Author's Note;

This starts out as episode rewrite of The Race and The relationship but takes off. Before the beginning of a chapter there might be Author's Notes were there will be important stuff like if I can't update, and stuff I think you should know before you read the story otherwise, on the bottom will be the Author's Commentary, which will just be me rambling on about whatever I feel like sharing, sometimes it is about the story, sometimes about my life, sometimes it is scenes I took out.

If someone is interested in Beta/editing let me know.

Summary: You think you got all figured out what you want and who you. Then someone opens a door you forgot was there. Wade tells Zoe how he feels at the Race.

Chances Are

Chapter One:

"I'm just going to lay it all out there for you, doc." Wade was not even paying attention as Zoe looked at George, who she liked a lot, and he was finally free, but not for long… It looked like he was going to get back with Lemon and maybe if she told George; he would know that she was there, and maybe he would realize they could be great together. "I like you a lot. Hell, I think I could love you."

She sharply turned back to look at Wade, "What!" She was caught off-guard. She remembered Lavon telling her Wade really cared for her, but she knew it was not true. It could not be…the guy just called her a snob last week and before that…no she realized she did not want to know…did not want to believe that Wade had romantic feelings for her. How was she supposed to deal with that? George…

"Ah hell," Wade scowled as he saw who she was looking at, "Of course," he knocked over all the pieces to the fishing pole. "What was I thinking you didn't enter this to be with me did you? When you were talking about gestures, you weren't talking about me at all."

She brought her eyes back to meet with his. She saw the hurt in his eyes, and she understood without a doubt that Wade Kinsella had strong feelings for her. She just stared at him for a moment before she began to speak, "I…I…"

"You know what, ah damn," He looked at the pieces he spilled everywhere, "Forget it, we can't win anyway, why don't you go over and confess your feelings to Mr. Perfect but let me tell yousomething, doc. Everyone in this town knows that George and Lemon are getting married and you are the only one who doesn't seem to realize that."

"Wade, I…didn't know…Lavon…" She began but suddenly she heard the crowd yelling and murmuring she looked up to see Lemon on the roof. She watched in horror, as much as she disliked Lemon she surly did not want her to die. She thought for a second about how sometimes people jumped off bridges, and began to open her mouth when Lemon yelled something about a fish and before Zoe realized it, the lawyer was up there to her rescue. Of course he was… he loved her, and of course he did, they were together for 15 years.

Zoe had been a fool to even entertain the thought that George wanted to be with her. That kiss was just a product of a broken heart and the heat the moment. It could never put even a dent in the bond that Lemon and George had. She felt something like her heart had been ran over by a cab in New York, then for good measured, chiseled down so nothing was left but pain. Her eyes might have even gotten a little watery. She turned back to see that Wade had left. She hoped he did not feel anything like she did. She would not wish this on anyone, not even… Lemon Breeland, even though in reality she had, but now she knew how it felt, she would never dare again.

She ended up crying on her way home; arms crossed, head down, until she dried up her tears, and pulled her shoulders back. She was Doctor Zoe Hart she would not cry over a boy. She would not. First she would go see Lavon for some help, he always managed to make her feel better and this time for a twist she would actually take his advice.

Wade was angry, but more so hurt, but he was trying to focus on the angry part. That was easier; it was not as painful. He pushed open the door to his best friend's house. He saw Tancy and realized what a jerk he been, and maybe he had let an opportunity go. She was always sweet to him and they were once married. Maybe he should try again, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…" He began…

"And he always had socks everywhere." She was writing it in a notebook.

"Hey, that was because I had trouble finding a match and what are you doing?" He looked in confusion as he saw Tancy writing something on a paper.

"Writing all the things I don't like about you and why I don't want to be with you."

"What?" Well, he guessed they probably were not getting back together, then; if she wanted to get over him. He still cared about her, and she wanted to be over him, maybe it was best that she was.

"It works,"

Lavon nodded in agreement, "It does."

At first it sounded ridiculous to Wade, but he would do ridiculous if it helped him get over Zoe Hart, "Give me one of those notebooks." The mayor tossed him one and he began to write all the things that drove him nuts about Zoe, and it was not hard to come up with some things.

"Her shorts," He said, and Tancy twisted her head in surprise, thinking that he should like her shorts…well he did, but he also hated them because they looked way too good on her. "She is a snob…no worse she is a New Yorker." At this Tancy frowned at him, poor guy he is in so deep. She realized now she had been a bit of fool to think her and Wade could be together again. It was not just because he was obviously head over heels for Zoe, but looking at her list, she finally understood some of the reasons they just would not, could not work. Even if Zoe was not a factor, they still would not be able to make it work. They did not the first time, how could they this time around? They were changing, but not in the same directions.

