I really struggled with this chapter and I don't think it's my best, but hopefully you'll forgive me my writer's block this time.

When Maddie got to Deacon's for her Thursday lesson, he had a surprise for her. After they had worked more on the song she'd brought on Tuesday, he brought out a copy of his new album. "Oh, my God," she said with a big smile. "Your album!"

Deacon grinned. "Hot off the presses."

Maddie looked at it and felt proud of him. Her mom had put out lots of albums, of course, but somehow this seemed like a bigger deal. "Will you sign it for me?" she asked, a little shyly.

Deacon was surprised at her request, but it gave him a warm feeling to see how excited she was about it. "Of course," he said. "But you know, based on the songs you're bringing to me, I don't think it will be long before I'm asking you to sign your own."

Maddie blushed. "Do you really think so?"

"I do," he answered. "I'm amazed at your talent."

"Well, I do come from good stock in that regard." She looked wistful. "I wish you'd convince mom to let me spend more time on my music. She's always bugging me about school."

Deacon looked at her seriously. "Education's important, Maddie. I know you're ready to set the world on fire, but a good education gets you off on the right foot."

Maddie pouted. "I know Mom didn't finish high school."

"Neither did I. Which is why it's important to both of us that you finish. Just because we did that doesn't make it the right thing to do. You never know when you'll need it, so just be patient." He gave her a smile. "You should talk to Scarlett. She even went to college."

"She did?"

Deacon nodded. "She did. And I know she enjoyed it." He held up the record then.

Maddie smiled shyly as she read "To Maddie, You make me smile, Love, Dad." She took the album from him. "Thanks."

He smiled at her. "It's true." He walked into the kitchen and got bottled water out of the fridge for both of them.

Maddie sat at the counter, running her finger across the edge of the album. She looked up at Deacon as he handed her the bottle. "I talked to Mom last night about wanting to let people know you're my dad." She sighed. "It's too hard to keep remembering what to say. I'm getting used to this. And I like it. I don't want to hide anymore."

Deacon smiled at her and then ran his hand along the edge of the counter. "It's a tricky thing, though, Maddie. There's a lot of history there and a lot of pain. It's not as simple as just me saying 'Maddie Conrad is my daughter.' People are going to have opinions and probably say some really unkind things."

Maddie shrugged. "Well, maybe Mom shouldn't have made the decisions she made." She looked up at Deacon. "Doesn't it make you mad?"

Deacon took a deep breath and rubbed his hand over his mouth. "You know, Maddie, it's complicated."

Maddie rolled her eyes. The only thing she hated more than "I did what was best for you" was "it's complicated." It really didn't seem so complicated to her. "I don't think it's all that complicated. She got pregnant. She decided not to tell you. She got married to someone else and she lied about it for my whole life. What's complicated about that?"

Deacon sighed. "The way you say it doesn't sound so complicated, but there's a lot more to it than that. People will ask why your mama didn't tell me and will come up with their own reasons no matter what we say. People will challenge her on deciding to marry Teddy and letting people think you were his daughter. But people made bad decisions for good reasons back then, Maddie. Your mama didn't do it to hurt me, she did it because…she loved me." His voice cracked at the end.

Maddie sat quietly and thought about that. She felt an overwhelming sense of sadness, listening to her dad say that her mom had kept him in the dark because she loved him. She knew they loved each other once, because she'd seen pictures that showed they did, and because they had both told her that they had loved each other years ago. What she thought, too, was that maybe they still did. She'd been sure about Deacon, but now she was beginning to think her mom felt the same. What she didn't understand was why they were apart. She looked up at Deacon. "Did you still love her after she got married?" she asked.

Deacon's eyes widened. He wasn't exactly sure how to answer. He didn't really think he wanted to tell her that he'd loved Rayna the entire time she'd been married to Teddy. That he'd gotten sober for her, stayed sober for her, waited for her, until the night she'd finally come to him. But he didn't want to say he hadn't, either, because that wasn't true and he suspected Maddie knew that already. "I always cared about your mama," he said finally. "She was the first woman I ever loved and I've never loved anyone the same way I loved her. I was glad to be in her life all that time. And in her band."

"You started dating again after she and my dad split up."

