Author's Note: Hi. So, I am so sorry about the lateness of this, but I think you will be very pleased. At least, I hope you will be. I wanted to post before the new season starts. I AM SO EXCITED! Who else saw Wilson Bethel's interview where he calls their relationship a 'spicy meatball?' Weird, but cool. Sorry, I am getting off topic. Obviously, this story is nearing its end, but I still have a few things that need to get done, so we still have some time before I bid it farewell. Longer Author's Note at the end.

To Those Who Reviewed:

Jenni,

Thank you so much for taking the time to review.

KBecks,

Thank you so much. That is so sweet. I love it when people say that, because I have done that with stories so I know exactly what you are talking about, and I know how much you have to like a story to do that.

Cathy,

That is very sweet. Thank you for your review.

Chapter Twenty-Two

George checked his cellphone again. Still no messages from Zoe. He was disappointed, but he couldn't really say he was surprised. They had left things in such a weird place, and, on top of that, now Wade was out of the hospital and Zoe would be trying to help him readjust. The thought made him slightly nauseous. He loved Wade; the guy had been his best friend since elementary school. George got that Wade would need help, and of course he wanted his friend to heal and feel better. Still, Zoe spending so much time with him, one-on-one, while he, George, was out of town, it made him nervous. Zoe was under no obligation to him, or, at least, no obligation that she remembered. If she had feelings for Wade, she had every right to explore them, but George was scared of where it might lead.

"George. Good to see you." He heard behind him.

He turned around and tried to smile, "Jim, hey." He was happy to see his old college friend, he truly was. It was just hard to be all happy and pleasant when his semi-amnesiac fiancé might be off somewhere exploring feeling with one of his closest friends.

"Thanks for coming up. I really appreciate it."

George nodded, "Of course. Sounds like you're really struggling with this."

"You have no idea. Custody struggles are a nightmare, and its really hard being in a courtroom and letting some guy argue for your needs when you're used to being the lawyer."

George smiled, "I can't even imagine. But I'm happy to help. In fact, the timing is kind of perfect."

"Why's that?"

George shrugged, trying to look nonchalant, "Just some stuff I needed to get away from for a bit. Nothing as big as what you've got going on though. Speaking of, let's get in there."

"So, I, uh, I guess we should start." Wade said. He didn't know why he was so nervous. He'd been alone with Zoe plenty of times. But she knows now. The thought unnerved him. He tried to shake it off.

Zoe, who had been up on the stool hopped down and placed an open book in front of him.

"What's that?"

"It's a cookbook." Zoe said, looking at him like he was crazy.

Wade glanced down at the page she'd selected. Gumbo.

"Gumbo, huh?"

She shrugged, "Yeah. I started thinking about what I wanted to make, and when I found this page, it just felt right somehow."

Wade smiled in spite of himself, "Well, you did try once before. Didn't go over too well though."

"When?"

"Gumbo makin' contest."

"But I placed second in that." He looked at her, surprised, "I, uh, found the ribbon."

He smirked, "All that ribbon represents is that you had a friend nice enough to stay up all night cookin' because he didn't want you to humiliate yourself."

"So what, you made it and entered it under my name?"

"I never said it was me."

Zoe shrugged, "No, I know. It's just, I don't know, it seems like something you would do."

She caught his eyes for a second and he felt his breath hitch. Quickly as he could he looked away. "Well, we better get started."

"Great. What's first?"

"What's first is put that book away and get it out of your head that I'm teachin' you to make a slow cookin', complicated dish on your first go 'round."

"Well, what do you think I should make?" She asked petulantly.

Wade thought for a minute, "Rice."

"What? Just rice?"

"Hey, believe it or not, rice is an easy thing to mess up. Leave the pot or time it wrong, you're right back to startin' fires. Still, its simple and homogeneous, and the perfect thing to for a beginner."

"Fiiiiiiiine."

Wade chuckled as Zoe reluctantly put the book away.

"So, what's first?"

"Well, the first thing you need to make rice, is rice."

"No, really?" Zoe asked in mock-shock.

Wade just chuckled again, "There should be a bag in that cabinet." He pointed behind her.

Zoe tried to open it, making Wade laugh again. "You can use a stool you know. You don't need to jump around like a maniac."

