Glass

I need an alternate ending because I don't think Zoe & Wade have a chance with the way the season ended. Also, Zoe needs to grow a bit to be good enough for Wade.

Disclaimer: I don't own characters in this fic or Hart of Dixie.

Reviews are always appreciated but not required. Enjoy!

Chapter 1 - Dinner

Zoe thought about how exhausting her day had been - just how tiring the past two weeks (and more) had been - she'd messed up so much chasing after George only to have him choose Lemon in the end. An exhauting day with so many swirling emotions from heartbreak to hope to heartache, from hurt and frustration to understanding and possibilities from being scared to feeling protected and safe. So many highs and lows, and she didn't want to think about any of it right now. She just wanted to be.

Bill had been right, her shower had helped immensely in realxing her. Se was warm and dry now, but she did not want to just sit at home alone tonight. The storm still ranging outside was making her more and more anxious. Now, she realized she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and she was starving. Of course, she didn't have any food in her house. Then she had an idea!

Wade was getting ready for the wedding of the century! What a load of horse shit! Truth was he didn't like George Tucker much at the moment. He was being an ass stringing Zoe along and hurting Lemon with his wedding's off, wedding's back on bull shit! No, he didn't like George much right now, but he'd go to the wedding for Lemon and smile and say the right things. He'd be there for Lavon and eat good and drink good on ole' Brick Breeland's dime - pompous ass!

He'd rather have stayed with Zoe in that barn or somehow stayed with her on the plantation. He knew she didn't like storms like this one and would be anxious all on her own. But Bill had blocked his move to "take the doctor home." Fucker. She had to be hurting that George was marrying Lemon tonight, but then maybe she just wanted to be on her own. He understood that sometimes with a heartache alone felt best. Unfortunately, he knew this from his own experience. He'd let her be and check on her after the wedding.

Today in the barn with Zoe, was ... something. She knew he liked her? For how long? And Lavon was going to get ... he didn't know what. "Just let it go." He said to himself. He didn't know what he and Zoe were now, maybe back to the beginning, maybe something more than before. One thing he did know, he was gonna ask that girl out on a date next time he saw her, even if she might say no. He'd told her there was something between them, and he was gonna try to figure out what that something was. "Just ask her on a proper date, Wade."

So, here he was all dandied up for this wedding. Lemon likely wasn't pleased with having it in the fire house, so he'd say something especially nice about the wedding and how she looked ... it'd make her feel better to have a compliment. Okay, one more check in the mirror to make sure he looked okay. Tie ... shirt .. jacket ... sleeves, check ... looked alright. Suits weren't his thing ... he thought they made men lok a bit stuffy and pretentious, but he didn't mind them. They weren't more uncomfortable than any other clothes, plus, he'd heard women really liked a man in a suit. That was a bonus. "Okay, let's do this bitch!"

Then he heard a knock and Zoe's voice calling him.

"Wade, are you here?"

"Uh ... hey, doc" he said coming out of his bedroom, and she saw him in a suit for the first time. She could hardly breath. Shelly was right. Wade was gorgeous ... just ... just beautiful and damn hot in that suit.

"What you need doc?"

"Well ... um ... hey" was all she could say blushing fiercely. Shit! "I didn't know you were actually going to the wedding."

"Yeah, well I got invited. Seems like they should have postponed with the weather, but you know Lemon, determined to have this wedding."

"Uh ... yeah ..." she really couldn't think of what to say "... how are you getting there?" So stupid but he was just too hot for her to think straight.

"Work truck for the plantation ... that's all that's left here. Did you need somethin', Zoe?"

Every time he said her name ... shivers! And now he was there ... in that suit! "Well, I brought dinner ... but since you're heading out ... guess I'll go back to my house. You ... you look really good in that suit, by the way. Really good!" Shit, she was blushing again.

"Um ... thanks, doc. It's just a suit. Nothin' special."

"Well, I better get back."

"Zoe wait ..." Wade sighed. "I have plenty of time to get to the wedding, so tell me what's up."

"Just didn't want to be alone, I guess. Kinda wish Bill hadn't got us from the barn, 'cause I ... well, I don't know really how to say it and just ..."

"Say whatever, doc. It's okay."

"Well, I just wanted to be tonight, just be me, and I just wanted to be around you ... not on my own. Does that make sense?"

