Deacon

Deacon pulled up in front of the house and parked, then got out and retrieved his guitar and messenger bag. He hustled up the steps and tapped on the front door. When Scarlett answered, he smiled. "Hey. Your mama ain't here, is she?" he asked.

She laughed, that tinkly little laugh she had. "No, she's at work. The coast is clear." She held the door open for him to walk in. She turned to look at him. "You want privacy?" She pointed towards the back of the house. "I can leave you alone."

He sat down and opened up his guitar case, taking out the instrument. He looked up at her then. "I think I just need some quiet," he said. "But you don't gotta go."

She hesitated a moment, then walked over and sat next to him on the couch. "I'm so happy for the two of you," she said, with a shy smile. He smiled at her. "You nervous?"

He breathed in. "Maybe. A little."

"You don't need to be. You finally got everything you ever dreamed of, you know? The most beautiful love story."

He laughed a little. "It ain't always been beautiful, you know that, Scar."

"But it's been worth it in the end, right?" He felt a little unexpectedly emotional and he nodded, not trusting his voice. "I know there's been hard times, but the two of you are finally gonna have everything you ever dreamed of."

He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and nodded. "Yeah, but I can't help but wonder…." He breathed in again and turned his head toward her. "I thought we had it all before and the bottom falls out. And I just don't wanna disappoint her again."

She frowned. "Why do you think you'd do that? She loves you, Deacon. I see it in her eyes every time she looks at you. When you walk in a room, she can't stop looking at you and there's a softness about her then, that you never see with nobody else. You're the love of her life."

He could feel the tears and he pinched his nose, trying not to cry, especially in front of his niece. "I just don't want nothing to go wrong."

"And it won't." She gently tapped her hands on her legs. "So y'all going to the cabin after the wedding?"

He appreciated the change of topic. He sat up straight then and smiled. "Yeah. Seemed like the right place for the first couple nights. Just us and no phones or nothing."

She smiled happily. "And then where?"

He gave her a look. "Ain't telling," he said. "She's been trying to get it out of me and the girls have too, but it's a surprise. Someplace where she can be pampered, though, the way she deserves."

"I know she'll love it."

He sat back against the couch. "She wants us to write together."

She clapped her hands together gleefully. "Oh, that's amazing, Deacon. Y'all write such beautiful songs together. How long's it been?"

"Well, we done 'This Time' together, but other than that, it's been a while."

"I'm so glad she's gonna go back in the studio. It's been a while for that too, for her."

He nodded. He didn't really want to get into the concept album idea Rayna wanted. He was still trying to wrap his mind around that, to think about it the way she wanted to do it. He'd played around with something that he thought he'd share with her after the wedding, to see if he was on the right track. He looked at Scarlett then. "Turns out maybe I do wanna be alone. If that's okay."

She gave him a conspiratorial smile and jumped up. "I will leave you to it. I gotta run to the grocery store anyway." She started for the door, then turned back. "Mama won't be back til around three, so you got plenty of time."

He smiled at her as she picked up her purse and headed out the door. Then he unpacked his messenger bag, pulling out his notebook. He set it on the couch next to him and picked up his guitar, settling it on his lap. He picked at the strings for a minute, trying to work through a melody that had been in his head for the past several days. He focused on the chorus, the part of the song that had taken several days to craft exactly the way he wanted. He went through the chords first, then went back and added the lyrics.

The sky is made from empty space and stars / Our love is made from lonely broken hearts / And the only thing that keeps us from being gone / Is that we're damn good at holding on

Rayna

Rayna was glad Cash was picking up Maddie for a writing session, since it gave her some alone time with Daphne. She had contacted Teddy to see about bringing Daphne by for a visit, knowing it would make their daughter happy to see her father. Not unexpectedly, Teddy had been reluctant and she'd had to push.

"Rayna, I've told you before, I don't really like the girls seeing me in a place like this," he'd said, sounding testy.

She sighed. "I get that, Teddy, but you're just going to have to get over your own embarrassment about this for our daughter's sake."

"Why now? Aren't you busy with your wedding?" He'd sounded almost like he was using air quotes when he said wedding, which irritated her.

"Yes, actually I am busy with that, but I also care about our daughters and, quite frankly, Teddy, Daphne needs to see you."

"She's not happy about the wedding, I take it."

"That's not exactly it, but she is feeling a little bit left out. Not that she should, but I think she's really feeling the fact that you're not around and Maddie's father is."

She could almost see the smugness on his face. "So what is it that you're thinking I can do? Tell her to let Deacon be her dad? Because that's not going to happen, Rayna."

She clenched her jaw. "Don't be ridiculous, Teddy. You're Daphne's father. You'll always be Daphne's father. But Deacon is going to be a big part of her life, because she lives with us. And he loves her. The same way you love Maddie. Why can't you just be happy for both our girls that they have all these people in their lives who love them and care about them? Why does it have to be such a pissing match between you and Deacon? And really, it's you who can't seem to get past it. Why can't you just think about what's best for Daphne?"

