A/N: It's finished! Yay! I am so sorry this took so long. But as I may have already mentioned I am a little ocd when it comes to editing. I have had this written for a few weeks but a couple of paragraphs I have not been sold on and have as my sister tells me way too perfectionist for my own good. But it is finally finished. I'm not 100% happy with it, but it's as good as I am going to get it without tearing out my hair, and I really really really wanted to get this out before the new year. I planned to get it out before Christmas but time constraints with the holidays and my ocdness meant it took a little longer. I do want to thank Mollie especially for kicking my butt. After reading your last review I felt bad and wanted to get it up asap for you! Thanks for your words I really appreciate them! I want to thank everyone for reading, reviewing, alerting and supporting this story! It's been a blast to write and it would not have gotten to this point without all of you! I also want to thank those that have reviewed every chapter. There are too many of you to thank individually but please know I appreciate all of your thoughts, ideas, and support of my writing and this story. You guys are amazing your words are so nice and helpful, and your reviews can never be too long. I tried to take everything into consideration and I hope you guys like how this story ends, and I didn't let any of you down. Hopefully this won't be the end of my HOD writing, because I love the fandom and all of you way to much!
I would also like to say a biiiiiig thankyou to my beta. I appreciate everything sooo much! I may be annoying, irritating and keep you awake rambling on about a universe til all hours but I appreciate it all soo much. I'll buy you some kind of present but not Wade... I called dibs. Thanks again to all of you. I have double spell checked this, but if I have missed any typo's please ignore them. Also a huge thankyou to Eli Young Band who provided the soundtrack to this story. I highly recommend everyone fall as in love with them as I am. And even give them a listen as you read. Thank again to everyone hopefully I'll see you all again next year!
Xoxo
DISCLAIMER: I have Eli Young Band Life at best on my itunes but unfortunately I don't own them, Wade, Zoe, Wade's abs or Hart of Dixie! No matter how much I wish I did!
14 MILES FROM BLUEBELL CHAPTER 3
Dr Zoe Hart was under his skin. He had told himself he wouldn't let it happen. But she was a force of nature. She had the ability to make all of his best laid plans go to the wayside with one look. He had been preparing himself for her return to Bluebell for the past month, but the moment he saw her again in New York his brain went blank and he could not think straight. He knew he had been somewhat hot and cold with her, but he didn't know how to act around her. Strangely it was still instinctual. The attraction had not dimmed. If anything it had only gotten stronger in the time they had been apart. The desire to touch, or to kiss her were still as strong as ever. And it was still as natural to him as breathing. Which Wade found ironic, considering he always seemed to struggle to breathe around her.
Wade glanced over to the corner where he knew she was seated with the belles. His view had been blocked for a while by a group of mourners at the bar. But the belles hadn't moved and Shelly had delivered another round to the table only a few minutes previously, and no red flag had gone up. Wade knew he was trying to distract himself. It hadn't worked. His eyes had been trailing over to Zoe from the minute he stepped behind the mahogany bar. If he was honest, he hadn't really taken his eyes off her for the past few days. He knew he was a mess. He had told his friends that he was okay. He wasn't affected by her presence. He knew that was a load of bull, but he wasn't ready to admit to himself or anyone just how much the tiny brunette still impacted him.
He was surprised by the feelings that had surfaced in the past few days. Deep down he knew he shouldn't be. It's not like he had stopped feeling anything for Zoe Hart. He had tried. But everywhere he turned there was always a small reminder of her. He knew he had never moved on. He hadn't really tried. Hiding behind his 'I don't care' facade had become his uniform, and eventually people started to believe him. George and Lemon always knew that he wasn't really over her. But they never pressed him. But Harley was a different story. He knew Harley had always hoped that Zoe would one day come home to Bluebell, and to Wade. Every year before his annual trip for her birthday he would try and convince Wade to come with him. Wade always refused, and Harley would ask again the following year.
Harley was the only person that Wade had ever admitted to just how deeply he felt for Zoe. And that had been the day he had passed. Harley hadn't wanted Zoe to jeopardize her career to nurse him when she had already sacrificed so much to achieve what she had. Wade had pleaded with Harley to call her but had eventually begrudgingly agreed to follow Harley's wishes. He had stepped into her place because if Zoe couldn't be with Harley in his last days then he would be for her. Harley had made him promise that day that he would never close the door on Zoe, and it was an easy promise as the door was always left ajar; it was in his mind anyway. Maybe that was why her presence was having such an effect on him. He had kept her tucked away in his heart; away from prying eyes. The only girl he had every truly loved. From the second he stepped on the plane to New York and had seen her again, memories from twelve years before had been plaguing him. The day they met, skinny dipping at the plantation, school bake sales, making out before, during and after football practice, the long hours in their bedrooms, even the stupid silver cutlery she gave him for Christmas. He hated to even admit he still had that damn tableware. But mostly he remembered her. The way she had smelt, the way she felt, the way she smiled, and how she had always made him feel. Wade had been a screw up, the local bad boy. But Zoe had seen past all his bluster. She had stripped away his bravado and cockiness and seen the guy underneath. The guy he had never shown anyone else.