He nodded. "We did. We wanted to give it another try."

Maddie breathed in and out. "I heard her tell you that she loved you." Tears filled her eyes and she looked away. "That's when I found the paternity test."

"Maddie…."

Maddie shook her head. "No. I just want to be who I am. I want people to know I'm Maddie Claybourne. I lived my whole life without knowing that. I really want to live the rest of my life as my real self." She looked at Deacon, his eyes sad and pained. "You know, I'm glad this all happened. Even with the sad parts, I'm glad." She smiled at him.

Deacon leaned on the counter and reached his hand out for hers. "I'm glad it happened too. And we'll figure it all out. Make it right," he said. He cleared his throat. "So, I'm going to be at The Bluebird Saturday night. An 'In the Round.' Do you think your mama would bring you?"

Maddie's smile got bigger. "We can ask her. I'd love to come."

When Rayna got to Deacon's, Maddie immediately ran up to her and grabbed her hand. "Mom, Deacon invited us to The Bluebird on Saturday to hear him play. Can we go?" She gave her mom a hopeful look.

Rayna looked over at Deacon with surprise on her face and then back to Maddie. "Maddie…" she started.

Maddie frowned. "Please don't say no."

Rayna shrugged. "I guess we can," she said.

Maddie threw her arms around her mom and beamed. "Thanks, Mom!" she cried.

Deacon was standing with his hands in his pockets, working his lip. "Maddie, do you mind waiting outside so I can talk to your mama?"

Maddie looked puzzled, but nodded. "I guess." She leaned in and hugged Deacon. "Bye, Dad. I'll see you Saturday."

Deacon hugged her back and smiled. "See you Saturday." He watched her walk out the door and then turned back to Rayna, who was looking at him carefully. "Things got kind of emotional today," he said. "I know you maybe don't want to bring her to The Bluebird, but I thought it might cheer her up a little."

Rayna frowned with concern. "What happened?"

Deacon rubbed the back of his head. "She was telling me that you had agreed to let us be a little more open about our relationship and it just brought up a bunch of stuff about…all the decisions you made."

"She asked me about that too." She sighed. "This is the stuff I'm not sure how to explain to her. Or what I should explain to her." She smiled ruefully. "She's asked most of the easy questions. Now she's asking the hard stuff." Then she looked up at him earnestly. "I need you to be ready to protect her from all the bad stuff. I can't do this all by myself."

Deacon frowned. "I'll do whatever I can," he said.

"I still don't have the details worked out. I really want to be careful. People will talk. They'll say mean things. Not about her, but about me. Maybe about you. There will be all kinds of speculation and hurtful stuff."

"She's stronger than you know."

Rayna frowned. "No, she's not. She's never had to deal with anything like this. She thinks it's just as simple as saying you are her father, but it's really not. We are going to have to help her. We are her parents…" Her voice broke and tears welled up.

Deacon reached for her hand. "Ray, what is it?"

There was a quick smile and then she drew in a ragged breath. "We are her parents, Deacon," she whispered. "I never thought I'd get to say that." It was what she'd always wanted. In that moment, she felt a bit of her resistance chip away.

Deacon swallowed hard. "We'll do the best we can for her, Ray. Together."

Rayna nodded. "I'm scared, Deacon. For all of us."

Deacon breathed in slowly, then took a step forward, putting his arms around her and pulling her in close. "We'll get through it. I'll be there for you both."

Rayna leaned her face against his chest and nodded, taking deep breaths. After a moment, she pulled back. She wiped away the tears and then smiled bravely. "I guess we'll see you Saturday night."

Deacon put his hands in his pockets and nodded. Then he watched her turn and walk out the door.

When Rayna got in the car, Maddie was holding the album Deacon had given her on her lap. She turned to her mom and held it up. "Deacon's album," she said proudly. "And he signed it for me."

