Author's Note: I know, I know, I have a million other stories and I should not be starting a new one. But I couldn't help it. I've had this idea for a while, and after episodes 9 and 10, I've just been so nostalgic for season one. I'm really excited about this one. I have so many ideas. I will continue my other stories, but I just had to start this. I was going to wait to post it, but then decided to just bite the bullet. I hope you like it.

It's A Wonderful Southern Life

Prologue

Three. That was the amount of times Zoe hit the snooze button. It wasn't like she didn't want to get up. Traditionally, Zoe Hart had always been an early riser. She was an ambitious girl, and saw no point wasting her day away in bed when she had a million and one things to do. But that was her New York life. Now she lived in a small town in the middle of nowhere because the father she never knew about left her his medical practice. It wasn't ideal, but she could have gotten on board. Sure, she was a surgeon, but while she was here, she could be the best gosh darn GP south of the Mason Dixie line. That would be in a world with no Brick Breeland, because her partner in the medical practice was a selfish asshole who refused to share patients with her. And, okay, sure, she had screwed up a couple times since moving here, what with ruining the parade and all, but why couldn't the people of Bluebell just get over that? She was a good doctor damn it. She deserved patients. She didn't get them. She was, more often than not, sitting in the medical practice, bored out of her mind, while yet another patient said, "Sorry, but we'd rather see Dr. Breeland." Hence the sleeping in. It wasn't a crime.

Zoe hit the snooze button again, and tried to go back to sleep, when she heard another deafening noise. It wasn't her alarm though. It was her pain in the ass neighbor from across the way, blasting his music loud enough to deafen her. Annoyed, Zoe got out of bed and headed over to the Gate House were the music was coming from.

She didn't bother knocking; she never did. She came storming in to find Wade Kinsella blasting his guitar shirtless. Shocker. Why was he always shirtless?

"Thanks for the wake-up call." She said sarcastically, yelling over the music.

Wade put his hand up, indicating she wait for a second, and placed his guitar down. "What's that Doc?" He asked.

"You know, as a Doctor, I feel obligated to warn you that you are not only endangering your own hearing, but that of anyone in the surrounding area."

"Meaning you?" He asked, causing Zoe to roll her eyes, "Relax Doc, I'm just testing out my new Amp."

"Yeah, well I was testing out my ability to sleep when there's an apocalypse going on across the way. It's not going well."

"Sleep?" Wade asked, looking genuinely surprised, "It's almost ten. Shouldn't you be headin' into work?"

"I had a late night." She lied, not wanting Wade to know that she was being lazy. She was always calling him lazy, so he would never let that go. The difference was, he actually was lazy. She just needed a break.

"Doing what? You're not getting' a lot of patients, so it can't be work, and we both know that's pretty much all you do."

"Hey!"

"Face it Doc, you got no life."

"I do so have a life." She argued stubbornly.

Wade rolled his eyes, "You know, if you ever wanted a lesson in havin' a good time, lettin' your hair down, I'd be more than happy to help out with that."

Zoe rolled her eyes. Why did Wade always have to hit on her? It was like he was incapable of having a conversation without flirting and making crude innuendos.

"Just turn down the music please." She said, turning to leave.

"Hey, since you're already late," she shot dagger at him with her eyes, "want a ride into town? Assumin' you ain't plannin' on just blowin' the whole day off."

"I wasn't blowing off …" she stopped herself. She was not going to let Wade provoke her. "I'm fine walking. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for work. Please try not to blow the power."

Wade just laughed and picked his guitar back up. Zoe let out a puff of air. He was incorrigible.

On her way into town, Zoe noticed a few strange things. There was pink everywhere, for one. And there were streamers and all sorts of Valentine's Day decorations. This would not be so strange if it were February, but as it was currently October, Zoe couldn't help being confused.

"Well, nice of you to join us Dr. Hart." Dr. Breeland said in that prickly way of his. Of course he would give her a hard time for being late, even though he made sure she did next to nothing while she was there.

"Good morning Addie. Brick." She greeted.

"Morning Dr. Hart." Addie replied pleasantly. Addie was the nurse who doubled as a receptionist at the practice. She was nice enough, and Zoe liked her fine. She was grateful to have someone who was something of an ally at the practice.

"I'll be in my office." Zoe said, "Let me know if anyone comes to see me."