"I do think about what's best for Daphne," he said tersely.

"Well, it doesn't feel like it. Deacon has always loved Daphne, and you know that. I just need you to tell her it's okay for her to love him too." Teddy was silent on the other end. "She doesn't need you to be uncooperative, Teddy." She sighed. "You're not losing her. You're just giving her permission to accept him into her life too." She waited.

"I don't want her to feel like an outsider," he said, finally.

"I've tried to be honest with the girls about your situation without tearing you down. We're a family, Teddy. We were their whole lives, you know? And you were a good husband and a great father. That's still true." She breathed out. "Let him be there for them, especially for Daphne. Don't make her feel like she has to choose. Please, Teddy."

After a long pause, Teddy finally responded. "You can bring her, Rayna. And I promise to let her know it's okay to…you know."

She smiled on her end. "Thank you, Teddy."

In the end, the visit went well. Daphne felt better, after seeing him, and he told her it was okay to let Deacon take care of her for a while. As she and Daphne walked out to the car, her daughter turned to her. "Thanks, Mom," she said.

Rayna put her arm around Daphne and pulled her close. "Anytime, sweetie. I know it's hard and I'm so sorry that it is."

"Did you love my dad?"

Rayna stopped and looked down at Daphne. "Of course I did," she said, with a tiny frown. "Don't ever think I didn't." She smiled. "He gave me you, didn't he? I'll always love him for that." Daphne smiled back and she hugged her daughter. "Sweetheart, I don't want you feeling left out of anything. You're an important part of this new family we're building, but your father will always be your father. That won't ever change."


Daphne was quiet on the way home. Rayna reached over and squeezed her daughter's hand. "You know Deacon loves you, right?" she asked quietly. Daphne looked up at her solemnly. "He's always there if you need him, sweetheart. I hope you know that."

Daphne sat back in her seat and looked out the windshield. Finally she said, "Yeah, I do know that."

Rayna glanced over at her. "I want you to tell me if you're ever feeling on the outside again."

Daphne looked down at her hands. "Deacon said he was the one coming into the family," she said.

Rayna smiled. "Well, that's true. And I know he wants to fit in with us." She breathed in. "You seemed like you were happy when he moved in. What changed?"

Daphne shrugged and looked over at her. "Nothing, I guess. I like Deacon. I love him, really. Maybe if Dad was still around." She looked off. "I guess that's what changed."

"Well, unfortunately we have to deal with it. But if you want to see him again, I'll work it out. I don't want you to feel like he's not still part of your life."

Daphne looked at her and nodded. "Okay." Then she smiled a little. "I am glad you're marrying Deacon, Mom. You seem happy."

Rayna smiled, but felt the hint of tears in her eyes. "I am happy, sweet girl. And Deacon is just one more person in your life who loves you so much. He's adding to your life, not taking away."

For the rest of the ride, Rayna felt like Daphne was happier and she was glad she had insisted to Teddy that he see her. She promised herself that she wouldn't let her daughter feel out of touch with her father in the future. As much as she wanted to build a strong family with Deacon and her girls, she needed to always remember how important Teddy was, not just to Daphne, but even to Maddie. She breathed out, feeling better about both her girls and where they were. And then she thought about Deacon and how he'd really grown into the role of father, to Maddie and even Daphne. She was proud of him and it just made her love him more.

Deacon

Deacon was in the music room when Maddie came in. "Hey, Dad," she said.

He looked up and smiled. "Hey. You just get home?"

She walked around and plopped down on the couch. "Yeah," she said. "So where's Mom?"

"She took Daphne to see Teddy."

Maddie looked surprised. "Really?"

He nodded. "I think she was feeling kinda like she was on the outside and I think she really just needed to see him." Maddie looked pensive. "You wishing you coulda gone?"

She looked at him and shook her head. "I'm good." She sighed. "I guess I'm not paying enough attention to Daphne. I should've seen that."

"Don't feel bad. I think she tried keeping it to herself. Anyway, me and you are on our own for dinner. Your mama's going to the airport to pick up your Aunt Tandy on the way home." He was not exactly looking forward to a couple days with Tandy in the house, but he knew the girls would be excited.

She eyed his guitar. "You working on a song?"

He shrugged. "Just playing around with some chords."

She smiled teasingly. "Did you finish the song for mom?" He frowned and she laughed. "Are all your songs about Mom?"

He lifted his chin. "Most of 'em." He smiled a little. "Yeah, pretty much all of 'em are about her."

She smiled. "She told me you wrote 'A Life That's Good' about her before you ever knew her."

He was surprised. "She told you that?"

