Deacon was sitting in the lounge outside the studio with his guitar working on a song. Bucky knocked on the doorframe.
"Are you busy?"
"No, come in Bucky."
"I have those pictures we talked about at the party."
"You have? I have been looking forward to see them."
Bucky handed him a envelope. Deacon put away his guitar and took the envelope and opened it. He was surprised at so many levels, first at the amount of pictures, it was so many. Then the intensity of them. He had thought about what Bucky said about his eyes and the way he looks at Rayna. He had heard it before during when they were together the first time when they were young, not during her marriage or after. But he had never looked at it in the old pictures that he had seen before but now he saw at these pictures with new eyes, seeing what everyone else sees. And he agreed with Bucky, if he diden´t know better himself he would definitely think they were having a affair. Then all those pictures with him, Rayna and the girls. Most was with only Maddie. At that time he was sober otherwise Ray wouldn´t had allowed him being near the girls, but the thing was he diden´t remember spending that much time with them without Teddy being there. He could maybe pick out out four or five occasions but the rest he had no memories of. They looked like a normal family.
Bucky saw the different expressions shifted in Deacon´s eyes and face. From happy to intense love to a quick sad look then back to happy. Bucky could almost imagine what Deacon was feeling right about now. He haden´t looked at the pictures in years but now when he picked them out from their hiding place, he looked at them again. They were really lovely pictures. Two people who love each other so much you could literally see it. Perhaps not socially appropriated at the time considering Rayna was married but they both probably diden´t know other people could see it that clearly. They were careful not to get caught in situations that could lead to speculations but diden´t know how telling their eyes and looks could be sometimes. Now when they are married and perfectly acceptable to show their feelings openly, it warms his heart that they still look at each other like they have for over twenty eight years now.
All those pictures with them and the girls. Those that don´t know them would assume that the man in the pictures is the dad, not a uncle that isen´t a real uncle by blood but the children´s mother´s guitar player. They looked like every other ordinary family out on a walk, having a picnic or having fun at the swings.
"I love these pictures. Thanks Bucky. I promise I will tell Ray. If I know her right she will be upset with you but not for the reason you think. Not for the blackmailing attempts but for keeping these pictures from her. She will love them, they are lovely pictures. I will see to it that she isen´t gonna yell at you either way. Thanks again Bucky."
"You are welcome. They are wonderful pictures indeed. I will let you get back to that song, cya later Deacon."
"Bye."
Rayna was pondering a bit where she sat on a flight to New York. On her left side sat Daphne who has spent the first half an hour looking out the window even long after when she could see anything else then clouds. Now she had earphones in and her eyes were closed, it looked like she was sleeping. Daphne had been thrilled when they told her they were going out on a tour this summer, all three of them. Now they were going to New York for Maddie´s release party at Lennox Hill. She and Deacon did listen to the demo and she was so relieved that they diden´t were like Wild Card. Heather said they diden´t but it was good to hear herself. Rayna was quite surprised by the sound of the songs. They sounded more mature then those she wrote with Daphne but still not that different. She know Maddie diden´t wrote all songs alone, three were co-written and two were written by others and chosen by Caitlyn herself. One was actually one of Maddie´s and Daphne´s old songs. There she was proven wrong when she thought Maddie´s label wouldn´t allow Maddie to use her old songs. Maddie herself had matured so much this past year, it it was the emancipation or just normal ageing is going to be hard to proven. Now when they were back on track after the fall out of the emancipation maybe it wasen´t all bad after all. Maybe it was suppose to be, like her and Deacon´s story. Their life wouldn´t be like it´s today if they were to marry young. Maybe it had been good or it could been worse, that they will never know. Anyway she is happy that Maddie isen´t under Cash´s influence anymore, Heather has really been good for her. She is so grateful to Glenn for finding Heather.
Rayna looked to her right where Deacon sat. He was reading a magazine. She looked for a little while before she couldn´t resist anymore. She leaned towards him and kissed his cheek. He turned his head and their lips met in a real kiss. He raised his eyebrows in a silent question.
"Nothing, just wanted too." Rayna took his arm in arm and put her free hand on his forearm and caressed it. She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
Rayna and Deacon were in their hotel room getting dressed up for go out and have dinner with Maddie. Deacon put on his white dress shirt and started button it.
"Tonight we are going out with Maddie and the day after tomorrow it´s the release party, that leaves tomorrow free. Do you want to go out just you and me? We can leave Daphne with Maddie."
"Are you asking me out on a date?
"Yes, is there a rule you can´t ask your wife out on a date? I can count on the fingers of one hand the number we have been out on a real date."
"No, no rule, just clarifying. So what does this date including?"