Addie nodded and Brick just huffed. Zoe did get a few patients. Mostly those that Brick didn't want to deal with, simple cases of hypochondria and a kid who scraped his knee on the playground. It was hardly going to land her in any medical journals, but she made the best of it.

After a day that was too long, and too boring, she settled into the Rammer Jammer, the local bar, eager for some much needed alcohol.

Wade, who worked as bar tender, placed a glass of red wine in front of her. Whatever else she said about Wade, he was good at what he did. He knew everybody's regulars, and how to tell when they needed something a little stronger than usual. He even knew her regular order, and she had only been in Bluebell for a couple months now.

She took a sip of her wine, savoring the taste. It wasn't pinot, but it was better than nothing.

"So, what's the deal with all the pink?" She asked.

Wade chuckled, "A polite greetin' is just beyond your capabilities, ain't it Doc." Zoe just rolled her eyes, "To answer your question, it's an anniversary of sorts. This is the day Cyrus Lavinius Jeremiah Jones met Lucille."

Zoe snorted, "Seriously? They recorded when they met?"

"Well, actually, they recorded when they got married, but they made it well known that they got married on the anniversary of when they met. It's kind of a double anniversary."

"I see you are fillin' Zoe Hart in on our beloved town history." An annoying voice said as a tall blonde settled into the seat next to her.

Zoe winced. Lemon Breeland. Zoe had hated people before, but she had never hated anyone as much as she hated Lemon. The fact that she was all but in love with Lemon's perfect fiancé didn't help matters.

"It's just wonderful, isn't it? I just love this time of year. I love this time of year. And don't worry, I'm sure you'll get matched up with someone … tolerable." Lemon said, oozing with mock-sympathy.

Zoe choked on her wine, "Matched up?"

"Of course. You can't go to the founding couple's dance alone. It's just not done."

"Well, than I just won't go." Zoe said stubbornly.

Lemon gasped, "That's not done either."

Zoe shot Wade a desperate look, "Sorry Doc, but she's kinda right. Even I go."

"Really? You?" Zoe asked skeptically.

Wade shrugged, "Sure. It ain't so bad. Anyone who isn't in a couple get's their name put into a hat, matched up at random. I've gotta say, some of my most fun times have been with some of the girls I get matched up with."

Zoe rolled her eyes, "Well, I'm not looking for a one-night-stand."

"That's good. Because this is an important day." Lemon said, shooting Wade a pointed look, "Some of us take it seriously."

"Lemon, you really gotta get George to remove that stick from up your butt before it becomes a permanent fixture."

Zoe snorted again, not even attempting to hide it. Lemon walked off in a huff.

"So what are the odds of me getting out of this thing?"

"Slim to none." Wade said, "But cheer up, who knows, you might get paired with Prince Charming."

"Yeah, because Bluebell is full of Prince Charmings."

"Well, ya never know." He leaned close conspiratorially, his voice dropping to a whisper, "Maybe you'll get paired with George or somethin'. His name will end up in the singles hat by accident, and after a perfect night together, he'll realize your the love his life, cancel the weddin', and ya'll can ride off into the sunset."

Zoe turned bright red, "I wouldn't want that." She said, trying to believe it.

Wade snorted, backing up, "Yeah, sure. You know, there are other guys in Bluebell besides Golden Boy."

Zoe shook her head and finished off her wine. Once her glass was good and empty, she headed home, not bothering to pay. Wade would take care of it. He always did.

After hours of desperately begging Lavon not to force her to participate in this particular town event, Zoe finally gave in. Lavon would not be budged. She knew it was going to be hell. Resigned to her fate, she walked into the Rammer Jammer and took a seat as she and all the other sad, single people waited for Lavon to draw their names out of a hat and pair them off.

"This is like some sort of disturbing mating ritual." She muttered to herself.

"Well, at least it's not bein' aired on national television like The Bachelor. You know, I never understood that show."

Zoe blushed and stood, straitening her hair. She didn't know why she got so crazy whenever George Tucker was around. He was engaged. She knew it. He was totally off the market, but as much as her mind told her that, just hearing his voice made her face heat, her heart speed up, and her legs turn to jelly.

"George. What are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you too."

