2016
Connie
She was standing in the bathroom, working on her hair. She smiled when she saw Chip walk up behind her. "Hey, babe," she said.
He raised one eyebrow. "You about ready, gorgeous? We need to get going."
She ran her fingertips through her hair one last time, then leaned over the sink and put on lipstick. "But we have plenty of time, don't we? We don't have to be there super early, right?" she asked. She rubbed her lips together, ran her fingers through her hair one more time, and turned to face him.
He shrugged and smiled. "But I like the backstage stuff. Mixing and mingling with everyone. And there are some really big deal performers there tonight." He took a step towards her and wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her towards him. "I know it's not your favorite thing, but I appreciate you being a good sport." He kissed her on the cheek. He was right. She wasn't a big fan of the mix and mingle, plus it was 2 shows that night. The kids wouldn't be able to stay awake for both.
She rested her hand on his cheek and smiled back at him. "Of course," she said. "The kids are excited to go." She stepped out of his embrace and headed for the bedroom.
"Yeah, they are. Yoby's ready, but your daughter is like you," he said as he followed her.
She glanced back at him over her shoulder and laughed. "Says the indulgent daddy who she has wrapped around her little finger."
He grinned sheepishly. "What can I say? She's a mini-me to the most amazing woman I know."
She laughed again and headed to Ryleigh's bedroom. Her daughter was standing in front of her full length mirror, turning this way and that. She couldn't help but smile. Ryleigh was definitely a little diva already. "You look gorgeous, baby girl," she said. "But we need to go so Daddy's not late." Ryleigh had on a tiny jean skirt and a cute little sleeveless top, along with her 'Nashville shoes', a pair of dark purple boots.
Ryleigh turned to face her. She was always struck by how much their daughter looked like Chip, with her dark hair and crystal blue eyes as well as his smile. She was the perfect female version of him. it always caught her in the heart too, to see their daughter perfectly healthy and full of energy. She never forgot how frightened she'd been, the day Ryleigh was born, 7 weeks early and just under 3½ pounds. She said a silent prayer of thanks, as she often did.
"I'm ready!" Ryleigh shouted, and then ran past her out of the room.
She watched him as he made the rounds in the family room before the first show. He had Ryleigh on his hip and he would introduce her to everyone he talked to. She couldn't help but smile. He was where he loved to be, in the middle of everything. He'd been surprised when he'd been invited to perform that night. It was the unofficial beginning of CMA Fest, he'd told her, and so some of the biggest names in country music were performing as well. She was happy for him. He'd been despondent ever since the show had been cancelled and he'd needed the pick me up.
He'd been at the forefront of the Bring Back Nashville movement, along with some of the other cast. It was a little bit of a sore point for him that she had not gotten involved. But he and the other cast members had rallied with a very dedicated group of fans to blanket social media with the message that it wasn't time for the show to be over. She knew there were some pretty serious talks going with CMT and she had mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, she knew how much Chip loved the show and the role of Deacon. She would hate to see him not get to continue that. But she was exhausted. By the turn the show had taken, by the schedule, the writing and the inability to take on roles she was interested in. Four years had been a long time, especially in network TV with its 20+ episode seasons. Plus she wanted to spend more time with Yoby and Ryleigh. She'd made up her mind already that, if the show were to be picked up by another network, she was going to ask to be let out of her contract. She just hadn't told Chip.
Suddenly there was a flurry of activity towards the front of the room. She turned in time to see Carrie Underwood come through the crowd. Carrie seemed to focus on her immediately and hurried towards her. "Oh my God, it's Tami Taylor!" she cried. "I just loved you on Friday Night Lights and I love you on Nashville!" She smiled as Carrie threw her arms around her, as though they were old friends. She kept smiling though and put her hands on the younger woman's back briefly. Then Carrie stepped back and grasped her hands. "I was just so excited when I heard you were here tonight."
Chip
When he heard the commotion, he turned to look and saw Carrie Underwood hugging Connie. He smiled. She rarely came to Opry with him, because it really was a late night for the kids. She felt like Yoby and Ryleigh spent enough time with their nanny, without her going out at night too. He was glad she'd agreed to come and bring the kids this time. They had not talked much about the cancellation or the campaign to bring the show back. He'd been very morose in the beginning, he knew that, and she'd been respectful of it. But he could see the relief on her face during all her interviews in the immediate aftermath. She seemed relaxed, smiling, laughing. It had hurt though and he hadn't been able to keep that to himself.
"Can't you seem just a little bit sad?" he asked her, after she'd finished her interview with Seth Meyers.
"I don't know what you mean," she said.
