A/N: This is a look at what would have happened had Virginia lived and how it would have shaped some of Rayna's decisions.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 1

Virginia Jaymes Wyatt ran her perfectly manicured fingers through her hair and sighed. She quirked her eyebrow at her friend and longtime lover. "Watty, I don't know about this. I don't think it's a very good idea."

"I don't see where there is much of a choice. You're already going against Lamar's wishes. It would probably be best to not wave me in front of his face like a red flag or make this weird for her." Watty pointed out to her.

The two stood together in a hushed conference in the back of the Bluebird Café. They were trying to come up with a solution to a problem that her daughter was having at the minute.

"You're her Uncle Watty. You could do it for her and she wouldn't think anythin' of it. You know I don't care what Lamar thinks. These are my girls too. He has Tandy so stifled and repressed I don't know what to do about that girl. I'm not letting him do that to my baby. This is what makes her happy and she's gonna do it. I will play guitar for her if I have to." Virginia rolled her eyes.

"Virginia, that's not what she needs right now. You've made your way in this business, now you have to let her do the same thing. The last thing she needs right now is her momma coming to her rescue." Watty explained to her patiently.

Virginia nodded in agreement. "Or her Uncle Watty. I can see what you're saying. We are both established on our own merits. She needs to feel like she is doing this herself and not because she's my daughter."

"Exactly. She's extremely talented just like her momma. She sings like an angel and she's a decent songwriter for someone her age, but my God she can't play guitar to save her life." Watty tried to keep a smirk off his face.

"Stop it, she's not that bad. She's just not that good either." Virginia laughed a little. "Which one of these guitar players did you plan on asking to play with her?"

"That one right there." Watty pointed to a young man standing behind the bar.

Virginia followed his finger. She arched an eyebrow again. "He is close to her age and she would feel comfortable with him. I've heard him play more than once and he's one of the best I've ever heard."

"It would be good for her as an artist." Watty nodded thoughtfully.

"I'll go get her and you talk him into it. If it sweetens the deal for him any tell him that I will pay him." Virginia retorted.

"Whatever you want." Watty agreed with a smile. He was hopeless to tell that woman no even when he should.

Virginia found her daughter in the alley behind the Bluebird. She watched the redheaded teenager pace back and forth seemingly talking to herself. She laughed to herself when she saw the cigarette she held unlit in her right hand. "Rayna, are you trying to give your daddy something else to complain to me about? First I let you play what he refers to as hillbilly music and now I have you smoking."

Rayna stopped dead in her tracks and looked at her mother. "I wasn't gonna smoke it, momma. I just wanted to hold it." She looked down at the toe of her white cowboy boots.

Virginia walked over to her and put her arm around her shoulders. "Take a deep breath and calm down. You have nothing to be nervous about. You are incredible. Anyone with ears knows that."

Rayna cast a skeptical look in her direction. "You're my mom, you have to say that. Not even you can lie well enough to say that I'm an incredible guitar player."

"Honey, I love you too much to lie to you about that." Virginia kissed the top of her head and laughed softly.

"What am gonna do, momma? I suck." Rayna sighed deeply.

"Uncle Watty is takin' care of that for you." Virginia reassured her.

"I've seen you before you go on stage, do you ever feel as nervous as I do right now?" Rayna asked.

"I've never felt nervous before gettin' up on stage and that's because just like you I was born to be there. What you feel right now isn't nerves you're anxious to take your spot where you belong." Virginia gave her a solid piece of advice.

Rayna smiled a little. "You always know just what to say to me to make me feel better. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You're never gonna have to find out. Not even when you're a little old woman, 'cause not even death will keep me from being here for you." Virginia rubbed her nose against her daughter's.

"Mom, we are in public. I'm too old for that." Rayna's alabaster skin flushed bright red.

"I forgot how cool you were now." Virginia bumped her hip against hers.

"You're this huge country singer, why are you so lame sometimes?" Rayna laughed teasingly.

"I have two daughters who make me have to be lame." Virginia retorted.

"Just do me a favor and don't let people know you're my mother. It's bad enough being Rayna Wyatt." Rayna snorted.

"Try bein' a Jaymes and marrying into that. I don't have any sympathy for you, doll baby." Virginia shrugged her shoulders.

Watty came out the back door followed by a dark headed young man. He couldn't have been older than twenty at the most. "Song Bird, I just found the solution to the problem you have."

"What did you do, Uncle Watty?" Rayna asked him.

"I got you a guitar player." Watty pointed to the young man next to him. "Deacon Claybourne, I would like for you to meet Rayna Wyatt. Rayna, this is Deacon."

The minute Rayna and Deacon's eyes met it was like time stood still and they were the only two people around. They shook hands and a bolt of electricity passed between them.