"I guess the usually, movie and dinner maybe dancing and a good night kiss at the end of the evening. But I hope for more then just a kiss if I should be honest."
"Oh yeah? What do you have in mind?"
"Both of us naked and doing a lot more then kissing for starters."
"Well I have to think about it." Rayna said with a flirtatious smile.
"You do that, will you let me know what you decide?"
"You will be the first one to know." Rayna stood up and walked over to him. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Yes, I say yes. I want to go on a date with you."
Deacon smiled at her and they kissed again.
"It was a long time since we had a movie night Maddie. It will be fun."
"Yes it was. It´s been a crazy one and a half year. Me being immature and stupid enough to hang out with Cash and listen too much to her. Hurting everyone in my family. Stuck with a contract that at first I diden´t want but now I have to do the best I can with it as I have no choice. I´m feeling better now with the situation when I got Heather. She has been helping me a lot."
"Are you nervous for tomorrow?"
"Yes a little. Even if Caitlyn rushed this album I think we did good with it. It´s all good songs and I love them but it´s a bit strange doing this by myself. I thought the first album I would do would be with you, should been with you. We been singing together all our lives and now when we finally recording songs it´s by ourselves, not together."
"I thought that too. I know we wouldn´t sing together forever but I thought at least the first album we would record for real, professional was gonna be together. Mom says the age difference between us is the biggest it will ever get now. Our lives would changed when you gone to college anyhow, now it just got a bit sooner then that."
"I´m really sorry for all of it Daphne."
"It´s ok. I have already forgiven you for it. It´s all in the past now. I can´t be sad or mad as mom and dad is taking me on a summer tour."
"Yeah mom told me. That sounds amazing, it will be so much fun for you. I can´t wait to hear all about it, you must report to me as often as you can."
"I will. What movie are we going to see?"
"You chose movie and I fix the popcorn and drinks." Maddie walked to the kitchen while Daphne skimmed through the movie selection.
Rayna and Deacon sat at a window table on a sky roof restaurant with the wonderful view of a evening light Manhattan. They had just finished their dessert. Rayna reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers.
"I haven´t been to the movies in ages, must have been when the girls were little and we went on a childrens movie. You are right, we haven´t been on many dates, you and me alone dining out on a restaurant. I had a wonderful time."
"Me too."
"We should do this more often."
"Maybe we should, it´s easier here where people don´t recognize you or don´t care. Back home we would be lucky if we managed one night out in town without anyone disturbing, even if it´s just to say hi or take a photo."
"True, while I love my fans I wish they could let it stick to that at concerts, meet and greats, red carpet etc, where it´s a part of my job. Not while I´m out having dinner with my family or having a romantic evening with my husband, then I wish they could respect that."
"It´s unfortunately a part of the fame. That´s one thing why I diden´t pursue a solo career that hard, I diden´t want the fame that comes along with it. I was happy being your band leader. People diden´t care about me, if they did they were just wondering what a guy like me was doing with a woman like you."
"You can´t really think that still, do you? You are the most handsome gorgeous man on the planet. So you tell me you haven´t noticed all the girls and women that look at you?"
"What other women? I only see you Ray. You are the most beautiful woman in the world, always been and always will. I love you Ray." Deacon lifted their joint hands and kissed her fingers.
"Nice save. I don´t believe you but I will let it pass this time, because you said so nice things to me."
"I meant every word Ray."
"So do I Deacon. Believe me when I say you are a very handsome man. Sometimes I can´t get anything done because I can´t stop looking at you." Deacon smiled and kissed her hand again.
"Are you ready? Shall we go for a stroll before we go back to our hotel room and you show me how you wanted this date to finish? I mean so I don´t make the mistake and just kiss you good night." Rayna said smiling. Deacon continued smiling and signaled a waiter to check out.
Rayna stood beside Deacon holding his hand and Daphne stood infront of them. They had just listen to Caitlyn Donovon´s opening speech and introduction of Lennox Hill´s newest additions. There were four artists in total, another young girl, a solo man, a duo of two men and then Maddie. They were preparing to perform a song each and Maddie was the first one up. David walked to the set up stage and took up his guitar from the case. Maddie was handed a microphone and walked to the stage. Rayna thought Maddie looked nervous, she was smiling and looked very happy but nervous. During Maddie´s performance Rayna felt so much joy, so much pride that this girl is their daughter. The demo they listened to was a rough copy, this was so much better.
Daphne looked at them and her whole face was one big beaming smile. Rayna smiled back and cast a glance at Deacon and he was smiling too. When Maddie was done she came to them. Rayna hold out her arms and Maddie ran the last bit right into her arms for a hug.