For the effort he ended up with a broken heart and a collection of angsty lovesongs on his itunes. At least he mastered a few more chords on his guitar. Zoe had loved to tease him that he could only play two chords successfully; he would then tease her back that he only needed those two chords before making his point by serenading her with his version of C7. It always ended with a flustered Zoe falling into his arms and attacking his lips. C7 never failed. He was broken from his reverie as he noticed Annabeth and Cricket approaching the bar looking a little sheepish and slightly worried.
"Evening ladies" Lavon greeted as they approached
"Mayor Hayes" Annabeth replied politely. "Wade, have you seen Zoe?" she asked gently, his head snapping up at her name, George also turning to look at her
"What do you mean, I thought she was with you" he stopped wiping down the bar.
"Well we were talkin, catchin up, and then she got a smidge upset" she explained showing a tiny gap with her fingers.
"A smidge?" Wade narrowed his yes
"Just a little" she winced looking to Cricket for help
"What about?" Wade questioned
"Well we might have maybe, possibly, probably..." Cricket spluttered
"Spit it out" Wade ordered
"toldheryouweremarried" Cricket answered in one breath holding her hands in front of her face defensively.
"You what?"
"And then she went outside for some air, and she hasn't come back yet. Which is a little worryin' considering this is her father's wake and all. I am so sorry Wade" Annabeth rambled
"But on the positive' Cricket brightened. "She totally still likes you Wade" Cricket winked
"Not really the time" George patted her on the shoulder as Wade looked ready to explode and everyone else stared at her.
"I need to find her" Wade threw his cloth down, and started walking around the bar.
"Okay, maybe we should all help, where do you think she would've gone?" George asked Wade
"I don't know, there's a few places I can think of."
"Maybe we should split up, we can cover more ground that way, she really shouldn't be alone" Lavon suggested, Didi nodding in agreement.
"I need to find her" Wade dismissed.
"I always went to Tricky Ricks when I had boy trouble" Cricket suggested cheerily.
"Maybe you should head there now, for the trouble I'm about to show you." Wade threatened
"Okay relax" George stood up halting him. "Gettin' worked up is not going to help us find Zoe. We should split up and go look for her. Wade why don't you head back to the gatehouse, Brick can check Harley's, Lavon you and Didi check the plantation. Ladies why don't you guys check out some of the places you all hung out back in high school. I'll grab Lemon and we'll check out the town square. If you hear anythin' or find her, use your cellphones" Everyone nodded and started heading out. Wade was already moving towards the back door of the bar towards his camaro "Wade" George called out
"No time Tucker" Wade called over his shoulder not stopping
"I was just going to say good luck, and she'll be okay" he muttered as he rubbed his temple before turning to Lemon and Brick. Brick clapped him on the shoulder before leaving and Lemon half smiled not making eye contact. George looked at his wife for a moment, before he looked at her a little closer. His eyebrows shot up in recognition "Oh no no no"
"What?" she crinkled her own eyebrows not meeting his eyes
"Lemon. What did you do?"
"Nothin'" she shrugged
"You said somethin' to Zoe" he deduced
"I did nothin' of the sort George Tucker." She denied
"Oh yes you did"
"Whatever" she crossed her hands over her clutch
"Whatever? She is god knows where and that's your response? I thought we were stayin' out of Wade's business?" he raised an eyebrow at his wife
"Well he is my friend. And your best friend. Not to mention you made me agree to makin' him George jnr's god daddy" she argued "So really it's all your fault."
"All my fault?'"
"I just don't want to see him like that again George." she conceded "bein' all sad and pretendin' not to be"
"No one does sweetheart. But this is a battle that Wade needs to fight himself. I love you for carin'. But well you know what happened last time I had to stand between you and Wade Kinsella?" He asked as Lemon rolled her eyes
"You got shot in the leg with a crossbow" she grumbled.
"That's right" he agreed. "I got shot in the leg with a crossbow. So now we're gunna go help Wade find Zoe, you're gunna say sorry, and then I'm gunna make sure there's no ammunition in Wade's shotgun. Okay let's go" he kissed his wife on the cheek before they headed out on the search.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Zoe felt someone shaking her. She was pretty sure there weren't earthquakes in Alabama. She slowly opened her eyes and the room came into focus.