"Well, sure it does." He had no freakin' clue what this girl was talkin' about ... didn't she "be" all the time. Definite brain twister there, but she wanted to "be" around him. So, he'd take it 'cause he wanted to be around her too.

"But I should let you get to the wedding"

"Hold on Zoe, just stay, okay." He definitely wasn't going to the wedding now. She shivered when he said her name. "You cold ... here ... put this one." Wade passed her a hoodie he'd worn the other day.

"Thanks, Wade." God, this was torture, now all she could smell was Wade.

"So, dinner sounds good, doc! I'm starved. Where'd you get the food?"

"At Lavon's."

"What? What were you thinkin' traipsin' all over creation in a storm like this? You coulda got hurt."

"Geez, Wade, overprotective much? I made it without injury, so no worries. You know I can get all around New York City without injury. The plantation isn't that big." He really did protect her a lot. Sooo hot!

"It's jut these storms can be dangerous and create dangerous conditions, and I don't want you gettin' hurt or nothin'." She swooned at that one, literally swooned. She had to hold on to his counter to keep her feet. The hell? "Ida gone to Lavon's to get you somethin', but I just thought you'd want to be on your own tonight ... with the ... the weddin' and all."

"Well, that really is sweet, Wade" What the fuck? 'Sweet' more like totally hot. "But I made it safe and sound. So you don't have to worry."

"Anyway it was a bad idea since you're headed out." This conversation could not get more awkward ... not at all. She couldn't stop looking at just how amazing Wade looked in that suit, and it was affecting her brain so she couldn't think, and she didn't, definitely didn't want to think about how other of her parts were reacting to Wade in a suit. "So, enjoy the wedding ..." and she was nearly out the door when she felt Wade's hand on her arm. Was he going to kiss her now? Oh, please let him kiss her right now! What the hell was that? What the hell? She'd just thought like a 14 year old girl before her first kiss. What the hell? She either had to get a grip on herself, get back to hers, or ... get kissed!

"Zoe," Oh fuck if he said her name one more time she was going to lose it and .. well she didn't know what exactly. "Just hold on there, doc. Let's have us some dinner. I'm staved, and truth be told, I wasn't really lookin' forward to goin' back out in that storm, so lets see what you got."

Why did she have to look so damn pretty and sexy all half wet in that little dress and those gumboots ... fuckin' hell ... now he thought gumboots were sexy? This woman was making him crazy! He was too hot all of a sudden. It was just too confining in his house, and this conversation or situation or whatever was just getting more and more awkward. Fuck! He was doomed! "Um ... ya know what ... let's eat out back," he said pulling off his jacket and loosening his tie so he could breath ... just get that button. Okay ... better! What now? "Music ... I'll put on some music, sound good?" it was like a squeak coming out of him ... he just needed to get in some fresh air. And Zoe was just looking at him like he was some kind of moron. Music ... really was that all he could come up with?

Zoe couldn't breathe. What the fuck did he just do? She couldn't pull her eyes away as he took off his jacket, loosened his tie and ... and ... the button ... the fucking button! Her jaw dropped. Her brain was screaming "take the damn shirt off!" The hell? How did he just go from damn hot to irresistibly sexy by doing that? She knew she was blushing bright read as her mind pictured him shirtless. Oh god, just one freakin' button - she wanted to see more. Her brain was frozen on that thought - take it the hell off!

"Music, I'll put on music!" Oh yeah, dinner ... outback ... what was that? "Outback? Okay." Now she sounded like a complete idiot! She just wanted air, so she could breathe and collect her thoughts. Maybe if he went Outback(?) she could get her mind off of him shirtless. "Here, go on out and I'll be right there. Just gotta get outta these dirty boots." But she couldn't move from her spot as he walked over to her. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. So damn hot. Her brain was at it again. Would he kiss her now? Just freakin' take off that shirt and kiss the hell out of her! He just reached for the bag of food looking at her like she was some weirdo.

Don't take off those sexy-assed gumboots, woman! He loved how he could just see her legs from knee to upper thigh - so sexy, so freaking hot ... those toned, tanned and oh so sexy thighs of hers. Shit! He had to stop thinking about her thighs. Fresh air. He needed fresh air, now! He got outside, finally, and leaned against the wall to collect his thoughts and get his breath back. He had to be there for Zoe tonight. It was a hard night for her so he definitely needed to stop thinkin' about her thighs. She was already looking at him like he was a perv.