Rayna smiled at her daughter. She reached out and took the album and looked at it, then turned it over, and handed it back. She remembered when he'd cut the first album he'd made, back before he'd gone to rehab for the very first time, when things were so different. When it felt like the whole world was in front of them. She'd put out her own first album and was getting some decent radio play and some better gigs. She'd encouraged Deacon to do his own album because he had so many great songs that didn't fit her style. He'd resisted, but she was persuasive in her own way, and finally he did it. But the pressure of having to market it and promote it was more than he could deal with. He missed one too many radio promotions because he was hung over or still drunk and interest had waned quickly. He had claimed not to care, but she was never quite sure that was true. She was glad he was finally doing this. For himself. He deserved it. "I'm really glad he tried this again," she said. "He's an amazing songwriter and a great singer. I hope he does well with it."

"Do you miss performing with him?"

Rayna thought about that. The last time he'd performed with her was at the CMA's, when he'd confronted her about Maddie. And it had been a long time before that since he'd been her lead guitarist. She nodded. "Kinda. He was my bandleader for a really long time and he was really good at it. He made me sound good." She grinned at her daughter. "You know, I always said there would be no Rayna Jaymes without Deacon Claybourne. And that's true. I've never really been quite as good without him."

"Why don't you ask him back?"

"Oh, Maddie, there's just too much water under the bridge now for that, I think. Plus he's going out on his own now and I think he should do that. I'm just going to have to find someone else." She started the car and pulled out into the street.

Maddie sat back and thought about that. She was happy for Deacon that he was going out on his own. But she'd grown up with him being part of her mom's band, touring with her, being her 'Uncle Deacon', and she missed that. She smiled to herself as she remembered how he'd let her play on his guitar and he'd show her chords and help her with that. It was a big reason why she'd wanted to play the guitar on her own. She remembered that he'd never treated her like a child, that he'd always talked to her like she was a real person, interested in what she thought and talking to her about things she thought were important. He always listened to her, really listened. He encouraged her. She remembered singing with him when she was younger. She loved to sing her mom's songs and he would accompany her as she sang into a hairbrush on a tour bus or in her mom's dressing room before a show. She had loved watching them during sound check or during a show, the way they understood each other so completely. And now she was getting to experience a life with him as her father, as someone who loved her and wanted the best for her. She was looking forward to being able to stop hiding.

On Saturday night as she was getting ready for The Bluebird, Daphne was bugging her. "I don't think it's fair," she said, leaning on Maddie's vanity. "I want to go to The Bluebird too."

"Well, you can't. You're too young," Maddie said, looking at her sister. Just then Rayna came in the room.

"Mom," Daphne whined, turning to face her mother. "Please let me go."

Rayna shook her head. "It's going to be way past your bedtime, baby girl. You're going to spend the night at your aunt Tandy's though." She grinned at Daphne hopefully. "You'll have fun with her."

Daphne sighed dramatically. "When am I going to be old enough to go? I'm tired of not being old enough."

Maddie turned to look at her. "When you're fourteen. Duh."

"I hate being ten!" Daphne declared and stomped out of the room.

Rayna and Maddie both watched her leave. Then Rayna turned back to her older daughter, with a smile. "Are you almost ready?"

Maddie nodded and stood up. "I am." She smiled shyly. "I can't wait to see him."

Rayna gave her a small smile. "We're going to be sitting up on the stage near the front window."

Maddie frowned. "Why so far away, Mom? I want to sit right up front."

"Maddie, people will see us. I don't want to make things so obvious. Yet."

Maddie narrowed her eyes. "When then?"

Rayna looked away. "Soon. Just be patient. And trust me."

After they had dropped off Daphne and headed for The Bluebird, Maddie asked, "How many times have you played at The Bluebird?"

Rayna thought for a moment. "A lot. I'm not sure how many times. Deacon and I played there a lot when we were getting started. He's played there a lot more than me, of course." She looked over at Maddie. "That's where I met him."

Maddie smiled. "I remember. So when is the last time you sang there?"

"Deacon's birthday party, not quite a year ago, I guess."

"He had a birthday party?" Maddie perked up.

Rayna laughed. "Yeah, it was shocking for everyone." She gave Maddie a look. "Deacon doesn't like parties, just so you know, especially ones for him. Juliette put it together, even though people told her not to. He prefers to stay home and watch 'Old Yeller.' But he seemed to have a good time. I went and sang something I'd written for my album that's coming out." She took a deep breath. "The last time we sang together there was a few months before the 'Red Lips, White Lies' tour, when we thought about doing a small venue tour." That had been an emotional experience, for both of them. They had not sung together like that in a very long time and it had brought up a lot of long-buried feelings.

