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Rayna woke up first and turned to look over her shoulder. Deacon was still sleeping and she didn't want to wake him. She turned over to face him kissed him softly and got up. She went to the living room and saw that she had no texts. Rayna though, I guess Tandy wasn't kidding when she said she wanted me to relax. She put her phone on charge and went to make breakfast. She made coffee and started to mix ingredients to make pancakes. I wonder if there still are wild blueberries in the back. She walked outside and gave out a soft laugh when she found what she was looking for. Yep, nothing changed here. In the meantime Deacon had woken up and was looking out the window at her and laughed when he saw what she was doing. She never changes, he though to himself and smiled. He got up and put a shirt on and walked to sliding door that led to backyard to wait for her. Rayna picked the best blueberries she could find and was counting looking down at them as she walked back to the house. She reached one hand out to open the door but her hand landed on Deacon's arm. She jumped a little not expecting him there. Deacon chuckled, "good morning." "Morning," she smiled and kissed him before walking in. She went back to cooking and he prepared their coffees for them. She made blueberry pancakes and set the table and sat down to eat.
Rayna said, "so I was thinking that after we finish eating we should head home." Deacon nodded, "are you going to tell the girls what happened while we were here?" Rayna nodded, "mhm, I want to see what they have to say. I don't know how Maddie will react."
"I think she might be a little hostile to it in the beginning, she is a teenage girl and her life has been a roller coaster in the past few months."
Rayna smiled he already knew a lot about her, "yeah I think you're right. I just need them to be okay with us being together because they are the most important."
Deacon nodded, "I understand. What happens if they aren't?"
Rayna shrugged, "I don't know babe, I don't want to think about that right now."
Deacon's face dropped a little. He knew that they were the most important people in her life and that they would alway come first but he hoped he could be part of their lives. Rayna lifted her hand to his cheek, "hey, don't worry about it right now. Okay?" Deacon nodded, "I just don't want to loose you again." Rayna lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it, "you won't." She entwined her fingers with his.
He gave her a small smile and caressed her cheek. They finished eating thinking about what their future would hold and if they would even have a future by this afternoon. When they finished eating they washed and dried all the dishes. They put everything right where it belonged. Deacon asked, "what are we bringing back?" Rayna felt like he was being a little cold towards her so she hugged him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Memories." Deacon hugged her back. He knew she was trying to assure him that everything would be fine but he wanted to know for sure. He kissed the top of her head. Rayna continued, "we are bringing back the agreement we made, the picture books, and I want blueberries." Deacon chuckled, "they are really good." "Yeah they are." Then he asked, "do you want to shower before we leave?" Rayna nodded and broke the hug. Deacon continued, "you can go take your shower and I'll get the blueberries and pack the albums." Rayna kissed him and went to take a quick shower. She went to the bedroom and looked through her bag for clothes. Deacon walked in but stopped in his tracks when he saw that she was only wearing a towel that went right under her butt. He let out the breath he was holding and Rayna turned around. She looked down at what she was wearing, or not wearing, and laughed, "I'm sorry babe I was just looking for clothes." "Who said I was affected?" Rayna laughed, "hmm no one I just know you are." Deacon laughed and walked over to kiss her quickly. Rayna put her bra and underwear on without exposing anything but continued to look for her clothes with just her undergarments on. Deacon shook his head and looked at the ceiling, "Rayna." She looked up at him, "I'm sorry. I keep forgetting. This was never a problem." Deacon looked at her and lifted one of his eyebrows, "when was that not a problem." He pointed to her lack of clothing. Rayna laughed, "okay okay I'll get dressed. Oh and I didn't forget, it's payback for when you were walking around in your boxers the whole day yesterday." Deacon chuckled and shook his head. If she was going to tease him he would tease right back. He stood behind her and let his fingertips skim her thighs, her belly, her arms, her cleavage, then he ran his fingertips from the bottom of her bra to the top