Hey guys! First of all thank you so much for all the reviews! This is my first story ever and I'm really glad you like it! Secondly I forgot to mention in my last update that I was going on vacation for a week but I'm back! So here's the update and they'll be coming regularly from now on! Enjoy!

The first thought that popped into Zoe's mind as she awoke the next morning was; curtains.

She needed some damn curtains. Real curtains, not the frail veils of material draped carelessly over the windows, barely sheltering her from Alabama's fierce, morning sunlight.

In New York the only thing that would wake her from her usually deep slumbers was the shrill beeping of her alarm. Never had she been woken up by sunlight so many times.

With a groan she decided it was time to get up; although she had woken early that morning she decided she was going to skip breakfast at Levon's. Images from her encounter with Wade flashed repeatedly through her mind but she refused to acknowledge them. Besides even if she did contemplate the new weird fuzzy feeling she got around him, it wouldn't change things.

They were complete opposites, like a storm and a draught, they couldn't exist together. It took Zoe half an hour to apply her makeup, fix her hair and pull on her latest short shorts. She didn't get the big fuss over her clothing, it was like 1000 degrees even in the shade, and besides, her New York pale skin could probably benefit from a little sun.

Just as Zoe grabbed her bag and stepped outside of the carriage house she noticed Wade and more specifically the back end of his car, driving away. She raised her eyebrows, finding it a little odd that Wade would be running errands at this time; he seemed to find it difficult dragging himself to breakfast in the morning, let alone driving a vehicle that could potentially kill someone.

Shrugging away thoughts of her neighbour Zoe continued down her steps, readying herself for work, trying to imagine the type of patients she would encounter today. Most likely she'd be sat on her ass until either one of her few friends need checking out or Brick throws her a token crappy bone, and give her one of his patients that most likely has mistaken a hicky for leukaemia.

"Hey, Zoe!"

Zoe spun around, surprised at hearing her name. Her surprise soon dwindled when she turned around however and spotted Jesse making his way over to her, she almost forgot he was staying with Wade.

"Hi," She smiled as he reached her. "How are you?"

Jesse returned the smile, "good, good. I'm uh... I'm leaving today. In an hour actually, Wade's just gone to fill up the tank." He nodded in the direction Wade drove in.

"Oh," Zoe shifted from one foot to the other, although she had no reason too, she felt slightly awkward in his presence. "It was nice meeting you."

"You too." Jesse replied softly.

"Well I should get-"

"So you and my brother huh?"

Zoe froze mid-sentence and frowned up at the blonde haired man. "What about me and Wade?" she asked slowly, feeling she wasn't going to like what Jesse was about to say.

Jesse seemed to notice her stance growing hostile and held up his hands. "It's okay! I'm not mad, you too seem good together anyway. Who was I to get in the middle of that?"

Zoe's mouth gaped open, still not completely sure what Jesse meant by his words. However before she could clarify a loud horn sounded behind her. It was Wade.

"Jesse! Get in, I'm taking you to the bar for one last beer!... Morning Doc'!"

Zoe turned away from Wade who was looking strangely apprehensive but as soon as she looked back to Jesse, Wade threw his fist on the horn again.

"What is he...?" Jesse let out an awkward laugh at his brothers behaviour, "I don't even like beer."

Zoe, unsure of what to say let out a small laugh and stepped out of his way, cringing as the horn sounded yet again. Did he have to do that? Every time she heard it she was reminded of their first encounter in that car...

"Well good bye Zoe Hart." Jesse stuck out his hand for her to take. She placed her smaller hand in his and shook it gently.

"Nice to meet a Kinsella that isn't hell bent on annoying me."

Jesse grinned, "Yep, Wade unfortunately still acts like a school boy around beautiful women."

Zoe blushed and turned away, "well goodbye." She gave a small wave then walked away. As she walked past Wade's car she saw him roll down his window.

"Doc, I think you forgot to put on shorts over those panties... oh... oh wait, those are your shorts."

Zoe deadpanned, "funny Wade. You know without Levon whispering jokes in your ear, you're really lame." She shot back.

"Ha!" Wade laughed, "someone's got their claws out this morning."

Zoe shook her head and carried on past, deciding she needed to get a move on. Being late would only give Brick the chance to steal some of the few patients she had managed to gain.

