So here's the second part. Sorry it took me so long to update but I was busy finishing up "5 Summers".

Thank you for your reviews, favorite-s and for reading. You amaze me.

Home Is Where the Hart Is

Part 2

A few days had come and gone since they had found out about the baby's sex. Zoe was showing her swollen belly more openly than before but she was still having a hard time about getting used to the idea of becoming a mom – Wade was going through the same. It was just that they were naturally childish, a little immature but smart in their own way, so being responsible for some else was a lot to take in, even if they knew they were capable of doing it.

"Maybe we should start buying some things for her room," Zoe mumbled shyly as she rubbed her stomach over which her cotton shirt stretched. She had always been tiny and skinny but now, seeing herself with a protruding stomach made her giggle. She claimed she looked like ET.

Wade was behind her laptop, working on something she had no idea about.

He looked at her over the screen and his eyebrows knotted together. "What? Yes. I, I know." He was clearly distracted in whatever it was he was doing.

"I was thinking about a crib and-" Zoe trailed off, noticing he was completely ignoring her or at least not paying the attention she deemed necessary given her condition and because, well, she was the kind of person who enjoyed full attention. "What the hell are you doing?"

Standing up, she made her way to the computer surprisingly quickly, considering she had spent the last few months complaining about her lack of energy and her new found love for naps.

He was surfing through a job hunting site.

"What, why?" Zoe babbled but soon her gaze fell upon him and his meek expression.

It was not as if he had been doing something bad or forbidden but it did feel like he was going behind her back.

"I need a job, Z," Wade blurted out before she could elaborate with her question. "You may live here for free because your mom is taking care of you or because you have savings – I don't know," he breathed out. His right hand lifted to rake his fingers through his longer blonde hair; he had been dreading to get an expensive haircut for the last week.

"You don't need to worry about it."

"No, you don't get it. I do need to worry." He breathed noisily through his nose and looked down at his lap. "I'm going to become a father and I need to support my daughter and you, if you need me or… let me because God knows you're not the easiest person to coddle."

A tiny and soft smile made it into Zoe's face but stupid hormones – that had her on the edge of a nervous breakdown most of the time – filled her eyes with tears she didn't want to cry.

"Since we're apparently not going back to Bluebell, well then I need to get some money here and… I'm not extremely qualified to do something that pays much so I might need to get two jobs to cover up for most of the baby's expenses but I will do it and-" he was cut off by a rather unexpected but never unwelcome kiss that took his breath away.

It was a very nice kiss and lately those were leading them to a comfortable bed to enjoy making out or… more. Zoe's body was always very responsive but she said it was normal due the mix of hormones and changes her body was going through.

When his cheek felt her tears wetting them, Wade pulled away to see her face. He cradled it between his large hands and frowned.

"Why are you sad? I'm staying with you. I'll make sure you and the baby are okay."

She laughed a watery laugh. "I know and… it's amazing. It's just no one had done anything like this for me before and it feels great. Knowing you come first for someone is… incredible."

And she was telling the truth. With all that had happened in her life – finding out he dad wasn't her dad, that he had left and her real one had died, that her mom preferred her parties and many, many other details – she really wanted to feel loved. She had never expected Wade, out of all people, would be the one giving her all she had looked for.

A sigh escaped through her lips when Wade reached for her hair and pushed it behind her ear.

"It's the least I can do considering… everything," he muttered before dropping a kiss on her forehead. "I might tease and bicker with you but you know. Words don't come easy for me."

She smiled, softly. He might like to pretend he was this uncaring guy, one who had no love for others but in the core of his heart, he was a man who was willing to do anything for the ones who were dear to him.

Sniffling, she tried to regain some of her usual humor.

Wade laughed as he helped her dry her cheeks and she felt safe when he pulled her to sit on his lap, his arms loosely wrapped around her just like hers were around her belly. She didn't give it too much thought but she was starting to think about them as an unconventional family. An unplanned pregnancy certainly worked to make them seem like that.

Looking down at his hands, seeing how he covered hers with one of his larger ones, Zoe smiled.