of her panties and ran his finger right under the waistband. She squirmed and moaned softly. Her hips moved against his boxers and she could feel the effect she was having on him and it excited her more. She so badly wanted to continue this, probably more than he did but she couldn't. Not only for the agreement but also because she wanted the girls to be on board with this relationship and she felt like she was cheating them if she didn't talk to them first. She stopped her movements and whisper sighed, "we can't." Deacon replied, "I just wanted you to know that what you are doing does cause a problem. Now I'm going to go take a cold shower." Rayna smiled and then giggled. She was happy he still found her attractive, there was no denying that her body had changed since they were young. She turned her head to kiss him and then he went to take a shower and she put on jeans and a shirt and put the pj's, albums, and blueberries in her bag. She brought the bag to the car and when she walked back inside she went to make the bed and saw that Deacon was ready and dressed. They made the bed and Deacon went to turn off the water and electricity. She got her phone and Deacon got his keys and locked the house. Rayna turned to him after he closed the door and kissed him. "What was that for?" Rayna smiled, "thank you for these past days and for relaxing me." Deacon kissed her again, "you're welcome and thank you." "You're welcome." She ran her hands on his sides kissed him and whispered, "I love you." "I love you too Ray." She kissed him again this time a little deeper, "I hope we can be alone together soon." Deacon smiled, "me too." "I'll call you after I talk to the girls." "Okay, I'll be waiting." They walked to their cars and drove home. They both thought about the time they had spent together and Rayna got nervous about telling the girls. She wanted to do it ASAP.
She pulled into Tandy's driveway, as she was still living there and saw that Tandy's car was there. She opened the door, "Tandy? I'm home!" She heard her sister reply, "In the living room." Rayna walked there. Tandy could see the difference in Rayna, she looked younger and she seemed alive, as if she had finally healed from the accident. "You look great! Now, tell me what happened! You didn't keep the agreement did you?" Rayna laughed, "we did too keep the agreement! We only slept together the first night and then once the next morning, before the agreement. But we talked a lot. We agree that the girls should know first, before we continue this story." Tandy nodded. Rayna continued to tell her everything that happened and showed her the albums they had found. Tandy told her that she was happy for them and that she have them her blessing. That meant a lot to Rayna, she was glad her sister was on board.
Later that afternoon the girls came home from Teddy's. Daphne ran up to her and hugged her. Maddie also went up and hugged her. "Hey girls, how was your time with daddy?" Daphne: "It was great we stayed up and watches lots of movies and ate popcorn and candy."
Maddie shrugged: "it was okay. How was your time at the cabin?"
Rayna sighed, here we go, she thought. "Umm I actually wanted to talk to you two about something that happened at the cabin."
The girls looked at her waiting for her to continue. "Let's go sit in the living room." They walked to the living room and the girls both hugged their aunt and sat with her on the couch and Rayna sat on the coffee table so that she was facing them. "I want you girls to be truly honest with me after I tell you this okay? Promise?" The girls both nodded. "The night I went to the cabin, Deacon showed up, because you know it's his cabin. I was going to leave but he told me to stay there and he stayed too." She paused looking at their expressions, Daphne looked excited but Maddie's face was blank. "We talked about being together again and we realized that we both want that but before we make a definite decision I need you girls to be on board. So, what do you think?" Rayna let out the breath she was holding. Daphne was really happy, "I like Deacon! Wait does this mean he would be your boyfrienddd?" Rayna nodded and smiled, "mhm, a little more than that but yes that's what he would be." Daphne grinned, she was really happy. Rayna turned to Maddie expectingly and she shrugged, she had no idea what to say to that. She was just trying to figure all this out and again something changed in her life. "Can I think about it?" Rayna's face dropped but she nodded, "yes you can." Maddie stood up and went to her room. Daphne asked, "what's wrong with her?" Tandy replied, "nothing honey, don't worry about her, she'll be okay. Do you want some ice cream?" Daphne nodded and they went to the kitchen. Rayna mouthed a thank you to Tandy and walked up to go talk to Maddie.