"You were laughing, yucking it up, talking about how excited your LA friends are." He could hear himself sounding petulant.
She was quiet for a moment. "Are we really having this conversation, Chip?" she asked. He didn't say anything. "Look, I'm sorry if you don't like how I'm handling this, and I get that our reactions are a bit different, but you don't need to be pissy with me about it."
He sighed. He'd apologized, of course, and they'd gotten past it, mostly by not talking about it. She'd given notice on the house, which he had argued was premature, but she'd done it anyway. We have to face it, Chip. There's no real reason to stay when we have a home in California. He knew he should be okay with it, but he just hadn't been ready to give up. He'd been encouraged by the fans who were fighting for the show and it had made him fight harder, right along with them. But tonight was a celebratory night, not a night to be thinking about how far apart they were on this one issue. He had been beyond honored to be asked to perform that night. He was excited to have Connie, Yoby and Ryleigh there with him. It was a big night.
He was on right before the intermission. Connie and the kids walked out with him to the side stage to wait for his set. Before he walked onto the stage, she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Good luck, babe," she said, smiling at him. "I can't wait to hear you."
He hugged her again. "I'm so glad you're here," he whispered into her ear. Then he walked out onto the stage to a very enthusiastic crowd. He made a few comments about working hard to bring the show back and then he launched into this first song.
Connie
She was really glad they'd come. This was something he loved to do and it always seemed to her like he'd been born to do it. She remembered the very first time he'd performed at the Opry. It had actually been at the Ryman and he'd been so nervous. She'd gone out on stage, briefly, and hugged him, whispering to him how happy she was for him. They had started seeing each other again and, based on the timing, it had been not long after that when she got pregnant. They had not been diligent about using a condom. She'd been sure she was too old. But, of course, that had not been the case. She looked down at Ryleigh, who was standing in front of her, holding her hand, bouncing along to the beat. Ryleigh was the result of that incorrect assumption, but one she would never be unhappy about.
Suddenly, Ryleigh pulled away and started across the stage towards Chip. "Ryleigh!" she whispered loudly, but either her daughter didn't hear or she was ignoring her. All she could do was watch, as Ryleigh ran towards Chip. He turned in her direction and, after a brief look of surprise, he smiled. He moved his guitar behind his back and scooped up their daughter, glancing at her briefly with a happy smile on his face.
"Hey, baby girl," he said to Ryleigh. "Did you come to sing with me?" She was holding her breath as she watched. Ryleigh was just shy of 3 years old and could still be a little timid around other people. But she did love her father and loved sitting and listening to him sing.
Ryleigh nodded. "Sure!"
He nodded towards the audience. "That's who we'll sing to." He leaned towards the mike. "So this is my youngest daughter, Ryleigh." The crowd cheered loudly. "Somehow, although I'm not surprised, she got away from her mama." He looked at Ryleigh then. "Can you wave to everyone, sweetie?" She watched as Ryleigh gave kind of a half wave and then tried to wriggle down from his arm. He set her down on the stage and whispered something in her ear. Ryleigh put her hands on his face and kissed him, to great applause, and then ran back to her.
She squatted down as Ryleigh came running. She grabbed her daughter in her arms. "You didn't want to sing with Daddy?" she asked, with a smile.
Ryleigh looked at her intently. "That's a lot of people out there," she said seriously.
She nodded. "I know. But let's listen now, okay?" She stood up and had Ryleigh stand in front of her, holding onto her shoulders, as they listened to Chip finish with Whiskey Lips, which always made her smile. When he was done, he waved to the crowd, then flicked his guitar pick out into the audience. He pulled off his guitar and handed it to one of the guitar techs, who would put it away in its case for him until the second show. Then he approached them, a huge smile on his face.
"Hey everybody," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. He looked at Yoby. "So what did you think, Yobes?"
Yoby smiled happily. "It was great!" He looked up at her. "Can we come again, Mom?"
She smiled and rubbed her hand over his head. "Of course we can." She looked at Chip and she saw a hint of sadness in his eyes. This was what he would find hard to give up, she knew. If they went back to LA, there would be no more Opry performances or Bluebird performances or performances at any of the other places he'd gotten to perform in. The music part of his life would probably not be as prominent. It was the thing that gave her pause, when she thought about it all. This had been such a gift for him. He'd told her so many times how grateful he was to have had this opportunity, how it had awakened the part of his life that had sat on the back burner for so many years.
He leaned into her. "So what was the story on this one?" He nodded towards Ryleigh.
She smiled and shrugged. "Well, she does really love her daddy."
Ryleigh was dancing around at their feet. "Daddy, daddy, daddy!" she cried, in a sing song voice.