So, dinner. He could do this. The fresh air definitely helped. What didn't help was Zoe walking out barefoot silhouetted in the door. Damn. Now he could see even more skin. It was driving him crazy. He needed more air so he loosened his tie some more and undid another button. "Warm night." What the fuck? It was raining cats and dogs and anything but warm out. He needed a beer. No, he wanted a beer, what he needed was an ice cold shower. He was a grown-assed man and could sit here and have a dinner without thinking about her skin and her lips and her freakin' hot thighs wrapped around him. He groaned mentally. This was gonna be a long night.

Was he trying to kill her? Literally trying to kill her with sexiness? Another button? This was just torture. Now she could see just a bit more skin and all she could think about was touching his skin and stripping that damn shirt off of him! She actually, actively hated that shirt now. It looked good on him, but would look so much better off. She needed a shot, stat. She needed a cold shower and to get a grip on herself and her over-active imagination. She was a grown-assed woman, she could sit here and have dinner with Wade and talk to him like a semi-intelligent person. It was just hard looking at him so fucking sexy and wanting so much to touch him anywhere, everywhere and dying to kiss him.

"Wine"/"Beer"

They said in unison. "I'll get it," she said jumping up. "You unpack dinner. I'll be right back." She got inside and leaned against the wall panting trying to get control of herself while Wade was outside leaning back in his chair just trying to breath ... get enough air and collect himself before she got back. Damn! That woman was killing him tonight!

"This looks good." He said when she got back. "You got good stuff." Did that sound like a sexual thing? He hoped not. He'd just play it off.

"Yeah - just grabbed what looked good." Awkward much, Zoe? She said to herself. This conversation had to improve. What could she say? "Um ... this is really nice out here. I didn't know you had a back porch." Well, it was something even if it was the stupidest thing ever.

"Yeah, one of my favorite places." Thank god she'd said something 'cause he couldn't think of anything and didn't want to blurt out something like "Your thighs are so hot, they're driving me crazy," which was as likely to come out of his mouth if he spoke as anything that wouldn't be totally creepy. Now, he had something to talk about. "It's usually peaceful out here, when there's not a storm. I like to come out here some nights and just sit and think."

"Really? I can see that. What do you think about?"

"Life mostly. Just thoughts." Now all he'd likely think about out here were her and those hot, silky thighs. At least the conversation was going. "It's nice when it's peaceful to come out here and play my guitar. Think about the day - just relaxing and unwinding. Nice in a storm too 'cause it's safe but you can feel nature all around you. Just the power of nature. I know you like the hustle and bustle of the big city, but me .. I like this. The pace of life here and being close to nature ... being able to get out in it away from town and be alone." He paused for a moment. "Though you can't see it now, the view from this porch is amazing. It's one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. Guess it's part of why I've lived here so long." He grinned at her - that slow, sexy as hell grin. She nearly fainted. "The view and Lavon's well stocked fridge."

They laughed. "That is a consideration." She couldn't believe Wade had told her all that. Shared his fondness for this place ... shared this simple pleasure with her. It was a small thing, but it made this dinner seem somehow intimate.

"I do love the city, Wade, but more and more I'm seeing the appeal of Bluebell - seeing what you see in it."

"Yeah, doc?"

"Yes."

"Even the storms? I know you don't like them much."

"Nope, never have really, not since I was little."

"I could tell. You were jumpy and anxious in the barn. I shouldn't have stormed out on you like I did. I knew you were scared of the storm. Was part of why I came back."

Wow, she realized he always did that, made sure to apologize if he thought he'd done something wrong with her. "It is okay, Wade." Now, it was her turn to apologize to him. "I shouldn't have kept bothering you like I did. I shouldn't have kept pushing at you when you obviously didn't want to talk, and I shouldn't have come at you the way I did. Sorry for that."

"It's okay, doc?"

They were quiet for a time finishing up their meal and watching the storm rage just outside the porch. Zoe got up and walked closer to the screens trying to see the view Wade mentioned earlier, grateful for the wine and conversation that had calmed her mind a bit.