She knocked on the door, "may I come in? You can ask me anything you want." "Yeah come in." Rayna walked in and sat on the bed with Maddie, "what's troubling you?" "I don't know, I'm supposed to be happy because you love each other but I don't know. So much has happened this was just another shock." Rayna stroked Maddie's hair, "that's why I want to talk to you about this. He wants to be part of your life, part of our lives." Maddie looked at her, "can I ask you something personal?" Rayna nodded. Maddie tried to think of a way of putting this, "did you guys just talk? Or did more happen?" Rayna was shocked, she knew that her daughter knew about all that stuff but for her to ask her that felt awkward, "that is a personal question, does it matter?" Maddie shrugged, "I don't know, maybe. I was just wondering." Rayna understood that Maddie was trying to sort through all of this and she really did want to know about her and Deacon and she wanted to be honest with her daughter, "yeah other things happened," she whispered. Maddie looked down and then up to her mom again, "okay." Rayna was surprised she was expecting her daughter to be ashamed but she wasn't, that's a step in the right direction she thought to herself. "Does he really want to be part of my life? I would love to play or sing with him." "Yeah he does honey. He told me numerous times." Maddie's eyes twinkled and she smiled, "may I have his number?" Rayna looked surprised, "yes of course." She told Maddie the number and she saved it into her phone. She then called him. "Maddie? What are you doing?" Maddie shrugged, "calling him." Rayna couldn't wait to hear what she had to say, "do you want me to leave?" Maddie shook her head, "no stay I want you to hear." She put the phone on loud-speaker.
Deacon: hello?
Maddie: hey, it's me Maddie.
Deacon sounded surprised but happy and Rayna smiled: oh hey darlin, how are you?
Maddie: I'm good, mom just talked to me about you two.
Deacon: oh yeah? What did she say?
Maddie: she's here she can hear you.
Rayna smiled: hey!
Deacon chuckled: hey!
Maddie smiled: I just want you two to know that this is going to be hard for me in the beginning but I don't mind that you are together.
Rayna and Deacon both sighed. Maddie looked at her mom, "what? Did you two being together depend on me?"
Rayna: yes pretty much.
Deacon didn't know what to say. This was all becoming so real.
Deacon: your mom and I want to show you and Daphne something. Maybe it will make this easier for you.
Maddie looked at her mom but Rayna didn't reveal anything. She knew Deacon was talking about the albums.
Maddie: why don't you come over?
Rayna smiled, Deacon knew how to make his daughter curious and not reveal too much. He is just so perfect she thought to herself.
Deacon smiled: yeah that sounds good, can I talk to your mom for a minute?
Maddie handed the phone to Rayna and Rayna stepped out of the room.
Rayna: hey babe, it's just me know.
Deacon: hey. I'm so happy that she's okay with this.
Maddie walked up to her door so she could hear what Rayna was saying.
Rayna: me too. Then she whispered: I love you.
Deacon: I love you too, and I'll see you in ten minutes.
Rayna smiled: okay, hurry.
Deacon chuckled and hung up. Maddie ran to her bed, she knew that her mom truly loved Deacon and she knew that she had been created out of love but she just wanted to understand where she came from and if them being together would do that then she would give it a shot. Rayna handed her the phone, "I'm glad your on board with this. I know it's hard and confusing but we can work on it together. You can ask us anything you want."
Maddie nodded acknowledging her.
"He said he'll be here in ten minutes." Maddie nodded again, "okay, let's tell Daphne and aunt Tandy."
They walked to the kitchen and Rayna gave Tandy the look that showed everything was good. Tandy would have known anyway because she looked happy and so did Maddie. Maddie said, "Deacon will be here in ten minutes, he said that they want to show us something."
Daphne exclaimed, "yay! What do you want to show us?"
Rayna zipped her lips shut with her fingers and pretended to throw the key behind her. Daphne looked at Tandy, "do you know?!" Tandy nodded, "I'm not telling you though."
Daphne rolled her eyes, "we have to wait ten whole minutes?"
Rayna said, "yeah and maybe a little more than that." Tandy laughed and so did Rayna but the girls weren't laughing. Maddie said jokingly, "you're being mean." Rayna nudged her softly, "that's okay, you can handle it." Rayna and Tandy kept laughing and Daphne did too, after a few seconds of looking at them Maddie laughed too.
