Thank you once again to the usual suspects, Asia, Agus & Breanna, for your suggestions and attempts to pull me out of my comfort zone. As usual, all reviews are appreciated. And thanks for the editing Nashville1211!

Chapter 4

… The night ended with them sitting around the fire pit on chairs and outdoor sofas, playing guitars and singing while fireflies danced around the yard. It was at that point Rayna whispered in Deacon's ear "I'm pregnant."

"Are you serious?" Deacon had asked her, a smile quickly spreading across his face.

They hadn't told anyone about Rayna's pregnancy that evening, wanting to first share the news with the girls, but not until the wedding festivities were over. Rayna had wanted to wait for the perfect moment to tell Deacon, to see his reaction, and he had not disappointed her. He convinced her at that moment that this was what he truly wanted. But this was their moment, and she wasn't ready to share it with anyone else just yet, including her daughters, especially if there was a chance they might be upset or disappointed.

The night of the wedding:

Although they'd made love countless times over the years and experienced many first times together, the bond they shared on their wedding night was suddenly amplified. They were officially husband and wife, they were a family, and she was carrying his child inside of her. He had never in his life felt so connected to this woman, this person he had loved since he was 19 years old. They had considered each other as soul mates for the better part of 25 years but the fire that ignited them was now burning hotter than ever.

Unable to control his desire any longer Deacon stood up, pulling Rayna along beside him, and walked quickly to the microphone left by the band. He thanked everyone for sharing in their celebration and encouraged folks to enjoy the rest of the evening, but after a long day, he and Rayna were calling it a night. They quickly excused themselves, asking Tandy to make sure the girls were safely tucked in at the cabin before the remaining guests made their way back to Nashville on the tour buses Highway 65 had provided.

Deacon had planned the updates to the cabin so the master suite was apart from the other bedrooms. Though the girls were spending the night at the cabin, they would still have their privacy. Before their bedroom door was even closed Deacon was already unzipping Rayna's dress and guiding it off of her, taking in every inch of her body as he did so. He took notice of her slightly larger breasts and ran his thumbs gently across her abdomen before pulling her closer to him for a long luxurious kiss.

"I've dreamt about this moment Ray, but I never thought it would become a reality…you and me, married, with a growing family...but better late than never, I suppose."

"Deacon," she had said, looking up at him. "I'm done talking."

Rayna had taken much less care in helping Deacon to undress, popping several shirt buttons in her enthusiasm. She had been so turned on by this man, her husband, the father of her unborn child.

"I want you, Deacon. So bad," she had said to him. That was all he needed to hear and he carried her to the bed. "Right now!" She had demanded, pulling him onto her. She had been insatiable that night and she had just about worn him out. They hadn't slept much that night, wrapped up in each other, alternating between dozing off and making love.

They still managed to wake up early and make breakfast for their daughters. They were both so excited to share their pregnancy with the girls. Maddie was the first to make her way to the kitchen area.

"Hey!" she had chirped. "Good morning! How's it feel to wake up as Mr. and Mrs. Claybourne?" she'd teased.

"It feels," Rayna searched for the right words, then reached for Deacons hand, "like home." They shared a smile.

Daphne entered next, smelling coffee and maple syrup in the air. "Oh you're already up! We were going to make you breakfast," she said sadly.

"Well we haven't eaten yet so you still can, but come sit down first. We are up early because we were so excited to talk to you. We have some news to share."

"Are you going to have a baby?" Daphne asked excitedly.

Rayne and Deacon looked at each other.

"O.M.G you really are? This is so exciting! I'm going to be a big sister!" Daphne covered her mouth with her hands, eyes wide, looking as though she was about to burst with excitement.

Maddie glanced down at the table before looking away completely. Deacon watched her quietly.

Maddie felt the room spinning and a wave of nausea overtake her. She excused herself and went off to her bedroom.

Deacon rested his hand over top of Rayna's. "Let me go talk to her," he'd said.

"I'm sorry," Maddie had said after she invited Deacon into her room. She was lying on the bed on her side, facing away from the door. He had gone in and sat in a chair, facing her. "I want to be happy for you. I do. I just suddenly don't feel so great," she continued, sounding teary.

"Maddie, finding out you were my daughter turned my world upside down. But, realizing I had a chance to be your dad put it all back together. You changed my world and I will never love anybody more than I love you. This new baby...yeah, I'll get to be this baby's dad from the time he or she is born, but the only reason I'm brave enough to do this is because of you, because of how much I have enjoyed every moment I've spent with you. You've brought so much joy to my life. This new baby is not meant to replace you, but it is partly because your growing up and your mama misses having a baby in her arms and yeah, partly because we didn't have a chance to raise you together. She didn't trust me then. You've helped me to show her that she can now. I swear to you, sweetheart, I will always put you first. Maddie, I promise you that. I'm excited about this new baby but I'm mostly looking forward to all of us being a family, and sharing this experience together."

Maddie sat up, dabbing her eyes with her shirt sleeve. "Did I get any of that right?" Deacon had asked.

"All of it." She gave her father a weak smile, one so much like his own.