"I've been thinking." Zoe looked at him in the eye and saw he was giving her all the attention. It was almost cute to see him like a child, expecting what would come next. "You know I grew up in New York and I love the city."

"You've told me repeatedly, yes."

"But maybe Bluebell has a certain charm as well." She shrugged one shoulder and he smiled.

He liked to think he was a big part of that charm but was no fool and he knew that she had made friends, that people had learned to love her and she was part of the community.

"What are you trying to say?" Wade asked. His fingers played with hers, occasionally rubbing her swollen stomach in the way he did at night when they slept together – they hadn't been able to stay apart since the day she had sneaked into the guest room, into his bed.

"Bluebell is better for raising a child. People know you and the crime rate is practically zero if it weren't for the Sullivan's twins who like to steal Twizzlers every other weekend." Zoe snorted a laugh when Wade chuckled. "There's no rush hour and time seems to last longer… somehow."

"Zoe?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion and he prompted for further explanation.

"I'd like to go back after I give birth. I'd like for our daughter to grow up somewhere she can breathe fresh air and run around freely, enjoy nature and have time with her parents because we will only need five minutes to get home after work." She sighed. "Do you agree?"

"I do," Wade nodded. "But there's a lot we'll need to talk about so we can make this work in Bluebell."

"We'll live in your place, as long as you clean and fix it."

"What?" he said half-laughing.

"You have a small kitchen and we'll need that for the baby."

He only chuckled before kissing her. "I'll still look for a job while we're here. I need to do something before sitting my ass here drives me crazy."

"Your job is keeping me entertained now," Zoe said and cuddled closer to him, leaning her head over his shoulder. "Before I get crazy."

…

Picking a name wasn't an easy task either, even if they had four more months to do it. Well, it was especially hard considering how frustrated Zoe got whenever she went online and searched for numerous lists filled with names.

She constantly complained about the ridiculous names made up by celebrities and often resorted to books, searching for something she wasn't close to find.

Once or twice she had chucked a book at his head when he calmly proposed to wait until the baby was born to pick a name that fitted her.

He wasn't worried about how he'd called his baby as long as she was a happy and healthy kid. He had no problem with his name but Zoe mocked him about the fact that girls in Bluebell were named mostly after flowers and boys, after cowboys.

"We like to keep it simple," he argued and draped an arm around her shoulders while she cuddled – with her laptop – against him.

"It feels like you don't care." She pouted. She always pouted nowadays because she knew his heart constricted in his chest whenever she didn't seem happy and he was willing to do anything to keep her happy. Anything.

Sighing deeply, Wade pursed his lips. "What about names that mean something for you?"

"I mean, if the baby had been a boy I would've thought about Harley… even if I'm not that fond of the name." She looked at him with wide eyes. "Don't get me wrong, I would've loved to know him better but… it's not the name of a little boy."

Wade chuckled, shaking his head. "Someone else?"

"Um," she mumbled, brow furrowing. "Oh," she exclaimed as a smile blossomed on her face. "What about Claire? Harley's mom's name. It sounds like something a girl this age could have as a name."

"And it's not after a flower."

She laughed. "No, it's not."

"Claire Kinsella," he uttered for the first time and Zoe felt her stomach full of butterflies or bubbles - funny things at the mention of the name of their baby with his family name. It would really bond them for life. The corner of his mouth tilted up. "I like it."

"Okay." She grinned brightly, snatching that big notepad she had with her at all times and crossed out the task of name picking. "Now we just have one thousand other things to do to get ready for the baby." She rubbed her belly lovingly before she bit her lip and jumped on her feet as quickly as she could, considering her added weight after six-months of pregnancy.

"Pee?" Wade asked with amusement not threatened by the way she glared at him as she hurried herself into her en-suite bathroom.

"Soon I will need to stay in there all day long."

He laughed.

…

Luckily or not, Wade had easily found a job as a bartender for the events Candice planned. It was a lot like the regular bartending gigs, except people were extremely rich and often looked at him like he was less than them. Yet, there were other times old and young ladies flirted with him. Really old ladies slipped a generous tip while young ones generally handed phone numbers – he tossed the napkins with digits in the trash as soon as he could and the bills, he saved them for buying things for Claire.

