"Dad, can I go sleep over at Talia's?" I announced after Daphne came back down the stairs. Dad was looking down at his phone, still holding Daphne's soccer bag.

"But we were going to spend some time together, with all that's happening I think we should. And we can watch the CMAs. Don't you want to see your mom win?"

He looked so hopeful. It made me want to cry knowing that he didn't love me like he loved Daphne. I swallowed hardly.

"She said we needed to talk about stuff. You know, teenage girl stuff?" I hoped he was getting my hint.

"You know you can tell me anything, right Mad?"

"I know, but... please?"

He took a deep breath. "Okay..."

I pulled out my phone and texted Talia back, 'he said yes, step one is complete.' I quickly put my phone away and walked out of my house, possibly for the last time. Lima, Ohio, here I come!

Rayna Jaymes sat backstage at the Country Music Awards. It was safe to say that the award for Female Vocalist of the Year was safely going to be given to her. She was not going to let Juliette Barnes get in her way, even though what had happened with her mother was horrible. All bickering aside, she felt back for Juliette, who had no one to turn to. She never wanted to leave her girls for a very long time. The poor girl wasn't even here.

Deacon seemed very tense all night. I could tell he had something on his mind. I sure as hell hoped he hadn't been drinking, he had been doing so well for all this time. We were finally back together. I knew that no matter what I did, Deacon was always going to be a part of my life. I also knew that marrying Teddy was a mistake. Apart from Daphne, she was the one reason I really felt bad getting a divorce. We were going to have to tell Maddie the truth soon.

"Maddie came over today," he mumbled, flopping himself down into a chair. "She told me she thinks I'm her father. Tell me it's not true. Tell me you haven't been lying to me all these years." He looked, oh shit.

I slowly nodded. This was not how I expected this to happen. I could see it in Deacon, he was about to explode. "Remember how you were then? It wouldn't have been safe for Maddie, I did what I had to, to protect her!"

"But you could've told me sometime during those thirteen years Rayna. We had a daughter together! A daughter I'm never going to get to tuck in at night, or kiss the boo boos of!" He ran out of the room. I was left, holding back tears. CMAs or not, I needed to talk to Teddy so we could talk to Maddie. All the bad attitude she had been giving me lately suddenly made sense.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and quickly dialed Teddy. On the second ring, Daphne answered.

"Hey Mom! We're watching you on TV, it's almost time for your nomination!" she sputtered proudly. I tried to compose myself before responding.

"Can I talk to Dad?"

"Yeah sure." I heard Daph telling Teddy who it was, then the shift of the phone. I could even hear the CMAs in the background.

"Rayna..." He slowly mumbled.

"Maddie knows. She talked to Deacon." I spit out quickly before I could lose it completely.

"Maddie's not here. She went over to Talia's." Teddy officiated.

"Well get her back we need to-" My phone vibrated against my ear. I unlocked it to see a text from Maddie.

Mom,
I've decided to run away. I love you and Teddy and Daph and even Deacon. Tell him I love him, even though we never got the chance to be a father and a daughter.

"Teddy..." I whispered.

"I got it too." He slowly breathed out.

"I'm leaving right now." I grabbed my bag. People kept trying to stop me, but I completely ignored me. As far as I was concerned, Juliette could have it as long as I got Maddie back.

"And the female vocal artist of the year award goes to..." The announcer announced, waiting for the drum roll. I stopped to see. Not that it mattered to me, but...

"Juliette Barnes!" And the crowd went wild. She wasn't even here. My phone buzzed again. I jumped, thinking it was Maddie, but it was Juliette.

"Rayna..."

"Juliette I don't have time for this. Maddie is missing."

"That's what I was trying to tell you I- Maddie get back here! Please I-"

The call dropped.

A trip to see Juliette was about the last thing I wanted or needed right now. I quickly texted Teddy. Then I noticed the CMA, sitting around. I went over to Glenn.

"I'm going to go visit Juliette, check if she's okay. I'm sure she would love to see that." He nodded, and I picked it up and continued to my car. I tried to drive calmly, but that didn't work. I rushed quickly up the steps to see Juliette at the door. I thrusted the CMA at her and ran inside.

"I won..?" she whispered.

"Told you you were good enough. Where's Maddie?" I scanned the front room, throwing my purse onto her couch.

"Rayna... she was here and then left. I tried to get her to stay but she ran out when I was calling you. I'm so sorry... I really tried." I tightened my knuckles. The damn girl couldn't even watch my daughter for twenty minutes.

"Why did she come here then?" I growled.

"She wanted to say sorry about my Mama. Said she felt horrible that she was leaving you, but she couldn't stand looking at you and knowing that you lied to her. Rayna, I know I wasn't exactly the nicest to you when we met, but the truth is I admire you so much. You're such an amazing singer and you are raisin those girls up so well. I know it's a bad time but would you be willing to sing with me at the Bluebird tonight?"

"I can't. I can't just sit around knowing that Maddie is running around somewhere with no way to defend herself. She's Rayna Jaymes's daughter, people are going to recognize her! And Juliette, I would love to sing with you after this is all over."

"I want to come with you, I'll postpone the gig at the Bluebird... one question, why is Maddie running away?"

"She found out that Deacon is her biological father..."

Juliette's mouth dropped open. "I guess I should have seen that one coming. He didn't know? You should probably talk to him you know..."

"I know. I just hope he hasn't done anything stupid."

"Do you want me to go check on him?"

"No, we'll go together."

Juliette smiled. "Okay."