She giggled in an embarrassingly flirtatious way. God, she was so screwed. What Wade said earlier flashed in her mind, but she pushed it back. "I just meant, you have Lemon. You don't have to wait for this humiliating ritual."

George smiled sympathetically, "It's really not as bad as you think. You might just make a new friend. Nobody says you have to fall in love or do anything with the guy Lavon picks."

"But it's humiliating." George nodded, "You're so lucky you get out of it."

He smiled, "Well, for what it's worth, if I could get you out of it, I would." Date me. She screamed in her head. That would get me out of it. Ludicrous idea.

"Hey Tucker." Wade said, causing Zoe to groan inwardly. She knew it was a good thing to be interrupted whenever it seemed like George and her were having a moment. She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up. But still… "You come to see the carnage?"

Zoe winced. "Nice Wade."

"What can I say, there's nothin' I love more than a desperate woman. Hey, maybe you and I'll get paired in this thing. Wouldn't that be something?" He asked, laughing.

Zoe's face grew warm again, though whether it was from humiliation or anger, she couldn't tell.

"Well, I'll see you two later. Good luck." George said. Before he walked off, he squeezed Zoe's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "It'll be fine." His breath tickled her skin, and she felt chills go all through her.

Once George was out of hearing range, Wade turned to her smirking, "Havin' a nice little orgasm there Doc?" She gaped at him, too furious to even come up with a response. Wade laughed at her expression. "Oh, come on. You should be thanking me. You were two seconds away from askin' the guy to leave Lemon and run off with you before I came over, and after the charmin' impression you've made on this town so far, that's the last thing you need."

Zoe huffed, "For your information, I had the situation perfectly under control."

Wade rolled his eyes, "Sure you did Doc."

"Attention everyone!" Lavon called, causing Zoe, Wade, and everybody else to look over at him. "This is a wonderful tradition. A beautiful love started on this very day, once so very long ago. Today, we honor that love." Zoe saw George and Lemon hugging adorably off in a corner. She tried not to barf, "Now, let the matchmakin' begin."

Zoe zoned out for a while. She knew Wade got paired up, because she heard him whoop, and saw him head off with some girl, but she missed most of the rest. Then, she heard her name, and sat up straight, praying for the best, expecting the worst. Naturally, she got the worst.

"Zoe Hart, your escort will be … Tom Long." Zoe winced, slouching in her seat, as she heard Tom cheering. Tom had had a crush on her since she moved to Bluebell. He was a sweet guy, but he was barely twenty-two, and Zoe was almost thirty. Plus, as nice as he was, Tom was kind of weird, and way too enthusiastic. He was definitely not her type.

Oh well, it could have been worse she supposed. At least she didn't get stuck with Wade. That would have been horrible. This was rather humiliating, and she was sure she was in for a long night, no pun intended, but she would make the best of it. She had too.

"You really are beautiful, you know that? Like, really, really beautiful." Tom said, for about the thousandth time that night. He wouldn't stop complimenting her, and as nice as it was to hear, it was way overkill. Plus he wouldn't let her leave the dance floor. He feet were aching, and it didn't help that he kept stepping on them.

"Mind if I cut in?" She heard. She had never been so grateful to hear Wade Kinsella's voice.

Tom looked at Wade, "Normally, no, but according to the rules-"

"It's just a dance Tom." Wade said.

Tom conceded, and Wade took Zoe's hand. He wasn't her ideal partner either, but at least he could dance. "How you holdin' up?" He asked.

Zoe shook her head, "Of all the guys in Bluebell, why did it have to be Tom?"

Wade chuckled, "That's life for ya Doc. What's that sayin' about god makin' jokes and plans and things."

"Man plans, god laughs?" Zoe asked. Wade nodded, "Well, I'm sure he loves my life. Nothing is going according to plan. This is the dumbest, most sexist tradition in the world, and I'm stuck doing it because if I say anything, the whole town will hate me again."

"Actually, I'm not sure they ever stopped."

"You're not helping."

Wade sighed, "Look, Doc, Bluebell ain't as bad as you think it is. I know these traditions seem strange to you, but if you had grown up here-"

"But that's just the thing. I didn't grow up here. I don't belong here. I'm a New Yorker, and nothing about this place makes any sense to me, but because of Harley and my stupid, selfish mom, I'm stuck here."

"Geez Doc, tell me how you really feel."

