Disclaimer – Nashville is not mine

Authors note – this is my first Multi-chapter story which is not just one-shots. I thought of it a while ago and quite liked it. I've kind of adjusted the time line to fit, so it may not be completely accurate as far as the show goes but I will try and keep it as best as it can.

Also, in this Rayna stayed Jaymes instead of becoming Conrad, and Maddy took her Mother's name instead of Teddy's. Hope it is okay! Enjoy!

Back in the Limelight

Just because you do what you think is right for you and your child in a situation, does that make you a bad person? Even if it means that your child will grow up calling a man who is no blood relative their father? Sometimes, you have to put your well being before your heart, even if it leaves you with a broken heart.

The couple of years she and Deacon had spent together were undoubtedly the happiest of her life. She'd been a rising star, her ticket sales had been consistently getting better, and he and Deacon were going strong. They were both young and in love, together all the time – writing, performing, and dating. Those were the days she thought back to when she needed cheering up. Those were the days that made her smile, when songs like 'Postcard from Mexico' and 'Already gone' had been written. Then the bad times had faded in.

They ended up spending a further three years together, but the last two were nowhere near as happy. They took the good times and tried to change the bad. But too quickly his drinking got out of control. Deacon was on a downhill spiral. Every night on tour they had two set lists, one for if he was drunk and another for if he was sober, the latter was played the least.

Her father had warned her he wasn't right for her, but she had ignored him. And she always would. But it had been Bucky who noticed it first, she tried to pretend it was normal, but after six months they both knew it wasn't. That was when rehab started. Five trips she played for, never even giving it a second through. Four times she waited, picked him up, believed in him. Four times she loved him and then watched as he relapsed.

She couldn't bear a fifth time.

When they weren't on tour she'd look after him, drag him from hotel room when he was too drunk to walk, when he had passed out. Rayna would sit by his bedside when he turned to drugs and overdosed, when he drank so much that he had to have his stomach pumped. IT was where she thought she belonged.

It was the time when 'No one will ever love you' was written. When Bucky became more of a father figure, and even when he knew that Deacon was on the verge of relapse, or had relapsed, would still let him work. That night when she dropped him off for the fifth time was the night Rayna Jaymes lost her sparkle, and became a shell of a woman.

At two months pregnant she did her final leg of the tour, she met Teddy, and married him in the space of a couple of months. Her father was happy, her publicist was happy, Teddy was happy. But Bucky knew Rayna was far from it. He watched as she put on a fake smile, which only ever turned real when she was with her Daughter.

Maddy Jaymes was born on December 12th 1999. Mother: Rayna Jaymes Father: Blank.

She wanted to put Deacon's name, but he didn't know, the press miraculously didn't know. And Teddy was not her father in her eyes, he never would be. So, on the 18th February 2000 Rayna did what her father had warned her not to, and teddy had begged her never to do. She went to Deacon's house, sat down on his couch, and told him he had a daughter.

When he asked to see her, as softly if he could she said no. She told him that Teddy didn't want it, and she would respect that. Yet when he blew up at her, she just said: "You couldn't keep sober for me Deacon; it made me feel as though I were the one who was the cause. I'm not letting out daughter feel like that, because it sucks. Teddy was there at the birth, he'll look after her." And with that she left.

The stupid thing was Deacon only remained angry at her for a couple of months. Because when he spoke to Coleman in April of that year, he realised that Rayna was right. And as a result of that, seven months later he was still sober.

November was cool in Nashville; the trees were turning from the bright fresh greens of summer, to crispy golden yellows, and burn reds. The city wrapped up in autumn colours, music was everywhere as pickers played under bare trees, and coffee stands collected a swarm of people. Yet all around the city, bill boards were going up for Rayna Jaymes' new across America tour. The first since her child was born.

It would start off in Nashville, and travel to New York, Washington DC, Miami, Dallas . . . It would be the perfect blend of old classics and new hits. All sing by the anger herself in outdoor arena's under the stars. Her perfect smiling face covered bill boards everywhere. And as Deacon walked to his first day at work that day, he felt an overwhelming sense of pride. He still remembered the night, when she had just gotten her first demo cut.

It was late, she'd been due home hours ago, and both were well aware her father would go ape when she got back. However neither of them actually cared. Watty White had cut her first demo, and both were smiling like children. On the bed of his truck, they lay together, out in some field staring up at the sky. "You know what?" She said, with a smile.

"What?" He'd replied, hand softly stroking his hair.

"I think I might actually have a change being a singer." She said, smiling. It always amazed him how little confidence someone as talented as her could have.

"Give it a year and it'll be your face on those bill boards advertising tours." He said, but she' just laughed.

"Hmm, and we'll be sat like this watching pigs fly." She replied.

Now it was her. She was the Queen of country music, loved and adored. And he was back, Bucky had asked him to come to rehearsals and be her band leader again, their first show being in a matter of days as it was the 'Bonfire night Festival' on the fifth. However, he was not entirely sure that Rayna even knew he was back, as he had not heard from her since the day she told him about their child.

He hadn't realised until hours later, but on his coffee table she had left a picture of their daughter. IT had been taken mere hours after she was born. He's smiled, and kept it in his breast pocket ever since, because she would always be in his heart.

Stepping into the rehearsal room, Bucky saw him and walked over. The guitar player hid in the corner as Rayna performed on the stage, it was one of her older songs, 'Already Gone' and he noticed the young player who was trying to play his role had missed out thee riff they always did at the beginning. "Deacon." Said Bucky walking over, trying to be polite but still reserved. He knew the pain he had caused Rayna, and was damned if he'd let her go through it again. "How you been?"

"Sober Bucky, 13 months sober out of rehab. And feeling better for it!" Said Deacon, immediately knowing what the other man had been secretly asking.

"Good, I'm pleased. None of us want to see you back where you were." Said Bucky with a small smile. "So, you ready for this?"

"Yeah, bring it on. Does she know?"

"Told her half an hour ago." Said Bucky, and Deacon internally groaned, it looked like this was going be a bigger fire work show than there would be on November 5th. Here goes he thought, as he walked over to the stage, and came out of the shadows.

It was time to get back in the limelight.

Was it okay? Please review and tell me if you want more. Promise there will be more Rayna/Deacon speech and stuff if I do continue.

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