This is a multi-chapter Deyna AU tale that continues their story beyond episode 5.09. This picks up on some of the story line around the concept album, Highway 65 direction and Deacon's place in the new family unit. This finds Rayna and Deacon finding their new normal.

Would love your feedback. Please review.

DISCLAIMER: The characters belong to Callie Khouri and NashvilleCMT. I'm just borrowing them.

Rayna and Deacon had been to awards shows before and had won and lost together before, but tonight's CMAs were different. They were nominated for two awards. Can't Remember Never Loving You was up for Song of the Year and, Our Truth, was up for Album of the Year. This was the first time they were nominated as equals. They'd won for songs they'd co-written in the past, but Rayna was always the star, the larger than life personality that was in the spotlight. She never sought the spotlight, or more accurately, never tried to steal it from Deacon, but she was the one that was singled out and Deacon knew it and quietly and without malice or regret stepped aside to allow her to shine. Then his drinking plunged him into the shadows when no one but Rayna was willing to take a chance on him and the spotlight passed him by.

Our Truth was their truth and their "baby". Every song was conceived and performed together. They felt it together. After some initial angst, they came to accept and embrace the good and bad memories the creative process stirred. There were many of slammed doors and tears as they revisited the bad times. But they always came back to the love. They couldn't visit the past without coming back to the now – their incredible bond, their deep passion, their joy and the life that they shared.

"All done, Rayna."

Rayna was pulled from her reverie. She looked in the mirror as her glam squad put the finishing touches on her hair. As she stared at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but think how different this night was versus three years ago when she was stepping out with Luke chasing some 'shelf bling'. Six nominations was big, but this was bigger, more personal. She didn't need to win tonight to get validation. She knew in her heart that what she and Deacon produced was a true, one of a kind gem. It received not only critical acclaim, but high respect from their peers and the public alike. And, sales were strong, giving Highway 65 the cash infusion and buzz it needed to bring on new talent and become a self-sustaining, much sought-after label.

Rayna tentatively stepped down from the perch she commanded for the last hour and a half as her team primped and powdered her for the harsh cameras. She slipped out of her robe and Josh and Alyssa carefully helped her on with her dress, smoothing down the lines here and fanning it out there. Rayna rested a hand on Josh's shoulder and stepped into her spiked heels. She decided to go low-key tonight, but couldn't bring herself to give up the stiletto Christian Louboutin's.

"Thanks, Josh. Thanks, Alyssa. I love it. Now let me go see what Deacon thinks."

Now that the ensemble was complete, she stepped out to the bedroom where Deacon was waiting. He was adjusting his collar in the mirror when he caught a glimpse of her. He whistled appreciatively and exclaimed, "Now that's the fresh-faced beauty I fell in love with 31 years ago!"

For tonight, Rayna opted to dispense with the big hair, fake lashes, sparkly eyeshadow and body glitter for a simple, down home look. Her hair was straightened and gathered in a side pony with curls cascading down her shoulder. Her dress was modest, featuring a black taffeta halter with a lumberjack plaid A-line silk skirt, long in the back, short in the front, that beautifully framed her long, perfectly toned legs. The color combo looked stunning on her. A thin line of five, one carat princess cut diamonds anchored by a three carat tear drop diamond hung from her earlobes. Her neck was bare, but her wrist was adorned with a thin round, banded, diamond-encrusted bracelet with a heart clasp that Deacon had given to her to celebrate the completion of their album.

"You're pretty handsome yourself, babe," Rayna said admiringly. Deacon was sporting a black tux with a thin leather lapel, a crisp white shirt open at the collar and a matching lumberjack plaid cummerbund. The plaid, a homage to their first CMAs and a reflection of their casual, unpretentious style. He refused to wear a tie, and as much as she tried to coerce him to put on some respectable wing tips, he was content wearing his well-worn Seville, goatskin Lucchese boots.

She stepped over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. They looked in the mirror, tilted their heads and bust out laughing.

"Do you believe this?" Rayna chuckled.