"Hey," Deacon gave her a slow lopsided grin.

"Hey," Rayna smiled back at him trying to fight her blush reflex.

"God help me now. That girl takes after her momma." Virginia whispered to Watty.

"You better hope not." Watty teased her.

"Shut up," Virginia glared at him.

"So, do you wanna show me your set?" Deacon asked.

"Yeah, I'd love that." Rayna agreed.

"That daughter of ours seems to be on cloud nine tonight." Lamar stood in the doorway of Virginia's bedroom.

The pair didn't share a room they hadn't in a long time. The last three years their marriage had been in name only. They were just hanging on until they got Rayna out of high school and they could go their separate ways. Or at least that's what Virginia was holding on for. Lamar loved her to distraction, but she seemed to be hopelessly stuck on Watty and there was nothing he could do to sway her to love him. Things had come to head three years ago when he had come home to find her in the process of leaving him. A car chase between the pair had ensued almost causing Virginia to lose her life.

While she was recovering in the hospital the two of them had come to an agreement. She would stay with him a little while longer at least until both the girls were out of school, but they would lead their separate lives.

"She should be. She had a really great night tonight. I thought I could handle an audience and she put me to shame. We have an extremely talented daughter, Lamar. I'm tellin' you, you're gonna have to get on board with this music thing or get left behind by the train. After tonight there's not gonna be any way to keep her off the stage." Virginia sat on the edge of her bed and tried her best not to look like she was annoyed by her husband. About the only thing, he'd done during their marriage that didn't get under her skin was getting her pregnant. She loved her daughters deeply, she just wished that someone else had fathered them.

Lamar rubbed his eyebrows with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. "Virginia, we've talked about this. She needs to finish school and then go to college. Not everyone is as lucky as you are to make a living out of this goat roping music."

"This is why she comes to me and doesn't tell you things. You can't force her to be someone she doesn't want to be. If this doesn't work out for her then she can think about college. It doesn't hurt for her to have dreams. And it wouldn't hurt for you to support her. You're her daddy and she loves you, but she doesn't feel like she gets that in return from you. You and her used to be closer than this. Don't take out what I did to you on her. I know she's just like me, but that doesn't make her responsible for my sins. You have Tandy to toe the party line for you. You're gonna have to find some common ground with Rayna. I'm gettin' ready to go out on that month-long tour. I need to know that I can trust you to get along with her for that long. Not that I really have to worry about that, you'll probably have multiple business trips while I'm gone. I'm just askin' you to go easy on her for once." Virginia shot back at him.

"I won't pretend I'm ok watching my youngest daughter throw her life away on something so foolish. And that's because I do love her very much. That's no life for anyone that wants to have a home and a family some day." Lamar took a not so subtle dig at his wife.

"You can say a lot of things about me. You can call me a whore or a bad wife, but you can't say I'm a bad momma. I'm only askin' you to get along with our daughter before you push her away from both of us." Virginia replied.

"I didn't mean that quite the way it sounded." He muttered and looked down at his feet. He could face down anyone and get his way, but his wife scared the hell out of him and rightfully so.

Virginia Jaymes was the youngest and rebellious daughter of Virgil Jaymes, the owner of a good chunk of coal mines in the south east. Lamar was head over heels the first time he saw her perform on stage. She had put him under a spell he'd never been able to break. What made him want her the most was she didn't seem to be interested in him and she knew how to tell him no.

"Yes you did. If you're gonna insult me at least don't try to back peddle. As usual you've given me a headache and I'm gonna go to bed. I don't think it would kill you to congratulate your daughter, though." Virginia threw him out without saying the words.

"Good night then," Lamar turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

"Why do you look so sad, doll baby?" Virginia looked up from packing one of her suitcases to see her daughter standing there watching her.

"You're leaving me alone with Atilla the Hun for a month. What else would I be sad about?" Rayna crossed her arms over her chest.

"He's your daddy and he loves you. That's why he's so hard on you. He loves you so much and he wants what's best for you. He just happens to think that he knows best. What can I do to make this easier on you?" Virginia walked over and put her hands on her daughter's shoulders.

"You could take me with you." Rayna looked at her pleadingly.

"Nice try. You have school and it's only a month. Just try your best to get along with your daddy while I'm gone. If you can do that I will set up a few writing sessions for you while I'm gone." Virginia offered.

"With who?" Rayna looked intrigued.

"Deacon is available to write and I could set that up." Virginia told her.

Rayna's face lit up. "Really?"

"I thought you might like that." Virginia laughed.

"He's just so cute," Rayna blushed.

"I wouldn't kick him outta bed." Virginia winked at her.