"I knew that."

She grabbed one of the stools and maneuvered it just below the cabinet. Wade watched her struggle. Even without all of her memories, everything she did was so completely Zoe. She was awkward and unsure, yet stubborn and proud. She would never admit that she didn't know what she was doing, and she was determined to get it right and on her own, regardless of how ridiculous she looked.

"So, how's the whole recoverin' your memories thing goin'?"

Zoe stilled, "What'd'you mean?"

Wade shrugged, "Just, you know, you seem to have remembered some stuff, like Tucker, and doctorin', all that. You seem a lot more … you than you did when you woke up."

She nodded, "Yeah, I guess. I mean, I definitely know more than I did then, but there are still so many blank spots."

"Well, they'll fill in." Zoe nodded, "You find the rice yet?"

Zoe nodded, grabbing the big bag of white rice. She tried to get down from the stool but missed one of the rungs, causing her to fall headfirst on the kitchen floor. Luckily, the bag of rice cushioned her fall.

Wade rushed to her side, or rather, rushed as fast as one can on crutches. "You okay?" He asked, carefully dropping down next to her. Zoe just started to laugh hysterically. "Uh, doc?"

"Sorry." She said between giggles, "It's just … I mean, the car accident, and then the fire, you'd think I'd be more careful, but if that bag of rice hadn't hit the floor first, I could be on my way to the hospital again."

She was laughing so hard she was hyperventilating. Wade brushed her hair from her face; it was a mess after the fall and the manic laughter wasn't helping. It was also wigging Wade out a bit, "Hey, Zoe, calm down, all right? Everything's good."

She should her head, still laughing hysterically. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but she couldn't seem to get it out, and each laugh was making it harder for her to breathe. Wade had no clue what to do; this was hardly his area of expertise. Not able to think of anything else, he pulled Zoe into a hug, and started to rub her back in what he hoped were soothing circles. After a minute or so, she seemed to be calming down.

"Is it ever going to end Wade?" She asked, her voice shaky, "Is this my life, one freak accident after another? Is this how it's always going to be?"

"It'll be okay doc, I promise. I mean, life ain't perfect, not for anybody, but you'll get past this. You'll get past all of it. You'll get you're life back, and it'll be safe, and normal, even borin' if you want."

"Thanks. I mean, I'm not sure I believe you or anything, but thanks."

"Anytime." Slowly, Wade stood up. He found his balance, and once he felt secure he held out his hand to her. She took it, letting him help her up.

"Come on now, dry those tears." My dad said as he helped me off the floor. I smiled up at him, feeling his strength travel from his hand to mine, filling me up.

"I hate when she has these parties." I know I sound like a brat, and with anybody else, I would never get like this. But this is my dad. "I have to put on a fancy party dress and be all girly while they pinch my cheeks and then mom just gets all weird and totally forgets about me."

"Hey, can I tell you a secret?" I nod, "I hate these parties your mom throws too." I smile at him, "Tell you what, why don't we go hide out in my study. It's sure to be better than a coat closet."

I nod enthusiastically and then he picks me up in his arms and carries me to his study. Mommy hates his study. She's always complaining about how it's bad enough that he spends all his time working at that 'god-forsaken' hospital, but when he finally comes home, he just locks himself in there. She accuses him of hiding from her, and personally, I wouldn't blame him if he did. Mommy can be scary, especially when she throws one of her parties. She turns into this crazy lady, talking weird and forgetting who everybody is. I don't know how it happens, but whatever it is, it's scary and one of the many reasons I hate these parties. Mommy wants me to be all girly like her. Daddy says she's a socialite, and I guess that means she likes hanging out with snobby people who are brain-dead and refuse to admit that they're old. Daddy is different. His job is important. He's a surgeon, just like I'm going to be. He saves live; I cannot think of a nobler thing to grow up to be.

When we reach his study, he puts me down on his desk and takes out my favorite book. It has all these pictures in it of different body parts and what they're called. He opens it up and we look at the pictures. He tells me what some stuff is and quizzes me on some stuff he's shown me before. It's a lot of fun. I wish it could always be like this. Maybe when I grow up and we work together it will be like this. No mommy and fancy parties and dumb girly dresses. Just daddy and me talking about the one thing we both love most.