"Welcome back sweetheart" Bricks face was smiling down at her.
"What happened?" Zoe asked touching her head as she tried to unfold herself from the chair where she had been sleeping.
"You were asleep. And if I had to guess" he said taking the photo frame from her hands and replacing it on the desk. "You cried yourself to that state"
"Well don't guess then" Zoe snapped
"Good to see you're still as sassy as ever"
"Sorry" she apologised, running a hand over her hair. "Long day"
"I know, I'll call Wade, get him to take you home?"
"I don't want to see him"
"He's worried about you sweetheart"
"Well he shouldn't be" she snapped as she stood up.
"Look Zoe"
"Brick don't start. I just buried my father I'm not looking for a replacement"
"Ouch" he replied as she headed to the door. "No one blames you for being angry, but if you let that anger take over well then maybe people will start blamin' you for your choices. And you do have choices Zoe, and I know Harley wouldn't want you angry like this"
"Maybe he should have thought about that before he decided to hide the fact he had cancer from me" Zoe glared at Brick before storming out of the practice.
Brick stood shocked for a few moments before he went after her. By the time he got outside she was gone. He sighed before removing his phone from his pocket.
"Thanks Brick" Wade sighed into the phone. "Yeah sure I'll let you know if I find her" he closed his own phone before placing it back in his own pocket. He had checked out the gatehouse and she wasn't there. He then had done a sweep of the carriage house and their spots on the plantation, and the place she used to go to think when she first moved to Bluebell. She was nowhere on the property. He had just started back on the shortcut track to the centre of town when he heard a crash to his left. He spun on his heel and started jogging back to the gatehouse.
The first thing he noticed was the doors wide open, and the place lit up like a Christmas tree. He stepped inside and she was nowhere to be found. He eyed her half packed suitcase on the bed before switching off the lamp closest to him, and the switch to the light on the porch. "Dammit Zoe, you'll blow the fusebox" he moved to flick off another switch.
"I'm leaving anyway" she replied as she exited the bathroom carrying her toiletries and jewellery case.
"No you're not" he moved to stop her
"Don't tell me what to do" she flinched back at his touch. Wade held his hands up as he took in her appearance. She had removed her sky high heels, and her hair was loose around her shoulders where before it had been tied up in an elegant knot. Her makeup had been washed off but she still had mascara rings around her eyes, which themselves were red from crying.
"We need to talk"
"No, we don't"
"Yeah we do" he tried to halt her again.
"Don't touch me Wade." She warned
"Fine" he threw his hands up as she roughly packed her belongings. Zoe had always internalised her emotions. She wore a mask for most people although Wade had always had x-ray vision. He could read her like a book and always knew how to stop her walls from blocking out the world. He had a way of getting her to open up to him and that scared the hell out of her. Zoe's entire world was off its axis, she had so much to deal with, to work through and at that moment she needed to put distance between them, because although he had the power to help her he was the one with the power to bury her as well. Wade being married was the proof of that. She may be selfish, and all of the other adjectives that people used to describe her. But if Harley had taught her anything it was the difference between right and wrong. And long suppressed feelings for her married high school sweetheart was definitely wrong, no matter how right it may feel.
"I should have never come back here" Zoe muttered to herself
"Yes you should have"
"Why? What's here for me anymore?" she turned to face him tears beginning to form again in the corner of her eyes. "My Dad is gone. And you..."
"And me what?" he locked his eyes on her intensely
"Nothing" she tried to erase the words Wade and married from her mind.
"C'mon what about me Doc?" he pressed as she broke his gaze and turned back away blinking back the tears as she refolded a shirt.
"I have to go" she took a deep breath
"I'm not gunna let you shut me out this time" he said resolutely
"Me?" she spun around "You have always done a pretty good job of that yourself" she accused.
"What? When I was standin' in front of you beggin' you not to give up?" he countered
"You cannot throw that in my face. I wanted to be a doctor from the time I could walk! You can't blame me for chasing my dream!"
"I don't! I never did!" he retorted. "I blame you for givin' up on me!"
"You think I gave up on you? Is that why you hooked up with Joelle Sugarbaker? Why you got married?" she snapped "Where is she anyway? Tansy, Your wife?" The word falling from her lips like poison. "Is she under the bed? The backseat of your car, hiding in the closet? Zoe asked spitefully slamming open the door to the small cupboard next to the bathroom.
