Enjoy. I'm on holidays for a couple of weeks, but I will return with more angst for our favorite couple.

Rayna offered small smiles to the various employees she passed on the way out, allowing Deacon to direct her towards his truck. The entire time they didn't look at each other and while she knew that Deacon's hand was poised at the small of her back he didn't touch her. The air surrounding them crackled with electricity. Rayna's pulse was racing and her breath was shallow as she tried to calm herself down. Finally reaching the truck, Deacon opened the door for her. Rayna raised her eyes towards Deacon's and stopped in her tracks. Reflected back to her in his eyes was a level of emotion that she was unaccustomed to seeing. They both had gotten so good at keeping their feelings for each other under wraps over the years that seeing it so open and exposed in his eyes was startling. Over the years they had not allowed any emotions to show for fear that others would know the truth, unless they physically touched no one would ever guess the depth of their feelings. Smiling shyly at him, she climbed into the cabin and watched as he walked around to the driver's side.

She wondered where they were going, but didn't ask rather placing her trust in the man next to her. They both flicked glances at each other on the drive, smiling when they happened to make eye contact. The air in the cabin was swirling with the heady scent of attraction and they both were struggling to catch their breath. By all outward appearances they were both the picture perfect image of calm, but Rayna's stomach was full of butterflies and her nerves were on edge. She took a deep breath to calm herself as she focused her eyes on the passing scenery. They were heading across town, neither towards her house or Deacon's. When she saw a familiar landmark she smiled to herself.

He was taking them to their spot. It was the spot they returned to over and over again whenever they needed to reconnected with each other. Whenever either of them needed to have that closeness they would come running to this spot. When the pressure of publicly keeping her distance from him, or when Teddy's constant neediness of always being reassured that he was the man she chose got to her, she would call. Sitting next to him on the park bench, breathing in his closeness grounded her and allowed her to return to her reality. Rayna knew that Deacon over the years had called her whenever he was feeling on edge and in danger of not walking the line. She knew that she had been guilty of ignoring her family over the years. She would drop everything and make her way to their spot so that she could be there for him.

She smiled to herself as she remembers times when they were fighting that she would still find herself parked on the nearby bridge, longing for that closeness as she struggled with her choices, trying to make the right decisions. Even when he wasn't in her life, he was. He was the voice in her head helping her negotiate life. People over the years, whenever they tried to get them both to see reason regarding their dedication to each other always failed to understand their depth of attachment. They were forever joined together and nothing would sever that. Relationships with other people, distance, petty jealously and even Deacon's own demons couldn't break it.

Deacon pulled the truck into the abandoned car park and they walked side by side down to their spot. The sun breaking through the overcast sky provided gentle warmth to the afternoon. The scent of the encroaching spring tantalised the breeze while the birds added harmony to the musical notes of the park. Deacon placed the bag he had brought along down on the table and turned towards Rayna. Wordlessly they moved towards each other. With their arms wrapped around each other, they both felt whole for the first time in a week. Pulling back slightly, Deacon cupped the sides of Rayna's face and slowly kissed her. Rayna felt tingles up and down her body as his kiss conveyed the depth of his love. Caressing her temples with his thumbs he continued to pepper her lips with the sweetest kisses she had ever experienced. Rayna reached up and tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling slightly to bring his lips into greater contact with her.

Groaning softly with frustration when he resisted, she opened her eyes to see him smiling at her. His eyes were dancing with merriment as he took in the pout on her lips. With a sheepish grin on her face, she traced the laughter lines that crinkled the corner of his eyes. His entire life history was written on his face, if you knew how to read it and it was a source of fascination for her. He had had a horrible childhood, then battled his own dark demons but still managed to be such a caring person. Trailing her fingers down, she tickled the dimples that creased his cheeks, stopping to rake her knuckles over the emerging stubble. She lent forward and placed her lips against his and whispered softly, "I've missed you" before bestowing a soft kiss on his lips.

