Chapter 21:

"…But don't say it's over, I'm go'n fix what I've done. I will lay down beside you, gonna lay down my gun. The struggle ain't over, but I hope you will stay. Cause I'm quitin at the end of the day. I'll be quitin at the end of the day. Yeah I'm quitin at the end of the day."

Rayna was laying against Deacon's shoulder as she finished the song while he strummed his guitar softly. "I love that song," she sighed snuggling a little closer when he dropped the guitar down to his lap.

"Me too," he agreed kissing the side of her head. "I missed this you know, singing with you at the end of the day. Well singing anytime really," he said contentedly.

"I missed it too. I also missed being wrapped up in your arms in bed, talking about our day, figuring out how to tackle tomorrow. This just feels so right."

They sat in silence for a few minutes just enjoying each other's company. Rayna couldn't believe they were back in this place, enveloped up in each other's arms, their whole lives ahead of them. She had truly started to believe that they would never find this again, that she would never be able to let go of the past enough to lose herself in him. Deacon's thoughts we on a similar wavelength. When Rayna agreed to marry Luke, he thought it was the end of any chance they would have together, he believed all his mistakes and all the pain he caused were just too much for them to ever recover from. He couldn't believe how lucky he had gotten.

"I can't believe the girls were asleep when we got home, they are going to freak out when we tell em."

"Daphne especially," she said. "You know she really feels like she missed out, not having us together, at least that she can remember."

"Hey, you remember that time we had her in bed with us and she projectile vomited?" he asked laughing.

"Ugh, it was all over her, the bed, my hair!" She smiled from the memory as well as from the vibration of Deacon laughing beside her.

"It sure was gross, Maddie never did that. You know what I remember most about it? I remember how beautiful you looked laughing in the shower after we got her cleaned up and settled. God Ray, you know, you always were to most beautiful woman in the world, even with baby vomit in your hair."

Rayna snorted at his assessment. "Baby vomit and about twenty pounds of post pregnancy weight, you have interesting taste Claybourne." At that he turned to kiss her squarely and passionately on the mouth, letting her know how attractive he still found her.

"Ray, I can't think of a single moment in the last twenty-six years when I haven't found you attractive."

"Emmmm, I don't believe you but right now, I am going with it," she said against his mouth before kissing him back."

Deacon enjoyed the sensation of her lips on his neck as he continued their conversation. "You know the girls are going to have a dozen questions when we tell them, we may want to get on the same page with a few things."

"Like what?" she said before continuing her ministrations, now making her way to his chest.

"I don't know, do we have a wedding date, when are we going to go public, where are we going to live?"

It was the last question that stopped her in her tracks. She wasn't sure how this conversation was going to go but for the first time in a long time, she didn't want to run from it but rather face it head on. "Okay," she said hesitantly settling back against her pillow looking at Deacon. "Well, I don't have an exact date in mind, but I want it to be soon." Deacon smiled at her first answer, feeling very much on the same page. "Which I guess brings me to your second question. It's not that I want to hide us from the world but after all the craziness with Luke, I do want to protect it," she started, carefully trying to gauge Deacon's reaction. "Which brings me back to wanting to get married as soon as we can. I guess I just don't want to announce us to the world until I can announce that I'm your wife."

Deacon leaned in, kissed her reverently then pulled her head down to his chest against his heart. "Well I think it is safe to say we are on the same page. I would marry you right here right now, if you would let me…" he said feeling her laugh against him. "…but we also waited a long time for this, and I want it to be right, maybe out on you momma's land, like you dreamed all those years ago."

"That would be perfect."

"Now about that last question…"

"Yes…" she said cautiously. She knew Deacon wasn't a big fan of Bell Meade and loved his East Nashville bungalow, she did too but this house was the manifestation of all those dreams she had about becoming a famous country music star.

"I was thinking that maybe we move back to my place."

Rayna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. While she loved her home, she loved Deacon more and if she was going to make things work this time, she was going to have to compromise. "Okay" she said softly.

"Okay?" he asked.

"Yes Deacon, I know you aren't one for big houses and fancy things," she finished still not looking up at him.

