I do not own "Hart of Dixie". I do, however, own a kitty who decided to help me by licking my hand while I tried to type.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonder land

"I swear, if I hear that song one more time, I will kill somebody." Wade muttered under his breath.

Zoe heard his muttering. "Hey, don't blame me. You could have stayed back in the apartment with my mother." She pointed out. She and Wade had been in New York City for three days and somehow, Wade had managed to avoid being alone with Zoe's mother.

"And be left alone with your mother? Not a chance."

Zoe couldn't help but smile. "I never picture you to be the type scared of parents."

"Usually I'm not. At least not around mothers. But if your mom is anything like you, I don't have the time to wear her down right now. Plus you didn't see the look that she gave me when we first arrived at the airport." Wade stated. He thought back to their arrival in New York City.

"Keep your eyes open for my mom. You remember what she looks like, right?" Zoe asked, trying to catch a glimpse of her mother over the crowd of people.

"Vividly." Wade said. The last (and only) time he met Zoe's mom, he acted like he was dating Zoe just to get back at her for keeping him up all night. He never thought he would be meeting her again and adding the fact that he was now ACTUALLY dating Zoe, that made things a bit more awkward.

Just then, they heard someone's voice rise over the crowd of people. "ZOE HART!"

They turned to the direction of the voice and saw Zoe's mom making her way over.

"Mom!" Zoe cried out and rushed over to hug her mother. Wade stood patiently to be introduced.

Zoe pulled away from her mom. "Mom, you remember Wade Kinsella." She said as a way to introduce him. "Wade, this is my mother, Margaret Hart."

Margaret studied his face. "Yes, I remember him." She glanced over at Zoe. "I also remember you swearing up and down that there was nothing going on between you two."

"There was honestly nothing going on between us at that point." Zoe firmly stated, clearly indicating that she had not been lying to her mother.

Wade decided to step in before anything could happen. "Ma'am, it's nice to meet you again." Wade said as he stuck his hand out to shake hers.

Margaret gingerly took his hands into hers and shook it. "I'm glad to meet you too." She said, but Wade could see in her eyes that she had more to say. He half expected her to start interrogating him right then and there. But she instead dropped his hand and faced her daughter. "Let's get moving, before we get trampled by this crowd." And with that, the three left the airport. But Wade knew that Margaret was not finished with him.

Wade snapped back to the present tense. "So I am just gonna lay low and not draw attention to myself and hope that I last the holidays." He stated firmly.

Zoe let out a small laugh. "Come on, let's get going before you descend into a homicidal rage because of the music." They started to make their way through the store when something caught Zoe's eye. "Wait a minute."

"Come on, Zoe, I'm getting hungry. How many clothes do you have to try on?" Wade asked, trying hard not to sound whiny, but failed.

"It's not for me, it's for you." Zoe said as she held up a blue tie against him. "This would go wonderfully with your eyes. You could wear it to the Christmas party tomorrow night."

This caught Wade's attention. "Party? What party?"

"The party that my mom throws every year." Zoe said in a tone stating that Wade should have known this.

"I was not told about this party. And since I did not know about this party, it means I do not have the proper clothes for it." Wade said, panic started to seep into him. He didn't want to fail Zoe, not so early in their relationship. Actually, not ever, but he knew that he would most likely screw up at some point, but he didn't think it would be so soon.

Zoe frowned. "I could have sworn I told you…" She trailed off, lost in thought. After a moment, she shrugged it off. "Never mind, we'll just pick something for you to wear here." She stated as she pulled him into the men's department.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea…" Wade began to say, but Zoe cut him off.

"Nonsense. I've been wanting to dress you in something other than t shirts and flannel shirts since I met you." She handed him a light blue button up shirt. "Now, go try this on." She said as she shoved him in the direction of the changing rooms.

Wade let out a sigh, but complied. She used her bossy voice and he knew it was no use to argue.

"I can't believe clothes could even cost that much." Wade said. They had managed to find him a new shirt, dress pants, dress shoes and a tie within 45 minutes. And it wasn't an easy task, as it seemed that Zoe had a different idea of what Wade should be wearing.

"It actually wasn't all that bad. Besides, I paid for it."

"Which you honestly didn't have to."

Zoe shrugged. "I felt bad. If I had actually told you about the party like I thought I did, you would have packed the clothes that you needed."

Wade didn't say anything , because he knew that she was right. Although, he definitely didn't have these nice of clothes at home.

Out of the corner of his eye, Wade saw Zoe shiver. "Cold?" he asked.

Zoe nodded. "It's funny. A year ago I would have considered this to be a heat wave. But after spending time in Bluebell, I've gotten use to the warm weather."

"You think you got it bad, try living in that warm weather your whole life and then come here." Wade countered.

Zoe shoved him lightly. "I wasn't trying to compete with you, I was just saying."
Wade let out a laugh. "I know. I was just giving you a hard time."

Zoe said nothing, but gave Wade a little smile before leaning into him. Wade automatically raised his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Cold weather isn't so bad after all," he thought. "At least it gives me one more reason to hold her close to me." And with that thought, the two continued walking along the busy New York City sidewalk.