"Just for that if I can't stand stayin with daddy I'm tellin pawpaw you said it was ok for me to stay with him." Rayna groaned.

"Your pawpaw wouldn't object to that and neither would I. If your daddy gets too bad go to pawpaw." Virginia told her. It was better for her to do that than fight with Lamar for a month.

It had been a few weeks since Watty and her mother had introduced her to Deacon Claybourne. Rayna had found it increasingly difficult to get the guy out of her mind. There was something about him and the way he played guitar that made the young. Virginia had left town a few days ago and was on the road the next month doing the one thing that Rayna so desperately wanted to do as well. Sing.

Rayna was sitting in the family room working on a new song that had been running through her head ever since the night she had met Deacon. Her long fingers attempting to strum along the guitar her mother has gifted her 3 years prior.

"Rayna," Lamar stood in the doorway of the room. His voice was stern.

Rayna stopped strumming the guitar and turned back to look at him, "Daddy."

"You know I don't want you playing this stuff." He spoke and walked into the room and stood next to where Rayna was sitting on the floor with her legs crossed. "Your mother may allow this but I don't."

"Daddy, it's just a guitar and a song. It's not like I'm doing something illegal." Rayna rolled her eyes

"My house, my rules - Rayna." He crossed his arms across his chest and glared sternly at her.

"Then I'll just go work on this somewhere else." Rayna rolled her eyes again and got up from the floor.

"At some point you have to be realistic about this. Just because your mother thinks this is a good idea for you-doesn't mean you have to do it." Lamar spoke out,

Rayna stopped as she got to the front door and sighed loudly. She knew he didn't approve of her desire to want to become a singer. He wanted her to be just like her sister and being like Tandy was the last thing that Rayna wanted.

"This isn't about mama. It's about me, I want to do this. I am going to do this with or without your blessing, Daddy. I know I can make a life for myself by doing what makes me happy. Singing makes me happy." Rayna replied softly,

Lamar stood there and didn't respond. Rayna looked down at the floor sadly and walked out of the house and got into her car. It was days like this while Virginia was away that she wished that she could have gone with her. Lamar always made his opinion on the situation was worse when her mother wasn't there to buffer the fights.

Rayna started her car and pulled out of the driveway and drove to the one place where she knew she could be herself and everyone would understand the dream she had of being a big star one day.

Deacon put a glass in the sink under the bar and then he wiped it down. He tried his very best to stay on top of his work. This was the perfect job for him. He got to make money and play his music. It didn't get any better than that for him. He didn't need much in life to make him happy. So, to truly be happy for the first time in his life meant something to him.

He looked up from what he was doing just in time to see Rayna walk through the door. That easy grin of his naturally came to his face without him meaning for it to. He hadn't stopped thinking about her since the night they'd met. They hadn't seen each other since, but he was looking forward to the writing sessions Virginia and Watty had set up for them.

The part of him that had been beat down over and over by his abusive father knew that he didn't have a chance in hell with Virginia Jaymes' daughter. The best he could possibly hope for in this situation was that he did a good enough job writing with her that Watty or Virginia would throw some more work his way or maybe use one of his songs. It was still nice to think he had a shot at a girl like Rayna. He'd never met anyone quite like her in his life. Those few hours they'd spent together made him want to spend even more time with her.

It was as if Rayna felt his gaze on her and she turned to look at him. She smiled and gave him a shy wave. No boy had ever made her feel the way he did just from looking at him. He was just so rugged and manly for someone his age. It didn't hurt that he gave off that bad boy vibe either.

Deacon stepped out from behind the bar and walked over to her. "Hey, I didn't expect to see you here tonight."

"Hey, well I was at home working on a song and I just needed to get out of the house for a little while." She blushed shyly

"I'm glad you came." He smiled at her, "Watty said that they were gonna set the two of us up with some writing sessions. That's if you want to write with me."

Rayna blushed and chewed on the bottom of her lip. She did want to write with him, she wanted to spend as much time with Deacon as she could and get to know him. The second she laid eyes on him and they shook hands she felt an electricity course through her body that she had never felt before. She didn't have a lot of experience with boys. She had kissed Bobby Taylor in the 8th grade but it was sloppy and didn't leave her wanting more. There was something about Deacon Claybourne that made the 16 year old girl, day dream about what his lips felt like and what they would feel like against hers.

"Uhh, Yeah. I would like that." She stammered

"I would really like that." He smiled at her.

"We will have to come up with a day that works well for both of us then." She smiled back at him. She tried to play it cool and not let him see how much she liked him.

"Sounds great," he looked over to where someone was gesturing for him. "I gotta get on stage now, but I wanna talk more after."

Rayna nodded, "I'll be here. Break a leg."

"Thanks" He walked to the stage and grabbed his guitar as he walked up.

