DISCLAIMER: All characters are copyright of Nashville. I own nothing.


CHAPTER ONE

The stairs were cold against her feet as she wandered down to the kitchen. Flipping the light switch she squinted as her eyes adjusted. She looked at the clock and swore. 4:40am. Turning the kettle on she grabbed a mug. Sleep seemed to be evading her in recent weeks, leaving her irritable and restless in the day and worse off through the night. She liked to think she was oblivious to why this kept happening but she knew full well why it was so.

Pulling out a stool she sat at the kitchen bench and ran her hands through her hair letting her mind replay the memories she so desperately wanted to forget - The Bluebird, that stupid song and of course, then there was him. Why him? Why Deacon? The close and familiar sense that had come with each word they had sung to one another that night, letting every notion and emotion come flooding back overwhelming them completely. The way he had looked at her when he had realised she had felt it too, and the red that had coloured her cheeks because she knew what his eyes had meant. Everything about that somewhat innocent song had made her an emotional basket case.

Rubbing her eyes she collected her thoughts and her coffee and headed to the study, settling into the comfort of a couch, tucking her feet under her to keep warm, she willed herself to forget. She couldn't think like this, he was the story she had put to bed a long time ago. She knew full well it had been right to say goodbye. The heartache and hopelessness that came with loving him through one relapse after another had worn her down to a place where she didn't know who she was anymore. Dwelling on this only left her thoughts more disorderly than they had been when she had last left them. After all, she had chosen someone else to share her life with. She had chosen Teddy. She had once thought this was the right decision, however it had been less than perfect lately. Trust was becoming too rare and they seemed to tiptoe around one another in fear they'd say the wrong thing. She squirmed at the realisation that they were becoming those broken husbands and wives, who don't talk but share the night.

Regardless, she had chosen him; irrespective of this season they were in. They had the girls, they had a family. She just had to forget Deacon. Thinking about it made her head hurt. It wasn't much longer till she was asleep.

"Mommy!" Daphne screeched.

Rayna's eyes snapped open. Leaping out of her newly found slumber she sprinted in search of the voice, nearly tripping over her own feet she followed the voice to the kitchen where the little girl stood in front of the fridge.

"I'm hungry…"

"You scream Mommy because you don't want to open the fridge yourself?" Rayna straightened when she realised that the emergency-like plea had been nothing more than a demand for breakfast.

Daphne smiled and hopped up on a stool. Rayna shook her head and settled on not starting an argument. She was leaving 2 days from now for the tour. This meant months away with little time to see the girls. It wasn't exactly ideal timing, but how had Teddy put it?

"The perfect cover for us, publicly and privately". Rayna scoffed at the thought as she poured glasses of orange juice.

"Have you seen my tie?" Teddy asked as he ran through the kitchen with Maddie not too far behind.

"Good morning honey." Rayna teased as Maddie sat, eyes glued to her phone.

"Hello? Earth the Maddie."

"Maddie?!" Rayna waved her hand, waiting for Maddie to give her any kind of recognition.

"Hmm?" Maddie answered half-heartedly.

Rayna shook her head as she watched Teddy run back through the kitchen.

"Have you tried the bathroom door?" Rayna called.

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yeah, why would I not have…found it." Teddy yelled from the upstairs bathroom.

Rayna smiled as she pushed hair out of her face. Making sure both girls were eating she ran upstairs to take a shower. Instead her husband stopped her in the doorway of their bedroom, tugging on her hand.

"Have you thought about tonight?" he queried.

"Oh, you were serious?" she replied in surprise.

"Please, I know it's the last thing you want to do. But it's probably the last night we'll be able to see each other in a while. It'd be a good chance for us to say goodbye before you go. Your Dad would be really happy if you came."

"Of course he would. Always wanting to be in control." She rolled her eyes.

"This has nothing to do with control." Teddy defended.

"Of course it's not, because Daddy never does anything like that." Rayna spat.

"Fine. Sorry I even asked." Teddy withdrew hurt as he walked into their room.

"Don't do that. I'll go."

"Really?"

"I want to support you. I want to spend tonight with you." She said through a forced smile.

"Thank you, I mean it… See you at 8." He replied.

She leant to kiss him but his lips met her forehead instead, leaving her dejected as he went downstairs. Rayna rest her head against the doorframe already regretting saying she would attend this train wreck of an evening.