Wade was feeling a bit calmer and more in control of what might come out of his mouth. It helped that she wasn't so close to him anymore. He was breathing better, now, not feeling so anxious. That's what this place did to him, calmed him.

"Wade," Zoe said softly. "I'm really sorry for hurting you."

"It's alright, Zoe. Don't worry."

"No, don't do that, Wade." She turned to him then and looked upset.

"It's not a big deal, doc. Really."

"Just stop it, Wade, okay. Stop acting like your hurt doesn't matter ... your feelings don't matter. It matters to me that I hurt you. You always do that, push yourself and your feelings aside, don't you?" She looked at him then. He was just staring off in the distance and she saw a subtle, oh so fleeting, look of pain in his face before he straightened himself and said, "I'll be alright, doc. Don't worry."

"Wade, I do worry. I've worried for the past two weeks. All I thought about was how I could get you not to hate me. How to apologize. What I could do to let you know how sorry I was for trampling on your feelings, for being so selfish that I couldn't wait and just help you win that race and the money for your bar. So, please don't tell me not to worry or to not feel bad about how I treated you."

He could see she was near tears. "Zoe, hey, Zoe. Don't get so upset, okay. Yeah, it hurts to see you pining over golden boy, and yeah it sucked to lose that race and the money, but not enough to see you so upset. I never hated you, doc." He added quietly, "I couldn't." Shit, she was crying now. He was just making it all worse. He got up and moved near her and took her hand. "Zoe, you feel how you feel, and I feel how I feel. Just sometimes feelings aren't the same. That's all. I forgive you for the race. Okay?" She was crying more now. What the hell was he supposed to do? He squeezed her hand, but that just made more tears come. So, he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. It felt like the right thing to do ... hold her to him. She was so soft and small and fit next to him perfectly. What could he say? "All's forgiven, okay. It'll be alright." And he held her close while she cried knowing that it would be a long time before he would be alright again.

She couldn't believe she'd lost it like this. Having Wade forgive her and say he didn't hate her was all she had focused on for the past two weeks. That made her heart so glad while making her feel sad and stupid and wrong. Having him admit he had feelings for her and accept her feelings as being different, was so brave and made her admire his honesty. When he took her hand, that small act of caring for her while he was in pain just broke her heart and made her cry more for her stupidity and callousness. He held her to him then, and it felt so natural, so right She cried for hurting Wade and for wasting time on George Tucker and letting him pull her first one way then another always playing with her emotions. She cried for the end of that fantasy and with relief that she was done with it. And Wade just held her. And she held on to him.

She slowly stopped her crying and felt Wade's arms loosen around her. She couldn't believe he was this close and she could feel his chest pressed against her and how he smelled, so damn good. She couldn't believe herself. She'd gone from distraught to lusting after Wade's body in about a nano second - she had to get away from him somehow. She couldn't be this close to him. She didn't trust herself to not attack him and rip off his clothes. Being this close to him was making her body react.

Wade couldn't believe how good she smelled and how good her body felt pressed up against him. He could hardly breathe, and all he wanted was to pick her up and wrap those sexy thighs around him. Shit! He was supposed to be comforting her - not thinking about her thighs. Shit! He had to get her away from him before he popped a boner and she called him a perv. He had to do something now 'cause there were definite stirrings. She was right! He was just a big pervert. Out of desperation, he leaned back and pushed her away from him, " You okay, now?" He had no clue what to do for her. He'd tried to be nice and comfort her, but that had made it ten times worse. He guessed he couldn't fuck up that bad again so he'd just wing it. "You want some more wine?"

"Wine. Yes, that would be good." She'd lost it and was a bit embarrassed and felt like she owed him and explanation, but his closeness had made her dizzy. Luckily, they had the table between them again. She'd be less likely to rip his clothes off like a lunatic if he was away from her.

"Look Wade, I'm sorry about all that."

"No need to apologize, doc. Your heart hurts and this is likely the worst day you've had in a while."

"It's not that. My heart does hurt a little, but it's not all because George is marrying Lemon. I was just ... I was so glad you don't hate me, and I felt so stupid that I could spend so much time and effort trying to get George - on a stupid fantasy, and that I let George toy with me so much, toy with my emotions that I hurt people who cared about me because of him, and then you were trying to comfort me and it was all just too much. Just too overwhelming."

