A/N: Thanks to those who leave reviews. I knew Battle of the Bands would be a little scary for all, because of how it went down in canon, but y'all know me better than that, right? I'm here to fix the issues Zade had in Season 2, not to recreate them! :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 8

Not for the first time in recent days, Wade Kinsella woke up with a smile on his face. Some of his happiness today was down to his winning Battle of the Bands over in Daphne a couple of nights back. The rest was because of the woman curled up in his arms, sleeping soundly yet.

Looking down at Zoe resting comfortably against his chest put a warm feeling in Wade's heart, the likes of which he had never had in his life before. She really was so special to him, so damn amazing that he couldn't even put it into words, but God knows, he was going to try. Sometime, he was going to write a song about Zoe Hart. He was going to name a drink after her in his new bar. Hell, if he thought she wouldn't go crazy at him for doing such a dumb thing, he would run naked through town square, just yelling out how much he loved her. He was that damn head-over-heels and that was just that.

"You changed my whole damn life around, Zoe Hart," he whispered into her hair. "Never saw it comin', never thought I even needed anythin' to change, but along came you and... and now, I like better what I see when I look to my future. I like better what I see in the mirror too. You make me a better man. Kind of man I wanna be, for you, and for myself... and for Momma, God rest her soul. For the first time in my life since she's been gone, I actually believe she would be proud o' me."

He swallowed hard, realising too late he had got himself to a point of crying like a child and wishing he hadn't gone there. Not that he needed to feel bad for getting emotional over the loss of his momma. Nor over having Zoe in his life, making him so damn happy. It was normal to feel. Both the women he loved most in his life had taught him that, and he was proud as punch to be both Jacqueline Kinsella's son and Zoe Hart's boyfriend.

"Hmm, Wade?" Stirring in his arms, Zoe looked up, blinking hard and then smiling when she saw him looking down at her. "Hey."

"Mornin', sweetheart," he greeted her with a sweet kiss.

"What time is it?"

"No idea," he told her honestly, "but I'm guessin' pretty early yet. Sun's just comin' up in a clear blue sky. Gonna make a real nice day for a wedding."

Zoe looked confused for a second or two, then she shook her head a little bit and seemed clearer. "Tom and Wanda," she said, with a happy, contented sigh. "You know, I thought they were crazy when they said they wanted to get married this fast, but honestly, they are just so perfect for each other. I guess I can't imagine why they would want to wait to be officially together forever."

He watched as she laid herself right back down then, the smile still plain on her lips as her eyes closed for a while longer. Wade hardly knew what to think about what she just said. Of course, she was right about Tom and Wanda. No two people were ever more suited, or more in love, than the two of them. The thing of it was, they were not the only people in town that were so in love with each other.

It came as a shock to Wade to realise he was seriously thinking about marriage. Not that he had a mind to go asking Zoe to be his wife any time soon. They had only been officially dating since Christmas, even if they had been pretty close a while before that. Still, it wasn't so much that it was a now thing as it was an idea he had in his head at all. Getting married to Zoe. Being with her and only her for the rest of his life. Wade knew that ought to be the scariest thought he ever had up to now, but it wasn't. Not at all.

"Zoe..." he started to say, surprised when she groaned.

"I know, I know. We have to get up. I have maid of honour duties. You have best man duties," she said, dragging herself away from him and sitting up, pushing her hair back from her face as she went. "I love Tom and Wanda, I honestly do, and I could not be happier for them and their big day, but I could really, really go for a nice, relaxing day, alone with you."

When she smiled at him like that, the whole world went away, and Wade was more sure than ever that he could never feel about anybody else the way he felt about Zoe. He might even have said as much, if she hadn't followed up her little speech by planting a pretty serious kiss on his lips, then sliding out of bed and getting herself dressed in double-quick time. She was talking again, about the wedding and everything that still had to be done before the ceremony.

"I just hope that Wanda's mom can stay sober for the whole thing and not say anything awful about marriage in front of her daughter. I'm pretty sure I convinced her that Tom Long is absolutely nothing like her own cheating ex-husband, but you never know what people will say when they've been drinking... Oh, I'm sorry."

Wade hardly knew what she was apologising for, at least not until she explained.

"Wade, you know I didn't mean anything against Earl when I said..."

"Don't worry on it, doc," he told her fast, shaking his head and then his whole self, as he finally got out of bed and followed her lead in throwing on some clothes. "If old Earl himself were here, he wouldn't take offence, so I got no reason to. Ain't like we don't all know what condition he's in most o' the time. He doesn't exactly make a secret out of it."

