Somehow this chapter got super long. I actually wrote it before I wrote chapter 8, but decided I needed an in between chapter.

##

Tandy and Rayna pulled into the VIP section for performing artists at Riverfront Park.

"Where are the girls?"

"They're with Teddy this week."

"I thought it was your week?"

"It was, but we switched. Teddy wanted them with him for this Music City Music Festival he's started."

"Isn't that title redundant?"

"Yeah, but that's what happens when you let a guy who knows nothing about music name a music festival."

The sisters both shared a good laugh.

"Ever since he married Peggy he wants to project the image that he's this perfect blended family. Two daughters and one little one on the way."

Tandy smirked, "Except one of the daughters isn't his, and his wife is crazy."

"Well don't let Daphne hear you say that, she just adores Peggy."

"Daphne's a sweetheart, she adores everyone so that doesn't mean anything. When are you performing?"

"Not until tomorrow, I'm supposed to do that duet that Luke and I wrote together, but now that we're on the outs we'll see. Scarlett is singing today so I came by to oversee the performance. "

"Is she still your only artist? You really need to find at least one or two more."

"Well, I might have another artist, and be able to break away from Edgehill all at once."

"What other artist?"

"Juliette."

"What? Did you just say Juliette? The girl you once referred to as Miss Sparkly Pants? She's leaving Edgehill to join your label?"

"Well, it would be more of a joint label since she'd be bringing a big part of the funding."

"I know she has a lot of money, but where is she getting $40 million to buy out both her's and your contracts?"

"That rich boyfriend of hers, Charlie Wentworth."

"I thought he was married?"

"He is, but he's getting a divorce. Apparently Miss Sparkly Pants has something special in there that men just can't resist."

"You should ask Deacon, didn't he sleep with her?"

"Don't remind me. Sharing a record label is one thing, sharing a man I don't even want to think about."

Rayna and Tandy made their way to the stage where Scarlett was performing.

When they got there Rayna spotted Deacon and Megan standing by the side talking to Scarlett. She hesitated for a second before going up to them to collect herself. She had no reason to dislike Megan, she was a perfectly lovely woman, but Rayna hated her all the same.

"Hi there, you ready for your number?"

"Yes Ma'am. This isn't going to be a repeat of Houston. I'm feeling pretty good, and I've got my family here just in case." Scarlett motioned towards Deacon.

"Well, I for one can't wait to hear you sing Scarlett," Megan interjected.

Rayna gave her a weak smile hoping to hide her distaste.

As Scarlett went out on stage and began to play Rayna and Tandy settled near the side of the stage, and Deacon and Megan out front.

All of a sudden they heard a commotion going on by the carnival rides on the other side of the lawn. Tandy stopped a twenty-something man who was running through the crowd.

"What's going on over there?"

"The EMTs are there. Some teenagers were fooling around on the ferris wheel and two of the girls fell off. One of them is unconscious."

"How awful," Rayna replied. "There needs to be more security at these things."

All of a sudden Peggy came running over to Rayna waving frantically.

"Oh man, what does she want," Rayna whispered to Tandy as she approached.

"Rayna, it's Maddie. She's been in an accident!"

"What?!"

"She was fooling around with some boys from her school and she fell. They're taking her to the hospital. Teddy's with her."

"Oh my god." Rayna ran down the steps to the front of the stage and grabbed Deacon. "Deacon! Maddie's been hurt."

"What?! Where? How?"

"I don't know, she fell off of the damn ferris wheel, they're taking her to the hospital."

Rayna rushed to her car with Peggy, Deacon, and Megan in tow. Tandy stayed behind to watch a crying Daphne who had been following Peggy.

Deacon turned to Rayna. "Megan brought her car so we'll meet you at the hospital."

When the entourage reached Vanderbilt Teddy was in the waiting room, and Rayna rushed up to him.

"Is she okay? Why do these things always happen when she's under your watch?"

"She's a teenager Rayna, I can't watch her every minute. She has three parents I'm not the only one responsible here."

Rayna started to yell something else at Teddy, but Deacon came up behind her and placed his hands on her arms rubbing them up and down to calm her.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay. We're not helping her by getting mad at each other."

Despite the terrible circumstances Rayna thought how good it felt to have Deacon touching her. She relaxed right away then turned her head to thank him. "You're right, I'm sorry. I'm just scared."

"I know, we all are."

A few minutes later the doctor came out from the ICU. "Maddie Conrad's parents?"

