Rayna was sitting on a bench when she saw the headlight's of Luke's truck pulling onto the gravel. She heard the door slam and then the sound of his boots crunching as he walked towards her.

"What's going on? You run out of town and then you got me meeting at some old abandoned park in the middle of nowhere at midnight. Look I know things seem a little crazy but we don't have to make any decisions right away, there's no pressure, no rush. We can get through this, together."

A pit of guilt grew inside Rayna, knowing what she was about to do, knowing it was going to break him. But that was her problem. She always got so caught up in what everyone else needed that she put aside herself and once she realized what she really wanted, it was always too late. Sometime she had too, when it came to the girls she had to think of them before herself. But not something like this, not who she's gonna love and grow her family with, it wasn't something she was going to settle for.

"Luke, that's so sweet and thoughtful of you, and it's just one of the many things I love about you. But that's the problem, I love so many things about you, but I don't think I just love you. And you deserve someone who does, who's 100%, who's all in, and I don't think it's me. So I'm gonna have to give this back to you."

She slid the ring of her finger and put it in his hand, waiting for his response.

"I don't understand, I said I loved you and you said you loved me too. Did you not mean it?"

"I did mean it, Luke. But I don't love you in the way you're supposed to love somebody, in the way I know is possible."

"It's him isn't it. You try to move on, he comes crawling back. I try to build a future with you, he comes and drags you back to the past. He's just a drunk who doesn't know how to let go of what's not his anymore."

"Luke, this isn't about Deacon and me. You and I aren't meant for each other regardless if Deacon and I are. I shouldn't be with you because it's not right whether or not Deacon and I are right for each other."

He slapped her hard across her face, and stood frozen in a mix between shock and fear.

"Don't lie to my face! I know you're going to be running back to him. Do not lie to me! You know what, you and him deserve each other, you really do."

Tears began rolling down Rayna's face as she sprinted back to the car. Her hands were shaking badly and she was barely able to put the key in the ignition and drive away. She could hear Luke behind her, calling for her, but she was already gone. After ten minutes, when she was sure Luke hadn't followed her she pulled over to the side of the road. She put her face in her hands and let the sobs she had tried to contain in her chest release. Obviously she hadn't expected Luke to take it well, but she saw a different side of him to night, one the shook her to her core. She could still feel the sting across her cheek and felt her face swollen on the one side. Once she was composed enough to drive she headed back towards the cabin.

Rayna pulled up and saw Deacon sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch. She knew he'd take one look and her and see straight through her bullshit and know something was wrong.

"What the hell, Ray!" Deacon shouted once she stepped into the light of the front porch.

He put his hand up to her face, his fingers gently touching her cheek, "What happened, did he do this to you?" She lost it and the tears returned once again.

He pulled her in close to his chest whispering to her, "It's okay, I'm here, I got you."

"Rayna, what happened babe?"

"I told him and he just got so angry and…"

She felt his shoulders go rigid and saw his jaw tighten.

"You stay here and I'm going to-"

"No, Deacon please! Just stay here with me, it's over now." Rayna said trying to pull him closer to her.

"Deacon, babe, it's over okay. It's you and me now. Nothing's in our way anymore, now will you kiss me already."

He put her face between his hands and looked into her eyes. His lips crashed onto hers as she felt all their emotions coming to the surface and colliding. The pain of everything they'd been through seemed insignificant in the moment, as if maybe it was worth it in the end. In Rayna's mind she imagined how the feeling of one kiss healed her inside, what a whole lifetime would be capable of doing.

Before she knew it, her legs were wrapped around Deacon and he carried her off to the bedroom. As clothes were ripped off Rayna could hear the sound of buttons scattering across the floor.

"Ray, if you didn't like the shirt you could've just said so."

They both laughed as they became lost in each other, definitely making up for lost time. After as she lay wrapped in Deacon's arms it didn't take much for her to realize why he was so perfect for her. She felt safe and protected just lying there with him, like she had finally arrived home.