She nodded. "Yeah. She said you were sitting at the Bluebird watching her sing and that you were inspired by her."

He laughed a little self-consciously. "Well, I guess that's pretty much true," he said.

"What did you think of her when you first saw her?"

He thought back on that night. "I had gone by to watch the open mic – me and your Aunt Bev didn't make it that night – and when she got on stage, I thought she was pretty as a picture. She looked a little nervous, I remember, and she had that guitar she gave you." He looked up, as he saw it in his mind's eye, and smiled. "But when she started singing, well, she had the voice of an angel. I didn't know she was as young as she was, 'cause she seemed so sure of herself."

"Did you fall in love with her right then?"

He looked back at her and shrugged. "Pretty close." He sighed. "'Cept I had a girlfriend when I first met her."

Maddie perked up. "You did? What was she like?"

He shook his head and laughed a little. "Total opposite of your mama." He shook his finger. "She was pretty though. But not as pretty as your mama."

"What was her name?"

He thought about that a minute. "I can't say as I remember. I bet your mama would though, 'cause she don't forget nothing." She laughed and he gave her a look. "Maybe don't ask her about it though right now." He winked.

"So when did you start dating Mom?"

"It was a little while. Watty was the one who got us to work together and it didn't take long after that before I didn't have a girlfriend no more." He laughed. "But I was nervous about asking your mama out, 'cause I knew she coulda done better than some kid from Mississippi."

Maddie smiled. "She said she fell in love with you the first time she saw you."

"She does tell that story," he said, with a chuckle.

Maddie had a dreamy look on her face. "I think it's such a great love story. That you two found each other back then and have loved each other ever since." She tilted her head to the side and got a serious look on her face. "Did you always think you'd get together again?"

He sighed. "Truthfully? There was times I wasn't sure. I made it hard for a lotta years and then, well, you know, she was married to Teddy and had you girls."

"I hope I can find someone to love like Mom loves you," she said.

He reached over and pulled her into a hug. "I hope you find that too, sweet girl," he said. "You deserve it."

When she pulled away, she looked at him with a smirk. "So are we gonna order Chinese?" she asked.

He grinned. "I thought you'd never ask." And then they got up from the couch and walked out to the kitchen together.

Rayna

Rayna opened her eyes as the sun started to trickle through the curtains. She smiled to herself as she felt Deacon's hand graze her shoulder. She turned her head, resting her chin on his chest. He was looking at her with an amused look in his eyes, his other arm crooked behind his head. "What?" she said.

He grinned. "You talk in your sleep, you know that?" he asked.

She raised her eyebrows. "No," she said. "Do I?"

He nodded. He moved his other hand and wrapped her up in his arms. "You very definitely do." He ran his knuckles over her shoulder. "I remember you doing it sometimes after we been out a bunch of days in row. When you were tired."

She smiled. "Well, I will admit to being tired. This has been a pretty hectic few weeks, you know." She frowned. "So what did I say?"

He looked up as though he were trying to remember. Then he looked back at her, the amusement back in his eyes. "Bunch a stuff about pie versus cake and your dress getting dirty and if you needed a nightgown or nothing at all."

She could feel herself blush, then she sighed. "Oh, lord, all these decisions are just running together. So many questions – still – about wedding details. My head is spinning, Deacon, just spinning."

He chuckled. "Well, only thing I care about is that you don't need no nightgown." He reached up and ran his fingers over her hair. "Just wastes time taking it off."

She made a face and lightly smacked him on the arm. "I thought you liked that part though," she countered.

He grinned. "Oh, I do, but you ain't gotta wear one. I'm just sayin'." Then he pulled her over on top of him and she bit down on her lip as she felt how very ready he was for her. He looked up at her and she could see all his emotions playing across his face. He breathed in. "Like right now, baby," he murmured. "You're perfect right now."

She leaned down and kissed him, then adjusted herself, sighing deeply as she took him in. This was one thing she thought she would never get tired of and then she let herself get lost in the exquisite sensations of lovemaking with her man.


Rayna was sitting at the island, drinking coffee, her mind still on early morning sex, when Tandy walked down the stairs. She focused on her sister. "How'd you sleep?" she asked.

Tandy walked to the coffeemaker and poured herself a mug. "Surprisingly well, considering the time difference." She looked at Rayna. "And your girls wanting to talk my ear off." She smiled.

"Well, they've missed their Aunt Tandy," Rayna said. Tandy got up on the stool next to Rayna's and Rayna reached for her hand. "So have I."

Tandy squeezed her hand and then took a sip of her coffee. "Maddie said you and Deacon are working on an album."

Rayna waved her hand. "Not yet. We've been talking about it and Deacon finally agreed to it, so we'll do it after all the wedding stuff."

Tandy frowned. "You had to talk him into doing music with you?"

