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Chapter 19

Dulen, Parker & Miller Law Firm

1 Week Later

"You and Deacon are living together now,?" Teddy asked, his voice clearly irritated and louder than his usual decibel.

Rayna rubbed her neck, her body tired from another three hour meeting with Teddy and their respective lawyers.

"Teddy, listen…"

Instead of listening, her ex just walked away and headed back into the conference room. Things had been at a stand-still for a while. They'd each keep their cars. They'd split the checking accounts and the 401Ks. She and would claim the girls as dependents on odd years, him on even. Those were the easy things.

Now that they'd moved on to the house and custody, things had gotten much harder. Then Teddy noticed her new address on several documents he'd clinched his jaw and walked out and now they were at a complete stop.

The Cabin

Rayna walked into the cabin, noticing the small pieces of wood near the steps and the pile of wood shavings near the end of the porch. She walked into the living room, her steps following a loud, consistent clanging of a hammer. She kicked off her shoes and threw her pocketbook down, surprised to find Deacon in the spare room and more surprised to find the room very different than she'd ever seen it.

"What is this?" she asked as she took in the intricate shelves that had were placed along the far wall. Deacon turned around with a hammer in his hand. He smiled holding his hands up in the air as to display his work. "You gotta a lot of clothes and stuff. Even more than you had back when you use to live here, so..."

"So you built me a closet?"

He gave her a shy smile, clearly hoping she would like it. She broke into a wide smile as continued to stare at his woodwork, "It is amazing. You built me shelves for my shoes and my dresses?" He pointed out several other features of the closet: the small shelves for her pocket books and the drawers for her sweaters.

She leaned over him and wrapped her arms around him from behind. She left him a kiss behind his ear, nibbling on his neck for a moment. He ran his own hand up and down her arm. She whispered, "I love you."

He turned around gave her a proper hello kiss. He whispered he missed her between kisses. He broke away and asked how she was doing. Rayna pressed her lips together for a thoughtful moment.

"Leaving the girls this morning was bad, but I told them we'd see them tomorrow at Maddie's game."

"I meant with the mediation and Teddy. You sounded tired on the phone."

She relaxed in his arms and asked how his writing session with Juliette went. His eyes lit up, "good. Really good actually. Now quite changing the subject."

"He flipped out a lot when he realized you and I are moving in together."

"How bad?"

Rayna laughed, "It was bad. And he brought up us having a talk about the girls again."

"Yeah, well he shot me looks all through the last game so I can only imagine how much fun this talk will be.."

The Next Day

Rayna smiled as Daphne ran up to her. She smiled as the six year old hugged her legs and then squealed in a greeting to Deacon. He hugged her quickly and asked if "Tyson was around?"

The girl blushed as Rayna pulled her hair out of the crooked ponytail and put it back up quickly with the hair tie and ribbon. She stood straight and whispered loudly that he was, "over at the end of the bleachers."

Deacon stood up and let Daphne guide them to the far set of bleachers. They smiled politely and said a quick 'hey' to Teddy and Peggy Kenter who were seated in a middle section. Daphne quickly led them over to sit close to Tyson and his family.

Deacon was was surprised at how angry he got when one of the other girl missed the ball and kicked Maddie in the shin. Then there was the elation of watching Maddie do well. It was crazy how nervous he got when she had the ball or was going after a defensive move.

As a time out was called, his eyes darted over to see Daphne and Tyson and several other kids kicking around a soccer ball off in the distance. It was then he spotted the two camera guys in near the tree line. He inwardly groaned. Of course, the paparazzi had left them alone for a few weeks but that was apparently short lived. He looked over at Rayna, knowing she hadn't spotted them yet. I'll just let them enjoy this for today and worry about the story tomorrow.

3 days later

Belle Meade

Rayna grimaced as Teddy's voice got louder and angrier. Deacon's was downright hostile. Rayna looked out the window, making sure that Tandy hadn't returned with the girls.

"Are you kiddin' me?," she heard Deacon ask before turning her attention back to the two men who looked ready to punch each other.

Rayna frowned and told them both to calm down. "Teddy, you keep saying you want us to talk and all you are doing is yelling."

"Well excuse me Rayna. It just is upsetting that I once again read that Deacon is the father of both of my daughters. Seems a little suspicious to me that the stories keep popping up."

Rayna rolled her eyes, "Look we all agreed that right now we wouldn't tell Maddie the truth. Deacon loves the girls and wouldn't want Maddie to find out like this."

Teddy seemed to calm down a bit but Deacon still looked ready to punch him. Teddy admitted he wanted to set ground rules. Rayna nodded, "I agree."

Teddy put his hands in his pockets. "I don't want Deacon to spend the night here."

Deacon spoke before Rayna could. "I wouldn't confuse the girls like that, 'sides I hate this house." Rayna cocked her head in a sympathetic gaze to Deacon. Teddy nodded, "but I'm okay with Deacon being over some during the day."

Rayna nodded and thanked Teddy. She offered Peggy the same which Teddy nodded and thanked her for it. Teddy asked that neither bring up the criminal case against him with the girls and Rayna nodded, "We agreed that we'd talk to the girls about it together when something happens."

All three turned to see Tandy's car pull up in the driveway with their book bags in tow.

7 hours later

Deacon leaned in for a quick kiss, whispering he'd miss her tonight. She smiled against his lips and leaned in again, not wanting to break contact. He asked if she was coming to the studio tomorrow. She nodded, "Yep. I told Juliette I would be there for her latest show down with Marshall."

They kissed again but drew apart when they heard "ewwwwww" coming from the stairs. They broke apart and looked towards Daphne, who was standing on the stairs with a disgusted look on her face.

Rayna blushed, "Hey baby. We didn't know you were there."

Daphne frowned, "Why do adults kiss, it is so gross?" As Deacon tried to find the right words, Daphne continued, "Yesterday at school Tyson kissed me twice and it was so yucky. It was like he was spitting on me." Rayna's red checks turned white while Deacon's eyes widened.

"And on that note, I will you beautiful ladies tomorrow."