"Levon what are you doing here?" Zoe asked as Levon strolled into her office. As usual she had nothing to do, and no patients to tend too.

As she dropped one her patients files onto the desk and studied Levon's appearance she noticed the swelling and bruising on the right side of his face, covering his eye.

"Whoa! Who did you get on the wrong side of?"

Levon gave her a pointed look. "Gee Zoe, who have I upset lately? Whose fiancé have I had-"

Zoe held up her hand, "I don't need to hear what you may or may not have done with Lemon."

There was a pause when Zoe realised what Levon had meant, "So, George is back in town?"

Levon again pointed to his eye. "Yes, Golden boy George is back in town. And he said hello."

Zoe jolted towards the door, suddenly realising she should be treating Levon's bruised face and perhaps his ego.

"Here," she slapped an icepack in his hand and instructed him to press it against his eye. "Should help with the swelling."

"So... did George say anything to you?"

"Yeah, he asked how my petunias were blossoming." Levon muttered sarcastically.

Zoe laughed softly, "jeez you're cranky when you've been beaten."

"I wasn't beaten! He caught me by surprise. And why so interested? Don't tell me you still think you've got a shot with him now?"

Zoe remained silent and shrugged.

"Oh I see," Levon pointed his finger at her, "you think that now they're engagement is off you stand a chance with Mr fancy lawyer."

"No-" Zoe shook her head, "we're not even speaking, I don't know if we can even be friends let alone anything more."

"And besides," she added, "their engagement hasn't officially been called off. I saw them delivering some bridal dresses just this morning. So I guess there's no hope for you and Lemon either."

She knew the last sentence had hurt her friend just by the way he flinched back and hissed as his facial expression caused his bruised face to twist in anguish.

"Guess not."

"Levon, I'm sorry. I'm just cranky this morning. But... I think maybe we both need to move on."

Levon nodded slowly, "Yeah, what were we thinking? Going after a practically married couple."

"Can't blame the heat." Zoe mused, "maybe we're just unlucky."

Levon raised his eyebrows, "unlucky?"

"Yeah, I mean the one person that seems perfect for us, aren't interested."

Levon stayed silent as Zoe checked up on the swelling around his eye, he winced as she prodded it with her finger. "Sorry," she murmured then stepped away.

"Keep the icepack, and keep it on your face for a while. You'll be fine."

Levon said his thanks and offered Zoe a hug before departing to the door.

"Oh, Zoe?"

"Hmm?"

"I disagree."

Zoe laughed, "you're right, what do I know about swelling? I'm only a doctor."

"Not about that. I disagree with what you said before. I think there's more than one person in this town that would be perfect for you."

"Really?" She hated sounding so insecure, since when was she so bothered about dating anyway? Wasn't she only supposed to be here for a year?

"Yeah, you just need to open your eyes a little."

Zoe stared back at him questioningly then suddenly her eyes grew wide, "Oh Levon I'm flattered but I don't we should-"

"Whoa! Back off, I'm not saying I'm perfect for you. No, you can't have all this." He dragged his hands up his body and laughed.

"See you later Zoe."

"Bye Levon!"

And just like that she was alone again. Deciding to turn on the radio she blasted some music around her office and opened the windows, revelling in the cool breeze. One of the songs she used to love tuned on and she began to move her head and sway to the music. At least she wasn't sitting around on her ass like she did every other day.

"And then you call my name-"

Zoe was interrupted by a loud knock on her door. She quickly turned off the radio and cracked open the door to greet Brick.

"I didn't realise we were holding a school disco in our medical practise." He glared.

"What do you want Brick?"

Brick stepped aside and Zoe's eyes fell upon a small boy. "Carl tripped, needs stitches. Do you think you can handle that?" Brick asked condescendingly.

Zoe motioned for the boy to come in and rolled her eyes, "Last year I did a mitral valve repair, I think I can stitch up a knee."

Brick let out a huff then stormed away. Zoe pursed her lips in satisfaction and turned towards the boy with her hands on her hips.

"Billy Cole said that if I got a scar, girls will have sex with me. Is it going to leave a scar?"

"Oh god." Zoe let out a long sigh, this was going to be a long afternoon.

Sitting with her glass of wine at the bar, Zoe felt oddly contented. After treating Carl and assuring him that girls would find his scar sexy, the afternoon patients stacked up and she found herself more busy that she'd anticipated.

