Author's Note: I'm back with another chapter. These two would have been precious if they had continued the series with Deacon and Ilse falling in love. It never happened in the show, but that's what fanfiction is for. Question for the readers, do you ever imagine where these characters are two years on? I am working away on editing the next chapter and writing chapter 10! I hope you enjoy and review if you can!

Disclaimer: I am mentioning this again because I do not own Nashville or the characters, and I ESPECIALLY don't own the song that was used on the show that I am using for this chapter. The song belongs to the show and the writers who wrote it.

Chapter IV

Two weeks later, Ilse found herself in the passenger seat of a car they had rented, as they traveled to an air BnB they found in The Great Smoky Mountains. Maddie and Daphne decided it would be fun to throw a girl's trip for the weekend while their dad was away. Deacon was asked to present an award that would be named after Rayna in LA. For Ilse, it was a nice getaway from Nashville and Deacon.

The car ride was filled with laughter and music from the radio. It was a pretty enjoyable car ride until the radio announcer announced the next song.

"Our next song is of the late Rayna Jaymes! There will be a posthumous award named after her this weekend. Here is the song The Best Songs Come From Broken Hearts." Everybody in the car froze.

"This will be the first time we've heard one of mom's songs on the radio. Since we usually don't listen to the radio." Daphne spoke with a wavering tone.

"Do you want me to turn it off?" Scarlett gently had her hand on the power button as the music began to play through the car.

I stood in the street in the pouring rain

Didn't give a damn about anything

"No. I want to hear it." Maddie shook her head." Mom would have wanted us to." Daphne hesitantly nodded in agreement.

"Yes. Mom would like us to celebrate her music." Daphne said quietly.

The song played as the girls listened while they consoled each other. Scarlett, Maddie, and Daphne were on the verge of tears as Rayna's voice filled the car. The song was running its course when Ilse began softly harmonizing along with it.

I'm not proud of my mistakes

But thanks to you I've got so much to say

Cause the best songs come from broken hearts

From busted dreams and beat up guitars

The girls stared at her with awe and a mixture of stunned when she continued on.

"I think your mom would have loved to see us all singing along to her song than crying." Ilse paused her singing as she reached back to comfort the two girls." Let's celebrate her music by singing it. I think she would love to hear that her girls are still singing her songs."

Both girls slowly joined in song, and Scarlett followed shortly after. They got to the point where the car was full of smiles once again, and this time the tears were happy.

The song concluded, and the announcer moved on to the next song, which was a current tune on the radio. But Daphne and Maddie remained in a hug laughing and just remembering their mom singing that song live.

"Thank you, mama!" Maddie smiled up through the moon roof.

"We love you, mom." Daphne leaned into her sister for another hug as Scarlett and Ilse let them have a moment.

They pulled into the driveway finding this gorgeous cabin hidden in the woods. They found the key that the owner of Airbnb had left them. It was a three-bedroom cabin, so Maddie and Daphne agreed to share the room with two twin beds, and both Scarlett and Ilse got the other two bedrooms. Ilse found herself setting her suitcase down and looked out her bedroom window at the mountain range covered in clouds.

It was probably the best time to clear her head and think about what she wanted in life. Jedd Mason had been flirting with her, which had been very flattering that men still felt she was attractive. He even asked her out to the Highway 65 annual fundraiser ball that was thrown by the board members at the company. Ilse accepted out of her heart's goodness, but she never really felt the connection with Jedd that she shared with Deacon. Ilse wondered if it was wrong that she wished for someone else to have asked her as a friend or a specific someone as a date. But he was the only one asking, and he did it in a way where it was hard to refuse...

She exited her bedroom to find the girls already planning out the plans for the trip. Even though she was having boy troubles at the moment, she was thankful for these Claybourne clan that had walked into her life when she needed them the most.

Deacon landed at LAX to find a couple of paparazzi waiting at the doors. But only two followed him as the rest were waiting for more prominent names attending the same award he was invited to. He politely smiled as he met up with his LA driver, who had driven Rayna for years. But one paparazzi asked him a question that caught his attention.

"Are you seeing anyone, Deacon?"

He didn't respond, but in his head, he replied. Not yet, but maybe soon. He had the driver take him to his hotel first, where he unloaded his guitar and suitcase. He would only be gone for a weekend, and the award show had put him up with this hotel. He decided it was time to explore LA and take in that famous California sun. However, that question didn't initially bother him; it was now burning into his memory. He did think about it while he was exploring LA because he wondered what was in store for his future.

Am I ready to move on? Can I move on? Will the girls understand? I really like Ilse...Could Ilse be the one after Rayna? I don't want to ruin our friendship and working relationship. I need to visit Rayna before I decide anything further.

