The sun streaming through the crack between the heavy hotel room curtains woke Deacon. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was only 6:32am. He wasn't sure what day it was. The past couple days had been a blurr. Rayna was sleeping soundly beside him.

Yesterday he'd had so many things running through his mind. Rayna and Tandy had taken a lot of the stress away. He was devastated by his mother's untimely and unexpected passing, but Tandy had reassured him that Maddie was fine, and he didn't need to worry. She was there as long as they needed her to be.

Rayna had completely blown him away when she said she'd taken care of all the funeral arrangements. He'd been dreading that in the back of his mind. Somehow hoping his mom would wake up and be OK, and there'd be no need for a funeral.

For the moment there was nothing he could do. He missed Maddie, and couldn't wait to get back to Nashville and his little girl. Aside from the few nights last week he and Rayna had been fighting, and his trip to the cabin, he couldn't remember the last time he'd really been away from Maddie this much.

Deacon's mind drifted to Belcort and their demands for new material. He had a few songs down, and some ideas for more, but nothing more modern and upbeat like they wanted. It just wasn't his style. He had no idea what he was going to do to satisfy his contract with them.

He was deep in thought with lyrics running through his head. He hadn't noticed Rayna was awake and watching him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked

"You'd be paying too much." He laughed as he leaned in for a kiss

"Good morning, baby." He smiled has he pulled away from a lingering morning kiss

"How did you sleep?"

"Actually, pretty damn good. Guess I was tired after 2 nights in a crappy chair."

"Helped having you in my arms. I've missed you, Ray."

"I missed you, babe. I'm glad you got this last couple day's with your mom, even if she wasn't awake. I'm sure she knew you were with her. I wish I'd had some time with my mom at the end. She was gone before they let us see her that night at the hospital." Rayna said tearing up a little

"They brought Bev in for a little while before she…" Deacon was tearing up again

"How was Bev"

"Not good, Ray."

"I hope she snaps out of whatever it is she's going through, but she just isn't there. There's this hollow look in her eyes."

"We'll get her the best doctors, Deacon. We can move her to Nashville. The doctor said he wanted to admit her to a 21 day program here. We'll see where she is in a few weeks and go from there."

"What about Scarlett, Ray?"

****silence*****

"I'm sorry I agreed to take her without talking to you first, but Bev was begging me, and there is no one else…."

"I know, Deacon. It's OK."

"We spent some time shopping, and getting to know each other yesterday. She's a sweet little girl. So different than Maddie."

"Maddie's sweet." Deacon protested with a smirk on his face

"That's not how I meant that to come out. Yes, Maddie is sweet. She's my little girl, and I love her for who she is. It's just I dunno…Maddie is such a daddy's girl. I know that's my fault for being away so much. She doesn't really like shopping, or makeup."

"She seemed awfully happy about her nails and toes being painted the night of the CMA's." Deacon said

"She likes a little glamour, but you know as well as I do Deacon she'd rather be fishing with you, or watching a Titans game on your lap any day than dress shopping, or sitting still long enough for makeup." Rayna laughed

"She loves you, Ray." Deacon tried to reassure Rayna. He knew Rayna struggled with Maddie being such a daddy's girl, and he hadn't helped matters much by always making Rayna be the strict parent, while he overindulged Maddie and spoiled her rotten.

"I know she does, Deacon. I guess I just got a little taste of what you go through with me gone, and trying to make up for it with whatever Maddie wants to make her happy. I kinda did that with Scarlett yesterday. We just shopped and shopped and shopped…."

Deacon was looking at Rayna questioningly now

"The next visa statement….maybe you shouldn't open it…." Rayna laughed and playfully ran her fingers through Deacons hair.

"I just wanted to take away all the fear, and hurt, and make sure Scarlett feels like we love her, and want her to come stay with us."

Deacon was smiling. He pulled Rayna into his arms for a deep kiss.

"So, you're OK with taking Scarlett back to Nashville for possibly a long time, maybe forever?"

"Yeah, Deacon. She needs us. Just do me a favor…this one's mine….I could use a mommy's girl." Rayna laughed as Deacon kissed her again

"Do you have any idea how wonderful you are, Ray?" he asked with tears in his eyes

"Thank you for making all the arrangements for mom, and making Scarlett feel like part of the family, and putting up with my drunk ass on the way down here. I'm really sorry about that, Ray."

There was a light knock on their bedroom door. A little pajama clad blonde girl politely asked for some juice as she stood in the doorway.

"Aunt Ray, I'm sorry to wake you up, but can I get some juice from the fridge."

"Sure, baby. You can have whatever you want. We'll get up and go get some breakfast, OK?"