She watched as he knelt down and scooped her up. "What, baby?" he asked, then gave her a kiss on the cheek. She reached out and smoothed Ryleigh's hair back.
Ryleigh threw her arms around his neck, burying her face against his neck. "I love you," came her muffled voice.
He grinned, rubbing her back with his free hand. "I love you too, baby." He gestured towards the dressing room area. "Let's get them out of all this."
She put her hand on Yoby's back and fell in step with him as they headed for his dressing room.
Ryleigh was in her lap, leaning back against her, as she read to her. This was one of her favorite things to do. They sat cuddled up in the chair she and Chip had bought just before Ryleigh was born. She and Chip had sat together in the chair countless times, as she had breastfed their daughter. It had been a special time for the three of them and she never failed to think about it. Now Ryleigh liked to sit there and be read to, whether it was by her or by Chip. Yoby was at preschool and she would pick him up in the afternoon. Chip was down at CMA Fest, where he had a Q & A event, a meet and greet event, and then would perform on one of the free stages later that afternoon. He'd tried to get her to bring the kids down, but it would have been impossible. Plus it was hot as hell, as well as being humid. No place for her, much less for the kids.
Her phone had been buzzing periodically for at least the last 30 minutes, but she'd ignored it. It buzzed again and Ryleigh leaned her head back in exaggerated irritation. "Answer it, Mama," she said. She smiled and reached for it.
She saw it was Chip. "It's Daddy," she said to Ryleigh.
Ryleigh grabbed for the phone. "Let me, let me, let me!" she cried. She tapped the phone to accept the call and held it out for her daughter. "Daddy, hey," Ryleigh said sweetly.
"Hey, sweet girl. What are you doing?" He sounded giddy.
"Nothing," Ryleigh said. "Sitting with my mom. You can have her now." Ryleigh slid off her lap and ran out of the room, dropping the phone on the chair.
She picked up the phone and lifted it to her ear. "Hey there," she said. She could hear lots of crowd noise in the background.
"We did it!" he shouted. "We got picked up!"
She closed her eyes for a second and swallowed. "Really?" she said, knowing she sounded unenthusiastic, but also knowing he wouldn't notice. She could tell he was high as a kite.
"You didn't see my text?"
"No. I was reading to Ryleigh."
"Well, CMT picked us up. I found out before I had that fan thing." He paused and she continued to hear crowd noise in the background. She wondered where he actually was. "You should really come down here, baby. Get someone to keep the kids. Clare's gonna be here. People would love to see you."
"I can't, Chip," she said. "I don't like crowds like that. You know that. And Yoby's at pre-school, so I'll have to pick him up. We'll celebrate when you come home." Not that she really wanted to celebrate, but she also wasn't going to spoil this for him. Even if it wasn't the best news for her, she loved him and would always support him. She made a mental note that she'd need to contact the owner of the house and hope it was still available.
"Okay." He sounded disappointed. "So, I'm headed for a meet and greet and then have the set I'm doing later. I'll see you after that." He lowered his voice a little. "I'm gonna keep you up all night, baby." She felt that familiar tingle between her legs and her chest felt hot.
"I'm looking forward to that," she said, her heart beating fast. "Have fun, babe." After he hung up, she laid the phone down. She wanted to cry. There has to be a way out of this. I can't do it. But she and Chip couldn't be in two different places. He'd need to be in Nashville. Would want to be in Nashville. She couldn't leave him. She couldn't take the kids away with her, but she couldn't leave them in Nashville either. It really wasn't that she didn't like Nashville, because she did. Loved it, actually. Her daughter had been born here. She had great friends here.
She got up and started to pace, trying to think about what her options were. At that moment, they felt like next to nothing, mainly because she wouldn't leave Chip. Not on a long term basis. She just didn't want to do the show. Or at least do it full out. It made her wonder if there couldn't be a compromise.
He was later than she thought he'd be, but she knew he'd be caught up in the excitement of the renewal. She promised herself she wouldn't spoil it for him. They could talk some other time about what she wanted to do. When he finally got home, the kids were already in bed. She threw her arms around his neck and he put his arms around her waist and lifted her up, kissing her as he did. He tasted of bourbon, so she knew he'd had a couple of drinks. He finally set her down on the floor and grinned. "God, Connie, this was just the best day ever," he said. He was still giddy and she could see the joy on his face.
"I can see that," she said with a smile. "You want to tell me all about it?"
He shook his head. "You know what I want to do." His eyes were twinkling.
She laughed. "Me?"
He raised one eyebrow. "I always knew you were a very smart lady," he said. He grabbed her hand. "Come on."
