She flipped through a few more pictures until she felt her heart skip a beat. It was a photo of Deacon and Maddie.

2004

Studio B (Nashville, Tennessee)

"Great rehearsal y'all! Okay let's take a quick break for lunch and meet back here at, say 2 o'clock?" Bucky told the band.

Rayna went back to her dressing room to go get Maddie for lunch. Teddy had an important business meeting that day so he couldn't watch Maddie. Rayna had brought her now three year old daughter with her to rehearsal and had one of the young female assistants keep a close eye on her when she had to run through her songs. Maddie loved spending time with her mother, especially when she got to go with her to rehearsals, concerts, or when she got to come on tour for a bit. Since she was born, Maddie had always been drawn to music.

"Hey my sweet girl! Are you having fun? I hope you've been good for Jessica." Rayna said as she picked up Maddie.

"She's been an angel Mrs. Jaymes!" Jessica exclaimed as she packed up her things to meet a few of the other band members for lunch. Rayna thanked her and told her she would bring Maddie back at around 2 o'clock until rehearsal was over. With that Rayna grabbed her purse and headed out the door to the main stage area with Maddie at her hip.

"Now what's this little princess doin' here?!" Deacon exclaimed as Maddie jumped out of Rayna's arms and ran to him.

"Uncle Deac! Uncle Deac!" Maddie gave him a big hug. It was moments like those that Rayna had to hold herself back with all her might from telling him that Maddie was his.

****************He met Maddie for the first time when she was only just three months old. Bucky had arranged for him to come back to work after completing his fifth time at rehab per Rayna's request. She truly believed in him and couldn't bare not being with him, even if it wasn't romantically. Plus, Deacon was the best damn guitar player in all of Nashville, hell, probably ranked among some of the best in the whole country. She needed him on her team, but mostly, she needed him. Bucky had dropped off the contract papers at Rayna's house because she had invited Deacon to come on by and sign the papers there. Teddy would be at work until the evening. When she opened the door and saw Deacon, her heart nearly stopped and her breath caught in the back of her throat. He looked so good. His eyes were clearer than she had seen them in such a long time and he just looked sexy as hell. She had to stop herself from the natural instinct to kiss him. They had talked briefly on the phone about boundaries if he were to return. Things just had to be different this time because she now had a daughter to think about and protect and Deacon was doing so well. They couldn't fall back into old patterns and risk what might happen if they ever crossed the line.

Deacon walked inside and sat down at the kitchen table. Things were quite awkward if she was honest. They both tried to avoid too much eye contact and made sure they didn't accidentally touch each other. As Deacon started to sign the papers, Maddie, who was in her pack and play crib nearby, began to start crying. Rayna excused herself and picked up Maddie rocking her in her arms and brought her to the kitchen table. Deacon stared intensely at the little girl, wrapped up in a light pink blanket. He resumed to finish signing the papers. About five minutes had passed and Maddie hadn't stopped crying.

"I'm so sorry she's being so fussy. Sometimes she just gets into these tantrums and no matter what I do I can't get her to stop crying." Rayna said a bit frustrated.

"Can I… can I try Ray?" Deacon whispered. Rayna thought about it for a moment. She didn't know if she could handle seeing him hold Maddie knowing that they had created her together and he would never know. She gave a small smile though and decided that she would be strong as she placed Maddie carefully into Deacon's arms. He slowly swayed Maddie back and forth as he began to sing to her, "A Life That's Good."

Sittin' here tonight,
By the fire light,
it reminds me I already have more than I should.

I don't need fame, no one to know my name,
at the end of the day,
Lord I pray, I have a life that's good.

Two arms around me, heaven to ground me,
and a family that always calls me home, Four wheels to get there, enough love to share
and a sweet sweet sweet song At the end of the day,
Lord I pray ,
I have a life that's good…

As Deacon sang Maddie became very quiet and entranced by him. She let out a soft giggle and then slowly began to shut her eyes. Rayna watched on amazed at how Maddie had just fallen asleep right in his arms. Seeing the father of her child hold their daughter in his arms for the first time soon became too much for her heart to handle as she felt tears begin to stream down her face. "See Ray, she just needs her Uncle Deacon." He smiled down at the child. "She's beautiful. Looks just like her momma." All Rayna could think about was how much she looked like him. As Maddie grew, she formed a sweet bond with her Uncle Deacon and looked up to him. Rayna couldn't help but notice how each and every day she reminded her more and more of Deacon.****************

"Hey Mads, are you hungry?" Deacon asked once the little girl let go of him. She clapped her hands in excitement. "Why don't you say we go up on that stage there and eat lunch right in the middle of all the music? I ordered some pizza, a salad, and some chicken fingers just for you because I know they're your favorite!"

"Yay! Yay! Yay! Can we momma? Can we pleeeaassseee?" Maddie pleaded.

Rayna laughed. "Of course we can sweetheart!" Maddie bounded the stairs up to the stage leaving Deacon and Rayna as they followed behind. "That was awful sweet of you Deacon, you didn't have to do all that."

"It was nothin' Ray! I'd do anything for that little girl of yours just to see her smile. And for you too Ray. Got you a little somethin' too." Deacon reached into his back pocket and pulled out a few Reese's peanut butter cups. Rayna took one and laughed, he was always one to find the little things that make her happy.

Rayna and Deacon joined Maddie on the stage as their lunch was delivered. They sat in a comfortable silence as he ate some pizza and Rayna nibbled at her salad. They both let out a laugh as they watched Maddie devour every single one of her chicken fingers. After they were done eating, Deacon got up and picked up his Gibson before joining them again. He pulled Maddie onto his lap as the little girl beamed with excitement. Rayna watched the two of them closely as he guided her fingers along the strings of the guitar and helped her play a few chords. Rayna wanted to remember this moment, so she reached into her purse and snatched her camera taking a picture of Maddie and her father.

Rayna put the photograph down and wiped the newly formed tear that had just escaped her eye. She thought of all the hurdles they had gone through and everything that had happened in the last year that got them to this point. Maddie now knew that Deacon was her father and Deacon had really stepped up to the plate. He had always been amazing with Maddie but now that he knew she was his, that she was theirs, that bond grew even stronger. She was a part of him, a part of them. She was created out of love and she connected them forever.


(I would love and very much appreciate it if you could kindly post your review after reading the chapter. I love feedback and your comments will help me direct how the story will go so I can get a better feel for what interests you as the reader. Thank you so much and I hope y'all enjoy!)