"Zoe?"

Zoe jumps at Wade's voice. It takes a minute for her to remember where she is. He's looking at her with those concerned puppy dog eyes. She blinks a couple times and shakes her head, "Sorry, I, uh, I guess I went away for a minute." He just nods, "Hey, can I ask you about something?"

"You can ask me about anything. You know that."

Zoe nods, catching his eye, "I do." He smiles shyly at her, and she looks down, clearing her throat, "Um, can you, um, can you tell me about my parents?"

Wade nods, "What'd'you wanna know?"

"What don't I want to know?" Zoe asks with a laugh.

He smiles, "Well, um, you met your mom, right? She came by while you were in the hospital." Zoe nods again, "And your dad … well, it's all a little complicated Doc. Can you make your question a little more specific do you think?"

"I can try." She thought for a minute, "So, my dad's a surgeon, right?"

"Uh, one of 'em is, yeah."

"One of them? What does that mean?"

"You, uh, you kinda have two."

Zoe pauses. It could be a gay couple thing, which she would be cool with, but that wasn't that impression she got from her memory.

"I guess one of them is technically your stepfather, 'cept you thought he was your birthfather 'til a few years back."

"What? How-?"

"Your mom, she, uh, she kinda got pregnant when she was a havin' a last hurrah before gettin' married, and I guess, when she found out she was pregnant, she just let you two believe you were related."

"And he's the surgeon?"

"Yep."

"So my real father is …?"

"Harley Wilkes. Guy from down here. He, uh, he died little before you moved here. Left you his half the medical practice."

"So, is that why I moved here then; because I found out -?"

"Yeah, well, sorta. You also had to work as a GP to get some, I don't know, fellowship thing."

Zoe nodded, "Were we close, Harley and I?"

"You, uh, never really got a chance to know him. You didn't find out 'til after he …"

"Right." Zoe said, biting her lip awkwardly. "So, what about my other dad. Is he still-?"

"Yeah, yeah, no, he lives in New York."

"Why didn't he come to visit me after the accident?"

"Findin' out you weren't … his, kinda put a strain on your relationship."

"But … we seemed so close."

"I'm not followin'."

"Just now, I had a memory. I was probably eight or nine, and my mom was acting weird -"

"Probably drunk. She's not so great with the alcohol. Somethin' our parents have in common actually."

Zoe nodded, "And she was throwing some party-"

"She works in PR. Ya know, talkin' up famous people and stuff."

"And I didn't want to be there. For some reason I was in a coat closet, and my dad found me and took me to his study, and we looked at pictures of lungs and livers and he told me about what they all were. We just seemed so…"

"People change. You shoulda known me five years ago, shoulda known my dad before my mom passed. People change and relationships change. You changed when you found out who your real dad was and moved down here, George changed when he and Lemon split, I changed when I fell in love with you."

Zoe looked down awkwardly.

"Sorry, I shouldn't've said …"

"No, no I'm glad you did. I just …" Zoe took a deep breath, "I guess I thought once I knew how you felt, it'd be easier to figure out how I felt, but I'm still so confused. I like you so much. You make me feel safe, and loved. When I'm around you it's like I know everything is going to be okay."

Wade smiles; he can't help it. In so many ways, this is everything he always wanted to hear, but … "But then there's George." He said, making it easier for her.

She nods, "Yeah. George."

"Um, maybe we should get back to the cooking lesson. We can talk later." Zoe nodded.

"Yeah. Later."

Rose woke up in a cold sweat. Her dream had been vivid; it had been about Zoe's accident. She had been in the car with her, seen it happen. She had gone with Zoe to the hospital and watched her fighting for her life. One by one, Zoe's friends and family had come to see her. Then, the doctor told Zoe there had been a girl in the car with her, and asked her to identify. The body. Zoe had walked down with him and looked at the girl on the slab, claiming she had never seen the girl before in her life. Rose had taken a peak and seen herself, mutilated from the accident. That's when she had woken up. She made her way to the bathroom and got a nice, cold drink of water. Then, she picked up her phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey." She said timidly.

"Rose, it's 2 a.m. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. We can talk later." She started to hang up.

"No, hey, it's fine. I'm just worried. I mean, did something happen?"

