Sorry about the delay in posting, I have been distracted by the new Xfiles season but Nashville storylines are never far from my mind.
Rayna twitched her fingers, as she fought against the instinct to open her eyes. Fanning her hand out she welcomed the feel of the warm skin beneath it. If she concentrated hard enough she was convinced she could feel his heart beating strongly in his chest. Her lips curved up in a gentle smile as she slowly opened her eyes. Blinking away sleep, her eyes drank in the site before her. Deacon was stretched out on his back, breathing the deep breath of someone sleeping soundly. Snuggling closer to his sleeping form, Rayna smiled at the snuffling sleeping noise he made. Her heart swelled with overwhelming love. She loved waking up before him and being able to steal these moments. It was such a rare occurrence and as she laid next to him she was amazed that he was next to her.
If someone had asked her five years ago if she would have even thought this was possible she would have denied it. Through her entire marriage to Teddy, bubbling below the surface were her feelings for Deacon. Teddy would always bring it up when they fought and she just as vehemently would deny it. People would always watch them when they were on tour together, whispering behind their backs. Reporters would ask at every interview, even though every time she would dismiss the rumours and emphasis that they were good friends. Rayna would try to get everyone to understand that they had always been friends and always would be but the whispering continued. At various times, her feelings for Deacon would come dangerously close to the surface, normally after they had spent a long time together touring. But she was always able to maintain that line. Never did they cross the unspoken line they had created. Laughing softly to herself, Rayna couldn't deny that she was tempted many times.
Moulding herself against him, Rayna gently stroked her hand over his heart as she continued to watch him sleep. She couldn't help thinking how this would never have been possible if Deacon hadn't taken that step across that invisible line she had created. Her lips tingled as she relived the kiss he gave her in the elevator in Chicago, right before her life exploded. They had been flirting with disaster ever since the night they sang 'No one will ever love you' at the Bluebird. She had panicked when she realised that her feelings for Deacon couldn't be pushed back down. Teddy had picked up that something had happened between them, and as usual she denied it. To everyone who witnessed them that night, there was no denying the emotion behind the words. Their eyes reflected what they wanted to say to each other, but couldn't so they let the lyrics wash over them and caress them like a lover.
Tandy would accuse her of having an emotional affair whenever she saw them perform together. Their chemistry on stage was electric, it was what the fans reacted to. It also scared those closest to her. Tandy knew first hand their history and how volatile it was. She was always terrified that it would take one explosive argument with Teddy combined with an electric performance for Rayna to forget her vows. Rayna silently snorted, what Tandy didn't know was that you can only have an explosive argument with someone when you loved them with every fibre of your being. Rayna had loved Teddy but just not enough to argue that passionately with him, unlike with Deacon. She had forgotten the number of times they had had argued so passionately that she had completely blanked out everything around her.
Rayna breathed in deeply, nothing was as intoxicating as the sweet smell of Deacon. It was a wonderfully exotic combination of masculine musk with an undercurrent of what comfort smelt to her. Whenever things had overwhelmed her in the past, she would turn to him. He represented comfort, security and strength. During their time apart when she was engaged to Luke, she had felt unsettled. At the time she thought it was due to the sudden change in her life, but looking back now she knew it was because she couldn't seek Deacon out. Kissing his shoulder, Rayna smiled as she thought how often just being able to sit next to him was often enough to allow her to centre herself again. Many times over the years, they would find themselves sitting on their park bench, sipping coffee enjoying each other's company. They would wrap the feel of being close around them, shutting the world out and draw strength from being near each other.
Her eyes traced down his chest, taking in the new scar from the surgery. Reaching out she lightly ran her fingers down the red raised skin. The pads of her fingers skated over the smooth skin as her eyes bristled with tears. She had come so close to losing him again, this time permanently. Her heart clutched in fear at the thought of him dying and leaving her. Blinking the tears back, she willed that thought away. They had finally found their way to each other, they had fought through so much to get to this point that they deserved to be happy. Her fingers skipped across his stomach following the scar to its conclusion. She would never be able to thank Beverley enough for her sacrifice. She was determined that every day she would not take for granted this second chance they had been given.
She held her breath as Deacon mumbled before turning his face towards her. Rubbing his face against the pillow his breathing evened out as he continued to slumber. Her fingers hovered millimetres above his face, twitching slightly as she slowly allowed them to tenderly smooth out the charismatic features of his face. She ran her forefinger over the faint scar on the underside of his chin, remembering back to how he got it.