"Long day?" Shelly leaned over the bar, exposing more of her cleavage than was necessary. Zoe gathered that she was just used to doing that for men, to gain some extra large tips, and averted her gaze away. "Yeah, I think people are starting to believe I have an actual medical degree and are finally coming to me for help."

Her gaze wandered across the bar to where Wade was busy chatting to some of the older men of the town. They hadn't greeted each other in the last hour Zoe had been sitting in the Rammer Jammer, though at times she'd catch his eyes fixing on her and a small smile playing at his lips.

The bar door squeaked as it opened and Zoe automatically looked up to see who was coming in. Once her eyes set on the familiar frame her jaw dropped and her eyes widened.

"What the hell!" She gasped and shrank down in her seat, wanting the ground to shrivel her up. Before the approaching figure had time to see her, she quickly ducked down and threw herself behind the bar.

On all fours and looking like a complete idiot she came face to... feet with Wade.

"What are you doing, Doc?" He let out a laugh as he stood above her. Her eyes travelled up his body and smiled weakly as she met his amused gaze.

"Are you drunk?" He guessed, "I swear I haven't seen you have more than two glasses."

Zoe reached up and grabbed hold of the belt loops of his jeans, causing his face to shroud in shock. Yanking him down she suppressed a laugh as he let out a loud "whoa!"

"You see that guy that just came in?"

"Uh-huh, tall, handsome, completely out of place and looking far to New York for my liking, you know him?"

Zoe pouted, "He's my ex, Adam."

Wade's mouth twitched and she knew he was about to laugh at her. She shoved his shoulder and glared, "he broke up with me! He broke my heart." It really hadn't affected her that much but she was satisfied to see some kind of protective look shine as his eyes softened towards her.

"You want me to get rid of him?"

"Please?" She whispered and smiled as he nodded.

Before either of them had a chance to discuss further how to get rid of her impossibly snobbish ex boyfriend however, a voice interrupted them.

"Uh can I get a beer... wait... what-Zoe?"

Zoe closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. She knew she should've hid in the girls bathroom!

"Uh... hi!" She popped back up, her hands reaching up to flatten out her frizzed up hair. It had been a long day at work and she hardly looked like the sophisticated, put together doctor she had been in New York.

Wade slowly got up beside her, his body pressing closely against hers.

Adam however looked as groomed as ever as he grinned, showcasing his perfectly white teeth. For a second she wondered how she could have ever thought that grin made her heart flutter, now it just reminded her of all the fakery she left behind.

"Were you hiding from me?"

"What? No! I was..." Zoe struggled to come up with a good enough excuse; she didn't need the added embarrassment of him knowing she was hiding like a child.

"She was helping me, I dropped some change on the floor." Zoe looked up in surprise at Wade who had come smoothly to her rescue.

"Wade Kinsella," he held his arm out across the bar. Zoe watched tersely as they shook hands and had to will herself not to just run out the door.

"What are doing here?" She blurted out, her last piece of composure left to rot.

Adam smiled, "I was flown in for a surgery in Mobile, then I heard you were here and thought I'd swing by and say hello, maybe catch up."

Zoe nodded silently. She felt the flush of embarrassment hit her like a ton of bricks. Here Adam was, his residency plans going off without a hitch and being flown in to perform a surgery. He must be doing well to be flown places.

"It would be good to have a night of catching up." Adam repeated again, sipping his beer and sending a wink over her way.

Zoe felt Wade tense up beside her and she understood why. She also understood what Adam was insinuating. The concept of the break up bonus night was nothing new to her ears.

"I can't." She replied shortly, gritting her teeth.

Adam leaned over the bar, his eyes briefly looking to Wade before he ducked his head down so his lips were by her ear and whispered; "I've missed you Zoe, I've missed our nights together... in the call room, remember?"

If Wade was tense before, that was nothing compared to now, when Zoe glanced up at him she could every vein in his body protruding slightly in anger.

"I can't." She repeated again stepping away.

Adam pouted, "come on Zo, why not?"

"Because..." she floundered, thoughts whipping through her mind at the speed of light, so many answers from 'because you're a idiot/jackass/bastard/sleazy/slimy/disgusting pig... but that wouldn't do. She wanted to hurt him, the way he'd hurt her.