When a couple of men tried to make a move on him, he didn't look exactly shocked but Wade calmly admitted he was as straight as men came and that he had a baby on the way. Surprisingly, men were far more understanding than women about him being committed.

For his own safety and Zoe's sanity, he kept this to himself. Lately she had become insanely jealous and possessive and if it weren't because his constant need to kiss her and touch her, Wade was sure she would've been crying 24/7.

"Lift that shirt," he ordered while straddling her thighs.

She giggled and her face turned an adorable shade of pink while she did as he said. He watched attentively how she rolled her shirt so it just covered her breasts and exposed that admittedly huge but beautiful swollen belly.

Given Zoe's height and weight, at seven months, she looked like she was about to burst and give birth pretty soon. That's why she needed to be careful – doctor's orders that Wade enforced.

Squirting in his hands a generous amount of the expensive coconut oil Candice had given Zoe to avoid stretch marks, Wade warmed it up and soon applied it to her skin, rubbing gentle circles.

Zoe sighed happily as he studiously covered her belly with the oil.

Sincerely, she couldn't complain about how well Wade was treating her. She loved when he massaged her feet and back, when he applied oil to her belly, when he helped her in the shower every morning… she was being spoiled rotten by him. And she loved it.

The mix of the coconut smell, the warmth from Wade's hands and the massage was certainly something relaxing. In fact, it was so relaxing that Zoe soon found herself drifting off. Her half-asleep self smiled contently when he happened to nuzzle her neck, dropping kisses.

She finally let sleep take over when he helped her to turn on her side, spooning with her and wrapping his arms around her belly in a protective gesture.

For the last month, she had decided to finally be in peace with her pregnancy. So she had called Lavon, Rose and AnnaBeth more often than before and she felt better sharing news about their baby. It made things real.

Rose of course, in her excitement, kept sending her emails and posting on her Facebook wall new ideas for the baby's nursery in Bluebell. She was elated the baby was a girl, just like AnnaBeth.

Lavon was happy too but he had hoped for a boy to whom teach how to play football with Wade. Yet, he suggested that maybe, "next time," which Zoe decided to ignore for the moment. It was a lot to think about considering her relationship with Wade was recently healing. And some days it felt like they had always been a couple and never broke up.

The soft humming coming from Wade woke her up. He was clearly in his own world as he rubbed circles over her belly and hummed an old lullaby.

The love he already had for their unborn child amazed her and at the same time it made her love him more. She knew part of those feelings he had, were also for her.

…

The perks of helping her every morning to get her shower, or her baths at night now that her feet got swollen till the point they hurt, sweetened the deal for Wade. It wasn't a job but a privilege to see her naked body. There was a glow about Zoe, tiny and adorable with her big belly – of course there were certain parts of her anatomy that had gotten bigger as well but he had been attracted to her even before her breasts had almost doubled their size.

She complained about looking like a whale but Wade did his best to convince her otherwise.

It was one of those mornings, as he helped her dry herself that their world finally shifted.

"Ow," Zoe complained furrowing her brow.

"She's kicking you again?" Wade asked a little amused.

Their daughter had a thing for kicking late at night or early in the morning, though lately she couldn't move as much given that the date for her birth was quickly approaching.

Zoe breathed out noisily through her nose. "No. I think these are Braxton Hicks."

"What?" Wade's eyebrow quirked as he watched her rub her belly and scrunching up her nose.

"Kind of fake contractions."

"Fake? Are you sure?" he babbled nervously, eyes widening. "Maybe we should just go to the hospital. You know what the doctor said about you being too small."

"I know," she snapped at him as she grunted when another painful but allegedly fake contraction. "But the longer I can keep her in me, less likely for her to have health problems."

"Z," Wade admonished her.

She looked up at him with sad, puppy dog eyes. "I think I'm having the baby, Wade."

…

Claire Kinsella didn't know how she had been brought into this world – she would only hear the stories her mom and dad told her when she was big enough to understand. Of course, her father was always more enthusiastic about the subject while her mom was more technical.