He truly didn't care what she said about drunks in front of him, Wade meant that, and he was glad that Zoe knew it too. Still, when she finally took herself off to the carriagehouse to get herself ready, telling him she looked forward to seeing him as a Jedi Knight later at the wedding, Wade wasn't altogether sorry to see her go. It was only because if she stayed there much longer, he was pretty sure he was going to say something real stupid. Something that amounted to a proposal.

It was so not the right time for that, if there even was a right time. Such a thing needed thinking over, because if he screwed this up now, Wade knew he would never forgive himself. Running a hand over his head, he stared across the pond to Zoe's place and thought seriously about how this had all started and where it might yet end. Before he got too far in wondering about it, his cell rang on the nightstand and the screen told him it was Tom wanting his attention.

"Can't go lettin' a man down on the day of his wedding," said Wade, reaching for the phone, prepared as he was ever likely to be to begin his best man duties.

It had been touch and go for a while, Zoe didn't mind admitting, but finally, they were headed over to the church, everybody looking great, most especially Wanda, and without so much as a nasty word out of Betsy's mouth. In fact, she had even been civil to Wanda's step-mother. Not quite pleasant, but definitely civil, and she seemed as if she might even be sober, which was a miracle all its own.

"You did a great job," Tansy told Zoe as they walked together. "You know, I always figured doctors were for helping people who were sick, but you seem just hell-bent on fixin' every little thing for everybody lately. Tom and Wanda, me and George, and Wade, obviously."

"I just do what I can." Zoe shrugged like it was no big deal. "You know, for my friends and the people I love."

Tansy smiled into her response. "Yeah, I get that."

Arriving at the church, each bridesmaid paired up with their groomsman, Tansy taking Cody's arm, Zoe headed straight to Wade.

"Wow, look at you," she said, unable to keep the grin from her lips. "Is it wrong to say that you look kinda hot in the Jedi robes? Does that mean I'm going over to the Dark Side?"

"If it does then, don't tell Tom, but I am coming on over there with you, the Light Side be damned," he told her, quiet enough that nobody else would hear, as he kissed her cheek. "You look pretty amazing yourself, doc."

They had to go into the church then, arm in arm and smiling widely. Honestly, Zoe would have been surprised if anybody felt quite as happy as she did as she walked down the aisle with Wade. Maybe the bride and groom, but it had to be a very close-run thing.

It was so strange to think about, how she had come to this crazy little town more than a year ago, how she had thought it was all temporary and that she would never fit in. She had also thought that Wade, while very attractive, was nothing more than a charming idiot who could never hold her attention for long. She had been so wrong about so many things, so many people, just everything, really. Now, Zoe knew Bluebell was the only place she would ever want to be and Wade was the only man she could ever feel this much for.

Her eyes were on him more than where she was going, and when they reached the end of the aisle, he actually had to prompt her to let go of his arm and take her place on the bride's side of the altar, while he took his spot by Tom. For a second there, she could almost have imagined they were the ones getting married, which was crazy, Zoe knew, because she would never...

The thought trailed away to nothing, unfinished and abandoned, as her gaze first went to Wade, and then to Wanda, floating down the aisle on her father's arm. Then, finally, she looked at Tom, saw the love radiating from him in every way as he watched his wife-to-be make her approach. He simply loved, worshipped, and adored her, and as they joined hands at the altar, facing the Reverend Mayfair to make their vows at last, there was absolutely no doubting any of the words they said. They would love each other forever, be faithful and true for all the days of their lives. As these things were said, Zoe meant to keep her eyes on the happy couple, but her gaze just kept on straying to Wade.

All this time, she had thought she didn't believe in marriage. On a practical level, she knew she still didn't, not really, but standing there, hearing the vows being made by her friends, looking at the man she knew she loved, it could make some sense to her. Maybe it wouldn't be the most awful thing in the world to be joined forever to another person, if you loved them, if they loved you, if you were both really, really sure about it.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

At the reverend's announcement, Tom and Wanda wasted no time falling into each other's arms and sharing a kiss. Zoe smiled and applauded, along with everyone else, even as tears slid unchecked from her eyes. When everybody started to exit the church behind the happy couple, headed for the reception at the Rammer Jammer, Wade caught a hold of Zoe's arm and looked at her with concern.

"Those are happy tears, right?" he checked.

She almost laughed as she lifted her hands to swipe at her damp cheeks. "They really are," she promised him. "I am having the best day."

"Well, it ain't over yet," Wade reminded her, grinning as he squeezed her close. "You are gonna dance with me at this shindig, right?"

"You bet your ass, cowboy," she told him happily. "Let's go!"

To Be Continued...