"OK" Scarlett said as she stared at Deacon not sure how to feel about seeing him after being alone with Rayna for the past couple days.

"How you doin Scar? Are you havin fun with Aunt Ray?" he asked as he moved to the foot of the bed

"Yeah, yesterday was really fun. Thanks for all my dresses and toys Aunt Ray." She said thanking Rayna again for everything.

Her little lip started to tremble as she stood in the doorway looking at them

"When are mama and gramma gonna come get me?" she asked trying to hold back tears

"C'mere, sweetie." Deacon said as he scooped Scarlett into his arms and sat in a chair with her on his lap wiping tears from her little face

She wasn't completely comfortable with Deacon holding her and felt a little rigid in his arms.

"You know me. It's OK. It's uncle Deke. We talk on the phone all the time, remember?"

She started to relax a little as Rayna sat next to them and rubbed her back trying to reassure her. Deacon hugged her tight and kissed her little blonde head as she seemed to realize who he was again and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Uncle Deke." She finally smiled

"Yeah, kiddo. I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to you much at the hospital. I was a little busy."

"With gramma?" she asked

Deacon had no idea how to tell a 5 year old about death. He looked at Rayna helplessly.

"Grammas head hurts a lot. I have to play quiet. She sleeps all the time. Is that why she's at the hospital. Does her head hurt?"

"Yeah, sweetie. That's why she was at the hospital, but she was really sick. They tried to help her, but she was just too sick…." Deacon was trying to hold it together for Scarlett

"Where is my gramma? I wanna see her pleeeeaaasee?"

Deacon took a deep breath and swallowed a lump in his throat, but he couldn't speak. Scarlett was crying and begging for Frannie.

"I'll be quiet. Please take me to see gramma…..pleeeeaassee?"

Rayna took Scarlett from Deacon and pulled her into a hug.

"Honey, grandma was very sick. The doctors did everything they could, but I'm sorry. She died last night. She's in heaven, and I'm sure she's always going to be watching you. She loved you very much."

"Noooo, I wanna see her." The little girl was completely distraught and in tears. Deacon wasn't doing much better as he patted her back and pulled both Scarlett and Rayna into his arms.

"It's gonna be OK, baby girl. I promise." He tried to reassure a bawling Scarlett.

"Where's mama. Is she in heaven too?"

"No, sweetie. She's at the hospital. She's really upset about gramma, and wants you to stay with us for a while. Can you be strong for her, and do that?"

"I wanna go home?"

"You know what, kiddo. We're gonna have breakfast, and then we are gonna take you home for a little while. Would you like to stay in your own room tonight?" asked Deacon

"Yeah." She said between sobs

"OK, Aunt Ray's gonna get you cleaned up. It's OK, sweetie. We love you very much, and we're here for you." He said as he wiped her tears

"Can you give her a bath and get her cleaned up, Ray, please? I need some fresh air. I'm gonna run back to the hospital. They have some personal items from my mom and sister I need to pick up. Hopefully they have a house key. I need to go start going through mom's finances, and see what we have to deal with. Are you OK, with staying at the house the next couple days?"

"Yeah, that's fine. Are you OK, Deacon?"

"Not really, but I don't have much choice right now. Bev's sure as hell not gonna be any help." He said as he kissed Rayna's cheek and grabbed her Escalade keys from the night stand

"I'll be back in an hour or less. We'll go somewhere for breakfast before we head to the house, OK?"

Rayna got Scarlet calmed down and playing in the bath tub.

It was Monday morning. She called the funeral home and requested they have the obituary run in the Natchez and Nashville local papers Tue, and set up services for Wed.

She called Tandy. Maddie was doing well and happy to hear she'd be getting a playmate in a few days.

"So, are you guys driving home Wed after the services?" Tandy asked

"I'm not sure. I'll see what Deacon wants to do. I know he misses Maddie."

"I was just wondering if you'd be back for Thanksgiving on Thur?"

"Oh, you know I completely forgot it was Thanksgiving with everything going on."

"Yeah, I'm sure Deacon will want to be with Maddie on Thanksgiving. If not Wed after the services, probably early Thur we'll head back to Nashville."

"Tell you what. Maddie and I will get a Thanksgiving family party together at my house. All you guys have to do is show up by say 5, dinner time on Thur. How's that?

"That would be wonderful, Tandy. We'll be there."

"Great. I can't wait to meet Scarlett, another niece to spoil."

"Oh…what about daddy? Can Deacon deal with daddy for one night? We can't leave him out of Thanksgiving. He'd love to see Maddie."

"I'll talk to Deacon, but yeah I'm sure he can take Lamar for one night. Do me a favor though? Tell daddy, Deacon just lost his mom, and please go easy on him Thur?"

