Greatest Love Story Chapter 1, a nashville fanfic

A/N: This is an AU Deyna story that popped into my head while listening to the radio. I don't think it'll be as long as my other stories.

Disclaimer: I don't own Nashville I'm only borrowing it.

Chapter 1

Rayna Wyatt sat at the desk in her corner office at Wyatt Industries. She leaned back in her chair with her hands folded together resting on her chest. Outside her window, she had a great view of the Cumberland River. The radio was tuned to WSM and it was playing softly in the background.

She swiveled around in her chair when she heard a knock on the door.

"Hey, I just came to see how you're settling in." Tandy walked into the office with a smile.

"Tandy, I've been here for three months. There's no need for you to come and check on me all the time." Rayna sat up in her chair.

Tandy sat down across from her. "Ok, you caught me. I'm on a peace keeping mission."

"If that's the case you can walk right back out that door the way you came. I told him we are through and I meant it." Rayna frowned.

"Come on, Rayna, he loves you. He just wants another chance." Tandy pleaded the case.

"No, he just wants to control me and own me. Plus, he sees marrying a Wyatt as a way to get the Conrad name back." Rayna corrected her.

"You're an up and coming executive and he's an up and coming banker. You're a match made in business heaven. Daddy likes him and Joe likes him. He fits in just fine with the family. What more could you want?" Tandy tried to talk some sense into her.

"Just because I let daddy win one battle doesn't mean I'm going to let him win the war that is my life. I don't know that I love Teddy and I'm not willing to marry him feeling that way. I'm only twenty. I don't wanna be tied down yet." Rayna argued her point.

"Because you're a wild mustang that can't be broken?" Tandy smirked.

"Shut up," Rayna tossed a pen at her.

"Up next we have a new one from Deacon Claybourne." The radio announcer said.

Every muscle in Rayna's body stiffened. It had been years, but still she had a reaction to hearing that name.

"I wear a greasy ball cap. I like my shirt untucked. I spend Saturdays workin' on my truck. I don't like to fight, but I ain't scared to bleed. Most don't mess with a guy like me. 'Cause guys like me drink too many beers on Friday after work. Our best blue jeans have Skoal rings we wear our boots to church. So rough around the edges it's hard to believe. That girls like you love guys like me."

"Do you ever regret it?" Tandy didn't have to name what it was for her sister to know what she was talking about.

"Your daddy worked at the bank. Mine worked on cars. You went to college. I pulled graveyard. You must have had your picks of all the trust fund types. Still you came back to me and only God knows why."

"Giving into daddy or breaking up with him?" Rayna asked dryly.

"'Cause guys like me drink too many beers on Friday after work. Our best blue jeans have Skoal rings. We wear our boots to church. So rough around the edges it's hard to believe. That girls like you love guys like me."

"Both I guess." Tandy replied.

"Now there's a lotta guys like me out there in a lotta little towns. Tellin' all our buddies we won't ever settle down. We say that's just the way we are and the way we'll always be. So God sends girls like for guys like me. Thank God there's girls like you for guys like me."

"I was sixteen and we'd lost mom four years before that. I wasn't ready to up and leave the last place I saw her. It's not like he silenced my voice he just stopped my progress for a little while. And as for him I think it was the sensible thing to do. He would have never fit in with that college crowd and truthfully, I had to figure out who I was. I had to do that without him. He's not really the jealous type so much as he's the protective type. It was easier this way. I know it damn near broke both of us, but it worked out for the best." Rayna shrugged.

"Not long after you broke up with him, him and that friend of his took off to Austin and the next thing anyone heard they were on the radio." Tandy drummed her fingers on the desk.

"I'm surprised he could keep Vince away from whiskey and women long enough to make a go of anything with him." Rayna cracked.

"How long has it been since you've seen him?" Tandy asked.

"I haven't seen him since I told him it was over. I knew if I kept hanging around him that I wouldn't really be letting him go. I had to make a clean break for both our sakes. Sure, I fantasized many times about running off with him to make music and live on love. The practical side of me won out. And I guess it wasn't worth losing you and daddy. Ya'll are the only family I have left even though I don't like him sometimes." Rayna answered.

"Are you going to try to see him while he's in town?" Tandy asked another question.

"No, I don't think that would be a wise idea. I think the way things are now are the way they need to stay." Rayna sighed. She didn't really believe that, but it was easier on her heart.

"I'm glad to hear that." Tandy rewarded her with a smile.

"Rayna," Lamar walked in without paying attention to who was in the office. "Well, look at this. Both my daughters are here. You two have no idea how happy it makes me to have both my girls working with me."

"Daddy, you only mention it every chance you get." Tandy reminded him.

"Did you need something, daddy?" Rayna plastered a smile on her face.

"No, I just wanted to come see how you were fitting in here." Lamar smiled back.

"I'm fitting in just fine. You're both keeping me from doing my work." Rayna glared at them.

"That's not what it looked like you were doing when I walked in here." Tandy called her out.

"I was thinking. I just got the paperwork together for one of the accounts I'm in charge of." Rayna explained.

"Tandy, I think we should leave her to it then." Lamar gestured for Tandy to follow him.