"No. Just a dumb nightmare; no big deal."

"You want me to come over?"

"No I … I shouldn't bothered you. This was stupid."

"Rose, hey, come on. You can talk to me. I mean, that's what boyfriends are for, right?"

"Well, I can think of a few other things that they're for." Rose said, smiling. Fredrick Dean chuckled awkwardly. He could be so shy sometimes; Rose liked that, "But I guess you're right."

"So, you wanna talk about this dream of yours?"

"Oh, it's nothing major. I mean, I was scared when I first woke up, but I've calmed down since."

"Okay."

"It's just all this Zoe stuff. I mean, she remembers most everyone else at least a little by now, but she still has no clue who I am. I've been close with her for longer than most anyone in this town, and yet …"

"She'll remember you. You gotta give it time, right?"

"I have been, but still nothing."

"Maybe you guys just need to spend more time together. Jog her memory some."

"That's a great idea. Thanks."

"Anytime."

Zoe let out a content sigh and George smiled. He loved moments like this. Most guys would be ashamed to admit they liked to cuddle, but George wasn't. He liked sex; he was a man after all. However, there was something about those moments after, holding Zoe, listening to her breathe, that he could just never get enough of.

"I can be crude."

Zoe turned to face him, amusement in her eyes, "So, we have a conversation, we have sex, and after we're done, you remember exactly what we were talking about? I must be losing my touch."

George smiled and nudged her playfully, "I'm serious. I can be crude."

Zoe nodded, "You are obsessing way too much about this."

"I'm just sayin', if you go for crude, I can do crude."

"I know. I heard you."

"Yeah, but you don't believe me."

"Sweetie, trust me, I believe you. I have not doubt that if I told you I wanted crude, you could do crude better than anyone."

"Thank you." George was quiet for a minute, "Wait, what do you mean?"

"I mean I know you can be crude."

"Why?"

Zoe groaned and rolled her eyes, "What, now you don't want me to think you can be crude?"

"No, I just … I mean, I haven't really been crude with you."

"I know."

"So what makes you so certain?"

She sighed, "Because, you're you." George just looked at her, not even bothering to voice the implied, 'what the heck does that mean?' "I just mean you're very," she paused, searching for a word, "accommodating." She finally said.

"How do you mean?" he wasn't trying to grill her; he was genuinely curious.

"Look, I don't want you taking this the wrong way. You are a great guy just be being George Tucker, you can't do better than that, and no matter what, you're always you. It's just … you love so strongly, are so devoted, that sometimes, you tend to change a little, for the person you're with. I don't know, maybe it's from being with Lemon so long."

"Lemon?"

"Yeah. I mean, I love her, don't get me wrong, but she is one bossy lady, mondo high maintenance. And you got used to playing the boyfriend who aims to please above all else." She smiled at him, "I would never ask you to change for me. I love you, just as you are. But I also know you, and a part of being George Tucker is being whatever or whoever you think the person you love wants or needs you to be. So, when I say I know you could be crude, I know it's true, because I know that if you thought that was what would make me happy, you would adjust." George bit his lip, looking at Zoe thoughtfully. Was she right? Did he have a tendency to change his personality to fit his relationship? He certainly wasn't the same man with Zoe that he was with Lemon, but that could be do to time and personal growth.

"Zoe, I … I'm not tryin' to be some perfect ideal Prince Charmin' for you."

"I know. And I wouldn't want you too. I would never want you to change, unless you wanted to of course." Zoe yawned and readjusted her pillow, "I love you just as you are; the whole George Tucker package, flaws and all. But, fact is, trying to please everybody, especially the person you love is part of the George Tucker package. You don't have to do it, but if I asked you not to, I'd be asking you to change."

"Quite the paradox."

"Yeah." Zoe said, mid-yawn.

George smiled and kissed her temple, "Go to sleep."

"Mm."

George wasn't really sure what brought the memory on. He and Jim had gotten a bite to eat, and caught each other up on their respective lives. Jim had been sympathetic to George's situation, but he had made a comment about George's role in the whole thing. It was a joke really, but it got George thinking, and then, that night popped into his head. It had been about a month before the accident, and it was a nice memory, but, looking back, there was something unsettling about the whole thing. He tried to dismiss the thought as he made his way back to his hotel room.