Reluctantly they pulled apart, taking her hand Deacon lead her to the picnic table. Sitting on the table top, they tangled their fingers together, enjoying being back in each others company. Deacon raised their joined hands to kiss her hand while Rayna rested her head on his shoulder. Rubbing her cheek against his shoulder, she basked in the warmth of his nearness. Trapping her hand between his larger ones, Deacon placed a kiss on her forehead. He still couldn't believe that he was once again able to have this closeness with her. Kissing her fingers once again, he released them and reached over and grabbed the bag behind them.

Rayna frowned in confusion as Deacon handed her a brown paper wrapped object. Smiling at the look on her face, he leaned over and in a hushed tone whispered, "Thought we could have a poor man's picnic". Her face lit up as she recalled the times when they were first starting out and they were so poor they could barely afford to eat. They would get a sandwich to share and make their way to the nearest park where they would fantasise about what they would do when they hit the big time. Pretending that their situation wasn't as dire as it was, they would laughingly call it the 'poor mans picnic'.

"I got you your special. Turkey, potato salad and cheese on rye" shuddering dramatically at her sandwich topping of choice, he bumped her shoulder teasingly. "I still maintain it is a strange combination"

Laughing at the look of disgust on his face, Rayna nudged him back. "Look who is talking, I'm guessing that you have your usual taste sensation there" nodding in the direction of the sandwich he was currently dismantling.

"Ray, I'll have you know that this here is the king of sandwich toppings." Raising her eyebrow in his direction, the look on her face clearly showed that she didn't believe him. Watching him struggle to add more potato chips into the ham, olive, tomato and mayo sandwich Rayna smiled at the look of concentration on his face.

Rayna scooted closer to him so that their bodies were flush against each other. They finished their sandwiches in a comfortable silence as they looked out over the scenery in front of them. "So…how long can you stay?" she asked as she threaded her fingers back into his large hand. "I mean I will take any time I can get with you, but this last week… I missed you so much"

"I missed you too Ray, so much. I don't have to go back on the road. The tour ended early. Apparently they do actually close places for violating heath regulations. Who would have thought! I'm sure we could pass along some names of places we played at over the years that should be condemned!" Smiling at the memory of the dives they had played at over the years, Rayna squeezes his hand. A flicker of pain washes over his face, disappearing as quickly as it arrived. Rayna's eyes filled with concern as she takes in Deacon's grimace of pain. Knowing him like she does, she knows asking him straight out won't get the answers she wants.

"How did the tour go?"

"It was good. I never knew how hard it was being the one out the front. How did you do it all those years?"

"I had an amazing guitar player in my corner" smiling at him "come on tell me all the gory details." Deacon proceeded to tell her about every dive bar and venue he played at over the last week. His record company was determined to get his name out there so they were booking him a couple of performances each day. It was exhausting, mentally performing that often and he often had to ice his hand at the end of the day. He was secretly pleased that they had been forced to cancel the last part of the tour.

Playing with his fingers, Rayna looked up at him as she asked, "How bad is it? …your hand? I know its causing you some pain." Sighing, he should have known that she would pick up that it was causing him some issues. He brought their combined hands onto his lap and traced the top of her hand.

"It's fine."

"Deacon, it's not. You're in pain, I can tell."

"Ray, I've just overused it. A bit of time off and it will be fine." Rayna's blue eyes showed concern as she took in the stubbornness on his face. She could tell that he was trying to hide the fact that his hand was causing him some pain. In an aspirated tone, she admonishes him, "Deacon"

"Ray!"

A tight smile on her face showed him that she isn't amused by him denying that the hand was causing him problems. Gently cupping his injured hand in hers, she traces the scar running from his inner wrist up to his elbow. Tears prickle her eyes as she watches her finger trace the jagged line of the scar. Tangling their fingers again she welcomes the comfort and warmth of his hand.