Rayna, Deacon and Teddy stepped forward. "That would be us," Rayna said.

"She suffered a mighty fall and really bumped her head, but she's going to be alright."

"Oh, thank god." Rayna relaxed back into Deacon who had been standing behind her.

"We just need to keep her overnight for observation. Just to make sure we haven't missed anything."

"Alright, can we see her?"

"Just for 5 minutes, and she's still not completely stable so only her real parents." The doctor said noticing the proliferation of parents hanging out in the waiting room.

The rest of you can see her when you come back at 7:00 in the morning."

"I'm not leaving my baby," Rayna objected.

"I understand, but there's nothing for you to do here. She's going to be fine. You'll be a better help to her tomorrow if you get some sleep tonight."

Rayna reluctantly agreed.

Rayna, Deacon, and Teddy stepped forward to enter Maddie's room.

"Just the real father," the doctor repeated. "Which one is that?

"I'm her father," Deacon said.

"No, I'm her father," Teddy said more forcefully.

The doctor looked a little exasperated. "Alright let's try it this way, only the biological parents can go in."

Deacon gave Teddy a snide smile and followed Rayna into the room. Teddy grumbled something under his breath, then sat back down with Peggy in the waiting room.

The doctor walked Rayna and Deacon into Maddie's room. "Your parents are here."

Rayna noticed she looked really small sitting in the big bed and it scared her. It reminded her of when Maddie was a little girl and she'd gotten her tonsils out and had to stay in the hospital overnight.

"Hey sweetheart."

"Hey guys, you don't have to worry about me, I'm okay."

"Good," Rayna said. "Then I can just be mad. "What in the hell were doing up there with the boys Maddie? You have to be more careful."

"I know mom, I was just fooling around, and then the car started to swing out of control and Brian couldn't get it to stop. It was an accident."

"You could have died! You could be paralyzed right now. You know how it would change your life to be paralyzed?"

"Calm down Ray, she's ok. She knows she messed up and she's not going to do it again? Right?" Deacon said.

"Right," Maddie replied.

Rayna was still a little agitated, and Deacon tried to calm her. "Why don't you go out in the waiting room and I'll meet you out there. I just want a minute alone with Maddie if that's alright?"

Rayna looked at the two of them. She didn't want to leave her daughter, but she knew it was important for Deacon and Maddie to have their own bond. "Alright, but I'll be back here first thing tomorrow morning to see you ok, and we're going to discuss this when you get home."

Once Rayna left Maddie turned to Deacon, "Why does she have to be like that? It was just an accident. I'm not a baby I know what I'm doing."

"I know you're not, and so does she. She's just scared cause she's your mamma and she loves you. I was scared too."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Deacon smiled at Maddie.

"I wish you were always around Deacon."

"I am always around."

"I mean I wished we all lived together."

"Oh, I see."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, ask me anything."

"Do you still love mom?"

Deacon thought a minute before answering. "I will always love your mamma. She's a special lady."

"Then why can't you guys be together?"

"I thought you liked Megan?"

"I do, I mean, she's fine, but she's not mom."

"No, she's not." Deacon took Maddie's hand in his own. "Let's talk about this when you're all better okay?"

"Okay."

"Your mamma and I will see you in the morning, oh, and you should know that Teddy wanted to come in and see you too, but they were only letting biological parents in."

Maddie smiled back at him. "Goodnight Deacon."

"Goodnight Darlin'."

Back out in the waiting room Peggy approached Teddy running her hand down his back, "Come on, let's go home. We can be back at 7:00."

Megan walked up to Deacon and wrapped her arm through his. "We should probably be heading home too."

"Actually Megan, I'm going to make sure that Rayna gets home ok. I'll call you tomorrow."

Megan was a little taken aback, but there was really nothing she could say in this situation. She let go of Deacon's arm and headed towards the door. "Call me if you need anything."

Deacon walked back to Rayna. He took her hand. "Come on, let's get out of here." Rayna was reluctant to leave, but Deacon managed to coax her to the car.

##

Deacon drove the SUV back to Rayna's house since she was still shaking like a leaf. She called Tandy while he drove to giver her a report on Maddie. She told Rayna that Daphne had passed out on her couch after eating a whole bowl of popcorn and a chocolate bar.

Once inside the house Deacon placed the keys down on the table and pulled Rayna into his arms stroking her hair gently. "Come here, it's going to be okay. The doctor said she'll be fine."

Rayna looked up at Deacon. "I know, I just… you think you're doing your best to keep your kids safe, and then something like this happens."