"That was so great, you were so good sweetie."
"Thanks Mom."
"Yes Maddie, that was so awesome. It was beautiful." Daphne chimed in when it was her turn to hug Maddie.
"I agree with both previous speakers, you were incredible Maddie. It´s a beautiful song. Is that one of your own songs, or a co-write?"
"Sort of a co-write, I did almost the whole song on my own. Heather helped with a line here and there."
"I´m so proud of you Maddie."
"Thanks Dad, thanks all of you."
"While they listened to the other artists Heather and David joined them.
"See I told you, you would do great. It was fantastic Maddie."
"I´m so glad that´s over so I don´t have to be nervous anymore."
"Rayna, you have a minute?"
"Sure." Rayna and Heather went a bit away from the others.
"Did you listen to the demo?"
"Yes I did."
"What did you think? It wasen´t that bad as I´m sure you thought it to be?"
"You are right, now and then. You said I diden´t have to worry about the songs and I diden´t. It was such a relief I can tell you. I thought the songs was wonderful. Maddie said you helped her write it."
"Not much, just one phrase. Maddie did the rest. It´s sure a pretty song. On another note, how did that wager go between you two if you don´t mind me asking?"
A smile formed on Rayna´s lips. "We both came out of that bet as winners."
"Good for both of you then."
"It sure was."
Heather turned a bit and raised her voice. "Maddie, will you come over here plz?
Maddie came over to them. "Yes Heather?
"I see Caitlyn wants to introduce you to a number of people. If you will excuse us Rayna."
"Of course."
When they walked away Rayna looked around the room and saw at least two radio directors that did attend her party too. David was still talking to Deacon and Daphne and she was about to join them again when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Rayna!"
"Juliette! Avery! What a pleasent surprise. What are you doing here?" Rayna hugged them both.
"Maddie asked me to come. I hope that is ok with you?"
"Yes of course. Why wouldn´t it be ok?"
"Last time we saw each other I wasen´t on my best behaviour and all bad things I said. Leaving you and your label like that."
"You were dealing with some heavy personal problems at the time."
"That´s no excuse and you diden´t? You were dealing with Deacon´s cancer."
"Yes but he survived it and we diden´t lose him, but we almost lost you."
"I hit rock bottom you could say. I was in so bad shape, it´s a miracle I stand here today. Like it wasen´t enough a man died saving me, I did another attempt in rehab with pills this time. I diden´t believe I had any problems and refused all help Avery, Glenn or Emily tried to offer me. Then I made the big mistake to add too much alcohol to the disease I know now I had which led to that fateful evening. Now with therapy I have slowly been able to work through my problems."
"I´m forever thankful to your doctor so Cadence and I can have you in our lives, alive and happy."
"I´m so glad that therapy helped you. It certainly helped me and Deacon."
"Yes it helped me so much. Helped me get my priorities right, from thinking me me me and my career to that I have a daughter. I´m not the only singer that had a baby. I just need to find that balance like you and all others have done. It has been so good for me to stay away from the spotlight this past year, just being home with Cadence and Avery. I´m so sorry that I couldn´t attend yours and Deacon´s wedding but I hope you will come to ours? We are going to get remarried."
"You are? How wonderful. I´m so happy for both of you."
"I love this woman and I want to spend my life with her and our children. We are expecting an addition to the family. Juliette is carrying our second child."
"Congratulation. I´m so happy for you. I don´t seem to find any words, I just repeat myself but it´s wonderful news."
"Yes it is. We are so looking forward to it."
"My biggest fear is that I will get sick again, but now we all are better prepared for it. We know what signs to look for now and my therapist is going to live with us the first two months. Just in case, just to be sure."
"We don´t want that so it sounds like a good idea. If you want to talk I´m just a phone call away."
"Thanks Rayna."
"I want to thank you for lending Glenn to Maddie and found Heather, she is a godsend. She has been so good for Maddie."
"My pleasure, I diden´t like Cash either but I can´t take the credit for finding Heather. That´s all Glenn´s work but I have met her and agree with you. She is perfect for Maddie and after what we heard today it´s a perfect match."
"Juliette!" They both turned when they heard Maddie´s voice from a distance.
"I leave you to talk alone." Rayna hugged Juliette. "Don´t be a stranger now. Bye."
"Bye Rayna."
"Juliette! I´m so happy you came."
"Of course I came. I wouldn´t miss it for the world. Maddie you were great, that was a beautiful song."
"Thanks, I really like it. Look at you, you look great."
"I feel much better now, staying home with my family has helped a lot. I missed so much when I was sick, so lets go and sit down and you can tell me all about how it was to record your first album." They went to a group of armchairs and sat down.