"Zoe!"

If the insistent knocking didn't wake her, the screaming of her name would. It felt like she had only just gone to sleep, which she sort of had. She and Wade had only finished their first lesson forty minutes ago. However, after a couple failed attempts, Zoe could proudly claim that she had successfully made rice without burning the pot. Okay, maybe it had been a little watery, but she was a beginner, and not starting a fire was progress in her book.

"Zoe!"

"Coming." She said, dragging herself out of bed. She opened the door to find Rose with a huge smile on her face. "Rose. Hey, what's up?"

"Oh, nothin' much. Just thought we could spend some time together. I haven't seen much of you … anyway, I thought we could go shoppin' up in Mobile, maybe catch a movie or get somethin' to eat. My treat." She added quickly, hoping it would serve as incentive.

Zoe shook her head, "No, that's fine. I can pay for myself. Just so long as you drive. I know nothing about Mobile."

Rose nodded, "Deal."

"Give me fifteen minutes to get ready."

Wade pushed the door open. It had been a long time since he visited his dad; he figured he should stop in. Especially since the man had sobered up to visit him when he was in the hospital.

"Earl!" Wade heard a bang. He started to rush inside to make sure his dad was okay, but then he felt a pain around where his stitches were. Swearing, he slowed down. He made his way into the shed and over to Earl who was looking in a cabinet below the counter. It appeared he had hit his head coming up. Unsurprisingly, the cabinet had bottles of bourbon in it. "Earl?"

"Wade. Thought I heard a voice."

Between Earl's voice and his breath, Wade knew that the sobriety his father had achieved when he visited Wade was long past.

"Yeah. Thought I'd check in."

"Well, have a seat. I'll grab you a drink."

Wade rolled his eyes, but he obliged. He knew he couldn't stop his dad from drinking; he had given up hope on that a long time ago.

"So, what brings you around?"

"Just checkin' in." Wade repeated. Drunks and bad memories; cliché but true.

"How's the girlfriend?"

Wade rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Dad, I told you a million times, Zoe Hart is not my girlfriend, okay?"

Earl shook his head, "All I know is, she seemed mighty pleased when I told her how in love you two basically were."

"You what!" His father just smiled, "Earl, you can't just … you that she has amnesia, right? Not to mention she's engaged to George Tucker? You can't just go around tellin' people stuff, messin' with their head. Especially stuff that ain't even true."

"What, you sayin' you ain't in love with her?"

"I'm sayin' she ain't in love with me."

"Wouldn't be so sure if I were you. I saw how she lit up when I was remindin' her how close ya'll were. Seems to me, you're just runnin' scared from what could be you're one chance to be happy."

"I'm not runnin', okay? It's just not that simple. I mean, first off, there's Tucker-"

"So? What's he got that you don't?"

"You mean besides Zoe? Let's see, college degree, money, I mean, he can take her places. Zoe's not stayin' here forever; the two of 'em were plannin' on movin' away after the weddin'."

"Why?"

"Beats me. Her and I weren't exactly on speakin' turns when that decision was made. All I know I got from Lavon."

"Well, maybe she needed a better reason to stay."

"Come on, Earl. Zoe deserves more than this, and certainly more than me. Lord knows I ain't ever leavin' this town."

"Why not?"

Wade looked at his father incredulously, "Come on Earl?"

"What, me?" Wade let out a sigh, "You don't gotta stay on accounta me."

"Really? So, what, you're gonna, gonna stop gettin' hammered and climbin' up roofs?"

"I might."

Wade just shook his head, "Yeah, sure. Look, I gotta get goin'. I'll come by later this week and check on you, okay?"

"Don't use me as an excuse!" Earl called after him. Earl sat there for a minute, thinking. Deep down, he knew Wade was right; he wouldn't last a week on his own. But maybe he didn't have to. Carefully, Earl stood and headed for the phone, "Hi, Brick? I need a favor."

"It was the most romantic thing. Not to mention sexy as hell. You should rake the leaves with George sometime." Rose said, causing Zoe to chuckle. They had gone to the mall in Mobile and were taking a break from shopping in the food court. It was a fun day. Zoe didn't exactly seem to remember Rose yet, but they were getting on fine. It seemed there was hope. Speaking of hope, "Or, you know, with Wade?" Rose added casually.

