What happened during the time Deacon proposed and Rayna returned home for the wedding? The next couple of chapters will be dealing with what I imagined happened. Hope you enjoy :)

Muting the TV, Rayna smiled at the voice on the other end of the phone. Snuggling down further into her bed, she allowed the timbre of the voice to wash over her. This was the highlight of her day, climbing into the hotel bed, in whatever city she happened to be in and listening as Deacon regaled her with the various things that had happened back home. Even though events prevented her from being by his side, listening to him complain about staff at The Beverley transported her back home. Her heart was full of love whenever he told her about running around town acting as a taxi service for Daphne, and they both shared the frustration of Maddie's teenage behaviour.

Wiping away a silent tear that escaped, Rayna allowed herself to feel a moment of homesickness. Both her and Deacon had decided that the only way they could salvage the mess Markus had left her was for her to head out on tour and promote his album herself. Rather than just singing her own music, they had decided the best way to promote the album would be if she sang selected songs off it, along with some other cover songs. Sniggering to herself as she contemplated the depths she had sunk, she's now a glorified karaoke singer.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing really, I was just thinking about this farce of a tour. I still can't believe I am doing this. This tour should be called; Rayna Jaymes – Karaoke Queen"

The sound of his laughter caressed her ear, sending shivers through her body. Closing her eyes, she could imagine the smell and warmth of him. A feeling of longing washed over her. She wanted nothing more than to wrap herself around him and breath in the safety he always represented.

"You know, that has a certain appeal to it. Maybe it can be your next album title"

"Ha ha. More like Rayna Jaymes The Greatest Hits. I mean, seriously Deacon, I have no idea how I am ever going to get to work on any of my own stuff. With juggling Highway 65 commitments and this damn Markus tour, I just... I'm just so damn tired of things being so difficult. Why can't it just be easy for once?"

"I know babe. I know you are tired, but its just one more month and then you are back here. And I am never going to let you go again"

Smiling at his words, Rayna admired the engagement ring on her finger. She was still struggling to believe that its real, that after everything that had happened, that they put themselves through, that they were finally going to get married.

"Babe, you are going to need to get a crow bar to pry me away from you because I am never going to face life without you by my side. Even these last two months have sucked not having you here with me. I miss you so much."

Running her hand over the spot in the bed that was normally reserved for his sleeping form, the feelings of homesickness came rushing back again.

"I miss you too Ray, but it's only for 27 more days. Not that I'm counting or anything"

Hearing that he was missing her as much as she missed him, made her heart flutter. It amazed her that even after all this time, he still made her feel like a lovesick teenager. Every time she saw him, even if it was of an evening as he walked in the door after working at The Beverley, she would get excited butterflies in her stomach and had to resist the urge to run into his arms.

So, what is the plan for tomorrow?"

Deacon asking her a question, dragged her away from her contemplation.

"Um, think Bucky has lined up a press conference and some one on one interviews. You know, the usual glamourous lifestyle that l am accustomed too"

"This is what I'm thinking. How are those silk sheets in the presidential suite treating you? I bet those servants are serving your every need"

"Of course, they actually carry me everywhere, because as you know, I am way too famous to let my feet walk where the commoners tread"

Laughing at their silliness, they were both trying to delay ending the phone call.

Rayna slid further down into the bed. Turning on her side, she closed her eyes and imagined that Deacon was lying next to her. Hearing his breathing on the other end of the phone, she reached her arm out and wrapped in around the pillow, hugging it to her. Sighing to herself, she opened her eyes. No matter how much she tried, nothing could replace having Deacon next to her in the bed. The warmth of his body lying next to her and his intoxicating scent would equally soothe and excite her.

Rolling on to her back and flinging her arm above her head, she gave a sigh of frustration.

"Ray?" his voice was full of concern

"Its nothing, I'm just tired and its all your fault"

"Mine? How can it be my fault?"

"You have made it that I can't sleep without you by my side"

Softly laughing at her, Deacon could imagine the pout on her lips. She had no idea how adorable he found her at times.

"Well if we are placing blame here, you know you are equally to blame for me lacking sleep. Not only are you not by my side, but you are also causing me a many sleepless night from worry."

"Oh, and pray tell me how I am causing you to worry?"