"Leave her out of this." he slammed the door closed again "And Joelle was always nothin'. You don't even deserve an explanation".
"Because you're doing a stellar job so far" she challenged him, both of them blazing with anger.
Wade tried to unfurl his fists stepping away before glaring at her with a hand on his hip. "You know what? You're still as selfish and superior and self centred as you always were!"
"Didn't stop you from sticking your tongue down my throat yesterday!"
"Well you just said it yourself I have no standards!" he shouted back at her.
"So that's why you're married to one woman, and making out with another?"
"This has nothing to do with Tansy! And everythin' to do with you and your stupid picture!"
"What picture? What are you even talking about?" she yelled back frustrated
"Oh come on Doc, the picture you have in your head on how your life should be. And that picture has never included me. You talked a big game but that's all I ever was to you. A game"
"You were never a game to me Wade" Zoe whispered as another tear dropped from the corner of her eye. The pain and hurt and fear all were crashing down on Zoe in that moment by the look in Wade's eyes.
"Sure I wasn't. I'm the guy that you told your big city friends about. The home-grown boy that kept your bed warm for a year in Alabama. You never took me seriously" he stared her directly in the eyes, his own hurt, and pain reflecting back to her "But what did you still want? To go off and be a big superstar city Doctor, leavin' me sittin' by waitin' for you for twelve years; never movin' on! Not livin' my life. Well newsflash Doc, I'm not that seventeen year old boy you maimed with your stupid pepper spray! Thin's change. People leave. You should know better than anyone about that" he turned away taking a few steps before turning around to face her. He looked down at the floor taking deep breaths trying to calm down as silent tears rolled down Zoe's face.
He eventually looked back up and locked eyes with her as he stepped forward and cupped her chin in his hand. He then left the softest of kisses on her lips. Zoe's eyes fluttered closed as his lips pressed against hers. Before she could really react he pulled back "And the saddest thing is Doc, no matter how hard I tried I could never stop lovin' you, and I did wait for you. But you didn't wait for me...and that's why I married Tansy" he dropped her chin on the last word before turning and walking silently from the gatehouse, leaving a shattered Zoe behind.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Zoe wiped the tears from her eyes as she silently finished packing her bags. Wade had been gone for what seemed like hours but in reality had been closer to twenty minutes. Zoe had slumped to the floor and cried into her knees before continuing to pack. She had torn through the gatehouse collecting her belongings like a tornado. Zoe needed to put distance between Wade and herself. It was what was best for Wade, she kept repeating. She had hurt him enough. He was right, twelve years ago he had fought for her and she had pushed him away and put herself first, and now she owed it to him to put him and his marriage before her problems. She would be out of his hair and out of his life and this time for good.
She stopped her packing when there was soft rapping on the porch door. Turning her head she took a few deep breaths before zipping up her carry-on bag ignoring the person on the other side. After a few minutes and the third knock it was apparent the person on the other side wasn't going anywhere so she moved to answer the door.
"Wade isn't here...George"
"Hi Zoe" he replied with a soft smile as he stood before her holding a white business sized envelope
"Wade's not here" she brushed her hair back before crossing her arms across her chest.
"I'm actually here to talk to you. Can we?" he gestured to the couch
"Sure" she conceded to let him pass and settle himself on the couch. She stood next to the door waiting for him to speak
"Look Zoe, I know you're upset and you've had a lot to deal with today and I really don't want to add to it all but I needed to give you this and maybe talk to you for a minute, there's somethin' you need to know. Thing's with Wade aren't what you think and there's some stuff you should be aware of"
"This isn't a trial and he doesn't need a lawyer" Zoe put a hand to her forehead.
"No, but he should also be considered innocent until all the facts are presented" George argued.
"Fine, attorney away" Zoe relented hoping the faster she heard him out the faster she could leave.
"I know you know about Tansy" he started as Zoe looked away again "But you should know they're not together" her eyes immediately snapped back to George. "I mean they're technically still married, but Wade and I have been tryin' to correct that situation for awhile. Legally I mean" Zoe looked away trying to decipher if he was telling the truth. "There's more" he continued "The whole marriage was kind of my fault"
"What?" Zoe looked confused.
"It's a long story, but well I had a business trip to New York and Lemon thought it would be a good idea for me to look you up and surprise you, and well you know Lemon so I did. I went to your apartment and I met your boyfriend. And he started tellin' me about you guys movin' in together and when I got back Wade overheard me tellin' Lemon. He took off and the next thing you know he's drunk off his ass on a shrimp boat in international waters and he's married. Within a month he had me draw up the divorce papers and we've been tryin' to track down Tansy to sign em ever since."
