Rayna

When she woke up, Deacon was looking at her. She smiled. "How long have you been awake?" she asked, snuggling in a little closer.

"Not too long," he said. He put his arm around her waist.

She put her hand on his chest, then let her finger gently trace his surgery scar. "Tandy's in charge of breakfast, so we don't have to get up right away."

"You sure? Can she cook?"

She laughed. "I think she said something about placing an order at Noshville."

He raised his eyebrows. "Ah. That makes more sense." He breathed in. "So what time we gotta go?"

"I'm going to go over about noon. You don't have to go that early." She made a face. "We have a couple trailers there. One for you. One for me and the girls."

"Do I need that?"

"Unless you want to change clothes outside, I'd say yes," she said with a wink. "Anyway, as long as you're there and dressed before two, we're good."

"Everybody else gotta be there at two?"

She nodded. "Yes." She looked behind her at the clock, then back at him. "It's just before nine. Shall we have some wedding morning sex, my love?" She smiled.

He grinned back at her. "I like that idea," he said, rolling towards her.

She put her hand on his chest to stop him. "Actually I was thinking about killing two birds with one stone," she purred. She slid away from him towards the edge of the bed and looked back at him. "Join me in the shower?" she asked playfully. She got up and headed towards the bathroom. He caught up with her when she was halfway there.

The water was streaming down her back as she steadied herself with her hands on the shower wall. He had one hand next to hers, the other splayed across her stomach, as he thrust in and out of her. She breathed in and out in the same rhythm.

"Come for me, baby," he whispered in her ear and she shivered, despite the warmth of the water. She pushed back against him, her legs feeling a little like they might collapse under her. She was right on the edge.

She lowered her head, the water streaming over her hair and down her shoulders. "Harder, babe," she said softly. She reached down between her legs and then cried out with her release, rising up on her toes. "Oh, God, Deacon," she cried out, letting herself roll with the waves of pleasure crashing all around her.

"Oh, Rayna," he shouted and then he collapsed against her back, wrapping his arms around her as they both fought to catch their breath. He nuzzled her neck. "God, baby, you're so good," he murmured.

She smiled, putting her hands over his and leaning back against him. She turned her head towards him. "I learned it all from you," she said softly. "You inspire me."

He chuckled softly. "You inspire me, baby," he said, his voice low and seductive. "I wanna do everything to you."

She closed her eyes and rubbed her back against him. "I sure do like the sound of that," she murmured. Then she sighed. "But I guess we need to get out of here and get something to eat."

He turned her around in his arms and kissed her. Then he smiled. "I promise there'll be more of that tonight," he said, raising one eyebrow.

She grinned. "I can't wait."

Deacon

He walked up behind her as she was brushing her hair, putting his hands on her arms. He leaned in and kissed the back of her head. "You ain't getting no butterflies, are you?" he asked, with a smirk.

She put the brush down and turned around to face him. "Not even one," she said, with a smile. She ran her hands over the collar of his shirt, then smoothed them down his chest. "I'm hungry though. I figure we need a little something before everything gets going. I'll be too excited to eat once we get to the property." She leaned slightly towards him and he would have sworn there were stars in her eyes. "Thank you for waiting, babe," she said softly.

He put his hands on the small of her back. "You were worth the wait," he said. Then he leaned his head back, closing his eyes. "You hang on tight to something you can almost see." He opened his eyes and looked back at her.

She had a surprised look on her face. "That sounds almost like a song, babe," she said.

He made a face and shrugged. "It might be," he said. "Could be." He breathed in. "Your love is like a ghost I can't get my hands around." He smiled a little. "Maybe."

She looked thoughtful, then tilted her head a little to the side. "Did you ever think about someone else maybe being…the one?" she asked. He heard a touch of melancholy in her voice. "Like maybe you didn't want to wait anymore?"

He scrunched up his face and shook his head. The thought of it left a lump in his throat. "Not really," he said. "They weren't you, Rayna."

"I know," she said quietly. "But I wanted you to be happy. I sometimes worried you wouldn't be happy."

He kissed her on the forehead. "I wasn't never gonna be happy if I wasn't with you." Then he frowned. "We shouldn't be talking like this on our wedding day."

She smiled then. "You're right. We should only talk about happy things." She grinned happily. "Like chocolate chip griddle cakes." Then she laughed, the sound that always made him happy.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and turned her towards the door. "We better go see about those griddle cakes then."

Rayna

She was packing up a small bag to take with her to the property when Deacon came in the bedroom. "Hey," she said, stopping what she was doing.