"Are you seeing our 21 and 24 year old selves and our first trip to the CMAs, too?" Deacon queried.

"Yep." Rayna concurred. "Gosh, that seems like a lifetime ago!"

Deacon leaned in to kiss her and Rayna pulled back and threw up her hands, "Oh no you don't! I just spent one and a half hours to look this natural."

Deacon looked over at Josh. "Josh?"

"Go for it man."

And, before Rayna knew what hit her, Deacon planted a big wet one on her lips. She was pissed, but not so pissed that she didn't let his tongue dive into her mouth or hers to taste his. When they pulled apart, Rayna saw that her lipstick transferred to his mouth. She reached her thumb up and roughly swiped it across his lips, feigning anger. Deacon just laughed, grabbed her thumb, licked it then sucked it clean.

Rayna leaned in and whispered against his ear, "Careful. You don't want to start something you can't finish."

Deacon responded by capturing her earlobe in his teeth, sucking it lightly. He released it and whispered back, "Oh, I fully intend on finishing this." He could feel Rayna smile against his cheek. He dropped his arms, grabbed her hips turning her around, licked his lips and pointed her toward her dressing room. "She's all yours, Josh."

Rayna couldn't stay mad at Deacon long. This was a big night for both of them, but especially, him.

"Do you have your speeches?" Rayna called from the dressing room.

"I don't need any speeches. I know who I need to thank if we win. Besides, I'd rather speak from the heart." Rayna smiled at his words and the contrast between him and Luke with his six speeches already to go, so confident that he would emerge victorious. This is why she loved this man. He was honest and humble.

She stepped back into the bedroom with Josh and Alyssa in tow. "Okay, we definitely need to get going, babe." Rayna grabbed her little black clutch from the vanity and snaked her free hand through Deacon's waiting arm. "Hopefully the girls are ready and we can get on the road. Traffic is always a nightmare for this event."

"Josh, Alyssa, I love the look! Thank y'all so much. When you head out, please activate the alarm," Rayna instructed.

"You got it," Josh replied.

"Good luck guys. You make such a stunning couple." Rayna and Deacon smiled at each other and thanked Alyssa for her kind words and 'magic' before they headed in search of the girls.

Girls?"

Maddie and Daphne stepped out of Daphne's room. "Well look at you two! What have you done with our little girls? Seriously, you two look gorgeous," Rayna cooed proudly. Daphne was beside herself. She rushed over and hugged Rayna.

"Love you."

"Oh, I love you, too sweet girl."

Maddie joined in the lovefest and wrapped her arms around Deacon and he bent his head slightly and kissed her on the cheek. Rayna was so thrilled that they could share this night together. "Hey, how about a family selfie before we leave? Deacon you have the longest arms so how about you take it. I can post it to Highway 65's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Oh yeah, I'll Snap it, too."

"Mom!" Maddie exclaimed. "I thought you said 'social media is the death of civilization'?"

"Well, now that I'm a business tycoon, I gotta play the game. I'm still not onboard with it for our personal lives, but this is for the label."

Once the photos were taken and posted all over social media they headed for the door. When they opened it there were two limos waiting. The girls turned to Rayna and looked at her questioningly. "Your limo awaits, girls."

"What?" Maddie and Daphne said in unison.

"I ordered limos for all my Highway 65 artists…which includes you two. Enjoy! We'll see you on the red carpet."

Maddie and Daphne excitedly jumped into the limo. It wasn't as if they hadn't been in a limo before, but this one was just for them. It was stocked with faux champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. There were two gift bags sitting on the seat. They each took one and opened them. There was a note in each from their parents and a beautiful platinum bracelet with a Highway 65 charm with a diamond in the middle, dangling from it. They immediately put them on, snapped a picture and sent it to Rayna and Deacon with a message:

Thanks for the bracelets. We love them and are so excited to be making music on your label.
We think you're special, too. Good luck tonight.

"Ok. Open the roof and crank up the radio. This is a party!" Daphne declared.