"That damn tour. I'm just not use to not being out on the road with you. Yes, I know you have done some tours without me, but some how we always managed to end up on stage together, but this tour you are out there slaying without me. I miss that. I miss witnessing you owning that stage and wowing the audience."

"Babe, you have no idea how much I miss that as well. The stage never feels complete when you aren't up there by my side. God, I wish you were here. I hate this. I hate that we have been forced apart, and I hate that its all because of Markus' tantrum."

Chuckling to himself, Deacon wisely decided to remain silent on the whole Markus issue, he could hear in her voice how frustrated and exhausted she was, and he didn't want to add any additional grief.

"Just another 27 days and 9 hours until you are back here. And I for one, cannot wait. Not only will I be able to wrap my arms around you, but I will be finally be able to tell the world that I am married to the love of my life."

Rayna smiled down the phone, just knowing that he was counting down the hours until they were back together again made her feel loved and filled her with longing for him.

"Remind me never to agree to do this again. I am never touring again unless you are with me...so that basically means we will never tour again until the girls have completed school"

His warm laughter at the end of the phone, sent loving waves through her as she contemplated how different this scenario was compared to when she was married to Teddy. While she missed Teddy and their married life, she never had the aching emptiness she was currently feeling. Even though she missed the girls every time she went on the road, touring with Deacon by her side had afforded her a freedom, had allowed her to breath. At the time she didn't realised she longed for that while with Teddy. Her life with Teddy was a never-ending loop of making sure that they presented the right image. Lamar was quick to judge whenever Rayna dare strayed off the path, he had envisioned for them ever since she had said 'I do' to Teddy. Tandy wasn't much help, as she tended to side with their father, which was never a surprise for Rayna, given her dislike of Deacon and the fact that Tandy was being groomed to take over the business.

Teddy had tried to understand the music business, but coming from old money, he had struggled. He failed to understand why she had to spend so much time in the studio, especially during those times when she had just come off a tour and had a successful album. After a month being back home, she was always longing to get back on the road again. Being on tour, she could relax and be herself and escape from all the pressure and judgement she faced from her family. Having Deacon by her side had aided her to release all that built up tension. He was always supportive of her, even when he didn't necessarily agree with her decision, he had faith in her. She knew having that unconditional support had allowed her to rise to the top of the country music industry, which is one of the reasons she had decided to start her own label.

When she had married Teddy, she knew that she didn't love him with the same depth that she loved Deacon, but she had loved Teddy in her own way, though she had never ached for him, never hugged her pillow wishing it was his warm body. Looking back at that time of her life, she could now recognise that her marriage to Teddy had smothered her to some extent. Only being on the road with Deacon had allowed her to breath and be her true self.

Just being near Deacon while on tour, meant she could release all the tension she carried when back home in Nashville. Playing the dutiful wife, doing all the right things according to the society that Daddy and Teddy frequented had placed unspoken pressure on her. The guilt she felt for withholding Maddie's existence to Deacon wove with guilt for failing on some level to measure up to what both Teddy and Lamar wanted her to be. She always felt so lonely in Nashville. While on tour she had always sought Deacon out, even if it was to just sit in silence while they drank coffee, it was enough to sustain her. The guilt associated with keeping Maddie from him was her constant companion, but without the added pressure of performing her role for Teddy and Lamar, she was always able to justify it to herself, though it had become harder to sustain the secret the longer he remained sober.

Deacon had always been able to invoke a sense of calm within her. During those times when they were estranged, she was constantly on edge and found herself snapping at those closest to her. Thankfully Teddy never suspected the real reason behind her snippiness, though Tandy had often called her out regarding her behaviour and the real reason behind it. Being away from him now made her heart ache. She missed him deep within her bones. This level of aching for him caught her by surprise given their history, after all they were accustomed to being apart. When they had decided that her going on the road was the best option to salvage the mess resulting from Markus leaving, Rayna knew that she was going to miss Deacon, but she had never dreamt at the depth of her missing him.

"God l miss you babe. I never fully realised how lonely it was on the road without you"

"I'm so sorry that you have been forced to do it all on your own. I would give anything to be out there with you."

"I know you would. But as you said, only 27 more days, we can do this"

"Yeh we can."