Deacon went out to a nearby deli and had some food before texting some of Rayna's old LA buddies for a quick meet up. He did think about how Cali was a nice break from all the problems, good and bad, that he was facing in Nashville. It might even help clear his head and maybe find some inspiration for his future.

Deacon was grateful to catch up with these people in the music industry. He rarely got to see them since he barely was in LA, or they would be so busy with work in Nashville. Peter Coville, a friend of Rayna's when she first came to LA, pulled him away from the group conversation.

"How's life, Deac?" Peter asked, crossing his arms across his chest.

"It's been treating me well." Deacon responded with a smile. "How about yourself?"

"Same here. Can't go wrong with playing good music." Peter spoke before pausing. "...but something is holding you back when you speak, Deacon. I can tell. What's on your mind that you don't want to tell us about. You know you can tell me."

"I don't know-how. Peter. I've barely even admitted it out loud to myself. I'm just as confused. Like what the hell is going on, and why can't I control these emotions."

"Your heart is moving on… And you don't want to tell a bunch of Rayna's friends that you are falling in love again." Peter realized what was troubling his friend. The man was one of those people who could read you like a book, and he was always right. Deacon remained silent, almost in tears as he leaned against the walls.

"How can I move on? She was the love of my life. It doesn't feel right that I should be moving on with my life and that she's...dead. She should be the one living life and moving on..."

"As a friend of Rayna's first. Let me say this. She would have wanted you to move on, Deacon. Rayna would not want you living your life alone, especially sulking about it." Peter stressed as he braced either side of his friend, hoping to get this critical info into his friend's head.

"But…" Deacon pushed back.

"No buts. Tell me about this woman who has captured your heart." Peter tried to lighten the mood, and that's when Deacon began talking about Ilse without mentioning her by name. Peter noticed his friend's smile appear and the love in his eyes when he spoke about this woman. He knew at the bottom of his heart that his friend, Rayna's family, would be okay after the tragedy of her death.

It was Sunday evening. The day of the award show. The girls gathered around the tv watching the red carpet discussing fashion choices of the celebrities and then the ceremony.

"HA." Daphne proudly smiled as Maddie shrugged. "I told you she was gonna win."

Daphne and Maddie were on the couch, heated conversations about their predictions. Scarlett was in the kitchen, pouring a glass of red wine for herself and Ilse. She made her way over to the living room, handing one of the glasses over to Ilse, who was curled into a chair with a fleece blanket.

"We present this next award that was just renamed, The Rayna Jaymes Award, for contribution to country music. Here to present this award is Rayna's widow and guitarist, Deacon Claybourne!" The voice said on TV. They withness the audience clap for him as he made his entrance, and some of the country artists who were in the audience even gave him a standing ovation.

"Hey, hey! Here's the award." Daphne perked up. The three girls wrapped their arms around each other, watching their father and uncle present the award dedicated in the name of their mother and aunt.

This award is in honor of my late wife Rayna, she wanted to make her impact on country music, and she did that. I'm so privileged to present this award newly dedicated in her name.

"Dad!" The girls squealed. "He's so cute up on that stage." Ilse had to admit they were right, and she noted to herself that he looked quite handsome in a tux.

All three watched him hand the award to the artist as the winner made their speech in awe and shock. They even thanked Rayna and Deacon, which the girls all shared a look of pride. Ilse watched until he was escorted off the stage and maybe a tad longer in hopes of him coming back.

The girls looked back and noticed with smirks on their faces.

"So how's writing and producing going?" Daphne singsonged.

"Good." Ilse looked down." I just recorded a song with Jedd Mason."

"Woah. He's a rising artist in the industry." Scarlett seemed impressed.

"He asked me to be his date for the fundraiser thing…in a couple of weeks", Ilse trailed off. The girls looked at each other, realizing that there was a tinge of disappointment to her voice.

"Oh." Maddie and Daphne both turned around. They were going to have to talk to their dad about that one.

"How are these three solo artists' careers going?" Ilse returned a question.

"Really good! I just met with my producer for my first recording session. She seems chill, but I miss working with you." Daphne smiled, giving Ilse a little push.

"I'm just writing at the moment." Scarlett beamed." But mostly, I'm planning a wedding."

"Filming stuff for promotional things." Maddie spoke up excitedly." I can't want to show all of you my new material".

"I can't wait to hear and see it, Maddie!" I'm really proud of you guys. I always think you guys can't grow even more talented, but I see you guys the next time. You always prove me wrong." Ilse hugged all three separately. The group decided to pull out their instruments of choice and made a little jam fest of all the songs they enjoyed from the award show.