"I'm sorry Deacon. I'm sorry that I've caused you to be in pain. If I could take it away I would" she whispers while placing soft kisses along the angry looking scar. "I'm so sorry".

Tears were silently running down her cheeks as she lifts her eyes towards him.

"Ray" cupping her cheek, he is distressed seeing her so upset. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You have done nothing wrong."

"But I do Deacon. Can't you see? I'm to blame for injuring your hand and for almost ruining your career. I'm to blame for that."

"Rayna, stop it. You have nothing to apologise for."

Rayna continues, ignoring what Deacon has just said, "Did you ever think, that all those people saying that we were bad for each other were actually right? I have done nothing but lie to you for the last 15 years. I withheld your daughter from you. I abandoned you while at the same time refusing to let you go. And when I finally told you the truth, I judged you for the reaction you had while blaming you for the accident. I was the one driving, I was the one who almost destroyed you, and how did I punished you? By ruining someone else's life"

"Ray" holding her face between his hands, he forced her to look at him. Her eyes reflected the level of distress she felt, knowing that she had caused the man she loved such anguish over the years. Wiping her tears away, he places soft butterfly kisses over her face.

"I should be the one saying sorry. I'm the one who has caused you nothing but pain, you have done nothing but believe in me, even when I didn't deserve it. You did what you had to do because I gave you no choice. I don't blame you. I understand why you did it. God, Ray. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the emotional scars I have left you with." Wrapping his arm around her, he brought her closer to him allowing them to take comfort in each other. Tucked up under his shoulder, with her head resting against his chest, Rayna could hear his heart beating and took in all the comfort he offered.

"My hand will be fine with rest. And I think, as painful as our history has been, I think maybe it was the road we had to take so that we could get here. So that we could be right here, right now. Wasn't it you, who said if you could go back you would change everything and nothing."

Looking into his eyes, Rayna saw nothing but love reflected back at her. Stretching up she placed a kiss on his lips.

"Thank you."

Smiling at her, he kisses her back. "No, thank you."

Breathing deeply, Rayna felt the guilt she had carried for years slowly slipping away. Knowing that Deacon held no resentment towards her, allowed her to finally start forgiving herself. The softness of his kisses reinforced to her that he felt nothing but pure love for her. Their tender kisses helped repair any perceived injuries. With their foreheads touching, Rayna could feel his warm breath caressing her lips and causing her senses to tingle.

Reluctantly pulling back she places another kiss on his lips before wrapping her arms around him. Clinging tightly to him, she held on like he was a life preserver. He had rescued her. He had unintentionally saved her from drowning in a life of her own making. She knew that the life she had chosen with Luke was not the life for her, but she had gone so far down that road that she didn't know how to save herself.

Seeing the disappointment in Deacon's face while filming the Christmas special and the stark reality of putting on the wedding dress, slapped her so hard that she knew she had a small window of opportunity to grasp the life she has always wanted. So she jumped. She had leapt with the faith that Deacon had told her that he would always love her, she placed all her belief in that and it kept her company until she was brave enough to let go of all her fears and commit to her own happiness.

Kissing the side of her neck, Deacon slowly releases his grip on Rayna.

"So how did the interview go?"

Wiping the remains of her tears away, Rayna grimaces as she recalls exactly how the interview went.

"Pfft! All she seemed to be interested in was our past. Sure she tried to pretend that she was interested in how the music scene has evolved in Nashville, and how my music has evolved alongside it. But she was far more interested in our history, especially you."

Poking him in his chest to emphasis her point, "I think Candy has a crush on you." Laughing out loud at that, Deacon shook his head. Slapping his arm, "Mark my words, she has a crush on you…not that I blame her, I kind of have a little crush on you as well" she smirked at him. Rayna watched as a slow seductive smile broke out on his face.

Leaning in close to her, his lips tickled hers as he stated, "Ray, I'm yours. I've always been yours."

He passionately kissed her, branding her soul as his.