"Right, I'll make sure daddy behaves." Tandy laughed

Deacon was back in less than an hour as promised. He waited patiently in the Escalade for the girls to finish getting ready.

Rayna signaled him to come get all the luggage and things she'd bought for Scarlett.

"Jesus, Ray. Did you buy out the whole damn store?" he complained as he loaded the Escalade.

"I told you, probably best if don't you look at the next credit card statement, Deacon."

He seemed a bit on edge as Rayna climbed in the passenger seat and Deacon helped Scarlett into Maddie's car seat, but she couldn't read his expression behind his dark sunglasses.

They stopped at Hunt's Hometown Diner for breakfast. Frannie and Beverly had both worked there for years.

It was a little after 10am. A little late for the breakfast crowd on a Monday morning, and too early for the lunch rush. Deacon figured Rayna could eat in peace. After all…who would expect Rayna Jaymes at a mom and pop diner in Mississippi?

Mrs. Hunt was thrilled to see Deacon, and even happier he'd brought Rayna for the first time ever.

"Oh my…I think Deacon's the biggest celebrity we've ever had in here till now!" she joked as she approached the table and Deacon introduced Rayna

"Hey Mrs. Hunt. This is my wife, Rayna Claybourne." He said as he stood up and hugged the older lady

"It's so nice to finally meet you, Rayna. We're big fans of you and this guy here in Natchez." She said as she beamed proudly at Deacon.

There were a lot more tears and hugs as Deacon told Mrs. Hunt about Frannie and Beverly.

After a little more than an hour, and a big breakfast which Mrs. Hunt insisted was on the house, Deacon and Rayna were back in the car heading to Deacon's childhood home with a sniffling Scarlett in the back seat. She knew Mrs. Hunt well, and it had been a tearful breakfast for all of them.

Deacon tensed and let go of Rayna's hand as he shifted the Escalade into park in the driveway, and took the keys from the ignition.

No matter how many times they visited, he always tensed when they arrived. Rayna knew his childhood wasn't good, but she sensed the worse memories Deacon hadn't shared with anyone.

He hated this place, and Rayna was really surprised he was willing to spend a night here. They'd always stayed in hotels when they visited over the past 5 years. Deacon hadn't spent a night under this roof in over 13 years.

The house was older and outdated, but Frannie kept it immaculately clean and orderly.

Rayna found some empty storage tubs in the garage and told Scarlett to pack all her clothes, and favorite toys in them to keep the little girl busy as she and Deacon went through Frannie's personal items.

"…but why?" Asked Scarlet as Rayna put the tubs in her bedroom

"Well, sweetie…you're gonna go back to Nashville with us in a couple days

"I wanna stay here."

"Honey, I know this is hard. You're gonna love Nashville. We'll decorate your new room any way you want. You can pick out all the colors, and bedding. Uncle Deacon will paint the walls whatever color you want."

"Did I hear my name and paint in the same sentence?" Deacon yelled from down the hall.

"Yep, gonna put you to work on Scarlett's new bedroom when we get home, babe.

"That's awesome." He said sarcastically as Rayna joined him in Frannie's bedroom to sort through things

"Deacon, look…you as a baby in your dad's arms." Deacon was surprised to see a smiling JD holding him at maybe a few months old with a toddler aged Beverly sitting next to them in a picture, Rayna had just found.

"I've never seen that, or any pictures of us kids with my dad." Deacon said a little shocked as he took the photo from Rayna and stared.

"I didn't think JD ever smiled."

"Look, Deacon. There are several of you and Beverly when you were really young. 1st birthdays, early Christmases, pictures of your dad playing with you and kissing you."

"Here are some from the delivery room when you were born." Deacon looked at the picture of a beaming JD as he held his son for the first time."

"Wedding pictures of your mom and dad, Deacon." Rayna held up pictures of a young couple happy and in love on their wedding day.

Deacon sat on his mom's bed trying to process what he was seeing. He was overcome with emotion as Rayna put an arm around him.

"It's OK, Deacon. You were really young in these pictures.

"That's not the man I remember, Ray."

"Well, obviously he wasn't always bad. Your mom fell in love with him for some reason. Early on it looks like they were happy."

"I don't remember any happy times in this house, Ray."

"All I remember are beatings, watching him beat my mom and sister. Trying to be quiet and good so he'd leave me alone, but it was never good enough. Something always pissed him off, and it was always my fault, or my mom or sisters fault." Deacon had tears in his eyes

"I couldn't stop him, Ray. I couldn't protect them." Deacon was shaking now

"Deacon, you were a scared little boy. None of it was your fault, and no one expected you to protect them against the monster he became at some point."