Deacon kissed Rayna on the forehead, swirling his fingers lightly over the light cotton fabric on her back. "You must be starving, have you eaten?"

"I guess I am kind of hungry."

"Why don't you go in the bedroom and change into your pajamas and I'll whip something up, okay?"

"Sure, that sounds great."

Rayna went into her bedroom stripping off her jeans and blouse. She pulled a tank top and shorts out of her drawer and threw them on. By the time she made it back out to the kitchen Deacon was by the stove cracking eggs into a pan.

"I hope scrambled eggs will do, I didn't see much else in the fridge."

Rayna smiled and laughed. "Eggs are just perfect."

She continued to stare at him until he sensed he was being watched. "What?"

"Nothing, I just like a man who knows how to cook eggs."

"Well these are my special eggs. You're never going to want another man's eggs after you have these," Deacon joked.

"I already don't," she replied.

Deacon looked over at her sensing her double meaning and quickly scooped the finished eggs onto two plates. Then he grabbed forks and sat down next to her while they ate. Her heart was racing a bit too quickly at the proximity of their bodies, and she tried her hardest to concentrate on the food. After they finished Deacon gathered the dishes and piled them in the sink, then he walked over to Rayna and moved a piece of hair out from in front of her face.

"You look exhausted. You should get some sleep." He took her hand leading her to her bedroom. When he reached the bed he pulled back the covers and motioned for her to get in. Rayna obeyed slipping between the cool sheets and her down comforter. It felt good to be in her bed after the day she had. It felt even better to be there with Deacon. He leaned over kissing the top of her head.

"I'll bunk on the couch."

As he turned to go Rayna grabbed his arm pulling him lightly back towards the bed. Deacon paused for a moment staring at her magenta manicured fingers clutched around his forearm. Rayna could tell that the wheels were turning in his head, and she wasn't sure how this was going to end. Then all of a sudden he looked back at her pleading eyes and nodded. Rayna let go of his arm as he unbuttoned the black shirt and slipped his boots and jeans off. He lay them on the chair in the corner, then once again he pulled back the down comforter and slid into the sheets next to Rayna. He reached out for her, pulling her body into his arms and against his bare chest. Rayna had only wanted the comfort of having him there, she was trying not to think of him in a sexual way tonight, but the physical contact was almost too much for her to handle after all this time, and her whole body ached with need as she tangled her legs up with his. She took a deep breath and tried not to think about how much she wanted him.

"Goodnight Deacon, thanks for being here."

"Goodnight Ray."

##

Blackness was still enveloping the room when Rayna was startled awake by the sound of someone softly crying. For a moment she didn't know what was going on. She batted open her weary eyes and looked at the clock. It read 3:30am. Then she turned over and realized the crying was coming from the man lying beside her.

"Hey, are you ok?"

"Sorry Ray, I didn't mean to wake you."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just…I was so scared tonight. I have never loved anyone or anything the way that I love Maddie, and I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost her."

Rayna rolled over pulling him into her arms the way he had done with her before they'd gone to sleep. He buried his head in her chest as she slowly stroked his hair.

"Weren't you the one who said she was going to be fine and we shouldn't worry?"

"Yeah, and I meant it, but… I've never had feelings this strong before Rayna...except maybe for you. If I'm being honest with you, when we were in the hospital, and were waiting for the doctor to tell us what was up with Maddie's condition I really wanted a drink Ray."

Rayna sat in silence for a moment. She wasn't sure what to say. She wanted to be supportive, but she also knew she wasn't allowed to coddle his addiction anymore.

"Do you still want one now?"

"Kind of."

"I'm not going to stop you from doing what you want to do Deacon, but I'll be here with you as long as you need me too."

"Thanks Ray."

"Do you want to go get a drink?"

"No, I want to be here with you, I want to be sober tomorrow when we see our daughter."

Rayna breathed a sigh of relief, "Good."

"I'm just a little shaky that's all."

Rayna slid out from under Deacon and walked around to his side of the bed. Then she reached out her hand to him.

"Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"Remember what used to calm you when you had those cravings?"

Rayna grabbed Deacon's hand and led him into the bathroom. He'd never been in her bathroom before. When they were dating they'd always stayed at his house due to the girls. There was a large stone shower in the corner of the room surrounded by glass. He watched her as she walked over and turned on the hot water steaming up the room. Then she stepped out from behind the glass removing her tank top and shorts. Deacon stood there motionless just watching the way she was moving.

