This started off as a one shot, but I decided to do it in two parts instead.

##

Deacon sat in the doctor's office contemplating what the man had just told him. He needed a minute to take it all in.

"So this is it? There's nothing more that we can do?"

The doctor shook his head slowly. "If we check you into the hospital right now we can keep you alive for a week or so, but that's really all."

"And no hope of a transplant?"

"The test results said that the cancer has spread to your kidneys and your lungs. There's no coming back from that. We warned you that could happen if you didn't do the chemo."

Deacon ran his hand through his hair before angling his eyes away from the doctor down towards his worn out boots. "It was just making me so sick. If I didn't have much life left I wanted to live it."

"I'll call ahead and have them ready to admit you." The doctor reached over picking up the phone, but Deacon stood up putting his hand up to stop him.

"Wait doc. What if I didn't go into the hospital right away? What if I waited a day or two?"

"I wouldn't advise that Deacon."

"I haven't told my family yet."

The doctor looked at Deacon with disbelief. "What do you mean you haven't told them? You've known you were sick for five months Deacon."

Deacon let go of the phone. "I know, I know, but I didn't want them to worry. I'd love to be able to tell them before I go into the hospital. How much time could you give me?

The doctor looked at the chart that listed all of the inner workings of Deacon's slowly declining body. "Well, I could give you a day or two, but that would probably be it. You'd probably be gone pretty soon after we admitted you."

Deacon nodded his head, reassuring himself that this was the right thing to do. "I'd rather be living whatever short time I have left out here than in a hospital room."

"Alright Deacon, if that's really what you want. Just take care of yourself okay?"

"I will doc, and thanks for everything."

Deacon headed out to his truck. He opened the door before pulling himself up into the cab. "Man," he thought. "Even that winds me." He sat there for a minute planning out the next 24-hours before starting the car and heading over to Belle Meade.

##

Rayna was at the sink doing dishes when he opened the door, and didn't hear him come in. Deacon stood in the doorway just watching her for a moment. My god was she beautiful. He thought about the first time he'd set eyes on her at The Bluebird and how beautiful she was then, but that sixteen year old girl couldn't hold a candle to the striking woman he saw before him today.

He walked up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her. Rayna jumped at his touch. "My god Deacon, you scared the living daylights out of me. I didn't even hear you come in."

Deacon pulled her closer and buried his head in her hair before moving his mouth close to her ear. "I was just standing there watching you thinking how beautiful you looked."

Rayna turned her head and smiled into his big blue eyes. It had been a while since he'd said anything like that to her. In fact, it had been a while since he'd paid much attention to her at all. She was starting to worry that he was lost to her forever, that the mistake she'd made with Luke had crushed any chance they had of mending the hole she'd torn in their relationship. She wasn't sure what caused the sudden change in him today, but she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"What are you doing today?" Deacon asked as Rayna turned around in his arms. "I was thinking of writing some, want to join me?" she said.

"Would love to."

Deacon and Rayna settled on the floor in her music room. He pulled one of her guitars off the wall, and she settled with a pad and pen. Just like old times, he thought. He was glad he was going to get a chance to do this one more time, something that had always meant so much to them, was the core of them.

They'd been working for about an hour when Deacon stopped playing and put the guitar down. Rayna was deep in thought about a lyric, then all of a sudden she lit up and jotted something down. "What?" She asked when she noticed Deacon was just staring at her. "Nothing," he said and smiled back at her.

"Why'd you stop playing? I liked that tune."

Deacon just stared at her a moment longer before leaning over and kissing her. At first it was soft and slow, but within seconds it became deep and passionate. So passionate in fact that it nearly overwhelmed Rayna. She had to pull back for a moment to catch her breath before throwing herself back into the kiss with just as much fervor. She was on top of him by now straddling him. Deacon lifted the shirt off of her and undid her bra taking one of her breasts in his mouth. Rayna moaned at the sheer pleasure of having his mouth on her again, something she'd desperately longed for over the past few months.

Deacon rocked onto his knees holding Rayna against him, and pushed the coffee table out of the way with so much force that it rolled over on its side. Before she knew what happened he had Rayna on her back on the rug and had pulled her pants off leaving her naked beneath him. She fumbled with his belt and his button between kisses managing to strip him of every vestige of clothing just as quickly.

His kisses were hot and intense, and the moment he entered her Rayna felt like she was about to lose all sense of control. "My love," Deacon whispered in her ear as he rocked inside of her bringing both of them to their peak of pleasure.

