Outside of Austin

Deacon pressed his head against the window pane as the exits became more crowded with motels and gas stations. They'd be downtown within half an hour. He hadn't seen Rayna in a nine days, not since before his run in with Teddy in the lobby.

That night, he'd gotten into the elevator and hit PH. Then he'd chickened out and gone to see Juliette instead. They'd tried to write for a while but his mind had been elsewhere. The next morning, he'd been informed Rayna had checked out of her hotel in the middle of the night and got the red eye back to Tennessee. He'd flown back with Juliette but had stayed inside most of the time.

He'd figured that Rayna and Teddy had made up until Scarlett called yesterday, asking if he heard the news.

The Tarrington Hotel

Rayna jumped out the SUV, happy to see fifty or so fans and unsurprised to see a line of cameras and reporters lined up behind the security guards. She smiled despite her mood and waived to the fans. The flashbulbs of the cameras blinded momentarily as Buck helped her inside.

She was escorted to a private elevator and insisted she could find her room by herself. The last week and half had been hell. They'd told the girls about the divorce and then all hell broke loose. Maddie had told her about his late night phone calls to Peggy. That had been the night before Teddy had the audacity to ask for spousal support. She'd threatened to go to the cops and have both he and Peggy thrown in jail. So Teddy vowed to send her father and sister to jail with them. Then she'd had several heated discussions with her father, one bad fight with Tandy, and an awkward run-in with Coleman at the gas station. She'd met her with her lawyer several times and finally yesterday morning she'd filed for divorce. Liam had driven her and waited outside the courthouse with a bottle of champagne hidden in the center consol.

A few hours later, Bucky released a statement and the whole world was in on her mess of a life.

Austin Coliseum –Backstage

Rayna walked out of her dressing room, finding everyone's festive mood a bit too much for her. She was glad to see Deacon, still in his plaid shirt and jeans leaning against the concrete wall, as if he was waiting on her. She walked over towards him, battling several dancers and a rack of costumes to get close enough.

"Hey cowboy," she said quiet enough that nobody else would hear. Deacon's eyes sparkled as he pushed himself off the wall and asked if she'd like a cup of coffee.

Rayna counter offered, "I'd rather have ribs and pecan pie with lots of whip cream."

Deacon let a slow smile spread before motioning for Rayna to lead the way.

Jake's Hide-a-Way

Rayna licked her fingers as Deacon grinned, "You know if you lick the plate too, I am moving tables." She drank another swallow of tea before asking Deacon what he wants to know. The place was practically empty and most of the wooden chairs were already stacked up on the tables.

Deacon's eyes narrowed. "What do you want to tell me?"

"I filed for divorce yesterday."

Deacon shook his head, "I heard."

Rayna nodded, guessing between the press and everyone on tour someone had given him a heads up. "Actually no. Teddy told me. I ran into him in the lobby in Sante Fe."

Rayna's face showed she was surprised but she continued."He came there to try and work things out and I told him I wanted a divorce."

Deacon looked down at his own glass of tea, swirling it around like he use to do with his liquor. It was what he did when he wasn't sure what to say. Rayna swallowed hard, ""You were right that day at your house. I'm not happy. I haven't been happy in a long time."

An easy silence filled the table as the waitress refilled their drinks and brought the pie. Once the waitress left she started again. "I think…I think in some weird way Teddy and I were fine as long as I had you too. But then…Juliette came along and I felt like I was..like I am losing you and then I stopped being able to pretend everything else was okay."

Deacon reached his hand out to Rayna, clutching her hand in his. "You are not losing me."

Rayna felt her eyes fill with tears but continued on, "It just feels like you are writing with her and touring with her and I don't know…."

Deacon took a fork with his free hand and stole a piece of Rayna's pie and asked if he'd, "You know there is absolutely no one who can replace you or us." Rayna bit her lip, realizing how serious the conversation was turning. She leaned back in her chair, releasing Deacon's hand as she did.

Deacon asked, "how did the girls take it?"

"Not too good. Maddie begged me to come out on tour. I almost let her."

"How is ol' Lamar taking the news?"

Rayna rolled her eyes, "Daddy is too busy trying to save his investment in the election to worry about me or the girls right now."

"Ray, how are you. Really?"

Rayna gave Deacon a long look before admitting she was, "Relived…Relived and guilty. I mean I am devastated for my babies and I see the way I am hurting Teddy. I just…I couldn't be the type of wife he deserves."

Deacon grimaced, "And exactly what type of wife does Teddy deserve?"

Rayna spent a long minute thinking before letting out the breath she'd been holding. "Teddy deserved the kind of wife….that loves him more than she loves Juliette Barnes's lead guitarist."

Deacon just looked at her for a minute before the waitress ran over, "Sorry Ms. James, there are like five guys outside with cameras. We called the police and, well my boss says y'all can go out the back door but you better hurry before they figure out there is a side exit."

Deacon gave Rayna a look before throwing money on the table and asking if she was ready. Rayna took his hand and got out of the chair as the two headed for the kitchen exit.

Nashville

Maddie turned around again as the printer started up. She silently begged it not to make too much noise as the paper came out. She grabbed the pieces of paper, double checking the flight times and the gate number. She had already packed her bookbag: two pair of clothes, the cash she'd taken from her parents safe, her license, her cellphone and charger. She'd hidden her school books in her closet and had already emailed her homeroom teacher, using her mom's email, to let them know she was sick and wouldn't be in school today.

She stuffed her plane ticket in her book bag as she heard her Dad telling Daphne good morning.