He had been in the delivery room with her mother, admittedly not being very sure about the whole ordeal her mother was going through – apparently since it was her first pregnancy and being so short and thin had made things harder for her.

Still, after many tears and while Claire's dad whispered encouragement constantly, things seemed to go well. He kept dropping tender kisses to her mom's forehead – which her mom claimed had been the reason she had needed him there.

This world welcomed Claire a month earlier than expected. She was tiny bundle of joy – six pounds two ounces and eighteen and a half inches – with little hair and screaming as loud as she could until she was placed over her mother's chest and her father gently smoothed her back.

She would never remember but her parents would.

"She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Wade whispered in awe, lost in the moment and the sight of their daughter.

"I know," Zoe murmured back, eyes welled with tears but a bright smile on her lips. "She's perfect." She caressed Claire's little fist and sighed at the touch of the soft skin. "And ours."

Wade grinned. "Ours," he echoed.

…

A baby was a fragile thing. Wade thought he was too damn clumsy and brusque to be holding his daughter but after Zoe's encouragement, he had finally tried to take her in his arms. It was the best decision he had ever taken.

Zoe watched Wade sitting next to her with their baby in his arms and a warm feeling invaded her. There was something fascinating about the sight of a grown, strong man holding a newborn – the contrast, knowing that he'd do anything to protect Claire and her.

"You think she… understand us?" Wade asked as Claire slept peacefully, wrapped in a soft purple blanket that Zoe's mother had gotten her – among many other things like tiny boots and outfits.

"Well, speaking to her helps her to learn. She won't understand us but with time, it'll be easier for her to pick up on names and recognize us."

Wade blinked at her and then his gaze fell upon Clair again. "Um, hi," he uttered hesitantly. "I'm your… dad. I, I've wanted you to meet you for a while now, you know?" He sighed. "I can't do this," he told to Zoe but she chuckled.

"You're doing great. Better than me."

He glared at her half-heartedly before Claire started to squirm and cry because it was time for her to be fed.

"And look, she gets as grumpy as you when she's hungry," Zoe quipped as she took Claire in her arms and got her ready to be breastfed.

Wade chuckled.

He knew that something inside him had changed the moment he found out he was becoming a father, but seeing his baby there made things much more real. He had to make sure she and Zoe were safe – they were his family.

And speaking about family…

"Hey, I'm going out for a little while, okay? I'll be right back," he spoke softly, to not upset Claire. Wade dropped as kiss on Zoe's temple and shot a smile at their baby.

As he went out of the room, Candice and Zoe's friend, Gigi, were just arriving with more gift bags and balloons. He let them in and greeted them quickly.

Once alone in the hallway, he fished for his cellphone in his pocket and stared at the screen for a second before searching for a familiar contact. The phone rang a few times before the other person picked up.

"Dad?" There was a pause. "It's Wade. I, I wanted to talked to you about something. You have a granddaughter. Her name is Claire." And from then on he explained everything that had happened during those last four months.

Surprisingly, Earl seemed to sober up at the news and soon he wanted to know everything about his first granddaughter. With some luck, maybe Claire was what Earl needed to finally let go of his sadness – he surely seemed excited about the little girl.

…

Three months after the birth, Zoe and Wade were making their way back to Bluebell, despite Candice's protests about how much she would miss the baby who was too adorable for anyone's sake. By then, Claire's hair had grown a bit and it showed to be dark blonde, and her eyes still gray, not hinting if she had inherited her mom's or dad's eyes.

In Bluebell, Lavon, Rose and AnnaBeth welcomed them with a small gathering to show off the baby.

"I must admit she's a beautiful and adorable little creature," Lemon complimented. "Hopefully she won't inherit her parents' characters, though it seems difficult."

Zoe chuckled at that. It was just like Lemon to make those comments.

George, on the other hand, immediately admitted his final defeat. It was clear she had picked Wade, and the baby in her arms was proof enough – not only that but Wade also looked more in love than ever before. So the charming southern man only congratulated them for their new baby and family. George and Claire seemed to get along just fine, despite how awkward it was for George to hold her.