Zoe looked away as she took in George's words. Wade was technically married but he and Tansy were not together. That explained the lack of anything remotely feminine in the gatehouse. The lack of a ring on his finger, it also explained what he meant when he said she hadn't waited for him. He thought she had moved on, so he did the same.
"I wasn't moving in with him" Zoe dropped to the other side of the couch as realisation hit her.
"Wait what?" George looked confused
"My ex-boyfriend. We weren't moving in together" she shook her head. "I'm so stupid"
"Actually that's pretty smart I met the guy for like two minutes and well for a surgeon he seemed kind of dull"
"That's not what I meant. And trust me I know" she tried to gather her thoughts. "We were never that serious and he knew I was never that into it, but he liked to make out to everyone else it was more than it was. I never paid enough attention to stop him. This is all such a mess." she stood up and paced the room. "I need to get out of here" Zoe moved back towards her luggage.
"Zoe you can't go" George stood up.
"Why not. I have made so many mistakes. Wade deserves better. He's better off without me" she turned around.
"No he's not" George grabbed her arm and spun her around. "I have known Wade my entire life, and he's been my best friend since the third grade when he put a tarantula in Jimmy Preboo's backpack after he did unmentionable cruelty to me with itchin' powder" George held his hand up as Zoe looked at him questioningly "That's not important right now, but the point is, I've known Wade forever, and I have never seen him look at anythin' in this world the way he looks at you. Not even his car" making Zoe snort. "I'm serious Zoe Hart. You and Wade together are like somethin' from the movies. Only you're movie hasn't started yet"
"George" Zoe closed her eyes
"Come here" he walked away back to the couch picking up the envelope from the coffee table and handing it to her, before sitting down and opening Wades laptop. "First you need to read that, second Wade doesn't know I know about this, but if you don't believe how Wade feels about you, and how much you both need each other; and how much you should be in each other's lives; then you should hear it from him." He then opened a file called "life at best" and a moment later the unmistakable sound of Wade voice surrounded her, landing right on her heart.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Number fifty four: burns boiling water" Wade scrawled on the notebook in front of him.
"Fifty four? You've really found fifty four of those ridiculous cons" Lavon asked over his coffee cup.
"Fifty five: doesn't refill the tank" Wade ignored Lavon
"I think he's lost the plot" Didi leaned her head towards Lavon who was seated next to her at the breakfast bar in the kitchen of the plantation house. "I've heard about this, one minute, normal, and them BAM, crazy as crazy be"
"Bam?" Lavon asked
"Bam" she agreed resolutely "I'm tellin' you we don't stop this, the first of the month you're gunna be singin' Wade down from the roof of the hardware store"
"Lavon Hayes can't be seen singin in public"
"On a roof" she reiterated
"NOOOO" he growled before looking up at Wade
"Fifty Eight; coffee shouldn't taste like a pastry"
"What's that got to do with the lady doctor?" Didi looked confused
"Fifty nine: cutlery"
"Wade that's enough" Lavon stood up.
"I'm busy" Wade replied
"No you're not" he grabbed for the notebook
"Sixty: fast friends with Lavon" he eyed his landlord as he wrote down the words
"And this is not helpin" he snatched the book from Wade
"It was your idea" he grabbed for the book back
"And Lavon Hayes was wrong, this is for cleansin' and you my friend don't need no cleanse"
"And what do you spose I do instead?"
"You need to go talk to Zoe"
"And you're holdin' sixty reasons why that's a bad idea" he reached for the book again
"Really? Because I don't think that 'stupid shorts' and 'wears pyjamas'' count as reasons not to talk to someone" Lavon held up the list
"It was never gunna work" Wade shook his head
"Depends on the fabric, some shorts can easily pass for sleepwear" Didi put her head in her hand.
"Um Didi, would you mind givin' me and Wade a minute, you know guy talk"
"Oh sure" she moved to stand up "You boys should discuss the lady doctor in private, but Wade don't let the fat lady sing until you've made your pro list. You should never go off prematurely" she patted him on the hand before strolling out of the kitchen. Wade looked at Lavon with a dumbfounded expression
"You need to talk to Zoe" Lavon reiterated when she was gone
"It's not that simple" Wade argued
"Yes it is" Lavon replied assuredly as he placed his mug in the sink
"Look me and Zoe have never been simple. It was always been... complicated."
"Uncomplicate it" Lavon shrugged
"What do you want me to do? Go find her, tell her that she's the only girl I've ever loved? That I forgive her for pushin me away, and leavin me behind?" Wade asked incredulously
"Pretty much, because you do and you have. You could add in somethin about how you knew it was the right thin' to do, and you both got to grow up, experience life, followed your own dreams before you tried to follow them together" Lavon counselled
"That's the stupidest thin' I ever heard. And I'm a bartender I hear stupid thin's all day long" Wade pointed out. "Have you been watchin the notebook again?"
