Rayna watched as suburbia faded away and a gradual change from farming land to forest took shape. Her heart thudded in her chest, she had a thousand things that she needed to get down and she couldn't afford to let any of those balls she was juggling drop. She had tried every trick she had, to try and get Deacon to drop the idea of them going hiking together. She had even withheld her body from him. But being as stubborn as he was, he was not swayed by the temptation she offered.

Glancing over at him, she could feel the rays of happiness washing off him. He was wearing one of his old faded flannel shirts, worn in jeans and was sporting facial hair a few days short of beard. Her fingers twitched to touch the patches of grey that coloured it. She looked down at her legs, questioning her choice of attire. She had decided to try one last trick to try and convince him to forget the hike. She had found an old pair of cut off denim shorts tuck away in the back of her wardrobe. Thinking the site of her legs would be enough to convince him that they needed to spend the whole day in bed. But the man had the resistance of a saint. She was practically drooling at him looking so rugged, but Deacon had only traced the expanse of her legs with his eyes before giving her a knowing look.

Dragging her eyes off him, she watched the sign for Long Hunter State Park pass them by. She was amazed that he seemed to know where he was going. He had driven straight past the visitor centre and turned at the Day Loop sign. Rayna could feel her anxiety rising. He really was going to make her go for a hike with him. He clearly had no idea what a date should look like.

She dragged herself out of the SVU. The first thing that struck her were the sounds. The resounding quietness was only punctuated by the sounds of distant birds and the occasional chirp of a nearby insect. Tipping her head back, she marvelled at the height of the trees, the greenness only broke by the blue of the early afternoon sky. Breathing in deeply to calm herself, she swore the air was even scented by the smell of nature.

"Ray?"

"Hmmm?"

"You okay?"

She breathed in deeply once again as she thought about his question. Was she okay?

"Yeah…. I think so. Deacon…" whispering in amazement, "it's so beautiful here."

Deacon gave her a soft laugh. He sometimes forgot that Rayna grew up in an exclusive environment, one that didn't encourage young debutants to explore nature in case it developed a sense of wildness within them.

"Just wait till we get on the trail"

Rayna watched as a boy like wonder lit up his face. Wrapping her hand in his extended hand she let herself be led towards the unknown. Walking hand in hand, they slowly explored the trail enjoying the quietness of the environment. Rayna could feel his guitar roughened skin of his hand radiating the familiar warmth of his skin. It was sending waves of love up from her hand and enveloped her in a loving bubble of safety. All her doubts about the hike vanished. Her body gave an invisible sigh as it released all the pent-up tension and stress she had been carrying. Everything narrowed until it was just her and Deacon surrounded by the exquisite music played by natures orchestra.

Glancing over at Deacon, her eyes shone with love as she watched rays of sunlight kiss his skin as it broke through the green canopy above them. Lightly tugging on his hand to get his attention, he turned with a questioning look on his face. Before he could ask her if she was okay, she planted a soft kiss on his lips. Pulling back slightly, she whispered

"Thank you. Thank you for knowing that I needed this. Thank you for knowing me so well!"

"Ray", his voice was thick with emotion. Hearing the earnestness in her voice almost broke him. It made him realise that in all these years, no one had really taken care of her. Sure, they had to a certain degree but only to the degree that Rayna would let them. Deacon had the sudden realisation that Rayna had never let anyone get close enough to know all her fears and had never let her guard down enough to show her vulnerabilities.

Pulling her into his arms, he wrapped himself around her letting his arms show her the depth of his love for her. Occasionally the intensity of his love for her left him wordless and unable to articulate what she meant to him. At these times it was like his body craved to touch her, to have that connection with her. Something as simple caress of his hand against her skin would send bolts of adoring passion through him until he was overwhelmed with love for her. His gentle touch was enough to set alight her own waves of love for him. Her blue eyes would widen as the invisible ripples of love spread over her skin encasing her in a cocoon of love that was uniquely Deacon. Her breath, caught, would be expelled as an aching sigh; long and drawn out as she rode the crest of his love as it moved through her body.

Deacon kissed the side of her head as he released her. His trailing fingers down her back sent shivers through her, tucking her beneath his shoulder, he draped an arm across her shoulders as he started them back down the hiking trail. Rayna briefly rested her head against his shoulder, trusting him to steer them safely down the path.