Here it is – the Two Old Hippies open mic scene! Hope you like it.

Rayna was a little nervous walking into Two Old Hippies. First, for Maddie, who was making her open mic debut. She knew Maddie was talented, but Rayna knew her daughter was anxious about singing in public, even at a kids' open mic event, so she was anxious for her.

The other reason she was nervous was because Deacon was coming. Everything had been so strained between the two of them, ever since he'd found out Maddie was his daughter. She would typically only see him briefly, when she'd pick up Maddie from a guitar lesson. But last week, he had invited her and Daphne in. Actually Maddie had asked if they could come in and he had agreed. Rayna hadn't been able to tell if he was reluctant or not. But he and Maddie had played one of Deacon's songs for them and Daphne had jumped in and lent her voice to harmonize. Rayna's eyes had filled with tears as she'd listened to the three of them together. She especially paid attention to Maddie, who seemed happier than she'd seen her in a long time. She hoped that maybe the impasse she and Deacon seemed to be stuck at for so many months had finally started to break down.

She didn't think, when Maddie had invited him, that Deacon would come, but he'd agreed immediately. She was hopeful that it was a positive sign. He no longer seemed full of anger around her, but it still felt like they were a long way from being able to talk to each other about anything other than Maddie. They were both still in therapy, separately, so Rayna hoped this meant a breakthrough.

She dressed carefully, in a flattering white wrap dress with red polka-dots. Her hair fell in smooth waves down her back and she wore the diamond earrings Deacon had given her when she'd gotten her first headline tour.

Maddie was the one who'd told her originally that he'd decided to try a solo career again. She was proud of him for putting himself out there like that, after all these years. Maddie had told her he'd recorded an album and had played it for her when Deacon had given her a copy. In fact, she played it endlessly, and Rayna had been impressed with how good it was. Recording it live at the Bluebird had been inspired and had really made it special. She knew he was opening for Luke Wheeler on his Cowboy Party tour. She'd heard Deacon was getting good buzz, enough so that Luke apparently was annoyed. Bucky had shared that little tidbit with her after a recent meeting at Edgehill. She had to laugh at that. Deacon was so much more authentic than Luke. She found herself thinking about how unpredictable success could be. Deacon was definitely the better musician and singer, yet Luke was the one that had risen to superstardom. She was glad Deacon was getting his shot.

Rayna found a seat and placed her purse on the seat next to hers for Deacon, in case he wanted to sit with her. She had looked around for him when she got there, but he hadn't arrived yet. She was a little worried. She didn't want him to disappoint Maddie. She had an anxious feeling, wondering if he would make it. But then in the middle of the second act, he slid into the seat next to her, handing her her purse. She felt her heart flutter.

"Sorry I'm late," he whispered.

"It's okay. She hasn't gone on yet."

He nodded and smiled at her, then looked up at the stage. She couldn't believe he was sitting this close to her. She'd missed him. So much. When Maddie came on stage, Rayna stole a glance at him. He was beaming and it warmed her heart. She'd been impressed with how well he'd fit into the role of father and how quickly he'd grown into it. I should never have doubted him.

Maddie sang two songs and she did beautifully. She looked so lovely standing up on the stage and the applause had been enthusiastic, which caused her to smile appreciatively. Rayna looked at Deacon. He smiled and shook his head in disbelief. Then he reached for her hand. She held her breath, but he merely squeezed it and then pulled away. She felt a pang of regret.

When the event was over, Maddie happily ran over to her parents. "Dad!" she cried. "I'm so glad you made it."

Deacon gave her a hug as he smiled with pride. "I wouldn't have missed it," he said. "You were great!"

Rayna looked at her daughter with surprise. She hadn't realized Maddie was calling him "Dad" now. She touched Maddie's arm. "You were wonderful, sweet girl," she said, smiling.

Maddie hugged her. "Thanks, Mom," she said. Deacon watched them, thinking Maddie was looking more grown up every day. He could see now that she looked like him, but she also had Rayna's easy grace and lean build. He thought maybe she'd gotten the best of both of them.

"Can we go get ice cream?" Maddie asked, interrupting his thoughts. "Together?"

Rayna looked apologetic. "Deacon might be busy," she said.

He shook his head. "No, actually I'm not. I can go." He smiled.

Rayna's heart fluttered again. She looked shyly at Maddie. "Where do you want to go?"

"Jeni's!" Maddie replied, with a big smile on her face.

When they walked in to Jeni's, Rayna was aware of the buzz around the shop, people looking at her surreptitiously. One thing she appreciated about Nashville was that people didn't invade her space. She often wished she weren't that recognizable. It felt awkward, knowing that people were looking at her and talking about her, even if their words weren't unkind. She was very conscious of people watching now as she, Maddie and Deacon ordered ice cream and then went to a booth. She suspected that Deacon was becoming more recognizable as well, considering his featured position on Luke Wheeler's tour. She sat across from the two of them and she knew it would be obvious that there was some connection between Deacon and Maddie. They had such a natural ease around each other and that showed as they talked to each other.