"I'm sorry any of this is making you feel bad, but maybe the two of you, you and the baby, will grow up to have a lot in common. Y'all share the same genetics. Kind of like you and me, and we've connected pretty well, haven't we?"

She nodded, smiling a little more brightly.

"Are you worried there might be someone coming along who can play guitar better than you?"

He winked at her.

"Not a chance!" She responded, laughing.

"I'm not replacing you Maddie," Deacon added, moving over to the bed to sit beside his daughter. "I could never do that. A very wise woman told me that I wouldn't be dividing the love I already have between you and another baby, but I'd find even more love in my heart. Before you came along, I wouldn't have believed that was possible."

By the time they'd returned to the kitchen Rayna and Daphne were already discussing baby names.

"Deacon what names do you like?" Daphne asked.

"Well, I've always been kind of partial to the name Travis, for a boy."

"From old Yeller?" Rayna asked, pitch rising, incredulous.

"What? At least I didn't say Arliss!"

"Travis. I like it." Maddie added, thoughtfully.

"Travis James Claybourne!" Daphne adds. "But what if it's a girl?"

"Then I'm going to be in a whole heap of trouble!" Deacon grinned.

The girls kept their promise to make breakfast and they took their plates out onto the porch to dine.

"It's really nice up here, " Maddie had said. "Kind of special."

"Can we come back soon?" Daphne had asked.

"Yeah, like maybe for holidays?" Maddie had added.

Rayna looked over at Deacon and the girls, eyes sparkling. "I think, that's a great idea!"

##

Rayna and Deacon had been packed up and set for two weeks in Mexico for their honeymoon, but after dropping the girls off in Nashville at Teddy's later that day, they'd decided to cancel their trip and head back to the cabin. After having been on the road for the better part of 25 years, they were looking forward to enjoying each other in privacy for a couple of weeks.

They made love, made meals together, and wrote a couple of songs, two of which they recorded together when they got back to town. They'd quickly fallen into a routine, and with the girls living with them half of the time and a new baby to prepare for they found their lives were more balanced than ever. They still had their moments of passion, but it didn't engulf them the way it always had in the past. Instead, they were building a solid future together, and working as partners.

#

The summer seemed to fly by quickly and holiday season was upon them before they knew it. By Thanksgiving Rayna was already 8 months pregnant.

"So have you decided on names? You don't know the sex, right?" Deacon's sister, Beth, asks.

They are back in the cabin, sitting on the sofa sharing a cup of tea.

"Well, Deacon wouldn't say whether he preferred a boy or a girl. He says he just wants a healthy baby. Personally, I think he doesn't want to offend Maddie by saying he'd like a boy, but he's got to feel outnumbered around here! Between the three of us, Scarlett, and Juliette who always seems to be around, as well as their other friends…"

They glance over at Deacon in the kitchen with the girls. Scarlett's helping Daphne bake a pie and Deacon and Maddie are cutting vegetables.

"He looks to me like he's in his element!"

"He kind of does, doesn't he?" Rayna scrunches up her nose and speaks conspiratorially.

"I think he's used to it. Growing up my daddy wasn't around much. Thank The Lord. It was usually mama, me and Deacon. He was used to being around women."

They take a moment to drink their tea, enjoying the domesticity going on around them.

"I think we've settled on Cassandra Lynne if it's a girl, and Travis James if it's a boy."

"After that character in Old Yeller? Tell me he is not still watching that every year!"

"Oh, he is, he even got Maddie and Daphne to watch it with him. Thankfully Daphne fell asleep before it ended!"

"I guess some things will never change! But, how are you feeling, Rayna? Is the pregnancy harder his time?"

"Yes and no. I'm still busy, and less comfortable at my age, but I'm really enjoying it this time, sharing it with Deacon. He's so attentive. And he's been doing so much more with the girls...I'm honestly feeling a little left out! But in a good way. They've all bonded so much, he takes them to their activities, and makes their lunches, and with the baby, it's kind of like they're on the same playing field. None of them really knows what to expect, though Deacon's been reading up, and it's cute to hear them talk about everything from baby names, to diapers, to lullabies. I was nervous about, well, everything, but it's just all been so perfect. The three of them even decorated the nursery together."

At that moment they hear a crash and a lot of yelling. The entire kitchen seems to be covered in a gelatinous cranberry color.

"Like I said, it's just all been so perfect!" Rayna and Beth smile, watching the clean-up activity from their positions on the sofa.

#

It was just after noon when the others started to arrive- Bucky and Tandy, Juliette and Avery…Any awkwardness between Scarlett, Juliette, and Avery had subsided, or at least been put on hold. They all seemed to be getting along well.

It was after dinner when Rayna finally admitted to the discomfort she was having. The back pain she'd been experiencing all day was at the point of taking her breath away. It was Beth, a nurse, who finally spoke up.

"Rayna, I've been watching you for the past 40 minutes. You must have a dreadful poker face. That wincing you're doing, it's every 5 minutes like clockwork."

"I'm not due for another month!"

Deacon and Tandy look up concerned.

"Ray?"

"I'm fine!" With that she sneezed, her back went into spasm, and she couldn't move. "I take that back," she said through stabbing pain. "I'm not fine."

Deacon jumps up. "I'm calling the doctor."

To be continued!