"Hey," he said, walking over to her and giving her a kiss. "You leaving soon?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Lane took my dress and everything, including what I'll change into afterwards. I'm just putting together some stuff for me, for before I get dressed." She reached into the bag and pulled out a box, holding it out to him. "I still have this," she said, looking up at him.

He frowned, taking the box from her. When he opened it, she heard him breathe in. He looked back at her and she saw the hint of tears in his eyes.

"I suppose we could have used it somehow, but I thought maybe it was a better idea to start fresh," she said, her voice quiet. He nodded. "I thought maybe I'd give it to Maddie someday." She shrugged. "Or keep it."

He held the ring in the palm of his hand, then looked up at her. "You mean what you said, back when you gave this to me?" he asked. "That you kept it…."

"Thinking we might need it some day?" she finished. She gave him a tiny smile. "Yeah, I did." She sighed. "Maybe I was being naïve or something, but I always thought that, one day, we'd be able to be together. Maybe when the girls were older and I didn't need…Teddy. Or maybe something else. I don't know." She shrugged.

The look in his eyes was a mix of emotions and she reached up and put a hand on his cheek. "I'd like you to keep it, Ray," he said.

She nodded and took the ring and the box from him. "I will." She put the ring back in the box and then back into her bag. "You're the love of my life, Deacon. You've always been, no matter what we've been through. And now I get to marry you, the way I always wanted to."

He leaned in and kissed her, then put his hand on her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "This is all I ever dreamed of, Rayna. This day. With you."

She smiled and breathed in. "Will you walk me down to my car?" She picked up her bag. "I hate to leave you now, but I'll see you soon."

He took the bag from her and then reached for her hand and together they walked out of the room.

Deacon

Beverly and Scarlett were waiting by the trailer that was his. He drove up and parked, then looked over at Maddie, who was sitting in the front seat. "Y'all gonna go see your mama?" he asked.

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah." She leaned over and put her arms around him. "I'm so happy, Dad," she murmured into his neck.

He hugged her back. "Me too, sweetie." He straightened up and glanced back at Tandy and Daphne. "I guess I'll see y'all, huh?"

"Yep," Tandy said, opening the door and getting out.

He breathed in, wondering if he'd ever win her over. He shook his head, thinking it was unlikely, but he hated that there seemed to be nothing he could do. He got out of the truck and watched Tandy and the girls traipse over to Rayna's trailer. Then he turned to look at his sister and niece. "Y'all ain't gonna hang out with the bride too?" he asked, with a smirk.

Scarlett practically danced over to him, taking his arm and beaming up at him. "We figured you needed someone to hang out with you, make sure you got dressed right, and combed your hair."

He laughed. "You're worried I won't get dressed right?"

Beverly walked over to him and took his other arm. "I can remember a little boy who put his pants on backwards and wore his t-shirts inside out." She gave him a thin smile. "Doesn't hurt to have someone make sure you don't walk out like that on the most important day of your life."

He felt a lump in his throat. He was glad at least she was making an effort. He turned and opened up the back door of the truck and pulled out the garment bag with his wedding suit and his overnight bag. Then he held one hand out towards the trailer. "Let's go then," he said. Scarlett scampered up the trailer steps and he and Beverly followed behind.

Rayna

Rayna looked up as the door to her trailer opened. She was sitting in front of the mirror and her hair stylist was working on her hair. She felt comfortable in her plush white robe and slippers. She smiled happily when she saw Tandy and the girls walk in, all dressed in their wedding day finery. "Hey, y'all," she cried out. She put her hands up to her mouth. "Y'all look so beautiful." She winked at Tandy. "All of you."

Tandy gave her a teasing side-eye. "We left your fiancé in the arguably capable hands of his sister and niece. God help him."

The girls ran up and stood on either side of her. "Mom, you look beautiful," Daphne said, running her hand up and down Rayna's arm.

Rayna looked over at her in the mirror. "Thank you, my sweet girl," she said. "Do you like your dress?"

Daphne shrugged. "It's fine."

Rayna rubbed her lips together, wondering if Daphne was feeling like she was on the outside again. She hoped not. She and Deacon both had worked hard to make sure she was included in everything and she'd been encouraged by the fact that Daphne seemed to be accepting Deacon more as part of the family.

The stylist attached the rhinestone studded barrette into her hair and arranged her hair over her right shoulder. "This what you were thinking, Rayna?" she asked.

Rayna looked at the girls. "What do y'all think?"

Maddie smiled. "I think it looks so romantic, Mom. It'll be perfect with your dress."