Zoe shook her head, "You know, sometimes I wonder what would have happened if my mom had done the right thing and married Harley when she got pregnant. What if I grew up here? I mean, would I be as crazy as everybody else who lives here?"

"Doc, I think it's fair to say you are way crazier than anyone who grew up here." Zoe snorted.

"Um, Wade, the song's over." Tom said, "Can I cut back in and dance with my date?"

"Actually Tom, my feat are kind of killing me. Could we maybe sit down?"

"Oh. Sure. Okay." He led her over to one of the tables, "Have I told you how beautiful you are?" Tom asked.

"Yes Tom, you have."

"And I don't mean just tonight. You're always beautiful. You are, like, the most beautiful girl I've ever met. Like, ever."

"That's sweet Tom."

Zoe glanced at the clock. How was it only 9:00? She faked a yawn, "Wow. You know, I had a lovely time, but I think I need to call it a night. Early day and all."

"But they haven't even announced couple of the night yet. It could be us."

Zoe snorted. There was no question about who would win. Lemon had been campaigning all night, "It's not going to be us, Tom."

"It could be. We're as great a couple as-"

"Tom, we're not a couple!" She screamed. And, because this was her luck in Bluebell, everybody her heard, and everybody turned to stare. For the millionth time that day, Zoe felt herself turning red. It was all too much. She got up and ran out of there, not stopping until she reached the plantation.

Her feet felt like they might fall off. She discarded her heals, and collapsed on her porch, tears streaming down her face.

Another day, another humiliation.

"It wasn't that bad." She looked up to see Wade approaching her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Um, I live here." Zoe looked around her, realizing she had accidently run to the Gatehouse, not the Carriage House.

"Oops, sorry."

Wade shrugged, "It's fine. You gonna be okay?"

Zoe shook her head, "I'm never gonna fit in here Wade. It's just … it's not working."

Wade took a seat next to her, "You just gotta keep at it."

"The town hates me. Nobody wants me as their doctor, or their friend. Lemon has made it her mission to destroy me, and frankly, I'm doing a pretty good job of destroying and humiliating myself."

"It'll blow over. You ain't the first girl to lose it because she didn't like who she got paired with at that dumb dance."

"The difference is, those other girls were from Bluebell. They forgive their own. They shun me. Everything I do is wrong." She felt more tears coming and tried to blink them away.

Wade, seemingly taking pity on her, handed her a tissue from his pocket. She looked at it with disgust, causing Wade to laugh. He pulled her to him, enveloping her in an awkward hug, "You're gonna be fine, Doc."

"I don't think so." She mumbled into his chest.

"Yeah, well I know so." He let her go and stood, helping her up, "You're too stubborn to give up so easy."

Zoe nodded, letting out a sigh. "Night Wade." She said as she headed back to her carriage house.

"Night Doc." He called after her.

As she lay in bed, trying to fall asleep. She couldn't help but wonder about what her life would have been like if she had grown up in Bluebell. Things would be easier, she was sure of that. She fell asleep with the questions swimming in her mind.

This morning, it wasn't her alarm that woke Zoe. It was the sound of water running. That was strange, because she lived alone. Opening her eyes, she took in her surroundings. This wasn't her bed. This wasn't her carriage house. None of it was hers. What had happened last night? Had she gotten drunk? No. She'd only had one glass of wine. Had someone drugged her? Had she been raped? Oh god. She started to freak out. The water turned off. She looked around for a weapon. There had to be something.

A half naked figure emerged from the bathroom.

"Mornin'." He greeted, smiling at her. She stared at him in shock.

"George?"

Author's Note: Don't freak out. This is a Zade story, but there will be some Zeorge. That should not come as a surprise to those familiar with my stories. Don't worry though, I think you'll like where it's going.

I know some people probably wanted Zoe to get paired with Wade, and I considered it, but I needed her to screw up at another town tradition, and Tom just made more sense. Remember when he was all crazy for Zoe before he fell for Wanda? Ah, memories.

I hope you liked my Bluebell event idea. I considered using something from the show, but I decided to just do my own.

I also never understood The Bachelor, for the record, but then, I've never been one for reality TV.

Please let me know what you think. Predictions, ideas, compliments, insults, I'll take whatever (though of course, I'd prefer no insults, but I value honesty.)