"Rayna James," he started, lifting her chin so her eyes met his. "You love this house; it's your home and I know damn well you don't want to leave it."

He sounded irritated with her which not only confused her but made her irritated in return. "Damn it Deacon! I am just trying to compromise here," she said pulling back from him entirely. She was expecting a fight but when she looked up at him, he was smiling. "What" she said aggravated and even more confused.

"Baby, I know if this is going to work we are going to compromise on a million different things but I also know it isn't going to work unless we are honest and you can't honestly tell me you want to leave this house."

"Your right Deacon, I don't, I love this house but I lived in this house for ten years without you and if being with you for the next ten means I have to give it up, I will," she finished sincerely.

"Only ten years huh? I was shooting for at least the next fifty."

Rayna settled back against his chest with a smile. "Babe, I hate to break this to you but once you say, 'I do' the only way you are getting out of this marriage is in a body bag." At that Deacon broke into a fit of laughter.

"Deal darling. Now about where we are going to live. I propose a compromise."

"Okay" she sat up again, looking at him, eyes sparkling.

"We live here at least until Daphne graduates from college but when you are finally ready to hang up your rhinestones, we sell this place and retire out to the cabin."

"Now that I can live with," she replied sticking out her hand for him to shake on it.

"Okay then," he said shaking her hand. "I'll start looking for a renter."

"Renter?" she asked.

"Yeah, for my house," he said rationally.

"Oh" she said quietly.

"Ray what's wrong?"

"Nothing"

"It ain't nothen, now tell me what's goen on in the head of yours," he demanded tucking her hair behind her ears so he could better see her.

"It's just… I don't know... I guess…"

"Spit it out Ray."

"Last time you moved in, you kept the house and three years later you moved back into it. I guess, I am just worried that if it's an option…" her words fell off as she shrugged letting him fill in the rest of the sentence.

"Didn't we just say this is forever? Ray, I could sell it if it means that much to you, but the truth is, it's going to be awfully hard for me to give that place up. It was our first real home. It's where we grew up in a way. I guess I always thought someday Maddie or Daphne would want to move in, make it their first home as adults or maybe even Scarlett now that she is in Nashville. We got a lot of good memories between those walls," he finished dreamily.

"We did have a lot of good memories there. I know I am just being crazy; I think my brain is just having a hard time believing that it's all real." At that Deacon pinched her butt causing her to yelp. "What did you do that for?"

"Just making sure we aren't dreaming." Deacon reached down taking her left hand and bringing it up to his lips. "You know, I dreamt of this for a long time. I'm just sorry I didn't have a ring when I asked, how about tomorrow we go find you a nice rock?"

Rayan looked up at him eyes twinkling. I have a better idea," she said before hoping out of bed and disappearing into the bathroom. She came out a few seconds later wearing nothing but one of his old tee-shirts and a smile. She snuggled back under the covers holding her hand out to him. He opened her fist to find the engagement ring he picked out almost a decade ago. "Speaking of dreams," she said.

He took the ring, hesitating only slightly before slipping it on her outstretched hand. "Rayna James, will you be my wife, lover, co-parent and best friend… forever and ever?"

"You bet your ass I will," she answered before crashing against his lips.

Maddie and Daphne were in the kitchen pouring cereal and talking about their upcoming talent show. It wasn't unusual for Rayna to come down after them, even more so now that she was running her own label and still trying to maintain her spot at the top of the country charts but it was getting closer and closer to the time they needed to leave for school.

"Mom better get down here soon or we are going to be late for school, again," Daphne lamented.

"Seriously, she is getting worse than me," Maddie added.

"I think I prefer dad taking us to school in the morning."

"I think I prefer dad doing the school run too," Rayna said appearing in the kitchen, fresh faced in a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt. Both girls looked up in shock to see their dad in the kitchen as well, not just standing there but holding their mom's hand.

"What's wrong, did Pawpaw die?" Maddie asked trying to figure out why her father was there.

"Not that lucky," Deacon mumbled before Rayna lightly whacked him in the chest with her other hand.

"Nothing's wrong," Rayan said trying not to think of the drama of the day before.

"Okay, but why is dad here then?" Maddie asked cautiously.