Chip
He was hot and sweaty and needed to take a shower. Luckily she was more than happy to join him. When the water was warm enough they stepped in. He stepped up close behind her and put his hand on her abdomen, kissing her shoulder and the back of her neck. He was buzzing, not so much from alcohol – although there had been some of that – but from the high of the show being picked up by CMT. They would have at least another season and he was so sure it would be infinitely better than the last that he was convinced Connie would be happy about it too. But at the moment, all he wanted was her.
She was pressing back against him and he was rock hard and ready for her. He pressed his hand against her, shifting her a bit. Then he thrust himself inside her with one quick move, groaning in appreciation of how warm and wet she was. He pressed himself against her as he moved inside her, moving quickly in and out. It didn't take long before he felt her squeeze him tightly, which then caused him to push one last time, hard and forceful and then let go, murmuring her name against her shoulder. "Oh god, I love you," he said, as she leaned against him, breathing hard.
"I love you too," she whispered. He held her close for a moment, then stepped back. She turned to face him, water streaming down over her head and down her body, and he thought he'd never seen a woman as gorgeous and sexy as her. He felt overwhelmed with how much he loved her. He pulled her towards him and kissed her deeply.
When he finally let her go, she was laughing. "Oh, wow, babe," she said. "That was a really good start."
He raised his eyebrows. "There's a lot more where that came from." He took her hand and led her out of the shower, first wrapping her in a towel, then using one for himself. She ran a comb quickly through her damp hair and then he picked her up. She squealed with laughter, wrapping her arms around his neck, as he carried her to the bed and laid her gently on it. Then he joined her, as they both crawled under the sheets. He wrapped her up in his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder. "So that was pretty great news we got today, huh?"
She nodded. "I could hear how excited you were." She scratched his chest with her fingers.
He didn't say anything at first. He had hoped that maybe when she heard the news, she'd come around, but he wasn't really hearing it in her voice. Nobody knew better than he did how unhappy she'd been with the storylines in the 4th season. Babe, the only thing I liked was when Deacon and Rayna got married and then they still created unnecessary drama. I mean, I would have been pissed if you disappeared right before our wedding. "I really think the new showrunners are gonna turn this around," he said. "New writers, new attitude."
She sighed. "I hope you're right and they can get it back on track. But I'd still like to consider my options." She reached across him and put her hand on his arm. "I did reach out to our landlord to see if we could stay here."
He rolled slightly towards her then. "I was thinking about that," he said. She turned her head to look up at him. "What about we think about buying a house here." He'd thought about that all the way home. He really wanted them to think about putting roots down in Nashville.
She frowned. "We have a house in LA."
"I know, but wouldn't it be easier to be here most of the time?"
She smirked. "We already are here most of the time."
He shrugged. "I guess. But if I'm gonna work more on my music..."
"I guess we can talk about it. But we don't have to make a decision right this minute, do we?"
"No..."
She smiled. "Then let's don't." She then lifted herself up and straddled him, laughing softly. "You promised me all night long," she murmured. "Right?"
He grinned. God, I love her. "Oh, yeah." She shifted slightly and he entered her slowly, enjoying every single second of it.
Connie
Chip was still a little bit in a mood over her lack of enthusiasm. He'd been devastated when the show was cancelled, but he didn't show it with the kids. He was fun dad, wrestling and playing catch with Yoby, hitting the playground with Ryleigh. She had done a few talk shows in the immediate aftermath of the cancellation and when she got home, he'd told her she looked too happy.
"I'm sorry, babe," she said, as she sat on the bed and rubbed her arms with lotion. "I don't mean to."
He gave her a side eye as he slid his jeans off. "But you are happy about it, Connie," he grumbled.
She sighed, then squeezed more lotion in her hand and started working on her legs. "Chip, we've talked about this." They had. She had been more and more disappointed in the storylines. She had hated the emancipation deal, hated the drifter Rayna tried to save story, fumed about how they were writing Deacon and Rayna. She also hated long seasons with 20+ episodes. She was tired. She looked over at him as he sat on the bed, his legs crossed and his glasses on, a magazine in his hand. She couldn't help but notice he was at the far edge of his side of the bed. "Babe. You know I want more. And less."
He looked at her over the top of his glasses. "I do know that, Connie. You haven't stopped going on and on about it."
She frowned. "Hey, that's not fair. I have not gone on and on about it, but I have told you I want to spread my wings. Do something new that stretches me." She reached over and tapped his arm. "This doesn't have to be a bad thing. You can spend time working on your music."
He sighed. "I loved that show."
"I know you did. But it's not like it really would have gone on forever, though, right?" She put the cap back on the lotion and set it on her bedside table, then turned back towards him. "We could have been cancelled after year two, remember?"