Rayna watched as he walked away and made his way to the front with his guitar in one hand as he got everything ready for his set.

Virginia was perched on the side of the bed in her hotel. She pinched the bridge of her nose. She was making a quick stop before she had to hit an after party. "What do you mean you don't know where our sixteen-year-old is? I haven't been gone that long and you've already managed to make a mess of things. I asked you to show her a little love and compassion Lamar." She licked her heels off and traded them for cowboy boots.

"I don't have time to talk to you. I have to call my daddy and see about our daughter. You're not to make her come home and I mean it. Give her a couple days to cool off and I'll fix it." She hung up without another word.

She dialed another number and leaned back on the bed. Her posture and voice changed when someone picked up. "It's Ginny Lyn, put whichever one of my parents on the phone who is available." She told her parents' housekeeper.

Her family was a different kind of rich than Lamar's. They were still down to earth and knew how to interact with each other.

She smiled when she heard her daddy's voice come on the phone. "Hey, handsome, is my baby girl with you and momma?" She furrowed her brow as she listened to him. "She was there and left ok. When she comes back please have her call the hotel. I will have someone wake me so I can talk to her." She blew a kiss into the phone. "I love you daddy. Give momma my love too."

Rayna and Deacon sat in a booth in an all night diner. They both had a cup of coffee and they were sharing a piece of pie.

"That song you sang tonight was somethin' else. Where did you come up with it?" Rayna looked at him completely intoxicated by his presence.

Deacon took a bite of pie and smiled at her. "You were my inspiration. It's what I see when I look into your eyes. A life that's good. I don't see how a life with you could be any other way."

She looked down and blushed. "You don't even know me."

"I feel like I've known ya my whole life." He sipped his coffee.

She licked her dry lips and cleared her throat. "I feel the same way with you. We've only talked for a few hours and it feels like it's been years."

He reached over and placed his hand on top of hers. "Then we are gonna have to spend more time together 'til we catch up on those years."

She could have died right then and there and she would have been very happy. The only thing that would have been better was if he tried to make a move to kiss her. The night wasn't over yet, though. "I would love that." She groaned when the door to the diner opened.

"Did I do somethin' wrong?" He worried.

"No, it's not you. My sister just walked in here with her college friends and this ain't gonna end well. I hope she doesn't see me." She sank lower in her seat.

"What's the big deal with that?" He asked her.

"If you have to ask that you don't know my sister." She grumbled.

He laughed, "Ok, I can get that. I have a sister who makes me crazy too."

She sighed. "She's coming over here. I'm sayin you work for my pawpaw Jaymes just go with it."

He nodded his head in agreement. He thought it would be better to just go with it.

"Rayna, what are you doing on my side of town?" Tandy stood beside her sister and stared Deacon down.

"You talk like you're the only person allowed to hang out over here. I was out for the night and wanted to do somethin'. What are you doin' here?" Rayna shot back.

"I just finished up a group project with my friends and now we are hungry. You know daddy hates it when you talk like a hick. Speaking of, daddy, does he know you're here?" Tandy questioned her.

"I told him that I was going out. You also know I don't care much for a lot of the things he thinks. I'm stayin' the weekend with mawmaw and pawpaw." Rayna answered her.

"You two lasted longer than mom thought you would." Tandy knew how hard it was for her sister and dad to get along. "So, who is your friend?"

"I lasted longer than I thought I would. Don't worry about it, Tandy. I'm allowed to have friends too. This is Deacon he works for pawpaw. I'm beggin' you to leave it alone for once." Rayna pleaded with her.

"I only worry because I care about you. You can never be too careful. I would hate for daddy to have to make some boy disappear because he did something to you." Tandy looked down her nose at Deacon.

"I'm harmless I promise. I don't bite unless I'm asked to." Deacon poured on the charm.

"Just try not to bring her home pregnant. You look like the type." Tandy snorted.

"Tandy, go be with your friends and leave me alone. We have a mother and you ain't her." Rayna groaned.

"Ok, I'm going, but I see on for Sunday dinner with daddy." Tandy walked away

"I'm really sorry about that. She is our father's daughter. Be glad that I'm the one you want to hang out with." Rayna grabbed his hand again.

"So, what are you doin' tomorrow afternoon?" Deacon asked her.

"Nothing that I know of." She tried to keep her cool.

"I thought we could write together if that's ok with you." He played it cool. He'd gain her trust and then make his move. He instinctively knew that he had to do his best not to scare her off.

"I would love that. I'll give you my pawpaw's number and you can call me when you're ready to write. Or even better you can come over." She replied.

"It's a plan." He agreed with her.

A/N: Here is the first chapter I hope you guys enjoyed it. Until next time please review.