A life that's good

AU. He hadn't touched a drink in years, he was a husband and a father and most of all he wasn't at all like his daddy, he'd always made sure of that. When tragedy forces Deacon to go back and face his past, more than enough demons are set to resurface. How will he and Ryana deal with the challenges of family, painful memories and love?

A/N: hello all! Thank you for checking this story out! Don't be too afraid to review! I do hope you like the way I handle daddy Deacon because that has to be one of the things I love most about his character.

I don't own anything but the things you don't recognize! Enjoy!

Chapter 2:

"Thank you for being super late Finlay, I'll be sure to let dad know so he won't let you have the car so you can make out with your girlfriend." Maddie mused as she climbed into the seat next to him.

"Well, hell whatever happened to my sweet little sister huh?" He asked annoyed as he started the car.

"I'm still sweet, right Finn?" Daphne asked, rolling her eyes at Maddie.

"You? Always."


"Thank you so much for doin' this Tandy, I owe you big time." Rayna said as soon as he sister walked into her office, two of her children in tow.

"HI mama!" Sammy launched himself at her as she caught him just in time.

"How are you baby? I've missed you"

"Me too." With a toothy grin he cuddled into her neck.

"Sure, no problem." Tandy bit her lip. "Where's Deacon anyway?"

"Locked up in a meeting." Rayna scrunched her nose.

"Oh I'm sure he's thrilled about that." Tandy laughed. Rayna rolled her eyes.

"Mom! I'm hungry! Can we eat something?"

"In a minute baby, as soon as daddy is out from his meeting I promise."

"How long?" Robbie asked.

"Yes, Ray, how long?" Tandy echoed. "You sure Deacon isn't killing anyone in there?"

"He will if they drag it any longer." She agreed. She put Sammy on a play pen in her office and handed him a couple toys.

"Mama! hungry too! Want to eat!" The almost 3 year old mused. "Want me some juice?"

"What do you say?"

"Please?"

"Sure thing baby, here ya go." Rayna handed each child a juice box.


"Thank you so much Deacon, I owe you one." Bucky said as they made it out of the conference room.

"You sure it's just one Buck? They almost eat me alive in there, you know I hate that crap. That's you and Ray, I'm just here to watch both of you do it, play guitar, I ain't cut out god the rest of it."

"Don't I know it?" Bucky smirked. "I'll see you man."

"See ya." Deacon came into Rayna's office a moment later, just to be met by his two boys. "Daddy!"

"Hey what y'all doing here?" He asked as he picked Robbie up and put him back on the couch with a thud. "Where's your mama?"

"She's got a call, from grandad." Robbie said,

"Oh is that so?" Robbie nodded. Sammy had been calling for him from the play pen. "Daddy, mama's in touble?"

"Dont think she is baby boy, Daddy might be later though." Deacon mused as he sat with the boys for a few more minutes. He could see Rayna pacing from across the glass door outside. "Robbie, stay here for a sec, don't you move a muscle."


"So, you are all set for later?" Saddie asked as she arrived at the house.

"What's later?" Daphne asked curiously from the counter.

"None of your bushiness squirt." Finn said shooting had a look from the couch. "Yeah I am." He whispered, Daphne rolled her eyes. "Wanna know where I'm taking you?"

"Nope, I'd rather be surprised." She kissed his lips softly. "Am I dressed okay though?"

"You're perfect." He smirked.

"Oh hi Sadie." Maddie came into the living room, her phone glued to her hand. "He tell you he practically sold his soul to me so he could take you on date?"

"Is that so?"she was amused.

"I did not, she's a manipulative little thing that one, cornered me."

"You were the one who was late, I'm just hoping to get something out of it."

"Again, whatever happened to you?" He rolled his eyes as Maddie grabbed her guitar and joined him on the couch.

"I got myself I reality check, that's what Talia says anyway."

"Is this about that Todd kid?"

"There's isn't anything about that, would you stop, jeez he's just my friend."

"A friend you are going to the movies with and haven't told dad about?" Sadie could see Maddie was really not happy about this one bit, she'd been 13 once. She left the room without another word, guitar in hand.

"Let it go Finn, that's enough, how come you're not nicer about this? It's her first crush."

"That's what I'm afraid of…" Sadie smiled.

"You cute when you're worried." She kissed him softly.


"You okay?" Deacon asked as he saw Ryana snap the phone down.

"Hey." She said softly. "How was the meeting?"

"It was, that's all I have to say, I ain't no good at dealing with people in suits."

"Babe, you are wearin a blazer,"

"Yah, don't remind me." He mused kissing her Soflty, his scruff brushing her cheek. "You might want to take it off then."

"I'd love to." She kissed his nose. "Bad thing we have to go back to talking about daddy."

"Oh, what did he want now?"

"Wants us to perform on mayor thing for him," Deacon arched his eyebrow. "He's launchin' a new candidate,"

"Cole won't be too happy about that." Deacon assed.

"No he won't." She placed a hand on his chest. "So what you say babe? Date night? You and me?"

"It ain't really one if I have to deal with your dad Ray." He said.

"We'll slip away after, do somethin' fun?"

"Is that a promise?" He smirked kissing her again.

"You can bet it is."