Wade scratched the back of his head, god she loved that nervous habit. He was so unaware of doing it and just how sexy that move was. How it made his shirt (she really hated that shirt) hug his chest. So. Damn. Hot. She decided he really was trying to just kill her dead right this minute.

"Well, doc, you got me flummoxed, I have to say. I don't have a clue what to do for you and all that's comin' into my head is maybe I should just call you a name like "so city" or somethin', but that doesn't seem right." Okay he was a total liar. He could think of a couple things he'd like to do to her like run his hands up those silky thighs of hers. But calling her a name seemed like a safer bet at the moment. At least she was laughing and not crying now. "No, Wade, you don't need to call me a name. Just be you, okay. Be you because that is what I want right now, and ..." she added the last part a bit shyly " and you being you is just brilliant." Did he just blush? She didn't think that was possible, and there he went again rubbing the back of his neck, that neck that she wanted to touch so much.

"Well, okay then. Let's just sit here and be peaceful for a few minutes."

"Sounds great, Wade."

They sat there for awhile watching the storm and being quiet and calm. It was definitely helping her nerves and her oh so overactive imagination. She heard him humming, just something low and soft, nothing she recognized and she wondered if he hummed while he was thinking. She looked over at him and saw just how much his features had softened in the few minutes they'd been sitting here. She could see the appeal of this porch and could get used to seeing his handsome face so relaxed and watching him just be himself.

She listened to him hum some more and let the music from inside sooth her, something slow and country sad. After a while she got up to use the bathroom. Trying her best no to disturb Wade.

God, she looked like a wreck, no makeup, her hair all half up and half down looked like a rat's nest. Just a complete nightmare with her red swollen eyes. There wasn't much she could do so she got a wash cloth and cold water to help make her eyes less puffy. Then she found a brush and made her hair look a bit more presentable. She still looked a fright but just a bit better than before. She couldn't believe she looked this bad in front of Wade while he looked so handsome and sexy. At least she'd bothered to put on a cute dress tonight.

She was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. That was all he could think about ... just how stunning she looked sitting on his back porch lookin' out at the storm. He'd never seen a prettier sight in his life. Not even this view could compare. And he liked her this way, no make up, messy bun thing. She was almost too pretty to look at.

He guessed she was about tired out for the night and would likely leave soon, so he'd just put away the food and clean up their dinner. He was in the kitchenette when she came out of the bathroom. She just stood there a bit breathless when he looked up at her with his half grin. Wade couldn't breath. She looked even prettier than before. They stood there in an awkward moment of silence just staring at each other.

"Oh, you didn't have to clean up." What the hell was coming out of her mouth? She had no idea because seeing him standing there so tall and handsome just made her mind freeze. He'd unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and had the sleeves rolled up a little - more skin to tempt her, but still not e-damn-nough. So sexy. Wade reached in his fridge for a beer and she could see the shirt hug his back - god, this really was slow, slow torture.

"More wine?" he said. "It's chilled"

"Um ... sure." Did she want more wine? Who the hell knew. She didn't. Then Wade turned and looked at her. "Hey, Zoe. Feelin' better?"

"Yes."

"Thanks for sitting out with me tonight, Zoe. I hope it helped." And she could think of nothing but him, his eyes on her, the timid half smile he gave her, and the world outside just disappeared. She wondered how he did that. Even when they were around other people, he could make the world disappear ... make it seem like they were the only two people in the world even in the crowded Rammer Jammer. Now, he was smiling at her shyly.

It was go time for Wade. He was going to ask her out. "Can I ask you somethin', doc. I mean, Zoe." She groaned inside - he had to stop saying her name and sounding so damn sexy when he said it.

"Sure, Wade. Ask away."

"Well ... um ..." hmmm. "Well," why the hell was he so nervous. "Look Zoe, I hope this isn't the wrong time or somethin', but will you go out with me ... I mean on a date ... on a date tomorrow afternoon?" Damn he was so nervous.

Holy hell, he just asked her on a date! A real date! She just wanted to squeal and jump up and down! Her heart or stomach or something was doing cartwheels! He'd asked her out. "Yes, Wade ... I'd like that a lot." And she couldn't help or stop the smile the spread across her whole face.

Author's Note: Please review, suggest plot progression, send suggestions along for improvement.