"I'm datin Didi what do you think?" Lavon retorted
"Well life aint like a movie, you don't get to ride off into the sunset with one special person. It's not all rainbows and lollipops. It's pain, and yellin' and medical school, trust me Lavon, Zoe don't see me in her picture" he slumped in his chair resigned
"Maybe then you need to show her what you see in your picture" Lavon suggested.
"What do you mean?"
"All I've heard is reasons why you can't be together. If Zoe don't see you that way that's one thin', and completely untrue" he held is hand up to silence Wade before he could protest "But you do see her that way. You love her. And if you think you haven't already forgiven her for the past then you're wrong. You nursed her father in his last days, you sat with him for hours on end, and you flew halfway across the country to tell her in person that he had passed. You love her, past and all, and if you don't do somethin' about it then you're a bigger idiot then this list says you are"
"So you're sayin I should tell her how I feel?" Wade clarified as he processed Lavon's words
"No Lavon Hayes is sayin you need to show her how you feel" he leant down on the counter. Wade pondered the advice as he slowly started to grin.
"Well alright then"
"That's my boy" Lavon clapped standing tall. "You show Zoe who Wade Kinsella is, how big his heart is, and how it only beats for one girl"
"You're right" Wade stood up and started striding out of the kitchen.
"Lavon Hayes is always right"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Zoe sat back against the couch as her mind raced. The pages from the envelope were sitting beside her on the couch as Wade's words, his lyrics; his melodies were running rampant through her mind. His songs were laced with hurt, pain, regret, and sincerity but woven in was love, hope, belief and faith. Wade had loved her. After explaining the pages and that Wade had written some of the songs in the three months between her leaving and his visit to New York, and the rest in the year proceeding, George had left her alone to listen and think in private. Zoe had been so enamoured that on her second listen she had tried to plug the laptop into the surround sound speakers and had blown the power. She now sat on the couch with the laptop resting on her knees with only the storm candles she had lit casting light around her, the computer screen long left to go dark.
She had no idea where Wade was or how much time had passed, or what decisions she would make, her concentration solely focused on the sound of Wade's voice and his fingers on his guitar strings. In that moment she felt calm, safe and relaxed. Her attention slowly drifted from the music to the soft pattering sounds of raindrops that were gradually getting louder on the rooftop. She had always loved Alabama rain. It was so different to New York rain. And it again made her smile. Zoe picked up the discarded papers and restuffed them in the envelope before she placed them along with the laptop on the coffee table and stood up. She moved across the floor towards the porch a moment before she reached the doors, her eyes spotting a figure moving towards her. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness she could make out Wades profile. He stopped in front of the door and his eyes locked on hers. The world seemed to stop as piercing blue met brown. Zoe felt herself losing herself in his gaze as a smile splayed itself across his lips.
Zoe bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from grinning as he moved purposely through the door toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. His hand reached out and stroked her cheek at the same time as he turned to press her against the wall. They both held still as they appraised one another in anticipation and silent exchange of sentiment before Wade leant in to show Zoe Hart what he indeed felt for her. At in the moment was no doubt in either's mind. The second their lips met, the passion exploded between them. All rational thought left both their minds as their hearts took over and melded together as one. Zoe's small hands reached around Wade's shoulders before dropping to the lapels of the suit he wore for the funeral, pulling the garment from his shoulders and simultaneously pulling at the hem of his dress shirt.
Wade's hands were on a trip of their own, reacquainting themselves with the curves they had once known intimately, before stripping her of her dress in seconds. They fought to caress her skin as her hands worked on his buttons to remove the item of clothing that prevented her from feeling him. She sighed against his mouth as he was finally free from the confines and she was able to pull his chest flush against her own. Wade's mouth moved hotly over hers, and Zoe could feel everything he was pouring into his kisses, and she instinctively knew that Wade could feel that too. Zoe gripped his arms tighter, winding her hands around his neck when he leant down and grabbed her around the hips lifting her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist as he deepened the kiss more than she knew was possible.
As she kissed him as hard as she could and with everything she had, Zoe knew she was where she was meant to be, and with whom. She was home. Wade kissed her once more before pulling back to take in a much needed breath. His eyes smouldered with desire, need, and longing that had been long hidden beneath the surface, and that Zoe knew was reflected in her own eyes. He stepped back from the wall tightening his grip around her as he silently walked them towards his bed. His eyes never left hers, and Zoe recognised the burning passion bubbling from her was met only in intensity by Wade's, and that it stemmed from the raw, unadulterated love that had always been between them. Unspoken and nameless they were giving into it with every fibre of their beings.