"What?" Zoe nearly choked on her bagel. How the hell did Rose know about all that? "Wade? Why would I … why would you … I don't –"

"Zoe, come on. This is me you're talkin' to." She paused, "Okay, I realize that that doesn't mean much, but trust me, you and I talk about stuff, I know you. Plus I'm nosey, and smart, and a die-hard romantic. And even throwin' all that out the window, I know Wade told you how he felt while he was in the hospital."

"How do you know that?"

"He told me." Rose said with a shrug. Zoe felt thrown; her head was spinning, "So, you decide what you're gonna do about it yet?"

Zoe shook her head, "I think that's kind of mature talk."

"I'm nineteen for goodness sake. 'Sides, you're just lookin' for an excuse to avoid the question."

Zoe sighed. She couldn't really argue with that, "No, I haven't decided."

"Well, what's holdin' you up so much?"

"Gee, I don't know, to amazing guys who I care a lot about are in love with me. What dilemma could I possibly have?"

"But … but you're gonna pick Wade, right? I mean, you have to."

"Why do I have to?"

"Because … I don't know, because he's Wade, you know?" Zoe was kind of thrown. She hadn't exactly discussed this with a lot of people, but everybody seemed strongly behind the idea of her making up her own mind … despite her desire for them to just tell her how she felt and what to do. Rose was the first person to have and opinion, or, at least, the first person to voice it. "He's just so in love with you Zoe."

"And what, George isn't?"

"No, he is, but … it's just, I mean, Wade took a bullet, and saved you from a burnin' buildin', and caught you when you fell, and -"

"Okay, I get it. And it's not like I don't know all that stuff. Why do you think this is so hard for me? I mean, Wade's amazing, I know that, and so many nice memories keep surfacing, and I felt something for him, but then I started to remember about George, and those feeling started to resurface, and they're very strong as well. It's like, the more I remember, the less I know, you know?"

Rose nodded, "The innocence that accompanies ignorance is a lot easier than the tough decisions that come with adulthood."

"Wow, that's pretty deep for a nineteen-year-old."

"Thank you."

"Hey." Zoe said, putting her purse on the kitchen counter.

"Hey Doc. Where'd you disappear to all day?"

"Mobile. Rose and I went shopping."

"Yeah? How was that?"

"It was nice. You don't have to eat that." She said, noticing he was scarfing down her watery rice.

"Hey, I'm just tryin' to save you the embarrassment of Lavon finding it in the fridge." Zoe rolled her eyes, " 'Sides, it's not so bad. Kinda like oatmeal. Better 'an hospital food at any rate."

She grabbed a spoon from the cabinet and pulled out a chair next to him, "You mind?"

Wade shook his head, "Be my guest."

She dove in with her fork and the spit the rice out, causing Wade to laugh, "God that's disgusting! How can you eat that?"

"Easy. I'm not a spoiled New York princess."

"Hey, I have no memory of being in New York. Alabama is all I know, thank you very much." Wade just chuckled, "What are you doing up anyway?"

Wade shrugged, "Went to see my dad today."

"How is he?" He shrugged again, "I like your dad."

He snorted, "I know. You ain't the best judge a character." Zoe rolled her eyes, "He likes you though. Maybe even more 'an he likes me."

"I'm sure that's not true."

That sat in silence for a while, shoveling watery rice. Finally, Wade spoke up, "I was pissed off about you and George."

"What?"

"Before you lost you're memory. You two were gettin' more serious, and I was a real ass to you about it. I told you," Wade took a deep breath, "I told you I only pretended to be friends with you to win a bet about gettin' you into bed, that you gettin' serious with George ruined all that so there wont any reason for us to hang out any more. Told you to just go and get on with your life, forget about me. We hadn't spoken since. Not 'til you woke up in the hospital." Wade looked up at her, afraid of what he might see. She didn't look angry though, which was a relief, "Zoe?"

"Thank you for telling me."

"You're not mad?"

"Love makes people do dumb things sometimes."

"Hm, ya know, that's what Rose said."

"Speaking of, she said you told her about … you know, what we talked about. At the hospital."