"Not so much doing music with me. I want to do a concept album, about us. About our love story. Over the years." Tandy raised her eyebrows. "It's a little daunting. For both of us, truth be told. I kind of got caught up in it and he had to kind of bring me back to earth a little bit on what it meant. But we're together now on it." Rayna raised her eyebrows. "So you're going with me to pick up my dress this morning, right?"

"Of course." Tandy winked. "As long as you'll try it on for me first."

Rayna smiled. "Yes, I can do that. Can you be ready in an hour?"

"If I run back upstairs right now, I can." Tandy slid off the stool. "Let me go get dressed." She started for the stairs, then turned around and came back, pulling Rayna into a hug. "I can see you're happy," she said, looking at her sister intently. "And if you're happy, I'm happy."

Rayna smiled. "I am happy, Tandy. For the first time in my life, I'm really, truly happy."

Tandy breathed in. "Okay, then, let me get dressed."

Rayna sat with her coffee and watched her sister head back up the stairs. She knew Tandy was probably covering up her true feelings about Deacon and the wedding, but she had decided to be gracious about it. The last thing she wanted, or needed, was dissension and disagreement. She wanted the wedding to be perfect so she and Deacon could get married happily. Having both Tandy and Beverly there could be tricky, but she was keeping her fingers crossed she and Deacon could manage their siblings. There's just nothing that's gonna ruin this day for us. If I have to lock them both up to make sure of it, I will.

Deacon

Deacon practiced his vows, yet again, in front of the mirror, as the tailor worked on the final alterations to his jacket. It had been a long time since he'd actually worn a real suit. In fact, he wasn't sure he could remember the last time, but he'd promised Rayna and he would do anything to make this day special for her. He looked at Frankie in the mirror. "You'd think I could remember these, wouldn't ya?" he asked, with a smile.

Frankie smirked. "I think you could say 'Humpty Dumpty' to her and she'd still say yes," he said, with a chuckle. "Don't worry if you don't remember 'em exactly. You'll say the right thing when you're standing in front of her."

Deacon breathed in, feeling some butterflies in his stomach. "I got two days," he said. "Well, three if I count the wedding. I might be saying 'em in my sleep."

Frankie laughed. "You might wake up already married then."

Deacon grinned. "That might be easier." He breathed in. "She's going out to get her dress today, so I gotta figure out a way to get a suitcase packed for her without her noticing what's gone."

Frankie raised an eyebrow. "And where you taking her?"

Deacon raised an eyebrow in response. "Ain't telling you, brother. Just like I ain't told nobody else, well, 'cept one person. The one's gotta get us there."

"You sure she's gonna be good with a surprise?"

"This surprise, yeah, I think so." The tailor tapped his shoulder to let him know he was finished and Deacon turned to face his friend. "She knows we're going to the cabin that night, but I'm gonna mix it up a little and we'll stay one more night. Then we'll head to the real honeymoon." He unbuttoned the jacket and shrugged it off. "She deserves to be spoiled, so I'm gonna spoil her." He couldn't wait to whisk her off on a dream honeymoon.

Rayna

When Rayna walked out of the dressing room, Tandy gasped. "Oh, sweetheart, it's just gorgeous," she said.

Rayna walked in front of the mirror and ran her hands down the bodice to the skirt, smiling. "I'm happy with it," she said. "It's the dress I've always dreamed of."

"Really?" Tandy looked surprised.

Rayna nodded. "It is. I can remember lying in bed at night when I was a teenager, thinking about what my wedding would be like." She sighed happily. "Almost everything about this wedding is exactly what I dreamed of back then."

Tandy raised her eyebrows. "Almost?"

Rayna shrugged, the smile fading a bit. "Well, except that it just took so damn long. And that my first wedding wasn't the right one." She caught Tandy's eye in the mirror. "Not that Teddy was really a bad husband, or choice, at least in the beginning, but it wasn't my fairytale wedding."

Tandy stood and walked over to her, putting her hands on Rayna's arms, gazing at her sister in the mirror. "I know you've always thought you and Deacon had this magical once in a lifetime love story," she said pensively. Rayna frowned. "I'm just saying, sometimes it takes time to get it right. I know you've been through a lot…."

"We both have," Rayna said firmly.

Tandy nodded. "Yes, you both have. But here you are, finally getting married. I just want it to be everything you've dreamed of, sweetheart. With no complications."

Rayna looked at her for a moment, trying to decide if there was some hidden meaning or agenda behind her sister's words, but decided to shake it off, and just accept it at face value. She put a smile back on her face. "It will be," she said. "I'm sure of it. I'm marrying the love of my life, Tandy. No matter what we went through – and yes, we went through some really tough times – he's just always been there. He's always been in my heart and now I get to spend the rest of my life with him. I feel like the stars have finally all aligned for us. I know there've been storm clouds for us over the years, but this is the perfect storm. Everything the way it was meant to be."