As her back came in contact with the mattress Wade smiled and Zoe reached for him, unwilling to lose the bond between them that was reconnecting with every passing second. Wade closed the final distance between them and joined their lips with a soft sigh of contentment as they continued to reacquaint themselves with one another. Their hearts were both beating out of their chests as they continued their ministrations; mouths battling for control as hands held no inhibition. They gripped one another tight, mouths fused together, skin on skin, laughter mixing with pleasure; physically showing the other how much they had been missed. Wade's mouth trailed across her throat and down the column of her neck as his hand slid up Zoe's side and then down her arm gripping her hand in his and interlacing her fingers with his own against the sheet, linking them together once again as one.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Zoe curled her body into Wade's as she ran her fingers across the skin of chest and through the small pattering of hair, as Wade's fingers played lazily with her own locks that were falling over the pillow. They were sprawled across the floor amongst bedclothes, bodies intertwined under the blanket both happy and content. Zoe breathed in his scent as a smile played across her features.
"So what now?"she asked
"Well, get some food for sustenance, and do it all over again" he smirked "or vice versa" his hand slid to pull her closer as his lips once again closed over hers. "mmm" they moaned simultaneously into one another's mouths, losing themselves in each other again. "no, Ignore it, ignore it' Wade ordered as she begun to pull away at the sound of a knock on the door. He gripped her tighter and kissed her deeply, burying his hand in her hair as the knock became more insistent.
"We should really get that" Zoe pulled away again Wade grumbling in response as he turned his head to the side. "I'll get rid of them and you can get some sustenance..." she left a lingering kiss on the side of his jaw "so we don't..." another lingering kiss to his neck "have to leave..." she kissed his adams apple "Again tonight" she kissed the side of his neck again before he grabbed her face pulling her lips back to his own. Letting out a guttural groan at the contact. When the knocking became louder he let her go before she leant in and left another lingering kiss on his lips "I'll be right back" she promised, giving him a last kiss before she moved to answer the door, Wade throwing himself onto his back.
Zoe wrapped Wade's discarded shirt around her frame before opening the door and stepping out onto the porch.
"Lemon, this isn't a good time" she addressed the blonde who stood before her.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to apologise for earlier."
"Lemon it's really not necessary" Zoe wrapped her arms tighter around herself
"Actually I think it is" the blonde disagreed "Wade's my friend and I care about what happens to him, and I don't want to see him hurt."
"I know"
"But I shouldn't have come at you the way I did. I saw the way Wade looked at you at the funeral today and I got scared. I never want to see him the way he was when he got back from New York"
"I never meant to hurt him"
"But you did all the same. But the thin' is. I saw the way you looked at Wade too. You love him. And sometimes you hurt the people you don't want to hurt"
"Lemon" Zoe looked the blonde in the eye and saw the effect her leaving had on her as well
"All of the other girls, they were my friend because they were scared of me, but you were different. I respected you. I was horrible to you and you never backed down, and you were my friend, we were friends. But then you left and you cut me out. And it hurt. Because when you left, you left me too."
"I'm sorry" Zoe said sincerely
"I appreciate that. I really do. And I hope you stay around awhile, because I would really like us to be friends again Zoe Hart. And I think you and Wade could be more than that"
"You think so?" Zoe asked with a smile.
"Yeah I do. I was so mad at him for marryin Tansy the way he did, and you for being the catalyst in it. I blamed you for that too. But the thin' about Wade is he has the biggest heart. He keeps it below the surface and doesn't let anyone see it. But you already knew that. You're the same way." They shared an understanding smile before Lemon continued "I guess I always believed that one day he would rise above this town and have a life as big as his heart, and when he met you, I knew it for sure. I guess the rest is upto you" Lemon smiled before leaning in and giving Zoe an awkward hug "I should go, we're havin movie night, I've seen Casablanca a thousand times but I still want to see how it ends" she laughed before turning to leave, Zoe smiling at her retreating back before calling out to the blonde
"Lemon...Thank you"
"Anytime" Lemon waved before heading to her car.
Zoe walked back inside and closed the door as the headlights moved away from the gatehouse. She looked up and smiled at Wade who had repositioned himself on the bed with the pillows and blankets.
"Who was at the door Doc?" he asked one arm tucked behind his head. She grinned broadly at the sound of her nickname falling from his lips.