Rayna walked over to him. She hooked her fingers in the waistband of his boxers and pushed them to the floor, then she once again took his hand and led him into the shower. She shut the door behind them and angled the showerhead so it was pouring down on his head and back. Rayna reached her hands up running her fingers through his hair as the hot water streamed over his shoulders and down onto his chest. She got secret enjoyment as she looked down and realized how excited he was to be that close to her, but she'd been with enough men to know that could just be an involuntary reaction to the water and the close proximity of any naked woman. She began to step away to reach the soap when Deacon stopped her. She looked at him in surprise, not sure of what he was intending. Without saying a word he ran his hands down her back landing on her ass. Rayna really had only thought of the shower as a way to distract him from the drinking and of the day's events with Maddie, but the moment his hands came to rest all she wanted was to be closer. She looked up into his eyes and could see the dark desire that she felt through every inch of her body reflected back at her. He pulled her towards him until she felt him hard against her stomach. She wanted him so badly, but she wanted him to make the first move, to take her in the way she'd been dreaming about for months. Deacon slid one hand up into her hair, then he pulled her head towards his so their foreheads were pressed together and Rayna couldn't tell where her breaths ended and his began.

They stood there like that for what seemed like hours to Rayna, but was probably only a handful of seconds before Deacon tilted her head pulling it to his as his mouth came crashing down on hers. And then there was no stopping them. Hands and lips and slick skin were everywhere. Deacon pushed her back against the wall of the shower lifting her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. He moaned into her mouth as she squeezed him between her thighs before lessening her grip so he had room to enter her. The moment they were joined together a wave of relief and ecstasy reverberated through Rayna's body. It felt so good to be close to him, to know for at least this moment he was hers. Deacon pulled her close burying his head in her wet strands. "Oh my sweet baby, my love," he said breathlessly.

It felt so good to hear him call her baby again, she hadn't even realized how much she'd missed it until that very moment. "I love you so much Deacon," Rayna mumbled into his neck before running her nails down his back. The intensity of the contact spurred Deacon on causing his thrusts to become deeper and more forceful.

Just when she was about to reach her climax Deacon stopped thrusting and pulled out. Rayna made a cry of protest and Deacon looked down at her smiling. He eased her back to her feet and then turned her around so her back was to him and her hands were pressed against the steamed up walls of the shower. Then he eased himself back inside of her. The new angle was even more delicious than the last and it wasn't long before Rayna was screaming out Deacon's name, and he was pulling her hard against him as he came.

They stood there for a moment, not wanting to break the contact. Rayna reached around pulling Deacon's head towards hers so they could share a slow and tender kiss. When they parted he swept her up into his arms and carried her back to the bedroom grabbing a towel as he exited.

Deacon lay her on the bed then towel dried her hair and body following the path of the towel with tender kisses. Rayna was in total bliss and then suddenly she felt guilty when she realized that she hadn't thought about Maddie since they'd entered the shower. Right away Deacon sensed her discomfort.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know, this is wonderful, but I guess something feels wrong about making love like this when our daughter is in a hospital bed."

"Do you want me to go?"

"No, I want you to hold me all night long, and never let me go. I just wish it was under better circumstances."

Deacon brushed the hair out of Rayna's eyes. "Maddie would be happy that we're here together."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Are you happy?" Rayna asked.

"Yeah, I'm happy."

"Good." Rayna lay back in the bed and Deacon rested his head on her chest while she played with his hair. They lay that way for a while until Rayna broke the silence.

"Maybe we should have another baby."

Deacon began to laugh. "You're joking right, a baby?"

"I don't know, I guess I'm joking, but not totally."

He turned his head so that he could look up at her face. "Ray, we're not even really back together."

"I know, but I'm not getting any younger, and I thought you wanted another child?"

Deacon rolled on top of her holding her arms against the bed. "Tonight we should just be thinking about the one child we do have okay?"

Rayna's body stilled at his contact. "Yeah, you're right, I'm sorry. I'm just being silly. I think nearly losing Maddie today has just frazzled all of my nerves and sent me a little over the edge."

Deacon smiled a devious smile at her, "well let me calm some of those nerves."

He reached down kissing her softly, then almost immediately deepened the kiss. After a moment he pulled back to look at her. "I love you Ray, never doubt that, but I think we need to get through this situation with Maddie first and figure stuff out with us, then we can discuss any future family we might want to have. Is that good?"

Rayna smiled back adoringly, "Yeah, that's good."