Disclaimer: I don't own Hart of Dixie or any of its characters and I am making absolutely no money from this fiction.

Authors Notes: I am struggling to write in a Southern American dialect and I will completely understand any complaints about this area.

When I first started writing this story I only intended it to be a couple of chapters long but as I've got into writing it seems to be running away with itself. It may end up being a lot longer than I originally anticipated.

Title: Holding Hearts

Chapter Two: He Doesn't Kiss You Like This

Zoe was still sobbing in her office doorway when Addie found her.

"Doctor Hart you're ruining those pretty little shoes of yours standing there. Come on now sweet" Addie coaxed, guiding her gently towards a chair. "Now tell me what the matter is?"

"Like everyone doesn't already know. I'm surprised I haven't been run out of town by crazed mob of Belles with pitchforks yet" Zoe sniffed. Addie passed her a box of tissues and fixed her with a knowing stare.

"Look honey I know what their all sayin' but I want to hear what you've got to say before I make any judgements."

Zoe dropped her head into her hands. "George broke off the wedding…" she tailed off and Addie nodded for her to continue.

"Well he came to the carriage house last night and he, he told me he wanted to be with me. But Addie I'd already…I mean…there was someone…Wade…" she tailed off again and another hitching sob escaped from her lips.

"You slept with Wade Kinsella" Addie finished for her.

Zoe nodded. "Everything is such a mess Addie. I didn't mean for this…for any of it. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"I know you don't Zoe but you've always made your feelings for George perfectly clear."

Zoe opened her mouth to protest but Addie silenced her with a look.

"What did you think would happen Zoe? That everyone would be happy if George and Lemon spilt up? That they wouldn't care about your role in it? That life would just go back to normal? Seems to me in situations like this the scenario we imagine is a whole lot better than the reality of it."

"Are you saying I've imagined a relationship with George that I couldn't possibly have in real life?"

The realisation of how true that statement might be almost crushed her. It must have shown in her expression because Addie reached over and gently brushed Zoe's hair away from her face.

"That's something you have to figure out for yourself honey. Is what you think you and George have worth fighting through all this pain and heartache for? What I can tell you for sure though is that it's going to be hard. There'll be times you'll want to give up and you'll hate each other for it. Do you think you could survive that as a couple? And where does Wade figure in all this? Was he just a one night thing or do you think there's something more between you?"

Zoe hesitated. "At the time there was definitely something more between us but now I know about George I just don't know."

"Oh Zoe…"

They both jumped as the front door to the surgery banged shut. Zoe felt herself tense as heavy footsteps travelled closer and closer. Brick stopped in the corridor outside her door and turned slowly to stare at her. Neither of them said anything and finally after what seemed like an eternity he turned away from her, striding into his own office and closing his door with a very final sounding click.

It seemed that the people of Bluebell did not want to see either of their Doctors today. Zoe wouldn't be surprised if there had been some sort of town edict drawn up this morning stating that the surgery was to be avoided at all costs and she decided personally that the Rammer Jammer should be added to it. So she headed back to the sanctuary of Lavon's for lunch. When she arrived there was no sign of the Mayor in the kitchen. Zoe wandered through to the family room and found him sat with an untouched beer in his hand, staring at a blank television screen.

"Good show" she quipped, dropping down into a chair opposite him.

"What?" he exclaimed. Lavon shook his head as to wake himself up. "Oh hey Zoe."

She sighed. "I'm sorry Lavon. This can't be easy for you either."

He shrugged and took a sip of his beer. "I wish I could help but I don't think I'd be welcome right now."

Zoe nodded her sympathy. "I just wish someone would tell me what to do. Just give me the right answer."

"I don't think there is a right answer anymore. All Lavon Hayes can tell you is that avoiding the situation won't help."

"How did you know that was going to be my plan?" She offered him a small smile and after a moment he gingerly returned it.

"Oh God Lavon how did this happen? I thought I'd left George behind. I thought something was really happening with Wade."

Lavon fixed her with a sharp look. "And now?"

"Now I don't know. Wade's angry with me because of George and George is angry with me because of Wade. Lemon's hurting because of me. I'm the denominating factor in all of this. I'm just not good for Bluebell."

Lavon leant forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "Now Zoe you know that just isn't the truth. George and Lemon were in trouble a long time before you arrived. But Wade…you need to do some serious thinking about what you want Zoe."

She sighed. "Are you sure you can't just decide for me Lavon?"

He shook his head. "There's nothin' you could offer that would convince me to make that decision for you Zoe Hart."

The light knock on the carriage house door felt like a herald of impending doom to Zoe and when she opened the door her stomach immediately rolled itself into a tightly clenched ball.

"Good evening Zoe. I'm sorry to call unannounced but I think we need to talk. Can I come in please?"

"Sure George." She stepped back and shut the door quickly behind him. "Come through."

Zoe offered George a seat on the couch and as she perched on the edge of the cushion next to him she found herself wishing she had bought more chairs instead of spending an insane amount on one designer couch. After an uncomfortable minute in which they avoided looking directly at each other they both began to talk at once-

"Look Zoe I…"

"Would you like a…?"

They laughed and the tension between them broke.

"Can I go first?" George asked and she nodded her assent. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that this morning. You were right-it wasn't fair of me. It was selfish of me to think you would wait. Especially when you thought I was going to marry Lemon. It has been an emotional couple of days for us all and I just want to get everything back on track. I want to do this right Zoe Hart."

Zoe wasn't quite sure how it happened but all of a sudden George Tucker was kissing her. He pulled her close and then tangled a hand in her hair. As he deepened the kiss he began to lower her towards the couch and Zoe found that instead of becoming lost in the moment all she could think about was Lemon and Wade and how wrong it felt to be kissing George right now.

"George wait" she said, gently pulling away from him. He sat up immediately, his gaze hazy and confused. "This…it's just a little too…"

"Soon," he finished for her. Zoe nodded and he scooted away from her as much as the space would allow. "I know I'm sorry. I just…got carried away. I'm sorry."

He stood up. "Miss Zoe Hart let's go right back to the beginning. Would you allow me to take you out sometime?"

Zoe opened her mouth and found she couldn't answer.

"I…er…"

George smiled at her. "Why don't you sleep on it and let me know tomorrow?"

Zoe nodded dumbly. George leant down and kissed her politely on the cheek.

"Tomorrow then."

Zoe followed him out and stood watching on the porch as he climbed into his van and drove off. As his taillights disappeared into the night a movement from across the pond caught her eye.

Wade.

He stood silhouetted against his doorway by the light from inside and when their gazes met he abruptly turned and walked back inside, the screen door swinging closed behind him. As if the situation couldn't get any worse. Zoe was down the porch steps and halfway towards the pond before she realised what she was doing.

Halfway around the pond she stopped suddenly. What exactly was she going to say to him? That George had asked her on a date? That she might go? That she hadn't slept with George? She couldn't tell him nothing had happened because something had. And above all why did she feel compelled to trek across the plantation in the dark to explain herself to him?

She jumped as she heard the screen door bang again and then Wade was striding towards her. She braced herself for his angry onslaught but instead of shouting at her he just caught her up in his arms and kissed her fiercely. She kissed him back without reservation.

"I bet Tucker doesn't kiss you like that Doc." Wade murmured against her lips when he finally pulled away. Zoe didn't answer and slowly he let her go. Then he was striding away from her, leaving her alone to contemplate how once again she had kissed both George Tucker and Wade Kinsella on the same night.