"We are all going out for mid week drinks after work tonight. Do you wanna join us?" Tandy extended an invitation for her sister to join her and some of their colleagues for drinks.

"Thanks for the offer, Tandy, but I already have plans tonight. Maybe next time." Rayna politely declined. She had better things to do than go get drunk with the sticks in the mud her father employed.

Vince Jameson jumped up on the couch with a start. "What the hell man?" He sputtered and coughed.

Deacon Claybourne stood there holding an empty water pitcher in his hand. "I tried to wake you up the easy way. You didn't respond to that. Get your ass up we have to be at sound check."

"I woulda gotten up in time. You didn't have to douse me with water." Vince took his soaking wet shirt off and threw it on floor.

"No, you wouldn't have. Tell that lie to someone who don't know ya, Vinny. We're playin' Robert's Western World tonight. I don't wanna fuck this up. This is the first time since we branched out that we are gonna play Nashville. It has to be perfect." Deacon told him.

"It's your couch you're gonna ruin doin' that, it's no skin off my ass." Vince stretched his limbs. "You want it to be perfect just in case the Ice Princess shows up." He rolled his eyes.

"I ain't even thinkin' 'bout Rayna." Deacon snorted indignantly.

"Maybe not in the last five seconds, but you're always thinkin' 'bout Rayna. Every damn song you write is 'bout her. You either need to go beg her for a second chance or get over her." Vince arched his eyebrow.

"Shut the hell up, why don't ya? You need to lay off the Rayna thing." Deacon snapped.

"You're still touchy 'bout her I see. I warned you when you fell for her that she was just usin' ya to piss off her rich daddy. You shoulda listened to me and you woulda saved yourself a world of hurt." Vince pointed out to him. He was used to his best friend's temper and he didn't let it bother him anymore.

"It wasn't like that with me and her and you know it. She loved me I know she did. I loved her more than anythin'." Deacon flared.

"You still love her. You haven't had a real girlfriend since her 'cause you're afraid it would feel like you're cheatin' on her. Sure, I know you've gotten you a piece of ass here and there, but it ain't been nothin' serious." Vince corrected.

"Fuck you, Vince." Deacon's face turned bright red and the veins in his neck popped out.

"You're only mad, 'cause you know I'm right." Vince smirked.

"You're a real pain in the ass, you know that?" Deacon clenched his fists.

"I know. That's why you love me and keep me around." Vince headed off in the direction of the bathroom to take a shower.

"Deacon, it's really good to see you back in town." Watty White offered the younger man his hand. He had listened to him do sound check with his band.

"Well, hey, Watty, it's damn good to see ya too. We went to Austin and things took off so quickly there ain't really been time for anythin' else." Deacon shook his hand with a genuine smile on his face.

"Have you seen her since you've been back?" Watty asked.

"No, I ain't seen her. I don't know if should. I don't even know if she wants to see me." Deacon shrugged his shoulders.

"That's a damn shame. I don't know what happened between the two of you personally, but you were always dynamite together musically." Watty shook his head sadly.

"Lamar happened. He threatened to take her home away from her, so she stopped making music behind his back. We lasted longer than that as a couple. She broke up with me before she went to college. I don't guess I blame her much. Up against somethin' like that I don't think I was much of a catch." Deacon sighed lowly.

"She's back to making music you know? She's still every bit as good as she's always been. There's just something missing though." Watty informed him.

"I didn't know that. It's been a long time since I heard from her." Deacon replied.

"You should call her up." Watty suggested.

Deacon laughed humorlessly. "First Vince and now you. What is it with ya'll either wantin' to remind me of or wantin' me to talk to the woman who shattered my heart?"

"She needs your help, Deacon. She's in a corner office at Wyatt Industries, she has a yuppie boyfriend, and she looks absolutely miserable. Like I said musically you two are perfect together. You need her just as much as she needs you." Watty explained to him.

"How's that?" Deacon asked.

"This whole dude country, tear in my beer music is only gonna carry you so far. You need an edge and she could give you that edge. I'm not saying dismantle your band, you've got a good thing going. I'm saying a few collaborations would be good for both of you." Watty answered him.

"I'll think 'bout it." Deacon grunted.

"You should do more than think about, Deacon. This is good exposure. She's playing the Bluebird tonight. She goes on after your set here. You should go check it out." Watty tried to get through to him.

"If I say I'll go watch her, will ya'll leave me alone for a little while?" Deacon groaned.

"I'll leave you alone if you just go see her set." Watty knew he was lying, but it was a start.

"I'm gonna hold you to that." Deacon pointed a warning finger at him.

"I hear, ya, Deacon." Watty did his best to repress a smirk. He knew that Deacon would agree to go. He was too in love with Rayna not to.

"He was workin' through college on my grandpa's farm. I was thirstin' for knowledge and he had a car. Well, I was caught somewhere between a woman and a child. One restless summer we found love growin' wild. On the banks of the river on a well beaten path it's funny how those memories they last." Rayna was playing the last song in her set at the Bluebird. It was part of the way she kept her sanity. Working with her father took just about all she had out of her.

