I'm back again with a short story. This is how I want Season 3 to start, sadly I know it won't go my way. I hope you like this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hart of Dixie, Wade, Zoe, or any of the other characters. If I did, we wouldn't be in the mess we are right now.

Summer has come and gone. It was now August 28th and Zoe was due back in Bluebell any day now. She has called and checked in on her friends many times over the summer. Wade hasn't talked to her but he's heard from Lavon that she's doing well and always says "Say Hi to Wade." Lavon told him to call her a couple of times because she was always interested in what he was up to. He agreed to give her space so he figured calling wouldn't help. He also asked Zoe why she didn't just call Wade herself and her response was always "I'm not ready." Lavon gave up half way through the summer with that one and would just relay messages back and forth to each other. Wade didn't know exactly what day Zoe was coming home, he didn't want to keep asking Lavon and sound desperate so he was just waiting for her to show up.

"Wade, Wade, Wade" Lavon called banging on the gatehouse door

"What?" Wade asked coming to the door in only a pair of jeans and opening it

"I need you to do me a favor and I hate to ask you to do this but you are the only one I know that probably will do it."

"Spit it out Lavon"

"I need you to pick up Zoe from the airport." he told him

Wade froze for a minute and then shook his head. "Uh, When?"

"She lands in an hour."

"In an hour? Where are you going that you can't?"

"Well apparently AB made reservations for us and her folks tonight for their 35th wedding anniversary. She told me this morning."

"She told you or she reminded you? Because I seem to remember her telling you about this a week ago" he mocked

"Shut up. You gonna get her or not? I need to text her and give her a heads up." he said pulling out his phone

"Yeah I'm goin, I just need a shirt." he said turning around and grabbing one off the couch. Lavon looked up from his phone and stared at him. "What?" Wade asked

"You are going to pick up Zoe, Zoe Hart from the airport and you are going to wear a shirt you just plucked off the couch? Put on a clean shirt, comb ya damn hair."

"You want me to bring flowers too?"

"No, but you should look nice, not like you don't care. I know the ball is in her court now but don't make her throw it at you because you look like a pig."

Wade rolled his eyes. He cared, he had a whole outfit planned for the first time he saw her again. He wasn't going to show Lavon that though. "You know what; you can go, enjoy your dinner. I can get dressed without your supervision." he smiled and shoved him out the door

"Alright and behave. No snarky comments, be civil and don't pressure her for an answer to your "I love you""

"Goodnight Lavon" he said closing the door and locking it

"Comb ya hair" he heard Lavon yell back

Wade looked at the time. "Alright, she lands in an hour, which means I have about 20 minutes to get myself presentable." he told himself. He ran in the bathroom and took the quickest shower he's ever taken. Once he was out he found the outfit that he had planned out. He had bought a new pair of jeans and a new flannel shirt just for the occasion. He combed his hair and gave himself one more look in the mirror before darting out the door.

He made it to the airport with 5 minutes to spare. He parked the car and ran towards the lobby, checking the arrival board when he got there.

"Just landed, awesome" he smiled and walked over to the crowd of people who were also waiting for family and friends. He watched as a new group of people started to come through the gates. One guy walked past him with an "I love NY" t-shirt on. "This must be her flight" he thought. He scanned the crowd and then spotted her. She was wheeling a small bag behind her and looking down at her phone as she walked. Once she cleared the gate she looked up and started looking for a familiar face.

She spotted Wade and slowed down her pace a bit but kept walking, she had a slightly confused look on her face and Wade panicked. "Shit, he said he was going to text her." Before he could panic some more, she smiled and sped up again. As she got closer her smile got wider.

"Hi" she said very happily "Surprised to see you here."

"Hey. Lavon said he was going to text you. I guess you didn't get it. He had a dinner with AB and her parents for their anniversary that he forgot about and." he continued as he rubbed the back of his neck out of nervousness

"Relax, its fine" she said with a smile "He's so cute" she thought and laughed at how nervous he was, and then looked down at her phone "There it is" she chuckled as the new message flashed on her screen "Takes a while after you turn back on your phone for the messages to come in."

"Ok" was all he could come up with

"You look nice" she smiled "How have you been?" she realized she was going to have to be the one to eliminate the awkwardness

"Been good, working, a lot"

"That's good. I heard you guys are really doing well."

"Yeah, we are." he smiled and started to relax a bit "You have more bags?" he asked pointing towards baggage claim

"Yeah a few." she smiled and started walking that way

Wade has taken 3 bags off the belt already and was waiting on the fourth. "Didn't you leave here with one?" he laughed

"Yeah but I went shopping" she smiled up at him

"Shocker, you buy any more of those short shorts?" he asked looking at the pair she had on

"Possibly" she smirked "Oh, there it is" she pointed to the last of her bags coming their way

"That it?" he asked pulling it off and placing it next to the others

"Yep, this is all of them." she picked up the two smallest ones and started to wheel them towards the exit

Wade picked up a pink duffel bag and laid it across the bigger of the two wheeling suitcases. He quickly caught up to her. "You really bought 4 suitcases full of clothes?"

"Well when I left, I only packed for a weekend. My loft still had some clothes in it but when in New York you must shop. I also brought back most of my clothes from my loft, except my winter stuff. Since it's always summer in Bluebell."

Wade nodded in agreement. He led her to his car and popped the trunk. He shoved the bags he could in the trunk and then threw the last 2 in the back seat. They climbed in and started the trip back to Bluebell.

"It's good to be home." she smiled looking out the window at all the trees and grass

"Really? You missed it here?"