"You' all done defiling my couch?" Deacon said as soon as he saw Finn and Sadie cuddled against it.

"We weren't…" Finn turned tomato red. "It was just a movie dad."

"I didn't see your eyes on the screen, where are your sisters anyway? Hi Sadie."

"Hello sir, I'm really sorry we were just…"

"I know very well what you two were doin'…." Deacon rolled his eyes.

"Daddy!" Daphne came bouncing off the stairs.

"hey kiddo." Deacon smiled. "Where's your sister?"

"Don't ask, she's having a teenage moment, locked up in her room, guitar and all."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Rayna shot Deacon a knowing look. "The boys are all set up for their bath, your night babe."

"Right on it." Deacon looked back at his son. "Make sure you help your mama with dinner before you go. And don't crash my car." He said his goodbyes to Sadie and moved upstairs, Daphne moving back to the kitchen with her mother.

"What was that about?" The county queen asked, vicious to the compromising position Deacon had come to find their child.

"Don't look at me, I guess everyone in this family is having one of those days."

"Really smarty pants?" Rayna arched an eyebrow. "You best get out of here before I catch one of those too." Finn nodded and taking Sadie's hand he left the room. "Y'all have fun and be safe."

"Will do!" He called after her.

Rayna looked at Daphne who was staring at her, clearly snoozed. "what shall we make for dinner then?"

"Pizza sounds good?" She tried.

"Nice one Daph, but it's a school day."

"Which also happens to be Friday, come on mom, can we? Please?"

"Fine, go ask daddy and Maddie what they want." Her grin was huge as she broke into a run.

"Now y'all set," Deacon said as he finished dressing Sammy. Both boys on their pjs. "Why don't you run off to mama, see whatever crazy thing you come up with?" Both boys grinned as they left the room, the father of five started to clean up the boys's room.

"Daddy?" Daphne came in, bouncing on the bed. "Mama said we could have pizza tonight, I'm supposed to ask you what's it you want in it."

Deacon sighed. "Wanna sit here for a second kid?"

She joined him. "Is something wrong with Maddie?"

"How should I know?" Daphne asked annoyed. "There's always something wrong with her."

"Now that's not a nice thing to say bout your sister." But he knew, just by the looks of it something was off with his girl, she'd closed out like he would, music and guitar being her only outlet. "Run along now, I'm fine with whatever you chose." He kissed her forehead sweetly.


"Come in," Maddie called placing her guitar down on the bed. "Oh hey dad."

"Hey there," Deacon smiled softly joining in. "You alright? It's almost time for diner."

"Pizza night?"

"How'd you know?" He said looking over at his girl. "Daphne came in already huh?"

"I'm fine dad." Maddie said firmly. "I just felt like being alone for a while."

"Why's that?"

"Got a lot on my mind." She said simply. She wasn't going to start talking about boys with her dad, neither of them were ready for that.

"A particular possible movie thing have anything to do with that?" Deacon asked softly, much to Maddie's horror. "It ain't my first time in the rodeo Mads."

"It's just a bunch of the kids in school hangin out, not a big deal."

"Except there will be boys goin' with you?" Maddie bit her lip.

"Are you okay with that?" Her voice was shy.

"It ain't me who should be okay Maddie, it's up to you to figure that one out, but if there's anything I can help you with, I'm here." He took her hand and gave her a light squeeze.

"Thanks dad."

"Anytime sweet one." Well that had gone suspiciously okay.


"So… What time did your son said he'd be home?" Rayna asked her husband as they got ready for bed.

"Oh I don't know, around midnight?" Deacon offered, she didn't seem amused. "Ray, boy's 17."

"I seem to remember where we were His age. And it involved a crib." He fell out of words.

"I grant it, but we weren't that young, and he's a good boy. He'd know what would happen if hehe couldn't contain himself " Rayna nodded siting on the bed, "he's still got a few years."

"Try ten, I don't want him to end up like we did babe, it was different back then for us."

"I know." And they knew it all too well, needless to say Finn had been conceived in the back of a tour bus somewhere upstate. "He's gonna be fine, I'll be damn if I let him walk away from college for a girl."

"Unless he's his daddy's boy, which is what I'm thinking…" She felt him sit on the bed behind her, wrapping his legs around her body, she leaned into him."So are you okay with us goin up to Belle Meade, see daddy?"

"Not in the least, but I don't have a choice, do I?" She moved to kiss him.

"Not really no." She laughed.

"So who's he butchering anyway?" Deacon asked kissing her neck.

"Teddy Conrad." She felt his touch tense.

"As in ass Conrad?" He moved in front of her. "That Teddy?"

She nodded, "if I didn't know better, I'd say you're jealous." He pushed her back on the bed. "Babe?"

It was too late, she was already too far gone for words As his hands found the hem of her camisole. "Yeah?"

"You don't have to worry about Teddy, he's... he's daddy's puppet anyway." Her breatheart hitched. "You even listening to me?"

" I am darlin' but I don't feel like talking no more, how bout you just kiss me?" He pinned her down on the bed as she suppressed a giggle.

So what did you think? I love writing daddy Deacon so much. Please review if you can :) and thank you for reading, more of jealous husband coming next chapter.