Rayan smiled up at her and then bit her lip as she turned to look up at Deacon. Deacon's faced turned grave as he looked at his girls. "Well it is a pretty serious problem," he started as Rayna looked up at him in confusion. "You see, your momma agreed to marry me without actually realizing she is going to have to give up half her closet space," he finished.

"Oh, I didn't even think of that! Any chance we can renegotiate the terms of this arrangement?" she asked laughing.

"Seriously you're together, like together together?" Maddie asked amazed.

"Yupp," Deacon responded as Daphne launched herself at her parents. Deacon let go of Rayna's hand just in time to catch her from crashing into him.

"Thank You!" Daphne shouted as Maddie made her way around the island to join in the family celebrations.

"Oh my god, this is awesome!" Maddie exclaimed hugging her mom.

Finally, the girl's let go long enough for Deacon to make his way to the coffee pot to start it while Rayna grabbed two mugs from the kitchen cabinet. When she met Deacon at the coffee pot, she leaned in for a kiss. He indulged her causing them both to breakout in a grin.

"Oh" Daphne started, "I guess we are going to see you kissing all the time now."

"You will if I have anything to say about it," Rayna said winking at her daughter.

"This is just so crazy! So, like, when are you going to get married, when are you going to tell everyone you're together?" Maddie asked excitedly.

"Where are we going to live?" Daphne asked confused.

"Here dummy," Maddie replied.

"Don't call me a dummy, mom!"

Deacon looked over at Rayna giving here his 'I told you' face. "Daphne you're not dumb and Maddie don't call your sister dumb. We are going to live here, and you dad is going to rent his house and of course we will keep the cabin. We don't know when we are getting married yet, but I promise it will be real soon." Rayan paused to take breath. "Now girls I know y'all are real excited about this, but we do want to keep it private for now. We don't want to say anything until after we say, 'I do'.

"Well mom, if you want to keep it a secret you better not wear that ring outside," Daphne said reaching over to pick up her mom's hand. "Does this mean I don't get this ring anymore?"

"Who said this ring was yours?" Rayna asked.

"Well Maddie always says that Memaw's ring is hers when she is old enough and I saw this one in your jewelry box and just figured it was mine," she finished shrugging.

"Daphne James, you shouldn't be going through my things without my permission, and you won't be old enough for this ring for a very long time," Rayan said sternly.

"Is my name still going to be James when you get married or are we all going to be Claybournes?" Daphne continued.

Everyone including Deacon looked up at her questioningly. "So many questions! You know your dad and I have a lot to figure out and I promise we will answer every question you have, but right now I need some coffee and y'all need to get to school."

"Okay, one last question," Daphne said as Deacon handed Rayna a cup of coffee.

"Yes?" Rayna replied unsure of what her daughter was going to ask next.

"Is dad going to be here when we get home?" It was Deacon's turn to catch everyone's gaze.

He smiled lazily taking a sip of his coffee. "Well, that depends."

"On what?" Rayna looked up smiling.

"We having ice cream or pie for dessert?"

"Both!" Daphne said excitedly as Maddie just shook her head smiling.

"Well then, I guess I better pack my stretchy pants," he said leaning back against the counter watching his daughters laugh.

Rayna leaned into his side and ever so softly whispered. "I don't think you are going to need any pants for the dessert I have planned. She pinched his butt and he did everything not to yelp. "And no, you aren't dreaming," she finished winking at him.

"All right lovebirds enough flirting, I just finished breakfast and we are going to be late for school," Maddie declared as she picked up her backpack, making her way over to her mom for a hug goodbye.

"Bye mom, I'm really happy."

"Me too sweet girl."

"Me three," Daphne said hugging her mom after Maddie.

"Where's my hugs?" Deacon asked.

"You can have yours when you drop us off," Maddie answered making her way to the back door.

"I don't have school run today, technically it's your mom's day!"

"Come on dad we are going to be late," Daphne yelled over her shoulder before disappearing out the door.

Rayna just smirked at Deacon as she took another sip of her coffee while taking the seat at the kitchen island that Daphne just vacated. "And so, it begins," Deacon said taking one last gulp of his coffee before heading towards the door.

"Love you babe!" Rayan shouted after him.