She looked up at Maddie and, taking her hand, squeezed it and smiled. "Thank you, honey. I'm so glad you like it." She cut her eyes over to Daphne, who'd wandered over to sit next to Tandy. "Daphne, sweetheart? What do you think?"

Daphne smiled, a smile Rayna recognized as the same kind of smile she'd put on when she was anxious for things to be over. "You look pretty, Mom," Daphne said, her arms crossed over her waist.

Rayna felt some unsettling flutters in her stomach, but tried to ignore them. She looked at her stylist in the mirror. "This looks great. Thank you so much." When the stylist turned and walked out of the trailer, Rayna turned in her chair to face Maddie, who was now sitting on the loveseat, Daphne and Tandy. "So," she said. "Today's a big day. How are y'all really feeling?"

Maddie smiled. "So happy," she said.

Rayna smiled back at her. "I kind of knew this would be like your dream come true."

Maddie nodded. "It is. I'm so happy you and Dad found your way back together." She looked over at Daphne then. "And now we'll all be a family."

Rayna nodded. "That's what I'm hoping for." She looked at all three, but looked a little longer at her sister. "I love Deacon, with all my heart. And I want to marry him. I want us to be a family." She gazed then at her youngest daughter. "I want you to feel like you're part of this, Daphne. You're my daughter too, just like your sister, and it's important to me for you to feel like you're part of this new family. I've told you, and I know he has too, that he loves you. He's always loved you." She laughed a little. "Probably loved you before you were even born." Daphne looked confused and she smiled. "He told me more than once back when we were on the road together that he loved y'all because you were mine. I believed him, because I could see it with my own two eyes. And now the four of us get to build that beautiful family together and we're all part of that." She looked at Daphne. "Even, and especially, you, my darling girl."

Maddie put her arm around her sister. "See? I told you." Daphne rolled her eyes, but Rayna was happy to see that she had a genuine smile on her face.

Rayna looked at Tandy. "And you, my darling sister. Are you ready for this?"

Tandy looked at her thoughtfully and then smiled. "I'm just along for the ride." Rayna frowned slightly and Tandy tilted her head a little. "I'm here to see my sister get married, on one of the happiest days of her life. What could be better than that?"

Rayna wondered if Tandy could really put her enmity towards Deacon aside, but before she had time to really think about it, there was a knock on the door and then Lane popped her head in. "Is the bride ready to get dressed in her beautiful wedding dress?"

"Yes!" Maddie and Daphne squealed and Rayna got up from her chair, laughing. Tandy was only slightly wrong. This was actually the happiest day of her life.

Deacon

Scarlett walked up to him as he stood where Lane had told him to stand. She smiled up at him. "You nervous?"

He shrugged. "Maybe."

She laughed. "No need to be. You're only marrying the love of your life."

He breathed in and smiled. "I guess I just still can't get used to it."

She nodded. "Things working out like they should?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"It's meant to be, Deacon."

"What in the world are y'all talking about?" He and Scarlett turned to face Beverly, who had a quizzical look on her face. "You look like you're about to jump out of your shoes, baby brother."

"He was just telling me he was nervous," Scarlett said.

Beverly rolled her eyes. "Good grief, Deacon. You've only been waiting for this your whole damn life. What's so hard about it?"

He made a face and looked up, then back at his sister. "I got this long set of vows and I don't wanna screw it up. I planned out this perfect honeymoon for her and I want it to stay that way. I just don't wanna disappoint her."

Beverly shook her head. "Baby brother, quit fussing and relax." She narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm going over there" – she pointed at one of the chairs on the front row – "and wait for the show to start." She turned and walked that way. He and Scarlett looked at each other and smiled.

Just then Maddie came running up. "Dad!" she called out.

He pulled her into an embrace. "Hey there, sweet girl," he said with a smile. He looked at Scarlett. "Don't she look pretty?"

Scarlett nodded. "She does." She reached out and fingered the lacy sleeve on Maddie's dress. "I love your dress, Maddie."

Maddie smiled. "Thank you." She turned back to him. "Dad, you look so handsome," she said. "Mom's going to fall in love with you all over again."

He smiled. "Well, that's the plan, I guess."

Scarlett patted his arm. "I need to get set up with Gunnar. I'll see y'all after the wedding."

He nodded, then looked at Maddie. "I see your young man is here." He nodded towards Colt, standing at the back of the chairs. She looked at him with a question in her eyes. "Go talk to him, baby. Just remember, you don't gotta do nothing you don't want."

