This chapter we return to the storyline of the episode, picking up from events from Chapter 27.

"What does that mean?"

Rayna could feel her heart pounding, as she prepared herself for a fight with Deacon. She knew she had to tell him the truth. Logically she knew he was not the same man he used to be, but she also knew that he was already wary about Markus.

"Oh, nothing. It does not bare repeating"

"Seriously, what?"

Deacon watched as her emotions played over her face. He could see her struggling with what she had to tell him. It was the very same expression that he had see countless number of times over the course of their relationship. The first time he saw it was when she told him that she didn't love him anymore and that she was going to marry Teddy because she loved him. It was the same expression when she had broken down and cried in his arms while on tour, and the last time he had seen that expression was when she was once again trying to convince him that she no longer loved him.

His stomach churned as he had a moment of doubt, thinking that she was once again going to keep something from him. That she still felt the need to keep secrets from him. He thought they had moved passed that. That they had together, grown through the ups and downs of their relationship. She was not only the love of his life, but his best friend. He knew there was nothing she could tell him that would ever stop him from loving her. He had loved her from the very moment she took his breath away, and he had continued loving her even when she contended that she had moved on and found a new love. Deacon knew that he could never love another woman with the same depth as he had for Rayna.

"Rayna?"

Her blue eyes searched his, as she gathered her courage.

"Well, after that whole conversation I had with him, he still tried to kiss me at the end of the night last night."

Rayna watched as Deacon paced backwards and forwards, struggling to control his anger. Worrying that he was about to do something he would regret later, she attempted to deescalate his fury with humour.

"Can anyone be that stupid, you know"

"Where is he Rayna? What hotel? Where is he right now?"

Rayna could feel the flames of anger pulsating off Deacon.

"Honey, no... no don't do that"

"That guy's arse should have been kicked a long time ago"

"Well that ain't going to do anybody any good. I've got it under control"

Spinning back towards her, Deacon spits out,

"It doesn't seem like you have it under control Rayna"

Rayna could feel her own anger growing, feeding off the fuel of Deacon's.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Distracted by the frantic beeping of her phone, Rayna grabs it.

"I'm just saying... what are you doing?"

Deacon frowns at Rayna. She was completely focused on her phone, not hearing him.

"NO!"

"What?"

Ignoring him, she rapidly continues typing on her phone.

"Ray", Deacon's voice is full of concern as he reaches out to stop her pacing form.

"Markus is cancelling the tour and moving to L.A. NO!"

Her feet move on their own accord, propelling her towards the bathroom as she continues texting.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?"

Looking up from her phone, her eyes wide with panic, she exclaims

"I've got to go talk to him babe"

Deacon sucks in a deep breath as he contemplates what she has just told him.

"You're going to talk to Markus in the middle of a fight about Markus?"

Frowning at his words, Rayna states

"This is not a fight. He kissed me, I didn't kiss him. There is nothing for us to be fighting about. If he cancels this tour, this album is dead. Everything, all the hard work is pointless. So, yes, I'm going to talk to Markus right now"

Deacon watched in disbelief as Rayna continued to get dressed so that she could rush to Markus' side. Unable to watch the sight before anymore, he turns and storms out of their bedroom, slamming the door as he went.

Rayna froze as she heard the door slam, she knew that Deacon didn't fully understand why she had to go and beg Markus not to leave. She understood what it looked like from his point of view, but he should also understand what Highway 65 means to her. He has been her rock as she struggled to get taken seriously not only as a label head but as a producer. He had comforted her when she came home exhausted and frustrated, when yet another artist was reluctant to sign onto a new label. He was also there to share in her excitement when she managed to convince Markus to take a chance on not only her but Highway 65.

Tossing the small blue box into his guitar case, Deacon took one more hopeful look at the door. Shaking his head in sadness, he headed out onto the stage. His heart was heavy with disappointment, knowing that Rayna had once again chosen someone else over him. The cheering crowd did nothing to lift his mood. Giving Scarlett a forced smile to ease her worried expression, he proceeded to the microphone to take his moment in the limelight.

Escaping Scarlett and her probing questions, Deacon cloistered himself in his office. He needed some time away from everything, so that he could come to terms with the events of the day. His heart ached knowing that he had fought with Rayna, but he felt he was justified in his attitude. Ever since Markus had arrived, he had manipulated Rayna to ensure that she neglected her family. He had lost count of the amount of family dinners Rayna had missed because Markus had invented some imaginary drama. He trusted Rayna implicitly but there was something about Markus that ignited his insecurities.