He nodded, but he still looked sad. He took off his glasses and placed them and the magazine on his table. "I'm just not ready for it to be over." He breathed in. "There is that big push to bring the show back, on social media." She nodded. "Maybe we'll get some good news soon."
She considered that. There was a lot of chatter and they both knew there were some fairly serious talks with CMT. She had not told Chip yet that, even if the show returned, she was thinking about talking to Callie and Marshall about not signing a new contract. All the contracts would be renegotiated upon pick up by CMT or someone else, if that happened. But she didn't want to say anything to Chip just yet. She usually told him everything, so keeping this to herself was killing her, but she was pretty sure he'd blow up.
In the first few days after the pick-up he'd been so happy that it seemed he hadn't noticed her less than enthusiastic reaction. He and most of the rest of the cast had immediately announced they were coming back. Marshall and Ed, the new showrunners, were already talking about their plans for the new season. They were going to stretch out the scenes, they said. Dial back on the soap opera drama. Give the show a chance to breathe. Things like that weakened her resolve a little. But the 22 episodes was not something she wanted to do. And she still wanted to consider her options. Yoby and Ryleigh were both getting older and she wanted to be more involved with them. She wanted to be a mom for a while.
She and Hayden were the only ones who hadn't signed on at that point. Hayden had grown distant from most of them, caught up in the aftermath of her post-partum depression and the strain on her relationship with her fiancé. She knew, without even talking to her co-star, that Hayden was really thinking hard about the future. The character of Juliette was a challenging part to play. The character had grown almost unlikeable over the course of the last season and she knew Hayden was unhappy with that. She herself had not met yet with Marshall and Ed, but Chip had told her their plans were to rework the Deacon-Rayna relationship, satisfy the fans' desire to see them happy but also as a normal married couple, figuring their way around teenagers and careers and just finally having all they ever wanted. She was torn.
She finally texted Callie and asked for a meeting. I really need to talk to you. About the show coming back. Callie responded I'll be back in Nashville in two weeks. She started to respond and then saw the little bubbles that meant Callie was typing some more. This isn't like yr 1 is it? She smiled to herself, remembering when she had met with Callie to tell her she was pregnant. I'm not pregnant or anything like that. Just considering the future. She waited. I'll call you when I'm back and we can meet. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It was time for her to decide what she wanted to ask for.
Chip
He watched as Ryleigh scrambled up the slide and then slid all the way down, squealing with laughter. She kept doing it over and over and he smiled. It always baffled him how kids could be happy doing the same thing over and over again. He still thought about how amazing it was that this little girl was the same one who'd been born 7 weeks early at barely 3½ pounds, spending her first three weeks of life in the NICU. She had mostly caught up to other kids her age in height and weight, although she was still slender. Just like her mom, he thought. He clenched his jaw. Connie was still being stubborn about her desire to either leave the show or at least greatly reduce her schedule.
They had been sitting on the couch after putting the kids to bed and he'd asked her again to reconsider. She sighed. "Chip, we've talked about this. I feel like, really, I've been working for ten years straight, with the usual brutal series TV schedule. Any other projects I want to work on have to be sandwiched into hiatuses, and that means small roles. I want to have the ability to do meatier things. And I want to be able to spend time with the kids. I've never really been able to do that. Yoby's starting first grade and Ryleigh's going to be in pre-school and I want to be able to enjoy that."
He wanted to understand but all he could think of was that it would kill the show for her to be gone. She would tell him he was really the heart of the show, but he wasn't convinced. He'd felt like they had been in a standoff for the past two days, ever since she'd floated the idea again, more seriously this time. He knew he was being selfish, but he loved the show and he loved being able to work with her. He wanted to be more adult about it, but he just wasn't there yet.
He had to admit that Connie wasn't taking his bait though. She was always pleasant, smiled at him, lightly tapped his arm, just like she always did. She didn't seem bothered by the chill in the air, or at least the chill he perceived to be there. Since the day they had the first table read, she'd been his partner, on set and then later off set as well. They'd gone through a lot together, especially the first year or two, but things had mostly leveled off in the past few years. They'd gotten married and created a rhythm for themselves. This was new, not being on the same page about something. But this was big.
Just then Ryleigh ran up to him, cutting off his train of thought. "I'm done, Daddy," she said.
He smiled at his girl. "You wanna do something else? The swings?"
She very dramatically raised up her shoulders and then dropped them, sighing deeply. "I've already done that," she said. He chuckled a little. She also had her mother's acting gene. "Let's go home." She reached for his hand.
"Okay," he said and then he tightened the grip on her hand as they walked to the car.