Wade nodded, "She figured out there was somethin' goin' on and has been badgerin' me ever since. Girl's like a wind up piece off Halloween teeth that just won't stop jabberin'."

"Well, she gave you a ringing endorsement."

Wade smirked, "Can't say I'm surprised. She used to have a crush on me."

"Well, I can't say I can blame her." Zoe said, smiling at him shyly, "You're a great guy Wade."

Wade dodged her eyes, "I should, uh, head back. Get some sleep. Some lunatic woke me up middle of last night to teach her to make rice." Zoe swatted at him, causing him to grin. He grabbed his crutches and stood. "Night doc." He said, leaning down and kissing the top of her hair. Zoe bolted up, surprised. "Ow!" Wade yelped, grabbing his nose.

"Oh my god. Wade, I am so sorry. I, I didn't, I didn't mean, I -" she saw blood creeping out from behind his hands, "I'll, I'll get my bag. Be right back. I mean, unless you'd rather just follow me. I don't -" Wade made a noise through his hands that sounded like her name, "Right. Sorry. Follow me."

They made their way back to her carriage house, and Zoe instructed him to sit on the couch. His mind wandered to the last time he had slept on her couch. That night all those years ago when she had been afraid of Leon Mercy's ghost. He started to chuckle at the memory, but it made his nose hurt more, so he shut up.

In no time, Zoe was sitting next to him. She gently removed his hands from his nose and started cleaning it. "Sorry for jumping up like that. I was just surprised I guess."

Wade shrugged, "No big deal." He tried to shoot her a smile.

"I keep getting you hurt."

"Hey, now, I thought we had a deal about you blamin' yourself."

She nodded, "Right. Sorry." The blood stopped and Zoe started applying the antiseptic. Wade sucked in a breath, "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just stings a little."

"You are such a baby." Zoe said with a chuckle. Wade raised an eyebrow at her, "Hey, at least I'm not apologizing."

"True."

"It doesn't look like you broke any bones. But I wouldn't take my word on this; I'm still a little shaky on all this medical stuff."

Wade shook his head, "Nah, I trust you."

"That may not be the wisest decision."

"Maybe not," Wade said shrugging, "but that's never stopped me before."

Wade watched in silence as she continued to clean him up. She was so gentle, and so beautiful, and so … so Zoe. He thought about what Earl said, what Rose kept saying, what Lavon used to say. He thought about all the chances he'd let slip by, and the chance he now had. It was the last chance he might ever get; did he really want to waste it? Before he could stop himself or chicken out, Wade leaned forward, catching Zoe off guard. He felt her freeze in surprise, and then he felt her start to return the kiss. The world stopped spinning, and then it was just the two of them. It felt like everything, all the build up, was just pouring out in lights and colors, touches and smells. The kisses got hungrier as he pulled her closer to him and ran his hands up and down her back. Then, Wade felt Zoe start to take his shirt off, and he pulled back. She looked at him, surprised.

"Zoe, I'm not sure we -"

"I'm sorry." She said, interrupting him, "I didn't think, I mean, you were the one who … I'll, I'll just go." She started to grab her medical stuff, but Wade grabbed her arm.

"No, it's not like that. I wanted this to happen. I want this to happen. You have no idea. It's just, well," he rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed, "I'm still kind of recoverin', and-"

"Oh, did I hurt you?"

Wade shook his head, "No. No, and even if you had … I mean, I would have kept goin', but, thing is, I've been waitin' for this for, for a real long time, and I want it to be, special, for both of us, not me focusin' on ignorin' my pain, and you not … gettin' the uh, the full Wade Kinsella experience. I don't have a lot of experience with doin' it injured- "

"That's a little surprising."

He chuckled and cupped her cheek, "I, um, you are so, so amazing Zoe. You have not clue. And I would want everything to be perfect for you. Not me doin' a half-ass job as you trace the stitches on my chest."

Zoe smiled, "Wade, I don't care about any of that, I … I just want you. The rest … if you don't want this, I get it, but-"

"No, I, I want this. Believe me." He thought for a second how long it had been since he had gotten laid, but then pushed the thought away. Yeah, he kind of had permanent blue-balls, but that wasn't why he wanted it. He wanted her. He wanted Zoe. "I want this."