If anyone had advice, that was AnnaBeth and Zoe thanked her profusely for how much help she was being.

It was as if all of the sudden, every piece of the puzzle clicked. Everything had found its place.

"She's so cute!" Rose gushed, bouncing Claire in her arms and making faces at the baby to make her smile, which she did promptly thanks to how much attention she got. "I think she's too smart. I mean, look at her! She's a total attention hog."

Wade laughed. "She is but, who can blame her? It's hard not to look at her."

"Give me back my baby," Zoe moaned, already missing her child after only a few minutes, and in response, Claire gurgled as if she had known she was being needed. Moms and their children shared a special bond after all.

Rose and Wade chuckled as Zoe hugged her baby to her chest.

A while later, Bluebell people showed the new family what they had been working on for the last couple of weeks. The gate house had had a makeover that transformed the place from a very manly cave to a warm and cozy home – including a beautiful crib for the baby, a gift from AB and Lavon.

Not much else was needed for her to know that her home was now in Bluebell, with her boyfriend and their baby. Their friends had made perfectly clear that they would always be there when needed, to support her – they were extraordinary people and she was thankful for them.

When Earl Kinsella showed up at their door that night in his best outfit, sober and clean, after everyone else had left, it certainly baffled Zoe.

"This was Wade's," Earl said as he handed Zoe a small and soft light blue blanket. He cleared his throat and sheepishly said, "I thought you'd like it."

Zoe grinned just as Wade smiled.

"Do you want to see her? She's sleeping but you can watch her for a little while," Zoe offered, inviting Earl to approach the crib in which Claire was enjoying her slumber.

"She's really pretty," Earl commented with a smile. "Like her mom."

Wade chuckled. It was obvious from whom he had inherited his flirtatious ways.

Perhaps Claire was meant to be there to not only bring Wade and Zoe together, but also to help other people without knowing.

…

What Zoe loved about work in Bluebell was that she only needed minutes to be back home, and after a day of work and not seeing her six month old baby, she almost ran her way home, forgetting her high heels.

In the last three months, Earl had made visits at least two times a week. He had been gradually quitting on his drinking habit so he didn't miss a chance to visit Claire. The relationship with Wade had improved dramatically and Zoe was happy for that too.

Her own mom had visited them twice and that was far better than before. Their relationship had improved, as well.

Regarding their love life, Zoe and Wade were more than fine, especially during date night, when Rose or Lavon and AnnaBeth offered to babysit Claire.

"Hello," Zoe greeted brightly, dropping her bag on the couch. She stopped walking as soon as she took in the sight in front of her and a big smile spread on her face.

In their bed, Wade lay on his back in only jeans, surrounded by pillows as he napped. On his chest a beautiful baby girl rested on her belly in only her diaper and sucking on her purple pacifier. Claire was awake but comfortable on her father's chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"Hi," Zoe cooed and Claire looked at her with her green eyes as she squatted down next to the bed. "Daddy fell asleep, huh?" Zoe tickled Claire's side and the baby squeaked happily.

It was only then that Wade opened his eyes. "Hey."

"So you two enjoyed your day?"

Wade smirked. "We were tired. She was a little grumpy earlier and it took a while for her to fall asleep. She missed you. And so did I."

"I missed you too," Zoe replied, climbing on the bed next to him and playing with Claire's little fingers. She was growing up so fast, her hair darkening and her eyes turning green like Wade's. "But I'm here now."

"That's good." Wade kissed her until a tiny, pudgy hand smacked him on the face.

Zoe and he laughed as Claire cooed unintelligibly but excitedly, as if she were sharing every detail about her day.

If the rest of their days turned out to be like that, as a family, together, they couldn't think about anything better.

And if years later a sweet six year old girl ran around the pond, long brown hair mussed by the wind and green eyes sparkling with laughter while her father followed her around with a two-year-old blonde boy who screamed at his sister, Zoe would be even happier because she'd be right there running with Claire and laughing with them.

the end.