Hey all! Welcome to my new story. I can't take the credit for this one, as the idea did come from LongLiveTheHart nearly 2 years ago. This story in general had been put on hold while I worked on other stories. I am excited to finally be able to get back to this story.
It does follow canon, as everything takes place years after the show has ended. It also follows for the most part the lives of their kids, Jack and Lynn, but that doesn't mean we won't see Zade, as they will be featured throughout the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hart of Dixie or the characters or places featured on the show. They belong to their rightful owners.I mean no disrespect at all.
I do hope you all like this one.
Enjoy!
"Mom is going to freak," Lynn laughed, sipping on her milkshake. "I will be the favorite child," she smirked, playing with the straw.
"That's why I need your help," Jack sighed, taking a fry and dipping it into his milkshake. The idea of holding off on this conversation as appealing as it is, he knows that he needs to have the conversation. There's no way around it. He'd much rather his parents hear the news from him and not a third party. That is what would make it worse.
"I'm not going to willingly get myself into trouble to make your confession sting any less. And I doubt I could do anything to soften the blow you're going to tell them," his sister stated, giving him a very pointed look. They might have pulled that scheme off once or twice a dozen times. She's sure their parents had caught on to what they were doing.
He knows she's right. He can't expect to have his sister help bail him out of a decision he made all by himself. He did what was right for him, he doubted his parents would see it that way. He doesn't know which one is going to take it the hardest. He wants to say his mom as it is the world she came from. But on the other hand, as laid back as his dad can be, he can get pretty upset over things. And not having the opportunities he's had for college his dad might be the one to watch out for. Either way, it's not going to be a pretty conversation to be a part of.
"I can be there giving you the support you need, but I can't make it any better for you, Jack," she told him.
"I know and it was wrong of me to ask," he sighed. "I am sorry for that," he apologized.
"I know my advice means very little," she said, rolling her eyes. She has been told a few times growing up being 5 years younger than her brother.
"That's not true," he told her with a frown. Sure, he's told her that before, back when he thought he knew everything and didn't need his kid sister telling him what to do.
"It is true, but my advice is to go home and tell them now. It's only going to get worse the longer you wait, Jack," she told him, getting up.
"Mind if I walk with you?" He asked, taking out the money needed to pay their bill and leave a tip. Just because their dad owned the place doesn't mean they can eat for free.
"Are you going to ask me questions about my life while you've been gone?" She asked him curiously. He shook his head no, but she could see the little twinkle in his green eyes, meaning otherwise. And yet knowing that he is going to pry into her life, she agreed to let him walk with her.
Despite the five-year age gap, the constant fighting, being the annoying big brother or the annoying little sister, they're best friends. When they couldn't count on anyone they had each other. She helped him through his first broken heart when she was 10. He had his first real girlfriend when he was 15, they lasted 8 months before she dumped him for the new transfer student. She cheered him on for his football games, threw a baseball for him when he needed to work on his batting skills for baseball. Listened to him when he needed an ear that wasn't judgemental like his friends. He did the same for her. Watched out for her. Gave her a shoulder to cry on, even when he was halfway across the country. Helped her sharpen her skills for soccer. Clapped for her at her gymnastics meets.
"I heard Tommy asked you out," he commented, lowly, as they smiled at the townsfolk they met as they walked through the middle of Bluebell.
"Did you now?" She asked, avoiding the answer he wanted to know. She knew his little games. He may have agreed to not ask questions about her life, but commenting on her life, well that was fair game for him. Not that she would make it easy on him. Talking about boys with her brother, well, she wasn't that comfortable in dishing certain things out to him. She loves the advice he does give her when she's asked for it.
"It's Bluebell," he shrugged, wearing a smirk. The very same smirk they have seen their dad wear over the years and in pictures.
"Huh? And here I thought we grew up in Daphne," she retorted, rolling her eyes. "I don't know what you want to know when there isn't anything more to that story," she told him, as they came across the practice. "She's not working today," she told her brother, seeing him eyeing the place up on the lookout for their mom.
Their mom along with Jonah Breeland are the only town doctors. Brick Breeland, Jonah's uncle, retired 8 years ago. He's been enjoying having every day off for fishing, hunting, and his family. Most weekends he makes the drive to Nashville to watch his Magpie on stage, her voice sounding every bit angelic, at least that's what Brick will tell you. To be fair you can find Magnolia's music on Lynn's phone as she's a huge fan.
"How'd I get so lucky?" Jack bit out. When he didn't see his dad at the Jammer, he figured the only one he'd have to talk to first was his dad, figuring his dad will take it the best. Now, both of his parents will be sitting in front of him wanting answers he's afraid to give them.
"Because you're the firstborn," Lynn commented with a shrug.
"Uh yeah, that's not how it works," he said to his sister, their street coming up. Which meant that he could see their pale blue house. It needed to be updated. That might very well be his punishment for what he has done.
"Huh? I didn't know that," Lynn sarcastically replied. "We can walk past the street if you need more time," she said, seeing him from the corner of her eye tense up at the sight of their street. She can't do much to help him out, but she can offer to give him more time before they go home, giving him a few spare minutes to figure out his whole speech.
"No, no, I'll be fine. Bandaid, right?" He asked as they crossed the street, steps closer to his childhood home.
"Sure, if you think that will work," she nodded, walking across the front lawn.
He wasn't sure if it would work out the best for him. Keeping the news to himself sounded like the best plan. And ultimately the worst one, as they'd find out eventually and they really wouldn't be happy with him. Telling them is the right thing to do. How he was going to get the words out, well that part he hasn't figured out yet.
"What are you doing home?" Wade asked, seeing his eldest enter the house. "I know that you should be on campus in Stanford," his father stated, motioning to the fridge that had the dates he would be home to visit. His next visit wasn't until November for Planksgiving.
"I need to tell you and mom something," he told his dad.
"Go on into the living room and I'll go get your mom," he said, drying his hands off. "Lynn, sweetie, Greer stopped by for you," he said, disappearing down the hall.
"Go call your best friend. I need to tell them alone," he told his sister, seeing the struggle she was in to call her friend. This isn't her battle to help him win, he's old enough to have done what he had done, and that makes him old enough to confront their parents without his little sister there holding his hand.
Greer is Lavon and Lemon's youngest. In some sort of twist of fate, he was born the same day as Lynn, an hour later, a fact Lynn likes to hold over his head, every so often. Every year it's a big blowout for their birthday, having one mega party for both families as it made the most sense. They did have a small birthday celebration as well. With Lavon, Lemon, Zoe, and Wade being friends and spending so much time together, Lynn and Greer have been friends since they were in diapers. Both kids find it weird and funny to once know that their moms detested each other.
"It will be okay, you'll see," Lynn told him. "Good luck," she said, giving him two thumbs up as she headed to her room. She thought about sitting on the steps to overhear what went on but thought better of it. Besides, once he tells them the news, her parents' voices will carry to her room. Leaving her door ajar it is.