Disclaimer I don't own NCIS

Author's note I hope that you all enjoy this, it links in with the next chapter which will have a bit more drama in it. I just wanted to have the Deacon/Bucky bit in this one.

Thanks to my reviewers: BeckyPo, Guest, agus87, funloverr, natbenson, swimlets3, Guest87, nashvillefan4life, soaper410, scottishgleek1998, heth

Back in the Limelight

The following morning Rayna Jaymes was up at the crack of dawn. She was already up, washed, and dressed in a pair of figure hugging pale wash skinny jeans and a green long sleeved t-shirt by the time Deacon awoke. He made his way into the kitchen to find Rayna had already fed and dressed Maddie who was now sat in the living room whilst her mother was in the kitchen making up a bottle of formula to take with them.

IT was the day of the show, and for Rayna it could not have come at a worse time. She was nervous about performing live again, and self conscious about any baby weight se might still have on her. But what made things worse was that she'd already rung Bucky and told him to get her solicitor to file for divorce. He'd been shocked at the sudden turn of events to say the least, but when he heard the full story her soon agreed with her. So that was the reason that her manager was sat in his own apartment drinking coffee and cursing the country queen for waking him up so early.

Deacon walked up behind her and placed his hands around her waist before placing a kiss on her neck. "Mornin' darlin'." He said in his soft country voice. She spun around and gave him a peck on the lips.

"Morning to you too." She said before trying to rush off, but he stopped her.

"You need to slow down before you hurt yourself." He said, as he pinned her to the working top to stop her moving. But the auburn haired woman just rolled her eyes and looked at him.

"Deacon I have so much to do though!" She said, even though she was pretty sure she'd already completed all she needed to do for the day.

"Nah, you don't. You need to sit down, and calm down. The show is gonna go amazingly! Okay? Bucky had already said he will look after Maddie so none of your family will get anywhere near her." She looked at him and all o a sudden kissed him fully on the lips, but he could tell it was a way of diverting his attention whilst she managed o stop the tears that were threatening to fall. When they parted her sat her glassy eyes and cupped her check, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "You are the strongest woman I know, and you are gonna fight this okay?" She just nodded and rested her head on his shoulder as she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her.

For what must be the first time in her life she then did as Deacon had told her. Rayna went over to the table and sat down whilst he poured her a cup of Coffee, before sitting down next to her. "Thanks." She told him, a small smile gracing over her lips.

"So what's the set list?" He asked her, knowing talking music would take her mind off of all of her other problems. With hat he took a hold of her hand and listened, but fist she kissed his cheek, knowing her was trying to help her, and that's why she love him. Because, unlike Teddy he knew exactly how to read her, and how to distract her when she needed it.

"We've got a three song slot, and we're before Brad Paisley I think, not too sure. But anyway we're starting with a new one: Perfect, then we're off to the favourites, and I think we chose to do Postcard from Mexico, and then Already Gone."

"Sounds like a plan. All fast ones?"

"Yeah, it's meant to be a festival anyway. Then we can take Maddie to the VIP area and watch the fireworks."

"I'd like that." He said, beginning to feel like they were truly going to be a family. With that he smiled at her before going to get changed and grab his guitar before they left.

Rayna was sat in the porter cabin that was her dressing room. Deacon had joined her in there, and was sat with Maddie. Of course none of the other acts thought anything of it as they all knew that both Rayna and Deacon were close. After years of playing together they were bound to be. So Rayna sat there, taking the rollers out of her hair. The makeup team had already been and done their job, and under her robe she was dressed, now she needed to hairspray her hair and she was done.

Deacon watched her from where he sat with Maddie, wondering how someone could be as stupid as Teddy and give her up. She was the most amazing woman he had ever met, and as he thought about her husband he felt anger building up inside him at the knowledge someone had nearly broken her out of shear jealously.

When she stood up and took off her robe and he saw her outfit he was blown away, and reminded once more of how stunning she was. It was a black dress, with a halter neck that can in at the waist and floated out at the bottom. The dress was covered in gold sparkles that looked like fireworks, and her hair matched perfectly. She then put on a pair of black stilettos with a gold ankle strap and looked at him. "Wow!" He said, and she just laughed.

A nock at the door brought Bucky who came in and smiled. "You ready?"

"Yeah." She said, quieter than usual. Deacon left Maddie and walked over, taking her hand and squeezing it.

"Wait, are you two . . ."

"Yeah Buck, we are." She said, smiling.

"Is this why you're getting a divorce?"

"Partly, but nothing happened before everything blew up."

Bucky studied the pair, hesitant and nervous at how it could end. "If you hurt her again . . ." HE said to deacon, the younger man just nodded.

"I'm not gonna hurt either of them." The guitarist stated and Bucky smiled.

"Well then, as long as you are happy Rayna, just keep it low profile."

"We will." She said nodding before sprouting off a list of things to do with Maddie. Bucky just laughed, told her to have fun, wow the crowd, and that he and Maddie would both be fine. Raya smiled, said goodbye to her daughter and headed over to the stage.

When her turn arrives, she was nervous, but as soon as the microphone was in her hand and the first few chords of 'Perfect' was filling the area, she smiled and began to relax and enjoy herself. The crowd cheered as they recognised the song, and she felt like she were back where she belonged. The sea of people in front of her were singing along with her and swaying, the way that everyone was laughing and having fun against the backdrop of the night sky.

In that moment, knowing there were people around her who cared and fans who would stick by her, Rayna had the confidence that things would be alright . . . if only she could sort out her soon to be ex-husband and get him off of the scene. Then maybe, things would be perfect . . .

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