Deacon stood in the back of the bar with a baseball cap pulled down over his eyes. He didn't want her to know she was there just yet. As usual he was blown away not only by her voice, but by her beauty. She looked even better now than she had the last time he'd seen her.

"Like strawberry wine, seventeen. The hot July moon saw everything. My first taste of love oh bittersweet and green on the vine. Like strawberry wine." Even though she wouldn't admit to it. That song was about Deacon. Most of her deep songs were.

Deacon inhaled deeply. He knew without a doubt where this song had come from. Maybe one day it wouldn't hurt this much to be around her. He loved finally being in the same room as her, but it was painful.

"I still remember when thirty was old. My biggest fear was September when he had to go. A few cards and letters and one long distance call. We drifted away like the leaves in the fall. But year after year I come back to this place just to remember the taste." She closed her eyes.

"Of strawberry wine, seventeen. The hot July moon saw everything. My first taste of love oh bittersweet and green on the vine. Like strawberry wine."

Deacon took his hat off and rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand. He had to admit she was more talented than he remembered. She had really matured as an artist.

"The fields have grown over now years since they've seen the plow. There's nothing time hasn't touched. Is it really him or the loss of my innocence I've been missin' so much? Strawberry wine and seventeen. The hot July moon saw everything. My first taste of love oh bittersweet green on the vine. Like strawberry wine and seventeen. That hot July moon saw everything. My first taste of love oh bittersweet green on the vine. Like strawberry wine. Strawberry wine. Strawberry wine."

Rayna cleared her throat. "Thank ya'll so much for lettin' me play for you tonight." She stepped down off the stage.

"Ya'll we have a special guest in the house tonight and I think if we ask nicely enough he will get up and play for us. Put your hands together for one of our city's favorite adopted sons, Deacon Claybourne." The mc announced.

Deacon looked down and shook his head. He blushed bright red. He still wasn't used to all the praise being heaped on him. He walked up to the stage and took a seat on a stool. He borrowed at guitar. "Hey, ya'll, I have a new one that I think you're gonna like." He started to play.

"I've been burnin' bright. For so long I can't remember. Pretty girls and late night bars seem to be my line of work. Believe me when I say I can't stay this high forever. This man's had all he can stand time to lay this body down." His eyes found Rayna in the crowd.

"Sweet Annie can I stay with you awhile? 'Cause the road's been puttin' miles on my heart. Sweetheart I've been livin' in a fantasy but one day lightning will strike. And my bark will lose its bite. But don't give up on me sweet Annie. Sweet Annie," He may not have mentioned her by name, but this song was about a certain redhead that would always hold his heart.

Rayna knew that she should go, but she couldn't bring herself to move. She was transfixed by him as usual.

"I know I promised you a life but with an empty bed and the words I said don't carry any weight. If I could take back yesterday find a way to start it over. Turn around pout that bottle down and pray it's not too late."

Rayna felt something stir in her soul she thought was long dead and buried.

"Turn out the lights. These hands alone to you fall all over you. All over again come a little closer so I can show you. My heart still beats fast for you. All over and over again." Deacon sang the words that he couldn't say to her face.

Deacon exited the stage and went after Rayna before she could get away. Surprisingly she moved closer to him. His mouth went dry and his palms got sweaty. "Hey, Ray," he squeaked out.

"Hey, Deacon," Rayna smiled shyly.

"You look damn good and you sound even better." Deacon said the first thing that popped into his head.

"I could say the same for you. I'm really proud of you for following through with your dream." Rayna reached out and squeezed his hand.

"Thanks, you were the only one I was ever worried 'bout tryin' to impress." Deacon wiped his hands on his jeans.

"I've always been impressed with you, you ain't gotta try very hard." Rayna winked at him.

"We should catch up. You want a drink?" Deacon offered.

"I have work in the morning I really shouldn't, but I've never really done what I'm supposed to do. Order us a round of beers and I'll get a table." Rayna replied automatically.

"Your wish is my command as usual." Deacon went off to get their drinks.

The pair spent the next hour drinking and taking a trip down memory lane.

"It's late, now I really have to go. I don't wanna be hungover." Rayna said after she checked her watch.

"I understand. Listen, Ray, I've got a show at the Ryman tomorrow night and I'd really love it if you came. It'd be a full circle type of thing for me." Deacon replied. The hope was evident in his voice.

"Let me think about it and I'll get back to you. Give me your number." Rayna smiled at him.

Deacon wrote down his number on a cocktail napkin and slid it across the table to her. "That's my number. You'd like the new apartment the only pest I have to share it with is Vince."

"I don't think there's a cure for a Vince infestation. You'll have to tell him I said hi." Rayna laughed.

"Come to the show and tell him yourself." Deacon countered.

"Fine, you win. I'll be at your show tomorrow night, but that's it. You're a hard man to say no to." Rayna rolled her eyes playfully.

"If memory serves you ain't said no to me often." Deacon licked his lips suggestively.

"You're a pig and I'm gonna go." Rayna tried her best to sound indignant.

Deacon laughed, "It was really good to see you."

"It was great to see you too, Deacon." Rayna kissed his cheek before she left.

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