wade told her.

"MOTY?" she asked

"Man of the year." He clarified.

"I see, that's pretty awesome."

Three days later Wade was leaving the Rammer Jammer with a bag full of take out when Lemon stopped him.

"Wade Kinsella, stop right there." She said walking up behind him.

He sighed and turned around. "Yes Lemon?" he asked

"You have ordered take out from the Rammer jammer at least once the last three days."

"Yeah and? Since when do you care what I eat and where I get it from?"

"Well you are ordering a lot of food for just one person."

"How do you even know this?"

"I have my ways. So, who you hiding? A girl?"

"None of your business." He started walking again.

"I'll find out Wade."

"I'm sure you will." He rolled his eyes.

Wade walked home and into the gatehouse. Zoe was sitting on the couch flipping through a magazine on the table. She looked up when she heard him come in.

"Oh yum, I'm starving." She smiled

"Good, you ordered enough food." He chuckled

"Oh quiet. The food is good." She smirked

A little while later they were just watching TV when they heard a noise outside. Zoe jumped and clung to Wade's arm.

"Ow" he said as her nails dug into his arm.

"What was that? Who's out there?" she asked

"I'm not sure. I'll go look." He said and tried to get up but she didn't loosen her grip.

"You need to let me go." He smiled at her.

She just nodded and untangled her arms from his. As he got up from the couch there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" he asked

"Lemon, Breeland." Lemon called

"Cause there is more than one." He chuckled and looked back at Zoe, he shot her a wink.

She let out a sigh of relief and relaxed.

Wade opened the door. "Can I help you?" he asked her putting his hands on his hips.

"Yes." She tried looking around him and saw the tiny brunette on the couch. "So it is a girl."

He sighed. "Yes."

She pushed passed him and walked towards Zoe. "I'm Lemon, Lemon Breeland. Head Belle and co-leader of the memory matrons."

"Um I'm Zoe, friend of Wade's."

"It's nice to meet you Zoe. Where are you from?" she asked sitting down.

"Yes, come in Lemon, have a seat." Wade said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Zoe smiled at him. "I'm from New York."

"What happened to our arm?"

Zoe looked down at her arm in the cast and bit her bottom lip. "I fell a few days ago and tripped over my cat." She chuckled at herself.

Lemon curled her lip. "I don't like cats." They were quiet for a minute. "So, how long have you been here?"

"A couple days."

"How long do you think you'll stay? Are you and Wade together or just having some fun?"

"Lemon." Wade yelled

"Oh you hush." She waved her hand at him.

Zoe chuckled. "I'm hoping to stay permanently."

Lemon's eyes lit up and she smiled at Wade. "Oh really? That sounds just wonderful. What do you do?"

"Uh, I'm a doctor."

"Are you? So is my Daddy. He is running that poor practice all by himself maybe you could get a job there? I'm sure my Daddy would love to hire you."

"Oh I don't know. I don't want to impose."

"Oh pish posh. Have you met him?"

"I haven't, no."

"Well tomorrow, you should meet me there. Say around eleven?"

"I don't know, maybe." She shrugged.

"Well anyway. You and Wade? How'd you meet?"

Zoe looked over at Wade and he shook his head. "Lemon enough. It's late, we're tired. Can you interrogate her another day. Geez, you go visit your grandmother for a month and come back a detective. " He said getting frustrated.

"Well I was bored down there and I watched a lot of NCIS. But fine, I'm glad I met you. I will see you tomorrow." She stood up from the couch. "Good night Wade." She patted him on the shoulder and then left his house.

He plopped down on the couch next to Zoe once she was gone. "Sorry."

"It's ok." She laughed. "I think we need a cover story."

"I think you need to tell people who you are."

She shook her head. "I don't know yet."

"Fine."

"Sorry, it's just…" she started

"I know, its ok Zo."

"I'm gonna head home, I'll see you tomorrow for breakfast?"

"Sounds great."

"Let's go to the Butter Stick?" she asked

"Now that sounds perfect." He smiled at her.

The next morning Zoe and Wade finally made their way off the plantation.

"I look ok?" she asked for the tenth time as they turned onto the street.

"Yes Zoe." He chuckled.

"The marks? The bruises?"

"I can't see any of them. Just your cast and remember you tripped over the invisible cat. You can't change your story in Bluebell. It catches up quickly."

