Wade hadn't really fully decided whether he was going to knock on Zoe Hart's door, or whether he should wait another day or two - it had only been a day since he and Vivian broke up and he figured it wasn't great form to be going after Zoe Hart this soon. He hadn't figured out what he was going to say to her, and he was nervous as hell, but his feet had taken him to Zoe's doorstep almost against his will. When he heard her scream, though, he was through the (luckily unlocked) door before his thoughts could catch up with him.

He found Zoe hot-footing it down a ladder from the attic, covered in dust

"What's wrong?!"

"Mice! There is a whole family of them up there!" she responded, before doing a double-take, "Wade? What are you doing here?"

"You realise you are about a hundred times bigger than a mouse, right? They can't hurt you."

Zoe pulled a face at him.

"Shut up. What are you doing here?"

"I, uh," Wade rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I heard you scream."

Zoe raised an eyebrow.

"From the plantation, or were you just passing by?"

"I was already here," Wade admitted, after a brief hesitation.

"Oh," Zoe responded her expression growing more serious, and just a little uncertain. After what felt like a long silence, Zoe spoke. "I heard about you and Vivian. I'm sorry."

Wade shook his head, bemused.

"I swear gossip goes through this town faster than a kid on greased Slip n Slide."

"Are you okay?" Zoe asked hesitantly.

"I'm fine." he answered. "We didn't fight or anything... Viv just reckons I'm still too hung up on you to be dating anyone else."

"Oh," Zoe swallowed, feeling guilty. "Sorry."

"It's okay, she was right."

Zoe hugged her arms to herself, her eyes dodging from Wade's to the ground and back again while her insides twisted up in knots.

"Oh," she said again, this time so softly he could barely hear it.

"Hey, Zoe?" Wade spoke again, his voice casual.

"Yeah?"

"There's a spider on your back."

Zoe shrieked and slapped frantically at her back.

"Get it off, get it off, get it off!"

Wade chuckled at her.

"Come here, I'll get it."

Wade caught her by the elbow and pulled her closer. He easily brushed the small spider off her back.

"There, it's gone," he assured her.

"Ugh," Zoe shook her hands in disgust and looked up at him. "Thanks. There aren't any more, are there?"

Wade gently brushed a cobweb from her hair and turned her around in a circle, looking her over.

"All clear," he announced with an affectionate smile.

Zoe looked up at him, becoming acutely aware of their proximity. Wade's hands were still resting on her arms, and the skin beneath was practically burning. Her cheeks flushed and she couldn't remember how to look away or step back until Wade slid his hands down her arms and released her.

"Wade," she asked, once she had recovered herself, "Why did you come here?"

"I wanted to see how you were."

Zoe rolled her eyes.

"Oh god, not you too. I'm fine, ok? Everyone's been tip-toeing around me like I'm going to have a mental break since I broke up with Joel."

"Well you have been acting a little crazy, taking on more projects than Lemon Breeland, driving people nuts chasing people guilting them about smoking and" Wade stated frankly. "And you were pretty serious with Joel, it's normal to be upset."

"It's not even about Joel! Well it is a little. But mostly it's not. Did you hear my mother has decided to inflict herself on me on a more permanent basis? And now I don't have Joel I have to do something to take my mind off..."

Wade raised his eyebrows quizzically when Zoe cut herself off.

"Off what?"

Zoe stepped back from him, and crossed her arms again.

"Zo?"

"I just... you know. Things."

"What things?" he pressed.

Zoe dropped her eyes to the floor and was silent for a minute.

"I never planned on this. My whole life, I've planned things out, set goals, worked for them... and then I had to come to Bluebell and everything started falling apart. Things I thought I wanted turned out not to be what I needed and things I never even dreamed of..."

Zoe trailed off and looked up at Wade.

"I was supposed to be Dr Hart: cardiothoracic surgeon, just like my dad, working in the biggest, most respected hospitals in New York. I knew that from when I was six years old. But then it turned out he wasn't my dad, and I came here and this place, these people... I changed. And now I don't know anything. Everything I always wanted? I don't want it any more. I want Bluebell. I want stupid heat waves and the whole town dressing up as pirates, and everyone knowing everybody and sticking their nose in because they care and patients coming into my practice to talk about their cats... and I want you."

Zoe took a shaky breath in and continued more quietly.

"I didn't plan on you, Wade Kinsella. You are the exact opposite of what I thought I wanted in a guy, but I was happier with you than I ever even thought I could be. And now I can't get you out of my head. I can't forget you, I can't get over you. And I tried. I tried so hard, but you got to me and now, even after everything that happened, I still want you. And that scares me, because you hurt me so bad, but I want to forgive you, because I need you like I've never needed anyone."

Zoe looked at Wade, her eyes widening with a realisation. It wasn't until she was saying it out loud that she knew how true it was.

"I think I love you."

Wade had been standing there absorbing every word she said, but those last three were the ones that really took his breath away.

"Zoe," he took a step forward, "I love you too. And I'm so sorry I hurt you. I've never been more sorry about anything. You're the best thing I've ever had in my life, and if you... if you could give me another chance, I'd never do that to you again. I promise."

His voice was so earnest, and she could see the sincerity in his eyes. She couldn't find words to respond with, so she simply threw herself into his arms, and the tightest hug she'd ever been given. Wade lifted her off her feet and peppered the side of her head with kisses. She could hear him breathe in shakily as if he was crying and she hugged him tighter to comfort him. The familiar scent and warmth of him struck her deeply, and she let go and sobbed into his shoulder.

"Hey, hey. Don't cry," Wade stroked her hair and swayed her.

"I missed you," Zoe said emphatically, her voice catching.

"I missed you, too," he answered, pressing another kiss to her cheek.

Zoe pulled back enough to land a kiss on his lips. He kissed her back, wiping the tears from her cheek with the hand he wasn't holding her up with. They kissed until they ran out of air. Wade dropped his head to lean on hers, their noses touching as they caught their breath.

"I'm sorry I ran away from you," Zoe whispered.

"I know. It's okay."

"Hey Wade," Zoe spoke again after a few seconds, her tone a little lighter.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

Wade chuckled, and hoisted her up higher in his arms so he could see the smile she was wearing now.

"I know, you said that before. I love you, too."

"I know. I'm going to keep saying it."

"Fine by me," Wade grinned up at her. "I don't think I'll get sick of hearing it."

He brushed her hair back from her face as she spoke again.

"We can't break up again. Ever. Because that sucked."

"It really did," Wade nodded in agreement, and pulled her into another kiss before she could speak again.