"More than you could ever know. It was so weird; my first week back all I did was complain about the noise and the traffic and making sure my door was always locked. You know what else? New Yorkers, not that friendly. Don't get me wrong, I still love New York but I just don't think I belong there anymore."

Wade couldn't help but smile. He was so happy that she missed the south so much. He was so afraid she would come back complaining about the country life and maybe even decide to leave Bluebell for good. All of the sudden he heard music coming from the radio and looked at her.

"You don't mind do you? New York finally has a country station and that is all I listened to. Kind of got used to it."

"Look at you girl. New York made you more of a Southern belle?"

"I am not a Belle. Just a little more country." she winked at him and started singing along to the radio and so did Wade.

Half way home something happened that he most certainly did not plan. They were so comfortable just driving along with the windows down and singing along to the radio that it felt like the past 6 months never happened. Wade instinctively reached his right hand over and placed it on her knee like he did when they were dating. Neither noticing until the song ended. Wade realized immediately and quickly pulled his hand away, clutching the steering wheel again.

Zoe turned the radio off and looked at him. "We have to talk." she said but didn't seem upset about it

"I guess we do. I didn't mean to do that, it was just out of habit I guess. I'm sorry."

"Stop, it's ok, I don't mind. Quit being so nervous." she laughed "I don't want to talk in the car though. Can we wait until we get home?"

"Yeah, I guess" he said sounding really nervous

"I just want to make it home and I really think we need to actually sit and talk without any distractions. Don't be so nervous."

Wade thought for a moment "Are you with someone?"

"No" she quickly answered "Nothing happened like that at all. It's not bad, I promise." she tried to reassure him

"Alright" he said trying to calm himself down. "She seems positive, maybe it's good news" he thought to himself

"Did you..." she stopped. She was curious but it was her idea to not have this discussion in the car.

Wade heard her start her question and figured out where she was going with it. "No, I haven't either" he told her not taking his eyes off the road

Zoe couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips. That's all the confirmation she needed even though Lavon has told her the same thing almost every time she talked to him. She reached over and turned the radio back on. They were silent the rest of the way home.

When they pulled up to Zoe's house she couldn't get out of the car fast enough. She grabbed the two bags out from the back seat and ran towards her house.

"Hi Burt" she smiled running past the gator and up the porch. She ran into the house and tossed her bags on her bed.

"What's the rush Doc?" Wade asked coming in after her

Zoe smiled at her nickname. Yeah she heard it a million times in the hospital all summer but this was different.

"Sorry, I've just really missed my house." she explained

"Oh alright" he laughed as he went back outside for her last bag. When he returned she was already putting clothes in her closet. "Damn girl, you really couldn't wait to be home." he chuckled and took a seat on her bed

Zoe laughed with him "These dresses can't stay packed for too long, they'll wrinkle. I have to get them out. The other clothes can wait until tomorrow."

Wade just nodded "You want these in the closet? he asked pointing to the other suitcases

"Yeah sure" she said hanging up the last dress "Can we have that talk?" she asked as she sat on the couch across the room

"Uh yeah. If you want." he answered getting nervous again

Zoe patted the seat next to her indicating for him to sit and he did. "Hi" she started

"What's up?" he laughed nervously

"I did a lot of thinking this summer, you're speech by the fence did a number on me. I knew I was going to miss you before then, even if I didn't want to. It took so much not to call you every day. Lavon kept me up to date on you, told me about the bar and how well it was doing. He even slipped in that you weren't dating or anything." she laughed

"You asked me?"

"I wanted confirmation from the source. Even though I wouldn't blame you if you did."

"Well then what I told you at the fence wouldn't have meant anything."

"Not necessarily, I wouldn't expect you to wait for me."

"Zoe, I'd wait for you forever" he told her honestly

Zoe smiled "Wade" she started

"No, I meant what I said. I will do anything for another chance with you. I want to prove to you that I have changed."

"You have already. I have fought my head with my heart all summer. I've talked to my mom and even my dad. I forgive you for what you did but I need some more time to trust you again. That will take time and patience from both of us."

Wade nodded in agreement but still wasn't sure where she was going with this "Ok"

"I know I'm asking a lot of you right now and feel free to tell me to bug off but I really feel that we need to start off as friends again. Please don't hate me and I know you were probably looking for more of definite answer but I really think that is what we need for me to start building up that trust again. You can date or do whatever with other girls, I won't blame you or."

"No, I will give you as much time as you need. I agree, we need to work on a friendship and then a relationship. Dating and being with other girls is just pointless. If I know that I at least have a shot at getting you back one day, I will wait. Zoe, you know how I feel and I'm not going to go back on that or screw it up."

Zoe smiled at him "There is a very good possibility that we will get our second chance."

"Then I will wait. Whatever it takes." He smiled at her "If it's friends that you want, friends you will get."

Zoe nodded "Thank you and I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I wasn't expecting you to come back here and jump right back into a relationship. I'm just thankful that you have forgiven me. I'm still having trouble doing that myself." he told her truthfully

"You have to forgive yourself. What's in the past is in the past. We are starting over from this day forward."

"Alright, I'll work on it." he smiled and stood up from the couch. "I should get going. I'm glad you're home." he smiled down at her

Zoe stood up. "I'm happy to be home too. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll be around. Welcome home Doc." he smiled once more and turned to leave

"Ho" she started and he spun around "Thanks for picking me up. I appreciate it." she walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek "Night Wade."

Wade nodded "Night Zoe." he gave her a smirk and then left the house very satisfied with the talk they just had.

Please review and let my know what you think :)