He hustled around the car to open the door and get Ryleigh out of the booster seat. As he unlatched the seat belt, she looked at him seriously. "I want you not to be mad at Mom anymore," she said.
That took him by surprise. Things had been a little strained, but he didn't realize it was noticeable. He frowned. "Who says I'm mad at Mom?" he asked.
"Because you do that" – she pointed at his face and then she made her own little frown – "and you don't kiss her anymore."
He pulled her out and set her on the ground, then watched her run towards the house. It had stunned him a little and then it made him think. He'd essentially been pouting, he'd realized, and they'd been sleeping turned away from each other. Or he had anyway. He put his hands in his pockets and breathed in deeply. He needed to be more understanding about her needs. Of course she'd want to be more of a mom. She'd gone back to work six weeks after they brought Ryleigh home, begrudgingly admitting she needed to do her part so the show would be ready to go. Even though they brought the kids on set, she worked extra for a while that second season, doing scenes from episodes already completed in addition to scenes from the current episode. And Rayna was always a heavy load, more so than any other character. But she was a professional. Always acted that way.
He headed slowly for the house and let himself in. She was standing at the kitchen island making tea and looked up when he came in. She gave him a warm smile. "Hey," she said, as she dipped her tea bag.
He walked over behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. He leaned into her neck and kissed her there. "It's a humbling experience to be called out by my three-year old daughter," he murmured.
"What?"
He sighed. "She told me she didn't want me to be mad at you anymore."
She laughed a little. "She said that?"
He nodded. "Apparently she's quite observant." He kissed her shoulder. "Told me I'm not kissing you enough either."
She laughed again, a little louder this time. "Well, that is true." She dropped the tea bag and turned in his arms to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You're not kissing me enough." She pecked him on the lips. "Or other things." She gave him a sly smile.
He breathed in, then let it out, holding her close to him. "I'm sorry I've been such an ass. I want you to do what makes you happy. And if part of that is that you stay home with our kids, then I think they're very lucky to have you for a mom."
She smiled up at him. "Thank you, babe," she said quietly. "I don't like for you to be mad, at me or anyone else." She grinned. "Especially at me." He kissed her, tugging on her lips. He didn't like being mad either. Especially at her. She pulled back and looked at him. "As it happens, I heard from Marshall today."
He stiffened just a little. "Yeah?"
She nodded. "I'm going to go back on a reduced schedule. Essentially I'll be recurring, although they'll keep me the same in the credits." He breathed in deeply, smiling at her.
"Tell me," he said. He took her hand and led her to the couch. She sat facing him, her legs crossed under her.
"Thirteen episodes for this coming season. They need to come up with a story and he did tell me they might front load some episodes, but it will depend on what they come up with. And then if we go to a sixth season and beyond, it would be no more than seven or eight per season." She leaned forward and reached for his hands. He squeezed hers gently. "I hope you understand. I really need more time with the kids plus it lets me get away for small projects and…." He shut her up by pulling her over onto his lap and kissing her more urgently. He had his arms around her waist and she threaded her fingers through the hair on the back of his head, returning his kiss. When he finally let her go, she was breathless. He could see the laughter bubbling up inside her. "And I can be a much better wife." The laughter bubbled over. "I love you, babe."
He laughed too. "I love you back," he said, and kissed her again.
2018
Connie
This time he'd taken the cancellation news better. He had still been disappointed and sad, but he'd been more at peace with it. It really would be the end this time and it also felt like they'd ended things well. It had helped to have advance notice so the writers could craft that perfect ending. It had felt amazing to be able to include the audience of extras in the final scene and have Callie able to truly thank everyone who'd made the 6 years possible.
She thought that what ultimately made the difference in his reaction was that she had stayed. She had negotiated a reduced schedule for both seasons and it had freed her up for some other short term projects, as well as time with Yoby and Ryleigh and she'd been much happier. Both of them had new projects coming up that would put them in different places, but she knew they'd work through it all together.
"You're not dressed yet?" She turned, startled, to see him standing at her closet door.
She smiled apologetically. "Sorry. I guess my mind was just elsewhere. Are the kids ready?"
He walked a few steps into the closet. "Yoby is, of course, but Ryleigh's now on her third outfit change and, even though I told her it had to be the last one, I'm not sure she's listening to me."
She grinned and walked over to him, putting her hand on his cheek. "She's all girl, babe, so I think you're going to have to get used to it." She kissed him lightly on the lips. "Plus she just wants to be pretty for Dad."
He shook his head and smirked. "I don't know about that." He put his arm around her waist. "You still gonna sing with me tonight?"
"Oh, babe, I don't know." She felt butterflies in her stomach as he said it.
