Thank you so much for your words on encouragement, I appreciate it. Sorry about the mega long wait between chapters, the combination of Christmas, Uni work and a cross country move didn't help with the creative juices! Hopefully the next chapters won't have such a long wait!

Rayna mentally counted to ten as she struggled to get her frustration under control. This was the fifth song that Markus had rejected. They were fast running out of options and her patience was also wearing thin.

"Rayna I'm just not feeling it. It has to be perfect …you know that. You know how important this album is to me, I can't just put any song on it."

Taking a deep breath, Rayna stabbed the intercom button,

"I know Markus. But the last three songs were perfect and we are fast running out of time. We need to get something laid down in the next day, otherwise the album launch will be pushed back and that will look worse than any perceived less than perfect song."

Markus caught Rayna's eye as he tried to silently convey his feelings to her. Rayna raised her eyebrow at his pleading eyes. She didn't know what kind of game he was playing but she refused to let his insecurities about the album threaten her label.

Turning her back on Markus, her face broke into a wide grin at the sight entering the recording booth.

"Hey. Thought you might need this"

Deacon held up a coffee cup from her favourite coffee shop. Rayna's eyes glittered with emotion, the sight of Deacon was a much need balm to her frazzled patience. Sliding her arms around his neck, she rewarded his thoughtfulness with a kiss.

"What are you doing here?"

"Knew today was going to be tough, so thought l would pop by to give you some moral support….and much needed caffeine! How's it going?"

"Urgh!" Rayna moaned as banged her head against Deacon's shoulder.

"Remind me again why l thought it was such a brilliant idea to take on this project!"

Rayna could feel the vibrations from his laughter as her arms continued to hold him to her. Smiling against his t-shirt, she reluctantly pulled away. Screwing her mouth up, she muttered

"Hand me that coffee. I need something to keep me sane!"

Deacon kissed the side of her head as he handed her the coffee.

"So, it's not going well then?"

Rolling her eyes at him, Rayna walked over to an arm chair in the booth.

"At this rate, I'll be lucky to get home in time to see Daphne graduate."

Deacon chuckled at her comment, filling the room with laughter and breaking the gloom that had settled in due to the stress of the day. Rayna's eyes sparkled as she watched him, while thinking she really was lucky. Having Deacon in her life smoothed her edges. It was such a cliché to say he completed her, but it honestly felt that way. He filled the space in her that she never knew was missing. Having him completely in her life again, she knew that she would never survive being separated again.

Rayna smiled softly at him as his eyes wordlessly searched her face to assure himself that she was okay. Smiling back at her, Deacon drank in the familiarity of being in a recording studio with her again. They had always been able to cement their feelings for each other through their music. The music they created spoke of the depth of their feelings. Deacon smirked at that thought, no wonder Teddy and Luke had always been threatened by him and Rayna producing music together. Finally, being together after all these years, he felt a degree of solidarity with them both, especially Teddy. Knowing that Rayna was producing music without him created an uneasiness in him. It wasn't that long ago it was him that she spent all her time with in the studio. The combination of the bar and family life had resulted in him barely having time to pick up his guitar. Not that he would trade the time he got to spend doing the mundane jobs that come with being a family man. He gave thanks every day that he not only got to wake up with the love of his life, but he also got to see those beautiful girls grow up.

They both smiled goofy grins at each other, as they sipped their coffee enjoying the rare quietness. There was rarely a quiet moment in a house of two teenage girls. If Maddie and Daphne weren't yelling at one another, they were making music. Deacon knew that they both wouldn't change it for anything in the world but it was nice spending time with Rayna without the constant noise of reality crashing in on them.

"Hey Rayna, I was thinking…."

They both jump as though they had been caught doing something other than drinking coffee.

"Ahhh, Markus this is…"

"'Freakin' Deacon Claybourne"

Rayna smothered a laugh at the look of shock on Deacon's face as Markus hugged him.

"Oh man, I can't believe it. Freakin Deacon!"

Deacon gives an uncomfortable laugh, embarrassed about the unexpected attention. Rayna's eyes dance with delight seeing someone recognising Deacon in his own right. Markus released Deacon, turning towards Rayna his enthusiasm invading the quiet serenity that had previously had occupied the room.

"This is brilliant. This is long overdue, I have been dying to meet you."

Deacon catches Rayna's eye as he smiles uneasily at Markus' enthusiasm.

"I have an idea here, I was just telling Rayna that none of the songs we have tried are right. What about if your man here has a perfect song to finish our album off, a little country cred?"

"I have never even considered that" Rayna's voice showed her approval of the idea.

Deacon stared at Markus for a moment before answering, "Ahh, probably cause you know, we have different sensibilities"

"Awww come on now, you wrote a bunch of Rayna's songs, which means we obviously have the same taste in some things."

Deacon frown slightly at this, his frown deepened as Markus turned towards Rayna and continued talking.

"I've got to be honest Ray, I mean at this rate we're never gonna make the deadline unless l start hearing something different…"

Deacon didn't hear much else of what he was saying. He was too caught up in the casual use of Rayna' name by Markus. Deacon knew, other than Bucky occasionally using it, he was the only person who called her Ray. Rayna had confessed to him, during the brief period they got back together after her divorce, that she had always corrected Teddy when he tried to call her Ray. That it was too painful hearing someone other than him calling her that. Deacon had always assumed that even that jackass Luke wasn't allowed to call her that. He could feel his anger slowly rising the more he focused on the man in front of him, that this wannabe country singer had just casually assumed it was ok to call her that.