Running his hands through his hair, he closed his eyes as he struggled to quash the queasy feeling building in his stomach. The creaking of the office door opening distracted him from his inner turmoil. Opening his eyes, he was stunned to see familiar blue eyes staring at him.

Smiling tentatively at him, Rayna slowly moved deeper into the room. She could tell that Deacon was upset, and she didn't want a repeat of the fight from this morning.

"Babe, I'm so sorry. I really wanted to be here, you know I did"

Sucking his lips, Deacon tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling. Sucking in a deep breath, he slowly let it out before stating,

"Do I? How would I know that?"

Frowning in confusion, Rayna questioningly asked,

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know what it's supposed to mean. It means you chose him again!"

Standing up, Deacon walked over to stand in front of Rayna.

"I chose him?"

"Yeah, you chose him... just like every single time since he got here. I thought maybe this big night might be a bit different, but no he pitches a fit and you go running"

Rayna could feel her anger rising. Deacon's words were so off base but at the same time stabbed at her heart. She had wanted to be here tonight for his big night, it broke her heart knowing that she had let him down.

Placing her hands on his chest, she gently shoved him back. She wanted to get his attention, to cut through his rising anger.

"Will you stop! I didn't choose him, I had to."

Her eyes sought his out. She needed him to understand her level of devastation. She needed him in her corner, to assure her that not only were they okay but that everything would work out. She felt like she was on unsteady ground, with the earth rapidly disappearing under her feet. Knowing that her label was on the verge of collapse, she needed her rock to steady her and hold her firm against the rising wave.

"Deacon, Markus left today, I couldn't talk him out of it"

"Good"

"Good?"

"Yeah, that's real good, yeah!"

"Yeah good, cause my label is dead. You know how important this label is for me. You're going to make me choose because you're jealous?"

She could feel her voice beginning to break, as she croaked out

"I can't be with you right now"

Hearing those words from Rayna was like a kick in his chest. Deacon gasped at the level of hurt he felt as he watched Rayna walk away from him.

What had he done? Deep within him, he knew Rayna was right. He knew his behaviour was unreasonable, but he had no control over his reactions. Kicking the table leg in frustration he looked around for something else to vent his anger at. Grabbing the empty glass off the office desk he threw it against the wall. The sound of it shattering ripped through the blackness of anger that had enveloped him. Shaking his head as to clear the last of the negative thoughts out of his mind, he knew he had to go find Rayna. She didn't deserve this. She shouldn't have to put up with his childish insecurities. He had told her that he was the man that she always knew he was. Scoffing at himself, he certainly hadn't shown her how much he had changed recently.

She needed someone by her side who would stand by her side in the tough times as well as the good, someone who give her added strength to fight any battles that came her way. Deacon knew that he was the one she had chosen to do that. His heart clenched as he considered his recent behaviour, he had certainly given her reason to question choosing him. A sense of panic erupted within him. He had to find her, even now he could sense an emptiness within him knowing that he had failed her.

"Hey"

"Hey"

"I guess somethings don't change"

Rayna smiled sadly at him. Deacon's heart was heavy knowing that he was responsible for that sadness.

"I do support you Ray. I do. Your career, Highway 65, means everything to me, cause I know how much it means to you... I just got jealous you know and not cause you did anything wrong or cause I thought Markus was going to take you away from me, its just cause..."

Deacon searched deep within himself to find the real reason why he acted like a jealous jack-arse.

"Cause, in the studio it used to be me baby. That was me...it was me and you. You know, it's just two people making music, and it's just so... so damn intimate."

"I know...I miss you and I need you"

Rayna squeezed his fingers, letting him know that she understood, and she felt the same.

"I'm right here babe"

Smiling shyly at each other, their fingers twined together, they both looked out over the night lights of Nashville and the Cumberland flowing below them.

Turning towards Rayna, Deacon's heart skipped a beat as he took in the vision before him. Her hair was blowing gently in the breeze and she had a loving soft smile on her lips. Her blue eyes danced as she watched him.

"God, sometimes I wish I could do everything all over again"

Smiling at his choice of words, knowing it was a something only they understood, it spoke of the depth of their intimacy.

"What would you change?"

"Everything...nothin'. Except this. Babe, I love you so much, will you marry me?"

Rayna struggled to breath, this was everything she had ever dreamed of but so much more. The man she loved more that life itself was laying himself open to her, his blue eyes glistened with love as he asked her to take one more risk on him.

Blinking back tears, Rayna nodded before breathlessly saying

"Yeah"

*** thanks for reading. I promise the next couple of chapters will be much lighter, and have some more quality intimate moments with our couple ;-)