"You promised."
She sighed. "I know I did, but you know how I am about singing."
He pulled her in close, kissing the top of her head. "I'm gonna be right there with you and it'll be fine."
She gave him a side eye, then held her index finger up. "Well, first of all, you have to let me get dressed. And you need to go check on your daughter."
He smiled. "Alright, but you need to get a move on." He headed for the bedroom and she just watched him, smiling to herself. Just when she thought she couldn't love him more, he'd do something like be supportive of her journey the past 2 years. She had spent the first year just doing the 13 episodes she and Marshall had agreed to. When it was cut to 8 for the season they'd just completed, she'd done some movie work that didn't require a huge time commitment and still left her plenty of time with Chip and the kids. And the story they'd crafted for Rayna had worked, leaving the show in a good place when it ended.
She was doing it again, drifting off track. The final episode had aired several weeks earlier and Chip had been invited again to perform at the Opry, so they were all going. And he had talked her into singing onstage with him, one night when he'd sweetly made love to her and her defenses were down. She shook her head to stop herself from going back down a rabbit hole and turned her attention back to what she had in her closet. She finally chose a pretty sundress, covered in flowers and palm fronds. She took off her jeans and t-shirt and slipped the dress on, running the zipper up the back. Then she stepped into some dressy sandals. She walked out of the closet and into the bathroom, where she ran a brush through her hair and then created some messy waves with her fingers. She reached for a lipstick and put it on, rubbing her lips together. She picked at a strand of hair one last time and then headed for the hallway.
As they drove across town to the Opry, she stared out the window. She would never forget the very first time they had filmed there. Yoby had been a year and a half then and Ryleigh wasn't even a thought. She still remembered Chip, as Deacon, putting his hand on her shoulder. She had turned back to look at him, putting her hand over his. She had felt like she couldn't breathe. That first year had been filled with change and new experiences and pain and heartbreak, as well as unimaginable joy. It hadn't all been easy, but eventually they figured it out. When the twists and turns their characters went through onscreen made her a little crazy, she found herself comforted by the fact that she could go home with this man and life would make sense.
Changing networks had been her saving grace. She'd been afraid Marshall and Ed wouldn't accommodate her, but they had surprised her. The story they had created had restored the romanticism of Deacon and Rayna and yet been plausible in explaining her absences on the screen. She'd been proud of the work they'd done in the realm of trauma and its aftermath and finally recovery. Rayna's return to her career and the stage, in the last two episodes of the series, had pleased her.
She looked over at Chip then and reached for his hand. He glanced back, letting his fingers tangle up with hers, smiling. She smiled back. She looked over her shoulder into the backseat. The time she'd gotten to spend with Yoby and Ryleigh, being part of school field trips and school activities, had recharged her. Chip had been right – Ryleigh had changed clothes again – and that made her smile. She had finally settled on a cute little denim skirt and a sleeveless top, plus her boots. Very similar to the outfit she'd worn the very first time she'd gone to the Opry, when she was almost 3. The night she'd ran out on the stage. She looked back at Chip and he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
"You're not backing out on me, are you?" he asked, trying to hide a smile.
"No, I guess not," she said. "I did promise. Even if it was in a weak moment."
They reached the highway exit and he veered off to the right. She could already feel the butterflies.
Chip
It had been a little over 2 weeks since the final episode had aired. He'd been sad to see it end. When they'd first been told that the show would end at the end of the sixth season, he'd had a momentary sense that he'd lost his equilibrium. He had loved the role, truly the role of a lifetime, he'd always said. There would be other roles – in fact, he'd be heading to New Orleans soon for the next one – but maybe not another quite like Deacon Claybourne. He had tour dates lined up, so he could continue his music. Connie was producing a show – and was the lead – that would take them all to LA for a while. They would be fine. But he still felt like he was untangling.
He'd been relieved that Connie had stayed on the show. Her role was reduced by about half, but she'd been happier. And that made him happy. He never woke up a single day when he wasn't grateful for her being in his life. He flicked his eyes up to the rearview mirror. Yoby was playing on one of his handheld video games and Ryleigh was reading a book. He smiled. They made him feel young again, even though they also reminded him he wasn't as young as he felt like. Ryleigh had been a very special gift and Yoby had been the perfect fit into his broader family. There had been fits and starts at first, but now he had the kind of relationship he'd hoped for with his own kids again and they had finally accepted Connie into their lives as well.
Connie. His smile grew a little larger. It had been a long time since she'd sang in public with him. She'd always told people he was the only one who could get her to do it, but the truth was she still mostly said no. He'd asked her to sing with him at the Opry before, but she would always turn red and shake her head and say she just couldn't. So, as she said, he'd caught her in a weak moment.