"Just a friend" she walked over and climbed onto the bed beside him. "A good friend"
"mmmm" he sighed in contentment as he pulled her down to lie closer to him.
"A friend who helped me make a decision" she sat up.
"What?" his eyes furrowed at the bright smile on her face. "Who was really at the door?" he asked suspiciously as she grinned and stood from the bed going over to the couch and leaning over it to reach for the discarded envelope on the coffee table. "Nice view" Wade commented with a smirk
"You're such a perv" she couldn't help but chuckle. She liked things like this between them. It's how it used to be, how it should be. She sauntered back to the bed before climbing back up next to him, tucking her legs beneath her, dropping the envelope on his bare chest.
'What's this?" he asked as he turned it over in his hands
"Open it' she smiled. Wade looked at her unsure before pulling the stapled pages out and placing them against the envelope and beginning to read his eyes going wide after the first few lines.
"Zoe this is...Harley left you the practice" he stated shocked
"Technically he left me half the practice; it's a partnership with Brick"
"But still, he gave you this"
"Yeah, but he's giving me so much more" she locked her eyes on his.
"What else is he givin you?" he asked flipping through the pages not seeing anything else substantial, the papers solely pertained to the bequethment of the practice.
"He's giving me you" she smiled as his head shot up from the papers to look at her. "I know we have so much to talk about, and I'm neurotic and bossy and a complete pain in the ass and it's not going to be as simple as me taking over my father's practice but it can be, and maybe it will"
"Zoe what, what are you sayin?" he asked confused
"I'm sayin" she mimicked his accent before she took a deep breath "That I love you, and that you were right, I do have a picture in my head of what my life is supposed to be, but someone told me that that picture was stupid. But it's not" she blinked back the tears she could feel forming. "Because that picture always included you, I just needed reminding." She smiled as Wade gazed at her with so much love it took her breath away. "But maybe life isn't a picture, despite how amazing or handsome that picture might be" she chuckled "Maybe it's a movie, and I for one am curious to see how this one ends" she looked at him expectantly as the smile gradually overtook his features before he leant in and kissed her. They kissed for a few minutes before Wade managed to flip them over and started to kiss down her neck.
"So what kind of movie?" he pulled back to look at her
"What?" she asked her eyes still closed as he continued to pepper her with light kisses
"What kind of movie?" he asked again punctuating each word with a kiss before pulling back to look at her with a gleam in his eye. Zoe opened hers to stare at him with a lazy smile before it fell from her lips
"Eww you're totally thinking porno" she slapped him as he chuckled
"We are naked" he pointed out looking between their bodies
"Ewww" she slapped him again. "That is sooo gross I just opened my heart to you and you say that" he stopped her with a fiery kiss that she couldn't help but melt into.
"I was thinking more action slash comedy, you know something a bit more...me" he winked at her when they pulled apart.
"Action movie?" she asked through narrowed eyes
"With two hot leads" he kissed a trail down her neck trying to sell her
"Mhmm" she agreed
"There's some drama, some laughs, a few crazy car chases in an awesome camaro, some hot action" he leant down and dropped a couple of open mouth kisses to her shoulder making her laugh "Some good friends, a little romance, maybe a family, some more drama, you know town gossip inducin stuff; more action" he kissed her other shoulder "But in the end the bad guys get eaten by the mayors pet alligator" Zoe laughed out loud at that
"So how does it really end?" she asked as she bit her lip
"Our two absolutely smokin hot lead characters have their well deserved ... action scene" he wiggled his eyebrows before kissing her long and deep again
"I like happy endings" Zoe grinned up at him as he brushed her hair from her face
"Me too" he grinned back resting his forehead against hers.
A/N: there we are all over! Thanks again to you all! You guys are so awesome. I have received a couple of pms requesting a sequel or a spin off of this story and I don't really want to go the sequel route but if anyone has ideas for a teenage spinoff (which was requested by someone who wishes to remain anonmymous – of oneshots of teenage moments in this universe) please let me know. If i have made any huge errors above or you don't like how I have ended this story feel free to let me know. The album used in this story was Eli young bands "Life at best" if you couldn't tell, although I took a little character inspiration from the lady antebellum catalogue, Jake Owen and Luke Bryans albums and the songs that inspired this story to begin with: Eli young band: everything is you, tim mcgraw's why we said goodbye, and seventeen and eric church springsteen. If anyone has any other songs to add to my zade playlist let me know! I hope you all have a wonderful zade new year (I am so happy with them right now my smile hasn't left my face, bless my little zade heart!) and the new episodes give us some awesome zade moments! Thanks again everyone love you all please let me know what you think!
xoxo