"Me too."

"You sure?"

She nodded, and then she was kissing him, and, again, the world melted away. She pulled back and stood, helping Wade up. Letting him lean on her, she gently led him from the couch to the bed. He got in first and she followed behind him. She kissed him with everything she had, and he could feel her need, and how much it equaled his own. She started unbuttoning his shirt, and he lifted her top, touching her lower back with the pads of his fingers, causing her to giggle. Then, he slowly, carefully slid the straps of her bra down her shoulders and ran his hands up and down the soft skin on her arms. She shivered. There was something so simple, yet so intimate about his touch.

"Wade," she said nervously, "I'm, um, that is, I don't know if I have or haven't. I probably have. I mean, I'm over thirty, but I, that is, well, I have no memory of…" she trailed off, embarrassed.

Wade just smiled, "I've been with a lot of women, but I've never loved any of them, so as far as I'm concerned, you, Zoe Hart, are my true first."

She giggled, "That is so cheesy."

Wade chuckled and leaned down, pressing his lips to her shoulder. Zoe breathed in, surprised at the contact, and the thrill it gave her.

Wade pulled back, "Do you want me to stop?"

Unable to speak, Zoe just shook her head, and Wade dove back in. Zoe closed her eyes, letting the feelings sink in, committing them to memory. Tonight, this moment, was one she knew she would never forget.

Author's Note: Hi. So, what did you think? I was a little nervous about the last scene.

The cooking lesson scene was totally altered. Originally, they were working on this other thing I looked up a recipe for, but it just didn't read right. I was kind of bummed, because I had a karate kid reference that I had to cut, but, excluding that, totally worth it. This was definitely a better scene. I wanted to address Zoe's memories, because now that she remembers about her and George and her friendship with Lemon and stuff, it can be easy to forget that she does still have a lot of gaps. There is a lot she still doesn't remember, even if she is remembering things, so I wanted to bring that up.

For those who care, the part with the Karate Kid Quote went like this:

"See this? This is a stove."

Zoe rolled her eyes, "I know what a stove is Wade."

He ignored her, "This is a burner. That's where you put the pan or the pot. These are dials. They set how hot the burner gets. The highest setting is ten. The lowest setting is one. We want medium heat. Can you tell me what number we want it set on?"

"What is this, bizarro math for morons."

Wade responded by imitating a buzzer sound, causing Zoe to chuckle, "Sorry, the answer we were looking for was the number five. Wow, you are really bad at this."

"Or you are. No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher." Wade looked at her, stunned, "Mr. Miyagi. The Karate Kid."

"I know what it's from. I just didn't know you'd seen it, let alone knew it well enough to quote."

"Well, I guess you don't know as much about me as you thought."

Wade smirked, "Guess not." He placed the pan with pine nuts on the burner and turned it to five.

I stopped working on this scene once I decided to scrap it, but there is more to I than that. I can add it as a deleted scene or something at the end if you guys want, though I still hold that the one I used is better. Still, there were some good parts.

Actually, when I first wrote it, I forgot Wade was on crutches, so I had to go back and alter the scenes with him a little.

The flashback scene with George is actually one half of a scene. The other half, how that conversation started, will come up later as one of Zoe's memories. It has already been written, but it won't be for at least a couple chapters.

Speaking of George, I have been struggling with what to do with him, because it seems so tragic for him to be left by a fiancé, again, for a close friend, again, and I want him to be okay in the end. I finally decided how I am going to play stuff out with him, though we won't see it right away, it is sort of hinted at here.

I know I skipped the conversation with Jim that sparked the memory, but I had a reason for that. George is going to talk to somebody, I won't say who, but he will be sort of recounting a lot of the stuff he and Jim talked about, so putting it in just felt like it would be redundant when the second conversation happens. You'll see what I mean when we get there.

Next chapter, there will be aftermath, obviously, and a surprise for Rose that leads to a big decision.

I have wheels spinning and plans going, and I am very excited about some stuff in this story. I hope you are too.

Any guesses as to what Earl was calling Brick about? I mean, I already know, so I am not going to change it, but I am curious about what you think.

I think that's it. I hope you guys like this chapter and I cannot wait to hear what you think. Have a good day.