Hey,
I'm really sorry it took so long. The story is almost over, there will be one more chapter. I hope you all enjoyed reading so far (even if the updates were this late...)

Chapter 16

"Wade!"

Groaning, Wade rubbed his face with his hand. In his opinion, it was clearly too early for such good humor and loud talking. For a moment, he thought about keeping quiet and pretending he wasn't at home. He had come back late from work at the Rammer Jammer yesterday and would rather just sleep in.

There was a knock on the door. Wade got up with a sigh. After all, Lemon was his best friend and also pregnant. He couldn't just leave her at the door.

As soon as he opened the door, Lemon beamed at him with a broad smile. "Good morning!"

"I'm not sure I'd call it a good morning when you're woken up early by very loud voices." Wade replied sarcastically but with a grin. Lemon just rolled her eyes.

"So how come you're here at this hour?" Wade asked, as Lemon made no effort to explain.

"First of all; nine in the morning isn't really early." Lemon clarified, then added. "I'm here because there's great news." As she said this, she raised a hand and held it out to Wade.

Wade looked at Lemon in confusion for a moment, then his eyes fell on her hand, or rather on the sparkling ring on her finger. Wade's mouth dropped open.

"You're engaged?" Lemon nodded, smiling broadly. "Wow that's..."

Wade didn't get a chance to say what it was, because Lemon was already hugging him effusively.

"Unbelievable, isn't it?" Lemon wanted to know and let go of Wade again.

"Well, you could say that," agreed Wade, "I'm happy for you." He couldn't help but start smiling too, Lemon's joy was infectious.

"Thank you." she replied before asking, holding onto the doorframe with one hand. "Could we maybe go inside now? As much as I enjoy our conversation out here, standing is getting a bit tiring."

"Oh! Um of course. Sorry, come in." Wade answered immediately and grabbed Lemon's arm to help her into the house.

Inside, Lemon dropped onto Wade's sofa, exhausted. She looked pale. Instantly Wade was angry with himself, he should have taken her straight inside.

"Want me to get you something to drink?

Lemon also seemed to be preoccupied with her own thoughts, gazing absently out of the window. At Wade's question, she turned jerkily towards him.

"What?"

"I asked if you needed anything, something to drink maybe?"

"No thanks, I'm fine."

Wade nodded and sat down on the sofa with her. "Go on then. So, George proposed to you? When? How?" He could see that she was eager to tell him the whole story, so he wasn't going to keep her waiting long.

Lemon began to tell the story immediately. "It was last night; it wasn't a real proposal because George didn't want to overwhelm me. I was sitting on the couch..."

Wade listened intently. For it being such a simple proposal, something Lemon wouldn't have liked a few years ago, she told it with amazing joy.

"So what do you think about it?" she asked Wade when she had reached the end of her story.

"Well, as I said, congratulations. That sounds really great."

Lemon poked him in the side, "Yeah, thanks, but now honestly. You think it's a bad idea, don't you?"

"What? I didn't say anything!" Wade defended himself directly.

"You don't have to say anything either. I can see the skeptical wrinkles on your forehead. So?"

"I really don't think it's a bad idea. I mean, you're obviously over the moon and I'm pretty sure George is too. And I also don't think it's going to go wrong or that it's too soon." Wade explained seriously. "I'm a little surprised. I just didn't expect you to be so unconcerned, I mean, that's great of course... but I would have thought you'd have more concerns after everything that happened last time. Doesn't that worry you at all?"

"I understand." Lemon replied, "But well, I'm actually not worried, I don't know why, I'm just happy. And I can hardly wait for the wedding now, even if it will be a while yet."

She gently touched the engagement ring with her finger. "It gives me a sense of safety. That may not make much sense, but it is true. It feels really good to wear this ring."

Suddenly Lemon flinched slightly and her hands clutched her belly.

"Are you all right?" Wade asked, watching Lemon anxiously.

However, she had already relaxed again. "Don't worry," she reassured Wade, "it happens from time to time."