She smiled and hugged him. "Thanks, Dad." He watched her walk off and he felt a burst of pride. He might not have known she was his daughter until just a few years before, but he couldn't have been prouder of her than if he'd raised her up himself.

He felt a hand on his back and he turned to see Lane and the judge. "Deacon, we're going to get you situated and then have Scarlett and Gunnar sing." She smiled. "And then you'll get to see your bride."

He felt a mix of nerves, excitement, and anticipation. He'd waited a lot of years for this and now he was finally getting everything he wanted. Rayna would be his wife and they would raise up their daughters together and be a family.

He didn't hear the four piece orchestra behind him. He didn't see any of the guests sitting in the chairs in front of him. Everything felt like it faded into the background. Everything except for the radiance of Rayna as she appeared in the aisle between the rows of chairs and started walking towards him.

There had really never been a time when he didn't think she was beautiful. He remembered when he first met her and she was all short curls and freckles, but he thought she was an angel. As the years went on, she was always luminous on stage and steely strong off of it. While he certainly lived through her tears and anger, what he remembered most were the times she was there by his side, her eyes filled with love and hope, her smile courageous and encouraging. And even when she was married to Teddy, engaged to Luke, she was always stunning, saving her sweetest smiles for him. He knew that now.

But today he thought she'd never looked more gorgeous, never looked more amazing. She seemed to float down the aisle to him, her eyes leaving his only to briefly look at the girls. And then there she was, standing next to him, shoulder to shoulder, her hand reaching for his, the smile on her face filled with hope. And love in her eyes. His Rayna. The love of his life.

Rayna

She was standing in the trailer by herself, in front of the mirror. She smoothed her hands down over the dress, smiling at her reflection. The dress was perfect, exactly how she had imagined it in her dreams. She knew she wasn't supposed to, but she fiddled with her hair, then smoothed it back into place. She took a deep breath to settle the butterflies in her stomach.

She hadn't felt this way the day she'd married Teddy. The only butterflies she felt that day were the ones that kept telling her she was doing the wrong thing. Only she hadn't listened. There had been a time – more than once, actually – when she thought a day like this would never happen. Times when she thought she'd never be as happy as she was when she was sixteen years old and met the boy who turned her head and her heart and became as much a part of her as breathing. And even through the dark years, the love was there. Hard to find sometimes, but there just the same. And now she was finally going to marry him.

There was a knock on the trailer door and then it opened. Lane stepped in, a smile on her face. "Are you ready to go meet your groom?" she asked.

Rayna smiled. "I've never been more ready for anything in my life."

He looked so handsome, standing there. She had told herself she would acknowledge their guests, but she really couldn't take her eyes off him as she walked slowly towards him. She did manage to look at the girls, but truly, he was the only one she saw. She could tell he had tears in his eyes and she knew how big a day this was for him. As much as it was for her, it was even more for him. Because he'd waited all those years, even when he probably wondered why.

She smiled at him and he smiled back, looking a little nervous. So when they stood next to each other, she slipped her hand into his and felt his strong fingers squeeze hers. They were really going to do this.

When it was all over and the vows had been spoken and agreed to and rings were exchanged, she felt a sense of calm wash over her that confirmed for her that this was exactly the right thing to do. She knew, without a doubt, that marrying this man truly had been her destiny. And now she was ready to celebrate that destiny.

Watty came up to her and led her out on the dance floor. She put a hand around his neck and leaned into his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're here, Watty," she said, looking back up at him.

He smiled at her. "I told you I wouldn't miss this for anything." He kissed her on the cheek. "I'm happy for you, my little songbird. You deserve all the happiness in the world."

She felt a little melancholy for a moment. "What do you think Mom would have thought?" she asked.

"About this? Or about Deacon?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know. Both, I guess."

He smiled down at her. "As long as you were happy, she would have been happy for you." He breathed in. "Your mother loved you and your sister more than anything in the world. And she wanted only the very best for both of you. She would have wanted you to be happy and loved and cherished, so she would be glad you found that in Deacon."

She felt a tear slide down her cheek then and reached up to wipe it away. She smiled at her mentor and dear friend. "Thank you," she whispered.

He leaned into her ear then and said, "Your new husband's looking a little like he needs to be rescued, so I'm going to take you back to him."

She looked over and saw Tandy say something to Deacon and knew Watty was right. She laughed and then let Watty walk her over and hand her off, just after Tandy walked away. She reached for his hand and smiled at him. "What did she say?"

He shook his head. "Nothing really." He let out a little laugh. "Nothing she ain't never said before." He smiled. "This time she told me that if I ever hurt you again she'd come after me with the force of a hurricane." He emphasized the last few words.