"I don't know what made him change, maybe the alcohol, but it looks like there was a time when he loved you and your mom."

"It scares the hell out of me, Ray. I could slip and…."

"Deacon, listen to me. You are not him. I've seen you at your absolute worst, and you've scared the hell out of me a time or two, but I don't believe for one second, even drunk that you could ever physically harm me or Maddie."

"Thanks for having such faith in me, Ray." Deacon pulled Rayna into a tight embrace

"I couldn't do this without you." He gently kissed her head as he went back to sorting and trying to get his mother's affairs in order

It was almost 10pm by the time Rayna and Deacon finished dealing with Frannie's personal affairs and decided to go to bed themselves.

They slept in Frannie's room. Deacon was restless all night. He tossed and turned and seemed to have nightmares when he did fall asleep.

Finally around 3am Rayna had had enough of trying to sleep next to him.

"Good lord, Deacon. Can't you just relax!"

"NO, RAYNA! I hate it here. I know it's been years, but it just still feels like he's here, ya know."

"Would you feel better in another room?"

"No, I'll feel better when all of this is over, and we can go home."

Rayna sighed. The next couple of days were going to be long ones. Deacon continued to toss and turn next to her. Finally by 7am she gave up and went downstairs to make coffee.

Scarlett came down around 7:30.

"Good morning, sweetie. How did you sleep?"

"Good." She said cheerfully

"Well that makes one of us."

"What would you like for breakfast?"

"uuummmm…pancakes with chocolate chips."

"That sounds familiar." She said sarcastically as Deacon snuck into the kitchen and kissed the back of her neck at the stove

"What." He asked as he poured himself some coffee.

"Chocolate chips in the pancakes."

"Damn that Maddie. Kid can't keep a secret to save my life." He laughed

"Good to see you smile, babe. I figured you'd be crabby after tossing and turning all night."

"I don't feel the greatest, but I have you, and that makes all of this bearable." He smiled at Rayna and patted Scarlett's little blonde head as he sat down.

"Good morning, Scar. How's my favorite niece today?"

"I'm you're only niece, uncle Deke." She was getting more chatty and showing more of her true personality with Rayna and Deacon

"You are, but still my favorite." He leaned over and nuzzled her with his scruff like he did Maddie and she giggled for the first time.

Deacon made some calls after breakfast to have all the utilities at the house turned off on Friday. He wasn't sure when, or if Bev would ever be back there. He was planning to look for long term mental health care for her in Nashville when they arrived him.

He figured they'd sell the house at some point, but he wanted to wait and ask Beverly before he made and big decisions about Frannie's estate.

Rayna had found a hand written rough copy of a will in Frannie's personal papers. It left everything equally between Beverly and Deacon. There were 2 college accounts for Scarlett and Maddie with around $5000 in each. There was still money in a savings account from JD's life insurance policy. Frannie also carried her own policy worth around $100,000.

They decided to take it all to an attorney in Nashville to make it legal. Rayna suggested they also get full legal custody of Scarlett.

"I dunno, Ray. I don't wanna take her away from Bev."

"It doesn't sound like Bev was really raising her, Deacon! From what I've got from Scarlett she was with Frannie all the time and wasn't even sure where Bev was for days at a time."

"If nothing else we at least need legal temporary custody to make decisions for Scarlett. If something happens for doctor approval, and maybe even to enroll her in school."

"Yeah, I hadn't thought about that. You're right, baby…as usual." He brushed Rayna cheek with his hand

"We'll set up a meeting with our lawyers Thurs or Fri when we get back to Nashville" he agreed

"Oh, Thursday is Thanksgiving, Deacon. I told Tandy we'd be back in time for a 5pm family dinner at her place with everyone."

"Who's EVERYONE, Ray?"

"Well…you, me, Maddie, Scarlett, Tandy, and….daddy…." she cringed as Deacon's face went serious

"I'm not sure I'm up for Lamar after this week, Ray."

"He'll be fine, Deacon. I told Tandy to ask him to behave, and I'm asking YOU to behave, PLEASE?"

"Me…wh…I haven't done a damn thing wrong, Ray."

"I know, babe. Let's table it for now. It's a couple days away, and we have other things to worry about now."

"Speaking of other things…" he trailed off as Rayna shot him a serious look

"I was only gonna do this if I had time, and we're pretty much done with mamas stuff till the services tomorrow, but I wanna go see if Vince is around while we're in town."

***silence*****

"I don't wanna fight about it, Ray. Come on , he's my best friend and I haven't seen him in a couple years. Hell I haven't even talked to him in months. I just wanna check on him, OK?"

"I REALLY wish you wouldn't, Deacon….but if it'll make you feel better, GO…"