A few minutes later the doorbell rang and Rayna immediately said, "I'll get it." Tandy raised her eyebrows at her sister and Rayna smiled sarcastically at her and hurried to open the door. Deacon was standing there. She let him step inside and then kissed him, "hi." She talked against his lips he said "hi" back and she pecked him again. "We have to be on our best behavior I don't want to make this awkward for Maddie." Deacon nodded agreeing with her. They walked into the kitchen and Daphne exclaimed, "hey!" She ran up to him and hugged him. Deacon chuckled, "hi darling." He hugged her back. Maddie said, "hey," and have him a small wave and he waved back, "hey." Then he saw Tandy and said hi to her as well. Daphne asked enthusiastically, "what do you have to show us?!" Deacon looked over at Rayna and they smiled at each other. Rayna said, "you're sure? This opens lots of doors and questions." Deacon smiled and shrugged, "it's fine with me." "Okay then I'll go get them and y'all go get comfortable in the living room." Tandy sat on the armchair, Maddie and Daphne sat on the couch, Deacon sat on the carpet with his side against the couch. Rayna got the albums and put them in order, friends, career, and then the two of them. She walked in and Maddie and Daphne looked at the surprise. Maddie grinned, this is what she had been waiting for for so long, she wanted to see these pictures. Rayna sat down on the floor next to Deacon but faced the couch so that the albums would be on her legs and face the girls.
"Okay girls so we found these albums and it shows our past," she looked at Deacon and they smiled at each other and then she went on, "the first one is going to be about our friends and you will see a face reoccurring a lot, that's Vince," she looked at Deacon again and rested her hand on his knee and turned back to the girls, "he was Deacon's best friend they were practically joined at the hip. He umm unfortunately past away in a car accident and Deacon was in the passenger's seat." She tightened the grip on his leg to give him support. Maddie was watching every single one of their moves and she could see that they clearly knew exactly what to do. Tandy thought to herself, fifteen years passed but they are exactly the same with each other. Rayna looked back at the girls, "ready?" They nodded and she opened to the first picture. She kept her hand on Deacon's knee to comfort him he placed his hand over hers. The girls looked through the pictures studying all of them carefully. When they finished that album Rayna got the next one which was pictures of them during their career. Deacon said, "this one's about the musical bond we share and y'all will be able to see us singin'." Maddie smiled she was waiting for this but she didn't know that the last album would give her more answers. Rayna's and Deacon's hands were still joined and she opened to the first page. Daphne commented on the shoes and pretty dresses that Rayna had worn and they all giggled or chuckled and laughed at her when she said, "oh my gosh mom! Those shoes!" Or, "can I wear that dress to myyyy danccce? It's short!" The girls looked through that album carefully too and Rayna got the third one, "these pictures are the private pictures that very few people have seen. We tried very very hard to keep our personal life private and these are all about us." She looked at Deacon again and they smiled and then Maddie was so eager that she flipped to the first page herself. The girls looked through the pictures and awwwwwed at almost every one. There was a page full with pictures they took in photo-booths and they were making silly faces and the girls laughed at those. When they got to the last picture the one of Rayna and Deacon standing in front of the house Maddie asked, "what's that house?" Deacon's and Rayna's eyes met and they were serious, were they ready to tell the girls this? Especially because this was the house where Maddie was conceived. Deacon looked up at Maddie, "I um bought this house for your mama and me when she got her first CMA nomination. We lived there for a while and I had even asked her to marry me and she had agreed." Rayna ran her hand on his knee. Maddie and Daphne were looking at him intently. Maddie had never thought that they were living together and that they were engaged! She was surprised to say the least and she asked, "what happened?" Rayna closed her eyes and looked down, this was the question she was dreading the most, "do you mind if I tell you later?" Rayna's eyes signaled to Daphne, she didn't want to say it in front of her. Maddie nodded. Daphne asked, "is the house still there?" Deacon nodded, "mhm, why?" Daphne said, "I wanna see it." Rayna smiled and looked at Deacon and then back at Daphne, "maybe tomorrow." Daphne pouted. Deacon said, "I promise to take you there." Daphne grinned at him and then her stomach grumbled and they all laughed. Rayna turned to Deacon, "wanna stay for dinner?" Deacon nodded, "sure."