This is a story from Maddie's point of view, nearly ten years after we left off with the season 3 finale. She's the focus of an article in Rolling Stone Country and, as she reads the finished product, she reflects back on events and feelings that were stirred up with each question and answer.

At the knock on her suite door, Maddie got up. She peered through the keyhole and saw her assistant. She opened the door with an anticipatory smile. "It's here?" she asked.

Jenna handed her a package she'd been holding. "It's here," she said, smiling back.

Maddie held it to her chest. "I hope it's not awful," she said.

Jenna frowned. "Why would it be awful?" She'd been in the room when the reporter had interviewed Maddie. She had been incredibly impressed with how thoughtful her boss had been in her answers and how careful she'd been not to drag up anything unpleasant.

Maddie shrugged. "No reason. Except I've seen articles like these drag up some pretty gossipy crap that's just mean and hurtful."

"It's part of being a star, I think."

Maddie wrinkled her nose. "Well, it's the part I hate." She thought about some of the awful stuff that had been written about Juliette over the years and shuddered. "Oh, well, hopefully there are no skeletons in my closet."

Jenna smiled at her. "Remember, sound check's at five. And Daphne gets in at six-thirty. She's just going to come straight to the arena."

Maddie grinned. "I can't wait to see her. She knows she's staying here in my suite with me, right?"

Jenna nodded. "Yes, she does. I think she's expecting an all-nighter too."

They laughed together and then Jenna turned and Maddie closed the door behind her. She walked over to the couch and laid the package on the table. She looked at it for a moment, then picked up her phone. She smiled when it was answered. "Hey, Dad."

"Hey, sweet girl," Deacon said. "What's up?"

"The Rolling Stone came today."

"Oh, your article."

"Yeah."

"How'd it look?"

Maddie smirked to herself. "I haven't even opened it up yet."

Deacon chuckled softly on the other end. "It'll be fine, sweetie. You told me what you said and it was all good."

"But what if they bring up other stuff?"

He laughed again. "Maddie, you've always been such an open book. I don't think there's anything they could find that you didn't tell 'em. It'll be all good."

She sat down on the couch and picked up the brown wrapped package, laying it on her lap. She sighed. "I guess."

"Maddie, your mom and I are very proud of you. And for Rolling Stone to want to do an article on you is very exciting. We can't wait to read it."

"When do you two leave on your trip?"

"Day after tomorrow. I think your mom is more ready than me. And then we'll see you in Chicago."

Maddie smiled. "I can't wait. Can I bring y'all out on stage for a duet?"

"I don't think it's a duet if all three of us are there," he responded teasingly.

"Not what I meant and you know it. I would love it if the two of you would do a duet."

"We'll see. That's not the reason we're coming though."

"I know."

"Well, go read your article." He paused a moment. "I love you, baby girl."

Maddie smiled wistfully. "I love you too, Dad. Tell Mom I said hello."

When she hung up the phone, she turned her attention back to the package on her lap. It had been a big deal when her publicist had called to tell her Rolling Stone Country wanted to do the article. As a second generation country artist, and a successful one at that, she was still relatively rare in the country music industry. Some had commented, in the beginning, that she had unfair advantage in signing with her mother's label, but she had silenced the critics early on.

She had talked to both Rayna and Deacon about doing the article and what to expect. The reporter wanted to be able to have free range over the questions asked, but Rayna had counseled her daughter to ask for a list in advance. Maddie wanted to be as transparent as she could be and she ultimately only nixed a couple questions, one of those about Juliette Barnes. The reporter had come back and asked again for one question, modified from the original. Rayna had advised her not to answer it, but Maddie let it stand. She had been satisfied with her answer and hoped her mother would be as well.

She took a deep breath and tore off the brown paper. The magazine lay in her lap, all glossy and shiny. The cover artist was Miranda Lambert, who was on her farewell tour, so Maddie's face appeared in a small insert at the bottom left next to the headline. Maddie: Country Royalty or Down-to-Earth Girl? She took a deep breath and opened the magazine to the little tab where the publisher had marked the place for the article.

Here goes nothing.

The article itself will frame up the rest of the story, so this is kind of an opening tease.