Deacon wasn't sure he had any strength left in his body, but he managed to stand up, taking Rayna's hand and leading her to the bedroom where they spent most of the rest of the day in a cocoon of utter bliss. She was curled up in his arms and he was tracing the lines of her face with his fingers. "I love you so much Rayna."

"I love you too babe. I'm so glad you were able to get past all the stuff that went on the past year. You know I'm so sorry for that right?"

Deacon brushed his thumb over her eyebrow and kissed the spot where his finger had just been. "Don't worry about any of that Ray. You know there has never been anyone for me, but you, and there never will be as long as live."

Rayna looked intently into Deacon's eyes. "Me neither," she said breathlessly. "I know I tried to deny it for a while, but I promise you Deacon, never again."

They held each other for a few moments longer until Rayna looked over at the clock. "Oh god, it's almost 2:30. I have to pick the girls up at school."

Deacon pulled her in closer mumbling against her neck. "Don't go."

"I have to, but you know what? Teddy gets the girls back in two days, and after that I'm all yours. We can spend the whole week in bed together. How does that sound?"

Deacon smiled sadly. He knew his next week would be spent in a hospital bed if he even made it that long, but the idea of spending the week in bed with Rayna was so wonderful that he let himself believe that he would be there, if only for a moment.

"That sounds great Ray."

"Good. Now let me up so I can grab the kids." Rayna removed Deacon's arms from around her and was up throwing on her jeans and boots before he could protest. Deacon dressed too and followed her down to the driveway. He pulled her in close to him and pressed her against the car kissing her deeply. "Mmmm," she cooed. "I can't wait until Saturday."

"I was thinking Ray, I told Maddie I'd help her with a chord progression she's having problems with. Maybe I could come over and have dinner with you ladies tonight?"

"We don't have anything special planned, but we'd be happy if you were there."

Rayna noticed that Deacon almost had a tear in his eye, and softened at how emotional he could get. "There's no place I'd rather be Ray."

"Are you alright Deacon? You look a little washed out. Your color seems off."

"I'm fine Ray." He knew he should tell her, but they were having such a wonderful day he didn't have the heart to break hers quite yet.

Rayna ran her hands through his hair and over his face. "Get some rest Deacon, cause I'm gonna wear you out next week." She smiled at him and he kissed her again before letting her get in the car and drive away.

##

The girls were a ball of energy when Deacon arrived for dinner. Maddie was playing her guitar and Daphne was dancing around like a ballerina. Rayna was in the kitchen chopping vegetables when Daphne spun by her almost knocking her over. "Be careful where you're spinning Daphne or else one of us is going to end up with an emergency room trip."

"Sorry mom."

Deacon just stood back and watched. He could hardly believe that this would be last time he'd ever stand in this house, the last time he'd see all of them when it wasn't from the vantage point of a hospital bed. His heart ached at all the years that he'd wanted this but it was always just out of his reach. Now that it was his, now that he could have it for forever, forever was by far too short.

"Hey babe," Rayna said noticing Deacon and giving him a peck on the cheek.

"Dad!" Maddie yelled and rushed over to hug him followed by a calmer Daphne.

Deacon worked with Maddie on the guitar while Daphne watched and Rayna finished dinner. As they ate Rayna noticed that Deacon was pushing the food around on his plate. "I know I'm not the best cook, but it's not that bad is it?"

Deacon smiled. "No, sorry, it's fine." He put some food on his fork and managed to swallow it. "I'm just not that hungry Ray. No commentary on the food."

Rayna was a little wary, but she gave in. "Okay, next time you can cook for us though."

"Sure Ray, it's a plan." Deacon's real plan was to tell Rayna once the girls went to bed, but before anyone knew it dinner was over followed by an impromptu concert by the girls, lots of hugs, and Deacon and Rayna standing by the door at midnight. Rayna threw her arms around Deacon's neck. "I love you. I can't wait to have more wonderful nights like this."

Deacon leaned over kissing her forehead.

"I wish you could stay and hold me all night long, but maybe we should wait a little before we tell the girls."

"That's probably a good idea Ray."

Rayna played with the hair next to his right ear. "Two days. Two days and you can hold me as long and as tight as you want."

"Sounds like heaven," Deacon replied as he kissed the tip of her nose. It's now or never, Deacon thought.

Just as he was about to speak Rayna leaned into him and whispered in his ear. "You make me so happy babe. I never thought I could be this happy again."

Deacon sighed. He knew he needed to tell her, but he also wanted to keep her happy as long as he could. "Me too Ray, me too."

He pulled her in for another long and lingering kiss before saying goodnight and heading home. "Well damn." He cursed to no one in particular as he drove home, and then he started to cry."