Okay, so y'all just please trust me on this. It will all come together...somehow. This chapter is an extension of a scene from S5 episode 6. I don't really care for this new season as much as I'd hoped I would. I'm really sad that there's a need for a story explaining the rings at all. That's not something that should ever have been skipped on the show. Anyway, reviews are welcome as always.


The morning had been overcast but the clouds had cleared by the afternoon. It was a perfect day to be outside, warm with the barest whisper of a breeze.

Rayna ladled another spoonful of sugar into her second cup of coffee. "I know I shouldn't but I always have liked it sweet." She sat back in the chair and drank from the white mug. "Mm-hm, that is good."

Juliette nodded, picking her own mug up from the patio table. "That's Avery's favorite. I think he said he got it from Ugly Mugs. Drew's Brews or something like that."

"Oh, that name sounds familiar. I think I met him before, that Drew guy."

Juliette smiled behind the rim of her cup. "Of course you have."

Rayna smiled back at her. Now that the business talk had been completed, Juliette was pleased to find that they'd settled into an easy conversation. When Rayna had called asking to come over, Juliette thought she'd just been wanting to check up on her again, but this time she actually didn't mind because she was finally out of that wheelchair and had some real progress to show off. She'd been surprised about the offer - shocked that Rayna would want her back on HW65 considering their history. And then had been surprised again when she supported the idea of a gospel album. Juliette decided that this time, she'd listen to whatever advice the country legend would offer instead of brushing her off. She'd do her best to make it easy, especially since this album would be a huge gamble for both of them. She realized her fans, however many she had left, might not accept her new music.

They both looked up at the sound of a teeny hand pounding on the sliding door. "Mama!" Cadence's voice was muffled through the glass but they could both see that she was upset.

"Baby girl, are you awake already?" Juliette reached for her crutches but Rayna put her hand out to stop her.

"I'll get her." She reached the door at the same time as Avery did on the other side.

He picked Cadence up and slid the door open. "Sorry about that. She woke up a little early from her nap."

The toddler called for her mother again, reaching towards her with one hand.

Juliette waved at the baby. "She can stay with us, Avery. I know you were working. And she's got toys out here."

"Okay." Avery kissed his daughter's temple and handed her off to Rayna.

"Oh, my goodness. Look at you," Rayna said, patting Cadence's back. "You are such a big girl now. Last time I saw you, you were just a wrinkled little button in your mama's arms." Cadence stared at Rayna for a few seconds and then immediately reached for her hair. "Babies always do that." Rayna chuckled as she detangled the small fingers from her hair.

"Don't think she's ever seen anything like it before." Juliette set her coffee down so she could hold her daughter on her lap. "Have you, baby girl? All that stupid perfect hair." She looked up just in time to see Rayna roll her eyes.

"How did I manage to forget that precious comment?"

Cadence settled back on her mother's lap, leaning against Juliette's chest. "You're still a little tired, huh?"

Rayna had returned to her chair and she sat back, crossing one long leg over the other. "How is motherhood treating you now, Juliette?"

"I love it." She leaned over so she could inhale a whiff of Cadence's hair. "I do. Took me a long time to get to place where I could honestly say that but I'm so thankful for every second with her."

Rayna nodded. "I'm glad you were able to get help."

"So am I." Juliette shifted in the chair and put one arm around Cadence to hold her still. "After everything that's happened, it's hard not to think about all the time I lost and things I should have done differently. I fought so hard against being like Mama. I didn't realize I was exactly like her. It wasn't drugs but I'd drink when I was angry or sad. Then I was a drug addict just like her. I abandoned my family. It was my worst nightmare."

"Maybe there's some silver lining in that."

Juliette had been reaching for her coffee but she stopped with her hand on the handle of the mug, confused by what Rayna had said. "What do you mean?"

"That was the worst, your worst nightmare come true but you made it through. You survived all of that. I understand exactly what you're saying. We try so hard not to repeat the past and not to make the same mistakes our parents made." She nodded at Cadence, "When Maddie was her age, if someone had told me that she'd one day want to be emancipated from me, I'd have never believed them. Not my baby. When she was born I promised her that I'd never be anything like my father. And yet somehow…" Rayna shook her head. "But we made it through that. That's the silver lining I try to keep in focus."

Juliette took a sip of coffee. "Sometimes we rail against the people who love us the most," she said. "I don't think Maddie knew exactly what she was doing."

"Maybe." Rayna shrugged and glanced at the sky. "But you're right. Sometimes we push against the ones we should be pulling closer. And I think a lot of it was wanting to be in charge of choosing her own direction and I understand that. I wanted to raise my daughters up to be strong women. I think that's so important, for women to be in charge of their own destinies but…I don't know. Maybe I was too overprotective."

"Is there such a thing?" Juliette asked with a laugh. "I wouldn't know."

"No, you don't know. Right now you're that baby girl's safe haven. Soon she's gonna want to spread her wings."

Juliette's smile was bittersweet as she smoothed her hand over Cadence's shirt. "Have y'all talked about any of this since Maddie's been back home?"

"Some. It's difficult with teenagers, you know. And there's a new boy involved."

"I know. But I also know there's a lot I wish I could say to my mama. We wasted so much time not talking to each other. Might be good if y'all just sit down and talk about it."

Rayna tapped her fingers against her coffee cup. "You might be right about that."

Avery slid open the glass door and stepped out on the porch. "Sorry to interrupt but Glenn's here to see you, babe," he said.

"That's fine." Rayna slid forward in the chair. "I should get back home anyway." She stood and walked towards Juliette's chair. "It's good to see you doing well, Juliette." She crouched and rubbed Cadence's arm. "Be good to your mama, sweet girl." She gave Juliette a wink and turned to leave. "She's so laid back," she said to Avery. "Must have gotten that from you."

"She's got a little sass like her mama," he said.

"I believe it." Rayna glanced at the baby again. "You two enjoy that baby girl. Time goes by so fast."