Wade wasn't so sure, Lemon seemed a little worried herself, but then again, Wade didn't know anything about heavily pregnant women.

"So, last night you said," Wade returned to the subject. "Then I guess I'm one of the first to hear the news. I'm honored."

"I hope so. I was even thinking about asking you to be my best man, but then I remembered that you probably wouldn't survive the wedding, and I'd rather avoid the death of a best man."

Wade raised an eyebrow in confusion before Lemon explained with a grin, "Magnolia would be pretty mad if I replaced her as maid of honor. And when Magnolia's mad, that's dangerous."

Now Wade laughed as well. "In that case, I guess I'll just have to put up with it."

"And what about you and Zoe? Are you going to propose to her and have you talked about planning a family?"

Wade scratched his head, embarrassed. "I don't know..."

"Oh, Wade." Lemon sighed, her tone sounding like she was talking to a stubborn child. "You've been back together for six months now, and you've been in love for much longer. At some point, you must have thought about how you imagine a future with Zoe!"

"Yeah." Wade shrugged his shoulders. "I want to marry Zoe, of course. And I really want to have my own family with children."

"Well, there you go! Then you should really talk to Zoe about it," Lemon said and Wade had to admit that she was right.

At that moment, Lemon tensed up again. Her hands clenched into fists and her breath hitched briefly. Wade immediately jumped up from the sofa.

A fraction of a second later, the tension eased again. However, Wade was now convinced that not everything was all right.

Lemon raised her eyes and stared at him. For a few heartbeats, no one said a word. "Wade," Lemon then whispered softly, "I think the baby's coming."

Wade's heart stopped. Panic instantly spread through him. Lemon was in labor! She was going to have her baby! Now! He had to call Zoe. Or an ambulance. How long would they take to get here? Too long? But Wade would never be able to do it on his own! He didn't know about births!

"Wade! Wade, hello! Calm down. It'll probably be hours before the birth, okay? It's best if you take me to the practice now." Lemon had also got up with some effort and was now talking to him reassuringly.

Hell, Lemon was the one who actually needed his help, not the other way around. Wade took a deep breath and tried to pull himself together.

"Okay. Yes. I'll drive you to the practice right now." With that, he put a hand on Lemon's shoulder and led her to his car.

After he had started the car, he looked over at Lemon with concern. She was still a little pale, but otherwise she looked the same as always. She didn't seem nearly as nervous as Wade was.

"Please don't do that." Lemon demanded.

"What?" Wade slowed down immediately. Maybe he was driving too fast, the road had a few potholes, which was certainly unpleasant and...

"Keep driving!" hissed Lemon, "I mean you shouldn't constantly look at me while you're driving. As sweet as it is that you're worried, I would love to arrive at the practice alive."

"Sorry." Wade mumbled meekly, forcing himself to keep his eyes on the road.

Next to him, Lemon began to laugh lightly. "You really are crazy, Wade," she remarked. "Did you honestly think I was going to have the baby in your apartment?"

"How the hell should I know?" Wade snorted, but had to grin himself. "Better call George instead of making fun of me."

Shortly afterwards, Lemon was sitting in a chair in the waiting room, Wade next to her.

"What the hell have they been talking about for so long?" Lemon groaned between clenched teeth.

George had turned up half an hour ago and had been pacing up and down the room ever since, making the whole situation anything but relaxed with his nervousness. They had actually wanted to drive off to the clinic now, but Zoe had pulled George aside without further ado. The two of them had been talking for minutes in the treatment room next door. Lemon wasn't sure whether she could trust her sense of time at the moment. The main thing was to hurry so that they could finally get going. Lemon had little desire to have her baby here or, even worse, on the road.

"George, calm down for goodness sake! You're making Lemon nervous!" Zoe said to George. He was still walking around in the treatment room.

"How am I supposed to calm down! There must be something you can do. "Lemon is in pain!" George stopped his pacing and instead wheeled around to look at Zoe searching for help.