"So why don't you send over some of his demos and if l like one, we can work out arrangements and lay it down tomorrow."

"I think its a great idea, and you have so many demos that have never been cut"

Rayna's gentle squeeze of his arm, broke Deacon out of his thoughts. Her eyes pleaded with him to consider this.

"Let's do this"

Deacon forced a laugh at Markus' excitement. Rayna pasted a smile on her face as she cast a worried look in Deacon's direction.

It felt so good being back in the studio with Rayna again. Even though they were both performing different roles, they both fell back into the familiarity that comes with being in an environment that was like a second home. While he had been apprehensive about working with Markus, the impromptu session last night had laid aside any doubts he had. Though he was still a tad uneasy about the level of Markus' comfort had with Rayna, he knew how important this album was for her. Markus had proven his musical talent, through his ideas about arrangements and picking up that 'Don't make them like you anymore' would work with a Motown baseline, and there was no denying that the man could sing.

Deacon sat perched on the edge of the couch, sitting behind Rayna. It was a strange experience being essentially removed from the creativity process. Normally it was Rayna who was the one in the recording booth, singing his song. He had sold his songs before, usually to people he respected and knew would do justice to his lyrics.

Chewing his lip, Deacon drummed his fingers in nervousness on the arm of the couch. Rayna gave him an encouraging smile, knowing that he was still a bit apprehensive about Markus doing this song. Like so many of his songs, this was about her. He had written it during one of his stints in rehab, when he was worried that she wouldn't be waiting when he got out. Rayna turned back to the recording booth, as the familiar tune started.

Markus focused his attention on Rayna as she sat in the booth. Nodding slightly in her direction, he smirked slightly as he quickly ran through the lyrics in his mind. He could tell this was a personal song for Deacon, there was no hiding that it was about Rayna. Markus had to admit, that Deacon was one hell of a songwriter. He had managed to capture perfectly everything that epitomised Rayna. Markus adjusted the headphones before turning his gaze to Rayna. As he began to sing the words, he couldn't drag his eyes away from her. He knew that she must feel the connection between them.

Deacon bolted upright,

"That's not the lyric!"

"I know"

"Rayna, that's not the lyrics. What is he trying to pull?"

"Babe, I don't know"

Before Rayna could discuss it further, Deacon had punched the intercom button and was snarling at Markus.

"What are you doing? That isn't the lyric"

Markus pulled his headphones off as his eyes flicked between Rayna and Deacon. He struggled to control the smile that wanted to burst on his face. Even from here, he could tell that they were having a heated exchange. Driving home from their place last night, Markus was convinced even more that things were strained between them. Deacon had been nothing but cordial to him all evening, but there had been an element of coolness towards Rayna from Deacon. Markus had felt sorry for Rayna as she tried to pretend that nothing was wrong but she hadn't fooled him. Things were definitely less than perfect between the couple. Markus slowly made his way towards them, knowing that he had finally succeeded in creating a wide crack in their relationship. Everything inside of him was humming. Ever since he had laid eyes on Rayna Jaymes, he knew he had to have her. Even when people told him that she unattainable, he knew he hadn't been wrong. There was no denying the chemistry between them, he knew he wasn't imagining the attraction between them.

Deacon was pacing as Markus entered the booth, while Rayna was watching him with a concerned look on her face.

"Look man, I'm sorry I didn't mean any offense I thought you would be okay with it."

Shaking his head, Deacon put his hands on his hips as he took a deep breath. Before he could say anything, Rayna jumped in to try and deflate the situation.

"Deacon knows that Markus, it's just that…"

"Look, you can't just change the lyrics to suit yourself. It's going to throw off the whole song."

"No, it doesn't. Look, Ray you know me and you know that my music has too come from a personal place. I just wasn't feeling it before, it wasn't me, it didn't touch me."

Deacon huffs out his disgust as he throws his hands up in the air. Rayna's eyes pleaded with Deacon to show some constraint but his back was already turned away from her.

"Why don't we try it with Deacon's lyrics?" Rayna's voice implored Markus.

"Why? Ray, you know this is the perfect song for us"

Rayna's eyes took in the earnest look on Markus' face, before glancing at Deacon. Her stomach was in churning, but she knew she had to push aside her personal feelings about the song, for the sake of Highway 65. If this album failed, her label would also crash. Chewing on her lip, she contemplated the choice before her.

"Deacon, it's not the whole chorus." Her voice betrayed her reluctance to go with Markus' version.

Shaking his head at her, "that's not the issue Rayna"

"What are you talking about? It's a couple of words"

"You keep telling yourself that Rayna"

"Wait! What? Deacon?"

Deacon had grabbed his jacket and was out the door before she had finished. She started to chase after him when she felt a hand grab her wrist. Her eyes glanced down at the strange hand holding her back from following Deacon. Looking up, Markus was pleading for her understanding.

"Thanks for your support. He will be fine. Let's take it from the top"

Markus rubbed his thumb over her wrist, trying to reassure her that she made the right decision. Rayna blinked blankly at him, she felt numb as she struggled to get her emotions back under control. Her mind kept playing over Deacon's parting words, puzzling out what he meant.

"Ray?"

A tugging on her arm, bought her back into the booth.

"Um, yeah."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Why don't we try and get this locked in."

Nodding at her, Markus walked back into the studio. He could barely contain his joy. People had warned him that Deacon had a short fuse, but he would have never had predicted that he could be so volatile. He knew that the divide between Rayna and Deacon was now on tender hooks and that all it would take is one more incident to sever the ties completely and he knew exactly what he needed to do. Placing the headphones on, he turned and smiled widely at Rayna.