She nodded. "Got it."

"What'll ya have?" he asked once they were in the restaurant.

"Umm Buttermilk muffin sounds good." She said

"You got it. One buttermilk and one chocolate chip." He smiled at the lady behind the counter.

"You got it Sugar." She put the two muffins on plates and Wade went to hand her money.

"Oh you know your money isn't any good here." She smiled at him.

He just smiled back and put the money back in his pocket. He took the two muffins and guided Zoe over to a table in the back corner.

"Well aren't you mister popular. You pay for anything in this town?"

"Yeah, they just really like me here." He winked at her.

She laughed. "Oh boy

"That girl looks awfully familiar." Dash leaned over to Delma on the other side of the bakery.

"What are you talking about Dash?" she asked

"I don't know, she just looks familiar. Her name is Zoe ya know?"

"You don't think it's Dr. Wilkes' Zoe do you? Because that's ridiculous. She was taken away at such a young age, what would bring her back? There is no way. She is probably just one of Wade's girls."

"Yeah you're probably right but I don't know, there is something about her." He shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of his tea.

"People are whispering and looking at me." She said to Wade.

"Get used to it. You're new in town, they are weary of strangers. Get out more, talk to more people, they'll stop."

She nodded. "Well they all saw me a few days ago."

He shrugged. "I've never had a friend stick around this long."

She glared at him. "I am not that kind of friend."

"They don't know that." He chuckled and she swatted at him from across the table.

Lemon walked into the Butterstick a few moments later.

"Oh Zoe, It is so nice to see you finally out and about in our little town. Are you taking me up on my offer to meet my father?"

Zoe smiled up at Lemon and glanced over at Wade, he gave her a reassuring smile and she smiled back. "I think I am Lemon. I would love to start getting to know this town."

"Great, as soon as you are done with your muffin we can go." she smiled and looked at Wade. "You can go on your merry way."

"Uh, I think I'll join you for this. Not sure leaving the new girl in town alone with Lemon Breeland is the smartest thing to do so soon." he smirked at her

Lemon rolled her eyes. "You don't trust me with your little friend?"

"No" he said and laughed which caused Zoe to chuckle and then wince from the pain. "You ok Zo? He asked

"Yep, all good."

Another minute or so and they were on their way to the doctor's office. They walked in and surprisingly it was empty. Zoe started looking around and the photos on the wall and spotted on she wanted to get a closer look at.

"That was Dr. Wilkes. "Lemon started. "He was my Daddy's partner for years, sadly he has passed on. Such a wonderful man. Like an Uncle to me."

"He looks really nice." Zoe smiled and continued to stare at the photo.

"Daddy" Lemon called

"Lemon Aide, how are you doing this morning?" He asked giving her a hug and a kiss

"I'm doing well. This is Zoe, Wades..." she thought for a moment

"Friend." Wade completed her sentence

"Yes, she is a doctor and looking to settle down in our little town. Isn't that wonderful."

Brick looked between the three people standing in front of him and nodded. "It is very nice to meet you Zoe. Where are you from? What kind of doctor are you?

"Well, I always wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon but I didn't get the fellowship so I've been in the ER for two years now. Oh, and I'm from New York." she explained

"I see. Well if it's true and you do plan on settling down here, I could use some help around her. It's a small town but not small enough for one doctor to manage."

"That would be amazing, I really appreciate It." she reached out to shake her hand and he did.

"What happened to your arm?" he asked

"Oh, tripped over my cat." she said quickly

"Ouch." he simply said as Logan Mackenzie walked in the door. "Hi Logan, You can go into exam room 1, I'll be right in." he said to the man. "If you three will excuse me, I have to go. It was very nice meeting you Zoe. I hope to see you soon."

The three said goodbye and walked out of the practice.

"Oh yay! I hope you take my Daddy up on his offer, he has been so stressed lately and you are just so sweet, the town will love you."

"Well thank you Lemon, I do appreciate it. I will definitely think about it."

"Good. No if two will excuse me, I have a Belle meeting to attend to." she smiled and walked away

"This town is amazing. I wish my mother never took me away."

"Me too." Wade simply said. "Where to?"

"Wherever you would like to show me now." she smiled at him and slipped her arm around his linking them together. "Lead the way."

Wade smiled down at her and they walked further into town.