Zoe sighed. "It's going to be okay, George," she said gently. "Lemon's in labor, it's perfectly normal. We're going to go to the hospital now and doctors will take care of her. Nothing is wrong."

George looked at Zoe doubtfully. She continued, "She needs you now. And not as a panicky, anxious person, okay?"

"I know I'm overreacting, but..." George ran a hand over his face, "I'm scared."

"I'm very sure Lemon is scared too, but you'll be fine." Zoe smiled encouragingly at George. He nodded slowly.

At that moment, Lemon's loud shout rang out from the waiting room, "George Tucker, if you don't come right now, I'm going to the hospital with Wade and without you!"

George glanced at Zoe and smiled. Zoe shook her head with a grin, that was typical Lemon. Then George stepped past Zoe and joined Lemon and Wade in the waiting room. Zoe followed him.

"Finally!" Lemon hissed before pushing herself into the stand with the help of Wade and George. "Let's go."

Wade stared down the corridor. If this wait went on much longer, he was going to go mad. The only thing that stopped him from doing so was Zoe, who was holding his hand. She sat next to him on one of the uncomfortable and cold chairs in the corridors of the clinic. Brick and Magnolia were also sitting there waiting. They had been waiting forever; at least that's how it seemed to Wade. No word from Lemon.

A nurse came into the hallway. Brick immediately got up from his chair. Everyone looked at the woman tensely. "The birth went well. The mother and baby are doing great. Congratulations!"

Wade's heart sank. Thank goodness! Relief spread noticeably through the room.

"If you want, one of them can come with me directly." The nurse looked questioningly around the room, Brick stood up again and looked at the others.

"Go ahead." Wade confirmed him and Brick followed the nurse down the corridor.

A little later, Wade was finally allowed to enter the hospital room. He hesitantly opened the door. Lemon was lying in a bed in the middle of the room, holding a tiny bundle in her arms, which must be her daughter. George stood beside the bed, looking at his two girls with a beaming smile.

Wade cleared his throat to draw the little family's attention.

"Hey Wade!" Lemon lifted her head and smiled at Wade.

"Congratulations." Wade mumbled, a little overwhelmed. Slowly, he approached the bed and looked at the little girl in Lemon's arms. She appeared to be asleep.

"May I introduce; Calla." Lemon said softly, looking proudly at her daughter before turning her gaze to Wade.

"Calla then?" Wade tilted his head and tried to imagine her as a cheerful child, a wild girl or a determined woman. He didn't succeed very well, he still just saw an incredibly tiny baby.

"Calla like the calla flower. We wanted to continue the flower naming tradition," Lemon explained.

Wade grinned. Of course, he should have guessed.

"Do you want to hold her?" Wade froze at the question, looking from the baby to Lemon and George. George just nodded encouragingly. Lemon lifted her daughter slightly.

Wade reached out uncertainly and carefully took the girl. She was so light that he hardly noticed the weight and seemed very fragile. He didn't dare move for fear of doing something wrong.

"You're doing great." he heard George say. To be on the safe side, Wade preferred to keep his eyes on the baby.

"You're going to be a wonderful godfather," Lemon said. Wade was so focused on holding the little one that it took a moment for the sentence to sink into his head. Then he faltered and finally lifted his head to stare at Lemon in disbelief.

"George and I have been thinking that you could be the little girl's godfather. We couldn't wish for anyone better," Lemon explained with a smile. "Only if you want to, of course!" she added immediately, obviously Wade didn't look too pleased.

"Of course! I'd be very happy!" he said after he had sorted out his racing thoughts.

"That's great." Lemon replied.

Meanwhile, George approached Wade, "I'd love to have my daughter back." He gently took the girl from Wade's arms into his own and then placed her in a crib.

"I'm going to leave now," Wade said, Lemon needed to rest, and Zoe was waiting for him. He also wanted to give the new family some time to themselves.

When he reached the door, Wade turned around again. Lemon and George were no longer paying attention to him. They were watching their little girl sleep and seemed oblivious to the rest of the world around them. Wade couldn't be happier for them.