When he came out of his closet, she was performing her nightly ritual of rubbing lotion onto her legs and arms. She looked up and smiled, capping the tube and setting it aside. He got up on the bed and sat next to her. She slid back and he wrapped his arm around her. She turned towards him, resting one hand on his chest. He leaned down to kiss her. The way she returned the kiss made him realize she wanted sex and he was happy to oblige. He slid his free hand up under her t-shirt, fondling her breasts and brushing his thumb over her nipples. She moaned deep in her throat, her body relaxing. He kept kissing her, kept caressing her, until she turned a little more towards him and threw her leg over his. The kiss grew even deeper and he slid his hand down over her stomach, under her waistband, and down between her legs. She arched her back slightly and he slid 2 fingers inside her. She put her hand on his cheek, moving her hips, moaning into his mouth.
He pulled his mouth from hers and looked into her eyes, dark with desire. He kept moving his fingers and she was panting. He kissed her forehead. She moved her hand down to cover his bulge and he groaned. He withdrew his fingers and rolled her onto her back. He grabbed the waistband of her shorts and pulled them down, tossing them onto the floor, followed by his own. Then he settled on top of her and she spread her legs out. He was right on the edge already, but he pulled her t-shirt up and she raised her arms so he could pull it off. It went on the floor as well, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her gaze never leaving his. "What do you want, baby?" he whispered.
She gave him a little smile. "You, babe. I want you," she said, her voice husky and deep.
He sucked in his breath. "What do you want me to do to you?" he asked.
Her smile widened a bit. "I want you to love me sweet," she whispered, saying the last three words very slowly.
He immediately plunged inside her, needing to feel her around him, wrapping him up snugly. She was warm and wet and she responded to him immediately, moving her hips, lifting her pelvis up against him, her eyes focused on him like burning coals. He could feel her fingers lightly sliding around his neck and she brought his lips down to hers. He held her tightly as he kissed her, still moving inside her, his strokes becoming more forceful. She was moaning deep in her throat and he knew she was close. He started moving faster, in and out, and it didn't take long before she squeezed him hard and then relaxed, pulsing around him. He drove into her one last time and let go, just vaguely aware of her arms circling his waist. Slowly he let his breath out and buried his face against her neck, feeling her beneath him.
He rolled off of her and onto his side. He smiled at her and she smiled back, looking like she was spent. He leaned down to her ear. He'd wanted to ask her this, but she'd always said no, so he thought when she was happy like this, she might be more inclined. "Sing with me, baby," he whispered. "At the Opry."
She looked at him like he was crazy. "What? Seriously?"
He smiled. "Yeah. Seriously. An easy one. A Life That's Good."
She shook her head. "If I say yes, will you promise it's the last time you ask me?"
He grinned. "I can't promise that."
"Well, I'll do it, but the answer will be no forever after."
He laughed, then bent down to kiss her. "Thank you, sweetie," he said. He pulled her into his arms.
"Don't think you'll always get your way by using sex," she said, giving him an amused, but warning look. He laughed again, just holding her close, knowing she'd still let him anyway.
He smiled to himself. Normally she would not have been so quick to give him a yes and, truthfully, he'd been a little surprised she had then. But she was always full of surprises, which was just one of the many reasons he loved her. He could feel her looking at him then and she reached for his hand and he glanced over at her. I'm the luckiest guy in the world.
He was the final performer for the second show that night, before the host closed it out. As always, the crowd was welcoming and, as always, there were clearly a lot of Nashville fans in the audience. It always made him smile. He glanced over to the side stage. She was standing there by herself. The nanny they'd used for years had met them that night and stayed with the kids during the second show. She had her hands clasped in front of her, like she was nervous. He looked back out at the crowd. Carrie Underwood had been the topliner that night so the place was full.
"So I have a special guest I'd like to bring out to sing this last one with me, if y'all don't mind," he said into the microphone. "My wife, Connie Britton!" He held his hand out, as the crowd screamed its approval, and she walked out, looking a little shy but waving at the audience. When she was standing next to him, he gave her a peck on the lips, then turned back to the microphone. "She's gonna sing A Life That's Good with me." She smiled at the applause.
"I don't usually do this," she said, leaning into the mic. "So y'all be kind." She turned to look at him and he started the guitar intro before they launched into the song, with him singing lead as they'd agreed, and her on the harmony.
Sitting here tonight, by the firelight...
THE END
A/N: This is the end of this story. Thanks for reading and for the reviews you've left. I've got something different planned for what I put out next, but I need to take a couple weeks off to chill. See you soon!