That evening was spent getting the penthouse apartment ready for the party the next evening. Wade ended up helping the professionals with the labor mainly because he felt weird just standing around, doing nothing. They had just finished hanging some garland when Margaret called Wade from the kitchen.

"Wade, could you please come here for a second."

Thinking nothing of it, Wade joined her in the kitchen, only to find it completely decorated. "Yes ma'am?" Wade asked. His nerves started to get to him and he started to think it might have been a mistake to join Mrs. Hart in an empty room.

"I just wanted to talk to you. You and Zoe have been so busy since you got here, I haven't got a chance to talk to you." She said as she poured herself a glass of wine. She offered Wade a glass, but he politely refused. She then motioned for Wade to take a seat at the counter. After he sat down, Margaret took a sip and continued to talk. "So, how long have you and Zoe been dating?"

"Uh…well, officially, only about a week. Unofficially, about a month."

"And when I first met you, nothing was going on between you two."

Wade shook his head. "No ma'am. I was just teasing Zoe."

Margaret nodded her head, showing that she understood. "So, is this your first time in New York City?"

"Yes ma'am. I've never been north of the Mason Dixie line before."

"And what do you think about the city?"

Wade thought for a moment and then spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. "It's a nice place to visit, but I honestly would rather be back in Bluebell. I've lived there all my life and I cannot see me living anywhere else."

"I guess you are probably why I am asking you these questions and it all boils down to one thing- Zoe. I want to know what you plan on doing when Zoe's year is up and she decides to move back to the city."

"Well, to be perfectly honest, I haven't really thought about it. Did I know there was a chance of that happening when she and I first got evolved, yes. But we haven't discussed that at all, mainly because it feels so far away. I'm sure once it gets closer we'll talk about it. But right now, Zoe and I are only taking things one day at a time."

Margaret nodded. "I just want to make sure my baby won't get hurt." She explained.

Wade looked directly in Margaret's eyes. "Ma'am, I will do everything in my power to make sure Zoe is never hurt by my." At that point, Wade stood up. "If you don't mind Ma'am, I'm sure the decorators could still use my help." And with that, he left the kitchen and Margaret to think over what he just said.

"I am way out of my comfort zone." Wade muttered. It was the night of the party and he was wearing a light blue dress shirt with a tie in a darker shade of blue. And though he had to admit that he looked good, he never felt more uncomfortable. He nervously fidgeted with the tie.

"Stop that," Zoe commanded, appearing out of nowhere. "You are going to mess up the tie if you continue to mess with it."

"I feel weird." Wade stated. "I am not made to wear a tie." He then looked at what Zoe was wearing. "You, however, look amazing."

It was true. Zoe had by pass her usual her standard little black dress and went with a stunning red dress.

Zoe blushed a little. "Thank you. You clean up nicely too."

"Well, it's all thanks to you. If it had been up to me, I would have gone to the nearest Wal-Mart to get my dress clothes."

Zoe made a face. "Good thing I made you get high quality clothes. These should last you a while, as long as you don't do anything to ruin them."

"Aw… I am hurt to find out you think that of me." Wade said, putting on a fake hurt face.

Zoe laughed. "Come on, let's go to the party." She said and started to head towards the door, but Wade grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him.

"I have a surprise for you." He said quietly. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a jewelry box.

Zoe couldn't help but smile. "You're gift is in my room." She stated.

"You can give it to me after the party. I just figured you might want to wear this tonight." Wade said, nodding to the box.

Zoe opened it to see the prettiest little necklace Zoe had ever been given. It was silver sun with a pearl in the middle. "Oh, it's beautiful." Zoe stated.

"I thought you'd like it." Wade said with a grin.

Zoe took it out of the box and handed it to him. "Could you please help me put it on?" she asked.

Wade nodded and within seconds, it was clasped securely around Zoe's neck. She turned around so that she was facing Wade. "Thank you." She said with a smile and pressed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Wait one minute." She said and rushed off, leaving Wade alone. After a minute or so passed, Zoe appeared before him, holding a wrapped box.

"I told you I could wait till after the party."

"I don't care. Here it is." Zoe said as she handed him the box.

Wade smiled at her and unwrapped the box. Underneath the holiday wrapping paper was a toy car. Upon closer examination, he realized it was a replica of the General Lee.

"If you push the button on the bottom, it plays "Dixie"." Zoe stated.

Wade gave her a wide grin. "You mean if I put in my back pocket and accidently sit on it, I can play "Dixie" with my butt?"

Zoe hit him lightly on the arm. "That whole little "frolic" as you so like to call it, stays between us. Got it?"

"Yes Ma'am." Wade replied with a grin. "Now, we have a party to get to. Come on, girl!" Wade offered his hand to Zoe.

Zoe smiled at him, took his hand and lead him out to the party.

I like some parts of this chapter, but other parts I am a little iffy on. Let me know what you think

AND IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE! As well as my Mom's birthday. Which is why I am up at 12:30, working this story, rather than sleeping or work on my personal story. I wanted to make sure I got this done before Christmas (you all can consider this a gift from me to you).

As always, feel free to leave a review and happy reading.

And I hope y'all have a Merry Christmas.