Deacon was back in Nashville after presenting the award in LA. He even somehow found the courage to ask Ilse out to the fundraiser that was in a couple of weeks. Los Angeles was lovely, but he missed the girls, Highway 65, Nashville, and Ilse. He was so excited to see her again. They hadn't seen each other since last week, and it was killing him. With Peter's advice, he felt ready to move on this time.

He pulled up to the office and parked in his reserved parking space as co-owner of the label. He entered the office to find the girls, Zach, and some of the staff were waiting for him with cheers and hoots.

Bucky was even there, which was a surprise since the man was busy managing his daughters. They were all there to support him on his arrival back from the awards with the emotional ride of presenting an award in the name of his wife. He was ever so grateful for his Nashville family because it didn't matter to him if the family came from blood. He had to learn the hard way with his father and sister. After greeting groups of people, he began looking for her face, but she wasn't there, which made his smile fall for a second. But he pulled it together as he hugged and thanked everyone else for their support.

His eyes caught his daughters as they shared a look of concern. Everybody dispersed to do work that they needed to do for the label. Although it went unnoticed by everyone in the office, he knew his daughters too well to let that look go. He asked both Maddie and Daphne to step into his office, wanting to know what their reaction was about.

"What's wrong. Don't lie. I saw your two faces." Deacon sat down. "What is it?"

"Dad, it's no surprise to us that you like Ilse…" Daphne started.

"Yeah… and we don't want you to be upset." Maddie finished.

"But…" The girls trailed off as they stared at what was going on behind him. He turned around, and that's when he saw her. And she wasn't alone.

She was in Jedd's arms, and he was flirting with her and placing his hands all over her body. Her face had that infectious smile that melted his heart. But this time, it made his heart boil because it was directed for Jedd.

"Jedd asked her to be his date at the fundraiser…" Daphne muttered loud enough for him to hear. "And she accepted." Deacon's heart fell as he was going to ask her to the fundraiser later today. He leaned back in the chair, still looking at the couple.

"He asked her out the day you left for LA," Maddie informed him, and her voice turned to disgust when she said the next bit of information. "He asked her in front of a bunch of people." He turned around, no longer being able to face the couple.

Deacon's fists clenched under the table. He was jealous, and this time, he wasn't ashamed to say it. The girls even noticed his jealousy by his jaw clenching, and they shared this concerned look. Deacon wanted one more glance at the couple; his eyes were on them when he saw Jedd pull her in for a kiss. He saw her hesitantly respond to the kiss and seconds later to pull away quickly. Oh, how he wanted to pull her away from Jedd. And that's when it happened, their eyes connected through the glass panels. That's when time slowed down.

Ilse was in the recording studio finishing with an artist when she heard the door open and felt two strong arms wrap around her.

"Hey," Jedd whispered. "Are you ready to head out?"

"Give me five minutes, and I'll be ready," Ilse said quietly. Ilse recognized that Jedd was nice and all, but he pressured her into this relationship, which didn't feel right. She felt trapped when he asked her in the middle of Highway 65 to the charity fundraiser.

"Okay, babe," Jedd emphasized on the word babe, which made her skin itch.

"Great job Tiffany. I'll see you Thursday." Ilse said into the mic to the recording studio from the control room.

"Ready?" Jedd said as he sat on the couch, tapping his fingers.

"Almost." Ilse smiled for a second. She packed the final things into her bag. "Ready."

"Good. Took you long enough." Jedd said with a slight snark sound behind his voice, which didn't sit well with her.

The two walked down as they reached the lobby; she noticed many people than usual. She froze for a second. Deacon's arrival party was dispersing. He's back. Oh, how she missed him, but things had changed since he left for LA.

Jedd noticed that Deacon was in his office with Maddie and Daphne. Jedd suddenly pulled her into his arms as he began flirting with her. He started by placing his hands all over her body, which she didn't like at all-not one bit. She responded with a faked smile, but it faltered for a second. She didn't know why Jedd was doing this big show of their relationship. Ilse was a private person, and he knew that she would hate all this fuss.

Then all of a sudden, Jedd pulled her in for a kiss taking her off guard. She gave him a little kiss back to be nice, but this made her even more uncomfortable with the situation. Ilse pulled apart and turned for a second out of embarrassment. That's when her eyes connected with the man who she hoped didn't witness this moment. She froze like a deer caught in headlights. Ilse's body was filled with panic and shame while she caught the sadness in Deacon's. She just wanted Deacon to whisk her away from this situation, and how she wished that this moment would be erased from her memory or even better yet, she wished it never happened.

TBC