She rolled her eyes and then kissed his cheek. "Oh, don't worry about her. And that's probably the same thing Beverly would say to me, so we'll be even." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I think it's time to go change so we can start that wonderful honeymoon you've been planning."

He squeezed her hand. "I was thinking the very same thing."

Deacon

I thank God that I'm with you here tonight / 'Cause that's all I've ever needed in this life / We done love wrong so many times / I think it's time we do love right

From here on out, I'm turning around / I'm parting ways with the man I used to be / And I'm making you a promise / I'm gonna make it count / From here on out / From here on out / From here on out

He was glad it was the end of the song, because he was pretty sure the lump in his throat was going to keep him from singing any more words anyway. He was anxious to hear what she thought. He'd seen a myriad of emotions cross her face, from a soft smile to a tiny frown to the hint of tears. He sat, holding his breath, his hand laying over the sound hole. She sat there for a moment, not saying a word, and his heart started beating wildly. Then she scooched a little closer to him and reached for the guitar, taking it from his hands. She stood and walked over to put it back on the stand he'd taken it from and then came back and sat next to him, her knees barely touching his. She reached out her hands and placed them on either side of his face, drawing him to her for a kiss.

When she pulled back, he saw tears in her eyes and a tiny smile on her face. She rubbed her thumbs over his cheeks. "Oh, my love," she whispered. "You've been that man all along. You just finally recognize it." He felt a sob rise up in his throat but he smiled over top of it and then reached for her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her with all the love he had in his heart for her.

Almost before he knew it, they had undressed each other and he had pulled the blanket on the back of the couch over them as he covered her body with his. "Oh, baby, I love you so much," he whispered against her lips as he slid inside her. She half closed her eyes and moaned softly as she took him in, wrapping her legs around his and her arms around his neck. He claimed her mouth then and they moved together in perfect harmony, just as though they were writing a song with their lovemaking.

Rayna

It was dark, although it would be dawn soon. A tiny shaft of moonlight came through a slit in the curtains on the window of the bedroom. She tried to stay still, because she could tell he was asleep. His breathing was shallow and even. His chest was against her back, his legs tangled with hers, and his arm across her abdomen. He'd carried her in and gently laid her on the bed, much like he had carried her over the threshold of the cabin.

He made her wait while he came around and opened the door of the truck for her. He took her hand and led her up the steps and then down the porch. She noticed the lights were all on and wondered who had taken care of that. When they got to the door, he unlocked it and she started forward. When he grabbed her arm, she looked at him. "You are not going to carry me over the threshold," she said.

"Oh, yes I am," he said with a smile.

"Deacon Claybourne, don't be silly," she protested, but he bent his knees and picked her up and she squealed. "You're crazy," she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Crazy for you," he said with a smile. Then he carried her over, giving her a kiss. "I did it."

She laughed. "Yeah, you did."

Oh, and then he sang that song and her heart had melted. If she didn't already love him as much as her heart could bear, she would have loved him more then. He'd poured his heart into the song and out to her and she nearly wept at the loveliness of it. Actually she had cried a little, but only because he had underestimated just how far he'd come. As she felt his arm around her, she felt safe and loved and protected and she wondered, again, why she had ever waited as long as she had.

She closed her eyes for a moment and thought about how different things could have been, maybe, had she just gone after him that night at the CMA's, the night he'd confronted her about Maddie, and had left, humiliated and heartbroken. Maybe she could have saved him then, saved them, and none of what followed would have happened. Him losing his sobriety after thirteen years, the accident, the distance between them afterwards. And Luke. But they'd talked about it and had been kind of amazed they had survived it all. It spoke to the very deep love they had for each other, the love that let them do the worst and never lose each other completely.

The wedding had been perfect – Lane had translated her vision to perfection – and it had truly been the happiest day of her life. And now they would embark on the rest of their lives together. But I still wonder just where it is we're starting that life.

She turned in his arms, not caring that she'd wake him up. And actually that was the point. "Babe," she whispered.

He stirred and frowned, then opened his eyes briefly. "What?" he said, closing them again.

"Are you gonna tell me now where we're going?"

He was silent and she wondered if he'd gone back to sleep. Then she saw his mouth turn up in a smile. He leaned in and kissed her. "Still not the time," he said. Then he opened his eyes and rolled her onto her back, sprawling on top of her. He chuckled. "But it is time for some more of this." He took her mouth in his and kissed her long and hard and she wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed deep in her throat and let that magical wedding night continue on.