With one last look towards Wade she knew what she had to do.

One hand shot up and her fingers gripped the fabric of Wade's shirt, whilst the other wrapped around his neck, pulling his body down and towards her.

With one last brief pause when their faces were inches from each others, she could feel his breath on her face she accessed Wade's reaction only to be slightly annoyed that he was in fact grinning. That shit-eating grin that infuriated her so easily.

"Do it, Zoe." He managed to whisper before she pressed her lips against his. Wade's hands snaked around her waist, pulling her even closer and his lips moved against hers.

Wade kissed her, hard. So hard it pushed her head back into the hand that was now tangled in her hair. Zoe let out a soft moan against his warm lips, suddenly forgetting, or not caring that they were standing in front of her ex and the entire population of Bluebell.

She almost let out a whimper as he pulled away, the smirk on his face as he licked his swollen lips making her lose her breath all over again.

"Wow." Adam's angry tone caused her to step away from Wade and look back at him. "You could've just said no, that would've saved me having to witness you whoring yourself out to a bartender."

Zoe jumped as Wade's fist collided with the bar with a loud bang that rattled Adam's glass.

"Time for you to go."

"You can't make me leave, bartender."

The way Adam drawled out the name, like it was the most dirtiest word on the planet made her blood boil. What did she ever see in him?

When Zoe looked back at Wade she expected to see him ready to deal out a great deal of pain to Adam, instead however, she was confused to see him looking quite relaxed and composed.

"You see those men behind you?" Wade nodded over to the old men he was talking to earlier. Adam raised his eyebrows silently in answer.

"They have a whole load of shotguns, filled to the nines with bullets that could tear a plate sized hole right through that pretty face of yours. They don't like sleazy, smart-mouthed New Yorkers like you, so if I were you, I'd be hanging that tail between your legs and getting as far away as you can from here."

Adam snorted, unimpressed, "aren't you forgetting, you're pretty little doctor over here's a New Yorker?"

Zoe did her best to send him a deathly glare, she jumped when she felt Wade's arm hang across her shoulders.

"She's one of us now." Wade growled, before shouting over to the group of men who had been watching in interest.

"Hey Mikey'" he called to one in particular, "that boy that got your Charlene pregnant and dumped her? Think I just found him!"

Zoe laughed as Adam's face dropped, he looked over to the men who were now getting to their feet. Mikey looking furiously at Adam and grabbing blindly for his gun.

"You're going to pay, boy!"

Adam, who had better sense than to mess with a group of men loaded with bullets, shot up from his seat.

"I'm not leaving Bluebell till we talk." He stated quickly before running out the door.

Zoe bit her lip to stop the laughter that was bubbling up in her throat, she looked up at Wade to find him smiling gently down at her.

"You're welcome," His arm that was draped across her shoulders brought her into his body briefly and her hand came up to press against his chest.

"Thanks Wade, I guess you do have your uses." She joked to ease the thick tension that was slowly building between them.

"And what do I get in return?" He whispered seductively as his gaze flickered down to her lips and back to her eyes.

Almost regretfully she pulled away. "You get my undying gratitude and the pleasure of driving me home later?"

Wade sighed as he sensed their moment was over and stepped away, his hand reaching out for the clothe to continue his work of wiping down the sides.

"Sure, Doc. I'll be finished in an hour. You can go in the office if you want to sit down in a comfy chair and wait."

"Thanks Wade." Zoe smiled, then quickly leaned up and kissed his cheek gently. "That was a really nice thing you did for me."

Wade bit down on his lip as he watched Zoe walk into the back office, his skin tingling from where she'd pecked his cheek.

He allowed himself a couple of seconds to recreate the kiss they'd just shared in his mind. Ever since the first they'd made out heavily in his car he'd wanted to feel that passion with her again. Even she couldn't deny the sparks between them and now all he had to do was to keep that sleaze ball Adam out of the picture, then maybe, things could actually develop between them without any obstacles in their way.

WOoo! I think that's the longest chapter I've written so far! Just thought I'd add an extra character to add a bit of drama, may add George in the next couple of chapters as well, stir up some mess between her and Wade some more! Gutted there wasn't much of Zoe/Wade in this weeks episode, but the next few sound amazing!

Anyway please review and let me know what you think! :D