Rayna leaned forward slightly and smiled at her daughter. "Maddie, you were so good today. I'm so proud of you!"

Maddie smiled and blushed a little. "Thanks, Mom," she said. Then she gave her a playful look. "So when do I get to do a real open mic?"

Rayna scrunched up her face. "That was a real open mic, honey."

Maddie rolled her eyes. "It was for kids. I want to do one that's not for kids."

"Not until you finish school."

Maddie looked at Deacon. "Can't you talk her into it? Remind her that she was sixteen when she started out?"

Deacon chuckled. "I'm not going to fight with your mama on this, Maddie." He glanced quickly at Rayna, then back at Maddie. "Besides, I agree with her. And you're not even sixteen yet anyway."

Maddie huffed. "That's not fair."

Deacon put his arm around her shoulder. "It was a different time back then, Maddie. And finishing school is the right thing to do. You want to have options."

Maddie frowned. "I don't need options, I want to be a singer. Like you and Mom. I don't understand why you won't help me."

Rayna reached across the table for Maddie's hand. "We will help you, sweet girl. When you're a little older."

Maddie scowled. Deacon looked at Rayna and smiled apologetically. Rayna felt her heart race as she smiled and shrugged, feeling a little like they were finally starting to reconnect, with that unspoken language of parents. It was a start, and one she'd gladly take.

Deacon hugged Maddie warmly outside the ice cream shop. He smiled down at her. "I'm so proud of you, Maddie," he said. "You did so good today."

Maddie beamed. "Thanks, Dad. It was fun."

He looked at Rayna. "I think she's gonna be special," he said. "Whether we want her to or not."

Rayna smiled. "We'll just have to make sure we get her started off right." She glanced at Maddie. "When the time comes," she said, a warning look in her eyes.

"Thanks for inviting me, Maddie," Deacon said. "I need to get going. I'll see you Tuesday before I go out again."

Maddie nodded. "I'll see you then." She waved and then turned to walk to the car.

Rayna hesitated for just a moment. "I'm glad you came," she said.

"Me too." They looked at each other for a long moment. Then Deacon took a deep breath and looked past her. Rayna let out a tiny sigh, realizing it was time to go. Deacon stood and watched her turn towards Maddie and then watched them walk away. He felt a tiny stir inside him as his eyes followed her. He wanted to say he was watching Maddie, but he knew that wasn't the case. In the beginning, he knew his anger was pure and true. But as time had gone on, he'd found himself sometimes wanting to just stop being so angry. He wanted her to acknowledge all that she had done, though, and take responsibility somehow. But when he was honest with himself, he knew there was an emptiness inside him now that she had always filled. He was trying to do what Dr. Harris suggested, forgive Rayna. It wasn't an easy thing, but Dr. Harris had told him it would not be. As he'd thought about the act of forgiveness, he'd realized that he was ready to move past the hurt and the pain. He did want to develop a partnership with Rayna to be parents for their daughter. He wasn't quite sure if he wanted anything else, or if it was even possible, but he thought that was enough for now.

When they were on the highway headed home, Rayna glanced over at Maddie. "How did that feel?" she asked.

Maddie turned and smiled. "Like a family," she said. "For a minute, anyway."

Rayna's eyes widened. That wasn't what she'd meant and it surprised her that Maddie had gone in that direction. "It was nice to do something together," she said carefully.

Maddie suddenly looked serious. "Do you think you and Deacon can work things out? Maybe get back together? Daphne and I talked about it and we think that would be good."

Rayna wasn't sure what to say at first. She and Maddie had talked a lot about Deacon and her early relationship with him, since Maddie had questions any child might have about their parents. Maddie had begun sharing more about her visits with Deacon and how comfortable she was feeling with him. Rayna and Daphne had even talked, when Daphne had expressed some wistfulness over the new direction of Maddie's life and how it felt like it was drawing the sisters apart a bit. It had been a learning process for all of them and Rayna thought that it probably was a good thing that she and Deacon had not been working on their own relationship at the same time Maddie was navigating hers. She sighed then and answered her daughter's question. "I don't know, Maddie. What I did was really hurtful to him, maybe even more than to you. I don't know if we can work it all out." She smiled sadly. "I'd like to, though. I hope we can. Someday."

Maddie looked at her mother and sighed, nodding slightly. Then she turned her head and looked out the window. Rayna glanced over at her daughter and saw the sag of her shoulders. There was such an emptiness inside her where there used to be Deacon and she wondered if she'd ever get that back.

Rayna was fixing dinner when she heard her phone and picked it up. She was startled to see it was Deacon. "Hey," she said, her voice more calm than she felt.

"Hey." He paused. "Maddie was really good today, wasn't she?"

Rayna smiled. "She was. It scares me a little."

Deacon chuckled softly. "I know. She reminds me of you. So headstrong and confident."

Rayna felt her heart beat faster. "Maybe a little."

"The reason I called was that I, uh, I think it might be time for us to meet with Dr. Harris again. Together."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I think I'm ready to talk. Are you?"

Rayna took a deep breath. "Yeah. I am."