When they heard the door open again, they heard Zoe saying in a pitifully voice, "Oh Lavon it was awful." Then she looked over at Wade, "I'm sorry…" Lavon quickly intervened before someone suffered anymore, as the dirty blonde's shoulders tensed up.

"I warned you," Lavon began his tone understanding but stern, "You got to get out of here, he is really hurting and we are all trying to vent here, and deal with the pain."

"I just…" Zoe glanced over at Wade, "I know you told me, but he never acted like he was…" her voice was low, "interested in me other than for a one-night stand."

The mayor just shook his head, "I really need you to go, but…" he went over and everyone's eyes followed him as he searched for another notebook. Wade and Zoe eyes meet for a spilt second, as Lavon handed her a notebook, "Write all the things you don't like about George, it will help. I promise." He pushed her toward the direction of her place.

"What things?" She asked. What was there not to like about George? She wondered to herself, the guy was almost perfect. That was why she liked him so much.

She got ready for bed and stared at the notebook. She tried really hard to think of something she did not like about George, other than that he was in love with a cheater. She wrote that down, "He wants to forgive that cheater." That was not a bad thing, you should forgive people, she realized. "He…did not pick me." She wrote that down. That was all she could think of, no real character flaws, he was so handsome, sweet, and…she stared at the notebook. "This would be easier if this was about Wade."

Wade, she thought as she lied backwards on her bed, letting the pen and notebook go. Her round brown eyes stared up at the ceiling…he likes me a lot. It was hard to believe. It just did not seem possible, besides how was she supposed to believe it? She did try to get him to confess after the whole Judson thing…That reminded her of what Judson had said that she had been more concerned with Wade then their date.

That made her think, maybe I like him too. There is a little chemistry between us. Chemistry, She laughed at the idea, it was ridiculous because there were fireworks, loud, booming, bright. She had always been attracted to him, almost slept with him once, but…she always thought of him as the guy that broke hearts, not someone you could consider a serious relationship with. But now… she knew…now that she could no longer deny the truth, maybe just maybe she could consider the possibility.

She popped up on her bed, sat cross legged and grabbed the notebook and pen. She tore out the page about George, and ripped it up. She admitted it made her feel better, not a lot, but a little. "Guess I'm not taking Lavon's advice again." She noted with a tone of irony. She then titled a page: Why I should give Wade a chance. So as Wade was writing all the things he did not like about her, she wrote all she liked about him.

"One," She said out loud. She tilted her head as if to admire her handwriting as she thought for a second. 'Hell, I could love you,' those words…those were powerful words…Wade could love her, George could not, he was in love with Lemon. "He could love me, that's a biggie." She wrote it down and for good measure put a star by it.

"Two: he is gorgeous.

"Three: he drives me nuts," She stared at that one, maybe that was not a good reason, but… "And I kind of like it."

"Four: he is funny, though that is usually at my expense." She stared thoughtfully at the paper.

"Five: I like his smile, though I imagine that is covered under the he is gorgeous part." She crossed that out.

"Five: he can be very sweet," She remembered the night he stayed even though she made him sleep on the couch.

"Six: he can be helpful."

"Seven: he makes me feel safe." She realized it was true as she wrote it.

"Eight…he has got an ego the size of Texas, well at least he is confident." She wrote down confidence, except when it came to her, obviously, because after going through the scenario in her head again. She saw how hard it had to be for him to tell her. She remembered the insecurity in his voice, and thinking over things, it seemed he tried to tell her several times.

She suddenly felt bad, with all she had complained about him, he did have a lot of good qualities. "If giving him a chance keeps him from ever looking at me that way again…" That…right there…burrowed deep in her heart and caused a hallow feeling of pain, the obvious hurt stab right through her, because maybe she liked George way more, but… if she was being a hundred percent honest with herself. There was no maybe… "I could love him, too." She wrote that down, and put a star by it.

Author's Commentary:

Well this began as an episode rewrite of The Race and The Relationship, and turned into a full length story. I really was not happy with the fact that Wade once again could not confess his feelings, though Zoe should know it anyway, cause Lavon and Rose has told her, but anyway so I rewrote it in what I thought was believable, so there might be some angst, but eventually there is going to be a happy ending, if I can control the characters enough.

The title comes from the song by five fighting five and the whole concept about how love just kind of happens by chance.

When Hart of Dixie aired, I really was not that into the idea, but when I started watching the show with my mom, I was caught in by the chemistry of Zoe and Wade, and I started to like the whole show. I should have know it would be a matter of time before I took a stab at writing fanfiction. Well, I hope enjoy it, but if you don't I had fun writing it.

I edited this several times, but heaven knows I probably missed something, I always miss something. It is kind of annoying, but let me know, so I can fix it right away. I know my tenses are probably still missed up, but I try.

More is to come, I do have a few chapters ahead written so…no promises on when I'm updating, but I do hope soon.