"Someday I hope I get to play at The Bluebird," Maddie said, dreamily.

Rayna looked over at her and gave her a rueful smile. "Maybe you will one day, sweet girl. But not any time soon, I hope. You still have a lot of growing up to do."

Maddie rolled her eyes, but just then they pulled into the parking lot at The Bluebird. She got out of the car and then watched as her mom pulled out a fedora from the backseat and put it on. "Seriously, Mom?" she asked.

Rayna shrugged. "What? I don't want to be the center of attention. I want to be able to enjoy the show. With my daughter." She smiled and put her arm around Maddie's shoulders. "Just a mom and her daughter, like anybody else."

Maddie smiled then. "Okay, I guess." She put her arm around her mom's waist and they walked up to the end of the line that had formed outside.

Once they were at their table, Maddie watched the people around them. They were seated up on the stage, so they had a good view of the In the Round stage. She noticed that some of the other people around them stole glances at her mom, as though they wondered if she was someone famous. She leaned over to whisper to her mom. "What if Deacon asked you to come up and sing?"

Rayna shook her head. "He won't. He'll be playing with three other people, so it's really not set up for that. Plus, it wouldn't be a good idea."

"I wish I could play with him."

Rayna smiled. "You do. Every Tuesday and Thursday."

Maddie smirked. "You know what I mean. Here."

Rayna reached for her hand and squeezed it. "Don't try to grow up so fast. Enjoy this time in your life."

Just then the songwriters came out that were playing that night. Maddie was happy that Deacon was sitting so that they had a good view of him. He saw them and gave them a quick nod, trying not to draw any attention. She smiled broadly, looking forward to seeing him play again.

Rayna watched him carefully, knowing that she was trusting her daughter to him. As Maddie spent more time with him, she found herself feeling more comfortable with it. And as she felt more comfortable, she knew she needed to let them explore what it meant to be father and daughter, in every way possible. She'd been so angry with Deacon after the accident, but time was mellowing those feelings and deep down inside, she felt something like a small click, that she knew was the beginning of the rebuilding of their connection.

When the show was over, Maddie and Rayna sat at the table waiting for the crowd to disperse. Deacon was surrounded by fans and Maddie watched proudly. He finally got an opportunity to come over to where they were sitting and pulled up a chair. "Thanks for coming," he said.

Maddie grinned so hard she thought her face might break. "I can't believe you sang 'Believing'! It was awesome!"

Deacon smiled at her. "I wish I could have called you out as my co-writer. Maybe next time." He glanced over at Rayna.

Maddie shook her head, still smiling. "I don't care. I was just happy to hear you sing it."

"It is a beautiful song," Rayna concurred. She smiled at him. "You were great, as always. Thanks for inviting us." She looked over at Maddie. "I thought Maddie was going to burst, she was so excited." She looked around. "I always love coming to this place."

"You should come more often," Deacon said. "I know Erika would love to have you sing. Anytime you want."

Rayna shook her head. "I don't know. It's more of a songwriter's place and I don't write as much these days." She smiled. "But I probably need to come to some open mic nights to see what new talent is out there." Then she turned back to Maddie. "So, it's late. We need to get going."

"Mom," Maddie whined.

"Maddie…" she responded. Maddie sighed. Rayna stood up, as did Deacon, and she gave him a quick hug. "Thanks again."

Deacon nodded and then gave Maddie a pat on the shoulder. "Thanks for coming."

Maddie smiled and whispered, "See you next week." Deacon winked and nodded, and then Maddie followed her mom out of The Bluebird and out to their car.

A/N: I've struggled some with my motivation for this story after reading spoilers and seeing promos for upcoming episodes. Ultimately I decided to just write this story the way I envisioned it from the beginning and not worry about the show storylines or what they want us to accept. I hope those of you reading are okay with that. I have my own ideas about how this plays out and what the ultimate outcome of all this is and I'm going to stick to it. So it will be different, but maybe you'll like it better. Thanks for reading and reviewing!